From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Wednesday,
February 25, 1998
LOCAL
Absentee Ballots Available For Two Special Elections
'Vision Unveiling' Thursday Night At Poncan Theatre
Home-Built Plane Belly-Lands On Ponca City Airport Runway
Ponca City Fugitive Caught By Authorities in St. Louis
Armed Robbery Thwarted At Tonkawa Store
Smoke and Flames
Garfield's Mission Statement Targets 'Life-Long Learners'
Community Concert Membership Drive Set March 23-April 3
Social Security Will Help Get Baby's SS Number
Emergency Sirens To Sound Thursday
Several Kay County Residents Have Interest in Texas Land Suit
Kaw City Collection Featured in Tulsa Show
Area Calendar
VA Reps Brief Veterans On Modernized Benefits
Cub Scouts Complete Derby
Soybean Clinic Draws Big Local Interest
Kay County Courthouse Now Enjoying the Internet
DEATHS
Jerry Don Adams
Leonard Roy Brisman
Bobby Wells
Obituaries
Carmel A. Roy
Services Pending
Curtis Edward Linz
NEWS BRIEFS
LIFESTYLES
Black Heritage Month Heralds Attucks Fundraiser
Dinner Honors McClungs
Pioneer Quilters Schedule Meeting
SPORTS
Even Sutton Had It Wrong This Season
Cowboys Secure Big 12 South Title
Frontier Gets Emotions Out On Court
Sports Notes
Youth Wildlife Camp Set Here
Daughter, Mother Get Competitive
NEWKIRK - Voters in Kay County who want to have absentee ballots mailed to them for the Newkirk School Special and the Kildare School Special Election should apply now, Carol Stafford, Kay County Election Board Secretary said today. The last time to request absentee ballots is March 4, 1998.
Stafford urged voters who want to vote by absentee ballot to apply early. Application forms are available at the County Election Board office, located at the Kay County Courthouse, Newkirk, Okla. Between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. any registered voter may vote by absentee ballot in any election in which he or she is eligible to vote.
It is not necessary to give a reason - or - excuse for voting absentee. While anyone can vote absentee without giving a reason, the law still provides several excuses and it is to the advantage of some voters to use one of them, Stafford said. By stating one of the following reasons on their applications, these voters can activate some special conditions that make it easier for them to use absentee ballots. The reasons are:
-Voters who are physically incapacitated and voters who care for physically incapacitated persons who cannot be left unattended may vote absentee. They may apply only by mail or by telegraph.
-Voters who are confined to nursing homes in the county may vote absentee. An absentee voting board actually goes to the nursing home a few days before the election, sets up a small polling place and allows these persons to vote under circumstances similar to those at a regular precinct polling place.
-Military personnel and residents of the county living overseas and the spouses and dependents of each group are eligible to vote absentee without being registered. These voters may apply only by mail. Military personnel should contact the voting services officers in their units for application forms and additional information. Residents of Oklahoma living overseas can obtain the same materials from any United States military installation and from United States embassies and consulates.
The public is invited to the Ponca City Tomorrow's "Vision Unveiling" to be held Thursday at the Poncan Theatre. The unveiling event will be the first time the public will see the new Ponca City Tomorrow brochure.
The 16-page brochure portrays the city of Ponca City, its citizens and community as well as setting forth the recently updated visionary goals for the city. And according to Ponca City Tomorrow Executive Director Cathy Ferguson the brochure is sent to people throughout the United States. "We use the brochure internally and others use it as well," Ferguson explained. "It is sent to prospective Ponca City residents and is also used for both teacher and physician recruitment."
The Vision Unveiling begins at 6 p.m. and entertainment will be provided by the Ponca City High School Chorale as well as soloist Renee Paul.
The presentation of the brochure will be "state of the art" as the brochure will be projected onto the theater's big screen. Several distinguished guests will be speaking at the unveiling, among them Mayor Marilyn Andrews. A reception at the theatre will immediately follow the presentation.
By Patti Pfeiffer
News Staff Writer
A small, home-built airplane was forced to make a crash landing at the Ponca City Municipal Airport Tuesday evening after the pilot failed to lower his landing gear.
The plane made a "belly-landing" and skidded sideways more than 500 feet before coming to a stop in the middle of the runway. Neither the pilot nor his passenger were injured. However, the Ponca City Fire Department was called to the scene and the FAA was notified.
It is unknown where the pilot was from or where he was going only that he was landing here to visit family.
The effects of the accident caused havoc for law enforcement agencies from Oklahoma to Kansas. Kay County Sheriff Deputy Brian Dye was at the airport with a prisoner that was to be transported by plane to Sedgwick County, Kan.
Because of the crash the plane from Kansas was not allowed to land and therefore was forced to return to Wichita. According to Kay County Sheriff Marion VanHoesen, the prisoner was taken back to the Kay County jail Tuesday evening and Sedgwick County law enforcement officers will be driving to Kay County later today to pick the prisoner up.
According to Nuzum, the airport was closed for a period while the plane was cleared on the runway and the crash site was cleaned. Several planes were forced to circle the airport during that time but were cleared for landing shortly thereafter.
By Patti Pfeiffer
News Staff Writer
Ponca City's "most wanted" fugitive was arrested in St. Louis, Mo., Tuesday morning.
Bondsperson Sandy Ernst said 27-year-old Todd Coburn was out on a $35,000 bond for accessory after the fact in connection with an August 1997 shooting.
Since then warrants have been issued for Coburn in connection with a Dec. 25 shooting where two people, one a pregnant woman, were wounded.
Officers from the St. Louis Police Department, accompanied by Bob Ernst and son Bob Ernst Jr. of Cowboy Bail Bonds of Ponca City, raided the residence where Coburn was located.
According to Ernst, Coburn attempted to elude police by running through a glass door. However he was arrested at the scene and is being held in St. Louis awaiting extradition to Kay County.
It was information both police and Ernst had received that lead to Coburn's arrest. "I had recently received information from people in three different states including Texas and Kansas regarding Coburn's whereabouts," Ernest said. "Things began to really unfold in the last 48 hours after I received some information from family members on his exact location in St. Louis."
In October 1995 Coburn plead guilty to accessory after the fact and first degree murder and was sentenced to five years. He was then arrested in August 1997 for accessory to attempted murder.
A $50,000 bond was set. A judge later reduced the bond to $35,000. It was that bond that and that large amount of money that caused Ernst to become "very interested" in the case.
The bondsman would have had to pay the court the entire $35,000 if Coburn had not been found. "I was very relieved that the chase was over and that he was finally found and arrested," Ernst said.
TONKAWA - A police patrolman here thwarted an armed-robbery attempt early today with a timely arrival at an all-night convenience store near Tonkawa High School.
Tonkawa Police Chief Dave Rogers said two men - wearing masks and bearing handguns - entered the Jiffy Trip on North Avenue shortly after 1 a.m. today, demanding money from the clerks.
One of the men fired a round from his gun against a wall inside the store and the other man held a bag for the clerks to put the money in, the chief said.
When Police Patrolman James Lenon, on routine patrol and thirsty, pulled his unit into the store parking lot, he apparently spooked the two would-be robbers, who bolted from the store, Rogers said.
In the scramble, the man holding the still-empty moneybag left his .32-caliber automatic on the checkout counter when he fled.
Rogers said Lenon chased the two men on foot for a while but they had too much of a lead on him.
Authorities today were seeking two men, one approximately 6-feet-1 and the other 5-feet-4, both approximately 150 pounds. A witness said the two men were wearing bluish jackets and blue pants, possibly jeans.
