There is much entertainment available this Friday in Seminole and Shawnee. If the drive isn't that far, spending a fortune on gas may be worth it.

Carlos Martinez enjoys a day in the Municipal Pool Tuesday in Shawnee. The pool is in Woodland Veterans Park.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Here are the conditions at Oklahoma lakes as reported Wednesday, June 25, by the state Department of Wildlife Conservation and lake rangers.

Q: I have heard vinegar will control weeds, is that true?
 
A: Often you hear of home remedies for almost any malady.  Vinegar has been suggested as an effective herbicide, but until recently it had not been studied for effectiveness.

Jacob Keenom, fishing with his father, Bobby, caught a 6.32 pound bass on a Wave Tiki Stick in two feet of water in the Brooken area of the lake. Keenom fishes the OKC Bass Trail, an adult trail, as well as Jr. Bass Masters and the Prague Lake jackpot tournaments.

Jack and Idabel Johnson of Kiowa spot a painted bunting enjoying sunflower seeds.

Oklahoma Baptist University, in conjunction with the Pott County Pedalers Racing Team, St. Gregory’s University and the Greater Shawnee Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is planning a bicycle stage race, bike tour and run in Shawnee on Sept. 27-28. The two-day event will include USCF Road Races, USCF Time Trials, USCF Crits, bike tour, 2k fun walk/run and a 5k walk/run.

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More people are hurt snowboarding than any other outdoor activity, accounting for a quarter of emergency room visits, according to the first national study to estimate recreational injuries.

Beginning 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 11, 2008, there will be a new requirement to login in order to post comments. After a quick registration, you will be given a username and password so that you may post comments within the news-star.com Web site.

Here are the conditions at Oklahoma lakes as reported Wednesday by the state Department of Wildlife Conservation and lake rangers.

Star Spangled Salute air show takes off Memorial Day Weekend at Tinker Air Force Base May 24, 2008.

 Here are the conditions at Oklahoma lakes as reported Wednesday, May 21, by the state Department of Wildlife Conservation and lake rangers.

Cumulonimbus clouds bank in the sky near Shawnee Tuesday afternoon.

Have you ever wondered where you should put a tree or shrub in your yard?
What colors go together? Should the little plants go in front? How about low maintenance plants?
The Multi County Master Gardener Association, in conjunction with the Pottawatomie County Cooperative Extension Service will host a “Landscape Design” seminar at 10:30 a.m. May 21 at the OSU Extension Center, 14001 Acme Road, Shawnee.

Q: I am getting ready to purchase some items to be used for irrigation. Can you recommend something?

The first colors that come to mind when lantana plants are considered are likely to be a yellow-orange mixture. Plant developers have successfully increased the choices available. As the photo, at left, taken in a garden center shows, the range of bloom colors includes lemon yellow, pink, lavender, gold, red/orange, white and combinations of these.

Done with your spring cleaning? Not so fast.

It’s garage-sale time, and that means that stuff piled up in your attic, basement, crawl space or garage is ripe for the picking — and profit.

You have no idea how much those accumulated items might be worth until you try to sell them. You think it’s junk. Others may see it as jewels.

His love for the outdoors sparked his interest to pursue a job he thoroughly enjoys today, and he says the positives far outweigh the negatives.
Mike France, state game warden assigned to Pottawatomie County, says, “I really like being outside meeting people, and I enjoy the flexibility of the work schedule.”
He also says, “I don’t get to do all of the hunting and fishing I thought I would, but that is mainly because of family.” France was born and reared in Shawnee. He and his wife Christy, (formerly Christy Abbot) who grew up in Bethel, have two children, Zac, 12, and Andrea, 10. They are completing the sixth and fourth grades respectively.
France says his son is really into hunting and fishing, and his daughter enjoys fishing. His wife doesn’t like to do either, he says.

Shawnee Middle School’s seventh-grade students spent a sunny Friday at Shawnee Twin Lakes participating in the school’s seventh annual Outdoor Camp.

Throughout the morning and early afternoon, the students rotated through a variety of stations to learn the basics of several outdoor activities. These activities included fishing, the use of archery equipment and shotgunning.