LOCAL

Significant New Subtleties in Pope’s Message

Significant New Subtleties in Pope’s Message

By RICHARD N. OSTLING

AP Religion Writer

Pope John Paul II does not have a love-hate relationship toward the Western Hemisphere. But it may be a like-dislike attitude, judging from the ‘‘apostolic exhortation’’ to the region he issued in Mexico City.

Though U.S. analysts found nothing particularly surprising in the document, they said it contained significant new subtleties and shadings in John Paul’s policies.

The paper’s 76 sections were papal reflections on themes raised by bishops from North, Central and South America and the Caribbean at a synod in late 1997. The pontiff is expected to repeat these themes during his 30-hour stopover in St. Louis starting midday Tuesday.

Most media attention was given to the pope’s declarations on economic justice, which combined appreciation for the potential of free markets with sharp criticisms of the way they oppress ordinary people if left without moral controls.

John Paul hailed the region’s spreading democracies, but at one point called the New World ‘‘a continent marked by competition and aggressiveness, unbridled consumerism and corruption.’’ In the papal geography, all the lands from northern Canada to southern Chile constitute a single ‘‘continent.’’ But the document was aimed heavily toward Latin America, where 86 percent of the hemisphere’s Roman Catholics live.

The pope’s complex moral assessment of capitalism’s pros and cons had been laid out comprehensively in ‘‘Centesimus Annus,’’ his 1991 encyclical on economics following the collapse of European communism. But that decree needed to state universal principles for nations in many different situations, observed the Rev. Thomas Reese, editor of the Jesuit magazine America. ‘‘This document looks at the concrete situation in the Americas. That’s an advantage.’’

For years, the pope and other Catholics have advocated a ‘‘preferential option for the poor,’’ partly to live down the church’s past entanglement with Latin America’s aristocracy. Reese, among others, was struck by the pope’s statement that love for the poor ‘‘must be preferential, but not exclusive.’’ If the rich and powerful are estranged from the church, John Paul said, they are unlikely to respond to its moral pleas.

The pope’s treatment of capitalism pleased both Margaret Steinfels of Commonweal, a left-leaning Catholic magazine, and the Rev. Richard John Neuhaus, editor of the conservative First Things and a champion of capitalism. But Steinfels said the pope missed the economic benefits of birth control, even avoiding mention of papally approved methods. And she criticized John Paul’s Vatican for squelching Catholics who have advocated radical economic change in Latin America.

Reese thought the pope’s discussion of the debt burden facing developing nations was well-balanced. ‘‘He doesn’t just blame the banks. He blames the irresponsible government officials who borrowed money they had no possibility of repaying, and loans used to enrich individuals instead of developing the country.’’

The Rev. Cecil Robeck, Jr., a Pentecostal historian at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., agreed, saying the pope’s treatment was notably more sophisticated than the call for debt relief from Protestants at last month’s World Council of Churches assembly.

However, Robeck, co-chair of the international Catholic-Pentecostal dialogue, was less pleased with John Paul’s handling of evangelism, the document’s most significant passage on internal church matters. The pope warned that ‘‘the proselytizing activity of the sects and new religious groups in many parts of America is a grave hindrance’’ to the Catholic Church and fails to ‘‘respect’’ people.

Robeck agreed that some soul-hunting is offensive, but said the pope’s indiscriminate use of the term ‘‘sects’’ appeared to lump all evangelicals and Pentecostals with extreme groups.

The Rev. Timothy George, dean of the divinity school at Alabama’s Samford University and a participant in talks between U.S. Catholicism and Southern Baptists, also objected. ‘‘There have been abuses in Latin America on both the Catholic and evangelical sides. The pope speaks about coercion from one side but it’s a two-way street. We should all repudiate this.’’ He said the pope’s support of religious freedom should include evangelistic freedom for non-Catholics.

