FISH IN!!

Proof positive "we got trout". Click on pictures to flip through.
photos courtesy Michael Fahrion bigrockworks

Antique Tractor Tour Friday! Special Notice

Missed getting this info about the Antique Tractor Tour visiting Medicine Park. They should be coming through about 11:30 AM on Friday. Treat yourself and come take a gander at those Tractor Classics. John Deere, International Harvester and More.

Hey and the Marauders will be out as well to welcome the group.

Trout Fishing Tournament Medicine Park

post by Michael Fahrion

When it comes to trout fishing most think of ice-capped mountain streams in Colorado or northern New Mexico. But you don’t have to travel hours and hours to find a trout filled mountain stream. There is one right here in the Wichita Mountains, Medicine Creek. Yes Medicine Creek, which flows through Medicine Park, OK.

As winter rolls in and the water cools the Medicine Park Development and Trust Authority stocks the Bath Lake area with trout. Anglers can grab their gear and take a short drive to Medicine Park for some great trout fishing.

The third annual winter trout fishing in Medicine Creek kicks off on November 1^st with a two day, no limit trout tournament. The tournament will offer CASH & PRIZES for the three largest trout caught on both Nov. 1^st and 2^nd.

If you have never been trout fishing before there is no special equipment needed, but the size of your gear and bait do matter. Ultra light to light gear and bait is the way to go for trout in Medicine Creek. Use small hooks and/or small lures. If a bait Isn't working, change it; if you've been fishing maggots for an hour without a bite, change to worms or salmon eggs.

Stocked fish are different than a natural trout in a stream. Trout from hatcheries normally go for baits such as garden worms or a mealy worms. Small plastic worms will work as well. You can break the large plastic worms in half. A slow retrieve is best with a short bounce once in awhile to make the bait more attractive to the trout.

During the regular trout season (Nov. 3rd through May 31) there is a limit of 3 trout per day per person. Oklahoma State and Medicine Park fishing permits are required. You may acquire a town fishing permit from the Town Hall in Medicine park and other locations throughout the town, you can download a mail-in town permit form from www.medicinepark.com (Click on the trout fishing logo). If you do not need a state license, a town fishing license is not required. Children 10 and under must be accompanied by a licensed adult.

The town fishing permit is $5.00 per day. A 7 day permit costs $15.00 and the annual town permit is $25.00 and is good for one year from the date of issue.

For more information call Town Hall at 580-529-2825 or 580-574-1101, or go to the town website.

Fall Events Fill the Park

post Muriel Fahrion
photo bigrockworks

•The Master's Kitchen is catering for Blue Moon's Dinner Theater- radio show theater w/The Shadow, The Lone Ranger & Arsenic & Old Lace. Great food, great show. Reservations 591-6730 for Oct 31 & Nov 1st, Fri & Sat.

•First Baptist Church in Medicine Park invites you to enjoy our Annual Fall Festival more info , Saturday, November 1, from 6:30-8:30 at the church. Kids of all ages can enjoy in games,prizes, and food and more. Please come! Sunday Blue Grass Gospel!

•Chili Cook-off Chili Cookoff, Sat, Nov 8th, live music with band Blueprint sponsored by the Park Tavern. It is a tasty family event.

•Not to overlook Trout Fishing Medicine Park ongoing Fall to Spring!
Election Day! November 4, 2008. It is not just about the Presidential election. Oklahoma has a senatorial election, representative elections, county sheriff, and several important questions. Maybe the most pertinent to Medicine Park is State Question 743 - In Short: Wineries from Oklahoma and outside the state of Oklahoma will be able to sell their wine directly to retail stores and restaurants if SQ 743 is approved. Currently, they can only do so through a wholesaler or at fairs/festivals. So just say YES! The winery will thank you. Vote Medicine Park!

• Christmas Parade December 20th. 2:00 pm. For more info contact Charley Wright. For Kids all ages with Santa and helpers and all.

Talk Talk Talk

I am trying out a new feature from a suggestion of a reader. See Chat in the sidebar. Very easy to use. You put in your name (this can be nickname if wish) and your email. Then the line MESSAGE type in your message. If someone wants to respond to your question or comment they can respond on line or email you a response by clicking your name.

Medicine Park Folks Take Part

Jane Thompson shares her Photos of neighbors and friends participating in SOS weekend...

It is our very own Emily Cope giving it her all in the middle of a fast pack

Friends Jeannette and Teresa in the 5K Spirit Walk

Mayor Cope walks the walk after talking the talk

The Lawton Latin American Community Princess captures the hearts of the Marauders who stopped by for tasty lunch at the Cantina

A Marathon Runs Through It

We sat in front of our Big Rock Mountain bungalow in pjs and windbreakers sipping our Sunday morning coffee waiting for the 10K runners to come down Big Rock Road. And they came. All ages, all sizes, all speeds running to win, running to show, or running for the cause. Despite my seasonal allergies I gave a shout out to all who made the effort. The day before we, along with a slew of volunteers, were at the Super Kids Marathon and the Spirit Walk, there also to cheer the winners of the 5K race up Mt. Scott. And let’s not forget the Buffalo Chip Throwing contest where the Marauders lead by race assistant Andrea started with a shoot out and stood along the measuring tape at their own peril to measure where the chips as the landed.

So today Michael and I like so many others stood in wait as the marathoners, who ran brave and strong through the Refuge, passed the elk, bison and longhorn made it back and to the Park and the finish line. The Spirit of Survival Marathon, a race for a cancer cure and care had been another year in the planning. Lori Cummins who had come up with the idea 3 years ago was again spearheading the race and everything that entails. She is a woman with solutions. This year the race not only was good for the Cancer centers but also brought more people into Medicine Park town center.

I got to meet the cool energetic people from Runners World Magazine. I got my picture taken with SKaMPeR PD the costumed mascot I created for the Super Kids Marathon. Some lucky guys got their picture taken with Lauren Nelson, former Miss America, who sang the National Anthem so beautifully and on key at the start of each race. There are so many behind the scenes people that made this a smooth running and most pleasant event. Medicine Park Chief of police put in 19 straight hours on Saturday. The mayor, vice mayor and company got the town spiffed up and ready. Our town SOS representatives attended all the pre-race organization meetings. Our town clerk, who seemed to be around every corner on the ready.


But to tell the truth what it was really about was the woman who wheel-chaired herself around the half marathon, the kids who had never run a race ever getting their medals at the finished line, those over 60 who keep on keeping on, the family who walked together to support or to remember the cancer cause and those who walked alone because they had lost their partners to cancer. It was the runners who had already finished that joined others and helped them run the home stretch. And we marveled at the enthusiastic race announcer who made everyone who crossed that finished line believe they too were winners. It made a little town proud to be the start and part of the heart of the Spirit of Survival Marathon.