From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Friday, January
31, 1997
LOCAL
Newkirk Man Dies in Accident In Grain Bin
Banquet Tickets Now Sold Out
Nearly News
Scouts Distributing Food Collection Bags Saturday
O.A.S.I.S. Program Strives To Help 'Hungry Ghosts
Steichen Opens on Broadway Tonight
Jo Ann Muchmore Retires From Poncan Position
Blackwell Chamber Banquet Held
Week-Long Blood Drive Ends Successfully at Ponca City OBI
Science Fair Projects Workshop Saturday
DEATHS
Stanford Lynn Osborne
Veda Medley
Michael Patrick McConnell
Services Pending
Pauline Adams
Connie Goodno
Funerals
Mary Lu Welborn
NEWS BRIEFS
EDUCATION
PC Scholarship Announced for 97
Middle School Releases Fall 1996 Honor Roll
Students Named to OCU Honor Roll
Residents Receive Bachelor's Degrees
Irons on Honor Roll
Matthews Receives Scholarship
Huston To Perform
Pepperette Winter Dance Scheduled
RELIGION
1997 Will Be Year of Faith
Word of Life Christian Center Hosting Evangelist
POP Lutherans Schedule Special Speaker
First Nazarenes Have Cook Books on Sale
First Christians Observe Scout Sunday
CDC Sets Annual Chili Supper
KLVV Offers Help Privately Tuesday Afternoons
Grace Church Hosting Youth Choir Festival
February is 'Heart Month' at Woodlands Christian
Episcopalians Will Host Guest Speaker Sunday
Supt. Lucky Will Lead Study At Albright UMC
New Executive Director Elected
Methodists Host Dr. Phil Fenn
Kerney Graham To Serve First UMC
LIFESTYLES
Happy Hilltop Group Meets
Chapter Hosts 'Baby' Shower
Little News
Water Exercise Sessions Open
Event To Honor Roberta Streeter
SPORTS
Ponca City 44, Sand Springs 13: Wrestlers Prove a Point
Po-Hi Swimmers Finish Dual Season
Sophs Net Sweep
Ninth Grade Basketball
NEWKIRK - A 37-year-old Newkirk man was killed Thursday afternoon in a grain bin accident south of here.
Farm worker Michael Patrick O'Connell, Route 1, Newkirk, was trapped in the grain bin as he and other workers were transferring milo from the bin to a semi-truck.
The elevator is located two miles south of Newkirk.
According to the Kay County Sheriff's office, the victim was at the top of the grain bin trying to poke the milo into the bin as an auger was operating at the bottom, when the accident occurred.
The call was received by the sheriff's department at 12:40 p.m. and the body was removed three hours later.
Banquet tickets for the annual Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce banquet slated Feb. 7 are sold out, according to the Chamber office. The event features "An Evening with Gov. Frank Keating."
Banquet Chairman Tim Burg said that if there is enough response the program portion of the evening will be opened to the public for $10 at the door.
The event is slated at Hutchins Memorial and there would be theater seating available. Persons interested in attending the program portion, set to begin at 7 p.m., are asked to call the Chamber office at 765-4400.
Earl Sullins has brought it to the attention of NN that Ponca City's 101 Ranch pioneer bulldogging champion Bill Pickett is featured in the February 1997 issue of The Texas Monthly. Pickett, who is credited with inventing the sport, died in 1932.
Local Boy Scouts will be distributing food collection bags door-to-door in Ponca City neighborhoods Saturday morning. The activity will kick-off their "Scouting For Food," campaign for the needy in Ponca City.
Residents are asked to fill the bags with nutritious non-perishable foodstuffs such as canned baby food, baby formula, meats, fruits, and vegetables; boxed mixes; dried foods, and other nonperishable items. Home canned items cannot be used, and foodstuffs in glass jars are discouraged.
According to Laura Hines, volunteer for the program, "Cubs and Boy Scouts will be out early Saturday, walking door to door, leaving the food collection bags. Citizens who want to participate can fill them up with nonperishable foods and place them back outside on front porches on Saturday, Feb. 8, by 9 a.m."
Every Boy Scout Troop in Ponca City will be participating in this "Scouting for Food" campaign, said Hines, "and more than 2,000 Scouts in the Will Rogers Council area will be participating in this, the nation's largest volunteer collection of food for communities."
After the Scouts return to pick up the donated foods next Saturday, they will take it all to the Sentinial Transportation Building (old Conoco Transportation located south of the IOOF Cemetery on South Waverly) for distribution to various local organizations who feed the needy.
"The foods will be taken to the Sentinial Warehouse and divided for distribution to stock the pantries of several local institutions such as Peachtree Landing for the homeless, the New Era Resource Agency welfare agency, Bridgeway, the Domestic Violence Center and others in the community. All donations stay in the Ponca City community," Hines said.
If not contacted for donations, or a bag is not left at a citizen's house, residents may use any bag from home, fill it and take it to the Sentinial warehouse or to the Boy Scout office at 412 South Fourteenth Street to participate.
For more information, call the Boy Scout office, 765-6669.
Editor's Note: Kathleen Stoeckley, M.A., is a teacher in the Ponca City Public Schools Drop-out Prevention Program. The following is her explanation of the program.
By Kathleen Stoeckley
Teacher, Drop-out Prevention
(The term "hungry ghost" is an English translation of a phrase coined in Vietnam to refer specifically to war-orphaned children. An acclaimed Vietnamese poet and philosopher, Thich Nhat Hanh, has written in depth about the tragedy of these children.)
I see many "hungry ghosts" around me in the O.A.S.I.S. every day and a long line of them has formed outside the door waiting to be accepted. They come from broken homes, broken families where they did not touch any happiness, any harmony. Society has inflicted on them a lot of pain and distress and also their spiritual traditions have made them suffer and they do not want to have anything to do with their traditions, with their cultures. So many of them have left everything behind in search of something to belong to, something to believe in, like hungry ghosts. It is the nature of all living things to have roots and these children are desperate.
It is not difficult to identify hungry ghosts. They do not look like regular human beings. Look at the way they walk. Look at the angry way they dress. Their loneliness can be felt. These are our hungry ghosts, hungry for love, for understanding, for something to believe in, something that is good, beautiful and true. They are looking for something they have not seen in their family, in society, in their spiritual tradition because they are disconnected with everything.
To help them is very difficult. Even if you have a lot of love to offer it is not easy because they are very suspicious of everything, of everyone. You have to earn their trust before you can do anything to help and earning that trust is very difficult. You need a lot of patience and our society is organized in such a way that we fabricate tens of thousands of them every day. If you are mindful, you recognize them all around you. Hungry ghosts. It is the phenomenon of our times.
Many people do not understand the workings of the O.A.S.I.S. program (a drop-out prevention program I designed for the Mid-High) because what they are seeing is a home for hungry ghosts and what they may be seeing, at a glance, is the practice of getting trust. To the ignorant or casual observer, it looks like non-learning and it looks strange, but it is essential, the only possible first step. Building trust takes time. About one year to begin to turn a child around, especially if the child has been disconnected for many years. During the second year, such children often begin to reflect learning.
These children do not have a family and so many of them wander around and we must have compassion and understanding toward them. Every person in our community has to be sensitive to these children.
Hungry ghosts have difficulties eating food, society's food: learning, culture, citizenship, religion, literacy, and love. They are starving for understanding, hungry for something to believe in, to belong to. While they are starving, their throats are very small, as small as a needle and that is why even if you have a lot of food to offer them. it is very difficult for them to ingest this food. They suspect everything, including your love, your willingness. You have to earn their trust before you can offer them food.
There are elements of pure "art" to enlarging the needle-throats of hungry ghosts to a normal size. If you want to teach them, you have to practice this art deep inside yourself, nurture it and allow strange feelings that live outside all traditional paradigms to blossom because you want, more than anything on this earth, to feed this starving, distrustful child so that he/she will not die. You have to be willing to look eccentric to the status quo and you have to accept the criticism that you are "snookered" by them. To do this requires support and love from people around you. A teacher of hungry ghosts is very stretched physically, emotionally, and spiritually, to the point of fragility. The community must protect and care for the teacher of hungry ghosts. America's future depends on it.
When hungry ghosts begin to eat, it is painful and fragile and very slow. However, it is beautiful and true. These children begin to be reborn into a light of love, understanding, compassion and hope. Our constant challenge is "how do I earn their trust?"; "how do I help them learn to believe in something good and beautiful?"; "how do I bring their throats back to a normal size?"
These children deserve to receive our love and our care. Do we have enough time? Can we truly accept hungry ghosts? Do we have the seed of a hungry ghost inside ourselves? Have we ever been abandoned, lost, alone, separated from a family, or from a spiritual tradition? If so, then we have the seed of a hungry ghost in ourselves. If we have any seed of a hungry ghost inside ourselves, then we cannot heal another such being because we are, ourselves, too afraid.
We have to overcome all hatred, all suspicion in ourselves. Out of understanding love is born toward these lost children and we connect with them and help them to connect. They can become healthy and joyful.
Do not try to uproot children from their traditions. It is very important to help these children go back to their roots, to develop pride in their ancestry. The Native American children in our schools feel very disconnected and ashamed. They need to be encouraged to be reconciled with who they are and where they come from, who their blood ancestors are, what their language is and to take pride in belonging to it. Instead of negating it, we need to enlarge it and with it will come great blessings from these children, both toward their own cultures, but also toward ours.
The O.A.S.I.S. program has a deep commitment toward helping these children rediscover the beauty in themselves and their people, indeed, toward the best values for everyone. The O.A.S.I.S. program heals and erases frustrations leading toward violence and death.
Because hungry ghosts have not experienced love, understanding and deep belief systems, they live in very irresponsible ways. They do not care. They use drugs. They use alcohol. They abuse their bodies with promiscuity and tobacco. They are delinquent in their practices, to destroy their bodies and their minds. It is natural. When they do not have anything to believe in that is good and beautiful, they have no roots and they want to die. Blaming them is not helpful. Punishing them for not eating properly pushes them toward the death they believe they deserve. Traditional schools are often eager to help and the caretakers of hungry ghosts in such schools are criticized for "giving them breaks they do not deserve."
We have to offer them something they can believe in. This has to be embodied by our lives as their teachers, by our language, by our examples, by the way we behave toward them. When we treat them with rejection, criticism and anger, we are closing their throats. They cannot eat. They cannot drink. They cannot breathe. They cannot learn. They want to destroy and to die.
The O.A.S.I.S. tried to make love and understanding something real, something the hungry ghosts can believe in, be a part of, a family. They need to touch it and only by touching it can trust be born. No matter how skillful the teacher is in teaching, if that teacher cannot embody love and tolerance, the hungry ghosts do not believe him/her. Love cannot be faked. When it is true, these children can be brought back and achieve great success. The phenomenon of hungry ghosts in Ponca City is the most serious problem of our city. We all have to come together to find out what are the roots and how do we deal with it insightfully. The first step is to make sure that we are not, ourselves, hungry ghosts.
NEW YORK CITY - Jerry Steichen, a former Northern Oklahoma College fine arts faculty member, opens on Broadway tonight at the John Golden Theater, playing the secondary lead role of "Manny" in the play "Master Class." Steichen, who has been understudying the role and who has already gone on stage playing opposite Patti LuPone, steps into the role in his own right tonight.
As Manny, Steichen plays the accompanist for opera diva Maria Callas, as played by actress, Dixie Carter. According to Mariann Priboy, Steichen's colleague at Northern, congratulatory telegrams may be sent to Steichen at the John Golden Theater, 252 West 45th Street, New York, NY 10036.
Steichen, an alumnus of Tonkawa High School and NOC, numbers three world tours as conductor of the Ambassadors of Opera among his many performing credits.
Before joining the Northern staff, he served as associate conductor of "The Phantom of the Opera," touring for two and a half years. Other national tours include "The Secret Garden," "Peter Pan" (on keyboards) and "Madama Butterfly." He accompanied opera star Wilhelmenia Fernandez in the "Motown Turns 30" television production. For three seasons he was cover-conductor with the Santa Fe Opera.
During his year at Northern, Steichen coordinated the Opening Gala for the Northern Performing Arts Center, arranged for and accompanied "An Evening with Phantom," featuring members of the touring cast of "The Phantom of the Opera" and performed in faculty recitals. He also directed the College Choir in fine arts festival concerts.
Although Jo Ann Muchmore is retiring from the position of executive director of the Poncan Theatre on Monday, the operation won't miss a beat because the new director Kennis Wessel of Denton, Texas, will be on board March 1. Nancy Hicks will be the office manager until Wessel assumes the position.
Wessel is expected to be here for the classical guitarist Robert Bluestone's concert 7:30 p.m. Saturday and a reception for Muchmore afterwards.
Ms. Muchmore grew up in the American southwest in Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. A graduate of Stephens College in Missouri, she earned a bachelor of science degree in theater and a master's degree in speech and theater from Oklahoma State University.
She also attended the Yale Drama School. She has received many honors and awards for her acting and directing in Oklahoma, New York, New Mexico and Texas and is recognized from New York throughout the southwest for her talent and expertise.
Some of her awards and accomplishments include founding member of the Oklahoma Community Theater Association, charter and honorary life membership in the Ponca Playhouse, a former personal assistant to television personality Dick Cavett, Actors Equity Association, former member of the Texas State Arts Council's Advisory Panel, formerly served on the theater faculty at Oklahoma State University, State Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Arts Institute and recipient of the Governor's Arts and Education Award in 1994.
In 1991, Muchmore agreed to return to Ponca City as executive director of the Poncan Theatre to help spearhead the renovation drive. Under her guidance and leadership, the theatre has been restored to an award winning facility and the pride of Ponca City.
Charles Casey, past president of the Poncan Theatre Company, serving on the advisor council and president of the Poncan Theatre Endowment Fund, said, "We could not possibly have been successful in restoring the Poncan without the expert guidance and leadership of Jo Ann in every phase of the project. She is one of a kind, a true treasure and we will forever be in her debt.
She has also distinguished herself as an author, having had articles published in professional theater journals, as well as a book of her essays. Her first novel for children, "Johnny Rides Again," was published in April 1995.
Muchmore will continue to reside in Ponca City and remain active with the Poncan Theatre Endowment Foundation.
By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Business Editor
BLACKWELL - The ABC's of community building blocks for the future were spelled out for the Blackwell Chamber of Commerce banquet crowd Thursday evening, by Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin.
A popular speaker, Fallin outlined the building blocks needed for success. These included leadership development, existing base development, entrepreneur development and new business recruitment.
She noted that there were people in attendance from Newkirk, Tonkawa and Ponca City and said it was good that communities work together. Fallin said she enjoyed making the Chamber of Commerce banquets because she has a "restored sense of confidence in Oklahoma when you meet the people."
Fallin remarked on all the accomplishments of Blackwell during the past year. She said, "You are the ones that care about our children's education, you are the ones that care about our jobs, you are the ones that care about tourism and the ones that care about the quality of life."
Fallin, who has spearheaded the drive to reduce workers compensation rates in Oklahoma, predicted reform is coming in this area.
The Lt. Governor was introduced by master of ceremonies Joe Harris, the manager of Kay Electric Cooperative. The event was held in the Kay Room of the new Kay Electric Cooperative.
Marilyn Harmon, the 1996 "Citizen of the Year," presented this year's award to John Boersma, retired businessman and community volunteer.
Boersma was recognized for his many areas of service including: United Way Fund Drive chairman; a 50 year member of the Blackwell Chamber of Commerce; several terms on the Chamber board of directors; a Scoutmaster; Will Rogers Council of Scouts; five years on the Top of Oklahoma Board.
He also served as vice chairman of the Blackwell Industrial Authority and was a leader in initiating a successful effort to pass the bond issue to renovate and preserve the historic pavilion; served as building chairman for the two-year period of renovation of the Top of Oklahoma Museum.
Accepting the award Boersma said, "I can think of no greater compliment than receive recognition from your peers. I do thank you."
In addition to his wife Ann, two of Boersma's children, a daughter Bonnie and a son Drew and their children were there as a surprise for the event.
A video entitled Blackwell in Retrospect was provided by Chris and Susie Graves.
Outgoing chairman Katie LaBlue was ill and not able to attend. Becky Hutton incoming president spoke about the future and urged the community to all pull together.
The 1997 officers in addition to Hutton are Daryle Voss, president elect, vice president, Mark Arnold and past president Katie LaBlue. Directors are Bob Annis, Kind Goff, Carla Sandy, Mark Arnold, Debbie Johnson, Norma Shields, Mark Cordell, Brad Purdy, Merle Summers, Brad Bechtel, Audrey Biggs, Bruce Dale, Tom Lucas and Sue Steelmon.
Retiring members of the board are Richard Hicks, Danna Johnson, Jim Ross, Jamie Strahorn and Beverly Wooderson.
Members of the staff are Angela Kennedy, director, Lennis Kelle, and Lisa Vanderveer.
Handmade quilts and clocks were used as decorations in keeping with the theme "As Time Goes By." Members of the decorating committee were Jennifer Hart, Becky Hutton, Janice Strahorn, Pat Ross, Carla Sandy and Helen Seubert.
The meal was catered by Raymond & Piccola Hudsonpillar and served by OK Okies 4-H and Blackwell FFA members. Greeting guests were members of the Blackwell Chamber of Commerce's Ambassador's Club. Dinner music was by Tom Sims.
Rep. and Mrs. Jim Reese, and Sen. and Mrs. Paul Muegge were in attendance as well as a number of elected county officials. Representatives from the Newkirk, Tonkawa, Ponca City and Kaw City Chambers were in attendance.
Buy For Less employees celebrated the holidays by giving the gift of life during a week-long blood drive at the Oklahoma Blood Institute, Ponca City Center. Buy For Less employees donated 26 units of blood products which included units of whole blood, plasma and platelets for patients at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.
In addition to donating whole blood, some employees donated plasma and platelets through apheresis, a process whereby a specific blood component is automatically retrieved and separated, while remaining components are returned to the donor. Apheresis enables donors to give more of the necessary component to help particular patients. In fact, an apheresis donor will give one transfusable unit of a blood component, which is very important because the fewer the donors needed, the less chance there is of a patient rejecting the blood.
Apheresis donors are very important to the Blood Institute, which is the primary resource for all blood products for St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. Full transfusable amounts of plasma are vital to helping burn victims, transplant and cardiovascular patients, and patients with bleeding disorders.
Platelets are needed to assist patients undergoing treatment for leukemia, cancer or blood disorders. Platelets are needed to assist patients undergoing treatment for leukemia, cancer or blood disorders.
Two very special apheresis donors, Debbie Pugh and Missy Avallone, were responsible for coordinating the first blood drive for Buy for Less. Each have donated whole blood, apheresis plasma and platelets to benefit local patients.
"We are grateful to Debbie and Missy for their enthusiasm and willingness to help organize this special community project," said OBI Ponca City manager, Pixie Rowland. "We appreciate the overwhelming response from the Buy For Less employees and encourage all area residents to donate blood throughout the year."
The drive was not the first commitment shown by Buy for Less for the community blood program. Last summer, Buy for Less helped local patients by contributing pints of Blue Bell ice cream to all donors who donated a pint of blood with the Oklahoma Blood Institute, Ponca City Center.
"It is very important that area residents donated blood in order to maintain an adequate blood supply for our local hospital and our community. We all recognize the importance of donating blood products, especially during the holidays when the need for blood increases," Buy For Less manager, Mike Starbuck said.
Members of the Ponca City community and all of Kay County can assist OBI in helping local patients by donating blood or by sponsoring a blood drive with their company, school, church or organization. The Oklahoma Blood Institute also can provide program speakers for a business, school, civic organization or church meeting.
To become a blood donor or request more information about OBIs many health services, contact the OBI Ponca City Center at (405)762- 9488.
The Oklahoma Blood Institute, Ponca City Center is affiliated with the Oklahoma Blood Institute, a regional, not-for-profit organization supplying blood to 57 hospitals in 31 counties, including Kay County.
Science Fair Coordinator Dr. Arnold R. Taylor will present a workshop on science fair projects at the Ponca City Library on Saturday.
Science Fair Projects can be an exciting time for students to make discoveries about the world around them and about themselves. Yet for many families the announcement of an upcoming science fair can be an upsetting experience, according to Cindy Johndrow at the library.
Families can attend a 90 minute Science Fair Workshop on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the library. Participants will learn how to start a project, where to get information, what the final project should look like and how much time is needed to complete an activity.
In addition, families will find out about experiments, making a display, using data as well as standards used by science fair judges to evaluate projects.
Plenty of time will be allowed for questions and refreshments will be served.
Taylor is the coordinator for the North Central Oklahoma Section of the
American Chemical Society. For more information on the program, contact
Julie Rutter at 767-0345.
DEATHS
Stanford Lynn Osborne, former longtime Ponca City resident, died Wednesday evening, Jan. 29, 1997, at St. John's Hospital in Tulsa. He was 80.
The funeral will be held graveside at 2 p.m. Saturday at Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Charles M. Heyer, associate pastor of Ponca City First Christian Church, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home, Ponca City. Friends may visit at the funeral home until 1 p.m. Saturday.
Stanford Lynn Osborne was born June 2, 1916, in Springtown, Ark., and one of nine children. He later moved to Sand Springs and then to Ponca City where he graduated from Ponca City High School in 1936.
He was married to wife, Maxine, on Jan. 8, 1939 and the couple made their home in Ponca City. Osborne was first employed with Conoco as a geological truck driver in Kansas. He was transferred to the Ponca City refinery in 1942 as one of the early operators in the catalytic cracking division. At retirement he was acting operations foreman for that facility. He enjoyed playing golf and traveling. After retirement he and his wife moved to Grove.
Survivors include his wife, Maxine, of the home; three daughters, Lynda Nichols of Grove, and Gale Clemens and Jan McGraw, both of Tulsa; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Osborne's name to the American Heart Association, 3545 N.W. 58th Street, Suite 400-C; Oklahoma City, OK 73112.
The family will be at the home of Rocky Nichols, 729 Edgewood.
Veda Medley, mother of Dail McVay of Ponca City, died Thursday, Jan. 30, 1997, at the Bentonville (Ark.) Manor Nursing Home. She was 90.
The funeral will be held graveside at 10 a.m. Saturday, at the Elm Springs (Ark.) Cemetery with the Rev. J.N. Farish officiating. Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs, Ark., are directing arrangements.
Veda (Downum) Medley was born March 5, 1906, in Healing Springs, Ark., the daughter of Charlie and Bertha (Whitzell) Downum. She was a lifelong resident of Bentonville and a cook in a local cafe.
Survivors include one son, Dail McVay of Ponca City; two granddaughters; three great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; one niece and one nephew.
NEWKIRK - Michael Patrick McConnell, rural Newkirk resident, died Thursday, Jan. 30, 1997, south of Newkirk as the result of a farming accident. He was 37.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis Catholic Church in Newkirk with the Rev. Richard Beckman officiating. Service arrangements and cremation was under the direction of Miller-Stahl Funeral Service, Newkirk.
Michael Patrick McConnell moved to the Newkirk area about five years ago and was working as a farm laborer at the time of his death.
McConnell's ashes were returned to his family in Maine.
Pauline Adams, Ponca City resident, died early this morning, Jan. 31, 1997 at Shawn Manor Nursing Home. She was 91. Survivors include a daughter, Bonnie Daniels of Ponca City. Arrangements are pending with Grace Memorial Chapel.
NEWKIRK - Connie Goodno, longtime Newkirk resident, died Thursday, Jan. 30, 1997, at the Blackwell Regional Medical Center. She was 54. Arrangements are pending with Miller-Stahl Funeral Service, Newkirk.
Saturday
Mary Lu Welborn - A rosary service will be held at 7 p.m. today at Cochran
Mortuary, 1411 North Broadway, Wichita, Kan. Mass of Christian burial will
be conducted at noon Saturday, Feb. 1, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic
Church, 861 North Socora at Beckmire, in Wichita. Burial will be at Resurrection
Cemetery, Wichita. The family will be at 9124 Harvest Court in Wichita,
following the service.
NEWS BRIEFS
Cookie "Crunch-Off" - The public is invited to the Girl Scout "Cookie Crunch-Off" contest to determine the area "1997 Colossal Cookie Cruncher," at noon, Saturday, in the Ponca Plaza mall. Come and cheer for your favorite contestant and enjoy a sample of Girl Scout Cookies available from Girl Scouts during their February cookie sales campaign. Call 762-9616 for more information or to order cookies.
Steppers Mini Clinic - The Po-Hi Steppers are sponsoring their annual Stepper Clinic for pre-school through sixth grade. The clinic will be taught by members of the Po-Hi Steppers and will include instruction in basic dance, stretching, poise and projection. Practice dates will be Feb. 3-6, with performance during the basketball game on Feb. 7. Registration for the clinic will be taken on Feb. 3 from 5-7 p.m. in the Old Boy's Gym. For more information, please call 765-3182 after 5 p.m.
Free Concert - Terwilliger-Cooperstock Duo will present a program of music for violin and piano by Aaron Copland, Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church. The concert is sponsored by the OK Arts Council and Ponca City Federated Music Club.
Senior Citizens Dance Set - Senior Citizens Dance Monday from 7 to 10 p.m. at the American Legion Ballroom. Please Bring snacks to share. Everyone is welcome to come and dance to the music of the Hayriders Band, playing a variety of music - country, big band, waltz, polka and other.
Graduates From Basic - Army Pvt. Rebecca J. Rhodd has graduated from basic military training at Fort Leonard Wood, Waynesville, Mo. Rhodd is the daughter of Joyce G. and Clayton E. Rowe of Blackwell. She is a 1996 graduate of Blackwell High School.
Deployment to Persian Gulf - Navy Airman Gordon L. Matsinger, son of Danny D. and Brenda H. Stolhand of Ponca City, is currently halfway through a six-month deployment to the western Pacific and Indian oceans and Persian Gulf aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Essex. So far during the deployment, Matzinger has visited Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. He is a 1996 graduate of Ponca City High School.
Honor Dance - An Honor Dance for Carolee Bible, 1996 Otoe-Missouria Tribal Princess and 1997 Junior Miss Indian Oklahoma candidate, will be Saturday at Frontier School in Red Rock. A gourd dance is scheduled at 2 p.m., supper at 5 p.m., gourd dance at 6 p.m. and grand entry at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend. More information may be obtained by calling Laura Warrior, 723-4466, or Denise Bible, 753-4451.
Basketball Tournament - The OoKeeHee All-Indian Men's Basketball Tournament will be held Friday through Sunday at the Ponca Tribal Cultural Center. Daily admission fees are $1 for adults, $.50 for children ages 7-18. All proceeds will go to fund future OoKeeHee activities. For further information contact Henson Lena at 765-0858 or Cher Eagle at 765-0971.
Campfire Candy - Just in time for Valentine's Day! The Southern Plains Council of Camp Fire Boys and Girls starts Annual Camp Fire Candy Sales, Saturday in Ponca City. Katy-dids, Almond Roca Buttercrunch, and other delicious varieties of candy are available from Camp Fire Youth and leaders for $3 per box. Proceeds help pay for local council operations and individual member's emblems and beads. Watch for Boys and Girls selling candy in your neighborhood, or call 765-1644 for delivery.
Lake Ponca Park - Lake Ponca Park will reopen to the public Saturday at 8 a.m., according to the Park and Recreation Department. The park had been closed since November for the Festival of Angels.
Vandalism - A resident in the 1000 block of North Oak Street informed the Ponca City Police Department at 10:28 a.m. Thursday that a vehicle was hit during the night. An officer took a report.
Abandoned - Animal Control received notice from the Ponca City Police Department at 12:09 p.m. Thursday to pick up an abandoned bike in the 3200 block of North Fourteenth Street.
Field Afire - Ranch Drive Fire Department responded to a grass fire 2.25 miles west of Marland Y and a half mile south at 12:20 p.m. Thursday. The Ponca City Police Department received notice that the fire was ignited by the land owner and was not spreading.
Gun Stolen - A resident in the 300 block of South Ash Street contacted the Ponca City Police Department at 3:20 p.m. Thursday to report two boys were walking in the area and hid what appeared to be a gun wrapped in a T-shirt. Four officers responded to the area. At 3:43 p.m. one of the officers took a report of a gun taken from Dollar Saver, 112 South Second Street. The resident, who made the first call, notified the PCPD at 3:45 p.m. that the boys were back in the alley. Three officers responded and arrested a 16-year-old boy for grand larceny and possession of marijuana.
Vandalism - An employee at the Middle School advised the Ponca City Police Department at 4:06 p.m. Thursday that some of the students' bikes were vandalized. An officer took a report.
Assault - A resident in the 200 block of North Elm Street contacted the Ponca City Police Department at 4:10 p.m. Thursday to report a juvenile assaulted the son as he walked home from school. The juvenile threw rocks at the residence and broke a window. An officer took a report.
Shoplifter - A Ponca City police officer took a report of a shoplifter in custody at Drug Warehouse, 2211 North Fourteenth Street, at 4:11 p.m. Thursday.
Grand Larceny - A resident in the 300 block of South Ash Street informed the Ponca City Police Department at 5:04 p.m. Thursday that three youths were trying to break into a red car in the alley. Two officers responded, however, the youths were gone on arrival. Reports were taken on grand larceny and destruction of private property.
Burglary - A Ponca City police officer took a burglary report in the 3200 block of North Fourteenth Street at 7:15 p.m. Thursday. Machines were reportedly missing from the residence.
Tires Slashed - The Ponca City Police Department received a call from the 800 block of North Union Street at 7:16 p.m. Thursday regarding tires slashed. An officer took a report.
In Custody - A 50-year-old woman was taken into custody at Wal-Mart, 1101 East Prospect Avenue, at 7:20 p.m. Thursday for petit larceny. An employee of the store caught the woman shoplifting.
Abandoned Motorcycle - The Ponca City Police Department received a report that a motorcycle was laying against the east fence at Washington School at 8:38 p.m. Thursday. An officer reported the bike was not stolen, however, it was towed due to an expired tag.
Failure to Pay - An 18-year-old man was arrested at South Waverly Street and West South Avenue at 9:56 p.m. Thursday on a local warrant for failure to pay.
Arrested - A Ponca City police officer arrested a 38-year-old man at West Central Avenue and South Oak Street at 9:46 p.m. Thursday for driving under the influence, driving under suspension and no insurance.
Burglary - A resident in the 100 block of South Pine Street contacted the Ponca City Police Department at 10:46 p.m. Thursday to report the residence broken into. Groceries and antiques were missing, according to the resident. An officer took a burglary report.
Arrested - A 38-year-old woman was arrested by a Ponca City police officer in the 800 block of North First Street at 12:12 a.m. Friday for driving under the influence, driving left of center and no insurance.
Warrant Served - A Ponca City police officer arrested an 18-year-old man in the 300 block of South Lake Street at 3 a.m. Friday on a Kay County warrant for failure to pay.
Open Container - A Ponca City police officer arrested a 49-year-old
man at North Union Street and West Hazel Avenue at 4:46 a.m. Friday for
actual physical control and possession of an open container.
EDUCATION
The Nathan Lee Memorial Scholarship is limited to a Kay County High School Graduate pursuing a career working with the developmentally disabled, majoring in Speech Education or a related field, such as, Speech Therapy, Hearing Therapy or Physical Therapy. Applications should be received by the Scholarship Committee of the Kay County Council for the Opportunity Center no later than March 15. Information concerning this scholarship has been sent to counselors at all Kay County High Schools or you may contact Sandy Hudack
Students on the Principal's Honor Roll include: April Casey, Meena Chahar, Lacey Clabaugh, Aliceann Combest, Audry Conley, James Cullin, Emily Day, Matt Dekrey, Bethany Dester, Beth Fleharty, Ashley Ford, Amber Foy, Sonia Fry, Elizabeth Golay, Jaime Hereford, Mallory Hodge, Briann Holley, Courtney Hoover, Derek Hunt, Aaron Jones, Shawna Kelley, Chase Kelly, Jennifer Kiser, Lindsay Knox, Elizabeth Ladd, Jordi Lanis, Kathleen Larrison, Katherine Lawrence, Jamie Leach, Aaron Lewis, Benjamin Lewis, Zachary Loney, Tiffany Long, Jeffrey McCall, Larry Merz and Brandon Nash. Also included are: Elizabeth Newman, Loren O'Connor, Becka Orr, Eric Peeples, Ebony Phillips, Michael Proctor, Andrew Romine, Angela Rutledge, Stacy Sherman, Lonna Sisco, Brandon Smith, Jason Staires, Kevin Stauffer, Robert Trent, Lauren Vaughn, Meredith Veal and Jenna Wedd. Students on the Faculty Honor Roll are: Sharnice Alexander, D.B. Allison, Tiffany Almack, Christina Anderson, Jae Anderson, Tyler Atnip, Nicole Austin, John Backus, Alexandria Barnett, Kyle Batson, Caitlin Bearskin, Ashley Bible, Matt Biddinger, Courtney Birdsong, Byron Blazek, Austin Bliss, Kyle Bogner, Janelle Bostic, Kristi Bradley, Aaron Brooke, Amanda Brown, Clifton Brown, Stacey Buffalohead, Bryan Buie, Claudia Bujanda, Cortney Burns, Robert Bushaw, Sidney Carnes, Teri Chambray, Nicole Chance, Ray Chao, Maria Chavez, Ashley Chronister, Lacy Cobble, Chrystina Cochran, Troy Cochran, Kimberly Coleman, Traci Conley, Loren Copeland, Stephanie Council, Jennifer Cowan, Matthew Cowley, Kansas Craft, Laci Cromwell, Charley Daniel, Robin Daniel, Joseph Davis, Loretta Davis, David Delpriore, Nicole Dennis, Stephanie Dyer, Marjorie Eggleston, Matthew Ellis, Elizabeth England, Jacob Engle, Maria Favela, Jessica Flores, Desiree Franseen, Susan Galvin, Paul Gammill, William Giebel, Cameron Gifford, Shayla Gildhouse, Christa Goodale, Cherokee Gossage, Jennifer Gray, Luke Gray, Kelsey Griffith and Ben Grubb.
Jacob Hall, Trista Hannon, Kara Hardy, Meghan Harris, Nicholas Hartman, Tory Hazen, Ryan Hensley, Devin Hermes, Ryan Hess, Peter Hightower, William Hilton, Amanda Hinch, Kacey Hogan, Lucas Hudson, Bradley Humble, Daniel Hunget, Amy Hutchinson, Amanda Ingram, Emily Jack, Jeffery Jackson, Shanna Johnson, Daniel Johnston, Mikkie Johnston, Sheena Joiner, Joshua Jones, Jessica Jorgenson, Thelma Karty, Austin Keller, Melissa Kelly, Katherine Kennedy, Tyler Kimrey, Bridget Kreisel, Ben Kuchta, Ty Larue, Ryan Lawson, Jason Leavitt, Lindsey Lessert, Sara Lewis, Benjamin Loney, Kara Long, Chad Longmore, Michelle Lopeman, John Lopez, Gordon MaDonnell, Michael Martin, Eric Martinez, Jessica McCulley, Bryan McDonald, Kelly McNeese, Maria Mena, Crystal Miles, Kimberly Miller, Morgan Mongold, Marlene Montenegro, Mikel Montgomery, Callie Moore, Jeremy Moore, Matthew Moore, Tisha Morris, Michael Murphy, Laura Murray, Jaimee Neal and Blake Newton.
Steve Oblad, Jason Oswalt, Nikki Owens, Tara Owens, Teeana Pappan, Colby Payne, Kenda Payne, Lacey Pendergraft, Jaime Pettigrew, Allison Powell, Michelle Quick, Keli Ramsey, Frank Redd, Roman Redleaf, Brenna Reed, Jennifer Robins, Shannon Rodgers, Ashley Russell, Christina Rutledge, April Sage, Monica Sawyers, Daniel Schnack, Stevie Scott, Trevor Seales, Amanda Sells, Jennifer Severson, Jarrod Sharp, Drew Shelton, Krystal Smith, Latoya Smith, Molly Smith, Misti Spears, Jeffrey Spirlock, Denise Strawn, Amanda Summers, Whitney Talbott, Nancy Taylor, Christopher Thomas, James Thomas, Emily Thompson, Leah Thorp, Sarah Todd, Douglas Tosh, Kristan Trepton, Dezri Truyen, Travor Viljoen, Brian Warren, Allison Watson, Branda Watson, Creighton Weber, Gilles Weingart, Brad Whitsitt, Raeanna Wiles, Daniel Wilks, William WIllaford, Phillips Wingender, Matthew Wittmer, Sherina Wood and Brandon Woodland.
Genny Moffett, daughter of Kenneth and Patricia Wheeler of Ponca City; Charles Smithson, son of William Smithson of Ponca City; and Misha Stephens, daughter of Gary and Rebecca Stephens of Ponca City, were all named to Oklahoma Christian University's Fall 1996 Honor Roll.
Larry Lydick and Tonya Ponce, Ponca City residents, will graduate from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva with bachelor's degrees. Lydick majored in biology and Ponce majored in elementary education. The two will participate in commencement exercises in May.
Robert Bradley Irons, Ponca City resident, was among several students who were on the honor roll at the University of Missouri-Rolla. Irons had to carry a minimum of 12 hours and had a grade point average of 3.2 or above.
Keri Carson, Ponca City, was among approximately 500 students named to the fall 1996 Vice President's Honor Roll at Oklahoma City Community College.
William Paul Matthews, Ponca City, was among more than 4,000 University of Kansas students who received scholarships from private gifts during the fall 1996 semester. Matthews is a junior law major.
B.J. Huston, Ponca City, will perform at The Furman University Opera Theater on Feb. 6 and 8 in the part of Sergeant of Police. Huston is the son of Steve and Terry Huston of Ponca City
The Pepperette Winter Dance for eighth and ninth grade students at the Mid-High has been scheduled for Feb. 22 from 7:30-11:00 p.m. at the Hutchins Memorial.
The Promenade practice will begin at 10 a.m. on Feb. 22. All ninth grade pepperette members and their escorts need to be at the practice. If you cannot attend the practice, please notify Anna Heagy or Leslie Throop at 762-0006, or Alison or Carla Arrington at 762-7981. Girls, if you are going to wear high heels Saturday night, you should bring your shoes with you Saturday morning to practice walking down the stairs in them.
If any additional information is needed, call Anna Heagy at 762-0006
or Alison Arrington at 762-7981.
RELIGION
The year 1997 has been designated "The Year of Faith, the Year of Jesus". In this, the first of a three year preparation for the Millennium, 1997-2000, St. Mary's Catholic Church presents Mission Renewal Week, Feb. 1-5, 1997. The Mission, presented by Fr. Bernard Finerty, OFM Capuchin, is designed to renew and refresh us for life, for love and for the Lord. Fr. Bernard " ... invites you to walk this week with me and with the Lord. You will be inspired and surprised by the Lord. You will neer forget this encounter with the Lord. You will find peace for your hearts, I promise."
Fr. Bernard will celebrate the weekend Masses: Saturday evening 5:15, Sunday morning 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. The evening services will be held Sunday, Feb. 2 through Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. in the Parish Hall. With each presentation offering a different topic, the community and parish members alike are invited to attend one or all of the presentations.
Sunday's theme is "Lord Teach Me To Pray"; Monday is "Jesus, The Way, The Truth, and The Life"; Tuesday the theme is "Like a Rock!"; Wednesday concludes with "We Remember, We Celebrate, We Believe!". Each evening service will be followed by a social in the Parish Hall.
During his visit to Ponca City, Fr. Bernard will be available for the sacrament of reconciliation, spend time with the students at St. Mary's Catholic School and visit with various parish organizations.
Fr. Bernard has been a Capuchin Franciscan priest for more than 30 years, and served in a great variety of ministries: teaching in the seminary, on the formation team of the Novitiate, engaging in pastoral ministry in parishes and now directing missions and retreats of lay people, priests, and religious women and men. Most importantly Fr. Bernard will bring us the good news of the gospels. But he will also share with us his musical insights into the Word of God, Fr. John Michalicka, pastor, pointed out in announcing the services.
Dave Martin, an evangelist from Tulsa, will be preaching at Word of Life Christian Center this evening (Jan. 31) at 7 o'clock. For the past six months, Dave has been at World of Life ministering to the people of Ponca City and surrounding areas.
Dave's message offers love and hope for the discouraged, the hopeless, and the lonely. If you are in need of love, hope, and peace of mind and heart, then come and hear about God's love and grace.
Word of Life Christian Center is located at 3401 North Union, Ponca city. A nursery will be provided.
The women of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church heard Alta Brunsback speak about the women's group WELCA.
Women interested in joining this group should contact Barb Kegler at 762-5774. The group has a lot of great ideas and plan to be an active in this community.
Also, POP Lutherans are reminded of the POP license tags now available. The response has been good, it was noted, and those still desiring a tag, may contact Angela Correll - the tags cost $5 each.
