From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Monday, May
11, 1998
LOCAL
DuPont, Conoco Splitting
Voters To Select Mayor in Runoff
EDAB Changes Time, Location
Nearly News
Newest Technology Boosts SJRMC To Forefront of Osteoporosis Care
Keating Selects Dwight Howe For Board Term
Medicare Topic For Meeting
DEATHS
Ralph D. Boyd
Karen Sue Irvin
Daurice D. Dixon
Obituaries
Johnny F. Stevenson
Services Pending
Helen Clow Duncan
Edward Fleischer
NEWS BRIEFS
LIFESTYLES
Carol Lee Davis Is Bride Of George Robert Sawyer
Delta Kappa Gamma Society Plans Brunch
Couple Observes 25 Years
Style Show
Little News
Anthropological Group Discusses Washita Site
SPORTS
Monday Evening Quarterback
Lady Cats Second In State Tennis
PC Milan Wins First Tournament
(From Staff and News Service Reports)
Saying he wished he had a T-shirt saying "It's Independence Day," Archie Dunham, chief executive officer of Conoco, today joined with Chad Holliday, CEO of DuPont, to announce the impending split of the two companies.
DuPont announced that it plans to offer up to 20 percent of the common stock of Conoco Inc., its wholly owned energy subsidiary, to the public in an initial public offering. The IPO, which will be one of the largest in history, is the first step in DuPont's planned divestiture of its entire investment in Conoco.
"Conoco has been a strong contributor to DuPont's earnings and cash flow for nearly 17 years," said DuPont President and CEO Charles "Chad" Holliday Jr. "However, we believe that value and growth can be enhanced for DuPont's materials and life sciences businesses and for Conoco by separating the two operations. We are building on our 10-year strategic direction, and intensifying our focus on life sciences, making it imperative that we rapidly accelerate our investment to capture market opportunity and increase shareholder value."
Holliday said DuPont intends to divest its remaining interest in Conoco as soon as practical. The form of the divestiture could include further stock offerings or a spin-off to shareholders. The determination as to the form and timing of such divestiture will be based on cash needs and market attractiveness.
"An IPO gives us maximum flexibility. DuPont will have access to cash from the IPO and at the same time will benefit from Conoco's ongoing financial contribution as we consider the options for divestiture," Holliday said. "Given this, as well as Conoco's plans for the future, the time is right for Conoco to be given the opportunity to operate as an independent entity."
Conoco President and CEO Archie W. Dunham said: "There are a large number of investment opportunities for energy companies today, largely due to widespread privatization and deregulation around the world. The IPO will provide Conoco with the means to capitalize on those opportunities," he said.
"Conoco is a much stronger company today than it was just a few years ago," Dunham added. "We significantly reduced our costs and upgraded our asset portfolio. We had record earnings in 1997 and enjoy experienced management, an extraordinary workforce, and an impressive solid set of core values that guide all of our activities."
DuPont said it expects Conoco to file a Registration Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission later this year and plans to complete the IPO by year-end.
Dunham, 59, will serve as president and chief executive officer of Conoco Inc.
DuPont, which will hold more than 80 percent of Conoco after the initial public stock offering, will retain majority membership on the board. Edgar S. Woolard, Jr., retired chairman of DuPont, will be the non-executive chairman of Conoco Inc. After DuPont reduces its ownership to less than 50 percent, it is expected that Dunham will become chairman.
Conoco currently has revenues of about $22 billion. Active in 40 countries, Conoco is a fully integrated energy company involved in exploration, production, transportation, marketing, refining and power. The company ranks ninth in the worldwide production of petroleum liquids by all U.S.-based companies, eleventh in the production of natural gas, and eighth in refining runs.
Founded in 1802, DuPont is a global research and technology-based life sciences, materials and energy company. Committed to better things for better living, DuPont serves worldwide markets including food and nutrition; health care; agriculture; fashion and apparel; home and construction; electronics; transportation and energy. The company operates in about 70 countries and has 98,000 employees. Revenues in 1997 were more than $45 billion.
DuPont officially acquired Conoco in October 1981. DuPont won the bidding war against Mobil Corp., and Canadian distiller Seagram Co, Ltd. in August 1981 acquiring the company at the cost of $7.7 billion.
In September 1981 the merger became official with the vote of Conoco stockholders at a special meeting held in Stamford, Conn., and the filing of a certificate of merger was filed with the office of the secretary of the State of Delaware.
Stockholders of DuPont approved the merger at a special meeting in August 1981 in Wilmington, Del.
In the terminology of antitrust lawyers, the DuPont-Conoco was seen as largely a "vertical merger," since DuPont was a major user of petroleum products to make plastics and chemicals.
