News

The weekend weather was perfect, almost, as the Centre Theatre for the Arts teamed with the El Reno Arts Council to host a Battle of the Bands and Art Show in downtown El Reno.

This was the third annual Battle of the Bands and produced local talent like Shady Five Eight that played well into the evening Friday and Saturday.

Judges for the event were Mayor Matt White, Police Officer Troy George and Randy Edmondson. Rain and cooler temps moved in late Saturday, but organizers said fans stayed to cheer the late-playing acts.

El Reno’s third annual Community Day and Fly-In brought thousands to the El Reno Municipal Airport over the weekend to watch performances by the David Schultz
Air Shows based out of Pennsylvania.

See Saturday's edition for more on the event.
 

A contractor has advised Canadian County officials to have a structural engineer evaluate the condition of the historic county jail before they decide the next step.

Canadian County commissioners at their weekly meeting Aug. 29 heard a proposal from Erick Westfahl with Redhawk Construction Inc. about rehabbing the old jail located at Rogers and Evans.

“The work is far beyond just a roofing contractor,” said Westfahl, who has lived in Yukon for more than 20 years.

Renovation plans are being designed so Canadian County’s public health clinics and offices can move into one central location.

A 33,000-square-foot building on SH 66 near Evans Road will become the new Canadian County Health Department.

County commissioners in late June spent $6 million in federal stimulus funds to purchase the 10-acre property at 6100 E. Highway 66.

Lingo Construction has been hired as construction manager for the remodeling project.

Ahead of the November general election, Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt and Democratic State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister have agreed to participate in a gubernatorial debate co-hosted by NonDoc and News 9.

The debate, titled Executive Session, is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19 at the Will Rogers Theatre, 4322 N. Western Ave. in Oklahoma City.

For this particular debate, NonDoc has partnered with the State Chamber of Oklahoma to host the event, but questions will be written and asked exclusively by professional journalists.

MARRIAGE LICENSES

Tristan David Hill, 27; Sydney Christine Eggers, 27.

Luis Angel Morales Jr., 32; Krislynn Jennifer Kellebrew, 35.

Cary James Morgan, 32; Autumn Dawn DeJulio, 26.

Jay Thomas Shank, 23; Anna Christine Coffee, 23.

Clifford Clay Clark III, 31; Stephanie Rachelle Camp, 31.

Willie Jagers III, 20; Natalie Sue Cowling, 22.

Dany Varghese, 39; Sneha S. Varughese, 27.

John Paul Resendez DeLeon, 29; Gabrielle Leigh Kissner, 21.

Kevin John McFarland, 34; Terri Lynn Henderson, 60.

El Reno’s Board of Adjustment unanimously rejected a request from an oil and gas company seeking a waiver from city ordinances that would allow for the drilling of a well in an area surrounded by homes.

Board chair T. Mike Smith made the motion to deny the request from Revolution Operating Company, LLC. He drew a second from board member Dave Mehan and the motion drew support from fellow Board of Adjustment members Brad Baker, Paul King and Robert Stevenson.

The Denny-Crump Arena could host more rodeo-related events due to a contract between the city of El Reno and the arena’s most notable tenant – the El Reno Wranglers.

“The city approached us about coming on-board and helping take care of the arena, so we entered into a contract to where we would assist in preparing the arena for other events besides the ones we run ourselves,” said ER Wranglers rodeo chairman and board member Marie Hirst.

Barbara Musser sure knows how to make a coconut cream pie.

“That’s my specialty,” said Musser, who was named Senior Champion Pie Baker at the recent 2022 Canadian County Free Fair.

“One judge did say it was just an original pie, and the meringue did not weep at all. And that’s an important factor. She said it really had a true coconut flavor.”

The El Reno woman is a repeat blue ribbon winner, having been honored for her pie-baking acumen during the 2021 county fair.

Tara Douglas, a Redlands alumna and El Reno native, has been named to fill the role of Director of Foundation Development and Alumni Relations.

Douglas has a background that includes leading in both public service and nonprofit sectors, cultivating community partnerships and supporting relationships to build community engagement and accomplish initiatives, said information provided by RCC.