LOCAL

City Commission Candidates Scheduled for Chamber Forum
Clear Message, Reading Is Important
Nearly News
Ponca City Student Pages at the State Capitol
Awards Banquet March 7 at NOC
Unclaimed Property Auction on March 11 Includes 75 Bicycles

City Commission Candidates Scheduled for Chamber Forum

By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE

News Staff Writer

The Second Friday Forum will feature a face off between City Commission candidates Keni Ray, incumbent, and challenger Pamela Johnson at 8 a.m. Friday at the Public Safety Center, 200 East Oklahoma.

The candidates are vying for the No. 4 City Commissioner spot. The city election is set for March 14 and coincides with the state primary election.

Connie McAbee, a member of the Legislative Review Committee of the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce, is the forum moderator.

Sponsored by the Chamber, the forum is normally held the second Friday of each month, but it was moved up one week for this discussion.

The public is invited to attend the hour-long event. Coffee and doughnuts will be served.

Pamela Johnson

Johnson, 46, of 127 South Oak, is seeking the No.4 City Commission post.

She says, “I decided to run to have a little more input from the west side and to bring more information to the working people in general.”

Johnson hinted that it seems things are already cut and dried before people know it. She said, “[It] seems like some of things don’t make any difference as the decisions seem to be already made.”

She added, “I think there are a lot of positive things going on in the city and I want to be a part of that.”

A native of Shilder, Johnson graduated from Shidler High School. After moving to Ponca City and raising her family, she attended Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa. At the same time, she worked as a technician at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.

She earned an associates degree in applied science with a major in nursing, a profession she has pursued for the past 11 years. Currently she works in the Critical Care Unit at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.

Johnson has a 17-year-old son, Micah, who is a sophomore at Ponca City High School, and a 25-year-old daughter, Caley, who is married to Toby Burdick. They have a daughter, Lacey, age 6.

She also has two-step children: Zac, 21, of Ponca City and Bree, who is married to Kyle Jones. They have a son Brad, age 5.

The candidate is married to Keke Johnson, a local concrete contractor. He plays in the country band, Trader-Price. He is a graduate of Ponca City High School.

Keni Ray

Ray, 51, of 2109 El Camino, is seeking reelection to the City Commission. He began serving on the commission in mid-summer of 1998, filling an unexpired term.

“The decision to run for a full term was not taken lightly,” Ray said.

“I would like the opportunity to continue to work with the mayor, the other city commissioners and advisory boards. We, the whole community, are making great progress. Many positive and exciting things are happening. I believe teamwork and collaboration are keys to the continued success of Ponca City.”

Ray continued, “Four individuals working with the mayor on the city commission can't get the job done alone. We must reach out in all directions in our community to recruit everyone who is willing to collectively help our city grow and prosper.”

Ponca City is home for Ray and wife Janet; daughter Somer, a senior at Oklahoma State; and son, Tanner, 19, a freshman at NOC.

“The quality of life that all of us have the opportunity to enjoy in Ponca City is what has kept us here,” Ray explained.

“Both of our children were born here. I want to continue to work with others in the community to make that same quality of life available to everyone who enjoys calling Ponca City their hometown, too.

Ray elaborated, “Several components of the quality of life here include the good nature of the people, the excellent schools and churches, wonderful assets of culture and arts and the attractive recreational facilities.”

Both professional educators, the Rays came to Ponca City in 1976. For the next eight years, he taught English and served as head football coach at Po-Hi.

In the summer of 1984, he went to work for Conoco and has continued to hold positions of increasing responsibility in the company's tax department, Coordination Management, Branded Marketing and external affairs.

He is currently director of external affairs and communications for the Mid-Continent Business Unit.

A special education instructor for more than 20 years, his wife is a learning specialist for the Ponca City school system. She has a master's degree in learning disabilities and currently works at Woodlands Elementary.

A 1967 graduate of El Reno High School, Ray attended Central State University (now University of Central Oklahoma) at Edmond on a football scholarship and graduated with a degree in English in 1971 and a master’s degree in Secondary Education/English in 1973. He also completed additional post-graduate studies at Oklahoma State University.

While completing his undergraduate studies at UCO, Ray was a three-sport varsity letterman in football, baseball and track.

In football, he was selected All-Oklahoma Collegiate Conference in 1969 and 1970 and he was named NAIA All-American in 1970. He was inducted into the UCO Athletic Hall of Fame in February of this year.

Ray and his family are members of the First United Methodist Church of Ponca City. He has served on the Church Board of Trustees and is a 22-year member of the Chancel Choir.

Active in the community for the past 23 years, he has served on the boards for the Ponca City YMCA, the Ponca City Country Club, Ponca City Chamber of Commerce and Oklahoma Great Expectations.

He has also served as president of the Oklahoma Football Coaches Association, president of the Ponca Playhouse board of directors, president of the Ponca City Parks & Recreation advisory board, co-chair of the Ponca City Youth Crisis Prevention committee, president of Ponca City Tomorrow, chairman of the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce education committee and president of the board of Friends of Education.

Clear Message, Reading Is Important

By KRISTI HAYES

News Education Editor

Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham and How the Grinch Stole Christmas are three timeless classics in American literature by Dr. Seuss.

Ponca City students honored Dr. Seuss today on his 96th birthday by focusing on reading and literacy during the annual Read Across America Day.

Teachers, parents and community leaders put on their Cat in the Hat hats and shared favorite stories with children in hopes of sending a crystal clear message: Reading is important.

Across the nation, an estimated 11 million students were expected to participate in today’s event — making it the country’s largest celebration of reading ever.

