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From the pages of The Ponca City News, Monday, February 19, 2001 LOCAL DEATHS NEWS BRIEFS LIFESTYLES SPORTS LOCALPolice Looking For Witnesses To Injury Accident Police Looking For Witnesses To Injury AccidentOfficials at the Ponca City Police Department are currently looking for any information regarding a two-vehicle accident involving a drunk driver last week in which two people were injured. Police say the accident occurred on Thursday in the 2700 block of North Fourteenth Street at approximately 7:45 p.m. Anyone witnessing this accident or having any information regarding it, is asked to call Capt. Carl Porter at 763-8012. Nearly NewsNN has learned that Chris Bolding of Oklahoma City, daughter of Roy and Jan Bolding of Ponca City, is singing in the choir for the presidential visit to Oklahoma City today. Ms. Bolding sang in various school choirs while residing in Ponca City. Burt Kennedy Was Still Directing Even While Being Confined To BedEditor’s Note: Screen writer, director Burt Kennedy passed away Thursday at the age of 78. He was a friend of local author Truman Smith. The following is Smith’s remembrances of Kennedy. By TRUMAN SMITH Shortly after Burt Kennedy visited Ponca City in 1998, he was the guest of Professor Nedwin Hockman at Oklahoma University where he lectured on screenwriting and directing. Within the following months Burt Kennedy produced his last film. Having served in the First Cavalry at Fort Riley, Kansas, Burt paid tribute to the sole survivor of the Battle of Little Big Horn in a short film featuring Kris Kristofferson, Wilford Brimely, Gerald McRaney, Ethan Wayne, Angie Dickinson and Buck Taylor. (Buck Taylor, besides acting, did the illustrations for the picture. And as an artist, Buck Taylor had a personal showing of his work at the Ponca City Art Center in the summer of 1995.) Kennedy was honored at a special showing at the Pentagon of his film “Comanche,” about the horse who was the sole U.S. Cavalry survivor of the Little Big Horn battle. The production of the film was delayed due to heavy rain. After sitting in the car for the second day awaiting improvement in the weather, Nancy Pendleton, his personal assist, asked him when they should stop waiting and give it up. Burt Kennedy responded, “You never quit!” Even after being confined to his bed for several months, Burt Kennedy did not quit. However, he was taken out of his personal battle on the 15th of February, still directing to the very end. He arranged for his military burial at Arlington Cemetery (now scheduled for the 2nd of March). He also arranged a large “party” for his friends to celebrate in high spirits with eating, drinking and visiting. As for his last film “Comanche,” distribution is still pending. World Renowned Pianist Will Perform at PoncanWorld renowned pianist Rosario Andino will perform at the Poncan Theatre on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. The concert is presented by Ponca City Arts & Humanities Council, and is free to the public. Rosario Andino has recently returned from Europe where she tours annually. Her talent has been described as “Grand piano playing in the best tradition of the famous Russian School of pianists like Rubinstein, Sauer, Rachmaninoff and Friedman. Her playing has poetry, passion, — power or expression and — above all — emotion." Her solo repertoire is formidable and includes all the major and some of the lesser-known works from the baroque, classical, romantic and modern eras as well as works by Cuban, South American and Spanish composers. In addition, some contemporary composers have written and dedicated works to her. Music is one of the highest forms of art, according to the pianist. She believes that when a person is born an artist, when this artist manages through unceasing hard work and good schooling to master an instrument and when, in addition, this master-artist firmly believes that doing justice to a work being performed is a matter of life or death, then that artist can touch, uplift, mesmerize and exhilarate any audience anywhere. Andino’s performance in Ponca City will include works by Beethoven, Chopin, and Liszt. Funding for this concert includes grants from Oklahoma Arts Council, Heartland Arts Fund, and National Endowment for the Arts. PC Street Department Employee Retires After 41 Years of ServiceBy JEFF POLITTE News Staff Writer Ponca City’s senior city employee, Homer Duke, retired Friday from the Street Department after nearly 41 years of service. Around 100 family, friends and co-workers gathered to mark