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From the pages of The Ponca City News, Tuesday, March 27, 2001 LOCAL DEATHS NEWS BRIEFS LIFESTYLES SPORTS BUSINESS LOCALNew Plant Changes North Sides Skyline New Plant Changes North Sides SkylineBy LOUISE ABERCROMBIE News Business Editor A new addition to Ponca City’s skyline are the yellow tanks of the new asphalt plant of Evans and Associates Construction. The new plant is most visible from the North Fifth Street and Prospect intersection, where the huge construction cranes can be seen in the distance. The cranes are currently erecting the large yellow silos with the E&A logo for the $2.4 million, state-of-the-art plant. According to Jerry Evans, president of Evans and Associates, the new plant was especially designed for the company by Astec of Chattanooga, Tenn. “The investment,” according Evans, “is related to the attitude of Ponca City, which has growth now with the Conoco carbon fibers plant and hopefully the gas-to-liquids project, which allows us to make this kind of investment. Of course we’ve got to sell a lot of asphalt to pay for it.” On another note, Evans and Associates has taken on a project of building a subdivision, Fox Run, in the area of Lake Ponca Park. The housing shortage was one problem which needed addressing in order for Conoco to expand its operations here. Arrival of the asphalt plant by truck caused quite a stir as the 26 loads arrived in town in the 3300 Block of North Fourteenth, where the Evans property is located. In fact it was a real traffic stopper. The plant is located to the west of the company’s corporate headquarters. Glen Nickles, who oversees the operation for E&A, said that three more truckloads of the plant components are scheduled to arrive to complete the facility. The decision to go with Astec was made early this year after several other manufacturers were approached. Nickles explained the reasoning behind erecting the new plant. “We are trying to improve our service to our customers. In many cases we’ve had customers call in and want a different type of material than what we are making. We’d just have to tell the customer that as soon as we finished, we would make their product. “Now we can make their product, store it and sell it, while we are running the other material. The material will be stored in the new heated silos.” Evans said, “We can produce the material in advance and keep it for several days in the heated silos and it will not lose its integrity or won’t segregate. This plant also has the capacity of 400 tons an hour as opposed to the old plant, which was about 200 tons.” A longtime Ponca City businessman, Evans explained about buying the plant: “Unlike a dozer or motor grader, an asphalt plant is made up of specific specially designed components, so when you buy one you are really looking at one that is already in place someplace else or you buy one that is not already manufactured and that is what Astec has done (manufactured the plant).” On this day J.D. Telford, executive director of the Oklahoma Asphalt Pavement Association, was visiting the state’s newest asphalt plant at the Evans complex. The service area of Evans is about an 80-mile radius. On occasion, when companies in Medford or Bristow cannot produce enough because of air quality standards, the material is purchased here. Another advantage with the capacity of the new plant and the storage, according to Evans, is having multi-crews working and doing a lot more projects simultaneously, so there will be increased employment due to the acquisition of the asphalt plant. The new plant, which is to be all electronically controlled, is expected allow for easier control of the gradation and quality and allows for greater efficiency, according to Evans. Nickles said, “The new plant will allow us to use recycle (asphalt). For instance if a street is to be repaved, the surface of a street will be milled off, recrushed, run through the plant and remarketed rather than just filling a hole with it.” Senator Wants Universities To Examine Texas Tax PlanBy LOUISE ABERCROMBIE News Business Editor Oklahoma Senate Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor is proposing a “mirror image” of the Texas tax system. He said the reasons are to attract business and industry, give families more spending power, and to keep retirees in Oklahoma instead of moving to Texas for a more favorable tax status. Taylor told The News Monday that Texas has no income tax or sales tax on groceries and this sometimes entices Conoco and Phillips retirees to move across the border, even though they have family and friends in Oklahoma. “In Ponca City and Bartlesville, you have Conoco and Phillips executives who retire and will move to Texas because of the tax structure. “That does two things, one it is just a lost of population, and the other is that so often we lose vital community leaders who contribute a great deal to the leadership of civic and charitable activities.” Adopting the Texas plan would also help in attracting business and industry to Oklahoma, due to more favorable taxes than the current Oklahoma tax structure, Taylor said. Taylor is calling for the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to do research and draft the “Texas Plan” and then put the matter to a vote of the people. Using the universities for the study would take the politics out of the matter, Taylor said. The studies would focus on the states’ respective tax codes, including personal and corporate income tax, sales taxes and exemptions, property taxes, estate taxes, franchise taxes and other business taxes. If the university studies are favorable to the Texas plan, Taylor said he would asked Gov. Keating to call a one-day special session of the Legislature to authorize a public vote on the matter. Responding to what would be used as a revenue stream to replace the taxes? Taylor answered, “If you give people more money in their pockets they are going to spend it. It is common knowledge that if you get an income tax rebate or a raise you are going to spend it. “We think if you take the tax off of groceries they (the public) will spend it on a boat or a car, which are taxable. We know in Texas they are actually able to spend more on their schools then we have. We think it would be good for the economy and make us more attractive to business and industry and Texas does a good job of supporting government.” Public Works Director NamedBy JEFF POLITTE News Staff Writer Craig Stephenson, former assistant city manager for the city of Enid, will be Ponca City’s new Public Works director. City Manager Gary Martin made the announcement at Monday night’s city commission meeting. Stephenson, 41, will be replacing