I got my job and I am heading home!

[willisjj]

Just thought I would let you know that my job came through finally. I will be working at the Oklahoma State Penetentiary in Mcalester. I have been waiting forever to get out of Phoenix, lol. We will be leaving here on the 4th of Nov. Everything is working out well for a change and I sure can't wait to get settled in and start work. Like Jason Boland says in one of his songs, "if I ever get back to Oklahoma, gonna nail my feet to the ground". Thats how I feel, lol.

[Cataholic]

Congratulations!

Mac Kalistar eh? Hummmmmmm how far from Ft. Smith Arkansas?
LETS FISH BUDDY!!!!!

[willisjj]

We will have to do that once I get settled in. They are so understaffed though I may not have much time off for a while. At the interview they asked me if I would work overtime, double shifts, holidays, etc, lol. They are hiring quite a few though so it may ease up soon. I ain't complaining anyway, just happy to have the job and I can sure use the money.

Oh, its about 109 miles to Ft. Smith so that ain't a bad drive for some good fishing with a B.O.C. brother.

[BIG-G]

Gonna have to change your quote Jeremy! LOL! Good luck to ya sir. I know ya are happy about headin back.

[willisjj]

You wouldn't even believe how happy I am George, lol. Thanks and yeah, I am going to have to change that quote pretty soon I reckon!

[teaysvalleyguy]

Sounds like ya sure got what ya want. Good luck brother and hope it works out for the best for ya.

[bud1110]

Jeremy,


Glad to hear the good news brother. I know you cant wait to get back to Oklahoma.

We are looking forward to seeing you at Keystone 4.....

[willisjj]

Thanks yall. My wife is also looking forward to Keystone. It will be here before you know it. I can't believe we are already coming up on Christmas!...........

[oldprowler]

WOW Jeremy all I can say is Congratulations and "welcome home" Looking forward to meeting you and getting a few trips to Keystone with you.

[craddock1]

congrats jeremy. i retired from the tennessee department of corrections. the staffing situation was the same here as long as i can remember. they wanted as many double shifts as you will work plus work your off days. i have a nephew who is still there and has 26 years. he averages working 64 hours per week. it seems to hurt thier feelings to ask for a vacation day. a sick day requires a doctor certificate. if a family member dies and you want off for the funeral you get the attitude it should have been you. the money is good but i am the only person in my family who ever had heart desease. knees are gone from walking on concrete and steel while so exhausted and since i had my heart attack in 1998 i have never heard one word from the prison administration. you are going to make good money but it is a hard life and you are so unapreciated by your superiors.

[willisjj]

Thanks. I sure I will be making some trips up there to Keystone. My dad fishes Keystone quite a bit I believe. We will have to get together. Once I get settled in and everything I will give yall my phone number so we can plan a few of these fishing trips. I may not be on here quite as often as right now, at my current job, about all I do is play on the internet for 8 hours a night. Pretty tough job, lol with cable internet connection and 4 19" monitors connected together. That will change with the next job and all I have at home is dial up access which really tests my patience.

[fwmud]

Jeremy, great to hear your good luck bro!
Been going thru similar stuff here myself. Seems kinda funny how things work out , don't it?
Good luck on that new job and take care. Maybe you could borrow one of the inmates laptops to work on?
LMAO!
:o

[capt.kirk]

AINT NO PLACE LIKE HOME,good luck with your new job.
KIRK :D

[willisjj]

Thanks guys. And thanks for the reality check Craddock, lol. No, I appreciate hearing your experiences. Gives me an idea of what I am getting into. I'm no stranger to long hours and hard work and the fact that I am in that area of the country that I love most will keep me going, that and a 20 year retirement. Some of my military counts towards my retirement too I believe so that always helps out. My wife ain't real thrilled about this job, but she agreed to this before she would agree to me going back into the Army for another 10 years, lol.

[elphaba7]

Jeremy, I'm very happy for you! Glad to see you getting back home! :thumbsup:

[centralcalcat]

Congradulations Jeremy, I hope everything works ou great for you and your family.

