News

A Yukon woman who brought drugs into the Canadian County Jail has pleaded guilty and received a seven-year deferred sentence.

Julie Ann Whiteley, 43, was charged Sept. 28 in Canadian County District Court with possession of contraband in jail (a felony) and possession of a controlled dangerous substance (a misdemeanor).

She also was charged Oct. 26 with unlawful possession of a controlled dangerous substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia (both misdemeanors).

MUNICIPAL COURT

Wesley Don Vandiver, Checotah, speeding, $195.

Johnny E. Frost, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $295.

Andrea Beaver, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $295.

Randolph James Youngbull, Geary, failure to appear warrant, $295.

William Robert Ormsbee, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $295.

Bobby R. Vandusen, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $295.

Eunice N. White, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $295.

El Reno Public Schools transitioned to distance learning throughout the district after an outbreak of positive cases for COVID-19.

The district first said students at Hillcrest and Rose Witcher Learning Centers would switch to remote learning on Tuesday, Jan.11.

Two days later, the entire district made the move after outbreaks at the junior high and high school.

In-person classes were expected to resume on Jan. 18, said Assistant Superintendent Matt Goucher.

Both health-care and public school officials are keeping a close eye on incoming data as the Omicron and Delta variants continue to fuel a recent surge in both testing and reported positive cases of the coronavirus.

“I hate COVID-19. It seems to be the same as it’s always been for us. There is no difference from now than it was in March of 2020 or even a year ago.

“We have been speaking with the state health department pretty much every day and we expect an aggressive community-based spread of the virus between now and Feb. 1,” said El Reno Superintendent Craig McVay.

Mike Grimes, a lieutenant with the Canadian County Sheriff’s Investigations Division, has retired after 57 years in law enforcement. His retirement was effective Dec. 31.

Grimes was serving as criminal investigator with the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office. He will continue working at the sheriff’s office but in a non-law enforcement capacity and on a part-time basis. His duties will include managing the Aviation Unit, fly missions and handling special projects.

El Reno Little League wrestler Cooper Coble rolls his Weatherford opponent into a pinning position during an exhibition match last week.

The two towns had five youth matches before the high school dual.

See related story and photos here.
 

El Reno police responded to some violent incidents over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

On Dec. 23, police were called to 416 W. Rogers after receiving reports of gunshots.

Officers said they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound to the calf area of his right leg. Police said they learned there had been a verbal altercation between occupants at the house that apparently escalated into the gun violence.

The inmate population has declined in recent weeks at the Canadian County Jail.

On Jan. 3, there were 178 inmates housed inside the county’s detention center in El Reno - 25 inmates less than the previous Monday, Dec. 27.

Canadian County Undersheriff Kevin Ward said the sheriff’s office had 210 inmates in custody, with 32 prisoners being housed in other counties, to start the new year.

Canadian County inmates may have been granted “some early Merry Christmas releases,” Ward said.

A majority of state school boards associations have publicly distanced themselves from the National School Boards Association (NSBA) after the national group compared parents to terrorists, and 17 state associations have withdrawn from the NSBA.

But the Oklahoma State School Boards Association (OSSBA) is not among them, and the organization continues its policy of public silence regarding the controversy even as state lawmakers may be poised to require parental approval for schools funds to go, directly or indirectly, to the NSBA.

Banana bread and sourdough were all the rage in 2020, and 2021 focused on air-fried food and low-waste foods. What’s going to land in your pantry this new year?

Upcoming trends in dining and cooking can be hard to predict, but the continued love for food and the desire to expand the average food pallet can make for more adventurous meals.