From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Wednesday,
November 5, 1997
LOCAL
New Sentencing Law Masterpiece of Fraud?
Nearly News
Tribute to Veterans Begins Saturday
Holiday Comic Strip Gets Po-Hi Grad National Audience
Area Calendar
DECA Group Visits Dallas
'Buffalo Post' Honoring Veterans During Dance
Cattleman's Annual Stag Set Nov. 12
Truth-in-Sentencing Workshop Slated At Pioneer Tech
Portions of HB 1213 Red Flag to Official
Young Parents Series Begins
Emergency Sirens To Sound Thursday
Family Says Man Missing Since Friday
Buddy Poppy Week Set To Aid, Honor Veterans
Vets Transportation Provided To Parade
DEATHS
Charles R. Criswell
Stella Irene Annin
Elizabeth McKain
Eddy Ray Boettler
Services Pending
Flossie M. Gardner
NEWS BRIEFS
LIFESTYLES
Sertoma Group Hears Plemons Speech on Wills
Craft Show, Bake Sale at Braman
Little News
SPORTS
Swimmers Lose In Opener
NOC Cagers Open Season With Wins
Wildcat Pride: Terry Wants Cats To Finish Strong
Frontier Has Fast Start Up
Buddy Bass Results
By MARK GALVIN
News Staff Writer
NEWKIRK - Oklahoma's new Truth-In-Sentencing law is "a masterpiece of fraud" that will infuriate Oklahomans when they discover the real truth next year.
That's the assessment of Kay County Undersheriff Sid Cookerly, one of the original and most-outspoken opponents to the law approved by an almost-unanimous state legislature earlier this year.
Law enforcement officials statewide are increasingly critical of the Oklahoma Truth in Sentencing Act, which officially goes into effect next July 1.
Officials such as District Judge Willard Driesel of southeastern Oklahoma and Oklahoma County District Attorney Bob Macy are among those now calling for a complete repeal of the law.
Driesel, a former Ponca Citian, began voicing his objections months ago, as several officials seem to do after they've read the 389-page bill, which was hastily assembled and voted upon last May.
"Truth in sentencing" evidently was merely the catchphrase that got the law passed.
The law itself seems to accomplish just the opposite, with any previous promises of deterring crime now cluttered within a mix of sentencing grids and qualifiers that dictate which prisoners can still expect to do time in a state prison.
Other prisoners are now expected to be handled at county levels.
As the new state law currently stands, judges do less judging, juries no longer recommend prison sentences, and local burglars are more likely to be sent to school for vocational training - at county taxpayers' expense - than to see jail time.
Cookerly meanwhile, who is watching the new law eliminate some $150,000 a year from Kay County to run its detention facility, says the problem is much deeper with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
He is specifically blasting the DOC as "empire builders" who deliberately authored the new law and would like to keep it the way it now stands.
He says the DOC's influence this past year over the legislature to pass House Bill 1213, which was Truth in Sentencing with the previously rejected Community Corrections Act attached to it, has left the DOC controlling the money.
Promoted heavily by the governor and the top members of the House and Senate, the law was pushed quickly through both houses before any reasonable lawmaker could read the lengthy bill.
Cookerly says state lawmakers who might have considered voting against the bill during last May's hurried vote would have faced political suicide had they done so.
And when the voting was done, HB 1213 drew only one nay vote in either house.
But Cookerly's review of the new law indicates that sentencing still comes up considerably short on truth.
Instead of a 10-year sentence now meaning 10 years will be served, the law immediately details allowances for reducing prison times to 85 or even 75 percent of a sentence.
Additional wording in the statute indicates the same earned credits that currently reduce prison sentences remain in effect and that all the parole arrangements in the old law will be used for the new one.
In other words, the much-discussed improvements to the state's sentencing problems don't appear to show up in the law.
"That's because they've counted on it that you aren't going to read the bill," Cookerly said.
Oklahomans "have been inundated by a massive fraud in the disguise of Truth-in-Sentencing, and you can't attack the bill without attacking the department of corrections," he said.
"The department of corrections right now is looking for office space for the employees it will set up to administer the new program, and the protection of the public from the criminal element is secondary now."
What hurts the most, Cookerly said, is the DOC has transferred an estimated 60 percent of its former responsibility to the state's 77 individual counties while transferring none of its $300 million annual budget.
The DOC earlier announced it planned to provide an estimated $11.5 million that would be divided among the 77 counties to fund the new community corrections programs.
"Which is a joke," Cookerly said.
"I feel like Chicken Little running around saying, 'The sky is falling!' because when they hear, they don't understand.
"For every inch of negative reporting you will write about the new law, they will write three feet of news about how they're going to fine-tune the law," he said.
"They say they'll fix the bill. But which part of the bill are they going to fix?
"If you understand Oklahoma politics, then you must realize they have no intentions to fix the existing bill and that what you see now is what you will see next year" unless the public gets concerned enough, he said.
"The only way to fix the bill is to repeal it and start over, but that will be very difficult because the DOC is a department out of control."
Cookerly said citizens should contact their representatives before the new session starts.
Area representatives include State Sens. Paul Muegge and J. Berry Harrison and State Reps. Jim Reese, Jim Newport, James Hager and Larry Ferguson.
OOPS! The people in Monday's picture of the Ponca City Public Schools Food Service employee winners at the Oklahoma School Food Service Association Food Fair Baking Contest were misidentified. The winners from left should be Mary Bricker, middle school cafeteria; second in the Brownies category and third place in the Peanut Butter Bar category; Connie Miller, high school cafeteria, third place in the Brownie category; and Arduith Hall, high school cafeteria, first place in the Peanut Butter category. The News apologizes for any confusion.
Day-Long Activities Include 10 a.m. Parade Downtown
Editor's Note: The information for this salute was submitted by Richard Killblane, assisted by Richard Sherrod and other veterans. A tribute to veterans is slated for Saturday with a 10 a.m. parade in downtown Ponca City. Also there will be activities all day at the American Legion, 407 West South Avenue.
Men from Kay County have always answered the call to military duty since the Spanish American War in 1898. Twelve men joined Roosevelt's Rough Riders and charged into history upon the slopes of San Juan Hill.
During the First World War, Oklahomans filled an entire brigade of the 90th (Texas and Oklahoma) Division. They closed the St. Mihiel Salient. The Oklahoma National Guard joined with the Texas to form the 36th Division.
They broke the Hindenburg Line. The 90th then finished the drive and was selected as one of 10 distinguished divisions to occupy Germany.
The tradition of military excellence continues. Local men and women have served in every conflict since and participated at every key turning point of the wars. Many veterans have died and not all sacrifices can be mentioned, since space does not allow us to mention them all.
World War II
On Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed the United States fleet at Pearl Harbor and the US entered a world war on two fronts, Europe and the Pacific.
Americans began the war with the invasion of Algeria and French Morocco in North Africa in Nov. 1942. Paratroopers Leo Rodriguez and Kenneth Chandler jumped into North Africa with the 509th Airborne Infantry Regiment. After the Germans surrendered in North Africa, the Allies next turned their attention to the north. The 509th jumped into Sicily but was nearly decimated after their combat jump into Italy.
