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From the pages of The Ponca City News, Sunday, December 17, 2000 LOCAL DEATHS NEWS BRIEFS LIFESTYLES SPORTS LOCALPonca City Public School Menu Ponca City Public School MenuElementary Breakfast Monday — Pop tart or cereal, assorted juices and milk. Tuesday — Biscuit with egg and sausage or cereal or pop tart, assorted juices and milk. Wednesday — Pop tart or cereal, assorted juices and milk. Elementary Lunch Monday — Pizza sticks or taco pocket, mexican beans, tossed salad with ranch dressing, rosy applesauce, saltine crackers, dill spears, trail mix or assorted cold sandwiches, chef salad, cottage cheese salad or yogurt salad, juice and milk. Tuesday — Chicken chunks with hot roll or chili cheese corn dog, mashed potatoes and gravy, bear grahams, mixed fruit, saltine crackers, dill spears or assorted cold sandwiches, chef salad, cottage cheese salad or yogurt salad, juice and milk. Wednesday — Queso and chips or cheeseburger, mixed fruit, potato wedges, sunflower seeds, saltine crackers, dill spears or assorted cold sandwiches, chef salad, cottage cheese salad or yogurt salad, juice and milk. West Middle School Breakfast Monday — Pop tart or cereal and surprise, assorted juices and milk. Tuesday — Pop tart or cereal and surprise, assorted juices and milk. Wednesday — Pop tart or cereal and surprise, assorted juices and milk. West Middle School Lunch Monday — Pizza sticks, Italian vegetables, tossed salad with ranch dressing, chocolate pudding, saltine crackers, dill spears or assorted cold sandwiches, chef salad, cottage cheese salad, yogurt salad, potato with fixings, assorted juices and milk. Tuesday — Chicken chunks with hot roll, mashed potatoes and gravy, salad with dressing, fruit, saltine crackers, dill spears or assorted cold sandwiches, chef salad, cottage cheese salad, yogurt salad, potato with fixings, juice and milk. Wednesday — Queso and chips or cheeseburger, french fries, salad and dressing, fruit, bear grahams, saltine crackers, dill spears or assorted cold sandwiches, chef salad, cottage cheese salad, yogurt salad, juice and milk. East Middle School Breakfast Monday — Jelly donuts, pop tart or cereal, assorted juices and milk. Tuesday — Biscuits and gravy or cereal, assorted juices and milk. Wednesday — Muffins or cereal or pop tart, assorted juices and milk. East Middle School Lunch Monday — Chicken patty sandwich, lettuce and tomato salad, tater tots, fruit, broccoli with cheese, dill spears or assorted cold sandwiches, chef salad, cottage cheese salad, yogurt salad, juice and milk. Tuesday — Pizza pocket, corn, cookies, fresh fruit, tossed salad, dill spears or assorted cold sandwiches, chef salad, cottage cheese salad or yogurt salad, juice and milk. Wednesday — Mini corn dogs, potatoes, sour apple ooze, fruit, tossed salad, dill spears or assorted cold sandwiches, chef salad, cottage cheese salad or yogurt salad, juice and milk. Po-Hi Breakfast Monday — Biscuits and gravy or cereal, assorted juices and milk. Tuesday — Scrambled eggs with sausage, hash browns and toast or cereal, assorted juices and milk. Wednesday — French toast sticks with bacon or cereal, assorted juices and milk. Po-Hi Campus Mart Monday — Pizza sticks or cheese sticks with marinara sauce, broccoli with cheese sauce, tossed salad with ranch dressing, Rocky Road pudding, seasonal fruit, juice and milk. Tuesday — Burrito with chili and cheese, lettuce and tomato salad, mexi beans, seasonal fruit, juice and milk. Wednesday — Grilled cheese, tater tots, tossed salad with ranch dressing, strawberry parfait, seasonal fruit, juice and milk. McCord Elementary Breakfast Monday — Rice, toast, juice and milk. Tuesday — Ham, egg and cheese pocket, juice and milk. Wednesday — Apple muffins, juice and milk. Lunch Monday — Spaghetti with beef, french bread, corn, peaches and milk. Tuesday — Baked ham, potatoes and gravy, green peas, cherry crisp, hot roll and milk. Wednesday — Chicken and rice casserole, green beans, hot roll, Jello and milk. Pioneer Technology Center The cafeteria at Pioneer Technology Center will be closed for the Christmas holiday. School CalendarDec. 