From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Wednesday,
February 26, 1997
LOCAL
Seay Mansion, Pinnacle of Power
KLVV Presents Popular Series Thursday Night
Area Calendar
Emergency Sirens To Sound Thursday
Nearly News
City Accepts OWRB Offer
Crusade Begins To Reduce Pet Numbers
Burbank Man Remains Hospitalized After Crash
PCT Extends Deadline For Additional Input
Carolee Bible Vying for Title This Weekend
Handcuffs Help Protect Officers, Others Involved
Once-Fancy Machines Run Out Of Gas in County Clerk's Office
DEATHS
Geralee Ames Howard
Elwood V. Aynes
Jon Howell Palmer
Mable B. Otto
Obituaries
David Samuel Stavinsky
D.I. Kelly
Col. Richard Hill Koenig
Funerals
Mabel B. Otto
Delmer Rademacher
Theodore J. White
Delorous V. Welsh
Services Pending
Vivian J. Garner
William White
NEWS BRIEFS
LIFESTYLES
Pioneer Area Quilters Plan March Meeting
Busy Bee Club Members Meet
Rebecca Barker Gives Program for Xi Delta
Scholarship Pageant, Crafts in Chickasha
Stacia Otto Wins State DAR Essay Award
Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Mar. 3
PoHi Class of 1977 Schedules Reunion
Xi Zeta Lambda Hears Reports
Sweet Adelines Quartet Attends Workshop Event
Oklahoma Foundation Sponsoring Program
SPORTS
Do-or-Die Time Now For Po-Hi
Sports Notes
In Season Finale JVs Lose in Two OTs
Youth Basketball
Northern Oklahoma Outdoors
Prepare Now For Turkey Season
It's The Law
By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Staff Writer
KINGFISHER - The pinnacle of government power in Oklahoma Territory rested in the Seay Mansion on Horizon Hill in Kingfisher from 1891 to 1893.
Gov. Abraham J. Seay, who was appointed territorial governor in 1893 by President Benjamin Harrison, built the mansion believing Kingfisher, the town located in Kingfisher County, would be the capitol of the new state that would eventually be Oklahoma. What the town did retain was the county seat, when the first capitol was moved to Guthrie.
The three-story house indeed would have been rather affluent for a bachelor. However Seay's sister Susan Isabel Collins and his niece and nephew lived with him so that explains why some of the modern day comforts were part of the Mansion. Mrs. Collins was his official hostess.
The Oklahoma Historical Society's brochure tells that the "Seay Mansion is a monument to a dream, a dream that Kingfisher would be the new capital of Oklahoma Territory." A dream that didn't come true.
As with several other museums in the state, the Seay Mansion had been under the auspices of the Oklahoma Department of Tourism until being transferred to the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Built on 15 acres, which was bought for $637, the Seay Mansion cost $11,000 to construct and was the most elaborate house in Kingfisher County. The furnishings cost an additional $2,000. The home has stood the test of time and will be 105 years old in March. Today there is some original furniture and other pieces are of that time period have been acquired to give the feeling of authenticity.
The frame house originally consisted of three floors complete with a carriage drive through door at the main entrance on the ground floor. The back entrance boasted a gazebo and the water system was located in the area.
Preservation Noted
The outstanding architectural feature of the building is the three floor turret on the entrance side. On the main floor one of the nooks of the turret contains original chairs and other furnishings that have been preserved from the Seay era.
An unusual mini butler's cove adjacent to the dining room has a stainless steel warmer for keeping food hot. The ballroom on the top floor was removed sometime in the past.
Renee Mitchell, who is the manager of the Seay Mansion and the Chisholm Trail Museum, which are across the street from each other on Zellers Avenue, says her dream is to put the ballroom back in its rightful place.
In the beginning the small basement housed a coal furnace, coal bins and a coal chute. The grids for the furnace located throughout the house are dated 1872. Initially the house had five bedrooms and running water even a hundred years ago. However the servants must of hated to learn the governor wanted to take a bath, because the water had to be hand pumped to the second floor.
A parlor, library, dining room, sitting room and music room made up the first floor. Eight decorate and unusual fireplaces were used to help heat the stately house in the early years. One of those ornate fireplaces is in the spacious entry hall.
The entry hall is accented with a polished Par Kay floor, which has been replaced. The first floor rooms were equipped with tall pocket doors so they could be sealed off when not in use.
A variety of wood was used for the trim in the house that could have been the capitol home. Oak, Pine and Fruitwood are used throughout the downstairs. The stairwell is accented with ornate wooden trim.
Gov. Seay
Born in Virginia in 1832, Seay moved as an infant with his parents to the farming area of Gasconade County in south-central Missouri.
He had several professions including being a successful teacher, lawyer, judge, businessman, banker and politician. He quit teaching and became educated to practice law in Missouri just prior to the Civil War. Serving with the Union Army, he rose from the rank of private to lieutenant colonel before going home to practice law in Union, Mo.
When Seay returned to Missouri, he was appointed attorney for Crawford County, Mo. and later became a circuit lawyer. Retiring in 1870, he entered general practice of law and five years later was elected circuit judge of the Ninth Missouri District.
With the opening of the Unassigned lands in April 1889, there was no local government existing until Congress passed the Organic Act in May 1890 forming Oklahoma Territory.
Mayor George Washington Steele was first appointed territorial governor by President Benjamin Harrison. Harrison appointed Judge Abraham J. Seay to the first territorial supreme court as an associate justice.
Seay presided over the third district which encompassed Kingfisher, Canadian and Beaver counties. In later years Seay would recall that his bench became known as a "Shotgun Court" because of the bluntness of his rulings and decisions. He indicated that he did not resent the charge that his court was "double barreled and breech-loading."
In late May 1890 Judge Seay established his home in Kingfisher and two years later resigned from the judiciary to be sworn in at Guthrie as second territorial governor.
Seay, as territorial governor, presided over the extension of Oklahoma Territory to include six new counties created as the result of the Cheyenne/Arapaho land opening.
Although he had no children, Seay lobbied to secure additional donations of government land to benefit school children and to increase revenue from school land.
His dedication to education was obvious. During his administration the University of Oklahoma Territory at Norman, known today as the University of Oklahoma, officially opened. He signed the act to establish Oklahoma Territory Agricultural and Mechanical College, now known as Oklahoma State University.
Seay also is credited with playing a pivotal part in laying the groundwork for the second territorial legislature including authorization to call the session.
During his administration the census needed for the reapportionment of the election districts was completed.
Among the duties of Seay was to appoint a full set of city and county officials for the county seat which was to be located in a half section of land set aside for that purpose. First the land was surveyed into seven counties. Those counties comprising Oklahoma Territory were Kingfisher, Beaver, Canadian, Cleveland, Logan, Oklahoma and Payne.
The city and county officers took office the day of the country's opening the Cheyenne Arapaho Reservation to settlement.
Kingfisher County was originally a part of the Unassigned Lands opened for settlement during the land run of April 22, 1889. Created at statehood, the county was named for King Fisher, a settler who operated a trading station on the Chisholm Trail.
When Democrat Grover Cleveland defeated Republican President Benjamin Harrison in his reelection attempt, Seay thought he would be replaced by a Democrat. This happened in 1893 when Cary Renfrow became territorial governor.
Following his political service as governor of Oklahoma Territory, Seay spent much of his time on his business interests. During the early part of the 20th century, he worked to protect national banks against powerful state banking interests
He sold the house in 1900 and moved to a hotel downtown. Seay fell off the porch of the hotel and broke his hip. Later Seay bought the mansion back, but was unable to live there because he was in a wheelchair. He moved to California and died there in 1915. Seay is buried in Kingfisher at a cemetery next to his sister.
