LOCAL

Ponca Tribe Assumes Control of Its Business
Conoco Announces Plan in Asia Pacific Region
Nearly News
Tuition Increase Receives Approval From PTC Board
Three Sculptors Exhibit Works at NOC

Ponca Tribe Assumes Control of Its Business

By MARK GALVIN

News Staff Writer

WHITE EAGLE — There’s excitement and a little apprehension, but Ponca tribal leaders here say there was nothing short-notice about the tribe’s new venture into self-governance, which began officially January 1.

With the move, the tribe assumed the administrative responsibilities previously handled by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, effectively cutting out a middleman for all of its administrative programs.

The tribe officially became responsible for its own records Tuesday after the BIA transferred its files last week from its office in Pawnee to the Ponca headquarters in White Eagle.

Ponca Tribal chairman Lionel LeClair said the move to self-governance was actually something that took years to prepare and qualify for.

LeClair said the tribe had been considering self-governance as early as 1991 and was notified a year ago that the tribe had been approved to participate by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

In a letter last March 13, Ken Reinfeld of the Interior Department said he hoped self-governance “will allow your tribe to make great progress in achieving its vision and improving the quality of life for its members.”

To qualify, the tribe was required to demonstrate financial stability and financial management capability for three previous fiscal years. The tribe also was required to complete a planning phase and to officially request participation in tribal self-governance.

LeClair said the tribe designated as its top priorities the improvements to its health care and education programs, along with employment, economic development, law enforcement/judicial and environmental areas, all of which the tribe will have closer control of.

Last year, the Ponca Tribe contracted for $675,000 in program funding with the BIA involved, and this year the tribe will receive $2.4 million to oversee its own programs, which includes $1.6 million for a road improvement project to the tribal cemetery southwest of Ponca City.

The new budget also includes money for overhead that previously was accommodated by the BIA.

“Self-governance provides the tribe the ability to match dollars to needs within the tribe. The tribe is still accountable and is responsible to administer the programs correctly,” LeClair said.

“There are tribal members who fear that by embarking upon self-governance, we’re going down the road to termination. If they don’t know, they’re likely to ask themselves, ‘What’s going to happen to me?’”

But he said there’s a built-in safeguard against abuse of the self-governance agreement because the agreement is for a limited number of years and is subject to review in Washington, D.C. The worst case is the tribe would fall back to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The tribe’s self-governance negotiator, Rick Landers, explained the contract the tribe has signed bolsters its opportunity to develop a comprehensive economic development plan but does not relieve the BIA from its responsibilities.

In the meantime, the tribe has added officials such as tribal land management coordinator Martha Long-Pennell and environmental director Becky Johnson, and this week contracted with a court judge, a public defender and a prosecutor for its new court system.

LeClair said the Ponca can gain from the experience of other tribes who began participating in self-governance.

“Other tribes have gone through this, and this apprehension, this fearfulness is normal,” said tribal program officer Steve Pensoneau.

Approximately one-third of Oklahoma’s 39 Native American tribes have moved to self-governance, including the nearby Kaw Nation of Oklahoma.

With the Ponca tribe in control of its own records, members will be able to cut weeks from the previous bureaucracy that trailed from Pawnee to Anadarko and back to Pawnee again before the tribe saw its requests again.

Tribal vice chairman Kinsel Lieb said by being able to bypass the Pawnee office and work directly with the Anadarko office, property owners can cut the turnaround time for transactions such as lease approvals by approximately 90 days.

“It allows our Ponca tribal members immediate access to their records,” he said.

Conoco Announces Plan in Asia Pacific Region

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) — U.S. oil company Conoco Inc. announced plans Wednesday to invest $2 billion in the Asia Pacific region over the next five years, including $100 million in Thailand.

Conoco’s chief executive officer, Archie Dunham, disclosed the plans at a news conference held to announce that the company’s Thai unit has opened 100 service stations branded with the name JET.

Conoco, which has a refinery in Ponca City, Okla., is the ninth-largest oil company in the United States.

Conoco opened its first gas station in Thailand in 1993, and last year spent one billion baht ($27.17 million) opening 25 new gas stations with adjoining Jiffy convenience stores.

