News

Some 2,800 farmers and ranchers across Canadian County will be celebrated for their work putting food on people’s tables. County commissioners proclaimed Feb. 19-23 as Farm Bureau Week in Canadian County.

Longtime Canadian County farmer and rancher David VonTungeln, who accepted the proclamation, said this annual observance helps promote rural life and agriculture across Oklahoma.

“The Farm Bureau is the largest farm organization in Oklahoma, representing about 80,000 members,” said VonTungeln, secretary of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s board of directors.

El Reno cleaned up at the recent American Quarter Horse Association Awards with two longtime residents winning top honors for their dedication to the industry.

Floyd E. “Butch” Wise was named for the third time as winner of the Gordon Crone Special Achievement Award, while Robin Glenn was named for the first time as the winner of the Mildred N. Vessels Special Achievement Award.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, highlighted the January report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released last week showing food prices rose nearly 4 percent over the last year.

LAWSUITS

Nationstar Mortgage LLC vs. Hunter Ross for $99,152.82 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees and foreclosure of mortgage on Lot 13, Block 2, Belisle Addition, Yukon.

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation vs. Brett Jones and Dyrinda Tyson-Jones for $56,109.14 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees and foreclosure of mortgage on Lot 11, Block 163, Westbury Addition, Oklahoma City.

Bank of America N.A. vs. Brian Twyman for $18,506.49 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

If the weather cooperates, crews working to replace the bridge on Watts just west of Reno should be finishing up in April.

Amy Smith, streets superintendent for the city of El Reno, said the work began in early January, but several days were lost to rain.

“We were off to a slow start due to the rainy January weather we had, but it seems to be running smoothly now,” Smith said.

The contract calls for EMC Services to have the bridge replaced within 90 work days.

Youth and Family Services Inc. (YFS) is looking for companies and civic groups to host this year’s annual Love A Baby Diaper Drive. The event runs through the month of February.

Last year, YFS collected more than 14,500 diapers with the help of community supporters in El Reno, Mustang, Piedmont, Watonga and Yukon. The diapers, along with hundreds of packages of baby wipes, were distributed to children in YFS’ emergency shelter, foster care and independent living programs.

The Second Annual Crossroads of Oklahoma Farm Show is coming to the Canadian County Expo and Event Center.

The show is set for Feb. 22-24.  

Janelle Martin, owner of C&M Production Group that is running the Crossroads of Oklahoma Farm Show, said the group is excited to be coming back to Canadian County.

“We had 100 vendors that had come together for the show,” Martin said.

“Last year, it was very successful. This event is for farmers and ranchers in central Oklahoma.”

The Canadian County Expo and Event Center’s Third Annual Community Night Gala will support CASA - Court Appointed Special Advocates - which serves abused and neglected youth.

The fundraising event is set for Friday, April 19.

“Our past beneficiaries got together and decided that Canadian County Court Appointed Special Advocates are going to be the beneficiary for this year’s gala,” said Expo Center Director Mandy Davis.

“We’ve moved the date to April, which is Child Abuse Awareness Month. All monies will go directly to CASA.”

The Redlands Community College Livestock Judging Team is bringing home numerous awards, including overall team championship honors from the Fort Worth Stock Show and the National Western Stock Show in Denver.

At the competition in Denver, the Redlands team was named High Team Overall and High Team Overall in the Carload Contest, and finished High Team in Reasons, Cattle and Swine, and Third High Team in Sheep and Goats.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt caught some lawmakers off guard when he called for consolidating public colleges and universities in his State of the State speech.

Stitt offered few specific details in his speech except to say he wants to see legislation that incentivizes higher education models that fulfill state workforce needs. Colleges that aren’t meeting those demands should be consolidated, he said.