The Tonkawa and Blackwell companies mobilized with the rest of the Oklahoma National Guard. The 45th Infantry Division was one of the first units to go overseas. Clyde Sodowski and Q.D. Lamb were original members of the 45th Infantry Division in North Africa. Sodowski earned a battlefield Commission. Lamb served with the Division in campaigns from Sicily through Italy until he was wounded at Anzio.
Because the Division saw action for nearly two years of the war, many of the original Oklahoma men were evacuated out as wounded and like Lamb ended up as replacements in other divisions. The 45th returned home with a number of men drafted from across the country.
The 8th, 9th, 12th and 15th Air Forces took the air war away from the Luftwaffe. George Collins and Bill Brown dropped paratroopers onto Normandy. Ray Falconer and Don Walters flew in B-24s on the low level bombing raid of Ploesti Oil Fields.
Henry Hunt and Truman Smith flew B-17 bombers. P-38 fighter bombers flown by Dick Simpson were the primary tank killers and railway busters. Meanwhile, Orin Begwin trained crews in Ireland. The Army Air Force provided the needed air supremacy to advance the ground war.
While Clark's Fifth Army fought up the Italian Peninsula, Bradley's First Army prepared to break through Fortress Europe. On D-day, June 6, 1944, the Allies launched a sea invasion on Normandy, France.
Troy Pickering and Delbert Roper jumped behind enemy lines with the 82nd Airborne Division. Jake McNiece and Lefty McGee parachuted behind the lines with the 101st Airborne Division. McNiece's exploits that night inspired the movie, "The Dirty Dozen."
Fred Walls hit the beach with the Special Engineer Task Force. Bill Gladen followed closely behind with the 1st Infantry Division, Forrest Boone with the 149th Combat Engineer Battalion and Earl Robins with the 90th Infantry Division. They pave the way for other divisions to expand the beachhead.
Germany
Men poured in and slugged it out with the Germans in the hedgerows. Woodrow Wilson's 460th Anti-Aircraft Battalion. Howard McIntyre's 406th Engineer Group, Harry Anderson's 687th Field Artillery and James Suggs' 80th Infantry Division drove the Germans out of France. Robert Tanner's 3rd Armored Division helped close the Falaise Gap to trap the retreating Germany Army.
Over-stretched supply lines halted the American drive in Northern France. More men arrived with new divisions. Bert Johnson arrived with the 26th Infantry Division and James Brakebill with the 7th Armored Division.
In September supplies built up enough for the First, Third, Seventh and Ninth Armies to break through the Seig Fried Line. More divisions poured in; Leroy Lane's 71st Infantry Division, Vincent White's 78th Infantry Division, George Hanggi's 87th Infantry Division and Forrest Mertz's 12th Armored Division.
In December, the Germany Army spearheaded a counter offensive through Charlie Rowe's 106th Infantry Division in the Ardennes. Just off the boat, this green division fought until ammunition was exhausted.
Divisions fell back leaving the "Bulge" in the Allied lines. Jule Martin evaded capture at Malmady, the site of the infamous massacre. Fred Wall's 2nd Infantry Division held the Elsenborn Ridge with help from Hubert Evans' 604th Anti-Aircraft Battalion.
The Allies rushed the airborne divisions in to stop the penetration. Jim Haley went in with the 82nd Airborne Division and Jim Page with the 17th Airborne Division made a heroic stand at Bastogne. Honald Bucker's 4th Armored Division finally broke through to rescue the cut off and beleaguered "Battling Bastards of Bastogne." Other units like Willard Fauchier's 739th and Marion Beavers' 782nd Tank Battalions closed the bulge and pushed the Germans back into their own country.
In the race to cross the Rhine River, the 9th Armored Division seized the Remagen Bridge in March 1945. Hubert Evans anti-aircraft battery was the first battery across to guard the other side. The Allies made further crossings and the end of the war came into sight. The Germans surrendered unconditionally in May 1945.
India and Burma
General Stilwell's campaign in India and Burma sought to clear an open supply line to the Chinese in their war against Japan. Until the Burma and Ledo roads were opened by Merrill's Marauders and the MARS Task Force, the 14th Air Force had to fly in supplies over the dangerous Himalayan Mountains or the "Hump." Marvin Rider flew 414 missions, with five over the Hump.
South Pacific and Japan
The U.S. Navy played center stage in McArthur's South Pacific campaign with the Army and Marines seizing island after island against a determined enemy. Ralph Barker made five landings from New Guinea to the Philippines with the 158th Regimental Combat Team. Roy Heldenbrand liberated Bougainvillea, the Solomon Islands, Linguyan Gulf and Luzon with the 2nd Cavalry Division. Don Bocox's 44th Tank Battalion helped liberate Luzon clearing the way to Japan from the southwest.
Admirals Nimitz and King adopted a new strategy. They planned to strike straight through the Central Pacific. Each island group; Gilbert, Marshall, Marianas Islands, Iwo Jima and finally Okinawa, extended overlapping bomber range to Japan.
Joe Underwood served aboard a mine sweeper clearing the way for the landings. Walley Schatz started out with the 2nd Marine Division and took the Marianas, Guam and Saipan. His boat was sunk on the way to Okinawa with the 6th Marine Division.
Bill McCann helped seize Okinawa with that Division. From those islands, Everett Boedecker and Clair Graven flew B-29s with the 20th Air Force over Japan. Navy nurse Bessie Tucker patched up the wounded back on Hawaii. Japan finally surrendered aboard the USS Missouri in Sept. 1945.
Korean War
In June 1950, only five years after the Japanese surrendered, the North Koreans stormed across the 38th Parallel. The United States pulled the 25th Infantry Division and the 1st Cavalry Division out of occupation duty in Japan to fight a delaying action. Other Army and Marine Divisions began to arrive from the states to reinforce the toe-hold around Pusan and prepare for offensive operations. Other nations joined in to make this a United Nations effort.
Back in the states, President Harry Truman called up the National Guard. Oklahoma's 45th Infantry Division mobilized for active duty in Sept. 1950. Ponca City's A Company, 279th Infantry included men like 1SG Leonard Big Goose, Ray Lunsford, Bob Eden, Roy Swain, Lauren Simmons and Jack Ruff.
Blackwell's C Battery, 189th Field Artillery included Robert Faken, George Bewley, Don Clinton, Pat Whealand and Clyde Sodowski. Wayne Kraft was called up with Cherokee's B Battery. Tonkawa's Headquarters and Service Battery provided the needed food, fuel and ammunition with men like Dennis Impson.
Since the National Guard was under strength, it filled up with draftees from all over the country. Dale Beall was one of the first to arrive. The war snatched up most of the Ponca City Class of 1949 in one way or the other.
General Douglas McArthur then launched an end run by landing at Inchon Harbor and pushed the North Koreans with lightening speed all the way back to the Chinese boarder.
