From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Wednesday,
March 26, 1997
LOCAL
1997-98 Community Concerts Colorful, Varied
Local Artist Sews, Donates Bunnies for Abused Children
Jazz Lovers Headed For Redbud Festival
Area Calendar
Braman, Okla. - Staying Ahead and Alive
Braman Nearing 100 Years
Some Time Outdoors Takes Planning
Water Service To Be Interrupted
Nearly News
NOC Braces For Beatles Invasion
Plummer Family's Coming Will Benefit Needs for Eye Glasses
Perry Taking Advantage Of Power Industry Bidding
Letters Say:
Emergency Sirens To Sound Thursday
Sertoma Award To P.C. Dentist Dr. James Jouret
NOC Gardener Sets Workshop For Saturday
Combined Efforts Combat Drugs
Delta Company Lists Promotion
DEATHS
Minnie Wilkerson
Services Pending
Ilena May Horton
Hazel Frances Owen
NEWS BRIEFS
LIFESTYLES
Chapter Meets, Sets April Plans
Xi Beta Tau Plans Several Different Events for April
FCE Group Lists Awards, Gives Tips To Members
SPORTS
Netters Split Vs. Stillwater
PC Soccer Teams Sweep Bartlesville
Northern Oklahoma Outdoors
Regulation Changes
Boating Class Is Slated Here Starting April 3
Reward Offered For Reporting Paddlefish Data
By KATHY ZEHR
News Staff Writer
When was the last time you gave your television a standing ovation?
Because of the professional and outstanding quality of the Community Concerts and seeing and hearing the performances live, on the Hutchins Memorial stage, numerous performers have enjoyed the thrill of a standing ovation from Ponca City Community Concert members over the years.
Outstanding 1997-98 concerts carefully selected by the music and concert committees of the Ponca City Community Concert Association will be no exception, and members may again expect top quality entertainment - and the thrill of giving a standing ovation - from their annual membership. All concerts are suitable for all family members.
The four concerts scheduled include "Direct From Broadway," Markham and Broadway," duo pianists, "Antal Szalai's Gypsy Orchestra," and the "Vancouver Wind Trio.
"Direct from Broadway" is a dazzling performance directed by Lara Teeter, former Ponca City resident and star of Broadway musicals and theater. A salute to American musical theater, it features the Tony Award winning talents of two of the Great White Way's most gifted performers, Michael MaGuire and Debbie Shapiro Gravitte.
From Berlin to Bernstein, Lerner and Loewe to Andrew Lloyd Webber, they will present an evening of the most popular music written for the Broadway stage. Expect a dazzling stage presence, irresistible charm and powerful singing by two of the most passionate singers on stage today.
"Antal Szalai's Gipsy Orchestra" is a 13-member orchestra devoted to maintaining Hungary's national tradition in folk music. The performers, all gypsies themselves, belong to the Honved Ensemble, a folk group within the Hungarian Army, and all are graduates of the Bela Bartok Conservatory. Along with string instruments, the orchestra plays on original peasant instruments such as the bagpipe, the cimbalom, the tarogato and the pan flute. The passionate rhythm of the music will let you into the soul of the wandering gypsy.
"The Vancouver Wind Trio" is a veteran touring trio of performers who have received unanimous critical and audience acclaim. The bring their own unique blend of wit, style and impeccable musicianship to each performance. The trio's wide repertoire includes popular works from Mozart and Tchaikovsky, exciting Romanian pieces from Bartok and Enescu, operatic selections from Verdi, and strains of Gershwin and Joplin.
The use of the English horn, bass clarinet, contrabassoon, basset horn, E-flat clarinet and MIDI saxophones provide an astonishing variety of sounds from the ensemble.
"Markham and Broadway" is a special salute by Ralph Markham and Kenneth Broadway to George Gershwin in conjunction with the Gershwin Centennial Celebration. The program knits together Gershwin's music with music from three major influences in his life - Bach, Debussy and Liszt.
Markham and Broadway's unique artistic collaboration has evolved from their meeting as students at the Cleveland Institute of Music and continuing through more than 15 years of concertizing throughout all of the major music capitals of Europe and North America. They are considered one of the finest duo-piano teams playing in the world today.
The Community Concert annual membership drive will be in progress until April 4 and no individual concert tickets will be sold during the 1997-98 concert season.
During the week of March 31-April 4, Community Concert volunteers will man a membership sign-up booth at Commercial Federal Bank, 400 East Central, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Memberships may also be obtained from dozens of volunteers who are currently selling memberships to citizens in the area. All concerts are held at the Hutchins Memorial Auditorium and will be scheduled at various times to accommodate the performers circuit.
Adult memberships are $24, student memberships are $12, family memberships are $60, and single parent memberships are $36. For more information about memberships call 762-5156.
Tax deductible contributions are also welcome to support the purchase of top-quality entertainment for the season. Program recognition at each concert will be given to Sustaining Contributors ($100 or more), Patron Contributors ($50 or more) and Supporting contributors ($25 or more).
As an added bonus, free reciprocal concert attendance for members may also be enjoyed at Winfield, Kan., Arkansas City, Kan. and Bartlesville Community Concert programs.
Editor's Note: S.L. Dickey is a local freelance writer. The following is her "bunny's-eye view" of one person's outreach to abused children.
By S. L. Dickey
Freelance Writer
My name is Lizzie and I am a bunny. My dress is brand new and my pearls match the shell pink in its fabric. I told Jane this lace is itchy around my neck but she just gave me one of those looks - you know the kind truant kids get from their moms, not mean and scolding, just firm. The kind that makes you sit up straight, close your mouth and smile with your eyes.
My family is huge. Jane has told me all about my brothers and sisters before me. There are 874 of us, and we're still growing. You see my life, like theirs, makes a difference,
Jane tells me some people, for reasons unknown, abuse children. The hatred they pass to a child transforms bright trusting eyes to darting vessels of pain and suspicion. But it's easy for me. My only purpose in life is to love and comfort an abused child.
I sit now on the shelf in Jane's sewing room staring at the tidy, colorful piles of cotton fabric, unbleached muslin, embroidery floss that Jane used to create me with my floppy ears, bright blue eyes and smiling face. I'm a beautiful bunny with a happy home - but I know of children sliced, stabbed, wrenched and worse. Jane's soothing voice and wise counsel have always surrounded me. Abused children never have that. They must bear the torment of cold adult eyes and hidden physical horrors that leave lasting scars on the soul. Jane knows. She has walked in their shoes.
How We Began
In 1991 she made the first 12 bunnies. She gathered the rabbits in her arms and shoved them in a patrolman's surprised embrace in the parking lot of our local police station, asking him to give them to abused children. She didn't give him her name or phone number, only telling him that if a child was given a rabbit it was never to be taken away - once given, the child's to keep. This small silent beginning has scattered my family in the past five years. Some of us were needed in England. A brother and sister went to Hawaii to the National Organization of Victims Association (NOVA) meeting. In Montana we occupied a booth at the State Fair to educate the public about child abuse and tell them about bunnies of grace. We are available in our home area through the Department of Human Services, Domestic Violence, the Police Station, District
Attorney's office, churches - even schools and day care centers where there is a need. Every single one of us, stitched with love by Jane. We all bear a number - our birth order in our family of bunnies. By this number, Jane wants every child to know that he or she is not the only one bearing pain. They are not alone - someone does care. And the one rule still exists today - not a single rabbit is to be taken away once given.
Jane's greatest wish is to inspire others to sew bunnies in their communities and enhance our population to those in need. Bunny construction for abused children in cities around the world is possible. Men and women must ignite the desire and commitment to make it happen.
I'm going to the District Attorney's office and several of my sisters are going to the Police Station. Jane makes a special kind of rabbit with a matching quilt for abandoned and HIV positive children - they need the extra warmth.
We are so cute, although Jane tells me that's not polite to say - she calls it bragging. We have beautiful dresses, fancy pearls, crocheted sweaters, comfy jeans, warm flannel pajamas - all handmade. Some of us are really hungry and come with our own milk bottle. Jane says handmade tells the kids "I personally care," - each one of us unique in personality and style. We all have a music box in our belly. One child during her court room testimony spoke quietly over the constant singing of my sister - the girl kept squeezing Annie throughout her statement to alleviate her human fear. Annie gladly sang.
