Local News and Sports

From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Wednesday, November 13, 1996

LOCAL
Blessing of the Animals Is Annual Event
Multiple Artists To Complete Post Office Mural
Halstead Postal Mural Artist Has Ponca City Connection
Area Calendar
Sargent Benefit Slated Thursday
Friday Last Day To Sign For Election
How Kay County Voters Voted for County, State Offices
Letters Say:
Sykes Enterprises, Employees Benefit for Domestic Violence
PTC Board Approves Purchasing Computers
Four State Area Art Festival, Sale Set for Pittsburg
ONABDC Rep Will Visit Area To Give Advice

NEWS BRIEFS

DEATHS
Charles R. Gauger
Naomi Gentry
Anna Maxine Strecker
James H. Miller
Wanda Sue Rhodd
Andrew Henry Doughty Sr.

Funerals
Elsie Stearns McClung

Services Pending
Mollie L. Gartside
Ruby Denney
Ruby Fulton
Harold D. Bowman

FAMILY LIVING
WHO Foundation Sponsoring Makeover Benefit for Domestic Violence Program

SPORTS
Hardesty Kicks PC To .500
Short-Handed Cat Swimmers Falter
Club's Season Ends
Early Harvest Down

LOCAL

Blessing of the Animals Is Annual Event

An annual event at Grace Episcopal Church, the Blessing of the Animals took place this year on St. Francis Day on the church lawn at Thirteenth and Grand.
The Rev. Kenneth Armstrong, rector, blessed a number of dogs, cats, hamsters, llamas, birds, fish and the like, belonging to parishioners and friends. The ceremony was held on the church lawn with an enthusiastic gathering of Ponca Citians expressing joy in the service.
St. Francis has been called the Little Poor Man. He took literally the injunction of Jesus to the rich young man to "sell what you have and give to the poor." But he is also known for his love of all God's creatures ... calling the swallows his sisters and once taming a wolf. There are even legends that he once preached to the birds in the woods. Francis considered all living creatures his brothers and sisters.
St. Francis of Assisi is the founder of the Franciscan order and the simple style of life Francis introduced into the church is to be found in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Episcopal Church.
Each animal blessed received a certificate, signed by Fr. Armstrong.

Multiple Artists To Complete Post Office Mural

A call has been issued by the Post Office Mural Selection Committee for all area and or regional artists to submit designs for the Ponca City Post Office Mural, according to Jerry Cathey, chairman.
The proposed Ponca City Post Office mural will differ from the Post Office murals of the 1930s and 1940s in two ways. First, it is to be created by several different artists, as opposed to traditionally only one artist; and secondly, instead of being painted directly on a wall or a canvas being glued to a wall, this modern mural will consisted of 10 independent canvases on stretcher bars.
Height of each panel is 88 inches. Width of the panels is 48 inches. The canvas will be polyflax over routed and mitered stretcher bars. The Postal Service will furnish these 10 canvas panels and they will be presprayed with an undercoating of cool gray to give a unifying color.
Theme of the mural is "Ponca City, Past and Present," as determined by Postmaster Jack Weatherford and the Mural Selection Committee.
The medium is oil or acrylic. The form is a collage of images or dominant subject theme. The style is realistic or abstract: "Permission to use the Conoco Oil Triangle," "Marland Oil Triangle," and the Conoco "Hottest Brand Going" trademark symbols for this project has been granted, however these trademarks must not be altered in color, lettering, spelling, design or shape, according to the guidelines.
Titles of the 10 panels are for descriptive purposes only and should not appear as part of the artwork. The 10 areas are, Native Americans; The Land Run; 101 Ranch and Wildwest Show; The Marland Era; Pioneer Woman Statue and building boom of the 1920s and 1930s; British flight training and Conoco; The Land of Plenty; Symbols; Recreation and Kaw lake, and Monuments to the future.
Guidelines and Subjects
The following are in depth descriptions and listing of certain restrictions.
- The Native American (harmony with nature) suggested subjects include, The Ponca Tribe, Chief White Eagle, tepees, buffaloes, hunting, spears, bows and arrows, horses, other animals, birds, plants and arrowheads.
- The Land Run (excitement) possible supporting subjects, wagons, teams of horses, trains, tents, buggies, pioneers, sod houses, plowed fields, windmills and early day merchants.
- "101 Ranch and Wild West Show (showmanship) possible supporting subjects, bulldogger Bill Pickett, the ranch white house, circus elephants, buffaloes, acrobatic horse riding, horsemen with parade banners, cowboys, Indians in head dresses and rodeo arena.
- The Marland Era (fabulous wealth and luxury) the Marland Mansion, extensive formal gardens and grounds, parties, cars, oil wealth, horses and stables, Lydie Marland, E.W. Marland, fox hunts, foxes and dogs, polo, Marland Oil Triangle, guests and politicians.
- Pioneer Woman Statue and building boom (prosperity). Panel should include Pioneer Woman Statue. Possible supporting subjects, Will Rogers, Arcade Hotel, the library, High School building, civic center, Ponca Military Academy, old hospital building and oil wells.
- British Flyers and Conoco. Possible supporting subjects, British flight training aircraft of 1940s, Flight School No. 6 insignia, service men/service women in uniform, airmail letters, Wentz Camp Pool, old-fashioned drug store counter, movies, Ponca City Baseball League, ball game tickets, movie tickets, Conoco Triangle, Conoco Hottest Brand Going, oil wells, tank farm, red foxes, refinery, service stations automobiles, motoring, vacationing, offices and office workers.
- The land of Plenty (breadbasket) Subjects could depict a wheat field, a farmer in a wheat field, trees, pecans, farm buildings or barns, a farm pond, deer, raccoon, quail, geese, fishing, burning wheat stubble, Tall Grass Prairie, buffalo, rancher on horse and cattle in pasture.
- Symbols (city, state and national symbols) Panel should depict the Oklahoma City bombing blue ribbon, redbud tree, Oklahoma state flag, scissor tail flycatcher bird, iris flower and bald eagle. Also supporting subjects could include gaillardia flower and mistletoe.
- Recreation and Kaw Lake. The panel should depict water skiing, sail boating, motocross, formula car racing, golfing and other possible supporting subjects could include tennis, fishing, hunting, swimming and eagle watching.
- Monuments and to the Future. Panel should depict statue of Lydie Marland, statue of E.W. Marland, Poncan Theatre, Centennial Statue, Chief Standing Bear Statue, and Festival of Angels. Possible supporting subject the Olympic torch run through Ponca City. The Olympic ring symbol cannot be used.
Preliminary Paintings
Artists wishing to paint one of the canvas panels need to submit a 20-by-40-inch preliminary colored painting so their painting skills can be judged. The preliminary painting should be on a 20-by-40-inch foam core board or comparable firm panel. The artist's complete name, address, city, state, zip code and telephone number and representative panel number should be written on the back of each preliminary painting.
If available, artists are asked to attach a snapshot of one or two recent paintings on the back of the preliminary painting. After judging is completed, the preliminary paintings will be available for pickup by he submitting artists on Jan. 15, 1997.
Two or more artists may work together to submit preliminary paintings and/or the canvas panels. In fact, in keeping with Postmaster Weatherford's desire for a community effort, youths in art classes are encouraged to work together, or individually and submit designs. Youth and adult artwork will be judged together.
Copyright and Ownership
Artists should sign their names and use the copyright symbol on their work. Artwork by multiple artists should be signed by each of the artists and copyrighted. With each of the 10 completed 48-by-88-inch canvas panels is delivered to the Ponca City Post Office, it should be copyrighted and signed by the appropriate artist. These 10 canvas panels of artwork will be considered a gift to the Postal Service - however, the artists will retain the copyright and right to sell reproductions (prints, postcards and others) of their signed and copyrighted artwork, if they so desire.
The time line that has been established by the committee is:
- Dec. 31, preliminary colored paintings due at Ponca City Post Office. Each artist may submit up to three preliminary paintings
- Jan. 7, 1997, judging of preliminary paintings; Decision of the judges is final. Two in-town judges and one out-of-town judge will make the final decision.
- Jan. 15, 1997, notification of winners will be made by certified letter and the 48-by-48-inch canvas panels will be issued to artists.
- On April 1, 1997, the completed artwork on the canvas panels are due back at the Post Office.
- May, 3, 1997, the unveiling ceremony will be held at the Ponca city Post Office.
Cathey said the greatest possible care will be given in the handling of artists' art works entered in competition. Every precaution will be taken to protect all art works. The Postal Service, The Ponca City Post Office and the Mural Selection Committee will assume no responsibility for loss or damage to any artwork entered in the competition.
Named as resources for material are the Ponca City Library, The Ponca City News, Ponca City Tourism Authority, Marland Mansion, Cultural Center, Pioneer Woman Museum (closed for expansion - send for written inquiry).
The contact person is Jerry Cathey (405) 762-2485 or (405) 762-2486, Mural Selection Committee, Ponca City Post Office, 402 East Grand Avenue, Ponca City, Ok. 74601-9998.

