From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Sunday, February
22, 1998
LOCAL
Wreck Closes Cimarron
Red Rock Teen Killed in Crash
Fire Department Requests On City Agenda Monday
Newport's Body Piercing Bill Still Alive
P.C. Middle School Recognized For Innovative Outdoor Project
Spay Day Tuesday in P.C.
P.C. Tomorrow Brochures Set for 'Vision Unveiling'
Special Board Meeting Set For Board of Education
Gifted Programs New Mission For Ponca City School System
Ponca City To Participate In 'Read Across America'
Celebrated Fiddler Will Play At Poncan Theatre Saturday
City Calendar
Hoffman, DeNiro Shine In Film at Poncan Theatre
Local Legion Commander Honored
Automobile Upkeep Available on Tuesday
DEATHS
Calvin C. Dailey
Evelyn Mae Storck
Georgia May Hudson
Walter Eugene Peters Jr.
Obituaries
Adolphus George Weatherman
Services Pending
James W. Kelley
Bob G. Irons
Hazel E. Johnston
NEWS BRIEFS
LIFESTYLES
Arthritis Foundation Celebrating 50 Years
Mozart Club Sets Music Festival Showcase Event
Red Rose Club Creates Easter Eggs at Meeting
St. Patrick's Luncheon Planned
Little News
Karen Bogadi Will Present Guild Program
Historic Home Tour Highlights PT Meeting
Meredith Horning Engaged
Reception To Fete Wrights
Republican Women Meet, Hear Speakers
Bits and Pieces
Cultural Center Report in March
Anniversary Event Planned
Longwood Baptist Church Setting For Couple's Vows
Wheatheart Nutrition
Singles Network Names Schedule
Senior Citizens Day At Capitol
Wedding Plans Announced
Couple Celebrates 30 Years
TOPS Fun Day Dates Named
Happenings
SPORTS
'Good Old Boys' Set Seedings
Emotions Mixed for Cats
Emotions Mixed for Cats
Baseball Returns to Northern
Tall People Get the Better Of the Lady Cats - Again
Wildcats Come Up With Another Win
Lady Cat JV End at .500
Wildcat JV Lose Finale
Sophs Get Loss No. 2
Sports Notes
By PATTI PFEIFFER
News Staff Writer
The eastbound lanes of the Cimarron Turnpike were closed for almost six hours Friday after hazardous material leaked from two tanker trucks involved in a rear-end collision at the U.S. 177 intersection.
According to Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Administrative Assistant Nancy Hanger the wreck occurred at approximately 9:15 a.m. No one was seriously injured, however one tollbooth attendant was taken to a local hospital where she was treated and later released.
The two trucks involved in the accident were owned by the same company, Willard Grain of Dallas, Texas. The owner of the company, Keith Willard, declined comment Saturday stating he was not prepared to make a comment at this time. The drivers of the trucks were not injured in the wreck.
Special hazardous material crews were called to the scene including 22 volunteers from Conoco's Emergency Response Team specially trained in hazardous material. The hazardous material which spilled from the tanker trucks was identified as a liquid fertilizer, anhydrous ammonia.
It took crews several hours to clean up and remove the wreckage from the scene. However, lanes were partially opened by 2 p.m. as traffic was diverted around the area and through the "Pike Pass" lane of the turnpike.
By The Associated Press
A Red Rock teen-ager was killed when the car he was driving collided with a dump truck on State Highway 15, three miles east of U.S. 177 in north central Oklahoma, authorities said.
Walter Eugene Peters Jr., 17, was pronounced dead after the 7:45 a.m. crash Friday, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said.
The accident occurred as he attempted to pass a tractor-trailer rig, troopers said.
By PATTI PFEIFFER
News Staff Writer
The Ponca City Police Department will be front and center during the City Commission meeting Monday night as Police Chief Raymond Ham presents the 1997 yearly report.
The six page report outlines and summarizes crime statistics for the year. Included in the report are the number of calls received, number of arrests including juvenile arrests as well as cost figures associated with stolen property.
The fire department will be making two requests of city commissioners Monday evening. The first is the approval of the purchase of a new ambulance. The 1998 fully equipment ambulance will cost over $68,000.
Three bids were submitted and staff is recommending that the low bid from McCoy-Miller, which is $2,000 less, be accepted.
In addition, the fire department is recommending a change in the city code regarding the transfer of patients from St. Joseph Regional Medical Center to the cancer center. The change is being requested so that the current fee for local transfers will not apply to patient transfers to the cancer center.
Under the City Code the fee for a local transfer is $350 which exceeds the allowable rate by Medicare by over $200. The remaining amount then becomes the responsibility of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.
Also to be considered by the commission is a rezoning request for the southeast corner of Lansbrook Road and Prospect Avenue. The applicant has requested that the area be rezoned from the current residential R2-C to a commercial zone C1-C in order to build a mini-storage facility at that location. However, both the planning commission and city planner have recommended that the request be denied on the basis that rezoning the area to commercial would have the "potential to adversely impact" the adjoining residential neighborhood.
In a staff report City Planner Larry Lawhon writes "Zoning is a long term change and when a change is made, it allows a variety of uses. Zoning is not conditional. If C-1C zoning is approved at this location, the owner may construct a mini storage facility. The base zoning would be commercial and would allow a variety of commercial uses, some of which would have a detrimental impact on the neighborhood."
The Friends of the Cultural Center will be present at the meeting to make a presentation designed to update the commissioners on the master plan for the Cultural Center.
As the Ponca City Utility Authority (PCUA) commissioners will be asked to approve an agreement with several local banks to accept Ponca City Utility Authority payments as a more convenient method of payment for their customers.
The commissioners will also be considering the submission of an application to the Oklahoma Water Resource Board for permanent financing for outstanding notes.
Additionally the commission will be considering the approval of the payment of over $27,000 to the federal government as a required arbitrage rebate.
By RALPH SEWELL
News Capitol Bureau
OKLAHOMA CITY - Ponca City Rep. Jim Newport wants home folks to understand his HB 2547 is still alive. It's the one to let parents control any piercing of their children's body.
A house committee last week killed a similar - more drastic - b ill which would have forbidden all body piercing by making it an Oklahoma misdemeanor.
The sidetracked bill, HB 2977, would have amended present law outlawing tattooing. That would make it subject to 90 days in jail and/or a $500 fine. Ear piercing would be exempt. An 8-2 committee vote killed HB 2977.
In contrast, Newport's HB 2547 is on the House general order calendar after being cleared by the Public Health Committee.
On the other side of the rotunda, Sen. Paul Muegge, D-Tonkawa, still is trying to get the attention of big pig and poultry growing firms.
His SB 1170 and SB 1175 could do just that. Both were cleared last week for a floor vote by the Senate committee on Energy and the Environment.
SB 1175 has some tough terms for pig growers. It doubles the distance - from one to two miles - that waste lagoons may be placed from neighbors. They'd also have to be 3 miles from any recreational site or camp.
Firms would have to have a small abatement plan. The lagoons would have to be higher to prevent spillage. It would restrict how and where fertilizer the operation generates can be used.
It proposes a fee of 10 cents per piglet to be placed up front in a fund for any cleanup that may have to be done if an operation shuts down. License fees are more than doubled for big operators.
Muegge says he doesn't believe water contamination is a problem yet but it could be one later.
He also says some of his proposals may be too tough on producers and he's sent word he's willing to discuss the bill with them. But so far, he's been ignored so he's ready to move ahead without their input, if necessary.
House committees cleared for floor votes eight bills regulating pig or poultry farms. Some call for a moratorium, others would grandfather in any firm that already has applied for a state license.
Not all the bills will make it to the finish line. It's more likely that in the end, the legislature will send the governor one or two bills.
A final decision on a moratorium probably will be checked to a vote of the people. HJR 1093, calling for such a referendum, has been sent to the House floor. Authors are Loyd Benson, the House Speaker and Stratton Taylor, the Senate's president pro-tem.
Noting any referendum vote would postpone any action a long time, Rep. Jim Reese, R-Nardin, called it "a cop-out." He also said his own opinion is that the campaign for hog reform has lost much of its steam.
Rep. Larry Ferguson, R-Cleveland, the House minority leader, expects five bills covering the governor's tax program, will be on the House calendar by Monday.
"We'll keep them alive, at least for awhile," said Ferguson. But he didn't sound very optimistic for the long run. It's more likely that tax relief - if any - will come in a single bill authored by Benson and Taylor.
Ferguson agrees in an election year, it's going to be tough for Democrats to shelve Tulsa Republican Rep. John Sullivan's bill to gradually eliminate the sales tax on groceries.
Extensive revision in last year's HB 1213 are due. That's the Truth in Sentencing law. This year's HB 2927, making the changes, will be on the House general order calendar Monday.
It won't be in final form, although meetings with district attorney and sheriff groups promise to iron out some of the local kinks - as those groups see them.
How They Voted
Money could satisfy some of the complaints. Legislative leaders told sheriffs the state will pay $24 a day - up from $20 - to counties for felons it must keep in jail under HB 1213.
A district attorney group also met with legislators. Afterwards, House Speaker Benson said he thinks prosecutors can live with modifications the legislature will make.
HB 1213 doesn't become effective until July 1. So this legislature has enough time to fix things. A final version of changes need not go to the governor before late May.
Floor votes on bills will accelerate this week, for committee work is done on bills in the house of origin. Now, each house has until March 12 to clear bills to the opposite house. Those not cleared by then will die.
Here's how Muegge, Harrison, Newport, Reese and Ferguson voted on bills debated of the floor last week:
-SB 1192, rushed to the House after a 33-13 vote, would overturn a supreme court decision denying optometrists the right to do laser surgery. The bill was opposed by the Oklahoma Academy of Ophthalmology, who are MDs. Muegge and Harrison voted for the bill.
-HB 2316, to restore powers of local public housing board three years after voters limited their powers to expand, passed the House 80-15 and has gone to the Senate. Ponca-area representatives voted yes.
-HB 2239, to allow any city over 35,000 population to establish a Court of Record. The present limit is 100,000. It passed the House 96-3. Ponca-area representatives voted yes.
-HB 2215 was killed by the House on 19 to 75 vote when reconsidered the day after it passed 61-34. It would have exempted some railroad property from ordinances granting cities power to cut weeds, charging the cost to the property owner. All Ponca-area representatives voted no the second time. The first vote found Reese and Ferguson voting yes; Newport and Hager voting no.
-HB 3299, approved 97-1, would earmark a fund for the Oklahoma Conservation Commission to be used for cost-sharing with local groups engaged in environmental projects. Ponca-area representatives voted yes.
