Redlands Community College has been awarded a five-year grant totaling nearly $1.5 million by the U.S. Department of Education that will allow it to expand instructional offerings for Native American students and others interested in agriculture technology-related careers.

In the fall of 2022, Redlands will be adding new courses focusing on agriculture technology including coding, drone operation, robotics and applied automation.

A rubberized flooring will be added to the new Canadian County Fairgrounds Expo Center to help protect horses as they move from the arena to the stalls.

County commissioners, acting as the county’s Public Facilities Authority, voted unanimously to approve the added $34,666 cost for the fairgrounds project.

District 2 Commissioner David Anderson had recommended the additional flooring, which will be placed between the barn columns and the outside wall.

Authorities charged an Oklahoma City man with first-degree murder and armed robbery in connection with the fatal shooting of a clerk at a Canadian County 7-Eleven.

Charges were filed against George Lorenz Way in connection with the Sept. 3 death of Laura Taylor. Way is accused of robbing the store at SW 15th and Mustang Road and then shooting Taylor multiple times when she followed him outside the store. Taylor died at the scene.

KP Harris found more than livestock last week in a field west of his home.

The Okarche teen encountered a black diamond rattlesnake that measured more than 6 feet when he entered the field to feed horses. Harris was able to make quick work of the snake and with help in skinning the creature from an aunt, had the makings of possibly a new belt.

Harris contacted Tom Jones of Kingfisher who makes belts, boots and saddles to inquire about uses for the snakeskin.

His mother, Julie Harris, said there was no way the snake was winding up on the dinner table.