News

After serving for almost four months in an interim capacity, state officials made it official – Allen Arnold will be Canadian County Election Board secretary.

“I just feel very blessed to have been put into this position, and I look forward to serving the citizens of Canadian County in this capacity,” Arnold said.

Senators Jack Stewart, Paul Rosino, Lonnie Paxton and Kristen Thompson wrote a letter in December to the Oklahoma State Election Board recommending Arnold for the position.

A former Yukon convenience store worker faces possible prison time for allegedly embezzling more than $7,000 from the business.

El Reno’s Stephannie Louise Myers, 41, was charged Jan. 9 in Canadian County District Court with embezzlement. The felony is punishable by up to five years in state prison, a maximum $5,000 fine and restitution.

Yukon police investigated the alleged crime, which was reported between Dec. 21 and Jan. 2.

El Reno got its first taste of winter weather last week with several inches of snow.

Temperatures were back near 50 degrees a day after the snow fell, which led to widespread melting.

More winter weather is forecasted for early next week.

A new group of young ambassadors is getting ready for this spring’s Canadian County Youth Livestock Show.

The Canadian County Herdsmanship Youth Advisory Board is comprised of student leaders from the county’s FFA chapters and 4-H clubs.

“This is the first one … the pilot group,” said adviser Alexis Graham, a Canadian County 4-H extension educator.

“They’re blazing a frontier. They’re the ones getting it all started.

Russell-Murray Hospice held its first-ever Caring for Generations Gala. The event was held at the Palace Event Center and served as a fundraiser to assist patients in Russell-Murray care.

The not-for-profit was founded in El Reno and has expanded to include other areas of central Oklahoma. Co-founder Vicki Myers was honored withthe Legacy Award.

Candidates interested in filing for offices in the City of Piedmont, Town of Calumet, Town of Okarche and Town of Union City will file Declarations of Candidacy beginning 8 a.m. Monday, Feb. 6.

Allen Arnold, secretary of the Canadian County Election Board, said Declaration of Candidacy forms must be completed and submitted to the county election board no later than 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, when the filing period ends.

Calling all serious karaoke singers.

Sugar Creek Casino in Hinton will host a karaoke contest at the Sugar Creek Event Center, with more than $5,000 in cash prizes to be handed out.

The event will have contestants performing on the 2,000-square-foot stage, complete with lights and concert quality sound.

OKLAHOMA CITY — In 2021, Oklahoma’s tourism industry showed an impressive rebound, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

New research commissioned by the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department shows the industry generated a record-breaking $10.1 billion in direct visitor spending, increasing industry employment by 4.6 percent and exceeding 2019 visitor spending by 3.2 percent

"I am incredibly proud of the impressive strides made by our state’s tourism industry,” said Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Reporters, lawmakers and legislative observers have spent plenty of time reading in recent years.

More than 3,000 bills and joint resolutions were filed in the House and Senate leading up to the Jan. 26 filing deadline.

While we now have a better sense of what lawmakers wish to accomplish, the picture still isn’t entirely clear. Appropriations bills and resolutions may be filed throughout the session, which begins Monday, Feb. 6 and runs through late May.

The Oklahoma Municipal League in partnership with the Fort Sill Apache Tribe and the city of Lawton hosted the first in a series of meetings called Sovereignty and Cities, United Strength.

OML and the municipalities they represent are interested in forming stronger relationships with the Tribal Nations in their areas.    

The meeting was held Jan. 23.  
   
“We are committed to creating meaningful partnerships with the Tribal Nations,” said Mike Fina, Executive Director of OML.