The pope, who has long championed a ‘‘new evangelization’’ with greater zeal and better methods, analyzed in some detail the growth and success of Catholicism’s competitors. More personalized care for Catholics and better preaching are required, he said, and pastoral strategies that overemphasize material needs may have left people’s ‘‘hunger for God unsatisfied.’’

The Catholic flock, he said, must ‘‘move from a faith of habit, sustained perhaps by social context alone, to a faith which is conscious and personally lived.’’

Richard N. Ostling has frequently written about the papacy during three decades of covering religious affairs.

DEATHS

Marie Rose Black
Donald L. Culp
Kirby M. Roberts Sr.
Robert Dougherty
Curtis Keith Jackson
Elmer E. Smith
William E. Elmore
Philip White

Marie Rose Black

Marie Rose Black, Ponca City resident, died Sunday morning, Jan. 24, 1999, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was 87.

An Indian prayer service will be held Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. at the Trout Funeral Home Chapel. The funeral will be held Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. in the Trout Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Larry Masters, Minister of Music, First Baptist Church, officiating. A committal service will be held at 2:30 p.m., in the Stroud Cemetery, with the Rev. David Jones, pastor of Wood Baptist Church of Choctaw, officiating. Burial is under direction of the Trout Funeral Home.

Born May 3, 1911, in Beggs, she was the daughter of Marion Elmer and Mary Elizabeth (Gorman) Carter. She attended Milfay schools and Central State University.

On Sept. 29, 1930, she was married to Amos Earl Black Jr., in Newkirk. Her husband served as principal chief of the Sac & Fox Tribe until his death on Aug. 26, 1954. The couple lived in the Cushing area for a number of years engaging in farming and ranching. Mrs. Black taught school in the Milfay area and later worked as a social worker with the Department of Human Services in Stillwater retiring in 1976. In the mid-1980’s she moved to Ponca City where she became an active member of the First Baptist Church, singing in the Silvertone Choir and attending the Naomi Sunday School Class. She enjoyed being with her family, traveling, and was interested in Indian cultural events.

Survivors include her son, Amos Earl Black III. of Anadarko; two daughters, Marjorie Ama Black Roane of Lakeville, Minn., and Mary E. Osborn of Ponca City; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Her husband, parents, two brothers and four sisters preceded her in death.

Casket bearers will be David Gene Johnson, Tim Earl Johnson, Samuel Houston Roane Jr., Amos Earl Black IV, Joshua Barkley Black, Gabriel Gram Johnson, and Levi Gene Johnson.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to Oklahoma Baptist Children’s Home, c/o First Baptist Church, 218 South Sixth, Ponca City, OK 74601.

The family will be at the Mary E. Osborn home, 6251 West North Avenue, Ponca City.

Donald L. Culp

Donald L. Culp, longtime Ponca City resident, died Saturday, Jan. 23, 1999, at Edmond Medical Center, Edmond. He was 76.

A graveside service will be held Tuesday, Jan. 26, 1999, at 1 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery with the Rev. Denny G. Hook, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be under the direction of Trout Funeral Home. There will be no viewing at the service, however, friends may call at the funeral home until noon, Tuesday.

Donald L. Culp was born Nov. 4, 1922, in Tonkawa to Ray and Gertrude (Denton) Culp. He grew up in Billings and attended schools there. On May 25, 1944, he married Alta G. Moncrieff in Enid. They established their home in Ponca City in 1958. Mrs. Culp preceded him in death Nov. 24, 1998. Mr. Culp was employed as a grocery salesman for Collins Dietz Morris Wholesale Grocers (later Ben E. Keith Wholesale Grocers) from whom he was retired in 1984. During his career, he also owned and operated Linda Ann’s Costume Jewelry and later owned and operated Don’s R&M Restaurant in Newkirk where he would cook in the evenings and weekends after completing his sales route. Mr. Culp enjoyed cooking and fishing.

