Sam Shook wins inaugural SalsaFest at OkieSpice & Trade Co.

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OkieSpice & Trade Co. held their inaugural SalsaFest Saturday in Sand Springs and the event was a big success according to business owner Kim Zieg.

The event featured local craft, spice, and salsa vendors, as well as a homemade salsa making competition. Sam Shook took top prize in the salsa competition out of a field of 24. According to Zieg only a handful of the competitors were local and most traveled from out of town to participate.

“We exposed most to this area for the first time,” said Zieg. “Customers loved the event and the store. Our vendors were well pleased with their day and we had more entries than we could have hoped for!” She says the store plans to bring the festivities back next year.

OkieSpice opened in November of 2017 and have already made a big effort to be involved in the local community. In April they held their inaugural Westival event to coincide with the 29th Annual Herbal Affair and Festival. They are located at 501 West 2nd Street just west of downtown.

Sand Springs Senior Citizens craft handmade winter-wear for victims of abuse/sex trafficking

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Nearly two-dozen Sand Springs volunteers have spent the past several months knitting, sewing, and crocheting handmade winter-wear for the nonprofit DaySpring Villa shelter. The "Case Comfort Crafters" made 56 stocking hats, seventeen scarves, thirty children's blankets, and twenty quilted bed coverlets to donate to the women's shelter for victims of domestic violence and sex trafficking.

The group was organized by Sherry Clark, Programs Director for RSVP Tulsa. The Retired Senior Volunteer Program is part of Senior Corps, a federal program that seeks to connect citizens over the age of 55 with service projects and nonprofit organizations. 

One volunteer moved to Sand Springs four years ago after the death of her husband. With her kids grown and busy with their lives, she stayed home most days with nothing to do. "Working on this has been really good. I've got a room full of friends."

Clark's office is located in Tulsa, but she had so many Sandites coming in to look for local opportunities that she had to come see Sand Springs for herself. "Seniors in Sand Springs are really looking to give back to the community," she said. 

Seniors looking to get involved in the organization do not have to have prior skills in crocheting. For information on their next meeting, you can contact Case Community Center at 918-246-2661 or RSVP at 918-280-8656. 

Victims of domestic abuse or sex trafficking can reach DaySpring Villa 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 918-245-4075. The villa will have a barbecue this evening to distribute the gifts to their guests.

14th Annual Rotary Bass Tournament returns to Keystone Lake this weekend

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The Fourteenth Annual Sand Springs Rotary Bass Tournament is this weekend on Keystone Lake and you aren't likely to find a better excuse to go fishing. 

Rotary Club claims a motto of "Service Above Self" and has a ninety-year history of meeting both the local and the international community's needs through student loans, scholarships, donations, and fundraisers.

In recent years they have held fundraisers for Sand Springs Community Services, Salvation Army, Red Cross, Boy Scouts, the Tulsa Boys Home, Senior Celebration, Relay for Life, Sertoma Club, Special Olympics, and the Sand Springs Home. 

The bass tournament is sponsored by Bill Knight Automotive and Collision Repair, and is held at the Prairie View Boat Ramp in Mannford. There is a $100 entry fee per two-person team, and a $1,000 Big Bass prize sponsored by Blackbeard Marine. Smaller prizes include marine oil, hitches, gas, reels, tackle, t-shirts, and more. There will also be free hamburgers, hot dogs, soda, and beer.

The bass tournament is just one of many annual fundraisers put on by the Rotarians. They also hold an annual bean dinner, chili cookoff, 5K Run, and golf tournament. 

In just three months, Rotary Club will host the Tenth Annual Downhill Derby soapbox car race in downtown Sand Springs. Downhill Derby offers a day of family-friendly fun that attracts hundreds of spectators and participants every year.

For more information on the fishing tournament, contact Mike Luttrell, Tournament Director, at 918.633.0666 or 918.526.2510.

Click here to register for the event.