From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Wednesday,
May 21, 1997
LOCAL
Families Get Help With New Homes
Rededication of Gravesite Brings Mundy Family Together
Love of the Game Keeps Soccer Refs Going
Ranch Rodeo Showcases Real Cowboy Skills, Spirit
Head Country Ranch Rodeo Different Than Typical Event
Area Calendar
PTC Staffers Attend Regional AVA Session
Girl Scouts End Busy School Year
Caregiver Issues Have Tremendous Impact
Emergency Sirens To Sound Thursday
'Buckle Up' Message By City Police
Good Shepherd Lutheran Youth Plan Float Trip
Support of Cultural Center Noted With Membership Drive Incentives Discussed
NOC Nursing Graduates Include Ponca Citians
County Resident Becomes Family Nurse Practitioner
Board Tables Community Pool Agreement With YMCA
Mansion Restoration Top Priority
Graffiti, Vandalism Cleared by Police
EDF Directors Set Special Meeting
18 Arrested in Drug Roundup
DEATHS
Carwin C. Miller
Glendel Paul Willis
Services Pending
Glen D. Burgell
NEWS BRIEFS
LIFESTYLES
1951 Newkirk School Class Picture No Longer 'Missing'
Xi Zeta Lambda Names Social Plans
Kay County Mounties Successful in Fund-Raising Campaign
SPORTS
Legion Looks Strong
Flegler-Brown Win Buddy Bass Trophy
Wetlands Benefiting State in Many Ways
Free Fishing Days June 7-8 in State
Legion Baseball Schedules
Penninger Fete Is Set At Robson
By LAURA TREADWAY
News Staff Writer
The Ponca City Habitat for Humanity continues to improve the quality of life for the community and provide families a decent place to live.
Since its organization in 1991, the local group has rehabilitated six homes. Projects have been completed with help and donations from local church groups, businesses, civic groups and individuals.
In Ponca City, each house has been gutted, then rebuilt with new walls, roof, flooring and central heat and air. Habitat is not a give away program either.
Future homeowners are required to invest "sweat equity" hours in Habitat projects. This reduces the cost of each project, increases the pride of ownership and fosters positive relationships.
Once families have been placed into a home, Habitat continues the relationship through nurturers, who provide assistance with budgets and home repairs. This process insures that families can become stable homeowners.
New Construction
In April, Habitat purchased two lots in the 300 block of South Franklin Street for $800. When they went to apply for a new home building permit, the board discovered the last permit had been obtained in Aug. 1996.
Volunteers are excited about this new endeavor, because until now, the houses have all be rehabilitations. Work began last week.
Additionally, the local organization has been willed a house on Seventh Street. The property is still in probate and is in good condition, according to Vice President Mike Trewitt. He and board President Carolyn Richardson confirmed the board plans to sell the property and use the funds for other projects.
Contributions and Fund Raisers
Habitat depends solely on contributions. Funds donated are put back into the houses. As payments are made by the homeowners, the money comes back to Habitat and is used again for future projects.
The local Habitat tithes 10 percent to Habitat International unless the contribution is specified for "local use only," according to Richardson. The international group uses the funds to build homes in foreign countries.
In 1996, Habitat began handling space at the flea market at Ponca Plaza, which is held on Sundays. Parking spaces are rented for $7 per space. According to Trewitt, spaces must be reserved in advance. Anyone interested in reserving space for the flea market should contact Trewitt at 767-1770.
Additionally, hand-painted Christmas ornaments are sold annually for a minimum contribution of $10. Other fund raisers include an annual golf tournament as well as setting up craft and food booths during local events. Items range from hats, sweatshirts, earrings, pins to shirts with the Habitat logo.
Also, Habitat International has produced two cookbooks for the board to sell. The book, "Partners in the Kitchen-From Our House to Yours" contains miscellaneous recipes. Also, "Homes Sweet Habitat" contains desserts recipes only. The books are available for $12 each.
To purchase sale items, contact Richardson at 765-2089 after 5 p.m.
Volunteers
According to Stan Brown, who has been involved in Habitat since its inception, says anyone can be a Habitat volunteer. People are needed to serve on committees, help raise funds, public relations, family nurturing and selection and construction planning.
Volunteers invest more than 2,000 hours in each home. Volunteers meet at the current construction site every Friday and Saturday morning.
Application
Homeowners are required to demonstrate a need for adequate housing. Financial information must accompany an application. The applicants must have suitable income, good credit and be able to make monthly payments from $100 to $200.
Families must complete a minimum of 50 "sweat equity" hours sixth months before they are presented to the board for approval. After working 200 hours, a family is recommended for a home.
Families are required to complete 350 hours total working at the site, stuffing envelopes, working at fund raisers, getting a GED or attending college or vo-tech.
Applicants are chosen for their willingness to become partners and willingness to repay the mortgage on a 20-year no interest loan. Contact the Family Selection Committee to become a Habitat homeowner. Call Joyce Moulton at 762-6008 or Dennis Robertson at 762-3376.
Habitat volunteers in Oklahoma build 22 new homes, rehabilitated 11 and repaired three. In 1995, they built 60 new homes and rehabilitated or repaired 73.
Habitat for Humanity was founded in Americus, Ga., in 1976. Members are dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty and homelessness.
Board of Directors
The 1997 board consists of: Barbara Arnold, Gina Bowman, Stan Brown, Monte Fey, Dorothy Graesch, David Helton, Dill Hicks, Fred Lyon, Treva McClung, Stan Paynter, Richardson, Dennis Robertson, Jan Rodd, Bill Rodgers, Pat Stout, Bill Stuever, Trewitt, Dallas Winter and Kip Wright.
By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Staff Writer
Many people trace the genealogy of their families, but few have had the experience of Rhoda Young, who recently attended the rededication of her great-grandfather Isaac Mundy's grave in Kansas City, Kan.
Mundy, who was the tribal blacksmith, died at in 1858. He was so respected by the members of the Delaware Indian Tribe, he was accorded the honor of being the only white person to be buried with the Delawares in the cemetery at White Church in Kansas City, Kan.
On Mundy's grave is carved this is tribute: "A man among a thousand distinguished in the community for his integrity, his piety, and his extensive influence in the community."
Mundy was born May 30, 1814, in Halifax, County, Va., the son of Jesse Mundy and Rebekah Bruce, who were planters. He and Lucy Hines, the daughter of another planter, fell in love and were married July 10, 1835, and immediately joined a wagon train of 40 persons to head west, in spite of their parents' disapproval.
After three months on the road they settled at Westport, Jackson County, Mo., which later became Kansas City. About 1845 Isaac became a government agent (paymaster) in the Delaware Indian Reservation in Kansas territory. For a time they were the only white family among the Indians, and the first whites in what was later to become the state of Kansas.
Isaac was a blacksmith and a cutter by trade. After his death the Delawares carefully carried him and his personal belongings 30 miles back to his wife, insisting that he be buried in a place of honor near the grave of their recently deceased Chief Ketchum.
After his death Lucy and her family of seven children (three had died in infancy) moved across the Kansas River to a more civilized settlement in Weston, Platte County, Mo., in 1859. She died there in 1904.
Refurbishing the Stones
Refurbishing of the gravestones was spearheaded by Deborah Nichols, a Missouri woman of Delaware descent, after many years of loving concern. The tombstones were in bad repair.
Nichols writes, "In addition to a thorough cleaning to remove over a century's worth of dirt and biodeposits, the gravestones have been pinned back together and repaired with an epoxy appropriate for historic marble. Five of the stones were broken into at least two pieces, and five required new limestone bases in order to be set upright once more. One interesting note is that five footstones are still intact which go with these gravestones."
Coincidence?
However by this time no one knew of many descendants of Isaac Mundy, but at the same time a woman in California, Sharon Van Vleet, was working on the genealogy of her line which was that of Isaac Mundy,.
She contacted the family of Rhoda Young in Ponca City, a great-granddaughter of Isaac. Rhoda's son, Dr. William Young, had located his great-great-grandfather's grave site at White Church. He was perplexed to find that the stone was missing, but was told by a church trustee that it was being restored along with eight Delaware graves, and that he would be notified of the date of the dedication ceremony.
After this startling coincidence Young wrote Deborah Nichols and she replied, "Yours isn't the first 'coincidence' related to this project. I have been working on it for two years I have come to believe the old Delawares want it to turn out right - it wouldn't be right without some of Isaac Mundy's family, would it?"
The Kansas City Star story tells of the death of Mundy. "In February of 1858, Isaac Mundy was killed by the accidental discharge of his own gun while on a hunt. He carried a very long, double-barreled shotgun and in hurriedly dismounting from his horse the hammers of his gun struck a log lying near, discharging both barrels"
This information was research by Dr. William Young, a professor of religion at Westminster College, Fulton, Mo.
