From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Tuesday, March
3, 1998
LOCAL
Newkirk, Kildare School Districts Plan Special Elections Next Week
Clarification
Nearly News
Editorial
City Attorney Clarifies 'Ugly' Political Signs
District Court
House Approves Newport's Bill
DEATHS
Obituaries
Leonard Raymond Sheik
Funerals
Adah E. Faubion
NEWS BRIEFS
BUSINESS
New Manager Replaces Worley For ONG Area
Customer Service Same Worldwide
Notes and Quotes
City Sales Tax Collections Up For December
Chamber Transfers Funds From Old EDF
Business Opens New Showroom
LIFESTYLES
Public is Invited To Friends Of Cultural Center Meeting
Laureate Phi Fetes Pat Hill
SPORTS
Lady Mavs Earn Berth In Tourney
Pioneers Chill Cats
Another Cold Start for Golf
Po-Hi Golf Schedule
Netters Warm Up In Tourney
By MARK GALVIN
News Staff Writer
Registered voters in Kay County who want to vote by absentee ballot in the statewide election and the annual school election can still receive and cast a ballot by going to the Kay County Election Board office this Thursday, Friday or Monday.
Newkirk voters will decide a $250,000 transportation bond issue primarily for the purchase of two 47-passenger buses and an activity bus.
Kildare voters will decide a $25,000 bond for construction and improvements to building and school sites and a $100,000 transportation bond to purchase two 47-passenger buses. Construction bond money will be used to buy new furniture and fixtures and to improve and repair existing school buildings.
Election board secretary Carol Stafford said a two-member bipartisan absentee voting board will be on duty from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each of the three days prior to Tuesday's election to assist in-person absentee voters.
In-person absentee voters will complete an application form when they arrive in the office. They are not required to state a reason for voting in-person absentee. They are required to swear that they have not voted an regular mail absentee ballot and that they will not vote at their polling places on election day.
According to Stafford, the absentee voting board will verify the voter's registration information, then will issue the correct ballots.
The voter will mark the ballots in the privacy of a voting booth and insert them into the voting device, much like voting at a precinct polling place, Stafford said.
For more information, contact the Kay County Election Board office at the county courthouse in Newkirk, telephone 580-362-2130.
Robert Dale Cramer, 38, who works at Green Country Pest Control, is not to be confused with Robert Creamer, 29, who was mentioned in Friday's News in connection with a local drug bust.
The News apologizes for any confusion resulting from the similarity of the names.
The Bizarro cartoon "Forgotten Pages of American History" showing the "Great Pencil Rebellion of 1964 Ponca City, Oklahoma," has had far reaching reactions. Recently a letter came in from Canada inquiring about the meaning of the cartoon and today The News received a copy of the West Hawaii Today publication from a Ponca City resident vacationing there. Just to remind readers the cartoonist, Dan Piraro who draws Bizarro, lived in Ponca City in the mid-1960s and his father worked for Conoco (a Conoco triangle emblem is shown on the filing cabinet). Other than that there is apparently no deeper meaning.
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The following intersections will be closed for the next two weeks for concrete repairs: Ponca Avenue and Peachtree Street, Ponca Avenue and Birch Street, Grand Avenue and Birch Street and Summit Avenue and Sunset Street.
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Double Oops! Yesterday's Nearly News reported that Nicole Tureaud was pictured with the winners of the Native American Poster Contest. Tureaud was pictured with the winners for the Black History Month Poster Contest. The News apologizes for any confusion.
Congratulations Teachers
Congratulations to Kassie Bridges, Ponca City district teacher of the year, as well as to all the teachers who were selected as teachers of the year from their schools. It is a great honor to be selected from among the long list of top notch educators in our system.
Our sympathies go out to all the members of the professional development committee who were faced with the unenviable task of selecting one teacher out of those who were honored by their schools. By any account it would be an extremely difficult job.
The teachers were honored Monday at a luncheon which was well attended by both school district personnel and dignitaries from throughout the community who wanted to show their appreciation. Nice as it was, it is not enough to thank them for the hours of hard work they contribute toward the education of our children.
Most of all we hope that all the quality teachers throughout the district realize as they sit up at midnight grading papers and going over lesson plans, that the program was truly meant to honor them all. Those who were selected are excellent, but there are many more who deserve special recognition.
