From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Thursday,
October 16, 1997
LOCAL
Gorbachev Urges U.S. To End Cuban Embargo
Conoco Gives $1 Million to OU
Nearly News
Left Turns From Patton Drive Onto Fourteenth Not Allowed
Chamber News
Controversial Film Opens Friday at Poncan Theatre
Magician, Illusionist Will Perform Twice on Friday at City Library
DEATHS
J.M. Swaim
Jane Briggs
Obituaries
Charles Richard Osborn
Marvin R. Morris
Services Pending
David Roy Martin Sr.
NEWS BRIEFS
GARDENING
Many Sources For Information On Gardening
Church Class Project 'Thing of Beauty'
SPORTS
Wildcat Coach Making No Prediction on Game
Wildcat Harriers Starting To Peak
By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Business Editor
OKLAHOMA CITY - Mikhail Gorbachev, former president of the Soviet Union, Wednesday urged the United States to allow Cuba to return to normalcy by lifting the trade blockade. He said this should be done for the people of Cuba.
Gorbachev also said he felt Castro was a capable leader and that Cuba can be made a part of normal society. He said that the United States says "but Castro is a dictator." However Gorbachev noted that the United States sees fit to support other dictators depending on whether they are favorable to the United States.
Business Investments
In the news conference preceding the former Soviet leader's lecture at the Oklahoma City Civic Center, Gorbachev said Americans have not invested as much in Russia as the media would have one believe.
He also noted that the investment is going in the other direction with Russians investing out of the country. Most of the investments from foreign countries in Russia are mainly in oil and gas. He said other investments are needed for Russia's economy to improve.
More than a third of the people in Russia have incomes below the poverty level and many more are near that level, Gorbachev said. He compared the economy to that of the U.S. in the 1930s.
Yeltsin's administration has failed to implement needed reforms, the country is being run by bureaucrats, the crime rate is high and population is declining, Gorbachev said. The declining population was attributed to 350,000 leaving the country and the death rate being higher than the birth rate.
Talking about changes favoring foreigners doing business in his country, he said there are going to be changes in tariffs, a new tax code and more stimulation for better business for outside investment.
Gorbachev, responding to whether he would run for president again, said it was too early to make any announcements, but he did not rule the possibility out.
Reagan/Gorbachev Relationship
Recalling his relationship with former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, Gorbachev said there was a generation gap because Reagan and his mother were born in the same year. He also noted that at times Reagan wanted to give him fatherly advise, and he had to point out to him that they were both presidents of countries.
Gorbachev urged the people of the United States not to accept isolationism, but to accept the leadership of being a world power and the leadership in peace. He said the role of the U.S. should not be a "policeman for the world."
He talked about the challenges ahead both economically and environmentally. In 1993, Gorbachev founded the environmental organization Green Cross International. This is a nongovernmental group with chapters in the United States, Russia, The Netherlands, Japan and Switzerland. The organization has a three-pronged program with a mission to clean up military toxins, assist in the creation of global ecological law, and foster a value shift on the environment.
The former Soviet leader is credited with ending the cold war and other reforms under his administration, which included streamlining and decentralizing an oppressive system he inherited. Gorbachev said he wanted to have good relations with the United States and that the two countries should not be enemies, but should be super partners.
Gorbachev was recognized in the introduction as teaching the world two new words: perestroika (government restructuring) and glasnost (political openness).
OSU Event
The former world leader was the speaker for the Executive Management Briefings tenth anniversary presentation at the Oklahoma City Civic Center. The event was presented by the College of Business Administration of Oklahoma State University. Covered in the course of his remarks was "Russia, Today and Tomorrow." Gorbachev said there is a future for Russia.
Among the dignitaries on the program were Dr. Gary L. Trennepohl, Dean of the College of Business Administration; Lt. Gov. Gov. Mary Fallin and Ron Norick, mayor of Oklahoma City, who read a proclamation declaring Oct. 15, 1997, Mikhail Gorbachev Day in Oklahoma City.
CONOCO WILL GIVE $1 million to student leadership facilities and programs at the University of Oklahoma, according to David Boren, OU president, and Archie Dunham, Conoco president and chief executive officer. Conoco is the largest corporate donor to OU's Reach for Excellence Program. The gift will help build the Conoco Student Leadership Center (above), a 15,000-square-foot addition to Oklahoma Memorial Union. The formal announcement will be Friday in Norman.
