Recent posts

#41

Development & New Businesses / Re: American Heartland Theme P...

Last post by Red Arrow - July 30, 2025, 07:32:08 PM

WOW. Graduates of the ORU School of Fundrasing?

Perhaps even with advanced degrees.

[Their efforts included sending Bicknell anonymous texts and emails that pretended to come from God and another religious figure."Silanskas and Wilhite made Gene believe that God Himself was commanding Gene to infuse ever more cash into the Project and to trust them completely with its management. For years, those electronic messages preyed upon Gene's devout Christian faith and admonished Gene to obey 'God's' will without doubts or second-guessing."]

#42

Development & New Businesses / Re: American Heartland Theme P...

Last post by dbacksfan 2.0 - July 30, 2025, 11:27:47 AM

The financial backer of the proposed $2 billion American Heartland theme park in Vinita has sued three individuals associated with the development, claiming the project failed after the three bilked him out of $60 million in part by sending encouraging texts and emails to him that purported to come from God.

Attorneys for Florida resident O. Gene Bicknell, 92, filed the lawsuit Friday in Tulsa federal court, naming Richard M. Silanskas Jr., Larry K. Wilhite and Stephen D. Hedrick as defendants.

"Silanskas and Wilhite executed a predatory conspiracy of psychological manipulation — convincing Gene, through fraud and impersonation, that God himself was commanding him both to finance the park's construction and to grant Silanskas and Wilhite two-third ownership over the completed venture, which was to be worth $2 billion," the lawsuit states.
Their efforts included sending Bicknell anonymous texts and emails that pretended to come from God and another religious figure.
"Silanskas and Wilhite made Gene believe that God Himself was commanding Gene to infuse ever more cash into the Project and to trust them completely with its management. For years, those electronic messages preyed upon Gene's devout Christian faith and admonished Gene to obey 'God's' will without doubts or second-guessing."
https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_c8c6bacd-1cb5-4b8d-8ea4-f1fa2ff340e6.html

WOW. Graduates of the ORU School of Fundrasing?

#43

Development & New Businesses / Re: New Utica Square Construct...

Last post by dbacksfan 2.0 - July 30, 2025, 11:17:50 AM

Tulsa restaurant and hospitality entrepreneur Elliot Nelson told the Tulsa World he would like to purchase Utica Square.

Nelson said he would like to see Utica Square improved with elements present at OAK, a nearly 1 million-square-foot area near Penn Square Mall in Oklahoma City. It includes a hotel, apartments, retailers and restaurants, office space, and a newly opened RH (formerly Restoration Hardware), which looks more like a mansion than a store.

The Tulsa developer of that $250 million Oklahoma City project, Ryan McNeill, founder of Veritas Development, recently told the Tulsa World he wants to bring the same to Tulsa — possibly to transform Utica Square.

More: https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/business/article_7d53a7d4-214e-4688-993d-973fc96b6180.html

JMO Looked up OAK on Google Maps and Earth, and have to say "meh". It's a generic, non street facing, limited access, one from Penn and one from NW Expressway,upscale enclave. Did they pay the dozen or so homeowners fair market value for their homes or just use eminent domain?

At least it's more colorful than the Soviet/Eastern European apartment buildings but just as blah.

#44

Development & New Businesses / Re: New Utica Square Construct...

Last post by patric - July 28, 2025, 06:01:19 PM

So, after almost 10 years since Petty's was forced out and Miss Jackson's closed up shop there is still no plan for Utica Square and that part in particular, and 22 years since the H&P building was demoed there is still no plan for that part of the area.

Sadly, I think that whatever happens with a sale/investment of Utica Square it will never look like it does now. It will probably resemble the Tuscan/Spanish development built immediately south on 22nd Street, and with Hudson Bay selling off Saks, which also owns Needless Markup Neiman Marcus being in financial trouble it's possible Saks could leave as well.