Halstead Postal Mural Artist Has Ponca City Connection

Editor's Note: Ponca City Post Office, with the assistance of a citizen's committee, is launching a mural project for the lobby of the building. Jerry Cathey, Postal Service worker, is heading up the project, guidance from Postmaster Jack Weatherford. Over the years a number of Post Offices across the nation and state have had murals depicting the history of the area. This is the second in a series on Post Office murals in Oklahoma and Kansas.
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By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Staff Writer
HALSTEAD, Kan. - Swedish artist Birger Sandze'n, who often stayed in Ponca City with the late Charles and Maude Calkins, gave an interesting interpretation of history to the Postal mural at Halstead, Kan.
The mural, which doesn't feature any people and depicts a scenic landscape in bold strokes, was supposed to show the place where Kit Carson was reported to have camped.
Actually the mural is believed to be a view of the modern Riverside Park, where the Little Arkansas River and Black Kettle Creek come together.
The mural was painted in about 1941, according to Postmaster is Doug Patry.
According to the book "Wall to Wall America," "at the right (of the mural) stood a run-of-the-mill Oak the painter called 'Kit Carson's Tree.'" This came from a description by Sandze'n.
Halstead, has a population of about 2,065, and is located in Harvey County, in basically agriculture country with some oil activity in the area. Large grain elevators are testimonials to the wheat harvest.
Don Paul, a research student at the University of Wichita, says that Sandze'n was not the choice of artist for the mural project, but a letter writing campaign got the commission for Sandze'n, a Kansas neighbor residing Lindsborg.
Sandze'n's art evolved from the delicate style known as pointillism to a much heavier style known as impasto, which was used for the Halstead Postal mural.
The Birger Sandze'n Memorial Gallery is located on the campus of Bethany College at Lindsborg, where he settled after coming to the United States from his homeland.
Sandze'n became friends with Gordon Matzene, an art collector, who came to live in Ponca City from his home in Simia, India. The two became friends after their paths crossed in the art world.
Sandze'n loved oriental art and Matzene was a collector of oriental art. Matzene also appreciated Sandze'n's work and they often exchanged art items. Some of the Matzene oriental collection is at the Lindsborg Museum featuring Sandze'n's work.
Ponca City Connection
About 20 of Sandze'n's works belong to the Ponca City Library as a part of the Gordon Matzene collection, which was bequeathed to the public book repository.
Sandze'n often visited Ponca City, where he stayed with Maude and Charles Calkins in the stately old Calkins Mansion, now Trout Funeral Home.
The Calkins were supporters of the arts and commissioned Sandze'n to do a private set of 100 lithographs of their home The 1923 lithograph was entitled "Menden Hall," and the artist's proof of this print hung in the foyer of the grand old building on West Grand.
Sandze'n grew up in a home where music, art and literature were loved and appreciated. At the age of 10 he attended a boy's school in Skara and while there studied drawing and painting privately with Olof Erlandson, a graduate of the Royal Academy at Stockholm.
Following graduation from Skara College in 1890, Sandze'n continued his schooling in French and aesthetics at Lund University. About that time he made the career decision to be a professional painter and became a student of Anders Zorn, a well-known painter.
He would also study with Richard Bergh, art scholar an portrait painter, and Per Hasselquist, sculptor. Later, Birger studied at the studio of Aman-Jan in Paris. It was in France that he met many Americans who piqued his interest in coming to the United States.
He did not have the financial means to pursue the idea of visiting America. His father, a minister, who had read about Bethany College at Lindsborg, wrote the author of the book and the founder of the college, Dr. Carl Swinson, inquiring if they had need of a teacher. Swinson invited Sandze'n to come and teach. He was hired not to teach art, but as a foreign language instructor teaching French and Spanish.
An extremely prolific artist, Sandze'n during his lifetime, produced over 3,000 paintings, 70 sketch books filled with drawings and some 400 watercolors and some 400 prints.
Sandze'n continued to reside in Lindsborg, until his death in 1954.
The Lindsborg Post Office also has a landscape mural painted by the Swedish artist. Most of the Depression Art murals paid for by the Treasury Department depicted historical scenes.

