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From the pages of The Ponca City News, Friday, June 25, 1999 LOCAL DEATHS NEWS BRIEFS LIFESTYLES EDUCATION RELIGION SPORTS LOCALRains Continue To Cause Problems All Over State Rains Continue To Cause Problems All Over StateBy The Associated Press The forecast says the chance for rain will diminish in the coming days, which would be welcome news for just about any part of saturated Oklahoma. Another round of scattered, slow-moving thunderstorms developed Thursday, dumping enough rain to temporarily close some highways and cause flash flooding. Some of the storms were severe, packing winds strong enough to topple trees and power lines. A tornado warning was issued Thursday night for Jackson County in the southwest part of the state, although no funnel developed. The state’s wheat crop continued to suffer. After a sunny start to the day, storms passed through north-central Oklahoma and brought heartbreak for farmers still unable to harvest their crops. ‘‘The bottom fell out,’’ said Kathy Hern, a dispatcher with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. ‘‘We’ll never get our wheat out of the fields the way it is now.’’ ‘‘Farmers up here are just crying,’’ said Patrick Zehr, civil emergency management director for Kay County. Forecasters said there was about a 30 percent chance for scattered showers and thunderstorms each day through the weekend. Flash flood warnings were issued Thursday night for Jackson County and for parts of Ellis, Harper and Woodward counties in the northwest. Radar indicated 3 to 4 inches of rain fell across western Jackson County, with 1 to 2 inches per accompanying the storms in the northwest. Widespread street flooding was reported in Lawton as the result of a storm system that moved slowly through the area. Winds of 50-60 mph were reported with storms in Grant, Lincoln, LeFlore, Payne and Okfuskee counties. In Chandler, the storms caused moderate wind damage, mainly involving downed trees. ‘‘There was a porch that was knocked out when a tree fell across it, and some houses had shingles blown off,’’ said Randy Hugueley, chief of the Chandler Fire Department. At the peak of the storm about 2,000 OG&E customers were without power. Grant County Undersheriff Wayne Stinson said ‘‘tremendous rains’’ flooded portions of several roads in that county Thursday afternoon. U.S. 81 was closed north of Medford to the Kansas border because of high water. Water covered U.S. 60 west of Pond Creek and U.S. 81 south of Medford, although 81 south of Medford was still passable. The weather service said reports of more than 4 inches of rain had been received from the Carney area in Lincoln County with total rainfall of 4 to 6 inches possible by the time the rains end. In Tulsa, the afternoon thunderstorms caused major delays and some cancellations in flights at Tulsa International Airport. In Stillwater, residents at an apartment complex said they saw a funnel dip, lift off pieces of the roof and whirl it and other debris around before dumping it about 100 yards away, said Ralph McFadden, emergency coordination and communication director for the city of Stillwater. Some cars also were damaged. The weather service said no reports of a tornado were issued for the storm in Stillwater, which moved through around 11:30 a.m. ‘‘If there really was a circulation, it could be what we refer to as a gustnado, or rotation on the outflow of a thunderstorm,’’ said weather service meteorologist Cheryl Sharpe. Ms. Sharpe said it also could have been a downburst, or a strong gusty wind from a thunderstorm. Thursday’s rains came on top of heavy rainfall Wednesday in portions of Oklahoma. Nearly NewsNearly News reminds families to check out the Juneteenth celebration Saturday, at Attucks Park, 1101 South Twelfth Street, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. There will be food, games, basketball tournament and other activities. NN received a call early Friday that the Department of Human Services will be moving its Blackwell offices to Ponca City at 801 West Grand Avenue, Suite B, which is the east end of the building and will open there on June 30. The telephone number for that office at that time will be 762-2656 and the fax number will be 762-2674. Youth Police Academy Preparations CompleteTeens attending the upcoming Youth Police Academy will be equipped with regular law enforcement garb, including mock firearms to participate in practical exercises. Schedules will be distributed during the first day of the academy. Cadets will receive a shirt, hat, and a copy of Career Planning in Criminal Justice. Also, a Youth Police Academy manual will be provided. The book includes information about college resource personnel, the value of career planning and strategies for college success. The Academy is available at no cost to youth. Those who attend the all day camp will also have lunch included. The department created the Youth Police Academy in hopes of creating, enhancing and maintaining partnerships between the police department and young citizens. The academy is a condensed police academy similar to what newly hired police officers receive basic training. Two academies will be held this summer. A total of 40 students can attend 40 hours of instruction, which will be a blend of lecture, practical problems, tours and hands-on training. After graduation, the department will encourage the youth to be an active part of the department and assist in future programs. The first session, a full day camp, will be held July 5 through July 9. The second session will run for two weeks from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. from July 19 to July 30. Major Clayton Johnson stated that teens must make a commitment to attend each session, as each class builds on information from a previous session. Johnson warns youth and guardians that while topics will be presented in a professional manner, strong language, graphic photographs and discussions will occur. Space for the Youth Academy is limited. Therefore, interested teens 15 to 18 years of age, need to submit their applications by Monday. For more information, or to obtain an application, contact Sherry Bowers, Chris Primeaux or Johnson at 767-0370. The program is sponsored by the Ponca City Police Department and funded by a grant through the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs. Special Funds Aid Budget Plans for the CityThe City of Ponca City Fiscal Year 2000 budget includes other enterprise funds and trust funds, including the Marland Estate, Lew Wentz Golf Course, Cann Estate, Matzene Book, new Fire Station and the Street Improvement funds. The Marland Estate and the Lew Wentz Golf