LOCAL

Political Bickering
PC Schools Adopt New Transfer Policy
County Assessor Sets Area Meetings
Accomplishments, New Plans Theme for Marland Estate Panel
Barriers to Successful Recovery
Tourism To Help Dog Training Club
Harpsichord Pair Here Friday for Concert
Many Activities Already On Calendar for the Year
NOC To Host Livestock Judging Event
Dispute Resolution Program Offers Mediator Training
Eagle Watch at Kaw Lake

Political Bickering

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Gov. Frank Keating and Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor are continuing their running feud over education issues.

In a letter on Wednesday, Keating questioned why Taylor, D-Claremore, lampooned a study by the Office of Finance Director Tom Daxon which cited high school administrative costs.

The Republican governor said he had no plans to slash school lunch programs or cram children into classrooms, as Taylor had suggested.

He said he did not understand why Taylor would not seriously entertain trimming administrative overhead to make way for teacher pay raises.

Taylor has ridiculed cost-savings suggestions by Daxon’s office, including one that called for reducing the number of teachers and one that would increase class size.

Keating said it has been a tradition in an election year for the ‘‘Senate media machine to launch frequent political attacks with no foundation in fact.’’

Taylor accused Keating of not being constructive by releasing his letter to the reporters before he received it.

‘‘I didn’t hear about the governor’s education proposal until I was contacted by a reporter,’’ he said. ‘‘The same is true of the ’personal letter’ he addressed to me today. It was delivered to members of the media half an hour before it was delivered to me.’’

Taylor said he was sending Keating’s proposals to a Senate committee for review and would be willing to sit down with the governor to discuss them. But he continued to question whether it is ‘‘rational’’ to discuss one suggestion that money for a teacher pay raise could be made available ‘‘if we could just get rid of 40,000 students.’’

He said it appears another plan could force many rural schools to close. ‘‘If the governor truly favors forced school consolidation, he should be honest about it,’’ Taylor said.

‘‘The bottom line is this,’’ he continued. ‘‘If we’re going to do a teacher pay raise, let’s do it with real money, not one that pits teachers against cafeteria workers and bus drivers.’’

Keating, in his letter, said the Oklahoma’s administrative costs have a direct bearing on low teacher pay in the state.

He said he did not doubt Taylor’s sincerity, but questioned many of his approaches.

‘‘To simply hurl more money at our schools, without first examining where and how we spend the more than $3 billion we already invest in Oklahoma public education each year, seems to me, and to most Oklahoma taxpayers, a foolish ad irresponsible way to do the public’s business.”

PC Schools Adopt New Transfer Policy

By KRISTI HAYES

News Education Editor

Possible changes are on the horizon for students living in the outlying areas of Ponca City.

A new state law allowing parents greater school choice recently prompted Ponca City Board of Education members to adopt a new open transfer policy.

Areas most affected by this change include McCord, Kildare, Shidler and other areas where an elementary or secondary school does not exist.

Previously, parents could apply for transfer requests year-round. This new policy mandates that requests be made during the month of January.

Emergency transfers, seldom granted according to PC board policy, may occur if emergency reasons can be established.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Joe Surber says the change is causing concern among the affected areas.

“The required changes have caused some confusion and concern,” Dr. Surber said. “We encourage anyone with questions to call me or Karen Branum at [the administration office].”

Surber added, “The policy passed by the board is best explained in a personal contact with our office.”

The deadline for transfer forms is Feb. 1.

“We have sent letters and summaries of state regulations to all known transfer students,” he said.

Transfers will be processed in the order in which the applications are received.

The district may accept or refuse any transfer request based on the availability of programs, staff or space and with provisions relating to each student’s behavior, attendance and attitude at the previous school.

All transfer applications will be reviewed by May of each year. Districts will be notified by June 1 of granted transfers.

Siblings of students granted transfers may be considered for prospective transfers.

Surber said there was a problem in the act which failed to include previously transferred students from dependent districts.

“All transfer students must complete the required form at this time, even if they have attended Ponca City schools for many years,” he said.

Children who reside in an area where an early childhood program is not in place may be granted a transfer into the district.

However, the district can refuse to accept the non-resident child if it is determined the child is not ready for an early childhood education program.

A child whose family relocates from the school district may continue attendance to the end of the current school year provided the student began the school year in the district.

Students transferring into the district between school years shall be admitted to the next higher grade upon meeting entrance requirements and showing evidence of having completed the preceding grade.

Transferring students entering from private non-accredited schools will be tested and placed accordingly.

Written application for any transfer must be made by the parents of the student or persons having custody of the child.

If a transfer request is made, parents will be required to provide transportation to an elementary school.

County Assessor Sets Area Meetings

By MARK GALVIN

News Staff Writer

Kay County assessor Tresa Engle and her staff will meet with taxpayers at various locations in the county during the month of February for filing of homestead exemptions and other assessing matters.

“The public will be able to meet with our staff without having to come to Newkirk,” Engle explained.

“We are not getting out as early as in past years. This gives elderly people more time to get the income information they need to file for additional homestead and the valuation limit,” she added.

Persons who have a homestead exemption already in place on their property will not need to file again unless they have changed their deed.

Those who still must meet with the assessor include:

• Those filing for a new homestead exemption. (Bring a property description.)

• Those filing for a new additional homestead exemption. (This exemption is for people whose verified household gross income is less than $20,000 a year. Applicants under 65 must refile each year.)

• Farm machinery owners and agricultural sales tax permit users.

• Persons who have moved a mobile home onto leased land or who have built a structure on leased land.

• Those filing for a new senior valuation limitation on their homestead property. (Applicants must be 65 and have a verified gross income of less than $25,000.)

Homeowners are required by state law to notify the assessor’s office if they have moved or are no longer eligible for homestead exemptions.

The annual filing period is from Jan. 3 to March 15. Applications for homestead exemptions now can be filed year-round, with those received after March 15 applying to 2001 if all other requirements still apply.

Applications and assessments will also be taken at the Kay County Courthouse in Newkirk from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays in the assessor’s office. Telephone number is 580-362-2565.

Accomplishments, New Plans Theme for Marland Estate Panel

By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE

News Business Editor

Missions accomplished and missions possible is the theme of the in depth Long Range Planning Committee report of the Marland Estate Commission.

The report was given at the Estate Commission meeting by Lynda Clark, planning committee chairman. Other members are Sherry Muchmore, Eldridge Manering, Jon Kennedy, Doyle Worstell, Gerald Nield and James York. Ex-officio members are Phyllis Kennedy, Marland Estate Chairman and Kathy Adams, executive director.

Missions completed include the maintenance of exterior doors, thresholds, frames and levers in the Mansion and repair and refurbishing of the Gazebo. The Gazebo restoration was funded by the Paul Prather Memorial.

In the Mansion area missions slated for the years 2000 and 2001 are ceiling restoration; stone replacement in walkways on the east doorway; new and more efficient heating/air conditioning. Also tuck pointing the south balustrade and restoration of the “Pan” fountain.

Lake Under Gatehouse Bridge

Future gatehouse plans call for removing the garage, which was not original to the estate. On the future long range plan is to construct a lake under the bridge near the gatehouse.

Concerning the landscape and grounds and existing asphalt path ways, these are expected to be funded by grants and the Marland Estate Foundation this year. Next year the goal is to continue pathways in front of the Mansion. Another goal this year is to complete the landscaping at Lydie’s Cottage and for the patio to be completed at the same time.

A new concrete parking lot is slated for as a capital improvement in 2002-2003. Some tree removal and replacement is slated for this year.

In the artist studio it is planned to evaluate the heating system in the Bryant Baker Studio portion. There is an on-going plan for inventory and refurbishment of the Oil Museum.

Another mission this year is the complete remodeling of the garage at Lydie’s Cottage to be funded by the Foundation. The leasing of Angela Hall to Golden Villa is a mission accomplished.

Several Lakes Originally

In the boathouse area the stabilizing of iron work on the ceiling is to be done this year and a distant long range plan is to add a lake. There were several lakes on the original Marland Estate.

