LOCAL

Po Hi Band Home Bound Convoy Delayed Slightly by Bus Trouble
Candidates Wait To File for Mayor
Nearly News
Medicare Medical Insurance (Part B) Sign Up Period Goes to March 31
Gerald Robey Brown Guilty Of Involuntary Manslaughter
Conoco Highlights Numerous During Record-Setting Quarter
Grain Sorghum Production Meeting Scheduled Wednesday in Blackwell

Po Hi Band Home Bound Convoy Delayed Slightly by Bus Trouble

Information received this morning about the Ponca City High School band’s return trip to Oklahoma indicated that three of the buses had stopped this morning in Conway, Ark. (west of Little Rock) so members could eat breakfast. They are expected to arrive in Ponca City around 1 p.m. today.

The group was scheduled to leave Washington, D.C. Sunday, but delayed departure due to weather and transmission trouble in a fourth bus. Three of the buses left this morning (10:30 a.m.) to return home while a replacement bus was en route to Washington. Non-stop traveling has put the fourth bus about two hours behind the others said Mary Ladd from the superintendent’s office.

She added that the group reported having a “wonderful time” and were told how proud Ponca Citians were of the group. She relayed that Joe Surber, who is riding in the fourth bus, was asked how the kids’ spirit was, and he replied, “The spirits are all asleep, only the bus driver and myself are awake.”

Candidates Wait To File for Mayor

NEWKIRK — Mayoral candidates weren’t rushing to the election board to file for office this morning as the filing period officially opened for Ponca City’s March 6 mayoral elections.

According to Kay County Election Board officials, as of 11 a.m. none of the three announced candidates had filed for office. Candidates who have announced their intentions to run for the office of mayor of Ponca City thus far are Brett Carter, Estle Lampe and incumbent Tom Leonard.

Those wishing to run for the office must officially submit their candidacy declarations with the county election board by 5 p.m. Wednesday to be eligible for the municipal election.

Nearly News

Oklahoma State Cowboys fans attending Wednesday’s Big 12 basketball game at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater will hear the tenor voice of Ponca City First Christian Church choir director Michael Sheaffer singing The National Anthem prior to tip-off. Sheaffer however will have to make a quick exit and head to Ponca City to direct the choir in its usual Wednesday night rehearsal. Drive safely Michael.

-——

The Po Hi Big Blue Band garnered a lot of publicity not only for Ponca City, but Oklahoma as well as they marched proudly in the Inaugural Parade Saturday. A commentator on CNN noted that the band was from Ponca City, Okla., and that is where Mike Boettcher is from. The other narrator said something to the effect that he was from Tulsa and that Mike had told him “What a great place Ponca City is.”

Boettcher is scheduled to be the guest speaker for the Feb. 3 Tonkawa Chamber of Commerce banquet. Boettcher was one the participants here in Ponca City for the recent Summit.

Medicare Medical Insurance (Part B) Sign Up Period Goes to March 31

By Richard Black

District Manager

Social Security Administration

If you are eligible for Medicare medical insurance (Part B), but haven't signed up, you can do so now during the annual “General Enrollment Period” for Medicare through March 31.

Beneficiaries with Medicare hospital insurance (Part A) who originally decided not to sign up for Medicare insurance when they first became eligible for Medicare but have changed their minds can take advantage of this three-month period. Those who had medical insurance at one time, but dropped out may now enroll again.

Medicare medical insurance helps pay for doctor’s visits, out-patient hospital treatment and other medical services and supplies not covered by Medicare hospital insurance (Part A).

The cost of the medical insurance premium is $50 a month in 2001. However, beneficiaries who sign up now instead of when they were originally eligible may have an additional 10 percent added to their premium for each year they could have enrolled in Part B but didn’t. If you sign up at any time during the general enrollment period, your coverage will begin July 1, 2001.

If you do not have Medicare hospital insurance (Part A) but are age 65 or older and a U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted alien who has lived in the United States for at least five years, you can sign up for medical insurance only or for hospital and medical insurance at this time. The premium for hospital insurance varies depending on the amount of time you may have worked in jobs where you paid Social Security taxes.

If you are interested in enrolling Medicare, call Social Security’s toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213, or contact your local Social Security office.

Gerald Robey Brown Guilty Of Involuntary Manslaughter

Gerald Robey Brown, 29, charged in the 1997 death of Ronald Lee Buffalohead, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in proceedings in federal court in Oklahoma City last week, according to Dan Webber, U.S. Attorney for the Western District.

Brown’s conviction followed a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Vickie Miles-LaBrange. Brown had been indicted for manslaughter, but, after several hours of deliberation, the jury returned a guilty verdict on the lesser included charge of involuntary manslaughter.

