From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Tuesday, March
25, 1997
LOCAL
Monday's Wind Knocked Power Out for Some
Nearly News
Coach Highfill Scholarship Established at NWOSU
Diabetes Alert Today
New Computer System Headed To County Office
Budget Work Session Set Wednesday
Special Title IX Presentations Here Thursday
City Sets New Golf Rates For Lew Wentz Operation
Catholic Church Announces Holy Week Schedule
Fingerprints Just One Piece Of Evidence
DEATHS
Edna Foy
Funerals
Arthur Lee Lorg
NEWS BRIEFS
BUSINESS
Conference Center Lessee Seeking Niche for Facility
Blackwell Smelter Site Part of Redevelopment
City Sales Tax Collections Fall During January
Nickles, Inhofe Receive U.S. Chamber Honor
New Firm Provides Answering Service
Special Forum Will Feature City Candidates
Notes and Quotes
LIFESTYLES
Cecil Keen Celebrates 90th Birthday
Little News
Extreme winds caused power outages for some Ponca City residents Monday night.
According to Phil Johnston, Electric Department system engineer, only two cases of trouble were reported and three electric crews responded to restore power. Most residents regained power by 1 a.m. this morning.
Johnston said power outages affected residents between Flormable Avenue and Waverly Street, east of Waverly Street and South of Highland Avenue and from Clarke Street to Virginia Avenue.
Extremely high winds blew conductors down at Highland Avenue and Waverly Street. Crews made temporary repairs overnight and are fixing the lines today, Johnston said.
Power was knocked out at Clarke Street and Virginia Avenue when winds slapped the lines together.
"I am very proud of the way the system operated," the engineer said. "It could have been a lot worse. Apparently some of the maintenance procedures, (tree trimming), is making a difference."
NN was perusing The Sooner Catholic and discovered a story about Ponca Citian Marjorie Crozier, who has qualified to compete in this year's National Senior Olympics scheduled in May in Tucson, Ariz. Crozier competed in Kissimmee, Fla., last December to win her spot in Arizona in May. She will be competing as a breast stroker. A native of Michigan, Crozier has been swimming since she was a teen-ager. She's excited to go to Tucson and see friends she made during the national competition in Baton Rouge a few years ago and the new people she met in Kissimmee. NN wishes her the best.
ALVA - The widow and sons of legendary Northwestern Oklahoma State University coach C.L. "Dick" Highfill have established a scholarship in his memory at the university, according to Jane McDermott, director of the Northwestern Foundation. Highfill died Aug. 26, 1996, at the age of 88.
Hazel Highfill of Ponca City, and sons Jim and Joe, established the C.L. "Dick" Highfill Scholarship to assist a student majoring in education. Preference will be given to a student from northwest Oklahoma.
"We're very pleased that coach Highfill will be honored during our centennial year," said McDermott. The scholarship will be awarded beginning with the 1997 fall semester.
Dr. Jim Highfill of Ponca City is a trustee of the Northwestern Foundation. Joe Highfill is a member of the faculty at the University of Oklahoma in Norman.
Dick Highfill coached at Northwestern from 1946-60 after years in the Oklahoma prep ranks at high schools in Oklahoma City, Hollis and Wewoka. At Hollis, he coached future OU football all-American and University of Texas coach Darrell Royal.
Highfill coached the Ranger football, basketball and baseball teams until 1954, when he gave up his football duties. A year later, he relinquished his basketball coaching position.
His greatest success came in basketball during the 1948-49 season when he led the Rangers to the conference championship and their first-ever berth in the NAIA national tournament. His 115 career victories rank him second all-time at Northwestern.
In 1993, Highfill became the first inductee of the Northwestern Sports Hall of Fame.
Today (March 25) the American Diabetes Association urges people to discover their risk for a silent disease that kills 178,000 people per year before faced with its devastating complications, such as blindness, heart attack, kidney disease and amputations. Known as the American Diabetes Alert, this one-day national campaign will inform the public about diabetes and its association with obesity, age, lack of exercise and family history of the disease.
With the number of people over the age of 50 increasing and one-third of America's adult population overweight, the number of people at-risk for diabetes will escalate, particularly among baby boomers and the elderly. Half of all diabetes cases occur in people older than 55 years of age, and affects 11 percent of those who are between 65 and 74 years of age. For elderly African Americans and Hispanics, diabetes is found in at least 20 percent of their population.
