LOCAL

Standing Bear Powwow Friday, Saturday
Noble County Judge Orders Frontier Reinstate Hawzipta
Underage Drinking Confronted During Assembly for Students
Study Shows Alcohol Use Most Abused Drug in State
Ponca Sailfish Swim Team Program at Noon Lions
Chamber News
‘Laying the Roles to Rest’ Author Explores His Own Six Roles in Life
Miss Ponca City Candidate

Standing Bear Powwow Friday, Saturday

By KATHY ZEHR

News Staff Writer

The Sixth Annual Standing Bear Powwow and Celebration of Native America will take place at Standing Bear Park Friday and Saturday. The public is encouraged to attend the cultural event, participate in the public dances and enjoy good food. Parking and admittance are free.

Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin will also be present to bring greetings from the State of Oklahoma during the Saturday night powwow.

The powwow, sponsored this year by the Pawnee Nation, will include dancing competitions with more than $11,000 in prize monies; the Standing Bear Princess competition; volleyball and horseshoe competitions; a tipi contest, several vendors with a variety of good foods and Native American crafts and jewelry.

Three colorful grand entries at 7 p.m. both Friday and Saturday and at 3 p.m. Saturday will include all dance contestants in full regalia and other dignitaries, also in full regalia.

Prior to the formal Friday night grand entry, the Standing Bear Princess competition and personal presentation judging will be held at the Conoco Fourth Street Clubhouse at 3 p.m. At 6 p.m. the dancing portion of the princess competition will be held at the powwow site. The public is invited to the events.

Later Friday evening, during the powwow, Cher Eagle reigning 1998-1999 Standing Bear Princess will crown the new 1999-2000 Standing Bear Princess.

Volleyball and horseshoe competitions will be held beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday. Teams who want to compete may pay a $15 volleyball team fee or a $10 horseshoe team fee. Winners in each tournament will receive one half of total entry fees for that event.

The tipi contest will be judged at noon Saturday for $150 first prize, $100 second prize and $50 third prize. Entries will be judged on appearance.

According to T.L. Walker, Standing Bear Foundation Executive Director, the large prize money purse has attracted a wide variety of inter-tribal dancers and promises to make for one of the area’s finest dancing contests. The fancy dancing at close of the Saturday night powwow are especially exciting and colorful.

A special event will be included in the Saturday night powwow as Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin will be presented with a special shawl and one of the new limited edition Standing Bear busts, created by sculptor Oreland C. Joe. Fallin will also bring greetings to all participants from the State of Oklahoma.

In addition to the presentation to Lt. Gov. Fallin, each of the six area Native American tribes, involved the Standing Bear Park project will each also receive one of the bronze busts of Standing Bear.

Standing Bear Park is located at the intersection of U.S. 60 and U.S. 177. Ponca City residents may travel south on Fourth Street or south on Lucas street to access the free parking. Limited seating is available and participants may want to bring lawn chairs or a blanket for comfortable seating. Security guards will be on duty during powwow activities.

Noble County Judge Orders Frontier Reinstate Hawzipta

By KRISTI HAYES

News Education Editor

PERRY — A Noble County judge ruled Wednesday after a two-day hearing that art teacher, Owen Hawzipta, be reinstated at Frontier School. Judge Allen said that Frontier School Officials didn’t prove that his dismissal was warranted.

Hawzipta was fired after a board meeting on July 13 for allegedly making false accusations about Randy Robinson, high school principal. Two students searching for boxes in a school dumpster found cases considered to be pornographic and turned them over to Hawzipta, who in turn gave them to Melinda Casteel, a social studies teacher and president of the teacher association at Frontier.

Hawzipta found an invoice and a catalog. He said he called the distributor, Back Room Services Direct, and asked for information concerning the order number on the invoice. The company told him the material was purchased by Randy Robinson, who denied purchasing the material.

Frontier Elementary Principal Phil Stidham admitted at that board meeting that he purchased the tapes. Stidham was placed on paid suspension and resigned from his position on Aug. 13. He will continue to work for Frontier School on various projects until his resignation takes effect on Dec. 31.

Frontier Board of Education said Hawzipta was fired for moral turpitude. The judge said Hawzipta didn’t commit moral turpitude, which implies something immoral.

The judge also commented that Hawzipta provided information he received from the company, and although the information was incorrect, he did not commit something immoral because he did not know the information was incorrect. He said Hawzipta’s conduct was not willful or malicious and didn’t indicate a depraved state of mind.

The judge ordered Hawzipta reinstated with full employment status and benefits. The order also said Hawzipta’s reasonable attorney fees and costs should be paid.

During the court proceedings, a controller for Back Room Services Direct, told the court that he did not find Robinson’s name on the order. He said he found no customers with the name Randy Robinson in Oklahoma.

Randy Robinson has also filed a civil suit in Newkirk against Owen Hawzipta in excess of $10,000.

Steve Shiever, Frontier Superintendent, was not available for comment.

Underage Drinking Confronted During Assembly for Students

By KRISTI HAYES

News Education Editor

Ponca City Senior High students left Hutchins Auditorium Wednesday after a SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) assembly with a message about underage drinking from local law enforcement officials. Police told local students it was against the law if they purchased or consumed alcohol, and if they did there would be serious consequences.

