March 31 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum
I have never seen an area that continually shows as much generosity as the people who call the Grand Lake area home. Last week, the youngsters from Grove High School announced that their C.O.W. week festivities had raised more than $129,000 for area charities. That was followed by news that the Cherokee Nation donated $7.6 million to more than 100 school districts including $528,000 to schools in Delaware County alone – more than $130,000 to Grove schools. And the giving keeps on coming. Saturday night’s GEFFE Gala raised tens of thousands more to bolster the Grove Education Foundation for Excellence support of important programs and teachers in the district. The South Grand Lake Foundation just raised thousands for the Ketchum Backpack Program. The Cinco de Poker Derby comes up May 3 benefiting the Toby Keith Foundation’s Kids Korral and the Monkey Island Trail; and Shangri-La just scheduled a May 9-11 “Back to the Boats Festival” benefiting the 2nd Chance Pet Rescue and the Delaware County Chidren’s Special Advocacy Network. I am continually amazed and incredibly proud of the men, women, civic organizations, and even high school students who continue to open their checkbooks and hearts to those who need some extra support.
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And you thought YOUR day at work was bad! A United Airlines flight left Los Angeles last week bound for Shanghai, China. Two hours into the flight, the pilot realized he had forgotten his passport. The flight had to turn around, fly to San Francisco and, by that time, the crew had timed out. Another flight crew had to take the flight to Shanghai.
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Sports betting Oklahoma? Maybe. The House of Representatives last week passed two bills designed to bring Oklahoma into the 21st century of gaming. Representative Ken Luttrell (R-Ponca City) has been working on this for a while…but he finally got two bills passed. One bill (HB 1047) would legalize sports betting November 1, 2025. In case the Senate gets weak-kneed and doesn’t have the courage to legalize the biggest revenue producer of all gaming, the House also passed HB 1107 which would submit the sports betting legalization question to the voters. This is something Oklahoma should have done long ago. Sports betting is legal in 39 states and the District of Columbia. People are already betting on the outcome of games (duh!), but the state isn’t collecting any revenue because we pretend it doesn’t happen. BTW, do you have your bets placed on the NCAA Final Four games, yet?
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The Oklahoma House of Representative struck a blow for tourism last week by defeating proposed legislation that would have put Oklahoma on permanent Standard Time, eliminating our cherished Daylight Saving Time. Kudos to Representatives Josh West and Steve Bashore who played huge roles in engineering the defeat.
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It’s a good thing teenagers don’t pay any attention to politics or government. Otherwise, there would probably be a revolt over legislation passed in the House of Representatives last week. HB 1275 prohibits anyone under the age of 16 from having a social media account – and kids 16 and 17 would have to have parental consent. It sounds ominous, but kids have been lying about their age ever since I was a kid, so…we’ll see how that goes. The bill still has to be approved by the Senate before it becomes law.
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I don’t know if it’s an overabundance of spying or an overload of paranoia, but there will be no Spring Football Game at OU. They’re replacing the game with the “Crimson Combine” featuring drills and skills challenges by the players.
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Erin Gayer, Meagan Stewart, Kacey Threet, Mike Kelly, Sam Walker, Stephanie Eppler, Tod Sanger, Leta Reed, Staci Burns, Brian Edwards, Ginger Richey, Sonya Fitzgibbon, Cindy Hefner, Don Mulvane, Steve Oden, and Donnie Smith.
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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: Thursday is “Trivia Night” at both BOOM at The Regatta and Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill. Friday is First Friday Wine Share at Quail Ridge Golf Course in Grove (6:00 p.m.). Friday & Saturday are dates of the annual Grove Merchants Spring Open House. The Anchor at Shangri-La features the NCAA Women’s Final 4 games Friday night at 6:00 and 8:30. Saturday is the Classic Auto Auction at Buffalo Run Casino’s Peoria Showplace (10:00 a.m.). Saturday is also “NCAA Final Four Watch Party Night” at The Anchor at Shangri-La (games at 5:00 and 8:00). Saturday is always “Free Movie Night” in the simulator bay at The Anchor. This week’s movie – A League of Their Own (6:00). Sunday afternoon, The Anchor hosts a watch party for the Women’s NCAA National Championship Game at 2:00; and next Monday night, they will host a watch party for the NCAA Men’s National Championship Game at 7:30.