Ken Parr as the restructured department’s director. The new department consists of Engineering, Traffic Engineering, the Street Department, Ponca City Regional Airport, Motor Pool Services and Lew Wentz Municipal Golf Course. The other areas of city government which changed hands during the department’s restructuring last January, which now falls under the heading of Environmental Services directed by Chad Morris, includes water production and distribution, waste water collection, the new Waste Water Treatment Plant, solid waste and the city’s landfill. Stephenson, whose first day was Monday, said he was looking forward to working with Martin and other city staff members in the future. “I’m glad to be here,” he said. “I’ve known Gary Martin through Oklahoma Municipal League meetings and City Manager Association meetings for several years … and he is well respected by his peers.” In the next few weeks he noted he had a lot of catching up to do. “I need to spend some time looking at our department to see what’s going on and see where we can effect a positive change,” he said. “Very seldom do we have the opportunity to hire someone with the experience Craig has,” noted Martin. “I have known Craig professionally for about 10 years. He is very well known across the state for his expertise in running city government.” “As soon as I heard he was available, I called and encouraged him to apply for this position,” he continued. “I believe he will be a good addition to our outstanding team of department heads in Ponca City.” From 1988 to 2000 Stephenson was the assistant city manager for the city of Enid, where he oversaw over 500 full-time employees and $79,016,000 in budgeted expenditures. From 1987 to 1988 he served as the assistant city manager for Dodge City, Kan., and from 1985 to 1987, as the administrative assistant to the city manager for that city. Stephenson earned his bachelors in political science in 1984 from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kan., and his masters in political science, with an emphasis in public administration, from the same university in 1987. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Amigos Library Information Service in Dallas, Texas, and a member of the University of Oklahoma’s Library and Information Services Masters Program Advisory Board, the Oklahoma Municipal League, City Managers Association of Oklahoma, the International City/County Management Association and the Public Risk Insurance Management Association. He has a wife Beckie and five children: Mandi, 13; Andrea, 12; Aaron, 11; Austin, 9; and Adam, 6. In other business, Ponca City’s Board of Commissioners voted 4 to 1, against the approval of a special use permit for a proposed 23-unit apartment complex for disabled individuals, called Skyline Apartments, in the C-1 local commercial district located in the 1500 block of Queens Avenue. Mayor Tom Leonard was the only member who voted in favor of the request. The vote came after a public hearing was held concerning the special use permit and the complex’s proposed site development plan. During the hearing, several residents raised concerns about the impact the complex would have on an already flood-prone area, and that the area’s drainage studies were only being considered “piece by piece,” rather than at one time. Commissioners also approved a contract with Ratliff Inc. for construction services associated with the Meadows Pump Station improvements project in the amount of $490,000. Voters Can Still Cast Ballots Before ElectionNEWKIRK — Registered voters in Kay County who want to vote by mail absentee ballot in next Tuesday’s annual run-off school election for Newkirk School and the Deer-Creek/Lamont School and the Kaw City Municipal and the Tonkawa Municipal to be held on April 3, 2001, have missed the application deadline. According to Carol Stafford, board secretary, other alternatives are available. “They aren’t out of luck,” she said. Voters who want to cast absentee ballots still can do so at the County Election Board office on March 29, 30 and April 1. A two-member, bipartisan Absentee Voting Board will be on dusty each day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to assist absentee voters. “In-person absentee voters fill out an application form when they get to the office. They are not required to give a reason for voting absentee,” Stafford said. “They are required to swear that they have not voted in regular mail absentee ballot and that they will not vote at their polling places on election day.” According to Stafford, the Absentee Voting Board verifies a voter’s registration information, then issues the voter’s ballots. The voter marks the ballots in a voting both and then puts them in the voting device. “It is very much like voting at a precinct polling place,” Stafford said. Contact the County Election Board, located at the courthouse at 201 South Main in Newkirk, for addition information. The phone number is (580) 362-2130. Six Hurt in Wreck SaturdaySix people were injured in a two-vehicle accident late Saturday night northeast of Newkirk on Gate Road, four miles north of Newkirk and 4.5 miles east of U.S. 77, according to the investigating officers of Troop K, Pawnee Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Trooper Ty Hendren of the Kay County Detachment, assisted by Trooper Kirby Logan, also of the Kay County Detachment, reported the accident occurred at 10:19 p.m. Saturday. It involved a 1991 Honda driven by Lindsay Bea Ross, 17, of Newkirk heading east and a 2000 Ford pickup driven by Cory Daine Goodno, 16, of Ponca City, heading west. The trooper reported that both vehicles were left of center resulting in a head-on collision. Ross was pinned in her vehicle an hour and 20 minutes, and was taken from the scene of the accident by MediFlight to St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, where she was reported in stable condition as of Tuesday morning. One passenger, 17-year-old Amy Michelle Martin of Newkirk, pinned for an hour in the wreckage, was taken by ambulance to the Arkansas City Memorial Hospital for treatment of head, chest and internal injuries. She was then taken by Mediflight to St. Francis also, where her condition was reported stable Tuesday. Another passenger, Erica May Morris, 15 of Ponca City, pinned for 20 minutes in the vehicle, was taken by ambulance to Arkansas City and then continued by ambulance to St. Francis Hospital, where she was reported in stable condition with neck, head and chest injuries. Goodno was reportedly taken by a privately-owned vehicle to Arkansas City where he was treated and released for trunk external injuries. A passenger, John Michael Hensy, 14, of Newkirk, was taken by ambulance to Arkansas City and then on to St. Francis also, where he was in stable condition with leg and head injuries and another passenger, Samantha Jo Hensy, 16, also of Newkirk, was taken by ambulance to Arkansas City and on to St. Francis with head, leg and trunk internal injuries. She was reported also in stable condition Tuesday. The two troopers were also assisted in the investigation by the Kay County Sheriff’s Office. DEATHSWilliam Murl Pruitt William Murl PruittMORRISON — William “Bill” Murl Pruitt, resident of Morrison, died Monday, March 26, 2001, at Green Valley Nursing in Perry. He was 80. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 28, at Grace Hill Cemetery in Perry with the Rev. Bill Powell officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Brown-Sisson Funeral Home in Perry. William Murl Pruitt was born April 2, 1920, in Bogata, Tenn., the son of William Theodore and Tressie Lee Cain Pruitt. On March 8, 1961, he married Patricia May Corbin in Weatherford, Texas. He had resided in Noble County for 29 years and previously lived at Lamont. He was a mechanic and operated a shop at his home and, for eight years, operated Pruitt’s Sooner Inn in Morrison. He served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a Jehovah Witness and a member of the American Legion. Survivors include a daughter, Diana Simon of Perry; two sons, Mark Pruitt of Ada and Michael Pruitt of Wichita, Kan.; a brother, Eddie Pruitt of Ardmore; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and two brothers. Taliana Marie DeJesus PowellWICHITA, Kan. — Taliana Marie DeJesus Powell, infant daughter of Clifton Powell and Tawnie Coronado of Wichita, died March 25, 2001, at the age of 15 days. A graveside cemetery will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, March 29, at the Resthaven Mortuary under the direction of Resthaven Mortuary and Cemetery in Wichita. Survivors include her parents; a brother, Steven Coronado of the home; two sisters, Tammanie Coronado and Telecia Powell, both of the home; grandparents, Raymond Coronado Jr. of Wichita, Diana Coronado of Ponca City and Tammy Powell of Wichita; great-grandparents Jean Powell of Wichita and Thomasine Hartico of Ponca City. ObituariesFred R. Taylor Sr.Fred R. Taylor Sr., longtime Ponca City resident, died Sunday, March 25, 2001, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. He was 72. The funeral will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 28, 2001, at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. J. D. Ward, pastor, officiating. Burial will be held at 2 p.m. in the Cherokee Cemetery in Cherokee. Fred was born July 17, 1928, in Tulsa to Leota (Teel) Taylor and Fred W. Taylor. He graduated from high school in Enid and served his country during World War II in the United States Navy. On Oct. 9, 1949, he married Jo Anne Azbill in Cherokee. After receiving his college education from both Northwestern University and Phillips University, Fred started a lifelong career as a business executive, operating many fine jewelry companies and other retail businesses. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife Jo Anne of the home; two daughters, Marcia Anne Badock of Denver, Colo., and Terri Logan and her husband Tim of Pittsburgh, Pa.; one son, Fred R. Taylor Jr. of Ponca City; one brother, Harry R. Taylor of Topeka, Kan.; and six grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and one brother. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association of Kay County, PO Box 1151, Ponca City, Okla. 74602. The family will be at 2508 Mockingbird, Ponca City, Okla. 74604. paid obituary Eileen Anna Reinking CarpenterBETHANY — Eileen Anna Reinking Carpenter, former resident of Ponca City, died at her home on Saturday, March 24, 2001. She was born in Nardin on Feb. 12, 1926, to Edward and Ella Reinking. She spent her early childhood years in Kay County schools and graduated from Ponca City High School in 1944. She married Myron Frank Carpenter on March 19, 1949, in Garden City, Kan., and lived in Edmond before establishing a home in Oklahoma City. They had three children. She was active in the Lutheran Church of Our Savior, teaching in preschool, singing in the choir and participated in other organizations. She retired from Sears in July of 1993 and enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Eileen is survived by her husband of 52 years; a son, Michael Paul of Oklahoma City; and a daughter and her husband, Kathleen Marie and Monte Thies of Huntsville, Texas. Also surviving are five sisters, her twin, Irene Quillen of Newkirk, Thelma Bley, Melba Heintz and Lenora Veloy, all of Ponca City, and Lu Otten of Sioux Falls, S.D. and numerous other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Michelle Eileen; a brother, Kenneth Reinking; and her parents. The funeral will be Wednesday, March 28, at 1:30 p.m. at Lutheran Church of Our Savior under the direction of Bill Merritt Funeral Services of Bethany. Friends may call at the funeral home until 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday. There will be no viewing at the church. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in her name to Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 6501 NW 23rd, Bethany, Okla. 73008. paid obituary FuneralsWednesday Lester Fred ClarkLester Fred Clark — Funeral at 10 a.m. in the chapel of Miller-Stahl Funeral Service in Newkirk. BUSINESSConoco Carbon Fibers Plant Work Staff Developing Conoco Carbon Fibers Plant Work Staff DevelopingBy LOUISE ABERCROMBIE News Business Editor Construction is in full swing at the new $150 million Conoco carbon fibers plant south of the refinery. The carbon fibers technology developed here in Ponca City by Conoco is expected to have a “game changing” affect world wide. It is in effect a “composite revolution.” Thus the theme of a new Conoco television commercial, “The World Comes to Ponca City,” is indeed appropriate, as not only experts are arriving from all over the world to work on the project, but customers are expected to come to check out the new breakthrough technology. Team Effort Bringing the project to the stage of fruition has been a team effort made up from the areas of technology, construction, operation, Mid-continent Business Unit, the community and government. Currently the construction is about to peak with the largest number of workers on site, according to Randol Marzuola, carbon fibers construction project manager. Several Ponca City contractors have been involved in the construction of the commercial plant at the 20-acre site. Right now the plant is at about 80 percent engineering, 60 percent buildings and 20 percent on the mechanical side. A