August 10 Observations from the Grand Lake Bum

August 10, 2026

The weekend in our rearview mirror was truly an incredible Grand Lake weekend – both on the water and on the land. The Woodstock on the Water event in Leon Russell Cove had to set a new record for the event. The last big on-the-water raftout and concert of the season was truly a memorable event. The same is true for the legendary Run a Monkey Golf Tournament at Shangri-La – an event that Nevyle Cable started years ago with a handful of buddies has grown to one of the biggest tournaments of the year on Grand Lake! Next up? The Member-Member/Member-Guest Tournament at Shangri-La August 27. The Grand Lake fun is non-stop!

Here we are in mid-August already. Dog days of summer. It’s so hot I saw a flock of geese flying north – apparently looking for cooler weather. I do get tickled at vacationing Okies who avoid Florida this time of year because “it’s so hot and humid there in the summer.” Really? You mean exactly like it is here?

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This is the week playgrounds start looking a little sparse and classrooms are full. The beginning of the school year has a bright side: it’s the beginning of football season. If you want to watch some really talented players you’ve never heard of, NFL Preseason games are underway this week!

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I hope all the parents of school-age kids got everything they needed during the “Tax-Free Weekend” in Oklahoma over the past weekend. It still seems weird to me that the “back-to-school-tax-free” law doesn’t apply to school supplies – only clothing and shoes priced under $100. These days, it’s getting harder and harder to find any clothing items or shoes under $100. Nonetheless, I bought my clothing for the year, but I was disappointed that alcohol and tobacco were not among the tax-free items. Whoever wrote this law must not know different high-schoolers than the ones I went to school with.

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We’re still paying higher prices brought on by the high tariffs that the Supreme Court later ruled illegal and ordered the feds refund the money. So far, Apple got a $2.2 billion tariff refund check. Amazon got $600 million. Walmart got $10 billion. So basically, they got to raise prices, then cash in. Be sure to tell them, “You’re welcome.”

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Court filings by Capital One say the bank closed accounts held by Donald Trump after the bank’s “Anti-Money Laundering Team” flagged his accounts for activity with characteristics of money laundering. If this is the first you’ve heard of that, shame on the news media. Maybe they responded to “laundering” with “white washing.”

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Grand Lake Bum Shout-Outs

OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Jeffrey McDougall, CC Lueszler, Carol Merciez, Margaret Erling, Jamie Perryman, Heather Cole, Jim Timberlake, Bill Wolfe, Hershel Lamirand, Candi Bullard, Matt Pinnell, Jason Blevins, Sandye Berga, Philip Milner, Cheryl Dalton, Lynda Fleming, Mariel McGeehee, Mike Hegeman, and Debi Saied.

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Best Grand Lake Events this Week

Thursday is the Grove Chamber Members Luncheon at NE Tech Bis in Grove (12:00 p.m.). Thursday night is “Thursday Trivia” at BOOM at The Regatta in Grove (6:30 p.m.). Friday is the awesome Mary Moore Charity Event & Golf Tournament at Shangri-La (8:00 a.m.). This week’s session of the “Shangri-La Practice Club,” an 8-week coaching series for golfers, is Friday at 4:00 p.m. Farmers Market is Saturday morning on Grove’s downtown square (8:00-1:00). Saturday is also a MarinaMax Customers’ “Cheeseburgers in Paradise Raft-Up at The Landings Marina (11am-3pm). Saturday evening, proud Grand Lakers are all invited to Miami Beach at Buffalo Run Casino (5:00-7:00 p.m.) for a big send-off party for Miss Oklahoma USA, Grand Laker Annamaria Thomas, as she prepares to compete in the national competition at Miss USA 2026. Next week, the Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association Four-Ball Partnership Tournament will be played Monday & Tuesday at Shangri-La.

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Randy Krehbiel’S Random Factoid of the Week

In the 1920s, a confectioner named Edwin Holloway tried to make a round milk chocolate with a caramel center, but they kept collapsing into disk-like globs Holloway called duds. Today, we call them Milk Duds.

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Fun Fact of the Week

Actor Peter Graves, known for leading roles in such hits as “Mission: Impossible” and “Airplane,” changed his last name early in his career so nobody would compare him to his older brother who was already a famous actor – James Arness, longstanding star as Matt Dillon in “Gunsmoke.”