Course are considered enterprise funds. The Ponca City Board of Commissioners can budget for revenue earned and expenses incurred, as well as whether or not to use net income for capital maintenance, public policy or other purposes to benefit the community. Costs are paid for on a user-charge basis. The Marland Estate fund will preserve the historic landmark museum and interpret the history of E.W. Marland, oil millionaire and tenth governor of Oklahoma. There are outlying museums on the estate grounds that relate to the Mansion including: Petroleum Museum, Bryant Baker Studio and Lydie’s Cottage. The estate is staffed by a director, operations assistant, maintenance worker, two part time gift shop attendants and a part time custodian. Plans for the upcoming year include creating a new Bryant Baker Studio “Working Studio” in Artist Studio building and Marland History Exhibit in Lydie’s Cottage. Fiscal 2000 objectives include expanding the marketing area to include other states; creating a direct mail program of study tour for schools; continuing with preventative maintenance; finishing stone cleaning and tuck pointing of the mansion and opening Lydie’s Cottage and the Artist’s Studio. The 2000 approved budget is $244,000. Lew Wentz Golf Course The Lew Wentz Golf Course offers an 18-hole public golf facility for the residents of Ponca City. The course is staffed with a manager, two public works administrative assistants, grounds superintendent, two maintenance workers, a small engine mechanic, a part time office specialist, and four part time laborers. The approved budget is $636,639 and includes a capital outlay of $82,000. Approved capital expenses are: two new golf greens, a greens mower and three Cushman utility carts. A small user fee increase has been approved. During the upcoming year, golf course staff plan to continue to be a self-supporting fund and increase the number of rounds played and emphasize the junior golf program. Trust Funds Trust funds are fiduciary and proprietary fund types used to account for assets held by the city. These include Cann Estate, Matzene Book, Fire Station No. 1 and Street Improvement. The Cann Estate is considered a destination point for visitors. Additionally, it provides a safe, clean facility which has a pleasing outdoor environment for citizens, local garden clubs and tourists. The $76,190 budget allows for a $15,000 capital outlay to purchase a 60 foot deck riding mower. Objectives for the estate include developing a plan to extend the night lighting along the estate walkways, to be implemented in Fiscal year 2001. In addition, administrators will develop long range plans to install a traffic barrier around the estate property. The Matzene Book Fund allows for the purchase of books for the Ponca City Library through funds willed to the City by Gordon Matzene in 1950. Interest earnings from a certificate of deposit held at Pioneer Bank are available funds. According to the Matzene Will, these funds can only be used for the purchase of specialty library books approved by the Library board chairman. The Fire Station No. 1 Trust Fund was established to expend a dedicated two-year half-cent sales and use tax dedicated to the renovation and expansion of the new fire station. During the upcoming year, the city intends to complete construction, provide needed furnishings and resume service from the new site. The Street Improvement Project Trust Fund expends street improvement sales and use tax revenues derived from a half-cent dedicated sales tax to improve city streets. The department constructs improvements and leverages grant funds whenever possible. The city anticipates spending $3.65 million to substantially complete Waverly Street four-lane, from Highland Avenue to Industrial Boulevard; complete engineering plans on Waverly Street four-lane from South Avenue to Highland Avenue, and to construct the Ash Street/Hartford Avenue realignment and signalization. For more information about the enterprise and trust funds, review the 1999-2000 Budget Book which is available in the reference section of the Ponca City Library. United Way Campaign Cabinet Ready To Form Volunteer ForceThe 1999-2000 Campaign Cabinet has been selected and will be forming a volunteer force of over 250 people to personally visit or call every business and retiree in the community to ask for support for the 17 agencies served by the United Way of Ponca City. Danny Thompson is the campaign chairman and David Mills is the assistant campaign chair. “The success of the campaign depends on all of us. United Way funds are raised by the community, for the community and those funds are allocated by a committee of dedicated community volunteers to insure dollars are utilized in the best possible way,” said Helene Schwartz, director of United Way. The campaign cabinet is headed by the following Division Chairpersons: Business and Industry Division is co-chaired by Pam Dickerson and Teresa Smith, both from Pioneer Technology Center; Commerce Division co-chairs are Kim Jump, the Child Development Center, and Chuck Rager, Boy Scouts; Conoco Cabinet chair is Marla Benyshek, and Finance, Insurance and Real Estate Division chair is Bill Wetzel of the Wetzel Agency, Inc. Additionally, the Major Companies/Loaned Executive Chair is Debra Whitener from Loftis Insurance; Professional Division is chaired by Scott Jackson from Boettcher, Ryan and Martin; Public Service Division co-chairs are Sherry Bowers from the Ponca City Police Department and Tom Sipe from Roosevelt School; Retired Division is chaired by John Stanley, Pioneer Bank and Trust, and Services Division is chaired by Bob Thomas from Braudrick Printery. Training for the loaned executives will be held Aug. 11, with the pacesetter kick-off set for Aug. 23. Volunteers will be armed with information about the agencies to answer general questions. When supporting the United Way of Ponca City, individuals support a network of local human service agencies and organizations working year-round to bring about positive change in Ponca City. Many potential business and individuals judge a community by its United Way agencies, according to Helene Schwartz, United Way director. “It’s a measuring stick of the caring of the community,” she confirmed. Campaign dollars are at work preventing family violence; combating the spread of drugs and helping those dependent on drugs, alleviating hunger and homelessness and building good leaders for tomorrow. Additionally, they impact the lives of children and adults through sports, leisure and character building activities, providing activities for teens and elderly in a safe environment. Agencies are also available to serve the emergency needs of