From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Tuesday, January
21, 1996
LOCAL
Gregson Announces Plan To Run for Fourth Term
Nearly News
Possible Homicide Suspect Vehicle Located in Dallas
Ponca City Firm Submits Best Bid for Phase II of NOC Project
OSAI Accepting Applications For Short Term Summer Jobs
Chapin Returns To Winfield Feb. 11 For Performance
Poster Contest Deadline Near
Controlled Burn Set At Lake Ponca Dam
Half of Intersection Closed to Motorists
Tree Recycling Project Success
DEATHS
Georgianna Phillips
John Robert Kennedy
Orville Ivan Haskins Jr.
Harold David Ryan
Bruce Ellworth Cornell
James Preston Powell
Obituaries
Richard L. Dobbs
Funerals
Marie Quante Rausch
NEWS BRIEFS
BUSINESS
Conoco's Ad Valorem Taxes Help Fund Government, Schools
Tourism Authority OKs Two Grants
Merry Maids New Franchise For Cleaning
Chamber Banquet Reservation List Being Compiled
Home Health Services Specialist Earns Honor
Correction
Biscuit Competition
Ferro Joins Farm Fresh
Transportation Video
LIFESTYLES
Xi Zeta Lambda Chapter Slates Future Events
Democrat Club Plans Meeting
SPORTS
Geter Powers NOC's Lady Mavs
Hot-Shooting NEO Down NOC
PC Lady Cats Falter In Port City Classic
PC Wrestlers Face Uphill Struggle
Junior High Sports Update
O.E. "Greg" Gregson, 2208 Cardinal, has announced he will seek re-election for a fourth term as City Commissioner, position four.
The commissioner held a variety of professional, supervisory and managerial positions during his career at Conoco, before retiring in 1988 as manager of Geophysics in the Exploration Research and Services Division.
Gregson indicated several reasons for filing for another term of office, saying he has learned a lot about the business of the city during his years of service and he feels well-equipped to make an ongoing contribution to city government in Ponca City.
In addition, he would like to continue to be a part of the team which will be addressing sharp challenges facing the city- limited growth in general fund revenue and increasing capital improvement needs; fending off a hostile takeover of the electrical utility customers by a competitor; deregulation of the electrical industry, and beginning to address the inflow and infiltration problems in the waste water system on the east side of Ponca City.
Additionally, in the area of major construction projects currently under way, Gregson said, the water plant rebuild and upgrade will be completed mid 1997. Furthermore, the waste water plant repair and upgrade, where phase two is just getting under way, is expected to be completed in 1999.
"The only reason for the existence of city government is to provide timely, reliable and cost competitive services to its customers. My ongoing commitment is to that end," the candidate said.
Gregson holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Kansas University and a master's degree in business administration from Oklahoma State University.
A native of Illinois, Gregson has been a resident of Ponca City for almost 40 years. He and his wife, Betty, have two sons, Ross and Sam, both grown.
Lake Ponca Park is scheduled to reopen to the public on Feb. 1 at 8 a.m. The park has been closed since Nov. 1, 1996, for the Festival of Angels.
The Ponca City Police Department has new information about the possible homicide which occurred Jan. 14, in the 900 block of East South Avenue.
On Sunday, the PCPD received notice that a vehicle used by the alleged suspects was found in Dallas, Texas. Det. William Thornton traveled to Dallas, along with Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Lab Analysts, where a search warrant on the vehicle was executed late Monday night. In addition, physical evidence was recovered from the car.
Law enforcement officers continue to search for the body of the possible homicide victim. According to the PCPD, the identity of the victim has not yet been confirmed.
Police Chief Raymond Ham said the victim is not known to be a local man. The department claims the victim may be 33-years-old and could have been shot once in the head.
Law enforcement officials are also looking for a 24-year-old Spanish man wanted in connection with the murder. A warrant was issued early Sunday morning. The suspect is 5-feet-7 weighing 150 to 170 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He has a Kansas drivers' license.
Additionally, a 28-year-old Native American woman is wanted as a material witness. She is 5-feet-2 and weighs approximately 170 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. Officials believe the woman is traveling with the suspect.
Friday night officers seized evidence at the residence on South Avenue and took a man into custody as a material witness. The witness remains in the PCPD jail.
The Kay County Sheriff's Office, Native American officers and the District Attorney's office have been assisting the PCPD. The department said officers are continuing efforts and interviewing witnesses.
Information on the incident has been forwarded to the National Crime Information Center, according to Ham. Anyone with knowledge of this crime should contact the PCPD at 767-0370.
By KRISTI GRABEAL
News Education Editor
TONKAWA - A $1.4 million bid from David Timberlake Construction of Ponca City has been approved for Phase II of the Performing Arts Center of Northern Oklahoma College.
NOC regents made that decision during a regular board session here on the NOC campus Friday.
The project will provide classroom, practice rooms, rehearsal space and offices for the music and theater faculty. Dr. Joe Kinzer, Northern president, said, "This will provide much needed instructional space for our fine arts division and free up Wilkin Hall for additional classrooms."
In reports to the board, Dr. Kinzer gave a preliminary budget report prepared by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Kinzer also reported on a demonstration of the OneNet which will be held on Jan. 28 and Feb. 4.
Kinzer advised the board that the Oklahoma Botanical Garden and Arboretum had approved Northern Oklahoma College as an OBGA Affiliate Garden. Northern is now the twelfth garden to be included as an affiliate garden and the only state college to be approved by the OBGA. Northern now joins such gardens as Cann Memorial Gardens, Ponca City; Kirkpatrick Center Botanical Gardens, and the Myriad Botanical Garden, Oklahoma City; and Woolaroc Gardens, Bartlesville.
Dr. Ron Appleman, vice president for academic affairs, presented the preliminary enrollment figures for the spring semester. Appleman reported that enrollment was up on the Tonkawa campus by 21 students over the last year's spring 1996 figures with 1,281 students. In addition, the credit hours taken by students was also up by 260 credit hours with 14,890 total credit hours.
