From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Wednesday,
April 1, 1998
LOCAL
Local Diver Drawn To Undersea Life
Tribal Warrior Games Resume During April
Clay Crosse on Concert Bill
Progressive 4-H Horse Program Revised
Webb City Now Has Fire Station and More
Area Calendar
NOC Seeking 1938, '48 Alumni
P.C. Washington Sixth Grader Heads to State Geography Bee
Art Association Flea Market Set at Center
Moo-ve Over Bossy
'New' Area Code 580 Now Only Way To Call
Absentee Voting Set To Open
Nearly News
Emergency Sirens To Sound Thursday
Letters
April Fool's Day - Chock Full of Practical Pranks
SSI Designed To Help Prevent Destitution
PTC Student Gains 'Reality' Every Day
'Walking Naked' Author To Discuss Book Sunday
Oklahoma 4-H'ers To Learn About Government Operation
Dermatologist Schedules Free Skin Cancer Screening
Police Seek Help In Solving Crime
DEATHS
Margaret Ann Turner
Lottie Appel
Obituaries
Lulu Mary Potter
Services Pending
Dwight G. McNew
Funerals
Carolyne Ann Metzer
R.E. Van Buskirk
Rosetta Dwyer Edwards
NEWS BRIEFS
LIFESTYLES
Silver Linings Shine for Local Resident
Marland Estate 'Secrets' PT Program Topic
Diana Cales is Bride-Elect
State Health Meet At Sterling House
SPORTS
Lady Cat Netters Cruising Along
Stillwater Set To Host Iranian Wrestlers
Lady Cats Look To Improve
Wildcat Netters Fall In Quad
Sodowsky Watch
Wentz Golf Fees
Mid-High Track Team Places Third
Soccer Team Falls
Field Trial Competition Concludes
By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Staff Writer
"What I like about diving is the silence," says Jeanne Fanning, who took up scuba diving when most people think about retiring. A successful businesswoman al-ways on the move, Fanning finds her new hobby relaxing.
The joy of diving, besides the serenity, is the incredible beauty of the sea world's aquatic life. The radiance of colorful fish - octopus, giant turtles and creatures of the coral - make diving a mellowing-out respite from the hectic pace of the business scene.
Owner locally of Ponca City's Personnel Staffing, and with other business interests in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas, Jeanne finds that diving about four times a year in the Atlantic or the Caribbean is an excellent way to unwind from the "people" business.
About three years ago Jeanne's interest was piqued with diving lessons on Saturday and Sunday at the YMCA. This eventually led to her being certified to dive. Although the adventure began with certification in the murky and somewhat slimy water of Lake Tenkiller near Tahlequah, Jeanne was hooked. She found the sport exhilarating enough that she wanted to do more.
The certification process began the sports escapade which has led to many pleasurable hours in and under the water for Fanning.
Jeanne began checking around to find an experienced dive master, who could teach her more than the elementary rudiments of her new found pastime. After some research she ended up with Houston Scuba and divemaster Gary Swearingen.
Over the years the former fashion model has worked hard at keeping herself physically fit, which is an absolute must for scuba diving. Several years ago she installed a swimming pool in her backyard.
The pool has been beneficial as she prepares for diving holidays. When she is getting ready for one of these strenuous diving trips - it is particularly tough on the upper body - Jeanne swims about 50 laps a day.
Fanning said she was convinced to do more in the way of experimenting with water adventures by Swearingen who encouraged her by saying, "You can do it."
And the first time Fanning dove with Gary's crew was at Cozumel. She dove with her business partner and his son and became enamored with the sport. "I just fell in love with it and most of the time when Gary (the divemaster) calls about getting a party together to go on a dive - I go," Jeanne said.
"After I went to Cozumel, I got all excited and called my kids and they got excited about it and I sent them to get certified with Houston Scuba," she said. The children include her sons Pat and Tom of Oklahoma City and her son-in-law Nick Jeffries of Ponca City.
Her daughter Carole Jeffries of Ponca City isn't as excited about the sport but went on some of the dives as part of the support group. Also included in some the family diving trips were Linda, Tom's wife, and their sons T.J. and Brandon, Pat's friend Sherry, and Jill and Jennifer, Carole and Nick's children. T.J. is enthused and plans to work towards certification.
Can't Get Too Comfortable
"I felt that I could not get too comfortable, so I decided I was going to learn more about buoyancy, because your buoyancy has to be good enough for you not to be banging into the coral and wrecking it. I felt with the dangers involved I really needed to know what I was doing," Fanning said.
She explained "You always dive in pairs, but you can't always depend on your buddy and if your buddy gets in trouble then you have to help them."
Another Milestone
"I felt I had to get a little more proficient. I knew I had to dive more than once a year. Last year I dove four times and got my advance certificate and then I took several special courses in water photography and a couple of other things."
Next she went to Turks and Caicos Islands to dive. "I think that was the most fun I've ever had in my life. I joined Gary's group and there were two couples I knew and we dove three and four times a day. We also did night and day diving. It was constant diving, because you lived on-board and you just jumped in the water."
Her diving partner was a dive assistant captain, from whom Fanning learned a lot about safety and diving. She noted that normally you don't go down over 130 feet. She has dived to the depth of 120 feet, but says people 40 and older should not dive more than 130. The Ponca Citian, as a another safety measure, dives with a small computer, which constantly feeds important data to the diver.
One of the first things she had to find out was that she wouldn't panic. "I found out that I am very calm. For instance one time my tank fell off and I wondered what I would do. I managed to come out of that. The very first dive after getting certified was diving right off the rigs (oil rigs) and I found out that you don't really do that."
During the panic test she saw a barracuda and what she thought was shark. "I thought 'I hope you know you are a defensive creature and won't bother me.' Later we found out the fish was a Ling and they're very good to eat, but look like a shark. It looked like it was grinning at me, but its mouth was different than a sharks."
The 40-pound air tank and 20 pound weights around her waist requires that she be in tip-top shape. Being a good breather is important in diving, she noted.
Some folk enjoy cave diving and some like to dive around ship wreckage, but Jeanne prefers to watch the fish and admire the coral.
Among the fish she has seen are Angelfish, Yellow Fin Tuna, moray eels and spotted eels. What she would like to see the most is the Manta Ray. "I've seen Spotted Eagle Rays and played with a bunch of Stingrays." She saw a Manta Ray that weighed about a ton. She said, "They are very friendly." She also seen a whale.
"I don't want to meet a tiger shark or a great whale. The tiger shark will eat anything. A great white would spit you out but by that time you'd have a problem."
Other species that she has seen, and photographed some of them are Rock Fish, Snappers, Drumfish, Squirrelfish, Groupers, cleaning fish. She said these fish go in and clean the other fish up by eating the parasites off the body and this includes inside the mouth. These are known as cleaning stations, where the fish come to be serviced.
The fish have such trust in these "doctors of the reef" that they are often seen with mouths wide and open and gills exposed to allow maximum cleaning in their most delicate parts.
Diving took another aspect when she dove off a cruise ship in the Virgin Islands. She found a woman divemaster on the ship and they dove together as diving buddies.
There are a number of signals used in diving that one has to master to be able to participate in the sport.
One of the most important is the "out-of-air" signal. Others are "OK," "Up," "Air pressure," "Not OK," "Down," "Smile," "Stop," "Time, "Cool," "Bang," "Too cool," "Look," and "Boat." Most of these are self explanatory except "Smile," which is for photos, and "Bang," which is making noise to gain the attention of one's dive buddy.
Just the other day the phone rang and Jeanne answered an invitation to dive off the Fuji in November with "Yes, you only live once." But of course there may be some other dives come up before then and Jeanne is keeping her options open.
Blueback Family Will Host Games On Four Sundays
WHITE EAGLE - The Ponca Tribe's traditional shinny games are set to begin again here.
The annual games, which will run each Sunday afternoon during April, are the tribe's time-honored celebration of life that helps build the mental, physical and spiritual character of the Ponca.
This year, to kick off the first game, local merchants have contributed prizes and gifts for the young people.
Coordinator Dwight Howe said a free hot dog and hamburger feed is planned for all youths at noon Sunday at the ball diamond in White Eagle. Children will also receive free swim passes to Ponca City's YMCA and gift certificates from McDonalds.
Children who are accompanied by a parent will receive a ticket for a drawing for one of two $50 food baskets donated by the Standing Bear Committee, the Pioneer Bank and Floorcraft. Albertsons and the Ponca Tribal Johnson O'Malley youth program are also donating food items.
"Shinny," or stick ball, is a traditional field game that dates back to the beginnings of the Ponca Tribe itself and is probably the oldest continuously played sport in Kay County.
The game is set to begin at approximately 2 p.m. each Sunday. Spectators are welcome at the games, which, depending on the scores, could last into late afternoon.
Last year, games leader Martin "Wayne" Blueback II passed leadership responsibilities to his son, Martin "Blue" Blueback III. Wayne Blueback's late father, Martin, was the shinny games leader for years.
Howe said the Bluebacks have always used the shinny games to emphasize the belief in God through prayer, the importance of becoming strong and helpful, and the need to have respect for the elders.
"It's good to be a young man and to try to prove yourself - both on and off the field," he said.
"Play hard - think of the people, the elders, the little ones - those who can't play, those who are handicapped and those who are less fortunate - the sick and the hungry.