Dunham said the $100-million slated for Thai operations will go into opening another 100 new gas stations and convenience stores by the year 2002. In 1999 alone, the company would open 5-6 new gas stations and convenience stores.

Most of the rest of the $2 billion budget for the Asia-Pacific region will go to existing gas and oil exploration and production projects.

‘‘To be sure, Asia is overshadowed by economic and political difficulties at the moment,’’ Dunham said in statement. ‘‘But we regard these difficulties as purely transitional. Long-term, we see a very bright future ...’’

Conoco may spend more than $100 million in Thailand if it can find suitable partners for investing in refineries, he said. The company has a 40 percent stake in a refinery in Malaysia and plans to expand capacity elsewhere in Asia, though not necessarily Thailand.

‘‘From a pure economic point of view, if we find a very good opportunity, very profitable opportunity, we’ll invest (in a refinery) here,’’ Dunham said. At the moment, however, Conoco is not holding talks with any Thai refiners, he said.

Conoco set up its Thai unit, Conoco (Thailand) Ltd., in 1991. The local unit has spent a cumulative total of $122.28 million and is expected to break even either this year or next.

Conoco (Thailand) has a 3.4 percent share of the Thai gasoline market which it hopes to increase to 7 percent in five years, Dunham said.

Nearly News

Citizens or businesses who ordered bright yellow daffodils from the Kay County American Cancer Society Unit to help in the crusade against cancer will have their orders delivered Friday, according to Debbie Weatherly, Cancer Society Daffodil chairman. Churches will also have the blooms in time for their “Daffodil Sunday” display. Some of the flowers will also be available at Wal-Mart Saturday for those who didn’t get them ordered but want to give blooms to friends and family who’ve been cancer victims or as memorials. The cheery yellow blooms are known as “The Flower of Hope,” and have been designated the official bloom of the American Cancer Society. All proceeds are used for cancer research, education and service programs, both locally and nationwide. For more information, call Weatherly at 765-9913.

Best of Show winner of the Ponca City Art Association membership show was Pat Watson. Not only was her name misspelled, but the woman in the photograph with the winning pottery piece, “Natures Beauty,” was not Pat Watson but Carole Rainey, adjudicator of the show. The News also would like to extend its congratulations to Mrs. Watson since it is highly unusual for pottery to win Best of Show in an art contest.

Tuition Increase Receives Approval From PTC Board

By KRISTI HAYES

News Education Editor

A tuition increase from $1 to $1.25 an hour was approved Tuesday at a regular board meeting of Pioneer Technology Center. The increase includes an assessment fee, which had been previously paid for separately.

Renewal contracts of Dr. Janet Cox, deputy superintendent; Lanita Chapman, director of business and industry services; and Chuck Bayha, campus director; were all approved.

Vance Johnson gave an update on industrial training and development. He mentioned that PTC has trained over 2,000 people in safety. Funding for the training was made after a fund was set aside by the legislature to decrease workers compensation costs. People can now attend these training classes at a minimal fee.

Mike Briggs reported on the condition of the heating and air conditioning equipment on the roof of PTC. He said that everything was in good shape even though some of the equipment was made in the 1980s.

A contract with ADPC for data processing services for fiscal year 1999-2000 was accepted along with all short-term and temporary contracts.

A contract with Yadon-Putnam, auditors, for fiscal year 1999-2000 was tabled due to no proposal from the company. The item may be taken up at the March board meeting.

Superintendent’s Report

Dr. Sally Downey, superintendent, reported on the recent passage of two building mills at PTC. She said one of the first things the school is looking at is the possibility of expanding the south parking lot.

She also mentioned the anticipation of a Math and Science School housed at PTC. Downey said the school is waiting for the legislative decision on the school. If passed the vo-tech will have to build a new lab and classroom to accommodate the students.

All board members and some administrators will be attending a legislative seminar in Oklahoma City on March 10. Chuck Bayha and Lanita Chapman will attend the National Policy Seminar in March in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Ann Benson, interim state director, will be in town to visit with the administrative team and board members on Feb. 22.

The next regular board meeting was scheduled for March 9.

