From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Monday, April
7, 1997
LOCAL
The Rites of Spring
Contracts Dot Pioneer Tech Board Agenda
Letters Say:
Work Session Set Tuesday On Utilities
Motorists Should Avoid Central Avenue Area
DEATHS
Alice Plummer
Services Pending
Bonnie D. Shipes
Betty Jo Endicott
Funerals
Kathleen Ealey
NEWS BRIEFS
LIFESTYLES
Collectors Club Planning Trip
Folsum Site Will Be OAS Chapter Program Topic
SPORTS
Lady Wildcats 8th at Midwest City
Rain Slows Wildcat Baseball Team
WITH ALL EYES on the shinny ball, the Ponca Tribe's traditional "strengthening of the warrior" games resumed Sunday on the field at the White Eagle community. Spokesman Wayne Blueback said the shinny games are conducted to sharpen physical ability and quick decision-making and to instill sportsmanship in the young people. Good playing weather blessed the time-honored event, which will continue for three more Sunday afternoons. See related photos on Page 6A. (News Photo by Mark Galvin)
By KRISTI GRABEAL
News Education Editor
Several contracts will be voted on and two resignations will be heard when Pioneer Technology Center holds its monthly meeting Tuesday night in Room A-103.
The following contracts will be voted on: Vance Johnson, Business and Industry Coordinator; Robert Edwards, Custodian; Mary Field, School-to-Work Secretary; Del Yowell, TANF Coordinator; Sallie Niemann, TANF Job Developer and support; Angela Bradley, and TANF Job Developer and support.
The following resignations will also be discussed: Jan Watkins, Business Manager; and Cathy Schieber, Child Care Provider.
Betty Durkee, which was hired as a grant writer during the March board meeting will give an update of her current activities and what all she plans to do for PTC.
Dr. Janet Cox will give a presentation and ask for the approval of the board for the 1997-98 Staff Development Plan.
Other items up for approval include: budget revisions for FY '97, declaring items as surplus property, policies dealing with school sponsorship of student activities, and approving Glenda Council as Deputy Treasurer.
During the Interim Superintendent's report, Dr. Sally Downey will give reports on employment and the board will listen to updates on health insurance discussions. During the March board meeting, the board heard reports about changing the company that provides insurance to all employees at PTC. The current insurer is Anthem Health and the board is talking about changing the policy to ProOklahoma.
Editor, The News,
And our elected commissioners:
"Put that hay in the barn, protect what you have; put that hay in the barn, and always some for seed."
I think of this saying as I read of the troubles Ponca City, the state are in, and even our nation.
While I am at it, might as well give my views on Lake Ponca and how the city would save millions. This will not set very well with the "good," who have their eyes on Lake Ponca for their benefit.
Years ago we had a sportsmens club who helped the city to take care of the lake. One caretaker, who walked softly, put carried a big stick.
Wild mushrooms this time of year were there for the picking; fish were plentiful, wild game found a sanctuary. Grand old virgin trees, wild flowers abundant, plenty of deep clear water in the forks of the lake but they are silted in now. You could pick blackberries and wild plums, now killed out by poison spray. There were no roads around the lakes, which caused the trouble at the north ends of both lakes, vandalism, trash dumping, etc., after the roads were made.
Two or three crews working full time mowing, cutting trees, setting out trees, repairing roads and other chores necessary to keep the lake in shape. The cost is no doubt enormous in these times.
The city asks for ideas. I have one - most of my ideas are bad and this one will cause an outcry: "Sell Lake Ponca." No doubt it would go for millions. But don't laugh. Stillwater is putting Lake McMurtrey on the block for sale. It would make Lake Ponca look like a mud puddle, but acres of virgin clear water, in hills covered by oak trees. Ponca City, go see this lake and see how to run one.
Ponca City, be a city out of debt, free of a stone round its neck, no way, we would rather go bankrupt than give up our heritage! Besides it was given to us by the U.S. government during the great depression, to have and to hold not sell. But a few thousand dollars in the right hand will take care of that. Who knows, Lake Ponca could become another Branson. It has all the potential. In the right hands, Ponca City could grow like wild fire.