Hours of operation of the Seay Mansion, 605 Zellers Avenue, are Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m., to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays and legal holidays. There is no admission charge.
Across the street from the Seay Mansion is the Chisholm Trail Museum, another Oklahoma Historical facility, and it operates on basically the same schedule.
Gant School
In addition to the museum property there are several outside buildings including a one room country school house known as Gant School, where Miss Nannie March, niece of Territorial Gov. Seay, was the first teacher.
Gov. Seay had a part in making provisions for the education of the children of the settlers. The proceeds from sections six and 36 of each township were reserved for schools.
Gant School was named for Edgar B. Gant, on whose homestead four miles north and four miles west of Kingfisher was located before being moved to the museum grounds.
The original school building cost $100 to construct. Furnishings were rather sparse and consisted of a wood burning stove, and handmade benches and tables that served as desks.
Miss March earned $25 a month and out of that she paid someone five cents to make fires in the school stove each morning.
For heating fuel, school patrons hauled wood from the north side of the Cimarron River. Older boys were enlisted to cut the wood into sizes suitable for burning in the wood stove.
First three-month term began on the first Monday in 1894. The next term was expanded to four months.
The advantage of the one room school house was that it housed students one through the eighth grades. The older students often helped the young ones. Former students recalled they knew lessons earlier because they had heard them repeated over several grade levels.
The state was settled just as the nation began to move from a rural to urban nation. Therefore school consolidation began. However it did not occur in Oklahoma as soon as it did on the coasts. In fact the last school term at Gant School was the school year 1939-40.
The museum sponsors programs where students come from different areas to spend a day at the school learning what it was like in the heyday of the one room school house.
A presentation of the most popular broadcast ever heard from the radio ministry "Focus on the Family," will be presented on KLVV 88.7 FM Thursday from 4:45 to 6 p.m. say members of the board of directors and manager, Doyle Brewer.
Dr. James Dobson, popular psychologist and author, presents the extraordinary message of a changed life called "Mafia to Ministry." It is the true story of a mafia crime figure, Tom Papania, and the account of his desire to live life his own way, including lying, manipulation, and even murder.
In spite of this, his story also includes God's merciful intervention. God reached out to his life which was bent on destruction and formed it into a life of peace, love and grace, says Dr. Dobson.
According to Brewer, KLVV Station Manager, this three-part series originally aired in December and generated so many calls and requests for taped copies from "Focus on the Family" that the tape duplicating machines had to be run 24 hours a day to handle the load. Focus on the Family has never before received as many requests as they did for this program.
"Because the message is so powerful and moving, KLVV has decided to air the entire three-part series in one single broadcast Thursday, beginning at 4:45 p.m.
More information is available about this program by calling KLVV at 767-1400 during office hours, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To order a cassette tape of the program call 1-800-A FAMILY
February 1-28
Southern Plains Council of Camp Fire Annual Candy Sale, look for members out selling, or call 765-1644.
February 27
Environmental Trust Authority of Northern Oklahoma Board of Trustees, 11:30 a.m., City Manager's Office, 221 West Blackwell, Blackwell.
Alzheimer's Support Group, 7 p.m., Conference Room D, St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.
February 28
Pancake and Sausage Supper, 5-7 p.m., Albright United Methodist Church, 128 South Palm, adults $4, children $2.
February 28-March 1
"Noises Off," Ponca Playhouse production, 8 p.m., Poncan Theatre, Ponca City.
March 1
Liberty PTA Sixth Annual Spring Arts and Crafts Show, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Liberty Elementary School, information call Natalie 767-1429 or Lorinda 762-0459.
Northern Oklahoma Wordsmiths (writer's group), 9:30 a.m.-noon, Basement Program Room, Ponca City Library.
101 District 1997 Scout Show, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, Fourteenth Street and East Grand Avenue, Ponca City. Tiger Cub Raingutter Regatta 10 a.m., District Pinewood Derby 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Kansas Old-Time Fiddlers, Pickers and Singers meet for music and dance, 5:30 p.m., Adams School, North Tenth Street and Express Avenue, Arkansas City.
March 4
Ponca City Area Chamber Orchestra and Chorus, with Children's Chorale, conducted by Cathy Byard, 8 p.m., Poncan Theatre.
March 6, 7, 8
KLVV's annual Sharathon fund raiser on 88.7 FM, call 767-1400 to volunteer or pledge.
March 8
American Legion Pancake and Sausage Feed (all the pancakes you can eat), 6:30-10 a.m., 407 West South Avenue, Ponca City, adults $3, children under 12 $1.50, children under 6 free, proceeds go to the Rehab Fund.
Church Women United Spring Fling Arts and Crafts Show, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Unity Gym, Ponca City, to benefit Child Development Center, call Tina Barrett 765-3613 for more information.
March 9
Community Concert "Rhythm in Shoes," 2:30 p.m., Hutchins Memorial, Fifth Street at Overbrook Avenue, Ponca City.
March 15
Sportscard Show, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Marland Mansion Chapel, Ponca City, free admission, call 765-5333 for more information.
"The Oklahoma City Philharmonic," Poncan Theatre, time to be announced, tickets required.
March 26
Ponca City Humane Society Annual Meeting, 7 p.m., 900 West Prospect.
March 27
Environmental Trust Authority of Northern Oklahoma, 11:30 a.m., City Manager's Office, 221 West Blackwell, Blackwell.
March 27, 28, 29, 30
Annual Easter Pageant, "He's Alive," 7 p.m., presented by First Baptist Church, Hutchins Memorial Auditorium, tickets free but necessary, available at First Baptist Church office, Master's Touch, KLVV, Guy Lyall Insurance in Tonkawa or Eastman National Bank in Newkirk.
March 29
Easter Egg Hunt, 1 p.m., Football Field, Shidler School, sponsored by the Shidler Area Chamber of Commerce.
April 5
American Legion Pancake and Sausage Feed (all the pancakes you can eat), 6:30-10 a.m., 407 West South Avenue, Ponca City, adults $3, children under 12 $1.50, children under 6 free, proceeds go to the Rehab Fund.
Laurette Willis "The Nutty 40s Radio Show," Poncan Theatre.
April 12
Second Annual Trail of Tails benefiting Ponca City Humane Society.
"Trash Off Day, Clean Highway 11, sponsored by Shidler Area Chamber of Commerce.
Sportscard Show and Memorabilia Auction, show 9 a.m.-5 p.m., auction, 6-8 p.m., Northern Oklahoma College, Foster-Piper Fieldhouse, Tonkawa, admission $1, proceeds to Maverick Athletic Booster Club, call 1-405-628-6733 for more information.
88.7 FM presents Contemporary Christian group NewSong, guest Erin O'Donnell, concert, 7 p.m., Hutchin's Memorial, tickets available March 24 at Master's Touch, call 767-1400 for more information.
April 14
Kay County Retired Educators Association, 11:30 a.m., Program, Blackwell Police Department "Scams," First United Methodist Church, Sixth and Coolidge, Blackwell.
May 17
D.C. Minner, Selby and Blues on the Move, 8 p.m., Poncan Theatre, Ponca City, free.
June 7
Fourth Annual Ponca City Herb Festival, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Cann Memorial Garden, fresh herbs, demonstrations, free seminars, herbal crafts and products, food, music, thymely advise, for information Mary Ann Potter (405) 767-1957 or Rebecca Barker (405) 765-1689.
June 9
Kay County Retired Educators Association, 9 a.m., Installation of Officers, Irene Stone, Vice President of OREA, Music, Mark and Annie Wynn, Northern Oklahoma College, 1220 East Grand, Tonkawa.
June 14
"Heritage Day Festival," 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Main street of Shidler, crafts booths, games and rides, food, musical entertainment, parade at 4 p.m., for crafts booths call Betty Hoffman, 918-793-7991 or Burl Rash 918-793-2191, sponsored by the Shidler Area Chamber of Commerce.
