LOCAL

Seeking Respect and Money
Supercenter Employees Host OBI Blood Drive Tuesday
New Conoco Official Points Out Research Becoming Significant
Ponca City Main Street Authority Meets Tuesday

Seeking Respect and Money

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — They’re the Rodney Dangerfield of state government.

They’re the people who maintain the state’s highways and bridges, keep the state’s prisons secure, administer medical care to the elderly poor and intervene in the tragedy of child abuse and neglect.

But like the stand-up comic who can’t get any respect, Oklahoma’s public employees are the lowest paid state workers in the nation. And of all the people who help keep the wheels of state government turning, the role of Oklahoma’s 36,000 state employees may be the least understood.

‘‘The problem is that most people don’t really understand what it is that state employees do for the state of Oklahoma,’’ said Gary Jones, executive director of the 10,000-worker strong Oklahoma Public Employees Association.

Jones said state workers are frequently taken for granted and only surface in the public’s consciousness when there is a problem.

‘‘Not only should the bad be talked about, but the good should be stressed just as strongly,’’ he said. ‘‘State employees provide great services to the state of Oklahoma.’’

Changing the public’s image of Oklahoma’s state employees is one of the goals of the OPEA as it lobbies for a $2,000 across-the-board pay raise for state workers.

The public workers union has launched a public relations campaign to remind taxpayers, lawmakers and Gov. Frank Keating about the many contributions of state workers.

‘‘This campaign will remind Oklahomans about the things state employees do to make our state a better place,’’ said OPEA President Ty Todd. ‘‘These are activities that state employees perform on a daily basis without recognition and very often without any praise.’’

State workers will be looking for respect as well as bigger paychecks on Wednesday, when more than 2,000 public employees are expected to rally at the state Capitol.

Unlike many Oklahoma teachers who were given the day off to attend an education rally on Feb. 16, state workers are taking annual leave to attend the rally, Jones said. Keating is one of several state officials who are expected to address the crowd.

OPEA officials said they’ll be pushing for quick passage of a pay raise bill, House Bill 2021 by House Speaker Loyd Benson, D-Frederick. The measure, which has already been passed by the House, expresses legislative intent to raise state worker salaries by $2,000 a year.

The pay raise bill would cost about $60 million a year, but it has not been funded.

Jones said state workers are overworked, underpaid and unappreciated. And he has statistics to support his claims.

Oklahoma state workers are 50th in the nation in pay with an average annual salary of less than $24,000, according to data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Oklahoma state worker pay is $7,428 below the average pay of surrounding states and is more than $4,500 lower than the closest contiguous state, New Mexico, whose average state worker pay is $28,691.

‘‘In our wildest dreams, we never expected to be the top paid state employees,’’ Todd said. ‘‘But we never thought we should be the lowest paid, either.’’

The number of state workers has dwindled in recent years, but their workload has increased, according to the OPEA.

In 1999, Oklahoma had the lowest number of state workers in the past dozen years. And the state’s workforce has fallen by 3,861 people since 1992.

The number of employees in the state Department of Transportation fell 17 percent between 1983 and 1998 even though the number of miles maintained by the workers increased.

The number of child welfare workers increased 27 percent between 1996 and 1999. During the same period, the number of referrals for child abuse and neglect increased 19 percent, the number of children in foster care increased 73 percent and the number of foster family homes increased 98 percent.

In addition, the Legislature mandated additional visitation requirements by the workers.

A study conducted for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services found that the Division of Children and Family Services was 19 percent, or 194 workers, understaffed.

Low pay and staffing shortages have led to worker burnout in some agencies, according to the OPEA. Out of 33 child welfare workers in Cleveland County, seven have been in their positions for more than two years, 12 for one to two years and 15 less than one year.

To make matters worse, accomplishments by state workers are frequently ignored, Jones said.

Oklahoma’s welfare system ranks among the top 10 states in transferring clients from welfare to work, even though the amount of money appropriated for the program ranks 45th in the nation.

Keating frequently cites the success of the welfare-to-work program in speeches and columns, but the governor has never given the state workers who administer the program credit for it’s efficiency.