the community. “United Way of Ponca City is able to keep its overhead costs low due to the support and help of hundreds of volunteers who contribute their time, efforts and talents,” said Thompson. “These volunteers raise the money and help decide how the dollars should be allocated to help the right people. With your help, we can make a difference,” he concluded. United Way will kick-off its campaign on Sept. 11, with a parade, children’s festival, bike ride, fun run and Masonic Lodge Pancake Feed. For more information or to find out how to become involved, call the United Way office at 765-2476. DEATHSAda F. TadeBLACKWELL — Ada F. Tade, former Blackwell resident, died Wednesday evening, June 23, 1999, in the St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa. She was 86. The funeral will be held graveside at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Blackwell Cemetery under the direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home, Blackwell. The Rev. Rick Longcrier, Blackwell First Baptist Church, will officiate. Ada F. (Harmon) Tade was born Jan. 16, 1913, in Deer Creek to Fred Earl and Nellie (Webb) Harmon. She grew up and attended schools in Deer Creek, graduating from high school in 1931. She studied home economics at Northern Oklahoma Junior College in Tonkawa. After the death of her father she returned to the family farm to help her brother. On June 6, 1943, she was married to Willie David Tade in Tonkawa and the couple established their home in Blackwell. Following the death of her husband in 1969, she was employed as an elevator operator at the Equity Life building. She continued to live in Blackwell until ill health forced her to move near a daughter in Skiatook in 1991. She was a member of the Blackwell First Baptist Church. When her daughters were members, she was active as a leader in Blue Birds and Camp Fire. Survivors include two daughters, Pat Jackson of Skiatook and Ruth Ann Logan of Athens, Texas; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Ned A. and Ted E Harmon. Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Tade’s name to First Baptist Church, 209 South First Street, Blackwell, OK 74631. NEWS BRIEFSNeighborhood Block Party Set — Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Ponca City Foursquare Church at Lincoln Center, located at 700 West Broadway, a Neighborhood Block Party is scheduled (party will be on the west lawn). There will be free hamburgers and hotdogs, games, crafts, puppets, a live band, moon walk and lots of fun for the neighborhood kids and their parents. This is to kick-off the 1999 Neighborhood Summer Activities. Thanks go to Buy for Less, McDonald’s and the WestSide Police Project and Pioneer Sanitation for their partnership in this project. Furr’s Dining Now open continuously 11-8 Sunday-Thursday, 11-8:30 Friday and Saturday. adv. Singles Group — The Singles Connection will meet for its monthly Game Night at the Conoco Fourth Street Clubhouse at 7 p.m. on Saturday. If attending and your last name begins with A-M, bring snacks, N-Z, bring pop. For more information call 765-7165. Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential. Hours: Monday, 4-6 p.m., Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. and Thursday, 6-8 p.m. 700 West Broadway. adv. Forgery — An employee of Citgo, 400 East South Avenue, advised the Ponca City Police Department that the business received a forged check. An officer responded at 8:27 a.m. Thursday and took a report. Head Country Saturday night special. All you can eat beef brisket with beans, potato salad and coleslaw, $7.49. All day. 1217 East Prospect. adv. Warrant Served — At 9:46 a.m. Thursday, a Ponca City police officer arrested a 20-year-old man from the 500 block of North Osage Street for a Kay County warrant. Once Again it is time for the Rusty Barrel to close for cleaning. We will close Sunday June 27th thru July 4th, 1999. We will re-open Monday July 5th, 1999. adv. Forgery — A Ponca City police officer responded to Wal-Mart, 1101 East Prospect Avenue, at 1:51 p.m. Thursday, to take a report of a forgery. The Roland Family Reunion will be held Saturday at Sun N Fun. Anyone wishing to visit with us is invited to come out.adv. Farmers Market — Beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday, fresh produce such as new potatoes, onions, beets, yellow and zucchini squash, green beans and cucumbers will be available at the Ponca City Farmers Market, located in the Country General parking lot, at East Prospect Avenue and North Fourteenth Street. For more information call Chris Johns at 762-3489, in Ponca City, or Chet Haworth at 362-2187, in Newkirk. Vendors will also set out their produce on Mondays and Wednesdays at 7 a.m. Windshield Sale: Extra June Specials! 94-98 Dodge Pickup, $275; 88 & up Chevy pickup, $275. Johnson Glass, 515 South First, 762-2012. Call today for your appointment!adv. Warrants Served — A bail bondsman contacted the Ponca City Police Department at 4:23 p.m. Thursday to request assistance in the 800 block of North First Street. An officer responded and arrested a 21-year-old man on a city warrant and three Kay County warrants. Fabric $1.00 yard, carded buttons and assorted trims. 111 North 4th.adv. Warrants Served — At 11:49 p.m. Thursday, a Ponca City police officer arrested a 40-year-old man from a traffic stop in the 1000 block of North Waverly Avenue for Kay County warrants. Burglary — An employee with LeMonnier Construction, 1304 1/2 Princeton Avenue, advised the Ponca City Police Department at 4:29 p.m. Thursday that a job site trailer had been burglarized. An officer responded and took a report of burglary. Jim Bowen Construction Custom homes, room additions and remodeling. Call 762-3077. adv. Destruction — At 4:39 p.m. Thursday, a Ponca City police officer took a report in the 100 block of Park View Lane of destruction of private property. Dougan's Bar-B-Q Saturday special 4-8 p.m. All you can eat beef brisket with beans, potato salad and coleslaw, $7.49. 215 South 14th, 765-7979. adv. In Custody — At 4:39 p.m. Thursday, a bail bondsman was southbound on North Fourteenth Street and East Prospect Avenue with a 23-year-old woman in custody for a city warrant. He contacted the department to request assistance due to a brown Ford truck that was following him. At 5:16 p.m., an officer arrested four additional women at the police station for city warrants. Nail Tech/Stylist position open at Designer Original Salon, top pay, experience preferred. 