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From the pages of The Ponca City News, Wednesday, February 16, 2000 LOCAL DEATHS NEWS BRIEFS LIFESTYLES SPORTS LOCAL4th Quarter Income Up For Conoco 4th Quarter Income Up For ConocoNEW YORK — Conoco Inc., the fourth largest oil company in the United States, expects rising production and lower refining costs to help boost earnings per share an average of at least 10 percent a year, beginning this year. Conoco also wants to increase its return on capital employed, a benchmark investors use to judge oil companies, to 12 percent from more than 11 percent last year, said Gary Merriman, president of exploration and production for the Americas. The company plans to achieve its goals in part by boosting production five percent a year, Merriman said at a PaineWebber Inc. energy conference in New York. That would give Conoco production of 245 million barrels of oil and gas this year and 260 million barrels next year. The company is expected to earn $1.68 a share this year, the average estimate of analysts polled by First Call/Thomson Financial. It earned $1.23 last year, up 8.8 percent from 1998. Houston-based Conoco announced it will spend $300 million in 2000 to drill 25 to 30 exploratory wells worldwide. As many as four wells will be drilled in deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Merriman said. Conoco also expects production to rise in Venezuela, with output from its Petrozuata project reaching 120,000 barrels a day this year, 30 percent more than last year. Cost-cutting and improved efficiency at its refineries helped Conoco boost fourth-quarter earnings from fuel sales, even as other oil companies’ refining profits shrank. Conoco’s Class B shares rose 9/16 to 20 3/4 on the New York Stock Exchange. Its class A shares rose 1/2 to 20 7/16. The company plans to achieve its goals in part by boosting production five percent a year, Merriman said at a Paine Webber Inc. energy conference in New York. That would give Conoco production of 245 million barrels of oil and gas this year and 260 million barrels next year. The company is expected to earn $1.68 a share this year, the average estimate of analysts polled by First Call/Thomson Financial. It earned $1.23 last year, up 8.8 percent from 1998. Houston-based Conoco announced it will spend $300 million in 2000 to drill 25 to 30 exploratory wells worldwide. As many as four wells will be drilled in deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Merriman said. Conoco also expects production to rise in Venezuela, with output from its Petrozuata project reaching 120,000 barrels a day this year, 30 percent more than last year. Museum Due a FaceliftBy LOUISE ABERCROMBIE News Staff Writer The Marland Estate of the late oil baron E.W. Marland got a boost Tuesday with the announcement that the Petroleum Museum, located in the north wing of the Artists Studio, will be totally renovated via funding from Conoco. “This project is one of the many ways that Conoco in Ponca City is celebrating our 125th anniversary,” commented Lloyd Cullison, Conoco Visual Communications Director. The announcement, made at the Marland Estate Commission meeting, was received enthusiastically by the commission. Its main function is overseeing the restoration of the Estate. The theme of the museum will focus on E.W. Marland and the innovations he introduced to the oil industry. “The museum will be a tribute to the vision of E.W. Marland,” Cullison said. “Marland left a great legacy, and there are people and companies who still benefit from the initiatives he inspired.” Mayor Tom Leonard said, “This is wonderful example of how we can address community issues and enhance the Marland Estate for Ponca City and Oklahoma.” Two Houston companies, Media Management Services and Southwest Museum Services, both specialists in museum design, will work with a joint committee to design and implement the new displays. Conoco is funding the venture and it will be overseen by both Conoco and the Marland Estate staff. “We are very pleased about Conoco's commitment,” said Eldridge Manering, Petroleum Museum volunteer coordinator. “We are particularly excited about the educational aspect of the exhibit. People of all ages will gain a better understanding of how oil is discovered, as well as what Marland did to enhance the industry and community. “We feel it will create new interest for mansion visitors, plus it will bring a different group of tourists to the estate who will want to tour the other buildings, too,” Manering continued. Plans are to renovate the interior of the building, and then install the newly designed displays and tour aids that tell the story of Marland's influence. The plans call for completion in late 2000 or early 2001. The museum was established in 1978, three years after the citizens of Ponca City voted a two-year one cent tax on themselves to buy the Estate. Conoco contributed half the purchase price of the Estate. Since then, the museum has been open to tourists on weekday afternoons. Frank Searcy and Robbie Robertson were the original volunteer leaders and also donated most of the memorabilia. More than 25 Conoco retirees have volunteered their time to be at the museum and explain the various exhibits. According to Manering, many people have donated much of the memorabilia from the early days of Conoco and Marland Oil Company. Volunteers participating now with Manering include Ross Bailey, Henry Bourne, Addison Hazlett, John Minor, Raj Phansalker, Phil Reed, Gene Sigle and Jay Stafford. Ponca Tribe, Civic Leader Genevieve Pollak DiesBy KATHY ZEHR News Staff Writer Genevieve Pollak, co-founder of the Standing Bear Native American Park project and former leader of the Ponca Tribal Council, died early this morning at her home. The longtime tribal and community leader was 70. Concerned about the relationship between her tribe and area citizens, Pollak met with local banker Carl Renfro in 1993 to formulate a plan to help close the gap between the Ponca City community and members of her tribe. The two formed the Native American Foundation which resulted in the building of the 63-acre park and a 22-foot monument of Native American civil rights leader Chief Standing Bear. The monument has become well-known internationally. Numerous coalitions between the tribe and area businesses and other groups resulted because of her efforts, says Renfro. “We have lost a true friend of the citizens of Ponca City and a prominent national leader in Indian affairs,” said Renfro. Ponca Tribal Chairman Bennett Arkeketa said, “Genevieve wanted to bridge the gap and bring her people into a good relationship with citizens of the Ponca City community and was especially interested in providing Indian children with a role model. She felt that the Standing Bear Project did just that.” During her tenure as chairman of the Ponca Tribal Council, Pollak met personally with such national leaders as President Bill Clinton, Attorney General Janet Reno, Governor Frank Keating and numerous senators and government leaders on behalf of her tribe. Her efforts resulted in benefited several educational and health programs that benefited Native American women, children and the eldery. Because of her efforts, she was presented the President’s Medallion for service. In addition to co-chairing the Standing Bear Native American Park, Pollak served as chairman of the Ponca City Business Council for three years and was a charter member of the Native American Foundation. She was presented the prestigious Service to Mankind award from the Sertoma Club. At the state level, Pollak was the first woman to serve as chairman of the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas, in which she worked diligently to have a greater voice for Native Americans in government affairs. Before her illness, she worked in both Phase II and Phase III of the Standing Bear Park project. Standing Bear Park project director T.L. Walker said, “As co-founder of the Standing Bear project, Genevieve was an invaluable source of historic information and cultural guidance. As someone I worked with on a daily basis, she became my friend and was a constant source of encouragement both personally and professionally. Her funeral is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at the Ponca Tribal Cultural Center at White Eagle. Nightly prayer services will be held at 7 p.m. at the Ponca Indian Church of the Nazarene. Correction Amtrak Meeting DateMembers of The Ponca City News staff obviously are looking forward to having Amtrak available in Ponca City. Tuesday’s paper incorrectly stated the informational meeting on Amtrak was to be held this Thursday. The correct date for the meeting is next Thursday, Feb. 24, 6:30 p.m., at Northern Oklahoma College’s Walcher Center in Tonkawa. If you do go to Tonkawa this Thursday, head for Foster-Piper Fieldhouse and catch the Lady Mavs and Mavericks play Bi-State Conference basketball against Seminole. Women’s game is at 6 p.m.; the men follow at 8 p.m. Huge Contingent Gathers at Capitol For Teacher RallyOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Superintendent of Schools Sandy Garrett told the state Parent-Teacher Association this morning that Oklahoma needs to put education first, setting the tone for today’s massive teacher rally. ‘‘We’re happy that you’re here because you’re here for one reason — you’re here for our children,’’ Garrett said during a meeting in the state House chamber. ‘‘Education needs to be looked at first,’’ she said. ‘‘We can no longer tolerate unfunded mandates.’’ Garrett, Gov. Frank Keating and state Rep. Larry Adair, D-Stilwell, spoke to the group as thousands of teachers, including a large number from the Ponca City area, massed outside the state Capitol for what could be the largest pro-education rally in Oklahoma history. Keating said funding for public education has risen by $365 million since he took office in 1995, but that money alone will not improve the quality of public education. ‘‘There’s no question we need to spend more on public education, and we are,’’ Keating said. But the governor said ACT scores have been ‘‘basically flat’’ in the 10 years since passage of House Bill 1017, the education reform bill. The high school graduation rate has declined since 1990, from 75 percent to 73.4 percent, and the college remediation rate has risen from 34 percent to 38 percent. Keating said public schools need to ‘‘make school much tougher — much tougher,’’ in order to prepare school students for high-paying, high-technology jobs. ‘‘We can’t hire our own if our own aren’t well educated,’’ he said. Meanwhile, organizers of the teacher rally said 20,000 ‘‘Put Education First’’ lapel stickers were printed up to distribute to teachers and other educators — and organizers said they might run out. ‘‘It’s going to be bigger than 1017,’’ said David Duvall, executive director of the Oklahoma Education Association. He referred to teacher rallies that topped 10,000 participants at the Capitol in 1990 before passage of the education reform bill. Police estimated today’s crowd at more than 25,000. More than 200 Oklahoma school districts have altered their school calendars to permit teachers and other school personnel to make the trip to Oklahoma City to attend the education rally and explain their education agenda to legislators. More than 100 other school districts are sending representatives. Oklahoma educators will be greeted by lawmakers who are poised to pass a $3,000 teacher pay raise bill that Keating has said he plans to sign. A rival education group, the Association of Professional Oklahoma Educators, has questioned the need for the rally because of the pay raise bill’s sure passage. The group questioned holding the rally on a school day, causing unnecessary hardship on parents and children. The group also said that some teachers have been improperly pressured to attend the rally. But Keating said he hopes that teachers will travel to the Capitol to discuss curriculum issues. Duvall said the rally’s focus will be to ‘‘get the Legislature and the governor to put education first, to deal with the identified crisis in education, to fund it properly.’’ ‘‘The majority of Oklahomans support what we’re trying to accomplish,’’ Duvall said. Suspects Sought In Vehicle BurglariesThis week’s Crime Stoppers feature highlights several recent vehicle burglaries occurring in Ponca City. Between 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11 and 3:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, several vehicles in the parking lots of Wal-Mart on East Prospect Avenue and Albertson’s Warehouse on Industrial Boulevard were burglarized. Witnesses to the vehicle burglaries reported to police seeing two white men between the ages of 18 and 20 getting into these vehicles. These white men were last seen driving a gold or silver colored four-door car. If anyone has any information regarding these vehicle burglaries, or any other crime, please call the Ponca City Area Crime Stoppers at 762-5100. The caller will remain anonymous and may receive a reward of up to $1,000. Area Oil and Gas ReportA recompletion for extended production life is planned in Kay County’s Braman Field by Lamamco Drilling Co. The well is known as the No. 1 Hutton and is situated in a lease about one-quarter mile north-northeast of the Braman townsite. Originally drilled to 3,603 feet, the well will be seeking added production in the Mississippian Era. Section 5-township 28n-range 1w-se-sw. ———— Drilling operations are nearing projected total depth at the No. 2 Deboard in Kay County’s Dilworth Field. Carrying authority for 3,200 feet of hole, the well is under permit for 3,200-ft. maximum hole. Drilling commenced on Dec. 27 with Southstar Oil and Gas as the operator. Drillsite is about 1.5 miles south-southeast of the Dilworth townsite. Section 8-township 28n-range 1e-sw-ne. ———— Drilling operations have started at the No. 4 Gerken in Noble County’s Billings Field. Location is a little over five miles south-southeast of Billings with Chesapeake Operating Inc. as the operator. The well is a 3,100-ft. Tonkawa Formation test. Section 21-township 23n-range 2w-se-sw. ———— A 6,500-ft. Arbuckle Lime Formation test is planned by West Bay Exploration Co. in Noble County’s Polo Field. Location is 3.7 miles north-northeast of Lucien and is designated as the No. 1 Kapka. Section 4-township 21n-range 2w-sw-nw. ———— Modest potentials were recorded when two shallow gas wells came on line in Noble County’s East Echo Field. Wells include the No. 1-19 No. 1-24 Lyhane. Locations are four and 4.5 miles southwest of Ceres, respectively. The No. 1-19 flowed 25,000 CF gas per day on an unspecified choke. The No. 1-24 flowed 50,000 CFD, also on an unspecified opening. Ronald D. Blubaugh is the operator. Section 19-township 23n-range 1w-nw-sw. Section 24-township 23n-range 2w-nw-se. ———— Merit Energy Co. is preparing to conduct a recompletion in the Lucien Field, Noble County, 3.5 miles south-southwest of Lucien. Involved in the venture is the No. 1 Rankin Marrs. It originally bottomed at 5,204 feet and now will seek added pay in the Skinner Sand. Section 7-township 20n-range 2w-se-se. ———— Drilling is nearing the midway point at the No. 1 Gasaway in Noble County’s Billings Field. It was spudded on Jan. 10 with Chesapeake Operating Inc. as the operator. Location 5.6 miles south-southeast of Billings, the well is under permit for 3,100-ft. maximum hole. Section 28-township 23n-range 2w-ne-nw. ———— A shallow Noble County wildcat is scheduled to be drilled 6.6 miles southwest of Ceres. The 800-ft. venture is aiming for production in the Herrington Formation. It is designated as the No. 3 Powell, with J.O.C. Operating Inc. as the operator. Section 1-township 22n-range 2w-sw-sw. ———— Cirrus Production Co. has staked location for a 5,300-ft. Viola Lime test in Noble County’s Northwest Asp Field. Located 4.7 miles southwest of Perry, the well will be known as the No. 1 Wilson Fore. Section 14-township 20n-range 2w-nw-ne. ———— Drilling is nearing the midway point at a wildcat venture 5.3 miles west of Ceres in Noble County. Designated as the No. 1 Wilson, the projected 5,100-ft. well was spudded on Dec. 17. It is an exploration venture of Cirrus Production Co. Section 14-township 20n-range 2w-sw-ne. ———— Chesapeake Operating has started making hole for the No. 4 McNeely in Noble County’s Billings Field. Drillsite is about five miles south-southeast of Billings with total depth projected to 3,100 feet. Section 21-township 23n-range 2w-sw-se. U.S. Air Force Band of the West Concert on FridayThe 45-member United States Air Force Band of the West, under the direction of Capt. Gena R. Stuchbery, commander/conductor, will be appearing in Ponca City Friday at the Hutchins Memorial Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are free and have all been distributed. Those with tickets are asked to be in their seats by 7:20 p.m. At that time, those that do not have tickets will be seated in the remaining available chairs. Capt. Stuchbery entered the United States Air Force in 1987 as a French Horn instrumentalist with the 539th Air Force Band of the West at Lackland AFB, Texas. A year later, she transferred to the Air Force Band of the Pacific, Yokota AB, Japan, where she served as NCOIC of the Pacific Brass Consort and Associate Conductor of the concert Band. In 1991, Capt. Stuchbery was selected to become a band officer, receiving her commission as a Distinguished Graduate of Officer Training School in April 1992. AMBUCS To Participate Feb. 19 In Nationwide Service EventChapters of the national service association AMBUCS will participate in a nationwide service event on Saturday, Feb. 19. This event, called National AMBUCS Service Day, is part of the association’s national visibility month celebrating its mission, creating independence for people with disabilities. On this day, AMBUCS chapters in 16 states will perform community service projects for people with disabilities. Projects will include wheelchair ramp building; therapeutic equipment donations such as the AmTryke, the therapeutic tricycle for children with disabilities; and celebration outings and parties for special populations. As the leading nonprofit volunteer service association for people with disabilities, AMBUCS chapters raise millions of dollars that are placed back into their local communities in a variety of ways. Installing grab handle bars in bathrooms of elderly citizens, visiting hospitals and schools, and participating in local Special Olympics events are just a few of the projects local chapters participate in every month. These local chapters are composed of dedicated men and women who donate their time and energy to help people with special needs. The individual chapters also contribute to the two national service programs of AMBUCS. These programs include the AmTryke Project and the AMBUCS Scholars Program, which awards over $250,000 in scholarships each year to students in accredited therapy programs. Through the AMBUCS Scholars Program, AMBUCS is currently the largest private single source of educational grants for therapists in America. The AmTryke Project places AmTrykes, a therapeutic tricycle, in the homes of children with disabilities, as well as the schools and rehabilitation facilities these children attend. The AmTryke allows the children to experience the joy of riding a bicycle with their peers, while building their muscles, stamina and self-esteem. To learn more about the projects of AMBUCS, visit www.ambucs.com. Tax Help AvailableAARP TAX-AIDE provides free tax assistance to those in need of help to properly file their income tax forms. The program is provided primarily to middle and low-income taxpayers age 60 and older, but will also assist others younger than 60 as time permits. AARP TAX-AIDE volunteers, trained in cooperation with the IRS, are knowledgeable about federal (IRS) income taxes as well as state income taxes. They can complete basic income tax forms and answer your tax questions. Income tax forms can be complicated. AARP TAX-AIDE can help. Tax assistance is available from Feb. 1 through April 17, 2000 every Monday through Thursday at the Ponca City Library between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. For assistance in preparing your income tax forms, please bring your current tax records and a copy of last year’s Federal and State income tax returns to the Ponca City Library with you. Girl Scout Cookie Creations Contest SetFirst United Methodist Church Women are sponsoring a double contest: a baking/cooking contest for adults and a visual art contest for youth. In both contests, the participants must use Girl Scout cookies. For the adults, they must create a recipe that uses any one of eight Girl Scout Cookies as one of the ingredients and then bring the food item to First United Methodist Church on Sunday, Feb. 20 by 1 p.m. to be judged. Two $50 shopping sprees, one from Buy for Less and one from United, are part of the prize package. There will be prizes given for the best tasting and best appearance. Beginning at 2 p.m. until 3 p.m., on Sunday, Feb. 20, the public is invited to come taste these Cookie Creations. Admission is $3 to taste all the various desserts. The youth contest will be a visual contest. Each group may make their entry out of any medium they wish, but they must be decorated with Girl Scout cookies. The cookies can be in any form: crushed, whole or fragments. Other decorating items can include frosting and candy. The base for the creation can be, but not limited to: cardboard, plastic, toys, Legos, poster board. The only limitation is the individual or group imagination and size: no larger than 3-foot x 3-foot x 3-foot. Each youth group must also provide their own container to collect donations. Prizes for the youth contest will be awarded to the two groups that raise the most money in their collection jars. The winning younger group will get a party at Kid’s Kastle. The winning older group will get a pizza party. Entry forms will be available at the First United Methodist Church office, at the Girl Scout office in the 200 block of