From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Wednesday,
April 2, 1997
LOCAL
Moran Canvas, Once Here, Heads Home
Nutty '40s Radio Show Set For Poncan Saturday Night
NewSong Features Guest In Concert Here April 12
Area Calendar
Good News Comes Knowing Support Group Fighting NF
Chuck Wagon Cook Off Set In Enid April 5
Tons of Rock To Protect Road and Ranch
Reese Feels Tax Break Measure, Car Tag Requirement Key Issues
Emergency Sirens To Sound Thursday
Voters Reject Request To Sell Cultural Center
County Officials Fight State Move on CSSP
Purdy Wins Mayoral Vote In Newkirk
Nearly News
How They Voted
'No Tolerance' Stance For Drinking Youths
Smoke Alarm Batteries Could Need Changing
Social Security Tax Tips for Late Filers
NOC Offers ACT Prep Class April 5
'Blowout' Book Sale Planned For April 13-19
Post Office Plans Late Hours for April 15 Filers
Three Ribbon Cuttings Set This Week
Pianist Among Featured Performers for NOC Event
Schools Spotlight Orchestras
Annual City-Wide Garage Sale Day Set For Tonkawa
DEATHS
Floyd Lester Trenary
Clarence George Villareal
Delene Marie Fauchier
Services Pending
Roger A. Smith
NEWS BRIEFS
LIFESTYLES
Stacy A. Hedrick Becomes Bride of Jimmie LaBlue Jr.
Xi Gamma Sigma Names Officers, Sets Ceremony
County 4-H Clubs Attend NOC Rally
Family Reunion Held at Historic Kaw City Home
Pioneer Area Quilter's Guild Plans Program
Little News
SPORTS
High School Soccer Cats Win Another 1-0 Match While Girls Settle for 0-0
Tie
Po-Hi Goes 10 for 3-2 Win
Lady Cat Netters Go 8-0; Cats Take Three
JV Girls Tennis Team First
Baseball/Softball Tournament Set
By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Staff Writer
A Thomas Moran painting that was displayed at the Jay G. Paris Furniture Store and hung in the Cultural Center recently sold to the Cummer Museum of Arts and Gardens in Jacksonville Fla, for $2 million.
The Paris family owned the painting titled "Ponce de Leon in Florida 1512" about three decades before it sold to the Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1972. The Paris' owned the Cultural Center, first home of E.W. Marland, as a residence for almost 30 years. A story in The News tells the library was remodeled to accommodate the painting.
The 1878 masterpiece, "Ponce de Leon in Florida 1512," was painted by world famous landscape artist Thomas Moran. The painting depicts the signing of the peace treaty between Ponce de Leon and the Seminoles in Florida. Style of the Moran painting has a dimensional quality that tempts one to step into the vivid green Everglades and set off exploring the luscious landscape.
In the Arts and Style section of The Times-Union of Jacksonville a story by Sharon Weightman, quotes a leading authority on American Art William H. Gerdts saying this was Moran's "finest historical canvas."
Work Provided Incentive
The impressive 64 inches by 116 inch canvas tells the story of the first Europeans to visit Florida. Moran is said to have been stimulated to paint the historic piece during a working excursion to Fort George Island in 1877.
He came to Florida in 1877 to illustrate an article for Scribner's Magazine on Fort George. While there he made sketches for future paintings including Ponce de Leon in Florida.
Gustave Buek, according to Thurman Wilkins, Moran biographer, first purchased the Ponce de Leon in 1886 and owned it for a number of years.
Signed and dated TMORAN, the painting reportedly later sold at an auction in New York City and no one seems to know where it was for the next half a century. Prior to making its way to Oklahoma about 1925 or later the painting, according to an 1892 newspaper story, had been purchased by Henry Flagler and hung in the Henry Flagler Ponce de Leon Hotel in St. Augustine. Another newspaper report says it hung in Flagler's Mansion in Palm Beach.
Later the painting is believed to have been owned for a time by Frank Buttram of Oklahoma City, according to another news story.
It was reported in the Times-Union that Moran at one time had hoped to sell the painting to Congress to be exhibited in the U.S. House of Representatives but other artists, who were apparently resentful that two of Moran's works had already been bought, successfully lobbied against the purchase.
Moran's wish that the art work be displayed in Washington, will come true when the painting travels to Washington, where it will hang on loan in the National Gallery of Art, along with two other Moran masterpieces before returning to the Cummer Museum for permanent exhibition.
Ponca Citians Acquire Painting
Jay and Jessie Paris acquired the painting through a Mr. Peterson, a dealer in fine art and a personal friend of Mr. Paris.
Sam Vickers, a Jacksonville art collector aided the Cummer Museum in its recent pursuit of the painting. Vickers is quoted as saying "Back in the '50s and '60s Ponca City was a prosperous oil town that even had a painting dealer. He knew the Paris family and over a period of time, they traded him furniture for pictures. They ended up with the Moran and he ended up with some furniture."
By the way, the furniture store had a historical significance in regard to Ponca City and E.W. Marland. The oil baron had the Spanish type structure built on Grand Avenue for Paris Furniture. The building was designed to Paris' specifications by J. Duncan Forsyth, who was the lead architect for the second Marland Mansion on Monument Road.
Paris was a prominent civic leader serving as Chamber of Commerce President and in 1936 was named as Ponca City's "Most Useful Citizen." He died in 1954.
At one time the Paris family owned six Morans including Ponce de Leon, Pueblo Sunset, Old Mexico, Long Island Geese and Mediterranean. The Ponce de Leon was by far the largest painting.
One of the Morans, probably the "Mediterranean," according to dimensions on a note by Jessie Paris, which had hung in the Paris Collection for about 30 years was sold to dentist Dr. Carl T. Rainone of Fine Art Investment of Arlington, Texas. The painting was believed to have been executed in Italy by Moran.
Rainone's wife, Cherry writing to Mrs. Paris in 1972, described Moran's work saying "Thomas Moran was truly an inspired poet on canvas."
A story in the Tulsa World, dated Feb. 9, 1997, tells that Anne Morand, curator of art collections at Gilcrease Museum, has a new book that examines the 70 year career of the landscape artist.
The story tells that Moran's field sketches dovetailed with the environmental ideas of President Theodore Roosevelt and the National Park Service was formed to save thousands of acres of natural habitat partly because of the paintings.
Sold to Cowboy Hall of Fame
The Ponce de Leon was sold to the Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1972 for a reported $200,000 dollars, but this has not been confirmed. The painting would be on display there at the Oklahoma City Museum for almost a quarter of a century. The painting "came home" to Florida at the Cummer Museum and Arts Gardens in January for a reported hefty price tag of $2 million.
Importance of the Moran painting to the state of Florida is signified by a news story in the Miami Beach Daily Tropics, when it was being considered for purchase to hang in the capital at Tallahassee.
The headline reads "Famous Florida Painting To be Placed in Capitol." The news story says, "Through generosity of a group of Greater Miami citizens, the famous Thomas Moran Painting 'Ponce de Leon Treating With the Indians,' will be placed in the capitol at Tallahassee.
"Gov. Spessard Holland has accepted the tender of the well known historic landscape.
"Acquisition of the painting by public spirited residents for presentation to the state is being considered. These include Judge George E. Holt, Cliff H. Reader, Guy W. Ellis, Edward M. Hancock, Mrs. T.V. Molore, Myrtle Taylor Bradford, Grace Stone Hall and others."
The story says further, "Painted by Moran in 1878, the picture shows Ponce de Leon and his cavaliers meeting with grave faced Indians."
This deal with the state of Florida was never completed, according to a note written by Mrs. Jessie Paris.
The Ponca de Leon was first seen by Dean Krabel, Cowboy Hall of Fame director, at an open house at the Paris home (Cultural Center), sponsored by the Ponca City Art Association. The painting was later acquired by the Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Also present at the open house was a representative of Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa. Thomas Gilcrease was a collector of Moran paintings and had purchased the complete contents of Moran's files after his death. The Tulsa museum is planning a showing of Moran's work in the near future.
Cultural Center
Mrs. Paris was active in furniture business organizations and also prominent in civic affairs and often opened the former Marland home for civic affairs, clubs and parties and guests visiting Ponca City. She died in 1991 at the age of 95.
The family had purchased the first home of E.W. Marland in 1940 from Continental Oil Company, where Dan Moran (not related to Thomas Moran), president of Continental Oil Company, formerly Marland Oil, had resided.
According to Ponca City News files, Paris bought the home, because he wanted to "maintain one of the beauty spots of Ponca City." The home was a beautiful backdrop for the Paris art collection.