Another long range plan in the future is a reflecting pool, behind the Mansion. Another mission in the distant future is a new visitor orientation center, possibilities being E.W. Marland Restaurant or the gatehouse.

Also in the distant future is removing the concrete wall in the natural amphitheater area, and relocating the Marland Board Room, currently at Conoco, to the Estate.

Other projects for this year include refurbishing the outdoor tile planters and finding adequate storage space for the Estate.

Barriers to Successful Recovery

By Gary W. Smith

CCDC, Executive Director

Narconon Chilocco New Life Center

(Editor’s note: A continuation of a series giving information concerning drug addiction. Smith has 25 years of experience as a chemical dependency counselor.)

Guilt is another component in the life cycle of addiction. Most addicts are basically good people before they become addicts and have some sense of right and wrong with no intention of hurting others. As they become dependent on the chemical, they begin experiencing situations where they are doing and saying things they know deep down aren’t right. They begin to lose their ability to control themselves. They become trapped in a vicious circle of using drugs, lying about it, stealing to support more drug use and at each turn the addict is accumulating memories of each of these negative incidents.

The addict commits a negative action, he records a memory of that moment, which includes whoever he was involved with at the time. The addict knows these negative actions are wrong and so feels bad about them after the fact.

These memories of guilt can then get triggered in the present or future when he sees the people and places that were involved when the transgressions were committed in and they feel bad about it. In time these transgressions are committed more and more often and the people in the addict’s life where these transgressions have occurred become “triggers” of the dishonest act or deed.

The people, family members, loved ones and friend’s appearance to the addict triggers the guilt. Family or friends don’t necessarily have to say a word to the addict, just the sight of them can trigger the guilt. To avoid these unpleasant guilt feelings, the addict will use more drugs to insulate themselves from the guilt.

The addict will also begin to withdraw more and more from friends and family as the transgressions committed by the addict increase in number. They will eventually pull away from the family, seclude themselves and/or become antagonistic towards those they love.

Tourism To Help Dog Training Club

By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE

News Business Editor

Ponca City Tourism Authority (PCTA) is going to the dogs — actually the PCTA — just granted $2,040 to the Kay-9 Dog Training Club.

The grant, which was approved at Wednesday’s PCTA meeting, is to be used for combined agility and obedience trials slated here at the Busy B Arena on April 28 and 29. The funds are to be used for promotion of the first-time combined event.

Appearing on behalf of the Kay-9 club were Ruth Edwards, president, and past president Linda Higgins. The Kay-9 Dog Training Club of Ponca City is a not-for-profit organization recognized by the state of Oklahoma.

Phil Bandy, chairman of the Grants Committee, recommended approving the funding to promote this first time event because it is a two-day event and would bring overnight guests to Ponca City. The PCTA is supported by a three-percent motel/hotel tax.

In other action the tourism body, tabled a recommendation to participate in the State “Weekend Getaway Guide,” by purchasing an advertisement.

Missy Morland, coordinator, reported on attending the Dan Dipert Travel Show recently in Arlington, Texas. She noted that the crowd was younger than the normal seniors group.

She told about the Tulsa couple winning the Millennium Giveaway and about the letter to the editor in The News telling of their appreciation.

Chuck Rager, PCTA chairman, commended the Millennium Commission for its activities. Rager requested volunteers to attend committee meetings of various events and report to the Authority. He said he would take the 101 Rodeo; Phil Bandy will do Draggin’ Grand; Kathy Tippin, Herb Festival; Morland, Kawfest; Susan Ladner, Fourth of July, and Glenn Mair, Iris Festival.

Brad Beaty of the 101 Rodeo Foundation, was a guest and told about the local team roping event that was a part of the rodeo this year. He asked for suggestions to increase attendance at the rodeo.

Tippin of the Kaw Lake Association, announced the “Catch Freedom in Flight” American Bald Eagle viewing activities are slated Saturday at the Kaw Lake Reservoir.

Harpsichord Pair Here Friday for Concert

Will Play Selections Focusing on Bach

When John Paul and Shawn Leopard perform on their harpsichords Friday night at the Poncan Theatre, the audience will be entertained with several varieties of music. The concert at the Poncan starts at 7:30 p.m., and admission is free.

The duo focuses on the two-harpsichord music of Johann Sebastian Bach and his sons Karl Phillip Emmanuel, Johann Christian, and Wilhelm Friedemann. They make a special effort to reach all types of audiences by including their own transcriptions of popular classics and especially entertaining works such as the Tangos of Isaac Albeniz and the Rags of Scott Joplin.

Leopard and Paul travel with two instruments made by Anden Houben of Northport, Ala. One is a fine copy of a 1681 French harpsichord strung in steel and brasses, the other a lute-harpsichord (Lautenwerck) strung in gut. Together, the two instruments produce a sound both rich and clear, maximizing all the compelling effect of plucked keyboard instruments.

Shawn Leopard and John Paul, Music for Two Harpsichords, have toured extensively in the southeast United States. John Paul is making a repeat appearance in Ponca City; he was here in 1998. Their appearance this Friday is made possible by the Ponca City Arts and Humanities Council, Conoco, and the Oklahoma Arts Council.

Many Activities Already On Calendar for the Year

By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE

News Staff Writer

How many times have you heard folks complain that there is nothing to do in Ponca City? Maybe they haven’t checked out the calendar of events. Not counting church, school club and athletics events, there are 44 activities slated on the 2000 calender of events already.

Now of those 44 events, there are a total of 128 days of activities scheduled. A sampling of major events involving hundreds of volunteers include, Taste and Tasteless, slated for April 28 at the Poncan Theatre; Iris Festival, downtown on May 5-7; Oil Boom Day, at the Marland Estate, May 27; Draggin’ Grand and Classic Art Show, June 2.

On June 3 is the Herb Festival at Cann Memorial Botanical Gardens; Kawfest, at Kaw Lake, June 10-11; Christmas in July, July 1, Pioneer Beach on Kaw Lake; Grand National Motocross Championship Races, Aug. 1-5, Motocross Track; Aug. 16-19, 101 Wild West PRCA Rodeo; 124th Annual Ponca Pow Wow, White Eagle Park; Cherokee Strip Cook-off and Oklahoma State Barbecue Championship, Sept. 29-30, Wentz Campgrounds.

Also, Fine Arts Festival, Ponca City Art Center, Sept. 16-17; Standing Bear Pow Wow, Standing Bear Native American Memorial Park, Sept. 29-30; Oktoberfest, Marland Estate Grounds, Oct. 7-8; Festival of Angels, Nov. 22-Dec. 30, Lake Ponca Park; Christmas Gala, Marland Estate Mansion, Dec. 2, and many more.

This is just the sampling of what is going on in the Ponca City area and other activities are mentioned on the Ponca City Tourism’s calender of events.

NOC To Host Livestock Judging Event

TONKAWA — The Northern Oklahoma College Livestock Judging Team will host a judging contest for FFA and 4-H members at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26 in the college Agriculture Teaching Pavilion, according to sponsor Tricia Hamilton.

The contest will consist of six classes, two each in the categories of cattle, sheep and swine. Contestants will be judged on their defense of placing classes on the animals. Each defense must contain a set of three reasons explaining why the contestant placed the animals as he or she did.

Pre-registration entry fees are $3 per person or $8 per team of four by Jan. 21. After Jan. 21 through Jan. 26 entry fees are $4 per person and $10 per team. Plaques and ribbons will be given in the following four categories: Junior 4-H ages 9-13, Senior 4-H ages 14-19, Junior FFA grades 9-10 and Senior FFA grades 11-12.

Among the judges for the competition are Northern students Dawndra Cawood and Aaron Williamson, Tonkawa; Lane Dye and Marcie Lee, Ponca City; Jeremy Lockwood and Clay Testerman, Newkirk; Elisha Sayre, Pawnee; and alumnus Evan Snyder, Perry.

Dispute Resolution Program Offers Mediator Training

Oklahoma’s Early Settlement Dispute Resolution program is holding a 20-hour mediator training course April 5-7 in Ponca City at the Pioneer Technology Center. This course is the first step for volunteer mediator candidates to attain certification to conduct Early Settlement mediation sessions under the guidelines set forth by the Oklahoma Dispute Resolution Act of 1983 and the Administrative Office of the Courts, Supreme Court of Oklahoma.

