From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Friday, October
10, 1997
LOCAL
County Officers Squabble Over Raises for Deputies
Nearly News
Editorials
Letters
Both Prevention, Safety Necessary On Daily Basis Will Cut Fire Danger
Royal Neighbors Hosting District Event on Oct. 25
District Court
Appropriate Treatment Can Lick Mental Illness
Run, Punt, Pass Event Set Sunday
Dr. Gene Post Adjudicator For Upcoming Photo Show
Habitat for Humanity Picnic Lunch Held
Special Hearing On School Budget
DEATHS
Harold E. Larrabee
Donald L. Lindgren
Eunice Goad Dillard
Funerals
Fern Countryman
NEWS BRIEFS
LIFESTYLES
Rotary International Past Governors Visit
Xi Zeta Lambda Visits Missouri
Reception To Honor Gwins
Little News
'Be My Guest' Benefit in Tonkawa
RELIGION
Memorial Service Held for Mother Teresa
'Hope for Family' Coming to Hartford C of C
Church Briefs
Peckham Christian Church Plans Centennial Celebration Sunday
Former Citians Involved In Missionary Work in Florida
First Methodists To Hear Basler
St. Mary's Kateri Circle Plans Meet
Lamont Christians Set Service for Praise
Woodlands Christians Planning Fall Stewardship Campaign
United Methodist Men Plan Meeting
EDUCATION
Free Courses Offered
PC Schools Set Rules
School Notes
SPORTS
Cats Face Early Must-Win Game
Tonight's High School Football
In State Tournament Lady Cats Still Battling
In Regional
By MARK GALVIN
News Staff Writer
NEWKIRK - The Kay County Excise Board is looking for a way to give pay raises to county employees without inviting squabbles.
About to approve some $2.848 million to run county government this year, the board members are on the verge of achieving the "90-percent" budget they've wanted for several years.
The county's inability to keep a 10-percent budget reserve has prevented employees from being considered for pay raises during the last few years. And this year, even though the county will attain its budget goal, there's still not much available again for pay raises.
At Thursday's board meeting, money issues launched a rare public squabble between courthouse officers, some of whom seemed primarily intent to make sure County Clerk Pam Goodno didn't get any extra money to replace two of her retiring deputies.
Officers were disputing a recommended $7,200 next year for Goodno so she can hire and train two employees to be ready when two top deputy clerks retire next spring.
County Treasurer Pat Schieber, who performed a post-election political reorganization and salary shuffle in her office last year, cautioned the excise board that it would be "setting a precedent" by making funds available for training when other officers must simply train as they go.
The county commissioners already had deemed Goodno's request appropriate and included the $7,200 in their recommended budget to the excise board, explaining it made sense to include it because it could be projected at budget time.
And Goodno defended her request as "good management," basing it on her past performance of voluntarily cutting approximately $40,000 from the county clerk budget during the previous two years and working with the county leaders to try to save money.
"It's good management to train people to serve the public," Goodno said.
Excise board chairman Floyd Harden told the other officers it's best "not to compare your office with other officers because you don't know what the others' responsibilities are."
"We try to be fair to everybody rather than try to delve into every other officer's business," Harden said.
Court Clerk Glenda Coussens Emerson said, "I wouldn't consider myself a good courthouse officer if I didn't pay attention to what was going on in the rest of the courthouse."
All three excise board members said they were interested in a way to provide "fair and equitable" pay raises to county employees.
The county commissioners on Thursday amended their original recommendation so the budget could include a $50-a-month pay increase for some of the courthouse's low-end salaried employees, including two in Schieber's office.
The pay-approval issue gets complicated, however, because state law provides that each county office should be run individually by its elected officer.
The elected official can decide to be disproportionate with pay raises if she wants to, and there's no guarantee that excise board members' intentions to raise the salaries of the lower-end employees would be heeded by the officer once the extra money is provided.
The discrepancy is one reason why salaries among the county officers' top deputies here can vary by hundreds of dollars per month. And the board said some past officers' pay-raise habits are one reason for the county's recent trouble in attaining a 90-percent annual budget.
Excise board member Von Long said such budget issues have been a problem for a while, but the interoffice squabbling hasn't occurred much "until recently."
County Assessor Tresa Engle echoed the frustrations of both Goodno and the opposing officers, telling the board a county officer who tries to cut her budget to ease the burden on the board members risks "getting penalized."
After cutting her office staff from 14 to 10 employees, Engle saw changes in state law last year multiply her office's work load and she found herself with neither the staff nor the money to do the job required.
"By trying to work with the county, I actually hurt myself," Engle said. "But that's my own fault and I don't blame anybody."
Engle recommended an across-the-board percentage increase to county officers - "for fairness and equity" - whenever the county budget can afford it, and each officer can distribute pay raises as appropriate.
Otherwise, she said, "my people have to wait for someone to retire before they get a $25 raise "
County Commissioner Wayne Leven told the group, "We're fortunate that we're here arguing who can get a raise and who can't, because some (other Oklahoma) counties haven't had a pay raise in seven, eight, nine years."
The excise board postponed its decision to approve this year's budget until it reconvenes at 10 a.m. next Thursday at the courthouse.
NN has learned that adding to the excitement of Homecoming this weekend at OSU, and being a Cowboy Cheerleader, sophomore Nicole Stewart, daughter of Kenneth and Regina Smith of Ponca City, received another exciting adventure Thursday in the OSU ticket office where she works. Linda Cavanaugh from Channel 4 dropped by with her cameraman for a report on ticket sales for the Homecoming game with Colorado. In a call to her folks here last night to report the great news, NN understands Nicole groaned to her mother that it was "a bad hair day" - nevertheless, she came off well on the TV.
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For a full day of football, the Elks Lodge will host big screen viewing of the OU-Texas game (2 p.m.) and the OSU-Colorado game (6 p.m.). Hamburgers and hot dogs at half, calf fry and fish fry 6-8 p.m. and a dance 8-11 p.m. Call 765-4045 for reservations. Proceeds to lodge maintenance fund.
Pass School Bond Issue
Here we go again. On one hand we tell you that taxes are not good and that they are too high. Then we turn around and ask you to vote for a local bond issue. The apparent inconsistency is due, in part, to the nature and source of the taxes. It is also caused by the urgency. The school system is asking for a $3.3 million bond issue. Although we would prefer to find other ways of financing schools, there are no viable options now and the schools are in dire need of repair or replacement.
Taxation is a poor way of raising money. Local taxation is at least controllable. Unlike the federal version, we have direct access to those who are charged with spending the money. They are our elected officials and our friends and neighbors. If we have a question or a problem, they are easy to find.
We have enjoyed relatively low bonded indebtedness in our school system in the past decade, now we have to pay the price. Our buildings are deteriorating and our technology is way behind the times.
It is easy to cloud this issue with other concerns which aren't really relevant. This is not about curriculum or disagreements over methods of education in general. Those items are important, but they belong in a separate discussion. The plain fact is we need the improvements which have been proposed.
The high school must be expanded to make room for the 9th grade in a couple of years. The expansion was planned with the last bond issue, but was not finished due to the cost. There is little question about the need for improvements to the three grade schools, they are showing their age in many ways. The instrumental music and athletic program improvements may not rank with academics to some, but they are tremendously valuable for keeping students in school and building character and self esteem for many teenagers.
Safe transportation, included in the second question on which we will vote Tuesday, should speak for itself. Equipment and safety needs change and buses wear out. We will always need to find money to replace buses on a regular basis.
Throw out all the side issues and look at the current needs, then vote for the bond issues this Tuesday.
Studying Issues Important
A small group of high school parents met Tuesday with John Scroggins, assistant superintendent in charge of curriculum for the Ponca City Schools. The topic of conversation was school to work and several aspects of the meeting were very encouraging.
First and foremost, many of the parents were very knowledgeable about the schools and school to work. They had clearly been doing their homework for several years and understand the schools, the faculty and the curriculum. Institutions are made stronger when the citizens are involved and fully informed. We congratulate these parents for the time and effort they have expended.
We were also encouraged by the manner in which Scroggins handled the meeting. He was informative and open. Best of all, he listened to the comments and suggestions which were made. It is refreshing to see that the administration is willing to listen to all the arguments.
School to work has been surrounded by some hysteria, but most of the discussion we have seen has been spirited, not abusive. Those involved on both sides seem to be truly concerned for the students.
Although we don't support school to work, we are glad to see that it can be thoroughly discussed in many public venues so that informed decisions can be made.