The chief said the abandoned gun and other evidence were being sent to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
MORE THAN 200 acres were burned in a grass fire Tuesday afternoon east of Hubbard Road on Oklahoma Highway 11. (News Photo by Patti Pfeiffer)
Editor's Note: This is the second in a series of articles on the Ponca City Schools' Site Improvement Plans. This article is on the improvements at Garfield Academy.
By KRISTI HAYES
News Education Editor
Garfield Academy has targeted a mission statement to produce students who are socially and academically prepared to be cooperative, responsible, respectful, and enthusiastic life-long learners.
With that mission in mind, the school has had two primary goal focuses: improvement of academic performance and improvement of discipline and establishment of a school climate which promotes learning.
The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) is a norm referenced test which ranks the school's performance with other students in the nation. The ITBS composite percentile rank at Garfield has ranged from a low of 36 in 1993 to a high of 58 in 1995. In 1996 the school had a national ranking of 41.
Dr. Patty Ladd, principal of Garfield Academy, says that while last year's third grade group fell below the national average on the Spring ITBS test, they showed a 17 percent growth in reading skills from their pretest to their post-test in Jostens, with Study Skills (the target for the improvement plan) showing a 30 percent improvement over the course of the year.
Fifth grade Criterion Reference Test (CRT) scores have also improved every year since 1995. Garfield set a target for a 75 percent pass rate. Last year the students met that goal on all subjects. The school has now raised the goal to an 80 percent pass rate.
Garfield's second area of work was with improved discipline and climate. "We have shown consistent and remarkable growth toward this goal," said Ladd. "In 1992, 639 discipline referrals, an average of 71 per month, were made to the principal. This number has decreased each year. In 1997, there were 224 referrals made to the principal. Data from the first six months of this year indicate an average of 22 referrals per month which leads to the projection that improvement for this year will continue. With the strategies in our action plan, a consistent and more severe discipline policy and other programs, we have shown a 65 percent decrease in discipline incidents since 1992."
This year's plan was centered on academics with a focus on reading. Garfield has expanded the Jostens goal to include all reading subtests. The school has increased HOSTS, a reading mentoring program, to provide services to third graders as well as continuing the work with the second graders.
The HOSTS structured mentoring program in Language Arts is recognized as a national model and is the recipient of the U.S. Secretary of Education's Excellence in Compensation Education Award. HOSTS has been acknowledged as the best compensatory program in seven states. Last year at Garfield, 269 mentors contributed approximately 1,915 hours.
"We are using HOSTS to identify at-risk third grade readers and are redoubling our efforts to improve literacy with these students. They are offered after-school tutoring in Reciprocal Teaching by myself, AmeriCorps volunteers and teacher volunteers. We have added a strategy to our plan using the Accelerated Reader program. We also added a strategy to teach 'Habits of Mind' from Dimensions of Learning," Ladd added.
Garfield has also issued strategies to help involve parents in the school:
1. Provide quarterly school newsletters with information on school events, school programs, curriculum, and school decision-making.
2. Provide quarterly parent contacts by each teacher through either phone calls, positive post cards, conferences, or home visits.
3. Host a "Family Reading Night," a "Habits of Mind Night," or other curriculum focused night to communicate with and provide assistance to families in setting home conditions to help children at school.
4. Distribute "Parents Make the Difference" newsletter.
5. Have a pilot program of "Preschool Conferences" prior to the first day of school. Parents and teachers will set goals for academic and social progress for the child for the year.
6. Hold parent "Back to School and Meet Your Teacher" night.
Captains for the Ponca City Community Concert membership drive recently met at the home of Roberta Motz to gear up for the 1998-99 campaign to be held March 23-April 3.
Leslie Rardin, membership drive chairman, presented a program of instructions to captains to convey to team members. She also said more workers are still needed for the 1998-99 campaign. Anyone interested in assisting with the Community Concert drive may call Rardin at 765-3971 or Richard Jacobson 765-4822.
She also announced that current members would be receiving their 1998-99 season's artist brochures with membership forms in early March.
The five concerts for the 1998-99 concert season include Dale Gonyea, music comedian; Quartetto Gelato, performing classical music and lighthearted gypsy fiddle music on a variety of instruments; Diva, a 15-member women's jazz band in the big-band tradition; Nkenge Simpson, soprano; and SoloMania, featuring cello, piano and mezzo-soprano.
Captains for the 1998 membership drive are Joy Asbury, Marsha Baldridge, Mary Jane Barraclough, Barbara Brown, Graydon Brown, Mary Sunshine Cogman, Mary Lou Ferguson, Helen Hatlelid Hester, Susan Hill, Stan Hoffmeyer, Richard Jacobson, Marta Maril, John Minor, Roberta Motz, Robert Nesselrode, Mary Lois Nield, Erma Rusch, Betty Sandy, Mark Southard, and Charles Thompson.
By Ron Janzen
SSA Field Office Manager
So you're going to have a baby!
Babies are a lot of fun, and a responsibility. One of the first things you probably want to do is get a Social Security number for your baby so that you can include him or her as a dependent on your tax return. The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 changes what you have to do to get your baby a Social Security number.
The new law requires the Social Security Administration (SSA) to obtain the Social Security numbers of parents when an application is made for a Social Security number for a child who is under age 18. Because of the new law, SSA will also forward the parents' Social Security numbers to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for use in administering tax benefits based on support or residence of children. Therefore, you should be prepared to provide the Social Security numbers of both your baby's mother and father as part of the application process for a Social Security number for your baby.
Let's review what you need to know to get your new baby a Social Security number:
1. You can apply for a number when you complete the birth certificate application for your baby in the hospital. If you do this, you don't need to do No. 2 and No. 3 below.
2. To apply for a number for your child, you need to complete a form SS-5 (Application for a Social Security Number) and we will need to see a certified copy of the child's birth certificate as well as an identification document.
3. Beginning in February, parents need to enter their Social Security numbers on the form SS-5.
Once you receive your child's Social Security card, keep it in a safe place, as you would any important document. If you should lose the card, Social Security will replace it at no charge.
You can request a form SS-5 by calling our national 800 number 1-800-772-1213. You can request forms 24 hours a day.
The testing of the Ponca City emergency siren warning system will be held at noon, every Thursday, according to Tom Montgomery, emergency management operations officer.
The test is scheduled throughout the year.
Montgomery said that in case of inclement weather, the test will be postponed, and in this case or if additional tests are planned, the public will be notified by the Ponca City News and the radio stations.
By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Staff Writer
The proving of a 50-year-old lease maybe the "key" to the case in the Balli family's quest to regain land that was granted to their ancestors by the King of Spain in what is now Texas.
The fact that the lease was "proved" is now coming into play in the bigger picture, according Fred Balli of Ponca City. The lease was between Sarita Kenedy East, Mifflin Kenedy's granddaughter and Gustavo Munoz, Balli's great-great-grandson. The lease says the Ballis take possession in 1999 and was proved a year ago.
Currently the land is held by the John G. and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation, a charitable foundation created in 1960 by Sarita Kenedy East.
Fred Balli with a number of other Balli descendants, has been fighting the battle to regain their inheritance. Other Kay Countians involved include Fred's brother Ruben, his sisters Sylvia Mossauer and Yolanda Trant, and a nephew David.
A major hurdle has been accomplished by engaging the Dallas law firm of Beckham and Thomas to pursue their interests. The land involved covers 363,933 acres.
Attorney Says Good Case
Attorney Stewart Thomas told The News that the "Kenedy Foundation has been claiming that they own the La Barreta Grant. But a person can only own land two ways by title or by adverse possession (squatters rights). They don't have a good title because no one has ever sold it (the land) to them.
