People

Investigative Journalist

Marven Goodman

Retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and former Logan County commissioner. Publisher of The Sooner Sentinel — county government, surveillance, and public-records accountability.

Contact via tip line

Political Reporter

Katy Smith

Writer behind The V1SUT Vantage. Follows the money in Oklahoma politics — campaign finance, PACs, and the Legislature.

Contact via tip line

Columnist

Everett Piper

Former president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University, nationally syndicated columnist, and author of "Not a Day Care." Faith, culture, and education.

Contact via tip line

Founding Publisher

Jake Merrick

Former Oklahoma state senator and founding publisher of The Colony OK. Hosts The Colony's live broadcasts.

jakeamerrick@gmail.com · @jakemerrick

Columnist

Adam Holley

Columnist for The Colony OK on government, politics and faith in Oklahoma.

Contact via tip line

Columnist

Brady Butler

Columnist for The Colony OK on faith, family, education and Oklahoma government.

Contact via tip line

Columnist

Dalton Fashik

Author and Curator of The Farm Guide, common sense food production strategies to make your farm, ranch, or homestead more profitable, resilient, and sustainable so that you can pass it on to the next generation. Based in Oklahoma, serving Nation-Wide. Dalton spent years conducting hands-on research focused on soil biology inoculation, organic matter restoration, rotational strategies, soil aggregate stability, soil profile water holding capacity, and overall farm and ranch production efficiency. He also served in a brief role at an Agricultural University’s Horticulture department serving researchers in their work by creating soil foundations for their experiments. His on farm research covers examining soil organic matter dynamics, reduced tillage, cover cropping, nutrient banking, soil capital building, livestock integration, regenerative agriculture production practices; and overall farm and ranch profitability. He currently advocates on policy that affects stakeholders, consults, and demonstrates how biological soil capital lowers input dependency and costs in order Make Farming Profitable Again! "We Are A People Whom Eat" Dalton J. Fashik

Contact via tip line

Columnist

Jadan Terrazas

Columnist for The Colony OK on Government and Politics

@JTforOK

Columnist

Jason Murphey

Columnist for The Colony OK on government accountability, fiscal policy, technology and transparency in Oklahoma.

@jwmurphey

Host · Right of Way Report

Amy Cerato

Host of the Right of Way Report — property rights, eminent domain, legislation and litigation for Oklahoma landowners.

Contact via tip line

Host · Frontier Mindset Podcast

Cody Elliott

Host of the Frontier Mindset Podcast — faith, leadership and legacy for Oklahoma families and business owners.

Contact via tip line

Host · Designed for More

Dr. Jeremy Maass

Host of Designed for More — functional medicine, nutrition, fitness, preventive health and living with purpose.

Contact via tip line

Host · The Race

Jason Baffrey

Host of The Race — family, culture, automotive, racing and sports in Oklahoma.

Contact via tip line

Podcast Host

Katie Sparks

Podcast host on The Colony network — faith, family, education and Oklahoma life.

Contact via tip line

Host · Shields and Arrows Podcast

Mark Baze

Host of the Shields and Arrows Podcast — faith and culture. My name is Mark Baze. I am a father, husband, and pastor here in Oklahoma. I stand for defending the faith, the family, and the fellowship. My show, Shields and Arrows, does just that. We address any and all subjects that are relevant to the Word of God, our families, and our churches. It is my goal to teach the Bible, tackle cultural, as well as political issues, and encourage others to do the same. It is time for courage behind the pulpit, in the home, and in the community!

@Mark Baze

Host · The Money Block

Matt Moore

Host of The Money Block — personal finance, investing, wealth building and financial literacy.

Contact via tip line

Hosts · Building Bridges

Pancho & Lera Hobbes

Hosts of Building Bridges — faith, family, marriage, community and reconciliation across Oklahoma.

Contact via tip line

Host · Here We Go Again

Rob Standridge

Host of Rob Standridge: Here We Go Again — Oklahoma government, public policy, accountability and education.

Contact via tip line

Host · Allegedly

Roberta Lewis

Host of Allegedly with Roberta Lewis — investigative journalism, courts, criminal justice and public corruption in Oklahoma.