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Actor Raymond Burr is best remembered for the TV series “Perry Mason”; but his second series, “Ironside” is more notable as a cultural artifact. It was the first series with a disabled lead character and one of the first with a featured character who was a female police officer doing actual police work.
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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Every single member of The Traveling Wilburys has been inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame – George Harrison, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, and Jeff Lynne.
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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: Ian Fleming’s original James Bond novels haven’t aged well. For example, “Moonraker,” published 70 years ago, features a villain who is a super-rich industrialist and rocket-maker seeking to cause chaos because he’s a secret Nazi. Such a silly idea.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Moms forcing kids to take pictures like: “Sit your butt down! Smile! Don’t pick your nose! If you don’t behave, no ice cream!” – and then later post captions with the photos like, “The reason I breathe.”
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PALINDROME OF THE WEEK: “Step on no pets” spelled backwards is still “Step on no pets.”
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: It is better to be someone’s shot of tequila than to be everyone’s cup of tea.
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BEST BLUESKY POST OF THE WEEK: Be grateful that no matter how much chocolate you eat, your earrings will still fit.
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PUN OF THE WEEK: In Athens, no one wakes before noon. Dawn is tough on Greece.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Was there a “Bigfoot” couple on Noah’s ark?
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: You know you’re old when you don’t recognize the host or the musical guest on Saturday Night Live.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK “I don’t think we should be paid the same as NBA players. They get more views. But I do think WNBA players should be paid more than LIV golfers. Nobody watches them.” – Caitlin Clark
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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Ageless Oklahoma superstar Reba McEntire actually does have an age. She turned 70 over the past weekend. Superstar singer, composer & pianist Sir Elton John turned 78 years old last week; and journalist and feminist activist Gloria Steinem turned 91. Rock n’ Roll guitar wizard Eric Clapton turned 80 years old Sunday.
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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island Ryan Graham performs live Friday night at The Anchor at Shangri-La. Lil’ Red & COBE will entertain Friday night at The Roadhog Saloon. DJ Kennedy leads Rockstar Karaoke Friday night at The Monkey Bar.
On South Grand Lake, The Bison Duo will be on stage Friday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill followed by Clint & Frank Saturday night. Glam R Us will perform Saturday night at The Drunken Rooster.
In Grove, Rusty Meyers starts the weekend musical fun at Cherokee Casino Friday night with D’ Elegantz taking over Saturday night. There’s karaoke every Wednesday night and DJ Laidback Larry will provide the musical entertainment Saturday night at R-Bar Dance Hall & Saloon.
Brett n’ Terri will entertain at Indigo Sky Casino Thursday night, followed by Sunset Circle Friday and MoArk Mojo Saturday. Country star Gretchen Wilson will be live Friday night at Downstream Casino’s Pavilion. Jeff Tatum & the Palomino Moon Band will be on stage Saturday night at Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West.
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DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: Following renovations, Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La will reopen Tuesday, April 8 featuring a new quick service American Hand-Held Classic format. Speedy’s Chophouse in Grove begins weekly Thursday Night Crab & Shrimp Boil Specials this week. Blind Swine on Duck Creek opens at Harbors View Marina this week and will feature weekly all-you-can-eat crab & shrimp specials every Friday night. Blind Swine on Monkey Island will apparently not re-open – but look for a new bar & restaurant to open at that location around May 1. More info later – let’s just say it’s gonna be “Happy Hour.” One Eyed Monkey at Copper Top Plaza at the entrance to Monkey Island, Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda, and VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina are all now open. The bar at The Shebang restaurant remains closed, but Big Shots is providing bar service Monday-Thursday from 4:00-10:00 p.m.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Matlock returns this week – Thursday night at 8:00 on CBS. Jon Bon Jovi will be the featured guest on Sunday Today with Willie Geist Sunday morning at 7:00 on NBC. An Evening with Elton John and Brandi Carlile airs Sunday night at 7:00 on CBS. The Voice airs Monday night at 7:00 on NBC.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Someone Like You, Monkey Man and The First Omen open in movie theaters this weekend. Wish is available on Disney+.