"In order to have a good title they would have to have bought it (the land) from someone. Someone would have had to sell it to them. You can hold property as your own for a certain number of years, but you cannot take property by adverse title possession if you have the right to be there," Thomas said.
He added, "The lease proved that the Balli family as owners leased the property to the Kenedys for 150 years and they therefore cannot prove adverse possession."
The lease was proved on Feb. 19, 1997, in the District Court of Harrison County, Texas, and is signed by Judge Bonnie Leggat.
The document states, "The Court, having heard evidence and argument of counsel, finds that there is sufficient evidence to prove the validity of the lease in question."
Another positive toward getting a fair decision, according to Fred, is that the judge trying the case in Kenedy County recused himself. So the case will now be tried in Zapata County, where the Balli family has filed a motion of ownership for the estate of Jose Manuel Balli Villarreal.
Beckham and Thomas are not the only lawyers working on the case. "We expect to divide up the tasks and we like to do the strategy and the legal research and then make representation in the trial. We will be a very active participant in all of the fight, but it will be as a team."
Answering how successful people have been in the past fighting the Kenedy Foundation, Thomas said, "I don't know the answer because I've not looked into what types of disputes the Kenedy Foundation has been involved in the past. I don't know that the Kenedy Foundation has ever been involved in a title dispute such as this.
"I know the Balli family has been successful in the past in adjudicating their claims on bringing their claims to ownership of certain parcels of land for example South Padre Island was originally granted to one of the Ballis. There were several law suits when the Balli heirs claimed ownership. The case went to the Supreme Court and the Balli family won. They were the rightful owners."
Questioned about Texas Attorney General Dan Morales going to join the suit, Thomas said, "I don't know but they have that right. If they do that's good and will help us to fight for the rightful owners of the property."
Responding to if the law firm had ever been in a fight of this magnitude before for this large an acreage, Thomas said, "Not quite like this is. This is a pretty rare case."
Thomas commented that the firm has some similar experience in representing hundreds of thousands of shareholders who had been wronged by officers of a corporation.
About the prospects of winning the case, Thomas said, "We are comfortable and we're excited about the prospects. We've looked in it and we've done a careful analysis to determine if it is a good case or not. We believe it is. We believe the Ballis are rightful owners of that land and are entitled to get it back. We think the Kenedy Foundation, when all the facts come out will agree with us."
Asked about a time line, Thomas said, "The wheels of justice grind slowly. We hope to get it resolved in 24 months."
By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Staff Writer
Paintings from a former private Kaw City art collection are making headlines in Tulsa, where the work of Thomas Moran and J.M.W. Turner are on display though May 10 as a part of the National Gallery of Art tour.
Among the paintings in the National Gallery of Art exhibition at Gilcrease Museum are two Morans from the collection of the late Laura A. Clubb. The Turner display is at Philbrook and Mrs. Clubb also had works of Turner in her collection.
A number of Moran's paintings are also used in conjunction with the Turner exhibit at Philbrook. Most of Turner's paintings are on loan from London Museums.
Mrs. Clubb, wife of oilman and stockman Ike Clubb of Old Kaw City, had enough of the Moran's work to fill two rooms at the famous old Clubb Hotel in the 1930s. This privately owned collection was displayed in the "Moran Rooms." At one time Mrs. Clubb was said to have the largest private collection of his works.
Patricia J. Gay, of St. Marys, Ga., wrote the News recently saying, "As a native of Kay County and a former Poncan, I was thrilled to see two paintings from the Laura A. Clubb Art Collection, once displayed in the Clubb Hotel in Kaw City, when I visited the Moran exhibition while in Washington over the Christmas holidays."
These paintings, on loan from Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, with the National exhibit are entitled Slave Hunt, Dismal Swap, Virginia 1862 and Autumn 1893-97. Both oils on canvas currently being exhibited at Gilcrease Museum are noted as being from the Philbrook Museum of Art and as gifts of the Laura A. Clubb Collection.
As the accompanying information points out, these paintings were probably a part of Moran's "little known Pre-Raphaelite landscapes of the eastern United States."
A 1947 story in The News tells of Mrs. Clubb's decision to give the 83 paintings of her Moran collection to Philbrook Museum. Philbrook is also a part of the two-pronged Tulsa tour, with Gilcrease featuring Moran's work, and Philbrook highlighting the British master J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851). Moran admired Turner's style and is said to have emulated Turner's use of light, color and atmospheric effects.
One of Moran's paintings, which is being touted as one of the more famous, is Grand Canyon. This painting at one time was on display at the Clubb Hotel in Kaw City.
The News story tells of the Clubb Hotel and the collection of the 18th century English portrait and landscape artist. The Clubb Moran collection included Milking Time, Grand Canyon, Slaves Escaping Through the Swamps, Mid Atlantic and Autumn.
Ponce de Leon
The Ponce de Leon in Florida painting, which called the Cultural Center home for three decades is a focal point of one of the Thomas Moran galleries at Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa.
The painting remains a treasure of clarity a century and a quarter after it was painted. The landscape painting is so realistic and the colors so vibrant it seems as if one could dip their hands in the murky water, but wouldn't because it is swampy.
Another sensation while viewing the painting is one of almost feeling the mist on one's brow as they stand on the banks watching the "treating of the soldiers and the Indians."
Although the 1872 painting by the world famous landscape artist is but one of the many works of Moran's which is on display, it is obviously one of the most striking.
On loan to the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., from the Cummer Museum in Jacksonville, Fla., the Ponce de Leon is part of a three-city tour that began in Washington. When the Tulsa exhibit ends on June 30 the Moran exhibit will climax at the Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Wash.
The Ponca City home, 1000 East Grand, where the painting hung, was owned by Jay and Jesse Paris. The Ponce de Leon Treating with the Seminole Indians in Florida, hung at the residence from about 1940 to 1972.
An unusual feature of the painting is that it includes people. Normally, Moran (1837-1926) adhered to painting landscapes. He was a skillful master in the art of bringing greenery and canyons to life with the brilliance of his paint brush. The painting features many shades of green; however the Indians' and soldiers' garments have overtones of red, making the scene even more captivating.
As the tour guide at Gilcrease said it was unusual for Moran to incorporate people in his paintings. She noted that when he did, they were in the background and the landscape was always the focal point.
Gilcrease Museum has over 2,000 paintings and sketches of Moran's art work, the largest collection in the world of the landscape artist. So it was natural to attract a national art show here in the heartland of America.
The paintings on tour will then return to their respective homes. Many of the masterpieces will come back to Oklahoma. However the Ponce de Leon will once again return to Florida.
The Paris home here in Ponca City was a fitting easel for the Ponce de Leon work of Moran. Built in 1918 by oilman E. W. Marland, the four-story home has for many years been the showplace of Grand Avenue. Later Marland would build the well-known much larger Marland Mansion, known as the Palace on the Prairie.
Dan Moran, president of Continental Oil, would live in the Grand Avenue Mansion for a time. As far as anyone knows there is no connection between Dan Moran and Thomas Moran. And incidentally the resident expert on Thomas Moran at Gilcrease is Anne Morand, just one letter difference than the artist.
The dwelling where the composition hung here in Ponca City is steeped in the lore of which oil legends are created. Dan Moran replaced Marland as head of the oil company that once was Marland Oil. When Continental Oil (now Conoco) and Marland Oil "merged," Marland was disposed and Dan Moran became CEO.
The Paris family bought the Marland home in 1940 and Mrs. Paris continued to live there after the death of her husband until 1967, when the home was purchased by the City of Ponca City. Mrs. Paris left the furnishings in place and the Ponce de Leon remained on loan to the City until it was sold to the Cowboy Hall of Fame for a reported $200,000. The remarkable landscape hung in the Oklahoma City museum until being sold in 1997 to Cummer Museum of Art for $2 million. Mrs. Paris died in 1991.
