New Kiamichi River Resource

K-River Sunset
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

Tom over at K-River Campground notes on his website that the National Weather Service is starting a flood prediction service for The Kiamichi River. They are working with Tom to help them determine when the river will flood in his area and what effect is will have on those living or camping near the Kiamichi.

Lots of interesting information here especially if you are planning a heading down to K-River Campground and taking some trips down this wild and scenic Oklahoma river. Check out the National Weather Service's New Kiamichi River page.

http://ahps.srh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=tsa&gage=anto2&view=1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1

Generators Available, Order Online for fast delivery!

Habitat for Humanity Saturday, December 15

Well Right Here is Your Problem
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

Come Join the Oklahoma Young Professional Democrats as we put our values to work in our Community.

The Young Professionals will be volunteering with Habitat for Humanity on Saturday, December 15 and we need your help. We are meeting at ODP (4100 N Lincoln Ave, OKC) at 8:00 this Saturday and will be done by 3:00 PM. For further details please contact Todd Goodman at 405.427.3366

Cranberry Salsa and Other Oklahoma Treats

Deep Fork River Bridge
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

We enjoyed some great Oklahoma flavors at our Thanksgiving meal this year.

Through our new Oklahoma Food Coop membership we got some uniquely wonderful Cranberry Salsa from Cocina San Pasqual (formerly Bloomin' Botanicals) in Perkins, Oklahoma. It had this amazing sweet and spicy flavor that was accented with pinon nuts. Ingredients: fresh cranberries, chiles, pecans &/or pinon nuts, orange juice, cranberry sauce, coconut syrup, lemon/lime juice.

The big hit of the meal was the Sausage Dressing Dianne made to go with the turkey. If you have never had sausage dressing, try it soon. Don't wait for Thankgiving to try this simple but excellent dish.

Hope you had Happy Thanksgiving!

Got a formal affair to attend this holiday season? You can buy a tuxedo for the price of renting a tux at Moore's Clothing in Ponca City, Oklahoma.

Shop local!

New Roller Derby League Launching in Oklahoma

Roller Derby in Stillwater

The Central Oklahoma Roller Derby Association is in the process of starting a Roller Derby League with four teams in the Payne County area and they want Oklahoma women that are 18 and older to join up.

Roller derby is an extreme contact sport consisting of two teams skating around a fast track while one team member tries to pass opponents for points. There is already a prominent league in Oklahoma City as well as Tulsa.

http://tornadoalleyrollergirls.org/ - OKC Area Roller Derby League

The girls on the four Tornado Alley Roller Girls Teams - Cell Block 9, the Victory Dolls, Homewrecking Harlots and Valkyrie Vixens - range in age from 21 to 48. Each team can field 14 girls at a time.

http://www.greencountryrollergirls.com/ - Tulsa Area Roller Derby League

Wanna Play? - The Tulsa area Roller Derby League has Team Tryouts Scheduled for Thursday November 15, 2007 from 8pm to 10pm at B.A. Roller Sports, 551 West Oakland Place in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma or any Sunday morning 10am to 1pm.

Like to watch? - The Green Country Roller Girls will be sending a few players down south to Dallas, Texas on November 17th, 2007 to compete against the Death Row Rumblers during the Dallas Derby Devils' Give Thanks For Derby event. Visit the DDD website for ticket information.

Tulsa Bike Share Program - Yeah Tulsa!

The Tulsa Townies bicycle project was launched in August 2007 by Saint Francis Health System to promote an active and healthy lifestyle in the community. This project is the first bicycle program of its kind in northeastern Oklahoma. Three of the four bicycle rental stations are located at the Tulsa River Parks trail along Riverside Drive at 19th and 41st streets and at Riverside Parkway and 96th Street. The fourth is located at the Sand Springs River City Park at 2500 South River City Park Road.

Patrons have the option of checking out a bike from four kiosks called, Cyclestations™ located in Tulsa at 19th Street and Riverside, 41st Street and Riverside, 96th and Riverside and in Sand Springs at 2500 S. Sand Springs River City Park Road. Although there is no cost to check out a Tulsa Townies bicycle, a credit card is needed for identification purposes and to help prevent theft. Patrons may return their Tulsa Townies bicycle at any one of the locations regardless of where the bicycle was originally checked out. Patrons must be at least 18 years of age to ride a Tulsa Townies bike.

http://www.tulsa-townies.com

Proud to be an Okie Without E-Coli

October Road Hawk Toenail
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

Dianne and I have really been enjoying our new membership in the Oklahoma Food Coop (http://www.oklahomafood.coop). It turns out that this is a great time to explore more local, less corporate food alternatives.

Agricultural giant Cargill Inc. said on Saturday it is recalling over 1 million pounds of ground beef distributed in the United States because of possible E. Coli contamination.

The recalled products have use/freeze-by dates of Oct 19 through Nov 3. Most will have the USDA establishment number of EST 9400 inside the USDA mark of inspection.

We've participated in a couple cycles of orders and deliveries now. Picking up in Jenks is a bit of a drive from Okmulgee. However, we usually find we can schedule our pickups concurrently with trips we already need to make to nearby Tulsa.

