News

Oklahoma voters sent a message in 2016: Stop sending people to prison on minor drug and property crimes. Direct money saved to counties for drug and mental health treatment. State lawmakers still haven’t gotten the second half of that.

LAWSUITS U.S. Bank N.A. vs. Lisa L. Owens for $51,380.96 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees. Jesse K. Woods and Lisa Woods vs. Matthew Williams for $26,674.96 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

A proposal to build 360 new homes on land zoned Heavy Industrial (I-3) on SE 27th Street did not receive a warm welcome last week from the Municipal Planning Commission. In the words of MPC member Mike Freeman, it was a matter of “Not this, and not here.”

Following the recommendations of the Municipal Authority, the El Reno City Council held a special meeting last week to approve three agenda items which totaled nearly $470,000.

After battling triple-digit heat last week for marching practice, El Reno High School band members cooled off with water fights.

Canadian County commissioners are in the process of hiring a new emergency management director. Andrew Skidmore recently resigned as Canadian County’s emergency manager and safety coordinator, a post he had held since September 2018.

“Hope in the City” is coming to First Assembly of God in El Reno. The church is partnering with 19 other churches and organizations in the area to distribute a total of 5,000 backpacks filled with school supplies.

Oklahoma schools have received millions of dollars in annual funding to teach English to bilingual students who have already mastered the language, apparently allowing schools to inflate their budgets without providing extra services, a state watchdog agency has found.

Residents in the Williamstown and Wessex areas are hoping a plan to drill oil and gas wells near their homes can be stopped. Revolution Operating Company, LLC has filed an application to drill on property just south of Elm and west of South Reno.

El Reno turned out in a big way last week to support Blessing Baskets Inc. at its annual Festival of the Trees Christmas in July Dinner and Auction. Organizers said the colorful event, held at the Palace Event Center on Banner Road, exceeded expectations.