Furniture Entrepreneur
There were some connections between Paris and Marland. Mr. and Mrs. Paris entered the furniture business in a building on East Grand and a few years later Marland built for them a new larger store according to their plans and specifications.
Prior to being in the furniture business Paris was employed as secretary to Dan J. Donahoe Sr., owner of the Ponca City Milling Co. Paris died in 1954.
When the Ponce de Leon Moran returns to Florida, where it was first sketched, it will be the third time it has been in the state of scene. The Florida landscape was first purchased in 1892 in New York. It would later surface at the Ponce de Leon Hotel in St. Augustine owned by Henry Flagler. The masterpiece first showed up in Oklahoma in the possession of Buttram, an Oklahoma City oil man.
Next it appeared here in Ponca City at the Paris home. The den was reportedly remodeled to accommodate the huge painting. It has never been confirmed as to how the Moran Florida landscape was acquired by the Paris family, but there was a rumor that Jay Paris won the Moran in a card game from Frank Buttram of Oklahoma City.
Moran Works Showcased
Showcased at Gilcrease are three of Moran's most famous oil paintings, the "natural triad": Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (1872), Chasm of the Colorado (1873-74) and Mountain of the Holy Cross (1875).
These paintings are being exhibited together for the first time. Moran attempted repeatedly to have them shown together while he was alive.
But his efforts were without success after Congress bought and hung Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Chasm of the Colorado and placed them in the U.S. Capitol. These are on loan from the Department of the Interior Museum.
Moran's watercolors of the Yellowstone region were partially responsible for the establishment of Yellowstone as the first national park in the country.
He was also known as the "rail road artist." Moran traveled in the comfort of a private railroad car for B&O to do his sketching after joining the firm's art corps. B&O was the first American Railroad to use visual art to promote commercial interests.
In 1881, a book "Picturesque B&O Historical and Descriptive" featured 68 of Moran's drawing. He had a lifelong affection for the railroad and the landscapes that were visible from the train.
Gilcrease Museum
The Thomas Gilcrease Institute of American History and Art was founded in 1949 as a private museum by collector and oilman, Thomas Gilcrease (1890-1962). The collection and buildings were deeded to the city of Tulsa in 1955, as a result of a successful bond issue held in 1954.
Surrounded by woods and meadows, the museum is located on 440 acres in the foothills of the Osage Hills in northwest Tulsa.
The first museum was built in the Indian style longhouse. In 1987 a $12.25 million, three-story expansion and renovation project doubled the space for exhibition.
Philbrook
Built in the mid-1920s, Philbrook is patterned after an Italian Renaissance Revival villa and was given to Tulsa by Waite Phillips.
Philbrook is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A major renovation took place in 1990. Philbrook is more than an exhibition hall for works of art.
The Villa contains the museum's permanent collections, and has a Great Hall furnished with the original oriental furniture and regularly hosts traveling exhibitions.
The Tulsa showing of Morans and Turners is a joint venture with Gilcrease and Philbrook museums partnering on showing the landscape masters' paintings. To fully appreciate both artists, one should visit both museums.
February 11-February 28
February 26
February 26-28
February 28
March 1
March 2-27
March 3
March 4
March 5
March 6
March 7
March 8
March 9
March 9-April 8
March 10
March 12
March 15
March 16
March 17
March 19
March 22
March 24
March 27-28
March 28
March 29
March 31
April 1-30
April 2
April 2-3-4-5
April 3-4
April 4
April 5
April 5-25
April 13
April 14
April 16
April 16-19
April 17
April 18
Approximately 200 area veterans and their spouses attended a Veterans Information and Benefit meeting at Post 14 of the American Legion in Ponca City, Feb. 11.
Nate Trolinger, Chief of Ambulatory Care and Process Section of area VA Hospitals, spoke to attendees about hospital care, preregistration and prequalifying for veterans medical and hospital benefits.
"In the past, veterans have not been able to preregister for VA benefits by phone," said Trolinger. "Now veterans may call 405-270-1559 and leave a phone number and a VA representative will return their call and provide information and about the necessary forms required."
Trolinger also talked about the six long-term care units operated by the VA and noted they were staffed with doctors and nurses 24-hours a day. He told the group about the high-quality care provided for the veteran at those centers.
A new Out-Patient Care Clinic will soon be opening in Ponca City and Trolinger told the veterans he would be in Ponca City several days prior to its opening to help with necessary paper work.
Also speaking to veterans at the meeting were two representatives from the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs. John Cloud, manager, and Don Haden, Veteran representative from the Muskogee office, talked about Veterans benefits.
Haden said "Let the ODVA determine if you, as a veteran, qualify for benefits. Don't assume that you don't qualify."
Haden is at the Ponca City American Legion Post each Thursday morning to visit with vets on a first-come-first-served basis.
He is also at the Blackwell American Legion Post each Thursday afternoon.
The speakers reminded Veterans to bring a copy of DD-214 discharge papers or any other military documents that may help determine eligibility if applying for benefits for the first time.
Cub Scout Pack 87 members held their annual Pinewood Derby Races Jan. 31.
Cub Master Randy Magnus enlisted the help of Scout Leader Louis Wolfe and Bill Palmer, who were in charge of the finish line results. Den Chief Jeremy Hingtgen took the cars from scouts and carefully placed them on the race track.
Other Pack 87 leaders participating in the event were Dean Leaders, LeeAnn Smith, Ken York and Bill Branson, and Den Mother Karen Smith.
The following Cub Scouts participated in the Pinewood Derby Race: Travis Owens, Nathan York, Brian Combs, Kyle Smith, Matt Branson, Tyler Finder, Darren Fowler, Brett Smith, Brendon Smith, Christopher Hermes, Alstin Benton, Austin Unruh, Mark Magnus, A.J. Branson, Thomas Hendrickson, Derek Fowler and Roman Spencer.
Winners were: Mark Magnus, first in racing; Nathan York, second in racing; Kyle Smith, third in racing; Brett Smith, first in show; Tyler Fender, second in show; and Kyle Smith, third in show.
The District Pinewood Derby Races for Ponca City will be held March 7 at the First Presbyterian Church.
Pack 87 will also be celebrating its Blue and Gold Banquet Feb. 28 at 5 p.m. at Union School.
BLACKWELL - OSU area agronomist Roger Gribble said experts here were "doing backflips" last week over the turnout of producers for the one-day soybean clinic at the Kay County Electric Cooperative here.
The turnout indicates farmers are interested in an alternative crop now that government's former incentives to grow wheat are no longer in effect, he said.
Soybeans are a good cash crop, according to the experts from Stillwater, who each took turns addressing the crowd.
Presentations were made by Dr. Ron Sholar, OSU Extension crops specialist, who discussed cultural practices and weed control, and Dr. Jim Stiegler, OSU Extension soils Management specialist, who discussed tillage practices.
Dr. Kim Anderson, OSU Extension marketing specialist, described marketing, and Gribble discussed fertility.
In 1996, Kay County farmers grew soybeans on approximately 8,000 acres, and in 1997 on 22,000 acres. Kay County OSU Extension Director Larry Fleck said current interest would indicate acreage will increase significantly again this year.
Most soybeans are grown in the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. with the greatest concentration in the north central states and the Mississippi Delta region. Other areas of production are Brazil, Argentina and the Orient.
One bushel of soybeans yields 11 pounds of oil and 49 pounds of meal. In the U.S. and Europe they are used in many familiar products such as cooking/salad oils, margarine, shortening, prepared salad dressings, bean sprouts, cheese, frozen dessert icings, candy, breakfast foods, diabetic foods, infant foods, sausage binders, soy sauce, soy flour, baked beans, animal feeds.