the occasion with a retirement party held in his honor at the department’s shop. When Duke was first hired on at the city’s street department as a temporary employee on May 12, 1960, at the age of 23, he recalls he made $1.25 per hour. In those days many of Ponca City’s streets were still “dirt streets,” and those that weren’t had to be “swept by hand.” “There was a lot more labor to it (back then),” he said. As a going away gift, co-workers pitched in to buy Duke a rod and reel to help him keep busy during his years of retirement. The gift was presented during Friday’s informal celebration. At a city commission meeting slated for Feb. 26, Duke will also be awarded a silver medallion in honor of his years of “hard work and loyalty” to the department. “I’m glad I’m retiring, in a way, but I’ll probably miss this place for a while,” he said. He also said he would miss working with the public, something he has always loved to do. One of the things Duke stressed he wouldn’t miss, though, was “having to get up in the winter time when it’s cold, especially when it’s snowing and icy outside.” “Homer has worked for the city for over 40 years,” said Gary Martin, city manager. “Through his career he has seen a major transition in the equipment used and the way things are done at the street department.” “We appreciate his attitude and willingness to carry out the projects we asked him to complete, even those that weren’t directly related to his department,” he continued, adding that his experience and knowledge would be greatly missed. Charles Kelley, the Street Department’s supervisor, agreed, saying Duke would be hard to replace. “He’s pretty much the glue around here. He always holds things together,” he said. He also added he would miss Duke. What are Duke’s plans for the future? “This summer I’m going to try to do a little bit of traveling and spend some time at Grand Lake,” he said. He explained he had bought a small lot at Grand Lake near Disney several years back, where he parks a Fifth Wheel and vacations. He also said his wife, Willetta, had some work lined up for him to do around the house that would keep him busy for a while. Duke has two sons and two daughters, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. District Agriculture Advisory Panel Notes Number of ProblemsBy KATHY ZEHR News Staff Writer NEWKIRK — The Northwest District Agriculture Advisory Committee met recently at the Kay County Courthouse to address several agricultural problems, and discuss solutions. Members of the committee included area growers and producers as well as representatives from OSU. Roger Gribble, Northwest District Area Agronomist, chaired the session and reviewed problems and needs listed as priorities for improvement, change, or research during the 2000 meeting. Gribble said all problems listed during the previous meeting had resulted in aggressive action, either by area producers or through the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Dr. Gerald Warmann, OSU Northwest District Agriculture Director was also present to address several questions. Louise Rigdon, area farmer, who represented the local group at the 2000 district meeting agreed to attend the March 2001 meeting in Alva as well. She reported on suggestions and research efforts for several problems submitted by northwest district growers and producers at the 2000 meeting. Gribble told the group several offices in the OSU Cooperative Extension offices had been recently staffed including Dr. David Foster as State Director, Dr. Warmann as Northwest District Director and Bart Cardwell as Kay County Agriculture Education Agent. Topics discussed and current status of problem solving included the search for a long term cure for bindweed mites. The problem is now being researched by a graduate student at OSU. Rigdon also said recent research indicated that soil with too little lime encourages the growth of bindweed. Don Schieber, area farmer, said he and other growers were concerned about an excessive amount of rye grass used for pastureland in Kay County. He said the grass was hard on equipment and he felt some rural water lines were in danger of destruction. He discussed using soybeans as a fertilizer crop and the need for more education, possibly using CDs for farmers home study use. Other miscellaneous problems included livestock spraying and the cost and shortage of hay. Kay County is now the top grower of cotton and soybeans in Oklahoma and concerns were expressed for soil erosion from the cotton crops. Gribble reported that Kay Electric was keeping a log of the crops and