Mediation training a unique opportunity for citizens to contribute to peaceful resolutions within their local community. Trainees also gain valuable conflict resolution and interpersonal communication skills. No specific pre-training or personal background is required to receive the training, but candidates should have good communication skills and be able to maintain neutrality and confidentiality. In exchange for the training and development, Early Settlement asks that each volunteer work one or more times per month to mediate disputes in their community.

Early Settlement mediation provides services to all residents of Oklahoma as a low-cost and effective alternative to court. Early Settlement mediates many different types of cases, including landlord-tenant, debtor-creditor, neighborhood disputes, auto accidents, real estate transactions, employee/employer and other disputes. Mediators are assigned cases according to skill, training, experience, and their availability. All mediators begin by assisting with cases within their local county’s small claims court. Advanced training and development opportunities include family/divorce mediation and other topics are also made available for experienced volunteer mediators.

Seating for this training is limited, those interested in applying for this exciting and rewarding venture should contact the Early Settlement North office as soon as possible at (405) 372-4798 in Stillwater or 1-800-464-5677.

Eagle Watch at Kaw Lake

American Bald Eagle viewing activities will be held Saturday at the Kaw Lake Reservoir east of Ponca City, including an up-close session with a bald eagle and its handler Saturday afternoon.

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority are setting up the activities to provide a rare opportunity for families to learn about the enduring symbol of national pride and freedom, the American Bald Eagle.

The City of Ponca City, Ponca City Tourism, the City of Kaw City, the Kaw Lake Association, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Payne County Audubon Society will be assisting with the viewing.

The day will begin with an indoor education program from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the community center in Kaw City. Biologist Mark Howery of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation will do a slide presentation on the history of the eagle and its habitat. (Signs in Kaw City will direct motorists to the community center.)

From 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, a caravan to view eagles is scheduled around the north side of Kaw Lake, assisted by the Payne County Audubon Society.

From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., refreshments will be served at the Kaw Hydroelectric Plant, sponsored by the OMPA and the Kaw Lake Association. An 11:30 a.m. slide presentation on Oklahoma’s endangered and threatened species will feature Erich Langer of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Park Ranger Kelly VanZandt will provide information on the American Bald Eagle. Other displays will also be presented by the host agencies. (The plant is on the west side of Kaw Dam at the turnoff to the Corps of Engineers’ Kaw Lake Project Office. Parking will be in the fishermen’s access lot.)

From noon to 1 p.m. Saturday, an American Bald Eagle natural history program will be held at the Kaw Hydroelectric Plant, featuring Alan Jenkins, assistant director of the George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Center in Bartlesville. It will also feature “Sequoyah,” an American Bald Eagle.

At 1:30 p.m., the Payne County Audubon Society will begin an eagle-viewing session south of Kaw Dam.

DEATHS

Florence E. Hazen
Verley L. Gatlin
Evangeline Ida Jackson
Leon Stafford
L. Levern Merrifield
Nelsie Juanita Bennett

Florence E. Hazen

FAIRFAX — Florence E. Hazen, resident of Fairfax, died Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2000, in the Fairfax Hospital. She was 90.

A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, 2000, in the Highland Cemetery in Pawnee with the Rev. George Weston, pastor, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Hunsaker-Wooten Funeral Home in Fairfax.

Florence E. Hazen was born Aug. 18, 1909, north of Blackburn, the daughter of Frank and Elizabeth (Smith) Roe. She attended school at Spring Creek in Pawnee and South Enterprise in Osage County. She married Loyd Wilson; he preceded her in death in 1963. In 1968, she married Morris “Andy” Hazen.

She was a member of the First Christian Church of Fairfax. She was a homemaker and enjoyed crocheting, fishing and cooking.

She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands; ten brothers and sisters; and a step daughter, Betty Jo Logsdon.

Verley L. Gatlin

FAIRFAX — Verley L. Gatlin, longtime Fairfax resident, died Wednesday morning, Jan. 19, 2000, in the Fairfax Manor Nursing Home. She was 91.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, 2000, in the Hunsaker-Wooten Chapel with the Rev. Lewis Bernard, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the Fairfax Cemetery.

Verley L. Gatlin was born Feb. 19, 1908, in Inola, the daughter of Jim and Mary (McCann) Cruse. She attended school in Inola. She married Willie Gatlin on Aug. 10, 1925. She was a homemaker and enjoyed visiting with her family and friends, going to church and playing bingo. She was a member of the Full Gospel Church of Fairfax.

She is survived by her daughter, Dorothy E. Drain Long of Fairfax; her son, Billy E. Gatlin of Cordell; brother, Bill Cruse of Baxter Springs, Kan.; sister, Ida Gilliland of El Dorado, Kan.; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband on July 14, 1989; daughter, Pauline Johnson; five sisters; and one brother.

Casket bearers will be Cotton Bonner, Jake Sawyers, W.K. Davis; Willie McInturf, Frank Haines and Richard Bennett. Honorary bearers will be Howard Hendrix and Leo Hendrix.

The family will be at the Long home to receive friends and family.

Evangeline Ida Jackson

STILLWATER — Evangeline Ida Jackson, resident of Stillwater and former resident of Ponca City, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2000, in the Grace Living Center in Stillwater. She was 77.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, 2000, in the First Presbyterian Church in Stillwater with the Rev. Dr. B. Gordon Edwards and the Rev. Dr. James P. Gragg officiating. A graveside ceremony is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 24, 2000, in the Highland Cemetery in Winfield, Kan., under the direction of Strode Funeral Home of Stillwater.

Evangeline Ida Jackson was born Feb. 15, 1922, in Las Vegas, Nev., the daughter of Roderick Colin and Lily (Young) Jackson. In 1926, the family moved to Chehalis, Wash., and in 1928 to Trinidad, Colo. In 1930, they moved to Winfield, Kan., where she attended school from the third grade to college. She graduated from Winfield High School in 1940 and Southwestern College in 1944. Ms. Jackson attended the University of Chicago for two years, receiving a master’s degree from the School of Social Service Administration in 1948. In 1946, she was employed as a case worker at the Methodist Children’s Home Society of Michigan in Detroit. In 1948, she returned to Chicago, where she was employed by the Chicago Child Care Society as a case worker and student supervisor. In 1961, she moved to Ponca City to be near her father. In 1962, she was employed as a social worker in the District Child Welfare office of the Oklahoma Department of Public Welfare in Ponca City. In 1963, she moved to Stillwater, where she became district supervisor for a five county child welfare district. She continued in that position until 1969.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Stillwater Hospital Auxiliary, Stillwater Nursing Home, National Association of Social Workers, Academy of Certified Social Workers, Oklahoma Health and Welfare Association, American Association of University Women and Altrusa Club. She was also a volunteer with Mobile Meals.

She is preceded in death by her parents and two sisters.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the First Presbyterian Church, 919 West Skyline, Stillwater, Okla. 74074.

Leon Stafford

BLACKWELL — Leon Stafford, lifelong resident of Blackwell, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2000, at Integris Bass Baptist Health Center of Enid. He was 66.

A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, 2000, at Blackwell Cemetery with the Rev. Wesley Miller officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Hackler Funeral Home of Blackwell.

Leon Stafford was born May 11, 1933, in Blackwell, the son of Douglas and Edna (Stephenson) Stafford. He graduated from Blackwell High School in 1951. Leon was an outstanding wrestler, winning the state championship in 1951. He also wrestled in the United States Navy and participated in the Olympic tryouts in Ames, Iowa. Leon married Barbara Davis on July 5, 1957, in Oklahoma City. She preceded him in death in 1976. He was a member of the First Baptist Church.

Survivors include one son, Steven Leon Stafford of Elk City; three daughters, Leahanna Johnson of Kaw City, Rhonda Loveall of Blackwell, and Lisa Baggett of Owasso; one brother, Don Stafford of Blackwell, two sisters, Doris Samuel of Kaw City and Mary Hall of Ponca City; and 13 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and wife.