Area Calendar

November 10-24
Ponca City Art Association presents Connie Seabourn's Works, 2-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, Ponca City Art Center, 819 East Central Avenue.
November 14
Benefit Dinner for Reggie Sargent, 5-7 p.m., Moose Lodge, tickets available from Oklahoma Natural Gas or First National Bank, Ponca City.
North Central Equine 4-H Club, 6 p.m. for the ride, 7 p.m. for the meeting, Home of Sam Robbins and Ann Smith, information 765-7719.
November 15
Kaw City Senior Citizens Dance, 7-10 p.m., Music by Country Fever Band, Kaw City Community Building.
November 15-16
Ponca Playhouse production "Greetings," 8 p.m., Poncan Theatre.
November 16
Carolyn Hart, Oklahoma City author, autographing "Mint Julep Murder," 1-3 p.m., Brace Books and More, North Fourteenth Street, Ponca City.
November 17
Ponca Playhouse production "Greetings," 2 p.m., Poncan Theatre.
Community Concert "Cafe Noir," 2:30 p.m., Hutchins Memorial, Fifth Street at Overbrook Avenue, Ponca City.
November 18
United Ostomy Association, Ponca City-Stillwater, 7:30 p.m., St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Conference Room B, round table discussion.
November 19
Northern Oklahoma College Women's Club Style Show Sensation, 7 p.m., Memorial Student Union Basement.
November 20
Annick Smith, author of "Big Bluestem: A Journey into the Tallgrass," autographing, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Brace Books and More, North Fourteenth Street, Ponca City.
November 22-23
Ponca Playhouse production "Greetings," 8 p.m., Poncan Theatre.
November 24
Denny Hook, Ponca City author, autographing "Snapshots of the Deity: Catching God in the Act," 2-4 p.m., Brace Books and More, North Fourteenth, Ponca City.
November 25
Kaw City American Legion Thanksgiving Dinner, 6 p.m., turkey with trimmings, $6, children under 12 $3, homemade pie sale $5 each.
November 28
Thanksgiving Day Pioneer Woman 10K (6.2 miles) running race, 9 a.m., $12 with T-shirt; 2K fun run free without T-shirt, turkeys awarded, start/finish at Pioneer Woman Statue, enter before or at the race, Bob Kammiller, 765-7855.
November 29-December 31
Festival of Angels, Ponca City. 6-10 p.m. nightly.
November 29-January 4
Hospice Tree of Life, Woodlands Christian Church, East Hartford Avenue and North Fourth Street, and Ponca City Library, Fifth Street and East Grand Avenue, Ponca City.
November 30
15th Annual Braman Craft Fair, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Braman High School Gym.
December 1
Downtown Open House, 1-4 p.m., all downtown Ponca City stores open.
First Baptist Church Silvertones (Senior Adult Choir), presents musical "Night of Miracles," 6:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, Ponca City.
Live Nativity, 6:30-8 p.m., Woodlands Christian Church, East Hartford Avenue and North Fourteenth Street (weather permitting), Ponca City.
December 2
Sleep Support Group, for anybody with sleep apnea or family or friends, 7-8 p.m., St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Ponca City.
December 3
Christmas Concert by Ponca City Area Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Mel Arner, 8 p.m., Poncan Theatre.
December 3-19
(Tuesday, Thursday noon-1 p.m.)
Angels on Assignment, brown bag, video and discussion, First Christian Church, Fifth Street and Cleveland Avenue, Ponca City.
December 4-7
Ponca City Art Association presents Organizations Decorate Christmas Trees, 1-5 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday, Ponca City Art Center, 819 East Central Avenue.
December 6
Lighted Christmas Parade, 6 p.m., Downtown Ponca City.
Perry Christmas Events, 6-8 p.m., Holiday Fest, merchants open and lighting of the courthouse square; parade at 6:30 p.m.; food court in Courthouse, 6:45-8:45 p.m.; free hayrides, 7-8:30 p.m.; Santa in his house, carolers downtown, 7-8:30 p.m.
Ballet Oklahoma's "The Nutcracker," 8 p.m., Poncan Theatre, tickets required, sponsored by Ponca City Arts and Humanities Council.
December 7
Annual VFW Auxiliary, Post 1201, Arts and Crafts Show, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Post Home on East Prospect, Ponca City, free admission, for information, 765-8924.
Perry Christmas Events Pet Parade, 10:30 a.m.; Santa in house, 10 a.m.-noon, Main Street Christmas Ball, 8 p.m.-midnight.
Holiday Craft Show, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Hutchins Memorial.

Sargent Benefit Slated Thursday

A benefit for Reggie Sargent, an Oklahoma Natural Gas employee, who is being treated for lymphoma, is slated for Thursday.
A brisket dinner will be served from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Moose Lodge. The event is sponsored by Oklahoma Natural Gas Employees and the food is donated by Head Country Bar-B-Q. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children.
Proceeds will help to defray medical and other expenses for Sargent. For tickets or more information call ONG at 762-6307 or First National Bank 762-1644.

Friday Last Day To Sign For Election

Friday is the last day to register to be eligible to vote in Ponca City's Dec. 10 special election for infrastructure improvements and emergency equipment.
The city will be voting on an $8.75 million bond issue to finance the projects.
Carol Stafford, Kay County Election Board secretary, urges any voters with questions about their eligibility or about the location of their polling place to contact the Kay County Election Board at (405) 362-2130.
A person must be 18 years of age or older, a citizen of the United States and a resident of Oklahoma to be eligible to register to vote. Persons who have been convicted of felonies are not eligible to register until a period of time equal to their original judgment and sentence has expired or unless they have received a full pardon. Persons who are under adjudication as incapacitated persons or as partially incapacitated persons prohibited from voting may not register.
Some voters who already are registered may need to update their registrations. Voters who have moved within the county may need to change their address of registration. Others may want to change their political affiliation or name.
Stafford said all types of registration will be conducted at the County Election Board office, located at the Kay County Courthouse. In addition, persons may register or update their existing registration at tag agencies in Ponca City, Tonkawa, Blackwell and Newkirk.