Last year, Read Across America captured the imagination of more than 10 million students.

Liberty Elementary teacher Debbie Shelton said today was important, not just for Ponca City children, but the entire nation.

“Our children must learn that reading is one of the most important tools to master,” she said.

Ponca City superintendent Dr. Bill White pledged his support for the event. “We are enthusiastic to participate in this annual event. We want to emphasize to every student in our schools that reading is very important and should be utilized each day,” he said.

White said community leaders that children admire were invited to participate.

“Almost all of Ponca City’s business leaders participated in the event — either by reading to a class or just showing their support,” the superintendent reported.

White also said today’s event should help the illiteracy problems that face the nation.

“[The district has] taken the initiative to fight illiteracy. We believe every child has the capacity to learn to read,” he said.

The Ponca City Board of Education took a stand against illiteracy in November, 1999, by adopting a reading level retention policy.

Under the policy, children are tested several times a year to measure current reading levels. “If the students are reading more than one grade level behind where they should be, they will be retained,” White said.

Locally, the various elementary schools participated in the event in a number of ways.

Liberty Elementary honored Dr. Seuss at its morning assembly with sixth graders reading to the entire school. Other students were also dressed as their favorite book characters.

Garfield Academy held week-long activities with guest speakers, fashion shows and a class play.

Other elementary schools showed their support of the event by inviting former students to read, hosting trivia bowl contests and school read-ins.

Nearly News

Nearly News had a call from Claudia Barnes of Hospice explaining it was having computer problems, and because of it the published Tree of Life list had several names omitted.

She told NN that Hospice feels badly about the situation and promises to publish a correct and full list of names as soon as their computer problem is corrected.

Ponca City Student Pages at the State Capitol

Ajay Vaidya was sponsored by Rep. Jim Newport as a page at Oklahoma House of Representatives at the State Capitol during February. Vaidya is a freshman student at Ponca City High School.

Awards Banquet March 7 at NOC

The Kay County conservation district awards banquet will be March 7 on the Northern Oklahoma College campus. The complementary meal will be served at 6:30 p.m. with awards to be presented at 7:30 p.m.

Unclaimed Property Auction on March 11 Includes 75 Bicycles

An unclaimed property auction by the City of Ponca City will be held Saturday, March 11, beginning at 8 a.m. All buyers must be registered and photo identification is required for purchases made by check.

The auction will be held on the parking lot and canopy area directly behind the Public Safety Center, located at 200 East Oklahoma Avenue.

There are 75 bicycles to be auctioned along with several other items. Proceeds from the auction will be deposited with the city’s general fund.

DEATHS

Marcella Marie Ogle
Firman E. Vickery

Marcella Marie Ogle

BARTLESVILLE — Marcella Marie Ogle, former resident of Webb City, died Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2000, in the Heritage Villa Nursing Center in Bartlesville. She was 80.

The funeral will be 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 3, 2000, at the East Cross United Methodist Church of Bartlesville with the Rev. John Price and Dr. Dwight Darrah officiating. Burial will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of the Stumpff Funeral Home of Bartlesville. Friends may call at the funeral home until 11 a.m. Friday.

Marcella Marie Ogle was born July 25, 1919, at Ruthdale, the daughter of John S. and Mary Ellen Parsons Argo. She grew up and received her education in Webb City and attended the St. John’s Nursing School in Tulsa. She married Frank Thomas Ogle on Aug. 10, 1938, in Webb City, and they made their home in Borger, Texas, from 1944 until 1958, when they moved to Bartlesville. She was an active member of the PTA in Borger, Texas, a life member and district president of the National PTA Association and a member of the East Cross United Methodist Church.

Survivors include her husband of the home; two sons, Marvin F. Ogle of Fairview, Texas, and Stanley T. Ogle of Southlake, Texas; one daughter, Karen Naramore of Hot Springs, Ark.; three brothers, Woodrow Argo of Amarillo, Texas; Warren Argo of Borger, Texas, and Paul C. Argo of Nowata; one sister, Jewell Johnson of Austin, Texas; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers.

Casket bearers will be Blake Ogle, Kyle Ogle, Wade Naramore and Brad Ogle.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Jane Phillips Hospice, c/o Bluestem Regional Medical Development Foundation, 3500 S.E. Frank Phillips Boulevard, Bartlesville, Okla. 74006 or to the Alzheimer’s Association, Bartlesville Branch, 410 S.E. Frank Phillips Boulevard, Bartlesville, Okla. 74003.

Services Pending

Firman E. Vickery

NEWKIRK — Firman E. Vickery, longtime Newkirk area farmer, died late Wednesday evening, March 1, 2000, in the Newkirk Nursing Center. He was 103. Funeral arrangements are pending with Miller-Stahl Funeral Service.

NEWS BRIEFS

KOFP&S Music Meeting — The Walnut Valley Chapter of the Kansas Oldtime Fiddlers, Pickers and Singers will meet Saturday, March 4. at the Arkansas City Senior Citizens Center. Individual performances will begin at 4 p.m. Snacks will be served at 6 p.m., with dancing at 7 p.m. A cordial welcome is extended to all.

Dirty Dogs? Tee-Kay Pets can help! Grooming appointments Monday-Friday Starting at 7:30 a.m. and now on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. Walk-ins welcome. 8:00 to 12:00 weekdays. Tee-Kay Pets 916 East Highland. 762-3020. adv.

Clothing Giveaway — Free clothing to anyone with a need — Monday, March 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. Grand opening in a new location, 440 Fairview. The new Helping Hands House, formerly, and still a ministry of the First Assembly of God Church, is located across the street west from the Assembly of God Church.

