From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Tuesday, April
21, 1998
LOCAL
Nearly News
Nigh Here To Help Honor Film Maker Burt Kennedy
Ponca City Investigates Edison Project
Bridge To Go
Met Opera Star at NOC Gala
Boy Scout Sponsors Blood Drive as Eagle Project
New Volunteer Center for Needs
Anderson Chosen By UW As Honoree Volunteer
Phone Calls Help P.C. Police Solve Burglary Cases
Korean War Veterans Meeting Set Saturday
Burns Ending Local Law Practice Following 50 Years of Legal Work
John's Nominated For State Awards
Notes & Quotes
Former Chamber Chairman Receives Sam Walton Award
Free Legal Advice Given on Law Day
DEATHS
Janice Cozort
NEWS BRIEFS
LIFESTYLES
Fun and Fundamental Marks 50 Years
Xi Gamma Sigma Members Meet
Little News
Eta Zeta Holds Ritual of Jewels
SPORTS
Po-Hi Thinclads Can See Lighty
Mid-High Tracksters Make Good
Lady Cat Golfers Fourth, Boys Ninth
Wildcats On Roll, Sort Of
Tennis Results
Marathon Man
Nearly News has been informed that the Kim Cousins remembered by her friend, Glenda Riley, in the April 19, 1995, "Remembered" article in Sunday's News was the daughter of former Ponca City resident and Po-Hi graduate Larry Dillow.
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The After-Prom Party for Po-Hi students will be held April 25 from midnight to 2:30 a.m. at Grand Central Station. All juniors and seniors are encouraged to attend.
Former Gov. George Nigh and Mrs. Nigh will be special guests at "A Reception and a Retrospective," honoring film maker Burt Kennedy Sunday evening. The event is free and open to the public.
The event is slated for 7 p.m., at the Poncan Theatre. In addition to Mr. and Mrs. Nigh, other special guests will be representatives of The Oklahoma Film Commission, and Representatives of The Oklahoma Territory Film Commission.
Kennedy is coming to Ponca City at the invitation of a long time friend Truman Smith. Another long time film friend Carlton Weber will also be here. All three will sign their individually authored books.
This will follow a presentation by Kennedy about his film experience directing such film stars as John Wayne James Garner and many others.
Kennedy is a screenwriter, a director, a producer and an author. Weber is a world traveler, a history buff, writer and producer of non-theatrical motion picture films. He was a pioneer in aerial photography during the early activities of NASA's sub-orbital flights from Cape Kennedy.
Smith tells that Weber had written the introduction to his book "The Wrong Stuff," and Kennedy had written the preface. Kennedy's book is "Hollywood Trail Boss," and Weber's is Jonathan Creek, a Cherokee Valley saga for young readers.
Also specially invited was George Nigh, who as Lt. Governor, had promoted film production for Oklahoma and had flown Kennedy all over the state looking for motion picture locations.
When Nigh became governor, he established a Film Advisory Recruiting Team for Oklahoma, prior to a Film Commission, and appointed Smith as a charter member, along with Ned Hockman, Professor of Cinema at Oklahoma University.
Hockman had been an Air Force Motion Picture Officer with Weber, who introduced Hockman to Smith, who had also been an Air Force Motion Picture Officer.
The event should not be missed by movie fans, according to Kenn Wessel, Poncan Theatre executive.
Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of articles on the possible implementation of the Edison Project at Union Elementary.
By KRISTI HAYES
News Education Editor
Can corporations solve the problems facing public education by assuming control and running America's public schools? The Edison Project believes they can. The entrepreneurs are seeking, and in some cases winning, contracts to run public schools. As a result, Ponca City Schools has decided to investigate this controversial issue. If Union implements this voluntary program, the school will become the first school in Oklahoma.
The Edison Project started off in 1994 managing four public schools, in Boston; Mount Clemens, Mich.; Sherman, Texas; and Wichita, Kan. The partnership for Edison Schools is now growing across the United States. In the fall of 1998-99, Edison will teach over 200,000 students in 47 schools. Edison is hopeful that by 1999-2000, 60 schools will be opened. If Ponca City decides to open a school at Union, the program will not be started until 1999-2000.
In order for the program to be started, Union must have 500 students. Union has also asked Ponca City Middle School if they would like to participate. If Edison is implemented, the project will serve on a voluntary basis. By that, students will have to sign up for the school. If the school is started at Union, Edison will provide $1.6 million in revenue.
The Edison Project, founded in 1991, is a privately sponsored, national effort to create innovative schools that operate at current public school spending levels. The Edison Project implements the educational program, technology plans, and management systems and is accountable to the local community for the performance of the school. Edison strives for a one percent profit per year.
The Edison Project's partnership school design resulted from a comprehensive research project conducted by a team of approximately 30 full-time professional employees and scores of outside experts. Edison's design team included respected education researchers, curriculum developers, teachers, principals, school administrators, writers, technology specialists, and experts in school finance and management. The program was founded by Chris Whittle, owner of Channel One.
Edison says its commitment to schools that are small and focused, professional and collegial, and supportive and individualized is partly based on the original research of one of their professional staff members, John E. Chubb, who studied school organization for 10 years at The Brookings Institution. Also influential is the British study by Michael Rutter, Barbara Maughan, Peter Mortimore, and Janet Ousten, "Fifteen Thousand Hours: Secondary Schools and Their Effects on Children." In general, Edison has been influenced by the body of organization research commonly known as "Effective Schools" research. Edison has also focused its attention on the most scientific and reliable studies, summarized in Marshall Smith and Stuart Purkey's analysis, "Effective Schools: A Review," which was published in the "Elementary School Journal." Finally, Edison has taken serious account of Rand's pathbreaking study of successful urban high schools, "High Schools with Character," authored by Paul T. Hill, Gail E. Foster, and Tamar Gendler.
