From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Tuesday, May
6, 1997
LOCAL
Blackwell Health Department Facility May Be Reoccupied
Community, School Employees Clean Middle School Vandalism
Nearly News
Roosevelt Students Learn Electrical Safety
Special Session On Flag Issue Planned Today
Letters Say:
DEATHS
Audis R. Sullivan
Rosa M. Reisch
Margaret Wiles
Terry Parks
Obituaries
Kristopher Cyle Jenkins
Services Pending
Judy Jo McCurry
William T. Dodson
NEWS BRIEFS
BUSINESS
Breakfast of Champions Hears About Customer Satisfaction
Bank of Oklahoma Celebrates Opening of New Facility Here
Friedman's Jewelers Open Here Saturday
Two Nickles Employees Had 74 Years
Notes & Quotes
Building Permits In April $367,378
Area Unemployment Slows Slight Decline
O'Reilly Auto Parts Opens in Blackwell
LIFESTYLES
Delta Kappa Gamma Brunch Slated May 17
Little News
Shana Lehman Bride-Elect
Kay County Mounties Will Meet Thursday
SPORTS
Po-Hi Golfers Edge Into State Tourney
Lady Cats Win Regional Title
Cats Fourth In Tennis Tournament
Sports Notes
JVs End Season With 10-0 Gem
Poet Shoots 78 In Prairie Golf
By MARK GALVIN
News Staff Writer
NEWKIRK - The Kay County commissioners say the Blackwell Health Department facility will be reoccupied within a month, after being vacant for almost two years from a seeping gasoline problem from a filling station next door.
Commissioner Wayne Leven said the board currently is figuring how much the cleanup effort has cost and would submit a claim to the oil company.
Leven said the empty 5,000-square-foot building passed air-quality tests performed by a cleanup firm hired by Shepherd Oil, which had a leakage from ruptured underground gas tanks adjacent to the county-owned facility, and by District Attorney John Maddox, who represents the county concerning the problem.
The county still needs to "clean the building and get it back in shape for people to move back in," Leven said. Heavy summer rains two years ago raised the leaking gasoline to ground-water level and fumes became overwhelming inside the building.
When health department workers were ordered to vacate the building in 1995, cleanup experts from Cardinal Environmental - hired by Shepherd Oil - installed a soil-vapor extraction system to clean the ground between the two buildings.
At that time, they predicted a lengthy cleanup process because even though the fume problem was soon remedied, the site needed to be monitored for a year to ensure against a reoccurrence. Cleanups can take as long as three years, they said.
The health department facility opened in 1985 in the 1700 block of South Main in Blackwell.
In other business during the county commissioners' regular weekly meeting Monday, they decided to schedule all county employees for a presentation of a new flexible benefits plan with the Oklahoma State Insurance Board. The county is upgrading to the state's benefit plan.
They also opened bids for a 35-ton dovetail trailer for District One, and upon Commissioner Dee Schieber's recommendation, accepted a $19,304 low bid from O.C.T. Co. of Oklahoma City, with 5.9 percent financing for three years.
The board was unanimous in approving District Three Commissioner Rex Purdy's motion to execute a deed to grant to the City of Blackwell property at lots 18 and 19, block seven, of Blackwell's Day Addition that had been acquired by the county on resale.
The commissioners also approved Schieber's motion to grant a road crossing permit for a natural gas line for Warren NGL Inc. southwest of Ponca City.
By LAURA TREADWAY
News Staff Writer
In the face of adversity, the community and school employees came together Sunday, to clean up massive vandalism which occurred at the Ponca City Middle School.
Just after 8 p.m. Saturday, Ponca City police officer Nathan Jacobs found an open door at the school on West Grand Avenue. The officer searched the building for suspects and discovered significant damage to the facility.
He reported that fire extinguishers had been sprayed throughout the south half of the building leaving residue and ruining electronic equipment. Additionally, water-based paint was used to graffiti the walls of the special education room.
According to Dr. Joe Surber, assistant superintendent of operations, 24 glass panels are being replaced with wood, until new glass can be ordered. In addition, three individual computers, two overhead projectors and two televisions were destroyed. Suspects also broke a candy dispenser.
Numerous maintenance workers, custodians, cafeteria workers and teachers began cleaning up early Sunday morning. Surber said that floors had to be mopped/or vacuumed three and four times to pick up the residue left by the extinguishers.
"The response from the community was great. People brought refreshments and offered assistance all day long," said Surber.
Teachers are still determining items are missing, however, it didn't appear that any large items were taken, said Surber. Moreover, no damage occurred to the library, main office, computer lab or art room. Although the incident was destructive, no animals or aquariums were harmed.
"The assumption is that a few young people got out of hand, but, their behavior is not typical of our kids. This was apparently done by angry people," the assistant superintendent said.
A total dollar amount of damage is still being compiled and the detective division of the police department is still investigating the crime.
Citizens with knowledge of who may be responsible for this incident are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 762-5100, or PCPD at 767-0370.
The Postal Mural cancellation, in honor of the 10 new Postal Murals, and the Iris Festival cancellation will continue for about 30 days, according to Jack Weatherford, Postmaster. One of the letters of congratulations on the murals was from Rick Brown of the England, who was a Royal Air Force cadet with No. 6 British Flight Training School here in the World War II era.
