From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Thursday,
February 20, 1997
LOCAL
Rain Drenching State With Floods Possible
Nearly News
Marland Estate Slated as City Department
Letters Say:
Electrical Hazards Must Be Dealt With Caution
Chamber News
Oil & Gas Report
Mertz Brothers Bull Recognized In Spring Report
DEATHS
Kathryn L. Keys
John E. Warden
Kenneth Dean Stoddard
Funerals
Kenneth M. Leffler
Emma Plunkett
Services Pending
Nora Irene Cox
NEWS BRIEFS
SPORTS
Prior to Wrestling Regional: Young Contemplates Some More Changes
NOC Softball Team Swept
Red 8th Girls End Season
For Oklahoma State: Roberts' Play Growing Bigger
From Staff and AP Reports
Oklahomans pulled out the umbrellas and the rain slickers today and kept an eye on flood-prone areas as welcome rains drenched much of the state.
''I think it's really good for the farmers and our firemen are real happy,'' said Jeannette Barger, an administrative assistant at Altus City Hall.
Altus recorded 2.15 inches of rain by 7 a.m. and rain was still falling at mid-morning.
Ponca City and area had steady ran throughout the morning, but only 0.20 inch recorded at the airport by 11 a.m.
The National Weather Service offices in Norman and Tulsa issued flash flood watches for much of the state today as a strong upper-level weather system moved closer to the region with the promise of heavy rainfall.
Widespread 2 to 3 inch rains are expected with heavier downpours near thunderstorms causing 5 inches of rain in a few areas, the Weather Service in Tulsa said.
Hennepin in southern Oklahoma recorded 3.01 inches of rain by 7 a.m. Other rainfall totals included 1.97 in Durant, 2.01 in Marietta, 2.51 in Trousdale, 1.92 in Pontotoc, 1.50 in Nobel, 1.63 in Seminole, 1.30 in Waurika, 1.25 in Chandler and 1.46 at the Atoka dam. of the state.
Nearly an inch of rain fell at Fort Sill in Lawton in the 12 hours ended at 7 a.m., the National Weather Service reported. Oklahoma City reported .42 inches, while Tulsa recorded a total of .46 inches of rain in the same period.
The Weather Service said the prospect of additional rain in eastern Oklahoma prompted concerns of flooding along Bird Creek near Sperry and the Illinois River near Watts.
The romantic potential of computers was realized recently when a cyberspace courtship led to marriage and the birth of a baby girl for a Manhattan, Kan., couple. Florence Whiting called our attention to the unique wedding of the pair when her niece, Earlene Martin of Manhattan, hosted a baby shower for the two. Married in 1995 the couple met via a computer chatroom while the gentleman resided in Oxford, England and the future bride at Kansas State University. The rest, as they say, is cyberhistory.
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And now the rest of the story - an astute reader pointed out that in Wednesday's story on Sir John Kerr, British ambassador to the United States, that Adm. William Crowe is actually the U.S. ambassador to Great Britain. Prior to that he was on the staff of Oklahoma University as reported. Folks in Ponca City remember Crowe fondly as he was the guest speaker for the 1985 Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce banquet speaker. Later he would become the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In the latter part of 1989 he would be followed in that position by Colin Powell.
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Tonight is the kickoff for Great Escape '97. All parents of Po-Hi seniors are urged to attend this important meeting at 7 p.m. in the Howell Auditorium. Committees are being formed to help on the night of the big event.
By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Staff Writer
A significant revelation at the Marland Estate Commission meeting Tuesday evening by Assistant City Manager Tom Short is that the Marland Estate is expected to become a general department next year.
He said that the basic criteria - the proprietary fund - which it was set up for no longer exists (conference center, which has been leased). The Marland Estate is basically comparable to the Cultural Center or the Hutchins Memorial, Short said.
Short said the financials would no longer show a transfer to the Marland Estate but would be just eaten up in the general fund. He said items that are in the Marland fund will go into the general fund's line items. The money from the restaurant, Monumental Enterprises Inc., and tours of the Marland Mansion will be set up on separate lines in the general funds revenue budget.