More Coincidence
When the Young family arrived at White Church on April 26 the first persons they met were the Hague family of Pawhuska. One of the women was the great-great-granddaughter of Captain Ketchum. The Hagues were former Ponca City residents, and Mr. Hague, was at one time employed with Robertson Construction Company and had worked on the building of the Presbyterian Church in Ponca City.
Rhoda's husband Art, had been minister of the Presbyterian Church for a number of years.
Also present at the ceremony and speaking eloquently was Curtis Zunigha of Bartlesville, chief of the Delawares. He noted that he was 43 years of age, the age at which Isaac Mundy died. William Young spoke to represent the Mundy relatives, who came not only from Missouri and Oklahoma, but also from California and Chicago.
Mrs. Young says, "We were most cordially received by the Rev. Larry Adams, pastor of White Church, and his congregation, and served a lunch following the service.
White Church
The church is located at 2200 North 80th Street in Kansas City, Kan. During the Delaware residence, when several of the Delaware Ketchums served as Methodist pastors, it was a walnut frame church, painted white (for which it was named) built in 1844.
The church was destroyed by a tornado in 1866. There must of been earlier churches because older Mundy family members told stories of how Isaac and Lucy lived for a time in a room in the back of the church. Lucy, who had a beautiful singing voice, would step out on occasion and lead the congregation in song. Later they had their own log cabin.
Interesting footnotes in the Mundy story are these book excerpts. "The Beginning of the West" by Louise Barry, mentions that Isaac Mundy worked with the Pottawatomies before he worked for the Delawares. Another book, by Percival Lowe, "Five Years a Dragon," mentions troops spending a Christmas eve at he Mundy house.
The nine tombstones from the mid-1800s in the cemetery were recently refurbished under a Heritage Trust Fund Grant from the Kansas Historic Society.
The matching funds were donated by the Delaware Tribe, Bartlesville, White Church Christian Church, the Wyandotte County Historical Society, the descendants of Isaac Mundy and Deborah Nichols.
The Delaware cemetery and the present church building, dedicated in 1906, are both on the state register of historic sites.
Delaware History
According to Deborah Nichols, the Delaware tribe resided in Kansas nearly 40 years from 1829-1868, and during that time about 1,000 of the tribe were buried there. However, eventually the unmarked graves fell prey to vandals and encroaching settlements.
Only nine of the graves remain. These include, Capt. Ketchum, whose stone is inscribed, "Chief of the Delaware Nation 28 years. Member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South 22 years. Born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, died July 11, 1857, age 77 years." The stone is a large marble obelisk.
He was chief of the turtle band, becoming principal chief in 1848. He has many descendants in the tribe today including Fay Arellano, who recently published a resource book.
Another impressive gravestone is that of the Rev. Charles Ketchum, who was the great-great-grandfather of the late chief, Lewis Ketchum, Dee Ketchum and Pat O'Donnell. His gravestone says, "Rev. Charles Ketchum , born Dec. 1811, died July 20, 1860. One of the chief counselors of the Delawares Indians and by his death, the nation met with an irreparable loss."
Buried next to Charles is Rev. Jacob Ketchum, presumed to b a brother, who died June 28, 1866, at age 47.
Also buried there is William S. Ketchum, died in 1858, at age, 16. He was the son of the Rev. James Ketchum, a Delaware minister and brother to Charles and Jacob.
Three Delaware sisters are buried next to each other, Hatty Ann Ketchum, Lucinda M. Ketchum and Jane Ketchum O'Donnell. According to the records Lucinda and Jane attend the Baptist Mission School. Buried next to Jane is an unnamed infant.
By Shanley Wells
Special to The News
"Good game Ref! You oughta watch it sometime!" "Hey Ref, you wanna borrow my glasses?"
Soccer referees have heard it all from parents, coaches, and players. They have a lot to deal with during a game, so why do they do it? "I love the game," says Ponca City Soccer Club Referee Coordinator Gail DeWeese. "Right now there is no place for me to play soccer, so refereeing is my way of staying involved with the game."
DeWeese, the only adult female soccer referee in Ponca City, has been officiating for 15 years. "I quit a couple of years ago because I got tired of being blamed for a team losing."
But love of the sport brought her back, and love of the game is what 10-year-old Nick Durham says compels him to referee. In his second season as a registered referee, Durham says he does it "to earn money, to watch people play, and to have fun."
A fifth grader at Woodlands Elementary, Durham prefers to ref younger players' games because he says they are out to have fun and play soccer without focusing only on winning.
The smaller kids are also fun to watch. Durham laughs as he remembers a game of girls under ten years old where one player kicked the ball into her own goal scoring a point for the other team.
Ben Duke, a soccer parent in his tenth year as a ref, says he also loves the game and enjoys the exercise refereeing provides, but he sticks with it primarily for the players. He says, "It's important for them to learn how to be part of a team. Our goal is for the kids to have fun playing soccer and to keep the game fair and safe."
DeWeese, a soccer parent herself, says she is also "out there for the kids." She enjoys helping the kids and guiding them as they learn to play soccer. DeWeese recalls a game of players under-8-years-old preparing for their first game. She introduced herself to the kids telling them she was the referee when one child interrupted her by saying, "Nuh uh you're the soccer police!"
While they are not exactly police, local soccer referees are highly qualified and are required to register with OSA (the Oklahoma Soccer Association) and FIFA (the Federation Internationale de Football Association). Soccer referees cannot officiate a sanctioned game in the United States without being registered with FIFA. Ponca City refs must also pass an exam and annually renew their registration with both organizations.
The Ponca City Soccer Club has 46 registered soccer referees who range in age from 10 to 50 years old. Most refs gain game experience by playing, originally learning the rules as players, and then beginning their referee careers with children's games.
Making the transition from player to official can be intimidating, but for DeWeese it was out of necessity. She started refereeing shortly after beginning to play soccer; the adult recreational league needed refs to keep the games going, so she jumped in and learned backwards - by doing adult games first.
Sometimes grumbling starts on the sidelines when fouls are not called. It is the referee's decision to not hinder the game, to keep it free flowing. "As a soccer parent myself, I understand the concern of parents who want every foul called to protect the children, but I also understand the players' desire to keep playing," says Duke.
Even though the refs do not usually call trivial fouls or infractions, it is the ref's decision to strike a balance, and each official has his or her own style.
Duke suggests that parents, players, and coaches give their trust to the referee. "The ref is closer to the play, and there are always three or four different directions you can see a play from, but the ref can only call what he sees," explains Duke.
Ten-year-old Durham suggests that parents and coaches "watch the ref's calls, and after the game make sure your kid had fun."
Durham stresses his priorities to the players before each game by telling them, "I want everyone to have fun. I don't want anyone to get in a fight, and I don't want anyone to get mad at anyone else."
DeWeese says abuse from the sidelines is often hard to take. "The referee never wins or loses a game. Maybe you made a call they didn't see or didn't understand."
Often sideline tension comes from an over-exaggerated need to win. DeWeese explains, "Some parents and coaches put pressure on their kids rather than saying let's learn, let's have fun, and let's play soccer."
But she quickly adds, "There are a lot of good people out there. There are parents and coaches who come up to us and express appreciation for all the time we give them."
As Durham says, "You just have to love the game. It's fun. If you don't have anything to do during the weekends, it's something to do."
Durham urges soccer lovers who are interested in officiating to consider taking the referee exam. If they successfully pass the test, he suggests they can try it one game at time, "Just try it. You can sign up for one game, and if you don't like it, don't sign up for any more. But if you do like it, you can sign up for more and more."
For information on how to become a soccer referee, contact Gail DeWeese at 765-3583.
Shanley Wells is a local freelance writer.
By S. L. Dickey
Special to The News
Woodrow Call, Augustus McCrae, Pea Eye, Newt and Deets may be fictional characters created by Larry McMurtry in Lonesome Dove, but their legend lives in 1997.
Cowboys - real cowboys - the kind that fill in the occupation blank on their 1040 Tax Forms with the word "cowboy," will be competing Friday and Saturday in the fifth annual Head County Ranch Rodeo.
This sport of ranch rodeo was formalized seven years ago to allow cowboys an opportunity to showcase those skills used in everyday ranch operation.
At the invitation of Terry Moore, local cowboy and one coordinator of this year's Head Country Ranch Rodeo, I had the opportunity to experience, first hand, everyday ranch operation and those skills the cowboys transfer to the arena in timed events for the Ranch Rodeo. I felt like I'd walked into the pages of McMurtry's novel.
The sun glistened on the heavy dew like a million diamonds randomly scattered across the prairie grass as Moore and the cowboys drove cattle into the central pen on the Cam and Wah-Leeta Smith Steele ranch east of Ponca City.