One of the murals shows the No. 6 BFTS emblem. Brown is due to come to Ponca City sometime around May 16-17. He noted that it was on the lawn in front of the Post Office where he slept the night of his first Open Post, not knowing how to get back to the flight school at what is now the Darr Industrial Park.
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In case gardeners find some of their radishes missing from the rows of their gardens, they might check out the crows. Crows, which often soak their food in water before eating, have been seen soaking radishes in the birdbath in locations in northeast Ponca City before flying away to dine on the delicacies.
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Among the letters received by Chuck Bowman paying tribute to Coach Earl Sullins, who is being honored tonight at Allen Robson Fieldhouse, was one from Merle E. Applebee, who expressed appreciation for Sullins leadership for himself and his brother Earl Applebee, who died a year ago. Applebee noted that his brother Earl was Tom Osborne's high school coach at Hastings, Neb. Osborne is slated to be the guest speaker this evening at 7:30 p.m., at the fieldhouse as a part of the Sullins festivities.
Students at Roosevelt Elementary recently learned the four R's of electrical safety at a presentation made by Ponca City linemen Charles McCloud and Jim Epperson.
The linemen made the students aware of the following basic safety rules:
- Respect the power of electricity.
- Read and follow the operating instructions that come with every electrical product.
- Replace worn or frayed electrical cords.
- Relocate appliance cords so that grownups will not walk on them and children can't pull on them.
According to the electric department, residents play a big part in preventing accidents. No one wants a shock and no one wants a fire, the linemen said.
Moreover, residents are reminded that May is "National Electrical Safety Month" and the perfect time to make a safety check of the home.
For more information, contact the Ponca City Electric Department at 767-0405.
The Ponca City Board of Commissioners will elect a vice mayor in a special meeting at 5:30 p.m., today at the Public Safety Center, 200 East Oklahoma Avenue.
In accordance with provisions of the Section 60 of the Ponca City charter, the board will choose a vice mayor. Furthermore, it will reconsider flying the POW/MIA flag on a daily basis.
Chapter 750 of the Vietnam Veterans of America submitted a request to fly the flag under the American Flag at Centennial Plaza. The flag is common to veterans of all wars, not just the Vietnam War.
On April 28, commissioners voted, 4 to 1, to fly the flag on Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day and Veterans Day. Mayor Marilyn Andrews voted against the item, stating that she felt the POW/MIA flag should be flown daily, as originally requested.
Editor, The News,
The Ponca City High School PTSA recently mailed a newsletter to the parents of all Po-Hi students. In that newsletter there was an article about School-to-Work. Unfortunately, a paragraph in the article was inadvertently omitted. It was not our intention to appear one-sided and we apologize for the error. Here is the article as it should have appeared.
School to Work (STW) is a topic of concern for many parents in the Ponca City School system. Many people feel that STW tracks students too early. As early as Kindergarten career interests of students can be written down into folders that follow the student the entire time they are in the school district. Many parents feel that young children have no concept of a career and just want to be professional baseball players or jet fighter pilots because they sound exciting. Channeling them into career clusters before they are ready to make career decisions is another concern. Students will take career interest tests in the 8th grade and then they will be placed into career clusters based on these tests and the career information that has been recorded in the file folders. Some parents feel that this is too early to be narrowing career options. Some people also fear that the curriculum will be watered down and that students will be steered away from college and into vocational training. They fear that applied courses will be offered that do not have the necessary amount of information required to be successful in college.
STW is a major shift in the framework of our public education system. It will require dramatic changes in curriculum design and instructional strategies. Local proponents state that our schools may set up the STW program any way that they want. STW is a way of making school more relevant to students. Once the students see the relevance of school to work they will stay in school and not drop out. Proponents also state that students are not being properly prepared in high school to enter the work force and that schools should work with business to find out what skills are wanted in employees. STW states that only 15 percent of the jobs of the future will require a college education but 88 percent of the jobs of the future will require skills training. STW will better prepare students to be successful in the work place.
The Po-Hi PTSA board encourages everyone to learn all they can about STW and to get involved wherever possible. The board encourages you to let your principal and our local school board members know how you feel about STW.
Thank you,
Po-Hi PTSA Board
Kathy Paczkowski,
Audis R. "Sully" Sullivan, former longtime Ponca City resident, died Sunday, May 4, 1997, at a hospital in Ardmore. He was 84.
The funeral will be held graveside at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery, Ponca City, with Larry Keirn, minister of Grand Avenue Church of Christ, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home, Ponca City.
Audis R. "Sully" Sullivan was born Nov. 1, 1912, in Mangum, the son of Ernest and Lyda (Boyette) Sullivan. In May 1933, he was united in marriage to Eula Mae Glover in Mangum. The family moved to Ponca City in 1936. Sullivan was employed in the Refining Department of Conoco Inc. for 44 years, retiring in 1977. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing. The last years of his life were spent with his children and grandchildren.
