News

A bar manager at the Elks Lodge was reportedly hit in the face by a patron after he was asked to leave, police reports show.

Police said Tanya Lewis was apparently struck by Jared Hicks at about 1:20 a.m. on Nov. 7. The incident occurred after Lewis asked Hicks to leave because he started shouting profanities.

Lewis reportedly grabbed Hicks by the arm to escort him out when he allegedly struck her in the face.

Reports said Lewis filed a complaint of assault and battery against Hicks.

A court date was set for Dec. 30, reports said.

Leaning away from the Thanksgiving dinner table with a sigh and stuffed tummy is a comfort beyond the reach of many Oklahomans this year.

4-H’ers across the state are trying to make it a possibility with food drives for community food banks and pantries.

“They understand that fighting food insecurity is about being part of something bigger than themselves,” said Karla Knoepfli, Oklahoma State University Extension specialist in 4-H youth development.

An Oklahoma Teacher of the Year nominee, Bristow Middle School teacher Lauren Vandever, has declared that it is important to be supportive of children exploring transgender transition.

“I am not transgender. I’ve never experienced being transgender or on the LGBTQ spectrum,” Vandever said.

“But I definitely think it is something that is an important thing for kids to — if that’s something you’re exploring — for me to be accepting of that.”

Oklahoma schools — in both rural and suburban districts — are providing students with sexually explicit materials and undermining parental rights in other ways, according to parents who have spoken out publicly at recent school board meetings.

The response from school officials has been mixed.

MUNICIPAL COURT

Wanda Magpie, Concho, failure to yield to pedestrian in crosswalk, $195.

Keith Dale Dye Jr., El Reno, speeding, $165.

Jimmie McLaughlin, El Reno, failure to wear seat restraint, expired tag and driving without license issued, $437.

Leroy Love, Anadarko, failure to yield, $195.

Gustavo Lopez Macias, Oklahoma City, expired tag and failure to stop at stop sign, $330.

Kathryn Kerr, Piedmont, expired tag, $165.

James Lee Wiedemann, El Reno, speeding in a school zone, $295.

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.