erosion in the area. Other concerns included spraying of cotton crops and blowing of pesticides into grazing pastures. Deadline dates for spraying was also discussed. Kay County is becoming one of the leaders in sheep production in Oklahoma and several questions and discussions included where to market the lambs. Gribble told the group that area producers could sell 140-plus pound lambs monthly at Braman and some sheep were selling at the auction in Perry. Members were reminded that loss of cattle on frozen ponds before Dec. 31, 2000 should be reported on farm tax reports. A conclusive report is expected in the near future from OSU studies involving no-till production procedures to reduce land erosion. Warmann and Gribble fielded suggestions for better publicity of countywide educational programs. They also discussed sharing information and promoting education for commodity marketing pools, insurance programs, farm machinery safety programs including training for young operators, herd health of cow/calf stocker cattle producers, and soybean education programs. Larry Klumpp, interim agriculture education agent and Kathy Zehr, Master Gardener representative, reported on the area Master Gardener Program, sponsored by the Kay County Extension office. The program recently trained 28 area residents in various phases of horticulture and each graduate would be volunteering 40 hours of community service with horticulture programs. Klumpp said the MG planned to man an answering service at the Kay County OSU Extension office in Newkirk in the near future. DEATHSBetty Lou Wilson ObituariesBetty Lou WilsonBetty Lou Wilson, resident of Ponca City, died Saturday morning, Feb. 17, 2001, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was 64 years of age. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, at Grace Memorial Chapel with Mike Sweetman, Hospice Chaplain, presiding. Interment will be at Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. Betty Lou (Wells) Wilson was born March 2, 1936 at Bragg, Okla., the daughter of Clifford Wells and Anna (Campbell) Wells. She attended the Vian, Okla. public schools. She was married to Thomas J. Wilson on Nov. 13, 1953 at Newton, Kan. Mrs. Wilson enjoyed playing cards and other games, visiting with others and caring for her children. She is survived by her husband, Thomas J. “Sonny” Wilson; three sons, Richard Wilson and Michael Wilson, Wichita, Kan., and Paul Wilson, Lansing, Kan.; four daughters, Brenda Stills and Debra Robbins, Wichita, Nancy Ward, Ponca City and Paula White, Fredonia, Kan.; two step-daughters, Christina Wilson and Sandra Wilson; three brothers, John Wells and Homer Wells, Vian, Okla., and Eugene Wells, Billings, Mont.; two sisters, Francis Hunter Sun City, Calif., and Barbara Stoddard, Portersville, Calif.; 21 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; one uncle, Son Wells and 36 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; one infant daughter and four brothers. Casket bearers will be Jeffery White, Jessie Wilson, Joshua White, Gary Wilson, Tommy White, Tab Wilson, Tad Wilson and Michael Stills. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Ponca City, 1904 North Union, Suite 103, Ponca City, Okla. 74601. Paid Obituary Mary Elda SummersMary Elda Summers, resident of Ponca City, died Saturday morning, Feb. 17, 2001, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was 89. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2001 at the IOOF Cemetery with Rev. Dorothy Coy Light, presiding. Arrangements are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. Mary Elda (Park) Summers was born June 19, 1911 at Mound City, Kan., the daughter of Ober William Park and Iva Gertrude (Myers) Park. She was a graduate of Mound City High School. She was employed with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company for 36 years, working as a records clerk at the time of her retirement in 1969. She was a member of the Community Christian Church, the Cherokee Strip Telephone Retiree’s Club, the 12 Bells Club, the 55 and Older Club, the Heritage Club, Primetimers, and Family Campers Club. Her hobbies included traveling, playing cards and bowling. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Jean (Allard) Davis and husband, Don, of Blackwell; two grandsons, Gary Davis and wife, LaDonna, Blackwell, and Tracy Davis and wife, Lisa, Greenridge, Mo.; one great-granddaughter, Haley Dawn Davis and two step great-granddaughters, Keisha and Desiree Gottlob. She was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands, Alfred Cleo Allard and Walter Raymond Summers; three sisters, Carrie Elizabeth Breuel, Jennie Dean McGrew and Leah Charlotte Park; one brother, Harry F. Park. Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Community Christian Church, 2109 West Grand, Ponca City, Okla. 74601. Paid Obituary Services PendingHazel BakerHazel Baker, resident of Ponca City, died Monday morning, Feb. 19, 2001 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was 100. Survivors include her son, R.W. (Royce) Baker, Ponca City. Arrangements are under the direction of the Baggerly South Funeral Home, Oklahoma City. Local arrangements by Grace Memorial Chapel. FuneralsTuesday Willard Merl RossWillard Merl Ross — Funeral Feb. 20, in Portage Ind. Burial will be in the Evergreen Memorial Park in Hobart, Ind. Leona Faye EvansLeona Faye Evans — Funeral at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2001, in the Miller-Stahl Funeral Chapel in Newkirk. Burial will follow in the Newkirk Cemetery under the direction of Miller-Stahl Funeral Service. Voleta Bell MillerVoleta Bell Miller — Funeral at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2001 at the First United Methodist Church in Blackwell. Burial will follow at the Blackwell Cemetery under the direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home. NEWS BRIEFSSubject Held — An officer at Wal-Mart, 1101 East Prospect Avenue, reported a 20-year-old man wanted on a Kay County warrant was in the store at 10:21 a.m. Saturday. An officer responded to the scene and the man was taken into custody for the delivering of a controlled and dangerous substance. The Marine Corps Reunion, 6 p.m. Wednesday, American Legion Post 14. All marines are urged to attend. Doors open at 6 p.m. dinner, 6:30 p.m. For more information, call the Legion at 765-9073. adv. Theft — The owner of Walter Dotson Auto Sales, 302 North First Street, reported to Ponca City police at 1:55 p.m. Saturday a subject who had traded in an older vehicle had tried to steal it back overnight. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential. Hours: Monday 1-3 p.m., 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 at the intersection of East Oklahoma Avenue and South Second Street reported a 64-year-old man was taken into custody after a traffic stop for driving under intoxication at 8:35 p.m. Sunday. Fire Run — A grass fire in the 2300 block of McCord Road was reported to the Communications Center at 3:46 p.m. Sunday. McCord Volunteer Fire Department was advised. Burglary — A man in the 2700 block of North Fifth Street reported to Ponca City police at 6:42 a.m. Sunday someone had broken into his vehicle and stolen several items. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Subject Held — An officer in an alley in the 400 block of North Oak Street reported a 19-year-old man was taken into custody after a traffic stop for driving under suspension and defective equipment at 3:43 a.m. Sunday. Disturbance — A woman in the 300 block of West Grand Avenue reported to Ponca City police at 2:14 p.m. Sunday she had been assaulted by two juvenile females. A description was given of the subjects. Two officers responded to the scene and a juvenile citation was issued. Fire Run — A man reported a hay barn was on fire in the 14500 block of Zigzag Road to the Communications Center at 4:16 p.m. Sunday. Marland Volunteer Fire Department handled the call. Subject Held — An officer in the 800 block of North Lake Street reported a 26-year-old man was taken into custody on three Kay County warrants for failure to appear and application to revoke a suspended sentence for domestic assault and battery and a city warrant for failure to appear at 7:52 p.m. Sunday. Accident — A two-vehicle, minor backing accident in the 700 block of East Albany Avenue was reported to Ponca City police at 12:38 a.m. Sunday. The caller advised one of the vehicles had already left the scene. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Subject Held — A resident in the 3500 block of North Union Street reported to Ponca City police at 7:13 p.m. Saturday he had located a vehicle which had been reported stolen overnight. Two officers responded to the scene, and a 17-year-old girl was taken into custody for the unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Texas Sweet Onion and five other varieties of plants. 