Moran's Life Story
Mrs. Paris had some correspondence from Thurman Wilkins of New York dated Feb. 22, 1965, about the painting and wanted to send a photographer to take picture of the Ponce de Leon painting as he felt it was important to the life story of Moran. Wilkins, a former professor of English at Columbia University, wanted to include the photograph among the illustrations of his book about Moran.
A native of England, Moran was born there in 1837. He came to the United States and grew up in Philadelphia, where he was apprenticed to a wood engraver prior to becoming a painter. His older brother, Edward, taught him to paint. Moran died in 1926 in Santa Barbara, Calif., at the age of 89.
Painting Repaired
A letter to Hillord Shor in New York from Mrs. Paris tells about having the painting repaired. A story in The Ponca City News mentions the Ponce de Leon painting and incorrectly reported that one of the grandchildren had run into the painting with a tricycle.
Pat Moore, daughter of the Paris', said actually what happened was that her son accidentally damaged the painting with a mallet. Seems the toy box was located beneath the painting.
The letter to Shor says in part, "You will remember several years ago we shipped you our very large Thomas Moran 'Ponce de Leon' painting that became damaged, a very small place, and you restored it for us. In 1968 we shipped you two paintings also with slight damaged places that resulted in moving from our home. All of the work has been very satisfactory."
In 1967, the City of Ponca City purchased the historic 22-room home from Mrs. Paris. When Mrs. Paris moved from the home, she left the Ponce de Leon on loan to the city. The painting was at the west end of the library. After the giant painting was purchased by the Cowboy Hall of Fame, "The Fox Hunt," which depicts a historic hunting scene on the Marland Mansion Estate, was hung in its place.
Former City Manager Leon Nelson was instrumental in retrieving the Fox Hunt from the Oklahoma Historical Society and it first hung at Hutchins Memorial before being placed at the Cultural Center in the former location of the Moran painting.
Finds Home in Florida
Much ado was made over the Ponce de Leon painting at the unveiling ceremonies held recently at the Cummer Museum. The painting, which was discovered at the Cowboy Hall of Fame by Vickers, was paid for by $2 million in gifts from the Frederick H. Schultz Family and the Barnett Banks of Florida.
P.S. In addition to Pat Moore, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paris, a number of folk have been instrumental in the gathering of information for this story including former Ponca Citian Dr. Gene Arrendell, who is a docent at the Cowboy Hall of Fame. He wrote to the reporter and sent a clipping from the Jacksonville newspaper. Arrendell said, "The painting was gone and we knew not where." A clipping sent by his brother Cad cleared up the whereabouts of the work of art. Cad and another former area resident Russel Chapin, of Red Rock, had visited the museum and saw it there.
The first information came to the reporter from Mr. and R.L.
Benedict former Ponca Citians of Perkins. They were visiting their son Kevin, a golf course designer, in Florida, when the story broke in the Times-Union and they sent a copy to The News. That same day Earl Sullins came in and also heard through Cad Arrendell and Chapin.
The News has waited on publishing the story until the documentation supplied by Pat Moore was returned from the museum. This week the information came from Cummer Director Kahren Arbitman.
The Poncan Theatre in Ponca City is bringing the Fabulous '40s To Life!
Listen up all you "hep cats" and hold on to your hats!
Get ready for the funniest free comedy you've seen in years - make that at least 50 years!
Travel back to the 1940s Saturday at 7:30 p.m. during "The Nutty '40s Radio Show," the hilarious comedy starring Laurette Willis. It's a one-woman show with a cast of thousands!
You'll see (and hear! ) why Willis has been called "The Woman of 101 Voices" - and she can sing, too!
Take a wonderfully wacky trip to the Golden Days of Radio, with all the laughter, great songs, and nostalgia of a live radio show!
Willis portrays veteran radio personality Katherine St. Clare, "your charming hostess" for the nationwide "Radio Variety Hour," a fictitious '40s radio program. Only moments before the radio show is scheduled to go on the air, however, it is discovered that all the actors have gone on strike. Yikes!
Fortunately for us, Kate is a trooper. She decides, "All right, fine. I'll - I'll just do the whole show myself!" - with help from her "lovely studio audience," of course!
Participants will have the opportunity to participate in a "real" old-time radio show. And whether you've been around long enough to remember the radio programs of the '30s, '40s and '50s or not, the producers guarantee this is one like no other you've ever heard!
"Wherever I've performed the show," said Willis, "during festivals or gala banquets, whether on university campuses or in theaters, no two shows are the same. Everyone gets involved, making each show hilariously different. Some folks even come dressed in '40s fashions!"
Laurette provides a myriad of remarkably astonishing character voices (including a convincing Betty Boop!), jungle bird calls, and bizarre sound effects as audience members help her perform episodes from such nutty serials as "The Deadly Shadow of the Hairy Masked Avenger" and commercials for program sponsors, Lily's Lemon-Scented Birdbath Crystals, Desiccated Dairy Foods of America and others.
Interspersed amongst all the wackiness, Willis sings popular '40s tunes such as "Dixie Melody," and a solo duet (as Miss St. Clare and Miss Boop!) to "Doin' What Comes Naturally." Whew! That girl takes her vitamins!
Area theatre-goers will remember Willis' portrayal of Oklahoma Women when she brought her " Great Women of the Frontier" show to the Poncan in August 1993.
"The Nutty '40s Radio Show" promises a night of entertainment, delightful surprises and fun. And that's "solid, Jackson!"
"The Nutty '40s Radio Show" will be performed free at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Ponca Theatre, courtesy of Conoco Inc. and the Ponca City Arts and Humanities Council.
Christian recording group NewSong with special guest Erin O'Donnell will be in concert on April 12 in Ponca City at the Hutchins Auditorium.
The Love Revolution tour features O'Donnell, whose first two radio singles "No Better Place" and "Be Still and Know," were both rated number one on the Christian recording circuits in 1996.
The concert, beginning at 7 p.m. is sponsored by Christian Radio KLVV 88.7 FM, Ponca City, Stillwater and Enid.
O'Donnell's debut album "A Scrapbook of Sorts," features songs written by her husband Brad, and is filled with her striking, unpretentious vocals.
Erin related Brad's lyrics are "really a picture of things we've been going through in the last year including love, doubt, joy, questioning the meaning of things and ... well, the album is just about life. "I want people to hear this music and be able to relate our experiences to what's going on in their own lives," said the young artist.
O'Donnell has also recently received national media attention as the first artist to be signed and discovered through the Internet. All of the negotiations for her contract with Cadence label, took place on-line.
The Love Revolution Tour with NewSong and Erin O'Donnell will be at Ponca City's Hutchins Auditorium April 12 and all seats will be general admission. Tickets are available at all Christian bookstores in Ponca City, Enid, Stillwater, Blackwell and Winfield, Kan.
Tickets for all ages are $8 per seat in advance and $7 per seat for groups of 10 or more. Tickets will be $10 per seat, the day of the concert. Credit card orders will be accepted by phone for VISA/Mastercard from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays at (405) 767-1400. Tickets may also be purchased by mail to KLVV Radio P.O. Box 14, Ponca City, OK 74602.
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Whether or not there are those in Ponca City with Neurofibromatosis (NF), a support group at The NeuroScience Institute at Mercy Health Center in Oklahoma City is good news.
To support and to educate is the purpose of such a group and for people suffering from this disorder - it's good news.
These two components had been lacking because the number of people with NF is relatively low - 90,000 people nationwide and approximately 3,000 Oklahomans. Few support groups dedicated to NF exist around the country. But Oklahoma City has an active presence.
Initiatives for Neurofibromatosis in Oklahoma (INFO) was founded nearly two years ago primarily to provide a supportive environment for members to discuss their situations and share solutions and encouragement. Education is another big part of the group's philosophy. Speakers are invited to their monthly meetings to address the concerns of the group and to provide information. INFO also actively works to educate medical professionals, as well as the public, about NF.
A chromosomal disorder, Neurofibromatosis causes tumors to grow along various types of nerves. It may be inherited from a parent with the disorder or it may be the result of a spontaneous mutation in the sperm or egg cell. Once an individual has the NF gene, there is a 50-50 chance, each time he or she has a child, that the gene will be passed on.
NF can lead to disfigurement, blindness, deafness, skeletal abnormalities, dermal tumors, brain and spinal tumors, loss of limbs, malignancies, and learning disabilities.
"Symptoms may be mild but can change at any time and create disabilities and other hardships for people with NF," says Lynna Lago, INFO facilitator. "Its unpredictable nature is one of the hardest emotional challenges to overcome.
