LOCAL

Nearly News
Child Watch Tour Raises Abuse Awareness
First Lutheran Students Take An Educational Trip
Letter - Block Scheduling
Diabetes Can Become Big Burden To Patients, Family
District Court
Tonkawa Tribe Scalp Dance Set To Honor Vets

Nearly News

For all of you that have inquired the Ponca City News Pictorial History Book is slated to come out Dec. 10. Books can be picked up during business hours 8 a.m., to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Pictures loaned to The News can be picked up during business hours beginning Dec. 10.

Lloyd Bishop at the Ponca City Library has brought NN’s attention to a love story close to Ponca City’s heart. Englishman Rick Brown first came to America in 1943 as a 16-year-old pilot, training in Ponca City during World War II. After the war, he returned to England, married and only recently lost his wife. He was 76 and decided to come back to America to get away from the domestic upheaval. He stayed in Dallas with a former U.S. Army Air Corps cadet, and his host set him up with a blind date for dinner — Mary Helen Burnett, whose spouse also had died that year. They found each other’s company compatible — in fact they found common interests in jazz and literature, and she accompanied him to Ponca City to revisit the area where he had trained as a pilot during World War II. It was here they got to know each other better - it was a sort of spiritual return to the military for Mary Helen because Ponca City, as Rick puts it, is a “very small town.” He went back to England, corresponded with Mary Helen and in May 1998 returned to Dallas, and he and Mary Helen began a friendship that ended in marriage just this past October. They are making their home in Dallas. As Lloyd pointed out, “one jolly good fellow finds himself a jolly good mate.”

Child Watch Tour Raises Abuse Awareness

By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE

News Staff Writer

A group of 40 individuals took the county-wide Child Watch Tour recently, which was designed to raise the awareness of child abuse in the county. The participants from Ponca City, Newkirk and Blackwell walked in theory in the shoes of children who have been physically or sexually abused.

The premise for the tour was to seek volunteers to join the Kay County Child Advocacy Task Force seeking to establish a Child Advocacy Center so a child would not have to repeat his or her story 12 or 13 times as it happens now.

The end result was that 23 persons signed up for the task force. This group and others will determine how to obtain a facility — preferably one with “home type atmosphere” and also how to fund the program. This would allow the children to have a comfortable place to tell their stories. The idea being for the not to have to tell strangers their stories repeatedly. Also there is the possibility of using video interviews so all agencies involved can have access to the information.

Child Watch Tour

The tour began at First Methodist Church in Ponca City with a sack breakfast and the story of a woman who had been mistreated most of her life, from her parents, to the foster parents and agencies.

Prior to taking the tour each of the invitees had received a child’s shoe with the beginning of a story of the youngster’s ordeal. The mate to the invitation shoe was at each persons table. At each stop and on the bus ride the participants received another scrap of the shoe story.

Braving the nearly springless and unairconditioned YMCA Camp bus, the group set forth on the first leg of the journey. En route to Blackwell Maggi Hutchason of the Department of Human Services (DHS) who gave an overview setting the stage for the different scenarios involved in handling a child’s case.

At the Blackwell Youth Shelter the group witnessed role playing in Scene I of a “shoe vignette” with a teenage girl telling her school counselor about being molested by her step-father. At that point the counselor, according to law, called the Department of Human Services and the Police. Persons representing those two agencies questioned the girl and she was taken into protective custody. The parents were called as required by law.

Next the group returned to Ponca City on the bus, with Ponca City Police Detective Richard Brown, telling signs of abuse and steps that are taken in questioning the accused offender.

At the Ponca City Police Department the group watched Scene II with the Police and DHS personnel interviewing the mom and step dad and the teenager.

Next stop was St. Joseph Regional Medical Center’s SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examine) exam room for the teenage role actress, who in her role had have been sexually assaulted. Speaker was Cheryl Perry. This facility is used for examinations those who have been sexually assaulted.

Next leg of the trip was to Newkirk. The bus speaker was Dr. Perry Hassell, psychologist, who told about the trauma of abused children. The tour stopped at the DHS where Andrea Gifford told about the role of that agency.

The next scene was at the Kay County Courthouse with Judge D.W. Boyd, District Attorney Mark Gibson, the mom and step dad and their attorney, the teenage girl and an advocate for the child. The actors and court officials played out their roles in a situation in a case such as the sexual assault.

The group then went to First Baptist Church in Newkirk for a “box lunch.” The rest of the story of the shoe child was given at the lunch. Here they were asked if they wanted to help and told a core of dedicated volunteers were needed to make the project come to fruition. Diane Anderson of Conoco volunteered to chair the next meeting.

The Child Advocacy Task Force was first formed in 1995 to look at the issues surrounding child abuse in Kay County.

In September the Task Force met at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center to hear a presentation about a center in Shawnee. The Unazner Child Advocacy Center in Shawnee brings together resources to ensure that the need of child abuse victims are addressed from the initial report of abuse to the resolution of the situation.

