|
From the pages of The Ponca City News, Wednesday, December 13, 2000 LOCAL DEATHS NEWS BRIEFS LIFESTYLES SPORTS LOCALKaw Reservoir Authority Eyes Future Water Usage Kaw Reservoir Authority Eyes Future Water UsageBy LOUISE ABERCROMBIE News Business Editor Everyone knows that important tools for economic development are electricity, sewer and streets — but one of the most important tools is water. The Kaw Reservoir Authority, headed by Kaw City Mayor Jack Rosson, has taken the lead in Oklahoma by entering into an agreement with the Oklahoma Water Resources board to conduct a water demand study of 35 towns by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Cost of the study is about $68,000. The KRA, through membership cities, will be responsible for $34,000 of the cost. Rosson tells the reason for the study, “With the Clean Water Act coming down in 2002 all water systems in the state and country are going to have to comply with the act. Most communities won’t be able to comply because most of them get water out of wells.’ “So what KRA’s concept is to do a study for 35 towns. The water study will assess several things, where the towns get their water, and how they treat it. We will also ask for the volume and what kind of storage they have,” Rosson explained. He said the concept is that after assessing the information there will be several mini-clusters of small communities to be served by one water treatment plant. One idea is to get a main user at the end of the line, and then the smaller communities would tap in to the larger line. “We will be able to offer either raw water or treated water. The main line user would be untreated water. We would tap into that and come off with it with treatment plants that would spread the cost to the cluster of small communities. This would get the price of the water down and comply with the Clean Water Act,” Rosson said. The KRA chairman explained that he attended the Oklahoma Governor’s Water Convention in Oklahoma City where the main topic was putting a value on Oklahoma water because it is a major asset. Scope of the study includes Ponca City, Bartlesville, Billings, Blackwell, Braman, Cleveland, Covington, Cushing, Deer Creek, Dewey, Drumright, Enid, Fairfax, Garber, Glencoe, Guthrie, Hennessey, Hominy, Kingfisher and Lamont. Also, Marshall, Medford, Morrison, Newkirk, Pawhuska, Pawnee, Perry, Pond Creek, Ralston, Shidler, Stillwater, Tonkawa, Tulsa and Yale. Over the years since the dam was dedicated in 1976 the Reservoir Authority has had little activity, with the exception of the hook-on of the City of Stillwater of a 36-inch line, which goes 42 miles to Stillwater. Construction on the pipeline to Stillwater began in 1981 and the estimated cost was $29.6 million. A 48-inch valve was installed in the dam to allow water to be drawn at the time the Stillwater project came about. (See WATER, Page 3A) Rosson became interested in the value of clean water after he came on board as a member of the KRA. At the time Ken Parr, public works director for the City of Ponca City, was chairman. Parr is transferring to Texas for a job at Flower Mound and Rosson became chairman. “KRA is looking at the idea of the mini-clusters as revenue for all the members and is a way the KRA can be helping come 2002 when the Clean Water Act comes into play. If we don’t look at it this way, what will happen is the DEQ will go out and cite these communities for non-compliance and then these communities would have to go to the state or federal government for funding,” Rosson said. He explained that the KRA approach was a welcome concept to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. He said, “So it is very exciting and very worthwhile. We’ve had a lot of interest from telecommunications and utility companies that want to get involved. The study will probably take nine to 10 months to get the data back in. Based on that data the communities of KRA will analyze the data and see if we want to move forward.” He noted that Stillwater has been receptive to the idea and it would be helpful if that line could be tapped since it is already in place. Then do a mini-cluster of communities to get the problems resolved on a small scale and put in one before year end. “We will be trying to identify these clusters of communities and which is economical for us to do. We also have great interest from the private sector when we put these lines in because the telecommunication industry, utility industry, have shown interest because when we put in hose lines we an make the ditch a little wider and put in a utility or telecommunications cable at the same time.” He added, “One of the most difficult things nowadays is to get easement right-of-ways and this would help the utilities and telecommunications because they could go where we go. We have a major asset setting at Kaw Lake and we need to use this asset.” Bigger towns such as Edmond and Tulsa are interested and they could be the major user at the end of the line. Edmond is definitely interested and Tulsa wants to be included in the study. Rosson said it is hoped that KRA can work with rural water districts or community water systems, so new lines won’t have to be laid in these areas. KRA would be the water works that would be selling water through that network. This would be a revenue source for KRA and the communities rather than raising taxes or utilities. And at the same time everyone would be in compliance with the Clean Water Act. “It is a win-win-win solution.” Officers in addition to the chairman are, Leroy Rolling, mayor of Perry, vice chairman; Carl Weinaug, Stillwater City manager, secretary, and Sally Norris, Blackwell city manager, treasurer. Member