Rain and mud couldn’t put a stop to the Monster Ball Thursday night. The seventh annual fundraiser was relocated from the Sandite Softball Complex to Memorial Stadium and raised $4,000 for Special Olympics.
Read MoreWheeler Dealers Camping Club members wearing their Christmas sweaters and shirts got in the Christmas spirit at the annual luncheon held at the McCord Senior Citizens Center in Ponca City.
Read MoreThe annual Sand Springs Homecoming Parade will return to downtown Sand Springs on Thursday, September 23rd at 6:00 p.m.
Read MoreFor the second time in three years, the annual Festival of Lights Christmas Parade has been canceled in Sand Springs.
The parade theme was supposed to be The Joy of Giving, and the 38th annual Chamber of Commerce event was scheduled for Friday, December 4th at 7:00 p.m.
The Festival of Lights ran annually from 1983 to 2012 and didn’t face its first cancelation till 2013. Inclement weather struck again in 2018, and this time around the COVID-19 pandemic is the culprit. Active caseload in the state reached a record-high of 20,632 on Tuesday, and Sand Springs is reporting a record-high of 125.
Sand Springs, OK - The City of Sand Springs will offer fireworks permits for $20 each for any resident wishing to discharge fireworks within the city limits of Sand Springs. Walk up sales for the mandatory permits begin on Monday, June 22 and will end at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 2. The permits must be purchased by an adult age 18 or older that serves as the responsible party for activities at an individual residence. Permits are non-transferable.
During the holiday, permit holders can use residential streets as a fireworks discharge area provided that activities do not hinder traffic and all debris is removed. Fireworks may be discharged in the Sand Springs city limits on July 3 from 6:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. and on July 4 from 11:00 a.m. until 11 :00 p.m. No other use of fireworks is allowed outside of these times.
Permits may be purchased by using either of two methods:
Purchase in person at City of Sand Springs Customer Service, located at 100 E Broadway Street from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. beginning Monday, June 22 and running through Thursday, July 2;
Purchase via Eventbrite online, available until 4:00 p.m. on July 3, 2020 at: www.sandspringsok.org/fwpermit
“The continuation of online permit sales provides an excellent option, enhancing the level of convenience for our citizens,” said Sand Springs Fire Marshal Mike Nobles. Online sales will end however at 4:00 p.m. on July 3. There will be a processing fee of approximately $2 added to each transaction.
Although citizens can enjoy fireworks, fire officials urge residents to remember that live fireworks often frighten and stress animals. Officials ask that citizens take a moment to secure their pets to reduce the chances of animals running away.
Fees collected from permits help offset overtime costs of police and fire officials who patrol neighborhoods on this busy holiday to assure fireworks are being discharged responsibly with a valid permit. Without the permit, the pre-set court fine for illegally discharging of fireworks in the city limits is $171. However, a maximum fine of $500 plus court costs can be imposed for serious or repetitive violations.
For further information about fireworks permits, call the Sand Springs Fire Administration Office at (918) 246-2548, extension 2551.
Sandite Pride News will be marking down our photography collection by an average of 22% in recognition of the Cyber Monday holiday shopping event. All day Monday, December 2nd, from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., discounts will be available on prints, downloads, wall art, and keepsakes.
Sandite Pride’s photo galleries include high school sports (basketball, football, softball, volleyball, etc.), community events (Boo at Case Park, Great Raft Race, Meet the Sandites, Chillin & Grillin, Herbal Affair, etc.), and government meetings (Board of Education, City Council).
Our SmugMug photo site offers paper prints ranging in size from wallets to 30x50 inches, canvases, metal art, refrigerator magnets, coffee mugs, photo panels, keepsake boxes, puzzles, buttons, luggage tags, mouse pads, coasters, postcards, playing cards and more.
High resolution single-photo downloads will be discounted from $2.00 to $1.50.
4x6 paper prints will be discounted from $1.28 to $1.00.
16x20 paper prints will be discounted from $34.80 to $27.27.
5x7 traditional canvas prints will be marked down from $110.24 to $95.34.
16x20 high gloss metal wall hangings will be discounted from $164.32 to $128.79.
Large refrigerator magnets will be discounted from $15.13 to $11.86.
Mouse pads will be discounted from $17.30 to $13.56.
6x6 ceramic tiles will be discounted from $26.01 to $20.39.
Coaster sets will be discounted from $43.42 to $34.03.
Charles Page High School Band Director Kyle Wright was recently named as the upcoming recipient of the Oklahoma Music Educators Association (OkMEA) Exemplary Teacher Award. Wright will receive the award on Thursday, January 16, 2020 at the OkMEA Winter Conference at DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Tulsa.
