LOCAL

Nearly News
Pilot Project Helps Ponca City Library Connect Citizens With Health Information
Opportunity Center Employee Wins State Specialist Award
Self-Employed Must Report Earnings To Get Benefits
P.C. Orchestras in Review Set for Hutchins Tonight
All Area Veterans To Be Honored At Honor Dance

Nearly News

The Marland Mansion will be closed until Monday due to the installation of a new sewer. Anyone needing assistance, please contact Kathy Adams at Marland’s Grand Home, 767-0427.

Pilot Project Helps Ponca City Library Connect Citizens With Health Information

Americans are looking for health-related information like never before, according to Julie Rutter, Reference Librarian, of the Ponca City Library.

“We’ve become a nation of health seekers,” Rutter said. “One national study showed that 55 percent of Internet users search for health information on the web. That makes it a more popular online activity than searching for sport scores or stock quotes.”

To help serve the public’s demand for health and medical reference sources, the library is participating in a special pilot program called the Oklahoma Health Connection.

Rutter says the project is important because Internet users are concerned about getting health information from an unreliable source. “That’s where libraries make the difference. We work to direct our customers to credible sources of information,” she said.

The project is coordinated by the Robert M. Bird Health Sciences Library at the University of Oklahoma Health Sources Center (HSC) in Oklahoma City.

Using a $25,000 grant from the National Library of Medicine, staff members at the HSC Library and the Oklahoma Department of Libraries are working together to train public librarians at Ponca City Library and nine other public library pilot sites in the state. The grant was one of three awarded by the National Network of Libraries of Medicine South Central Regional office.

“Our goal is to improve public librarians’ capability of handling consumer health questions,” said Marty Thompson, professor and HSC Library Director. “We want to enhance their ability to search the health literature and provide them with a connection back to this library if they don’t have the resources available to help a consumer.”

Thompson said another objective of the Oklahoma Health Connection is to enhance the HSC library’s relationship with Oklahoma’s public libraries. “Staff members of public libraries feel more comfortable accessing our services when they can put a name with a face,” added Thompson.

The pilot project involves eight municipal libraries around the state and two multi-county library systems — one located in eastern Oklahoma and one located in western Oklahoma. Reference librarians from the HSC library staff are conducting initial site visits to gauge librarians’ knowledge, goals and needs. The site visits will be followed by training sessions and additional visits.

“During the training sessions we’ll show librarians health-related databases, websites, and other electronic resources,” said Shari Clifton, Assistant Professor and Head of Reference and Instructional Services.

The project also includes an Oklahoma Health Connection website for librarians and consumers, plus a virtual health desk where public librarians can submit health questions. Clifton said the website is 90 percent complete and is scheduled to go online early in 2001. She said the eventual goal is to expand the project into every public library in the state.

Thompson emphasized the purpose of the service is not to help patients diagnose and treat themselves. “We encourage patients and consumers to take information back to their health care professionals and discuss it with them,” said Thompson. “We want to increase patients’ knowledge and help open the lines of communication between patients and health care professionals.”

Municipal Libraries participating in the Oklahoma Health Connection Pilot Project: Ardmore Public Library, Bartlesville Public Library, Duncan Public Library, Public Library of Enid and Garfield County, Lawton Public Library, Ponca City Library, Stillwater Public Library and Mable C. Fry Memorial Library, Yukon.

Library Systems include Western Plains Library System (WPLS) serving Custer, Dewey, Roger Mills and Washita counties. They include Minnie Slief Memorial Library of Cheyenne, Clinton Public Library, Cordell Public Library, Seiling Public Library, Sentinel Public Library, Hazel Cross Memorial Library of Thomas and Weatherford Public Library.

Eastern Oklahoma District Library System (EODLS) serving Adair, Cherokee, Delaware, McIntosh, Muskogee and Sequoyah counties include Jim Lucas Checotah Public Library, Eufaula Memorial Library, Q.B. Boydstun Library of Fort Gibson, Grove Public Library, Rieger Memorial Library of Haskell, Hulbert Community Library, Delaware County Library of Jay, Muldrow Public Library, Muskogee Public Library, Stanley Tibbs Memorial Library of Sallisaw, Stilwell Public Library, Tahlequah Public Library, Warner Public Library and John F. Henderson Library of Westville.