In the Orient, hundreds of fresh, fermented and dried food products are produced, including tofu, soy milk, tempeh, etc. It is one of the principle sources of protein in the diet.
NEWKIRK - Already gradually going electronic, the 70-year-old courthouse here is equipped for cyberspace now, thanks to an $80,000 grant for service with OneNet Telecommunications.
The grant, which the county acquired in an arrangement with the Pioneer Technology Center and the City of Ponca City, has enabled interested county offices to be hooked up to the Internet service.
County Clerk Pam Goodno said the grant included a year of free Internet access, and the annual service fee will be divided among the courthouse subscribers in subsequent years.
The courthouse now has Internet service to the district attorney's staff, all the judges, the county clerk, the court clerk, the election board office and the OSU extension office.
Officials say the benefits to the county are already obvious.
Special District Judge D.C. Revard said the up-to-date legal research available now by accessing Oklahoma court proceedings on-line eliminates the need for constantly updated computer discs.
Goodno said the setup also allows E-mail now, so surplus companies that want to send in listings of equipment they have for sale to the county, can send them so the purchasing department can have them on file.
Steve Austin, who now serves as the system administrator for the building,
remarked, "We're entry-level, but we saw this as an opportunity to
get on the Internet. We saw it as, 'This is the way the future is going
to be.' Now we'll figure out where we're going from here."
DEATHS
PEA RIDGE, Ark. - Jerry Don Adams, Ponca City resident, died Saturday, Feb. 21, 1998, at the Hutchinson (Kan.) Hospital.
The funeral was to be held at 1 p.m. today, Feb. 25, 1998, at the Pea Ridge (Ark.) First Baptist Church with the Rev. Stan Cover presiding. Burial was to be in the Pea Ridge (Ark.) Cemetery under the direction of Johnson and Sons Funeral Home, Hutchinson, Kan.
Jerry Don Adams was born Dec. 20, 1954, at Bentonville, Ark., the son of Charles and Mary Lee (Givens) Adams. He was a graduate of Pea Ridge, Ark., High School and Arkansas Tech. He earned his master's degree in park and recreation management from Northwestern University, Louisiana.
On Oct. 20, 1990, he was married to Terresa Marie Neff at Hutchinson, Kan., where they made their home until moving to Ponca City in 1996. He was marketing director for Unitherm Stainless Steel Co., Ponca City. He was a member of the Hutchinson AMBUCS.
Survivors include his wife, Terresa Marie, of the home; his parents, Charles and Mary Lee Adams of Pea Ridge, Ark.; one brother, Michael of Bentonville, Ark.; his maternal grandmother, Mable Givens of Bentonville, Ark.; and two nephews. He was preceded in death by one brother, Curtis Lynn; his paternal grandparents and maternal grandfather.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Adams' name to St. Jude Children's Hospital c/o Johnson and Sons Funeral Home, 300 East 30th Street, Hutchinson, KS 67502.
CALUMET - Leonard Roy Brisman, father of Leon Brisman of Ponca City, died Monday, Feb. 23, 1998, at the Kingfisher (Okla.) Regional Hospital. He was 82.
The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, at the Calumet (Okla.) United Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Canadian Valley Cemetery, northeast of Calumet under the direction of Wilson Funeral Home, El Reno.
Leonard Roy Brisman was born Jan. 7, 1916, on the family farm north of Calumet. He was a lifetime Calumet-Okarche area resident. Brisman was a retired farmer and Canadian County grader operator. He was a member of the Calumet United Methodist Church and Farm Bureau.
Survivors include his wife, Sadie (Meade) Brisman of the home; one son, Leon Brisman of Ponca City; two grandchildren; and numerous other relatives and friends.
MOORE - Bobby Wells, former Tonkawa resident, died Saturday, Feb. 21, 1998, at Presbyterian Hospital in Oklahoma City. He was 70.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Resthaven Memory Chapel, 500 S.W. 104th and South Walker in Oklahoma City. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Ponca City.
Bobby Wells, was born May 23, 1927 to Owen and Tillie (Strauch) Wells in Virgil, Kan. He attended high school at Braman and Tonkawa. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS John S. Craig. After his discharge he lived in Colorado.
He was married to Marguerite Wells in Colorado in the mid 1940s and they later moved to Oklahoma City. Wells was a truck driver for Hodge Trucking in Oklahoma City for several years. He later served as a security guard for businesses in Oklahoma City. He was a member of the Moore Masonic Lodge and enjoyed fishing.
Survivors include his wife, Marguerite Wells of Moore; one daughter, Susan Sutherland of Moore; one son, Gregory Wells of Norman; two sisters, Virginia Perciful of Ponca City and Doris Fernandez of Courtland, N.Y.; one brother, Clinton Wells of Fort Collins, Colo.; a grandson who was raised in the home, Joshua Wells; one granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister, Norma Findley.
Carmel A. Howe Roy, died early Tuesday morning, Feb. 24, 1998, at the South Central Regional Medical Center in Arkansas City, Kan. She was 71.
A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. today at the Ponca Indian Baptist Church. The traditional Indian feast will be held at noon Friday, followed by the funeral at 2 p.m. The Rev. Ted Freeman, pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow in the Ponca Indian Cemetery under the direction of Trout Funeral Home.
Born Aug. 15, 1926 on the Ponca Reservation, she was the daughter of Elmer and Agnes (Headman) Howe. She attended Ponca City schools and Haskell Institute, at Lawrence, Kan.
Mrs. Roy was a caregiver to the elderly for many years. She enjoyed gospel singing and was dedicated to her family. She raised her granddaughter, Cheyenne Roy.
Survivors include sons, Maurice Howe of Burden, Kan., Darrell Green of Arkansas City, and Marvin Knudsen of Arkansas City; stepsons, Thomas Roy of Oklahoma City and Robert Roy of Ponca City; daughter, Delrayne Roy Leftwich of Oklahoma City; sons, John Roy of Tulsa, Steve Roy of Ponca City and Warren Roy of Arkansas City; one sister, Alice Fisher of Arkansas City, Kan.; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and three brothers, she was preceded in death by sons, Freddie Mallet, Dennis Badoman and Elmer Roy.
Casket bearers will be her sons. Honorary casket bearers will be John Ramariz, Earl Howe Jr., Ed Leftwich, Jess Fisher, Wiley Whitehorn, Sammy LeClair and Dwight Howe.
paid obituary
Curtis Edward Linz, 1112 East Central Avenue, died Monday, Feb. 23, 1998,
at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. He was 46. Survivors include a sister,
Debbie Stingley of the home. Arrangements are pending with Trout Funeral
Home.
NEWS BRIEFS
St. Mary's Rummage Sale - Huge clearance and sack sale Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 121 West Central Avenue. Proceeds to benefit St. Mary's School. Sponsored by Trinity Guild.
Fairfax Sailor Promoted - Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Ben J. Almand, son of Sandye Goad of Route 1, Ralston, recently was promoted to his present rank while serving with the guided missile destroyer Precommissioning Unit Decatur, based at Bath, Maine. The 1996 graduate of Woodland High School of Fairfax, joined the Navy in June 1996.
Local Sailor Goes to Sea - Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Stanton R. Wellington, son of Linda G. Krout of Ponca City, is currently on a six-month deployment to the Arabian Gulf aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington. His ship recently achieved a record for an aircraft carrier by scoring 94 on a maintenance and material management inspection, and received the Silver Anchor award for its exceptional command retention. The 1992 graduate of Ponca City High School joined the Navy in November 1992.