How Kay County Voters Voted for County, State Offices

Treasurer
Here is how Kay County voters voted in the general election for Treasurer between Pat Schieber and Radena Eisenhauer:
Schieber Eisenhauer
Precinct Votes
Newkirk
001 133 439
002 114 246
Tonkawa
101 213 255
103 333 300
Blackwell
201 437 442
202 282 293
205 274 274
210 501 583
Rural
400 22 15
401 19 49
402 5 4
403 133 226
404 40 89
406 149 135
409 23 34
410 24 31
411 54 95
412 144 145
413 668 381
414 94 65
415 51 65
417 106 167
419 217 262
420 128 164
421 8 11
Ponca City
503 581 464
504 423 280
507 412 432
516 215 210
517 200 241
523 315 301
527 590 427
530 485 385
532 884 576
533 416 308
534 698 475
Absentees 442 452
TOTAL 9,883 9,321

County Clerk
Here is how Kay County voters voted in the general election for County Clerk between Linda Smith and Pam Goodno:
Smith Goodno
Precinct Votes
Newkirk
001 191 379
002 115 240
Tonkawa
101 171 291
103 282 351
Blackwell
201 304 573
202 175 400
205 173 375
210 341 736
Rural
400 16 21
401 29 38
402 2 7
403 142 217
404 42 87
406 88 195
409 11 46
410 14 40
411 41 107
412 111 178
413 605 449
414 68 91
415 43 72
417 111 162
419 251 229
420 99 190
421 10 10
Ponca City
503 575 469
504 418 281
507 433 416
516 210 218
517 182 260
523 320 300
527 598 423
530 494 375
532 981 482
533 434 300
534 777 406
Absentees 386 502
TOTAL 7,997 11,098

Court Clerk
Here is how Kay County voters voted in the general election for Court Clerk between Glenda Emerson and Diane Beekman:
Emerson Beekman
Precinct Votes
Newkirk
001 341 228
002 208 143
Tonkawa
101 277 190
103 373 263
Blackwell
201 591 289
202 374 203
205 388 161
210 788 296
Rural
400 24 13
401 47 21
402 6 3
403 228 131
404 86 43
406 203 84
409 45 12
410 43 12
411 89 57
412 151 139
413 603 455
414 109 48
415 69 48
417 161 108
419 242 238
420 140 149
421 12 8
Ponca City
503 517 529
504 356 345
507 418 424
516 206 221
517 158 280
523 319 296
527 601 420
530 502 364
532 842 618
533 400 322
534 695 481
Absentees 479 419
TOTAL 11,091 8,061

Sheriff
Here is how Kay County voters voted in the general election for Sheriff between Marion VanHoesen and James Henley:
VanHoesen Henley
Precinct Votes
Newkirk
001 413 152
002 234 122
Tonkawa
101 266 202
103 356 283
Blackwell
201 429 549
202 214 371
205 238 310
210 506 578
Rural
400 26 11
401 50 16
402 6 3
403 245 114
404 77 51
406 150 140
409 27 30
410 33 21
411 114 33
412 171 124
413 864 187
414 119 40
415 85 32
417 135 136
419 297 185
420 174 115
421 14 6
Ponca City
503 719 322
504 502 195
507 521 326
516 272 154
517 234 201
523 382 230
527 731 285
530 590 280
532 1,111 336
533 491 228
534 896 279
Absentees 627 262
TOTAL 12,319 6,909

Corp. Commish.
Here is how Kay County voters voted in the general election for Corporation Commissioner be-tween Ed Apple and Wanda Jo Peltier:
Apple Peltier
Precinct Votes
Newkirk
001 285 243
002 162 154
Tonkawa
101 241 181
103 312 260
Blackwell
201 446 375
202 272 248
205 252 273
210 567 423
Rural
400 19 13
401 44 21
402 5 3
403 184 133
404 73 48
406 162 92
409 32 22
410 35 17
411 73 63
412 126 123
413 660 286
414 89 53
415 56 50
417 134 117
419 219 225
420 133 138
421 10 10
Ponca City
503 554 382
504 407 239
507 403 358
516 192 175
517 169 224
523 298 264
527 526 375
530 475 317
532 891 379
533 394 253
534 729 325
Absentees 463 338
TOTAL 10,092 7,200

House Dist. 37
Here is how Legislative District 37 precincts voted in the general election between Jim Newport and Bernie Jackson :
Newport Jackson
Precinct Votes
Rural
413 702 367
414 92 65
415 59 56
419 251 229
Ponca City
503 575 469
504 418 281
507 433 416
516 210 218
517 182 260
523 320 300
527 598 423
530 494 375
532 981 482
533 434 300
534 777 406
Absentees 340 231
Osage County
305 335 305
TOTAL 7,201 5,183

Commission Dist. 2
Here is how Kay County voters in Commission District 2 voted in the general election between Marvin Johns and Wayne Leven:
Johns Leven
Precinct Votes
Newkirk
001 191 379
002 126 234
Rural
401 20 48
402 4 5
403 125 237
404 66 64
415 54 62
Ponca City
503 462 575
507 306 537
516 155 272
523 231 381
527 460 547
Absentees 101 201
TOTAL 2,301 3,542

Letters Say:

Letters appearing in The News do not necessarily reflect the editorial policies or beliefs of The News. Letters will be accepted only when they are signed and include addresses and phone numbers of writers. Unsigned letters will be discarded. All letters submitted become the property of The News. No letter will be returned. We reserve the right to reject or to correct letters considered unsuitable. Letters may be edited to conserve space. We specifically decline letters for or against candidates for office.
Editor, The News:
I would like to respond, in part, to the letter from Debi McDonald printed in the Oct. 16 edition of The News.
I cannot respond to her question about City employees transporting their children to school because I do not know what the policy of that particular department is. Nor do I know the circumstances that employee encountered that day. Was he taking the kids to school because his wife was ill? Or does he drive right by the school on his way to work? Don't know do we?
As to the City employee who parks his City vehicle by the fire hydrant from 4:30 Friday until 7:30 Monday morning. Debi, have you ever confronted the responsible party? Have you ever contacted the Police Department to determine if maybe the employee needs to be cited?
Why do City employees take City vehicles home? The majority of them do it because they are "on call" and need to respond to a situation as quickly as possible. The Fire Department employee responds to house fires. Would you want him to have to go to the Fire department to pick up necessary equipment that is no doubt in the vehicle or would you rather he respond from his residence? Since he does live in your neighborhood. City utility trucks are being taken home for the same reason. Quicker response to the problem. You have, I'm sure, lost your power at some point in time. Don't you want it back on as soon as possible, or would you rather the employees drive to the lot first to pick up the equipment and then drive to the trouble spot?
Police Officers take Patrol cars home for several reasons. First, now that there are twice as many Patrol cars that are only in service for 10 hours a day versus 24 hours a day, maintenance on the vehicles has drastically reduced. Less use, less wear and tear. Also, there is not enough room to park the vehicles at the Police Station. Your comment about doubling our Police patrol if Officers didn't take patrol cars home doesn't even make sense. Where are these Officers? More cars doesn't automatically mean more Officers to drive them does it?
Charlotte Baker