My blue embroidered eyes have no idea of the sights they will see. Jane has prepared me well, but my stomach churns with nervous excitement for the task at hand. I expect to become wrinkled and wallowed, dirty and torn, but such is my destiny to transfer the strength and warmth of my every thread to the heart of a hurting child and mend some wounds with my unconditional love. Only through love does one begin to heal.
Jane Storrusten, local artist, is affectionately known as the "bunny lady," for her generous donation of time and effort in creating these bunnies to comfort those in need. For more information about this project or providing assistance, call First United Methodist Church, 762-1681.
TONKAWA - Jazz lovers from across the state are expected to converge on Tonkawa, for the fourth annual Redbud Festival on April 10,11 and 12, hosted by Northern Oklahoma College and the Tonkawa Chamber of Commerce.
Scheduled to coincide with the blooming of hundreds of redbud trees throughout the town (more than 100 redbud trees grace the college campus alone), the festival begins April 10 with a lecture and recital at the Tonkawa High School "to expose, explain and explode jazz into the hearts and minds of native Oklahomans," according to Mike Moore, director of jazz studies at Northern and festival coordinator.
At 8 p.m., April 11, a nine-piece jazz ensemble composed of clinicians for the 1997 High School Jazz Fest will mix, match and share the stage with members of the Northern Jazz Combo and Bib Band for the community dance in the Memorial Student Union on campus.
Celebrating the heyday of popular jazz, the dance will give students and community members an opportunity to appreciate the music in a historically accurate setting. Dreamy swing, rebop, bebop, hard bop, cool, funk and jitterbug are all on the musical menu.
Beginning at 8 a.m., April 12, jazz bands from middle, junior high and senior high schools will congregate in the NPAC for the 1997 Jazz Fest. A distinguished panel of clinicians will critique each band and select two groups to open the evening Redbud Jazz Festival Concert. The daytime performance are open to the public at no charge.
Heading the Redbud Jazz Festival Concert at 7:30 p.m., April 12, are West Coast jazz legend Pete Christlieb on tenor sax and East Coast triple treat Byron Stripling, whose talents include acting and singing in addition to great trumpet playing. They will join the Northern Jazz Band and Friends for three numbers and will perform with the Redbud Festival Jazz Orchestra along with vocalist Lisa Turci and pianist Peter Krauss of Oklahoma City.
The orchestra will also include John Williams, University of Oklahoma jazz studies director; Joel Mott, current principal trumpet for the Oklahoma City Symphony; Will Campbell, Northeastern Oklahoma State University head of jazz studies and Dr. Tom Walker, Oklahoma State University head of jazz studies.
Redbud Jazz Festival concert tickets are $7 and may be reserved through the Northern Finance Office (405) 628-6231 All seating is general admission.
March 26
Ponca City Humane Society Annual Meeting, 7 p.m., 900 West Prospect.
March 27
Environmental Trust Authority of Northern Oklahoma, 11:30 a.m., City Manager's Office, 221 West Blackwell, Blackwell.
Kay County Democrat Women's Club, 7 p.m., Community Room, Kay County Courthouse, Newkirk.
March 27, 28, 29, 30
Annual Easter Pageant, "He's Alive," 7 p.m., presented by First Baptist Church, Hutchins Memorial Auditorium, tickets free but necessary, available at First Baptist Church office, Master's Touch, KLVV, Guy Lyall Insurance in Tonkawa or Eastman National Bank in Newkirk.
March 28-29
Hamlet, 7 p.m., Poncan Theatre, Ponca City.
March 29
Third Annual Group One Easter Egg Hunt, 10 a.m., south end of War Memorial Park, Ponca City, children 8 and under in four divisions, under 2, 2-4, 4-6, 6-8, three prizes in each age group.
Easter Egg Hunt, 1 p.m., Football Field, Shidler School, sponsored by the Shidler Area Chamber of Commerce.
Northern Oklahoma College Roustabouts Benefit Show, 8 p.m., Northern Performing Arts Center, $3 donation at the door.
March 30
1997 Ambuc Egg Hunt, for youngsters 3-12, 2 p.m., Pageant Area, Lake Ponca, Ponca City.
FreeWheel '97 Training Rides, 2 p.m., Pioneer Woman Statue, Ponca City, 20 miles, leader Jerry Neville.
April 4
"Yesterday - A Tribute to the Beatles," 8 p.m., Northern Oklahoma College Performing Arts Center, Tonkawa, tickets $8 from Northern Finance Office, Tonkawa and Blackwell Chambers of Commerce.
April 5
American Legion Pancake and Sausage Feed (all the pancakes you can eat), 6:30-10 a.m., 407 West South Avenue, Ponca City, adults $3, children under 12 $1.50, children under 6 free, proceeds go to the Rehab Fund.
Special Olympics, opening ceremonies 10 a.m., lunch noon, finish approximately 2 p.m., Sullins Stadium weather permitting, otherwise Girls Gym at Senior High School (volunteers needed by 9:30 a.m.).
Laurette Willis "The Nutty 40s Radio Show," Poncan Theatre, free.
April 6
FreeWheel '97 Training Rides, 2 p.m., Pioneer Woman Statue, Ponca City, 25 miles, leader Katie Flegler.
Arkansas City Music and Dramatic Club annual scholarship concert, featuring "Sisters of Habit," costumed nuns in musical performance, directed by Donna Tucker, 3 p.m., Robert Brown Theater, Cowley County Community College, Arkansas City, $5 adults, $3 children under 12.
April 10-12
Tonkawa Redbud Festival.
April 11
Redbud Festival Community Dance, to the Big Band sound, live band, 8 p.m., Memorial Student Union, Northern Oklahoma College, Tonkawa.
April 12
Second Annual Trail of Tails benefiting Ponca City Humane Society.
"Trash Off Day, Clean Highway 11, sponsored by Shidler Area Chamber of Commerce.
1997 Jazz Fest, all-day performances by high school jazz bands, Wilkin Auditorium and Northern Performing Arts Center, Northern Oklahoma College, Tonkawa, open to the public, free.
Redbud Jazz Concert, 7:30 p.m., Northern Oklahoma College Performing Arts Center, $7 tickets available from Northern Finance Office, 405-628-5231.
Sportscard Show and Memorabilia Auction, show 9 a.m.-5 p.m., auction, 6-8 p.m., Northern Oklahoma College, Foster-Piper Fieldhouse, Tonkawa, admission $1, proceeds to Maverick Athletic Booster Club, call 1-405-628-6733 for more information.
Doris Cross, Stillwater, autographing her newest book "Fat Free Home Style Cooking," and other books "Fat Free and Ultra Low Fat Recipes" and "More Fat Free and Ultra Low Fat," 1-3 p.m., Brace Books and More, North Fourteenth Street, Ponca City.
88.7 FM presents Contemporary Christian group NewSong, guest Erin O'Donnell, concert, 7 p.m., Hutchin's Memorial, tickets available March 24 at Master's Touch, call 767-1400 for more information.
April 13
FreeWheel '97 Training Rides, 2 p.m., Pioneer Woman Statue, Ponca City, 30 miles, leader Royce King.
April 14
Kay County Retired Educators Association, 11:30 a.m., Program, Blackwell Police Department "Scams," First United Methodist Church, Sixth and Coolidge, Blackwell.
April 17
Ponca City Soccer Inc. annual general meeting, 7 p.m., Conoco Fourth Street Clubhouse. Parents and coaches welcome.
April 17-April 20
Northern Oklahoma College Spring Musical, "Once Upon a Mattress," 8 p.m., Northern Performing Arts Center, $5 at the door.
April 19
Flea Market, 8 a.m., VFW, Ponca City, 1.5 miles east of Fourteenth Street on Prospect Avenue.
Mystery author Robert Greer, Denver, Colo., autographing "The Devil's Hatband" and "The Devil's Red Nickle," 1-3 p.m., Brace Books and More, North Fourteenth Street, Ponca City.
Northern Oklahoma College Alumni and Friends Reunion, 4:30 p.m., West Dining Room, Memorial Student Union Complex.
April 20
FreeWheel '97 Training Rides, 2 p.m., Pioneer Woman Statue, Ponca City, 35 miles, leader Jason Allen.
