News

When Mark Smith Jr. stepped out of the prison system he called “home” for 25 years, he knew one thing for sure - he never wanted to return.

Smith was just 14 when he was sentenced to serve 80 years for his crime. At a time when he should have been playing ball or hanging out with friends, Smith was preparing for a life behind bars.

He would serve 25 years of his 80-year sentence before receiving parole and a second chance at life.

El Reno golfer Brian Richardson holds a sandwich in his mouth while hitting a tee shot on the first hole at Crimson Creek Golf Course last week during the 2021 EHS Boys Invitational. Players could get lunch between nine-hole rounds but had to eat quickly to keep the flow of play moving.

Canadian County CASA Inc. (Court Appointed Special Advocates) has added Richard Younts to its volunteer base.

Younts completed advocate training with a court observation and was sworn in by Judge Bob Hughey with the Canadian County Children’s Justice Center.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the work of CASA has not stopped.

Oklahoma CareerTech and the Film Education Institute of Oklahoma are working together to promote the state’s film industry.

The two entities recently signed a memorandum of understanding to work together and with other industry partners to provide training and curriculum to meet the film industry’s employment demands in Oklahoma.

“This partnership is another example of how Oklahoma CareerTech is helping overcome the skills gap facing Oklahoma industries,” said Marcie Mack, CareerTech state director.

Meat goat market disruptions due to COVID-19 last year appear to have made less of an impact than expected, said JJ Jones, Oklahoma State University Extension area agricultural economist.

“Meat goats were affected barely at all by the pandemic,” Jones said. “Prices and demand remained surprisingly strong, to Oklahoma producers’ benefit.”

LAWSUITS

Tinker Federal Credit Union vs. Jamie T. Hollis and Brandy J. Hollis for $52,173.28 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Commerce Bank vs. John Kearby for $17,575.81 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

TD Bank USA N.A. vs. Cie A. Checotah for $10,061.24 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

American Express National Bank vs. Ajin Joy for $29,421.38 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

El Reno artist Sue Johnson paints a white outline on a flower which is the centerpiece of her mural on the side of a van located on South Dille Avenue last week.

The van is being repainted as an eye-catcher to the community garden project being conducted by Southern Heights Baptist Church and local charity Children of Hope Community Outreach. The garden idea was started last year during the COVID-19 lockdown as a way to teach youth how to grow and cultivate their own food during a pandemic.

El Reno Public Schools has completed its latest round of vaccine distribution in the district’s ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the state of Oklahoma made the vaccine available to educators, administration and support staff for kindergarten through 12th grade in late February, El Reno has held three vaccination pods.

The last two were conducted internally with district nurse Nikki Cerne giving shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

El Reno Community Theatre’s Garrett Wells, blue shirt and red shoes, acts out a scene from “The Absolutely True Story of Tom Sawyer As Told By Becky Thatcher,” while fellow cast members, from left, McKenzi Smith, Camden Sears, Coen Taylor, Emercyn Looper and Teagan Finnigan look on during a recent practice at the Centre Theatre. The cast, which features 10 youth actors, will be putting on the show as part of ERCT’s Fourth Annual Dinner Theatre on April 17 at the Education Building at the Canadian County Fairgrounds.

Plans are for El Reno Now to return in June.

The news that the monthly in-person event may be coming back was made during last week’s El Reno Live broadcast.

El Reno Live took the place of El Reno Now after the COVID pandemic shelved public gatherings a year ago.

Now, with vaccines being distributed and virus numbers reportedly coming down, Mayor Matt White and El Reno Schools Superintendent Craig McVay are considering if it’s time to again host public information sessions.