The First Church of the Nazarene now have their cook books "Bread of Life" for sale, containing old and new recipes. These special cook books, containing old and new recipes, are being distributed by the Ladies Ministry of the church for $8.
The women plan to use the money wherever needed in their work of ministry.
To purchase one of these special cook books or for more information, please call 765-3633.
This Sunday at the 10:40 service at First Christian Church there will be a special time to recognize those who are in or have been in the Scouting or Camp Fire programs. Howard Cooper will lead this recognition.
Andy Cooper will serve as lay leader. Scouts serving as greeters are Brady Clark, Shawn Gill, Luke Gray, and Ann Ziegenhain. Scouts helping usher are Julian and Beth Ford, Kelsey Clark, and Leslee Cooper. Acolytes will be John Wheeler and Randy Heyer.
All persons currently involved inthe Scouting and Camp Fire programs will be wearing their uniforms.
The awarding of the Eagle rank to Andy Cooper will be celebrated at the church at 2 p.m. with a reception following.
The Annual Child Development Center Chili Supper is scheduled for this evening from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall of the First Christian Church, 210 Fifth Street.
Cost is $4 for adults and $2 for children. The meal includes chili (or hot dog), homemade bread, dessert, and drink. Tickets are available at the door.
Tuesday afternoons, Ponca City's Christian radio station, KLVV, offers a unique service to its listeners and the area. From 5 to 6 p.m. anyone can call in to the KLVV Encouragement Hour, 767-1400, and speak with a minister or on special occasions with a Christian CPA, doctor, lawyer, etc.
This coming Tuesday, Feb. 4, Larry Nigh, Pastor of Northeast Baptist Church in Ponca City, will be available to visit with folks. The service has been quite successful, according to folks at the station, with some afternoons having the line busy the full hour.
Calls are private and not put over the air. Interested people can listen to 88.7 FM between 5 and 6 Tuesday afternoons for more information when the radio station announcer lets listeners know when the line is open or taken.
Grace Episcopal Church, 13th and Grand, will be hosting the Regional Youth Choir Festival all day Saturday at the church, according to Michelle Landers, director of the local youth choir.
The all-day event will close with Evensong at 5 p.m. Saturday with the children singing. Children's choirs from Guthrie, Stillwater, Miami and Ponca City are expected to attend.
Mary Susan Whaley of Miami will be directing. The public is invited to attend the Evensong, Landers pointed out.
A different emphasis relating to the "Heart Month" theme at Woodlands Christian will be highlighted each Sunday morning during the month of February, according to the senior minister, the Rev. Paul M. Krueger.
The schedule will include Sunday, Feb. 2, Organ Donor Emphasis, and recognition of the Boy Scouts; Feb. 9, Blood Pressure Check (after church) and "Love Your Staff" special offering day; Feb. 16, Advanced Directives Emphasis (living wills) and Week of Compassion Special Day Offering; Feb. 23, Blood Drive (Oklahoma Blood Institute will beat Woodlands following worship services)
Guest speaker for the 10:30 Service of Holy Eucharist at Grace Episcopal Church, 13th and Grand, Sunday morning will be the Rev. George Day of Edmond.
An advocate of prison ministry, the Rev. Mr. Day has been a member of the Episcopal Diocesan Commission on Prison Ministry since 1992, according to the Rev. Ken Armstrong, Grace Church rector.
The Rev. Mr. Day began regular visits to the Mabel Bassett Correctional Center in the fall of 1991 and has been very active at that place ever since. As time past, he began his ministry to more prisons and jails and now goes regularly to seven prisons, three others from time to time and to the Oklahoma County jail.
He participated from the beginning in the Kairos Prison Ministry here in the state. In 1996 he was Spiritual Director at the third Kairos weekend at Oklahoma State Reformatory at Granite and has been asked to be Director at the first weekend at the Dick Conner Correctional Center at Hominy in March of this year.
He baptized his first two prisoners in 1994, three the next year, and 13 last year. In January 1996 Bishop Moody gave him permission to start St. Patrick's Episcopal Congregation, canonically an "Unorganized Congregation" ... all incarcerated persons in Oklahoma who are ministered to by Episcopalians are now members - about 117 attend worship services. This January he began a group for counseling at both Mabel Bassett and Eddie Warrior CC near Muskogee.
"God has called me to prison ministry, and because God knows how to get the best from us, I've found the most rewarding, satisfying, fulfilling pursuit of my life," The Rev. Mr. Day said.
The public is invited to join members of Grace Church Sunday morning to hear Day speak.
The Rev. Grayson Lucky, Stillwater United Methodist District Superintendent, will lead a study of John Wesley at Albright United Methodist Church, the first three Sundays in February, at 6 p.m. The study will feature the book "John Wesley: Holiness of Heart and Life" written by Charles Yrigoyen, Jr.
Lucky was a former pastor at Albright United Methodist from 1987=-1990. His educational background includes a Bachelor's degree in Religious Music Education and a Master's Degree in Theology and Philosophy from the Southern Nazarene University in Bethany. He received his Master of Theology from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University and was enrolled in doctoral studies and received his Theology Degree in Missionology from the University of South Africa.
An open invitation is cordially given to the community to attend these sessions. Albright United Methodist Church is located at 128 South Palm . The study will be held in the Ernest Seeker's Classroom, located in the basement. An elevator is available, near the back door, for easy access.
At a recent meeting of the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Conference of Churches, held at the Archdiocese Pastoral Center in Oklahoma City, Dr. Rita Cowan, a Disciples of Christ minister was elected as the new Executive Director of the Conference of Churches.
A graduate of Phillips Theological Seminary in 1991, he Rev. Dr. Cowan has served as a Regional Director for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma; as pastor of West Point Christian Church in Yukon; as Director of Community Life and Assistant Professor in Applied Theology with Phillips Theological Seminary at the University of Tulsa; and was the Interim Executive Director of the Conference of Churches.
She brings a broad range of experience to the Conference and was elected by the Conference Board after an extensive national search. Her formal installation ceremony will be set by the Executive Committee of the Conference at their next meeting.
Ponca Citians are reminded that Dr. Phil Fenn, Norman minister, will bring the sermon "Beyond the Door" based on Philippians 2: 2-13, to the congregation of the First United Methodist Church, Sixth and Central, at their 8:30 and 11 a.m. worship services Sunday morning. The Sunday evening 7 p.m. message will be "Wearing Methodist Eyeglasses" which will be a presentation of core Methodist and Wesleyan Beliefs and Methodist Distinctives. Visitors are welcome.
In addition, Dr. Fenn will deliver lectures in the series on Methodist distinctives, held in the Fellowship Hall of the First Methodist Church - Monday 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.
The Covenant Sunday School Class of the church is sponsoring the series. It was in 1989 that one of the class members expressed a desire to start a lecture series that would enrich community life. Other class members felt she had a good idea and together they established a trust fund which would enable them to bring speakers to Ponca City.
The series is open to the public.
First United Methodist Church is announcing that the Rev. Kerney Graham has agreed to serve as part-time Associate Pastor during the interim period of Feb. 1 through June 1, until the appointment of a full-time associate pastor by the conference.
According to the Rev. Denny Hook, pastor, the Rev. Mr. Graham led the worship service last Sunday as guest preacher.
Born and reared on a farm11 miles east of Newkirk, the Rev. Mr. Graham graduated from Kaw City High School. His wife, the former Patricia Cline, was also born and reared in Newkirk. The couple has made their home in Newkirk since Graham retired from the full-time ministry on May 31, 1996, having served as a pastor of United Methodist Church in Oklahoma for 37 years.
He attended college at Northern Oklahoma Junior College, as it was called
in those days, later attended Oklahoma State University, and graduated from
Theological Seminary in 1958. He began his ministry in 1959 as pastor of
the Webb City-Grainola-Foraker Charge just 15 miles from where he grew up.
He has served United Methodist Church in Hominy, Ada, Wetumka, Jenks, Sand
Springs, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Idabel, and completed his ministry at First
United Methodist in Grove, Okla.
LIFESTYLES
Happy Hilltop Homemakers met recently for lunch and a business meeting at the Western Sizzlin'. Nancy Challis, president, led the 13 members and three guests, in the flag salute. She then gave a devotion entitled "Bear Ye One Another" by Rick Hamblin.