April 21
United Ostomy Association Ponca City-Stillwater Chapter, Round Table Discussion, 7:30 p.m., Stillwater Medical Center Board Room.
April 26
Flea Market, 8 a.m., VFW, Ponca City, 1.5 miles east of Fourteenth Street on Prospect Avenue.
Heartland Share Food Program, 9:30-10:30 a.m., Dale Township Volunteer Fire Department, signup and delivery day.
Lile Cockerille Livingston, Tulsa author, autographing her new book, "The American Indian Ballerinas," 1-3 p.m., Brace Books and More, North Fourteenth Street, Ponca City.
April 27
FreeWheel '97 Training Rides, 2 p.m., Pioneer Woman Statue, Ponca City, 40 miles, leader Kevin Neustadter.
May 3
Iris Festival, Ponca City.
Postal Mural Dedication, Ponca City Post Office.
BRAMAN - Mayor Jerry Johnston wasn't surprised when, in reaction to the Oklahoma City bombing two years ago, so many people in the metro area immediately pulled together to help out.
Oklahoma City, he explained, is merely made up of people who've moved there from small towns just like Braman, so the response to pitch in was already built-in.
"A town bonds together when there's trouble," the mayor said. "You take care of your own people - It's a community thing."
As a community, Braman (population 251 at last census count) is a place worthy of study.
A visual survey of the downtown in Kay County's fifth-largest city shows it has its share of closed downtown businesses, and maybe some sidewalks that could use some attention.
Other landmarks are gone, such as the historic railroad depot. And long gone are the dozens of wooden oil-derricks within the boundaries of the former boom town.
But there's also something undeniably thriving in the town, a buzz of life even when no one's out on the streets, exceeding that seen in most other towns of the same size and age.
The many scholastic, agricultural and business accomplishments of Braman people frequently reverberate - almost disproportionately - to larger county spots such as Newkirk, Ponca City and Tonkawa. Their influences probably would be felt even more in Oklahoma if they didn't live so close to Kansas.
When asked why Braman seems to be doing things right, Mayor Johnston said, "It's the attitude - our forefathers started it.
"The attitude is, Give me the money for a community project and I'll make it go twice as far, and we'll abide by all the codes," he said.
It's the same attitude that makes the leaders refrain from paving downtown sidewalks just for show. Or furnishing a municipal building too soon when the money's needed for something else.
The town was founded on Christian principles - the first building built was a church - and Johnston said there's always enough room to help the townsfolk who need it and still balance that assistance so it's fair to the other 99 percent of the people.
Those principles have carried the community for almost 99 years, and the start of a Centennial bash is being prepared for the summer of 1998.
Johnston said towns such as Braman can be in control of themselves and can prosper by adhering to some fundamentals, such as getting involved, staying out of debt and planning ahead.
"You have to think far enough ahead - way ahead, and plan for your grandkids," Johnston said. "Someone had the foresight in 1925 to build the town a $10,000 sewer and water plant and we're still using it," he said.
"We try to stay ahead," Johnston said, mentioning that seven or eight years ago, the city started upgrading water lines to PVC pipe. Every time a repair was needed they went ahead and removed lead elbow joints from the lines. Then when the old joints were gone and the time came to spend the required $800 to test the community's water quality, the water tested zero parts of lead per million.
Because of the perfect score, the normally annual water test was deferred for five more years, and so was the next time the town would have to spend the $800.
The community also planned ahead a few years ago by voting a bond issue to insulate Braman's school building after House Bill 1017 ordered schools to upgrade themselves but didn't provide any state funding.
"We insulated the school so that would be done with, then we could concentrate on the teachers' salaries" and other upgrades, Johnston said. The town thereby avoided either losing the school or seeing it consolidated into another district.
He believes because the citizens have placed a high priority on keeping and improving Braman's school, which is the town's biggest employer and one of its social centers, they have assured the town's continued vitality.
"We're an old community with some really solid families," he said. "The peer pressure in the school is not to drink and not to smoke pot." A good three-fourths of the graduating seniors continue to college.
Johnston salutes the school FFA and 4-H programs, explaining they originally were designed to improve the overall quality of livestock, and they work. In the process, students also learn important skills, such as how to communicate, he said.
The mayor sounds like he and the other city leaders simply try to carry over the shrewdness of successful business owners and proud home owners to the town's operations, shopping for the best deal, waiting for the right time to take action.
"We've been very conservative with what we spend. We're not in debt when a project's done. It's pay as you go," he said.
"We have an adequate budget for emergencies. It's like when your toilet goes out at your house, that becomes the first expense to take care of," he added.
The same frugal approach carries over to almost everything Johnston talks about:
Whenever the mayor duties take him to a convention or seminar out of town, he says he's likely to forego the motels and stay with friends or relatives if possible.
A good example of frugality is the town's new municipal building. Built in 1993, the leaders insulated the whole structure and turned the back half of the building into the volunteer fire department, but they opted not to furnish and fix up the front half because it would have meant going into debt.
As the leaders and the citizens waited patiently, the front half of the metal building has remained empty. But this year, with new grant money, the building project has become an activity again.
The building eventually will house all the municipal offices, plus a meeting room that will be used for public gatherings besides city council meetings.
The thinking, the mayor explained, is that if people already feel comfortable in the building because they've been there for other public gatherings, they will not feel awkward to speak their minds during the council meetings.
"I especially like to get somebody in the (council) meeting who's against some of the things we do," Johnston said, "because once you explain about the different state mandates and all, they're an ally."
He said for example when the city recently bought a fire truck, some people questioned the need for it. But the purchase, along with some additional training for firefighters, improved the city's fire rating from a 10 to a 9, and individual property owners started saving hundreds more dollars per year on their house insurance premiums, he said.
Johnston readily admits not everyone in Braman regards the town's status the same way he does, nor do they all think he's necessarily doing a good job.
But in another way, his activities stand on their own merits.
"I'm a politician," he says directly. "They made 'politician' into a dirty word, but it isn't. If you sit back and do nothing, you don't get anywhere."
He said when you decide you don't want to be involved, you give up your rights.
Being a politician is "a genetic defect. It's a defect because it takes your life," he said. "I have to identify with everybody (in the town), because I represent them all. They know I'm accessible."
Johnston not only followed his father into the grain-elevator business but also into local government, serving as the mayor for the last 10 years. His father Ed was also mayor of Braman for 40 years.
After selling the family business and retiring, Jerry Johnston now earns $10 per month for his mayoral duties, but as City Clerk Betty Evans can attest, the mayor stays as busy as anybody.
He's a member and past president of the Oklahoma Municipal League, which brings him to the same convention tables as the mayors of Tulsa and Oklahoma City. He said the awareness he can bring to the leaders of bigger cities about the unique needs of towns the size of Braman pays off when votes are cast for funding and policies.
He said, for small communities like Braman, it is important to "be involved in your destiny."
Town leaders need to join with the leaders of other towns, to get ideas, advertise their needs, and help each other when necessary, he said. There are state agencies and organizations that can help communities. From MESO, for instance, a town can get free electrical engineering that would cost them $3,000 to $4,000 for a consultant.
In similar fashion, the town of Braman has secured the most modern conveniences such as a telephone service system with Internet access and all the latest custom-calling extras.
Johnston said Kay County is one of the better, healthier counties in the state and community leaders elsewhere have expressed how they "are envious of how well we're able to work with our county leaders. We have an excellent relationship with the sheriff and the county commissioners."
The mayor stays a part of almost every activity in the town and with good reason. For example:
"If I'm not part of the volunteer fire department, I get to thinking the fire department wants too much," he said.
"If you're not a part of it, it's so easy to become critical of it. You can talk about these things in the coffee shop and everything seems bad. The average person doesn't know that everything's interconnected."
He says, "It has to be OUR town. That's the only way something works. If it's OURS."
Some of the upcoming actions include a change in leadership next month when council member and former mayor Aubrey Kelle retires and council member David Head steps down.
However, Johnston says the town will gain "two exciting new board members" in Pamela Kelle, a teacher in Ark City, and Rusty Partee, a phone company employee in Caldwell. And new city treasurer Mary Lunn will replace Judith Partee, who is resigning.
Of the town, the mayor said, "We've got a lot of good things going for us. We're a mile from the Interstate and an hour from Wichita. A lot of other people have to drive 60 miles just to get to a road to go somewhere."