towns include: Kaw City, Ponca City, Newkirk Stillwater, Blackwell, Tonkawa, Perry, Perkins. These towns pay an annual assessment to be members. Rosson said, “KRA trustees make up the board and their efforts is making all of the accomplishments that have been achieved to date. I am fortunate to have a great diverse of talented people making up our KRA board that focuses on the opportunities of the present and future. No one sector or group or person can do it alone. “Local communities are no longer competing with each other as much as they are competing with other regions. Communities need to cooperate with each other in planning for their future and regional needs.” Snowfall Blankets Area Making Travel HazardousBy JEFF POLITTE News Staff Writer A strong winter storm that passed through the area over night has left state roads snow-packed, slick and hazardous, according to information from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Because of these dangerous conditions OHP officials are discouraging all travel today. The National Weather Service in Norman lists official snow-fall totals for Ponca City, Blackwell, Newkirk and Stillwater at around 4.5 inches. Morrison has seen up to 6 inches. Up to another inch is possible before this system passes through the area this afternoon. “We should see another hour or two of snow and sleet,” predicted Daryl Williams, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Norman. “ It should start tapering off this afternoon.” Williams also said this afternoon should continue cloudy, with the area seeing the high somewhere in the mid 20s. Tonight, he said, we should see a low in the low teens. According to Sherry Bowers, Ponca City police information officer, most motorist assist calls the department had received this morning have been for stalled vehicles. “Most of them just need a little nudge at intersections to get going again,” she said. “Everyone seems to be using caution as they travel,” she explained. “We encourage them to continue to do so. It’s better to arrive at your destination a little late, rather than have an accident.” Charles Kelly, superintendent of the City Street Department said the city was under a priority one condition because of the snow. “This means we are clearing the main arterial roads first,” he said. “I don’t think we’ve had this much snow in a long time.” “This is a pretty good storm,” he continued. “We have been working since last night grading roads and spreading salt. We’ve thrown the salt down, but the main thing right now is to clear the roads.” He said city workers have had to put chains on the graders to help them push through the snow, adding some places in Ponca City have seen snowfall amounts between 6 to 8 inches which is significantly higher than official snowfall amounts. “We are going to keep clearing streets through-out the night,” he said, “to keep them safe for travel.” -—— Local authorities are investigating the death of an Oklahoma City man whose body was found at a local motel parking lot. The Communications Center received a call at 10:09 p.m. Tuesday from the wife of a truck driver asking police to see if he was still in Ponca City. The woman reported that he had been working in the Ponca City and Fairfax area and had apparently checked out of his hotel early Tuesday morning. Upon checking, police discovered the body of the man inside the cab of his vehicle shortly before midnight, parked at a local motel on North Fourteenth Street. Customary police procedure on an unattended death is to notify the Kay County Sheriff’s Office along with a representative of the District Attorney’s office and the medical examiner. Upon responding to the scene, along with Ponca City Fire Department ambulance personnel, the 48-year-old man, Paul Standridge, was taken to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center and then released to Trout Funeral Home. Police reported there was apparently no foul play. County Road Sign Project Done In Conjunction With 911 NeedsBy KATHY ZEHR News Staff Writer NEWKIRK — In their regular Monday morning session, Kay County Commissioners reported being ready for the expected bad weather on county roads this week. Sand spreaders are loaded and all equipment used for dealing with ice and snow problems is in good shape and ready to go, said Wayne Leven and Dee Schieber. Rex Purdy said all commissioners had been out early checking several locations in their districts for ice on the roads earlier that day. Private contractor Bob Kafer, from Newkirk, discussed the completion of a year-long project to post road signs throughout Kay County in conjunction with the 911 road identification system. Kafer presented a handmade platt of the county with blue pins representing each sign erected. He pointed out some locations where conflicts had arisen around city limits when he ran into roads having different names and/or different addresses. He continued by saying 99 percent of all problems were due to the pre-numbered signs. Leven suggested that eliminating numbers from the road signs before they are erected and adding them later would make the job easier in the future. Kafer said all but three signs had been placed and those would be completed this month. All commissioners talked about vandalism of various signs. Schieber said some of his had only been up a week before they were destroyed. Leven and Schieber later discussed the placement location of signs at each corner. Kafer also recommended commissioners maintain the new signs with an annual maintenance contract. An interlocal cooperation agreement between Kay County and the City of Ponca City for road improvements on L.A. Cann Drive from