PSA's Aimed at New Readers - If you're one of the thousands of Oklahomans who have a reading problem, make yourself a promise to learn to read this year. Call the Ponca City Area Literacy Council at 767-0351.
Senior Citizens Dance Set - A Senior Citizens Dance will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday at the Senior Citizens Building, 320 South A in Arkansas City. The Pete Coli Band will be playing for dancing. All seniors are invited to come and bring a favorite snack to share.
Indian Taco Sale - The American Legion Post No. 38 is sponsoring an Indian taco sale at the Florence Cole residence from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 26. Call in orders welcome at 762-8129. Indian tacos are $3 and meat pies $2. All proceeds go to help defray expenses for American Legion Ponca Indian "Buffalo" Post No. 38. Help support your veterans!
Gas Drive-Off - Police were notified at 7:28 a.m. Tuesday of a $12.74 gas drive-off at Triple T, 1613 West South Avenue.
Stolen Vehicle - At 8:45 a.m. Tuesday a woman reported that her car had been stolen from the 800 block of North Pine Street. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Missing Tag - A man in the 3500 block of Springwood called police at 11:33 a.m. Tuesday advising that his vehicle tag had been stolen. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Arrest - Police arrested a 32-year-old man at 11:47 a.m. Tuesday from the 800 block of North Palm Street on a city warrant for failure to pay and two Kay County warrants for failure to appear.
Burglary - A man in the 400 block of South Oak Street called police at 12:28 p.m. Tuesday reporting that his residence had been burglarized. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Nailed Driveway - A man in the 400 block of South Lincoln Street reported that someone had "dumped" nails into his driveway. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Shoplifter Arrested - At 2:07 p.m. Tuesday a 44-year-old man was arrested at Wal-Mart, 1101 East Prospect Avenue, for grand larceny.
Dog Stolen - At 2:25 p.m. Tuesday a dog was reported stolen from the 3000 block of Larchmont Avenue. The call was transferred to Kay County Sheriff's Office.
Arrest - A 45-year-old man was arrested at 2:27 p.m. Tuesday from the 3000 block of North Fourteenth Street on a warrant for failure to appear.
Loose Cow - A cow was reported on the road at Pecan Road and Prospect Avenue at 2:40 p.m. Tuesday. Animal Control was notified.
Arrest - A 19-year-old woman was arrested at 3:56 p.m. Tuesday from Wal-Mart, 1101 East Prospect Avenue, for petit larceny.
Drug Arrests - Police arrested a 29-year-old woman and 29-year-old man at 4:04 p.m. Tuesday from the 300 block of South Peachtree Street for possession of a controlled and dangerous substance.
Accident - An accident at South Fourth Street and East South Avenue was reported at 5:19 p.m. Tuesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Arrest - A 39 year-old woman was arrested at 5:32 p.m. Tuesday on a Kay County warrant.
Assault - A woman advised police at 5:46 p.m. Tuesday that her son had been assaulted at South Sixth Street and East Central Avenue. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Tires Flattened - At 6:21 p.m. Tuesday a woman in the 400 block of South Lincoln Street reported that her tires had been flattened. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Accident - An accident was reported at 7:01 p.m. Tuesday at Prospect Avenue and Warwick Road. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Assault - A woman in the 900 block of West Grand Avenue reported to police at 7:10 p.m. Tuesday that she had been assaulted. An officer was assigned and a report taken.
Arrest - Police arrested a 27-year-old male at 7:55 p.m. Tuesday on a Kay County warrant.
Mailbox Vandalism - A man in the 1100 block of North Sunset Street called police at 10:54 p.m. Tuesday to report that his mailbox had been vandalized.
Arrest - Police arrested a 62-year-old man at 11:54 p.m. Tuesday from the 700 block of South Twelfth Street for cocaine trafficking.
Requests Assistance - Three units of the Ponca City Fire Department
responded at 10:34 p.m. Tuesday to the intersection of Hubbard Road and
Pecan Road to extinguish a grass fire. A request was made by the fire department
for assistance in traffic control. An officer of the Ponca City Police Department
and two units from the Kay County Sheriff's Office responded.
LIFESTYLES
The former Attucks School building is the focus for an open house and "walk through" beginning at 1 p.m. April 18. Nine community organizations are supporting an Attucks Community Center project to be housed there. During observance of Black Heritage month local residents are gearing up for a fundraising drive for the building and programs. The public is invited to tour the proposed center.
The 1997-98 Board of Directors for the Attucks Community Alliance include James Roland, chairman; Dwain West, Chair-elect; Chester Anderson, chair of the Funds Committee; Diane Anderson, Corresponding secretary; David Graham, treasurer; James Williams, Recording secretary; Tony Arkeketa, Floyd Coburn, Leonard Coffee, Fred Collins, Jan Erhart, Norris Frederick, Leo Haynes, Yuleen Jones, Edith Lockett, J. E. Miller, Clarence Palmer, Pearly Roland and Betty Durkee, Ex-Officio. More information about contributing to the project may be obtained from one of the board members.
One of the oldest school buildings in Ponca City, Attucks is located at Madison and South Twelfth Street. The building was named for Crispus Attucks, a "runaway slave" who led a mob against the British during the "Boston Massacre" in 1770. He was named among the first people to defend liberty during the American Revolution.
Attucks Gymnasium was built in 1936 as part of the Attucks school campus to serve the black population of Ponca City and surrounding communities during the "age of segregation." In 1945 a fire destroyed most of the school buildings and damaged the gymnasium. The school was rebuilt in 1956 and continued to function as a "free choice" integrated elementary school until 1966 when the school was closed.
Renovation of the gym and other buildings is needed to provide a safe place for a variety of activities for youth. The center will also provide a number of educational events and workshops for leadership skills and other needed programs. Several volunteers have already committed to provide training, special interest projects and mentoring activities.
As listed in a grant proposal by the "Community Partners for the Future" the objective for the center "addresses the leadership development building block by encouraging participation in volunteer programs. It meets the definition of infrastructure development by developing a sense of social and community responsibility that will help the young people of Ponca City today to become the foundation of the community tomorrow."
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard E. McClung, 3 Sharon Place, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on Feb. 15. The couple was married on that date in 1958 at the First Baptist Church where both are members. McClung is employed by Mertz, Inc. and Mrs. McClung retired from Conoco in 1996 after 38 years of service.
The couple was honored Feb. 13 with a family dinner at the American Legion hosted by her parents, Hill and Earline Mowdy. McClung is the son of Juanita McClung and the late Orlo McClung.
The honorees also celebrated their anniversary with a trip to Kona, Hawaii to visit their son and his family. The McClungs have one son, Vincent, a daughter-in-law, Lesa, and four grandchildren: Aimee, Nissi, Issac and Shalee, all of Kona.
Members of the Pioneer Area Quilter's Guild will meet March 2 at Community Christian Church, 2109 West Grand. The business meeting will begin at 12:30 p.m. followed by Show-n-Share and the monthly program. Hostesses for the day will be Lois Gray, Charla Viehe, Mary Butler, Rachelle Burleson and Emmi Lockard. Greeter will be Dorothy Bobbitt. For further hostess information contact Oletta Demaree, 765-6964.
Joyce Eagan, Workshop chairman, announced upcoming workshops with Linda Carlson as the April 6 speaker. Following that meeting the workshop will be held 4-7 p.m. on "Needle Turn Applique." Cost will be $15. On April 7 a workshop "4 Point Mariner's Compass by Machine" will be 9 a.m.-12 with a cost of $15. To sign up for a workshop call Ms. Eagan, 762-9719.