Acres and acres of green met the sky in all directions on the Steele's land, owned by their family for over a hundred years. As the song says, God may have blessed Texas, but he baptized Oklahoma with infinite blue sky, rolling green prairie and stubborn red dirt that no artist can adequately capture with his limited tools of paint or words.
Bill Elliot, ranch manager, warmly greeted me and continued preparation for the work about to begin.
Real Cowboy Duties
Like the fictional Call and Gus, these modern day cowboys are a unique combination of grit, guts and give-it-one-more-shot. They know when to hang on and when to let go. Their unspoken cowboy code communicates its existence with their actions: if you open a gate, shut it behind you; take care of your horse; take care of your fellow cowboy; pull your own weight; no wimps allowed.
They separated the animals, calves from mothers, with the loud, disharmonious symphony of bellowing cattle as music to work by. Two cowboys on horseback did the heading and/or heeling, while the ground crew cowboys worked the calves that the horsemen "drug to the fire," an expression used to describe each calf delivered by rope to the branding/work area.
One by one the calves were vaccinated, ear notched, branded, dehorned, sprayed in the ears for ticks, and if male, transformed to steers.
Those skills like roping, branding, penning and mugging that I'd only seen in the Ranch Rodeo arena suddenly came to life on a real working ranch in the heart of Oklahoma. These are skills that cowboys the world over still use day in and day out in the perfection of their trade.
Ranch Rodeo Coming
On May 23 and 24, four-man teams, made up of Oklahoma cowboys, will compete for cash and braggin' rights as the area's best cowboys.
The Head Country Ranch Rodeo will start at 7 p.m. both nights at the 101 Wild West Rodeo Arena located at Prospect and Ash.
Rodeo coordinators expect entries from 20 area teams.
Events include a Stampede Race, Wild Cow Milking, Team Branding (chalk), Team Penning, Double Mugging, Pasture Roping, a Wild Horse Race and Match Team Roping, all created to simulate real ranch work. A two-minute time limit governs all events in the arena.
A Free Calf Scramble and Break Away Steer Roping for children 12 and under will be held for the future cowboys and cowgirls to showcase their talents.
Tickets will be available the nights of the rodeo at the gate, $5 for adults 12 and older, children under 12 free.
The Ranch Rodeo's major sponsor is Head Country Bar-B-Q Restaurant. Other sponsors include: McVay's Western Outfitters, Budweiser, Country General, Blanton Chiropractic, James Martin Farrier Service & Blacksmith, Bar S Foods, Bank of Oklahoma, Jimmy's Western Wear, First National Bank & Trust Co., Oklahoma Ranch Supply, Petroleum Services, and Thorn Apple Valley. Spectators could win an Oklahoma Joe's Smoker.
The Head Country Ranch Rodeo is a rodeo different from anything you've ever seen before. The story of Lonesome Dove is a work of fiction but the Head Country Ranch Rodeo will showcase the legendary heart, skill and strength of real working ranch cowboys.
S.L. Dickey is a local freelance writer.
A rodeo different from anything you've ever seen before!
That's the way producers describe what will be happening at the 101 Wild West Rodeo Arena located at the southwest part of North Ash Street at West Prospect Avenue in Ponca City, May 23-24.
It's the Head Country Bar-B-Q Restaurant sponsored Head Country Ranch Rodeo, and all the fun begins at 7 p.m. each night.
Ranch rodeo means just exactly that. Ranch rodeo action includes 4-man teams. Not the usual rodeo cowboys participating, but actual ranches putting their best personnel on the line for a fun-filled night of competition against each other.
Take for instance, some of the events that will be going on - and it's all teamwork that counts towards the best score. In regular rodeo it's usually just one man against the culprit (calf or steer for roping or bulldogging), or wild horse or bull to ride.
In the ranch rodeo events, there's teamwork towards wild cow milking, team branding, team penning, double mugging, pasture roping and stampede race.
Added events include wild horse race, free calf scramble (for youngsters 12 and under, match team roping, breakaway steer roping (for youngsters 12 and under).
The 4-man teams will be involved in a simulated cattle stampede, jumping out of bedrolls into boots and chaps, saddling their horse and racing after the cattle to rope the leader in the "stampede race."
Roping excitement is at its highest in three events, including roping and "branding" calves (with chalk) in the "team branding," heading and heeling calves in the "pasture roping" event and then roping, throwing down and tying a 600-pound calf in the "tie down mugging" event.
Team penning competition requires a good cowboy and a good cowhorse, to pen cattle inside a stock trailer set in the middle of the arena.
What comes up as the Ranch Rodeo's answer to a standard rodeo's bull riding event, is the wild cow milking. High-horned brahma-cross cows are sent into the arena, weighing from 900-1,200 pounds and they are actually milked. Just imagine a half-ton of hooking horns and kicking feet trying to convince cowboys there ain't no way she's going to be milked.
Pasture roping is much similar to team roping in regular rodeo. Only catch - the animal must be sorted from a herd and brought back across a chalk line before roping.
The excitement of team penning finds one rider behind the line to sort the cattle, but two have to be penned, into a stock trailer.
That wild cow milking event includes cows to be caught, utilizing only one legal head catch (no multiple rope catches allowed.) and the roper must stop the cow. The milker will be using a much smaller container than the usual milk pail. Don't be surprised if it's smaller than a regular milk bottle either.
May 23-24
May 22
May 24
May 27
May 31
June 2-7
June 5
June 7
June 7-8
June 9
June 14
June 24
June 28
July 21-26
Six staff members from Pioneer Technology Center recently attended the American Vocational Association, Region IV Conference in Hot Springs, Ark.
Dr. Sally Downey, Nancy Miller, Steve Bookout, Dr. Janet Cox, Ginny Galbraith and Liz Johnston represented PTC.
Vocational and Technical educators from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas were in attendance.
"Region IV is off and running" was the theme of the Region IV Conference, coinciding with the Festival of the South and the Arkansas Derby, which concluded the season at Oaklawn Park.
Conventioneers enjoyed concurrent and round table sessions including topics such as marketing vocation education, tech prep, block grants, and computer technology, just to name a few.
Keynote speaker for the convention was Janice Sjostrand. Sjostrand earned a doctorate in education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and recently sang at the inaugural ceremonies for President Bill Clinton at Washington, D.C.
Dr. Sally Downey, superintendent, served on the Board of Region IV and represents Oklahoma on this American Vocational Board.
Several Girl Scout troops will be winding down activities for the 1996-97 school year. Here is a look at what all has happened during the spring and what we can expect until the end of school.
Daisy Girl Scouts is a program for girls in kindergarten. Troop 4, led by Donna Ramey at First Assembly Christian School has had a busy spring. Troop 4 has finished both their "Bridging to Brownies" patch and "Daisy Dabbler." Two members plus three adults participated in the Lake Ponca Park Clean-up on April 19. Brownie Troop 163 told them about Brownies at one meeting and they took a trip to the Humane Society. This month they will be making bath crystals for their mothers and having a family picnic at Lake Ponca.
Daisy Troop 5, Union Elementary, is led by Sheila Foxworthy. They worked on decorations for the Mother's Day luncheon. The most important event held during April was bridging to Brownie Girl Scouts.
Brownie Girl Scouts is a program for girls in grade 1st through 3rd.
Brownie Troop 116 led by Kate Kelly and Susan Keith has been working on "Movers," "Puppets, Dolls and Play," "Science Wonders," "Colors and shapes," and "Outdoor Happenings." They have been working on the "Outdoor Skills" patch. For service, they are continuing to help with the Peach Tree Project. In March they participated in the 85th reunion in Bartlesville and had a campout at Camp Wah-Shah-She. They held a Mystery Pal Campout on May 9-10 and held their Court of Awards on May 13.
Troop 116 has a special brownie helper, Kami Ralston. While at the grocery store she saw a mom of one of the other Brownies who was having trouble shopping due to a fussy newborn. Kami offered her services to the mom. She put the groceries on the checkout counter, sacked them, carried them out and loaded them into her car.
Brownie Troop 171 and Junior Troop 376 meet in Kildare School and are led by Sue Allen. The Brownies have been working on "Senses" and the Juniors have been working on the "Jeweler." For a service project they planted a tree and 30 flowers. They also went on a field trip to the zoo. This month they will be having their bridging ceremony.
Junior Troop 367 has members from Roosevelt School and meet at First United Methodist Church. They are led by Jeanie Wilson. In April they finished their "Car Care" badge. For a service project they planted trees at the Pioneer Woman statue. This month they are having their bridging and court of awards.
Junior Troop 316, led by Nancy Kruckeberg, spent a day at Camp Wah-Shah-She doing stamp art, cooking on a camp stove, heard Raggedy Ann stories, fingerpainted with pudding and had a great time. As a grand finale, they completed the "Pride in America" patch with the burning of the flag ceremony.