‘‘By reading his comments, you’d never know that state employees were involved at all,’’ Jones said.

Jones said Keating has indicated he will sign a pay-raise bill for state employees, as long as it is funded.

‘‘He’s embarrassed to be the governor of a state that has the lowest pay in the U.S.,’’ Jones said.

But even if the $2,000 raise is approved, Jones said Oklahoma will remain 50th in state worker pay nationwide, several hundred dollars less than number 49, Wyoming.

State workers will still be the lowest paid in the nation — and still looking for respect.

Supercenter Employees Host OBI Blood Drive Tuesday

Wal-Mart employees will continue their efforts of making sure that Ponca City has an adequate blood supply for local patients. They are hosting a community blood drive with the Oklahoma Blood Institute on Tuesday from noon to 6 p.m.

“We are very grateful to Wal-Mart for their outstanding support of our blood donation program,” said Pixie Rowland, manager of the OBI Ponca City Center. “Because of their dedication and commitment to helping others, many lives are saved by the large number of people who donate blood at the store.”

Each and every day there is a critical need for blood products across the country. Less than five percent of the national population are blood donors and that is not enough to meet the need. In fact, many states have had to reschedule non-emergency surgeries because there is not enough blood.

“Many of our store employees have become regular blood donors,” commented Gary Gregg, Wal-Mart Blood Drive Coordinator. “They have discovered that it is an easy way to help someone in need. We are honored to partner up with the Oklahoma Blood Institute for this important project.”

In order to be a blood donor, you must be at least 17 years old, weigh 105 pounds and be in relatively good health. In addition to helping patients, all donors will receive free checks on blood pressure, temperature, iron and cholesterol levels. OBI also offers prostate-specific antigen blood testing for men at a fee of $15 for donors and $20 for those unable to donate. All donors will also receive the new “OBI — Hard Rock” T-shirt!

The Oklahoma Blood Institute is an independent, regional, not-for-profit blood collection center and is the exclusive supplier of all blood products for St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph Cancer Center and the Outpatient Surgery Center in Ponca City. Anyone seeking additional information about the blood drive or blood donation, in general, may call the OBI Ponca City Center at (580) 762-9488.

New Conoco Official Points Out Research Becoming Significant

Editors’s Note: This is the second in a series based upon a taped interview with Mike Fretwell, General Manager, Mid-Continent Business Unit, Refining and Marketing — North America.

By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE

News Business Editor

There are some significant capital improvements on the drawing board for the Conoco complex here, according to Mike Fretwell, General Manager, Mid-Continent Business Unit, Refining and Marketing — North America. The improvements are expected to be in the area of environmentally friendly fuel.

Fretwell said, “Leaving aside the recent developments in research [research and development here] the most significant thing that we have going on in the next two to three years in the refining and marketing operation is basically that we have federal legislation and some local legislation that has to do with making more environmentally friendly fuels.”

He explained, “In 2004 the specifications for gasoline in regard to the sulfur content change nationally and we expect specifications on diesel fuel to change shortly thereafter. In addition to that there is national debate in other areas of fuel quality.

“They are both challenges and opportunities for us. In some of the areas our refinery is very well placed to meet some of these new specifications. And in some of these areas we are going to have to make significant investments. What we are trying to think about is how can we make those investments in a way that differentiate ourselves and gives us a competitive advantage versus our competition?” Fretwell said.

Significant Investment

“So we are thinking about that very carefully. There is very little doubt that we are going to have to make some significant investments here and the timing on that is in the next 18 months to three years. So we are spending a lot of time thinking about that and we will be making some decisions about that probably within the next year.”

Responding to “Will you be bringing in some people to work, construction workers and others?” he said, “Yes and those investments on the clean fuels fronts for this plant could be pretty significant.”

Asked about the difference in doing business in the United States as compared to Europe, the United Kingdom and elsewhere, Fretwell answered, “I think there are a number of differences One of the things that is very apparent to me is that you have an economy here that is very open and very competitive. In many other places in the world — smaller countries, languages provide a barrier in a sense.