Pancake/Sausage supper, Friday, March 3, 5:00-7:00am. Albright United Methodist Church, 128 S. Palm. Adults $4, Children $2. adv.

Kirkpatrick Joins Nebraska ANG — Former Ponca City resident, Anthony Dean Kirkpatrick, joined the Nebraska Army National Guard under a program designed for juniors in high school. PV2 Kirkpatrick is the son of Jim Kirkpatrick of Ponca City and Deborah Kirkpatrick of Alvo, Neb. His commitment is for eight years, and he has chosen military police as his military field.

Sixth Annual antique sale! Friday, Saturday 10a.m.-6p.m. Sunday 11a.m.-4p.m. Tickets $2.50. Homemade food and pies. Fairgrounds hwy. 160 west of Winfield, KS. adv.

World Day of Prayer — The Church Women United will be sponsoring the World Day of Prayer, Friday, at 9:30 a.m. in the St. John Baptist Church, 1009 South Eleventh Street.

25 Cents a gallon drinking water. Pure Water Wagon 1717 N. 5th. adv.

Vandalism — A man from the 200 block of North Seventh Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday that his vehicle had been vandalized. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Hit and Run — A man from the 200 block of Lansbrook Road reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 7:21 a.m. Wednesday that his vehicle had been hit while at the Wal-Mart parking lot. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential. Hours: Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. and Thursday, 6-8 p.m. 700 West Broadway. 765-9689. adv.

Requests Extra Patrol — The Communications Center received calls at 8:05 a.m. Wednesday requesting extra patrol on the Fifth Street side of Ponca City High School during the morning and after school as a result of vehicles not stopping to allow students to cross the street at the crosswalk.

Shop With us until 7 p.m. on Thursdays! Mrs. Brown Attic. Ponca Plaza. adv.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 1100 block of East Prospect Avenue at 9:24 a.m. Wednesday that a 38-year-old man was being held for having an expired tag, having no insurance, driving under suspension and improper display of decal. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

Paulines Shrimp Peel. All you can eat, $11.95. Friday, March 3rd. For reservations call 765-5460. adv.

Bicycle Abandoned — A man reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 9:48 a.m. Wednesday that a bicycle had been abandoned at the intersection of Summit Avenue and North Waverly Street. Animal Control was notified to pick up the bicycle and at 10:47 a.m. Animal Control officials reported freshly poured concrete in that area had been messed up. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Information was logged to have an extra patrol for the area.

Grass Fire — The Communications Center received a 911 call at 12:28 p.m. Wednesday that a grass fire was burning along Riverside Avenue. A unit from the Ponca City Fire Department and Ranch Drive Volunteer Fire Department responded to handle the situation.

Subjects Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 200 block of East Oklahoma Avenue at 3:37 p.m. Wednesday that a 26-year-old man was being held on a city warrant and an 18-year-old man was being held on a Kay County warrant.

Wanted USMC items for display not resale. patches, chevrons, uniforms, Chuck Gregg 765-1367. adv.

Requests Assistance — A woman from the 2200 block of North Fourteenth Street requested assistance from the Ponca City Police Department as a result of a disturbance at 5:43 p.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and a 38-year-old man was held for public intoxication and resisting arrest. A report was taken.

Call Doug at Wright Masonry Service for all of your brick repair needs. 765-1901. adv.

Gas Drive-Off — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department took a report at 8:50 p.m. Wednesday from a clerk at Citgo, 320 West Grand Avenue, that someone had driven off without paying for $5 worth of gas.

Stormescape Shelters, perfect for garage, under vehicle, installation. $1,695. 765-2633. adv.

Suspicious Activity — A man requested assistance from the Ponca City Police Department in the 900 block of North Fifth Street at 10:25 p.m. Wednesday as a result of an ex-girlfriend running over his foot and leg while at the Po-Hi parking lot. An officer was assigned and the information was logged.

Head Country all day Friday special­ All you can eat, smoked BBQ ribs, beans, potato salad, and coleslaw, only $7.49, all day. 1217 East Prospect. 767-8304. adv.

Library Programs — There are special storytimes for youngsters at the Ponca City Library. Tuesdays, storytimes for ages 4-7 are at 10 and 11:30 a.m., and last approximately 30 minutes each. On Wednesday, storytimes for toddlers, ages 2-3 are at 10 and 10:30 a.m. and last 15 minutes.

Dougan's Bar-B-Q Friday special from 4-8 p.m., all you can eat ribs with beans, potato salad and coleslaw, $7.49. 215 South 14th, 765-7979. adv.

GARDENING

U.S. National Arboretum Provides Improved Plants for a New Century in Horticulture
Omniplex Exhibit Highlights Mother Nature
Jerry Cathey Will Present Program
Diggin’ in the Dirt
Iris Society Sets Meeting Friday
Yard Safety Tips Protect Children
Northern Oklahoma Daylily Society Meets

U.S. National Arboretum Provides Improved Plants for a New Century in Horticulture

(AP) — Imagine grand new avenues of healthy American elms gracing the streets of new suburban landscapes. Or a flowering cherry tree with almost clear red blossoms. These are just a few of the century’s brand new plants that will soon be available in local nurseries across the country.

American Elms

The U.S. National Arboretum in Washington has released two new American elms that could help replace the millions of trees lost in the 20th century to Dutch elm disease. The new cultivars, called New Harmony and Valley Forge, have been decades in the making. Both possess the classic, spreading vase shape of the American elm, along with its ability to withstand poor soil conditions and urban pollution.

