News

The El Reno School Board hung out the help wanted sign last week in an effort to fill the seat being vacated by Dallas Curtis come early November. But the manner in how it will be done drew some opposition.

Curtis, who has held the Ward 2 seat for six years and is also the board’s vice president, informed fellow board members earlier this month that he was moving out of the district to family property north of El Reno.

A 15-year-old El Reno High School student found himself at the Canadian County Children’s Justice Center after he allegedly gave marijuana to a fellow student who apparently had a reaction to it.

Police reports said an officer was at the high school speaking with Principal Jerelyn Atchison on another matter when a “juvenile informed her of a medical situation and requested her presence.”

The officer reported following the principal to the media arts center where a student “was slumped over on his desk unresponsive to verbal commands.”

The El Reno Police Department is warning the public of a scam that is using an actual phone number connected to the department.

Assistant Police Chief Kirk Dickerson said potential victims are contacted by telephone from what appears to be a legitimate telephone number associated with the El Reno Police Department, (405) 262-6941.

The caller identifies themselves as an employee of the police department and informs the victim they are wanted for an outstanding warrant.

An El Reno man could face prison after a Yukon police investigation found he allegedly defrauded a Yukon senior citizen of more than $2,500.

Christopher Michael Edwards, 42, was charged Oct. 17 in Canadian County District Court with exploitation of an elderly person by deception and uttering a forged instrument.

The former Yukon resident faces up to 15 years in state prison and fines totaling up to $11,000 if convicted on both felony counts. The case stems from crimes reported July 2-8 in Yukon.

Canadian County will be part of an estimated $4.2 million state highway safety project from the Texas state line extending east 135 miles.

A wrong-way detection system, safety devices, signage and striping will be installed along eastbound and westbound Interstate 40 at key interchanges in Beckham, Caddo, Canadian, Custer and Washita counties.

The proposal features 10 wrong-way warning systems, notably one in Canadian County at US-81 in El Reno.

Deer are always looking for their next meal, and they often find forage in a well-kept landscape.

Whether rural or urban, homeowners can get frustrated when their landscape ends up looking like a salad bar after the lunchtime rush.

In many cases, plants in a home landscape have been fertilized and are well taken care of, which makes them especially attractive to wildlife.

LAWSUITS

TD Bank USA N.A. vs. Elizabeth McCurry for $4,113.38 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Tinker Federal Credit Union vs. Tiffany M. Schumacher for $6,316.36 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Ford Motor Credit Company LLC vs. Russell R. Huitt and Brandon Littles for $8,494.61 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

CKS Prime Investments LLC vs. William Taylor for $1,021.93 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second of a four-part series looking at this year’s recipients of the El Reno High School Distinguished Alumni Award. Four EHS graduates are being honored for their education and life achievements.  

There may not be a trophy case large enough to hold the awards Mark Henricksen has been recognized with during his career as an attorney. He’s about to get one more.

October is Fire Safety Month and the El Reno Fire Department has been busy taking its traveling safety program to schools in El Reno and surrounding areas.

Last week students at Riverside School went through a two-stage hands-on demonstration. Older students toured the ERFD Fire Safety House, while younger students had an age-appropriate class.

Tracey Rider will get an early start – quite literally – as the newest Canadian County commissioner.

The lifelong county resident was elected this summer to succeed Jack Stewart as the District 3 commissioner.

The next four-year term doesn’t start until Jan. 1, 2023, but Rider will take office almost six weeks early. That’s because Stewart has been elected to the Oklahoma State Senate and will begin his official legislative duties Nov. 23 at the State Capitol.