Survivors include two sons, Dale Bernard Sullivan of Norman and Paul Wayne Sullivan of Blackwell; four daughters, Anita Gray of Ardmore, Glenna Chamberlin of Tulsa, Gail Hanoch of Toledo, Ohio, and Cheryl Ramsey of Ponca City; five sisters, Hilma Suitor of Las Vegas, N.M., Loretta Campbell, Heloise Leche and Helen Young, all of Ponca City, and Mozelle Baldwin of Long Beach, Calif.; 17 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in by his wife in June 1991; one son, Victor; his parents; and one brother, Clinton Victor Sullivan.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Sullivan's name to Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 Northeast 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73014.
The family will be at the Ramsey home, Route 5, Box 1791. They will also receive friends at the funeral home Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon.
Rosa M. Reisch, former Ponca City resident, died Monday morning, May 5, 1997 at Hillcrest Medical Center, Tulsa. She was 93.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Grace Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Roland Briggs, Immanuel Baptist Church, Blackwell. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery, Ponca City.
Rosa M. (Berner) Reisch was born June 20, 1903, in St. Joseph, Mo., the daughter of O.O. and Elizabeth (Owens) Berner. She attended schools in Augusta, Kan.
She was married to Samuel Sidman in 1920 in Kansas. She later married Floyd I. Reisch on Sept. 30, 1929 in Towanda, Kan. Mrs. Reisch was a homemaker. She was a member of the Southside Baptist Church of Ponca City and later the Immanuel Baptist Church, Blackwell. She enjoy working in the church and sewing.
Survivors include five daughters Bettie (Sidman) Weber of Greeley, Colo, Ruth (Sidman) Logan of Billings, Mont.; Elizabeth (Sidman) Vandaveer of Nowata, Hallie (Reisch) Kennedy-Pead of Fredricksburg, Md., and Bonnie (Reisch) Laney of Toluca, Ill; one brother, Leon Berner of Augusta, Kan; one sister, Alma Tomlin of Garfield, Ark.; and numerous grandchildren; She was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd Reisch; one son, John Owen Reisch; her parents; and four brothers and sisters.
Casket bearers will be grandsons, Ivan Riggle, Marvin Vandaveer, Jake Vandaveer Jr. Tracy Fitzgerald, Kevin Baxter and Ronnie Laney; honorary bearers will be Jerry Brown Jr., Jake Brown, and Johney Vandaveer.
FAIRFAX - Margaret Wiles, lifelong resident of Fairfax, died Monday morning, May 5, 1997, at the Fairfax Memorial Hospital. She was 75.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, at the Hunsaker-Wooten Funeral Home Chapel in Fairfax, with the Rev. Bill Bray officiating. Burial will be in the Fairfax Cemetery. Friends may visit at the funeral home until service time.
Margaret (Fincher) Wiles was born April 25, 1922 in Fairfax, the daughter of Ed Armel and Dorothy Ellen (Prall) Fincher. She grew up in the Fairfax area, graduating from Fairfax High School in 1940. Mrs. Wiles was manager of the automotive department of the Montgomery Ward Store for several years. She was a member of the American Business Women's Association. She enjoyed sewing, and baking and decorating cakes for friends and family.
Survivors include one son, John O. Wiles of Ponca City; two sisters, Dorothy L. Davis of Cassville, Mo., and the Rev. Carol Fincher of Stillwater; one brother, Norton E. Fincher of Pensacola, Fla.; one grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents.
The family will be at the John Wiles' home in Ponca City.
BERRYVILLE, Ark. - Terry Parks, half-brother to Rodney and Roger Bentley of Ponca City, died Wednesday, April 30, 1997, in Berryville, Ark. He was 59.
The funeral will be held graveside at 2 p.m. Thursday, in the Berryville Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Dan Smith officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson Funeral Service, Berryville, Ark.
Terry Parks was born Aug. 7, 1937, in Chandler, the son of Ted Orville and Ruth (Buster) Parks. Parks had been employed with several construction companies including McBride Construction, and was living in Berryville at the time of his death.
Survivors include two sons, Kyle of Garfield, Ark., and Kerry of Cincinnati, Ohio; two daughters, Kellie Parks of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Kimberly Parks of Green Forest, Ark.; one sister, Jackie Apker of Old Hickory, Tenn.; two half-brothers, Rodney Bentley and Roger Bentley, both of Ponca City; and nine grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, Kurtis Ted Parks; one step-daughter, Jennifer Renee Bottoms; his parents; and his step-father, Veris Bentley.
NEWKIRK- Kristopher Cyle Jenkins, former rural Ponca City resident and recent resident of Kaw City, died Sunday morning, May 4, 1997, in St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Ponca City, the result of a motorcycle accident. He was 12.
The funeral has been scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, in the First United Methodist Church, Newkirk, with Danny W. Cornish, minister of the Newkirk Church of Christ officiating. Burial is to follow in Newkirk Cemetery under the direction of Miller-Stahl Funeral Service. Friends may call at the funeral home until 9 p.m. Tuesday and until noon the day of the service. The casket will also be opened for viewing following the service.
Those serving as casket bearers will be Miles Coussens, and coaches Jim Tosh, Ron Hess, Tim Yandell, John Turvey and Ken Coldiron. Honorary bearers are Ryan Hess, Bryan Yandell, Derek Cargill, Doug Tosh, Josh Kelle, Josh Todd, Jerry Rowe, Joe Oswalt, Jeremy DeNoya and Jason Jump.
