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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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