99 cents a bundle. Onion sets, strawberry plants, five varieties of seed potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, and collards. Bulk seed and burpee seed. Keathly Nursery. adv. Subject Held — An officer at Citgo Short Stop No. 1, 400 East South Avenue, reported an intoxicated man was found in the store’s bathroom at 10:27 p.m. Saturday. The 55-year-old man was taken into custody for public intoxication, a city warrant for failure to pay and a Kay County warrant for failure to pay. Burglary — A woman in the 500 block of South Tenth Street reported to Ponca City police at 3:10 a.m. Sunday someone had broken out a window at her residence. An officer was assigned and advised the window had been broken out from the inside, and the woman believed it may have been her boyfriend. An information report was taken. LIFESTYLESOU Graduate Student Gives Program for OAS Chapter OU Graduate Student Gives Program for OAS ChapterDebby Green, geoarcheology graduate student in the University of Oklahoma master’s program,. was the guest speaker for the February meeting of the Kay County chapter of the Oklahoma Anthropological Society. She was introduced by Christina Rich-Splawn, program chairman. The speaker focused her talk on how wind, water, and ice brought about landscape changes on the southern Plains of the USA, resulting in human habitation changes. Ms. Green discussed climatic changes, on the areas of the Nimbres culture in Southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, brought about by adaptations for humans in the arid area 2000 years ago. She compared this climatic composition with the dust cave habitation site in northwestern Alabama where the people lived in a very wet climate at the same time period. She has worked in both site excavations where the techniques were carried out differently. At dust cave the material required water screening and flotation methods, rather that the usual dry screening in the arid areas. She also discussed the Certain Bison Kill site in Beckham County, Oklahoma, which she has studied extensively. She illustrated her talk with slides. The 2000 year old jump trench at Certain, having been excavated, is the only one found on the southwestern plains. Bison were run off the top of the cliff at the area. Between that time and 1000 years ago, the trench filled in with sediments. Natives had to drive the bison up into the gully to kill the animals. She closed her talk with slides showing how deposition of sediment changes the soil profiles. Her master’s thesis is in this study. The next chapter meeting is at 7 p.m. March 8 in the Conoco Fourth Street Clubhouse. Dr. Jack Hofman, University of Kansas, will speak about the excavations in the Waugh site in western Oklahoma. Visitors are welcome to attend the meetings. Traditional Indian Dancing Program for Unit III MembersEighteen members of Unit III Mother’s Club met Feb. 16 in the Parish Hall of the Episcopal Church. Hostesses were Betty Whetstone, Peggy Lyon, Tibby Coatney and Ann Kennedy. A potato bar was available. Norma Kinzie, vice chairperson, called the meeting to order and introduced Garland Kent Jr. as the moderator. Junior, as he is known, has experience in traditional and contemporary Native American music. He is also well known in this area and the nation for his many prizes and awards in Fancy Dancing and Grass Dancing competition. The program featured Junior and Bob Murray Jr. at the drum as Dena Garland, Trevor Garland, and Billy Shaw performed their individual Indian dance, complete with traditional regalia. Bob Murray, dressed in the Northern Traditional dress, performed a warrior’s dance. He also gave background information on his attire which he designed and made. His breastplate was made from shin bones of different animals, providing a decorative as well as a protective feature. Angora shields protected his legs and the bells that jingled around the angora represented a signal to the enemy that he was not afraid and was ‘making his move.’ His headdress was made from porcupine quills, deer fur dyed in different colors, and golden eagle feathers. Each dancer has his own colors and is known by his colored regalia. Both Garland and Murray said they want the history and heritage of Native Americans, as well as the beauty of their culture, to be told through their music and dancing. A gift was presented to the group as an appreciation of their contribution to our luncheon. Kinzie announced the names of nominating committee members: Janet Smith, Chairlady; Louise Locke and Ann Kennedy. The slate of officers will be announced in March and voted on in the April meeting. It was announced that the Spring Meeting for all units of Mother’s Club will be held at the Pioneer Woman Museum in May. The next meeting will be held March 16 with Janet Smith, Maureen Danielson and Sue Braden as hostesses. The