Cure for the warm-weather woes Published Nov. 6, 2006 By Staff Sgt. Monique Randolph 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs ALTUS AFB, Okla. -- Looking for something to do? The 97th Services Squadron has a solution for you... The days are getting longer and the temperature warmer. This means only one thing: spring is here, and spring time at Altus Air Force Base opens the door to many possibilities. It's time to get out and do something, and the 97th Services Squadron's Outdoor Recreation and Information, Tickets & Tours offices offer a variety of services and programs to keep base residents and employees busy during these upcoming warm-weather months. Outdoor Recreation Right on the heels of the Annual Trout Derby held at the Waterpark Pool on base, Outdoor Recreation is offering the Altus Air Force Base Crappie Tournament, where fishermen can compete for prizes and trophies. The Crappie Tournament is scheduled for Saturday at Lake Altus. The cost will be $35 per two-person team, and teams can enter the "Big Crappie Contest" for $5 more. Trophies will be given for first, second and third places, and additional trophies will be given in the "Big Crappie Contest." Teams must sign up by close of business today to enter the tournament. Outdoor Recreation also has two brand new pontoon boats available for rent to base employees and their families. The boats can hold eight to 15 people and the cost is $125 per day or $225 for the weekend. Outdoor Recreation requires a $100 refundable deposit for all pontoon boat rentals. Additionally, Outdoor Recreation offers a free boat certification class given by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol that can help lower boat insurance costs for boat owners. The next class is scheduled for 5 p.m. April 26 at Outdoor Recreation. In the near future, this class will be required for all boat operators, so now is good time to get the certification. Outdoor Recreation also offers monthly specials on equipment rentals, ranging from fishing, camping, gardening and picnic equipment to soccer balls and much more. This month's special is a 50 percent discount on moon bounce rentals. Outdoor enthusiasts can also purchase fishing and hunting licenses at Outdoor Recreation. For more information about Outdoor Recreation services and programs, call 481-7696 or 481-6271. Information, Tickets & Travel Information, Tickets & Travel, collocated with Outdoor Recreation in Bldg. 343, has a variety of services available to base employees and family members. From discount tickets for various local attractions to vacation packages at tropical resorts, ITT has warm-weather activities covered. Destination Arlington is one of ITT's featured services. The program offers discounted prices for attractions, amusement parks, restaurants and hotels in the Arlington, Fort Worth and Dallas areas. Some of these attractions include Ripley's Believe It or Not, Six Flags Over Texas, Fort Worth Zoo, Medieval Times and Texas Rangers baseball. ITT also offers discounted prices for Walt Disney World, Sea World Texas, Frontier City/White Water Bay in Oklahoma City, and more. For the month of April, ITT is hosting a trip to the San Antonio River Walk. The trip is scheduled for April 15-17, and the cost, which includes travel and hotel expenses, is $104 for single occupancy and $77 for double occupancy. They are also offering a trip to the Mangum Rattlesnake Derby and Flea Market April 29. The cost for this trip is $10 per person. The Rattlesnake Derby is one of the largest flea markets in Southwest Oklahoma. The derby will also feature carnival rides and rattlesnake exhibits. For more information or to sign up for either of ITT's upcoming trips, call 481-7416. Leisure Travel Sandy beaches... mountain ranges... crowded casinos... whatever the preference, Leisure Travel can book the trip. Leisure Travel is Altus Air Force Base's own travel agency, located at the ITT office. They offer discount prices for airline tickets, cruise lines, resorts and complete vacation packages to places like Cancun, Cozumel and Las Vegas. They also book cruises out of Galveston, Texas, which can save customers on airfare. Vacation packages purchased through Leisure Travel can save customers from 10 to 40 percent. For more information, call 481-7416. Before you let the warm-weather woes set in, be sure to visit http://www.altusservices.com