Senate Review

The last few weeks in the district have been full of events, and I've really enjoyed the opportunity to visit with many of you. I enjoyed celebrating Independence Day with family and friends, especially participating in the Blackwell Fourth of July parade with my granddaughter, Abby. I also attended the Carmen 5th of July celebration, which was a fantastic show and a great turn out for the community. Aside from the festivities, fireworks, vendors and entertainment, this celebration also offered a chance to give back. The Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) collected blood donations and passed out prizes to those who graciously donated.

Burlington High School also recently hosted a blood drive with OBI. I greatly appreciate those who are always willing to give of themselves and their time. Between these two events, dozens of donations were made, which each have the potential to save multiple lives. If you’d like to donate in the future, visit obi.org/ to find a donation center or upcoming drive.

I also had the pleasure of attending the annual Breakfast with the Boss event last week. It was great to interact with business leaders from Enid and the surrounding areas, hear from a keynote speaker, and discuss the current business environment in our area and state.

A stop at Vance Air Force Base was also on my itinerary this month. I attended a swearing in ceremony for Col. Jay Johnson, who assumed command after multiple years of service at Vance AFB. I appreciate the role he has played in making improvements at the base, in Air Force training, and in our community. It was an honor to attend this ceremony and know that the base and our area will continue to thrive under Col. Johnson’s leadership.

Another of our outstanding community members was recognized recently, Mary Stallings. I’d like to congratulate her for being named the Woman of the Year by the Enid YWCA. She was honored for her decades of service to our community and state, in various roles.

Ceremonial bill signings will soon be held for two of my pieces of legislation, SB 682 and SB 706. I look forward to joining the governor and special guests to recognize these new laws and their positive impact on our state.

We will return to the Capitol on July 24 to consider veto overrides and address any other special session matters that still need our attention. I'll keep you updated on the outcome of Monday's votes to overturn vetoes of bills extending certain tribal compacts to allow for further negotiations.

In the meantime, I’ll continue enjoying my time back home. This year’s wheat harvest was challenging, to say the least. We faced extreme drought for much of the year, and then recent rainfall brought the harvest in our area to an end. It’s been an interesting year, but agriculture doesn’t stop, so me and many others in our area are already back to work and planning for next year.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with your concerns or questions. You can reach my office at 405-521-5630 or Roland.Pederson@oksenate.gov.