Roman Nose Hills Trail Ride

April 20, 2016
This weekend is the spring Roman Nose Hills Trail Ride and the Kiwanis club members have been working with Jeff Fritz to get this one off the ground.  It looks like the weather is going to be sunny and dry.  We've had some rain off and on over the past couple of weeks, so it's been touch and go. Fritz reported today that he thought we could have as many as 150+ registered riders, plus their family members who come to camp out, enjoy the park, and eat the delicious meals provided.  This is the oldest horse trail ride in the state of Oklahoma.  Andy discovered two film reels while helping a friend clean out their building, and he took them to the Oklahoma Historical Society to see if they could be watched.  One was from 1949 Round-up Club, and the other was from 1953.  The Society was able to restore about 15 minutes from one reel and 11 minutes from the other.  The footage is now in digital format.  We watched today at the weekly Kiwanis meeting and it was fascinating. It was a page out of history come to life.

It's been a busy month so far at the Chaparral Retreat.  We had a house concert one weekend, and have served pizza dinners on two weekends as fundraisers for Phoenix Circle Foundation.  The Retreat is booked for the next two weekends.  Then, on May 1, we have local talent Katie Ballew and her friend Kelly performing a house concert. Hopefully the weather will be nice enough to sit outside.  It is such a different atmosphere than sitting in a theatre, a different experience.  We also have a group called My Politic booked for May 16. 

In the planning stages are a community garden at the First United Methodist Church, thanks to a grant from the OSU Extension Service;  and the Scissortail Arts Day scheduled for May 28, that will provide a half day of fun activities for kids (and adults) on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.  Watonga used to have a "Pioneer Day" festival over Memorial Day weekend every year, but that faded away in the last few years.  Our economic development advisor tells us that it is a good idea  for a small town like ours to have more than one festival a year, to bring tourism.  So, a couple of local businesses and a couple of arts supporters are putting on the first annual Scissortail Arts Day this year.  It will only be one-half day, but will dovetail with a couple of Vacation Bible School activities.  Watch for details.......