Short says this comes about at this time because there is money in the Marland Estate Fund. He explained, "We budget each year based on anticipated revenues and expenditures in categories from the previous year. Basically at the end of January there was $229,000 in Marland Estate fund as it was being overfunded." Of that $66,000 is restricted because it was donated by an anonymous donor.
The subsidy for the Marland Estate began in 1990 with the idea that the subsidy would be basically for the electrical utility, since the city owns the electric plant. This began at about $85,000 a year. Then a few years later it was amended to be an operational subsidy. The transfer from the general fund was as high as $154,000 a year. Last year it was $128,000.
Short said the extra money amounts to $152,654. He said, "This will either go into the city's general fund which at the end of the fiscal year will go into the general fund balance to be reappropriated for the various departments depending on the needs that are submitted or if the City Commission wants they could be allowed for other projects at the Marland Estate." Kathy Adams, executive director, said she is making a priority list for repairs and expenditures to be submitted.
In June, the income for Angela Hall, which has been rented for several years by the Ponca City Public School system for a kindergarten center will end., This rent brought in $3,000 a month. Other rentals currently available on the estate are the Rose Lane house and the gate house.
The monthly summary for January showed a loss of $3,410 and this included $10,666 transfer from the general fund. This compares with a loss of $9,136 in January 1996. The current year total shows a gain of $7,574, including $74,666 transferred from the general fund. The previous year showed a loss of $3,029.
Lydie Booklet
The Lydie booklet, which has been out of circulation for several months, is going to go back on the market at the Marland Mansion, pending approval by the City Commission at Monday evening's meeting.
The announcement was made by City Manager Gary Martin at the Marland Estate Commission. Martin said the legal ramifications have been dealt with and the booklet will again be marketed. The book had been put together by former Marland Estate director Patty Apman and permission had not been granted for some of the photographs and copy used at the time it was published.
A total of 6,000 were printed and over 4,000 will be available. The booklet dealing with the life and times of Lydie Marland will be sold through the gift shop, according to Executive Director Kathy Adams. Proceeds of the book will go to the Marland Estate.
Larry Hughes, chairman of the Marland Estate Foundation, reported that the work on the exterior of the property known as Lydie's cottage is 95 percent complete.
Hughes said about $95,000 has been spent on the project itself. The current balance of the Foundation money (which is funds generated by the Marland Estate Commission with events such as the Oktoberfest and the Christmas Gala) is $121,000. He said about $50,000 of that amount will be due for work on the cottage.
The project is expected to take about $225,000. Currently about $25,000 will need to be raised to finish the cottage. It was suggested that memberships could be sold for the project. If the roofing tile arrives it is anticipated the exterior work would be finished in March and interior work could begin in April.
Betty Durkee, grant writer, told about grant applications that are now being submitted for interior of the cottage. She also told that there is a good possibility that one large grant may be possible for the restoration of the Marland Mansion. The commission recognized Durkee's dedicated efforts with applause.
The fund raising report was given Connie McAbee, who told of possible events, in addition to the gala and Oktoberfest to raise funds. Theses included a spring flower and art fling, to be held the same weekend as Herb Festival and Kawfest on June 6. Larry Stephenson, commission chairman, asked the committee to check this event out and decide.
Other suggestions were a holiday art show and sale in mid-November and staging the play "The Gift of Willie Cry," in September.
A year long celebration is being considered for 1998 on the 70th anniversary of the Marland Mansion.
Doyle Worstell was introduced as a new member of the Commission.
In the executive director's report, Kathy Adams, covered some of the report given by Cheryl Fletcher. Adams told that the wooden signs on the grounds will soon be replaced. She showed the new brochure. A total of 50,000 of the five-color brochures were printed.
Adams reported the new hours of the Mansion are already in place. She told about a marketing program to give discount cards to motels for guests. She said a tour will be provided for motel desk clerks to become familiar with the Mansion.
She told about the Marland Estate guide program and that guides are being asked to commit to six hours a month. There are 20 to 25 guides and double that many are needed. The guides will all be working from scripts in the future.
The next meeting of the Estate Commission will be March 18 in the Marland Board Room at Conoco. The Commission will meet for lunch with Marland Estate Foundation and the regular meeting will follow.