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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, April 10 – Job Fair at Shangri-La Resort Hotel (11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.). Thursday, April 10 – Wine Dinner at the Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La (6:00-9:00 p.m.). Saturday, April 12 – Que’n at the Lake Rib Cookoff competition at the Ketchum baseball field. Saturday, April 12 – Vinita Aviators Airplane Rides, Sky Divers, and Easter Egg Drop at the Vinita Airport (8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.). Tuesday, April 15 – Grove Chamber Business After Hours at Honey Creek BBQ (5:00-6:30 p.m.). Saturday, April 19 – Langley Easter Egg Hunt (11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m). Sunday, April 20 – Easter Brunch at The Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La (11:00-5:00). Sunday, April 20 – Easter Egg Hunt at The Anchor at Shangri-La (12:00 p.m.). Friday, May 2 – Creative Alliance Arts Festival & Food Truck Friday on the Grove Community Center Lawn (5:00-8:00 p.m.). Saturday, May 3 – Cinco de Poker Derby golf cart poker run on Monkey Island benefiting the Toby Keith Foundation’s Kids Korral and the Monkey Island Trail (11:00 a.m.). Saturday, May 3 – Nichols Marine/Shangri-La Marina Customer Appreciation Luau at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar (5:00-8:00 p.m.). Saturday-Sunday, May 3-4 – In-water Boat Show at Shangri-La Marina (10:00-5:00 Saturday, 10:00-4:00 Sunday). Saturday, May 17 – Art in the Garden at Lendonwood Gardens in Grove (9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.). Thursday, May 22 – 3rd Annual Modoc Nation Golf Scramble at Shangri-La (9:00 a.m.).
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College Basketball is coming to a close this week as the NCAA Tournament field narrows to the Final Four in both the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournament. Final 4 games for the ladies will be Friday at 6:00 and 8:30 p.m. with the winners facing off in the Championship Game Sunday afternoon at 2:00. The men’s Final Four games are set for Saturday at 5:00 and 8:00 with the winners meeting Monday night at 7:30 for the Championship.
There’s plenty of NBA action this week, too, as the regular season winds down. After hosting Chicago Monday (7:00) and Detroit Wednesday (8:30), the OKC Thunder make a quick trip to Houston to face the Rockets Friday night (7:00) before returning home to host a pair of games against the Lakers (Sunday at 2:30 and Tuesday at 7:00), then traveling to Phoenix to face the Suns the very next night – Wednesday at 9:00.
PGA golfers are in San Antonio this week for the Valero Texas Open. Coverage begins at 3:00 Thursday & Friday and noon Saturday & Sunday on the Golf Channel. NBC picks up the final two rounds at 2:30 Saturday and 1:30 Sunday. Next week – The Masters!
NASCAR drivers are in South Carolina this weekend for the Goodyear 400 at Darlington. Coverage begins Sunday afternoon at 2:00 on FS1.
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It may be a little damp for part of the weekend ahead, but temperatures will be pretty nice. We’ll have highs in the mid-60s with low temperatures around 50. Don’t worry about the rain. It won’t last long, and there are plenty of opportunities for indoor fun and entertainment. Remember, though, wherever you decide to 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.
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
Blind Swine on Monkey Island
Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor
BOOM in Grove (at The Regatta)
Bradford BBQ in Ketchum
Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island
Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)
Casa Gutierrez in Grove
Cesar’s Place in Vinita
Cesar’s Place in Langley
Checkered Past in Grove
Chickanella’s 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)
Cove Club in Langley
Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel
Domino’s in Grove
Downstream Casino in Quapaw (smoking)
Drake’s Restaurant in Grove
Drunken Rooster Bar & Grill
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)
Honey Creek BBQ in Grove (south of Honey Creek bridge)
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 Garcias 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
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
Regatta Restaurant & Bar at Sailboat Bridge, Grove
Riggs & Company in Langley
Rise-N-Dine, Ketchum
River Bend Casino in Wyandotte (smoking)
Road Hog Saloon at the entrance to Monkey Island
Royal Liquor Store in Grove
Scissortail Lounge at Scissortail Marina
Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina
Speedy’s Chophouse in Grove
Stuffn’s Restaurant in Ketchum (Smoking on patio)
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