"That's who we play for. Be thankful that you are healthy and that you are able to play this game," Howe said.
Wayne Blueback said the games sharpen physical ability and quick decision-making, and they instill sportsmanship in the young people.
And the April get-togethers, he said, are for people of all denominations to put God first.
It was four years ago that the only overnight success Clay Crosse had enjoyed was delivering packages for Federal Express. But that was before his soulful 1994 debut, "My Place Is With You," which became the best-selling debut album of the year in contemporary Christian music and garnered him a Dove award for "Best New Artist."
"To say that 1994 was a year of change for me is a huge understatement," says Clay, a Memphis native who up to that point in his life had performed a handful of concerts in his life. With hundreds of concerts now to his credit and a successful follow-up "Time to Believe," Clay has released a brand new project - "Stained Glass".
"I want to sing songs that relate to what people are feeling. A lot of people are content and have joy at times, but most are not overly happy all of the time." And with these words Clay embodies his songs with a passionate blend of sophisticated adult contemporary/pop and blue-eyed soul. On "Stained Glass," Clay once again recaptures those vocals with thought provoking lyrics as with the song "He Walked A Mile," nominated for Song of the Year at this year's Dove Awards and one of Clay's No. 1 songs.
After three albums and six No. 1 songs, Clay admits that the songs on his albums don't always portray a happy-go-lucky life but instead the struggle felt in everyday life. "The last thing I ever want to be is plastic or fake or overly cheery, and I think this album paints a realistic picture of the struggle of trying to walk through life serving Him."
The "Stained Glass Tour" featuring 1995 best new artist Dove award winner Clay Crosse and 1997 best new artist Dove winner Jaci Velasquez will be at the Hutchins Auditorium in Ponca City for two shows on Saturday, May 2 at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. and is presented by KLVV 88.7 FM Ponca City. General admission tickets will be available Thursday at Christian bookstores in Ponca City, Enid, Stillwater and Guthrie. Tickets for all ages are $10 in advance, $9 for groups of 10 or more and $12 at the door. Reserved seats are available for $15 at KLVV. Tickets (including reserved seating) can be purchased by mail to KLVV, P.O. Box 14, Ponca City, OK 74602, or by using Visa/MasterCard/Discover from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays at 1-800-FAITH88.
STILLWATER - "New and improved" is an often overused - and therefore often ignored - slogan in the advertising industry. However, new and improved is exactly the state of one of the most popular and useful youth educational tools for Oklahoma 4-H'ers.
"Oklahoma 4-H participants, parents and leaders should be aware that the Progressive Horse Skills Program curriculum has been completely revised," said Dave Freeman, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension equine specialist. Freeman recommended that all leaders and parents request new materials from their local Cooperative Extension Educator.
The Progressive Horse Skills Program involves completion of a progressive set of manuals that document knowledge and experience in youth development activities, the horse project and horse management and use.
Freeman said the curriculum contains four levels of manuals designed to continue the educational experience of youth through their 4-H membership.
"Leaders directing the program can receive a facilitator's guide which explains the program and provides direction for manual completion at all levels of involvement," he said.
A companion manual that may be of interest is the record-keeping manual, "Keeping Track." This manual requires participants to maintain a set of management and financial records of their horse project activities.
"The cost of materials is 50 cents per level manual," Freeman said.
"This fee is charged to offset a portion of the duplication cost."
Additional information on local 4-H educational horse programs is available though OSU Cooperative Extension county offices, usually listed under "County Government" in most local telephone directories.
By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Staff Writer
WEBB CITY - For the first time since Webb City was incorporated in the 1920s, the town has a Fire Station plus two trucks and volunteer firemen.
For the past two and a half years, Webb City's volunteer Mayor Jeff Harbeson and other members of the City Council have worked on a grant from INCOG for the project. Also serving on the council are Richard Hammer and Aaron Payne. Barbara Albritton of INCOG worked with the council to develop the grant.
Harbeson explained that in the past they had depended on the oil companies to fight the fires for them. But with these companies being less active in all areas it is a necessity to have fire-fighting equipment. Reminders of Webb City's oil rich days are still about, as old hammer-head oil wells still pump within the city limits.
INCOG Grant
A few months ago the $50,000 INCOG grant was approved and construction is almost finished on the two-bay fire station on land donated by Hammer. To date they've used about $27,000 and have a few bills coming in and plan to return the rest of the funds to INCOG.
"We don't want to be greedy - we've accomplished a lot out of this," Harbeson said.
The new fire station will house a tanker that holds 1,500 gallons of water and a pump truck that holds 600 gallons. The trucks were donated by the Forestry Department. One tanker is a five-ton and the other is a "deuce and a half."
Besides the two bays, the building contains a small office area and a restroom. As soon as the perk test is completed on the soil a septic tank and sewer lines will be installed on the grounds.
The fire trucks will also come in handy during storm season, as the trucks can be rolled out of the buildings and their loud sirens can be activated to warn the 130 residents of Webb City of the threat of bad weather.
Recreation Area
There are some retirees living in Webb City and recently families with several children have moved in. So the town residents decided a recreational area in the form of a concreted basketball court would be appropriate.
For the community effort, the land for the court was donated by School District 11, Harbeson put his tractor and welder to use and Hammer and others are working on the project that will give youth something to do.
Public Service donated the goals and Phillips Petroleum give them the money for the cement. Sen. J. Berry Harrison and Dale Block, the District 6 Representative on the fire "outfit," are helping out.
Harbeson, like others in Webb City, was born in the area and returned there to live. He retired as a mechanic for Phillips and now raises cattle.
The low bid on the fire station went to Wilhelm Construction of Shidler. Hammer said that Wilhelm did an excellent job on the construction.
Harbeson also commented the county had been doing the maintenance of the streets for the town. The only source of income for Webb City is the revenue from the county. This is enough to pay for a tractor for mowing and to pay for the street lamp operation.
Fire: A Community Disaster
Fire becomes a community disaster when it strikes anywhere in the northwest district of Osage County. The farmers, ranchers and others have always banded together to stop the grass-devouring fire.
In past years fire swept across Osage County and into Kansas destroying thousands of acres of grassland, structures and livestock.
With the smaller towns in the area having at least two fire trucks, this allows them to send one truck out to help others while the other stays at the fire station home to protect their home area.
Communication is the key in any operation and is vital in a volunteer situation. Lee Briggs at Grainola has a two-way radio with a crystal and almost everyone in the area is tuned in to his frequency. He or Kathleen, who acts as the dispatcher, sounds the alarm. Within 15 minutes about 25 people can be summoned to the fire site.
Besides the Webb City Fire Station, Foraker and Grainola also have fire-fighting operations. The Sooner Land and Cattle Company, operated by the Mormons, came up with two forestry fire trucks and James Culter "has got them in good shape," Harbeson said.
Grainola had a fire department before Webb City, and it was located in a barn that was given to them by the County. Then they bought another building and constructed a building between them. Grainola also had help from a grant.
There are five official volunteers for the Webb City Fire Department. Harbeson noted these firefighters will be fighting grass fires and are not really trained for house fires.
There is no firefighter union out here. The men who fight the fires are bound by the union of neighborhood and livelihood. Many of the farmers and ranchers have their own fire-fighting equipment and join forces to help contain or put out grass fires, which also endanger livestock and structures.
Tankers Are Water Refillers
There are two big tankers in the area and what happens is these tankers are filled with water and parked along the road where the fire is, and the small pumper trucks refill from them.
Paul Jones, who does roadwork for the state, has a big tanker that he has rigged up. He travels along the road when there is a grass fire so the fighters do not have to hunt water. They can go to the truck and get refilled.
Shidler has a tank truck that was donated by Phillips Petroleum that holds about 5,000 gallons, and in another nearby area in Osage County there is an Air Force tanker that holds about 8,500 gallons. "Everybody works together," Harbeson said.
An overhead water spout from the OK Rural Water system, which is about a mile a way from the Webb City Fire Station, can be used to refill the tanks of the pumpers.
Harbeson was also instrumental in organizing OK Water a few years ago and putting in the spouts when there were a number of grass fires in the area. Ok Water has over 600 members.
The source of water for the area comes from northeast of Newkirk from wells out of the Arkansas River.
There is a tower in the area that feeds water, along with one at Foraker that feeds as far as Pawhuska.
Two other overhead water spouts are located in Grainola and Foraker. The two-inch water spouts ordinarily have 85 to 95 pounds of pressure and can fill a 500-gallon tank in less than three minutes - "It doesn't take but just a jiffy," Harbeson said.
Osage County Commissioner Clarence Bradley has been helpful and sees that the drive beside the water spout is chatted and passable, Harbeson said.
Around the Tulsa area there is a dry-well system where fire hydrants are set up that can be hooked onto rural water lines. But the health department would not approve this type of setup because they did not want the fire hydrants on the ground.
Harbeson explained, "Ours couldn't be on the ground because if you got a 'kick-back' or if the water went off when you were filling the tank and you got a 'suck-back' you would contaminate the water system."
With the overhead system if there is a pin hole in the line, the system automatically shuts down and doesn't contaminate the water. Sometime in the future there will be a spout located close to the Webb City station.
Besides the overhead water spouts, some of the ranchers have pump houses near their ponds, so the pumpers can be filled with water from these.
Fire Guards Essential
Ordinarily the farmers and ranchers do fire guarding in advance by burning off small strips along the road so when grass fire reaches these areas, it dies out because there isn't any grass to burn.
