LOCAL

Engelking Reelected At District
State Next To Last In Education Funding
World War II Memorabilia Exhibit Here Saturday at Legion Post 14
Newkirk Incumbent Reelected
Literacy Council Offers Special Reading Help

Engelking Reelected At District

NEWKIRK — Evelyn Engelking of Newkirk has been declared elected to a three-year term on the Kay County Conservation District Board of Directors by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, according to Mike Thralls, executive director of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission.

Engelking, who has already served on the Conservation District board for the past three years, was the only person filing this year for District Director Position No. 1.

She is one of five members who serve on the board of directors. The district office is located at 115 South Maple Avenue in Newkirk.

The Kay County Conservation District is the only local unit of government responsible for the conservation, restoration and development of Oklahoma’s renewable natural resources.

Assistance from the District is available to individual landowners, groups, cities, and towns concerned about preventing soil erosion and water pollution, upgrading wildlife and recreational areas, and preserving nature’s beauty.

State Next To Last In Education Funding

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma is next to last in the country in funding education, according to a new report on per-pupil expenditures a state legislator says.

Sen. Cal Hobson, D-Lexington, said Tuesday the report by the National Education Association says only Utah ranks lower in funding its public schools, according to an estimate of education expenditures in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Hobson said Oklahoma is listed 50th at $4,337 per student while Utah ranks last, spending $3,787 per pupil. New Jersey spends the most at $9,704.

‘‘This should serve as a wake-up call for anyone who thought we were already doing enough for our public schools,’’ said Hobson, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education.

‘‘We can talk about reform all we want, but if we don’t include funding in those discussions, we’re going to be shortchanging our kids and our economic future.’’

Hobson said Oklahoma is receiving good value for the small amount it spends on education.

‘‘Even though we’ve been increasing school spending in recent years, we haven’t kept pace with our competitors around the country,’’ Hobson said. ‘‘I’d like to think that we’ve finally hit rock bottom in financial support and are ready to turn this thing around, but only time will tell.’’

Oklahoma lawmakers are studying a number of education proposals offered by the House, the Senate and Gov. Frank Keating.

‘‘There’s no shortage of reform ideas, but there is a shortage of the funding necessary to pay for them,’’ Hobson said. ‘‘It’s important for everyone to realize that educational improvements generally carry a price tag. If we don’t pay the price, we won’t get the reforms, and our students and economy will suffer.’’

To support his education reforms, Gov. Frank Keating has indicated Oklahoma ranked much higher. Education Week magazine said the state was 35th.

World War II Memorabilia Exhibit Here Saturday at Legion Post 14

The American Legion is sponsoring an exhibit of World War II memorabilia Saturday to honor veterans of that war. Admission is free, but donations will be taken for the World War II memorial being built on the Mall in Washington, D.C. American Legion Post 14 is located at 407 West South Avenue in Ponca City.

This extensive exhibit will display uniforms, weapons and equipment used in all theaters of World War II from Europe to Japan. Veterans are encouraged to come out and meet with the public.

The exhibit will also host two of Ponca City’s gifted speakers — Jake McNiece and Truman Smith — who will discuss their experiences during World War II.

Jake McNiece enlisted as a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division and created the legendary “Filthy 13.” This demolitions section became famous for its hilarious antics in training and shaving Mohawks on their heads for their jump into Normandy. The Filthy 13 inspired the movie “The Dirty Dozen.” Paratroopers from McNiece’s unit seized the Carentan bridge portrayed in the movie “Saving Private Ryan.” He explains that the P51s in the movie did not fly in to save the defenders, but, in reality, they bombed the bridge and dropped the remainder of their ordinance on everyone in the vicinity. The survivors of the unit went on to jump into Holland for Operation Market Garden. Afterwards, McNiece and the remaining Filthy 13 volunteered for pathfinder service. Having lost 80 percent of the pathfinders on each mission, these men had essentially volunteered for suicide duty. They jumped into Bastogne to guide in a fleet of supply drops that saved the besieged paratroopers during the Battle of the Bulge. McNiece made one more combat jump and became one of only a few men to have survived four parachute jumps into combat.