"That's why a network of support is important to helping people with NF adapt and live their lives," said Lago. "When faced with the 'what ifs' of NF it would be easy to fall into a depression and stew about what might happen in the future. The support group gives people an opportunity to meet with other families dealing with NF and to see that there is hope."
It can mean a lot to know that your family is not the only one dealing with this disease, according to Lago. She and five of her six siblings inherited the disease. "When I was growing up I thought no one else had it and no one cared."
Lago's brother, Oklahoma state representative Al Lindley, also has NF and was instrumental in raising public awareness by writing a proclamation, signed by Gov. Keating declaring March 23-29 to be Neurofibromatosis Week.
Rep. Lindley hopes that by raising awareness about NF and INFO that people with the disease will not feel so alone and will be able to find information they need about the disease.
"Many local citizens with NF do not realize there is an active support group right here in Oklahoma City," said Lindley. "INFO gives them a place to let their hair down, bare their souls and talk to people who understand what they are going through. It's an enormous relief when people realize that they are not the first to journey down the road that they are on."
Lindley believes that increased awareness can only make the lives of those affected by NF more promising. He also hopes that it will help increase research funding that will lead to a better future for his loved ones and others with NF. Groups with philosophies like INFO can be instrumental in making that happen.
"My grandchild has NF," said Lindley. "But I'm hopeful that my great-grandchildren will not. That's what I'm looking forward to and praying for."
INFO meetings are free and open to everyone. For more information about the monthly meetings call The NeuroScience Institute at Mercy Health Center, 1-800-99Mercy.
ENID - Head Country of Ponca City, with Danny Head as the chief cook will join seven other chuck wagon teams as they participate in the chuck wagon cook off during the Cowboy Rendezvous in Enid at the Museum of the Cherokee Strip on April 5 at noon.
The event is being hosted by the Cherokee Strip Booster Club to commemorate 130 Years on the Chisholm Trail. Other activities will include cowboy music and poetry, a fine art and gear show and sale, reenactors, vintage movies and symposium panels covering "Myth vs. Reality" of the cowboy.
Prizes will be awarded for food selection and preparation; cooks' style and dress and chuck wagon set up and decor. There will also be a people's choice award voted on by the public.
Proceeds from the event will go to the Museum, Heritage Village and Dillingham Gardens. Advance tickets are available and will also be sold at the gate while the supply lasts. For advance tickets contact Edna Mae Holden (405) 233-6300.
Other related Chisholm Trail events include the "Stockmen's Ball," This ball begins at 6:30 p.m., and includes a catered dinner by Oakwood Country Club and features music by Cowboy Balladeer R.W. Hampton. Tickets are $25 and must be purchased in advance.
When people think of savage rivers, the Salt Fork branch of the Arkansas probably isn't the first one to come to mind.
But because of a sharp bend in the river near the 101 Ranch north of Marland, the force of water became too much in recent years and flooding swallowed not only a huge portion of former ranchland but also several of the historic ranch's old buildings.
The river's sudden proximity to State Highway 156 forced the state transportation department to develop a project to protect the area from further flooding.
Now, after $1 million and 70,000 tons of rock, the department's project is almost complete and spokesmen are confident the new riprap project will work.
The bend of the river was at least a quarter-mile from the roadway for years, and only until recently did the force of water make such progress to threaten the ranchland and the roadway.
Conservationist Dick Zetterberg of the Kay County Conservation District said such water erosion problems can sneak up on you.
"They start slowly, so that we don't really notice the gradual progression. But when they (river bends) get enough of a crook in them, it just accelerates," he said.
"The sharper the bend, the more forceful the flow," he said.
"We can get smart enough to look around at the different rivers for that kind of pattern. When you catch it early in the process, you can do something about it."
New conservation efforts that stop erosion involve planting trees and other vegetation to stabilize land on the outer edges of a river bend.
But in the case of the 101 Ranch, the time for vegetation on the Salt Fork was probably 60 years ago, Zetterberg said.
For a immediate end to the erosion, the state department of transportation started its massive riprap project last September to divert the flow of water from the outer river bank.
Office manager John Taylor in the Perry DOT office said to do so, the department brought in a contractor from Arkansas to build three strategically placed finger dikes of rock along the bend of the river and bolster the banks.
The contractor hauled and placed 70,000 tons of riprap to build the dikes and to line the banks to withstand the flow.
"Moving water has a lot of energy, a lot of force," Taylor said, mentioning a project setback following a Nov. 16 flood that washed out some of the construction.
But the dikes now seem to be doing their job to divert the flow of water, and Taylor said the concept has been successful in other river bend projects. "We've used these dikes as a method of construction before, and they have worked like they're designed to," he said.
"The intent is you will get land and grass built up again between the finger dikes and the bank. In time you should see land start building back up," he said.
Meanwhile, what remains of the 101 Ranch has been designated as a memorial picnic ground, still a beautiful area and hopefully one that will stay put.
Rep. Jim Reese in a news release tells about legislation designed to give a tax break for business and a car tag requirement that will keep motor vehicle registration fees in the state.
According to Reese, House Bill 1130 is headed to the governor's desk for signature. The bill provides a 56 million dollar tax cut for businesses, to be implemented for 30 months.
The unemployment tax businesses pay for the benefit of their employees has grown into a 550 million-dollar fund. This fund is in excess of what is need so HB 1130 provides for a 25 percent reduction in the unemployment tax for 30 months or Dec. 31, 1999.
Projections now show at the end of December 1999, the fund will still be growing and have $619 million dollars. At that time the 25 percent tax cut could be continued.
On the matter of car tag fees, it is estimated Oklahoma currently loses 28 to 40 million dollars each year in motor vehicle taxes, when Oklahoma residents fail to register and tag their vehicles in Oklahoma.
Senate Bill 586 is designed to reduce that loss by requiring car tags to reflect the same home state as the owners drivers license. Also it will require all Oklahomans to get new identifiable different license plates every five years.
Reese said, "I support the effort to enhance compliance with the law, but I believe enlarging the current annual stickers would allow better enforcement, cost less than new plates and eliminate the need for the elderly to take a screw driver to replace plates on their car."
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.
By LAURA TREADWAY
News Staff Writer
Citizens overwhelmingly supported saving an old friend and renewing the one-half cent sales tax for street improvements in Tuesday's city election. In addition, two incumbent city commissioners were defeated by their challengers.
According to Marquetta Brown, chair of the Friends of the Cultural Center, people felt deeply about selling E.W. Marland's first mansion. Sixty-five percent of the ballots cast defeated the question to sell the big, white house with the red-tiled roof, located at Tenth Street and East Grand Avenue.
"I had a wonderful committee who worked really hard for this outcome," she said. "I believe the citizens are saying they not only want to keep the center but want to keep it open. They have been faithful to an old friend," she said.
"Now, the hard part of obtaining the funding begins. It will be a lot of work and we'll have fun doing it," said Brown.
Mayor Marilyn Andrews said she was very encouraged by the community coming together to benefit the Cultural Center.
"The decision not to sell the center will present some challenges, the biggest having to do with the costs of bringing the facility into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act," the mayor said.
City Manager Gary Martin said, "Now that we have direction from the citizens, we will sit down with the city commissioners and meet with the Friends of the Cultural Center to see where to go."
Street Sales Tax
Proposition No. 1, to renew the one-half cent sales tax for street improvements received 75 percent of the vote. Citizens cast 3,578 ballots for the tax and 1,199 against.
According to Traffic Engineer Mike Lane, the ratio indicates that people think the city is doing a good job.
"They recognized the need and indicated they are willing to fund it," he said.
"The citizens could see the money was spent correctly," said Martin. "They see the city honored its commitment to the citizens."
"I think the street tax is probably the best utilized money," said Public Works Director Ken Parr. "I believe the citizens were smart to renew it; we can do a lot of with it.".
New Commissioners
Attorney Tom Leonard took commissioner No. 4 position with 60 percent or 2,817 of the votes cast. Incumbent Greg Gregson received 40 percent of the vote with a total of 1,887.
"Gregson is to be commended for nine years of dedicated, diligent service to Ponca City. It's been a tough job, and it will be tougher in the years ahead," said Leonard.
"Our citizens have shown their faith that we can solve our problems and build a stronger community," he continued. "I look forward to working on a new city commission and to building community support for a new direction at city hall."
With the continuation of the city's 1997-98 general fund budget process, Gregson expressed his wish that the new commissioners immediately become involved.
For position No. 2, 58 percent of voters supported local businessman Chris Hand. Hand acquired 2,745 votes and incumbent Dick Bird received 1,966. Hand and Bird were both out of town this morning, therefore, unavailable for comment.
Ponca City Board of Commissioners will swear in the new commissioners on May 12, according to Ponca City Finance Director Kate Kelly.
