News

“Blue Hawaii” was the theme of the Canadian County child advocacy center’s annual recognition event.

The Child Abuse Response Team (C.A.R.T.) honored its supporters and contributors at the Champions for Children Gala at the Mathena Events Center in Yukon.

“We want to thank Dave Mathena for his generosity,” C.A.R.T. House Executive Director Joanne Riley said.

“He not only donated the usage of his event center, but also the set-up, preparation and tear-down. Dave is a very generous man.”

The Canadian County Health Department expects to move this June into its new home.

A $3.6 million remodeling project is nearing completion on a 32,000-square-foot, two-story building at 6100 E. Highway 66.

“It’s beautiful,” health department administrator Jennifer Boyle said. “I can’t wait for everybody to see it. We’re very grateful and excited because it’s going to be such a nice place for our clients and the community to come.”

Attorney General Gentner Drummond has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Biden administration’s rewrite of federal Title IX rules that adds “gender identity” to the law, effectively meaning a law intended to protect women’s rights will now instead protect the rights of men to enter women’s bathrooms and other private spaces if the men claim to identify as women.

MUNICIPAL COURT

Ryan Alexander Redbird, Clinton, trespassing on private property, $295.

Mary Margaret Castro, Oklahoma City, speeding, $195.

Charlee Jo Bushyhead, El Reno, transporting open container of beer, $350.

Cade Reed Houston, El Reno, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, $1,445.

Paul Cameron Clayton, El Reno, failure to stop at stop sign, $165.

Kristin Nicole Tschida, Watonga, speeding, $165.

So what happens if the Cheyenne and Arapaho are successful in finally getting Fort Reno returned to the tribes?

Reggie Wassana has a one-word answer: jobs.

“Someone has to step up and help create an environment that helps build economic opportunity in central and western Oklahoma,” said Wassana, governor of the C&A Tribes. “It can be the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes working with the local communities to help build a promising future for the generations to come. We can’t always rely on the oil and gas industry because it fluctuates up and down.

“The burger must go on,” said Capt. David Baker of the El Reno Fire Department.

“Rain or shine, we have to get it done.”

Grill the world’s biggest onion burger, that is.

El Reno’s Main Street Program held another successful Burger Day Festival as crowds braved rain throughout the grilling process. This was the 36th Annual Fried Onion Burger Day Festival.

The El Reno Chamber of Commerce hosted a National Day of Prayer program last week with both a morning and evening service.

Chamber director Karen Nance said the programs featured music, Scripture readings, flag salutes and various prayers offered by local elected officials and community leaders.

This marked the 73rd year for the National Day of Prayer to be held across the nation. Members of local Boy and Girl Scout troops conducted the Pledge of Allegiance.

Downtown El Reno bustled as food, fun, cars and performers kept 15,000 visitors engaged at the 36th Annual Fried Onion Burger Day Festival last week despite rain throughout much of the day.

Organizers at Wesley United Methodist Church’s 11th Bun Run were happy with having 18 one-mile runners and 105 5K runners. Dr. Dorrie Parrott and Amy Neathery, mission co-chairs, said the $15,500 raised this year will “fund our local and international mission work.”

LAWSUITS

Discover Bank vs. Randall Franklin for $17,947.05 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Nationstar Mortgage LLC vs. Michael George for $87,062.69 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees and foreclosure of mortgage on Lot 28, Block 2, Westbury Addition, Oklahoma City.

FundBox Inc. vs. Travis Tech for $38,226.17 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

TD Bank N.A. vs. Kyle Edgar for $24,550.23 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Wet weather for the 36th Annual El Reno Burger Day Festival did not keep the world’s largest onion-fried burger from hitting the grill to the delight of thousands of hungry visitors.

See Saturday’s edition for more coverage.