The murder occurred in September of 1997 on Indian land near White Eagle, south of Ponca City.

“This office continues to make it a priority to respond to violent crime in Indian country,” said Webber. “The prosecution of serious crimes in Indian country is a key responsibility of the federal government and we will vigorously pursue such crimes.”

Brown faces a maximum potential sentence of up to 6 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, plus a term of supervised release following release from prison.

The sentence actually imposed will be determined by application of the federal sentencing guidelines. Sentencing will occur following completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ponca Tribal Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Teresa Black and Arvo Mikkanen prosecuted the case.

Conoco Highlights Numerous During Record-Setting Quarter

HOUSTON — Conoco had numerous highlights during the past record-setting quarter.

Highlights for the quarter included:

* Major discoveries were made in Vietnam, the Gulf of Mexico and the U.K. In Vietnam, a step-out well significantly extended the producing area of the Rang Dong field, testing at 8,500 barrels per day (bpd) from one zone. This was in addition to a significant discovery in Vietnam announced in September.

In the Gulf of Mexico, commerciality was confirmed on the Magnolia deep-water prospect, which could yield more than 150 million gross barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) in future production. In September, Conoco and Shell announced the Princess sub-salt discovery near the Ursa field, with potential reserves estimated in excess of 200 million BOE.

In the U.K., appraisal wells confirmed two North Sea discoveries that could yield gross reserves of more than 100 million BOE.

* Conoco acquired major interests in two exploration and production blocks spanning 1.5 million acres offshore Malaysia, and will drill at least four wells in an area where reserves of 13 billion BOE have already been discovered.

* Petrozuata, the company’s joint venture in Venezuela, completed construction of its $1.1 billion upgrader facility. Start-up of the upgrading facility is in progress. Production at the Petrozuata field is approaching its target of 120,000 bpd. In Lake Charles, the new acidic crude unit was commissioned in December and is processing 60,000 bpd of heavy crude. The unit will switch to Petrozuata syncrude early in 2001.

* The company’s extensive operations in the Far East expanded significantly with the completion of the West Natuna Gas Transportation System’s new subsea pipeline, which carried the first natural gas exports from Indonesia to Singapore, months ahead of schedule.

* In the natural gas-rich U.S. Permian Basin, Conoco acquired three natural gas processing plants, a storage facility and 1,200 miles of pipeline that will increase the company’s processing capacity in the region by more than 40 percent.

* Construction continues on the 8-million-pound carbon fibers plant in Ponca City, Okla., with mechanical completion expected in late 2001. Plans are under way to scale-up future larger plant design to the commercial production levels required for anticipated customer demand.

In December, the company opened its first international carbon fibers sales office in Tokyo to assist customers in their evaluation of the new carbon fiber.

* The company announced plans to acquire a 6-percent interest in the giant Grane Field in the North Sea offshore Norway. The acquisition, expected to be completed in the current quarter, is projected to yield about 50 million BOE of production over its economic life. Grane is Norway’s largest oil field currently under development.

* NRG Energy has joined the SRW Cogeneration Limited Partnership by taking a 50-percent interest. SRW owns and will operate the 420-megawatt natural gas-fired cogeneration plant under construction at the DuPont Company’s Sabine River Works petrochemical facility near Orange, Texas.

* Conoco and Sonatrach, the national oil company of Algeria, signed a memorandum of understanding to evaluate the potential use of Algerian natural gas reserves to fuel power generation projects in Algeria, Spain and Turkey.

* Conoco won the prestigious “Environment Award” from the United Kingdom Institute of Petroleum for the company’s Deir Ez Zor integrated natural gas project (DEZ Gas) in Syria. The 100-year-old institute encourages and facilitates best practices and technical innovation in the international petroleum industry.

Special Items: Fourth quarter net income, including special items, totaled $550 million or $.87 per diluted share. The only special item was a $24 million write-down of inventories in an international refinery venture. The adjustment was necessitated by the reduction in crude oil and petroleum product prices in December. There were no special items in the same period in 1999.

Full-year net income, including special items, totaled $1.9 billion or $3 per diluted share. Including the inventory write-down, special items for the year were a charge of $46 million. Special items for 1999 amounted to a charge of $38 million.

Grain Sorghum Production Meeting Scheduled Wednesday in Blackwell

BLACKWELL — A Grain Sorghum Production meeting is scheduled on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Kay Electric Cooperative, Blackwell.

Speakers will include Roger Gribble, OSU Area Extension agronomist, from Enid; Rick Kochenower, OSU Area Research and Extension agronomist; from Goodwell; and Dr. Jeff Dahlberg, representing the National Grain Sorghum Producers.

Topics will include 2000 Variety Trail results, planting rates, weed control and an update from the National Grain Sorghum Producers organization. Refreshments will be provided by the Kay County OSU Cooperative Extension Service.