Opportunity Center Employee Wins State Specialist Award

For his success in job development, employment support and co-sponsorship of the Opportunity Center’s “Job Club,” Steven Webb was awarded the Employment Specialist award of the year at this years Oklahoma Association of Persons in Supported Employment conference.

Every year the OK-APSE holds its annual conference and awards banquet. This year, the two-day event, held at the Myriad convention center in Oklahoma City, consisted of several symposiums regarding the latest in employment support for persons with developmental disabilities.

The conference was closed with the annual awards banquet, emceed by Fox 23’s news anchorman Jack Bowen. Numerous awards were given in several different categories from supported employee of the year to employment specialist of the year for each of the three state regions.

Webb has been employed as an employment specialist by the Opportunity Center for three years. During this period, he has shown great success in finding and developing jobs for persons with developmental disabilities. In addition, Webb is a co-sponsor of the Opportunity Center’s Job Club.

Job Club is an organization chaired by and composed of Opportunity Center clients who work in community jobs. Job Club meets once a month to hold general discussions on work-related topics ranging from proper work hygiene to ways of preventing sexual harassment. Webb continues to find unique ways of teaching such important topics at the same time assisting in planning the recreational aspects of these meetings.

Through Webb’s careful guidance, the Job Club members are learning the importance of saving money for future activities, and the process and importance of governing and being governed.

Self-Employed Must Report Earnings To Get Benefits

By Richard Black

District Manager

Social Security Administration

If you’re self-employed, it’s up to you to make sure you report your earnings accurately and on time. Otherwise, when it’s time to collect Social Security benefits, you may not get all that you are entitled to receive.

Social Security benefit amounts are calculated on the amount of earnings or self employment income that is posted on your record.

You are considered self-employed if you operate a trade, business or profession, either by yourself or as a partner. Self-employed people, unlike individuals who work for an employer, do not receive W-2s listing their earnings.

Therefore, self-employed people whose net earnings are $400 or more in a year must report those earnings on an IRS Schedule SE along with their regular IRS 1040 Tax Form.

The Social Security tax rate for 2000 is 15.3 percent on self-employment net earnings up to $76,200. If your net earnings exceeded $76,200, you continued to pay the Medicare portion of the Social Security tax, 2.9 percent, on the rest of your earnings. (The 2001 earnings limit is $80,400.)

If you discover that you have not reported all of your self-employment income in a particular year, you may have time to make corrections. The deadline for reporting self-employment income so you can get credit for it on your Social Security record is three years, three months and 15 days from the last day of the tax year in which the income was earned.

For more information about reporting self-employment income, check out our website, www.ssa.gov, for a copy of the factsheet, “If You Are Self-employed” (Pub. No. 05-10022) or call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213.

P.C. Orchestras in Review Set for Hutchins Tonight

The Ponca City Public School’s Instrumental Music Department will present the 27th annual Orchestras in Review concert tonight at Hutchins Memorial at 7 p.m.

The fifth grade elementary orchestra will begin the tour under the direction of Keith Powers. This 95-member String Orchestra will perform the theme from “Happy Dance” by Leopold Mozart, “Ode to Joy” by Beethoven, and “Can Can” by Jacques Offenbach. They will conclude with “Lightly Row” by John Higgins.

Thirty-nine members strong, the sixth grade elementary string orchestra will continue the musical tour, again under the direction of Keith Powers. Their portion of the program will begin with “Hunter’s Chorus,” by Carl Maria von Weber, as arranged by Richard Meyer, and end with “Air and Caprice” by Larry Clark.

Both of the elementary orchestras were formed by combining each of the Ponca City elementary school string classes. Rehearsals were held on Tuesday afternoon for the past four school weeks.