To everyone's surprise the Chinese Army steam-rolled across the border driving the UN Forces in a costly retreat back to the 38th Parallel during the bitter cold of winter. In a series of battles for hilltops the opposing sides established the final defensive line. Names like Iron Triangle, Old Baldy, Heartbreak Ridge, T-Bone and Pork Chop Hill became part of the American vernacular.
As the war entered its second year, men began to rotate through Korea. The Air Force set up bases on the peninsula. Cleo Greenhau provided base defense at Suwan. The Navy provided various support. As casualties mounted, the Hospital Ship USS Haven arrived to provide medical support for the men on the ground. Clyde Landis served as a machinist mate third class aboard that ship as it waited off the coast for periods of time from 1950 to 1954. Petty Officer Bob Garland flew F-9F Grumman Panthers off the decks of the USS Boxer and Intrepid during the last year of the war. Chuck Hoddy served on the repair ship USS Kermit Roosevelt off the coast in the China Sea.
Max Basore was transferred to the 1st Marine Division as a machine gunners in Jan. 1951. He worked mostly with South Korean soldiers in the Iron Triangle. Gus Kever arrived in the division the next year as a flame thrower operator. Bob Shelton and Bill Combs served with the 1st Cavalry Division in 1951. Combs stayed with the Division until it was relieved by the 45th Infantry Division.
Oklahoma National Guard completed its required training and arrived on the Korean Peninsula in Nov. 1951. It relieved units in defensive trenches along the Iron Triangle and began active patrolling. The Division remained until the adversaries signed a truce at Panmun Jon in July 1953. Fighting along the Demilitarized Zone never completely ceased and American soldiers serve along the Parallel to this day.
Vietnam War
The United States had sent military advisors to protect the Republic of Vietnam from communist aggression after the truce of 1954. The fighting began in the early 1960s as communist North Vietnam sponsored a guerrilla war in the South. From 1958 to 1964, Navy Seal Jim Robins conducted search and destroy missions and intelligence collection for the Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG).
A North Vietnamese torpedo boat attacked the USS Maddox in the Tonkin Gulf in 1965. President Johnson then sent the Marines in to secure the air base at Da Nang. At that time, Chuck Gregg worked at Da Nang with the 1st Marine Air Wing which provided helicopter support for Vietnamese. From that time on the Marines fought just below the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Vietnam.
The Tonkin Gulf Resolution escalated the American commitment to the war with Army and Marine ground combat forces. Westmoreland's MAAG grew into the Military Assistance Vietnam (MACV). As the war progressed, men and women began to rotate through on one-year tours of duty.
The Navy provided valuable gunfire and air support for ground forces. Ships of all sizes sailed off the coast. Bob Garland served aboard the aircraft carriers USS Bon Homme Richard and Ranger in 1964 to 1967. Jimmy Alexander served aboard the heavy cruiser USS Newport News 1968 to 1970. Mike Isbell served aboard the destroyer USS Epperson in 1970.
The nature of the Mekong Delta in the south required the creation of a small boat riverine navy. Butch Bufford served two tours with the 9th Division from 1967 to 1969 attacking from both river boats and helicopters in the Delta.
Helicopters revolutionized warfare by responding rapidly with men and supplies over a jungle that restricted ground movement. David Comer served two tours in 1968 and 1969 as a crew chief for the 571st Medical Company and the 189th Attack Helicopter Company. John Foster fixed Medevac choppers for the 45th Medical Company from 1970 to 1971. Dust-off helicopters could evacuate wounded in minutes to field hospitals.
In 1968, the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) attacked down the Ho Chi Minh Trail with tanks during the new year, Tet celebration. More troops poured in as the Tet Offensive saw some of the heaviest fighting of the war. John Friess and Richard Delaney fought with the 25th Infantry Division in the Central Highlands. Jim Holt flew with the Marine F4 Phantom crews. He then served as a forward air controller with the 3rd Marine Division inside the DMZ.
James Holder served as a communications chief with the 588th Combat Engineers. Rick Ronan was on his second tour with the Marines in Vietnam when he drove the NVA back in street fighting during the Battle of Hue. When guerrillas came out of hiding, the Army and Marines all but wiped out the Viet Cong. The hardcore NVA then took over the guerrilla war.
In spite of the military success, American public had grown tired of the war. In 1969, MACV began de-escalating the US commitment and sending units back home. The remaining units expanded their operational areas. Robert Easley fought in the Central Highlands with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Lee Keyes served as a Navy corpsman with the 1st Marine Division during the last phase of the war.
With Vietnamization, Americans gradually turned the war over to the Vietnamese. President Nixon, however, used bombing and ground operations to pressure the NVA to the peace tables. Sniper Joe Day served with the 25th Infantry Division when in 1970 Nixon sent it to attack guerrilla staging areas in neutral Cambodia.
The NVA again attacked in force across the boarder in 1972. Finally in Jan. 1973, the United States and North Vietnam signed the Paris Peace Accords to end America's longest war. The agreement allowed a small contingent of American soldiers to remain in noncombat roles. When the NVA overran the South in 1975, Marines and Navy helped evacuate U.S. and key Vietnamese citizens.
Lebanon and Grenada
In 1983 the US Marines secured Beruit, Lebanon for the evacuation of the evacuation of the Palestinians and to prevent hostilities between the Muslim and Christian factions. Two hundred Marines were killed in a car bomb and attack on their barracks. Shortly afterwards Marines of the 2nd Marine Division and paratroopers of the Ranger Battalions and 82nd Airborne Division seized the communist island of Grenada and rescued students attending the medical school there. The island turned out to hold stock piles of arms and ammunition intended for Castro's communist-sponsored insurgency in Central American.
Nicaragua had already fallen and communist insurgency spread to the bordering countries of El Salvador, Honduras and Costa Rica. In 1982, El Salvador was torn apart by a guerrilla war. The small numbers of advisors was dubbed by the media as "too little, too late." Richard Killblane deployed in 1984 with Special Forces to train three El Salvadoran Battalions. In only two years of advisory effort, the El Salvadoran War turned defeat to victory.
Panama
In May 1989, Killblane deployed with the 7th Infantry Division as part of President Bush's show of force after Noriega nullified the elections in Panama. In December, Panamanian soldiers shot and killed an American Naval officer. On the night of Dec. 19, Jonathan Humphrey jumped into Panama City with the 82nd Airborne Division to protect the lives and property of US citizens living there. Killblane also returned with the 7th Infantry Division to expand military operations from the Canal to the Costa Rican border.
In three days the Army and Marines defeated the Panamanian Defense Force and in two more weeks reduced all resistance by scattered bands of paramilitary. Chris Capehart's Mobilization Operations Support Squadron flew down to Panama to set up tent camps for the refugees. They restored democracy to that country.