The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability or status as a Vietenam-era veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures and is an equal opportunity employer.

DEATHS

Arlene Overland
Mable Dorothea Smith
Joyce Jones
Fern S. Lambert
Dale Ann Parks
Keith Clayton Krider

Obituaries

Arlene Overland

Arlene Overland, longtime Ponca City resident, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 20, 2001, in the Medicalodge East Healthcare Center of Arkansas City. She was 72.

An evening prayer service will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Monday evening in the Ponca Indian Baptist Church. The traditional funeral feast will be held at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2001, followed by the funeral at 2 p.m. The Rev. Doug Scott will officiate and will be assisted by Rev. Ted Freeman, pastor of Ponca Indian Baptist Church, the Rev. Jesse Fisher, pastor of New Life Community Center of Arkansas City and the Rev. Toby A. Blackstar, of Victory Tabernacle. Burial will follow in the Ponca Tribal Cemetery under direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Born Arlene Delphine Knudsen on April 14, 1928, in Briscoe, Neb., she was the daughter of Alexander Haney and Lucy (Larvie) Knudsen. She grew up in Nibrera, Neb., and moved to the Ponca community at a young age. On Dec. 6, 1965 Arlene married John Overland in Ponca City and they made their home here in the Kay County area.

In 1985, she was born again both of the Spirit and of Water and thus began her crusade for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was known as a Prayer Warrior for she was always traveling around and praying for people in the hospitals, nursing homes, the Kay County jail and from house to house in cottage prayer meetings. Other prayer bands she was a part of included The A Team with Sister Alice Fisher and her son The Rev. Jesse Fisher. Sister Arlene would go and touch many people with her testimony of how the Lord can save, deliver and heal you from a past life of drugs, alcohol and substance abuse to a new and rich life in the Lord Jesus. She would prepare meals for different ones who would walk among the railroad tracks and she would witness to them. Her testimony would be shared with the boys in the Winfield Correctional Facility, The Church on The Right Track and at many a revival. She first united with the Ponca Indian Full Gospel Church and later united with the Newlife Pentecostal Holiness Church. There she met a real sister in the Lord, Jean Hall, and, along with Sister Alice Fisher, would go and minister. Her heart was always for her Indian people to come to know the Lord as she had and live a life of Victory!! She would travel back home to Nibrera and minister to her family there.

“For who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She stretcheth her hand out to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. Strength and honor are her clothing, and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. Her children arise up and call her blessed; many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” Proverbs 31: 10-30.

Sister Arlene is now in Heaven shouting “glory” and dancing those streets of gold yet she leaves behind to cherish her memory one daughter, Brenda Warrior of Ponca City; four grandchildren, R.J., Joe Nathan, Randa and Gabrielle Warrior, all of Ponca City; one sister, Alice Fisher of Arkansas City, Kan., numerous nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends

paid obituary

Services Pending

Mable Dorothea Smith

FAIRFAX — Mable Dorothea Smith, longtime resident of rural Ralston, died Sunday morning, Jan. 21, 2001, at the Fairfax Memorial Hospital. She was 97. Arrangements are pending with the Hunsaker-Wooten Funeral Home in Fairfax.

Joyce Jones

Joyce Jones, Ponca City resident, died Sunday morning, Jan. 21, 2001, at Bass Memorial Hospital in Enid. She was 60. Arrangements are pending with Grace Memorial Chapel.

Funerals

Tuesday

Fern S. Lambert

Fern S. Lambert — Funeral at 11 a.m. in the Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home in Arkansas City, Kan., with burial in the Riverview Cemetery.

Dale Ann Parks

Dale Ann Parks —Funeral scheduled for 2 p.m. in Miller-Stahl Funeral Home chapel in Newkirk with burial to follow in the Newkirk Cemetery.

Friday

Keith Clayton Krider

Keith Clayton Krider — Memorial service at 2 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church.

NEWS BRIEFS

Minor Accident — A minor accident in an alley in the 500 block of West Highland Avenue was reported to Ponca City police at 12:36 p.m. Saturday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

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

Vehicle Towed Away — A hit-and-run accident at the intersection of First Street and Grand Avenue was reported to Ponca City police at 1:19 p.m. Saturday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. A vehicle was towed from the scene.

OU Jewelry, cheerleader pin, earrings, money clip, and silver pen now at Carla’s Hallmark, Downtown. adv.

Accident — An accident in the 1500 block of South Eighth Street was reported to Ponca City police at 2:22 p.m. Saturday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Want To start your own business? Pioneer Tech’s Self-Employment training program can show you how to start for less cash. This program can also help you determine the feasibility and legal requirements of starting your business. Evening classes begin February 8. Call 762-8336, Ext. 262 for enrollment information. adv.

Miscellaneous — A resident contacted a Ponca City police officer in reference to another resident in the 400 block of West Emporia Avenue littering the street with beer cans at 3:08 p.m. Saturday. There was also loud music coming from the residence. An officer responded to the scene. Juvenile children at the residence picked up the mess because their mother was intoxicated. The information was passed on to the Department of Human Services.

Accident — A minor accident in a parking lot in the 3300 block of North Fourteenth Street was reported to Ponca City police at 4:22 p.m. Saturday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Subject Held — An officer at the intersection of East Grand Avenue and Fourteenth Street reported a 32-year-old man was taken into custody after a traffic stop for driving under suspension at 4:42 p.m. Saturday.

Intoxicated Subject — An employee at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center’s emergency room reported to Ponca City police at 12:38 a.m. Sunday an intoxicated subject from an earlier ambulance run was ready to leave but had no where else to go. An officer was assigned and a 55-year-old man was taken into custody for public intoxication.

Subject Held — An officer at the intersection of Fifth Street and East Grand Avenue reported a 24-year-old man was taken into custody after a traffic stop for driving under suspension at 6:47 p.m. Saturday.

Vehicle Hits Tree — A one-vehicle accident at the intersection of West Oklahoma Avenue and South Peachtree Street was reported to Ponca City police at 7:15 p.m. Saturday. The vehicle had struck a tree. A 40-year-old man, driver of the vehicle, was taken into custody for driving under intoxication, no drivers license, reckless driving and on two city warrants for failure to appear and failure to pay.

Accident — A two-vehicle, non-injury accident at the intersection of West Hartford Avenue and North Union Street was reported to Ponca City police at 8:14 p.m. Saturday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Domestic — A woman in the 400 block of North Osage Street reported a domestic argument in progress to Ponca City police at 8:17 p.m. Saturday. Two officers responded to the scene. A 36-year-old man was taken into custody for domestic assault and battery.

Subject Held — An officer at the intersection of Brentwood Drive and Windsor Road reported a 19-year-old man was taken into custody after a traffic stop for no drivers license and speeding at 8:17 p.m. Saturday.

Burglary — A man reported to Ponca City police at 9:06 p.m. Saturday discovering someone had tried to gain entry into the Lincoln Center, 700 West Broadway Avenue. Three officers responded to the scene. The officers advised they did not find anyone at the center, but did find the door broken and a window smashed. A report was taken.

Subject Held — An officer at the intersection of East Highland Avenue and North Third Street reported a 46-year-old man was taken into custody after a traffic stop for driving under intoxication, speeding and no insurance at 10:55 p.m. Saturday.

Subject Held — An officer at the intersection of West Broadway Avenue and North Osage Street reported a 41-year-old woman was taken into custody after a traffic stop for driving under intoxication, no insurance and improper movement from a direct course at 12:41 a.m. Sunday.

Accident — An accident at the intersection of Oklahoma 11 and U.S. 77 was reported to Ponca City police at 1:58 p.m. Sunday. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Kay County Sheriff’s Office were advised. An ambulance and rescue one from the Ponca City Fire Department also responded to the scene. One subject was taken to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.

Theft — An employee at the VFW, 3001 East Prospect Avenue, reported to Ponca City police at 2:02 a.m. Sunday three or four subjects had just stolen the keys to the establishment’s front door. A description was given of the suspects and their vehicle. Three officers responded to the scene and a report was taken.

Domestic — A resident in the 700 block of North Birch Street reported a domestic argument in progress to Ponca City police at 4:28 p.m. Sunday. Two officers responded to the scene. A 21-year-old woman was taken into custody on a Kay County warrant for failure to pay.

Theft — A woman in the 1700 block of Little Lane reported the theft of two bicycles to Ponca City police at 6:49 p.m. Sunday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Theft — A woman in the 700 block of East Albany Avenue reported a wallet had been stolen from her vehicle to Ponca City police at 10:52 p.m. Sunday. An officer was assigned. The wallet was found but it was empty. A report was taken.

Subject Held — An officer in the 1000 block of Poplar Avenue reported a 39-year-old man was taken into custody after a traffic stop for driving under suspension, expired tag and on a city warrant at 12:31 a.m. Monday.

Rape — An employee at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center reported to Ponca City police at 8:30 a.m. Sunday the SANE unit, a unit comprised of nurses specially trained in dealing with rape cases at the hospital, due to a subject being sexually assaulted, was being activated. Three officers responded to the scene. A report was taken.

Fire Run — A woman reported a vehicle was on fire at the intersection of East Grand Avenue and Seventh Street to the Communications Center at 12:09 p.m. Sunday. Rescue one from the Ponca City Fire Department responded to the scene.

Theft — A woman in the 200 block of East Highland Avenue reported her purse had been stolen out of her locked vehicle to Ponca City police at 1:36 p.m. Sunday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Gas Drive-Off — A clerk at a business in the 200 block of East Highland Avenue reported a $5 gas drive-off to Ponca City police at 2:44 p.m. Sunday. A description was given of the vehicle. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

LIFESTYLES

Advance Directories for Health Care Program Topic for Lions
Xi Beta Tau Chapter Makes Plans for Valentine Dance
Modern Moms Group Meets
Unit III Members Hear Review
Little News

Advance Directories for Health Care Program Topic for Lions

When the Noon Lions met Jan. 17, Sister Nora Phelan, St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, gave the program about the importance of advance directives for health care.

Phelan first came to Ponca City in 1982. She served at hospitals in Blackwell, Wichita, Kan., and Hayward, Calif. before returning to the Ponca City. She related, through a personal story involving her own father’s failing health and ultimately, his death, the importance of making difficult decisions regarding end of life care.

Some of the “tough areas are whether or not to resuscitate; the administration of artificial nutrition and hydration; experimental treatment and ‘medically futile’ treatment,” she said. According to Phelan, these tough decisions “can best be made when the individual and his or her family have talked about treatment before the time of need. The patient’s relationship with the doctor can be a big help. The patient needs to say and know that his wishes will be carried out. The best way for this assurance is to fill out an advance directive for healthcare with a designation of power of attorney. This is known as a durable power of attorney and it changed at any time by the individual.”

Phelan closed by answering questions for the Lions regarding where to store the copies of their advance directives and who should have copies.

Brice Chism gave the invocation, and Ted Matson was song leader. Susan Ladner announced two new memberships had been turned in, Travis Pratt and Greg Rohr. Other announcements included an invitation for the Newkirk Lions to attend their 50th Anniversary celebration to be held Feb. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at Smith Country in Newkirk.

According to Ladner, more than 50 citizens were screened for diabetes at the “Blanket the Community” event held on Monday. Other Lions helping with the screening were Kathy Ferguson, Rick Myers and Karen Meyers. Ruslyn Hermanson was commended on sponsoring the event as the AmeriCorps leader. John Stanley announced that the Lions would be sponsoring the Hughes Brothers from Branson. The show will be March 15 and Lions and others in the community will be called on to purchase tickets to support this fundraiser.

A thank you card from the Lions Boy’s Ranch was read, and it was announced that the Lion’s Club raised the most money for the Salvation Army’s Bell ringing fundraiser.

The Noon Lions meet at the American Legion every Wednesday. They are the largest service organization worldwide and in Ponca City. Their goal is to assist in “wiping out an preventable blindness worldwide and to provide eye exams and eyeglasses to needy in our local community.” Their motto is “We Serve.”

Xi Beta Tau Chapter Makes Plans for Valentine Dance

Seven members of Xi Beta Tau chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority met at El Chico’s for the Jan. 8 meeting. The Opening Ritual was conducted, and Sammie Coats recorded the minutes in the absence of June Miller, secretary.

Plans for the Feb. 10 Valentine Dance were finalized. Xi Beta Tau is this year’s hostess chapter for the dance to be held at the American Legion, 8 p.m.- midnight.

Assignments were discussed. Xi Delta chapter will furnish guestbook, table and publicity. The printing and distribution of tickets and photographer will be handled by Xi Gamma Sigma. Xi Zeta Lambda will decorate for the queen’s backdrop. Door prizes and raffle tickets will be furnished by Eta Delta, and table decorations are Rho’s responsibility. Ticket prices were set, based an a count of 91 members, at $5 per person and $10 per couple.

Chapters will meet at 10 a.m. for decorating and queen’s rehearsal. All candidates are to bring an information card about themselves to be read that evening by emcee - Sammie Coats. . JoAnne Ferguson is responsible for the scrapbook for January.

Treasurer Cindy Wardlow reported on the status of the chapter’s finances. More information on the Nelda Smith van- fundraiser was discussed. It was decided to accept a $1 each donation for a chance.

The chapter voted to donate $50 to the Big Blue marching band to help defray the cost of sending them to Washington, D.C. to march in the Inaugural Parade for president-elect George W. Bush. A challenge was issued to the other chapters to meet or exceed Xi Beta Tau’s donation.

JoAnne Ferguson was elected as Xi Beta Tau’s Valentine Queen. She will be escorted by her husband, Dean Ferguson, and crowned by last year’s queen, Lois Coats. Terri Buesing reported that she had ordered program ideas from International. JoAnne Ferguson will be ordering tickets for members for the Taste of Home Cooking Show to be held in April. Sammie Coats is responsible for the scrapbook pages for February.

