LOCAL

Keating, Boyd Face Off in Homestretch
Keating Agrees With Boyd On Cutting Vehicle Taxes
Nearly 1,000 Flu Shots in Two Days Time
SJRMC To Host ‘Diabetes’ Event
Festival of Angels Map Available After Thanksgiving
Nickles Considered Shoo-In
Markets

Keating, Boyd Face Off in Homestretch

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — The Democratic candidate for governor says Gov. Frank Keating has run an administration catering to the elite and excluding minorities.

Laura Boyd and Keating, the Republican incumbent, faced off Thursday night in their final debate before Election Day. The candidates clashed for one hour on topics from private prisons and right-to-work to road building and cloud seeding.

Their debate at KOTV’s studio was closed to the public but will be broadcast Sunday by KOTV and KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City.

Ms. Boyd accused the Keating administration of appointing too few women and minorities to boards and commissions.

‘‘We must include more Oklahomans in the decisions that govern our lives,’’ she said. ‘‘Government cannot be just for the wealthy, or based on backroom deals and trades.’’

Keating defended the diversity of his appointments, which he said included about 500 and 100 blacks.

He was asked twice whether he would complete the four-year governor’s term if re-elected Tuesday.

‘‘I don’t anticipate any other job in public service coming my way,’’ Keating said, with a caveat: ‘‘If George Bush were the (Republican) nominee and he were to offer me the vice presidential nomination, I would accept it. It would be a tremendous honor and opportunity for Oklahoma.’’

Ms. Boyd accused Keating of aspirations beyond the governor’s mansion.

Both candidates agreed that the Confederate flag should not fly over the state capitol. But they differed on almost every other subject:

—Private prisons: Ms. Boyd said private prisons should be used only temporarily and only for overflow inmates. Keating welcomed their regular use.

‘‘We should take our money and we should invest it in roads and highways and education,’’ he said. ‘‘Let the private companies build the private prisons, and we’ll lease them. Because when the day comes when we don’t need them, they’ll have the asset and we won’t have to worry about it.’’

—Mental health parity: Keating defended his veto of a bill that would have mandated insurance coverage of some severe mental illnesses. Keating said the bill would have driven up insurance costs so high that coverage would decline.

‘‘To not sign that bill is flat-out discrimination, and that’s the bottom line,’’ Ms. Boyd said. ‘‘These individuals should have been covered also. It was the wrong thing to veto.’’

—Cloud seeding: Keating said he supports the program even without scientific certainty the program has made a substantial difference in rainfall after three years and $2.5 million. ‘‘I think it’s prudent,’’ he said. ‘‘Agriculture is so crucial to our state’s economy.’’

Ms. Boyd said she would rather invest the money in emergency funds for farmers and ranchers.

She promoted spending for early-childhood education, teacher salary increases and a $50 cap on automobile tags. She said she opposed deficit spending for road construction.

‘‘If you want leadership that is both pro-business and pro-family, then I ask for your vote,’’ she said.

Keating said crime, welfare levels and unemployment have dropped during his term in office. If re-elected he would work for more tax cuts and passage of right-to-work legislation, which he said would boost Oklahoma’s per capita income.

‘‘We’ve come a long way. We have a long way to go,’’ he said. ‘‘Stay the course.’’

Keating Agrees With Boyd On Cutting Vehicle Taxes

By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE

News Staff Writer

Gov. Frank Keating said here Thursday that he agrees with his opponent Laura Boyd on cutting the tax on vehicle license tags. Boyd is calling for a flat $50 fee for license tags unless the tags are less than that.

Although Keating said he agreed with Boyd, he asked, “Where was she the other 169 times when tax cuts came up during the Legislative session?” He indicated that Boyd had just jumped on the bandwagon since she became a gubernatorial candidate.

In his remarks Keating gave a list of accomplishments that has happened during his four years as governor. He said, “During the political season a lot of political things are said, but what is important is to reflect on what is done out of the political season.

“It is like in business if you have somebody who is just so committed to making things happen just give them the chance. When you’ve looked at their performance and you’ve looked at the product they’ve sold and the hours they bill and there simply isn’t anything there you wonder if it is an 11th hour conversion. You wonder if this is truly a new person or if this is just fluff to get through a difficult moment.”

Keating indicated the Democrats are good people, who are misguided. This brought chuckles to the predominately Republican luncheon crowd at the Ponca City Country Club. The luncheon was a combined event for Keating and David Myers, Ponca City, who is seeking to unseat incumbent Democrat Paul Muegge of Tonkawa in the District 20 Senate race.

The state’s chief executive reminisced about where the state was in 1994. He said when he took office in 1995, only 30 percent of the people thought that was on the right track. In 1995 job growth was middling, the welfare rolls were expanding, the crime rate was going up, while the crime rate in other states was going down, state employment was “chunky” ranking 10th in the nation in state employees.

Keating said, “We had not done a lot of the things to try to catch up, particularly in higher education, with the states around us. Think what has happened in three and a half years and think what leadership means. We have created 300,000 jobs in the state in the last 10 years and of those 228,000 were created in the last three years.

“For the first time ever the crime rate is down across the board; the welfare rolls are down by 55 percent and state employment is down 10 percent. Why did that not happen before 1995? It’s called 176 vetoes in a row.” At the point the audience applauded.

Keating encouraged the crowd to vote for David Myers, saying Republicans in the Legislature are needed for further change. As typical in an election year, Keating and Myers took several jabs at the other political party.

Nearly 1,000 Flu Shots in Two Days Time

The Kay County Health Department held its annual Influenza and Pneumonia immunization of the general public on Oct. 27 and 28. A total of 987 citizens of the Ponca City area availed themselves of this free service. Ponca City Elks Lodge No. 2002 donated the use of its facility to aid in processing the large and steady flow of patrons.

Sherry Hood of the Health Department was overall coordinator of the two-day project. Assisting her with check-in and registration were staff members Kim Evans, June Fetters, Bonnie Luis, Pam Payne, Tanya Pingry and Sharon Uhlig.

RN Sharon Bass headed the inoculation team consisting of RNs Kamille Greenhagen, Patti Lumbers, Rossane McChristian, Ginny Peterson and staff members Erika Macy and Sandra Maxwell. Eldercare staff members April Gaddis and Mary Koster did free laminating of Medicare cards for those who requested it.

Ponca City Lodge’s Acting Exalted Ruler Tom Overton aided the project by answering the phone and by helping inform persons entering and leaving the building. In recognition of National "Red Ribbon Week” the Elks also distributed over 500 car litter bags which contained literature warning against illegal drug and substance abuse.

SJRMC To Host ‘Diabetes’ Event

St. Joseph Regional Medical Center will host “Diabetes: A Community Forum” on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. in the medical center’s cafeteria. The forum will include presentations by Richard Keim, MD; J. Christopher Banwart, MD; Arden Blough, MD; Kevin Carter, D.O. and Rick McCumber, RPh.

