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From the pages of The Ponca City News, Tuesday, October 31, 2000 LOCAL DEATHS NEWS BRIEFS LIFESTYLES SPORTS BUSINESS LOCALParade, Kids To Flood PC Downtown Parade, Kids To Flood PC DowntownThe 7th annual Ponca City Main Street parade will kick off Halloween events in the downtown section tonight. The parade, which begins at 5 p.m., will be followed by merchants welcoming trick-or-treaters. The parade route begins at Centennial Plaza and precedes west on Grand Avenue to First Street. Officials are urging motorists to observe traffic signals at the crosswalks to ensure the safety of children. “Drivers are encouraged to watch out for the trick-or-treaters. They’ll be excited and may not be watching for you,” police information officer Sherry Bowers warned. As for the youngsters, Bowers noted, “[They] should wear light-colored clothes or reflective tape on their costumes, and never trick-or-treat alone.” In addition to downtown, trick-or-treaters will also be walking the residential areas. Letters to the EditorGore and His ‘Teacher Reserve Corps’ While listening to the last presidential debate, I was puzzled by one of V-P Gore’s statements concerning education. He stated that if a school was “failing” it would be shut down and a new team of top-rate teachers and principals would immediately come in and take over. Where are the top teams going to be until they are needed? Will they be a Teacher Reserve Corps possibly working at other jobs until “called up” by the president? Or would they be held in reserve at an Elite Teacher Camp somewhere? And then, where would the failing teacher group go? Their union wouldn’t allow them to be fired — would they be sent to some other unsuspecting school or what? Talk is cheap, but V-P Gore’s solution to failing schools would not be. Teachers on Tap would be very expensive and unworkable. Patricia J. Beall Former teacher Supporting State Employees In regard to Rep. Jim Newport’s article in the Update 2000 section of the Oct. 15 Ponca City News, I want to highlight a misleading statement. Newport said, “ ... according to the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, among 50 states, Oklahoma is the 11th highest in state government spending relative to state income.” This may be true. However, it is also true that in many other states the very same services that are provided by state employees in the Sooner State are being provided by and funded by the counties of those states, not with state funds. Once adjustment is made for this difference, a far different picture emerges in terms of total spending on these services in Oklahoma compared to other states. State employees in Oklahoma are 50th in the nation in average pay. To Newport’s and the Oklahoma legislature’s credit, a $2,000 annual pay raise for state employees was enacted this year. Oklahoma remains 50th in the nation in average pay after the raise, however. I personally hope that Rep. Newport and other legislators will continue to support state employees. John Hunt Victorian Farce On Poncan Stage FridayPonca City Arts and Humanities Council will present “An Evening with Sullivan and Gilbert” featuring Cox and Box at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Poncan Theatre. Highlights from Gilbert and Sullivan operas will be featured by an all-professional cast with full sets and costumes and directed by Gilbert and Sullivan artist Mark Beckwith. The show will finish with the one-act Victorian farce, Cox and Box. Also sponsoring the performance will be Oklahoma Arts Council and Conoco. DEATHSD. Michael Wright III D. Michael Wright IIID. Michael Wright III, former Ponca City resident, died Sunday, Oct. 29, 2000, in Houston, Texas. He was 66. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, 2000, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with the Rev. John J. Michalicka, officiating. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. A rosary service will be held 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, at the Trout Funeral Home Chapel. D. Michael Wright III was born Dec. 3, 1933, in Ponca City, the son of Delwyn Carl and Billie Sterling (Clack) Wright. He graduated from Ponca City High School and the University of Tulsa. He was in the construction business with his father in Ponca City. He was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and St. Mary’s Catholic Church. He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include an uncle. Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church or School, P.O. Box 1330, Ponca City, Okla. 74602. Carmen MartinTONKAWA — Carmen Martin, longtime resident of Tonkawa, died Sunday morning, Oct. 29, 2000, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was 65. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, in the First Christian Church of Tonkawa with the Rev. Joe Howard officiating. Burial will follow at the Tonkawa IOOF Cemetery under the direction of McCafferty-Bolick Funeral Home of Tonkawa. Carmen Martin was born Oct. 18, 1935, in Ponca City, the daughter of John Hood and Mary Edna Johnson Smith. She married Donald Martin on Oct. 18, 1951, in Ponca City. Survivors include her husband of the home; four sons, Dennis Martin of Lamont, and Donnie Martin, Danny Martin and Darrell Martin, all of Tonkawa; three daughters, Brenda Neeley, Nancy Lucas, both of Tonkawa, and Joyce Moreno of Flower Mound, Texas; one brother, John; eight sisters, Elmina, Emma, Agnes, Dorothy, Geraldine, Frances, Arlene and Edna; 14 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; two daughters, Patricia Kay Quillian and Carolyn Sue Martin; one son, David Ray Martin; and a grandson. Casket bearers include Donnie Martin, Dennis Martin, Danny Martin, Christopher Lanning, Johnny Smith and Jim Moreno. ObituariesCarol L. Strange SprayCarol L. Strange Spray, 24 Spring Village, died Saturday, Oct. 28, 2000, at Baptist Medical Center. She was 72. The funeral will be Wednesday 2 p.m. in the Community Christian Church with the Rev. Wayne Majors, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in the Tonkawa IOOF Cemetery under the direction of the Trout Funeral Home. Born Jan. 30, 1928, at Mangum, she was the daughter of Otis W. and Nina