Advocacy Center Needed

In a child advocacy center, a multidisciplinary team of the social worker, law enforcement officer, doctor, prosecutor and mental health worker would observe the child’s interview, in a child-friendly setting, gathering much of the information needed to protect the child, and eliminating multiple interviews. The result would be less trauma for the child and a better investigation for the team.

According to the officials there are about 100 reports a month of possible neglect and abuse of child reported in Kay County.

Among those working are the project is Sue Lunsford, senior counselor at Conoco. Lunsford was unable to make the tour as she was with the families of men who were injured in the recent fire at Conoco.

Chairmen for the day were Maggi Hutchason and Becky Hightower, Department of Human Services. A number of businesses and agencies made the tour possible.

To volunteer or for more information contact Lunsford at (580) 767-2003 or Erika Macy, Kay County Health Department at (580) 762-1641 ext. 228.

First Lutheran Students Take An Educational Trip

As part of their American History class, 28 students of the Ponca City First Lutheran School and their chaperones took an educational trip to Washington, D.C. Prior to the Oct. 4-9 trip, students researched, wrote and presented reports on the places they would be touring. They gathered their information from the Internet, the school and public library, books, brochures, etc.

While in Washington, they took educational tours of the Kennedy Center of Performing Arts, Smithsonian Museum of Art, Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Museum of American History, Smithsonian Museum of Air and Space, The Capitol, White House, Arlington National Cemetery, Ford’s Theater, Peterson House, Supreme Court, Bureau of Printing and Engraving, Washington Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial and the Navy Museum. In a solemn ceremony at Arlington Cemetery, four of the students laid a wreath at the foot of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Fun highlights of the week included a lunch at Hard Rock Cafe and an afternoon at the National Zoo.

Each year, students earn their own money to pay for the trip through magazine sales, wreath sales at Christmas, and flower sales in the spring.

Eighth grade class members are Brandon Bean, Emily Beier, Megan Benyshek, Amanda Bohon, Josh Burnette, Kimberly Deitrick, Becky Duckwall, Bryan Gamble, Jamie Garrett, Adam Herpin, Hannah Hopkins, Brandy Hunter, Krystal Hunter, Mallory Knight, Philip LeBaron, Heather Marlar, Jeremy McConnell, Kajal Patel, Andrea Penny, Eric Schatte, Lee Searcy, Damon Sneed, Chelsea Sutton, Dane Taglialatela, Marc Walston, Elizabeth Webster and Lauren Wiehle. Class teacher and sponsor was Dan McGregor.

Chaperones attending the trip were Steve and Tammy Beier, Marla Benyshek, Beth Bohon, Bob Deitrick, Debbie Duckwall, David Gamble, Linda Groth, John Happ, Karen Hopkins, Jerry LaBaron, Sandy Marckesoni, Carla McGregor, Barbara Myers, Earlene Penny, Shelly Schatte and Scott Wiehle.

Letter - Block Scheduling

Here we go again! Last year, we the citizens of Ponca City sent our school administrators the clear message that we didn¹t want block scheduling in the Ponca City schools. On October 8, 1999 a meeting was held to present the findings of the Po Hi Building Level Team and Focus groups. According to Mr. Winkle, Po Hi principal, the major consensus was that ³the logical place to start is with time and organization. We need to manipulate and utilize time in a six hour day to make sure we are giving opportunities to all students.² Mr. Winkle discussed four types of scheduling plans: the current 6 period (55 minute per period) semester plan, 4x4 block schedule plan, a flex schedule plan with both 90 and 55 minute classes, and a 5 period (75 minutes per period) trimester plan.

Case studies have shown that students actually perform worse under block schedules than under traditional semester plans. The results of these studies can be found on the internet at http://www.jefflindsay.com/Block.shtml.

I would urge all interested citizens to study the available materials on block scheduling and decide if it should be implemented in Ponca City.

John D. (Dave) Lewis

Diabetes Can Become Big Burden To Patients, Family

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and more than 187,000 Oklahomans are faced with a daily balancing act that requires them to avidly monitor their food intake, weight, and blood glucose levels. In some cases medication is required to avoid deadly health problems, according to J.R. Nida, M.D., commissioner of health.

“The cause of these health problems is, of course, diabetes. This is a disease affecting the body’s ability to produce and/or respond properly to insulin. Insulin is a hormone that allows blood glucose to enter the cells of the body and be used for energy. Half of all people with diabetes do not know that they have this disease. They will learn they have the disease only when they require treatment for one of its debilitating complications,” Nida said.

According to officials at the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the complications of diabetes are the physical, psychological and economic burden to patients and families. Annually in Oklahoma, 838 lower extremity amputations are performed, 709 new cases of end-stage renal disease are diagnosed, between 150 and 300 new cases of blindness result and some 38,000 hospitalizations occur due to diabetes. In Oklahoma an estimated $180 billion is spent annually due to diabetes.

“Diabetes is a serious life-long disease that demands strict attention every day. Most people who have diabetes are overweight, underactive, and over 45. As the “baby boomer” population turns 50 and gains weight, diabetes will begin to impact the state even harder. It requires a significant commitment and lifestyle change to keep diabetes in check. Diabetes doesn’t just wreak havoc on one part of the body, it can harm your eyes, nerves, kidneys, limbs and even your heart and blood vessels. With its many complications, diabetes is a serious public health threat,” Nida added.