Tonight’s musical excursion continues with the middle school orchestras, under the direction of Valarie Huffman. West Middle School, 21-string members strong, will take the stage to perform “Theme from Fantasie-Impromptu” by Frederic Chopin, as arranged by Robert Frost, and “Day, Night and Day” by Robert Frost.

The 25-member East Middle School string orchestra will continue the program with “Farandole” from “L’Arlessienne Suite No. 2” by Georges Bizet, as arranged by Merle Issac. They will conclude with “Overture to Lucio Silla” by W.A. Mozart, arranged by Sandra Dackow.

The Ponca City Senior High orchestra program, under the direction of Dan Larson, will be featured next. First up will be the Po-Hi Full Orchestra II group. This 55-member organization will present Peter I. Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz from Sleeping Beauty” as arranged by Merle Issac. The top performing orchestra, High School Symphony Orchestra (76-members strong), will perform “Der Fledermaus Overture” by Johann Strauss II. The two orchestras will combine to present “An American Rhapsody” by Richard Meyer to conclude the high school portion of the program.

A special section will bring the night’s activities to a close. This big finale will include all the strings (plus percussion), grades five through 12. They will perform Peter I. Tschaikowsky’s “1812 Overture,” as arranged by Sandra Dackow.

The community is invited to attend. There will be no admission charge.

All Area Veterans To Be Honored At Honor Dance

WHITE EAGLE — A traditional feast and honor dance for all area veterans, especially World War II veterans, will be hosted by the VFW Wah Shu Shay Post 9145 Saturday, March 31. The event will also honor women veterans, and will be held at the Ponca Tribal Cultural Center.

Honorees include Sgt. Major Leonard #Biggoose, Sfc. Drew Little Warrior, Sgt. Joe Hairyback, Paul Little Voice, Louis Doles, Felix Allen, and Levi Iron. Those wishing to give honorable mention and announce deeds, performed by now deceased veterans, are welcome to attend.

A gourd dance will begin at 2 p.m. with supper at 5:30 p.m. and a war dance at 7 p.m. Those attending should bring dishes and chairs. For more information call Keith Buffalo Head, 718-9474.

Lionel LeClair will be emcee; Henry Collins will be head singer; Michael Snake, head man dancer; Francis Kent, head lady dancer; and Paul Little Voice, head gourd dancer.

DEATHS

William C. Kincaid
Judith A. Gottlob
Marjorie Louise Bennett
Olen Neil Smith
Floyd Arnold Mack
Peggy Lee Friedman
Maude I. Schuneman

William C. Kincaid

BLACKWELL — William C. Kincaid, longtime resident of Blackwell, died Wednesday, March 28, 2001, in the Blackwell Integris Regional Hospital. He was 77.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March, 31, in the chapel of the Hackler Funeral Home with the Rev. Daryl Donovan officiating. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery. The casket will be open until the service Saturday.

William C. Kincaid was born Feb. 1, 1924, in Skiatook, the son of Thomas Glen and Ida Dean Carr Kincaid. He moved to Blackwell at an early age and graduated from Blackwell High School in 1941. After his service with the Marine Corps, he returned to Blackwell, where he was employed with Blackwell Zinc Smelter as a furnace worker for 25 years. He married Sherry Unruh on Nov. 11, 1967, in Perry. He was a member of the Chikaskia Masonic Lodge 109, VFW and the First Christian Church.

Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Tom Kincaid of Blackwell and William “Chris” Kincaid of Edmond; one sister, Mary Murphy of Wichita, Kan.; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13th, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73104.

The family will gather at the home of Sherry Kincaid following the services.

Judith A. Gottlob

SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. — Judith A. Gottlob, former resident of Ponca City, died Sunday, March 25, 2001, at the Northwest Medical Center in Springdale, Ark. She was 57.

Cremation was by Beard’s Funeral Chapel and Crematory of Fayetteville, Ark. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Judith A. Gottlob was born March 14, 1944, in Port Arthur, Texas, the daughter of Robert and Ruth Klien Musgrave.