The testing of the Ponca City emergency siren warning system will be held at noon, every Thursday, according to Tom Montgomery, emergency management operations officer.
The test is scheduled throughout the year.
Montgomery said that in case of inclement weather, the test will be postponed, and in this case or if additional tests are planned, the public will be notified by the Ponca City News and the radio stations.
Oh what a difference a few zeros make! The story on the front page of The News Tuesday should have reported 160,000 pieces of mail an hour can be processed by the new computerized mail sorters being installed at the Ponca City Post Office.
Due to her recent surgery, Oklahoma's First Lady, Cathy Keating, has canceled her March engagement as keynote speaker for the AAUW banquet in Ponca City. The banquet will be rescheduled for late April when a date is confirmed.
The city recently accepted the Oklahoma Water Resources Board's (OWRB) offer to recognize 13,710 acre-feet as prior groundwater rights.
According to a report to the City Commissioners Monday, the city had groundwater rights of 1,576 acre-feet. Assistant Public Works director, Sherri Irving said, at one time, however, the city held groundwater rights of 30,647 acre-feet.
Discussions began when the city told OWRB that they were not notified of the reduction. In addition, OWRB could not prove that the city had been notified, according to a memo written by Irving.
Bob Vincent, Groundwater Associates, indicated that the well field was capable of producing 13,710 acre-feet per year and that an additional 18,000 acre-feet per year could be produced if the area were to be developed.
According to Irving, the usage projection for the year 2010 is under the groundwater rights limit. The city also has surface water rights of 2,529 acre-feet per year to Lake Ponca and 14,031 acre-feet per year at Kaw Reservoir.
The increase in the groundwater rights will allow the city to utilize groundwater as a major portion of the supply of water for many years to come, the assistant director said.
"With time, reliable metering numbers and facts regarding the development of Ponca City, better projections can be made," said Irving. "Under Phase 1 of the Water Treatment Plant Improvements the metering situation is being improved so metering numbers obtained in the future should be very reliable."
Further, City Commissioner Greg Gregson said by 2001 the city needs to begin looking into options to adequately serve the city's water needs, however, the dam should hold until the city's debt is reduced.
Citizens were asked to join the crusade to reduce pet overpopulation Monday. Mayor Marilyn Andrews and the Ponca City Humane Society declared February as Prevent A Litter Month.
Additionally, gift certificates were given away Tuesday to pay the first $25 for a current pet to be spayed or neutered, according to Jean Barnes, executive director of the Humane Society. This year, Conoco provided a $1,000 grant, she said. It allowed 40 certificates to be given away during the event's third year.
Barnes said the society currently has no vacancies for additional unwanted pets, therefore, the society keeps a waiting list. As pets are adopted out, other pets can be taken in, she confirmed.
In 1996, the society rescued 109 dogs and 30 cats from euthanasia. In addition, 225 dogs were adopted out and 150 cats found new homes.
Barnes indicated that over 30 dogs and more than 10 cats are looking for new homes. Dogs can be adopted for a $45 fee and the prospective family must have a fence. Cats can be adopted for a $40 fee.
The problem of pet overpopulation costs the taxpayers of this country millions of dollars annually through the control of unwanted animals. Many of the pets are healthy and adoptable, however there are not enough good homes.
City Commissioner Greg Gregson estimated that 50 to 70 dogs were euthanized each month at Ponca City's Animal Control Department.
Veterinarians, humane societies, national and local animal protection organizations worked together to ensure the spaying or neutering of more than 51,000 companion animals last year. Andrews asked citizens to observe the month by having pets spayed or neutered or by sponsoring the spaying or neutering of another dog or cat.
A 23-year-old Burbank man remains hospitalized after an accident that occurred 3.9 miles south of Shidler on Oklahoma 18 on Feb. 7.
Brad A. Tubbs is still in serious condition at Columbia Wesley Medical Center, according to a hospital official. The victim was admitted with head, trunk internal, trunk external, leg and arm injuries.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Darrell Jordan, who investigated the accident, reported the cause as unknown.
By LAURA TREADWAY
News Staff Writer
Ponca City Tomorrow Board of Directors continue efforts to obtain citizen comments in shaping the future of the city.
Kenneth Ray, board member, confirmed that the "revisiting" is going extremely well, however, input is still needed. The "revisiting" will extend through March 31.
"We want those who have not had the opportunity to provide their goals and dreams for the city to complete questionnaires. Businesses are also welcome to participate," he said.
Since much about the community has changed over the past five years that Ponca City Tomorrow has been in existence., the Board of Directors felt the time was right to go back to the citizens. Members agree the citizens have a voice.
If Ponca City today has changed, it makes sense that the goals of PCT must change, too, said Cathryn Ferguson, executive director for PCT. In working together to solve the city's problems, the quality of life will grow, she said.
"The success of PCT to implement and plan programs to benefit the community depends on the involvement of the citizens," said Chairman Danny Thompson. "We want citizens to be involved when problems are identified," he continued. "It is known that the more widespread the ability and willingness of the citizens to take responsibility for the future, the more effective the community will be."
Citizens from every neighborhood and from varied backgrounds are needed to participate. Ferguson said, PCT is about a genuine "public voice" providing direction about the choices for Ponca City.
"Ponca City Tomorrow gives each person in the community the opportunity to have input into the future of Ponca City," said Mary Mitchell, chair-elect for the PCT board. "The results of the dialogue will give us a road map for the next three to five years."
Brochures for citizens' opinions of Ponca City's future, are available through March 31. For more information, contact Ferguson at 767-0823.
Carolee Ann Bible, reigning Otoe-Missouria Tribal Princess is vying for the prestigious title of Junior Miss Indian Oklahoma, representing her tribe this weekend in Oklahoma City.
Her Indian Name is "Cho-Dache-Me" which means Elk Woman. Carolee is the daughter of Moran and Denise Bible, and her grandparents are Pharabe and the late Perry Botone of Red Rock and the late Moran Bible Sr., Melba Warledo of Claremore and the late Jay and Nina Kent of Oklahoma City. Carolee is a descendant of the Otoe-Missouria/Sac-n-Fox Nation and Seminole/Creek Nation.
A sophomore starter for the Frontier Lady Mustangs, Carolee will be in the area playoffs at Weatherford. She also participates in softball, fast pitch and track and field, and is active in student council at Frontier School, Spanish Club, Native American Studies, Wa-pe-he Indian Club, Red Ribbon drug prevention, and Peer-Helper.
She was invited to perform the "Lord's Prayer" in Indian Sign Language for the Oklahoma State Legislature last spring.
Carolee is associated with the Native American Church, and is a member of the Otoe Baptist Church.
Handcuffs are used by law enforcement officers to protect the officer as well as the person handcuffed.
According to Capt. Clayton Johnson, it is not rare for officers to handcuff other people, who are not under arrest, during a volatile situation. Although officers are not required to handcuff a person who is under arrest, most are.
Officers acknowledge there is no comfortable way to wear handcuffs. Handcuffs are usually placed behind the person's back and are used for short periods of time.
"Great care must be taken when a person is cuffed," said Johnson. "Officers must insure that the person does not fall down stairs or into bodies of water," he continued. "Additionally, it is against policy and procedure to handcuff a person to a fixed object."
Generally, cuffs are removed at the booking desk. However, if there have been problems in the field or there are indications of potential problems, an officer will keep the cuffs on until the subject is in a jail cell.
Furthermore, care must also be taken to remove cuffs so that the suspect does not injure the officer.
Unlike television cops, officer should place handcuffs on the subject prior to a search, the captain said.