He is survived by his daughter Betty A. Culp and adopted daughter Ramona Brown both of Edmond; one niece and one nephew. In addition to his wife and parents, four brothers and sisters preceded him in death.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, P.O. Box 1330, Ponca City, OK 74602.

Kirby M. Roberts Sr.

FAIRFAX — Kirby M. Roberts Sr., longtime Fairfax resident, died Friday night, Jan. 22, 1999 in the Fairfax Memorial Hospital. He was 86.

The funeral is set for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Boscoe Pudhota of Ponca City officiating. Burial will be in the Fairfax Cemetery under the direction of Hunsaker-Wooten Funeral Home, Fairfax.

Kirby M. Roberts Sr., was born Oct. 4, 1912, in Brown Branch, Mo., to Frank and Sue (Clark) Roberts. He moved to Oklahoma in the early 1930s.

He was married to Frances Ellen Tall Chief in 1933 in Fairfax. Frances Roberts preceded him in death on Aug. 20, 1971. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army.

He was married to Fannie Potts in the spring of 1972. Mr. Roberts was a butcher by trade and farmed. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He enjoyed fishing and working with his cattle.

Survivors include his wife, Fannie, of the home; two sons, Gene Roberts Sr. of Fairfax and Kirby Roberts Jr. of Dallas, Texas; a brother, Boyd Roberts of Bradleyville, Mo.; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and one step-grandson. In addition to his first wife and parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters and three brothers.

Casket bearers will be Clyde Moore, Bobby Gray, Jeryl Bevill, Wayne Rhoads, Tom Rhoads and Charles Batchelett. Honorary bearer will be Ronnie Gray.

The family will be at the home of Gene Roberts Sr., to receive friends and family.

Robert Dougherty

JENNINGS, La. — Robert “Bob” Dougherty, former Ponca City resident, died Saturday afternoon, Jan. 23, 1999, at the Jennings, American Legion Hospital in Jennings, La. He was 57.

The funeral was to be held at 2 p.m. today, Jan. 25, at the Jennings United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dick Scott-Welch and the Rev. Jimmie Pyles officiating. Burial was to be in Greenwood Cemetery in Jennings, under the direction of Miguez Funeral Home, Jennings.

Robert “Bob” Dougherty was born in Ponca City and graduated from High School in Sulphur, La., in 1959. Over the years he attended McNeese University and received a BS in zoology in 1973, and his master’s degree in biology in 1982, his master’s in counseling and guidance in 1975 and his Ed.S. in administration and supervision in 1982. He also completed his residency requirements at Louisiana State University for a Ph.D. in vocational education.

He had eight years experience as the student personnel services officer for the Louisiana Technical College, Jefferson Davis Campus and retired as the assistant principal of the Welsh/Roanoke Junior High School. Dougherty was active in the Boy Scouts, receiving the Silver Beaver Award, District Award of Merit, Wood Badge and Scouter’s Key.

He was a member of the Rotary Club, James O. Hall Jennings American Legion Post 19, Square Shooters Dance Club, Jennings United Methodist Church and Men’s Bible Class and past president of the United Methodist Men’s Club. He had also served as a U.S. Army Officer for the Medical Services Corps.

Survivors include his wife, Miriam Moore Dougherty of Roanoke, La.; one daughter, Karen McBride of Camden, La.; one son, Perry Dougherty of Baton Rouge, La.; his mother, Ruby Davis of Lake Charles, La.; one brother, Darrell Dougherty of Orange, Texas; and three grandchildren.

Obituaries

Curtis Keith Jackson

TONKAWA — Curtis Keith Jackson, longtime resident of Tonkawa, passed away Sunday, Jan. 24, 1999, at the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Ponca City. He was 59 years old.

Curtis was born Dec. 11, 1939, in Olustee, Okla., to Geneva (Wilburn) and T.L. Jackson. His grandparents, George and Nora Wilburn were also an important part of his life. Curtis graduated from Blair High School and served two years in the U.S. Marine Corps in Barstow, Calif. He received degrees from Southwestern Oklahoma State College and Oklahoma State University.

