From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Wednesday,
March 25, 1998
LOCAL
Ponca City Community Concerts Kicking Off 63rd Season
Area's Girl Scouts Had Busy Month
Area Calendar
KLVV-FM Radio Fund-Raising 'Sharathon' Begins Thursday
Singer Jaci Velasquez To Perform At Hutchins
American Kids Group Seeking Talented Youth
Ballerinas Due Back in Fairfax
Area Exhibitors Earn Premiums At Enid Market
Area Livestock Exhibitors Earn Premiums at Auction
Tractor Clinic Signups Begin
District Plans Area Tree Sale
Rural Development Workshop Planned
Osage County Woman Faces Murder Charge
Fatal Tonkawa Fire Confirmed as Arson
Nearly News
Local Authors Outsell National Bestsellers
Democrats Meet For Friday 'Party'
Roustabouts Auditions Saturday
Letters
Discussion of Juvenile Crime Goes Beyond Statistics - It's Teens, Too
Great Expectations Seminars Making Impact on City Schools
Many Volunteers Needed For Vietnam Memorial Visit
Emergency Sirens To Sound Thursday
Kaw Reservoir Authority Receives Annual Report
Creative Writers Conference Set For Stillwater Community Center
DEATHS
Charles Frank Boswell
Services Pending
Naomi L. Yost
NEWS BRIEFS
LIFESTYLES
Democrat Workshop Scheduled Saturday
Busy Bee Club Meets
Little News
Engagement is Announced
SPORTS
Lady Cats Dominate Stillwater
Errors Cost Wildcats
Wildcat Netters Roll, 8-1
Frontier Rallies to Sweep M-O
Lady Mavs Net Sweep In Pick-Up
Corps Increases Camping Fees
Five concerts will be presented to Ponca City Community Concert members for the 1998-99 season. The theme for the year has been titled "A Season of Music - A Lifetime of Memories."
PCCC volunteers are currently canvassing the city inviting citizens to become members for the 1998-99 concert year.
Now is the time to get concert tickets for the entire season, because no individual concert tickets are sold, and the annual membership drive will close on April 3.
Memberships allow participants to attend all five top-quality concerts during the 1998-99 concert season.
The PCCC memberships are $24 for adults, $12 for children, $60 for families, and $36 for single parent families. Other memberships are available for special contributors.
Call 765-3971 or 765-9946 or 765-4822 for membership information.
All programs are suited for family entertainment.
February was a busy month for area Girl Scouts. The Bluestem Girl Scouts had a great month selling cookies and would like to thank everyone for supporting them.
More than 120 Ponca City Girl Scouts participated in the swim party at the YMCA. Many girls also participated in "Different Shoe Day" to honor the Girl Scouts and Girl Guides worldwide, and the "Thinking Day" celebration where crafts, food, dress and customs from all over the world were explored.
Julie Anderson's Daisy Troop 27 is preparing for the Girl Scout Birthday Celebration. Tina Barrett and Laura Eicher's Daisy Troop 4 worked on their Daisy Debut and Gold Medal patches.
Diane Bull's Brownie Troop 145 is working on their Bridging to Juniors and the Pride in America patch. Joanie Knight's McCord Brownie Troop 104 worked on the Outdoor Happenings. These girls are also designing a patch for the Council-wide Patch-Design Contest.
Donna Ramey's Brownie Troop 140 completed the Cookies Count try-it, and are working on Gold Medal Troop, Mystery Pals and Thinking Day patches. This troop also created and delivered Valentine wreaths to the Ponca City Nursing Home and toured the Wal-Mart bakery. They are planning a field trip to Dr. Humble's office to work on the "My Body" try-it and will celebrate the Girl Scout's birthday at Kids Kastle.
Cheryl Happ's Brownie Troop 153 worked on their Around the World and Manners try-its. They went to OCU in Oklahoma City to see "Cinderella: The World's Favorite Fairy Tale" and "The Black-Eyed Pea." They are planning to donate 84 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to The Friendship Feast.
Jeanie Wilson's Brownie Troop 164 worked on their Thinking Day and Pride in America patches. They also plan to visit a live theatre to help usher, and visit the Fire Department for their Safety Try-it.
Sherry Delaney's Brownie Troop 165 would like to thank United Supermarket for their fund-matching support during the cookie sales. They worked on their Sounds of Music Try-it, Mystery Pals, Pen Pals and Gold Medal Troop patches. They made thank you notes for the Council to distribute.
The Foxworthy/Newman Brow-nie Troop 227 worked on their Point, Click and Go Try-it and the Pride in America patch. They went to Speedy's and designed T-shirts.
Mrs. Swine's Brownie Troop #272 worked on their Thinking Day patch and are looking forward to the Girl Scout birthday.
Susan Copple's Junior Troop 336 worked on the Girl Scouts in the USA and Gold Medal Troop patches. They made thank you notes for the Council, manned the Water Booth for the 15K Road Runners on Ground Hog Day and had a food tasting party while learning about healthy eating.
Cheryl Happ's Junior Troop 338 worked on the Girl Scouts Around the World, Ceramics and Clay patches and attended the Thinking Day Celebration. They plan on going to Ceramic City.
Glenda Hisey's Junior Troop 359 completed their Consumer Power, Discover, Signs of the World badges and are working on the Technology, Jeweler, Signs of the Rainbow, and Cookie Connection badges.
They also macramed friendship bracelets for their Mystery Pals and sent their Troop Mascot "Snowball" the bear to visit their Mystery Pals. The troop made Valentines for Hospice patients and had a special speaker who shared his experiences of traveling to Italy. They plan to attend the Junior Bonanza, Leonardo's Discovery Warehouse in Enid and to hold a Green and Gold Banquet.
Jeanie Wilson and Ann Osborn's Junior Troop 367 designed a patch for the Council's Patch-Design Contest and made thank you notes for the Council. They attended O.S.U.'s Junior Science Day.
Julie Coffee's Junior Troop 395 are working on Girl Scouts Around the World and Junior-Aide badges. They are also responsible for planning and organizing another troop for Thinking Day. The troop plans to attend the Junior Bonanza at Camp Wah Sha She. Troop 458 worked on Camping, Gold Medal Troop patches, and will aides at the Junior Bonanza.
March 2-27
March 11-April 8
March 23-April 3
March 25
March 26
March 26-27-28
March 27
March 27-28
March 28
March 29
March 31
April 1-30
April 2
April 2-3-4-5
April 3
April 3-4
April 4
KLVV 88.7 FM will be having its annual Sharathon on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
KLVV, also known as The Love Station, is a non-profit organization that is funded through its listeners. The sharathon is like a telethon, and listeners have an opportunity to call in and pledge support for another year of Christian broadcasting during these three days. KLVV's entire operating fund and expansion funds come from individual contributors.
The operations budget for the Sharathon this year is $200,000, plus additional funds are needed for expansion. KLVV expansion plans include the addition of a new 100,000 watt station which will cover much of Northern Oklahoma, providing two great Christian radio stations for listeners to hear - one station playing contemporary Christian music like currently played and a new format of more conservative Christian music and more teaching programs.
Currently KLVV's programming is focused to reach the next generation with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Evenings after 9 p.m. the music is directed to drawing young people to Christian music. Other parts of the day reach out to adults with top national radio programs like "Focus on the Family," "Chuck Swindoll," "Larry Burket," "Charles Stanley" and "John MacArthur."