He said the town leaders have been concentrating on infrastructure lately and then will decide in which directions the town should grow, if any.
But one thing is apparent: Braman will grow when the people are ready and even if it fizzles, the least-likely reason will be from external circumstances.
When the Santa Fe Railroad was extended from Hunnewell, Kansas, to Tonkawa, a railroad promoter picked the midway point between Wellington, Kan., and Tonkawa as a good location for a town.
A surveyor for the railroad, Dwight Braman, offered to survey the land free of charge if the town was named after him.
The town of Braman was incorporated Jan. 9, 1899, more than five years after the land run that opened the Cherokee Outlet.
Area citizens donated $3,000 to build the railroad depot, and the town soon had a general store, bank, grocery, meat market, lumber yard, three elevators, an implement and hardware company, two saloons, a hotel, livery barn, two doctors, three barbers.
The post office opened April 11, 1898, and the first newspaper was published on Dec. 30, 1899. (The newspaper lasted until the early 1980s.) The Masonic Lodge was founded in 1904. By then, Baptist, Methodist, Christian churches and a Church of Christ were there. The Royal Neighbors and Modern Woodmen were active.
An early school had three teachers and 121 students. A new $15,000 school building had eight classrooms, and auditorium and gymnasium came in 1915, and a new high school in 1926.
After the discovery of oil, the city officials began to modernize the town. Between 1924 and 1927, electric light and water systems were installed, a water storage tank constructed, sanitary sewers built and the highway between Blackwell and Braman paved.
Then in May, 1925, a Herbert Oil Co. community test well at the northeast corner of town blew in.
Initially, the gusher produced 40 barrels per hour from the Tonkawa Sand. By June 19, more than $1 million had been spent for drilling within the town limits. By the end of the first week in June, half of the town was under lease.
Heavy drilling equipment was parked on church yards and on school grounds. At one time during the year, there were 38 derricks on Braman's 25 blocks.
The population grew from 400 to 5,000 in just 40 days. Business houses were open 24 hours a day, and every room in the hotels, rooming houses and residences were filled. People camped in the parks and along the roadsides.
In early June, derricks were built on every available location in and around the town.
More oil was found in 1937 but the boom did not return. In 1991 oil companies were again drilling for oil on the north and east side of the town and several producing wells were pumping.
The current city council is working on improving much of the infrastructure built during the '20s. New water lines have been laid down the alleys. Two to three blocks of blacktop paving have been laid the last three years and plans are to continue.
Local persons have put together a museum to hold items pertaining to the Land Run of 1893 and the Braman Community past history in celebration of the Centennial of the Land Run which was held September 16, 1993.
Braman will begin a Centennial celebration during 1998.
Daffodils are blooming and citizens are beginning to spend more time outdoors due to longer days and pleasant weather.
"It's that time of year to begin planning your spring and summer outdoor activities with family and friends," said Sharon Lawler, Park and Recreation Department administrator. "The Park and Recreation Department has many beautiful locations for citizens' enjoyment, which are also very cost effective," she said.
The Lake Ponca Shelter Houses, located at Lake Ponca Park, make good sites for groups, an organizational meeting or even a wedding reception.
Reservations can be booked up to one year in advance, according to Lawler. Each shelter rental costs a $13 flat rate fee for three hours.
In addition, each shelter is equipped with electrical outlets, a fire place and a charcoal grill. The park itself provides fishing accessibility for children and playground equipment. Volleyball, softball and horseshoe set-ups are available, however, guests must bring their own equipment. Restroom facilities are also on-site.
For more information or to reserve the shelters, contact the Park Department at 767-0430.
Some residents on North Fourth Street will be without water Thursday.
Due to the replacement of a water valve by the Ponca City Water Department, water service will be temporarily discontinued on Fourth Street, from Highland Avenue to Liberty Avenue beginning at 9 a.m.
According to Charlie Hargraves, with the department, work should be completed within six hours, weather permitting. For more information, contact Hargraves at 767-0405.
Nearly News was disappointed to learn that the popular "Shirelles" have canceled their show at Cassiopeia's for Thursday night, due to their lead singer having pneumonia. Fans will be glad to know that the group plans to reschedule their appearance in Ponca City as soon as possible.
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The visionary group, Ponca City Tomorrow, continues to receive citizen input on where the community wants for Ponca City's future. There is still time to make your comments known. Contact 767-0823 to obtain a survey. Information will be collected through Monday.
TONKAWA - Northern Oklahoma College is bracing for a "Beatles invasion" when "Yesterday - a Tribute to Beatles" comes to the Northern Performing Arts Center April 4.
Celebrating the 32nd anniversary of the original Beatles' coming to America, "Yesterday" will take the stage at 8 p.m. to recall the Beatlemania that swept the nation when the Fab Four were at their peak of popularity. General seating tickets are $8 each and may be purchased in advance from Northern Oklahoma College 628-6231, the Tonkawa Chamber of Commerce 628-2220 or the Blackwell Chamber of Commerce 363-4195, according to Jennie Olson, NPAC coordinator.
"Yesterday," formed in 1986 by Don Bellezzo, who portrays John Lennon, has been reviewed as the most authentic, visual exciting Beatle tribute act to date. Using authentic instruments and costumes, the quartet of "mop-tops" recreate not only the Beatle sound but their stage patter and charisma.
Presented in two sets, Early and Pepper, the concert first recreates the Beatles' first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show," featuring such early hits as "I Wanna Hold Your Hand," "She Loves You" and "Help." Dressed in Sgt. Pepper costumes for the second set, the group plays the hits which created a musical revolution world-wide, including "Day Tripper," "Penny Lane" and "Nowhere Man."
Ed Sullivan booked the Beatles in 1964 for their first appearance on his show. They became one of the most popular rock groups of the 1960s and later produced two films, "Help" and "A Hard Day's Night." They quit the touring circuit in 1966 before much of their music was written.
"Yesterday's" agent explains the tribute's success as "one of those great trips down memory lane that's both joyous and sad. Sad because the likes of the Beatles will not be seen again and there is always the reminder of John Lennon's tragic death. Joyous because the group's music is alive and well and still able to stir all those great feelings that it once did."
By KATHY ZEHR
News Staff Writer
Members of the Ponca City Noon Lion's Club are offering an outstanding country music show, "The Plummer Family," on April 18, as an annual fund raiser to buy glasses for needy children and adults in the Ponca City area.
Approximately 60 needy local children and some adults were assisted with critical eye care and glasses by the Noon Lions at a cost of approximately $7,000 during the last year.
The Plummer Family, who will be returning to the Hutchins Auditorium for the first time in several years, will take to the stage at 7:30 p.m. April 18. Advance tickets at discount prices ($7.50) are now available by calling (405) 765-5676. Family tickets are also available for $25. Tickets at the door will be $10 each.
The Plummer Family will be coming straight from their own music theater in Branson, Mo., for the evening of exceptional family entertainment. Their theater was one of the first in the Branson area and the family has been providing top-quality western family entertainment for 18 years.
Rosie and Darrell Plummer have been acknowledged in may ways for their exceptional talent as country music performers. Rosie was presented the first prestigious Show Biz award in 1984 at the Ozark Music Awards. Both Rosie and Darrell have been inducted into the Ozark Hall of Fame.
Darrell acts as master of ceremonies, plays the guitar, sings a good country or gospel song and duets with Rosie. Rosie shines every time she appears on stage and her love of music can be heard each time she plays her accordion and sing a country or gospel song.
Favorite for the children will be Tim Cagle, an outstanding comedian. Known as "Cousin Zeke," he is a 10-year veteran of the Plummer Family Show. Cagle also does some fancy lead guitar picking and singing.
Recent members added to the show include Doug Berry, Jay Cagle and Dave Mitchell. Doug plays bass guitar, piano, sings solo, duets and harmonizes. Jay, the youngest member of the band, can be found keeping a steady beat as he plays the drums. No song is complete without the sounds of a steel guitar and that's where you can find Dave.
Two very talented female vocalists make the band complete. Rhonda Gray and Lynn Rose Terry, both sing and harmonize. The variety of talent between these two ladies is sure to satisfy music lovers of all kinds.
