LOCAL

Ray Seeks Election to Vacant Position on City Commission
Sewer Rate Hike Approved To Finance Improvements
New Spectator Facility Set For Middle School Areas
District Court
Citizens Dining Tonight To Help Golden Villa

Ray Seeks Election to Vacant Position on City Commission

The day after the city commissioners approved a resolution calling for the special election of a vacated city commission seat, the first candidate announced his intention to seek the office.

Long time Ponca City resident Keni Ray announced his candidacy from the steps of City Hall this morning with his wife Janet and two children at his side.

“The decision to run for city commissioner was not taken lightly. It’s a decision that carries a tremendously high level of priority for me,” Ray said. “Janet and I have lived here longer than either of us have ever lived anywhere else, this truly is our hometown.”

It is because Ponca City is his hometown that Ray has decided to run for the one-year, unexpired term.

“Our children were born here and have been raised here," Ray said. “The quality of life that all of us have the opportunity to enjoy in Ponca City is what has kept us here and it is my desire to work with others in the community to make that same quality of life available to everyone who enjoys calling Ponca City their hometown, too.”

Professional educators, Ray and his wife came to Ponca City in 1976. For the next eight years Keni Ray taught English and served as head football coach at Ponca City High School. Prior to teaching and coaching at Po-Hi, Ray was an instructor and assistant football coach at Edmond High School and Norman High School.

In the summer of 1984, he went to work for Conoco and has continued to hold positions in the company’s tax department, Coordination Management and Branded Marketing.

A 1967 graduate of El Reno High School, Ray attended Central State University (now University of Central Oklahoma) at Edmond on a football scholarship and graduated with a B.A. degree in English in 1971 and an M.Ed. degree in Secondary Education/English in 1973. He also completed additional post-graduate studies at Oklahoma State University,

While completing his undergraduate studies, Ray was a three-sport varsity letterman in football, baseball and track. In football, he was selected All-Oklahoma Collegiate Conference in 1969 and 1970 and he was named NAIA All-American in 1970.

Ray and his family are members of the First United Methodist Church of Ponca City where he has served on the Church Board of Trustees and is a 20-year member of the Chancel Choir.

Over the past 22 years Ray has served on the boards of directors for the Ponca City YMCA, the Ponca City Country Club, Ponca City Chamber of Commerce and Oklahoma Great Expectations.

In the past he has also served as president of the Oklahoma Football Coaches Association, president of the Ponca Playhouse Board of Directors, president of the Ponca City Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

He was also co-chair of the Ponca City Youth Crisis Prevention Committee, president of Ponca City Tomorrow and chairman of the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce Education Committee.

If elected, Ray says he will strive to be a team member. “As a member of the Ponca City Board of Commissioners, I want to be a part of a spirited leadership team comprised of volunteers who are willing to give their time and energy and who are dedicated to making the tough decisions on behalf of the whole community, not for just a portion of it,” Ray said.

“Four individuals working with our mayor on our city commission can’t get the job done alone,” he added. “We should be reaching out in all directions in our community to recruit everyone who is willing to collectively help our city grow and prosper.”

Sewer Rate Hike Approved To Finance Improvements

By PATTI PFEIFFER

News Staff Writer

They’re going up — again! For the second year in a row sewer rates will be increasing as city commissioners approved a 15 percent rate hike during Monday night’s commission meeting.

As substantial as it may be the amount of the increase was both less than the 29 percent increase last year and less than originally expected, says Public Works Director Ken Parr.

According to Parr the increase is necessary to finance $12 million of the $19 million in wastewater improvements. “The city commission committed to these improvements over eight years ago due to both Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates and because the plant had reached its capacity,” Parr told the commissioners.

Delay, he says, would have been costly. “Some cities chose to fight the EPA and delay and while you can delay, eventually you’ll have to comply. Due to inflation, costs associated with construction could have been 8-10 percent higher had the city postponed these improvements.”

The rates will become effective July 1 and the basic rate will increase to $10.70. For the first time a five percent senior citizens discount will be offered for those whose head of the household is 65-years-old or older.

City commissioners also approved a resolution calling for the election to fill the city commissioner No. 4 position. The election will be Aug. 25 and candidates will be required to file for the position between July 6-8.

City Commissioner Chris Hand was elected acting mayor to preside in the absence of Mayor Tom Leonard.

A proposed city ordinance requiring vehicles used by electrical, plumbing and mechanical contractors in Ponca City to be marked with a City identification numbers was also approved by the commissioners.

Tabled from the last city commission meeting, a new ordinance regulating the location and height of commercial electronic communication towers was also approved.

A request by the Ponca City School System to burn a pile of brush within the city limits for weed and grass control was granted,

An agreement between the City and Kay County which would allow the County to apply for a grant to improve emergency response capabilities was tabled until the next commission meeting.