By MARK GALVIN
News Staff Writer
NEWKIRK - Kay County law enforcement leaders found an audience Tuesday in the State Senate to fight against relinquishing the viable Community Service Sentencing Program (CSSP).
Invited Monday to state their case, Sheriff Marion Van Hoesen led a contingent, including Associate District Judge Robert Galbraith and District Attorney John Maddox, to Oklahoma City to try to thwart the Community Corrections Act portion of Senate Bill 721, currently on the floor of the state House of Representatives.
Armed with letters of support from other county sheriffs, ministers and public defenders, the five-man group met to urge the lawmakers to stick with the 1988 CSSP law that already empowers the counties with a program that genuinely works.
The community corrections act instead would introduce local community-action boards to provide alternate sentencing recommendations for local offenders. But it obviously overlooks the program provided by the 1988 law, which already has become successful in several counties.
The new act passes expenses currently funded by the DOC to the county, such as medical expenses and court-ordered programs such as mental health, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narconon.
The sheriff's current CSSP arrangement with the DOC generated more than $141,000 for Kay County last year, which is almost three-fourths of his operating budget for the detention facility. It also kept 71 Kay County offenders out of the state prison system in 1996.
With CSSP, county judges have the option to sentence non-violent, non-habitual offenders to community service programs, typically to sentences of three months to a year.
Undersheriff Sid Cookerly, who accompanied County Commissioner Wayne Leven and the other three to the Tuesday meeting, said the group is simply trying to stop the "bureaucratic nightmare" of the new act to be mixed in with the more sensible efforts of Truth-In-Sentencing.
Truth-In-Sentencing is a concept that will require criminals to typically serve 85 percent of their prison sentences, but the prison overcrowding that it would entail has spawned the cloudier issues of who would pay for it.
"We're not opposed to truth-in-sentencing, which will take dangerous people off the streets for long periods of time, but (the lawmakers) should eliminate the community corrections act portion of the bill," Cookerly said.
He said the group offered the lawmakers a viable alternative to keep the truth-in sentencing portions of the bill but to marry it instead to the existing law from 1988.
Van Hoesen attracted the lawmakers' attention last month when he lashed out against the state senate's sweeping approval of the Senate Bill 721, which is proclaimed by some leaders as a modern solution to prison overcrowding.
Van Hoesen called the Community Corrections Act a cleverly developed "power play" by the state department of corrections to dump its financial problems onto the individual counties.
And worse, it wouldn't solve the prison overcrowding problem either, he said.
Van Hoesen is one of the sheriffs in the state known for running a model operation of CSSP, which generates county detention money while it keeps certain criminals outside of the overcrowded state penitentiaries.
The senate bill is now being considered in the House, where it died last year on the last day of the legislative session amid the same controversy.
Newkirk voters elected their first woman mayor Tuesday as Carol Purdy outpolled incumbent Mayor Bob Coffee.
Purdy, who works as a deputy for Kay County Assessor Tresa Engle at the courthouse, received 288 votes to 161 votes cast for Coffee, according to Newkirk City Manager Gary Weiland. Weiland said 451 total votes were cast but two were mutilated.
Coffee had served a two-year appointment to fill the unexpired term of former mayor Eddy Harris.
Newkirk City Clerk Jane Thomas said Purdy's first council meeting as mayor will be April 14.
In other area election results:
Tonkawa's Ward No. 2 council seat went to Wayne Duvall, who received 158 votes to Kevin McCullough's 108 votes, to fill the post held by Mayor Jerry Legg, who did not seek reelection. Duvall will be sworn in at 6 p.m. next Tuesday at a special council meeting.
In the Blackwell commissioner of finance race, former police chief George Morgan garnered 1,189 votes to former state representative Ray Davis' 753 votes to win the seat. Morgan will join commissioners Richard Hicks and Mayor Louis Gose on the Blackwell city council.
In Kaw City, Cindy L. Traffas was elected, 60-43, over T. Don Ford for the unexpired Ward Two, Seat Two council member seat, and Gerald D. Loney was elected, 55-48, over Gene Randolph for the Ward Four, Seat One council member seat.
For the Frontier School District election for office No. 3, Rex Tautfest won the seat over Alice Kelly, 122-82, even though Kelly won the Kay County portion of the school district by a total of three votes to one.
It was confusing, but then it was April Fool's Day, NN finally figured out. Listeners to Christian KLVV were shaking their heads on Tuesday as the morning DJ constantly announced every song as being a hit from the Christian music group NewSong, no matter what artists was doing the singing. Several callers thought maybe the announcer meant to say that the songs were new, or "new songs," but after he reminded them to check their calendars, they figured out that the confusion could only be "April Fool"! KLVV will be hosting the group NewSong in concert on April 12 - no foolin'!
City Manager Gary Martin notified The News that the Ponca City Board of Commissioners special work session scheduled Thursday has been canceled.
Street Tax
Here is how Ponca City precincts voted Tuesday on Question 1, to extend the Street Improvement Tax:
Yes No
Precinct Votes
413 275 52
414 1 0
419 68 32
503 338 152
504 309 83
507 229 86
516 125 54
517 134 50
523 150 80
527 321 118
530 223 93
532 674 161
533 211 76
534 465 126
Absentees 55 36
TOTAL 3,578 1,199
Cultural Center
Here is how Ponca City precincts voted Tuesday on Question 2, to approve the sale of the Cultural Center:
Yes No
Precinct Votes
413 102 223
414 1 0
419 44 56
503 168 323
504 114 278
507 118 201
516 49 129
517 54 129
523 83 148
527 152 286
530 126 195
532 290 550
533 98 189
534 220 370
Absentees 29 63
TOTAL 1,652 3,140
Commission No. 4
Here is how Ponca City precincts voted Tuesday in the Commissioner 4 race between Tom Leonard and Greg Gregson:
Leonard Gregson
Precinct Votes
413 172 148
414 1 0
419 80 17
503 299 183
504 229 158
507 218 93
516 105 67
517 121 60
523 155 74
527 283 152
530 205 109
532 419 410
533 172 107
534 297 277
Absentees 61 32
TOTAL 2,817 1,887
Commission No. 2
Here is how Ponca City precincts voted Tuesday in the Commissioner 2 race between Dick Bird and Chris Hand:
Bird Hand
Precinct Votes
413 170 152
414 0 1
419 26 73
503 197 285
504 159 225
507 103 211
516 70 109
517 72 164
523 59 164
527 177 259
530 106 209
532 402 425
533 106 174
534 268 307
Absentees 51 42
TOTAL 1,966 2,745
Juvenile court maintains a "no tolerance" stance for youths who drink and drive.
According to Juvenile Court Judge John Northcutt, any person under 21 who drives, operates or is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle and has any measurable quantity of alcohol in the blood or on the breath, will be cited for driving under the influence. As a result, the subject will lose their driver's license for at least six months. This is enforceable under Oklahoma Title 47, Statute 6-106.4, which went into effect Nov. 1, 1996.
In court news, 21 youths appeared on the docket Tuesday for misdemeanor offenses of curfew violations, assault and battery, minor in possession of tobacco and beer, petit larceny and vandalism. The age of juveniles ranged from 11 to 17.
Additionally, one parent was fined and told to pay court costs for allowing a child to repeatedly violate the curfew law. Also, nine juveniles received 100 hours of community service and one youth must pay $175 in restitution.
Furthermore, two juveniles will lose their driver's license for appearing in court twice in a calendar year. A third will lose his license until he is 21.
According to Ponca City Court Clerk Nancy Hunt, any youth who appears before juvenile court two times within a calendar year will lose driving privileges for at least six months.
Trials were held for four youths who pled guilty last week. All were found guilty and fined. The next juvenile court will be held April 15, at the Public Safety Center, Municipal Court Room.
Although smoke alarms are in 92 percent of American homes, nearly one-third do not work because of worn or missing batteries. Therefore, residents are asked to change their smoke alarm batteries when changing clocks back to standard time.
The ninth annual home fire safety campaign sponsored by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and Energizer brand batteries, was established to help reduce the tragic number of home fire deaths and injuries.
Fire is the second leading cause of accidental deaths among children under age five. Non-working smoke alarms are a factor in thousands of deaths and injuries caused by home fires each year.
A working smoke alarm cuts the risk of dying in a home fire nearly in half by providing an early warning and critical extra seconds to escape.
Furthermore, the peak time for home fire fatalities is between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., when most people are asleep. Tragically, many people mistakenly believe they'd be awakened by the smell of smoke in time to escape, however, in reality, smoke often disorients people and dulls the senses.
Most people die of smoke inhalation rather than of burns.