number of years have been spent developing carbon fibers, according to Steve Harris, technology manager, carbon fibers. He spoke of the research at Research West and prior work with DuPont. The pilot plant at R&D West produces about 15,000 to 20,000 pounds of carbon fiber a year. “A lot of that is used to develop applications in the market, whether is in the battery industry, in automotive, or building construction, a lot of the effort of the pilot plant is to provide fiber applications,” Harris said. Recently the group met with Jerry Evans, Evans and Associates road about asphalt applications. Currently Evans, a local road contractor, has purchased another asphalt plant and a portion is devoted to carbon fiber, which strengthens the asphalt. The pilot carbon fibers plant, which has been in operation about eight years, runs 24-hours a day, seven days a week with three shifts , Harris said. About two years ago, when Conoco separated from DuPont, the research group and others became excited about carbon fibers — the more they understood the potential customer base and the capability of the technology the more it seemed practical to develop the commercial plant. “We had proved that we could run the pilot plant, it proved that piece of the technology and we started putting together business plans and then presenting those to the Conoco Board of Directors. That’s really what started the commercial design,” Harris said. Commercial Plant Marzuola said, “As the role of project manager, I’m responsible for the design and construction of the commercial facility. We are essentially in the final stages of wrapping up the engineering. “Obviously lots of equipment is being fabricated and manufactured at this time. A lot of it has been delivered to the site and we are very much into full stages of construction. We are about 30 to 45 days from what we’ll have as peak staff with several hundred people on the job. “All our contracts are under way and all the contractors are on site at this time. The bulk of those employed here will be travelers because we have pretty well exhausted the local folks as the numbers we have available in the construction trades.” Marzuola explained, “As the construction winds down in the next 30 days, the mechanical will be ramping up quickly and the electrical will be ramping up in 60 to 75 days. The last people out will be the electrical and instrumentation.” The plant is about 60,000 square feet and the pitch plant is another 59,000 square feet. These are located on the 20-acre site. Marzuola added, “Vessels are beginning to go in, equipment is going on foundations, the final concrete is being done in the pitch plant and structural steel is going up. Also equipment that goes inside the buildings on the fiber side of the business are being erected.” Other equipment includes the auxiliary equipment for offices and warehousing. One of the reasons the carbon fiber plant is here is because the refinery had a product the plant will use. Marzuola explained carbon fiber saying. “Ultimately the carbon is the end product. The feedstock comes from this refinery. The feedstock is then turned into the fiber and then turned into fiber as carbon fiber.” Reasons the plant located here, according to Marzuola are, “We took advantage of the connecting infrastructure, the local technology and feedstock and the support from the community.” The Economic Development Advisory Board, the City, Kay County Commissioners, and state and federal governments put together a significant package to help locate the plant in Ponca City. This included two entrance roads, a rail spur, tax packages and a water line that will also improve the water service to the west side of Ponca City. Staffed by April 2 When finished with the construction, Marzuola will hand the project off to Brad D. Brunkow, Operations Manager, Carbon Fibers Business Unit. Brunkow, started advertising for personnel last summer, did a round of assessments from the applicants in September and a second round interactive assessment in November and made offers in February. The first day of work is April 2. There are 66 specialists who will operate and maintain the plant. Fourteen resources teams were aboard in January 2000. Local Economic Boost Marshall J. Cohen, Director-Communications, Carbon Fibers, said, “It is fair to assume we brought a bunch of specialists to Ponca City, many of whom are living here permanently to become part of the project and after the project is up and running, we will have a lot of people coming in to visit and to observe as we date these learnings, as we intend and grow.” Start up is expected late this year, and the employees are in training now and will begin operations, procedures, development, systems design and how to function, as well as checking out the equipment. Marzuola said part of these resources are from technology and part are from projects. “We are really integrated between the resources and operations people who will be key to ultimately starting up of the facility. As I finish up there will be construction helping me with line walk down, system turnover and equipment check out — they’ll be taking care of that, through the construction phase.” The commercial plant is being installed as a 4.4 million pound per year facility with the ability to modify the facility and change that role to 8.3 million pounds per year. A lot of the equipment going into the plant is designed on the basis of 8.3 million pounds. Next Generation Marzuola said, “We’ve already begun establishing the beginning of a project team that will be working on the next larger facility. Some of those (people) are part of my existing team, some will come from the research group and those will be interactive with the learnings group running this plant and as all projects do that team will ramp up quickly next year and become large as they administer a new project.” Harris said, “One of the group I have, is refocusing on the next generation technology getting ready for the next plant. In addition to assisting Brad (operations) by running the first unit, a lot of work is beyond today. No decision has been made as to where the next plant will be located.” March Moments on Main Street Set At Daily Grind Wednesday AfternoonPonca City Main Street Authority in partnership with the Daily Grind, 202 East Grand, will host the March Moments on Main Street from 2-3 p.m. on Wednesday. The community is welcome to attend. “This is a good opportunity for building and business owners as well as other individuals to spend some time getting to know one another better,” said Tim Wilkins, Executive Director for Ponca City Main Street Authority. Moments on Main Street is designed to provide an opportunity