A new Canadian County special judge is expected to be appointed this summer after House Bill 2771 became law on May 29 without Gov. Stitt’s signature.
It authorizes one additional special judge for Canadian County who can start work as early as July 1.
This will increase to seven the number of judges in Canadian County.
OKLAHOMA CITY — In a decisive late-night session on May 29, the Oklahoma Legislature successfully overrode Gov. Kevin Stitt’s veto of House Bill 2584, a measure aimed at enhancing health-care delivery across the state. The House voted 68-16, followed by a 33–13 vote in the Senate, to enact the bill into law by an overwhelming majority of the delegation.
Authored by House Speaker Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow) and Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle), HB 2584 modernizes antiquated language in the Physician Assistant Act and the Pharmacy Act.
Canadian County commissioners this week approved an agreement to relocate the phone system for county offices during construction of the new county courthouse.
Some county administrative offices will be housed temporarily inside the former Department of Human Services building at 314 W. Rogers and former bail bonds building at 215 N. Evans.
Those buildings have been remodeled for use by county personnel.
Nobel Systems $5,000 price is “a lot more reasonable than I ever expected, that’s really good,” Commissioner Tom Manske said.
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma House rose for a standing ovation last week after overturning the governor’s veto of a bill expanding access to mammograms for early breast cancer detection.
Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, the bill’s author, said the standing ovation was “powerful” and a reminder that people are humans before they are politicians. She was battling breast cancer for the length of the legislative session.
MUNICIPAL COURT
Larry Isaac Harwood, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $245.
Damon R. Walker Jr., Hammon, no insurance verification and driving under suspension, $690.
Jesse Ryan Seeley, El Reno, failure to wear seat restraint, $20.
Stormy Porter, El Reno, trespassing on private property, $245.
Jose Santos Estrada, Oklahoma City, failure to yield to emergency vehicle, reckless driving and driving without license issued, $942.
Ricardo Carrillo-Gonzalez, El Reno, improper equipment and driving without license issued, $357.
El Reno is a small, car-loving town that puts on a big classic car festival every year. A Small Town Weekend, set for June 6-8, is expected to attract as many as 10,000 people. The weekend pays tribute over the three days to classic cars and historic Route 66.
During the festival, visitors will see about 200 highly polished classic autos, witness a cruise along the legendary Route 66, watch their kids compete in Power Wheels and Hot Wheels races, and hope for lots of smoking wheels during the burnout and drag race contests.
Editor’s Note: El Reno City Council was scheduled to meet June 3 for a budget planning session. Below is a letter from City Manager Matt Sandidge explaining the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget. The new fiscal year begins July 1.
May 22, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Matt Sandidge, City Manager
RE: FY 2026 Budget Message
El Reno residents are weighing in on proposed improvements to Lake El Reno and Adams Park and so far most of the response has been favorable.
Amy Smith, El Reno’s Field Services Director, said residents took part in an online survey and the results will be compiled and presented to the city council for proposed adoption at an upcoming council meeting. Smith said one more public survey is expected to be presented before the final plan is submitted to the city.
The city hired Halff, an engineering and design firm, that specializes in municipal projects.
Beginning Friday night and lasting through Sunday, El Reno’s Route 66 corridor is expected to be buzzing with vehicles of all makes and models for the 27th Annual A Small Town Weekend.
The City of El Reno’s newly opened The Filling Station is expected to be a popular place for photos.
In the late hours of what was functionally its final day of regular session, the Oklahoma Legislature voted in supermajorities to remove Allie Friesen as commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
The inherently tense situation escalated past the point of no return when Gov. Kevin Stitt issued a statement targeting the wife of a senator — leading some legislators to question if the governor was any more fit to lead than Friesen.
