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“Unicorn Ball” Theme for Tenth Daddy Daughter Dance

BJ Kirkpatrick News 01/05/201907/23/2025

Unicorns are coming to the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum for the tenth annual Daddy Daughter Dance. A “Unicorn Ball” will feature unicorn decorations throughout the Children’s Museum. An archway of flowers will welcome each girl and her dad to the land of unicorns. The event will be at the Children’s Museum in Commerce on February 2 from 6:30 to 9:00.

In addition to the dance, crafts will include a unicorn theme. Face painting will include rainbows and unicorns. Local businesses and individuals will sponsor a variety of crafts. Girls and dads, granddads, uncles, or brothers can feast on unicorn food. Brenda Estes, food chairperson for the event, said, “There are many wonderful ideas for unicorn food on Pinterest, and I love to prepare food that looks exciting and interesting for the young girls.” Thalian Culture Club will again be a sponsor for the food.

A highlight of the evening will be the appearance of Annabella, a miniature unicorn horse. Owned by Deborah Daffron of Lil Texas Stars, Annabella will make an appearance from 7:00 to 8:00.

NTCM Daddy Daughter Dance — A friendly Unicorn looks on as plans are made for the tenth annual Daddy Daughter Dance at the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum.

Photographer David Hambrick will be available for special photos for the evening. These will be available for purchase. With decorations by Beckey Thompson, Lonnie Plunkett, and Elana Barton, these experienced ladies will transofrm the museum to Unicorn Land. Jim Ayres will serve as disc jokey As a newcomer to the Daddy Daughter Dance, he will relay on his experience from being the emcee for the Mummy and Me Event at the Children’s Museum in the fall.

“As we begin plans for the tenth Daddy Daughter Dance, it is fun to look back over past dances. Our most popular Daddy Daughter Dance had a theme from the movie, “Frozen”. So many people have volunteered at the past events. We have watched as many young girls have become young ladies. We are excited to still be able to offer an event that is such a special time for young girls”, said Sharline Freeman, Executive Director

Discounted tickets are now on sell at the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum and can be purchased by calling 903-886-6055. Tickets purchased before January 19th are $30 for each girl and her escort; tickets purchased between January 19 and February 2 are $35. On February 2, the day of the event, tickets will be $40 for each couple. Additional young girls will be $10 each.

Lake Texoma Fishing Report December 2018

BJ Kirkpatrick Lake Texoma news 12/18/201807/23/2025

Fishing with Captain Steve Barnes December 2018

by Capt. Steve Barnes Lake Texoma Fishing Guide

Winter is here on Lake Texoma. Fishing has been good with the recent warm spell but larger fish have been a little scarce. The colder winter temperatures with chances of rain (or even snow) turn the big fish on so fish the Winter season on Texoma.

My cast nets are stored away till spring so we are fully committed to artificial baits for the next few months. Funny thing is I have more confidence in artificial baits over live bait during the colder months. My preferred method right now is deadsticking. Deadsticking is just what it sounds like. You drop a lure down to the fish and hold it still, only movement is the boat drifting wich should be about a half a mile per hour and not more than 1 mile per hour. Best lure is soft plastic fluke style bait on a 1 ounce jighead. Color can make some difference but as usual white, silver and chartreuse work best for me. I think the fish see contrast in color better than baits that are one color so if I have a chartreuse jighead I use a white or light colored fluke. White jighead I use chartreuse fluke.

Look for birds working to point you to the active fish. If no birds are working sometimes you can drift a area where fish have been feeding and get them to gather up under you by splashing the water or beating on the side of the boat. Some days the open water fish just will not cooperate and you gotta get out the swimbaits or just cast the flukes on the rocky shorelines till you find some active fish. Good luck and if your interested in a deadsticking book a trip with me and I’ll teach you.

With winter weather setting in, arms are sore from reeling them in, lots of good box fish and over 20″ fish. Caught a few deadsticking but tore them up casting swimbaits. Big fish are on the move. Either way I’m busting out the full winter gear and going fishing with or without customers, yes it’s that good.

OTC Announces Willis Bridge Contract

Oklahoma Department of Transportation announced this week that Jensen Construction Company of Sand Springs was awarded the contract to replace the Willis Bridge. Jensen was the lowest of eight bidders for the $43 million construction job.

The Willis Bridge is on SH-99/U.S.-377 connecting Madill in Marshall County, Okla., and Whitesboro in Grayson County, Texas. The replacement structure will be wider and longer than the existing one and will be built to the east. The project also will include construction of the approaching roadway at each end of the new bridge and demolition of the old bridge.

The new bridge will be 5,462 ft. long with two 12-ft.-wide driving lanes and 10-ft.-wide shoulders on each side. The tallest of the 38 piers that will support the bridge deck will extend about 80 ft. from the top of the bridge deck to the lake bed.

The existing bridge was completed in 1960 and is in poor condition. “This bridge requires maintenance on a regular basis which can have economic impacts and affects the traveling public. We’re pleased to see this new bridge begin; it will far outlive its predecessor,” said Anthony Echelle, Division 2 engineer of southeastern Oklahoma.

Construction is expected to begin in early 2019 and will take about two and a half years to complete, pending weather conditions and other factors. The cost of the project is expected to be financed with federal funds and with Texas and Oklahoma sharing the cost.

Motorists will continue to drive on the old bridge until completion of the replacement bridge and the approaching roadway at each end is finished. About 2,800 vehicles travel across the Willis Bridge each day.

The Willis Bridge is the longest state-maintained bridge in Oklahoma. The Red River bridge in Tillman County on U.S.-70/U.S.-183 is slightly longer, at 5,580 ft., and it is maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation.

The bridge receives its name from the local community of Willis on the Oklahoma side.