LOCAL

Legislature Kicks Off Today
Ponca City, Area Voters Decide School Board Matters Tomorrow
Poncan Theatre To Screen Triumphant Football Film
More Oklahoma Youth Using Tobacco Products

Legislature Kicks Off Today

By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE

News Staff Writer

With the Second Regular Session of the 47th session of the Oklahoma Legislature kicking off today at noon, Rep. Jim Newport, R-Ponca City, and Sen. Paul Muegge, D-Tonkawa, gave The Ponca City News their views in advance of what they expect to be hot issues.

These predictions and observations were provided prior to Gov. Frank Keating’s state-of-the-state address.

Newport and the House of Representatives will have their work cut out for them with 1,050 substantive bills and resolutions, plus 95 appropriations measures on tap for this session.

Under the ninth year of the leadership of Speaker Loyd Benson,the House committees have been meeting for two examine the House bills and resolutions.

A new House rule limits state representatives to eight measures per legislative session. But there are exemptions from the limitations and these are billings pertaining to termination or recreation of state agencies, legislative and congressional reapportionment proposals.

Meanwhile, Muegge and his co-harts will be studying 975 bills and five joint resolutions.

Rep. Jim Newport

“As this is an election year, I suspect swords will rattle and political grandstanding will be more prevalent than usual. Perhaps I just recognize it more now that I’m in my second term serving in the House of Representatives. So far this seems to be the session of flags, tags, tobacco and tattoos,” Newport said.

The Ponca Citian continued, “There are certainly some that will wish to repeal much of what was accomplished. It is my personal belief that teacher pay raises will be a prevalent issue to be dealt with, whether the teachers rally at the Capitol or not. I have always been a supporter of Oklahoma education and believe that our teachers need to be paid a fair market wage.

“I am sure that the teachers’ union will want to rally at the Capitol regardless of the forthcoming promised pay raise, if for no other reason than to claim success after the fact.”

He continued, “At present, it seems the only unanswered questions are how much of a pay raise will teachers receive, and will all teachers be guaranteed a pay raise across the board equally, or will the teachers of some rigorous disciplines be worth a greater pay raise than some of the lesser demanding subjects? It is difficult to speculate without the final version of the bill in front of us.”

Newport added, “Most Oklahomans do not realize that our state has approximately twenty-one teaching universities. These schools produce roughly 2,100 new teachers each year, while there are only about five hundred new teaching positions available.

“I have also heard the Governor's cabinet challenged local school boards to see if their administrative costs are in line with the national averages. The Office of State Finance contends Oklahoma's administrative costs appear to be high. Last year the state of Oklahoma met the need of underpaid, under equipped State Highway Patrolmen and I believe we will do the same with teachers this year.

“Again I want to see the draft of the final legislation, but I will be overall supportive of teacher raises.”

Newport also said, “The promise of a reduction of car tags was shattered last year only to find out that it would only help a select few who purchased new vehicles every year. For the majority of us who drive our vehicles longer, it was found that it would not help much, if any at all, and in some cases might actually cost us more.

“The bill turned out to be a bad car tag reduction for the citizens of the state of Oklahoma, which resulted in the Governor's veto. I hear rumblings of a new car tag bill this year. I hope it will be a broad based, across the board benefit for all Oklahomans. It should be a simple, easy to understand, flat rate tag, in my opinion.”

The Representative said, “It seems there are as many different opinions on how to spend the tobacco settlement money as there are people you ask. First, there is the issue of whether to spend it now and get the full value of today's dollar or put it away and use the future revenue stream for other state items. I believe there are good arguments on both sides, and I am at present undecided.

“However, there seems to be a myriad of hands out hoping for a piece of the tobacco settlement pie. I hope good sense will be used in the disbursement of these monies and that an amount will be designated for the prevention of tobacco use among our children.

“I have introduced House Bill 2558, which is intended to prevent directly marketing tobacco products literally in front of our children, by mandating that all commercially displayed tobacco products must be behind the sales counter or displayed at a height of not less than 48 inches.

“Hopefully this will help curtail the constant barrage of visual marketing that seems to be prevalently aimed towards our children, as well as to discourage the easy ability to shoplift tobacco products and thereby get addicted.”

He continued, “I have introduced a bill this session to allow for the voluntary purchase of a license plate dedicated towards education.

“Further, another bill I have introduced is the Oklahoma Tourism Development Act. It basically will provide a carry over tax incentive for any tourism related industry relocating in the state of Oklahoma with a minimum level of investment. This should be a win/win situation. It encourages new development in the way of the tourism and entertainment industry while providing more tax base and jobs for our state.”

Newport concluded, “Lastly, I have seen legislation coming from the Senate side to legalize tattoos. I didn’t know we had a tattoo crisis, but perhaps we do.

“Speaking of crisis, it appears that the threat of taking the word ‘Oklahoma’ off of our state flag has for at lest now been stymied, thanks in large part to a petition from the citizens of Ponca City.”

Newport concluded, “This will be another session where some really impractical ideas get pushed to the top, and some really great things for the state of Oklahoma will be swept under the rug. I see my task as staying focused on the everyday issues and lives of the constituents of Ponca City and to represent them in the best way possible throughout this process. Our State is worth it.”