An item slated to be on the agenda will be whether alcohol can be served by individuals at the Mansion at a private party and not be catered by Apple Cart.
Presently the Mansion guidelines say that alcohol must be served by an Oklahoma licensed caterer and Apple Cart, which leases E.W.'s Restaurant is the only licensed caterer in Ponca City. The question was brought up by Karlene Rich in the citizen's portion of the meeting, concerning a forthcoming wedding reception.
Editor, The News,
Do you know that a pointing finger is also a shaking fist? Don't we have enough violence in our schools without all the finger pointing? Parents are pointing at teachers, teachers are pointing at parents and teachers are pointing at other teachers.
Instead of shaking our fists by pointing fingers let's start holding out our hands in peace. Forget school politics. Don't let possible repercussions on your child stop you. Let's all work together to make our schools a positive place to be.
Our children are in school for the majority of their young years. Let us as parents and teachers begin to work as a unit so our children in Ponca City will learn all the skills they require to become productive citizens. Let's stop the finger-pointing.
Let's stop the expulsions and slow down the drop-out rate.
I don't have solutions but I believe together the citizens of Ponca City can develop them.
Do you have a child or a grandchild in the school systems? Do you teach in the school system?
No matter what age your child or what grade you teach you can make a difference if you want to. I am willing to try. Are You?
My phone number is 762-4791. Let's meet and talk and make a difference in Ponca City schools.
Cindy Ivie
The trend of deaths by electrocution related to consumer products decreased by 48 percent from 1983 to 1993, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, (CPSC).
In part, this could be due to awareness of electrical hazards and inclusion of safety mechanisms by manufacturers.
However, approximately 700 deaths and 6,800 injuries occur from residential electrical fires each year. Annual property damage due to these fires amounts to more than one billion dollars. Additionally, CPSC estimates that several thousand injuries from electric shocks are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year.
Furthermore, electrical cords and plugs were involved in about 7,800 fires resulting in 100 deaths. This is 35 percent of all deaths associated with residential electrical system fires occurring yearly. By comparison, lamps and light fixtures were involved in an estimated 8,000 fires and 50 deaths. Switches and outlets account for 4,900 fires and 30 deaths.
Things to remember:
- Never pull a plug out by the cord.
- Regularly check wires, extension cords and appliances for signs of wear.
- Use appliances and power tools with three-pronged plugs.
- Do not touch appliances, wires or electrical switches with wet hands or feet.
- Turn television sets and other appliances off during a lightning storm.
- Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher in your home. Use a class "C" all-purpose extinguisher on electrical fires. Never use water on an electrical fire.
- Never place electrical cords across traffic areas or under carpets.
- Be sure appliance and extension cords are not cracked or frayed.
- Purchase small appliances that have been approved by OSHA certified laboratories such as the Underwriters Laboratory (UL).
- Don't plug too many appliances into one outlet.
- Never use any electrical appliance in the tub or shower.
- Use plastic safety caps in unused outlets, if there are young children in the home.
- Never insert a metal object into an appliance without disconnecting the appliance.
For more information about electrical safety, contacted the Ponca City Electric Department at 767-0405.
This is the fourth in a series of articles entitled, "Meet a Committee Chairperson," featuring individuals who serve as committee chairpersons for the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce.
Legislative Review Committee
David Mueller was born in Nebraska and raised in Texas, but has been an Okie for over half his life. Mueller is currently serving as committee chairman for the Legislative Review Committee.
After graduating from high school in Brenham, Texas, he attended Concordia Junior College in Austin, Texas, and Concordia Teachers College in Seward, Neb. After college, he moved to Perry, Okla., where he taught third and fourth grade at Christ Lutheran School for one year and then served as principal and taught fifth and sixth grade for 12 years. During that time, he earned a masters degree in elementary education from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. In 1981, Mueller purchased a Kwik Kopy Printing franchise and opened his printing and copying center in Ponca City. He and his wife Gale, a Po-Hi algebra and geometry teacher, have four children.
Mueller's past activities in the community include: United Way Board of Directors, Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and "Give Ponca The Business" Committees, and First Lutheran School Board of Education, chairman. He was also a member of the Leadership Ponca City class of 1994 and served on the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Committee in 1996.
