Redbuds, Dogwoods, and Bradford Pears are in full bloom, and all the other trees are pushing hard to catch up. Spring has sprung at Grand Lake. Is your boat dewinterized and serviced? Are your golf clubs clean? You’d better get ready!
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It looked like a few thousand Grand Lake visitors had a fabulous time at the offroad area near Disney last weekend. The Big Meat Run is one of the most popular events for off-roaders to get together, have a great time, and break everything they own! It was a great party, for sure. Those with gentler souls and slower taste dotted the lake in the Grand Lake Sailing Club’s Peanut Regatta. The younger lakers were all over the lake – riding camels at Carlos Montez’ in Langley, and hanging out at the Kids Camp at The Anchor enjoying lots of activities including a petting zoo while bigger kids filled the pickleball courts, basketball courts, & Wiffle ball field. For those who prefer indoor fun, the bars were full of March Madness fans; and Saturday night was another incredible show by the nationally acclaimed “Killer Keyz” dueling piano wizards at Shangri-La. There’s something for everyone every week at Grand Lake!
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The arrival of Spring also marks the arrival of new scams. I’ve been getting emails threatening me with serious penalties if I don’t get my EZ-Pass tolls paid. I don’t know what EZ-Pass might be (if such a thing even exists), but I traced the email to an IP address in the Philippines! CNBC reports a 900% increase in toll road text scams during the last three months. Scammers have used over 60,000 domain names. Some scams are closer to home, though. An enterprising emailer named Falisa Foster is sending emails, pretending to be a “Business Executive” offering the Grove Chamber membership list for sale. If I was going to initiate a scam hoping to raise big bucks, I think I’d shoot for a target audience a little bigger than potential buyers of the Grove Chamber of Commerce Membership list!
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I’m sure nobody meant to let U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin’s newsletter go out like it did. It was probably a proofreading oversight but, on the other hand, it might have just been a frustrated Freudian slip. At any rate, here’s the exact quote from his most recent newsletter: “If you need anything, do not threaten to get in touch with my state and D.C. offices.” Maybe it wasn’t a slip-up. Maybe he just doesn’t want to be threatened!
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We’ve gone too far in the anti-DEI movement. WAY too far. First off, the Department of Defense has removed the page from their website honoring the legendary Native American Code Talkers that contributed significantly to our country winning both the first and second World Wars. There are lots of other examples (including removing legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson from the list of war heroes along with lots of other African Americans) – but the ultimate came at a school in Idaho where a teacher was ordered to remove a sign that had been in her classroom for three years. Here’s what it said: “Everyone is Welcome Here.” I guess the administration disagreed. The frustrated teacher summed it up: “There’s only one alternative message – ‘everyone is NOT welcome here!’”
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Todd Kerr, Greg Brasel, Jeff Williams, Kristin McCorkle, Jerry Barnes, Mandy Cousins, Brice Long, Kathi Sikorski, Amanda Pelcher, Mikayla Callison, Bill Lopeman, Jamie Tate, Anna Pickens, Magen Faulconer, Becky Sconyers, and Diana Stephens-Webre.
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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. Saturday is the awesome Annual GEFFE Gala at Shangri-La Resort (5:30). Saturday night is also “Free Movie Night” in the simulator bay at The Anchor – Captain America: Civil War (6:00).
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Title 43 of the Oklahoma Statutes is “Marriage.” Title 43a is “Mental Health.”
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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Actor & comedian Chevy Chase is also a musician. He was the drummer in a college band with Donald Fagen and Walter Becker called “The Leather Canary.” After Chase left the band, they changed the name to “Steely Dan.”
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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: Sometimes things aren’t always what they appear to be. Foxnews.com selected a photograph of a married couple to promote “traditional marriage.” Oops. The photo was actually of a same sex couple – Lila McArthur and Stephanie Figarelle from Anchorage, Alaska.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: If anyone has any experience with anything or knows anything about something, please let me know.