Studies indicate that more than 50 percent of people with diabetes are not effectively managing their disease through diet, exercise, and medication. Meanwhile, many of the complications attributed to diabetes can be prevented. A daily checklist can guide people with diabetes through the basics to maintain appropriate control. Health officials recommend people ask their health care team about ways they can improve their blood glucose levels by monitoring, adjust their diets and exercise regimen, and keep their weight under control.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that depending on age, the most important factors for helping to screen people who may have diabetes are: being overweight, not exercising regularly, having a family history of diabetes, and giving birth to a baby weighing more than nine pounds. In addition, diabetes is more common in Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and Native Americans.

If you or someone you love has diabetes, knowing the best way to treat the disease is vital. Symptoms of diabetes may include frequent urination, excessive thirst and hunger, rapid weight loss, blurred vision, skin infections and/or slow healing. For people with diabetes, one of the best weapons they can use to disarm the disease is knowledge about the latest research, local support networks, eating right, proper exercise, testing their blood glucose, having a baby, and looking for complications. Nida urges people with diabetes to have a yearly dilated eye exam to detect diabetic retinopathy and check their feet daily to prevent infections and injury. Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness and amputations among working-age adults.

For more information about diabetes, contact your health care provider; county health department; the American Diabetes Association, Tulsa Regional Office at 1-800-259-6552, Oklahoma City Regional Office at 1-800-259-6551; or the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation at 1-800-JDF-CURE.

District Court

Newkirk

Marriage Licenses

Royce David Montgomery, 45, and Lynda Lee Benzing, 50, both of Ponca City.

Brian Barkley Hobbs, 22, and Terri Lynn Chappell, 21, both of Newkirk.

Melvin Hyde Jr., 37, and Fern Gail Gildhouse, 42, both of Ponca City.

Lonnie Gene Burnett, 52, Ponca City, and Geraldine Anne Hunter, 47, Canyon, British Columbia.

Bernardo Emilio Delagarza, 20, and Matilda Lucille LeClair, 18, both of Ponca City.

John Woody Russell, 77, and Betty Louise Bookout, 62, both of Wichita.

Divorces Granted

Stephen Paul Fugere vs. Sheila Rose Fugere; defendant restored to former name Sheila Rose Wosika.

Civil Petitions

OCWEN Federal Bank FSB vs. Phyllis S. Anson, et al.; plaintiff seeking judgment for $6,815.85.

Farm Corporation vs. Paul Kelle; plaintiff seeking judgment for $3,750.84.

Tonkawa Tribe Scalp Dance Set To Honor Vets

The Tonkawa Tribe Scalp Dance Society will host its annual scalp dance honoring veterans from all military services on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. in the Cultural Building at Fort Oakland. All veteran organizations are invited.

The afternoon program will feature scalp dancing and giveaways until 5:30 p.m. at which time supper will be served. The evening program will be all war dancing and will feature a special straight dance contest for cash prizes.

Head staff for the dance will include Jim Kemble, head singer; Mike Cornell, head dancer; and Robert Gardipe, head lady dancer.

The Scalp Dance Society will also be participating in the Ponca City Veterans Day parade Saturday morning.

DEATHS

Elvira Lee Burns
Jennieve E. Smith

Elvira Lee Burns

TONKAWA — Elvira Lee (Norman) Burns, Tonkawa resident, died Tuesday evening, Nov. 2, 1999, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was 69.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, Nov. 5, 1999, at First Christian Church of Tonkawa with the Rev. John Bartlett officiating. Burial will follow in the Lamont Cemetery under the direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home of Blackwell.

Elvira Lee (Norman) Burns was born on Nov. 19, 1929, in Helena, Okla., to Roy and Mabel (Lockhart) Crook. She grew up attending schools at Gracemont, Garber and Binger Schools. She married Owen W. Norman in June of 1947 in Kansas and they settled in Lamont, before moving to Winfield to make their home. In 1950 they returned to Lamont where she worked for the local dry cleaners. She later began working for the cleaners in Tonkawa.

Following her husband’s death in 1972 she moved to Tonkawa. She then went to work at Gullett Cleaners and Ponca Plaza Cleaners in Ponca City. She married Raymond Burns in 1981. He preceded her in death in 1989 and she remained in Tonkawa. She was a member of the First Christian Church.

Survivors include one daughter, Vickie Martin of Tonkawa; one step-daughter, Karen Stringer of Valencia, Calif.; one son, Darrel Norman of Enid; one sister, Imogene Cross of Tonkawa; two brothers, Floyd Crook and Aaron Wilson, both of Tonkawa; 12 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Virgil and Ray; three sisters, Mildred, Dorothy and Vera.

Casket bearers will be Bobby Milligan, Clifford Cross, Carl Cross, Jimmy Cross, Robert Milligan and Jerry Grayson.

Obituaries

Jennieve E. Smith

Jennieve E. Smith, longtime Ponca City resident, died early Tuesday, Nov. 2, 1999, at the Integris Baptist Medical Center. She was 81.