Use Money Wisely
The school system is asking the Ponca City public to again give them more money. Why? So that the "package" can look better and delude the public into thinking the "product" is also better?
Come on, Ponca City! Don't allow yourselves to be so deluded! Whenever product quality is lacking, marketing experts compensate by focusing public attention on externals such as packaging techniques whether its a more colorful wrapping or a bigger, more cleverly shaped box.
When it comes to the education of our children, we cannot afford to be enticed by such superficiality. We need our kids to be cared about by this district, we need our kids to be challenged and inspired to learn by every teacher, we need programs that provide realistic training to insure our children can be productive adults and good citizens. The children do not need fancy "commons areas" and impressive buildings to become effective learners and competent thinkers.
The point needs to be made that if these administrators so preoccupied with improving buildings and creating "commons areas" for students to "hang out" in between classes would instead use that energy to write for true education grants and use that time to mentor, model, inspire, nurture, and supplement good teaching techniques in the current classrooms, true monuments within young people could be constructed, monuments that will pay rich dividends in a better America. Why does Ponca City want to give this school system more money to build structures that are an end in themselves. The needs of America's future will not be met by more buildings in the school system. Vote "No!" on this bond request and send a message that Ponca City does not support the direction the administration is taking with its time and our money.
No one would argue against monies being used for the essential maintenance of aging buildings. However, the administration's priorities are suspect when the maintenance scheduled in this upcoming bond took lower priority than the building of new structures with the money from the previous bond request.
Thomas Stoeckley, Ph.D.
Stop School to Work
Find your Sept. 29 Ponca City News and read Brian Harpster's intelligent explanation of the federal program called "School to Work" or STW, proposed to be imposed on our school children, our next generation of American citizens.
It gave me cold shivers.
Every child has a right to try and try and try to finish the 12th grade and everything I acquired in those 12 years has been of some use to me in my life in some way.
Thank God, Brian Harpster was ambitious enough to study the federal and state legislation and pass his findings on to us which I, for one, trust completely.
The very idea of making such a decision for a child of ninth grade (or under) is to revoke his freedom of choice.
Read the help wanted ads in the Ponca City News. There are a lot of jobs nobody wants, but can you imagine being forced into one, when we are supposed to be free to make our own choices?
Who knows what Einstein we might miss out on, or how many good teachers or scientists or engineers or inventors or doctors and so on who got steered away from higher education by "School to Work."
This is so frightening it scares me more than atomic warfare.
In fact, I could envision this as a return to slavery. Also, if it cut higher education from 40-50 percent down to 20 percent, how is our good old USA going to stay on top leading the world?
Frankly, I think we have seen our local vo-tech go downhill already, I think, doing away with some very practical courses which helped young men learn trades. Shamefully, we all get so busy supporting ourselves and Uncle Sam, we don't look enough into such matters.
Now Brian, or someone, tell us how to fight this totally unacceptable "thing."
Norma J. Allen
Editor's Note: National Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 5-11. The following is one of a series of articles providing fire safety and prevention information.
By PATTI PFEIFFER
News Staff Writer
Because fire prevention week is ending does not mean that fire safety and prevention ends with it. Both prevention and safety are necessary in order to reduce the number of fires, prevent injury and deaths and therefore should be practiced on daily basis.
The following is an Aetna Life and Casualty quiz to determine your fire education quotient.
1. What should you do if you awaken at night, find the bedroom door open and the room filled with smoke?
2. What should you do if you awaken at night, smell smoke and the bedroom door is closed, but hot to touch?
3. Will the clothes you are wearing burn?
4. If you are in a room on the fifth floor, and smoke is seeping under the door, what should you do?
5. When you stay with friends, or in an unfamiliar building, do you check for emergency exits or fire escapes?
6. Do you have a family escape plan which includes emergency exits if the normal exit is blocked by smoke or fire?
7. What should you do if food cooking in a frying pan catches fire?
8. How does the carbon monoxide produced by a fire affect your perception?
9. Why could an improperly chosen fuse cause a fire?
10. What information should you give the fire department when you call to report a fire?
11. After sending an alarm from a fire alarm box, what should you do?
12. Can you think of at least two conditions in which an electric cord is dangerous?
13. What action should you take if you find a large fire in your basement and there is a fire extinguisher nearby?
14. When you are trying to light a gas oven and the first match goes out before starting the burner, what should you do?
15. Why are wet hay, damp newspapers, or oily rags dangerous?
16. What can happen if gasoline is stored in a basement or garage with a poorly fitted container cover?
17. If an extension cord or the cord of an appliance started a fire what would you do?
18. What kinds of fires cannot be extinguished using water?
19. When and where should ashtrays be emptied?
20. What is the greatest cause of death relating to fire?
21. What device is most effective for detecting fire?
22. Should an elevator be considered a good fire escape route?
23. If you must exit from a room through a window which will not open what should you do?
24. What should you do if your clothes catch fire?
25. If you must use a smoky hallway to exit from a burning building, what should you do?
ANSWERS:
1. Roll out of bed. Close the door and stay near the floor to avoid smoke and fumes. Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth; alert others if possible. Crawl below the smoke to the most accessible exit and get out of the house, then call the fire department. Don't waste time collecting valuables or the family pet.
2. If the door is hot, don't open it. The fire is very near and opening the door will expose you to intense heat and smoke. Use clothing or whatever is available and cover the spaces around the door to keep out smoke. If a phone is available, call the fire department, but use the emergency exit as quickly as possible to leave the house.
3. Expect that everything you're wearing will burn. Lightweight, loose-fitting clothes burn most rapidly, so avoid cooking in clothes with floppy sleeves or those which fit loosely.
4. Seal the seams around the door to keep smoke out. Use the fire escape if there is one; if not stay close to the floor and call for help on the telephone. Open the top portion of the window just a few inches. If the room is smoky and breathing difficult, open the bottom of the window, put your head out to get fresh air and yell for help. Look for an alternate escape route.
5. It is always a good idea to know where building exits are located. In public buildings, people usually try to get out the way they came in, so knowing an alternate exit may get you out faster. If you are staying with friends, know two ways out, one without using the hallway.
6. You should have an escape plan which includes a pre-arranged meeting place.
7. Turn off the burner and extinguish the fire by covering the pan, throwing baking soda or salt on the fire, or by using an all purpose type ABC extinguisher. Don't use water.
8. Carbon monoxide distorts judgment, disturbs coordination, causes dizziness and nausea.
9. Wiring is designed to carry a predetermined electric power load and fuses are used in each circuit to protect against exceeding the design limit. If a fuse blows and one with a higher rating is substituted for the original, wiring will tend to overheat and could cause a fire.
10. The fire department needs complete address information. When you call, stay on the phone long enough to answer all questions the fire department may have. There should be no confusion about the street and town where your home is located. Memorizing the number of the local fire department will save additional time.
11. Stay at the alarm box to direct fire engines to the fire.
12. An electric cord is dangerous when frayed or cracked, hung over a nail, run under a rug or through a doorway, when wet, where it can be tripped on and when it is overloaded.
13. Never try to fight a large fire. Close the door to the fire area to confine it. Get everyone out of the house and call the fire department.
14. Turn the gas off and wait a few moments. Light another match, then turn the gas on.
15. Each has the potential to begin burning spontaneously. The decomposition process caused by dampness results in a chemical change which generates heat. If the heat is not dissipated, it can start a fire. Newspapers and oily rags should be thrown away. If you must store oily rags, they should be kept in a sealed metal container. Hay and grain should be dried before storing.
16. Gasoline fumes are heavier than air. Fumes from an improperly sealed container travel along the floor and could explode if they reach a source of ignition such as a furnace or space heater.
17. Use a dry chemical type ABC extinguisher to put the fire out. Disconnect the cord or appliance, either by pulling the plug or shutting off the power. Never use water to extinguish an electrical fire. Water conducts electricity and you could be electrocuted.
18. Water cannot be used effectively to extinguish grease or oil fires, large fires fueled by plastic material, or electrical fires.
19. Ashtrays should be emptied into a metal container with a tight fitting cover before you go to bed at night. It's also a good idea to check for cigarette butts which may have fallen behind the cushions of sofas and chairs where smokers were sitting.