-HB 2321 would deny cities power to tax, license or regulate business on federal property after July 1 this year. The House passed it 96-0. Newport, Reese, Ferguson and Hager voted yes.
-HB 2214, passed 95-1 by the House, would remove confidentiality of court records of juveniles who commit crimes which, if done by an adult, would be a felony offense. All Ponca-area representatives voted yes.
-HB 2978, passed by the House 92-4, would prohibit and define as a deceptive trade practice use of a local telephone number when the business actually is located far away. Ponca-area representatives voted for the bill.
-HB 2463, passed unanimously by the House, would exempt the Agriculture Department to avoid civil liability for any injury suffered from any equipment it channels to rural fire departments.
-HB 1462, also passed unanimously, would ban use by hunters of all sorts of artificial light from dusk to dawn.
-HB 2448, which passed the House 78-21, would cut the marriage licenses fee from $25 to $5 for couples who show they have had premarital counseling by a qualified adviser. Newport, Reese, Ferguson and Hager voted yes.
(Reese has a similar bill, which he considers better, but support the Vaughn bill, too. He figures one or the other bill will get the final passage.)
-HB 2568 passed the House unanimously after the title was removed. That means the House will vote on it again if the Senate passes it. The bill deals with when retirement benefits can be tapped for child support.
By KRISTI HAYES
News Education Editor
Ponca City Middle School received "Seeds of Success" Awards from the Oklahoma Environmental Education Coordinating Committee (OKEECC) at the annual Oklahoma Alliance for Environmental Education Annual Conference in Lawton. The award is a result of the school's nomination for its innovative Eco-Court Outdoor Classroom Project.
The project, in its second year of development, incorporates the composting of building paper waste, recycling, and on-site environmental demonstrations. The project has become a model for other programs being developed across Oklahoma because of its inclusion of numerous environmental methods and demonstrations in a single site and because of its many community partnerships.
The purpose of the Seeds of Success program is to identify and recognize successful environmental education programs in Oklahoma schools, kindergarten through 12th grade. Information about these programs will be shared in a statewide directory published by OKEECC. To be eligible, the environmental education program must have been in operation for at least one year in any Oklahoma public or private elementary, middle or high school.
"Our goal is to create a statewide network for conservation and environmental education, through which teachers and schools can share and profit from each others efforts and successes," said Lisa Knauf, environmental education coordinator for the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, "as well as to stimulate the efforts of teachers to advance the wise use of the state's soil, water and other natural resources through creative learning experiences for students."
Part of the criteria for the Seeds of Success award is based on the support of the community, parents and local businesses.
"The work these programs do in conservation and environmental education helps students gain a practical understanding of our natural resources," said Knauf. "And by adding the community support factor, they also learn how much more can be accomplished through partnership and coalition-building," she added.
Environmental sponsor Gary Gallagher said, "The Ponca City Middle School would like to thank its partnerships with the community: The Ponca City Solid Waste, AARP, Newkirk Masonic Lodge, Lowe's, and many other individuals, organizations and foundations which have contributed their time, money and expertise."
The stated mission of OKEECC is to "foster awareness and appreciation of Oklahoma's natural resources by coordinating environmental education efforts." The committee consists of representatives from the Conservation Commission, Cooperative Extension Service, Corporation Commission, Oklahoma State University, Rose State College, and the Departments of Agriculture, Environmental Quality, Tourism, Transportation, Wildlife Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Water Resources Board, and Education, in cooperation with the Office of the Secretary of the Environment.
By KATHY ZEHR
News Staff Writer
"The only litter your cat should ever have is the litter you pour into her litter box," is a slogan used across the United States by the Humane Society of the United States to control the overpopulation of millions of unwanted cats and other companion animals in this country each year.
The Ponca City Humane Society is currently projecting those statistics into the Ponca City Community to help citizens understand the promotion of humane control of companion animal overpopulation and purpose of "spay day," on Tuesday.
The PCHS will be among the hundreds of agencies joining together to encourage local citizens to spay and neuter as many dogs and cats as possible during the national event. To encourage local participation, at least sixty-four $25 certificates will be issued to citizens in Ponca City on a first-come, first-serve basis at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at the Ponca City Humane Society Shelter, 900 West Prospect.
According to statistics about companion pet overpopulation, millions of surplus cats and kittens literally die for want of good homes each year. Cats are the most popular animal companions but they are being abandoned and turned into shelters in greater numbers than ever before. In Ponca City approximately 1,040 cats and 650 dogs were reluctantly euthanized at the Ponca City Animal Control Center in 1997.
Jean Barnes explained the spay/neuter certificates available on Tuesday, are worth $25 towards the cost of surgery, at any local veterinarian and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. In 1997, 40 certificates were distributed and all were used within a two-month period in February and March, she said.
"This year we are able to distribute 64 spay/neuter certificates thanks to the generous help of Boettcher, Ryan and Martin, Bowker Ford and Auto Mall, Conoco Inc., Mike and Amy Cramsey, Group One Realtors, Remax, and Toni's Westside Rexall," she continued.
Throughout the month, members of the Ponca City Humane Society have been seen about the community wearing a key on a blue ribbon, pinned to lapels and collars.
"This symbolizes that spaying and neutering is 'the Key' to solving companion and animal overpopulation," say members of the Humane Society.
"We can prevent the euthanasia of unwanted companion animals, but only if we all pull together and take responsibility for this social tragedy," says Barnes. "Spaying and neutering is the key to solving companion animal over-population."
By PATTI PFEIFFER
News Staff Writer
Finishing touches are being made to the Ponca City Tomorrow brochures which will be the guest of honor at Thursday evening's "Vision Unveiling." The message the brochure carries is as bright and colorful as the brochure itself.
The unveiling event will be the first time the public will see the 16 page brochure which portrays the city of Ponca City, its citizens and community as well as setting forth the recently updated visionary goals for the city.
The goals were first established in 1992 and as time has changed so has the city and its needs. In response to the necessary changes both time and circumstances have brought forth Ponca City Tomorrow revised their goals. Those revisions were based upon public input via surveys and town meetings conducted last year.
More than 700 responses from citizens were gathered and used in updating the new, and now current, set of goals as well as prioritizing them. Those goals are set forth in the new brochure.
The Thursday evening event is also a time for celebration says Ponca City Tomorrow Executive Director Cathyrn Ferguson. "It is a celebration not for this organization but for the community as a whole," she says. "Without the citizens of this city we could not accomplish what we do."
The Ponca City Tomorrow Foundation was created in 1992 and the organization - as it is known today - was formed in 1992. "Our organization was created at a time when 'Corporate America' was busy preparing mission statements and visions which defined strategic plans for the individual companies," Chairman of the Ponca City Tomorrow Board of Directors Danny Thompson explained. "We are organizational in that we get together those entities that can be instrumental in getting done what needs to be done so that the city's goals can become realities."
The organization was a pioneer among city visionary planners. "Ponca City Tomorrow was the first visionary foundation in Oklahoma," Ferguson said. "Others in the state are just beginning as we begin our sixth year."
The purpose and focus of Ponca City Tomorrow is just as the name implies - futuristic. "We try to get the community geared towards the future," Ferguson explains. "Like any business, a community needs long term planning for without the planning there is no forward movement."
The Vision Unveiling begins at 6 p.m. at the Poncan Theater. The public is not only invited but encouraged to come and participate in the excitement. Both the Ponca City High School Chorale as well as soloist Renee Paul will be performing at the event.
The presentation of the brochure will be state of the art as the brochure is projected onto the theater's big screen. Several extinguished guests will be speaking at the unveiling, among them Mayor Marilyn Andrews. A reception at the theater will immediately follow the presentation.
By KRISTI HAYES
News Education Editor
Chris LittleCook and Mike Kruck will take the oath of office for the Ponca City Board of Education at a special board meeting Monday night at 6:30 p.m.
LittleCook will take the place of Janet Goll, current board member, for Office No. 4. Kruck will continue to fill Office No. 2 after citizens elected him at the Feb. 10 school elections.
Gary Bracken, board attorney, will administer the oath of office.
The election of president, vice-president, clerk and deputy clerk of the board of education will take place. Dr. Bill White, superintendent of Ponca City Schools, will preside over the election of the board president. The newly elected president will then preside over the election for vice-president, clerk and deputy clerk.
The newly elected members will preside over the board of education for the next year.
The Orchestra program has entertained quotes for various string instruments to be purchased by the 1997 funds. Eight vendors responded with various quotes.
At this time the Orchestra Departments desire to purchase $36,954 from a variety of vendors. The breakdown is:
- Sparks Music for $5,470
- N.E.M.C. for $27,900
- Discount String for $3,584
The board will consider declaring March 2 as Ponca City Public Schools "Read Across America Day." This is an event sponsored by the National Education Association in coalition with other literacy, community and education groups to draw attention to the importance of reading.
Board members will also report on the Ponca City Public Schools' Site School Improvement Plan from all elementary schools, middle school, mid-high and high school.
Board members will vote on travel requests from Dr. John Scroggins, assistant superintendent of curriculum; and Nancy Niemann, principal of Woodlands Elementary.
Scroggins plans to attend the National Science Research Center in Washington, D.C. and Niemann plans to go to Exton, Pa.
By KRISTI HAYES
News Education Editor
The vision of the Ponca City Public Schools is to be a community of leaders building futures. One of the first major steps in accomplishing this vision is with the gifted programs at Ponca City Schools.
Linda Powers, curriculum facilitator, says, "Our mission is to ensure that all individuals have the opportunity and environment to demonstrate the attitudes, skills and knowledge essential for lifelong learning and responsible living."
The Ponca City Gifted Program is revolved around a philosophy. A philosophy stating that the school system is committed to identifying and providing appropriate educational experiences for all children including students who give evidence of high performance capability in intellectual or in specific academic areas and who have demonstrated potential for this productive behavior.
In the 1997-98 report, Ponca City Schools identified 490 students being served in the gifted programs. This number is down by 14 students from the 1996-97 school year. Powers stated, "I suppose the decline in enrollment has some impact on all programs in the district. However, I do not believe we can attribute the decline of 14 students necessarily to the decline in enrollment."
Procedures used in the identification process are nondiscriminatory with respect to race, economic background, national origin or handicapping conditions. Identification of gifted students may occur as early as kindergarten, first and second grades. However, the school does not formally test students until the second grade, and most teachers are leery of identifying children at very young ages. "Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between giftedness and advanced language development in the early years. We begin formal assessment at the second grade with the Otis Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT), which measure the cognitive abilities that relate to a student's ability to learn in school. It assesses abstract thinking and reasoning abilities," Powers added.