“It is difficult for companies to go and operate in lots of individual countries because of language, tax laws, permitting laws plus you have differences between your states. Your [U.S.] economy is much more open and competitive, which of course is a benefit to the consumer, because essentially the products we make or deliver to the consumer is with lower costs than anywhere else in the world.”

Fretwell continued, “Despite some of the headlines in the papers at the moment this translates into lower prices. So the consumer benefits by that competitive economy. It is a tough place to operate in this commodity business to differentiate yourselves and yet be profitable — it is a challenge.

“I think working here sharpens up our competitiveness instincts, compared to working in some other places that I’ve worked.”

Commenting on regulations in the U.S., the Conoco executive said, “On the regulator side of things I notice some significant differences as well. You [the U.S.] seem to have anyway from my perspective, many, many more regulations with respect to environmental and safety compliance and we spent a lot of time looking at those things trying to make sure that we abide by the law and regulations. It is a significant burden for us as a business to do those things. It is difficult to comply with everything, but we do our best in those areas.”

Ponca City Main Street Authority Meets Tuesday

The Ponca City Main Street Authority will hold the February board meeting at 1 p.m. Tuesday at 307 1/2 East Grand Avenue.

Board members will discuss the upcoming strategic planning session set for Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The planning retreat will help determine short-term and long-range goals for the Main Street program.

In other business, the board will discuss the policy for sponsoring sports club advertisement. Also, the program director will give a report on the quarterly training session attended in Duncan. Board members will also complete an evaluation of the reception/open house held earlier that morning.

Slated for discussion is the status of PCMSA’s 501(c)3.

Board members include Glenda Phillips, chair; Vicki Graves, vice chair; Verona Mair, treasurer; Jennifer Schwarz, secretary; Bret Carter, Don Bishop, Carter Buller, Matt McGee, Chris Hand, Carla O’Neill, Darin Kirchenbauer and Eric Kurtz.

Ponca City Main Street Authority is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to serve Ponca City and its citizens by leading, assisting and promoting the revitalization, economic growth and cultural development of downtown within the context of historic preservation. For more information about PCMSA, contact Michele Jean at 763-8082.

DEATHS

Madie Knox Cogdell
Ruby E. Singleton
William Howard Ely
Savannah M. Altman
Wesley Adam Brown

Madie Knox Cogdell

OKLAHOMA CITY — Madie Knox Cogdell, former longtime Ponca City resident, died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2000, in Oklahoma City. She was 98.

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2000, in the Odd Fellows Cemetery with the Rev. Larry Nigh, pastor of Northeast Baptist Church, officiating. Services are under the direction of Vondel Smith and Son Mortuary (North) in Oklahoma City.

Madie Knox Cogdell was born May, 3, 1901, in Nat, Texas, the daughter of Dan and Nettie Choate King. She received her teaching certificate from Central State College and later worked as a sales clerk for J.C. Penney’s. She was a very active member of the First Baptist Church in Ponca City from 1937 to 1957. In 1957, she moved to San Marcus, Texas, where she continued her church involvement in the First Baptist Church of San Marcus. Her church activities included being a part of WMU as well as teaching children’s Sunday school for over 50 years. In 1990, she moved to the Baptist Retirement Center in Oklahoma City, where she continued to live until her death.

She was survived by two daughters, Joy Nicks and Mae O. Knox-Howard, both of Oklahoma City; two sisters, Molly Price and Polly Roark; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Olen Knox and Clarence Cogdell.

Funerals

Tuesday

Ruby E. Singleton

Funeral at 3:30 p.m. in the Mount Olivet Funeral Home Chapel in Fort Worth, Texas. Burial will follow in the Mount Olivet Cemetery. Local arrangements are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

William Howard Ely

Memorial service at 6 p.m. in the Burns Funeral Home in Crown Point, Ind.

Services Pending

Savannah M. Altman

Savannah M. Altman, longtime Ponca City resident, died early Monday, Feb. 28, 2000, at the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was 88. Survivors include a son, A.J. Altman, of Ponca City. Funeral arrangements are pending with Grace Memorial Chapel.