Teaching is a job where most of the rewards are not material in nature, they need to know personally how much we appreciate them. Next time you get a chance, make a special effort to thank each of the teachers who work with your children.
By PATTI PFEIFFER
News Staff Writer
Referring to them as "ugly things" Mayor Marilyn Andrews brought up the topic of political signs at the city commission work session Monday afternoon and not surprisingly, she chose to do so under the "public nuisance" agenda item.
"They are ugly things and this is an ugly time because we have to put up with the silly things," Andrews exclaimed as she questioned the city ordinances governing political signs. "I think we all ought to be playing under the same rules otherwise it is not fair."
City Attorney Kevin Murphy was on hand to field the mayor's question. "The city ordinance which limited the placement of signs 30 days prior to an election is not consistent to the U.S. Constitution," Murphy explained. "We can limit the size but not the 30 day rule."
There are several ordinances which apply to all political signs and which are enforceable by the city.
Section 29.5-32 of the City Code limits the size of all political signs to eight square feet and requires that they be removed no later than 10 days after the election.
The ordinance also states that signs can not be placed on any property without the permission of the property owner. The same applies to signs placed on commercial property.
According to Section 29.5-34 and 35 political signs can not be placed on any city owned property including street right-of-ways or on any fire hydrants or utility poles on those right-of-ways.
State statute also restricts placement of political signs. According to Carol Stafford Election Board Secretary State Statue restricts the placement of political signs within 300 feet of the door of any polling place.
Violations of either the city or state laws can result in a fine of up to $100 per/day for city violations up to $200 for state violations and all signs in violation will be removed.
Newkirk
Marriage Licenses
Raymond Lee Adams III, 27, and Lori Dawn Mangrum, 25, both of Ponca City.
Concepcion Bocanegra, 34, and Lisa Marie Berry, 24, both of Ponca City.
Lionel Kent Giger II, 23, Geuda Springs, Kan., and Susan Marie Day, 19, South Haven, Kan.
Charles Ray Danner, 51, and Catherine Marie Belair, 43, both of Blackwell.
Timothy John Self, 37, El Dorado, Kan., and Gala Ann Kilburn, 27, Wichita.
Jose Rodriquez Cabello, 31, and San Juanita Davila, 31, both of Ponca City.
Divorces Sought
Shannon R. Olmstead vs. Benniejoe D. Olmstead.
Linda Sue Punches vs. Wesley Cleo Punches.
Civil Proceedings
Orbit Finer Foods and Bimar Foods Inc. vs. Jim Adkins doing business as Okay Foods; plaintiffs seeking judgment in excess of $10,000.
Greenwood Trust Co. vs. Kevin Ingmire; plaintiff seeking judgment for $3,132.17.
Beverage Licenses
T&R Distributing, for sale at Holiday Inn, Ponca City.
Marcus and Kathy Leavell Corp., doing business as Mazzio's, Ponca City.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The state House has approved a bill that authorizes the state Health Department to develop rules for body piercing salons.
House Bill 2547 by Rep. Jim Newport, R-Ponca City, passed 92-4 Monday after the House rejected an amendment to prohibit anyone under 18 from having their bodies pierced for jewelry, except for pierced ears.
House members also defeated an amendment to allow tattooing of people 18 and over. Current law prohibits tattooing in Oklahoma.
Newport said the Health Department rules would prevent the spread of disease - such as hepatitis and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS - through body piercing.
The bill requires minors to obtain their parents permission and have their parents present during a body piercing procedure.
''I don't have any use for body piercing,'' Newport said. But he argued
against an amendment by Rep. Richard Phillips, R-Warr Acres, to prohibit
body piercing of minors.
DEATHS
NEWKIRK - Leonard Raymond Sheik, longtime Newkirk area farmer, passed on to greener pastures Monday, March 2, 1998, at his home in Ponca City. He was 74.
The son of John Raymond and Amelia (Schoenberg) Sheik, he was born Dec. 14, 1923, in Newkirk. He grew up and received his education in the Newkirk area. When he was the age of 14, he took over the majority of the farming responsibilities after his fathers tragic death, providing for his mother and siblings. He graduated from Newkirk High School in 1942.
