News

Adam Kolar was sentenced to life in prison for allowing his 3-year-old son to die in a locked pickup truck on an August day in 2018.

Canadian County District Judge Paul Hesse handed down the sentence Tuesday afternoon. Hesse accepted a plea agreement between the district attorney and Kolar in which the former Federal Correctional officer will have all but the first 15 years of the life sentence suspended.

Hesse said Kolar would have to serve 85 percent of the 15 years before he could be eligible for parole.

With announcements earlier this month that two pharmaceutical giants have developed effective COVID-19 vaccines, Oklahoma and other states across the nation are ramping up plans to distribute millions of doses of the potentially lifesaving vaccine in the coming months. 

Like much of the rest of the country, Oklahoma is seeing the virus spread faster than ever as cases, hospitalizations and deaths continue to topple records. 

The State Board of Education has shelved the request of a Christian school to participate in a program for children with special needs and instead requested an official opinion from the state attorney general.

The board voted to ask the attorney general if an Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) regulation — which requires schools to adopt certain policies regarding sexual orientation as a condition of participation in the Lindsey Nicole Henry (LNH) Scholarships for Students with Disabilities program — is legal.

For many nature-lovers, hiking through the woods on a crisp fall day is a great opportunity for exercise and fresh air. However, this time of year also is a favorite of deer hunters. With rifle season opening Nov. 21, both hikers and hunters must use caution.

Emily Long, Payne County game warden, said hunting activity is at its peak during the weekends. She urges bright colors and careful scheduling.

LAWSUITS

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Ashley Wilson for $1,410.58 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Unifund CCR LLC vs. Jaxon L. Brinsfield for $1,261.91 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Midland Funding LLC vs. Tamie Hollis for $6,044.12 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

DASK1 LLC vs. Nicholas Wafer for $4,614.66 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Cavalry SPV I LLC vs. Matthew Mande for $3,686.58 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

An El Reno schoolteacher and football coach was killed Monday evening in a vehicle accident.

Jacob Randall Briggs, 24, died in the accident that happened on S.H. 81, south of I-40.

“This is the worst thing to have to deal with. This is crushing to get that phone call and then get confirmation the next morning from the authorities. It’s devastating on our first responders because a lot of them knew Jake.

“This is tough on our faculty and tough on our young kids,” said El Reno Superintendent Craig McVay.

When a COVID-19 vaccine is made available, El Reno School Superintendent Craig McVay said he will be the first in line to take it.

McVay joined El Reno Mayor Matt White for El Reno Live, the weekly program that runs on Thursday at 3 p.m. on Facebook Live.

The 30-minute show allows residents to submit questions to White and city staff on any number of topics, as well as providing updates on city happenings.

McVay had been trying to join White for several weeks on El Reno Live, but the pandemic has played havoc with school as parents and guardians well know.

El Reno Main Street will present the Christmas Experience on Saturday, Dec. 5 in downtown El Reno.

The event will feature the annual Christmas Parade followed by shopping at local stores. Some 20 vendors are scheduled to be on hand as part of the Junk Hippie Tour and live window displays will be presented by Power Dance Company.

Young dancers from Dance Etiquette are scheduled to perform and the Joytones from First Baptist Church are also planned to perform.

El Reno police are asking the public’s help in finding a suspect wanted in connection with the theft of city of El Reno property.

A 2008 Ford F250 truck along with a 2020 Lamar 16-foot dump trailer were taken from the construction site of the SSM St. Anthony Healthplex being built along U.S. 81, just north of I-40. Police said the theft happened Nov. 11.

For 21 years, El Reno’s Blessing Baskets has orchestrated, with the help of the community, a Christmas Basket program that has helped brighten the season for many in the area.

And organizers say the ongoing pandemic known as COVID-19 is not going to stop the effort this year.

Blessing Baskets is planning to help more than 700 local families that will include more than 1,000 children with the Christmas Basket 2020 Program.