Three Sculptors Exhibit Works at NOC

TONKAWA — “Three Sculptors: METAL.PAPER.WOOD” brings together for the first time the works of Oklahoma City sculptors Randy Marks, Ron Ferrell and Don Narcomey, now on exhibit at Northern Oklahoma College.

Gallery hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and during evening and weekend performances in the Eleanor Hays Gallery of the Northern Performing Arts Center. Admission is free.

Marks, the nephew of Dr. John Marks of Blackwell, is exhibiting freestanding lighted paper sculptures, including lamps using a variety of domestic and imported papers. Clients for his work include Tiffany and R.H. Macy of New York and Walt Disney Company, and his work has been featured in publications ranging from New York Magazine to Oklahoma Today. He has sold his work throughout the Western world and Japan. At the 1994 Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition “Visionmakers” exhibition, he won an Award for Excellence for one of his designed and constructed lighted sculptures.

Ferrell, a former oil field welder, began sculpture welding after doing some work for a sculptor who didn’t weld. From that exposure, he realized his dream of sculpture welding. Ferrell recycles what others have discarded into “contemporary junk art, letting the original shapes exist and reinventing them within the piece to give it new life.” He chooses components for his creations from farming and industrial scrap iron. He wants his art to make a statement on “how we are as a throwaway society.”

Narcomey creates one-of-a-kind sculptures from a variety of woods chosen for specific color, grain or overall shape. He has developed his own methods of construction based on logic, instinct and personal experience. Each piece is a new experience in making diverse elements exist as one. “My work is an evolution of forms. Segments of each piece are combined together in a way that makes them seem to have evolved together naturally over a period of time,” he explains.

DEATHS

Bettye M. Sneath
Allen C. Sheridan
Clifton R. “Cliff” Larison

Bettye M. Sneath

BLACKWELL — Bettye M. Sneath, Blackwell resident, died Sunday evening, Feb. 14, 1999, at the Blackwell Regional Hospital. She was 75.

The funeral will be graveside at 2 p.m. Thursday at Mt. Olive Cemetery in Nardin. The Rev. Charles Ryser, Blackwell First United Methodist Church, will officiate. Arrangements are under the direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home, Blackwell.

Bettye M. (Wright) Sneath was born Nov. 6, 1923, in Beggs to Roy and Florence Wright. She attended Beggs Elementary School, then moved to Salina, Kan., to live with her grandparents. She later moved to Blackwell where she graduated from high school. In 1942, she was married to Joe Schwemin and the couple moved away from Blackwell.

In 1966, she returned to live in Blackwell and began employment at the Kay County Courthouse. In March 1972 she was married to Lee Dawson and he preceded her in death in January 1973. She retired from her job in 1974 and was married to James A. Sneath on Sept. 13, 1974. The couple made their home in Blackwell. Mrs. Sneath was an active volunteer in numerous school and church activities. She was a member of the Blackwell First United Methodist Church.

Survivors include her husband, James Sneath of Blackwell; three daughters, Carolyn Gibson of Nardin, Sue Todd of Tulsa, and Mary Schulz of Florida; two sons, Gary Wayne Sneath of Wichita, Kan., and Joe Schwemin of Dallas, Texas; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. In addition to her second husband and her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother Robert Wright, and a grandson.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Sneath’s name to Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Heart or Diabetes Fund, c/o Roberts Funeral Home, 120 West Padon, Blackwell, OK 74631.

Allen C. Sheridan

Allen C. “A.C.” Sheridan, longtime Ponca City resident, died Sunday evening, Feb. 14, 1999, at his home in Edmond. He was 80.

The funeral was to be held at 1 p.m., today, Feb. 17, at Grace Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Wayne Majors, pastor of Community Christian Church, officiating. Burial was to follow at Longwood Cemetery.

Allen C. “A.C.” Sheridan was born Oct. 31, 1918, in Carniero, Kan., the son of Philip E. and Alta (Edwards) Sheridan. He grew up and attended schools in Ponca City, graduating from Ponca City High School. In 1936, he began farming west of Ponca City, and made his home on the farm for 62 years before moving to Edmond in August 1998.