-brian

[spoonfish]

Best of luck with your new job Jeremy.
It's getting where a good job is hard to find now days, I wish you all the best.

[Aquacat]

Jeremy, I'm happy for you and your family. Welcome home soon! McAlester is just right up the road from me. Lake Eufaula is coming you home! :)

[TDawgNOk]

East bound and down, Jeremy, load it up and get Truckin!!!!

I'm so happy that you are getting to come back to Oklahoma so soon. I know you love it here, and we can't wait to hear from you and know that you are settled in to your new job and new house.

[willisjj]

Wow, thanks for all the congrats and posts! I feel like its my birthday or something, lol. If only I could get this many replies to my "flyfishing for carp" thread, lol. I really do appreciate yall and its nice to be able to get on here and air my good news. My luck has fallen through on so many things the last year or two that I sure welcome this break and this is pretty much determining the course of the rest of my life as we are finally settling down and plan to buy a house within 6 month to a year. After 10 years of traveling in the military and living in 3 different states after getting out in 2001, we are finally ready to put down some roots and what could be better than my favorite part of my favorite state?

[craddock1]

jeremy tell your wife not to worry about any danger on the job. you are more likely to get robbed or car jacked and hurt on the way to work than on the job. as long as you go by the rules laid out by the department the convicts will respect you. the folks that give them restricted items or otherwise violate rules that get hurt. the convicts consider them one of them and treat them as well as they need to to get what they want but when things get rough they are treated as another convict. you will gind the benifits are great if you can use them.

[hoosier angler]

Jeremy good luck with the new job. It is good that you are going home to O.K.
We all seem to have a hard time letting go of our home state. We are all proud of our home states, when I say we I mean Americans. I travel all across this great country of ours in my job and without exception everyone is proud of ther own state. All of our states shoud be dear to each of us. We should remember how lucky we are to be Americans. I for one appriciate YOUR military service to this Great country of ours, along with all of our service men and women who are abroad right now. I don't envy the job you are about to pursue. I am sure it will be difficult to say the least. To be surrounded by that situation all day and then go home to your family takes a special person.

Best Regards, JA

[CATFISHPAT]

Hey Jeremy,Glad to here you got on with DOC I hope you like it as much as me.Iv been an officer for 5 years now and LOVE it...I right down the road from ya.So I know we will get to fish SOOOON!!!Call me when you get here,(918-623-0014)Talk to ya soon .....Pat..... :D

[willisjj]

Thanks again all of you. I will give you a call when I get settled in Pat. I haven't fished Eufala very much as my stomping grounds were further north. It is nice to know I got some of you guys around that knows the area well.

[loop]

Great news on the job ,will be looking for you at Keystone.
Loop

[okiecop]

Hey great that you got on at the walls. Maybe I'll see ya next spring when we come down for the shakedown. Would have really liked to have had you up here @ NEOCC. Benn working for the dept. for almost 6 yrs. now. So best of luck to you and the family.

The Sarge

[Gator]

Jeremy are we there yet?????????????....LOL

[TDawgNOk]

Hey Jeremy,

I drove through Big Mac Territory yesterday and didn't see no street signs down and no trees torn out, so, either you had a good, safe uneventful trip, or ya never made it, let us know which it is bro.!!!

[Cutshad]

Congrats Jeremy, I am glad youre coming home. It's always better at home. Look forward to meeting you.

[willisjj]

Well, we finally made it, got a house and got moved in. Long trip with those 3 kids, lol but uneventful and nice weather the whole way. Still getting settled in here, so I probably won't be on a whole lot for a while, but at least I can check in now. Probably start work next week, sure hope so because I don't even know yet when I will get my first paycheck. Anyway, love Mcalester and I will talk to yall soon!

[elphaba7]

Glad to see ya back, Buddy! :D Hope all is going well for you and yours!

[okie_kat]

I don't rememder the name of the place but there is a great BBQ place on the south end of town on the west side of the tracks. Give it a try when you get settled in. (ask any local for directions)

[okie_kat]

Also call if you need any help. pm me for phone info.

