From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Monday, April
13, 1998
LOCAL
Nearly News
March Precipitation Puts '98 Above Norm
Kaw Lake Association Participates at Show
Hi-Steppers Claim Military Drill Trophy
Police Check Vandalism Of Windows
DEATHS
Kelcy Dawn Crane
Services Pending
Helen Lockwood
Ruby Allen
Tyann Michelle Freek
Goldie Calloway
Doris Harp
NEWS BRIEFS
LIFESTYLES
Xi Zeta Lambda Chapter Gives Update on Plans
Sherry Kersey Bride-Elect
Pair Plans May Vows
Little News
SPORTS
Monday Evening Quarterback
Tourneys Give Cougar Golfers Endurance Test
Citizens planning on attending the Vance Air Force Base 1998 air show this week, be advised the day for the show is May 16 instead of the day previously reported. Vance will open its doors at 9 a.m. and will showcase the F-15 Eagle, the world's superior air-to air fighter. The show is free and open to the public.
By MAX STOKESBERRY
News Staff Writer
Apparently no local weather records were broken last month. But the 6.03 inches of precipitation ranked second among the third-month totals over the past 31 years. First place is held by March 1973 at 7.93 inches. A close third is the even six inches measured in 1990.
Personnel at the Universal Weather Station, Municipal Airport, said last month's 6.03 was 3.03 inches above normal and brought the year-to-date moisture to 7.62 inches as of March 31. Only 1.59 inches were collected in January and February. The three-month total was 2.24 inches above normal.
The Oklahoma Climatological Survey seems to agree with local records that March 1973 was, indeed, a wet one. But one report shows 8.02 and another 10 inches for the month. In comparison, last month's numbers would seem to tell the story of the mild winter season just concluded. Local observers measured 2.1 inches of snow/ice at the airport in December, three-tenths of an inch in January, none in February and 1.4 inches in March. Meltdown from the 1.4 inches contributed to .7-inch of precipitation that fell on the 19th.
Spring officially arrived March 21 and immediately ended six consecutive days in which temperatures topped out in the forties. The new season rode in on a 55-degree reading, then climbed into the sixties, seventies and eighties before closing out the month with another 55 high when two days brought rain netting .83-inch of moisture. Most rain in a 24-hour period was 2.30 inches on the 16th.
Top heat mark for the month was 82 degrees, recorded on both the 25th and 28th. Hottest March mark in the past 31 years was 90 degrees, in 1974 and 1994.
Since 1967 there have been six colder March readings than last month's low of 14 on the 10th and 12th. The lowest was five degrees two years ago (1996). Two other years had single-digit readings - six degrees in 1980 and seven in 1978.
March, as expected, stepped up the pace of winds blowing across the land. There were times when residents had to "hold onto their hats," but the area escaped the more violent variety of windstorm. Speediest gusts attained 52 miles an hour on the 8th and 21st. Average wind speed for the month was 16.6 mph.
Kaw Lake Association participated in the second annual Springfest boat and travel show at the Chisholm Trail Pavilion in Enid recently. They participated with four other Ponca City area businesses at the Garfield County Fairgrounds.
The purpose was to attract business and tourism to the Kaw Lake area. Kaw Lake area businesses participating were Kaw Lake Association, Dean's R.V's, North Central Marine, Watersports Specialties and The Boat House.
Approximately 5,000 people from North Central and Western Oklahoma attended the two-day event. Staffing the Kaw Lake association booth were Bill O'Connor, George Wilson, Bill Rutz and Jon and Kathy Tippin. The new Kaw Lake Association magazine plus other information about attractions in the area were distributed.
The purpose of the Kaw Lake Association is to build a region-wide partnership of towns, businesses, service agencies and local governments within the North Central Oklahoma Kaw Lake area. It's mission includes recruitment of a broad membership base, creation of a financial support system, addressing infrastructure needs, tourism development, broadening the business base and marketing the region as a whole.
Individuals interested in knowing more about the Kaw Lake Association may contact board chairman Bill Rutz, (580) 762-7389 or Executive Director Kathy Tippin at (580) 762-9494.
Hi-Stepper Drill Team members from Ponca City High School won first place in the Military Drill category at the recent American Dance/Drill Team Competition held on the campus of the University of North Texas at Denton, Texas. The Hi-Steppers were named second runner-up in the overall National Competition.
