News

Pandemic bonuses OK’d

Body

Educating through the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic was an 18-month ordeal calling for El Reno Public Schools employees to step up in ways never imagined.

Now the district is saying thank you.

On the recommendation of Superintendent Craig McVay, the El Reno School Board voted 4-0 last week to give every district employee a $1,000 bonus. Board member Brad Baker was absent.

Craig McVay crosses his fingers when discussing the COVID-19 pandemic

Fun in the water

Body

After being closed last summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the El Reno municipal swimming pool inside Legion Park has been a popular afternoon playground for young and old.

El Reno Public Schools will offer a free swim day on Tuesday for anyone under the age of 18.

It will be held at the El Reno municipal swimming pool inside Legion Park. The swim session will run from 1 to 5 p.m.

Prior to that, the district will provide a free lunch to anyone under the age of 18. Meal times will be from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

Gage Baeriswyl wears a pair of goggles as he splashes into the water

Cash clash

Body

Two New Mexico men are challenging the district attorney’s attempt to seize more than $130,000 in U.S. currency. A court hearing on the matter was set for Friday, July 23. Weichuan Liu and Nang Thai, both of Albuquerque, N.M., claim they had funds unlawfully confiscated this spring by the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office after a traffic stop in El Reno.

The Canadian County District Attorney’s Office on April 22 filed an Application and Notice of Seizure and Intended Forfeiture in Canadian County District Court.

Rural waterline to serve 200 new homes

Body

Canadian County commissioners have given a thumbs-up to plans to install new waterline on county easements serving new homes in a large rural development northwest of Yukon.

Commissioners last week heard a presentation about a proposed expansion to the Green Valley Water District waterline, including laying parts of new line in the section line right-of-way.

Commissioner objects to housing non-county juveniles

Body

A Canadian County commissioner this week voiced his annual objection to housing juveniles from other counties in Canadian County’s juvenile detention center.

The Canadian County Children’s Justice Center (CCCJC), 7905 E. Highway 66, is funded through a .35 percent countywide sales tax approved by Canadian County voters at an election about 25 years ago.

Commissioners, during their weekly meeting July 19, voted 2-1 to approve contracts with 24 other counties to provide secure detention services for fiscal year 2022.

Marc Hader District 1 Commissioner_story

Canadian County median household income tops state

Body

Canadian County ranks number one in Oklahoma for counties with the highest median household income, reports Stacker.com.

Stacker reports that the median household income for Canadian County is $72,056, and that is 36 percent above the state median and 14.7 percent above the national median.

The data shows households earning over $100,000 in the county is 32 percent.

The data shows Canadian County ranks 333 highest for median household incomes among all counties nationwide.

Public Records - July 24

Body

LAWSUITS

Midland Credit Management vs. Kelley Robinson for $7,968.53 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Tinker Federal Credit Union vs. Katherine Barragan for $6,556.27 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Felix Morales for $1,412.84 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Tinker Federal Credit Union vs. Michael D. Byrd for $3,167.89 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Firemen to work off new platform

Body

As designs for new homes and businesses in El Reno continue to grow larger with each build, crews tasked with answering emergencies at those sites need to keep pace.

The city council addressed one of those issues in its July meeting, voting 5-0 to approve the $1,247,585.44 purchase of a new platform truck for the El Reno Fire Department.

“This is a big-ticket item but it’s an item we all agree on. We believe this is needed with the growth we seem to have and some things we have hopefully coming down the road. We are excited about this,” said El Reno Mayor Matt White.

This photo shows what the new ladder truck will look like minus the El Reno Fire Department logos and wording

Blessing ceremony for El Reno’s new SSM Healthplex delayed

Body

The dedication and blessing of the new SSM St. Anthony Healthplex will have to wait a bit longer thanks to the difficulty in finding building materials.

The ceremony for the new $9 million healthplex was scheduled for Monday, but city officials said the event will need to wait a bit.

“After evaluating the remaining work and inspections to be done on the SSM Health St. Anthony Healthplex in El Reno, we have made the decision to postpone our dedication and blessing ceremony on Monday, July 19,” the city said by email.

Difficulty in acquiring materials has forced the delay of the dedication

Longtime CASA volunteer encourages others to apply

Body

Canadian County CASA Inc. (Court Appointed Special Advocates) recognizes longtime volunteer Alex Corbitt.

For seven years, Corbitt has served as a volunteer advocate speaking up for the best interests of children in the child welfare system on five different cases, with his longest case now running for six years.

Prior to joining CASA as a volunteer, Corbitt worked with both CASA of Oklahoma County and the Department of Human Services.

Alex Corbitt_story
Subscribe to News