LOCAL

Flooding Keeps Emergency Workers Busy
Kay County Voters Flocking to the Polls
Water Flooding Croplands
Senate District 20 Race Down to the Wire
Candidates Retain Posts In Heavy Local Voter Turnout
Voters Decide State Questions
Nearly News
Kaw Lake Association Receives Award for Kawfest 1998
Planning Group Meets Tonight

Flooding Keeps Emergency Workers Busy

By MARK GALVIN

News Staff Writer

Across the area, uncertainty still governed the activities of emergency workers today in the aftermath of weekend rains and flooding.

Red Cross workers today were calling for bottled water, shovels and rubber boots to begin the cleanup effort after 167 area residents, mostly from Blackwell and south of Tonkawa, fled their homes because of high water.

Rescue workers from the Blackwell Fire Department continued their efforts to clear water across the U.S. 77 highway just north of the State Highway 11 intersection. However traffic flow was back to normal in the other three directions at the four-way stop, better known to residents there as Main and Doolin.

Emergency worker Travis Harris of Kildare said as of noon today Kay County also still had the road closed at Fountain Road east of Interstate 35 near Tonkawa, where the roadway quickly disappeared beneath a vast expanse of flowing muddy riverwater.

Also still closed were Hubbard Road between Blackwell and Ponca City, State Highway 156 south of Bois D’Arc and U.S. 77 between Tonkawa and Blackwell.

“So far so good,” Harris said of the followup process, as elevation checks of the Chikaskia River read 31.1 feet at 11:45 a.m. — down 2-1/2 feet from the 33.6 feet reading at 6:30 a.m. today. Fewer flood victims needed the Red Cross shelter overnight, with a total of 30, down from the 51 occupants the previous night.

Floodwater threatening to cross the southbound lanes of Interstate 35 from the Salt Fork River near Tonkawa had receded by this morning.

Other areas were still struggling though, as runoff still raised the elevation of water in Black Bear Creek at Pawnee, where streamflow had reached 7,340 cubic feet per second en route to the Arkansas River, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Evacuation also was under way today in Arkansas City where a breach in a levee reportedly caused problems, flooding railroad underpasses and blocking traffic. Residents in eastside areas of the community were forced to flee their homes.

Red Cross Response

“We have a large and long task ahead of us,” said Kathy Hawkins, chapter manager of the Blackwell-based Cherokee Strip Red Cross Chapter. She estimated the current disaster operation was second in cost only to the tornado of 1955 and predicted the cleanup would require at least a month.

“When it’s over for (emergency workers), we’re just starting,” she said. “We’re going to need a lot of help.” The Blackwell chapter also assists flood victims in the Grant County areas.

Hawkins said the Red Cross would continue to provide the shelter at the Blackwell Youth Shelter as long as necessary, with hot meals and information available at the shelter and at the Red Cross, 1313 West Ferguson.

A Red Cross emergency response vehicle also is serving drinks and food in the flood area around Riverside Park for the disaster workers and victims. More than 300 meals already had been served to some 55 registered individuals.

Along with bottled water, the agency was seeking rubber boots and shovels to remove mud from flooded homes and would quickly be needing money to replace clothes and shoes for the victims. Hawkins said donors could visit the Red Cross office or telephone 1-800-HELP NOW.

Chikaskia Record

While flooding in northern Oklahoma closed roads and schools, the U.S. Geological Survey measured a record flood stage for the Chikaskia River near Blackwell.

From late Friday night (Oct. 30) to mid-morning on Sunday (Nov. 1) the river rose approximately 31 feet.

At 5:22 p.m. Sunday, USGS technician Dale Boyle measured a stage of 34.34 feet above datum. The estimated peak was 34.40 feet at 4:30 p.m., the highest stage measured in the 63 years that the USGS has monitored this site. Flood stage is 29.0 feet above datum.

Kay County Voters Flocking to the Polls

By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE

News Staff Writer

Voters are lining up at the polls in Ponca City to vote in the general election — so much for a light turnout. At Precinct 527, which in the past has voted at Union School, but now votes at Hartford Avenue Church of Christ, 30 voters had cast their ballots by 7:24 a.m., and by 11 a.m., 255 had voted and the line was steady.

Meanwhile at Northeast Baptist, 310 voters had made their choices by 10:30 a.m., and 62 had voted by 7:30 a.m. Voting was “busy” and a steady stream of voters was noted at Precinct 534.

At Pioneer Technology Center’s Precinct 530, it was a “great” turnout with 155 voting and others waiting in line. At Precinct 507 at Sunset Baptist, voting was heavy for the time of day with 175 already casting their ballots.

In addition to the gubernatorial race, between incumbent Republican Frank Keating, Democrat Laura Boyd and Reform Party Hoppy Heidelerg; other races of note locally are the State Senate District race between Democrat incumbent Paul Muegge, Tonkawa, and Republican challenger David Myers, Ponca City; the race for County Commissioner, District 1, between incumbent Republican Dee Schieber, Kildare, and challenger Democrat James Powelson, Ponca City, and Tom Evans, Ponca City, who is vying to unseat Judge D.W. Boyd, Blackwell, who was appointed by Gov. Frank Keating, for the District 8 Judge’s position.

Also Ponca City U.S. Senator Don Nickles is seeking a fourth term against Don E. Carroll, Democrat, Mike Morris and Argus W. Yaddell Jr., Independents. In the U.S. Representative District 5 race, Ernest Istook, Republican incumbent, is running against M.C. Smothermon, Edmond, Democrat.

Other state posts up for election are lieutenant governor; state auditor, state superintendent of public instruction, insurance commissioner, labor commissioner and a race for corporation commissioner.

Carol Stafford, secretary of the Kay County Election Board said that the precincts in the Blackwell area are open despite the flooding in that area. The precincts are located at the Youth Center, Northside School, Assembly of God Church and Methodist Church.

Polls will remain open until 7 p.m. today.

Water Flooding Croplands

By PATTI PFEIFFER

News Staff Writer

While the flood waters may be subsiding, the effect of the recent deluge will haunt many for a long time, maybe even a lifetime. For Blackwell farmer Elbert Urban this latest rain may have been the straw that broke him and his desire to ever farm again.

The aggravation, frustration, disappointment, and even pain — spurred on by this latest in a long line of area natural plagues — were apparent in the eyes and in the voice of Urban as he watched the murky, muddy waters of the Chikaskia River swiftly sweep over acres of land that once hosted his crops.

“I have been farming since 1968 and I’ve never experienced a year like this — never,” Urban said. “We started out with low grain prices, then record heat, record drought, and this record flood. I’m in my 60s and I just don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Like many local farmers, Urban had just completed planting his winter wheat crop when the recent rains fell. He says now that all is lost. But Urban is no stranger to loss, Mother Nature has made certain of that.

It was late September that the searing summer heat subsided enough to allow Urban to plant over 250 acres of wheat. It was a late planting but “better late than never” so the saying goes.

However a drenching and devastating rain came and pounded that planting. With his crop lost Urban wondered if never would have indeed been better.

“That rain dumped 4.5 inches of rain on my wheat crop and I lost it all,” Urban says. “So what do I do but go out and plant more wheat which is what this rain has destroyed.”

Urban also farms soybeans. Half was harvested when the rains came, but now the other half lays underwater.

The story is the same for many farmers with low lying crop land. The full extent of the damage to local crops has yet to be determined.

“We are just beginning to access the crop damage, and it will be later in the week before it’s completely known.” Kay County Extension Agricultural Educator Larry Fleck says. “We’ll have a better feel for the damage when the water recedes and we can determine the amount of wash-out.”

With winter wheat crops being planted and summer milo and soybean crops being harvested, local farmers are not only suffering from the 6-plus inches that fell locally but will — and have — felt the fallout from other areas as well.

“It is not just the rain here but the rain up north that drains into rivers and streams here and flood local crop lands,” Fleck said.

Fleck says that crop some crops will be lost, some can be saved and some will have to be redone.