A memorial fund has been established with the Ponca City Junior Baseball Association. Contributions may be made in Kris' memory through Miller-Stahl Funeral Service, P.O. Box 461, Newkirk, OK 74647.
Kristopher Cyle Jenkins, son of Kevin Clifford and Patricia Lanette (Stout) Jenkins was born June 14, 1984, in Ponca City. He was very active in all sports and excelled in baseball and basketball. He was on the Ponca City Indians traveling team and played third base. Kris was a student at Union School in Ponca City and was in the sixth grade.
He is survived by his parents, Kevin and Lanette Jenkins; two brothers, Clifford Courtney Jenkins and Kevin Chaz Jenkins, both of the home; his paternal grandparents, Jerold and Bonnie Jenkins of Newkirk; his maternal grandparents, Robert Stout of Avant, and Patricia Stout of Cleveland, Okla.; maternal great-grandmother, Clara Herron of Edna, Kan.; paternal uncles and aunts, Jerold and Bambi Jenkins of Ponca City, Terry Jenkins of Huntsville, Texas, and Kurtis Jenkins of Sevierville, Tenn.; maternal uncles and aunts, Robert and Penny Stout of Avant, Scott and Jackie Stout of Pasco, Wash., Brad and Melanie Stout of Catoosa, Mark and Melissa Maillet of Ramona, Shane and Paula Elledge of Prosser, Wash., Bill and Sherrie Rothwell of Waterville, Wash., and Kim Stout of Kennewick, Wash.; and 13 cousins.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Kindra Carolee Jenkins, and his great-grandparents, James Elmer and Gladys Jenkins, Joseph Madison Sparks Sr., Edna Ramsey and Paul Virgil Stout.
paid obituary
STILLWATER - Judy Jo (Kester) McCurry, former Ponca City resident, died at Stillwater Medical Center on Sunday, May 4, 1997. She was 50. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Glenwood (Okla.) Cemetery, southeast of Stillwater. Arrangements are under the direction of Strode Funeral Home, Stillwater.
William Thomas "Bill" Dodson, Ponca City resident, died at his home early this morning, May 6, 1997. He was 76.
Survivors include his wife, Catherine "Cathy" Dodson, of the
home. Arrangements are pending with Grace Memorial Chapel.
NEWS BRIEFS
Burglary - An employee of Champion Cleaners, 112 East Park Avenue, contacted the Ponca City Police Department at 7:05 a.m. Monday to report a burglary.
Vandalism - A Ponca City police officer took a report of vandalism to a car in the 100 block of West Ponca Avenue at 7:17 a.m. Monday.
Vehicles Cited - A Ponca City police officer issued three citations to vehicles parked in a no parking zone in the 2400 block of Donner Avenue at 10:55 a.m. Monday.
Auto Burglary - A 15-year-old boy was taken into custody at the Ponca City Police Department at 11:16 a.m. Monday for two counts of auto burglary.
Theft - A resident in the 500 block of North Eleventh Street notified the Ponca City Police Department at 1:23 p.m. Monday that someone stole a green metal garden cart from the yard. An officer took a larceny report.
Air Conditioner Stolen - A Ponca City police officer took a report at 6:19 p.m. Monday of an air conditioner stolen from the 600 block of North Ash Street.
Accident - The Ponca City telecommunication officers received notice of a non-injury accident at South Fourth Street and East South Avenue at 8:09 p.m. Monday.
Found - A resident in the 100 block of Glenside Avenue notified the Ponca City Police Department at 8:44 p.m. Monday of an abandoned bike left in the area.
Officers Locate Suspects - According to Ponca City telecommunication officers, the Blackwell Police Department advised the department at 11:37 p.m. Monday that a 1982 red Ford pickup was taken without permission. Ponca City police officers were advised keep a watch for the truck, which they located in the 1100 block of East Prospect Avenue.
Probation Violation - The Kay County Sheriff's Office notified
the Ponca City Police Department at 2:52 a.m. Tuesday that Sedgwick County
officers were looking for a 21-year-old man wanted for two felony warrants.
The man was located in the 200 block of South Fourteenth Street and arrested
for probation violation for aggravated robbery.
BUSINESS
By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Business Editor
Dr. Edwina Trout, former Ponca Citian, told the Breakfast of Champions audience about customer satisfaction at the Friday meeting. The breakfast was hosted at the Marland Conference Center by Monumental Enterprises and the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Trout was introduced by City Manager Gary Martin. Prior to the presentation Craig Myers told the group about the facilities at the Conference Center.
Trout told there are four basic needs for customers, the need to be understood; the need to feel welcome, the need to feel important and the need for comfort.
She advocated listen for feelings being communicated as well as the message and empathize with problems; providing a warm, friendly welcome, and talking in a language everyone will understand; learn to call others by name and do something special; set customers at ease, relieve anxiety and explain the service procedures carefully and calmly.
Trout talked about the key elements to good listening. The first is to hear the message, pay attention, select what is important and recognized emotional messages.
Interpreting the message by allowing for personal perceptions, seeking to understand and asking for clarification. To evaluate the message one should ask questions, analyze the evidence and don't jump to conclusions. Also responding to the message by striving to reach a common understanding, giving feedback verbally and non-verbally and avoid confusing messages. These came from The Business of Listening by Diane Bone.