During the assembly, students were warned that having a fake ID could have serious consequences. Every time you use, carry, borrow or buy a fake ID: it’s a felony, you could spend seven years in prison and you could face a $10,000 fine. Flyers were also handed out to students on drinking myths and a check list for parents to counter underage drinking.

The assembly was held as a result of Ponca City being selected as one of six communities to receive a block grant of $360,000 to assist in addressing the problem of underage drinking. The funds came from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), who is helping all 50 states and the District of Columbia develop initiatives to enforce state laws that prohibit the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages to minors. Minors are defined as individuals under 21 years of age.

Because of this grant, Ponca City detectives are preparing to strengthen the underage drinking laws. The department received funding which will provide about 400 hours of overtime specifically targeted to this initiative.

The Detective Division of the Ponca City Police Department attended a training session conducted by officials of the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission. Training will also be held with restaurant and convenience store employees. The Oklahoma Restaurant Association will hold workshops to help employees more readily distinguish fake identification.

Study Shows Alcohol Use Most Abused Drug in State

A new study released by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services indicates that, in spite of the appeal of certain illicit drugs, alcohol remains the state’s most abused drug, with more people needing treatment for it than any other type of drug.

“Alcohol is our biggest problem and always has been,” said Dennis Doyle, director. “It’s a cultural thing, pure and simple, but it’s difficult for many people to even think of alcohol as being a drug.

“It’s much easier to talk about the problems associated with methamphetamine, cocaine and inhalants than it is to acknowledge that alcohol is, in fact, more deadly than any illicit drug.”

Of the state’s 2.4 million adults, nearly 130,000 — 5 percent of the population — demonstrate a need for alcohol treatment. Another 1 percent, or 21,000 people, need treatment for other types of drug use, the study showed.

The findings are the result of a five-year, $875,000 study regarding substance abuse in Oklahoma. The report, the first of its kind in Oklahoma, was funded by the national Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, and involved a random telephone survey of 8,400 Oklahomans over the age of 18 (including 1,660 Native Americans) and face-to-face interviews with 1,900 prison inmates, probationers and parolees, said Dr. Warren Dickson, DMHSAS needs assessment project manager. The University of Oklahoma Center for Economic and Management Research, and the OU College of Public Health’s Biostatistics and Epidemiology Department collaborated on the undertaking.

The project was divided into eight sub-state regions — northwest, northeast, southwest, southeast, central, east central, Tulsa and Oklahoma City, and four age categories — 18-25; 26-34; 35 and older; and all ages.

The study also found that women living in poverty are 82 percent more likely to need substance abuse treatment than women not living in poverty. By comparison, men living at or below the poverty level are 19 percent more likely to need substance abuse treatment than men not living in poverty.

“This study indicates that a person is far more likely to need treatment if he or she is living in poverty,” Dickson said. “It appears that some people may attempt to deal with the stress of poverty by using drugs and alcohol.”

Other key findings indicate that Oklahomans’ use of stimulants, which includes methamphetamine and other types of “speed,” is significantly higher than the national average, especially in the 26 to 34 year age range, while the use of alcohol and marijuana in Oklahoma was approximately equal to the national average.

Reported use of other illicit drugs such as opiates, cocaine, hallucinogens, sedatives and inhalants was lower than the national average for most age groups.

The DMHSAS study found a tremendous need for substance-abuse treatment in Oklahoma, with only 25 percent of those needing treatment actually seeking it and receiving it. Specific criteria were used in the study to indicate need for treatment, Dickson noted. For example, respondents were asked if they had taken a substance in larger amounts or over a longer period of time than intended, felt a persistent desire to cut down or control use, or had frequently experienced intoxication or withdrawal symptoms.

The estimated prevalence of treatment need was as follows: 5.7 percent for adults in households with phones; 7 percent for adults in households without phones; 9 percent for Native American adults; 25.6 percent for prison inmates; 52 percent for adult psychiatric inpatients; and 66.9 percent for the homeless.

By region, the central Oklahoma area had the most people in need of substance-abuse treatment with 8.8 percent, followed by the Oklahoma City metro area at 7.7 percent. Other regions included: Tulsa metro, 6.6 percent; southwest, 6.2 percent; northeast, 5.9 percent; east central, 6.4 percent; southeast, 5.8 percent; and northwest, 5.3 percent.

Overall, 6.8 percent of the state’s population needs substance abuse treatment, the study indicated.

Many people who need treatment, however, either don’t want it or don’t seek it, said Dickson. The reluctance to seek treatment pertains especially to those who abuse alcohol, he noted.

For each Oklahoman needing treatment for drug abuse, 7.5 Oklahomans need alcohol treatment, a statistic that varies by region.

Ponca Sailfish Swim Team Program at Noon Lions

The Noon Lions Club heard a program presented by the David Strah, coach of the Ponca Sailfish Swim Team and the Po-Hi Swim Team on Wednesday, Sept. 15.

Strah has coached in Ponca City for over 11 years and was recently named Age Group Oklahoma Swimming Coach of the Year. Under his guidance, the Sailfish Team, which is a feeder program for the high school team, has more than tripled in membership. Coach Strah introduced two swimmers, Rory Peterson and Maria Hester.