Adult participants will be able to have their blood sugar screened at no charge by SJRMC nurses from 6 to 7 p.m. in Conference Room “C”, which is adjacent to the cafeteria. Participants will also be able to take a seven-question test to find out if they are at risk for Type 2 diabetes.

For additional information, contact Pat Blubaugh, SJRMC Diabetes Educator, 580-765-3321, ext. 600.

Festival of Angels Map Available After Thanksgiving

When visitors and Ponca Citians get ready to tour the lights and displays of Festival of Angels, they will have a map available to help guide them to all the lighted ares.

The map includes the special lighting displays at Lake Ponca Park, Cann Gardens, Pioneer Woman Statue, Cultural Center, and City Hall. It also shows neighborhoods around the community who add to the holiday spirit by participating in the light festival.

The Festival of Angels map is almost ready. Any churches, schools, and neighborhoods that are decorating for the first time this year are asked to contact Missy Morland at the Ponca City Tourism office, 763-8067. Deadline is Monday, Nov. 9.

Festival of Angels maps will be available after Thanksgiving at Angel Central, the festival information center and gift shop, in Pioneer Shopping Center, 413 North Fourteenth Street. They can also be found at Ponca City Tourism, Tenth Street and East Grand Avenue and at the Marland Mansion.

Festival of Angels starts Friday, Nov. 27 and continues through Sunday, Dec. 27.

Nickles Considered Shoo-In

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — After disposing of a string of formidable opponents in the past, Republican Sen. Don Nickles has been able to take it easy in his bid for re-election to a fourth term, one he says could be his last.

‘‘I’m personally surprised that I am doing four and I would be very surprised if I’ll do five,’’ Nickles said in a telephone interview from Washington in the days before Tuesday’s general election. He is considered a shoo-in over Democratic newcomer Don E. Carroll and two other candidates.

The 49-year-old assistant majority leader has been doing more campaigning in other states for other GOP Senate candidates than he has in Oklahoma, where he has relied mostly on television advertising.

In the past few weeks, he had flown into 10 states, hoping to shore up the Republicans’ Senate majority. He has campaigned in Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Idaho, Washington, California, South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia.

He was returning to Oklahoma for the weekend and planned to take part in a run in Tulsa. ‘‘That will be half campaigning and half torture,’’ he said.

Nickles said his future plans are not set in stone because of the possibility that a higher office could become available, perhaps the top Senate post or a spot on the national ticket.

‘‘But I don’t lay awake at night thinking this is something I would like to do.’’

Carroll is trying to ignore the odds against him. ‘‘Of course I give myself a chance,’’ says the 40-year-old air conditioning repairman from Tahlequah.

That’s despite Carroll’s own estimate that he’ll spend ‘‘somewhere around $5,000’’ on his general election race. Nickles is spending $750,000 alone on advertising.

‘‘I think a lot of people are ready for a fresh start,’’ Carroll said. ‘‘And I think they are tired of hearing about how much money the incumbent has to spend.’’

Carroll led a four-candidate field in the Democratic primary after spending only a few hundred dollars. But he had to defeat a dead woman in a runoff to win his party’s nomination.

Oklahoma’s lackluster primary season drew national attention when Jacquelyn Ledgerwood got 22 percent of the vote to finish second to Carroll and grab a runoff spot. She died in July, a few days after filing for office but too late to remove her name from the ballot.

Nickles hasn’t changed his message since he surprised many 18 years ago when he upended Democrat Andy Coats, a well-known Oklahoma City prosecutor, for the Senate post left vacant by the retirement of Republican Henry Bellmon.

‘‘I want to provide common-sense leadership to reduce taxes, shrink the size of government and expand individual opportunity and growth for every Oklahoman,’’ says the Ponca City Republican, who served two years in the Oklahoma Senate.

Nickles had the strong backing of the religious right in his first race. ‘‘I think my statement when I ran way back then was I thought our government had declined too much economically and morally. I still think a lot of that is true today.’’

Before he leaves Washington, he said he wants to revamp the Social Security system, get a national missile defense system approved ‘‘and I’d like to take the tax code and start all over.’’

In his first re-election try, Nickles got 55 percent of the vote against veteran U.S. Rep. James R. Jones of Tulsa. Six years ago, he got 59 percent against Steve Lewis, a former Oklahoma House speaker.

Also on the ballot are independents Mike Morris of Ripley and Argus Yandell of Stillwater, but neither has waged aggressive campaigns so far.

Yandell wanted to launch the Millennium Party in Oklahoma, but could not get enough signatures to get the party’s candidates on the ballot. He then decided to run as an independent.

Morris is a former state Republican chairman who fell into disfavor in the early 1980s after the party got into financial trouble. Nickles’ aide Clinton Key was named to replace him.

Morris, a medical physicist, says he is not vindictive over his ouster as GOP chairman, but says Nickles is too liberal for him, calling the incumbent a ‘‘one-worlder.’’

He said Nickles’ support of the North American Free Trade Agreement and his immigration policies disqualify him as a conservative. ‘‘If he’s conservative, I don’t know what I am.’’

Morris is under no illusions about the outcome of the race. ‘‘I haven’t quit my job thinking I was going to Washington,’’ he said.

Carroll is emphasizing his lack of political ties, which he says will allow him to ‘‘vote my own way without pressure from anybody else.’’

He listed bolstering the Social Security system and improving health care coverage as among his top goals.

‘‘I probably could write a book on all the horror stories I’ve heard about our medical system,’’ he said. ‘‘A major complaint is that it takes so long to get any procedure approved that by the time they approve it, either you’re well or you’ve died.’’

Nickles was the principal spokesman for the GOP in opposing President Clinton’s health care program. He is past chairman of the Republican Policy Committee. His bill to make Congress live under the same laws as everyone else was the first signed into law during the 104th Congress.

Both Nickles and Carroll are graduates of Oklahoma State University.

Markets

Prices as of 11 a.m. Today

Jay’s Farm and Ranch Supply

Large Eggs 75

Medium Eggs 50

Light Hens 42

Heavy Hens 37

Farmer’s Co-op Assn.

Wheat 2.82

Milo 3.02

Soybeans 4.95

DEATHS

ˆ

--

NEWS BRIEFS

Senior Citizens Dance Set — A dance for the young at heart is set for tonight from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Senior Citizens Building, 320 South A Street in Arkansas City. All dancers are welcome. The Sunshine Playboys Band will be playing for dancing, and all those attending are asked for bring a snack to share.

Pool Tournament, Saturday

10/31/98, 7 p.m. at the Blue Lite

Lounge, 217 South Second. If

dressed in costume to play, get $2

off entry fee. adv.

Youth Party Tonight — Webber Lodge No. 26, 1015 South Twelfth, is hosting a Ponca City Youth Halloween party this evening from 6 to 9 p.m. The event features food, prizes, games and music.