An agreement between the Ponca City Fire Department and Pioneer Vo-Tech for the Intermediate/Paramedic Program was approved.

Commissioners also approved a zoning request submitted by the Foursquare Gospel Church. The church is negotiating a lease-purchase for the Lincoln School with the intent to utilize a portion of the building for a church. The area had been zoned R-1 Single Dwelling and commissioners approved the change to R-1 Single Dwelling with Use Permissible on Review for a church and school.

An amendment to the city ordinance relating to the Historical Preservation District was also approved Monday night.

As part of the consent agenda the commissioners approved:

•  Authorization to advertise for bids for the Renovation and Building of the No. 1 Fire Station including construction of the equipment bays, living quarters, exterior stabilization and site excavation and paving. Such bids will be advertised by July 14 and received on Aug. 4.
•  Several recommendations from the Traffic Commission including removal of parking restrictions in the area from Ash to Oak and South Avenue to Otoe, installation of stop signs on Elm Street at Oklahoma Avenue and lowering the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph on South Seventh Street from South Avenue to Drummond Avenue.
• A $10,900 bid to remodel the public restrooms in the Public Safety Center as a requirement of the American Disabilities Act (ADA).
• A $26,096.54 increase for the John Street Improvement Project.
• Roof repairs to the Ponca City Street and Drainage building in the amount of $17,341.00.
• An agreement between the City and the Fireworks Committee and an amendment to the city ordinance which would allow for the July 4 fireworks display at Lake Ponca.

New Spectator Facility Set For Middle School Areas

By KRISTI HAYES

News Education Editor

A contract with Watson Construction, Ponca City, was awarded at a special board meeting Monday of the Ponca City Board of Education to construct a restroom facility and concession stand at Ponca City Middle School. The lowest bid was submitted at $39,930.

The construction project, which will be funded with bond money, will have restrooms, a concession and ticket area to serve both the softball and football spectators. The building will be concrete block with a metal roof. Construction will begin on July 8, 1998, and will be completed in 55 days.

A renewal agreement with Wetzel Insurance to provide insurance for the 1998-99 school year was approved. The agreement will provide general liability insurance, employee fidelity bonds, property casualty insurance and the educators’ legal liability for the 1998-99 school year.

The total package for general liability, commercial property, crime, inland marine and broiler machinery has a premium of $86,604.

The employee Fidelity Bonds for the treasurer, assistant treasurer and all of the activity fund custodians will have a premium of $2,650, and Commercial Union provides this coverage.

The educators’ legal liability insurance (School Board Legal Liability) is with the Coregis Insurance Organization. The most recent information from the Wetzel Agency is that the premium will probably stay the same. The review is still ongoing but it appears the premium will remain at $12,266. This coverage is in addition to the general liability coverage provided by Commercial Union.

The personnel report was approved and included the resignations of Dr. Don Sjoberg, Po-Hi principal; Jernda Lawrence, Liberty teacher; Sally Ryser, Garfield teacher; and Anne-Marie Webster, orchestra teacher in the elementary schools. Sharon Scroggins was hired as the new principal at Woodlands Elementary, effective Aug. 1, 1998. Dr. Bill White, superintendent of Ponca City, told board members that the search is still continuing for a new principal at Liberty Elementary. Jerry Newsom, current Liberty principal, turned in his resignation last month.

Renewing an agreement with Albright Insurance Inc. to provide transportation fleet insurance was approved.

This spring the school added five vehicles which are included in the 1998-99 agreement. The premium for the district’s 1998-99 fleet vehicle insurance is $29,320. When four new buses arrive in August, the school will trade in four of the older buses. Two new mini-buses are scheduled to arrive in October and the school will be trading in one old mini-bus. These changes will require an adjustment of the premium at a later date.

Currently the fleet insurance costs are $27,713 with the recent addition of new vehicles. The coverage provides liability for hired and borrowed vehicles and liability for non-owned vehicles used for district purposes. This is in addition to the general liability held for school owned vehicles. The district has 37 buses and 32 other vehicles. There are also eight trailers on the insurance.

Approval was given to Change Order 2 and Construction Change Directive 1 for the Howell/Commons Project at Po-Hi. The change order included several deductions, additions and scope increases. The original contract price was $2,894,300 and the new price will be $2,774,399.

An increase of Budget Function 2000 was accepted. Funds were appropriated to function with the original allocation. State law requires that if any expenditure exceeds the appropriated amount, the local school board must approve the increase.

Function 2000, which is defined as support personnel, has exceeded the appropriated amount by $315,386.28. That was due to the self-insurance deficit ($113,000) amount being coded to 2000. Appropriations were placed in Function 1000 (certified personnel) rather than 2000.

A supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 1998 in the amount of $496,682 was approved.

The school has exceeded appropriations for fiscal year 1998 school year. This means the district has received more money than the auditor has stated in the Estimate of Needs and Appropriation. The school needs to request a Supplemental Appropriation due to the fact that it will encumber more than the appropriation due to encumbrance of the self-insured deficit and the early retirement payoff.