Peterson, a high school senior whose achievements include junior national qualifying times, zone and regions times, state records, and All-State finisher, has been a competitive swimmer since age six and intends to continue swimming in college. Peterson hopes to be a senior national swimmer, from which the USA Olympic Swim Team is chosen.

Maria is in the 7th grade at West Middle School. Her achievements include both zone and region eight times in addition to state records. At zones, she set a new record in breaststroke, and, at regions, she swam against a field including 22-year-old competitors.

Guests included Rory Peterson, Maria Hester and her parents, Helen and David Hester, Jeff Thomas and Rick Osborn.

Chamber News

By Craig Myers, Chairman of the Board

Just the other day, someone was commenting on the number of exceptional community events in Ponca City. It seems our summer months are packed with something to do in Ponca on the weekends. As an example, this past weekend you could have attended the Chili-Cookoff, Oktoberfest is just around the corner and sandwiched in the middle is the unique Standing Bear Pow-Wow.

The Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce appreciates these many events because they bring additional visitors and spending dollars in Ponca City.

The Pow-Wow is unique in that it provides a great opportunity to display culture, talent and tradition in an entertaining environment. In addition, it is an event wherein you can allow your children to experience the rich history of Native Americans.

So, if you want good family entertainment, food, a traditional setting, as well as a great learning experience, come out to the Standing Bear Park September 24 or 25th and enjoy.

Chamber and Main Street co-sponsoring retail seminar

The Ponca City Main Street Authority and The Give Ponca the Business Committee of the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce are presenting Jon Schallert speaking about “Destination Shopping.” The Seminar will be held on Wednesday, October 27th, from 7:30 am to 9 a.m. at the Hutchins Memorial.

Jon Schallert, founder of Schallert and Associates, Inc., has been helping and advising retail businesses since 1983. His retail consulting firm is one of the few in the nation to specialize in advising independent retailers, individually and collectively, on ways to improve both profitability and productivity of their stores and businesses.

His presentations are seen by thousands of retailers and businesspeople annually. He works closely with Economic Development Organizations who want to reinvigorate the retail areas of their cities. Prior to starting his retail-consulting firm, Schallert spent ten years with greeting card giant Hallmark Cards, were he was instrumental in Hallmark’s nationwide “reinvention” of the traditional card and gift shop, which created a nationwide network of “destination” gift shops, suitable for the sophisticated 90’s consumer.

His seminar in Ponca City, “Destination Shopping” will be a discussion of National retail trends, and examine why retail businesses today are failing at an all-time high rate. He will discuss how retailers, regardless of their location, can change their stores into consumer destinations that are visited repeatedly by loyal, contented shoppers. He teaches specific, cost effective techniques involving marketing, advertising, store design, merchandising and eleven other business processes that must be implemented for a store to become a magnet for today’s consumer.

The registration fee is $5 per person and the deadline for registration will be October 20th. All registrants will be eligible to win an individual consultation from Mr. Schallert. Seven consultations are available. For registration or more information contact the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce at (580) 765-4400.

Upcoming Events

Monday, September 27 — 2 p.m. New Industry Committee, Chamber Conference Room.

Tuesday, September 28 — 5 - 7 p.m. “Business After Hours,” KIXR.

‘Laying the Roles to Rest’ Author Explores His Own Six Roles in Life

“The town drunk is an elected office” according to Will Rogers. Dr. Charles Prewitt writes in a new book, “Laying the Roles to Rest,” that children in families, particularly dysfunctional families, are also elected to their roles. Playing these prescribed roles help them survive in emotionally chaotic families and societies. Later in life they may discard or alter the roles to become more authentic.

Laying the Roles to Rest explores six roles Dr. Prewitt developed as a child in Ponca City in the 30s and 40s: Uninvited Guest, Boy Doctor, War Chid, Bored Again Christian, Cautious Lover and Good Baptist.

As a Doctor of Ministry with post-graduate work in marriage and family therapy and pastoral counseling, Dr. Prewitt has worked with thousands of people in counseling situations. At 69 years of age, he turns his chair around to face the mirror in a case study of Laying the Roles to Rest, whereby the author is the case.

Ponca City references and anecdotes are plentiful, including his parents courtship, his own troubling birth circumstances, his job as carrier for The Ponca City News, his appreciation of the Pioneer Woman (and jealousy that nobody ever came to Ponca to see the Pioneer Boy!), Cherokee Strip Celebrations, singing on WBBZ radio station, the knot-hole gang watching the Ponca City Dodgers, and the huge part played by the First Baptist Church.

Dr. Prewitt is retired, living in San Antonio, Texas, with Martha, his wife. They are celebrating their 47th wedding anniversary this month. They have six children, 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

“Laying the Roles To Rest” is available in paperback for $9.95 from the author. His address is 12135 Manzanita Street, San Antonio, TX 78245. Prewitt will be in Ponca City Sept. 25 at Brace Books and More on North Fourteenth. He will autograph his books from 3 until 5 p.m.

Miss Ponca City Candidate

Editor’s Note: Candidates for the title of Miss Ponca City will be announced in The News each day through Sept. 29. They will appear as randomly selected by contestants and contest coordinators, with no preference indicated by date of publication.

The Miss Ponca City Queen Contest will be held Friday, Oct. 1, at the Conoco Fourth Street Clubhouse. Contestants are Heather Herard, Audra Ramsey, Andrea Johnson, Amanda Cobb, Jennifer Tippin, Adrienne Hines, Jessica Bowen, Halli Huffman, Christy Hassell, and Ashly Sawyers. Tickets are available from the contestants or by contacting Vicki Graves at 765-8679 or 7654736, and Jackie Cutler at 762-0437.

The contest begins at 7:30 p.m., and Master of Ceremonies will be KIXR personality R.J. Masters. The winner of the contest will be awarded the traditional crown and sash, a trophy, scholarships and many other prizes.

Contestants will be judged on poise, appearance and personality. They will also be judged on the three-to-five minute presentation to include personal resume information, and the answers to the questions of “Why I Want to be Miss Ponca City” and “What Ponca City Means To Me.”

The contest winner will represent Ponca City as a “Visiting Queen” in the Arkalalah, Arkansas City’s annual Halloween Festival, slated Oct. 29 and 30. Miss Ponca City also acts as a goodwill ambassador, and attends various functions and speaking engagements throughout her year’s reign as her personal schedule allows.

The title of Miss Ponca City is currently held by Ashley Van Hoesen, daughter of Everette and Sonja Van Hoesen.

One of the candidates for the title is Jennifer Diane Tippin, daughter of Jon and Kathy Tippin, 1608 Meadowbrook. A junior at Ponca City High School, her talents include singing and playing the flute. She is listed on the faculty and president’s honor rolls, and is involved in band, colorguard, chamber choir and the Foreign Language Club.

Miss Tippin is a seven-year member of Girl Scouts and last year earned the Silver Award, which is the second highest award in girl scouting. She is a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church where she participates in the youth group, traveling with mission teams to Appalachia and Dallas, Texas making repairs and working in lower income areas. Currently, she is employed at Carmike Cinema Theatre.

DEATHS

Marjorie L. Odenwald

Marjorie L. Odenwald

BILLINGS — Marjorie L. Odenwald, longtime resident of the rural Billings/Tonkawa area died Wednesday, Sept. 22, 1999, at her home in Perry. She was 86.

The funeral will be held graveside at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, at the Billings Union Cemetery with the Rev. Clyde Hendricks, Tonkawa, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Brown-Sisson Funeral Home, Perry. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and until noon Saturday.

Marjorie L. (Bailey) Odenwald was born Jan. 24, 1913, in Stroud to James A. and Iva Pearl (Elkins) Bailey. She was married to Ralph Odenwald on Aug. 8, 1910, in Winfield, Kan. Mrs. Odenwald was a homemaker. She and her husband lived on a farm east of Billings most of their lives.

Survivors include one daughter, Wanda Tooman of Perry; three sons, Lester and Ralph Jr., both of Billings and Max of Enid; and nine grandchildren. Mrs. Odenwald was preceded in death by her husband Ralph; one son-in-law; two grandsons; one great-granddaughter; her parents; three sisters and two brothers.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Odenwald’s name to the Billings Ambulance Fund/ c/o Brown Funeral Home, 1010 North Seventh Street, Perry, OK 73077.

NEWS BRIEFS

Senior Citizens Dance — A Senior Citizens Dance will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday at the Senior Citizens Building, 320 South A in Arkansas City. The Pete Coli Country Band will play for dancing. All senior citizens are invited to attend and bring a favorite snack to share.

Pauline’s Pork chop dinner, $10.95. One half order, $7.95. Friday, Septmeber 24th. For reservations, call 765-5460. adv.

Class of 1948 — Members of the Ponca City High School graduating class of 1948 will meet for lunch at 1 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Western Sizzlin’ Steakhouse. Those people who didn’t return their questionnaire, but are able to attend, are invited to bring their spouse and join the group.

Ready for 2000? Millennium picture frames, candles, gifts-collectible ornaments. Mrs. Brown's Attic, downtown Ponca City. adv.

PCSEA Bingo — PCSEA bingo will commence after the summer recess with bingo Saturday at the Conoco Atrium. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and bingo will begin at 7 p.m. The theme will be Come Join the Fun and Celebrate Johnny Appleseed’s Birthday.

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.

OKYRA Rodeo — The Marland Roundup Club is sponsoring the Oklahoma Kansas Youth Rodeo Association junior rodeo Saturday at the Marland Roundup Arena. The rodeo starts at noon, and all entries must be in by 11 a.m. Saturday. For additional information, call Lee Pontius at (918) 793-4191.

Industrial Trade Show. September 24th from 9am to 3pm. Payne County Fair Grounds. Buyers and suppliers welcome! adv.

K-9 Dunk Tank — A Dunk Tank, sponsored by the Noon Ambucs in conjunction with Putt Putt Miniature Golf Course, will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Putt Putt Miniature Golf Course, 1500 East Prospect, to help raise money for Project K-9 Fundraiser. Local police personnel will participate as the subjects of the “dunk.” Two games of putt putt golf will be $5, and a 25-inch color television will be given away. For additional information, call 762-7155 or 765-2121.