Marie Lowrance Bowman. She attended schools at Mangum until 1944 when she moved with her family to Pratt, Kan. The family settled a year later at Tonkawa where she graduated from high school in 1946. Carol attended Northern Oklahoma College for one year before joining First National Bank of Tonkawa. She was employed there for 31 years. On July 24, 1948, she married William M. “Bill” Strange. Together the couple was active in the First United Methodist Church at Tonkawa. He preceded her in death in 1986. On April 11, 1989, Carol married Robert L. Spray and moved to Ponca City. He preceded her in death in November 1999. She was a member of Community Christian Church, the Christian Women’s Fellowship and was a former member of the Eastern Star. She enjoyed needlepoint, tole painting and other crafts and being around her grandchildren. Surviving are two daughters, Diane Strange Gates of Oklahoma City and Donna Strange, Arlington, Texas; stepson, Dr. Robert L. Spray Jr. of Fort Smith, Ark.; two stepdaughters, Jen Ellen Northcutt of Ponca City and Charlene Louise Goodman of Louisville, Ky.; grandchildren, Todd Parrott, Tony Parrott, Trent Parrott, Sallie Gates, Steven Gates, Jeff Northcutt, Julie Northcutt, Brandon Thompson, Allison Thompson, and Daniel Spray; great-grandchildren, Kohl, Kyser, McKenize, Blake and Tyler Parrott; and a sister, Charlene Dolezal of Perry. In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Margie Lou Jenkins. Casket bearers will be Todd Parrott, Tony Parrott, Trent Parrott, Jeff Northcutt, Steven Gates and Brandon Thompson. Memorials may be made to Community Christian Church, 2109 W. Grand, Ponca City, Okla. 74601 or to Hospice of Ponca City, 1904 N. Union, Suite 103, Ponca City, Okla. 74601. The family will be at the home, 24 Spring Village. paid obituary Evan E. WolfenbargerKAW CITY — Evan E. Wolfenbarger died on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2000, in the Shawn Manor Nursing Home. He had lived to see 78 years, 8 months and 9 days. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2000, in the Grace Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Jon Denison, pastor of Faith Fellowship of Blackwell officiating. Burial will follow in Grandview Cemetery in Kaw City under direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. Born on Feb. 20, 1922, in the Kaw City area, Evan was the son of Harry Anderson and Ida May (Bellmard) Wolfenbarger. He was reared and went to school in the Kaw City area, graduating from Kaw City High School in 1943. Evan made his home in the Kaw City area until it was relocated due to the building of the Kaw Dam. Since that time, Evan had moved to Newkirk and made his home there. He was a member of the Faith Fellowship Church of Blackwell and a proud member of the Kaw tribe. Evan is survived by a nephew, H. Joe Gaston of Arkansas City, Kan., and a niece, Donna Gaston Craft of Jasper, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Thelma Wolfenbarger Gaston and one brother, Ernest Wolfenbarger. Casket bearers will be Marty Branch, Jim Deacon, Jim Pappan, Johnnie Pappan, Richard (Abe) Schauer and Joe Walcott Sr. paid obituary Mary Jane DowseMary Jane Dowse, Ponca City resident, died Saturday, Oct. 28, 2000, at her home. She was 79. The funeral will be Wednesday, Nov. 1, at 10 a.m. graveside at the IOOF Cemetery with the Rev. Dr. Michael Kear, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of the Trout Funeral Home. Born Dec. 4, 1920, at Oil Hill, Kan., she was the daughter of Earl and Mary Louise Ingham Dowse. She attended schools in Webb City and graduated from Oklaunion, Texas, High School in 1938. She then earned a bachelor of science degree in education from North Texas University at Denton. Ms. Dowse began her teaching career in Dallas public schools and later taught in Houston and Woodland Park, Colo., before coming to Ponca City schools in 1967. She retired in 1982. She was a member of Oklahoma Education Association, Royal Neighbors, Alpha Delta Kappa, and was Honorary Who’s Who and lifetime member of the Texas Teachers Association. She is survived by several friends. Memorials may be made to the Ponca City Humane Society, 900 W. Prospect, Ponca City, Okla. 74601. paid obituary Ernest Nichols Jr.Ernest Nichols Jr., longtime Ponca City resident, died Monday, Oct. 30, 2000, at his home at the age of 76. The funeral will be held Thursday, Nov. 2, 2000, at 2 p.m. at First Free Will Baptist Church with the Rev. David L. Bigger, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Trout Funeral Home. Ernest Nichols Jr. was born May 29, 1924, in Cushing, the son of E.A. and Lydia (Barnes) Nichols. He graduated from Cushing High School in 1942. On Nov. 10, 1946, he and the former LaVerla Bohannon were married in Cushing. Mr. Nichols was employed in the Research and Development Department of Conoco, retiring as research craftsman. His joy, however, was in carpentry. He built many family members’ homes, including two of his own, his parents’, son’s and a brother’s. He also helped his son-in-law build two homes for his daughter. In addition to helping with the Free Will Baptist Church in Cushing, he also helped build the new addition to the First Free Will Baptist Church here. He also participated in a mission trip to Mexico to assist with building projects. For a short time, he taught carpentry at vo-tech. Mr. Nichols spent his life loving and serving God and his family. He was a very active member of First Free Will Baptist Church and cherished his church family. He served on the advisory board and as superintendent of Sunday school. He also taught Sunday school and enjoyed singing. His children and grandchildren were an important part of his life; he attended and was very involved in their activities. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting. He was a dedicated husband and father. He is survived by his wife, LaVerla of the home; son, Stephen Nichols of Denver, Colo.; and daughter, Judy Nichols Smith and her husband, Alan, of Ponca City. Additional survivors include a sister, Pearl Simmons of Memphis, Tenn.; and four grandchildren, Christopher Nichols and his wife, Tina, of Denver, Jennifer Nichols of Boston, Mass., and Alana and Taylor Smith, both of Ponca City. In addition to his parents, three brothers, Ezra, Truman and A.D. Nichols, and two sisters, Norma Jean (Nichols) Nelson and Nathalie Nichols, preceded him in death. Contributions may be made in his memory to Hospice of Ponca City, 1904 N. Union, Suite 103, Ponca City, Okla. 74601. The family will be at the home at 201 N. Stephen Street. paid obituary Services PendingDwane C. BurkeNEWKIRK — Dwane C. Burke, Newkirk resident, died Monday night, Oct. 30, 2000, in St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kan. He was 59. Funeral arrangements are pending with Miller-Stahl Funeral Service. FuneralsWednesday Roger HolmanRoger Holman — Memorial service at 2 p.m. at the pavilion in Island Park in Winfield under the direction of Swisher-Taylor and Morris Funeral Home of Winfield, Kan. NEWS BRIEFSRummage Sale — Many different items, including a pickup topper, carpets, Christmas items, school desks, clothing from infant to adult and xxlarge, and a lot of miscellaneous will be available at the St. Mary’s Trinity Guild rummage sale, 121 West Central, Nov. 2-4, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., each day. Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential. Hours: Monday 1-3 p.m., Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. and Thursday, 6-8 p.m. 700 West Broadway. 765-9689. adv. Lawton 5km and 1 Mile — Lawton will hold a 5km run and a one-mile run/walk on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. It will run through the Boulevard of lights display in downtown Lawton. Prizes will be awarded. Registration before Nov. 15 is $14 for adult, $12 for child 12 and under, $10 without T-shirt; after Nov. 15, all registration is $16. Checks to be made out to Boulevard of Lights and sent to Frost Ya’ Fanny, Lawton Parks and Recreation Dept., 1405 SW 11th St., Lawton, Okla. 73501. Angel Central opens Friday, November 3, South end Ponca Plaza, Monday-Saturday, 10-6, 762-4567. adv. Veterans Day Parade Meeting — Veterans Day Parade meeting will be held 7 p.m. Wednesday at the American Legion Post 14, 407 West South Avenue. All interested people are invited. Every Wednesday ð price clothes and shoes, except priced items. Check our daily specials. Caboose Thrift Shoppe, First and Central. adv. Theft — The manager of a business in the 3000 block of North Fourteenth Street requested a Ponca City police officer in regards to an employee related theft. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Stormescape Shelters, perfect for garage, under vehicle. Installed, $2,395. 765-2633. adv. Theft — A man in the 2100 block of North Union Street reported a stolen cell phone to Ponca City police at 10:10 a.m. Monday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Theft — A woman in the 2300 block of North Fourteenth Street reported the theft of some items to Ponca City police at 10:52 a.m. Monday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Theft — A sales associate at Wal-Mart, 1101 East Prospect Avenue, reported a 17-year-old girl was being held for shoplifting to Ponca City police at 8:37 p.m. Monday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. The girl was taken into police custody for grand larceny. Accident — A two-vehicle, non-injury accident in 1100 block of East Prospect Avenue was reported to Ponca City police at 11:23 a.m. Monday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Burglary — A man in the 100 block of South First Street reported to Ponca City police at 11:41 a.m. Monday his car had been burglarized overnight and some items taken. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Accident — A two-vehicle, non-injury accident at the intersection of North Fourteenth Street and East Hartford Avenue was reported to Ponca City police at 12:08 p.m. Monday. Two officers responded to the scene and a report was taken. Subject Held — An officer in the 100 block of West Grand Avenue reported a 41-year-old man was taken into custody for first degree rape, three counts of child molestation and sodomy at 9:51 a.m. Monday. The alleged crimes were reported to the police department on Aug. 30, and the female victim was 14. Burglary — A woman in the 100 block of South Osage Avenue reported her purse had been stolen from her vehicle to Ponca City police at 1:38 p.m. Monday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Theft — A woman in the 600 block of West Ponca Avenue reported some items were stolen from her residence to Ponca City police at 8:45 p.m. Monday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Subject Held — An officer at the Ponca City Police Department, 200 East Oklahoma Avenue, reported a 34-year-old man was taken into custody on a city warrant for failure to pay and a Kay County warrant at 4:16 p.m. Monday. Accident — A non-injury accident at the intersection of East Hartford Avenue and Pecan Road was reported to Ponca City police at 4:19 p.m. Monday. Two officers responded to the scene and a report was taken. Gas Drive-Off — A clerk at a business in the 700 block of South Waverly Street reported a $5 gas drive-off to Ponca City police at 5:51 p.m. Monday. A description was given of the suspect and vehicle. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Accident — A two-vehicle, non-injury accident in the 1000 block of North Fourteenth Street was reported to Ponca City police at 6:27 p.m. Monday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. An ambulance was later called to the scene. Theft — A clerk at a business in the 400 block of South Fourteenth Street reported to Ponca City police at 7:06 p.m. Monday a male, approximately 17-years-old, took two 12-packs of beer and fled the store. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Subject Held — An officer at the intersection of West Broadway Avenue and North Elm Street reported a 19-year-old man was taken into custody on a city warrant at 12:09 a.m. Tuesday. Theft — A woman in the 400 block of South Lincoln Street reported a stolen dog to Ponca City police at 12:57 p.m. Monday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Disturbance — A man in the 1600 block of North Sixth Street reported to Ponca City police at 11:26 p.m. Monday a woman was in an area near his house screaming. An officer was assigned. A 35-year-old woman was taken into custody for public intoxication. Subjects Held — An officer in the 3600 block of B Street reported a man and a woman were taken into custody after a domestic disturbance call at 2:18 a.m. Monday. A 22-year-old woman was arrested for domestic assault and battery and a 24-year-old man for public intoxication. BUSINESSChamber Holiday Giveaway Promotion Set for Nov. 4 Chamber Holiday Giveaway Promotion Set for Nov. 4By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE News Business Editor The “Holiday Giveaway” promotion by the “Give Ponca the Business Committee,” is slated for Nov. 4, Debbi Weatherly committee chairman told the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce Board. The board met at the program room of the fire department, since the chamber building is undergoing renovations. It was announced that the Breakfast of Champions Thursday will feature Sue Lunsford, Conoco counselor, who will tell how to cope with the stress during the holidays. The event is set for the Assembly Center at the High School. Chairman of the Ambassadors Russ Parker announced the committee is putting a float together for the Veterans Parade set for Nov. 11. The float will consist of six crosses with a dog tag representing each war. The Ambassadors also worked on Goodwill Day held last Thursday. The committee also helped host “Business After Hours” at Jack Bowker Ford’s 50th Anniversary Celebration last Tuesday. The consent agenda included a report from the Infrastructure Committee headed by John Westfield. Don Nuzum reported to that committee on the airport runway extension progress. Jan Jarrett, Chamber executive, announced that Kay County Commissioner, Dee Schieber has contacted him on a couple of projects that would be of some interest to Ponca City. The funding cycle is coming up in two years, which will allow replacements of bridges. The first project is replacing the Old River Bridge. And the next year the project would be East South Avenue Extension from Fourteenth Street east to the Old River Bridge. One of the two bridges through that area can be taken out and made a culvert and widen the other bridge. The matching portion of the money for the project will be approximately $200,000. The Legislative Review Committee, according to the consent agenda, reviewed handouts on Workers’ Compensation Reform, Oklahoma Legislative Alert and the Voters Guide. Steve Crank made the committee aware that in the Oklahoma Labor Market Statistics for July, Kay County has the highest unemployment rate in the State. The committee began discussion on the annual trip to Oklahoma City and are looking at efforts with the Leadership Ponca City Class and visiting the State Capital on Wednesday, March 14 . The Education Committee, chaired by Sandy James, continues to work on PIE Partnership Program. He had scheduled a meeting for them to plan the projects for this school year. The committee discussed the efforts for the “Make a Difference Day” held last Saturday. The committee heard concerns from Ponca City High School principal Jerry Winkle on the number of children missing school with their parents permission. A task group was formed to work on the issue. At the chamber board meeting Bill White, superintendent of Ponca City Schools, mentioned State Question 690 that would change the necessity voting on school mill levies each year. It was announced that at the annual banquet, date to be announced later, an industry award and a business award will be presented. In the past large and small industry awards were presented. Jarrett, reporting for Ricky Flak, chairman of the Economic Development Advisory Board, told that currently there are two projects the group is working on. He told about the prospects’ concern about housing. Currently the Drake addition is under way on Pecan and the Evans addition near Lake Ponca Park is expected to get under way soon. Also there is an apartment complex being built on Waverly and another is on the drawing board for Princeton east of Fourteenth. Also several single family homes are being built. It was hoped that the Ponca City Housing Inc., would spark other building. It was reported that Conoco has hired 50 scientists from 10 countries to work on various projects. Some of these are residing in Stillwater. “The bandwidth project looks really good,” Jarrett said. He indicated that both Congressman Istook and Senate Nickles had been working on the funding. Chamber Chairman Barry Bickle told about The Ponca City Summit and plans for the Friday luncheon and follow-up. PC Sales Tax Receipts Show HikePonca City sales tax October distribution for August tax receipts from the Oklahoma Tax Commission were up compared to August last year. This year’s total is $898,099 compared to August 1999, which was $889,717. When comparing year-over-year collections of retail sales, total sales tax collections in the current month have increased from the same period of the prior year by four percent. Cumulative sales tax collections at the close of the first quarter were ahead of budget approximately $9,900 or .6 percent, according to Marc L. LaBossiere, city financial officer. The use tax distribution for Ponca City was $39,202 compared to $47,852 collected in August 1999. Statewide the October distribution by the Oklahoma Tax Commission totaled $79,198,804 representing tax receipts from August business. The disbursement of sales tax collections to 492 cities and towns showed an increase of $7,815,963 from the $71,382,841 distributed to 490 cities and towns in Octoberr last year. In county returns, 62 counties shared in a $8,810,632 sales tax disbursement. August 2000 August 1999 Barnsdall 12.156 10,973 Bartlesville 1,105,489 1,045,873 Blackwell 158,956 89,358 Billings 12,910 14,007 Braman 2,548 1,660 Burbank 500 432 Deer Creek 922 599 Enid 1,515,863 1,412,060 Fairfax 12,447 13,920 Kaw City 3,129 3,742 Lamont 1,837 2,973 Marland 1,329 1,397 Medford 23,397 22,152 Morrison 5,697 5,759 Newkirk 25,075 23,147 Pawhuska 58,118 60,853 Pawnee 37,706 46,941 Perry 125,411 82,635 Ralston 953 923 Red Rock 3,337 821 Shidler 2,872 2,229 Stillwater 1,348,824 1,271,501 Tonkawa 45,325 40,886 Summit Facilitator Dr. Presley Speaks on Meeting’s ResultsBy LOUISE ABERCROMBIE News