The squad also won two of four overall awards for team precision and team choreography.
The girls received a Division I superior rating in all four events, which netted them the Sweepstakes Trophy. In addition, the coveted Gussie Nell Davis Award was presented to the squad for consistent scores of 90 or above from every judge in all four events.
Prior to the National Competition, the first annual Regional Competition was held March 7 in Ponca City at Robson Fieldhouse where the girls received the Regional Championship Award. They also received the Best Precision Award, Judges Award for Best Prop, a Sweepstakes Award and a Gussie Nell Davis Award.
The Hi-Steppers are under the direction of Kristin Smith.
Once again there is school holiday and once again there has been a rash of broken windows. Within one hour Sunday night, four windows were broken out of vehicles, two reportedly by a BB gun and two within a one block area on Joe Street.
Between 9:15 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. Sunday police received reports of broken vehicle windows in the 2100 block of Joe Street, 2200 block of Joe Street, 400 block of South Ninth Street and the 1400 block of West Grand Avenue.
According to police a window at a business in the 600 block of East Hartford Avenue was also broken either by a BB gun or a slingshot. Police discovered the broken window at Ponca Medical Supply at 2:51 a.m. Monday.
These latest occurrences come while police are still searching for answers and suspects in the last vandalism rash. Within a 14 hour period in early February, over 16 vehicles were vandalized in the 2500 block of North Fourteenth Street. The damage to those vehicles is estimated over $24,000.
One police investigator stated that vandalism does seem to increase when kids are out of school.
"Vandalism is a senseless crime," Sgt. Tom Cusick says. "In the end all citizens will wind up paying for the damages caused by these people."
Police are seeking information on these crimes. Anyone with any information
on any of these crimes is asked to call the Ponca City Police Department
at 767-0370 or Crime Stoppers at 762-5100 - identity will remain anonymous
and a reward may be given.
DEATHS
Kelcy Dawn Crane, infant daughter of Chad and Kelle Crane of Ponca City, died Wednesday, April 8, 1998, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.
A private family service was held at 2 p.m. today at the Longwood Cemetery, with the Rev. Don Stanton, Faith Tabernacle Church, officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.
Kelcy is survived by her parents, Chad and Kelle Crane of Ponca City; grandparents, John and Linda Countryman and Chuck and Sylvia Crane, all of Ponca City; maternal great-grandfather, George Countryman of Ponca City; paternal great-grandmother, Sylvia Lee of Coweta; two aunts and one uncle.
NEWKIRK - Helen Pauline Lockwood, longtime Newkirk resident, died Sunday April 12, 1998, at Tender Heart Health Nursing Home in Ponca City. She was 97. Local survivors include sons, Everett and Donald Lockwood, both of Newkirk and daughters, Mary Haney of Ponca City, and LaVone Vap and Vivian Duplissey, both of Newkirk. Arrangements are pending with Miller-Stahl Funeral Service, Newkirk.
Ruby Allen, former Tonkawa area resident, died Saturday, April 11, 1998, at Riverside Hospital in Wichita, Kan. She was 78. Survivors include her husband, Rudolph Allen of the home in Wichita. Arrangements are pending with Trout Funeral Home, Ponca City.
NEWKIRK - Tyann Michelle Freek, 2 months, daughter of Terry and Christie Freek, Newkirk, died Sunday, April 12, 1998, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Ponca City. Arrangements are pending with Miller-Stahl Funeral Service, Newkirk.
NEWKIRK - Goldie Calloway, former resident of the Middleton Community near Newkirk, died Sunday, April 12, 1998, at her home in Disney. She was 85. Arrangements are pending with Miller-Stahl Funeral Service, Newkirk.
Doris Harp, former Ponca City resident, early this morning, April 13,
1998 at Lawrence, Kan. She was 92. Arrangements are pending with Grace Memorial
Chapel, Ponca City.
NEWS BRIEFS
Democrats - Kay County Democrats will meet 7 p.m. Tuesday at the O.C.A.W. Hall, 1202 West Ponca Avenue. The topic will be "Involving High School and College-aged Democrats." Contact Andrea Morriss 765-6260.
American Family Support - The American Family Support Group will meet 5-6:45 p.m. Tuesday in the Ponca City Library Board Room. The topic will be child welfare services and child abuse.