Currently, Mueller is serving on the Board of Directors of the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the Helpline Board of Directors, chairman of the First Lutheran Church Board of Elders, secretary of the Domestic Violence Program Board of Directors and vice chairman of the American Red Cross Board of Directors. Mueller also serves as a focus group facilitator for the International Center for Entrepreneurial Development, the parent company of his franchiser, Kwik Kopy Printing Inc.
If you have questions about the Legislative Review Committee for the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce, contact Lisa Coy at 765-4400.
Upcoming Seminar
The Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce would like to remind you to mark your calendars for a seminar designed to help you identify advertising needs for your small business. Joe Engelbrecht, president of ImageQuest Advertising, Inc., will be the guest speaker at the Feb. 26 "Mind Your BISness" Seminar, presented by Pioneer Technology Center.
The seminar is scheduled from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in PTC's Education Business Center East.
Engelbrecht's firm, located in Weatherford, Okla., is a multi-service advertising and marketing firm specializing in assisting small businesses in non-metro areas. From humble beginnings with one client in 1986, IQA now serves small businesses in three states.
Engelbrecht regularly conducts seminars and workshops about how to make advertising more effective for small businesses. He has conducted seminars throughout Oklahoma for Chambers of Commerce, Civic Groups, the Oklahoma Vo-Tech Department and other state agencies.
The fee for the seminar is $10 per person. To make your reservation, call 762-8336, ext. 238.
Drillsite has been staked for the No. 1 May Horse Chief Eagle, a 4,600-ft. wildcat well in Kay County.
The operation will be located 4.2 miles east-southeast of Tonkawa.
Warren Corporation is the operator.
Section 15 - township 25n - range 1e-sw-se.
Drilling has gotten under way at the No. 5-97 Savage and the No. 5-97 Wooderson in the Blackwell Field, Kay County, two miles and 2.4 miles southwest of Sumpter.
The wells carry permits for 3,400 and 3,500 feet of hole making, respectively.
Oil Ventures is the operator.
Section 32 - township 28n - range 1w-n1/2-se and nw-nw, respectively.
Two developmental wells are planned by Hulen Oil Co. in Noble County's South Tonkawa Field, 3.2 and 3. 7 miles east of Billings.
The wells will be known as the No. 1 Matthiesen and the No. 2-26 Curby. Both will seek production in the Herington Formation, with total depths projected to 625 feet.
Section 26 - township 24p - range 2w-nw-se and se-ne, respectively.
A 1,200-ft. developmental well is planned by Three Sands Oil Co. at a drillsite 4.3 miles south-southwest of Perry. The well is designated as the No. 2-17 Day. It is in Noble County's Orlando Field.
Section 17 - township 20n - range 1w-w1/2-sw.
Thomas N. Berry and Co. is preparing to conduct two recompletions for extended production in Noble County's Orlando Field.
The No. 5 Schnurr and the No. 11 Nelson are about 5.7 and six miles south-southwest of Perry.
The operator will be seeking new pay at depths of 4,990 and 5,064 feet, respectively.
Section 30-township 20n - range 1w-ne-nw and sw-ne, respectively.
Production in the Hoover Formation will be the target when Hugoton Energy Corp. conducts a recompletion at the No. 2 T. A. in Noble County's Billings Field, 4.3 miles south-southeast of Billings.
The well currently bottoms at a depth of 2,500 feet.
Section 16 - township 23p - range 2w-se-sw.
Chevron U.S.A. Inc. has revealed plans to drill a total of three wells in Osage County, 7.4, 3.4 and five miles south-southwest of Burbank. All three carry permit for 5,000-ft. tests of the Arbuckle Formation.
The wells will be knowm as the No. 1 Chevron 'C.'
They are located in the Fairfax, Unnamed and Lucy Creek Fields, respectively.
Section 3 - township 24 - range 5-nw.
Section 14 - township 25 - range 5-nw.
Section 21 - township 25 - range 5-nw.
Drillsite has been staked for the No. 10 Convest in the New England Field, Osage County. The operation will be located nine miles west-northwest of Pershing.