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Odd Fact of the Week

During WWII, four brothers from the same Jewish family signed up to fight against the Nazis. Only one of the four brothers survived. His grandson is the current President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.

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Best Facebook Post of the Week

This is for couples who flaunt their love on Facebook, then suddenly go quiet when they break up. You need to tell us exactly what happened. We have invested a lot of time, likes, and comments in your pictures and posts. We need closure, too.

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Word Fun this Week

“Bookkeeper” is a word with the rare trait of three consecutive double letters. There’s one even stranger, though. “Subbookkeeper” has four consecutive pairs of double letters.

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Best Sign Seen this Week

Has anyone tried unplugging the United States, then plugging it back in?

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Best Bluesky Post of the Week

I just learned that Orcas are the only other mammals that experience menopause. Trashing some dude’s yacht makes a lot more sense now.

Pun of the Week

Someone ripped the 5 th month out of my calendar. I’m dismayed.

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Unanswered Question of the Week

Why do supermarkets make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get to the pharmacy for their prescriptions, while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front?

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Observation of the Week

Nobody sees the 5 a.m. runs. Nobody sees me choosing a salad over fries. Nobody sees me doing yoga in a peaceful sunlit room. Because I don’t do any of that.

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Quote of the Week

“This country will not be a permanently good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a reasonably good place for all of us to live in.” – Theodore Roosevelt

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Feel-Old Moments of the Week

OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Former President Barack Obama turned 65 last week. Martha Steward, the ageless writer, TV personality, and retail business woman, turned 85; and legendary actor Dustin Hoffman turned 89 years old over the weekend. Do you still watch reruns of “I Love Lucy”? Last week, fans celebrated her on what would have been her 115 th birthday. Who ever thought the country’s largest country music honky tonk would still be on a roll as a top attraction in Fort Worth after all these years? Happy 45 th anniversary to Billy Bob’s Texas.

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Best Weekend Live Entertainment

On Monkey Island, there’s karaoke with Crystal Ott Friday night at The Anchor at Shangri-La (8:00-11:00), and Rockwell will be on stage at Doc’s Bar & Grill (6:00-9:00). Saturday night, Whiskey Poet Society provides the music at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar (8:00-11:00) and Magen Faulconer will be live at The Anchor (8:00-11:00). Thursday night, COBE will be on stage at The Monkey Bar with his “by request” performance. There’s also karaoke with Sundown Entertainment at The Monkey Bar Friday night followed by live music from William Tedford Saturday night. Michael Thompson will entertain Thursday night at Big Shots. Terry Jordan will be at the keyboard both Friday & Saturday nights at The Summit at Shangri-La. Jimmy Lee & COBE will be at Whitecap at The Landings Marina Sunday afternoon (4:00). Magen Faulconer will entertain Monday night at South 125 Bar & Grill; and Lil’ Red & Sidepiece will be at Whitecap next Wednesday.

On South Grand Lake, Vince Turner kicks off midweek fun Wednesday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney. The Smith Brothers are featured Thursday night at Mooney’s, followed by Sierra Bravo Friday night, Wanda Watson Saturday night; and a special matinee performance by The Fitzgibbon Band Sunday (4:00). Lil’ Red & the Sidepiece will be on stage at Juan Montez Friday night (8:00) and at Blind Swine Saturday night (6:00). The Big Cheese Band entertains Friday night at Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina followed by The BakBeatz Band Saturday night and Robbi Bell Sunday afternoon . Lil’ Red & Sidepiece will be at Blind Swine next Tuesday with special guest Dakota Murillo (7:00).

In Grove, Stonehorse will entertain at Grand Lake Casino Friday night followed by The Zac White Band Saturday night. Swade Diablos will be on stage Friday night at Cherokee Casino and The Beaty Creek Band takes over Saturday night. Dustin Treiber will entertain Saturday night at Mulligan’s at Patricia Island Country Club.

Jon Dooly starts the weekend music Thursday night at Indigo Sky Casino followed by The Johnny Dale Roberts Band Friday and Mayday by Midnight Saturday . The Cliff Boone Band will be on stage at Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar Friday night followed by The Brandon Butler Band Saturday night. Netflix comedy star Dave Attell will be on stage at Downstream’s Pavilion Saturday night. The Blue Underground is the featured entertainment Saturday night at Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West.