“Those wheat crops recently sown will more than likely have to be resown in the areas that were flooded,” Fleck says. “Those in higher grounds will hopefully come on through although some slope areas may have been lost.”

In the meantime Urban struggles to determine the amount of his losses and his farming future. “This has been a devastating year and one which has me questioning whether I want to stay in the business, the risk is so high,” he says. “We’ll see though, because there is one thing about it — farmers are resilient!”

Senate District 20 Race Down to the Wire

By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE

News Staff Writer

Senate District 20 race came down to the wire with incumbent Democrat Paul Muegge, Tonkawa, and Republican challenger David Myers, Ponca City, ending in a near photo finish with Muegge nosing out Myers by slim 87 votes.

The total count was Muegge, 9,778 for 50.22 percent and Myers totaled 9,691 for 49.78 percent. District 20 covers parts of five counties, including, Kay, Woods, Alfalfa, Grant and Major.

In Kay County, Myers totaled 6,113 votes to Muegge’s, 5,215. Voters in Ponca City Precinct 534 cast the most votes locally in the Senate race with a total of 940. A total of 636 votes was cast for Myers and 304 for Muegge.

Myers narrowly carried Woods County with 729 votes to Muegge’s 722. In Alfalfa County, Muegge won handily with 1,217 to Myers, 882. Muegge also carried Grant County drawing 1,405 votes to Myers’ 716. Myers won Major County with 1,251 to Muegge’s 1,219.

Muegge said, “Of course the race was very, very close, but we won. I appreciate all of the great support we had and now it is time to get back to the real world. We kept the focus of our campaign positive. We had a lot of negative thrown at us — but we kept positive and people are calling me and thanking me for that.”

On the real world note, Muegge said he was trying to get out of the house to deliver some hay to stranded livestock in the area due to the flooding. He said the National Guard is going to help deliver hay by helicopter today. Muegge said there are several people in Kay and Grant counties who have been identified with stranded cattle that need feed.

Myers released a statement saying, “Based on the election results, it was certainly a close and hard fought race. I was disappointed because we were so close to winning, in fact we carried three of the five counties in District 20. With the results of the election being less than 100 votes and giving consideration to all the people whom have invested in me, we have not yet ruled out a recount.”

He added, “I appreciate all the hard work from those individuals who sacrificed their time for this effort, and when you consider we were out spent — almost two to one — I think it was a commendable effort.”

Incumbent District 38 State Representative Jim Reese, R-Nardin, won by a large margin drawing 74.94 percent of the votes over Democrat Sylvia Pratt, Newkirk, who drew 25.06 percent. Reese drew a total of 7,209 votes and Pratt 2,411. District 38 covers parts of Kay, Grant and Alfalfa Counties. Reese carried all three counties. In Kay County he received 3,806 votes compared to 1,606 for Pratt. Reese won Grant County with 1,729 votes to Pratt’s, 387, and Alfalfa with 1,674 votes and compared to Pratt’s, 418.

In the District 8 Judge’s race, incumbent D.W. Boyd, Blackwell, won handily with 71.66 percent of the vote over Tom Evans, Ponca City, who tallied 28.34 percent.

As was expected Republican Sen Don Nickles won the state easily garnering 66.38 percent of the vote. Don E. Carroll, Democrat pulled 31.28 percent, while Independents Mike Morris, drew 1.80 percent and Argus W. Yandell Jr., .54 percent.

In Kay County Nickles received 10,092 votes for 71.40 percent, while Carroll got 3,683 votes for 26.06, and independents Morris and Yandell received 286 votes for 2.02 percent, got 74 votes for .52 percent, respectively.

In U.S. House District Five, Republican incumbent Ernest Istook pulled 68.18 percent of the vote to Democrat M.C. Smothermon’s 31.82 percent. In Kay County Istook received 9,282 for 65.9 percent compared to Democrat M.C. Smothermon received 34.10 percent with 4,604 votes.

Candidates Retain Posts In Heavy Local Voter Turnout

By MARK GALVIN

News Staff Writer

Incumbent District Judge D.W. Boyd won his first election bid Tuesday, outpolling Ponca City attorney Tom Evans with more than 71 percent of the votes.

Boyd, who sought to retain his spot on the bench he’s occupied since his appointment in 1995, collected 11,617 votes to Evans’ 4,595 across the Eighth Judicial District, which comprises Kay and Noble counties.

In Kay County, voters cast 9,189 votes for Boyd and 2,428 votes for Evans. Noble County voters provided 3,817 votes for Boyd and 778 for Evans. The total percentage was 71.66 to 28.34.

Kay County’s other incumbent, District One County Commissioner Dee Schieber of Newkirk, won his second term in a race against Democratic challenger Jim Powelson of Ponca City. Voters cast 3,843 ballots for Schieber and 2,068 for Powelson.

“I’m glad it’s over,” Schieber remarked today.

He said, “My wife’s probably more glad than I was. My opponent ran a hard campaign.”

Kay County Election Board Secretary Carol Stafford was pleased with the healthy turnout of voters.

“We haven’t had an election with that many voters during an off-presidential year. Voter turnout this time was probably as high or higher than our presidential ones,” Stafford said.

In Noble County, election board secretary Helen Webb said this election kept everyone busy because registration changes caused by the county’s new 911 addressing “liked to run the precinct officials ragged.”

She said the office, which normally handles approximately 50 registration changes per month, this season handled more than 400.

In the Noble County District One race, Democratic incumbent commissioner Gary Manley kept his seat in a close race against Republican challenger Mark Sanders, 585 to 507.

And in Noble County District Three, Republican incumbent commissioner Wilbur Keith outpolled Democratic challenger Joe E. Kegin, 922 to 301.

In the race for new mayor of Perry, acting mayor Leroy J. Rolling, with 850 votes, outpolled his two challengers Clifton R. Franklin, with 513 votes, and John R. Nemec, with 267. Rolling is a council member who was named as acting mayor following the death of Bud Hollingsworth two months ago.

In Grant County, election board chief clerk Cathey Ebert said the precincts averaged a very good turnout, with 54 percent of registered voters casting ballots.

In the District One commissioner race, Republican incumbent Ted C. Moore kept his seat against Democratic challenger Melvin Gilchrist, 567-127.

Voters in Grant County provided 1,439 ballots for incumbent District Judge John W. Michael and 574 ballots for challenger Susan McNaughton in the race for the Fourth Judicial District, Office 3. For the entire Fourth District, Michael outpolled McNaughton, 20,700 to 17,592.

In Osage County, William H. Mattingly outpolled Rene P. Henry Jr., 5,375 to 4,726, for the Associate District Judge Post.

And in the District No. 36 race for state representative, Democrat Joe Sweeden outpolled Republican John Handshy, 4,781 to 1,752.

Voters Decide State Questions

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Researchers on university campuses in Oklahoma can start to collaborate with corporations now that voters gave the go-ahead to amend the state Constitution.

State Questions 680 and 681 were approved Tuesday along with two other proposals on statewide ballots. Two state questions — dealing with pay raises and tax exemptions — failed.

Oklahoma City banker V. Burns Hargis said State Questions 680 and 681 will allow the state’s universities better leverage over their assets.

‘‘I think it’s a great night for Oklahoma, and it will be a better tomorrow,’’ said Hargis, co-chairman of a group that championed the measures. ‘‘We’re going to have more and better jobs, better-paying jobs.’’

Supporters of the ‘‘technology transfer’’ measures say colleges and universities in Oklahoma have been restricted for years from profiting off inventions developed on campus. Gov. Frank Keating and other proponents said S.Q. 680 and S.Q. 681 will remove those restrictions.

But critics argued that universities ought to focus on education rather than research. They said the proposals will invite mismanagement and put small businesses at a disadvantage.

S.Q. 680 amends the constitutional provision banning the use of public property for a private purpose. A business could use college property to develop certain research projects.

S.Q. 681 allows a college or university or its employees to own technology and stock in a private company.

