March 23 Observations from the Grand Lake Bum

Mother Nature smiled on Grand Lake for the vast majority of Spring Break week! The number of boaters enjoying mid-summer temperatures and sunshine over the past weekend was incredible. I’m pretty sure every available rental boat was on the water! We’re not finished with chilly temperatures, I’m sure, but the final weekend of Spring Break was exclusively for shorts, T-shirts and bikinis at Oklahoma’s favorite lake!

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People who like to watch really strange weather are always at home in Oklahoma. Last week was the very best example in recent history. Monday’s wind chill was 6 degrees. By Saturday, we were in the low 90s. Mangum, in southwest Oklahoma, set a new record for the earliest recorded 100-degree day in state history. By this weekend, we’ll be almost 40-degrees below that mark.

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We’re moving into storm season in Oklahoma – and a lot of people still don’t know the difference between a Tornado Watch and a Tornado Warning. Remember: a Tornado Watch is your mom saying your name. A Tornado Warning is your mom saying your first, middle, AND last name!

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Even if you’re a Division II basketball coach, you may be able to find a way to make significant money. Tuskegee men’s basketball coach Benjy Taylor insisted that Morehouse College campus cops remove members of the college’s football team from the sidelines because they were intimidating players and threatening harm. The campus police didn’t do anything…so the coach insisted more stringently – so much so he was handcuffed by the campus cops. Morehouse was fined by the SIAC, but that wasn’t enough for Coach Taylor. He says he “suffered significant damage” including “stress, elevated blood pressure, hair loss and reputational harm.” He filed a lawsuit seeking $1 million. Shoot, I have high blood pressure and lost my hair, too. Now all I need is someone to sue for it.

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The “No Pay During Shutdowns Act” which provides ZERO pay for members of Congress during a government shutdown was approved by a House Committee last week. Don’t hold your breath, though. I wouldn’t expect it to go much further. It’s good window dressing for the committee members; but when push comes to shove, counting on someone to cast a critical vote to cut their own pay probably shouldn’t be on your Bingo card.

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While everyone fights over the SAVE America Act and what it does or does not do, you should know that Oklahoma’s Real ID won’t allow you to register to vote (it doesn’t prove citizenship). As to the necessity of this legislation….the average person is more likely to be struck by lightning than they are to commit voter fraud. Seriously. That’s a real stat.

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President Trump says he spoke with a former U.S. President who he said privately wishes he did what Trump is doing to Iran. However, every former living U.S. President has said he never has spoke with Trump about Iran. All except one. Remember, Trump was president once before. Is he talking to himself again?

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Matt Moyer, Spencer Londagin, Carla Howard, Todd Kerr, Greg Brasel, Jeff Williams, Jerry Barnes, Kyle Stephens, Brice Long, Mandy Long, Lance Funderburk, Amanda Pelcher, Kathi Sikorski, Justin Buerge, Amanda Lancaster, Jamie Tate, David Patrick, Anna Pickens, Magen Faulconer, and Becky Sconyers.  

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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: There is no shortage of big events on Grand Lake this week to wrap up the month. Wednesday night is Trivia Night at R-Bar Dance Hall & Saloon in Grove (8:00 p.m.). Thursday is a Grove Chamber Business After Hours at Design in a Kilt in Grove (5:00-6:30 p.m.). Thursday night is “Thursday Trivia” at BOOM at The Regatta in Grove (6:30 p.m.). Friday & Saturday is the Grove Merchants Spring Open House. Saturday is a Sock Burning Party at Ugly’s at Thunder Bay Marina (7:00 p.m.). Saturday night is the annual GEFFE Gala at Shangri-La Resort (5:30 p.m.) and a “Midnight on Grand Masquerade Prom” at South 125 Bar & Grill (7:00 p.m.). Next Tuesday, Cherokee Nation District 10 Councilor Melvina Shotpouch hosts a Community Meeting at the Grove Community Center (6:00-8:00 p.m.).

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Bluejacket, Okla., is named for its first postmaster, Charles Blue Jacket, a grandson of the famed Shawnee leader Blue Jacket. Blue Jacket and Little Turtle's 1791 rout of American forces in what is now western Ohio was a decisive point in the creation of a professional standing U.S. army. Until then, the plan was to depend on state militias and short-term volunteers.

So, Bluejacket, Okla., has a connection to the founding of the U.S. Armed Forces.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Seventy-three years ago, the U.S. first learned of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin’s death when a 21-year-old Air Force Staff Sergeant intercepted a coded message from Russia. That young sergeant was future country music legend Johnny Cash.

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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: Remember the Beverly Hillbillies? Undoubtedly so, but you may not know actress Nancy Kulp (Miss Jane Hathaway) left acting and briefly pursued a political career running for Congress from Pennsylvania. Ironically, fellow actor Buddy Ebsen (who portrayed Jed Clampett) recorded radio advertisements endorsing her opponent who won the election handily.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: I love scam phone calls. I pretend I’m an old Scottish woman desperate to pay them. My record is an hour. I pretended to go to the toilet 4 times during that one; and spent half an hour reading out my card details incorrectly. Great fun!

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WORD FUN THIS WEEK: Hippopotomonstrosequippedaliophobia is defined as “the fear of long words.”

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: March 17th is over. Please resume your normal nationality. See you all on May 5th when we’re all Mexican.

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BEST BLUESKY POST OF THE WEEK: Really pleased to get a full tank of gas for $60.00 today. Granted, it was for the lawnmower, but I’m trying to keep positive.

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PUN OF THE WEEK: I used to date a girl with a lazy eye…but it turns out she was seeing someone else the whole time!