East Chestnut each Monday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Buy for Less and United Food Stores, at the Asbury United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church, Albright United Methodist Church, and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Art Class OfferedRay Cantwell will teach a six-week course in oil painting for members of the Ponca City Art Association. The course, which costs $75, will be from 9 to 11:30 a.m. starting Tuesday and continuing through March 27. Family membership for the Art Association is $10. Cantwell gives painting workshops in several different states for Hobby Lobby and recently had a one-man show at the Ponca City Art Center. The classes will be held at the Art Center, located at 819 East Central. To register, or for further information, call 765-9746. Getting Kids Ready For SchoolFrom band members to football players, fifth graders and senior citizens, volunteers are holding children on their lap, reading stories, playing educational games and using hand puppets to help infants to six year olds begin to learn a love of reading and get ready to succeed in school. United Way of Ponca City has collaborated with the Ponca City Senior High School Service Learning classes, two fifth-grade Garfield Academy classes, and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program to provide tutoring for pre-school children. The goal of the program is to insure a child’s school readiness when they enter kindergarten so that they will be successful in school and less likely to drop out. The students and volunteers are matched with more than 80 children at the Child Development Center for the purpose of encouraging early development of literacy by providing one-on-one intellectual stimulation through reading and educational play. The expected results of the program are to begin breaking the cycle of illiteracy through early childhood intervention to insure school success that will in turn mean a more successful life. Children who do not receive adequate foundations for thinking and language have problems for life. Without this foundation these children are more likely to fail in school and later drop out. Research studies indicate that early positive exposure to children’s books, especially through reading aloud, helps children learn to read. The 1985 National Commission on Reading reported that children’s being read to was the single most important predictor of their later reading success. Reading aloud supports language and cognitive development, and, most importantly, children begin to view reading as a pleasurable experience. A positive relationship with books becomes critical when children enter school. To begin to turn around the dropout rate in our high schools, we must begin with very young children. The dropout rate appears to be due in large part to failure in school. Many failures in school can be traced back to low reading scores at a very early age. As a community of promise, one of the goals is to give youth the opportunity to serve. Teaching youth the value of serving at a young age will give them ownership in their community and will encourage them to become adult volunteers. Giving seniors at RSVP the opportunity to serve fulfills many needs. Most of these children are from single-family homes without an extended family. Having a “grandmother” or “grandfather” figure that cares about them and encourages them to read will have an influence on their later life. Intergenerational companionship and understanding is a win-win for both recipient and tutor. Many of the senior volunteers are alone in the community without family and, more importantly, grandchildren. Having a child who needs you has proven to increase health and decrease depression in seniors. The service-learning students write reflections about their time at the center. A few quotes from the students include, “I believe my service does, in fact, make a difference.” “I am helping young children to be open to learn.” “I believe that my being there for them is a great gift.” “My service is teaching me how to handle young children. It is teaching me that the most important things in a child’s life are the people around him or her.” Other remarks include, “I feel that my service can make a difference in children’s lives. I want them to realize that they can depend on me and that I am there to help them.” “The children are great. They are really starting to get to know us. They are happy to see us and sad to see us go.” “They really like to participate when we read books or do the interactive stories. It makes me feel good". Lament by Soil Conservationist Prompts State AwardWhen the bureaucrat speaks from the heart, people tend to listen up. An interview a year ago with soil conservationist Dick Zetterberg caught the attention of the state association of conservation districts and the Oklahoma Press Association. The result was another state press award for The Ponca City News. Following is a reprint of the article, which describes Zetterberg’s reaction to heavy flooding that ravaged area farms during the preceding months: Floods Push Conservation Back a Steppublished Feb. 10, 1999 By MARK GALVIN News Staff Writer NEWKIRK - In Kay County, where fertile farmland fills the floodplains, the latest in big ideas about erosion control may be to stop with all the big ideas. Last fall, after long and heavy rains across Kansas caused major flooding along the Chikaskia and Salt Fork rivers in parts of Kay County, at least one soil conservationist here started reassessing the methods used to protect area farms and crops near the riverbeds. Dick Zetterberg says it’s time to basically forego the bulldozers and backhoes in many areas and go back to native grasses and trees. Zetterberg is soil conservationist for the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), which serves county landowners via the Kay County Conservation District office in Newkirk. He said, “There’s no sense in letting the silt from our land go down the Chikaskia River and into the Salt Fork and down to Keystone Lake. If you farm to the edge of the waterway, it’s the difference between silt in the water system or, if you have a buffer strip, keeping the silt trapped in the grass.” The service and the conservation district have been working for years to help farmers grow crops on as much of their land as possible, often devising solutions where flat terrain and shallow rivers make solutions tricky or even impossible, Zetterberg said. Solutions frequently have involved structures such as dams and dikes to hold back flood waters and such as pipe drops to reduce erosion by directing flow more manageably. Zetterberg said even though the farmers in Kay County are very good conservationists, a major flood like last fall’s can quickly illustrate how temporary some ideas can be. He remarked, “With technology - in the United States in general - how do we solve problems? We build huge dams - Kaw Dam, the Tennessee Valley Authority - and hey, we can! We will! It’s always been an engineering solution. “We’ve tried to bulldoze enough dirt and tried to fix (a problem) that way, when maybe we should have said back then, ‘Let’s look at it a little differently - maybe this should go back to grass in here.’ “I guess you’d say we’ve tried to fix it with just engineering, instead of working with nature a little bit. We’re learning that you can control things for a while, but Mother Nature has a way of taking things back. “The convenience factor of equipment and technology possibly started to outweigh the factor that we’re starting to damage the land,” Zetterberg said. Resource Conservationist Lanny Miller at the NRCS technical office in Perry said some of the most productive farmland is the land most at risk from the elements. “You take a calculated risk whenever you remove the native vegetation from an area,” Miller said. When land areas are described in soil surveys as frequently flooded, he said, it means “some time in the history of the location it’s going to receive an overflow. “It doesn’t mean the farmer shouldn’t farm there. It’s a risk he has to take (because) farming is a gamble at the best, and even more of a gamble in the bottomland,” he said. For Zetterberg, the relatively new thought of controlling erosion by planting combinations of trees and grasses along waterways adjacent to farmland sounded odd at first. The buffers - strips of vegetation between the farmland and the waterway to trap sediment before it washes away - “are getting a lot of attention lately,” Zetterberg said. “I suppose it’s been about five or more years ago they started talking about buffers and more buffers and at first we were like, “What are you talking about?’ “But instead of going out there and channelizing the river - getting out the backhoes and the dozers and building a great big river channel and building dikes and all that - we’re now often saying, ‘Put it to grass.’ “Sometimes that’s a hard sell to a farmer, because they are out there trying to make a living. “But the small areas we’re talking about - a lot of times those are the exact areas where they don’t even raise a crop. The flood comes through there and destroys that portion of the crop so really they’re not losing that much. “This is probably some very, very productive soil down here so in certain years when they do get a crop its probably pretty good, but in the long run, you know, those good crops don’t average out enough to make up the difference,” Zetterberg said. In getting back to basics, it’s still important to follow the USDA soil survey completed for Kay County in the 1960s and that should always be the first step when assessing solutions to land problems, he said. The research completed then shows that some areas along rivers, despite high fertility, are unsuitable for cultivation. “It’s a flood plain,” he said. “It’s supposed to flood because that’s its function, so you need to manage it accordingly. “From Newkirk west, it’s almost all cultivated ground. When you put it all in cultivation, it makes a difference. “They farmed that ground for years without these problems and now they have them. It’s just weather cycles,” he said. “You kind of compromise with Mother Nature a little bit, and that’s just what conservation is, as opposed to preservation, where you don’t do anything to the land. “Conservation is the wise use of a resource and there are parts of it that you can’t use as intensively.” Farming is considered intensive, he said. Letter - Former PTC Instructor Offended by RemarksDr. Sally Downey was quoted in the News as saying that only “nonproductive employees” have left Pioneer Technology Center while implying that the high turnover at the school is unrelated to administrative policy and practice. As a former long-time teacher at PTC, and part of that turnover, I am offended. In addition to conducting a successful program, I spent many hours, over and above those required of me, working for a better school. For instance, I chaired the first North Central Association accrediting committee that successfully