Assault - At 8:40 a.m. Saturday a man in the 400 block of South Palm Street advised police that he had been assaulted. An illegal entry report was taken.
Stolen Purse - A woman contacted police at 10:26 a.m. Saturday to advised them that her purse had been stolen out of a shopping cart at Wal-Mart, 1101 East Prospect Avenue. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Burglary - At 10:46 a.m. Saturday a woman in the 700 block of West Grand Avenue reported the theft of $2,000 out of her basement. An officer was assigned and a second degree burglary report was taken.
Vehicle Vandalism - Vehicle vandalism was reported at 10:56 a.m. Saturday in the 1900 block of John Street. A report was taken.
Arrest - Police arrested a 20-year-old man for petit larceny at 1:26 p.m. Saturday. The subject was chased from Friedman's Jewelry, 2103 North Fourteenth Street, and later caught at Ames Street and Princeton Avenue.
Injured Child - At 3:32 p.m. Saturday a 4-year-old boy was treated at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center for injuries reportedly received when he was hit by a vehicle at North Fifth Street and East Hazel Avenue. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Accident - A two-vehicle, non-injury accident was reported at 3:37 p.m. Saturday at South Ash Street and West South Avenue. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Stolen Checks - At 3:54 p.m. Saturday police were advised that a check, stolen from Arkansas City, was written to Wal-Mart, 1101 East Prospect Avenue. An officer was assigned.
Arrest - A 41-year-old man was arrested at 5 p.m. Saturday from South Fourteenth Street and East South Avenue for transporting an open container, speeding and city warrant for failure to pay.
Accident - At 7:58 p.m. Saturday a two vehicle non-injury accident in the 1100 block of East Prospect Avenue was reported. A report was taken.
Clerk Threatened - Police were notified at 10:07 p.m. Saturday that a clerk at Conoco Travel Mart, 3301 North Fourteenth Street, had been threatened after refusing to sell beer to a person with inadequate identification. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Arrest - Police arrested a 23-year-old man at 11:49 p.m. Saturday from the 2200 block of North Fourteenth Street on a city warrant for failure to obey.
Luggage Theft - A woman reported her luggage stolen from the Holiday Inn, 2215 North Fourteenth Street at 12:36 a.m. Sunday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Stolen Ring - At 1:07 a.m. Sunday a woman in the 800 block of North Fourteenth Street called police to report a stolen ring. An officer was assigned.
Assault - A man contacted police at 1:50 a.m. Sunday to report that he had been assaulted in the 700 block of South Waverly Street. An officer was assigned and an assault and battery report was taken.
Burglary - A burglary report was taken at 1:54 a.m. Sunday after a woman in the 400 block of West Cleveland Avenue called police to report that her front door had been kicked in.
Bald Peeper - At 2:48 a.m. Sunday a bald man was reportedly looking in windows in the 2500 block of Honeywood. An officer was assigned.
Stolen Passport - A man in the 800 block of North Fourth Street called police at 6:46 a.m. Sunday to report that his passport had been stolen. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Fight Victim - At 7:22 a.m. Sunday a man was treated at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center for injuries reportedly sustained in a fight in the 800 block of North Sunset Street. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Vehicle Vandalism - A man in he 200 block of North Seventh Street called police at 8:48 a.m. Sunday to report vandalism to his vehicle. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Stolen Check - A woman in the 1700 block of North Union Street called police at 10:05 a.m. Sunday to advise them that a stolen check had been passed. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Fallen Line - At noon Sunday fire units responded to a report of a downed electric line in the 300 block of South Peachtree Street. The Light Department was notified.
Arrest - Police arrested a 38-year-old woman at 2:06 p.m. Sunday on two Kay County warrants for failure to pay.
Accident - At 5:02 p.m. Sunday an accident in the 400 block of West Fresno Avenue was reported. Officers responded and a report was taken.
Juvenile Arrest - Police arrested a 17-year-old girl at 6:10 p.m. Sunday from the 800 block of North Palm Street for assault with a dangerous weapon after her father was reported laying in the street suffering from wounds received from being hit with a pipe.