Business Editor An overflow crowd heard Dr. Leo Presley, consultant and facilitator of the Summit held in September tell of the results. The Summit involved reconnecting with successful individuals who once had a connection to Ponca City. Work sessions were held and ideas developed for projects to improve Ponca City during the September event. At last Friday’s luncheon, Bickle welcomed sponsors and their guests and called on Jim Howard, former Ponca Citian, now of Tahlequah, who told about attending the Summit and positives about Ponca City. Howard and his wife plan to move back to Ponca City in a few years. Howard gave his impression of the Summit, thanked the sponsors and participants for maintaining a vibrant community and working toward future goals. He noted that Ponca City has a strong vision and the teamwork necessary when a job needs to be done. Howard talked about E.W. Marland and the standards of a higher pay scale and creating academy so the leaders of his company could be better educated. Presley said, “There were a number of very impressive aspects related to the Summit. To mention a few, the number of quality of out-of-town participants, the bold and innovative ideas that were generated, the overwhelming positive comments from guests and residents throughout the experience and certainly not the least the attention to detail that was involved in every aspect of planning a professional first-class event.” In his written report, Presley said, “Remembering that the overall goal of the Summit was to build an even stronger and better Ponca City, the Summit is simply the first milestone in this journey. The challenge now becomes to develop and implement the logical next steps toward achieving this goal.” Four suggested initiatives came out of the event. These were quality education; distinctive identity; beautification/revitalization and arts and festivals. Another aspect was to explore the feasibility of creating a “virtual citizenry” for the benefit of both former and current citizens of Ponca City. Suggested strategies by Presley included, celebrate the success of the summit and invite the citizens, virtual and resident of Ponca City to share in the celebration; establish an executive committee to provide overall leadership and coordination for moving the process forward; develop a collaborate network between all local entities involved in related or similar activities. Also to expand and diversify the number of local citizens involved in the process; take some type of progressive action with each of the four identified initiatives; invest time and resources to validate the pro’s and con’s of any initiative before launching; send out follow up letter to out of town guests with an evaluation form to be returned; develop a state-of-the-art interactive Web page to continue to interface with the virtual citizens. Include out of town guests as members/contributors of each initiative. Luncheon attendees were invited to sign up to work on the four initiatives. Bickle announced an oversight committee composed of Charles Casey, Louise Abercrombie, Mark Detten, Larry Bittman, Linda Brown, Tom Leonard and Bickle. Po-Hi Grad of 1971 Named To High Banking PositionCRESTED BUTTE, Colo. — Daryl L. Cunningham, 1971 Ponca City High School graduate, has been named Branch Manager/Senior Loan Officer of Community First National Bank, Crested Butte, Colo. Cunningham began his banking career with James R. Eatherly at the First National Bank in Tonkawa in October 1978. He joined Community First Banking group in July 1997. He is married to the former Mary Roach, also a 1971 Ponca City High School graduate. She is the daughter of Earlene Roach, and the late Lloyd Roach. The couple has a daughter, Amy, a flight attendant for American Airlines and lives in Arlington, Texas. They also have a son Jason. Jason and his wife Susan, and sons Cade and Zane live in Colorado Springs. He is attending the University of Colorado. Community First National Bank, Crested Butte, Colo., has total assets of $50,000,000, serving the historic district town of Crested Butte and the mountain resort community of Mt. Crested Butte. Both communities have a combined year-round population of 2,500 and a seasonal population of 3,500, with a trade area of 11,500. The economy is based on tourism and is centered around a world renowned ski area known for its extreme skiing and other outdoor activities, including cross country skiing, snowmobiling, mountain biking, hiking, golfing, fishing and hunting. Community First Bankshares, a $6 billion financial services company, operates full service banking offices in 156 communities in 12 states — Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming. The company offers a diverse array of financial services, including investments, insurance, mortgage and trust, with a focus on small business lending. PTC Students Find Vote Really Counts in Election“Does our vote really count?” was the topic of a recent Business Professionals of America (BPA) meeting with Pioneer Technology Center (PTC) students enrolled in the Business and Computer Technology program. The meeting, spawned by the current Presidential debates, addressed many questions and concerns about the importance of voting in the upcoming election. After much discussion and some unanswered questions, BPA executive council member, Dawn Blakey, invited State Rep. Jim Reese to the campus to address the entire student body. “I felt that is was important to have Rep. Reese speak to the students about how the presidential election process works, and to prove that our vote does count in the upcoming election,” said Blakey. During a morning and afternoon session, Rep. Reese explained the Electoral College and how it works in Oklahoma. Sample ballots were also available for the students to look at and see other items as well as other candidates that will be on the ballot. Some of the questions Rep. Reese addressed were, “how are votes tallied?” “how does our vote count if they have already won the vote of the state?” and, “how can Oklahoma play a more active role in the Presidential Election?” After eating lunch and spending most of the day with PTC students and staff, Rep. Reese encouraged students to become registered voters and to take an active role by getting out and voting in the upcoming election. Blakey also challenged each PTC student to examine the issues and examine the presidential candidates platform, and most importantly to get out and vote! Conoco Honored During Governor’s Arts AwardsOKLAHOMA CITY — Conoco received the Earl Sneed business in the Arts Award at the 25th annual Governor’s Arts Award for excellence in the arts last Wednesday. Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin presented the medallion to Keni Ray, Director of external Affairs, who accepted the honor on behalf of Conoco. The award was presented to Conoco Inc., of Ponca City, which supports a wide spectrum of arts organizations in Ponca City. For many years, the company has provided major support to projects such as the renovation and restoration of the Poncan Theatre. This fiscal year alone, Conoco has contributed more than $50,000 to seven different arts organizations in the area. This level of support has been the status quo for Conoco over the last several years, according to the arts program. In addition to generous financial support, the company supports the arts through donations of equipment, materials and advertising. Volunteerism is also a major contribution. Since 1992, 15 em-ployees/retiree volunteers have been recognized with Conoco Community Service Award for their contributions to the arts in Ponca City. Through its support of arts organization in Ponca City, the corporate provides greater access to the arts for much of North Central Oklahoma. A group from Conoco attended the presentation. They were Ray, Gary Stephens, Cynthia Crowe, Diane Anderson, Karen Rivers, Sandy James, David Corman and Michelle Roberts. Building Permit For Chilis Grill Expected SoonCommercial and residential construction is picking up in Ponca City. The long rumored location of Chili’s Grill and Bar is official. The building permit is expected to be issued this week and construction to begin immediately. The restaurant is to be located on the northeast corner of North Fifth Street and East Prospect, diagonally across from Mazzio’s. The restaurant is slated to have a seating capacity of 160. Access to Chili’s will be by a private drive until Fifth Street is completed. The Community Development department of the City of Ponca City has also received the plans for a Goody’s, which is slated to begin after the City extends North Fifth Street. Plans have also been received for a 63-unit apartment complex on Princeton Avenue east of North Fourteenth Street. The complex is to be known as Willow Creek Apartments and is being development by Zimmerman of Springfield, Mo., which is currently building the Copper Ridge apartments at North Waverly Street and West Highland Avenue. Po-Hi Grad of ’92 Now Performing In Denver BandDENVER — Phil Foiles, 1992 graduate of Ponca City High School, is currently performing with Mezcla (“mix” in Spanish), a Denver-area Latin/funk/jazz band. The band recently released its first CD. Foiles has also recorded with the Hornbuckle Brothers, a blues band; A. J. Salas, a blues keyboardist; and the Reed Collective Saxophone Quartet. He plays alto and tenor saxophones, flute and clarinet and has performed with the Colorado Springs Symphony Orchestra; Reed Collective Saxophone Quartet; various jazz and blues bands in the Denver area; as well as Swingtime Canteen, an off-Broadway musical. Foiles is the son of Delbert and Doris Foiles of Ponca City and graduated in 1996 from the University of Denver, Lamont School of Music, with a Bachelor of Music degree. He is currently an instrument repair technician with Flesher-Hinton Music Company, Denver, Colo. CD’s are available by leaving a message at (303) 377-8284 or by contacting Foiles through e-mail mezclamofo@hotmail.com. LIFESTYLESThe Neighborhood Chef The Neighborhood ChefBy Sherry Muchmore Happy Halloween According to Irish folklore, the Jack-o-lantern custom came about from a tale of a man named Jack who was a drunkard and a trickster. Jack had tricked Satan into climbing a tree and then carved a cross into the tree’s bark, trapping the devil up the tree. Jack made a deal with the devil that if he would leave him alone and never tempt him again, Jack would promise to let him down the tree. Now when Jack died, as the tale goes, he was denied entrance into heaven because of his evil ways and he was also denied entrance into purgatory because he had tricked the devil. Instead the devil gave him a single ember to light his way through the cold darkness in limbo. The ember was placed in a hollowed-out turnip to keep it glowing longer, thus being called “Jack’s lantern.” When the Irish immigrants came to America, they found pumpkins far more plentiful than turnips; so the Jack-O-Lantern in America became the hollowed-out pumpkin, lit with an ember. Jack-o’-lantern pumpkins are too stringy to eat, and often too large (they can easily grow to 20 pounds, and the very largest can exceed 200 pounds). For pie filling and other cooking needs, sugar pumpkins — a smaller, sweeter variety with closed-grained flesh — are much better. Rinse off any dirt before using. For pumpkin puree to use in soup, bread or pie, you can steam, boil or bake. Peel pumpkin and cut into 1-1/2 to 2-inch chunks. Steam for 15-20 minutes, or cook in boiling water for 8-12 minutes. Puree in the blender To Bake: Halve by splitting a small 2 to 4-1/2 pound pumpkin and clean out the seeds and pulp. Put flesh side down in a baking pan with a bit of water. Bake at 350 degrees for 1-1/2 hours or until the flesh is tender. Spoon flesh into the blend and puree. For just plain baked pumpkin eating, wash a 1-1/2 to 3-pound sugar pumpkin; cut off the top, saving the lid and the stem for a handle. Scrape out the seeds and pulp, wipe out the inside, then brush with melted butter and/or sugar or salt, if desired. Replace the lid and bake in a 350 degree oven for 35 minutes. Coat the inside flesh once again with butter, sugar or salt and bake another 10-15 minutes or until it is fork tender. Slice into wedges and serve plain like you would sweet potatoes. Make Pumpkin Pancakes by adding fresh cooked or canned pumpkin to your favorite pancake batter. Cook as directed and serve with warm applesauce. Every