They sent a sample of each kind of Girl Scout cookies to their sister troop in Canada.
Cadette Girl Scouting is for girls in grade 6-9. Cadette Troop 458 finished their Dream to Reality and Bridging Patch. They also worked on the Gold Medal and Mystery Pals patch. On April 18, the troop went to Missouri to attend the Blazing Battlefields. They visited Precious Moments Chapel and the Springfield Mall. They camped at a KOA. May 3 they had a booth at the Iris Festival selling handmade Iris notecards.
Senior Girl Scouting is for girls in grades 9-12. Senior Girl Scout Troop 561 had their last fundraiser on May 3. They leave for Europe on May 26.
"Caregiving: Compassion in Action" is this year's theme for Older Americans Month.
Caregiver issues are having a tremendous impact on everyone. Recently released census data indicated that one in four Oklahoma families is now involved in some form of caregiving. Caregivers play a critical role in enhancing the quality of life for older individuals, and need to be supported in their efforts.
Older individuals in Oklahoma are affected by caregiving issues in two ways. First, they are among the five million Americans who are recipients of care from more than 22 million informal caregivers. Often these "informal" caregivers are the lifelines that their older relatives and friends rely on, not only for daily care, but to bring them critical information about the community services and national programs available to assist them.
Second, it is estimated that 35 percent of the country's caregiving force is aged 65 or older. This counters the perception that older individuals are only the recipients of care.
Additionally, more grandparents than ever before are finding themselves in the role of primary caregiver of a child. Therefore, the Department of Human Services, Aging Services Division, asks that citizens help educate Oklahomans about caregiving and the aging-related services available in the state to assist them.
What is Caregiving?
Informal caregiving is defined as unpaid care provided to a person aged 65 or older who has an impairment that limits that person's independence and requires some level of ongoing assistance. Research indicates that the bulk of long-term care in the U.S. is provided by informal caregivers.
In fact, only one in five older persons needing long-term care lives in a nursing home. The remainder live in their own communities, thanks to the support of informal caregivers who routinely assist with a range of activities.
These caregiving activities usually fall into one of four categories: emotional support, direct service provision, linkage with the formal service sector and financial assistance. Studies have shown that adult children now provide more emotional support to their older parents than ever before and that most caregivers are involved in providing direct services to those they care for as well. These direct services range from what are called instrumental activities of daily living, such as transportation, shopping and housecleaning, to activities of daily living, which include bathing, dressing, eating and moving about.
Who are Caregivers
The family remains as committed as ever to caring for dependent, older family members. For the most part, today's primary informal caregiver in the U.S. is a wife or an adult daughter. In the absence of a wife or daughter, another relative usually steps in. Where no family members are available, older persons in need of assistance will turn to friends and neighbors.
The average age of family caregivers in the U.S. is 46 years. Twelve percent of the caregiving population is aged 65 or older. According to the Administration on Aging, many Americans do not realize that at least 20 percent of the nation's informal caregiving force is made up of the "young-old" caring for the "old-old."
Women represent 75 percent of the caregivers in the U.S., but husbands are by far the older caregivers, with 42 percent aged 75 or over.
The testing of the Ponca City emergency siren warning system will be held at noon, every Thursday, according to Tom Montgomery, emergency management operations officer.
The test is scheduled throughout the year.
Montgomery said that in case of inclement weather, the test will be postponed, and in this case or if additional tests are planned, the public will be notified by the Ponca City News and the radio stations.
"Unbuckled children are unacceptable" is the message that the Ponca City Police Department along with other law enforcement agencies are sending.
In conjunction with Buckle Up America Week, the Air Bag Safety Campaign, is trying to educate the public about the importance of making sure children always ride in child safety seats or safety belts. As a result, officers are increasing enforcement of Oklahoma's child passenger safety law, which states that children under age six must ride buckled up at all times.
"Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children. Unbuckled or improperly restrained children are at twice the risk for death and injury in the event of an accident," according to the Police Department.
Air Bag Safety Campaign research shows that nine out of 10 Americans know that air bags pose risks to children, yet 40 percent are still not taking the steps necessary to protect children. The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety plans to distribute 20,000 flyers about air bag safety at toll booths on interstates across the state to get the message out to residents.
The risks that air bags pose to children are entirely eliminated by properly buckling children in the back seat. Use of child passenger safety seats is the law in all 50 states. Yet, among children age 14 and under killed in motor vehicle crashes in 1995, 65 percent were not buckled up.
If all children ages from infants to four-year-olds were buckled into child safety seats, an estimated 500 deaths and over 50,000 injuries could be prevented each year.
The youth of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will be floating the Elk River in Noel, Mo. June 23-26 as part of their summer activity schedule, it was announced this week.
Good Shepherd will be holding their Vacation Bible School from June 17 through June 20, from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. There is no charge for children to attend VBS. Children up to and including the sixth grade are invited.
The program will center around basic Bible stories of Noah and the Ark, Daniel and the Lion's Den, Joseph and his coat of many colors, and Jonah and the whale. Some of the other activities will include a nature scavenger hunt and a closing program with an ice cream social. Snacks will be provided each day. To pre-enroll call Amy Furber at 762-0724.
From June 14-20, Good Shepherd will host a team of five college students from the Association of Free Lutheran Bible School who will be assisting with Vacation Bible School at Good Shepherd. They are Marnie Anderson, Andrea Burns, Jeremy Nelson, Jeremy Vance and Jennie Wiener. These students will help with Vacation Bible School, present special music, Bible studies for youth and puppets, and will present a full program for Sundays and other evenings.
Good Shepherd is located at 3109 North Union. Church services are at 9 a.m. followed by Sunday School at 10:15 a.m. Guests are always welcome. For more information call 762-4775.
A general meeting of staunch supporters of the Cultural Center established a committee Tuesday to coordinate a membership drive.
Newly elected vice president Rebecca Barker will chair the membership committee. The council will begin by placing a monetary value on levels of membership. Members agreed that a membership could be purchased for a minimum $10 donation.
During the general meeting, the group discussed incentives to accompany membership donations. Ideas ranged from a Cultural Center newsletter, Cultural Center Christmas ornaments, books and prints. The committee expects to submit a recommendation to the board of directors on June 2.
In old business, president Marquetta Brown said the organization's application for tax exempt status could take a couple of months for approval. Brown confirmed that this would allow time to obtain more support from the community.
When applying for grants, the group will have to show it has the backing from the community, according to Brown. Sue Boettcher will be working as the grant coordinator, however, there are several steps needed before this process can begin.
Additionally, Brown encouraged members to apply for a position on the Cultural Affairs Committee, an inactive city advisory board. Assistant City Manager Tom Short said the city commissioners were considering the possibility of reestablishing the citizen board. Applicants need to apply through the mayor's office.
Board of Directors include: Paula Denson, Rosalie Bolene, Ms. Brown, Barker, Forrest Mertz, Boettcher, Jim Brown, secretary, and Donna Trewitt, treasurer. Charles Casey and Gary L. Bracken are acting as legal advisors to the "Friends."
The "Friends" mission is to preserve the building and the museum artifacts housed in the Cultural Center. For more information on the Cultural Center Museum Foundation, Inc., contact Ms. Brown at 765-7536.
TONKAWA - "Welcome to the birth of your nursing careers," was the greeting from Sharon Nall, RN, BSN, to the Northern Oklahoma College Nursing Class of 1997 at their pinning ceremony in Foster-Piper Fieldhouse.
Nall, a Northern freshman nursing instructor based at the Enid site, served as master of ceremonies for the evening. She compared the nursing program and pinning ceremony to the process of carrying and delivering a baby and asked graduates Dona Almack, Ames and Judith Armstrong, Ponca City, to cut a cord symbolizing leaving the student environment to enter the nursing field.
Captain Shirley May, RN, BSN, is currently the nurse manager at the Renal Treatment Center in Elk City, addressed the class, their families and friends.
A 1988 graduate of the Northern School of Nursing, May outlined the diversity of nursing occupations available and shared her experiences as an army reserve nurse in Saudi Arabia during the Desert Storm and Desert Shield operations. "You will be very successful in nursing if you listen to your patients, are honest with them, take good care of them, set high standards for yourself and believe in yourself," she told the graduates.
The prestigious U.S. Army Reserve Spirit of Nursing Award went to Anita Doyal, Blackwell, in recognition of her service above and beyond the call of duty. She received a certificate and a clock.
Nursing Division Chair Kim Sherer, RN, conducted the pinning ceremony marking the completion of the graduates' studies.
Ponca City graduates recognized were Judith Armstrong, pinned by her daughter Jessica Armstrong; Peggy Doyal, pinned by her husband Gary Doyal; Brenda Hughes, by her parents O.E. and Montie Smith; Ken Lankford, by his mother Cecil Lankford and his wife Sally Lankford, by his mother Cecil Lankford and his wife Sally Lankford.