Each Edison school consists of small, flexible, schools-within-a-school, called "academies." A K-5 school consists of a Primary Academy for students in grades K-2, and an Elementary Academy for grades 3-5. Higher grades are organized into a Junior Academy (grades 6-8), a Senior Academy (grades 9 and 10), and a Collegiate Academy (grades 11 and 12). Within academies students are organized into multigrade houses of 100-180 students each. The students in each house are taught by a team of four to six teachers who stay with the same house of students for the duration of their academy experience.
Edison's longer school day provides seven hours of learning time for students in kindergarten through grade two and eight hours for students in third grade or higher. In addition, Edison schools have 205 school days. That is four to five weeks longer than the national norm.
The curriculum is built around five domains: mathematics and science, humanities and the arts, character and ethics, physical arts and skills; and physical fitness and health. Instruction in Spanish for all students begins in the Primary Academy.
Edison has adopted or created instructional programs and training to help teachers work as skillfully as possible. For example, all Edison schools implement a K-5 reading program, Success for All, developed at Johns Hopkins University. For mathematics, Edison schools use programs developed through the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project.
Edison provides teachers and administrators with four to six weeks of training before an Edison school first opens. Teachers have two periods every day free for their own professional development. School calendars provide at least five days for ongoing training every year. Each teaching team is headed by a lead teacher who is responsible for mentoring other teachers on the team.
Every student, teacher, principal and administrator has easy access to classroom computers and other technologies, including video cameras, cassette tape recorders, VCR's, televisions, and laser discs. In addition, every family with a student in the third grade or higher receives a computer for use in the home and every teacher receives his or her own laptop computer and a telephone in their classroom with voice mail.
Edison's home computer programs bring parents into the school for training, then helps teachers bring the classroom into the home. A special narrative report card called the Quarterly Learning Contract gives parents a more thorough understanding of their children's progress than they may be accustomed to receiving and brings parents into the school for regular conferences. A Family and Student Support Team, designed by Johns Hopkins University, works with those families whose problems may be interfering with learning.
(The next article will look at the pros and cons of the Edison Project)
Kay County temporarily entered the recycling business last week when District One Commissioner Dee Schieber yanked a sturdy bridge from its spot across Duck Creek west of Ponca City to be reused northeast of Kildare.
Schieber said the old 5-ton rated bridge - a WPA project from 1939 - was fine for light traffic but unsuitable for farm machinery. It also was unsuitable for school buses, which require a 10-ton rating.
After seven similar bridge-replacement projects in 3-1/2 years, this particular bridge "was the first one worth saving," he said.
It's all part of the district's attempt to help keep farm traffic off the highways, Schieber said. The old bridge will be used near Kildare to reopen a road that's been closed for the past three years.
The new bridge - rated at 40 tons at a cost of $8,000 - should be ready for traffic two weeks from now, Schieber said. It's located six miles west of Waverly Road on Hartford (Industrial) Road.
TONKAWA - Jane Bunnell, mezzo-soprano, and Marc Embree, bass-baritone, will be featured guest artists at the third annual Northern Oklahoma College Gala May 2.
Bunnell, who has appeared in many productions in five seasons with the Metropolitan Opera, and Embree, who is equally at home in opera, oratorio and musical theatre, will join Northern Fine Arts music faculty and a professional orchestra under the baton of Gerald Steichen, currently assistant coordinator for the New York City Opera.
Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. in the Northern Performing Arts Center for the 8 p.m. performance of music ranging from opera to popular Broadway show tunes. Admission is free.
Bunnell's debut as Annio in "La Clemenza di Tito" at the metropolitan was critically acclaimed and led to numerous roles, including Rosina in "Il Barbiere di Seviglia", Dorabella in "Cosi fan tutte," and most recently Emilia in the new production of "Othello" with Placido Domingo. This coming season she will reprise Emilia For "The Metropolitan Opera Presents" television broadcast and sing Stefano in "Romeo and Juliet."
In Europe, Bunnell has sung roles at the Theatre du Capitole Toulouse, the Vienna Volksoper and the Schwetzingen Festival. She received rave reviews for her dramatic performance of Octavian in Strauss's "Der Rosenkavalier" at the Oper Der Stadt Bonn.
After her 1985 debut with the New York City Opera, Bunnell swiftly became a company favorite, appearing in a wide variety of roles. She was also featured in City Opera's New York premieres of Argento's "Casanova" and Mozart's "L'oca del Cairo," as well as its Live from Lincoln Center telecasts of "Die Zauberflote" and "La Rondine." She remains busy on the American regional opera circuit, having performed from Houston to Minnesota and from San Diego to Chicago.
In demand on the concert platform also, Bunnell has been a frequent guest at Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart Festival where she has appeared as soloist. She has performed Bach's St. John Passion with the San Francisco Orchestra and has sung Handel's "Messiah" with several symphonies, including the Atlantic Symphony under the direction of Robert Shaw. This year she made her Israel Philharmonic debut singing Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony" under the baton of James Levine.
Marc Embree has appeared with leading opera companies and orchestras throughout the United States. He made his New York City Opera debut in 1978 and continued with the company until 1983 in a variety of roles.