During the Sharathon, listeners will hear all aspects of KLVV discussed over the air. Thursday, Friday and Saturday are also "3 Big Days of Giveaways" because over 200 prizes are available to be given away on these days. Various record companies and ministries have donated tapes, CDS, books, and videos for the KLVV giveaways during Sharathon '98.
People who would like to get involved with the KLVV Sharathon and giveaways are invited to do so by listening on Thursday and Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Those wanting to call can telephone 767-1400 or 1-800-FAITH-88 (1-800-324-8488). People can also write to KLVV, Box 14, Ponca City, OK 74602.
KLVV is heard on 88.7 FM in Ponca City and around Northern Oklahoma and Southern Kansas, with translator stations at 106.7 FM in Stillwater, 98.3 in Enid and 97.3 FM in Guthrie.
The "Stained Glass Tour" featuring 1997 "Best New Christian Artist," Jaci Velasquez, and Clay Crosse, 1995 best new artist Dove award winner, will be at the Hutchins Auditorium in Ponca City for two shows on Saturday, May 2, at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. The tour is presented by KLVV 88.7 FM radio station. The tour will also introduce the group Sunday Drive.
General admission tickets will be available April 2 at Christian bookstores in Ponca City, Enid, Stillwater and Guthrie. Tickets for all ages are $10 in advance, $9 for groups of 10 or more and $12 at the door. Reserved seats are available for $15 at KLVV. Tickets can be purchased by mail through KLVV, P.O. Box 14, Ponca City, OK 74602, or by calling 1-800-FAITH88 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. using Visa, Mastercard, or Discover.
"Heavenly Places," Jaci's award-winning album, is the kind of debut album that artists dream of, finishing 1996 as the second best-selling album by any female vocalist in Christian music and garnering her four No. 1 songs, a No. 1 video, and four Dove award nominations - one of which included the Best New Artist Dove Award Jaci won.
Jaci said, "I'll sing for anyone who wants to listen." She has performed and recorded since the age of 10 and, at age 11, beat out 3,000 competitors to win an invitation to sing at the White House. She has not, however, lost sight of her ministry and calling.
"I want to go and reach people my age that maybe even a youth pastor couldn't reach. I don't care if I'm in a group of 50,000 people or a church of five, if I can touch one person in that crowd, I've accomplished what the Lord set me out to do."
Jaci not only can sing but has been signed to a book deal with Fireside Books, a division of Schuster & Schuster. The book will be inspirational in nature with a natural emphasis on issues and subjects as seen by her as a young adult. Jaci's role models have been her parents. "I saw that my parents weren't just people who were talking and singing about something they were living it and just like I saw my family do, I want to live it first and sing it second."
"We are looking for talented kids ages 3 through high-school seniors," says American Kids founder Dr. Dale Smith.
American Kids is an organization that provides wholesome outlets for kids who love to perform and can show off their talents. Parents and organizers are a part of the group that helps provide the wholesome, Christian atmosphere and safe environment for the young performers.
"The organization's area membership drives attract talented young entertainers who want to compete, be in shows, and make contributions to the world through their gifts of talent," say organizers.
Through their drug-free celebration of life program, Oklahoma and American Kids, Inc. conduct the highly acclaimed local, regional, state and top-level competitions for cash prizes, trophies and ribbons.
For 16 years, the American Kids organization has also helped kids perfect their talents by providing various performance outlets. Many of the young members have been hired to perform in theme parks nationwide, as well as in numerous area shows and programs where they live.
American Kids presented 420 shows in Silver Dollar City at Branson, Mo., in 1997.
For area membership and competition information, call 1-800-240-7016.
FAIRFAX - A reception to honor world-famous prima ballerinas Maria and Marjorie Tallchief is planned here Sunday.
The noon to 1:30 p.m. event will be held at Hugh's Books Annex, 300 South Main (the corner of Main and Ash Streets) to welcome the two ballerinas, who were youngsters in Fairfax before moving to California to study ballet.
Later both excelled on the stage both in the U.S. and in Europe. The pair were honored as two of the five famous Oklahoma Indian ballerinas, and their visit to Fairfax will be brief.
ENID - Kay County area students fared well at a Northwest District Junior Livestock Show here that earned near-record premium dollars for exhibitors from multiple counties. Kay County had 12 exhibitors of the show's 75 participants in the auction, which produced a total of $55,675 in premiums from supporters.
All steers in the market auction were sold to Fairview Livestock for $59.25 per hundredweight.
ENID - Kay County area students made a good showing last week at the Northwest District Junior Livestock Show, where exhibitors from every county in the district earned premium dollars from supporters.
The show was in the new Garfield County arena.
Kay County had 12 exhibitors of the show's 75 participants in the lamb, swine and steer auctions, which produced a near-record total of $55,675 in premiums.
During the market swine auction, all hogs on the floor, totaling 6,114 pounds, were purchased by Show Swine Genetics at $2.50 per pound.
In the market lamb auction, the Leven & Shores Sheep Co. of Newkirk bought all the sheep on the floor - 3,165 pounds' worth - for 64 cents a pound.
NEWKIRK - Registration deadline for the annual OSU Extension Clinic for tractor and agricultural machinery safety here is April 17, extension educator Larry Klumpp announced this week.
The 20-hour course, designed to meet labor requirements for 14 and 15 year olds, will run April 27, 28, 29 and 30 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the county courthouse, with a written test and driving exam beginning at 5 p.m. on May 4.
Klumpp said the clinic includes safety habits, tractor controls and the instrument panel, highway safety, daily maintenance and safety checks.
Cost of the course is $25 to be paid to the OSU Extension Center in Newkirk. Contact Larry Klumpp in the extension office on the courthouse bottom floor or by phoning 580-362-3194 or 580-362-2200.
Address is OSU Extension Center, PO Box 430, Newkirk, OK 74647.
The Oklahoma Forestry Services reminds citizens that March and early April are excellent times to plant trees in Oklahoma.
The Forest Regeneration Center provides tree seedlings to landowners for conservation purposes such as windbreaks, wildlife habitat establishment, erosion control, and timber production.
The seedlings may be purchased from the Center and mailed to the landowner, or the landowner can pick the seedlings up at the Center and at various locations in the state during March and early April.
In the Kay County area, a tree sale will be held at the NRCS/Kay County Conservation District office located at 115 South Maple in Newkirk from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, Thursday, April 2.
For further information contact the Conservation District office at 580-362-2438 or 580-362-3362.
BLACKWELL - An Oklahoma Rural Development Fundamentals workshop for local government officials and community leaders interested in economic development is slated for April 21 at Kay Electric here.
Those who should attend include any citizen interested in taking an active role in community development. This would include county commissioners, city councilmen, mayors, city clerks, chamber of commerce directors,. chamber members, school board members, superintendents, clergy, substate planning district staff, vo-tech administration, electric cooperative officials, rural water district officials, county officials, resource conservation and development staff.
Registration is set from 9 to 10 a.m. Then the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service will make a presentation on "Rural Economic Trends: What the Numbers Tell Us." From 11 a.m., to 12 noon the Center for Local Government Technology will present "How Local Officials Can Be Involved: Your Leadership Potentials."
Lunch will be served from noon to 1 p.m. and from 1 to 2 p.m., the Oklahoma Department of Commerce will present "Building A World Class Rural Economy: Development Basics."
The cost of the workshop is $35 if registered 10 dates prior to the conference and $40 for late registration and walk-ins.
The workshop includes coffee, lunch and a notebook. For more information call Rita at 405-744-6049.