The increased funding, which was not on the original Estimate of Needs, did not account for the Alternative Education Grant ($266,250) and over collection of the Foundation and Salary Incentive Aid ($230,432).

A special fund for the Child Nutrition Account was accepted. The district will move the Child Nutrition/Campus Mart account to a separate, special account beginning July 1, 1998. Child Nutrition/Campus Mart made a profit of about $85,000 this year, which will be reinvested in the program.

District Court

Newkirk

Marriage Licenses

Timothy R. Blanton, 29, and Echo DeLynn John, 25, both of Ponca City.

Gene Ray Barr, 28, and Amber Nicole Wyatt, 17, both of Ponca City.

James Paul Johnson, 25, and Rebecca Diane Sober, 22, both of Tulsa.

Thomas Scott Evans, legal age, and Leslie Kaye Anderson, legal age, both of Ponca City.

John Thomas Hooper, 20, and Brandy Shaunta Vandaveer, 19, both of Ponca City.

Paul Wayne Muratet, 72, Tulsa, and Hazel Marie Smith, 79, Marion, Kan.

Johnathan Scott Cochrane, 33, and Elizabeth Ann Hubbard, 38, both of Ponca City.

TyRon Lee Jones, 24, and Brenda Lee Saltarelli, 17, both of Ponca City.

Blackwell

Divorces Granted

Robert Brent Blay vs. Shelley J. Blay.

Damon Horton vs. Lanell Horton.

Michael P. Edwards vs. Dani L. Edwards; defendant restored to former name Dani L. Gonterman.

Jennifer L. Strickland vs. Clifton I. Strickland; plaintiff restored to former name Jennifer L. Lauver.

Civil Petitions

Central National Bank & Trust of Enid, Okla., Blackwell Branch, vs. Jeffrey Scott Arthur, et al., petition for foreclosure.

Citizens Dining Tonight To Help Golden Villa

Dining at El Chico this evening from 5 to 10 p.m. will be doubly enjoyable for citizens who want to enjoy good Tex-Mex food and help the Golden Villa Day Care Center, a local Day Care Center for adults.

A portion of all proceeds earned at El Chico tonight will be donated to Golden Villa says David Jackson, El Chico manager/owner. All the customer is required to do is sign in on a sheet at the front entryway.

Judy Zimmerman, staff member, and Lanny Officer, board member, have invited all families and friends of clients, as well as anyone who is interested in supporting the service at Golden Villa to enjoy an evening of dining at El Chico and in turn, help the agency.

DEATHS

Blanche Margaret Jamieson
Donald Lucksted
James B. Rogers Jr.
Kenneth L. Miller
Cecil D. Sneed
Vashti Marie Grant

Blanche Margaret Jamieson

BLACKWELL — Blanche Margaret Jamieson, lifelong Blackwell area resident, died Sunday afternoon, June 21, 1998, at Blackwell Regional Hospital. She was 91.

The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Deer Creek (Okla.) First Christian Church with the Rev. Dennis Murray officiating. Burial will be in the Mount Olive Cemetery in Nardin. Arrangements are under the direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home, Blackwell.

Blanche Margaret (Grimsley) Jamieson was born July 26, 1906, in Nardin to Preston and Eva (Porter) Grimsley. She grew up and attended schools in the Nardin and Blackwell area, graduating from Blackwell High School.

She married Homer H. Jamieson on Aug. 3, 1926, in Enid and the couple established their first home in Deer Creek. In 1927, the couple moved to the Jamieson family homestead southeast of Deer Creek, which Homer’s father claimed in 1893. They farmed and raised eight children on that farm. Mrs. Jamieson was active in the Osburn Study Club and the Well Worth While Extension Homemakers group of Deer Creek. In earlier years she had been a member of the Nardin First Baptist Church and later held membership with the Deer Creek First Christian Church. The couple retired in 1986 and moved into Deer Creek. After her husband’s death on April 2, 1995, Mrs. Jamieson moved to Blackwell.

Survivors include six daughters, Thelma Peterson, Willa Mae Matthews, and Mary Nutt, all of Blackwell, Esther Mayfield of Stigler, Frances Michael of Richmond, Kan., and Darlene Kastanek of Kolin, La.; two sons, Dennis Jamieson of Lyman, Wyo., and Darrell Jamieson of Deer Creek; one brother, Lee Grimsley of Newton, Kan.; 25 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by five sisters, Lillian Mylcraine, Marie Grimsley, Wilma Grimsley, and two infant twin sisters; two brothers, Ralph and Marvin Grimsley; two granddaughters; one grandson; three great-grandsons; and one great-granddaughter.

