News

Several dozen people gathered last week to learn about Oklahoma’s Tax Credit Scholarships program.

Peter De Keretry, development director for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, told the crowd gathered in the gymnasium at Sacred Heart School that three Catholic schools in Oklahoma have closed for good this year.

Schools in Kingfisher, Guthrie and Lawton closed over lack of funding. De Keretry said the Tax Credit Scholarships can help keep parochial and private schools open and make them available for low-income children.

Redlands Community College has been awarded a five-year grant totaling nearly $1.5 million by the U.S. Department of Education that will allow it to expand instructional offerings for Native American students and others interested in agriculture technology-related careers.

In the fall of 2022, Redlands will be adding new courses focusing on agriculture technology including coding, drone operation, robotics and applied automation.

A rubberized flooring will be added to the new Canadian County Fairgrounds Expo Center to help protect horses as they move from the arena to the stalls.

County commissioners, acting as the county’s Public Facilities Authority, voted unanimously to approve the added $34,666 cost for the fairgrounds project.

District 2 Commissioner David Anderson had recommended the additional flooring, which will be placed between the barn columns and the outside wall.

Authorities charged an Oklahoma City man with first-degree murder and armed robbery in connection with the fatal shooting of a clerk at a Canadian County 7-Eleven.

Charges were filed against George Lorenz Way in connection with the Sept. 3 death of Laura Taylor. Way is accused of robbing the store at SW 15th and Mustang Road and then shooting Taylor multiple times when she followed him outside the store. Taylor died at the scene.

KP Harris found more than livestock last week in a field west of his home.

The Okarche teen encountered a black diamond rattlesnake that measured more than 6 feet when he entered the field to feed horses. Harris was able to make quick work of the snake and with help in skinning the creature from an aunt, had the makings of possibly a new belt.

Harris contacted Tom Jones of Kingfisher who makes belts, boots and saddles to inquire about uses for the snakeskin.

His mother, Julie Harris, said there was no way the snake was winding up on the dinner table.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Officials with the Oklahoma State Election Board cautioned voters about a mailing from a Tulsa-based organization, OKVOTE, after state and county election offices received several complaints from voters this week.

A rabies-infected bat was discovered this week in the area around Bell Cow Lake, located within the Chandler city limits in Lincoln County. This is the second rabies-positive bat found in the area in the past six weeks.

“Oklahoma is seeing more cases of rabies in the state this year than previous years,” State Public Health Veterinarian LeMac’ Morris said. “With more sightings of skunks and bats, this is the perfect time to remind pet owners about the importance of vaccinating family pets, and even livestock.”

LAWSUITS

Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing vs. Lisa G. White for $49,617.21 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Melissa D. Crouch vs. Kevin Schuneman and Brittany Schuneman for an amount in excess of $75,000 for injuries and damages alleged to have occurred during an automobile accident.

Cavalry SPV I LLC vs. Michael A. Beaucourt for $10,152.26 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

D&M Carriers LLC vs. Christiann Lee for $19,900 for damages alleged to have occurred during an automobile accident.

As a volunteer slowly walked a brown quarter horse named Simon to the loading ramp, a smile immediately took over the face of Etta Dale eighth-grader Alan Barbosa.

It was a common expression on the faces of El Reno students who would be the first to ride horses at Savannah Station Therapeutic Riding Program since March. That’s when the COVID-19 pandemic closed the operation.

El Reno Live debuted last week with Mayor Matt White fielding questions submitted by residents.

The program used Facebook Live and generated numerous questions from residents concerning a wide range of topics. White answered questions from City Hall, while City Manager Matt Sandidge collected the inquiries off the social media site.

The 30-minute program attracted more than 2,000 views.