On Aug. 31, 1963, he married Nancy White in Altus, and they had two children, Chad Jackson of Overland Park, Kan., and Dr. Katherine Jackson of Montgomery, Ala. Curtis taught at Stigler and Lindsay before moving to Northern Oklahoma College in 1969. At NOC he served as chairman of the business division before becoming Vice-President of Financial Affairs. He had served on the Tonkawa City Council and been a member of the Lions Club and Isaac Walton Leagues. He was past president of the Oklahoma Association of College and University Business Officers. He was a member of the Blair Methodist Church. He enjoyed fishing and spending time with his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy; children Katherine and Chad; and sister, Karen Jackson of Oklahoma City. Curtis was preceded in death by his parents.

The funeral service will be held Tuesday, Jan. 26, 1999, at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Tonkawa with Dr. Brian Kovacs officiating. Interment will be in the Tonkawa IOOF Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of McCafferty-Bolick Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Curtis Jackson Scholarship Fund to help business students pursue their goal for an education, c/o Northern Oklahoma College, 1220 East Grand, Tonkawa, OK 74653.

paid obituary

Elmer E. Smith

Elmer E. Smith, longtime Ponca City resident, died Sunday, Jan. 24, 1999, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. He was 79.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, 1999, at the First Baptist Church chapel with the Rev. Hance Dilbeck, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Odd Fellows Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Elmer E. Smith was born Jan. 8, 1920, in Okmulgee the son of Claude and Aurie (Hall) Smith. He grew up in Ponca City and received his education in the Ponca City schools, graduating from Ponca City High School. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1945.

On May 2, 1941, he was married to Wanda Rose Hogan in Blackwell. The couple lived in Dallas, Texas for a time, while he was in the service and before returning to Ponca City. Following his discharge he went to work for the Continental Oil Co., in November 1945. He retired as a research technician with Research Services on Feb. 1, 1982. Mr. Smith was a member of the First Baptist Church, the Disciples Sunday School Class, and American Legion Huff-Minor Post 14. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping.

Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Bill Butler of Wewoka; and a son and daughter-in-law, Kenneth E. and Bonnie Smith of Dallas, Texas; one brother, Gene Smith of Kansas City, Mo.; three grandchildren, Lance Butler, Todd Smith and Stephen Smith; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Wanda, on May 5, 1992; his parents; one grandson; and two sisters.

Casket bearers will be Lance Butler, Todd Smith, Stephen Smith, Eldon Baughman, Joe Hogan and Danny Simms.

paid obituary

Services Pending

William E. Elmore

William Ellsworth Elmore, Ponca City resident, died at his home, Saturday, Jan. 23, 1999. He was 61. Arrangements are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Funerals

Wednesday

Philip White

Memorial service to be at 10 a.m. in the chapel at First Baptist church. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home.

NEWS BRIEFS

Lunch Meeting — Cities Service retirees and former employees are reminded of the lunch and meeting scheduled Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., at Furr’s.

Custom Mailboxes, brick or rock. All types of masonry re-

pair. Delaney Masonry (580)762-9991. adv.

Arrest — At 6:55 a.m. Saturday police arrested a 20-year-old man from the 3400 block of North Union Street for driving under the influence and reckless driving.

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 a 23-year-old man at 7:56 a.m. Saturday from Marland Drive and West South Avenue for no driver’s license and no insurance.

Camera Repairs previously at Graham Photo, now at Creative

Photography. Call (580)767-1433. adv.

Vehicle Vandalism — A woman in the 100 block of South Birch Street contacted police at 8:55 a.m. Saturday regarding tires being slashed.

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

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

adv.

Graffiti — At 9:10 a.m. Saturday graffiti on a building in the 1300 block of Princeton Avenue was reported.

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.