"Already, ethnic minorities and the elderly are disproportionately affected by diabetes," said Pat Blubaugh, RN, CDE and Program Coordinator of the Diabetes Self-Management Education Program at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. "However, as society gets older and heavier, the need to increase awareness about risk factors is reaching critical mass. We need to do something now before diabetes becomes a tragic public health issue."
A major goal of the American Diabetes Alert is to inform people of the deadly link that exists between diabetes, age, inactivity, being overweight and a family history of the disease. Additionally, the Alert's goal is to help people understand that modest changes in eating and exercise habits make a big difference. The centerpiece of the Alert is a simple, paper and pencil test people can take to assess their individual risk for the disease. The risk test is free and available at the Information Desk at SJRMC or by calling the Association at 1-800-DIABETES 342-2383.
In addition to the elderly population, African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans should pay special attention to these risk factors since the occurrence of the disease is greater in these populations as compared to the general population. And while most people do not experience any overt symptoms, some people do. They include extreme thirst, blurry vision, frequent urination, unusual tiredness and unexplained weight loss.
Diabetes is a disease that affects the body's ability to produce or respond properly to insulin, a hormone that allows blood sugar to enter the cells of the body and be used for energy. Being overweight decreases the body's ability to use insulin, causing a condition known as insulin resistance. When an overweight person loses weight, insulin resistance decreases. Reduced insulin resistance usually lowers blood glucose levels, allowing many patients taking insulin or oral medications to reduce their dosage.
Since 1958, the rate of people diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. has tripled. Diabetes costs this country nearly $138 billion each year in health care and related costs for treatment and lost productivity. There is no cure for diabetes, but proper treatment can control blood sugar levels and help prevent or delay diabetes-related complications.
For more information about the American Diabetes Alert, contact Pat Blubaugh at (405) 765-3321.
NEWKIRK - The county commissioners Monday morning approved a system that will computerize the county treasurer's office - a move that could save at least $2,000 a year just in costs of paper.
The commissioners opened a bid and accepted treasurer Pat Schieber's recommendation for a $40,189 Compaq computer system from the Enid Data company, including custom software already used in other Oklahoma counties.
The move will remove Schieber's office from the courthouse mainframe computer, installed in the early 1980s, and will allow the office to eliminate the current four-part tax statements, centralize a taxpayer's information to a single form and eventually implement bar coding for addressing.
The treasurer said the system will be in place for next year's tax season.
In other business, the commissioners opened bids but tabled decisions for renovation of the fourth floor of the courthouse, a new telephone system for the county clerk, assessor and treasurer offices, and a trailer for District One.
The board also heard another in a series of presentations about a certified workplace medical plan for employees.
The Ponca City Board of Commissioners will continue discussions on the fiscal year 1997-98 budget in a special work session at the Public Safety Center Wednesday at 8 a.m.
City Manager Gary Martin determined a larger room would be needed for the budget retreat since many citizens expressed interest in attending.
"The citizens need to know there are much greater needs than the city has revenue for," the city manager said. We need to determine if we can generate additional revenues. If not, then commissioners need to give direction on how to reduce budget," he continued.
"I have met with the department heads and scaled it (the budget) down. Now it is up to the elected officials," he concluded.
The work session is open to the public.
The Title IX Indian Education Program will be hosting special presentations for Title IX Mid-High students on March 27.
The guest speaker for the event will be Mr. Terry Park, Director of the Osage Education Office.
The Title IX boys will be meeting at the Mid-High during second hour in room 223 from 9:20-10:19 a.m. and the girls will meet during first hour in room 223.
That same day, Title IX will also be hosting meetings at the Middle School during fifth and sixth hour for the Title IX students. Their guest speaker will be Mr. Librado Florez Jr. of Tonkawa. Mr. Florez is a motivational speaker.
These educational/cultural activities are coordinated by the Title IX staff: Lucy Kent, Nellie Roughface, Jeana Rush, Jo. A. Lessert and J.O.M. Coordinator, Chris Little Cook.
By LAURA TREADWAY
News Staff Writer
Baird, Kurtz & Dobson informed the Ponca City Board of Commissioners Monday that after reviewing the city's accounting and financial records no trouble or non-compliance was found.