PAWHUSKA - An arraignment hearing has been set for an Osage County woman charged with first degree murder. Christine Coffield Scott will next appear in district court on April 15 at 1 p.m. At that time, a formal plea as to her guilt or innocence will be entered and a trial date.
Scott was arrested last July for the murder of her husband, Melvin Scott, Jr.
Last week Scott appeared with her attorney at a probable cause hearing in a Pawhuska courtrrom and pleaded not guilty to the charge.
However the judge found that there was probable cause that the crime of murder in the first degree was committed and that she committed that crime. He then ordered Scott bound over to district court for arraignment.
According to Osage County District Attorney Larry Stewart evidence indicated what happened.
"The evidence showed that there was a domestic argument and perhaps some threats were made to her," Stewart said. "She then retrieved a gun from the bedroom, returned and shot her husband between the eyes."
Scott remains out on a $25,000 bond.
By Patti Pfeiffer
News Staff Writer
Late Tuesday evening, the State Fire Marshal's Office ruled a fire that killed a Tonkawa woman as arson. It is the second arson-related death in Kay County in less than three months.
"The lab results from collected samples taken from the scene of the Tonkawa fire have tested positive for accelerants," stated Shannon Rowland of the State Fire Marshall's Office. "Based on those lab results our office has ruled the fire an arson and we will now be working closely with the Tonkawa Police Department and the Kay County Sheriff's Office."
The March 12 fire killed 20-year-old Tisha Smith. Her 2-year-old son was rescued from the burning home by a passerby, Ron Bensley.
Tonkawa Police Chief David Rogers said the investigation continues.
Earlier this year the State Fire Marshall's Office ruled another Kay County fire an arson. The body of a 28-year-old Shirley Kay Clinton, was recovered from the ruins of her Kaw City home after a Dec. 22 fire.
Clinton's two girls, ages 6 and 9, were tied and bound in the house at the time of the fire. However, they escaped serious injury by freeing themselves and running to safety.
The death of Clinton has since been ruled a homicide. At this time the case remains unsolved.
Kay County Sheriff Marion Van Hoesen says two arson fires in such a short period of time is not unusual. "It is not really uncommon because unfortunately, arson cases run in cycles," Van Hoesen said. "There will be three or four in a short period time and then maybe none for several years."
However, the sheriff did agree that it is unusual that both arson fires involved a fatality.
Ponca City made it into the big-time again! NN has just heard that Rosie O'Donnell contacted Terri's Toys & Nostalgia here again this week, requesting Lion King toys for her show. Terri sent 37 toys, including Scar, the villain Lion. Rosie called Terri to say she was "thrilled to death" with the toys, and plans to use them on her show today.
The top five best-selling books in 1997 sold at Brace Books and More were written by local authors. "The national bestseller lists don't seem to be indicative of our customers reading interests," said Jean Brace, explaining that not one national best seller came close to selling the number local authors' books sold. "We think that is largely due to the efforts of our staff to promote books by local authors, and we are proud of these numbers."
Two of the five are not even new books, but continue to be popular choices. Truman Smith's "The Wrong Stuff" topped the list with "Until We Meet Again: A True Story of Love and Survival in the Holocaust" by Michael Korenblit coming in next. The other three were published just this year: "Lookin' At Life" by Joe Kreger, "Sunny Side Up Morning Recipes" by Cindy Grubb, and "Home on the Range Cookbook" by Martha Gilliam.
The author of the sixth book is almost local. Maria Tallchief, formerly of Pawhuska wrote "Maria Tallchief: Prima Ballerina."
Other books written by Ponca City authors and on Brace Books' list of best sellers include "Paw Prints In My Soul," number 14, by former Ponca Citian Lou Dean Jacobs whose other book, "Angels in Disguise," was number 34. "Marland Mansion a Photographic Study," written by Bob Westmoreland of Ponca City, was number 33, although it has been in print for more than two decades.
Two other regional books with big interest were "Big Bluestem: Journey Into the Tallgrass" by Annick Smith, ranked number 18, and number 26 was "Tulsa, A Biography of the American City" by Danney Goble who recently spoke to the Daughters of the American Revolution in Ponca City.
Jerry Brace observed that out of the top 35 books (by number sold in the store) only 13 of them were national best sellers, saying "We see strong response due to visits by the authors. Beverly Lewis, Maria Tallchief, Lou Dean Jacobs, Danney Goble, and John Erickson, all of who visited here this fall, for example, account for 10 of the 26 top titles.
"A local characteristic we observe is a strong interest in books on spiritual subjects, such as 'Simple Abundance', Billy Graham's 'Just As I Am', and the 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' series of books, which account for four of our top 14.
"A curiosity to us, due to the Beanie Baby fad, is that we sold three more copies of 'Price Guide to Beanie Babies' than we did of John Grisham's 'The Partner' which was number 30 on our list. I'd say that's a dubious accomplishment!"
Democrats attending the 7 p.m., Friday "Democrat Party Party" have an opportunity to visit with their state senators and to win the "Lunch with our state senator" drawing. Both Senators Paul Muegge and J. Berry Harrison will be at the informal "Party Party" at 1090 Rockcliff Road, Ponca City.
The Kay County Democrats have invited local Democrat officials and all three Democrat candidates for governor. No speeches or solicitation for funds are planned. All local Democrats are invited to participate in this get-acquainted evening, according to Andrea Morriss, Kay County chairman at (580) 765-6260.
TONKAWA - A day of tryouts for prospective members of the Northern Oklahoma College musical show troupe, The Roustabout Jamboree, is set for Saturday, according to Wilma Harman, music faculty.
Tryouts for male and female vocalists and for instrumentalists are open both to high school students entering Northern next fall and to current Northern students. Students may also audition for music scholarships for Jazz Band, Concert Band and Choir.
Auditions will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Northern Performing Arts Center Choir Hall. Students should be prepared to present a vocal or instrumental solo of their choice, preferably with their own accompanist or performance tapes. Pop, country-western or Christian music songs are suggested for vocalists.
Instrumentalists needed include: guitar, brass, woodwind, percussion and keyboard players. Instrumentalists should select a contest number or etude.
Tryouts will include sight singing, rhythm exercises, demonstration of tonal memory and learning a choreographed dance routine taught by current Roustabout members.
Persons auditioning and their parents will be guests of the college for lunch and will be invited to attend the evening Roustabout Benefit Show, featuring the 1997-98 troupe, at 8 p.m. in the Northern Performing Arts Center. Those selected for the 1998-99 troupe will be introduced during the performance.
Harman recommended that students interested in the Jamboree tryouts should call (580) 628-6334 or 628-6335 as soon as possible to inform the Northern Music Department whether they are auditioning as vocalists or as instrumentalists. They may also obtain additional information about the Jamboree and music scholarships.
Stop Hog Farms
Seems as though, we surely have had nothing but sickening news the past six months, in Washington and right here in Oklahoma. Makes you wonder where all the good people are.
Washington, well, there is not much we can do from here except during voting time but here in Oklahoma, now is time, not next year, to hog tie these hog outfits that've moved in here.
Sure the first thing these hog ranchers did was to corner some of our noted politicians and no doubt make it worth their while to speak to us Okies. One, an ex-senator from the eastern part of the state, and one senator from the southern part. Of course they were pretty sure there wouldn't be a hog farm in their back yards.
I was raised on a farm and I have first-hand knowledge of what the people in western Oklahoma would and are contending with. Anybody that would want to live near one of those stinking places, or anyone that promotes such a dam place and wish it on their fellow man is lower than the pigs in a mud hole and that goes for those fine politicians that are promoting this dirty rotten mess for a few lousy dollars to ruin our land, to pollute our streams and water supply. You see what happened when a small amount of that sludge got in the Salt Plains Lake and killed the fish.