Survivors include her husband, Max Gottlob of Siloam Springs, Ark.; four daughters, Tammy Siciliano of Elko, Nev., Tanya McBride of Aiea, Hawaii, Debra Ramirez of Arkansas City, Ark., and Tia Kassen of Ponca City; her mother, Ruth Schadd of Suffolk, Va.; a brother, Robert Musgrave of North Carolina; a sister, Pam Sthole of Suffolk, Va.; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Marjorie Louise Bennett

BLACKWELL — Marjorie Louise Bennett, resident of Blackwell, died Wednesday morning, March 28, 2001, in the Blackwell Regional Hospital in Blackwell. She was 69.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 31, in the chapel of Roberts Funeral Home in Blackwell with the Rev. Kevin Bookout, pastor of the First Free Will Baptist Church of Blackwell officiating. Burial will be in the Mount Olive Cemetery in Nardin.

Marjorie Louise Bennett was born Sept. 19, 1931, in Ponca City, the daughter of William Howard and Joy Eleanora Bailey Millage. She grew up in Blackwell, graduating from Blackwell High School in 1949. She married Bill Dean Bennett on July 2, 1951, in Colorado Springs, Colo., and they settled in Blackwell.

She served as a cook at several restaurants as well as Hillcrest Manor Nursing Home. She was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary where she served as president and the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary where she was serving as president. She also attended the First Free Will Baptist Church in Blackwell. She enjoyed trips to the lake and her grandchildren.

Survivors include a daughter, Billy Louise Reid of Blackwell; three sons, Jimmy Dean Bennett, Johnny Leslie Bennett and Jay C. Bennett, all of Blackwell; a sister, Doris Wilkerson of Ponca City; a brother, Howard Richard Millage of Blackwell; eight grandchildren; and a number of other relatives.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband and an infant brother.

Casket bearers will be Jim Glasgow, Bob Suggs, Les Cartwright, Jim Gooden, Kim Meadows and Bee Spears. Honorary casket bearers will be Jerry S. Reid III, James Michael Bennett, Roy Lively, Myron North, John Stauffacher and Wayne Adams.

Memorial contributions may be made to Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Diabetes Fund or Kidney Fund, c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Okla. 74631.

Services Pending

Olen Neil Smith

Olen Neil Smith, longtime Ponca City resident, died Thursday morning, March 29, 2001, in the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. He was 85. Local survivors include his wife, Lucille, of the home. Services are pending with Grace Memorial Chapel.

Funerals

Friday

Floyd Arnold Mack

Floyd Arnold Mack — Funeral at 2 p.m. in the United Methodist Church in Lamont under the direction of Wilson Funeral Home in Lamont.

Peggy Lee Friedman

Peggy Lee Friedman — Memorial service at 2 p.m. in the Westlink Christian Church under the direction of Lahey Mortuary West Chapel in Wichita, Kan.

Saturday

Maude I. Schuneman

Maude I. Schuneman — Funeral at 10 a.m. at the Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home in Arkansas City, Kan. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. in the Lamont Cemetery.

NEWS BRIEFS

Register Your Tree — Ponca City Homeowners, be sure to register each tree you plant with the Millennium Tree 2000 Project. Planter's name and location of the tree(s) will be recorded in the Millennium Tree Log Book and he/she will receive a beautiful hand-lettered certificate at no cost. All trees planted since March 1999 should also be registered. Applications for registration forms are available at most local garden centers where trees are sold and at the Chamber of Commerce office. Help the Millennium Tree committee register 2000 planted trees in the City of Ponca City by Dec. 31, 2001. Trees beautify and improve land values in the city for many generations.

Sonic 5th and Hartford will close March 28 for about 10 days to remodel. We apologize for any inconvenience. adv.

Wildcat Homecoming — Homecoming for the Po-Hi Soccer teams is scheduled for Friday, March 30 at Sullins Stadium. The Wildcats will host Midwest City for this event. Girls game will begin at 6 p.m. and the boys will play at 8 p.m. JV matches will be held at 4:30 p.m. Homecoming ceremonies will take place between games. For this special evening, members of the Ponca City Soccer Association teams will be admitted free if attending in uniform and accompanied by an adult. All team members should be sure to register for team parties to be given away at the game. Help make homecoming great and don’t miss a minute!