The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5, 1999, at the Community Christian Church with the Rev. Wayne Majors, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Born June 17, 1918, in Holdenville, Okla., she was the daughter of Walter D. and Ocie Mae (Wear) Hogan. The family moved to Ponca City when she was five years old. She grew up in Ponca City and received her education in the Ponca City schools.

On Sept. 12, 1936, she was married to Loren W. Smith in Wellington, Kan. Mrs. Smith was employed with the Ponca City schools for several years before the couple moved to Edmond. She worked in the Office of Business Affairs at Central State University for 13 years before retiring in June of 1980. The couple returned to Ponca City shortly after her retirement. Mr. Smith preceded in death in 1991.

On Feb. 4, 1994, she was married to T. Dale Smith at the Community Christian Church in Ponca City and the couple made their home here.

Jennieve was a member of the Community Christian Church, the Senior Bridge Group, a life member of the National Educational Secretaries, the Oklahoma Educational Association and the Kay County Retired Teachers Association. Her enjoyments were caring for her home and garden, playing bridge, and reading and sharing books with friends.

Surviving are her husband, T. Dale Smith, of the home; four stepchildren, Theodore G. Smith of Logandale, Nev., Dr. Terry Smith of Larned, Kan., Bonita Ann Meyer of Belpre, Kan. and Clay G. Smith of Greensburg, Kan.; nine step-grandchildren, eleven step-great-grandchildren and one great-great-step-grandchild. In addition to her first husband she was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and three sisters.

Casket bearers will be Theo Smith, Dr. Terry Smith, Clay Smith, James Curtis, Troy Smith, and Warren Smith.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Community Christian Church, 2109 West Grand, Ponca City, Okla. 74601.

The casket will not be opened at the church, however friends may call at the funeral home until 11 a.m. Friday.

The family will be at the home, 700 Brentwood.

paid obituary

NEWS BRIEFS

Veterans Day Bean Dinner — Kaw City will honor veterans with a free bean dinner from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Kaw City Community Center. Varieties of beans will be served with cornbread, pies, cakes, cobblers, drinks and other homemade foods. All area citizens are encouraged to participate.

Rummage And bake sale, St. Paul’s Methodist Church, Friday, November 5, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. adv.

Angel Central Opens — Angel Central opens Friday at its new location in the former Bank of Oklahoma building, southwest corner of Ponca Plaza across from the hospital. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For information, call 762-4567.

Fiddlers, Pickers, Singers — The Walnut Valley Chapter of the Kansas Oldtime Fiddlers, Pickers and Singers (KOFP&S) will meet Nov. 6 at 4 p.m. at the senior citizens center in downtown Arkansas City, Kan. Individual musical performances will begin at 4 p.m., and snacks will be served, and a business discussion held at 6 p.m. Dance bands will perform at 7 p.m. Local musicians and members of others KOFPS chapters are invited to attend and perform. This is a clean environment as no alcoholic beverages or drugs are allowed said a spokesperson.

Dougan's Bar-B-Q Friday special from 4-8 p.m., all you can eat ribs with beans, potato salad and coleslaw, $7.49. 215 South 14th, 765-7979. adv.

Graffiti —ŻAn official at The Mission, 909 East South Avenue, reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 9:50 a.m. Wednesday that some graffiti was on the sidewalk. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Pauline’s Shrimp Peel, All you can eat. $11.95, Friday, November 5th. For reservations call

765-5460. adv.

Power Outage —ŻA man from the 1700 block of Ann Avenue reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 12:22 a.m. Thursday that he had heard a loud pop and when he went outside discovered the other side of the street had no electricity. Water and Light Department officials were contacted to handle the situation.

Abandoned Bicycle — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported at 12:48 p.m. Wednesday that a bicycle had been abandoned at the intersection of South Palm Street and West Central Avenue. Animal Control was notified to handle the situation.

Red Rock Christian Church Homecoming Sunday, November 7th. Fellowship at 10:00, worship at 11:00. Everyone invited. adv.

Gas Drive-Off — A clerk at Triple T, 2500 East Lake Road, reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 1:53 p.m. Wednesday that a subject in an extended cab white pickup had driven off without paying for gas. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential. Hours: Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. and Thursday, 6-8 p.m. 700 West Broadway. 765-9689. adv.

Accident — A two-vehicle accident in the 1900 block of North Fourteenth Street was reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 2:24 p.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Dougan's Bar-B-Q Thursday special from 4-? 1/2 BBQ chicken with 2 vegetables. $4.25. 215

South 14th. 765-7979. adv.

Credit Card Fraud — A woman from the 2400 block of Ames Avenue reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 3:35 p.m. Wednesday that a credit card fraud had occurred. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Head Country all day Friday special‚ All you can eat, smoked BBQ ribs, beans, potato salad,

and coleslaw, only $7.49, all day. 1217 East Prospect. 767-8304. adv.

