All posts by Rob

Rob McClendon is Host and Executive Producer of the nationally televised Oklahoma HORIZON television show. McClendon and his staff cover stories across Oklahoma, the nation, and internationally showcasing people and businesses that contributes to the state’s economic success. “Each week we strive to give our viewers context to the changes in our world. We go behind the headlines and try to offer intimate stories on people and places who illustrate the bigger picture.”
Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: More Bread and Less Bunting

International development is a tricky endeavor. Stories abound of aid organizations sinking money into projects that are unsustainable once the aid dollars turn off. On my recent trip to Sierra Leone, Africa, I witnessed an entire economy structured around western aid. Not that that the aid is not needed. Still recovering from an 11 year civil war the country is a mess.

So when I traveled there with the Oklahoma City-based non-profit One:Seventeen I was not surprised by what I found. Well intentioned folks doing their best to help. Sure I felt at times we were being shaken down by the leaders of the very organization that we were there to help. Was it all their fault? No. What it was is just the outgrowth of a culture of westerners coming into the developing world throwing around money and giving them what we thought they needed.

So here is how I live with the waste. Much of the money raised in Oklahoma comes from Christian charity. Those who give, I believe, can take solace that while the work they are funding is not perfect it is good. The ol’ don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. I would rather see money wasted everyday feeding hungry children than just building another edifice to our own piety.

So the next time the offering plate comes my way, I know I want my offerings to go for bread and less for bunting. Take a look at what I found in this week’s video blog. I want to know what you think.
Rob McClendon

 

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: Mixed Bag

I have a cool job. It has allowed me to travel the world and witness first hand events that most people just read about. I really enjoy international air travel in part because they put domestic airlines to shame, but also because of the people I meet and the places I get to see once I get there. Unfortunately, this week’s blog is not one of those stories.

When an OSU professor asked me to travel with a group of students and a representative of an OKC nonprofit, I assumed it would be like most of the international shoots I do…Hot, sweaty work during the day, but a clean bed and a warm meal at night. Wrong Again!

My trip to Sierra Leone, Africa was one of the hardest I have ever taken. One hundred plus degrees during the day…ninety at night, sleeping on concrete, getting bit by mosquitoes throughout the night in the malaria belt, and eating rice. Lots and lots of rice.

Despite the inhospitable conditions I am proud to say the stories I did from there are important and life changing for all involved. This week and next I am going to show you some of the things I saw. I invite you to watch and learn just as I did.
Rob

 

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: Losing our Dependence

Energy independence, or at least the lessening of our dependence on foreign oil, is something every presidential administration in my memory has talked about. In that time, the U.S. has fought a couple of wars in the Middle East while watching the price of fuel sky rocket. Still, our use of foreign oil continues to grow.

But thanks to new technology, we may be closer to breaking the grip of foreign oil addiction. Under American soil are vast reserves of clean burning natural gas. In fact, global energy leaders estimate that this country now has twice the energy reserves of Saudi Arabia. The question now is how do we convert our energy needs to this domestic fuel?

In this week’s video blog, we’ll look at work underway in Oklahoma to establish the infrastructure to use natural gas in our cars.
Rob McClendon

 

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: CNG Racer

Give engineering students a workshop to develop innovative vehicles and they are happy. Give them a race track to try out their creations and they are ecstatic. Give them natural gas for fuel and they become world record breakers. Oklahoma State University racing enthusiasts set a record by running their natural gas-fueled formula race car 328 laps in a 24-hour period at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit outside of Stillwater.

See how they did it in this week’s video blog.
Andy Barth

 

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: Words into Actions

My father was a devout man, but far from pious. He had no use for those that sang their hosannas on Sunday and, come Monday, showed little regard for their fellow man. If you are familiar with the scriptures he was a Jamesian, believing “Faith without works is dead” and lived his life accordingly.

When I met the gentleman in this week’s video blog, he reminded of my Dad. We never discussed doctrine or my father, but I came away from the story with an admiration of someone who despite a hectic schedule gives himself to others in their times of greatest need.

I enjoyed doing my story on the paramedic preacher; I hope you enjoy watching it.

~Rob McClendon

 

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: What happens next?

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Hot, dry. Hot, dry. Hot, dry. It’s the same day after day and has been all Summer. Now they’re saying the La Nina that we thought was gone is coming back. Which means warmer than normal temperatures and dry weather will continue. Now normally headed into Winter, I’d be really happy with that but not this year. We are desperate for rain in much of the state so a wet Winter would have been a blessing. Now that blessing will take a miracle. And what climatologist are saying it will take to break the drought is something like a really bad hurricane.

You know, it’s really a shame when you have to pray for one natural disaster to help break another natural disaster but that’s what I’m doing. And the sooner the better because the results of this drought are adding up. See how in this week’s video blog.

Alisa Hines

 

On the Horizon: What Happens Next? from Alisa Hines on Vimeo.

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: How big is too big?

The role of government is a hotly debated issue these days. On Wednesday night, I heard candidate after candidate in the Republican presidential debates talk about getting big government out of our lives.