Convest Energy Corp. is the operator and will take the well to a 2,600-ft. bottom.
Section 27 - township 25 - range 8-sw.
The Mertz Brothers company of Ponca City has been recognized for owning a bull listed in the American Angus Association's 1997 Spring Sire Evaluation Report.
Issued in both the spring and fall, the evaluation report features the latest available performance information on 4,424 sires. The data is in the form of expected progeny differences (EPDs), and is compiled from Angus herd improvement records submitted by breeders to the association, headquartered in St. Joseph, Mo.
John Crouch, director of the association's performance programs, said EPDs are excellent indicators of the genetic merit animals have for specific traits, and when using EPDs with high accuracy values, cattle producers can depend on them for predicting performance.
Traits for which EPDs are available include birth weight, weaning weight,
milk, yearling weight, mature daughter size and scrotal circumference. The
report also lists available carcass traits, including marbling, rib eye
area, external fat thickness and percent retail product.
DEATHS
Kathryn L. Keys, lifelong Ponca City resident, died Tuesday, Feb. 18, 1997, at Westminster Village.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Ponca City First Baptist Church chapel with the Rev. Larry Heslip, minister of education, officiating. Burial will follow in the Ponca City IOOF Cemetery under the direction of Trout Funeral Home.
Kathryn L. (Edwards) Keys was born west of Ponca City, the daughter of James Toner and Eliza Kathryn (Fleming) Edwards. She attended Ponca City Schools, graduating from Ponca City High School in 1926.
On June 11, 1932, she was married to Samuel Keys in Ponca City and the couple established their home in Ponca City. Mrs. Keys was a lifelong homemaker and enjoyed being a wife and mother. She was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church. Her hobbies included playing golf.
Survivors include two sons, James R. Keys of San Antonio, Texas and Samuel Keys of Fort Worth, Texas; one brother, Paul Edwards of Ponca City; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband on Nov. 24, 1984; and four brothers, Luther Edwards, David Edwards, Marvin Edwards and Peter Edwards.
Casket bearers will be Phillip Ballard, Eric Edwards, James R. Keys Jr., Clyde Robins, Lynn Varner and Gerald Sober.
Memorial contributions in Mrs. Keys' name may be made to the First Baptist Church, 218 South Sixth Street, Ponca City, OK 74601.
MARAMEC - John E. Warden, lifelong resident of Maramec, died Wednesday, Feb. 19, 1997 in Tulsa. He was 75.
The funeral is set for 2 p.m. Friday in the Maramec First Baptist Church with the Rev. Larry Adams officiating. Burial will be in the Maramec IOOF Cemetery under the direction of Poteet Funeral Home, Pawnee.
John E. Warden was born Sept. 20, 1921, in Terlton, the son of Joseph H. and Effie (Morrell) Warden. He grew up and attended schools in Maramec. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army.
He was married to Julia J. Raper at her parents home in Maramec on Jan. 29, 1950. Warden was a mechanic and body repair man for the Wayne Cook Motor Company.
Survivors include his wife, Julia J. Warden of Maramec; two sons, John L. of Cushing and Jerald of Maramec; one daughter, Janell Garrett of Tulsa; two brothers, Arthur N. of Stillwater and Charles O. of Pawnee; seven grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; and numerous other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Lawrence, and one sister, Hazel Ellwell.
OKLAHOMA CITY - Kenneth Dean Stoddard, brother to Betty Rudd of Tonkawa, died Tuesday morning, Feb. 11, 1997, in Oklahoma City. He was 62.
A graveside service was held at 2 p.m. Feb. 18, at Grace Hill Cemetery in Perry under the direction of Brown Funeral Home, Perry.
Kenneth Dean Stoddard was born Aug. 23, 1934, at Perry, the son of Leland and Lena Stoddard. He grew up in Perry, graduating from Perry High School. After his schooling, Stoddard served in the U.S. Army
After his discharge Stoddard owned and operated a television repair shop in Perry, until ill health forced his retirement. He later moved to Oklahoma City, where he had lived for several years.