In most cases out in the fields the firefighters try to drive the fire to ponds or streams to put it out. In addition to folks fighting the "head fire," others are needed at the back of the fire to protect structures and other property, Harbeson said.
Although there is still danger of grass fires in the Osage County area, with the assemblage of fire fighting trucks, the new water spout system and the communications, "things are a lot better than they were five years ago," Harbeson said.
March 11-April 8
March 23-April 3
April 1-30
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April 2-3-4-5
April 3
April 3-4
April 4
April 5
April 5-25
April 6
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April 14-May 9
April 16
April 16-19
April 17
TONKAWA - Northern Oklahoma College is searching for addresses of alumni from the Classes of 1938 and 1948 to be honored at the annual Alumni Reunion set for April 16.
Members of these honored classes are invited to send brief bios and photographs by April 6 for inclusion in the reunion souvenir booklet. Information may be sent to Alumni, NOC, P.O. Box 310, Tonkawa, Okla. 74653-0310 or members may contact the Alumni Office, (580) 628-6668.
According to Director of College Relations Sheri Snyder, addresses are needed for the following members of the Class of 1938 (Preparatory Department): Eugene Anderson, Virginia Craig, Billie DeGeer, Thelma Delano, Harry Dent, Frank Humphries, Charles Jenkins, John Jones, Claire Morris, Charles McClean, Willa McGuinn, Felicia Prunty, Harold Scott, Florence Smith, Ferne Thomas, Pauline Turk, Roberta Weisbrod, Leslie White and Doris Wyckoff.
Class of 1938 (College Department): Vernon Aldrich, W.J. Arnold, Dora Black, Marvin Blubaugh, Eva Bode, Kenneth Bohan, James Bolick, Clara Bowers, Billie Boyer, Doris Burt, Verlee Carpenter, Leonard Casrson, Paul Chainey, Charles Cox, James Cunningham, John Davis, Don Delaughder, Max Dickson, Margaret Dowell, Marie Engelking, Ernest Evinger and John Evinger.
Also, Hazel Felible, Doyle Ferguson, Florence Fox, Robert Franklin, Rolland Franklin, Jack Frazier, James Frazier, Sybil Frazier, Toncha Fry, Clyde Gray, Albert Green, Betty Gregory, Elmer Gregory, William Haun, Mildred Heck, Chester Heizer, Harold Hunt, Howard Husband, Patricia Jacques, Jack Jayne, Lena Jueschke, John Kelley and Gladys King.
Myron Law, Levina Lehrling, Guy Loyd, Jack Lyall, Mary Mayes, Chester Margerum, Ella Murdock, Mary McDermott, Rex Matthiesen, George Nathman, Roberta Nibel, Doris Ogg, Wilmer Parrish, Hazel Paul, Lucy Preston, Joseph Ramsdall, Robert Reusser, Ruby Richardson, John Ritchart, Clairence Roper, Kenneth Roylance.
And, Bertha Scott, Irene Schwartz, John Sharp, Elmer Simons, William Smith, Dallas Starr, Hannalou Stephenson, Marguerite Stephenson, Orville Stout, Marie Streller, Ruby Tarpenning, Charles Taylor, Owen Teufel, Joseph Thorstenberg, Hazel Tucker, Mildred Vernon, Robert Weddle, Hazel Whitworth, Margeret Westgate, Reba Wilkins, Ralph Wittmer, Hazel Wimple and Winston Wright.
Class of 1948 (Preparatory Department): Lloyd Armstrong, Donald Burke, Edgar Casper, Jean Hockett, Betty Richardson, Robert Smith, Howard Turner and Don Weaver.
Class of 1948 (College Department): Arthur Andrews, John Alcorn, James Ambrose, Clyde Arrington, Martin Balcer, Rose Barker, Leland Blackwell, Arvil Bohannon, Francis Boring, Robert Bowker, J.D. Bilderback, Harold Brattain, Kenneth Brengle, Dwight Brown, Glenn Butler, John Burrow, Overton Campbell, Coe Case, Marilu Casford, Charles Cheek, Jack Clement, Betty Cook, Anna Cooper, Arley Cranford, Robert Cronin, Patricia Crooks and Edwin Crosslin.
Also, Norma Dodson, Jack Dolezal, Ray Driver, William Dunn, Kenneth Fair, Betty Frost, William Franklin, Floy Gibson, Lawrence Gilbert, John Gillert, Lloyd Gates, Robert Gentry, Donald Goff, Bert Gray, Virgil Gray, Donald Harris.
Julian Harwell, Marianne Hochderffer, Barbara Humphries, Scott Hunsaker, Dorothy Johnston, Olive Johnston, Gladys Kaiser, Robert Kane, Raymond Kellenberger and Robert Koster.
Betty Lamb, Malcomb Lamb, Bob Lawhon, Don Leavitt, Donna Leehan, Carol Lower, Rhoda Lucas, Herman Mabry, Virgil Malter, Stanford Mann, Charles Marsh, Paul Masters, Donald Matheson, George Moriarty, John Moriarty, Donovan McClean.
Charles McClung, Billy McIlvain, Ditz McIlvain, Jack Noles, Norvell Olson, Paul Ostrander, Earl Pedigo, Joyce Pensonett, Vernon Polk, Carrol Potter, Frederick Preston, Wilbur Pursifull and Jamie Querry.
Also, Carrol Ratliff, Mary Rezabek, Bonita Rhoades, Dale Richey, Beverly Rieger, Eldon Rieger, Theodore Rieger, Wayne Shepherd, Bertha Simmons, Daniel Simpson, Garnet Smith, Lester Snow, Henry Spears, Claude Stice, Billie Stratton and Donald Storm.
And, Dale Tagus, Robert Taylor, Frank Tovar, Ivan Tribbey, Dorothy Trostle, Wilma Tullos, Kenneth Venzke, Vernie Vinyard, May Vorheis, Earl Waggerman, Lois Walker, Billy Ward, James Webb, Paul Williams, Leeroy Williams, Norman Wilson, Theodore Woodruff, James Worrell, Donald Worthington, Virginia Worthington, Keith Zody and Philip Zuvanich.
By KRISTI HAYES
News Education Editor
Dreams have finally come true for Washington Elementary sixth grader Jeremy Ricketson.
Ricketson, the son of Kevin and Elizabeth Ricketson, will compete April 3 in the 1998 Oklahoma Finals of the National Geography Bee at the Springlake Metro Tech Conference Center in Oklahoma City. Ricketson is the only student in Ponca City receiving this honor.
Ricketson said, "I am very excited about going. I am really looking forward to meeting the other kids at the competition."
When asked how much he studies to prepare for this event, Ricketson commented, "Not as much as you would think! I have checked out books from the library and I study almost every day. The questions I find the toughest are the ones about foreign countries. My parents are excited for me and I am really honored that I was the only one from Ponca City chosen to go."
Pat Keast, principal of Washington Elementary, said, "Jeremy is an excellent student and we are very proud of him. We think he stands a great chance of winning. He has the kind of attitude and determination it takes to succeed."
Keast also commented that Washington has never had a student be eligible for the state bee. "The teachers from Washington do a great job. I think we produce some of the best students around," she concluded.
The preliminary rounds of the 10th National Geography Bee have been completed. Several schools in Ponca City competed in this preliminary round. Winners from school-level bees compete April 3 to determine the finalists from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories.
The winner at the state bee will receive $100 in cash. Victors from the state bees will gather at the Society's worldwide headquarters in Washington on May 19-20 for the national championships, and a chance at a $25,000 scholarship. Sylvan Learning Centers, the co-sponsor of the 1998 National Geography Bee, is presenting the first-place winner with an all-expenses-paid vacation to Hong Kong.
Involving as many as five million students a year, the National Geography Bee has coincided with a reawakening of the nation's interest in geography, which was the Society's primary objective when it created the competition.
Signs that geography is returning to the American classroom include the fact that the number of undergraduate geography majors in the U.S. colleges grew by 47 percent between 1986 and 1993 and enrollment in graduate geography programs increased by a third between 1985 and 1991.
The state bee is the second level of the National Geography Bee, which began last December with contests in nearly 18,000 schools across the country. As many as 100 students in each state, who won their school bees and then earned a top score on a written exam prepared by the Society, will compete on April 3.
If Ricketson wins the state bee, he will have a chance to meet "Jeopardy!" quiz show host Alex Trebek. Trebek will moderate the national competition for the 10th year. The National Geography Bee finals on May 20 will air on local PBS stations.
The 1997 national winner was seventh-grader Alex Kerchner of Kirkland, Wash. He correctly answered the critical question: "Asia's most densely populated country has about 3 million people in an area of less than 250 square miles. Name this country." The answer: Singapore.
The Ponca City Art Association Spring Flea Market will be held Monday and Tuesday on the grounds of the Ponca City Art Center, 819 East Central.
This flea market will be the largest of the year with the lowest prices of the year. The many items to be sold will include Easter items, flowers, antiques, baskets, clothing, handcrafted items, pictures and books.
Other items to look for are dishes, utensils, pots and pans, collectables, appliances, toys, records and hundreds of other items.
Proceeds from the sale of items are used to benefit the Ponca City Arts Center.
The Ponca City Arts Center is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday, 1-5 p.m. For further information call 765-9746.