year after we’d carve the pumpkins, tradition dictated the toasting of salted pumpkin seeds. My children have always loved that salty, buttery taste of the pumpkin seed. And, if they are toasted just crisp enough, the pumpkin seed shell can also be eaten. Pumpkin Seeds Drying seeds and roasting seeds are two different processes. To dry, carefully wash pumpkin seeds to remove the clinging fibrous pumpkin tissue. Pumpkin seeds can be dried in the sun, in a dehydrator 115-120 degrees for 1 to 2 hours, or in an oven on warm for 3 to 4 hours. Stir them frequently to avoid scorching. To roast, take dried pumpkin seeds, toss with oil (1 teaspoon per cup of seeds) and/or salt and roast in a preheated oven at 250 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes. If you prefer salted seeds; in a saucepan, place cleaned seeds in salted water. Bring to a boil and turn off heat. Soak for about an hour. Spread the salted seeds evenly in pan and dry as described above. Every holiday season since I can remember, our family has been making the following pumpkin bread. It has a moist texture utilizing the simplest of spices for a great flavor that is only enhanced with a little butter toasted under the broiler. Great for breakfast, brunch, snack or dessert. Pumpkin Bread Gayle Fausett, OKC, OK 2 cups pureed or one 15-ounce can solid-pack pumpkin 4 eggs 3 cups granulated sugar 1 cup vegetable oil 2/3 cup water 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking soda 1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup chopped pecans In a large mixing bowl, whisk together pumpkin, eggs, sugar, oil and water. Whisk in the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth. Fold in the pecans. Bake in a large greased loaf pan, or 2 medium loaf pans, at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Note: Can substitute 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice for the cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Good old-fashioned pumpkin pie is a favorite of mine. Not only is it one of the easiest desserts to make but it tastes good too. If lucky enough to have left-overs, there’s nothing quite like a cold slice of pumpkin pie early morning for breakfast. Pumpkin Pie 2 eggs, lightly beaten 1 can (15-ounce) solid-pack pumpkin 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ginger 1/4 teaspoon cloves 1-1/2 cups (1-12 fluid ounce) evaporated milk or light cream (Half and Half) 1 9-inch (4 cup capacity) unbaked pie shell with high fluted edge Mix filling ingredients in order given. Pour into pie shell. Bake in preheated 425 degree oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees and continue baking for 45 minutes or until knife inserted into center of pie filling comes out clean. Cool. Garnish with whipped cream. Refrigerate to store. Send your recipes to: The Neighborhood Chef, c/o The Ponca City News, P.O. Box 191, Ponca City, OK 74602, or e-mail me at: chef@poncacitynews.com (All recipes become property of The Ponca City News.) Veterans of Foreign Wars, Auxiliary Set District Eight Meeting at Perkins PostKenneth Pike of Altus, state senior vice commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Oklahoma will represent the state organization at the November meeting of the 15 posts and 11 auxiliaries of District Eight in Perkins, including representatives of the Ponca City VFW and Auxiliary, Sunday, Nov. 5. District Commander Cecil Henrick of Perkins, and Trudy Farmer of Blackwell, district auxiliary president will preside at the 11 a.m. meetings at the Perkins VFW, 801 Sadler Road. The event is expected to draw delegates from Barnsdall, Bartlesville, Blackwell, Cushing, Dewey, Fairfax, Glencoe, Marland, Newkirk, Pawhuska, Pawnee, Perkins, Ponca City, Stillwater, and Tonkawa. Lunch will be served at noon. Pike, a member of the Altus VFW, was elected state surgeon at the 1998 annual state convention in Oklahoma City. He has served as commander of his local post and of district fifteen, as well as post service officer and deputy inspector for the state VFW. He will represent State Commander Don Fenter of Lawton, at the meeting. Pike reported on the recent Fall festival meeting in Oklahoma City, noting Fenter presented the Dewey VFW and Auxiliary the plaque they were awarded at the 101 national convention in Milwaukee for the post and auxiliary with the Best Community Activity Program in the nation. Oklahoma was also recognized for their contribution to the Operation Up-Link Program, which provides free phone cards to overseas troops and to hospitalized veterans. He called attention to Veterans Day Nov. 11 and reminded the members each post should plan an event to recognize veterans and military personnel. He also told the members the 14 state Southern Conference meeting will be Nov. 16-19 at the Marriott Town Center in Charleston, WV. He stressed the importance of every member voting in the presidential election Tuesday, Nov. 7. Pike told the members the local entries in the 54 annual national Voice of Democracy Audio Essay Scholarship Program should be in and ready for district judging. He reminded them of the changes in selecting post winners. He also told the members the nominations for the Citizenship Education Teacher Awards Program were due Nov. 1. He said the state VFW decided not to hold a district competition, so the post winner in each category must be sent to VFW State Headquarters in Oklahoma City by Dec. 15. Pike encouraged the posts to make plans to participate in the “Dwight D. Eisenhower Commemorative Tree” program to honor World War II veterans May 2001, sponsored by the VFW Foundation, American Forests and Wal-Mart Posts should contact Wal-Mart to reserve an “Eisenhower Tree,” an authentic direct-offspring tree grown from the parent tree at Eisenhower’s birthplace in Denison, Texas. The five gallon Green Ash, which will grow throughout the country, has been designated as the official “WWII Commemorative Tree” to honor veterans who served in WWII. Wal-Mart will donate free of charge an “Eisenhower Tree” to a VFW Post for a tree planting ceremony next May, he said. The Veterans of Foreign Wars and Ladies Auxiliary are service Organizations dedicated to serving the veteran, protecting veterans