Accident — A two-vehicle accident in the 100 block of North Third Street was reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 3:52 p.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Accident — An accident in a parking lot of Pioneer Technology Center was reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 3:56 p.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Accident — An accident in the 200 block of North Tenth Street was reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 4:32 p.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and information was logged.

Accident — A two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Lake Road and Rosedale was reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 4:36 p.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and the information was turned over to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Purse Stolen — A woman from the 400 block of North Birch Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 4:48 p.m. Wednesday that her purse had been stolen while in the 1300 block of North Seventh Street. An officer was assigned, a report was taken, and a 16-year-old boy was held for grand larceny from a purse. At 10:37 p.m., another 16-year-old boy was held for grand larceny from a purse.

Burglary —ŻA man from the 300 block of West Gary Avenue reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 5:25 p.m. Wednesday that a vacant rental residence had been broken into through a window. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 2400 block of North Fourteenth Street at 11:55 p.m. Wednesday that a 29-year-old man was being held for DUI and transporting an open container.

GARDENING

Try Blanching Endive for Fall Weather Favorite
‘King Alfred’ Daffodil Still Reigns
New Oklahoma Gardening Book Educational and Entertaining
Propagation Procedures for Plants

Try Blanching Endive for Fall Weather Favorite

(AP) — Endive (pronounced on-deev) is a vegetable that leaves something to be desired in pure, unabashed flavor. However, this is offset by the ease with which it is grown, its cold-hardiness, and by its attractive, frilly leaves.

Endive may not add much flavor to a salad, but the lacy texture contrasts nicely with the flatness of lettuce and spinach leaves.

Don’t confuse common endive with French endive, also known as witloof chicory. The latter are pale, torpedo-shape heads of tightly folded leaves often sold at high prices.

The common endive makes a loose head like some lettuces. If you planted common endive the past summer, now is the time to start making it tasty. One leaf under a taco tastes OK, but you would not want to bite into a head of dark, green endive because it is too bitter. Remove that bitterness by blanching, which you do by shading the head, which turns it pale, tender and less bitter.

There are a number of ways to accomplish blanching. You can gather together the leaves of each endive plant, then hold them in place with a rubber band. One problem with this method is that in a wet season, water may get inside and rot the head. You also can blanch endive by inverting a flowerpot over each plant. Use a clay flowerpot so the air within does not get too stagnant. You can blanch endive by laying a board over the plants. Are you thinking the board will press the plants down? It does, somewhat. You can also blanch by digging up the plants and repotting them for growing in a dark cellar.

The amount of time required for blanching depends on the temperature. In warm weather, blanching might be finished in a couple of weeks; in cold weather, longer.

One reason endive is such an ideal salad green for cool weather is precisely because it needs to be blanched. When frost threatens, gardeners scurry out to their gardens and cover plants to keep them from freezing. Well, besides endive’s inherent cold-hardiness, it already is covered while it is being blanched.

‘King Alfred’ Daffodil Still Reigns

For the better part of a century the name ‘King Alfred’ has been the hallmark for big, showy golden yellow Trumpet daffodils. This year marks the centennial of the introduction of the venerable variety which was unveiled in England in 1899 by hybridizer John Kendall.

So it seems fitting on this solemn occasion to debunk the myth.

You know all those classic “King Alfred” daffs in your spring garden? Chances are they aren’t what you think they are.

For decades, the vaunted “King Alfred” has gradually been supplanted in the commercial trade by a host of other hearty yellow daffodil hybrids. As new, better and stronger, look-alike hybrids became available, growers turned to them.

But gardeners “like what they like” — and to this day continue to clamor for the “King .”

“Actually,” says Frans Roozen, technical director of the International Flower Bulb Center in Hillegom, the Netherlands, “it is mostly Americans, and a few die-hard British, who still ask for “King Alfred.” European gardeners long ago switched to the newer, improved varieties.

In the U.S., however, a visit to any garden center this fall will tell you that “King Alfred” still reigns. Though, in truth, it is mostly in name only. The trade realized some time ago that what people want is the “King Alfred” look, rather than the specific cultivar. So, in concession to the peculiar, but popular, demand of American gardeners, most Dutch bulb merchants recommend more vigorous lookalikes to satisfy America’s popular demand.

If a rose is a rose, then a daffodil is... well, you get the idea. It’s the “King Alfred” look that still reigns.

If you are after the big, bold yellow “King Alfred” look, you can feel comfortable buying bulbs labeled “King Alfred.” But, if you want to know what you’re really probably getting, try looking for these fabulous favorites, which are often asked to fill in for the “King”— “Golden Harvest,” a yellow trumpet daffodil, introduced in 1920; “Yellow Sun,” yellow trumpet daffodil, introduced in 1940; “Dutch Master,” yellow trumpet daffodil, introduced in 1948; “Standard Value,” yellow trumpet daffodil, introduced in 1949.

“These four cultivars make better, bigger bulbs that throw more flowers than the original “King Alfred,” says Holland’s Frans Roozen. “And their trumpets and golden yellow colors are finer than the original. “Carlton,” he adds, “is a little softer in color — a softer yellow versus a golden yellow — and is another good contender, an excellent performer.”