Sen. Paul Muegge

“We’re going to have to deal with the education issues and salary increases for teachers. This is going to be the headliner when we start the session,” Muegge said. “Also I hope they don’t forget the public employees pay increase too. I think that is going to take a lot of time and effort to make the budget work.”

Muegge is chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Development committees and vice chair of Energy.

“I’ve got several bills that are coming up that are going to be significantm,” he said. “One of the things they are telling us in using our modern day agriculture is we are going to have to be prepared, before we even put a seed in the ground, to have a contract to sell whatever the commodity is.”

The senator added, “So what I am going to do is introduce an agriculture producers contract law and it will provide legal standing for agriculture producers in contracting for sales of their commodities to whoever buys them in the market place.

“This hasn’t been the case. There is nothing in regular contract law that really addresses agriculture producers. So it is really going to be a new way of looking at agriculture.”

Muegge added, “Another bill, which comes from some of the people in the northeast part of the state, [deals with] their water concerns. It is going to be the Heritage Trust Act. What it is going to do is put together the mechanism to create a public trust so there can be some payment to land owners, such as farmers.

“What [the farmer] will do is leave that land in the natural state or in the production that it is in. In other words, it will slow down the development of some of our agricultural land. The intent is to protect our natural resources and continue productivity of our farmland around our watershed areas that need protecting.”

Muegge is also going to have a Bill on concentrated feeding as part of the Hog Bill. He said, “What it is going to do is to require the hog industry to look in the future — 2005 — to eliminate their lagoons to manage their waste.”

Another project Muegge is going to establish is an agriculture enterprise zone.

He said, “What that is going to come out of what is already started. These value added cooperatives that actually take our raw commodities and make a product out of it”

He cited as an example the dough plant in Alva. This will facilitate it to be in an area where it can have some tax advantages or tax abatements if it had the enterprise area. “We are going to take a look and see if agriculture can utilize that concept,” Muegge said

Muegge is co-chair of House-Senate international trade committee. “We basically in the past just entertained international guests that came to the capitol building. But with the experience we’ve had in the last couple of years, we’ve made a decision that we really need to get serious.“These people really want to get acquainted with us. The bottom line is we need to sell them more products. In agriculture we live or die by what we export. We are going to develop that committee. Gary Taylor at Dewey is the House co-chair. We had a meeting in Washington in December.”

Muegge announced that on Feb. 24th at Northern Oklahoma College in the Wilcher Center at 7 p.m., the Department of Transportation will make a presenation about information gathered by a consultant on the Amtrak issue.

He said, “They will be making a presentation on passenger rail traffic. The reason this is happening is because I have networked with people from Guthrie, Perry, Ponca City and all of Kay County, Arkansas City and Wichita in Kansas.”

Muegge said Carter Bradley went down to Fort Worth and met with Amtrak officials a few weeks ago. Amtrak wants to extend the Oklahoma City line to Newton, Kan.

Muegge said, “We are going to have an open meeting and listen to the presentation. Hopefully the outcome will spur on some local interest so we can kind of look to tooting our own horn on this.

“The Oklahoma City/Tulsa line is continued to be talked about, but the bottom line is the road bed is already there and we’ve got a good rail line and Amtrak needs this north-south route. The people in Kansas can benefit just as much from this line as the proposed eastern route.”

Ponca City, Area Voters Decide School Board Matters Tomorrow

Ponca City and area residents will elect school board trustees and vote on the annual mill levies Tuesday in elections across the area.

In all elections, polls will be open for 12 hours — from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

At issue in Ponca City are Office No. 4, a four-year term seat, on the Ponca City Board of Education and Ward No. 3, also a four-year term, with the Pioneer Technology Center.

Contenders for Office No. 4 of the board of education with the Ponca City Public Schools are Vicki Graves and Michael W. Joosten. Incumbent Kyle Keffer chose not to seek reelection.

Setting the Record Straight

Michael Joosten, Candidate for Ward 7 on the Ponca City Schools Board of Education, said, “I endorse a pay raise for the teachers. They have earned it.” His original statement was incorrectly reported in the Sunday Feb. 6 issue of The Ponca City News.

Vying for the Ward No. 3 with PTC are incumbent Fred Haub and challenger Robert A. Howard.

In races outside Ponca City, Rich Cantillon and Richard Zetterberg are vying for Office No. 5 on the Blackwell Board of Education. Newkirk residents will decide between Keith E. Bowen and Terry Morton for Office No. 5 in their school election.

At Frontier Schools, incumbent David B. Beck faces opponents Cheryl D. Lane and Travis Wade Young.

On each ballot are annual school mill levies.

The Emergency Levy, five mills, and the Local Support Levy, ten mills, generate about $2.5 million each year. The money is used to pay teacher salaries, books utilities, transportation and additional costs associated with the general fund.

The Building Fund Levy, five mills, produces about $800,000 a year to help repair and construct new construction projects.

Four mills will be on the ballot for Pioneer Technology Center to be used for repairing and construction work, utilities, technology purchases and other needs.

Poncan Theatre To Screen Triumphant Football Film

“Any Given Sunday” begins a week-long run at the Poncan Theatre tonight, according to director Kenn Wessel. “We originally booked another film at this time, but it won’t show until Friday due to a distributor error,” he says. “Any Given Sunday” is a film of considerable star power, with riveting performances by Al Pacino and other members of a great cast.