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.

The Big Day — The Big Day will be celebrated Sunday at the Lincoln Center, 700 W. Broadway, with a tailgate party including food, music games and more from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information, call 762-2729.

Onion plants and set seed potatoes, strawberry plants, berry plants, tomato plants, cucumber and squash plants. Keathly Nursery, 2448 Bridge Avenue, 762-2922. adv.

Subject Held — An officer in the 1100 block of West Ponca Avenue reported a 23-year-old man was taken into custody for trafficking drugs at 9:34 a.m. Wednesday.

Subject Held — An officer at the intersection of North Ash Street and West Hartford Avenue reported a 36-year-old woman was taken into custody on a city warrant for failure to pay at 10:32 a.m. Wednesday.

Theft — An officer at the Ponca City Police Department advised of taking a report for the possible tampering with city utilities at 12:35 p.m. Wednesday.

Intoxicated Subject — An employee at a business in the 800 block of West Grand Avenue reported to Ponca City police at 1 p.m. Wednesday several subjects were behind the business sniffing paint. Two officers were assigned and a report was taken.

Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential. 700 West Broadway. Call for hours. 765-9689. adv.

Subject Held — An officer in the 500 block of East Walnut Avenue reported a 30-year-old man was taken into custody for the intimidation of a state’s witness and a 22-year-old man on a Garfield County warrant for larceny at 1:29 p.m. Wednesday.

Gospel meeting with Everett Chambers. Newkirk Church of Christ, 328 North Main. April 2nd- 4th. 7:30 p.m. adv.

Accident — A hit-and-run accident at the intersection of Prospect Avenue and North Union Street was reported to Ponca City police at 1:32 p.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Dougan's Bar-B-Q Friday special from 4-8 p.m., all you can eat ribs with beans, potato salad and coleslaw, $8.49. 215 South 14th, 765-7979. adv.

Fire Run — A woman reported to the Communications Center that she saw flames coming from a mobile home in the Timberline Mobile Home Park on North McCord Road at 1:40 p.m. Wednesday. McCord Volunteer Fire Department was advised.

Theft — A Wal-Mart sales associate, 1101 East Prospect Avenue, reported two juvenile male shoplifters were being held for shoplifting to Ponca City police at 1:46 p.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and two 16-year-old boys were taken into custody for petit larceny. The boys were taken to the Ponca City Police Department and released to parents with a promise to appear in court.

Fraud — A man came to the front lobby of the Ponca City Police Department, 200 East Oklahoma Avenue, to report a local pawn shop was trying to defraud him at 1:51 p.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and handled the call.

Vandalism — The Communications Center received a call at 1:44 a.m. Thursday that someone had broken two windows out of a vehicle near the intersection of North Union Street and Brookfield Avenue. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. An injured subject was followed to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center for treatment of injuries.

Subject Held — An officer at the intersection of South Fourth Street and East South Avenue reported a 22-year-old man was taken into custody on a city warrant for failure to pay and a Kay County warrant for failure to pay at 1:55 p.m. Wednesday.

Accident — A two-vehicle, non-injury accident at the intersection of Harding Avenue and Lucas Street was reported to Ponca City police at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Two officers were assigned, but both parties were gone on arrival.

Subject Held — An officer in the 1000 block of North Sunset Street reported a 22-year-old man was taken into custody on a city warrant for failure to appear and a Kay County warrant for failure to appear and a 21-year-old man on a city warrant for failure to pay at 2:37 p.m. Wednesday.

Theft — A resident in the 500 block of East Cleveland Avenue reported a stolen bicycle to Ponca City police at 3:23 p.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Subject Held — An officer in the 1900 block of North Fourteenth Street reported a 22-year-old man was taken into custody on a city warrant for failure to pay at 3:31 p.m. Wednesday.