So take the hay out of the barn and sell it. It has no use now. Besides, you still have the seed.
Paul Burton
Ponca City commissioners will meet in a special work session Tuesday to continue the budget process for 1997-98. The session will be held at the Ponca City Library Programming Room at 8 a.m.
According to City Manager Gary Martin, the group will meet to specifically discuss the Utility Authority Department operating budget revenues and rates. This includes the electric, solid waste, water and sewer departments. If time permits, the board will continue to discuss funding for the general fund.
In addition, the board will recess to executive session to discuss the collective bargaining agreements for the International Association of Fire Fighters and the Fraternal Order of Police.
Motorists who travel the south portion of Central Avenue should use an alternate route Tuesday morning.
According to the Ponca City Engineering Department, the south portion of Central Avenue, between First Street and Fourth Street, will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
RAM Engineering will be laying asphalt as a part of the Northwest Water
Transmission Pipeline project. For more information, contact Steve Shea
at 767-0329.
DEATHS
TONKAWA - Alice Plummer, longtime Tonkawa resident, died Saturday afternoon, April 5, 1997, at the Blackwell Regional Hospital. She was 80.
The funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, at the Tonkawa First Baptist Church with the Rev. Richard Thomasson, minister, officiating. Burial will be in the Tonkawa IOOF Cemetery under the direction of McCafferty-Bolick Funeral Home, Tonkawa.
Alice (Simmering) Plummer was born May 24, 1916, in Cushing, the daughter of Jake and Emma (Gadberry). As a child she grew up in the Enid, Three-Sands, and Tonkawa communities, and graduated from Tonkawa High School.
She was married to Loren Plummer on June 27, 1937, at the First Baptist Church in Tonkawa. The couple lived in Oklahoma City and California before returning to live in Tonkawa in 1953. Mrs. Plummer was employed for many years at Dorsett's IGA and the First National Bank, before retirement. She was an active member of the Tonkawa First Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Loren, of Tonkawa; one son, Bill, of Plano, Texas; two sisters, Ethel Heacox of Buena Park, Calif., and Esther Walls of Fairfield, Texas; and four grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, and one brother.
The family will be present to visit with friends and relatives at the home of Cliff and Maxine Plummer, 1106 North Sixth Street, Tonkawa.
Bonnie D. Shipes
TULSA - Bonnie Darlene Shipes, former Ponca City resident, died Sunday, April 6, 1997, in a Tulsa hospital. She was 64. The funeral has been set for 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Parks Brothers Funeral Home Chapel in Okemah. Other arrangements will be announced later.
Betty Jo Endicott
Betty Jo Salmon Endicott, Ponca City resident, died Sunday evening, April 6, 1997, at her home. She was 72. Survivors include her husband, Melvin and son Kent, both of the home. Arrangements are pending with Grace Memorial Chapel.
Funerals
Tuesday
Kathleen Ealey - Funeral will be held at 2 p.m. in the Trout Funeral
Home Chapel. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends
may visit at the funeral home until 1 p.m. Tuesday.
NEWS BRIEFS
Garden Club - The Cann Garden Center will be the location for the Wednesday meeting of Sage, Rosemary and Thyme Garden Club at 9:30 a.m. Rebecca Barker will be the hostess and Jannie Ross will present "Design Your Own Wreath." For additional information call 767-1344.
Senior Citizens Dance Planned - Ken Wilson and the Sunshine Playboys will be playing for dancing Wednesday from 7 to 10 p.m. at the VFW. The first Wednesday of each month has been designated as snack night. All senior citizens are welcome to come, dance and enjoy the evening.
Greens Hit - An employee of the Lew Wentz Golf Course advised the Ponca City telecommunication officers at 7:01 a.m. Saturday that the greens were vandalized. An officer took a report.
Vandalism - A resident in the 1400 block of West South Avenue contacted the Ponca City telecommunication officers at 8:51 a.m. Saturday to report vandalism. An officer took a report.
