News

The agency overseeing the state’s virtual schools joined the legal battle to pry free some of Epic Charter School's financial records.

With a 4-0 vote, the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board recently approved filing an amicus brief to side with the State Auditor and Inspector in its case against Epic’s management company, Epic Youth Services.

An amicus brief is a legal document from a third party that provides information relevant to the case.

LAWSUITS

Carla Dickensen, individually and as mother of Jimmie D. Dickenson III, a minor vs. Cecil R. Hodge and Bobbi J. Taylor for $71,848.88 as compromise settlement.

Tinker Federal Credit Union vs. Shane D. Adams and Tamara R. Adams for $16,569.64 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Cornerstone Bankvs. Ronnie G. Mills II for $15,664.26 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Tinker Federal Credit Union vs. Jason David Garrett for $13,294.75 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

The El Reno Regional Airport is about to get a major makeover and throw a party to celebrate what’s coming up.

Members of the city council signed off last week on a plan to build a new $1.3 million control tower at the airport.

The unanimous 4-0 vote sets in motion a plan that has been in the making for a number of years.

New airport manager Adam Fox showed engineered drawings of what the terminal will look like and explained the research that has gone into the project.

This feathered water fowl took to the air to get a better view of the Smoke on the Water Drag Boat Races held recently at Lake El Reno.

Through all the craziness of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city of El Reno has something positive to cheer about when it comes to professional sports.

Cameron Hill, a native and graduate of both El Reno High and Redlands Community College, was named to the final 30-man roster for the Cleveland Indians.

“I’m on cloud nine. I’m extremely proud of Cameron knowing everything that he has been through and to stick with it and fight back and prove himself again.

An internal White House report about states in the so-called red zone for COVID-19 includes Oklahoma and recommends mandating masks and closing bars and gyms in localized areas where infections are spreading rapidly.

A former Yukon resident was executed last week for his role in the 1996 torture and murder of a family in Arkansas.

Daniel Lee Lewis was put to death at 7:08 a.m. July 14 at a federal prison in Terre Haute, Ind.

His death came almost 24 hours after a federal judge in Washington, D.C., had halted the execution.

However, the U.S. Supreme Court stepped in early last Tuesday, clearing the way for the execution to proceed.

Lewis is the first person executed by the U.S. government since 2003.

A Yukon man was arrested last week after a family member told authorities he had been having sex with her child for more than a year. The alleged assaults took place at a home in El Reno.

Michael Arthur Brooks, 25, was arrested on allegations of sodomy and lewd acts with a child under 16.

Sheriff Chris West said the arrest came after the child’s mother contacted authorities on July 10 to report the crimes, which allegedly had been going on since Halloween.

With five of the six high schools in Canadian County releasing their plans to return to in-house classes next month, the dependent school districts have also been drafting back-to-school plans.

“Everything is up in the air but we are working hard to get a comprehensive plan together to move forward and remain together as long as we can in our building.

“We are planning to open in-person with social distancing and precautions in place,” said Sacred Heart Catholic School Principal Shannon Statton.

LAWSUITS

Leon and Kimberly Taylor vs. State Farm Insurance Company Inc. for an amount in excess of $75,000 for alleged actual and punitive damages.

Kelly Hill, individually and as parent of B.H., a minor vs. Shannon Brown, Nicole Chaney and Eric Goettsch for an amount in excess of $75,000 for injuries and damages alleged to have occurred during an automobile accident.