Congratulations to Tara Michelle Williams of Ponca City, a 19-year-old sophomore at Oklahoma Baptist University. She won the swimsuit competition in the recent Miss Shawnee Pageant. The Shawnee News-Star said Tara is a "future banker and current intramural football player."
By PATTI PFEIFFER
News Staff Writer
Beginning as soon as Friday, left turns from Patton Drive onto North Fourteenth Street will no longer be allowed. City Commissioners Monday night approved restricting left turns from Patton onto Fourteenth Street as recommended by the Traffic Commission.
According to City Traffic Engineer Mike Lane the restriction will be effective as soon as the signs are posted at the intersection, which could be sometime Friday.
Commissioners also approved erecting stop signs on the east/west streets along South Eighth Street at East Houston Avenue, East Madison Avenue, East Alma Avenue and East Miller Avenue. Lane explained that the minimum sight distance recommended by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials for non-controlled intersections did not exist at those intersections.
Following a request from the Ponca City School District and the recommendation from the Traffic Engineering the Commissioners also voted to deactivate the flashing school speed limit sign at West Grand Avenue and Palm Street.
A variance from the city ordinance allowing the discharging of firearms by Civil War re-enactment soldiers was also approved. The soldiers will be firing blanks from small arms in their encampment area west of the American Legion as part of the Veteran's Day activities.
Also at the meeting Commissioners confirmed the Mayor's nomination of Matt Bolin and Drew Taylor to the Park and Recreation Advisory Board to serve until May 1998.
The Marland Mansion has now been approved for a covered walkway between the mansion and the conference center which will replace the former breezeway.
And the City Attorney was given approval by the Commissioners to pursue necessary legal action involving a public nuisance located at 321 South Palm Street. The resolution which was approved will authorize the city attorney to file a cause of action in district court for the purpose of obtaining orders necessary to have the property cleaned, cleared and if necessary have the inhabitants removed.
Hearings on two other public nuisances located at 416 South Fourth Street and 443 South Perry Street were rescheduled to later dates.
Chamber to Elect New Board Members
The Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce has begun its annual process of selecting five new members to serve three-year terms on the Board of Directors. In accordance with the chamber bylaws, a nominating committee of eight members has been appointed to oversee the task.
Appointed to the committee are Scott Dean, committee chairman, and Larry Felix, chamber chairman of the Board. Also appointed to the committee from the board are Carol Bouldin, Dolley Rolland and Martin Smith. In addition, three persons from the general membership were appointed. They are: Sandy Murphy-Driggers, Danny Thompson and Ed Trice.
"Selection of persons to serve the membership of the chamber as its directors is crucial to maintaining a viable chamber program," Dean said. "In this role, those elected are responsible for maintaining contact with the broad base of our membership and making sure that the chamber moves in the best directions possible to help build an even stronger Ponca City."
Dean noted that the committee will begin its work in earnest in the next 10 days. Prior to that time, any chamber member is encouraged to contact a member of the nominating committee or Jan Jarrett, chamber president, to offer suggestion which they might have regarding potential board candidates. Jarrett said that the objective of the nominating committee is to secure a slate of well qualified new board members who reflect the broad base of the chamber's membership.
Members should be sure to contact nominating committee members with suggestions no later than Oct. 27, 1997.
For additional information, contact the Chamber of Commerce office at 765-4400.
"In the Company of Men," a film that depicts males as insidious cads, has generated heated discussion everywhere it's played. The new film, called "mordantly funny" by Time magazine, has become the most controversial film of the year.
And yet critics are impressed both by the film and by the reaction it has generated. Janet Maslin of the "New York Times" calls it "tremendously gutsy." ABC says it's "fascinating and dangerous." Roger Ebert says it's "bold and uncompromising."
"In the Company of Men" won the Film Maker's Trophy at the prestigious Sundance film festival this year. The controversy has to do with the subject matter and the plot of the film, which shows two up-and-coming young male executives who decide to take revenge on women for past slights suffered by the men. In the plot, the two men agree that they will both woo the same unsuspecting and vulnerable woman, and then dump her simultaneously. To enlarge their sense of victimization, the woman they select is deaf.