No Fooling! These cattle apparently do battle to be "cow of the hill." However it seems as if there is not just one king but a "mound full" of them. (News Photo by Patti Pfeiffer)
By PATTI PFEIFFER
News Staff Writer
You will be fooling yourself if you think things aren't any different just because it is April Fool's Day - at least one thing is different.
Beginning today, the 580 area code is the only area code for Ponca City. Although the area code change from 405 to 580 was announced last year, a five-month grace period was given so that the change could be completed and residents and businesses could make the necessary adjustments.
That grace period ended Tuesday and with it came the end of an era - the Ponca City 405 area code. According to Larry Wilt of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC), the 405 area code has been used in Ponca City since the beginning of seven digit phone numbers almost 50 years ago.
The area code change has been completed and as of today, those dialing the old 405 area code will hear a recorded message informing them of the change. The recording will then advise the caller to hang up and re-dial the number using the new 580 area code.
"Beginning April 1, calls into the new 580 area code region will no longer be completed without using the new code," Southwestern Bell spokesperson Jennifer Merritt said. "The transition went real smooth and we anticipate things will also go well with the new area code."
The additional area code became necessary because of the advancement 20th century technology. "The proliferation of fax machines, pagers and cellular phones increased the demand for phone numbers and eventually we ran out of variations of telephone numbers," Merritt explained. "This new area code allows us to replenish the supply of telephone numbers."
Ponca City is not the only location with the new area code. The 580 area code is to be used within or into the southern, western and northwestern parts of the state.
And at least for the time being, the 405 area code will still be used in Oklahoma City as well as other parts of central Oklahoma, and the 918 code will continued to be used in the northeastern and east central areas of the state.
Changes may soon be made in those area codes as well. "Unless measures take place to limit phone numbers, changes will continue to take place including multi-splits," OCC Deputy Director of Public Utilities Larry Schroeder says. "The 918 area code is scheduled to split by the year 2000 and the 405 area code may have to be split again."
Meanwhile those in the new 580 area code with special telephone features and services - speed dialing, call forwarding, call blocker and remote access - are reminded to reprogram the phone numbers to accommodate the change. Facsimile machines with the speed dial feature will also need to be reprogrammed.
Same day service was created for those who have taken the phrase "waiting until the last minute" literally. However, those who have yet to make the necessary changes to business cards and stationery and are in need of "procrastination" printing service are out of luck. Most local office supply stores say it takes 2-3 days to reprint stationery and business cards.
By MARK GALVIN
News Staff Writer
NEWKIRK - Registered voters in Kay County who want to vote by absentee ballot in next Tuesday's three elections can still receive and cast their ballots by going to the county election board office this Thursday, Friday or Monday.
Blackwell voters will decide a new Commissioner of Public Property by casting ballots either for incumbent city commissioner Gene Holcomb or for former mayor Vernon Steelmon. Holcomb was appointed last year to fill the unexpired term of former commissioner Richard Hicks.
Also on the Blackwell ballot is a proposition that the city grant a 10-year franchise for a cable communication system. A "yes" vote would be a vote for the proposition.
In an election at the Frontier Public School District, voters will choose between candidates Rexford Tautfest and Dennis Williams for Office No. 3 of the Board of Education.
Meanwhile in Ponca City, there are four mayoral candidates in the election - former mayor Carl Balcer, current city commissioner Tom Leonard, former city employee Melvin G. Schoonover and current city commissioner Richard E. "Dick" Stone.
Kay County Election board secretary Carol Stafford said a two-member bipartisan absentee voting board will be on duty from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each of the three days prior to Tuesday's election to assist in-person absentee voters.
In-person absentee voters will complete an application form when they arrive in the office. They are not required to state a reason for voting in-person absentee. They are required to swear that they are not also voting via a regular mail absentee ballot and that they will not vote at their polling places on election day.
According to Stafford, the absentee voting board will verify the voter's registration information, then will issue the correct ballots.
The voter will mark the ballots in the privacy of a voting booth and insert them into the voting device, much like voting at a precinct polling place, she said.
For more information, contact the Kay County Election Board office at the county courthouse in Newkirk, telephone 580-362-2130.
What's in a name? A lot if your name is not listed with your picture. NN's apologies to Randy Cornell, manager of Wal-Mart, whose last name was replaced with a "?" in the Beauticontrol WHO fundraiser picture on Lifestyles Tuesday. Randy has been very helpful with various organizations and their fundraisers and an embarrassed NN wants readers to know that his last name is Cornell.
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.
Hospital Facts
We have noticed over the past six weeks the ads that have been placed by Stillwater Medical Center in the Sunday editions of The Ponca City News. While we congratulate Stillwater Medical Center on being "the sole medical recipient of the 1997 Oklahoma Quality Award" we feel that it is important for the citizens of the greater Ponca City area to understand the facts.
The ads claim that Stillwater Medical Center believes they were chosen for this award because of their advanced technology and medical expertise. The facts are that Stillwater Medical Center has no more advanced and no less advanced technology than St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Ponca City. Both of these facilities have been the "first" to have one type or another of equipment or service, but the fact is that both facilities are very well equipped to do the types of procedures that they offer. Also, each hospital offers some service(s) that may not be offered at the other facility due to the interest or specialty of the physicians or size of the community needed to support a specialty service. In addition, both hospitals refer patients to hospitals in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, or Wichita or elsewhere for services that they do not provide.
An excellent way to measure quality is through the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, an independent organization that evaluates all aspects of hospital quality. The hospitals in Stillwater and Ponca City were each surveyed in early 1996 and they received IDENTICAL scores.
The Oklahoma Quality Award is something that you must apply for and the application process is costly, both in fees and in the amount of staff time that must be spent in preparation. Stillwater Medical Center claims that they believe they were chosen as the "sole medical recipient" because of their advanced technology and medical expertise. The fact is that they were the ONLY HOSPITAL IN THE STATE THAT APPLIED for this award.
St. Joseph Regional Medical Center is an excellent health care facility with up-to-date technology and highly skilled physicians and staff. We are not going to get into an advertising contest with Stillwater's hospital in the newspaper, but we do feel that the citizens of the greater Ponca City area should know the facts.
Thank you.
Bill Lawter, Chairman
SJRMC Board of Trustees
Mark Palmer, M.D.
SJRMC Medical Staff
Board of Trustees
Tim Gilbert, M.D.
Chief of Medical Staff
By PATTI PFEIFFER
News Staff Writer
A day full of practical jokes and pranks, a day made especially for jokers and pranksters a day that is today - April Fool's Day.
The day has been "celebrated" around the world for decades. Just how and why the day came about is a joke to many and a mystery to others. There is not just one but several accounts of how April Fool's Day began.
According to one account Noah himself was the original "April Fool" because on that day he mistakenly sent a dove out to find dry land.
Another account says that the celebration of jokes began in France, after Charles IX adopted a reformed calendar in 1564, which moved the new year and gift exchanging from April 1 to Jan. 1. After the calendar went into effect, gag gifts were sent on April 1 to those who had objected to the calendar change.
The day is now called "Fooling the Fish Day" in France but like so many other things associated with the first day of April the reason for that name in unclear.
The origin of April Fool's Day could also be found in India where the Feast of Huli has been celebrated for centuries. On March 31, during the feast, it is customary to send people on foolish errands.
Behind the time, it wasn't until the beginning of the eighteenth century that those in England began celebrating the day. There, name of the day is referred to as "April Noddy."
In Scotland, the day is called both Huntigowok Day and Gowkie Day, named after the word for cuckoo - "gowk." Those fooled are referred to as April gowks.
In Mexico April Fool's Day is celebrated on December 28, Holy Innocents' Day.
Whatever name, whatever day, the day seems to have been created with practical jokers in mind. Today the day is sure to be full of jokes so be careful and don't find yourself being a fool on this April Fool's Day.
By Ron Janzen
SSA Field Office Manager
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program provides financial assistance to people who are age 65 or older, or blind or disabled and who have limited income and resources. Many people who are eligible may not apply because they feel they are not destitute. However, the program is designed to help prevent destitution.
For this reason, SSI does not count things you own that you need for basic living, like a home and a car of reasonable value, or a burial policy. The assets we do count cannot exceed $2,000 for a single person or $3,000 for a couple.
Likewise, not all of your income is counted. Under SSI, income includes money coming in such as wages, net earnings from self-employment, Social Security checks and pensions. Non-cash items you receive such as food, clothing or shelter also count as income. We exclude a portion of your earned and unearned income. In fact, if all your income is from earnings, you can earn as much as $1,073 in 1998 before your SSI payment would be reduced to zero.
There are additional exclusions for disabled and blind individuals that help make it possible for them to work and still remain eligible for SSI. For example, we do not count earnings needed to pay expenses necessary for a blind individual to work. We also exclude income from a disabled individual's earnings needed to pay for certain expenses related to his/her disability and work.
Another provision allows disabled students under age 22 who live at home to have some of their earnings excluded. Finally, the Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS) program allows a disabled individual to submit a plan to us that defines his occupational goal, with an outline of how he plans to achieve it. If we approve the plan, we will not count income and things he owns that are necessary to achieve his goal in determining his eligibility or amount of his check.
SSI recipients are usually eligible for Medicaid coverage, food stamps and certain other services through the state, city or county in which they live. Certain states supplement the SSI check. People who live in those states may qualify for SSI with more income.