Sheridan was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1941 until December 1945, when he received his honorable discharge. He was a member of the American Legion Huff Minor Post 14.

Survivors include one brother Roger Sheridan of Edmond; one sister Helen Bender of Idabel; and three nieces and nephews.

Casket bearers will be Glen Adkins, Clair Graven, Mike Isbell, Gerald Sober, Chuck Gregg and Ollie Heady.

Funerals

Friday

Clifton R. “Cliff” Larison

Funeral to be 11 a.m. at First Free Will Baptist Church. Other arrangements will be announced later by Trout Funeral Home.

NEWS BRIEFS

Music Technical Workshop — Steve McLinn will be leading two music technical workshop at 10:45 and 12:15 and a Informance at 1:30 on Thursday at Garfield Academy. All interested people are invited to attend. For additional information, call Garfield Academy at 767-8030.

Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential.

Hours: Monday, 4-6 p.m., Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. and

Thursday, 6-8 p.m. 700 West Broadway. adv.

Interested in Horses? — Individuals interested in the creation of the Kay County Quarter/Paint Horse Association, being formed to create clinics, horse shows, training and a variety of promising and rewarding activities for the entire family and their horses, or just to exchange ideas for the fun of it, call for information 580/762-1757.

Ponca City High School will present its all-school play, Shake-

speare’s Romeo and Juliet Friday, February 19, for a communi-

ty performance. The condensed 2-act version will be presented at

Ponca City High School’s Howell Auditorium at 8 p.m. Tickets are

$3.00 and available at the door. Don’t miss this exciting produc-

tion! adv.

Learn About Helpline — Helpline Training Class to begin Feb. 22. Call 765-5551 for more information!

Ryder Truck Rental is back. Now located at Dempewolf Mini-

Storage. 2101 North Union, 762-6116 adv.

Luncheon-Bridge Set — St. Patrick’s Day luncheon and card party Wednesday, March 17, noon until 3 p.m. in St. Mary’s Parish Hall, sponsored by St. Francis Guild. Tickets are available from Deanna Nicholas at 762-5496, Joan Slovacek at 762-5953 or Beverly Smith at 762-2695. All members of the community are welcome to attend.

Camera Repairs previously at Graham Photo, now at Creative

Photography. Call (580)767-1433.adv.

Stolen Bicycle — A man from the 500 block of South Second Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 8:07 a.m. Tuesday that a bicycle had been stolen. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Spring Soccer for boys and girls age four and one half and

up. Sign up Quatum Computer Service 312 East Grand, Febru-

ary 20th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th. Every child must sign up during this

time. Call 762-9056. adv.

Vehicle Burglarized — An employee at Accurate Auto Repair, 205 North Pine Street, reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 10:08 a.m. Tuesday that a vehicle had been burglarized. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Windshield Chips repaired professionally. Guaranteed and

insurance approved. Ponca Glass, 762-6522, 762-7957. adv.

Vehicle Stolen — A woman at Pioneer Technology Center reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday that her pickup had been stolen. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. The pickup was discovered to be on Hunt Road in Osage County at 2:07 p.m., Tuesday, and a 17-year-old man was held for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Jim Bowen Construction - Custom homes, room additions and

remodeling. Call 762-3077. adv.

Gas Drive-Off — An employee at Conoco, 1613 West South Avenue, reported to the Ponca City Police Department that a subject in a white vehicle had left west bound on U.S. 60 at 12:43 p.m. Tuesday without paying for gas. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Being Relocated, or in town for a short time? We have homes

available by the month or longer. All homes are full furnished with

appliances, furniture, linens, pots and pans. Inclusive of cable,

local phone, and utilities. Please call 580-762-7980 or 580-718-0681.

adv.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of South Palm Street and McFadden Drive at 12:49 p.m. Tuesday that a 33-year-old woman was being held for driving under suspension, having no insurance and failure to wear a seat belt.

Head Country, One half bar-b-q chicken with choice of vegeta-

bles, $3.95, Thursday, 4-? p.m. 1217 East Prospect. 767-8304. adv.