Dr. Ed Vineyard, dean of instruction at Enid, also reported on the new semester and Northern's 10 faculty and adjuncts who live and teach at Enid. Vineyard reported that enrollment in Enid was down by 25 students at 784 but set a new record for total number of credit hours taken at 6,065.
Mrs. Marion Tucker, vice president for information systems, reported on the improvements made on the ITV systems. Tucker noted that many adjustments were made during the fall semester, but are ongoing issues. She noted that the residence halls will be fully operational with Internet access within a week.
A residence hall report was also given by Mick Weiberg, vice president for student affairs. Weiberg's report shows a 66.3 percent occupancy for the spring semester which is an improvement over last spring. He noted that the women's honors hall was at 100 percent occupancy and the men's honor housing had one room vacant. He attributed the increase in the residence hall housing to the Maverick housing scholarship.
Mrs. Debbie Quirey reported on the success of the Learning Assistance Center which was put into operation this fall. The Learning Assistance Center provides individual and group tutorial assistance, computer assisted learning for developmental courses and access to computers for homework and Internet access.
The next Regent's meeting is scheduled for Feb. 18 at 1 p.m. in the Rodgers Room.
The Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute (OSAI) is accepting applications for short term summer employment during the Institute's June 5-23, 1997 session to be held this year at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah while new facilities are under construction at Quartz Mountain State Park.
The OSAI, now in its 19th season, is a residential fine arts school for talented Oklahoma high school students. Instruction is offered in acting, ballet, choral music, drawing and printmaking, modern dance, orchestra, photography, and writing.
Candidates for counselor and staff positions must be at least 21 years old, have excellent interpersonal skills, enjoy working with teenagers, and have an interest in the arts.
Staff positions available include nurse, public relations director, theatre sound and lighting technicians, stage manager, and documentary photographer.
Counselors' responsibilities include a daily job which is related to the applicant's skill or interest in the arts, plus the supervision of eight to ten OSAI students. Counselor positions include office assistants, public relations assistants, nurse's assistant, and site crew members.
People with computer and desktop publishing experience are encouraged to apply for public relations and office assignments. In addition, each class at the Institute has a counselor "liaison" who assists the faculty artist and the Institute staff.
Counselors and staff will be housed in dormitories on the Northeastern campus.
Persons interested in applying for a staff or counselor position at the 1997 OSAI should send a letter of inquiry and a resume to Director of Programs, Oklahoma Arts Institute, P.O. Box 18154, Oklahoma City, OK 73154.
WINFIELD - Tom Chapin, internationally-known singer and songwriter, will return to Southwestern College in Winfield Feb. 11, for his first solo performance with the Winfield Regional Symphony. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Richardson Auditorium.
Featured on the program will be new symphony arrangements of his tunes by symphony director Gary Gackstatter, in addition to old and new favorite Chapin tunes. Joining Tom will be Tom's bassist and vocalist Michael Mark, who also has contributed symphony scores for the performance.
Chapin has been a longtime favorite at Winfield's Walnut Valley Festival, and has been a top draw with adults and children alike. He has previously performed with the Winfield Regional Symphony for the Sunday finale concert along with another familiar performer, John McCutcheon. Chapin's recordings have won numerous awards and recently won a Parent's Choice award.
His symphony scores include a mixture of children and adults songs, as well as a few of the tunes written by his brother, the late Harry Chapin.
Tickets for the performance are $15 for adults and $10 for students through high school. To order tickets send a check and self-addressed envelope to Southwestern College, Tom Chapin Concert, 100 College St., Winfield, KS 67156-2449.
School students in the Kay County area are invited to enter the 1997 "Don't Lay That Trash On Oklahoma" poster contest. The contest, which promotes solid waste awareness, is open to all students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. Contest deadline is Jan. 31, 1997.
Local sponsors for the contest are the Ponca City Office of the Department of Environmental Quality and Vicki Graves of American Express Financial Advisors Inc.
Mrs. Graves is providing the prizes for the first, second, and third place winners of the Kay County contest. First place winners in each category will then compete for cash prizes in the statewide contest.
Contest rules and entry forms are available at area schools and from the Department of Environmental Quality and from Vicki Graves at the American Express Financial Advisors office, Suite 202, Boatmen Bank building, 222 East Grand, Ponca City.
Entries must be delivered or received by mail by Jan. 31, at the DEQ Office, 222 East Grand, Suite 220, Ponca City, OK 74602-0628.
A controlled burn will be held at Lake Ponca Dam this week. The Park Maintenance employees will conduct the burn from the spilling basin to the campgrounds, according to Jim Sindelar, Park and Recreation Director.
"We try to do this annually to promote the growth of the Buffalo Grass and eliminate the other weeds. It also gives us a chance to clear off all of the tree seedlings from the slopes," he said.
The burn is expected to be completed by Wednesday.
The north half of the intersection of Birch Street and Central Avenue will be closed to motorists today through Thursday.
According to Sherri Irving, assistant Public Utilities director, construction on Phase Two of the Northwest Water Transmission Pipeline project will continue.
The city's Christmas tree recycling program was a great success!
According to John Meadows, waste reduction coordinator, over 1,721 trees were recycled into wood chips. Last year's program recovered approximately 800.
The Park Maintenance Department chopped the trees into usable mulch. Citizens may pick up wood chips at the rodeo grounds, located at the corner of North Ash Street and West Prospect Avenue at no charge.
For more information, contact Meadows at 767-0456.
DEATHS
NEWKIRK - Georgianna Phillips, longtime Newkirk resident, died Monday morning, Jan. 20, 1997, at South Central Regional Medical Center in Arkansas City, Kan. She was 80.
A vigil will be held at 4 p.m. today at Miller-Stahl Funeral Chapel in Newkirk. The funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Trinity Episcopal Church, Arkansas City. The Rev. Bill Fulton will officiate, assisted by Mrs. Phillips' son-in-law, the Rev. Fred J. Howard, Hospital Chaplin at St. John's Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, N.Y. and the Rev. Pernina Weatherman of the Assembly of God Church of Newkirk.
Friends may visit at the funeral home until 9 p.m. today. A graveside service will also be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the Kingfisher (Okla.) Cemetery under the direction of Miller-Stahl Funeral Service, Newkirk.
Georgianna (Strunk) Phillips was born June 9, 1916, in Kingfisher County, the daughter of Mark Charles and Persus (Vance) Strunk. After the death of her mother, when Georgianna was 18 months of age, she was adopted by her uncle and aunt, Robert Theodore and Bessie Mae Strunk. She grew up and received her early education in Kingfisher, where she graduated from high school. She attended Oklahoma College for Women, Chickasha, then transferred to the University of Oklahoma. She graduated from OU with a degree in drama with special emphasis in costuming and set design. After graduation, she worked for a year in California before returning to Oklahoma.
She was married to David Sidney Harned on Feb. 3, 1940, in Kingfisher and they established their first home in Oklahoma City. They later moved to Alexandria, La., Hot Springs, Ark., and Little Rock, Ark. Mr. Harned died in 1948, and she moved to Newkirk, where she was employed by the Department of Human Services.
She was married to Thomas Ohio Phillips on Oct. 2, 1953, in Newkirk, where they established their home. Mrs. Phillips continued to work for DHS until her retirement in 1974. She and her husband were active in Boy Scouts, square dancing, and photography. With their knowledge of photography, the couple assisted with the publication of the Newkirk-Kay County Centennial book. Mr. Phillips died Dec. 18, 1971. Mrs. Phillips was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Arkansas City, but was presently attending the Assembly of God Church in Newkirk. She had served as an officer in the Newkirk Business and Professional Women's Club. She enjoyed traveling and visiting with her children and grandchildren.
Survivors include one son, David S. Harned Jr., of Carrollton, Texas; four daughters, Sylvia Howard of New York City, Phyllis Hege and Jonie Jene Hill, both of Oxford, Kan., and Tommy Gay Evans of New Orleans, La.; 15 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
In addition to both husbands and her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters.
OKLAHOMA CITY - John Robert "Bob" Kennedy, former Ponca City resident, died early Friday morning, Jan. 17, 1997, at Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. He was 69.
A memorial service was to be held at 12:30 p.m. today at the Hahn-Cook/Street Draper Chapel in Oklahoma City.
John Robert "Bob" Kennedy was born Aug. 15, 1927, in Gary, Ind., the son of Harry J. and Ruth (Stewart) Kennedy. He grew up and attended schools in Ponca City. He also attended Culver Military Academy for three years, where he earned his high school diploma.
On his 18th birthday, Kennedy joined the U.S. Army and served in a tank company in Germany during World War II. He later was a special investigator for the Provost Marshal, attaining the rank of sergeant. After his discharge he received his bachelor's degree, Phi Beta Kappa, from Princeton University and his master's degree from Harvard Business School, where he was named the George F. Baker Scholar.
He was married to Mary Ann Fraser on June 30, 1951, in Bradford, Pa., and the couple made their first home in Cambridge, Mass. Except for the years 1968-71, when he was instructor of economics at the University of Central Oklahoma, Kennedy worked in oil and gas exploration. He was employed with Gulf Oil, Carter Oil, Eason Oil, and Aven Gas and Oil companies and 1977 established his own company, Silver Star Corporation and was active in it until his death.
In March 1980, he was married to Jane L. Whitlock. Kennedy was active in the U.S. Army Reserve as a 1st Lieutenant and at various time a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the American Association of Petroleum Landmen. He had also been a member of Alcoholics Anonymous since 1978.
Survivors include his wife, Jane, of the home; children, Mrs. Michael (Ann K.) Tepper of Hinsdale, N.H., Michael C. Kennedy of Roswell, N.M., John S. Kennedy of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.; Brigid F. Kennedy of Oklahoma City; Lynn House of Oklahoma City; John G. Whitlock of Oklahoma City; David W. Whitlock of Polson, Mont.; one brother, McClellan S. Kennedy of San Diego, Calif.; and eight grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Kennedy's name to Western Club Foundation, an alcohol abuse information center, at 5207 North Western, Oklahoma City, OK 73118.
BLACKWELL - Orville Ivan "Bud" Haskins Jr., Blackwell resident, died at the Vincor Hospital in Oklahoma City, Sunday morning Jan. 19, 1997. He was 78.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Christ Church in Blackwell with the Rev. Frank Tepe, officiating. Burial will be in the Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery in Denver, Colo at 11 a.m. Friday, under the direction of Roberts Funeral Home, Blackwell.
Orville Ivan "Bud" Haskins Jr. was born Oct. 17, 1918, in Jefferson, the son of Orville Ivan and Mamie T. (Gilbert) Haskins. He grew up and attended schools in the Jefferson area. Following his schooling he began employment as a machinist.
He was married to Twila M. Denton in August 1940, in Blackwell where the couple established their home and he began employment with Blackwell Zinc Co. During World War II, he served with the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific. Following his discharge he resumed employment at the Zinc Co. In 1948, the family moved to Wichita, Kan., where Haskins began employment at a machinist. In 1967, they moved to Denver and he was employed by Farmers Reservoir and Irrigation Co., as an irrigation operator. He retired in 1991 and returned to live in Blackwell. Haskins was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Christ Church of Blackwell.
Survivors include two daughters, Sandra Pinegar and Sherry Sanders, both of Oklahoma City; one son, Gary, of Blackwell; three sisters, Dollie Morris of Muskogee, Shirley Brown of Oregon and Olivia Hutchcroft of California; nine grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife on June 1, 1971; one son, Larry; his parents; and one brother, Jackie Saurez.
Casket bearers will be Ben Hill, Joe Buckland, David Ernest, Allen Larson, Paul Welch and Marvin Simmons.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Haskins' name to the Christ Church of Blackwell, c/o Roberts Funeral Home, 120 West Padon, Blackwell, OK 74631.
Harold David Ryan, Ponca City resident, died Sunday evening, Jan. 19, 1997, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. He was 70.
The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Trout Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. John Michalicka, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church, officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may visit at the funeral home until noon Wednesday.
Harold David Ryan was born Jan. 31. 1926, in Hannibal, Mo., the son of James Joseph and Effie Blanche (Jones) Ryan. He grew up and attended schools in Hannibal.
On Feb. 17, 1943, he entered the U.S. Navy and served aboard the USS Hill and the USS Melvin Nawman during World War II. From 1948-51 Ryan also served with the U.S. Air Force in Germany, then entered the U.S. Naval Reserve and served a tour of duty on Guam during the Korean Conflict. Ryan received numerous awards including the Asiatic Pacific Medal with five stars and the Philippine Liberation Medal with two stars.
After his military service, Ryan was employed as a golf course fairway maintenance worker and worked for various manufacturing companies in the St. Louis, Mo., area. Due to ill health, he moved to Ponca City in 1991 to live near his family. He was a member of the American Legion Post 14.
Survivors include two brothers, William J. Ryan of Ponca City and James Robert Ryan of Buffalo Grove, Ill.; one sister, Marcia Zuvanich of Ponca City; and 12 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association, P.O. Box 53303, Oklahoma City, OK 73152.
The family will be at 513 North Stephens.
TONKAWA - Bruce Ellworth Cornell, Tonkawa area resident, died Monday morning, Jan. 20, 1997, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Ponca City. He was 33.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Tonkawa Tribal and Cultural Center southeast of Tonkawa. The Rev. Clyde Hendricks of Faith Baptist Church, Tonkawa, will officiate. Burial will be in the Tonkawa Tribal Cemetery at Tonkawa.
Bruce Ellworth Cornell was born Oct. 18, 1963, in Ponca City, the son of George H. and Vivian (Eagle) Cornell. He grew up in Ponca City and attended Ponca City schools, graduating from Po-Hi in 1980. Following graduation, he was employed as a dispatcher for the Ponca Tribe.
In 1985, Cornell moved to Tonkawa and worked in construction until the time of his death. His hobbies included science fiction books, electronics, and playing basketball. He attended the Faith Baptist Church in Tonkawa.
Survivors include his parents, George and Vivian Cornell of Tonkawa; two sisters, Marilyn Cornell and Georgianna "Mitzi" Cornell, both of Tonkawa; five brothers, Simon of Ponca City, and Allen, Richard, Michael and George E., all of Tonkawa. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, David and Sarah Eagle, his paternal grandparents, Moses and Irene Cornell; and a nephew.
Casket bearers will be Bill Cornell, Simon Cornell, Allen Cornell, Richard Cornell, Michael Cornell and George E. Cornell.
Friend and family visitation will be at the Tonkawa Tribal and Cultural Center.
ATOKA - James "Jim" Preston Powell, former Ponca City resident, died Sunday, Jan. 19, 1997, at the Atoka (Okla.) Memorial Hospital. He was 75.
At Mr. Powell's request, no funeral or services are planned and his body was donated to the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Arrangements in Atoka were under the direction of Brown's Funeral Service.
James "Jim" Preston Powell was born in Waldron, Kan., on Aug. 17, 1921, to Frank and Goldie Mae (Lamb) Powell. He was raised by his mother and step-father, Roy B. Mowder and attended schools in the Ponca City area.
On Sept. 25, 1948, he was married to Frankie Lee Ada Pettit in Fayetteville, Ark. and the couple made their home in the Ponca City area. Powell worked for the City of Ponca City for several years.
He was later married to Patricia Yvonne Smith on Oct. 5, 1950, in Greenville, Miss., and in later years worked as a foreman for Lamar Construction Co. in Tulsa. He retired in 1986, moving to Atoka. Powell was a member of the Baptist Church. He enjoyed being outdoors, fishing and taking care of his animals.
Survivors include two daughters, Sheila Vance and Dee Simmons, both of Ponca City; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a companion, Betty Gambrill of Atoka.
In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by one infant daughter, Tresa Lynn Powell; one son, James Preston Powell Jr.; and one step-son, Michael Matthew Pauley.
Richard L. Dobbs, longtime Ponca City resident, died Saturday evening, Jan. 18, 1997, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. He was 80.
The funeral will be held graveside at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Ponca City IOOF Cemetery with the Rev. Don Stanton, Faith Tabernacle Church, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home.
Richard L. Dobbs was born Dec. 27, 1916, in Tuttle, the son of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Elizabeth (Goad) Dobbs. He received his education at Tuttle and Bridge Creek schools. The family moved to Ponca City in 1932. Dobbs was employed at Continental Oil Company. In 1959, he was employed by the City of Ponca City, where he worked until ill health forced his retirement in 1978.
He was married to Mary Prado in 1971 in Ponca City. She preceded him in death in November 1990. Dobbs attended the Faith Tabernacle Church. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, children, and animals.
Survivors include a brother, Claude Irvin, of California; six sons, Gene Jones and John Backus, both of Blackwell, James Backus, Tom Backus and Meryl Backus, all of Ponca City, and Roy Backus of Fairfax; a niece, Zona Gee of Ponca City; 20 grandchildren, Susie Backus, Michelle Fahs, Tony Backus, Kari Fairless, Jim Backus, Rene Backus, Tina Gibson, Craig Backus, Christopher Backus, Chauntina Medina, Dondi Farrell, Merry Backus, Jeff Backus, Debbie Hayes, Leila Burton, Mary Ruth Jergins, Linda Scarborough, Brenda Robinson, Burt Backus, Stephanie Backus; and 40 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife and parents he was preceded in death by a daughter, Judy Gough; three brothers; five sisters; and four grandchildren.
The family will be at 214 South Ash or Route 3, Box 202.
paid obituary
Wednesday
Marie Quante Rausch - Funeral to be held at 2 p.m. at McCafferty-Bolick
funeral Home in Tonkawa. Burial will be in the Tonkawa IOOF Cemetery.