To get more information about SSI eligibility, call Social Security toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 and ask for the leaflet, You May Be Able To Get SSI (SSA Publication No. 05-11069).
For Pioneer Technology Center's Kristal Gauger, "Reality is better than virtual reality any day!" Gauger, who is a business technology student and senior at Po-Hi, is gaining real world experience thanks to the support of the business community in Ponca City.
Gauger has gained her experience by getting to work with Cathy Ferguson at Ponca City Tomorrow during the fall semester. She is also currently working with Amy Kirby at Albright Title and Trust. These on-the-job training experiences provided by area businesses are giving Gauger a fresh insight into the actual working of a company's processes and systems, strategies used in ensuring customer satisfaction, and the latest usage of new technologies.
During Gauger's on-the-job training experiences, she has seen what working in the "real world" is like for businesses. She helped organize a new label system, answered the telephone, scheduled and attended meetings, met state legislators, and trained on the microfiche machine.
Working at Ponca City Tomorrow has given Gauger insight into the operation of a civic organization. "I wasn't aware of all the volunteer opportunities that were available in Ponca City," said Gauger. "This experience has also made me realize the importance of being a leader and volunteering in your community."
Her experience in the business technology program at PTC has provided her with the occupational skills and knowledge essential for initial employment as an administrative assistant or general secretary. She has also received training in a variety of business software applications including Networking, Windows, Word Perfect, Lotus, and DOS. She contributes a lot of her educational experience to Sheila Foxworthy, business technology instructor. "Ms. Foxworthy is extremely helpful and patient and has been eager to help me achieve my goals," said Gauger. "This program has given me more options and an edge on my competition. I am not only prepared for a good job, but I am also prepared to have a jump start on college!" explained Gauger.
In taking the business technology course at PTC, Gauger has already earned up to 29 hours of college credit at Northern Oklahoma College, if she desires. Because she is a high school student, these 29 hours have all been earned at no cost to her or her parents.
Gauger has future plans to pursue a four-year degree at OSU and is the daughter of Steve and Donita Gauger of Ponca City.
"Walking Naked" is the title and "Survival of a Shattered Soul" is the subtitle of a book written by Sylvia Hess of Arkansas City.
She will be at Brace Books and More Sunday from 2-4 p.m., to discuss her book and the circumstances which led to her writing the book.
Sylvia Hess and her family have survived the suicide of her son, Keith, who was 36 at the time of his death.
"In the days after Keith's death, ... I wanted to read about someone who had gone through what I was going through ... now I have written the book I needed to read in those days. ... I put to paper what I could not keep within.
"The trials and torture are there but also many victories and truths. I think this book will bear fruit for any who has dealt with suicide at any level. Grief is grief no matter what the form and with this book I give you the depth and width of mine."
Sylvia's husband, Bill Hess, kept telling her "we have to go on with our lives." In her book Sylvia thanks him for helping her to go on, though at times she resented his words.
Using a daily journal as a means of dealing with her grief, Hess poured out her agony, guilt, self doubt, anger and, as she says in the preface to the book, "As this piece of writing began to emerge as a book, I knew instantly that the title was to be "Walking Naked."
"If the words were to be read by many, I would be exposed to judgment by some. My mind, heart, and very soul would be on display. ... [I]f the writing will be of aid to someone who is where I've been, I'll take the risk and let the opinions fall where they may."
Hess is hoping to meet others Sunday who are looking for comfort or insight into the difficult subject of dealing with the suicide of a friend or a loved one.
By Trisha Gedon
OSU Extension Service
STILLWATER - Oklahoma's 4-H state and district officers, along with the State 4-H Ambassadors and other outstanding 4-H'ers, will learn more about Oklahoma's governmental operations as they participate in the second annual "4-H Day at the Capitol" on April 8.
Increasing visibility and learning the legislative process are the two main goals of this event, said Barbara Hatfield, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Southwest District 4-H program specialist.
"We hope to enhance the awareness of the 4-H program across the state of Oklahoma and increase our visibility," Hatfield said. "In turn, the 4-H'ers will learn more about the legislative process and meet with key decision-makers. This event last year was a big success, and we're pleased we're able to conduct it again."
The day will begin at the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture. The delegation will meet with members of the State House and Senate Agriculture Committee, including Dennis Howard, Commissioner of Agriculture, Sen. Paul Muegge and Rep. M.C. Leist.
The 4-H'ers will go to the State Capitol where Suzanne Broadbent, Senate staff, will discuss the state legislative process.
Gov. Frank Keating will be on hand to sign a proclamation declaring April 8 as "Oklahoma 4-H Day at the Capitol."
Lobbyists Clayton Taylor, who is a 4-H alumni, and Otie Ann Fried, will share their knowledge of public policy education, the role of a lobbyist and ways to promote local community involvement.
"One of the things we stress in 4-H is that young people can become involved in their local government," said Nancy Dunlap, Southeast District 4-H program specialist. "Even if they aren't elected to a position, they will learn how to make their voices heard at the local level."
Jami Longacre, Oklahoma Cattleman's Association, along with OSU legislative intern Chris Stephens, will discuss community and public policy involvement.
Each 4-H'er will have lunch with his or her respective senators and representatives. This will be an opportunity for the 4-H'ers to share their knowledge of the 4-H program with government officials.
"This is such a great opportunity for our young people," Hatfield said. "We're sure this year's event will be a fun and educational experience for all who attend."
Local dermatologist, Tamara Hill, MD, has scheduled a free skin cancer screening for the community on April 18 from 8 to 11:15 a.m. The screening will be held at St. Joseph's Physical Therapy/Wellness Center, located at 1928 North Fourteenth (corner of Fourteenth Street and Patton Drive). Appointments must be made to participate in the screening, and interested individuals may do so by calling St. Joseph Regional Medical Center's Wellness Program at (580) 765-0594, Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The screening will consist of a four to five minute exam.
"Skin cancer is the most prevalent of all cancers,"' said Dr. Hill. "With an annual U.S. death toll of 6,800, skin cancer is now referred to as 'an undeclared epidemic'."
Overexposure to sunlight and ultraviolet rays, especially when it results in sunburn and blistering, is the principal cause of skin cancer, according to Dr. Hill. Repeated exposure to x-rays, industrial compounds and a family history of melanoma are other causes.
While malignant melanoma can strike anyone, there are several factors that may increase the risk of developing the disease. Caucasians are at a far greater risk than those of other races. The chance of developing skin cancer increases if a person has already had one malignant melanoma. Large moles, atypical or unusual moles, or a great number of moles may signify an increased risk. Risks are also increased if a parent, child or sibling has had melanoma. Individuals with fair skin and red or blonde hair are also at a greater risk of developing skin cancer. And excessive sun exposure in the first 10 to 15 years of life increases the chances of developing melanoma.
Skin cancer is, however, relatively easy to diagnose, and most skin cancers can be cured. Even malignant melanoma, the most aggressive skin cancer, can be treated successfully if caught in its early stages. Several preventative measures to avoid skin cancer include limiting skin exposure, covering exposed skin and using sunscreens.
In her Ponca City dermatology practice, Dr. Hill treats skin cancer in addition to a wide range of skin conditions, including acne, psoriasis, and other diseases. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from East Carolina University School of Medicine. In addition to her Ponca City practice, Dr. Hill also has an office in Bartlesville.
The April 18 Skin Cancer Screening is being coordinated through the Wellness Program at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. To schedule a screening appointment or for additional information, please contact Janet White, Wellness Coordinator at (580)765-0594.
Police are still asking for help in solving a rash of vehicle vandalism that occurred earlier this year.
According to police between 6 p.m. Feb. 7 and 10 a.m. Feb. 8 a total of 16 vehicles were vandalized in the 2500 block of North Fourteenth Street. Total damage is estimated to be in excess of $24,000.
"Vandalism is a senseless crime," Sgt. Tom Cusick said. "All Ponca City citizens end up paying for the damages caused by these people."
Anyone with any information is asked to call the Ponca City Police Department
at 767-0370 or Crime Stoppers at 762-5100. Crime Stoppers offers a reward
up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and your identity may
remain anonymous.
DEATHS
BLACKWELL - Margaret Ann "Peggy" Turner, Blackwell resident, died at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kan., Monday evening, March 30, 1998. She was 47.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at The Tabernacle in Blackwell with the Rev. Cliff Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Olive Cemetery in Nardin under the direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home, Blackwell. Friends may visit at the funeral home until noon Friday, then at the church from 1 to 2 p.m., then the casket will be closed.
Margaret Ann "Peggy" Turner was born June 18, 1950, in Blackwell to Earnest and Willa Mae (Jamieson) Matthews. She grew up and attended schools in Blackwell, graduating from Blackwell High School in 1968.
She was married to James Turner on Nov. 15, 1968, in Blackwell where they established their home. She was employed at Western Auto as a sales clerk until 1977, then was employed for two years at Jo's Barbecue Restaurant in Tonkawa. In 1979 Mrs. Turner became co-owner of the Hickory House Restaurant in Blackwell, and worked with her mother in the business until her death.
Survivors include her companion, Greg Schuette of Blackwell; her parents Earnest and Willa Mae Matthews; her grandmother, Blanche Jamieson of Blackwell; one sister, Deborah Miner of Broken Arrow; and one brother, David Matthews of Blackwell. She was preceded in death by a son, Derek James Turner and a daughter, Lora Kay Turner.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Turner's name to the American Diabetes Foundation, c/o Roberts Funeral Home, 120 West Padon, Blackwell, OK 74631.