Casket bearers will be Loyd Peterson, Kerry Kastanek, Rick Nutt, Darren Jamieson, Rod Michael, Greg Michael and David Matthews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Deer Creek First Christian Church, c/o Roberts Funeral Home, 120 West Padon, Blackwell, OK 74631.

The family will be at 830 Ash Street in Blackwell.

Donald Lucksted

KAW CITY — Donald Lucksted, former Ponca City area resident, died Monday, June 22, 1998, at the Four Seasons Nursing Home in Durant. He was 72.

The funeral will be graveside at Grandview Cemetery in Kaw City at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, with the Rev. William Bonee officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Dalton-Holmes Funeral Home, Durant.

Donald Lucksted was born March 4, 1926, in Ponca City to Harry and Pearl (McSmith) Lucksted. He served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force.

He was married to Pauline Love on May 30, 1947, in Kansas. After his military service Lucksted was a carpenter by trade. He was a member of the VFW and the Baptist Church.

Survivors include two daughters, Bonita Smith of Durant and Pauline Doing of Vancouver, Wash.; one brother, Bus Lucksted of Lawton; four grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his wife on Feb. 28, 1989; his parents; and several brothers and sisters.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Assoc. (Lou Gerhig’s Disease), 21021 Ventura Blvd. No. 321, Woodland Hills, CA 91364.

James B. Rogers Jr.

BLACKWELL — James B. Rogers Jr., Blackwell resident, died at his home, Monday, June 22, 1998. He was 82.

A memorial service will be held graveside at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 25, at the Yukon (Okla.) Cemetery. The Rev. Roland Briggs, minister of Immanuel Baptist Church, Blackwell, will officiate. Funeral arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Hackler Funeral Home, Blackwell.

James B. Rogers Jr., was born Feb. 26, 1916, in Shawnee to James B. and Mamie (Cooley) Rogers. As a teenager, he moved with his family to El Reno where he attended high school. He farmed with is father at El Reno until he entered the U.S. Army and served in the military during World War II.

After his discharge, he returned to El Reno and began his career as a truck driver. In 1947 Rogers moved to California where he was engaged in trucking for Mammoth Truck lines until his retirement. In 1993 he moved to Blackwell to make his home.

Survivors include one sister, Bernice Briggs of Blackwell; one niece and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Kenneth L. Miller

BLACKWELL — Kenneth L. Miller, former Blackwell area resident, died Saturday, May 16, 1998 in Kansas City, Mo.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 26, 1998, at the Blackwell Cemetery under the direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home, Blackwell.

Survivors include his sister, Emma Grodin of Blackwell; three brothers, Henry Allen Miller of Perry, Willis LeRoy Miller of Tulsa and Joe Miller of Redding, Calif. He was preceded in death by his parents and five brothers, L.O., Don, Ray, Cecil, and Leslie Miller.

Funerals

Thursday

Cecil D. Sneed — The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. at the Trout Funeral Home Chapel for Mr. Sneed who died Sunday, June 22, 1998, in Lakewood, Colo. Other arrangements will be announced later by Trout Funeral Home.

Services Pending

Vashti Marie Grant

Vashti Marie Grant, Ponca City resident, died Saturday, June 20, 1998, in Ponca City. She was 40. The funeral is set for 2 p.m. Thursday at the Ponca Indian Baptist Church at White Eagle. Other arrangements will be announced later by Grace Memorial Chapel.

NEWS BRIEFS

Suspicious Activity — The Communications Center received a 911 call at 6:20 a.m. Monday from the 300 block of South Washington Street that a disturbance was occurring at West Ponca Avenue and South Washington Street. Three officers of the Ponca City Police Department responded and information was logged.

Vandalism — A man from the 1100 block of West Highland Avenue reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 7:48 a.m. Monday that the residence had been vandalized. an officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Abandoned Bicycle — An employee of the Public Works reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 10:15 a.m. Monday that a bicycle had been abandoned in bushes behind the 400 block of East Grand Avenue. Animal Control was notified to pick up the bicycle.

Vehicles Broken Into — An employee at Jay’s Auto, 1114 North Waverly Street, reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 10:19 a.m. Monday that several vehicles had been broken into. An officer was assigned, a report was taken and a request was made for an extra patrol.

Items Missing — A man from Champlin Motors, 401 South Fourteenth Street, reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 10:25 a.m. Monday that wheels and tires had been taken off a vehicle. An officer was assigned and a grand larceny report was taken.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 200 block of North Oak Street at 11:46 a.m. Monday that a 34-year-old woman was being held for possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a city warrant for assault and battery, plus two Kay County warrants for failure to appear.

Harassment — A person from the 200 block of Lansbrook reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 12:53 p.m. Monday that some subjects were harassing her. An officer was assigned and a report was taken on stalking.

Fireworks Discharged — The Ponca City Police Department received a call from Sober Brothers at 12:55 p.m. Monday that youngsters were shooting fireworks near the Blue Moon. Information was logged that the Kay County Sheriff’s Office was notified, a police officer talked to the youngsters, and a code enforcer was contacted concerning a flame in a charcoaler near the fireworks stand.