Arrest — A 32-year-old old man was arrested at 9:59 a.m. Saturday from 2600 block of North Fourteenth Street for driving under suspension, leaving the scene of a property damage accident and negligent collision after reportedly being involved in a hit-and-run accident at North First Street and Highland Avenue.

Pauline's Every Monday Night Special. Fried Chicken Only- all

white meat. All you can eat, $6.50. For reservations call 765-5460.

adv.

Theft — At 10:16 a.m. Saturday a theft of auto parts was reported at Jay Auto, 1114 North Waverly Street. An officer was assigned and report was taken.

Forged Check — At 12:19 p.m. Saturday a clerk at Wal-Mart, 1101 East Prospect Avenue, reported that a man had attempted to pass a forged check. An officer was assigned.

Auto Burglary — At 8:25 p.m. Saturday police were informed of an auto burglary at the Municipal Airport. A police report was taken.

Arrest — A 20-year-old man was arrested 10 p.m. Saturday from North Fifth Street and East Hartford Avenue on a city warrant for failure to appear and driving under suspension.

Arrest — Police arrested a 37-year-old man from the 600 block of East Broadway Avenue at 10:17 p.m. Saturday for driving under restriction, driving under the influence and improper turn.

Gas Drive-Off — At 10:22 p.m. Saturday a $13.38 gas drive-off was reported at Citgo, 400 East South Avenue.

Juvenile Arrest — A 17-year-old boy was arrested at 10:38 p.m. Saturday from the 1400 block of West Highland Avenue for assault and battery and public intoxication.

Arrests — At 10:40 p.m. Saturday police arrested from the 2000 block of North Fourteenth Street a 23-year-old woman for trespassing and a 24-year-old man on a city warrant for failure to pay.

Arrests — A 21-year-old man was arrested at 11:40 p.m. Saturday from South Eleventh Street and East Otoe Avenue for driving under the influence, no driver’s license, no insurance, expired tag and driving on the wrong side of the road.

Arrest — At 12:20 a.m. Sunday police arrested a 28-year-old man from South Eleventh Street and East Otoe Avenue on a city warrant for failure to appear.

Arrest — Police arrested a 39-year-old man at 2:03 a.m. Sunday from the 2200 block of North Waverly Street of driving under the influence and left of center.

Arrest — A 42-year-old man was arrested from West Hartford Avenue and North Waverly Street at 2:10 a.m. Sunday for driving while intoxicated and left of center.

Arrest — At 3:41 a.m. Sunday a 19-year-old man was arrested from the 700 block of North Seventh Street for driving under the influence and speeding.

Stolen Bike — A woman in the 400 block of South Ninth Street reported the theft of a bike at 8:55 a.m. Sunday.

Grass Fire — Fire units responded to a report of a grass fire at 10:45 a.m. Sunday north of Hubbard Road on Pecan Road. The fire was extinguished.

Accident — At 10:45 a.m. Sunday an accident two miles north of Hubbard Road on U.S. 77 was reported to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Door Damage — At 4:10 a.m. Monday police were informed that a resident’s door in the 1000 block of North First Street was kicked in.

Arrest — A 36-year-old man was arrested at 2:07 a.m. Monday from North Fourteenth Street and Overbrook Avenue for driving under the influence, transporting an open container, left of center, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Arrest — A 35-year-old woman was arrested at 12:49 p.m. Sunday from the police station for domestic assault and battery.

Vehicle Vandalism — At 1:10 p.m. Sunday a man in the 10 block of Donner Place reported vandalism to his vehicle.

Burglary — A man in the 1600 block of North Woodlands reported a burglary from his pickup truck at 1:23 p.m. Sunday.

Arrest — A 28-year-old woman was arrested at 3:11 p.m. Sunday at the police station for intentionally giving false information on an accident.

Arrest — At 2:57 p.m. Sunday police arrested a 28-year-old man from Marland Drive and South Palm Street for driving under suspension and no seat belt.