The family will be at the home of the late Leon Stafford, 620 North 4th, from 4 to 8 p.m. today.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Aplastic Anemia Foundation of America, P.O. Box 22689, Baltimore, Md. 21203.

Obituaries

L. Levern Merrifield

Dr. L. Levern Merrifield, longtime Ponca City resident and internationally recognized orthodontist, passed away at his home Jan. 15, 2000, following an extended illness. He was 78.

Dr. Merrifield was laid to rest in a private graveside service on Wednesday, Jan. 19. A public memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 22, 2000, at 2 p.m. at the First Christian Church here in Ponca City with the Rev. Dr. Bill Masters, former pastor of First Christian Church, and the Rev. Kent Dorsey, pastor of First Christian Church, officiating. Dr. Jack Dale of Toronto, Canada, will deliver the eulogy. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home.

Dr. Merrifield was born Feb. 1, 1921, to Cecil Conrad and Ivery Lee (Guthrie) Merrifield in Dill City. He graduated from Sayre High School at the age of 16. Within three years, Dr. Merrifield earned a degree in agriculture from Oklahoma A&M. He taught vocational agriculture at Cache and Erick, often being confused as a fellow student because of his young age!

Despite his degree in agriculture and love for the land, Dr. Merrifield’s calling proved to be dentistry. In 1946, he graduated from the Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas with a doctorate in dental science.

He opened his first practice in Chickasha. After three years in practice, Dr. Merrifield enrolled in the University of Missouri at Kansas City to pursue his M.S.D. in orthodontics.

In 1951, Dr. Merrifield entered the United States Air Force as a captain. At the request of the base commander, Dr. Merrifield was transferred to the Amarillo Air Force Base to assist in the base’s reopening and to establish its dental clinic. He completed his tour of duty in 1953. Upon returning to private practice, Dr. Merrifield moved to Ponca City and began his orthodontic career, sharing an office with his brother, Dr. Vernon, “V.C.,” Merrifield. The brothers built the Merrifield Doctors Center in 1959 to accommodate their growing practices. He also had an office in Stillwater, where he practiced two days a week for 25 years.

Levern and Jan Marlene McVicker, a Duncan native, were united in marriage in 1967. They established a ranch in Osage County and concentrated on raising wheat and Angus cattle.

Dr. Merrifield was in private practice for 50 years. During that time, he earned an international reputation as an expert in the field of orthodontics. Among the first to recognize his talent was Dr. Charles Tweed. His Tucson-based Tweed Foundation taught the “advanced edgewise” technique to licensed orthodontists. After Dr. Merrifield completed the Tweed Foundation course, Dr. Tweed tapped him as an instructor and later as the Foundation’s co-director. Upon Dr. Tweed’s death, Dr. Merrifield was named as the Foundation’s course director and later became the chairman of the board. Notably, Dr. Merrifield established an endowment for continuing education and scholarship to benefit the rapidly growing field of orthodontics and expanded the Tweed Foundation to an international level.

During his years of private practice, Dr. Merrifield maintained a busy lecture schedule including lecturing twice a year in Tucson at the two-week course sponsored by the Tweed Foundation. He was also the featured lecturer in orthodontic clinics held in many foreign countries. He authored and co-authored numerous publications on his changing field and greatly helped to advance orthodontic care.

Dr. Merrifield was awarded numerous honors during his career including the Tweed Course Distinguished Service Award and the Outstanding Service Award from the Oklahoma Orthodontic Association. Dr. Merrifield also received the Martin Dewey Award from the Southwestern Society of Orthodontics. He served as president of the Oklahoma Orthodontic Society and earned the designation of diplomat to the American Board of Orthodontics. The American Board of Orthodontics presented Dr. Merrifield with their most prestigious honor, the Albert Ketcham Award in 1989 in recognition of his lifetime of contribution to the orthodontic profession.

In the late 1950s, Dr. Merrifield began a home-based Ponca City business named for his mother to assist her with living expenses. Lee Laboratories, Inc., which manufactures orthodontic headgear, has grown into a business with a worldwide market. Dr. Merrifield’s J-Hook Directional Force Headgear, a technology he designed and developed, is an important appliance used in today’s edgewise orthodontic treatment and continues to be manufactured in Ponca City.

His personal interests included ranching, quail hunting, and fishing.

He is especially remembered for his unwavering love and devotion to his family.

Dr. Merrifield is survived by his wife, Jan, of the home; his son, Ron Merrifield of Antioch, Calif.; and two daughters, Terri Hadley and Shawn Lessert, both of Ponca City. Additional survivors include daughter-in-law, Sandra Merrifield; sons-in-law, Paul Hadley and Wade Lessert; grandchildren, Kirk Merrifield, Patrick Hadley, Lauren Hadley, Linen Lessert, and Nathan Lessert; and great-granddaughter, Brooke Hadley. Also among the survivors are a brother, Dr. Vernon Merrifield of Ponca City, his wife, Wanza, and their children.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church, P.O. Box 270, Ponca City, Okla. 74602 or to ProTeens, Grand Central Station, 114 South Fifth Street, Ponca City, Okla. 74601.

paid obituary

Nelsie Juanita Bennett

Nelsie Juanita Bennett, longtime Ponca City resident, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2000, at Westminster Village Nursing Home. She was 103.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, 2000, at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. J.D. Ward, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Tonkawa under the direction of Trout Funeral Home.

Nelsie was born on Dec. 30, 1896, in their family farm home southwest of Tonkawa to John Nelson and Elizabeth “Belle” (Elliott) Starr. (Her father had staked a claim on the land in the Run of the Cherokee Outlet on Sept. 16, 1893. In the Spring of 1894, “Belle” Starr and their two sons joined him in a new frame house.) In 1910 the Starrs moved with their family of five children to Tonkawa. Mr. Starr bought into a bank and he and others organized the First National Bank of Tonkawa, which he served as president until his death.

Nelsie and the other children of the family all graduated from the University Preparatory School (now Northern Oklahoma College). Nelsie went on to graduate from Northwestern Normal School at Alva with a major in education. She also attended the University of Colorado in Boulder.

She then taught in the Tonkawa Elementary School for several years. During the summers, she did Chautauqua work for the Mutual Ewell Co. of Chicago and was advanced to circuit supervisor. According to Theodore Roosevelt, the great Chautauqua movement was “the most American thing in America,” a feast of rhetoric and entertainment served twice daily inside a big brown tent.

Nelsie married Ollie B. Bennett in 1923, and they made their home in Tonkawa. Later, Ollie went into the hardware business and served as president of the state association. Nelsie put in a gift shop in the store and enjoyed her customers. Mr. Bennett died Feb. 17, 1965.

That spring, Nelsie’s mother, “Belle,” came to live with her. “Belle” lived 99 years and four months before her death on Dec. 28, 1968.

Nelsie has been a very active member of the United Methodist Church over the years and served in leadership positions in numerous clubs, auxiliaries and lodges including Daughters of the American Revolution and Eastern Star in Tonkawa and Ponca City.

In 1983, Nelsie moved to Denver to be near her son, Keith and his family. She lived at the Treemont Retirement Community for two years, but she became homesick for Oklahoma as her roots were deep there. She returned to Ponca City in the fall of 1985 to reside at the newly completed Westminster Village. She found the village “a good place to live among friends, yet have the privacy of a comfortable apartment.”

Nelsie was recently recognized as one of the earliest living graduates of Northern Oklahoma College.

Nelsie and O.B. Bennett had two sons, Keith Starr Bennett, a retired senior exploration landman with Conoco Inc. in Denver, and Owen Burtis Bennett, deceased, a geophysicist and vice president of the Santa Fe Energy Company of Houston.

