By Conrad Dudderar
Senior Staff Writer
The Canadian County Court Clerk’s Office was closed to the public – except by appointment – after an employee tested positive this week for COVID-19.
People are being discouraged from walking into the court clerk’s office on the first floor of the Canadian County Courthouse, 301 N Choctaw in El Reno.
“We are still taking appointments for marriage licenses – but only by appointment – and are asking for the couple not to bring extra family members, especially children,” Canadian County Court Clerk Marie Hirst said late Wednesday.
“We are asking everyone to mail in, e-mail or leave your filings or payments at the drop box with the deputy (in the courthouse lobby).”
The employee tested positive Tuesday night and all court clerk’s office personnel were due to be tested Thursday afternoon by the Canadian County Health Department as a preventative measure.
The court clerk’s office also was sprayed Wednesday night with disinfectant after everyone left for the day.
Hirst, who recently was re-elected to a fourth term as the district court clerk, consulted with Canadian County Commissioners Marc Hader and Jack Stewart before closing her office temporarily due to the latest COVID-19 scare.
“We are still filing and try to do our service for the public with as little interaction with the public as possible to keep them safe and my staff as well,” she said.
Canadian County court clerk’s staff had been working in shifts – with half the employees at the office and half working from home – to ensure continuity if someone tested positive and had to be quarantined.
COUNTY RANKS 6TH IN CASES
Canadian County is now ranked sixth among all 77 Oklahoma counties in confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Canadian County on Friday morning had reported 608 positive cases with three deaths and 443 recoveries, according to the Oklahoma State Health Department. Numbers are expected to be updated Friday by noon.
Yukon ranked 12th among all Oklahoma municipalities with 331 cases including one death and 241 recoveries, the July 16th data shows.
There had been 23,441 positive COVID-19 cases in Oklahoma with 438 deaths and 18,095 recoveries statewide.
A notice was posted on the Canadian County government website to inform the public the court clerk’s office is closed to the public. The announcement indicates:
• No cash payments are accepted. Payments may be made by cashier’s check or money order, by mail or by phone, or online at www.oscn.net
• No cash will be accepted for any type of payment.
• All records’ requests will be done through e-mail or regular mail.
• Bondsmen continue to post bonds at the Canadian County Jail.
• The issuance of passports has been suspended until further notice.
For more information, call the Canadian County Court Clerk’s Office at (405) 295-6100.
