News

The deadline to request absentee ballots by mail is approaching. Applications must be received by the Canadian County Election Board no later than 5 p.m. Monday, June 3.

County election board secretary Allen Arnold said absentee voting is available to all voters and applications can be submitted several ways.

“In Oklahoma, no excuse is needed to vote by absentee ballot, and it’s easy to apply. Voters can submit their application online, in-person, by fax, mail or even email,” said Arnold.

Gov. Kevin Stitt and House lawmakers, led by House Speaker Charles McCall, have endorsed putting Oklahoma’s personal income tax on a path to zero. Under that plan, Oklahoma’s personal income tax rate would be reduced by a quarter-point every time the state has a surplus of $400 million or more.

The state’s top tax rate is currently 4.75 percent.

Opponents have argued for maintaining the current tax rate and boosting state spending in various areas instead.

LAWSUITS

Communication Federal Credit Union vs. Leslie Marriott and Morgan Marriott for $11,575.95 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Carrington Mortgage Services LLC vs. Yolanda Jefferies for $170,324.42 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees and foreclosure of mortgage on Lot 2, Block 16, Summerhill Phase III Addition, Oklahoma City.

Marcella Meineke vs. Bobbi Jo Jackson and Jody Jackson for an amount in excess of $10,000 for alleged injuries and damages.

El Reno High School held graduation ceremonies on Saturday.

The event packed Memorial Stadium and featured 254 graduates, one of the largest graduating classes in school history.

Jay Wrencher snapped these photos of the tornadoes that passed over the southeast side of El Reno Sunday night.

El Reno Fire Chief Jason Duff and Police Chief Ken Brown said there were no reports of damage in the area from the storms.

El Reno sounded the tornado sirens as the storm moved through the area, dumping varied sizes of hail.

El Reno’s VFW Post 382 will coordinate Memorial Day services on Monday.

The ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the El Reno Cemetery. Opening remarks will be given by VFW Commander Chris Reel, with invocation offered by VFW Chaplain Marcus King, followed by the flag salute. Emma Dotson will sing the national anthem.

Nancy Salsman, VFW Post 382 Auxiliary president, will introduce the guest speaker, Capt. Bob Ford, Vietnam helicopter pilot.

If everything falls into place, plans could move forward for a major downtown streetscape project as well as another extension of the Sunset Trail at Lake El Reno.

The city council last week unanimously signed off on resolutions seeking grants and partnerships with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation as well as the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation.

City Manager Matt Sandidge said ODOT has opened the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), which opens up the potential for 80-20 grants for things like downtown improvements.

By the time the dust had settled, the local version of the National Letter Carriers Association Food Drive had delivered more than 5,300 pounds of food to The Lord’s Harvest.

Janice Cox, who coordinates the yearly drive for the Letter Carriers, had hoped to bring in a record 10,000 pounds in non-perishable food items, but with food costs continuing to increase, the total collection is still considered “an incredible blessing.”

Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed El Reno resident Dale Cox to the Redlands Community College Board of Regents to serve a seven-year term, succeeding Lynda McColl.

“I am honored to serve on the board of Redlands Community College,” Cox said.

“This is such a special institution with a strong foundation in the El Reno community. There are a lot of exciting changes happening, and I’m looking forward to being a part of the continued growth of the college.”

Canadian County Sheriff’s Deputy, Lt. Jon Fincher recently completed a course of study with the Oklahoma School Security Institute (OSSI).

The training, which was made possible through the Oklahoma Department of Homeland Security, was a 24-hour course of study designed for law enforcement officers and aimed at identifying and deterring criminal activity targeting schools.