Favorite Items from the Oklahoma Food Coop

My favorite Oklahoma Food Cooperative items are often the baked goods. Supermarket cookies simply cannot compare to Gypsy C.O.W. (Chocolate, Oatmeal Walnut) Cookies from The Prairie Gypsies. I simply love the Chocolate Chip Pecan Flapjack Granola from Earth Elements Farm. Despite my sweet tooth, I wish there were more salad green available like the excellent Romaine Lettuce we bought Sunrise Acres.

We didn't save any cents per pound through buying our ground beef from Kastl Farms, but we found their Oklahoma hamburger to be leaner and richer in flavor than what we were used to and we were quite pleased to NOT be participating in the Cargill meat recall described above. The Made-in-Oklahoma Beef Italian Sausages we got from Natural Farms is one of the most exciting products to hit our diet in quite sometime. We are using them in loads of entrees, they are a nice change of pace from pork sausages. Soon we plan to try the Buffalo Burger Patties from the Wichita Buffalo Company. How's that for Oklahoma eating?


Think globally, eat locally. Here's where to start: http://www.oklahomafood.coop/!

Need a memory card for your digital camera? Check out this 2gb Flash card that adds instant Wi-Fi capability to your camera...the easy way! The new Eye-Fi Card.

Make the Internet More Affordable and More Accessible

Press Release from the Edwards campaign:

EDWARDS CALLS ON FCC TO MAKE INTERNET MORE AVAILABLE AND AFFORDABLE

Mountain View, California - Today, Senator John Edwards sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission urging it to use the upcoming auction of the 700 megahertz slice of the broadband spectrum to make the Internet more affordable and more accessible to all Americans, regardless of where they live or how much money they have. Edwards is visiting California today to attend a town hall meeting with Google employees where he will discuss this issue among others.

"In recent years, the Internet has grown to touch everything and transform much of what it touches," wrote Edwards. "It's not the answer to everything, but it can powerfully accelerate the best of America. It improves our democracy by making quiet voices loud, improves our economy by making small markets big, and improves opportunity by making unlikely dreams possible."

Edwards called on the FCC to set bidding and service rules for the upcoming auction to ensure that the public airwaves benefit everyone, not just big companies. Edwards asked the FCC to:

· Set aside as much as half of the spectrum for wholesalers who can lease access to smaller start-ups, which would improve service in rural and underserved areas.

· Require anyone who wins rights to this valuable public resource not to discriminate among data and services and to allow any device to be attached to their service.

· Make bidding anonymous to avoid collusion and retaliatory bids.

The full text of the letter is below.

Dear Chairman Martin:
The upcoming 700 megahertz spectrum auction presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shape the next generation of American technology.

In recent years, the Internet has grown to touch everything and transform much of what it touches. It's not the answer to everything, but it can powerfully accelerate the best of America.

It improves our democracy by making quiet voices loud, improves our economy by making small markets big, and improves opportunity by making unlikely dreams possible.

As you know, the Federal Communications Commission is now preparing to auction the 700 megahertz slice of the spectrum. This 'beachfront' band is particularly well suited to wireless broadband because it has wide coverage and can easily pass through walls.

By setting bid and service rules that unleash the potential of smaller new entrants, you can transform information opportunity for people across America — rural and urban, wealthy and not. As much as half of the spectrum should be set aside for wholesalers who can lease access to smaller start-ups, which has the potential to improve service to rural and underserved areas.

Additionally, anyone winning rights to this valuable public resource should be required not to discriminate among data and services and to allow any device to be attached to their service.

Finally, bidding should be anonymous to avoid collusion and retaliatory bids.

I urge you to seize this chance to transform the Internet and the future.


Sincerely,

John Edwards
http://www.johnedwards.com

Our First Oklahoma Food Coop Order

Last night Dianne and I traveled to Jenks, Oklahoma to pick up our first order from the Oklahoma Food Coop. The Oklahoma Food Cooperative offers members a cross between a farmers' market, a grocery store and Amazon.com.

The Oklahoma producers that supply the Coop's products put their actual names on their Made-in-Oklahoma products and make them in accordance with Coop rules. The consumer members that purchase the grass-fed beef, free range chickens, fresh eggs, produce and ready-made entries get to enjoy farm-friendly food on their own terms. Both parties pay a one-time fee for membership fee that makes them lifetime shareholders in this bold project.

Coop founder Bob Waldrop wanted to create an option for Okies that want to eat local. The groceries the coop offers aren't always a bargain, but they're better for you and they help keep Oklahoma dollars in Oklahoma. The food is fresher because it is harvested locally and it is more environmentally sustainable because it does not have to be shipped long distances.

The Oklahoma Food Cooperative sells over 2,000 products from local producers. From a small beginning, the cooperative now sells over $40,000 a month of locally produced organic foods and other products.

How Does the Food Coop Work?

The success of the Coop depends on meeting the needs of both consumers and producers. Consumers are drawn to a system that offers greater tranparency and selection. Producers are drawn to a more sustainable business model that protects them from market fluctuations and prohitbitive transportation costs. While the farmers' share of the food dollar averages 19 cents nationwide, every dollar spent with the co-op sends 95 cents straight into the pocket of an Oklahoma farmer.