[willisjj]

Thanks yall. I will have to check out that bbq joint Rick. Man, that sure sounds good right now! Anyway, I am about to go crazy as I didn't realize OK fishing licenses run from Jan to Dec. I ain't going to pay for licenses just for a month and I don't want to bother with a 10 day or whatever they offer so I guess I will have to wait until after Christmas. Still getting settled in anyway and don't have much money until I start gettin a paycheck. I did run the kids up to Mcalester Lake a little north of here the other day to let them fish as we were still in a motel at that time and they were getting restless. I am going to end up gettin in trouble with that though as it is very hard for me to leave their poles alone when I see they are getting a bite and they are off catching lizards or crawdads, lol. Anyway, talk at yall later!

[okie_kat]

Jeremy check the regs. I think you can fish in the county you live with natural bait without having to buy a license.

[okie_kat]

License Requirements/Exemptions

License Requirements
An Oklahoma resident or nonresident fishing license is required of all persons who take, attempt to take or possess fish or other aquatic dwelling organisms by any method in Oklahoma. Persons fishing the Red River must have a valid Oklahoma fishing license unless exempt. Unless exempt, anyone hunting, fishing or trapping must possess the Fishing and Hunting Legacy Permit (the $5 annual permit will be required beginning Jan. 1, 2005).
In addition, persons fishing on waters located within the Honobia Creek or Three Rivers Wildlife Management Areas must have a valid Land Access Permit, unless exempt.
All required licenses or written evidence of exemption must be carried while fishing.

License exemptions
The following persons are exempt from the resident or nonresident fishing license:
• Residents under 16, and nonresidents under 16 who are residents of AL, AK, AR, CA, CT, DE, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, Ml, NH, NY, NC, ND, OH, TX, or Wl.
• Nonresidents under 14.
• Resident owners or tenants, their spouses, parents, grandparents, children and their spouses, grandchildren and their spouses who fish in private ponds on land owned or leased by such owner or tenant. Persons residing in another state who own land in Oklahoma but do not live on that land are not exempt.
• Nonresidents 64 and older who are residents of Texas.
• Resident disabled veterans with 60 percent or more disability. Call State Dept. of Veterans Affairs, 1-888-655-2838 for additional information.
• Any person who fishes with pole and line, trotline or throw line in streams, natural ponds and mine pits in or forming the boundary of the county in which he is a bona fide resident, when using any bait other than commercial or artificial bait, blood, stink bait, cut fish, and shrimp. • Oklahoma citizens in the U. S. Armed Forces serving outside Oklahoma on authorized leave and with written evidence on their person.
• Any person legally blind or physically impaired who is unable to properly use fishing apparatus and one accompanying companion while the blind or physically impaired person is fishing.
• Any patient of a state institution in Oklahoma established for the care and treatment of mental illness or alcohol or drug dependency or any person developmentally disabled residing in any group home or other institution or persons developmentally disabled when accompanied by an attendant of such institution or legal guardian or when fishing on institutional property.
• Residents having a proven disability rendering them nonambulatory and confined to wheelchairs as certified by a duly qualified physician.
• Job Corps trainees of this state, having a proper identification card.
• Persons under 18 who are in legal and physical custody of the State of Oklahoma or its agencies by court order.
• Persons under 18 who are in the custody of a child care facility as defined by Title 10 O.S., Section 402.
• The following persons are exempt from the purchase of the Blue River Conservation Passport: Persons who possess a resident or nonresident annual fishing or hunting license, a resident combination fishing/hunting license, a lifetime resident or nonresident fishing, hunting or combination license, a senior citizen fishing, hunting or combination license, or a disability fishing or hunting license; residents who are under eighteen (18) years of age on the first day of the calendar year; and students and instructors participating in bona fide educational tours or activities sponsored or organized by an educational institution or any other organized event sanctioned and approved in advance by ODWC. NOTE: Persons possessing a non-resident 5-day or a resident 2-day fishing license are not exempt from having to purchase a Blue River Conservation Passport.
• The following persons are exempt from the purchase of the Land Access Permit (Honobia Creek and Three Rivers WMAs): Oklahoma residents under 18 years of age on the first day of the current calendar year or those 64 years of age or older. All nonresidents are required to purchase a $25 annual Land Access Permit, no exceptions.
• The following persons are exempt from the purchase of the Fishing and Hunting Legacy Permit: Both residents and nonresidents under 18 or 65 years of age or older; those who have a lifetime hunting, fishing or combination license; those who have a senior citizen lifetime fishing, hunting or combination license; and those fishing on Lake Texoma with the special Lake Texoma license.

