News

After a career of nearly 40 years in higher education that included being inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame and serving a decade as president of Redlands Community College, Jack Bryant said he will retire effective Aug. 1.

Bryant will be named president emeritus. The Redlands Community College Board of Regents last week named Executive Vice President/Chief of Staff Jena Marr interim president effective April 1.

Canadian County commissioners have started work reviewing formal requests totaling $16.63 million for $12.17 million in federal stimulus funds they have left to allocate.

Canadian County received $28,806,702 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021, a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill designed to speed up the country’s recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and an ongoing recession.

Leaders of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes said they commend Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and his Geographic Naming Advisory Board for recommending renaming Mount Evans in Clear Creek County, Colo., to Mount Blue Sky.

“We as Cheyenne and Arapaho people are excited and pleased with the name change recommendation from Colorado Gov. Jared Polis,” said C&A Gov. Reggie Wassana. “Thank you to all of you who came to the table, zoom meetings, and felt this was the best solution to promote healing of our Cheyenne and Arapaho people.”

Following are results from the Canadian County Junior Livestock Show:

BARROWS

Berkshire
Addilyn Wood, Yukon FFA, Breed Champion; Madison Shout, Piedmont FFA, Reserve Breed Champion; Jake Vulgamore, El Reno FFA, 1st; Bryson Cooper, Maple 4-H, 1st; Gabby Nayfa, Union City FFA, 2nd; Presley Alsip, Piedmont FFA, 2nd; Gage Lesperance, El Reno FFA, 3rd; Jordan McBane, Mustang 4-H, 3rd.

Chester White
Nicholas Armitage, Miller 4-H, Breed Champion; Preslee Bennett, Yukon FFA, Reserve Breed Champion; Hayden Cook Piedmont, FFA, 1st.

WASHINGTON - The chief concern for the nation’s truckers — a safe place to sleep — has caught the attention of an Oklahoma congressman who might be able to help.

During Rep. Tom Cole’s (R-Moore) first virtual town hall meeting of the current session of Congress, a trucker named Ken from Del City expressed his concern about the lack of safe, available parking for truckers to stop and sleep. He said it is a dire problem that needs federal attention. 

MUNICIPAL COURT

Shanda Lee, Watonga, failure to comply, $145.

Joseph Ellis Morlan, Watonga, failure to comply, $145.

Claudia Gomez, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $245.

Andrew Smith, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $245.

Damon Redbird, Oklahoma City, expired tag, speeding and failure to appear warrant, $575.

Dalton Edward McLearen, El Reno, speeding, $165.

Chase Michael Epperson, Edmond, leaving scene of accident involving property damage, $195.

Ray Hosler and his wife, Karlita fought for years to try and protect two young relatives from abuse inflicted by their biological parents. They would eventually succeed, but only after the pair were sentenced to decades in prison for child abuse and neglect.

But the battle, especially for Ray, isn’t over. He won’t be satisfied until those who he said had the power to end the abuse many months before are held accountable.

He said many adults charged with protecting vulnerable children ignored a situation he called “obvious.”

More people are interested in El Reno’s parks. And that’s a good thing.

City Planner Dustin Downey said a recent survey concerning what people want at the local parks drew 599 responses. That's up from 470 responses the city received in a park survey conducted in 2020.

According to the responses, people want more sidewalks and trails. Close to 88 percent of those responding said they strongly support expanding the sidewalk and trails system.

The city last week broke ground on the expansion of the trail at Lake El Reno.

Voters decided that Oklahoma is not ready for adult use cannabis, also referred to as recreational marijuana. State Question 820 was defeated by a vote of 349,121 no votes to 216,883 yes votes – 61.68 percent to 38.32 percent.

All 77 counties rejected the state question. Total voter turnout was 25.35 percent of those eligible to vote in this election.

Canadian County joined in the rejection, with more than 63 percent of county voters casting no votes, compared to 36 percent in favor, figures from the Canadian County Election Board show.

The Centre Theatre for the Arts is partnering with the Elks Lodge to host a Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre Fundraiser on April 1.

The name of the show is “Revenge at the Reunion” and is directed by Doug Richardson. The cast includes Roger Johnson, Jack Patchell, Kristin Richardson, Katie Vandiver and Jennifer White. 

The event will be held at the El Reno Elks Lodge and is an adult-only event.