Sykes Enterprises, Employees Benefit for Domestic Violence

Recently, Sykes employees turned out in the rain to hold a garage sale to benefit the Domestic Violence Program and raised $335. That amount was then matched by the Sykes Enterprises corporate office, bringing the contributions to $670.
"We had a great time," says Karyn Sledge, quality trainer assistant for Sykes Enterprises. Sledge, who also acted as garage sale chairperson said "We're ready to do it again."
The dollars raised will help provide needed services to clients and their families at the shelter, says Christy Dulick Williams, executive director for the Domestic Violence Program.
"Sykes is a good friend to all the United Way Agencies," says Helene Schwartz United Way executive director. "Their fund raising campaign ended last week with a grand total of $12,725 in employee contributions. We Appreciate their continued efforts on behalf of United Way and it's member agencies."

PTC Board Approves Purchasing Computers

By KRISTI GRABEAL
News Education Editor
Students in Pioneer Technology Center computer classes will have new equipment following a board decision Tuesday night.
The board approved the purchase of new computers to be used for instruction following considerable discussion.
Mary Rigdon, board member, was concerned about the purchasing of new computers. She wanted to know why the board could not lease the computers. Fred Haub, board member, said it would probably be in the best interest of the board to buy the computers because the interest that would be paid would be very high. The new computers will cost $64,216.
The financial report was reviewed by the board. The general fund, sinking fund, treasurer's report and school activity fund were all discussed and the board approved all of the reports.
The board also approved resolution 01-97 to the Kay County Election board calling for the annual election of a Board of Education member in zone 1 and 5.
The board heard a report from Velta Reed-Johnston, superintendent, concerning the technology center.
During the employee report, items discussed were the new greenhouse, trees purchased by the Horticulture department and PTC students attending the DECA convention with the high school in Dallas, Texas.
Johnston also set the next board meeting for Dec. 10 and talked to the board about the possible purchase of a new bus. A new bus for the technology center would allow students to take longer trips. The bus will cost approximately $70,000 and will include an air conditioner. Johnston also pointed out that the board cannot purchase a chartered bus because they were banned by the state. According to the state, the yellow buses are safer for the passengers riding on them.
The board went into executive session around 6 p.m. to discuss employment and possible contracts. After returning from executive session, the board approved the following contracts: Glenda Council, Executive Secretary/Financial Secretary; Jennifer Neal, Child Care Giver; Cathy Schieber Child Care Giver; and Diana Pankrantz, Nursing Secretary.
No new business was discussed during the meeting.

Four State Area Art Festival, Sale Set for Pittsburg

The Four State Area Art Festival and Sale set for Saturday and Sunday at Meadowbrook Mall in Pittsburg, Kan., will feature Darrell DeMoss, sculptor, as the featured artist. DeMoss is the owner of DeMoss Bronze Works, Hot Springs, Ark., and was awarded "Best of Show" at the 1990 Oklahoma Sculpture Society Show and is a regular at "Sculpture in the Park" and "The Loveland Invitational" in Colorado.
The Four State Art Festival and Sale is a celebration of both visual and performance artists from Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri. Many local and regional artists who have been invited to exhibit their works for sale throughout the weekend.
The performance artists, such as poets, story tellers, dramatic and comedic performers and musicians are scheduled to perform throughout the festival.

ONABDC Rep Will Visit Area To Give Advice

A representative of Oklahoma Native American Business Development Center will be visiting the Kaw City area to offer technical assistance for American Indian individuals or tribes interested in starting a business.
Technical assistance is provided by the ONABDC in the area of developing business plans and financial packages. In addition, assistance through procurement information is also available. All of the services provided by ONABDC are available at no cost to American Indians.
The ONABDC representative will be in Kay City at the Kaw Nation Tribal Office, Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ONABDC is funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency, and is located at 2727 East 21st, suite 102, in Tulsa. For an appointment contact ONABDC at 1-800-736-1115.

NEWS BRIEFS

Chili Supper Set - Trinity Pentecostal Church, 621 West Grand will sponsor a Chili Supper on Friday, Nov. 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. Cost will be $4 for adults and $2.50 for children under 12. All proceeds will go toward missions of the church. For more information, call 762-9911. The public is invited to participate.

Legion Dinner, Celebration - The American Legion will host a family dinner at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Huff-Minor American Legion Post 14, 407 West South Avenue, with a regular meeting to follow. The 77th birthday of the auxiliary will be celebrated.

Pipeline Project - The intersection of South Ash Street and West Central Avenue will be closed Thursday through Nov. 19, for construction work on phase two of the northwest water transmission pipeline project. Local traffic will be allowed on the streets, however, the intersection will be closed.

City Main Work - North Fifth Street between East Broadway Avenue and East Hazel Avenue will be closed Thursday while city crews repair a water leak. Closing of the street will occur at approximately 9 a.m. to allow for early morning traffic, and it will be closed until the repair is complete.

Library Schedules Story Times - Tuesdays at 10 and 11:30 a.m., story time is held at the Ponca City Library for 30 minutes for youngsters 4-7 years old and on Wednesdays, at 10 and 10:30 a.m., 2-3 year olds have a period of story time for 15 minutes. The topic for Nov. 19-20 is "Mice are Nice." The library will be closed Nov. 28-30.

Violation of Protective Order - A person in the 300 block of South Ninth Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 11:43 a.m. Tuesday that a male subject may have violated a protective order earlier in the morning. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Gas Drive-Off - A person at Citgo, 400 East South Avenue, reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 1:06 p.m. Tuesday that a male subject had driven off without paying for gas and left southbound on Fourth Street. An officer was assigned and the information was logged.

Stalking Incident - Two female subjects from the 900 block of East Grand Avenue reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 1:53 p.m. Tuesday that a subject had been stalking them. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Burglary - An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported at 2:28 p.m. Tuesday that a report of an auto burglary was being taken at Hutchins Memorial.

Subject Held - An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported at 2:55 p.m. Tuesday that a 19-year-old female was being held for failure to pay.

Subject Held - An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported at 4:23 p.m. Tuesday that a 20-year-old woman was being held for failure to pay and failure to appear.

