The triple-murder trial of Stacy Lee Drake, the Alabama felon accused of the June 2024 murders of Tara Underwood and Taylor Sharp at LaFerry’s Propane near Gans as well as the El Reno slaying of Phillip Emerson, has been postponed until February 2027, according to Sequoyah County District Court records.

In addition, initial motions in the case are due by June 2026, with a final pre-trial hearing in January 2027.

The prosecution had requested an earlier trial date, but the court granted the defense’s request to postpone proceedings until 2027.

The operator of an industrial-sized excavator suffered only minor injuries when the unit being driven flipped onto its side at a demolition site in the 500 block of South Rock Island last week.

“The operator had cuts on his hands but did not require emergency services,” said City of El Reno Code Enforcement Officer Stan Ferrell.

According to City of El Reno Community Development Director Emily Richey, locally-based Baker’s Bucket Works was contracted to raze the house, which was condemned in late fall of 2025.

Families are invited to meet Clifford the Big Red Dog and receive a free children’s book during a special Bookmobile visit from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10 at The Filling Station, 120 S. Choctaw Ave.

The Bookmobile is sponsored by Wesley in ACTSion, the mission team of Wesley United Methodist Church.

In 2025, the Bookmobile distributed more than 2,750 free books to children, supporting literacy and access to reading materials throughout the community.

For the first time in two years, the Board of Canadian County Commissioners has a new chairman.

Commissioners, at their Jan. 5 regular meeting, elected District 3 Commissioner Tracey Rider as their chairman and District 2 Commissioner Lacey Dawson as vice chairman for 2026. The vote was 3-0.

Rider succeeded District 1 Commissioner Tom Manske, who had been the board chairman for the past two years.

Rider, Manske and Dawson then rotated seats on the dais inside the conference room of the Canadian County Administration Building, 314 W. Rogers.