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Dining & Drinking Update

Saturday evening, Rose Rock on Monkey Island is hosting a Forge “Sunset Taco Social” (5:00-9:00 p.m.). “The Dock” is new at Kahoots in Cleora and has an all-new menu. Rise-N-Dine Café in Ketchum has discontinued dinner service. The Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda is no longer open on Thursdays. Bobbers Café (north of Langley) will soon be opening a new location in Bernice (currently wrapping up construction work).

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Bum Must-See Tv

SEE TV: A new series, Lanterns, debuts Sunday at 8:00 on HBO. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia returns to FX at 8:00 p.m. next Monday.

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Bum Must-See Movies

SEE MOVIES: It’s a big week for movie releases. The End of Oak Street, The Wrong Girls, The Brink of War, The Rivals of Amziah King, and PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie all open in theaters Friday. The much-anticipated Don’t Say Good Luck premiers Friday on Netflix.

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Save the Date

Thursday, August 20 – Grove Chamber Business After Hours at Good Shepherd Hospice in Grove (5:00-6:30 p.m.). Saturday, August 22 – All Request/Line Dance Night at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar (8:00-11:00). Thursday, August 27 – Member-Member/Member-Guest Golf Tournament at Shangri-La. Thursday, August 27 – Grand Lake Newcomers Club “New Newcomers Luncheon” at Cherokee Casino Grove (11:30 a.m.). Thursday-Saturday, August 27-29 – Grove Pro Rodeo at Crosswired Cowboy Church Arena (6:00 p.m.). Saturday, August 29 – 2 Hip Chicks at Wolf Creek Expo (9-5). Saturday, August 29 – Square Dance aboard the Cherokee Queen (1:30 p.m.). Saturday, August 29 – Luau Party at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill (6:00 p.m.). Friday, September 4 – “Cabaret Around the World” at Playmakers in Grove (7:30 p.m.). Friday, September 11 – Food Truck Friday at Grove’s Downtown Square (5:00-9:00 p.m.) Saturday, September 12 – Grand Lake Fest Cruise, Cook & Cash with indoor car show at Wolf Creek Expo. Thursday, September 17 – Northeast Board of Realtors Charity Golf Tournament at The Coves (9:00 a.m. shotgun). Thursday-Saturday, September 17-19 – Born & Raised Music Festival at Rockin’ Red Dirt Ranch in Pryor. Thursday, September 24 – Grove Area Chamber Annual Fall Golf Tournament at Patricia Island Country Club (1:30 p.m. shotgun). Thursday-Friday, September 24-25 – Pioneer Days at Har-Ber Village

In the sports world, the NFL preseason is officially underway. Other than that, it’s all about golf, basketball, baseball, and both NASCAR and Indy Car racing this week.

No major networks are carrying NFL preseason games this week, but the NFL Network will televise six games Thursday-Saturday including the Rams at Kansas City Saturday at 3:00 followed by Dallas at Seattle at 7:00.

PGA Golfers are in Memphis this week for the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Coverage begins at 1:00 Thursday & Friday, noon Saturday & 11:00 a.m. Sunday on The Golf Channel. CBS picks up coverage of the final two rounds Saturday at 2:00 & Sunday at 1:00.

WNBA players have some great games this week. Dallas is at Indiana Friday night (6:30), Las Vegas hosts Minnesota Saturday night at 7:00. Indiana is at Atlanta Sunday afternoon at 4:00.

There are some fun Big 3 Basketball games in Dallas Saturday. CBS will air three back-to-back Celebrity Games beginning 11:00 Saturday morning with additional games at noon and 1:00.

Major League Baseball fans have some good ones on the schedule. Boston is at Pittsburgh Saturday evening (6:00). The Cubs host the Cardinals Sunday afternoon at 2:00 followed by Seattle at Houston Sunday evening at 6:00.

If that’s not enough baseball fun, check out the Savannah Bananas schedule. They face the Clowns Friday & Saturday nights (8:00 Friday, 7:00 Saturday).