Sony Pictures cautiously secured rights to the film after the Sundance Festival, but didn't commit to distribution until the most powerful female critic in print, Janet Maslin of the New York Times, gave the film a thumbs-up. She calls it "an unflinching, sharply written film" that rings "with brilliant ferocity."
According to Tom Bernard of Sony Classics, "women love the movie. It shows men behaving badly," and he says that "women feel like a fly on the wall watching the things men do." Not all would agree. The lead actor, Aaron Eckhart, reports being accosted by women who have seen the film and confused him with the character he plays. "They attack me," he says. Then they apologize. "Then they tell a story."
If the film simply depicted abuse, it wouldn't be worth the trouble. But the plot has surprises and an unexpected emotional development. By the end, there is another level beyond our imagination.
"In the Company of Men" will invite people to continue talking well after leaving the theatre. As the "San Francisco Chronicle" says, this film is "likely to stay with the viewer long after the lights come on." And Roger Ebert says that "In the Company of Men" "insists on being thought about afterward, talked about, argued about, hated if necessary, but not ignored."
"In the Company of Men," rated R, opens Friday at the Poncan Theatre on Grand. For show times, consult the Ponca City News or call the Poncan Theatre at 765-0943.
The Ponca City Library announces the return engagement of Steve Crawford, magician and illusionist. The special fall break performances will be at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday.
For many years, Steve Crawford has been providing quality entertainment. He has appeared at Sea World in San Diego, opened for Alice Cooper, and made many TV appearances. He has toured libraries across the state with his show for the past several years.
Steve amazes his audience with magic and illusion, as well as comedy, fun and surprises. Steve and "Presto", the magic rabbit, involve the audience in the activity - gearing the program to school age children who will learn to perform some tricks themselves.
Day care facilities will need to preregister to ensure seating. Steve
is an extremely popular performer, so come early and enjoy the show.
DEATHS
J.M. "Jude" Swaim, longtime Ponca City resident, died Monday, Oct. 13, 1997, at his home at Westminster Village. He was 85.
The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church Chapel with the Rev. Larry Heslip, Minister of Education, officiating. A committal service will also be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Oxford (Kan.) Cemetery under the direction of Trout Funeral Home, Ponca City.
J.M. "Jude" Swaim was born Feb. 8, 1912, on a farm northwest of Geuda Springs, Kan., the son of Melville Wharton and Emma (Bottiger) Swaim. He graduated as valedictorian of his class at Geuda Springs High School. He also served as president of his class for three years and was outstanding in music and speech, winning many honors. He attended Arkansas City Junior College in Arkansas City, Kan., graduating in 1933.
On June 2, 1934, he was married to Helen Fannie Palmer in Arkansas City, Kan. The couple moved to Ponca City in 1939 and he began his career with Conoco Pipeline. During his 35-year career with the company he contributed numerous technological changes. After retirement in 1974, he continued to consult with the pipeline company while pursuing farming interests. Swaim was an active member of First Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School and served for a time as social director of his class. His hobbies and interests included trapping, hunting, fishing, reading and politics.
Survivors include two sons, Royce Swaim of Ponca City and Vance Swaim of Clayton, Calif.; two sisters, Daisy Nichols of Andover, Kan., and Anna Mae Wineinger of Winfield, Kan; one brother, Francis A. "Tad" Swaim of Geuda Springs, Kan.; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife on Aug. 14, 1996; his parents; and one brother, Darwin.
Honorary casket bearers will be Greg Kelley, James Doyle, Jay Williams, Bill Swaim, Richard Dunn, Francis "Tad" Swaim, C.D. Swaim, Melvin Nichols and the Adult I Sunday School Department.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Swaim's name to First Baptist Church, 218 South Sixth Street, Ponca City, OK 74601.
STILLWATER/POND CREEK - Jane (Morahan) Briggs, sister of Gene T. Morahan of Ponca City, died Sunday, Oct. 12, 1997, in Denver, Colo., while visiting a daughter. She was 75.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home Chapel in Stillwater with the Rev. Lewis Corporon officiating. Burial will follow in the Pond Creek (Okla.) Cemetery.
Jane (Morahan) Briggs was born Jan. 29, 1922, in Pond Creek to Lawrence and Mildred (Shaw) Morahan. She graduated from Enid High School in 1940 and attended Oklahoma State University.
