October 2025

OML promotes Rinehart to General Counsel job

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The Oklahoma Municipal League recently promoted Christian Rinehart to General Counsel.

“We are thrilled to announce that Christian has been promoted to General Counsel,” said Mike Fina, executive director of the Oklahoma Municipal League.

“Christian works with cities and towns of all sizes from across the state of Oklahoma on a daily basis on inquiries including complex municipal legal issues.

Christian Rinehart_story

Deadline to register for Nov. 18 voting nears

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Friday, Oct. 24 is the last day to apply for voter registration in order to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 18 General Election for the City of El Reno, General Election for the City of Mustang and the Special Election for Minco Public Schools, said Canadian County Election Board Secretary Allen Arnold.

Arnold said persons who are U.S. citizens, residents of Oklahoma and at least 17 ½ years old are eligible to apply for voter registration. However, you must be at least 18 years old to vote.

A precinct worker begins the closing process at a voting site

Absentee balloting requests open

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Voters in Canadian County who want absentee ballots mailed to them for the City of El Reno General Election, City of Mustang General Election and the Minco Public Schools Special Election set for Nov. 18 should apply now, county election board secretary Allen Arnold said.

Absentee ballots are available to all registered voters, provided they are eligible to vote in the election requested.

No excuse is needed to vote by absentee ballot. The deadline for requesting an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3.

Absentee balloting requests open_art

John Duane Crider

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It is with profound sadness we share the news of the passing of John Duane Crider. Surrounded by family, he was welcomed into the arms of angels on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in Edmonds, Washington. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Lou and John Crider of Lamont, Oklahoma, his brother, Dick Crider and sister, Kay Fiebig. 

John Duane Crider_obituary

Three medal in SC runs

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El Reno High School collected three medals and a sixth-place team finish from the boys at the 2025 Suburban Conference Cross Country Championships.

Running in Shawnee, the boys posted 139 points to finish three points back of Del City for fifth. The effort was led by sophomore Abraham Scarritt, who took 10th place on the 5,000-meter course, earning All-Suburban Conference honors, with a time of 18 minutes and 34.54 seconds.

Shannon Russell got an all-conference nod with his 27th-place time of 20:20, followed by Dominick Steinbruck (21:28) in 38th place.

From left, Lily Owen, Shannon Russell and Abraham Scarritt

El Reno spikers ousted

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El Reno High School volleyball player Victoria Ibarra digs up a shot from the back row during the Indians playoff match with Suburban Conference rival Guthrie.

The Indians defeated the Bluejays in three games but were eliminated by Oklahoma Christian School.

See Wednesday’s edition for a playoff wrapup.

El Reno spikers ousted_story

Stitt calls for state superintendent to be appointed, not elected

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Gov. Kevin Stitt has appointed Lindel Fields of Tulsa, a longtime CareerTech educator, as Oklahoma’s new state superintendent.

Fields replaces State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, who resigned mid-term to become CEO of the Teacher Freedom Alliance, an alternative to traditional teachers unions.

But in naming Fields state superintendent, Stitt took things one step further.

Kevin Stitt

RCC splits matches to end road swing

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Capping off a four-game road swing, Redlands Community College women’s soccer team was shut out by Rose State 2-0 as the Raiders swept the NJCAA Region 2 series over the Cougars.

Redlands was coming off a 4-0 win over Connors State, which gave the season series to the Cougars – both by shutouts.

The split left the Cougars with a 1-3 mark on the road trip and a 6-6-1 overall record.

Redlands dropped to 4-6 in the overall Region 2 standings for sixth place.