Besides the OLSAT, students may be identified as gifted by scoring in the 95th percentile on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS), teacher referrals and observations, test and non-test data, parent recommendations, student achievement with the curriculum, and student products.
Program options for the gifted programs vary from site to site. Programs in the elementary schools range from cluster groups, acceleration, dual enrollment, seminars and academic competitions. The Middle School, Mid-High and High School incorporate programs such as honors and accelerated classes, advanced placement classes and independent study programs.
A Gifted Advisory Committee, made up predominately of parents of children in the gifted program, shares the vision of excellence in the Ponca City Schools. Committee members for the 1997-98 school year are Brian Hermanson, Linda Powers, Marvin Clark, Steve Stalcup, Bharat Chahar, David Gamble, Irene Baird, Judy Jones, Gini Carey, Cary Emig and Carolyn Berry.
The purpose of the committee is to assist in the formulation of district goals for gifted education, assist in the development of the district plan for gifted programming and perform other advisory duties as requested by the Ponca City Board of Education.
The Gifted Advisory Committee has set two goals for this year: increased communication about the gifted program and to investigate other programs to see how other schools the size of Ponca City serve talented youth.
The meetings are open to the public. The next one is scheduled for Monday at 4 p.m. at the Administration Building.
By KRISTI HAYES
News Education Editor
On March 2, 1998, Ponca City Public Schools will be participating in the "Read Across America Campaign." This is an event sponsored by the National Education Association in coalition with other literacy, community and education groups to draw attention to the importance of reading.
March 2 is the 94th birthday of Dr. Seuss and the day chosen for this event because Dr. Seuss epitomizes a love of children and learning. The latest research indicates that Dr. Seuss books, with their use of rhyme, are an effective tool for introducing children to reading.
Ponca City Public Schools are encouraging all schools and community members to become involved in some way. The Ponca City Association of Classroom Teachers developed the following suggestions for involvement at the different school sites.
- Classrooms could invite a reader (a fireman, policeman, parent, grandparent, school administrator, fellow teacher, counselor, librarian, older student, etc.) to come read his/her favorite book.
- Teachers could have reading buddies - that is, classes pair up and read to each other. Another idea is to have older students return to their elementary schools to read to students.
- Schools could enter a contract with parents requiring that they read to their children for at least 20 minutes the evening of March 2.
- Students could come to school dressed as their favorite storybook character.
- Students could make a Dr. Seuss mural in the school.
- Schools could partner with their local PTA for an activity.
Patrons may contact their local schools to see what kinds of things they will be doing. Let's make a commitment to do something to draw attention to the importance of reading on March 2.
For more information call Mary Ladd at 767-8000, ext. 215.
Byron Berline was born and raised just north of the Kansas-Oklahoma line, in Caldwell Kansas. He has deep local roots. His German grandparents settled the Cherokee Strip in 1893. But his career has taken him to the top of the Bluegrass music world. On Saturday, he comes to Ponca City, sponsored by the Ponca City Arts and Humanities Association, Conoco, and the Oklahoma Arts Council.
Berline was raised on the fiddle. His father was a fiddler with a band in the 1930's, and he encouraged his son to play also. Berline says that he doesn't remember a time that he didn't play the fiddle. By age ten he was winning competitions, and one of the fiddlers he beat was his own father.
Berline was also a star athlete, and he set a record throwing the javelin that still stands in Caldwell, even after 35 years. He accepted a scholarship to play football for Bud Wilkinson's Sooners, but soon moved over to track because of his prodigious javelin talents.
But music was his real calling. The first time he heard Bluegrass, he remembers that "man, I was on the ceiling." In 1969 he moved to Los Angeles, and soon was accompanying everyone from The Byrds to the Rolling Stones.
Berline now works and plays from Byron's Music Hall, his fiddle shop in Guthrie. He plays regularly, and often has such drop-in guests as John Hartford and Vince Gill. He is a three-time national fiddle champion, and his albums have been widely praised. One received a Grammy nomination for best song and best album.
Berline brings the Berline Band to the Poncan Theatre for a 7:30 concert Saturday. Admission to the concert is free because of the sponsorships. For information, patrons may call the Ponca City Arts and Humanities Council at the Poncan Theatre, 580-765-0943.
Items for the City Calendar should be brought in or telephoned (765-3311) to Bob Patterson, at the Ponca City News, by Thursday noon.
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Dustin Hoffman, already a two-time Academy Award recipient, is a nominee again for "Wag the Dog." His co-star in the film is Robert DeNiro, also a two-time Oscar winner. The film begins Monday at the Poncan Theatre on Grand.
"Wag the Dog" is film that came along at exactly the right time. In the story of the film, a sitting President of the United States gets caught up in a sex scandal. Less than a month after the film was released, the media broke the Monica Lewinsky story. In "Wag the Dog," the President's media team brings in a media specialist (DeNiro) to spin the event. He decides to concoct a fictional war and make it seem real, hoping to divert the media from the domestic crisis. Saddam Hussein, of course, is no fictional character, but the chance timing of the Mideast crisis matches the timing of events in the film.
Beyond the coincidental timing of events, "Wag the Dog" is an exceptional film. In part, it is a low-key tale of political and journalistic "spin doctors." DeNiro's character hires a Hollywood producer (Dustin Hoffman) to use gee-whiz computer technology to generate images of this fictional war that tv journalists will broadcast. They are able to accomplish remarkable things. They hire a California actress to run screaming across a sound stage, carrying a box of chips. But after a minute of computer touch-ups, the event appears to come from a remote Albanian village, and the chips become a frightened cat. The image is immediately shot off to the national media, and televisions across the nation seem to have tangible evidence of an international crisis.
The film has an undeniable humor and terrific performances across the board. It has earned several major award nominations. It was nominated for Best Screenplay at the Golden Globes, and by The Writers' Guild of America, and by the Academy. It was nominated for Best Picture by the Berlin International Film Festival and by the Broadcast Film Critics Association. Dustin Hoffman has been nominated as Best Actor by the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors' Guild and by the Academy. This is one of the most praised films of the year.
The team of artists is highly acclaimed. Between them, Dustin Hoffman and Robert DeNiro have won four Academy Awards and been nominated a total of 13 times. Screenwriter David Mamet is a prestigious playwright. His films include "The Untouchables," "Glengarry Glen Ross," "American Buffalo" and "About Last Night." Woody Harrelson takes a clever star turn, playing a criminal as a parody of Billy Bob Thornton in "Sling Blade." Craig T. Nelson and William Macy are also featured. Anne Heche, who was seen in "Volcano" and "Donnie Brasco," plays DeNiro's assistant with a perfect sense of wide-eyed incredulity.
"This is a funny movie about something serious," says The San Francisco Chronicle. As witty and laughable as it is, there's something real about this film. On the one hand, it's a vivid satire of American journalism and politics. On the other hand, these funny actors and writers play the film less with the unreality of farce and more as a possible situation. The Chronicle writes that Director Barry Levinson chooses a "low-key style that makes the farfetched seem possible." Between the many laughs, they say, "there are moments that ring so true they can raise goosebumps."
But the film "keeps audiences smiling," adds The Chronicle. Salon Magazine says that "Wag the Dog" is ""packed with wickedly amusing details and expertly modulated performances." Roger Ebert says this is Dustin Hoffman's "best performance in some time," and praises Robert De Niro glowingly. "Wag the Dog" deserves its Academy nominations. The film plays through the week at the Poncan Theatre. Patrons should check the Ponca City News for showtimes or call the theatre at 580-765-0943.
Commander Chuck Gregg, American Legion Post 14, recently received a special citation in recognition of outstanding service to the War Veterans Commission of Oklahoma. The citation was presented to Gregg during a Veterans Benefit Meeting attended by approximately 200 people on Feb. 12.
Brig. Gen. Lawrence Roy, (Ret.) a member of the War Veterans Commission and the National Executive Committee of the American Legion made the presentation.
General Roy noted the citation was given in response to Commander Gregg's outstanding efforts in the organization and execution of the Veterans Day Parade and other Veteran activities held in Ponca City in November 1997.
Other officers in attendance for the presentation were State Commander Bill Finch, Past State Commander Roselyn Utech, State Adjutant Jerry Askins, and State Children and Youth Chairman Joe Stone.
With the way everyone depends on their automobiles to keep up with hectic schedules, it's important to keep them in the best shape possible, according to a spokesperson from KLVV-FM, Love 88.7.
For those who would like to speak with someone about taking care of their
vehicles, Steve Seymour from "Auto Doc" in Ponca City will be
at KLVV 88.7 FM on Tuesday, from 5 to 6 p.m. to take questions off-the-air.
The phone number to call during that time is 767-1400.
DEATHS
SEMINOLE - Calvin C. Dailey, resident of Seminole, Okla., and a former resident of the Red Rock area, died Friday, Feb. 20, 1998 at Seminole. He was 73.
The funeral will be 2 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23, 1998 in the Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel in Seminole with the Rev. Amon Harjo and the Rev. Tom Roughface officiating. Burial will be in the Otoe Tribal Cemetery on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at Red Rock, Okla., under direction of the Swearingen Funeral Home.
Calvin C. Dailey was born Oct. 30, 1924 at Red Rock, Okla., the son of Dewey W. Dailey and Susie (Caleb) Dailey. He attended school at the Pawnee Indian School and Red Rock Public School, also Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kan. and Kansas University in Lawrence, Kan.
He and Grace Lee Johnson were united in marriage on Jan. 12, 1952 in Lawrence, Kan.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, as a corporal, and was a member of the 29th Infantry Division, 116th Infantry Regiment Medical Detachment. He made the landing on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France on June 6, 1944. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star with two clusters, European Campaign Medal with bronze arrowhead and four battle stars, Presidential Unit Citation which was presented in Commemoration of the 58th Anniversary of D-Day along with the Medaille Du Jubile and French Liberation Medal.
Mr. Dailey was retired as Service Unit Director for the U.S. Public Health Service June 27, 1981 after 35 years of federal service. He had served on the Haskell Alumni Association and Haskell Indian Nations University Board of Regents.
Surviving are his wife, Grace of the Seminole home; two sons, Randall Dailey of Hominy, and Kelley Dailey of Seminole; four brothers, Dewey Dailey, Antoine Dailey, and Rupert Dailey, all of Red Rock, and Leon Dailey of Lebanon, Pa.; one sister, Madonna Mueller of Albuquerque, N.M. and six grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, David Dailey, and one sister, Cecile Williams.
