News

El Reno is showing positive growth in the area of sales tax, Assistant City Manager Tim Young reported at the February city council meeting.

Young said El Reno’s share of sales tax for the month totaled almost $1.2 million.

He said that was a 3 percent increase over the same period a year ago.

El Reno was one of four municipal governments in the county to experience a jump in sales tax revenue for the reporting period.

A jury trial is set in May for a Canadian County man charged with his wife’s murder.

Vaughn R. Cannon, 41, is accused of shooting to death Jordan Cannon in August 2023 at their eastern Canadian County home.

Jordan Cannon, 40, was a Cleveland County sheriff’s deputy and former Okarche and El Reno police officer. Vaughn Cannon also was a Cleveland County sheriff’s deputy and previously a Canadian County deputy.

Vaughn Cannon was charged Sept. 5 in Canadian County District Court with first-degree murder – deliberate intent.

Canadian County will implement a purchasing card program after approving a new county policy and designating eight card holders.

County commissioners approved the change last week.

“We’re moving into the p-card world,” Commissioner Tom Manske said.

“This is a great start. I’m excited about this. This is going to make business easy.”

County government officials have decided to use the purchasing, or p-card program to streamline the way certain county purchases are made from companies that don’t accept purchase orders.

Voter registration is nearing 100,000 in Canadian County, having increased by 5,450 voters (7.1 percent) in the past 12 months.

Canadian County’s total number of registered voters now surpasses 99,000.

Month-end registration statistics for Jan. 31 show Canadian County with 99,071 registered voters, according to the Oklahoma State Election Board.

Republicans comprise 59.27 percent of the total with 58,723 registrations.

El Reno High School cheerleaders, from left, Harper Looper, Zoe Wood and Maecy Eaton cheer on a wrestler during last week’s Oklahoma State High School Wrestling Championships.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate last week sent Gov. Kevin Stitt a bill that would eliminate the state’s sales tax on groceries.

House Bill 1955 passed by a vote of 42-2.

In addition to eliminating the state’s 4.5 percent tax, it would put a moratorium on the ability of cities and counties to raise their sales taxes on groceries until July 1, 2025.

Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, joined Senate Appropriations Chairman Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, in voting against the bill.

Thompson cited several needs the state has, and its history of down budget years.

A handful of House Republican lawmakers joined Democrats to kill a bill that would have moved school board elections to the November ballot.

A vote in opposition was a vote to effectively ensure that fewer voters — particularly parents — will be involved since school board elections would continue to be held at unusual times of the year with little-to-no publicity to alert voters that an election is scheduled.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, secured unanimous subcommittee passage of a bill that would extend the Oklahoma Promise Scholarship to all children of a certified, full-time teacher who has taught for at least 10 years in an Oklahoma public school classroom and is currently teaching.

“We know those students attending school here are 87 percent more likely to stay to live, work and raise a family here. This helps us develop our workforce and fortify our state,” he said.

LAWSUITS

CKS Prime Investments LLC vs. Shadra Llewellyn for $1,462.87 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

CKS Prime Investments LLC vs. Shari Peacock for $1,028.34 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Velocity Investments LLC vs. Ivan Garcia for $5,937.99 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Goldman Sachs Bank USA vs. Kelly Gregory for $8,822.88 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Dozens of youngsters got some up-close and hands-on learning last week when Roblyer Learning Center hosted a Family STEAM Night.

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math.

Stacey Stevenson, Roblyer STEM educator, spearheaded the Friday evening event that attracted more than 100 families to the common area at Roblyer.

Tables were set up that offered children and parents the opportunity to see, touch and participate in educational activities.