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The first hot air balloon rally in Cherokee County was held in 1993, sponsored by the Lake Tenkiller Association. That organization decided not to continue the event on an annual basis. To carry on what promised to be an exciting end-of-summer activity, a diverse group of community citizens met in 1994 and decided to form a new not-for-profit corporation. The corporation, known as the Illinois River BalloonFest Committee, Inc. (IRBC), is composed of area volunteers - business people, professionals, and concerned citizens committed to promoting economic development by bringing high- quality family entertainment and recreational opportunities to northeast Oklahoma. Since the IRBC was formed, the Illinois River BalloonFest has prospered and grown. Originally held on the banks of the Illinois River, BalloonFest outgrew the available acreage and, in 1996, moved to the grounds of the Tahlequah Municipal Airport. In order to serve diverse |
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interests, BalloonFest has expanded over the years to include a major car show, a vintage tractor pull, sky diving exhibitions, fiddlers contest, remote control aircraft demonstrations, and an exciting fireworks show following each balloon glow. The fireworks shows have proven to be very popular, drawing some of the largest crowds of the event. Officials estimate BalloonFest crowds have averaged more than 5,000 annually. Totally family-oriented, the event draws spectators from across Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri. |
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tenkiller Property.com August Newsletter August 2007 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In This Issue -- Tenkiller Property on Entrepreneur's Hot 500 List -- Junior Miss Lake Tenkiller Pageant Held -- Boat Parade a Dandy! -- Fishing Report -- Tenkiller Events -- Boren Secures $500,000 For Sequoyah Refuge -- Team Tenkiller Dear George, Lots of things are happening in the Lake Tenkiller area, and we would like to share a little of it with you. Thanks so much for being one of the 1200+ subscribers! We Love Lake Tenkiller!
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Tenkiller Property.com LLC, a leading real estate brokerage firm on Lake Tenkiller, located in Eastern Oklahoma, was recognized number 414 in Entrepreneur magazine's 13th annual "HOT 500" listing of America's top fast-growth businesses and the entrepreneurs who built them. In its August 2007 issue, Entrepreneur compiled this list with the help of Corporate Research Board (CRB) and its database of 19 million U.S. businesses. The initial selection criteria narrowed the list down to 95,000 eligible companies or just 0.5% of the CRB database. George Harris, Broker and Owner, stated, "We are honored to be ranked number 414 out of the top 500 companies listed in such a prestigious publication as Entrepreneur magazine." Founded in the Spring of 2000, Tenkiller Property.com has grown from George marketing and selling property in the area, to seven agents and support staff, making it a multimillion dollar company in real estate sales and has rapidly become a leader in the industry. The company specializes in resort, retirement and second home property surrounding Lake Tenkiller. |
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George comments, "I am grateful to Entrepreneur magazine, but mostly I am grateful to all of the staff of Tenkiller Property.com and to all of our clients and customers for placing their confidence in our integrity and people. They made this happen!" http://www.entrepreneur.com/hot500 http://www.tenkillerproperty.com/hot500 Junior Miss Lake Tenkiller Pageant Held ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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Lacy Wilson was crowned Miss Lake Tenkiller on July 14th at the Cookson Jubilee. She also won "Most Photogenic" and "Best Overall" score. Lacy goes to Gore High School where she is a sophomore. She is the daughter of Jim and Shannon Smith of Gore and the Granddaughter of James and Ethel Williamson and James and Wanda Smith all of Vian. Boat Parade a Dandy! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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The boat parade held on Lake Tenkiller sponsered by the GTAA was a yankee doodle DANDY success. Winners were Winners: 1st place - Freddie Thompson - Strayhorn Marina 2nd place - Jim & Arlene Hathaway - Strayhorn Marina 3rd Place - Pat & Donna Grady - Pine Cove Marina, with special mention going to Jack Woltman from Snake Creek - He was the Uncle Sam standing up in the fishing boat with the flags. He arrived on the scene as one of the first parade entries. Several people have mentioned how impressed they were with his participation, being in a small boat, dressed patriotically, dealing with lots of waves and threatening weather. |
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There were at least 20-25 spectator boats in the viewing area around Snake Creek Island. The awards ceremony was held at Krawdaddy's BBQ & Such with a large attendance for the ceremony. Judges were: Terri Ussery with Terri's Sixshooter Bed & Breakfast, Dr. Dalton Bigbee, Amie Remer - Vian Tenkiller News, Carol Harris - Armstrong Bank. Judging was based upon use of red, white and blue colors, originality of decorations, presentation of theme and added features like sound and costumes. click the link for pictures of the boat parade http:/ /www.virtualtenkiller.com/boatparade/
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Got a Tenkiller Fishing or Hunting Picture? e mail it to me george@tenkillerproperty.com Tenkiller:Elevation 6 ft. above normal, water 85 and clear. Largemouth bass slow with some action on topwaters early and late and hitting soft bass baits on rocky points. Catfish good on stinkbaits at 18-21 ft. on points or mudflats. Sunfish good in coves or docks on worms. Report submitted by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort. Greenleaf: Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water murky. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits, spinnerbaits and bill bait at creek channels and along shoreline. Channel catfish good on cut |
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baits and stinkbaits at spillway and on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at fishing docks and brush structures. All other fishing slow. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County. Webbers Falls: Elevation 5 ft. above normal, water murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits along creek channels. Channel catfish good on cut baits and stinkbaits on bottom and on mud flats. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at brush structures and bridges. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County. Summer is just getting into full swing across the state and there is no better way to beat the heat than to go trout fishing. Visitors to the lower Illinois River can find cool running water and fast fishing action. Both rainbow and brown trout can be caught at the lower Illinois, which is one of only two year-round trout areas within the state. Water, drawn from the depths of Lake Tenkiller, flows into the lower Illinois River, keeping it at a fairly constant temperature range in the 50s and 60s. This cool, oxygen rich water serves two purposes, it keeps trout comfortable year-round and the cooler water attracts stripers, white bass, walleye and other fish when the nearby Arkansas River becomes too warm for their liking. This makes the river one of the state's top fisheries, and the hotter it gets outside the better the fishing gets. Aug.Trout Stocking schedule 8, 14, 22, 28
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Sat, Aug 3 Live Horse Racing begins and continues every weekend thru Dec at Blue Ribbon Downs Labor Day Weekend Cherokee National Holiday Common Values Common Ground Sat Sept 1 Blackgum VFD Pancake Breakfast 7 am to 11 am at the Community Building on Hwy 100 Sat Sept 22 Gore Cruise Night, Car show and burnout, more info next month |
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Boren Secures $500,000 For Sequoyah Refuge ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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U.S. Representative Dan Boren announced today that he has secured $500,000 for repairs to the road leading to the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge. The funding was part of the Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2008 which passed the House yesterday. "Nearly 70,000 tourists, fishermen and hunters visit the refuge annually," Boren said. "Providing funding to repair this road could substantially grow these numbers." This project award will assist with the continuation |
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of road improvements that will link many of the public use areas in the refuge. This funding will allow for another eight miles of asphalt work to be completed near the handicap fishing areas, bird watching areas, and boat ramps. "I am committed to providing federal funds for projects like this to build and maintain our infrastructure," Boren said. "The refuge provides an economic boost to the community of Vian and Sequoyah County, and I am committed to doing whatever I can to help that economy prosper." pictured is Snow Geese which come to the refuge by the 1,000's. There have been over 10,000 counted at one time during the winter monthes 15th Illinois River Balloonfest, Aug 17, 18 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |