LOCAL

Manslaughter Charge Filed in Death of Man
Parent Teacher Conference Dates Set Thursday, Friday
Dr. White Outlines School Proposals for Noon Lions
Local Couple Views Eagles as Hobby
Rock and Gem Club Will Meet Tuesday
AmeriCorps Continues Community Building
Swim Culture at Ponca High
Area Calendar

Manslaughter Charge Filed in Death of Man

By MARK GALVIN

News Staff Writer

NEWKIRK — The death of a 66-year-old rural Ponca City man who was ejected from a local bar earlier this month has led to a manslaughter charge against another patron of the bar.

Jimmy Lee Martin, 54, Ponca City, was charged Tuesday in District Court with second-degree manslaughter in connection with the Jan. 5 death of Lonnie D. Thorp following an altercation the previous night at Cookie’s Lounge in the Bois D’Arc community southwest of Ponca City.

Sheriff’s Deputy Ian Ewing’s investigative report filed in District Court said Thorp’s death came after he reportedly was asked to leave the bar after becoming obnoxious and then began purposefully bumping into customers.

Martin then allegedly grasped Thorp in an area of his upper back and escorted Thorp to the front door of the lounge and pushed him out the door, which opens to a covered concrete patio area, the report said.

The case file says Thorp then fell and struck his head on a picnic table and the concrete patio, sustaining severe head injuries. Undersheriff Buddy Thomas said previous reports that Thorp had also sustained a broken neck were not correct.

The unconscious victim was transported by ambulance first to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Ponca City and then was airlifted to Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City, where he died the next day after several hours on a life support system.

After the charge was filed Tuesday, Martin appeared in District Court and posted a $1,000 bond, and was scheduled to return for a formal initial appearance this afternoon.

First Assistant District Attorney Phil Ross said a second-degree manslaughter charge is a felony that carries a maximum sentence of four years in the state penitentiary but the statutes also allow the charge to be treated as a misdemeanor, which carries a maximum sentence of a year in the county jail.

Undersheriff Thomas this morning said the investigation centered “basically on the handling of this individual who was highly intoxicated that led to the injuries which later resulted in his death.

“There are other options for handling an intoxicated person inside a bar, such as calling the sheriff’s office,” he said.

Parent Teacher Conference Dates Set Thursday, Friday

Ponca City Public Schools would like to announce the following parent/teacher conference dates. Please note that most of the schools have scheduled evening times to accommodate working parents. Parents who are unable to attend one of these scheduled dates may contact their school office to make other arrangements.

Garfield Academy — Jan. 21 from 3:40 to 6 p.m. and Jan. 22 from 7:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Liberty Elementary — Jan. 21 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. and Jan. 22 from 8 to 11:30 a.m.

Lincoln Elementary — Jan. 21 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. and Jan. 22 from 8 a.m. to noon.

Roosevelt Elementary — Jan. 21 from 4 to 7 p.m. and Jan. 22 from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Trout Elementary — Jan. 21 from 3:45 to 7:15 p.m. and Jan. 22 from 8 to 11:30 a.m.

Union Elementary — Jan. 21 from 3:15 to 7 p.m. and Jan. 22 from 7:50 to 11:30 a.m.

Washington Elementary — Jan. 21 from 4 to 6:45 p.m. and Jan. 22 from 8 to 11:45 a.m.

Woodlands Elementary — Jan. 21 from 3:45 to 6:45 p.m. and Jan. 22 from 8 to 11:45 a.m.

Middle School — Jan. 21 from 5 to 7:45 p.m. and Jan. 22 from 7:30 to 10:45 a.m.

Mid-High — Jan. 21 from 4 to 8 p.m. and Jan. 22 from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Senior High — Jan. 21 from 5 to 8 p.m. and Jan. 22 from 8 to 11 a.m.

Lincoln Center (Alternative School) — Jan. 21 from 5 to 8 p.m. and Jan. 22 from 8 a.m. to noon.

Dr. White Outlines School Proposals for Noon Lions

An outline of improvements planned in connection with the upcoming school bond election was presented by Supt. Bill White when he spoke at last week’s meeting of the Noon Lions Club.

District 71 voters go to the polls Tuesday, Feb. 9, when school officials are seeking approval of a $9,950,000 bond issue. A 60 percent majority of yes votes is required for passage of the proposal.

All 12 of the district’s schools are scheduled to benefit from the $2.8 million worth of new technology due to be purchased, Dr. White said. Included are computers, wiring and science equipment. Extensive renovation is slated at four schools: Middle School (formerly West Junior High), $3 million; the Mid-High (formerly East Junior High); $2.5 million; Washington Elementary, $800,000, and the former Girls Gym at the Senior High, $500,000.

This is Phase 3 of a building and renovation program adopted by the Board of Education in 1995. Also to be financed by the Feb. 9 bonds is the purchase of five new school buses for $350,000. Phases 1 and 2 were approved in 1995 and 1997. Phase 4, concluding the series, is scheduled for a vote in 2003.

Dr. White pointed out that sales of the bonds at four different times during the eight years were arranged to keep the tax rate down. He said there would be a small tax increase resulting from Phase 3, but the amount figures out to less than nine cents a day for the average home-owner.

Discussing other school plans, the speaker said a full day of kindergarten will be offered next fall, with parents having the option of the longer session for their children or remaining with the present half-day schedule.

Efforts to reduce the student dropout rate include a new program called SHARE, which was started last fall in cooperation with the Pioneer Technology Center. Several of the students enrolled completed work to qualify for high school diplomas in December, Dr. White reported.

The schools have been losing one out of three students who drop out before graduating, most during their sophomore year, White said. Enrollment next fall at the Senior High School is expected to grow to approximately 1,700 when the freshman class joins the 10th, 11th and 12th grades. Total enrollment in Ponca City schools is approximately 5,700.

Local Couple Views Eagles as Hobby

By PATTI PFEIFFER

News Staff Writer

It’s going to be a record year for eagle watching says the “experts” and they should know for they spend six months of the year spying on the graceful birds as they migrate in the local area for the winter.

“Three or four years ago we counted a record 27 eagles in one day,” says Darlene Fowler. “We finally broke that record last weekend when we counted 42 birds here and at Osage Cove.”

According to the Oklahoma Tourism Board, Oklahoma is one of the top 10 states in numbers of the wintering eagles with as many as 1,000 of the birds spending the winter months in the Sooner State.

With binoculars and spotter scope in hand, Fowler and her husband Fred watch, look and listen to the rare fowl as they descend upon the area below Kaw Dam in search of food.

“They migrate down here when the lakes up north become frozen, and they just keep on coming south until the water isn’t frozen any more” explains Fred. “This last cold front that brought all the ice with it really brought the eagles too. It has been an exceptional year for eagle watching because it has been so cold up north.”

From their folding chairs on the dirt road near the Arkansas River, the couple share not only the binoculars but the excitement and joy that comes from watching the eagles in action.

“Oh look there he goes, he’s got a fish,” Fred says with the excitement and enthusiasm, of a child.

“Yea and that other eagle is chasing him,” Darlene adds as she narrates the action that unfolds before their very eyes.

The scenes and sounds of the experience is what keeps the couple coming back for more, year after year, month after month and weekend after weekend.

“Wow, listen! They are really talking today and telling a story,” Darlene says. “It’s so neat to see them hit the water when they’re going for a fish. It’s like something out of National Geographic — something almost sacred.”

For the last eight years Darlene has made eagle watching a hobby and a ritual she has come to treasure. “We’re really lucky here. There are not many places where you can see eagles like this.”

At first Darlene had a pair of binoculars that were “toy-like.” Then a year after her love for eagle watching grew her husband bought her the real thing for Valentine’s Day.

It was several years after Darlene became “addicted” to eagle watching that she was able to convince her husband to join her at her perch below the dam.

“It just took that one time and I was hooked. Now we come together whenever we can,” Fred says with binoculars in hand. “On a good day we will stay here five or six hours.”

In addition to the abundance of eagles it is the sighting of so many young eagles that has really surprised the couple this year.

“There weren’t many eagles at all last year because it was such a mild winter. But look at them now, they are all over the place, and so many young ones too,” Fred says as he points to eight eagles perched in a nearby tree.

It is truly a magnificent sight, watching the America symbol soar so freely overhead, coming close to the shore and then with vicious velocity diving into the waters of the river for a feast. One dive, one fish clenched tightly in his talons, proof that the eagle is the most talented angler of all.

“They are so graceful. This is something so rare, a chance to see something most people won’t have the opportunity to see in their whole lives,” Darlene says.

“It is like the Hope Diamond coming to town and not going to see it,” Fred adds.

And not only will Darlene and Fred join the festivities at the 23rd Annual Eagle Viewing at Kaw Dam this Saturday, they plan on bringing a friend from Europe.

“We have a friend from Sweden that has never seen an eagle and we are going to bring her so she can see an eagle for herself,” Darlene says. “We are showing her the area and wouldn’t dream of not including eagle viewing as part of the ‘tour’ of this area.”

The program for the 1999 Eagle Viewing begins at 10 a.m. with an indoor educational program at the Kaw City Community Center and then proceeds onto an eagle watching caravan near the north side of Kaw Lake.

It ends several hours later on the other side of the lake with refreshments at the Kaw Hydroelectric Plant, an appearance by the Assistant Director of the Bartlesville’s G.M. Sutton Avian Research Center Alan Jenkins and his live American Bald Eagle “Sequoyah” and several presentations on the American Bald Eagle.

A slide presentation, also on the history of the American Bald Eagle, will be given by Mark Howery, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) biologist at the Kaw City Community Center.

In addition, Erich Langer, public outreach coordinator with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will provide information on Oklahoma’s endangered and threatened species at the Kaw Dam.

The annual day-long event is sponsored by the ODWC, the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority, the City of Ponca City, the Kaw Lake Association, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Payne County Audubon Society.

For more information about the eagle viewing event at Kaw Dam, contact Kathy Tippin, Executive Director of the Kaw Lake Association at (580)-762-9494 or 1-888-291-4995 extension 2920.

For a schedule of programs planned at various Oklahoma State Parks throughout the month of March contact Tourism and Recreation Information at 1-800-652-6552 or Ron Stahl at the Oklahoma Parks and Resorts at (405)-522-1381.

For more information regarding the American Bald Eagle contact Jeremy D. Garrett, ODWC Natural Resource Specialist at (405)-521-4616.

Rock and Gem Club Will Meet Tuesday

The Ponca City Rough and Tumbled Rock and Gem Club will meet Tuesday, Jan 26 at 7 p.m. at Albright United Methodist Church.

The program will be “Fluorescent Minerals — Rock Rainbows,” presented by Lee and Lynn Whitebay.

Visitors are welcome to attend.

AmeriCorps Continues Community Building

AmeriCorps, founded in 1994, is one of the three programs of the Corporation for National Service, created by the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993. It recruits Americans of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities, addressing needs in the areas of education, public safety, human needs, and the environment.

All AmeriCorps programs have a common mission — getting things done to help communities. Programs help strengthen communities by bringing together people from all backgrounds to work at the local level.

In exchange for a year or two of service, AmeriCorps members — not employees or workers — receive a living allowance and earn education awards to finance college, graduate school, or vocational training, or to help pay back student loans. Members learn new skills, take on challenging responsibilities, and join a network of people committed to service.

AmeriCorps in Ponca City

AmeriCorps began in Ponca City in September, 1997, because of the collaborative efforts of United Way of Ponca City and its member agencies. During the first year, the United Way/AmeriCorps program, Partners Building a Stronger Tomorrow, exceeded all projections.

Programs begun in 1997 and 1998 include establishing a Family Resource Center for Ponca City schools, extending Girl Scout programs to outlying areas, developing a community center and after-school program for The Salvation Army, securing a teen sexual assault support group for the Domestic Violence Program, and implementing kid’s life-skills Program for Peachtree Landing. Other programs include providing an after-school program for McCord Elementary, extending American Red Cross training programs to area schools, tutoring and mentoring children throughout the community, and recruiting volunteers for the Child Development Center to serve as “special friends” to preschool children. Members contributed 24,252 hours of service, and they reached 4,000 children and 1,190 parents and adults.

Its Second Year in Ponca City

On Sept. l, Partners Building a Stronger Tomorrow began its second year in Ponca City. Full-time members increased from 17 to 21, and the number of sites increased from 9 to 14.

Members currently serving include Chris Barnes, Michael Canaday, David Deken, Jesse Freeman, Debbie Greenhagen, Emily Greenhagen, April Harman, Shelley Heuett, Dianne Jenkins, Renee Lee, Cynthia Linthicum, Tara Moates, Sandy Morris, Oney Roy, Linda Sherrill, Jill Smith, Deanna Taglialatela, Cassie Thompson, Vickie Ward, and Terri Wehr.

The 14 sites include Attucks Community Center, Bluestem Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts of America, Child Development Center, Domestic Violence Program, McCord Elementary, Northern Oklahoma Youth Services, Peachtree Landing, Pioneer Technology Center, Ponca City Police Department, Ponca City Schools, ProTeens, The Salvation Army, and the YMCA. AmeriCorps is designed to address the needs of at-risk and underserved youth and families within the communities of Kay County, northern Noble County, and western Osage County.

AmeriCorps members receive training both locally and through the Oklahoma Community Service Commission. A Team Oklahoma Conference was held in Oklahoma City Nov. 16 and 17.

This fall, AmeriCorps participated in several projects for Make A Difference Day at the Attucks Community Center, in the West Side Community, and at the Northern Oklahoma Youth Shelter. They also assisted the Ponca City Fire Prevention Council and Ponca City Fire Department during Fire Prevention Week by judging student escape plans, attending assemblies, and participating in the final celebration at Golden Corral.

Members served as hosts at the Ponca City Recycling Center open house during the week of Nov. 16 to celebrate America Recycles Day.

They also served refreshments to children during the Grand Central Station open house in November, following the Civic Center Tree-Lighting.

“Our AmeriCorps program is touching the lives of children and parents in our community. Each individual agency affiliated with this program is able to reach more children with their various programs because of the extra muscle provided by the AmeriCorps members. The AmeriCorps motto is ‘getting things done’ and the United Way AmeriCorps team is pleased and excited about what they are getting done in their own backyard,” says Ruslyn Hermanson, program director.

For additional information about AmeriCorps, call Ruslyn Hermanson at 718-0288 or stop by the United Way office at 102 South Fifth Street.

Swim Culture at Ponca High

Swimmers are a unique breed among athletes.

They thrive in a chlorinated environment, spend a good part of their days watching a thick black line pass beneath their eyes, and ponder their fate down to fractions of a second.

So, they have to be a little different.

Swim meets bear exclusive testimony to the tribe that is the swim team. While they share a common language, common goals, and perform strange rituals unknown in other sports, the real question is: Why? Why do swimmers swim?

There are those who say swimming is the ultimate loner sport. Muffled by the water, aware of nothing but the meditative sweep of the second hand, swimmers are mostly alone.

Then again, maybe it’s primal. While all sports are fairly rich in history, the root of swimming goes deep into our biologic past. Spending time in the water links us to our archaic ancestors, and perhaps swimmers answer that reptilian urge to return to the water from whence we came.

Maybe it’s none of the above. Maybe it’s the challenge, or maybe it’s just good fun. These photographs were taken at a recent Po-Hi dual, against Moore, and give a little glimpse at what goes on behind those fogged up windows at the YMCA Community Pool.

Area Calendar

January 20

Cards and Games, 1:30 p.m., Senior Center, 319 West Grand Avenue, Ponca City.

January 23

1999 Eagle Viewing “A Day in Kay County,” 10 a.m., Kaw City Community Center, proceeding to north side of Kaw Lake, ends at Kaw Hydroelectric Plant, 11:30 a.m., with historic presentation and refreshments and more eagle watching south of Kaw Dam.

January 27

Bingo Bash, 1:30 p.m., Senior Center, 319 West Grand Avenue.

January 28

Alzheimer’s Support Group, 7 p.m., Conference Room A, St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Ponca City.

January 29

Crafts, sign up if interested, 1:30 p.m., Senior Center, 319 West Grand Avenue, Ponca City.

Child Development Center Chili Supper, 4:30-7:30 p.m., First Christian Church, North Fifth Street and East Cleveland Avenue, Ponca City, chili (or hot dog), home made bread, dessert and drink, adults $5, children $2.

February 6

Fourth Annual Ronnie Kay Sock Hop to benefit Kay County Council for the Opportunity Center, 8 p.m.-midnight, Elks Lodge, Ponca City, tickets from 765-6782.

February 15

United Ostomy Association, Stillwater-Ponca City Chapter, Speaker James Knight, Insurance and Medicare Issues for Ostomates, 7 p.m., Stillwater Medical Center Board Room.

February 16

Kaw Lake Association Board of Directors, noon, Golden Corral, Ponca City.

February 23

The Ponca Area Chamber Orchestra and the Ponca City Civic Choris combined concert, conducted by Dineo Heilmann and Marie Beyer, 8 p.m., Poncan Theatre, Ponca City.

DEATHS

Marie Young Jensen
Thomas Harbour Snyder
Hazel B. Lake
Janet Yvonne Hale
Raymond L. Pierce
Virginia R. Simmons

Marie Young Jensen

Marie Brant Young Jensen, former Ponca City resident, died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont, Texas. She was 101.

A graveside service is set for Thursday, Jan. 21, at 11 a.m. at the Oddfellows Cemetery in Ponca City. Arrangements are under the direction of Broussard’s Mortuary, Beaumont, Texas.

Marie Brant Young Jensen was born in Longton, Kan. on Nov. 21, 1897. She was married to Everett David Young and was a homemaker. She had lived in Ponca City, Winfield, Kan., and for the past six years in Beaumont, Texas.

Survivors include granddaughters, Karen Reiser and Nancy Hobson, both of Beaumont, Texas, Toni Ann Miller of Perry and Teri Ann Long-Cargbo of Wichita, Kan.; grandsons, J.D. Williams of Beaumont, Texas, Craig Young of Orlando, Fla., Lance Young of Boca Raton, Fla., Lt. Col. Steven Young of Papillion, Neb. and Don Long of Reno, Nev.; 17 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.

Thomas Harbour Snyder

MUSKOGEE — Thomas Harbour Snyder, relative to several persons in the Ponca City area, died Monday, Jan. 17, 1999, in Tulsa. He was 46.

A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, at Greenhill Cemetery in Muskogee. Father Max B. Berry, rector of Grace Episcopal Church of Muskogee will officiate. Arrangements are under the direction of Hayhurst Funeral Home, Broken Arrow.

Thomas Harbour Snyder was born May 27, 1952, in Muskogee. He was the son of William R. and Betty J. (Harbour) Snyder. He was married to the former Ellen Ortwein of Ponca City. He was a member of the Muskogee Grace Episcopal Church.

Survivors include his wife, Ellen (Ortwein) Snyder of Broken Arrow; his father, William R. Snyder of Muskogee; one sister, Belinda Snyder Wilson of Cleveland, Ohio; two nephews and one niece.

Services Pending

Hazel B. Lake

Hazel B. Lake, Ponca City resident, died Wednesday morning Jan. 20, 1999, at the Ponca City Nursing Home. She was 94. Funeral arrangements are pending with Grace Memorial Chapel and will be announced later.

Janet Yvonne Hale

BURBANK — Janet Yvonne Hale, Burbank resident, died Tuesday Jan. 19, 1999 at Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa. She was 78. Survivors include her husband, Hugh, of the home.

Funeral arrangements are pending with Grace Memorial Chapel Ponca City.

Raymond L. Pierce

BLACKWELL — Raymond L. Pierce, Blackwell resident, died early this morning, Jan. 20, 1999, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in Blackwell. He was 76. The funeral will be graveside at 1 p.m. Thursday at Resthaven Memorial Cemetery in Ponca City. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home, Ponca City.

Virginia R. Simmons

NEWKIRK — Virginia Ruth Simmons, longtime Newkirk resident, died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999, at the Ponca City Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was 81. Local survivors include a daughter, Gwenlyn Rippe of Newkirk. Arrangements are pending with Miller-Stahl Funeral Home, Newkirk.

NEWS BRIEFS

Young-at-Heart Dance Set — The Young-at-Heart Dance is held every Thursday at the Elks Lodge, 1301 Bradley from 7 to 10 p.m. Snack and Hillbilly Night is held the first Thursday of each month. Music by Ken Wilson and the Sunshine Playboy Band.

Jueschke Carpet Cleaners. For professional carpet cleaning, call

the professionals. Jueschke Carpet Cleaners. 765-3421. adv.

DAV Auxiliary to Meet — The Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Auxiliary Room of the DAV Building, 401 South Lincoln.

Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential.

Hours: Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. and Thursday, 6-

8 p.m. 700 West Broadway. adv.

Accident — At 4:36 p.m. Tuesday police were informed of an accident in the 2100 block of North Ash Street. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Windshield Chips repaired professionally. Guaranteed and

insurance approved. Ponca Glass, 762-6522, 762-7957. adv.

Accident — An accident in the 2400 block of North Fourteenth Street was reported to police at 5:36 p.m. Tuesday.

Head Country, One half bar-b-q chicken with choice of vegeta-

bles, $3.95, Thursday, 4-? p.m. 1217 East Prospect. 767-8304. adv.

Break-In — At 9:42 p.m. Tuesday a woman in the 1000 block of North Fourteenth Street reported that she had returned home to find that her home had been broken into. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Jim Bowen Construction - Custom homes, room additions and

remodeling. Call 762-3077. adv.

Local Marine in Arabian Gulf — Marine Cpl. Warren A. Thompson, son of Dale E. and Kimberly L. Coons of 430 Fairview, recently arrived on station in the Arabian Gulf with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), embarked aboard the ships of the USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked aboard the ships of the USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group to support the USS Enterprise Battle Group and USS Belleau Wood ARG, which recently participated in Operation Desert Fox, during which U.S. forces attacked military targets in Iraq. Thompson’s unit is an expeditionary intervention force with the ability to rapidly organize for combat operations in virtually any environment. The 1994 graduate of Ponca City Senior High School joined the Marine Corps in May 1996.

Burglary — At 6:31 a.m. Tuesday police were notified of the burglary of two vehicles in the 300 block of South Ash Street. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Court Allen Construction. Concrete and flagstone walkways, patios and yard curbing. Call 765-2720. adv.

Vehicle Burglary — At 7:54 a.m. Tuesday a man in the 100 block of South Lake Street contacted police after he discovered his vehicle had been burglarized.

Braden Packing has reopened

and we still have the best steaks

in town.adv.

Accident — A minor accident in the parking lot in the 2000 block of Thorn Apple Valley Boulevard was reported at 9:06 a.m. Tuesday.

Book House inventory liquidation. All used paper back books

$0.50. Huge discounts on all other. Monday-Saturday, 9-4, 114 N. 3rd. adv.

Car Fire — At 9:58 a.m. Tuesday fire units responded to a report of a car fire in the 3100 block of North Fourteenth Street. The fire was out upon arrival of the units.

Clean Carpet. Top of line equipment. Best trained people.

Quality service. Reasonable prices. Call Floorcraft. 762-8383. adv.

Graffiti — At 12:06 p.m. Tuesday police were notified of graffiti on a building in the 1100 block of East Prospect Avenue.

WWF Royal Rumble coming to Pay Per View Sunday, January

24th at 7:00 p.m. Catch all your favorite WWF superstars battle to the end! Call to order Cable ONE, 762-6684.adv.

Stolen Phone — Police took an auto burglary report at 3:33 p.m. Tuesday which occurred at Crossland Ford, one mile south of Newkirk on U.S. 77. A cellular phone was reportedly stolen.

Being Relocated, or in town for a short time? We have homes

available by the month or longer. All homes are full furnished with appliances, furniture, linens, pots and pans. Inclusive of cable, local phone, and utilities. Please call 580-762-7980 or 580-718-0681. adv.

Arrest — Police arrested an 18-year-old man at 5:43 p.m. Tuesday from the 2600 block of North Fifth Street on a city warrant for failure to pay.

Theft — At 5:56 p.m. Tuesday a woman in the 900 block of South Waverly Street reported the theft of drill guns from her garage. An officer was assigned.

Arrest — A 55-year-old woman was arrested from South Fourth Street and East South Avenue at 9:14 p.m. Tuesday for actual physical control.

Beginning Monday, 1-25-99, at 8:00 a.m., the road crossing Kaw Dam will be closed 24 hours per day through Friday, 1-29-99, at 5:00 p.m. There will be signs and warning flashers at Hiway 60 and at the Corp of Engineers office alerting drivers of the closure. This closing is taking place to install new equipment. Drive carefully! adv.

Building Vandalism — At 6:14 p.m. Tuesday vandalism to a building in the 600 block of Shannon Road was reported.

Attempted Theft — A man in the 300 block of South Lake Street contacted police at 7:28 p.m. Tuesday after someone attempted to steal his vehicle and damaged the ignition in the process. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Arrest — Police arrested an 18-year-old man at 8:55 p.m. Tuesday from the 800 block of North Third Street for two counts of domestic assault and battery.

Stolen Gun — At 10:03 p.m. Tuesday police were notified of the theft of a gun from the 400 block of South Fourteenth Street.

Arrest — At 12:35 a.m. Wednesday a 24-year-old man was arrested from the 300 block of West Hartford Avenue on a city warrant.

Arrest — Police arrested a 19-year-old woman at 3:06 a.m. Wednesday from East Liberty Avenue and North Second Street for driving under the influence, transporting an open container and left of center.

Break-In — At 3:49 a.m. Wednesday police were advised of a break-in at the Citgo, 200 East Highland Avenue, in which beer was stolen. A report was taken.

LIFESTYLES

Kildare FCE Group Installs New Officers
Pope-Sparks Engagement

Kildare FCE Group Installs New Officers

The Kildare FCE Group installed 1999 officers at its recent meeting. The new officers include Karen Overman, president; Helen Janda, vice president; Brenda Schneeberger, secretary; and Melba Irwin, treasurer and public relations chairman.

The meeting was held in the home of Margaret Hoepfinger of Newkirk. Helen Janda, outgoing president, called the meeting to order, and Moni Neville installed the new 1999 FCE officers.

The new president presided over the meeting with 10 members in attendance. The devotional was given by the hostess who read 98 Psalms, and the song “On Top of Spaghetti” was sung.

At the Christmas luncheon and meeting held at Ms. Schneeberger's home, 13 Christmas boxes were decorated and filled with fruit, cookies and candy for people in the community. The group also presented 18 4-H gate signs at county 4-H banquets, and thank you notes for the boxes and signs were read. Additional donations for Christmas included money and baked cookies for the county Christmas Holiday bake sale with proceeds going to the building fund in Blackwell, $100 to the Opportunity Center in Ponca City, and 10 hygiene kits for the Youth Shelter in Ponca City. It was reported that two angel gifts for two small children were purchase.

The 1999 hostesses and lesson leaders were decided and Melba Irwin was nominated for the county Heart of FCE Award. The Jan. 27 meeting will be hosted by Ms. Irvin, and Ms. Janda will be lesson leader.

Pope-Sparks Engagement

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Sherga of Blanchard announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their daughter, Schonda Beth Pope, to Jeremy Todd Sparks, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Sparks of Ponca City.

Ms. Pope, a graduate of Moore High School, is employed as the childhood education director of Eagle Heights Church in Oklahoma City.

Mr. Sparks is a graduate of Ponca City High School and holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of Central Oklahoma. He is employed as a funeral director at Trout Funeral Home. His memberships include the First Baptist Church, Ponca City Kiwanis Club, the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association, and he serves as the vice president of program for the Will Rogers Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

The wedding will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 12, 1999, at Eagle Heights Church, 12000 S. I-44, Oklahoma City.

SPORTS

Perry Nudges Cats
Cats Lose, But Play Well
Lady Cats Need Early Scoring
Cats’ JV Rally Falls Just Short
Sophomores Continuing Win Streak
Junior High Basketball

Perry Nudges Cats

By FRED HILTON

News Sports Editor

There were some of the more exciting matches of the season and for the first time the Po-Hi wrestling team crowned a queen, but in the end, Perry’s strength and Ponca City’s fatigue showed through Tuesday night in Robson Fieldhouse.

