July 2025

MUNICIPAL COURT

David James Marsh, Houston, expired tag, $165.

Beau Allen Strange, Yukon, speeding, $175.

Jesse Gareth Hinsley, El Reno, expired tag, $165.

Eyan Robert Hinchey, Okarche, speeding, $165.

Braxton Paul Hagler, Amarillo, expired tag, $165.

Carolyn Joan Farmer, El Reno, expired tag, $165.

Mitchell Allen Oliver, El Reno, failure to stop at stop sign, $165.

Kyle Ryan Williams, Chickasha, failure to wear seat restraint, $20.

Donald Gene Cheatwood, El Reno, failure to wear seat restraint, $20.

The student population for El Reno Public Schools is growing and the numbers are expected to keep increasing, according to a study done by the Oklahoma State School Boards Association.

With growth comes more need for space. That’s why in October, El Reno voters will be asked to consider a school bond issue designed to help address these needs. 

“We had them do an audit of our district to see what the growth would be over the next 10 to 15 years and what we would need to handle that growth,” said Superintendent Matt Goucher.

Long before State School Superintendent Ryan Walters demanded Oklahoma public schools feed students for free, El Reno Public Schools was working to do exactly that. 

In April, El Reno was notified it had qualified for a program administered by the USDA that would provide every student in the district with free breakfast and lunch during the school year. 

Known as the Community Eligibility Provision, the El Reno district was then notified last week that it had been accepted into the five-year program, said Superintendent Matt Goucher. 

Okarche’s Irene Krittenbrink is not a member of El Reno American Legion Post 34, but she has one qualification that makes her worthy of any attention given by the organization.

“She’s a veteran and that's good enough,” said El Reno Post Commander Larry Heald.

So as the nation celebrated its 249th birthday, Heald drove across town to honor his fellow Okarche resident on her milestone 100th birthday.

“I’ve lived in Okarche for 48 years and I met her a long time ago. It must have been like 40 years ago,” said Heald.

Centre Theatre for the Arts will present Bright Star, a bluegrass musical by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. The Centre Theatre is located at 110 S. Bickford. 

Performance dates are July 18, 19, 25 and 26 at 7 p.m., with matinee performances on July 20 and 27 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available now and seating is limited.

Drivers with the Porsche Club of America held their 69th Annual Porsche Parade in Oklahoma City.

They stopped at Fort Reno last week to tour the historic site.

Thirty-seven cars covering a wide range of the luxury sports car line were represented.

There were 12 different state car tags showing and two from Canada.

The Canadian County OSU Extension Office is hosting the Central Oklahoma Wheat Conference Aug. 4. There will be two ODAFF CEU credits offered for private pesticide, commercial applicators and research and demonstration.

The conference will be held at the Canadian Valley Technology Center Seminar Room, 6505 East Highway 66.

The event starts at 8 a.m. with Ag Coffee Connections, and the first speaker will kick off at 8:30 a.m.

WASHINGTON – Summer camp is a place where time stood still, say young women who camped at Camp Mystic.

To those who’ve spent summers there, these camps are more than just summer retreats. They are places of deep tradition, personal growth and lifelong connection, drawing individuals from across the country including states like Arkansas and Oklahoma, making the recent loss all the more profound.

No matter how much the world changed with new technology or passing trends, Mystic remained constant.

LAWSUITS

Discover Bank vs. Kenny Lopez for $2,525.33 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Kino Financial Company LLC vs. Jonathan Jones for $1,698.96 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

TD Bank N.A. vs. Savannah Stanley for $6,866.05 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Wakefield & Associates LLC vs. Wendy Bennett for $1,395.00 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

James Ray (Jim) Johnson, 89, passed away peacefully at his home in El Reno on July 1, 2025. He was born June 24, 1936, in Chandler, Oklahoma, to Tommie Ross Johnson and Myrtle Virginia (Curtis) Johnson. He spent his formative years in Chandler, graduating from Chandler High School in 1955, where he recently celebrated his 70th class reunion.

Jim enlisted in the Army National Guard on Sept. 13, 1954, as a senior in high school and served honorably until his discharge on July 8, 1963, with the rank of 1st Lieutenant.