762-8700 after 8:00 p.m. 762-2136. adv. Theft — An employee at Citgo, Oak Street and West Grand Avenue, advised the Ponca City Police Department at 9:25 p.m. Thursday that a man took beer and left the business eastbound on Grand Avenue. An officer responded but was unable to locate the subject. He took a report. Stolen — A Ponca City police officer responded to Albertson’s Warehouse, 2500 Industrial Boulevard, at 5:44 p.m. Thursday to the report of burglary from a vehicle. Pauline’s Bar-B-Que pork all you can eat, $11.95. Friday the 25th. For reservations call 765-5460. adv. Vandalism — An employee of Bowker Auto Mall, 2500 North Fourteenth Street, advised the Ponca City Police Department at 5:49 p.m. Thursday that one of the vehicles was vandalized. An officer responded and took a report. Open: Little Dance Smoke Shop. 3 miles South on Hwy 177. Marl, $18.25; Camel, $18.25; Winston, $18.25. Check Our Prices! Open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. 762-7071. adv. Found — A resident in the 400 block of South Oak Street went to the Ponca city Police Department at 7:14 p.m. Thursday to turn in a needle found in the yard. An officer took the item and threw it away. Jueschke Carpet Cleaners. For professional carpet cleaning, call the professionals. Jueschke Carpet Cleaners. 765-3421. adv. Arrest — A Ponca City police officer arrested a 31-year-old man from a traffic stop at North Fourteenth Street and Shirlee Avenue at 2:07 a.m. Friday, for driving under revocation, no insurance and an expired tag. DUI — A 19-year-old woman was arrested by a Ponca City police officer at North Fourteenth Street and Knight Boulevard at 2:30 a.m. Friday for driving under the influence and speeding. Fireworks — A resident in the 700 block of North Peachtree Street notified the Ponca City Police Department at 6:14 p.m. Thursday that kids put fireworks in the mailbox and caught some of the mail on fire. The resident requested extra patrol for the area. Former Teachers and Friends Class of 1964 invites former teachers and friends to its registration party Friday, 6-10 p.m. Grand Central Station. adv. Mischief — At 7:35 p.m. Thursday, a resident in the 400 block of West Emporia Avenue advised the Ponca City Police Department that juveniles in the area were shooting sling shots at other youth in the alley. An officer responded and contacted a youth and parent. The mother agreed to handle the situation. Dougan's Bar-B-Q Friday special from 4-8 p.m., all you can eat ribs with beans, potato salad and coleslaw, $7.49. 215 South 14th, 765-7979. adv. Shoplifter — At 8:15 p.m. Thursday, an employee of Wal-Mart, 1101 East Prospect Avenue, notified the Ponca City Police Department that a shoplifter was in custody. An officer responded and arrested a 24-year-old woman for grand larceny. Special Situations? — The News Briefs column of The Ponca City News has the answer. 765-3311 LIFESTYLESFirst Baptist Camp a Learning Experience First Baptist Camp a Learning ExperienceFirst Baptist Day School’s Summer Day Camp is in full operation again this summer. This year’s program, for pre-kindergarten through third grade, is under the direction of Joani Knight and Terese Purkaple. The students swim twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays, participate in the public library’s summer reading program and go to the park, the lake or take another in-town adventure each week. In addition to all of that, last week the students participated in an “Around the World” travel project. Each child made authentic flags of the various countries after doing the appropriate research. The flags were constructed from appropriately colored paper and displayed gallery style on the wall of the classroom. As part of the project, the group “traveled” to the Ponca City Airport. They climbed up to the control tower, saw the instruments demonstrated and observed a plane landing. Each child got to sit in a two-seater airplane and go through the small museum on the airport grounds before returning to the Day School. On the final day of the unit of study, the students had a fashion show in which they modeled clothes representing the various countries they had studied. Ben Clark, a second grader in the program, not only wore the authentic dress of Scotland, kilt and all, but made a bagpipe from grocery sacks and paper towel tubes to complete his outfit. Jessica Ricketson reported that her off-the-shoulder dress was the "fashion of the Greeks in Athens.” At the conclusion of the fashion demonstration, the students were treated to a buffet featuring “foreign” foods. “Authentic” foreign cuisine is not exactly what the students enjoyed, but what they ate did have “foreign titles.” They enjoyed things like Vienna sausage, Swiss chocolate rolls, Hawaiian punch, Italian garlic bread, and such. It was evident that a good time was a given in this exercise, but learning happened also. First Baptist Day School and the Summer Day Camp program offer learning opportunities for children (and their parents) from birth through third grade. In the fall, there is before and after school care for four-year-olds and kindergartners. For more information regarding the Day School, the Summer Day Camp, or the before and after school care, please call Carolyn May at 765-3435 or Gayle Young at 765-4427. Little NewsLeanne and Stephen Parr announce the birth of their son, Matthew Keith James Parr, at 12:56 p.m. June 14, 1999, at the Stillwater Medical Center. He weighed 7 pounds, 15 1/2 ounces, and was 20 1/2 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Leland and Beverly Smith of Ponca City, and paternal grandparents are Pat Parr of Ponca City, and the late Gary Parr. Maternal great-grandfather is Arthur Kirchmeyer of Ponca City. Announcing the birth of a daughter are John and Christi Caldwell. Ali Nicole Caldwell was born at 3:51 p.m. June 17, 1999, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She weighed 6 pounds, 4 ounces, and was 19 inches long. The baby has two brothers, Matthew Lee, 16, Andrew Ryan, 10-years-old, and a sister, Courtney Cheyenne, 15 months. Grandparents are Cathy Payne, Max and Sue Payne, Johnny and Barbara Caldwell. Great-grandparents are Pete Ward, John Caldwell Sr., all of Ponca City, Lillie Murray of Stillwater, the late Jess and Mary Davis, and the late Arelena Caldwell. Bailey Michael Nelson is the name chosen by Ricky and Kim Nelson of Ponca City for their son born at 1:18 p.m. May 19, 1999, at the Stillwater Medical Center. The baby weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long. He has a sister, Corinne Michelle Nelson. Maternal grandparents are Bob and Jackie Hughes, and paternal grandparents are Kevin and Laura Arrington, all of Ponca City. Great-grandparents are Helen Hughes of South Orange, N.J., Pat Delaney of Green Acres, Fla., Ron and Joy Havens, Vernon and Earline Arrington, all of Ponca City. Bailey’s great-great-grandfather is