Pauline’s Prime rib dinner.

Full order $11.95, 1/2 order $7.95.

Friday 30th. For reservations call

765-5460. adv.

Crafts Fair — The 17th annual McCord Arts and Crafts Festival will be held Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at McCord School. More that 70 exhibitors will feature herbal crafts, ceramics, needlework, woodcraft, holiday items and more. Admission is free. The festival is sponsored by the Parents and Teachers of McCord (PTM). The school is located three miles east of Ponca City on U.S. 60 and one mile south on McCord Road.

If Oklahoma continues to build prisons at its present rate, our

state will become Prison Capital of the Nation & maybe the World,

Why? adv.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 2000 block of North Fourth Street at 3:43 p.m. Thursday that a 41-year-old man was being held on a city warrant for failure to obey.

Head Country Saturday night special. All you can eat beef brisket with beans, potato salad and coleslaw, $6.95. 4-8 p.m. 1217 East Prospect. adv.

Trick or Treat — Trick or Treat at the American Legion, Saturday, 5 to 9 p.m. Children and grandchildren of Legion members only, please.

Dougan's Bar-B-Q Saturday 4-8 p.m. All you can eat

beef brisket with beans, potato salad and coleslaw, $7.49. 215

South 14th, 765-7979. adv.

Citian Joins National Guard — Brent E. Vaillancourt of Ponca City joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard on Sept. 28 this year. He is a member of CoD (-) 1/179 Inf located in Ponca City. He is eligible for the free college tuition program at state supported colleges and universities offered by the Oklahoma Army National Guard for enlistment. Brent will attend basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., and be assigned to the unit as an infantryman.

Non-scary Halloween fun! Free photographs of your child with

The Mouse from the book, “If You Give A Mouse a Cookie.” Stories,

crafts, songs. Saturday 10:00 and 3:00, Brace Books, North Fourteenth Street. adv.

Pioneer Woman Afghans for Sale — The Women of First United Methodist Church have Pioneer Woman Afghans for sale with profits going to local missions. For more information or to order, call 762-1429.

Giant Garage Sale 1404 Pecan Rd. Sat. 8:00 a.m. If we don’t have

it, you don’t need it. adv.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 600 block of North Lake Street at 7:49 a.m. Thursday that an 18-year-old man was being held on a city warrant for failure to pay. A report was taken.

Pure Water Wagon, reverse osmosis water, $0.25 a gallon, distilled $0.50. Call 765-4116 or 765-6464 for delivery. 1717 North 5th, Ponca City. adv.

Attempted Burglary — A man from the 100 block of East Ponca Avenue reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday that someone had attempted to burglarize the residence. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Dougan's Bar-B-Q Friday Special from 4-8 p.m., all you can eat

ribs with beans, potato salad and coleslaw, $7.49. 215 South 14th,

765-7979. adv.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 700 block of North Birch Street at 2:19 p.m. Thursday that a 46-year-old man was being held for two counts of telephone harassment and a city warrant for harassment.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 1000 block of North Union Street at 10:39 a.m. Thursday that a 23-year-old woman was being held on a city warrant for failure to pay.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 1400 block of East Bradley Avenue at 12:10 p.m. Thursday that a 24-year-old woman was being held on a city warrant for failure to pay.

Juan Shoe shine 2 bucks, 117 North 3rd Barney’s. adv.

Vehicle Fire — The Communications Center received a 911 call at 12:46 p.m. Thursday that a vehicle was on fire at the intersection of North Fourteenth Street and East Hartford Avenue. A unit from the Ponca City Fire Department responded and the fire was put out.

Assault — A man from the 400 block of South Fourth Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 7:35 p.m. Thursday that he had been the victim of an assault. An officer was assigned and an assault and battery report was taken.

Blackwell Marine Completes Course — Marine Pvt. Robert S. McMillian, son of Cathy Danner of Blackwell, recently completed the Basic Assault Amphibian Vehicle Crewman’s Course at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Course studies include vehicle capabilities and operating characteristics, land and water driving exercises and operator-level maintenance procedures. He joined the Marines in January 1998.

Free Photographs of your child with The Mouse from the book,

“If You Give A Mouse A Cookie.” Stories, crafts, songs, and a giant

Mouse! Saturday 10:00 and 3:00, Brace Books, North Fourteenth

Street. adv.

Accident — An accident in the parking lot of the 2000 block of North Fourteenth Street was reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 3:54 p.m. Thursday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Carpet Cleaning most modern method of cleaning. Recommended by major carpet manufacturers, most completely trained personal and finest service. Reasonable prices, references. Call

Floorcraft 762-8381. adv.

Subject Held — Two officers of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 500 block of North Elm Street at 10:36 p.m. Thursday that a 28-year-old man was being held for public intoxication, assault and battery on an officer, resisting arrest and three counts of spitting bodily fluids.

Jim Bowen Construction­ Custom homes, room additions and

remodeling. Call 762-3077. adv.

Accident — A two-vehicle accident at the intersection of North Fourteenth Street and East Hartford Avenue was reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 5:10 p.m. Thursday. Two officers were assigned and a report was taken.

Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential.

Hours: Tuesday 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. and Thursday, 6-8

p.m. 700 West Broadway. adv.

Vehicle Vandalized — A man from the 1000 block of North Sunset Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 8:04 p.m. Thursday that someone had vandalized his vehicle. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Citation Issued — A person reported to the Ponca City Police Department from the 300 block of West Grand Avenue at 4:35 p.m. Thursday that two male juveniles had been caught throwing rocks at the buildings, but had left southbound. Two officers were assigned and one juvenile was taken into custody. A report was taken and a juvenile citation was issued.

OSU Vs Texas A&M, Bill Murphy invites you out to the Elks

Lodge, doors open at 1:00 for Saturday football OSU at 6:00, two

big screen TV’s. You all come. adv.

Accident — A woman from the 500 block of Glendale reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 7:04 p.m. Thursday that while driving along North Fifth Street a subject had forced her vehicle into the curb, and the vehicle is damaged. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 1100 block of East Prospect Avenue at 7:21 p.m. Thursday that a 19-year-old man was being held on a Kay County warrant for second degree burglary.

Girls Basketball — The Parks and Recreation Department is currently accepting registration forms for the elementary girls basketball program. All girls wanting to play must be currently enrolled in grades 4-6. Forms have been distributed throughout all the public/private schools. Registration forms and the players fee must come to the Recreation Office. The players fee is $20 until Nov. 2 and starting Nov. 3 there will be a late fee of $5 per player. After Tuesday, Nov. 10, the Recreation Department will not accept any registration forms. More info from 767-0432.

Open House Oct. 24th Sat. 1-5 Creative Photography, 2015 North

Ash 580-767-1433. adv.