Arboretum horticulturist Susan Bentz explains the new elms are tolerant of, but not totally resistant to Dutch elm disease. If they were infected by Dutch elm disease, they should recover, she says, although the trees are not immune to the fungus carried by the elm bark beetle.

Superior Plants

Research on the American elm is just one program among many underway at the National Arboretum to breed superior plants for use in the American landscape. Since the early 1960s, the arboretum has introduced more than 200 new shrubs, trees, bulbs, grasses and houseplants, along with more than 450 specific rhododendrons and azaleas.

Among the brand new plants available this year are two miniature crape myrtles around 20 inches tall and 30 inches wide. Okomoke has rosy-pink flowers, while the blooms of Chickasaw are lavender. They can be used as ground covers or grown in containers, or possibly used as perennials north of Zone 6.

Scientists first began breeding the small crape myrtles in 1986, and horticulturist Ruth Dix says “we’re still trying to develop a full color range of miniatures. We’re looking for a white, a dark purple and a red.”

Within the next few years, nurseries will be distributing three new red maples with brilliant fall color, and one, Brandywine, is a male selection devoid of pesky seedlings. A medium-sized flowering cherry very tolerant of diseases and insects will also be available. Called Dream Catcher, the tree is highly ornamental, with large medium pink blossoms in early spring and striking orange fall color.

Horticulturist Dix says there’s a lot more in the pipeline. “We are on the verge of releasing a lilac resistant to powdery mildew that also does very well in the South,” she said. Dix says two other lilacs, with reddish purple and bluish-purple blooms, are now under evaluation.

Hemlocks

Arboretum scientists are continuing work on cherry trees that will withstand the cold weather of zones 4 and 5, native redbuds that are disease resistant, and on a long-term project to develop a superior hemlock. East coast hemlocks have been devastated in recent years by insects, and researchers are looking hard for solutions.

Horticulturist Bentz says hemlock research is focusing on Chinese and Japanese species, which appear to be unaffected by the pests. We’re trying to hybridize the north American species with the Asian species, she says, but it’s very difficult.

Bentz said scientists have been trying for years to cross the Asian and American hemlocks, but so far have had no luck. “We’re examining the DNA to determine if we have hybrids, but most of the time nothing happens,” said Bentz.

In the meantime, the tree program is having much better luck with red maples. Bentz says the arboretum will soon be distributing two new red maples, Red Rocket and New World, that were selected for outstanding fall color, and tall, narrow, columnar forms. One of the highlights of the arboretum’s plant research program is the long and rigorous plant evaluation program. According to arboretum scientists, commercial growers and plant societies often do not have the time or money to test plants for years or decades before they are released into the trade.

Years of Research

Horticulturist Dix says shrubs are usually studied for 3 to 10 years, small flowering trees for 12 to 15 years; and large street trees could take 20 to 25 years of research. Once the arboretum decides to go ahead with a specific plant, they distribute seedlings to commercial growers who agree to breed stock for the retail nursery trade. However, shade trees often take a long time to grow, and availability can be slow. The arboretum in the early 1990s released two Asian elms that do not attain the height or graceful shape of an American elm, yet are quite disease resistant and very suitable for use in urban settings.

A series of rose of sharons were named after greek goddesses, and cold-hardy camellias were given names with winter themes: Polar Ice, Snow Flurry, Winters Charm, and Winters Dream. Many plants were named after native American Indian tribes: Acoma, Sioux, and Kiowa crape myrtles; Chippewa, Erie, and Mohawk viburnums, just to mention a few. Horticulturist Dix says the arboretum has inundated the world with the names of native American tribes and although the practice has given the institution instant recognition and association, scientists are thinking about new themes for the year 2000 and beyond.

Further information on new arboretum introductions is available on the Internet at ars-grin.gov/na/

Omniplex Exhibit Highlights Mother Nature

OKLAHOMA CITY — View some of Mother Nature’s most natural potions and recipes in Mother Nature’s Wonder Workers, a special Kirkpatrick Greenhouse exhibit at the Omniplex through March 20.

Visitors can pick up tips on alternative cleaners, beauty aids and insecticides, all made from herbs and other natural ingredients. Recipes for potpourri, infusions and other herbal remedies will also be on display.

“This exhibit is a wonderful starting point for those who are trying to be more earth-friendly, Billie Roche, Omniplex gardens manager, said. “All of the natural ingredients in the exhibit can be grown in a home garden, and all of the recipes are quick and easy to follow, so bring a pad and pencil.”

Some of the plants featured in the exhibit include lavender, which can be used in an herbal mouthwash and is also great for relieving tension and insomnia, sage, thyme and rosemary, which can be used to ease aching joints arid muscles, and eucalyptus, which is great for relieving stuffy noses and also makes a great disinfectant.

Also Included in the exhibit are recipes for infusions to add to teas, shampoos and mouthwashes, aromatherapy mixtures, beauty aids and insect repellents.

Omniplex is located at 2100 Northeast 52 Street in Oklahoma city. Exhibit hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $6.50 for adults; $5.75 for seniors; and $5.25 for children plus tax. For more information call 405-602-6664.

Jerry Cathey Will Present Program

The Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme Garden Club members will gather for the monthly meeting at the Cann Garden Home on March 8 at 9:30 a.m. The hostesses will be Marlene Roth and Eva Ballard. Jerry Cathey will be presenting a program entitled " The Iris."

He will be showing members and guests the proper way to show irises for judging. He will also be speaking about the upcoming Iris Festival to be held on the first Saturday in May in Ponca City. For more information, call Maureen Danielson, 580-762-9866 or Theory Chiu, 580-718- 0314.

