By Traci Chapman
Published on July 24, 2008

Possible employee misuse of a county credit card spurred county commissioners Monday to authorize an audit of Public Facilities Authority books for the last two years.

Charges on a Sam’s Discover credit card kept for use of the commissioners office “were found to be questionable” by staff, District 3 Commissioner Grant Hedrick said.

By Traci Chapman
Published on July 24, 2008

Sheriff Lewis Hawkins has put a “no vacancy” sign on the Canadian County Jail, refusing to renew annual contracts with county cities that allow for housing of municipal prisoners.

Hawkins said he was forced to take the action after a May 13 bond proposal for a $24.8 million facility failed, and a May 14 jail inspection report cited the facility for overcrowding, as well as electrical and water problems.

“When you haven’t got any space, you can’t re-new contracts bringing in more prisoners,” Hawkins said Tuesday.

By Carolyn Cole
Published on July 24, 2008

Mustang school buses burned through more than $12,000 per week in diesel fuel in May, and with prices still climbing, officials are looking to juice more miles out of each dollar spent.

There are no plans to cut bus routes or cancel school activity trips, a move recently taken by several Oklahoma districts to save money. Transportation Director Mike Brown said instead officials are updating route maps, tightening bus stops and trying to make the most of each trip.

By Carolyn Cole
Published on July 24, 2008

Republican voters will decide the fate of Canadian County’s sheriff and county clerk races Tuesday, and narrow the field of candidates competing in six other races.

Democrat voters in east Canadian County will consider one primary between two court clerk candidates. Voters registered as independent do not participate in primaries in Oklahoma.

Polls open at 7 a.m. Tuesday and close at 7 p.m. Voters may also cast ballots between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Monday at the Canadian County Election Board in El Reno.

By Traci Chapman
Published on July 24, 2008

As oil prices continue to break records and residents struggle with rising fuel costs, the contest between two Republicans for a seat on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission has garnered some serious attention.

By Carolyn Cole
Published on July 24, 2008

Five Republican candidates are vying to represent Mustang, southwest Oklahoma City and Moore in the state Senate in the District 45 race.

Melinda Daugherty, Jerry Foshee, Marty Gormley, Kyle Loveless and Steve Russell are seeking the post held by Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson, R-Oklahoma City, who is term limited. Unless one candidate pulls off a landslide victory in the Tuesday primary election, most likely the top two contenders will meet in the Aug. 26 primary runoff. No other candidates filed for this seat.

By Rex Hogan
Published on July 24, 2008

The campaign to become the next Canadian County Court Clerk is pitting four co-workers against one another to succeed their boss who is retiring.

Two of the candidates are Republicans and two are Democrats. None of them have run for public office before.

It’s the only county race with Democrats in it. The winner of the Republican and Democrat primaries on July 29 will face off in the Nov. 4 general election.

By Rex Hogan
Published on July 24, 2008

In less than a week, Canadian County voters will know the identity of the new county clerk.

Barbara Haley of El Reno and Shelley Dickerson of Yukon are both seeking the job. Both are Republicans. Republican voters will cast ballots in the July 29 primary to determine the winner.

The race is one of two county elections in which there is no Democrat. The other race is for Canadian County sheriff.

Dickerson is a 26-year employee of the county clerk’s office.

By Carolyn Cole
Published on July 24, 2008

Three Republicans will meet in the state House District 47 primary Tuesday, to represent Grady and Canadian counties.

The seat is held by Susan Winchester, R-Chickasha, who announced in late May she would not seek re-election. The winner of a race between Mustang residents Jane McNeff and John Paul Jordan and Tuttle resident Leslie Osborn will face Democrat Harold Jackson in the Nov. 4 general election.

John Paul Jordan

By Traci Chapman
Published on July 24, 2008

Five candidates will square off Tuesday as voters decide who will serve as District 2 County Commissioner.

The five — David Anderson, Richard Engle, Scott Gibson, Monty Keely and Theresa Ramsey — are competing for the chance to succeed Commissioner Don Young, who announced in May he would not seek re-election. The new Commissioner will take office Jan. 2.