When the merger occurred it combined the nation's biggest chemical company, DuPont, with Conoco and created the seventh largest industrial company in the United States. At that time Conoco, in addition to its oil reserves, owned the nation's second largest coal producer.
At the time of the takeover Edward G. Jefferson was chairman of DuPont and Ralph E. Bailey was chairman of Conoco. Bailey, in addition to heading Conoco, became a vice chairman of DuPont.
A year after the merger Conoco's corporate headquarters were moved from Stamford, Conn., to Du Pont headquarters in Wilmington, Del.
There are approximately 1,800 employees at the Ponca City site, which is home of a 160,00-barrel-a-day refinery and is headquarters of the Mid-Continent Business Unit.
Other functions at the local site include a technical center, which includes engineering and research; one of three DuPont worldwide data centers (manned primarily by contract workers from Computer Sciences Corporation); Conoco's credit card center and printing center, as well as human resources and finance operations.
Richard Severance, Ponca City, general manager of the Mid-Continent Business Unit, said, "This announcement by DuPont and Conoco will not change our operations here in Ponca City." Severance indicated that long-term the announcement would be good for both Conoco and Ponca City.
By PATTI PFEIFFER
News Staff Writer
Today is the last day for Ponca City registered voters to vote absentee in Tuesday's mayoral election which has two current City Commissioners, Tom Leonard and Richard "Dick" Stone, facing one another in the runoff election.
The absentee voting has to this point been very light. Although not typically an indication of voter turnout, Kay County Election Board Secretary Carol Stafford is predicting a light turnout Tuesday. "It is a run-off election and historically there is unfortunately only a light turnout for runoff elections," Stafford said.
The candidates themselves are both predicting a close race. "I think it will be a very close race," Leonard stated. "If people want to make a difference and want their voice heard then the place to start is at the polls."
"I don't know the odds or the line on the election," Stone jokes. "But I think it will be a very close race because we are both well connected in the community and have family and friends here."
After three moths of campaigning both candidates are eager for an end to the campaign trail and both seem optimistic.
"We kept on the high road and sent our message in a positive manner," Stone said. "When the votes are tallied it is the citizens of Ponca City that need to have won the election and my goal is to see that they are well represented - regardless of the outcome of tomorrow's election."
Leonard, too, is confident. "I feel good about the race and feel my message is getting through to the voters in the city," Leonard said. "Whatever the outcome, I will continue to strive toward to my goals for our community."
For those voters, that have somehow managed not hear the candidate's messages, goals and campaign promises, there will be yet another opportunity. A taped broadcast of last Friday's forum can be seen on channel 22 tonight at 7 p.m.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and the following is a list of the precincts:
Precinct No. 413 - Presbyterian Church, Fourteenth Street and Grand Avenue
414 - Pioneer Christian Church, Resthaven Road
419 - Community Christian Church, 2109 West Grand Avenue
503 - Central Baptist Church, 618 East Hartford Avenue
504 - Grace Episcopal Church, Thirteenth Street and Grand Avenue
507 - Sunset Baptist Church, 915 West Greenwood Avenue
516 - Southside Baptist Church, 1518 South Fifth Street
517 - St. Mary's Parish Center, 408 South Eighth Street
523 - Church of Christ, 1300 West Avenue
527 - Union School, 2617 North Union Street
530 - Vo-Tech Building, 2101 North Ash Street
532 - Unity Gym, 1908 East Woodland
533 - Trout School, 2109 East Prospect Avenue
534 - North East Baptist Church, 2200 North Pecan Road
The 7:30 a.m., Tuesday meeting of the Ponca City Economic Development Advisory Board has been changed to 8:30 a.m. The location of the meeting has been moved to Fourth Street Clubhouse. The agenda remains the same and was published in Sunday's edition of The News.
It was a true Mother's Day at Arrowhead Lake at the Standing Bear Memorial Park, when five goslings were hatched. T.L. Walker, director of the Standing Bear facilities, reports that Mother Goose spent a leisurely day off the nest while the gander kept a watchful eye on the already swimming off-spring to protect them from danger.
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Apologies to those readers who didn't realize from the Sunday Lifestyles picture that the Ponca City Mother's Club was presenting a style show as well as a luncheon May 15 at noon in the Marland estate chapel. Ticket price is $8 per person and may be purchased by calling 765-3267.
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Madison Smith is the owner of Kristine, the "swiftest" dachshund in the Weiner Dog Nationals held during the Trail of Tails. Kristine won out over 12 other entries. (Madison's last name was listed incorrectly in Sunday's News).
St. Joseph Regional Medical Center recently purchased state-of-the-art technology that puts it on the forefront of osteoporosis treatment and prevention.
