News

In response to years of feral hogs causing extensive damage to property and agriculture in rural Oklahoma, Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, has introduced SB478, the Free to Hunt Feral Hogs Bill, designed to remove all required permits for hunting feral hogs and free Oklahomans to protect their land, crops and livestock from their destructive impact.

Feral hogs cause an estimated $1.5 billion in damage annually across the United States, with Oklahoma bearing $30 to $50 million in losses each year. 

MUNICIPAL COURT

Stormy Porter, El Reno, trespassing on private property, $245.

Christina Deanne McClure, El Reno, failure to stop at stop sign, $165.

Oscar Rodriguez Lozano, El Reno, driving without license issued, $252.

Christine Marie Pannell, Oklahoma City, speeding and driving under suspension, $560.

Marcus Fisher, El Reno, dog at large, $145.

Gerald Par Artinian, Weatherford, speeding, $165.

Craig Allen Clemons, Oklahoma City, speeding, $185.

Bryce Gene Hansen, El Reno, failure to stop at red signal, $165.

El Reno was blanketed by several inches of snow last week and overnight temperatures in the teens and low 20s.

Canadian County’s chief district judge has his sights set on the state’s highest court.

Paul A. Hesse is among 14 applicants who want to fill a vacancy on the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

He is serving his eighth year as a Canadian County district judge.

“I decided to submit my application for the Supreme Court position because of the monumental opportunity to continue to serve our state on the highest court,” said Hesse of Mustang.

“Vacancies on the state Supreme Court are rare.”

When Congress passed a continuing resolution in December in order to avoid a government shutdown, it included a small provision backed by Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK3) with big impacts for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes.

The Canadian Valley Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution celebrated the patriotism and community spirit of the fire stations in El Reno, Yukon and Mustang. Members of the chapter, including the distinguished American Revolution Color Guard, visited each station to present Certificates of Commendation for Patriotism.

Oklahoma City police are investigating a homicide that occurred in eastern Canadian County. Police were called at 9:09 a.m. Jan. 4 to a shooting at a residence in the 9300 block of S.W. 45th Court.

Responding officers discovered Shawn Lawrence, age 41, deceased at the scene.

He appeared to have been shot to death.

Investigators learned Lawrence was involved in an altercation when he was shot and killed.

The suspected shooter and other involved persons were interviewed and released, police said.

LAWSUITS

LVNV Funding LLC vs. James Vanwagner for $2,360.29 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Johnny Kiser for $2,523.01 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Jason Guest for $3,246.73 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Michelle Whiteman for $1,212.37 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Somer Gum for $1,145.83 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

El Reno pushed through with an aggressive annexation plan during a second special city council meeting Tuesday night.

And just like the first gathering held the week before, the residents of the targeted areas were having none of it. 

The city of El Reno has invested close to $10 million in improvements to waterline infrastructure in addition to well fields and the water treatment plant to avoid issues caused by past extreme winter weather events.

The push for improvements stemmed from the deep freeze of 2021 when Oklahoma residents experienced several days of subarctic February temperatures.

Those temperatures, coupled with loss of power at the water treatment plant, strained the city’s water tower reserves.