The seven practical steps to customer problem solving were outlined. These include expressing respect, listening to understand, uncover the expectations, repeat the specifics, outline the solution of alternatives, take action and follow through and double check for satisfaction, this came form Customer Satisfaction: The Other Half of Your Job, by Dru Scott.
Paula Coppock presented the speaker with two Chamber Bucks and a Ponca City tee-shirt. The retail committee of the Chamber made the arrangements.
Bank of Oklahoma, N.A. celebrated the opening of its new location recently by presenting a $500 check to Hospice of Ponca City Inc. The presentation came during a ribbon-cutting ceremony to inaugurate the new branch, located inside the new Albertson's in the Ponca Plaza Shopping Center.
"We're fortunate to be in this position," said Maxine Anderson, branch manager of BOK-Ponca City. "The people of Ponca City have been good to Bank of Oklahoma and this is one way we can give something back. We're proud of the work Hospice does for Ponca. We hope they benefit from this donation."
The check was presented to Melody Lahann, executive director of Hospice.
"We're very appreciative of this donation from Bank of Oklahoma," she said. "This will go far in furthering the efforts of Hospice of Ponca City."
BOK Financial Corp. is a multi-holding company with $5.2 billion in assets, whose bank subsidiaries are Bank of Oklahoma, N.A.; Citizens Bank of Northwest Arkansas, N.A.; First National Bank of Park Cities, and First Texas Bank.
BOKF has 69 bank locations, including 25 in the Oklahoma City area and 25 in the Tulsa area. Other operating units include Citizens Mortgage Corp., BOK Mortgage, BancOklahoma Trust Co., Alliance Trust Co., N.A. and TransFund Electronic Funds Transfer Network.
BOK Mortgage is the largest originator of home loans in Oklahoma, with a total servicing portfolio of $5.9 billion. BancOklahoma Trust Co. is the state's leading fiduciary organization. BOKF's Alliance Trust Co., has offices in Dallas and Sherman, Texas.
TransFund has more than 600 machines installed in a five-state area and services more than 175 financial institutions and about 750,000 cardholders.
The grand opening of the 355th Friedman's Jewelers store will be May 10 at 10 a.m., in Ponca Plaza, announces Robert Morris, president.
Friedman's Jeweler is the third largest jewelry store chain in the nation. Morris said, "We chose Ponca City as a home for a new store after we looked at dozens of other cities in the area because of the outstanding potential for future growth that we saw here. We are excited about serving the residents of the Ponca City area by offering a great selection of merchandise, affordable prices, and instant credit and employment opportunities."
Nickles Industrial Manufacturing Corporation lost 74 years of experience recently with the retirement of two employees.
Richard (RC) Whiting began working for Nickles Industrial in Ponca City in January 1954. Appropriately Nick-named "Blister" by his co-workers, during his 43 year tenure Whiting served as a machinist, supervisor and leadman.
Reynold (Rey) Linder began working for Baasch-Ross Tool Company which became Panhandle Industrial and is now Nickles Industrial Pampa Division in September 1965. Linder was the last person to have worked for the founding company Baasch-Ross. He serve his 31 year tenure as a machinist.
"Both of these men should be very proud of their achievements, we truly appreciate their many years of loyalty," said Bob Nickles vice president general manager. "We wish them well in their retirement."
ONABDC Rep Here
A representative of Oklahoma Native American Business Development Center will be visiting the Ponca City area to offer technical assistance for American Indian individuals or tribes interested in starting a business. Technical assistance is provided by the ONABDC in the area of developing business plans and financial packages. In addition, assistance through procurement information is also available. All of the services provided by ONABDC are available at no cost to American Indians.
The ONABDC representative will be in at the Poncan Tribal office, 20 White Eagle Drive, on Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ONABDC is funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency, located at 2727 East Twenty-first, suite 102 Tulsa. For an appointment call (800) 736-1115.
Bank Luncheon
Pioneer Bank and Trust's monthly Board of Director's luncheon was hosted recently by Carl R. Renfro, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Tom Quillin, president, and director, Lee Brown and Cory Bowker.
Attending this month were Carol Bouldin, registered representative, Equitable Life Assurance; Betty Covey, owner, Betty's Boutique; Mitch Garrity, owner, Mitchco Fabrications; Warren Franz, owner Woodridge Market; Chris Hand, City Commissioner, and Bettie Marsh, Assistant District Attorney.
New Manager
Christopher Arnold is the new manager of The Buckle at Ponca Plaza. Originally from Enid, Arnold has been with The Buckle for two years.
The Buckle was first established in Kearney, Neb., in 1964 primarily as a denim location. Since then The Buckle has become a speciality fashion retail in casual apparel.
On New Board
Van Gemmill, Ponca Finance Company, is a member of a new board Council for Credit Reform. The Council includes members from each of three statewide organizations considering Class "B" lenders - companies making small-dollar loans to borrowers with little or no credit, or bad credit.
The Council is pushing for reforms in their own industry, uniting owners of small loan companies throughout Oklahoma to support restrictions and provisions written into House Bill 1393, under consideration in both houses of the Legislature.
Three commercial building permits were issued during April with a total valuation of $297,500, according to the report of James Brown, building inspector. One single family home permit was issued at an valuation of $25,000.
