Hog Jog 5K in Owasso

[Ed W]

I'll take any excuse to say "Hog Jog" because it rolls so nicely off the tongue. 

It was chilly this morning with a south wind when the race started.  There were serious competitors who went out fast from the start.  I got a kick from seeing the kids start fast right along with the eventual winners, but 2 kilometers into the run, they were flagging. 

Here's a shot of the start.  If any of you were competing, or if you know someone who ran this morning, the rest of my photos are on Flickr at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8188326@N02/sets/




These are all low-res version of the originals, so if someone wants a copy, just let me know and I'll send you the high-res photo.

[GG]

Nice pictures. 

[TheArtist]

Saw that as I was driving up through Owasso yesterday.  Actually made me think a little less of Owasso as a suburb because it reminded me that they don't really have a central public space where the community meets.  There isn't a real downtown, no discernable public square, no proud historic this or that for the community to point to and gather around, not even a "fake" town square type area that I know of.  You could just as well randomly pick any half dozen different lackluster areas to have a parade, start a run, have a rally, festival, or any other community event.  Nice pics btw.

[Ed W]

All valid points, Artist.  Owasso began as a cluster of buildings around the railroad station.  The line went north to Coffeyville and supplied Kansas City with milk from the 30 or so dairy farms here.  Surprisingly, the rail link wasn't completed to Tulsa.  Dunno why, but I suspect it would be a tale of small town intrigue and big egos.

Like Topsy, Owasso just kinda growed.  I work with a guy who grew up here.  When he was a child, the town didn't extend past US169 to the east.  Physically constrained by floodplain to the west and south, the town grew north and east.  Fortunately, the old downtown hasn't been forgotten as it's slowly renovating with some new businesses, a new city hall (which could arguably include a smallish town square), a good library, and an excellent Hmong donut shop.  I likes me some donuts and their apple fritters are outstanding.

I learned most of this from the Owasso Museum - another Main Street fixture.  It has a good collection of old photos.  But I need to learn more, so it may take a few more trips down to the museum.

Growth brings inevitable conflict.  Some would have the city spend tax monies only on the necessities, like roads and bridges.  Others want amenities like parks and greenways.  The recent bond issue election failed for several reasons.  Partly, it's the economy.  People do not want to increase their taxes during lean times.  And of course, there are some who would never vote for a tax increase.  The pro side was playing coy.  They wanted the issues to pass, yet they are not part of the city and cannot vote.  But the new parks and facilities would have been in their neighborhoods, increasing the value of their homes while the rest of us paid for the projects.

Local politics and history are a microcosm of our nation.  We see the same themes playing out.  The have and have nots go through the same conflicts, and the 1% want to call the shots for the rest of us. 

[Red Arrow]

Saw that as I was driving up through Owasso yesterday.  Actually made me think a little less of Owasso as a suburb because it reminded me that they don't really have a central public space where the community meets.  There isn't a real downtown, no discernable public square, no proud historic this or that for the community to point to and gather around, not even a "fake" town square type area that I know of.  You could just as well randomly pick any half dozen different lackluster areas to have a parade, start a run, have a rally, festival, or any other community event. 

Let's nuke it.  Places like that don't deserve to exist.

[GG]

Let's nuke it.  Places like that don't deserve to exist.

Hey, I live in Owasso don't nuke my home of 22 years.   I have a nicely landscaped yard that includes a greenhouse, water garden and flower gardens. 

[Ed W]

If you just have to nuke the place, do it at night so it's less disruptive for the morning commute.

[Red Arrow]

If you just have to nuke the place, do it at night so it's less disruptive for the morning commute.

Is that like taking a trip to the Sun during the night since it's too hot to go during the daytime?

[Red Arrow]

Hey, I live in Owasso don't nuke my home of 22 years.   I have a nicely landscaped yard that includes a greenhouse, water garden and flower gardens. 

If you think that's livable, you clearly have no idea of the meaning of life.  Please be at home when we nuke your place.  

Disclaimer(?):
There isn't much in "Downtown" Bixby anymore either but most of the buildings are still there.

[Hoss]

If you think that's livable, you clearly have no idea of the meaning of life.  Please be at home when we nuke your place.  

Disclaimer(?):
There isn't much in "Downtown" Bixby anymore either but most of the buildings are still there.

This is not a dig at all 'Owassans', but many I've known take the 'we're better than those of you in Tulsa just because' attitude.  Started with my first serious girlfriend, who was an Owasso HS graduate (when I say 'serious', I don't consider anything during my time in high school serious) and just about 2 months younger than I.  The attitude was so thick I could have cut with a knife (this was all around 1985-1986).  The attitude migrated to Jenks after that.

I was able to stand it all of about 4 months.

[Red Arrow]

This is not a dig at all 'Owassans', but many I've known take the 'we're better than those of you in Tulsa just because' attitude. 

No doubt there is a bunch of that in both directions.  It seems to be in vogue to despise everyone else's lifestyle.

[Hoss]

No doubt there is a bunch of that in both directions.  It seems to be in vogue to despise everyone else's lifestyle.

True, just seems that I always run into the suburbaners who really push that home.  Most of them don't realize that without the core city, where would they be?  Kinda like Poteau or Sallisaw I suppose...

[Red Arrow]

True, just seems that I always run into the suburbaners who really push that home.  Most of them don't realize that without the core city, where would they be?  Kinda like Poteau or Sallisaw I suppose...

No doubt.

The thing that always amazes me is the thought that if you live within the Tulsa City limits that you somehow are an urban dweller.  If that's true, since Bixby is a "City", I too am an urban dweller.  Most of Tulsa is suburban in lifestyle.   This area is becoming more like the area where I grew up.  The way you knew you were in a different local government entity was by the sign on the street saying "Welcome to  XXX".   This is the Tulsa Now forum and not Bixby Now or Jenks Now and so on.... but I see a resentment of the suburbs (Not officially within the Tulsa City limits) supposedly based on lifestyle when there is mostly very little difference in lifestyle.  I think it's more of a battle for tax revenue and then complaining about having to provide services.  FWIW, Bixby presently has a higher sales tax than Tulsa with a total sales tax a bit over 9% compared to about 8.5% in Tulsa.  The sales tax in Sapulpa is about 9.5% as I see from a receipt from Atwoods.


This is my impression of urban living.  It's a spot randomly chosen from Philadelphia, PA.

http://g.co/maps/sd8gq

[RecycleMichael]

I don't think Owasso is all that bad. I don't have the same perception as you guys. I guess I just see different things than you.

The recycling center in Owasso is great. I don't manage it, but I have got some grant money to buy it trailers, tanks, steps, etc. It also serves as a trash transfer station so residents can easily and affordably handle extra trash. The city also has a more progressive trash system to handle yard waste. Rather than charge everybody whether they dump grass clippings or not, Owasso sells special bags (10 for $8).

Owasso also spends plenty of money to keep their city clean. I never see trash on the roads (I can't say that for any other town within 100 miles of Tulsa). They have an aggressive tree planting program along roadsides and in parks.

Their city management has been stable with the same city manager for most of the past 25 years and last year was the first city in Oklahoma to win an A+ rating for transparency in government.  

[Red Arrow]

I don't think Owasso is all that bad. I don't have the same perception as you guys. I guess I just see different things than you.

I don't personally have any problem with Owasso.  I was just responding to:

they don't really have a central public space where the community meets.  There isn't a real downtown, no discernable public square, no proud historic this or that for the community to point to and gather around, not even a "fake" town square type area that I know of.  You could just as well randomly pick any half dozen different lackluster areas to have a parade, start a run, have a rally, festival, or any other community event.