Others pinned included: Mary Mashburn, pinned by her mother Imogene; Emily Reuber by her parents Don and Linda Reuber; Kathy Snow, by her mother Mrs. Jim Maxson and her fiance Troy; and Debbie Wittmer, by her children Matt and Kristin Wittmer.
Marcella Harper, Red Rock, was pinned by her husband Ron and their daughter Elizabeth.
Shidler graduates were Cindy Bishop, pinned by her husband Stand Bishop and Kim Kingsbury, pinned by her children Dustin and Kaylie.
A reception in Maverick Cafeteria concluded the evening.
Long-time Kay County resident Sherry Kincaid, will serve as the Family Nurse Practitioner at the newly opened Tonkawa Medical Clinic and the Newkirk Medical Clinic, opened earlier last year.
A graduate of Blackwell High School, Kincaid has spent the last 32 years as a resident of Blackwell. She received her Associate Degree in Nursing from Northern Oklahoma College in 1976, and began her nursing career at Blackwell General Hospital, where she served as Director of the Operating Room for nine years.
In 1985, Kincaid moved to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, where she served as Director of the Recovery Room, Operating Room and Outpatient Surgery. During this time, Kincaid received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the St. Mary of the Plains program. In 1992, Kincaid received a Master of Science degree in Health Promotion from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.
Kincaid opened her own business called Wellness Enterprises in 1993. She ran her home-based business for two years, before entering the masters degree program for Family Nurse Practitioner at the University of Oklahoma in 1995. The only program of its kind in Oklahoma, applicants are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and have at least two years of nursing.
Kincaid completed her education earlier this month and will practice under the rules and regulations of the Nurse Practice Act of Oklahoma. Two of the regulations of that act require a number of hours of clinical experience and the supervision of a physician. Kincaid has logged over 900 hours of clinical experience and J. Kent Davidson, MD serves as her supervising physician.
"Nurse practitioners are few and far between in Oklahoma, so it's not only a new experience for me but for this region a well," said Kincaid. "As a member of the Kay County community, I'm really excited about pioneering this new concept in family health care here."
Kincaid is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the American Association of Nurses and the Oklahoma Association of Nurse Practitioners. In addition to her professional memberships, Kincaid is also a member of the Tonkawa Chamber of Commerce.
Kincaid and her husband, Bill, make their home in Blackwell. They have two sons, Chris and Tom.
The Tonkawa Medical Clinic is located at 600 East Grand in Tonkawa and appointments can be made by calling (405) 628-3838. The Newkirk Medical Clinic is located at 109 South Maple and appointments can be made by calling (405) 362-6262. Appointment times are available Monday through Friday.
By LAURA TREADWAY
News Staff Writer
The Ponca City Park and Recreation Advisory Board tabled renewing the Community Pool agreement with the YMCA at their meeting Tuesday.
Chairman Paul Krueger was uncomfortable that no representative from the YMCA attended the meeting and thought that the facility should be monitored by the city on a regular basis. Although Park Director Jim Sindelar confirmed the department was aware of maintenance going on at the pool, he confirmed that a routine inspection was not performed. However, the pool is inspected by the health department.
According to Sindelar, the YMCA has followed all the criteria outlined in the agreement and more. However, the city and the YMCA both know the life of the filter system is about up. Based on information from the YMCA's National Headquarters, Sindelar said it would cost more to fix the pool than to build a new one.
Under the management agreement, Sindelar said the YMCA is trying to make the filter system operate as long as it can. Once it fails, the YMCA will decide whether or not to close the pool down. The city will then decide what it wants to do.
Vice-Chair Ron Mersman said, if the city is paying $52,000 to hire the YMCA, a reporting mechanism should be in place to see how well the pool is meeting the needs of the community. The board voted to table the item for documentation on heath inspections and financial reports.
In other business, four public requests will be recommended to the Ponca City Board of Commissioners. Fire Island Ministries received approval to hold a youth rally/free concert at Garfield Park on June 27. Also, Brian Moriarty and Larry Martin received the green light to make improvements to their docks at Lake Ponca. Furthermore, Gary Dorman got approval to build a concrete patio on his lot at Lake Ponca. However, city commissioners will make the final decision on May 27.
In old business, a contract with the Ponca City Swim Association to conduct swim lessons at AMBUC pool for the summer received support. Additionally, the board tabled a request to establish special events in the Ponca City Park and Recreation areas as "Litter Free Events." Though the members supported the idea, they asked John Meadow to submit guidelines in writing for their consideration.
By LAURA TREADWAY
News Staff Writer
It looks like Larry Stephenson is in for another year as chairman of the Marland Estate Commission. During elections Tuesday, the Marland Estate Commission unanimously selected Stephenson as chair and Phyllis Kennedy as vice chair.
In new business, commissioners supported hiring Matrix as site coordinator for the conditional assessment to the Mansion. Since raising funds for an entire restoration for the mansion is a top priority, a restoration and maintenance report must be completed.
The full cost for such an assessment would normally be $32,000. However, Matrix has agreed to charge $11,000 to be designated as the restoration architectural firm of record. A termination clause will be included in the contract. Matrix said the report can be completed by May 30. Construction will be processed through the normal bidding process.
According to Larry Hughes, the cost will come out of the Marland Estate Foundation and covers planning and design. Hughes reported the foundation's balance is currently $91,310.28.
Also supporting Matrix, was Public Works Director Ken Parr. From the city's standpoint, Parr believed the city was happy with what has been done on Lydie's cottage and ascertained that it was important to have continuity.
In other business, Hughes reported the foundation membership drive will kick off the first of July. There will be four levels of giving and a brochure will be available by June. The foundation hopes to raise $50,000.
According to Betty Durkee, the funds will be used to match grants for commitment involvement. For the time being it will be used as needed on restoration projects. The foundation hopes to begin building an endowment.
Monumental Enterprises, Inc.
Regarding the hotel and conference center, Craig Myers, of Monumental Enterprises, Inc., informed the board that over the last three months the center has averaged a 40 percent occupancy rate. In addition, reservations for weekends were already filling up.
Furthermore, Myers said the balcony area off the first floor had been painted as had the emergency doors on the south side. In addition, the lower level window frames were painted, too.
Not only is the pool clean but the carpets have been professionally cleaned as well, he said. Moreover, the fence around the pool will be replaced with a six-foot high cedar fence.
Historical Buildings Director Kathy Adams reported that soil samples, around an underground storage tank found on the property, came back clean. As a result, the tank just needs to be filled.
Current financial reports indicated the revenues from the Mansion have almost tripled 1996 figures. During April, the mansion took in $8,884, whereas last April, $3,511 was collected.
Policies Approved
In other business, the board accepted a collections management policy and mission statement. The policy states that collection areas will relate to the Marland family, such as original household goods and furnishings; lifestyles in Ponca City during the 1920s and 1930s, and the oil industry in the time period 1908-1941.
Additionally, the collections management policy relates to donations of objects to the mansion. Also, a gift agreement and deaccession policies were addressed.
Due to the expense involved in housing, handling, maintaining, insuring and exhibiting collections, the policy states that loans will not normally be accepted. However, they will be considered for special exhibits or programming, but only for assigned periods.
Other policies regarding the mansion and grounds were also approved. The commission also agreed to allow clients to rent the mansion the day prior to a function for decorating or rehearsal, at an additional cost of $20 per hour. In addition, the formal dining room can be rented for functions for a $100 fee.
Just hours after Po-Hi discovered vandalism to Robson Fieldhouse, the Ponca City Police Department had two boys in custody.
At 6:12 a.m. this morning, employees discovered graffiti to walls and mirrors throughout the fieldhouse done with magic markers. A 10-year-old and a 12-year-old boy were arrested for unlawful entry and damages within, according to the Ponca City Police Department.
One youth's mother contacted the police department at 10:12 p.m. Tuesday, to report her son and his friend missing. Four officers responded and located the boys at John Street and Williams Avenue. The two were cited for curfew violations and taken home.
Once the call came in from Po-Hi, the detectives put the pieces together and brought the youths in for questioning. The PCPD confirmed the juveniles will be turned over to the Office of Juvenile Affairs.
Rusty Benson, athletic director at Po-Hi, confirmed the graffiti had already been cleaned up and maintenance workers would be making minor repairs to the fieldhouse.
The Ponca City Economic Development Foundation Board of Directors have scheduled a special meeting Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce to discuss a proposal for the Sykes project.
The board has been trying to raise $2 million to bring another Sykes Enterprises Inc., center to Ponca City. The group met last week, but needed additional information before a funding proposal could be submitted to the city commissioners.