The farmers have always controlled what hogs they raised. First we had to fight off the sludge they wanted to ship in from New York. Now we have politicians trying to finish us off. Maybe it's time for the law of the Old West.
Respectfully,
Thomas Simanek
Confused About IOOF
I am really confused. The local IOOF lodge cited the main reason for the sale of their cemetery is a lack of new members to assist in its upkeep. Immediately at least 20 people made application to the lodge for membership. I know that most of us who applied have a history of public service within our community. After a lengthy delay, the local lodge turned down our applications. Therefore, to prove our good faith, we decided to apply to the Tonkawa lodge. To my surprise I found a rejection letter from the Tonkawa lodge in my mailbox last Friday. I do not know about the others who applied that night, but I have to assume they were also turned down.
Now I have to wonder: What is the real reason driving the sale of the cemetery? The Odd Fellows Lodge said they lacked membership yet refused new applicants. The Kay County Commissioners denied the sale. The public, through a petition drive, expressed their disapproval of the sale. And yet, both the Loewen Group and the Ponca City Odd Fellows continue to pursue the sale.
If this sale does eventually go through then there will be over $700,000 in the treasury of the local IOOF lodge. It supposedly will go toward community projects and attracting new members, yet the membership doesn't seem to want anyone else involved in deciding how the money will be spent. If this is the way the cemetery is being run, then I'm glad I don't own lots there.
Stephen M. Scott
Where's My Home?
I have lived in Ponca City almost all of my life, which has been about 40 years. I have always considered myself a resident of Ponca City, until recently when I attended a Ponca City Commissioners meeting and was informed that because I do not have Ponca City electricity that I am not a Ponca City resident after all. I live in a rural PC area, I work in PC, my son goes to PC schools and also plays sports in PC. I shop PC, I pay PC taxes, I have a PC phone, I have 911 services out of PC, and most of all I have a PC address.
The Ponca City Administration says if I want to fish or put my boat on Lake Ponca I will have to pay almost triple the price than residents do of the Lake Ponca Users Fee, because I am not a resident unless I have a Ponca City utility receipt.
I am not that upset about an increase in prices to use Ponca Lake. My objection is I don't feel that is fair for people like myself that support PC and have someone tell me that I am not a resident. I would like to know just what City I am a resident of. I think if I have a PC address, it should be so simple to assume that I am a resident of Ponca City.
Sherry Weatherly
Editor's Note: This is the last in a series regarding the increase in juvenile crime.
By PATTI PFEIFFER
News Staff Writer
It's easy to discuss juvenile crime when dealing with only the numbers and statistics. However once you look into the faces and hear the voices of those juveniles committing the crimes they then become people and more importantly teenagers.
But for the 16 foot fence, the Radar Institute - a juvenile detention center in Sand Springs - would look just like a high school. And but for one major difference the teenagers in the classrooms would be just ordinary students.
However the Rader students are juvenile criminals, sentenced to the institution for crimes they committed.
And upon a visit to the 15 acre facility, an unsuspecting visitor may not be able to detect the dreadful distinction. Passing the teenagers in the hall they are not only pleasant but respectful as well, addressing adults as "sir" and "ma'm".
Inside the classrooms the students are busy working on reading, writing and arithmetic. They seem eager to share their newly acquired knowledge.
One student tells of what he has read and learned from the book "Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry"
"It is a story of a family trying to make it in a society where it is difficult for black people," Rodney explains. "They dealt with hard times but dealt with it using their heads instead of their fists."
It is not only academics they learn during their stay. One teen explains what he has learned - about himself. "I have been learning where my attitude came from," Lateef says. "I have had to deal with it and have had to put it away."
"There is more to life than crime," Darius adds.
And while he reads, never moving his eyes from the pages before him, Richard tells how he quit school in the sixth grade merely because he could not deal with the classroom setting.
In the living quarters, referred to as cottages, 18 years-old Antone is cleaning his room. After five months at Rader, he is scheduled to be released soon and talks about life after his confinement.
"I am planning on finding a job and want to move with my older brother to California," he says. "Then I want to enlist in the Marines."
He had been sent to the institution for several counts of shooting with the intent to kill and aggravated robbery.
"I have learned a lot about myself in here," Antone states. "I also learned that there are worse places than this."
It wasn't until a student was "patted down" that it became apparent that this was not an ordinary educational facility and these were not ordinary students. Rather they were teenagers, that for one reason or another, had committed a serious crime.
But those in the institution seem to be the lucky ones. They are the ones being given another chance, a clean record, an education, counseling, vocational training and a sense of belonging, a sense of security.
And most importantly they are gaining a sense of pride for what they are achieving, what they are learning and what they now are becoming. They are being taught the tools necessary to become part of society rather than being parted from society a chance of a future without fences.
"We are teaching these kids how to be tax producers and not tax users," Rader Superintendent Roger Conway says. "It is not a cheap program but it will be cost effective if in the long run we prevent crime and reduce the number of victims."
And so looking and listening to the Rader students the answer to the question "where are the children" becomes apparent. Maybe they are buried deep behind emotional, criminal, and/or mental walls, but the children are there. Hopefully there is no wall too strong to break through.
By KRISTI HAYES
News Education Editor
The Ponca City Friends of Education met this morning at Liberty Elementary to talk about 1998 fund raisers and requests for Great Expectations Seminars.
Dr. Nancy Niemann, principal of Woodlands Elementary, spoke to members concerning the changes at Woodlands since the Great Expectations Program was established. Niemann said that 100 percent of the teachers at Woodlands attended the Great Expectations workshops last summer and that all of them plan to attend again this summer. Niemann said, "Great Expectations makes a difference with the way kids treat each other and the way teachers treat their students. We are just as excited about this program today as we were when we first started it. We want to invite everyone to visit our school and see the difference the program has made."
Jerry Newsom, principal of Liberty Elementary, also addressed members saying that Liberty has been blessed with a great teaching staff. "We had nine teachers attend the Great Expectations seminars last summer. I believe that because of the program our school has made tremendous changes," he added.
Beth Grover, 1997-98 Ponca City Teacher of the Year, and Kassie Bridges, 1998-99 Ponca City Teacher of the Year, spoke about Great Expectations and the changes the program has made at Liberty Elementary. "We used to have a problem with students before school started. This year we have started a new Rise and Shine Assembly which has helped the problem," Grover said. "The teachers see children in a different way. We now see ourselves as facilitators. We are all responsible for our actions. Great Expectations has also taught the teachers to look at the child as a whole," said Bridges.
Grover also commented on the changes in the students' self-esteem and expectations. "Teachers now work on raising the expectations of a child. We can't teach a child that doesn't have high expectations. I set very high goals in my classes. After certain goals are met, the self-esteem levels of a child rises."
Dr. John Scroggins, assistant superintendent of Curriculum and Development, reported on the number of Ponca City teachers that plan to attend the Great Expectations seminars this summer. "I am asking for money to send 142 teachers from Ponca City Schools. The tuition has been raised this year from $250 to $300 per teacher (a total of $42,600). The Staff Development Committee cannot afford to allocate the money at this time. The Committee doesn't know how much grant money will be received from the state. Once the allocation is received, we will give another report," Scroggins commented.
Scroggins also proposed to send four principals to the Principal Academy this summer. Cost for each principal will be $850 for a combined total of $3,400. Another proposal was made for $1,000 to send Dr. Scroggins to the Executive Leadership Academy.