Mailbox Hit - A Ponca City police officer took a report at 9:51 a.m. Saturday of vandalism to a mailbox in the 2400 block of Eagle Road.
County Warrant - A 26-year-old man was arrested by a Ponca City police officer at North Fourteenth Street and East Highland Avenue at 1:01 p.m. Saturday on a Kay County warrant for failure to pay.
Arrested - A Ponca City police officer arrested an 18-year-old woman at West South Avenue and South Sunset Street at 2:38 p.m. Saturday on a city warrant for failure to pay.
Failure to Appear - A 29-year-old woman was arrested by a Ponca City police officer in the 3500 block of North Union Street at 3:07 p.m. Saturday for failure to appear.
City Warrant - A Ponca City police officer arrested a 21-year-old man at the police station at 4:56 p.m. Saturday on a city warrant for failure to pay. The officer also arrested a 21-year-old woman in the 400 block of North Osage Street at 5:13 p.m. on a city warrant for failure to pay.
Stabbing - Ponca City Fire Department ambulance crew treated a 30-year-old Ponca City man in the 300 block of East Ponca Avenue for a stab wound Saturday afternoon. An emergency medical technician indicated the stabbing occurred to the upper left arm, just below the shoulder. The victim refused to be taken to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center by ambulance. The victim said he would go by private vehicle.
Accident - The Oklahoma Highway Patrol investigated an accident two miles east of U.S. 177 on Hubbard Road at 5:15 p.m. Saturday, according to the Ponca City telecommunication officers. The Blackwell Fire Department was also advised. The OHP trooper did not report any injuries, according to the OHP dispatcher.
Drugs - A Ponca City police officer arrested a 40-year-old man in the 600 block of South Sixth Street at 6:41 p.m. Saturday for possession of marijuana.
Grass Fire - At 7:13 p.m. Saturday, the Newkirk Fire Department was advised of a grass fire east of Newkirk, near the lake, according to Ponca City telecommunication officers.
Burglary - A Ponca City police officer took a report of burglary to an auto in the 2600 block of North Fourteenth Street at 1:42 a.m. Sunday.
Under Suspension - A 42-year-old man was arrested by a Ponca City police officer at McFadden Drive and South Avenue at 3:50 a.m. Sunday for driving under suspension.
Collision - A 26-year-old man was taken into custody at the scene of an accident in the 800 block of North Ash Street at 2:59 p.m. for driving under suspension and failure to drive on the right side of the road.
Vandalism - An employee of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 2800 Turner Road, notified the Ponca City Police Department at 3:13 p.m. Sunday of vandalism to the building. An officer took a report.
Burglary - A resident in the 2100 block of North Union Street advised the Ponca City Police Department at 3:55 p.m. Sunday that the stereo was stolen from a vehicle. An officer took a report.
Petit Larceny - A Ponca City police officer arrested a 33-year-old woman at Hastings, 2101 North Fourteenth Street, at 4:45 p.m. Sunday for petit larceny.
Wreck - The Ponca City telecommunication officers received notice of an accident in the 2400 block of North Fourteenth Street at 5:23 p.m. Sunday. An officer took a report.
Accident - A Ponca City police officer took a report of a non-injury accident at North Union Street and West Hartford Avenue at 5:40 p.m. Sunday.
City Warrant - A 27-year-old man was arrested at the Ponca City Police Department at 6 p.m. Sunday on a city warrant for failure to pay.
Burglary - A resident in the 1000 block of South Fourth Street advised the Ponca City Police Department at 10:57 p.m. Sunday that the vehicle was broken into. An officer took a car burglary report.
Fighting - Three Ponca City police officers responded to a report of fighting in the 600 block of West Highland Avenue at 11:45 p.m. Sunday. Officers took a 26-year-old woman and a 31-year-old woman into custody for public intoxication and fighting in public.
Theft - A resident in the 800 block of West Highland Avenue contacted the Ponca City Police Department at 12:07 a.m. Monday to report the residence was burglarized. An officer took a second degree burglary report on a stolen stereo, VCR, microwave and speakers.