On Nov. 12, 1949, he and Dorothy Lou Tharp were married at Newkirk. They made their home on the farm south of Newkirk. In addition to his farming he was employed at the Rodeo Meat Packing Plant in Arkansas City. Later he worked at the Zinc Smelter and in 1974 began working at the Acme Foundry, both in Blackwell. In 1975, they moved to Newkirk where they lived until 1987, when they moved to Ponca City. Mrs. Sheik died Oct. 8, 1988. In 1989 he was diagnosed with a lung disease and retired from his work at the foundry. He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Newkirk, and the Knights of Columbus.
He is survived by one daughter, Barbara Reimer of Ponca City; two grandchildren, Shasta Scott and Porsche Reimer, both of Ponca City; and a great-grandson, Blake Scott. He is also survived by one brother, John Albert Sheik of Ponca City; and one sister Mrs. Leonard (Lucille) Horinek of Newkirk. In addition to his wife, Dorothy, and his parents, he was preceded in death by two sons, Larry Joe and Donnie; one daughter Melissa; and one grandson.
A prayer service is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, at the Miller-Stahl Funeral Chapel in Newkirk. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Francis Catholic Church in Newkirk with the Rev. Richard Beckman as celebrant. Burial will follow in Newkirk Cemetery under the direction of Miller-Stahl Funeral Service.
Memorial funds have been established in Mr. Sheik's name with Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Lung Research, and with Hospice of Ponca City and may be made through Eastman National Bank, P.O. Box 468, Newkirk, OK 74647.
The family will be at 3502 "E" Street in Ponca City.
paid obituary
Thursday
Adah E. Faubion - A graveside service is set for 2 p.m. Thursday
at Ponca City IOOF Cemetery followed by a memorial service at 2:30 p.m.
at the Ponca City First Christian Church. Other arrangements will be announced
later by Trout Funeral Home.
NEWS BRIEFS
Arrests - Police arrested a 40-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man at 7:30 a.m. Monday from the 100 block of South Osage Street for domestic assault and battery.
Window Broken - At 8:04 a.m. Monday police were notified that a window at Liberty School had been broken during the night. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Theft - At 9:33 a.m. Monday police were contacted regarding the theft of "beauty rings" from a car in Motor City's lot, 401 West Grand Avenue. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Window Shot - A woman at Holiday Inn, 2515 North Fourteenth Street, called police at 10:20 a.m. Monday to report that a window had been shot out with a BB gun. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Juvenile Shoplifter - At 10:22 a.m. Monday a juvenile was cited for shoplifting at Citgo, 320 East Grand Avenue.
Arrest - Police arrested a 37-year-old man at 11:17 a.m. Monday from the 300 block of North Oak Street for driving under suspension and no seat belt.
Dead Chicken - A man in the 1100 block of West Greenwood Avenue called police at 11:47 a.m. Monday to report that a neighbor's dog had killed another neighbor's chicken in his yard. Animal Control was contacted.
Vehicle Vandalism - At 1:41 p.m. Monday a woman in the 2200 block of North Fourteenth Street called police to report vandalism to her vehicle. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Door Vandalism - At 2:06 p.m. Monday a woman in the 100 block of North Second Street reported vandalism to her screen door. A report was taken.
Appliance Theft - A man in the 1000 block of East Walnut Avenue called police at 2:42 p.m. Monday to report the theft of appliances from his home. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Juvenile Arrest - Police arrested a 16-year-old juvenile at 3:24 p.m. Monday from Hastings, 2101 North Fourteenth Street, for petit larceny.
Juvenile Arrest - An 11-year-old boy was arrested at 4:38 p.m. Monday from Drug Warehouse for petit larceny.
Arrest - Police arrested a 47-year-old man at 5:01 p.m. Monday for domestic assault and battery.
Arrest - A 45-year-old man was arrested at 5:50 p.m. Monday from the 1400 block of West Highland Avenue on a city warrant for failure to pay.
Theft - At 6:52 p.m. Monday police were contacted regarding the theft of some property from Autozone, 2104 North Fourteenth Street. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Juvenile Apprehended - A 12-year-old boy was taken into custody at 6:56 p.m. Monday for three counts of vandalism.
Arrest - At 9:09 p.m. Monday a man in the 400 block of North Pine Street was arrested for driving under suspension, no lights and speeding.