for all people interested in downtown to get together and discuss local issues. It is also a time for individuals and merchants to get information about the upcoming events of the Main Street Authority. “We appreciate Daily Grind owner David Broome's willingness to host the event,” added Wilkins. For more information about Moments on Main Street or the PCMSA, please call (580) 763-8082 or e-mail at pcmainst@poncacity,net. Senator Nickles Heading to China On ‘Spring Break’ From CongressBy LOUISE ABERCROMBIE News Business Editor Sen. Don Nickles on his “spring break” from Congress is slated to make an economic development mission to China with the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce. Nickles told The News, “I’m going to try to open some doors. China is the largest, most populous country in the world and there is enormous potential for economic growth. We’ve given China permanent trading status and the Chinese are very grateful for that, so there are some opportunities to greatly expand trade. “Their economy is very young and they are moving slowly towards a market economy. The potential for growth there exceeds that of almost any place in the world. We have some Oklahoma companies, which are already there and a lot more that want to be there.” Nickles said the trip has come about because a top Chinese official was in Oklahoma City last year at the annual Chamber banquet. Oklahoma’s Senior Senator noted there are some energy opportunities in China, particularly on the energy side. He mentioned Conoco, Kerr-McGee, Phillips and Ditch Witch. Law Day Activities April 30-May 7 To Involve Several Area AttorneysKay County Bar Association President Michael R. Collins of Ponca City has named Ponca City attorney Todd Burlie as chairperson of Law Day activities for Kay County. Gov. Frank Keating has signed a Law Week proclamation officially setting aside April 30 to May 7 as a special time to celebrate our freedom and renew once again our efforts to form a more perfect union and continue the quest for quality by working to insure the rights and liberties of all citizens. Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice Rudolph Hargrave has issued a directive urging all courts in the state’s 26 judicial districts to include the community in special events commemorating the occasion. The idea to celebrate Law Day, being observed nationally for the 50th consecutive year, was conceived by the late Hicks Epton, a Wewoka attorney and past president of the Oklahoma Bar Association. This year’s theme is “How America Celebrates its Freedoms.” The Oklahoma Bar Association will soon announce the winners of its statewide Law Day poster, essay and photo contests. Statewide Law Day activities will also include volunteer lawyers giving free legal advice to Oklahoma residents over the telephone on May 1. The one-hour “Ask A Lawyer” television program will air Tuesday, May 1, at 7 p.m. on OETA and will feature Oklahoma attorneys discussing adoption, Internet fraud and protecting the best interests of children. Karen Jayne of Oklahoma City serves as the OBA Statewide Law Day Committee chairperson. Reinvesting in Downtown Gave Mair Second CareerEditor’s Note: This is one in a series featuring business women during Women’s History Month. By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE News Business Editor Verona Mair has a passion for business and for reinvesting in downtown. Retiring from a 21-year career at Conoco, Verona, downtown business woman, will soon be celebrating 20 years in her second career as a shop keeper on April 1. But the story doesn’t end there, Verona and her husband Glen are the owners of five businesses on Grand Avenue. The first business known as The Emporium began in the building on West Grand, where Subway is located now. That business started on April 1, and stayed there about three years, with Verona pretty much operating it by herself. Then the store moved to the 300 block of East Grand. A year later, the Mairs would buy The Gift Shop and later bought the building. Next came Merle Norman, 10 years ago, Del-lcious Diner and Tis’ The Season, three years ago, stretching from Third and Grand to 307 East Grand. She says the Del-lcious Diner fits nicely with a limited menu. And often Verona will be taking her turn as the cook at the diner. Also there are some organizations that meet there. Tourists are a part of the business. Recently a couple stayed at Rosestone Inn, went to the Poncan Theatre for a movie and dropped into the diner for a bowl of chicken and noodles and dessert. They said, “Oh your downtown is so wonderful.” Verona said she is pleased that the younger generation is beginning to take an interest in downtown. Mair says that the Merle Norman and Tis’ the Season stores have good investment. She noted there is a bridal registry at the Christmas store. Additionally the upstairs over the diner is occupied by The Main Street Authority, which enjoys free rent because the Mairs are a supporter of downtown. Also a meeting room upstairs is rented for a nominal fee. Verona says she believes in investing downtown because she is from here and grew up here. She also lived in Tulsa and Wichita and on a farm. “I was brought up by a grandmother who believed what you get from a city you give back to a city sometime. And I guess maybe that’s where it all stemmed from. “We have been successful and I believe in reinvesting in what made us successful and I think that can happen to other people. If you are there and you are willing to put your time and your heart and have a ‘passion’ for it.” She noted some shop owners come and go, but they let others do it for them and didn’t have a “passion” for success. She is passing that “passion” along to her daughters Connie and Cathy, who work in the businesses. Ponca City Entrepreneur Set To Compete for National PrizeEditor’s Note: This story comes from the Oklahoma Small Business Administration. OKLAHOMA CITY — Born, raised and educated in Germany, Mike Engster came to Ponca City, Okla., with only $178 cash, a wife and a son, and a unique idea for a business repairing and re-manufacturing machinery spindles. From a mustard seed budget and two employees, Engster has nurtured and matured Centerline, Inc. to an operation serving 350 customers worldwide with sales close to $3 million. Because of his phenomenal success, Engster was recently named Oklahoma’s 2001 Small Business Person of the Year by the Small Business Administration. “Each year for the past 38 years, the President has issued a proclamation for the celebration of Small Business Week as a time when America salutes the achievements and economic contributions of the nation's 25 million small businesses,” said