Paraphernalia - A Ponca City police officer arrested a 20-year-old
man at East Hartford Avenue and Joe Street at 6:19 a.m. Monday for possession
of drug paraphernalia.
LIFESTYLES
Members of the P. C. 56'ers Village Collectors Club met March 11 at the Conoco Fourth Street Clubhouse with 19 people in attendance. Following the welcome by Nannette Hill, minutes were read and approved as stated in the club newsletter.
Announcement was made that local dealers had begun receiving shipments and more merchandise was expected. A suggestion was made to include a membership roster in the April newsletter. New editors of the newsletter are Mary Beth and Ernie Romine.
Discussion was held on the '97 Texas Roundup planned for July 18-20 in Houston. A group rate for airline passage was discussed and registration requirements were talked about.
The program was an Easter Egg Hunt. Members were given sacks and decorating supplies and prizes were awarded for the best decorated sack and certain eggs were redeemed for prizes. Jody Sanford won the prize for best decorated Easter "sack." The prize was a Dept. 56 Easter Tree donated by the Gift Shoppe. Other prizes were the "Snowbabies Skating Pond" won by Eloise Broomfield and donated by Dwyer's. Lavera Middlebusher won the Dept. 56 "Village Country Road Lamp Posts" donated by the P.C. 56'ers Club. The door prize was donated by the Gift Shoppe and was a Dept. 56 Easter Tree won by Mary Cantrell.
Refreshments for the meeting were provided by Glen and Verona Mair. The April 8 meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Fourth Street Clubhouse. The program will be game night with prizes being awarded.
The Kay County Chapter of the Oklahoma Anthropological Society will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Conoco Fourth Street Clubhouse. Everyone attending is asked to bring their collection for a "show and tell." The public is invited to attend the meeting.
Dr. M. J. Sullivan will give a report on a Folsum site he has found in Central Oklahoma. He hopes in the near future for a dig there by the Oklahoma Anthropological Survey. The first Folsum point found in North America was in 1926, eight miles west of the town of Folsum, New Mexico, on a small tributary of the Cimarron River. It was associated with the bones of a type of fossil Bison believed to have been extinct for thousands of years.
Also speaking will be Charlie Slovacek who will give a demonstration
of Ogham, an ancient Irish alphabet. He recently made a trip to Ireland
where he became interested in many facets of the Irish culture. He is a
charter member of the Kay County Chapter which began in 1963.
SPORTS
MIDWEST CITY - The Lady Wildcat tennis team placed eighth in the 16-team Midwest City Tennis Tournament here Saturday, one day after the boys' portion of the tournament was rained out.
Enid won the girls' tournament with 56 points. Putnam City North was second (49), Ada third (48), Seminole fourth (46), Heritage Hall fifth (42), Edmond Memorial sixth (40), Ardmore seventh (38) and Ponca City scored 37 points for eighth.
The best finish for the Poncans came in No. 2 singles where Romi Foreman and Melissa Collogan placed third in No. 2 Doubles. The No. 1 Doubles team of Natalie Lindsay and Abby Frick finished sixth while both singles entries were ninth. Ashley Roussel won the consolation championship in No. 1 Singles and Michelle Means did the same in No. 2 Singles.
"Considering the strength of the field and the weather conditions - it was real windy Saturday - I thought the girls had a good finish," said coach Don Lambring.
"None of our girls were seeded, either. So that made it tough. But Romi and Melissa beat three seeded teams in their bracket."
Up next, the varsity boys are in the Ark City Tournament Tuesday (weather permitting) and both JV squads are at Bartlesville, also Tuesday.
Thursday, both varsity teams are scheduled to play in the Mustang Tournament at the Oklahoma City Tennis Center.
Girls Results
No. 1 Singles
Ashley Roussel lost to Enid, 5-7, 2-6; def. Norman, injury default; def. Putnam City, 6-1, 6-1, def. Edmond Memorial, 6-0, 6-0.