Theft — A man in the 1500 block of East Bradley Avenue reported to Ponca City police some cash and clothing had been stolen from his mother at 4:46 p.m. Wednesday. Two officers were assigned and a report was taken for grand larceny.

Disturbance — A 911 call advised Ponca City police of a domestic disturbance in the 400 block of South Franklin Street at 5:05 p.m. Wednesday. Two officers responded to the scene and a 33-year-old man was taken into custody for domestic assault and battery.

Vandalism — A woman in the 400 block of South Palm Street reported her vehicle had been vandalized to Ponca City police at 5:34 p.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and an information report was taken.

Theft — A clerk at Stop-and-Go, 501 West Highland Avenue, reported to Ponca City police a juvenile had stolen some candy from the store at 6:51 p.m. Wednesday. A description was given of the subject. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. The call was disregarded after the boy’s mother came into the business and worked out the problem.

Subject Held — An officer in the 700 block of North Osage Street reported a 45-year-old woman was taken into custody for public intoxication at 12:27 a.m. Thursday.

GARDENING

Diggin’ in the Dirt

Diggin’ in the Dirt

by Kathy Zehr

Easy, Convenient Container Gardening

Do you enjoy gardening, but are physically limited, or living in condos or apartments? Many wanna-be diggin’ in the dirt gardeners find themselves with very limited time, space and resources.

The answer, of course, is container gardening! According to Barbara Pleasant, author of “Container Gardens,” “almost any plant that can be grown in the ground can be grown in containers! Some even grow better that way,” she adds.

Container gardening is the perfect solution for lack of space, time, and muscle, but I like it for another reason. I can move pots around and have a different look on the patio or porch each time friends drop over for dinner! If something fails, I only have one pot-full and not a yard-full to replace. Containers work well in courtyards, on patios, porches, window boxes or even inside, in a sunny room! Care is minimal, but they do require more watering and feeding.

Start Small

Start out on a small scale with a few plants you really like. You will soon find yourself “hooked” on the ease of growing a pot of petunias or coleus and may soon graduate to tomatoes, bulbs, herbs and strawberries. The potential is endless, the effort is low labor and the results are exciting.

Select the area where you want to use your container(s) — make a trip to your local garden center to shop for a suitable pot(s),potting soil to fill them, and some seeds or plants.

The more economical gardener may want to start with a couple of old foam ice chests, or other containers from the storage shed, or maybe bag containers. I still use some old crocks and half-barrels which work well, and because I like the rustic look on the patio. We’ve seen petunias spilling out of old boots and shoes, shrubs set in homemade concrete block planters and wooden boxes. A unique cactus garden was planted in a child’s wagon and nasturtiums in a wheelbarrow. The more mobile the planter, the more versatile it will be to move to sunny or shady areas.

Pick Your Pot Carefully

Several types of pots are available today, but ALL should have a drainage hole at the bottom. If you have a pretty pot without a drainage hole it is probably best to place about two inches of pebbles in the bottom of it — place your plants in a smaller pot with a drainage hole and set it on the rocks inside the pretty pot.

Purchased pot choices include terra cotta, clay, fiberglass, plastic concrete, stone, wood, brass/copper or whatever! Clay or terra cotta pots are best for plants which demand dry soils, but can freeze and crack in winter if left outside with soil in them. If children are present, consider clay pots with wide bottoms so they won’t get knocked over.

Lightweight plastic pots and planters may look like clay or ceramic. Some are available with pop-off trays to catch drainage water. Avoid black ones because they absorb too much solar heat in northern Oklahoma. I really like plastic because it retains moisture on the hot patio, but I usually set them inside something more decorative. Plastics get brittle though and usually last only about three years.

Planters made from fiberglass foam are relatively new and are often molded with decorative relief patterns on the outside. I like them because they are lightweight, hold up in all types of weather, and look attractive for several years. Fiberglass pots come in all shapes and colors including a realistic-looking stone.