Persian Gulf
The next year Iraq invaded Kuwait. President Bush deployed forces to Saudi Arabia to prevent further aggression in operation Desert Shield. The 82nd Airborne Division arrived first with Jonathan Humphrey. More forces poured in. Chris Capehart's mobilization squadron flew in to construct the hangers and tents to house all the forces and equipment. Bush called up the Reserves and Bennijole Olmstead deployed with Oklahoma National Guard's Multiple Rocket Launcher battery.
In Jan. 1991, the ground war began. Doug Killblane blew through the trenches into Kuwait with the 1st Marine Division. Humphrey with the 83nd established a Forward Area Refuse Point deep in Iraq as the 1st Armored Division with Mike Rhoades swung around for an end run. The Abrams tanks cut off and destroyed Iraq's elite Republican Guard in the largest tank battle since World War II. Jerry Wheeler followed the tanks in artillery support. In only 100 hours after it began, the Gulf War or Desert Storm ended in victory.
By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Staff Writer
TULSA- Everybody loves the newspaper comic. A 1970 graduate of Ponca City High School, Carole Suggs Bender will have a part in entertaining thousands of readers with a special Christmas season comic.
Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Suggs, 1936 Mary, Carole and her husband Jack Bender, recount a touching story that illustrates the true meaning of Christmas in the comic strip Alley Oop. The strip feature is by-lined by both Jack and Carole Bender.
The story is entitled "A Time-Traveling Christmas," starring Dr. Wonmug, the scientist and time traveler from the Alley Oop cast, and his two grandchildren.
Borrowing from literary classics "A Christmas Carol," "Gift of the Magi" and "Amahl and the Night Visitors," the Benders create a holiday tale that is familiar and touching. With his grandchildren focusing on the material gains of Christmas, Dr. Wonmug uses his time traveler to teach them a lesson about greed. After reliving three timeless tales of generosity and sacrifice, the children regret their materialism and realize their grandfather has given them the best gift of all.
"I felt that the time travel aspect of the strip lent itself to visiting great Christmases in literature. I think this year's strip illustrates what Christmas is really about, from a more religious perspective," Jack said.
The holiday series begins Dec. 1 and runs through Christmas Day. The annual Christmas strip is provided to Newspaper Enterprise Association's more than 600 clients and is also available for individual sales. NEA has offered a special Christmas comic as a part of the service since 1937.
Carole will also have a byline on the series. She has assisted Jack with Alley Oop, lettering the strip and performing other tasks for the past five years. A graphic artists specializing in computer graphics, Carole is also currently working on a book about the late folk singer, Bob Gibson.
With writer Dave Graue, Jack Bender illustrates the classic comic strip Alley Oop, created by V.T. Hamlin in 1933. He was also editorial cartoonist for the Waterloo (Iowa) Courier for 20 years before moving to Tulsa.
Other cartooning experience includes teaching a comics course at the University of Tulsa and being the assistant to cartoonist Don Martin.
Bender and his then assistant Carole were the subject of a Midweek Cover story on Aug. 12, 1992. At that time Carole said she was always interested in graphics. She was quoted as saying "The interest that led me to being on Alley Oop is when in high school I developed an interest in calligraphy. I taught myself for several years as a teenager. I was fascinated with it and took a course at Oklahoma State University."
Carole's interest in art began in high school, where she took courses at Ponca City High School. At OSU she started out as a fine arts major and later switched to humanities and got a bachelor's degree in 1974.
For a time Carole worked in a print shop in Stillwater doing production art work and layout. Later she did free lance. When she needed to make her art pay more she enrolled at Platt College and became a student of Bender's.
Carole grew up on comics, including Alley Oop, Andy Capp and Dick Tracy featured in The Ponca City News. Her grandmother knew Chester Gould, of Oklahoma, who drew Dick Tracy. She attributes here artistic influence to her uncle Al Suggs, her father's older brother. Al worked on the Saturday Evening Post and also did some cartoons for New Yorker Magazine.
The lettering on a comic strip has a certain flair and Carole has mastered the touch. Be on the lookout for the Christmas Alley Oop strip featuring work of the former Ponca Citian. The strip is slated to begin Dec. 1.
October 31-November 8
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By KRISTI HAYES
News Education Editor
The Ponca City DECA Chapter recently went on their annual trip to Dallas to learn more about the professional world of marketing, fashion merchandising and business management.
The first stop Wednesday in Dallas was to tour the Apparel Mart. While at the market, the students were able to see first hand what it takes to bring merchandise into a store.
After eating lunch at the West End, history was also included in the trip. The students walked to the Conspiracy Museum and toured the area where JFK was assassinated.
Once the group was checked into their motel, an evening of fun at the Galleria Mall was next. Some students were heard saying that the three hours they were in the mall was not enough time to see all the stores located in the three level mall.
Thursday brought more touring and learning about the business industry.
The students started off their day by visiting the J.C. Penney's Merchandise Testing Center. While there the group saw departments conducting tests for flammability, fading, durability, etc.
The last stop on the trip was at the Gainesville Outlet. Cindy Thompson, marketing manager for the mall, met with the students to explain more about the operation.
Po-Hi DECA students and students enrolled in marketing at Pioneer Technology Center that attended the two-day trip were Melissa Fuhrman, Rachel Beguin, Ashley Anderson, Amber Raffelson, Kasey Riley, Kristi Nash, Leann Stout, Valerie Morton, Lindsey Licata and Sydney Thompson.
Others were Casey Gomez, Melissa Betz, Tiara Shaw, Patrick Bowhay, Kristi Anthony, Brooke Burries, Kaleen Horne, Mindy Sattre, Angie Smith and Jill Jeffries.
Also Johnna Robinson, Jamal Williams, Matt Noonan, Jay Galvin, Matt Stolhand and Nathan Walker.
During the school year, DECA students are responsible for putting on a fashion show, employer-employee breakfast and a career fair.
The sponsor for DECA is Diane Bull.
Veterans will be honored Saturday when the American Legion Ponca Indian "Buffalo Post" No. 38 hosts its annual veterans dance.
Gourd dancing begins at 2 p.m. Supper, provided by Rosetta LeClair in memory of Alfred Standing Buffalo and Antoine LeClair, will be at 5:30 p.m. At 7 p.m. will be "ladies favorites" (round dance and wolf songs) with intertribal dancing at 8 p.m.
Head staff includes: Rev. Thomas Roughface of Bethany, master of ceremonies; Wilkie D. Eagle Sr. of Marland, head singer; Chris LittleCook of Ponca City, head man dancer; Dorcas Kent of Tulsa, head lady dancer; Gordon Roy of Oklahoma City, head gourd dancer; Danny Page of White Eagle, water carrier; Red Rock Creek of Red Rock, host gourd dance group; Melanie Feathers of Carbon Black, Post 38 princess; and Meryl Feathers of Carbon Black, Auxiliary Unit 38 princess.
Veterans songs, individual and family songs will be sung and requests are encouraged.
There will be arts and crafts and concessions. Security will be provided and no alcohol, drugs or substance abuse will be allowed.
Post 38 was organized in 1927 as the All Indian American Legion Post. The post was originally named after Alfred Little Standing Buffalo, a Ponca Indian who saw combat overseas during World War I.