The Wildcats, who have been on the mats five of the past eight days, had a good effort against Perry’s No. 1 Class A’s Maroons, but they wound up losing to a top ranked team for the third time this season, 39-21.

Perry piled up five falls in winning eight matches, but the difference probably came in two overtime wins by the Maroons.

“If we had won those overtime matches (at 140 and 152 pounds), we would have been in the thick of this thing,” Ponca City coach Todd Steidley said. “It would have changed the way we would have wrestled in the late matches, we would have wrestled to keep from being pinned instead of going for wins.”

As it was, Perry got falls in the final two weights to pad its win.

But the dual was closer than the final score indicates. In fact, going into the last two matches, the Poncans trailed just 27-21. Turnarounds in the two overtime bouts would have had the Cats leading by that margin.

Trying to counter Perry’s strengths, Steidley did a lot more juggling of his lineup than usual, bouncing several wrestlers up a weight.

“Some of the bouncing around was to give the kids a break from cutting weight,” the coach said. “But most were to try to match up with Perry.”

Phillip Brotherton got the Cats off to a good start with an 11-5 decision at 103 pounds to give the Poncans a 3-0 lead in the team scoring.

However, Perry’s Herbie Polk got a fall at 112 to put the Maroons in front, 6-3, in what was to be a see-saw battle in the early matches,

Steidley made his first moves at that point, inserting Shawn Lee at 119 and moving Josh Bailey to 125. The moves worked as Lee won a major 13-5 decision and Bailey won 11-5 to put Ponca City back in front, 10-6.

But Perry came back with a 7-2 decision at 130 and a 5:00 fall at 135 as the Maroons moved ahead 15-10.

At that critical juncture, up stepped Wildcat Matt Littleton and Maroon Jeff Klinglesmith for the 140-pound match.

The first period was scoreless, but Littleton turned the Maroon to his back in the second period and entered the third period with a 3-1 lead.

Littleton quickly added to his lead with an escape but Klinglesmith got a takedown with just under a minute left to close the gap to 4-3. He let Littleton up to go for the tying takedown and got it with 15 seconds left in regulation.

Klinglesmith got in on a single leg early in the extra period and collected the win with 1:31 remaining.

Michael Osborn got Ponca City back on the scoreboard with a 9-6 decision at 145 pounds to narrow Perry’s lead to 18-13.

At 152 pounds, Blaine Empting went against Tony Kegan of Perry and was caught in a takedown to his back to trail 5-1 after one period. Kegan escaped to start the second period, but Empting took the Maroon to his back late in the period to close the gap to 6-5.

The Wildcat opened the third period with a reverse to go in front 7-5 but Kegan escaped with 31 seconds left to send that match in to overtime. The Maroon got the winning takedown with 50 seconds left in OT.

“In both of those overtime matches we had Perry’s kids on their backs,” Steidley noted. “We have to finish those off and get the falls. That way they can’t come back.”

Perry’s state runner up Justin Stevens got a fall at 160 pounds to boost the Maroon’s lead to 27-13.

But Steidley had moved Kyle Duren up to 160 pounds for his return to the mat for the Wildcats. Duren broke his leg just above the ankle against Broken Arrow back on Dec. 8.

Although slowed by the aching leg, Duren edged out the much heavier Maroon, Eric Edgar, 4-3, on an escape with 30 seconds left in the match.

But Duren’s exuberance after the win cost the Cats a team point.

Toby RedLeaf, moved to 189 pounds, showed he had no problem going at the heavier weight, pinning Matt Votaw in just 46 seconds.

That moved the Poncans back into contention, but Perry’s Jason Hager and David Knecht won falls at 215 pounds and heavyweight to secure the win.

The Wildcats are back in action at home Thursday against Stillwater. That varsity dual will start at 7 p.m.

RESULTS

Perry 39, Ponca City 21

103 — Brotherton (PC) d. Hodge, 11-5

112 — Polk (P) p. Costello, :18

119 — Lee (PC) md Biswell, 13-5

125 — Bailey (PC) d. Goldsberry, 11-5

130 — Atkinson (P) d. Stafford, 7-2

135 — Marlar (P) p Steichen, 5:00

140 — Klinglesmith (P) d. Littleton, 7-5 (OT)

145 — Osborn (PC) d. Bolay, 9-6

152 — Kegan (P) d. Empting , 9-7 (OT)

160 — Stevens (P) p. Schmauch, 1:15

171 — Duren (PC) d. Edgar, 4-3

189 — RedLeaf (PC) p. Votaw, :46

215 — Hager (P) p. Leavitt, 3:16

Hwt — Knecht (P) p. Burns, 3:30

Mat Stats

Takedowns —  Perry 15, Ponca City 12, Escapes — Perry 15, Ponca City 9. Penalty Points Ponca City 2, Perry 1. Reverses — Ponca City 6, Perry 3. 2-Near Falls — Ponca City 2, Perry 0. 3-Near Falls — Ponca City 3, Perry 2

Falls — Perry 5, Ponca City 1. Major Decisions — Ponca City 1, Perry 0. Decisions — Ponca City 4, Perry 3.

Ponca City lost team points for celebration.

Cats Lose, But Play Well

By MATTHEW KOENIG

News Sports Writer

TULSA — While it’s still there, the chip on the Wildcats’ shoulder has suddenly gotten a lot smaller.

Looking to avenge a ridiculous, 100-63 loss last season — in which their foes ran the score up in the final seconds — the Wildcat basketballers came out to play, Tuesday, falling by a respectable score of 66-51 to the indomitable Union Redskins.

“We needed to come in here and play well — and we did,” said Po-Hi head coach Ron Arthur. “There was a little revenge factor. The kids knew we had something to prove.”

The Cats (3-5, 4-7) forced 26 turnovers from the Redskins (5-0, 6-1), shot 38 percent (18-of-49) from 2-point range, took the lead late in the first half, and stabbed to within six points, 50-44, early in the fourth quarter.