program will be given by Linda Rennie about the 101 Ranch. Modern Moms Name OfficersModern Moms Mothers Club met on Feb. 8 in the home of Carol McGaughey. The program was presented before the business meeting by Jackie Hunsucker concerning organ donation. She explained who can be a donor and what is involved in making the decision. She told how many lives are saved or made better each year by organ donations. The meeting was then called to order by Sue Bond, president. The collect and aims was led by Glenda Hisey. The devotion “Choose Being Kind Over Being Right” was given by Sue Winkle. Members answered roll call by sharing their wedding pictures. Family pages for the history book were turned in and those remaining need to be turned in at the March meeting. The new slate of officers were presented for next year. They will be: president, Glenda Hisey; first vice-president, Carol McGaughey; second vice-president, Sue Winkle; treasurer,Joan Hardy; chaplain, Jackie Hunsucker; and parliamentarian,Sue Bond. The next meeting will be March 8 at the home of Sue Bond. Unit II Members Attend LuncheonMembers of Unit 11 of the Ponca City Mother’s Club met on Feb. 2 in the home of Sandy Bishop. Jayne Cooper and Pat Morahan served as the co-hostesses for the luncheon meeting and the program. There were 18 members attending the event. Mary Ann Potter presented the program on herb gardening, preserving and using herbs. The door prize was won by Lana Jones and the paper goods that were donated by the members were taken to the Child Development Center. The next luncheon meeting will be held on March 2 in the home of Lana Jones with Jerri Barnes and Carolyn Bourne serving as co-hostesses. Eta Delta Chapter Members MeetEleven members attended the regular Eta Delta chapter, Beta Sigma Phi sorority, meeting hosted by Janet Hughes. Judy Branch presided over the meeting. Betty Wyatt announced the City Council Founder’s Day will be at the American Legion on April 26 and the state Beta Sigma Phi convention will be in Oklahoma City June 22-24. Election of chapter officers will take place at the March 12 meeting. A letter was received thanking the chapter for its contribution to the International Endowment fund. Wanda Sheehan distributed individual scrapbook pages which are due back (completed) by March 12. Janet Hughes received the Beta Bud Basket, and Julie Collins won the door prize. The next meeting will be a dinner meeting at Pizza Hut hosted by Cecelia Schieber on Feb. 26. Janet Hughes presented an informative program about Valentine traditions. The program was followed by a secret sister Valentine gift exchange. Xi Delta Chapter Lists PlansXi Delta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority meet Feb. 12 in the home of Dorothy Leonard with seven members present. Dorothy Leonard, president, conducted the meeting. City council minutes were read. Pat Schissler read the minutes, and Patsy Hastings gave the treasurer report. Sue May, vice president, read communications from International. Susan Henshaw is eligible for the Exempler Degree, and will receive the degree at the Feb. 26 meeting. Members and their guests met Feb. 10 at the American Legion for the Valentine Dance. Pam Palmer was crowned Xi Delta chapter queen. She was escorted by her husband, Bill, and crowned by last year’s queen, Lisa Mena. There will be a scrap book meeting on Feb. 19 in the home of chairman, Pam Palmer. Every member is invited to attend. The March 12 meeting will be a special meeting. Pat Schissler and Dorothy Leonard will receive the 25 Year Silver Circle Award. The chapter will have a salad supper for them. The next meeting will be Feb. 26. in the home of Sue May. Pat Schissler will be the co-hostess. and the program will be given by Lynda Smith. Patsy Hastings won the traveling basket. A program on making candle holders was presented by Pam Palmer. Supplies were given to each member, enabling them to make a candle holder. Little NewsAutumn Rae Garza Ray and Cindy Garza of Bartlesville announce the birth of a daughter, Autumn Rae Garza, at 7:35 p.m. Feb. 8, 2001, in Jane Phillips Hospital in Bartlesville. The baby weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce, and measured 20 inches long. Grandparents are Ramona Sheldon of Ponca City and Bliss Sheldon of Lamont. Great-grandmother is Eula Rheam of Ponca City. Katie Lyn Irwin Announcing the birth of a daughter are Roger and Heather Irwin, 411 South Lake. Katie Lyn Irwin was born at 11:42 a.m. Feb. 1, 2001, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces, and measured 20 1/2 inches long. She