To qualify for the award, teachers must have completed at least 15 years of active service as a music teacher and/or music administrator and must be a member of OkMEA for a minimum of 10 years. They must also demonstrate excellence in the teaching of music, as evidenced by competitions, awards, and peer or administrator statements. Exemplary teachers are nominated by their peers, recommended by the OkMEA Awards committee, and confirmed by the OkMEA Executive Boad.
Wright is married to Sarah Wright and has three children. Jack Molly, and Maggie Wright are all percussionists. Wright was a trumpet student of James Gilmartin and Ron Predi before graduating Muskogee High School in 1990. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the University of Tulsa and has completed further study at the University of North Texas.
Wright’s performing career includes being a founding member of Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey with whom he performed nationwide before turning to a career in teaching band. He began his teaching career at Berryhill High School and led the group to an OBA Grand Championship for marching band (their first in the 3A classification). After studying at UNT, he taught for a couple of years in the Carrolton-Farmers Branch School District in Texas before coming to Charles Page High School in Sand Springs.
The CPHS Gold Pride Marching Band recently participated in the OSSAA East Regional at Northeastern State University last week. The band received an Excellent rating for their performance.
In their first performance of the year the Sandites placed 3rd in 6A and 6th overall at the East Central University Tigerpalooza Marching Festival. At the Branson Marching Invitational they were 4th in their class and 7th overall.
Most recently the Gold Pride marched in the 101st Annual Veterans’ Day Parade in downtown Tulsa.
Future events for the band include the December 6th Festival of Lights Christmas Parade in Sand Springs, and a December 7th performance at the Hometown Holiday Christmas Celebration in Sand Springs. The Fine Arts Winter Showcase is scheduled for Thursday, December 12th at the high school.
Although Christmas is still 42 days away, the Christmas season in Sand Springs is already underway. Many Sandites took advantage of last week’s warmer temperatures and hung their Christmas lights with care to beat the winter weather.
The Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce’s celebrations will kick off in less than a month, with the 37th Annual Festival of Lights.
The Festival of Lights Christmas Parade was cancelled due to winter weather last year, but will return on December 6th at 7:00 p.m. with a theme of “The Sweetest Season of All.” Applications for the parade will be accepted till November 22nd, with $20 fee.
The parade hands out six awards each year. The defending champions are New Life Tabernacle (Best in Show), Studio B Hair and Nail Salon (Best Use of Theme), Miss Tirita’s Dance Studio (Best Marching Unit), Tulsa Tech (Best Use of Lights), Garden Heights Freewill Baptist Church (Best Church), and Cub Scout Pack 63 (Best Showmanship).
The Chamber is also encouraging local businesses to get involved in sprucing up Sand Springs by offering the “Sharp Award” for best-dressed store front. There is no application fee, and competition is not limited to Chamber members. All your business has to do is notify the Chamber that you are participating by December 10th. Judging will take place on December 13th.
On Saturday the downtown area will be filled with music, food trucks, and other activities for the Second Annual Hometown Holiday Christmas Celebration.
Wonderland Stage Schedule of Events
2:00 p.m. Northwoods Elementary Choir
2:35 p.m. Garfield Elementary Choir
3:10 p.m. Pratt Elementary Choir
3:55 p.m. Ms. Tirita’s Dance Studio
4:25 p.m. Limestone Elementary Choir
5:00 p.m. Clyde Boyd Middle School Choir
5:35 p.m. Charles Page High School Choir
6:00 p.m. Santa Sing Along
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Charles Page High School Band, Charles Page Jazz Band, Clyde Boyd Middle School Band, and Sand Springs Community Band.
From 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. there will be carriage rides, a free Santa zone where children can meet St. Nick, and a Kids Zone with free activities provided by local churches.
The Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum will be open for an Ornament Workshop, and Cookie Crawl Passports will be available for pickup. Families are invited to take a passport from the museum and to fill it with stickers from local businesses (who will all have free cookies), then return the completed passport to Santa for a prize. Businesses who wish to be included in the passport should contact the Chamber by November 22nd.
The Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce can be reached at 918-245-3221 or via email at info@sandspringschamber.com.
One tradition that will not be returning this year, at least not officially, is “Snapped in Sand Springs.” For the past two years the City of Sand Springs encouraged local businesses, churches, and other organizations to set up Thanksgiving, Fall, Winter, and Christmas-themed photo booths and backdrops at their facilities. More than 30 organizations participated each year.
While the City has elected not to organize the event in 2019, businesses can of course still choose to put up photo booths unofficially. Any business doing so is encouraged to let Sandite Pride know so we can share it on our website/social media.
The 24th Annual Great Tulsa Raft Race will be launching from Case Community Park in Sand Springs Monday, September 2nd beginning at 8:00 a.m. Hundreds of uniquely crafted homemade rafts will take to the waters of the Arkansas River in a race to Tulsa’s River West Festival Park.