Suspicious Activity — A person from the 3600 block of Larkspur reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 12:52 p.m. Tuesday that four juveniles were going through mailboxes along the street. Two officers were assigned and caught the youngsters who were returned to their home.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported at 3:47 p.m. Tuesday that a 38-year-old man was being held on a city warrant for failure to obey.

Attempted Burglary — A woman from the 300 block of South Palm Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 1:31 p.m. Tuesday that there had been an attempted burglary at the residence. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Kids Win a bike every Tuesday at Golden Corral . Drawing at 7

p.m. Fun activities for the kids. Must be present to win. adv.

Juveniles Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported at 2:40 p.m. Tuesday from Wal-Mart that a 16-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy were being held for petit larceny.

Former Young Life club members or those interested in start-

ing a club for our High School Students in Ponca. Please call

Vivian 762-1364, leave name and phone number. adv.

Wallet Stolen — A woman was at the Ponca City Police Department at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday to report that her wallet had been stolen from her vehicle while parked at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. An officer was assigned and a burglary report was taken.

Want To start your own business? Two out of three business-

es will fail in their first two years! Learn how to turn the odds

in your favor. Pioneer Tech is now accepting enrollment for

evening classes to start in February. Class size is limited. For

more information, call Larry Atteberry at 762-8336, ext. 262. adv.

Assault — The Communications Center received a 911 call from a woman at 4:21 p.m. Tuesday that an assault had occurred in the 200 block of North Fourteenth Street. Three officers of the Ponca City Police Department responded and a 43-year-old man was held for domestic assault and battery.

Spaghetti Dinner - St. Paul’s Methodist Church, 1904 North Pe-

can, on February 19, 5-7 p.m. Includes homemade bread, dessert

and drink. Adults $5, Children $2. adv.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of North Fifth Street and East Liberty Avenue at 8:21 p.m. Tuesday that a 24-year-old woman was being held for driving under suspension, having an expired tag and having no insurance.

Court Allen Construction. Concrete and flagstone walkways, pa-

tios and yard curbing. Call 765-2720. adv.

Vehicle Burglarized — A man from the 1100 block of South Sixth Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 8:53 p.m. Tuesday that his vehicle had been burglarized. The information was logged.

Now Available onion plants and onion sets and seed potatoes.

Also available packaged and bulk garden seed. Keathley Nurs-

ery, 2448 Bridge Ave., Ponca City, OK 74604. adv.

Treating Accident Victim — An employee at the emergency room of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center reported at 9:16 p.m. Tuesday that an accident victim was being treated for injuries. Information was logged that the accident occurred at 7 p.m. west of Flormable on West South Avenue extension and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol was notified.

State Certified DUI School Bridgeway, Inc. is Kay Co.'s only

local non-profit organization that offers both mid week and week-

end DUI Schools and Assessments. Next school scheduled Friday, February 18th, and Saturday, February 19th, starting at 5:00 p.m. We now offer the 24 hr. DUI School. Call 762-1462 for reservations and information. adv.

Improper Parking — A man reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 11:28 p.m. Tuesday that a vehicle was parked incorrectly at the intersection of South Fifth Street and Alma Avenue. An officer was assigned and a citation was issued for improper parking.

Red Wheel, pizzas, pies and cheesecakes. Call Soroptimist

member. 767-1541 or 765-2252. adv.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of East South Avenue and South Thirteenth Street at 1:49 a.m. Wednesday that a 33-year-old man was being held for DUI, driving under suspension, not wearing a seat belt, having no insurance, driving in a manner not reasonable or proper, and three Kay County warrants.

Great Fundraiser: Booths at Victorian Chocolate and craft

festival. Saturday, May 1st. Call 762-6700. adv.

Beer Taken — The Osage County Sheriff’s Department requested assistance from the Ponca City Police Department at 3:31 a.m. Wednesday in an attempt to locate a vehicle that had been seen heading west on U.S. 60 in Osage County after the subject had reportedly taken two 18-packs of beer.

WCW/NWO Superbrawl IX only one will take home the belt! Sun-

day, February 21st at 7:00 P.M. Only on Pay Per View, call Cable

ONE at 762-6684 for your ring side seat! Cable ONE, the one you

count on! adv.