Tulsa restaurant and hospitality entrepreneur Elliot Nelson told the Tulsa World he would like to purchase Utica Square.

Nelson said he would like to see Utica Square improved with elements present at OAK, a nearly 1 million-square-foot area near Penn Square Mall in Oklahoma City. It includes a hotel, apartments, retailers and restaurants, office space, and a newly opened RH (formerly Restoration Hardware), which looks more like a mansion than a store.

The Tulsa developer of that $250 million Oklahoma City project, Ryan McNeill, founder of Veritas Development, recently told the Tulsa World he wants to bring the same to Tulsa — possibly to transform Utica Square.

More: https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/business/article_7d53a7d4-214e-4688-993d-973fc96b6180.html

#45

The Burbs / Re: New Oklahoma City Arena--B...

Last post by Laramie - July 27, 2025, 06:40:15 PM

     Welcome to Thunderdome!

     

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py-H4f-omxA

Unique. Timeless. Transformative. Presenting the Oklahoma City New Arena, coming in 2028.

#46

Development & New Businesses / Re: American Heartland Theme P...

Last post by patric - July 27, 2025, 09:40:47 AM

Well, if anyone of them head to the Prayer Tower to meditate and boost funding, you know it's a scam.

The financial backer of the proposed $2 billion American Heartland theme park in Vinita has sued three individuals associated with the development, claiming the project failed after the three bilked him out of $60 million in part by sending encouraging texts and emails to him that purported to come from God.

Attorneys for Florida resident O. Gene Bicknell, 92, filed the lawsuit Friday in Tulsa federal court, naming Richard M. Silanskas Jr., Larry K. Wilhite and Stephen D. Hedrick as defendants.

"Silanskas and Wilhite executed a predatory conspiracy of psychological manipulation — convincing Gene, through fraud and impersonation, that God himself was commanding him both to finance the park's construction and to grant Silanskas and Wilhite two-third ownership over the completed venture, which was to be worth $2 billion," the lawsuit states.
Their efforts included sending Bicknell anonymous texts and emails that pretended to come from God and another religious figure.
"Silanskas and Wilhite made Gene believe that God Himself was commanding Gene to infuse ever more cash into the Project and to trust them completely with its management. For years, those electronic messages preyed upon Gene's devout Christian faith and admonished Gene to obey 'God's' will without doubts or second-guessing."
https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_c8c6bacd-1cb5-4b8d-8ea4-f1fa2ff340e6.html

#47

Local & State Politics / Re: Ryan Walters for Governor

Last post by patric - July 26, 2025, 08:16:39 PM

https://ryanwaltersforgovernor.com/
Personally, I would decline to hire him to lick up my toe nail clippings, but that's me.

Oklahoma's Trump-Loving, Bible-Thumping Superintendent Faces Porn Probe.
"I saw them just walking across the screen, and I'm like, 'no." I'm sorry I even have to use this language, but I'm like, 'Those are her nipples.' And then I'm like, 'That's pubic hair.' What in the world am I watching?

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/ryan-walters-oklahoma-superintendent-trump-bible-porn-1235394675/

#48

Other Tulsa Discussion / Re: Another Police Helicopter

Last post by patric - July 20, 2025, 12:43:28 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79AVq1Z2_QU

Considering digital flight authorization for drone flights. 

Because a helicopter flying without ADS-B has already killed an airliner full of people, but we should really be afraid of a hobbyists drone?  https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?4762991-Homeland-Security-Committee-urges-requiring-Digital-Flight-Authorizations

#49

Other Tulsa Discussion / Re: Another Police Helicopter

Last post by whoatown - July 20, 2025, 12:22:11 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79AVq1Z2_QU

Considering digital flight authorization for drone flights. 

#50

Entertainment / Re: Mazeppa R.I.P

Last post by heironymouspasparagus - July 18, 2025, 06:29:57 PM

Sad loss.   Always enjoyed watching the Uncanny Film Festival!  So many good times with that and other late night shows...!