Members of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and Oklahoma Tax Commission did not fare as well as the university researchers. State Question 679 was nixed, blocking the effort to allow commissioners to receive pay raises during their current terms.

Oil and tire companies contributed money to the unsuccessful effort to pass State Question 683, which would have granted a tax exemption for personal property used for pollution control. Supporters said taking the property from ad valorem tax rolls would have been good for business in Oklahoma.

Opponents included the Oklahoma Wildlife Federation and Oklahoma Family Farm Alliance. They warned that S.Q. 683 would have given tax incentives to polluters and caused counties to lose revenue.

State Question 682, meanwhile, attempts to even the bidding between private prisons and local governments that want to do business with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. It was approved Tuesday.

It was written to extend contracts for up to 15 years for county and city governments that agree to house inmates for the state. Current contracts are limited to one year.

Under S.Q. 682, local governments also can sell revenue bonds to expand their jails or build new ones.

Voters also approved State Question 678, which gives residents the option to pull their counties or county sections from existing emergency medical service districts. The issue was important to towns that straddle county lines.

Nearly News

When the water runs deep, sometimes what roads run where becomes confusing. No, the flooding in Blackwell didn’t wash U.S. 77 into town nor did it wash the numbers off the U.S. 177 sign. The photo on the front of Monday’s News (which, by the way, was picked up by the AP and circulated around the nation), showed the intersection of U.S. 177 and Oklahoma 11 in Blackwell. NN promises to urge the reporters to check their maps more carefully from now on.

Princess has come home. Monday’s Nearly News told of the plight of lost Beanie Baby “Princess” at the Shanley Kelly Benefit. Well, NN has been notified that Princess has been returned to her owner and all is well.

The “International Year of Older Americans” was the theme used at the opening of the Senior Center, 319 West Grand, this afternoon. Music, refreshments and several activities helped to kick off the expanded hours for the center, which also houses the Wheatheart Nutrition program. Sponsored by the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and a grant from the Northern Oklahoma Development Authority, the center is open to all senior citizens.

Kaw Lake Association Receives Award for Kawfest 1998

OKLAHOMA CITY — Merit Award for Most Successful Sponsorship Solicitation for Kawfest was received by the Kaw Lake Association during the Red Bud Awards Presentation at the Third Annual Tourism Awards banquet Oct. 19 here. It was held in conjunction with the annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism.

Kaw Lake Association President Marilyn Harmon and Executive Director Kathy Tippin attended the annual conference and received the award on behalf of the Kaw Lake Association. The award was for the unique way in which the Kaw Lake Association used the sale of T-shirts to obtain corporate sponsors for Kawfest ’98.

Part of the Governor’s Conference was the quarterly meeting of the Oklahoma Lakes and Countries Association (OLCA). Charlinda Wallar with the State Tourism Department shared information on the 1999 travel shows in which OLCA members can participate. These include Amarillo, St. Louis, Topeka and Dallas. Also discussed was the Discover America TV Program. Several associations had been contacted, but didn’t have the budget to pursue it. The group agreed to set up a separate meeting in November to discuss it with the state Tourism Department officials.

David Sheatsley, COO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, spoke at the opening session Monday morning. He shared what the state of Virginia has done in tourism. One area he stressed is to create “tourism clusters” where various communities and attractions work together to attract tourists to a region.

Monday afternoon Kathleen Marks, director of the Travel and Tourism Division of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department and Barbara Johnston, senior vice president/manager supervisor for Ackerman-McQueen advertising gave an overview of Oklahoma’s advertising and promotional plan. Marks reported that the Travel Response Information Program (TRIPS), a computerized database of tourism information accessible through phone or over the Internet, has received more than 120,000 calls since going operational in March. A high of 600 user sessions (spending 15 minutes or more on the Internet page) per day was recorded in July.

Marks also talked about upgrading of the Welcome Centers, the Discover Oklahoma televisions show, the PR/Media relations area of the department, Oklahoma Travel Guide Travel Development including multicultural tourism expansion, and the Multi-State Alliance called America’s Heartland to market in foreign countries.

Tuesday morning’s legislative breakfast featured Oklahoma Senator Rick Littlefield, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Sub-Committee, Rep. James Dunagan, chairman of the House Tourism and Recreation Committee; and Sen. Dave Herbert, chairman of the Senate Tourism and Recreation Committee.

Senator Littlefield urged each person in attendance to understand the importance of tourism in their community and educate their legislators on its economic impact.

“Water sports are an important part of tourism,” he said. He added that for the first time tourism will be included in the orientation of new senators in January.

Representative Dunagan indicated that one of the legislative priorities regarding tourism is to educate citizens of Oklahoma as to what we have and to work more closely with the local media. He said they anticipate revenues being up 4 per cent this coming legislative sessions. However, factors including the drought, GM strike, and mandated pay raises may effect it

“Tourism is a quality of life issue for economic development,” said Senator Herbert. In the 1999 sessions he plans to ask the state to match dollars raised by the tourism tax in a new method of funding for tourism.

The mid-morning sessions included presentations by Will Corporon, vice president-elect of the Grove Chamber of Commerce; Devrey Youngblood, manager of private investment for the MAPS Project, and Candace McCoy, owner of the Riverside Cafe in Medicine Park.

Corporon said that Grove has seen their tax income increase from $1.6 million in 1987 to $3.2 million in 1997 and the number of school students increase from 1,490 to 2,253. Grove is now the fastest growing town and Delaware County the fastest growing county in Oklahoma for three years in a row. Efforts are being made in the areas of transportation and beautification.

Youngblood talked about the positive impact the MAPS program is making in downtown Oklahoma City and McCoy talked about how just a few people in a small town can make a difference.

Other presenters at the conference included Kathy Bowles, economic development specialist, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, noted travel author Arthur Frommer; Ed Lynn, president of Rockfield Management, Inc. and Marjorie Beenders, owner of Beenders Marketing Group.

Planning Group Meets Tonight

Ponca City Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m., tonight at the Public Safety Center, 200 East Central, to consider two rezonings.

One will be for a tract of land located south of Bradley, east of the railroad tracks, a half a block west of Jane and North of Young Street. The request is to rezone this property from R-1, agriculture district to a new zoning of Planned Unit Development and R-2C.

The other rezoning matter is for733 and 737 North Union from R-2, multi-family dwelling, to a new zoning of C-2 B, General Commercial District for a commercial building.

DEATHS

Donald George Buffalohead
Gerald Lee Pappan Sr.
Floyd Jack Hardy

Donald George Buffalohead

Donald George Buffalohead, longtime Ponca City resident, died Saturday evening, Oct. 31, 1998, at the Shawn Manor Nursing Home. He was 72.

Evening prayer services will be held Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. at Grace Memorial Chapel. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, 1998, at Grace Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Louis Headman, pastor, Ponca Indian Church of the Nazarene, officiating.

Donald George Buffalohead was born April 4, 1926, on the Ponca Reservation, the son of Arthur and Rose (Noerr) Buffalohead. He was married to Virginia Blueback on Aug. 8, 1952, in Alva, and they had just celebrated their 46th anniversary.

Buffalohead served in the United States Army during World War II from 1944 to 1946. He was employed as a meat cutter at several local meat packing plants including, Daack Packing, Braden and D&D.

Buffalohead was a member of the Ponca Tribe and the Ponca Indian Church of the Nazarene. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, family and friends, as well as fishing and hunting.

Surviving are his wife, Virginia of the home; four daughters, Teresa G. Buffalohead, Greta A. Blubaugh, Paula S. Mendoza, and Juanita L. Buffalohead, all of Ponca City; two sons, Ronald A. Buffalohead, and Donald N. Buffalohead, both of Ponca City; five brothers, Patrick Buffalohead, Robert Buffalohead, Norbert Buffalohead, Will Rogers Buffalohead, and Thomas Morgan, all of Ponca City; three sisters, Berniece Willis, Jane Conway, and LeAnn Jones, all of Ponca City; 12 granddaughters; one grandson; two great-granddaughters; one great-grandson; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, and one sister.