Truman Smith became a B17 pilot with the 8th Army Air Force in England. He similarly has entertained audiences with his humorous wit. He summed up his experiences in the air war over Germany with his book, “The Wrong Stuff,” where he recounts the growing pains of a fledgling Air Force with humorous antidotes. At the same time, he introduces his audience to life in the frozen atmosphere in high altitude bombing.

McNiece and Smith will be at the American Legion from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday. This is a chance for the public to learn about the war against tyranny first hand through the exhibit and veterans.

Newkirk Incumbent Reelected

NEWKIRK — Incumbent city commissioner Bobby Robinson outpolled two challengers here Tuesday to retain his seat and eliminate the need for a vote on April 6.

Pam Peters of the Newkirk City Clerk’s office reported Robinson garnered 172 votes in the special city primary election for the city’s commissioner of utilities seat, compared to 109 votes for challenger Michael Gibson and 24 votes for challenger Dee Bannister.

The position, which carries a three-year term, rotates with Newkirk’s two other city leader posts — the mayor and the commissioner of finance — with one post up for election each year.

For the regular election on April 6, Newkirk residents will vote on two questions.

One question will consider a charter change to trim the candidate filing period for municipal elections from 10 days to five days.

The other question facing voters will be whether to vote an extra penny in sales tax for a community center with architecture similar to other buildings in Newkirk’s historic downtown.

City Manager Harold Harris said the center would be close to the downtown but the exact location is not yet determined.

Harris said the extra penny of sales tax in Newkirk would generate approximately $88,000 per year to fund the center and he estimated the proposed $1.4 million structure would be paid off in 15 years or sooner.

With voters’ approval, the proposed building will provide 15,000 square feet of space, with a gymnasium large enough to accommodate more than 700 people. Along with recreational facilities, it also would provide new office space for city hall to allow for expansion of the city library, Harris said. City hall and the library now share the same building in downtown Newkirk.

The idea for a building large enough for community events started a few years ago with fund raisers and proceeded slowly until a committee of citizens was organized in 1997 to study the feasibility of a community center.

Literacy Council Offers Special Reading Help

The Ponca City Area Literacy Council is sponsoring a seminar on the Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome on Tuesday, March 23, at 7 p.m. in the programming room of Ponca City Library.

The seminar will be given by Lori Evans, instructor at Pioneer Technology Center. She is a certified screener through the Irlan Institute in Ardmore. Lori received her B.A. in Special Education from OSU and has been at Pioneer Technology Center for 13 years.

The Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome refers to the difficulty some people have in perceiving differences in the intensity and color of light. This causes reading problems for them because the background or the print on a page may appear distorted, words seem to wash off the page, the letters may seen to shake, or the reader may be able to focus on only one letter at a time. Other symptoms are headaches, falling asleep while reading, or a need to read with a dim light.

People with this syndrome can often be helped by using colored glasses or overlays. Several students with the Literacy Council are using colored overlays or colored glasses to help improve their reading. One student progressed from first grade to fourth grade reading level in four months through the use of the colored overlays. The Ponca City Area Literacy Council welcomes the public to attend this meeting.

DEATHS

Iva Irene Patton
Opal Elizabeth Crampton
Albert Homeratha
Grace H. Smith

Iva Irene Patton

Iva Irene Patton, Ponca City resident, died at her home, Monday, March 15, 1999. She was 79.

At Mrs. Patton’s request, no services were held and her remains were donated to the OU Medical Science Research program in Norman. Arrangements were under the direction of Trout Funeral Home, Ponca City.

Iva Irene (Tanksley) Patton was born Jan. 19, 1920, in Red Rock to John and Ida May (Wilhelm) Tanksley. She graduated from Red Rock High School in 1937.