Oklahoma Food Cooperative Membership

The Cooperative only sells food and non-food products that are made in Oklahoma, via an order delivery system based on the website and a network of members and volunteers across the state. The co-op treats farmers and customers as equals, and each pays a one-time fee of $50 to join. The co-op plays the role of an agent. It facilitates the ordering, delivery of and payment for Oklahoma foods between the two.

Ordering Your Food

Each month, producer members post at the website what they have available. Members have 2 weeks to order.

On the third Thursday of each month, the farmers come to Oklahoma City and the coop's volunteer crew sort everything into customer orders, which then later in the day go out to our 17 pickup sites across the state. They generally have about 1500 different items available each month.

The web site features a list of Oklahoma producers and processors, with links to their sites. Producers range from certified organic farms to natural meats to processed goods like cheeses and salsas. You can buy fruits, herbs and vegetables, cheeses, milk and eggs, peanuts and pecans, baked goodies, grains, flours and more.

Dianne and I had fun making out our order. We decided to try some foods we had never tasted before like ground lamb as well as going with some 'can't miss items' like Chocolate-Oatmeal-Walnut cookies!

Picking Up Your Food

Coop Customers can then pick up their products at a dozen locations statewide and in OKC you can even get delivery! Currently, the closest pickup location to our Okmulgee home is in a residential neighborhood in Jenks, Oklahoma.

The pickup point was at the home of one of the members. We pulled up to find the host's driveway lined with a colorful array of ice chests. We parked about five feet from the food we were taking home, so we didn't need shopping carts! Our son Dylan got to enjoy some time playing in the yard with the children of our host.

I kept thinking about what a friendly way of shopping this was. Compared to the hustle and bustle of Wal-Mart shopping, picking up food from the Coop is like visiting family friends.

http://www.oklahomafood.coop


Holy Cows And Hog Heaven: The Food Buyer's Guide To Farm Friendly Food

New Oklahoma Winery Opening in Haskell

Lavender Hill Farm Winery & Tasting Room

Grand Opening, September 22nd, 11am-6pm

Located South of Tulsa off Hwy 64 and East 191st South.
Haskell, Ok. 74436
Phone 918-482-2336

website - lavenderhillfarmwinery.com
e-mail - lavenderhillfarmwinery@lavenderhillfarmwinery.com

Taste Oklahoma Wines in Tulsa

Butterfly Nose
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

Tulsa's Cherry Street Farmers' Market Association is having wine
tastings at all of their September market dates--both Saturdays
(15th & Peoria) and Wednesdays (Brookside at 41st & Peoria).

The wine tastings will feature a different Oklahoma winery each week, giving customers the opportunity to taste several local wines.

Visiting Farmers' Market is a great way to be more of a 'locovore' Locovores believe that eating locally produced food offers a diet that is more environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and socially just. Check out the book: The 100-Mile Diet to learn more about this movement.

"The remarkable, amusing and inspiring adventures of a Canadian couple who make a year-long attempt to eat foods grown and produced within a 100-mile radius of their apartment.

When Alisa Smith and James MacKinnon learned that the average ingredient in a North American meal travels 1,500 miles from farm to plate, they decided to launch a simple experiment to reconnect with the people and places that produced what they ate. For one year, they would only consume food that came from within a 100-mile radius of their Vancouver apartment. The 100-Mile Diet was born." -- The 100-Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating  

Another great way to think globally and act locally is joining the Oklahoma Food Coop or stopping by Conrad Farms in Bixby.

Hillary Clinton in Tulsa August 11, 2007

Whistle Stop
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

Senator Hillary Clinton, candidate for the Democratic nomination for president will be appearing in Tulsa on Saturday, August 11, 2007, at The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, 111 East First Street, Tulsa, OK.

The Pre-Reception is from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm and the General Reception is 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Please purchase tickets online at
http://contribute.hillaryclinton.com/events/tulsa0811.html
(You must bring PRINTED confirmation if purchased online.)
For more information or to RSVP contact: Yael Ouzillou at:
(512) 440-8791

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Spotlighting Oklahoma

Nuyaka Creek Winery Medal
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

July 31, 2007 -- Governor Brad Henry today announced that Walt Disney World Resort has invited the State of Oklahoma to be the first state-dedicated marketplace experience at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival this fall.

Epcot will mark the 12th year of the festival, which is hailed as one of the longest and largest food and wine festivals in the world. This year's festival will be held from September 28 to November 11 at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, and features cuisine from across the globe, a spectacular live music concert series, and exciting demonstrations and seminars from Disney and celebrity chefs.

"In the year of our state centennial celebration -- a year in which we honor our state's storied past and look ahead to a limitless future - it is truly exciting that Oklahoma has embarked on this unique opportunity with one of the great hallmarks of American entertainment and recreation, the Walt Disney World Resort," said Governor Henry. "This year's festival provides an unparalleled spotlight for Oklahoma, and will bring our state closer to festival visitors from throughout the world."

