Latest Posts

New Hope WMU conducts meeting

Body

Members of the Women’s Missionary Union of New Hope Baptist Church met recently for their final session until fall, with Carol Johnson offering opening prayer.

The group approved donations to Blessing Baskets Summer Food Program, Baptist youth camp registration, ICAN Women’s Shelter, CART House, The Lord’s Harvest, Youth and Family Services and postage for mailing of Military Gift Boxes.

ER Wranglers hold gathering

Body

The El Reno Wranglers met recently for their June gathering, the first meeting since March due to COVID-19. There were 29 members present and one guest, Emily Marchman. 

Brady Armold led the flag salute and Gary Sorrells offered prayer. 

Members discussed riding in the Chickasha parade June 27. Possible trail rides and upcoming play days were also discussed. 

The next meeting will be held July 2 beginning at 6 p.m. with a cookout and trail ride.

Public Records - June 13

Body

MUNICIPAL COURT

Fritz Jimmie Woods, El Reno, driving under suspension, $395.

Mason Allen Ross, El Reno, expired tag, $165.

Tyson David Ward, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $295.

Matthew E. Harms, El Reno, dog at large, $145.

Samantha J. Woodruff, El Reno, dog at large, $145.

Donnie Ray Everhart, El Reno, dog at large, $145.

Yolanda G. Castilleja, Yukon, violation of property maintenance code, $145.

Garth Allen Strider, El Reno, improper equipment, $105.

A good run

Body

While not running on all cylinders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers could not have been more pleased with the outcome of the 22nd annual A Small Town Weekend.

“Considering the situation with the coronavirus, I think it was as good as it could possibly have been,” said El Reno Cruisers President Allen Conner.

The event schedule was trimmed, but crowds still turned out, said Conner.

The popular Route 66 Burnout as well as the Hot Wheels races and the drag races were not held this year.

Ted Baker wipes down the cab of his 1929 Ford named Miss Lizzy

All in the family

Body

While the El Reno High School graduation of 2020 was more than memorable for a number of reasons, another fact will be included in the pages of EHS history.

EHS English instructor Brian Rukes and his students spent more than a year researching the 44 men who died as a result of service in World War II who had attended El Reno public schools. The rededication of Memorial Field in October 2019 in honor of these fallen patriots captured attention far and wide.

It also led to a number of other areas where these men could be honored.

Cash Crawford and Chasity Ramos hold up photos

Fairly soon

Body

Canadian County officials said they expect to begin seeing foundation work at the site of the new fairgrounds complex later this month.

District 2 County Commissioner David Anderson said the state fire marshal has signed off on the county’s fire safety plan. And the county’s building permit has been issued.

The permit had to be issued by the state fire marshal’s office because the site is in an unincorporated part of the county, just east of El Reno.

It is located at the intersection of Alfadale and Jensen roads.

Dirt work is under way at the site of the new Canadian County Fairgrounds

Absentee ballots deadline nears

Body

Voters in Canadian County who want to have absentee ballots mailed to them for the June 30 primary election as well as elections for City of Piedmont Ward 3, City of Piedmont Ward 5, Banner School Board, Riverside School Board, Okarche School Board, Geary School Board and Caddo-Kiowa Tech Center Board Member should apply now, said Canadian County Election Board Secretary Wanda Armold.

Although the county election board can accept applications for absentee ballots until 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, Armold said voters who want to vote by absentee ballot should apply early.

Lawmakers exempt themselves from budget cuts

Body

As lawmakers faced a $1.3 billion shortfall this year, a wide range of cuts were discussed, along with various fee and tax increases. But one thing was never aggressively pursued as a cost-saving measure, at least publicly: forgoing a 35 percent increase in legislative pay set to take effect in November.

In 2019, the Legislative Compensation Board voted to boost legislators annual pay from $35,021 to $47,500, effective November 2020. The total cost of the pay raise is more than $1.8 million for all 149 lawmakers — $1.2 million in the House and just under $600,000 in the Senate.

Oklahoma State Capitol