BLACKWELL - Evelyn Mae Storck, former resident of Blackwell, died in the St. Anthony's Hospital in Oklahoma City Thursday, Feb. 19, 1998. She was 90.
The funeral will be Monday, Feb. 23, 1998, in Vondell Smith Funeral Home in Oklahoma City with William Peterson and La Ron Branson of Oklahoma City officiating. Burial will be at 3:30 p.m. Monday in the Mt. Olive Cemetery in Nardin, Okla. under direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home, Blackwell.
Evelyn Mae Storck was born Nov. 16, 1907 in Sedgwick County, Kan., the daughter of John and Lena Bell (Hallwick) Glass. She moved with her parents to a farm three miles north of Deer Creek, Okla., when she was six years old and grew up there, attending rural schools.
She and George Phillip Storck were married June 9, 1929 in Blackwell, Okla., and settled in Nardin, Okla., living there and in Deer Creek until 1947 when they moved into Blackwell to make their home.
Her husband preceded her in death on Nov. 3, 1977 and she remained in Blackwell until July 1993 when she moved to Oklahoma City to be near her son.
Mrs. Storck was a member of a non-denominational church.
Surviving are two sons, Donald Storck of Derby, Kan. and Kenneth Storck of Oklahoma City; two sisters, Ruby Trollop of Independence, Kan. and Jocelyn Pickerill of Parsons, Kan.; also eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Storck was preceded in death by a daughter, Idona Martin; two sons, Marvin and Bob Storck; a brother, Lewell Walter Glass and two sisters, Bernice Packard and Dorothy Trollop.
Memorials may be made in her name to Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation - Diabetes Fund, through Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 West Padon, Blackwell, OK 74631.
Georgia May Hudson, lifelong resident of Blackwell, died Saturday, Feb. 21, 1998 in the Blackwell Regional Hospital. She was 88.
Graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 1998 in the Blackwell Cemetery. A Memorial service will also be held Tuesday, Feb. 24, 1998 after the graveside service at 1 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church of Blackwell. The Rev. Geoffrey Pfaff will officiate both services. Hackler Funeral Home, Blackwell is in charge of arrangements.
Georgia May Hudson was born March 16, 1909 in Blackwell, the daughter of Howard and Cora (Oller) Hamblet. She learned to play the violin on an instrument made by her father, and later taught violin lessons for 20 years. She was a graduate of Blackwell High School in 1927.
She was married to Victor E. Hudson. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Blackwell, where her parents and grandparents were members. She also sang in the church choir and was a member of the Women's Fellowship of the church.
Along with her husband and son, she helped in establishing Hudson's Dairy.
Mrs. Hudson had been a resident of the Hillcrest Manor Nursing Home since 1996.
She is survived by her husband, Vic of the Blackwell home; one son, Jimmie Hudson of Blackwell, three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; also numerous other relatives and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, granddaughter, Rowena Gay; a half-sister, Rowena Haas and two half-brothers, Milan and Ivan Hamblet.
A memorial has been established in her name to the Presbyterian Church Choir, in care of Hackler Funeral Home, 301 West Blackwell, Blackwell, OK 74631.
Visitation will be held Monday at the Funeral Home from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m.
PAWNEE - Walter Eugene Peters Jr., resident of Red Rock, Okla., died as the result of a traffic accident Friday, Feb. 20, 1998 in Pawnee County, Okla. He was 16.
The funeral service will be Monday, Feb. 23, 1998 at 2 p.m. in the Pawnee Indian Baptist Church with the Rev. Ernest Best officiating. Burial will follow in North Indian Cemetery under direction of Poteet Funeral Home, Pawnee.
Walter Eugene Peters Jr. was born April 24, 1981 in Claremore, Okla., the son of Walter Eugene Peters Sr. and Melanie Diane Pratt Miller. He spent his early years in Keams Canyon, Ariz., moving to Red Rock in August of 1996. He was a student at Frontier Public School in Red Rock where he was on the basketball team, and served as 1998 Homecoming escort. He was known for his smile, carefree attitude and ability to motivate his classmates.
He was a member of Wah-Pe-He and the Pawnee Indian Baptist Church.
Survivors include his parents, Walter E. Peters Sr. and his wife, Nancy of Pawnee, and Melanie Miller and her husband, Scott of Red Rock; two brothers and two sisters, Tony Peters and Stephanie Miller of Red Rock, and Bronson James Peters and Samantha Sue Peters of Pawnee; his maternal grandparents, the Rev. Duane and Henrietta Pratt of Pawnee, also a number of uncles, aunts, cousins and other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, and several aunts and uncles.
The Rev. Adolphus George Weatherman, longtime Newkirk Assembly of God minister, died Friday evening, Feb. 20, 1997 at his home in Newkirk. He was 88.
The funeral has been scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday, in Miller-Stahl Funeral Chapel with the Rev. David White, Sectional Presbyter with the Assembly of God in Alva, officiating. Burial is to follow in Newkirk Cemetery under the direction of Miller-Stahl Funeral Service.
Friends may call at the funeral home Sunday from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. and Monday until 9 p.m.
Adolphus George Weatherman was born Feb. 14, 1910 at Branson, Mo., the son of Ruphus and Addie Beulla (Schneller) Weatherman. As a teenager he moved with his family to Pawhuska. While there he began working for Western Union, delivering telegrams by bicycle, wearing a uniform. He finished his high school education by correspondence courses. He later studied for the ministry.
On Feb. 24, 1946 he and Pernina Lorene Sullivan were married in Pawhuska, and they established their first home there. In 1947 he was ordained through the Oklahoma District Council of the Assembly of God. His pastorate included Cloverdale and Grainola, Kansas as well as Burbank, Shidler, and Skeedee, Oklahoma. They moved to Newkirk in 1955 and he pastored the Newkirk church up to the time of his death.
He was active in the Newkirk Ministerial Alliance until failing health prevented his participation. He was an accomplished musician, playing the guitar and banjo while his wife played the mandolin. He loved children, especially his children and grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Pernina, of the home; two daughters and their husbands, Sue and Jack Myers of Ponca City and Carolyn "Bunny" and Mike Landis of Newkirk; one sister, Mrs. Marjie Casper of Grassvale, Calif.; seven grandchildren, Dan Weatherman and his wife, Alisa, Robyn Weatherman, Dan Myers and his wife, Sheri, Sabra Myers, Steven Myers, Regina Kirkendall and her husband, James, and Micah Landis; and one great-grandson, Gage Kirkendall.
He was preceded in death by two sons, Adolphus George Weatherman Jr. and Robert Joseph Weatherman, a grandson, Mick Weatherman, his parents, and two brothers.
A memorial fund has been established with the Assembly of God Church. Contributions may be made in Rev. Weatherman's memory through Eastman National Bank, Box 468, Newkirk, OK 74647.
paid obituary
James W. Kelley, 1601 Academy Road, Villa M-4, died Saturday, Feb. 21, 1998, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. He was 80.
Survivors will include his wife, Norma, of the home.
Funeral services are pending with the Trout Funeral Home and will be announced later.
FAIRFAX - Bob G. (Bobby) Irons, resident of Fairfax, died Saturday morning, Feb. 21, 1998 in the Stillwater Hospital. He was 61.
Funeral arrangements are pending with Hunsaker-Wooten Funeral Home, Fairfax, and will be announced later.
Hazel E. Johnston died Friday evening, Feb. 20, at Shawn Manor. She was
79. She is survived by a son, Rex Johnston. Funeral arrangements are pending
with Grace Memorial Chapel, and will be announced later.
NEWS BRIEFS
Babysitter Class Set - St. Joseph Regional Medical Center will host a Babysitter Basics class on March 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $35 per participant and is open to sitters ages 11-13. For enrollment information, contact Janet White, Wellness Coordinator, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at (580) 765-0594. Limited space is available.
KLVV Plans Car Talk - With the way everyone depends on their automobiles to keep up with hectic schedules, it's important to keep them in the best shape possible. For those who would like to speak with someone about taking care of their vehicles, Steve Seymour from "AutoDoc" in Ponca City will be at KLVV 88.7 FM on Tuesday, from 5 to 6 p.m. to take questions off-the-air. The phone number to call during that time is 767-1400.
Accident - An accident at North Fifth Street and East Hazel Avenue was reported to police at 7:49 a.m. Friday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Stolen Bike - At 9:54 a.m. Friday a bike was reported stolen from the 900 block of East Highland Avenue. It was later recovered at the police station.
Arrest - Police arrested a 28-year-old woman at 11:28 a.m. Friday from Hartford Avenue and Riggs Drive for driving under suspension, no insurance and no inspection.
Lost Jewelry - A woman advised police at 1:19 p.m. Friday that she had lost two rings outside a store in the 300 block of East Grand Avenue.
Grass Fire - A grass fire was reported at 2:01 p.m. Friday north of the city. One fire unit responded and the fire was extinguished.
Accident - A non-injury accident at West Central Avenue and South Waverly Street was reported to police at 6:04 p.m. Friday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Extra Patrol - A resident in the 100 block of Fariview Avenue requested extra patrol at 6:35 p.m. Friday due to someone trying to break into a shed.
Bonfire Extinguished - At 8:10 p.m. Friday a bonfire was reported at the North River Bridge. Several juveniles fled the scene when fire units arrived to extinguish the fire.
Arrest - Police arrested a 28-year-old man at 8:24 p.m. Friday from North Third Street and East Cleveland Avenue for driving under the influence, no insurance, illegal turn, transporting an open container and driving under suspension.
Arrest - At 9:13 p.m. Friday a 21-year-old man was arrested from the 2000 block of North Fourteenth Street for driving under suspension.
Accident - A two vehicle, non-injury accident at Grand Avenue and Union Street was reported at 10:15 p.m. Friday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Threats Received - Police were advised at 11:05 p.m. Friday that the E-Z Mart, 2225 North Fourteenth Street, had received calls from a person threatening to rob the store. An officer was assigned.
Illegal Sticker Use - At 11:29 p.m. Friday police were notified by a resident in the 1500 block of East Bradley Avenue of persons illegally using handicap stickers. An officer was assigned.
Arrest - Police arrested a 37-year-old woman from the 400 block of West Summit Avenue at 11:29 p.m. Friday for domestic assault and battery.
Arrest - A 17-year-old man was arrested at 11:55 p.m. Friday from Ash Street and West Grand Avenue for possession of drug paraphernalia.
Juvenile Arrest - A 16-year-old girl was arrested at 12:45 a.m. Saturday from the 400 block of West Summit Avenue for domestic assault and battery.
