Banner, Oklahoma, the state's newest town

EL RENO, Okla. (AP) -- A group of Canadian County residents could be a town soon.<br/><br/>County commissioners are scheduled to consider next week a request by a group of residents called Citizens for

Tuesday, February 1st 2005, 6:19 am

By: News On 6

EL RENO, Okla. (AP) -- A group of Canadian County residents could be a town soon.

County commissioners are scheduled to consider next week a request by a group of residents called Citizens for Banner, who maintain that a new state law permits incorporation of a six-square-mile area between Yukon and El Reno.

Members of the group told commissioners Monday they want to have a say in what goes on in their area. The group has proposed electing a government of five at-large council members.

Ron Bohannan -- vice chairman of the group -- says the group doesn't want to be a dumping ground for other communities and wants to preserve integrity of life.

House Bill 1858 allows communities within five miles of the corporate limits of a city with a population of more than 200,000 to incorporate.

Tulsa state Representative Darrell Gilbert co-authored the bill so the community of Turley could fend off a proposed annexation by Tulsa.