NEWKIRK - Eighteen people, including a juvenile, have been arrested and charged in District Court on various drug-related charges following what the district attorney's office called the second major drug raid of the year.
Law enforcement officers from two counties participated in arrests at locations in Blackwell, Ponca City and Tonkawa, including the Northern Oklahoma College campus, on charges ranging from marijuana possession to drug distribution and fraud.
Directed by District Attorney John Maddox, major-crimes task force members Freddie Garza, Jim Miller and Jimmie Sherron conducted an investigation since February, with officers arresting the 18 individuals during a span of eight days.
Maddox' office said forfeiture notices totaling $2,356.66 were filed in connection with confiscated cash, scales, guns, several rounds of ammunition, and a suppressor for one of the guns.
Along with an unidentified juvenile, the following individuals were arrested. They are listed by name, address, bond and charge:
Kristen P. Metzinger, Ponca City, $500, possession of marijuana; Michael Dwayne Chandler, Ponca City, $10,000, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; Gaye Lynn Shannon, Ponca City, $5,000, obtaining controlled dangerous substance by fraud.
James Stephen Shannon, Ponca City, $5,000, obtaining controlled dangerous substance by fraud; Anthony Donell Moore, Ponca City, $10,000, delivery of marijuana; Victoria Diane Burgess, Blackwell, $10,000, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
Terry Glade Looper, Blackwell, $500 and $5,000, possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; Marilyn Sue Looper, Blackwell, $500 and $5,000, possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; Jerry W. Payne, Ponca City, $500, possession of controlled dangerous substance.
Jack William Bruner, Ponca City, $5,000, cultivation of marijuana; Elizabeth Elaina Lena, Ponca City, $10,000, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; Henson Dewayne Lena, Ponca City, $10,000, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; Hampton Evans Roberts III, Arkansas City, in custody in Kansas pending extradition, attempting to obtain a controlled dangerous substance by fraud or deceit.
Tonita Mirabal, Tonkawa, $10,000, delivery of methamphetamine; John Barabasz, Ponca City, $10,000, delivery of marijuana; Shaun Michael Cummings, Tonkawa, $10,000, delivery of marijuana, and Burnadette Smith, Ponca City, Ponca City warrant, possession of marijuana.
Officers from the Blackwell, Newkirk, Tonkawa, Perry and Ponca City police departments, the Kay County Sheriff's office, and Harko, the drug-sniffing dog from Perry, assisted with the arrests.
Maddox said the investigation is continuing and more arrests are expected.
DEATHS
WINFIELD, Kan. - Carwin C. Miller, father of Charles O. Miller of Ponca City, died Tuesday morning, May 20, 1997, at William Newton Memorial Hospital, Winfield, Kan. He was 78.
The funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, at Miles Funeral Service Chapel in Winfield, officiated by the Rev. Jerry Nolte. Burial will be in the Highland Cemetery in Winfield. Friends may visit at the funeral home from noon to 9 p.m., Thursday, and before service time on Friday.
Carwin C. Miller was born April 16, 1919, in Porum, the son of Tony and Ada (Aldridge) Miller. Following his father's death, when Carwin was age three, his mother remarried and the family lived in various locations in Oklahoma and Texas. He graduated from high school in Texas, then was employed in oilfield and construction work.
During World War II he served as an aircraft mechanic crew chief with the U.S. Army Air Corps in the European Theatre in Italy. Following his discharge he moved to Atlanta, Kan., and was employed at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kan.
He was married to Bernadine E. Hall on April 16, 1947, in Harrison, Ark., and the couple made their home in Merriam, Kan. before moving to Winfield in 1948. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on April 20. Miller was later employed by Cessna and Boeing aircraft companies in Wichita, before beginning employment in the maintenance department at William Newton Memorial Hospital in Winfield during the 1960s. He retired in 1985, following 20 years service. Miller was a member of Grace United Methodist Church. He served with the Food Pantry program at the church and enjoyed working crossword puzzles and traveling.
Survivors include his wife, Bernadine, of the home; one son, Charles O. Miller of Ponca City; one daughter, Alice Feist of Lyons, Kan.; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and stepfather.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Miller's name to the Grace United Methodist Church, Food Pantry, c/o Miles Funeral Service, P.O. Box 720, Winfield, KS 67156.
TULSA - Glendel Paul "Glen" Willis, former Ponca City resident, died Saturday, May 17, 1997, in Tulsa. He was 49.
The funeral will be held Friday, May 23, 1997 at Memorial Park Mausoleum in Tulsa under the direction of Moore's Southlawn Chapel, 9350 East 51st Street, Tulsa.
Glendel Paul "Glen" Willis was born in 1948, the son of Vernon and Mary Oleta (Hendley) Willis. He attended Ponca City Schools and served in the U.S. Army in the 1960s. He was an artist and a musician.
Survivors include his mother, Mary Oleta Allen of the home in Tulsa; one brother, Harold Willis of Mt. Pleasant, Texas; two nephews; one niece; one great nephew; and one great niece. He was preceded in death by his father in September 1961.
Glen D. Burgell, longtime Kay County resident, died Wednesday, May 21,
1997, at his home east of Ponca City. He was 72. Arrangements are pending
with Trout Funeral Home.
NEWS BRIEFS
Smoke Free Facility Planned - Effective June 1, 1997, Harmony House Inc. will become a smoke free facility. You are invited to attend one of the 35 12-step meetings held weekly at 212 South Third. For meeting days and times, call 765-1925.
Last Day - Thursday is the last day to help flood victims in North Dakota. Explorer Post 69 will load a truck Friday for delivery of needed items to the flooded area. Call the Red Cross Office at 765-6605 for list of needed items.
Democrat Meeting - The Kay County Democrats will meet Thursday, 7-8 p.m., at the OCAW Hall, 1202 West Ponca Avenue. All Democrats are invited to attend this planning session.
Ceres Cemetery Meeting - The Ceres Cemetery Association will meet at the Ceres Cemetery on May 26, at 10:30 a.m. All interested persons are encouraged to attend. Call (405) 336-4393 for more information.
Senior Citizens Dance - A Senior Citizens Dance will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday at the Senior Citizens Building, 320 South A in Arkansas City. The Pete Coli Country Band will be playing for dancing. All seniors are invited to attend and bring a finger food to share.
Legion Meeting - There will be a regular meeting of the American Legion Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Huff-Minor American Legion Post 14, 407 West South Avenue.
Accident - A Ponca City police officer took a report of an accident in the 1400 block of North Union Street at 2:01 p.m. Tuesday. No injuries were reported.
Vandalism - An employee of Roosevelt School contacted the Ponca City Police Department at 2:13 p.m. Tuesday to report vandalism to a vehicle.
Assaulted - A resident in the 2200 block of Mary Street notified the Ponca City Police Department at 6:18 p.m. Tuesday that a 10-year-old boy was reportedly assaulted by another boy at Washington School.
Collision - A Ponca City police officer took a report of a non-injury accident in the 2000 block of North Fourteenth Street at 8:01 p.m. Tuesday.
Graffiti - A neighbor in the 3500 block of Nottingham Circle contacted the Ponca City Police Department at 8:23 p.m. Tuesday to report graffiti on the doors and walls of a nearby house. Extra patrol was requested.
County Warrants - A Ponca City police officer arrested a 20-year-old man on the west side of Lake Ponca at 11:20 p.m. Tuesday on two Kay County warrants.
Arrested - A 19-year-old man was arrested by a Ponca City police officer in the 1900 block of John Street at 11:23 p.m. Tuesday for driving under the influence, no lights, no drivers' license, no insurance and a city warrant for failure to obey.
Failure to Appear - A Ponca City police officer arrested an 18-year-old man at West Grand Avenue and Oak Street at 3:47 a.m. Wednesday on a city warrant for failure to appear.
Warrant Served - A 40-year-old man was taken into custody by a
Ponca City police officer in the 900 block of East South Avenue at 6 a.m.
Wednesday for a Stevens County warrant for failure to appear.
LIFESTYLES
By KATHY ZEHR
News Staff Writer
"The Newkirk High School class of 1951 has endured 46 years without a class picture in the halls of Newkirk High School," says Edwin "Sonny" Cole, 1951 graduate.
Being the only class in the history of the school to never have a class picture, was "a fluke of time and circumstance," which class officers and members never rectified - until now, said Cole, who decided to take action to correct the situation about two years ago.
Cole explained, the 1951 class was the last to graduate from the grand old three-story Newkirk High School, which was located at Ninth and Main Streets. During the transition period, while the old school was being torn down and the new one built, Newkirk High School students met in temporary classrooms and when the class pictures were finally hung in the new school, somehow the 1951 graduating class did not have a picture.
Throughout the 46 years the 1951 graduates have "endured" not having their picture included with all rest. Now, under Cole's leadership they have finally corrected the situation.