20. Most fire-related deaths are caused by smoke and heat.
21. Your home should be equipped with a smoke detector since it is most likely to give you first warning of a fire.
22. Never try to use an elevator to escape a fire. In modern buildings after the fire alarm system is activated, elevators will return to the lobby and will not respond to call buttons. In older buildings, a call button activated by someone on the fire floor could stop your elevator and expose you to the fire. Know where the stairs are and use them in case of a fire.
23. Be sure the door is closed and sealed against smoke. Break the window with a drawer or chair and clean away the shards of glass. Go through the window feet first and sit on the ledge or roof until you can find another escape route or until help comes. If fire fighters bring a net for you to jump into, try to land in a sitting position.
24. If your clothes catch fire, don't run. Drop to the floor or ground immediately and roll. If a blanket, throw-rug or coat is in easy reach, not more than five or six steps, wrapping that around you will help smother the fire. Don't waste time, flames spread quickly.
25. Cover your mouth and nose, with a wet cloth if possible, crouch on your hands and knees and move along a wall. The freshest air will be close to the floor and that is where you should be.
Give yourself four points for every correct answer and if your score is
100-90: You know what to do in a fire emergency and escaped in time. You've got the fire safety idea.
89-80: You barely escaped, but you're catching on to fire safety. Brush up on areas you're uncertain about.
79-70: You are alive but singed, you're cutting it close. Some fire safety fundamentals are still hazy.
69 & below: Hope you pull through. While you still have a chance, cover this material again and improve the odds of staying alive.
Royal Neighbors of America, Camp No. 2377, Ponca City, will be hosting the Oklahoma District Convention on Oct. 25, 1997 at the Community Christian Church in Ponca City.
Registration will begin at 9 a.m. with the morning meeting scheduled to open at 10 a.m. A meal will be served at noon for a cost of $3, it was announced.
Those planning to attend should make reservation and payment by Oct. 15, 1997 with Marjorie Wilson, 5201 South Union Road in Ponca City.
The afternoon meeting will begin at 1 p.m., it was announced. For additional information, please contact Marietta Nelson at (405) 762-4311 or Marjorie Wilson at (405) 762-4019.
Blackwell
Divorces Sought
Charles Lattimer vs. Linda Lattimer.
Juanita M. Jackson vs. Patrick L. Jackson.
Newkirk
Marriage Licenses
Glen Dale Curtis Jr., 43, and Synthia Ren'ea Brotten, 39, both of Blackwell.
Divorces Granted
Elizabeth R. Bruner vs. Jack W. Bruner.
John Anthony Marchesoni vs. Gina Marcie Marchesoni.
Ponca City
Divorces Sought
Frankie Dellene Haney vs. Frank Marion Haney III.
April Renee Hopkins vs. Donald Lynn Hopkins.
Betty Lou Wood vs. Kim Arnold Wood.
Divorces Granted
Cassandra Lynn James vs. John W. James.
Florence Elizabeth Mills vs. George Chesley Mills III.
Carl Vernon Schuchman vs. Curri Allison Schuchman.
Annulment Granted
Dolly Ruth Horsley vs. Billy Jean Horsley Jr.
Editor's Note - This is Mental Illness Awareness Week. Edwin Fair Community Mental Health Center is making an effort to promote the prevention of mental illnesses during this time, using the theme, "Everybody needs a little help sometime."
Do people ever recover from a mental illness?
With appropriate treatment, as many as eight in 10 people suffering from mental illnesses can effectively return to normal, productive lives. The effective, specific medications and psychotherapies available today help patients combat and recover from the devastating effects of mental illnesses.
Antidepressant medications help bring these abnormalities into line and reverse the symptoms of depression in 80 to 90 percent of those receiving treatment. When psychotherapy is added to the treatment, these people can better cope with the social, emotional and vocational complications brought on by the illness.
Psychiatric treatment can bring relief to people with anxiety disorders. In treating phobic disorders, medications often are combined with behavior therapy, which exposes a patient to the source of his/her fear under controlled circumstances.
Schizophrenia, the most mysterious of the mental illnesses, also responds well to treatment. Researchers have found that the brains of some people suffering from schizophrenia have abnormalities in the biochemical or physical structure. Although there is no cure, medications can alleviate the severe symptoms of hallucinations and delusions that are the hallmarks of schizophrenia.
Only 20 percent of those who take medications for schizophrenia will suffer relapse within two years of being discharged from a psychiatric hospital. Once the psychoses are under control, psychotherapy helps patients understand their illness and learn to distinguish reality from distorted perceptions. Many people suffering from schizophrenia can return to the community.
For more information about mental illnesses, their causes and treatment, contact Edwin Fair Community Mental Health Center, 1500 North Sixth in Ponca City 74601; (405) 762-7561.
Registration begins at noon, Sunday for the Jaycees annual Run, Punt and Pass competition which starts promptly at 1 p.m. at Sullins Stadium says Kim Williams, Jaycee RPP Chairman.
Admission for participants and spectators is free. Run, Punt and Pass gives youth the opportunity to test their basic football skills - running, punting and passing - against other children their age in a friendly competition. The annual Run, Punt and Pass competition for Ponca City and surrounding communities is for youth through age 13. The contests will be held in eight age groups including Under 7; and a division for each age through 13.
The awards ceremony will be held immediately following the competitions between 3:30 and 4 p.m.
Two youths from each age group may attend the Oklahoma State Run, Punt and Pass competition in Fredrick on Oct. 25. State qualifiers will receive an Oklahoma Team T-Shirt and free tickets to a Po-Hi home football game, where they will be introduced to spectators during half-time.
Regulation football cleats are allowed in the competition but metal spikes are prohibited. Youths who want to compete bare-footed do so at their own risk.
For more information about Run, Punt, and Pass or about the Ponca City Jaycees, call the Jaycee Hotline at 762-4697.
By KATHY ZEHR
News Staff Writer
Dr. Gene Post has been selected as adjudicator for the upcoming photography art exhibit and competition sponsored by the Ponca City Art Association. The exhibit will open Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Ponca City Art Center with a reception for Mr. Post and the competing photographers. The public and all Art Association members are encouraged to attend.
Post, a self-taught photographer, has been an instructor for the past 10 years in the department of journalism and broadcasting at Oklahoma State University. He has been a serious amateur and part-time commercial photographer since 1948.
He began his career, as a college student, working for the college newspaper and taking wedding and baby pictures to supplement his income.
Post has taught in the classroom and served as a media specialist and administrative photographer for the Oklahoma City public schools. He received his doctoral degree from OSU in 1965 and became an educational media and technology professor in the college of education until 1986.
Since the late 1970s his interests have been in fine art photography as wall decor. His works have been exhibited in one-man shows in both Oklahoma and California and he has sold his works through local art festivals, where he has also won numerous awards.
He recently served as judge for the "Rocky Mountain Outdoor Writers and Photographers Association" annual photography competition.
Post says he sells most of his works in color, but his personal preference is black and white photography. One of the current projects of the Stillwater resident is to print the best of his 48 years of black and white images to show in a recent art gallery engagement.
The Photography Art Exhibit will hang at the Ponca City Art Center through Oct. 26, 1997. Chairmen for the event are Richard M. Tillman and Dr. Glenn M. Cope.
The Ponca City Art Center, 819 East Central, is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is free. For more information about the photography show, art classes, or membership, call 765-9746 during business hours.
The Ponca City Area Habitat for Humanity Chapter recently held a picnic lunch at Lake Ponca Park to celebrate the success of the local program to build homes with volunteer labor for families who could not otherwise afford to purchase one.
Guests included families presently living in the completed homes, families now earning "Sweat Equity Hours" and several volunteer on-site workers, as well as officers of the Habitat Board of Directors.
Kevin Goldman, local vocalist presented musical entertainment for the picnic.
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit ecumenical Christian housing ministry. Anyone interested in serving as a board member, committee member, construction helper or volunteering in any other way is encouraged to call 765-2974.
Persons interested in learning how to acquire a Habitat For Humanity home may call 765-2974 or make a request to P.O. Box 2211, Ponca City, OK 74602.
The Ponca City Public Schools will be holding a Public Budget Hearing Monday from 6 to 6:30 p.m. at the Administration Building located at 111 West Grand. The regular October board meeting will follow directly at 6:30 p.m.
State law requires Board of Educations to schedule a public hearing for the purpose of taking public comment on the proposed budget. The final operating budget for the district will be approved at the Nov. 10 board meeting.
The public is invited to attend.
DEATHS
BLACKWELL - Harold E. "Bud" Larrabee, longtime Blackwell resident, died Thursday morning, Oct. 9, 1997, at St. Mary's Hospital in Enid. He was 76.
The funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Blackwell First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Charles Ryser, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the Blackwell Cemetery under the direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home. Members of the Blackwell American Legion and VFW will present the Flag Ceremony.
Harold E. "Bud" Larrabee was born Feb. 13, 1921, in Blackwell to Arch E. and Gladys (Patterson) Larrabee. He lived in Blackwell as a small child before moving with his family to Carmen and Cherokee. They then returned to Blackwell where he attended Blackwell Public Schools. Following graduation in 1940, he was called into active service duty with the 45th Division National Guard Unit and served in military service during World War II.
He was married to Ima Jean Boals on April 4, 1942, in Abilene, Texas. Following his discharge he returned to Blackwell and operated the Phillips 66 bulk plant for 13 years. He was then employed with Kay Electric Cooperative as a meter technician until his retirement in 1983. Larrabee was a member of the Blackwell First United Methodist Church, where he served on the Board of Trustees and was a member of the Friendship Bible School Class. He was also a member of the Chikaskia Lodge 109.
Survivors include his wife, Jean Larrabee of Blackwell; one son, Don E. of Shawnee; and one grandson. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Max.
Casket bearers will be Dolton Rogers, Leo Sheets, Russ Quinn, Winifred Haney, Roy Heldenbrand and Frank Houck.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Larrabee's name to the First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, c/o Roberts Funeral Home, 120 West Padon, Blackwell, OK 74631.
Donald L. Lindgren, Ponca City resident, died Wednesday morning, Oct. 8, 1997, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. He was 66.
A memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, 1997, at the Trout Funeral Home Chapel with Dick Robinson, Chaplain of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, officiating.
Donald L. Lindgren was born Oct. 17, 1930, in Minneapolis, Minn., to Ernest and Donna (Helberg) Lindgren. He grew up in Minneapolis and attended schools there. Lindgren served in the U.S. Army for 11 years and was a veteran of the Korean War. Following his discharge, he returned to Minneapolis and was employed with the corrections department.
On March 9, 1968, he married Ramona Barabasz in Watertown, S.D. and the couple moved to Ponca City in 1980. He was employed with Evans and Associates until his retirement in 1988. He enjoyed photography, electronics and traveling. Lindgren was a member of the American Legion.
He is survived by his wife, Ramona, of the home; two daughters, Lorraine Lindgren of Minneapolis, Minn., and Joan Michele Christensen of Coolidge, Ariz.; one son, Mike Lindgren of Minneapolis, Minn.; one brother, Chuck Lindgren of Minneapolis, Minn.; two sisters, Helen Johnson and Betty Stensrude, both of Minneapolis, Minn.; two grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, two sons, Joseph and Marc, preceded him in death.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, Kay County Unit, c/o First National Bank and Trust, P.O. Box 1151, Ponca City, OK 74602, or to the American Diabetes Association, c/o Pioneer Bank and Trust, attn. Paula Coppock, P.O. Box 111, Ponca City 74602.
The family will be at 126 South Elm Street.
FAIRFAX - Eunice Goad Dillard, longtime Fairfax resident, died Thursday morning, Oct. 9, 1997, at her home. She was 79.
The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, 1997, at the Fairfax First Christian Church with the Rev. George Weston officiating. Burial will be in the Fairfax Cemetery under the direction of Hunsaker-Wooten Funeral Home.
Eunice (Goad) Dillard was born Nov. 14, 1917, in Tuttle, the daughter of James and Irene (Fields) Goad. She attended Fairfax schools.
She was married to Austin Dillard in June 1933, in Middle Enterprise, Okla., and the couple established their home in Fairfax. Mrs. Dillard was employed through the years at Austin's Cafe and at the Harrell's and Maxie's grocery stores. She was a member of the Fairfax Christian Church. Mrs. Dillard enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.
Survivors include one son, James Austin Dillard of Cleveland, Okla.; one brother, Jimmy Goad of Cushing; three grandchildren; six great-grandsons; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband on Oct. 27, 1965; one daughter Louise Looney; her parents; two sisters Dolly Weaver and Linnie Holman; and one brother Gene Goad.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Dillard's name to Home Health Care, c/o Fairfax Memorial Hospital, P.O. Box 219, Fairfax, OK 74637-0219.
The family will be at the Dillard home to receive friends and family.
Saturday
Fern Countryman - Funeral to be held in at chapel at Ponca City
First Baptist Church at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be at Longwood Cemetery under
the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.
NEWS BRIEFS
Legion Pancake Feed Set - American Legion Pancake and Sausage Feed (all the pancakes you can eat) is set for Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at 407 West South Avenue. Cost is $3 for adults, $1.50 for children under 12 and free for children under 6. Proceeds will go to the Children and Youth Activities.
JOM Meeting Set - JOM Meeting set for tonight (Friday) at 6 p.m. at the Ponca Tribal Cultural Center. Parents are welcome.
Flu Shots - Flu shots will be available at Albertson's Pharmacy, 2005 North Fourteenth, Suite 110, Oct. 17 and 18 from 10 a.m., to 6 p.m., and Oct. 19, from noon until 4 p.m. Also the shots will be available Nov. 7 and 8 from 10 a.m., to 6 p.m., and Nov. 9, noon until 4 p.m. The flu shots are free for patients with Medicare Plan B. Otherwise the shots are $10.
Theft - A man in the 1700 block of Leslie Lane reported to police at 8:37 a.m. Thursday that his vehicle had been broken into and his stereo stolen. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Accident - Police received a report of a vehicle accident at North Fourth Street and East Broadway Avenue at 8:39 a.m. Thursday. One person was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. A report was taken.
Arrest - A 29-year-old woman was arrested at 1:04 p.m. Thursday for expired insurance, expired tag, no insurance and driving under suspension.
Arrest - Police arrested a 45-year-old man at 3:28 p.m. Thursday to serve time for the court.
Arrest - A 39-year-old man was arrested at 5:25 p.m. Thursday from the 800 block of South Third Street for possession of drug paraphernalia, improper license plate, altering a tag and failure to pay taxes due to state.
Accident - A two car accident was reported to police at 6:19 p.m. Thursday in the 600 block of South Fourteenth Street. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Fire - Two fire units responded to an oven fire in the 100 block of South Pine Street at 1:38 a.m. Friday. The fire was extinguished.
Arrest - At 1:51 a.m. Friday police arrested a 48-year-old man on a city warrant for failure to appear.
Cat Theft - A woman in the 3200 block of North Fourteenth Street
reported to police at 2:22 a.m. Friday that her cat had been stolen. An
officer was assigned.
LIFESTYLES
Rotary International past governors from six states spent an extended weekend in Ponca City this past week. The 13 governors and spouses headquartered at the Marland Estate Hotel.
The occasion was a fifth anniversary reunion of the Rotary leaders who served together in 1992-93 from the same Rotary zone. States represented included Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas.
Ponca Citians Larry and Virginia Stephenson, who served with the group in Rotary leadership, attracted the members to the four-day reunion at the Marland Estate facilities and were hosts for a cook-out at their home one evening. Stephenson is chairman of the Marland Estate Commission.
Highlights of the long weekend included golf at both the municipal course and the Ponca City Country Club, and attendance at the Poncan Theatre production of "Mr. Roberts," as well as luncheons and dinners at several of Ponca City's restaurants. Additionally, the governors met with the Ponca City Centennial Rotary Club on Friday Afternoon.
The group also enjoyed tours of the Marland Mansion, the Cultural Center Museums, and the Ponca City Library. Other highlights included the Oktoberfest and a tour of the Tall Grass Prairie. Visits to Centennial Plaza with its 6,500 personalized bricks, DAR fountain and Centennial statue also were of interest. Ponca City Rotarians gave leadership to the creation of the plaza during the Cherokee Strip Centennial celebration in 1993.
Stephenson said, "Our group had a fantastic time. What better place is there in the south part of the country to have truly outstanding conference center accommodations with such varied entertainment facilities? None!"
Xi Zeta Lambda Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority met Oct. 2 at the home of Terri Barnett with 15 members and guest, Jill Sims, present. Roll call was answered with "gift wishes." Francie James gave the treasurer's report and Lila Logan gave the Executive Board report.
A report was given by 10 members who traveled to Carthage, Mo. Sept. 27-28 to visit the Precious Moments Chapel. Members of the Social Committee will meet in the home of Phyllis Pledger to finalize plans for decorating at the Oct. 25 Halloween party.