The bone densitometer, located in the Diagnostic Imaging Area at SJRMC, is used to measure patient bone density and follow it over time.
"The bone densitometer measures the density of the spine, hip and other bones which are the most frequent sites of fracture," explained Barbara Landaal, M.D., radiologist at SJRMC. "If the patient's bone density is low, or decreases at an abnormally fast rate, the patient may be at risk for osteoporosis. Through changes in diet, exercise habits and/or medication, further deterioration of bone can be prevented."
Twenty-five million Americans have osteoporosis. Fifty thousand people die each year because of it. Yet, most of us know little about protecting ourselves from this disease.
Osteoporosis, a debilitating condition which primarily affects post-menopausal women, begins as early as age 30 to 35, can afflict one in two women over the age of 65, and results in 1.5 million fractures each year. It is more common than diabetes, stroke and heart disease combined.
Research into the disease is making important new advances. A key factor in this success has been the availability of new and improved equipment to measure bone density such as the bone densitometer.
Evaluating bone density using conventional X-ray systems did not reveal a potential problem until a patient had lost 25-30 percent of his or her bone density. Now, in just a few minutes, this highly sensitive bone densitometer helps doctors identify risk much faster.
National Osteoporosis Prevention Week is May 10-16. The annual event, which begins on Mother's Day, is used to kick off year-round osteoporosis awareness and education programs across the country. In recognition of National Osteoporosis Prevention Week, SJRMC will host "Osteoporosis and You" May 20 in Conference Room "C" at noon.
The brown-bag lunch seminar will feature speakers Janet White, SJRMC Wellness Coordinator; Sherry Kincaid, ARNP, and Rick Nelson, M.D. Each participant will receive a $10 coupon for their first bone densitometer test at SJRMC. Dessert and drink will be provided. Please RSVP, (580) 765-0301.
A Ponca City man has been selected by Gov. Frank Keating to serve in a position on the local board of Oklahoma's Selective Service System.
Dwight E. Howe, who is a Marine Corps veteran and a member of White Eagle's Buffalo Post 38 of the American Legion, was singled out for the position in a letter from Keating to Col. Wayne McDonald in Denver, Colo. McDonald is director of the Selective Service System, Region III.
Howe was a Chilocco Indian School student who joined the Marine Corps and became one of only three graduates out of 800 to be meritoriously promoted out of boot camp in San Diego.
In seven years in the Corps, he worked as an aviation operations specialist and then as a pre-IG inspector in New Orleans. He now works in the receiving department for Albertson's on Industrial Road in Ponca City.
Howe lives south of the city with his wife Karen and daughters Kelsey, Christan and Angela.
BLACKWELL - Medicare beneficiaries will be informed on important changes in Medicare at a meeting Thursday, 11 a.m. to noon, at the Wheatheart Nutrition Site, 320 West Blackwell, in Blackwell.
Karen Navarro, beneficiary rights specialist for the Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality Inc., will discuss where to register concerns about fraud and abuse and quality of care issues.
"Many beneficiaries and their families are not aware of the new
changes in Medicare," said Navarro. "They may not know that they
have a recourse to take if there is any disagreement with a hospital's admission
or discharge decision or if they feel that they have been treated unfairly.
This presentation will give participants valuable information about what
they can do on their behalf."
DEATHS
STILLWATER - Ralph D. "Dee" Boyd, father to D.W. Boyd of Blackwell, died Friday, May 8, 1998, at Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. He was 70.
The funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Stillwater First Baptist Church with Dr. Henry Chenault officiating. Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Colonial Chapel Funeral Home, Stillwater.
Ralph D. "Dee" Boyd was born Dec. 26, 1927, in Afton, the son of Ralph and Opal (Mitchell) Boyd. He graduated from Afton High School, and attended Oklahoma A&M College.
He was married to Beverly R. Phoenix on Jan. 26, 1946, and the couple established their home in Perry. He was employed in sales with Charles Machine Works (Ditch Witch) in 1960 and retired in October 1983 as Sales Manager. He and his wife then lived in Florida until moving to Stillwater in 1992. Boyd was a deacon at Stillwater First Baptist Church. He was an accomplished woodcrafter, but his greatest enjoyment was spending time with his family.
Survivors include one son, D.W. Boyd of Blackwell; one daughter, Dee Ann Ricker of Stillwater; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Casket bearers will be fellow deacons at Stillwater First Baptist Church and former co-workers at Ditch Witch in Perry.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Boyd's name to First Baptist Church, Building Fund, 701 South Duncan, Stillwater, OK
Karen Sue Irvin, Ponca City resident, died Friday, May 8, 1998, at her home. She was 40.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, on the patio at L.A. Cann Garden Center, Fourteenth Street at East Grand Avenue. The Rev. Mark Silkey, pastor of Believers Fellowship officiating. Friends may visit at Trout funeral home until noon. No viewing will be held at the service.