Members approved the financial report of $28,710. The beginning balance was $27,210 with income being received from Pioneer Bank and Trust for $5,000 and $1,000 from Sue Boettcher. $4,500 was spent on the Leadership Development Training Class given by Dr. Kent Lashley.
By KATHY ZEHR
News Staff Writer
Approximately 300 volunteers are needed for the 24-hour vigil of "The Wall That Heals" Vietnam Memorial coming to Ponca City April 16-19.
"At least 300 volunteer workers are needed to help with parking, hospitality, information, and in numerous other capacities to make the three-day presentation of the Vietnam Wall a safe, meaningful and significant event," says Charles Blochowiak, volunteer coordinator. Persons wanting to help with four-hour shifts at Resthaven Memorial Cemetery or in other capacities may call Blochowiak at 762-4434 or Susan Ladner at 762-5659.
Blochowiak also emphasized that all volunteers manning the four-hour shifts would be expected to attend an approximate one-hour training session prior to the event. The training sessions will be announced at a later date. Volunteers who will be working with the public will also be expected to purchase a Vietnam Wall volunteer t-shirt at the $5 cost to identify them as official workers while on duty.
Detailing some of the opportunities for service, Blochowiak said the project would take at least 35 volunteers per shift.
Prior to the 10 a.m. opening ceremony on Thursday at least 16 volunteers will be needed to install the 320 U.S. Flags at the Veterans Court of Honor at Resthaven Memorial Cemetery. The flags will be installed beginning at 6 a.m. and taken down at close of day on April 16. He said it takes 16 people at least two hours to put up the 5 by 8 foot flags, and two-hours or more to take them down and fold them correctly.
Volunteers with medical knowledge and training are needed for the First Aid Tent coordinated by Linda Haight and Joan Appelbaum. Persons to help prepare meals and drinks to feed volunteers in the hospitality tent is being coordinated by DeAnn McDaniel. She said, help from persons who want to bake some foods in their own homes would also be welcomed.
An Information Tent will also be on the premises to help visitors find the location of names of the Vietnam veterans listed. The tent will also contain other Vietnam War information and memorabilia. Rich Kilblaine, whose collection of war artifacts will be on exhibit, says several volunteers are needed to stay with the memorabilia and provide information around the clock.
Parking volunteers will be needed to direct the parking of school buses, campers, a motorcycle brigade, and personal vehicles.
According to hosts Steve and Terry Huston and project director Susan Ladner, hundreds of man (and woman) volunteer hours have already been donated to make the massive project a success.
Mike Isbell has coordinated the materials and manpower for a 24-hour Watch Fire, including digging the pit and cutting and stockpiling all the wood to be used for the approximately 70-hour fire. Isbell and his volunteers will also be burning the old tattered and unusable U.S. Flags turned in for disposal around the clock during the event.
Security and volunteers for the Wall's visit has been set up by Lee Keyes; approximately 20 Color Guards have been invited to participate in the opening ceremony by Chuck Gregg; Linda Haight and Joan Appelbaum have planned and collected the supplies for the First Aid tent; DeAnn McDaniel canvassed local merchants and others for food and other supplies for the Hospitality Tent.
Also, Steve Struble has written and taped radio and TV publicity to area stations; Tom Leonard is working with area merchants who have marquees for visual ads; posters have been printed and distributed throughout the area; Tom Sipe has distributed films and educational information in all area schools; and Jeri Casey is coordinating a large motorcycle run. Fund raising for expenses is being coordinated by Kathy McLemore and the Vision Ambucs.
In addition, numerous others have worked, planned and coordinated the opening and closing ceremonies and speakers, lighting, restrooms, traffic flow, news stories, and volunteered in countless tasks not designated to a particular committee, says Ladner.
"What we are looking for now, are people to work during the actual event, and they may call myself or Ladner for a time to volunteer," says Blochowiak. Telephone numbers are 762-4434 and 762-5659.
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.
Representatives of Kaw Reservoir Authority (KRA) from Enid, Perry, Tonkawa, Kaw City, Newkirk and Ponca City met here recently. Chaired by Ponca City Public Works Director Ken Parr, the group reported on water and sewer in their respective towns.
Additionally the members received the annual audit for the year ending June 30, 1997. Parr recommended that the members take the audit and look it over and vote on it at the next meeting slated for June 12 in Perry. The Authority will be requesting for the next year's audit to be ready in November. The 1997 audit was prepared by Bob D. Buchanan of Pawnee.
Also at the Perry meeting Bill Ree longtime former board member from Stillwater will be invited to give a history of the KRA, which dates back to the days when the organization was being formed, when the Kaw Dam was in formation.
There are ten cities that make up the membership of the KRA. Membership cities and dues are: Blackwell, $94; Enid, $566; Kaw City, $4; Morrison, $8; Newkirk, $27; Perkins, $24; Perry, $62; Ponca City, $329; Stillwater, $458, and Tonkawa, $39. Towns are assessed according to population. Total monthly income is listed at $20,601.
The monthly payment on the conduit loan for Stillwater is $15,568; and. Stillwater pays $10,902 of the amount. In 1986, the KRA Board of trustees voted to pay the principal on the repayment for construction costs of the conduit at Kaw Dam and requested Stillwater to pay the interest on the 50-year loan on the debt of $387,000. Stillwater is the only city member to date to draw water from Kaw Lake.
STILLWATER - The Stillwater Arts and Humanities Council will present the 19th Annual Creative Writers Conference Saturday. The conference will be held at the Stillwater Community Center, Eighth and Duck Streets, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. A social hour will follow the conference. The State Arts Council of Oklahoma will be assisting with the conference.
Two of the four presenters are prominent Stillwater writers - Dr. Leonard Leff, author and professor of literature and film at Oklahoma State University, and Doris Dellinger, a newswoman for 23 years and author of several books about Oklahoma State University athletics.
Dr. Leff will present a session entitled "My Mentor: Ernest Hemingway: What 'Papa' taught me about Language, Readers, Sales and Media." Dellinger will discuss how to break into writing about sports and sports history.
M. Scott Carter, formally of Stillwater, will discuss "Bending and Breaking the Rules - and Getting Published." Eve Sandstrom, an accomplished mystery writer, will present "From Fact to Fiction, or Why a Reporter Turned to Crime."
Participants will have the opportunity to have their work critiqued by the presenters during a "hands on" writing workshop.
The registration fee is $45 which includes lunch and the social hour. A special registration fee of $25 is available for students with a valid I.D. but does not include the social hour.
For more information contact conference co-chair, Kathy Thomas, at (405)
377-1636 or Carolyn Gang Noltensmeyer at (405) 377-0678.
DEATHS
TONKAWA - Charles Frank Boswell, Tonkawa area resident, died Monday, March 23, 1998, at Willow Haven Nursing Home in Tonkawa. He was 89.
The funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Friday at the McCafferty-Bolick Funeral Home Chapel in Tonkawa with the Rev. Clyde Hendricks, Tonkawa, officiating. Burial and a graveside service will follow in the Tonkawa IOOF Cemetery.
Charles Frank Boswell was born Aug. 11, 1908, in Georgia, the son of Ellis and Clara Boswell. He served in the European Theater with U.S. Army during World War II. After his discharge in 1946, he was employed in sales in California, Colorado, Kansas, and Oklahoma.