Arrest - Police arrested a 19-year-old man at 10:41 p.m. Monday from South Fourteenth Street and East South Avenue for driving under the influence, improper muffler system and transporting an open container.
Window Vandalism - At 3:50 a.m. Tuesday a man in the 2200 block
of North Fourteenth Street called police to report that someone had kicked
the front window out of his apartment. An officer was assigned and a report
was taken..
BUSINESS
New Oklahoma Natural Gas (ONG) Ponca City Area manager is Karen Furman. She replaces Phyllis Worley, who was promoted to director of the Southern Region of Kansas Gas Service, which is also affiliated with ONEOK Inc.
Mrs. Furman comes to her position here from El Reno where she was the ONG manager. Prior to that other positions she held in Oklahoma City were as a commercial food service consultant, for eight years, as a dealer marketing consultant and as a consumer services representative.
A native of Holdenville, she graduated from high school there and received bachelor of science and master of science degrees from the University of Central Oklahoma at Edmond, graduating magna cum laude in 1982.
In 1997, she was named the El Reno Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year. Other awards include Oklahoma Natural's TLC Award Total Leadership Commitment; Oklahoma Restaurant Association Salesperson of the Year, and Stokley Van Camp Outstanding Graduate Award. She was a registered commercial gas consultant with the Institute of Gas Technology Chicago.
Currently Furman services as a Marland Estate commissioner.
She is married to Bob Furman and has two children Mrs. Beth Lane of Ardmore and Mrs. Jennifer Leyva, Bowie, Md., a granddaughter, Shannon Elizabeth, and a grandson, Zachary Dylon.
By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Staff Writer
Mike Engster, a native of Germany, told the Breakfast of Champions Friday that the only difference between customer service in Germany and the U. S. is "the language."
Engster's company Center Line Inc., was named the Small Industry of the Year at the recent Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce banquet.
The firm began in 1994 as an incubator tenant at Pioneer Technology Center. In 1996, the operation generated close to one million dollars in sales. In 1997 the firm moved into a new facility and is closing in on the two million mark and employs about 20 skilled technicians in the repair and refurbishing of spindles.
One of the larger customers is Boeing Aircraft in Wichita. A spindle is part of a machine that does the work. For example, the spindle is part of a machine that cuts out airplane wings for Boeing. It is the part that grinds the metal and extracts material.
Identifying himself as a "spindle doctor," Engster told the Chamber of Commerce crowd at the breakfast abut customer satisfaction. He described a customer as the reason for business; the reason for generating a profit; the reason for jobs and the customer is the foundation for the community.
Engster noted that if the customer is satisfied he tells three people, but an unsatisfied customer tells 11 people who each tell five people and pretty soon there are 60 people who have never met you and they don't like you.
He said customers go where they are treated well and get good value. As the quality slips away so will the customers.
"Service is a people business," Engster said. He told about service saying it is best not to try to fool the customer with a lot of show talk, that one should show respect and listen to understand the problem and find out the customers expectations and then repeat the specifics.
Engster said it is always good to double check with the satisfied customer by calling them to see how if there are any problems. He said the unsatisfied customer will already have called.
The presentation was sprinkled with humorous stories an examples and well received by the guests at the Chapel in the Marland Estate Conference Center. The event was sponsored by the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce's "Give Ponca the Business Committee," chaired by Paula Coppock.
Coppock introduced Engster and after the presentation presented him a "Ponca Basket" from the Chamber.
Apartments Refurbished
BLACKWELL - The Elmwood Apartments have been completely remodeled in Blackwell and all units should be available for rent by the end of March under the new name of Andros Village. The units will continue to be rented under the USDA (formerly FmHA) subsidized rent program.
The Elmwood Apartments had been repossessed by USDA from the previous owner and needed a lot of repair. Green Companies purchased the apartments from the USDA inventory last year and agreed to completely remodel all units inside and out. The reconstruction is being financed with a combination of low interest rate loans supplied by the USDA's Rural Development agency and low-income housing tax credits awarded by the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency.
Highest Return
The recommended stock portfolio of the Edward Jones financial-services firm achieved the highest overall return among 15 major brokerage firms for the 1997, with a return of 39.5 percent, according to the Wall Street Journal's latest quarterly stock-picking survey.
