News

The 2025 Canadian County Free Fair offered a wide array of contests and carnival fun over the weeklong event.

Canadian County’s 2026 holiday schedule has an extra day off for county government employees.

Canadian County offices will be closed 13 days during 2026.

Eleven holidays will be observed, with the first nine being one day each and the last two being two days each.

Commissioners, at their Aug. 25 weekly meeting, voted 3-0 to adopt the 2026 holiday schedule authorizing the closure of county offices. This is required by state statute.

Weatherford businessman Rick Koch said he will seek election to the Oklahoma Senate District 26 seat now held by Sen. Dary Jech of Kingfisher. Jech is term-limited and will end his Senate service in 2026. 

Describing himself as a “Trump conservative,” Koch is well known in central and western Oklahoma, building an energy business that has branched out to include retail, hospitality, marketing, fuel, transportation and petroleum products. 

Canadian County CASA Inc. (Court Appointed Special Advocates) has welcomed its newest volunteer, Bonnie Swain, who made the commitment to give her time to help abused and neglected children in her community.

Canadian County Associate District Judge Bob Hughey swore in the new volunteer. Swain will soon be appointed to her first CASA cases and is excited to become an advocate for a child or children in need.

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) will open applications for the 2026 grant cycle of the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program on Monday, Sept. 1.

This grants-in-aid program will offer awards ranging from $1,000 to $25,000 to municipal, county or tribal governments, as well as nonprofit historical organizations and their support groups.

LAWSUITS

Capital One N.A. vs. Kimberly Warren for $6,065.68 to pay a debt plus interest and costs.

Capital One N.A. vs. Jennifer Rogers for $8,610.24 pay a debt plus interest and costs.

Mariner Finance LLC vs. Socorro Villalaz for $1,409.64 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Mariner Finance LLC vs. Larry Pringle for $5,318.14 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Capital One N.A. vs. Cary Nall for $5,501.82 to pay a debt plus interest and costs.

El Reno will have races for both mayor and Ward 2 City Council after the filing period closed Wednesday.

Canadian County Election Board officials said the mayor’s race will pit incumbent Steve Jensen against Phillip Church.

The Ward 2 race will see incumbent Peter Stapperfend face off against Gary Baker, Heather Brothers and Hershel M. Gorham.

Jensen filed on Monday, the first day the filing period opened. Stapperfend filed on Tuesday, while Church, Baker, Brothers and Gorham filed on Wednesday.   

The Canadian County Historical Society will host a fundraising event, Twilight at the Depot, on the historic grounds of the Canadian County Museum. The colorful event will be from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 13.

Organizers said the event offers an evening of live music, food and family-friendly entertainment, all set in front of the Rock Island Depot, a 1906 railroad station that stands as a proud symbol of the city’s rail history.

Members of the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office assembled to honor the memory and service of K9 Deputy Maverick.

Maverick was 12 1/2 years old at the time of his death and served the sheriff’s office well for approximately six years before being retired from service, Sheriff Chris West said. 

Maverick began his career with the sheriff’s office in July 2014 and retired from official service in October 2021.

The 2025 Canadian County Free Fair came to a close after a week full of food, fun and contests.