[willisjj]

• Any person who fishes with pole and line, trotline or throw line in streams, natural ponds and mine pits in or forming the boundary of the county in which he is a bona fide resident, when using any bait other than commercial or artificial bait, blood, stink bait, cut fish, and shrimp. •

Thanks Rick. I am guessing that Lake Eufala is manmade though :glare: . If I can legally fish streams, natural ponds, and mine pits, then I will definately find some somewhere, lol! I appreciate that info. I guess I must have skimmed over that or something when I was looking over the regs.

By the way, that BBQ joint you were talking about wasn't called "Balls' BBQ" would it? It is on the west side of the tracks just not too far from my house. Anyway, talk at you later........Jeremy

[Gentleben]

willisjj, congrads on your move to McAlister!! I pass by that pen. everytime I take my wife home to visit her folks in Miami, Oklahoma.
Good luck !!

[T-Bone]

Jeremy, Way to go Bro, I know your glad to be back. Glad you made it safe and sound. Good Luck on the New Job!!

[okie_kat]

Balls is the name of the place. Good price great BBQ. You might check with the game warden for Pittsburg County about where you can fish. As I understand you can fish lakes, but that may not be correct. Make sure if you use worms that you dig them and not buy them.

[TDawgNOk]

Jeremy, so far all of the DNR folks I have talked to have been very friendly and very happy to help out. I'm sure if you call them, tell them your situation, they could give you all kinds of advise on where to fish in your area.

[willisjj]

Thanks for the advice yall. I will give one of em a call this week as it looks like I may have a lot of time to fish as I may not start work for another week or two. Seems they won't start me until they have the results back from my drug test. I told em I know the results already, but they wouldn't take my word for it, lol. Anyway, sure is a cold son of a buck out there this morning! I guess we ain't in Phoenix anymore, lol.

[BIG-G]

Hey Jeremy. Just click your heels together if ya get too cold and it will take ya back for a bit. LOL! We get them random drug tests on the railroad. I always tell them it ain't nothin more than diet pepsi and marlboros and they don't believe me either. LOL! Hope all is comein together for ya.

[willisjj]

Thanks for the advice George, lol. I will have to dig out and dust off my Ruby Slippers! We are doing fine and man I love it here and so happy to be back in Oklahoma. The kids really love it too. I guess getting out of that city was the best thing we could have done! I am just ready to start work. Things are pretty tight right now as I don't know when I will get my first paycheck and Christmas is starting to look a little bleak, lol. My family is helping out a lot though and I am supposed to head up and help my Dad out with some work this weekend, so we will get by until that paycheck starts rolling in again. This sure is a nice town and my wife even got me to go to church Sunday morning (first time in 15 years!), and I even enjoyed it and will be going back again. I am just ready to get my line wet which will be soon if I can just get used to this cold weather again!

[cook]

Welcome Home.Glad to hear its not a dissappointment.
Gee,I wonder what you could be doing in those weeks your waiting to start work..... :0a10: :0a10: ....Hmmmmmmmmm :0a23:

[mtrimble]

Well there you go Jeremy. Dig some worms out of the ground and head to a stream in your county. It looks like I never needed a fishing liscense to begin with since that stipulation pretty much covers me. Thats a strange one. I can see myself arguing with a warden now. lol. Ill still buy one any way.