She is survived by her son, Keith Starr Bennett and his wife Bo of Denver, and their families which include Jeffrey Bennett and family, Casper, Wyo., Susan M Bennett, Coronado, Calif., Mark S. Bennett and family, Littleton, Colo., Cynthia Eaton and family, Spokane, Wash., Debbi Ray and family, Littleton, Colo., Sharon Acker and husband Kevin, Aurora, Colo., and Bruce Crabb, Denver; one brother, J. Curtis Starr of Mt. Vernon, Ill.; her daughter-in-law, Adele H. Bennett of Houston and her family which include Curtis O. Bennett and family, Katy, Texas, Elizabeth A. Mertz and family, College Station, Texas, Paul L. Bennett and family, New York, N.Y., and Marilyn Bennett-Alexander, Denton, Texas; a niece, Carolyn F. Dutzi and family, Kona, Hawaii; a nephew, Otis Bennett and wife Pat, Littlefield, Texas.

Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 200 South Sixth, Ponca City, Okla. 74601, or to Westminster Village, 1601 Academy Road, Ponca City, Okla. 74604, or to United Methodist Church, 410 East Grand Avenue, Tonkawa, Okla. 74653, or to Northern Oklahoma College, 1220 East Grand, Tonkawa, Okla. 74653.

paid obituary

NEWS BRIEFS

Trains in San Antonio — Air Force Airman Jesse K. Hand has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. During the six weeks of training, Airman Hand studied the Air Force mission, organization and customs and received special training in human relations. Airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force. Hand is the son of Susan L. Reynolds of 520 North Peachtree in Ponca City, and Leon H. Hand of Kaw City.

Pauline’s shrimp peel. All you can eat $11.95 Friday the 21st. For reservations call 765-5460. adv.

Rollover Accident — The Communications Center received a 911 call at 7:27 a.m. Wednesday that a rollover vehicle accident had occurred four miles south on U.S. 177. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol was notified and two units from the Ponca City Fire Department responded. There were no injuries reported.

Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential. Hours: Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. and Thursday, 6-8 p.m. 700 West Broadway. 765-9689. adv.

Forgeries — The Ponca City Police Department received two reports of forged checks at United Supermarket at 9:09 a.m. Wednesday.

Suspicious Activity — A person at the West Middle School reported at 8:07 a.m. Wednesday that someone had reported a cruelty to a cat incident. An officer of the Ponca City Police Department was assigned and a report was taken.

Dougan's Bar-B-Q Friday special from 4-8 p.m., all you can eat ribs with beans, potato salad and coleslaw, $7.49. 215 South 14th, 765-7979. adv.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 500 block of East Comanche Avenue at 9:02 a.m. Wednesday that a 20-year-old man was being held on two Kay County warrants.

Head Country all day Friday special­ All you can eat, smoked BBQ ribs, beans, potato salad, and coleslaw, only $7.49, all day. 1217 East Prospect. 767-8304. adv.

Bronze Seals Stolen — A city employee reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 9:34 a.m. Wednesday that two bronze seals had been stolen from the Standing Bear Park. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Concealed Hand gun class. Jan. 29th, 8:00 am to finish. For more information call 765-6589. adv.

Cattle on the Road — The Communications Center received a report from Noble County at 9:42 a.m. Wednesday that some cattle were on the roadway near the old 101 Ranch site. The Kay County Sheriff’s Office was notified to handle the situation.

Requests Assistance — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department requested assistance with a traffic stop at 11:42 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Lansbrook Road and North Union Street. Another unit responded and a 42-year-old man was held for DUI, driving under suspension, careless driving and obstruction of an officer, a 34-year-old woman was held for public intoxication, a 39-year-old man was held for public intoxication and obstructing an officer. A vehicle was towed from the scene.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of East Hartford Avenue and North Sixth Street at 11:12 a.m. Wednesday that a 22-year-old man was being held for driving under suspension.

Grass Fire — The Communications Center received a report at 3:39 p.m. Wednesday that a grass fire was burning south of Braden School. Units from the McCord Volunteer Fire Department, Osage Cove Volunteer Fire Department, Ranch Drive Volunteer Fire Department and the Ponca City Fire Department responded to handle the situation. It was logged that the fire was extinguished at 6:23 p.m.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 1000 block of North Ash Street at 3:47 p.m. Wednesday that a 31-year-old man was being held on a Kay County warrant for failure to appear.

Threat — A man from the 1500 block of North Seventh Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 4:14 p.m. Wednesday that another man had been at the residence and threatened the reporting party. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from Thorn Apple Valley Boulevard at 4:27 p.m. Wednesday that a 43-year-old woman was being held on a Kay County warrant for assault with a deadly weapon, and a city warrant for failure to pay.

Accident — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported at 5:36 p.m. Wednesday that a one-vehicle rollover accident had occurred one mile south of Kildare on Pecan Road, but no one was around the vehicle. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol was notified.

Harassment — A man from the 400 block of South Osage Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 6:05 p.m. Wednesday that some harassing phone calls had been received. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Grass Fire — The Communications Center received a 911 call at 6:53 p.m. Wednesday that a grass fire was burning in a back yard in the 700 block of North Second Street. A unit from the Ponca City Fire Department responded as did an officer of the Ponca City Police Department to handle the problem.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of East Hartford Avenue and Blackard Drive at 7:19 p.m. Wednesday that a 36-year-old man was being held for DUI, transporting an open container, driving under suspension and speeding.

GARDENING

Diggin’ in the Dirt
Garden Can Enhance Value of a Home
Houseplants Bring Practical Benefits

Diggin’ in the Dirt

By Kathy Zehr

This warmer weather really gets us in the gardening mood, but in the Ponca City area we amateurs just need to be content with a few winter chores, feeding the birds, turning the compost pile, planning our gardens on paper, pruning some trees and shrubs, and sharpening, painting and repairing the gardening equipment.

Cold Frames and Greenhouses

The subjects covered in this column mostly deal with growing plants in the open, which limits growers who want more. For those ambitious gardeners, it is possible to grow certain vegetables and flowers year-round with the aid of cold frames, heated greenhouses, and other methods. We have several avid gardeners in the area growing vegetables outdoors through our mild winters (especially cole crops). Anyone interested in learning how to extend gardening through the winter may call the Kay County OSU Extension office at Newkirk (580-362-3194) for some good free information on the subject.

How Much and Where?

Back to basics! Before buying seeds or starting plants, take several things into consideration, such as what and how much you want to grow, what kind of soil and micro-climates you have, and how much time you want to spend in your flower and/or vegetable gardens or trimming bushes and trees. Every yard climate and soil is different. We cannot depend on having the same results with a given plant as our neighbor. Within each yard there are also several micro-climates effecting each separate location — sun, shade, soil type, water needs, and nearby plants.

For example, plan carefully what you plant next to a brick wall that gets hot in summer. Soil tests also eradicate a lot of guessing. Often, clerks in gardening centers are not knowledgeable about new plants, so, before spending a lot of money on a new expensive shrub or dozens of annual plants, check them out with the Kay County Extension office. If you order by mail, be sure the roots of live plants are healthy and moist (not wet) when they arrive, and keep them that way until you plant.

Experimenting is Fun

Basically, I buy the old standbys in flowers and vegetables that are proven to succeed in my yard, but we add a few new varieties each year just for fun. Some new plants work and some don’t, but you can cut down the odds with a little study. I’m sorry to say dozens of our experiments have died embarrassingly slow deaths over the years simply from lack of knowing the right growing conditions. This year, I plan to try some blue potatoes, new herbs, and some kiwi (again!) We also plan to add a few more flowering shrubs to hide a neighbor’s utility yard from view. For the more expensive shrubs and kiwi we had the soil tested and will follow recommendations published in an excellent free brochure available from the Kay County extension office. The blue spuds are up for grabs!

Plan For Three Seasons

Ponca City area gardeners are lucky enough to be living in an area where we can grow and harvest for about nine months (or three growing seasons). Gardeners who are currently planning their annual veggie and flower gardens need to keep in mind that, as great as it is, it is also an interesting juggling act for balance and space. Some plants thrive through all three seasons, but many do better in their preferred season — the main factor being the summer heat.

The cooler spring months are best for some species, which should be harvested before summer temperatures burn them up. Space should be planned for plants that thrive only in hot weather and are usually short-lived. Last, but not least, plan to make other space for the delicious and beautiful offerings of a fall garden (usually planted here about the middle of August).