Arrest — Police arrested a 36-year-old woman at 4:10 p.m. Sunday from the 900 block of South Fourth Street for petit larceny.

Arrest — At 4:37 p.m. Sunday a 29-year-old woman was arrested for intentionally giving false information.

Vehicle Vandalism — A woman called police at 5:52 p.m. Sunday to report that the tires on her vehicle had been slashed in the 500 block of South Lincoln Street.

Juvenile Arrest — A 16-year-old girl was arrested at 6:23 p.m. Sunday from Buy For Less, 2405 North Fourteenth Street, on three counts of counterfeit check and for false identification.

Hit & Run — At 6:42 p.m. Sunday police were informed of a hit and run accident in the 600 block of North First Street.

Arrest — A 21-year-old man was arrested from the 400 block of West Hazel Avenue at 10:11 p.m. Sunday on a Washington County warrant for failure to appear.

Arrest — Police arrested a 30-year-old man at 11:24 p.m. Sunday from the 600 block South Third Street for possession of marijuana and public intoxication.

Stolen Bike — At 12:35 p.m. Sunday police were informed of a bike stolen from South Fourth Street and East South Avenue.

Drink Theft — At 11:38 p.m. Sunday police were advised of the theft of fountain drink from the Triple T, 720 South Waverly Street.

LIFESTYLES

Alpha Gamma Mother’s Club Members Meet
Little News
National VFW Auxiliary Head To Visit State

Alpha Gamma Mother’s Club Members Meet

Members of the Alpha Gamma Mother’s Club met Jan. 11 in the home of Leslie Hoover. Karen Yost served as co-hostess with nine members answering roll call. Billie Stepken gave the devotional from the book “Day by Day” by Billy Graham.

Announcement was made that Nov. 6 had been selected as the date for the Arts and Crafts show at Unity Gym.

A report was given on the December activities with a meeting Dec. 7 when members made paper sack angels as gifts for the organization’s state officers. The angels were presented during a Christmas party Dec. 14 at the home of Pat Koehler.

Officers for the Oklahoma Association of Mothers Clubs attending from Hennessey were Kay Miller, chaplain, and Fran Rothmire, historian. Present from Fairview were Shirley Dowers, treasurer; Ann Kehn, chairman of the nominating committee; Gerry Moneypenney, parliamentarian. Present from Ponca City were Tammy Beier, member of the nominating committee; Martha Long, first vice president; and Karen Yost, second vice president.

Following dinner a silent auction was held for craft items created and brought by members. The program was a discussion of different types of angel projects to be made during the year. Karen Yost won the friendship basket brought by Teresa Doerksen. The next meeting of the local group will be Jan. 25 at the home of Pat Koehler.

Little News

John and Judy (Ross) Taylor of Shawnee announce the birth of a son Jan. 8, 1999, at the Shawnee Regional Medical Center. Rhett William Taylor weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces, and was 19 1/2 inches long. The baby has a brother, Ross, 5.

Maternal grandparents are Ivan and Violet Ross of Ponca City, and paternal grandparents are Thelma Taylor of Okemah, and the late Walter Taylor.

National VFW Auxiliary Head To Visit State

Welcoming Jane Bingham, national president of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, will be the Red Coats, the official greeting committee of the Lawton Chamber of Commerce; Cecil Powell, mayor of Lawton; John Dilbeck Blanchard, state commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Oklahoma; Guila Shields, state president of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary; and a delegation of state officers and members from across the state, including representatives of the Ponca City VFW and Auxiliary.

Bingham, from Bridport, Vt., will arrive at the Lawton Municipal Airport Friday, Feb. 5, for a two-day visit to Oklahoma.

