June 29, 2022 Issue, Page 3 of 8

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June 29, 2022 News The Elk City News 3 32nd Annual Foss Lake Christmas in July Festival = SS A Salute To Our Veterans and Current Military Children learn lifesaving water skills through swim- ming lessons offered at the OSU Colvin Recreation Cen- ter. Photo by Todd Johnson, OSU Agricultural Communications Services Press Release by Neva Pyatt door events in western Oklahoma and is Following the 5K Run is the Kayak “Trail fun for the entire family! Friday, July 8th, Ride” at Chinaberry, starting at 10:00. Have ever wondered how or why the Foss all the vendors will be in place by 1:00. The Meet at 9:30 and bring your own kayak or Lake Christmas in July Festival was start- ‘opening ceremony honoring our Veterans paddle board. National Safety ed 32 years ago? Some of the residents at and current Military will begin at 6pm at Continuing Saturday activities, The Foss Foss Lake got together and decided they wanted to honor the men and women who the Main Stage, north of the Marina on Cedar Point. The Altus AFB Honor Guard Lake Little King and Queen Pageant be- gins at 10:30. Check in at 10:00 in the Month highlights ag had been involved in Desert Storm. They will present the colors, special music will main stage area. Get an entry form at the felt like these Veterans who served never had the kind of recognition they deserved. be provided by Casey and Leigh Ann King and Colonel Tom Ivester will address the Foss State park office, B & K Bait house, ‘The Elk City News Paper office in Elk City and summer hazards ‘Three of the men who began the festival group. or down load it from Facebook — Foss Lake were L. C. Murphy, Carman Milles and Friday evening will continue with a free Christmas in July. By Gail Ellis learn the critical thinking Bill Farmer. In the beginning there was a concert on the Main stage from 8-11 pm., Beckham County Baggers and H20 Bag- and judgment skills needed to lighted boat parade followedby a huge fire with the Tyler Wilhelm band and JW gers will have a Cornhole Tournament STILLWATER. - June is Na- safely operate an ATV. works show. ‘The festival was only 1 day, Lane. Take a lawn chair or a blanket and with registration at 11 AM and Bags fly tional Safety Month, but for The OSU Extension ATV Rid- which was Saturday. In just a few years, enjoy the music and the evening. Friday farmers and ranchers, safety ers Course includes a two-hour at 12 noon. There will be 3 categories in- is a 24/7, year-round priori- online component as well as a the festival began to grow. Vendors were will also be a good time to go thru the ven- cluding Upper (competitive) - $50 entry, added, several special events were incor- dors who will have jewelry, t-shirts, crafts ty. ‘The agriculture industry is three-hour skills course con- porated beginning with a special program and all the fun things they have to offer Lower (backyard players) - $30 and 12 filled with many dangers in- and under Youth $10. ‘The payout will be volving equipment, animals, ducted by a licensed ATV Safe- ty Institute instructor. Okla- on Friday evening where the Veterans and and check out the food court. Kids always chemicals and weather. current military people are honored. love the pony rides. These vendors set up a 50/50 on the adult divisions and 100% Oklahoma State University homa schools can also request Extension and the U.S. De- a training session on location. payout on the youth. For more informa- As the festival grew, The Foss Lake Associ-on Friday and will stay until late Saturday ation began to take on projects around the night. tion contact Eric at 580-928-7128. Oklahoma Farm Bureau is a partment of Agriculture offer lake with money made from the festival. Saturday, the 9th is loaded with special ‘The festival will have a lighted Boat Parade safety pointers for the follow- corporate sponsor of the ATV Some of the projects the Association has events and activities beginning with the beginning at Dusk on Saturday evening. ing areas. safety program. Both OSU provided include Storm sirens around the 7th Annual SK Fun Run across the Dam Contact Copper Cove Marina at 580-660- Livestock handling Extension educators and OFB lake, habitats for the fish, repairs on some starting at Zam. Check-in begins at 6:15 6585 for more information. This year Whether vaccinating calves staff are trained and certified of the docks, purchase feed for the buffalo, am at the Foss State Park Office. The run there are cash prizes of $250 and $125 or providing first-aid to hors- to teach the course. while they were there, help purchase a Side is open to runners and walkers of all ages. for 1st and 2nd place in 2 divisions. The es, working with livestock in Water festival will close with a spectacular fire- close quarters is a risky job. Nicholas Sumpter, aquat- scan sonar for Foss Lake, which helped ‘The proceeds from the run benefit the Vet- Mark Johnson, OSU Exten- solve two 40 year old cases of missing peo- erans center at Clinton, Foss State Park works display, sponsored by MPLX, which ics program assistant at the sion beef cattle breeding spe- Colvin Recreation Center on ple, and annually the Association gives a and local non-profit