The iconic showcase of Tulsa ingenuity first ran from 1973 through 1991 before being discontinued, and was resurrected by the Tulsa Young Professional Foundation in 2015 with overwhelming success.
Kayaks, canoes, inflatable rafts, and homemade rafts float approximately eight miles in a timed race. While competitive rafters enjoy the exhilarating race to the finish line, most spectators are entranced by the unique floats showcased in the design challenge. Awards are presented for Best of Show, Best Engineered, and Most Creative, in addition to the timed race winners.
While many families prefer the ease of sleeping in and catching the final leg of the race in Tulsa, there are exciting perks to watching the show bright and early in Sand Springs. Many of the more kooky and creative rafts won’t make it to Tulsa due to poor engineering. Some of the neatest aesthetic designs are crafted without proper expertise in seaworthiness, and won’t even make it off the Sand Springs boat ramp without sinking. Every year fan-favorites hit the river and immediately begin taking on water - leading to a mad dash by the rafters to bail water and corral their vessel to the shore before it is submerged.
Only a few hundred viewers are treated to this sight as most of Sand Springs’s fans watch from the Highway 97 Arkansas River bridge instead of journeying into the park. However, there is plenty of room in the park for onlookers, and the Sand Springs Parks Department will have bleachers set up near the launch point. The River City Trail that runs through the park also has several great viewing locations downstream from the launch point, and one of the best spots to get right up on the water is beneath the Highway 97 bridge on either the north or south sides of the river.
The northbound bridge over the river does have a pedestrian path that is safe from traffic, and in past years the Sand Springs Police and Fire Departments have narrowed the southbound bridge to a single lane to ensure the safety of onlookers watching from the shoulder of the highway.
The best views, however, can be found at ground-level from the shoreline, and there is easy access with plenty of shade in Case Park beneath the bridges. Case Park will also offering free parking at the soccer and baseball complexes, whereas the Finish Line Festival in Tulsa charges $10 to park.
Launches will last from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Sand Springs, and rafts will be arriving at River West Festival Park from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The earliest arrivals will be the kayaks and speed racers, while those who build large lumbering contraptions may take longer to make their way downstream. There will be food trucks and concessions, as well as music from DJ Connection in Sand Springs.
At the Finish Line Festival there will be inflatables for the kids, as well as a Cardboard Regatta raft competition and a Sand Castle Exhibition. Yard games will be set up throughout the park and tournaments will be held in corn-hole and volleyball. There will food trucks, retail and nonprofit vendors, a Conquer the Gauntlet Youth Obstacle Course, kayak rentals, live music, and even $40 helicopter rides.
The Speed Awards will be presented at 12:00 p.m. and the Design Awards will be presented at 4:30 p.m.
2018 Photo Gallery
2017 Photo Gallery
2016 Photo Gallery
2015 Photo Gallery
The annual Pier 51 and Sand Springs Sertoma Club fireworks shows have been canceled for the 2019 season due to flooding.
The Sertoma Club has hosted an annual fireworks show on July 3rd since 1989, but this is the second time in the past three years that the event has been canceled. In 2017 the club had to cancel their show due to construction in Case Community Park. Now it has been called off due to extensive flood damage after the entirety of Case Park was submerged for more than a week.
Pier 51 on Keystone Lake also hosts an annual Independence Day fireworks show and has called off their festivities due to high waters and low revenue. At press time Keystone Lake is 25 feet higher than this date last year. According to event organizers, the area from which the fireworks are normally launched is currently submerged. High water levels and questionable lake conditions due to upstream flooding have put a damper on the Keystone-area economy this season.
One fireworks show that will continue unimpeded is the eighth annual Big Blast Fireworks Show and Kids Fun Fest at 17516 West 8th Street. Festivities kick off at 5:00 p.m. Saturday, June 22nd with the fireworks show beginning at dark. There will be free games, prizes, concessions and more with $10 kids passes available for unlimited inflatable jumps and a pony ride.
The City of Sand Springs will offer fireworks permits for $20 each for any resident wishing to discharge fireworks within the city limits of Sand Springs. Walk up sales for the mandatory permits begin on Wednesday, June 19, and will end at 4:00 p.m. on July 3. The permits must be purchased by an adult age 18 or older that serves as the responsible party for activities at an individual residence. Permits are non-transferable.
During the holiday, permit holders can use residential streets as a fireworks discharge area provided that activities do not hinder traffic and all debris is removed. Fireworks may be discharged in the Sand Springs city limits on July 3 from 6:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. and on July 4 from 11:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. No other use of fireworks is allowed outside of these times.