Abandoned Bicycle — A woman reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 1:57 p.m. Monday that a bicycle had been abandoned in the 300 block of South Lincoln Street. Animal Control was notified to pick up the bicycle.

Items Missing — A woman was at the Ponca City Police Department at 2:24 p.m. Monday to report that some vases had been stolen from the Cultural Center, 1000 East Grand Avenue. An officer was assigned and a grand larceny report was taken.

Threatened — The Communications Center received a report at 2:58 p.m. Monday that a subject in the 1900 block of Mary Street had been threatened. An officer of the Ponca City Police department was assigned and a report was taken.

Vehicle Towed — A three-vehicle non-injury accident at the intersection of North Fourteenth Street and East Highland Avenue was reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 3:16 p.m. Monday. Two officers were assigned and a report was taken. One vehicle was towed from the scene.

Item Missing — A woman from the 300 block of South Pine Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 4:01 p.m. Monday that a cellular phone had been stolen while in the 100 block of Cooley Avenue. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

VCR Stolen — A man from the 600 block of West Hazel Avenue reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 4:43 p.m. Monday that a VCR had been stolen off the front porch of the residence. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Vehicle Vandalism — A woman from the 2200 block of North Fourteenth Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 5:06 p.m. Monday that some her vehicle had been vandalized. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Suspicious Activity — A woman from the 700 block of West Emporia Avenue was at the Ponca City Police Department at 5:27 p.m. Monday to report a violation of a protective order. An officer was assigned and information was logged.

Shoplifter — An employee at Wal-Mart reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 7:43 p.m. Monday that a juvenile shoplifter was in custody. An officer was assigned and a 17-year-old boy was held for grand larceny. A report was taken.

Subject Held — A man from the 100 block of South Pine Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 8:52 p.m. Monday that a subject was trespassing in the 200 block of South Pine Street. An officer was assigned and a 39-year-old man was held for public intoxication and trespassing. A report was taken.

Window Broken — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 200 block of North Pine Street at 10:28 p.m. Monday that a window had been broken at a business. Information was logged.

Accident Victims — The Communications Center received a report from the emergency room of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday that two persons were being treated for injuries received in a wreck on City View. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol was notified.

House on Fire — A clerk at Citgo, 400 East South Avenue, reported to the Communications Center at 2:14 a.m. Tuesday that a woman had requested assistance with a house on fire on East Otoe Avenue between Fifth Street and Sixth Street. All stations of the Ponca City Fire Department responded to the scene at 515 East Otoe Avenue, and reported that the fire was out at 2:31 a.m. The fire marshal also responded, and three officers of the Ponca City Police Department assisted.

Suspicious Activity — A woman reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 3:32 a.m. Tuesday that four juvenile males were running northbound from the 1500 block of East Walnut Avenue. Three officers responded to the scene and took into custody one juvenile, who was released to a parent.

BUSINESS

PTC Reorganizing Programs For Better Service to Clients
Notes and Quotes
Accountant Earns CVA Designation
Breakfast Group To Hear Former Penney Manager
Taylor Interning At Land Bank

PTC Reorganizing Programs For Better Service to Clients

By Janet L. Taber

Pioneer Technology Center

In an effort to enhance service and provide additional resources to business and industry, Pioneer Technology Center’s Business and Industry Services division has announced the reorganization of its client-based programs.

Currently the client-based programs consist of Agricultural Business Management (ABM), Self-employed Training (SET), Small Business Management, (SBM), and Bid Assistance Center (BAC).

These programs will be referred to as the Business Development Team. The team will continue to provide the same services as before, but will now work closer together in recruiting new clients and expanding their work force resources in the community.

According to Lanita Chapman, who was recently approved for the business and industry services director position at Pioneer Tech’s last board meeting, said, “The Business Development Team will be just that, a team. This approach will be a joint effort designed to assist all clients. Although there are primary responsibilities for each team member, these responsibilities will not limit the team. The focus instead is to capitalize on individual strengths and to promote every service area in the BIS Center. This will help prevent overlapping services and better utilize the cross-training of each team member.

In addition to enhancing the resources of the BIS Center, a new position will be added to the Business Development Team called the Management Development Group Coordinator. This area will work to provide area business leaders the opportunity to provide assessment, consulting and training for management level personnel. The areas plan to include: strategic planning, organizational management, project implementation, team building, interpersonal skills, and communication skills.

“We are striving to better serve the needs of businesses and employees by branching out to businesses of all aspects that have training needs anywhere from professional improvement to technical skills,” said Chapman. “The way we are set up, with our state-wide network, we can offer training to businesses in a cost-effective manner.”