Dorothy Overal, SBA Oklahoma District director. “To be chosen one of 53 outstanding small businesses nationwide, from among millions, demonstrates what a superb entrepreneur Mike Engster truly is,” she said. Engster will compete for the national award with top small business persons representing each state, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and Guam, during ceremonies in Washington, D.C., May 6-12. Although successful now, the beginning days in the machinery-spindle-repairing business was a struggle. At one point, although he received help from an old family friend, Engster was forced to sell some of his remaining assets for enough money to feed his family. Engster describes the machinery spindles as small engines within a machine. He explained rotating machine components (spindles) are used in all milling, grinding, drilling, engraving, routing and polishing machines. Most of the production machines, which contain spindles, are expensive, produce high volume and are used on more than one shift. Downtime on these machines can cause a major loss of production. It was here that Engster saw his market niche. Centerline Inc. was soon born to provide an efficient and fast repair service. Engster chose to locate his company in Ponca City because of the Pioneer Technology Center’s business incubator facility. The facility provided graduated rent assistance that allowed him to get his business off the ground in the important first few months of operation, without much cash outlay. The center also provided Engster with access to computers and secretarial assistance. “My equipment at that time consisted of a tool box from Wal-Mart, a kitchen table and a vise — that’s it,” said Engster. “Because of my lack of equipment, I was forced to farm out much of my machinery and test my refurbished spindles only after they were installed back on the original pieces of equipment.” After spending hours talking with potential customers, Mike and son, Stephan, realized they had made an impression when officials from Boeing in Wichita, Kan. came to visit. “At the time, we were located in the Pioneer Tech incubator's huge warehouse-type room. We had not purchased hardly any equipment, so the room was nearly empty,” he said. “The Boeing officials didn’t know what to think of me. I had to think quickly about what to say. I asked them what they see when they go to their doctor’s office. Usually you just see a room, with a table and maybe a chair. But they put their trust in that doctor to take care of their health. Well, I told them to think of me as a spindle doctor.” Boeing began sending work to Centerline, Inc. after this meeting. Before using Mike for their spindle repairs, they were sending many of their machines overseas, causing months of downtime and loss of production. In addition, Mike was less expensive than many larger European engineering firms. Through his struggles, Engster was able to generate $68,952 in sales the first six months of operation with a net income of $25,759. Employees consisted of him and his son, Stephan. By December 1996, Centerline, Inc. was a “seasoned” business with two and one-half years behind them. Mike had to start making preparations to exit the incubator program because his three years in the program would be up the following summer. Pioneer Bank and Trust, an Oklahoma SBA Preferred lender approached Engster. They were able to help him secure a $215,000 SB-guaranteed loan. Engster began construction on a new 5,400 square foot facility located directly across the street from the Pioneer Technology Center. By the time construction was complete in September 1997, the company employed 10 people with sales of $986,892. Then, because of the rapid growth in sales and employees, Engster again needed to expand his facilities. In June 1999, Pioneer Bank and Trust made another loan to Mike to add 3,780 square feet as well as expand his parking lot by another 4,632 square feet. Today, Engster is living the American dream with 23 employees and sales close to $3 million. NEWS BRIEFSPC56er’s Will Meet — The club for Department 56 collectors will meet at Albright Methodist Church on South Palm Street, April 2 at 7 p.m. Pauline’s Hot Prime Rib Open Face sandwich with mash potatoes and mushroom gravy, $7.95. Every Wednesday night. For reservations call 765-5460. adv. Subject Held — An officer in the 2300 block of North Ash Street reported a 46-year-old man was taken into custody after a traffic stop for no drivers license, no tag and no insurance at 9:52 a.m. Monday. The man’s vehicle was towed from the scene. Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential. 700 West Broadway. Call for hours. 765-9689. adv. Fire Run — A grass fire in the 800 block of North Union Street was reported to Communications Center at 10:06 a.m. Monday. Unit one and engine two with the Ponca City Fire Department responded to the scene. Subject Held — An officer in the 200 block of South Oak Street reported a 36-year-old man was taken into custody for the sale of drugs at 10:51 a.m. Monday. Prom Jewelry and summer jewelry are new arrivals! Want something different for Easter? Come see at Christy's 3005 North 14th. Open everyday. adv. Accident — A minor, two-vehicle accident at the intersection of North Fifth Street and East Overbrook Avenue was reported to Ponca City police at 10:54 a.m. Monday. An officer was assigned, but neither party wanted a report. Onion plants and set seed potatoes, strawberry plants, berry plants, tomato plants, cucumber and squash plants. Keathly Nursery, 2448 Bridge Avenue, 762-2922. adv. Vandalism — A Conoco employee reported to Ponca City police at 1:15 p.m. Monday some more graffiti had been painted on the old McKinley School, Edwards Avenue and South Fifth Street. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Gospel meeting with Everett Chambers. Newkirk Church of Christ, 328 North Main. April 2nd- 4th. 7:30 p.m. adv. Burglary — A man in the 100 block of West Emporia Avenue reported his residence had been broken into to Ponca City police at 2:57 p.m. Monday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Every Wednesday ð price clothes and shoes, except priced items. Check our daily specials. Caboose Thrift Shoppe, First and Central. adv. Fraud — A man came to the front lobby of the Public Safety Center, 200 East Oklahoma Avenue, to report to Ponca City police at 3:17 p.m. Monday someone had been using his checking account. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Sonic 5th and Hartford will close March 28 for about 10 days to remodel. We apologize for any inconvenience. adv. Accident — A two-vehicle, non-injury accident at the intersection of Overbrook Avenue and North Union Street was reported to Ponca City police at 4:49 p.m. Monday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Accident — An employee with the Traffic and Engineering Department reported to Ponca City police at 3:41 p.m. Monday someone had ran over a stop sign at the intersection of Industrial Boulevard and North Waverly Street. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Accident — A motorcycle/vehicle accident one half miles east of Pecan Road on Hubbard Road was reported to Ponca City police at 3:54 p.m. Monday. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol was advised. Engine four, rescue one and an ambulance from the Ponca City Fire Department also responded to the scene. One subject was transported code yellow to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. Subject Held — A Ponca City booking officer reported a 28-year-old man was taken into custody after turning himself in on a city warrant for failure to appear at 4:24 p.m. Monday. Subject Held — An officer in the 500 block of North Third Street reported a 37-year-old man was taken into custody on a Kay County warrant for a false pawn declaration at 4:29 p.m. Monday. Accident — A hit-and-run accident in the 200 block of South Elm Street was reported to Ponca City police at 4:51 p.m. Monday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Subject Held — An officer in the 3200 block of North Fourteenth Street reported a 40-year-old woman was taken into custody on a city warrant for failure to appear at 5:48 p.m. Monday. Stolen Vehicle — A man in the 400 block of South Fourteenth Street reported a stolen vehicle to Ponca City police at 9:15 p.m. Monday. A description was given of the vehicle. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. This vehicle’s information was sent to surrounding agencies. Subject Held — An officer in the 1900 block of North Fourteenth Street reported a 46-year-old man was taken into custody on a city warrant for failure to appear at 11:11 p.m. Monday. LIFESTYLESThe neighborhood Chef The neighborhood Chefby Sherry Muchmore A Slice of Sweetness The pretty fluted bundt mold remains one of the surest ways of making even the simplest of cakes special. Still my favorite style for cake preparation. No layers to contend with, often this type of cake doesn’t have the need for heavy frostings but prefers the simplicity of glazes. Bake party-size cakes, or mold salads and desserts in the traditional Bundt-shaped pan. The Bundt Pan, pronounced ‘BUHNT’, was originally the trademark name of a tube pan with fluted sides. “Bundt pan” is now the general name of any of that style of cake pan. Even though most are non-stick, to prevent a cake from sticking to them, it’s extremely important that all the creases of the fluted sides be well greased before pouring in the batter. These great pans come in several useful sizes with the two mentioned here being used most often. Try the 10-inch, 12-cup pan, 3-1/2 inches deep, or add old-world style to your muffins and pound cakes as individual-size desserts, take-home favors or gifts with the mini pans. Approximately 3-inch, 1 cup pans, 1-1/2 inches deep, these mini pans usually come six to a sheet. This next recipe is an excellent cake; moist with a slight crunch, fantastic without icing. If you like the flavor of butter toffee, you’ll love this cake. Toffee Crunch Cake Gayle Fausett, OKC, OK 1/2 cup butter (1 stick) 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 cup packed brown sugar 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 egg 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract 1 cup buttermilk (or, 1 tablespoon vinegar to 1 cup milk) 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/8 teaspoon salt 3 1.4-ounce bars Toffee Candy Bars (such as Heath or Skor), crushed 1 cup pecans, chopped Cut butter into flour and sugars until crumbly. To 1/2-cup of this mixture add chopped nuts and crushed candy; set aside. To the rest of the sugar mixture, add the remaining ingredients — egg, vanilla, buttermilk, salt and baking soda; beat till blended. Into a greased 9 cup bundt pan, pour 1/3 of the batter. Sprinkle 1/3 of the candy mixture over batter; alternate with another layer of batter, then candy mix, and finally batter and candy mix. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes or toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool. If desired, sprinkle with a little powdered sugar. Note: To crush candy bars; freeze, place frozen candy bars between 2 sheets of foil or waxed paper or in a baggie and roll with a rolling pin to crush. I actually tend to pound with the rolling pin or meat mallet. I prefer these pieces be more chunky than finely crushed. Brownies are just about everybody’s everyday favorite snack. Here’s one with a little added attraction, Hershey’s syrup, in the batter and in the icing. Hershey’s Brownies 1 stick margarine, room temperature 1 cup granulated sugar 4 beaten eggs 1 teaspoon Vanilla 1 cup Hershey Syrup (use 16-ounce can) 1 cup all-purpose flour Cream margarine with the sugar. Add eggs, vanilla, Hershey syrup and flour, mix well. Bake in a greased 13 x 9-inch jellyroll-type pan at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes. Cool and ice. Icing: 1/2 cup Hershey’s Syrup (remainder of can) 1 box Powdered Sugar 1 teaspoon Vanilla 3 tablespoons margarine, softened 3/4 cup toasted pecans (350 to 400 degrees for about 5 minutes) Vivian Greenhagen called this week with an interesting note relating to last Tuesday’s recipe (March 20th) called Cherry Dream Squares. She said she made this dessert years ago. It comes from the side panel on the Jiffy white cake mix box and is called Fruit Magic. Mrs. Greenhagen suggests using whatever canned fruit you might like, it doesn’t have to be cherry. This following cake is special to me because my dear friend Diane kinda combined several recipes to make me a special birthday cake back when we all lived in Broken Arrow. She knew how much I liked cranberries but you can also substitute raspberry or strawberry jelly for the cranberries if you prefer. Sherry’s Surprise Cake Diane James, Houston, TX 1 cup vegetable shortening 1 cup granulated sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup sour cream 1 teaspoon Almond Extract 1 7-ounce can Cranberry sauce or jelly chopped Pecans Cream shortening and sugar, beat in eggs, salt, baking powder, baking soda and almond extract. Stir in flour and sour cream. Spread half the batter in a greased and floured 8-inch tube or large bundt pan. Spread half of the cranberry sauce or jelly over batter; pour the remaining half of the batter followed by the remaining cranberry sauce or jelly. (Be sure and keep cranberry sauce from touching the