Kygar Road to Prospect to combine resources and contract for the construction of improvements in a unified fashion was approved. The project, located in District I, is partially funded by a State of Oklahoma Lake Access Grant. Commissioner Leven presented and commissioners approved an agreement between Kay County, the Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Officer and the Federal Highway Administration in response to the replacement of a bridge in District II. Leven explained that the bridge to be removed was a historic 42-feet pony truss bridge, and under the agreement, he would be required to store the old structure at least two years before destruction. Leven said the bridge could be sold or donated to any interested party who had need for such a structure. Schieber also said he had a 30-feet pony truss bridge available in District I. The 2001 annual holiday schedule for Kay County employees was approved by commissioners. The proposed calendar, which lists 11 holidays, will not be valid, however, until it is approved by the Kay County Excise Board, said a spokesman in the County Clerk’s office. Commissioners discussed and approved an appropriation for a one-time part-time salary for the Election Board in the amount of $600 and numerous other claims and resolutions. Leven asked for approval to submit bid specifications for railroad rail for the Carbon Fiber Plant project, south of Ponca City with bid openings due Jan. 8, 2001. The request was approved. Approval of six-month bids for road, office and other supplies for county use was tabled for the Dec. 18 meeting. P.C. Rotary Club Tutors Children At WoodlandDick Stone, George McPherson, Walt Beam, Greg Gregson, Max Berry, Lanny Officer and Bill Eichor tutor children at the Woodland School on Mondays of each week as part of the Ponca City Rotary tutoring program. Stone says, “Keeping in touch with the children and supporting their teachers in the reading program is a way of becoming a mentor to these children. All of us who are participating gain more than we give.” Betty Lowery and Larry Stephenson buy library books for the schools. Lowery has been operating a special summer program teaching phonics one on one to children who need help in reading. “Mentoring is one of the most rewarding volunteer programs for older men and women. It is the giving of their time and attention to children who need help and encouragement in their reading. It is a major commitment that will bear fruit in the children that they teach, as well as provide an opportunity for them to share their lives together intergenerationally,”said Dr. William E. Guilford, a Rotarian, and the interim minister at First Presbyterian Church. McCord VFD Fire Rating Improves in Most AreasISO rating for the McCord Volunteer Fire Department has improved according to the Fire Department Board. The ISO Rating is the fire insurance classification for your fire district. Formerly classified as a Class 10, the McCord Volunteer Fire Department has improved to Class 6/9. This new classification may result in a decrease in advisory property insurance calculations for many insured properties within the fire district. The new class will become effective January 1, 2001. The change may effect properties to a degree depending upon the type of building construction, the hazards of occupancy and other factors. Insurance policyholders should contact their agents or company to determine the effect this change might have on their policies. Class 6 applies to properties in the fire district within 1,000 feet of a public fire hydrant, five road miles or less of the responding fire station, and with a needed fire flow of 3,500 gpm or less. Class 9 applies to properties within five road miles of the responding fire station but beyond 1,000 feet of a fire hydrant. Class 10 applies to properties beyond five road miles of a fire station. The Fire Department Board would like to thank all of those who made this possible. If you have any questions concerning the new classification, Please contact President of the Board, David Heidlage at 580-765-2092 or Fire Chief, John Doughty, at 580-762-8149. Literacy Council Attends Reading in Pioneer ParkA recent celebration of reading was held in Pioneer Park at Fifth and Highland and attended by 45 members of the Ponca City Area Literacy Council. The group included tutors, students, board members and their families who gathered for the reading of “The Night Tree” by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Ted Rand. Following the reading by tutor Betty Caveny, the group gathered suet cakes, apple slices, popcorn and other items mentioned in the book and decorated a cedar tree near the Ruby Gates with items to be enjoyed by birds and other small animals. The group then enjoyed hot chocolate and cookies. A drawing for three books, donated by the publisher, was won by Holly LaBossiere, Helen Fox and Talina Rucker. Caveny read a letter from the author thanking her for sharing the book with family and friends wherever she has lived. The program was coordinated with the assistance of Theory Chiu and Rose Payne. For more information about the Ponca City Area Literacy Council, call 767-0351. DEATHSBonnie Lee Kent McElroy Bonnie Lee Kent McElroyBonnie Lee “Nellie” Kent McElroy, longtime Ponca City resident, died Monday morning, Dec. 11, 2000, in the Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. She was 68. An evening prayer service is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Ponca Indian United Methodist Church. The traditional feast will be held at noon on Thursday, Dec.14, at the Ponca Indian Cultural Center in White Eagle followed by the funeral at 