He married Grace Smithheisler on June 22, 1950, and the couple lived and established merchandising businesses in Colorado, Oklahoma City, Ponca City, Tulsa, and Lawton. They moved to Tonkawa in 1975. Boswell also worked several years at the Tonkawa Foundry.
Survivors include two daughters, Betty Powell of Greenwood, S.C. and Shirley Boswell of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; one son, Frank Boswell of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; two step-daughters, Cora Selvey of Tonkawa and Virginia Thompson of rural Marland; two step-sons, Jim Smithheisler of Tonkawa and J.W. Smithheisler of Kerrville, Texas; two sisters, Naomi Davenport of Waterloo, S.C. and Viola Parker of Belton, S.C.; two brothers, Henry of Gastonia, N.C., and Vernon of Royston, Ga.; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife Grace in July 1978; one daughter Jean Hilley; three sisters, Lila Rae, Maebelle and Elizabeth.
Casket bearers will be Don Selvey, Daniel Schneeberger, John Vasek, Trey Yost, Dave Iske and Mike Smithheisler.
Naomi L. Yost, longtime Ponca City resident, died Tuesday, March 24,
1998, at her home. She was 91. Arrangements are pending with Trout Funeral
Home.
NEWS BRIEFS
Special Olympics - The local meet for the Special Olympics will be held Saturday at the Sullins Stadium football field. Opening ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. All volunteers are asked to be there at 9:30 a.m. Lunch will be served. More volunteers are needed. In case of rain the event will be moved to the Middle School (former West Junior High) with times remaining the same. For more information call Dan Sims, 762-8376 or 269-2920.
Legion Meeting - There will be a regular meeting of the American Legion Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Huff-Minor American Legion Post 14, 407 West South Avenue.
Softball - An adult softball meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at St. Paul's Church. Those interested in participating in adult softball need to attend this meeting.
Korean Vets To Meet - The next meeting of the Korean War Veterans Association will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the 45th Infantry Division Museum, 2145 NE 36th in Oklahoma City. This meeting is open to all Korean War Era veterans of all branches of service and their spouses. Door prizes, hot coffee, iced tea and good company. For information contact Harold Mulhausen, president OK Chapter KWVA, 405-632-7351, or Gerald Wampler (Duncan) 580-255-0028.
Ponca Tribal Meeting Set - There will be a meeting of the Ponca Tribe at the Ponca Tribal Affairs Building Cafeteria on April 4, 1998 at 10 a.m. to clarify concerns about the Ponca Tribe entering into the Self-Governance process. Coffee and doughnuts will be served.
ABWA Seminar - "Less Stress With ABWA" seminar sponsored by the American Business Women's Association will be 9:30-noon at the Conoco Fourth Street Clubhouse Saturday. Interested businesswomen are asked to contact Johnnie Wilda, 765-5608.
Practical Parenting - The Family Resource Center, 700 W. Broadway, will present a parenting seminar on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. entitled "The Power of Encouragement." The seminar will be presented by Kenny James, a licensed professional counselor. For more information call 767-9509 or 767-8000, ext. 247.
Race Unity - Ponca City Bahai Community asks residents to watch "The Power of Race Unity" on Saturday, 4:30 p.m.; Sunday, 7 a.m., and April 1, noon, on Channel 49 (Odyssey). For more information call 765-5695 or 1-800-22-UNITE or by e-mail: www.US.BAHAI.ORG
Young-at-Heart Dance - Every Thursday at the Elks Lodge, 1301 Bradley, 7 to 10 p.m. will be a Young-at-Heart dance. It's spring, let's swing. Snack and Hillbilly night first Thursday of each month. Ken Wilson and the Sunshine Playboys Band.
Arthritis Water Exercises Set - Arthritis Water Exercises, sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation will begin a new session April 1 at the Conoco Pool - only $6 a month for Conoco affiliates. For more information, contact June Foreman at 762-0035.
Juvenile Apprehended - At 8:57 a.m. Tuesday police apprehended an 11-year-old boy after a teacher at the Middle School reported that the boy was causing problems.
Arrest - Police arrested a 38-year-old man at 9:49 a.m. Tuesday from Third Street and East Grand Avenue on a Kay County warrant.
Vehicle Marked - At 9:52 a.m. Tuesday a vehicle parked on the sidewalk in the 1900 block of Mary Street was marked for 48 hours.
Minor Accident - An accident at South Fourteenth Street and Edwards Avenue was reported at 11:26 a.m. Tuesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Break-In - Police received a call at 1:34 p.m. Tuesday that a vehicle had been broken into in the 600 block of East Hartford Avenue. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Dumpster Fire - At 5:09 p.m. Tuesday a fire unit responded to a reported fire in a dumpster behind a business at North Fourth Street and East Hartford Avenue. The fire was extinguished.
Shining Light - Police received a call at 7:22 p.m. Tuesday from a woman in the 1500 block of Bradley Avenue reporting several juveniles shining a light into apartments. An officer was assigned.
Harassment - At 8:51 p.m. Tuesday a woman in the 1000 block of Riviera Drive called police to report that she was receiving harassing phone calls. An officer was assigned.
Stolen Watch - A woman in the 800 block of North Pine Street contacted police at 10 p.m. Tuesday to report that she had discovered that she had been given a stolen watch. An officer was assigned.
Harassment - A man in the 200 block of North Eleventh Street called police at 10:29 p.m. Tuesday to request extra patrol due to harassment. An officer was assigned.
Bullet Found - At 11:17 p.m. Tuesday a person in the 500 block of North Third Street called police to report that upon returning home he had found a bullet taped to the front door. Information was logged, and an officer was assigned.
Loose Horse - At 11:49 p.m. Tuesday police were advised that a horse was running loose east of Hubbard Road and North Waverly Street. Kay County Sheriff's office was notified.
Arrests - At 12:02 a.m. Wednesday a 24-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman were arrested from the 700 block of West Otoe Avenue for domestic assault and battery.
Arrest - Police arrested a 30-year-old man at 1:44 a.m. Wednesday from the 400 block of East South Avenue for possession of drug paraphernalia and public intoxication.
Arrest - A 37-year-old woman was arrested at 10:49 a.m. Tuesday at the police station on a city warrant for failure to pay.
Vehicle Vandalism - At 1:15 p.m. Tuesday a bus in the 1300 block of Bradley Avenue was reported vandalized. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Minor Accident - At 2:12 p.m. Tuesday an accident at East Hartford
Avenue and Fairview Avenue was reported. An officer was assigned.
LIFESTYLES
Pat Hall, state Democratic Party president, will be in Ponca City Saturday to attend the local Democrat Womens' workshop at the OCAW Hall. All members of the Kay County Democrat party are urged to attend and participate in the workshop. There is no cost for the event, which begins at 9 a.m., and lunch will be available. Mark Mann, state Democrat Party secretary, will conduct the workshop.
Among those planning to attend are State Senators J. Berry Harrison and Paul Muegge; State Representatives and Gubernatorial candidates Laura Boyd of Norman, and James Hager from Pawhuska; State Auditor and Inspector Cliff Scott of Oklahoma City.
Also invited are Debbie Leftwich, Democrat State Party co-chair; Shirley Robertson, Fifth District Democrat Party chairperson and Kay County officers Tresa Engle, County Assessor; Pam Goodno, County Clerk, and Wayne Leven, County Commissioner.
Members of the Busy Bee Club met March 18 at the home of Viola Haley, 2405 Barclay. Beulah McCartney was in charge of the business session. Louise Womack led the salute to the flag and "The Lord's Prayer." Ms. Haley gave the devotion "True Spirit of the Lord's Prayer" George Plagenz.
