News

At the end of 2021, the SWOSU Digital Commons at Southwestern Oklahoma State University passed another major milestone with 750,000 downloads made from the repository.

Readers and researchers at 16,774 institutions in 221 countries have downloaded 23,892 items since the SWOSU Digital Commons opened in March 2016. Topping the list of downloads were two SWOSU-published items that were accessed more than 30,000 times each:

“KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF TEACHER LEADERS IN SCHOOLS,” which appeared in 2014 in the SWOSU-produced Administrative Issues Journal.

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce (Commerce) has hired Jimmy Cagle to serve as the State Automotive Director.

Cagle is retiring after 37 years on the communications staff of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, 12 of which were spent at the company’s Lawton facility. In his role with the Commerce Business Development Team, he will lead the state’s efforts to grow Oklahoma’s automotive sector and supply chain.

MARRIAGE LICENSES

Thomas Victor Gray, 62; Brenda Kaye Ditmore, 60.

Gary R. Underwood, 76; Joy Jenean VanHooser, 62.

Bradley Thomas Angel, 36; Mattie Elizabeth Rankin, 31.

Alan Paul Fowler, 53; Melissa Jayne Hoyden, 41.

Xavier Andrew White, 26; Jasmine Marie Terrell, 22.

Bruce Joel Alder, 68; Susan Moore Reedy, 60.

Cheyenne Taylor Steele, 28; Sarah Nicole Sample, 27.

Damian Ellis Ross, 45; Courtney Tenille Adams, 37.

Jeffrey Alan Johnson, 33; Charity Renee Stephens, 37.

The city of El Reno and the public school district may partner on a master plan related to possibly building some type of community center/sports complex.

Mayor Matt White discussed the issue at last week’s city council meeting. No action was taken by the council because the school board did not address the issue at its meeting the evening before.

The school board had been expected to discuss the idea and consider possible action, but because Superintendent Craig McVay was not able to attend the meeting, the item was pulled from the agenda.

A semi-truck hauling pallets of 9-volt batteries jackknifed Wednesday afternoon and brought traffic on I-40 to a halt.

El Reno Fire Chief Jason Duff said the batteries caught fire.

It took several hours for the scene to be cleared. No injuries were reported, but traffic in both directions came to a halt as heavy smoke poured from the semi-trailer.

Oklahoma City television helicopters covered the traffic snarl from the air.

Reports had the I-40 traffic backed up for five miles. It was about 8 p.m., reports said, before the highway was completely open.

A law enforcement investigation was conducted last week that involved the FBI in Calumet.

An FBI spokesman said he could not provide any information about a Calumet investigation.

“Due to the ongoing investigation, I can’t say anything,” said FBI spokesman Connor Hagan.

“The FBI was involved in a court-authorized law enforcement operation in Calumet, but due to the nature of the investigation, I can’t provide any details at this point of time.”

A Canadian County burn ban has been extended two more weeks.

Canadian County commissioners last week approved continuing the outdoor burning prohibition due to an “extreme fire danger” caused by dry, windy conditions.

The burn ban, which began Dec. 20, is now due to expire at 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 31.

Canadian County Emergency Management Director Andrew Skidmore recommended extending the burn ban after hearing from the county’s fire chiefs.

“I emailed all the fire chiefs – rural, volunteer and career fire departments,” Skidmore told commissioners.

Candidate filing will open next week for three seats on the Canadian County Fair Board. The board is comprised of nine members, three serving from each county commissioner district.

Each year, three fair board seats are up for election. This year, incumbents facing re-election are Justin Atkinson of El Reno (District 1), Ken Carpenter of Mustang (District 2) and Dan Wedman of Calumet (District 3).

Candidates will file between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 24 through Friday, Jan. 28 at the Canadian County Clerk’s Office, 201 N. Choctaw.

SSM Health Medical Group said Dr. George Ghata has joined its practice.

Ghata is a primary care physician who specializes in sports medicine.

He will offer care for injuries and conditions and related pain management as well as general illnesses, concussions and exercise-induced asthma in adult and adolescent patients.

He also has extensive experience serving as a team physician for professional and collegiate sports organizations.

Redlands Community College recently hosted a visit from Chancellor Allison Garrett, the new leader of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Garrett visited with students and staff during a tour of the campus which included the Darlington Agriculture Education and Applied Research Center’s aquaponics labs.