Lost Pig - At 5:54 a.m. Saturday police were called by a resident in
the 700 block of North Elm Street reporting a pig in their yard.
LIFESTYLES
On Jan. 14 the Arthritis Foundation began a year-long, nationwide 50th Anniversary observance that encourages people to become active in managing their condition. The campaign theme, "Make This The Year You Get Active," urges the public to seek early diagnosis and treatment of all types of arthritis to reduce its affects.
Juvenile Awareness
March 2-8 is Juvenile Awareness week. The foundation says the disease affects 285,000 children, but with early diagnosis, care and education these children can achieve their dreams.
As the recognized authoritative source on arthritis treatment research and programs, the Arthritis Foundation aims to increase awareness of the Arthritis Foundation and the help and hope available via the organization.
"Our 50th Anniversary offers an exceptional opportunity for people to become active and learn how arthritis symptoms may be reduced through early diagnosis and treatment," said Debra R. Lappin, Esq., chair of the Arthritis Foundation. "This is also a time for us to intensify all of our outreach efforts, as we see the number of people with arthritis growing," said Lappin.
Locally, the Arthritis Foundation will celebrate the 50th Anniversary with a number of efforts designed to educate the community, particularly people with arthritis, their families, employers and friends, and enlist their participation and support. "We plan to make the 50th Anniversary and its theme, Make This The Year You Get Active, central to all of our activities this year," said Suzi White, President of the Oklahoma Chapter.
Begun in 1948
The Arthritis Foundation began in 1948 as the Arthritis and Rheumatism Foundation with the challenge of finding a cure for one of the oldest diseases known to humankind and to make a positive impact on the lives of people affected by the disease. Since its inception, the Arthritis foundation has spent more than $200 million on research to support more than 1,700 scientists and physicians in arthritis research.
During the past 50 years, numerous advancements have been made in arthritis research including the identification of more than 100 types of arthritis, which has led to improved patient treatment, and the development of medications to control the symptoms of arthritis. Today, the Arthritis Foundation has 400,000 volunteers and is the only non-governmental organization dedicated to seeking the causes, cures and prevention of arthritis and improving the quality of life of the nearly 40 million people affected by arthritis.
Heroes
The Arthritis Foundation will celebrate the milestone with a nationwide search for "Heroes Overcoming Arthritis" to recognize the many people who live full and meaningful lives despite the daily pain of arthritis and those who may have significantly contributed to the arthritis cause in some way. These 50 heroes are individuals with arthritis who lead lives of courage and inspiration despite their medical condition They not only manage their disease, but overcome it by not allowing it to stop them from being active volunteers in their communities or supporting family and friends in an extraordinary way. Heroes may also include people who may not have arthritis but who have significantly contributed to the fight against it.
The search is free and involves an entry form that can be obtained by calling the Arthritis Foundation (405) 236-3399. Heroes can be nominated by themselves, or by a friend or family member. The deadline for entries is March 23 and once received, the Foundation will select 50 nationwide heroes who may be profiled nationally, featured in Arthritis Today, etc.
The Oklahoma Chapter positively impacted the lives of thousands of Oklahomans in 1997 through their programs and services which include aquatics, PACE (People with Arthritis Can Exercise), support groups and self-help classes. The many fundraisers such as the Mini Grand Prix and the Jingle Bell Run raise the necessary funds to support these programs.
The Mozart Music Club will have the third meeting on Feb. 22 in the Cultural Center, 1000 East Grand. This will be a Junior Music Festival Showcase. Those students who are enrolled in the music festival in Primary I, II or III will perform between 2 - 2:45. Primary IV and above will perform from 3 - 3:30. All members will have refreshments from 2:45 until 3 p.m.
Information for the National Music Week poster contest will be handed out at the meeting. Students from Haydn and Schubert clubs may perform after 3 p.m. according to their festival classification.
Feb. 28 is the date for the Junior Music Festival which will be in Ponca City for the fourth year at the First Baptist and First Methodist churches. The final meeting will be April 19 and will highlight various types of ensembles as well as solos.
Families are always welcome to Mozart Club Meetings which are an opportunity to see and hear many students perform.
If you have questions about Mozart music club or the Junior Music Festival or you would like to volunteer to provide refreshments, please call Suzi Lenhart at 762-9895 .
Members of the Red Rose Garden Club met Feb. 9 at the home of Mrs. William Martin, 124 Elmwood. Assisting her were Mrs. Carl Coates and Mrs. Robert V. Bolene.
The silver-appointed serving table was centered with a large bouquet of red and white carnations atop a red tablecloth which was covered with white lace. Mrs. William S. Majors gave each person a History of Valentine's Day and a Valentine.
Mrs. E. L. Manering showed the bird feeder her husband had made from a gallon apple juice container. Guests introduced were Sheryl Smith and Judy Coddington. Mrs. John Strickland, president, led the group in the Gardener's Creed followed by roll call which was "Favorite Memories of Easter" and reading of the minutes by Mrs. Majors in the absence of Mrs. Fred Boettcher. Mrs. Manering gave the financial report.
Mrs. Jim Ross gave the Garden Council Report which included discussion of the District Convention which is to be held at the Presbyterian Church on March 28, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Red Rose Club is placing two books in the library in memory of Geraldine Hinds. They are "Gardening in the Shade" and "Burpee Flower Gardening."
Mrs. Ross gave the program on "Easter Eggs, Easter Eggs and more Easter Eggs!". She showed Easter Eggs from different countries made of a variety of materials. Mrs. Ross then showed the club members how to make a patchwork Easter Egg and gave them the items to make one of their own from styrofoam eggs, scraps of material, pearls and flowers. The finished egg was quite unique.
The gardening "Tip for the Month " was "plan your garden now and begin planting seed indoors now." The next meeting will be March 9 at 1 p.m. at the home of Mrs. Raj Phansalker, 20 Stoneridge. Assisting her will be Mrs. Preston Gant and Mrs. Harold Younger. The program about "Roses" will be given by David Browning.
The annual St. Patrick's luncheon and card party, sponsored by St. Francis Guild, will be held March 18 from noon until 3:30 p.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church Parish Hall.
Open to the community, both men and women attend each year to enjoy "home cooking" as prepared by guild members and to play card games. Door prizes are an added bonus. Carry-out is available at 11:45 a.m. and those attending on a lunch hour from their place of employment will be served promptly.
Tickets are $5 for either lunch or lunch and card party and may be purchased from any Guild member or by telephoning Deanna Nichols, 762-5496, or Beverly Smith, 762-2695.
Proceeds from the event are used throughout the year to benefit many local agencies and charities such as Hospice, Child Development Center and Peachtree Landing.
Serving on the committee for the event this year are Peg Schula, Joyce Johnson, Joan Valenta and Joyce Husen.
Steve and Melony Westerman, 2136 North Osage, announce the birth of their third son on Feb. 7, 1998 at 4:36 a.m. at the Stillwater Medical Center. Connor Joseph Westerman weighed 7-pounds, 6-ounces and was 20 1/2-inches long. His brothers are Joshua, 7, and Zachery, 4.
Maternal grandparents are John and Trit Ethridge and paternal grandparents are Emil and Bennie Westerman, all of Ponca City.
Announcing the birth of twin daughters Feb. 4, 1998 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center are Darin and Julie (Morahan) Kirchenbauer. Haley Amber was born at 3:02 p.m., weighing 6-pounds, 13-ounces and measuring 18-inches long. Hannah Aubrey was born at 3:12 p.m., weighing 5-pounds, 11-ounces and measuring 19 1/4-inches long. They have a brother, Michael Allen, 4-years-old.
Grandparents are Gene and Pat Morahan and Clint and Patty Kirchenbauer and great-grandparents are Ernest and Kathryn Kirchenbauer, all of Ponca City.
Dr. and Mrs. Gregg Motz of Morgantown, W.V. announce the birth of a son, Andrew Michael, at 3:16 a.m. Jan. 31, 1998 at WVU Children's Hospital at Ruby Memorial. He weighed 5-pounds, 15-ounces and was 19 1/2-inches long.
Paternal grandparents are Kaye and Bobbie Motz of Ponca City and great-grandfather is George Motz of Elkhart, Ind. Maternal grandparents are Dr. and Mrs. John Mountjoy of Winston-Salem, N. C.
A trunk show by Karen Bogadi will be the program for P. M. Patches and Pieces Quilt Guild at its meeting Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. Guests are welcome.
The guild met Jan. 26 with 19 members present. Esther Bersche, co-president, presided. Sandee Henderson was a guest and the program was on quilting basics. Nancy Bright demonstrated needle-turn applique; Judy Wohletz, mitered corners and binding and Karen Bogadi, hand quilting.
Door prizes were won by Alice Wiederrich, Suzanne Robinson, Faith Kalback, Marlene Williams, Barb Kegler, Cleda Oertle, Sue Roy and Karen Bogadi.
Judy Wohletz, fundraising chairman, reported on the amount raised with the 1997 donation quilt. Sue Roy displayed completed presidents' blocks and urged members to finish theirs and turn them in as soon as possible. The pattern-of-the-month was presented. It is a snowman appliqued on to a pieced star block.
Judy Wohletz, Barb Kegler, and Mary Bryant were named as nominating committee members. Show and Share participants were Judy Wohletz, Esther Bersche, Sue Roy, Faith Kalback, and Nancy Bright. Serving as hostesses were Karen Bogadi and Gloria Tucker.
BY LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Business Editor
A tour through the historic 1910 residence at 400 North Fourth built for James J. McGraw was the highlight of the Thursday meeting of Professionals Today.
The club met at the house for a brown bag luncheon and a program by Ponca City Historic Preservation Advisory Panel Chairman Bret Carter. He told about the dwelling built by Ponca City home builder O. E. Keck for Frances and James McGraw.
The house was designed by architect Solomon Layton, who designed the Ponca City Civic Center, the Oklahoma State Capitol Building and the Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City.
Many of the original light fixtures are still in place, some of them are of sterling silver. The living room has a brick fireplace with a base relief art inset and a beam ceiling. The bathrooms are all the "old type" white tile.
The home has a sun room, butler's kitchen and there is a walk-in safe in the basement. The basement also houses a pool table that was put in the house before it was built and there is no way to remove it.
The house has 4,000 square feet on the first and second floors, plus a finished basement and attic. An interesting feature of the detached one car garage is a turntable that could be used to turn the car around and head it for the street. Cars were "rare" in 1910.
Carter was introduced by member Ruth Capshaw. Special guests included Larry Lawhon, city planner; Linda Smith, Michelle Carter and Karen Furman. Carter told about the Historic Preservation Advisory Panel and distributed information.