She was married to Quinton Patton on Oct. 5, 1939, in Guthrie. While living in Ponca City Mrs. Patton was employed in housekeeping at Conoco and had worked as a retail clerk at various businesses.

Survivors include a daughter, Saundra Lee Cox of Ponca City; one sister, Zella Sullivan of Ponca City; two grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Sam Tanksley; and one sister, Minnie Greer.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Patton’s name to Hospice of Ponca City, 1904 North Union, Suite 103 , Ponca City, OK 74601.

Obituaries

Opal Elizabeth Crampton

TONKAWA — Opal Elizabeth (Reser) Crampton, passed away, Monday, March 15, 1999, after living a short while as a resident of Las Vegas, Clark County, Nev. She was 91 years old.

The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 18, 1999, at McCafferty-Bolick Funeral Home Chapel in Tonkawa, with Dr. John Bartlett officiating. Burial will be in the Tonkawa IOOF Cemetery.

Opal was born to Wallace Washington and Lucy Magdalene (Tosh) Reser on Dec. 20, 1907, in Carterville, Mo. In September 1924, her family, including two brothers Eugene W. and John Walter, moved to Tonkawa. Opal graduated with the class of 1927, then attended University Preparatory School in the Commerce Department for two years. At the age of 16, the most important outside interest and greatest endeavor in her life was being a member of the First Christian Church in Tonkawa.

In 1929, she became Mrs. Lance B. Crampton for 51 years until his death, Dec. 4, 1980. The following July she moved to Braman where she lived for nearly 10 years. After living there about four years, daughter Linna and her husband Charles Lucas living there had reared a daughter and son who were much on their own so Linna and Charles moved to Las Vegas, Nev. Opal then moved back to Tonkawa for some four years and had a fall that changed the quality of her life. Daughter Linna then moved her mother out to live with her.

Opal was a member of the First Christian Church in Tonkawa and a Sunday School teacher there. In her spare time, she enjoyed oil painting, baking and sewing.

She is survived by one daughter, Linna Lucas of Las Vegas, Nev.; one brother, Eugene W. Reser of Tonkawa; one granddaughter Kimberly Lucas of Menifer, Calif.; one grandson, Herb and Tammy Lucas and their two little ones, Tasha and Tara of Kaw City; one niece Sharon Reser Campbell of Houston, Texas; and two nephews, Adam and Jonathon Keene of Dallas, Texas.

Opal was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lance; one brother, John Reser; and one niece, Patty Reser.

paid obituary

Services Pending

Albert Homeratha

RED ROCK — Albert Homeratha, former Red Rock resident, died Tuesday evening, March 16, 1999, at Green Valley Nursing Home in Perry. He was 88. Local survivors include a grandson, George Alexander of Ponca City. Arrangements are pending with Grace Memorial Chapel, Ponca City.

Funerals

Thursday

Grace H. Smith

Funeral will be graveside at 2 p.m. at the Riverview Cemetery in Arkansas City, Kan. Arrangements are under the direction of Miller-Stahl Funeral Service, Newkirk.

NEWS BRIEFS

State Certified DUI School — Bridgeway Inc., is Kay County’s only local nonprofit organization that offers both midweek and weekend DUI schools and assessments. Next school scheduled Friday, March 19, and Saturday, March 20. starting at 5 p.m. Also offering the 24-hour DUI school. Call 762-1462 for reservations and information.

Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential. Hours: Monday, 4-6 p.m., Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. and Thursday, 6-8 p.m. 700 West Broadway.

Yes, We Still Have Afghans — The First United Methodist Women still have Afghans for sale and they do make excellent gifts for any occasion. The Afghans are sold exclusively by the First UMW and are a fund raiser for missions. They are available in four colors — burgundy, Hunter green, blue and navy. Call 762-1429 or 765-0157 to order for delivery or for information.

Spring Trades! Back on The Rack.