Permits can be purchased using either of two methods: 1) purchase in person at Sand Springs Fire Department Administration Offices, located at 108 E Broadway St; 2) purchase online at www.sandspringsok.org/fwpermit
Citizens opting to purchase in person can visit the Fire Administration office from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays beginning Wednesday, June 19 and running through Wednesday, July 3. Fire Administration will remain open during the lunch hour to accommodate purchases during the week of Monday, June 24 through Friday, June 28.
“Last year’s success of online sales makes purchasing more convenient with less time restrictions on when they can be purchased,” said Sand Springs Deputy Fire Chief Justin Hall. Online sales will end however at 4:00 p.m. on July 4. There will be a processing fee of approximately $2 added to each electronic transaction.
Although fireworks can be enjoyed by citizens, fire officials urge residents to remember that live fireworks often frighten and stress animals. Officials ask that citizens take a moment to secure their pets to reduce the chances of animals running away.
Fees collected from permits help offset overtime costs of police and fire officials who patrol neighborhoods on this busy holiday to assure fireworks are being discharged responsibly with a valid permit. Without the permit, the pre-set court fine for illegally discharging of fireworks in the city limits is $171. However, a maximum fine of $500 plus court costs can be imposed for serious or repetitive violations.
For further information about fireworks permits, call the Sand Springs Fire Administration Office at 918-246-2548.
Registration is officially open for the 2019 Great Tulsa Raft Race, which will take place on Labor Day, September 2nd. Early bird prices start at $45 per participant and will increase to $55 in July and $70 in August. Registration will close August 30th.
Participants can enter kayaks, canoes, inflatable rafts, or homemade rafts. The race launches on the Arkansas River from Case Community Park in Sand Springs and terminates in Tulsa’s River West Festival Park.
The historic race ran annually from 1973 to 1991 before being resurrected in 2015. It is hosted by the Tulsa Young Professional Foundation.
There are two categories for homemade rafts. Small rafts can be no larger than 8 x 10 feet, while large rafts can be no larger than 12 x 16 ft. The organization will have one-man kayaks and six-person inflatable rubber rafts for rental.
Both Corporate Challengers and recreational Pokey Okies will receive prizes for Best of Show, Best Engineered, and Most Creative. The Corporate division will also be timed with a Fastest Down the River award.
Free registration will be provided for 15 local schools to participate in the STEM School Challenge. Students age 12 and over will use their skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics to compete in the same four categories as the corporate challengers.
A Cardboard Regatta race will be held in the lagoon at the Finish Line Festival for students under the age of 12. They can build their cardboard raft ahead of time or with free provided materials the day-of.
River West park will host the Finish Line Festival with music, food trucks, inflatable activities, lawn games, retail vendors, and more. Admission is free to spectators, though pets will not be permitted.
In the event that water levels are too low to float, or too high to float safely, full refunds will be issued for all participants. Severe weather conditions could also cancel or delay the event.
Click here to visit the registration site.
Click here to apply for the STEM Challenge.
For more information click here to visit the official Raft Race site.
Sand Springs Lake Park in summer.
Expedia.com, one of the nation’s leading travel websites, has named Sand Springs as the “Best Place To Escape To” in the State of Oklahoma in a recent travel blog.
California-based traveler Lily Rogers recently published the article, titled “Best Place To Escape To In Every State.”
“From quaint small towns to quiet nature preserves, this country is full of places to escape to,” says Rogers. Sand Springs has both, with a homey downtown shopping district and the largest municipally-owned nature preserve in the state.
Rogers references the Keystone Lake, Keystone Ancient Forest, and Shell Lake as reasons for her selection of Sand Springs as the best getaway in Oklahoma.
Keystone Ancient Forest is Sand Springs’s best-kept secret. The 1,360 acre park features 300-year-old post oaks and 500-year-old cedars with wildlife, beautiful scenery, and 4.4 miles of hiking trails. Famed Sleepy Hollow author and explorer Irving Washington even crossed through the area in 1832 and wrote extensively of its beauty and rugged terrain in his journals.
The City of Sand Springs recently passed a general obligation bond measure that will help to fund a visitor’s center and a watch tower that will elevate visitors above the forest canopy in the near future.
The park is only open to visitors on select Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in order to keep the area pristine. Hike With Your Dog days are also scheduled throughout the year, and the forest’s Fourth Annual Ancient Trail Trek is set for February 9th, featuring a 5K, 10K, and fun run.
The Ancient Forest isn’t the only unique natural site in Sand Springs. Visitors can also fish and boat on the Keystone Lake, Shell Lake, and the Arkansas River. Bald Eagles are known to nest at the White Water Off-Road Vehicle Park beneath the Keystone Dam, as well as in Case Community Park and other areas along the Arkansas River.