2 p.m. in the Ponca Indian United Methodist Church with the Rev. Abraham Jackson officiating. Burial will follow in the Ponca Tribal Cemetery under direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. Bonnie Lee Kent McElroy was born on Sept. 28, 1932, in Pawnee, the daughter of Woolsey and Alfredia Others Kent. She attended Pawnee and Chilocco Indian schools. She had been employed with the Ponca Nursing Home and retired to become a homemaker. On March 15, 1968, she married Charlie McElroy in Ponca City. She was a member of the Ponca Indian United Methodist Church and enjoyed attending Indian dancing. She was a member of the Ponca tribal and of Wah-hun-thinga. She enjoyed visiting with her grandchildren and family. Survivors include her son, Cameron Page Sr. of Ponca City; three daughters, Nancy Guerrero of Decatur, Ind., Carol McElroy Ross of Virginia and Dawn Buffalohead of Marland; five sisters, Mollie Walking Sky and Marion Cerre, both of White Eagle, Phoebe Jones of Ponca City, Dorcas Kent of Tulsa and Doris Kent of Morrison; one brother, Garland Kent Sr. of Ponca City; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, David Page; her husband; five brothers; five sisters; and one granddaughter. Casket bearers will be DaKota Kent, Mark Buffalohead, Garland Kent Jr., Dallas Kent, Vincent Page and Gary Webster. Honorary bearers will be Isaiah Buffalohead, Trevor Kent, Jeffrey Lynch Jr. and Billy Shaw. Ruby Dean JohnsonFAIRFAX — Ruby Dean Johnson, longtime Fairfax resident, died Monday afternoon, Dec. 11, 2000, in the Fairfax Memorial Hospital. She was 85. A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, 2000, in the Fairfax Cemetery with the Rev. George Weston officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Hunsaker-Wooten Funeral Home in Fairfax. Ruby Dean Johnson was born Nov. 21, 1915, in Olive, the daughter of Rufus Timothy and Annie Ophelia Pritchett Gibson. She attended Ralston schools. She married James Earl Johnson on Jan. 1, 1938, in Ralston. She was employed as a waitress at the Silver Moon for years and enjoyed working, cooking, and being with her grandchildren. Survivors include her daughter, Barbara Hunsaker of Fairfax; brother, Ray Gibson of Ralston; sister, Zollie Rotramel of Canadian, Texas; five grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a brother, Roy Gibson; a sister, Mary Gilley; and two grandsons. Memorials contributions may be made in her name to the American Cancer Society, 4323 NW 63rd Street, Suite 110, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73116-1513. William Orville KendallBETHANY — William Orville Kendall, former resident of Ponca City, died Monday, Dec. 11, 2000. He was 85. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, at Western Oaks Church of the Nazarene under the direction of Mercer-Adams Funeral Service of Bethany. William Orville Kendall was born Feb. 14, 1915, in Clarksville, Ark., the son of William and Inez Hamilton Kendall. He married Ruby Louise Burpo on Sept. 10, 1939. He retired from Conoco Oil Refinery in Ponca City in 1975 and moved to Oklahoma City. Survivors include his wife of the home; two daughters, Alta Nelson of Oklahoma City and Karen Temple of Syracuse, N.Y.; three sisters, Eula Jean Ireland, LaVern Beabout and Delores Butler; four grandchildren; one grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister and a brother. ObituariesLorena B. CoffmanSPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Lorena B. Coffman, resident of Springfield, Mo., died Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2000, in the Springfield Rehabilitation Center. She was 86. The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, in the Greenlawn Funeral Home North in Springfield, Mo., with burial in Greenlawn Cemetery in Springfield. Lorena B. Coffman was a retired school teacher and a member of Rolla Bible Church. Survivors include two daughters, Diane and her husband Dannie Clarida of Ponca City and Paula Hoer of Springfield, Mo.; a sister, Emily Cochran of Knoxville, Tenn.; a daughter-in-law, Linda Coffman of Eureka Springs, Ark.; eight grandchildren, Gary, Ron, Mike and Troy Duncan, Amanda Lietz, Brandon Coffman, David Clarida and Christy Kruger; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son, Ernest Coffman. Memorial contributions may be made in her name to His Life Ministries, P.O. Box 14227, Springfield, No. 65814. paid obituary Services PendingIva L. HarrisIva L. Harris, Ponca City resident, died Wednesday morning, Dec. 13, 2000, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was 69. Local survivors include a son, Travis Harris. Arrangements are pending with Grace Memorial Chapel. Mable FrenchMable French, longtime Ponca City resident, died Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 12, 2000, in the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was 82. Funeral arrangements are pending with Grace Memorial Chapel. FuneralsFriday James Ireland Sr.James Ireland Sr. — Graveside service at 1 p.m. Friday in the Chewelah Memorial Park Cemetery in Chewelah, Wash. Local arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home. NEWS BRIEFSNo Meeting — The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 14 will not meet on Thursday. A reminder that the Christmas dinner will be held Dec. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the post. Tickets are $6. Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential. Hours: Monday 1-3 p.m., Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. and Thursday, 6-8 p.m. 700 West Broadway. 765-9689. adv. Holiday Meat trays, order to- day, Snyder’s Grocery. 