Wesley Adam Brown

Wesley Adam Brown, Ponca City resident, died Monday, Feb. 28, 2000, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. He was 93. Local survivors include his wife, Mary Ralphene Brown. Arrangements are pending with Trout Funeral Home.

NEWS BRIEFS

Gourd Dance Society — Douglas Eagle has called a meeting of the Ponca Gourd Dance Society for Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Ponca Tribal Cultural Center. Plans will be finalized for the March 25 dance. All members are encouraged to attend as a photo session is planned.

25 Cents a gallon drinking water. Pure Water Wagon 1717 N.5th. adv.

Monthly Luncheon — The Cities Service and Sequoia refinery ex-employees will meet at Furr’s Cafeteria at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday for dinner.

Stormescape Shelters, perfect for garage, under vehicle, installation. $1,695. 765-2633. adv.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 1200 block of Bradbary Lane at 9:36 a.m. Saturday that a 20-year-old man was being held for driving under suspension.

Navy, CB’s, Coast Guards, Merchant Marines, will have a Navy bean and S.O.S dinner on March 22, at 6:30 P.M. at the Legion Hall, bring any memorabilia or stories. For more information call 762-4038. adv.

Vehicle Wrecked — A woman from the 2200 block of Jane Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 9:57 a.m. Saturday that someone had stolen her vehicle and wrecked it. An officer was assigned and a report was taken on unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Shoplifter — An employee at Wal-Mart, 1101 East Prospect Avenue, reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 2:42 p.m. Saturday that an adult was in custody for shoplifting. An officer was assigned and a 25-year-old woman was held for petit larceny.

Disturbance — A man from the 300 block of South Fourteenth Street reported to the Ponca City Police department at 11:09 a.m. Saturday that an assault had occurred. Two officers were assigned and information was logged that the assault had occurred south of Ponca City and the Kay County Sheriff’s Office was notified.

Dirty Dogs? Tee-Kay Pets can help! Grooming appointments Monday-Friday Starting at 7:30 a.m. and now on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. Walk-ins welcome. 8:00

to 12:00 weekdays. Tee-Kay Pets 916 East Highland. 762-3020. adv.

Abandoned Bicycle — A woman from the 400 block of West Oklahoma Avenue reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 11:11 a.m. Saturday that a bicycle had been abandoned. Animal Control was notified to pick up the bicycle.

Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential. Hours: Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. and Thursday, 6-8 p.m. 700 West Broadway. 765-9689. adv.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of West Grand Avenue and Sunset Street at 11:39 a.m. Saturday that a 29-year-old man was being held on a Kay County warrant for grand larceny.

Subject Held — A Newkirk police officer requested assistance at 12:15 a.m. Sunday reporting that an intoxicated driver was being followed from Fourteenth Street and South Avenue. Two officers of the Ponca City Police Department responded and stopped the vehicle at North Fourteenth Street and Pioneer Road, where a 20-year-old man was held for DUI, transporting an open container and driving left of center.

Suspicious Activity — An employee of Water and Light reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 12:27 p.m. Saturday from the 900 block of North Ash Street that youngsters were riding their bikes through freshly poured concrete. An officer was assigned and information was logged.

State Certified DUI School Bridgeway, Inc. is Kay Co.'s only local non-profit organization that offers both mid week and weekend DUI Schools and Assessments. Next school scheduled Friday, March 3rd and Saturday,

March 4th starting at 5:00 p.m. We now offer the 24 hr. DUI School. Call 762-1462 for reservations and information. adv.

Disturbance — A man from the 300 block of South Lake Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 1:59 p.m. Saturday that some juvenile boys were trying to get into his house. Two officers were assigned and a destruction of private property report was taken.

Auto Burglary — A woman from the 400 block of South Ash Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 3:44 p.m. Saturday that a cellular phone had been taken from her vehicle. An officer was assigned and an auto burglary report was taken.

Accident — A two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Lake Road and Rosedale was reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 9:17 p.m. Saturday. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol was notified.