By MARK GALVIN
News Staff Writer
NEWKIRK - County Clerk Pam Goodno knows how it goes when the Pitney-Bowes blows.
The state's inventory of Pitney-Bowes tax-stamp meters, which generate the documentary-tax stamps required by the state for newly filed deeds, has become completely obsolete, Goodno said.
And one-by-one, as the once-fancy machines run out of gas, the clerks are faced with a dilemma - to either find an alternative suitable for the computer age or to take a long step backwards.
At least one county clerk in Oklahoma, whose Pitney-Bowes expired completely, has reverted to the old gummed tax stamps, resembling old postage stamps, which were phased out almost 20 years ago in the busy counties.
The old system required the clerk's deputies to compute a deed's tax of say, $97.50, and break it down into a $50 stamp, two $20 stamps, a $5, etc.
The Pitney-Bowes, which were cutting-edge 20 years ago, metered the amount onto the stamp and fed it out so the deputy could affix a single stamp to the deed.
And the machine also tabulated daily figures for monthly reports to the tax commission.
The system was perfect while it worked, they said.
Kay County's meter has had a breakdown, but it's only partial, Goodno said this week.
The portion of the machine that feeds out the paper stamps stopped working three weeks ago - the meter can still imprint the state-approved stamp but only like a punch clock puts an imprint on a time card.
"That's a 20-year-old machine, and that was the deluxe model," Goodno said.
"But when we called Pitney-Bowes about the breakdowns, their answer was, 'We have no parts to fix the machines, and we have no replacement machines,'" she said.
She said after clerks started noticing this predicament, the state county clerk association began approaching the Oklahoma Tax Commission a year ago with an alternative, proposing a rubber stamp method to replace the meters.
Afterwards, they often contacted various people in the legal department and the documentary stamp department at the tax commission to see how well the proposal was progressing.
"We would get different answers from different people when we called," Goodno said. "They would say they were checking, and we would keep waiting, and we found we were at a dead standstill."
Not until she enlisted the help of State Rep. Jim Reese, who is on the appropriations committee for the tax commission, did the office learn the snag was because of a single word in the state statutes.
The revenue and taxation portion of the state statutes says the "requisite stamps shall be affixed to the deed by which the realty is conveyed."
"The holdup is the word, 'affixed,'" Goodno said.
The dictionary definition says it means to "attach" or "to secure (an object) to another."
The tax commission determined that if the statutes say to affix a stamp, then the imprint made by a rubber stamp would not suffice, Goodno said.
She said Clifton Scott of the state auditor's office went to bat for the clerks, who were grabbing for alternate dictionary definitions that might accommodate their proposal.
Scott, who Goodno said has been working hard to resolve the matter, met with the tax commission's legal department to discuss it, she said.
"They gave the same answer."
But since she contacted Reese, the legislator assured her of new legislation that will change the statutes.
Contacted Tuesday at the state capitol, Reese said he has no doubt the change will be accomplished during this legislative session.
"We do have the avenue to make the change and we're looking for a bill. We just need to find an author who is interested in helping county clerks out," he said.
"It just makes common sense to me" to simplify the stamp and to accommodate the arrival of the computer age, he said.
Reese mentioned the issue is similar to a recent change in the seal a notary public uses, which went from embossed paper to ink because the old raised-paper indentations didn't fax, scan or photocopy well.
A small change to the state statutes is all that's necessary to help the county clerks, he said.
As Goodno remarked, "This is red tape, isn't it."
DEATHS
ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. - Geralee "Jeri" Ames Howard, mother to Dr. Robert "Bob" Howard of Ponca City died Monday, Feb. 24, 1997, at Sterling House of Leawood, Kan. She was 76.
The funeral is set for 1:30 p.m. Thursday, at the Nativity Catholic Church in Leawood. A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today at the McGilley State Line Funeral Home near Leawood and visitation will be held there from 5 to 8 p.m. Burial will be held at noon Friday at the Riverview Cemetery in Arkansas City, Kan.
Geralee "Jeri" (Ames) Howard was born and grew up in Arkansas City, Kan. She attended Kansas State University, where she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority.
She was married to William "Bill" Howard, who preceded her in death in 1990. Mrs. Howard was a member of the BO Chapter of PEO and the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Arkansas City, Kan., and the Nativity Catholic Church in Leawood. She enjoyed being a community volunteer.
Survivors include two sons, Dr. William Robert "Bob" Howard of Ponca City and Michael Ames Howard of Baldwin, Kan.; one daughter, Barclay Howard Ross of Leawood; and seven grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Howard's name to the Kansas City Hospice or the High Risk Breast Clinic at the University of Kansas Medical Center, c/o McGilley Memorial Chapel, 12301 State Line, Kansas City, MO. 64145.
Elwood V. Aynes, former Ponca City resident, died Sunday, Feb. 23, 1997, at Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. He was 91.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Ponca City First Christian Church Chapel with the Rev. Charles Heyer, associate pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel, Ponca City.
Elwood V. Aynes was born Aug. 30, 1905, hear Geneseo in Ellsworth County, Kan., the son of Israel and Ellen Nancy (Basye) Aynes. He Received his education in the Carnerio, Kanopolis and Bradley Springs, Kan., schools. In 1919, he moved with his family in a covered wagon to a farm in Latimer County, south of Wilburton. In the fall of 1930 he moved with his family to the Marland area and helped operate the family farm. He finished his education in Marland, graduating from Marland High School in 1931.
On Sept. 15, 1936, he was married to Lola Mangrum in Wilburton and the couple established their home near Marland. The couple later divorced. Aynes was employed for a time with Great Lakes Pipe Line Co. In 1939, he began employment with Conoco Inc. as a lab technician in the refinery. He retired from Conoco, Sept. 1, 1970, after 31 years of service. In 1992, he moved to Oklahoma City to live with his daughter. Aynes was a member of the First Christian Church, and a past-member of the IOOF Lodge. He had made a lifelong hobby of studying the writings of Shakespeare and was an avid fisherman. He enjoyed reading and in younger days, playing the organ and piano.
Survivors include his daughter, Vera Lawrence of Oklahoma City; two sisters; two granddaughters; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers.
Casket bearers will be Charles Beck, Neil Blubaugh, Dale Butler, Ralph Beaty, Gerald Nield, and Louis Wolfe. Honorary bearers will be Floyd Browning, Richard Burge, Gilbert LaPiere, and Richard Borgen.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Aynes' name to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation for Cancer Research, 821 N.E. 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73014.
HOUSTON, Texas - Jon Howell Palmer, former Ponca City resident, died Monday, Jan. 24, 1997, in Houston. He was 62.
No services were held. Arrangements and cremation were under the direction of Aldine Funeral Chapel, Houston, Texas, and cremains were interred in the Ponca City IOOF Cemetery.
Jon Howell Palmer was born Oct. 10, 1934, in Ponca City, the son of Walter Howell and Georgia Mae Palmer. He attended Oklahoma State University and graduated with honors from the University of Oklahoma, receiving a BS in geology.
After working as a petroleum geologist for Kerr-McGee Oil Company in Oklahoma City and Denver, Mr. Palmer returned to Oklahoma, where he received his JD Degree with honors from the University of Oklahoma College of Law.
He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity and was selected for the Order of the Coif. He was also named outstanding student in Advance Oil and Gas Law and International Law. Palmer did graduate work at the Parker School of International Law at Columbia University and belonged to the Oklahoma, Texas and Houston bar associations.
He was a partner of, and associated with, several prominent Houston law firms; was general counsel for Keydril Company, an affiliate of Gulf Oil Company; and was engaged in a private law practice at the time of his death.
He is survived by many longtime friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Mabel B. Otto, longtime Ponca City area resident, died Sunday, Feb. 23, 1997, at her daughters home in Ponca City. She was 85.