To get a picture made of the graduates as they looked in 1951, Cole donated his 1951 School Annual to the project. The annual was taken apart, the 1951 seniors' pictures removed and a class photo of the 32 graduates, teachers, and superintendent, was created by Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City.
Other 1951 graduates working on the picture and reunion project include Claude Koenke, Arkansas City, Kan., Harmon Kerksieck, of Newkirk, and Toby Martin and Kathy Hayes, both of Ponca City.
A 46th Class Reunion banquet is set for 6:30 p.m. Friday, at Smith's Cafe in Newkirk, where the picture of the 1951 Class, to be given to the high school, will be on exhibit. According to Kathy Hayes, 42 graduates and spouses are registered for the banquet.
The Class of '51 will also host an open hospitality room at 1 p. m., Sunday at Smith's Cafe, where the class picture will also be on display. All interested Newkirk graduates are invited to the reception.
For more information, call (405) 762-9454.
Xi Zeta Lambda chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority met May 15 in the home of Phyllis Pledger. Preceding the business meeting the group was served a Mexican dinner prepared by members of the social committee.
Andra Kasselman, president, called the meeting to order with 16 members present. Lila Logan read the minutes and gave the executive board report, Announcement was made that a combination party for Past President and "Girl of the Year" would be given for Melva Keen Sept. 27-28. The chapter will travel to Carthage, Mo. to visit the Precious Moments Chapel.
Ms. Pledger gave the city council report and announced that Xi Zeta Lambda will be in charge of the Preferential Tea, a city-wide event held in November. A vote for the program of the year was conducted and the title went to "No Sew Sachets" given by Ms. Logan.
Social plans for the year were reviewed and summer socials will include a Fifties Beach Party June 21 and a "Beat the Heat" party July 12. Beginning Day is planned for Aug. 22 and will include a salad supper.
The Historian committee set a May 20 meeting at the home of Doretta Jackson. New secret sister names were drawn and Jackie Hall reported on the Beta Sigma Phi sweatshirts and T-shirts.
The traveling basket was won by Sue Robertson and following the meeting the chapter birthday party and gift exchange was held.
Kay County Mounties 4-H Club members raised $2,012.50 for Ronald McDonald Houses and Oklahoma 4-H programs during the 9th annual "Oklahoma Kids Helping Kids" Campaign.
Throughout the months of February and part of March local members joined other statewide clubs in collecting donations in support of the two organizations.
Fifty percent of the money raised will be used to operate the Oklahoma City and Tulsa Ronald McDonald Houses. The homes serve as a "home away from home" for families with children receiving treatment at nearby hospitals.
Thirty-seven percent of the donations will remain locally, and the remaining 13 percent will support efforts of Oklahoma 4-H State Program.
Kay County Mounties 4-H Club members who participated in the campaign were Shawn Alley, Daniel Alley, Carlie Godbehere, Hallie Godbehere, Laura Hoy, Cory Ingram, Brain O'Dell, Bethany O'Dell, Tara Price, Bud Price and Michelle Swopes.
"The Kay County Mounties 4-H Club members would like for all the contributors who helped them raise $2,012 50 for the "Kids Helping Kids Campaign" to know they appreciate their help and support," said Leader Earla Alley."
Kay County placed second in the state with a cash award to help local programs, The Kay County Mounties 4-H Club placed first with a cash prize to the group in the county. Top individual for the state for funds raised was Shawn Alley. Shawn will receive a $75 bond for being top in the county and a $1,000 bond for being top in the State. 4-H members also received a drink mug, 4-H bumper sticker, free sandwich coupon, T-Shirt and pass to six Flags, depending on the amount of donations they raised
During the regular meeting of the Kay County Mounties announcement was made of participants Shawn Alley, Daniel Alley, Carlie Godbehere, Brandy Roundtree and Laura Hoy in the County 4-H Bread Show this past weekend
The next meeting will be June 12 at Daniel Alley's home with a wiener
roast and covered dish supper for members and their families. Anyone wanting
more information about 4-H and joining the club please contact leaders Earla
Alley -363-1201 or LaVerne Byler 363-4676
SPORTS
By DAVID BROWN
News Associate Sports Editor
Ponca City's baseball fortunes are on an upswing and the 1997 Ponca City American Legion Majors Royals should be able to continue the hot streak.
After the Legionnaires posted the second most wins over the last 30 years and one of the best records over that span (31-17) last summer, many of the same players followed that up with a record-breaking season of their own at the high school level. The Poncans compiled a mark of 24-10 and won a regional championship for the school for the first time since 1973.
Most of the big guns off the high school team will be playing for the Royals, including first baseman Josh Shafer, pitcher Rocky Hughes, pitcher/outfielder Jason Ross and infielders Justin Thomas and J.R. Fry.
Shafer led the high school team with a .444 batting average and several other offensive categories, including RBIs (32). He was recently named to the 22-man Oklahoma Sun Belt Classic team and was also selected as the Player of the Year in the Frontier Conference.
Hughes went 12-1 with two saves for the Cats during his senior year with an ERA of 1.68. He struck out 98 batters in 79.1 innings. Hughes was also cited as the Wildcats' best outfielder during the season.
Thomas batted .382 and was picked as the all-conference shortstop while Ross also made the all-conference team as an outfielder with a .320 batting average. Fry was an honorable mention player who batted .301 while playing both shortstop and third base.
Joining those leaders on the Majors team will be fellow Wildcat starters Jay Bentley (pitcher/third base), Dean Hemenway (third base), Chris Koenig (pitcher/outfielder), Doug Scott (second base) and Marc Smith (outfielder).
Rounding out the team from Ponca City are Matt Holland, Brian Benson and Michael Quick.
A much-needed addition to the team from out-of-town is Fairfax catcher Jason Neff. Neff fills a big-hole with the loss of Ponca City catcher Daniel Dodgen, who is too old to play Legion ball this season.
The 5-9, 205-pounder will also supply some more power to the Royals' lineup.
Back for his second season at the helm of the Ponca City Majors is Jack Shears. Joining Shears as assistant coaches this year are first-time Legion coaches Tom Shears (Jack's brother) and Rod Jenkins.
If the Royals get cooperation from the weather and play all the games scheduled, they should easily top last year's victory total. The schedule includes 47 regular games and four tournaments that will add at least 14 more games to that total - for a grand total of at least 61 contests. Last year's team got in only 43 regular season games.
The season opens Sunday in Woodward. The Legionnaires will play the Travelers once Sunday and then twice Monday before returning home to host Blackwell Wednesday, May 28.
The regular season highlight will again be a trip to Omaha, Neb., June 6-8 for the College World Series American Legion Tournament, which coincides with the final weekend of the College World Series.
In addition to playing Woodward, other big-name teams on the Majors' schedule are Jenks (6A State Champs), Fort Smith, Ark., Putnam City, Enid and Edmond. Regular rivals Bartlesville, Stillwater, Blackwell and Perry are also on the schedule several times.
In addition to the Majors Royals, Ponca City will also field two AA teams this summer, the varsity AA Royals and the JV AA Royals.
The varsity AA squad will be led by Chad Bodenstein and will participate in postseason play. The JV AA team will be led by Jerad Cottle and will not be certified for the district tournament, according to Ponca City American Legion Baseball business manager Ellwyn Thomas.
Bodenstein will be assisted by Tyler Jenkins and Cottle will be assisted by Rick Cottle.
The varsity AA Royals are all from Ponca City. They include:
Jason Cales, Michael Carson, Brian Connelly, Daniel Denny, Barry Geheb, Jeff Lieb, Wes Murrie, Toby Redleaf, Kevin Reusser, Justin Ross, Evan Rupp, Jerrod Spears, Anthony Stark, Todd Stewart, Cody Warner and Chad Whitsitt.
JV AA team members also are all Poncans and include:
David Dean, Brandon Dilbeck, Brad Fox, Larry Kuhns, Theumba Lieb, Lance Linthicum, Josh Maultsby, Chris McCool, Casey Rowe, Jeremy Runnels, Chris Shook, Richard Thompson, Ryan Trout, Aaron Williamson and Russell Wilson.
All Legion home games will be played at the high school field. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for school-aged children and free to those children under school age.
Family passes are also available and are good for the immediate household of the pass-holder. Family passes are $25 and are good for all regular home games (Majors and both AA teams. In all, the passes are good for 33 home appearances which includes 56 games.
Jamie Flegler and Dale Brown won the Buddy Bass Club's May tournament on Kaw Lake, catching five bass weighing 13.73 pounds.
Flegler and Brown edged out Larry Platt and Mark Reeves, who also had five bass weighing 13.62 pounds.
Steve and Tom Owens placed third with five fish weighing 12.84 pounds. Dean Gratias and Everett Buntt were fourth with five fish weighing 11.60 pounds.