There were three remodel addition permits issued with a valuation $38,700 and 17 miscellaneous permits had a total valuation of $28,678. There were 25 building inspections made.
There were 27 electrical permits issued by Rick Parrack, electrical inspector, and 81 inspections made. Twenty-five plumbing permits were issued by Buddy R. Osborn, plumbing inspector, and 67 inspections.
Osborn, also mechanical inspector, issued 25 permits and there were 50 in inspections.
Kay County unemployment rate for March, according to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission is listed at 6.4 percent down from 7.2 percent in February and down two tenths of a percent from March 1996 which was 6.2.
The state average unemployment for March was 3.6 percent and the national average was 5.5 percent.
Other area counties include Osage, which showed 3.9 for March, 4.1 for February and 4 percent a year ago; Grant, 2.4 percent compared to 2.1 in February and 2.2 percent, a year ago; Noble, 3.2 percent compared to 3.3 in February, and 3.5 percent in 1996; Pawnee, 5.8 percent compared to 6 percent in February 6.3 a year ago; Payne, 1.7 percent, compared to 1.8 and 1.9.
BLACKWELL - O'Reilly Auto Parts has opened a new story at 825 West Doolin in Blackwell. The 5,600 square foot store has a staff of seven, including manager Tony Patterson.
O'Reilly Auto Parts was founded in 1957 and now operates 230 stores in
Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska. There are about 3,337
team members employed in the branch stores and office/warehouses in Springfield,
Mo., Kansas City, Mo., and Oklahoma City.
LIFESTYLES
Members of Delta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma will meet May 17 at the Rose Stone Inn. The brunch will begin at 10 a.m. followed by initiation. The Delta Chapter was founded in Ponca City March 2, 1935.
Sandra Pendergraft, president, and the membership committee will present nine professional educators who have met the qualifications for initiation into The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. Committee members are Opal Upshaw, Judy Throop, Martha Rodriques and Josette Kelle.
Scholarship recipients will be announced at the meeting. Barbara Radd will present the "Rose Award" she received from Dorothy Scott.
Hostesses will be Judy DeCamp, Ermal Murphy, Carol Powell, Elaine Harman and Sandy Pendergraft.
Eric and Regina Schultz of Kansas City announce the birth of a daughter, Bethany Nicole, on April 28, 1997 at 1:57 p.m. in the Shawnee Mission, Kan. hospital. She weighed 8-pounds, 1-ounce and was 19-inches long.
Maternal grandparents are Ron and Linda Paulsen of Ponca City and paternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Peter Schultz of Houston, Texas, former residents of Ponca City.
Grat-grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Henry Paulsen of Longdale, Mrs. Lucille Kusch of Fairview, the late Fred Kusch, and Mr. and Mrs. Orin Porter of Ponca City.
Madison Lynn Taber is the name selected by Greg and Kim Taber, 2107 Bainbridge, for their daughter born on March 7, 1997 at 7:52 a.m. at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. The baby weighed 9-pounds, 1-ounce and was 22-inches long. She has two brothers, Ryan and Ethan Taber.
Grandparents are Frank and Pat Marquiess of Wagoner and Ernie and Edith Taber of Ponca City.
Mr. and Mrs. Don R. Lehman of Charlotte, N.C. and Destin, Fla. announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Shana Beth, to Brett Robisch, son of David and Lou Robisch of Springfield, Ill. The wedding is planned for May 31 in Destin, Fla.
Shana is the granddaughter of Marge Decker of Ponca City, and the late Howard Decker, and Elva Lehman of Stillwater, and the late Ted Lehman.
The bride-elect will receive her bachelor of science degree in Human Environmental Sciences in graduation ceremonies May 10 at Oklahoma State University. Robisch plays center on the OSU "Cowboys" Basketball Team and plans to graduate from OSU in the spring of 1998.
The March meeting of the Kay County Mounties included committee and project reports. Laura Hoy led the 4-H Club ritual and each member gave their captain report. Hallie Godbehere, secretary, read the minutes and LaVerne Byler gave the financial report.
Those items reported on included the Dress Review, Bread Show, Teen Leaders, Nardin Parade, Ronald McDonald Fundraiser and the tractor driving school.
Carlie Godbehere gave a demonstration on making paper frogs and Cory
Ingram introduced guests Sean Skaggs and Brandi Roundtree. The next meeting
will be May 8 at 7 p.m. at the Alley home. Those wanting to ride should
be there at 6 p.m.
SPORTS
By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
OWASSO - The Wildcat golfers have been living on the edge for most of the season, but they managed to squeak by one more time Monday as they qualified for the state tournament in Oklahoma City.
The Cats grabbed the final berth from the regional tournament at the Bailey Golf Ranch, edging past Edmond Santa Fe by one stroke after 36 holes.
"We finished in the dark," coach Dan McGregor said," and it was exciting."
The day-long tournament went so long that the last group was compacted to seven players instead of the usual three or four.
"If we hadn't been able to finish, it would have reverted to 27 holes and if it had we probably wouldn't have qualified. We had a poor first nine in the second round. But the kids put it back together on the back nine."
Ponca City finished with a 318-324-642, scraping past Santa Fe (643) for sixth place in the eastern regional.
The Poncans will advance to the state tournament at Oklahoma City's Twin Hills next Monday and Tuesday.