The Historic Preservation Advisory Panel can assist the public in a number of ways such as gathering information and the nomination process for the National Register of Historic Places; Ponca City Historic Preservation Zoning; care, maintenance, restoration and renovation of old buildings (including the proper techniques and methods of doing any work); Connection to the State Historic Preservation Office and their staff Architect (for further assistance on design, preservation and protection issues).
Debbie Whitener, Professionals Today president, called on Gael Hancock for "Moments." The gist of "Moments" was that sometimes one should retrace their steps and pass on the knowledge they have to others.
Roses and Raspberries were given by Joanne Giddens, Loretta Leathers, Ruth Capshaw and Sue Lunsford. Birthdays were celebrated by Loretta Leathers, Karen Hunter and Louise Abercrombie.
The March 5 business meeting will be at Pioneer Technology Center and the program meeting on March 19 is set for E.W.'s Restaurant at the Marland Conference Center.
Rex and Charlotte Horning of Pittsburg, Kan. have announced the engagement of their daughter, Meredith Amber, to Todd Victor Andrews, son of Dr. Victor and Mayor Marilyn Andrews of Ponca City. A May 30 wedding at the Marland Mansion is planned.
The bride-elect attended Oklahoma State University and Pittsburg State University. She is a Kindergarten teacher at Seneca Elementary School in Seneca, Mo. Andrews earned a bachelor of science degree in Graphic Design from OSU. He is employed as a designer in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth R. Wright will be honored with a reception celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary March 1 at the Albright United Methodist Church. Friends and relatives are invited to attend the 2-4 p.m. event hosted by the honorees' children. The couple requests no gifts. For those unfamiliar with the church building, an elevator is located on the west side. The former Zenna Waggoner of Billings and Kenneth Wright of Ponca City were married Feb. 27, 1938 at Eldorado, Kan.
Mr. Wright has been employed by Cities Service, Sequoia and Conoco oil companies. He retired Nov. 1, 1985 with almost 45 years of service. Mrs. Wright is a former executive director for the 55 and Older Club, serving 1971-83. They are active members of the Albright church and members of the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center volunteers with a combined total of 7,000 hours.
Mr. and Mrs. Wright are charter members of the Pioneer Genealogy Society and the Computer Support Group. Their children are Dr. and Mrs. A. L. (Judi) Clemmons of Albuquerque, N. M. and Mr. and Mrs. Philip (Diane) Wright of Wichita, Kan.
Grandchildren are Joel Wright of Tulsa, Lesley Diane Wright, a senior at Tulane University, New Orleans, LA., Greg Petre of Albuquerque, N. M. and Kevin Petre of Ponca City. Mr. and Mrs. Wright have a great-grandson, Michael Petre of Ponca City.
The Republican Women of Kay County, Evening Chapter, met Jan. 19 in the Program Room at the Ponca City Library. In the absence of the president and vice president of the chapter, Francine Johnson, secretary, conducted the meeting.
Ruth Bocox, Membership chairman, led the salute to the flag and Daisy Johnson offered prayer. Discussion was held on the current and future plans for the chapter.
Following the meeting the group met with the Kay County Republicans to hear guest speakers Mike Kruck and Ann Kinsinger, candidates for the Ponca City School Board, and Mary Rigdon and Zane Barham, candidates for the Pioneer Technology Center Board. During this meeting Francine Johnson was asked to describe membership requirements in the evening chapter.
The Evening Chapter met at the library again on Feb. 16 with Glenda Emerson, president, leading the Pledge of Allegiance and offering prayer. Ila Hoelting-McKee gave the treasurer's report as well as the membership report. Miss Johnson was appointed Good Cheer chairman for 1998.
Ms. Emerson discussed conversations with Nancy Steerman, OFRW president, about changes in the state and national federations with the local group voting to accept changes. Members then met with the Kay County group to hear National Committeeman Lynn Windel.
Hair Products
Educator Colorist Linda Witt was in Ponca City recently where she gave a presentation of texture and new color-enhancing shampoos and conditioners by Artec. There were 50 stylists from Ponca City and surrounding area as well as students from area beauty schools attending the two-hour program. Sponsor for the educational event was State Beauty Supply.
Alumnae Meeting
Delta Lambda Delta chapter of Alpha Chi Omega Alumnae will meet Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. in the home of Doris Stanley, 1805 Holbrook. Guest speaker will be Kay Whitlock from "Just Yesterday."
Vision Unveiling
Ponca City Tomorrow's "Vision Unveiling" at 6 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Poncan Theatre. An invitation to attend the event is extended to all residents of Ponca City and surrounding communities.
Representatives from the Matrix Architectural Firm will meet with the Friends of the Cultural Center March 4 at 7 p.m. on the Sun Porch of the center. All members of the Friends and citizens interested in the future of the Cultural Center are urged to attend this meeting.
The purpose of the meeting will be to hear a report from the firm as to their recommendations for use of the center and how those goals may be accomplished. The two groups have been meeting for several months and discussing the various museums and artifacts presently located in the cultural center.
Mr. and Mrs. Lester French Sr. of Pleasant View will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with an open house March 1, 1-4 p.m., at the Moose Lodge, 500 West Prospect. An open invitation is extended to friends and relatives to attend the event. The couple requests no gifts.
Hosting the celebration will be the couple's children: Mr. and Mrs. Lee (Pat) Geisler of Ocala, Fla., Mr. and Mrs. Paul (Wanda) Emerson of Diamond, Mo., Mr. and Mrs. Roland (Velma) Hamm of Arkansas City, Kan., Mr. and Mrs. Lester French Jr. of Newkirk and Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie French of Burleson, Texas. The honorees have 21 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren.
Lester French and the former Mable Mitchell were united in marriage at Wagoner March 5, 1938. They made their first home in Wagoner and moved to Ponca City in 1946.
Mr. French is a veteran of World War II and worked at Continental Oil Company and Medallion Mobile Homes and retired from Mid-American Truck Lines of Arkansas City. Mrs. French was employed 14 years at the Hilltop Motel, retiring in 1975. Both enjoy camping and fishing.
Longwood Baptist Church was the setting for the wedding of Amanda Jo Dotson and Jeffrey Blake Orr. The Rev. Steve Upshaw officiated the double ring vows and Opal Upshaw served as organist. Parents of the bride are Teresa Dotson of Ponca City and Mike Dotson of Versailles, Ky. The bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Orr of Ponca City.
Escorted to the altar by her brother, Greg Dotson, the bride wore a floor length white satin gown designed with a sweetheart neckline outlined with pearls. The dress featured heart-shaped cutouts detailed with pearls. The hemline of the gown and the chapel length train was accented with pearl applique and her pearl accentuated veiling was secured by a pearl headband. She carried a bouquet of Bordeaux and Perfecta roses and baby's breath.
Following tradition, she wore something old, new borrowed and blue. The penny in her shoe was dated the year she was born, her garter was blue and something borrowed was a diamond ring from the bridegroom's grandmother. The flowers for the wedding party were designed and created by the bride.
Maid of Honor was Kalen Krenn and bridesmaids were Becka Orr and Emily Wilkinson. Each wore a floor length burgundy gown in Empire style with a jewel neckline and keyhole back feature. Each carried an arrangement of long-stemmed roses and baby's breath. Lauren Brown was flower girl and Zeb Corbin of Glencoe was ringbearer. Dovie Cramer attended the guest book. Ryan Kirkpatrick served as Best Man and groomsmen and ushers were Greg Dotson of Versailles, Ky. and Matt Orr.
The bride's attendants assisted with a reception at the fellowship hall. The wedding cake was created by Dottie Taylor, aunt of the bride. The newlywed couple resides in Stillwater where the bride is employed as manager for Subway and the bridegroom is studying animal science at Oklahoma State University.
Among the guests at the wedding were Vic and Linda Taylor of El Reno, Steve Taylor of Weatherford, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Reimers of Calumet, Mr. and Mrs. Ken Taylor of Yukon, Betty Cranford, Mr. and Mrs. Dale Orr, Mrs. Linda Webb and Richard of Stillwater; Mr. and Mrs. Larry Witthuhn and Travis of Guthrie; Mr. and Mrs. Stephan Brown and Lauren of Dalhart, Texas; Mr. and Mrs. Rick Corbin, Zeb and Jake of Glencoe; Mr. and Mrs. Scott Seco of Oklahoma City.
Volunteers are needed to deliver meals to the home bound participating in the Wheatheart Nutrition Project. For more information call 767-1620. Wheatheart Nutrition Menus for this week are as follows:
Monday, Feb. 23: Dinner franks; buttered mixed vegetables; sauerkraut; cornbread with butter; brownie.
Tuesday, Feb. 24: Baked chicken; mashed potatoes with gravy; buttered carrots; cornmeal roll with butter; Great Pumpkin cookie.
Wednesday, Feb. 25: Brunswick stew; lime gelatin with pineapple; crackers with butter; scalloped apples.
Thursday, Feb. 26: Sliced ham; candied sweet potatoes; tossed salad; French bread with butter; jello cake with whipped topping.
Friday, Feb. 27: Plantation shortcake; oven fried okra; stewed tomatoes; mixed fruit.
The Singles Network is a social and support organization for single adults who are divorced, widowed or never married. A monthly calendar is mailed to all members and dues are $10 per year. Members wish to emphasize that the group is not a dating service.
Interested persons may call Betty, 762-9776, or Dorothy, 765-1403, for more information. Plans this week are:
Sunday, Feb. 22: 6:30 p.m. Discussion Group at Presbyterian Church. 8 p.m. snack.
Monday, Feb. 23: 6:30 p.m. Baked Potato Bar. Call Dorothy, 765-1403, to coordinate.
Thursday, Feb. 26: 6 p.m. Soup supper and card party at Pecan Place Clubhouse. Those attending are asked to bring different kinds of soup, rolls, dessert, etc. Call Dorothy.
Saturday, Feb. 28: 6 p.m. Birthday Dinner at Rusty Barrell. Reservations necessary. Call Dorothy.
Senior Citizens Day at the Capitol, sponsored by the Oklahoma Senior Advocates and the State Council on Aging, has been scheduled for March 31, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Senior citizens will have the opportunity to visit with their legislators, attend sessions of the House and Senate, attend an Advocacy class, tour the capitol and view an exhibit of Bombing Memorabilia.
A charter bus tour is available with a cost of $12 for transportation and lunch. Reservations are necessary and payment must be made by March 6 to Judy Rupp, Information and Assistance, NODA Area Agency on Aging, 2901 North Van Buren, Enid, Okla. 73703. For more information call her at 580-237-2236 or 800-749-1149.