Karen Sue (Barker) Irvin was born Dec. 16, 1957 in Ponca City to James C. and Darlene (Robertson) Barker. She graduated from Ponca City High School.
On Oct. 6, 1978, she was married to Daniel Irvin in Ponca City. She enjoyed the outdoors, animals, hiking, camping, crocheting and being with her daughter.
Survivors include her husband, Daniel, of the home; one daughter, Jennifer, of Ponca City; her parents, James and Darlene Barker of Garfield, Ark.; one brother, Mark C. Barker of Rogers, Ark.; one sister, Jamie Schoonover of Ponca City; her mother-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Irvin's name to the Karen Irvin Memorial Fund, c/o Lori Hodges, Pioneer Bank and Trust, P.O. Box 111, Ponca City, OK 74602.
FAIRFAX - Daurice D. Dixon, former Ponca City resident, died Saturday afternoon, May 9, 1998, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rogers, Ark. She was 86.
The funeral will be graveside at the Fairfax (Okla.) Cemetery with the Rev. Ron Black of Washburn, Mo., officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Hunsaker-Wooten Funeral Home, Fairfax.
Daurice D. (Black) Dixon was born Dec. 11, 1911, in Washburn, Mo., the daughter of John and Flora (Frazier) Black. She was married to Bill Dixon on June 10, 1943 in Great Falls, Mont. Mrs. Dixon was a homemaker and a member of the Christian Church in Washburn, Mo. She had lived in Wichita, Kan., for 20 years, in Ponca City for 20 years, and for the last six years made her home in Rogers, Ark. She enjoyed growing flowers and traveling.
Survivors include her husband Bill of the home; one sister, Vivian Sparkman of Little Rock, Ark.; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Raymond Black, Howard Black and Ronald Black; and four sisters, Faye Kemp, Freda Hickman, Dorothy Wilson and Velma Kelley.
Johnny F. "Chump" Stevenson, former Ponca City resident, died May 7, 1998, at St. Johns Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo. He was 46 years old.
A private viewing was held for the family and no public funeral service was held. Arrangements and cremation was under the direction of Simpsons Funeral Home, Webb City, Mo.
Johnny was born to Claude F. and Frankie Lee Ada (Pettit) Stevenson on June 15, 1951, in Ponca City. His father was killed shortly after his birth in a construction accident. He was raised by his mother and step-father, John M. Pauley. Johnny attended Ponca City schools, was of the Baptist faith and a member of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe.
Johnny moved to Missouri in the mid-1970s where he met and married Carolyn Gage on Nov. 4, 1977, in Purdy, Mo. He was employed in the street department in the City of Purdy.
He later married Marty Burrwich, moving to the Diamond-Joplin area, where he was employed as a truck driver. Johnny was an avid "cat" fisherman, returning to Ponca City several times a year to join his sister and her family to camp and fish. Each July he'd also try to return to the Ponca City area to camp with family members at the Otoe encampment.
Johnny is survived by his wife, Marty; three daughters, Frankie Lee Ada and Virginia Diane of the home, and Mrs. Tommy (Jana) Graen of Rolla, Mo.; one sister and brother-in-law, Dolores and Bob Simmons and nephew James "Little Chump" White all of Ponca City; his uncle C.F. "Sukie" Pettit of Oklahoma City; two aunts, Alma Warrior of Red Rock and JoVonne Lieb of Ponca City; one niece, Lynn White Short of Tonkawa; his ex-wife Carolyn, of Monett, Mo.; one great-nephew, three great-nieces, and numerous cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, step-father, and a half-brother, Mike Pauley.
paid obituary
Helen Clow Duncan, former Ponca City resident, died Saturday, May 9, 1998, in the Memorial City Hospital in Houston, Texas. She was 78. Arrangements are pending with Trout Funeral Home.
Edward Fleischer, former Ponca City resident, died Saturday, May 9, 1998,
in Nashville, Tenn. He was 67. Arrangements are pending with Trout Funeral
Home, Ponca City.
NEWS BRIEFS
Garden Club - The Sage, Rosemary and Thyme Garden Club will meet at the Cann Garden Home at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Carol Hamrick will be the hostess, assisted by Cathy Davis. Mary Ann Potter, president, will give the program "Plant Exchange." Members are invited to bring items for the Serendipity table being taken care of by Jean Glasscock and Janice Yeary. For more information call Mrs. Potter, 767-1957.
