The Woodward News

Local News

May 25, 2009

Salt Plains to host big ceremony

A grand re-opening ceremony of the Crystal Dig area at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge will be held at 10 a.m. May 30.

On the morning of the ceremony, several speakers will give presentations, including Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, State Sen. David Myers, R-Ponca City, and Col. Anthony Funkhouser of the Army Corp of Engineers.

A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. and a crystal digging contest will be held.

“Contest divisions will include the find of the smallest blade crystal, the biggest blade crystal, the smallest cluster and the biggest cluster and the best of show,” said Becky Wolff, outdoor recreation planner for the refuge.

The contest, which is for all ages, will begin at 10:30 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m.

In addition to prizes awarded for the winning crystals, door prizes will be given out throughout the day.

“The door prizes will consist of frizbees, vizors and water bottles,” Wolff said.

Administrators of the Crystal Dig are seeking volunteers to teach new visitors how to dig selenite crystals during the crystal contest. To help, they may call Wolff at (580) 626-4794 or e-mail her at rebecca_wolff@fws.gov.

The dig site actually re-opened about a month ago after being closed for two years to ensure the area was clear of any vials of gas used during World War II to train recruits and cadets for chemical warfare.

The site was originally closed in April 2007 after a Boy Scout unearthed a chemical vial while digging for crystals. Several additional vials and other military paraphernalia were then discovered and removed and the Army Corps of Engineers has declared the area safe for the public once again.

According to Becky Wolff, outdoor recreation planner for the refuge, people can to once again dig up crystals of gypsum and salt from the area. The crystals are also called selenite crystals.

Wolff said the crystal dig area is left over from the Interior Sea, a vast warm inland seaway as large as the Mediterranean Sea is today.

This salt water sea developed between more than 66 million years ago, when polar ice caps completely melted, resulting in elevated sea levels worldwide.

While the sea is now gone, the salt and gypsum crystals created by it remain.

The Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge is located 14 miles north of Jet and the Crystal Dig site is five miles east of Cherokee.

On Saturday, June 6, the refuge will host two more events -- National Trails Day and the 17th Annual Youth Fishing Derby.

The fishing derby will be held from 8:30 a.m. until noon. It is open to children 14 years old and younger and will be held at the Bonham Pond near the refuge headquarters.

The event is co-sponsored by the Byron State Fish Hatchery and the Great Salt Plains Association. It is free for all participants. Prizes will be given for the longest fish caught and total inches of fish caught. Door prizes will be presented throughout the morning. Children must be present to win.

Visitors are encouraged to pick up a Nature Trail Scavenger Hunt sheet, as well, and to take advantage of the nature trails.



Text Only
Local News
  • Winter weather visits Woodward

    Maybe the groundhog was right after all, as Northwest Oklahoma received some winter weather Tuesday and more may be in the forecast.

    February 7, 2012

  • City not footing bill for additions

    The city won't have to foot the bill for an increase in construction costs to renovate the Woodward Industrial Building for use by Siemens Energy.

    February 7, 2012

  • AARP set up in Enid to offer tax help

    TULSA - The American Association of Retired Persons' (AARP) Tax-Aide Program is only coming as close to the Woodward area as Enid this year, says State Program Coordinator Andy Bednarz, who is out of Tulsa.

    February 7, 2012

  • Area legislators react favorably to State of the State speech

    OKLAHOMA CITY - Area legislators were upbeat after Gov. Mary Fallin's State of the State address Monday.
    The News obtained statements from Sen. Bryce Marlatt, R-Woodward; Rep. Jeff Hickman, R-Fairview; and Rep. Mike Sanders, R-Kingfisher, following the address Monday afternoon.

    February 7, 2012

  • Gov. Fallin highlights more cuts to state income tax

    OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Gov. Mary Fallin outlined a budget plan Monday to deeply reduce Oklahoma's personal income tax rate by eliminating dozens of tax exemptions, including many claimed by poor and working-class Oklahomans.

    February 7, 2012

  • Commissioner wants to raise awareness about Agenda 21

    A Woodward County commissioner wants to spread the word about what he believes is an on the American way of life.

    February 6, 2012

  • Recent rain big boost for wheat

    Those who make their living off a healthy wheat crop are singing the praises of the recent rain.

    February 6, 2012

  • WEBvietnammemorial.jpg Special trip honors veterans

    Oklahoma Honor Flights offer free transportation by air and bus to help veterans visit the memorials in our nation's capitol.  To participate in the honor flights, all veterans have to do is fill out an application which is available on the Oklahoma Honor Flights website at http://oklahomahonorflights.org/. 

    February 4, 2012 1 Photo

  • webwickware.jpg “Fightin’ Firefighter” preps for debut MMA cage fight

    Come Feb. 11, Michael "the Fightin' Firefighter" Wickware will fight for a victory in his Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) amateur debut match.
    The match will take place during the Art of War Cage Fights which will be held at the Woodward County Fairgrounds.  Doors will open at 6 p.m. Feb. 11 with the show starting at 7:30 p.m.

    February 4, 2012 1 Photo

  • Ethnic food fair, raffle to benefit Outreach Center

    High Plains Outreach Center’s annual Ethnic Food Fair will be held Feb. 11 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Clayton Hall at the First Christian Church located at 9th St. and Oklahoma Ave.  At the conclusion of this year's food fair, the Outreach Center will be raffling off a couple of prizes including a pair of Thunder tickets and a photo of Blake Griffin of the LA Clippers.

    February 4, 2012