This is “a smart sports movie,” says Roger Ebert. The film focuses on the behind-the-scenes lives of the pro football world. It also shows on-field footage, in a “viscerally charged, razzle-dazzle ode to professional football,” according to The New York Times. But the key is in the extraordinary performances. The San Francisco Chronicle says that Pacino gives an “inspired” performance at the heart of the film as the tough coach of a fading team.

“The movie surrounds him with first-rate performances,” writes Ebert. Dennis Quaid plays an older quarterback whose injury means that a young, terrified quarterback is thrust into the line-up. The youngster is performed by Jamie Foxx, who “gracefully embodies the internal conflicts of a talented, insecure athlete,” according to The Times. Rap star L.L.Cool J plays the team’s extraordinary running back. The film “can’t help but score with viewers” because of the incredible performances of fine stars, says The Chronicle. Ebert writes about the ability of actors to transform a script into something special. James Woods plays the team physician who does whatever is needed to keep the men on the field. Ann Margaret takes a star turn as a coach’s wife. Cameron Diaz is shown in yet another “fascinating role” as the coach’s daughter who believes she knows everything about making the team succeed.

“Any Given Sunday” brings in some football greats to lend credibility to the work of actors. Cameo performances by Barry Switzer, Y.A. Tittle, Dick Butkus, Warren Moon, Johnny Unitas, Irving Fryar, Terrell Owens, and Ricky Watters all amplify the vitality and honesty of the football world.

“Any Given Sunday” will show at the Poncan through Sunday, Feb. 13. “Cider House Rules,” previously announced for this week, will begin on Friday, Feb. 11. The two films will alternate over next weekend. For show times, patrons may consult The Ponca City News or call the Poncan Theatre at 580-765-0943. The Poncan is located at 104 East Grand in downtown Ponca City.

More Oklahoma Youth Using Tobacco Products

According to results of a national survey released last week, Oklahoma youth are using tobacco products at substantially higher rates than the national average. The 1999 National Youth Tobacco Survey, conducted by the American Legacy Foundation in cooperation with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), found that 35 percent of the nation’s high school students and 13 percent of middle school students are current users of tobacco products. In comparison, the 1999 Oklahoma Youth Tobacco Survey indicated that 42 percent of Oklahoma high school students and 21 percent of Oklahoma middle school students are current tobacco users.

“The number of Oklahoma children who are becoming addicted to these deadly products is simply tragic. If Oklahoma does not soon allocate sufficient resources to take effective action against tobacco addiction as other states have, the tremendous costs of tobacco will continue to plague our children and all Oklahoma citizens at higher rates than the rest of the country,” said State Health Commissioner J.R. Nida, MD.

Nida said the soon-to-be-released “State of the State’s Health Year 2000 Report” affirms that Oklahomans are continuing to die at higher rates than the national average from diseases directly related to tobacco addiction, including heart disease, cancer, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The national and state surveys indicated youth tobacco use in Oklahoma is above average in virtually every category and population group reported. Comparisons indicate that:

* Nationally, 29 percent of high school students and 10 percent of middle school students smoke cigarettes. In Oklahoma, 33 percent of high school students and 17 percent of Oklahoma middle school students are current cigarette smokers.

* Fifteen percent of high school students and 6 percent of middle school students in the U.S. are current users of cigars. In Oklahoma, 20 percent of high school students and 9 percent of middle school students use cigars.

* Seven percent of the U.S. high school students and 3 percent of U.S. middle school students report using “spitting” tobacco, including snuff and chewing tobacco, compared to 13 percent of Oklahoma high school students and 6 percent of Oklahoma middle school students.

* Nationally, cigarette smoking among high school students was 26 percent for Hispanics, 33 percent for whites, and 16 percent for African Americans. In Oklahoma, the rates are 35 percent for Hispanics, 34 percent for whites and 19 percent for African Americans. Forty percent of Native American high school students are current cigarette smokers in Oklahoma. No rates were reported for Native Americans in the national survey.

* Nationally, cigarette smoking among middle school students was 11 percent for Hispanics, 9 percent for whites, and 90 percent for African Americans. In Oklahoma, the middle school student smoking rates are 18 percent for Hispanics, 17 percent for whites, 8 percent for African Americans, and 22 percent of Native Americans.

This is the first time we have had the opportunity in Oklahoma to directly compare the results of a national survey with our state survey on youth tobacco use when both were conducted using the same survey methodology. Now we know for sure what we had always suspected — Oklahoma is behind the rest of the country when it comes to reducing the number of children that become victims of the state’s leading killer, tobacco addiction,” said Nida.

The Oklahoma Youth Tobacco Survey was conducted in the spring of 1999 by the Oklahoma State Department of Health in cooperation with the CDC, the Oklahoma State Department of Education and numerous other partners. The National Youth Tobacco Survey was conducted during the fall of 1999 with results published in the Jan. 28, 2000, issue of CDC’s “Morbidity and Mortally Weekly Report.” Current use is defined in both surveys as using tobacco within the last 30 days.