Diggin’ in the Dirt

By Kathy Zehr

Early March is prime time for pruning most ornamental shrubs before the buds begin to swell. Early spring bloomers, including wisteria and forsythia, should not be pruned until after bloom if you want a good show, but they should be pruned immediately after.

Keeping ornamentals thinned keeps them healthy. Begin at ground level by removing one or two of the oldest limbs each year from all deciduous (those that lose their leaves in winter) shrubs including lilacs, forsythia and mock orange. This process promotes healthy, strong new growth, resulting in beautiful bloom. Some lilacs have a bad habit of sending up hundreds of suckers at their base (“sucker” is an apt description as they sap the strength and food from the mother plant). To keep the plant strong, suckers need to be removed at ground level or trunk site all through the year.

Keeping Shrubs

“Headed Back”

Pruning a deciduous shrub is easy, but how much to cut off is up to the homeowner. Usually shrubs need to be “headed back” to keep them looking good for space allotted. Branches may be cut from one-third to one-half while you can see the skeletal structure. Decide what size you want the bush to be and cut the branches back to healthy buds at the height desired. Vary the length of branches to keep a natural look. Always keep dead and damaged growth pruned out of all plants.

Yew, holly, juniper and other evergreens may be pruned or shaped in mid-spring.

Aggressive wisteria vines should be pruned back each year to the main trunk and suckers removed or your vine will turn into Tarzan’s jungle and to such proportions it will destroy the fence or supports holding it. If pruning in spring, you may lose some blooms, so wait until after bloom. Trim these vines throughout the year to keep them in control.

More Fruits

Gooseberries and currants should only be pruned slightly by removing all weak shoots and branches growing next to the ground and by removing each upper branch after its third season of production.

Bunch grapes, fastened on the popular two-wire support system, with plants growing about 8-feet apart, are most common in Ponca City. If you plan to establish new plants this year and want to get started right, check out one of the great books on the subject from the local library and call for the excellent brochures prepared by OSU and available at the Kay County Extension office, 580-362-3194.

If the grapes are older and well-established, a good rule of thumb at this point is to prune the new canes back to about a third and remove all the dead ones in late winter. If you are “crafty” use the vines for creating grapevine wreaths.

Miscellaneous Important Stuff

A gardener never seems to have enough compost and can’t seem to make it fast enough! Good News! In a recent meeting with the new Master Gardener group, Ben Chaney with the Ponca City Waste Management Department, announced free leaf compost, produced by the city, is available to all gardeners.

A small mountain of the rotted leaf mixture is available free to the public and can be picked up at a site located between the Water Treatment Plant and the Animal Control Center on East Central Street. Gardeners may pick up any amount of the compost at any time without appointment.

I know readers get tired of my harping about spraying with dormant oil soap spray, but Rachael Snyder with “Gardening in the Heartland,” and I, think it is the most important non-toxic spraying of the year! Early spring is the time to do it while buds are still tightly closed and emerging insects have not yet invaded the blooms to lay their eggs or spread disease.

A stronger mix can be used at this stage to kill scales, spider mites and insect eggs. The oil spray is beneficial to all trees and shrubs except evergreens.

Sometimes in our warm winter’s-end days, we see some tender plants peeping up from the ground too soon. When the temperature dips, cover them with a good layer of leaves, which traps the warm air and protects them from frost. Don’t forget to uncover them immediately after the last freeze. Tulips and daffodils and cole crops are hardy enough to withstand late frosts and usually do not need covering.

How are your peonies? A common fungus, botrytis, which causes leaf browning and blasted blooms on the beautiful plants, is common in this area. If your plants had symptoms last year, get prepared to improve their production by first removing and destroying all dead stems and leaves which can spread the fungus. When new red shoots begin to nose through the ground, spray them and the surrounding soil with a bordeaux mixture spray or benomyl (found at the nursery).

Iris Society Sets Meeting Friday

The Northern Oklahoma Iris Society will meet Friday, March 3, at 7 p.m. at the L.A. Cann Garden Center, 1500 East Grand Avenue. After a brief business meeting, Mary Ann Potter will present a program on “Herbs and Companion Plantings.” Guests are invited to attend the meeting.

The Northern Oklahoma Iris Society was established to promote the culture and improvement of iris and to encourage iris propagation. Annual dues are $5 per household, and include adult and youth members. If you have any questions about the iris society, contact Lillian Williams, 762-3796, for additional information.

Yard Safety Tips Protect Children

An injury from a lawn mower can happen in seconds, according to emergency room doctors at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Pennsylvania.

To safeguard children from garden equipment, they recommend keeping children 13 and younger out of the yard when a mower is in use.

Never let a child 10 or younger use a power tool, weed trimmer, or anything with a sharp edge such as a trowel or shears. Do not let a child near anyone who is using a power tool.

Store all garden equipment in a locked shed or storage room.

Northern Oklahoma Daylily Society Meets

Judy Farabough of Perry will be the speaker and slide presenter at the Northern Oklahoma Daylily Society meeting, Monday evening, March 6. The meeting will be held at the Cann Memorial Garden Center at 7:30 p.m.

Program focus will be the 1999 National Convention in Oklahoma City. Anyone interested in daylilies is encouraged to attend this meeting. Please contact Lillian Williams, 580-762-3796 for further information or questions.