"The Plummer family goal is to share friendliness, positive personalities and our talent with every member of our audiences through our music," says Darrell Plummer. "We invite your family to join us at our Ponca City Show for an entertaining musical evening for the entire family."
Profits from The Plummer Family concert will assist the Noon Lions club with funding for several local projects, including the purchase of new eye-glasses for many area needy citizens, most of whom are school-age children.
Jack Schilling, project chairman said, "Every citizen who participates in the support of this annual event is greatly appreciated by all members of the Noon Lion Club and especially by those who are in need of vital eye care and glasses and but cannot afford them."
By LAURA TREADWAY
News Staff Writer
The city of Perry is experiencing the advantages of wholesale competition in the electric industry.
According to Earl Hicks, administrative assistant to the mayor and Perry city council, Perry received bids earlier this month from Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority, Oklahoma Gas and Electric and Public Service of Oklahoma, to generate electricity for the city. The current contract with OMPA expires in 1999.
Competitive bidding to wholesale electricity has been going on since 1992, when the Energy Policy Act was passed. To some, this was the first step in deregulation of the electric industry, according to Steve Bose, Wholesale Power marketing representative for Central and Southwest Energy Services, the parent company for Public Service of Oklahoma.
Currently, OMPA has a five year contract to wholesale power to Perry, though not as a member city. This arrangement allows OMPA to wholesale surplus power to increase revenues for its member cities.
However, the recent proposal from OMPA includes an option for Perry to sign-on as a member. The proposal also includes discount incentives.
The OMPA Board of Directors authorized the offer of an introductory price to encourage Perry's membership, according to Ponca City Commissioner and OMPA board member Lyn Boyer. The OMPA board is comprised of representatives from 11 of the member cities.
"OMPA is us and we are OMPA," said Boyer. "If providing an introductory discount can generate new business, it is beneficial to all."
If OMPA's proposal is approved by the city council, Perry will purchase generation at a 20 percent discount for the first year, a 15 percent discount for the second year and a 10 percent discount for the third year. At the beginning of the fourth year, the Perry Utility Authority would purchase generation at the same price as other member cities.
Moreover, OMPA currently has off-system arrangements in Winfield, Kan., as well as Brownsville and Houston, Texas, just to name a few. OMPA gives its members 100 percent return on surplus revenues, according to Drake N. Rice, director of member services. According to Rice, Ponca City is a 21 percent benefactor.
Currently, Perry is a marginal customer with no rights to stay on the system past June 30, 1999. In 1996, OMPA billed $14 million to wholesale power to Ponca City at a 100 megawatt capacity. During the year, OMPA sold 350.7 million kilowatts to Ponca city at a total cost of power of 0.0365 per kilowatt.
Additionally, OMPA billed $2.65 million to Perry for 20 megawatts of capacity. 72.1 million kilowatts was sold for a total cost of 0.0368 a kilowatt.
According to OMPA, other benefits from the Perry transaction include:
- Current marginal cost is less than average cost for all power suppliers in the Southwest Power Pool, as a result.
- The discount goes to zero over the term of the agreement.
- OMPA purchase only "summer capacity" to cover Perry's load and makes no capital investment. If surplus capacity dries up, OMPA can refuse to extend the contract.
If Perry signs the long term Power Sales Contract, Ponca City's share of OMPA's stranded costs will decrease, said Rice. OMPA has served Perry since 1994. The Perry City Council is expected to decide where the city will buy power, within the coming weeks.
"We own our distribution system like Ponca City," said Hicks. "We are not interested in anyone else operating it."
(Letters appearing in The News do not necessarily reflect the editorial policies or beliefs of The News. Letters will be accepted only with written signatures and must include address and phone number of writer. Unsigned letters will be discarded. All letters submitted become the property of The News. No letter will be returned. We reserve the right to reject or to correct letters considered unsuitable. Letters may be edited to conserve space. We specifically decline letters for or against candidates for office.
Editor, The News:
I have always been intrigued, maybe even awed, by the many unique things Ponca City has to offer. Having grown up in a small town that had NO industry, therefore, NO "disposable income", I have always been impressed by the parks, swimming pools, golf courses, the well-cared-for downtown area, the many facilities available for public use, and the attitude of the community in general. There has always been a great deal of pride in our city -- an attitude of, "Ponca is great! - let's keep working to make it even better!"
Ponca City has been extremely fortunate over the years with the "gifts" E.W. Marland and Lew Wentz (among others) made to the community, and the support we have had from Conoco and several other industries.
We have had challenges in the past. We have done our "homework," considered citizen input, and dealt with difficult circumstances with a positive attitude and to the best of our ability. There is no reason to deal with our current challenges any differently.
On April 1 we will have the opportunity to vote on several important issues. In addition to selecting city commissioners with the knowledge and ability to best represent our interests during these changing times, we also have the opportunity to renew our 1/2 cent city sales tax that is designated for street maintenance and improvement. This 1/2 cent tax has served us well. There is no bureaucracy associated with it, and none of it goes to benefit anything other than our city streets! I doubt anyone has a viable reason to oppose this renewal. Passage of this proposition can be our first positive step toward the future of Ponca City!
Tourism is fast becoming a major industry in our city. With skillful marketing and management, which we now have, the tourism dollars spent in our community will continue to increase. Tourism is a viable and lucrative industry. However, if we are going to extol our historic "treasures" it seems rather ridiculous to either allow them to crumble or to put them on the "auction block." It seems to make sense to allow the "Friends of the Cultural Center" an opportunity to ascertain what may be done to make the Cultural Center "self-supporting." We can still sell it if that is ultimately our only option, but we can't get it back once it is sold! Be sure to vote April 1, but please - don't vote for or against something just to "make a statement." Your vote and your opinion are much more important than that. Make a real statement - Ponca is great! - Let's keep working to make it even better!
Susan Nickles
Editor, The News:
To the people of Ponca City,
The city wants you to vote on April 1 whether or not to sell the Cultural Center. To let this historical and lovely site go would be a sad mistake. Not only was it E.W Marland's first home, but it now houses several museums including Indian collections with beautiful beadwork, the 101 Ranch Oldtimers museum, the DAR exhibit and the Bryant Baker studio.
When the Indian collections go to the Standing Bear Museum, this would free up room for a more extensive 101 ranch display and possibly a Marland Oil display as well. We have people who want to have their items included but they want a safe setting. There is still a lot of interest in the 101 Ranch and this would draw extra people to Ponca City.
Yes, there is upkeep involved in keeping these sites open but understand that tourism brings a lot of money here for other businesses as well. People have to eat and sleep and the more you have to offer, the more tourists will come.
There are other activities as well at this lovely old home. The money received for this site will be gone in a flash and you will have very little to show for it. You also will never get it back. Do think carefully. Vote no to the sale of your heritage.
Jean W. Evans, President
101 Ranch Oldtimers
Assn. Inc.
The testing of the Ponca City emergency siren warning system will be held at noon, every Thursday, according to Tom Montgomery, emergency management operations officer.
The test is scheduled throughout the year.
Montgomery said that in case of inclement weather, the test will be postponed, and in this case or if additional tests are planned, the public will be notified by the Ponca City News and the radio stations.
Highlighting the Tuesday noon meeting of Sertoma was the presentation of a Sertoma Community Award to Dr. James Jouret, Ponca City dentist and career soldier.
Lon Bair made the presentation for Sertoma, emphasizing Sertoma's Mission Statement - Sertoma exists for the high and noble purpose of Service to Mankind by communication of thoughts, ideas, and concepts to accelerate human progress in health, education, freedom and democracy.
Dr. Jouret as Major Jouret served with the Green Berets for four years, and is currently serving as Sgt. Major with the National Guard. He was away on duty at the time of the Community Awards banquet highlighting National Heritage Week for the local Sertoma.
Attending with Dr. Jouret for the presentation was his wife, Marilyn.
Mary Poskey chaired Tuesday's meeting, held at noon in the Western Sizzlin'. Mike Quirey led in prayer and the pledge of allegiance, and introduced Lon Bair who made the presentation to Dr. Jouret. Dr. Jouret thanked those present for the honor, and explained at the time of the Awards dinner he was in Wisconsin upgrading his soldier skills.
TONKAWA - Just in time for spring planting, Northern Oklahoma College offers a one-day workshop, "Hands on Gardening with Kelley." Conducted by Northern's head gardener, Kelley McKenzie, the workshop is set from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the college greenhouse, 310 South Pine in Tonkawa.