I wonder though while many Americans may agree on the surface, would they still feel the same if government services stopped or were even reduced. Are fewer teachers the answer? No Social Security? A smaller military?

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Senator Tom Coburn, Oklahoma’s version of “Mr. Chips Goes to Washington.” An idealist for sure, and as far as I can tell, unwavering in his own disdain for the largess of the federal government. First elected to the House in the 90’s, he has preached a pretty simple message. Pay as you go and don’t borrow from future generations to fund today’s programs.

As I see it, our budget problems are pretty simple to identify, if hard to fix. For decades the expansion of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid was financed by shrinking defense spending. After 9/11 and two wars, defense spending has exploded, while entitlement programs’ costs also continue to rise with our aging population and uncontrolled health care costs. Add in the Bush tax cut earlier this decade and an unfunded drug entitlement for seniors, and our budget deficit has exploded.

That’s my diagnosis, and here is Dr. Coburn’s cure, and true to his medical background, he promises that ‘this may hurt a little.’

Take a look at our conversation. I am curious what you think.
Rob McClendon

 

On the Horizon: How big is too big? from Alisa Hines on Vimeo.

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: CSI Science Class

When I was in high school, science class was always fun. We would spend our time looking through microscopes and growing mold on bread. And let’s not forget the cool frog and cow heart dissections. Those were definitely fun memories. However, the things I learned in my science classes do not hold a candle to the students we introduce you to in this week’s video blog.

The students in the Biotech program at Southern Oklahoma Technology Center are learning in-depth science techniques that will catapult them into the field of bioscience. From DNA testing to growing cultures, these up and coming scientists are on their way to becoming the best in the industry.

~Andy Barth

 

On the Horizon: CSI Science Class from Alisa Hines on Vimeo.

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: Second Chances

For some kids, all they need is a second chance. A second chance to right the wrongs and move forward towards a future, but it is not always easy. Public schools are reluctant at accepting students who have already been kicked out of school, if they accept them at all.

In this week’s video blog, see how the Metro Tech Career Academy is giving those kids a second chance and their futures are looking a whole lot brighter.

~Courtenay Dehoff

 

On the Horizon: Second Chances from Alisa Hines on Vimeo.

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: Green Learning

The green energy push has been around now for several years. It seems as though more and more people are moving toward a greener way of living. From individual wind turbines to household solar panels, people are making a conscious effort to help conserve our planet.

Students attending Metro Tech Career Academy in Oklahoma City are getting a firsthand education at what it is like to live green. They recycle, have energy saving lights, and oh yeah, their entire building is made from green materials. In this video blog we take you on a tour of this year-old campus and show you what it is like to live green.

Andy Barth

 

On the Horizon: Green Learning from Alisa Hines on Vimeo.

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On The Horizon: Best Laid Plans

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When I had my children, the plan was to spread them out four years apart. In part, to save my own sanity, but also to be able to pay for college one at a time. So much for planning. My oldest started college four years ago; three schools and three majors later…he is still there. This fall my youngest enrolled at OSU giving me two tuition bills. Ouch!

In this week’s video blog, I follow my daughter Geena around as she enrolls and we learn about the high cost of higher education.

~Alisa Hines

 

On the Horizon: Best Laid Plans from Alisa Hines on Vimeo.

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: The Thesis of What Agriculturalists Today Are Thinking

When I joined the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program (OALP) a year ago, I didn’t have a clue what I was in for. We’ve gone across the state and seen so much what Oklahoma farmers and ranchers do and have found out what it really takes to be in the agriculture business today. It has really opened my eyes and I’m glad to be a part of such a wonderful organization and to be able to say I am a member of Class XV.

But I think one of the most useful aspects of the program, is the people we meet who are in our class. It is a network of people from across the state from all walks of life who become your friends. They are someone you can call for anything and be able to count on them to be there for you. My classmates are extremely talented, intelligent people. I sometimes feel intimidated by their knowledge. In this week’s video blog, meet Shannon Cunningham, one of my OALP classmates who I feel really sums up what Oklahoma agriculture is all about.

~ Alisa Hines

 

On the Horizon: Making Agriculture Count from Alisa Hines on Vimeo.

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: Hot Rods

Don’t you just hate taking your car to be repaired. I know I do. I always worry about how much it’s going to cost and how long it will take. I don’t know about you, but I can’t be without a car for very long. There is just too much to do and most of it requires driving. I also worry about whether or not the person working on my car really knows what they are doing. If you are a mechanic, sorry, but it is something I think about.

In this week’s video blog, I visit an Oklahoma school that makes me think that at least the students there, probably do know what they are doing and as you’ll see…can get it done quite quickly.

~Alisa Hines

 

On the Horizon: Hot Rods from Alisa Hines on Vimeo.

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On The Horizon: FIRE!

If you’ve ever needed a fireman to put out a fire, you’ve probably never stopped to think about is he well trained? Does he know what he’s doing? Can he save my house? I know I hadn’t until I went to shoot a story over fire service training. I probably should have since my fire department is made up of volunteers. They have to be trained to keep everyone including themselves safe. But it’s something you just take for granted.