Two of the most historic sites in Sand Springs are the Sand Springs Lake and Centennial Park on Katy Trail. Centennial Park is the home of the sandy springs from which the town draws its name, and the lake park was once a weekend swimming destination for Tulsa-area families from the 1920s through 1950s. Now it is a quaint fishing hole with ADA-friendly walking trails.
Visitors have numerous lodging options in Sand Springs, including modern downtown hotels near the historic Triangle District, riverside RV parks, cabins at the Osage Forest of Peace, and the PostOak Lodge with its zip lines, disc golf, fishing, hiking, and more.
Art connoisseurs will enjoy the Shiny Happy Blue Dog exhibit by George Rodrigue, currently making its Oklahoma debut at the Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum, and numerous vibrant murals around the town. The Rodrigue exhibit will be on display through February, and numerous other events are on the horizon, guaranteed to give visitors a great time.
Sand Springs Event Calendar:
February 3rd - Fourth Annual Ancient Trail Trek
April 13th - Thirtieth Annual Herbal Affair & Festival
May 4th-5th - 100 Mile Yard Sale
May 10th - Third Annual Unity Praise concert
May 30th - June 1st - Eighth Annual Chillin & Grillin Festival
June - 29th Annual Kids’ Free Fishing Derby
June - Eighth Annual Big Blast Fireworks Show & Kids Fun Fest
June - Tenth Annual EuroMotor Extravaganza
July 3rd - Third Annual Riverfest and Sertoma Fireworks Show
September 2nd - 24th Annual Great Raft Race
October - Ninth Annual Boo on Broadway
November through December - Snapped In Sand Springs
November - Tenth Annual 2 Angels Toy Run
November - Third Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
December 6th-8th - Second Annual Hometown Holiday Christmas Celebration
To view the complete list of Best Places to Escape To, visit Expedia.com.
The inaugural Hometown Holiday Christmas Celebration is underway in the downtown Sand Springs Triangle District. The event, hosted by the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce, will run through Saturday night at 9:00 p.m. and will resume Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The event features numerous vendors of crafts and food with nonstop entertainment on the Triangle Stage.
Elementary choirs from Garfield, Northwoods, and Limestone performed early Saturday, as did kids from Miss Tirita’s Dance Studio and the Lawnwood Freewill Baptist Church Choir. The Charles Page High School band and Sand Springs Community Band will perform from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and the Triangle will be officially illuminated at 6:00 p.m.
Santa’s Cottage is open for pictures with ole St. Nick from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturday and from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, with a one-hour break from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m..
New Life Tabernacle and Broadway Baptist Church are hosting the church tent Saturday. Carriage rides will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturday.
On Sunday the Salvation Army Band will perform from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Ms. Tirita’s kids will perform from 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Kiefer Elementary kids will perform from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Vendors at the event include Scentsy, the Sand Springs Women’s Chamber, Made By Rach jewelry, and OkieSpice & Trade Co.
Mr. Nice Guys’, 3 Feathers BBQ, and Mr. Whiskit’s Cheesecakes are among the dining options. Senior Celebration is selling tacos, CubScout Pack 14 has beef jerky, and dessert can be found at DJ’s Sweet Kitchen. The CPHS Dance Team has hot coco, cookies, and Sandite yard signs, while the band is selling popcorn.
Many downtown shops will have extended hours during the weekend festivities, and throughout the Holiday season. Visitors can also check out the internationally-acclaimed Shiny Happy Blue Dog art exhibit by George Rodrigue at the Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum.
The Eighth Annual Boo on Broadway festival was a raging success Sunday afternoon in the downtown Triangle District. The event drew more than 3,000 participants for games, inflatables, costume contests, trunk-or-treats and more.
The event was hosted by the Sand Springs Ministerial Alliance for the second-straight year with involvement from several other local businesses and organizations.
State Farm agent Steve Lane and Farmer’s Insurance agents Kelly Smith and Nathan Spencer all set up booths with candy, as did American Heritage Bank, RibCrib, BancFirst, Christ Centered Lawn Care, and OSU Medical Center. Downtown businesses Blush Hair Salon, Coble’s Flowers, and Joni’s on the Triangle Hair Salon also participated.
New Life Tabernacle was the star of the show, taking over the entire Kingsley Insurance parking lot with numerous inflatables, balloons, popcorn, and a dunk tank. Reach Church set up a bounce house and several game stations. First Church of the Nazarene had a GaGa Ball arena, American Legion Post 17 and Chinowth and Cohen had corn hole toss, and Nexus Youth and HillSpring Church also had setups. The Sand Springs Police and Fire Departments also participated and let the kids check out the insides of their trucks and squad cars.
A Toy Story themed car won the best Trunk-or-Treat design and a costume contest was held with several age categories.