Gas Drive-Off — A clerk at Jack Griffith’s, 2501 North Fourteenth Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 6:23 p.m. Thursday that a subject had left without paying for $10.62 worth of gas and headed north. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Yes There is a Halloween costume party going on at the Blue

Lite Lounge. Saturday, October 31, 1998. 6 p.m.- 9 p.m. adv.

LIFESTYLES

Bits and Pieces
Little News
Miss Ponca City Attends Arkalalah

Bits and Pieces

Food Share

The Heartland Food Share new distribution location is the Wheatheart Nutrition and Senior Center, 319 West Grand. The November order deadline is Friday, Nov. 6. Orders are taken at the RSVP office, 110 North Fourth, on Thursdays and Fridays only. November steak specials include volunteering two hours in the community and qualification to purchase a share. Distribution day will be Nov. 21, 10-11 a.m. Doors will not open until 10 a.m.

Fairfax Quilt Show

The 1998 Quilt Show and Salad luncheon for the First Christian Church in Fairfax will be 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Nov. 7 in the basement of the church at Fourth and Mulberry. Quilts range in age from the present to one that was brought to Oklahoma in a covered wagon many years ago. Special gift bags will be given to the first 50 people attending the event, and door prizes will be awarded each hour. A piecing demonstration is scheduled for 1 p.m. Price of admission is $5

Little News

Kennedy Millet Cockriel is the name selected by Brian and Michele Cockriel, USMC Camp Hansen, for their daughter born at 10:58 p.m. Sept. 10, 1998, in Okinawa, Japan. The baby weighed 6-pounds, 13-ounces and measured 19 1/2-inches long. She has a brother, Jacksen Cockriel, 1.

Maternal grandparents are Gene and Beverly Cockriel of Ponca City and paternal grandparents are Gary and Joan Hallock of Perry.

Miss Ponca City Attends Arkalalah

Miss Ponca City, Ashley Dawn Van Hoesen, will represent Ponca City this weekend in the 67th anniversary of Arkalalah, Arkansas City’s Annual Fall Festival.

Her participation in the weekend event begins on Friday as a Visiting Queen, where she helps make up the Queens Court for Queen Alalah. Ms. Van Hoesen will participate in a full day of activities, including coronation practice on Friday morning and a luncheon at the Arkansas City Country Club at noon. She will be honored at a banquet at Alter’s Chestnutt Place on Friday night prior to the coronation ceremonies and party. She will be escorted for the evening by Daniel Denny.

On Saturday Miss Ponca City will be honored at an early morning breakfast hosted by the Kiwanis, and at noon she will be treated to a light luncheon hosted by the Queen’s Committee prior to her participation in the Arkalalah Parade, which begins at 2 p.m.

Ashley Dawn Van Hoesen is the daughter of Everette and Sonja Van Hoesen, 1140 LA Cann Drive. Anyone wishing to have Miss Ponca City as a guest speaker, or to participate in an event, may contact Vicki Graves, 765-4736 or 765-8679.

EDUCATION

Students Named to National Deans List
PTSA Discusses Scholarships
Local Schools To Celebrate With Powwow’s
Local Elementary School Offers Training Skills Lab

Students Named to National Deans List

Several area students are among the over 120,000 students included in the 21st Annual Edition of “The National Dean’s List,” which is published by Educational Communications, Inc., and is the largest recognition program and publication in the nation honoring high achieving college students.

Students are selected for this honor by their college deans, registrars or honor society advisors and must be in the upper 10 percent of their class, on their school’s “Dean’s List,” or have earned a comparable honor. Listed students are eligible to compete for $50,000 in scholarship awards funded by the publisher, and may also use a referral service for future employment opportunities. More than 2,500 colleges and universities nationwide use the publication to recognize their academically qualified students.

Ponca City students selected include: Amanda Anderson, Oklahoma State University; Marcia Berry, Ozark Christian College; Anne Crail, Cincinnati State Community College; Steven Derk, Oklahoma State University-Okmulgee; Koby Fleck, Northern Oklahoma College; Lacey Gray, Saint Gregory's University; Susan Haines, Oklahoma State University; Perry Hanson, Northern Oklahoma College; Robert Hardin, Oklahoma State University; Melissa Harger, Porsche Keese, Michelle Lechtenberg, Kitty McNamara and Derrick Myers, Northern Oklahoma College; Charles Oster, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Amy Otto, Saint Gregorys University; Mindy Pameticky, Oklahoma State University; Zachery Robertson, Northern Oklahoma College; Chad Ross, Oklahoma State University; Susan Schultz, Tulsa Community College; and Charlene Warner, Northern Oklahoma College.

Also Angela Barker, Oklahoma State University; Davina Bufford, Connors State College; Risa Freeman, Oklahoma State University; Cindy Golliver, Oklahoma State University; Tabitha Hardy, Hardin Simmons University; Lyndsi Hilbert, Northern Oklahoma College, Christina Keen, Oklahoma State University; Tane Kester, Northern Oklahoma College; Jake Newman, Cowley County Community College; Misha Stephens, Oklahoma Christian University; Karen Stokke, University of Oklahoma; Cynthia Thompson, Oklahoma City University; and Sheri Waldron, Connors State College.

Blackwell students are Jeri Anderson, Northern Oklahoma College; Tamera Childers, Oklahoma State University; and Jill Colwell and Allison Whaylen, Northern Oklahoma College. From Marland are John Burk and Debra Tautfest, Northern Oklahoma College; and Vanessa Miller, Oklahoma State University; from Newkirk.

Those from Tonkawa include Rachel Gardner and Tatyana Golubeva, Northern Oklahoma College; Stephanie Osborn, Cowley County Community College; and Alla Rozanova, Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

PTSA Discusses Scholarships

Ponca City High School parents and students learned of requirements for scholarships and National Honor Society membership at the October meeting of the PTSA.

In preparation for college, Royce Caldron, counselor, stressed the importance of good grades and good school attendance. Other considerations are good scores on college admissions tests such as the SAT and ACT and participation in school activities, youth groups, academic organizations, sports, extra curricular activities and volunteer work.

Caldron stated that the Internet is the best source of information on scholarships and that students should keep track of scholarship deadlines. Applications need to be neat and complete and students need to take college-bound classes to be adequately prepared for future education.

The Oklahoma Academic Scholar Recognition is a special honor for secondary students who exceed the basic graduation requirements. The State Board of Education acknowledges students who have a minimum grade point average of 3.7 for grades 9, 10, 11, and the first semester of grade 12 or who graduate in the top ten percent of their class. In addition, these students complete 22 units consisting of four units of English, three units in mathematics, three units in science, three units in social studies, or a combination of two units of social studies and two units of foreign language. Students also must score at least a 27 on the ACT or 1100 combined score on the SAT. The SAT or ACT must have been taken on a national test date before the date of graduation.