What I found out is, unless you’ve thought about a certain scenario, chances are, you’re unprepared for them. In this week’s video blog, meet a fireman who thinks about things like that to make sure his students are prepared for just about anything.

~Alisa Hines

 

On the Horizon: FIRE! from Alisa Hines on Vimeo.

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: U Pick’em

I remember back when I was a kid, my mother would bundle all of us kids up in long sleeve shirts and then spray us all over with bug spray. It was an annual ritual each year right at blackberry picking time. There was a spot near a lake by our house that had wild blackberries and every year we would go pick that dark fruit so mom could make jelly.

Now this wasn’t a ritual I really wanted to do as a kid. It was hot, especially with the long sleeves we had to wear to protect our arms. Bugs would swarm around our heads and it seemed like even though we had bug spray on, they still were biting us (I think the bug spray has gotten stronger since then). But while I may have been miserable and don’t even like blackberries, it was still something I did with my family and we always had a good time.

So this week’s video blog really brings back memories of my childhood picking blackberries with my family.

~Alisa Hines

 

On the Horizon: U Pick’em from Alisa Hines on Vimeo.

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: Exotic Finds a Home in Oklahoma

Located just about an hour from both Tulsa and Joplin the Windsong Ranch outside of Adair has become a favorite stopping point for many travelers. That is because of some of the livestock that roam the range.

In this week’s video blog, meet the animals native to Pakistan and India on a ranch that is just as unique as its owner, Rowdy Malchow.

~Courtenay Dehoff

On the Horizon: Exotic finds a home in Oklahoma from Alisa Hines on Vimeo.

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: Going Green

I’ve always wanted to build my own home…it’s just never been a possibility but if I did, I think I would build it using as much green technology as I could and here’s why:

When I did a shoot in Alva, OK, a while back, I was doing a story about a house that was being built using several green technologies and when the builder started talking about the cost savings, it just made sense. Not only is building green good for the environment, it’s great for the pocketbook. I currently live in a house where the normal electric bill is around $250 a month during the summer and not much cheaper during the winter. I wonder what it would be if I had insulated windows, solar panels, geothermal heat/air, and was built using Styrofoam? According to the builder, it would be a whole lot cheaper to live in it even with this excessive heat wave.

In this week’s video blog, see how one home owner in Northwest Oklahoma is going to save big even when the earth is at baking temperature.
~Alisa Hines

On the Horizon: Going Green from Alisa Hines on Vimeo.

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: Wheat Guy

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U.S. Wheat Associates is the marketing arm of wheat growers around the nation. They help wheat producers understand the quality, value and reliability of U.S. wheat. The groups chairman this past year, was Don Schieber from Kay County, Oklahoma. In this week’s video blog, we spent some time with him over the last twelve months to get some insight into a local farmer’s life whose passion is international in scope.

~ Rob McClendon

 

On the Horizon: Wheat Guy from Alisa Hines on Vimeo.

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: Feeding and Inspiring the Hungry

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Listening to Dr. Gebisa Ejeta answer my questions was like listening to water slip over smooth rocks. His deep, earnest voice and his true brilliance came out in every answer that he gave. I sat there staring back at him fascinated. I was sitting with a man who had potentially saved millions of people’s lives.

A true humanitarian, Gebisa Ejeta was recognized as the 2009 World Food Prize Laureate for his development of Sorghum hybrids that are resistant to drought and the devastating Striga weed. His developments have increased production and availability of Sorghum and enhanced the food supply of hundreds of millions of people in Africa.

Growing up in a one-room thatched hut in Ethiopia, Ejeta knew how it felt to go hungry. Thanks to his mother, Ejeta pursued an education that would eventually land him at Alemaya College established by Oklahoma State University in eastern Ethiopia. From there he would then go on to attend Purdue University where his research would culminate into a crop that would prove to be life changing for many Africans.

Not only was he a hero in agriculture, he was a national hero on the hardwood. Wearing jerseys from Oklahoma A&M University, Ejeta played on the Ethiopian National Team.

Ejeta has personally trained and inspired a new generation of African farmers and scientists that are continuing to carry on his work. After just a few short minutes with him I know his efforts will affect the people he has helped for centuries to come. (NOTE – there is a long pause at the beginning of this video, then a gap around the 7 minute mark for 30-45 seconds. You may Hold your mouse down and pull the ticker forward to skip the black space. Thanks.)
~ Courtenay Dehoff

 

On the Horizon: Feeding and Inspiring the Hungry from Alisa Hines on Vimeo.

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: “Lesson” of the Day – Eating Healthy Can Be Fun

Human health has been an issue for as long as I can remember. We see more and more people losing an uphill battle to weight gain and fast food chains are profiting from it. It seems like every channel has a new weight loss reality show starting that promises to change our lives. My question is why do we wait and let it get so bad?

In this week’s video blog, we show you how an Oklahoma woman is teaching kids to cook and eat healthy. The recipes are simple and quite tasty. Just a glimpse of a fun and proactive way to help battle the obesity beast before it gets out of control.

~ Andy Barth

 

On the Horizon: Eating Healthy Can Be Fun from Alisa Hines on Vimeo.