edges.) Sprinkle with pecans. Bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes. Cool 5 minutes then turn out. Drizzle glaze over cake. Glaze: 3/4 cup powdered sugar 1/4 teaspoon Almond Extract Water to desired consistency or cranberry sauce or juice Mix all together and drizzle over cake. Send your recipes to: The Neighborhood Chef, c/o The Ponca City News, P.O. Box 191, Ponca City, OK 74602, or e-mail me at: chef@poncacitynews.com (All recipes become property of The Ponca City News.) Little NewsTrevor Dean Bushman Trevor Dean Bushman is the name chosen by Michael and Diana Bushman of Wichita, Kan. for their son, who was born March 13, 2001, at 2:02 p.m. in Via Christy St. Joseph Medical Center in Wichita, Kan. He weighed 7 pounds,10 ounces. He has a sister, Jessica Bushman. Maternal grandparents are Betty Gardner of Kansas City, Kan., and the late Robert Gardner. Paternal grandparents are Charles and Barbara Wood of Tonkawa, and Luke Bushman of Oklahoma City. SPORTSCats Fall Hard to Tulsa Union Cats Fall Hard to Tulsa UnionBy David Davis News Sports Writer Jimmo Ozment hit a home run in the bottom of the seventh to make the score 15-8, but that’s as close as the Ponca City Wildcats could come after letting Tulsa Union get away with the game by scoring eight runs in the top of the seventh inning. “I’m happy we fought hard and didn’t give up,” Wildcat coach Justin Timmerman said. “We were right there with them for four innings. “We just need to work on a couple of things.” Starting pitcher Bryan Coppock uncharacteristically gave up four runs on three hits in the first inning to fall behind quick. He was also victimized by a throwing error by the catcher on a stolen base attempt. He settled down in the second, but Union still managed to get one across home plate on a walk, a single and error to make the score 5-0. Ponca City finally reached the scoreboard with a single run in the third, but Union’s Tim Lawrence hit a solo home run in the fourth up the lead to 6-1. The Cats came to life in the fourth scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth to make the score, 6-5. But Union scored again in the fifth to put the Redskins ahead by two, 7-5. And when it seemed like the Wildcats would let another game slip away from them, Buddy McCoy slid home on a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the score at 7-7. McCoy, the Wildcat catcher who has been plagued with ankle problems this year and sidelined for four games, already scored the first Ponca City run in the third when he hit a little blooper into center field that got by the fielder. Two throwing errors later, McCoy slid in safe at home, to make the score 5-1. Suddenly, after six innings, Tulsa Union found itself fully involved in a baseball game Monday at the Po-Hi baseball field. Union roared back in the top of the seventh with back-to-back triples from the first two Union batters. Jordan Renz led off the seventh with a monster slam to the deepest part of center field for the first triple. He was followed by Mike Garner, who drove a pitch to left field for another triple. Wes Day, who relieved starter Bryan Coppock in the fifth, got the next two batters out. John Chisolm hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Garner from third base. Designated hitter Keith Ford hit a scorching ground ball to third that Doug Tosh snagged. It was a difficult play made easy. He had plenty of time to throw Ford out at first. The game was still within easy grasp of the Wildcats. The score was 9-7, with two outs and no runners on base when Union third baseman Ryan Brown stepped up to the plate. Brown struck out his first two at-bats and grounded out to short in the top of the fifth. But in the top of the seventh with the game on the line, Brown did not strike out. Instead, he caught up with a fastball and sent it to left center field for the third triple of the inning. Matte Wilks relieved Day and immediately gave up a line drive single to right field off the bat of Union’s lead-off batter Tim Lawrence. Brown scored from third to make the score 10-7. Tyler Gooch hit a slow roller to first base. Jeremy DeNoya tried to make the play unassisted, but the ball rolled too slow and Gooch was able to beat DeNoya to the bag. Lawrence, who had stolen second, easily scored on the play. Now the score was 11-7. The next batter was hit by a pitch. Renz, who started the inning with a triple, capped Union’s scoring frenzy with a grand slam over the left field wall to make the score, 15-7. Garner struck out for the third out. “You’ve got to give them credit,” Timmerman said. “They came out in that last inning and hit the ball good.” The Wildcats now have a record of 7 wins, 8 losses (1-7, Frontier Conference). The Cats travel to Tonkawa for a double-header today, then travel to Norman for a tournament Thursday through Saturday Lady Cat Golfers First — Again; Boys Improve To Take SecondCUSHING — Ponca City’s Lady Wildcat golfers are four-for-five while freshman Michaela Cavener is perfect on the season. The Lady Cats won their fourth tournament title in five tries Monday at Cushing, shooting a 336 total to finish 22 strokes in front of second place Bartlesville. Cavener won her fifth straight medalist title, posting a 76 over the par 71 Cushing municipal course. But this time she had to edge out Natalie Dodson of Cushing in a scorecard playoff. Further back in the individual standings came Sarah Bond of Broken Bow with an 81 for third place. Ponca City’s Christi Rutledge tied for seventh with an 86, Jenni Nimmo and Katie Girardi tied for ninth at 87 and Kellie Waddell was a stroke behind at 88. “We’re playing pretty consistent right now.” said coach John Spore. “We’ve beaten everyone except Edmond North and we’ve won mostly by comfortable margins. “I was pleased with our scoring come off spring break,” the coach added. “I thought all of the scores were pretty high and the weather, which was chilly, didn’t help. But another coach pointed out that the scores were comparable to last year’s tournament. So maybe the course is tougher than I thought.” Spore warned that the courses and the opposition will get much tougher as the season progresses. The Lady Cats do not play until next Monday when they visit the Enid Invitational. Three days later the Poncans play in the Jenks Tournament. “The regional tournament will be at Jenks,” Spore said, “ so it’s important we play well there. “We can get better,” the coach noted. “I’d like each of our girls to take five strokes off their scores. “Bartlesville (second at Cushing with 358) is a team we will have to compete with the rest of the way and Sand Springs (360) is getting better.”
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