Clean Out Closets - Help your favorite charity. A gigantic garage sale to benefit Peachtree Landing, Domestic Violence and SANE is set for Friday and Saturday. Citizens are encouraged to clean out garages and closets and donate unwanted items to the project. Donors may drop donated items off at 617 West Highland Monday through Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m. No provision is available to pick up items. For more information call 762-3208 or 762-2873.
Transformer Fire - At 8:42 a.m. Saturday a transformer fire at South Sixth Street and East Otoe Avenue was reported. The fire was extinguished.
Injury Accident - A two-vehicle injury accident in the 400 block of South Fourteenth Street was reported at 11:21 a.m. Saturday. One person was taken to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.
Accident - A report was taken at 12:04 p.m. Saturday on a vehicular accident at North Fourteenth Street and Glenside Avenue.
Theft - At 1 p.m. Saturday a wallet was reportedly stolen from the 400 block of South Lake Street. A report was taken.
Juvenile Arrest - Police arrested a 14-year-old boy at 1:08 p.m. Saturday from Wal-Mart, 1101 East Prospect Avenue, for petit larceny.
Kitchen Fire - At 1:34 p.m. Saturday a kitchen fire in a home in the 500 block of North Eighth Street was extinguished.
Juvenile Arrest - At 1:51 p.m. Saturday a 15-year-old boy was arrested for petit larceny at Wal-Mart, 1101 East Prospect Avenue.
Arrest - Police arrested a 27-year-old man at 2:39 p.m. Saturday from a field near the North Union Street and Hartford Avenue intersection on a Kay County warrant.
Accident - At 6:16 p.m. Saturday police were notified of an accident at South Fourth Street and East South Avenue. A report was taken.
Windows Shot - At 6:57 p.m. Saturday police were advised that a window at the Holiday Inn, 2215 North Fourteenth Street, had been shot with a BB gun. A report was taken.
Arrest - After chasing a reported shoplifter that had injured an employee at Miller Market, 901 South Fourth Street, police arrested the suspect, an 18-year-old man, at 8:29 p.m. Saturday from East Otoe Avenue and South Third Street.
Arrest - At 8:03 p.m. Saturday a 33-year-old man was arrested from the 200 block of West Grand Avenue for assault and battery on an officer, resisting arrest, damage to city property and public intoxication.
Arrest - Police arrested a 47-year-old man at 8:32 p.m. Saturday from the 1900 block of East Woodlands for driving under the influence and leaving the scene of a property damage accident.
Assault - At 12 a.m. Sunday police were called to the Stratford House Inn, 2320 North Fourteenth Street, because a man reportedly assaulted two women. A report was taken.
Arrest - A 26-year-old man was arrested at 2:01 a.m. Sunday from the 600 block of North Palm Street for driving under the influence.
Accident - A two-vehicle accident at the Old River Bridge was reported at 3:14 a.m. Sunday. OHP and was notified.
Beer Theft - At 3:31 a.m. Sunday police were notified that four cases of beer were stolen from the Triple T, 720 South Waverly Street. A report was taken.
Hit-and-Run Injury - A hit-and-run accident victim was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center at 5:55 a.m. Sunday. The accident occurred in the 700 block of North Palm Street.
Accident - An accident in the 900 block of North Union Street was reported at 9 a.m. Sunday. A report was taken.
Accident - A report of an accident at North Ash Street and West Highland Avenue was taken by police at 9:17 a.m. Sunday.
Arrest - Police arrested a 23-year-old man at 11:22 a.m. Sunday from the 100 block of South Fourth Street for actual physical control.
Tires Slashed - A man in the 700 block of Monument Road reported to police at 1:03 p.m. Sunday that the tires of his vehicle had been slashed.
Minor Accident - Police took a report of minor vehicle damage caused by an accident in the 800 block of East Ponca Avenue at 5:03 p.m. Sunday.
Arrest - A 20-year-old woman was arrested at 6:14 p.m. Sunday for driving under the influence.
Vandalism - At 9:17 p.m. Sunday vandalism to a basketball goal in the 400 block of West Otoe Avenue was reported.
Carol Lee Davis and George Robert Sawyer were married April 11, 1998 in a double ring ceremony at the First Baptist Church in Tonkawa. The vows were officiated at 2 p.m. by the Rev. Jack Sawyer, father of the bridegroom.
The bride is the daughter of Garry and Dorothy Davis of Tonkawa and the bridegroom is the son of Jack and Loretta Sawyer of Sperry. Taped musical selections included "Through the eyes of Love" and "From Here To Eternity."
