wimgo® Okemah

Saturday June 30th, 2012 Get ready for an Elvis night to remember as the Elvis Presley Fan club of Oklahoma hosts its annual Elvis theme party, Silent auction and dance. This is the 14th annual Event the fan club has hosted with the theme being “Blue Hawaii”. Special Décor will be in place to commerate Elvis’ 1961 Hit Movie. The event will feature KOMA’s “Mr. Rock and Roll” Ronnie Kaye as the Event DJ, Elvis Tribute Artist Tim Keef will also be performing throughout the night. Tim is an award winning Elvis tribute artist who is highly enjoyable. A silent auction of Licensed Elvis items will also take place from 6-9 pm. The event is an official Elvis Presley Event approved by Graceland. Ticket sales will help benefit St. Jude Children’s hospital. A Buffet will also be available for an additional fee, but is not included in the cover charge to get into the event. Event time is from 6-10. Adults are $10, Children 5-15 are $5 5 and under are admitted at no charge. Tickets can be bought in advance by Calling 918-623-1814 or at the door. Tickets are sold on a limited number so it is advisable to get them in advance as the event sells out each year.

After an absence of 14 years, Billy Bragg is returning to Okemah for a performance at the 15th Annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, which this year is celebrating Woody Guthrie’s 100th birthday. Bragg was a headliner at a concert held on Woody’s birthday at the inaugural WoodyFest in 1998. A chance meeting with Nora Guthrie in 1992, when Nora was in the process of setting up her father’s archive and looking for ways to expand his musical legacy, resulted in Bragg being invited to collaborate with unrecorded Woody Guthrie lyrics. When Bragg decided he needed a band to help with the project, the collaboration grew to include Jeff Tweedy and Wilco. In the summer of 1997, when both acts were in New York City, they met with Nora Guthrie to choose lyrics to put to music. Later the ensemble spent time in Chicago and Dublin where, at recording sessions attended by Nora, more than 50 songs (lyrics by Woody Guthrie; music by Bragg and Tweedy) were recorded and Mermaid Avenue – released in 1998 – was born. Mermaid Avenue, Vol. 2 was released in 2000. Just in time for Woody’s centennial celebration, Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions was released on April 21. The 3-disk set includes the original two volumes of Mermaid Avenue (the second re-mastered), a third volume with 17 previously unreleased recordings from the 1997 recording sessions; the 1999 film Man in the Sand which documents the recording sessions; and a 48-page booklet which includes new liner notes by Nora Guthrie, lyrics, archival photographs, and sketches by Woody Guthrie.
Bragg will perform at the Pastures of Plenty on Thursday, July 12.
Arlo Guthrie is also returning this year to help celebrate his father’s 100th birthday. The solo acoustic show – the only ticketed event of the festival – will open the festival on Wednesday, July 11 and will take place in the newly-renovated Crystal Theater in downtown Okemah. Cost of tickets for the concert is $30 for General Admission seats and $50 for a limited number of Gold Circle seats. Gold Circle seats include a post-concert reception at the Brick Street Café, three blocks east of the Crystal. Tickets for the 8pm show go on sale June 1 at 10am and can be purchased via PayPal on the festival website at www.woodyguthrie.com.

1920´s architecture, By appt N of downtown on Lincoln 580-667-3330.

Boat ramp, picnic area, outdoor grills and group facilities.
Recreation Activities Available: Fishing
Directions: 1 mi W of Weleetka

Statement of Significance (as of designation - May 15, 1975):
Begun as a camp for African-American railroad construction hands, this is the largest of the towns established in Oklahoma to provide African-Americans with the opportunity for self government in an era of white supremacy and segregation.

Condition:
The historic district continues to be threatened by neglect. The town has recently completed the rehabilitation of a historic structure and constructed a museum just off Main Street. However, the ongoing deterioration of historic buildings seems to be outpacing the restoration of historic structures.

The recommendation is to move the threat level from "watch" to "threatened."

Recommendation/Change since last report:
The town and associated friends group should apply to the NPS for funding and technical assistance to help in the preservation and interpretation of this important resource

BARBEQUE COOKER, FOOD SERVICE: COOKS & SMOKES MEAT UNDER PRESSURE. HAMBURGER COOKER: COOKS BURGERS IN SECONDS, NO HOOD NEEDED, CUTS ENERGY. BARBEQUE SAUCE: TASTE AWARD WINNER, DRY MIX TO ADD WATER & KETCHUP. BARBEQUE SPICE: ENHANCES FLAVOR OF MEATS & VEGGIES.