Francie James presented gifts from the chapter to Lila Logan for last year's "Best Program" and to Melva Keen, past president. The traveling basket provided by Phyllis Pledger was won by Ms. Logan.
The next regular meeting will be Oct. 16 at the home of Ms. Pledger. Sue Robertson will be in charge of the program.
Mr. and Mrs. John Gwin of Fort Pierce, Fla., former residents of Ponca City, will be honored with a reception Oct. 12 in observance of their 50th wedding anniversary. Friends and family will attend the event at the Ponca City Cultural Center 1:30-4 p.m. The couple requests no gifts. Mrs. Gwin has a sister and several other relatives residing in Ponca City.
Hosts for the event will be their son and daughter-in-law, Johnny and Donna Gwin. Grandchildren who will attend are Eugina Gwin Zuber, Deann Gwin Payton, Scott Payton and John Robert Gwin, all of Tulsa, and Michelle Moss of Springfield, Mo. Great-grandchildren present will be Alesha Zuber, Sammy and Brian Payton of Tulsa. Unable to attend will be the honorees' daughter, son-in-law and son, Janelle and Dan Halm and Ricky.
John Gwin and the former Lucille Wilkerson were united in marriage Oct. 14, 1947 in Tulsa and made their first home at Cleveland. He served with the U. S. Navy for 3 1/2 years and was employed with Bell Telephone for 25 years. Mrs. Gwin was employed with Safeway for seven years.
In 1968, Mr. Gwin transferred with Bell to Orlando, Fla. and later to Fort Pierce. In 1972 they moved to Mannford, Okla. where he owned a trucking business and she attended cosmetology school. Mrs. Gwin owned a beauty shop in Tulsa and taught. In 1991, following his retirement, they returned to Florida. His hobbies are electronics and reading and hers include crocheting, painting and reading.
Scott and Kimberly Kulczycki, 11891 Richter Road, Burbank, announce the birth of a son Sept. 27, 1997 at Stillwater Medical Center. He weighed 9-pounds, 5-ounces and was 22-inches long. The baby has been named Joshua Douglas Kulczycki.
Maternal grandparents are J. Douglas and Jane Ann King of Clarkston, Mich. and paternal Grandparents are Sandra Kulczycki and Randy Post of Ponca City and Richard Kulczycki of Arizona.
Great-grandparents are Jessie and Ed Wines, Virginia and Ralph King of Gas City, Ind., Jean Kulczycki of Hamtramack, Mich., Imajeane LeMonnier of Ponca City and the late Guy LeMonnier.
Tanner Wade Farley is the name selected by Malinda and Joe Farley of Lawton for their son born at 12:55 p.m. Sept. 22, 1997 at Comanche County Memorial Hospital in Lawton. The baby weighed 8-pounds, 3-ounces and was 23 1/2-inches long.
Maternal grandparents are Keith and Sue Behara of Ponca City and paternal grandparents are Scott and Brenda Farrington of Tonkawa.
Great-grandparents are Bernard Behara of Ponca City, Bessie Farley of Tonkawa, the late Claudine Behara, the late Lorene and Charles Hill and the late Frank Farley.
Innovative ideas for creating beautiful table settings will be displayed at the fifth annual "Be My Guest" event in Tonkawa from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $3.50 per person at the door, and children under 12-years-old must be accompanied by an adult.
Approximately 50 small tables in the Service Bank Community Room, 111 East Grand, and First National Bank of Oklahoma Annex, 107 South Main, will feature settings for a variety of dining occasions including luncheon, supper, dinner, party, holiday and novelty. Styles range from the formal, complete with heirloom china and crystal, to contemporary casual, incorporating paper and plastic products. Novel centerpieces and other table accessories will enhance the settings.
Throughout the afternoon musical entertainment will be provided in the Community Room. Refreshments will be served in the First National Bank Annex.
The admission price includes entry to both display sites, refreshments, a descriptive souvenir booklet and the opportunity to register for the door prize, a large hand-painted china vase.
The Tonkawa Historical Society is sponsoring the event to raise funds
for various projects, including maintaining the Tonkawa Centennial Park
and the McCarter Museum of Tonkawa History.
RELIGION
A memorial Mass honoring Mother Teresa of Calcutta, India, was held during the school Mass at St. Mary's Church, Ponca City, on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 1997. Mother Teresa, a Catholic sister, was known around the world for her dedication to serving the poorest of the poor. Associate Pastor, the Rev. Bosco Pudhota, a native of India, con-celebrated the Mass with Fr. Scott Adams, former associate pastor at St. Mary's Church.
A banner stating simply, "Works of Love are Works of Peace", made by students at St. Mary's School, decorated the front of the altar. A large framed portrait of Mother Teresa sat on an easel to the side.
During the homily, Fr. Scott offered some thoughts about Mother Teresa and roused the interest of the children with questions about her work with the poor.
The offertory procession was fashioned after Mother Teresa's funeral Mass in that eight gifts representing various aspects of Mother Teresa's work in India and around the world were presented at the altar. The students of the second grade class, prepared by their teacher, Sister Mary Clare Doebel, CSJ (Sisters of St. Joseph), were responsible for presenting the eight gifts. Students from the upper grades read the prayers of the faithful, taken verbatim from the funeral Mass.
The first gift presented was a picture of the Immaculate Heart of Mary "because it was through her intercession that the society of the missionaries of Charity was born." Second, a candle representing "the light of love lit by Mother Teresa to dispel the darkness of poverty, hatred, and division" was presented. The third gift, a bunch of flowers, symbolized "the abandoned children all over the world." The fourth gift, which Mother Teresa used to describe herself, was a pencil. She said, "I am God's pencil, a tiny bit of pencil with which He writes what He likes." This gift was to remind us that "All of us are but His instruments who do our little bit and pass by." Water, the fifth gift, represented the thirst that every human being has, "not just for water, but for love and freedom because we are created as free people." The sixth gift, wine was offered for "the pain and suffering of our poor, sick and dying lepers." With the next gift of bread, the prayer was "May we always remember to accord due respect to the handicapped. Feed the hungry not just with bread but with dignity, and recognize Christ in the Eucharist and in the poor."
The eighth and final gift was an empty chalice. It symbolized "the emptiness of our hearts, the sight of our beloved Mother's physical presence among us."
A favorite motto that Mother Teresa tried to live up to was "Do small things with great love." Her "small things" focused the world's attention on the poorest of the poor. She not only founded the Missionaries of Charity, but earned the highest honors and awards, including the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize for her work with the world's outcasts. The Missionaries of Charity currently work in 120 countries around the world. Mother Teresa died Sept. 5, 1997 at the age of 87.
"Hope for Life's Journey" is coming to the Hartford Avenue Church of Christ, 1905 Joe Street during the week of Oct. 19 through 22, featuring Glenn Owen and his formula for "fixing fractured families."
Services are scheduled 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday, and 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. The public is invited to attend this free seminar and child care will be provided.
Reared in Littlefield, Texas where his parents were cotton farmers, Owen began preaching at Needmore, Texas while he was still a junior in high school. He finished high school in 1954 and attended Abilene Christian University, Midwestern University and received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Abilene Christian University in 1993.
He has been married to Marlene Mueller since June 8, 1956 and they have three children and three grandchildren. Owen has served churches in Fargo, Iowa Park and Eastridge, near Ft. Worth, all in Texas. He has done missionary work in Sao Paulo, Brazil, supported by the Eastridge Church of Ft. Worth. He is founder and speaker on daily radio program "Abra Sua Biblia" in Portuguese, Spanish and English. He has established 25 plus congregations and served as a bush pilot for missionaries.
Owen founded a Mexican radio program, owned self-service car washes and at the present time owns Copy Stop of Abilene, a quick print/copy store. An accomplished author, he has published "Adventure of Bible Study: in English, Ukrainian and Russian, "Came the Prophets" and provided tapes and extended study notes for the study of the Gospels.
An elder in the Highland Church of Christ, he speaks three foreign languages and has preached in 19 countries in three languages - noting his hobby is language study.
Ponca Citians are invited to hear Owen as he talks about the family and how to "save your family" at Hartford Avenue Church of Christ. For more information, call the church office at 765-3610.
POP Lutherans Set Pastor Appreciation
The POP Oktoberfest booth was a big success, according to members of the church, and the Oktoberfest committee thanks everyone who helped out with the serving - it was a lot of fun and fellowship, the group reports.