Licensed Hairstylist Graham Webb educational class. September 27 at 1:00 P.M. Marland Mansion Conference Center. 765-8446. adv.

Gas Drive-Off — An employee at Conoco, 3305 North Fourteenth Street, reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 7:02 a.m. Wednesday that a man had driven off without paying for $5 worth of gas. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Suspicious Activity — A woman from the 400 block of South Fifth Street was at the Ponca City Police Department at 11:05 a.m. Wednesday to report a problem in the area. An officer was assigned and a warrant request was made for disturbing the peace.

Grass Fire — The Communications Center received a 911 call at 2:03 p.m. Wednesday that a grass fire was burning 1.5 miles south of Salt Fork River bridge on U.S. 177. The Marland Volunteer Fire Department handled the situation.

Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential. Hours: Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. and Thursday, 6-8 p.m. 700 West Broadway. 765-9689. adv.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 1100 block of East South Avenue at 2:37 p.m. Wednesday that a 37-year-old man was being held for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Dougan's Bar-B-Q Thursday special from 4-? 1/2 BBQ chicken with 2 vegetables. $4.25. 215 South 14th. 765-7979. adv.

Accident — An accident at the intersection of West Grand Avenue and Pine Street was reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 3:22 p.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Head Country all day Friday special­ All you can eat, smoked BBQ ribs, beans, potato salad, and coleslaw, only $7.49, all day. 1217 East Prospect. 767-8304. adv.

Subject Held — An employee at Wal-Mart reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 4:23 p.m. Wednesday that a juvenile shoplifter was being held. An officer was assigned and a 17-year-old boy was held for petit larceny.

Citation Issued — A man reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 4:50 p.m. Wednesday that a vehicle was parked at Fourth Street and East Grand Avenue blocking the roadway. An officer was assigned and a citation was issued.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 400 block of West Emporia Avenue at 5:39 p.m. Wednesday that a 35-year-old woman was being held on two Kay County warrants for driving under suspension and having no insurance.

Bicycle Stolen — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department took a report at 5:47 p.m. Wednesday that a bicycle had been stolen from the 300 block of South Franklin Street.

Injury Accident — The Communications Center received a call at 8:13 p.m. Wednesday that an injury accident had occurred in the 300 block of West Hartford Avenue. Two officers of the Ponca City Police Department and an ambulance from the Ponca City Fire Department responded. One person was taken to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center for treatment of injury. A report was taken.

Injury Accident — The Communications Center received a 911 call at 7:02 p.m. Wednesday that an injury accident had occurred 1.5 miles east of U.S. 77 on Hubbard Road. An officer of the Ponca City Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and two units from the Ponca City Fire Department responded. One person was taken to the emergency room of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center for treatment of an injury.

Items Missing — A man from the 500 block of South Osage Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 8:24 p.m. Wednesday that some items had been stolen from the residence. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Beer Missing — A clerk at Sav-A-Trip, 501 West Highland Avenue, reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 9:40 p.m. Wednesday that subjects had taken four 30-packs of beer and headed south on Elm Street. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of East South Avenue and South Fifth Street at 11:26 p.m. Wednesday that a 48-year-old man was being held for three Osage County warrants, no driver’s license and no insurance.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 500 block of North Tenth Street at 12:19 a.m. Thursday that a 30-year-old man was being held for DUI, having no insurance and failure to yield at a stop sign.

Gas Drive-Off — The Ponca City Police Department received a report at 3:27 a.m. Thursday from the Osage County Sheriff’s Office that a man had left from a business in the 3200 block of East U.S. 60 without paying for $9.81 in gas.

GARDENING

Garden-Related Injuries Can Be Prevented
Cardoon Among New Vegetables
OKC Park and Garden Gala Slated

Garden-Related Injuries Can Be Prevented

By GEORGE BRIA

POUND RIDGE, N.Y. (AP) — Gardening enjoys such a serene reputation that getting injured at it seems almost laughable. An overzealous green thumb can also mean a sore elbow. The casualty lists are swelled, of course, by the power equipment injuries often suffered through inattention or failure to wear protective gear. What we’re talking about here is soreness, strains and sprains. A common ailment is tendonitis. You can get tennis elbow just pulling weeds, the repetitive squeezing motion inciting inflammation.

Back muscle spasm is another trauma that threatens the wheelbarrow lifter or the person who bends abruptly or improperly to perform some task in flower bed or vegetable patch. Sometimes it just happens without an easily pinpointed cause. Having suffered both these ailments from my gardening, I can testify they’re just as painful as if you got them on the tennis court, as I did, or from some other sport or at work. To add to potential miseries, a bad elbow you got in tennis might heal only to flare up again in the garden.

Tendonitis can hit the shoulder, too, and often does. There are conditioning exercises you can do, and probably should do, to prevent injuries, but in my experience inflammatory ailments like tendonitis sometimes seem to happen willy-nilly. One day you’re fine after weeding and another day you develop pain that doesn’t go away. The same thing happens to a pitcher or a hard-serving tennis player despite conditioning.