Assault - The communications center received a 911 call at 5:25 p.m. Tuesday from a person in the 800 block of South Thirteenth Street that a disturbance was occurring. Three officers were assigned and two reports of domestic assault and battery were taken.

Vehicle Fire - A Ponca City Fire Department unit and two men responded at 9:32 p.m. Tuesday to the 2100 block of North Fourteenth Street where a vehicle was on fire in a parking lot. An officer of the Ponca City Police Department responded to assist and the fire was put out. Firemen reported an electrical short in the tail light assembly of the vehicle, but no dollar amount of damage was recorded.

Assaulted at School - A woman was at the Ponca City Police Department at 9:29 a.m. Tuesday to report her son had been assaulted while at the Middle School Monday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Reports Assault - An official at Ponca City Mid-High reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 11:03 a.m. Tuesday that an assault had occurred at the school earlier in the day. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

DEATHS

Charles R. Gauger

Charles R. "Curly" Gauger, longtime area resident, died Tuesday morning, Nov. 12, 1996, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. He was 67.
The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Grace Memorial Chapel with the Rev. John Waterloo, Ponca City Central Baptist Church, presiding. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery.
Charles R. "Curly" Gauger was born Nov. 30, 1928, in Kildare, the son of Charles Richard and Etta Elizabeth (Upchurch) Gauger Sr. He attended McCord School and Ponca City public schools, graduating from Ponca City High School in 1946. He entered the U.S. Army in November 1950, and served with the U.S. Army Engineers in Greenland. He later served in the U.S. Army Reserve before his honorable discharge in September 1956.
He was married to Irene Kay Vaughn on March 21, 1973, in Pawhuska and the couple established their home on Route 3. Gauger was a stone mason by trade and was involved with the construction of many homes in the Ponca City area. He retired in 1990, due to ill health. In his earlier years he participated in rodeo calf-roping competition and is credited for building the first mechanical practice roping-calf in this part of the country. Gauger was a member of the Rodeo Cowboys Association for 26 years. He also enjoyed farming and fishing.
Survivors include his wife, Irene, of the home; two sons, Bryon Lane of Ponca City and Christin Ryon of Locust Grove; one brother, Ray of rural Ponca City; two sisters, Neva Thompson of Ponca City and Bonnie Stanley of Southgate, Calif.; three grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and three brothers, Glenn, Leroy, and Harold.
Casket bearers will be Tim Edens, Max Horn, Bill Box, Ben Warner, Dwight Christian and Gail Fowler. Honorary bearers will be Jake Williams, Tuffy Tapp, Joe Reed, Ace Chance and Larry Leatherman.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Veterans Administration Hospital, Memorial Fund, 921 Northeast 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104.
The family will be at the home on Route 3.

Naomi Gentry

TONKAWA - Naomi Gentry, longtime resident of Neodesha, Kan., died Monday, Nov. 11, 1996, at Willow Haven Nursing Home in Tonkawa. She was 84.
The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the McCafferty-Bolick Funeral Home in Tonkawa with the Rev. Richard Thomasson, officiating. Burial will be in the Neodesha (Kan.) Cemetery at 3:30 p.m. with Ben Brown officiating at the graveside service.
Naomi (Smith) Gentry was born March 13, 1912, in Chanute, Kan., the daughter of Harry Lee and Bertha Mae (Walker) Smith. At the age four, she moved with her family to Neodesha, where she lived all her life except for two and one-half years during World War II. She graduated from Neodesha High School in 1929.
On Feb. 3, 1934, she was married to Argyle C. Gentry in Independence, Kan. During World War II, she lived with her parents and her son was born while her husband was in the military. He saw his father for the first time at age two. Mrs. Gentry had been a member of the First Baptist Church of Neodesha since age 12. She taught Sunday School in primary, junior and in the teen departments. She also served as a Baptist Youth Fellowship sponsor for two years and worked in the Missionary Circle and Missionary Societies. She moved to Tonkawa in 1992 to live near her son and his family.
Survivors include one son, Robert Eugene of Tonkawa; one sister, Lorene Morgan of Ash Grove, Mo.; three grandchildren; two step-grandsons; one great-grandson and one step-great-grandson; and five nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Argyle; on Sept. 6, 1964; her parents; and two brothers, Donald and Warren.

Anna Maxine Strecker

TONKAWA - Anna Maxine Strecker, lifelong Tonkawa resident died Tuesday, Nov. 12, 1996, in the Halstead (Kan.) hospital. She was 75.
A memorial service is set for 10:30 a.m. Friday in the Tonkawa First Presbyterian Church with interim pastor Steve Phillip officiating. Arrangements for the service and cremation are under the direction of McCafferty-Bolick Funeral Home, Tonkawa.
Anna Maxine (Becker) Strecker, was born April 22, 1921 in Tonkawa, the daughter of Alexander and Anna (Thede) Becker. The family lived southeast of Tonkawa until moving into Tonkawa in 1927. Mrs. Strecker graduated from Tonkawa High School in 1939 and attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, and Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa. During the World War II years, she was employed by John E. Boyer Co., in Ponca City.
On June 12, 1946, she was married to Otto Strecker in Manning, Iowa. They lived for a short time in Boise, Idaho, then returned to Tonkawa in 1947. Mrs. Strecker assisted with Cub Scouts and Camp Fire Girls. She was an active member of the Tonkawa First Presbyterian Church, United Presbyterian Women and the Ponca City Humane Society.
Survivors include her husband, Otto, of the home; one son, John Eric Strecker of Tonkawa; and three grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Strecker's name to the Tonkawa Presbyterian Church, Humane Society, or Feed The Children, c/o McCafferty-Bolick Funeral Home, Tonkawa, OK 74653.

James H. Miller

WICHITA, Kan. - James H. Miller, former Ponca City area resident, died Saturday, Oct. 5, 1996, in Kansas. He was 94.
The funeral was held graveside, Oct. 8, 1996, at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Goddard, Kan., under the direction of Hillside Funeral Home West, Wichita.
James H. Miller was born in 1902 to Charles Lewis and Josephine (Romaine) Miller. He was a self employed carpenter and farmer and had lived in the Ponca City area for many years.
Survivors include his wife, Dolorus I. Miller of the home; two daughters, Chloe Lewis of Kaw City and Dorothy Lawrence of Azle, Texas; four step-sons, Richard Nethercot, Robert Nethercot and Roger Nethercot, all of Wichita, and David Nethercot of Cleveland, Texas; two step-daughters, Sharon James of Cleveland, Okla., and Elaura Hamada of Wichita, Kan.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Susie Alpin (Burnham) Miller; four sons, Charles, James H. Jr., William Leon and Melbert Lee; and one daughter, Era Jones.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Miller's name to Hospice Inc., c/o Hillside Funeral Home West, 2929 West 13th Street, Wichita, KS. 67203.

