On Jan. 14, Michael Wallis shared stories about his life, accomplishments, and study of the storied Route 66. He offered unique and magnificent stories on his beloved Route 66. He was warmly introduced by Ken Busby, executive director and CEO of the Route 66 Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the history of Route…
Each year, residents of many small towns and cities around the state look forward to their Founder’s Day celebrations, and the residents of Skiatook, Okla., are no exception. Every September brings with it the annual Pioneer Day Carnival, Parade, and Rodeo, commemorating the “pioneer origins” of the town, just 20 minutes north of Tulsa. The…
One of the well-known wild plums in the Sooner State is the sand plum, also called the Chickasaw Plum, Cherokee Plum, or Sandhill Plum. Wild plum bushes can be seen growing inside and on the borders of oak tree forests. The bushes have crooked trunks and branches, and spikes. Their sizes vary from three to…
Four men were executed by the State of Oklahoma in 2023. I was at a prayer vigil outside the Oklahoma State Penitentiary during one of them, the execution of Anthony Sanchez on Sept. 21. The vigil was led by Fr. Bryan Brooks, pastor of Saint Benedict Catholic Church in Tulsa, who goes to pray at…
In the rural, unassuming town of Pawnee, Okla., a piece of history is presented to visitors. Pawnee Bill Ranch symbolizes the pioneering spirit of the late 1800s and early 1900s. The ranch is a preserved and revered part of Oklahoma’s past. Gordon Lillie, who later took on the moniker Pawnee Bill while living and working with…
Tulsa Community College faculty and staff presented research at a statewide higher education conference in November. The topic was “Living Proof: African American Women and Leadership Lessons in the Academy.” Ramona Curtis, director for Workforce Programs; Kayla Harding, Ed.D., faculty department chair and associate professor for English; and Corinice Wilson, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociology,…
Oct. 9 is recognized as Native American Day by the city of Tulsa. Tulsa is the first city in Oklahoma to officially recognize this holiday, setting a precedent that soon many other cities in the state may follow. Starting back in 2017, Tulsa City Council and Mayor G. T. Bynum approved a resolution to establish…
The NBA’s OKC Thunder succeeded in attaining 40 wins last season, due in large part to the superstar talent of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his fellow teammates, such as running mate Josh Giddy, a small forward who averaged 16.6 points per game last season. Unfortunately for the Thunder in the preseason of the 2022-2023 NBA season,…
Keystone Lake is a body of freshwater that leads from Mannford to Sand Springs and is 15 miles west of downtown Tulsa. There was once an entire “Old West Town” that was founded in 1900 that has since been flooded over with Keystone Lake’s waters. The Keystone Dam began construction in 1956 and ended construction…
Editor’s Note: This is Part II of a three-part series on Tokyo, OK. On July 13, the Tokyo, OK staff began setting up for the upcoming weekend. It was on this day that passes were available for early pickup for anyone who had already reserved a weekend pass. The Hyatt Regency Tulsa Downtown was empty…
