Luke Cooper is a strong advocate for foster care. Without it, he said, he would probably be “either dead or in jail.”
Cooper, 38, made the comment at last week’s El Reno Now gathering.
Hosted by Mayor Matt White and School Superintendent Craig McVay, the monthly event started up again this month after being on but mostly off again thanks in part to the COVID pandemic.
El Reno water customers will be getting a notice in the mail concerning an issue that occurred in May of last year at the water treatment plant.
City Manager Matt Sandidge said the city is required by the Department of Environmental Quality to notify the community of the incident.
Sandidge said the contractor hired to manage the treatment plant did not notify the DEQ within a required 24-hour period after excess air leaked into the water system. He said the extra oxygen posed no threat to the public.
Statewide election activity officially begins at 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 13 when the filing period opens, Wanda Armold, secretary of the Canadian County Election Board said.
Candidates for state offices file with the secretary of the state election board. Candidates for county offices file with the secretary of the county election board.
Armold said the following offices are expected to be filled this year:
County Assessor
County Treasurer
County Commissioner District 1
An inmate at the Canadian County Jail could face charges after allegedly setting a mattress on fire.
Sheriff Chris West said the inmate “somehow” was able to set the mattress in his cell on fire Sunday evening.
The fire caused smoke alarms to go off and led to one detention officer being treated for smoke inhalation. West said there were no other injuries reported and damage, other than the mattress, was limited to smoke.
The El Reno Fire Department responded to the scene and was able to contain the smoke.
A plan to spend some $150,000 to replace the roof on the historic Canadian County Jail moved a step closer to reality.
County commissioners voted 3-0 last week to approve a partial release of a lease between Canadian County and Preservation El Reno Inc. for the old county jail building at the corner of Rogers and Evans.
The action amends a 1995 lease agreement between the county and Preservation El Reno for the historic jail building and stables, also known as the carriage house.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Mark Vancuren, R-Owasso, secured passage of a bill that would make an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) available for school employees, mirroring what is currently available to all state employees.
House Bill 4109 would create an Education EAP within the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
MUNICIPAL COURT
Anthony Lamar Turner Jr., Oklahoma City, speeding, $195.
Tyler Minear, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $295.
Brandon Paul Charley, Geary, failure to appear warrant, $295.
Anessa Madbull, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $295.
Chad Bell, Piedmont, driving without license issued and failure to appear warrant, $547.
Joseph Michael Williams, Hooker, possession of drug paraphernalia, $300.
Earl Thomas III, El Reno, expired tag, $165.
El Reno Superintendent Craig McVay expects one of the district’s buses to be totaled by insurance adjusters after it was involved in an accident last week along Interstate 40 near Council Road.
McVay said the mini-bus, a 15-passenger white Thomas-built unit, was carrying El Reno High School FFA students to Wilburton for a contest at Eastern Oklahoma State College.
CALUMET – Oklahoma gubernatorial candidate and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister toured Calumet schools last week.
Hofmeister, who is running as a Democrat against Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, visited Calumet’s elementary school along with Principal Lindy Renbarger and Superintendent Brandon Voss.
“We were extremely happy that Superintendent Hofmeister came to visit Calumet. It was great being able to show her a small snapshot of what goes on every day.
Redlands Community College and El Reno Public Schools are teaming up to host a 5K fun run to benefit the cross country programs at both schools. The inaugural Twister Trek 5K will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 2 at El Reno’s Memorial Stadium.
“The Redlands cross country program is still relatively new, so we are excited to partner with El Reno’s program to create a fun, community event that will benefit all of our runners,” said Natalie Graves, Redlands cross country coach.