The bride wore a dropped waist gown designed with a full skirt of raw silk in a natural ivory color. The lace-covered bodice was accented with sequins and pearls and styled with off-the-shoulder short sleeves. A short veil made of raw silk was attached to a pearl-studded head band. The bride wore pearl jewelry and carried a cascade bouquet of dark pink silk roses, stargazer lilies and pink stock with beaded lace accents.
Matron of Honor Cheryl Lane wore a Navy blue street-length dress featuring a vee-neckline enhanced with a tier of three white ribbons. She carried an arrangement of lilies, pink roses, baby's breath, lace and pearls. Similarly attired were bridesmatrons Racheal Scott and Angie Hasselbring. The flower girl, Keely Scott, wore a pale pink dress and carried a basket of pink rose petals. Denise Lane attended the guest book.
Steve Sawyer served as Best Man and Troney Langston and Todd Ray were groomsmen. Dallas Starr and T.J. Langston served as ushers. Tyler Langston lit the candles and Brett Langston was ring bearer.
The reception was held in the First Baptist Church following the reception and was hosted by Kelly Martin, Christy Lampe, Angie Smith, Mary Starr and Layna Morgan. The wedding cakes were made by Angie Hasselbring and Angie Smith.
Following the wedding trip to Eureka Springs, Ark., and Springfield, Mo. area the newlywed couple resides in Tonkawa where the bride is a note teller at the Service Bank of Tonkawa and the bridegroom is an electrical technician for ERC, Inc.
Members of Delta Chapter of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International will meet at 10 a.m. May 16 for a brunch at the Rose Stone Inn. Hostesses for this meeting are Elaine Harman, Sandra Pendergraft, Beverly Barger, Judy DeCamp, Ermal Murphy and Carol Powell
Delta President Sandra Pendergraft will conduct an initiation for three women teachers recommended by the membership committee whose members are Opal Upshaw, Judy Throop, Martha Rodriques and Sandra Harrison.
New member Barbara Moses teaches business classes at Ponca City High School. She recently transferred her membership to Delta Chapter from Woodward.
Other items on the agenda will be to reveal identities of "secret sisters", presentation of the new Red Rose Award recipient by Almeda Crook, who received it from Ruby McDaniel, announcement of two $200 scholarships, and an election of officers for 1998-2000.
The officers completing a successful term in office are: Sandra Pendergraft, Elaine Harman, Opal Upshaw, Shirley Riggs, Nancy Niemann, Lorraine Provine and Terry Sharon.
The next meeting will be August 23 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church for an afternoon tea with Gamma State President, Sheryll Puffett.
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Emerson, former residents of Newkirk, will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary on May 18. An open house, hosted by their children, will be held Saturday from 1-4 p.m. at Community Christian Church, 2109 West Grand. All friends and family of the couple are invited.
Paul Emerson and the former Wanda French were married May 18, 1973 at Alva. The made their first home in Alva, then moved to Newkirk, and later to Diamond, Mo. They have resided in Diamond, Mo., for the last 10 years. Both are self-employed.
The honorees' children are Randy and Peggy Tuter of Joplin, Mo.; Tom and Tammy Melton, Ray and Shelly Greer, Mark and Kim Greer, all of Ponca City; Bruce Code of Tulsa; and Betsy Code of Oklahoma City. They have five grandchildren.
Apologies to those readers who didn't realize from the Sunday Lifestyles picture that the Ponca City Mother's Club was presenting a style show as well as a luncheon May 15 at noon in the Marland estate chapel. Ticket price is $8 per person and may be purchased by calling Beverly Carpenter, 765-3267. The Retired Senior Volunteer program by "Ponca Darlin's" will be featured as well and guests are welcome.
Travis and Carrie Greenhagen of Havelock, N. C. announce the birth of a son at 10:47 a.m. May 7, 1998 at the Cherry Point Naval Hospital. The nine-pound baby was 21 3/4-inches long and has been named Colton Lee Greenhagen.
Maternal grandparents are Florence Haley of Highland Springs, Va. and Junior Haley of Richmond, Va. Paternal grandparents are Danna Beaston of Ponca City and Wayne and Debbie Greenhagen, also of Ponca City.
Great-grandparents are Dan and Sue Beaston of Ponca City, Eldon and Betty Greenhagen of Newkirk and Florence Hensley of Sandston, Va.
The Kay County Chapter of the Oklahoma Anthropological Society will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Conoco Fourth Street Clubhouse, 1500 South Fourth.
Speaker will be Dr. Richard Drass, who is with the Oklahoma Archeological
Survey. He will discuss the Washita Site. The speaker earned a doctorate
from the University of Oklahoma in 1995 and has worked for the OAS for 18
years. His area of interest includes Woodland, Plains Village and other
related cultures.
