
July 21, 2025
Grand Lake shined again last weekend as Shangri-La Resort, the Grove Area Chamber of Commerce, Representative Josh West, and the Grand River Dam Authority hosted legislators from all across the state at the annual Oklahoma Legislative Grand Lake Getaway – a dinner, a golf tournament, fishing expeditions, parasailing, lunch, reception, Lawn-a-Thon fun for the kids, time at the pool, and great musical entertainment by Fat Cat. We did ourselves proud. I hope lawmakers remember all Grand Lake has to offer when they consider legislation impacting our tourism industry.

There have been some big events at concerts, but possibly none with more social media attention than the CEO of Astronomer and his company’s HR Director caught live on the “Kiss-Cam” at a Coldplay concert last week – with each other, not their respective spouses. Oops! Coldplay hasn’t had a new single in years…but I’ll be there were two new singles right after the concert!

If you’ve been seeing the social media onslaught of promotion about the August 2 Solor Eclipse when the world will go dark for 6 minutes, be sure to read the fine print. It’s not next week. It’s August 2, 2027.

If you’re having trouble keeping up with the official White House position on the Jeffrey Epstein files, here’s a short synopsis of the conflicting explanations all issued this week: 1) the files will be released soon; 2) the client list won’t be released; 3) there is no client list; 4) Obama & Clinton prepared the file (so you know, Trump was President when Epstein eith committed suicide or didn’t); 5) there is no file; 6) the Department of Justice should release the file. Gee, I don’t know why the White House is losing credibility on the issue. They probably should just pick one of those positions and stick with it.
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The other weirdness of the week was President Trump’s claim that his uncle, a professor at MIT, had the infamous Unabomber as a student and had lengthy discussions about the actions of the Unabomber. Oddly enough, although Trump did have an uncle who taught at MIT, he died more than a decade before the arrest of the Unabomber (who, incidentally, did not attend MIT – he went to college at Harvard). Good story, though!
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Randy Sullivan, Peggy Kiefer-Steed, Heather Lillard, Emily York, Katie Merrill, Susie Kraft, Tim Carson, Dick Lillard, Darlene Flegler, Jeff Moll, Dave McCrorey, Steve Grothjan, Brandon Sharpe, Lee Lawson, Yana Livesay, Mims Talton III, Jim Conner, Terri Ogle, Kim Burke, Justin Barrett, Jeff Martin, Brad Busch, and Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department Director Sterling Zearley.
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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: There’s more great live theater this week. Thursday & Friday July 24-25 (7:30 p.m.) and Sunday, July 27 (2:00 p.m.) – “Savannah Sipping Society.” Friday is a Grove Ridgerunner Golf Scramble at Quail Ridge benefiting GHS Baseball (8:00 and 1:00 tee times). Friday is also the Miami Route 66 Heritage Fest on Main Street Miami (9:00 a.m.). Saturday morning is Farmers Market on the Downtown Square in Grove; and the Cigarette 2025 Freedom Run from Hi-Lift Marina (11:00 a.m.). Sunday morning is the Battlefield Club Championship Tournament at The Battlefield at Shangri-La (8:00 a.m.). Registration for NFL Flag Football (ages 4-6 and 7-9) opens Monday at Grand Lake Family YMCA.
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Probably best remembered today for starring and singing the titular theme song in 1960’s “Where the Boys Are” — the movie that invented spring break — Connie Francis recorded and performed in 15 languages, including Romanian, making her one of the music industry’s first true international stars.
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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Busch Beer was created to spite Major League Baseball. St. Louis Cardinals owner August Busch, Jr. was told by Major League Baseball that he couldn’t name their ballpark Budweiser Stadium. He got approval to name it after his family, and then subsequently ordered his brewers to create the new “Busch Beer.”
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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: The Statue of Liberty’s first toe is longer than her big toe, a feature known as “Greek Feet.” This was a mark of beauty in many classical statues of Ancient Greece and connects the statue to the “origin” of democracy.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose fitting clothing. If I HAD any loose fitting clothing, I wouldn’t have signed up to begin with.
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WORD FUN OF THE WEEK: The definition of “sanction” is “giving permission to do something.” The definition of “sanction” is also “penalty for doing something.”
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Free Live Music. No Kiss-Cams. HR Approved.
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BEST BLUESKY POST OF THE WEEK: If you want to make the wrong decision, ask everyone.
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PUN OF THE WEEK: I asked the farmer for 12 asparagus, but he gave me 13. The extra was a spare, I guess.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If 40 is the new 30, and 50 is the new 40, why can’t Thursday be the new Friday?
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: My nephew just asked me if Bingo is the name of the farmer or the dog. Now I’m questioning everything I thought I knew about life.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Gonna toot my own horn here because I made it through another day without turning any of my feelings into felonies.” – Dy Michelle
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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Doc Severinsen, the flashy-dressing leader of the NBC Orchestra during Johnny Carson’s era on The Tonight Show, turned 98 years old this month. Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger turns 82 this week. This week is the anniversary of the first landing on the moon by an earthling – 56 years ago!