Survivors include two sisters, Betty Rudd of Tonkawa and Lois Shaw of Talihina; two brothers, Don Stoddard of Perry and Allen Stoddard of Shawnee. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Friday
Kenneth M. Leffler - Funeral to be at 2 p.m. in the Tonkawa First United Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Tonkawa IOOF Cemetery under the direction of McCafferty-Bolick Funeral Home, Tonkawa.
Saturday
Emma Plunkett - Memorial service at 2 p.m. at the Y Chapel of Song on the University of Central Oklahoma campus in Edmond. A reception will follow in the Broncho corral of Health and Physical Education Building. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home, Ponca City.
Nora Irene Cox
FAIRFAX - Nora Irene Cox, Fairfax area resident, died Wednesday Feb.
19, 1997, at the Fairfax (Okla.) Memorial Hospital. She was 81. Survivors
include a sister, Leona Tate and a brother, Dick Calloway, both of Fairfax.
Arrangements are pending with Hunsaker-Wooten Funeral Home, Fairfax.
NEWS BRIEFS
Ponca Citians in Opera - This past weekend at Oklahoma City University, four Ponca City students participated in the production of the opera "The Magic Flute." Elizabeth Heslip, Cynthia Thompson, Reagan Strickland and Ted Sissons were part of that production Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoon. All are graduates of Ponca City High School.
Tribe Shelter - An open house for the Ponca Tribe Emergency Shelter will be held 1-3 p.m. Friday, 6 miles south on U.S. 177. For more information call 763-0135.
Vandalism - A construction worker contacted the Ponca City Police Department at 8:43 a.m. Wednesday to report the inside of the new Lincoln School had been spray painted.
Prices Switched - An employee of Hobby Lobby, 2904 North Fourteenth Street, reported that a customer switched prices on items. A Ponca City police officer responded at 9:44 a.m. Wednesday to take a report.
Warrant Served - A Ponca City police officer went to Blackwell Police Department at 10:14 a.m. Wednesday to take a 23-year-old woman into custody on a city warrant for failure to pay.
Accident - A Ponca City police officer took a report of an accident at South Franklin Street and West Ponca Avenue at 10:29 a.m. Wednesday.
Wallet Stolen - A resident in the 900 block of North Second Street contacted the Ponca City Police Department at 10:47 a.m. Wednesday to report a wallet stolen from the vehicle. An officer took a report.
Abandoned Bike - The Ponca City Police Department received notice at 10:57 a.m. Wednesday that a girls ' bike was abandoned in the 300 block of North Elm Street.
Theft - A resident in the 1800 block of Meadowbrook Drive informed the Ponca City Police Department at 1:06 p.m. Wednesday that a gun was stolen from the residence. An officer took a report.
Subjects Held - At 2:18 p.m. Wednesday, three Ponca City police officers arrested a 39-year-old woman on a Kay County warrant for failure to appear, a 19-year-old man on a Kay County warrant for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and a 32-year-old man on a city warrant for failure to pay. The arrests were made at North Sixth Street and East Hartford Avenue. At 3:30 p.m., one officer returned to take a 36-year-old man into custody on a Kay County warrant for failure to appear.
House Egged - A resident in the 1100 block of Brentwood Drive notified the Ponca City Police Department at 4:25 p.m. Wednesday that someone egged the residence. An officer took an information report.
Youth Arrested - A 16-year-old boy was arrested at Triple T, 1301 West Highland Avenue, at 5:39 p.m. Wednesday for petit larceny. The store clerk said the boy took cigarettes. The youth was issued a citation and released with a promise to appear in juvenile court.
Failure to Appear - A Ponca City police officer arrested an 18-year-old man in the 700 block of South Waverly Street at 5:41 p.m. Wednesday on a city warrant for failure to appear.
Collision - A resident notified the Ponca City Police Department at 5:57 p.m. Wednesday that a non-injury accident occurred at North Fifth Street and East Hartford Avenue. An officer took a report.
Youth Has Drugs - A Ponca City police officer arrested a 14-year-old boy in the 1300 block of West Highland Avenue at 6:19 p.m. Wednesday for possession of marijuana.