Just getting around to filing your federal income tax return? With so little time before the deadline, Ron Janzen, Social Security field office manager, says the following hints will ensure you don't make mistakes that could delay the processing of your return.
1) Make sure your dependents have Social Security numbers.
All dependents including children under a year old, except those born in December 1996, will need Social Security numbers to be claimed as dependents on your tax return. If you need a Social Security number for a child, you can get one by contacting Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.
2) Be sure you have the correct Social Security numbers for yourself and your dependents.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) checks all the names and Social Security numbers on your tax return against Social Security's records, including those belonging to your children. If the records of names and numbers do not match, you will receive a letter from IRS asking you to explain the discrepancy. You cannot receive a tax refund until the discrepancy is resolved.
3) If you are self-employed and net over $400 a year, you must pay Social Security taxes.
If you operate a trade or business full-time or part-time, or engage in a profession, either by yourself or with a partner, you have earnings from self-employment. You must report net earnings of over $400 a year on schedule SE of your Federal Income Tax return and file it with your income tax return. Even if you don't owe any income tax, you may owe Social Security self-employment tax.
4) If you paid a household worker at least $1,000 in wages last year, you are required to report his/her wages and pay Social Security tax on his/her earnings with your tax return.
Workers covered by this law include maids, cleaning persons, child care providers, gardeners, and others who provide household services. The exception is workers under 18 years of age who do not do these jobs for a living, like teenagers who babysit or cut the grass.
5) If you already receive Social Security benefits, you may have to pay income taxes on part of your benefits.
You may owe taxes on 50 percent of your Social Security benefits if your adjusted gross income plus one-half of your Social Security benefits plus your non-taxable interest is between $25,000 and $34,000 for an individual, or between $32,000 and $44,000 for a couple. If these amounts are above $34,000 for an individual or $44,000 for a couple, you may owe tax on 85 percent of your benefits.
For more information about Social Security, call Social Security's toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213, or contact your local Social Security office. If you have tax questions, call the Internal Revenue Service at 1-800-829- 1040.
TONKAWA - Northern Oklahoma College is offering a one-day ACT Preparation Class from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, in Crowder Science Hall Room 108. Cost of the class is $30 and includes handouts. Participants should enroll in advance at the college Registrar's Office.
Tested material is not taught, but practice tests similar in structure to the actual exam are used to emphasize test-taking skills and give survival hints such as managing time and finding signal words to interpret test questions and answers correctly. Northern instructors Debbie Quirey, Dr. Bob Matthiesen, and Mary Perks will explain English and reading, science and reasoning and math topics respectively. A practice test will be administered and scored to identify students' strengths and weaknesses.
"This class is especially beneficial to those wanting to take the ACT test or to retake it to raise their scores for scholarship eligibility," said Sue Ann Rodgers, Northern counselor. Since schools in large cities teach ACT preparation, Northern's class can prepare students to compete with pupils from large schools which teach ACT preparation within their systems. "The more practice a student has, the greater the possibility of doing well on the ACT," she added.
Students may enroll for the ACT Prep Class in person at the Registrar's Office or by mail, giving social security number, name, address and phone number. Payment must accompany enrollment by mail. For more information, contact the Northern Registrar's Office at (405) 628-6220.
"The best deal in town" is coming up the week of April 13-19.
During National Library Week, the Friends of the Library are planning a "blowout" book sale and Open House at the Ponca City Library.
According to FOL members, a lot of their book sale books are worth much more than 50 cents each. They have saved back some really "great" ones for this special sale to celebrate National Library Week - children's classics, history and art references, and beautifully illustrated "Coffee Table" books.
It was noted that folks could even find their birth month and year in the collection of Reader's Digest magazines dated from 1926.
The special sale and Open House with refreshments will be in the library Board Room on April 17 from 5 to 9 p.m. April 18, 1 to 6 p.m. and April 19, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (or until all the books are sold).
Mark the calendar, and get some good buys.
The Ponca City Post Office will remain open until midnight on April 15th for the convenience of those filing income tax returns, according to Jack Weatherford Post Master.
There will be two or three window clerks on duty and Postal Service personnel will also pick up mail at the drop box in front of the Post Office and also at the Sixth Street drop box at midnight.
By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Business Editor
Three ribbon cuttings and grand openings for new Ponca City businesses have been slated this week. These include the expansion of a lawn and garden firm, a second auto parts facility and the opening of a new ranch supply.
On Thursday ribbon cuttings will be held for Throop Lawn & Garden Equipment John Deere Dealership on Highway 177 at 10 a.m. Throop is also celebrating 20 years in business as Throop Propane.
That afternoon at 4 p.m., O'Reilly Auto Parts will be cutting a ribbon for the second facility at 3019 North Fourteenth. The proceeds of the money ribbon will be given to United Way.
On Saturday at 11 a.m., a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held for Oklahoma Ranch Supply, 900 East Prospect, Suite 700. An interesting aspect of this ribbon cutting will be the arrival of various dignitaries, including Mayor Marilyn Andrews by Overland Stage Coach.
Escorting the stage will be Pawnee Bill and some of the members of the Pawnee Wild West Show from Pawnee. Free coffee and soft drinks will be served from a chuck wagon from 10 a.m., to noon. Starting at 11 a.m., free souvenirs will be given away while the supply lasts.
TONKAWA - Pianist Peter Krauss is one of the featured performers scheduled to appear with the Redbud Jazz Festival Orchestra in concert in Tonkawa April 12.
The concert is set for 7:30 p.m., in the Northern Oklahoma College Performing Arts Center. General admission tickets are $7 and are available from the Northern Oklahoma College Finance Office, P.O. Box 310, Tonkawa, Okla. 74653-0310 telephone (405) 628-6231.
Krauss, his wife Lisa Turci and jazz greats Pete Christlieb and Byron Stripling will perform April 12. Krauss, one of the busiest and most versatile freelance keyboard players in the southwest, studied piano and drums privately and played with dance, concert and marching bands until graduating form the University of Connecticut in 1968. Following a tour of duty in the U.S. Army, he moved to Oklahoma City here he began playing with small jazz and pop groups.
Following their marriage, Krauss and Turci worked together for 17 years in steady club jobs. Krauss gained on-the-job experience playing in recording studios, became the regular pianist with the Oklahoma City Jazz Orchestra and emerged as the city's first call jazz session pianist.
After working for a year and a half as the house band at Oklahoma City Waterford Hotel, Krauss and Turci left the steady club scene for a new career phase of freelance work - parties, concerts, recording and teaching. They hosted and starred in widely acclaimed "Piano Hour" television special produced by OETA.
In 1991, Krauss was arranger and featured soloist for the Oklahoma City Philharmonic "Music for the Movies," directed by Maestro Joel Levine. Turci was the guest artist for the concert. The duo were featured again with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic in the successful March 1992 Philharmonic concert.
In May 1992, Krauss, bassist John Williams and drummer Charlie Barry were featured with the great clarinetist Buddy de Franco in concert at the University of Oklahoma. That same summer Krauss and Turci produced their first album of original sacred music, "Gratefully Praising."
Thursday evening at 7 p.m., all of the Ponca City Schools Orchestra Students will present their annual "Orchestras In Review" at the Hutchins Memorial. This program is designed to show parents and the students how the orchestra progresses from fifth grade through 12th grade.
The evening will begin with the fifth grade orchestra. This is only the second big program of their orchestra career. The sixth grade will follow with several selections, one of them being the "Flintstones" arranged by Mrs. Anne Marie Webster for orchestra.
The seventh, eighth and ninth grade orchestra will combine for one number called "Spanish Rhapsody" and then the High School will play "March to the Scaffold" by Berlioz. The final number is entitled "Classical Bash" and will be a combined effort by the entire 350 orchestra students.
Directors Jeff Fox, Barbara Fox and AnneMarie Webster invite everyone to come and enjoy the concert. There is a small cost for attending, $2 for adults and $1 for students. This money goes directly to new music and emergency repairs to school instruments.
TONKAWA - The Tonkawa Chamber of Commerce, Retail Development Committee, announces plans for an annual event Saturday which will include the annual city-wide garage sales, special merchant sales and sidewalk sales.
Organizations are invited to hold bake sales and concessions down town
as well. A total of 47 garage sales are on tap for Saturday.
DEATHS
PECKHAM - Floyd Lester Trenary, lifelong Peckham area resident died Monday, March 31, 1997, at Blackwell Regional Medical Center, Blackwell. He was 85.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Peckham Christian Church with the Rev. Leland Peterson, Ponca City, officiating. Burial will be in the Newkirk (Okla.) Cemetery under the direction of Roberts Funeral Home, Blackwell.