Age 0-2: Madilyn Gardner (Cabbage Patch Kid)
Age 3-4: Rainy Wachsmuth (Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas)
Age 5-6: Abby Taber (Cotton Candy)
Age 7-8: Israel Haley and Maddy Gaddy (Lucy and Ricky Ricardo)
Age 9-12: Ophelia Miss (Chicken)
Teen/Adult: Phillip Lamb (Uncle Fester)
Pet: Jared Robinson’s pygmy goat (vampire).
It’s been a busy couple of weeks for Pokemon Go players. From Generation Four Pokemon to Halloween quests, Community Day, and more - there’s no shortage of opportunities to catch ‘em all.
New Generation Four Pokemon Drifloon and Stunky can now be found in the wild, including their evolutions and a shiny variation of Drifloon.
Spiritomb can be unlocked through the Special Research quests entitled, “A Spooky Message.” This is the third special research series, and the first non-mythical reward, meaning we can likely expect more story-line quests in the future.
From October 23rd through November 20th trainers will be able to battle Legendary Ghost-Dragon Giratina at five-star raids. This also means MewTwo will be leaving the raid roster for the time being.
These new additions bring the available Sinnoh roster to 32 of the 107 total Pokemon. We are still awaiting Kecleon, Jirachi, and the Clamperl and Nincada families from Hoenn, as well as Smeargle from Johto.
For the duration of October you’ll see a large boost in spawn rates of ghost and dark-type pokemon, many of whom have shiny variations. All caught-pokemon will reward double their normal amount of candy until November 1st at 1:00 p.m. PDT. The witch-hat adorned Pichu, Pikachu, and Raichu are back for the rest of the month, and now they can be shiny for the first time.
Beldum was featured as the Community Day Pokemon of the Month for October. Cyndaquil will be the next star, with his shiny variation being introduced Saturday, November 10th. From 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. CST trainers will see increased Cyndaquil spawns and will receive double stardust and double XP for all catches. Additionally, Quilava evolved during the event will have an as of yet unannounced exclusive move.
Suicine spotted at Case Community Park in Sand Springs.
Meltan, the new mythical Pokemon that will be unveiled along with Nintendo Switch, was also revealed to be the first-ever mythical Pokemon capable of evolution. When “Pokemon Let’s Go! Eevee” and “Let’s Go! Pikachu” are released on November 16, 2018, trainers will be able to link the Switch games with their Pokemon Go accounts for trading in order to unlock Meltan in both games. Its evolved form, Melmetal, will only be able to evolve in Pokemon Go, but can then be traded to the Switch games.
Trainers will have until November 1st to complete their weekly research tasks and catch a Suicune. The November research pokemon has yet to be announced by Niantic.
Finally, the nest at Case Community Park in Sand Springs has changed to Staryu. Nests typically rotate every other Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. local time, but will likely change again at the end of the Halloween event next Thursday.
Case Park is the only confirmed nest in Sand Springs at press time, but other known nesting locations include the Sand Springs Lake and Pratt Civitan Park.
Other nests in the Tulsa area include:
Chimchar - Mitchell Park
Electabuzz - Dennis Troyer Park
Pinsir - Riverside Park
Magmar - Jackson Park
Scyther - Nienhuis Park
*These nesting reports are courtesy of “TPG - Tulsa Pokemon Go” on Facebook.
Case Park is the flagship of the Sand Springs Parks Department and features 100 acres of fun for the whole family. Facilities include the Case Community Center, Jerry Adair Baseball Complex, Roger Bush Soccer Complex, Will Ramsey Softball Complex, Rotary Super Splash Pad, four sets of playground equipment, an 18-hole disc golf course, a BMX track, Arkansas River access, horsehoe pits, a Thunder Cares basketball court, volleyball courts, a skate park, and a 1.8 mile trail system. Pokemon trainers will find prolific nesting, seven pokestops, and two ex-raid gyms.
TPG - Tulsa Pokemon Go Facebook
It’s officially costume season in Sand Springs, beginning this Thursday. Churches, bars, and other organizations in Sand Springs will be putting on Halloween festivities for all ages.
The Sand Springs Pumpkin Patch at 17516 West 8th Street is open every day in October from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Pleasant Valley Farms at 22350 West 71st Street is open every Sunday through Thursday in October from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
The Third Annual Monster Ball softball game will pit the Charles Page High School baseball and softball teams against each other in a costumed slow pitch fundraiser for Sandite Special Olympics. The Lady Sandites won the inaugural event and the baseball team tied the series with an 8-7 victory last year. The game was originally scheduled for Thursday October 25th at 6:00 p.m. at the Sand Springs Softball Complex at 408 West 55th Street. Due to rain it has been postponed till Tuesday, October 30th. Tickets are $3 for students and $5 for adults.