NEWS BRIEFS
NOC Softball Clinic - The Lady Mavs will host their second annual softball clinic from 1-6 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Tonkawa High School Armory. The clinic will teach and review the fundamentals of the game and teach position play. Cost is $5 per person and the deadline is Friday. For registration contact Head Softball Coach Annette Kennedy at (405) 628-6774.
Location Correction - The petit larceny incident where juveniles took two to three six-packs of beer did not involve the South Avenue Liquor Store as printed in Monday's news briefs, but occurred at Barnett's Liquor Store, 718 South First Street. The News apologizes for any confusion this has caused.
Warrant Served - A 19-year-old woman was arrested by a Ponca City police officer at North Fourteenth Street and East Prospect Avenue at 8:36 a.m. Monday for failure to pay.
Forgery - A Ponca City police officer took a report of a forged check at NAPA Auto, 300 South Second Street at 9:19 a.m. Monday.
Arrested - A 38-year-old woman was arrested by a Ponca City police officer at 10:21 a.m. Monday in the 600 block of East Cleveland Avenue for failure to pay.
Collision - A Ponca City police officer took a report of an accident at North Fourteenth Street and Bradley Avenue at 12:04 p.m. Monday.
Shoplifters - An employee from Sonja's Flowers, 200 West Grand Avenue, contacted the Ponca City Police Department at 12:56 p.m. Monday to report five girls were shoplifting. The business retrieved its property.
Stolen - A resident in the 1100 block of North Ash Street notified the Ponca City Police Department at 2 p.m. Monday that friends stole some property. An officer took a report.
Failure To Pay - A Ponca City police officer arrested a 45-year-old woman in the 400 block of South Perry Street at 2:44 p.m. Monday for failure to pay.
Building Burned - Five Ponca City firefighters battled a fire
1/4 mile south of Lake Road on Rock Cliff Road at 8:40 p.m. Monday which
destroyed a 24-foot by 36-foot metal garage. According to Assistant Chief
Gary Williams, heat from a 1982 Honda motorcycle left idling in the detached
garage ignited the fire. Estimated damage is $37,000.
BUSINESS
More than $5.45 million in 1996 ad valorem taxes have been paid to 26 county treasurers in Oklahoma by Conoco; its subsidiary, Conoco Pipe Line Company, and its parent company, DuPont,
"Ad valorem taxes are very important to funding the operation of local county governments and school districts," said Richard Severance, general manager of Conoco's Ponca City-based Mid-Continent business unit.
"At Conoco we look at ad valorem taxes as an investment in the Oklahoma communities in which Conoco, CPL and DuPont have operations," he added.
In 1996, the company's total Oklahoma ad valorem tax figure was $5,455,501. Of that, Conoco paid the largest portion, $4,489,007; while CPL contributed $872,172; and DuPont's share was $94,321.
Kay County received the largest share for a single county - $4,053,362, which is about 22 percent of the ad valorem tax revenues collected by all taxing jurisdictions in the county.
Of that amount, the Ponca City School District (No. 71) received $3,970,630, which is about 33 percent of all revenue received from property taxes by the local school district.
By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Staff Writer
Ponca City Tourism Authority (PCTA) approved grants to the Balloon Festival and Air Show and the Herb Festival but denied a request from the Lake Ponca Triathlon at the January meeting.
George Green represented the Balloon Festival and requested $3,000 to promote the event, slated for Aug. 29-31. He said 10 balloons came last year and by advertising earlier he anticipated a bigger show this year. The event is sponsored by the Aviation Booster Club.
The grants committee, headed by Phil Bandy, recommended a grant of $2,000. Other committee members are Chuck Rager and Charlie Ryan.
In other action the PCTA granted $2000 to the Ponca City Herb Festival, which is sponsored by the Sage, Rosemary & Thyme Garden Club. The funds are to be used for promotion.
The festival is set for June 7, which will be during the Iris Festival. About 5,000 attended last year and more vendors and visitors are expected this year. The presentation was by Helene Swartz and Rebecca Barker.
The request of the Ponca City Road Runners for $500 was denied. The presentation was by Bob Kammiller.
The total of the grant requests was more than was left in the grant fund, according to Missy Morland, coordinator. One of the stipulations is that an event should stand on its own after three years. The PCTA is funded by a three-percent motel tax.
In other action the board committed $250 to the Oklahoma Film Exhibit in Los Angeles in February. The board also voted to expend $1,000 to send a couple to the event Feb. 19-25.
Morland reported that the estimated economic impact of the Festival of Angels day visitors was $36,448 and the impact of the overnight visitors was $20,804 for 1996.
The motel tax revenue was down about four percent compared to last year. Kathy Adams, former chairman, noted that partly this is due to the fact that last year the "Twister" film crew stayed in town, and the downsizing of Conoco has resulted in fewer business guests.
Merry Maids Housecleaning Services, a new franchise service business, is opening in Ponca City. The business is owned by Jerry and Connie Heald, who started the franchise in Stillwater.
The company specializes in cleaning customers' homes weekly, biweekly or for special occasions, the Healds said. The company's uniformed employees work in teams of two and follow explicit procedures and computerized checklists. One team member concentrates on wet jobs, while the other takes care of dry jobs.
Services include vacuuming and dusting ceiling and wall corners, heat registers, picture frames, furniture and items on tables before moving on to baseboards, floors and carpets.
Cleaning costs are based on the size of the home, the frequency of service and the amount of work requested by the customer. A free in-home visit precedes the initial cleaning, so the customer sets an accurate cost quote.
Merry Maids provides all the employees' equipment and cleaning products and supplies, Mrs. Heald said.
Employees attend a week-long class and have on-the-job training, in addition to being bonded and insured.
Tickets for the annual Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce banquet, "An Evening with the Governor" featuring Gov. Frank Keating, will go on sale to the general public on Jan. 27.
The event is slated for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at Hutchins Memorial Auditorium. Tickets are $30. There is a waiting list for non-members, who can call the Chamber to make reservations.
Members of the banquet committee are Tim and Linda Burg, Larry and Leanna Felix, Scott and Karen Dean, Dave Mueller, Connie McAbee and Lisa Coy.