entitlements, promoting youth programs, volunteering in hospitals, helping homeless veterans and raising funds for cancer research, said Henrick and Farmer. SPORTSOSU’s Tough Road Gets Even Tougher OSU’s Tough Road Gets Even TougherSTILLWATER (AP) — What has already been a difficult road doesn’t get any easier for Oklahoma State’s football team this week. The Cowboys, losers of five straight, play host to a Texas A&M team that is 6-2 and in the running for the Big 12 South Division title. While preparing for a quality opponent, Oklahoma State and coach Bob Simmons have to try to figure out a way to correct the problems that have sent the team into a tailspin. Those problems were evident in the first half Saturday against Colorado, when the Cowboys gave up 398 yards and fell behind 30-7. The performance so frustrated sophomore linebacker Terrence Robinson that he chewed out the defensive players at halftime and challenged them to play better. ‘‘I felt that we needed some sort of leadership to pick us all up. We came out with no fire,’’ Robinson said Monday. ‘‘I felt that I needed to say something so we could all be on the same page.’’ The Cowboys played much better in the second half, allowing just seven points. Robinson said he wasn’t trying to be critical of his teammates, but instead was saying what he felt had to be said. Simmons said he appreciated Robinson’s remarks. ‘‘It’s good when your team members or some of your team members see it the way you see it and just speak to the issues,’’ Simmons said at his weekly news conference. ‘‘For me, the issue was not the effort. It was the fact that we were not making plays, the fact that we missed some assignments. That was a big part of the first half, and that was what I think he was speaking to. ‘‘From a player’s standpoint, it looked like we weren’t flying around. You watch the film, it wasn’t a question of flying around. It was a question of being in the right place and a question of doing what you’re assigned to do.’’ One might have expected a more veteran player to step forward, but Simmons said it didn’t bother him that it was a sophomore who felt the need to speak up. ‘‘He’s a very quiet guy,’’ Simmons said. ‘‘Sometimes, you think an older kid’s going to do it, a guy that’s been around for four years. Here’s a young guy that said, ‘Listen men, here’s what we’ve got to do.’ I respect the fact that he did that.’’ The Cowboys (2-5, 0-4 Big 12) have left themselves no wiggle room if they hope to finish with a winning record. They must win their remaining games, beginning Saturday. Robinson said he feels his teammates have enough pride that they will rebound from Saturday’s performance and play well against A&M. As other players have said this year, Robinson said the talent on campus isn’t a concern. ‘‘We feel that we can play with anybody on the schedule, and there’s no doubt about that,’’ he said. The answer, Simmons said, is to get those players to properly carry out their assignments. He said part of that falls on the coaches, and part of it rests with the players. ‘‘I’ve told the team that until we stop doing these kinds of things, we’re going to always struggle,’’ he said. ‘‘What’s the answer? I wish I could tell you. Just continue to coach ’em and be hopeful that you’ll get guys that understand it and make plays for you.’’ Against Texas A&M Sooners, Hokies Nos. 1-2 in BCSBy The Associated Press Oklahoma and Virginia Tech are the new top two teams in the Bowl Championship Series standings. With its 31-14 win over Nebraska, Oklahoma moved from second to first place in the BCS standings released Monday, while Virginia Tech advanced into second ahead of Florida State. The teams that finish 1-2 in the final BCS standings released Dec. 3 will play in a national title game in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 3. The Sooners (7-0) and Hokies (8-0), 1-2 in the AP media poll and USA Today/ESPN coaches’ poll, are two of the remaining three unbeaten teams among major colleges. The other unbeaten, TCU (7-0), is in ninth place because the Horned Frogs play one of the nation’s weakest schedules — 111th of 115 I-A schools. Nebraska (7-1) fell from first to fourth place, with Miami in fifth place, down one spot after a 42-31 win over lightly regarded Louisiana Tech. Florida (7-1) remained in sixth place. The BCS standings are based on a formula that incorporates the AP poll plus the coaches’ poll, eight computer rankings, strength-of-schedule and number of losses. There’s sure to be more shuffling during the final month of the season, beginning Saturday with Virginia Tech at No. 3 Miami (6-1), and No. 10 Clemson (8-1) at No. 4 Florida State (8-1). On Nov. 11, No. 1 Oklahoma is at No. 24 Texas A&M, and the Sooners could end up playing No. 5 Nebraska in a rematch in the Big 12 title game Dec. 2. Florida State also has a game against No. 6 Florida (7-1) on Nov. 18. Oklahoma had 2.48 points in the BCS standings — 1 point for poll average, 1 for computer rank average, 0.48 for strength-of-schedule and zero for losses. In October, the Sooners beat then-No. 11 Texas 63-14, then-No. 2 Kansas State 41-31 and then-No. 1 Nebraska. Virginia Tech had 7.15 points — 2 for poll average; 4.43 for computer rank average; 0.72 for strength-of-schedule and zero for losses. The Hokies beat Pittsburgh 37-34 on Saturday. Oklahoma was first in seven of the eight computer rankings, with Florida State first in the other. In the computer ratings, the lowest ranking is discarded and the seven highest are used to come up with an average. OU on SI CoverOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahomans will see a familiar face on the cover of this week’s issue of Sports Illustrated. The magazine’s editors have chosen the Sooners over the New York Yankees for the latest cover. Either quarterback Josh Heupel or coach Bob Stoops could be on the cover. It is the first time Oklahoma has been on the cover since 1989 when former quarterback Charles Thompson was pictured in handcuffs and orange prison coveralls. The magazine should be at newstands Friday. Typically, 880 issues are distributed to newstands in the state. But not this week. Officials plan to ship 27,000 more copies to the state.
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