Casket bearers will be Millard Cerre, Tony Cerre, Prudencio Mendoza, Arthur Cerre, Richard Driggers, and Everett David. Honorary casket bearers will be Edgar Whitaker, Levi Iron, Dave Roberts, Harold Goodman and Ben Cerre.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Ponca City, Inc., 1904 N. Union, Suite 103, Ponca City, OK 74601.

The family will be at 1016 South Ninth Street.

Obituaries

Gerald Lee Pappan Sr.

On Friday, Oct. 30, 1998, the Lord welcomed our son, husband, father, and brother, Gerald Lee Pappan, home to be with Him. He was 29 years old.

A prayer service was to be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Ponca Indian Baptist Church. The traditional Indian Feast was to be held noon today at the Ponca Indian Baptist Church followed by the funeral at 2 p.m. Officiating will be the Rev. Ted Freeman, Pastor, assisted by the Rev. Richard Pickup, Evangelist, Salina, and Minister Toby A. Blackstar, Greater First Deliverance Temple, Oklahoma City. Burial will follow in the Ponca Indian Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Gerald was born Dec. 28, 1968, at the Pawnee Indian Hospital to Leland and Norene (Crazy Bear) Pappan. He was raised in a strong and loving Christian home where he was surrounded by his friends and relatives. Gerald attended school at Lincoln Elementary, East Junior High and Riverside Indian School. He was a proud member of the Ponca Indian Tribe as well as the Ponca Indian Baptist Church. In earlier years he enjoyed employment as a police officer with the Ponca Tribal Police Department.

He will always be remembered as a pleasant young man with his warm smile etched in the mind of his Ponca people.

He leaves behind his wife, Mercedes (Dawson) Pappan; two sons, Gerald Lee Pappan Jr., and Patrick Pappan, both of the White Eagle home; his parents, Leland and Norene Pappan, of White Eagle; five brothers, Clinton, Leland Pappan III, Anthony, Quentin, and Richard, all of White Eagle, four sisters, Mildred, Millicent, and LeAnn Pappan, and Mollie Kemble, all of White Eagle; three nieces, one nephew, and a host of relatives and friends.

Casket bearers will be Marc Eagle, Toby Eagle, Deforrest Pappan, Garland Pappan, Freddie Others, and Henson Lena. Honorary casket bearers will be Clinton J. Pappan, Leland Pappan III, Anthony Pappan, Quentin T. Pappan, Richard E. Pappan, Thomas Pappan, Randy Kemble, Enos Rhodd, and Leroy Enloe.

paid obituary

Floyd Jack Hardy

CHALLIS, Idaho — Funeral services for Floyd Jack Hardy, 92, will be held at the Challis Mission Church in Challis, Idaho, on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 1998, at 1 p.m. with Pastor Paul Stroud officiating. Mr. Hardy passed away Oct. 30, 1998, at St. Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula, Mont., of causes related to age.

He was born on Aug. 19, 1906, on the Kaw Reservation in Indian Territory, now known as the state of Oklahoma, a son of Warren and Anna Myrtle Attebery Hardy.

Floyd was raised on a farm on the Arkansas River near Hardy, and attended schools in Newkirk. He was a member of the Kaw nation and proud of his Kanza heritage. He married Minnie Bell O’Dell on Sept. 6, 1933, after stealing her heart away at a house social dance during the Great Depression. A son and a daughter were born of the union.

After marriage, Floyd and Minnie continued farming until economic conditions forced them from the farm. They then settle in Newkirk where Floyd worked at various jobs in the area including construction work at Chilocco Indian School and clerking at the Farmers Supply Coop in Newkirk. During this period, he acquired a trade as a painter under the tutelage of Wes Balster. Floyd was a skilled painter and decorator and a master of wood finishing and restoration. In 1942, he took employment with the Continental Oil Company in Ponca City as an industrial painter. He retired from Conoco in 1962 and established his own painting and decoration business, which he ran in Ponca City for several years. He was known for his craftsmanship, attention to detail and his dedicated work ethic.

Floyd was a talented musician and enjoyed music of all kinds throughout his life. He learned to play the banjo at an early age and played with many area musicians in the 1920s and 1930s. From Arkansas City to Pawhuska, he played at many dances. In his later years he supported and played with the Idaho Old-Time Fiddlers.

In 1969, Floyd and Minnie followed their children to Prescott, Ariz., and resided there until 1976. The couple made their home in Challis the following year.

He was a life-long member of the Southern Baptist Church. While living in Challis he attended the Challis Mission Church.

He is survived by one son, Jack O. Hardy of Challis, Idaho; one daughter, Lenore Hardy Barrett of Challis, Idaho; six grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his wife, a brother, and two sisters.

Burial will take place in the Challis Cemetery under direction of the Jones & Casey Funeral Home of Salmon and Challis.

paid obituary

NEWS BRIEFS

Garden Council — The Ponca City Council of Garden Clubs will meet at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Cann Memorial Gardens. Wes Rice will give the program about “Pecans in Oklahoma.” The public is invited to attend.

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

Masada Picture Displayed — A Masada picture will be on display this week at Louie’s barbershop, 105 South Second Street. The Masada sketch is of the Jewish tourist attraction where it is said images appear, giving a Mount Rushmore like appearance, and representing both the good and the evil.

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

Misplaced Transmission — At 8:47 a.m. Monday police were notified of a transmission that was in the road at Bradley Avenue and North Fifth Street. The Street Department was contacted.

Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential.

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

p.m. 700 West Broadway. adv.

Forged Check — Police were notified at 9:07 a.m. Monday of a forged check at Jack Griffith’s, 2501 North Fourteenth Street. An officer was assigned.

Alabam’s Barber Shop closed till November 10th. adv.

Purse Found — At 9:43 a.m. Monday police were advised that a purse had been found in an alley between the 700 block of North Lake Street and Palm Street.

Altercation — At 12:08 p.m. Monday police were called to the 2200 block of North Fourteenth Street for an altercation that was in progress. An officer was assigned.

Accident — A two-vehicle accident at North Fourteenth Street and Bradley Avenue was reported to police at 12:19 p.m. Monday. An officer was assigned.

Harassment — A woman in the 1100 block of North Union Street called police at 12:40 p.m. Monday regarding harassment.

Bean Dip Bandit — At 2:25 p.m. Monday police were notified that a teenager had stolen some bean dip from Conoco, 3305 North Fourteenth Street. A report was taken.

Class Meeting — The Class of 1969 reunion committee will hold a meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Conoco Clubhouse. For information contact Susan Skinner-Ladner, 765-2876; Tom Sober, 765-6262; or Buck Harris, 762-6935.

1/2 Price on clothing and shoes every Wednesday. Priced items

not included. Caboose Thrift Shoppe, First and Central. adv.

Missing Briefcase — A woman in the 200 block of South Eleventh Street contacted police at 4:08 p.m. Monday about a briefcase that was missing from her vehicle

Instant Passport Pictures. Graham Photo, 201 North First, 765-

4348. adv..

Break-In — Officers were called to South Thirteenth Street and Edwards Avenue at 5:27 p.m. Monday after receiving a report of a residence that had been broken into.

Carpet Cleaning most modern method of cleaning. Recommended by major carpet manufacturers, most completely trained personal and finest service. Reasonable prices, references. Call Floorcraft 762-8381. adv.

Assault — At 6:08 p.m. Monday police were called to the 300 block of North Third Street for a reported assault.

Arrest — Police arrested a 19-year-old woman at 6:35 p.m. Monday from the 400 block of North Fourth Street on a city warrant for failure to obey.

Extra Patrol — Extra patrol was assigned in the 100 block of South Osage Street at 5:28 p.m. Monday after a resident reported a window had been spray painted.

Mailbox Hit — A man in the 100 block of East Fresno Avenue contacted police at 10:56 p.m. Monday after someone reportedly backed over his mailbox in their pickup truck. A report was taken.