The engagement and approaching marriage of Tammy Jo Stone to Jason Scott Bruce has been announced by her parents, Jeff and Evelyn Stone, 432 South Pine. Bruce is the son of Susan Stephens and David and Laurie Bruce, all of Enid.
The couple will wed in a 2 p.m. ceremony March 21 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church. An open invitation is extended to family and friends to attend the wedding and the reception, which will be held at the VFW Post. A "come and go" bridal shower at 320 South Ash is planned today with family and friends invited.
Miss Stone is a 1996 graduate of Ponca City High School and Bruce is a 1994 graduate of Enid High School. Following service with the USMC he is employed at Hydrochem of Ponca City.
Roy Steve and Debby (Fair) Kelley, 3799 Kelley Avenue, celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary Feb. 24 with a trip to Las Vegas, Nev. The couple married on that date in 1968 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jack Atkinson officiating.
Following their marriage they moved to Stillwater where he was a fireman for the City of Stillwater. They returned to Ponca City in 1970 where Kelley was employed by Conoco. He is currently affiliated with the Industrial Hygiene Resource for the Mid-Continent Business Unit, Safety and Occupational and Health Division at Conoco. Mrs. Kelley, a homemaker, formerly worked for Wal-Mart.
The couple has two children, Roy Steve Kelley Jr. and Kim Knight. They also have a grandson, Tyler Knight. Their hobbies include hunting, fishing, reading and volunteer work for him and reading, volunteer work and spending time with their grandson for her.
TOPS OK 308 Chapter met Monday evening with Donna McCoy calling the meeting to order. The devotionals were given by Maxine Reeves and Audrey Garroutte, entitled "Patchwork Quilt" and "Monkey's View of Evolution", respectively.
Ann McCool led the TOPS Pledge and Ruth Garroutte led the KOPS Kreed. Delpha Clemens called the roll and Betty Flower gave the weight report. Best loser was Donna McCoy and Ann McCool won the "Ha-Ha" pot.
Visitors were TOPS area captain, Laddie Fuksa and his wife, Shirley. Fuksa gave the program, which included an open discussion. Ms. McCoy announced that election of officers would be March 2. She also announced that "Fun Day", formerly called "Area Workshop", or "Rally" would be in Enid March 14 and in Ponca City April 18.
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is a non-profit organization whose members desire to lose or maintain weight. It neither sells nor endorses products. Members are encouraged to develop individual exercise programs, and contests are used to encourage weight loss.
Brief programs are presented each week and visitors are welcome to attend the meetings. Weigh-in time is 6:15-6:55 and meetings are at 7 p.m. on Mondays. For more information, contact Delpha Clemens, 762-2844 or Betty Flower, 765-5448.
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
JENKS - Ponca City coach Pat Young was a very unhappy camper during Friday's first rounds of the East Regional wrestling tournament.
Young was not displeased with the way the Wildcats wrestled.
He was very displeased with the way the Wildcats, and in particular one of his top wrestlers, were treated in the seeding meeting Friday morning.
Wrestling seeding meetings usually leave none of the coaches completely happy. A coach almost always feels one or more of his wrestlers is better than those seeded above his grapplers. Most of the time the animosity wears off by the time the tournament actually starts.
But even during the late rounds Friday, Young - usually low-keyed and philosophical about such things - was still up in arms over the seeding of Ponca City's 130-pound standout Matt Dodgen.
Dodgen, a defending state champion and owner of a 22-1 record on the year, was relegated to a No. 2 seed at his weight.
That one loss was the sticking point.
It came on December 9 in a dual at Broken Arrow. Dodgen, weakened by a later-to-be-diagnosed viral infection, lost by a fall to Broken Arrow's Rafael Maturino after leading through the first two periods.
Since then Dodgen has gone unbeaten, winning tournament titles at Geary and Sapulpa.
But Maturino was given the top seed at 130 pounds in the eastern regional.
"He (Maturino) has seven losses and has not won a tournament," an agitated Young pointed out Friday night.
Young could see trouble coming and tried to head it off by pointing out the two wrestlers' records and the fact that Dodgen was ill at the time of the one loss.
"But they voted that since head-to-head results are the first criteria in seedings, to put Maturino No. 1," Young said.
Young agrees that head-to-head results should be one of the top factors in determining seedings, "but they should use a little common sense, too."
As it was, Dodgen advanced to Saturday night's finals - assuring himself of a second straight trip to the state championships.
He will join twin brother Mark, who was a regional finalist at 125 pounds and will make his third appearance in the state tournament. Mark won the state title as a sophomore and was second last year.
The only downside to the seeding brouhaha was that Matt had to wrestle two matches to reach the semifinals and had a tougher semifinal match than he would have if he had been No. 1. Matt held off Jenks' No. 3 seed Daniel Caruthers, 4-2.
As things worked out, Matt will not get a chance to avenge his loss to Maturino. The Broken Arrow grappler lost to No. 4 Brian Elgin of Mustang, 4-0, in the semifinals.
Matt sailed through the first round of the tournament with a fall over Battle of Tulsa Rogers in 1:28 and had a technical fall, 15-0, over Watt of Owasso.
Meanwhile, Mark was headed toward another regional title. He stopped Ben Elmore of Stillwater, 7-0, in the semifinals. After a first round bye, Mark, also seeded No. 2, had a 10-2 major decision over Weaver of Sand Springs in the quarterfinals.
Young concedes that seeding meetings for Tulsa area tournaments have been battle for Ponca City as long as he can remember. It's hard to crack the Tulsa coaches' "good old boys club."
"The teams that have to come over here from the west keep complaining they're getting screwed in these seeding meetings," Young said. "I tell them we do too and we're in the region."
The importance of seedings can also be seen in the results of other Wildcat wrestlers during Friday's first rounds. The Dodgens were the only Poncans to advance to the championship semifinals.
"We ran into an awful lot of No. 1 and 2 seeds in the first and second rounds," Young pointed out.
That left Phillip Gelino (103 pounds), Clint Stafford (135), Kyle Duren (152), Toby Red Leaf (160), Jay Bentley (171) and Nick Steichen (215) to try to take the long road back through the consolation rounds in attempts to also win berths in the state tournament.
By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
JENKS - Ponca City will take four wrestlers to the state tournament in Norman next week, but the Wildcats left the regional tournament in Jenks, Saturday, with mixed emotions.
All four state qualifiers for the Wildcats are seniors. As expected, Mark and Matt Dodgen will go at 125 and 130 pounds, respectively. Along with them will be two dark horses, Phillip Gelino at 103 pounds and Nick Steichen at 189.
The Dodgen brothers will go as regional runners-up, after a pair of controversial losses in the regional championship finals.
Mark lost a 5-2 decision to nemesis Jeff Wilson of Midwest City. After a scoreless first period, Dodgen drew a quick penalty for stalling. Seconds later, Wilson got a take down to build a 3-0 lead.
Dodgen closed the gap to 3-1 with an escape in the third period, but Wilson got another take down when Dodgen slipped trying for a tying score. Dodgen got a final escape, but it was too little too late.
Penalty points were even more hurtful for Matt Dodgen. Going against Brian Elgin of Muskogee, the Wildcat defending state champion grabbed a 4-2 first period lead. In the second period Dodgen drew a stalling penalty while on bottom to narrow the score to 4-3. Elgin was awarded another penalty point with Dodgen on top in the third period to even the score and sent the match into overtime. Thirty seconds into the OT period, Elgin got the take down for the win.
That was the bad news. The good news is that Ponca City will take one more wrestler than they had last year.
Gelino and Steichen were unseeded and given little chance to place after suffering first round losses here. But both battled back through the long road to the consolation finals, assuring a berth in the state tournament.
Gelino avenged a first round loss by defeating Roger Remigio of Tulsa Union 5-4 in the consolation finals. Trailing 4-3 entering the third period, Gelino escaped with 11 seconds left to tie the score and then turned on Remigio for a take down with 2 seconds remaining for the win.
Steichen, in only his second year of wrestling, wasn't quite up to coping with a taller Remon Torres of Broken Arrow. Torres got a take down midway though the first period and used that for a 3-2 win.
"I'm happy these seniors will make the trip to the state tournament," said Po-Hi coach Pat Young. "I was disappointed the Dodgens did not win another Regional title, but next week is the thing that counts. They will be ready then."
Ponca City finished eighth in the team scoring with 90 points. Broken Arrow, as expected, ran off with the team title and will advance 11 wrestlers to the state tournament. Mustang was second and will take seven to state. Muskogee had six qualifiers, while Midwest City and Sand Springs each had five. Tahlequah matched the Wildcats with four.
By MATTHEW KOENIG
News Sports Writer
For the first time since 1973, the NOC Mavericks are fielding a baseball team.
And, if their fall baseball record is any indication, this inaugural season for the Mavs could be - if not spectacular - then at least a notch better than most patchwork, first year teams traditionally are.
"We'll be competitive," says head coach Terry Ballard. "People have seen us play and they're impressed. We could surprise some teams."
After stacking up a 13-5 record in the fall season, Ballard's team is set to kick off its season Tuesday, traveling to Midwest City take on Rose State College. The Mavs were to start last Thursday, against Bacone College, but the game was rained out. No one told the Tonkawa team, however, and the Mavs had to spend their first baseball game-day eating fast food in Muskogee.
"We had a nice dinner at Burger King," says Ballard, "and that's about it. These guys were ready to play."
The Mavs have 19 freshmen and nine sophomores on their roster. Among those freshmen are three graduates of last year's record setting Wildcat team - right fielder/pitcher Jason Ross, first baseman Josh Shafer, and shortstop J.R. Fry. All three have secured starting positions, Fry currently No. 2 in the batting lineup, Shafer in the clean-up No. 4 spot, with Ross filling either the 6 or 7th position, according to Ballard. Also, riding an unbelievable .821 average from the fall season is Fairfax freshman J.W. Brumley, who will fill the designated hitter position for the Mavs.
"We've got some hitters," says Ballard. "We should score every time in the first inning. We can manufacture the runs, and came close to batting around twice a couple of times in the fall."
As far as pitching goes, the Northern coach is equally enthusiastic. With a four man rotation of two lefties and two righties, they have balance. And with a total roster of four lefties and five righties, they're in an enviable position - for any team, anywhere.
"Most teams never get two lefties, and we have five," Ballard says.
Leading the Mavs' pitching rotation are Enid freshman Brandon Long, Blackwell freshman Josh McMartin, Bethany freshman J.J. Martin, and Tuttle sophomore Jeremy Bates. Long was an All-stater last year, while the right-handed Martin can get the job done at the plate, too, having batted .486 last year.