Among many other roles he has sung Colline in "La Boheme," Masetto in "Don Giovanni" and Count Des Griex in "Manon."
Embree has been active in contemporary opera as well, creating the role of William Emmons in the world premiere of the "Village Singer" by Stephen Paulus. He was selected by Thomas Pasatieri for the New York premiere of his "Washington Square" for which Newsweek wrote, "Marc Embree as Dr. Sloper gave a terrific performance as a mountain of arrogance and cruelty." Of his performance of Olin Blitch in "Susannah" with the DiCapo Opera, the New York Times declared, "Mr. Embree cut a magnificent figure as the preacher, a genuine tragic hero."
In 1981 Embree made his European debut as Escamillo in "Carmen" with the Grand Theatre du Nancy in France. Most recently he gathered critical acclaim for his powerful performance of Frank Maurrant in Kurk Weill's "Street Scene," a production taped for television broadcast. Last spring, Embree completed the European tour of the Yeston/Kopit "Phantom," giving 500 performances as Gerard Carriere in nine countries in both English and German.
Embree has appeared with opera companies throughout the United States. Among the roles in his extensive repertoire are the Count in "The Marriage of Figaro," Giovanni in "Don Giovanni," Scarpia in "Tosca," and the four villains in "Tales of Hoffman."
Frequently performed Musical Comedy roles include Hajj in "Kismet," Fred/Petruchio in "Kiss Me Kate!", Ben Stone in "Follies," Quizote in "Man of La Mancha" and Emile Debecque in "South Pacific," for which he was named Best Actor in a Musical by the Connecticut Critics' Circle.
Luke Gray is working toward his Boy Scout Eagle award by sponsoring a blood drive as a part of his award project - teaming up with First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the Oklahoma Blood Institute.
Luke wanted to do a project that would be educational as well as be beneficial to his community. The Oklahoma Blood Institute is a regional, not-for-profit, blood collection center and is the exclusive supplier of blood products for St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph Cancer Center, and the Outpatient Surgery Center.
The blood drive will be held on Sunday, April 26, from 8:30 a.m. to 1: p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at First Christian Church. People wanting to donate blood can drop by First Christian Church during those hours and those having questions can call the Oklahoma Blood Institute, 762-9488.
Luke is the son of Dr. Pat and Cindy Gray of Ponca City.
Ponca City needs volunteers, and volunteers need to know where to best offer their services. A new center is opening in Ponca City dedicated to matching Ponca City citizens' voluntary spirit with the needs of community non-profit organizations, agencies and clubs.
Although not officially named, the voluntary center is designed to serve all of the community - be it citizens who are eager to give of their time, talents and energies or organizations in need of the same.
There will be an open house from 1-5 p.m. Wednesday at the United Way office, 102 South Fifth Street, to honor the volunteer center during this National Volunteer Week. All are invited to attend and become involved.
Ponca City has been known as having more volunteers than other communities of its size. However, not everyone knows where to go to find the organization that can best utilize his or her time and abilities. The volunteer center is designed to help channel that volunteer spirit into the most compatible and useful job.
Information will be collected from non-profit organizations in need of volunteer help - sometimes only a one-person office - and matched with information that a volunteer has supplied concerning his or her availability, preferences and talents.
Volunteers are needed in a wide variety of interests and abilities - from mechanics to plumbers, artists to gardeners, tutors to beauticians/barbers. Service can include work done in the volunteers' own home, at the home of one in need of help, at an organization, or on the road.
Although sponsored by the United Way, the volunteer center is available to serve the whole community, not merely the 17 organizations associated with the United Way with RSVP still serving as the coordinating organization for senior volunteers.
For those who are interested and with access to the Internet, The Daily Oklahoman has a web site called Connect Oklahoma which has a Volunteer Opportunities program. Individuals interested can input their personal information specifying their area of interest, group with which they desire to work, their ideal volunteer job, availability and preferences. This URL is www.connectok.com. Once on the front page, find the section called Community. Volunteer Opportunities is located last on the page. Ponca City is anticipating its own page in the very near future and is the first small city in Oklahoma to offer this service.
For further information, or to sign up to volunteer, stop by the office, 102 South Fifth, or call 765-2476.
In honor of National Volunteer Week, Diane Anderson has been chosen as an honoree volunteer by United Way. Anderson gives of her time, energy and talents to a vast array of clubs, groups and organizations.
Anderson is employed by Conoco as a seismic processing technician and is an active member of St. John's Baptist Church. She has one son and four granddaughters. Even with her active schedule, she finds time to enjoy reading, visiting with friends and family, and listening to music.
Although busy with work, volunteering, and her favorite pastimes, Anderson never forgets her first priorities of service to God and His glory and her family second. The people she meets and the variety of contacts her various organizations affords her helps makes her activities and volunteer work enjoyable. She believes in "focusing on what's important" as well as "choosing your battles."
Anderson is studying liberal studies with Oklahoma University and is working toward a Marriage and Family Counseling career.
Anderson is president of the American Heart Association '98; chairman of the Martin Luther King Celebration Committee; sponsor of the Ponca City High School Afro Am club; board member, correspondence secretary and facilitator for Attucks Community Alliance; chair-elect of Ponca City Tomorrow Foundation; a director of Ponca City Site Employees Association (Conoco); and communications chairman of Leadership Ponca Alumni.
Anderson is also an active member of Ponca City Network Group; Church Women United; Essence Club; Citizens Police Academy (first class); Eastern Star; Youth Crisis Prevention Volunteer Task Force; and Conoco's Work/Family Initiative Program.
