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Growing up in Stillwater, Virginia Witt never had the opportunity to visit her father’s old stomping grounds from his high school years.

However, after a few hours of visiting, Witt could see why her father, Ralph Higgins, got such a good start in life.

“This was my first time to El Reno and I think it’s a marvelous town,” said Witt.

The 90-year-old Witt traveled from O'Fallon, Ill., to accept her father’s posthumous honor as an El Reno Distinguished Alumni.

El Reno Mayor Matt White ripped fellow council members for their support of a rezoning request after turning down what he said was a similar request made in September.

White, on Tuesday night, said race may have been a factor in the earlier decision to deny a zoning change sought by an Hispanic woman, something council member Tracey Rider disagreed with.

“I don’t think race had anything to do with it,” Rider said, after White said “race was mentioned” to him by a person involved in protesting the request.

Challenger Peter Stapperfend defeated Bob Ballhorn in the El Reno City Council Ward 2 race Tuesday.

Stapperfend garnered 108 votes to 48 for Ballhorn.

Stapperfend, 71, is a retired mechanical engineer. This was his first venture into seeking political office.

When he announced his candidacy, Stapperfend said he wants to see more activities for senior citizens in El Reno.

“All we have is the senior citizens center and all they can do there is play cards,” Stapperfend said.

Oklahoma has more horses than just about any other state in the nation. In the top five, according to those in the know.

And while the equine industry is a major contributor to the economy, there are some problems, especially when a horse is no longer suited for its intended purpose.

That's why Rita Hoch and others have created Nexus Equine.

Located on 160 acres at 6608 S. Manning Road, Nexus is a home for horses that need to be “repurposed.”

“This was a perfect turnkey site for us,” said Hoch.

The purchase of land on Southwest 27th Street appears to be part of a plan to build a possible “community center,” according to El Reno Mayor Matt White.

White made the comment near the end of Tuesday’s regular council meeting.

Earlier in the meeting, the council agreed to purchase “approximately 10 acres” from the Davison Family Trust. The purchase price was $490,000.

The Redlands Community College Livestock Judging Team earned top honors as well as several individual awards at the American Royal Livestock Exhibitors contest in Kansas City.

Competing against 27 teams from across the country in the junior college division, the Redlands team was named High Team Overall and placed first in swine, second in sheep and goats, second in reasons and fourth in cattle.

Catholic Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone called out President Joe Biden last week for supporting the abortion “bloodbath” that has destroyed nearly 63 million unborn babies lives in the United States.

The San Francisco archbishop has been outspoken in his criticism of political leaders like Biden who profess to be Catholic while openly advocating for the killing of unborn babies in abortions.

LAWSUITS

Axiom Acquisition Ventures LLC vs. Travis Johnson for $3,277.94 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Safe Haven Security Inc. vs. Tiffany Williams for $1,567.19 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Bank of America N.A. vs. Kenneth A. Capitol for $8,282.18 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Midland Credit Management Inc. vs. Stephen Tiger for $6,123.90 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Cheyenne and Arapaho Gov. Reggie Wassana and Lt. Gov. Gib Miles won the Nov. 2 general election by a landslide, the first time the tribes have re-elected their governor.

The Wassana and Miles team received about 72 percent of the vote, while their opponents, Wilma Blackbear and Roberta Hamilton, received 28 percent of the 1,887 votes cast.

A former county emergency manager faces a criminal felony charge, accused of stealing from his former employer.

Prosecutors in April 2020 filed a single count of embezzlement against former Canadian County emergency manager Troy Steven Mead, 48, in a case that saw an arrest warrant issued at that time but which remained dormant until mid-October, court records show.

Authorities at that time arrested the former county employee, who posted a $5,000 bond Oct. 15.