The firm was also featured in Fortune Magazine. Management guru and author Peter Drucker, who has a close professional relationship with Edward Jones, is quoted throughout the Fortune article. As an outside and a respected authority on management theories, he provides an unique perspective on the firm.
Ponca City sales tax return from the Oklahoma Tax Commission for business conducted during December was up considerably compared to the same time period last year.
Ponca City coffers will receive a total of $1,007,049 up from $871,258 for the same time frame in December 1996. However the sales tax was at 2.5 percent during this period in 1996 and went to 3 percent in December 1997.
Statewide, the distribution of city sales tax collections totaled $82,921,436. The disbursement of sales tax collections to 486 cities and towns showed an increase of $4,113,614 from $78,807, 822 distributed to 480 cities and towns in February one year ago.
On March 1, the city of Lamont began collecting a 2 percent use tax.
City Nov. 97 Nov. 96
Barnsdall $11,414 $11,835
Bartlesville 1,330,938 1,242,871
Billings 8,025 7,878
Blackwell 105,465 104,761
Braman 1,856 1,712
Burbank 390 514
Deer Creek 1,000 593
Enid 1,552,758 1,517,403
Fairfax 17,618 15,010
Kaw City 3,078 2,455
Lamont 1,946 2,016
Marland 891 813
Medford 12,769 13,096
Morrison 3,506 4,355
Newkirk 21,876 26,616
Pawhuska 63,897 64,200
Pawnee 34,880 37,941
Perry 45,046 43,809
Pond Creek 5,958 5,778
Ralston 1,178 1,261
Red Rock 1,092 1,67
Shidler 2,113 2,340
Stillwater 1,092,058 1,101,793
Tonkawa 40,920 43,853
By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Business Editor
Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors approved the transfer of $40,000 in certificates of deposit from the old Economic Development Foundation to the Chamber at the Friday Board meeting. The funds are to be kept in a separate account.
Chamber Chairman Scott Dean told about the State Chamber officials visit and also mentioned the Ponca City Tomorrow Vision program, saying both events were successful.
Chairman-elect Richard Severance reported that Infrastructure is planning to assist the city with some type of celebration for the opening of Fifth Street. He said the committee is going to focus its efforts toward the improvement of U.S. 177 north. Efforts continue also on 177 south.
He announced there will be Second Friday Forums on March 13 and April 10 featuring state legislators. A mayoral forum has been set for April 2 at the library program room. The election is April 7.
Connie McAbee, chairman of the Presidents Club, reported on the recent luncheon meeting. At this point Jan Jarrett, Chamber CEO, exhibited a large pair of scissors made by James York of Conoco. The scissors will be used at ribbon cuttings. A ribbon cutting is slated for 10 a.m. Wednesday at Carla's Hallmark, 405 East Grand.
Craig Myers, Business and Community Development, told about the Health Committee meeting, Breakfast of Champions featuring Mike Engster and about Leadership Ponca City's annual visit to the State Capitol.
Linda Brown, Economic Development Advisory Board, announced the resignation of Bill Rodgers from that board. Rodgers is moving to Oklahoma City to take a position with Mid-First Bank. Mayor Andrews will appoint a replacement. Brown also reported on the assembling of the various sub-committees.
Dean announced the membership drive will kick off April 27 with a luncheon and the drive is slated for May 11-14 and a social will be held later.
The treasurer's report was by Jim Lindsay and a housekeeping resolution on signing checks for Crime Stoppers was approved by the board.
Derle Mork, owner of Worldwide Refinishing Systems, Ponca City, will host the opening of his kitchen and bath remodeling showroom at 201 South First Street.
The showroom will display actual samples of refinished and refurbished tubs and sinks, a key Worldwide refinishing service, in addition to remodeling options for cabinets, countertops, bath hardware, tile and flooring.
Mork provides remodeling services in Ponca City as well as in Stillwater.
He will be exhibiting at the Home Show at Unity Community Center in Ponca
City March 25-26 and at the Home Show at Payne County Fairgrounds in Stillwater
April 25-26.
LIFESTYLES
The Master Plan of the Friends of the Ponca City Cultural Center Museum Foundation, Inc. will be presented to members Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Cultural Center, according to Marquetta Brown, president. The meeting is open to the public.