Garage on Fire — The Communications Center received a call at 9:28 p.m. Saturday that a garage was on fire in the 700 block of East Albany Avenue. Five units from the Ponca City Fire Department responded and it was logged that the resident had put the fire out.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of North Second Street and East Highland Avenue at 9:37 p.m. Saturday that a 20-year-old woman was being held for a traffic violation. A vehicle was towed from the scene.

Beer Stolen — A clerk at Triple T, 720 South Waverly Street, reported to the Ponca City Police Department that a man had taken two 30-packs of beer without paying and went west on U.S. 60. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Vehicle Hit — A man from the 2200 block of John Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 9:58 a.m. Sunday that his vehicle had been hit during the night. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Accident — The Communications Center received a report of a one vehicle accident in the 12400 block of West Grand Avenue at 1:55 a.m. Sunday. An officer was assigned and located a vehicle that had hit a pole. A 19-year-old man was held for DUI and having no insurance. The vehicle was towed from the scene and Water and Light was notified of the pole damage.

Citations Issued — The Communications Center received a report at 2:02 a.m. Sunday that a vehicle had hit a pole on West Highland Avenue. An officer assigned stopped a vehicle with the driver that had been picked up by other subjects at North Lake Street and West Highland Avenue, where citations were issued. A report was taken.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 700 block of North Pine Street at 2:53 a.m. Sunday that a 32-year-old man was being held for DUI.

Items Missing — A man from the 300 block of West Hartford Avenue reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 9:14 a.m. Sunday that some items had been lost from a vehicle. The information was logged.

Vehicle Damaged — A person from the 400 block of Lansbrook Road reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 5:47 p.m. Sunday that someone had damaged the side back panel of his vehicle. An officer was assigned and the information was logged.

Suspicious Fire — A person from the 1000 block of North First Street reported to the Communications Center at 6:28 p.m. Sunday that some boys had been playing behind a construction building and left and black smoke was coming from behind the building. Units from the Ponca City Fire Department responded and put the fire out and the Fire Marshal was notified. An officer of the Ponca City Police Department was assigned and a 13-year-old boy was held for arson of a business structure and a 14-year-old boy was held for arson of a business structure.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of South Thirteenth Street and East Ponca Avenue at 8:44 p.m. Sunday that a 19-year-old man was being held for driving under suspension.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of Chestnut Avenue and North First Street at 12:22 a.m. Monday that a 38-year-old man was being held for DUI and improper lane use. A vehicle was towed from the scene.

LIFESTYLES

Xi Delta Chapter Members Enjoy Spaghetti Dinner

Xi Delta Chapter Members Enjoy Spaghetti Dinner

There were 10 members of Xi Delta chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority present for the recent meeting of Xi Delta chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority at the home of Patsy Hastings. The hostess prepared a spaghetti dinner for members, and Susan Henshaw served dessert.

Linda Turner, president, conducted the business meeting, and communications from International and City Council minutes were read. A thank you note was read from chapter Valentine Queen Lisa Mena. Patsy Hastings gave the treasurer’s report.

Pam Palmer received the traveling basket. The Feb. 28 meeting will be in the home of Pam Palmer with Sue May as co-hostess. Lisa Mena will present the program.

SPORTS

Monday Evening Quarterback
Cats End Soccer Preseason
Lady Mavs In Playoffs
Area Mat Notes

Monday Evening Quarterback

On March 8, Ponca City athletic director Rusty Benson will again try to upgrade the eighth and ninth grade athletic scheduled at the conference meeting.

It won’t be an easy sell. He has to convince Tulsa area schools that Ponca City isn’t Outer Mongolia.

For the past six years, Po-Hi officials have been trying to get into the Arkansas River Valley Conference. It’s the junior high equivalent of the high school Frontier Conference.

Ponca City doesn’t want to leave the Northern Conference of Enid, Stillwater and Woodward all together. But Benson feels the junior high athletes need a taste of the competition they will face at the high school level.

Here’s why...

Haven’t you wondered why the eighth grade teams sail along with gaudy won-lost records? Take a look at the opposition.