Helen Hiskett gave the treasurer's report. Groceries were brought to donate to Peachtree Landing along with a monetary donation for meat for an Easter dinner.
Games were played with prizes going to Beulah McCartney and Helen Taylor. The mystery bowl prize went to Louise Womack. The next meeting will be April 1 at the home of Ruby Harvey, 1309 West Chestnut.
Carlos and Chauntina Medina of Ponca City announce the birth of a son, Charles Quinten Medina. The baby was born March 16, 1998 at 7:53 p.m. at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. He weighed 8-pounds, 10-ounces and measured 21 1/2-inches long. His sisters are Carsha, 9, and Katie, 6.
Grandparents are Julio and Beatrice (Pete) Medina of Ponca City, Robert L. Fearnow and the late Judy (Backus-James) Gough. Great-grandparents are Lois Lee Carter of Marriana, Ark., the late J. L. Carter, and the late Richard L. and Mary R. Dobbs.
Announcement has been made of the engagement and approaching marriage of Carol Davis and George Sawyer. An April 11 wedding at 2 p.m. in the First Baptist Church in Tonkawa is planned. An open invitation is extended to friends and family to attend the ceremony and reception following.
The bride-elect, an employee at Service Bank, is the daughter of Gary
and Dorothy Davis of Tonkawa. Sawyer is the son of Jack and Loretta Sawyer
of Sperry. He is employed by Environmental Research Corporation as an electronics
technician.
SPORTS
It was just another day at the office for the domineering Po-Hi Lady Wildcat tennis team, as both the varsity and junior varsity rolled over Stillwater, 9-0 and 8-1 respectively.
Natalie Lindsay, Ashley Roussel, Abby Frick, Melissa Collogan, Emmy Hufnagel and Romi Foreman were all victorious in varsity singles play, with the Poncans dropping just 13 games in 12 sets.
The doubles teams of Lindsay-Frick, Foreman-Collogan, and Roussel-Hufnagel also swept through all three of their match ups without dropping a set.
"They had a relatively easy time," said coach Don Lambring, of his varsity players. "This was Romi's first competition since hurting her ankle (in a basketball playoff game against Broken Arrow), and I thought she did a really fine job."
And though the junior varsity had a little tougher time of it, they too put on an impressive showing against the Lady Pioneers.
Playing pro sets to combat the onslaught of darkness, Emily Wheeler, Mea Alexander, Gina Smith, Mandy Dickson, Erin Shaw, and Shawna Rolland all won their respective singles match ups.
In doubles play, Wheeler-Alexander survived in three sets for the win, while Smith-Dickson cruised to an easier, two-set victory. Shaw-Rolland posted the only defeat on the day for the Lady Cats, falling in straight sets.
"I was really pleased with the JV girls," said Lambring. "Emily, Mandy and Shawna all did a good job of hanging in and fighting through to get the wins. And Gina Smith was actually down 5-3. She did a great job of coming back."
The Lady Cats next travel to the Earlywine tennis center on Saturday to compete in the Moore Tournament.
Ponca City 9, Stillwater 0 (varsity)
Singles
1 - Natalie Lindsay def. Emily Fuhrman, 6-3, 6-0
2 - Ashley Roussel def. Adrienne Trennepohl, 6-0, 6-0
3 - Abby Frick def. Linnea Irving, 6-1, 6-1
4 - Melissa Collogan def. Jean-Marie Miller, 6-1, 6-2
5 - Emmy Hufnagel def. Hillary Hueber, 6-0, 6-2
6 - Romy Foreman def. Laura Kennedy 6-3, 6-0
Doubles
1 - Lindsay-Frick def. Fuhrman-Irving, 6-1, 6-1
2 - Foreman-Collogan def. Miller-Kennedy, 6-1, 6-0
3 - Roussel-Hufnagel def. Trennepohl-Hueber, 6-1, 6-0
Ponca City 8, Stillwater 1 (JV)
Singles
1 - Emily Wheeler def. Jennifer Jadlow, 8-7 (7-4)
2 - Mea Alexander def. Crystal Hawkins, 8-2
3 - Gina Smith def. Nikole Harwood, 8-5
4 - Mandy Dickson def. Sheila Dohman, 7-6 (7-3)
5 - Erin Shaw def. Katie McKeever, 8-2
6 - Shawna Rolland def. CC Martin, 9-8 (7-5)
Doubles
1 - Wheeler-Alexander def. Jadlow-Hawkins, 6-0, 1-6, 7-5
2 - Smith-Dickson def. Harwood-Dohman, 6-4, 6-1
3 - Shaw-Rolland lost to McKeever-Martin, 6-4, 6-2
By MATTHEW KOENIG
News Sports Writer
GUTHRIE - At least the weather was nice.
Capitalizing on seven errors by the Po-Hi baseballers, the Guthrie Blue Jays (6-5) made off with 13 runs in the first and fifth innings to bury the Wildcats, 13-9, Tuesday night.
The Cats (1-4), providing El Nino agrees, go into action again at home on Saturday, taking on nationally-ranked Owasso in a double header. The first game will begin at 1 p.m.
Though the Cats rallied with five runs in the top of the fifth inning, and took a brief, 8-7 lead, the Blue Jays came back with six runs of their own to escape with the win.
After dropping a matchup earlier in the season to the Poncans, the Blue Jays - who have won their last five games - got right to work Tuesday against Ponca City starting pitcher Chris Koenig. Guthrie's lead off batter started things off by driving Koenig's 3-2 pitch for a double. The Wildcat senior then struck out the next batter, but two consecutive fielding errors by the Poncans quickly loaded the bases.
A two RBI single by Andy Conyers then got the Blue Jays on the board, and after two more singles, nine hole hitter Steven Zmek then slapped a two RBI home run over the short left field wall to give Guthrie the 7-0 advantage.
Though Koenig struck out two in the inaugural inning, four errors by the Cats got the blood flowing.
"Errors killed 'em," said Guthrie coach John Chappell. "I thought (Koenig) was doing a pretty good job, and we really should have only had about three runs."
The Poncans did make a little headway in the third inning. Daniel Denny and Brian Benson both got on base with consecutive singles, and Justin Thomas came through with a home run to put the Cats on the board, 7-3.
The Cats again got things going in the fifth inning. A base hit by Michael Quick, a fielding error by the Blue Jays, and a base hit by Koenig loaded the bases. Jay Bentley then got an RBI walk, and two hitters latter, Denny again came through with a smash to the right field fence to drive in all three base runners.
Up by one, 8-7, the Cats quickly saw that lead disappear, however.
With Bentley in for Koenig, the Blue Jays had another pitcher to unload on, and they did, banging out four hits for six runs - with two more errors by the Poncans.
The Cats did manage one more run in the seventh. Bentley and Jared Spears led off with walks, and Keven Reusser drove in Bentley with a single to draw the Cats within four runs.
For the game, Quick, Koenig, Denny and Benson were all 2-for-4 at the plate.
Guthrie 13, Ponca City 9
Ponca City 003 050 1 - 9 9 7
Guthrie 700 060 x - 13 11 3
Ponca City - Koenig, Bentley (3), and Redleaf (5), and Spears
Guthrie - Tooley, White (7), and Holderman
STILLWATER - Ponca City's Wildcat tennis team has shown no sign of Spring Break rust as the netters rolled to an 8-1 victory over Stillwater Tuesday evening.
The Poncans' lone loss came in the first doubles match of the day. After that the Cats were unstoppable, sweeping the six singles matches.