Participants will learn how to propagate perennials and their favorite house plants as well as how to over-winter annuals and take winter care of house plants. McKenzie will give pointers on spotting insects before they become infestations and on organic ways to eliminate insect pests. Other topics include cuttings, air layering, control of plant disease and container gardening.
An added feature of the workshop is a tour of the college campus, recently named an affiliate garden of the Oklahoma Botanical Garden and Arboretum statewide system, to identify foliage plants and where to place them properly in a landscape. "Attend and make your gardening decisions easier," McKenzie urges.
Cost of the workshop is $20. Participants must pre-enroll at the Registrar's Office by 5 p.m. Friday. For more information, call (405) 628-6220.
By LAURA TREADWAY
News Staff Writer
Law enforcement agencies in Kay and Noble Counties work together to combat drugs. In the mid-1980s, Ponca City Police Chief Raymond Ham assisted former District Attorney Joe Wideman in creating a Major Crimes Unit/Drug Task Force (MCU).
The force organized as a means of interaction between agencies and serves as a base for exchanging information, expertise and combining manpower to combat drugs in the area. Each month, chiefs of police and sheriff's meet to provide direction for the MCU.
The unit consists of Assistant District Attorney Lee Turner and three investigators. The team works 365 days, 24-hours a day, seizing drugs from drug dealers. To Ponca City's benefit, a Ponca City police officer is always assigned to MCU as one of the investigators. The officer usually works three to six month periods, to allow other officers the opportunity.
The program is federally funded and forfeited. Additionally, seized drug money and property is divided between the federal and state agencies.
Typically, the MCU uses operatives, who have been arrested for drugs. Operatives agree to cooperate for help in reduction of their sentences.
According to Turner, drug dealers sell to people they know. Therefore, the MCU needs people that have been previously arrested for drugs to assist in investigations.
"We're a small unit that has been actively working," the assistant DA said. "Since January, there have been 37 felony cases, however, very few drug cases go to jury trial. The defendants generally plea out," said Turner.
Methamphetamines are the main problem for the Ponca City area. This drug is described as a type of speed made by mixing chemicals. Other common narcotics seized include marijuana, cocaine and rohypnol.
Turner said, money or property used to sell or create drugs can be confiscated. Additionally, homes and cars are not exempt and can be sold at public auction. The cars currently driven by the MCU were obtained from drug forfeitures.
Furthermore, the Major Crimes Unit needs concerned citizens to let them know what's going on. Citizens are encouraged to call with whatever information they have.
"We have a hard time making cases without help from the community," said Turner.
A Ponca City police officer pointed out that if there was no demand for drugs, there would not be a supply. Moreover, the task force can make a good drug case when the users as well as the distributors, are arrested.
Although a skilled patrolman is provided to serve three to six months with the MCU, the PCPD receives another experienced investigator who brings back and applies what has been learned.
Further, the assistant district attorney believes the Community Service Sentencing program is the greatest program for non-felony convictions. Not only does the sheriff's office get paid for housing offenders, the subjects also get a taste of jail, Turner said.
Ham confirmed the MCU provides a low-cost means to fight drugs.
"Criminals are much more mobile now," the chief said. "When we have participation from all agencies in the district, we have an advantage. This way we attack problems where we find them," he concluded.
The Kay-Noble unit is considered the model for other communities throughout the state, according to Major Everette VanHoesen.
Sgt. Terry Peeples of Delta Company 1/179th Infantry Battalion in Ponca City has recently been promoted to the rank of staff sergeant.
SSG Peeples has nine years of military service. He spent seven of those years in the active duty Army, and has served two years in Delta Company.
SSG Peeples is a TOW (Tube Launched Optically Track Wire Guided Anti-Tank Missile) platoon section leader. He is responsible for two squads to include the communications, logistical coordination, and the maintenance of two TOW weapons systems and two humvees.
SSG Peeples has been employed by Albertson's Warehouse Distribution Center for three years. He is currently a replenishment foreperson.
SSG Peeples' goal is to become the Oklahoma State Sergeant Major.
DEATHS
BLACKWELL - Minnie Wilkerson, longtime Blackwell resident, died Tuesday, March 25, 1997, at Blackwell Regional Hospital. She was 89.
The funeral will be held graveside at the Blackwell IOOF Cemetery at 10:30 a.m. Friday with the Rev. Chuck McCrea, pastor of Blackwell First Christian Church officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Hackler Funeral Home, Blackwell.
Minnie (Finley) Wilkerson was born June 30, 1907 in Mutual, the daughter of Luther William and Rachel Ann (Paxson) Finley. She was married to Verl Richard Wilkerson on Sept. 5, 1931, at Perry. Mrs. Wilkerson moved to Blackwell in the mid 1930s, and was employed at the Rivoli Building for many years. She was baptized in the First Baptist Church in 1959. Mrs. Wilkerson moved to the Hillcrest Manor Nursing Home in 1986.
Survivors include a daughter, Jerry Ebert Gaither of Blackwell; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Emmery and Marion Finley.
Ilena May Horton, Ponca City resident, died Tuesday, March 25, 1997, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was 81. Survivors include a daughter, Dorothy Leonard and a son Don Horton, both of Ponca City. Arrangements are pending with Grace Memorial Chapel.
Hazel Frances Owen, Ponca City resident, died at her home this morning,
Tuesday, March 25, 1997. She was 85. Arrangements are pending with Hunsaker-Wooten
Funeral Home in Fairfax.
NEWS BRIEFS
Bake Sale - The American Legion Post 14 Auxiliary will hold a bake sale at the post home, 407 West South Avenue Thursday starting at 5 p.m.
Shirelles Cancel - The "Shirelles" recording group have canceled their show at Cassiopeias for Thursday, due to their lead singer having pneumonia. The group plans to reschedule their appearance in Ponca City as soon as possible.
Senior Citizens Dance Set - A Senior Citizens Dance will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday a the Senior Citizens Building, 320 South A in Arkansas City. The Pete Coli Country Band will be playing for dancing. All seniors are invited to attend and bring a favorite food to share.
Graduates from Basic - Army Pfc. Kristopher E. Perkins has graduated from basic military training at Fort Leonard Wood, Waynesville, Mo. Perkins is the son of Bud Perkins of Muskogee and Gayle Edwards of Fairfax. He is a 1988 graduate of Fairfax High School.
Delayed Enlistment -- William C. Riffle has joined the United States Army under the Delayed Entry Program at the U.S. Army Recruiting Station, Stillwater. The enlistment gives the new soldier the option to learn a new skill, travel and become eligible to receive as much as $30,000 toward a college education. After completion of basic training, soldiers receive advanced individual training in their career specialty. A student at Blackwell High School, Riffle will report to Fort Leonard Wood, Waynesville, Mo., for basic training on July 1. He is the son of William L. and Kathleen G. Riffle of Blackwell.
Fire at Hospital - Fifteen Ponca City firefighters responded within two minutes to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center at 6:51 a.m. Tuesday to extinguish a fire which started from the motor for an industrial iron. According to the fire report, the cause of ignition was listed as lack of maintenance.
Forgery - A Ponca City police officer took a report of forgery at Sonja's Flowers, 200 West Grand Avenue, at 8:36 a.m. Tuesday.
Larceny - A property owner went to the Ponca City Police Department at 9:25 a.m. Tuesday to report renters in the 100 block of East Fresno Avenue stole items from the residence. An officer took a report.
Checks Stolen - A resident in the 2200 block of North Fourteenth Street contacted the Ponca City Police Department at 10:10 a.m. Tuesday to report checks stolen. An officer took a report.
Arrested - A Ponca City police officer arrested a 39-year-old man in the 400 block of Westbury Road at 2:42 p.m. Tuesday for failure to pay.
Accident - The Ponca City Police Department received notice of an accident at North Fourteenth Street and East Hartford Avenue at 3:02 p.m. Tuesday.
Burglary - A resident in the 3000 block of Larchmont Avenue notified the Ponca City Police Department at 8:55 p.m. Tuesday of speakers stolen from a vehicle. An officer took a report.
North Fifth Street - The Public Works director reminds residents and businesses located on North Fifth Street, along Shannon Road, Shamrock Circle and Green Briar, to access Fifth Street north from Prospect Avenue.
