Well, unless you aren't spending time around here in person and you haven't heard the national news lately, you know that violent weather has been happening all around north Texas and Oklahoma. Massive tornadoes, pelting rain, flooding and sheer devastation have been a reality for many communities and families from Texas through Kansas, which of course includes the Texoma area. We went to a tornado shelter in our neighborhood and stood outside it, ready to make our way down the steps and into the dusty debris, home to spiders and who knows what else. It hadn't been used or cleaned for a while, but we figured that it would be better to deal with whatever was lurking down there than with a killer tornado. As it turns out, the worst of the thunderstorms bearing twisters went around us, and when we finally got back online to see a radar screen, we could see an arch of violence curving around us, from the west to the north and the east. Amazingly, we were spared.Many were not. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families and businesses who have lost so much. Nobody really understands it unless they have experienced it themselves. So, that's what IS happening on Lake Texoma, part of a much larger geographic area devastated by storms this week. In the midst of it I discovered this storm prediction page on the web, provided by the national weather service. It's a good tool to stay on top of severe weather planning - http://www.spc.noaa.gov/ But the silver lining to the past week of devastation has been the needed rainfall. Lake levels are up, as reported daily on LakeTexoma.com Now, what is NOT happening on Lake Texoma is any significant progress on the Pointe Vista Development. As reported in the Durant, Madill and Ardmore newspapers lately, this quote being from Michael Pineda of the Ardmorite, local residents are not pleased with the lack development: "The contract went into effect when the property where the Lake Texoma Lodge was located was sold to Pointe Vista in 2008. Terms of the contract state that a 4-star hotel must be substantially complete by May 2014. The Durant Democrat reported last week that in a letter sent to Gov. Mary Fallin's office, Fischer said Pointe Vista will not be able to meet the deadline and is seeking an extension... Action has been relatively non-existent. Pointe Vista has made its payments with little to show for it outside the tearing down of some structures, which it claims as construction. Another question for residents regarding the scope of Pointe Vista's intended project is the capacity of infrastructure to support a sizeable hotel and convention center." Naturally, Pointe Vista Development wants an extension to avoid breaking their contract with the state of Oklahoma. What do you think should happen now? Any comments?