January 2026

Body The triple-murder trial of Stacy Lee Drake, the Alabama felon accused of the June 2024 murders of Tara Underwood and Taylor Sharp at LaFerry’s Propane near Gans as well as the El Reno slaying of Phillip Emerson, has been postponed until February 2027, according to Sequoyah County...

Body The operator of an industrial-sized excavator suffered only minor injuries when the unit being driven flipped onto its side at a demolition site in the 500 block of South Rock Island last week.

Body Families are invited to meet Clifford the Big Red Dog and receive a free children’s book during a special Bookmobile visit from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10 at The Filling Station, 120 S. Choctaw Ave.

Body For the first time in two years, the Board of Canadian County Commissioners has a new chairman.Commissioners, at their Jan. 5 regular meeting, elected District 3 Commissioner Tracey Rider as their chairman and District 2 Commissioner Lacey Dawson as vice chairman for 2026.

Body Cleanup crews were busy this week clearing the future site of a new four-story Canadian County Courthouse at 201 N. Choctaw.A 112,407-square-foot building will be constructed where M&M Wrecking recently demolished the county’s 63-year-old Administration Building.

Body Crafton Tull Foundation has awarded Blessing Baskets a $2,000 grant.The Crafton Tull Foundation supports community service initiatives of Crafton Tull employees by pooling their resources and directing them to charitable organizations that resonate with their team members.

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Body A ballot measure going before Oklahoma voters calls for imposing a dramatic increase in the state’s mandatory minimum wage with continued, rapid escalation based on the cost of living in urban centers in states like California and New York.State Sen.

Body MUNICIPAL COURTLaisha Alaniz, Elsa, Texas, speeding, $165.Christina Castro, El Reno, driving without valid driver’s license, $395.Sterlyn Whitecrow, El Reno, petit larceny, $595.Joseph Whitecrow, El Reno, petit larceny, $595.Dominic Nuncio, El Reno, expired tag, $165.

Body Freshman Jaida Richardson scored a season-high 18 points but it wasn’t enough as El Reno High School’s girls basketball team kicked off the 2026 portion of its schedule with a 61-38 road loss to Midwest City.