In a remarkable photograph, Jeff Flinn caught a lighting strike hitting a small pond at the HOA Southern Reserve in Jenks during their July 4th Celebration this year. Board President Jason Reed said “We knew rain was on the way, but we didn’t expect lighting to hit that close.”

Flinn said, “The professionals running the main show had everything setup and ready to go. Some of the neighbors were shooting off their own commercial fireworks seen in the photo when the bolt hit.

“Everyone started running for cover and within seconds the rain started. The heavy downpour doused the fuses and the show was cancelled,” Flinn added.

Reed said, “It’s an annual event that draws a good mix of around 200 families and retired neighbors. All the fireworks are being stored and we hope to use them next year. Jeff has a talent for being in the right place to get the magic shot that captures the spirit of our events.”

At a recent Tulsa event, candidates gathered in mass. The nonpartisan organization, Women for Tulsa, invited all and many attended with the significant absence of Democrat Karen Keith, candidate for Mayor of Tulsa. Candidates from all levels: City Council, Tulsa County, and State spoke briefly, but Brent VanNorman, Republican for Mayor stole the show.

Demonstrating both command of municipal history and the current failures of the Bynum Administration, VanNorman provides a dramatic difference with Keith who has publicly supported open borders, public health lockdowns and LGBTQ(+whatever) agendas.

VanNorman began, “One of my major goals is to remove socialism from our city. Capitalism is the only system throughout history that raises people out of poverty. We must promote that. It must be inherent in our DNA that we build businesses in Tulsa.”

The recent debate in Senate District 33 was covered here on Tulsa Today. This south and west Broken Arrow and some east Tulsa district features four Republican candidates in the primary and the winner will face Democrat Bob Willis. The district is 55% Republican and less than 30% Democrat.

Tulsa Today endorses Shelley Gwartney for District 33, an affirmation of the person endorsed – not necessarily a criticism of other candidates. Gwartney is a Christian Conservative Republican with an accomplished background as a businesswoman in organizational management, infrastructure, and communications. She’s a woman of faith, devoted mother, and trusted community leader.

Effective principled representation is sometimes hard to find in our Republic, but in Oklahoma House District 79, Paul Hassink is the obvious choice. The other candidate may wear nice shoes, but, in office, citizens seek someone that can accomplish good for the district. That has not been the case with Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa.