From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Wednesday,
January 1, 1997
LOCAL
National, World Figures, Events Highlighted News in Ponca City
Opening Electric Power Industry May Be Big State Financial Issue
Ponca Citian Chasing Her Dream
Emergency Sirens To Sound Thursday
DEATHS
Rollo Wilson
Services Pending
E.P. Jones
Funerals
Rev. Leonard Carl Anderson
William S. Carlisle
NEWS BRIEFS
LIFESTYLES
Pioneer Quilter's Guild Planning Show and Share
Brandi Lee Powell To Wed
Susan Henshaw Joins Xi Delta
Little News
Salt Fork Good Sams Meet in Tonkawa
SPORTS
Bass Tournament Results Now Available in Report
By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Staff Writer
Ponca City was touched by national and world figures in areas of politics, entertainment and other events during 1996. The year began with comedian and columnist Argus Hamilton, former Ponca Citian, who was the guest speaker for the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet.
Then there was the premier of the movie "Twister," which was held in Oklahoma City, but drew a number of Ponca Citians, as the movie was shot around Ponca City and in the Wakita area. The Warner Brothers film flick starred Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton.
Sen. Don Nickles, Ponca City, was re-elected majority whip for the United States Senate, and made several appearances in his home town during the year. Others making political news were former Ponca Citian Marc Nuttle, of Norman, a political strategist quoted in the Wall Street Journal and other national publications and Scott Klososky, Ponca City, who made a CD-Rom for the Republican Party for national distribution.
Then came the dedication of the Standing Bear Memorial, which featured Gov. Frank Keating and Sen. Don Nickles. A special guest was Archie Dunham, Conoco president, who spoke as well as national recognized sculptor Oreland C. Joe, who created the Standing Bear statue.
Other speakers were presidents of the top two Oklahoma universities, David Boren, Oklahoma University, and James Halligan, Oklahoma State University. Others dignitaries included Ernie Stevens Jr., first vice president of the National Congress of American Indians, and Bruce Lynn of the National Department of Transportation.
Ponca City's own native world personality Mike Boettcher of NBC TV came to Ponca City to film events in his hometown for television. Much of the footage featured the Poncan Theatre.
The Olympic Torch passed through Ponca City on May 18 on its way to the Olympic Games in Atlanta.
A&E Television was here to film the Marland Mansion and this aired on America's Castles on national television.
Other well known personalities included Susan Ford Bales, daughter of President Gerald Ford and Mrs. Ford. She spoke here on Breast Cancer Awareness, sponsored by St. Joseph Regional Medical Center and Soroptimist International. The founder of Kwik Kopy, Bud Hadfield spoke here at the Chamber's Breakfast of Champions.
The News has brought readers first hand coverage of President Bill Clinton, who was at the University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond. Clinton made a major policy speech on terrorism while at UCO.
Also coverage was provided for Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole at his home in Russell, Kan. Earlier that day Dole had announced at Russell that Jack Kemp would be his running mate.
Recently The News gave coverage to Kemp, when he was the speaker for the OSU College of Business Administration Business Briefings in Tulsa at the Adams Hotel.
Other world and national personalities covered first hand by The News included Mikhail Gorbachev, former president of the USSR, and Henry Kissinger, former U.S. secretary of state.
And, James D. Carreker, president and chief executive officer Trammell Crow, and president and chief executive officer of Wyunham Hotels and Resorts.
Also, Catherine Crier, broadcast journalist, state judge, trial lawyer and professor and Newsweek columnist Jane Quinn Bryant.
On another level the Oklahoma Hall of Fame program was covered with Dallas Cowboy Coach Barry Switzer presenting Chief Justice Alma Wilson as the inductee. Former First Lady Barbara Bush, and Shawntel Smith (Miss America), former governors David Walters and George Nigh, and Shirley Bellmon, twice former first lady of Oklahoma, and Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin.
Looking forward to 1997, Ricki Tigert Helfer, chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and former President George Bush are scheduled.
Major education events included the dedications of the education building at the University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, and the new Products and Technology Center at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater.
In the world of sports, the Dallas Cowboys, the New England Patriots, OU and OSU football and basketball and the PGA Golf Tournament at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa were highlighted.
Although they usually never get further than the Municipal Airport, golfers and business celebrities touching down on Ponca City soil at Greenwood Aviation, include golfers Arnold Palmer, Nick Price, Greg Norman and Tom Weiskopf. Also Chuck Yeager of jet record fame and pro fisherman Jim Houston.
By LAURA TREADWAY
News Staff Writer
Opening competition in the electric power industry could be one of the biggest financial issues addressed by the Oklahoma legislature in the last two decades.
"If we do not move now to design and schedule the operation of a restructured electric industry inside state boundaries, Congress may do it for us," State Senator Kevin Easley, chair of Senate Committee on Energy. "They could make Oklahomans pay for heavy investments in nuclear power in other states or attempt to force a uniform price of electricity nationwide," he said.
According to Easley, uniform prices would lower the cost of electricity on both coasts and raise them in the heartland.
Easley spearheads a task force which is trying to custom build a new approach to electrical generation and delivery to Oklahoma. The committee is comprised of representatives from electric cooperatives, municipal systems, public power, consumers, residential users and investor-owned utilities.
The group is divided into three sub-committees. One body deals with maintaining reliable delivery of service and another addresses how to handle taxes to level the playing field under the same tax structure. A third team works on how people will have access to wheel power over lines to customers.
According to Easley, the strongest debate is not whether to restructure the industry, but when to do it. Sixty-three municipal systems in Oklahoma want to go slow, however, 26 electric cooperatives and large industrial companies are ready to go, he said.
"Consumers just want it done right and want to protect low rates and reliable service," the senator said.
Easley prefers attacking deregulation sooner then later. He thinks Oklahoma should be the first in the area. The bill won't be introduced to the legislature until the end of Jan., Easley confirmed. He said he plans to argue strongly for it.
"It's a state's right issue," he said. "We'll end up buying into the federal program which could end in stranded investments."
"If our state decides it wants to control reliability of its power grid, neighboring states will have to design compatible systems," Easley said. "If we wait, we may have to design a system that accommodates six different approaches."
The Oklahoma Senate Energy, Environmental Resources and Regulatory Affairs Committee aims to reduce the cost of electricity for as many customers. In addition, it plans to help industry better compete to create more Oklahoma jobs and lower cost of government by diminishing the amount and type of regulations now paid for by taxpayers.
Dr. Thomas Sloan, former executive with Western Resources, Inc., and currently a member of the Kansas House of Representatives, where he serves on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said legislators must be more concerned about protecting citizens from potentially destructive competition while permitting the benefits of market innovations and competition to accrue to customers and providers.
"Competition and change are coming to the electric industry and nothing any legislature does will prevent it," Sloan said. "However, actions can be taken to protect vital interests of both electric suppliers and customers."
Five states are advanced in their pursuit of retail wheeling or customer choice: California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan and New Hampshire, according to Johynne Flores, in the March-April Public Power. Connecticut, New York, Delaware and Wisconsin are not far behind.
The weather person comes on T.V. and interrupts that favorite program to inform the viewers that a tornado is heading toward their town. With the sirens sounding and T.V. warnings, most people would take the necessary precautions and seek shelter, but not Melissa Fuhrman.
For Melissa this is probably one of her most fascinating times to watch, follow and predict the weather. Sound like a "storm chaser" from the movie "Twister?" Well, how about a "dream chaser" pursuing a career goal she has dreamed about since seventh grade.
"I have always wanted to be a meteorologist," explained Melissa. "I love the weather, rain, snow, everything!" Even in junior high school, her favorite subjects were math and science. Her favorite pastime wasn't watching MTV, but instead the weather channel to see what type of storm front was moving across the United States. Unlike Oklahoma weather, Melissa hasn't wanted to change her career dream.
Just like watching a line of storms on T.V., Melissa was lining up her courses at Ponca City High School, Pioneer Technology Center, Northern Oklahoma College and the University of Oklahoma, all in her junior year at high school. Melissa took this a step further when she wrote a letter to Channel 5's weather person, Gary England. England quickly responded with a letter and a list of courses, mainly computer courses that would be helpful since the weather station was computerized and would be more so in the future.
Pioneer Tech's business technology program provided the courses Melissa needed. Melissa is now currently enrolled in the computer portion of the program where she is learning keyboarding, word processing, spreadsheets, database, DOS and Windows.
"Pioneer Tech has really helped," said Fuhrman. "Early career preparation is better for students when they plan ahead and take courses that help."
The testing of the Ponca City emergency siren warning system will be held at noon, every Thursday, according to Tom Montgomery, emergency management operations officer.
The test is scheduled throughout the year.
Montgomery said that in case of inclement weather, the test will be postponed,
and in this case or if additional tests are planned, the public will be
notified by the Ponca City News and the radio stations.
DEATHS
Rollo Wilson, longtime Ponca City resident, died Sunday, Dec. 29, 1996, at St. Francis Hospital, Tulsa. He was 71.
The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, 1997, at the Trout Funeral Home Chapel with Bob Innis, pastor of the Word of Life Christian Center, officiating. Burial will be with military honors in the Masham Cemetery, north of Pawnee. Friends may call at the funeral home until noon, Thursday.
Mr. Wilson was born Sept. 2, 1925, in Fayetteville, Ark., to Rollo R. and Gleela (Whitcomb) Wilson. He came to Ponca City at the age of five and graduated from Ponca City High School in 1943. Throughout high school, he played football and was a member of the All-State team during his senior year. Also during his senior year of high school, he worked for the Ponca City fire department. He attended Oklahoma State University during the fall semester of 1943 and was on the football team. He entered the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943 and served a tour in Okinawa during World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1946.
He married D. Lucile Brien on Oct. 4, 1947, in Ponca City. He was employed with the Ponca City Fire Department for 32 years retiring as Deputy Fire Chief in 1978. He was a member of the Oklahoma Fireman's Association. Mr. Wilson enjoyed sports, fishing, and hunting.
He is survived by his wife, Lucile Wilson, of the home; a daughter, Peggy Brooks, and her husband Phillip, of Broken Arrow; three sisters, Barbara Pappan of Pawhuska, Jacqueline Hinton of Ponca City and Joan Brooks of Lake Charles, La.; and two grandsons, Gregory and Matthew Brooks.
Casket bearers will be J.L. Brien, Morris Brien, Royce Brien, Tony Brien, Mike Brown, and Randy Clark. Honorary casket bearers will be the Ponca City Firefighters.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 3545 N.W. 58th Street, Suite 400-C, Oklahoma City, OK 73112, or to the American Cancer Society, 2233 N.W. 39th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73112.
The family will be at 2213 Jane Street.
paid obituary
E.P. Jones, longtime Ponca City resident, died early this morning, Jan. 1, 1997, at South Central Kansas Regional Medical Center in Arkansas City, Kan. He was 72. Survivors include his wife, Virginia, of the home. Arrangements are pending with Grace Memorial Chapel, Ponca City.
Funerals
Thursday
Rev. Leonard Carl Anderson - Funeral at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church, Blackwell. Burial will be in the Blackwell IOOF Cemetery under the direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home, Blackwell.
William S. Carlisle - Funeral to be at 2 p.m. in Grainola (Okla.) Methodist
Church. Burial will be in the Maple City (Kan.) Cemetery under the direction
of Grace Memorial Chapel of Shidler.
NEWS BRIEFS
Tutoring Classes - The Ponca City Area Literacy Council will be offering a new literacy tutoring class in January. New tutors or those who want to take a refresher course are welcome. Session 1 will be Jan. 16, 5:30-8:30 p.m.; session two on Jan. 18, 9:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., and Jan 23, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Light lunches or snacks will be served during the sessions. Call (405) 767-0351 for more information or to enroll.
Annual Church Women Meeting - The annual meeting of Church Women United will be held Jan. 3, 1997, at the St. John's Baptist Church, 1009 S. 11th St. at 9:30 a.m. Annual reports will be heard and election and installation of 1997 officers will be held.
Fund Raising Change - Due to recent changes, all future fund raising contributions should be mailed to the Disabled American Veterans at P.O. Box 2181, according to Commander Bill Davis.
Royal Neighbors - A noon luncheon at the Golden Corral is being planned for Jan. 8 by the Royal Neighbors of America. All members are urged to attend.
In Custody - A 24-year-old man was taken into custody by a Ponca City police officer at 8:43 a.m. Tuesday for driving under restrictions.
Vandalism - A Ponca City police officer took a report of vandalism to Christmas lights on Donner Place at 9:47 a.m. Tuesday.
House Fire - Perry Fire Department received notice of a structure fire six miles east of Perry on Red Rock Road at 1:10 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Ponca City Police Department.
Petit Larceny - A 19-year-old woman was arrested by a Ponca City police officer at 2:36 p.m. Tuesday for petit larceny. An employee of Wal-Mart, 1101 East Prospect Avenue, notified the PCPD of a shoplifter in custody.
Shooting Reported - The Ponca City Police Department received notice that two females reported they had been shot at 4-1/2 miles south of U.S. 60 on U.S. 177. Telecommunication officers transferred the call to the Kay County Sheriff's Office at 6:50 p.m. Tuesday.
Attempted Burglary - A resident in the 200 block of South Elm Street reported catching a boy breaking into the neighbors vehicle. The caller's spouse chased the subject westbound on Oklahoma Avenue. Two officers responded but were unable to locate the subject. An officer took an information report of attempted burglary. Nothing was taken.
Fireworks - A Ponca City police officer spoke to juveniles in the 800 block of North First Street who were shooting fireworks. They were advised that they could be fined $200 for setting fireworks.
Arrested - A 55-year-old man was arrested in the 800 block of West Hartford Avenue at 8:34 p.m. Tuesday for driving under the influence, expired drivers' license and transporting an open bottle.
Citation Issued - Two Ponca City police officers responded to a call from a business in the 700 block of South Waverly Street at 8:43 p.m. Tuesday. Apparently, a woman locked herself in the bathroom and refused to come out. An officer took a report and issued a citation to a 17-year-old girl. She was released to the custody of her mother. At 9:42 p.m., a 20-year-old woman was also arrested for public intoxication and carrying a concealed weapon.
Accident - An accident in the 300 block of North Pine Street occurred at 10:52 p.m. Tuesday. A Ponca City police officer took a report.
Warrant Served - A 40-year-old man was arrested by a Ponca City police officer in the 100 block of Cooley Avenue at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday on a Pawnee County warrant for failure to appear.
Subject Held - A Ponca City police officer arrested a 17-year-old girl at West Grand Avenue and Oak Street at 1:27 a.m. Wednesday for minor in possession and driving under the influence.
Arrested - A 25-year-old man was arrested by a Ponca City police officer from a business in the 400 block of South Fourteenth Street at 1:50 a.m. Wednesday for Kay County warrants.
Larceny - A Ponca City police officer arrested a 20-year-old man in the 400 block of South Fourteenth Street at 2:22 a.m. Wednesday for petit larceny.
Investigation - A resident in the 1300 block of North Seventh
Street contacted the Ponca City Police Department at 5:24 a.m. Wednesday
to report glass breaking. Three officers responded to find a window on the
north and a door on the east side of the house were broken. An officer took
a report. At 5:51 a.m., an employee at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center
requested officers come to the emergency room. Apparently, a 19-year-old
man, who was intoxicated, came for treatment of a cut on his hand. Allegedly,
the man was also making threats. Two officers responded and said this could
be the subject who committed the crime on North Seventh Street. Information
was gathered for the investigation.
LIFESTYLES
Pioneer Quilter's Guild will meet Monday at Community Christian Church, 2109 West Grand. Registration for the meeting will be 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The business meeting is scheduled to begin at 12:30 followed by Show and Share and the monthly program. Stitch and Assist will be from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Greeter will be Norma Kinzie and hostesses will be Ruth Jared, Dorothy Bobbitt and Betty Thrash.
The traveling Keepsake Quilting Collection will be the program. Quilts of all types will be available for examination. The collection includes 40 quilts. For babysitting reservations members should contact Mary Catherine Detten, 765-9864, by Friday preceding the meeting. For additional guild information contact Jerry Moore, PAQG president, 765-4185, or Cindy Wilson, vice president, 765-6911.
Jean Buskirk, publicity chairman, reminds members of the guild that there will a "block party" with "Bird House" due at the February meeting. Also members are asked to bring white gloves to the January meeting for examination of quilts. Members can sign up for the Jodi Barrows workshop which will be held following the February 3 meeting from 3-8 p.m. All members are encouraged to bring their quilted items to show and share.
February 14 is the date selected by Brandi Lee Powell and Roger (Rod) L. Bonesteel of Winfield for their wedding in Eureka Springs, Ark.
Parents of the future bride are Mr. and Mrs. Dick Sober, 7 Ramblewood. The prospective bridegroom is the son of Jed and Linda Weathers of Winfield, Kan. and Becky Bonesteel of Burden, Kan.
A 1994 graduate of Ponca City High School, the bride-to-be is also a graduate of the 22nd Fire Academy, Butte College, Oroville, Calif. She will be attending college in the Spring in order to obtain an EMS license. She is currently employed with Winfield Consumer Products and is a member of the Burden. Kan. Volunteer Fire Department.
Bonesteel is a 1989 graduate of Burden High School and is a six-year veteran EMT-Fireman with the Winfield Fire Department in Winfield, Kan.