A wake will be said at 7 p.m. today in the Trout Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. John Michalicka, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church, officiating. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic Church with Fr. Michalicka as celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery.
Mable B. (Oldham) Otto was born Nov. 11, 1911, at Jones, the daughter of Frank and Celia (Hodges) Oldham. She received her early education in rural Jones schools and graduated from high school at Benedictine Academy at Guthrie.
On Dec. 2, 1930, she was married to Joseph John Otto in Edmond and the couple moved to Ponca City in 1936, where they began farming. They also farmed land near Burlington, Colo. Mrs. Otto was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, St. Helena's Guild, and St. Mary's Alter Society. She enjoyed cooking and sewing.
Survivors include four sons, J.B. Otto, Frank Otto, and Tom Otto, all of Ponca City and Paul Steve Otto of Denver, Colo.; two daughters, Gae Meyers of Ponca City and Mary Lynn Brennan of Denver, Colo.; four sisters, Jack Shepherd of Indianapolis, Ind., Mary Lawson of Sacramento, Calif., Pauline Faulk of Oklahoma City and Louise Kringlin of Spencer; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband on Dec. 11, 1995; her parents; two brothers; and four sisters.
Casket bearers will be Joe Otto, Tom Meyers, Nick Meyers, Steve Meyers, Joe Gill and Phillip Oldham.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Otto's name to Hospice of Ponca City, 1904 North Union, Ponca City, OK 74601.
David Samuel "Sam" Stavinsky, 708 East Overbrook, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 1997, at the Cushing Regional Hospital. He was 80.
A committal service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Garden of the Good Shepherd Mausoleum, at Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home, Ponca City.
David Samuel "Sam" Stavinsky was born July 22, 1916, at Dallas, Texas, the son of Oscar and Fannie Stavinsky. He graduated from Dallas Technology school. He moved to Ponca City in 1937, where he owned and operated Ponca Iron and Metal Co. During World War II, Stavinsky served with the U.S. Army Air Corps and the 70th Infantry and participated in the Battle of the Bulge.
He and Jean Colvin Holder were married March 25, 1991, in Las Vegas, Nev. Sam was a member of Temple Emanuel and a former member of both the VFW and the American Legion. In the 1960s and '70s he had been an avid bowler. He also enjoyed playing golf and traveling.
He is survived by his wife, Jean, of the home; one son, Mickey of Ponca City; one grandson, Steve, of Ponca City; one granddaughter, Lori, of Edmond; and two half-sisters. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Annabelle on Jan. 10, 1991; and two sisters, Ruth and Shirley.
Honorary casket bearers will be Ben Dritch, Robert Taglialatela Sr., Tom Carpenter, Charles Stolpher, Melvin Goldenstern, Majir Kornblit, and Charles Barker.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimers Association, 6465 South Yale, Suite 318, Tulsa, OK 74136.
The family will receive friends at the Trout Funeral Home from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. today.
paid obituary
D.I. Kelly, longtime Ponca City resident, died Monday, Feb. 24, 1997, at Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. He was 79 years of age.
The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, 1997, in the Woodlands Christian Church with the Rev. Paul Krueger, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in the Longwood Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.
Born June 16, 1917, in Horatio, Ark., he was the son of Elmo Mitchell and Nina May (Dillahunty) Kelly. Following the death of his parents at age four, he was raised by his grandmother. He received his education in the Horatio and De Queen, Ark., schools and graduated from high school in De Queen, Ark.
Mr. Kelly came to Ponca City with only the clothing he had with him. He worked around the fire station in Ponca City for a place to live.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a master aircraft mechanic from June 1942 until his honorable discharged at the rank of Sergeant in January 1946. He went to work for the Continental Oil Co. refinery in 1950 as a journeyman electrician in the canning and packaging facility. He retired from the refinery in 1982. Following his retirement he learned to be a successful cattle rancher on various parcels of land he owned in Kay and surrounding counties. Most recently he operated a small farm and ranch in the Longwood Community area east of Ponca City.
He was a member of the Woodlands Christian Church, American Legion, Ponca Lodge 83 AF&AM and the Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union. In September 1996, he received his 50 year award as a member of the Electrical Workers Union.
A longtime fisherman, he enjoyed making his own tackle and lures. As a rancher, his dedication to raising a small herd of cattle gave him immense satisfaction. He also enjoyed telling stories of growing up in Arkansas and how he came to Ponca City.
He is survived by a son, Jimmie Kelly of Boulder, Colo.; two grandchildren, Jennifer and Brian Kelly, both of Boulder, Colo.; and his caretakers, Tommie Jones and her daughter, Chiandra, of Ponca City.
Casket bearers will be Gary Fike, Vernon Engle, Randy Engle, Jimmie Kelly, Dale Randall, and Bill Leming. Honorary bearers will be Ben Cowan, Dr. William Ellifrit, JY Thomas, Glen Gorrell, Pioneer Bank and Trust employees and former Conoco associates and members of the Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union.
Friends may call at the funeral home until noon, Friday.
paid obituary
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Word has been received of the death of Col. Richard Hill "Dick" Koenig (US Army retired) who died Dec. 29th, 1996, in San Antonio, Texas. He was 70.
Mr. Koenig was the husband of Margaret Irby Koenig, daughter of the late Tom and Marion Irby, prominent Ponca City early day residents. Margaret was a graduate of the 1947 Ponca City High School.
Col. Richard Hill Koenig was born at Fort Sam Houston, Texas on Nov. 21, 1926. He graduated from Portsmouth Abbey School in 1944 and attended MIT, where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
He entered the U.S. Army from college and was stationed in Alaska with the Alaska Communications System. Following his service in World War II, he reentered MIT and graduated in 1950 and also received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corps.
He was recalled to active duty in the U.S. Army in 1951 and served for 30 years in the Signal Corps, the Army Security Agency, and Military Intelligence. Most of his Army career was spent in command and staff assignments and the Army Security Agency.
In 1960 he received his masters's degree from Stanford University. His awards included Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Joint Staff Commendation Medal and the U.S. Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Margaret Irby Koenig; and their four daughters, and their families, Barbara and Michael Maccini of Albuquerque, N.M. and children Julia and Alexander; Joan and John VanderLaan of El Paso, Texas, and son, Matthew; Patricia and Steven Bruton of Hurst, Texas, and sons, Kyle Chase and Sean; and Mary and Larry Marek of Friendswood, Texas and daughter Jessica.
He is also survived by two sisters, Eleanor Carleton of Richmond, Va., and Alice Munson of Baton Rouge, La., as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a grandson, David Maccini.
A memorial mass was held Jan. 2 1997 at the Army Residence Community. Burial was in Arlington Cemetery, at Arlington, Texas.
paid obituary
Thursday
Mabel B. Otto - Funeral will be at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Ponca City. Wake service at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Trout Funeral Home. Other arrangements will be announced later by Trout Funeral Home, Ponca City.
Delmer Rademacher - The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Arkansas City, Kan. Burial will be in Newkirk Cemetery. Rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home in Arkansas City, Kan.
Theodore J. White - Funeral at 10 a.m. in the Veteran's Field of Honor, Phase II at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens in Broken Arrow.
Friday
Delorous V. Welsh - Funeral to be held graveside at 10 a.m. in the Braman (Okla.) Cemetery under the direction of Roberts Funeral Home, Blackwell.
Vivian J. Garner
Vivian J. Garner, longtime Ponca City resident, died Tuesday evening, Feb. 25, 1997, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was 81. Arrangements are pending with Trout Funeral Home.
William White
TONKAWA - William White, Tonkawa resident, died Tuesday morning, Feb.
25, 1997, at his home. He was 94. Survivors include a son, William M. "Bill"
White of Tonkawa. Arrangements are pending with McCafferty-Bolick Funeral
Home, Tonkawa.
