News

Blake Foster has joined Canadian County as safety coordinator and emergency manager.

Foster, who grew up in Mustang and now lives in the Yukon area, is a former emergency medical technician with a background in environmental health and safety. He comes to the county government after being a regional manager with Amazon.

Having worked for private companies in his career, Foster said he embraced an opportunity to grow professionally in the public sector and make a larger difference to benefit county employees and residents alike.

The 41st Annual Community Christmas Dinner will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 24, said the founder of the event.

Dwight Kennedy and his wife, Diane, along with their family and a host of community volunteers have been hosting the free dinner for more than four decades now.

Kennedy made a vow when the dinner was first created that as long as he was living in El Reno, the dinner would go on.

Except for a couple of years when he lived out of town, the promise has been fulfilled.

“Everyone is welcome, come all,” Kennedy said.

El Reno attorney Roger Rinehart was recently elected to serve during 2025 as chairman of the Oklahoma Board of Bar Examiners, which governs admission to the practice of law in the state. 

Rinehart, who has served on the board since 2012, was recently reappointed by the Oklahoma Supreme Court to serve on the nine-member statewide board as an examiner representing Supreme Court Judicial District 9.

His appointment was at the request of Justice Richard Darby. 

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, along with governors from 16 other states, signed a joint letter last week urging Congress to reauthorize the farm bill and to provide “immediate financial assistance” to the agricultural sector.

Our nation’s agriculture industry is in trouble and if meaningful support is not provided soon, the well-being of the nation is at risk, the letter read.

LAWSUITS

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs. Jessica Anderson for $9,552.24 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Cavalry SPV I LLC vs. Joyce Moore for $3,487.25 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Synchrony Bank vs. Corey Frazier for $3,442.86 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Synchrony Bank vs. Roxanne Swenhaugen for $4,263.61 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Synchrony Bank vs. Brandon Drabek for $8,008.20 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Whitney Sides hit her goal, $10,000.

Actually, she topped her goal by $883. 

That’s how much was raised in memory of her late son, Colsen Girty, a 10-year-old boy who dreamed of being president and taking care of homeless people. Colsen was killed in an auto accident July 31, 2021.

His mother, with help from others, works to keep his dreams alive and in doing so, bring a little cheer to other children. 

Canadian County commissioners voted to increase the sheriff’s base salary to the maximum allowed by state statute. Commissioners voted 2-1 at their Dec. 2 meeting to raise that base pay to $74,500.

Board Chairman Tom Manske and District 3 Commissioner Tracey Rider voted yes, while District 2 Commissioner Dave Anderson voted no.

“On behalf of myself, everybody in the sheriff’s office and the citizens, we thank you and Commissioner Rider for the support,” Sheriff Chris West told Manske.

Fifty-one percent of the state of Oklahoma is classified as a maternity care desert, or an area without a single birthing facility or obstetric clinician.

This statistic makes Oklahoma’s rate of maternity care deserts the third-highest in the nation, according to a report released in September by the March of Dimes.  

A convicted felon has been sentenced to prison for killing a Blanchard woman and injuring four other people in a multi-vehicle crash between Yukon and Mustang caused by his illicit drug use and speeding.

Oklahoma City’s Marcus Cole Stephens, 28, pleaded guilty Nov. 14 to second-degree murder, driving under the influence causing personal injury (four counts), driving a motor vehicle while under the influence and possession of controlled dangerous substances.

LAWSUITS

U.S. Bank N.A. vs. Janine Bradley for $5,123.68 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Capital One N.A. vs. Joshua Graves for $4,100.33 to pay a debt plus interest and costs.

Citibank N.A. vs. Cecilia Stewart for $1,132.52 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Capital One N.A. vs. Rebecca Risenhoover for $4,847.14 to pay a debt plus interest and costs. and attorney fees.

Capital One N.A. vs. Alex Schoonover for $5,299.66 to pay a debt plus interest and costs.