Stillwater is similar to the Ponca City junior high teams in size and talent. But they’re not Tulsa Union or Jenks.

Enid, which has three junior highs, can no longer maintain the athletic prowess it once had, being that diversified.

By the time Enid High School gets athletes from those three junior highs, they can be fairly salty ... but still not at the levels of Sand Springs or Sapulpa or Broken Arrow.

Ponca City has been viewed fairly favorably in its bid for admittance into the Arkansas Valley in the past, according to Benson.

However, Stillwater also wants in the act — and for the same reason as Ponca City.

But the other 16 Arkansas Valley teams are reluctant to make two trips to the far reaches of north-central Oklahoma.

After all, the Tulsa area teams seldom have to travel more than an hour by slow bus to play each other. And, money is the bottom line.

But Wildcat and Lady Wildcat coaches agree that having the junior high teams play feel-good schedules does not do the players much good.

Benson has been able to talk most of the wrestling schools in the Frontier Conference to schedule the junior high teams at the same time the high school teams meet.

That won’t work for basketball as junior varsity and varsity games take up much of the afternoon and night on game days as it is.

Outside of getting into the Arkansas Valley, Ponca City’s chances of getting an upgrade are poor. Oklahoma City area teams are certainly not going to make a trip north, and there are few equilavant teams in between.

So Benson will keep knocking on that door and hope that the Arkansas Valley coaches will — in a weak moment of fairness — allow Ponca City into their club.

Cats End Soccer Preseason

In their final preseason outing, the Wildcat soccer team stomped Verdigris, 7-1, on Friday night at Sullins Stadium.

“It was a breaking night for lots of our guys. They scored their first high school soccer goals,” said head coach Marco Castillo.

Getting his first two goals was senior Jonathan Harrison. “Harrison was amazing. I made him one of the captains in this scrimmage and maybe that was the motivation,” said Castillo.

In the captain slots, Castillo has senior and goalie Matt Morris as a permanent captain. “The goalie is a leader of the team and Morris is my only permanent captain. I will rotate the other three captain slots every game,” said Castillo. “I have so many seniors, we will trade off the captain positions.”

Kip Quiram had two goals, Jason Beguin got one, Jacob Daniel had one and Kyle Cain scored a high school first.

“D.J. Scarborough and Jacob Daniel did a great job containing the middle on defense,” said Castillo. “Greg Price also had a good game. Anytime he touches the ball he’s a threat.

“I am very confident going into our Jenks game. I have lots of seniors and with the seniors we have the experience we need. We only lost one preseason game,” said Castillo.

The Po-Hi soccer teams open their regular season on Friday night in Jenks. The Lady Cats play at 6 and the Wildcats at 8 p.m.

On March 10, Po-Hi soccer hosts their first home games against Bartlesville. “It is a heated rivalry with Bartlesville. You’ll see good sportsmanship but great competition,” said Castillo. “We want everybody to come.”

The Bartlesville match begins at Sullins Stadium. The Lady Cats play at 6 and the Cats at 8 p.m.

Lady Mavs In Playoffs

BY FRED HILTON

News Sports Editor

TONKAWA — Northern Oklahoma College’s Lady Mavericks make one more bid to reach the National Junior College Athletic Association Regional Tournament by hosting Northark in a one-game playoff tonight at 8 in Foster-Piper Fieldhouse.

Meanwhile, the NOC men are already in the regional tournament, as the No. 2 seed, and await the men’s playoff to determine their first-round opponent Friday at 6 p.m..

The winner of tonight’s women’s playoff game at Northern advances to the eight-team regional tournament in Shawnee, playing in the first round Thursday.

Northern and Northark have met once before this season, on Jan. 7 at Harrison, Ark., with Northark scraping past the Lady Mavs with a 64-63 decision.

“That game was on their floor,” NOC coach Greg Krause said. “We have them at home this time and I feel we are a better team than we were then.”

Northern will be without the services of Newkirk forward Suzi Eisenhauer, who injured an ankle in the regular season finale against Eastern last week.

“Suzi definitely won’t play in this game and the trainers tell me the injury is more serious than we first thought. So we may not have her for the regional either.”