City Manager Gary Martin confirmed that the audit is a matter of public record and is available at the Ponca City Library.
In addition, Ponca City Police Chief Raymond Ham presented the 1996 Police Department and Animal Control Annual report. Though the chief is less than pleased with the increase of crime he is pleased with the rate that cases are cleared.
In other new business, the board approved new rates for the Lew Wentz Golf Course. According to Public Works Director Ken Parr, the rates are at or below comparable courses.
"We wanted to get to a break-even point," said Parr. "If users remain constant, the rate should cover operating expenses, but not capital," he said. "We are selling a service. We shouldn't lose any golfers because our rates are still less than at other courses," Parr continued. "The fees are spent on the golf course and I think we've been doing it right."
Furthermore, commissioners voted 4-1 to enter a contract with Mycoff and Associates to assist in obtaining a general manager for the Electric Department. Assistant City Manager Tom Short, said the city would pay 28 percent of salary, plus $7,000 for transportation and expenses associated with bringing in prospects.
Commissioner Dick Bird opposed the item. He expressed concern about the delay in having the position filled. Also, he felt the cost of the service was too much money and couldn't be justified.
Additionally, Information Communication Services-E911 received consent to keep the 911 fee at the current level of five percent. Information Systems Director Rick Myers said, the communication center cost $450,000 annually to run. The fee helps to defray the costs.
The effective date of the ordinance is set for 60 days to allow citizens in opposition to file a petition, if they desire, protesting the current fee.
Further, the board claims against the city totaling $1,091,069.49 were authorized for payment.
Commissioner Lyn Boyer pulled two items from the consent agenda, related to selling of structures in the 300 block of South Fifth Street and in the 300 block of South Fourth Street. Boyer expressed concern about the city's liability should someone be hurt moving the houses. The items were approved contingent upon satisfactory insurance approved by the city attorney.
On the consent agenda, commissioners approved advertising for bids on Hartford Avenue improvements from Gibson Place to Joe Street. In addition, the board accepted the $20,562.25 reduction in cost of the Northwest Water Transmission Pipeline, Phase 2, by RAM Engineering and Construction, Inc.
Additionally, the Salvation Army received permission to submit an Emergency Shelter Grant to the Department of Commerce in the amount of $35,000.
Moreover, the board reconvened as the Ponca City Utility Authority to permit submission of the monthly operating statement to the Oklahoma Water Resource Board as part of the OWRB loan. Other items approved on the consent agenda included:
- A $1,828.53 payment requisition to FHC Inc. for bidding and construction administration services performed on the sludge equipment procurement project.
- Change order No. 3 with Dondlinger and Sons Construction Company for Phase 2 improvements on the Wastewater Treatment Plant, in the add-on amount of $60,828.69.
In other business, Utility Billing Office Director Sherri Tapp informed Commissioner O.E. "Greg" Gregson that 499 delinquent accounts closed for the seventh period ending Oct. 31, 1996. Due to bankruptcies or deaths, $29,237.62 is uncollectible and will be written off. Additionally, the department received approval to forward $96,867.88 to the Collection Service Bureau of Stillwater for further collection procedures.
Tapp said that the delinquent accounts actually represent, on average, two percent billing. Of the amount transferred, approximately 30 percent will be realized.
St. Mary's Catholic Church is announcing the Holy Week Schedule and Easter Triduum, following the celebration of Palm Sunday, marking the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Holy Week will culminate in the Pachal Mystery - sacred triduum and the resurrection of the Lord, Fr. Michalicka advised.
St. Mary's schedule for Holy Week includes the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday at 7 p.m. with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 8 to 12 p.m.
On Good Friday a time of silent prayer is set from noon until 3 p.m., Sacrament of Reconciliation from 2 to 3 p.m. and Stations of the Cross at 2:30 p.m. The Celebration of the Lord's Passion will be at 7 p.m. on Good Friday.
On Holy Saturday the Easter Vigil is scheduled for 7 p.m. and Masses of the Lords' Resurrection on Sunday will be at 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Fr. Michalicka and Fr. Adams will hear confessions on Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and on Good Friday between 2 and 3 p.m.
Though fingerprints can be of great value to a criminal investigation, it is just one piece of the evidence.