Arvil Wilson of Alco, Ark. Announcing the birth of their daughter are Tim and Gail Yandell. Alex Nicole Huster Yandell was born at 10:25 a.m. April 20, 1999, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She weighed 4 pounds, 14 ounces. Alex has a brother, Bryan Timothy Yandell. Grandparents are Ernest and Twyla Huster of Newkirk, and Delmar and Ebbie Yandell of Kaw City. Busy Bee Club Members MeetMembers of the Busy Bee Club met June 16 at the home of Vivian Davis, 1043 North Third. Helen Taylor led the group in the salute to the flag and “The Lord’s Prayer.” She also gave the devotion “One Day at a Time” by Hope Alberhelman. Beulah McCartney was in charge of the business session, and Helen Hiskett gave the treasurer’s report. Members voted to not have a July meeting. The next meeting will be Aug. 4 at the home of Ruby Harvey, 1309 West Chestnut. Games were played with Helen Taylor and Ruby Harvey winning prizes. Beulah McCartney won the mystery bowl prize. RELIGIONDr. Irving Smith Appearing Here At St. Paul UMC Dr. Irving Smith Appearing Here At St. Paul UMCSt. Paul’s United Methodist Church will be hosting Dr. Irving Smith this Sunday morning as part of the church school summer session. The 9:45 gathering offers diverse and interesting programs for the adults of the church during the summer months. Dr. Smith is a retired United Methodist minister from Enid who is well known for his portrayals of Biblical characters. This Sunday he will bring Simon Peter to life in monologue based on Luke 5:1-11. The title of the presentation is Portrayal — “My Name Is Simon”. Irving Smith retired as the District Superintendent of the Enid District. His pastorates include Stillwater First, Enid First and St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. In addition to his live portrayals, they are also a video tape series used in churches all over the United States. St. Paul’s United Methodist Church is located at Pecan and Hartford. The public is invited. OBU Prepares for Senior Adult ConferenceFellowship, Bible study and learning will be hallmarks of Oklahoma Baptist University’s 27th annual Senior Adult Conference, “Iron Sharpens Iron,” July 12-15. The four-day event offers information and inspiration for people who are 55 and over. “This event promises to be an outstanding week of fellowship and learning for senior adults,” said conference director Marty O’Gwynn. “We feel that the theme, ‘Iron Sharpens Iron,’ is truly reflective of how the senior adults strengthen one another here.” Program personalities include Dr. Bob Evans, Dr. John W. Drakeford, Dr. Bobby Kelly and Sam Hendry, as well as a number of seminar leaders. Evans, who will serve as pastor for the three worship services, retired in 1997 after 15 years on the faculty of Oklahoma Baptist University. Drakeford, who will entertain with a monodrama on the life of Martin Luther, is distinguished professor of psychology and counseling emeritus at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Kelly, who will lead the Bible studies, is assistant professor of religion at OBU. Hendry will lead the music for the week. He is minister of education and is responsible for senior adult ministries at Immanuel Baptist Church in Shawnee. The Senior Adult Conference costs between $110 and $125 per person for full-time participants and includes lodging, meals and registration fee. Also included in the week is a talent show, which will include the Christian comedy duo “Gospel and Giggles.” For more information, contact O’Gwynn at 405-878-2708. Church BriefsTurn of the Millennium TourIf you want to spend Christmas Eve in Bethlehem and New Year’s Eve in Nazareth you may want to consider the following tour. The group will depart OKC/TUL/DFW for a 12-day millennium tour on Dec. 21, 1999 and return Jan. 2, 2000. The itinerary includes seven nights in Jerusalem, two nights in Tiberias, one night in Nazareth, and one night in Caesarea. the cost of the package is $4295 each and includes round-trip air from OKC/TUL/DFW, Four Star Accommodations, daily breakfast and dinners and a Special Christmas lunch. Deposit of $500 each is required to book with final payment. Special Service Set at Connor ChapelConnor Chapel AME Church will have their annual Men and Women’s Day service June 27, 1999 at 3:30 p.m. The theme for this service is “Serve The Lord with Gladness” The Rev. Joseph P. Taylor of St. James AME at Arkansas City will be speaker for the service. Local choirs will present musical selections. The Rev. Thomas L. Webb and members of the church invite the community to come and be part of this day of fellowship, according to J.L. Roland, Church Steward. First Baptists Plan July 4th CelebrationOn the Fourth of July, the folks at First Baptist Church will have a special morning worship service featuring a salute to the armed services, patriotic singing and praising God for the blessings of this nation, it was announced this week. The morning worship will be followed with a hot dog luncheon and conclude by joining the Ponca city community for the fireworks celebration at Lake Ponca. No evening services are being planned for that Sunday at First Baptist. Presbyterian Youth Enjoying RetreatThis Saturday the big white church van at First Presbyterian rolls out of the church parking lot at 6 a.m. for Denver, Colo. enroute to the Montreat Youth Summer Enrichment Event in Fort Collins, from June 27 until July 3. The youth and sponsors going on this trip are Jacque Salmons, Matt and Jenny Ernst, Carolyn and Danny and Jason Hunget, Ann Salmons, Larry Williams, Steve Ernst and Susan Ernst. The youth plan on experiencing new Christian growth through Bible study, large and small group discussions, keynote speakers and minister, music and recreation. First Lutherans Announce Services“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” will be the opening hymn for both the 8:30 a.m. and the 11 a.m. service at First Lutheran Church on June 27. This powerful hymn will set the mood for the services which stress the overflowing grace that God gives Christians through Christ in His Word and Sacraments. All of the Scripture readings for the day speak of God’s amazing power, grace, love, and forgiveness. Pastor Ramsey’s sermon "Living for Jesus: In the Midst of Despair” is based on the Old Testament reading from Jeremiah who, in spite of many threats, had confidence that god’s power would save him. Special music for the day will be provided by Peggy Ramsey who will sing the hymn “Oh, Sing to the Lord.” The 6:30 p.m. service will discuss the portions of the Sermon on the Mount which speak of divorce and oaths. Members of First Lutheran invite anyone to join them at any of the three times of worship