Saturday activities begin with a 11 a.m. meeting of District 14 VFW and Auxiliary at the Fort Sill VFW, 1001 SW A Avenue in Lawton. Oklahoma legislators, the commanding general at Fort Sill and Mayor Powell have been invited to greet Bingham, read proclamations and present other honors. A noon lunch will proceed the afternoon separate business sessions, followed by a reception to allow members to visit with Bingham.

During her term of office, Bingham is encouraging members to raise 3 million dollars for the Auxiliary Cancer Aid Research Fund.

SPORTS

Monday Evening Quarterback
Schneeberger Wins NWR Championship
8th Grade Basketball

Monday Evening Quarterback

Ponca City and Po-Hi are getting another chance to show off their quality facilities for sporting events.

Robson Fieldhouse will the site of Class A regional and zone basketball tournaments next month, drawing players and fans from north central and northwest Oklahoma.

It will be the first time post season basketball has been held here since the late 1980’s when the Wildcats held a Class 5A regional tournament. At that time regional sites were selected based on records of teams involved.

Po-Hi is one of only three high schools which will host playoff tournaments in Class A. The others are Sand Springs and Woodward. All of the other sites are at colleges.

“We have been asked in the past to host these tournaments,” Po-Hi Athletic Director Rusty Benson said. “But for one reason or another — mainly because of conflicts in scheduling — we haven’t until now.”

Even this time around, Po-Hi had to give up one day of the regional tournament because of a conflict with a sophomore basketball game here Feb. 18.

Ponca City fans will be also be divided since the Wildcat wrestlers will in the regional tournament that weekend while the Ponca City basketball teams are scheduled to be in regional action the weekend of the zone tournament (Feb. 25-27).

“But this is an opportunity to let other people see the quality of our facilities,” Benson said. “And it should be good for business.”

Eight teams — boys and girls — will be here for the regional tournament Feb. 19-20. There will be four games each day. Eight teams will also be here for the three days of the zone tournament.

Po-Hi has not had the opportunity to host many district, regional, etc. tournaments because the Tulsa-area and Oklahoma City-area teams have been reluctant to make the trip when they could talk the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association into closer sites.

Nonetheless, Ponca City has managed to draw some post season events and plans are in the works for even more.

The Po-Hi track teams will have a brand new track to run on this season and coach Terry Henderson is hopeful it will help draw teams here from across the area and state.

The thinclads will host the Wildcat invitational on March 6 and Henderson hopes to have 12 to 15 large schools and about the same number of small schools attend.

The Poncans will also host the Wildcat Relays on April 6 with several major track teams invited.

In addition, Po-Hi will host the Frontier Conference track meet on May 1.

“And we have applied for the 4A-5A regional track meet,” Henderson said.

Ponca City will also host a pair of major high school golf tournaments this spring.

The annual Ponca City Invitational is set for March 8 at the Ponca City Country Club and the Class 5-A regional will be held May 3 at Lew Wentz Memorial Golf Course

Po-Hi cross country coach Kelly Chaney was instrumental in getting some of the major teams in that sport to come here for the Ponca City Invitational. Three years ago, Tulsa area coaches liked the course at Lake Ponca enough to send the Frontier Conference meet here.

Chaney has put in for the conference meet once again next September.

New wrestling coach Todd Steidley also has plans for Robson Fieldhouse in the near future.

Steidley plans to revive the Big Four (Ponca City, Blackwell, Perry and Stillwater) Tournament here.

“I would like to make it the Big Four-Plus Four Tournament,’ Steidley said. “That would be the Big Four teams plus four smaller school teams we’d invite.

“Blackwell and Perry both have good programs going, Stillwater is better than it has been in the recent past and hopefully we’ll be back in the thick of the Class 5A powers.

“It should be a great tournament. It’s going to happen, I’ve talked to the coaches of the other teams and they’re enthusiastic about it. We’ll sit down after the season and see when we can have it. Right now it looks like we’d hold it just before the Christmas Break.”

Of course, all these extra activities need help from volunteers to make it work.

