News

Last Friday, downtown El Reno was busy with holiday shoppers, with several businesses offering special one-night deals.

A Canadian County man faces a felony murder charge for allegedly causing his daughter’s fentanyl-related death.

George Harold Graves, 54, was formally charged in Canadian County District Court with first-degree murder stemming from a Feb. 11 drug overdose at a Calumet home.

Assistant District Attorney Austin T. Murrey alleges Graves “regardless of malice … took the life” of Stormie Jasmine Graves, “whose death resulted from George Graves’ commission of the felony offense of distribution of fentanyl.”

The plans to build a 12,000-seat music amphitheater near Mustang are said to be not too far from work getting started.

Notes Live, the group with plans to put the Sunset Amphitheater just east of the John Kilpatrick Turnpike near 15th Street and Sara Road, hosted community members who surround the area and gave a presentation, allowing them to give feedback to the group regarding the project in advance of filing the project with OKC’s Planning Commission.

The Oklahoma Water Resources Center is set to conduct well water analysis for citizens in Canadian County.

Samples will be accepted at the Canadian County Educational Building from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13. The results of the tests will be provided directly to citizens.

Well owners who would like to have their well water analyzed for free are encouraged to contact the Canadian County Extension Office for information on how to collect a sample.

MUNICIPAL COURT

Joseph Michael Lang, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $245.

Blake Aaron Autrey, Connelly Springs, N.C., disorderly conduct, $595.

Gary Lee Morton Jr., El Reno, allowing unlicensed driver to drive, $295.

Tyler Jordan Berry, Edmond, expired tag and failure to stop at stop sign, $330.

Wyatt Henry Fechter, Howard, Kan., failure to maintain a single lane, $175.

Veronica Colyer, Salix, Iowa, speeding, $165.

Roberta Ann Hamilton, El Reno, speeding, $165.

In what has become a Thanksgiving tradition, the El Reno Tribune asked area students how to cook a turkey.

Emily O’Hara’s kindergarten class at Sacred Heart:

El Reno Public Schools Foundation celebrated the lives and achievements of three EHS graduates at its annual Distinguished Alumni Banquet.

In a written welcome, Justin Tate, president of the ERPSF, welcomed those attending the event at the Canadian Valley Technology Center.

Tate said the foundation was started in 1988 and over the years it has provided more than $250,000 in scholarships to El Reno High School graduates. It has also provided more than $550,000 in grant funding to educators.

With the current bond measure set to mature in 2026, the El Reno Public Schools Board of Education voted last week to hire an old friend to direct future needs for the district.

Superintendent Matt Goucher recommended an agreement with Chickasha-based CMS Willowbrook Inc. to become the construction manager for future projects.

The board approved by a 4-0 vote.

It’s called giving back.

On Thursday, Javier and Rosalia Pecina, along with family and friends, plan to hand out, for free, traditional Thanksgiving dinners to anyone and everyone who shows up asking for one. Or in some cases, two.

For the owners of Pecina’s Mexican Cafe, this will be the fourth year to provide Thanksgiving meals to the community. Located at 316 S. Choctaw, the restaurant is tucked inside a small building that regularly sees vehicles parked in front of it during the noon and dinner hours.

More than three years after opening the Canadian County Expo and Event Center, county officials are studying future management and operation of the old county fairgrounds.

The seven-acre property at 220 N. Country Club Road houses the Canadian County OSU Extension Office, Education Building, livestock barn, greenhouse and storage building.

Part of the site is rented for a truck driver training academy and booked regularly for private events.