Read the requirements on the seed packet or in your seed catalog and plan to juggle accordingly. At our house, we plant the all-season vegetables in one area where they can be left alone. We reserve another section of the garden for rotation of seasonal plants. Designing a constantly blooming flowerbed is also a challenge — but fun!

Little Sprouts

Now is a good time to pick up gumballs, acorns and pinecones from under the trees for making great outdoor wreaths or other natural decorations for a special person. Jim Sindelar with the Ponca City Parks and Recreations department encourages children to visit the city parks to pick up the fallen items there. Jim also suggests stuffing the pinecones with peanut butter and hanging them in a tree to make an excellent treat for the birds.

Garden Can Enhance Value of a Home

By Priscilla Lister

Copley News Service

Garden design has become one of the most important elements in creating a home today. Perhaps it’s because of our growing awareness of the environment, or simply our joy in the outdoors, but more of us are driven to enhance our house’s surroundings.

Maybe our gardens have become more important because we want to grow our own juiciest tomatoes as we lament the lack of flavor in purchased varieties, or because we want a constant supply of fresh flowers for our table. There is little question the garden today feeds into a home’s value for resale.

Whatever the reasons, gardens have gained attention, and good garden design is essential whether a yard encompasses many acres or several feet on a balcony above city streets.

George Plumptre, one of the foremost authorities on garden design and history, who is gardening correspondent for The Times of London and a consultant to Sotheby’s, presents the evolution of the 20th century garden from Victonan times to today in his book, “Great Gardens, Great Designers” (Ward Lock, London).

While many of the themes present in his examples remain valuable springboards, his chapter on “The Small Garden” is not only achievable for more of us, but encapsulates many larger-scale elements.

Series of ‘Rooms’

Today’s small garden may need to accommodate many uses, many seasons and, in essence, may appear to be a series of garden rooms, much like gardens of yesteryear on larger scales. Thomas Church designed hundreds of such gardens in San Francisco and other parts of California and became hugely influential in the 1950s, remaining so today.

“Many people want on a small lot what used to be on an estate,” Church said in 1955. “This is a lot for 100 by 120 feet They wanted a swimming pool, terraces to entertain lots of people, a vegetable garden, trees and planting, and an arbor so they could eat outside in the shade.”

Church often achieved all these needs by raising or lowering the pool, keeping two sides free from paths to save space, essentially creating a series of outdoor rooms through square-edge spaces and changing levels.

“It is important that a garden be built around a dominant idea,” Plumptre quotes Church. “Do one thing well and let all others be subordinate.”

If not a swimming pool, perhaps that one thing is a large tree around which the rest of the garden is designed.

“He used a wide range of patterns: straight paths and squares; flower beds or hedges making a diagonal across a garden’s main axis; or circles and curving paths,” says Plumptre.

“Your needs as a person or family will determine the form your garden takes,” writes Tim Newbury, a professional architect, landscape architect and garden designer also in England, in “The Ultimate Garden Designer” (Ward Lock).

In his book, Newbury outlines such style choices as cottage gardens, kitchen gardens, gardens for entertaining, Japanese style gardens, family gardens, water gardens, coastal gardens, wildlife gardens and even roof gardens, presenting blueprints and appropriate plant lists.

Unify the Theme

While any garden is constrained by budget as well as physical site limitations, “it is helpful if your garden can be designed as a complete package, even if you are not able to build it all in one go. … Without an overall design in mind, you may well end up with a piecemeal effort, made up of a number of random and unrelated elements,” says Newbury.

He suggests that one way to unify several different elements or features in your garden is to develop a common theme, such as a form of material, e.g., red brick to edge a lawn, create a path to the patio and surround a pool.

“Alternatively, a less tangible but just as effective unifying theme could be use of a shape or pattern on the ground, e.g., making the beds, lawn and paved areas into a series of different size squares, echoed in the square pattern of a trellis screen.”

Above all, he says, everything in a garden must have a purpose, whether it’s practical, such as a trellis to hide your garbage area; artistic, such as a flowering border, or even humorous, like the stone frog sitting by the pond.

The first consideration you must undertake is what you want your garden to be or do for you. Then you must assess your plot.

“At this stage you should pace every corner of your site, viewing it from all angles and directions,” advises ‘Reader’s Digest Garden Design: How to Be Your Own Landscape Designer” (Reader’s Digest Books).

“The next stage is to draw up a zoning plan that roughly divides your site into areas you envision,” says Reader’s Digest. The different areas may require different shapes, but all must link together harmoniously.

Formal vs. Informal

Basically, all garden styles come down to two choices: formal or informal. Many gardens combine elements of the two.

“A formal style is usually based on mathematically arranged geometric shapes, such as circles, squares and ellipses,” says Reader’s Digest “These form the horizontal elements - the areas of lawn, paving or flower beds.”

Vertical elements usually are cones, spheres or pyramids made either of stone or clipped hedges, such as boxwood or yew. A formal design can work in even the smallest of gardens but works best on flatter surfaces.

“I feel emphatically that a formal design, on however modest a scale, allows the collecting spirit free rein,” says Helen Dillon, gardening columnist for Ireland’s Sunday Tribune and a garden artist who has transformed her Dublin town house garden into a spectacular series of small gardens.

In her book, “Garden Artistry: Secrets of Designing and Planting a Small Garden” (Macmillan), she says, “You can get away with placing umpteen plants higgledy-piggledy provided they are contained in strict, architectural lines.”

But some folks can’t abide such formal geometry.

Informal gardens, in contrast, seem to flow into the surrounding countryside or appear “wild.” Man-made structures, if they appear at all, should be made of natural wood or local stone so they blend, says Reader’s Digest. Design the plots in irregular shapes especially on uneven elevations. “An informal garden reveals constantly changing views as the visitor passes through.”

A combination garden might include a formal design for and just in front of a patio, changing beyond a split hedge into an informal design at the back of the yard.

Whatever design or uses you envision for your garden, a careful design should create an entirely new room or rooms for your home in the outdoors.

Houseplants Bring Practical Benefits

By LEE REICH

(AP) — Imagine that the time is 10,000 years ago. Winter cold and snow have finally driven you deep within your cave where you spend long hours huddled by a fire. Good thing you brought in a few evergreen branches to cheer the cave up a bit, offering a reminder that life goes on outside.

Now let’s whisk ourselves up to the present winter. Even if the temperatures are cold outdoors, indoor lights blaze long after sunset and temperatures remain almost tropical. Yet we still have indoor greenery, wreaths and, until a few weeks ago, Christmas trees. And houseplants — those actually growing indoors.

These houseplants can do more than just cheer up winter with lush foliage and colorful, perhaps fragrant, flowers. An important, practical benefit of houseplants is that they clean the air. Gas stoves, new carpets and drapes and photocopiers are just some of the appliances, furnishings and materials that breath toxins into our homes.

Research has shown that plants, along with associated soil microorganisms, can scrub over 75 percent of such pollutants as benzene and formaldehyde from the air. So if winter brings you respiratory and sinus complaints, itchy eyes, skin rashes or drowsiness, the prescription for your maladies may be houseplants. Nowadays, you might even be able to purchase houseplants at your local drugstore where you buy your other medicines.

Start with a dose of 10 plants, strategically placed throughout your house. Choose houseplants to suit your horticultural skill and inclinations as well as the conditions in your home. The easiest plants for average conditions include rubber tree, weeping fig, schefflera, dracaena, Wandering Jew, dumb cane and grape ivy.

If your house is so dark that you need artificial light for daytime reading, try growing philodendron, pothos, snake plant, bird’s nest fern, a parlor palm (so-named because it tolerated drafty Victorian parlors) and the appropriately-named cast-iron plant.

Houseplants that are more of a challenge include gardenia, primrose and cyclamen. If only those caves of 10,000 years ago could have been fitted with windows, our ancestors could have had light for a few living (cave) plants — to cheer things up and clear away some of the smoke.