It was close, but the Po-Hi linksters kept coach McGregor's streak of nine straight state appearances alive.
"It came down to our last man," McGregor said of the late finish Monday. "Aaron Hill did a great job of coming back to score an 80. Another stroke and we wouldn't have made it. And it came at a time when we had to hustle to get in."
But the finish was a bit hair-raising. Hill's approach shot on the final hole landed in the hazard. He got out with a shot near the cup. But disaster almost struck at the last minute.
"Aaron started to mark his ball on the green but it was getting really dark and he realized he couldn't see his coin. So he put the ball back down to mark it with a bigger coin," McGregor recalls.
"But another player putted as he put his ball down and his ball hit Aaron's ball. We had to wait 30 minutes for a ruling. Fortunately, neither kid was penalized. A two-stroke penalty would have kept us from qualifying."
Casey Orr led the Ponca City scoring with 75-80-155. Matt Waddell had 76-81-157, Eric Smith 81-83-164, Hill 90-80-170 and Chris Parton 86-84-170.
"Casey will be making his fourth straight state tournament and Eric is in his third," McGregor noted. "And I was real pleased with Aaron. This was his first varsity tournament and he came back real strong in the second round."
Jenks, which had three players in the top 10, won its fifth tournament of the season with a 296-299-595. Muskogee was second with 310-293-603, followed by Bartlesville at 308-306-614, Tulsa Union 316-308-624, Enid 314-312-626 and Ponca City.
Joining Edmond Santa Fe (319-324) in going home for the season were Stillwater (327-331-658) and Tulsa Memorial (333-331-664).
The tournament medalist was Jenks sophomore J.C. DeLeon, who had a three-under 71-70-141.
"I'm just happy we got in," McGregor said. "Santa Fe trailed us but just one stroke after the first rounds. I'm sure they caught us during that third nine. But our kids regrouped and shot pretty well on the final nine.
"We have some things to work on before state. We're still not seeing where we hit the ball. We were in the hazards and sand traps all day long. We got out alright, but those strokes hurt us.
"Twin Hills is a tough course. It's tight and it's long. It will be a rough tournament."
West Regional
at John Conrad GC
Edmond North 298-299-597, Westmoore 306-301-607, Edmond Memorial 315-298-613, Choctaw 310-306-616, Lawton Eisenhower 315-309-624, Midwest City 318-316-634. (DNQ) Putnam North 321-324-645, Yukon 328-329-657.
By DAVID BROWN
News Associate Sports Editor
Ponca City's Lady Wildcats won three of four events in the regional tennis tournament here Monday and claimed a long-awaited regional team championship for the program.
Senior Michelle Means (22-7) rebounded from a difficult semifinal win to take the title in No. 2 singles and both doubles teams lived up to their No. 1 seedings with regional championships.
The No. 1 team of Natalie Lindsay and Abby Frick (25-10) had little trouble in its two matches while the No. 2 team of Romi Foreman and Melissa Collogan (26-2) had to rally back from a set down in the finals.
Sophomore Ashley Roussel (23-14) also qualified for the 5A State Tournament with a third place finish in No. 1 singles. Means and Roussel were 3-seeds in the tournament.
"The girls just had a strong tournament," said longtime head coach Don Lambring. "They played hard and I was proud of them. I hope they can use this regional win as extra momentum to carry through into the state tournament and help them keep up this good play."
The state tournament will be held at the Oklahoma City Tennis Center Friday at Saturday. Class 5A players will be on the courts at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday and again at 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday.
Lambring said he thought the last girls' regional tournament championship team from Ponca City was in 1987, the last year the Lady Cats won State.
Ponca City finished with 33 points to edge out Edmond North, which had 28 points. Union scored 20, Norman 18, Mustang 16, Bartlesville 14, Stillwater 11 and Putnam City had 6 points.
Means' win in No. 2 singles was the biggest surprise for the Lady Cats, especially after she lost the second set of the semifinals 6-0 to Edmond North's Allison Mawdsley, who was seeded third but should have been seeded second.
But Means came flying back in the third set to win 6-2 and then wiped out Tiffany Dutton of Union in the finals, 6-1, 6-1.
Dutton reached the finals by beating 2-seeded Christy Tolin of Norman 6-1, 6-2. Tolin was a controversial 2-seed and ended up finishing fifth in the field to miss the state tournament.
The No. 2 seed came via a win over an injured Mawdsley earlier this season.
Regional Tennis Results
Ponca City Lady Wildcats
No. 1 Singles
Ashley Roussel def. Burkey, Mustang, 6-1, 6-1; lost to Barbe, Union, 6-0, 4-6, 2-6; def. Elmore, Norman, 6-1, 6-0; def. Pierce, B-ville, 6-2, 6-3.
No. 2 Singles
Michelle Means def. Augelli, Stillwater, 6-2, 6-2; def. Mawdsley, Ed. North, 6-4, 0-6, 6-2; def. Dutton, Union, 6-1, 6-1.
No. 1 Doubles
Natalie Lindsay-Abby Frick bye; def. Smith-Winkler, Norman, 6-2, 6-2; def. Templeton-Pieriron, Ed. North, 6-3, 6-3.