Terry Ottosen, human resource specialist for Broken Arrow based Home Health Services Inc., has been named Outstanding Support Person for 1996 by the Oklahoma Association for Home Health Services
Ottosen is a long time resident of Blackwell and is headquartered at Home Health Services Inc.'s Ponca City office located at 218 North Fourth Street.
She was one of 15 individuals selected from throughout the state to be considered for the award. Following a lengthy interviewing process, involving five finalists in Oklahoma City, Ottosen was selected as the recipient of the award.
The nomination was made by Karen Miller, administrator of Home Health Services Inc.'s Grove office.
Ottosen has served as human resource specialist for Home Health Services Inc., since 1994. Ottosen's responsibilities include developing and implementing human resource policies, procedures and systems and acting in support of the staff in the company's corporate and branch offices.
Ottosen has over 10 years of human resource experience i n the home health industry which includes seven years with an international home health company that specializes in home health services.
Home Health Services Inc., is a full service home health company which has six offices located throughout northeastern and north central Oklahoma that currently serve 43 counties. The company's branch offices are located in Broken Arrow, Skiatook, Grove, Ponca City, Stillwater and Locust Grove.
North Central Marine is not authorized to do factory warranty work or sell Mercury or Mariner, as reported on the business page of the Ponca City News. The News regrets this error.
Kerri Guerrero of Ponca City and Alice Pratt of Norman have bested more that 90 other regional competitors and have been selected as two of Hardee's best biscuit makers in a nationwide contest hosted by the fast food restaurant chain.
As regional winners, Pratt and Guerrero advanced to the next level of the competition in Hardee's "Rise and Shine Biscuit Challenge." The Top 10 finalists will be eligible to compete at a national biscuit challenge scheduled for Feb. 1 at Hardee's headquarters in Rocky Mount, N.C. Hardee's is offering more than $65,000 in cash and prizes to the best biscuit makers.
OKLAHOMA CITY - Farm Fresh Inc. has announced the addition of Anthony E. Ferro Jr. to its management team as director of marketing. Farm Fresh is an Oklahoma-based company that centers on the production of fluid milk products, ice cream, cultured dairy products, water, juice and bakery products. The firm has offices in Oklahoma City and Ponca City.
A 25-year veteran of the food marketing and distribution business, Ferro comes to Farm Fresh from Country Fresh Inc., in Grand Rapids, Mich., where he served as vice president of marketing.
Mayor Marilyn Andrews is one of those featured in a 15-minute video available for loan from the Oklahoma Good Roads & Streets Association. The video is titled "Transportation: the Vanguard of Economic Development."
"This is a comprehensive video on Oklahoma transportation. Every mode of transportation is featured, from roads and bridges and turnpikes to airports, transit, commercial and passenger rail and waterways," says Stephen F. Lalli, OGR&SA executive director.
To obtain a copy of the video contact the office at (405) 524-3528.
LIFESTYLES
Xi Zeta Lambda chapter members of Beta Sigma Phi sorority met Jan. 16 in the home of Lila Logan with 12 members answering roll call. Melva Keen, president, conducted the business meeting and Judy Watt, treasurer, gave the financial report. Andra Kasselman, recording secretary, read the minutes of the previous meeting.
The chapter members voted to support Beta Sigma Phi's endowment fund and the breast cancer fund. Communications from Karen Baurichter and Terri Barnett were read. Preceding the meeting an executive board session was conducted.
Phyllis Pledger, City Council representative, gave the council report and announced that Jeannie Gemmill, 1996 Queen, and Lila Logan, 1997 Queen, were to attend the Valentine Dance rehearsal at the Moose Lodge at 10 a.m. Feb. 15. The dance is slated for that evening at 8 o'clock. Mrs. Pledger also announced that the roster for the Founders Day yearbook needs to be submitted to the council by March 3.
Jeannie Gemmill, program chairman, announced that the next meeting would be at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6 at Pauline's Supper Club when Lila Logan will be honored. The program will be the chapter's "program on the shelf."
Cassandra Kifiak, Scrapbook chairman, announced that the committee would meet at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 22 in her home. She said that beginning in February the scrapbook committee would meet the first and third Wednesday of each month until the book was finished. Members wishing to help with the scrapbook are asked to attend these meetings.
Doretta Jackson, social co-chairman, announced that her committee would meet to plan the Valentine pre-party and members would be notified by calling committee when plans were finalized.
A shopping trip is planned Jan. 25 and members wanting to participate should notify Judy Watt or Dottie Johnstone. The traveling basket brought by Ms. Logan was won by Ms. Pledger. Following the meeting Ms. Logan presented a program "Creating No-Sew Scented Sachets."
Members of the Kay County Democrat Women's Club will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. at the OCAW Hall, 1202 W. Ponca. Plans will be discussed for the annual convention of the State Federation of Democrat Womens Clubs of which the Kay County group is a member.
District Clubs will host the convention, which is scheduled April 17-19 in Oklahoma City. The Fifth District Womens Clubs will meet Jan. 25 at 10 a.m. at the Embassy Suites in Oklahoma City.
All members of the Club are urged to attend the upcoming county meeting.
SPORTS
By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
TONKAWA - Tulsa sophomore Lynetta Geter poured in 31 points, 23 in the second half, as the Northern Oklahoma College Lady Mavericks pulled away for a 73-46 win over the Lady Norse of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M at Piper-Foster Fieldhouse Monday.
Geter powered a 20-2 run by NOC to start the second half, extending a 31-28 halftime lead. She scored 13 straight points for the Lady Mavs, who broke above .500 for the season at 9-8.
"Geter had a great game and we got good ball movement," NOC women's coach Greg Krause said. "I think the zone we threw up in the second half made the difference. It gave them some trouble."
Geter and guard T.J. Humphreys led the Lady Mavs to a 13-6 start in NOC's next-to-last non-conference game. But then NEO clamped down on Geter to close the gap to 13-12.
Michelle Brown, who finished with 11 points, got hot to push NOC to a 25-16 lead with 4:30 remaining. But NEO used the free throw line to pull to within six at halftime.