Irene Harden, secretary, read the minutes and reported on the Christmas bags she had delivered to the Kaw City school. A thank you note was read from Eastern State Hospital for the lap quilts made by Happy Hilltop members for the hospital Christmas project. A report was also given on a wagon purchased for two children.
The group discussed sending a donation to the Kaw City School library as well as Valentine treats. Mary Bryant gave the treasurer's report and Mrs. Harden presented a tip on keeping tennis shoes clean by spraying them with hair spray.
Hostesses gifts were won by Mrs. Orr and guest, Vivian Scott. Mrs. Virginia Perciful was welcomed as a new member. The group concluded the meeting by working on plastic canvas projects.
Ava Goldman, Route 2, will be the hostess when the group meets at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 12.
Ten members of Eta Zeta chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority met Jan. 28 at the home of Danielle Behar. Krista Harbeson led the opening ritual and Cynthia Wilson gave the secretary's report and Peggy Peters the treasurer's report.
Members made arrangements to meet prior to the Valentine dance Feb. 15 at the Moose Lodge. At the conclusion of the meeting a shower was held for Danielle Behar and her new son Brandon.
Mike and Delia Huff of Houston, Tex., former residents of Ponca City, announce the birth of a daughter, Kathryn Elizabeth, at 8:20 a.m. Jan. 3. She weighed 7-pounds, 11 1/2-ounces and was 20-inches long.
Kathryn has a brother Joshua, 7, and sisters, Kristen, 5, and Kara, 2.
Maternal grandparents are Don and Carl Lou Myers of Ponca City. Paternal grandparents are Robert and Onalea Huff of Bedford, Iowa. Great-grandparents are Lula Sheffer of Bald Knob, Ark. and Paul and Ethel Myers of Garber.
Kenneth Michael McKinney is the name selected by Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Troy McKinney for their 6-pound, 5-ounce baby born Jan. 14 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. The 21-inch long baby was born at 3:20 p.m.
Grandparents are Geraldine Tipton, Kevin Hunt Sr., Jacqueline McKinney, and Kenneth Ray McKinney. Great-grandparents are Ila Stevens, Robert Hunt and Willa Kohen.
Cassie and Doug Thompson of Ponca City announce the birth of their first child, a son, born at 4:11 a.m. Jan. 25 at Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa. The baby weighed 7-pounds, 15-ounces and was 22-inches long. He has been named Zachary Austin John Thompson.
Maternal grandparents are Jim and Terry Sharon of Ponca City and paternal grandparents are Gary and Kay Thompson of Ponca City.
Great-grandparents are Joann Austin of Tulsa, Jim and Anna Sharon of Collinsville, Gwenneth Thompson of Ponca City, and Art Rinehart of Rockport, Tex.
Women's Water Exercise is offered at the Community Pool Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10-11 a.m. According to Deena Marazas, Aquatic director at the YMCA, this is an ongoing exercise class. Enrollment is by the month, walk-in fee or free to YMCA members.
The class is conducted in a heated pool and one does not have to know how to swim to participate says the director. Simple choreographed routines to music are designed to increase muscle strength, tone, endurance and flexibility.
Class segments include warm-up, stretch, upper body and arm toning, cardiovascular, abdominal, and a final cool-down and stretch. Women of any age are welcome. According to instructor Susan Henning, many women enjoy the water because of the lower impact on joints.
Henning noted that water has 12 times the resistance of air. "Class participants who may have had joint injuries can still follow the routines by maintaining a stationery position to do the same exercises with adjustments in speed, resistance or repetitions," she said.
Class routines and music are changed bi-monthly to continue to challenge and encourage participants to commit to an exercise program that can last the rest of their lives. Henning is a certified water fitness instructor through the YMCA, Arthritis Foundation and United States Water Fitness Association. She has over nine years experience teaching and participating in water exercise. For information call the YMCA at 765-5417.
A six-foot submarine sandwich was shared by nine members and one guest when Laureate Phi chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority met recently in the home of Elsie Louise Rosenbaum.
During the business session, the group voted to support International Scholarship, Endowment and Breast Cancer Funds. Dorothy Majors, president, presided at the meeting. Lillian Williams won the hostess gift.
Erma Rusch served as auctioneer for the white elephant sale. Guests at
the meeting was Mary Sims. Announcement was made that Roberta Streeter,
Valentine Queen for the chapter, would be honored at a coed dinner at 6:30
p.m. Feb. 11 at the Ponca City Country Club.
SPORTS
By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
SAND SPRINGS - Ponca City's Wildcat wrestlers had something to prove Thursday night.
Returning to the site of their worst performance of the season, the Sand Springs Tournament, the Cats were determined to make amends.
Afterwards, the Sandites' rating as a top 10 team needed amending as the Wildcats tore to a 44-13 decision.
"We are not as bad a team as we showed in the tournament here two weeks ago," Po-Hi coach Pat Young said after perhaps the Poncans biggest dual win of the season. "We had something to prove and we did."
The Wildcats won nine of the 13 matches, getting a forfeit, three falls and two major decisions to add to the score.
"The kids wrestled real well," Young said, adding he feared that several of his grapplers were trying to come down with the flu or something.
"Now we have to do it again," he said of tonight's final home match for the Cats against Jenks, which has been rated. The Trojans rallied to beat Owasso 35-30 Thursday night.
The dual with the Sandites started out as close as predicted. Through eight matches Ponca City was clinging to a 14-13 lead.
At 152 pounds Wildcat Toby Redleaf went against Sandite Zack Patitz. The Sand Springs wrestler had won a 7-2 decision against Redleaf in the tournament two weeks ago.
The two struggled scorelessly through the first two periods. Redleaf was in the down position to start the third period and there was still no score through the first minute of the final stanza.
Patitz tried to hook up a cradle to gain back points, but Redleaf slipped the hold, got in a head lock and reversed the Sandite to his back. The referee slapped the mat with 43 seconds remaining.
That gave Ponca City a 20-13 lead and opened the door.
Marciano Villarruel scored an escape, a takedown and a near fall in a busy second period at 160 pounds to win 7-3.
With its back against the wall, trailing 23-13 with four matches left, Sand Springs elected to forfeit to Stockton Graves at 171 in hopes of getting bonus points in the final three matches.
Jay Bentley spoiled that strategy at 189, coming from off his back in the first period to gain a third period fall to seal the win. Nick Steichen followed with a 2:34 fall at 215 pounds and heavyweight Cory Burkett held on for a 5-4 decision to complete the late-weights sweep.
The dual was a see-saw battle in the early going.
Phillip Gelino got an escape with 44 seconds remaining in the 102-pound match to edge Mike Copeland, 3-2.
Sand Springs held off late rallies by 112-pounder Josh Bailey and Willie Ivie, at 119, to win 7-5 and 10-9 decisions, taking a 6-3 lead in the team scoring.
Mark Dodgen won a major 11-2 decision over Michael Waltman at 125 to put the Poncans back in front 7-6.
Matt Dodgen won 9-4 at 130 to pad the lead to 10-6.
Sand Springs came back with a decision at 135 and a major at 140 to go in front 13-10, but Darrin Smith took a major 9-1 decision at 145 to set up the strong finish.
The Cats are 6-2 in duals, keeping their bid alive for a 10-2 finish. But they face some tough opposition. Following tonight's battle with Jenks, the Ponca Citians travel to Sapulpa Thursday. The Chieftains are ranked No. 7 in Class 5A and are coming off a 51-21 winner over Stillwater. Ponca City closes out the dual season Feb. 11 at Tulsa Union.
RESULTS
Ponca City 44, Sand Springs 13
103 - Gelino (PC) d. Copeland, 3-2
112 - Skaggs (SS) d. Bailey, 7-5
119 - Adams (SS) d. Ivie, 10-9
125 - Dodgen (PC) md. Waltman, 11-2
130 - Dodgen (PC) d. Mckay, 9-4
135 - Jackson (SS) d. Scott, 5-2
140 - Feathers (SS) md. Beck, 14-6
145 - Smith (PC) md. Criner, 9-1
152 - Redleaf (PC) p. Patitz, 5:18
160 - Villarruel (PC) d. Zickefoose, 7-3
171 - Graves (PC) fft.