Floyd Lester Trenary was born July 7, 1911, in Kay County, the son of Roy and Marie (Franzmier) Trenary. He grew up on a farm four miles north of Peckham and attended Center School, Peckham School and Grant School.
He married Ruby Fern Searl, Dec. 21, 1935, in Blackwell and the couple established their home on a farm near Peckham, living there until they moved into Peckham in 1942. Trenary farmed until he began buying grain for the Co-Op in 1956. He also operated a custom baling and cutting business with his brother, Earl. Trenary retired in 1976. He was a member of the Peckham Christian Church and the Farm Bureau.
Survivors include a daughter, Marilyn Trenary of Peckham; one son, James Andrew of Bolivar, Mo.; one brother, Earl, of Peckham; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife on July 25, 1994; his parents; one brother, Alden; and two sisters, Alice Traynor and Hazel Trenary.
Casket bearers will be Jerry Rose, Lloyd Rose, Virgil Tanner, Roy Oberby, Bud Martin and James Clifton Gray.
PHARR, Texas - Clarence George Villareal, former Ponca City area resident died Sunday, March 23, 1997, in Texas. He was 33.
The funeral was held at St. Judes Catholic Church in Pharr, Texas on March 25. Burial was in the San Juan (Texas) Cemetery under the direction of DeLeon Funeral Home of Pharr, Texas.
Clarence George Villareal was born Dec. 12, 1963, the son of Jose Antonio and Theda Marie (Arrow) Villareal. He was a descendant of Clarence and Clara (Blueback) Running After Arrow Jr.
Survivors include two sisters, Librada and Amelia Villareal, both of Pharr, Texas, and numerous other relatives in the Ponca City area.
Delene Marie Fauchier, longtime Ponca City resident, died Friday, March 28, 1997, at her home. She was 90.
The funeral was to held graveside at 1 p.m. today in the Caddo (Okla.) Cemetery, with the Rev. Tommy Higle, pastor of Caddo Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Trout Funeral Home, Ponca City.
Delene Marie (Boydstun) Fauchier was born Nov. 4, 1906, in Caddo, Indian Territory to Thomas H. and Minerva Allon (Massengale) Boydstun. She earned a certificate from Southeastern State College, Durant, and her bachelor of science degree from Central State University, Edmond. She had also studied at East Central State, Ada, and Oklahoma City University.
She began a 38-year teaching career in Caddo and continued at Maud, Harjo, Barnsdall, Atoka and Nardin, where she spent 10 years before moving to Ponca City. Mrs. Fauchier retired in May 1972, after 12 years as sixth grade teacher at Woodlands Elementary. While on the faculty at Woodlands, Mrs. Fauchier served as the sponsor for the Patrol Boys, and from 1970-72 for both boys and girls. She served as co-sponsor of the Woodlands Student Council, where she taught correct business procedures for meetings and elections. In 1969-70, she was selected Ponca City's "Teacher of the Year" and was named one of the "Outstanding Elementary Teachers of America" in 1972.
Mrs. Fauchier was a member of the First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women and the Wesleyan Service Guild. She had been active in the Order of Eastern Star where she served as worthy matron of the Nardin Chapter and as grand pate to the most worthy grand secretary in Washington, D.C. She was a also member of the National Education Association and the Oklahoma Education Association Parent-Teacher Association, Delta Kappa Gamma, where she once served as president, and Kappa Kappa Iota. She had also served as president of the County Rural Teachers Association and a member of the Kay County Retired Teachers Association. Following her retirement, she enjoyed traveling.
Survivors include three nieces, Kay Alsobrook of Houston, Texas, Mary Louise Hecht of Loveland, Colo., and Diane Pecaut of Tulsa; and one nephew, Alton Boydstun of Ponca City.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Fauchier's name to Hospice of Ponca City, 1904 North Union, Suite 103; Ponca City, OK 74601.
Roger A. Smith, longtime Ponca City businessman, died Tuesday
afternoon, April 1, 1997, at his home. He was 69. Survivors include his
wife, Janet, of the home. The funeral is set for 2 p.m. Friday at the First
Baptist Church Worship Center. Memorial contributions may be made in Mr.
Smith's name to Hospice of Ponca City, 1904 North Union, Suite 103, Ponca
City, OK 74601. The family will be at the home.
NEWS BRIEFS
Square Dance - Chikaskia Valley Square Dance will be Friday at the VFW Ballroom, 2900 East Prospect. Pre-Rounds will be at 7:30 p.m. with Bob Collyar as Cuer. Don Main will be the Caller for Squares at 8 p.m.
Delayed Enlistment - Jason T. Munroe has joined the United States Army under the Delayed Entry Program at the U.S. Army Recruiting Station, Stillwater. The program gives young men or women the opportunity to delay enlistment into the Army for up to one year before reporting to basic military training. The enlistment gives the new soldier the option to learn a new skill, travel and become eligible to receive as much as $30,000 toward a college education. Munroe, a student at Blackwell High School, will report to Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga., for military basic training July 17. He is the son of Jacqueline R. Munroe of Blackwell.
St. Mary's Rummage Sale - St Mary's Church Rummage Sale will be held Friday-Saturday at 121 West Central from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A large selection of furniture, toys, clothing (sized and sorted), household items, canning jars, carpeting, bicycles, large commercial magazine racks, moving sales, etc. No early sales.
Vandalism - An employee at McDonald Electric, 339 South Pine Street, contacted the Ponca City Police Department at 7:58 a.m. Tuesday to report a window shot out. An officer took a report.
Burglary - A Ponca City police officer took a report of a burglary of a residence in the 2900 block of North Union Street at 8:53 a.m. Tuesday.
Animals Abused - The owner of three dogs, who were reportedly underfed, was contacted by Ponca City Animal Control officers. According to the department, the owner agreed to take the pets to the veterinarian.
Arrested - A Ponca City police officer arrested a 21-year-old man at the police station at 3:10 p.m. Tuesday on a city warrant for failure to pay.
Accident - Two Ponca City police officers, the Fire Department rescue vehicle and two Ponca City ambulance crews responded to West Highland Avenue and North Oak Street at 3:12 p.m. Tuesday where a three-vehicle accident occurred. A 40-year-old woman was taken to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center where she was treated but not admitted, according to a hospital supervisor.
Break In - A resident in the 1000 block of West Highland Avenue advised the Ponca City Police Department at 4:43 p.m. Tuesday that someone broke into the residence. An officer took a report.
Collision - At 5:23 p.m. Tuesday, four Ponca City police officers responded to the report of an accident at South Osage Street and McFadden Drive. A 38-year-old man was arrested for driving under the influence and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. According to the department, in the 600 block of West South Avenue, a gas meter, a fence and a house were damaged. Also, a fence in the 600 block of West McFadden Drive and a pole at McFadden Drive and South Osage Street received damage.
City Warrant - A Ponca City police officer went to Stillwater at 5:32 p.m. Tuesday to pick up a prisoner taken into custody on a Ponca City warrant.
Vandalism - A resident in the 300 block of West Broadway Avenue
notified the Ponca City Police Department at 3:49 a.m. Wednesday that a
subject threw a rock through a window. An officer took a report.
LIFESTYLES
Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie LaBlue are residing at 505 East Comanche following their recent wedding at the Marland Mansion. Nuptial vows for Stacy A. Hedrick and Jimmie C. LaBlue Jr. were solemnized by Toby Blackstar.
Decorations included a white archway and baskets of red roses. Musical accompanist was Pam Jones of Caldwell, Kan. and Christian J. Hedrick sang and played "My Place Is With You." Kira D. Arnold sang "I Will Be Here" and a recording of Brian White's "Between Now and Forever" was played.
The bride wore a white satin gown with beaded lace overlay on the bodice. The cathedral length ruffled train was accented by a large bow in back and the waist length veiling was secured by a headpiece of small white roses. She carried a bouquet of red roses and baby's breath complemented by greenery.
Maid of honor was Kira D. Arnold. Her Hunter green satin dress was styled with long sleeves and a graduated hemline. Dressed identically to the honor attendant were Bonnie L. Arnold and Sara J. Arnold. Each attendant carried a long-stemmed rose trimmed with white ribbon. Flower girl was Waiverly LaBlue and ring bearer was Dylan Vance.
Jim C. LaBlue served as best man and groomsmen were Terry L. LaBlue and Terry L. LaBlue Jr. All three served as ushers. Candlelighters were mothers of the couple, Kathy Hedrick and Janice Anderson. Attending the guest book was Karen Vance.
Sandy Arnold hosted the reception at the Marland Mansion. Karen Vance assisted with the event. Special guests included Norvel and Wilma LaBlue, grandparents of the bridegroom; Lillie Spaulding, grandmother of the bridegroom; David and Brenda Roberts and Charles and Jeanette Hedrick.