The National Honor Society requirements were explained by NHS sponsor, Michael Grimes. At Po-Hi the minimum cumulative GPA is 3.75. Students who qualify are given official notice by the school and are asked to complete forms relating to school activities, leadership positions, community service, work experience and awards. The Faculty Council of NHS, five faculty members selected by Jerry Winkle, principal, tabulate information regarding each eligible candidate. The official results are posted within one week. Seniors are selected in early October of the fall semester, and junior are selected in early February of the spring semester. The induction ceremony is held only once a year in early March.

A PTSA meeting will not be held in November, but the PTSA will sponsor a newspaper drive. Details will be announced later.

Local Schools To Celebrate With Powwow’s

Native American Heritage Week will be celebrated in the Ponca City Schools Nov. 9-13. Activities will be sponsored by the Title IX Indian Education Program of Ponca City Schools and the Johnson O’Malley Program of the Ponca Tribe.

The festivities will include school activities on Nov. 9, and an Indian taco meal at Garfield Academy on Nov. 10. Powwow assemblies will be held on Nov. 11 at Mid-High (8:20 to 9:20 a.m.), Union (9:35 to 10:35 a.m.), and Roosevelt (12:30 to 1:30 p.m.).

Native American Heritage Pride Day will start on Nov. 12 and several other powwow assemblies will be held Nov. 13 at Lincoln (8:45 to 9:40 a.m.), Middle School (10 to 10:55 a.m.), and Hutchins Memorial (12:30 to 1:30 p.m.). The community is invited to attend the assemblies.

Native American Heritage T-shirts will be worn on Nov. 12. This year’s design was created by Chris LittleCook.

For further information contact Lucy Kent, 767-8050; Jeana Rush, 767-8060; Jo Lessert, 767-9500, ext. 128; and Chris LittleCook, 763-0120.

Local Elementary School Offers Training Skills Lab

The Ponca City Schools offer a Training Skills Lab (TSL), a program developed to meet the needs of preschoolers with developmental delays. The TSL works with children ages three through five. An evaluation process is used to determine the need for the services of the Training Skills Lab. Areas that are evaluated are communication, cognition, motor skills, adaptive behavior skills and personal social skills.

Children are evaluated throughout the year, not just at the beginning of the school year. The TSL is located at Liberty Elementary School, 505 West Liberty.

The overall goal of the TSL program is to meet the educational needs of preschoolers with developmental delays by focusing on strengths and weaknesses and to provide a developmental curriculum. The need for the TSL is determined by an educational assessment team.

Educational agencies have taken great strides in meeting the needs of school-aged children with disabilities; however, it has become more evident that needs of children with disabilities must be met at an earlier stage of development in order for the special education program to be at its highest level of effectiveness. Optimal learning opportunities need to be provided throughout the formative years.

An individual education plan is prepared for each eligible child. This may call for the introduction of new teaching methods and materials appropriate for the child’s learning style and level of functioning.

The school system also has special education programs for school-aged children with disabilities.

For more information about the Training Skills Lab call Jan McKay at 767-8037.

RELIGION

Hartford Avenue C of C Marks 40 Years
Rock and Roll Concert Coming To 1st Christian
World Community Day Scheduled Here November 6th

Hartford Avenue C of C Marks 40 Years

Hartford Avenue Church of Christ will host Homecoming Nov. 7 and 8, marking “40 Years of Blessings”, November 1958 — November 1998. An Open House on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. will emphasize the beginning of celebration, featuring fellowship and refreshments in the foyer of the church. This will be a time of reunion and renewing friendships, it was announced by the current minister, Donald Huddleston.

Sunday’s events will open at 9:30 a.m. with Bible Class for the adults, meeting in the Auditorium to hear Leland Rodgers, Minister from 1983 to 1990, relating “Memories of Hartford Avenue.” Rodgers is currently preaching at the Angleton Church of Christ in Texas. He has spent 32 years in the preaching field — in Cornelia and Blue Ridge, Ga., Hixson, Tenn. and Angleton, Texas, as well as in Ponca City. He has done mission work in Nigeria, West Africa; Cameroon, West Africa and led three campaigns — Dominica, Antigua and Singapore. He has done considerable work in TV and Radio and counseled with the American Association of Christian Counselors and with Hospice. He is married to Erma Faulkner Rodgers and they have a son in Florida and a daughter in Houston.

A Time of Worship is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. with Steve Parker, speaking on “When We All Get to Heaven”. Parker was pulpit minister at Hartford Avenue from 1993 to 1996, and is presently Pulpit Minister at Southern Oaks Church of Christ in Chickasha, moving there in August 1996. He has also served in Collinsville, Okla.; Seattle, Wash. and Fort Gibson, Okla. The Ft. Gibson church supported Parker to the mission field in Seattle. Parker and his wife, Charlotte have two children, a daughter, Andrea, 13 and a son, Travis, 8.

A noon meal will be catered in the Fellowship Center. Following the lunch break, the group will meet in the auditorium where John Summers will introduce charter members and visitors, and Ron Pitts will lead singing.

Bill Terry, a former member, will give the devotional thoughts, using as his topic, “Maximizing Our Impact on the Lost”. A native of Childress, Texas, Terry received his education in Abilene, and did post graduate work at Baylor in chemistry and education. He married Mary D. Morris in Waco in 1951 and since that time has worked for Geigy Chemical Co., Red Arrow Laboratories in Waco and came to Ponca City in 1955 to work in Research and Development with Conoco. During this time in Ponca City he was a deacon at Hartford Avenue and preached for the Newkirk Church of Christ for several years. He and his wife have two daughters, Malena and Ingrid, both born in Ponca City. After leaving Ponca City, Terry preached full time in Denison, later worked for the City of Denison and the City of Sherman, as Waste Water Superintendent, retiring in 1988. During this time he preached for the Tioga Church of Christ, and was appointed an elder by the Central Church of Christ in Denison in April 1983. His devotional thoughts will be on “Maximizing Our Impact on the Lost”.

No evening service is planned for Nov. 8.

The Hartford Avenue congregation dates back to Aug. 5, 1923, when the first Church of Christ service in Ponca City was held in Union Labor Hall. The original group grew and on July 17, 1949, moved into the $75,000 plant at West Grand and Palm. As the membership continued to increase the building became inadequate. With the expansion of Ponca City to the north and east, it was decided that the needs of the members could best be served with the establishment of a new congregation in that area.

The congregation of the Church of Christ, Palm and Grand, purchased the lots at the northeast corner of Joe and Hartford and made a cash contribution toward the building of the facility.

Individual members of the sponsoring church made gifts to the building of the church and purchased most of the bonds sold to finance construction which began in May 1958. The original edifice of brick and concrete block measured 141 by 69 feet with parking facilities sufficient to accommodate 104 automobiles.

Cost of the new structure was $75,000 and most of the construction was done by members. The building included a one-story auditorium and a two-story classroom section, including a crib room for the convenience of mothers, and a “cry” room, both with attendants during each of the service hours.