189 - Bentley (PC) p. Johnson, 5:34
215 - Steichen (PC) p. Smith, 2:34
Hwt - Burkett (PC) d. Sutherland, 5-4
Mat Stats
Takedowns - Ponca City 16, Sand Springs 8. Escapes - Ponca City 5, Sand Springs 6. Reverses - Ponca City 10, Sand Springs 6, Penalty Points - Ponca City 2, Sand Springs 6. 2-Near Falls - Ponca City 3, Sand Springs 1. 3-Near Falls - Ponca City 5, Sand Springs 6
Forfeits - Ponca City 1, Sand Springs 0. Falls - Ponca City 3, Sand Springs 0, Major Decisions - Ponca City 2, Sand Springs 1. Decisions - Ponca City 4, Sand Springs 3.
Lady Mavs Roll; NOC Men Beaten
SHAWNEE - Northern Oklahoma's Lady Mavericks continue to streak along but things are not so rosy for the NOC men.
Thursday night at St. Gregory's, the Northern women derailed the Lady Cavaliers 73-55 while the Mavericks were beaten by eight points, 84-76, in the Bi-State West matchup.
In the women's game, Northern improved to 2-0 in the Bi-State West with the big road win. The Lady Mavs are now 12-8 overall and winners of 11 of their last 13 games after a 1-6 start.
Tulsa sophomore Lynetta Geter continues to dominate. Against St. Gregory's, the 5-11 power forward led NOC with 20 points and 17 rebounds. Another player who had a big game was point guard Brandi McClellan. The Tulsa freshman rang up 15 points, five assists and five steals in 25 minutes off the bench.
Northern led 33-29 at the half and still held only a four-point lead heading into the final seven minutes. But the Lady Mavs took over down the stretch and won going away.
"This was a big win, no doubt," said NOC Lady Mavs head coach Greg Krause. "Geter played great again and Brandi McClellan really played great off the bench. She was our player of the game."
Also scoring for Northern were T.J. Humphries with 11 points, Michelle Brown, 8; Sherry Butts, 8; Mandy Perkins, 6; Jennifer Whittet, 3; and Jill Kliewer, 2.
In the men's game, the Mavericks got off to a poor start and trailed St. Gregory's 41-28 at the half.
"Our first five possessions we had easy scoring opportunities but either dropped the ball or hit the bottom of the rim," said men's coach Mick Weiberg. "And we scored just once in our first eight possessions. It's just a struggle right now for us. We just can't seem to put it all together."
Northern rallied to get within three points midway through the second half but couldn't maintain the comeback and slipped back at the end.
Mark Passley led Northern with 22 points. Fellow sophomore guards Blake Sonne and Bryan Stevens also reached double figures with 19 and 11 points, respectively. DeShawn Denson scored 9 points, Kyle Dean 8 and Joe Patmon 7.
"We had every opportunity in the world to win this game," said Weiberg. "But we got zero out of our big guy's inside. And that's an area we expected to get some production. But we didn't."
Northern's ladies host Crowder Saturday at 6 p.m. and then both the men and women host Bi-State West rival Seminole Monday in Foster-Piper Fieldhouse.
Team Night - The Northern Oklahoma College Lady Mavericks' game against Crowder College Saturday has been designated as "Team Night." Any youth, junior high or high school basketball team attending the game as a group will be admitted free to the game, according to Lady Mav head coach Greg Krause.
Tip-off time for the women's only game is 6 p.m. in Foster-Piper Fieldhouse.
Po-Hi's swimmers finished their dual and home seasons with a strong showing against the Jenks JV teams at the Community Pool Thursday.
The Wildcats and Lady Cats, with a lengthy list of state qualifiers, now can prepare for the Frontier Conference meet in Jenks on Feb. 15 and the State Championships at Oklahoma Christian College Feb. 28-March 1.
The Wildcats won their third dual of the season Thursday, topping the Jenks JV 90-69 while the Lady Cats made a strong run before losing 91-83 to the larger team.
Rory Peterson won the 200-meter freestyle in 2:11.58 and the 500 freestyle in 5:41.53. Chris Kana was a double winner in the 100 butterfly (1:10.89) and the 100 back stroke (1:13.59). Greg Dunham won both the 200 individual medley (2:33.40, one second off the state qualifying time) and the 100 breast stroke (1:19.88).
Senior Jared Abramian finished his Community Pool career with firsts in the 50 free (27.65) and 100 free (1:01.96).
Mike Grubb took first in the diving.
The team of Kana, Durham, Peterson and Abramian won the 200 medley relay in 2:09.36. Peterson, D.J. Nuzum, Abramian and Dunham won the 400 free relay in 4:20.06.
Nuzum was just .8 of a second off the state qualifying time in the 500 freestyle in 6:03.88.
The other senior on the team is Nate McReynolds.
Melissa Alcantra was a double winner for the Lady Cats, finishing the 50-meter freestyle in 32.58 and the 100 free in 1:12.11. Megan Tomek won both the 200 individual medley (2:42.02) and the 500 free (in the state qualifying time of 6:37.05). Senior Becky Hauser won the 200 free (2:28.29).
Senior Pam Cicante hit the state qualifying points of 180 in finishing second in the diving. She needs one more 180-point performance to reach the state diving championship.
Hauser, Tomek, Alcantra and Brandi Sparks won the 200 freestyle relay in 2:09.61 and the 400 free relay in 4:51.72.
Ponca City's Wildcat sophomores rallied in overtime to beat the Frontier JVs 61-57 Thursday, reversing the score by which they lost to the Mustangs earlier.
The nip-and-tuck game came down to the final minute as Frontier hit a free throw to tie the score at 51 and the Poncans couldn't get off a final shot.
"In the overtime, Frontier got the tip but we got a steal and scored the first two baskets to take control." said coach Ron Arthur.
Paul Broome and Brian Connelly led the sophomores with 15 and 13 points. Scott Crabtree and Tom Engle each had 9, Brian Geubelle 6, Craig Thilstead 5, Michael Galbert 2 and Jeremiah Payne 2.
Ponca City's sophomore girls basketballers enjoyed the addition of varsity starter Desiree Cries For Ribs Thursday in their game against the Frontier JV. Cries For Rib struck for 12 points in limited action and the Ponca Citians won 53-28.
Ponca City led 10-4 after one and 2809 at halftime.
Also scoring for Ponca City were Tia Williams, 10; RaeShauna Anderson, 9; Emily Smith, 8; Gina Hile, 7; Shari Winters, 4; Romi Foreman, 2; Aleena Ames, 1.
"The girls played real well," said coach Brad Larimer. "This is the best sophomore game we've played."
The sophs next play Monday at home against Enid.
Ninth JV Boys
Both Ponca City ninth grade JV teams absorbed tough two-point losses Thursday in the first round of the Blackwell JV Tournament.
The JV Red team, down by 11 points with three minutes remaining, stormed back to tie the score at 55 on a three-point shot by Arthur Urioste with just 9 seconds left.
However, Enid Longfellow beat the clock back up the court to get off the winner to take a 57-55 decision.
"This was a great ball game," coach Keith Chronister. "Everyone who plays basketball can learn a lesson from these kids. They've been waiting a long time to get their chance to play and they took advantage of it Thursday."
Urioste paced the Poncans with 21 points while Michael Williams had 16. Balah Akha had 6 points and Paul Nicholson 3.
The Ponca City Red team also rallied in the fourth quarter, trying to wipe out a 27-17 halftime deficit, only to lose 42-40 to Tonkawa.
Lyle Lindsey had 12 points, Barry Gehab 7, Fred Scholey 6, Jason Beguin 6, Derek Schneider 4, Gregg Dewberry 3 and Jacob Daniel 2.
The Blues were to play the Stillwater "B" team at noon today while the Reds went against Newkirk this afternoon.
Ninth JV Girls
For the second game in a row, the Ponca City ninth grade JV girls dug themselves an early hole they couldn't escape from, losing 39-29 to Tonkawa.
The Ponca City girls trailed 21-11 halftime.
Gena Olson poured through 20 points while Amanda Cobb had 6, Erin Shaw 2 and Heather Herorde 1.
It was much the same story as the earlier 39-28 loss to Enid Emerson.
"We always have one bad quarter we can't recover from," coach Linda Hughes said. "If the girls learn to put four quarters together they'll win some games."
Olson had 8 points in that game, Stacy Schneeberger 6, Cobb 4, Crystal Baugh 3, Shaw, Herorde and Lecia Newland each had 2.