charities. Participants will wrap up the 32nd annual Christmas cialist, said 50% of all injuries OSU's campus, is a certified sizable donation to the Veterans Center at will receive a drawstring backpack, a race in July Festival. This event is sponsored to humans are the result of water safety instructor who Clinton. There are numerous other areas T-shirt and other goodies. For informa- by many area companies and businesses bad judgment, being in a hur- is managing the center's swim that Foss Lake Association has been able tion email fossfunrunegmail.com, or go each year and organized by dedicated vol- ry, exhaustion, being preoccu- lesson program this summer. to help with improvements thru the years. to Facebook “ Foss Lake SK Fun Run” to unteers. pied and trying to get things The Colvin Center offers swim This year, the 32nd Annual Foss Lake receive the link to register on line. Dwight Make plans to take your family out to Foss done too quickly. On a recent lessons for children as young Christmas in July Festival is July 8th and Lake July 8th and 9th and enjoy all of the episode of OSU Agriculture's SUNUP television program, he as 6 months old. In pools, Shephard, 580-515-4319, is the coordina- tor. activities! explained why it’s necessary oceans, lakes or any other 9th. This event is one of the largest out- to recognize cattle behavior, body of water, he suggested learn animal husbandry skills these basic water rules: Jumping worms are real and a threat to the garden and work in well-maintained facilities. These three areas are detrimental to reducing an- Be aware of the hazards - know the water depth and what dangers exist with each imal stress, improving labor different body of water. efficiency and avoiding injury Know how to help in an emer- to cattle and humans. gency ~ call 911 and identify “All beef cattle have a flight lifeguards. zone and point of balance, Learn how to choose and are motivated by fear and properly put on alifejacket. don’t like to be alone,” he said. The American Red Cross “Ranchers need to capitalize recommends life jackets ap- on cattle behavior and follow a facility checklist.” proved by the U.S. Coast Size of cattle Guard with a lower strap to Frequency of the facility's use prevent the jacket from slid- Interior or exterior location,ing off the swimmer. Life including the chute, alleyway,jackets are made for all ages lighting situation and drain- and should always be worn in ‘The Asian jumping worm and other non-native earthworms have negative effects on the environment. Photo provided by age boats. Scott Loss Additional safety information “We do swim tests in our pool can be found in Chapter 40 of here at the Colvin Center, and the OSU Beef Cattle Manual. if you're not able to do a half- By Trisha Gedon Most earthworms burrow in worms look similar to any oth- and freezing them, then throw Farm equipment and storage length of the pool without the soil, but jumping worms er earthworm except for the away the sealed container. facilities getting tired, we recommend STILLWATER. - As gardeners and other non-native species, Don’t buy or use jumping lighter-colored band near the From understanding the haz- you wear a life vest,” Sumpter spend time in their flower beds such as those in the genus anterior end of the body and worms for bait, vermicom- ards of power take-off equip- said. and landscapes, they might un- Aporrectodea, feed on or near a more shiny/smooth appear- posting or gardening. This can ment and mower blades to Sumpter said a person can cover some worms in the soil the surface of the soil and may ance. Unfortunately, there is allow them to invade new ar- engine fluids and exhaust drown in as little as 1 inch mufflers, the USDA provides = and not just any worm, the havesoil negative effects on the not currently a viable method and plant growth, said eas. Note that some of these of water. The risks increase, ag safety resources for chil- of course, when swimming is invasive Asian jumping worm. David Hillock, OSU Extension of control. Compounds avail- worms are marketed with na- dren and employees on the mixed with alcohol or drugs. Unlike native earthworms, this consumer horticulturist. able that might work against tive-sounding names, such farm. OSU Agriculture also of- and other non-native earth- “They like to feast on leaf lit- jumping worms would also kill as Texas jumpers or Alabama fers a video on grain bin safe- “As adults, we don't think we worm species, can wreak havoc ter and are known for leaving other beneficial earthworms. ty produced by OSU’s Stored have to listen to the kid rules jumpers. Consumers are ad- Products Research and Educa- for swimming, but it’s still im- in the soil. And yes, they do castings (earthworm feces) be- ‘The most important form of vised to avoid purchasing tion Center. portant to look out for others, jump. hind,” Hillock said. “Mulch is management is preventing the those worms. The most widely Sun Exposure always have a buddy and know Asian jumping worms are another favorite food source. worms from establishing in the used compost worm, common- Most people prioritize their what kind of hazards there are somewhat new to the United Be aware they can eat two to first place. This can be done in skin more