Phone calls from concerned neighbors has lead to the arrest of four Ponca City teenagers and those arrests aided police to solve several different burglary cases.
Police received several calls around noon Monday reporting "suspicious" men in the 700 block of East Liberty Avenue. One call was from a woman reporting some boys were hiding in nearby bushes. A man reported that boys had dropped a suitcase and guns in his yard.
According to Capt. Dwaine Vincent, it was when officers arrived in the area that the boys dropped the suitcase and guns and began to run. However, all of the teenagers were apprehended and arrested for burglary.
"The arrest of these boys has solved four burglaries that occurred throughout the city Monday," Vincent stated. "Most of the property has already been recovered and we expect to recover it all."
Those arrested were 13, 15, 16 and 17 years of age and the investigation is continuing.
The next meeting of the Korean War Veterans Association will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the 45th Infantry Division Museum, 2145 NE 36th in Oklahoma City.
This meeting is open to all Korean War Era Veterans of all branches of service and their spouses. There will be door prizes, and a lot of hot coffee, iced tea and good company.
For information, call Harold Mulhausen, president, OK Chapter KWVA; 405-632-7351 or Gerald Wampler (Duncan) 580-255-0028.
By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Business Editor
For 96 years, there has been a Joe Burns practicing law in Ponca City. Joe Burns Jr., attorney at law, has practiced in Ponca City for nearly 50 years and his late father Joe Burns Sr., before him was an attorney here in 1901.
But the Burns era will be coming to an close, when Joe and his wife Sylvia move to Tulsa in the near future.
Joe will not be leaving the law profession, as he plans to join his friend John Freese and they will have a commercial practice together. He and Sylvia are moving to be near the grandchildren. When their house is finished they plan to move.
A graduate of St. Mary's High School, Joe says he grew up in Ponca City during the hey day, when the influence of Marland, McFadden and Wentz was still evident, and Continental Oil Company had a number of executives stationed here.
After a stint in the Army, Burns went to college at Missouri University, then to Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) and on to law school at the University of Oklahoma .
Graduating in the same class as Joe were Ponca Citians Chester Armstrong and Goodie Broddus.
Burns had some footsteps to follow, when he went into law in 1949, as his father Joe Burns Sr., had been established here since 1901. The senior Burns had been a law partner with Henry McGraw, who eventually moved to Tulsa and became chairman of Gulf Oil Company.
Burns was born late in the life of his father in 1925 and he pointed out his father's clientele was different. Although Joe's mother wasn't born here, she came here from Kentucky shortly after the opening of the Cherokee Strip. She grew up in Ponca City with two brothers and eight sisters.
His father became ill soon after Joe graduated from law school. So some local business men helped Joe by sending business his way.
Realtor Earl Souligny sent quiet title actions for the old Kay County Federal to Joe. Later Burns became attorney for First National Bank under the tutelage of L.D. Edgington, who was also a graduate attorney. Edgington saw that Burns was appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of the bank.
Frank Overstreet became president of the bank after Edgington died, and Joe remained as the bank attorney. Overstreet saw that Joe was appointed to the Board of Directors of Kay County Federal.
On this basis Burns said he had enjoyed a good commercial practice ever since. His specialty over the years has been in mergers and other company legal proceedings.
"Through the years, I have truly enjoyed practicing law. I made my living practicing law, it never was a business with me, it has always been a profession. I've been very proud to be a member of the bar, particularly the Kay County Bar. It has always had an upstanding membership and has yet." He was president of Kay County Bar in the early 1950s.
Some of Burns' civic activities included a stint as City Commissioner. In artier affairs, Burns has been part of the Taste and Tasteless "radio" announcing crew for several years. This will probably be the last year for this performance.
For nearly half a century, Burns has been going to work in the First National building. He officed upstairs from the beginning, first with his dad and later alone.
Chester Armstrong had office with his father, who would later move to a judgeship. So Burns and Armstrong officed together for a time and in 1958 formed a partnership. So for many years it was Armstrong and Burns and later became Armstrong, Burns and Baumert. Presently the firm is Burns, Baumert and Cummings.
One claim to fame Burns shares with Newkirk attorney David Ross is a record for the longest litigated case. They litigated one case for 13 years.
Once more a Ponca City business and building have been nominated for top awards at the state level. John's Apparel, the rehabilitated old bus station, has been nominated by Ponca City Main Street Authority for the renovation of the building and for the most improved business.
The awards will be made at the Oklahoma Main Street banquet on April 28 in Oklahoma City.
The rehabilitation of the historic old bus station at 205 Cleveland represented over $100,000 in reinvestment in downtown Ponca City. The building renovation costs includes about $20,000 for five major parts.
A major component of the success of this project was owners Fred and Sue Boettcher who consulted with several people for their expertise. These included Jeff Smith, owner of John's Apparel, Oklahoma Main Street staff, OSU Retail design consultant and Don Bishop, assistant manager of John's.
Renovation of the building filled several Main Street goals, including new retail space in an existing structure and the total exterior appearance form sidewalk to roof line.
John's was also nominated as the most improved business. As a result of the addition of Estee Lauder Cosmetics and the new location, the apparel sales increased by 20 percent.
According to the nomination, Jim Watters of the State Main Street helped the business owner become more "bottom-line" oriented. Watters also helped with the initial business plan and submitted it to the bank to help secure financing for expansion.
