While the number of new cases of COVID-19 continues to rise both in El Reno as well as the county’s other larger towns, Canadian County Health Department officials are stopping short of calling the spike a hot spot for the virus.

“I would not say it’s a hot spot but it’s a concern for sure. I know we had a spike of cases but the trend in hospitalizations are not the same as what we were seeing several months ago.

Marie Hirst held on to the Canadian County Court Clerk position, besting challenger Rindie Hunt by about 800 votes in Tuesday’s primary election.

Hirst has served in the position for the past 12 years. Hunt at one time had worked under Hirst in the court clerk’s office.

Unofficial results provided by the Canadian County Election Board had Hirst garnering 7,951 votes, or 52.63 percent, while Hunt captured 7,156, or 47.37 percent.

The primary election was the only one for the court clerk post as both women are Republicans and no Democrats filed.

In December, Halliburton shook the El Reno area when it announced it was leaving its operation on SH 66 and laying off most of the 800 people who worked there. That news, coupled with the collapse of oil prices and then joined by the COVID-19 pandemic created an ocean of economic strain and uncertainty for the area.

So news last week that the Halliburton property has been sold brought an excited reaction from the community.

Canadian County deputies fished a man out of Lake El Reno after he jumped into the water following a high-speed chase that began as an ongoing drug investigation.

Information provided by Sheriff Chris West said investigators were watching a house at 906 S. Duane on June 25 after receiving reports that drugs, especially methamphetamine, were being sold from the residence. Sonny Joseph Phillips was said to be living at the house. Documents show he has an extensive history of drug involvement, dating to 1999.