NEWS BRIEFS
World Day of Prayer Set - Church Women United will celebrate the World Day of Prayer on March 7. "Like a Seed Which Grows Into a Tree" is the theme. Special guests will be Korean women from the Korean Methodist Church in Enid. The meeting will be held at Asbury United Methodist Church, 700 West Liberty, March 7 at 9:30 a.m.
Spring Fling Scheduled - The Annual Spring Fling Arts and Crafts Collectibles and Antiques Show, sponsored by CWU for Child Development Center is scheduled for March 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Unity Gym. Admission is free. Snacks and lunch are available.
Legion Meeting - There will be a regular meeting of the American Legion Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Huff-Minor American Legion Post 14, 407 West South Avenue.
Title IX Parents To Meet - Title IX Indian Education Parent Committee of Ponca City Schools will be meeting Thursday at the Ponca City School Administration Building from 7 to 8 p.m. Business will include review of the 1997-98 grant. All interested parents are encouraged to attend. For further information, contact Jo Lessert at 767-9500, ext. 128 or 767-8000.
Hubbard Street Tickets - Hubbard Street Dance Chicago will be at the Civic Center Music Hall in Oklahoma City, March 11, 8 p.m. For tickets call Kate Morton at 762-5651.
Golf Association - The annual meeting of the Wentz Ladies Golf Association will be March 3 at 7 p.m. at the Conoco Fourth Street Clubhouse. Those attending will discuss plans for the new year.
Tournament - The Ponca Tribe Youth Outreach 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament will be held Monday at the Ponca Tribe Cultural Center at 5 p.m. The entry fee is $5. Call Oney Roy at 763-0132 for more information.
Vandalism - A resident in the 700 block of North Peachtree notified the Ponca City Police Department at 8:09 a.m. Tuesday that the mailbox was vandalized.
Accident - A Ponca City police officer took a report of an accident at Fourth Street and East Grand Avenue at 1:11 p.m. Tuesday.
Warrant Served - A 24-year-old woman was arrested at 1:40 p.m. Tuesday by a Ponca City police officer on a city warrant for failure to pay.
Abandoned - The Ponca City Police Department received notice of an abandoned boys bike in the 2200 block of North Union Street at 1:50 p.m. Tuesday.
Failure to Pay - A 36-year-old woman was arrested by a Ponca City police officer in the 100 block of West Grand Avenue at 4:04 p.m. Tuesday on a city warrant for failure to pay.
Under Suspension - A Ponca City police officer arrested a 36-year-old man at South Fourth Street and East Houston Avenue at 4:51 p.m. Tuesday for driving under suspension and no insurance.
Arrested - A 30-year-old man was arrested by a Ponca City police officer at North Sunset Street and West Overbrook Avenue at 4:57 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant for failure to pay.
Stolen - A resident in the 2300 block of North Fourteenth Street
informed the Ponca City Police Department at 5:41 p.m. Tuesday that a 26-inch
Huffy, 10-speed bike was stolen.
LIFESTYLES
Members of the Pioneer Area Quilter's Guild will meet Monday at Community Christian Church. Registration for the meeting will be conducted from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The business meeting will begin at 12:30 p.m. followed by Show and Share and the monthly program. Stitch and Assist is scheduled for 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Greeter will be Lavon Shepler. Hostesses will be Mary Butler, Charla Viehe, Terri Gose, Teresa Simic and Lois Gray. The program will be presented by Carole Jo Evans and Barbara Stanfield of Oklahoma Quiltworks. Members are invited to view the quilts already made and learn some new quilting techniques and see new tools that are available.
Members of the guild who signed up to make the May luncheon door prizes should contact Oletta Demaree to obtain a list of supplies and materials for the project to bring to a workshop at the church on Mar. 10 at 9:30 a.m.
A reminder to members that the Fan Block Party is due at the April meeting. Contact Mary Catherine Detten, 765-9864, for babysitting reservations by Feb. 28. Further information about the guild may be obtained by calling Jerry Moore, PAQG president, 765-4185, or Cindy Wilson, vice president, 765-6911.
Viola Haley was the hostess when members of the Busy Bee Club met Feb. 19 with seven members present. Vivian Davis conducted the business session and Louise Pierce led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance and recitation of "The Lord's Prayer."
Ms. Haley read "My Grandma" by Patty Hadley. Members answered roll call with "Something to Share." Helen Hiskett reported taking eight packages of activity material to the Child Development Center and Helen Taylor discussed taking magazines to the hospital and sending a card to a patient in a nursing home.
Members brought additional items to be given to the center and games were played with Josephine Rice and Ms. Taylor winning prizes. Ms. Davis won the mystery gift and announcement was made that the next meeting would be Mar. 5 at the home of Ruby Harvey, 1309 West Chestnut.
Xi Delta Chapter members, Beta Sigma Phi sorority, met in the home of Lynda Smith Feb. 17.
Guest speaker was Rebecca Barker, president of the Ponca City Garden Club Council. She presented a program on "Herbs" and showed several types of herbs as well as giving growing tips and cooking preparation. The group was served chocolate mint tea prepared by Ms. Barker.
A pledge ritual was conducted for Suzanne Henshaw and Lisa Mena and Linda Runyan joined the chapter as transferees. Dorothy Leonard gave a brief history of Valentine's Day. Pat Schissler will host the next meeting.
EXTRAVAGANZA '97 will be held at the Chickasha Fair Grounds April 19. The event will include craft booths, entertainment, food and Karaoke.
Sponsored by the Miss Western Plains Scholarship pageant, all proceeds will go toward the scholarship fund. The pageant is an official preliminary to the Miss Oklahoma and Miss America scholarship pageants.
The event will be open from 9 a.m. until evening and admission is free. Crafters interested in renting booth space should contact Clara Green in Chickasha, 222-5960, or Gala Garrett, Newcastle, 387-5446.
At the February meeting of the Ponca City Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, Mrs. Dave Browning, American History Month Chairman, presented awards to the American History Essay winners which included two state winners.
The subject of the essay contest was "Trails West." A student could write on any trail that settlers used to travel west.
Sixth grade winners were also from St. Mary's School. They are as follows: Stacia Otto, daughter of Sherman and Evelyn Otto, first place; Serenity Nicole Becker, daughter of Jim and Michelle Becker, second; Andrew Allen Deathe, son of Harry and Mary Deathe, third.
In the Fifth grade the first and second place winners were from Washington School and the third place winner was from St. Mary's School. They are as follows: Bryan Henning, son of William and Susan Henning, first; Justin Eric Smith, son of Brian and Sheryl Smith, second; and Stephanie Marie Garino, daughter of Steve and Betsy Garino, third.
In addition, Stacia Otto's essay won first place in the state competition in the sixth grade. She will be honored at the Youth Awards Luncheon at the Oklahoma State Society Daughters of the American Revolution Conference in Tulsa at the Sheraton Hotel March 11. Her parents will accompany her. She will receive a monetary award there. Lauren Detten received third place in state competition in the seventh grade category.
For the program, Holly LaBossiere, director of the Ponca City Library, reviewed the book, "Eisenhower Soldier and President" by Stephen E. Ambrose. She said that Eisenhower's life was guided by his belief that it was his duty to serve his country. She began her review by giving a brief outline of Eisenhower's life.
"This is one kind of biography. The other kind is giving a sense of character on the subject as well as giving the social context in which he lived and why he made the decisions he did," she added.
She also said "Ambrose was critical but fair in writing about Eisenhower. The author felt that Eisenhower seemed to have an unwillingness to make some decisions." One example the author gave was the fact that Eisenhower really did not want Richard Nixon as his running mate for the second term, Mrs. LaBossiere explained.