Fifth Street Ribbon Cutting
Board Meeting
The Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce will attend a ribbon cutting and participate in a ceremonial motorcade down the length of the new Fifth Street extension from Prospect to Hartford at 10 a.m. Friday.
Following the ribbon cutting the group will move to the Chamber office for the regular Board meeting, according to Jan Jarrett, Chamber CEO.
Secretary's Day
Sykes and the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce are teaming up for a special Secretary Appreciation Day Reception in honor of all local Chamber member secretaries. The event is slated Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Chamber office.
Mini Storage
J.R. Bales has called attention to the fact that the new mini storages being constructed on West Grand, pictured on last Tuesday's business page, are J.R. Bales Mini Storage units.
Main Street Awards
NEWKIRK - Members of the Newkirk Main Street Authority have been nominated for awards. Charles Houser was nominated for the Main Street Merchant of the Year; The Newkirk Main Street publication, The Main Event, was nominated for the Best Newsletter and the organization was nominated for the Best Special Event, the Alumni Parade. The awards will be given April 28 in Oklahoma City at the state Main Street meeting.
Commerce and Economic Task Force
State Rep. Jim Newport has been appointed to serve on a task force for the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Newport recently was tapped by Assistant Minority leader and ALEC State Chairman Fred Morgan to serve on the Commerce and Economic Task Force for a two-year project.
ALEC is the largest bipartisan individual membership association of state legislators in the nation with nearly 3,000 Republican and Democratic state lawmakers. ALEC has nine national task forces that cover state issues by drafting model legislation that can be used by lawmakers across the country, commissioning studies, writing positions papers, and researching public policy solutions.
The Sam Walton Business Leader Award has been presented to Larry Felix, chief operating officer of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. The award is sponsored by the Wal-Mart Foundation.
Felix was chosen as the award recipient by the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce, which received a $500 grant in the honoree's name. Felix was the 1997 Chamber Chairman.
Wal-Mart Stores established the Sam Walton Business Leader Award in 1995 to recognize local business people who best exemplify the principles of Sam Walton, its late founder, according to David Glass, president and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
"Sam built his business on three principles: dedication to customer service, respect for the individual and striving for excellence," Glass said. "These are the principles that he lived and worked by and the principles that continue to guide us into the future at Wal-Mart."
"The Sam Walton Business Leader Award is our way of honoring outstanding local business men and women, and showing our pride in our local business communities," Glass said.
Felix was one of more than 650 business people in Wal-Mart and SAM'S Club communities around the country who were selected by their local Chambers of Commerce to receive the award. Participating Chambers received a total of more than $325,000 in grants from the Wal-Mart Foundation as part of the awards program.
On April 30 state residents can benefit from free legal information by talking to an attorney or by watching a television program featuring Oklahoma lawyers.
Kay County residents can obtain free legal advice from a local attorney by calling (580) 765-2000 or (580) 762-6666 or (580) 762-2889 from 7-8 p.m. Attorneys in Oklahoma City and Tulsa will answer questions from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and can be reached at (800) 456-8525 or (918) 838-8770. Deaf or hearing-impaired persons using TTY machines may call (888) 287-8529 toll free from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
This special Law Week community service project is sponsored by the Oklahoma Bar Association and Kay County Bar Association to celebrate Law Day, observed across the nation on May 1. County Law Day Chairman is Chiles Townsend.
During the one hour television show on OETA at 7 p.m., on April 30, district
attorney for Kay and Noble Counties John Maddox will be a "Truth in
Sentencing" panel.
DEATHS
WARSAW, Mo. - Janice (Morton) Cozort, former Ponca City resident, died in Warsaw, Mo., Tuesday, April 14, 1998, after a brief illness. She was 63.
A graveside service is to be held Wednesday, April 22, at 3 p.m. at the Ponca City IOOF Cemetery. Arrangements have been under the direction of Reser Funeral Home, Warsaw, Mo.
Janice Clare (Morton) Cozort was born Aug. 6, 1934, the daughter of Seth Goodwyn and Marie C. Morton. She graduated from Ponca City High School in 1952, and attended Park College in Parkville, Mo. While at Park she served as a member of the Women's Judicial Council, chairman of Student Publications, and was a member of the Lancelot-Elaine Club. She was also employed at Continental Oil Co. for a short time.
She was married to William Thomas Cozort at Ponca City First Christian Church in June 1956. The couple lived in Mexico City, Mexico for a short time, then moved to Parkville, Mo. to continue their education. They were longtime residents of Cortland, N.Y., where Mrs. Cozort was employed by the Cortland County Mental Health Department and Marietta Corp. The couple later moved to Warsaw, Mo.
Survivors include her husband, William T. Cozort; three children, Christopher
G. of Cortland, N.Y., Andrew of Rudyard, Mich., and Lynn of Tucson, Ariz.;
and three grandchildren.
NEWS BRIEFS
The Beds Are Coming! - Join the fun and enter a bed in the United Way Bed Race on May 2 at the Iris Festival. Call United Way at 765-2476 for more information.
Relay For Life Meeting - A meeting for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life team captains will be held May 23 at 5:30 p.m. at the Fourth Street Club House. Relay rules and camp placements are among the items that will be discussed. For more information contact Vicky Morton at 762-6614.
Picnic Lunch - Anyone interested in joining Woodlands Elementary students in a picnic lunch are invited to the Pioneer Woman Statue Wednesday at 11 a.m. Students will be walking from the school as part of Earth Day. Participants are asked to wear green.
