News

A longtime El Reno city official is prodding Canadian County commissioners to release part of its federal stimulus aid award to benefit cities and towns.

El Reno Mayor Matt White implored commissioners April 4 to act on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding requests totaling $13.25 million submitted by seven local government entities for water projects.

“We’re getting concerned, we sent a request to you all back in October,” White told the commissioners.

Canadian County elected officials recently toured the Rogers County Courthouse near Tulsa as they consider building a new courthouse complex.

Commissioners are expected to review a proposal for a multi-level courthouse/administration building. Estimated construction cost has not been determined.

“We need to engage an architect to help us project that cost,” said Commissioner Dave Anderson. “I know that the Rogers County Courthouse would cost around $30 million in today’s construction climate.

MARRIAGE LICENSES

Garrison Andrew Kingery, 28; Alexis Brooke Busby, 23.

Antone LaJuan Prince, 42; Jacquelyn Shunta Gordon, 37.

Douglas Henry Cook, 53; Laurie Ann Brown, 52.

Mason Allen Smith, 26; Kailee Nicole Graves, 22.

Noah Cameron Webster, 24; Makenna Kamryn Burge, 22.

Wayne Preston Foster Jr., 50; Michelle Lucille Sermersheim, 43.

Clinton Harold Jenkins, 29; Watona Lee Swift, 33.

Oron E. Harper Jr., 74; Creta Schuneman, 74.

Joshua Eugene Hines, 26; Alyssa Paige Ramirez, 28.

Mayor Matt White told about 30 people Tuesday night he wasn’t going to ’tell them what they wanted to hear” concerning a planned drilling operation near their homes.

“But I’m going to tell you the truth,” he said. “I’m not going to lie.”

He then went on to say other than requiring some city-mandated protections, there is nothing the municipal government can do to stop the oil and gas operation.

When Steve Maddox approached the city council with the proposal of creating an El Reno Film Commission with $10,000 in start-up money, it seemed to be an idea whose time had come.

El Reno has had some success in landing motion film projects over the years and that has ramped up more recently with the addition of state incentives for the industry.

Those incentives, coupled with shutdowns in Hollywood brought on by the COVID pandemic, have seen productions such as American Underdog and Stillwater choose El Reno to film portions of these and other cinematic creations.

El Reno police took a man armed with a handgun into custody March 29 after he allegedly threatened people inside a home at 511 North R.

Major Kirk Dickerson said police were called to the residence shortly before 10:30 a.m. after receiving reports a man with a firearm was involved in an altercation that was being broadcast live on Facebook.

When officers arrived they reported finding Quantrell Ladon Steele, 24, standing in the street outside the residence. Steele indicated he had just come from the residence.

Ross Seed Company was busy shuffling and watering plants in preparation for its Plant Daze sale which started Thursday and runs through Saturday.

El Reno hired a new firm to manage its water and wastewater operations.

In a special city council meeting at noon on Tuesday, council voted 4-0 to hire Inframark to manage both systems.

Councilman Peter Stapperfend was absent from the meeting.

Council gave City Manager Matt Sandidge and City Attorney Jana Knott the green light to work out the details of the contract with Inframark.

It’s expected much of the contract will be in place by the end of the month when the existing contract with the current operator, Veolia, expires.

El Reno City Councilwoman Tracey Rider said she will be a candidate for the District 3 Canadian County Commissioner seat. The filing period opens Wednesday and ends Friday at 5 p.m.

The primary election is set for June 28.

Special Judge Khristan Strubhar said she intends to seek the office of District Judge, after current Canadian County District Judge Jack McCurdy’s decision not to file for re-election.

“I respect Judge McCurdy’s wisdom, guidance and leadership, both as an attorney who’s appeared in his courtroom and as a judicial colleague who’s worked alongside him and benefited from his mentorship,” Strubhar said.

“Now I am asking the voters for the privilege to walk in his footsteps.”