There was a tie for Big Bass honors with Steve and Tom Owens along with the team of David Armbrust and Allen Ware each catching a 4.15-pounder.
The club will meet June 19 at 7 p.m. at Ody's Outback. The next club tournament will be June 29 at Skiatook Lake.
Governor Frank Keating has named May as "Wetlands Month" in Oklahoma.
The Governor's proclamation lists natural flood control, wildlife habitat, water purification and groundwater recharging as a few of the benefits the state derives from wetlands.
"There are many different types of wetland," said Mason Mungle, executive director of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission. "And nowhere is this more evident than Oklahoma,"
In the panhandle counties of Cimarron, Texas, and Beaver, small seasonal water bodies called playalakes provide critical stopovers and feeding areas for migrating waterfowl and recharge valuable aquifers. Inland marshes, such as Grassy Lake in Okmulgee County, are found sporadically across the state. Riparian or hardwood wetlands, such as those along the Deep Fork River bottom in Lincoln County, are familiar to duck hunters. And the cypress bottomland swamps in southeastern Oklahoma include the American alligator among its residents.
Oklahoma is the first state in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Region VI to have completed a Comprehensive Wetlands Conservation Plan. EPA Rxegion VI consists of the states of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas. A key focus of the Wetlands Conservation Plan, Mungle said, is education about wetlands for land owners and the public. The results, he believes, will be the enhancement of Oklahoma's wetland resources.
The Wetlands Conservation Plan sets goals for private and public cooperation in managing wetlands in the state and includes recommendations for protecting both wetlands resources and the property rights of private landowners, according to Mungle.
"Ninety-seven percent of Oklahoma is privately owned. That makes private landowners the most important stewards of our wetlands resources," Mungle said. "Working cooperatively is the most effective way to approach wetlands conservation. Wetlands are a resource that can benefit private land owners as well as the state in general."
For further information contact the Kay County Conservation District Newkirk, Ok. or call 405-362-2438 or 405-362-3362.
June 7-8 are "Oklahoma Free Fishing Days," a weekend when anglers and would-be anglers can fish for free.
No state fishing licenses, including the special trout license, are required. Those taking advantage of Free Fishing Days should remember that creel and size limits remain in effect, and city or lake fees also may apply.
"Oklahoma has more than one million acres of fishable water to offer anglers, that's almost unlimited potential for fishing," said Kim Erickson, fisheries chief for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "Through Free Fishing Days, we are trying to provide an opportunity for those who haven't experienced the thrills and enjoyment fishing can provide."
Free Fishing Days are the culmination of National Fishing Week, which runs from June 2 through June 8. National Fishing Week recognizes the importance of fishing, and the contributions anglers make to the economy.
According to a 1991 survey conducted by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, more than 25 percent of the state's population enjoys recreational fishing. These anglers spend $400 million a year pursuing their sport, creating more than 11,000 jobs in the process - numbers which confirm just how important fishing is to the state's economy.
"The true measure of fishing doesn't have anything to do with money, though," Erickson said. "It has to do with the joys of a day on the lake, the improved quality of life those who fish experience, and the simple pleasure of a fish pulling on your rod."
Anyone who wants more information on Oklahoma Free Fishing Days is encouraged to call the Wildlife Department's Fisheries Division at (405) 521-3721
Ponca City American Legion Baseball
1997 Majors Team Schedule
Home/Away Start Time Innings
MAY
25 - at Woodward 1:30 7
26 - at Woodward 1:00 7/7
28 - BLACKWELL 6:00 7/7
29 - at Bartlesville 7:30 7
30 - at Guthrie 6:00 2 hr. limit
31 - GUTHRIE 5:00 2 hr. limit
JUNE
1 - at Derby 2:00 7/7
3 - STILLWATER 7:30 7
4 - at Stillwater 7:30 7
6-8 - at CWS Tourn. in Omaha, Neb.
6 - vs. Millard West 2:30
6 - vs. Millard North 5:30
7 - vs. Millard South 8 p.m.
8 - vs. Burke 10:30 a.m.
10 - at Blackwell 6:00 7/7
11 - at Ark City 6:00 7/7
12 - PERRY, 5:30 7/7
13 - at Putnam City Tournament
14 - at Putnam City Tournament
15 - at Putnam City Tournament
16 - JENKS 6:30 9
18 - BARTLESVILLE 7:30 7
20 - at Ark City Tournament
21 - at Ark City Tournament
22 - at Ark City Tournament
26 - FORT SMITH 4:00 7
26 - BLACKWELL 8:00 7
27 - FORT SMITH 5:00 7/7
28 - at Stillwater 5:00 7/7
29 - at Jenks 4:00 7
JULY
1 - BARTLESVILLE 7:30 7
3 - at Bartlesville Tournament
4 - at Bartlesville Tournament
5 - at Bartlesville Tournament
6 - at Bartlesville Tournament
9 - PUTNAM CITY 6:00 9
10 - at Blackwell 6:00 7/7
11 - ENID 6:00 7/7
13 - at Perry vs. Wichita, Duncan noon 7/7
14 - at Putnam City 6:00 9
15 - at Perry 7:00 9
16 - DERBY 6:00 7/7
18 - EDMOND 7:00 9
19 - STILLWATER 5:00 7/7
20 - ARK CITY 6:00 7/7
22 - at Bartlesville 7:30 7
25 -27 - District Tournament at Guthrie
-----
1997 AA Varsity Team Schedule
MAY
27 - at Edmond 8:00 7
28 - at Stillwater 8:00 7
30 - BARTLESVILLE 7:30 7
31 - at Alva 2:00 7/7
JUNE
1 - at El Dorado 1:00 7/7
4 - ED. SANTA FE 6:00 7/7
5 - at Blackwell 6:00 7/7
6 - at Perry Tournament
7 - at Perry Tournament
8 - at Perry Tournament
10 - PERRY 6:00 7/7
11 - BARTLESVILLE 7:30 7
12 - at Ed. Santa Fe 8:00 7
13 - at Yukon 8:00 7
15 - EL DORADO 1:00 7/7
17 - DRUMRIGHT 6:00 7/5
18 - at Bartlesville 7:30 7
20 - ALVA 6:00 7/7
21 - BLACKWELL 4:00 7
21 - WOODWARD 8:00 7
22 - WOODWARD 1:00 7
22 - BLACKWELL 5:00 7
25 - at Drumright 6:00 7/5
26 - at Yukon Tournament
27 - at Yukon Tournament
28 - at Yukon Tournament
29 - at Yukon Tournament
JULY
1 - at Bartlesville 7:30 7
3 - PONCA CITY TOURNAMENT
4 - PONCA CITY TOURNAMENT
5 - PONCA CITY TOURNAMENT
6 - PONCA CITY TOURNAMENT
8 - BLACKWELL 6:00 5/5
11-13 - District Tournament
1997 AA JV Team Schedule
MAY
27 - at Edmond 6:00 7
28 - at Stillwater 6:00 7
29 - PERRY 6:00 7/7
31 - at Bartlesville 2:00 7/7
JUNE
1 - DRUMRIGHT 3:00 7/5
3 - at Blackwell 6:00 7/5
5 - DEWEY 7:00 7
6 - at Taloga 6:00 5/5
7 - BARTLESVILLE 4:00 7/7
9 - at El Dorado 6:30 5/7
13 - TALOGA 6:30 7/7
14 - at Bartlesville 2:00 7/7
16 - at Perry 6:00 7/7
17 - at Dewey 7:00 7
19 - ED. SANTA FE 6:00 7/7
21 - at Ed. Santa Fe 5:00 7/7
22 - at Stillwater 2:00 7
23 - at Ark City 6:00 5/5
24 - ALVA 6:30 7/5
25 - BLACKWELL 6:00 7/5
28 - at Bartlesville Tournament
29 - at Bartlesville Tournament
JULY
2 - at Guthrie Tournament
3 - at Guthrie Tournament
4 - at Guthrie Tournament
5 - at Guthrie Tournament
8 - at Alva 6:30 7/5
9 - at Drumright 6:00 7/5
An open house for former Po-Hi wrestling coach Grady Penninger will be held Saturday, starting at 9:30 a.m., in Robson Fieldhouse.
Penninger, who coached the Wildcats from 1953 to 1960, was invited as part of the Ponca City High School Class of 1957 40th reunion.
After leading the Cat wrestlers to a 64-14-6 record in duals, three state team championships and two state team runnerup finishes, Penninger became the head coach at Michigan State. He retired there recently.
Penninger coached 14 individual state champions while at Po-Hi. Two of those were Shelby Wilson and Doug Blubaugh, who went on to win Olympic gold medals in the 1960 Olympics.
All former Ponca City wrestlers are urged to attend the open house Saturday.