The Business Development Team, along with the directors of Industry Training and Adult Training and Development, will all share in the coordination of scheduling Pioneer Tech’s Mobile Technology Center (MTC). The MTC is a self-contained computer lab, which can be delivered right to a company, business or school to provide computer training. Scheduling of Pioneer Tech’s Telecommunication Center, consisting of Interactive video classes, One Net, Videoconferencing and Satellite, will also be shared with input by all of the BIS staff.

The SET program, taught by Larry Atteberry, will continue to provide support to clients that want to know how to establish or manage a new business and will also assist the new SBM clients. Atteberry will continue to work with the business incubator clients daily, concerning business/financial issues related to the incubator client’s operation.

Pam Dickerson will continue to work with the SBM program and expand to help the larger businesses in the area. Dickerson will work to schedule classes, workshops or seminars with AT&D coordinator, Frank Vascellaro and IT&D Director Vance Johnson. This approach will work to provide assistance to clients when the need arises.

Erwin Anderson, Agricultural Business Management instructor will continue in his role but work with the other team members when scheduling workshops or classes such as record keeping or computer classes, that could benefit any client. Anderson also plans to work with IT&D director to provide safety-related programs for the farm industry.

The BID coordinator, under the direction of Teresa Smith, will schedule required workshops outlined in the federal agreement for BID Centers. Smith will also share responsibilities with other team members.

Chapman has been employed at Pioneer Technology Center since 1980. She holds a bachelor of science and master’s degree from Oklahoma State University. Chapman served in several capacities at Pioneer Tech and was formerly campus director. Chapman replaces Scott Dean, who previously served as assistant superintendent of Business and Industry for nine years. Dean left Pioneer Tech to take a position with the Oklahoma State Department of Vo-tech in Stillwater.

Notes and Quotes

Bank of Oklahoma Scholarship

Robert Hwang, a student at Ponca City High School, has been awarded an $850 scholarship to attend the prestigious Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute. The scholarship, from Bank of Oklahoma and the Betty E. and George B. Kaiser Foundation, was presented recently by L. J. Chaufty, president of BOK-Ponca City.

The two-week residential program began June 13, and is being hosted by the University of Oklahoma while permanent facilities are currently under construction at Quartz Mountain State Park in southwest Oklahoma. The program drew more than 1,000 applications. Two hundred 45 students were selected. In addition to Hwang,, six students were selected as BOK scholars.

CFC Dividend

OMAHA — Commercial Federal Corporation has announced that its Board of Directors has approved the payment of a regular quarterly cash dividend to shareholders for the quarter ending June 30. The dividend, in the amount of 55 cents per share, will be paid on July 14 to shareholders of record as of June 26.

Commercial Federal Corporation is the parent company of Commercial Federal Bank, a $8.9 billion federal savings bank which currently operates 168 retail offices in Nebraska, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa and Arizona.

A.G. Edwards Breaks Record

ST. LOUIS — For the fourth consecutive quarter, A.G. Edwards, Inc. had record revenues and net earnings. Net earnings for the quarter ended May 31, were $76,006,000 on revenues of $570,189,000 or 78 cents diluted and 79 cents basic earnings per share. For the same quarter last year, net earnings were $54,541, 000 on revenues of $439,348,000 or 56 cents diluted and 57 cents basic earnings per share.

George Ferguson is the local investment representative for A.G. Edwards, Inc.

OSBDC Rep in County

On July 1, a representative from the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center (OSBDC) of Northwestern State University, Alva, will be in Kay County to help small businesses. The organization provides free one-on-one counseling to individuals interested in starting a new business or to existing business owners needing assistance.

Clients will be seen by appointment only from 9 a.m., to noon at the offices of Kay County Electric Association in Blackwell and from 1 to 4 p.m., in the south conference room of the Administration Building on the campus of NOC at Tonkawa. To schedule an appointment or receive additional information, call (405) 327-8608 prior to July 1.

Accountant Earns CVA Designation

Ponca City Certified Public Accountant Chuck Van Cleave was recently awarded the designation of certified valuation analyst by the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts.

The CVA is the premier accreditation for CPAs who are uniquely qualified to provide business valuation services. The accreditation is a statement to the business, professional and legal community that an individual has attained a level of knowledge in business valuations that the NACVA considers exemplary and worthy of recognition by awarding the designation of CVA.

Business valuations are a necessary part of estate and gift taxes, mergers and acquisitions, liquidation or reorganization of a business, succession planning, and litigation support for partner disputes, economic loss analysis and marital dissolutions, as well as many other areas of business.

To become certified by the NACVA, the candidate is required to successfully complete a rigorous training and testing process. A preemptive requirement to becoming a CVA is that the applicant must be a CPA licensed in his state and a member of the local CPA society or the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

The CVA must also maintain at least 40 hours of continuing professional education each year and conduct himself within the ethical mandate established by the profess. NACVA also requires that the CVA obtain at least 24 hours each two year period of continuing professional education in areas relating to business valuations and/or litigation support.