Tobacco addiction is the leading cause of preventable death in Oklahoma, causing over 6,000 deaths each year. More than 40 Oklahoma children become addicted to tobacco products every day and one out of three will likely die prematurely as a result. Smoking-attributable costs in Oklahoma are estimated to exceed $1 billion each year, or a per-capita cost of over $300. Oklahoma has the ninth-highest rate of smoking-related deaths in the nation.

In resolutions adopted in 1999, the State Board of Health asked that the funds obtained in the tobacco settlement be spent in significant part on health issues related to tobacco addiction. The Board’s stance is “based on the well-documented evidence that nicotine addiction is clearly the number one addiction problem in Oklahoma with every-mounting costs in lives, in year lived with disabilities, in health care expenditures in both the private sector and in the state budget, and in opportunities lost for economic development.”

DEATHS

Ann Gabrielle Rosko Thomas
Evelyn Beeson Parker
Tammy Sue Benham
Robert Leo Denham, Jr.
Vaughn O. Nelson
Alma L. Barnard
Sylvester Steven Spore
Margie O. Hinz
Freeda K. Hunt

Ann Gabrielle Rosko Thomas

Ann Gabrielle (Rosko) Thomas, longtime resident of Ponca City, went to be with our Lord on Saturday morning, Feb. 5, 2000, at the Tender Heart Health Care Center. She had reached the age of 93 years and 18 days.

A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7, 2000, at Grace Memorial Chapel. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2000, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with the Rev. Babu Bathula, presiding. Burial will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Bartlesville Memorial Park Cemetery are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Ann Rosko was born Jan. 18, 1907 at Iola, Kan., the daughter of Mike Rosko and Della (Gazavitch) Rosko. She received her early education in the Bartlesville St. John’s Parochial School and then completed two years at Bartlesville Business College. She was then employed with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Bartlesville.

She was married to William Marvin (Micky) Thomas with the couple moving to Ponca City in 1936. Mrs. Thomas was a bookkeeper with Pat Murphy Buick for several years. While her health permitted, Mrs. Thomas was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Her enjoyments through the years included crocheting, handiwork, her pets and raising her son, David.

She is survived by one son, David M. Thomas and wife, NaDean, of Ponca City; three grandchildren, Ted Thomas, Teresa Jones and Tracy Welborn, all of Ponca City; two sisters, Helen Parry and Fritz Berry, both of Bartlesville; several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one sister, Mary Monk; and two brothers, Stanley Rosko and Lottie Rosko.

Casket bearers will be David M. Thomas, Grant Challis, Ted Thomas, Larry Stevenson, Dale Orr and Morris Herde.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ponca City Humane Society, 900 West Prospect, Ponca City, Okla. 74601.

The family will be at 1611 Dean.

paid obituary

Evelyn Beeson Parker

Evelyn Beeson Parker, a longtime resident of Ponca City, died quietly Saturday, Feb. 5, 2000, at the Montebello Retirement Community in Albuquerque, N.M.

A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2000, at 10:30 a.m. with the Rev. Dr. J.D. Ward, pastor, officiating. Private family burial will be in the Odd Fellows Cemetery under the direction of the Trout Funeral Home.

She was born on April 22, 1907, in Meridian, Miss., the daughter of Dr. M.A. Beeson and Effie Harrison Beeson. She was a graduate of Oklahoma A&M College with degrees in voice and music education.

Evelyn married her college sweetheart, Robert Alexander Parker, on June 14, 1928. She was instrumental in founding the first “tuition kindergarten” supervised by the Ponca City Public Schools. She taught music at Liberty Elementary School from 1964 through 1972. Through 1987, she continued to serve as a substitute teacher in the Ponca City public schools.

The First United Methodist Church played an important role in Evelyn Parker’s life. She directed the junior girls Wesley Choir for many years. Evelyn and her husband Bob both sang in the church choir for over 40 years.

Evelyn was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, and the PEO Sisterhood.

Evelyn Parker is survived by her sons, Alfred L. Parker and wife Judy Wittmer Parker, and James M. Parker and wife Linda Hisey Parker, all of Albuquerque, N.M.; a daughter, Jane Parker Irwin and husband Stanley Irwin, Greencastle, Ind.; five grandchildren, Kathryn Darwin and her husband Ben, Rob Parker and his wife Tammie, Todd Parker, Tyson Parker, and Mark Irwin; and four great-grandchildren, Paige and Alex Darwin and Jamie and Jason Parker.

She was preceded in death by her husband on Aug. 20, 1986.

Memorials may be made in her name to the First United Methodist Church, Parker Memorial Chapel, 200 South 6th, Ponca City, Okla. 74601 or to Oklahoma City University, Beeson Memorial Scholarship, 2501 N. Blackwelder, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73106.

The family will receive friends following the service in the Fellowship Hall at the First United Methodist Church.

paid obituary

Tammy Sue Benham

FAIRFAX — Tammy Sue Benham, resident of Burbank, died Friday, Feb. 4, 2000, near Ramona. She was 27.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2000, at the First Christian Church in Fairfax with the Rev. Lewis Bernard, pastor of the Full Gospel Assembly, officiating, and the Rev. George Weston, pastor of the First Christian Church, assisting. Burial will follow at the Fairfax Cemetery under the direction of Hunsaker-Wooten Funeral Home of Fairfax.