The Lady Mavs got good ball movement to start the second half. With Geter getting hot from 15 feet in, her teammates kept getting her the ball and she kept putting it in the hole.
The 5-10 Geter hit 15-of-18 shots from the field and was 1-of-2 from the free throw line. She also pulled down 11 rebounds to lead the team in that category.
Mandy Perkins had 9 points and 7 rebounds for the Lady Mavs while Humphreys finished with 5 points, Sherry Butts had 4, Jill Kliewer 3, Jennifer Whittet 3, Jill Linsenmeyer 2, Brandi McClellan 2, Chanda Myers 2 and Danielle Monie 1.
NOC was 32-of-63 (51 percent) from the field and 8-of-12 from the free throw line. The Lady Mavs had 13 turnovers.
"We've been playing pretty good ball since Christmas," Krause said. "We've lost eight games, but those losses have come to quality clubs."
The Lady Mavs play Bacone here Wednesday night before starting Bi-State Conference Western Division play against Western, also at home, on Monday.
"I think it's going to be between us and Seminole," Krause said of the upcoming league race. "I haven't seen all the teams yet, but going by the scores, it looks like we have a pretty good chance in the conference."
By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
TONKAWA - Playing without leading scorer Mark Passley, Northern Oklahoma College's Mavericks couldn't keep up with hot-shooting NEO as the Norsemen popped the Mavs 90-77 in Foster-Piper Fieldhouse Monday night.
But Passley may not have been enough to slow NEO, which hit 6-of-10 3-point shots in the second half to break the game open. The Norsemen banged in 11 shots from beyond the arc - often way beyond - for the game.
NOC coach Mick Weiberg suspended Passley indefinitely just before Monday's game. Afterwards, Weiberg said the suspension, "was for the good of the team."
He indicated Passley could come back, "if some things are cleared up," but gave no exact timetable.
"If he comes back it will be before the conference (games) start," Weiberg said.
The Mavericks (8-11) play non-conference foe Bacone here Wednesday and then open Bi-State Conference Western Division play next Monday at home against Western.
Weiberg was looking for more balance from his team and got it in the first half as the Mavs battled the torrid Norsemen evenly.
The lead see-sawed in the early going until NEO built a 17-10 margin.
But NOC's DeShawn Denson showed he could hit threes too, Joe Patmon collected a conventional three-point play and Blake Sonne banged in a jumper to tie the score at 18.
Neither team could gain much of an advantage until NOC forged a 33-27 lead on Richard Whitfield's jumper off the glass.
But NEO got hot down the stretch, finally tying the score at 41 just before the halftime buzzer.
"The team played pretty well," Weiberg said. "They (the Norsemen) were hitting all those threes and still we were tied at halftime."
NEO got the first two buckets of the second half and started to slowly widen the gap with Norseman Nathan Binam bombing away from long range.
Binam hit 5-of-8 treys, three in the second half, and finished with a game-high 23 points. Meanwhile, NEO's 6-8 Johnny Mitchell was doing the damage inside to the tune of 21 points.
The Mavericks tried to keep up, cutting the lead to 55-51 on a trey by Sonne, but they wilted under the Norsemen's barrage."
"We cracked about the 13-minute mark," Weiberg said of the second half. "It takes a much more experienced team than I've got to withstand shooting like that. The kids played hard but there's not much you can do in this kind of game."
NEO hit on 22-of-34 shots from the field, including 11-of-22 treys.
NOC was 23-of-50, 7-of-19 from 3-point land.
Denson and Sonne paced the NOC scoring with 17 and 16 points. Steven Lookout was also in double figures with 10 while Kyle Dean finished with 9 points, Bryan Stevens had 9, Patmon 7, Whitfield 6, Chris Beech 2 and Casey Roberts 1.
By DAVID BROWN
News Associate Sports Editor
CATOOSA - Class 4A's second-ranked Sallisaw Lady Diamonds shook off a cold start to record a 53-40 win over the Ponca City Lady Wildcats here Monday afternoon in the first game of the Catoosa Port City Classic.
Sallisaw scored first in the game on a pair of free throws three minutes in but the Lady Cats ended the quarter with six straight points as Sallisaw went 0-for-9 from the field.
That cold start did not continue, though, as Sallisaw went a combined 16-for-28 from the field in the second and third quarters and outscored Po-Hi 39-23 to carry a 41-29 lead into the final stanza.
The Cats closed to within seven, 45-38, with 4:40 to play thanks to a 9-4 run but the Lady Diamonds scored the next two buckets and then went into a delay game to salt away the victory.
Despite shooting 50 percent from the field (17-for-34) the Poncans couldn't overcome 27 turnovers and the early foul trouble of leading scorer Lyndsey Warrior.
The 6-3 Warrior, averaging 12.9 points per game, hit her average with 13 points but was able to play just three minutes in the first half after picking up two early fouls in the first period and a third 46 seconds into the second quarter.
Seven of Warrior's points came in the fourth as she helped lead the mini comeback with three buckets and a foul shot in the first two and a half minutes of the final stanza.
The turnovers proved a bigger problem for the Lady Cats. They coughed the ball up 10 times in the second period when Sallisaw made its first big run and ended the first half with 17.
Sallisaw caused Po-Hi problems with an aggressive man defense that trapped all over the floor. The quicker Lady Diamonds rarely allowed the Cats to get into their offense and suddenly got hot from the field.
Lady Diamonds guard Leslie Reynolds, who came into the game averaging 12 points per game, struck for 14 in the second period alone and ended the game with 26. She was 6-for-7 from the field in the second quarter, including two treys.
Reynolds didn't cool down in the third, either. She hit another trey less than 30 seconds into the second half and scored nine of Sallisaw's points as the Lady Diamonds opened the third with a 15-6 run to lead 39-24.
In addition to Warrior's 13 points, fellow senior Tee West scored 8, Tiffani Essary added 7, Natasha Anderson 6, Julie Schiltz 4 and Leslie Schieber had 2 points.