In addition to holding certifications as a CPA and a CVA, Van Cleave, a member of The Gatehouse Group, LLC, is also a licensed real estate broker. A graduate of Colorado State University, he currently serves as an officer for the Ponca City Arts Adventure program, the North Central Chapter of the Oklahoma Dressage Association, the Kay County Republican Party, and the Kay County Chapter of the Oklahoma Society of CPAs.

He also serves on an advisory board for the City of Ponca City and has volunteered his time to numerous other organizations throughout the community. Van Cleave has been a CPA for the past 24 years.

His wife and business partner is Lana Van Cleave, a CPA and a certified financial planner. They have a daughter Anna, at home, who attends First Lutheran School. They are members of First Baptist Church.

The Van Cleaves office in the historic E.W. Marland administrative offices known as the “Gatehouse,” located at 747 North Fourteenth.

Breakfast Group To Hear Former Penney Manager

Breakfast of Champions, sponsored by the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce’s Give Ponca The Business committee is slated for Friday morning at the Marland Estate Mansion Chapel.

Guest speaker will be Ed Trice, former manager of the Ponca City J.C. Penney Company Inc. store. Trice, who was active in the Chamber and on the Marland Estate Commission here until being transferred to Texas, will speak on “Thoughts on Ponca City and Customer Service.”

The program gets under way at 7:30 a.m. Breakfast begins at 7:15. The menu is egg casserole, fruit salad, muffins, juice and coffee. The cost is $5.

Attendance is limited and reservations are required and will be taken on a first come basis. All reservations will be billed and may be made by calling 765-4400.

Taylor Interning At Land Bank

WICHITA — Robb Taylor of Ponca City is interning at the Federal Land Bank of Ponca City.

Taylor is currently participating in a summer intern program sponsored by the Farm Credit Bank of Wichita. The training program combines instruction and on-the-job training for all types of financing, appraisal and other services.

Taylor is earning a bachelor’s degree with a double major in Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Education at Oklahoma State University. He is the son of Gary and Nancy Taylor of Ponca City. His grand parents are Mr. and Mrs. Joe Vickers, Ponca City.

The Farm Credit Bank of Wichita provides short, intermediate and long-term financing and related services to farmers and ranchers in Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado and New Mexico through a network of Farm Credit Centers, Federal Land Bank Associates and Production Credit Associations.

LIFESTYLES

Little News
Alpha Gamma Meeting
Bits and Pieces

Little News

Richard and Dollie Spore, 220 East Detroit, announce the birth of a daughter at 1:58 p.m. April 28, 1998 at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center. The baby weighed 8-pounds, 4-ounces and was 22-inches long. She has been named Tedi Searha Spore. Her brothers and sisters are Myles Thiele, Destiny Laughrey, Amber Lansdowne, Carl Spore and Andrew Spore.

Maternal grandparents are Dani Edwards of Ponca City and Geri Laughrey of Oklahoma City. Paternal grandparents are Don and Emily Spore of Ponca City. Great-grandparent is Teddy Thompson of Tonkawa and great-great-grandmother is Dollie Thompson of Tonkawa.

Alpha Gamma Meeting

The Alpha Gamma Mother’s Club met recently for the last meeting of the 1997-98 club year at the home of Mrs. Billie Stepken. The meeting followed an installation dinner at Pauline’s Supper Club.

Mrs. Deb Cordes led the reading of the Collect and Aims and Chaplain Jean Hess read a selection from the book “God’s Abundance, 365 Ways To a Simpler Life.” Mrs. Stepken read the minutes and Mrs. Pat Koehler gave the treasurer’s report.

Final plans were made for a luncheon at Mae Lilly’s Tea Room in Pawnee. The next meeting of the group will be the second Monday in September.

Bits and Pieces

55 and Older Club

Members of the 55 and Older Club will meet for a salad luncheon June 25 at noon at 700 West Broadway. Each person is asked to bring a salad. Cards are played on Tuesday and Thursday, noon-4 p.m. Guests are welcome to attend the events.

SPORTS

Legion Varsity Finishes Second in Tournament
USATF Meet Crowns Three P.C. Champions

Legion Varsity Finishes Second in Tournament

PUTNAM CITY — The American Legion AA varsity baseballers showed up to play in the Putnam City Tournament over the weekend, taking two of four match ups to post an impressive second place finish.

The Royals — the lone AA team in a AAA tournament — got off to a fast start, pulling out three runs in the seventh inning to top Putnam City West, 8-5 on Friday.

After falling 6-1 to Westmoore on Saturday, the Legionnaires came back later in the day to topple Reynolds, 10-5. With a pool best 2-1 mark, the Royals then squared off against Putnam City in the finals on Sunday, and things got ugly.

After taking the top of the Putnam City roster 3-and-out, the Royals got off to a quick, 3-0 lead behind hits by Matt Johnson, Chase Eads and Wes Day.