LIFESTYLES

Chapters Conduct Sorority Rituals
Alpha Gamma Club To Meet
Modern Moms Make Donation
Unit II Program About Museum

Chapters Conduct Sorority Rituals

Eta Zeta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi met in the home of Amy Laugesen on Feb. 2, with 10 members present and one guest, Rebecca Doornbos. Before the meeting, Dottie Johnstone, Francie James, and Cassandra Kisiak, along with Xi Zeta Lambda chapter, performed the Exemplar Ritual for Robyn Young, Sherri Bartlett, Peggy Peters, and Kelly Trotter.

After the ritual Cynthia Wilson presided at the business meeting and Jennifer Hoak gave the treasurer’s report and money collected for the Valentine Dance tickets. Ms. Wilson gave the City Council Report, announcing that Founders Day will be April 20, at the Ponca City Country Club, and Eta Zeta chapter is responsible for decoration.

The Feb. 16 meeting was at the home of Gayla Gelven. Socials will include a pre-party before the Valentine Dance and a pizza and skating party on Feb. 24. Following the meeting, a Pledge Ritual was conducted for Amy Laugesen.

Alpha Gamma Club To Meet

The Alpha Gamma Mother’s Club will meet Feb. 22 at the home of Mary Spears. The group met on Feb. 8 at the home of Jean Hess with eight members present. Carol O’Rear served as co-hostess. Acting secretary Carol O’Rear read the minutes from the last meeting and Pat Koehler gave the treasurer’s report. Chaplain Jean Hess read a devotional from the book “Joy Breaks” by Patsy Clairmont.

The projects committee reported that paper goods were delivered to the Friendship Feast at the First Christian Church. The club will be scheduled to serve dinner in the near future.

Teresa Doerksen gave an informative talk on her visit with people from the Habitat for Humanity. Alpha Gamma voted to donate money that would be designated for an appliance for one of the homes in Ponca City.

Jean Hess presented the program. She played a tape of a conference she attended in Wichita, Kan. The tape was entitled “Bring Back the Joy” by Patsy Clairmont. May Roquemore won the hostess gift.

Modern Moms Make Donation

Modern Mom’s Mothers Club met Feb. 11 at the home of Carol McGaughey. Eight members answered roll call with, “Their dream romantic getaway.” The co-hostess was Martha Long. The treasurer’s report was given by Carol McGaughey.

Under service, members brought items to be donated to RSVP. At the next meeting, members will bring baby spoons to be donated to the hospital pediatrics ward. The group donation to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, a state association project, was discussed and voted upon.

The slate of officers for next year was also voted upon. Those elected were Tammy Beier, president; Sue Bond, first vice president; Julie Beam, second vice president; Glenda Hisey, secretary; Cheryl Ramsey, treasurer; Joan Hardy, chaplain; Martha Long, parliamentarian.

The program was given by Jackie Hunsaker, who gave an informative talk about the SANE program at SJRMC.

The next meeting will be March 11 at the home of Kelly Ricketson. The program will be making patriotic T-shirts to go along with this year’s convention theme. Each member is asked to bring a white T-shirt.

Unit II Program About Museum

Unit II of the Ponca City Mother’s Club met Feb. 5 at the home of Pat Morahan. Co-hostesses were Jerri Barnes and Lela Stewart. There were 18 members present.

Jan Prough presented an informative program about the Pioneer Woman Museum. She gave an update on the progress and future of the museum. Sandy Bishop, chairman, presided at the business meeting and led the group in reading the Collect. Pat Reedy read the minutes for the unit, and announcement was made that Patti Lundeen and Theresa Bohon had been named to the 1999-2000 nominating committee.

Announcement was made that Sandy Bishop would take paper goods to the Child Development Center this month. The Spring Luncheon is scheduled May 7 at the Ponca City Country Club. Ticket cost is $8 per person. Writer Alda Ellis is the scheduled speaker.

SPORTS

Class A, B Regions Set
Lady Tigers On, Stop Lady Cats
Wildcats Lose Late Momentum
Sodowsky Signs With Arizona

Class A, B Regions Set

By FRED HILTON

News Sport Editor

The playoff picture for Class A and B boys and girls became a little clearer, including a glimpse of what teams will be in Ponca City for the Class A regionals this weekend.

