News

Applications are available online for tuition waivers and scholarships for current and prospective Redlands Community College students.

Tuition waiver scholarships range from $250 to $1,000 for each academic year, while the Redlands Community College Foundation offers nearly 40 scholarships.

High school juniors and seniors can also apply for a scholarship to offset fees associated with concurrent classes.

“We are pleased to be able to offer students a way to make a college education more affordable,” said Redlands President Jack Bryant.

Built with bond money from the Capital Improvements Projects close to a decade ago, the city’s Denny-Crump Rodeo Arena has become a popular stopping place on the rodeo scene.

“Our facility is really rodeo-friendly and it’s user-friendly. We have had circuses, car shows, corn hole tournaments and concerts there as well. We expect that will continue to grow,” said El Reno Mayor Matt White.

The arena has hosted the annual El Reno Wranglers Open Rodeo as well as specialty events such as barrel racing and bull riding. It recently hosted the K&S Ranch Hand Rodeo.

Ice storms demand attention, but so does Oklahoma’s persistent risk of wildfires once the ice has melted.

John Weir, Oklahoma State University Extension associate specialist, said although parts of the state received good rain during the summer, it’s the season for vegetation to go dormant and dry out. Precipitation can be fickle. Vigilance and preparation are always good ideas.

Steve Jensen won the race for Ward 1 El Reno City Council, beating Jacqueline Stevenson-Smith by 36 votes.

The final count was Jensen with 597 votes to 561 for Stevenson-Smith. Three provisional ballots were issued in Ward 1, said Canadian County Election Board Secretary Wanda Armold.

Those ballots were to either be counted or rejected by Friday when the official results were to be released.

Canadian County officials have taken the first steps in an effort to recoup some of the costs of recovering from last week’s ice storm damage.

County commissioners approved a proclamation declaring a state of emergency.

The approval will allow not only the county but municipalities an opportunity to seek federal disaster funds, should they be approved. The commissioners approved the proclamation without discussion.

MUNICIPAL COURT

Reese Elizabeth Hardy, El Reno, speeding, $165.

Christopher Wayne Grider, Moore, improper equipment, $105.

Caleb Joseph Condit, El Reno, failure to stop at stop sign, $165.

Samuel Marcus Watson, El Reno, speeding and driving under suspension, $560.

Dale Steven Baker, Yukon, expired tag, $165.

Sharon Kay Ferree, Oklahoma City, failure to obey traffic control device, $165.

David Nathaniel Walker, El Reno, speeding, $195.

Juan D. DeLaTorre, El Reno, speeding, $165.

Crews have begun canvassing El Reno neighborhoods collecting limbs that are placed at the curb, Mayor Matt White said on Thursday.

White told the El Reno Live audience the city has contractors collecting limbs lost from the recent ice storm. He said the plan is to have the pickup completed by Nov. 22.

Steve Jensen defeated Jacqueline Stevenson Smith to win the Ward 1 El Reno City Council seat. The vote was 591 to 567

While limb removal was running smoothly, a number of areas in and around El Reno remained without power Monday morning.

City Manager Matt Sandidge said the city did not have specific numbers from OG&E and other utilities concerning outages in residential areas. He did say the power in the area around the city cemetery as well as at the El Reno Regional Airport did not have electricity.

As for limb removal, Sandidge said the process was running well as trailers and trucks lined up to dump the limbs at a designated area on the northwest side of Lake El Reno.

El Reno resident Ariana Orozco had decided renting was a waste of money.

“From a financial standpoint, I realized that I wanted to own a home instead of paying rent. Paying rent is like throwing money away. When you own a home you build equity,” she said.

This first-time homebuyer had been approved for a loan, but the loan process raised a lot of questions.

“Obviously, your lender understands the process and the terminology. They start asking you to sign paperwork and write checks for the appraisal fee and other things,” Orozco said.