No. 2 Singles
Michelle Means lost to Heritage Hall, 2-6, 1-6; def. Del City, 6-0, 6-0; def. Carl Albert, 6-0, 6-2; def. Edmond Memorial, 6-3, 6-2.
No. 1 Doubles
Lindsay-Frick def. Carl Albert, 7-5, 7-5; lost to Seminole, 3-6, 7-6, 2-6; def. Heritage Hall, 6-1, 2-6, 6-2; lost to Ada, 4-6, 1-6.
No. 2 Doubles
Foreman-Collogan def. Ada, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3; def. Ardmore, 6-3, 6-4; lost to Putnam City North, 3-6, 3-6; def. Edmond Memorial, 7-6, 3-6; 6-2.
YUKON, Okla. - Rain and a time limit prevented the sixth-ranked Ponca City Wildcats from finishing all but one game in the Yukon Baseball Tournament, scheduled to run Thursday through Saturday.
Ponca City defeated Lawton Eisenhower 7-6 Thursday in their first game and were locked in a 7-7 tie with Yukon when the time limit kicked in. Unfortunately, the rain came Friday and the remainder of the tournament was washed out.
The Wildcats, now 11-3, will have a chance to avenge their only loss in their last 12 games when they travel to Enid today for a single game at 5 p.m. The 12th-ranked Plainsmen upset the Cats 13-7 in their last meeting.
Against Lawton Ike, the Cats trailed 5-3 after four innings but came back with a four-run fifth to go up 7-5. Ike scored one more run in the sixth and then the time limit ended the game with the Poncans up one.
Senior first baseman Josh Shafer put the Wildcats on the board first with a two-run home run in the top of the first inning following a Justin Thomas single.
Lawton Ike picked up a solo home run off Ponca City starter Jason Ross in the bottom of the frame and then Ike came right back with two runs in the second off two hits and two Po-Hi errors. Ross gave way to Rocky Hughes in the frame as well.
The Cats tied the game at 3-all in the third as Thomas cracked a two-out double and scored on Shafer's RBI single.
After Lawton went back in front, Po-Hi rallied in the fifth.
Brian Benson singled, J.R. Fry was hit by a pitch and Thomas walked to load the bases. Benson scored on a one-out sacrifice fly by Ross and then senior catcher Daniel Dodgen came through with a two-out, two-RBI double. After courtesy runner Doug Scott stole third, Dean Hemenway doubled him home.
Hughes held Ike to just a run over the last two innings and picked up the win to improve to a flawless 6-0 on the season.
Through 14 games, Hughes has an ERA of 1.06 in 33 2/3-innings with 47 strikeouts and 16 walks.
Ross is Po-Hi's next most successful pitcher with a 2-0 mark, two saves and an ERA of 2.53 in 23 2/3-innings. He has struck out 20 with nine walks.
Offensively, Shafer is leading the way with a .512 batting average, a slugging percentage of .769 and an on base percentage of .672. He has 14 singles, four doubles, two home runs and 19 RBIs.
Thomas is batting .444 with a team-high six doubles and nine RBIs, Ross is hitting .414 with 13 RBIs; Hemenway is batting .321 with two RBIs; Chris Koenig .295 with 10 RBIs; Brian Benson .285 with one RBI; Dodgen .282 with 14 RBIs and Fry .265 with six RBIs.
On the injury front, senior shortstop Fry may miss tonight's game with a hamstring injury, according to coach Roydon Tilley.
"If we hold him out tonight that will give him a few more days rest before our next game," Tilley said of Fry.
Ponca City hosts the first Wildcat Classic Thursday through Saturday at the high school field.
Putnam City North, Cushing, Mustang, Blackwell, Guthrie, Tulsa Webster and Cleveland will join Ponca City in the tournament.
Ponca City's first tournament game is Thursday at 7 p.m. against Cleveland and the winner of that game will face the Guthrie-Webster winner Friday at 7 p.m. The first-round losers play Friday at 4:30.
The seventh place game is set for 11 a.m. Saturday, the consolation game
at 1:30, the third place game is scheduled for 4 p.m. and the championship
is set for a 6:30 p.m. start.