Several area teams remaining alive after the district playoffs last week. One — the Morrison girls — will make it to Ponca City.

The Lady Wildcats of Morrison won the District 8 crown last Saturday with a 48-30 win over Glencoe. They advanced to the second round winners’ bracket play at Waukomis on Thursday where they play Canton. Win or lose, the Lady Cats move to Ponca City for the regional play Friday and Saturday.

Eight teams from the winners bracket join the four survivors of the losers bracket in Robson Fieldhouse for the weekend.

Joining Morrison and Copan from the girls’ winners bracket are Quapaw and Fairland. The boys winners are Canton, Coyle, Copan and Afton.

The regional winners and first-time losers return to Robson for the Area tournament the following week.

Several area clubs are in the Class B regional play, led by Frontier’s girls and boys.

In the regional first round at Frontier, the Mustangs take on Agra while the Lady Mustangs face Oilton.

Both Frontier teams won district titles at Shidler last weekend. The boys defeated Shidler 98-86 while the girls topped the Lady Tigers 58-31 in the District 2 finals.

Deer Creek-Lamont and the Billings girls join the two Shidler teams in the regional losers’ bracket

In other district finals Saturday, Medford topped the DCLA boys 76-52 and the Medford girls downed the Lady Eagles 46-24 in District 1.

In District 3, the Billings girls fell to Oilton, 57-51.

Lady Tigers On, Stop Lady Cats

By MATTHEW KOENIG

News Sports Writer

BROKEN ARROW — While the argument could be made that the Lady Wildcats caught their last two victims — Tulsa Union and Sapulpa — on an off-night, no one is likely to doubt the reasons behind Monday’s 77-46 loss to Broken Arrow.

Namely, the Lady Tigers are a very, very good team.

And they showed up to play, Monday. Chronic Lady Cat abuser Octavia Holmes — without a doubt one of the most athletic players in the conference — dumped in 20 points and Christie Baugess added 18 more as the Broken Arrow starters combined for 20-of-25 shooting from the field.

Most of those shots came in the first half, as the No. 10 ranked Lady Tigers (12-3, 15-6) took a conclusive, 46-20 lead into the locker room.

Though the Poncans were down by 11, 31-20, late in the second quarter, the Lady Tigers hit five straight 3-pointers leave the Lady Cats reeling. Lindsay Williams had two, and Holmes hit three straight to close out the half.

In all, the Lady Tigers nailed 26-of-45 shots, for 58 percent.

“It was unbelievable,” said Lady Cat coach Dana Pulley. “We didn’t play exceptionally well, but (Broken Arrow) had a great night offensively. When a team like that is shooting well and gets us down early, it’s hard to come back.”

Desiree Cries For Ribs led the Lady Cats with 19 points, including seven in the first quarter as the Poncans tried to make a game of it, early.

After falling behind 14-3, Cries For Ribs picked up four straight points to spark an 8-0 run and pull the Lady Cats to within three. Laura Sudbury and Aleena Ames each had baskets in that run, while Tia Williams had a steal.

In the first quarter, the Lady Cats shot 7-of-15 from the field.

Stretching into the second quarter, Kami Schieber did what she could to keep the Lady Cats in the game, responding to Broken Arrow buckets with three straight of her own. Schieber’s last score came at the 5:50 mark of the second quarter, and proved to be the Lady Cats’ final points of the half.

For the second quarter, the Lady Cats were just 2-of-10 from the field. The Lady Tigers, meanwhile, were 14-of-22 in the half, including 6-of-8 from 3-point range.

“I don’t want to take anything away from (Broken Arrow),” said Pulley. “They’re quicker and more aggressive than us, and tonight they just shot better.

“I can’t harp on the girls, either. We did some things right, and we can’t dwell on this (loss). We have to turn around now and play Stillwater.”

Holmes opened the second half right where she left off, pounding out five straight points in an 11-2 Broken Arrow run that extinguished any hope the Lady Cats might have had of a comeback. Though Cries For Ribs notched nine more points in the third quarter, and sparked a token, 9-3 Ponca City run, it was of little consolation.