Theft - A man in the 1900 block of El Camino Street contacted police at 8:47 p.m. Sunday to report the theft of stereo equipment. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Arrest - Police arrested a 25-year-old man at 9:29 p.m. Sunday from the 300 block of South Ninth Street for destruction of private property, resisting arrest and public intoxication.
Gas Drive-Off - At 10:11 p.m. Sunday a $19.79 gas drive-off was reported at the E-Z Mart, 2225 North Fourteenth Street.
Arrest - A 21-year-old woman was arrested from Lake Road and Pecan Road at 2:06 a.m. Monday on a city warrant for failure to pay.
Arrest - Police arrested a 23-year-old woman at 4:11 a.m. Monday from
the 700 block of North Fourteenth Street for driving under suspension.
LIFESTYLES
Xi Zeta Lambda chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority met April 2 in the home of Carmelita Childers. Judy Watt, vice-president, called the meeting to order with 15 members present.
Lila Logan called roll with members answering with Birthday gift wishes. Ms. Logan also read the minutes. Ms. Watt reviewed degrees and eligibility of special events of each member and Francie James gave the financial report.
Phyllis Pledger gave the City Council report. Members were reminded of the Founder's Day Banquet to be held on April 21.
Cassandra Kifiak, social chairman, reminded members of the backwards party to be held April 4 in the home of Bob and Phyllis Pledger. Tobie Neal, Historian, gave an update on the progress of the scrapbook.
Service chairman, Judy Mallory, reported on the delivery of the Easter baskets to Meals on Wheels. The Resume committee, Nida Austin, Cassandra Kifiak, Doretta Jackson and Lila Logan set April 8 in the home of Ms. Austin to complete work on the resume. Judy Watt, Membership, is making plans for a Ritual of Jewels ceremony for Carmelita Childers and Jill Sims.
Dottie Johnstone, President-elect, asked for committee preferences and will have the new roster ready for distribution at the next meeting. The new Executive board will meet prior to the regular meeting. The Traveling Basket was provided by Jill Sims and won by Nida Austin.
The next meeting will be April 16 in the home of Jill Sims. Doretta Jackson will be in charge of the program. Following the meeting Judy Watt provided the program, a tape of "Beta Sigma Phi".
David and Pearlyn Kersey of Tonkawa announce the engagement of their daughter, Sherry Jean Kersey, to James Rodney Harrell, son of James and Linda Harrell of Archibald, La. The couple will marry on May 23. A reception in their honor is planned for 10 a.m.-noon May 23 at the Kersey residence.
Miss Kersey is a 1996 graduate of Northeast Louisiana University and is a substitute teacher for the Hazelwood School District in Hazelwood, Mo. Harrell is a 1996 graduate of Louisiana Tech University and is a Mechanical Engineer for Boeing in St. Louis, Mo.
Rho chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority met on April 8 at Carol Neilson's house. Neilson, president, call the meeting to order and Jan Leach, Recording secretary, called roll and read the minutes. Debbie McClaskey gave the treasury report and gave the results of the Easter Bunny picture project. Members were reminded of Founder's Day on April 21 at the Marland Mansion at 6:30 p.m.
Installation of the 1998-99 officers was held. Those officers are Kris Hanna, president; Bambi Correll, vice president; Jan Leach, Recording secretary; and Dawn Pruitt, Corresponding secretary. The traveling basket was won by Debbie Turner and the mystery gift was won by Andrea Morriss. the next meeting will be at Kim Youngblood's house on April 22 at 7 p.m.
Rho's other activities of the previous months have been a dinner at Amarillo Grill to honor Trish Dilbeck, the chapter's Valentine queen; a cake decorating program from Marsha Engle; an Irish Potato Bake dinner, and providing pictures with the Easter Bunny at Wal-Mart on April 4 and 5.
Melissa Jennell Maxey and Kyle DeWyatt Powell are planning a May 23 wedding at the Hillcrest Baptist Church in Stillwater. The bride-elect is the daughter of Donald and Joyce Romine, 1516 Clarke, and Ron Maxey of Oklahoma City. Powell is the son of Danny and Cindy Powell, 2020 Oriole.
The couple graduated from Ponca City High School in 1994 and attend Oklahoma State University. She is majoring in Early Childhood Education and plans to graduate in December.
Powell is majoring in Journalism and Broadcasting with a minor in marketing and plans to graduate in May. He is employed with The O'Collegian in Stillwater.
