Happy 250th Birthday

I couldn’t wait until July to write this column. All of 2026 is a year-long celebration of the birth of this great nation. Those of us who love this God-Blessed Land of the Free and Home of the Brave must ignore the whimpers and cries of cynics and critics who were probably baptized in pickle juice!

CAPITOL COMMENTS

Oklahoma has seen several major wins in recent weeks, a number of which will directly benefit Oklahoma’s Fifth District.

Capitol Comments

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2026 ensures we have a ready, capable, and lethal fighting force to deter our adversaries. It fulfills an agenda of “Peace through Strength” and reflects our ongoing work to strengthen our national defense and security.

Hustle and Bustle

Whew! It’s finally over. I’m talking about before Thanksgiving when I carried two calendars on my person at all times. The paper calendar kept track of everything that needed doing before Christmas. My e-calendar alerted me to all scheduled appointments.

Another year of aging

Getting older isn’t just about life getting smaller or quieter. For a lot of people, it’s actually about going deeper.

Musical Inspirations

In 1971, Joni Mitchell put an album out called “Blue.” One of the tracks on that album was called “River.” My family was always very upbeat and played happy Christmas music so I wasn’t introduced to this song until I heard Robert Downy Jr. sing it on Ally McBeal in 2000.

Senate Report

Even with the holidays quickly approaching, it has been a busy month representing Senate District 28. I was honored to be invited to take part in a legislative panel at the annual Governor’s Water Conference.

Seconds matter: Protect our kids before alerts

When a potential threat arises at school, we face a critical choice: prioritize informing parents immediately or act first to protect students. Immediate action saves lives, which is why we must trust our school administrators and law enforcement to respond first and communicate later.

You'll shoot your eye out

Many readers will recognize this recurring line in the wonderful Christmas movie, “A Christmas Story.” [Movie briefly summarized—a young boy wants a BB gun for Christmas.

Tecumseh Golden Age Center

The Golden Age Center will be closed for Christmas holidays from Dec. 19 to 26 th, and again for New Year’s day.We want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from our center to your homes.