Members of Xi Delta chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority held their December meeting in the new home of Pam Palmer, president of the chapter. The occasion was the group's Secret Sister gift exchange and business meeting.
Pat Schissler announced that Susan Henshaw was a new member of Xi Delta chapter. Ms. Henshaw is employed at Pioneer Coin and Jewelry.
Dorothy Leonard finalized plans for the Santa schedule for the ways and means project. A special thanks to all the "Santas" and Santa helpers was given to Richard Shewmake, John Hanna, Darrell Burns, Bill Palmer, Charles Smith and Steve Leonard.
The funds from the project help support a selected family with Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners as well as gifts for the family. The project is aimed at service to the community.
The next social meeting of Xi Delta chapter will be a New Year's Eve party at the Kirtley home and the next business meeting is scheduled Jan. 13.
Dennis and Connie Guinn of Oklahoma City announce the birth of a daughter, Courtney Ann, on Dec. 3 at 8:42 a.m. at Southwest Regional Medical Center in Oklahoma City. She weighed 6-pounds, 1-ounce and was 18 inches long.
Maternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Grimm of Ponca City and maternal great-grandfather is Lester V. Barr of Blackwell. Paternal grandparents are Don R. Guinn of Ponca City and the late Judy L. Guinn.
Becky and Rodney Hull, 1105 Queensboro Pl., Yukon, Okla. announce the birth of a daughter Dec. 20 at 7:49 a.m. in Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City. The 6-pound baby was 19-inches long and has been named Mackenzie Lynn Hull. She is welcomed home by a sister, Cortney, 8 years old.
Maternal grandparents are Linda Coats of Ponca City and Norris Coats of Dallas. Tex. Paternal grandparents are Donna Hull of Yukon and the late Roy Hull. Great-grandparents are Leon and Gay Coats of Yukon and Betty Maag of Ponca City.
The Salt Fork Good Sams Tonkawa Group held a business meeting and Christmas party Dec. 18 at the First National Bank annex in Tonkawa. 1997 new officers will include Cliff Miller, president, and Ruth Jarrod, vice president.
There were 17 members present for the meeting and Christmas gift exchange.
Cliff and Hilda Miller hosted the party which included playing games and
lots of "Christmas goodies." The next meeting will be Jan. 15
in the annex with Red and Maurine McSparrin as hosts.
SPORTS
Fishing data from almost 900 bass tournaments held in 1996 is now available to help both bass fishermen and tournament directors plan outings for next year.
The tournament data appears in an 11-page report compiled by the Wildlife Department's Fisheries Research Lab in Norman. Of particular importance to anglers are charts that list statistics such as angler success, average number of bass caught per day, average weight per bass caught, number of bass over five pounds and average first place weights. Biologists have compiled this data for more than 50 lakes across the state.
"Tournament anglers are an important part of our management team," said Gene Gilliland, fisheries biologist for the Wildlife Department. "The objective of this program is to obtain information that will supplement the data biologists collect during field surveys. Since Department personnel cannot sample every lake every year, we rely on tournament data to provide continuous information on bass fishing conditions."
Gilliland said that the data has shown some changes which should interest Oklahoma anglers. Since data collection began in 1994, the total weight of fish weighed per event has risen dramatically. In 1994, tournaments reported weighing an average of 42 pounds of bass per event, while this year the average weight reported was more than 100 pounds of bass per tournament.
There also has been an increase in the average size of bass weighed at tournaments, increasing from 2.12 pounds in 1994 to 2.29 pounds in 1996. There were 72 one-day catches weighing more than 20 pounds this year, which is a dramatic increase compared to the 48 20-plus pound catches reported last year. The heaviest one-day catch in 1996 was 28.39 pounds (a 5.68 pound-per-fish average), and was taken during a tournament on Ft. Gibson Lake.
"The total number of bass over five pounds also increased in 1996," Gilliland said. "While we can't draw any definitive conclusions from the tournament data alone, it is very encouraging that fishing success and fish size are increasing."
In the overall lake ranking, which is a compilation of five fishing quality factors, Ft. Gibson and Grand lakes tied for first place as the state's best. Lake Hudson ran a close third, followed by Robert S. Kerr and Eucha.
A number of popular and productive lakes, like Broken Bow, Konawa, Sooner
and Wister, were not included in the rankings because too few reports were
received from the lakes. Only lakes with 10 or more reports were included.