Winter Storm 2010
Cattle with snow and ice covering their backs on SH 4 just south of Piedmont, Okla., Friday, Jan. 29, 2010. Photo by Paul B. Southerland, The Oklahoman
Oklahomans are digging out from the winter storm that hit the state beginning last Thursday. Below are some of the photos Oklahoman staff photographers have taken out in the snow and ice. To see galleries of even more photos from the ice and snow, follow the links below.
A crowd of people make their way up a hill as people sled at Will Rogers Park in Oklahoma City, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
A mail box is covered in ice on Pine road in Logan County, Okla., January 29, 2010. Photo by Steve Gooch, The Oklahoman
Purcell firefighter Jason Benefiel cuts limbs obstructing traffic on Friday, Jan. 29, 2010, in Purcell, Okla., after a winter storm. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
Icicles on the trunk of a car, Friday, Jan. 29 , 2010. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
City workers clear the sidewalks in downtown Edmond, Okla., Friday , January 29, 2010. Photo by David McDaniel, The Oklahoman
Cars are scarce on I-35 in Edmond, Okla., Friday, Jan. 29, 2010. By Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman
A woman, who only would gave her name as Florence, knocks snow from her shoes as she stands beneath a curtain of icicles after clearing snow from her car at her Del City apartment on Tyanne Blvd., Jan. 30, 2010. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
Nancy Mergler, University of Oklahoma Provost, clears her rear windshield to head home at 1:15 pm. President David Boren called off classes for the remainder of Thursday and all of Friday as a winter storm moved into the area on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010, in Norman, Okla. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City resident Timothy Hickey puts the finishing touches on a polar bear at his home in Oklahoma City, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010. By Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman
Chris Roberts is pulled by a power kite on a snowboard at Lake Hefner during a winter storm in Oklahoma City, Friday, January 29, 2010. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
-Nate Billings
Pictures I like
Looking through our archives at the pictures The Oklahoman staff photographers have turned in over the past 7 days, I realized that a few of my favorites were a good representation of the assignments we see in an average week. Sports, everything from high school to professional, features, news and a more in-depth feature.
Oklahoma City's Thabo Sefolosha (right) and Los Angeles' Kobe Bryant go after a loose ball during the NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma County jail inmate Jesus Lucero rides in an elevator as he cleans along with a group of jail trusties on Tuesday, November 3, 2009. Photo by Bryan Terry
Michael Meyers, of Norman, waves a flag during a rally on the north side of the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma CIty on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Jovia Franklin (21) of El Reno makes a catch over the defense of Kale Thaxton (20) of Duncan during the high school football game between Duncan and El Reno in El Reno, Okla., Friday, November 6, 2009. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Cheri White Owl gives a hug to "Dan" at Horse Feathers Equine Rescue Facility in Guthrie, OK, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. By Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Fourth of July wrap-up
Fans watch fireworks at the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, Saturday July 4, 2009, in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
The photographers of The Oklahoman were out in force to cover Independence Day. The weather shifted from nice to muggy and then rain in the evening. I’m glad we got the rain, but just wish it had happened either the day before or the day after. The RedHawks didn’t play their baseball game, but did have fireworks. Other fireworks shows were postponed. Here are some of the photos from the day.
To see a gallery from events around the metro area, click here.
For former President George W. Bush’s Independence Day visit to Woodward, click here.
A gallery of photos from Edmond’s LibertyFest parade is here.
And Bryan Terry did a cool time-lapse video from the LibertyFest parade that we highlighted in this blog entry.
Jesse Hardiman and Ava Welch, 1, walk during Bethany's Centennial Freedom Festival, Saturday, July 4, 2009, at Eldon Lyon Park in Bethany, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Boy Scouts carry a huge American flag in the LibertyFest Parade in downtown Edmond, OK, Saturday, July 4, 2009. By Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman
Trent Nondorf, 4, left, and Ethan Nondorf, 2, wait for the start of the Quail Creek Fourth of July parade in Oklahoma City, Saturday, July 4, 2009. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Kristen Gregory sported a festive Fourth of July headband during LibertyFest at UCO campus in Edmond, Okla. Saturday, July 4, 2009. Photo by Ashley McKee, The Oklahoman
Former President George W. Bush and wife, Laura, were given a warm reception when they arrived at Woodward's July 4th celebration and re-dedication of Crystal Beach Park. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
Lauren Atkins, 9, from Norman, eats free watermelon at the Norman Independence Day Celebration at Reaves Park in Norman, Okla., on Saturday, July 4, 2009. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
Darren Ransley slides on the tarp during a rain delay of the Oklahoma City RedHawks and Omaha Royals at the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, Saturday July 4, 2009, in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
-Nate Billings
LibertyFest Parade
Bryan Terry shot a time lapse video of the LibertyFest Parade in downtown Edmond. There are 1754 still frames in the video condensing the two-hour parade into two-and-a-half minutes.