Tulsa Community College will be hosting their annual Westfest at the 7505 West 41st Street Sand Springs campus Thursday, October 25th from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Admission cost is one canned food item. There will be free games and inflatables, $1.00 hot dogs, and a spook trail for $2.00. The Spastic Cow Food Truck will also be on hand.
TCC will also hold a student costume contest Wednesday, October 31st from 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Student Union with prizes for scariest, funniest, and most creative.
The Salvation Army Boys' and Girls Club will be holding a Fall Festival Thursday, October 25th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 4403 South 129th West Avenue. It will feature a costume contest, carnival games, inflatables, and a cake walk. It will be $5 per child.
Keystone Public School will be holding a Fall Festival Friday, October 26th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m with food, candy, and games at 23810 West Highway 51.
Chandler Park Community Center will host a Halloween Night Party Friday, October 26th from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at 6500 West 21st Street with hip hop, pop, and electronic dance music. There will be a dance challenge with a cash prize, and D.J. Luc Da Shine will be shooting a live music video.
M&M’s Ole Time Tavern is holding their Halloween Party Friday, October 26th at 9:00 p.m. with live music from Ronnie Pyle and the Drivers at 13906 West Highway 51.
Garden Heights Free Will Baptist Church will be holding a Fall Festival at 3415 Summit Boulevard, Saturday, October 27th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Next Door Bar & Grill at 6430 Charles Page Boulevard is holding a Halloween party on Saturday October 27th with a costume contest and karaoke.
The Office on Main’s 5th Annual Halloween Bash is Saturday, October 27th at 9:00 p.m. at 109 North Main Street. There will be door prizes, a 50/50 drawing, karaoke, a DJ, and a costume contest with cash prizes.
The Sand Springs Ministerial Alliance will be hosting their Eighth Annual Boo on Broadway festival in the downtown Triangle District Sunday, October 28th from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. There will be adult, child, and pet costume contests at the beginning of the event, as well as inflatables, competitions, games, face-painting, and more.
Reach Church, HillSpring Church, Church That Matters, New Life Tabernacle, Sand Springs Church of the Nazarene, Harvest Church, Solace Church, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, CrossPoint Church, Olivet Baptist Church, and First United Methodist Church all participate in the Ministerial Alliance.
HillSpring Associate Pastor Matt Barnett says he expects more than a hundred volunteers from those organizations, and a few dozen businesses participating as well. Anyone looking to get involved and help can email Barnett at Matt.Barnett@hillspring.tv. Last year’s festival attracted more than 3,000 visitors.
Any businesses or organizations participating in the event are also encouraged to make a donation towards Christmas bonuses for the Sand Springs Police and Fire Departments. The Ministerial Alliance donates several thousand dollars worth of gift cards to both departments every year.
Angus Church is hosting a Fall Carnival Wednesday, October 31st from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 4401 South 129th West Avenue. There will be free games, inflatables, trunk-or-treating, door prizes, free food, and a live classic rock show from Ronnie Pyle and the Drivers.
Broadway Baptist Church at 1000 North Adams Road will be hosting a Fall Festival October 31st from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with games, candy, food, prizes, and more.
CrossPoint Church is hosting the DreamLand Family Fall Festival October 31st from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 4600 South 129th West Avenue with games, inflatables, and a petting zoo.
Sand Springs Church of Christ will have a Trunk or Treat event October 31st from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at 4301 South 113th West Avenue. Sand Springs United Methodist Church will have a Trunk or Treat from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 319 North Main Street.
Are we missing your event? Email us details at SanditePrideNews@gmail.com
The third and final Sand Springs Sings preliminary vocal contest went down Tuesday evening in the downtown Triangle District, advancing three more local singers to the November 24th finale.
Robert Combs (Tulsa) took first place. Makenzee Rader (Sand Springs) placed second and Alyssa Jason (Berryhill) placed third.
Troy Dixon, an Oklahoman National Guardsman from Sand Springs, entertained the crowd with a pair of classic Frank Sinatra songs. Ali Ellison (Cleveland) performed Miley Cyrus’s “Wrecking Ball.” Roger Rister (Glenpool) gave a soulful rendition of “Long Black Train” by Josh Turner.
One of the most unique performances of the concert series was from Bulgarian native Mariana Rankin. Rankin performed an original a cappella song in her native tongue about her life growing up in an orphanage.
Miscee Smith, Heather Rogers, and Kimberly Bullard advanced from the first concert. Miscee and Dennis Smith performed as a duo in August, but only Miscee will be competing in the finals.
Alohilani Mayor, Bryanna Swan, and Mylin Gipson advanced from the second event. Gracee Shriver placed second in September but dropped out and Gipson was named as alternate. Combs was the only man to earn a top three-spot during the series.