762-4686. adv. Wildcat Afghans — Po-Hi Wildcat Afghans are for sale by members of the Dugout Club. They make great gifts for students, parents, friends or any Wildcat fan. Cost is $40. To purchase call 762-8523, 765-2727, or send your name and phone number to the Dugout Club, P.O. Box 2577, Ponca City, OK 74602. Turkey Shoot. December 17, 1:00. Five miles west of Ponca City on Highway 60. Open to public. adv. Cradle Through the Cross — A Christmas presentation at the Poncan Theatre will be at 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday directed by Tim Muniz. Also performing will be Forgiven, Sweet Harmony, Patty Curl, Rick Whiting and others. Admission is free by ticket; tickets are available through area business including Masters Touch Bookstore. Mels Clothing & Shoes now has 25% off entire store. 2008 North 14th. adv. Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of East South Avenue and South Thirteenth Street at 8:01 a.m. Tuesday that a 21-year-old man was being held for having no driver’s license and speeding in a school zone. A vehicle was released to a licensed driver. OU & OSU pewter frames, Pistol Pete dolls & more! Now at Carla’s Hallmark, Downtown. adv. Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police department reported from the 200 block of East Oklahoma Avenue at 10:04 a.m. Tuesday that a 22-year-old man was being held on a city warrant for assault and battery and resisting arrest. Head Country, One half bar-b-que chicken with choice of vege-tables, $4.25, Thursday, 11 am until gone. 1217 East Prospect. 767-8304. adv. Burglary — A man from the 100 block of North First Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 10:13 a.m. Tuesday that his office had been burglarized. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Jim Bowen Construction Custom homes, room additions and remodeling. Call 762-3077. adv. Fried Turkey, one day only! Friday the 22nd, call today to order. Snyder’s Grocery 762-4686. adv. Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of South Twelfth Street and East South Avenue at 2:06 p.m. Tuesday that a 32-year-old man was being held for driving under suspension. Attention! The Caboose Thrift shop is still very much in business. Our hours are Monday through Saturday, 9am to 4:30pm except for holidays. We are located at First and Central. adv. Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 200 block of East Oklahoma Avenue at 2:14 p.m. Tuesday that a 23-year-old woman was being held on a Kay County warrant for failure to appear. Windshield Chips repaired professionally. Guaranteed and insurance approved. Ponca Glass, 300 W. Highland and Pine. 762-6522. adv. Subjects Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of West Cleveland Avenue and North Lake Street at 3:56 p.m. Tuesday that a 40-year-old man was being held for possession of narcotics and a 32-year-old man was being held for possession of narcotics and possession of a weapon after a felony conviction. $1.00 Off outfits with any beanie kid purchase. Carla’s Hallmark, Downtown. 765-3094. adv. Precious Moments Snow globes, three designs and Frosty too! Just $30. Carla’s Hallmark, Downtown. adv. Subjects Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported that three warrants had been cleared with the arrest of three subjects, including a 26-year-old man on a city warrant for assault and battery, a 21-year-old man on a city warrant for assault and battery, and a 35-year-old man on a city warrant for possession of marijuana. Rent-a-santa- Have Santa come to your house or party. $25 minimum. 762-3345. adv. Accident — A two-vehicle, non-injury accident in the 2700 block of North Fourteenth Street was reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 5:14 p.m. Tuesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Don Sawyer “The Chimney Sweep”. In business for 26 years, no mess. 762-8883. adv. M&M Family Flowers. For all your holiday floral needs. 765-3335. adv. Accident — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of North Fourteenth Street and East Prospect Avenue at 5:22 p.m. Tuesday that an accident had occurred. Court Allen Construction. Brick, flagstone, concrete, walkway’s, patios and planters. Call 765-2720. adv. Bicycle Stolen — A man from the 600 block of West Grand Avenue reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 7:11 p.m. Tuesday that a bicycle had been stolen. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Subject Held — The Communications Center received a report of a problem in the 500 block of South Eighth Street at 8:05 p.m. Tuesday. Two officers of the Ponca City Police Department responded to the scene and a 28-year-old man was held for domestic assault and battery. Christmas Trees- Cut and live for planting after Christmas. Florist quality poinsettias. Keathly Nursery, 2448 Bridge Avenue. adv. St. Paul’s Holiday Bake Shop and all you can eat chili, stew, and cornbread, holiday casseroles. Saturday, Dec. 16th, 9-3. adv. Accident — A minor accident at the intersection of Kingston and East Prospect Avenue at 9:25 p.m. Tuesday was reported to the Communications Center, involving an ambulance. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Santa For hire. 762-7825 adv. Fight — The Communications Center received a report of a fight in progress in the 3000 block of East Prospect Avenue at 10:29 p.m. Tuesday. Four officers of the Ponca City Police Department responded to the scene and a 25-year-old man was held on a city warrant for failure to pay, a 41-year-old man was held on a Kay County warrant for assault, a 37-year-old man was held for public intoxication and a 25-year-old woman was held on a city warrant for speeding. Wright Masonry for all your masonry needs. Call Raymond or Doug 1-580-765-1901. adv. Smoke Check — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department requested assistance from the fire department in the 400 block of South Fourteenth Street at 12:07 a.m. Wednesday. Units from No. 1 and No. 3 Ponca City Fire Department responded to the scene but was unable to find any fire problem. Now Serving shrimp tostadas. Served with a red corn tortilla shell, pico de gallo, and monterrey jack cheese, $3.25/each. adv. Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 400 East South Avenue at 1:26 a.m. Wednesday that a subject was refusing to leave the store upon request. An officer was assigned and a 46-year-old man was held for public intoxication. Stormescape Shelters, perfect for garage, under vehicle. Installed, $2,395. 765-2633. adv. Check on Fire Problem — The Communications Center received a report at 2 a.m. Wednesday that a fire problem was occurring at a firm in the 1400 block of North Waverly Street. A unit from the No. 2 Fire Station responded to the scene and handled the situation. Try The taquito from a A La Carte menu served with a special taco and pico fe gallo, $3.25. adv. LIFESTYLESFanchon Chapter, Eastern Star Order, Installs Officers Fanchon Chapter, Eastern Star Order, Installs OfficersThe annual installation of officers of the Fanchon Chapter 53, Order of the Eastern Star, was held Dec. 5, at 8 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge, 1200 West Grand. Installing officer was Ernest Kelly. Those assisting were Pat Hill, assisting installing officer; Marie Kelly, installing marshal; Roberta Rennie, installing secretary; Collins James, installing chaplain; and Mary Lou Croft, installing musician. The following officers were installed: Worthy Matron, Pat Hill; Worthy Patron, Ed Hill; Associate Matron, Esteleene Maxwell; Associate Patron, Ron Carr; secretary, Evelyn Pederson; Treasurer, Marguerite Rupert; Conductress, Dorothy Dewan; Associate Conductress, Glenda Stuckey; Chaplain, Ernest Kelly. Also Marshal, Oliver Bottrell; Organist, Frances Patton; Adah; Alice Birdsong; Ruth, Laura Dodson; Esther, Kerri Stuckey; Martha, Gloria Bottrell; Electra, Irene Davis; Warder, Charles Ryan; Sentinel, Charles Rupert. Special guests in attendance were Ethlyn Forth of Barnsdall, District Deputy No. 4 and Jack Powell of Nowata, Mr. Deputy. Chapter members are participating in the Worthy Grand Matron’s special project “Toys for Tots” and the Worthy Grand Patron’s special project “Change for the Heart.” The chapters community project will be taking items to the Ponca City Recycling Center. The next chapter meeting will be Dec. 19. Carol McNitt and Charles Stuckey will be hosts for the Christmas party following the meeting. Boys Ranch in PerkinsTopic For Program at Lion’s ClubSteve Hannan, the director of the Lion’s Boys Ranch at Perkins, presented the program for the Dec. 6 meeting of the Noon Lion’s Club. Hannan, a graduate of New Mexico State University, has a graduate degree from Regent University in Virginia in pastoral counseling. He has been at the boy’s ranch in Perkins for three and a half years. The ranch, which provides a home and guidance to boys from unstable homes, is the only one in the world operated by Lions. The ranch currently operates two homes and they have a total of 14 boys. According to Hannan, “We provide structure from the external until good internal choices take place.” Some of the boys stay as long as six years. Four seniors will graduate this year. Hannan told of the planned guest speaker for the annual Christmas party, Ben Roy. Roy was the second boy at the ranch in 1952. He is now 58 years old and is a senior scheduling executive with Lucent Technologies. He is a father and grandfather. Recently, Roy was reunited with H.F. Donnally, the founder of the boy’s ranch. The Stillwater News took photographs and ran a story about the reunion two weeks before the death of Mr. Donnally just days short of his 100th birthday. Hannan told about the Lion’s Service Foundation of Oklahoma that provides corneas for virtually all transplants in the state. He said, “We deal with blindness and emotional blindness. The effects of emotional blindness run very deep and the scars are very long lasting.” Hannan closed by stating, “ We raise troubled boys to be men”. Student Leos Student Leos were Amanda Shelton and Robin Maril. Shelton is the daughter of Bob and Anita Shelton. She is a senior who plays viola in the Po-Hi orchestra, and was named a member of the All State Orchestra and competed in the North Central Honors Orchestra. Robin Maril, daughter of Rich and Marta Maril, is a junior and is active in Po-Hi drama and in Ponca Playhouse productions. Maril was a charter member of the Ponca City Mid-Hi Leo Club. New Members Ted Matson was the song leader, and John Bohannon gave the invocation. Candlelight induction ceremonies were held for new members, Ruslyn Hermanson, Neal North and Cathy Ferguson. Announcements Announcements included a reminder of individual commitments to be Angel Hosts (bell ringers for the Salvation Army) on Dec. 16. Plans for attending the Boys’ Ranch Christmas party Dec. 9, were finalized. Five board members will attend and present six bed-in-a-bag sets for the new house that will be dedicated. Individual gifts for each boy at the ranch will be presented, along with a check for $1,000. Meets Wednesday Noon Lion’s Club meets every Wednesday at noon at the American Legion on South Avenue. The members are businessmen and women in the community who have a desire to help and serve others. The motto is “we serve”. They are known worldwide as “Knights of the Blind,” and the focus of Lions International is prevention