News

El Reno’s Elks Lodge handed out 50 winter coats to children enrolled in the Cheyenne and Arapaho Head Start program earlier in September and planned to do the same this past week for 50 Head Start children attending Hillcrest Learning Center.

Joe Mogg of the Elks said the coats were purchased through a grant funded by the Elks Grand Lodge. Elks member Debbie Harrison wrote the successful grant.

The coat giveaway started in 2019 and was planned to be an annual event, but was interrupted by the COVID pandemic. The lodge resumed the program this year.

Saturday evening, the Historic Fort Reno Visitors Center and Museum will host a Spirit Walk. It will be the second such walk since COVID restrictions were lifted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the property the fort is situated on.

“It will be our second and last one this year,” said Debra Kaufman, Historic Fort Reno board president.

Canadian County has received the second half of its COVID-19 pandemic relief allocation.

In 2021, Canadian County was awarded $28 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The first half of those funds arrived a few months after the initial award.

In June, commissioners spent $6 million of the county’s ARPA funding to purchase property in central Canadian County for a new Canadian County Health Department clinic and offices.

Friday, Oct. 14 is the last day to apply for voter registration in order to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 8 General Election, Town of Union City Proposition Special Election, City of El Reno Ward 3 Election and City of El Reno Mayor Election, Canadian County Election Board Assistant Secretary Allen Arnold said.

Arnold said persons who are U.S. citizens, residents of Oklahoma and at least 17 ½ years old are eligible to apply for voter registration. However, you must be at least 18 years old to vote.

Voters in Canadian County who want absentee ballots mailed to them for the Nov. 8 General Election, Town of Union City Proposition Special Election, City of El Reno Ward 3 Election and City of El Reno Mayor Election should apply now, Canadian County Election Board Assistant Secretary Allen Arnold said.

Absentee ballots are available to any registered voter, provided they are eligible to vote in the election requested. No excuse is needed to vote by absentee ballot.

Sample ballots are now available for the Nov. 8 General Election.

Voters can download a sample ballot using the State Election Board’s OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp or pick up a copy at the Canadian County Election Board during normal business hours.

Canadian County Election Board Assistant Secretary Allen Arnold said sample ballots are specific to each person.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Three state representatives held an interim study before the House Children, Youth and Family Services Committee on Sept. 20 to examine options to support a more efficient foster care system while protecting the well-being of children in the program.

Reps. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, Dick Lowe, R-Amber, and Brad Boles, R-Marlow, requested Interim Study 22-074 following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in late June.

LAWSUITS

Discover Bank vs. Corey J. Beckman for $2,680.31 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Discover Bank vs. Tyler Bishop for $5,748.10 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Directions Credit Union Inc. vs. Alicia J. Jones for $4,555.83 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Discover Bank vs. Layne Perdew for $1,597.03 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

When Kevin Stitt was elected governor of Oklahoma in 2018, the state had a $1 billion deficit.

Four years later, as Stitt seeks re-election, Oklahoma has a $3 billion surplus, the fourth largest reserve account of any state in the nation.

And Stitt said another billion should be added to the coffers next year.

That was part of Stitt’s message last week when he spoke at the El Reno Now Breakfast.

The monthly event hosted by Mayor Matt White and El Reno Schools Superintendent Matt Goucher raised more than $400 for the El Reno Public Schools Foundation.

The United States Cavalry Association wrapped up its annual four-day competition over the weekend at Fort Reno.

Two of the key events were the Mounted Saber and Paul Scholtz Mounted Pistol competitions.

Competitors in the Paul Scholtz Mounted Pistol event had to shoot at balloons while riding a set course, which at times forced some tough shots.