Phone Theft — A resident in the 1800 block of Lake Road contacted police at 7:19 p.m. Monday regarding the theft of a cellular phone.

Arrest — Police arrested a 35-year-old man at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday from South Eleventh Street and East South Avenue on a city warrant for failure pay.

Arrest — A 20-year-old man was arrested at 5:22 a.m. Tuesday from 400 block of North Union Street for no driver’s license and not driving reasonable and proper.

Break-In — At 8:15 p.m. Monday a woman in the 1600 block of North First Street reported that someone had entered her home by cutting the screen on a window. An officer was assigned.

Trailer Fire — At 10:38 p.m. Monday McCord fire units responded to a report of a trailer, engulfed in flames, in the 2800 block of East U.S. 60.

Every Wednesday ๐ price clothes, shoes and purses except

priced items. Check our daily specials. Caboose Thrift Shoppe,

First and Central. adv.

Graffiti — At 7:16 p.m. Monday police were advised that several juveniles had spray painted graffiti on a building in the 1300 block of Princeton Avenue. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

LIFESTYLES

Non-Profit Groups Win With Bake Sale Competition
PEO Chapters To Meet
Celiac is Little Known Disease

Win With Bake Sale Competition

(NAPS) — By sharing the secret of a successful bake sale, non-profit organizations can win themselves a lot of dough.

It’s part of the Betty Crocker Bake Sale Competition, a contest for charitable organizations and schools, set up to celebrate the 50th anniversary of cake mix.

Bake sales have been a tasty way to raise money for generations of Americans. Now, some groups, such as little league, hospitals, churches and the like, many be able to get even more bread for their cakes. The grand prize winner will get $5,000. Another 20 runner-up prizes of $1,000 each will also be awarded.

Layer cake mix first made its way into American homes for testing in 1948 followed by national distribution. Over the years, Betty Crocker mixes have changed to reflect the preference of customers, with the newest change combining the Betty Crocker and Hershey’s brands. As part of its anniversary celebration, Betty Crocker, America’s best-selling brand of dessert mixes, now has America’s favorite chocolate, Hershey’s, in all 34 chocolate dessert mixes, including SuperMoist layer cake.

To enter the contest, non-profit groups must submit four bake sale recipes, at least one of which must use Betty Crocker SuperMoist Devil’s Food Cake Mix made with Hershey’s cocoa plus tips for a successful bake sale table.

A winning recipe may be something like this Betty Crocker 50th Anniversary recipe for Chocolate Ganache Cake:

Chocolate Ganache Cake

1 package Betty Crocker

SuperMoist devil’s food cake mix

1 tub Betty Crocker Rich

and Creamy chocolate

ready-to-spread frosting

1/3 cup whipping (heavy) cream

1/2 cup Hershey’s semisweet

chocolate chips

Hershey’s Skor or Heath

English toffee bits, if desired

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare, bake and cool cake mix in two 8- or 9-inch round pans as directed on package.

Brush crumbs off cake. Place 1 layer, top side down, on plate. Spread 1/3 cup frosting almost to edge. Place other layer, top side up, on frosted layer. Frost side with thin coat first to seal crumbs; then frost side and top, spreading top smooth and flat.

Heat whipping cream in 1-quart saucepan over medium heat until hot (do not boil). Remove from heat; stir in chocolate chips until melted and smooth. Let stand 5 minutes. Pour carefully onto top center of frosted cake; spread to edge, allowing some to drizzle down side. Garnish with toffee bits. Refrigerate uncovered about 1 hour or until chocolate is set. Refrigerate any remaining cake.

The bake sale must be held between Sept. 15, 1998 and Feb. 15, 1999. Entries must be postmarked by Feb. 15, 1999. They will be judged on taste, appearance, originality and creativity of the recipes; table presentation; and originality and viability of the tips. Mail entries to: Betty Crocker’s 50th Anniversary Bake Sale Competition, 245 Eighth Avenue, Suite 236, New York, NY 10011.

For complete rules, call 1-800-446-1898, or visit the website: www.BettyCrocker.com.

PEO Chapters To Meet

Chapters EL and FC of PEO will meet together Wednesday for a Dutch luncheon at noon at E. W.’s Restaurant at the Marland Mansion Conference Center. Cost of the luncheon is $6.95 per person. Special guest will be State President Diane Reed, Chapter P, Pawhuska, who will speak on the “State of the State Chapter.” She will be accompanied by Debbie Reed, PEO International Peach Scholarship Fund chairman, also from Chapter P.

Celiac is Little Known Disease

Editor’s Note: The following information was brought to The News by a Ponca City resident diagnosed with the disease, who wanted to promote community awareness of the disease.

Did you ever see a “Silly Yak?” No? Think again. But this time spell it C-E-L-I-A-C, and pronounce it almost the same.

Celiacs are all around you — an estimated 80,000 of them in the United States — men, women, children, coast-to-coast, north to south.

So, what is this condition called Celiac? It is a disease so little known that many physicians may not recognize it. It has been around for at least 2,000 years, but its cause — eating the protein of wheat, barley, rye and oats — was discovered only in this century after World War II.

“Silly Yak” symptoms may include abdominal cramps, fatigue, foul and puffy stools (steatorrhea), bloated abdomen, diarrhea, weight loss, intestinal gas and muscle wasting.

If the disease remains undiagnosed and progresses to the critical stage, damage to vital organs and the central nervous system may have occurred.

How can such normal foods in the diet such as wheat, barley, rye and oats make susceptible folks sick enough to come close to starvation even though they are eating more than enough food? Add another word to your vocabulary — gluten and the gliadin fraction of gluten and associated chains of amino acids. This gluten is found in wheat, barley, rye and oats. It is the gliadin fraction of gluten which, in interaction with adenovirus of the small intestine, destroys or flattens villi, that Turkish-towel shag that is on the inside of the gut. It is the cause of this malabsorption.

Villi ordinarily absorb nutrient and mineral content from food — vitamins, carbohydrates and sugars, the stuff that fuels our bodies like gasoline fuels the car. When you do not have active villi, your body does not function well. In its final stages, celiac disease, quite frankly, is outright starvation.

Medical science may not know yet just how gluten destroys the villi (most often in people of northern European ancestry), but it is very well-known by diagnosed celiacs that eliminating gluten (as in wheat breads, wheat pasta, oat cereals, barley soups and alcohol flavorings) brings about a miraculous, almost overnight, cure.

The Celiac Sprue Association/United States of America, Inc. (CSA/USA, Inc.) is a nationwide nonprofit organization founded by celiacs for celiacs. With 6400 members, CSA has over 100 chapter/resource support groups scattered throughout the United States, and it is in association with celiac associations worldwide.

CSA works to inform, educate and provide dietary guidelines for celiacs in all 50 states. The association publishes a quarterly newsletter called Lifeline, furnishes brochures and handbooks on request, offers low-cost membership, and seeks out those celiacs who have not yet been diagnosed but are ill and bewildered.

CSA has five cookbooks in print for celiacs and those persons with the skin condition called dermatitis herpetiformis. Rice, corn and soy become the grain staples for the celiac diet. Dozens of food lines are available commercially through mail-order specialty bakers and manufacturers. No celiac suffers undue hardship from the wheat-free diet.

For additional information of celiac disease and support groups across the country, contact CSA/USA, Inc. at P.O. Box 31700, Omaha, NE 68131-0700 or call (402) 558-0600.

BUSINESS

Coastal Purchasing Some Conoco Assets
P.C. Sales Tax Return Increases
Seeley Named Chairman Of Reaccreditation Effort
Kay County Bar, Hermanson To Be Honored
Several From County Speak at Conference
Cogman Named President, COO For Burson-Marsteller Worldwide
County Jobless Rate Increases
Ponca City Red Cross Chapter Busy Assisting Recent Victims

Coastal Purchasing Some Conoco Assets

PRNewswire

HOUSTON — The Coastal Corporation announced Monday that its exploration and production subsidiary, Coastal Oil & Gas Corporation, has purchased certain upstream oil and gas assets of Conoco Inc. located in the Uintah Basin of northeastern Utah and the Piceance Basin of western Colorado. The properties are located in two of the most prolific natural gas basins in the Rocky Mountains.