Proven therapies, involving drugs, exercises or even surgery, exist to heal such injuries but preventing them from happening in the first place is something else. Nevertheless, suggestions exist, and a good book has just come out aimed at conditioning you to minimize the chances of getting hurt while gardening. “Gardener’s Fitness” by Barbara Pearlman (Taylor Publishing Co., paperback), a Manhattan fitness expert and a gardener, prescribes exercises, proper posture and attire and relaxation techniques. The 151-page book contains easy-to-follow instructions and helpful illustrations. “Lets get down to earth and be real,” Pearlman says, “gardening is an active, contact “sport.” “When is the last time you sat still in your garden?” she asks, “If you’re not hauling heavy rocks, you’re pushing a wheelbarrow, toting tools, dragging the hose, or whacking weeds. You’re in perpetual motion, unless of course your idea of gardening is planting a pot of petunias or pansies on your patio.”

Pearlman identifies the body parts that work hardest in the garden as arms, knees, hands “and, above all, your back.” “Back pain,” she says, is “the gardener’s bugaboo. Unless your back is made of steel (in which case, you probably can’t get into all the contorted positions gardening calls for) at some point during the season, your back is bound to protest.” “The very best defense against back pain is a good offense, which means strong abdominal muscles,” Pearlman says. “In essence, these muscles act as “guy wires,” to keep your back in line.” She prescribes a series of abdominal strengthening exercises and also exercises to condition other muscles related to the back. If, in spite of all this, back spasm suddenly strikes, Pearlman says stop your garden work immediately, head for the house and lie down on an ice pack for 20 minutes.

That’s just a beginner. Then do some exercises and maybe take a pain reliever. Repeat the sequence four or five times during the first day. In two or three days you should be better, she says, and if not, think of going to a doctor. Pearlman prescribes a variety of push-ups and weight-lifting exercises to strengthen arms. One way to strengthen hands, she says, is repetitive squeezing of a semisoft rubber ball. Aside from strengthening exercises, knee fitness involves proper squatting in the garden, Pearlman says. This means keeping your heels flat, “otherwise far too much pressure is placed on your knees.” “Knowing how to bend over and how to lift an object (or yourself) the correct way is crucial to gardening,” Pearlman says.

“The chance of straining your back is far greater if you neglect to bend your knees.” When carrying things, she says, “you should use the strongest and largest joints and muscles (those in your arms) for the job to avoid direct pressure on your smallest joints and weakest muscles (those in your hands and fingers.)” “There is a right way and a wrong way to move when you garden and making the right moves makes good garden sense,” Pearlman says. “It’s as simple as that.”

Cardoon Among New Vegetables

By LEE REICH

For AP Special Features

Cardoon sounds like it could be a type of derby, a tropical rodent or a Scottish sweater. Actually, it’s a vegetable closely related to the globe artichoke. You eat the flower bud of artichoke, but you eat the leaf stalks of cardoon, like celery. Cardoon is also easier to grow than the artichoke. Cardoon can grow quite large.

Picture a giant thistle with gray-green leaves that form a prickly vase towering 4 feet high and a similar spread. To harvest, either cut the whole plant off at its base, then lop off the upper leafy portion, or just pull off a few outer stalks. Boil them and they’re ready to eat. For even better flavor, shade the stalks to make them more tender.

Begin blanching, as this shading is called, by tying the tops of the plant together with string. Then wrap the stalks with tar paper, making the plant look like a green shaving brush with a black handle. Straw, soil, wood or cardboard also could be used for blanching. Two to four weeks are needed to blanch cardoon. Cardoon grows as a perennial where it is native, in the southern Mediterranean.

Throughout much of the United States and Canada, its winter-hardiness is questionable. But even where cardoon cannot survive winter, just grow it as an annual. Sow seeds indoors in early spring, then transplant the seedlings outside into rich soil in full sun after the danger of frost has passed. Cardoon also can be propagated by pulling off and replanting in spring the small suckers that grow around the base of the plant. That’s assuming that the plants survived the winter. However it’s grown, each cardoon plant needs at least a couple of feet of elbow room all around.

You could grow carrots or lettuce between the plants until they reach full size. Where cardoon survives as a perennial, it becomes even more dramatic in its second and subsequent seasons in the garden. With age, it towers as high as 6 feet and sends up flower stalks capped with bristly purple flowers. Be careful, though. Where growing conditions are too suitable, cardoons can grow like a weed as it did in the Argentine pampas soon after being introduced there rather than as a well-behaved plant.

OKC Park and Garden Gala Slated

The Oklahoma City Zoological Park and Botanical Garden are presenting the first annual Garden Gala on Oct. 1-2, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Aspiring green thumbs, Master gardeners and nature lovers will enjoy this new botanical event which is intended to heighten the community’s awareness of plants and gardening. The Garden Gala is Free with regular Zoo admission.

This two-day extravaganza will feature horticultural displays, educational presentations, tours and children’s activities. Area plant societies, nurseries, garden clubs and associated organizations will be participating in this celebration. Printed materials and demonstrations including valuable information on gardening how-tos such as pruning, planting and attracting wildlife will be part of the festivities. Children are encouraged to dig into the fun at an activity area especially for them to include designing dragonflies to various vegetation creation opportunities.