1964 Class Reunion Meeting — The reunion committee for the Po-Hi Class of 1964 will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in the home of Tom and Carol Green, 115 Elmwood. All class members are encouraged to attend. For additional information, call 762-1961.

Being Relocated, or in town for a short time? We have homes available by the month or longer. All homes are full furnished with appliances, furniture,linens,

pots and pans. Inclusive of cable, local phone, and utilities. Please call 580-762-7980 or 580-718-0681.

Attempted Theft — At 7:40 a.m. Tuesday a man in the 1700 block of North Fifth Street contacted police regarding someone attempting to steal a money changer at a carwash. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Winter Clearance at Mel’s. Ladies sportwear and shoes $3.99 each, or 3 for $10.00; Dresses $10.00.

Juvenile Arrest — An 11-year-old boy was arrested at 10:35 a.m. Tuesday from Wal-Mart, 1101 East Prospect Avenue, for petit larceny.

Parkside Bicycle. Bike repair for all brands. 715 East Harford. 765-3230.

Arrest — Police arrested a 20-year-old man at 11:06 a.m. Tuesday from the 400 block of South Osage Street on a city warrant for failure to pay.

Jim Bowen Construction - Custom homes, room additions and remodeling. Call 762-3077.

Disturbance — At 12:59 p.m. Tuesday a man in the 3500 block of North Union Street notified police of a disturbance. An officer was assigned.

Albertson’s Is offering free membership in their video department. Sign up today and recieve a free movie rental.

Arrest — A 23-year-old woman was arrested at 2:59 p.m. Tuesday from the 200 block of South Fourteenth Street on a city warrant for failure to appear.

Winter Clearance at Mel’s. Ladies sportwear and shoes $3.99 each, or 3 for $10.00; Dresses $10.00.

Arrest — Police arrested a 39-year-old man at 3:07 p.m. Wednesday from Wal-Mart, 1101 East Prospect Avenue, for grand larceny.

Court Allen Construction. Concrete and flagstone walkways, patios and yard curbing. Call 765-2720.

Accident — A two-vehicle, non-injury accident in the 900 block of North Fourteenth Street was reported to police at 4:24 p.m.

Bamm Bunnies. Super bowl legends, Young, Elway, Favre and Davis Bammers are here! Carla’s Halmark, downtown. 765-3094. adv.

Arrest — At 5:17 p.m. Tuesday a 42-year-old woman was arrested at North Fifth Street and East Chestnut Avenue for driving under suspension, no insurance, no child restraint and on a city warrant for failure to obey.

Great Fundraiser: Booths at Victorian chocolate and craft festival. Saturday, May 1st. Call 762-6700.

Stolen Pager — A man in the 300 block of South Seventh Street contacted police at 5:52 p.m. Tuesday regarding a stolen pager.

The Ponca City Softball Association will be holding an open meeting March 22, 1999 at 7:00p.m. at Pioneer Vo-Tech Room C101. Team sign ups will be taken at this time and clean up days will also be discussed and season start dates!

Rock Throwing — Police were called to the 200 block of North Elm Street after a resident witnessed several juveniles throwing rocks through the window of a vacant house at 12:13 a.m. Wednesday.

Credit Card Theft — At 6:28 p.m. Tuesday police were alerted to the theft of credit card from the 600 block of North First Street. A report was taken.

Windshield Chips repaired professionally. Guaranteed and insurance approved. Ponca Glass, 762-6522, 762-7957.

Beer Theft — At 10:43 p.m. Tuesday a clerk at Conoco, 1613 West South Avenue, reported the theft of beer by several juveniles.

Theft — At 10:21 p.m. Tuesday police took a report after a customer failed to return rental property to Froggy’s Used Appliance, 207 South First Street.

Arrest — A 32-year-old man was arrested from the 700 block of North Pine Street at 1:55 a.m. Wednesday for driving under the influence and defective equipment.

Head Country, one half bar-b-q chicken with choice of vegetables, $4.25, Thursday, 4-? p.m. 1217 East Prospect. 767-8304.