The assets being acquired are comprised of interests in 21 oil and gas producing fields and an estimated 312,500 acres of producing and non-producing leasehold interests. The leaseholds include 106,000 acres of prospective deep rights under and adjoining the Natural Buttes Federal Exploratory Unit which Coastal currently operates in Uintah County, Utah. Additionally, Coastal will acquire Conoco’s Dragon Trail processing plant which is capable of processing up to 60 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. The plant is located approximately 15 miles south of Rangely, Colo. Other assets included in the acquisition include two natural gas gathering systems. The gathering systems are located in the Douglas Arch area of Colorado and in the Ouray Field in Uintah County, Utah.

“These properties are an excellent fit with Coastal’s integrated North American natural gas strategy,” said David A. Arledge, chairman and chief executive officer, The Coastal Corporation. “Coastal has significant existing natural gas reserves in the area, as well as an extensive transportation system with our Colorado Interstate Gas Company pipeline subsidiary. As a result, we can leverage both our geological expertise and our drilling programs to expand our exploration and production core area in the Rockies to an adjoining basin in a prudent manner. With this acquisition, we have the opportunity to drill more than 500 potentially productive locations that are economically attractive at today’s gas prices.”

During the third quarter, Coastal announced that, contrary to recent industry trends primarily influenced by depressed oil prices, it had increased its 1998 Exploration and Production budget by $100 million. The Company intends to capitalize on decreased costs of services and equipment and to boost its natural gas production.

Houston-based Conoco, active in 40 countries, is a fully integrated energy company involved in exploration, production, refining, marketing, transportation and power.

The Coastal Corporation is a Houston-based energy holding company with consolidated assets of more than $11 billion and subsidiary operations in natural gas transmission, storage, gathering, processing and marketing; petroleum refining and marketing; oil and gas exploration and production; chemicals; power production; and coal.

P.C. Sales Tax Return Increases

Ponca City sales tax return from the Oklahoma Tax Commission for business conducted during August was up compared to the same time period last year. Ponca City coffers will receive a total of $882,126 up from $720,869 for the same time frame in 1997.

Marc LaBossiere, finance director for the City of Ponca City, notes that when comparing year-over-year sales tax collections, the recent voter-approved dedicated half-cent sales tax to renovate and expand the No. 1 Fire Station must be considered.

This tax equates to 14.29 percent of total collections, or $126,018 in the current month. This tax went into effect Dec. 1, 1997, and will expire on Nov. 30, 1999.

Factoring out the new dedicated tax, and comparing year-over-year collections on retail sales, total sales tax collections in the current month have increased from the same period of the prior year by 4.89 percent, according to LaBossiere.

Statewide, the distribution of city sales tax collections totaled $71,647,902. The disbursement of sales tax collections to 487 cities and towns showed an increase of $8,343,879 from the $69,304,023 a year ago.

Use Tax

In addition to sales tax, the City of Ponca City receives a use tax, which is paid on catalog sales or materials purchased out of state and delivered here. The use tax distributed by the Oklahoma Tax Commission to the City in October totaled $44,415, compared to the same time frame in 1997, which totaled $36,011.

City August 98 August 97

Barnsdall $12,878 $12,205

Bartlesville 1,032,961 996,213

Billings 4,724 9,539

Blackwell 94,647 93,542

Braman 1,995 1,784

Burbank 483 436

Deer Creek 250 1,348

Enid 1,345,628 1,180,232

Fairfax 13,950 13,251

Kaw City 3,689 3,729

Lamont 2,926 944

Marland 1,179 951

Medford 26,143 10,938

Morrison 5, 901 4,743

Newkirk 23,202 26,260

Pawhuska 56,126 56,109

Pawnee 34,583 39,586

Perry 81,764 38,275

Pond Creek 6,573 7,831

Ralston 1,576 2,044

Red Rock 1,015 1,265

Shidler 2,632 2,610

Stillwater 1,209,867 1,084,982

Tonkawa 46,865 41,929

Seeley Named Chairman Of Reaccreditation Effort

By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE

News Business Editor

Paul Seeley has been named chairman of the reaccreditation committee of the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce, Richard Severance, Chamber chairman, announced at the Friday board meeting.

The Chamber goes through the accreditation process every few years. This process evaluates the Chamber in six different areas. A member of the board will be expected serve on each of the six sub-committees, Jan Jarrett, Chamber CEO, said.

A guest at the meeting was Chris Hand, who has been appointed to the Small Business Commission. A seminar with Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin and others is planned for January 1998. Jarrett said that other towns in Kay County will be included.

Under the Governmental Affairs Division, Craig Myers, chairman, asked for approval of a letter to be sent to City Commission recognized that the city has for the fourth straight year been recognized by the Oklahoma Good Roads and Transportation Association for outstanding efforts in improving local community street systems.

The letter requests that prior to the start of construction projects that the Chamber offers assistance in coordinating sessions involving affected businesses. Gary Martin, city manager, announced that Hartford Avenue was opened to traffic at 11 a.m. Friday.

In other action the board approved the nominating committee for the upcoming Board of Directors election. Craig Myers, chairman-elect, will serve as chairman with members, Richard Severance, chamber chairman, Mark Detten, Barry Bickle, Dolley Rolland, Cory Bowker, Karen Furman and Tom Leonard.

Linda Brown, Economic Development Advisory board chairman, announced the board will be making a good will trip to Oklahoma City on Nov. 16 to meet with various agencies, including the Department of Commerce.

Severance in the chairman’s report told about a successful meeting with a group of Hispanics and praised Mayor Leonard’s efforts in addressing the crowd in their language.

During the treasurer’s report Jim Lindsay recognized the efforts of Lisa Coy, executive vice president, for her efforts in signing up new participants in the Chamber Check program.

Gary Martin, city manager, told about the recent city retreat and redefining the mission statement and goals.

The board was reminded to vote on Tuesday and to vote for State Questions 680,681 and 683.

It was reported that the Chamber has met with the Main Street and Ponca City Tomorrow organizations and they are in the process of reviewing charters, missions, goals and structure to make them more effective.

Jarrett reported there is a possibility of getting a small business development centered located in Ponca City. Currently the closest one to Ponca City is at Enid.

Barry Bickle, head of Business and Community Development, announced that the Health and Medical Committee will be co-sponsoring a Health Fair with the YMCA in April 1999.

Kay County Bar, Hermanson To Be Honored

Ponca City attorney Brian Hermanson and the Kay County Bar Association will be among 24 individuals and five groups to be honored by the Oklahoma Bar Association during its upcoming 94th Annual Meeting. OBA President John Gaberino Jr. of Tulsa will present the awards during ceremonies Nov. 11-13 in Tulsa.

Hermanson is a regular speaker at OBA Continuing Legal Education programs for attorneys and has made 25 presentations on a variety of topics ranging from attorney fees to criminal procedure. He is among the highest rated speakers by OBA/CLE seminar attendees.

According to the OBA, he has “an unrivaled sense of humor that he intertwines into his oral presentations, and his written materials are always of the highest quality.” For his efforts he will receive the Earl Sneed Award for Continuing Legal Education.

The Kay County Bar Association will be recognized as a Hicks Epton Law Day Award recipient for its efforts during Law Day/Week 1998, which were led by Law Day Chairman Chiles E. Townsend and Kay County Bar President James Bailey. The Kay County Bar has a long tradition of Law Day involvement, continuously striving to reach the community. This year’s activities included sponsoring the highly successful Ponca City Playhouse’s rendition of “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

Kay County Bar sought to bring awareness to adults and students in the community. They contacted the chairperson of every high school English department in Kay County to inform and invite them to attend the production, which is required reading for most high school students. The play gave many students and citizens an opportunity to experience one-on-one contact with Kay County attorneys. Other Law Day events included giving free legal advice and Westside Project.