Sammie Coats won the mystery gift, furnished by Cindy Wardlow, and the Traveling Basket went to Jan Ellison. The evening’s cultural program by Cindy Wardlow was a “taste and tell” of regional Mexican delicacies and decorating with Mexican accents.

The next meeting will be at Amarillo Grill on Jan. 22 with the cultural program and mystery gift to be furnished by JoAnne Ferguson.

Modern Moms Group Meets

Modern Moms Mother’s Club held their January meeting in the home of Joan Hardy. The cohostess was Sue Bond. An inspirational devotion “Thoughts of a Winner” was read by Sue Winkle.

Eight members answered roll call by telling of someone who has influenced their lives. The program consisted of working on family pages for the history book. The theme for the book and for the state convention this year is “Life’s a Garden”

Martha Long reported on the teen mom Christmas party. The club furnished gifts for 30 babies. The gifts were wrapped during the December meeting.

Club members will be hosting a supper for the state officers on Jan. 19 at 8 p.m. at the home of Tammy Beier. The meal will consist of baked potatoes, appetizers, and dessert.

A nominating committee was formed to plan a new slate of officers. They will present this at the next meeting.

Glenda Hisey read thank-you cards from the families that were helped at Thanksgiving. A letter was also read from Karen Yost, the state president this year.

Mrs. Hisey won the traveling basket and key word gifts were exchanged. The next meeting is Feb. 8 at Carol McGaughey’s home.

Unit III Members Hear Review

Unit III of the Ponca City Mother’s Club met Jan. 19. Twenty-five members were in attendance at the luncheon held in the home of Gloria Harris. Co-hostesses were Marcene Young and Margaret West.

Vice Chairman, Norma Lee Kinzie, introduced the guest speaker, Chris Schilling, who is a native Ponca Citian and a Unit I Mother’s Club member. She gave a book review on the biography of Helen Steiner Rice titled “Ambassador of Sunshine” written by Ronald Pollitt and Virginia Wiltse. Helen Steiner Rice is well known for her spiritual poems, but early in her career found success writing catchy slogans. She held positions as a public speaker, public relations person, motivational speaker and then went on to become Senior Editor at Gibson’s Cards.

Ms. Schilling read several poems from the biography and pointed out that she could also be known for her wit and humor. Ms. Schilling wove into the story of Ms. Rice’s life, poems written when she was only ten years old, one inspired by the love for her mother, another as a tribute to her father after his death, and poems motivated by circumstances and adventures throughout her life.

One of her greatest achievements was receiving an Honorary Degree of Human Letters from Mt. Saint Joseph, Mount Saint Joseph, Ohio in early 1981.

A report given by Betty Whetstone, treasurer, showed the club’s donation of $140 to the Salvation Army for the “Toys for Tots’ program.

The next meeting will be held Feb. 16 at the Parish House of the Episcopal Church with Betty Whetstone, Peggy Lyons and Tibby Coatney as hostesses. The program will be “Indian Dancing” with Garland Kent Jr. as moderator.

Little News

Carter Evan Rinehart

Tracy and Tricia Rinehart, 105 North Olympia, announce the birth of a son, Carter Evan Rinehart, at 12:15 p.m. Dec. 21, 2000, in the Stillwater Medical Center. The baby weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces, and measured 21 inches long. He has a brother, Collin Mitchell, 3.

Maternal grandparents are Mitch and Deanna Garrity, and paternal grandparents are Everett and Jana Rinehart, all of Ponca City. Great-grandparents are Norman and Dolores Taylor and LaVera Middlebusher, all of Ponca City.

SPORTS

Grapplers Have Busy Schedule
Wildcats Back In Conference
Lady Raiders Dominate Cowgirls
Sooners Get Serious About Big 12 Play

Grapplers Have Busy Schedule

By FRED HILTON

News Sports Editor

Ponca City’s Wildcat wrestlers continue their hectic schedule this week with two duals and a tournament.

The Cat grapplers host Jenks tonight in Robson Field House (not Thursday as reported earlier). The high school and junior high duals will run on two mats, starting at 7 p.m.

Blackwell comes to town Tuesday in the continuing clash of arch rivals. That dual is also scheduled to start at 7 in Robson.

The Wildcats travel to Blackwell Friday and Saturday as the Maroons host the Big Four-Plus Four Tournament.

The bout with Jenks today will wrap up the district duals for the Wildcats. They have already clinched district crown and a berth in the Dual State Tournament, having beaten Tulsa East Central and Stillwater.

Jenks has lost to those two teams, but the Cats can’t take the Trojans, who finished second in their own tournament earlier this month, lightly.