All nine finalists will compete on November 24th prior to the Sand Springs Small Business Coalition’s Second Annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. Festivities will begin at noon and the vocal contest will go from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The 2018 holiday season is shaping up to be the best in Sand Springs history as new attractions join together with improved existing festivities. The town is well on its way to becoming a holiday destination for tourists across the region.
The Second Annual Snapped in Sand Springs event will run November 9th through December 29th. Dozens of businesses, churches, and organizations around Sand Springs will be setting up holiday-themed photo booths for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Some will be indoors, most will be outdoors, and everyone is welcome to stop by and take selfies or family photos.
On Saturday, November 24th the Sand Springs Small Business Coalition will hold their Second Annual Christmas Tree Lighting in the downtown Triangle District. Last year the event drew more than a thousand visitors as the city officially kick-started the holiday season with caroling, food trucks, and special holiday hours at the local businesses.
This year the Christmas Tree Lighting will be held at the finale of the Inaugural Sand Springs Sings vocal competition. The SSSBC will hold its third and final preliminary qualifier on Tuesday, October 2nd and the top three placers will advance to the November finals.
The Festival of Lights Christmas Parade will be held on Friday, November 30th in downtown and will feature Food Network star Kerry Vincent as Grand Marshall. The theme of the parade is “Christmas is the Sweetest Season of All.” Vincent was a judge on Food Network Challenge and has hosted multiple specials for the network as a master of sugar art. She founded and directs the Oklahoma Sugar Art Show every year, which is the largest judged sugar art show in the United States.
Prior to the parade, the Chamber will be lighting up all of the buildings in the downtown area with lights purchased through donations from Webco Industries, BancFirst, and the City of Sand Springs. Those lights will remain up through January 1st. The City is also donating a massive tree harvested from the Keystone Ancient Forest.
Last year Rod’s Books and Relics hosted their first Christmas Parade of Books, featuring several local authors at lighted tables along Second Street during the parade. The event has yet to be confirmed for 2018, but organizers are expected to announce a decision in the near future.
For the first time ever, the Chamber will also be hosting festivities through the entire parade weekend. “Hometown Holiday: A Christmas Celebration” will run Saturday December 1st from noon to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The event will feature choirs, bands, plays, children’s activities, carriage rides and more.
The Public Service Company of Oklahoma is donating the funds for a Santa Cottage and Tulsa Technology Center’s Sand Springs Campus will be constructing it so kids can tell Santa their Christmas wish list! There will also be a handful of Christmas characters in full costume wandering the area for photo opportunities.
A church tent will be available for local churches to host children’s activities throughout the weekend. Churches can host three-hour blocks of activities. Any club or group will be welcome to set up a free fundraising booth during the event. The Chamber is also open to community suggestions for other events and attractions.
Sandite Pride News will be sponsoring our Second Annual Christmas Light Contest throughout the holiday season. We will be recognizing the best home and best business in the Sand Springs area.
Finally, the internationally-acclaimed Blue Dog art exhibit by George Rodriguez will be making its Oklahoma debut at the Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum from November 17th throughout the holiday season.
For more information on the Christmas Parade and Christmas Celebration, visit the Chamber of Commerce website at https://sandspringschamber.com/. Applications for Snapped in Sand Springs, the parade, and Hometown Holiday can be found at that link.
The internationally acclaimed Blue Dog art exhibit by George Rodrigue will be making its Oklahoma debut this November at the Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum.
The deceased artist's iconic creation was the face of Absolut Vodka and Xerox Corporation in the 1990s. The Blue Dog is Rodrigue's interpretation of the Cajun werewolf, or loup-garou, and was modeled after his dog, Tiffany.
Northwoods Fine Arts Academy instructor Jennifer Barretto secured the exhibit earlier this year, but it wasn't set in stone until recently. While the George Rodrigue Foundation agreed to loan the art at no cost, the museum still had to raise $18,000 for transportation, security, and insurance.
With paintings valued at $60,000 apiece, the museum will have to provide alarm hooks and a physical security guard for the duration of the three-month exhibit. Barretto led the fundraising effort with help from the Sand Springs Small Business Coalition and other organizations.
Local business owners believe the exhibit will be a major economic stimulant for the downtown area, attracting thousands of visitors in the height of the Christmas shopping season. The exhibit will open November 17th, just a week before Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, in the heart of the downtown Triangle District.
Sandite Pride News, LLC is a locally owned and operated Sand Springs, Oklahoma news source, serving the community since 2014.
What is Sandite Pride News?
Sandite Pride is the only locally owned and operated news source for Sand Springs, Oklahoma. Sandite Pride News was founded in 2014 by Scott Emigh. The site is primarily focused on Sandite sports, Sand Springs city development, events, and community news.
