News

July always brings Oklahoma’s hottest days, and the National Weather Service predicts temperatures this year will be well above average. Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation experts recommend preparing for those long summer days.

Drink up!

“Dehydration is more than getting thirsty,” said OMRF immunologist Linda Thompson, Ph.D. “It can make many of the body’s processes, like the immune system, run inefficiently. Drink plenty of water, especially when spending time in the heat or drinking sugary or alcoholic beverages.”

MUNICIPAL COURT

Lonnie Lee Monaco, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $245.

Rachel Buckley, El Reno, speeding and failure to appear warrant, $440.

Albert Roy Redhat, El Reno, speeding, driving without license issued and failure to appear warrant, $473.

Gregory Scott Hobbs, Shawnee, speeding, $175.

Tanner Lee Leathers, El Reno, transporting open container of beer, $350.

Carillion Elaine Thiessen, Cordell, speeding, $195.

David Leon Penn, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $245.

The former Halliburton office building will become the new home for the Canadian County Health Department.

County commissioners last week approved spending $6 million in federal stimulus aid to purchase property at 6100 E. Highway 66 for a future Canadian County Health Department location.

The acquisition includes a 32,000-square-foot building on 10 acres in El Reno city limits, on the south side of Highway 66 just west of Canadian Valley Technology Center.

Canadian County will have two new commissioners in January, as Tomas Manske defeated incumbent Marc Hader in the District 1 race and Tracey Rider prevailed to become the next District 3 commissioner in a crowded June 28 primary election.

Commissioner Races

Manske drew 52.39 percent of the vote, compared to Hader’s 47.61 percent. According to the Oklahoma State and Canadian County Election Board offices, 5,972 voters cast a ballot in the District 1 race.

The news that the Canadian County Health Department will be moving out of downtown El Reno does not mean county officials are abandoning the area, said Commissioner Dave Anderson.

Commissioners last week approved spending $6 million to purchase the office building that formerly housed Halliburton on East SH 66. The purchase of the 32,000-square-foot building on 10 acres will be done using federal funds. Those funds were part of the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act, created in response to the COVID pandemic.

Area residents are expected to enjoy a sun-soaked Fourth of July weekend as El Reno joins the nation in celebrating its independence.

The annual Fourth of July celebration at Lake El Reno is being billed as Food, Friends, Fireworks.

The city is encouraging residents to bring their families to the lake area for a day of golfing, fishing, kayaking, boating and food trucks. A fireworks show is scheduled to light up the sky after dark on Monday.

Ross Seed in downtown El Reno is again sponsoring the Farmer’s Market.

The market is set up in the new pavilion on the west side of the store. It operates from 8 a.m. to noon each Wednesday and Saturday.

Offerings include brisket, herbs, homemade salsa, homemade bread, fresh vegetables and more.

If ever there was a person meant to serve as program manager for Savannah Station, it’s Blu Phillips, Executive Director Andi Holland said.

And it was not a case of being in the right place at the right time, but rather a position earned through hard work, sweat, and most importantly, dedication.

With Lake El Reno in its own backyard, it’s natural to think the El Reno Fire Department would have always housed a dive team in case of emergencies.

That’s not always been the case.

El Reno Fire Chief Jason Duff said the department first created a dive team under former chief Kent Lagaly.

“Kent and some of the other guys at the time thought it would be a good idea and created it. It’s more of an extra service that not all stations offer,” said Duff.

El Reno moved a step further in the possible quest to build a city-owned Internet network last week when the city council threw its support behind the idea.

Council unanimously approved a resolution of support for the city of El Reno to pursue development of the project. The resolution directs the city staff to pursue the effort. The resolution points out that almost 25 percent of El Reno households do not have an Internet subscription of any type.