According to Capt. Clayton Johnson of the Ponca City Police Department, people often believe that if a print is found at a crime scene, the case will be solved. It is true that the location where prints are found and items that prints are found on are critical to the value of the evidence.
However, it is easy for an innocent person's prints to also be found on items that do not belong to the person, said Johnson. For example, take the fingerprints of a person suspected of car burglary. That the prints are found on the outside of the driver's window means that at some previous date, last night or last month, the suspect touched the outside of the glass.
But, a stranger's print on the inside of the window would have much more
value. Therefore, a fingerprint is just one of many pieces to the evidence
pie.
DEATHS
BLACKWELL - Edna Foy, Blackwell resident died Monday, March 24, 1997, at her home. She was 99.
The funeral will be held graveside at 2 p.m. Wednesday, in the Rose Hill Cemetery at South Haven, Kan. Officiant will be Kendall Fox, minister of the Blackwell Church of Christ. Arrangements are under the direction of Hackler Funeral Home, Blackwell.
Edna (Johnson) Foy was born April 2, 1897, south of Enid in the Cherokee Outlet. As a child she moved to South Haven, where she grew up and received her education.
She was married to Roy Vincent Foy on Jan. 23, 1933, in Wellington, Kan., and the couple established their home on the family farm north of South Haven, where their three children were born. In 1943, they moved to a farm northwest of Moline, Kan. and then after Mr. Foy's retirement in 1948, moved into Moline. In 1974, the couple moved to Blackwell. Mrs. Foy was a member of the Blackwell Church of Christ, the Rebekah Lodge in Moline, and the Helping Hour Club in Blackwell.
Survivors include two daughters, Bernice Hiatt of Braman and Doris Smith of Blackwell; two sisters, Mary Foot of Salida, Colo., and Leatha Broderson of Wichita, Kan.; one brother Orrin Johnson of Wellington, Kan.; six grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and numerous great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1985; one son Eugene; her parents; four sisters; and one brother.
Tuesday
Arthur Lee Lorg - Funeral to be held graveside at 2 p.m. Wednesday
at the New Home Cemetery in Eddy. Arrangements are under the direction of
Roberts Funeral Home, Blackwell.
NEWS BRIEFS
City Warrant - A Ponca City police officer arrested a 30-year-old man at the police station at 9:55 a.m. Monday on a city warrant for failure to pay.
Fraud - A woman was arrested at Thirteenth Street and East Otoe Avenue by three Ponca City police officers at 11:14 a.m. for Kay County warrant of bogus checks and fraud.
Grass Fire - Ponca City firefighters extinguished a grass fire in the 2100 block of Joe Street at 12:58 p.m. Monday.
Burglary - A Ponca City police officer took a burglary report in the 400 block of Fairview Avenue at 1:45 p.m. Monday. A citizen reported a speaker stolen from a car.
Grass Fires - Ranch Drive and Marland Voluntary Fire Departments were advised of a grass fire on Oklahoma 156 at the Kay-Noble county line at 2:11 p.m. Monday, according to Ponca City telecommunication officers. At 2:12 p.m., Ponca City firefighters responded three miles south of U.S. 177 to extinguish a small grass fire along the railroad tracks. Ranch Drive assisted.
Subject Held - A 26-year-old man was arrested by a Ponca City police officer in the 2000 block of Lake Road at 3:28 p.m. Monday on a city warrant for assault and battery.
Arrested - A Ponca City police officer arrested a 33-year-old man in the 200 block of West Grand Avenue at 4:14 p.m. Monday on two Kay County warrants for failure to pay.
Accident - A Ponca City police officer took a report of an accident at U.S. 60 and South Fourteenth Street at 8:01 p.m. Monday.
Collision - A resident notified the Ponca City Police Department of an accident at North Seventh Street and East Highland Avenue at 9:44 p.m. Monday. An officer took a report.
Fire at Hospital - All Ponca City fire units responded to a fire in the central linen department of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center at approximately 7 a.m. today. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire and worked to clear smoke from the basement floor. According to the fire department, the fire marshal is investigating the incident and a report is expected to be released later today.
False Alarm - A representative from Conoco reported there was
no fire at the facility, as previously reported. Apparently, someone contacted
the Ponca City telecommunication officers to report the coke cars were on
fire.