has two brothers, Kyle, 8, and Konner, 5, and a sister, Kelsi, 3. Maternal grandparents are Tom and Bonnie Ryan of Ridgecrest, Calif., and Rodney Tidwell of Roosevelt. Paternal grandparents are Saundra Irwin of Ponca City, and James A. Irwin of Alex. Maternal great-grandparents are William and Betty Risher of Ridgecrest, Calif. , Oscar and Sharon Tidwell of Altus. Paternal great-grandfather is James H. Irwin of Barnsdall. SPORTSMonday Evening Quarterback Monday Evening Quarterbackby Fred Hilton News Sports Editor By crowning three regional champions and sending five wrestlers to the state tournament, the Wildcats earned a measure of respect from the East Regional coaches and fans. Now the Ponca Citians must convince the West Regional teams. In one of the better finishes in recent years, the Cats finished fifth in the team standings, following East powers Broken Arrow, Choctaw, Sand Springs and Muskogee. Shawn Lee (119 pounds), MiMi Miller (125) and Jasper Lockett (152) all won regional titles. Matt Littleton was third at 145 and Roman RedLeaf fourth at 140 “We got a lot of compliments for how well we wrestled,” Po-Hi coach Todd Steidley said. However, the Poncans apparently did not impress some of the West wrestlers. At least two West third placers opted to drop down and take the fourth seed at their weight to go against Wildcat East champions. “I don’t know if it is a lack of respect or what,” Steidley said. “But with Westmoore and Midwest City wrestlers dropping to meet us, we have a chance to have an impact on which team wins the state championship.” The Bombers and Jaguars both are challenging Broken Arrow’s Tigers for the state title. “We are going to have a lot of backing when we wrestle those two,” the coach notes. “Broken Arrow will bring a lot of fans and they — along with our own fans — will be cheering for us to win.” At 119 pounds, Westmoore’s Brian Slater, who finished third in the West may feel he has reason for tackling Lee. Slater defeated the Wildcat, 17-10, in the recent Dual State Tournament. But Slater my have forgotten how close that match really was. Lee trailed just 11-10 going into the final 30 seconds of the match when a late escape. takedown and back points by Slater widened the margin. At 152. Midwest City’s Dustin Woods also gave up a third seed from the West to go against Lockett. Steidley feels it may be a mistake. “Jasper has gotten stronger and is wrestling real well right now. Midwest City’s wrestlers are pulling a lot of weight. That could give us an advantage.” At 125, Westmoore’s Joe Stover got caught in the pinch and will face Miller again. MiMi won the Dual State match against Stover 5-3 and didn’t feel he had wrestled especially well. At 145, Littleton is pitted against West runner-up Nick Kindrick of Putnam City West. They clashed once this season, in the Jenks Tournament. At 140, RedLeaf will face West champion Kyle Shelton. This is another case where the Bombers’ may be battling weight loss, “and Roman wrestled real well in the regional,” Sheidley said. In fact, Steidley feels all his grapplers did well at Jenks and is pleased with taking five to state. He is especially pleased that Lee and Littleton are two of the three seniors he had on this year’s team. He has also see his grapplers regain the confidence he felt they didn’t show at Dual State. “We are not through,” he says. “I think we have a good chance of placing all five at state.” Pokes’ Matmen Pin SoonersSTILLWATER (AP) — Pins from Shane Roller at 157 pounds and Daniel Cormier at 184 pounds gave No. 2 Oklahoma State a 24-12 win over No. 6 Oklahoma in a Big 12 Conference wrestling dual Sunday. The Cowboys trailed the Sooners 9-6 going into Roller’s match, the sixth of the day. His pin of OU’s Tony Moore gave the Cowboys a 12-9 advantage. OU tied the match at 12 when Robbie Waller scored a 4-2 decision over OSU’s Chris Pendleton in the 165 pound weight class. Tyrone Lewis gave the Cowboys a 15-12 lead when he scored a 3-1 decision over Michael Barger at 174 pounds. OSU’s third-ranked Cormier locked up the win for the Cowboys with his pin of Josh Lambrecht. Cormier had to fight out of Lambrecht’s cradle before he got the fall. “We still had two more matches after that and my heart fluttered a little when Daniel Cormier got in that cradle,” said OSU coach John Smith. “You don’t teach that defense of what he did. That is just the pure athletic ability of getting himself out of what didn’t look good.” The crowd — 10,802 — was the largest ever to watch a wrestling dual in Oklahoma. The previous record was 10,000 in Norman on Feb. 7, 