obtained accreditation for our school. One of my co-workers regularly enlisted the help of his family on the weekends to work on the school grounds. Many other colleagues who have left, willingly or unwillingly, also put in many unpaid hours to make Pioneer Technology Center a better school. For Sally Downey to imply that only nonproductive employees have left the school, and only in response to administrative pressure to perform, is a gross misrepresentation of the situation. It was noted in the Ponca City News that over 100 employees have left Pioneer Tech since the current administration took over. To lend perspective to this number, it is important to know that there have never been more than 82 full-time employees at the Center. This astonishing turnover rate has impacted the school’s performance in two major ways. First, the quality of some of the two-year daytime secondary school programs, which are the responsibility of Deputy Superintendent Dr. Janet Cox, suffers from a lack of continuity. One such program has had three teachers in three years. Another had five teachers in two years. Pioneer Technology Center was after all intended to be a high school and this kind of a record can’t be encouragement for students to perform, to re-enroll or to encourage other high school students to enroll. Secondly, this turnover must relate to the understanding of the area workforce needs, especially when the new faculty isn't from this area. In the best scenario, replacement faculty is unlikely to have experience or the educational achievement of departing faculty. In the worst, competent teachers don’t apply and replacement faculty may be unqualified. With the election of a new board member, Robert Howard, we can only hope that these problems will be addressed. Sara Swartz Letter - Blame the Government, Not TeachersThe truth, and the consequence of it!! Every time I turn on my TV, it seems as though someone is throwing rocks at the teachers. When they chose the occupation to teach, I doubt that they reasoned out the miseries that they were about to get themselves into. If they would have looked back on history, it wouldn’t have given them a clue as to the shock they would receive during the first week at school. They just thought they were going to have the control button. The group that has the “control button” and the right to push the button belongs to the government and the laws of the land. That’s sad, but it’s the truth. The teacher’s roll is the same roll as they had when I attended school some 50 years ago. “Back in the good ole days.” Back when we were taught the 3-R’s, which consisted of reading, writing and arithmetic. Our teachers taught an additional 3-R’s, and they were never given credit — not an award for their extra efforts for preparing us for our future. The additional 3-R’s? Reasoning, respect and reverence. We elderly folks use our reasoning very wisely. We try to show respect to anyone who will accept it, and we show reverence when the time to perform it is due. They also produced no illiterates, except for the few children who chose to use that stigma as an excuse later in their life. If you were lazy in school, then you became an illiterate on your own. We had a good school system back in those days. And the government didn’t have a damn thing to say about the way the school should be run, and that was a blessing that we didn’t realize until this day in time. Now the government has their foot in the door, and there are bureaucracies involved in every program the school is teaching — what a shame! The teachers of today have their hands tied even before they enter the school grounds. The school systems have programmed them as though they were robots. They can’t use their own unselfish manner in expressing the lesson of the day or hour. The teachers of today are trained to handle any situation that may take place in school (except correcting the children when they misbehave). Maybe they (teachers) should also receive prison guard pay, since they’re trained to guard the children while at school, plus a “babysitting” allowance for caring for the spoiled, unruly children that the unconcerned parents send them. Possibly, the teacher should receive some psychiatrist pay for their time used while discovering what causes a child’s emotional problems. With just a rough guess, I’d guess that the teachers are underpaid for a position in society that should be classed as an occupational hazard! The teachers today are not allowed to correct an unruly child, by law, and neither is the parent allowed to correct the child. The teacher and parent are in a boat that is slowly sinking while the government gets their foot further into the door. Throwin’ rocks at wrong persons!! It’s a shame, but it’s the truth!! Bob Reed Fairfax District CourtNewkirk Marriage Licenses Jesse Cole Younger, 21, and Kimberly Dawn Bell, 21, both of Blackwell. Joey Lynn Davis, 38, and Linda Ann Hone, 36, both of Wichita. Kevin Lynn Schoenfelder, 40, and Maria Leah Hancock, 42, both of Newkirk. Larry Leon Blunt, 33, and Tiffany Dawn Delaney, 23, both of Ponca City. Mark Benton Miller, 34, and Amanda Kay Russell, 28, both of Ponca City. Tommy Ice, 44, and Shirley Ellen Woodward, 55, both of Ponca City. John Woodson James, 29, and Bobbie Sue Melius, 16, both of Ponca City. David Blake Marshall, 37, and Devra Kay Owens, 32, both of Blackwell. Clyde Martin Seal, 53, and Lorrinda Faye Hageman, 34, both of Ponca City. Gary Gilbert Taylor, 19, and Angelia Lind Jarvis, 19, both of Tonkawa. Donald Abram Hoover, 42, and Cheryl Ann Lewis, 38, both of Ponca City. Divorces Sought Lloyd Ray Horton vs. Dereecia Ann Horton. Heidi Suzanne Bufford vs. Samuel Wayne Bufford. Gary Lynn Wilson vs. Martha Wilson. Edward Joseph Strother II vs. Karen Kay Strother. Divorces Granted Daniel T. Shoats vs. Charlene Leree Shoats. Blackwell Divorces Granted Verla L. Banister vs. Melvin L. Banister; plaintiff restored to former name Verla L. Johnico. April Lynn Proctor vs. Brooks Dale Proctor. Ponca City Divorces Sought Deanna Marie Barnett vs. Andrew Floyd Barnett. Priscilla Beathard vs. Douglas Beathard. Lillie Mae Smith vs. Jerry Duane Smith. Deborah Ann Depuy vs. Derek Jan Depuy. Cliff Eugene Carter vs. LaDonna Renae Carter. Merlene Joy Denison vs. William Stanford Denison. William Mark Corff vs. Laura Anne Corff. David A. Rogers vs. Betty L. Rogers. Darla K. Zoski vs. David P. Zoski. Angelique S. Cheeseman vs. Gregory Lee Cheeseman. Steven Michael Fugate vs. Jamie Louise Fugate. Michael Shannon Ryan vs. Danielle Marie Ryan. Amy Sue DeCosta vs. David Lee DeCosta. Sandra Lee Linton vs. John Carl Linton. Divorces Granted Amy Katherine Duncan vs. Jeffery David Duncan; plaintiff restored to former name Amy Katherine James. Tammy Marlene Moss vs. Clinton Ray Moss. John N. Fleharty vs. Peggy J. Fleharty. Gloria A Crosthwait vs. James T. Crosthwait. Martin L. Thiele vs. Dollie Thiele. Linda Lee Kuhns vs. Larry Robert Kuhns. Christina Arlene Cranford vs. Arley A. Cranford; plaintiff restored to former name Fritchman. Lisa C. Harp vs. Kenneth E. Harp; plaintiff restored to former name Lisa C. Smith. Larry M. Thompson vs. Lisa Renee Thompson. Area CalendarNow through Feb. 28 Ponca City Art Association Annual Membership Show, Art Center, 819 East Central, judge will be Judith A. Dwornik, Oklahoma City. February 16 Ponca City Tourism Authority, 2 p.m., Cultural Center Sunroom, 1000 East Grand Avenue. February 17 Share lunch with Lou Dean, author of Osage County Kids, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Ponca City Library, Dean will discuss various aspects of authorship, bring a lunch, drinks provided. February 18 Byron Berline Band, 7:30 p.m. at the Poncan Theatre, sponsored by the Ponca City Arts & Humanities Council. Free admission, no tickets necessary. February 20 Black History Month Program, 3:30 p.m., St. John Baptist Church, 1009 South Eleventh Street, Ponca City, presented by Ponca City Network Group and Essence Club. February 21 Multiple Sclerosis Support Group, 6:30 p.m., Albright United Methodist Church, 128 South Palm Street, Ponca City, call Lori White, 767-1668 for more information. United Ostomy Association, Stillwater-Ponca City Chapter, 7 p.m., June Parsons, LPN, retired ostomy nurse, Baptist Hospital, Stillwater Medical Center Board Room. February 24 Alzheimer’s Support Group, 7 p.m., Conference Room A (in cafeteria), St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Ponca City. American Legion Huff-Minor Post 14, 7:30 p.m., Post Home, 407 West South Avenue, Ponca City. March 2 Kay-9 Dog Training Club, 7 p.m., Ponca City Library, public welcome, information 762-9053 or 762-7360. March 4 American Legion pancake and sausage feed (all the pancakes you can eat), from 6:30 to 10 a.m., Post Home, 407 West South Avenue, Ponca City. Adults $3.50. Children under 12: $2. Children under 6: free. Proceeds will go to children and youth activities. Christian Motorcycle Association, 8 a.m., Western Sizzlin’, Ponca City. Humane Society Sock Hop, Dave May and Sound Machine providing music, 7:30-11:30 p.m., Ponca City’s Unity Gym, refreshments available, $12 per person. March 8 Rural Water, Sewer and Solid Waste Management District No. 3 Board Meeting, 7 p.m., District Pump House, Perch Lane, Sandy Park Estates. March 9 Agrarian Club, 6 p.m., southwest meeting room, Western Sizzlin’, Ponca City. American Legion Huff-Minor Post 14, 7:30 p.m., Post Home, 407 West South Avenue, Ponca City. March 14 AARP, 12:30 p.m., Wheatheart Nutrition Center, Ponca City. Kaw Lake Association 2000 Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Kay Electric, Blackwell. McCord Volunteer Fire Department, 7 p.m., McCord School Library. March 16 KLVV 88.7 FM presents FFH and special guest Aaron Benward in concert at Enid’s Mark Price Arena at 7 p.m. Tickets go on sale Feb. 9. Call 767-1400 for more information. March 21 Osage Cove Volunteer Fire Department, 7 p.m., Fire Station, corner U.S. 60E and Keeler Road, new volunteers always welcome. March 23 Alzheimer’s Support Group, 7 p.m., Conference Room A (in cafeteria), St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Ponca City. March 31 Howard Hanger Jazz Fantasy, 7:30 p.m. at the Poncan Theatre, sponsored by the Ponca City Arts & Humanities Council. Free admission, no tickets necessary. April 1 American Legion pancake and sausage feed (all the pancakes you can eat), from 6:30 to 10 a.m., Post Home, 407 West South Avenue, Ponca City. Adults $3.50. Children under 12: $2. Children under 6: free. Proceeds will go to children and youth activities. DEATHSScott Alan Brownfield Scott Alan BrownfieldScott Alan Brownfield, 7151 Souligny Road, Ponca City, died Monday, Feb. 14, 2000, 10:50 p.m. at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Oklahoma City. He was 30. The funeral will be Thursday, 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church, Tonkawa, with the Rev. Dr. Richard Thomasson, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of the Trout Funeral Home. Military graveside honors will be provided by the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 47 of Ponca City. Born May 10, 1969, at Midwest City, he was the son of Kelly Arlen and Barbara Jean Huebner Brownfield. He graduated from Ponca City High School in 1987 and, in October of that year, joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He received the Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and Rifle Expert medals. He was honorably discharged with the rank of corporal in February of 1991. Brownfield was a member of the First Baptist Church of Tonkawa, a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 85, Oklahoma City, and Chapter 47, Ponca City. He also served on the honor guard for the Oklahoma City DAV. He enjoyed collecting firearms, hunting, fishing, and camping. He is survived by his parents, Kelly and Barbara Brownfield of Ponca City; his brother, Kenneth Michael Brownfield and his wife, Tisha; maternal grandparents, Howard and Vivian Huebner of Westhampton, N.Y., and grandmother Jeanne Ballard of Ponca City; one niece and nephew; and numerous aunts and uncles. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, John and Mary Brownfield, and grandfather, Jack L. Ballard. Memorials may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, 401 South Lincoln, Ponca City, Okla. 74601 The family will be at the home, 7151 Souligny Road. paid obituary Florence HendricksonFlorence Hendrickson, longtime Ponca City resident, died Monday, Feb. 14, 2000, at her son’s home in Ponca City. She was 89. The funeral will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, 2000, at Grace Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Don Martin, pastor of Prairie Chapel United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow in the Longwood Cemetery. Florence Hendrickson was born Feb. 13, 1911, in Kaw City, the daughter of Frank M. and Susie (Finley) McClung. She grew up in the Kaw City area and received her education there. On Jan. 9, 1929, she married Clifford W. Hendrickson in Kaw City, and the couple made their home on the Hendrickson family farm. She was a homemaker, taking care of her home and family as well as helping her husband on the farm. She was a member of the Prairie Chapel United Methodist Church and the Home Demonstration Club, and she enjoyed fishing and quilting. She is survived by one daughter, Shirley Ware of Carthage, Mo.; two sons, Hal Hendrickson of Ponca City and Donald Hendrickson of Houston, Texas; two brothers, Virgil McClung of Blackburn and Raymond McClung of Seattle, Wash.; six grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; two brothers, Ray and Glen McClung; two sisters, Emma and Virgie; two grandchildren; and three infant brothers and sisters. Casket bearers will be James Hendrickson, Merle Ware, Dion Ware, Charlie Hendrickson, Don Hendrickson and Floyd Walker. Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation for heart research, 825 NE 13th Street, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73104. The family will be at the Hal Hendrickson home, 4152 West Coleman Road. Harold Kenneth SandbornBLACKWELL — Harold Kenneth “Kenny” Sandborn, resident of Braman, died Monday afternoon, Feb. 14, 2000, at his home. He was 56. The funeral will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, 2000, in the gymnasium of Braman High School. The Rev. Jackie Crafton of the First Assembly of God Church will officiate assisted by Jerry Johnston of Braman. Burial will be in the Braman Cemetery under the direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home. Harold Kenneth Sandborn was born Jan. 28, 1944, in Arkansas City, Kan., the son of Kenneth R. and Elda (France) Sandborn. He grew up in Burden, Kan., until the fourth grade, when he moved with his family to Winfield, Kan. At age 12, they moved to Newkirk and then, during his high school years, they moved to Highland, Ind., where he attended high school. Following his schooling, he began working for the city of Highland and later Ford Motor Company. In 1976, he returned to Winfield and began working for Ranger Tree Service. He married Barbara J. Crittenden in October of 1978 in Tisdale, Kan., and they settled in Arkansas City. He then began driving a truck for Gary Staples Trucking and, later, the Joe Gibson Trucking Company. He continued driving a truck for the Wilcox and Sons Trucking Company before working for the city of Braman. He was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Blackwell. Survivors include his wife of the home; his mother, Elda Harris of Blackwell; one daughter, Kathy Tucker of Albion, Ind.; two sons, H.K. Sandborn Jr. and Jimmy Sandborn, both of Braman; three stepdaughters, Sherri Wood of Choctaw, Sherry McColly of Fairdealing, Mo., and Patti Dye of Gary, Ind.; one stepson, Sonny Engleking of Arkansas City; one sister, Judy Knight of Highland, Ind.; four brothers, Donnie Sandborn of Lapunte, Calif., Gary Sandborn of Wichita, Kan., Bob Sandborn of Braman, and Danny Sandborn of Dewey; and 17 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father and his stepfather, Joe E. Harris. Casket bearers will be Bobby Sandborn Jr., Damon Horton, Steve Short, Dan Hartman, Kenny Sandborn Jr. and Duke Short. Honorary bearers will be Jerry Johnston, Gerry Ingram, Duane Head, Ric Thompson and Keith Neaman. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Assembly of God Church or Hospice of Ponca City c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 West Padon, Blackwell, Okla. 74631. Jennie Lee Harmand JonesGUTHRIE — Jennie Lee Hamand Jones, a longtime resident of the Newkirk and Ponca City area, passed away Feb. 13, 2000, at the Logan Hospital in Guthrie. She was 93. Jennie Lee was born July 11, 1906, at Chanute, Kan., the daughter of Jennie Agnes Robbins Fish and Samuel Joseph Fish. She is survived by four children, Verna Lee Thies of Denver, Colo., Franklin Samuel Hamand of Carmen, Okla., Jennie Kathrine Simpson and her husband Don of Carmen, and Jessie Irene Piel and her husband Bill of Ponca City; 12 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; five brothers; two sisters; one daughter, Leora Lucile; and her husbands, Wesley William Hamand and Harold Jones. Services will be held 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 18, 2000, at the Smith Funeral Home in Guthrie. Burial will be at the Newkirk Cemetery at 1 p.m. A memorial has been established in Mrs. Jones name at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1085 East Towes Road, Box 2291, Ponca City, Okla. 74602, where she was a charter member. paid obituary Eugene D. SmithEugene D. Smith, longtime Ponca City resident, died Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2000, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. He was 92. The funeral service will be held Thursday, Feb. 17, 2000, at 2 p.m. at Trout Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Fredia Widener officiating. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery. Eugene Daniel Smith was born on June 8, 1907, in White County near Enfield, Ill., and later moved with his family to the small cotton and lumbering town of Canalou, Mo. Eugene was the youngest of eight children of James and Mary Smith and was the last survivor of that family. He and his future wife, Pearl McDaniel, grew up together and became childhood sweethearts in Canalou. When hard times set in, the McDaniel family moved to western Oklahoma in 1927 and, a few months later, were joined by Eugene. He and Pearl were married on July 21, 1929, in Woodward. In the summer of 1935, Mr. and Mrs. Smith and two young sons moved to Ponca City where Mr. Smith was employed for several years at the Cities Service refinery. During World War II, Mr. Smith worked at several defense-related construction sites in New Mexico, Kansas, and Connecticut. Near the end of the war, he joined the Conoco team where he worked for nearly 20 years as a journeyman welder until retirement in July of 1972. Pearl, his wife of over 69 years, died Dec. 14, 1998, after a long illness. Caring for both Mr. and Mrs. Smith for the past few years included their daughter Barbara and son Jim and caregivers Fredia Widener, Misti Burton, Lois Fahs, and Sheila Harris. Mr. Smith is survived by two sons, Kenneth E. Smith and his wife Evelyn of Chesterfield, Mo., and Jim L. Smith of Ponca City; daughter, Barbara Watson and her husband Harold of Ponca City; four grandchildren, Mark Smith, Leslie Schauvliege, Steve Smith and Randy Smith: and two great-grandchildren, Haley and Stacy Schauvliege. paid obituary Francis J. FultonFrancis J. Fulton, Ponca City resident, died Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2000, at Westminster Village. He was 93. A memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 18, 2000, at the Trout Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Sheila Combs-Francis, pastor of Albright United Methodist Church, officiating. Francis was born Dec. 26, 1906, in Trading Post, Kan., to Earl and Maude Ina Church Fulton. He was united in marriage on June 15, 1929, in Olathe, Kan., to Dorothy Lee McDonald. Dorothy preceded Francis in death Feb. 21, 1970. He later married Mildred Armstrong in Enid. Francis was employed with Conoco Pipeline and retired in 1969. Francis was committed to his family as a husband, father, grandpa, and great-grandpa. His unconditional love, compassion and support encouraged each one of us to grow and flourish in our own lives. Grandpa loved to fish, travel and was an avid gardener, always sharing the fruits of his labors with others. The hats he wore always fit his personality to a T. He never met a man he didn’t like or wouldn’t help. From the stranded motorist on the road to foreigner on a cruise ship, his feisty character and wit charmed everyone who crossed his path in life. He became a world renowned “grandpa,” and this is the title he was most proud of. Grandpa had a never-ending supply of energy, enthusiasm, generosity, kindness and compassion. His love for his fellow man has always been demonstrated in his ability to give himself to others. He was a man of few needs, but always illustrated a huge desire to give, and did so unconditionally. From putting on a new roof or digging a storm cellar for his friends and neighbors, he was always there to help. Grandpa was truly innovative and creative. He made everything from handmade footballs to the world’s best stilts, plus the water skis he made and still skied on until he was age 75. If he didn’t have the right tool, he’d make it. He quietly went about creating many things to please everyone around him in so many ways. We will all miss his beautiful smile and the twinkle in his eye, but our hearts will always be warmed by the precious memories of this kind and gentle man. Survivors include three daughters, Betty Sanders and husband Jay D. of Ponca City, Jo Harrisberger of Virginia Beach, Va., and Donna Miller and husband Bill of Las Vegas, Nev.; six grandchildren Glenn Sanders of Wichita, Kan., Steven Sanders of Ponca City, Lynn Harrisberger of Virginia Beach, Va., Lea Pateman of Guildford, England, Jill Valiant of Joshua Tree, Calif., and Brent Miller of Crescent; five great-grandchildren, Anthony Sanders, and Charlie Pateman, Chris Pateman, Emma Pateman, and Sasha Pateman of Guildford, England; a niece, Lynda Thompson of Evergreen, Colo.; and nephew, Larry Fulton of Evergreen, Colo. He was preceded in death by his parents, two wives, and one brother. Casket bearers will be Lynn Harrisberger, Steve Sanders, Jill Miller, Brent Miller, Larry Fulton and Lynda Fulton. Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 6465 S. Yale Street, Suite 318, Tulsa, Okla. 74136. The family will greet friends at the funeral home Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m. paid obituary Services PendingGenevieve W. PollakGenevieve Washington Pollak, longtime rural Ponca City resident, died early Wednesday morning, Feb. 16, 2000, at her home. She was 70. Evening prayer services will be 7 p.m. nightly through Friday at the Ponca Indian Church of The Nazarene. Arrangements are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. NEWS BRIEFSPC Humane Society Sock Hop — Devoted to You is the theme at this years A Fetching Affair Sock Hop, sponsored by the Ponca City Humane Society on Saturday, March 4, from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the Unity Gym. Dance music will be provided by The Oldies Station KLOR Music Machine. Tickets are $12 and available at the Ponca City Humane Society or from a board member. Proceeds benefit the humane society. Game Night Set for Singles — Singles Connection will hold Game Night at the Fourth Street Clubhouse on Friday at 7 p.m. Bring your favorite snack or pop. On Saturday the group will meet for a Post-Valentine Dance at Grand Central Station at 7:30 p.m. with music by Dave and Lori May. For more information, call Mary Lou at 762-0578. Bicycle Stolen — A woman from the 500 block of North Oak Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 7:31 a.m. Tuesday that a bicycle had been stolen. Suspicious Activity — The Ponca City Police Department received a report from the 100 block of North Lake Street at 8:09 a.m. Tuesday that some juveniles were smoking. An officer was assigned and juvenile citations were issued. Burglary — The Communications Center received a report at 9:29 a.m. Tuesday that the Airport’s storage building in the 700 block of West Hartford Avenue had been broken into. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Vandalism — An employee at LeMonnier Construction, 1304 Princeton Avenue, reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 9:31 a.m. Tuesday that someone had thrown bricks through the windows of several trucks. The information was logged and a request was made for an extra patrol. Bomb Threat — The Ponca City Police Department received a report at 11:01 a.m. Tuesday from the 2100 block of North Ash Street that a bomb threat had been received. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Abandoned Bicycle — The Ponca City Police Department received a report at 12:28 p.m. Tuesday that a bicycle had been abandoned in the 1900 block of North Fourteenth Street. Animal Control was notified to pick up the bicycle. Abandoned Vehicle — A man from the 900 block of North Third Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 12:54 p.m. Tuesday that a vehicle had been abandoned in the drive. The vehicle was towed from the scene. Harassment — The Ponca City Police Department received a report at 12:57 p.m. Tuesday that a subject was being harassed by a female classmate. The information was logged. Accident — The Communications Center received a report at 1:08 p.m. Tuesday that a two-vehicle non-injury accident partially blocking the roadway at the intersection of Oklahoma 11 and Enterprise Road had occurred. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol was notified. Theft — The Ponca City Police Department received a report from the 2100 block of Wildwood at 1:26 p.m. Tuesday that a license tag sticker had been stolen. Wheels Stolen — A man from the 400 block of South Fourteenth Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 2:11 p.m. Tuesday that some wheels had been stolen. Grass Fire — The Communications Center received a report at 2:36 p.m. Tuesday that a grass fire was burning between Miller Lane and Sunny Lane off old U.S. 60 west of Ponca City. Ranch Drive Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene. Accident — A two-vehicle, non-injury accident at the intersection of West Grand Avenue and Pine Street was reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 2:57 p.m. Tuesday. an officer was assigned and a report was taken. A 23-year-old woman was held on two Kay County warrants. Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 1300 block of East Summers Place at 3:51 p.m. Tuesday that a 14-year-old boy was being held for indecent exposure and sexual battery. Bicycle Stolen — A man from the 100 block of North Ninth Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 5:06 p.m. Tuesday that a bicycle had been stolen from the residence. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Vandalism — A man from the 1100 block of East Prospect Avenue reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 5:47 p.m. Tuesday that his vehicle had been damaged while at Wal-Mart. An officer was assigned and a vandalism report was taken. Accident — A two-vehicle accident in the parking lot of the 300 block of West Hartford Avenue was reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 5:54 p.m. Tuesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Fight — The Communications Center received a call at 8:04 p.m. Tuesday that a fight was in progress in the 1300 block of West Highland Avenue. An officer of the Ponca City Police Department responded and information was logged that three juveniles were fighting, and they two were released with a promise to appear. Subjects Held — Three officers of the Ponca City Police Department responded at 9:33 p.m. to the 2400 block of North Fourteenth Street on a report of narcotics violation. Taken into custody were a 20-year-old man for possession of marijuana and contributing to a minor, a 20-year-old woman for assault and battery on an officer and obstructing, and a 16-year-old boy for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Dogs Stolen — The Ponca City Police Department received a call at 6:53 a.m. Wednesday from the 2000 block of East Central Avenue that Animal Control had been broken into and dogs had been stolen. LIFESTYLESKildare FCE Group Meets, Discusses Recycling Center Kildare FCE Group Meets, Discusses Recycling CenterThe Kildare FCE group met Feb. 9 in the home of Melba Irwin. Karen Overman, president, called the meeting to order, and Helen Janda led the group in singing “Let It Snow.” Mrs. Irwin read devotions from “Malachi.” Seven members answered roll call, which was “what type of exercise do you do?” Iva Lee Harris, secretary, read the minutes, and a thank you card for a family dinner the group provided. The county newsletter was read and county reports given. Announcement was made that a workshop on cinnamon rolls would be held Feb. 16. Stacie Schneeberger and Kaycee Brandon, 4-H members, will conduct the workshop. A report was given about recycling trash and taking it to the recycle center, 1001 West Prospect, in Ponca City. The Kay County Association meeting will be held Feb. 28 in the FCE building in Blackwell. Members with perfect attendance include Mary Buesing, Margaret Hoepfinger and Melba Irwin. The Kildare Rural Water District supper will be March 18 at the Kildare School. A menu was planned and Kildare 4-H members will be assisting Kildare FCE with the event. The Kildare FCE leaders lesson was presented by Mrs. Irwin with the topic being “Keep It Moving, Exercises You Can Do.” She focused on swimming as exercise. On Feb. 25 Marie Ewy will attend the lesson meeting on “Simple Home Repair” at the FCE building. Members worked on 30 tooth fairy pillows to present to kindergarten students at the Kildare and Peckham schools. Toothbrushes and toothpaste will be added to the pillows before delivery. Winning game prizes were Karen Overman and Melba Irwin. Margaret Hoepfinger of Newkirk will host the Feb. 23 meeting. Grandmothers Sought For Apple ContestOKLAHOMA CITY. Okla. They’re looking for a few good grannies. IGA Foods and the Washington State Apple Commission are sponsoring a contest to find an on-the-go grandmother from Oklahoma who personifies the healthful attributes of Washington state’s famous Granny Smith apples. Ray Killgore, spokesman for IGA Superthrift, said the retailer is looking for help to find a special grandma who, like a Granny Smith apple, has “a-peel.” “We’re looking for grandmothers who are outgoing, live life to the fullest and are active in their communities,” Killgore said. “We’ll be choosing a winner from the area in April, who will win an all expenses-paid trip to the finals in Washington state in May. Killgore said the winning grandma will also be able to bring a companion to the finals, all expenses paid. This is the fourth year IGA Foods has sponsored the contest. Last year the winner was 57 year-old Peggy Phelps of Moore. The grandmother of five and stepgrandmother of two, Phelps has even aided in raising, some of her grandchildren. Her hobbles include sewing, quilting, knitting, embroidery and cross-stitch. At the Granny Finale in May, an overall Search for a Granny Smith winner will be selected. She will be the apple commission’s official “spokesgranny” for the next year, appearing on supermarket posters and traveling the U.S. and Canada to promote apples and healthy lifestyles. Killgore said all IGA stores located throughout Oklahoma will have contest entry forms available through March 1. People can also write, in 100 words or less, what makes their nominee special, and send a non-returnable photo to: Granny Smith; 6608 N. Western Ave., 4296, Oklahoma City, OK 73116. The deadline for receiving entries is April 7, 2000. Killgore said the success of the search depends totally on the children, grandchildren, spouses or friends of noteworthy grandmas. “Everyone loves grandmas, and we’re looking forward to hearing about all the wonderful grandmas in our area,” Killgore said. Little NewsAnnouncing the birth of a daughter are Stephanie Mathews and Andrew Darren Watson. Caitlyn René Watson was born at 2 p.m. Jan. 20, 2000, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. The baby weighed 10 pounds, 1 ounce, and measured 22 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Dennis and Debbie Mathews of Ponca City, and paternal grandparents are Marsha Kay Watson of Stuart, and the late Robert George Watson. ———— Austin Mikal Rivers is the name chosen by Mikal W. and Tammy L. Rivers, 316 South Franklin, for their son born at 4:13 p.m. Jan. 18, 2000, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. The baby weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces, and measured 22 inches long. He has a sister, Caitlin Fay Rivers. Maternal grandparents are Rodney Rowe of Ponca City, and the late Janis Jackson. Paternal grandparents are Jimmy and Brenda Rivers of