Stone and concrete planters are very classy, but are very heavy. Usually their massive weight demands placement in a permanent spot on a stone or earth surface rather than a deck or suspended surface. Check for drainage holes before purchase.

I like unfinished wooden boxes and planters made of cedar or redwood because they turn a beautiful weathered gray after use and complement the flowers. Other woods will last longer if treated with a waterseal product or painted every two years. If you build your own, use screws, not nails and install rollers on the base to make them easy to move. Plant in plastic pots to set in the containers to preserve the wood. Avoid planting veggies in treated wood containers.

Brass and copper pots are best protected from the elements. Again, pot the plants in plastic to set inside the metal containers to keep the pots untarnished. Steel or iron pots or baskets should be sanded about every two years and sprayed with rust retardant paint.

The easiest containers are simple 20-pound bags of potting soil. Punch a few small drain holes in one side. Lay them with drain holes down and punch planting holes in the topside. Cover with mulch or plant some vines to hide the ugly bags.

SPORTS

Wildcats Basketball Banquet Also Honors OSU Victims
Homecoming
Athletic Trainer Run Saturday

Wildcats Basketball Banquet Also Honors OSU Victims

By David Davis

News Sports Writer

The Ponca City High School Tip-Off Club held its annual basketball banquet Wednesday in the commons area of the school.

About 300 parents, friends and supporters attended the ceremony to express their appreciation to the players, coaches and support staff for a fun and exciting season of Wildcat and Lady Cat basketball.

Sadly, there was another purpose for the banquet. Wildcat coach Ron Arthur presented the families of Jared Weiberg and Pat Noyes with a plaque and Wildcat jersey. Weiberg and Noyes were two of the 10 members of the Oklahoma State University basketball program who were killed in the Jan. 27 plane crash.

“We really felt like they were Wildcats,” Arthur said as he made the presentations.

While the main purpose of the program was to say good-bye to the seniors and add closure to their high school careers, the banquet was also used by the coaches as a forum to look to the future, to let the players who remain know that they are expected to build on the success of the past season.

Arthur said the Wildcats finished fourth in the Frontier Conference with a season record of 13-13. The team was ranked ninth in the state in Class 5A, and missed making the state tournament by one game. The varsity team went 13-13 and for Ponca City, that’s a pretty good record — for right now.

“We are raising our standard. We have to raise our standard and we are going to raise our standard,” he said.

The varsity team had a 3.25 grade point average. The freshman varsity, freshman junior varsity, the sophomore and junior varsity teams all had grade point averages above 3.0.

He told the upcoming players that they could build on what the team 2000-2001 team began.

“Those guys are going to be ranked number one in the Tulsa World, and number one in the Daily Oklahoman, and number one in the Frontier Conference, if, they listen to their coach.”

When Master of Ceremony Phil Turney introduced Lady Cat coach Jamie Burtner, he said she would top the list of Lady Cats who played in the 1980s or 90s.

“She not only could play,” Turney said. “She played with an intensity that I saw this year from you all.

“She knows how to win and she likes to win.

“She knows what it’s like to play in a state championship game.

“She was part of some very, very successful teams.”

Burtner said the girls were confronted with adversity during the year. The chemistry of the team changed with the loss of Jenna Wedd. It changed when Courtney Birdsong was injured. And, the team chemistry changed again with the promotion of freshmen and sophomores onto the varsity team.

“Our team did face some adversities this year, but you’d never know it,” she said. “They showed how to dedicate themselves and the hard work paid off.

“When someone went down, another one stepped up to ll their shoes, right then and there,” she said. “And that’s what helped us be successful.”

As a coach, Burtner does most of her talking through her actions on the basketball court. But, she said last night that the Lady Cats will go farther into the playoffs next year.

“We are going to farther in the playoffs than the first round — because that’s what were going to do,” she said.

The girls varsity team had a grade point average of 3.57. She told the audience that it makes all the difference in the world to a coach when players understand what is said to them.

The Lady Cats are losing three seniors, Tara Cries For Ribs, Jena Birdsong and Lyndsi Frederick.