The Buffalo Post was the first post in the nation comprised entirely of American Indians. After World War I, 30 Ponca Indians became members of the post.
Of the 30 World War I veterans, three served overseas in combat, long before American Indians were granted citizenship in 1924.
The post became inactive during World War II but was reactivated in 1946 and has been an active part of the Ponca tribal community since that time.
BLACKWELL - The Kay County Cattlemen's Association will hold their Annual Stag on Nov. 12, at the Elks Lodge here, said association president Stan Claybaker.
The stag begins at 6 p.m. with a social followed at 6:30 p.m. and the meal of calf fries, baked beans, bread and liquid refreshments.
Following the meal will be an annual update provided by Scott DeWald, Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association Executive Vice President, and Steve McKinley, OCA Director of Membership.
Entertainment will be provided by Joe Kreger with some of his latest stories and poems. Joe has recently had a collection of his stories and poems published, and copies will be available for purchase and signing.
The stag is open to members, prospective members and guests. There is no charge for the stag but members will be able to pay their annual dues.
The Blackwell Elks Lodge is 3/4 mile north of the Doolin and 29th Street intersection.
State officials have scheduled a Nov. 19 workshop to study Oklahoma's new truth-in-sentencing and community sentencing law at Ponca City's Pioneer Technology Center.
The workshop, with free admission and participation, is sponsored by the Oklahoma Criminal Justice Resource Center, the Oklahoma Sentencing Commission and the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
Officials said the program, scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., will be an informative study of House Bill 1213. Scheduled are overviews of corrections reform legislation, truth-in-sentencing and community sentencing, plus a question and answer period for burning questions.
Participants will be responsible for their own lunch.
Editors' Note: Following is a portion of House Bill 1213, which enacted Oklahoma's new Truth-in-Sentencing Law. Portions highlighted in boldface type illustrate what Kay County Undersheriff Sid Cookerly contends are variables that make "truth-in-sentencing" a misnomer. The bill also clearly indicates the Department of Corrections' old parole and earned-credit systems, which reduce the prison sentences imposed by judges, are still alive in the new law:
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma Truth in Sentencing Act".
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 12 of Title 21, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. A person committing a felony offense on or after July 1, 1998, and convicted of the offense shall be required to serve a minimum amount of the sentence of incarceration or community punishment imposed. A person convicted of crimes in Schedule A, B, C, D, D-1, S-1, S-2 or S-3 shall serve not less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the sentence of imprisonment imposed within the Department of Corrections unless eligible for parole pursuant to subsection B of Section 332.7 of Title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes. A person convicted of crimes in the other schedules shall serve not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the sentence of imprisonment imposed within the Department of Corrections unless eligible for parole pursuant to subsection B of Section 332.7 of Title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The person shall not be eligible for earned credits which have the effect of reducing the length of sentence of imprisonment by more than fifteen percent (15%).
B. Any person committing a criminal offense on or after July 1, 1998, and sentenced by a court, shall be sentenced in accordance with the ranges of punishments established by the matrices provided for in Sections 598 through 601 of this act.
C. This section shall not affect the power of the court to suspend or defer a sentence, if authorized by law.
Northern Oklahoma Youth Services presents a series of parenting classes that talk about important issues for young parents.
The classes available are:
Nov. 6 - Parenting Strengths and Your Self-Esteem
Dec. 4 - Discipline and Punishment
Jan. 8 - Part I - Ages and Stages of Development
Feb. 5 - Part II - Ages and Stages of Development
March 5 - Nutrition and Other Routines
April 2 - Families
May 7 - Relationships
The classes will be held at Lincoln Center, 700 West Broadway Avenue, on Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m.
All young parents are encouraged to attend.
The testing of the Ponca City emergency siren warning system will be held at noon, every Thursday, according to Tom Montgomery, emergency management operations officer.
The test is scheduled throughout the year.
Montgomery said that in case of inclement weather, the test will be postponed, and in this case or if additional tests are planned, the public will be notified by the Ponca City News and the radio stations.
Local law enforcement agencies are seeking clues in the disappearance of a Ponca City man missing since Friday, Oct. 31.
Steven James Hullinger, 38, was reported missing when family members became worried after he failed to return from a local fishing trip and after he failed to report to work at a local convenience store Friday.
According to police, Hullinger was last seen between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. Friday at a bait shop on Lake Road. Hullinger's truck was located and recovered in Montgomery County Kansas.
Both Ponca City Police and Kay County Sheriff's office are hoping tests conducted on the truck will offer some clues as to Hullinger's whereabouts.
According to Kay County Undersheriff Sid Cookerly the tests should be completed and the results known today or Thursday.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Harvie Kothe-Ed Reiman Post 1201 and Ladies Auxiliary are currently conducting their annual "Buddy Poppy" sale. In conjunction with the fund raiser, Mayor Marilyn Andrews has proclaimed Nov. 4-14 as "Buddy Poppy Weeks" in Ponca City.
Proceeds from the sale of the poppies are used exclusively for the benefit of disabled and needy veterans, and the widows and orphans of deceased veterans. Motto for the drive is "Honor the Dead by Helping the Living."
Andrews said, "We recognize the patriotic merits of this cause by urging citizens of Ponca City to contribute generously to its support through the purchase of buddy Poppies.
"I urge all patriotic citizens to wear a Buddy Poppy as mute evidence of our gratitude to the men and women of this country who have risked their lives in defense of the freedoms which we continue to enjoy as American citizens." she concluded.
The symbolic red poppies are assembled by disabled veterans in VA medical centers and state home facilities. While they receive a modest sum, the work also provides them with a feeling of need and usefulness, and the physical activity provides therapy which also benefits the patients.
According a spokesperson for the state VFW offices, "the poppies are the best tool for providing funds to help needy veterans and their families throughout the United States."
Local posts purchase the poppies and sell them in their communities. The funds are then put into the overall relief fund. No set price is placed on the poppies but donations are requested instead.
Transportation for veterans participating in the 10 a.m. Saturday parade will be furnished. Veterans may park their cars at the American Legion, 407 West South Avenue, and ride the tram to the parade assembly.
Veterans are encouraged to participate in the parade by marching, walking, or riding.
Coffee and doughnuts will be served at the Legion beginning at 8:30 a.m.
The tram will leave from the site at about 9:15 a.m.
DEATHS
Charles R. Criswell, Lt. Col., USAF Ret., died Sunday, Nov. 2, 1997 following a lengthy illness. A resident of Oklahoma City at the time of his death, Criswell was a former resident of Ponca City. He was 79.
Memorial services are scheduled for 2 p.m. this afternoon (Wednesday) at Vondel L. Smith Mortuary, 6934 South Western in Oklahoma City.
Charles R. Criswell was born Oct. 19, 1918, in Grand Saline, Texas, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel O. Criswell. He graduated from Ponca City High School with letters in track and wrestling. Criswell was employed by Continental Oil Co., before taking a Civilian Pilot Training Program at Ponca City and Ardmore.