Vehicle-Building Accident - At 8:54 a.m. Monday police received a report of a vehicle that had gone through a business in the 100 block of North First Street. A report was taken.
Minor Accident - An accident in the 300 block of East Grand Avenue was reported at 10:09 a.m. Monday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Window Stolen - At 10:16 a.m. Monday a window was reported stolen from a vehicle in the 3200 block of North Fourteenth Street. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Juvenile Arrested - At 3:56 p.m. Monday a 16-year-old girl was arrested for embezzlement.
Arrest - Police arrested a 34-year-old man at 4:42 p.m. Monday from the 900 block of East South Avenue on a Kay County warrant for assault and battery.
Burglary - At 6:48 p.m. Monday a woman in the 400 block of South Osage Street contacted police to report that her home had been ransacked and $1,500 cash and guns had been stolen. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Stolen Purse - A woman contacted police at 6:57 p.m. Monday to report that her purse had been stolen from her vehicle while it was parked in the 100 block of South Second Street. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Locker Break-In - At 8:35 p.m. Monday police received a call regarding a break-in at the baseball locker rooms at the Ponca City High School. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Arrest - Police arrested a 28-year-old man at 10:54 p.m. Monday from the 1900 block of North Fourteenth Street on a Kay County warrant for failure to pay.
Arrest - A 40-year-old woman was arrested at 1:23 a.m. Tuesday from the 300 block of West Grand Avenue for destruction of private property and public intoxication.
Skunk Sighting - At 4:54 a.m. Tuesday police received a report of a skunk
in the eastbound lane of Hartford Avenue east of Academy Road. A note was
left for animal control.
LIFESTYLES
Mary Ruth Leatherman was the hostess for the April meeting of the Fun and Fundamental FCE group. Nettie Cox led the group in the salute to the flag, in singing "He Lives" and in repetition of the OAFCE Creed. Devotions were given by the hostess.
Frances Denton was introduced as a guest and roll call was answered by "an experience with lawyers." Plans were announced for a fashion show May 4 and entries were selected for the Food Show scheduled May 11. An Antiques and Craft show will be held May 21 at the FCE building.
Safety, health and sewing tips were given and prizes were won by Kathy Fitch and Nancy Tindel. Dorothy Tanner gave the lesson "Family Legal Decisions." The May meeting will be hosted by Ms. Tindel with Ms. Cox giving the lesson.
Plans were discussed for the group's 50th anniversary to be held at the home of Mary Ruth Leatherman, 1207 East Grand, April 26, 2-4 p.m.
Members of Xi Gamma Sigma chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority met April 14 in the home of Glenda Brown. Barbara Feil, president, read correspondence from former members Delorus Patterson and Carolyn Rice.
Chapter members were reminded of Beta Sigma Phi's Founder's Day event to be observed April 21 at the Marland Mansion. Darlene VanDeburgh distributed sign-up sheets for hostesses and programs for the 1998-99 sorority year.
Glenda Brown presented the program "Letters From Mount Idy" as sent to Charley Weaver, a character played by Cliff Arquette in the 1950s. Pam Sober was a guest for the evening.
The next meeting will be April 28 in the home of Ms. VanDeburgh, An installation of officers and a Ritual of Jewels for LaRannah Bartlett is planned.
Chris and Anita (Deem) Denney of Tonkawa announce the birth of a son, Jim Eldon, at 8:45 a.m. April 11 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. He weighed 8-pounds, 4-ounces.
Maternal grandparents are Joe and Karen Deem of Blackwell and paternal grandparents are Paula and Darvin Constant. Great-grandparents are Dorothy Thomas and Tony Thomas.
Eta Zeta chapter members of Beta Sigma Phi sorority met in the home of Peggy Peters on April 18. Debra Bellmard, president, began the meeting with the Opening Ritual and roll call for 11 members. Lori Hambleton gave the treasurer's report and the City Council report was given by Krista Harbeson.
Announcement was made of the Founder's Day event planned April 21 at the Marland Mansion. Cynthia Wilson from Eta Zeta chapter will be the City Council Recording secretary for the year.
The social committee reported April 28 will be a dinner at Hero's to be followed by a Comedy Show at Spirits and on May 6 will be a party for the Girl of the Year at 6:30 p.m. at the Amarillo Grill.
Following the meeting an installation of officers and the Ritual of Jewels
was conducted for Natalie Nelson, Gayla Gelvin and Jennifer Hoak.
SPORTS
"For the first time I can see a light at the end of the tunnel and not think its a training coming." Ponca City track coach Terry Henderson said after his thinclads make some substantial improvement in two meets last week.
"For the first time these kids competed the way they should," Henderson said as the Wildcats apparently have broken away from a slow start on the season.
"We had kids running across the infield cheering each other on. It got infectious" the coach said. "That is what we have got to have for the last three weeks of the season.
The Cats hope to continue the late surge Friday at Choctaw.
"That's the track the state meet will be run on," Henderson said. "I want to kids to get a look at it before the state meet."
The Ponca City track teams picked up the pace considerably last week, traveling to OBU on Tuesday and to Tulsa on Friday.
"We did not have all our guns again," Henderson said of Friday's meet. "I was sure we were going to be embarrassed by some of those Tulsa area schools.
"But the kids surprised the dog out of me. They did a great job."
Henderson put together a different 3200-meters relay team - Chris Buck, Scott Larrison, Brian Connelly and Daniel Wages.
"I wanted to see how this group would do." Henderson and they responded by taking fourth place. That's pretty good considering the company they ran in."
