Canadian County Sheriff Chris West said he traveled to the nation’s capitol last week to attend the Save America Rally, because President Donald Trump “has done so much in support of law enforcement during a very difficult time.”
West has been criticized on social media for attending the rally that turned violent and left four people dead, including a police officer, but he said the attacks are out of place.
Canadian County has entered Phase 2 of the state's COVID-19 vaccination plan, even though the overall number of doses administered to qualifying adults remains low.
“It is a large volume of vaccines and we are trying to get them out as quickly as we can,” said District 2 Public Information Officer Maggie Jackson.
Canadian County is part of District 2 along with Alfalfa, Garfield, Kingfisher, Major, Grant, Blaine and Logan counties.
Even with the collapse of the oil and gas industry and the debilitating haymaker delivered to the economy by COVID-19, El Reno still managed to issue close to 100 permits for new housing in 2020.
Records provided by the city’s Community Development Department show permits were issued for 90 new residences during 2020. That was a dip from the 125 permits issued for new homes during 2019 and the 132 permits in 2018. But it still shows growth, especially as the area suffered from the pandemic and the decline of the oil patch.
As 2020 drew to a close, El Reno and the area continued, like the rest of the world, to deal with the impact of COVID-19. But hope was on the way as the promise of the vaccine was just days away. In between, El Reno High School students reminded us of better days like when George Bailey found ZuZu’s petals and Clarence got his wings.
DECEMBER
El Reno Main Street would present the Christmas Experience in downtown El Reno. The event featured the annual Christmas parade, followed by shopping at local stores.
Earlier this week, OSDH announced the launch of an online COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduler Portal to notify Oklahomans when they’re eligible to receive the vaccine and provide more information on how to schedule an appointment. Oklahomans can visit this portal at vaccinate.oklahoma.gov.
Pre-registration is open for all Oklahomans to enter their personal information to determine their eligibility to receive the vaccine within Oklahoma’s priority phase plan and receive notifications when the vaccine is available to them.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Twenty-two Oklahoma mentors are being recognized by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence and their community mentoring organizations during National Mentor Month in January.
The honored mentors were submitted by their respective mentoring organizations across the state, and each received certificates of achievement from the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. The certificates are being presented in the communities where the mentors volunteer.
Friday, Jan. 15 is the last day to apply for voter registration in order to be eligible to vote in the Feb. 9 State Senate 22 Primary Election, City of OKC Ward 1 Council Member Election, City of OKC Ward 3 Council Member Election and Riverside School Board Member Election, said Canadian County Election Board Secretary Wanda Armold.
Armold said that persons who are United States citizens, residents of Oklahoma and at least 18 years old may apply to become registered voters.
MUNICIPAL COURT
Raylen Browning Butler, El Reno, improper equipment, $105.
Carolina Strong, El Reno, failure to yield from stop sign, $195.
Michael Anthony Domingue, Lafayette, La., speeding and failure to appear warrant, $460.
Erik Chavira Talamantes, Oklahoma City, speeding, $175.
Logan Danielle Wise, Edmond, speeding, $165.
Donrell Lamar Burdine, Oklahoma City, speeding, $165.
Juan Manuel Puebla Vazquez, El Reno, driving without license issued, $252.
Christopher Trey Alexander, Yukon, speeding, $165.
As 2020 moved into its final four months, the world and El Reno continued to struggle with the onslaught of COVID. Families lost loved ones to the disease. The economy was still being battered as election season arrived on both the local and national stage. And still, life continued to move forward, often with stories of hope, sharing and love.
September
Corliss Collins received word the man convicted of killing her elderly grandfather in 1985 had been released from prison.
Early November was a hectic time in El Reno. A late October ice storm had left thousands without power and tree limbs were everywhere. Children were home because there was no power and COVID continued to play havoc with schedules.
Although Donna Dyer’s home had no power and her grandchildren were with her that day, she was able to make a scheduled video conference call over her cell phone.
Dyer said she had no idea how happy she would be that the video call was able to connect.