SPORTS

Wildcats Have Busy Weekend
Mason’s Practice Pays Off
No. 12 OKLAHOMA ST. 73, No. 14 TEXAS 65
Colorado Air Too Thin for OU
COLORADO 88, No. 17 OKLAHOMA 80
JV Basketball
Eighth Grade Scores

Wildcats Have Busy Weekend

By FRED HILTON

News Sports Editor

Ponca City’s Wildcat athletes will have a long and busy weekend, starting this afternoon.

The Po-Hi boys’ basketball team is in the Valley Center (Kan.) today through Saturday while the Lady Wildcats are playing in the Jenks Tournament for three days.

Meanwhile the wrestlers are in the most important dual of the season as they travel to Stillwater tonight.

The Wildcat and Pioneer matmen will clash for the right to go to the Dual State Tournament in Oklahoma City in February.

Both teams are 2-0 in district duals, having beaten Tulsa East Central and Jenks.

The dual is expected to be close with fans from Stillwater and Ponca City slated to crowd the Pioneers’ Field House. The varsity match starts at 7 p.m.

The Wildcat basketball boys are scheduled to take to the floor against the host team at Valley Center at 6:45 p.m. The Cats will be looking to get back on track after seeing a two-game win streak broken by powerful Jenks on Tuesday.

The other team in the lower half of the bracket are Goddard and Derby, The other half of the bracket has Blue Valley playing Enid and Junction City taking on Wichita North.

If the Wildcat win tonight they play again Friday at 8:30 p.m. A loss would put them in the 5 p.m. game.

The Lady Wildcat cagers, looking to turn their improved scoring into a win, takes on top-seeded Jenks in the first round of the Jenks Tournament at 7 p.m.

The other half of that bracket pits Muskogee against Tulsa Bishop Kelly.

The upper bracket has Tulsa Washington playing Putnam City and Bixby going against Norman.

A win tonight puts the Po-Hi girls in a 7 p.m. game Friday while a loss moves their game to 1 p.m.

Following tonight’s dual at Stillwater, the Ponca City wrestlers are at home Saturday in a dual against highly ranked Sand Springs at 3 p.m. in Robson Field House.

Mason’s Practice Pays Off

By OWEN CANFIELD

AP Sports Writer

STILLWATER (AP) — Practice didn’t quite make perfect for Desmond Mason, although he and his Oklahoma State teammates aren’t complaining.

Mason, who has struggled with his shot in recent weeks, said he got primed for No. 14 Texas by shooting 1,000 shots on Monday and Tuesday. Then he came out Wednesday night and scored 30 in leading the 12th-ranked Cowboys to a 73-65 victory.

‘‘Desmond Mason is a guy that you knew it was a matter of time before he’d break out and do some things,’’ Texas coach Rick Barnes said. ‘‘He had a great game tonight.’’

Mason entered the game averaging 17.9 points per game, best on the team and third-best in the Big 12. But he had totaled only 20 points in the Cowboys’ three previous games against Division I opponents.

It was evident early on that Mason was feeling his shot. He made a 3-pointer from the right wing at the 17:18 mark, the start of a run during which he scored 14 straight for the Cowboys.

The final 11 of those came during a stretch of about three minutes. He had two dunks, two free throws, a fadeaway jumper and a 3-pointer while bringing Oklahoma State (14-1, 3-0) from a 17-10 deficit to a 21-18 lead.

‘‘I just came out focused,’’ he said. ‘‘Coach wanted me to be focused for 40 minutes because I was probably going to play 40 minutes, and I needed to be focused the whole time. I came out and played hard.’’

Mason didn’t score in the final nine minutes of the half, when the Cowboys struggled to find open shots and made just three field goals. They trailed 30-29 at halftime.

But Mason made sure to get the ball early in the second half. He opened with two free throws, added a baseline jumper off an inbound pass, another baseline shot two minutes later and a jumper from the right wing that made the score 37-30.

‘‘Desmond played one of the best games I’ve had a player play for me since I came back to Oklahoma State,’’ said coach Eddie Sutton, who is in his 10th year with the Cowboys.

While Mason was heating up, Texas was going nearly four minutes without a basket — three missed shots and three turnovers.

The Longhorns only trailed 46-41 midway through the second half, but Mason made a 3-pointer, Glendon Alexander added another and Alexander sank two free throws to make the score 54-41.

Texas didn’t go quietly, however. Chris Mihm scored eight of his season-high 24 in the final 4:50, helping the Longhorns cut the margin to four with a minute left. But Oklahoma State held them off by going 12-of-14 from the free throw line in the final 1:48.

Texas had been holding opponents to 39 percent shooting, and the players other than Mason combined to shoot just 32 percent. But Mason was 11-of-16 overall, 4-of-8 from 3-point range and made all four of his free throws to finish two points shy of his career high.

‘‘A player like that’s not going to slump too long,’’ Mihm said. ‘‘He came out and really lit it up.’’

Glendon Alexander scored 17 for the Cowboys, 15 in the second half.

Gabe Muoneke, coming off a 30-point effort against Oklahoma, had just 13, as did Darren Kelly.

No. 12 OKLAHOMA ST. 73, No. 14 TEXAS 65

TEXAS (11-5) 

Muoneke 4-7 5-6 13, Mihm 9-15 6-7 24, Wagner 3-7 1-2 9, Williams 1-3 1-2 4, Clay 0-7 0-0 0, Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Wyatt 0-0 0-0 0, Owens 1-3 0-0 2, McColpin 0-1 0-0 0, Kelly 5-9 0-0 13, Ogden 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-52 13-18 65.

OKLAHOMA ST. (14-1) 

Montonati 1-2 4-4 6, Mason 11-16 4-4 30, Jonzen 2-3 5-6 9, Adkins 2-7 2-4 6, Gottlieb 1-5 1-4 3, Alexander 5-15 6-8 17, Williams 0-3 0-0 0, Keep 1-1 0-1 2, Webber 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-53 22-31 73.

Halftime—Texas 30, Oklahoma St. 29. 3-point goals—Texas 6-14 (Kelly 3-4, Wagner 2-3, Williams 1-2, McColpin 0-1, Clay 0-2, Muoneke 0-2), Oklahoma St. 5-18 (Mason 4-8, Alexander 1-8, Adkins 0-1, Gottlieb 0-1). Fouled out—Mihm. Rebounds—Texas 32 (Owens 8), Oklahoma St. 33 (Adkins 8). Assists—Texas 11 (Wagner 5), Oklahoma St. 16 (Adkins 7). Total fouls—Texas 24, Oklahoma St. 16. A—6,381.

Colorado Air Too Thin for OU

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Midway through the second half, Colorado coach Ricardo Patton slumped in his chair, held his head in his hands and appeared woozy.

It turned out to be only a brief period of lightheadedness.

Oklahoma experienced a similar state of disorientation, but the Sooners’ malady lasted much longer.

Jaquay Walls scored 19 of his 28 points in the second half as Colorado upset the No. 17 Sooners 88-80 Wednesday night.

Colorado (10-6, 1-3 Big 12) outshot the Sooners 55 percent to 47 percent and made critical free throws down the stretch after Oklahoma (14-3, 2-2) fell behind by 12 points with 8:21 left and was forced to foul.

Walls had 17 points over the final 10:42, including 13 of 14 free throws.

Jamahl Mosley added 19 points and Will Smith had 15 for the Buffaloes, who snapped an 11-game losing streak to Oklahoma and who had lost 37 of their previous 39 games to the Sooners.

Colorado’s last win over Oklahoma came on Feb. 20, 1993.

Patton, given some libations, resumed stalking the sideline and said he was fine after the game.

‘‘I just staggered that one time because I stood up a little too quickly and I lost my equilibrium,’’ he said. ‘‘I didn’t really eat right lately.’’

Maybe he was weakened from putting his team through high-intensity, three-hour practices this week in preparation for Oklahoma.

‘‘Jamahl said practice was harder than the game tonight,’’ Patton said.

‘‘This win can be attributed to our hard work in practice,’’ Mosley said.

Walls insisted the victory was ‘‘not a statement game. We just have to keep it going. This win doesn’t mean anything if we lose this Saturday (to Kansas State). Consistency is key.