Survivors include her three daughters, Linda White of Buda, Texas, Barbara Martinez of Denver, Colo., and Patti Sands of Dallas, Texas; one son Roy Briggs of Houston, Texas; one brother, Gene T. Morahan of Enid and Ponca City; eight grandchildren and three nieces. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Janice; her parents; and one brother, Lawrence Loyal.
Charles Richard "Dick" Osborn, lifelong Ponca City resident, went to be with Jesus Wednesday evening, Oct. 15, 1997, at the Integris Health Baptist Medical Center, Oklahoma City. He was 56 years young.
A celebration service will be held Friday, Oct. 17, 1997, at 3 p.m. at the World of Life Christian Center with Bob Innis, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery under the direction of Trout Funeral Home.
Dick was born Feb. 3, 1941, in Ponca City, the son of R.B. "Fritz" and Ethel (Gillock) Osborn and the brother of Jack Osborn of Ponca City, Bill Osborn of Lawton and Peggy Huff of Orlando, Okla.
In 1959, he married Norma Taylor in Ponca City. He is the father of Debbie Thompson and her husband, Mike, of Ponca City, Richard Todd Osborn and his wife, Marcia, of Lawton, and Troy Osborn and his wife, Donna, of Yukon; and the grandpa of Josh, Jamie, Charlie and Caleb, Shelbi Osborn, Micah and Zack Thompson, and T.J., Staci and Clayton Murray.
He coached baseball, football, and loved coaching wrestling when his boys were young. He loved all children and often had several in his home. Dick loved the Lord with all his heart and trained his children, grandchildren, and any one else within his care, the word of God and the love of God. Dick worked with his hands to give. He was employed as an electrician for Snyder Electric until establishing Osborn Electric in 1974. Dick loved playing Frisbee Golf and horseshoes with friends. He was a partner with numerous ministries. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Gene and Jimmy.
Casket bearers will be Joe Tompkins, Leo Shook, Frank Sroufe, Guy VanArsdale, Jerry Younger, Dave Jacobs, Lewis Thomas, Owen Greer and Donus Parker. Honorary casket bearers will be grandsons and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to Kenneth Copeland Ministries, P.O. Box 961010, Fort Worth, Texas, 76161-9984.
paid obituary
Marvin R. "Sonny" Morris, Ponca City resident, died Tuesday evening, Oct. 14, 1997, at Baptist Medical Center, Oklahoma City. He was 67.
The funeral service will be graveside, Friday, 2 p.m. in Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Mr. Richard Robinson, deacon, St. Mary's Catholic Church, officiating. Military honors will be provided by the U.S. Navy. Arrangements are under the direction of the Trout Funeral Home.
Born March 27, 1930 at Fairfax, Okla., he was the son of Marvin J. and Ella Marie Whitson Morris. He attended schools at McCord and Burbank. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1951 and served as a Boatswain's Mate aboard the U.S.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt. Following his honorable discharge in 1957 he returned to Ponca City where he was a self-employed carpet cleaner.
He and the former Ella Mae Collins were married March 1, 1953, in Huntsville, Ark. Sonny was an avid bowler and was a member of the Ponca City Bowling Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife, Ella Mae, of the home; his son and daughter-in-law, Rusty and JoAnna Morris, Ponca City; his daughter and son-in-law, Carol Carter and Jay Kincheloe, Ponca City; a sister, Margaret Long, Ponca City; two brothers, Loren Correll and Billie Correll, both of Ponca City; and three grandchildren, Stephen Glaser, Amy Jo Glaser, and Mason Clark Kincheloe. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorials may be made to the Sonny Morris Memorial Fund, c/o Wayne Wiggins, 3001 North Fourteenth, Ponca City, OK 74601.
Friends may call the funeral home until noon Friday.
The family will be at the home, 3887 South McCord Road.
paid obituary
TONKAWA - David Roy Martin Sr., Tonkawa resident, died early this morning,
Oct. 16, 1997, at St. Mary's Hospital in Enid. He was 40. Arrangements are
pending with McCafferty-Bolick Funeral Home, Tonkawa.
NEWS BRIEFS
Big Flea Market - New items and a large assortment of antiques, collectibles, and recyclables at lower than bargain prices will be available at the Ponca City Art Association 30th Annual Flea Market set for Monday and Tuesday in the garages and on the grounds at the Ponca City Art Center, 819 East Central. Proceeds benefit the Art Center.