In 1998, the Zoo was recognized as both a botanical garden and a living museum by the American Association of Museums (AAM). Only seven other zoos share this prestigious accomplishment. Also, an accredited member of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), part of the Zoo’s mission is to cultivate care and concern for the earth’s flora and fauna. “The Garden Gala provides an opportunity to gather horticulture professionals together to share a broad range of information with anyone interested in gardening and nature,” said Zoo Horticultural Curator Pearl Pearson.

Zoo admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children ages 3-11 and seniors 65 and over. Children under three are admitted free. Beginning Oct. 1 Zoo hours are 9 a.m-5 p.m. daily with exhibit buildings closing at 4:45 p.m. The Zoo’s official web site at okczoo.com.

SPORTS

Pioneers Rely On Defense
Sooners Back, But Different
District Openers Add Excitement

Pioneers Rely On Defense

By FRED HILTON

News Sports Editor

STILLWATER — Stillwater has scored 110 points in three games this season, but long-time coach Bill DeFee insist the Pioneers are living off their defense as they enter the District 6A-3 wars against Ponca City Friday.

“Our defense is holding things together and letting or skill people do their thing,” DeFee said as Stillwater went unbeaten in non-district play.

“We’re 3-0, but two of the teams we played, McLain and Guthrie, are not very good. We should have played better.”

Last week the Pioneers jumped all over Choctaw’s mistakes in the first half to build a 29-0 lead. Then Choctaw, which has a history of giving the Pioneers trouble, quit making mistakes and Stillwater had to hold on for a 29-13 win.

“Our defense was on then field the whole second half,” DeFee complained.

While the Pioneers are having to wait for the skill people to break loose behind a inexperienced line, when they do break out they can cause a lot of problems in a hurry.

Last week, speedster Leonard Jones had an 85-yard punt returned for a touchdown and scored again on a 14 yard pass from Josh Fields to boost the Pioneers to a 14-0 first-quarter lead.

Fields also threw to John Martin for a TD late in the first half after the defense had blocked a Choctaw punt for a safety.

In three games, Fields is 13-of-24 passing with two interceptions for 223 yards and four touchdowns. Two of those scores have gone to Martin, who is averaging 16.6 yards per catch. He has eight receptions for 135 yards.

The Pioneers have limited their first three opponents to a total of 25 points, but DeFee says the defensive front — like the offensive line — has a lot of new faces and is untested against strong opposition.

Being 3-0 puts Stillwater in good company among the district teams. Tulsa Union and Owasso are also unbeaten while everyone else in the league has at least two losses.

But DeFee doesn’t feel that necessarily make the district weaker.

“Sapulpa (1-2) has a lot of talent and the are a brute force team,” DeFee says. “Edmond Memorial (1-2) returns more people than anyone else in the district. I’m surprised they haven’t done better but they may be just using the non-district games to get ready for then games that count. Sand Springs graduated an awfully good class and doesn’t have the offensive talent they have had. But they can still be tough.”

DeFee hopes he’ll have no trouble getting his team ready for Ponca City.

The Pioneers want to get off to a good start in the district race and beside the Stillwater-Ponca City rivalry is still alive despite the Pioneers’ recent string of victories.”

“We’ve played some very close game with Ponca City,” DeFee said. “From what I’ve seen so far, Ponca City has been pretty basic. Maybe that’s because they are pretty young, or maybe its because they haven’t wanted to show anything before the district games start.”

DeFee does have one fear about this game.

When asked if the Pioneers might overlook the struggling Wildcats, DeFee said quietly, “we play Union next week.”

Sooners Back, But Different

By OWEN CANFIELD

AP Sports Writer

NORMAN (AP) — After two years with an offense that was usually offensive, Oklahoma is back near the top of the national charts — third in total offense, sixth in scoring. Just like old times.

Except it’s not at all like old times.

These Sooners throw the football. A lot. They have thrown 99 passes in the first two games, victories over Indiana State and Baylor. Quarterback Josh Heupel has already set single-game school records for touchdown passes (5), pass attempts (54), completions (37), passing yards (420) and total offense (397 yards).

Heupel’s 68 completions through two games are more than any quarterback completed in a season during Barry Switzer’s 16 years running the wishbone.

The option game at Oklahoma has essentially been dead since Switzer left 10 years ago. But his three successors all sought a balance between passing and running.

Not this offense. Coordinator Mike Leach looks to throw first, then run. Of Oklahoma’s first 20 plays against Baylor last weekend, 15 were passes.

First-year coach Bob Stoops said he isn’t surprised the offense has been so effective.

‘‘I’ve seen it for a long time, played against it for three years,’’ said Stoops, who as defensive coordinator at Florida went against Kentucky, where Leach was offensive coordinator.

‘‘I’ve seen it everywhere that they have run this offense and this system with coach Leach, they’ve put up these kind of numbers. Why would here be any different?’’

Perhaps because Oklahoma’s offense was anemic in the recent past. Quarterback play that was average at best, coupled with indecision by coach John Blake over which offense he wanted to use, resulted in problems.

Even with a 1,000-yard tailback, the Sooners averaged only 315 yards and 18 points per game in Blake’s final two years.

The offense used by Leach gives the quarterback a lot of freedom, and therefore requires especially good play from that person. Leach found who he wanted in Heupel, a coach’s son who transferred from Snow Junior College in Utah.