Construction was completed in November 1958 under the guidance of Leslie Parker, Frank Hastings, Gerald Cooley, Walter Beam and L.A. Keller, trustees. About 60 families formed the nucleus of the Hartford Avenue church at that time.

In the summer of 1964, work was done to add 5,400 square feet to the existing 9,000 square feet of the first structure at a cost of $15,000. The new building included 10 classrooms and a full basement finished as a fellowship hall. In early summer of 1976 remodeling of the existing church building at Hartford and Joe was completed, including 6,000 square feet of additional class rooms and some 1,700 square feet added to the auditorium space. Seating capacity of the auditorium was increased from 400 to 630, and the remodeling included a complete facelift of the existing auditorium, including new pews, carpet, public address system, etc.

The cost was about $400,000 and included resurfacing and extension of the parking lot. Carl Maples was minister at the time.

A doctor’s complex at 304 Fairview was purchased in 1987, and has been renovated for educational and fellowship purposes. It has a seating capacity of more than 200. Leland Rodgers was pulpit minister when this addition was made, Carl Maples was elder/evangelist, and Keith Ward was minister of youth.

Looking back, Frank Hastings, Manly Jones, Warren Welker and Leslie Parker were the first elders at Hartford Avenue. First deacons were John Sudbury, Rodney Smith, Walter Beam, Glen Riley, Jim Thompson, Bill Terry and Bill Avery. James C. Gays was the first preacher and the first service was held Nov. 2, 1958 with 63 families forming the nucleus of the church family. Joining with them in the four services scheduled that day were members of the Church of Christ, Grand and Palm, who had sponsored the organization and assisted in the construction with both money and services.

Rock and Roll Concert Coming To 1st Christian

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will be presenting the talents of recording artists Overton and Broadway in a special "Rock and Reach” concert on Sunday, Nov. 8, in the church sanctuary.

The concert, which is free to the public, will begin at 5 p.m. A snack supper will follow in the church fellowship hall. Individuals and families are encouraged to attend.

Kendall Overton of Claremore and Steve Broadway of Stillwater recently announced the pending release of their new album, “Eye Wall,” which features 10 original compositions written by the duo.

Overton and Broadway have been performing together for about three years. As a youngster, Overton toured nationally with his family as an opening act for Bob Hope. Broadway spent several years touring with Carmen.

Together they have done studio work and live performances, with their new album, the product of their collaboration. Overton says of their music, “The songs tell stories in an interesting variety of ways because at times they’re reflective, upbeat, moody, or just plain fun.”

Foster Johnson, event coordinator, said, “We invite the entire community to hear this up-and-coming duo. We expect an entertaining and uplifting hour of entertainment and fellowship time afterward. We want to share this experience with everyone.”

World Community Day Scheduled Here November 6th

It’s coming Nov. 6!

Sponsored by Church Women United, World Community Day, an annual national worship service of Church Women United will be observed on that Friday at First Christian Church at 9:30 a.m., sponsored by the Ponca City CWU.

This is the final worship in the annual series of three sponsored by Church Women United. The first, World Day of Prayer had as its theme, “Who is My Neighbor?” In the next service, May Fellowship Day, that theme was expanded with a discussion of “Widening the Circle of Hospitality” within immediate neighborhoods. World Community goes further, reaching out into the world. It is an invitation to look at the world through the “windows” provided by the stories of global women theologians: Dorothy Soelle, Mercy Oduyoye, Chung Hyun Kyung, Ada Maria Isai-Diaz and Sister Jose Hobady. These women are sacred storytellers, whose prophetic voices are shaping our understanding of the ways that God is moving and transforming life all over this planet. Through their witness they are expanding our understanding of the role of the Christian faith in the global village.

The writer of the service, The Rev. Bettye Lewis, a United Methodist clergywoman, challenges women to embrace multi-cultural and intra-cultural ways to build bridges between and among us. Through symbols, colors and music of many cultures, participants will reflect on women’s lives and theological understandings.

Those attending the service are invited to bring an object sacred to them to place on the altar as a symbol of their spiritual journey. (Objects will be returned at the end of the service.) The object can represent loss or brokenness, hope or faith and may be an important memento or a simple symbol, such as a rock. People will be invited to share the stories of their objects, either from the altar or with a neighbor in the congregation.

Ethyl Jorgensen, President of Christian Church Women, announced that CWU Representative, Wanda Betow, will be in charge of the program. Nursery will be provided by RSVP, 762-1666. Meeting will be in the Fellowship Hall.

Offerings from “The World Within Our Neighborhoods” help support the women’s ecumenical ministries of Church Women United for peace and justice, including its commitments to advancing the social and economic power of women.

SPORTS

Look Out for That Truck
Memories Fresh for OSU
Sooners, Cyclones Looking
Cowboys Have Top
Wildcat Harrier Paschal Easily Recognizable

Look Out for That Truck

By FRED HILTON

News Sports Editor

Still trying to solve the problem of turnovers, the Wildcats take another step into the District 6A-3 meat grinder by placing themselves in front of a Mack truck — otherwise knows as the Sapulpa Chieftains.

The Wildcats, 0-5, 1-7, will be trying to halt Sapulpa running backs that outweigh most of the Po-Hi defenders by 100 pounds or more. And that says nothing of the Sapulpa linemen who are even bigger.

That’s not to say the Chieftains can’t be beat. Sapulpa is 2-3, 4-4 and may be watching a four-year run to the playoffs come to an end.

“Sapulpa has lost to some very good teams,” Kimrey said of the Chieftains who have lost three in a row after hitting the halfway point in the season at 4-1 and ranked among the top 10 teams in Class 6A. “But right now we’re not as good as those teams are.”

Sapulpa ran the district gauntlet of Edmond Memorial, Stillwater and Tulsa Union and came out 0-3. The Chieftains are probably licking their lips at the prospect of playing a much smaller team that is not playing well.

Kimrey and his staff have found some weaknesses in the Chieftains, “ but right now we’re not playing well enough to exploit those weaknesses.”

Not all is gloom and doom for the Cats and their coaches.

“We have improved in some areas,” Kimrey said Thursday. “We played much better defense in the second half against Sand Springs. And there has been improvement in the special teams’ play.”

But the Cats’ offense is still floundering in a sea of turnovers.

The Poncans have turned the ball over 26 times in eight games. That has proved disastrous against the quality of teams they play.,

Twenty-two of those turnovers have been fumbles, a number that appalls Kimrey.

“Our offense is not that complicated,” he notes. “There is no reason for that many fumbles.”

Kimrey is already planning an extensive off season program to build up strength and speed.

But mainly, he wants to work in the off season to improve his players’ commitment to the program

Memories Fresh for OSU

By OWEN CANFIELD

AP Sports Writer

STILLWATER (AP) — Mention last year’s game with Texas A&M to an Oklahoma State football player and you’re sure to get a wince.