NASCAR drivers are in Richmond this weekend for some Saturday night racing. Coverage of the Cook-Out 400 is Saturday at 6:00 on USA. Indy Car drivers are in Canada for the Grand Prix of Ontario Sunday morning at 11:00 on Fox.

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If you liked last weekend’s weather, you’ll like the forecast for the upcoming weekend, as well. We’ll have sunshine and high temperatures pushing 100 degrees and lows in the upper 70s. It’s August – the best time to enjoy all Grand Lake has to offer! Remember, though, wherever you party, be sure to buy a drink for the guy next to you. It could be me!

GRAND LAKE BUM

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Looking for places to go, things to do, services to use or property to buy in the Grand Lake area? Here’s a starter kit listing of “open to the public” fun places to spend time at Grand Lake.

Alpha Bar in Grove

Anchor Sports Bar & Activity Park at Shangri-La

Big Shots on Monkey Island (Open Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights)

Billy’s Burger Bar & More in Ketchum

Blind Swine on Duck Creek at Safe Harbor Harbors View Marina

Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor

BOOM at The Regatta (at Sailboat Bridge)

Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island

Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)

Casa Gutierrez in Grove

Cesar’s Place in Vinita

Checkered Past in Grove

Chickanellas on Monkey Island

Chicken Coop west of Langley

Chubby’s Grill at On Target in Grove

Clanton’s Café in Vinita

Copper Penny Bar in Ketchum

Cosby’s Catfish on Highway 28 in Eucha (East of Disney)

Cregan’s Confections & Ice Cream (Ketchum)

Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel

Domino’s in Grove

Downstream Casino in Quapaw (smoking)

Drake’s Restaurant in Grove

Drift at the Regatta (at Sailboat Bridge in Grove)

Drunken Rooster Bar & Grill (Cleora)

Drunken Rooster – on the Water (Grove)

E&H Liquor Store at Littlefield Corner, Monkey Island

Eagle’s Nest at Patricia Island Country Club

Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina

Fire Pit at Wildwood Cove Resort in Drowning Creek

Galley at The Anchor, Shangri-La Resort

Gambino’s Pizza in Ketchum

Goodfella’s Pizza (Cleora and Grove)

Grand Getaway Mercantile (north of Grove)

Grand Lake Casino, north of Grove on Highway 10 (smoking)

Grand Lake Coffee Company in Grove

Hero’s Deli in Grove

Hero’s Deli in Langley

High Winds Casino east of Miami (smoking)

Indigo Sky Casino west of Seneca, Mo. (smoking)

Island Bar & Grill at The Landings Marina

Juan Montez Restaurant & Cantina at Red Arrow Marina

La Casita de Martin in downtown Grove

Legacy Eatery in Grove

Los Garcia’s in Langley

Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Grove

Matt’s Place in Grove

Monkey Bar on Monkey Island

Monkey Island RV Resort

Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney

Monkey Grind at Shangri-La Resort Hotel

Monkey Island Trail Rides

Monkey Island Winery

Mosa Hibachi and Sushi in Grove

Mulligan’s at Patricia Island Golf Club in Grove

Nu Taste Restaurant in Grove

One-Eyed Monkey at Littlefield Corner, Monkey Island

Our House BBQ in Grove

Pappy’s Bar on Hwy 10 east of Grove

Pickles at the Lake in Langley

Pier 13 Liquor Store in Langley

Pistol Pat’s on Honey Creek in Grove

Pit Stop Café in Grove

Poppin’ on Grand in Grove

Quarterdeck Cafe at Tera Miranda Harbor

Raggedy’s in Grove

Rancho Viejo in Grove

Red’s BBQ in Ketchum

Rise-N-Dine, Ketchum

River Bend Casino in Wyandotte (smoking)

Road Hog Saloon at the entrance to Monkey Island

Roberts Bar & Restaurant in Langley

Royal Liquor Store in Grove

Scissortail Lounge at Scissortail Marina

Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina

South 125 Bar & Grill on Monkey Island

Sugar Shack at Lee’s Grand Lake Resort

Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La on Monkey Island

The Grill at Indian Hills Resort & Marina in Bernice

The Stables Casino in Miami (smoking)

The Shebang on Monkey Island (smoking on patio and Balcony Bar)

Ugly’s Grill & Bar, Thunder Bay Marina

VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina (smoking on deck)

Wolf Creek Diner in Grove