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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, Sundown Entertainment hosts Thursday night karaoke at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La (6:00-9:00 p.m.) and Jesse Joice performs live Friday night at Doc’s. Whiskey Poet Society will provide the music Saturday night at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar. There’s music Bingo with Sundown Entertainment Wednesday night at The Monkey Bar, Rockstar Karaoke with DJ Kennedy Friday night, live music from Erin Fitzgibbon Saturday night, and an Open Jam with Becky Sparkman Sunday afternoon from 3:00-7:00. Southern Accents provide the live musical entertainment at Big Shots Saturday night for “Country Night.” The Faulconers will entertain Saturday night at South 125 Bar & Grill.
In Grove, The Brothers Moore will provide the music Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove’s 1897 Bar followed by Reversing Radio Saturday night. Uncrowned Kings entertain Friday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655 followed by Blues Doctors Saturday night. Morgan Entertainment leads the karaoke fun at Boom at The Regatta Friday night and hosts Singo competition Tuesday. There’s musical Bingo every Wednesday night at R-Bar Dance Hall & Saloon, followed by live music from Just Sayin’ Friday night; and DJ Laidback Larry will provide the musical entertainment Saturday night at R-Bar.
On South Grand Lake, The Paul Roper Band will kick off the weekend Friday night at Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina at a big “disco costume party” followed by Reverse Reaction Saturday night and Scott Bartholomew Sunday afternoon. Jake Brake starts the weekend music Thursday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney followed by The Hydromatics Friday night, Wanda Watson Saturday night, and Ryan Graham Sunday afternoon (4:00). Thursday night, there’s karaoke with Morgan Entertainment at Blind Swine Duck Creek. Downbeat will provide the musical entertainment Saturday night at The Drunken Rooster in Cleora. Lil’ Red & Sidepiece will be at Blind Swine next Tuesday evening.
There are three nights of live music at Indigo Sky Casino this week. Garrick Fausett kicks off the weekend Thursday night followed by Sound the Alarm Friday night and the Thomas Martinez Saturday. The “I Want My 80’s Tour” comes to Downstream Casino Thursday night featuring full set performances by Rick Springfield, John Waite, Wang Chung, and Paul Young. Stonehorse will provide the music in Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West Saturday night; and D.C. & The Night Marshals will entertain Saturday night at Buffalo Run Casino’s Backwoods Bar.
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DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill no longer serves brunch on Saturdays. They now open at noon. The kitchen is now open until 10:00 p.m. Friday & Saturday. Contrary to many rumors, Cosby’s Catfish is NOT closing. It is for sale, but will continue operations as usual until it sells.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire returns Wednesday night at 7:00 and The Match Game season opener airs Wednesday night at 8:00, both on ABC. The new series Big Brother: Unlocked debuts Friday night at 7:00 on CBS. The documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes Part 2 airs Friday night at 7:00 on HBO.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The Home and Fantastic Four: The First Steps all open in movie theaters Friday. Happy Gilmore 2 is available this week on NETFLIX.
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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday-Friday, July 31-August 1 (7:30) and Sunday, August 3 (2:00 p.m.) – Final weekend of “Savanna Sipping Society” live performances at Playmakers in Grove. Thursday-Saturday, August 7-9 – Member-Guest Tournament Festivities at Shangri-La Resort. Saturday, August 9 – Woodstock on the Water in Leon Russell Cove (12:00-5:00 p.m.). Friday-Sunday, August 15-17 – Back to School Bash Fun Run at the off-road area at Disney. Saturday, August 16 – Spirit Fair at Rustic and Rebellious in Grove (11:00-4:00). Saturday, August 23 – 3rd Annual Battle of the Jeeps at the off-road area at Disney. Friday-Monday, August 29-Sept. 1 – Labor Day Crawl at the off-road area at Disney.
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With the NBA Summer League wrap-up, the MLB All-Star Game, and the WNBA All-Star Game all behind us, the spotlight is on the WNBA and MLB regular season second half, NASCAR, and the PGA Tour this week.
The WNBA has several great games this week, including Las Vegas at Indiana Thursdaynight (6:00), L.A. and New York Saturday at 6:00, and a Sunday afternoon matinee featuring Indiana at New York (2:00).
On the PGA Tour, players are at TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota this week for the 3M Open. Coverage begins Thursday & Friday at 3:00 and Saturday & Sunday at noon on the Golf Channel. CBS picks up coverage of the final two rounds Saturday & Sunday at 2:00.
NASCAR drivers are at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this week as they wrap up the four-week “challenge.” Coverage of the Brickyard 400 is exclusively on TNT Sports with coverage at 1:00 Sunday afternoon.
There are some fun Major League Baseball games this week including Cleveland at Kansas City Saturday evening (6:00) and the N.Y. Mets at San Francisco Sunday evening (6:00).
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If you like the good ol’ summertime, you’re gonna love the final weekend weather for July. We’ll have clear skies & sunshine with light winds and high temperatures pushing 100 with lows in the mid 70s. There are plenty of really fun things happening around the lake this weekend; so get out and enjoy the wonders of Grand! 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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