Arrest - Police arrested a 29-year-old woman at 8:17 a.m. Wednesday from the 1300 block of North Third Street on a city warrant.
Arrest - A 20-year-woman was arrested at 9:18 a.m. Wednesday from the 200 block of East Detroit Avenue on a city warrant.
False Alarm - Two fire units responded to the 300 block of South Peachtree Street at 9:25 a.m. Wednesday. What was supposedly a fire ended up being a bug fogger.
Vandalism - At 9:46 a.m. Wednesday a woman in the 1900 block of East Hartford Avenue reported that her mailbox had been vandalized. A report was taken.
Arrest - A 23-year-old man was arrested at 11:51 a.m. Wednesday on a city warrant for failure to pay.
Arrest - At 12:25 p.m. Wednesday a woman in the 800 block of West Otoe Avenue was arrested on a city warrant for failure to pay.
Arrest - Police arrested a woman at 1:49 p.m. Wednesday from the 2600 block of North Fourteenth Street on a city warrant for failure to pay.
Theft - A man in the 900 block of North Pine Street reported to police at 4:04 p.m. Wednesday that his driver's license and social security card were stolen from work. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Arrest - Police arrested a 33-year-old man at 4:11 p.m. Wednesday from the 900 block of East Maple on a city warrant.
Arrest - At 4:18 p.m. Wednesday a 40-year-old man was arrested on two city warrants for failure to appear.
Theft - At 4:52 p.m. Wednesday a woman in the 1100 block of South Fifth Street reported the theft of a mobile phone from her vehicle. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Theft - A woman in the 2000 block of Meadowbrook Drive reported to police at 5:15 p.m. Monday that her purse had been stolen. It was later found.
Arrest - Police arrested a 32-year-old woman at 6 p.m. Wednesday on a city warrant.
Stolen Clubs - At 6:15 p.m. Wednesday a man in the 1400 block of Meadowbrook Drive reported the theft of golf clubs from his garage. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Stolen Beer - Mid-West Easy Stop, 1100 North Union Street, reported to police at 10:28 p.m. Wednesday that a person wearing a Halloween costume stole two cases of beer. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Arrest - Police arrested an 18-year-old man at 10:29 p.m. Wednesday at Monument Road and Fourteenth Street for attempting to elude, reckless driving, driving under the influence and leaving the scene of property damage.
Arrest - At 12:44 a.m. Thursday police arrested a 32-year-old
woman in the 300 block of South Osage Street for domestic assault and battery.
GARDENING
By PATTI N. CARMACK
News Lifestyles and Gardening Editor
Several readers of The News have asked where we got our information and why we used some of the stories and not others. Here is one editor's viewpoint:
Lifestyle pages average 1,650 words per page not counting advertisements. Sunday pages have even more words and if the editor has articles in a Midweek or special section the amount of information put forth by each member of the staff is tremendous. That can amount to 14 or more pages of writing by an individual as well as picture placement and pagination.
A lot of research goes into making the information as correct as possible in a short space of time. Sometimes information brought into the office has to be verified before being used and sometimes poor handwriting by individuals make the story harder to write. At other times the information has to be gathered personally and the time for processing has to be factored into the final product. Newspaper style and definition is an underlying "given."
Decisions must be made as to what readers may or may not find interesting, what is current, what is newsworthy and what is important in the community. The Lifestyle pages deal with social events, club meetings, and community happenings as well as the "Life" of the area - people. The Ponca City News receives a lot of criticism for errors in proofreading, erroneous information and other real or imagined faults. We make no excuse for this, but would like to remind readers that we are people who do the best we can with the information we have and while we appreciate a well-meant correction, we like to think we are all part of the same community and tomorrow will be a better day.
It is always the intention of the Lifestyles/Gardening Editor to provide accurate, pertinent and interesting information for the reader. There are many sources for that data and listed here are a just a few of the places providing information and research sources for this editor:
Oklahoma State University, Northern Oklahoma College, Kansas State University, Ponca City Park Department, American Nursery and Landscape Association, American Horticulture Association, Webster's Dictionary, American Home Garden Book, The Complete Book of Garden Magic, Successful Gardening, Internet Lifestyles Plant Encyclopedia, gardening catalogs, Veggie Life magazine, Associated Press, local and area gardeners as well as national and international gardening firms.