The presentation will be made by Bill Hirsch, Matrix's Project Principal-in-Charge. Matrix is a firm of Architects, Engineers, Planners from Tulsa that the Friends hired in July to help them to study and define what is needed to enhance the "qualitative and economic position" of the Ponca City Cultural Center.
The information collected for the study involved a broad range of Ponca City citizens in a series of open meetings during the last half of 1997. This "bottom-up" process included the following items: identify current facility needs and opportunities; collect, organize, and analyze data; study site and facility use; evaluate alternative concepts respecting immediate needs and long range phasing; establish budget cost for phased implementation of a long range Master Plan.
The recommendations will include aesthetic, economic, administrative and historic concerns. Together they will form the basis for a strategic investment to help the City of Ponca and the Ponca City Cultural Center meet its long and intermediate range goals said a spokesperson.
The guidelines for the usage of the building and site use during the workshop were as follows: The facility should be public in nature since it is publicly owned and publicly used. The facility should be an active multi-use facility as well as a museum. It should be adaptable to multi-use functions and be able to support multiple activities occurring simultaneously. The uses of the facility should be self-supporting if at all possible. Alternative means of acquiring financing for operations and maintenance must be examined. A public information and education program about the facility must be developed to insure long term financial and community support.
The Friends of the Cultural Center was formally organized in May when they received their charter as a non-profit corporation. In August they received their 501 C-3 which established their tax exempt status.
Their mission is "to preserve the historically significant first home of E. W. Marland in Ponca City and preserve the artifacts contained in the exhibits housed in the building for our multicultural community and its future generations."
Members of Laureate Phi chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority met recently in the home of Elsie Rosenbaum, president. A luncheon preceded the business meeting and each member was reminded to submit a brief description of a service project to Pat Hill, Service chairman.
The party at Head Country Barbecue for the chapter Valentine Queen, Pat
Hill, was discussed. Guests for the event were Ed Hill, Allan Streeter,
John Williams, Jim Rosenbaum, Charles Starks, Alice Beman's granddaughter,
Claire, from Perkins and Rosenbaums' daughter, Patti, from Albuquerque,
N. M. The next chapter meeting will be at the Hill home with Leanna Adams
presenting the program.
SPORTS
By MATTHEW KOENIG
News Sports Writer
TONKAWA - In a final hurdle to keep their Region II playoff hopes alive, the NOC Lady Mavericks downed tiny (150 enrollment) Shorter (Ark.) College, 90-60, Monday night.
As the lone independent member of Region II, Shorter has the distinction of vying for a berth against the lowest seeded team of the East and West Divisions - this year, and by virtue of a few lucky breaks, that team is the Lady Mavericks.
And, though NOC coach Greg Krause had given his team Friday and Saturday off before being notified of Monday's game, the outcome of this match up was never really in question. With just five girls in their line up, Shorter is a school whose name says it all.
After leaping to a 39-28 halftime lead, the Lady Mavs took advantage of the short-handed Lady Bulldogs' fatigue by outscoring them 26-11 in the third quarter to put the game away.
In the second half, the Lady Mavs buried nine three pointers to race away with the win.
Pacing the Lady Mavs was Shannon Hands with 17 points, followed by Stephanie Stovall with 15, Cathy Rogers with 14, Sarah Roughface with 8, Renee Reese and Mandy Perkins with 7 each, Danielle Monie and Jessica Garner with 6 each, Angella Ogle with 4, while Joey Mount, Lyndsey Warrior and Jennifer Williams each had 2.
For the Lady Bulldogs, Khalila Stabbs had 25 points to lead all scorers, followed by Carla Akins with 21, Shrhonda Maxwell with 7, Latoya Pugh with 4, and Lawanda Guddey with 3.
Still, with the prospect of playing nationally ranked No. 2 Connors State in the first round of the Region II tournament on Friday, Krause was quick to point out how relatively hollow the victory was.
"We'll have to represent ourselves better than we did tonight to play with them," he said. "I'm happy we're in the tournament, but I'm not happy with the way we played. We weren't sharp."
And to beat Connors, Krause says, his team will have to play the game of their lives. Still, he knows such things are possible with the right frame of mind.