Though true “King Alfred” is still grown by some older commercial growers in Holland, for sentimental reasons, the numbers are so few as to ensure that they are limited in commercial trade.

But while the King has all but retired, the legend lives on in his worthy garden successors, ready to brighten springtime for succeeding generations of gardeners.

And fall and early winter is the time to buy and plant them.

New Oklahoma Gardening Book Educational and Entertaining

By PATTI CARMACK

News Lifestyles Editor

Seldom do I receive a book for review that causes me to exclaim “how great!” Recently, I had cause to get excited, as editor of the Gardening page, when I opened the mail and there was the “Oklahoma Gardener’s Guide,” written and compiled by Steve Dobbs, an award-winning horticulturist, educational garden writer and lecturer.

The what, where, when, how and why of landscape gardening in Oklahoma, as outlined in this book, is a treasure trove of information about gardening in our area. Vines, roses, perennials, and more are introduced, and a color gallery of plants found in the state makes the book even more special. The book is an easy-to-follow guide that references plants by their common and botanical names.

Additional species, cultivars or varieties are included with some of the favorite plants to be found in this area. The pillars of our landscape — trees — have their own chapter, and the basics of what and how are well-covered here.

Ecoregional Information

Precipitation, frost zones and other ecoregional information are handy for the new or the “seasoned” gardener. Interspersed are tidbits of information “just for fun” such as deciding whether elderberry is native or naturalized. Dobbs doesn’t worry about it because it is well-adapted to Oklahoma and has many ornamental and culinary uses. Elderberry is also favored by 45 species of birds, deer and cattle. Its hollow stem makes great whistles and popguns for the kids, he says.

The easy-to-read format makes this a handy reference book for Oklahoma gardeners. A “down-to-earth” glossary is also useful for those gardeners who live somewhere else, but why would they?

The Oklahoma Gardener’s Guide offers detailed information specific to the state. National publications focus on general information that may or may not work in Oklahoma, and can be especially confusing, because Oklahoma is the only state to have four distinct ecoregions.

The “Oklahoma Gardener’s Guide” offers Dobbs’ answers to questions he has been asked over almost 20 years of horticultural work. With his knowledge in the field and experience in instructing others in landscape horticulture positions, Dobbs is one of the premiere horticulturists in Oklahoma.

Author in Town

Published by Cool Springs Press, “Oklahoma Gardener’s Guide” (424-pages, $19.95) is now available in bookstores and garden centers across the state. Dobbs will be autographing the guide and offering gardening tips and advice at Brace Books and More on North Fourteenth 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14.

Oklahoma gardeners remember Dobbs as the host and producer of PBS’s award-winning television show “Oklahoma Gardening.” Dobbs hosted the popular show from 1990-1995. Before that, Dobbs was fielding Oklahoma gardeners’ questions as the extension consumer horticulture specialist for Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. At OSU, he also coordinated a statewide Master Gardener Volunteer program, which includes several Ponca Citians.

He worked for 14 years with volunteers through the Cooperative Extension Service, educating gardeners about how to solve horticultural problems. He has also worked in the resale and wholesale trade and in landscape design, installation and maintenance.

Dobbs’ horticultural expertise has been featured in several articles including: Better Homes and Gardens, “Garden Products and Planning Guide,” Spring 1998; OSU Magazine, Spring 1994; St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 1, 1994; Better Homes and Gardens, “Garden Deck and Landscape Planner,” Summer, 1994; and Oklahoma Today, March/April, 1993.

He received his bachelor’s of science degree in general horticulture from Oklahoma State University and his master’s of science degree from the University of Arkansas, specializing in vegetable production horticulture. He has also been involved in the Oklahoma Master Gardener Program, Oklahoma Horticultural Society, Oklahoma Greenhouse Growers and Nurserymen’s Association.

Dobbs and his wife, Jo Alice, own and operate Morning Star Farms near Vian in eastern Oklahoma. They specialize in seasonal greenhouse plant sales and production of uncommon bedding plants and perennials, as well as raising Tigerstripe cattle.

Oklahoma gardeners will definitely have this book on their Christmas wish list. As Garden page editor, I am pleased to have this reference to check when stories need review before publishing, and I think you will find the guide useful also.

Propagation Procedures for Plants

By KATHY ZEHR

For gardeners and growers who want to try their hand at propagating plants and trees I will present some basic procedures in today’s column. For more detailed help check out the Ponca City Library for good books or videos or pick up great information from the OSU Extension Office located in the basement of the Kay County Court House at Newkirk.

Cuttings

Most cuttings of woody and herbaceous plants can be propagated by stem, root, or leaf cuttings in the fall after plants become dormant. Tools and supplies are inexpensive and include a sharp blade, rubbing alcohol, a mixture of one part bleach to nine parts water, a rooting hormone, a fungicide, a sterile rooting medium such as coarse sand, potting soil, vermiculite, or mixture of peat and perlite, and pots or flats.