Arkansas City, Kan. Great-grandmothers include Nadine Jackson of Ponca City. SPORTSSenior Night Friday at Wildcat Game Senior Night Friday at Wildcat GameBy KRISTI HAYES News Education Editor Ponca City Senior High students on the Lady Wildcat and Wildcat basketball teams will be honored Friday night for Senior Night at 6:15 p.m. Basketball games will follow with the girls teams playing Stillwater at 6:30 p.m. and the boys game at 8 p.m. Seniors to be honored Friday include Derek Colvin, A.J. Evans, Matt Evans, Jeff Furnas, Blake Geubelle, Brooke Hines, Michael Kirby, Lecia Newland, Bret Skaggs, Alana Smith, Allison Stotts and Laura Sudbury. Derek Colvin is the son of Sherri Colvin. He has played competitive basketball for two years and is involved in U-turn, the church youth group at Four Square Church. He plans to attend Arizona State and major in architecture. A.J. Evans is the son of Terry and Jan Evans and has been the manager of the Po-Hi Wildcats for two years. He is on the Principal’s Honor Roll and is listed in Who’s Who Among American High School Students. A.J. is a member of Post 69 and will participate in The Great Race this summer. He plans to attend NOC then OSU and major in architecture. Matt Evans, the son of Terry and Jan Evans, has also been the manager of the team for two years. He is listed on the Superintendent’s Honor Roll and Who’s Who Among American High School Students. After graduation, he plans to attend NOC then OSU but is undecided on a major. Jeff Furnas is the son of Charley and Janie Furnas. He is a three-year letterman in basketball and two-year letterman in baseball. he was a member of the 6A State Academic Champions as a sophomore, All-Conference in baseball as a junior, and was selected to play in Hoopsmart Classic in Hawaii last summer. He was voted this year’s King of Courts. He has been on the honor roll for four years, selected for Who’s Who, Boys State and Student Rotarian. He is also involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Foreign Language Club. Jeff hopes to get a basketball or baseball scholarship and major in business. Blake Geubelle is the son of Bill and Marianne Geubelle. He has played basketball for 10 years and is a two-year letterman in both basketball and football. He was All-Conference his freshmen year, nominee for Wendy’s Heisman Award and a member of the 6A Academic State Champions his sophomore year. He is on the honor roll, a member of the National Honor Society, Who’s Who, and a Boys State delegate. Is is involved in many other student activities at the high school. After graduation, he plans to attend OSU and major in finance. Brooke Hines, the daughter of Gene and Dana Hines, has played basketball for eight years and is a four-year letterman in track. She is presently the manager for the Lady Wildcats. She is on the honor roll, president of the Library Club, a member of the Leo Club, Student Council and won Best in State for human video drama. She is a member of the First Assembly of God youth group and plans to attend NOC and eventually OSU. Michael Kirby is the son of James and Robbie Kirby. He has played basketball for eight years and track for four. he is a member of the National Honor Society, Oklahoma Honor Society, Who’s Who and a reporter for the sophomore class. He is a member of the High School Heroes, his Baptist Church youth group and plans to attend OSU after graduation. Lecia Newland is the daughter of Dennis and Judi Newland. She has participated in basketball for seven years and worked as a manager for two. She attended summer basketball camps where she was awarded Free Throw Awards for five years and All-Star Award for four years. She is on the honor roll and a member of Who’s Who. She attends St. Lukes Nazarene Church and plans to attend NOC then OSU and major in child development. Bret Skaggs, the son of Mickey and Maria Skaggs, has been involved in basketball for 11 years. He has lettered his sophomore, junior and senior year as a member of the varsity team and was a member of the 1998 6A Basketball Academic State Champions. He is on the honor roll, Who’s Who, a Boys State delegate and representative for Student council. He has participated in soccer and football, receiving numerous awards and was voted Senior Attendant for this year’s Queen of Courts. After graduation, Bret plans to continue his education and sports in college. Alana Smith is the daughter of Alan and Judy Smith. She has been playing basketball for eight years, earning the award for the highest GPA and Best Defender her junior year. She is a member of Who’s Who, National Honor Society and was a Girls State delegate. She has also been awarded numerous other awards including Outstanding Sophomore Girl, Sophomore Class Vice President, Homecoming attendant and was voted this year’s Queen of Courts. She plans to attend OSU majoring in business. Allison Stotts, the daughter of Stephen Stotts, has been playing basketball for eight years. Her awards include, Outstanding Freshman Player, Coaches Award, Homecoming attendant, All-District, and captain her junior year. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Who’s Who, Kiwanis and the honor roll. After graduation, Allison plans to attend Kansas University. Laura Sudbury is the daughter of Byron Sudbury and Mary Ann Sudbury. She has been involved in basketball for nine years and is a three-year letterman. She won the Rebounding Award, was All-Conference her freshman year and voted Senior Attendant for Queen of Courts. Laura is an honor roll student and a member of the National Honor Society, Who’s Who and a Girls State delegate. She is also a member of the Leo club, Science Club, Key Club, on the soccer team and a member of her church’s youth group. She plans to attend college and major in sports medicine. Lady Cats Ready For All ComersBy FRED HILTON News Sports Editor Now Lady Wildcat coach Dana Pulley doesn’t care which team the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association pairs her girls against in the regional tournament. “Bring on Jenks,” she enthused. “We’ll beat them, too.” Pulley’s enthusiasm can be chalked up to exuberance after the Lady Cats blasted highly regarded Broken Arrow 72-61 Tuesday night in Robson Field House. It was the Po-Hi girls’ most productive game of the season. The Ladies have now won four of their last six games to stand 5-10 in the Frontier Conference and 6-15 overall. Actually, Pulley still feels the Lady Cats were unfairly paired with No. 4 ranked Jenks for the first round of the playoffs. But she can’t do anything about that now and the Lady Cats appear to be shaking loose from a season of frustration. “Right now I feel we can play with anyone,” the coach said. They certainly outplayed Broken Arrow on Tuesday, a team which had mauled Ponca City back in December. The Lady Cats shot 52 percent from the field (26-of-50) including 9-of-15 from 3-point range. So what has caused the turnaround after the Po-Hi girls were sometimes lucky to shoot 20 percent in some earlier game? “Confidence.” Pulley says simply. “Now the players know they can score. They know when they go to the basket the ball is going in. Then know when they shoot a 3-pointer, it’s going in. Before, they would shoot and wonder if it was going to go through.” It was a trey by Tara Cries For Ribs, who finished with 21 points, that broke a 16-16 tie to start the second period and keyed a 17-6 run. That gave the Poncans a lead they never relinquished. The Poncans ended the first half in front 39-29. They also didn’t let up, padding the lead to 56-41 by the end of the third period. Broken Arrow didn’t go quietly. The Lady Tigers threw up a tough full court press to start the final quarter. It resulted in three turnovers when Broken Arrow converted into a conventional three and two treys to trim the Cats’ led to 56 -50. Cries For Ribs came up with another three to halt the slide. Laura Sudbury (14 points) sank a soft jumper and Jenna Wedd (15 points) drove in for a lay up. That launched a 15-8 run that put the game out of reach. Despite missing 6-of-7 free throw attempts down the stretch with the game pretty much in hand, the Ponca Citians finished the night 11-of-21 from the free throw line and had just 10 turnovers. The Lady Wildcats finish in the regular season Friday night against Stillwater here. It will be Senior Night with four senior girls playing their final home game. The girls play at 6:30 with the boys’ game scheduled for 8. Ponca City 72, Broken Arrow 61 Broken Arrow 16 13 12 20 — 61 Ponca City 16 23 17 16 — 72 Ponca City — Tara Cries For Ribs 21. Jenna Wedd 115, Laura Sudbury 14, Jena Birdsong 11, Courtney Birdsong 7, Alana Smith 4 Broken Arrow — Brooke Hayden 13, Octavia Holmes 13. Jodie Agree 8, Anna Snedecker 8, Kayci Smith 6, Kayla Armstrong 5, Destiny Frankenstein 2. Cats Miss Too Many CharitiesBy FRED HILTON New Sports Editor Perhaps the Wildcats should shoot their free throws from the top of the key. The Cats cagers were a frigid 9-of-20 from the free throw line in a 74-71 loss to Broken Arrow Tuesday in Robson Field House. But those same shooters banged in 10-of-18 3-point shots. It was one of those nighs when the Wildcats played well and had a chance to come away with a big win. It just didn’t happen. Now 4-11 in Frontier Conference play, 6-15 overall, Ponca City just couldn’t get the right shots to fall at the right time. In what turned out to be a 3-point contest — Broken Arrow hit 11 3’s on the night — stayed with the 8-7, 12-9 Tigers but came up short in the final minutes. Faced with a tall zone defense, the Wildcats started shooting over it early. Threes by Billy Broughton and Jeff Furnas, both of whom finished with 20 points on the night, gave the Cats an early 12 -5 lead. But the Tigers responded with their own long distance gunners and the shootout was on. As hot as the Cats were from outside, they were that cold from the free throw line, hitting just 1-of-6 chances in the first quarter and were 4-of-12 by halftime. Still the score was tied at 36-36 at the intermission when Furnas dropped in a pair of charity tosses with just seconds left in the half. Fortunately for the Wildcats, the Tigers weren’t any better at free throw shooting (11-of-26) and the score was still tied, 51-51, entering the fourth period. Blaine Petrie stuffed back a Ponca City miss and Furnas banged in one of four treys on the night to give the Wildcats a quick 56-51 start. But the Poncans couldn’t expand on the lead and Broken Arrow started to come back, finally taking a 65-64 lead with just three minute left. The Tigers built the margin to 68-64 before Tim Frick hit from just inside the arc to cut the led to two. Ponca City won the ensuing exchange of free throws with Furnas canning two to bring the Cats to within one, 69-68, with 34.3 seconds left. The Wildcats had a chance to go ahead, but missed a couple of hurried shots which resulted in fast-break lay ups by Broken Arrow and a 73-68 lead. But the Poncans refused to go away. Tim Frick cashed in the final three of the evening to cut the lead back to two, 73-71. Broken