SPORTS
by FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
It's a shame track is run in the spring.
Granted it would be hard to run a 100-meter dash in deep snow or pole vault on ice. But dark, dreary winter would lend itself more to the solitary, introverted mentality athletes need to be good tracksters.
Although track would not replace football or basketball or even hockey as a fan favorite, at least it would not have to compete with baseball, soccer, tennis and golf on the high school level.
It also would not have to compete against ski trips and singing contests - or against the rising sap that vies for the attention of young athletes.
Although considered a team sport in high school and college, track is actually the ultimate individual sport. For it matches not only individual against individual, but also individuals against the impersonal standards of time and distance.
That's what coach Terry Henderson is battling a he tries to breath new life into the Wildcat track program.
That is not to say the Po-Hi program is on the ropes. It certainly has talented, dedicated athletes - male and female - who can compete with the best in the state.
But what Henderson is trying to add is numbers, numbers which will remain consistent throughout the season.
Meanwhile, he is trying to make the athletes the has the best they can be with a combination of cajoling, pleading and praising.
This week, it is Henderson turned to praise the efforts of his thinclads, although still thin in numbers, in the regional track meet at Bartlesville.
"There were several efforts that has my chest sticking out to here," Henderson said after the Cats gave one of their better performances of the season in the meet delayed by rain.
As a result, he will be taking at least three - and possibly as many as nine - to the state meet in Choctaw this week.
Paul Paschal will be making his third trip to the state championships after finishing third in the 3200-meter run at Bartlesville, with a 9:55 timing.
Also returning to the state track will be Nathan Zimmerman in the 800-meters after he also place third in 2:02.
Freshman Kendra Love will be making her first trip to the state competition after finishing third in the shot put with a heave of 30-7.
Several other Poncans are on the bubble. They finished fourth in their events and are hoping their times are good enough to get an invitation.
Zimmerman and Paschal joined Scott Larrison and Chris Buck to pace fourth in the 3200 relay in 8:27, a season's best time for the Cats.
The two workhorses also ran with Deandra Dewberry and Anthony Tillman to nab fourth in the 1600 relay in 3:33.15, another season's best.
For the girls, Tia Williams - coming back from an ankle injury - was waiting to see if her fourth place, 28.34 timing in the 200-meter dash was good enough to qualify.
Also waiting for results from the other regionals was Mary Metzger, who was fourth in the 1600 in 5:59.
"I was extremely pleased with those results," Henderson said.
Henderson also got good - but not quite good enough - results from several other Po-Hi performers. Carol Stangeland ran a rain-soaked 14:38 in the 3200 run. Metzger posted a 2:44 in the 800 for sixth place with Laura Chaney close behind at 2:59.
In the discus, Brooke Hines threw for 90-6 to place sixth while Melissa Alcantra was sixth in the long jump with a leap of 13-3. Jane Koster was also a finalist in the long jump.
In the relays, Tamara Banks, Karine Macre, Keisha Frederick and Williams were fifth in a season's best 54:85 in the 400 relay. Koster, Alcantra, Macre and Megan Butt were sixth in the 1600 relay in 4:42. Koster, Metzger, Chaney and Stephanie Blochowiak were sixth in the 3200 relay in 11:42.
For the boys, Tillman was sixth in the 400 in 53.32. The Cats also got some improved results in the field events as Jason Shelton was fifth in the shot with a toss of 47-2 and Joe Roland was sixth in the long jump at 18-4.5.
The sprint relay team of Dewberry, Tillman, Roland and Kyle Henderson was fifth.
"This is about the middle of what we though we'd take (to the state meet)," Henderson said. "I couldn't be more pleased with the way the kids competed.
"Just importantly, I think some of our young kids found out some things about themselves. They found out the can compete.
Despite the poor weather conditions and the delays, "we had a pretty good day, finally."
As usual, coaching a group of kids is not a one man job. Henderson got much needed help from Lee Guess, Lee Wilson, David Parker, Rick Sodowsky and former Wildcat jumper J.D. Clark.
OKLAHOMA CITY - Concluding what has undoubtedly been one of the highlight seasons in Ponca City sports, the Lady Wildcat tennis team posted a second place finish in the State Tournament, Saturday.
After finishing in third place last year, the Lady Cats overcame five rain delays in two days to finish just one point behind first place Jenks. The Trojans had 19 points, while the Poncans finished in a tie with Edmond Santa Fe, with 18. Enid was fourth with 17, followed by Muskogee with 14, Edmond Memorial with 13, and Sapulpa with 12.