each Sunday. On Sunday, July 18, the evening service will take the form of a picnic service. The service will be held at Lake Ponca Park with a light meal being served. June UMW Breakfast Buffet at Albright UMCThe Albright United Methodist Women will be hosting their annual breakfast buffet for the congregation on Saturday, June 26, at 9 a.m., in Fellowship Hall. The guest speaker, Stan Brown, will talk about Habitat for Humanity. Stan has had a long involvement with the local Habitat group and will be sharing information about this very important mission in Ponca City and throughout the country. Tickets will be available at the door and will cost $2 for adults and $1 for children. The menu will include breakfast casserole, roll, fruit, breads, and lots of other delectable items. Ponca Indian Baptists Plan VBSThe Ponca Indian Baptist Church will be co-host to the First Baptist Church from Henderson, N.C. The First Baptist Church group, led by Paul Baxley, will lead Vacation Bible School at the Ponca Indian Baptist, First Baptist at Marland, and Faith Baptist at Fort Oakland. The schedule for Ponca Indian Baptist and First Baptist at Marland is Sunday, June 27 to July 1, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The schedule for Faith Baptist at Fort Oakland is Monday, June 28 to July 2 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Children in these areas from first grade to eighth grade are very welcome. Children — come enjoy learning about Jesus, also enjoy having recreation time and refreshments. ‘Come Let Us Reason Together’The Hartford Avenue Church of Christ invites the public to share God’s word with them every week — Sunday Bible classes 9:30 a.m., worship 10:30 a.m., Sunday evening 6 p.m. and Wednesday 7 p.m. There are classes for all age levels — nursery through adult. “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23. It is in those deep places of the heart that one’s character is found. That is why it is so important to make sure that the right things wind up there. God has a tool that works its way into our hearts. It is His word. Fill that deep part of your heart with treasures of God’s word and Satan will find it impossible to reach you. Change in Time for Pastor’s Prayer TimeA change in time has been announced for Pastor’s Prayer Time — from Tuesday mornings to Wednesdays at noon. This change will be come effective the first Thursday in July. The group will continue to meet at Ponca City Foursquare Church, 700 West Broadway, in the library. Please make time in your busy scheduled to join with this group of pastors for a time of prayer and fellowship. It’s Vacation Bible School TimeJourney to Faith Island — Vacation Bible School is coming July 19 through 22 at Foursquare Church in Lincoln Center, 700 Broadway. The school will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for first through six graders. Call Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to pre-register: 762-2729. Attend Church, Live Longer, Live BetterBy George R. Plagenz Going to church every week can add six years to your life expectancy (seven years if you attend more than once a week). Going to church regularly can also help you stay healthier while you are still alive, studies are showing. People over 60 who attended religious services weekly were 56 percent less likely to have been admitted to a hospital in the previous year. Non-churchgoers who were hospitalized had average yearly hospital stays of 25 days, compared to only 11 days for churchgoers. But perhaps best of all, going to church may keep you from going to hell. That, at any rate, was the view of a Missouri Synod Lutheran Church pastor in suburban Lansing, Mich. The late Rev. William Richardt not only excommunicated members who didn’t come to church regularly, but also consigned them to hell unless they repented and started coming to church. These weren’t empty threats. He excommunicated an average of 20 members a year. “The third commandment (’Thou shalt sanctify the holy day’) is no less important than the fifth (’Thou shalt not kill’) or the sixth (’Thou shalt not commit adultery’),” said Richardt. Breaking any of the commandments—unless followed by repentance—will land the sinner in hell, said Richardt. He quoted the writer to the Hebrews in the New Testament who said those who weren’t coming to church could look forward to “a fierce fire which will consume God’s enemies.” How did Richardt’s congregation take to such ironhanded treatment? Well, five years after he came to St. Matthew’s, the congregation had grown from 100 members to 1,600, and was the fastest-growing church in the Missouri Synod. Richardt didn’t put a specific number on how many Sundays a person could miss before being excommunicated. If someone was absent from worship two or three Sundays in a row, he or she could figure on being contacted by the church. One couple and their teen-age son were excommunicated because they had attended services only four times in 41 weeks. Others were read out of the church for missing five or six Sundays in a row. Their letters of excommunication carried the dire warning that if they were to die in that condition, they would spend eternity in hell. Of those who were excommunicated for nonattendance, almost half asked for reinstatement and were taken back in the church after indicating their willingness to participate in regular worship in the future. “It just shows that people respect a church that demands discipline and commitment,” said Richardt. As for the connection referred to at the beginning of this treatise between going to church regularly and living a longer, more vigorous life, there is some debate whether it is the simpler lifestyle and better health habits of the average churchgoer or a more active religious life that helps keep the doctor and the undertaker at bay when you go to church every Sunday. Others point to the social ties that develop among church members, creating support groups for those who need help with the problems they face. It has also been suggested that attendance at church decreases stress. Stress is responsible for many of our troubles. When we are worshiping in church and spiritually at peace, stresses often evaporate, and health and well-being improve. Jamie Saunders To Speak HereJamie Saunders, International Missionary, will be the speaker at the Word of Life Christian Center this Sunday at the 10 a.m. service. He is currently part of an apostolic team with Living Word Ministries as they initiate Bible Schools on several continents. Living Word’s mission is to teach men to teach (2 Timothy 2:2), leading the way for local people to reach the “unreached people groups” on the continent. Jamie has served as a Director of FriendShips (Park West Children’s Fund) for years. His service with FriendShips included delivering food and material to “third world countries” serving many well known ministries such as Lester Sumrall’s “Feed the Hungry Program” as they reach out to feed the hungry from the abundance produced in the U.S. Come and hear how God is positioning leaders for the big thrust of reaching the unsaved in this decade. Word of Life Christian Center is located at 3401 North Union. Evangelist Dave Martin will be at Word of Life Christian Center on Wednesday, June 30. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Pastor Innis invites the community to come hear of the latest move of God, not only in this country but also what is occurring in the third-world countries. Nursery is provided. EDUCATIONCollege Students and Credit College Students and CreditBy Ray Hance Vice President, Education CCCS of Central Oklahoma If you have a high school senior in your family who is considering a college education, you’ve probably been weighing a lot of options — including academic strengths, distance from home, and adequate housing — in trying to choose the right school. In addition to all those English, history, and math classes, however, most college students eventually graduate from the School of Hard Knocks when it comes to their personal finances. For many of these students, college is the first time they are away from the constant guidance of their parents. It’s a great opportunity for an important learning experience, because many of them are forced, for the first time, to budget their money. After a year or so, most will move out on their own into rental housing, where they experience the next step In this learning process — Monthly Bills. It can be a bit of a shock that first month when they have to sit down and write out checks for rent, utilities, telephone, and cable, while still trying to budget for groceries and gas. Still, college is a great place to learn these lessons because they are among other people their age who are going through the same process. The one warning I have for entering college freshmen is to resist the temptation to go into debt on credit cards. You are about to experience a barrage of credit card marketing, aimed specifically at college students. Companies view you as a future customer and are more than willing to extend you $1,000 or more in high-interest credit, under the premise that this Is a good way for you to build your credit rating. And if you handle your credit wisely, you will start off with a good rating. To accomplish this, you must live within your means and always make your payments on time. Additionally, if you don’t want monthly credit card payments that you simply can’t afford, don’t let the debt pile up. The best way to use your credit card is to always pay off the entire balance when the bill comes in, and, to do that, you have to keep that debt within a range you can manage. Where most college students trip up is in their inability to resist temptation. Let’s say you’re out with your friends on a Saturday night eating dinner, and you’ve decided that $20 is all you can wisely spend that evening. Once your $20 is gone, you have to call it a night, even if your friends want to keep partying. The consequences for unwise credit use while in college extends beyond just having huge debts to pay off once you graduate. If it gets so bad that you default, you may have a very difficult time obtaining future credit, such as an auto loan or mortgage. Also, some employers are now running checks on potential employees because they want to see how responsible they are. The same holds true for some insurance companies. You may find that your auto insurance premium is impacted by a bad credit rating. The best thing to do is stay out of debt in the first place. Don’t blindly sign that offer for a preapproved credit card. Talk it over with your parents, or with a counseling service like CCCS. Personal finance and credit are an important part of the learning experience for young adults. In the long run, learning those lessons in college can prevent you from digging out of a credit hole down the road. Schools Officials Protected From Liability for Safety MeasuresSchool board members and school employees may have confidence that they will not be held liable for good faith actions taken to ensure school security. Thanks to new language recently added to current suspension law, school officials, including teachers, may not be held civilly liable for suspending students out-of-school. House Bill 1370, authored by Reps. Dale Turner, Todd Hiett and Mark Liotta and Sen. Dick Wilkerson, was passed by the Oklahoma State Legislature and signed by Gov. Frank Keating on April 26. Current law allows out-of-school suspension for violation of a school regulation; immorality; a nonviolent, but adjudicated offense; possession of an intoxicating beverage, wireless telecommunication device, or missing or stolen property taken from a student, school employee or school during school activities; and possession of a firearm or controlled dangerous substance. The bill also allows school districts flexibility in dealing with students, provides for appeals procedures and provides for continued services for students with disabilities. The new language ensures that school officials will not be held civilly liable for actions taken on behalf of school safety. Rep. Dale Turner, D-Holdenville, said that his 26 years of experience as a classroom teacher had taught him the necessity for a disciplined learning environment. “If you do not have discipline, you cannot teach, in my opinion,” he said. “I wanted to protect people in education from frivolous lawsuits, as long as they are following their school board’s discipline policy.” “One of the best things about it is that it returns control to the local school board,” he continued. “Rep. Turner and Sen. Wilkerson are to be commended for their leadership on this issue,” said Dr. Bob Mooneyham, executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association. “With concerns of students and parents rising over such recent violent events, such as the Littleton tragedy, our school officials must be able to act quickly without fear of liability.” “This bill gives schools control over their environments, but allows for local flexibility and consideration of individual circumstances,” he continued. The bill language states that school districts “shall adopt a policy which provides for out-of-school suspension of students.” The policy should address out-of-school suspension terms, appeals processes, alternative in-school placement, extracurricular activities and the