News

Ban on youth transgender surgeries clears committee

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Legislation making it illegal to perform sex-change surgeries on Oklahoma children or inject them with cross-sex hormones or puberty blockers has won easy approval in an Oklahoma Senate Committee.

Lawmakers also voted to bar state funds from paying for those procedures.

Both measures were advanced just days after Gov. Kevin Stitt called for their enactment in his State of the State address.

Mental health department disputes grounds for DOJ investigation

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WASHINGTON – Oklahoma’s mental health department rejected claims of inadequate mental health services despite an ongoing federal investigation ignited last fall by an Oklahoma law firm that claims data proves the system is failing.

Brian Wilkerson, director of litigation at the Oklahoma Disability Law Center, said that over half ― 67 percent ― of 1,100 booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center six or more times in the past three years had sought services from the state mental health department. 

Public Records - 2/14/2023

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LAWSUITS

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Krisha Nokes for $939.89 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Paul Roessler for $1,446.75 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

LVNV Funding LLC vs. David Baldus for $1,711.10 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Mike Smiley for $1,271.26 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Patricia Swain for $3,075.33 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

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Rose Day

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Residents from the Center of Family Love in Okarche attended the Rose Day gathering held last week at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City.

Rose Day is an annual event that promotes the sanctity of life and encourages lawmakers to support pro-life legislation.

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School board candidates field questions during forum

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Three candidates for an El Reno School Board seat fielded questions, some prepared in advance and others from the audience, at a forum last week leading up to the Feb. 14 primary election.

While the primary election is this coming Tuesday, if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two candidates will proceed to the school board general election set for April 4.

A candidate who receives a majority vote of 50 percent, plus one, on Feb. 14 will be elected, according to information on the website of the Oklahoma School Board Association.

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Parrott advocates for public schools during D.C. trip

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Two Canadian County school leaders traveled to the nation’s capital to attend an Advocacy for Public Schools Conference and Educational Equity Symposium.

Board of Education members Suzanne Cannon of Yukon Public Schools and Dorrie Parrott of El Reno Public Schools are Area 10 representatives on the Oklahoma State School Boards Association (OSSBA).

Restaurant owners, residents seek county voter approval on Sunday alcohol rule proposal

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Canadian County restaurant owners - along with local leaders and residents - want voters to decide whether the county’s 38-year-old Sunday alcoholic beverage sales restriction should be removed.

Since 1985, the sale of liquor by the drink before 2 p.m. on Sunday has been prohibited in the county.

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State law limits when Canadian County may call election

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Canadian County commissioners have been asked to call an election on proposed changes to the county’s liquor rules restricting Sunday sales.

But commissioners are limited on when such an election can be called for voters to decide the issue. As it stands now, the countywide vote couldn’t be held until March 2024.

Since 1985, it has been illegal for any business in Canadian County to sell liquor by the drink before 2 p.m. on Sunday.

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Donations made to three local nonprofits in honor of Terneus

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Special donations were made to three local nonprofits in honor of Margaret “Sue” Terneus, former El Reno Public Schools special education teacher. Terneus died Dec. 25, 2021.

Sue was an EHS special education teacher for more than 20 years. Her husband, John Terneus, a retired El Reno Public Schools teacher, made special donations in memory of his wife.

County to assist in new Cattlewomen’s chapter

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The Canadian County OSU Extension Office will assist with the creation of the newest Oklahoma Cattlewomen’s Association Chapter in Canadian County. The kickoff and social will be held on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Canadian County Education Building located on the old fairgrounds at 220 N. Country Club Road.

Canadian County Cattlewomen’s Association extends an invitation to all area cattlewomen.