This is a make-up of a dual that was snowed-out on Dec. 15.

The Ponca City-Blackwell dual is annual one of the toughest duals of the season.

It will be the fourth Top 5 team the Wildcats wrestle this season.

The Poncans have lost to Class 5A’s No. 1 Broken Arrow, Class 2A’s No. 1 Perry and Class 5A’s No. 4 Sand Springs.

Blackwell is rated No. 2 in Class 3A.

The Big Four-Plus Four Tournament brings together the top teams n the area, Ponca City, Blackwell, Perry and Stillwater, plus four other powers, including Tonkawa.

Wildcats Back In Conference

By DAVID DAVIS

News Sports Writer

The Ponca City Wildcats and Lady Cats travel to Owasso Tuesday to resume Frontier Conference play. The Wildcats’ conference record is 5-5 (7-9). The Lady Cats team is 4-6 (5-8).

The boys took advantage of the Owasso Rams, 61-38, in Robson Field House, Dec. 5, to even their record to 2-2. The girls’ picked up their first win for coach Jamie Burtner, 64-42.

The ladies have not played since both Ponca City teams lost at Jenks on Jan. 16.

The girls travel to Lawrence, Kan., Thursday for the Free State Tournament. The Lady Cats face Kansas City-Schlagle Thursday at 7 p.m. The other schools in the tournament are Wyandotte, Free State, Sumner, Tonganoxle, Harmon and Olathe North.

The Northern Oklahoma Lady Mavericks host Western Oklahoma at Foster-Piper Field House. The ladies tipoff at 6 p.m. The Mavericks play at 8 p.m.

The Mavericks are looking for ways to extend a modest two game winning streak. NOC beat Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College 75-70, after the Lady Mavericks lost, 81-53.

The Lady Norse welcomed the Lady Mavs to the list of the nation’s top 20 teams. The Lady Norse are ranked No. 2 in the National Junior College Athletic Association poll. The Lady Mavericks were ranked for the first time last week when the team was placed at No. 20.

Coach Greg Krause said Monday that NEO was successful in forcing the Lady Mavs off their spots on offense. He said they did not handle the full-court press very well.

“We have a lot of little things we have to work on,” Krause said. “We have to work on floor spacing against the press and we let them take us off our spots on offense.”

He said NOC will be an improved team when NEO comes to Tonkawa Feb. 22, and they will have time to make the necessary adjustments.

“They never deviate in what they do,” Krause said. “They play everyone the same way.

“I’m not disappointed. I’m very proud of our girls,” he said. “There are a lot of good teams we have to face before NEO rolls around again.

“Western is 11-6. There is nothing wrong with being 11-6. They are a very good team and we have to bounce back from Saturday.”

The ladies beat NEO on every statistic except turnovers and points off turnovers. NOC lost the ball 43 times. They shot 40 percent from the field and out rebounded NEO 40-38. The Lady Mavs shot 16 of 22 from the free throw line. NEO shot 14 of 22.

Ashley Hewitt scored 13 points. Erin Goss, 12 points, 10 rebounds; BJ Homer, 11; LaQueisha Dickerson, 10 points, 6 rebounds.

Dickerson was hit in the temple with 16 minutes remaining in the game. Trainers were concerned about a concussion and kept her out of the rest of the game. She will be further evaluated Monday afternoon before she will be available for the tipoff against Western.

Tia Andrew had 3 points, 13 rebounds and 13 blocked shots. Deidra Dick scored four points.

Lady Raiders Dominate Cowgirls

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Texas Tech’s freshmen got plenty of playing time Sunday, thanks to a dominating defensive performance in the first 20 minutes.

The ninth-ranked Lady Raiders held Oklahoma State to just eight points in the first half en route to winning 82-29, Texas Tech’s nation-leading 39th straight home victory.

Tech coach Marsha Sharp liberally used her reserves, including six first-year players.

“I was really trying to encourage them and help them in live action to get a feel for what was going on,” Sharp said. “I felt like we haven’t had a 40-minute effort. I wanted us, no matter what was going on on the scoreboard, to put together a complete effort.”

There was one down point Sunday for Tech — starter Amber Tarr dislocated her knee cap early in the game. She has averaged 11.5 points this season.

“It doesn’t look like it will be season ending, so hopefully we’ll get her back in the next few weeks,” Sharp said. “We are going to have to have some people step up in the meantime.”

The Lady Raiders limited Oklahoma State to 8-of-45 shooting from the floor, and forced 26 turnovers that led to 28 points. Texas Tech also outrebounded Oklahoma State 51-31.

“Texas Tech was so focused and so determined that they took us out of anything that we wanted to do,” Oklahoma State coach Dick Halterman said.