Several From County Speak at Conference

Kay County leaders took to the spotlight as featured guest speakers during breakout sessions at the State Chamber of Commerce, Success Connection IV Conference held recently at the Tulsa Convention Center. Area leaders spoke on behalf of Project Partners, the local School-to-Work partnership, by sharing success stories with other educators and business and industry leaders across the state.

Tera Bradstreet, account manager at Sykes Enterprises, lead two sessions on “How to create an “easy access” business and industry resource database,” by utilizing a Power Point presentation and the Internet. Project Partners’ database lists partner schools and over 200 Kay County businesses who have volunteered to serve as resources for our schools. Business partner contact names, addresses, phone numbers, grade levels, number of times per year that businesses are willing to volunteer, etc are all included in the database. Businesses are categorized into the 13 career cluster areas. Additionally, businesses are categorized by activities in which they are willing to participate for the partnership schools, such as teacher internships, job shadowing, guest speakers and mentoring.

Teachers, students, parents, or anyone with access to the Internet have used the database by going to www. pioneertech.org and clicking on the Kay County business and industry database. Bradstreet was assisted with the presentation by Nancy Miller, Pioneer Technology Center career specialist, and Linda Thompson, Project Partner coordinator. Chuck Westfield, former Sykes employee was the original author of the database. Charles Robodeaux, Sykes employee, developed the current version of the database.

Sharon Dennison, Express Personnel Services, gave two innovative sessions using a power point presentation on “How Business and Industry Can Make a Difference in a local School-to-Work partnership.” She presented specific examples of how Express participates with Project Partners.

Dennison also discussed skills that Kay County employers are looking for in their employees and illustrated how these needs can be met. Dennison also discussed the importance of educating the entire company about the benefits of STW to students, businesses, and the community as a whole.

Shea Erickson, Blackwell Chamber of Commerce executive director, lead two sessions entitled “Does Your Career Planning Process Have You Puzzled?” Erickson was assisted by Lenora Pennington, Blackwell High School counselor; Mike Wiles, Pioneer Technology Center counselor, and Nancy Miller, Pioneer Technology Center career specialist. These sessions focused on how representatives from Blackwell’s business and industry, community organizations, high school, area vocational school, area colleges, and parents worked together to solve this puzzle of effective career planning. This session focused on how a rural community put all the pieces together to its career education and career planning process.

This was the fourth statewide conference scheduled by the State Chamber of Commerce. The Success Connection IV is a collaboration between the State Chamber and the Oklahoma Department of Vo-Tech Education.

Cogman Named President, COO For Burson-Marsteller Worldwide

Former Ponca Citian Don Cogman, son of Mary Sunshine and Harold Cogman, 2501 Mockingbird, has been named president and chief operating officer-worldwide of Burson-Marsteller, a public affairs company with headquarters in New York.

For the past seven years Cogman has been a part of Burson-Marsteller’s senior management.

The company has 53 offices worldwide. Cogman will focus on the day-to-day operations of the global network, with a particular emphasis on key client relationships, human resources and knowledge development. Previously Cogman was CEO of the firm’s operations in the Americas and head of the Washington bureau.

Cogman is a 1965 graduate of Ponca City High School and graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1969 with a degree in political science. He first went to Washington, D.C. as chief of staff to the late U.S. Sen. Dewey F. Bartlett, R-Okla.

After serving with Bartlett, he opened a Washington office and served as vice president of government affairs for MAPCO Inc., a Fortune 200 energy company headquartered in Tulsa.

In 1989 Cogman formed The Rogers Cogman Frierson Group with four other partners including Joe Rogers, ambassador to France. He served as president of this Washington based public government affairs consulting company. In 1991 he joined Burson-Marsteller.

He and his wife Susie reside in New Canaan, Conn., and are the parents of four children, Bryan, Marc, Clay and Caroline.

County Jobless Rate Increases

Kay County’s unemployment rate rose slightly in September, according to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission’s preliminary report, which shows 7.1 percent unemployment compared to 6.9 in August and 6.8 a year ago.

Kay County’s workforce totals 22,770 and there are 1,620 unemployed. The state preliminary report shows an unemployment rate of 4.2 percent, which is up from the four percent reported in August. Oklahoma’s estimated workforce is listed 1,630,000 with 68,700 unemployed.

Nearby Payne County’s 1.9 percent unemployment rate was the lowest in the state’s 77 counties for the sixth straight month. Other area counties and unemployment rates include: Grant, with 2.3 percent unemployment, compared to 2.2 percent in August and 2.9 percent in 1997; Noble County shows 3.3 percent compared to 2.8 percent in August and 3.1 percent a year ago; Osage shows 3.6 percent compared to 2.9 percent in August and 3.7 percent in 1997; Pawnee shows, 4.5 percent unemployed, compared to 4.6 i n August and 5.6 in 1997.

Ponca City Red Cross Chapter Busy Assisting Recent Victims

The Ponca City Chapter of the American Red Cross is busy at work assisting families whose lives have been disrupted by disaster. Local disaster workers are helping several families who have been affected by the flood waters in the Ponca City area. These families are receiving emergency assistance which includes food, clothing, and shelter. In addition the chapter is assisting two local families who have had their homes destroyed by fire and one family whose trailer was destroyed by winds.

Patti King, chapter disaster education specialist, states: “We want to remind everyone that flood waters are extremely powerful. Do not drive into water. The force of the current may sweep vehicles off the road even if the water is less than a foot deep. Also the road bed itself may have been washed away. We would like to ensure the safety of area residents.”

Ponca City area residents who have flood damage or who have been affected by any other kind of disaster should contact the local chapter of the American Red Cross. The chapter is located at 525 Monument and the phone number is 765-6605.

“When the flood waters recede, we will also help families during the recovery phase,” states Ann Ryan, Chapter Manager. “You can help the victims of these disasters by making a contribution to the American Red Cross. All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. Contributions may be sent to the local chapter.”

In addition, the local chapter needs personal care items such as combs, brushes, shampoo, soap, deodorant, shaving cream, children’s toothbrushes, etc. The chapter is also very low on small toys which are given to children whose toys are lost in fires; bedding, dishes, cookware. The supply of diapers is depleted. “Individuals and organizations who wish to contribute specific items may drop them at the chapter headquarters or call 765-6605 and we will arrange for pickup of items,” states Carole Johnson, Chapter chairman.

SPORTS

Mavericks Dominate For Now
OSU’s Webber Can Feel Pressure Now
OSU Must Stop Williams
8th Graders Close With Winning Season

Mavericks Dominate For Now

By MATTHEW KOENIG

News Sports Writer

TONKAWA — Don’t start slapping labels on the 1998-99 NOC Mavericks just yet, but for whatever it’s worth, this team is dominating.

After one game, at least.

The latest incarnation of the Mavs ran the Southern Nazarene junior varsity into the court Monday night, putting on an offensive and defensive skills-clinic en route to humbling the hapless Redskins, 90-43.

In a game that was punctuated by Maverick take-aways (22, including 18 in the first half) and slam-dunks (7), the Mavericks blasted to a 28-4 lead in the first three minutes and — with all 13 players on their roster scoring — sailed to a 49-18 lead at halftime.

“That’s a great way to open up,” said coach Mick Weiberg, whose team shellacked the Redskins 111-48 in their inaugural game last year. “This is a good group of athletes, and if they can keep getting better and keep learning the little things, they’ll get to use that athleticism.”

While Weiberg concedes that a night of stealing, dishing off and slamming — against a mediocre team, at best — doesn’t reveal many flaws, it was a nice showcase for the new Northern talent, and evidenced what should be the Mavs’ forte this season — defense.

“I was pleased with the way they stayed in their defense through the game,” Weiberg said. “And I was really pleased with the enthusiasm. We had the intensity.