Tammy Sue Benham was born Sept. 26, 1972, in Pawnee, the daughter of Leon Hendrix and Patsy (Phillips) Hendrix. She grew up in Fairfax where she attended grade school and high school.

She married Robert “Bobby” Benham Jr. on June 5, 1990, in Fairfax. The couple made their first home in Ralston. She was employed in several nursing homes and had been employed at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Ponca City. After moving to Burbank, she spent her time as a housewife. She was a member of the Full Gospel Assembly. She enjoyed spending time with and reading to her children

Survivors include her mother and her father, both of Fairfax; three children, Ashley Maxine Benham, Robert Casey Benham, and Brandon Corey Benham; one sister, Kathy Hurst of McCloud; one brother, Scott Phillips of Fairfax; her grandparents, Leo and Velma Hendrix, and Agnus Holt and Marge Phillips, all of Fairfax. She was preceded in death by her husband and grandfather.

Casket bearers will be Doug Foster, Allen Wilson, Elton Freeman, Chuck Freeman, Terry Myers, and Lester Bagshaw. Honorary casket bearer will be Mike Freeman.

Robert Leo Denham, Jr.

FAIRFAX — Robert “Bobby” Leo Benham Jr., resident of Burbank, died Friday, Feb. 4, 2000, near Ramona. He was 31.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2000, at the First Christian Church in Fairfax with the Rev. Lewis Bernard, pastor of the Full Gospel Assembly, officiating, and the Rev. George Weston, pastor of the First Christian Church, assisting. Burial will follow at the Fairfax Cemetery under the direction of Hunsaker-Wooten Funeral Home of Fairfax.

Robert Leo Benham was born Nov. 7, 1968, in Los Angeles, Calif., the son of Robert Benham Sr. and Billie (Wiggins) Benham. The family moved to Oklahoma in 1971, and he attended and graduated from Ralston High School in 1987.

He married Tammy Hendrix on June 5, 1990, in Fairfax, and the couple made their first home in Ralston before settling in Burbank. He was employed by NOICO as a scaffold builder. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing golf and, most of all, spending time with his children.

Survivors include his mother and step-father, Billie and Carl Ford of Ponca City; three children, Ashley Maxine Benham, Robert Casey Benham, and Brandon Corey Benham; four brothers, Michael Freeman of Ralston, Ron Freeman of Salt Lake City, Utah, Cecil Allison of Grayhorse, and Floyd Allison Sr. of Ponca City; five sisters, Mary Freeman of Paris, Ark., Sherry Thompson of Grand Rapids, Ohio, Billie Kuhnle of Weston, Ohio, LaVonne Bagshaw of Ponca City, and Diane Benham of Burbank; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife; his father; his grandparents; and one brother, Elton Freeman.

Casket bearers will be Doug Foster, Allen Wilson, Elton Freeman, Chuck Freeman, Terry Myers, and Lester Bagshaw. Honorary casket bearer will be Mike Freeman.

Vaughn O. Nelson

Vaughn O. Nelson, Ponca City resident, died Saturday morning, Feb. 5, 2000, at his home. He was 79.

A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2000, at Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery with Bishop Craig Barker of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officiating. Burial is under direction of Trout Funeral Home. Flag detail will be furnished by American Legion Huff-Minor Post 14.

Vaughn O. Nelson was born Sept. 9, 1920, in Mantua, Utah, the son of Oluf Anton and Georgina (Jacobson) Nelson. He attended Mantua and Brigham City schools. He married Lorene Spradley on Oct. 16, 1945, in Fort Smith, Ark., where they lived until moving to Ponca City in 1951.

He worked in wholesale dairy sales, working for Midwest and Goldspot dairies. A veteran of World War II, he was a radio operator and served in the Pentagon and in the Pacific area. He was an active member of and held various positions in American Legion Huff-Minor Post 14, and VFW Post 1201 and was a member of Disabled American Veterans. His hobby was gardening.

Survivors include his wife of the home; two daughters, VonDell Gallagher of Fort Worth, Texas, and Ingir Beman of Grand Junction, Colo. In addition to his parents, one sister preceded him in death.

Alma L. Barnard

Alma L. Barnard, longtime Fairfax resident, died Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2000, at St. Ann’s Nursing Home in Oklahoma City. She was 87.

The funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, 2000, in the Hunsaker-Wooten Chapel with the Rev. George Weston, pastor of the First Christian Church of Fairfax, officiating. Burial followed in the Fairfax Cemetery.

Alma L. Barnard was born Jan. 22, 1913, in Blue Mountain, Ark., the daughter of Willie Yandell and Louise (Fletcher) Yandell. She married Russell S. Lamb in Magazine, Ark., and later married H.L. Barnard on Feb. 14, 1942, in Fairfax, where they lived for many years. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Fairfax, and she enjoyed her family, ceramics, playing bridge, sewing and cooking.

She is survived by one daughter, Pauline Henderson of Oklahoma City; one son, Jack L. Barnard of Lodi Calif.; two brothers, Herman Yandell and Merrill Yandell; one sister, Wilba Welling; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one brother, Glen Yandell; two sisters, Beatrice Pappin and Ersie Endicott.

Casket bearers will be Rick Majors, Larry Henderson, Joy Henderson, Peggy Yawn, Lauren Yawn and Jennifer Yawn.