"I'm gonna dwell on the fact that we shouldn't feel any pressure. We just have to have fun and enjoy it, we have to go out and compete. The key will be to keep things close until the end and hope they tighten up."
Tipoff for Friday's game is 6 p.m. at OBU.
By MATTHEW KOENIG
News Sports Writer
Beneath a steel-gray sky and an oppressive wind-chill, the Wildcat baseballers dropped their inaugural game of the season, Monday, falling to the Stillwater Pioneers, 5-3.
The Cats, 0-1, take on Guthrie today at 4:30, in what should be more agreeable baseball weather.
Despite the small, emotional victory of keeping superlative athlete and OSU football/baseball signee Matt Holliday hitless in four at-bats, the Wildcats couldn't overcome several base running errors. Also, a critical fielding miscue by the relatively inexperienced Wildcats allowed the Pioneers to break out with a three-run fifth inning and take the lead for good.
"There were just a few things we could have done better," said coach Roydon Tilley, after the game. "But we're going to get better. That was a good ball game."
With a nice throw by shortstop Justin Thomas to sophomore catcher Jerrod Spears to prevent a Stillwater run in the second, and after holding the Pioneers to just one hit through the first two innings, the Cats looked to be equal to their southern rival.
But Stillwater got things going after that.
Wildcat pitcher Chris Koenig started off the third by giving up a triple to leadoff hitter Justin Lillie. After walking the next batter, Koenig then struck out Holliday, but an RBI by the four-hole hitter sent Lillie in to score, and the Pioneers took the lead, 1-0.
Into the fourth inning, a quick three and out for the Pioneers brought up the Wildcats. Koenig led off with a single, but moments later, that potential score went for naught, when Koenig's courtesy runner was picked off at first.
Centerfielder Michael Quick then got on base, which brought up first baseman Dean Hemenway, who proceeded to crush a long drive to center field, sending in Quick to tie the game at 1-1.
Two more quick outs by Stillwater, however, brought up the fateful fifth inning.
Koenig started off by fanning the nine-hole hitter, but walked Lillie and then gave up an RBI double to No. 2 hitter David Womach.
With Holliday again on deck, Tilley then sent Hemenway to the mound in relief. Hemenway walked Holliday and the next batter, however, and after a Ponca City error led to two RBI's by five-hole hitter Lucas Davies, the Cats went down by two more runs, 4-1.
Though the Cats couldn't get anything going in the bottom of the fifth, Hemenway warmed up in the sixth, and got the Poncans quickly back to bat. Koenig inched around the diamond after a pair of exceedingly narrow and controversial calls at both first and second base, and Hemenway again drove in the run for the second Ponca City score.
After Hemenway struck out Holliday to start the seventh inning, the Pioneers did pick up an insurance run after a double and a single by their four and five hole hitters.
With a chance to play catch up, and down by three runs, 5-2, Wildcat third baseman Jay Bentley started things off in the bottom of the seventh by drawing a walk. An RBI double by Spears then drove in a run, but that would be all the Cats would get.
"I'm not displeased at all," Tilley concluded. "The kids played hard, and Chris and Dean pitched well. We swung at some bad pitches and had a chance to make a double play in there, but we'll make improvement down the road. You can't ever be happy with a loss, but with seven or eight kids out there without varsity experience, we did pretty well."
Stillwater 5, Ponca City 3
Stillwater 001 030 1 - 5 7 3
Ponca City 000 101 1 - 3 7 1
Koenig, Hemenway (5) and Spears; Roach and Davies
By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
If the wind chill would make a polar bear shiver, it must be time to start the golf season.
That happens for the Po-Hi boys and girls golf teams today as they travel to Owasso for the season opener.
"Last year the wind chill was brutal," recalls Wildcat coach Dan McGregor. "It wasn't much fun."
"They cut the girls' play to nine holes last year," added Lady Wildcat coach Jerry Orr. "They just weren't getting anything done."
Much the same conditions were forecast for the start of the Owasso Invitational today with Ponca City and 15 other teams trying to figure out where they stand in the race toward the state tournament.
Both Ponca City teams are young, but have shown some talent in the practice sessions held before the weather turned back the dial.
McGregor has one senior among his top five starters today. Eric Smith has started for four years for the Wildcats and will be the No. 2 Wildcat for the season opener.