Junior Romi Foreman and senior Melissa Collogan - state runners-up a year ago and No. 2 seeds this year - broke out the Visine and stayed up past curfew to take the state crown. In a match that finished at 1:05 Sunday morning, the tireless Lady Cats overcame Reddy-Williams of Enid, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 to take the win. Foreman and Collogan had previously lost to the Enid duo in split sets in a dual, one week earlier.
"They just completely wanted it," said assistant coach Stan Wheeler. "It was really easy to coach. They couldn't believe they lost a set, and after that you could feel the momentum gradually change. It was a great win."
The Poncans had little problems setting themselves up for the championship, either, blasting past Givens-Nguyen of Mustang, 6-1, 6-1, McClain-Wilhite of Tahlequah, 6-5, 6-1, and avenged their loss in last year's final, topping Walton-Eicheler of Putnam City North, 6-5, 6-2.
Junior Ashley Roussel also had a fantastic finish, bettering her No. 7 seed by two places to finish fifth in the No. 1 singles.
Roussel had little problem dispatching Delashaw of Choctaw, 6-1, 6-0 in the first round, but ran into a buzz-saw with eventual champion and No. 2 seed Pauchnik of Edmond Santa Fe, 6-2, 6-1. That loss dropped Roussel onto the left side of the bracket, where the determined Lady Cat blasted past Karen Lakely of Enid, 6-0, 6-1, survived No. 6 seed Helm of Jenks, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3, and won the consolation bracket final against No. 5 seed Harrouff of Putnam City North in a no-brainer, 6-1, 6-2.
"Ashley played as well as she has all year," said coach Don Lambring. "She was hoping for a 5-seed, and when she didn't get it I think that became her driving force. She was out to prove she was better than some of those other girls."
In another moonlight match, the No. 1 doubles team of senior Natalie Lindsay and junior Abby Frick were outlasted by No. 1 seeds Breece-Smith of Enid, 7-6, 6-4 to capture the fourth place medal. Due to the rain delays, the Ponca City duo - after playing 3 1/2 matches on Saturday - concluded play at about 11 p.m.
Lindsay and Frick - the No. 2 seeds - blasted past Weiss-Edwards of Putnam City West, 6-1, 6-1, survived Edmond North's Templeton-Wise, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5, but stumbled against Muskogee's Yoo sisters, 6-2, 6-1 in the semifinals. That loss dropped the duo into the third place game final.
"They were disappointed," said Lambring. "They had beaten Muskogee earlier and were optimistic, but the Yoo sisters were on their game, and we were a little off."
Finally, No. 2 singles player and No. 4 seed Emmy Hufnagel had a disappointing finish, falling to No. 5 seed Amy Ryan of Sapulpa, 6-3, 6-4 in a quarterfinals match up, and was eliminated in the consolation bracket by Harris of Lawton Eisenhower, 6-2, 6-3. The Lady Cat senior had started out strong, however, blasting past Ronda Aryiku of Westmore, 6-2, 6-1.
"Emmy was disappointed she didn't get any points for us," said Lambring. "You can't say anything about her will to win, though, it was there. In fact, I think she wanted it so badly, she had a hard time relaxing."
The Lady Wildcats also received an academic achievement award at the state tournament, with an average GPA of 3.25.
"I'd also like to recognize the efforts of Stan Wheeler," Lambring concluded. "His was a welcome presence on the practice courts, and he worked well with the girls."
The Lady Cats will return next year with a potentially potent squad, having lost just three seniors - Hufnagel, Collogan, and Lindsay. But with a talented class of up-and-comers, including (among others) Mea Alexander, Emily Wheeler, Claire Winterrowd, and Gina Smith, the conclusion is obvious.
"Other teams are starting to worry about us," says Wheeler. "Ponca City tennis is coming back."
ENID - Ponca City Milan - a traveling soccer team composed mainly of Po-Hi players - started their summer season in grand fashion on Sunday, overcoming Edmond Legend, 2-1, to win the Enid Cup Soccer Festival.
Down 1-0, the Poncans got a goal at the 20 minute mark off the foot of midfielder Paul Broome, and eight minutes later, striker Brett Skaggs scored the winning goal.
Playing at the Enid Soccer Complex, Milan - a team that has played together for the past two and a half years - overwhelmed the competition with a total of 16 goals in four games. The Poncans gave up just four.
In Saturday's games, Milan beat out Legend 3-0, destroyed Altus Intrepid, 6-2, while on Sunday, the Poncans flew past Moore Challengers, 5-1 to set up the championship game.
"When this team plays together and they play within the game plan,
there's not a team in the state that can touch them," said coach Marco
Castillo. "They played together and that's what we stress. In a 32
hour span we played eight hours of soccer."