The Cowboys controlled the game most of the night and led 22-7 in the fourth quarter. But A&M scored twice in the final six minutes to force overtime, then won 28-25.

‘‘They came back and hit us with two or three big plays and came back out on top, and it shocked us,’’ linebacker Tarrell Knauls said. ‘‘It shocked me, so I know it shocked the whole defense.

‘‘We learned from that. If we get ’em down the way we had ’em last year, we won’t be lackadaisical. We’re going to stay on top of them.’’

Coach Bob Simmons says every game is a learning experience. The lesson a year ago happened to be more painful than he would like.

‘‘The thing you try to get your young ball club and your players to understand, the game is never over,’’ he said. ‘‘And the only thing that we did not do in that ball game was execute down the stretch.’’

The Cowboys (3-4, 2-3 Big 12) hope to have a chance to execute down the stretch when they play host to the eighth-ranked Aggies (7-1, 4-0) on Saturday night.

Texas A&M lost its opening game to Florida State, but hasn’t been beaten since. The Aggies’ victims include then-No. 2 Nebraska and, last week, No. 25 Texas Tech. Oklahoma State has lost to both of those teams.

Statistically, Texas A&M has just the 11th-best offense in the Big 12. But the Aggies are ranked third in total defense and points allowed.

‘‘They’re different than most people on defense,’’ Simmons said. ‘‘They play a 5-2 front, not so much of an eight-man concept. You won’t see them a lot crowding the line of scrimmage. But they rely on the speed and the quickness of their two outside linebackers and their down defensive line.’’

While their offense has not been overwhelming, the Aggies have a dangerous running back in Dante Hall and a solid quarterback in Randy McCown. Hall, who scored twice against the Cowboys last year, is averaging 94 yards per game. McCown has completed 53 percent of his passes but has just three touchdowns.

Oklahoma State enters this game feeling good about its offense. The Cowboys produced 21 first downs in a loss to Kansas State two weeks ago and followed that with 41 points against Oklahoma.

Tony Lindsay had his best game of the season last week. He was 16-of-24 passing for 138 yards and two touchdowns, without a sack, and he ran for 99 yards and two scores. The Cowboys mixed things up a bit and finished with 149 yards through the air, 146 on the ground.

‘‘I hope we continue to do that,’’ Simmons said. ‘‘At some point in the season, people (opponents) start stereotyping you and you have to be able to get away from your tendencies. The last couple of ball games, we’ve been able to do that.’’

Sooners, Cyclones Looking

NORMAN (AP) — While Oklahoma continues to look for a quarterback Saturday, Iowa State hopes to find its running game again.

The Cyclones enter this week’s game against Oklahoma averaging 74 yards per game in Big 12 play. Darren Davis ranks fourth in the league in rushing, with 111 yards per game, but the bulk of that came early — he’s averaging just 2.9 yards per carry in conference games.

On Saturday, Iowa State plays a defense that ranks fifth in the Big 12 against the rush, so coach Dan McCarney knows finding a solution this week won’t be easy.

‘‘I wish at this stage we could line up against a Ball State defense, but we’re not going to be able to do that to get our running game going,’’ he said. ‘‘We’ve got to block the people we’re going to see and that’s Oklahoma, and they’re excellent.’’

The Cyclones (2-5, 0-4 Big 12) gained only 33 yards on the ground against Kansas State last week, and McCarney said the breakdowns were due more to physical mistakes than mental ones.

‘‘Our mental errors were very few last week, especially with our blocking assignments,’’ he said. ‘‘But we got very little movement at the point of attack on their front seven and front eight. We’ve got to do a better job of that.’’

Mental mistakes contributed to the 19 penalties Oklahoma (2-5, 0-4) committed last week in a 41-26 loss to Oklahoma State. But the coaches said Jake Sills’ different cadence and softer voice had a part in the many illegal procedure penalties whistled against the offense.

Sills entered the game late in the first quarter, after Eric Moore suffered a concussion. He played the rest of the game and is expected to start this week ahead of Brandon Daniels, who didn’t play a minute against Oklahoma State after starting five of the first six games.

Sills would be the fourth player to start at quarterback this season for the Sooners, who have lost five straight games. The coaches say he throws better than Daniels and therefore is a better fit in the offense, which no longer has any resemblance to the option attack Daniels ran during spring and two-a-days.

‘‘I’d rather be in one offense, but I don’t have it,’’ coach John Blake said. ‘‘I’m going to do whatever it takes to put some points on the board.’’

His best bet might be to simply hand the ball to De’Mond Parker, who ran for 220 yards against Oklahoma State. Parker averages 5.7 yards per carry and will be facing a defense that ranks 99th nationally against the rush.

‘‘Without question, De’Mond Parker is one of the better backs in this league,’’ McCarney said. ‘‘We’ve got all kinds of them in the Big 12. He’s one of them.’’

The Iowa State game would appear to be one of Oklahoma’s last good chances for a victory, and Blake can use one to help defuse constant speculation about his future. He has a record of 9-21 in three seasons, each of which has been marked by shuffling of quarterbacks.

McCarney said the quarterback troubles and penalties have probably contributed to the Sooners’ struggles this year.

‘‘There really are some real fine players down there,’’ he said. ‘‘We have great respect for them.’’

Cowboys Have Top

By DOUG TUCKER

AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The preseason coaches poll that picked Oklahoma State to have the best team and the best player in the Big 12 draws only a half-argument from Eddie Sutton.

He buys the player part. He’s not so sure his Cowboys, with four starters back from a 22-7 campaign, will sit atop the standings at the end of another long, grind-it-out conference season.

‘‘We picked Kansas,’’ said Sutton, who is beginning his 40th year as a basketball coach.

‘‘Kansas isn’t as strong as they have been. But they will still have a very, very good basketball team.’’

The consensus is that 6-foot-4 Adrian Peterson, who averaged 17.7 points last season as a junior, will replace Kansas’ now departed Raef LaFrentz as the Big 12’s player of the year.

On that score, Sutton has no quarrel.

‘‘Adrian Peterson is a great college basketball player. He’s one of the top players not only in this league, but in this part of the country. He’s a player who’s improved every year,’’ Sutton said.

The league will have new head coaches at Iowa State, Texas and Texas A&M. The newcomer with the best team but the most to overcome is probably Rick Barnes at Texas. He replaced Tom Penders, who left amid what amounted to a player revolt.

‘‘We need to create a love affair between this basketball team and the University of Texas,’’ said Barnes.

He’s spent a lot of time trying to win over the players as well as fans.

‘‘What I was trying to get them to understand is that to be a part of a team, you’ve got to have everybody thinking the same way,’’ he said ‘‘With a team divided, I wanted to bring them together. And I see it getting better every day in practice.’’

The Jayhawks, who have won seven of their last eight conference championships, have to replace LaFrentz and Paul Pierce, both first-team All-Americans who were taken early in the first round of the NBA draft.