Lottie Appel, longtime Ponca City resident, died Sunday evening, March 29, 1998, at Tender Heart Health Care Center. She was 92.
The funeral will be held Thursday, April 2, 1998, at 2 p.m. at First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Tom Ramsey, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Ponca City Odd Fellows Cemetery under the direction of the Trout Funeral Home.
Lottie (Pittendrigh) Appel was born May 24, 1905, in Shawnee to George C. and Minnie (Bristow) Pittendrigh. She grew up and attended schools in Earlsboro graduating in 1923.
She married Fred Brown in Shawnee and they lived several years in Higgins, Texas, before moving to Shattuck in 1947. While living in Shattuck, she attended nursing school and was employed as a Licensed Practical Nurse for more than 30 years. Mr. Brown died Aug. 25, 1950.
In 1952, she married Lud Appel in Ponca City and the couple made their home in Shattuck. Mr. Appel died in 1960. In 1969, Mrs. Appel moved to Ponca City and was employed at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center and worked as a private duty nurse, retiring in 1975. She was a member of the First Lutheran Church. She enjoyed crocheting, tatting, fishing, and traveling.
She is survived by three sons: J.C. Brown of Boise City, Leroy Brown of Canadian, Texas, and Jimmie Brown of Ponca City; two daughters, Evelyn Ford and Joella Thompson both of Ponca City; two step-daughters: Evelyn Babinski and Ida Lee Brown both of Canadian, Texas; one sister, Dora Harris of Ponca City; 27 grandchildren, several great and great-great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her two husbands, her parents, one son, and two grandchildren preceded her in death.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Lutheran Church, 1101 North Fourth Street, Ponca City, OK 74601.
Lulu Mary Potter went home to be with the Lord on Monday, March 30, 1998, at the Ponca City Nursing Home. She was age 90. A longtime resident of Ponca City, she moved with her husband and children to Ponca City in 1936.
Lulu was born May 4, 1907 in Ingles, Okla., a few months before statehood. She was the daughter of John Frank and Martha Ann (Nail) Anderson, who had made the run of 1893 into Oklahoma and homesteaded in the Perkins area. She was the 11th child of 12 children and was the last surviving child. She attended rural schools in the Yale and Perkins area.
Lulu married Arthur Preston Potter on Oct. 25, 1924, in Stillwater. They were married 56 years at the time of her husband's death in January 1981. She was a longtime member of the Second Baptist Church and the Esther Sunday School Class. Lulu was a loving and caring wife, mother, and grandmother. Her Lord and her family were her most important things in life. She loved children and animals, was talented in writing poetry, enjoyed gardening - especially roses, and most of all, loved reading her Bible.
She is survived and deeply missed by three daughters, Geraldine "Jerry" Lane, Joyce Boyer and husband Jim, all of Ponca City, and Betty Huff and husband Howard, of Great Falls, Mont.; 12 grandchildren, Tom Cusick and wife Barbara, Connie Pardee and husband Tom, Shelly Himes and husband Jim, all of Ponca City, John Cusick of Fairfax, Charla Howard and husband Darrell of Beggs, Bobby Lane and wife Kathy of Edmond, Pamela Carroll and husband Mike, Cindy Horne and husband Jim, and Bruce Huff, all of Great Falls, Mont., Barbara Bentley and husband Paul of Nampa Idaho, Staci Franks and husband Kyle, and Sharmi Boyer, all of Tulsa; 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Opal Cusick; a young son, Johnnie Franklin Potter; two sons in-law, Edward Cusick, and Calvin Lane; eight brothers and three sisters.
The funeral will be held Thursday, April 2, 1998, at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church chapel with the Rev. Paul Graham, pastor of Second Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Longwood Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.
Casket bearers will be grandsons, Tom Cusick, John Cusick, Bobby Lane, Darrell Pardee, Howard Pardee, Tom Pardee and Jim Himes.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Ponca City Inc., 1904 North Union, Suite 103, Ponca City, OK 74601 or to a charity of donor's choice.
Friends may call at the funeral home until 11:30 a.m. Thursday.
paid obituary
Dwight G. McNew, Ponca City resident, died at the Ponca City Nursing and Rehabilitation Center this morning, April 1, 1998. He was 82. Survivors include his wife Alice. Arrangements are pending with Trout Funeral Home.
Thursday
Carolyne Ann Metzer - Funeral at 2 p.m. at the Blackwell (Okla.) First Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in the Blackwell Cemetery under the direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home, Blackwell.
Friday
R.E. Van Buskirk - Funeral at 10 a.m. at the Morrison (Okla.) Christian Church. Burial will be in the Morrison Cemetery under the direction of Brown Funeral Home, Perry.
Rosetta Dwyer Edwards - Graveside service at 2 p.m. at the Newkirk
(Okla.) Cemetery under the direction of Fairmount Mortuary, Denver, Colo.
NEWS BRIEFS
Family Reunion - The Klinger family reunion will be held April 19 at the Kildare school. Dinner will begin at 12:30 p.m. For more information call 765-6319.
Local Marine Promoted - Marine Cpl. Timmy J. Saltarelli, son of Linda L. Saltarelli of 800 North Peachtree, was recently meritoriously promoted to his present rank while serving with Third Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, Calif. The 1995 graduate of Ponca City High School joined the Marine Corps in June 1995.
Navy Petty Officer Honored - Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Stanton R. Wellington, son of Linda G. Krout of Ponca City, recently received the Battle Efficiency Ribbon (Battle "E") while on a six-month deployment to the Arabian Gulf aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington. The ribbon recognizes Wellington's contribution in the selection of his ship as the recipient of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet Battle Excellence Award. The 1992 graduate of Ponca City High School joined the Navy in November 1992.
Spring Fling - Church Women United's Spring Fling arts and crafts show Saturday, Unity Gym, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Collectables, crafts, antiques, food counter. Benefit for Child Development Center. Free admission.
Church Women United - The Church Women United board will meet Monday, at 9:30 a.m. at St. John Baptist Church, 1009 South Eleventh Street.
Dance Set - The Young-At-Heart Dance will be every Thursday at the Elks Lodge, 1301 Bradley from 7 to 10 p.m. Snack and Hillbilly night first Thursday of each month. Ken Wilson and the Sunshine Playboys Band.
Break-In - At 4:18 p.m. Tuesday a vehicle was reportedly broken into in the 200 block of East Detroit Avenue. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Harassment - A woman in the 300 block of South Franklin Street called police at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday to report that her brother was being harassed. An officer was assigned.
Rock Victim - At 7:32 p.m. Tuesday a woman, who had accidentally been hit by a rock in the 1100 block of South Ninth Street, was treated at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.
Flower Bed Vandalism - A man in the 100 block of Fairview Avenue called police at 8:07 a.m. Tuesday to report that someone had been in his flower beds. An officer was assigned and a destruction of private property report was taken.
Break-In - A woman in the 300 block of North Seventh Street called police at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to report that her garage had been broken into. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
False Alarm - All fire station units responded to a phone-in alarm at 2:55 p.m. Tuesday in the 300 block of South Peachtree Street. It was discovered to be an alarm malfunction.
Accident - An accident at Hartford Avenue and North Union Street was reported at 7:57 a.m. Tuesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Combine stuck - At 10:17 p.m. Tuesday a motorist called police to report a combine stuck under an overpass one mile north of Hubbard Road on U.S. 77. The Kay County Sheriff's office and OHP were notified.
Window Broken - At 5:16 p.m. Wednesday a man in the 700 block of North Osage Street advised police that a window in his residence had been broken. An officer was assigned.
Arrest -A 47-year-old woman was arrested on a city warrant for failure to pay after she turned herself into police at 11:01 a.m. Tuesday.
Tricksters - At 10:15 p.m. Tuesday a woman in the 400 block of South Fourth Street called police to report that someone had been knocking on her door and running. An officer was assigned.
Attempted Burglary - At 8:18 a.m. Tuesday an attempted burglary at North Side Auto, 700 South First Street, was reported to police. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Accident - An accident in the 300 block of Fairview Avenue was reported at 12:32 p.m. Tuesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Arrest - A 27-year-old man was arrested at 12:39 p.m. Tuesday at West Grand Avenue and Elm Street for driving under suspension, no insurance and no seat belt.
Square Dance Social - The Chikaskia Valley square dancers announces a square dance and ice cream social Friday, 8 p.m. at the VFW ballroom, 2900 East Prospect Avenue. The caller will be Dick Manning and there will be no round dances. For additional information call Georgene Winters at 765-7634.
Live Performances Coming - Five top-quality live performances are coming to Ponca City during the 1998-99, including a music comedian, an all women jazz band, an award winning soprano, a quartet of musicians and singers performing a variety of music and a trio of soloists on cello, piano and vocals. Citizens may see all five for the price of one with Ponca City Community Concert memberships. Memberships will close April 3 and no individual tickets will be sold. Call 765-4822, 765-9946 or 765-3971, for more details.
Tribal Meeting Set - There will be a Tribal Meeting at the Ponca
Tribal Affairs Building Cafeteria on Saturday at 10 a.m. to clarify concerns
about the Ponca Tribe entering into the Self-Governance process. Coffee
and doughnuts will be served.