The Unionites didn’t actually win the game until knocking down 8-of-10 from the free throw line in the final two minutes. The Cats went 1-of-4 from the field in that same period.

“There was an exchange in the last five minutes where — had we hit a shot — it would have been a big turning point for us,” said Arthur. “But we missed.”

So, while not a full exorcism, the Cats did look nearly the equals of the state-ranked No. 5 Redskins.

Aside from an uninspiring third quarter, the Poncans paced the feared Unionites, leaping out to an 8-4 lead in the opening minutes. The Redskins went on the warpath in the second quarter, however, posting a 10-4 run to go on top by seven, 25-18.

Paul Broome, who finished with 19 points, dragged the Poncans back into the fight by rattling off eight straight points, and the Cats reassumed the lead with 1:20 left in the half, 26-25.

“That was a real good first half, about as well as we’ve played against a good team,” said Arthur.

The Cats trailed 31-26 at halftime. Though Broome buried a 3-point shot to open the second period, the Cats fell behind by as many as 13 in the third quarter, only to nudge back to within 10 to start the fourth, 47-37.

“They went to a zone and we started forcing some shots,” said Arthur. “We tried to slow it down a little bit and work the ball more, look for the open shot. We try not to handcuff ‘em, but we got to where we weren’t making good decisions.”

Down by 12 in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, and in a 7-1 run, Broome got an offensive put-back, Tom Engle nailed 3-of-4 from the line and Jeremiah Payne hit both ends of a 1-and-1 to pull the Cats within six.

After three straight from the Redskins, 5-11 Kris Shores drove in the lane and scored on 6-10 Jack Marlow, but that was as close as the Cats would come.

Broome and Shores both fouled out in the final three minutes.

“It would have been a great victory, regardless of last year,” Arthur concluded. “But we’re making strides. The first step is to be competitive, which we are. Now we have to win. We have to get to where we win games like this, and then we have to get to where we dominate.”

Scott Larrison had 8 points, Engle had 7, Nathan Zimmerman had 6, Brett Skaggs had 5, while Shores, Furnas, and Payne had 2 each. Zimmerman had 11 rebounds.

Jon Shepherd had 24 for the Redskins, while Marlow had 22.

The Cats have a day off before traveling to Wichita, Thursday through Saturday, for the Valley Center Invitational.

Game Notes — The Cats were just 2-of-16 from long range for a 20-of-65 (31 percent) shooting effort; the Redskins were 23-of-55 (42 percent)...the Cats were also outrebounded 44-29, but beat their foes on turnovers, 26 to 17...Broome had 10 points in the second quarter...Engle had four steals...the Cats were 9-of-11 from the free throw line, while the Redskins were 19-of-34...despite the excitement late in the game, the Union fans were strangely silent — compared to Ponca City fans, at least.

Lady Cats Need Early Scoring

By MATTHEW KOENIG

News Sports Writer

TULSA — The Lady Wildcats may lack height. They could probably use an All-state candidate, and they need some accuracy from the field, but what they really want is a first quarter.

Despite an impressive showing in 3-of-4 quarters, and a commendable, 15-point performance from junior Laura Sudbury, the Lady Cats (0-8, 2-9) suffered from early ineffectiveness, Tuesday, falling to the No. 6 ranked Union Lady Redskins, 61-46.

The Poncans got blanked in the first quarter and never recovered. Though they outscored their foes 46-43 for the remainder of the game, an 18-0 deficit proved to be too much to overcome.

“(In the first quarter) we looked like we had never played the game,” said coach Dana Pulley, whose team managed just one, first quarter point against Idabel last week in the Ada Tournament. “We preach and preach about coming out with some aggressiveness, but it doesn’t always work that way.”

After taking just five shots in the first quarter and turning the ball over 10 times, the Lady Cats finally got things going in the second quarter. Sudbury got the Poncans on the board with a baseline jumper, then teamed up with Desiree Cries For Ribs and Jennifer Caughman for an 11-0 run before halftime.

The Lady Redskins (5-0, 9-2) rattled off six straight to end the half, however, taking an ominous, 31-13 lead into the locker room.

“I told the girls they could do one of two things,” said Pulley. “They could hang their head and say ‘oh, poor Ponca,’ or they could come out and play. And I was proud of the way they came out to play.”

After 18 turnovers in the first half, the Lady Cats committed just 10 more to end the game, and overcame the tragic first quarter to post one of their better shooting games of the season. The Lady Cats finished 17-of-46 from the field, for 37 percent. They also out-rebounded the Lady Redskins 30-23.

Though the game was effectively out of reach, the Lady Cats outscored the Unionites 19-14 in the final quarter, including seven from senior Gina Hile. Other than a productive effort from the field, the Lady Cats also went 8-for-8 from the line in that period.

“You have to look at the positives, and keep the girls up, and that was a positive,” said Pulley. “We scored 46 points in three quarters.”

Hile had 7 points, Caughman had 6, Cries For Ribs had 5, Brooke Hines had 4, Jena Birdsong had 3, while Aleena Ames, Alana Smith and Jessica Plagman had 2 each.

The Lady Redskins were led by Andrea Parker, with 12, while Tara Edwards had 7. Fourteen players scored for the Lady Redskins.

After one day off, the Lady Cats will go back into action Thursday through Saturday, in the Jenks Invitational.

Game Notes — The Lady Redskins were 24-of-58 (41 percent) from the field, and had just 15 turnovers...the Lady Cats were 8-of-12 from the line, while Union was 11-of-18.

Cats’ JV Rally Falls Just Short

TULSA — Despite a thrilling comeback attempt in the final five minutes, the Wildcat junior varsity fell to the Tulsa Union JV, Tuesday, 73-65.