Junior High Night at GCS — Free Junior High Night at Grand Central Station Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m. There will be a live band — Overdrive. Open door (can come and go) for 7th, 8th and 9th grades. Music, movies, games and snacks. Call 767-TEEN for details.

Tires Slashed — At 3:07 a.m. Wednesday police responded to a report of slashed tires at West Grand Avenue and Oak Street.

Extra Patrol — At 7:57 p.m. Tuesday extra police patrol was requested in the 200 block of Lonnie Avenue due to a report of someone ringing the doorbell and then running off.

Reckless Driver — Citations were issued at 11:24 p.m. Wednesday after a car was stopped by police at South Fourteenth Street and East Oklahoma Avenue for reckless driving.

LIFESTYLES

OSU, Osage County Cattlemen To Meet
‘Supermarket Shopping 101’ Set For Presentation on March 25
Modern Mom’s Group Meets
Birthday Dinner Fetes Rose White
Marland Estate Panel Unable To Take Action on Projects

OSU, Osage County Cattlemen To Meet

PAWHUSKA — The OSU Extension Office and the Osage County Cattlemen’s Association (OCCA) will hold an educational program open to the public on Monday, March 22, at the Osage County Fairgrounds. The program will begin at 7 p.m.

The first presentation will be by Dr. Terry Bidwell, OSU Extension Rangeland Ecology and Management Specialist, speaking on “Brush Control on Native Range.” Dr. Bidwell will be followed by Jami Longacre, executive director of the Oklahoma Beef Industry Council.

These presentations are open to the public and for more information contact Eddie Fields, OCCA president at 918-846-2387 or Dee Cooper at the OSU Extension Office at 918-287-4170.

‘Supermarket Shopping 101’ Set For Presentation on March 25

St. Joseph Regional Medical Center and its Diabetes Advisory Committee and Physical Therapy/Wellness Department will present “Supermarket Shopping 101” Thursday, March 25 at the medical center.

Teaching people to shop healthier by reading labels is the focus of the program, which will be held from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. in Conference Room “B” at the medical center. The program is open to the public and is “come and go,” so you can stop by at your convenience and find the information you need at your own pace.

“Reading food labels can be confusing,” said Pat Blubaugh, SJRMC Diabetes Educator and a coordinator of the program. “We plan to provide useful hints to help the consumer make the best choices.”

Participants will be able to read actual food labels and gather information concerning nutrition. There will be several educational stations that will include information on topics such as exercise and foot care and a diabetes risk test will be available.

For more information, contact Blubaugh at 765-0600.

Modern Mom’s Group Meets

Modern Mom’s Mothers Club met March 11 at the First Baptist Church. Five members answered roll call with “I’d Rather” from “Chicken Soup for the Soul.” Members brought baby spoons to be donated to the hospital pediatrics ward.

The group discussed the state convention to be held in Oklahoma City April 23-24 with the theme “America on Parade.” Three local women will be installed as state officers next year. They are Martha Long, state president; Tammy Beier, chaplain, and Sue Bond, secretary.

The program was presented by Joan Hardy, and patriotic T-shirts were made. The next meeting will be April 15 in the home of Sue Bond, with Glenda Hisey as co-hostess.

Birthday Dinner Fetes Rose White

A surprise dinner at Pauline’s honored Rose White on March 5. Her three sisters and two brothers, some of whom she had not seen in eight years, participated in the surprise.

Those attending were Peggy Reneer of Marble City; Gerry Ficzeri of San Diego, Calif.; Linda Saltarelli of Ponca City; Michael Sommerfeld of Memphis, Tenn.; Larry Sommerfeld of Tonkawa; and the honoree’s husband, Norris White.

On Saturday the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Rose White, as well as other family members, gathered for a visit also.

Marland Estate Panel Unable To Take Action on Projects

By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE

News Staff Writer

To pave or not to pave was the topic of discussion at Tuesday’s Marland Estate Commission meeting. Discussion and reports were given, but no action taken due to the lack of a quorum.