Shoplifters - An employee at Wal-Mart, 1101 East Prospect Avenue,
contacted the Ponca City Police Department at 8:02 p.m. Wednesday to report
three girls caught shoplifting. An officer arrested a 12-year-old, a 13-year-old
and a 15-year-old for grand larceny.
SPORTS
By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
Two more Wildcat wrestlers will drop in weight for the eastern regional tournament at Jenks Friday and Saturday - maybe.
Po-Hi coach Pat Young said this week that Stockton Graves has dropped from 171 pounds to 160 and Jay Bentley from 189 to 171. They follow Mark and Matt Dodgen, who earlier dropped down to 119 and 125 pounds.
Faced with a very tough regional field that includes No. 1 ranked Choctaw, No. 2 Broken Arrow and No. 6 Putnam City North, Young is trying to give his top wrestlers their best chance at qualifying for the state tournament.
But he admits that there are contingency plans that could change at the last moment.
"I am probably going to wait as long as I can to weigh in our kids at Jenks," Young said.
He wants to see at what weight other teams will put their wrestlers.
Thus Graves could go at either 160 or 171 with Bentley at either 171 or 189. Also, Young is considering the idea of letting Matt Dodgen go back to 130.
"We'll wait as late as we can because once you weigh in, that's it. You have to stay at that weight," the coach said.
Young is fairly certain of getting three wrestlers seeded, defending state and regional champion Mark Dodgen should be No. 1. "Little" Dodgen is 20-2 with nine falls. The only thing clouding his seeding as No. 1 is a loss to Bartlesville's Ben Newby in the Sand Springs Tournament, just days after he defeated Newby in a dual.
Matt Dodgen has a loss to Broken Arrow's Chris Forbes in his 23-2 record. If both are at 125 pounds for the regional tournament, "Big" Dodgen will probably be seeded No. 2.
Graves is 26-4 with 10 falls and leads the team in takedowns with 40. He, too, is likely to be seeded No. 2. Graves was one of only two Wildcat state qualifiers last year but was forced out of the state tournament by a dislocated elbow in the first round.
Two other Wildcats have a slim shot at a seeding. Jay Bentley is 13-9 at 189 pounds and will probably stay at that weight, the coach said today, and heavyweight Cory Burkett is 20-10 with 10 falls.
But with a rugged 16 team field, the regional tournament promises to spread out the state qualifiers. Choctaw and Broken Arrow are expected to dominate and those two teams could send 11 or 12 each to the state tournament.
But the battle for third place in the regional could be close.
"Muskogee has some good kids and so does Sapulpa," Young said. "Tahlequah, Putnam North and Tulsa Union also have some strong wrestlers."
The Po-Hi coach does not discount the possibility the Wildcats could be in that mix.
"We'll just have to go down, wrestle hard and see what happens," Young said.
The rest of the Wildcat lineup will feature Phillip Gelino (15-12) at 103 pounds, Josh Bailey (11-15) at 112, Doug Scott (13-15) at 135, Justin Hall (4-7) at 140, Toby Redleaf (18-13) at 152 and Nick Steichen (5-13) at 215.
The rest of the regional field includes Bartlesville, Sand Springs, Jenks, Owasso, Shawnee, Stillwater, Tulsa Memorial and Tulsa Rogers.
The sessions for the tournament at Jenks are scheduled for noon and 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Defensive mistakes tripped the Northern Oklahoma College Lady Mavericks' softball team as they fell, 8-2 and 11-3, to Cowley County Community College in a season-opening doubleheader Monday.
In Game I, Kim Garrison, Cleveland freshman, allowed only 3 base hits. She had four strikeouts and no base on balls. But the Northern defense had nine errors in the game.
The Lady Mavs could not bunch their five base hits for a big inning. Bridget Maxwell, Taloga sophomore, doubled in the sixth inning but was left stranded. Raynee Moody, Washington sophomore, had an RBI for the Lady Mavs. The team batting average was .208.
Starting pitcher for Game 2 was Jennifer Seaton, Skiatook freshman, who went 2 1/3 innings. She had three strikeouts and one walk while giving up seven base hits and seven runs. Garrison pitched the last 1 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on four hits and striking out one.
