News

Jensen brothers finalists for Producer of the Year

Body

Brothers Steve and Peter Jensen of Jensen Farms in El Reno were recently recognized for their farming and cattle operation as a finalist for Producer of the Year 2021.

Sponsored by Livingston Machinery Company and supported by Manitou Group, the winner of the contest will receive a new Manitou telehandler for free for one year.

Ida’s Law moves forward

Body

Matriarch is a nonprofit organization for indigenous women and children.

Co-founder Sarah Adams-Cornell said the support group has been addressing “the moving parts” -- domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual assault and more -- that cause murder and missing-persons cases to manifest in indigenous communities at-large.

Cornell and her friend, Kendra Wilson Clements co-founded Matriarch together about five years ago, and have since opened two chapters in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

Lucas, Inhofe, Lankford urge Biden to support Hinton jobs

Body

WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03), U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), and U.S. Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) sent a letter last week to President Biden urging him to suspend the executive order to close down prisons, including the Great Plains Correctional Institution located in Hinton.

Dear President Biden, 

We write urging you to suspend your January 26, 2021, executive order to close down prisons, including those housing criminal aliens.

Public Records - April 21

Body

LAWSUITS

Galaxy International Purchasing LLC vs. Sakeenah Lewis for $1,008.45 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Galaxy International Purchasing LLC vs. Michelle Stinnett for $2,370.80 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Capital One Bank N.A. vs. Ernest D. Hubert for $4,711.79 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Capital One Bank N.A. vs. Blair N. Chance for $3,519.74 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Money maker

Body

The Canadian County Expo and Event Center will rope in some big-time tourism dollars for the area.

Nathan Smith, the director for the soon-to-be-opened multi-purpose center, has some proof to back up that prediction.

Scheduled to open in July, the new “fairgrounds” is already attracting customers from an array of events that promise, Smith said, to bring “a lot of people to the county.”

“We’re booked every weekend until the fair and then into 2022,” Smith said, referring to the 67th Annual Canadian County Free Fair set for late August.

Nathan Smith points out details of the main show arena on construction plans

District to join suit over funds

Body

El Reno Public Schools will join other districts across the state in a lawsuit against the Oklahoma State Board of Education over the shifting of funding methods in favor of charter schools.

During its April meeting, the El Reno Board of Education voted 5-0 to join the lawsuit,

McVay set to retire in June 2022

Body

In an effort he said to give the El Reno Board of Education ample time to find a successor, Craig McVay made it official last week by announcing his retirement as the district’s superintendent.

“I had not planned on announcing it just yet, but I wanted to end speculation and the rumors,” said McVay.

McVay said he’s heard rumors of being pushed out of the position by the school board and the rumors are totally false.

Craig McVay

Scooters to be rolling soon around downtown El Reno

Body

Sidewalks and scooters are coming to El Reno, but never the twain shall meet. At least that’s the plan.

In what is being called a “pilot project,” the city council last week agreed to allow Neutron Holdings, LLC, to place Lime Mobility Devices for use in the downtown area. The vote was 5-0.

In Oklahoma, the scooters can be found in Oklahoma City and Tulsa as well as Norman, Stillwater and Guthrie.

In El Reno, the scooters will be limited to the downtown area. Sidewalks are off limits to the scooters which are rented through Smart phone technology.

Lime Scooter

Police nab FCI escapee, OKC woman during traffic stop

Body

A federal inmate paid a visit to town after he apparently escaped from the El Reno Federal Correctional Institution, allegedly with the help of an Oklahoma City woman.

El Reno police said they received information on April 9 that an FCI escapee could be found at a local motel.

The man, Victor Quiros-Lozano, 29, from Ventura, Calif., was said to be in the company of Liliana Mendez-Bravo, 29. The pair was reportedly driving a dark Dodge Durango.

County seeks rodeo for new Expo Center, county fair

Body

A rodeo is expected at the 67th Annual Canadian County Free Fair.

What group will stage the rodeo - or perhaps even a bull-riding competition - has not been determined.

The 2021 county fair will be held Aug. 23-28 at the new Canadian County Expo and Event Center, at the corner of Jensen and Alfadale roads.

“The rodeo brings out the crowd Friday night,” Canadian County Fair Board Secretary Brad Tipton told Fair Board members. “We don’t want to lose it.”

Subscribe to News