SPORTS

Mason Gets Mad, Leads Early Surge
Cat Golfers Experienced
Frontier Returns To State Tourney
Najera Gets Sooners Started
TU Doesn’t Want to Share
Blackwell In Area Play Again

Mason Gets Mad, Leads Early Surge

By OWEN CANFIELD

AP Sports Writer

STILLWATER (AP) — Oklahoma State may have been looking forward to its game with Oklahoma, although it didn’t take long to get the focus back on Colorado.

The Buffaloes made four of their first five shots and had a 14-5 lead just four minutes into the game Wednesday night. That’s when Desmond Mason got going, and once he did the 13th-ranked Cowboys were on their way to a 96-60 victory.

Mason scored 12 straight OSU points to turn that nine-point deficit into a 17-16 lead. He had 19 at halftime and finished with 29 as the Cowboys (23-4, 12-3 Big 12) moved back into a second-place tie with Texas in the league standings.

‘‘I was glad to see Desmond come back and have a good game,’’ coach Eddie Sutton said. ‘‘He really took it upon himself early there and just hit some big shots for us and got us back in it.’’

Mason was coming off an 8-point, 2-of-11 performance Saturday in the Cowboys’ loss at Iowa State, a game that knocked them out of first place in the Big 12. He missed his first two shots against Colorado, but says he got motivated when Sutton accused him and the other Cowboys of being soft early in the game.

‘‘Coach made me mad but he did it on purpose, just to see how I was going to react,’’ Mason said.

‘‘That was my reaction. My teammates got me open, I just had to jump up and hit the shots. I just kind of wanted to take over the game and get in a rhythm and get some momentum going.’’

Mason made five straight shots in just over three minutes to give the Cowboys the lead. He hit two medium-range jumpers, then consecutive 3-pointers and finally another jumper.

His offensive surge translated into better team defense. Colorado (16-12, 6-9) made five of its first six shots to build its early lead, but hit just one basket over the final 14 minutes of the half.

‘‘The team reacted,’’ Mason said. ‘‘We started playing better defense. We started rebounding better, started running the floor better.’’

The score was 23-21 when the Cowboys went on a 10-2 run capped by a 3-pointer by Mason. Glendon Alexander, who finished with 20 points, made consecutive 3s as Oklahoma State pushed its lead to 43-27 at halftime.

Colorado was 2-of-14 from the field in the first half after its quick start. Kyle Williams’ follow shot at the 14:06 mark was the Buffaloes’ last field goal until Williams hit a leaner with 1:03 remaining.

Colorado got within 50-39 in the second half before the Cowboys went on a 17-2 run. Alexander had two 3-pointers during the spurt and Joe Adkins had one. Alexander was 6-of-9 from 3-point range.

‘‘Glendon, when you get him set up, he’s going to hit some high-percentage shots,’’ Sutton said. ‘‘He thinks everything he shoots now is going to go in the hole. That’s a great feeling to have when you’re a shooter like he is.’’

Jaquay Walls, leading the Buffaloes with 17 points per game, scored 14 but was just 3-of-11 from the field.

A rugged second half saw both teams get into the bonus before five minutes had expired. Colorado’s Jose Winston had two technicals fouls, Oklahoma State’s Fredrik Jonzen got one and Mason was called for an intentional foul. There were 52 fouls called in all.

‘‘I thought the game was too physical for us,’’ said Colorado coach Ricardo Patton, who saw the Buffaloes shoot 30 percent and lose their 18th straight in Stillwater. ‘‘There was a lot of hand checking, a lot of guys getting bumped. We were just not physical enough.’’

Oklahoma State winds up the regular season Saturday night against Oklahoma in the last game in Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Cowboys beat OU 74-71 in Norman on Feb. 12.

‘‘If you all have got any extra tickets Saturday night, I can use ’em,’’ Sutton said.

No. 13 OKLAHOMA ST. 96

COLORADO 60

COLORADO (16-12) 

Mosley 4-7 5-5 13, Pelle 3-7 7-8 13, Winston 0-1 2-2 2, Walls 3-11 7-10 14, Mohr 1-5 0-0 3, Smith 0-1 2-2 2, Williams 4-12 2-2 10, Townsend 0-2 0-0 0, Renfroe 0-3 1-4 1, Thomas 0-0 0-0 0, Fox 0-1 2-2 2. Totals 15-50 28-35 60.

OKLAHOMA ST. (23-5) 

Montonati 4-9 1-2 9, Mason 11-18 3-6 29, Jonzen 0-3 1-2 1, Adkins 1-4 3-4 6, Gottlieb 3-8 1-3 7, Alexander 6-11 2-4 20, Sooter 0-0 0-0 0, Williams 3-5 8-13 14, Cazzelle 1-1 0-0 3, Keep 1-2 1-2 3, Webber 2-2 0-0 4. Totals 32-63 20-36 96.

Halftime—Oklahoma St. 43, Colorado 27. 3-point goals—Colorado 2-14 (Mohr 1-2, Walls 1-3, Winston 0-1, Smith 0-1, Townsend 0-2, Williams 0-5), Oklahoma St. 12-19 (Alexander 6-9, Mason 4-5, Cazzelle 1-1, Adkins 1-2, Gottlieb 0-2). Fouled out—Winston, Jonzen. Rebounds—Colorado 38 (Pelle 9), Oklahoma St. 40 (Montonati 10). Assists—Colorado 7 (Walls 3), Oklahoma St. 23 (Gottlieb 9). Total fouls—Colorado 28, Oklahoma St. 24. Technicals—Winston 2, Jonzen. Ejection—Winston. A—6,030.

Cat Golfers Experienced

By FRED HILTON

News Sports Editor

Golf coach Jerry Orr starts his first season at the helm of the Wildcats with hopes his young team will mature quickly and has good weather for its meets.