Easter Egg Hunt - AMBUCS is sponsoring an Easter Egg Hunt at the Lake Ponca Pageant area at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Spring Clean Up - April 5 through April 12 is designated as "Spring Clean Up" for Ponca City residents, according to Ken Wilson, Solid Waste superintendent. Grass scalpings will also be collected during this week.
City Holiday - Friday is an official holiday for city employees, all city offices and departments will be closed.
No Refuse Service - Since Friday is Easter Holiday for city employees, there will be no residential refuse service and the Ponca City Landfill and Recycling Center will be closed. Residential refuse service will resume Monday, however, the landfill will reopen Saturday at 8 a.m. and the recycling center will resume operation also on Saturday at 9 a.m., according to the Solid Waste Department. For more information, contact 767-0454.
Found - The Ponca City telecommunication officers received notice at 9:47 p.m. Tuesday of an abandoned bike at North Osage Street and West Broadway Avenue.
Traffic Stop - A 44-year-old man was arrested at East Highland Avenue and North Ninth Street at 12:54 a.m. Wednesday for driving left of center and driving while intoxicated.
Collision - The Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Kay County Sheriff
were advised at 5:44 a.m. Wednesday of a non-injury accident 8.5 miles west
on U.S. 60 at Chikaskia River Bridge on the southwest side, according to
Ponca City telecommunication officers.
LIFESTYLES
Xi Zeta Lambda chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority met March 20 in the home of Francie James. Melva Keen, president, conducted the business meeting. Andra Kasselman, Corresponding secretary, took roll with 14 members present and read the minutes of the previous meeting. She also asked members to turn in their birthday lists.
Judy Watt, treasurer, gave the financial report and Jeannine Gemmill reported the next meeting will be April 3 in the home of Doretta Jackson. Mrs. Jackson will also be in charge of the program.
Guide lines for Valentine gifts for chapter queens was discussed. Members were reminded that Founder's Day will be held at the Marland Mansion at 6:30 p.m. April 22. Judy Mallory is in charge of the chapter's door prize. Reservations and individual fees of $13.75 will be due at the April 3 meeting. Chapter resumes for "Founder's Day" are to be limited to three minutes.
Judy Mallory announced that the next social would be April 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the home of Phyllis Pledger. It will be a "pot luck" dinner and members are asked to bring a covered dish. Cassandra Kifiak announced that the scrapbook committee would meet March 25 and March 26 at 6:30 p.m. at her home. Members wishing to help are encouraged to attend.
Francie James, membership chairman, announced that the Exemplar Ritual for Jeannine Gemmill will be April 17. She also reminded members that anyone who would like to bring a guest to a chapter function to please let her know. Ms. Kasselman, incoming president, distributed committee sign-up schedules.
The traveling basket brought by Phyllis Pledger was won by Tobie Neal. Francie James gave the program "Traditions of the Blarney stone." Following the meeting an "Irish" supper and game playing was held.
Five members of Xi Beta Tau chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority met at the home of June Miller March 24. June Miller, president, called the meeting to order by leading the group in the opening ritual. Sara King gave the treasurer's report and ticket money was collected for the Founder's Day dinner.
Officers elected for the 1997-98 year are June Miller, president; Patsy Bray, vice president; Jan Ellison, Recording/Corresponding secretary; Cindy Wardlow, treasurer; Sammie Coats, City Council representative, and Cindy Wardlow, City Council alternate.
A social meeting to include a pot luck dinner and card-playing will be held April 12 in the home of Bill and Patsy Bray. Members voted for the "girl of the year" by secret ballot. Announcement was made that a Ritual of the Jewels degree ceremony would be held at the next meeting for Cindy Wardlow and Jan Ellison.
Members will work on the scrapbook at the April 14 meeting. The traveling basket was passed from Cindy Wardlow to June Miller and the mystery gift was won by Sammie Coats. For the cultural program members participated in an Easter party and gift exchange.
The next meeting will be April 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the home of Sammie Coats. The April 28 meeting is planned for the home of Jan Ellison in Fairfax.
The March meeting of the Fun and Fundamental FCE group was hosted by Mary Ruth Leatherman. Kathy Fitch, president, presided at the meeting and led the group in the salute to the flag and in singing "Oh What a Beautiful Day" and the OAFCE creed. The hostess gave the devotion "Goodness" from the Apples of Gold book.
Roll call was answered by members naming experiences with mail order merchandise. Announcement was made that Dorothy Tanner, Pearl Fitch and Patty Dorl had attended the District Association meeting at Kingfisher.
Among the tips given to the group was to clean pewter with cabbage leaves. The February Council meeting was attended by Dorothy Tanner, Nancy Tindel, Nettie Cox and Pearl Fitch. The Fun and Fundamental group received a certificate for Standard of Excellence and perfect attendance awards went to Dorothy Tanner, Nancy Tindel and Pearl Fitch.
Entries for the April 16 food show at the FCE building in Blackwell were selected and Pearl Fitch showed an FCE yard sign. Contest prizes were won by Ms. Fitch and Ms. Tindel.
Kathy Fitch gave the leader's lesson titled "Rip Off and Fraud" during which she stated that people are not under obligation to pay for items they did not order.
The meeting was followed by a spaghetti and salad luncheon. The April
meeting will be hosted by Nancy Tindel and Mary Ruth Leatherman will give
the lesson on "Genealogy."
SPORTS
Stillwater proved tougher on the road than at home in high school dual tennis action Tuesday. Ponca City's Lady Wildcats defeated Stillwater 9-0 at Stillwater while the Wildcats' varsity tennis team fell 6-3 to Stillwater at the Wally Smith Tennis Center in Ponca City.
In JV action, the Stillwater boys won 5-3 while the Ponca City girls won 7-3.
The Lady Cats varsity squad won every set in taking their nine matches.
Up next, the JVs host a tournament Monday and then the varsity is at the Bartlesville Quad Tuesday to take on Bartlesville, Broken Arrow and Stillwater.
Results
Varsity Boys
Singles
No. 1 Matt Stuemky lost to Yarlagadda, 2-6, 4-6; No. 2 Donovan Weems lost to Grizzle, 6-4, 2-6, 3-6; No. 3 Bilal Ahga lost to Darlington, 4-6, 4-6; No. 4 Daniel Lee def. Tongco, 6-7, 6-3, 6-0; No. 5 Chris Brune def. Fazel, 6-4, 6-2; No. 6 Justin Lewis lost to Witt, 1-6, 0-6.
Doubles
No. 1 Weems-Brune lost to Yarlagadda-Grizzle, 4-6, 0-6; No. 2 Stuemky-Micha Alexander def. Darlington-Tongco, 7-5, 7-5; Agha-Lee lost to Fazzle-Witt, 3-6, 0-6.
JV Boys
Singles
No. 1 Damon Myers lost to Campbell, 6-4, 2-6, 6-7; No. 2 T.J. Murray lost to Ho, 5-7, 3-6; No. 3 Micha Alexander def. Change, 6-3, 6-2; No. 4 Owen Bullard def. Higbee, 6-1, 6-1; No. 5 Michael Galbraith def. Bell, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6; No. 6 Joseph Welch lost to Chang, 4-6, 1-6.
Doubles
No. 1 Murray-Bullard lost to Campbell-Ho, 5-7, 7-5, 3-6; No. 2 Galbraith-Welch lost to Bell-Higbee, 3-6, 4-6.
Varsity Girls
Singles
No. 1 Ashley Roussel def. Furman, 6-1, 6-4; No. 2 Abby Frick def. Augelli, 6-3, 6-4; No. 3 Michelle Means def. Irving, 6-4, 6-2; No. 4 Romi Foreman def. Ray, 6-0, 6-0; No. 5 Melissa Collogan def. Tongco, 6-3, 6-3; No. 6 Emmy Hufnagel def. Trenepohl, 6-1, 6-2.
Doubles
No. 1 Roussel-Means def. Augelli-Cobb, 6-0, 7-5; No. 2 Natalie Lindsay-Frick def. Irving-Furman, 6-2, 6-3; No. 3 Foreman-Collogan def. Tongco-Trenepohl 6-1, 6-1.