A win tonight will qualify the Lady Mavs (15-11) for the regional tournament on the Oklahoma Baptist University campus. NOC would play either Bacone or NEO, depending on the outcome of the other playoff game between Murray State (2-25) and Seminole (17-12).

NEO (28-2) is the top seed in the women’s tournament with Bacone (23-5) No. 2. If Seminole and Northern win, Northern will probably draw NEO in the first round game at 8 p.m. Thursday with Seminole going against Bacone at 6.

In the other first-round games, Carl Albert (17-12) plays Westark (14-12) at 1 p.m. Thursday with Connors (19-10) taking on Eastern (20-10) at 3.

In the men’s tournament, which starts Friday at OBU, Northern (23-7) awaits the outcome of tonight’s playoff games between Eastern (2-22) vs. Seminole (16-13) and Murray (7-23) vs. Western (7-23).

“If Seminole wins, and they should at home, that’s who we’ll play Friday at 6,” Mavericks coach Mick Weiberg says. “Carl Albert (23-6) is the top seed and will play either Murray or Western (at 8 p.m.)”

The early tournament games Friday pit Westark (21-7) against Bacone (22-8) at 1 p.m. and Connors (23-7) against NEO (16-12) at 3.

“This is going to be a really tough tournament,” Weiberg says. “It is more balanced than it has been in recent years. There are a lot of good teams and good players out there.”

Northern, which completed a sweep of the Bi-State Conference West Division, is in good shape for the tournament, according to the coach.

“This is the first time I can remember a team going unbeaten in the division,” Weiberg said. “That has given our players a tremendous lift. And being mentally ready is a big as being physically ready.

“We’ve had a good run this semester and the kids believe in what we’re doing.”

But Weiberg admits that beating Seminole for the third time this season won’t be easy.

“They say beating a team for the third time is hard.” Weiberg says. “It wasn’t easy beating them the first two times.”

The coach feels that Seminole still has some of the best athletes in the region.

“They just haven’t put it together,” Weiberg says. “They’ll go along not playing very well, then they’ll play a good game or two.”

Weiberg just hopes the Trojans won’t pick the regional tournament as a time to put it together.

Area Mat Notes

By FRED HILTON

News Sports Editor

OKLAHOMA CITY — Despite having just two entries and one scorer in the Class 5A state wrestling tournament, Ponca City’s Wildcats still finished in front of regional foes Sapulpa, Owasso and Jenks ... as well as Putnam City and Norman North.

But the Wildcats’ 12 points from 160-pound third-placer Kyle Duren left them a long way from repeat champion Broken Arrow, which took the title Saturday night with 128.5 points, outdistancing second-place Westmoore, which finished with 89 points. The Tigers crowned three champions Saturday.

Broken Arrow also looks to continue the run next season. The Tigers have nine starters returning for the 2000-2001 season. Eight of those were state qualifiers and three were finalists.

Blackwell finished third in the Class 3A tournament with 63 points, trailing Bristow (149) and Locust Grove (72).

The Maroons placed two wrestlers. Brandon Blay took second at 119 pounds and Bobby Miller was fourth at 145.

Newkirk and Tonkawa finished eighth and tenth, respectively, in Class 2A. Newkirk had 41 points and three placers, while Tonkawa had 31 points and two placers.

For the Tigers, Robbie Smith was second at 103 pounds, Brandon Parker third at 130 and Kolby Simpson fourth at 145.

The Buccaneers’ Joshua Brining was second at 130 pounds while Russell Shiever was third at 145.

Another area team, Morrison, can now boast of having a four-time state champion.

Clark Shouse won his fourth crown Saturday night at 140 pounds. He is one of only 14 wrestlers in state history to ever accomplish that feat.

Morrison had one other placer. Chuck Shouse finished fourth at 103 pounds as the Wildcats placed ninth with 38 points.

In fact, northern Oklahoma fared very well in the class 2A Tournament. Perry won — again — with 133.5 points, followed by Pawhuska with 71 and Pawnee with 60.

Perry crowned three champions in winning its 33rd state crown