Most people thought of the Fifties as "happy" days but there were problems in those days. She pointed out that Ambrose thought there was an excessive fear of nuclear war. There was also the crisis of Little Rock and the Soviet's successful launching of Sputnik. In addition there was McCarthyism.
"I think this is a very successful biography because, first, it is very readable. I think Ambrose does a lot to de-mystify the army jargon and political terms. He also does a good job of creating an understanding of the existing social conditions during which Eisenhower was making military and political decisions for our country," LaBossiere stated..
Mrs. Virginia Mair presided during the business meeting She read "Know Your Declaration of Independence" by Abraham Lincoln as well as summarized the President General's Message. Mrs. Vernon Merrifield read the National Defense Report and Mrs. Ben Meade read the minutes of the last meeting. Mrs. Margaret Irons, Dodge City, was introduced as a guest. Mrs. Audrey Jones was introduced as a new member.
Mrs. Mair announced that she had appointed Mrs. Robert Denson as membership chairman. Three delegates from the chapter will be attending the DAR State Conference March 10-12. They are Mrs. Virginia Mair, Mrs. Ben Meade and Mrs. Graydon L. Brown. Mrs. Mair will also be attending Continental Congress in Washington, D. C. in April.
Mrs. Merrifield reported that two Griswold family genealogy hooks that had belonged to Lee Lehenbauer had been given to the genealogical section of the Ponca City Library. The Regent reported that the family of Pearl Pruitt contributed to the scholarship fund named for her in memory of Mabel Carey, William Kemper Sr., Kathryn Hopkins, Faye Cook and Lee Lehenbauer. The chapter also voted to contribute to the scholarship fund in memory of Hopkins, Cook and Lehenbauer.
Mrs. Robert Bolene, chaplain, conducted memorials for Kathryn Braden Hopkins, Faye Paisley Cook, and Agnes Lee Richardson Lehenbauer.
OKLAHOMA CITY - March 3-9 is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Week, and during this week the Arthritis Foundation is launching a nationwide educational campaign to tell "America that Kids Get Arthritis, Too." The Oklahoma Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation along with St. Joseph Regional Medical Center of Northern Oklahoma Inc., 1900 North 14th, will host an educational exhibit in honor of Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Week. The exhibit will include fun sheets and cross word puzzles; "Arthritis In Children" and "When Your Student Has Arthritis" brochures; the American Juvenile Arthritis Organization Newsletter along with the Oklahoma Chapter .
The exhibit can be seen March 1 -9 in the SJRMC cafeteria.
For free information about Juvenile Arthritis and other forms of arthritis, write to the Arthritis Foundation, Oklahoma Chapter, 2915 North Classen, Suite 325, Oklahoma City, OK 73106 or call (405) 521-0066.
The Arthritis Foundation is the source of help and hope for
nearly 40 million Americans who have arthritis. The foundation supports research to find ways to cure and prevent arthritis diseases, and seeks to improve the quality of life for those affected by arthritis.
The Arthritis Foundation, Oklahoma Chapter is a United Way Agency of Ponca City,
Plans are being made for the 20th reunion of members of the Ponca City High School graduating class of 1977. The reunion is scheduled for May 23-24. A planning meeting will be held Mar. 4 and anyone interested in helping formulate additional plans may call 765-9606 or 765-8337.
Cost for the weekend events will be $20 if pre-paid by April 1. Registration after this date will be $25 per person. This amount covers the cost of refreshments and a souvenir reunion cup.
A mixer at the Wentz Pool is slated for Friday, May 23, and a dance at the VFW on that Saturday.
Xi Zeta Lambda chapter members, Beta Sigma Phi sorority, met Feb. 20 in the home of Jackie Hall, with 13 members present.
Lila Logan called roll and read the minutes. Melva Keen, president, announced that the group had received the Founder's Day packet from International and an acknowledgement had been received for the group's contribution to the Endowment fund.
Judy Watt gave the treasurer's report and Francie James, service committee, asked members to write to the Eli Lilly Company regarding the production of the drug IGF-II. Doretta Jackson, social co-chairman, announced a meeting at her home Feb. 25, 7 p.m., and discussed the Valentine dance.
Cassandra Kifiak, historian, reported on committee activities. Ms. Jackson won the traveling basket brought by Jackie Hall. Ms. Logan presented the program "Sachets-Continued."
The Mar. 6 meeting will be held at the home of Ms. Keen who will also give the program.
Announcement has been made of recent and upcoming activities for the Wheatheart Sweet Adelines. The group is planning to sell RADA cutlery at a booth at the Liberty School Craft Fair scheduled Mar. 1 at 9 a.m.
A quartet from the Sweet Adelines group, called "Welcome Blend" recently attended a workshop retreat in Oklahoma City. They received personal coaching and presented the chorus with new ideas on "singing and breathing techniques." Members of the group are JoAnn Radabaugh, Darleen Kassen, Margaret Galvin and Helen Bacher. The group is available for musical entertainment. For more information on scheduling or rehearsals for the group call 762-2885, 765-6829 or 765-8620.
The Sweet Adelines currently are rehearsing for the Region 25 competition scheduled April 11-12 at the Mabee Center in Tulsa. Members of the group sing four-part barbershop harmony and meets on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in room 110, Wilkins Hall, on the campus of Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa. Director is Wilma Harmon.
The Oklahoma Foundation for Digestive Research will sponsor an educational symposium, free to the public, on Mar. 3. The topic to be covered is the latest methods to eradicate the bacteria that causes stomach and duodenal ulcers.
The program will be from 7-9 p.m. in the Vose Auditorium in Presbyterian
Hospital, 700 Northeast Thirteenth, Oklahoma City. For more information
contact 405 271-4602.
SPORTS
By DAVID BROWN
News Associate Sports Editor
It's do-or-die time for the Ponca City Lady Wildcat and Wildcat basketball teams as they begin 6A basketball playoff action Thursday and Friday.
The first round of the regional tournament is single elimination. After half of the 6A field has been eliminated in Round One, the rest of the playoffs are a double-elimination affair.
Ponca City's Lady Cats take their 9-13 record into Tulsa Union Thursday at 6:30 p.m. to face Tahlequah, which ended the regular season with a record of 15-7 after going just 3-17 during 1995-96.
The Lady Tigers are led by 5-10 senior Vanissa Ross, who averages 13.3 points per game. Tahlequah's second leading scorer is 5-9 junior Jill Johnson. She is averaging 8 points per contest.
Among common opponents, the two teams have faced similar results. Tahlequah beat Bartlesville Jan. 11 35-25 in the consolation finals of the Shrine Classic in Muskogee. The Tigers also lost to Sallisaw, 47-35. Ponca City split with Bartlesville, winning 40-30 and losing 40-38. Against Sallisaw, the Lady Cats lost 53-40.
Lyndsey Warrior ended the regular season as the Lady Cats' leading scorer with a 13.0 average. Junior guard Natasha Anderson averaged 7.9 points; sophomore guard Desiree Cries For Ribs 6.9 and junior post Tiffani Essary averaged 6.8 points per game.
Warrior was also the leading rebounder and the 6-3 senior post also recorded an incredible 100 blocks in 22 games.
Ponca City ended the regular season with a scoring average of 43.3 points per game while allowing 45.0. The Lady Cats shot 35.7 percent from the field and 53.4 percent from the line and averaged 16.9 turnovers per game.
For the Wildcats, they will face a stern test Friday night when they square up against Jenks in the Tulsa Memorial gym at 6:30.
Jenks swept the Cats during the regular season, winning 61-38 and 70-52. The Trojans were one of just three teams to score 70 or more points on the Cats this season.
Ponca City ended the regular season with a 4-18 record and a 13-game losing streak. Jenks finished strong with a 14-7 mark and tied for second in the rugged Frontier Conference.