Drumright Winery Events This August

Caught the Red Eye
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

Tidal School Winery Weekend Events
Free Live Music, Free Tours, and Free Wine Tastings: 2 PM - 4 PM Saturday Aug. 4th & Saturday Aug 18th, 2007

Old Time Rock and Roll dinner concert 6 PM to 9 PM Saturday, August 11th, 2007

Old Time Rock and Roll at the Winery
Saturday Aug. 11th, 2007 / 6pm - 9pm

Enjoy rock from the 50's, 60's and 70's preformed by the talented musicians from Sundog. Enjoy casual cuisine like: Hamburgers, Curley fries, tabouli and Oklahoma Sweet Milkshakes!

Tickets are only: $12.95 (+ tax)
Buy tickets online today at: http://www.tidalschool.com .

OKC Movie Premiere with Matt Damon July 31

Sky
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

Actor Matt Damon will premiere the 3rd installment of the popular Bourne series at the Harkins Bricktown Theater in Oklahoma City on July 31st.

The 7:30pm showing of The Bourne Ultimatum will take place on three screens at the theater. Tickets are $150, and proceeds go to benefit The Children's Center in Bethany.

The Children's Center

The Children's Center in Bethany, Oklahoma, is a private, non-profit hospital caring for children with medical and physical disabilities. Patients in age from birth to 18 receive state-of-the-art medical and respiratory care, rehabilitative/ habilitative therapies and special education. These are good folks, doing good work in Oklahoma since 1898! Stop by their website to see a number of fun ways that you can help.

Producer Frank Marshall became interested in The Children's Center through Mark Harmon's annual celebrity baseball game and also premiered The Bourne Supremacy and Eight Below in OKC.

This time, he's bringing a Hollywood A-lister along with him, and according to reports, Damon is expected to greet Oklahoma City guests.

For ticket information, call (405) 440-6733.

Midsummer Night Fair in Norman July 13-14

Midsummer Night’s Fair
Friday & Saturday, July 13-14, 2007
6:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Lion’s Park at the Firehouse Art Center, Norman, Ok.

Come on out for an evening of great food & fun. The people really start coming out once the sun gets behind the trees by about 7:00. It’s an old ball field, but the lights are still up, so there’s plenty of night-light. Enjoy fabulous food, art booths, kids art area, great music, and a wonderful Dalmatian, and German Sheppard contest. All breeds welcome. 29th year. Free admission http://www.normanfirehouse.com/about.asp

Territory Cellars - Grand Opening in Stroud

Lotus
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

Joe Gibson & Judy Walkingstick will officially open Territory Cellars in Stroud, Oklahoma on July 11, 2007 with a grand opening celebrating Joe’s birthday.

The new building is home to Century 21 Premier Realty, Gibson Appraisals, Glorieta Grapes, Corks and Territory Cellars.

Joe and Judy invite everyone to visit them and enjoy the patio. Territory Cellars is located just north of the Turner Turnpike on Highway 99 and will be open all day every day.

Tulsa Downtown Living Tour June 23 and 24

Mother's Day Lily
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

The Tulsa Foundation for Architecture is pleased to present the Downtown Living Tour, a self-guided tour of selected residences in the downtown area this weekend.


Featuring historical living spaces, repurposed buildings, renovated homes and new construction, the tour is a chance to get a look at some of the hottest living places in Tulsa. There will be five homes on the tour ranging from a three-story walk up in Brady Village to high-rise lofts.


Tour participants can start at either the Tribune Lofts, 20 East Archer, or at the Philtower, 427 S. Boston. There you will receive a program featuring a map of all of the homes on the tour and information about the spaces.


Tickets are $15 per person or $25 for two and may be purchased at either of the starting locations or in advance from the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture.


When: June 23rd, 9-5pm and June 24th 1-5pm
Contact: Lee Anne Zeigler at 918.583.5550 or via e-mail at laz@tulsaarchitecture.com

2007 Sooner Run Bass Tournament June 21-24

Lower Mountain Fork River June 2006
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

U.S. Bass Pros Take On Grand Lake

The Sooner Run Bass Tournament , slated for June 21-24 at Grand Lake, will be the seventh stop in the Bassmaster Elite 100 Series, the high profile fishing league known to draw the world's top anglers to tournament destinations all across the country.

The fact that a Bassmaster Elite Series tournament is taking place on Grand Lake is not just a coincidence.

"Grand Lake ranks among the highest in the state in bass population and angling success," said Jim Burroughs, northeast regions fisheries supervisor for the Wildlife Department.

The Bassmaster Elite Series includes 11 events across the country, and an $11 million prize purse. According to bassmaster.com, the series is bass fishing's "most competitive and lucrative league."

Thousands of people are expected to attend the family-friendly event. Both the daily launches and weigh-ins are free and open to the public at North Beach Development Area (61201 East 270 Road).

Each day the launch begins at 5:50 a.m., and weigh-ins take place at 3 p.m. Spectators will also have a chance to get angler autographs, participate in a kids casting contest and shop for Bassmaster merchandise. The newly-designed North Beach Development Area is located east of Wolf Creek just north of Grove.

Additionally, fans can catch all the action on television at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 7 on ESPN2.