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What were electric eels called before the discovery of electricity?

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Today I learned that the average person spends a hundred dollars a year on alcohol. Today I also learned that I am finally way above average in something.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Surprise! The Jeff Bezos-owned Washington Post is against my 5% billionaire wealth tax. I wonder why? If enacted, Bezos would owe $12 million in taxes, and an average family of 4 would receive a $12,000 direct payment. Poor Jeff would be left with just $224 billion to survive.” – U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid turned 68 last week. End of an era – Oklahoma-born legendary actor, martial artist, and cultural icon Chuck Norris died last week. He was 86 years old.

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, The Monkey Bar features lots of live entertainment. Wednesday is karaoke night with Sundown Entertainment followed by live music with Erin Fitzgibbon Thursday, and more karaoke with Sundown Entertainment Friday night. Lil’ Red & Sidepiece entertain at the “Adult Prom” Saturday night at South 125 Bar & Grill.

On South Grand Lake, Lil’ Red & Sidepiece will be on stage Friday night at Scissortail Marina. Wilkie Jay will entertain at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney Friday night followed by Dillon Leggett Saturday. Casey West will provide the musical entertainment Friday night at Pickles at The Lake in Langley.

In Grove, RocKFiscH will be on stage Friday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655. The Downbeat Duo entertains Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove’s 1897 Bar followed by Swade Diablos Saturday night.

Michelle Warren kicks off the weekend early with a Thursday night performance at Indigo Sky Casino. Sunset Circle takes over Friday night, and Oreo Blue wraps up the weekend music Saturday. The Lost Dogs start the music Thursday night at Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar, followed by Uncrowned Kings Friday and Encore Saturday night. The Bakbeatz will entertain at Buffalo Run Casino’s Backwoods Bar Saturday night; and Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West will feature Western Justice Saturday night.

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DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina, BOOM at The Regatta, The Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda, and Big Shots Rhythm & Booze on Monkey Island are now open for the season. Also, watch for Los Garcias, a new Mexican Restaurant opening soon in the Ketchum Eats Food Park, and Whitecap Dining Dock & Cocktails coming to The Landings Marina. The former Artichoke in Langley will reopen under new ownership in mid-April as The Farm House.

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The 2026 iHeart Radio Music Awards air Thursday night at 7:00 on Fox. Marshals airs Sunday night at 7:00 on CBS followed by Tracker and Watson. The Voice airs Monday night at 8:00 on NBC.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: They Will Kill You, Forbidden Fruits, She Dances, Holey Days, Marc by Sophia, and The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist all debut in movie theaters this week.

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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, April 3 – Food Truck Friday and “Cruisin’ Grove” Cruise Night in Grove. Saturday, April 4 – C.O.W. Week Golf Tournament at The Coves (1:00 p.m.). Tuesday, April 7 – Grand Lake & Grove Day at the Capitol (9:00 a.m.). Wednesday, April 8 – First Responders Appreciation Dinner at The Battlefield at Shangri-La (5:00-7:00 p.m.). Thursday-Sunday, April 16-19 – A Walk Through Time (Civil War Days) at Har-Ber Village (9:30 a.m.). Thursday-Sunday, April 16-19 – K.I.S.S. Camp Scrapbooking Event at Wolf Creek Expo Center (9:00 a.m.).

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In the world of sports, the OKC Thunder wrap up a brutal 9-day road trip in Philadelphia Monday and Boston Wednesday. They return home this week, but the battles don’t get any easier. They host Chicago Friday (7:00), New York Sunday (6:30), and Detroit Monday (8:30).

In the college basketball world, March Madness is getting narrowed down quickly. For the guys, Sweet 16 games are Thursday & Friday with Elite 8 games Saturday & Sunday. For the ladies, Sweet 16 games are Friday & Saturday with Elite 8 competition Sunday & Monday.

PGA players are in Houston this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open. Coverage is on the Golf Channel beginning at 2 Thursday & Friday and noon Saturday & Sunday. NBC picks up coverage of the final two rounds at 2:00 Saturday & Sunday.

NASCAR fans are in Martinsville this week. Coverage of the Cook Out begins Sunday afternoon at 2:30 on FS1.

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Welcome to Oklahoma. After high temperatures around 90 degrees Thursday, we’ll drop by 30 degrees for the weekend with Friday & Saturday highs around 60 and lows in the mid-40s. Sunday temperatures will jump by about 15 degrees and we’ll be back in the 80s by Monday. It’s a pretty darn nice way to wrap up the month, so get out and have some fun. But remember, wherever you party, be sure to buy a drink for the guy next to you. It could be me!

GRAND LAKE BUM

If you would like to join the growing list of sponsors of The Grand Lake Bum e-blast and the Bum’s page on both  Grand Lake Living and www.360grandlake.com, the cost is only$50 a week and the list of readers continues to grow.  E-mail grandlakebum@gmail.com to sign up. The Grand Lake Bum column is also published in The Grand Laker newspaper.

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.

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 Gro

Cesar’s Place in Vinita

Cesar’s Place in Langley

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

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

Keagan’s Coffee at Littlefield Corner

La Casita de Martin in downtown Grove

Legacy Eatery in Grove

Lighthouse Supper Club in Ketchum

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 Cleora

Quarterdeck Cafe at Tera Miranda Harbor

R Bar Dance Hall & Saloon in Grove

Raggedy’s in Grove

Rancho Viejo in Grove

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

Speedy’s Chophouse in Grove

Sugar Shack at Lee’s Grand Lake Resort

Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La on Monkey Island

The Artichoke Restaurant in Langley

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