BUSINESS
By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Business Editor
Monumental Enterprises Inc. (MEI), which leases the Conference Center on the Marland Estate from the City, is a family operation and is committed to finding a market niche for the facility.
"We think the Conference Center has a lot of potential," says Craig Myers, who runs the operation with the rest of the Myers family.
Myers says that MEI has the ability to target market certain sectors of the business in Oklahoma and Kansas. "What we are really trying to go after is that medium-sized type company that doesn't want to spend an arm and a leg in the big city area. We're well-suited to that as far as room prices - ours are very competitive if not lower than most of the conference center-hotel type complexes in the state.
"And from a conference center standpoint, the charges we have on those rooms are well below Tulsa and Oklahoma City markets. What is unique about this facility is that we do stand right in the triangle of Wichita, Tulsa and Oklahoma City. It is only an hour and a half drive from any of those."
Entertainment Packages
In addition to lower cost conferences, entertainment can be a part of the package, as well as the scenic Marland Mansion as a backdrop. Four or five entertainment packages have been developed by MEI including a murder mystery and a Roaring '20s, including a tour of the complex.
Myers is working on a Broadway Music Classic live entertainment package. He said the live entertainment is all planned around the dinner hour. "We have found that to be a real strong marketing tool," Craig said. "In fact we have about five conferences slated in the next two months."
Myers said they are also marketing the Standing Bear and the Poncan Theatre as part of "why conferences should come to Ponca City."
Commenting on working with the Marland Mansion and Apple Cart Catering, Myers said, "We are trying very much to work as one unit." And this appears to be successful.
Myers Family
Craig and his father, David, had for a number of years thought it would be good to work together in a family business. David had retired from Conoco at 55, and Craig, who was with a larger firm, wished to get out of the "wild and crazy" corporation world.
And the family wanted to get back to Ponca City, where David grew up and Craig spent his early years.
"When this opportunity came along, we jumped on it and haven't looked back and haven't been sorry. We love Ponca City and it's good to be back home," Craig said.
The effort is a family team concept with David using his engineering background for maintenance and Craig marketing the center, and also as jack of all trades. David was plant manager at both the Conoco refineries in Denver and Lake Charles.
Craig graduated from Oklahoma State University with a background in finance and equivalent hours in accounting. He is a certified public accountant.
He began with a public accounting firm in Oklahoma City and then pursued industry and ended up in the insurance and became the chief financial officer of a large insurance company in Greenville, S.C.
Craig's mother, Sarah, works on a daily basis, as does his father. Craig's wife, Monya, works from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and keeps the books.
Sarah is the concierge - meeting and greeting guests - and also does much of the interior decorating. And then there are Craig and Monya's children, David, 12, Tiffany, 10, and Jonathan, 8, who, as Craig says good naturedly, "run around."
"We have had a lot of fun as a family, it has been more than I expected," Craig says.
Cosmetic Renovation
Monumental Enterprises was formed in 1996 and the Myers won the lease bid from the city and took over operations Sept. 1, 1996. Cosmetic renovation and marketing began immediately. Some of the meeting rooms have been painted; others will soon be. The hallways have been painted and there is new carpeting in the lobby. Eventually new carpet is planned for all the meeting rooms.
Last week was a busy one with Northern Burlington/Santa Fe meeting at the Conference Center, as well as, hosting the annual Quails Unlimited Dog Trials at Red Rock. Recent guests were Leadership Tulsa and there will be a return visit from that group in August. April and May are full of conferences. Several motor coach tours have signed up using the entertainment packages. Included are some of the Festival of Angels overnight tours.
Accommodations
The Conference Center has 35 hotel rooms, two of which are large suites with two bedrooms and a large sitting area. These are popular for hospitality rooms for the conference attendees.
There are three rooms that now have king size beds, four rooms are equipped with two double beds. Myers said, "Our intent is that over the next 12 months every room that is large enough will have two double beds. Then there are several with double and twin beds.
There are two mini-suites. The idea there is to turn those into a business suite. One is a bedroom and the other has an office type atmosphere for overnight business. The new phone system allows for data port. The business traveler can bring a laptop computer and automatically connect into the phone system without any other disconnect for voice mail and talk to the home base.