By BOB PATTERSON
News City Editor
When you want to present a better picture of your church, and there's ample area around the building, why not allow Mother Nature to help out?
That's not exactly why some members of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at North Fifth Street and East Cleveland Avenue began planting flowers around the church lawn.
But there was a suggestion during an interim pastor's term recently that opened the gates for one particular class, Koinonia, to take hold of a project and the blooming thing spread throughout the rest of the membership.
Two members of the class, Norma Erner and Loretta Leathers, took a lot of the early responsibility to get the ball rolling and the entire class joined in with helping hands and monetary efforts. But there were others too that helped out, including members of the congregation, and even some from outside the church.
The class however, made it a primary project.
The flower and bush beds around the church had been taken care of by Walt Keathly and others for a long period of time, and when the project was brought up, it had been suggested that he help in giving certain advice towards where the best soil and planting areas were.
Koinonia class members then took the project of clearing much of the areas that had become slight problems, and got mulching material and fertilizer for the beds. Then it was time for planting of various flowers.
The project didn't just take a Saturday morning or a couple of hours. The class just happens to have some 15 couples and a few singles. For the most part nearly everyone had a hand in some of the planting. Those unable to get down and do that type of work, or who were unavailable at daytime hours when needed, aided in providing additional funds.
An underground waterline project was also presented, but it hasn't been fully completed.
So, members of the class take a week at a time at watering the flowers and areas around the church that need it. Some of the weeks, watering takes place almost every day. Some of the class members get lucky, and may have to water only once or so. On occasions, it rains for an entire week.
The project has received considerable attention from passersby. And it is a welcome sight to the entryway for Friendship Feast, of which the class and other members of the congregation and other churches, plus several other organizations take part, in serving a meal four nights a week, Monday-Thursday at fellowship hall.
The youngsters of the church got in on the project also, by providing large white pots at two of the entrances, which are filled with yellow chrysanthemums.
Around the edges of the church however, are red and white begonia, pink and white begonia, periwinkle, and miniature yellow chrysanthemums.
When the spring and summer flowers begin to lose some of their color,
the class continues in the project, by planting colorful pansies for the
most part. Additional areas that the class is looking at will be on the
north side of the church.
SPORTS
By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
Wildcat head coach Rick Sodowsky has given up on trying to predict how his team will play against certain team s. He's been wrong - and disappointed - too many times before.
One thing he will predict about his players, however, is, "they will play hard."
That is something he is proud of.
"These kids have finally made the connection between practicing hard and playing hard. You can't separate the two. You have to practice hard to play hard."
But that is where his comparison stops.
Sodowsky has been pleased with the way practice has gone this week - even in a short week leading up to tonight's game with Tulsa Washington. But what he doesn't know is how that practice ability will translate at game time.
" We had some of our best practices of the season last week," he recalls. "Then we didn't play well against Bartlesville."
The Cats lost 16-6. their third straight loss, all in district competition. They lost to a team that is also trying to find its way, a team the Wildcats had beaten for four straight years.
Once again, Sodowsky thought the effort was good, but the execution wasn't. The players never gave up, but they also never got their act going, especially offensively.
Sodowsky concedes he may have overestimated the amount of talent in the offensive line. But he also notes that having two sophomores as starters has cut down on the ability of the offensive line to be the cohesive, experienced group he was looking for.
Sodowsky could not have foreseen the problems that would arise when a team already thin in numbers lost some of its better players to injuries, grades and discipline problems.
It is a problem to which the Tulsa Washington coaches can relate.
The once powerful Hornets, perennial state championship contenders, are off to their worst start in a decade, at 1-5, 1-2 in district play.
Always near the bottom rung of Class 6A in numbers, Washington - as a magnet school - could draw some of the top athletes in Tulsa.
But the numbers have dwindled to the point that the Hornets will drop down into Class 5A football next season.
With that drop has come a scarcity of quality players, especially good senior talent.
"We just have seven seniors left on the team," Washington assistant coach Charles Lowery said this week.
Part of that is because of an unusually small senior class overall. Lowery reports that Washington currently has 195 seniors in school. Normally, the number is 300 or more.