Neither team shot well from the free throw line. Ponca City was just 5-for-11 (45.5 percent) and Sallisaw 3-for-7 (42.9).
"They did a great job of holding, grabbing and pressing and we couldn't combat that," said head coach Larry Rehl. "They took the game away with aggressiveness."
Ponca City, which hosts Broken Arrow tonight, slipped to 4-6 on the season. Sallisaw improved to 12-2.
After tonight's game, the Lady Cats will head back to the tournament Friday to play the Metro Christian-Catoosa loser at 7 p.m. The Lady Cats will then either play for the consolation championship at noon Saturday at the high school gym or play in the seventh place game at noon Saturday in the upper elementary gym.
Broken Arrow invades Robson Fieldhouse tonight ranked third in 6A boys basketball and unranked in girls. The Tigers are 7-2 overall and 3-2 in the Frontier Conference. The Lady Tigers are 3-5 and 2-3.
The Tigers are averaging 64.4 points per game through nine games, tied for first in the conference with Union. Defensively, Broken Arrow's boys are allowing 54.2 points per game, eighth best in the nine-team league.
Ponca City's defense is tops in the league, allowing just 44 points per game. But offensively, the Cats (4-5, 2-4) are scoring on average just 37.8 points per game, eighth best.
Individually, 6-4 junior Jon Belt, 5-10 senior Bryon Flam and 6-1 senior Beau Wallace are BA's top scorers. Belt averages 13.7, Flam 12.2 and Wallace 10.5 points per game.
Andy Parsons, a 5-10 senior point guard, leads Po-Hi in scoring at 11.9 points per game.
On the girls' side, Broken Arrow comes in averaging 50.5 points per game, second-best in the league. The Lady Tigers are allowing 50.3.
Doing most of the scoring damage for the Lady Tigers is 5-7 junior Kristin Brady, who is the leading scorer in the conference at 18.6 points per game.
The Lady Wildcats are averaging just 42.8 points per game and allowing 47.1.
The boys tip things off tonight at 6:15 with the girls to follow.
By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
Ponca City's uphill battle against Edmond Memorial for the district wrestling title tonight got a little steeper with the absence of two regulars from the lineup.
The Wildcats, 5-1 in duals, 2-0 in the district, will face the 6-0 Bulldogs, who have yet to face their other district foes, Shawnee and Enid.
Edmond is ranked No. 4 in Class 5A in one high school poll. The Bulldogs won the Mid-State Conference and Mustang tournaments, were third at Perry and fourth at Geary.
The Wildcats, after starting off well with tournament runner-up finishes at Ark City and Tulsa Union, sputtered at Geary and were shut out at Sand Springs last weekend, finishing last in that 11-team field.
The good news for the Poncans is they will have 130-pounder Matt Dodgen back after he was out sick at Sand Springs.
However, Jacob Beck is still out at 140 with bruised ribs and Willie Ivie is out at 119. Justin Hall will again fill in for Beck, but the Poncans will probably be vacant at 119, according to coach Pat Young.
"It's going to be tough," Young said of the dual at Edmond. "But we'll just have to go over and see what we can do."
Edmond, on the other hand, is riding high.
"The kids are wrestling real well," Edmond coach Darren Huff said. "The seniors are wrestling hard and the younger kids are picking up on that. We're wrestling pretty good as a team right now."
The Bulldogs are led by 112-pounder Mickey Henry, 135-pounder Kacey Keller and 145-pounder Sean Adams. All three were runners-up at Geary.
Following tonight's dual, the Wildcats return home to meet Stillwater Thursday. The JV matches start in Robson Fieldhouse at 6 with the varsity dual set to start at 7.
Ninth Girls 35, Ark City 13
Ponca City's ninth grade girls basketball team improved to 7-2 on the season with a 35-13 win over Ark City at the middle school gym Monday.
Mea Alexander led the Poncans with 12 points while Laura Sudbury and Alana Smith also provided good scoring with 8 and 6 points, respectively.
Ponca City led 8-3 after one and 19-5 at the half. Ark City outscored the Poncans 6-2 in the third before the Cougars dominated the fourth quarter, 14-2.
Also scoring for Ponca City were Brooke Hines with 3 points and Claire Winterrowd, Kristl Richardson and Taylor Thomas, all with 2 points.
The Cougars host Enid Emerson tonight at 6 at the middle school.
Ninth Boys 57, Ark City 52
It took six periods, but the Ponca City ninth grade varsity boys finally won out over Ark City, 57-52, here Monday.
Ponca City held a 19-14 edge at halftime and still led by five entering the fourth period. But Ark City rallied to tie the score at 44 at the end of regulation play. The score was still tied at 50 after the first overtime, but the Poncans took care of business in the second OT.
"We ran some time off the clock and we hit our free throws." coach Keith Chronister said.
Jeff Furnas and Blake Geubelle paced the Ponca Citians with 14 and 13 points. Barry Chance and Wes Crossen each had 6 points, Aaron Sattre 5, Evan Rupp and Milt Morris 4 each, Brett Skaggs 3 and Barry Gaheb 2.
The ninth graders, now 6-2 overall, travel to Enid Emerson tonight trying to improve on a 4-0 league mark.
Blackwell 61, Ninth JV Boys 34
Blackwell exploded for a 22-4 first quarter lead and blasted the Ponca City JV boys 61-34 here Monday.
Turnovers cost the Poncans early, according to coach Bart Chance, although his team played better as the game went along.
Jason Beguin had 7 points, Ricky Lee 6, Fred Scholey, Nathan Urioste and Michael Williams 4 each while Jacob Daniel and Kyle Lindsey had 2.
Blackwell 38, Ninth JV Girls 26
Blackwell went on a 13-3 tear in the second quarter and then held off the Ponca City ninth grader JV girls, 38-26 here Monday.
The Blackwell explosion wiped out a 7-6 Ponca City lead and although the Poncans played even in the second half, they couldn't catch up.
Gina Osborn poured through 22 points for the Poncans while Amanda Cobb and Heather Herard each had 2 points.
The girls are slated to play at Enid Emerson Thursday.