News

The skies cleared and the sun came out as El Reno celebrated its annual Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting on Saturday. 

Organized by Main Street, the event was billed as Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree Downtown Parade. Local businessman Gary Baumwart served as Grand Marshal for the parade. 

Prior to the parade, children were invited to gather at Carnegie Library for a Christmas Craft and Santa Letter Writing event. 

Following the parade which featured dozens of colorful entries, the tree lighting was held at Petree Plaza. 

Dave Anderson, now serving his fourth term as a Canadian County commissioner, has announced he does not intend to seek re-election in 2024.

A Mustang native, Anderson has been the District 2 commissioner since January 2009. When he retires at the end of 2024, he will have completed 16 years in elected county office.

“This has been the best season of my life, the most rewarding and the most challenging,” Anderson said.

“I have been very fortunate to serve in county government during a time of tremendous growth and opportunity.

Canadian County’s child advocacy center, which has been helping abuse and neglect victims since the early 1990s, has earned a substantial gift.

The Child Abuse Response Team (C.A.R.T.) House will utilize a $10,000 grant awarded by the Sarkeys Foundation to fund forensic interviews conducted at its site near the Canadian County Courthouse.

Governed by the Child Welfare Citizens Advisory Board of Canadian County, the C.A.R.T. House serves youth ages 3-17.

Canadian County elected officials took one for the team last week when some were hit square in the face with a pie.

Officials called the event a success as it was intended to build camaraderie between co-workers. All elected officers joined to support the competition.

The Canadian County Continuous Improvement Committee raised funds to put back into future employee events.

For the better part of two decades, Oklahomans have voted by large margins to elect Republican candidates at both the state and federal level.

No Democratic presidential candidate has won a majority of votes in any of Oklahoma’s 77 counties since the 2000 election, and no Democratic candidate has won a statewide election in 17 years.

Families wanting to apply for a new private school income tax credit of up to $7,500 per child will have to wait a little longer.

The Oklahoma Tax Commission said last week it was delaying acceptance of applications after several schools had problems getting enrollment verification forms to parents and guardians.

The portal was supposed to open at 8:30 a.m. Friday.

The opening for the Parental Choice Tax Credit will now be delayed until 2 p.m. Dec. 6, the Tax Commission said.

LAWSUITS

Click N Close Inc. vs. Kerry Farson for $108,009.24 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees and foreclosure of mortgage on Lot 16, Block 5, Brookstone Lakes Phase I Addition, Oklahoma City.

OneMain Financial Group LLC vs. Eric Wilkerson for $11,170.73 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Upgrade Inc. vs. Darin Grassmann for $12,614.73 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Discover Bank vs. Robert Patton Jr. for $13,324.40 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Shoppers will find an array of Christmas gifts at the upcoming Ross Seed Makers Market. The locally-made items will be for sale on two consecutive Saturdays, Dec. 9 and Dec. 16. The Market will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days and will be housed in the Ross Pavilion on the west side of the main store.

Julie Ross-Martin said the idea for the Makers Market came up during conversations with people who were visiting the Farmers Market, also hosted at Ross Seed.

The El Reno Emergency Communications Center received information Wednesday afternoon regarding a collision involving a pedestrian and a train.

The accident occurred on the train tracks east of the intersection of Slant Street and South Choctaw Avenue.

Emergency crews responded to the scene and discovered an adult male had suffered serious injuries as a result of the collision. First responders initiated emergency medical care and the victim was ultimately transported to a medical facility for further treatment.

The filing period for one position on the El Reno Public Schools Board of Education opens Monday, Dec. 4 and will run through Wednesday, Dec. 6.

Those interested in filing for the Ward 3 position, which is the fourth seat on the board, can do so during the filing period at the Canadian County Election Board between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The county election board is located at 200 S. Bickford Avenue.