The Lady Cats finished 34 percent (19-of-56) from the field, and had 16 turnovers to Broken Arrow’s 20. The Lady Cats also took just five trips to the line, hitting five, while the Lady Tigers were a stellar, 19-of-26, including 12-of-12 in the first quarter.

“It wasn’t fun tonight,” Pulley concluded. “It was frustrating, and hard on the girls, especially after winning two straight.”

The Lady Cats, coming off two straight big-time performances on the backboards, were out-boarded 27-19.

Ames finished with 8 points, Sudbury and Schieber had 6 each, Tara Cries For Ribs had 3, while Alana Smith and Allison Stotts had 2 each.

Wildcats Lose Late Momentum

By MATTHEW KOENIG

News Sports Writer

BROKEN ARROW — The Ponca City Wildcats took another serious detour in their quest for playoff momentum, falling hard to Broken Arrow, 62-47, Monday.

Though the Cats out-clawed the Tigers in December, 63-60, they couldn’t sustain the intensity this time around, shooting just 29 percent (18-of-61) from the field.

Rassan Hines poured in 20 points and Tony Smith added 16 more en route to a 48 percent (21-of-43) shooting effort from the Tigers (7-8, 11-10).

Because the Wildcats left immediately after the game, coach Ron Arthur wasn’t available for comment.

The Cats did look worthy of their foes in the first half, taking a 20-16 lead, early in the second quarter.

The Cats also overcame a 10-4 deficit to open the game, as they outscored the Tigers 9-4 to close out the first quarter with just a 3-point deficit, 16-13.

Junior Jeff Furnas, who had 13 points to lead the Cats, sparked a 7-0 run to open the second quarter, hitting a bucket from near the 3-point arc. After getting fouled on an offensive put-back attempt, Nathan Zimmerman then hit two from the line, and Furnas completed the run with a 3-pointer.

The Tigers, however, nailed six straight 1-and-1 free throws to bolt back into the lead, and closed out the first half with a 10-3 run to take the lead for good, 36-26.

In that half, the Tigers were 12-of-13 from the line.

The Cats made another stab to open the second half, getting buckets from Furnas and Scott Larrison to immediately cut the Tigers’ lead to six.

Hines got four straight points from there, however, as the Tigers went on a 12-3 run to close out the third quarter.

Down by 15, 48-33, to open the final period, the Cats again tried to make things happen. Two straight steals off a vicious full-court press led to a 3-pointer by Furnas. But that’s as close as the Cats could get, as a medley of junior varsity and varsity players could only manage to pace their respective Broken Arrow adversaries for the rest of the game.

Sophomore Tim Frick did come off the bench and bury a 3-pointer with two minutes remaining.

The Cats were outrebounded 25-28, and had 15 turnovers, to Broken Arrow’s 17. The Cats were 7-of-11 from the line, while the Tigers were 19-of-24.

Zimmerman finished with 10 points and led the Cats with six rebounds, Tom Engle and Jeremiah Payne had 5 each, Kris Shores had 4, Paul Broome and Frick had 3 each, while Larrison and Blake Geubelle had 2 each.

Chris Wallace had 9 for the Tigers, while Bryan Burton had 7.

The Cats, now 3-12 (5-16 overall) will try to close out their regular season on an up-note, Friday, traveling to Stillwater.

Sodowsky Signs With Arizona

PHOENIX, Ariz. — The Arizona Diamondbacks have re-signed Ponca City pitcher Clint Sodowsky just one day before spring training began for pitchers and catchers.

This will be the second season for Sodowsky with the Diamondbacks. He will probably be a middle reliever once again, although he did get six starts with the D-backs last season.

Sodowsky finished last season with a 3-6 won-loss record with a ERA of 5.73. In 77.2 innings on the mound, the right hander gave up five home runs, walked 39 and struck out 42.

He batted .300 for Arizona with three hits in 10 at-bats.

Sodowsky will start his fifth season in major league baseball. He was with the Detroit Tigers for two seasons (1995-96), with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1997 and was picked by Arizona in the expansion draft last year.