News

The vice president of Economic Development for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce said El Reno and Canadian County should be prepared to see more growth in the coming years.

Jeff Seymour spoke at last week’s El Reno Now breakfast. He said Canadian County is one of the fastest, if not the fastest-growing counties in the United States.

Seymour said the I-35 corridor stretching from Texas through Oklahoma and to Kansas City is the fastest-growing area in the nation in terms of job creation and population expansion.

El Reno’s Merritt Dotson pushes the accelerator handles all the way forward on her sitting electric three-wheeled scooter over the weekend at Rinehart Park.

Temperatures were in the mid-60s on Saturday but dropped into the 20s on Sunday as the city braced for its second round of winter weather.

Canadian County commissioners agreed to proceed with finalizing an agreement to use a construction manager for a proposed repair/remodeling project at the historic county jail.

Yukon’s Erick Westfahl of Redhawk Construction has been tapped to provide construction management services for the old jail building, at the corner of Rogers and Evans.

New State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters unveiled a budget plan for Oklahoma schools that would increase state school spending by $330 million.

Under Walters’ proposal, the state appropriation for schools would increase from $3.18 billion this year to $3.51 billion next year.

Walters’ critics responded by claiming the $330 million increase is actually a funding cut.

LAWSUITS

Felicity Johnson vs. Murphy Oil USA Inc. and Walmart Stores East LP for an amount in excess of $75,000 for alleged compensatory damages.

Meredith J. Garrett vs. Richele L. Edwards for an amount in excess of $75,000 for injuries and damages alleged to have occurred during an automobile accident.

Freedom Mortgage Corporation vs. Derek Nix for $114,190.27 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees and foreclosure of mortgage on Lot 7, Block 15, Colony Pointe Phase 3 Addition, Oklahoma City.

After serving for almost four months in an interim capacity, state officials made it official – Allen Arnold will be Canadian County Election Board secretary.

“I just feel very blessed to have been put into this position, and I look forward to serving the citizens of Canadian County in this capacity,” Arnold said.

Senators Jack Stewart, Paul Rosino, Lonnie Paxton and Kristen Thompson wrote a letter in December to the Oklahoma State Election Board recommending Arnold for the position.

A former Yukon convenience store worker faces possible prison time for allegedly embezzling more than $7,000 from the business.

El Reno’s Stephannie Louise Myers, 41, was charged Jan. 9 in Canadian County District Court with embezzlement. The felony is punishable by up to five years in state prison, a maximum $5,000 fine and restitution.

Yukon police investigated the alleged crime, which was reported between Dec. 21 and Jan. 2.

El Reno got its first taste of winter weather last week with several inches of snow.

Temperatures were back near 50 degrees a day after the snow fell, which led to widespread melting.

More winter weather is forecasted for early next week.

A new group of young ambassadors is getting ready for this spring’s Canadian County Youth Livestock Show.

The Canadian County Herdsmanship Youth Advisory Board is comprised of student leaders from the county’s FFA chapters and 4-H clubs.

“This is the first one … the pilot group,” said adviser Alexis Graham, a Canadian County 4-H extension educator.

“They’re blazing a frontier. They’re the ones getting it all started.

Russell-Murray Hospice held its first-ever Caring for Generations Gala. The event was held at the Palace Event Center and served as a fundraiser to assist patients in Russell-Murray care.

The not-for-profit was founded in El Reno and has expanded to include other areas of central Oklahoma. Co-founder Vicki Myers was honored withthe Legacy Award.