News

A law enforcement investigation was conducted last week that involved the FBI in Calumet.

An FBI spokesman said he could not provide any information about a Calumet investigation.

“Due to the ongoing investigation, I can’t say anything,” said FBI spokesman Connor Hagan.

“The FBI was involved in a court-authorized law enforcement operation in Calumet, but due to the nature of the investigation, I can’t provide any details at this point of time.”

A Canadian County burn ban has been extended two more weeks.

Canadian County commissioners last week approved continuing the outdoor burning prohibition due to an “extreme fire danger” caused by dry, windy conditions.

The burn ban, which began Dec. 20, is now due to expire at 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 31.

Canadian County Emergency Management Director Andrew Skidmore recommended extending the burn ban after hearing from the county’s fire chiefs.

“I emailed all the fire chiefs – rural, volunteer and career fire departments,” Skidmore told commissioners.

Candidate filing will open next week for three seats on the Canadian County Fair Board. The board is comprised of nine members, three serving from each county commissioner district.

Each year, three fair board seats are up for election. This year, incumbents facing re-election are Justin Atkinson of El Reno (District 1), Ken Carpenter of Mustang (District 2) and Dan Wedman of Calumet (District 3).

Candidates will file between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 24 through Friday, Jan. 28 at the Canadian County Clerk’s Office, 201 N. Choctaw.

SSM Health Medical Group said Dr. George Ghata has joined its practice.

Ghata is a primary care physician who specializes in sports medicine.

He will offer care for injuries and conditions and related pain management as well as general illnesses, concussions and exercise-induced asthma in adult and adolescent patients.

He also has extensive experience serving as a team physician for professional and collegiate sports organizations.

Redlands Community College recently hosted a visit from Chancellor Allison Garrett, the new leader of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Garrett visited with students and staff during a tour of the campus which included the Darlington Agriculture Education and Applied Research Center’s aquaponics labs.

A new law touted as giving parents more choices as far as their children’s educational opportunities is drawing puzzling response from El Reno Public Schools.

Co-authored by Republican lawmakers Adam Pugh (Edmond) and Kim David (Porter), Senate Bill 783 was signed into law in March of 2021 by Gov. Kevin Stitt and went into effect Jan. 1.

Better known as the Education Open Transfer Act, the law is aimed at helping ease requirements and restrictions for the some 3,000 students who are annually denied movement between school districts among the 30,000 who apply.

When national media personality Soledad O’Brien took the stage as the keynote speaker for Oklahoma State University’s 2022 MLK Celebration, university officials were promising an “elevating” experience.

In a year in which the COVID-19 pandemic caused upheaval throughout the travel sector, the Oklahoma travel and tourism industry increased its market share of domestic travel and generated $7.1 billion in direct spending by visitors, according to new research by the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department.

Oklahoma brought in an estimated 17 million visitors in 2020, a 17 percent drop from the previous year, but the number was substantially less than the 34 percent drop in domestic travel that the United States endured.

LAWSUITS

Velocity Investments LLC vs. William Ordenis for $10,578.50 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Jessica Mercer vs. 3J Construction Inc. for an amount in excess of $40,000 for alleged actual damages.

Velocity Investments LLC vs. Banner Stovall for $20,997.50 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Justin Batte and Green Roots Wellness Medical Cannabis Dispensary vs. Keith Courtney for an amount in excess of $75,000 for alleged actual and punitive damages.

El Reno’s city government is going through a transition period with some employees stepping down, another leaving and still others contemplating early retirement.

Several are veterans who will take “years of institutional knowledge” with them.

City Manager Matt Sandidge said at last week’s council meeting that Assistant City Manager Kent Lagaly and Finance Director and Treasurer Marsha Leck will retire in April. Also last week, Adam Fox, manager at the El Reno Regional Airport, tendered his resignation effective Jan. 25.