News

El Reno’s First Baptist Church will be the site for COVID-19 vaccinations beginning Jan. 18.

The Canadian County Health Department is moving the vaccination site from Redlands Community College after the Friday, Jan. 15 distribution in an effort to deliver shots on a daily basis.

“Redlands has been great and we are thankful for everything they have done. There are some scheduling conflicts coming up when Redlands starts back to in-person classes and some upcoming events they have,” said District 2 Public Information Officer Maggie Jackson.

The board of ICAN has chosen associate director Carolyn Husmann to serve as interim executive director. The group’s executive director, Eric Feuerborn, is stepping down, and Husmann agreed to fill his shoes until a new executive director is found.

A nonprofit, ICAN is an intervention and crisis advocacy network. Formerly known as Women’s Service and Family Resource Center, ICAN is the domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault aspect of Cardinal Point, the domestic violence center.

The state of Oklahoma owes El Reno $3 million, but Mayor Matt White said the city is not holding its breath expecting to collect the money anytime soon.

Speaking during the El Reno Live Facebook program, White said the money is owed from the 2019 tornado, as well as the most recent ice storm that struck in late October.

Winter temperatures can lead to frozen pipes in the home and even bigger problems if the pipes burst, said Gina Peek, interim associate dean and Oklahoma State University Extension housing and consumer specialist.

“Freezing water creates a lot of pressure inside the pipe, which in turn can cause the pipe to burst. This can lead to serious flooding, especially if it happens when no one is home or at night when everyone is asleep,” Peek said.

LAWSUITS

American Express National Bank vs. Jerry Carter II for $16,527.64 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

American Express National Bank vs. Micheal Hill for $35,288.62 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

American Express National Bank vs. Ernest Hubert for $10,704.89 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Randy Wayne Clyburn vs. Lowe’s Home Centers LLC for an amount in excess of $75,000 for alleged injuries and damages.

Canadian County Sheriff Chris West said he traveled to the nation’s capitol last week to attend the Save America Rally, because President Donald Trump “has done so much in support of law enforcement during a very difficult time.”

West has been criticized on social media for attending the rally that turned violent and left four people dead, including a police officer, but he said the attacks are out of place.

Canadian County has entered Phase 2 of the state's COVID-19 vaccination plan, even though the overall number of doses administered to qualifying adults remains low.

“It is a large volume of vaccines and we are trying to get them out as quickly as we can,” said District 2 Public Information Officer Maggie Jackson.

Canadian County is part of District 2 along with Alfalfa, Garfield, Kingfisher, Major, Grant, Blaine and Logan counties.

Even with the collapse of the oil and gas industry and the debilitating haymaker delivered to the economy by COVID-19, El Reno still managed to issue close to 100 permits for new housing in 2020.

Records provided by the city’s Community Development Department show permits were issued for 90 new residences during 2020. That was a dip from the 125 permits issued for new homes during 2019 and the 132 permits in 2018. But it still shows growth, especially as the area suffered from the pandemic and the decline of the oil patch.

As 2020 drew to a close, El Reno and the area continued, like the rest of the world, to deal with the impact of COVID-19. But hope was on the way as the promise of the vaccine was just days away. In between, El Reno High School students reminded us of better days like when George Bailey found ZuZu’s petals and Clarence got his wings.

DECEMBER

El Reno Main Street would present the Christmas Experience in downtown El Reno. The event featured the annual Christmas parade, followed by shopping at local stores.

Earlier this week, OSDH announced the launch of an online COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduler Portal to notify Oklahomans when they’re eligible to receive the vaccine and provide more information on how to schedule an appointment.  Oklahomans can visit this portal at vaccinate.oklahoma.gov.

Pre-registration is open for all Oklahomans to enter their personal information to determine their eligibility to receive the vaccine within Oklahoma’s priority phase plan and receive notifications when the vaccine is available to them.