Paul and Karen Eyster of Ponca City announce the birth of a son at 7:26 a.m. March 16, 1998 at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center. He weighed 8-pounds, 2-ounces and was 20 1/2-inches long. The baby has been named Caleb Andrew Eyster. He has a sister, Karalyn, 15, and two brothers, David, 11, and Brian, 9.
Grandparents are Ernestine Eyster of Norman and Dale and Sylvia Schroeder
of Oklahoma City.
SPORTS
by FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
Even sold out, Gallagher-Iba Arena holds only about a 1,000 more people than a half full Coors-Events Convention Center when Colorado plays.
Gallagher-Iba is the smallest arena in the Big 12 conference, a fact Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips aims to change - and soon.
"We hope to break ground this fall," Phillips said recently. "We still have some fund raising issues facing us, but we hope to let bids this summer."
G-I is sold out for most basketball games with a growing list of fans waiting to buy season tickets. The arena holds 6,381 and, according to Big 12 Conference figures, it is 97.3 percent full for conference games and 83 percent of capacity overall.
Only two other conference arenas, the University of Kansas Allen Fieldhouse (capacity 16,300) and Missouri's Hearnes Center (13,300) have a better percentage. Both are 100 percent full for league games.
In addition, only two other league arena are at least 90 percent full for conference games. Lloyd Noble (11,100) at OU is 93.1 percent full for conference games and Texas Tech's Lubbock Municipal Coliseum (8,174) is 93.7 percent full.
By the way, Coors Center seats 11,198, but Colorado only manages to average 5,253 fans (46.9 percent of capacity) for its basketball games. That's the lowest percentage in the Big 12, but not the smallest crowds. Texas A&M only manages to draw an average of 4,003 fans to its 7,500-seat G. Rollie White Coliseum (53.4 percent of capacity).
While KU's Allen Fieldhouse is the largest in the league, several other sites come close. The University of Texas' Erwin center has room for 16,175 fans. Nebraska's Devaney Center seats 14,200, Iowa State's Hilton Coliseum 14,020, and K-State's Bramledge Coliseum 13,500, just ahead of Hearnes.
To bring Gallagher-Iba closer to those figures, plans are to literally raise the roof on the arena, adding a third level of seats. That will just about double the seating capacity.
In addition, Gallagher-Iba will be linked with the football coaches' building to the west. Sky Boxes will be installed for both Gallagher-Iba and Lewis Field.
All this will just about keep OSU even with the other teams in the big 12.
"Most of the Big 12 schools are doing something (to upgrade athletic facilities)," Phillips points out. "Missouri has a couple of projects and (Texas) A&M plans to start a building project next year."
The Barry Switzer Center is already underway at Owens Field.
"The Big 12 schools are very aggressive in their building plans," Phillips says.
OSU hopes to have its renovation of Gallagher-Iba finished by 2000. But there may be some rough times for basketball and wrestling next season if work gets started as planned.
"We are going to have some disruptions," Phillips notes. "All of the offices in Gallagher-Iba will have to be relocate during construction. But we should still be able to play basketball and wrestling."
A worse case scenario would mean moving some of the Cowboys' basketball home games to Oklahoma City or Tulsa, "and some of the wrestling matches may be held locally.
"But right now that is the price we are going to have to pay."
The Ponca City junior high golf team has proved its quality and depth. Now the linksters will test their endurance.
The Ponca City golf teams are scheduled to play in the Blackwell Invitational today, in the Pawnee Tournament Tuesday and then move over to Enid on Thursday.
The Poncans dominated the Bartlesville Invitational last week. The Ponca City Red team took first place with a 336 total points while Ponca City Blue was second at 353, 17 strokes in front of the host Bartlesvile teams and even further in front of Union, Claremore and Sapulpa.
In addition, the Poncans had four of the top five indviduals. Bartlesvile's Brumley took medalist honors with a 79. But Ponca City players took the next four places. Luke Cobb fired an 81 while Brad Whitsett, Matt Ellis, Louis Girardi and James Anderson all had 85s.
Ben Dickey led the Blue team with an 86, Tyler Kimrey had an 88, Andy Romine 89, Matt Bond 90 and Kyle McCall 99.
"We have some pretty good depth," coach John Maddox understated.
"Our top 10 players are good."