Volunteers have been instrumental in the golf, cross county, etc., activities that have been held here in the past.

To that point, Henderson is looking to for a track boosters’ club to back the blossoming track program.

Still, it looks like the line from the movie “Field of Dreams,” holds true.

“If you build it, they will come.”

———

By-The-Way — Coach Steidley was under the weather just prior to the Wildcat’s dual with the Stillwater Pioneers last Thursday.

Assistant coaches Jim Sharon and Karl Lines took over the practices for a couple of days and evidently did something right, the Cats won a close battle with the Pioneers.

“It shows what great assistants, I’ve got,” Steidley said. “And what a great situation I’m in.”

———

Po-Hi wrestler Toby RedLeaf’s 10-2 win over Stillwater’s Eric Krehbiel in the 189-pound match Thursday was a measure of revenge for the Poncan. Krehbiel had beaten RedLeaf in the regional tournament last season.

“It just shows how far Toby has come this year,” coach Steidley said.

Schneeberger Wins NWR Championship

DENVER (AP) — Ponca City calf roper Jerome Schneeberger took first place at the National Western Rodeo, Sunday. Schneeberger won both the final round and the average thanks in part to a time of 7.7 seconds on Sunday. His total time of 25.8 earned him $8,030.79.

Eric Mouton, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association 1997 world champion bareback rider, scored 86 points in the final go-round and rocketing from 10th place to first.

The Weatherford cowboy rode Uptown Alley in the performance that brought his total score to 241 and his winnings in the annual Denver rodeo to $8,216.

The high money winner was Justin Blaine Davis of Sidney, Mont., who won the steer wrestling title handily. Davis placed on all three of the steers that he brought to the ground and takes home $15,059.

‘‘What a way to start the year,’’ Davis said of his earnings. ‘‘I drew some good steers and things went my way.’’

Rodeo Hall of Fame inductees Jake Barnes and Clay O’Brien Cooper again showed the style that has earned the team-roping duo seven world titles, and each won checks totalling $7,252. Barnes, of Cave Creek, Ariz., and Cooper, of Bandera, Texas, performed the heading and heeling in 20.4 seconds on three runs.

Rod Hay totaled 244 points on three head to win $13,466 in the saddle bronc competition. Hay, of Wildwood, S.D., rode Rio Bravo in the final round to secure the title.

Canadian Monica Wilson from Cardston, Alberta and her horse ran the cloverleaf pattern three times in a total of 45.48 seconds in barrel racing. The duo earned $7,376.32 here.

Pittsburg, Texas cowboy Royd Doyal took home the bull riding title. Recovering from injuries to become one of only three men to cover all three of his bulls, his total score of 236 netted him $7,660.

The Denver all-around title went to Kurt Goulding of Duncan, who won a total of $5,906 competing in both steer wrestling and calf roping here.

Overall attendance at the 1999 National Western Stock Show was 606,628, with rodeo attendance totaling 154,535.

8th Grade Basketball

8th grade girls Blue 51, Enid Emerson 18

ENID — The 8th grade girls’ Blue team notched yet another impressive victory over Enid Emerson, 51-18, Thursday.

The Blues raced to an 18-6 halftime lead, held Enid to just one, third quarter point, and sailed in for the win. Melissa Fore had 11 points to lead the Lady Cougars, who shot 4-of-6 from 3-point range.

“All but one of the girls scored,” said coach Calvin English. “We played well the entire game, especially the second and third quarters. We might have came out a little too overconfident, though.”

Laura Sprehe had 8, Morgan Meister 6, Jamie Prado 4, Brittany Cook, Leah Harris and Kelli Wedd had 3 each, Halli Martin had 2, while Sarah Adams had 1.

The Blues are now 11-4 on the year, and stand alone atop the Northern Oklahoma Junior High Conference, at 5-0. Starting Tuesday, the Blues now face consecutive games with 4-1 Stillwater, which should determine the league champion.