responsibility for continued education services. Summer Camp Ongoing at White EagleSummer time activities for the youth in White Eagle are in full swing. This summer Chris LittleCook, director of the Johnson O’Malley program, and Alexis Warrior, director of the childcare program, teamed together to offer the kids a wide variety of activities. A summer camp is available for the kids of working parents from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Classes in art and craft instruction are conducted each day from 9 to 11 a.m. The Ponca Tribe is sponsoring a summer lunch program for ages 1 through 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Field trips are scheduled for three afternoons a week. The program will run through July. Drawing, painting, paper mache sculptures, and various other projects were taught during the first two weeks by Mindy LittleCook. The kids are now in the process of learning and practicing the many different techniques of making pottery from Anna Adams. The craft of moccasin making will take place during the third two week period, and will be taught by Tomasita Roubedeaux. The final two weeks of the eight week summer program will be instruction in the Ponca Language. This class will be coordinated by the Ponca language director, Phyllis Rush. After the daily classes, the children are served lunch that is prepared daily by Nellie Roughface and her daughter Beth. The kids are then treated to an afternoon of swimming at local pools or attending the summer reading program at the Ponca City library. Helping with the children and activities are Roberta McClellan and Anna Kent. For further information about the class offerings or any information about the J.O.M. or childcare programs, contact Alexis or Chris at 763-0120. Local Teacher Awarded Honor By Oklahoma Bar AssociationPonca City educator Shelley Wilson is one of only 25 Oklahoma teachers to receive an all-expense scholarship to the Tenth Annual Elementary/Middle Level PACE Citizenship and Law-Related Education Institute. The one-week institute, sponsored by the Oklahoma Bar Association and Oklahoma Bar Foundation, will begin July 11 at Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma City. Wilson is a teacher at Woodlands Elementary School in Ponca City. Teachers were selected from nominations by State Department of Education personnel, school administrators, educators and lawyers from across the state. “If we impress upon our young people the importance of a respectful attitude towards parents, teachers and other authority figures, while also educating them about their rights and responsibilities provided in the Constitution, they will naturally grow up to be better citizens,” OBA president Doug Sanders Jr. of Poteau said. “The PACE XPrograms Advancing Citizenship Education institute allows the OBA to work in conjunction with educators to develop, test and demonstrate new approaches and techniques in teaching these citizenship skills.” Early in 2000, the group will reconvene to evaluate PACE X and to present their classroom-tested lesson plans for publication in a book to be distributed by the Oklahoma Bar Association at no cost. “Competition for these 25 scholarships was significant,” said Michael Reggio, OBA law-related education coordinator. “The applicants, selected from 885 nominations, are the best of the best and deserve this state honor due to their dedication to teaching, their creativity and their classroom accomplishments.” Each teacher selected to attend the institute will be supported by a mentor qualified in, the training of citizenship education. This institute is part of the Oklahoma Bar Association’s comprehensive statewide law-related education program that includes training for lawyers on specific successful techniques to use in classrooms and development of classroom curriculum. The institute theme is “The Bill of Rights.” Topics to be covered range from the changing of the makeup of the Supreme Court to flag burning to the conflict between rights and the drug war. Emphasis will be placed on the Bill of Rights and its interpretation when viewed through modern times. Nationally known authorities who will teach at the institute include National Council for the Social Studies Teacher of the Year Rick Moulden, Bellevue, Wash.; Professor Robert Leming, Indiana University; Ken Rodriguez, Center for Civic Education, Calabasas, Calif.; and Professor David Trevaskis, Temple University, Pa. Winning Lesson Plans Free, Available Through Website(NAPS) — Students’ interest in learning (and their grades) may soar, and teachers’ work may become easier with the help of a new handbook of winning lesson plans. The book of award-winning lesson plans in the fields of mathematics, science and technology was recently released by the Chevron Corporation. The lessons won the company’s Best Classroom Practices Education Award. Using creative methods and innovative tools such as the Internet, supermarkets, wolf ecology, fast food and flight simulation, the lesson plans seek to involve students in the study of mathematics, science and technology. The published handbook will be provided to teachers across the country free of charge on the Internet or by written request. “We are encouraging all educators to take advantage of these creative and effective materials,” stated David O’Reilly, president of Chevron Products Company. “Our Best Practices program sought out the brightest ideas of some of our nation’s leading teachers; now we want to place these tools they have developed in the hands of more educators.” Chevron’s Best Classroom Practices Program, co-sponsored by the California Academy of Sciences in cooperation with the National Science Foundation, is part of an effort to foster enthusiasm for mathematics and science in the classroom. In a year-long process, over 250 lesson plans were entered by junior and senior high school teachers across the United States. The program solicited an extraordinary pool of talented professionals, gaining attention from the local to the national level. The handbook includes the twelve finalist entries of junior and senior high school teachers in Santa Ana, Calif.; Richmond, Va.; Glen Head, N.Y.; Decatur, Ill.; Kissimmee, Fla.; Stringer, Miss.; Olympia, Wash.; Camden, N.J.; Rochester, Minn.; Granada Hills, Calif.; Wendell, N.C.; and North Hollywood, Calif. Distribution of the handbook is free by visiting the World Wide Web at www.chevron.com/community/edawards. The lesson plans are also available by writing to Chevron, Attn: Best Classroom Practices Handbook, 2757 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. SPORTSNo Local Sports
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