And as if he didn’t have enough problems, Kansas coach Roy Williams is also dealing with a rash of injuries. Forwards T.J. Pugh and Ashante Johnson have undergone surgery and will be out at least a month or more. And forward Lester Earl has been having knee problems that may require surgery down the road.

But Williams is expecting no sympathy.

‘‘The other coaches would never agree Kansas is an underdog, and could probably care less about our injury situation,’’ he said. ‘‘I liked it better when we were picked No. 1. But if it means less pressure on our kids, that’s fine.’’

Nevertheless, Nebraska’s Danny Nee points out that the Jayhawks, who won the last two Big Eight and first two Big 12 championships, are 30-2 in the Big 12.

‘‘The only team they’ve lost to was Missouri,’’ Nee said. ‘‘I still feel they’re the dominant team, period.’’

Norm Stewart, the dean of Big 12 coaches, is starting his 32nd year at Missouri.

‘‘We’ve got great ballclubs and it’s going to be a great year,’’ Stewart said. ‘‘Every year there’s a tendency to say, ‘Well, we lost players, we lost this guy, we lost that guy.’ But we’ve got great players and great coaches in this league. I think we’re just coming together as a league.’’

‘‘Every year some conference is down,’’ said Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson. ‘‘I think balance is what makes our league special. Every night someone can beat someone. There’s not very many games we look at and say, ‘This is a definite win.’’’

But while the coaches all agree the league will be balanced, there was sharp disagreement on the touchy issue of summer recruiting.

‘‘I am totally against summer recruiting,’’ said Texas Tech’s James Dickey. ‘‘Some coaches think it’s important. But if you analyze all the problems we complain about as coaches, most of them go back to summer recruiting. I’d like to see that eliminated for two reasons. It puts recruiting back where it should be, with players, parents and the high school coach. And you have a summer. You get to spend time with your family.’’

Not so fast, says Nee.

‘‘There are not that many people in Nebraska,’’ he said. ‘‘What are we supposed to do? Suit up football players? They’re not going to find us by accident. We have to recruit. Those other guys, they select. We’ve got 2.4 million people and 2.3 million play football.’’

Wildcat Harrier Paschal Easily Recognizable

By MATTHEW KOENIG

News Sports Writer

If you don’t recognize Ponca City harrier Paul Paschal, either:

1 — you’ve been in town less than three days, or

2 — you don’t get out much.

Paschal (pronounced Pascal), is that smiling guy who strides by you at the stop light — or the grocery store, or the library, or just about anywhere within the city limits. Paschal, it seems, has become one of the most recognized features on the Ponca City landscape.

Saturday, the ubiquitous Paschal will try to grow his recognition even more, as he guns for his third straight Top 10 finish in the state cross-country meet, at Oral Roberts University.

A top 10 finish would also admit the senior harrier to one of the most exclusive clubs in high school sports: the 3-time All-stater club. As a sophomore, Paschal finished 7th, and came in 6th place last year after knocking off a number of runners in the final 800 meters.

He was ranked 6th in the state as a freshman, but a sudden attack of the flu on race day left him with a 42nd place finish at the state meet.

This year, though he’s been conspicuously absent from the state Top 20 for the first time in his high school career, Paschal’s agenda hasn’t changed.

“I’d like to be All-state again, that’s my goal,” he says. “Confidence-wise I can do it. I don’t know why they’ve overlooked me, so this is about getting respect for me, and Ponca City, and proving that I’m still here.”

Paschal — who battles asthma and allergic reactions — does concede his rankless-ness is likely due to several poor finishes this year. He was ill before the inaugural meet in Sapulpa, while in Stillwater a few weeks later, Paschal ran an extra 1000 meters en route to a 36th place finish.

“I took a wrong turn in the trees,” he moans. “I couldn’t see the leaders. It was pretty sad.”

Still, Paschal did get recompense later down the schedule, finishing 11th in the Stillwater-OSU Jamboree, ahead of many of the state’s top runners.

“That was basically the state meet right there,” he says. “And they still didn’t get the message.”

Though he may be a bit rankled at his ranking this season, Paschal’s standing in the greater scheme of things is virtually assured. For one thing, he’s got a 4.36 GPA (fourth in the senior class). He holds down two jobs — at Braums and the Poncan Theatre. More, his world-view encompasses something bigger than your typical 18-year old concerns.

Namely, Paschal — who was adopted as a baby from Korea — wants nothing less than to change the world.

“I’d like to work with kids,” he says. “and make a change. There are a lot of problems in the U.S. with abuse. There are a lot of kids with no where to go. And 30,000 kids die every day of starvation in the world. That’s just amazing.”

“Paul’s an incredible kid, with a great work ethic,” says high school cross country coach Kelly Chaney. “He came out for the team in the 7th grade and I knew at that point he’d be a big talent. He’d finish one, two or three in all the junior high meets and by 8th grade he was one of our top 5 runners.

“He just runs hard, every day.”

Chaney also credits Paschal for helping No. 2 harrier Chris Buck emerge as a powerful runner in his own right.

“He took him under his wing last year and started training with him. At that time he (Buck) was 10th or 15th on the team, so Paul’s helped him a lot.”

Paschal’s talent has also invited interest from a slew of college programs: OU, OSU, Florida State, South Carolina, Cornell, Brown, Tulsa, ORU, Rice, Wake Forest, Duke — not to mention a number of smaller Division II and III and NAIA schools. While Paschal is far from making a decision, he’s leaning towards one of the smaller schools.

“I’d like to go somewhere I can make an impact right away, as a varsity runner. But I’m leaving the door open. I’ll wait to see what happens at the state meet.”

As far as the sport of cross country goes, Paschal is emphatic: there’s more than meets the eye. Though he played soccer, baseball and basketball as a youngster, Paschal settled on running.

“There are a lot of strategies in cross country, and you’re really thinking the whole way,” he says. “And it hurts. You give whatever you have at the end, and you’re usually so tired you don’t hear your splits, you don’t hear people yelling at you, and sometimes you don’t even know if someone’s passing you.”

Though most high school races average around three miles, Paschal excels at longer distances — 10, or 15 kilometers. After his sophomore year, he traveled to Australia for the “City to Surf” race, the largest road race in the world. Out of 48,000 runners from around the world, he finished 200th — the No. 1 finish for a U.S. runner on the 14 kilometer track.

“That was the most amazing race I’ve ever had,” he says. “The gun went off and I didn’t even move for about two minutes.”

According to Chaney, Paschal — who he says could finish as high as 3rd this year — is right where he needs to be for Saturday’s race, too.

“He ran 16:37 as a sophomore, 16:35 as a junior, and a 16:22 last week in Regionals,” he says. “He’s been there before, and he’s running his best right now.”

Pascal, along with the 5-man varsity Wildcat team and individual qualifier Jessica Jorgensen, leave today for Tulsa. As a team, the Cats are currently ranked 10th in the state.