Barbecue Society Cook-off June 15-16, 2007

Sunset Boat Wake
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

The Ada Lions Club is hosting a Kansas City Barbecue Society sanctioned cook-off June 15-16 in Ada, the first State Championship “Pigs Can Fly” BBQ Cook-Off.

This event will be held in conjunction with the fourth annual Ada Air Expo, which has been approved as a centennial event for the state of Oklahoma.

Area cooks are invited to participate as contestants in the barbecue cook-off. If they enter all four categories, they can qualify to compete for the grand championship and $1,000. If they enter only one category, they can compete for $200 and a trophy.

Anyone interested in entering the competition should go to the Ada Air Expo Website at www.adaairexpo.com and follow the link for rules, regulations and official entry forms. Entry forms are also available at Vision Bank in Ada.

Oklahoma Gold! Centennial Celebration

A Good Day on the Lake
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

: A celebration of Oklahoma's Oil and Gas industry in Drumright!

Time and Date: Saturday, June 23, 2007, 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM
Place: Tidal School Winery

Art: Renowned Oklahoma Artists will display their works

Music: Two bands will play live in the vineyard

One Act Play: A short one act play will dramatize the discovery of oil in Drumright.

Program: A 30 minute program will honor Oklahoma's oil and gas industry.

Wine: Formal introduction of the new sweet white wine: Oklahoma Gold! plus free tastings of Tidal 18+ wine varieties.

Tours: Free tours of the historic Tidal School Winery
Admission: $5.00

For Tickets Call 1-866-258-1903 or Buy Online at:
http://www.tidalschool.com

Tulsarama June 15, 2007

June 15th, at noon Tulsa's 50yr old time capsule will be opened and the 1957 Plymouth Belvedere will be unveiled.

Visitors are coming from all over the world to see history unearthed. A whole weekend of events are planned. New events and guests are still being added. Check out buriedcar.com for complete details.

New Tulsa Downtown Farmer's Market

Baby Wine
Originally uploaded by FreeWine.

The Nuyaka Creek Winery Spring Wine Festival is May 19, 2007. Check out their website: http://www.nuyakacreek.com/winefest.htm for full details on this annual Oklahoma wine tasting opportunity. Also, look for the article featuring Nuyaka Creek in the May issue of Southern Living Magazine.

In Other Tulsa Area Spring News

Folks looking for fresh, local produce now have a new option. Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor announced the opening of a new Downtown Farmer’s Market. You can expect to find up to 15 varieties of tomatoes, peppers of every color, squash, okra, and for the first time, they will be bringing food from natural farms.

The Downtown Farmer's Market will be on 3rd street, between Main and Boston. It's open every Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., beginning May 1st.

National Art Competition in Ada

Old Bank Gallery’s National Competition exhibit remains open to the public through April 28 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The gallery is located at the corner of Main and Townsend.

Ada is the location for the exhibit for the third year. Each year the Gallery places ads in national magazines announcing a call for entries. Artists from all over the country respond with entries in the competition.

Each year there are entrants from as far away as New York, Illinois, Utah, North Carolina, Connecticut, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon and Texas as well as prominent Oklahoma artists.

Artists compete for a $1,000 Best of Show award, $500 first place, $200 second place, $100 third place and several honorable mention awards. Also presented are special recognition awards from Citizens Bank, First Untied Bank, Vision Bank, Karen’s Art and Framing, Bob and Sally Bennett, Ada Sales and Rental, Tommy and Carol Redman, Oklahoma Heritage Bank, Kennedy Library of Konawa, DK Nutrition Center and Barking Frog.

Judge for the competition will be Bert Seabourn, an internationally recognized artist who lives in Oklahoma.

Winner of the 2006 National Exhibit at Old Bank Gallery was Diana de Santis from New York who specializes in pastel portraits and was recently featured in The Artist Magazine.

For more information, phone (580) 332-2781.

Drive-In Theaters in Oklahoma

Drive-In Decay
Originally uploaded by FreeWine.

Got a taste for the old time drive-in theaters? Well, Oklahoma is still home to a few drive-ins. The largest operating drive-in theater in the state is, of course, The Admiral Twin in Tulsa.

There are a total of eight drive in theaters still in business in Oklahoma. Here's a site that tracks them:
http://www.driveinmovie.com/OK.htm.

The survivors are in: Chickasha, Guthrie, McAlester, Oklahoma City, Ponca City, Poteau, Sapulpa, Tahlequah, Tulsa or Weatherford.

Better catch a feature at one of them before they all disappear!

Art and Wine Festival in Drumright April 21

Here's Looking at You, Kid!
Originally uploaded by FreeWine.

On Saturday, April 21, from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM over twenty elite area artists will display their original artwork at the Art & Wine festival at Tidal School Vineyards.

10% of all sales will go to the Little Rascals Animal Aide Foundation. This wonderful all-volunteer animal rescue organization is helping control animal over-population and rescue abandoned pets that might otherwise have to be destroyed. The artists and their art will be found throughout the winery and grounds.

Free wine tastings will be available and there will be no charge to attend! Order online at www.tidalschool.com You can also reserve by calling toll free 866 258 1903.

