News

CHICKASHA – The University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma Board of Regents voted unanimously to name Dr. Kayla Hale as the institution’s 13th president. Hale will begin her tenure on Aug. 1, 2023.

With 35 years of experience in higher education advancement in both the public and private sectors, Hale has served 25 years at the University of Tulsa, most recently as vice president of University Advancement and Alumni Engagement where she has led a team responsible for securing more than $600 million in gifts and pledges.

MARRIAGE LICENSES

Keaton Heath Coldren, 28; Skylar Nicole Thompson, 23.

Jeremy Lee Penick, 36; Jordan Leigh Knott, 31.

Kenneth Frank McHugh, 39; Misty Dawn Gammons-McKinnon, 39.

Clifford Wessley Nelson, 46; Lacey Jade Jordan, 36.

Casey Lynn Herriott, 50; Heather Marie Moxley, 48.

Rusty Derrell Routh, 37; Joy Louisa Martin, 40.

Bradley Austin Teague, 25; Charity Hope Oxford, 25.

Keven Scott Taylor II, 29; Joscelyn Adrianna Cash, 20.

Jimmy Lee Deleonypena, 39; Ashley Renee Collins, 36.

Twisters is coming to downtown El Reno as well as other areas of the community.

Last week, the city council voted 5-0 to grant a permit to Dirt Road Films, LLC for the production of the expected blockbuster sequel to the original Twister. But there were some caveats to the permit.

Council wants all parties impacted by the expected month-long production to sign off on the plan.

To make that happen, representatives of the film company were expected to meet with officials from MidFirst Bank following the special council meeting held on Thursday.

With temperatures pushing into the high 80s and low 90s over the weekend, Lake El Reno became a popular destination for a little fun on the water for fishermen, boaters and personal watercraft.

After a brief cool-down early in the week, temperatures are expected to return to the 90s by the end of the week.

A needed upgrade at Canadian County’s juvenile detention center has a hefty price tag.

Jackson Mechanical has proposed performing the plumbing retrofit for $291,650 at the Gary E. Miller Canadian County Children’s Justice Center, 7905 E. Highway 66.

The detention center was built 25 years ago after Canadian County voters approved an election proposition that established a .35 percent countywide sales tax to fund the construction of a juvenile center and related juvenile programs.

An architectural firm will be paid a $260,300 fee to help determine the scope and location of Canadian County’s future courthouse complex.

MA+ Architecture was hired in April to prepare design plans for a new Canadian County Courthouse/Administration Building that would house all judicial and most county government offices.

During the programming phase, the architect team will interview representatives of all Canadian County offices and divisions.

Harvesting equipment for Crowly Farms remained silent over the weekend as rains forced stoppage in the collection process of winter wheat crops.

Owner Mike Crowly says he hopes to get into his fields later this week as farmers are also facing the prospect of greening of their fields interfering with the harvest.

Crowly said the Calumet area had over an inch of weekend rain and more fell on the county Monday.

Canadian County Public Library Consortium members recently received a boost from the Educational Facilities Authority, which awarded about $84,575 to those libraries to help fund operations and purchase specialized items.

Canadian County’s libraries – located in El Reno, Piedmont, Mustang and Yukon – collectively have the goal to “bring free education, information and programming to all Canadian County residents … to offer services residents have come to expect from larger library systems.”

Felony charges have been filed against a longtime Mustang educator accused of sexually abusing a female student.

Canadian County Assistant District Attorney Taylor Brown in May filed six felony counts against 60-year-old Raymond Thomas Garner – two each of second-degree rape and sexual battery, forcible sodomy and rape by instrumentation.

LAWSUITS

Joe Cooper Ford of Yukon LLC vs. Kenneth James Strickler, L1C4 Holdings LLC, DakMak Group LLC and KamKad Automotive Holdings LLC for an amount in excess of $75,000 for alleged compensatory and punitive damages.

Jon Franke vs. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company for an amount less than and not to exceed $75,000 for alleged compensatory and punitive damages.

Tinker Federal Credit Union vs. Jordan Buckmaster for $24,542.05 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.