There are seven conference rooms, three of which can accommodate from 20 to 75 depending on the set up. There are two conference rooms that give the capability to do a smaller size type meeting, from 15 to 20 people.
Chapel Hall has been separated into two meeting areas or can be opened up for larger groups and is available for large dinners or banquets. This is for conferences of 60-plus.
Apple Cart Catering leases the restaurant facility from MEI. They provide full food service for conferences only. They also provide all service in the conference room, such as coffee, tea, soda or snacks.
The meeting rooms are available for about any type of meeting. Some contract the rooms on hourly, daily and weekly basis.
Recently MEI has target marketed for religious groups and cooperatives. Also an effort is being made to market locally. Targeting universities is another plan. Already MEI has strong association with OSU and looking for more conferences and meetings from junior colleges.
DALLAS - Northern Oklahoma's economy got a boost March 4 when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presented a plan for redeveloping the 300-acre Blackwell Industrial Park. The park is the site of a former zinc smelter that was one of the first in the nation to become part of President Clinton's Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative.
"The President's Brownfields program shows how new common sense approaches can be the engine that drives economic redevelopment. Restoring contaminated property goes hand-in-hand with bringing life and economic vitality back to a community," EPA Regional Administrator Jane Saginaw said.
As part of the Superfund Administrative Reform, EPA reviewed the national list of potentially contaminated sites and removed about 30,000 sites where no federal action was planned. Many of these urban sites became Brownfields, areas which were not being redeveloped because of actual or perceived contamination. There are about 4,000 Brownfields sites in the five states - Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas - that comprise EPA's Region 6.
EPA works with local and state agencies and private groups to increase local citizen involvement and to speed redevelopment of Brownfields sites. The partnership helps communities revitalize unproductive properties and return them to the tax rolls.
The Blackwell property is being cleaned by Cyprus-AMAX and the city of Blackwell. The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality is reviewing the work to ensure is meets cleanup criteria.
OKLAHOMA CITY - Ponca City's sales tax returns from the Oklahoma Tax Commission for business conducted during January took a dip compared to the same time frame last year.
Ponca City coffers will receive a total of $594,970 down from $645,131 for the same time frame in January 1996.
Statewide, the March distribution of city sales tax collections totaled $59,294,505. The disbursement to 481 cities and towns showed an increase of $2,440,648 from the return distributed to 480 cities and towns in January a year ago.
City Jan. 97 Jan. 96
Barnsdall $12,994 $12,710
Bartlesville 784,471 1,185,055
Billings 8,399 5,022
Blackwell 78,636 103,730
Braman 1,400 1,056
Burbank 260 351
Deer Creek 798 830
Enid 996,793 1,008,260
Fairfax 12,867 16,506
Kaw City 1,869 2,535
Lamont 2,120 2,096
Marland 816 750
Medford 10,526 9,285
Morrison 3,881 4,777
Newkirk 22,477 21,955
Pawhuska 52,476 49,217
Pawnee 28,633 29,253
Perry 37,403 30,606
Pond Creek 6,549 5,858
Ralston 845 863
Red Rock 865 1,658
Shidler 2,387 1,935
Stillwater 881,817 882,167
Tonkawa 38,585 42,963
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently presented Senators Don Nickles and Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma with its Spirit of Enterprise Award, representing their "unwavering support of policies important to American business and economic growth."
"The Chamber is honoring Senators Nickles and Inhofe for supporting policies that are helping to create more jobs and strengthening the U.S. economy," said Richard L. Lesher, U.S. Chamber president. "Recipients of this award demonstrated a lasting commitment to the spirit of free enterprise and the continued success of American business."
The Chamber's award criteria is based on 13 key U.S. Senate votes in the second session of the 104th Congress, and is recorded in the Chamber's annual analysis, How They Voted. The votes selected for inclusion in How They Voted were recorded floor votes, based upon policy guidelines established by the Chamber's Board of Directors, and on issues where the Chamber had communicated its position to the members of the Senate prior to a key vote.
Key votes in the U.S. Senate included the Balanced Budget Act, Welfare Reform, Product Liability Reform, Regulatory Flexibility, Team Act, Line Item Veto and the Farm Bill.
A new business in town is Always There Answering Service. The business is located at 1904 North Union Suite 105.