The Lady Mavs scored three runs on five base hits and improved the team batting average to .277. Robbie Ashford, Blackwell freshman, led the team with 2 RBIs. Carrie Munson, Stroud sophomore, had the other RBI for Northern.
The Lady Mavericks made six costly errors.
"This was the first game of the season," coach Annette Kennedy said. "I anticipate lowering our errors will help. Once we start hitting the ball we can take advantage of our base-running speed."
The next game is Feb. 26 with Butler County Community College, El Dorado, Kan., another tough opponent.
ENID - Ponca City's Red eighth grade girls jumped out to an 11-2 first-quarter lead over Enid Emerson here Tuesday and went on to record a 35-21 win in the season finale.
The Red girls ended the season with a 12-3 record and were 7-1 in the conference to finish second to the Ponca City Blue team. The Reds ended the year on a six-game winning streak.
Ponca City led 16-8 at halftime and put away any doubts about the outcome of the game by outscoring Emerson 11-5 in the third to go up by 14, 27-13.
Jena Birdsong had a big game with 10 points and was followed in the scoring column by Lyndsi Frederick, 6; Jessica Windom, 5; Cara Cusick, 4; Jacee Shepard, 3; Abby Roth, 3; Kendra Love, 2; and Jessica Hubbard, 2.
"The girls improved a lot throughout the season," said coach Calvin English. "They played great defense against Emerson in both halves. This is just a great group of kids and I'm looking forward to seeing them in the ninth grade this year. Not only these kids, but the Blue team members as well."
The Ponca City Red and Blue teams combined to go 15-1 in conference play but did not meet during the season.
By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
STILLWATER - As the Oklahoma State basketball lineup grows smaller and smaller - in both numbers and size - the play of 6-6 forward-guard Chianti Robert grows bigger and bigger.
Roberts had his first double-double Wednesday night with 18 points and 11 rebounds. The Cowboys needed every one of those to hold off cellar-dwelling Texas A&M, 72-58.
As one of only three seniors on the team, Roberts was asked by coach Eddie Sutton to take a leadership role from the very start. He was asked to score, rebound and usually defend the opposition's best player. That, at times, diluted his production.
Also, Roberts was often hampered by getting into foul trouble early and he made free throw shooting an adventure.
Still, going into Wednesday's game, Roberts was OSU's second leading scorer (averaging 12.9 points a game), the second leading rebounder (5.7) and the assist leader (3.5).
He started Wednesday's game with OSU's first basket and had a perfect feed to Maurice Robinson to give the Cowboys a quick 4-0 lead.
But as the team struggled to a 27-24 halftime lead, Roberts had five rebounds and four points.
"We didn't come out ready to play," Roberts said later. "We didn't have any fire in our eyes. It was an ugly game."
But when Robinson went out late in the first half with a broken hand and 6-11 Brett Robish - the only remaining Cowboy over 6-6 - went to the bench with four fouls early in the second half, Roberts knew he had to take charge.
He scored 12 of his team's first 22 points as OSU expanded the lead to 49-31.
Down the stretch, as the Aggies started to foul, Roberts even sank his free throws.
"When was the last time you saw Chianti go 8-for-9 from the line?" Sutton smiled of his 62 percent shooter.
Roberts said some of the lessons the OSU coaching staff have been preaching are starting to get through.
"I have to play smarter and keep from getting in foul trouble," he said.
"Roberts is a great player," Texas A&M coach Tony Barone said. "We were able to contain him at our place (last Saturday). But he got away from us here."
"Chianti has to get more involved," Sutton added, "and tonight he did."
With the chance of the Cowboys getting an NCAA bid shrinking in direct proportion to their healthy roster, Roberts feels the Pokes can still pull it out, even with a small lineup.
"Our small lineup is faster and more athletic," Roberts said. "It can create some problems for other teams."
Meanwhile, Sutton said he and his staff will sit down and try to figure out a new game plan for a team that used to have four players over 6-9 and is now down to one.
"If we didn't have that crazy (shot) clock, we could screw the ball down and have some of those 20-point games like Mr. Iba used to coach," Sutton said. "But we'll have to have a staff meeting tomorrow and come up with some plays."
Roberts will undoubtly be a big part of those plays.