September 2024

Haunted Trolley sells out third day

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The El Reno Arts Council Haunted Trolley apparently hasn’t scared away any riders. 

Sue Bear, president of the council, said the event has already sold out and that happened even after adding an extra day. 

“This year we have expanded to three dates, Oct. 16-18,” Bear said. 

She said when the event was posted on social media, it quickly attracted more than 7,000 people who expressed interest and more than 200 shares. 

The Haunted Trolley passes under the school archway

El Reno firefighters get assist from FCI with multiple blazes

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El Reno firefighters were busy Saturday as three separate fires broke out in the early afternoon. 

A pile of tires caught fire behind Vickie’s Convenience Store/Rick’s Garage, 1510 Sunset Drive. Fire Chief Jason Duff said the origin of the fire is unknown.

He said an OG&E crew checked the utility poles in the area after firemen thought the poles could have started the tires on fire. However, Duff said nothing was found that indicated that to be the source. 

Thick, black smoke poured into the sky after a pile of tires caught fire

Horseback skills tested in annual U.S. Cavalry event

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Fort Reno hosted the recent U.S. National Cavalry Association Competition and the event brought out an estimated 1,500 visitors, said Association President Bill Tempero. 

A total of nine contests engaged 50 military and civilian participants. The majority of the 50 competitors came from three U.S. Army military cavalry units, while the rest were individuals except for five British soldiers.

Competitors used horsemanship skills still used in combat and to prevent civil disturbance, provide security and allow military re-enactments. 

Jeff Hicks clears a double jump while shooting a balloon

Homecoming royalty

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Pictured are the El Reno High School students in the running for the 2024 All-Sports Homecoming Queen and King.

2024 Homecoming candidates

Former CCSO deputy pleads guilty to murder

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A former sheriff’s deputy has pleaded guilty in Canadian County District Court to a felony murder charge for shooting to death his wife, also a former deputy, in August 2023.

Yukon’s Vaughn R. Cannon, 42, entered a blind guilty plea at a Sept. 17 court hearing before Canadian County District Judge Paul Hesse.

Cannon, who is represented by attorney Zachary Ramsey, waived his right to a jury trial.

He will be formally sentenced Dec. 10 by Judge Hesse.

Vaughn R. Cannon_story

Rider moves ahead with new D3 yard upgrade

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A Canadian County commissioner is making another major upgrade to her district yard.

District 3 Commissioner Tracey Rider is moving ahead with plans to build a new shop and garage at 1205 N. Calumet Road.

Rider, who succeeded Jack Stewart as District 3 commissioner in November 2022, has reached an agreement with Redhawk Construction to serve as construction manager for the project.

Constructing a new shop was one of Rider’s goals when she took office. Plans call for an 80x100-foot shop building with a separate 60x40-foot structure to house offices and a storm shelter.

Oklahoma among most over-regulated states, study says

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Despite its reputation as one of the nation’s most conservative states, Oklahoma imposes far more regulations than most other states in the nation.

According to the 2024 edition of “Snapshots of State Regulations,” issued by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, Oklahoma is the 17th most regulated state in the country with 142,313 regulations on the books.

In comparison, Idaho, the nation’s least-regulated state, has just 31,497 regulations in place.

Public Records - 9/25/2024

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LAWSUITS

Centurion Land Development Inc. vs. Russell Land and Cattle Company LLC for $147,924.57 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees and foreclosure of mortgage.

Arvest Bank vs. Nhu Lan Restaurant for $8,299.98 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Capital One N.A. vs. Lindsey Drewry for $13,069.69 to pay a debt plus interest and costs.

Ally Bank vs. Jonathan Brown for $23,070.00 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

El Reno uses bye week to address woes of non-district

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Rummaging over what went wrong in a 31-point shutout loss to Weatherford was not what head coach Russell Cook wanted for his El Reno High School football team going into its bye week.

Yet instead of dwelling on the negatives, Cook says his players have gone back to the basics and responded well during open week.

“We were dealing with a few injuries and the bye week allowed us to get healthy. I think the kids have responded well and we had a good week of practice.

“We went into the week focusing on us and correcting the things we needed to do to get better,” said Cook.

Elijah Fisher rolls out of the pocket on a pass play

Indians shut out by Wildcats, remain in regional host hunt

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Despite being handed its first shutout loss in district play, El Reno High School’s fast-pitch softball team remains in the hunt for one of the two hosting rights for the upcoming regional playoffs.

El Reno suffered a 10-0 shutout to front-runner Piedmont last week as the Wildcats swept the season series with the Indians. The loss dropped Bri Michalicka’s team to 7-4 in the District 5A-2 standings.

“We didn’t take care of business against Piedmont but we still have a second chance,” said Michalicka.

Kaydence Pawnee strides into a pitch