‘‘We moved the ball well tonight, and everybody was getting open looks.’’

Eduardo Najera had 17 points and 14 rebounds for Oklahoma. Freshman guard Hollis Price, who fouled out late in the game, scored 15 points for the Sooners and Tim Heskett had 14. The loss was the second in a row for the Sooners, both on the road.

‘‘I heard our crowd chanting ‘overrated, overrated,’’’ Patton said. ‘‘That team is not overrated. We’ve just been underachieving. This shows you how tough it is to play two straight road games in the Big 12. Just as Oklahoma learned tonight, unless you are a much more talented team, it is tough to win on the road.’’

Sooners coach Kelvin Sampson was disappointed in his defense, which came into the game ranked first in the conference, yielding only 60.2 points per game.

‘‘When we get a 10-point lead (in the first half), that’s when your defense needs to kick in,’’ Sampson said. ‘‘It’s been a long time since I’ve seen us give up shots like that.

‘‘Colorado played really well. They played with a purpose. They’re quick and athletic. It still comes down to defense, and we couldn’t stop them from scoring.’’

Oklahoma, which trailed 44-38 at halftime, mounted a 7-0 run early in the second half and got within two points, but could get no closer.

Richard Fox’s layup, Walls’ two free throws and Smith’s free throw gave Colorado its biggest lead, 68-56.

Price and Heskett hit 3-pointers as the Sooners cut the deficit to 70-66 with 4:48 left, but Walls countered with a 3-pointer from the corner and a running bank shot for a 75-66 lead with 3:28 to go.

Oklahoma’s Kelly Newton hit two 3-pointers, but Colorado went 11-of-12 from the line over the final 1:19.

With 13:13 left in the game, Colorado’s Aki Thomas was whistled for a flagrant foul for throwing Najera to the floor and was ejected. Both players appeared to have been hit on the lip, and Najera wore a bandage for most of the rest of the game.

Patton said the incident had no obvious effect on his team’s emotions.

Sampson said the ‘‘incident was totally uncalled for. There is no excuse for that. He should be suspended.’’

COLORADO 88, No. 17 OKLAHOMA 80

OKLAHOMA (14-3) 

Johnson 2-4 2-4 6, Najera 6-16 4-6 17, Stone 3-4 1-5 7, Price 4-6 5-6 15, Raymond 4-15 0-0 9, Heskett 4-6 2-2 14, Newton 2-5 0-0 6, Avila 3-4 0-1 6, Heywood 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-60 14-24 80.

COLORADO (10-6) 

Mosley 8-12 3-5 19, Smith 5-8 5-8 15, Thomas 2-3 0-0 4, Winston 1-2 1-4 3, Walls 6-12 13-15 28, Williams 2-2 2-2 6, Renfroe 0-0 0-0 0, Mohr 0-3 0-0 0, Pelle 2-5 3-6 7, Fox 3-6 0-0 6. Totals 29-53 27-40 88.

Halftime—Colorado 44, Oklahoma 38. 3-point goals—Oklahoma 10-23 (Heskett 4-6, Price 2-2, Newton 2-5, Najera 1-4, Raymond 1-6), Colorado 3-7 (Walls 3-5, Winston 0-1, Mohr 0-1). Fouled out—Price, Raymond. Rebounds—Oklahoma 33 (Najera 14), Colorado 38 (Pelle 8). Assists—Oklahoma 15 (Raymond 5), Colorado 20 (Walls 8). Total fouls—Oklahoma 31, Colorado 21. Ejection—Thomas. A—6,023.

JV Basketball

Ponca City 62, Union 56

Ponca City’s Wildcats cae from behind in the secnd quarter and held off Tulsa Union for an exciting 62-56 victory Tuesday night.

Down 10-8 after one period, the Cats rallied to go in front 25-21 at halftime in the see-saw battle.

Jared Brashears poured through 19 points to pace the Ponca City scoring and was the only player in double figures as nine players reached the scorebook.

“It was by far the best effort oveall by the whole squad,” said coach Joe Matlock. “Offensively we did a great job of finding the open man and hitting shots when we had to.

“Defensively, we fouled too much, put them on the free throw line too often. But we contested very shot they took.”

Earlier the JV boys thrashed Sapulpa 61-38.

Ponca City 62, T. Union 56

Tulsa Union 10 11 17 18 — 56

Ponca City 8 17 15 21 — 62

Ponca City — Jared Brashears 10, Krios Upchurch 9, James Anno 9, Kyle Geheb 9, Matt Meyers 6, John Abel 4, Josh Pitts 3, Anthony Dewberry 2, Matt Bond 1.

Ponca City 61, Sapulpa 38

Sapulpa 2 9 14 13 — 38

Ponca City 23 20 15 5 — 61

Ponca City — Jared Brashears 13, Antony Dewberry 11, Matt Metyers 11, James Anno 10, Krios Upchurch 5m John Abel 5, Josh Pitts 4, Michael Martin 2

Ponca City 28, Union 27 (girls)

Ponca City’s Lady Wildcat JVs held off Tulsa Union for a 28-27 victory here Tuesday.

The Lady Cats managed a 14-13 halftime lead and moved in front 22-17 in the third period.

“We did a good job of being patient and scoring,” said coach Brad Parent, “and it was a good defensive effort.”

Last week, the JVs fell to Bartlesville 47-29 and to Sapulpa 21-15.

Ponca City 28, Tulsa Union 27

Tulsa Union 6 7 4 10 — 27

Ponca City 8 6 8 6 — 28

Ponca City — Aubrey Kelly 6, Jenna Wedd 5 Lyndsi Frederick 5, Amanda Summers 3, Angela Kana 3, Cara Cusick 3, Amada Ingram 3.

Sapulpa 21, Ponca City 15

Sapulpa 2 2 10 7 — 21

Ponca City 3 1 4 7 — 15

Ponca City — Amanda Summers 7, Aubrey Kelly 3, Jenni Nimmo 2, Lyndsi Frederick 2, Cara Cusick 1

Bartlesville 47, Ponca City 29

Bartlesville 12 12 12 11 — 47

Ponca City 7 4 10 8 — 29

Ponca City — Lyndsi Frederick 8, Cara Cusick 6, Angela Kana 4. Raisa Durrant 4, Aubrey Kelly 3, Amanda Summers 2, Amanda Ingram 2.

Eighth Grade Scores

Sparked by a second quarter steal and momentum-changing dunk by Justin Waller, who finished with 18 points, the eighth grade Red boys defeated Blackwell, 50-29, Monday.

The Red Cougars trailed 8-6 after a slow first quarter of play.

But a key jump shot and a steal by Scott Hartman got the Cougars started as they went on to outscore Blackwell, 18-3, in the second period.

Ponca City kept the pressure with penetrating drives by Antwon Moore and the rebounding of Justin Bush and Trey Brewer.

Doug Fleet helped fuel a third quarter 20-8 spree and the Cougars took control.

Aggressive defense by Noah England and H.C. Noel in the fourth period were also a part of the win, according to coach John Spore.

The coach also lauded the shot blocking of T.C. Hankins, the ball handling of Harry Blueback and the defensive hustle of Layne Keathley.

Ponca City’s eighth grade Red girls held Enid Emerson to two second half points in a 32-19 win Tuesday.

The Lady Cougars led 14-10 at halftime and then pulled away with a strong defefensive effort.

Hanna Garrison had 13 points and Lacy Davis 10 to pace the Ponca City scoring.

The Reds beat Bartlesville 32-16 Thursday.

Ponca City 32, Enid Emerson 19

Ponca City 10 4 8 10 — 32

E. Emerson 4 6 0 2 — 19

Ponca City — Hanna Garrison 13, Lacy Davis 10, Molly Zoski 6, Jesscia Buckman 2, Carri Lawson 1

Ponca City 32, Bartlesville 16

Ponca City 4 17 4 7 — 32

Bartlesville 5 4 4 3 — 16

Hanna Garrison 16, Lacy Davis 13, Carri Lawson 3, Jesswica Bushman 6, Michaela Cavener 2, Amanda Neal 1, Sara Edem 1.