“Still, it’ll be interesting to see how we hold up when we’re playing the half-court game.”

It was an evening to forget for the Redskins. Besides just 13-of-50 shooting, they were also bonked on the boards by a 40-28 margin. The Mavs, meanwhile, shot at will, hitting on 34-of-70. That figure is tempered by 6-of-19 from 3-point land — one area Weiberg cites as needing work.

Forward Sherman Rochell (6-5, 185) led all scorers with 18 points, nine of the Mavs’ first 13 points, and shot 6-of-7 from 2-point range. One of two returnees from last year’s seminal squad, point guard Josh Regnier, finished with 12, while Latarvis Norman and Ryan Williams each had 10.

Combined, Williams, Norman and Rochell shot a stellar 88 percent from 2-point range.

Larry Reid and Tyler Barnard each had eight, Shere-Khan Jones (the other returning Maverick) had six, Garrett Pelton had five, Ron Banks had four, Nathan Gregory had three, while Jeff Newby, Josh Nichols, and Philip Rogers all had two.

The Mavericks now head to the Land of Enchantment for the Hobbs, New Mexico Classic. Last season, the Mavericks won the tournament.

“We’re about to get the real, true test,” Weiberg said.

Game Notes — A Regnier steal, setting up a Reid-to-Rochell alley-oop had the enthusiastic student section on their feet, four minutes into the game. . . Rochell had three dunks on the night . . . Rogers, the last Maverick to score, got on the board with a break away dunk in the final minute of the game. . . the Mavs had 16 turnovers.

OSU’s Webber Can Feel Pressure Now

By OWEN CANFIELD

AP Sports Writer

STILLWATER (AP) — Alex Webber has heard the talk, that Oklahoma State’s basketball team is a center away from being not just good, but very good.

Webber hopes to provide coach Eddie Sutton with the missing piece of the puzzle.

‘‘That’s my spot,’’ the 6-foot-10 junior said at media day Monday. ‘‘It’s hard work, knowing that everybody’s counting on me because everybody else has already proven themselves.’’

The Cowboys (22-7 last year) have starters back at the other four positions. Adrian Peterson, the coaches’ choice as Big 12 player of the year, will be joined by guards Doug Gottlieb and Joe Adkins and swingman Desmond Mason. Glendon Alexander, a transfer from Arkansas, gives the Cowboys another guard-forward.

Brett Robisch provided the Cowboys with solid inside play a year ago, averaging 15 points and 8 rebounds per game. Webber, meanwhile, averaged 2.6 points and 1.8 rebounds while playing fewer than 10 minutes per game.

‘‘I don’t think anybody realizes how good a player Brett was late in the year for us,’’ Sutton said. ‘‘We’re still searching to see if we can get Alex to fill that void, or one of the other players.’’

Joining Webber in the mix at center are Robisch’s brother, Scott, Brian Montonati, junior college transfer John Gilmore and freshman Fredrik Jonzen.

‘‘It’s just early to say how good we can be,’’ Sutton said. ‘‘We could be very good or we could be so-so.’’

Webber started the season opener as a freshman, something only three other freshmen in school history had done. But he missed the second half of the season due to a back injury that required surgery.

When he returned last year, he wasn’t the same. He was tentative, unable to get past the idea that a bad fall or wrong move could end his career.

‘‘This year, I think I’m a lot better at playing through it and not thinking about it,’’ Webber said Monday.

He doesn’t disagree with Sutton’s contention that Webber’s biggest hurdle is mental — he has lost some confidence and needs to understand he will always play with some pain.

‘‘I lost the job as a freshman,’’ he said. ‘‘No one wants more for me to get it back than me. I’d love to have been out there last year and the year before playing 35 minutes a game. This year, I’m going to hopefully get out there and do my part.’’

Oklahoma State plays its first exhibition game Nov. 10 and opens the season for real Nov. 16 against Northwestern State of Louisiana. The schedule includes nonconference games against Texas Christian, UCLA and UNLV.

OSU Must Stop Williams

By OWEN CANFIELD

AP Sports Writer

STILLWATER (AP) — The play of quarterback Major Applewhite has been a big part of Texas’ turnaround this season. Throwing to speedy Wane McGarity and Kwame Cavil, the redshirt freshman has put together six straight 200-yard passing games.

Applewhite has been impressive. But not as impressive as tailback Ricky Williams, who leads the nation with 204 yards rushing per game and will be the focus of Oklahoma State’s defense this week.

‘‘He can take over a ball game, and you know going in that their philosophy is to get him his, so he’s going to touch the ball about 25 or 30 times a ball game,’’ OSU coach Bob Simmons said Monday.

‘‘You’ve got to be smart enough to not let him hurt you, as well as not let those two receivers get behind you and come up with a big play, because that’s been the formula for success — pound, pound, pound, then all of a sudden throw over your head.’’

Oklahoma State (3-5, 2-4 Big 12) was able to keep Williams in check last year, when they beat Texas 42-16. But a year earlier, in Austin, Williams and his teammates ran wild in a 71-14 Longhorn victory.

‘‘We had success up here with him and what they were trying to do,’’ Simmons said. ‘‘Is that a factor? Yeah, it is probably, but this is a different Texas football team, in my opinion.’’

The Longhorns (6-2, 4-1) have won five in a row and now are in the thick of the race for the Big 12 south division title. They enter this game after going on the road and beating Nebraska, 20-16.

As has been the case during the winning streak, Williams wasn’t the only star against Nebraska. Applewhite completed 14 of 26 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns.

‘‘When they want to throw to those guys, they almost max protect and go one-on-one, and that’s where they’re dangerous because they (Cavil and McGarity) can turn a five-yard catch into a touchdown,’’ Simmons said.

Oklahoma State is coming off a 17-6 loss to Texas A&M, a game in which the Cowboys made only six first downs. They totaled just 54 yards in the second half, 17 in the final quarter.

The Cowboys were far more conservative than they had been in a 41-26 victory over Oklahoma, although Simmons defended the game plan.

‘‘I look at the second half and it really comes down to us executing our plays that we called,’’ he said. ‘‘Regardless of what play is called, it has to be executed. The expert wants passes. In those situations, we didn’t want to throw the football. We thought that what we were calling was the best scenario.’’

COWBOY NOTES: This is Oklahoma State’s final road game. The Cowboys opened the year by playing five of their first six away from home. ... Texas has averaged 52 points in its four home games this season. ... The Longhorns allowed 490 yards per game in the first three games. Since then, they have given up 299 per game. ... Saturday’s game will be televised by ABC, marking OSU’s seventh television appearance this season.

8th Graders Close With Winning Season

After starting their season 2-2, the Mid-High 8th grade footballers closed it out with a 5-game winning streak, including a 27-14 season-ending win over Woodward on Thursday.

The Cougars also finish second in their conference, behind undefeated Stillwater.

“I have mixed feelings,” said coach Brad Parent. “I wish we could play more. It’s been a good time, and these kids have improved a great deal.”

The Cougars got on the board early in the first quarter with a 22-yard reception by Kenneth White from Steven Morris.

A long Woodward drive then ended in a Ponca City fumble recovery, and Mimi Miller raced for a 47 yard TD to stretch the lead.

Into the second quarter, Woodward again gave up a fumble inside the Cougars’ 30, and again it was Miller, racing 63 yards for his second score of the game. Kyle Megenity then kicked his third straight PAT to up the Poncans’ ante to 21-0.

Miller also had an 80-yard TD run called back, shortly before halftime.

Things got hairy in the second half, however, as Woodward scored on their inaugural possession, and recovered an onside kick to set up another.

With their lead narrowing fast, however, the Cougars buckled down. Miller got his third score of the game on a 32 yard run, and the Poncans’ defense stiffened up to run out the clock.

“We won the game in the first quarter,” said Parent. “They had two or three fumbles, and we capitalized.”

Parent also wishes to thank the kids who came out this year, and his coaches — Jason Freeman, Mark Huster, Calvin English and Eddy Scott.