Funerals

Tuesday

Sylvester Steven Spore

Funeral 10 a.m. in the Newkirk First United Methodist Church with burial following in the Newkirk Cemetery under the direction of Miller-Stahl Funeral Service.

Margie O. Hinz

Funeral 2 p.m. in the Kiesau Memorial Chapel in Clinton with burial in the Bergthal Cemetery.

Services Pending

Freeda K. Hunt

Freeda K. Hunt lifelong Ponca City area resident, died Sunday, Feb. 6, 2000, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was 99. There will be no viewing; however, arrangements for a memorial service are pending with Trout Funeral Home.

NEWS BRIEFS

Minor Accident — A minor accident was reported at 11:05 a.m. Sunday in the parking lot of K-Mart involving a gold-colored Cadillac and a Capri.

Non-Injury Accident — A two-vehicle minor accident was reported at 18:04 p.m. Sunday with no injuries at North Fourteenth and Prospect. The accident blocked the eastbound lanes of Prospect for a time.

Road Debris — A large pallet in the roadway in the 3500 block of North Fourteenth Street was reported at 8:51 p.m. Sunday. The street department was notified.

Graffiti — Police were notified at 10 p.m. Sunday of graffiti left on a garage in the 100 block of East Grand Avenue.

Doors Open — Police were notified at 8:30 a.m. Saturday that the front and back doors to a vacant residence in the 900 block of South Eleventh Street had been kicked open.

Burglary — A possible burglary was investigated Saturday in the 700 block of West Grand. The residence was ransacked and money was missing, police said.

LIFESTYLES

Main Street Event Set For Tuesday
Country Club Officers
Kay County Extension Educator Offers Online Shopping Advice
Xi Zeta Lambda Chapter Conducts Sorority Ritual
Little News
Xi Delta Chapter Members Meet
OAS Meeting Set

Main Street Event Set For Tuesday

The Daily Grind, 202 East Grand, is the site for February’s Morning on Main Street. Set for 8 - 10 a.m, on Tuesday, Feb. 8, the community is welcome to attend.

“We hope people will come to take a look at our new location,” said David Broome, owner of The Daily Grind.

Morning on Main Street is an opportunity for downtown merchants to meet with community leaders to discuss local issues. It is also a time for individuals and merchants to get information about Main Street’s upcoming events.

Coffee, juice and donuts will be served. For more information, contact Mchele Jean at 763-8082.

Country Club Officers

John Stanley was elected president of the Ponca City Country Club at the recent stockholders meeting. Stanley succeeds outgoing president Don Bouldin.

James Bailey was elected vice president and Don Stephens, secretary/treasurer.

Newly elected members of the Board are Baloo Subramaniam, John King, Tom Rigdon and Mike Mott. Retiring Board members are Joan Auld and Bruce Newman.

Remaining members of the Board include Vic Coates, Pat Mulligan, Cory Bowker, and Pete Dimond.

Kay County Extension Educator Offers Online Shopping Advice

This past holiday season saw a big boom in Internet shopping said Mary Rhyne, interim CED, extension educator for Kay County. Consumers did not have to fight the crowds, hunt for parking at the mall or wait in line at the checkout counter. It does not seem to matter what consumers are looking for, they will likely find it online, according to Rhyne.

“Just like traditional shopping, virtual shopping isn’t without risks,” Rhyne said. “There are several safety issues to take into consideration before logging onto your favorite web site.”

Check out businesses with the Better Business Bureau, either in your own state or in the state where the seller is based, This is especially true if you are not familiar with the company’s name or reputation, or learned about the company through an unsolicited e-mail.

Overseas Vendors

Oklahoma State University Family and Consumer Science specialists recommend that shoppers find out if the vendor is located overseas. If so, find out if the company does business with U.S. customers, when you can expect the order to arrive, and who to contact if you are not satisfied with the product.

“Getting ‘information on businesses located overseas can be more difficult than those U.S. based companies,” said Dottie Goss, OSU Cooperative Extension Family Resource Management Specialist. “Although you should use a credit card to pay for the purchase, keep in mind you may not have the same legal protection or be able to enforce your rights as easily as you would if dealing with a U.S. company.”

Another thing to keep in mind is Internet sellers collect information about consumers and often share it with other companies. This can result in consumers being bombarded with unsoficited advertising. Consumers ideally should shop from a vendor that posts its privacy policies online and offers options about the use of a consumer’s personal information. If the vendor’s site requires a password, do not use the same password used to log onto the computer or network. Although it will require keeping track of various passwords, it is wise to use a different password each time you register with a new site.

Secure Server

“Be sure you order on a secure server,” Goss said. “Look for a key or a padlock at the bottom of the browser window. These symbols indicate the information you are sending is encrypted for online transmission.”

The web site also should provide delivery information. A Federal Trade Commission rule requires sellers to ship items as promised, and no more than 30 days after the order date. If the seller is unable to ship within the stated deadline, the seller must notify the consumer. The consumer then has the opportunity to cancel the order and receive a full refund.

Goss said many online retailers add a shipping-and-handling fee to the price of an item based on where the order is to be shipped, the cost of the goods or the weight of the goods.

“Be sure to indicate the method of shipping, because it you don’t, the retailer may decide for you,” she said. “Overnight or express delivery can be very costly. But if you need an item immediately, it can be worth the expense.”