Paul Hellstern was covering the parade from the ground. You can see a gallery of his photos here.
Below are a couple of other still frames Bryan shot from the roof.
Boy Scouts carry an American flag down Broadway in Edmond, Okla., during the LibertyFest Parade Saturday, July 4, 2009. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
People watch the LibertyFest Parade on Broadway in Edmond, Okla., during the Saturday, July 4, 2009. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
-Sarah Phipps
A new award
Brianna Zenzen, 8, looks up at her dad Todd as they wait in line during the Daddy Daughter Dance in Midwest City, Okla., Friday, Feb. 8, 2008. By Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
The Great Plains Journalism Competition, which is sponsored by the Tulsa Press Club, had their first awards ceremony on Saturday night in Tulsa. This competition was different than most of the ones we enter. Instead of awarding a first, second, third and honor mentions in each category, the Great Plains Journalism Competition awards only Finalists and Winners. Here’s how we did and some of the winning photos.
Winner in Sports Photo — Chris Landsberger
Winner in Web/Slideshow Photos –John Clanton
Winner in Spot News–Steve Gooch
Winner in Feature Photo, single — Jim Beckel
Winner in Photography Portfolio — Bryan Terry
Winner in News Photo –Paul Hellstern
Finalist in Feature Photography Multiple –Jim Beckel
Finalist in General Photography–Sarah Phipps
Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford (14) is flipped upside down as he leaps over Oklahoma State's Orie Lemon (41) during the second half of the college football game between the Sooners and Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
President George W. Bush shares a laugh with a supporter, as he prepares to depart from Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City, OK, after a brief trip to the state, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008. Photo by Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman
Ryan Baker, 9, grimaces while he get his hair shaved during St. Baldrick's on Sunday, March 30, 2008, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Tressie Gilmore, 25, walks past the remains of her family's home on May,11, 2008, following a tornado that hit the area on Saturday. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Spring Snow
From left, David Kenyon and Kelli Kenyon with their children Katie Kenyon, 5, and Kieran Kenyon, 6, all of Edmond, Okla., take a walk as snow falls at Hafer Park in Edmond, Okla., Saturday, March 28, 2009. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
All week the weather forecasters have been telling everybody to stay inside Saturday because of the snow.
People seem to have listened.
Sarah Phipps, Paul Hellstern and I spent the day looking for folks out in the snow in the Oklahoma City metro area and didn’t find many. Truthfully, we didn’t find a whole lot of snow either. The metro area was spared the blizzard that buried much of the north and western part of Oklahoma for the past two days.
For a gallery of some of what we did find, click here.
A dog walker uses the trails in the snow at Hafer Park, Saturday, March, 28, 2009, in Edmond, Okla. PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN
This blooming Redbud tree is coated with a frosting of snow in north Oklahoma City, Saturday, March 28, 2009. PHOTO BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN
-Nate Billings
When the ice forms…
One of the few things I can say for sure about working as a newspaper photojournalist is that when the folks on TV tell everybody to stay inside, that’s our cue to go outside. Jim Beckel, David McDaniel, Paul Hellstern, John Clanton and Steve Gooch grabbed their Class II reflective safety vests and headed out to cover the ice that had metro roads in terrible shape on Monday. I think they all made it through the day without falling or being involved in auto accidents. I hope most of you out there were as lucky. Check out some of the photos from the icy day below.
To see the full photo gallery of the winter weather, click here.
Teacher Ann Hawkins helps soften a student’s fall as he slips on the ice outside Chisholm Elementary School during winter weather in Edmond, Okla., on Monday, Jan. 26, 2009. BY JOHN CLANTON, THE OKLAHOMAN
Two motorists try to escape their car which overturned on the icy Turner Turnpike near the Wellston exit outside of Wellston, Okla., Monday, Jan. 26, 2009. BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN
Nikole Edwards scrapes ice from her car windows after she and other employees at Farmer’s Insurance at NW 23 and Villa were released early because of deteriorating weather conditions Monday, Jan. 26, 2009. BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
Walking cautiously on an ice-covered Broadway Extension, an unidentified women tries to keep her balance after the car she was in was involved in a minor accident near Hefner Road in Oklahoma City, January 26, 2009. BY STEVE GOOCH, THE OKLAHOMAN
A view of an accident in the 2700 block of west Britton Road due to the icy weather, Monday, January 26, 2009. BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
A truck from the City of Edmond drops sand on 33rd street east of Boulevard during winter weather in Edmond, Okla., on Monday, Jan. 26, 2009. BY JOHN CLANTON, THE OKLAHOMAN
Check out the rest of the pictures here.
