News

Legislation to give local school boards more leniency in deciding how best to protect their districts will be up for consideration before the Senate Education Committee this month.

Senate Bill 1767 by Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, would authorize district boards of education to establish qualifications for additional individuals to carry firearms on public and private school property, along with the currently allowed school personnel and others outlined in law.

WASHINGTON – Oklahoma’s entire congressional delegation, in a move led by Sen. James Lankford, joined together on a letter sent to the Federal Aviation Administration in support of the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City. The letter came a day after the FAA installed a new air traffic control tower training system at an airport in Austin, Texas.

MUNICIPAL COURT

Janice Frantz, Yukon, expired tag, $165.

Austin Randall Woods, El Reno, failure to stop at stop sign, $165.

Ignacio Trujillo, Calumet, expired tag, $165.

Daniel Maurice Thompson, El Reno, failure to stop at red signal and expired tag, $295.

Tarren Amber Sherman, El Reno, speeding, $165.

Adam Kirkland, El Reno, speeding, $165.

Henry Gonzalez, Oklahoma City, disobeying traffic light and driving without license issued, $417.

Lafonda Lynn Cataline, Yukon, speeding, $165.

With an eye toward making Route 66 more attractive for both locals and visitors, the city of El Reno has purchased a former gas station at the corner of Sunset and Choctaw and is seeking grants to help with major improvements in the area.

City Manager Matt Sandidge said the city has a contract in hand to purchase the property at 120 S. Choctaw. Closing is expected to take place Feb. 29.

Mayor Steve Jensen said the city will spend approximately $150,000 to gain control of the corner property.

Keeping quiet about a movie crew filming at the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes headquarters in Concho was the goal - and that goal was successful. Well, almost.

Within an hour of actors Lou Diamond Phillips and Tommy Schulz being spotted in Concho, social media came alive with cellphone pictures and videos.

The upcoming film titled “Keep Quiet” being filmed was no longer quiet.

Construction is due to start next week on the first roundabout to be built in Canadian County.

An Oklahoma Department of Transportation contractor is scheduled to begin work Thursday, Feb. 15 at the State Highway 66 and U.S. 81 intersection in El Reno.

“Work is scheduled to take about a year and a half, weather permitting, and should be complete ahead of the Route 66 Centennial in 2026,” ODOT spokesman Bryce Boyer said.

The deadline to request absentee ballots by mail is approaching.

Applications must be received by the Canadian County Election Board no later than 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 19.

Canadian County Election Board Secretary Allen Arnold said absentee voting is available to all voters and applications can be submitted several ways.

“In Oklahoma, no excuse is needed to vote by absentee ballot, and it’s easy to apply. Voters can submit their application online, in-person, by fax, mail or even email,” said Arnold.

Darren Hamilton of Fort Supply said he will run for Oklahoma’s 3rd U.S. Congressional District. The seat is currently held by Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Cheyenne.

Hamilton is a Republican.

“My campaign, Hamilton for Oklahoma, is gaining steam because the people in our district feel it is time for a new voice that better represents our district’s ideals is sent to Washington, D.C.,” said Hamilton in a prepared statement.

A wrongful termination lawsuit filed by former Canadian County juvenile center employees against the county commissioners, a judge and center officials has been moved to federal court.

Assistant Attorney General Erin Moore and attorney Jordan Miller on Dec. 22, 2023, filed a notice of removal of the case to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma.

A need for quality affordable housing has led Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity to launch its “most ambitious” project to date – a 160-acre development in eastern Canadian County.

The Cornerstone Creek neighborhood will provide “450 affordable, well-built homes” at the southwest corner of N.W. 150th and North Morgan Road. The property is between Piedmont and Yukon in northwest Oklahoma City.

Grading is complete and home builds will start in early 2024.