News

Mike Kelley earned 64.77 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s primary runoff to claim victory in the Oklahoma House District 60 race against fellow Yukon Republican Ron Lynch.

With all 17 precincts reporting, the retired fire chief topped the small-business owner by a 1,458 to 793 vote margin.

Kelley – executive director/CEO of the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association – will succeed Yukon Republican Rhonda Baker as District 60 representative in the 101-member House of Representatives. The next two-year term starts in November.

685.

That's the number of open missing persons cases currently in the state of Oklahoma.

They are listed in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) database. 

Of that number, 84 are listed as Native American.

Across the country a spotlight has continued to shine on the number of missing and/or murdered Indigenous people.

Canadian County will utilize nearly half a million dollars to combat the epidemic of opioid abuse.

County commissioners have approved a distributors settlement agreement between Canadian County and the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office.

The Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Board awarded Canadian County $481,731.30 as part of a statewide effort to counter the opioid crisis.

The settlement funds will be distributed to Canadian County over 18 years.

LAWSUITS

Tinker Federal Credit Union vs. Franklin Nance for $12,490.97 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Tinker Federal Credit Union vs. Jonathan Leach for $11,616.58 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Tinker Federal Credit Union vs. Hla Aung for $10,461.80 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Tinker Federal Credit Union vs. Creighton Newfarmer for $13,213.38 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

A retired Canadian County sheriff’s deputy has donated artwork depicting two historic Canadian County buildings.

Yukon’s Harold Shaver presented paintings of the old county jail and stables to Canadian County commissioners. Earlier, commissioners had approved a resolution that allowed the sheriff’s office to accept the gift.

Shaver, a U.S. Air Force veteran, was a Canadian County sheriff’s deputy from April 1980 to September 2000. He worked at the old jail and retired as a lieutenant.

A new manager is being sought for the El Reno Regional Airport. 

City Manager Matt Sandidge said Baily Kennemer has left the position after serving in that role for the past 2 1/2 years. 

Sandidge did not disclose the reason for the departure. He did say three part-time employees are still in place at the airport.

Sandidge said interviews for a new manager have been scheduled and he is excited about the candidates.

The goal is to have a new manager in place before the Sept. 28 airshow. 

A demolition crew has taken down a longtime structure at the corner of Sunset and Admire. The property once housed a restaurant and later a used furniture store.

Ross Seed purchased the property from Dwight Kennedy. Julie Ross-Martin said the plan for now is to asphalt the lot.

The city of El Reno has been working to improve the appearance along Sunset Drive, which is Route 66, prior to the Centennial of the historic highway in 2026.

The city of El Reno has received a $1.5 million loan from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to continue making improvements to drainage infrastructure. The loan comes attached with a “100 percent forgiveness” clause.

City Manager Matt Sandidge said the funds will be used to engineer additional drainage projects throughout town. 

The funds will be administered through the El Reno Municipal Authority. 

The University of Oklahoma is being paid millions in federal funds to tout climate-change theories in a race-based context, according to a recent announcement from the university.

LAWSUITS

Velocity Investments LLC vs. Decovan Doss for $21,574.73 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

U.S. Bank N.A. vs. Kyle Sims for $198,960.18 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees and foreclosure of mortgage on Lot 21, Block 17, Robertson’s Landing Phase III Addition, Oklahoma City.

BancFirst vs. Shelah Express LLC for $51,104.04 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

BancFirst vs. Lane Hoggerz Trucking LLC for $55,741.88 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.