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PALINDROME OF THE WEEK: “Ma is as selfless as I am” spelled backwards is still “Ma is as selfless as I am.”
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: WARNING: Childhood vaccines cause adulthood.
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BEST BLUESKY POST OF THE WEEK: If someone offers you a “piece of their mind,” just politely decline and insist you can’t take their last piece.
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PUN OF THE WEEK: My cell phone accidentally took a 10-minute video of my shoes yesterday. It was some pretty good footage.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: I swear I saw a guy the other day that had no chin and all I could think about was, how does he put on pillow cases?
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Don’t worry about getting older. You’re still gonna do dumb stuff…only slower.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “My coach said I run like a girl, and I said if he ran a little faster, he could, too!” – Mia Hamm
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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Two-time World Heavyweight Champion and Olympic Gold Medal winning boxer George Foreman died last week. He was 76. Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid turned 67 last week. Iconic actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have been married for 35 years.
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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island Scott Musick performs live Friday night at The Anchor at Shangri-La. DJ Kennedy leads Rockstar Karaoke Friday night at The Monkey Bar.
On South Grand Lake, Lil’ Red and Sidepiece will be at the Copper Penny in Ketchum Thursday night. Clint & Frank will be on stage Saturday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill. Downbeat will perform Saturday night at The Drunken Rooster.
In Grove, Magic J Featuring DJ Joe starts the weekend musical fun at Cherokee Casino Friday night with Tragikly White taking over Saturday night. Bobby D performs Friday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655 and TJ Scarlett takes 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.
Tre Twitt and Tayla Lynn bring back the music of their legendary grandparents Conway Twitty and Lorretta Lynn in a sensational “Salute to Conway and Lorretta” show Thursday night at the Coleman Theatre Beautiful in Miami. Wilkie J and Tony T will entertain at Indigo Sky Casino Thursday night, followed by Downbeat Friday and the Sweet Trouble Band Saturday. The Blue Underground will perform Saturday night at Buffalo Run Casino’s Backwoods Bar and Hunter Hayes will perform Saturday night at Buffalo Run’s Peoria Showplace. The Beer & Chicken Band will be on stage Saturday night at Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West.
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DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: 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 now open. After being closed for renovations, Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La’s Resort Hotel will reopen Tuesday, April 1. Blind Swine on Duck Creek will open for the season at Harbors View Marina Friday, April 4. 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: The Conners debuts Wednesday night at 7:00 on ABC. An Oprah Winfrey Special: The Menopause Revolution will air Monday night at 9:00 on ABC. The Voice airs Monday night at 7:00 on NBC. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip will be available Friday on Disney+.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The Woman in the Yard and A Working Man both open in movie theaters this weekend.
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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, April 4 – First Friday Wine Share at Quail Ridge Golf Course in Grove (6:00 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.). 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.). 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). Thursday, May 22 – 3rd Annual Modoc Nation Golf Scramble at Shangri-La (9:00 a.m.).
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College Basketball is at the forefront of the sports scene this week as the NCAA Tournament field narrows to the Sweet 16 in both men’s and women’s competition beginning Thursday.
There’s plenty of NBA action this week, too, as the regular season winds down. After wrapping up a tiring road trip out west in Sacramento Tuesday night (9:00), the OKC Thunder return home to host Memphis Thursday night (7:00), Indiana Saturday (7:00), Chicago Monday (7:00), and Detroit next Wednesday (8:30).
PGA golfers are in Houston this week for the Texas Children’s Houston 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.
NASCAR drivers are in Martinsville for the Cookout 400. Coverage begins Sunday afternoon at 2:00 on FS1.
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It is Spring, after all, so we can expect a periodic shower or two, but otherwise the weather looks great for the weekend ahead – highs in the mid-70s with lows in the upper 50s until a 10-degree drop on Sunday. More seasonal fun spots are opening every week, so get out and enjoy all the things Grand Lake has to offer. 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
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
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
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