OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Several agricultural leaders were present this week at the state Capitol to discuss the USDA StrikeForce Initiative for Rural Growth, including US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Oklahoma USDA Rural Development State Director Ryan McMullen.  State Senator Darcy Jech, State Representative David Perryman, and Caddo County leadership representatives were also in attendance. 

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Members of the robotics team from Caddo-Kiowa Technology Center in Fort Cobb were cheered on by State Senator Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher, as they competed at the annual Oklahoma FIRST regional event in Oklahoma City.  Teams from across the country compete in the robotics competition designed to pair professionals with young people to solve an engineering design problem and compete.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The State Election Board has reappointed Diana Knight to continue her service as secretary of the Pottawatomie County Election Board until her retirement on June 1, 2015, according to State Senator Ron Sharp.

            Knight has worked at the Pottawatomie County Election Board for nearly 38 years.  She began as the Assistant Secretary on November 1, 1977, and was appointed as the Secretary on November 1, 1991.

Joel McCoy Reimer received a Citation this week at the local Rotary meeting from Senator Marty Quinn, R-Claremore, recognizing his most recent FFA achievement.  Reimer received the FFA’s prestigious American Degree at the 87th Annual FFA Convention in Louisville, KY, an award given to less than one-half of one percent of the nation’s 579,678 FFA members and only 137 Oklahomans this year.

I want to wish the citizens of Senate District 2 a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.  I am so honored and humbled that you have chosen me to be your voice in the Oklahoma State Senate.  This is a privilege that I do not take lightly or for granted.  I’m looking forward to sharing your ideas and concerns with my Senate colleagues this session. 

Stephanie Bice is now officially on the job as State Senator for District 22.  The Oklahoma City Republican was sworn in during a ceremony at the Capitol on Tuesday as friends, family and other supporters looked on from the Senate gallery.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Association for Justice (OAJ) honored newly-elected State Senator Kay Floyd as their Awards Gala recently with the 2014 Legislator of the Year Award.  The Oklahoma City democrat said she was honored to receive the recognition.
            “I’m humbled to have received this award,” said Floyd.  “I
            Legislator of the Year is awarded to a member of the Oklahoma Legislature who stands strong for the rights of Oklahoma individuals and shows commitment to the preservation of the civil justice system.

Sen. Ron Sharp, R-Shawnee, issued the following statement after state Superintendent Janet Barresi announced the 5th- and 8th-grade writing scores would be excluded from the calculation for the A-F report cards for public schools this year.  The decision arose from concerns about the writing test scores from testing vendor CTB-McGraw Hill.

“I want to thank the State Department of Education for listening to the concerns raised by educators in my district and across the state. 

The Oklahoma Aging Partnership (OAP), a nonpartisan coalition of organizations dealing with aging issues, has released its annual report.  The organization includes the Oklahoma Alliance on Aging, the Oklahoma Silver Haired Legislature Alumni Association, AARP Oklahoma and the Oklahoma State Council on Aging. State Sen. Kim David is among those lawmakers who helped win passage for bills OAP identified as important to Oklahoma seniors.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Ron Sharp had the honor of being the commencement speaker for the County Deputy Reserve CLEET graduation ceremony on Tuesday, July 1st at the Shawnee Bible Church.  The group was this year’s first class to graduate from the Basic Reserve for the 5th District. 

“It was such a privilege to get to speak to this outstanding group of individuals who have dedicated their lives to protecting others,” said Sharp, R-Shawnee.  “Pottawatomie County will be in good hands with these brave and talented men and women on the job.”