Heupel impressed Leach right away with his desire to study game film. He picked up the offense quickly and established himself as a leader, so much so that he was voted a captain after being on campus just a few months.

The left-hander doesn’t have a particularly strong arm, but doesn’t need one to direct a passing game that generally relies on short, quick-hitting routes. He has completed 72 percent of his passes so far.

‘‘We felt all along that Josh was a strong quarterback,’’ Stoops said. ‘‘We love his attitude, love the way he prepares. With the summer he’s had, the spring he had, we figured Josh would be pretty solid and he’s definitely been that.’’

While Heupel has been rewriting Oklahoma’s record book, the Sooners have still been productive on the ground. Michael Thornton ran for 110 yards in the 41-10 victory over Baylor and is averaging 5.9 yards on his 33 carries.

Stoops said he’s perfectly happy with the running game.

‘‘You want us to plow it in there every snap like some other teams?’’ he said. ‘‘I think it’s perfect.’’

But does he really want Heupel throwing 50-some times a game?

‘‘If he can complete as many and score 41 points, yeah, that would be fine with me,’’ Stoops said.

‘‘I think if we can continue to be effective when we do run the ball is the key. That’s what so many of you, I think, need to understand is that it’s one thing to run it, but it’s another thing to be effective when you do run it.’’

Meanwhile, Oklahoma will keep on throwing. A lot.

District Openers Add Excitement

By FRED HILTON

News Sports Editor

District play gets into full swing Friday.

If that wasn’t enough, throw in a couple of Homecoming games and it adds up to some exciting football for area fans.

They only drawback is there are only three teams at home.

Tonkawa attempts to keep its bid for another District A-5 title alive by playing host to Kiefer. Woodland tries to get back even in that district by hosting Drumright and Morrison attempts to build on an excellent start with its District B-3 opener against Cashion.

On the road, Blackwell gets a real test in is District 4A-2 bid at Oklahoma City Star-Spencer, Newkirk opens District 2A-5 play at Caney Valley, Pawnee has another tough district opener against Hominy, Shidler starts its District C-3 wars at Geary and Deer Creek-Lamont starts the “real” season at Wakita.

Tonkawa (2-0, 3-0) vs. Kiefer (0-2, 1-2)

The Buccaneers must guard against the distractions of Homecoming and looking past the Trojans.

But coach Steve Love doesn’t see it happening.

“These kids are hungry,” he said this week. “They want to look good in these district games. They’ll do what they need to do.”

Kiefer does offer some challenges for the Bucs. The Trojans will use multiple sets on offense, according to Love, include a one-back set.

“They have a pretty good running back who is 6-0, 180 pounds, and their quarterback is a good runner. They’ll run the option a lot.

“We match up with Kiefer’s line pretty well, although they have a couple of linemen who are 215 and 300 pounds.”

Love said Kiefer has been primarily a running team that spreads out the defense.”

Tonkawa has just one starter out. Lineman Jim Estes has a strained knee.

Fullback Kolby Simpson has scored four touchdowns for the Bucs while quarterback McCain Brown has three in Tonkawa’s balanced attack.

Woodland (0-1, 0-3) vs. Drumright (0-2, 0-3)

After three very tough games, the Cougars have a chance to break into the win column and get even in the district race at the same time.

Drumright will throw a wing-T offense and a 4-4 defense at Woodland, but its nothing the Cougars haven’t seen before, according to coach Curtis Layton.

“It seems like a lot of teams in our district are going to the wing-T,” he said.

“We’ve had a real good week of practice,” the coach said. “I expect to see some good things in this game. It’s our chance to get even in the district after last week (getting beat up by Luther, 71-25)”

The Cougars are hurting a little, however. Fullback Jessie Martin is out for two or three weeks with a sprained knee and lineman Bud McKenny has a cracked hip and it uncertain when he’s return.

Despite an 0-3 start, Layton says his team still has a positive outlook.

“We have played three very tough teams,” the coach said. “But our kids are still up. They’re still scraping.”

Morrison (0-0, 3-0) vs. Cashion (0-0, 0-3)

It will be Homecoming for the rejuvenated Wildcats who will take on a non-rated team for the first time, but coach Sindelar says his team’s mind is strictly on football.

“These kids are young, but they’re mature enough to take every game seriously. They have put in a lot of work over the past couple of years to get the program, back up to being in that upper echelon.”

Sindelar also said that Cashion’s record is not indicative of the kind of team they have.

“They’ve played some tough games. They’ve got some ability.”

The Wildcats have even more good new on the injury front.

“This is probably the healthiest we’ve been since that first half of the first game,” Sindelar said.

“(Quarterback David) Spears has been playing with a sprained knee. He’s 100 percent this week, as is (receiver) Belusko, who has also been playing hurt.”

Other games:

Newkirk (0-0, 2-1) at Caney Valley (0-0, 0-3)

Blackwell (0-0, 1-2) at Star-Spencer (0-0, 3-0)

Pawnee (0-0, 1-20 at Hominy (0-0, 2-1)

Shidler (0-0, 2-1) at Geary (0-0, 2-1)

DCLA (0-0, 1-2) at Wakita (0-0, 2-1