The youth of the church are planning a "Friends and Family Hot Dog Dinner and Hay Rack Ride" for Saturday, Nov. 1. The youth are to meet at the home of Bambi Correll this Friday night at 7 to make plans.
The Tables of Eight groups will meet Saturday, Oct. 18. All hosts will be calling their dinner guests to coordinate the meal and set the time.
Prince of Peace wishes a "happy birthday" this week to Paul
Davis, Kendall and Coleman Dunn, and Samuel Flowers.
First Methodist Women Set October Meeting
The UMW of the First United Methodist Church will hold the October meeting Thursday, Oct. 16, at 1 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Virginia Bracken will review the book, "The Story of John Wesley's Sisters", about the sister in search of love.
Members of the Asbury Group will serve as hostesses and bring the devotions.
The UMW Unit will be host church for the Church Women United when World
Community Day is observed on Friday, Nov. 7 at 9:30 a.m.
First Lutheran LWML Plans Fall Rally
Members of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) of First Lutheran Church will participate in the Ponca City Zone LWML fall rally on Saturday, Oct. 11 in Perry at Christ Lutheran Church. Registration begins at 9 a.m., and closing devotions are set for 2:45 p.m.
LWML members will discover how God in His word tells us to "Live in the Light." They will be celebrating the fellowship He gives to His children of light.
Ponca City members will be bringing handmade quilts and blankets, as well as health, school, and sewing kits; layettes, soap, and sweaters that will be distributed by Lutheran World Relief worldwide.
Attending from Ponca City will be Dorothy Doering, Judy Volz, Nanette
Hill, Gina Laramy, Diana Vaughan, Susan Brunkow, Marilyn Laramy, Marilyn
Cook, Barbara Mayer, and Marcella Matthews.
CROP Walk Set Sunday
It's time for the CROP Walk - Sunday, Oct. 12, beginning at 2:30 p.m. from the First Presbyterian Church, giving Ponca Citians an opportunity to demonstrate their concern and care for those in the world who do not have the opportunity to sit down to three meals a day (plus snacks).
The walk is 10 kilometers long *a bit over 6 miles) and sponsors pay the walkers an amount per kilometer, per mile, or just a lump sum amount. The funds collected are then given to Church World Service to feed the hungry in the world. A portion of the funds raised are also given to local community agencies for hunger relief.
There will be a shorter route for those who find the six-mile route excessively challenging.
By gathering financial support and by walking this Sunday, folks can
be providing a single meal a day for people who are far less fortunate than
themselves. Do it! You'll be glad you did.
Harold Prough to Present Workshop at Conference
The National Missionary Conference of Independent Christian Churches will convene Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 9-12, in Tulsa. Eastern Heights Christian Church Pastor Harold Prough will present a 20' display and a workshop on "Your Church Can Give 50 Percent for Missions".
Helen and Eugene Morse from the Thailand mission field will be in attendance, as well as members of Eastern Heights, Ponca City. Local worship service will be conducted by Mark Berry, assistant minister.
Eastern Heights has contributed one and one-half million dollars during
the past 30 years for the complete maintenance of missions in South Africa
and Thailand, representing almost 50 percent of the church budget.
Community Christian Youth Orchestra Plays Sunday
Sunday the Community Christian Youth Orchestra will play in worship service, providing accompaniment for the opening hymn, "Come, Christians Join to Sing:" and providing special music for the morning service.
Musicians are James Barraclough, Molly Baugh, Candace Benson, Marie Brown, Caroline Buck, Brandi Combes, Tim Connelly, Megan Connelly, Andy Cooper, Kristi Copeland, Brianne Davis, Lauren Detten, Natalie Dillahunty, Morgan Farquharson, Maggie Garino, Hallie Godbehere, Cherokee Gossage, Paula Hart, Ben Hay, Brianna Hermanson, Charlcy Hermanson, Lance Johnson, Cindy Jones, Mindy Jones, Cathy Latimer, Darci McIntyre, Katherine Paschal, Jeremy Ross, James Sinton, Susan Taylor and Reona Walling.
They are accompanied by pianist Anne-Marie Webster and directed by David
Webster.
The folks at Peckham Christian Church will observe their Centennial Celebration this Sunday, Oct. 12, 1997 with a worship service at 10:45 a.m., followed at noon by a basket dinner and afternoon program of visitation. The public is invited to join with them for the celebration.
The Peckham Christian Church was organized Feb. 1, 1897 in the Liberty School house located in section southeast of Peckham. The thirteen charter members were J.W. and Mrs. Bowman, R.E. Bowman, J. and Mrs. Jeter, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Mounce, Sam Mounce, Mr. and Mrs. K.D. Olin, Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Watt and Mrs. Si Witt. All of these charter folks have gone on - the last one, Sam Mounce was 99 years, 10 months and five days old on June 5, 1955 when he died.
At the time they organized, the group decided to attempt to erect a church building and started collecting funds. Lee Allen was the carpenter in charge, assisted by K.D. Olin. The site, donated by Roe Browning, was the southeast corner of section east of Peckham. The membership gathered at Christmas following the building of the new church to celebrate - that was December 1897.
By the year 1899 the membership had grown to 64, and in 1907 the church was able to purchase the bell that now rings, and during the pastorate of F.H. Shaul, 1941-47 they were able to install electricity. Through the years they have been able to remodel, adding spires, each bearing a cross, annexed a frame rural school building, installed heating units, instigated the sunrise Easter service, and received a building from Frisco Railroad for their educational building. The church became incorporated in 1965.
Their first homecoming was held in 1939 in cooperation with the Methodist Church. There have been 60 ministers during the years, and the current pastor is Curtis Mason, who came on the field June 15 of this year.
For more information, folks may call Elaine Fulton at 362-1210.
Editor's Note: Former Ponca Citians, Tim and Stephanie (Patterson) Hodges, are busy with the activities of the First Baptist Church in Orlando, Fla. where they are now living. This is an account of a missionary trip taken recently by Stephanie.
By Marjorie C. Decker
Religion Editor
The First Church of Orlando, where Tim and Stephanie (Patterson) Hodges are now members, has a couple of missionaries in Wales, establishing and nurturing churches. Stephanie writes that the churches in Wales are very inactive and poorly attended, and those who attend are rarely involved in the activities of the church. She was fortunate enough to be part of the cast of the dramatic musical presentation her church took to Wales recently.
It was at the suggestion of local leaders, along with their missionaries to Wales, that the Orlando church might present their Easter presentation, "The Light" at Saint David's Hall in Cardiff, Wales.
Stephanie relates their annual performances over the Easter season in Orlando have more than 30,000 in attendance and they usually have close to 1,000 professions of faith at that time. The effectiveness of the pageant made the trek to Wales seem the right thing to do.
Three hundred or so volunteers (choir, dramatists and technicians) made the trip to Cardiff, Wales this past June for the presentation. They were housed with families in the area, who provided shelter, food and transportation to the auditorium, and as Stephanie says, were truly a blessing.
She stayed with the Rev. Ray and Linda Thomas (he had previously been an accountant - and a minister for only 11 months at the time). His wife, Linda was a nurse who had to resign from her profession due to a back injury at 27 that caused her to walk with a cane or travel in a wheelchair. "They were pure gold," Stephanie says.
"This trip was such a blessing to all of us who participated. We had the opportunity to make such a difference in the lives of so many who really had lost their way and had very few churches to chose from to find their way back. They have sold many local churches to commercial practices over the years - no congregations, therefore no services," Stephanie reported.
The group made seven performances while in Wales and played to an attendance of close to 14,000 people - unheard-of sell outs, they were told. To the group from Florida, it was an indication of the enormous need for the Word of God, the desire and curiosity about the story of Jesus Christ and for salvation.
Stephanie says that just writing about the experience, she gets excited all over again about the whole experience. "I did not realize what God had planned for me when I was simply looking forward to singing in the choir during Sunday services," she relates. She adds, Tim and I have really enjoyed our church here and being active. "I never knew the difference being active makes."
She and Tim teach third grade boys and girls in the Sunday School and Steph sings in the choir. Last year they went to the four villages on The Amazon River in Brazil, and she helps in the Wee Care department once a month, watching the babies. Since becoming active in the church, Stephanie says she is more conscious about the needs of others and how she can help - her and TIm find their four-year marriage is stronger because it is now Christ-centered.
Getting back to the Wales experience, Stephanie said after each performance the actors and choir members, all still in costume, greeted those attending, and often members of the audience told them about their profession of faith.
