News

The triple-murder trial of Stacy Lee Drake, the Alabama felon accused of the June 2024 murders of Tara Underwood and Taylor Sharp at LaFerry’s Propane near Gans as well as the El Reno slaying of Phillip Emerson, has been postponed until February 2027, according to Sequoyah County District Court records.

In addition, initial motions in the case are due by June 2026, with a final pre-trial hearing in January 2027.

The prosecution had requested an earlier trial date, but the court granted the defense’s request to postpone proceedings until 2027.

The operator of an industrial-sized excavator suffered only minor injuries when the unit being driven flipped onto its side at a demolition site in the 500 block of South Rock Island last week.

“The operator had cuts on his hands but did not require emergency services,” said City of El Reno Code Enforcement Officer Stan Ferrell.

According to City of El Reno Community Development Director Emily Richey, locally-based Baker’s Bucket Works was contracted to raze the house, which was condemned in late fall of 2025.

Families are invited to meet Clifford the Big Red Dog and receive a free children’s book during a special Bookmobile visit from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10 at The Filling Station, 120 S. Choctaw Ave.

The Bookmobile is sponsored by Wesley in ACTSion, the mission team of Wesley United Methodist Church.

In 2025, the Bookmobile distributed more than 2,750 free books to children, supporting literacy and access to reading materials throughout the community.

For the first time in two years, the Board of Canadian County Commissioners has a new chairman.

Commissioners, at their Jan. 5 regular meeting, elected District 3 Commissioner Tracey Rider as their chairman and District 2 Commissioner Lacey Dawson as vice chairman for 2026. The vote was 3-0.

Rider succeeded District 1 Commissioner Tom Manske, who had been the board chairman for the past two years.

Rider, Manske and Dawson then rotated seats on the dais inside the conference room of the Canadian County Administration Building, 314 W. Rogers.

Cleanup crews were busy this week clearing the future site of a new four-story Canadian County Courthouse at 201 N. Choctaw.

A 112,407-square-foot building will be constructed where M&M Wrecking recently demolished the county’s 63-year-old Administration Building.

A groundbreaking ceremony is set Feb. 9 for the new courthouse build.

County commissioners are scheduled to consider a guaranteed maximum price at their Feb. 2 meeting. Lingo Construction is the project’s construction manager.

A ballot measure going before Oklahoma voters calls for imposing a dramatic increase in the state’s mandatory minimum wage with continued, rapid escalation based on the cost of living in urban centers in states like California and New York.

State Sen. Kristen Thompson, whose family operates two restaurants, warns the real-world impact of that proposal will not align with pie-in-the-sky promises made by advocates of the California-style wage plan.

MUNICIPAL COURT

Laisha Alaniz, Elsa, Texas, speeding, $165.

Christina Castro, El Reno, driving without valid driver’s license, $395.

Sterlyn Whitecrow, El Reno, petit larceny, $595.

Joseph Whitecrow, El Reno, petit larceny, $595.

Dominic Nuncio, El Reno, expired tag, $165.

Carson Garrett, Mont Belvieu, Texas, speeding, $165.

Barbarita Alberto, Inglewood, Calif., speeding, $165.

Colton Smith, Brighton, Mo., speeding, $165.

Nickolas Yates, Marlow, speeding, $165.

Spencer Nichols, Elk City, expired tag, $165.

The City of El Reno has formally appealed to the state’s highest court District Judge Paul Hesse’s ruling that declared El Reno’s annexation of property into its city limits was mostly invalid.

A “petition in error” was filed Dec. 22, 2025, at the Oklahoma Supreme Court in Oklahoma City. A certificate of appeal signed by Office of the Appellate Courts Clerk Selden Jones was filed Dec. 29 in Canadian County District Court.

Editor’s Note: As we move from 2025 to 2026, we'll take a look back at some of the stories that made headlines locally. This is the final installment looking back at the past year. Happy New Year!

September

El Reno’s animal shelter would be made more friendly for its guests after improvements were mapped out. 

City officials gathered with members of the Friends of the El Reno Animal Shelter to celebrate the beginning of those improvements. 

Editor’s Note: As we move from 2025 to 2026, we’ll take a look back at some of the stories that made headlines locally. This is the second of three installments looking back at the past year. Happy New Year!

May

Canadian County commissioners discussed the adoption of county building codes. The proposal was discussed but the item was tabled after District 2 Commissioner Lacey Dawson questioned whether the move would be premature.