Wanda Sue Rhodd

Wanda Sue Rhodd, longtime Ponca City resident, died Tuesday morning, Nov. 12, 1996, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was 56.
The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Grace Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in the Grandview Cemetery at Kaw City.
Wanda Sue (Fleharty) Rhodd was born Nov. 27, 1939, in Ponca City, the daughter of Bert and Anna Rose (Krulic) Fleharty. She attended Ponca City schools.
On July 9, 1973, she was married to Thomas Virgil Rhodd in Newkirk, and the couple established their home in Ponca City. Mrs. Rhodd was a homemaker and enjoyed arts, crafts and cooking.
Survivors include one daughter, Vicki Hyde of Ponca City; one son, Terry Poor of Ponca City; one brother, John Fleharty of Ponca City; six sisters, Dorothy Morgan of Morrison, Geneva Nauta and Frances Sanders, both of Blackwell, and Thelma McSmith, Florene Terry and Wilma Knight, all of Ponca City; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband and parents.
Casket bearers will be Donny Joe Lauver, David S. Wright, Rickey Lauver, Justin Lauver, James McSmith, and Charles Branscum. Honorary bearers will be Dave Rhodd and Frank Rhodd.
The family will be at 1420 South Eighth Street.

Andrew Henry Doughty Sr.

CHANNELVIEW, Texas - Andrew Henry Doughty Sr., former Ponca City resident, died Monday Nov. 11, 1996, in a Baytown, Texas, hospital. He was 73.
The funeral will be held graveside at Houston National Cemetery at 2 p.m. Thursday under the direction of Navarre Funeral Home, Baytown, Texas.
Andrew Henry Doughty Sr. was born Oct. 5, 1923, in Ponca City, the son of Charles and Nellie Babe (Lumry) Doughty. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
He was married to Marietta Doughty and the couple had made their home in Channelview, Texas, since 1965. Doughty had retired as shop foreman at Groendyke Transport, and had also worked as an agent for Vanguard Security.
Survivors include his wife, Marietta, of the home; one son, Andrew H. of Ponca City; four daughters, Joyce Willingham of Crosby, Texas, Janet Butler of Channelview, Texas, Dollie Stanaland of Lufkin, Texas, and Sandra Doughty of Georgia; four brothers, Orville of Center, Mo., Homer and Joseph, both of Ponca City and Roy of Olsburg, Kan.; two sisters, Bernice Limke of Oklahoma City and Boots Behrn of Willow, Alaska; 13 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; and one son, Charles Clinton.

Funerals

Friday
Elsie Stearns McClung - A memorial service will be held at Blackwell First Christian Church, 306 East Coolidge at 2 p.m. Burial will be in the Blackwell IOOF Cemetery under the direction of Saddleback Funeral Home, Tustin, Calif.

Services Pending

Mollie L. Gartside
Mollie L. Gartside, Ponca City resident, died early this morning, Nov. 13, 1996, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was 81. Arrangements are pending with Trout Funeral Home.

Ruby Denney
BLACKWELL - Ruby Denney, longtime Blackwell resident, died in Black Canyon City, Ariz., Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 12, 1996, after a long illness. She was 79. Arrangements are pending with Hackler Funeral Home, Blackwell.

Ruby Fulton
NEWKIRK - Ruby Fulton, former Newkirk resident, died Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 12, 1996, in the Bear Creek Nursing Home in Morrison, Colo. She was 83. Arrangements are pending with Miller-Stahl Funeral Home in Newkirk.

Herbert F. Gullic
SHIDLER - Herbert F. "Herb" Gullic, Shidler resident, died Tuesday evening, Nov. 13, 1996, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Ponca City. He was 85. Survivors include his wife, Irene Gullic of the home. arrangements are pending with the Grace Memorial Chapel-Shidler Chapel.

Harold D. Bowman
NEWKIRK - Harold Dean Bowman, lifelong Newkirk resident, died early this morning, Nov. 13, 1996, at Blackwell Regional Hospital. He was 60. Survivors include his wife, Donna, of the home in Newkirk. Arrangements are pending with Miller-Stahl Funeral Home, Newkirk.

FAMILY LIVING

WHO Foundation Sponsoring Makeover Benefit for Domestic Violence Program

Sponsored by Women Helping Others (WHO), BeautiControl's Full Image Consultants, and Becky and Geron Stangeland, owners of "Kids Review/Her Review" will offer a free, five-minute makeover at "Kids Review/Her Review" (Ladies and Children's Apparel), 309 East Grand in Downtown Ponca City on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. as a fund-raiser for Ponca City's Domestic Violence program.
The Who Foundation is a tax-exempt, non-profit group founded by BeautiControl chairman Jinger Heath. Who Foundation is dedicated to recognizing and encouraging the humanitarian efforts of women and for women in society.
The Fund Raiser will help meet operating expenses of the local domestic violence shelter for the upcoming year, according to fund raiser coordinator, Vicki Lessert.
Christy Dulick Williams, local Shelter Director states: "The local shelter encounters an increase in the number of clients and the fund raisers will help on expenses. The funds donated through the fund raiser will be used for educational materials, Shelter utilities and operating supplies, children's clothing and school supplies, medicine and hygiene supplies. Many people believe that domestic violence occurs only between spouses or partners. However, child and elder abuse are part of domestic violence as well and we may forget them."
Dulick continued, "Consider these statistics: Domestic violence affects three to four million women every year; every thirteen seconds a child is abused or neglected; senior citizens are abused by a family member every fourteen seconds."
It is also believed that domestic violence occurs only in the home. Actually, its presence in the workplace is increasing. In 1994 the U.S. Department of Justice reported 13,000 acts of violence in the workplace. This abuse costs the American economy three to five billion dollars a year and affects productivity, attendance, and health care costs.
Donations throughout the day will be accepted with proceeds going to the local Ponca City Domestic Violence Center.
A drawing will be held at 3:30 p.m. for a lucky winner to win "Slendergenics" Weight Management System.