Following receipt of his pilot's license, he was selected as one of ten men to enter the Service Pilot School at Perrin Field, Texas, where he instructed basic training for 20 months. During this period, Criswell was commissioned a Second Lt. and sent to India. He flew 75 missions over the "Hump" in the China-Burma-India campaign during World War II. He also served in Europe during the Berlin Airlift and spent 13 months in Korea during that conflict.
During his Air Force career, Criswell was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, AF Commendation Medal, and numerous other commendations.
Criswell attended McKendree College in Illinois and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Following his retirement from the Air Force, he was the pilot for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation for 15 years. Criswell was a member of the United Methodist Church of Moore, the Retired Officers Association, Hump Pilots Association, the Hump Pilots, Ltd, and the International Association of Natural Resources Pilots.
Surviving are his wife, Betty of the Oklahoma City home; a daughter, Sally Taylor of Managua, Nicaragua; two sons, Timothy C. of Portland, Ore. and Jerry Murray of Houston; nine grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and several cousins.
Memorials may be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 Northeast 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104.
WEBB CITY - Stella Irene Annin, longtime resident of the Webb City/Shidler Community, died Sunday evening, Nov. 2, 1997, in Wichita Falls, Texas. She was 87.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Webb City Church of God with the Rev. Charles Richey, presiding. Burial will be at the Grandview Cemetery in Kaw City under the direction of Grace Memorial Shidler Chapel in Shidler. Friends may visit at the Shidler Funeral Chapel from 6 to 7 p.m. today. The casket will be closed at the funeral.
Stella (Smith) Annin was born Nov. 27, 1909, near Bridgeport, Okla., the daughter of John L. and Hattie (Morgan) Smith. She moved with her family to the Shidler Community in 1922 and attended DeNoya and Webb City schools.
She was married to Harry C. Annin on May 14, 1927, in Shidler and they established their home in DeNoya. Mrs. Annin was a homemaker and enjoyed quilting, gardening and crafts. She was a member of the Shidler Baptist Church.
Survivors include four daughters, Mrs. James (Wanda) Castleberry of Oklahoma City, Mrs. David (Harriet) Reed of Eunice, N.M., Mrs. Ronald (Patricia) Clement of Wichita Falls, Texas, and Frances Bryant of West Liberty, Iowa; one sister, Ella Brawley of Fort Worth, Texas; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband; one son, Van Annin; two infant children, Leroy Glen and Ramona Margaret Annin; her parents; three brothers, Frank, Calvin and Fred Smith; and one sister, Gladys Stewart.
Honorary casket bearers will be grandsons, Jimmy Castleberry, Dennis Castleberry, Ronnie Bryant, Kenny Reed, Dave Perkins, and Jasper Hulse.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Annin's name to the Shidler Senior Citizens Bus Ministry, Shidler, OK 74652.
Elizabeth McKain, Ponca City resident, died Tuesday morning, Nov. 4, 1997, at Shawn Manor Nursing Home. She was 90.
The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at the First Church of the Nazarene with the Rev. Steve Bierly, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. Friends may visit at the funeral home until 9 p.m. Thursday.
Elizabeth (Criggers) McKain was born March 15, 1907, in Independence, Kan., the daughter of W.C. and Barbara (Haas) Criggers. She grew up in Independence and received her education there.
On Aug. 31, 1924, she married Homer E. McKain in Independence, where they established their first home. They moved to Ponca City in 1929. Mrs. McKain was a homemaker and enjoyed working in her garden with flowers. She was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene.
Survivors include two sons, Donald D. of Ponca City and Homer D. of Houston, Texas; two daughters, Mrs. James (Wanda) Bishop of Lake Charles, La., and Mrs. Don (Darlene) McAlister of Ponca City; 15 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1987; her parents; one brother, Austin; two sisters, Cynthia and Violet; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. McKain's name to the First Church of the Nazarene, 1900 West Grand Avenue, Ponca City, OK 74601.
The family will be at the Don McKain home, No. 9 Bass Drive.
Eddy Ray Boettler, Ponca City resident, died Monday, Nov. 3, 1997, at his home. He was 84.
A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Longwood Cemetery with Mr. Larry Keirn, Minister, Grand Avenue Church of Christ, officiating.
Eddy Ray Boettler was born April 24, 1913 at the family home southwest of Lacey, the son of Louis Peter and Effie Della (Macy) Boettler. He attended Victory School in Lacey.
Boettler was a lifelong rancher and carpenter. He also custom harvested for many years traveling to Colorado, Montana and Nebraska. He enjoyed reading, fishing, hunting, horse racing, and riding his stationary bike.
Survivors include his wife, Cathryn, of Stillwater; daughters, Luann Boettler, of Stillwater, Arloa Boettler of Dallas, Texas, Linda Brandon, of Stillwater, and Mrs. Bill (Carol) Branson, of Ponca City; one brother, Glen Boettler of Hennessey; and six grandchildren. In addition to his parents; one brother, Norman; and one sister, Irene Eckhardt; precede him in death.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Boettler's name to the charity of donor's choice.
The family will be at the home Rural Route 5, Box 2781, Ponca City.
Flossie M. Gardner, longtime Ponca City resident, died Tuesday afternoon,
Nov. 4, 1997, in Ponca City. She was 84. Arrangements are pending with Trout
Funeral Home.
NEWS BRIEFS
Square Dance - Chikaskia Valley Square Dance will be Friday at the VFW Ballroom, 2900 East Prospect. Pre-Rounds will be at 7:30 p.m. with Bob Collyar as Cuer. Squares will be called at 8 p.m. by Mike Huddleson.
Turkey Bingo - Tonkawa FFA and 4-H Boosters are sponsoring Turkey Bingo at 7 p.m. Nov. 15 at the new armory. Cards are $3 and $5 with 22 games scheduled. Approximately $3,000 in prizes including 2 1/2 processed hogs and a Magnavox color tv for blackout game. Concessions will be available with BBQ sandwiches, popcorn, pie, pop, tea and coffee. The public is invited to attend.
Bedlam Weiner Roast - A Bedlam Weiner Roast and other special entertainment by Matt Stolhand will be hosted by the Kay County OSU Alumni and Friends at Wentz Park Cafeteria Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. All members of the local Oklahoma State University and University of Oklahoma alumni groups are invited to attend the Bedlam fun between OU and OSU fans. Reservations should be made to the respective alumni groups.
Golden Villa Benefit - The annual benefit dinner for Golden Villa Adult Day Care will be Nov. 14, 1997 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 218 South Sixth. Serving beef stew, old-fashioned ham-n-beans, fresh cornbread, dessert and beverage, all for only $5 (children under age 6 eat free). Proceeds benefit the continued growth of Golden Villa for senior adults. Tickets available from Golden Villa board members, and at the door.
Moose Appreciation - Moose Lodge 1031 expresses thanks to the following for their contributions to the Kay County 4-H banquet: Federal Land Bank, John Stanley/Pioneer Bank, Jack Bowker Ford, Bowker Auto Mall and Pemberton Olds-Cadillac.
