Tulsa Boat Show was a success Monday Night

Follow this link for a look back at Monday's VIP night at the Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show... VIP NIGHT

Power Squadron Hears About lake Issues

Grand Lakers Joe Harwood and Rusty Fleming recently spoke to members of the Grand Lake Sail and Power Squadron at a dinner meeting at The Parrot in Grove. They explained the dangers of recent actions by FERC to not only Grand Lake shoreline property owners but to other lake shoreline owners in several states that are also regulated by the federal agency. On Grand Lake, there is an additional danger to boaters because of the 741’ lake level draw down required prior to the Labor Day weekend.
Harwood and Fleming have been very active in leading the fight against the over-reaching and bloated agency that has grown by thousands of federal employees since its inception. They recently traveled to the nation’s capitol along with Mike Williams and Casey Davis to attend a FERC meeting. They learned that Grand Lakers will now have more help with their battle because of FERC actions against the Lake of the Ozarks, Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia and a lake in Washington State. Congressional members from the other states are becoming involved in the battle to limit FERC’s actions and recently Senator James Inhofe, Oklahoma, has become supportive of this fight. To learn more about the problem, Fleming suggested visiting the Smith Mountain Lake website: curb-ferc-aep.com (more)

“Sam & Laura” Brings Romance to Playmaker Stage

“Sam and Laura,” by Hannibal native, Ron Powers, is based on a true romantic incident in the life of young Sam Clemens, (Mark Twain) an encounter that forever influenced his dream-life and his literature. It opens February 4 at The Playmaker Theatre, 121 W.3rd Street in Grove, OK and runs Fridays, Saturdays and Tuesdays at 7:30 pm and Sunday matinees at 2:00 pm through Feb 19.
The production is sponsored by Arvest Bank. “We are excited to help produce this imaginative play, in conjunction with the Oklahoma Arts Council,” says Steve Duff, Arvest Bank President. “Playmaker productions just keep getting better and better. We are proud to support our Award-winning theatre.”
The story is seen through the eyes of Laura Wright (newcomer Lorri Bacon) and told to a young would-be reporter, C.O. Byrd (Spencer Pogue), in a fancy speakeasy in 1925. The story unveils through a series of historically based flashbacks , from Sam Clemens’ first meeting with Laura on a steamboat dock in New Orleans in 1858 through his letters to her and dreams of her, his platonic sweetheart. Sam Clemens is played by Cyrus Crane and the young Laura by Raven Feather. (more)

Power for Progress… A weekly column from the Grand River Dam Authority

Power For Progress All Across Oklahoma


The communities across Oklahoma that purchase wholesale electricity from the Grand River Dam Authority are considered “public power” utilities. These are communities that own and operate their own electric distribution system. In other words, the public owns the power system.
These communities purchase low-cost, reliable wholesale electricity from GRDA and then resell it to homes, businesses and industries within the community. The revenues they generate from their power sales is then used to purchase more electricity from GRDA, but also used to help fund other city services like police and fire protection, parks and streets. Typically in a public power community, the general fund relies heavily on funds from the utility operations (electricity, gas, water, sewer or other services) to meet annual budget requirements.
Today, through sales to its direct municipal customers and sales to indirect municipal customers, through utilities like the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority, GRDA electricity is powering over 180,000 homes in Oklahoman communities. Add to that the sales to electric cooperative customers across the state, including sales to Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative and Western Farmers Electric Cooperative, and GRDA power is reaching nearly 500,000 homes in Oklahoma. In fact, through direct or indirect sales, the positive impact of GRDA electricity is realized in 75 of 77 Oklahoma counties. And everyday, the 500 employees of GRDA are at work, to make sure power flows across the state. As a result, GRDA has forged strong and beneficial partnerships with many communities, cooperatives and neighbors across the state. And it all works without using any Oklahoma tax dollars – GRDA is self-supporting agency, operating on revenues from sales of electricity and water. (more)

THE DISNEY TREE FIGHT, PRECURSOR TO THEATRICS

The dates were set, July 2nd, 3rd and 4th, and the surroundings were ideal for what was advertised as the first “tree fight” in history to be held adjacent to the new Pensacola Dam in Disney, Oklahoma! The objective of this altercation was to determine which opponent could knock the other out of a tree. Wild Red Berry, who would win the World Light Heavyweight Wrestling Championship nine times between 1937 and 1947, was the featured contestant. His opponent, a local resident, billed as Tarzan the Disney Tree Man, stood six foot five inches tall and weighed 250 pounds. According to the advertisement, Tarzan dared any man to stay in the tree with him for five minutes. Also advertised, tours of the recently completed dam would be available and, of course, a huge fireworks display was featured. The supporting wrestling card for the event featured Paul Orth, the Tarzan of the Mat, who would face Rubber Man Carr, who couldn’t be hurt. An additional feature was a five round boxing mat and a “Battle Royal” between five husky Negroes. All of this plus free street acts, dancing and music could be included for an admission of just $1.10. An added incentive, also mentioned in the flyer, was that visitors could tour Disney, Oklahoma’s sensational new boom town. (more) 

Random observations from the grand lake bum

Wow!  National Kazoo Day on Saturday, opening of the Tulsa Boat, Sport and Travel Show on Monday and, another Presidential Primary on Tuesday, appropriately enough, Groundhog Day on Wednesday, Stoney LaRue on Friday and the Super Bowl on Sunday.  What a week!  Congratulations are certainly in order to all the Grand Lake exhibitors.  The booths look fabulous – all 34 exhibitors from Grand Lake!  Here’s a word to the wise, though.  Smart boat show attendees do their drinking before the show or after they leave.  I don’t care how much money you have, you can’t afford to get drunk at the boat show.  It’s cheaper to put a down payment on a boat.  $6.50 for a draw beer – a small one.  Or you can splurge and buy a large beer for $9.50.  YIKES! (more) 

Saturday Only - $5 Feline Adoption Event at the Humane Society

Looking for a feline friend? Then Saturday is the time to adopt. The Humane Society of Grove and Grand Lake is hosting a special "one-day only" adoption event on Saturday, February 4, from 10 am to 4 pm at the shelter. Come on out and adopt a cat that is 5 months or older for just $5. Yes, that's right--just $5! Kittens younger than 5 months will be $20, and no additional adoption fee for super-sizing your kitten adoption by adding an adult mentor cat for your newly adopted kitten. (more) 

GRAND LAKE GOLF REPORT

by Steve Pace, Certified Golf Instructor 918-257-4967
email: stevepace.golf@yahoo.com, website: www.stevepace.net

February 3, 2012
If you have any golf news or information, please let me know.
Winter Teaching Rates: $35 for 30 minutes (includes Video Analysis)
Call Steve for Appointment – 918.257.4967

LOCAL GOLF
Once again, THE WEATHER is SOOO good! Us golfer’s are grateful to Mother Nature.
This week, Gregg Compton and I plan to start working with the Grove High School golf boys and girls team. If we can teach them just one thing that will help them improve, then we’ll be happy. Fundamentals are essential.

GOLF TIP OF THE WEEK
Practice!
It sounds and seems so simple. The truth is when you pay the price, you get the payback! (more)

Christmas Thyme Tour of Homes Donations

Members of Sweet Annie Herb Club presented donations to the Christian Medical Clinic and the Humane Society of Grove. Each December the club sponsors the "Christmas Thyme Tour of Homes" with proceeds going to various local non-profit organizations. The club would like to thank the families that participated, as well as, Victorian Accents, Grand Savings Bank, and Lowes. (more)