Gwen Toews and her husband have donated a quilt rack for a May luncheon event. Tablerunners for a quilt day display are to be brought to the meeting according to Michiel Landers. Sarah Myers will be in charge of the quilt show meeting April 14 at the Marland Mansion Conference Center.
The program for March will be presented by Patty Russell, owner of the Quilting Parlor in Enid. She has quilted for almost 20 years and taught in Houston, Kansas City, Virginia, Maryland, Arizona and Kansas as well as Oklahoma. Her program will be about flannel quilts. She has recently become one of the guild newsletter advertisers.
For babysitting reservations contact Ms. Landers, 765-0184 by Feb. 27.
For other guild information call Cindy Wilson, 765-6911 or Linda Burg, 765-2532.
SPORTS
By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
STILLWATER - "We proved a lot of people wrong," Oklahoma State forward Desmond Mason said after the Cowboys had dispatched their latest nemesis, Texas, 80-58 and in the process wrapped up the Big 12 South Division championship Tuesday.
Count coach Eddie Sutton among those the Cowboys proved wrong this year.
"If someone had told me at the beginning of the season we would be 21-4, 11-4 in the conference, at this point, I would have thought they were on ... well, I would have thought they were wrong," Sutton said after watching his team secure the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Big 12 Tournament.
This is the same Sutton who back in November agreed readily with preseason pollsters who had the Cowboys finishing seventh or eighth in the conference.
Back then the Cowboys were an odd collection of potential talent who had shown little sign of that potential the previous season when they had finished 17-15, winning just one of 13 road games.
In 1996-97, the Cowboys averaged 69.4 points a game making that the lowest scoring team at OSU in 20 years.
A year later, the Cowboys are averaging 80.4 points a game and outscoring opponents by an average of over 10 points a game.
They are 6-3 in road games, and are on a seven-game winning streak.
Where did Sutton (and his prediction) go wrong?
It may have started when he scheduled the first eight games at home, "to give this team some confidence."
But the turning point, according to center Brett Robisch, came when the Cowboys beat Arizona State on the road (in Oklahoma City), 79-68. That, Robisch said, was when the Cowboys knew they could play with the big boys.
But the biggest early win came at TCU 82-81 - really on the road.
That got Oklahoma State rolling.
There were some bumps in the road. Bumps that may have kept the Cowboys unbeaten, or at least 24-1. The lost a home game against Nebraska (67-62) they should have won. They lost 70-64 at Missouri and had a double overtime 97-94 loss at Baylor.
The only convincing loss was at Texas, 88-73, on Jan. 31.
The Pokes more than made up for that defeat Tuesday night.
While everyone on the team has had a hand in the OSU turnaround, one of the big reason for the Cowboys' success has been Mason.
He has been a consistent force for Oklahoma State this season, averaging 16 points and 7.7 rebounds this year. The 6-6 sophomore trails only Adrian Peterson (16.7 points) in scoring and Robisch (8.5) in rebounding.
Mason had good reason to show what he can do against Texas. He had what he felt was a subpar performance (16 points, 8 rebounds) against Texas, and what everyone felt was a poor game (4 points) last week at Kansas State.
"Coach got on me for missing some layups and not being aggressive enough at K-State," Mason said Tuesday. "So I worked on my shooting this week and tried to be more aggressive in this game."
The results were a career high 24 points and 14 rebounds against the Longhorns. He had 12 points and 8 rebounds in the first half before being knocked woozy by an elbow to the top of the head and sitting out four minutes of the second half.
Many of Mason's points came from in close as the Cowboys shredded the Texas defense for 17 baskets from in the paint.
"The problem with stopping Mason," according to Texas coach Tom Penders, "is that he is such a good athlete you never know what position he is going to play."
"I had a good seat (on the bench) in the game at Texas," OSU guard Doug Gottlieb said. "I saw that if we push the ball against Texas we could get some easy layups. That's what we did tonight. I knew if the guys got open I could get them the ball."
Gottlieb had eight assists Tuesday, many of them going to Mason.
Mason feels the Cowboys are just getting started.
"This team is finally living up to its expectations," he said as the Cowboys face Kansas at home Sunday and head to the Big 12 Tournament as one of the favorites with an eye on the NCAA Tournament.
STILLWATER (AP) - When people think of ''Big D'' Texas usually comes to mind.
Tuesday night, it was Oklahoma State that had the ''Big D'' as the No. 25 Cowboys defeated Texas 80-58 to clinch the Big 12 South title.
''I think that was the best defense that we've faced this year,'' Texas coach Tom Penders said after the Cowboys held the Longhorns to just 42.3 percent shooting (22-52) from the field and 20 percent (4-of-20) from 3-point range.
''I think they did a terrific job of taking us out of our step and forcing us outside. They did a great job of pressuring from every position.''
In their three previous conference meetings against OSU, the Longhorns shot a combined 50 percent from the field, 53.7 percent from 3-point range and had an average victory margin of 22 points.
''One of the biggest keys of the game, because they are a very, very good basketball team, was to take away their 3-point shots,'' said Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton. ''Don't give them any good looks.''
With the victory, the Cowboys earned the No. 2 seed in next week's Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City. In the process, they will receive a first-round bye.
''We won the South and now it's time to go and take on Kansas (Sunday in Stillwater), take care of business, and go into the tournament and see what we can do,'' said Desmond Mason, who led OSU (21-4, 11-4 Big 12) with 27 points and 14 rebounds.
Adrian Peterson added 18 points for OSU, while Brett Robisch, saddled with foul trouble, had 11 points and nine rebounds. Doug Gottlieb, the Big 12 assist leader, had eight assists and 11 points.
''It was sweet people we proved people wrong,'' Gottlieb said of preseason predictions that the Cowboys would finish seventh in the league. ''Just like the football team did this year, we felt like we had to step up and show that OSU is an all-around great sports schools. The more people say we're going to be down, the better we're going to be.''
Kris Clack led Texas with 18 points. Forward Gabe Muoneke had a team-high 11 rebounds.
''Their smothering defense made the difference,'' Clack said. ''They did a good job of keeping me from getting the ball.''
After falling behind 5-0 within the first minute of play, OSU took the lead for good at 12-11 with 13:42 remaining in the first half.
The Cowboys outscored the Longhorns 28-14 to take a 40-25 advantage into intermission.
OSU's biggest lead was 23 on two occasions. Texas never got closer than 13 in the second half.
Oklahoma St. 80, Texas 58
Texas (12-15)
Muoneke 1-3 1-2 3, Clack 6-15 4-4 18, Mihm 1-8 4-4 6, Vazquez 5-10 1-3 12, Axtell 1-5 0-2 3, Perryman 1-1 0-0 2, Smith 5-6 0-0 10, Clark 2-4 0-1 4. Totals 22-52 10-16 58.
Oklahoma St. (21-4)
Peterson 7-11 4-6 18, Mason 10-16 5-5 27, Robisch 5-14 1-2 11, Adkins 2-11 1-2 6, Gottlieb 2-6 6-6 11, Alexander 0-2 0-0 0, Montonati 1-4 0-0 2, Webber 2-4 1-2 5. Totals 29-68 18-23 80.
Halftime-Oklahoma St. 40, Texas 25. 3-point goals-Texas 4-20 (Clack 2-9, Mihm 0-2, Vazquez 1-2, Axtell 1-4, Smith 0-1, Clark 0-1), Oklahoma St. 4-15 (Peterson 0-2, Mason 2-3, Robisch 0-1 Adkins 1-5, Gottlieb 1-3, Alexander 0-1). Fouled out-Vazquez, Clark. Rebounds-Texas 35 (Muoneke 11), Oklahoma St. 43 (Mason 14). Assists-Texas 7 (Muoneke, Vazquez 2), Oklahoma St. 19 (Gottlieb 8). Total fouls-Texas 23, Oklahoma St. 18. A-6,359.