Hand Game Scheduled - A Birthday Hand Game will be held at the Ponca Cultural Center in White Eagle on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to come and honor Jovonne Lieb on her birthday. Refreshments will be served following the hand game.
Vehicle Theft - At 7 a.m. Tuesday a woman in the 500 block of North Seventh Street reported her vehicle stolen. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Accident - Police received a report of an accident in the 1500 block of North Union Street at 7:35 a.m. Tuesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Arrest - A 40-year-old man was arrested at 12:31 p.m. Tuesday from the 500 block of North Ninth Street for driving under suspension and no insurance.
Arrest - Police arrested a 19-year-old man at 1:35 p.m. Tuesday from the 400 block of South Fourteenth Street on a Kay County warrant for failure to pay.
Assault - A juvenile was cited after police received a report of an assault at 3:41 p.m. Tuesday.
Arrest - Police arrested a 37-year-old woman at 4:18 p.m. Tuesday from the 1400 block of South Fifth Street for domestic assault and battery.
Arrest - A 56-year-old man was arrested at 5:08 p.m. Tuesday from the 700 block of West Otoe Avenue on a city warrant for failure to pay.
Arrest - Police arrested a 34-year-old man at 5:13 p.m. Tuesday from the 400 block of South Fourteenth Street on a Kay County bench warrant for failure to pay.
Accident - Police received a report of a minor accident in the 600 block of South Fourteenth Street at 6:22 p.m. Tuesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Mailbox Damaged - A resident in the 1900 block of Lake Road reported to police at 6:33 p.m. Tuesday that a truck had backed into his mailbox. An officer was assigned and an incident report was taken.
Burglary - At 10:55 p.m. Tuesday police received a report that a vehicle was broken into while it was parked in the 2000 block of Lake Road. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Arrest - A 29-year-old man was arrested at 2:14 a.m. Wednesday
from the 400 block of South Elm Street for driving under suspension and
driving left of center.
LIFESTYLES
The Ponca City Sertoma welcomed Rebecca Plemons of Tulsa, Lt. Governor and District Representative for the Sertoma Foundation, on her official visit to the organization at their recent luncheon meeting in Western Sizzlin'.
Plemons talked to the group about the Sertoma Foundation program - "A will for every Sertoman, Sertoma in every will." She explained a planned gift to the Sertoma Foundation is one of the most meaningful ways to perpetuate the Legacy of the Sertoma Family.
The Legacy 2000 Campaign, she explained, asks a commitment of at least one thousand dollars be designated to the Sertoma Foundation through a bequest or other planned gift vehicle. Codicils are available upon request, or your own estate planning professional can assist you with your intentions to remember the Sertoma Foundation, she said.
It has been said, Plemons pointed out, that our wrong doings die with us, but those deeds we do to benefit mankind last far beyond our lifetime. At the close of her talk, she distributed literature explaining the program.
Glenda Brown, local Sertoma president, chaired the business meeting following lunch. Reports were heard from the recent Oktoberfest at which time Sertomans sold Kolaches, baked potatoes and drinks.
The next meeting of the group will be the fourth Monday in November.
Many craftsmen from the area are expected to take part in the Braman Craft Show scheduled for Nov. 29. The event will take place at the Braman High School gym and cafeteria beginning at 9 a.m. and concluding at 4 p.m.
Booth space is available for $30 and Cafeteria space for $25. Interested persons should contact Suzy Ingram at 405 385-2184. Reservations for booths should be made as soon as possible. Only handmade and home-baked items will be accepted.
A Christmas parade is also planned for that day. Home-made cinnamon rolls, cookies, coffee, pop, and hot lunches will be available at the concession area. The public is invited to attend the show, sale and parade.
Announcing the birth of a daughter are Vickie Schmidt and Joe Chamberlain.
The baby was born at 12:23 p.m. Sept. 10, 1997 at St. Joseph Regional Medical
Center and has been named Shelby Logan. She weighed 9-pounds and was 22
1/2-inches long. The baby has two sisters, Heather Nicole, 9, Jessica Dawn,
7, and one brother, David Allen, 8. Grandparents are Albert and Lois Schmidt
of Newkirk. Great-grandparents are the late Art and Ethel Hurst and the
late Oscar and Mathilda Schmidt.
SPORTS
The Po-Hi Wildcat Swim Team opened its season with a duel meet Tuesday, taking on the Stillwater Pioneers at the YMCA Community pool.
The boys' swim team lost on the point total 71-99, but many races came down to the wire, and head coach Dave Strah was pleased with the result. "The boys swam a good meet. We were actually ahead by two points half way through."
The girls' team also dropped the meet to Stillwater in points, 65-105, but several swimmers had exceptional races and posted a number of state qualifying times.
Sophomore Rory Peterson and junior Chris Kana posted state qualifying times, Peterson in the 200 IM (2:20.70) and 100 back (1:10.55); Kana in the 100 back (1:10.55).
The team of Kana, Peterson, Greg Dunham and DJ Nuzum also got state qualifying times in the 200 medley relay, finishing first at 2:03.36; and in the 200 free relay, placing first again at 1:49.32.
Eric Chambray also finished first in the boys diving competition.
"The meet was a real eye opener," says Strah of the girls, "the girls swam well, but we can swim better. We weren't finishing a lot of the races, and that's where we were beat."
Among those posting state qualifying times were junior Megan Tomek in the 50 free (29.90) and 100 free (1:06.74); sophomore Jessica Leung in the 50 free (30.19) and 100 free (1:06.68); freshman Sunita Chahar in the 100 breast (1:27.47); and freshman Andra Nuzum in the 200 free (2:29.83).
The 200 Medley Relay team of Shannon Mersman, Chahar, Nuzum, and Melissa Alcantra also posted a state qualifying time, finishing second at 2:20.67. The 200 free relay team of Leung, Chahar, Mersman and Tomek also qualified, finishing first at 2:02.97.
By MATTHEW KOENIG
News Sports Writer
The NOC men's and women's basketball teams kicked off their seasons in a grand fashion Tuesday, with the Lady Mavs squeaking by the Hutchinson Lady Dragons 68-67, followed by the men outgunning the Southern Nazarene Redskins JVs, 111-48.
For the men, it was less a competition and more of a showcase for the Mavericks' talent. Arkansas transfer and top-15 junior college prospect Marlon Towns got things going with a three-point bucket, followed by a three on the other end by Redskins guard Brad Woodard to tie it up in the early going.
But that was a close as things would get in this ball game. The Mavs then went on what seemed to be a three-point contest, knocking down eight in the first half, and going 16 of 24 for the game. Among those hitting from outside, 6-0 forward Kyle Dean and 6-4 Zack Cazzelle led the three point charge for the Mavs, Dean going 4-for-4, and Cazzelle hitting 4-of-5. Scrappy point guard Josh Regnier was 3-for-3 from three-point land.