He has already lost out on the weather hopes with rain in Owasso today.

The Cat linksters were to open with the 24-team Owasso Inviational today and are scheduled to play host to the Ponca City Invitational Monday. Twelve boys’ teams and 12 more girls’ groups will crowd the Ponca City Country Club course.

But Orr figures his goflers will get their first big test at the Bailey Ranch course in Owasso, weather permitting.

“Most of the Tulsa area teams and a few good teams from Oklahoma City will be there,” he said earlier this week.

Once again the Wildcats will be young with just two seniors — Matt Waddell and Aaron Sattre — among the top five going to Owasso. In fact, they are the only seniors on the 15-man squad.

Nathan Cook and James Anderson are juniors while Matt Ellis is a sophomore for the top five.

But Ellis holds down the No. 1 spot on the team going into the season.

Four of the five were starters at one time of another dring last season.

Another plus for the Poncans has been the unusually good weather the golfers have had in the past few weeks.

“We’ve gotten in a number of qualifying rounds,” Orr notes.”So we’ve given them planty of chances to qualify.

“This group is working hard and if they keep at it, those scores will come down and we’ll be pretty competitive.”

Frontier Returns To State Tourney

By FRED HILTON

News Sports Editor

RED ROCK — Frontier’s Mustangs might seriously consider making permanent reservations at hotels and motels near the state basketball tournaments sites.

Frontier is making its sixth straight trips to the state tournament today and will be looking for another Class B trophy to put on its crowded high school wall.

The Mustangs are slated to play Forgan at 8:30 tonight in the first round of the state championship.

The other first round games pit Boyton-Moton against Mill Creek at 2 p.m.; Lookeba-Sickles against Fargo at 3:30; and Chattanooga against Moss at 7.

Frontier, 26-2 and seeded second in the state, advanced to the tourneywith a 73-45 win over Mill Creek last week.

This year’s team appears to be cut from the same mold as the previous teams coach Bob Weckstein has taken to the state finals.

Asked to describe what is special about this year’s team, the coach said:

“This team shoots the ball well. We’re pushy and pressuring. We push the ball up court and we pressure teams all over the court, We emphasize defense, — pretty much like our previous teams.”

As usual, the Mustangs are young, but experienced and talented.

Jeremiah Regnier and Zac Clouse are the only two seniors.

Leading scorer Albert Plumley (21.0 points a game) is a junior as are Matt Clouse, Miles Bender, Tom Butler and Michael Hudson.

Chris Plumley heads a good group of sophomores that include Mike Bible, Brian Gooden, Jeff Ingmire and Jared Padgett.

While Albert Plumley, a 5-11 guard, leads the team in scoring, he gets lots of help. Regnier is averaging 16 points a game, Chris Plumley 11, Zac Clouse 10 and Matt Clouse nine.

To say the Mustangs are good shooters can be an understatement. The Frontier cagers are hitting 53 percent of their two-point shots and are 39 percent from three-point range. They down 72 percent of their free throws.

Albert Plumley swishes through 45 percent of the shots beyond the arc, Chris Plumley is right behind with 40 percent and Zac Clouse is sinking 37 percent.

The Clouses are the leading rebounders on the team. Both are 6-0. Matt is averaging 7.5 rebounds per game, Zac 6.8.

Bender is 6-3 and unusually tall for a Frontier team.

But Weckstein has been taking undersized teams to the state tournament for years and bringing home trophies regularly.

Najera Gets Sooners Started

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Oklahoma’s Eduardo Najera had a long memory and an outstanding first half. That was too much for Texas A&M.

Najera scored 17 of his 20 points in the first half as the 21st-ranked Sooners took a big first-half lead and went on to a 77-59 victory Wednesday night, reversing a close loss to the Aggies here last year.

‘‘We were concerned coming in after last year,’’ Najera said. ‘‘Our guards are playing like veterans, not freshmen. We are playing better as a team. We are playing our best basketball of the year.’’

The Sooners (23-5, 11-4 Big 12) are 13-1 against the Aggies (7-19, 3-12). A&M’s only victory over Oklahoma was 74-72 last season on a last-second shot by Jerald Brown.

‘‘I knew that if Texas A&M had a chance to win this game, it would be in the first half,’’ Najera said. ‘‘I was trying to lead the team to a big lead and then relax and have fun.’’

Oklahoma led 40-21 at halftime, but the Aggies started the second half with a 20-11 run and trailed just 51-41 with 11:55 to play. That was a close as they got.

Bernard King finished with 15 points for Texas A&M, and Aaron Jack had 12.

‘‘We picked up our defensive intensity in the second half,’’ King said. ‘‘We started coming back. Najera works hard, and we stop that and they kick it out for a 3. They hit some wide-open shots. That’s what good teams do.’’

Hollis Price added 15 points for the Sooners, while J.R. Raymond had 12.

The Sooners were 9-for-20 from 3-point range with Tim Heskett going 3-for-9.

‘‘That’s what they were giving us,’’ Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson said. ‘‘We have sets to get the ball down low, but we have very good ball. If you try to take Eduardo away, we’ll take what the defense gives us.’’

The Aggies stayed with the Sooners briefly in the first half, but Oklahoma pulled away with a 27-8 run for the 19-point halftime lead.

Najera’s jumper near the end of the first half gave him 17 points and the Sooners a 37-17 lead.

The Aggies had 13 turnovers at halftime and finished with 20.

The Sooners have won nine of 11 games, and the Aggies have lost nine of 10.