Burtner said Frederick was a great example of someone who went through two years without getting the playing time she expected.

“Through her hard work and consistency, she became one of our key players at the end,” Burtner said.

“Tara Cries For Ribs averaged eight or nine points a game, but in January after Jenna Wedd went down, Tara scored 67 points in three games.

“And Jena Birdsong comes in and starts nailing three’s, right and left, at a time when we needed them.”

Coach Arthur’s Wildcats lose eight seniors to graduation. He said each one of them made their own contributions to the team.

“John Abel didn’t play much, but he was still a great person for us at practice.

“James Anno, he’ll go down as a come through player.

“Jared Brashears, he’s a guy who we knew would come off the bench and provide a spark for us.

“Billy Broughton is a tremendous athlete and an awesome player.

“Tim Frick is everything I look for in a point guard, and then some.

“Blaine Petrie, he’s another player the other coaches respect, not only in the Frontier Conference, but around the state.

“Josh Pitts, he may score one point or he may score seven points, but the bottom line is that he’s a work horse and he was willing to do every dirty job we asked him to do.

“And Chris Upchurch was also a major spark that came from the bench for us.”

Arthur closed his remarks with levity by telling the seniors that he wished them the best.

“When you get older and start making a lot of money,” he said. “Then you can pay us all back.”

The following is a list of Wildcat awards and recipients.

Blaine Petrie and Billy Broughton, Second Team Frontier Conference; Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association Academic All State Honorable Mention, Josh Pitts and Tim Frick; Tulsa World All State Honorable Mention, Blaine Petrie and Billy Broughton; OBCA District 2 All Star, Blaine Petrie; Freshman Academic Award, Scott Hartman; Sophomore Academic Award, Drew Lancaster; Junior Academic Award, Larry Merz; John Jobe Senior Academic Award, Josh Pitts; Bobby Jack Award for top rebounder, Blaine Petrie; Norris Frederick Award for the most valuable offensive player, Billy Broughton; Tom Holiday Award for the most valuable defensive player, James Anno; Alan Robson Wildcat Coaches Award for leadership, academics and community involvement, Tim Frick and Jared Brashears; Sixth Man Award, Kris Upchurch; Wildcat Captains Award, Billy Broughton, Captain, James Anno and Tim Frick, CO-Captains.

The following is a list of Lady Cat awards and recipients.

Freshman Academic Award, Megan Benyshek; Sophomore Academic Award, Melissa Fore; Junior Academic Award, Jenna Wedd; Senior Academic Award, Raisa Durrani; Top Rebounder, Lyndsi Frederick; Most Valuable Offensive Player, Tara Cries For Ribs; Most Valuable Defensive Player, Jamie Prado; Hustle Award, Courtney Birdsong and Ponca Pride Award, Jena Birdsong.

Homecoming

Po-Hi Wildcat Soccer teams will host Midwest City for this year’s homecoming Friday. The Girls will begin play at 6 p.m., followed by the Boys at 8. Homecoming ceremonies will take place between games. The boys’ 2001 Homecoming Attendants (left) are, left to right, (front) are Tim Kana, Justin Bush, (back) Jerimy Cox, Sergio Villarruel, and Kyle Cain. Attendants representing the girls’ team (right) are (front) Tiffany Smith, Laura Windom, (back) Candice Moses, Jessica Plagmann and Sherina Wood. Homecoming King and Queen will be chosen from the Senior attendants and announced during the ceremonies. For this special evening, members of Ponca City Soccer Association teams will be admitted free, if attending in uniform and accompanied by an adult. All teams members should be sure to register for team parties to be given away at the game. In addition, season ticket-holders will be eligible for prizes.

Athletic Trainer Run Saturday

The First Athletic Trainer Classic is set for Saturtday at Ponca Lake.

The 5K walk/run and 10K run will begin at 9 a.m. at Shelter 1. Registration begins at 8 a.m.

The course is USATF sanctioned and certified. The race is coordinated by the Ponca City Roadrunners.

Proceeds benefits Wildcat Sports Medicine programs.