LIFESTYLES
By S.L. DICKEY
News Staff Writer
It is beyond the mental capacity of a healthy human being to fully appreciate what thoughts must go through the mind of one diagnosed with a form of cancer. Wanda Morgan has experienced both.
Prior to June of 1995, Morgan could only guess at the emotional, spiritual and physical reaction a person would experience if faced with the possibility of having cancer. A routine mammogram in that sixth month of '95 showed a lump in one of her breasts. A biopsy revealed the presence of a malignant growth. Although scared and apprehensive, Morgan knew what she had to do. She chose to attack the cancer with the help of good doctors and as an added weapon, the power of a positive attitude.
Seven and a half hours of surgery on July 19, 1995, completed three tasks - removal of the diseased breast, repair of a double hernia she didn't know she had and reconstruction of her breast utilizing her own body tissue. Her surgery was on a Wednesday, and Sunday afternoon she was released from the hospital for home.
Morgan set about the business of recovery. She did what the doctors told her to do, started back to work, and prepared for the beginning of her chemotherapy treatments scheduled for September.
This life threatening illness started the wheels turning in Morgan's career mind. The job she had, while individually rewarding, was filled with high stress. She began to think about healthiness in all areas of her life. She was tired of sitting behind a desk at work and being a couch potato at night.
Her chemo treatments began in October 1995, six weeks behind schedule. Morgan refers to them as the "red juice" treatments. For four hours Morgan would sit in a chair as the powerful, crimson-colored drug flowed into her veins. Usually her husband or a friend would accompany her, and there were always other patients, receiving similar treatments, to talk with.
As with most things, until a person experiences it firsthand, it is impossible to truly comprehend. After her initial treatment Morgan was not prepared for the pervasiveness of the treatment. She felt she could taste the drug in her mouth, smell the drug on her skin - even the clothes in her closet smelled like the drug. Morgan perceived its caustic benefits surrounding her with a presence she could not escape.
This was the first of six treatments that would cover a span of six months. She was told to expect the loss of her hair in about 19 days. On exactly the 19th day her hair began coming out in huge clumps while in the shower.
She dried off - and tried to dry the tears that wouldn't seem to stop. With scissors and a razor she completed the task that the chemotherapy had begun. Morgan said she wore a towel around her head for two days - losing her hair was a difficult transition. Her oldest son offered to shave his head in an empathy gesture - Morgan smiled but declined his from-the-heart offer.
As time passed and the chemo treatments continued, Morgan pursued this new career dream she had envisioned. The cancer gave her a new sense of the fragility of day-to-day existence and the power in the phrase "yes I can." "I began to realize the importance of total body fitness and I wanted to do something," Morgan said. The trick was finding the right thing.
Traditional fitness training was impossible for Morgan with a weakened body from the chemotherapy treatments. Her niece encouraged her to begin exploration of a franchise business in the fitness world - specifically a program for women only. She found such a program in the "Quickfit" circuit system. The exercise system alternates hydraulic resistance machines with aerobic recovery stations - a program Morgan could do.
Her last chemo treatment was in February 1996. In March she attended a week's worth of business and exercise training in Harlingen, Texas, and on April 1, 1996, Morgan opened her Curves for Women in Ponca City.
Morgan began her own exercise routine. Fitness and health were now a way of life for her. The program works for any age of client and any fitness level. "Our youngest client is 10 and the oldest is 84. By performing strength training exercises, all of us can increase our metabolism, maintain a lower body fat percentage and increase bone density, regardless of age," Morgan states. "I just don't like to workout where there are both sexes. I think a lot of women feel that way."
To date, Morgan has remained cancer free. She continues her health and fitness routines and now only sees her doctor every six months. She doesn't dwell on it, but in the back of her mind is the target date of June 2001 - the five year cancer-free mark she eagerly awaits.
February was National Cancer Awareness Month and March was National Fitness Month. Wanda Morgan is a tangible testimony to both. With a gentle spirit and her can-do, aggressive approach to life and beating her breast cancer, Morgan always finds the silver lining.
Professionals Today members will be bringing Easter baskets for the Child Development Center to the Thursday noon meeting at Pioneer Technology Center.
The March 19 meeting was held at E.W.'s Restaurant at the Marland Conference Center with Kathy Adams, director of the Marland Estate, giving the program. She gave a quiz on 13 secrets in the Marland Mansion and told of upcoming events.
The "secrets" involved these questions: how long did the Marlands live in the Mansion; How many lakes were originally at the Marland Estate; What is a weather window and where are they in the Mansion; Where are the keyhole covers; What is the sewing room and where is it; Are there servants quarters in the Mansion?
Also, how many light bulbs does it take to light up the entire Mansion; Where is the sun dial;: How many tunnels are there at the Mansion; Are there ghosts in the Mansion; Where is George Marland's picture; Who was the artist in the artists studio; Who managed Marland's property after he lost his money?
Adams was introduced by President-Elect Ruth Capshaw and the meeting was called to order by President Debbie Whitener. Susan Jarrett was introduced as guest of Louise Abercrombie.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack C. Cales of Tonkawa have announced the engagement of their daughter, Diana Rachelle, to Joseph Clinton McGee, son of Crystal McGee of Edmond, and the late James McGee. A May 30 wedding at the Waterloo Road Baptist Church in Edmond is planned.
The bride-elect is a graduate of Northern Oklahoma College and the University of Central Oklahoma and holds two bachelor's degrees with majors in art and English. She is currently a middle school art teacher in Derby, Kan. The prospective bridegroom is a student at UCO and is employed at J. O. Easley, Inc. of Edmond.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health will conduct an open meeting at Sterling House of Ponca City, 1500 East Bradley Avenue, April 7. The meeting will begin at 2 p.m.
Staff from the state health department's Special Health Services will provide the opportunity for residents and staff members of the facility to discuss suggestions to improve residents care.
The Residential Home Care Act of 1984 requires open meetings be held
in each residential care home in the state to allow interested persons an
opportunity to comment on residents care. The meetings are open to residents,
their families and friends, administrators and employees, representatives
of state and federal agencies, and anyone else interested in activities
of the residential care home facility.
SPORTS
BARTLESVILLE - Despite the absence of several starters, the Ponca City Lady Wildcat varsity tennis team continued to cruise through their season in the Bartlesville quad, Tuesday, winning 9-of-12 matches against players from Bartlesville, Sapulpa and Broken Arrow.
In No. 1 singles, sophomore Mea Alexander - filling in for regular starter Ashley Rousell who was at a cheerleading function - fell in three rounds. After dropping a tough match with Bartlesville's Landra Pierce, 6-0, 6-1, Alexander had the ominous task of taking on Sapulpa's Lindsey Marvel, one of the top players in the state. After falling in straight sets to Marval, Alexander then battled hard but fell to Broken Arrow's Ivana Adelic, 6-1, 6-4, in her final match of the day.
In No. 2 singles, Emmy Hufnagel had an easier time of it, winning all three of her matches. First, Hufnagel prevailed over Sapulpa's Jennifer Brown, 6-3, 6-2, followed that with a defeat of Bartlesville's Megan Carter, 7-5, 6-1, and finished the day with a decisive win over Broken Arrow's Jessica Baldwin, 6-0, 6-1.
In No. 1 doubles action, Natalie Lindsay and Abby Frick were also victorious in all three of their matches. The Lady Cat duo started the day by powering past Bartlesville's Lamber-Walsh, 6-0, 6-1, followed that with a defeat over Sapulpa's Ryan-Hensley, 6-1, 6-0, and finished with a defeat of Broken Arrow's Phillips-Torrence, 6-2, 6-0.
Emily Wheeler, filling in for Romi Foreman - also at a cheerleading function - teamed with No. 2 doubles player Melissa Collogan for yet another 3-game sweep for the Lady Cats. Wheeler-Collogen took off over Bartlesville's Birk-Manning, 6-1, 6-1, continued with a defeat of Sapulpa's Baker-Queen, and finished the day by pounding Broken Arrow's Murphy-Flake, 6-1, 6-3.
"I thought Mea and Emily did a great job at filling in for us," said coach Don Lambring. "They both gave a great effort. And Mea had a tall order there in all her matches. I think Marvel is ranked in the top three right now in the state."
The Lady Cats will have their hands full Thursday, too, as perineal state powerhouse Enid rolls into town.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran's wrestling team has started its journey to the United States, where it will compete in the World Freestyle Wrestling Championships.
The United States has not maintained an embassy in Tehran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, when Muslim militants stormed the embassy and held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days.
The 18-member Iranian delegation left Tuesday for Stillwater, where the freestyle meet begins Saturday.
Iran will face the United States, Japan, and Germany on the first day of the competition before going on against Russia and Cuba the next day, Rabti said.
Iranian sports teams have visited the United States before, but such exchanges have been boosted by the success of the visit by U.S. wrestlers to Iran last month.
The wrestlers, who participated in an international tournament in Tehran, were the first American sportsmen to visit Iran since 1979.
The wrestlers were warmly welcomed in Tehran and plan to return in September for the world championship.
Iranian-U.S. relations have been hostile since the 1979 overthrow of the U.S.-backed shah. Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, who took office in August, has been trying to improve relations and has called for greater cultural exchanges between the two countries.
Hoping that better weather makes for better golf, the Lady Wildcat golf teams tries to shake off a poor performance at Cushing Monday in the Jenks Invitational today.