After a 25 year hiatus, with 56 games to play in their regular season, and with their first trip ending in a Burger King, the Mavs are - understandably - chomping at the bit.
"These guys are like a bunch of corralled stallions," says Krause. "They're ready to prove they're no rinky-dink team."
NOC Mavericks Baseball
February
19 - Bacone, 2 p.m. (rained out)
24 - Rose State, 2 p.m.
March
1 - BARTON COUNTY, Kan., 2 p.m.
3 - ROSE STATE, 1 p.m.
5 - Butler County, Kan., 3 p.m.
7 - PRATT, KAN., 1 p.m.
9 - CENTRAL, KAN., 1 p.m.
11 - Hesston College, Kan., 4 p.m.
14 - Barton County, Kan., 1 p.m.
16 - x-Redlands, 1 p.m.
21 - HESSTON COLLEGE, KAN., 1 p.m.
22 - COWLEY COUNTY, 1 p.m.
26 - CONNORS STATE, 1 p.m.
28 - x-Carl Albert, 1 p.m.
31 - x-Western, 1 p.m.
April
2 - Connors State, 1 p.m.
4 - x- MURRAY STATE, 1 p.m.
7 - x-REDLANDS, 1 p.m.
10 - x-Northark, 1 p.m.
11 - x- Northark, 1 p.m.
13 - Cowley County, 4 p.m.
16 - Central, Kan., 1 p.m.
18 - x-CARL ALBERT, 1 p.m.
21 - x-WESTERN, 1 p.m.
23 - BACONE, 2 p.m.
25 - x-Murray State, 1 p.m.
28 - BARTON COUNTY, 2 p.m.
May
1 - Seminole, 1:30 p.m.
7-10 - Regional Tourney, Ft. Smith
x-conference games
home games in upper case
By MATTHEW KOENIG
News Sports Writer
BARTLESVILLE - Height, or a lack of it, took its toll on the Lady Cats once again, as they dropped their final game of the regular season to the stately Lady Bruins of Bartlesville, 40-33.
Though they plowed Bartlesville under in mid January, 54-43, the Lady Cats couldn't duplicate that effort Friday. Back then, the Poncans - who weren't any taller a month ago - forced 31 turnovers from the Lady Bruins and shot a very respectable 43 percent from the field.
Friday, the Poncans - who typically obliterate the competition on steals - could only match their opponents in the turnovers column, and combined with dismal, 11-of-40 shooting from the field, dug themselves a grave. Though they went good on 9-of-21 from 2-point range, the Lady Cats' died on the 3-point arc, hitting just 2-of-19 from long range.
"We had the open shots, we just missed a lot," said Dana Pulley, looking a bit melancholy at the end of her first regular season as a Ponca City head coach. "And we weren't reacting well to their defense. We weren't seeing the open girls in the gap. And when you penetrate, you have to know when to pull up. When you're 5-6 or 5-7, and you're going against a girl who's 6-2, you can't expect to shoot over her."
Indeed, the Lady Bruins' twin towers of 6-2 Ashley Meredith and 6-0 Staci Vest wrecked some havoc under the hoop. Between them, they had over half of Bartlesville's points, all but eight of their free throws, and nearly all of their rebounds. More proof of the creed that "height makes right" is the fact that the Lady Bruins didn't even attempt a 3-pointer all night. They didn't have to.
After falling behind by six, 18-12, in the second quarter, the Poncans went on a 5-1 run to close the half down by just two, 19-17.
With the Lady Cats within a basket with 2:26 remaining in the third quarter, however, the Lady Bruins went on a period ending, 6-0 run to enter the final stanza on top, 32-25.
Though the Lady Cats paced them through the final period, they could never draw any closer than six.
Keesha West led the Lady Cats with 8 points, followed by Tia Williams and Aleena Ames with 6 each, Desiree Cries For Ribs with 5, Natasha Anderson with 4, while Laura Sudbury and Romi Foreman had 2 each.
For Bartlesville, Meredith and Vest had 11 points each.
The Lady Cats now have nearly a week off before going on the road to take on two-time conference foe Broken Arrow in the first round of the regional playoffs, Thursday, at 8 p.m.
By MATTHEW KOENIG
News Sports Writer
BARTLESVILLE - Despite getting outscored 23-12 in the final quarter, the Ponca City Wildcats held on to exact some measure of revenge from the Bartlesville Bruins, 67-58.
It was the third consecutive conference win for the Cats (after victories over Owasso and Sand Springs), over an opponent that had beat them earlier in the season. Though the Cats are still a ho-hum 5-11 in Frontier Conference play, the 3-0 finish couldn't be better.
"I know it's a cliche to say that this is the time in the season you want your team to be peaking," said Wildcat head coach Ron Arthur, after the game, "but it's true. And we are."
The last time the Cats met Bartlesville, the hapless Bruins played their hearts out, going 67 percent from the field en route to a 67-59 victory on the Cats court. Friday, it was the Wildcats turn to shoot the lights out.
With four of their starters in double figures, and riding an unprecedented 83 percent shooting in the second half, the Cats overcame an evening of turnover madness. Though the Cats gave up the ball 24 times to the Bruins' 11, high percentage shooting negated most of those errors.
And, like last week, it was senior night all over again. Micha Alexander lit up the boards once again from the 3-point arc, Alfred Delancy controlled the post position, while Ryan Treadway and Ryan Meyer dumped in a combined 23 points to launch the Cats to victory.
Though the Cats led 25-18 at halftime, and bombarded the Bruins 27-17 in the third quarter, the final stanza got a little hairy.
Jacob Lawson, who had 21 points last time around, knocked down four 3-pointers to put the Bruins back in the game. Down by 17, 52-35, to open the final quarter, Bartlesville used eight Ponca City turnovers to get the ball into Lawson's hands, and the 6-1 senior responded.
With 2:15 left to play, Lawson launched the Bruins to within four, 60-56. After Delancy and Treadway hit 3-of-4 free throws to stretch the lead again, Lawson proceeded to miss on two more 3-point opportunities as the clock wound down to the one minute mark.
From there, the Bruins could manage just two more points, while sending Alexander to the line eight times, where the Cats' leading scorer picked up five of his teams' 12-point fourth quarter output.
"What a game," Arthur said. "They went to a man defense in the fourth and we let our guard down a little. We made a lot of mental mistakes, like trying to slip past them in small creases. Actually, the last four minutes we got tougher, we hit our critical free throws."
Alexander finished the game with 25 points, followed by Delancy with 15 (plus 13 rebounds), Treadway with 12, Meyer with 11, and Tom Engle with 4. For the game, the Cats finished with 26-for-45 shooting, while Bartlesville could only manage 19-of-61.
For the Bruins, Lawson finished with 19 points, 14 of those in the fourth quarter.
Arthur also paid tribute to the game day atmosphere in the Bartlesville gym. If there's one word to describe it, it's "loud."
"It's fun to play here," he said. "They've got great spirit from the student body, they all come out, and it gets our kids fired up to play."
Also, on the occasion of their last regular season game, Arthur stressed the fact that since the mid-season break - at which time he essentially started the Cats' season over - their record is 6-5.
"The kids still talk about how we're doing in the second season," Arthur concluded. "In our minds, at least, we can't finish with a losing record."
The Cats now take a long week off before traveling to take on Tulsa Memorial on Friday in the first round of the regional playoffs. That game will be at 8 p.m.
BARTLESVILLE - The Lady Wildcat junior varsity ended their season on a positive note Friday, slamming the Bartlesville JV, 41-23.
With the win, the Lady Cats finish with an even record of 8-8. All their wins came by sweeping four conference foes, while all eight losses came by being swept by four others.
In Friday's game, the Lady Cats whipped out a pair of excellent middle quarters to take command of the game. After outscoring the Lady Bruins 16-5 in the second stanza, they continued with an 11-6 advantage in the third quarter to make the final stanza a mere formality.
"We had great movement, cut down on turnovers, and played good defense," said coach Brad Larimer. "We played well our last couple of games. Everyone was moving, nobody was loafing, and that makes it fun.
With all but two on the Lady Cats' roster scoring, Lendsi Boyd led the way with 10 points, followed by Laura Sudbury with 7, Aleena Ames with 5, Jennifer Caughman with 4, Romi Foreman and Claire Winterrowd with 3 each, while Gina Hile, Alana Smith, Shari Winters, and Kristl Richardson each had 2.
BARTLESVILLE - The Wildcat junior varsity dropped their final game of the season, Friday, falling to the Bartlesville junior varsity, 45-38.
In a game that saw the Cats out-foul the Bruins 22-12, leading to a 31-13 difference in free throw attempts, the Poncans were never really in the ball game.
Although they beat out the Bruins in the second half, 23-20, a 16-6 deficit through the second quarter doomed the Poncans.
"We didn't play very well," said coach Joe Matlock. "The kids got frustrated and got out of their game. They really wanted to win their last game of the season."
Nathan Zimmerman led the way for the Poncans with 10 points, followed by Jeff Furnas with 9, Scott Larrison with 8, Jeremiah Payne and Blake Guebelle with 4 each, Brian Connelly with 2, while Bret Skaggs had 1.
A cold shooting third period cost the Wildcat sophomore boys in a tight battle with Stillwater Thursday as they suffered only their second loss of the season, 55-54.
The Poncans held a 31-26 lead at halftime, but faltered in the third period as Stillwater outscored the Cats 15-6. Ponca City battled back in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to one point, but couldn't get over the hump.
"Overall, I though we played fairly well," coach Jerry Orr said. "We made some mental mistakes late in the game that hurt us.
"But the one thing we did do well late was that we were 5-of-6 from the free throw line. These were hit when the game was on the line.
Brett Skaggs led the Ponca City scoring with 15 points while Evan Rupp finished with 10. Jeff Furnas had 9 points, Barry Chance and Blake Guebelle 7 each and Aaron Sattre 6.
The sophomores ended their season 11-2.
SOFTBALL SIGNEES - NOC softball coach Annette Kennedy has signed five Oklahoma high school seniors for the 1998-99 team. They include Brandi Park, Checotah; Abbie Nidiffer, Dewey; Bethany May, Bartlesville; Amber Davis, Blanchard; and Rebecca Easterly, Pond Creek-Hunter.
HOLE IN ONE - Dorothy Barbaree hit a hole in one Saturday at the Ponca
City Country Club. Barbaree was playing with her husband, Royce, and holed
the No. 6, 120 yard par 3 using a 5-iron.