of blindness and providing eyeglasses and other vision aids for needy individuals, along with promoting diabetes awareness. Disciples Class Announces Plans For Dinner PartyThe Disciples Class of the First Baptist Church will hold its Christmas party at 6 p.m. Dec.15 in the Assembly Room of the Church . Hostesses for the catered dinner party are Glen and Verona Mair, Jim and Wauneita Burger, James and Glydene McDonald, Royce and Dorothy Barbaree, and Esther McKelvey. John Jobe, a native Ponca Citian, will entertain the group with song, story-telling and original poems. John taught and coached at Ponca City Senior High School from 1955-62. He and his family moved to Stillwater in 1962 where he received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from OSU. He the became a Professor of Mathematics at OSU teaching until his retirement in 1994. He has performed as the Emcee and the “Old Timer” for the annual Pitkin Melodrama in Pitkin, Colo. He has also written several books of poetry including “Mountain Spirit,” “Time for Children” and “A Mountain View.” SPORTSWildcat Wrestlers Pop Enid Wildcat Wrestlers Pop EnidENID — After a tough Perry Tournament experience, the Wildcat wrestlers were able to take things relatively easy Tuesday with a 57-16 decision over Enid . Now it’s back on the hot seat with the Poncans scheduled to host Frontier Conference foe Jenks Friday. “This is a big match,” coach Todd Steidley said of the upcoming dual. This is one we need to win.” They will be some big changes for the Wildcats over the Christmas break as a number of wrestlers scheduled to go down in weight. “We just want to get past this one,” Steidley said of the bout against the Trojans. “We’ll be a much tougher team after Christmas.” The Ponca City coach was pleased with the effort by his gapplers at Enid although the Plainsmen offered no serious threat in the dual. “They were aggressive and wrested with confidence,” Steidley said of the Cats. “We had a chance to work on some things during the matches. Enid gave up forfeits at 103 an 140 pounds. The Poncans added bonus points with falls by Justin Weatherly, MiMi Miller, Shawn Lee, Matt Littleton, Roman RedLeaf and Tyler Frezer. Newcomer Joey Chidress picked up his first dual win at 215. Lady Cats Too Big for Tulsa GirlsBy NORM PETERSEN News Sports Writer In no high school sport is a size advantage more pronounced than in basketball. Tuesday night, Ponca City’s Lady Wildcats affirmed that axiom by utilizing their obvious “bigness” in a 56-35 Frontier Conference victory at Robson Fieldhouse. With 6-0 post Jenna Wedd and 5-10 wing Mallory Hodge leading the way, the Lady ‘Cats (3-5) bolted to a 29-15 halftime lead and waltzed home in the second half. Wedd and Hodge combined to score 20 of Ponca’s 29 first half points, frequently feeding one another with passes that led to easy inside buckets. “We were connected pretty good out there,” admitted Hodge. Added Wedd, “We worked a lot (in practice) on getting the ball into the paint. We definitely had a major height advantage.” The Lady Redskins (2-6), struggling with inexperience under first-year head coach Jim Stacy, had only one player on the roster taller than 5-8 ... and she was a reserve! Lady Wildcat mentor Jamie Burtner, also in her first year on the job, was especially pleased with the strong play of her inside tandem. “I saw something from Jenna and Mallory out there tonight I hadn’t seen before,” Burtner said. “They got very aggressive with the basketball.” The Lady Cats established their dominance early. Jumping to an 8-2 lead, they quickly stretched it to 14-5 by the end of the first quarter and widened that to a 14-point halftime lead. The second half was a cakewalk as Po-Hi’s defense forced the Lady Redskins into 18 turnovers — more than half of the 30 they committed during the game. “We played great defense and had good teamwork,” said Burtner. “We didn’t do anything fancy, we just did it efficiently and effectively.” Wedd finished with 14 points and led all rebounders with seven. Hodge was the game’s high scorer with 15 and pulled five rebounds. Point guard Courtney Birdsong played her usual strong floor game and added eight points, while sophomore Jamie Prado (another 5-10 “giant” who plagued the Lady Redskins) tossed in seven. No Union starter scored more than four points, but reserves Kelly Quillman and Shanna Dorsey tallied 11 and eight, respectively. PONCA CITY 56, TULSA UNION 35 Union 5 10 8 12 — 35 Ponca City 14 15 11 16 — 56 Union (2-6) — Dee Tatum 4, Michelle Berglund 3, Katie Klein 2, Angeline Borum 0, Ashley Ledbetter 3, Kelli Arend 2, Sarah Becker 0, Kelly Quillman 11, Shanna Dorsey 8, Jenny Corso 2. Ponca City (3-5) — Tara Cries For Ribs 0, Jenna Wedd 14, Jamie Prado 7, Mallory Hodge 15, Courtney Birdsong 8, Jena Birdsong 3, Ann Ziegenhain 1, Lyndsi Frederick 0, Amanda Summers 0, Janna Green 5, Melissa Fore 2, Kristina Huddleston 1. Redskins Out-Athlete Wildcat BoysBy NORM PETERSEN News Sports Writer In print and over the airwaves, the Ponca City Wildcats are frequently described as an “athletic basketball team.” And, they are. The trouble Tuesday night was that Tulsa Union’s speedy Redskins are a really athletic basketball team. Despite not running a player onto the floor taller than a 6-3 reserve, the Redskins zipped past the bigger Wildcats for a 91-77 Frontier Conference victory at Robson Fieldhouse. “We’re not very big,” shrugged Redskin coach Rudy Garcia, “but we are real athletic.” So, how much more athletic were the Redskins than coach Ron Arthur’s Wildcats? “I’d say about [14] points more athletic,” suggested Arthur. Union (7-1) started five seniors, all of whom measured between 6-0-6-2 