News

Friends of the El Reno Animal Shelter, a new organization, hosted an opportunity for families to bring their pets to take Christmas pictures with Santa and the Grinch.

Almost 50 furry friends took advantage of the opportunity, which was a fundraiser for the Friends of the Shelter group. The group provided backgrounds and photo opportunities for anyone who wanted to bring their pets. Several of the dogs attending the event showed up in their best Christmas clothes and accessories.

If at first you don’t succeed …

After its first proposal was denied, Youth and Family Services was successful last week in its effort to acquire land owned by Canadian County.

Commissioners accepted Youth and Family Services $100,000 bid for vacant land near the county’s juvenile center.

“This is a four-acre tract that we’ve advertised before for sale,” Commissioner Dave Anderson said.

Youth and Family Services was the only bidder – both times.

Lena Corona was sitting on the porch of her Seminole home, blood dripping from her hand, when police arrived at 2:45 a.m.

Her dad stood behind her, pressing a T-shirt over the wound on his chest where Corona had plunged a shard of glass. 

When he called 911 on July 10, Freddy Corona hoped police would take his teenage daughter to the hospital as they had done fewer than 24 hours earlier when she threatened him with a metal rod while in psychosis.

LAWSUITS

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Carol Hill for $1,126.99 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Maria Guest for $1,069.26 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Sharon Levi for $895.73 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Goldman Sachs Bank USA vs. Robert Miller for $9,476.29 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Discover Bank vs. Jorge Rozo for $6,621.67 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Editor’s Note: Like every new year, 2023 provided fresh opportunities, challenges and celebrations for many. Others may not view the happenings of the year, now in the rearview mirror, as opportunities, but rather distractions, obstacles and sadly, heartache.

This is our annual look back at the year that was and some of the stories that made headlines. So we say welcome to 2024 and as the song by Robert Earl Keen says … the road goes on forever and the party never ends.

January

A Canadian County judge has ordered a defendant to be held without bail in an El Reno murder case.

Norman’s Delsin Joshua Tsotigh, 21, is housed in the Canadian County Jail after being charged Nov. 9 in Canadian County District Court with first-degree murder – deliberate intent.

Tsotigh allegedly shot to death a Newcastle man in late October at a home in the 600 block of Reformatory Road. Justin Peyton Davidson, 20, died after suffering a gunshot wound to the head.

Canadian County voters will head to the polls in March to decide whether to update the county’s liquor laws. Canadian County is the only county in Oklahoma that prohibits sales of alcohol by the drink from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, although 15 counties have other Sunday restrictions.

That would change if county voters pass a March 5 ballot measure to allow “sales of alcoholic beverages by the individual drink for on-premises consumption” starting at 8 a.m. on Sundays.

Ella McReynolds of El Reno is among 13 Oklahoma State University undergraduate students selected as Niblack Research Scholars for the 2023-24 school year, earning an $8,000 scholarship and the opportunity to conduct research with faculty across campus.

McReynolds is majoring in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics.

The Niblack Research Scholars Program has been a key part of OSU’s undergraduate research success for 18 years. The program allows these students to perform cutting-edge research in various fields under faculty mentors supervision.

Former Kingfisher and Canadian County prosecutor Eric Epplin will return to District 4 on Jan. 2, as incoming District Attorney Tommy Humphries’ first assistant DA, Humphries said.        

“I am excited to return home to District 4,” Epplin said. “Tommy Humphries is going to be an outstanding district attorney and I am honored that he has invited me back.”   

LAWSUITS

American Express National Bank vs. Randal Walker for $4,300.51 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Kino Financial Company LLC vs. Brandon Watts for $8,957.64 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Kino Financial Company LLC vs. Elizabeth Sneddon for $9,766.07 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

DNF Associates LLC vs. Kristopher Knapp for $1,854.68 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.