One of the cast members met a gentleman during the presentation in the entryway. He was standing outside while his wife, a Christian, was inside watching the play. The man was not a Christian and did not want to see the play, but was there in support of his wife. After a brief talk with one of the cast members, he broke down and made a profession of faith.
The presentation of "The Light" also touched a Welchman who joined the group on the set construction. After watching the group rehearse many times, he also made a profession of faith. What started as a job for him, turned into salvation, and touched the cast in many ways, Stephanie reports.
Stephanie had the opportunity while in Wales to accompany a local pastor to an elementary school assembly. She was asked to address the children about why she was in Wales and what the group's presentation was about. She had a fun time with spelling with the boys and girls, leading into the John 3:16 scripture, and at the end of her time with them, she says there were a number of professions of faith.
The last two days of the trip the group went to London, caught their breath and created some lasting relationships. In London she got to see Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the Changing of the Guard at the Palace and had her picture taken with a local Bobbie.
Stephanie reports their choir will begin rehearsing soon for the "Singing Christmas Trees" for Christmas. There are two trees, four stories high in which beautiful, inspirational, music is sung for more than an hour and a short sermon is given. She is looking forward to this new opportunity.
Tim has been ordained as a Deacon in the Florida church just recently, and Stephanie reports they are ready for what opportunities this will provide.
Tim is the son of Grant and Deanna Hodges of Ponca City, and Stephanie is the younger daughter of Ira and Delorus Patterson of Norman, formerly of Ponca City.
The Rev. Stan Basler will be in the pulpit at First United Methodist Sunday for Laity Sunday, it was announced this week. He will be speaking at the morning worship service, using as his sermon title, "Blessed Are."
In the arena of prison ministry, Basler was appointed Conference Director of Criminal Justice and Mercy Ministries in June of 1994, according to the Rev. Denny Hook, pastor at First United Methodist. He served as Associate Pastor of First United Methodist of Muskogee from August 1990 to June 1994.
As a practicing lawyer, he represented adults and juveniles in the legal system. As a County Commissioner, he worked with the planning of a new jail, jail administrative and correctional issues, and community corrections alternatives.
In Muskogee, he was involved in ministry to prison populations at Eddie Warrior Correctional Center, Jess Dunn Correctional Center and the Muskogee Community Correctional Center. While he was president of Muskogee Cooperative, that organization forged a partnership ministry with the Muskogee area probation and Parole office.
He has served on four men's Kairos Prison Ministry teams in Oklahoma and has been spiritual director for three of them. The Rev. Mr. Basler is also an approved trainer of volunteers for Prison Fellowship Ministries and is presently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree at St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Mo.
He is also chair of the Oklahoma Conference of Churches Criminal Justice and Corrections Task Force, a member of the Justice fellowship task force and a member of the interfaith Commission on Prison Ministry. He is co-pastor of Redemption Church, a church fellowship of prisoners, ex-prisoners, and their families.
This month's meeting of St. Mary's Kateri Circle will be on Thursday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m. in the McGurk Room of St. Mary's Parish Center, 408 South Eighth. You are invited to share your favorite covered dish and enjoy the evening.
Following the meal the group will be viewing a video entitled "Circle of the Spirit: a Saga of Native Americans in the Catholic Church."
This film tells of the tensions that have existed between Catholic beliefs and traditional ways and what is taking place today. Archbishop Charles Chaput (Potowatomi), Archbishop of Denver, shares his insights.
There are over 126 Kateri Circles throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. The circles are local chapters of the National Tekakwitha Conference whose mission is to support the harmonious union of Catholic and native ways. The members also pray for the canonization of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha (Mohawk) whose life reflected the heights of holiness obtainable through this balancing of spiritualities. After all, the ancient ways are to respect the sacredness of life and all of creation, pray always, share with those in need and forever be thankful to God for all the gifts and blessings one has received.
These are basic elements of the Christian life found in the Scriptures and Catholic Tradition, it was noted.
Harvest is over and planting is coming to an end, and the Rev. Ruth Tipps, pastor of the Lamont First Christian Church is calling the folks together to give God the praise.
She reminds folks they have been blessed with an abundant harvest, an indication of God's faithfulness and the church is now calling farmers and others who live in this rural community to together in the spirit of thanksgiving and praise.
To indicate their thankfulness, The First Christian Church of Lamont is starting a six-week series called The Gathering - opening with a special Rural Prayer Service on Oct. 19 and ending on Thanksgiving Sunday.
Schedule for the Gathering will be: Oct. 19, A Thankful Harvest, Psalm 103, II Cor. 9:1-15, followed by a Grateful Fellowship Dinner; Oct. 26, The Harvest of Forgiveness, Col. 3:1-17; Nov. 2, The Harvest of Grace, Eph. 2:1-10 and Nov. 9, The Harvest of Fellowship, Eccles. 4:9-12.
Also Nov. 16, A Thankful Heart, Matt. 25:14-30 and Nov . 23, The Celebration of Thanksgiving, Psalms 100.
The church will be adorned with a beautiful fall banner and display, according to the Rev. Tipps, and a six-week prayer calendar and special rural life devotions will be distributed to members.
ETA is the name of Woodlands Christian Church's fall stewardship campaign. Like Olympic runners of old, Christians strive for victory, mastery over themselves, service to Christ, and the crown of everlasting life, explains the Rev. Paul M. Kruger, minister at Woodlands.
A successful ETA relay will depend heavily on enthusiastic participation by every member of Woodlands, he points out. The ETA relay is based upon those scriptures in the Bible which relate the Christian life to a race to be run. Racing was an immensely popular sport in ancient times. Olympic events in track and field were held at Athens, near Corinth, and in Jerusalem. These sporting events for men and women drew great interest and participation.
The apostle Paul used this familiarity to compare the Christian life to a race, in which all must press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Every member will be given an opportunity to complete in the ETA relay. The ETA batons will arrive at each member home and they will prayerfully consider their estimate of giving for the 1998 year. They will then pass the baton on to another family in the church. Coaches Lynda Fox and John Garrison both believe they are coaching the winning team.
Victory Celebration Sunday is set for Oct. 26, Pastor Krueger advised.
Here's a great way to start the weekend!
Join the Methodist Men's Group on Saturday, Oct. 22. A continental breakfast will be served starting at 6:30 a.m., followed by the program at 7 p.m.
The group discussion will be on "Commitment", led by Dale Pontius.
Further plans for the evening dinner will be discussed at the meeting.
EDUCATION
Pro Teens at the Grand Central Station (GCS) will be offering free courses to all students from sixth through 12th grade.
The courses will be held on Sunday afternoons from 2 to 3 p.m.
The following courses will be offered:
Oct. 12 - "Beginning Origami" (Japanese paper folding) taught by Kelli Orta
Oct. 26 - "Baked Brownie Alaskans" taught by Toni Hereford
Nov. 9 - "Collecting Stamps" by Arliss Moses
Nov. 16 - "Gingerbread Houses" by Barbara Younger and Jannnie Ross
Dec. 7 and 14 - "Calligraphy" taught by Susan Ladner
These courses are free to students and parents are welcome. For information about the courses or to sign up call 767-8336 (TEEN).
A new school immunization requirement was passed last year. Some surrounding school districts required that all seventh graders had to have completed the entire series of Hepatitis B immunizations prior to enrolling this fall.
Due to the large number of Ponca City students who had not completed the six month series, seventh graders were allowed to begin school this fall as long as the student was in process of receiving the series of immunizations.
However, the school system will be monitoring the students that are in process. If the next dose is past due, letters will be sent home to parents informing them to bring records of completion of the specific dose that is due.
If the school does not receive the shot records by the specified date, students will be suspended from school until adequate records are received.
Cheer Clinic
Ponca City High School varsity cheerleaders will hold their annual Mini Cheer Clinic Oct. 13-15. Preschool through first grade will practice from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and second grade through sixth grade will practice from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. Kids attending the clinic will perform during half-time of the varsity football game against Booker T. Washington on Oct. 16. For more information call 762-0035 or 765-7259.
Public Budget Hearing
The Ponca City Public Schools will be holding a Pubic Budget Hearing Oct. 13 from 6 to 6:30 p.m. at the Administration Building. The regular board meeting will immediately follow at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend. State law requires Board of Educations to schedule a public hearing for the purpose of taking public comment on the proposed budget. The final operating budget for the district will be approved at the Nov. 10 board meeting.