"We did not play well at all - in any part of our game," Po-Hi coach Jerry Orr said after the Lady Cats finished 15th in the 22-team field at Cushing.
"We are going to have to make a lot of progress in the next three weeks if we expect to qualify out of the regional at Owasso (April 22).
"The weather was not very good (at Cushing), but it was the same for everyone," the coach said.
Ponca City finished with a 421 total at Cushing, 63 strokes behind first place Enid.
None of the Lady Cats were able to break a 100. Sophomore Heather Staires was low for the Poncans at an even 100. Caylin Howe had a 103 while Jessica Freeman had 106, Ashley Mott 112 and Jackie Dyer 121.
Enid senior Stacy Prammanasudh was the medalist with a 77 to lead the Pacers to the tournament title with a 358 team score. Windy Martin of Edmond Santa Fe posted a 78 and Brooke Fisher of Shawnee had an 80.
Team Scoring
Enid 358, Cushing 362, Mustang 378, Edmond Santa Fe 383, Stillwater 388, Seminole 389, Guthrie 390, McAlester 390, Coweta 396, Shawnee 397, Edmond North 401, Norman 404, Edmond Memorial 404, Bartlesville 405, Ponca City 421, Miami 423, Sapulpa 426, Pryor 438, Carl Albert 446, Olmulgee 448, Norman North 451, Broken Bow 530.
BARTLESVILLE - Ponca City's Wildcat tennis team ran into some tough competition in the Bartlesville Quad Tuesday, finishing fourth with two points.
Micah Alexander collected the Poncans' points, winning two of his three matches in the No. 2 Singles.
Alexander dropped a 6-3, 6-2 decision to Ben Newby of Bartlesville and then beat Carlos Picout of Sapulpa, 7-5, 6-3 and James Gourley of Broken Arrow, 6-2, 6-3.
In the No. 1 Singles, Matt Stuemky lost to Bartlesville's Matt Pregler, 6-2, 6-3, fell to Mack Harris of Sapulpa, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 and lost to Billy Popejoy, 6-1, 6-1,
The team of Bilah Agha and Daniel Lee lost in the No. 1 Doubles to Hubiger and Richmond of Bartlesville, 6-3, 6-1, to Jackson and Hill of Sapulpa, 6-2, 6-2 and top Stewart and Klouer of Broken Arrow, 6-1, 6-1.
In the No. 2 Doubles, Wildcats Tim Frick and Jason Nigh fell to Hatchett and Wilson of Bartlesville, 6-2, 6-2, to McDonald and Keller of Sapulpa 7-5, 1-6, 6-1 and to Reber and Adams of Broken Arrow, 6-1, 6-4
Bartlesville won its own quad with 10 points while Broken Arrow had 7 and Sapulpa 5.
"I knew Bartlesville would be tough on us," Po-Hi coach Steve Larimer said. "But I didn't realize Broken Arrow and Sapulpa would be that strong."
The Wildcats will host Enid in a dual here Thursday and then travel to the Sapulpa Tournament Friday.
PHOENIX, Ariz. - Ponca City pitcher Clint Sodowsky got caught up in the Colorado Rockies' five-run seventh inning during the Arizona Diamondbacks' 9-2 loss in the season opener Tuesday.
Sodowsky worked just two-thirds of an inning in his regular season debut with the D-Backs. He gave up three runs on three hits, walked one and struck out none. Of 20 pitches he threw in the inning, 12 went for strikes.
Continuing the role he had with the Pittsburgh Pirates last season, Sodowsky is a middle reliever for the Diamondbacks.
Arizona plays host to the Rockies again tonight.
Club Pro Mark Hilyard has released the fees for the 1998 season at the Lew Wentz Memorial Golf Course.
The yearly fees will be $375 for singles, $475 for husband and wife, $575 for families (children under 21) and $100 for youths under 21.
All fees are plus-tax.
There is also a per-round fee of $1.86 ($2 including tax) for adults and 96 cents for youths.
For those with their own carts, the trail fee is $325 for the year or $10 per day.
Regular 18-hole fees are $12 on weekdays and $13 on weekends. The seniors fee, for weekdays only, is $10 and the junior, or student, fee is $6.
The 9-hole fee, after 4 p.m., is $8. The fee for an additional round is $6.
Cart fees are $16 for 18 holes, $9 for 9 holes.
The fees are for April 1 through March 31.
Lessons are available at $20 for a half hour.
During April, the club house opens at 7:30 a.m. and the course opens at 8, seven days a week., Starting in May, the club house opens at 6:30 and the course opens at 7.
A junior golf program, a ladies golf program and league play are available. Contact Hilyard (767-0433).
WOODWARD - The Mid-High Cougars' track team came up with a third place finish at the Woodward Invitational, recently, coming in with a total of 113 points. Enid Waller won the event with 168 points, while Enid Longfellow squeaked by the Poncans by just eight points, finishing with 121 points.
In the 3200 relay, John Chamberlain, Dustin Barden, Nathan Kellert and Jeff Hand posted a second place finish, while in the 400 relay, Marcello Aguilar, Jeremy Roland, James Anno and Kyle Henderson also came in second. Jason Jump, Hand, Anno and Henderson combined for a second place finish in the 1600 relay, as well.
In the Individual Events, Henderson posted a second place finish in the 110 high hurdles, while Anno came in at second in the 300 intermediate hurdles. Brandon Nash finished fourth in the 100 dash, while Hand posted a third place finish in the 400.
In the 1600 run, Chamberlain and Bardon finished third and fourth, respectively, while in the 800 run, Shawn and Troy Cochrain also came up with a third and fourth place finish.
Jump placed well in the high jump and pole vault, as well, finishing with a second and a first, respectively, while Henderson placed fourth in the long jump.
"I was really happy with these guys' effort," said coach Joe Matlock. "They went out to compete. And we'll have a chance to beat Longfellow this weekend."
The Cougars travel to Enid this Saturday for their second meet of the season.
SAND SPRINGS - Ponca City's Wildcats got a second half goal by Brett Skaggs, but gave up goals in each half in a 2-1 loss to the Sand Springs boys Tuesday night.
Results of the Ponca City-Sand Springs girls' game was not available.
The Wildcats, now 1-7, and Lady Cats are scheduled to play in Sapulpa Friday at 6 and 8 p.m.
The Poncans will play a make-up match against Bartlesville here Monday and then take on Jenks the following Thursday at Sullins Stadium.
RED ROCK - "Sam", a three-year-old male German short-hair pointer owned by Dan Stillinger, Union, S.C., was crowned the 1998 national champion at the 11th Annual Quail Unlimited National Dog of the Year field trial competition that concluded Sunday at the Red Rock Ranch.
Surviving a field of 42 entrants from two dozen states, Sam netted his master $2,500 for the first-place finish and also earned the right to pose for a cover photo for the upcoming issue of Quail Unlimited Magazine.
"Sam worked very hard against some of the toughest competition assembled from across the nation during the three days of field trials, and we were very fortunate to come out on top," Stillinger said.
Finishing second and winning $1,250 was "Ray", a male pointer owned by Brian Vaverka, head football coach at Midwest City (Okla.) High School.
Completing the top-four field in the competition were third-place finisher "Nick", a male pointer owned by Jim Hubbard, of Fall City, Wash., and fourth-place finisher "Ray", a male pointer owned by Don Sullivan of Springfield, Mo.
Third and fourth place payoffs were $750 and $500, respectively.
With first-round competition beginning early on Friday, March 27, the field of 42 entrants was trimmed to 32 on the first day and to eight going into the third and final day of competition.
The Oklahoma State Council of Quail Unlimited served as official host for the national field trial, and the Ponca City-based North Central Oklahoma Chapter of QU served as host chapter.
"This annual field trial competition is comparable to the NFL's Super Bowl for quail hunters and their seasoned hunting dogs from across the nation," said Bob Schuster, president of the North Central Oklahoma Chapter and retrieve-to-shoot chairman for the event. "Everyone associated with the coordination and conduct of this year's National QU Dog of the Year field trials can take personal pride in the part they played in the great success of the event.
"Entrants from across the nation came to Ponca City and the Red Rock Ranch for the second straight year with hopes of claiming the top spot," he added.
Don Black, Enid businessman who serves as president of the Oklahoma QU State Council also voiced his appreciation,
"The crowning of Dan Stillinger's Sam as National Dog of the Year for 1998 was a great moment in a truly fantastic three-day national competition," he said. "None of this would have been possible without the tremendous coordination provided by the Oklahoma QU State Council, the volunteer support provided by the Ponca City based North Central Oklahoma Chapter of QU and the generosity of the Joullian family and their tireless employees at the Red Rock Ranch.
The Red Rock Ranch, a 5,000-acre hunting preserve is considered the premier commercial quail and deer hunting operation in the Sooner State. Nestled in the ox-bow of the Arkansas River in Noble County, the ranch is professionally managed for upland game-bird habitat development.
Accommodation and hospitality center for the national field trial was the Marland Mansion.
Proceeds from the event have been earmarked to underwrite the costs associated with Oklahoma QU State Council's efforts to improve upland habitat across the state as well as for research, academic scholarships and covey camps for Oklahoma youth.
QU is a national non-profit conservation organization dedicated to the
preservation and reestablishment of upland habitat vitally needed to sustain
healthy populations of quail and other wildlife. Interested parties can
learn more about QU on the Worldwide Web (http://www.outdoorsource.com/quail/).