The bridegroom is employed with Smith Tool. Parents of the bride are Johnny and Kathy Hedrick, Route 3. The bridegroom is the son of Jim C. LaBlue of Blackwell and Jan Anderson of Jackson, Ms.
Xi Gamma Sigma chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority met March 25 in the home of Cindy Russell. There were 17 members and one guest, LaRannah Bartlett, present. Preceding the meeting an executive board meeting was held.
Juni Parks, president, announced that the state convention will be held in Tulsa at the Marriott-Southern Hills June 6-8. Reservations are due by May 15.
Announcement was made that the Branson get-together would be November 7-9. Members attending the Founder's Day celebration April 22 at the Marland Mansion were asked to submit ticket money. Ms. Parks will provide the chapter's door prize which will follow the Founders Day theme of "Reflections of Love."
Barbara Ashlock read the responsibilities and duties of the various chapter officers and committee chairmen. Sue Waggerman, Service chairman, reported that an Easter card and check had been given to the family sponsored by the chapter. Items were also donated to the Domestic Violence Shelter.
Elections were held for the girl of the year and new officers. Serving for 1997-98 will be Barbara Feil, president; Leora Simmons, vice president; Cindy Russell, Recording secretary; Mary Rickords, Corresponding secretary; Peggy Cookson, treasurer; Juni Parks, City Council representative; Sue Waggerman and Darlene VanDeburgh, council alternates.
Following the business meeting Ms. Russell gave the program on quilting. She related the history of quilting in America and showed different ways to use quilts for keepsakes and crafts.
Installation of officers and the Ritual of Jewels ceremony will be held May 13. The next meeting of the chapter will be April 8 at the Pioneer Motor Bank with Ms. Rickords giving the program.
On March 22 members of the Kay County 4-H clubs held their annual County Rally at Northern Oklahoma College. County Rally gives 4-H members the opportunity to display and improve public speaking talents. Special awards are given at the annual Achievement Banquet for winners of the Peanut Award (9-10 years only), Junior Breads (11-12 years only) and Senior Breads (15 years or older only) Breads, and Dairy Foods Award (13-14 years only). Members who are 13 and over who participate will qualify to attend State 4-H RoundUp held in Stillwater each year. Listed below are the results:
Beginning category ages 9-10, Illustrated Presentations category winners were Bradley Schneeberger, Kildare, first place; Scott Dorl, Newkirk, second place and Joel Bolay, Heir Born, third place.
Junior category ages 11-12, Speech category winner was Chelsey Cobb, Kildare, first place. Illustrated Presentation winners were Chelsey Cobb, Kildare, first place; Erica Morris, Kildare, second place; Amanda Lewis, Heir Born, third place, Shawn Alley, Kay County Mounties, fourth place and Jay Soulek, OK Okies, fifth place.
Intermediate category ages 13-14. Illustrated Presentation winners were Chassie McMillen, Heir Born, first place; Stacie Schneeberger, Kildare, second place; Erin Morris, Kildare, third place; Kaycee Brmdon, Kildare, fourth place, and Carissa Calvert, Kildare, fifth place. Amanda Cobb, Kildare, and Tyler Klumpp, Kildare, received participation ribbons.
Senior category ages 15 and over: Speech category winner was Emily Lewis, Heir Born, first place. Illustrated Presentation winners were Emily Lewis, Heir Born, first place; Jason Schneeberger, Kildare, second place; Mandy Hudgins, Heir Born, third place; Leah Bolay, Heir Born, fourth place and Kanni Main, Finley, fifth place. Team presentation winners were Daniel Alley & Laura Hoy, Kay County Mounties, first place. Participation ribbons were given to Charlie Brandon, Kildare; Kristy Buck, North Central Equine; Jason Neuerburg, Heir Born; Mark Bolay, Heir Born and Suzanne Johns, North Central Equine.
Congratulations to all those participating and thanks to all the parents who helped make this event a great success said Larry Klumpp, Kay County Cooperative Extension agent.
Cecil and Shirley Hollingsworth hosted a family reunion Easter Sunday at 121 Magnolia in Kaw City. The house was built in 1925 in Uncas and later moved to new Kaw City when the Uncas property was incorporated as a part of the Kaw Lake. Plans are being made to restore the house to it's original condition.
Four branches of the Bacher family were present for this year's reunion. Attending from Kildare was Sarah Bacher, descendant of Lewis and Effie Rose Bacher, originators of the reunion in earlier years.
Descendants of Lawrence and Opal (Davidson) Bacher who attended the reunion were Lester and Margaret (Ungerman) Bacher , Larry and Mary (Diel) Bacher, Laurence and Debbie Bacher, all of Newkirk; Gordon and Helen (Roland) Bacher, Steven and Melissa Bacher, all of Ponca City, Marion and Mary Louise (Evans) Bacher of Midwest City, Odessa Bacher of Norman, David and Sherri (McHenry) Hollingsworth, Scott Hollingsworth of Marland, Annie Hollingsworth and Dustin Hollingsworth of Arkansas City, Kan.
Descendants of George and Neva (Scott) Weeks Sr. attending were Lewis and Mary (Splawn) Davidson; George and Della Weeks of Arkansas City, and Pauline Weeks of Claremore. Neva and Lewis Scott were reared by Opal Bacher's parents
Also descendants of Ray and Mary (Davidson) Weeks: Richard and Helen (Weeks) Lamb of Porum, Jack and Fannie (Weeks) Allen, Terry and Julie Allen, Christine, Jennifer and Daniel Allen, all of Newkirk; Phillip and Wanda Allen and Brian Allen of Keller, Tex.; Paul and Susann (Stewart) Eichling of Gore; Gerald Boyd and Patti Stewart of Margate, Fla.
Guests for the event were Ellis and Shirley McHenry of Stillwater, Avery and Inez Potts of Ponca City and Debbie Teal of Norman.
Pioneer Area Quilter's Guild will meet April 7 at Community Christian Church. Registration for the meeting will be 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The business session will begin at 12:30 p.m. followed by Show and Share and the monthly program. Stitch and Assist will be from 9:30 until 11:30 a.m. Greeter will be Betty Schwanke. Hostesses will be Karen Bogadi, Joyce Clegg, Jan Browning and Gloria Tucker.
The program will be presented by Betty Gillian of Stillwater and is entitled "Things My Grandmother Never Taught Me." An accomplished quilter, at a young age the speaker began sewing with her grandmother. Ms. Gillian has a quilt displayed on the cover of "Continuous Line Quilting" and in "Heirloom Machine Quilting" by Harriet Hargave. The speaker will give hints and ideas as presented by Anita Murphy, adding techniques And possibilities of her own and will present new quilting and piecing ideas.
Members are encouraged to bring quilted items to show and share. The Fan Block Party is due by the April meeting. A suggestion box is available at each meeting. Also planned for the April meeting is an election of officers.
Announcement was made that the June program and workshop will be "Kansas Troubles." Anyone interested in joining the guild should contact Jerry Moore, president, 765-4185, or Cindy Wilson, vice president, 765-6911. Babysitting reservations should be made by Friday with Mary Catherine Detten, 765-9864.
Mike and Theresa Butt, 705 South Tenth, announce the birth of their fifth daughter, Angela, on March 26. The baby was born at 12:49 p.m. at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She weighed 9-pounds, 7-ounces and was 22-inches long. Her sisters are Martha, Megan, Elizabeth and Emily.
Maternal grandparents are Florence Behara of Newkirk and the late John
Behara. Hubert and Therese Butt of Ponca City are the paternal grandparents.
SPORTS
By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
One seems to be the magic number for the Wildcat soccer team. The Lady Cats haven't found their's yet.
The boys are 3-3 in Frontier Conference play and all three wins have been by 1-0 scores with Sand Springs being their latest shutout victim. The girls, 1-2-1, played 110 minutes without a score against the Lady Sandites at Sullins Stadium Tuesday night but also kept the visitors out of the net to settle for a 0-0 tie.
Boys' coach Marco Castillo is not exactly overjoyed the Poncans have scored just four goals on the season, "But 1-0 is a win and we'll take it.
"There are still things we have to work on," Castillo said. "But this is a good win, Sand Springs has really improved. They are a good team."
The lone Wildcat score came at the 57-minute mark on a nearly perfect series by the Poncans.
Co-Captain Brian Kanelakos got the ball at midfield and fed sweeper Shane James who gave off to Zac Hardesty. Hardesty booted it back to James on the give and go and James left-footed in the winner from about 10 yards out.