Try to plan ahead and have planting medium and containers ready before taking the cuttings. Absolute cleanliness is a must for success! Garden soil, old potting mediums, and sand can be sterilized for use by baking in the oven for 1/2 hour at about 250 degrees (if you don’t mind the yucky odor in your house). Do not overheat or over bake as it will ruin the soil. It is more pleasant and quicker for me to purchase new, uncontaminated bags of sphagnum peat moss and vermiculite or some peat-lite mixes.

All tools, pots or flats and other supplies should be carefully cleaned and rinsed in the bleach mixture. Knives and hand tools can also be dipped in rubbing alcohol before use. Place a small amount of fungicide and rooting hormone in little bowls. Do not dip into original jar or box and risk contamination of the whole batch. Throw away unused portions in the bowls.

Stem Cuttings

Stem cuttings can be taken from various areas of plants and include tip, medial, cane, heel, and others. Tip cuttings involve taking about 6-inches from the tip of a plant branch. Gently remove all leaves except two or three leaves at the tip. Dip the cut stem in a fungicide, then in the rooting hormone. Bury the cutting vertically with tip up, in a pot of sterile medium. Tip and leaves should remain exposed. Always prepare several more cuttings for plants than you want to grow to allow for failure of some cuttings.

Medial cuttings are also cut about 6-inches in length from along a stem. Be careful to mark the cuttings so you will only remove leaves from bottom end and leave the top 2-3 leaves closest to the tip end of the branch. Plant upright with leafy end exposed. Cane-like plants (such as many houseplants) require stem cuttings and are usually propagated when roots and new shoots appear on sections of the stems.

Cut the stems into sections containing one or two eyes or nodes along the stem. Dust both ends with the fungicide and allow to dry for several hours. Then lay the sections horizontally in a flat or pan of sterile medium with 1/2 the stem below the surface and nodes (eyes) exposed and facing upward.

Heel cuttings are made in a woody plant by cutting an arc-shaped chunk out of the side of a stem, which includes a leaf and axil bud. Insert the arc-shaped cutting into the medium, cut side down, with the leaf exposed on top. Be sure the arc-cut is made deep enough to include a portion of the center of the growing stem.

Leaf Cuttings

Leaf cuttings are less reliable but can be made with a few houseplants, such as African Violet. First sprinkle a little rooting medium on the surface of the sterile soil in a flat. Detach a healthy leaf from a favorite plant, make small slits across its veins on the underside of the leaf surface and lay the cuttings flat on the medium with cut bottom side down. Anchor, if necessary, to keep the cutting in contact with the soil, but don’t damage the leaf (I use hairpins or floral pins only if necessary). New plants will form at each cut. Whole leaf cuttings are sometimes successful if you have at least 1 1/2 inches of stem end (petiole). Dip the stem into the hormone and insert in the medium. Take care to keep leaf portion out of the medium or it may rot (If needed, I slip a little piece of rolled waxed paper under the leaf part to keep it from touching the soil).

With plants like fibrous-rooted begonias, healthy leaves may be cut (I use a razor blade) into several wedges, leaving at least one vein intact in each wedge. Sprinkle medium with a light dusting of rooting hormone and place cut pieces flat with vein side down. Snake plant and some other woody-leaf plants and succulents may be cut into 2-inch sections and inserted in the medium vertically with top cut end exposed.

When removing from the mother plant, cut the top end straight and the bottom end at a slant so that, when planting, you can keep the right end up. Water until medium is damp but keep these woody “starts” in a fairly dry soil, as you did the mother plant. Keep all other cutting mediums moist, but not wet, in a draft free place at medium temperature until new growth is established.

In years past, when good “starting” conditions were not available or we were too busy to watch the soil moisture carefully, I constructed a plastic tent with cleaning bags and clothes hangers. Place it over the pot or flat to keep out drafts and maintain a constant temperature. Punch a few small holes in the top to keep the leaves and cuttings from getting too damp and rotting. If moisture still collects on the top, lift a side of your tent to allow more circulation, but no cold drafts.

Care of seeds, root cuttings, division, and layering of established plants for propagation, are all highly successful in northern Oklahoma and will be covered in another column later this month.

SPORTS

Area Games Get Interesting
Goals Lofty for Mavericks

Area Games Get Interesting

By FRED HILTON

News Sports Editor

It’s going to be a real interesting final weekend of the regular season for area high school football teams.

On the line are:

— Two district championships.

— The state’s longest current winning streak

— Playoff positions for two teams.

And, oh, yes, one of the biggest turnarounds in the region.

The Class C Deer Creek-Lamont Eagles, who finished 3-6 last season, are 5-4 going into Friday night’s game against 6-3 Kremlin. More importantly, the Eagles are 3-2 in District C-3 and assured of spot in the playoffs for the first time in six years under first-year head coach Steve Neptune.

DCLA assured itself of a .500 regular season and clinched the playoff berth by beating favored Covington-Douglas, 26-20, last week.

“The kids are excited, the whole town is excited,” Neptune said this week. “There is just a whole lot of excitement around here.”

The reason for the turnaround?

“For one,’ Neptune says, “These kids are more aggressive on both sides of the ball.

“Second, there is no quit in ‘em. They think they are in every ball game.”