1979. “It was fantastic,” Smith said. “That is something we really enjoyed seeing and wrestling in front of.” OKLAHOMA STATE 24, OKLAHOMA 12 285 — Leonce Crump, OU, decision, James Huml, 2-1 125 — Matt Ridings, OU, decision, Matt Brown, 8-1 133 — Johnny Thompson, OSU, decision, Witt Durden, 8-3 141 — Michael Lightner, OU, decision, Charles Walker, 5-3 149 — Reggie Wright, OSU, decision, Jared Frayer, 7-2 157 — Shane Roller, OSU, fall, Tony Moore, 4:56 165 — Robbie Waller, OU, decision, Chris Pendleton, 4-2 174 — Tyrone Lewis, OSU, decision, Michael Barger, 3-1 184 — Daniel Cormier, OSU, fall, Josh Lambrecht, 2:44 197 — Mark Munoz, OSU, decision, Waymon May, 4-3 Shidler Grad Aims To Restore Winning Tradition at HaskellBy DAVID DAVIS News Sports Writer LAWRENCE, Kan. — Shidler graduate Graham Snelding recently accepted the position of head football at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kan. Snelding, 28, was the offensive coordinator for coach Gary Tanner, who resigned after 14 seasons due to health problems. Snelding was also the running backs coach and talent scout for the Indoor Football League Topeka Kings. After graduating from Shidler High School in 1991, Snelding served a stint in the army. He enrolled at HINU in 1994. Snelding graduated first in his class at Haskell in 1996 with an Associates in Science. He met his wife there and they were married in the gazebo on campus. He said the university holds so many pleasant memories for him that coaching the Fightin’ Indians is a dream come true for him. “Haskell Indian Nations University has given me many opportunities and I hope to give them the type of program that they and Native Americans across the country deserve,” Snelding, a member of the Kaw Nation, said. “I hope to bring back the winning tradition that Haskell and Native American football once had.” HINU completed its first season as a member of the Central States Football League Conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics with a record of 2-8. The conference represents six schools that includes Langston Univ., Okla.; Lincoln Univ., Mo.; Northwestern Okla. State Univ., Peru State College, Neb. and Southwestern Assemblies of God Univ. in Texas “My goal is to build a clean program that graduates athletes and a program that will compete for the conference title on a regular basis and go to the NAIA playoffs.” Snelding earned a bachelor’s degree in 1998 from Northwestern Oklahoma State University where he graduated with honors. In 1999, he earned a masters degree from the University of Kansas. “As a student athlete I was still able to excel at academics and I hope to bring a heavy emphasis on academics into the program,” he said. “This emphasis on academics should allow our retention levels to dramatically increase.” Snelding said the offense will feature a wide open air attack with four wideouts. “We will go to a more modern passing attack on offense and we will work to regain our tradition of having an extremely hard hitting defense,” he said. Lutheran Cagers WinnersThe First Lutheran seventh and eighth grade boys finished the basketball season 17-1. The girls finished 17-3. The Cardinals began the season with a loss against Frontier in the Braman Tournament, then won the next 17 games. The boys’ capped off the season with an impressive 56-23 win over St. Mary’s Catholic. The Cardinals led 15-4 after the first quarter and 30-10 by the time the first half ended. At the end of three periods, the Cardinals led 46-15. Steven Vaughan led the Cardinals with 18 points. John Penewitt had 9; Chris Vaughan, C. J. Johnson, Sam McDaniel and Barry Fagg, 6; Ryan Sands, Eric Stephen and Sean Taglialatela, 2. For St. Mary’s Brad Hermes, 12; Joey Lee, 8; Eric Allen, 2; Colby Waller, 1. The Lady Cardinals finished a very successful season with only two losses to Billings and one to Braman. The Lady Cardinals finished the season with a fine defensive display of their own in Tuesday’s win over St. Mary’s. The girls struggled a bit in the first quarter, but emerged with a 1-point lead, 7-6. First Lutheran picked up the pace in the second period to end the first half, 19-10. That was really all the cushion the girls needed. The third quarter ended with a 10-point lead, 28-18, before opening the game up more in the fourth with an 11-6 finish to win by 15 points, 39-24. Jenna Piel led the Lady Cardinals with 16 points. Tedi Hill scored 9; Kristina Kirsch, 8 and Heather Harris, 6. Julie Marshall led St. Mary’s with 16 points. Ashley Davis, 4; Bethaney Doerkson and Rachal Mackey, 2.
Copyright© Ponca City News, 1998 |