In order to keep track of online shopping, print out the web page with the seller’s name, address and telephone number; a description of what was ordered; the seller’s legal terms; and any e-mail messages to or from the seller. Be sure to date the printouts in order to have an accurate account of the transaction.

Xi Zeta Lambda Chapter Conducts Sorority Ritual

Sixteen members of Xi Zeta Lambda chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority met at the home of Terri Whiting on Feb. 3. Cassandra Kifiak, president, conducted the meeting. Jill Sims, recording secretary, read the minutes, and Doretta Jackson gave the treasurer’s report.

Dottie Johnstone and Judy Watt invited members and guests to the Johnstone home for the Valentine preparty and a breakfast following the Valentine dance at the American Legion. Members plan plans for decoration at the event. Carmelita Childers will represent Xi Zeta Lambda as Valentine Queen.

Phyllis Pledger asked scrapbook committee members to meet at her home at 7 p.m. Feb. 10. Nida Austin, service chairperson, asked for ideas for Easter tray favors for Meals on Wheels.

The Friendship Basket was won by Terri Whiting, who also gave the program. Following the meeting a Silver Circle Ritual was conducted for Judy Watt, Melva Keen, Nida Austin, and Cassandra Kifiak. It was led by Lila Logan, Terri Whiting and Dottie Johnstone.

The next meeting will be Feb. 17 at the home of Andra Kasselman. Preceding the meeting members will meet at the western Rose restaurant for a dinner honoring Carmelita Childers.

Little News

Scott and Kari Officer, 916 North Osage, are announcing the birth of a son at 3:50 p.m. Jan. 31, 2000, at the Stillwater Medical Center. Carson Bradon Officer weighed 6 pounds, 9 1/2 ounces, and measured 20 1/2 inches long.

Maternal grandparents are John and Debbie Lockwood of Arkansas City, Kan., and paternal grandparents are Lanny Officer of Ponca City, and the late Katherine Officer.

Great-grandparents are Bonnie Vincent of Arkansas City, Kan., Margret Officer of Salt Lake City, Utah, Don and Sandra Lockwood of Newkirk, the late Don Vincent, and the late Fred Officer.

Xi Delta Chapter Members Meet

Xi Delta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority met in the home of Shari Magee for the Jan. 24 meeting, with 11 members present. Linda Turner, president, conducted the meeting, and Magee read minutes. Patsy Hastings gave the treasurer’s report. Linda Turner won the traveling basket.

Final preperations were made for the Valentine Dance, with the chapter being responsible for sponsoring the master of ceremonies, Steve Leonard. Lisa Mena gave out a food list for the Super Bowl party to be held in her home. Sunshine committee members presented Valentine gifts to the group. The next meeting will be on Feb. 14 in the Home of Patsy Hasting with Susan Henshaw as cohostess. Becky Bezdek will give the program.

OAS Meeting Set

Local members of the Oklahoma Anthropological Society will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Conoco Fourth Street Clubhouse. Guest speaker will be Dr. Jim Shaw. His topic is the “Natural History of Bison.” Interested persons are invited to attend the meeting.

SPORTS

Monday Evening Quarterback
NOC Outlasts Western
Lady Mavs Get First League Win

Monday Evening Quarterback

What games were you watching Sunday?

The Pro Bowl? The NHL All-Star game? An NBA game? Some far away college game?

If so, you missed a game just 15 miles west of here that had a lot more excitement.

Northern Oklahoma College‘s Mavericks, the front runners in the Bi-State Conference Western Division, had to fend off Western State’s Pioneers through two overtimes before coming away with a 110-102 decision.

“It was a great game,” said Northern coach Mick Weiberg. “It was too bad we has a smaller than usual crowd. Even smaller than our usual Sunday games.”

Part of the reason for the smallish crowd was that the NOC students, most of whom commute, were away from classes. This was also a make-up game.

Still, Ponca City basketball fans missed a chance to see a whale of a game.

They also missed a chance to see some of the players who will be playing major college basketball in the next couple of years.

“It’s hard for us to find an identity with Ponca City an Blackwell,” Weiberg said. “And I’m not sure what to do about it.”

Junior college basketball certainly is not lacking in either talent or intensity.

Players from Northern and the eight other state junior colleges that play basketball are trying to prove a point. They think they can play four-year college ball. And many of them can and will.

Junior college basketball gives players who were overlook by four-year schools a chance to get notice.

They do get noticed. Just ask Weiberg.

“My walls are full of (pictures of) players from here that have gone on to play at Division I or Division II schools,” the Mavericks’ coach said.

Weiberg has seem his players go on to play at Oklahoma State, San Diego State, Murray (Ken.) State, Sam Houston State in Texas, and the list goes on and on.

A few years ago all five starters on the NOC team signed with larger schools.

“Over the past four years we’ve had eight or nine players sign with four-year colleges.” Weiberg says. “It’s a great brand of basketball.”

Unlike some of the small schools in the Bi-State Conference, NOC has pretty good crowds at its home games. But Weiberg know the crowds could be even larger. If he can get the word out.

“Our field house could be like the ones at OSU and Duke,” the coach says. “We have that same kind of atmosphere.”

