News

“Cheyenne people and Arapaho people always find their way home, either in life or in death … they always come home.”

The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes held a burial remembrance ceremony to lay to rest the remains of two young females and one male repatriated under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) from the University of Denver.

The ceremony took place Dec. 20.

The El Reno Public Schools Foundation has another scholarship to award after the Matt and Elisha White Scholarship was created.

Dana Gibson, longtime board member of the ERPS Foundation, said the scholarship will be endowed at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation and will provide a minimum of $1,000 per year to the selected student.

White, the former mayor of El Reno and his wife created the scholarship as a way to “give back” to the community.

Several annual appointments were finalized as Canadian County commissioners conducted their first meeting of 2023.

Mustang’s David Anderson, the four-term District 2 commissioner, will continue as chairman of the three-member board for this calendar year. Commissioners typically rotate chairmanship, but Anderson agreed Jan. 3 to remain chair for another year since two-thirds of the board has changed since late November.

“The chairman conducts the meetings and does all of the official communication on behalf of the board to anyone who corresponds with us,” Anderson said.

TUSKAHOMA — A Texas developer canceled plans for a $1.5 billion hydroelectric storage project in this southeast Oklahoma river community last week, citing protests from 200 residents and opposition from the Choctaw Nation.

Tomlin Energy LLC proposed using Kiamichi River outflow to produce energy that would stabilize grids in Oklahoma and Texas during extreme weather.

El Reno police arrested a 22-year-old Kansas man on several complaints including firing a gun and assault with a dangerous weapon on Jan. 1, reports said.

Assistant Police Chief Maj. Kirk Dickerson said police were called to the area of Choctaw and Elm just before 2 p.m. after receiving reports that a man in a vehicle was firing a gun.

Police said callers reported the man was firing from a maroon four-door sedan and left the scene headed north on Rock Island.

As 2022 entered its final quarter, changes continued. More honors were bestowed on those who served the community and plans were announced to honor more, especially those who “gave all.” New leaders were chosen and events continued to keep area people moving about.

September

Having served as both an educator and coach for more than five decades at El Reno Public Schools, very few things could catch Ken Posey off guard.

Two new Canadian County elected leaders ushered in 2023 with new four-year terms.

An official swearing-in ceremony for county elected officials was held Jan. 3 inside Courtroom 1 at the Canadian County Judicial Building.

District Judge Paul Hesse administered the oath of office to new District 1 Commissioner Tom Manske of Yukon and District 3 Commissioner Tracey Rider of El Reno.

After helping lead a Canadian County nonprofit ministry through a period of strong growth, Joanne Riley believes she’s right where she belongs.

Having stepped down in late November after 5 1/2 years with Compassionate Hands, Riley is the new executive director at the Child Abuse Response Team House in El Reno.

“Helping children through trauma has been very, very close to my heart,” Riley said.

“I knew that child advocacy centers existed, but I never got to watch it work until I came here. I am just amazed.”