News

A hearing on a lawsuit filed by an El Reno family that claims roadwork done by the county near their home caused thousands of dollars in flood damage has been postponed.

County commissioners, meeting in an executive session last week, discussed the lawsuit filed in September by Rhonda Steenbergen, Donald Erwin and a minor identified as M.S.

The case had been scheduled for a hearing April 24, but was moved to May 22 before District Judge Jack McCurdy. The delay is the result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although the Canadian County Courthouse remains closed to the public because of COVID-19, judges and their staff continue to work from the courthouse.

The judges are working on rotating shifts from the courthouse or from home.

One district judge and one special judge, along with their bailiffs and a court reporter are available and working in the courthouse, District Judge Jack McCurdy and District Judge Paul Hesse said in a prepared statement.

A newborn Thoroughbred mare is fighting to stay alive after its mother took her sibling, but rejected her.

Denise Cope said the twin mare was born early Wednesday. Cope and Tammy Garcia were busy trying to feed the rejected foal from a bottle, while also trying to get the newborn to stand up.

Cope is hoping someone with a mare who has recently given birth will contact her and offer to let their horse nurse the newborn.

“She's fighting to stay alive,” said Cope. “Twins are very rare. I guess the mother thought one was all she could handle.”

While they might not fit the common mold as a frontline fighter in the battle to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the work being done by the El Reno Public Schools food service team is nothing short of heroic.

Friday is School Lunch Hero Day across the nation, but for the 18 people making up the El Reno team, it’s another day to serve a greater need.

Seamstresses are being called during the COVID-19 pandemic to use their skills and talent for a new trend in modern-day fashion … facial masks.

The moment COVID-19 became widespread and caused a shortage in medical supplies worldwide, many seamstresses and first-time sewers found themselves in a position not only to help but also share their sewing experience with others.

Residents at Saint Katharine Drexel Retirement Center were treated last week to a drive-thru circus, compliments of Physicians Choice Hospice. The parade of cars pulled through a parking lot at the center, led by an El Reno police cruiser. Clowns and plenty of balloons and bubbles filled the air. Saint Katharine’s, like other long-term care homes, is locked down because of COVID-19.

El Reno police are looking for a white four-door car in connection with the shooting of a man Sunday evening.

Assistant Police Chief Kirk Dickerson said officers were called to the Elms Apartments, 1200 West Elm, just before 6 p.m. after a man called saying he had been shot. Officers found Terrance E. Rednose, 36, of El Reno at the scene. He was treated there for a gunshot wound and later was taken to an area hospital for further treatment.

Officers said the shooting actually took place in the 800 block of South Frances.

An 18-year-old El Reno woman found by police lying in the road Saturday night died later in an Oklahoma City hospital.

Assistant Police Chief Kirk Dickerson said the woman, Maria P. Estrada, was found in the 1500 block of West Elm, shortly after 9 p.m. Police had received a report of a woman falling from a moving vehicle.

When officers arrived they found Estrada. She appeared to have “various injuries.”

A worker with Oklahoma Environmental Management Authority uses a crane to lift a boat into a dumpster next to the Denny-Crump Rodeo Arena over the weekend. The city is allowing free dumping into containers at the site for residents through May 2. Dumping is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

In the wake of Gov. Kevin Stitt’s decision to start reopening Oklahoma’s economy, Oklahoma Watch reached out for reactions from top medical groups and checked the remarks from Oklahoma City and Tulsa mayors. Here’s what we gleaned:

Oklahoma State Medical Association

Dr. George Monks, president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, stuck by his initial assertion that the governor’s May 1 date for the first phase of reopening was hasty. But he said Stitt had to take into account more than just medical advice.