Contact via tip line

Chris Apel

chrisapel@gmail.com

Colleen McCarty

I’m an Oklahoma attorney whose work has crossed litigation, prosecution, defense, public policy, nonprofit leadership, and legal reform. My practice and writing focus particularly on how legal institutions exercise power, make decisions, and serve the public. I’ve worked inside prosecutors’ offices, represented defendants and civil litigants, led statewide justice-policy work, and helped develop and advocate for significant criminal-justice legislation.

cmccarty85@gmail.com

Darien Radcliffe

I am an (almost) lifelong resident of Mayes County, home of the largest industrial park west of the Mississippi-which is aiming stealthily to take over our county. We conquered the 2022 TIF, and are now battling Data Centers, after having elected a County Commissioner who brought Solar Road User Agreements in en masse. (I do not live in his district, and would NOT have voted for him if I did!) Mayes County provides an abundance of water to neighboring municipalities, including Tulsa-and potentially the Inola Smelter-this is a highly unreported topic. We formerly had a newspaper who reported on almost every official meeting in the county, and hated fiscal government corruption; this service has been greatly reduced since it closed in 2025. There are a lot of other underlying problems, between Mid America Industrial Park, GRDA, Go0gle, and an abundance of people who think they should vote for their friend, not the best candidate. We are seeing a growing awareness due to the influx of Data Centers, and multiple groups fighting them. I did run for County Clerk in 2024, and received 11% of the vote, after having been unable to campaign due to family reasons. My family serves our community through Pastoring a small church, our County GOP, and hosting our local Azure Standard drop. Regenerative agriculture, stable and free economies, local enterprises and a strong, Constitutional Republic are very dear to my heart. I have been an avid reader and writer from a child; my spiritual gift is Teacher, so I love research and investigation, presenting the facts, and proclaiming the Truth that sets men free. I love the topics of: History, including Biblical, World, American, and Local; Law and Education, both the proper qualities thereof, and the corruption; Legislative function, reviewing bills, following committees, etc; Family and Farming. I am very excited to be able to use the gifts that God has given me to empower my local community and my state. I am looking to provide reports on the County Commissioner meeting every week, along with City Council Meetings, School Board Meetings, Water and Electric Board Meetings, among others, as I am able. I have ready access to most of the schedules and agendas. I may also be interested in providing opinion articles on the above listed topics, local elections, and any other material that may be useful. Some of my writing/reporting/communicating heroes are Joel Salatin, Mollie Engelhart, Holly Hickman, Jason Murphy, and Craig Roberts; and literary works: Eleanor H. Porter’s Pollyanna and Just David, and Washington Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and of course, Laura Ingalls Wilder, for the way that they draw the reader in, and immerse them in the story.

penandpaper00@protonmail.com

Dayna Mooney

I have followed education, local and county government for years, the people need educated, so they can be more engaged. Avid researcher. Info known in some cases from FOIA requests.

libertyfamily@protonmail.com

Columnist

Deborah Campbell

Deborah Campbell writes from personal experience as a parent navigating special education and from years of professional work across the field — as a litigating paralegal in special-education cases, an independent contractor, and an investigator examining alleged noncompliance with IDEA, Section 504, and the ADA.

Contact via tip line

John Avans

I live in Logan County District 2, am the secretary for Precinct 206. I participate in all 2A meetings, GOP meetings as well as a member of the Freedom Caucus and numerous other conservative organizations. Two years ago I participated in a Constitutional educational course at the County Sheriffs office and have been a advocate for conservative values for over 30 years.

jonshom10@gmail.com

Roberta Lewis

listen this county has lots of secrets the good the bad and the ugly (key the movie music)

roberta_fellows@yahoo.com

Shana Breazeale

I live in Wagoner County but work and was raised in Tulsa County, so alot of my knowledge is from BA, but I will work to find news to report for Wagoner County.

shana_breazeale@yahoo.com

Shelley Gwartney

I know Tulsa well through my previous political runs for Union School Board and State Senate, District 33. I know Tulsa through Moms for Liberty as we follow what happens in it's 16 public school districts and many private schools. I serve as the Chair of Tulsa County M4L. Through M4L, I have made good relationships with our elected officials. I have been a part of the Tulsa County Republican party as an elected representative. I currently serve as the CD1 Treasurer. I am a Senate District Captain for OKHPR in Tulsa County, monitoring health related issues in the area and at the state level. I frequently have breakfast with our County Commissioners and other 'movers and shakers.' Outside of Tulsa, I serve on the OSSM (Oklahoma School of Science & Mathematics) Board of Trustees, appointed by Gov. Stitt in 2026.

shelleygwartney@yahoo.com

Columnist · Broken Trust

Sherrie Conley

Sherrie Conley is a former Oklahoma state representative, educator, school administrator, and adjunct college professor. She is the founder of Broken Trust, an organization dedicated to protecting children, strengthening families, examining education outcomes, and holding the institutions entrusted with our children and public resources accountable.

Contact via tip line

Newsroom Desk

The Colony Desk

The standing byline for stories researched and drafted with AI assistance and edited by The Colony newsroom. Stories under it report verified facts from public records, agency releases, meeting agendas and attributed published reporting; they carry no opinion or endorsement, and every source is listed at the foot of the story.

Contact via tip line

Tracey Garrett

I live in Rogers County where quite a bit is happening currently but you’re aware of much of it. Smelter, data centers, corruption, but do we want to address corruption? I’m part of the Owasso Area Women’s Republican Club. I am particularly involved with animal rescue, if that’s something we’re interested in covering?

traceyg7@duck.com