No. 2 Doubles
Romi Foreman-Melissa Collogan bye; def. Givens-Hathaway, 6-0, 6-0; def. Bradley-Herlihy, Ed. North, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.
MOORE - Ponca City's Wildcats finished a strong fourth in the 18th Lion Invitational Tennis Tournament held here Monday. Bartlesville won the 12-team tourney with 46 points, followed by Mustang, 37; Del City, 30; and Ponca City with 28 points.
Ponca City's No. 2 doubles team of Donovan Weems and Chris Brune finished second. The Cats also got two fifth place finishes and a ninth.
The No. 1 doubles team of Matt Stuemky and Micha Alexander were fifth as was freshman Daniel Lee in No. 2 singles. No. 1 singles player Bilal Agha, another freshman, took ninth after losing his opening match.
"The kids played a lot better," said head coach Steve Larimer. "The doubles teams made smarter shots. They didn't just try to kill the ball."
The Wildcats can now set their sights on Monday's regional tournament in Ponca City. Joining the Cats will be Edmond North, Bartlesville, Westmoore, Del City, Tahlequah, Putnam City West and Union.
Tournament Results
Ponca City at Moore
No. 1 Singles
Bilal Agha lost to Zenner, Chr. Heritage, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6; def. Troung, Del City JV, 6-4, 6-3; def. Doan, U.S. Grant, 6-0, 6-3.
No. 2 Singles
Daniel Lee def. Davis, Chr. Heritage, 6-2, 6-4; lost to Lehman, B-ville, 0-6, 6-7; def. Theodorsson, Moore JV, 6-2, 6-1; def. Robinson, PC West, 7-5, 6-3.
No. 1 Doubles
Stuemky-Alexander def. Wilson-Echols, Chr. Heritage, 6-1, 6-2; lost to Parker-Polk, Moore, 2-6, 2-6; def. Smith-Trout, Choctaw, 6-3, 6-1; def. Salas-Salas, U.S. Grant, 6-4, 6-1.
No. 2 Doubles
Weems-Brune def. Aamed-Pajel, Moore JV, 6-1, 6-1; def. Carlock-Dorris, PC West, 1-6, 6-3, 7-5; lost to Richmond-Newby, B-ville, 2-6, 0-6.
Volleyball Meeting - Lady Wildcat volleyball coach Steve McKay has called a meeting for all prospective high school volleyball players and their parents for Thursday at 7 p.m. in the old boys' gym.
Practices and the 1997 season will be discussed.
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Track Meet - The Ponca City Track Club will hold a mini-meet Thursday, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the high school track.
The events will include a 50-meter dash for those under six years of age as well as all-age 100-meter dash, 800-meter run, long jump, high jump and shot put.
There is no entry fee and signups will be made at the track Thursday.
The track club practices each Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at the high school track from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
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Tennis Lessons - The Ponca City Parks and Recreation Department Summer Tennis Program is scheduled for May 28 through July 25.
Mike Larimer will be the instructor for the program for students age seven through 18. The program is for beginners, advance beginners, championship players and tournament players.
Registration will be held at the Wally Smith Tennis Center on Monday, May 19.
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Basketball Shootouts - The Midwest Exposure Shootouts, sponsored by the Oklahoma Hoops Recruiting, will be held in May, June and July,
The Prep Spring Shootout is open only to high school girls and will be played on May 18 at Rose State College in Midwest City. The first-ever Youth Shootout will be held on June 21 at Stillwater and is open to boys and girls in grades 4-8. The Midwest Summer Shootout will be held at Oklahoma State University Stillwater on July 30. For information call (405) 377-HOOP or 372-5109.
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Youth Basketball - The Arkansas City/Mid America Youth Basketball Tournament will be held May 30-June 1 at various sites in Arkansas City.
This tournament is for girls and boys in the fifth through 12th grades. Teams from around the region will compete against each other in pool type play, with each team guaranteed a minimum of five games. Pool play will progress into a tournament format with eventual tournament champions crowned in nine separate divisions. All games are sanctioned by the Mid America Youth Basketball Association, played under the basic Kansas High School rules format.
Deadline for entries is May 9. For information call 316-441-4300.
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Baseball Tournament - The Arkansas City Baseball Tournament for 13-14 year old teams will be held May 29-June 1.
Three games are guaranteed. The entry fee is $100 and two baseballs. The games will be six inning or an hour and a half. For information, contact Brian Schmidtberger, PO Box 1112, Arkansas City, Ks., 67005 or call 316-442-4040 (work) or 316-422-6172 (home).
Toby Redleaf threw a one-hitter and Kevin Reeser had a solo home run as the Wildcat junior varsity baseballer beat Oklahoma City U.S. Grant, 10-0, here Friday.
Redleaf struck out three and walked one. The Wildcats had six hits and had no errors as they finished the season at 16-15.
OWASSO - Ponca City's Craig Poet fired a 78 and was in the middle of the pack for the first round of the $15,000 Prairie Golf Classic at the Bailey Golf Ranch.
The professional tournament was sandwiched between the two round of the high school east regional tournament.
Henry Cagigal of Fort Worth was the pro event leader with a 67. Dustin
Wigington of Oklahoma City posted a 68. Darren Watts of Bethany, John Bizik
of Grove and Jeff McMillian of Stillwater had 69.