Roosevelt Carnival
The Roosevelt School Carnival will be held Oct. 10 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at 815 East Highland.
Frontier Open House
Frontier Public School will hold an open house Oct. 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. Each classroom will feature projects or programs they are using. To begin the program, participants are asked to meeting in the auditorium at 6 p.m.
Myers Attends Veterinary College
Sabra Myers of Ponca City has entered the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine as a first year student. She is the daughter of Jack and Sue Myers, and is a graduate of Ponca City High School.
Title IX Meeting
The Title IX Indian Education Parent Committee will be meeting at the Administration Building Oct. 14 from 6 to 7 p.m. All interested parents are invited to attend. For further information contact Garland Kent Jr, chairman, at 762-6861, or Jo A. Lessert, facilitator, at 767-9500, ext. 128.
First Nine Weeks
The first nine weeks of school have flown by. The end of this first nine weeks is Oct. 15.
No School
There will be no school on Oct. 16 for Professional Day and no school
on Oct. 17 for Fall Break.
SPORTS
By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
It may only be the third district game of the season, but both coaches agree tonight's game between Ponca City and Bartlesville could make or break their teams as far as the District 6A-4 race is concerned.
"If we lose, we'll have our backs up against a wall I'm not sure we can push ourselves away from," Po-Hi coach Rick Sodowsky said Thursday.
"As far as making the playoffs is concerned" Bartlesville coach Lee Bower said, "this is a must win game for both teams."
Both the Wildcats and Bruins are 0-2 in the district after playing Stillwater and Enid on alternate weekends. Ponca City lost to Stillwater 35-9, Bartlesville 39-19, Ponca City lost to Enid 28-6, Bartlesville 17-10. Neither team can afford a third loss and have any real hopes of making the playoffs.
"Looking at the rest of our schedule, we have a good chance of beating Bartlesville, Booker T. (Washington) and Shawnee," Sodowsky said. "The games against Sapulpa and Sand Springs are going to be a battle. If we win one of those two we're in the playoffs."
Bartlesville has virtually the same scenario.
Tonight's game will determine which team has one leg up on the playoffs bid.
Sodowsky says Bartlesville is a much improved team.
Bower agrees, in a fashion.
"We are playing teams much closer," he said of the 1-4 Bruins. "But a loss is still a loss. Ten years from now, no one will remember how close the game was, only that it was a loss.
"And I don't think the teams we've played are as tough as they were last year. Enid is not as tough and even Stillwater is not as tough as they were last year."
So tonight's winner will go on with high hopes. The loser will struggle looking for a small miracle.
Sodowsky is still juggling his players. Just about the time he gets one back, he loses another.
The latest casuality is tackle Billy Faulk, who sustained a dislocated bone in his foot.
Sodowsky has been trying to cut down on the number of players going both ways so they will be fresher in the third and fourth quarters. Faulk's injury put another wrench in that machinery.
The Wildcats will also be missing their No. 1 running back Kris Shores, who injured an ankle two weeks ago.
Nick Steichen will take over for Faulk on the offensive line, "and we'll fill the defensive tackle spot by committee," Sodowsky said, "using (Steven) Bogadi and Steichen."
As they did last week, the Cats will probably alternate Toby Redleaf and Joe Roland at tailback. Both will also see some action in the Wildcat secondary.
That's the bad news.
The good news is that the Cats had possibly their best practice of the season Wednesday, according to Sodowsky.
"It was real spirited," the coach said. "They really went after each other."
Sodowsky is a little mystified as to what brought about the renewed spirit in his team, but he's not about to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Neither Sodowsky nor Bower is anxious to go through a four-overtime game like they did last year, especially not Bower.
"That was one of the hardest losses I've ever had as a coach," Bower said. "Especially in the way it ended."
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Football Note - Linebacker Jay Bentley had another sensational game against Enid. He was credited with seven assisted tackles and 10 unassisted tackles, including a quarterback sack. He was also awarded for two Big Hits.
Football Note II - The Wildcat JV team lost a 24-0 decision to the Enid JVs Monday but got a great performance from sophomore nose guard Matt Cook.
"Matt was all over the field," assistant coach Joe Matlock said. "He went from sideline to sideline making tackles."
The coaches were also pleased with the performance of sophomore quarterback Blake Geubelle.
"We let Blake do his own play calling in the fourth period," Matlock said. "That's when we started to move the ball, which says something about the coaching."
Ponca City at Bartlesville
Where: Custer Stadium, 1700 Hilcreast Drive, Bartlesville
When: Kickoff at 7:30 p.m.
Rankings: Neither team is ranked.
Records: Ponca City 2-3, Bartlesville is 1-4.
Last Year: Ponca City won 35-33 (4 OT).
Injuries: OT Billy Faulk has an injured foot, RB Kris Shores has an ankle sprain.
Importance: Loser faces elimination from playoff hopes.
Radio: WBBZ (1230 AM), Ponca City.
Weather: Cool with chance of showers.
By MATTHEW KOENIG
News Sports Writer
After a field change and a four-hour rain delay, the Lady Wildcat softballers finally took the field Thursday at Broken Arrow High School in the first round of the state softball tournament.
The delay didn't help as the Lady Cats lost a 2-1, 9-inning heartbreaker to nemesis Edmond Memorial, but once again clawed back to beat Bartlesville 2-1.
Still battling, the Lady Cats continued play today at noon, taking on Yukon. The Cats must win three games today to get into the state final Saturday.
First up for the Poncans Friday were the Edmond Memorial Lady Bulldogs, a team that had beaten the Cats in their previous three meetings. Julie Schiltz again accepted pitching duties, and at first, things seemed to turn on the Cats star pitcher. Schiltz walked the first batter and gave up a base hit to the second. She then struck out the third, but a wild pitch to the fourth sent a runner home for Edmond, and the Cats fell back, 1-0.
The defense helped out up after that, however. The Cats turned in a Chris Hinman to Robbi Coffelt double play in the third to end a Bulldog threat, and the girls picked up their second double play of the evening in the sixth, with Coffelt going across the field to Gena Osborn to stop the Bulldogs again.
The Lady Cats, however, couldn't seem to get things going offensively, going three and out in the first two innings. In the third, Osborn came up with a base hit, but was tagged out trying to steal second. Alana Smith also got nabbed between first and second in the fourth, and the Poncans had yet to put themselves in scoring position.
The Lady Cats weren't about to go away, however. Going into the bottom of the seventh and the Cats down 0-1, Smith (2-for-4 in the game) beat out the throw to first and then stole second to put the Cats in scoring position. A base hit by Shawnita Feathers put runners on first and third.
That brought up Coffelt. With two outs and a chance to tie the ball game, Coffelt didn't disappoint, driving the 0-1 pitch up the first base line to bring in the tying run.
The Lady Cats couldn't muster another, however, and the game went to extra innings.
Both teams went three and out in the eighth. But in the ninth, it was Memorial that took advantage of its opportunities. A base hit, a well-placed bunt and a walk put the Lady Bulldogs in position to win.
With two outs, the Bulldogs' eight hole hitter sent a short fly ball to a hole in left field. Feathers raced up and dove for it, making what appeared to be a spectacular catch to end the Bulldogs' threat. Only the umpire ruled it a hit, sending a runner in for the win.
The Lady Cats then headed for Catoosa High School for a late second game against the Bartlesville Lady Bruins.
Fortunes improved for the Lady Cats there, as they banged out eight hits.
The Poncans got on top early this time. Hinman led off with a single, and advanced on a base hit by Schiltz. Hinman then stole third and came in to score as the Bruins' catcher overthrew the pick off attempt.
Again in the third inning, Hinman (3-for-4 in the game), belted a 1-1 pitch for a single, advanced on an Alana Smith ground out, then came in to score on a Bartlesville error.
The Bruins also came up with a run in the third to close within one, but it wouldn't be enough as the Lady Cats prevailed, 2-1.
"They played well," said head coach Roydon Tilley of his players. "They managed to get their heads screwed back on straight after Edmond and came back that second game.
"But a hot team's going to win this tournament. We have to be hot if we want to win."
LADY CAT VOLLEYBALLER Amy Fremin punches the ball between two Bartlesville
defenders in Regional Tournament Action Thursday. The Lady Cats fought hard,
but succumbed to the hard hitting Bruins (ranked second in the state), in
straight sets, 5-15, 8-15. (News Photo by Matthew Koenig)