Waurika Rattlesnake Hunt April 13-15

K-River Sunset
Originally uploaded by FreeWine.

Right on Main Street, in Waurika, Oklahoma. Come for the thrill of Waurika's Rattlesnake Hunt on April 13-15, 2007!

Also featuring carnival rides, games, arts & crafts vendors, photo booth, and the Thrill-Safety Show Guided Hunts! For more information call (580) 228-2553.

Arbuckle Simpson Nature Festival May 4-6, 2007

Blue River 5
Originally uploaded by gdsanders.

Arbuckle Simpson Nature Festival

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tishomingo, OK Paddle The Oklahoma Arbuckles

Exploring Pontotoc Ridge Preserve; Blue River
Ecology; Nocturnal Creatures; For the Birds and Fish
Production are events being offered during the
Arbuckle Simpson Nature Festival, May 4, 5 and 6 in
Johnston, Pontotoc and Murray Counties.

This is the opportunity of a life-time,
announced Dr. Bill Pennington and Earl Brewer,
coordinators of the event. The Nature Festival is
offering a variety of tours and a lecture that should
appeal to everyone. We have one of the best areas for
viewing nature in Oklahoma and this event will
spotlight a natural resource not seen by most people,
Brewer stated.

Registration is now open for the 2 day event
which will originate from Murray State College. Event
fee is $25.00 per tour. Registration and information
can be obtained by contacting the Johnston County
Chamber of Commerce, 580-371-2175 or by visiting web
site: www.johnstoncountyok.org. Registration will
begin each day at 7:00 a.m. at the Murray State
College Student Union. Advance registrations are
recommended, as size of tours is limited.

The Nature Festival was organized by a coalition
of TREES (Tishomingo Refuge Ecology and Educational
Society), Murray State College, Johnston County
Chamber of Commerce, Chickasaw Nation Enterprises, The
Nature Conservancy, Tishomingo National Wildlife
Refuge, Blue River Hunting and Fishing Area; City of
Tishomingo; Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery and
Chickasaw National Recreational Area.

Two topic tours are offered twice a day; once in
the morning 9:00 a.m. to 11 a.m. and afternoon
sessions, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tours of 50 people
will travel by charter buses to the various locations.

Opening day, Friday, May 4, the first sessions
offered will be Exploring Pontotoc Ridge Preserve in
Pontotoc County and Blue River Ecology. Both tours
will leave Murray State College Student Union at 8:30
a.m., and travel to their respective sites.

Exploring Pontotoc Ridge Preserve offers five
different habitat community types: Crosstimbers
Forest, Bottomland Forest, Mixed-Grass Prairie;
Tallgrass Prairie and Limestone Outcrop and
Sinkholes, stated Earl Brewer, president of TREES
(Tishomingo Refuge Ecology and Educational Society).
A variety of species that might be seen include
Painted Buntings, Summer Tanager and Red-eyed Vireo;
Grass/Forbes, Hairy Grama, Little Bluestem, Purple
Coneflower; buttlerflies, and a variety of reptiles.
This is a guided trail hike led by Jim Herndon of the
Nature Conservancy . Hiking boots and binoculars are
recommended.

The Blue River Ecology tour will be held
northeast of Tishomingo led by Matt Gamble, fisheries
biologist. Participants will learn about the crystal
clear waters of the Blue River, formation process,
granite outcrops, fishing opportunities, need for
protection and the Seaside Alders. Hiking boots and
binoculars are also recommended for this tour.

A box lunch which includes a logo bag of the
Nature Festival will be available for a $10.00 fee.
Lunch will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the MSC
campus.

The afternoon tours will leave MSC campus at 1:00
p.m.

Friday night will feature a special Nocturnal
Event at Pennington Creek Park, Corbin Ranch and the
Tishomingo Wildlife Management Unit. Dr. Doug Wood,
Dr. Tim Patton and Dr. Bryon Clark from Southeastern
Oklahoma State University will lead the group to learn
about bats, nightjars, frogs and frog calls.
Participants will leave the MSC Student Union at 7:30
p.m. and the event is limited to 20.

Friday night will also feature a dutch treat
buffet meal at the Western Inn Restaurant in
Tishomingo. Exhibits of area wildlife photography
will be on display for the public to enjoy.

On Saturday a full day of events will begin with
an Early Morning Birding/Migratory Banding Station
at the headquarters of the Tishomingo Refuge beginning
at 8:00 a.m. Dr. Doug Wood and Jona Reasor TNWR
Wildlife Biologist will lead this group.

For the Birds will be a group session led by
Kris Patton, TNWF manager starting at 9:00 a.m. Patton
will give instruction on how to enjoy the beatufy of
birdlife around your home; improve the habitat: in
your yard; how to attract birds by placing bird
feeders, seed types; homes for birds, using bird
baths, what to plant native versus non-native, winter
shelter, protection from predators and how to use a
field guides. Earl Brewer will assist Patton on
Refuge Backyard Habitat, which includes the Cumberland
Pool and Cravens Nature Trail. This session will be
held once in the morning and again in the afternoon
starting at 2:00 p.m.