Paul Paschal finally broke through in the 3200 run, finishing second after being nipped at the wire, in 9:59.
"Anytime you can run the 3200 in under 10 minutes you're in tall cotton," Henderson said.
In the open quarter, Anthony Tillman posted a 2:59 for fourth place and Eric Chambray was sixth.
Jamal Williams was third in the pole vault while Larrison, a newcomer in the high jump grabbed off third with a leap of 5-10. Brian Connelly also scored with a sixth place finish. Wes Crossen reached a personal best with a toss of 109-5 in the pole vault.
The mile relay team of Larrison, Paschal, Buck and Tillman also got together for the first time this season and finished sixth in 3:36.
"This group has a real chance of doing something," Henderson said.
In the girls' events, Carol Stangeland continued to cut big chunks off her time in the 3200, finishing in 12:53.6. Katy Steichen had a personal best 19.5 in the hurdles and Laura Chaney chalked up a 2:54 in the 800.
Brooke Hines has a personal best 100-6 in the discus, good enough for fourth place. Kendra Love was sixth with a toss of 86-7. Love also planted the shot put a 31-2.5.
The mile relay team of Chaney, Jane Koster, Stangeland and Misty Baker finished in 4:50.
"I was pleased no end with the effort of the kids," Henderson said.
At OBU, the Poncans got their first real test against a big, talented field.
The Poncans responded well. In the girls 3200 relay, Mary Metzger, Koster, Chaney and Stangeland dropped 30 second from their best previous time, finishing in 11:46.
The 800 relay team of Shelly Banks, Nicky Terry, Koster and Megan Bunt has their best run of the season.
Transfer student Karina Mahara posted a 29.04 in her first effort at 200 meters. Shea Conner finished in the top 10 in the long jump with a leap of 13-0, also her first effort in competition.
For the boys, Paschal, Buck, Brian Connelly and Nathan Zimmerman posted an 8:47 in the 3200 relay for sixth place.
"Twelve of the top teams in the state were in that race," Henderson said.
Buck and Zimmerman were both clocked in 2:10 in the 800, putting themselves among the top 10 finishers. Paschal was fourth in the mile in 4:39, Tillman ran a 53.4 in 400 and freshman Anthony Dewberry finished right behind in 53.6.
Williams took fifth in the pole vault.
The Mid-High Cougars' track team continued to make good on a successful season recently, picking up a pair of third place finishes in the Enid Waller Invitational and followed that with a number of impressive finishes in the University of Central Oklahoma meet on Monday.
In Enid, the eighth grade boys finished in third place, with 118 points. The Cougars picked up four gold medals in the meet, those coming from Marcello Aguillar in the 100 meters (12.15), Micah Johnson in the 300 hurdles (46.14), while Jason Jump lived up to his name again, winning both the pole vault (9-6) and the high jump (5-6).
The Poncans also won a pair of silvers, with Johnson coming in behind Jump in the high jump (5-6), while the 3200 relay team of Sean Cochran, Troy Cochran, Luke Gray and Casey Maultsby took second in a time of 10:27.5.
The Cougars got one bronze medal from Aguillar, in the 300 hurdles (48.48).
Placing fourth were Aguillar in the 400 meters (59.45), and Drew Lancaster in the 110 high hurdles (19.9), while Patrick Quinn picked up a fifth place finish in the 110 high hurdles (21.28).
The 400 relay team of Nathan Kellert, Bobby Trant, Jump and Jeramy Roland, and the 1600 relay team of S. Cochran, T. Cochran, Maultsby and Nate Macy also both placed fourth at times of 52.38 and 4:17.66, respectively.
"These guys run hard, work hard and make it very easy for coach Parent and myself to do our job," said coach Joe Matlock.
The ninth graders also came in third. Kyle Henderson had the best finish on the day for the Cougars, coming in for the silver in the 300 hurdles (43.45). The 400 relay team of Jeff Hand, Micah Johnson, James Anno and Henderson, despite a bad handoff, took the bronze at 48.25, while Anno took fourth in the 300 hurdles at 46.44.
Billy Struble took fifth in the 800 meters (2:28.38), while Luke Campbell took sixth (2:34.86).
"These guys ran really well," said Matlock, of his ninth graders. "I'm extremely proud of what they've accomplished."
On Monday, the ninth graders got silver medals in the 400 relay and the 1600 relay, at times of 48.95 and 3:56.44, respectively. They also picked up a silver in the sprint medley relay.
In individual events, Johnson took the gold in the high jump, while Troy Cochran got the silver. Barden took the silver in the long jump, followed by Sean Cochran with the Bronze, while Troy Cochran came in fourth.
"The boys ran real well considering the rain and low temperatures," said Matlock. "We had a good time, too. We saw some teams we don't usually see, so it was a good test for us."
The Cougars now have a few days off before traveling to Carl Albert High School on Thursday.
SAPULPA - Ponca City's Wildcat golfers played pretty well, according to coach Dan McGregor.
But it wasn't near enough as the Poncans were swept under by the talented Frontier Conference field, finishing ninth in the conference tournament Monday.
The Lady Wildcat fared much better, posting a 374 18-hole total for fourth place. Jenni Nimmo paced the Poncans with an 82.
"We shot our normal scores," McGregor said of the Cats' 320-314-634 total in the 36-hole tournament. "But the other teams shot lights out.
"We are still having too many doubles and triples."