"Kanelakos is our quarterback," Castillo said. "He directs traffic and make things happen."
"Everything comes to me," Kanelakos said of the scoring play, "and I dish it out.
"This makes us 3-3 in the conference and gives us something we can build on."
Sand Springs made a late run at the Cats which included five corner kicks. But a couple of saves by backup goalie Marciano Villarruel kept the Sandites scoreless.
Stopper Brian Cullison lived up to his position name with a stop of a Sand Springs shot on goal in the final minutes.
"This gives us a lot of momentum as we get near district play," Cullison said. "Now we just have to keep up the pressure, in practice and on the field."
While the two team captains had spectacular plays, there was plenty of praise by coach Castillo to go around.
"Hardesty had a great game," he said. "(Chance) Greenhagen was solid on defense. Jared Sindelar played well as did Andrew English.
"Kanelakos is only about 60 percent," Castillo said of his midfielder, who is bothered by a lower leg injury. "But he is still playing great. He's a tough kid."
Girls' coach Steve Hermann said the Lady Wildcats are improved in their play, but they missed several golden opportunities to score.
"Can you spell frustration?" Hermann asked rhetorically. "This is really frustrating. We had a great day shooting in practice yesterday. Then we come out and can't score. We had to have 23 shots on goal, one from about five feet out and it goes high."
Still, Hermann is pleased with the way his team has improved as it heads into the meat of the schedule.
The Poncans host Sapulpa for Homecoming Friday night. They then travel to Broken Arrow before the crucial district games against Enid, Edmond Memorial and Stillwater.
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Soccer Notes - The Wildcat boys made it a clean sweep in games Tuesday as the Po-Hi junior varsity topped the Sand Springs JVs 3-1 on goals by freshmen Bret Skaggs, Jacob Daniel and Barry Chance.
Friday's Homecoming will feature a tripleheader against Sapulpa. The JV boys play at 4:30, the varsity boys at 6 and the varsity girls at 8. There will a Homecoming celebration in Robson Fieldhouse following the matches.
By DAVID BROWN
News Associate Sports Editor
Say what you will about the 1997 Wildcat baseballers. They may not always win pretty, but they do a pretty good job of winning.
Sand Springs extended the sixth-ranked Cats to 10 innings here Tuesday night before a two-out bases loaded single by senior leadoff hitter J.R. Fry gave the Poncans a 3-2 victory and improved their record to 10-3.
Ponca City, which tied the game at 2-2 with a two-run sixth inning, had numerous opportunities to win the game prior to Fry's game-winner in the 10th but couldn't get the key hit.
The Cats' first opportunity came in the sixth after the tying runs scored on a throwing error by the Sandites' shortstop. Ponca City had runners on second and third with just one out but a strikeout and a groundout ended the threat.
In the eighth, a walk to Josh Shafer, a bunt single by Jason Ross and a sacrifice by Daniel Dodgen put runners on second and third again. This time, Chris Koenig was intentionally walked to load the bases and the next two batters struck out.
A strikeout ended the Po-Hi ninth as well with runners on first and second.
Then came the 10th.
Ponca City's defense came up big first as a walk, a sacrifice and a single put runners on the corners. Rocky Hughes then fielded a come-backer on the mound and threw to first for the second out. First baseman Shafer threw to second base to get the runner headed to that base but Sand Springs had something up.
The Sandites hoped to get their runner between first and second in a rundown as the runner on third scampered home for the lead run. But Po-Hi shortstop Fry, covering second, alertly threw home and Dodgen made the tag to prevent the run and end the Sandites' threat.
In the Ponca City half of the frame Dodgen led off with an infield single and took second on a poor throw to first by the Sand Springs third baseman. A sacrifice by Koenig moved courtesy runner Brad Taylor to third. Sand Springs then intentionally walked Dean Hemenway and Hughes to load the bases.
After a strikeout, Fry worked the count to 2-2 before lacing a solid hit past the second baseman to drive in Taylor with the winning run and end the three hour marathon.
Hughes, who was Ponca City's third pitcher, picked up the win to move to 5-0 on the year. He pitched 2 2/3-innings, giving up one hit with two walks and three strikeouts.
Starter Jay Bentley pitched well in his five innings, allowing Sand Springs just two second-inning runs on three hits with four walks and four strikeouts.
Jason Ross relieved Bentley and also had a strong outing, allowing no hits in 2 1/3-innings with one strikeout and no walks.
Ross gave way to Hughes, though, after an outfield error put a Sand Springs runner on third with just one out in the eighth. Hughes allowed a walk to the first batter he faced but then pitched out of the jam.
"I think we can chalk this one up to clean living," assistant coach Russ Shafer joked afterwards while tending to the field with head coach Roydon Tilley.
"The kids had a lot to do with it," Tilley said more seriously. "We missed some opportunities but stayed with it."
Ponca City outhit Sand Springs 5-4 and left 11 batters stranded through nine innings. The Sandites also stranded 11.
The win was Po-Hi's second of the season over Sand Springs and the Cats have now won 10 of their last 11 games.
Ponca City's next action will be Thursday in the Yukon tournament, which runs through Saturday.
BARTLESVILLE - A scheduled quad dissolved into a triangular here Tuesday due to Broken Arrow's absence but Ponca City's netters still took on Stillwater and Bartlesville.
The Lady Cats won all eight of their matches while the Wildcats went 3-1 against Stillwater and then lost all four matches against the homestanding Bruins.
The Wildcats next participate in the Midwest City Tournament Friday and the Lady Cats are also in that 16-team tournament Saturday.
"We'll get a better test of our abilities at this tournament," Lady Wildcat head coach Don Lambring said of Midwest City. "Enid, Edmond Memorial are two of the best teams and then Shawnee, Norman, Heritage Hall and Seminole will also be there and they traditionally have strong teams."
Results
Girls
No. 1 Singles - Ashley Roussel def. Augelli, Stillwater, 6-2, 6-2; def. Pierce, Bartlesville, 6-1, 6-4.
No. 2 Singles - Michelle Means def. Ray, Stillwater, 6-3, 6-0; def. Defehr, Bartlesville, 6-3, 6-2.
No. 1 Doubles - Natalie Lindsay-Abby Frick def. Irving-Fuhrman, Stillwater, 6-1, 6-2; def. Hunziker-Lambert, Bartlesville, 6-0, 6-0.
No. 2 Doubles - Romi Foreman-Melissa Collogan def. Tangco-Trennepohl, Stillwater, 6-1, 6-2; def. Birk-Vik, Bartlesville, 6-0, 6-0.
Boys
No. 1 Singles - Daniel Lee def. Darlington, Stillwater, 6-2, 6-3; lost to Frasier, Bartlesville, 0-6, 0-6.
No. 2 Singles - Bilal Ahga def. Tongco, Stillwater, 6-4, 6-0; lost to Lehman, Bartlesville, 2-6, 0-6.
No. 1 Doubles - Matt Stuemky-Micha Alexander lost to Yarlagadda-Grizzle, Stillwater, 7-5, 4-6, 3-6; lost to Pregler-Habiger, Bartlesville, 3-6, 4-6.
No. 2 Doubles - Donovan Weems-Chris Brune def. Simpson-Fazel, Stillwater, 6-3, 6-4; lost to Richmond-Romero, 2-6, 3-6.
Ponca City's JV girls tennis team placed first in the seven-team Ponca City JV tournament held here Monday, scoring 145 points to outdistance second place Enid, which scored 131.
On the boys' side, Bartlesville was first, Enid second, Stillwater third, Ponca City fourth and Woodward fifth.
For the Ponca City girls, Emmy Hufnagel took first in No. 1 Singles with 40 points, Emily Wheeler was first in No. 2 Singles with 39 points, Mea Alexander and Ashley Taylor placed second with 35 points in No. 1 Doubles and Mandy Dickson, Katie Rutherford and Leanna Maurer all played No. 2 Doubles as that team tied for third with 31 points.
The highlight for the JV Wildcats was a first place finish by the No. 1 Doubles team of Jason Nigh and Damon Myers.
Justin Lewis was fifth in No. 1 Singles, T.J. Murray was fifth in No. 2 Singles and the No. 2 Doubles team of Michael Galbraith-Owen Bullard and Bryan Geubelle-Matt Bintz took third place.
Tonkawa Recreation will be sponsoring a baseball/softball tournament April 22, 24, 25, 26 at Blinn Park in Tonkawa, which is located on the west side of Main Street.
The boys' tournament has divisions for 8-and-Under, 10-and-Under and 12-and-Under with 10-and-Under and 12-and-Under girls' divisions.
For more information contact the Tonkawa Chamber of Commerce at 628-2220.