Weiberg’s main selling point, however, is that the Mavericks are usually very competitive, in-state, around the region and even in the nation.

The Mavericks played in the national junior college tournament just recently.

They could be going back this season.

Currently NOC is 3-0 in the conference (18-7 overall) and heading toward the league title and a top seed in the regional tournament at OBU later this month.

The top eight teams from the 11-team Bi-State Conference advance to the regional tournament with the two division champions getting the top seeds.

Weiberg says its hard to compare this team to his last national tournament team, but says it could well get there.

“That team had an attitude. It would claw and scratch and do what it had to do to win.

“This team is probably a better shooting team and it definitely shoots better from the perimeter.”

So area fans still have a few more chances to see the Mavericks in action.

Northern plays at Eastern tonight, but is home Thursday against Murray State.

The rest of the regular season schedule has the Mavs playing at Western on Feb. 14 and they close at home against Seminole Feb. 17 and Eastern on Feb. 24.

The home games are at 6 p.m. (for the women) and 8 in Foster-Piper Field House on the NOC campus.

Basketball fans could do themselves a big favor by attending those last three home games.

NOC Outlasts Western

Mavericks Win Thriller In Double Overtime

By TED ATCHLEY

NOC Sports Information

TONKAWA — “We survived,” said Northern Oklahoma College men’s head basketball coach Mick Weiberg following a tense 110-102 double overtime victory over Western Oklahoma College on Sunday afternoon in Piper-Forster Field House.

“Western hit some big shots when they had to and kept themselves in it longer than we should have let them,” the coach said.

The NOC Mavericks led at halftime 44-35 and kept the lead until the final seconds of regulation play. Western hit a big bucket and the game was sent into overtime.

“We made too many turnovers and didn’t seem to have the

mental attitude we needed to have,” Weiberg said. “We missed some key free throws and it paid off for Western down the stretch.”

Western came out strong in the first overtime and Weiberg said his team could have just took the loss. “We could have laid down but we didn't,” he said. “We could have laid down in the second overtime too but we decided we were not going to get beat. That shows something about our team.”

With 25 seconds left in the first five-minute overtime Sherman Rochell, Oklahoma City sophomore, pulled down the rebound after Richie Myers, Edmond freshman, missed the second of two free throws. The Mavs moved the ball around the perimeter and Chris Arledge, Krum, TX, sophomore, netted a 3-pointer to bring the Mavs ahead with just four seconds left.

The Western Pioneers called a timeout and when play resumed moved the ball quickly down the floor and penetrated the defensive shield put in place across the lane by the Mavs and punched in a layup to tie up the game once again with just over a second to go.

The Mavs called a timeout and once they resumed play tried for a long pass down the middle to get the team within scoring range but Pioneers took the ball away to preserve the tie and send the game into another overtime.

Larry Reid, Midwest City sophomore, started the final period of play with a much needed 3-pointer to give the Mavs the final lead of the game. The Mavericks tightened up on defense and scored again on a two-point layup by Myers. Myers proved himself on the other end of the court when he grabbed a defensive rebound that eventually ended with an Arledge hook from about 10 feet out to give the Mavs a 101-94 lead with just under three minutes left.

Western began the tactic which had gained them a tie at the end of regulation play by fouling Northern every time they had the ball but couldn't make it pay off as before. The Mavericks held on and pulled away in the final minutes to end the game 110-102.

“I've been telling our guys that everyone is out there thinking we are the team to beat and we had better be ready,” Weiberg said. “We have to bring the mental attitude with us every time we step into the gym.”

Weiberg added that although his team didn't play as well as he had hoped, he was happy to get out of the contest with a double overtime win. He said it wasn't the kind of game he was looking for as his team prepares to travel to Eastern Monday night.

“We didn't need 10 extra minutes of play, but we showed out character. It was a huge win for us.”

The Mavericks are now 3-0 in conference play headed into the game at Eastern.

“We haven’t beaten Eastern for two years on the road,” Weiberg said. "Hopefully we can put this one behind us and go over there and take control like we know we can.”

The Mavericks will play at home again on Thursday against Murray State. The women will start things off at 6 p.m.

and the men will follow at 8.

“We need the home crowd to help us out,”Weiberg said. “Our players respond to the fans.”

Lady Mavs Get First League Win

By TED ATCHLEY

NOC Sports Information

TONKAWA — The Northern Oklahoma College Lady Mavericks roped in their first conference win with a 79-52 decision over Western Oklahoma College Sunday in Foster-Piper Field House.

Lady Mavs head coach Greg Krause said his team has been practicing hard and was proud to say it has paid off.

“When you lose your first two conference games you have to watch that you don’t let up,” Krause said. “No matter what happens we have the playoffs, and we are still in control of our own destiny. We’re still in there.”

With a 1-2 conference record the Lady Mavs travel to Eastern Monday to face the conference leaders on their home court. “It's going to be a tough one, especially on their home court,” Krause said.

Sunday afternoon LaQueisha Dickerson netted 12 points to lead the Lady Maverick attack. Baba Robinson, Deidre Dick and Denise Jake added nine points each. B.J. Homer and Reva Howell each had eight, Lindsey Shiever had six, Stacie Scott five, Suzi Eisenhauer 4, and Ranada Collins 2.