SPORTS

Hardesty Kicks PC To .500

By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
The kicking game is always a big part of the football game plan with the Wildcats and this year was no exception.
That came to the fore front in the season finale Friday as Zac Hardesty booted through a 20-yard field goal in overtime to lift the Wildcats over Shawnee 17-14, allowing the Poncans to finish 5-5 on the season.
A senior, Hardesty had not played football for two years, concentrating instead on soccer. But that soccer technique came in handy for the Poncans this year as Hardesty made two of four field goal attempts and was 13-of-15 in PAT tries.
He had one miss in each category and one block in each. Both blocks came against Bartlesville before the Cats prevailed in four overtimes, 35-33.
His other field goal was a 27-yarder against Tulsa Memorial in the third game of the season.
The field goal against Shawnee was probably his most pressurized kick of the season with the game and a chance at a .500 season on the line.

"I didn't feel too much pressure," Hardesty said later. "The guys were joking around, kidding me about how they (the Wolves) were trying to ice me. That kept me pretty relaxed."

Hardesty was a kicker for the football team as a ninth grader, going a perfect 9-for-9 in PATs and booting a 42-yard field goal, which is his career long.

But for the next two seasons, he elected to go with soccer as his sport.

He was asked to return as a kicker this season by the coaches. In addition to field goals and points-after, Hardesty was also the punter for a time.
To the surprise of the coaches, Hardesty also became a pretty good cornerback. But he felt that took away from his concentration on kicking and elected to stay with that.
His return to football for this season became somewhat of an emotional roller coaster ride.
"We really expected to do better than 5-5," Hardesty said of the team. "We figured we were a better team than that. But at least it is not a losing season."
The hardest loss on the season for Hardesty was to Stillwater.
"That's a pretty big rivalry and we had never lost that badly to them before," he said. "Also, I had thought we had a real good chance of beating them."
The other tough loss was to Tulsa Washington, according to Hardesty.
"To play a team that was ranked that high, was one of the better teams offensively in the state, tough for three quarters and then just give it away was hard," he said.
Now it's on to soccer for Hardesty, where he hopes his kicks find another kind of goal.

Short-Handed Cat Swimmers Falter

With a couple of swimmers out sick, Ponca City's High School swimmers were severely shorthanded as they opened the season at Stillwater Tuesday.
Stillwater's boys had 14 swimmers, the Wildcats six and one diver. The Stillwater girls fielded 24 swimmers, the Lady Wildcats eight, and one diver.
The scores were then not too surprising as Stillwater won the boys' division 154-73 and splashed the Po-Hi girls 214-45.
"The Stillwater YMCA is an eight-lane pool," Ponca City coach Dave Strah said. "Stillwater High School was able to put four girls in almost every event while we had one or two. And in a couple of events we had no swimmers."
Strah also noted the Lady Cats are not swimming close to the times they need to be competitive.
"We swam pretty well on the boys side," Strah said. "But we had two top swimmers - Nick Kasli and Chris Kana - out sick. We have also lost one of the boys, Dane Pryse, who was on our state relay team."
However, there was also a bright side for the boys. Freshman Rory Peterson was first in both the 200-yard freestyle (2:09.74) and the 500-yard freestyle (5:42.65) events with state qualifying times. Junior diver Mike Grubb took first in the one-meter division and senior Jared Abramian was first in the 50-meter freestyle.
The relay team of Peterson, Greg Durham, D.J. Nuzum and Abramian qualified for the state meet in both the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays.
Strah named Nuzum as the Swimmer of the Meet.
"D.J. was about 45 seconds from qualifying for state in the 500-yard freestyle last year," the coach noted. "He has put in some super work all summer and this fall. He is now only eight seconds (6:11.56) from the state qualifying time. He was second in the 500 and second in the 100 fly with a best time (1:16.52)."
The Lady Cats did manage to get some state qualifying out of the way.
Beckee Hauser qualified in the 200 freestyle, placing third in 2:27.24. Megan Tomek qualified in the 50 freestyle, second in 30.46.
The relay team of Tomek, Hauser, Brandi Sparks and Melissa Alcantra, also qualified for state in both the 200 and 400 free relays.
The Po-Hi swimmers get another taste of some of the best talent in the state Saturday in the Tulsa Union Invitational.

Club's Season Ends

Ponca City's Buddy Bass Club completed its season earlier this month with a tournament on Keystone Lake.
Larry Platt and Mark Reeves took first place in the tournament, catching five bass weighing 13.27 pounds.
Steve and Tom Owens finished second with four fish weighing 9.63 pounds. In third place were Jim Jones and Delmar Hutchison with four bass weighing 9.12 pounds. Dan Brown and Scott Burries finished fourth with four bass weighing 8.57 pounds.
The Big Bass for the tournament was caught by Reeves, a 3.71 pounder.
First place in the point standings for the year went to Dale Conner and Mark Sanders with 324 points, Just two points behind were Dale Brown and Jamie Flegler. Don and Mike Owens were third with 315 points, one point in front of Steve and Tom Owens.
Brown and Burres got enough points at Keystone to finished fifth with 311 points, holding off Platt and Reeves, who had 308 points. Don Gratias and Mike Lewis won the tie breaker for seventh place as they and the team of Greg an Mike Ward each finished with 306 points. Jeff Dobson and Brian Klinger finished ninth with 303 points. Rounding out the top 10 were Jones and Hutchison with 284 points.
Dale Brown and Flegler caught the biggest fish during the season, finishing with a total weight of 60.39 pounds.
Conner and Sander were second with 51.3 pounds, Steve and Tom Owens had 43.96 pounds while Don and Mike Owens had 41.5. Brown and Burries were fifth with 37.53 pounds.
Platt and Reeves placed sixth with 35.27 pounds, followed by Gratias and Mike Lewis (30.55), Greg and Mike Lewis (30.24), Dobson and Klinger (25.66) and Jones and Hutchison (21.70).
The Big Bass of the Year was caught by Flegler. It weighed 8.59 pounds and was caught in Sooner Lake.
The Buddy Bass Club will meet Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. in the Crown and Rose Pub.

Early Harvest Down

Results of a telephone survey of 30 deer check stations statewide indicate a 10 percent decrease in the number of deer checked in through the end of the primitive firearms season as compared to the number registered at the same time last year.
"While the figures varied in each of the six regions surveyed, the numbers held fairly true in most areas of the state and coincided well with the reports we have received from hunters and field biologists," said Mike Shaw, wildlife research supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "All regions reported fewer primitive bucks harvested this year with the exception of the northwest region, which recorded a 59 percent increase during the blackpowder season. The number of blackpowder does checked was higher in all regions, with the largest increases recorded in the southcentral and northeast regions. The doe harvest increased 43 percent in the southcentral region and 33 percent in the northeast."