Arrow hit one of two free throws and the Wildcats got the ball back with 1.7 seconds remaining. However, Frick’s 3-point heave at the buzzer from just inside the half court line was a little off to the right of the hoop. The Wildcats close out the regular season Friday with Senior Night against Stillwater. Five Wildcat seniors will be playing their final home game at about 8 p.m., following the girls’ game. Broken Arrow 74, Ponca City 71 Broken Arrow 24 12 15 23 — 74 Ponca City 19 17 15 20 — 71 Ponca City — Jeff Furnas 20, Billy Broughton 20, Blaine Petrie 10, Tim Frick 8, Blake Geubelle 4, James Anno 4, Jared Brashears 3, Derek Colvin 2 Broken Arrow — Chris Riouse 34, Brett Bagley 13, Chris Wallace 9, Brtyan Thoamas 8,, Jeff Whitehead 6, Ricky Thackray 3. JV Boys Top TigersPonca City’s Wildcat JVs got off to a quick start to knock off Broken Arrow 62-43 Tuesday in Robson Field House. The JVs broke to a 15-10 first-quarter lead and never looked back. Matt Myers poured through 20 points while Jared Brashears had 14 and James Anno 11 to pace the Wildcat scoring. “It was a very good game by the JVs” said coach Joe Matlock, “They just keep getting better and better. They work and push the varsity players hard, which we like. It creates good competition and that only improves us in the long haul.” Ponca City 62, Broken Arrow 43 Broken Arrow 10 10 11 12 — 43 Ponca City 15 20 16 11 — 62 Ponca City — Matt Meyers 20, Jared Brashears 14, James Anno 11, Josh Pitts 6, Kris Upchurch 5, John Abel 4, Michael Martin 2. Ponca City BowlingPonca City Women’s Tournament Team Division I Gillock Wrecking 3053 Mid Nite Football 2015 Garcia Lawn Care 2994 Division II Wanda’s Uphoostery 3043 Sober Bros. 2978 Nitro Girls 2973 Doubles Division I Nadine Laughlin-Cindy Garrison 1307 Diana-Emma Bryer 1278 Lori Fansler-Sue Diebler 1265 Division II Becky Hillman-June Wimer 1234 Barbara Aldridge-Cheryl Marlar 1233 Vana Hawkins-Moore-Patty Fruits 1217 Singles Division I Tammy Shobert 664 Marsha Oakes 652 Marsha Stewart 648 Division II Mattie Kimbrel 718 Carolyn Sullivan 677 Vana Moore-Hawkins 667 All-Events Scratch Divsion I Laura Cervin 1687 Division II Beth Johnson 1421 All-Events Handicap Division I Cindy Garrison 1955 Division II Mattie Kimbrel 2035 Trophies and awards will be prsented at the Ponca Bowl at 1 p.m. on Feb. 26. All winners are asked to be present. Quail Unlimited Banquet NearsThe North Central Chapter of Quail Unlimited (QU) will sponsor its annual dinner and auction Monday, Feb. 28, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Ponca City Moose Lodge. “For the past 14 years, friends of QU — hunters and non hunters alike — have gathered for this traditional banquet and auction to support our local chapter and the many activities it supports,” said Bob Schuster, local statep resident. “The atmosphere is festive, but our mission is seriously dedicated to raising funds that underwrite the cost of many worthwhile local projects designed to protect the environment and enhance habitat conditions for all upland species in our region.” Schuster noted that the 199 banquet fund raiser had record attendance which resulted in one of the most successful fund-raising efforts in the local chapter's history. The funds are used annually to underwrite the costs associated with a variety of area QU activities, including Covey Kids Camp, Kids for Quail, field-trial competition and food-plot development on public hunting lands near Kaw Lake. Schuster noted that tickets for the annual event are $35 and cover the cost of annual membership, the banquet meal and a year’s subscription to Quail Unlimited magazine. QU also is offering a sponsorship package for individuals or businesses who wish to make a substantial contribution to the North Central Oklahoma chapter. “For a $250 donation, these QU supporters will receive an annual membership and a limited edition package of QU-endorsed items including a print, hat and other items," Schuster said. He said that the auction again will offer a variety of attractive hunter-oriented items, including five firearems, including a Browning A-5 engraved 20-gauge shotgun, a Beretta Gold Mallard 20-gauge automatic shogun and a Benelli Montefeltro 20-gauge automatic shotgun. For the young hunter, a Gossberg 20-gauge shotgun will be offered Another highlight of this year's auction will be four guided hunts for pheasant, deer, turkey and quail. “Back by popular demand after last year’s auction are several golf-oriented items, including fine collectable artwork, for the non-hunters in attendance,” Schuster added. “We also will be auctioning off an 18-inch Remington statue, a number of taxidermy works and several collectibles of Civil War era, including framed stamps, artwork and memorabilia." He also noted that tickets purchased by Feb. 23 will qualify the ticket holder for a chance at several “early-bird” drawing prizes, including a new shotgun. QU members unable to attend the annual banquet but who desire to renew their membership for 2000 are encouraged to contact any chapter director. Schuster noted that local chapter members have a proud heritage of having spent thousands of dollars and nearly as many volunteer hours in establishing food and cover plantings, promoting children's involvement in YIELD (Youth Involvement in Educational Land Development), assisting state and federal officials in managing prescribed burns, sponsoring public education and raising funds for the purchase of needed, specialized equipment to support local wildlife law enforcement efforts. Schuster explained that 60 percent of the funds raised by QU chapters are for local projects based on local priorities. Of the remaining 40 percent, 20 percent is earmarked for state wildlife agencies, 10 percent goes to chapter development and the remaining 10 percent goes to national projects. For more information about the North Central Chapter of QU, its many local projects or its upcoming dinner/auction, individuals may contact Schuster (762-1217), Bill Leming (762-1362) or Bob Wilson (762-6857). New Fishing RulesThe Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission has approved a set of changes to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's fishing regulations that do not become effective until Jan. 1, 2001. The proposed changes were developed after a series of public meetings held throughout the state, said Kim Erickson, chief of the Department's Fisheries Division. The Commission approved the changes unanimously except for one, which would have changed the 13- to 16-inch protected slot limit on black bass at Broken Bow Lake to a 14-inch minimum size limit. The 13- to 16-inch protected slot limit will remain in effect at Broken Bow for at least one more year. The other changes will go into effect Jan. 1, 2001. They include: • Changing the minimum size limit on walleye, sauger and saugeye at lakes Ellsworth and Lawtonka from 18 inches to 14 inches. • Establishing a 13- to 16-inch slot length limit on bass at Okmulgee Lake. • Establishing a 16- to 22-inch slot length limit on bass at Dripping Springs Lake. • Changing the daily bag limit on bass at Dripping Springs Lake to six (6), with no more than one (1) greater than 22 inches per day. • Changing the daily bag limit on channel catfish and/or blue catfish at Lake Murray from six (6) to 15, or 15 in combination. The Commission also approved several housekeeping items regarding camping at Blue River Public Hunting and Fishing Area. Also, the Commission voted to approve a rule requiring non-residents to possess a non-resident Oklahoma hunting license in order to apply for the Department's Controlled Hunts drawing. The rule, which passed unanimously, requires non-residents to possess at least a five-day hunting license before applying for the Controlled Hunts. Residents were already required to possess a valid hunting license. After a lengthy debate, the Commission also approved the sale of 900 acres of timberland in McCurtain County from Weyerhaueser Co., to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The land will be added to the Little River National Wildlife Refuge. The debate sought to improve public access and hunting opportunities at Little River and Deep Fork NWRs. A dialogue between the Wildlife Department and the USFWS will continue on these and related issues. In other business, the Commission voted to uphold the Department's decision to deny a permit to a private fishing club in northeast Oklahoma to stock rainbow trout in Spring Creek. The Commission heard presentations from a local conservation group opposing the permit, as well as from one individual representing the anglers club. The permit was denied, said Kim Erickson, because Spring Creek harbors a highly stressed population of native, Neosho-strain smallmouth bass, and introducing an non-native predator (rainbow trout) would increase competition for limited forage. In a related matter, the Commission voted to table for 30 days the Department's proposal to establish two mussel sanctuaries on the Poteau River downstream from Lake Wister. The Commission tabled the issue to allow opponents of the proposal time to gather more information on an alternative site for one of the sanctuaries. The extension is not expected to have a detrimental impact on mussel resources in the Poteau River. In a personnel-related item, the Commission recognized Don Cole, Wagoner County Game Warden, for 25 years of continuous service. The Commission will hold its next meeting March 6 at the Department's headquarters in Oklahoma City. Controlled Hunts Get New RuleState License Now RequiredBeginning in 2000, non-residents applying for permits through the annual Controlled Hunts drawing must first possess a valid, non-resident Oklahoma hunting license. This rule, recently passed by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission, went into effect Feb. 7. It should make the application process more equitable for both residents and non-residents, said Alan Peoples, chief of Wildlife for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. In the past, non-residents could apply for the Controlled Hunts without an Oklahoma hunting license, he added, even though residents could not. If a non-resident was selected to receive a permit, only then was that person required to buy a hunting license and the appropriate permit. With the growing demand for the opportunities offered in the Controlled Hunts program, the non-resident exemption caused significant complications. “The Controlled Hunts are very popular, and many people apply for those hunts,” Peoples said. “Hunters will soon be able to apply for the Controlled Hunts on the Internet, and when that becomes possible, we could get overwhelmed with non-resident applications. We think this new rule will promote fairness within the Controlled Hunts system.” To apply for the Controlled Hunts, non-residents must possess at least a five-day, non-resident hunting license, which costs $35. The price of the license is not refundable if a non-resident doesn't draw a permit.
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