BY FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
RED ROCK - Trying to shake off the sudden death of a teammate, Frontier's boys and girls try to take that one last step toward the Class A state tournament this weekend as they both take on Ringwood in the area tournament at Sand Springs.
One day before the regional finals at Barnsdall, the Mustangs were shocked by the death of junior Walter Peters in a car accident Friday morning en route to school.
Peters died in the wreck that left his kindergarten age sister seriously injured and the entire Frontier School in a state of shock.
After attending a memorial service for their fallen teammate, the Frontier cagers went on to beat Fairland and Copan in the regional finals. Both wins were decisive.
Dedicating that game and the rest of the season to Peters, the Mustangs topped Fairland 70-44 while the Lady Mustangs blazed to a 67-42 win over Copan
Leading 35-27 at halftime, the Frontier boys put the game away in the second half, thanks to a 15-2 run that put the Mustangs up 57-37 early in the fourth quarter.
Dee Buxton led the Frontier charge with 22 points while Ronnie Bible had 14 and Boydd Romero 12, Martin Sanders added 9 points, Albert Plumley 5, Jeremiah Regnier 4, Robert Regnier 2 and Zac Clouse 2.
The Lady Mustangs decided the outcome of their game early, racing to a 53-17 halftime lead and cruising in for the win.
"We played great basketball in the first half," girls' coach Gregg Jackson said. "The starters only played four minutes of the second half."
Stefanie Romero and Elizabeth Sober topped the Frontier scoring with 16 and 13 points. Denise Jake and Kaley Dunham each had 8 points, Sarah Jake 6. Kim Deroin, Dani Norman and Carolee Bible 4 each, Jennifer Miller 3 and Robin Pratt 1.
"It may have been a good thing we had to play Saturday," boys' coach Bob Weckstein said. "It gave the kids a chance to pour out their emotions on the court.
"But it has been an emotional week. It's been kinda tough. It is such a tragic loss. He (Peters) was such a good kid. Everyone liked him."
The team attended a prayer service for Peters Sunday and the funeral Monday. It was a little hard getting the players back to focus on playing this weekend, Weckstein said.
"Walter was a Native American and they have some neat traditions that help with the grieving process," the coach said. "That sure has helped."
Both Frontier teams will carry 24-3 records into the area tournament against Ringwood.
Ranked 23rd in the latest poll, Ringwood stunned No. 3 Kiowa Saturday, an upset that did not surprise Weckstein.
"They are the most athletic team we'll play," the coach said. "They are about our size, with no one over 6-2.
"But they are a good team. They were one game away of making the state tournament last year."
However, the Mustangs are also a veteran club despite the number of underclassmen. Frontier has won two state championships in a row, "and these seniors have been to the area tournament four times," Weckstein notes.
"I'm sure our kids will be nervous. You are always nervous to start a game. But if experience counts we should be ready."
The lady Mustangs may be a little more nervous. They are trying for their first trip to the state tournament after a couple of near misses.
However, if the results of the regional tournament are an indication, the Frontier girls are handling the trip into new territory very well.
Bassmasters - The Ponca City Bassmasters are sponsoring a two-man buddy tournament on March 7 at Sooner Lake. Entry fee is $60, which includes the big bass pot. Pay out will be 70 percent of the entry fee and 100 percent of the big bass pot. All proceeds will be used for youth activities. All contestants should be at the west ramp of Sooner lake by 5:45 for a team meeting. For more information, call Phillip Richardson at 765-2089, or Jody Linder at 765-6350.
---
Wrestling Banquet - The Ponca City Takedown Club wrestling banquet will be March 5 at the high school cafeteria starting at 6:30 p.m.
Grade school, junior high and high school wrestlers will receive awards.
Tickets are $9 for adults and $5 for children. Reservations are needed by March 1. Contact Dennis Hall (765-9918) or Don Duren (765-4938).
---
Grade School Softball - The Parks and Recreation Department is offering grade school girls' parent-pitch and fast pitch softball this spring.
The parent-pitch league is for girls who will be in the first through third grades. Fast pitch is for girls who will be in the fourth through sixth grades. Games will be played on the northwest field at Dan Moran Park.
There is an $18 fee. Registration forms are now available at the grade schools, sporting goods stores and at the Park and Recreation Department. The deadline for registration is March 20. Forms must be turned in at the Park and Recreation Department office, 905 West Hartford.
For further information, call 767-0432.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is looking for a few good young men and women - to attend a free week-long fish and wildlife education camp.
The first Oklahoma Wildlife Law Enforcement Youth Camp will be held June 14 through 19 at Camp McFadden near Ponca City. The event is open to all Oklahoma youth 14 to 16 years old (applicants must turn 14 prior to June 14, 1998). Anyone applying must have been enrolled in school the previous year and have an interest in wildlife law enforcement, fish and wildlife management or Oklahoma's outdoors.
"This is an excellent opportunity for young people who have never been exposed to the outdoors," said Tracy Daniel, Kay County game warden and one of the camp's coordinators. "It's also a great chance for youth interested in a fish- or wildlife-related career to see what the Wildlife Department is all about."
Courses planned for the week cover such topics as:
- rifle/shotgun shooting
- wildlife law enforcement
- fishing techniques
- water safety
- fish/game biology
- snakes/poisonous animals
- and much more.
Daniel said the camp is being offered free of charge thanks in large part to corporate and private sponsors. Major funding is being provided by Conoco, Coca-Cola and the Oklahoma State Game Wardens Association.
A maximum of 35 youth will be selected to attend. All applicants must submit an application form (available at any Conoco station in Oklahoma ) and a letter of reference. A 75-word essay describing why they want to attend, why they should be selected and what they expect to learn also must accompany their applications. The deadline to apply is April 20.
By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
Margarine users were extolled in the past, not to fool with Mother Nature.
In bowling, you don't fool with mother, either.
Diana Woods, entering her first Ponca City Women's Bowling Tournament, quickly shot into the lead in the All-Events Handicap scoring with an 1873 total in the first weekend of the Division I portion of the tournament.
Diana may have been feeling pretty good about taking home a trophy from her first tournament. But if she was, she had forgotten about her mother, Irma Woods, who was up in the second weekend of the tournament.
Irma blasted through with a 1909 total to capture first place.
"I've been bowling in this tournament for several, several, several years," Irma said after knocking down her daughter's bid in her first try. "But this is the first time I've won the All-events."
Maybe it just took a little friendly family competition.
Although this was her first time in the city tournament, Diana is no stranger to bowling, having competed since she was 5-years-old. But most of her competition had come from the youth leagues.
Mother and daughter bowl in the same Friday night league, but not on the same team.
Irma and the other city tournament winners will receive their trophies Saturday at the awards ceremony in the Pioneer Bank Drive-In, starting at 2 p.m.
In other Division I results, Ponca Iron and Metal took first place in the team competition with a 2969 total, Team members include Donna Hingtgen, Pam Lott, Chris Dunham, Linda Krulic and Cindy Garrison.
Brenda Davis and Leigh Copeland won the doubles trophy with a 1296.
Joy Sanders was the singles champion with a 668 series.
Debbie McClaskey won the Scratch All-Events with a 1692 total.
In Division II, The Nothings - Shellie Huston, Sharon Belair, Donna Leatherman, Pam Craig and Debra Wright - won the team title with a 3067.
Janet Irvine and Debbie Stingley took the doubles crown with a 1265.
Sharon Minnick was the singles winner with a 716,
Minnick also took home the Handicap All-Events trophy with a 1905 total.
Dorothy Gilbreath won the Scratch title with a 1468.