But the Hornets have also had trouble keeping players eligible and on the team.
Still, head coach Leodies Robertson and his staff are looking ahead. Lowery says the numbers are better in the junior and sophomore classes. He says the Hornets expect to have 18 seniors on the team next season. While that is still below the norm for Washington, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Meanwhile, Robertson, Lowery and the staff are having to make do with young talent that is getting experience the hard way
"But they are starting to come around," Lowery said, "as more of the young kids get experience."
That young talent stepping into starting roles includes three sophomores, quarterback Andrea Post (5-11, 160), tailback Keith Williams (5-9, 185) and split end Trevor Jones (5-11, 145).
Also coming to the front is junior flanker Anthony Johnson (6-3, 180).
Johnson, for obvious reasons, is a favorite target for Post in the passing game.
But Sodowsky expressed concern about the play of Williams, who has the ability to be a game breaker.
But meanwhile, Sodowsky and the Wildcat staff must be more concerned with trying to develop their own young talent and hope that somehow it all falls into place for the Poncans in one of the four remaining games.
TULSA - Ponca City's cross country coach Kelly Chaney is hoping his team is peaking at just the right time after the Wildcats finished tied for fifth in the Frontier Conference meet here Wednesday.
The Lady Cats also continued to improve on their times, finishing eighth in the nine-team field.
"We finished about where we thought we would," Chaney said of the boys' team. "Those teams in front of us (Jenks, Bartlesville, Broken Arrow and Sapulpa) are among the top 10 teams in the state."
Ponca City scored 136 points, tied with Stillwater, as the Cats prepared for the regional meet to be held in Ponca City Oct. 25.
Several of the Poncans improved on their times, but Chaney was most pleased with Paul Paschal, who was third overall in 16:38.
"That was the first time Paul has been under 17 minutes this season," the coach said.
Paschal could move up in the individual rankings after also beating Tulsa Union's Jeremy Chase, who is ranked No. 4 in the state, for the first time.
Nathan Zimmerman was 24th overall in 18:16 while Chris Buck was 30th in 18:28 and Jared Colvin was 32nd in 18:31.
On the girls' side, Lady Wildcat Amanda Cobb had her best time of the season, clocking in at 13:33 for the girls' two-mile run. She was 30th overall.
Laura Chaney was 44th in 14:14, Mary Metzger 46th in 14:18 and Jane Koster 50th in 14:30.
"Things are looking up," Chaney said. "We should be in good shape for the regional.
Frontier Conference
Varsity Boys
3 - Paul Paschal 16:38
24 - Nathan Zimmerman 18:16
30 - Chris Buck 18:28
32 - Jared Culvin 18:31
47 - Eddie Mora 19:03
52 - Murat Ozdemit 19:20
56 - Robert Scott 20:29
Team Scores
1 - Jenks 42
2 - Bartlesville 79
3 - Broken Arrow 113
4 - Sapulpa 126
5 - Ponca City 136
Stillwater 136
7 - Owasso 137
8 - Tulsa Union 176
9 - Sand Springs 243
Varsity Girls
30 - Amanda Cobb 13:36
44 - Laura Chaney 14:14
46 - Mary Metzger 14:18
50 - Jane Koster 14:30
55 - Carol Stangeland 15:14
56 - Kate Emig 15:18
59 - Amanda Miller 16:40
Team Scores
1 - Sapulpa 19
2 - Owasso 94
3 - Stillwater 102
4 - Broken Arrow 110
5 - Bartlesville 134
6 - Jenks 139
7 - Union 142
8 - Ponca City 226
9 - Sand Springs 267
Junior Varsity Boys
8 - Justin Rosebeary 19:18
17 - Brian Connelly 19:48
28 - Squire Lawrance 20:23
35 - John Chamberlin 20:42
37 - Chris Keim 20:54
38 - Daniel Wages 21:05
49 - Kolin Talbot 21:49
51 - Jeremy Ross 21:56
56 - Josh Bailey 22:19
59 - Tim Frick 22:26
63 - Micheal Powers 22:38
68 - Jeff Hand 22:58
70 - Josh Pitts 23:27
72 - Patrick Tucker 24:07
Nathan Coats 24:23
Junior Varsity Girls
Heather Staives 16:26
Amber Baker 17:28