News

Having served as both an educator and coach for more than five decades at El Reno Public Schools, very few things can catch Ken Posey off guard.

That was until recently when Posey thought he was going to Etta Dale Junior High for a long overdue visit with Principal Kurt Myers.

“I told my wife I wanted to go down and meet the new principal and get acquainted with him,” said Posey.

However, that meeting was actually a dedication ceremony as the court at the junior high where he coached both basketball and football for decades will now be known as “Ken Posey Court.”

El Reno city employees will be getting a 3 percent boost in pay and the city took another step in the plan to possibly build a municipal Internet system.

The action came in unanimous votes at a special city council meeting last week.

Mayor Matt White said the “one-time pay adjustment” for city workers is possible because the municipal coffers have rebounded somewhat “from a couple of tough years.”

The skies will be buzzing in central Canadian County Sept. 10 as the El Reno Regional Airport hosts the Third Annual Fly-In and Community Day.

The event has grown with each passing year and Airport Manager Bailey Kennemer said the upcoming event should prove to be the largest so far.

There will be a half dozen aircraft performing aerobatics during the day, as well as classic “warbird” airplanes and vintage aircraft from days gone by.

One of the first places that opened its doors to victims of the May 2019 El Reno tornado became the victim Sunday night when powerful winds ripped the roof off the VFW Post 382.

The building at 1515 S. Rock Island was unoccupied when the damage occurred, but a spokeswoman for the organization said it will most likely be months before activity returns to the veterans post.

Nancy Salsman, VFW Auxiliary president, said the building sustained water damage from the torrential rains that accompanied the powerful winds that hit the area.

Keston Cook, the manager of the Enid Regional Airport, presents Bailey Kennemer, El Reno Regional Airport manager, with a plaque designating the local airport as the Oklahoma Airport of the Year for 2021.

The presentation was made at a recent city council meeting.

Cook currently serves as president of the Oklahoma Airport Operators Association.

The Canadian County Sheriff’s Office has issued a warning to people who may be approached by scam artists.

The sheriff's office said a new scam targeting individuals wanting them to purchase eBay cards, gift cards or similar cards is being reported.

These scams involve using sheriff’s office emails to target victims into purchasing various cards and providing the card numbers to the scammers. These emails are spoofed and are not from the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office.

MUNICIPAL COURT

Taylor Dawn Isbell, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $145.

James Wesley Welch, Oklahoma City, failure to appear warrant, $145.

Timothy Leon McBrayer, Clinton, speeding, $165.

Luis Saul Moreno Reyes, El Reno, speeding, $185.

Chance Bell, Atoka, driving under suspension, $395.

Aaron Lee Ash, El Reno, speeding and inattentive driving resulting in collision, $340.

Jarrod R. Brown, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $295

LAWSUITS

El Reno Carnegie Library has a ton of stuff for the community to enjoy and El Reno Public Schools is on the verge of having its largest enrollment ever. And if you ever wanted to drive a school bus, your ship just came in.

This bit of information came out of last week’s El Reno Now gathering. The monthly event is hosted by Mayor Matt White and School Superintendent Matt Goucher.

The breakfast event raised more than $450 for The Lord’s Harvest as well, as dozens turned out for the gathering at the Public Safety Center off SW 27th Street.

The influx of special interest money into Oklahoma politics has taken center stage.

Across the nation, there are similar stories. Political candidates and office holders have changed the way they not only run races but represent their constituents in many cases.

That may not necessarily be for the best.

During a recent town hall meeting at Redlands Community College, Congressman Frank Lucas said the time has come for campaign finance reform.

The 68th Annual Canadian County Free Fair wrapped up its four-day run over the weekend as good weather brought out a large crowd on the final night.

The fair included midway food and fun, crafts, vendors, a wide range of contests for residents, livestock judging and barrel racing.