The new business is owned and operated locally. Janna Gregg is the office manager and Blanche Thorson is the client account manager.
Gregg and Thorson they have over 25 years combined experience in telephone answering service and customer relations and service.
The answering service will be using CadCom LineMaster 3020 state-of-the-art equipment, allowing for a full range of services to be offered.
Services offered include 24-hour, 7-days-a-week service, full alpha and numeric service, mobile and cellular service, call patching, itemized monthly billing, a package tailored to the business needs of the customer and a personal representative to work with the customer.
All the answering personnel have had extensive training and or experience working with telephone answering services.
The public is welcome to stop by and meet the staff and look over the equipment between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., daily. No appointment is necessary.
A special public Friday Forum featuring the City Commissioners election is slated from 8 to 9 a.m. at the Municipal Court Room, 200 East Oklahoma.
Candidates for Position No. 2 are Dick Bird, incumbent, and Chris Hand. Vying for Position No. 4 are Greg Gregson, incumbent, and Tom Leonard.
The event is sponsored by the Legislative Review Committee of the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce. The event is being held at the Safety Center so it can be telecast live by Post-Newsweek Cable TV on Channel 22.
The forum will also rebroadcast at 7 p.m. Monday The candidates will respond to questions prepared in advance by the Legislative Review Committee chaired by Dave Mueller. Written questions will also be taken from the audience
The public is invited and complimentary coffee and doughnuts will be served.
Also on the program will be information on Proposition 1, which involves extension of the half-cent sales tax dedicated to street improvement, and Proposition 2, which deals with whether the City should sell the Cultural Center.
Train The Trainer Seminar
Connie McAbee, director of marketing and business development at Pioneer Bank and Trust, recently attended a "Train the Trainer" seminar held in Oklahoma City. It was sponsored by the Oklahoma Bankers Association Operations/Human Resources Committee.
The seminar featured Garland McWatters of Quantam Training Institute. He has developed a professional trainer certification program now offered at the University of Oklahoma College of Continuing Education.
The information presented covered essential elements of training programs, different learning styles, how to identify performance issues and the evaluation of training results.
Million Dollar Qualifier
The Equitable Life Assurance Society has announced that Carol L. Bouldin has again qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table in 1996.
The Million Dollar Round Table is an elite organization of agents that
meet standards of performance set by the industry nationally. The origination
is limited to the top six percent of agents worldwide. The annual Million
Dollar Round Table meeting will be in Atlanta, Ga., this year.
LIFESTYLES
Cecil T. Keen was honored Sunday with a party in his home in observance of his 90th birthday. The event was hosted by his children and included a cookout and picnic style supper with traditional cake and ice cream.
His children are Donald Keen, Tom Keen and Margie Robinson, all of Newkirk, and Kathleen Martin of Ponca City. His eldest son, Virgil Keen, died in 1988, and an infant son died at birth in 1940. Mr. Keen has 10 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren.
Cecil T. Keen was born March 25, 1907 on his father's original homestead southeast of Kildare. His parents were William and Oris (Hastings) Keen, early pioneers at Kildare, and his grandfather was a well-known blacksmith there.
A life-long resident of Kay County, Mr. Keen began employment with Marland Oil Company in Ponca City in 1925 in addition to farming. He continued with Continental Oil Company in the motor pool and as a crane operator until 1943 when he began full-time farming and ranching at Kildare. He and wife Mildred retired in 1975 and moved to their present home in Ponca City.
In addition to Mr. and Mrs. Keen and children, guests for the birthday celebration were Bill Robinson, Janice Keen and Jim Keen, all of Newkirk; Ginger Smith, Phyllis Jackson and Candace, Toby Martin, Chuck Martin, Carl Martin, Andy and Jake Martin, all of Ponca City.
Donovan and Debbie O'Hara, 1507 Shirlee, announce the birth of a son, Shane Jameson O'Hara, March 12 at 1:21 a.m. at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. The baby weighed 7-pounds 7-ounces and was 22 1/2-inches long. He has a brother, Ryan, 7, and sister, Ashley, 6.
Grandparents are Bobbie and C. T. Malcom of Ponca City, Don and Dorine
Dudley of Springfield, Mo., and Jerry and Frankie Jameson of Weatherford.