Some news from the local front…
Welcome back. Hotel rooms near capacity with license plates from around the country in their parking lots, restaurants busy, many with waiting lines. The sidewalks and side streets also busy as folks visited with one another. No, I wasn’t at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado nor was I at the big PBR bull riding competition at the Windstar World Casino & Resort down on the Oklahoma Texas state line. At home for part of the Labor Day weekend, the scene I am describing was right here in Bartlesville, Oklahoma during the College High all class reunion. I can tell you after talking with the organizers beforehand that they planned for fun to be on the menu and from what I could see they succeeded. The weekend included car shows, live bands and good food bringing together old friends and their stories of bygone days could be heard on every street corner. With all the bad news about local revenue I can’t help but think there had to be a major impact on the city’s sales tax.
While I was in town, on Sunday I checked out the area lakes and I found both campgrounds at Copan were full. Hulah Lake also had a good crowd of campers as did Osage Hills State Park. If you haven’t been to these spots lately they are always fun for a day trip and with plenty of spots for picnics, fishing and swimming and the great fall weather why not.
I also had business in Norman this past week setting up a couple of book signings on campus corner one of which is tentatively scheduled for next weekend. This is the same weekend when Ohio State is coming to OU for a football game that I understand has been sold out for 2 years. If you are not familiar with campus corner, this is a section of the business district in Norman that sits right across the street from the main campus and it is full of restaurants, bars, clothing stores and anything else that might appeal to a college kid. Around the corner is the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium which is the home of the Oklahoma Sooners football team. On game days there is only foot traffic in this area as they close the streets near the stadium to cars.
Although there is a lot of heavy construction going on around the stadium, the main roads are open and everyone is ready for the season opener this Saturday when the ULM Warhawks come to town. The history of OU’s football powerhouse will await me the following weekend when I invade along with Ohio State. This will be my first game in Norman in 30 years and I hope to bring you some inside scoop from on the field.
This coming Friday I plan to check out some of the 100 mile garage sales which takes place on September 9th and 10th. Saturday and Sunday I’m scheduled to be at the Metcalf Gun Show on the Tulsa Fairgrounds. Somehow in between all this I plan a visit to Fairfax, Oklahoma which is the home of retired lawman George Wyman. A decorated World War II veteran before he became a sheriff, his story of honor and bravery is one I’m putting together and you won’t want to miss it.
For those of you who may not already know, Woolaroc’s big fundraiser is right around the corner and this is an event you don’t want to miss. Started by Frank Phillips himself, the event is still held at Clyde Lake where Frank originally held it and where you will be joined by about 800 other guests for a wonderful evening of dining, music and a chance to buy world class art work.
Till next time I’ll see ya down the road…..
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