News

Following a 17-minute debate, the El Reno School Board voted 4-0 last week to approve the district’s 2020-21 Return to Learn Plan – without a mandatory mask or vaccine mandate.

“There is not a lot of change (from last year). One of the changes that is most glaring is there is no mask mandate. Under the circumstances, we will be leaving 2,200 of our kids unprotected by not having a vaccine and mask mandate and I think that is a mistake.

“However, it’s state law and it’s my job to follow state law,” said El Reno Superintendent Craig McVay.

El Reno Public Schools opened up classes for the 2021-22 term on Thursday but the district is already facing quarantines and new cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19.

The district’s COVID-19 Dashboard Report, dated Aug. 11, showed 11 students have tested positive for the virus. Five of those students are in the high school, three from Etta Dale Junior High and one each from Hillcrest, Lincoln and Roblyer learning centers.

Downtown El Reno appears set to make another run at establishing a Business Improvement District and the area could also see a multi-story building erected on an empty lot in the 200 block of South Rock Island.

In a unanimous 5-0 vote, the city council on Tuesday hired former City Manager Dan Galloway to serve as a consultant in an effort to create the Business Improvement District. Galloway will be paid $3,000 for his efforts.

VFW Post 382 in El Reno celebrated National Purple Heart Day Aug. 7, serving as host for the Oklahoma Military Order of the Purple Heart (OMOPH) and Oklahoma Department of Veteran Affairs (ODVA) annual awards ceremony.

Oklahoma Veteran Commissioner and State Commander of Oklahoma Purple Heart, Larry Van Schuyver, and Deputy Director with ODVA, Sarah Lane, opened the ceremony, while Jerry Ball offered prayer. State Rep. Tammy Pevehouse-Townley sang the National Anthem. General Thompson, State Adjutant General, was also present to help present the award recipients.

It appears Yukon will continue buying Oklahoma City water for the foreseeable future as city administrators recommend terminating a public trust formed about 20 years ago to find a long-term water source for Canadian County municipalities.

Faced with the challenge of spending many millions of dollars to build and operate new water facilities, Yukon and Mustang city leaders will consider dissolving the Central Oklahoma Water Resource Authority (COWRA).

Resilient.

That is the word used to describe Kim Holmes by the people who know her best. 

Holmes has faced what many would say is unbelievable tragedy, yet continues to push through.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Holmes lost 20 blood relatives and many more friends, yet continued to show up for those who needed her most.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, several questions have persisted: Why do some people become infected while others with the same exposure remain unaffected?

And why do some people become critically ill or die because of the virus while others have mild or no symptoms?

The answers may lie in genetics. A large international study published recently in the journal Nature shows that 13 genes are associated with susceptibility to COVID-19 infection or severity of the disease once a person is infected.

LAWSUITS

Tinker Federal Credit Union vs. Amy L. Mullins for $8,122.23 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Tinker Federal Credit Union vs. Justin M. Martinez and Ashtyn M. Martinez for $5,040 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

World Acceptance Corporation vs. Anthony J. Teeters and Ann M. Teeters for $1,660 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Midland Credit Management vs. Wendy Pierce for $2,729.68 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Cheyenne and Arapaho Gov. Reggie Wassana said he was pleased with the response of Congressman Frank Lucas when the pair recently discussed the idea of Fort Reno being transferred back to the Tribes. While Lucas made no promises, Wassana said the meeting was productive.

Wassana met with Lucas recently in Washington, D.C.

“I was very appreciative of the congressman’s openness to listen,” said Wassana.

He said he believes Lucas was sincere in hearing out the reasons why the C&A believe the land should be returned to tribal ownership.

The 67th Annual Canadian County Free Fair will be presented Aug. 23-28 at the new Canadian County Expo and Event Center, 3001 Jensen Road East.

“I see this fair as a huge draw,” Canadian County Fair Board Secretary Brad Tipton said.

“People are looking to get out and go and do. And our fair this year will provide plenty for them to do!”

Canadian County’s new fairgrounds complex is off Jensen and Alfadale roads, just south of Interstate 40 and east of U.S. 81.