Junior guard Micha Alexander led Ponca City in total points this season and is the highest scorer on the team still active. He finished with an average of 12.0 points per game in 22 appearances. Senior point guard Andy Parsons averaged 12.4 points per game but made just 10 appearances and is not expected back due to an injured shoulder.
Of the active players on the depleted Wildcat roster, junior guard Ryan Meyer is averaging 5.4 points per game, junior Jason Shelton and Ryan Treadway are both at 4.0 and fellow junior Wesley Swygert is at 3.8.
The Wildcats ended regular season play averaging 41.2 points per game and allowing 52.1. The Cats shot 37.8 percent from the field and 62.0 percent from the line and averaged 17.2 turnovers per game.
Sixth-ranked Jenks is led by 6-6 senior Grant Stone, who averages 13.5 points per game. No other Trojan player is averaging 9.0 points per game or more.
Baseball Tryouts - Eleven-year-old boys wanting to try out for a competitive team should contact Steve at 767-1846.
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P&R Softball - The Parks and Recreation Department will be offering parent-pitch and fast-pitch girls softball this spring.
Parent pitch will be for girls in first through third grades. Fast-pitch will be for girls fourth through sixth grades. League games will be played one night a week at Dan Moran Park.
The registration deadline is March 21 with forms available at all grade schools, at sporting good stores and at the Park and Recreation Department office, 905 West Hartford. The fee is $18 per player. There will be a $5 late charge for registering after March 21. For information, call 767-0432.
Ponca City's JV girls lost a second overtime decision to Broken Arrow Monday, falling 32-26 in two extra periods.
"It was a good game," JV coach Mark Huster said as his team finished 6-9 on the season. "We just didn't score very well in the first quarter and didn't score at all in the second overtime. If we had been able to score in either of those periods it would have had a different ending."
Although they struggled from the field, the JV Lady Cats got some important baskets. They came back from a 24-18 deficit in the fourth period to tie the score at 26. They then sent the game into a second overtime as Gina Hile scored on a layup with two seconds left in the first OT.
But that was their last score of the evening as the offensive woes set in again.
"The girls played real good defense in the fourth quarter when we outscored Broken Arrow 8-2," Huster noted. "We blocked out and rebounded better in that period. Rebounding had hurt us earlier in the game. Broken Arrow got a lot of second shots."
In addition to the two OT losses to Broken Arrow, "we also had two or three one-point losses during the season," Huster pointed out.
Leslie Scheiber scored 8 points for the Ponca Citians while Romi Foreman had 7, Hile 5, Tia Williams 4 and Shari Winters 4.
Trout Fourth Grade
Basketball Tournament Results
Boys
Trout Red def. Roosevelt; McCord def. Union; Woodlands def. Trout White; Tonkawa def. St. Mary's.
Girls
Woodlands White def. Roosevelt; Trout White def. Newkirk; Trout Red def. Washington; McCord def. Woodlands Blue
Schedule
Thursday
(All Games are Girls)
Roosevelt-Newkirk, 5 p.m.; Washington-Woodlands, 6; Woodlands White-Trout White, 7; Trout Red-McCord, 8.
Friday
(All Games are Boys)
Roosevelt-Union, 5 p.m.; Trout White-St. Mary's, 6; Trout Red-McCord, 7; Woodlands-Tonkawa, 8.
QU Meetings Set On Habitat Plans
The North Central Chapter of Quail Unlimited (QU) will host two QU meetings, today and March 5, for its members and the general public to visit with representatives from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The 7:30 p.m. meetings will be held at the Pioneer Motor Bank (Lake Road east of l4th Street). Purpose of the meeting will be to discuss proposals to improve upland game habitat on public lands adjoining Kaw Lake Reservoir.
QU Chapter President Bill Leming encourages all chapter members to attend at least one of the meetings.
"What we discuss today and plan for tomorrow will impact the future populations of quail and other wildlife around Kaw Lake for generations to come," Leming said.
Leming also expressed the gratitude of the QU board for the tremendous chapter membership and general public support for the chapter's 11th annual banquet and auction that was held at the Ponca City Elks Lodge last week.
"A large portion of the funds raised at the auction will be directly committed to improving public land habitat around Kaw Lake as well as at other sites," he said.
QU is a 50,000-member national, non-profit conservation organization dedicated to the preservation and reestablishment of crucial wildlife habitat essential to sustain healthy populations of quail and other upland species.
The 200-member North Central Chapter covers Kay and neighboring counties and includes members across the state line in Kansas. It is one of 350 QU chapters located throughout the United States and one of 22 in Oklahoma.
For more information about the North Central Chapter of QU and its many local projects, contact Leming (762-1362), Bob Schuster (762-1217) or Bob Wilson (762-6857).
Now is the time to prepare for spring turkey season which runs from April 6 to May 6 across northwest Oklahoma.
"If you've never hunted turkeys during the spring, you don't know what your missing," said Colin Berg, northwest region information education specialist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservationn. "It is hard to describe the feeling that comes over you when you hear the thundering gobble of a big old tom turkey. Hearing the tom's gobble and seeing them strut is as fun as harvesting a bird."
Berg stated that turkeys are very wary birds. During the spring, hunters try to mimic a hen turkey and call the toms to them. Sometimes this is a difficult task. However, practicing and planning can increase your odds for success this turkey season:
Practice
- Pattern your shotgun at different ranges to find which loads work best in your gun
- Practice your calling with a mouth call, box call or slate call
- Listen to instructional calling tapes
Plan
- Scout for turkey sign in the area you plan to hunt
- Locate roost areas
- Spend a weekend or two before the season watching daily movements of the birds
Oklahoma hunters enjoy a liberal statewide bag limit of three toms (only one tom may be taken per day, however). Bag limits vary per county so be sure to check the regulations. No more than one tom can be harvested in a one-tom county and no more than two toms may be taken in a two-tom county.
Hunters should keep in mind that upon harvesting a turkey, they must immediately attach their name and hunting license number to the bird. All hunters taking a turkey must check the bird at the nearest hunter check station or with an authorized Wildlife Department employee.
Last spring, statewide hunters harvested 4,892 birds. The top counties in northwest Oklahoma were Roger Mills (319), Woodward (175), Dewey (126) and Ellis (113).
For complete turkey hunting regulations and a list of check stations, consult the 1996-97 Oklahoma Hunting Regulations, available free at license vendors and Department installations statewide.
Turkey season is fast approaching and some first-time hunters are probably wondering if they need to complete a hunter education course.
State law specifies that no person born on or after Jan. 1, 1972, upon reaching 16 years of age may purchase or receive a hunting license or permit without exhibiting a hunter safety certificate from the Wildlife Department or a like certificate from another state. The law does not affect turkey hunters under 16 years of age wanting to purchase a turkey hunting permit. Lifetime license holders under 16 hunting turkey with a firearm are also exempt from the law.
Hunter education courses are 10 hours long and are free. Students must be present for the entire course and must pass a written test. Courses include firearm safety, game laws, hunter responsibility and ethics, wildlife management, survival and bowhunting.
For a complete listing of upcoming courses, call the Wildlife Department's Hunter Education Hotline at (405) 521-4650. If your hunter education card is lost or destroyed, you can receive a duplicate by sending $5 and your name, address, date of birth, city and county where you took the course and month and year when you took it to the Wildlife Department at 1801 N. Lincoln, Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4998.
Anyone with questions about hunter education requirements is urged to
contact their local Game Warden or call the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conser-vation's Information and Education Division at (405) 521-3855. Questions
regarding this subject or other hunting and fishing regulations also can
be mailed to the Department at Why It's the Law, 1801 N. Lincoln, Oklahoma
City, OK 73105.