El Reno artist Chris Small has been working on touching up the paint on the Route 66 mural outside The Filling Station.

Small first painted the mural in 2009 and says he’s been using special techniques and materials to keep water from getting behind the mural.

The makeover is part of the city’s efforts to get ready for the 100-year birthday celebration for the Mother Road.

Canadian County government leaders are projecting a late spring/early summer 2027 completion of a new four-story courthouse.

A groundbreaking ceremony Feb. 9 marked the start of construction of a 112,407-square-foot building at 201 N. Choctaw.

Canadian County’s three commissioners, at a Public Facilities Authority meeting Feb. 5, approved a maximum guaranteed price totaling $71,838,991.

Commissioners Tracey Rider, Tom Manske and Lacey Dawson each took turns speaking during the groundbreaking celebration. Undersheriff Kevin Ward gave an opening prayer.

Work begins Monday, Feb. 16 on a bridge replacement project on the US-281 Spur over I-40, just west of El Reno in Canadian County. The site is the Cherokee Trading Post. 

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation said while traffic is not expected to be impacted during the initial phase of the project, drivers should expect occasional congestion in the work zone as work progresses. Updates will be sent as conditions change.

Canadian County Sheriff Chris West, president of the National Sheriffs Association, introduced Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard at the opening session of the National Sheriffs Association Winter Conference in Washington, D.C. last week.

Gabbard was the keynote speaker in the opening session of the winter conference, speaking to a crowd of more than 300.