‘‘We’re very confident,’’ Najera said. ‘‘Especially since (our younger players) are playing so well. We’re playing our best basketball right now.’’

Too good for the Aggies.

‘‘It was just too much Oklahoma,’’ A&M coach Melvin Watkins said. ‘‘I thought we got going pretty well, but with this group it’s hard to maintain things. Najera kind of took over the game for a moment, and when he does that, it makes it hard for anyone.

‘‘They are a good basketball team and we are not yet.’’

OKLAHOMA 77, TEXAS A&M 59

Oklahoma (23-5,11-4) 

Johnson 3-5 0-0 6, Price 7-11 0-0 15, Raymond 5-12 0-0 13, Najera 9-17 2-4 20, Stone 2-3 0-0 4, Heskett 3-5 0-0 9, Newton 2-4 0-0 6, Avila 1-3 0-0 2, Heywood 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 33-61 2-4 77.

Texas A&M (7-19,3-12) 

Gilchrist 3-7 0-0 6, Boeker 0-1 1-2 1, Ress 0-0 0-0 0, Jack 5-5 4-4 14, King 5-14 2-2 15, Slocum 1-4 0-0 2, J. Brown 4-6 0-0 9, C. Brown 5-8 0-0 11, Scott 0-0 0-0 0, Leatherman 0-2 1-2 1, Brookhart 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-47 8-10 59.

Halftime—Oklahoma 40, Texas A&M 21. 3-Point goals—Oklahoma 9-20 (Raymond 3-8, Price 1-4, Heskett 3-5, Newton 2-3), Texas A&M 5-11 (King 3-6, J. Brown 1-2, C. Brown 1-1,Slocum 0-1, Gilchrist 0-1). Fouled out—None. Rebounds—Oklahoma 26 (Najera 8), Texas A&M 28 (Jack 6). Assists—Oklahoma 28 (Price 7), Texas A&M 19 (Gilchrist, King 7). Total fouls—Oklahoma 13, Texas A&M 9. A—4,074.

TU Doesn’t Want to Share

TULSA (AP) — Tulsa has no intention of sharing the Western Athletic Conference title, but coach Bill Self doesn’t expect Southern Methodist to make that an easy prospect.

Although SMU is out of regular season title contention, Self said he expects the Mustangs to play ‘‘with great passion’’ at home Saturday

‘‘They’re not playing for a championship, but they are playing for an NCAA tournament berth,’’ he said.

No. 15 Tulsa (26-3, 11-2 WAC) will have to beat the Mustangs (21-6, 9-4) to avoid all possibilities of sharing the WAC championship with Fresno State, which plays Hawaii on Saturday.

And Self actually welcomes a battle from SMU.

‘‘We need tough games,’’ he said. ‘‘It will be a game with high stakes, where there’s pressure.’’

With the tournament season closing in, Self said he is concerned by his team’s lack of experience with close encounters this season. Twenty-two of Tulsa’s 26 wins have come by an average margin of 24.4 points. Tulsa’s losses came by a total of 4 points.

In 29 games this season, the only time Tulsa trailed at halftime was at San Jose State and that was only by 1 point. And the Golden Hurricane fell behind in the second half in just seven games this season — the most was a 7-point deficit at Creighton.

‘‘We’re one of the few teams around that have played four games where it has come down to the last 1 1/2 or 2 minutes,’’ Self said.

The Golden Hurricane beat the Mustangs 70-59 last month. But in that game, Tulsa blew most of a 20-point lead and players appeared so on edge, Self found little to praise about his team’s performance — except the winning outcome.

Guard Tony Heard attributes Tulsa’s occasional late game letup to ‘‘little things,’’ such as not moving fast enough and missing plays.

‘‘We’ve got to buckle down and really concentrate toward the end of the game so we can close them out good,’’ he said.

With a victory Saturday, Tulsa would tie a school record for season wins, which was set 16 years ago at 27.

TCU ended SMU’s 13-game home winning streak Monday in a 86-83 victory, but the Golden Hurricane isn’t taking any chances.

After Tulsa beat UTEP last week, senior players held an impromptu pep rally, urging fans to fill the stands at SMU. Tulsa is bringing eight busloads of fans to Moody Coliseum and has sold 700 tickets to the game. More Golden Hurricane fans are expected to buy tickets in Texas.

‘‘We know how important it is for us, and we also know how important the game is for them,’’ guard Greg Harrington said. ‘‘We know they’re not going to come out and play lazy.’’

Blackwell In Area Play Again

BLACKWELL — Blackwell’s Maroons will be in the Class 4A Area Tournament for the third time in four years as they travel to Sand Springs today to play Skiatook at 8 p.m.

The Maroons came out of the loser’s bracket at the regional tournament at Oologah Saturday by defeating Jay 60-59.

Blackwell gained a 35-32 halftime advantage over Jay and pulled away in the second half.

Blaine Boyd poured in 25 points for the Maroons while Kyle Pennington had 14 and Jared Reese 10.

Ryan Penka did a great job defensively,” coach Mike Simpson said. “And it was good for Kyle Pennington to break out of his scoring slump.”

Simpson indicated Blackwell will need all of its guns against Skiatook.

“The Bulldogs have a center that is 6-10 and that will presents some new challenges,” the coach said. “But this team has continued to improve as much as any team I’ve had.”

Blackwell 69, Jay 59

Blackwell 19 16 11 23 — 69

Jay 15 16 8 20 — 59

Blackwell — Blaine Boyd 25, Kyle Pennington 14, Jared Reese 10, Justin Shepard 9, Ryan Penka 6, Tyler Dyer 3, Nathan Pennington 2.