“I’m pretty much embarrassed about the way our kids played. Just watching the two teams come out of the locker room, it looked like maybe Texas Tech thought we would give them a good game.”

But Tech (15-2, 6-0 Big 12) led 45-8 at halftime, the lowest point total ever for a Lady Raiders’ opponent at the half. Katrisa O’Neal outscored Oklahoma State by herself with 10 points by the break. Freshman Jia Perkins led Tech with 19 points overall.

“They just blew right by us and they were a lot more focused on what was going on than we were,” Halterman said.

The Cowgirls (9-8, 1-5) were led by Jessica Spinner’s nine points.

Texas Tech led 12-0 after 5 1/2 minutes, when Oklahoma State’s Shelby Hutchens finally broke the drought. Then, after a 3-pointer by Oklahoma State’s Kara Faulk with 13:27 left in the half, Tech closed the period with a 27-1 run.

It took until 16:28 of the second half for Oklahoma State to hit double digits — a 3-pointer by Spinner prompted Tech’s student section to chant “double digits” and wave red and white balloons.

It was Oklahoma State’s first basket since a free throw with 8:49 left in the first half.

With just more than eight minutes left, Tech padded its lead to 47 points. That’s when the Lady Raiders’ freshmen took the court.

“We needed them to have some extended time so they could get ready for our next few games,” Sharp said.

Sooners Get Serious About Big 12 Play

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — No. 13 Oklahoma did its part in the ACC-Big 12 Challenge. What Sooners coach Sherri Coale would really like is for her team to challenge No. 7 Iowa State and No. 9 Texas Tech in the Big 12.

“Playing in the Big 12 makes you concentrate on endurance and not on getting too up for these sorts of big games,” Coale said after Oklahoma dispatched North Carolina 94-77 on Sunday. “The Big 12 is, if not the toughest conference in America, then one of the toughest.”

Oklahoma (13-4) travels Wednesday to Kansas (7-9) before getting its shot at Texas Tech next Sunday. Oklahoma headed back to Norman after turning in what Coale called “one of our better performances.”

The Sooners cut off the Tar Heels’ transition game, made the extra pass on offense, and generally played like a team ready to get serious about Big 12 play.

“We keep getting better,” Coale said. “We got better in practice Thursday and Saturday. And we got a little better today. That’s one of the things I really like about this team.”

Her Sooners free-lanced a bit more than Coale would have liked, but it was hard to rein them in when they were clicking so well on both ends of the court. Their 50 percent field-goal average was slightly better than their usual 47.3 percent. They had 18 turnovers, fewer than their normal 20.4 per game and the Sooners had more 25 assists, up from their typical 19.8.

“That usually means your offense is playing pretty well,” Coale said.

The bottom line was more points than the Sooners’ average of 83.3 a game, already tops in the Big 12 this season.

“One of the things people asked about this team earlier in the year was ’can they shoot?’ Well, yes, we can shoot. We just haven’t always taken good shots,” Coale said.

The Tar Heels knew Oklahoma was talented, North Carolina’s Sylvia Hatchell said.

“Defensively, we could have done better,” Hatchell said, “But Oklahoma is a great team, really great on offense. They’re very talented, with a lot of great players who can all score.”

LaNeisha Caufield had 23 points and seven assists to lead Oklahoma (13-4). Rosalind Ross made a career best five 3-pointers and tied her career high of 19 points, while Stacey Dales added 18 points.

“North Carolina just seemed to concentrate on everyone else and left me open to dominate,” Caufield said.

Caufield made 11 of 18 tries from the floor and contributed seven assists. Ross made six of 10 shots, five on nine coming beyond the arc. Ross scored 11 points in the first half and Dales 13 to help the Sooners easily erase an early 5-2 deficit and take command by halftime with a 45-37 lead.

The Sooners started the second half with three unanswered baskets, two by Caufield, to open up a 51-37 lead. They missed four straight shots during one stretch, allowing UNC to creep back within 53-46 on a jumper by Coretta Brown with 14:50 to play, but that was as close as North Carolina would get in the final minutes.

LaQuanda Barksdale led North Carolina (10-7) with 18 points and 14 rebounds for her 30th career double-double. She was held to a single basket in the second half’s first 10:27.

Brown scored 17 points for UNC, despite her 5-for-17 shooting from the field. Juana Brown chipped in 12 points and Candace Sutton 10.

Hatchell wasn’t too sympathetic about Oklahoma’s conference challenges. North Carolina hosts No. 5 Duke on Thursday. Getting drubbed on ESPN was not her idea of how to get up for her team’s archrival.

“We’re not crazy about it, that’s for sure,” Hatchell said. “Normally, when you have a non-conference game this time of year, it’s supposed to be a breather. Every conference game is emotional. You have to get up for each one.”