"The kids really came on strong in the singles play," Po-Hi coach Steve Larimer said. "I was pleased with their determination. Jason (Nigh, in the No. 6 singles) came back after losing the first set to really dominate (winning 5-7, 6-2, 6-2)."
The Wildcat JVs also won against the Pioneers, 10-4, with several matches shortened because of darkness.
In Monday's action, Ponca City Blue edged out Pryor for second place in the Ponca City Junior Varsity Tennis tournament.
Bartlesville won with 14 points while Ponca City had 10, Pryor (coached by Ponca City coach Larimer's son, Mike) 8, Stillwater 7 and Ponca City Red 1.
In the No. 1 singles matches, Ponca City Blue's Cory Landis finished fourth with Reds' Robert Hwang fifth.
Blue's T.J. Murray was third in the No. 2 singles with Red's Alex Kirby fourth.
In the No. 1 doubles, Blue's Sterling Foy and Justin Lewis finished in first place while Red's Michael Galbreath were fifth.
In the No. 2 doubles, Blue's Scott Mitchell and Josh Pitts were first while the alternating Red tandem of Brian Geubelle, Matt Dintz and Wade Bair were fifth.
Ponca City 8, Stillwater 1 (varsity)
Singles
1 - Matt Stuemky def. Mark Simpson, 6-2, 6-0
2 - Micha Alexander def. Todd Darlington, 6-4, 6-1
3 - Augha def. Brent Tconga, 6-2, 6-2
4 - Daniel Lee def. Jordan Witt, 6-2, retire
5 - Tim Frick def. Chris Campbell, 6-1, 6-3
6 - Jason Nigh def. Andrew Hong, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2
Doubles
1 - Stuemky-Alexander lost to Simpson-Darlington, 3-6, 6-7(4-7)
2 - Augha-Lee def. Tconga-Witt, 6-3, 6-4
3 - Frick-Nigh def. Campbell-Hong, 6-3, 6-2
Ponca City 10, Stillwater 4 (JV)
Singles
1 - Sterling Foy lost to Robert Kreitmier, 6-6, 0-6
2 - Justin Lewis def. Eric Ho, 6-0, 6-2
3 - Cory Landis def. Andy Shelton, 6-2
4 - Scott Mitchell lost to John Jacob, 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (5-7)
5 - T.J. Murray def. Mike Hughes, 8-6
6 - Michael Galbreath def. Sean Morris, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(7-5)
7 - Mark Goddard def. Jason Shiplett,, 8-3
8 - Robert Hwang lost to Robert Kuraville, 4-6
9 - Alex Kirby def. Jay Anderson, 6-2, 6-2
10 - Kirby def. Brian Payne, 6-1, 6-4
Doubles
1 - Foy-Lewis def. Kreitmier-Ho, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6(7-5)
2 - Mitchell-Hwang lost to Shelton-Jacob, 0-6, 3-6
3 - Galbreath-Goddard def. Hughes-Morris, 6-0, 6-0
4 - Landis-Kirby def. Shiplett-Kuraville, 6-2, 7-6(7-2)
RED ROCK - Frontier's bats came to life just in time to allow the Mustangs a 7-6, 12-2 sweep over Mulhall-Orlando Tuesday afternoon.
"In the first game our pitching was a little rough and for most of the game we didn't have anything offensively to help us out," Frontier coach Michael Wininger said as he watched his team fall behind 6-0 with just one hit through four-and-a-half innings.
"That changed in the fifth inning when Jeremy Williams hit a solo home run to get us going. We go on to get six of our eight hits in the last two innings."
The Mustangs rallied for two runs in the sixth inning to close to gap to 6-3 and then exploded for four runs in the seventh with Ty Henry getting the winning RBI.
Williams, Henry and Joe Gates each had two hits while Chad Sisco had three runs batted in.
Frontier continued the assault in the second game, run-ruling M-O in five innings. The Mustangs scored three runs in the first inning, six in the second and three more in the fourth.
Frontier banged out 11 hits in that contest. Robert Regnier went 3-for-4 while Williams and Sisco were both 2-for-3. Sisco and Marty Williams each had a double and Sisco added four more RBIs to his total on the day.
"Ty Henry looked good on the hill," Wininger said. "He was throwing strikes and we were making the plays defensively. Our aggressiveness at the plate continued as we put the game away early by getting seven hits in the first two innings."
Frontier, now 2-1 on the season, is scheduled to play at Billings Thursday, starting at 4 p.m.
TONKAWA - The NOC Lady Mavs softball team swept a double header against Iowa Western in a recent pick-up game. In the first game the lady Mavs downed Iowa Western, 6-2.
Hitting stars for the Lady Mavs were Sarah House, Enid sophomore, who went 2-for-3 with a double and one RBI, and Erin Crank, Sperry freshman, who went 3-for-3 with two doubles and scored two runs. Six Lady Mavs had RBI's in the game.
Jennifer Seaton, Skiatook sophomore, pitched seven strong innings, allowing one earned run off of seven hits, one strikeout and no walks. Seaton's record is now 3-2.
In the second game the Lady Mavs shut out Iowa Western 4-0. Kim Garrison, Cleveland sophomore, pitched seven shut out innings, allowing only one hit and one walk while striking out seven. Garrison's record is now 3-1.
Crank continued spanking the ball, hitting her tenth double of the year and going 2-for-2 with 2 RBI's
TULSA - The Tulsa District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have announced an increase in the 1998 recreation fee schedules for Corps-operated recreation areas at Kaw Lake and other areas in southern Kansas, Oklahoma and northern Texas.
Camping fees this year are variable, depending upon the type and desirability of facilities available in the park, or those at individual campsites. While some fees are similar to those charged last year, most camping fees have increased by $2 per night or more. The fee rates remain comparable to those of public and private campgrounds within the three state area as well as other Corps districts bordering Tulsa, according to the Corps. Cash or personal checks will be accepted.
Day use fees will remain the same as last year, as follows:
SWIMMING: A fee of $1 per person - but no more than $3 per vehicle - will be charged at designated swim beaches. There is no fee for children under age 12.
BOAT RAMPS: A fee of $2 will be charged for boat launching in a designated day use fee area. The maximum day use activity fee for all sites or facilities is $3 per day per vehicle.
An annual pass may be purchased for $25 to permit the holder and accompanying passengers to use all boat launching and swimming beaches at Corps-operated areas without further charges. The annual pass is available for purchase at the Corps of Engineers office in Tulsa, at lake offices and at many park attendant facilities.
Day-use fees at Kaw Lake are in effect at Coon Creek, Osage Cove, Pioneer Park, Sandy Park and Sarge Creek.
Registered campers will not be required to pay day use fees in addition to the camping fees.
The new camping fees for sites with electricity are $16 at Sarge Creek; $15 at Bear Creek Cove, Coon Creek Cove "A" and Washunga Bay "A"; $14 at Osage Cove; $13 at Washunga Bay "B"; and $11 at McFadden Cove and Sandy Park.
The only non-electric sites are at Coon Creek Cove "B" and the fee there is $7.
McFadden Cove and Sandy Park and open year around. The others open March 1 and close November 30.
Golden Age and Golden Access passports are honored for both the camping
and day use fees, as well as for purchasing the annual pass. Golden Age
passports for individuals over the age of 62 are available for a one-time
fee of $10. Golden Access Passports for individuals who are blind or disabled
are free with proof of eligibility for receiving disability benefits under
federal law. Both passports enable the holder to a 50-percent reduction
in the cost of fees.