Fish Production of the paddlefish, alligator
gar, alligator snapping turtles and more will be
featured at the Tishomingo Fish Hatchery at Reagan
during Saturday sessions starting at 9:00 a.m. and
again at 2:00 p.m.
Pennington Creek Stream Ecology will give
participants information about aquatic life, Dr. Bill
Pennington stressed. The ecology field trip will
begin at 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Hip waders or
wading clothes are recommended for this field trip.
Ellen Tejan and Andrea Navesky, acquatic ecologists
with the Nature Conservancy will lead the field trip.

Lunch at noon will be at Sipokni West Cattle
Trail Restaurant with a chuck wagon style BBQ meal and
fixins for $12.50 per person. This will be a real
treat for our visitors to the area, commented Janis
Stewart, Johnston County Chamber of Commerce Director.

The Nature Festival participants will leave the
Old West setting at 1:30 p.m. to travel for the final
two tours of the day.

Saturday evening a dinner and program entitled
The Birds of Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge
will feature Dr. Doug Wood, associate professor of
biological sciences at Southeastern Oklahoma State
University. Dr. Wood teaches a wide range of courses
including ornithology, field ornithology, zoology,
conservation of natural resources, principles of
biology, geographic information systems (GIS) and
bioethics. The dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a
welcome from Dr. Bill Pennington, President of Murray
State College and Earl Brewer, President of TREES.
The cost will be $15.00 per person. Seating for the
dinner and presentation is limited to 100 people and
will be held at Murray State College Student Union
Center.

Sunday will conclude the event with a self tour
of the Chickasaw National Recreation Area at Sulphur.
In the Nature Center Auditorium you will learn about
the Arbuckle Simpson Aquifer and how its life blood
flows through the springs of the historic Platt
District of the Chickasaw National Recreation Area.

Presentation at the Nature Center is from 8:30
a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and the field trip starts at 9:00
a.m. until 10:00 a.m. Hiking boots and binoculars are
recommended. Tour # 2 begins at9:30 a.m. until 11:00
a.m. and the field trip from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Visitors are encouraged to visit local eating
establishments in Sulphur.

For more information or to register for events
please contact the Johnston County Chamber of Commerce
at 580-371-2175.

Paddle The Oklahoma Arbuckles

Wine Country Murder Mystery in Stroud, Oklahoma

A TASTE FOR WINE & MURDER

Visit Stroud, Oklahoma this Spring and join the folks at StableRidge Winery in a Murder Mystery all about the wine country. Taste some great Made-in-Oklahoma wines and participate in the fun!

When: Saturday April 28th
Where: StableRidge Winery
Time: 4:30pm
Food: Heavy hors d'œuvres
Cost: $30.00 per person
Call for reservations: 1-800-359-3990

http://www.stableridgevineyards.com/

Pro Bull Rider's Rodeo in Ada May 4-5

The Professional Bull Riders are bucking into Ada May 4-5 for a weekend filled with rank bulls, high scores and big wrecks.

The Southern Oklahoma PBR Enterprise Classic begins each night at 8 at the Pontotoc County Agri-plex. The Southern Oklahoma event will showcase some of the most promising rising stars of the PBR, riding alongside fan favorites and veterans, as all competitors face-off against the most famous bucking bulls in the industry, including Versus, aka Stray Kitty, and Smooth Move.

For more information about Southern Oklahoma PBR Enterprise Classic contact Brenda Revels at (580) 235-0193 or email: brevels@cableone.net.

Oklahoma Wildlife Regulation Changes for 2007

Dripping Springs Trees
Originally uploaded by FreeWine.

The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission passed a host of hunting and fishing regulation changes at its regular meeting Monday, most notably a number of significant deer hunting regulation changes aimed at improving the health of Oklahoma's deer herd while providing additional hunting opportunities for antlerless deer.

Specific deer hunting regulation changes were:

The statewide combined season limit on antlered deer was reduced from three to two bucks.

Youth under the age of 18 will have the opportunity to harvest a buck during the Youth Gun Season.

For most of the state (antlerless zones 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9), the number of days open to antlerless deer hunting was increased to include the entire muzzleloader season (Oct. 27 - Nov. 4) and the entire gun season (Nov. 17 - Dec. 2). Zone one, located in the Panhandle, will be open to antlerless deer hunting Nov. 17 and Dec. 2 (gun), while zone 10 in southeast Oklahoma will be open to antlerless deer hunting Oct. 27-29 and Nov. 2-4 (muzzleloader) and Nov. 17, 24 and Dec. 2 (gun).

Special antlerless seasons for most of the state (antlerless zones 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9) will be open Dec. 21-23 and Dec. 28-30. The Panhandle and portions of southeast Oklahoma are excluded. For a map of specific antlerless hunting zones, consult the current "Oklahoma Hunting Guide."

In antlerless deer harvest zone two, which includes much of northwest and north central Oklahoma, the antlerless deer bag limit for muzzleloader and gun seasons was increased to two antlerless deer. For a map of zone two, consult the current "Oklahoma Hunting Guide."

Officials with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation say the changes should help in managing the state's deer herd while at the same time providing benefits to hunters.