from head to sneaker toe. The ‘Cats (3-5) countered with a 6-6 post and a pair of 6’3” forwards, but it wasn’t enough to offset the pure athleticism and speed of the visitors. The game turned in Union’s favor during the closing moments of the first quarter and the opening minutes of the second. That’s when the ‘Skins went on a 23-11 binge that snapped a 10-10 tie and built a 33-21 advantage. A pair of nothing-but-net three-pointers from Alan Daniels accounted for six straight points near the end of the run and put the dagger in Ponca City’s heart. “Those two three-point shots were the difference,” Arthur acknowledged. “We were down, 25-21, and then it was 31-21. We got behind and couldn’t catch up.” For the remainder of the night, the Wildcats would hover on the periphery of challenging the lead, but they never really scared the Redskins. Their best chance came with 1:18 remaining. Trailing 83-71, Po-Hi found itself awaiting four consecutive free throws courtesy of a Union personal foul and technical foul ... and then getting the basketball. Had the ‘Cats converted and followed with a three-pointer, it would have been a race over the final 78 seconds at 83-78. Alas, Frick sank the three-pointer ... but only after the ‘Cats clanged all four free throw attempts. Union, breathing easy, swished six straight free throws in the final minute to salt away the game. Frick and James Anno led a balanced Po-Hi attack with 18 points apiece, while Billy Broughton and Blaine Petrie (the 6-6 post) added 17 each. Daniels, a silky smooth reserve (and Union’s tallest player at 6-3), led all scorers with 23 points, including four three-point bombs. Four other Redskins also tallied in double figures. In the final analysis, Arthur again pointed to Union’s superior athleticism. “We got some guys wide open,” he noted, “but we were too slow in the getting the shot off. That really hurt us.” Ponca will close out its pre-holiday schedule with a pair of road games. The ‘Cats visit Sand Springs Friday and Broken Arrow on Monday before taking a 10-day Christmas break. TULSA UNION 91, PONCA CITY 77 Union 23 19 19 30 -- 91 Ponca City 15 13 24 25 -- 77 Union (7-1) — Juan Carson 12, Chris Lopez 23, Adam Wilbanks 13, Dustin Ketchum 15, Justin Fairchild 5, Alan Daniels 23, Kirk Helm 2, Clent Stewart 7, John Tarbell 4. Ponca City (3-5) — Billy Broughton 17, Josh Pitts 1, Blaine Petrie 17, James Anno 18, Tim Frick 18, Kris Upchurch 3, Jared Brashears 3, Kyle Geheb 0, Devin Anderson 0. Sutton’s Young Cowboys Bid for National RecognitionKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — He lost almost every player who made any contribution at all last year. Because of extensive renovations to Gallagher-Iba Arena, his youthful and inexperienced team has been reduced to holding practice in high schools gyms and some junior high gyms. Yet, Eddie Sutton’s Oklahoma State Cowboys are fresh off a 74-73 victory at then-No. 21 Arkansas. They’re playing hard and playing smart and bidding for national recognition. They are also solidifying their leader’s place among the coaching elite. Maurice Baker, a point guard who transferred from Dixie College in Utah, was voted the Big 12’s newcomer of the week and is just one bright development in what could turn into a much better year than most Cowboys fans had expected. “He’s been a really pleasant surprise,” said Sutton. “We knew he was a good player. But any time you have a newcomer in your program, a freshman or a junior college player, you are always a little apprehensive as to how quickly they can adjust.” Baker had a huge hand in the big victory at Arkansas, where Sutton once coached. “He had 25 points and made some big plays down the stretch when the game was on the line,” Sutton said. “He has done everything we expected and much more.” Nevertheless, the Cowboys continue making the mistakes of youth. “We’re so inconsistent right now,” Sutton said. “We played very well against Arkansas, the best we’ve played. And we didn’t play very well against Wichita. I think we’ll be up and down. “But in time, this team can be a good basketball squad. By the time we get to league play, maybe we’ll be fairly competitive.” The Cowboys are slated to play in their renovated Arena soon. But much work remains to be done. “It’s just so dirty,” Sutton said. “It’s quite a ways from being fully completed. But when it is it will be quite a showcase. What they haven’t accomplished is a lot of the offices.” The Big 12’s player of the week is Kareem Rush, who is making a bid for stardom at Missouri. “I think he’s getting more and more comfortable scoring within the structure of what we’re trying to do,” said coach Quin Snyder. “His teammates are doing a terrific job looking for him with the ball and screening for him, and finding him on good places on the floor.” Rush, a 6-foot-6 sophomore, is also getting smarter. “He’s starting to take better shots,” Snyder said. “He’s improving game by game defensively and getting on the boards.” Kansas State appears to be the most troubled program in the Big 12 right now. Two players, guards Galen Morrison and Josh Kimm, have recently left. And first-year head coach Jim Wooldridge admits he’s having difficulty getting everybody to buy into his way of doing things. “I want them to re-evaluate who they have to be this year to compete,” Wooldridge said. “It’s time to self-analyze, if you would, who we have to be and what each individual has to do to make this team better. We have expressed a point of view to help them understand what has to be done over the next few weeks. “If we don’t do a lot of little things very well, we’re going to have a hard time winning.”
Copyright© Ponca City News, 1998 |