But that promising start quickly fizzled, as Putnam City unloaded for seven runs in the second and five more in the third to put the Poncans behind, and went on to win in the run-rule, 15-3.

The Royals, meanwhile, picked up just two more hits in the final four innings, and despite turning a 1-2-3-4-3-6-2 triple play in the top of the fourth, couldn’t seem to swing the momentum in their favor.

In the inaugural game of the tournament, however, the Royals’ bats were anything but silent. After Putnam City tied the game at 5-all in the top of the sixth, the Royals came back in the bottom of that inning with three runs of their own.

A lead off single by Day, followed by an error to Casey Rowe and a walk to Bryan Coppock quickly loaded the bases. Day then came in on a squeeze bunt by Buddy McCoy, and after Rowe scored on a passed ball, an overthrown put-out attempt at first sent Coppock in as well.

Ten hits, including a 3-of-4, 3 RBI effort by the third baseman McCoy, gave the Royals the win. Also getting multiple hits in the game was Coppock, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

On Saturday, however, the Poncans could come up with just three hits against Westmoore pitcher Tom Robins, who also struck out 11 while walking just two. For the Poncans, Chad Whitsitt gave up just six hits, but those six, combined with six Ponca City errors, gave Westmoore the game.

Later that day, however, the Royals came back with 12 hits against Reynolds to launch into the finals.

With the score knotted at 5-all after four innings, the Poncans poured it on in the fifth and sixth innings, getting five more runs to end the game — which by then had gone over the tournament time-limit.

In the sixth inning, three runs off four hits by Eads, Day, Anthony Stark and Chris McCool made the win decisive.

For the game, Eads was 2-for-3 with a triple, McCool was 2-for-4, Day was a perfect 4-for-4, while Jimmo Ozment was 2-for-3.

The AA varsity will be at home tonight, taking on Perry. Game time is set for 6.

Ponca City 8, Putnam City West 5

Ponca City 004 103 x — 8 10 1

Putnam City 301 001 0 — 5 9 4

Stewart, Day (6) and Eads; Winkler, Carter (6), Mustang (6) and Kelley.

Westmoore 6, Ponca City 1

Westmore 004 010 1 — 6 6 1

Ponca City 001 000 0 — 7 3 6

Robins and Hilburn; Whitsitt and Johnson.

Ponca City 10, Reynolds 5

Ponca City 103 123 — 10 12 3

Reynolds 001 400 — 5 8 3

Coppock, Eads (4), Day (4), and Johnson; Little, Rowden (6) and Dallas.

Putnam City North 15, Ponca City 3

Putnam City 075 03 — 15 17 0

Ponca City 300 00 — 3 5 5

McWherter and Houston; Whitsitt, Stewart (3) and Eads.

USATF Meet Crowns Three P.C. Champions

Nine Ponca City youths represented the Ponca City Track Club in the Oklahoma Association USA Track and Field (USATF) Junior Olympic Championships held June 19-20 at the OSU track complex in Stillwater. Three of them combined to win four Junior Olympic state championships.

Aaron Brooke, competing in the Youth boys (ages 13-14) division, finished first in the javelin with a throw of 118-1 and first in the triple jump with a leap of 32-8.25. Aaron also finished third in the discus with a throw of 104-10 and third in the high jump with a leap of 5-0.

Chelsie Baldwin, competing in the Midget girls (ages 11-12) division, finished first in the 1500 meter run in a time of 5:46. Chelsie also finished fifth in the 800 meter run in a time of 3:01 and eighth in the long jump with a leap of 9-8.25.

Patrick Powers, competing in the Midget boys (ages 11-12) division, finished first in the high jump with a leap of 5-0. Patrick also finished second in the 80 meter hurdles in a time of 16.36 and second in the discus with a throw of 61-4.

Cory Behara, competing in the Midget boys (ages 11-12) division, finished fifth in the long jump with a leap of 12-8.5.

Jonathan Powers, competing in the Bantam boys (ages 10 and under) division, finished second in the high jump with a leap of 3-5.

Kyle Baldwin, competing in the Bantam boys (ages 10 and under) division, finished 6th in the long jump with a leap of 10-5.25.

Michael Powers, competing in the Intermediate boys (ages 15-16) division, finished third in the Javelin with a throw of 99-4.

David Emmons, competing in the Intermediate boys (ages 15-16) division, finished second in the javelin with a throw of 105-3 and sixth in the discus with a throw of 71-9.

Heather Brooke, competing in the Intermediate girls (ages 15-16) division, finished sixth in the discus with a throw of 49-10 and ninth in the shot put with a throw of 22-7.

All athletes who placed in the top four in an event at Stillwater have qualified to compete in the Region 9 USATF Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships to be held July 11th and 12th at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Ill, according to Mark Brooke, Ponca City Track Club coach.