The Cats took an early, 9-5 lead but fell behind quickly, trailing by as much as 20, 56-36, late in the third quarter.

Billy Broughton had eight points and Tim Frick added 11 more in the final five minutes to pull the Cats to within three, 66-63. The duo combined for 10-of-13 from the free throw line, and had two steals in that period.

The Redskins, however, pulled away with a 7-2 game-ending run to take the win. The Cats missed 4-of-6 from the line to end the game.

Broughton had 18 points (9 in the 4th quarter) to lead the Cats, while Frick finished with 16, and was 8-of-10 from the line. Jared Brashears had 7, John Able had 6, Josh Pitts and Derek Colvin had 4 each, Jason Beguin and James Anno had 3 each, Thad Cardwell had 2, while Michael Kirby had 2.

The Cats will host Jenks, next Tuesday.

Sophomores Continuing Win Streak

Ponca City’s Wildcat sophomores roared from behind to beat Blackwell 55-49 Monday and keep their second-half winning streak going.

The Poncans trailed 24-18 at halftime but came out sizzling in the third period to close the gap to 34-33 at the end of the period. They outscored Blackwell 23-15 in the fourth quarter with some help from hot free throw shooting.

The Poncans were 12-for-18 from the charity stripe down the stretch.

“We were a little slow getting started,’ coach Jerry Orr said afterwards. “But we picked up the intensity in the second half by pressuring full court. We forced several turnovers in the third and fourth quarters that helped get us back in the game.

“We had great effort from everyone, giving us back-to-back excellent games.”

The Cats got good balance in scoring with eight players in the score book.

Anthony Dewberry paced the sophomores with 12 points while Matt Meyers, Matt Bond and Tim Rathburn all had 9, Billy Struble 8, Kris Upchurch 4, Mark Parsons 2 and Michael Martin 2.

The sophomores are next in action Jan. 28 at Guthrie.

Junior High Basketball

8th girls’ Red 52,

Enid Emerson 28

The 8th grade girls Red team bombed Enid Emerson at the Mid-High, Tuesday, 52-28.

The Reds (8-3) raced to a 16-8 lead in the first quarter, opened it to 27-11 at halftime, and sailed in for the win. The Reds had a great night on the offensive glass, too, grabbing 22 rebounds.

“We wanted to stress offensive rebounding,” said coach Tracy Scott. “I told them if (they didn’t get the rebounds), they’d have to run...so I guess I threatened them, actually. I think the fear of physical pain works.”

Ann Ziegenhain had 13 points, Lauren Cartlidge and Christin Nicks had 8 each, Kristina Huddleson, Ebony Phillips, Pam Snow, Ashley Hendrickson, and Jennifer Stone had 4 each, Lisa Robinson had 2, while Darci Hamrick had 1.

The Reds will travel to Enid Waller, Tuesday.

8th girls’ Blue 31, Blackwell 21

The 8th grade girls’ Blue team surged ahead in the second half to topple Blackwell, 31-21, Tuesday.

After a faltering start, and trailing 14-12 at halftime, the Blues came back with 19 points in the second half to take the win. Blackwell could manage just seven in that period.

Jamie Prado had 8 points, Brittany Cook had 5, Melissa Fore and Laura Sprehe had 4 each, Leah Harris and Kelli Wedd had 3 each, while Jerri Garza and Morgan Meister had 2 each.

The Blues will travel to Enid Emerson, Thursday.

8th boys’ Red JV 48,

Enid Emerson 17

8th boys’ Red 54, Enid Emerson 44

ENID — Despite a scare at the end, the 8th grade boys Red team held on for a 54-44 win over Enid Emerson, Tuesday.

The Reds launched to a 20-9 lead in the first quarter, and took a 31-19 lead at the half. Though they led throughout the game, the Reds found their lead cut to just five, late in the fourth quarter.

“I split our guys into two, 5-man teams so everyone could play, and just switched them out,” said coach John Spore. “(Enid) made a little run on our second team at the end.”

Brad Turvey had 15 points, Nate Macy had 9, Kyle Karnish had 8, Casey McClaskey had 6, Drew Lancaster had 5, Sean Lunsford had 3, Adam Joostin and Justin Evens had 2 each.

The junior varsity Reds prevailed over Emerson’s junior varsity, 48-17.

Jeremy Beguin had 13 points, Jon Keppenich had 9, Matt Miller had 7, Brent Purkaple had 6, Lance Highfill had 5, Patrick Quinn had 4, while Kyle Fox and Josh Culver had 2 each.

The junior varsity will play the 7th grade team on Monday, while the varsity will travel to Enid Waller, Tuesday.

9th girls Red JV 34, Stillwater 22

Pawnee 31, 9th girls Red JV 23

Tonkawa 35, 9th girls Red JV 24

After spliting their ranks in order to cover two seperate engagements, the 9th grade girls’ Red team split a pair last Thursday, falling 31-23 to Pawnee, but winning 34-22 over Stillwater.

The Reds also fell to Tonkawa, 35-24, on Friday.

The Reds came alive in the second quarter against Stillwater, dumping in 13 points while holding their foes to just 3, and took a 19-10 lead at halftime.

“We only had three turnovers, and played a good game, overall,” said coach Alaina Dingus. “Some girls had to play the whole game, and they really came through for us.”

LaToya Smith had 15 points, Amanda Danek had 10, Elizabeth Case had 6, while Diana Grant and Breann Herard had 2 each.

Against host team Pawnee, in the Pawnee tournament, Christy Rutlidge had 7, Nicole Chance had 6, Nikki Sells had 3, while Charnice Alexander and Stephanie Bier had 2 each.

On Friday, traveling back to the Pawnee Tournament, the Reds were thrwarted by Tonkawa, 35-24. Though they went up 4-0 after the first quarter, the Reds were bombed 27-15 in the second half to take the loss.