The Mavs also showed off what head coach Mick Weiberg promised would be a more "up-tempo" style of play this season, pressing the Redskins through most of the first half and causing numerous turnovers. Towns, at 6-5, 215 pounds showed remarkable quickness, grabbing six rebounds (four offensive) and led the team with four steals. Regnier also showed extreme agility on the press, and picked up three steals for the game.
Freshman Shere-Khan Jones, out of Los Angeles, and Cazzelle also showed power under the net. Jones, at 6-7, 215 pounds, led the team with nine rebounds and three blocks, while Cazzelle grabbed five rebounds, and also led the team in scoring, hitting seven of 12 for 19 points.
Other scoring leaders were Towns going seven of 15 for 18 points, Dean hitting five of six for 15, Jared Weiberg five for five for 12, and Chris Beech and Reginer each adding 11.
The entire Maverick squad saw playing time, and Weiberg was pleased with the effort of his team off the bench.
"We showed great intensity. Not a kid out there didn't play hard. When we start putting other guys in there we may lose some size, but we don't lose any punch."
The head coach was also impressed with his teams' three-point effort. "That's an area we've really improved on. If we can shoot them like that every night we'll win a lot of ball games."
The Lady Mavs didn't have nearly the cake walk the men did. Down most of the game and with the score 56-65 with four minutes to play, the Mavs came back for the win.
The comeback was sparked by freshmen Shannon Hands, who hit a three pointer to draw the Lady Mavs within six. That was followed by a steal by point guard Brandi McClellan, who took the ball back to the hoop to make it 61-65. McClellan was then fouled and hit a pair of free throws to draw the Mavs within two. Two separate fouls by the Mavs would result in two more points for the Dragons, but that would be all the scoring they would get.
After forward Michelle Brown added a free throw, McClellan dumped in two more to get the Mavs within one and into winning position. And the Lady Mavs would come through.
With less than a minute to play, the Lady Mavs tightened up the press, which led to two big steals by McClellan. One of those got into the sure hands of Hands, who hit the clutch jump shot to put the Lady Mavs on top for the first time since early in the second half.
The Dragons would get the ball down court one more time but were unable to convert, and Tonkawa freshmen Renee Reese would come down with it, securing the win.
"We were very fortunate to come out with the win," said Lady Mavs' head coach Greg Krause, "obviously, it all comes down to those last few minutes. The steals by Brandi and Shannon's shooting were obviously key. We showed a lot of fortitude."
Hands had a career night, scoring 25 points, including 11 of 13 from the line. McClellan also had an outstanding night. In addition to the game-winning steals, the Lady Mavs' team captain scored 17 points, and went 11-of-14 on free throws.
Brown and 5-11 freshman Stephanie Stovall also had a great game. Brown dropped in 12 for the Lady Mavs, while Stovall added seven, including a three-pointer in the first quarter.
The Lady Mavs continue their season Thursday at the Lady Texan Tournament, while the men travel to Hobbs, New Mexico to compete in the Juco Classic.
By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
Disappointed in what he hoped would be a winning season, Wildcat linebacker Thomas Terry says the team has a good chance to finish on a winning note against Shawnee here Friday night.
"Shawnee is very beatable," Terry said after watching films of the 1-8 Wolves this week. "They have some good size players, but some of them are sophomores.
"The trouble is I understand they have had some eligibility problems, so we don't know exactly who they will be playing."
While that may create some problems in preparing for matchups, Terry feels certain the Wildcats can handle it.
"We will just have to go out and play our game," he said.
That game is getting better, Terry thinks. While the defense has been the mainstay of the team for most of the season, Terry sees some big improvement in the offense during the past couple of games.
"The offense is a whole lot better." Terry notes. "It has come together in the past few weeks."
Although he missed a couple of games in the middle of the season, Terry is No. 4 on the Wildcats' tackle chart. He had nine tackles against Sand Springs here last Friday and now has a total of 54 for the season.
Fellow linebacker Jay Bentley had another outstanding game against the Sandites with 19 tackles, four unassisted. Bentley now tops the Wildcat defense with 109 tackles, 36 unassisted.
Bentley had one tackle behind the line of scrimmage and broke up two passes during his busy night.
Safety Joe Roland is No. 2 in tackles with 86 on the year despite putting in much of his time on offense. He had nine tackles against Sand Springs, two unassisted.
The No. 3 tackler, Toby Redleaf, also splits his time on offense. Redleaf had 12 tackles against Sand Springs, three unassisted, and now has 72 on the year.
Tackle Brad Faulk and end Michael Galbreath also had tackles behind the line last Friday.
RED ROCK - Looking for another trip to the state finals, Frontier boys got the season off to a fast start Tuesday with a 96-30 thumping of Coyle.
The Frontier girls followed suit with a 79-30 win.
The Mustangs blitzed Coyle 19-7 in the first period and had the game well in hand by halftime, 45-13. Four Frontier players finished in double figures. Boydd Romero and Zac Clouse each had 14 points while Dee Buxton and Justin Petty had 10 apiece.
Charles and Martin Sanders each finished with 8 points, while Jacob Burk had 7, Robert Regnier 6, Ronny Bible 6, Matt Clouse 5, Tom Butler 4, Jess Regnier 2 and Allen Plumley 2.
The Lady Mustangs also broke from the gate quickly, trampling Coyle 19-2 in the first period and were comfortably in front 45-13 at halftime.
Kaley Dunham paced the Frontier girls with 15 points while Stephanie Romero had 14 and Carolee Bible 13.
Elizabeth Sober, Denise Jake and Sarah Jake each finished with 6 points. Dani Norman and Velda Rocha each had 4, Robin Pratt 3 and Shanna King had 2.
The Ponca City Buddy Bass Club completed its eight-tournament season with a tournament at Kaw Lake.
David Armburst and Alan Ware took first place with five bass weighing 11.95 pounds.
Jim Johnson and Bill McDonald were second with 10.44 pounds of fish. Jamie Fisher and Dale Brown caught three keepers weighing 7.81 pounds for third place. Don and Mike Owens also had three bass, weighing 6.82 pounds, to finish fourth.
Dean Gratias and Mike Lewis had the Big Bass of the tournament, a 3.84-pounder.
The season ending standings saw Larry Platt and Mark Reeves placed first in the point standings with 329 points. Just five points behind was the team of Gratias and Lewis.
Don and Mike Owens were third with 319 points, seven points in front of Steve and Tom Owens. Jamie Flegler and Dale Brown finished with 305 points, Mark Sanders and Dale Conner had 304, Bryan Klinger and Jeff Dobson 302, Delmar Hutchinson and Ray Stephens 297, Armburst and Ware 293 and Jim Johnson and Bill McDonald rounded out the Top 10 with 292 points.
Gratias and Lewis were first in total weight with 73.76 pounds for the season. Platt and Reeves were second with 67.77 pounds while Armburst and Ware had 60.69 pounds and Don and Mike Owens had 57.58 pounds.
The Big Bass of the season was caught by Armburst, a 7.65-pounder caught in Sooner Lake.
The Buddy Bass Club will meet Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. in Ody's Outback.