JV Girls
Singles
No. 1 Mia Alexander def. Cobb, 8-3; No. 2 Emily Wheeler def. Wahem, 9-8 (7-1); No. 3 Katie Rutherford def. Vincent, 8-4; No. 4 Mandy Dickson lost to Huber, 6-8; No. 5 Ashley Taylor def. Miller, 8-6; No. 6 Leanna Maurer lost to Harwood, 2-8; No. 7 Leanna Maurer lost to Jadlow, 3-8.
Doubles
No. 1 Hufnagel-Alexander def. Wahem-Miller, 8-5; No. 2 Wheeler-Rutherford def. Knori-Smith, 8-3; No. 3 Dickson-Taylor def. Hawkins-Huber, 8-1.
By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
Ponca City's Wildcat soccer teams won a couple of big ones here Tuesday vs. Bartlesville.
The scores weren't large, the boys won 1-0, the girls 2-0, but the wins loom huge for the Poncans, according to their coaches.
"This was a BIG win," Wildcat coach Marco Castillo said after the Cats made a late first half goal stand up for their second win of the season after three straight losses. "Bartlesville is a Top 5 team and we finally worked together the way we have wanted to.
"We got good senior leadership, but this was a total team effort."
"This is the first game toward our goals and our first shutout toward our goals," Lady Wildcat coach Steve Hermann said.
It was also the Po-Hi girls' first win of the season after two losses.
"The girls really hustled out there. We're starting to play well now."
In the opening boys' game, the Wildcats went on the attack early. It finally paid off with less than two minutes left in the half. A free kick by Zac Hardesty was stopped by the Bartlesville goalie. But the Bruins' defender couldn't control the ball.
"The ball kind of bounced around just outside the goal before (Chance) Greenhagen put it in," Castillo said.
That was enough for the low scoring Wildcats, who have scored just three goals in five matches.
Behind the efforts of goalies Barry Chance and Marciano Villarruel, the Wildcats held Bartlesville out of the goal despite a late concerted attack.
Chance injured a knee in the second half but Villarruel stepped in to halt a free kick on his first effort of the game.
"Maybe this will erase some doubts," Castillo said. "I've said all along this is a good team. When they play together as a team they're deadly."
The Lady Cats, with a number of new faces in the lineup, also appear to be jelling as a team.
Lendsi Boyd scored the first goal of the season for the Ponca City girls with 13:10 left in the first half.
That score held up through halftime although the Lady Cats got off only four shots on goal.
"I told the girls they had to shoot more," Hermann said at halftime.
The Po-Hi girls did just that early and picked up their second goal, by Kori Dancy, just eight minutes into the second half.
"There were a lot of good plays," Hermann said. "Carrie Cooley had her best game of the season on defense and Nikki Duke played well in the middle.
"And when Natasha Anderson and Lauren Brune get the ball, they make something happen."
The Wildcats will try to continue their winning ways in the Edmond Tournament Friday and Saturday. The Poncans will play Edmond Santa Fe in a rematch of last year's state finals at 4 p.m. Friday.
"A win puts us in the championship bracket, a loss puts us in the consolation bracket," Castillo said. "So that first game is important."
The coach said the eight-team field includes Edmond Memorial, Yukon and Rogers, Ark.
The Lady Wildcats were squeezed out of the Southern Nazarene University Tournament. But they will stay busy.
The junior varsity girls play Stillwater here Thursday at 4 p.m. and the varsity takes on Sand Springs and Sapulpa here Tuesday and Friday of next week in a pair of big Frontier Conference matches.
Bowhunters: March Is Time to Get Equipped
When most people think about bowhunting, the month of March doesn't usually come to mind. It is the time of year, however, when archers begin thinking about purchasing new equipment.
Beginning with the 1997-98 hunting season, there will no longer be "let-off" restrictions on compound bows. In the past, hunters were required to use compound bows having no more than 65 percent let-off. While devices that permit a bow to be held mechanically at full or partial draw are still prohibited, hunters can use bows which feature let-offs of more than 65 percent.
"Hunters also should keep in mind that although there are no longer any state regulations prohibiting high let-off bows, any deer submitted for Pope and Young recognition must have been harvested using a bow with no more than 65 percent let-off," said Alan Peoples assistant chief of game for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Peoples added that a number of other hunting season changes take effect this fall, including a change in Oklahoma's quail season, which will start on the first Saturday in November (Nov. 1 this coming fall) and end on Jan. 31.
"Opening the season in early November would allow hunters to harvest some of the birds that would otherwise be lost to predators or bad weather," he said. "On average, eight out of 10 quail die each year, the vast majority of which die from natural causes. From a biological perspective, the number of birds that die early in the fall has little bearing on next year's population. Birds that die later in the winter, however, reduce the number of breeding adults that can produce offspring the following year and that can have implications on fall population levels."
Other changes for this fall's hunting seasons include:
- extending bobcat season to run from Dec. 1 through Feb. 28. The daily bag limit has been removed and the season limit has been changed from eight to 20. Bobcat tagging requirements also have been changed to allow the use of private tagging stations and to allow those stations to charge a 75 cent per tag fee.
- changing the fall firearms turkey bag limit in Pawnee County from one bird of either sex to one tom.
- opening the remainder of Garfield County (south of Hwy. 412) to fall firearms turkey hunting. The bag limit for fall firearms turkey hunting in Garfield County is one tom.
- reducing the spring turkey bag limit in Seminole County from two toms to one tom (this will go into effect in the spring of 1998), and
- opening all Canada goose closure areas, except Vann's Lake proper.
All of the regulation changes will be outlined in the 1997-98 Oklahoma Hunting Regulations.
Ten fishing regulation changes were approved by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission at its February meeting. All of the changes will go into effect Jan. 1, 1998.
The Wildlife Conservation Commission, which is the Wildlife Department's governing body, voted to adopt the following fishing regulation changes:
- Imposing uniform Oklahoma/Texas regulations at Lake Texoma, including changes affecting white bass (no size limit, 25 daily creel limit); crappie (10-inch minimum size limit, 37 daily creel limit); blue and/or channel catfish (12-inch minimum size limit, 15 daily creel limit); and flathead catfish (20-inch minimum, five daily creel limit).
- Imposing a 16- to 22-inch trophy slot size limit on black bass at McGee Creek Lake. No fish between 16 and 22 inches may be kept and only one fish 22 inches or longer is allowed.
- Imposing a 10-inch minimum size limit, 15-fish daily creel limit on crappie at Lake Hudson.
- Combining white bass with existing striped bass hybrid fishing regulations at Skiatook Lake (five fish, of which only two may be 25 inches or longer).
- Extending current crappie regulations at Fort Gibson Lake to include all tributaries and upstream to Markham Ferry Dam.
- Imposing a 20-inch minimum size limit, one-fish daily creel limit on brown trout at the lower Illinois River (this is currently covered under emergency regulations.)
- Designating boundaries of lakes Canton and Wister for purposes of clarifying fishing regulations.
- Opening the Lake Thunderbird tailwaters to bowfishing.
- Imposing a four-inch minimum size limit on all turtles and an 18-inch maximum size limit on soft shell turtles only.
- Modifying bill of lading form required of mussel buyers.
A boating skills and seamanship course, sponsored by the Conoco Off-The-Job Safety Committee, will be presented by the Tulsa Coast Guard Auxiliary on four separate Thursdays beginning April 3.
Each of the four classes - April 3, April 17, April 24 and May 1 - will be held from 7-10 p.m. at the Fourth Street Clubhouse in Ponca City.
The 12-hour course is free but a $20 textbook will need to be purchased. Seating is also limited and the deadline to enroll is April 1.
In addition to learning skills and seamanship, most insurance companies offer discounts of approximately 15 percent to graduates of the course.
For additional information or to enroll, contact Tom Pardee at 767-3192 (7 a.m.-4 p.m.) or 762-4930 (evenings).
Anglers fishing in the Arkansas or Cimarron rivers who catch paddlefish bearing a metal tag in the lower jaw can collect rewards for reporting the date, time and location of the catch.
Anglers are asked to send that information, along with the angler's name and address to:
Paddlefish Project
404 LSW, OSU
Stillwater, Ok. 74078.
Every angler reporting a tag will be sent a cooperator's baseball cap.
And for each report an angler's name is put in a drawing for cash prizes.