Jenks won the conference title with a 287-302-589, finishing 19 strokes in front of Sapulpa (608). Stillwater was two strokes back at 610.
Bartlesville, Tulsa Union, Sand Springs, Broken Arrow and Owasso were within seven strokes of the Pioneers. The Wildcats were far back, 45 strokes off Jenks' pace..
"We have a long way to go, a lot of work ahead of us" McGregor said as his team faced the prospect not going to the state tournament for the first time in 10 years.
The Wildcats play in the regional tournament at Bartlesville on May 4 and must be among the top six finishers there to qualify for the state tournament at the Muskogee Country Club May 11-12.
The Poncans will face these same teams, plus several others in the regional tournament.
"Our conference has some outstanding teams this year," McGregor said. "We have our work cut out for us."
Eric Smith paced the Poncans' efforts with a 77-75-152. Aaron Hill had 80-79-159, Matt Waddell 80-81-161, Jason Pettigrew 83-79-162 and Aaron Sattre 84-82-166.
Matt Albert of Union, J.C. Deleon of Jenks, Drew Hatcher of Sapulpa and Aaron Lee of Sand Springs all finished with 143 totals to force a four-hole playoff to decide the tournament medalist.
The Lady Wildcats finished 59 strokes behind girls' champion Broken Arrow (315), which blew away the field. Stillwater was second with a 364 and Jenks third at 367. Ponca City edge out Bartlesville for fourth by three strokes.
Broken Arrow's Lady Tigers had the three low scorers. Hedi Brown was the tournament medalist with a 72. Teammates Danelle Miron and Marilyn Martin had 76 and 81, respectively.
The Lady Cats face regional qualifying at Owasso Wednesday. A top-three finish there moves them to the regional tournament in Jenks on April 29.
The Po-Hi boys get a look at the Bartlesville Adams course on April 27 in the Bartlesville Invitational before returning there for the regional tournament.
Team Scores
Boys
Jenks 589, Sapulpa 608, Stillwater 610, Bartlesville 612, Union 614, Sand Springs 615, Broken Arrow 616, Owasso 617, Ponca City 634.
Girls
Broken Arrow 315, Stillwater 364, Jenks 367, Ponca City 374, Bartlesville 377, Sapulpa 391, Sand Springs 403, Union 439.
By MATTHEW KOENIG
News Sports Writer
They're on a roll - relatively speaking.
Currently on a three game win streak - their longest of the year - the Ponca City Wildcat baseballers (11-17) may not be setting many records, but they did exhibit moments of pure excellence Monday night, picking up nine hits and committing just one error to top the Bartlesville Bruins, 5-3.
With the final score settled by the top of the fourth inning, the Cats - behind another good outing by pitcher Jay Bentley - held the Bruins' bats at bay for the remainder of the game to escape with the win. And to coach Roydon Tilley, this latest victory was perhaps his teams' most impressive yet.
"That was about as good as we've played all year," he said. "They really stepped up and played a good game."
With both WBBZ and a clutch of cheerleaders on hand to lend their support, the Cats wasted no time jumping into the early lead. Two-hole hitter Chris Koenig got things going with a base hit, and shortstop Justin Thomas followed by ripping a ball past the third baseman for another. Designated hitter Michael Quick then sent Koenig in, and after going for the steal, a throwing error by the Bartlesville catcher then sent Thomas in to give the Cats the 2-0 first inning lead.
The Bruins responded with single runs in both the second and third innings, but the Cats came back with three runs in the third to put the game away.
Quick started things off by getting on with a Bartlesville error, stole second, and came in with a RBI double by Bentley. Left fielder Marc Smith then made it to second with an overthrow to first, sending Bentley in. Second baseman Brian Benson then finished off the scoring assault by crushing a triple over the right fielder's head, scoring Smith.
Though the Bruins responded with another run in the top of the fourth, it wasn't enough, as Bentley struck out five in the final three inning to take the win. For the game, the senior right hander had eight strikeouts, walked just three, and gave up just five hits to the Bruins.
The only Wildcat with multiple hits was Thomas (2-for-3 with a walk), but the Poncans spread the wealth, getting a hit from all but one in the lineup.
The Cats have another home game today, taking on Tulsa Union. Game time is set for 5 p.m.
Ponca City 5, Bartlesville 3
Ponca City 203 000 x - 5 9 1
Bartlesville 011 100 0 - 3 5 4
Bentley and Spears; Beluian and Fuller.
Lady Wildcat Junior Varsity Tennis
Ponca City 9, Blackwell 1
April 17
singles
1 - Mea Alexander def. Shandra North, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2)
2 - Emily Wheeler def. Tisha Jeffries, 6-3, 7-5
3 - Gina Smith def. Lori Hutchins, 6-2, 6-3
4 - Mandy Dickson def. Miranda McCurry, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1
5 - Erin Shaw def. Corey Jefferies, 6-0, 6-2
6 - Claire Winterrowd def. Jamie Vowel, 6-0, 6-0
7 - Cynthia Lanham lost to Jessica Buesing, 6-3, 6-3
doubles
1 - Alexander-Winterrowd def. C. Jeffries-Hutchins, 6-1, 6-3
2 - Wheeler-Dickson def. McCurrey-North, 6-0, 6-1
3 - Smith-Shaw def. Stone-Jeffries, 6-3, 7-5
Ponca City's Mike Scribner finished his first Boston Marathon in the time of 4:09:35.
Schribner, who was timed in 2:01:04 at the halfway point in the 26 mile
run, finished 8,216th out of 11,500 runners