in the summer in the water,” he said. States, said Scott Loss, associ- ly known as red wiggler, isn’t when they spend a greater Mental health three times their body weight the following ways: ate professor with Oklahoma every day. Because of their eat- When purchasing bulk mulch able to survive and establish amount of time outdoors. Working in agriculture is re- State University’s Department self-sustaining populations if Gina Peek, OSU Extension warding but also involves of Natural Resource Ecology ing patterns, jumping worms or compost, look for a rep- released into the wild, so this is associate dean of engagement many challenges that can and continuing education and negatively impact a person’s and Management. and other non-native species utable producer who has the recommended one to use. can cause an imbalance in soil heat-treated the material. director of OSU Extension's mental and emotional health. “While no systematic surveys Loss said jumping worms and Family and Consumer Sci- OSU Extension, the OSU Cen- have been done, I have found nutrition, which can disrupt Check property for jumping other non-native species are ences, advised the following them around the OSU campus the natural ecosystem and worms using a mustard pour. widely used for fishing bait. tips to avoid mid-day sun ex- ter for Health Sciences and the Oklahoma Department of in Stillwater, as well as a few home landscapes.” Mix a gallon of water with 1/3 “While we can't realistically posure and to properly apply Agriculture, Food and Forest- spots in eastern Oklahoma,” Removing the surface organ- cup of ground yellow mustard sunscreen: Loss said. “Although not cur- ic matter isn’t a good method seed and pour slowly into the prevent use of these species for Use a broad-spectrum sun- ry have teamed up through a screen with a sun protection one-year grant from the USDA rently a significant concern of control because that poses soil. This will drive any worms bait, we do recommend dispos- value (SPF) of at least 15 National Institute of Food and in the state, these aren’t your ing of unused bait rather than a risk to other organisms by to the surface where they can Follow directions on the sun- Agriculture to host a series regular earthworms. ‘They eliminating their food source. easily be removed. This mix- dumping on the ground and multiply more rapidly than screen label for correct appli- of webinars aimed at mental establishing a new invasion,” cation and frequency other species, but the real dif- Hillock said removing leaf lit- ture is safe for plants. he said. Apply sunscreen to all ex- health support for farmers andranchers. ference is they can devour or- ter also decreases the habitat Cocoons, which overwinter in Loss provides more informa- posed skin, including ears, Farm stress is a real issue for ganic material quickly, which for ground-nesting birds and the soil, are sensitive to heat nose, lips, back of the neck, many rural families, and OSU can alter the soil structure and other species who find refuge and can be destroyed with clear tion about invasive worms on hands and feet is partnering with the USDA chemistry of land. Their move- there. plastic solarization. If estab- this episode of OSU Agricul- Read more about sunscreen to increase mental health ment also differs in that they In addition, jumping worm ac- lishing a new garden bed, cover ture’s. Oklahoma Gardening application and sun safety. awareness while helping peo- move and thrash around like a tivity can cause changes in the moistened soil with a sheet of television program, as well as All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) ple get the assistance they snake.” physical characteristics of soil, transparent polyethylene for on his website. ATVs, such as four-wheelers need. and other utility vehicles, are In addition to the Asian jump- which can contribute to soil two or three weeks until the OSU — Extension uses re convenient on the farm but Gardening ing worm, Loss said other spe- search-based information to help cies of non-native earthworms, erosion and changes in water soil temperature exceeds 104 can be dangerous if not op- permeability. Soil infested with degrees Fahrenheit for at least all Oklahomans solve local issues erated in a safe and respon- OSU Extension horticulture spe- primarily originating from Eu- sible manner. Inexperienced cialists recommend taking safety rope, are established through- jumping worms resembles cof- three days. and concerns, promote leader- If you discover a small popula- ship and manage resources wisely drivers are more apt to op- precautions while gardening. A out North America, including fee grounds and deprives other erate ATVs in the summer segment of the television show Oklahoma. These groups also plants of essential nutrients. tion of jumping worms, hand- throughout the state’s 77 counties. when children are home from Oklahoma Gardening details have documented negative ef- Right now, Hillock said ed- pick and destroy them by plac- Most information is available at school. All drivers should what to watch for while tending fects on the environment. ucation is the key. Jumping ing ina sealed bag or container little to no cost. complete a safety course to fruits and vegetables.