Items listed for action, had a quorum been present, were replacing of asphalt with concrete near the rolling gate at the mansion, replacing asphalt north of the Mansion to the wooden gate of Lydie’s cottage and replacing the existing asphalt roadway north of the Mansion toward the bridge south of Unity Gym.

The report of the landscape committee was given by Sherry Muchmore. The plan had been presented by the City of Ponca City. Several members of the commission disagreed with the concrete project, noting that this was not in keeping with the long range plan to return the Estate to its natural state.

Another member of the Landscape Committee, Stan Paynter spoke in favor of the plan and in particular the proposed service road that would be used by Oktoberfest vendors and others.

Concern was expressed for the proposal to shorten the patio for Lydie’s Cottage. Several spoke in favor of using brick for various replacement of the asphalt. Paynter said that concrete can be stamped to look like brick. He noted this would not be a public road but a service road. The reason it is needed is to save the grass, he said.

Kathy Adams, executive director of the Estate, talked about the need for a pull up and turn around in front of the Mansion. She mentioned two big events held last weekend and the problems caused by bad weather.

The matter will go back to the committee and to the City for more study. Ford Lasher, member of Leadership Ponca City, noted the idea was to restore the original estate not to remodel.

During the reports Larry Stephenson reported for Jon Kennedy on the progress of the restoration of Lydie’s Cottage. Doyle Worstell told about the restoration of the artist studio.

The Estate Commission meeting was held in the newly restored Bryant Baker Gallery of the artist studio. The studio, according to Adams, was used by E.W. Marland to house the models of the Pioneer Woman statues before they were sold to Frank Phillips.

Stephenson requested that left over funds allocated from the Marland Estate Foundation that was to be used for cleaning the exterior of the Mansion, to be used for further work on the artist studio. Money was saved on this project by saving on labor. Jerry Evans, head of the Foundation, said that would be acceptable.

Evans reported that there is $29,005 in the Foundation from memberships and another $78,000 in other monies. There is a total of $2,342 in the Prather Memorial, which is being used to restore the gazebo.

The staff was commended by Evans for hosting the State Arts Council, of which his wife Pat is a member. He said everything went well and those attending were pleased.

Adams said the staff has been working on budgets and that more events are slated for 1999, which will mean more revenue and also more staff.

She reported that art work has been returned after being restored and that more information has been learned about the art. Adams reported that the guttering work is in process, the rolling gate is to be repaired and work is being done on the gazebo.

The visitors report for 1998-1999, shows a total of 28,164, compared to the 48,668 for the same period in 1997-1998, The Oktoberfest was down 29 percent due to rain.

The revenue for February was listed at $17,540. Expenditures were shown at $20,524. The contribution from the City’s General Fund is $8,916.

Adams showed a new advertising piece for the Estate. The single sheet gives the facts and interesting trivia about the estate.

It was announced that one of the fund raisers is a garage sale that will be held in June. Flo O’Connor is in charge of the event and those interested in donating should call her (580) 762-3366. The sale items are being stored in Angela Hall.

SPORTS

Smith Possible Olympic Team Coach

Smith Possible Olympic Team Coach

STILLWATER (AP) — Oklahoma State coach John Smith and former OSU coach Joe Seay are among five finalists being considered to coach the United States’ Olympic wrestling team next year.

The USA Wrestling’s freestyle coach selection committee will interview the men later this month. Other finalists are former Iowa coach Dan Gable, Northern Iowa coach Mark Manning and Lehigh coach Greg Strobel.

Smith is a former Olympic gold medalist.

The final choice of a coach must be approved by USA Wrestling’s executive committee and the U.S. Olympic Committee.

The Olympics are next year in Sydney, Australia.

The coach will also coach the U.S. freestyle team at the 1999 world championships in Ankara, Turkey, Oct. 8-11.