The Eagles are led by running back Kendall Metcalf, who has rushed for approximately 1,300 yards, so far.

“I don’t know how many touchdowns he has,” Neptune said of Metcalf with his team averaging 32 points a game. “He’s scored in every way possible, kickoff returns, fumble returns, catching passes, rushing, just about every way you can think of.”

Complimenting him is Adam Stanley, who has over 500 yards rushing. The Eagles don’t throw much, but still have about 500 yards through the air, Neptune says.

And DCLA has been tough on defense, led by Bodie Leonard, Stanley and Garrett Holmann.

Newkirk (4-2, 6-3) vs. Chelsea (1-5, 2-7)

This is another game when a team is assured of a berth (almost) in the playoffs and is trying to improve on that berth.

Going into the game, Newkirk is tied with Hominy and Sperry for second place in District 2A-5 with Pawnee one game behind.

There is a scenario that could leave the Tigers out of the playoffs.

“If we loses, and if Sperry beats Hominy Friday night and if Pawnee beats Metro Christian by eight points more than we lose by, then we could stay home,” coach Sonny Schovanec said of the complicated point system that are the tie-breakers in determining playoff teams.

“But we can avoid all that by just taking care of business Friday.”

Despite Chelsea’s record, the Newkirk coach is not taking the team lightly.

“They have had some adversity during the year,” Schovanec said. “They can be dangerous. They have some good talent and play tough defense. They’ve had some people hurt and have struggled offensively,

“I just hope they don’t break out against us.”

Tonkawa (7-0, 8-0) at Woodland (3-4, 3-6)

Tonkawa long wrapped up the District A-5 title and is riding the crest of a 36-game winning streak.

But coach Steve Love has the Buccaneers focused on Woodland.

“They have been a tough rival,” Love said of the Cougars. “They come out and play hard and they have played us some close games.

“They lost a close game to Wellston last week that knocked them out of the playoffs. So we’ll have to see what they are feeling for this game. They can give us problems.”

Morrison (6-0, 9-0) at Oklahoma Christian School (6-0, 8-1)

This is one of the top showdowns in the state this week and a fitting conclusion to the District B-3 battles this season.

Morrison has outscored opponents 385-73 this season and is ranked No. 2 in Class B. OCS is No. 3.

Two other teams will see their season end Friday:

Blackwell (1-5, 2-7) at O.C. McGuinness (4-2, 4-5)

Shidler (0-5, 2-7) vs. Wakita (4-1, 7-2

Goals Lofty for Mavericks

By FRED HILTON

News Sports Editor

TONKAWA — Northern Oklahoma College Mavericks have a couple of lofty goals this season and coach Mick Weiberg feels he may have the team to reach them.

“This is a good group,” Weiberg said before the Mavs left for Liberal, Kan, where his team opens the season in the Steward County Tournament. “We have a good bench, they play hard and they respond to what we’re trying to do.”

This is the final year the Bi-State Conference will be divided into two divisions. Weiberg would like to see that final West Conference championship plaque handing on his wall.

The Mavericks advanced all the way to the NJCAA Tournament two years ago and the Northern cagers who missed that trip would like to see it for themselves.

Returning from last year’s 23-8 team are Fairfax’ Tyler Barnard, who led the nation in Juco three-point shooting; Jeff Newby of Gate, who was fourth nationally from the arc; Larry Reid of Midwest City; and Sherman Rochell, 6-5, of Oklahoma City

“Both Reid and Rochell are being highly recruited by four-year schools,” Weiberg said.

Adding experience are transfers Colt Clark (6-7) of Kansas, Okla., and Chris Arledge (6-5) of Krum, Texas.

The tallest player on the team is 6-10 freshman Akil Gay of Trinidad, who is a work in progress, according to Weiberg.

“He’s got some work to do,” the coach said. “He hasn’t played that much basketball.”

Two more “out-of-towner” are 6-4 sophomore Steven Davison of England and 6-7 freshmen Felex Desjardins of Montreal, Canada.

The freshman class also includes former Edmond Memorial teammates Scott Prater (6-7) and Richie Myers (6-7).

“They play together real well,” Weiberg said, “and they will get better.”

The fifth freshman on the squad is Spencer Lazosky of Billings, Mont.

With Rose State College dropping down to NJCAA Division II, the Bi-State West will be a five team conference this final season.

Next year the 11 teams in Bi-State will play as one conference.

“That’s going to make the season longer,” Weiberg said, “and it’s going to be a really tough conference.”

But this year, the Mavericks were picked by the coaches in the preseason poll to challenge Seminole for the West Division title.

“But Eastern is going to be pretty good, too.,” Weiberg said. “And I don’t know anything about Western. They’re out there all by themselves and no one knows what they have.”

The fifth team in the West is Murray State.

The six teams in the Eastern Division, in order of the preseason predictions, are Bacone, Northeastern A&M, Connors State, Westark, Carl Albert and Northark.

Following the three-day tournament in Liberal, the Mavs travel to Miami to play NEO next Wednesday.

The first NC home game is Saturday, Nov. 13, against Westark.

The Lady Mavs play at 2 p.m. and the men about 4.