Sophomore Matt Waddell shot himself into the No. 1 spot for now.
A pair of juniors, Jason Pettigrew and Aaron Hill, along with sophomore Scott King, fill out the lineup today.
"The top two have been shooting pretty good," McGregor said. "The battle for the next three spots is pretty tight. There are some kids on the JV team who will push these kids.
"We've looked pretty good in practice, or at least we did until the weather turned cold again. It has been very difficult to practice this week."
It's too early to make any predictions about his team's chance of success, but McGregor says there is some talent there.
"But there's some good talent on other teams, too. Jenks and Muskogee return everybody and Bartlesville is pretty good.
"It will just be a matter of who puts their game together at the right time.
"This tournament will let us find out where we are and what we need to do,"
It will also be a shakedown tournament for the Lady Wildcats as Orr plans to take eight girls to Owasso.
He also has just one senior, three-year starter Jackie Dyer.
The other players today, "in no particular order," are freshman Jenni Nimmo and sophomores Calyn Howe, Ashley Mott, Heather Staires, Jessica Freeman, Courtney Frederick and Jennifer Correll.
"We're young but the qualifying scores have been pretty good," Orr said before pulling on his long johns for the drive to Owasso. "Also, several of the girls played last year, so there is some experience there."
Orr also said his team has some good depth.
"There should be some good competition for the 4, 5 and 6 slots."
The coach is also predicting a tight battle among the teams in the east this season.
"Jenks has some good players but it doesn't look like they will be as dominant as they have in the past. It looks like the other teams are going to be pretty close as far as talent goes."
Boys
March
3 - at Owasso Invitational
9 - Ponca City Invitational
27 - at Enid Invitational
April
3-4 - at Duncan Invitational
9 - at Guthrie Invitational
13 - at Cushing Invitational
20 - Frontier Conference at Sapulpa
27 - Bartlesville Invitational
May
4 - Regionals at Bartlesville
11-12 - State at Muskogee
Girls
March
3 - at Owasso Invitational
9 - Ponca City Invitational
30 - at Cushing Invitational
April
1 - at Jenks Invitational
6 - at Enid Invitational
8 - at Blackwell Invitational
9 - at Edmond Classic
15 - at Bartlesville Invitational
20 - Frontier Conference at Sapulpa
22 - Qualifying I at Owasso
29 - Regionals at Jenks
May
5-6 - State at Edmond
"There was some really ugly play out there," Lady Wildcats tennis coach Don Lambring said as the wind chill fell into the single digits and the wind speeds were well into double digits in the Westmoore Invitational played at the Earlywine Tennis Center Monday.
Despite the conditions, Lambring was pleased with the performance of his team in its first outing of the season. The Lady Cats finished second in the eight-team tournament, just two points, 22-20, behind Putnam City North and tied with Ardmore.
The No. 1 doubles team of Abby Frick and Melissa Collogan led the way for the Po-Hi girls, finishing second. The Poncans beat the Westmoore team, 7-5, 6-1 and Putnam North 6-3, 6-1, before falling to Muskogee, 7-5, 6-4, in the finals.
The No. 2 doubles team of Emmy Hufnagel and Emily Wheeler placed third. They defeated the Ardmore JV team 2-6, 6-1, 6-1, but lost to the Ardmore varsity 6-3, 6-2. They bounced back with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Moore.
No. 2 singles player Ashley Roussel started the tournament with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Lisa Barney of Pauls Valley, lost to Edmond Santa Fe's Allison Leuszler 6-2, 6-0 and beat Ardmore's Andrea Anderson 6-1, 6-1 for third place.
In the No. 1 singles, Ponca City's Natalie Lindsay beat Merridth Griffin of Ardmore 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, lost to Santa Fe's Erin Pauchnik 6-1, 6-0 and then lost a marathon 4-6, 7-5, 6-0 decision to Westmoore's Ashley Johnston for fourth.
"The wind chill was down around four degres when we started," Lambring said, "and the wind gusts were between 15 and 30 mph. The play wasn't pretty in those conditions, but the girls did a good job."
The Ponca Citians enter the Edmond Santa Fe Tournament played at Kickingbird
this weekend. The boys play Friday and the girls on Saturday.