"We are confident that the changes approved by the Commission will help create a more favorable buck-to-doe ratio, improve the health of the herd and give hunters more chances to harvest does, and hopefully nicer bucks," said Alan Peoples, chief of wildlife for the Wildlife Department.

Fight Oklahoma HB 1515 and SB 709

North Canadian River Banks at Pierce, Oklahoma.
Originally uploaded by FreeWine.

Ask Your lawmakers to Vote NO

HB 1515 is coming up for vote in the Oklahoma House. This bill is brought by the hog factory farm industry and, if passed, is a real threat to Tenkiller Lake. It removes protective setbacks for outstanding resource waters like Tenkiller. This is classic special interest legislation making it easier to locate huge, confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) near our best streams and lakes.

HB 1515 also reduces setback limits for public drinking water sources, National Parks, historic sites, and museums.

We can't sit by and let this bill go unopposed. Please call or email your legislators today (list below).

Also ask that your lawmakers vote NO on SB 709 defining animal waste as nonhazardous. This bill is unnecessary and only hampers the state's lawsuit against the out of state poultry factory farm industry. It is special interest legislation.

Oklahoma Blessed with Springtime Weather

Okmulgee Lake Country
Originally uploaded by FreeWine.

I hope you have plans to get out and enjoy the Oklahoma outdoors this week. The forecasts are calling for a rainy weekend, but for now we are seeing temps in the upper 60's and low 70's. Local lakes like Okmulgee Lake (pictured here) offer plenty of privacy in the off-season making this a great time to get out and take some pictures.

Speaking of photography, my favorite photography website: Flickr.com has announced a great new feature: Comment Notifications!

If you've ever wondered,"Wouldn't it be grand to be notified when someone comments, tags or adds a note to my photos? "Well, wonder no more -- we've added a couple of new email notification options to your Account page.

You can now set up immediate alerts or receive daily or weekly email digests about new activity within your photostream, as well as set up an email alert when your contacts upload new photos.

To set up notifications, head over to your Account page. - Flickr Blog

Dianne and I love sharing our photos on flickr. It has introduced us to many new friends and improved our skills a great deal. In addition, it makes adding photos to our blogs and websites much easier and more efficient. Give Flickr a try sometime, we would love to have you as a contact!

Oscar Nominee Films in Tulsa

Oscar nominees for the category of Best Short Film will be shown February 16-22 at the Circle Cinema in Tulsa. The short films will be grouped into two sessions (live action and animated) with an intermission in between.

You can purchase a combo ticket for $10, or watch either session for the normal ticket price (evening: $7.75; matinees: $6).

Circle Cinema, 10 S. Lewis Ave. More Info: http://www.circlecinema.com/

Spring Turkey Season Opens April 6 in Oklahoma

Wild Oklahoma Turkeys
Originally uploaded by FreeWine.

Spring turkey season opens April 6, so prospective hunters should enroll now in one of several hunter education classes offered in the months of February and March by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

"We've got plenty of classes scheduled before turkey season opens," said Lance Meek, hunter education coordinator for the Wildlife Department. "Taking a class is a great first step to getting prepared for turkey hunting, but people should be scheduling the most convenient classes now so they will be ready to go when the hunting season arrives."

Hunter education classes cover a variety of topics including firearms safety, water safety, survival, archery, muzzleloading, hunter responsibility and wildlife conservation, management and identification.

Anyone born after Dec. 31, 1971 must successfully complete a hunter education class before purchasing a hunting license, unless exempt. For a list of exemptions, consult the "2007 Oklahoma Hunting Guide." Youth under 18 years old have the option of participating in the spring youth turkey season open March 31-April 1. The limit is one tom turkey, which counts toward their regular spring season limit. Hunters under 16 years old are exempt from purchasing a hunting license and fishing and hunting legacy permit. Unless exempt, youth turkey hunters must possess a turkey license while in the field.

Hunter education classes are free and are available as either an eight-hour classroom course or home-study course. Classes are scheduled at locations all across the state during February and March, so hunters planning to hunt turkeys in April or early May still have time to enroll. To see a complete listing of available courses, log on to the Wildlife Department's Web site at http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/hunted.htm.

Spring turkey season runs from April 6 to May 6 and offers a generous season limit of three tom turkeys. Hunters who are willing to travel can harvest their limit in one day, but they must be aware of which counties in Oklahoma have either a one- or two-tom limit. Turkeys thrive at many wildlife management areas across the state, giving hunters several choices on where to hunt.

Water Arrives Briefly in Oklahoma

Like most of our neighbors, Dianne and I have been staying off the water recently. I know some tougher Okie paddlers have purchased wetsuits and drysuits to extend their paddling season, but we have been staying home taking pictures of the ice and stuff. Visit our Flickr photostream if you are interested in seeing some nearly frozen cardinals and other winter miracles.

The recent gray skies have been a drag, but at least we are finally getting som moisture in this state. Just in time too... as some folks have started a drive to sell Oklahoma's 'surplus' water to Texas.

Proposal to capture water has Oklahoma steaming.


Meanwhile, I've upgraded to the new version of Blogger, so I apologize if anyone has seen inconsistency with our site's newsfeed.