And be safe out there.
-Nate Billings
Obama Inauguration in Oklahoma
Now that everybody has had a chance to see the national photos from the inauguration in Washington D.C., check out the photos from our photographers who covered the Oklahomans watching the inauguration here. Here’s some of the work from Jaconna Aguirre, Paul Hellstern, Chris Landsberger, Jim Beckel and Steve Gooch.
To see a gallery of more photos, click here.
Civil rights pioneer Clara Luper reacts to the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Luper was watching TV with Councilman Ronald “Skip” Kelly, her daughter Marilyn Hildreth and 9-year-old Alexia Grant at the Freedom Center at NE 26th and Martin Luther King Blvd. in Oklahoma City, January 20, 2009. BY STEVE GOOCH, THE OKLAHOMAN
American flags are poked into the blinds in Marie Grubbs’ classroom. Students and teachers at Boley Public Schools in the historically black community of Boley in Okfuskee County celebrated the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
Philip Dunlap watches the inauguration of President Barack Obama while Phillip Gates cuts his hair at Gates Barber Shop at NE 26th and Martin Luther King Boulevard in Oklahoma City. January 20, 2009. BY STEVE GOOCH, THE OKLAHOMAN.
Gaylord Hall hosted a watch party for the inauguration of President Barack Obama Tues. Jan. 20, 2009 on the OU campus. BY JACONNA AGUIRRE, THE OKLAHOMAN.
UCO President Roger Webb speaks during an inauguration watch party for UCO officials and students at the Nigh University Center Constitution Hall on the campus of the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla., Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN
Northwest Classen junior Yasmine Fields reacts on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, in Oklahoma City to the conclusion of President Barack Obama’s inauguration in Washington D.C. PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN
To see all the photos, click here.
-Nate Billings
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Staff photographers Jim Beckel, Paul Hellstern and David McDaniel covered the Martin Luther King Jr. Day activities in the metro area. Jim Beckel said that the positive energy at the parade in Oklahoma City was as high as he has ever been around, no doubt due to the holiday’s proximity to the inauguration of Barack Obama as our 44th President of the United States.
Here’s a selection of their work.
To see a gallery of more photos from Martin Luther King Jr. Day, click here.
Barry Braxton holds a sign and American flags near the replica of the Liberty Bell outside the Oklahoma History Center during a bell ringing ceremony with Lt. Gov. Jari Askins and about a dozen children as part of local observances of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Oklahoma City, Monday morning, Jan. 19, 2009. BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
Dennis Lewis and his nieces Paula Jones, 8, and Nesha Henderson, 9, march in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade in Oklahoma City, Monday, January 19, 2009. BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
Members of Zeta Phi Beta hold a banner as they walk in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade in Guthrie, Okla., Monday, Jan. 19, 2009. BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN
Lynn Green waves a V for victory with a cutout of Barack Obama on the Oklahoma County Democratic Party float in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade, Monday, January 19, 2009. BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
The Star Spencer High School marching band’s drum major Brandon Wright gets low with his baton while leading members of his marching band during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade in downtown Oklahoma City, Monday afternoon, Jan. 19, 2009. BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
Oklahoma City civil rights pioneer Clara Luper waves after being introduced to crowd inside the Oklahoma History Center where march participants gathered following the walk. More than 300 people walked along the Clara Luper Corridor to the Oklahoma History Center where there were brief speeches and then culminated with a bell ringing ceremony for Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Oklahoma City, Monday morning, Jan. 19, 2009. BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
A view of the crowd at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade in Oklahoma City, Monday, January 19, 2009. BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
Guthrie citizens march in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade as it passes down Oklahoma Avenue in front of the Masonic Lodge in Guthrie, Okla., Monday, Jan. 19, 2009. BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN
A silent march participant holds a sign inside the Oklahoma History Center after the walk ended there. More than 300 people walked along the Clara Luper Corridor to the Oklahoma History Center where there were brief speeches and then culminated with a bell ringing ceremony for Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Oklahoma City, Monday morning, Jan. 19, 2009. BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
To see a gallery of all of the photos, click here.
-Nate Billings