18 Band concert at Howell Auditorium, 8 a.m. Junior varsity, varsity basketball games at Broken Arrow, 4 p.m. Dec. 19 Band concert at Howell Auditorium, 8 a.m. Ninth grade girls basketball at Enid-Waller, 4 p.m. Ninth grade boys basketball against Waller at East Middle School, 4 p.m. Dec. 21 Classes dismissed for Winter Break. School will resume on Wednesday, Jan. 3. First Lutheran Lunch MenuFirst Lutheran School Lunch Menu Monday — Spaghetti, breadstix, corn, fruit and milk. Tuesday — Chicken patty sandwich, french fries, bread and butter pickles, fruit, birthday cake and milk. Wednesday — Corn dog, tater tots, fruit, Christmas cookie and milk. Classes will be dismissed for Christmas Break starting Thursday, Dec. 21. CalendarItems for the City Calendar should be brought in or telephoned (765-3311) to Bob Patterson, at the Ponca City News, by Thursday noon. Anytime FOLOBS (Friends of Library Ongoing Book Sale), anytime the Ponca City Library is open, North of Multimedia Room (downstairs). First Monday Lions Vision Group meets the first Monday of the month, with the exception of holidays, at 10 a.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, using the Thirteenth Street entrance. Refreshments are served at 9:45 a.m. For a ride call 765-4370. The meetings are open to visually impaired residents. Every Tuesday Kiwanis, Noon-1 p.m., Apple Cart Restaurant. Every Wednesday and Friday Elks Lodge Food Night, 6-8 p.m., Elks Lodge, 3612 Lake Road. November 22-December 30 Festival of Angels, 6-10 p.m. nightly, Citywide and Lake Ponca Park, contact Kathy Adams, 580-767-0420. December 3-31 Christmas Tree Collage Exhibit, 1-5 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday, Ponca City Art Center, 819 East Central Avenue, contact Donna Secrest, 580-765-9746. Today “Great Day!” musical celebration of Christ’s birth, 10:15 a.m., First Church of the Nazarene, 1900 West Grand Avenue. Musical Celebration of Christ’s birth, “Great Day!” 6 p.m., performed by First Nazarene Sanctuary Choir, at Trinity Church of the Nazarene, 401 Perry. “A Light Still Shines,” Christmas Spectacular presented by Adult Choir and Orchestra, 6:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, admission free. Monday Ponca City Senior Center Bingo, 12:30 p.m., Senior Center, 319 West Grand Avenue. Ponca City Board of Commission Work Session, 2 p.m., Public Safety Center, Commissioners’ Room, 200 East Oklahoma Avenue. Tuesday Kaw Lake Association 2000 Board Meeting, noon, Hero’s, Holiday Inn. Marland Estate Commission, 4:30 p.m., Program Room, Ponca City Library, 515 East Grand Avenue. Osage Cove Volunteer Fire Department, 7 p.m., Fire Station, corner U.S. 60E and Keeler Road, new volunteers always welcome. Wednesday Ponca City Public School Foundation, noon, Ponca City Chamber of Commerce office. Ponca City Senior Center Bingo, 12:30 p.m., Senior Center, 319 West Grand Avenue. Ponca City Senior Center Goody Day, bring treats and join us, 1 p.m., Senior Center, 319 West Grand Avenue. Ponca City Tourism Authority, 2 p.m., Cultural Center Sunroom, 1000 East Grand Avenue. Thursday Ponca City Noon Ambucs, Noon to 1 p.m., Ponca City Country Club, interested in joining come by. Park and Recreation Advisory Board, 5:30 p.m., Municipal Court Room, Public Safety Center, 200 East Oklahoma Avenue. Disabled American Veterans McKnight-Printz Chapter 47, 7 p.m., 401 South Lincoln, Ponca City. December 24 Christmas Eve Vesper Service, candlelight service celebrating the birth of Christ through message and music, 5:30 p.m., First Baptist Church. December 27 Ponca City Board of Commissioners, Ponca City Utility Authority, Ponca City Development Authority, 5:30 p.m., Public Safety Center, 200 East Oklahoma Avenue. December 28 Ponca City Noon Ambucs, Noon to 1 p.m., Ponca City Country Club, interested in joining come by. Alzheimer’s Support Group, 7 p.m., Conference Room A (in cafeteria), St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. American Legion Huff-Minor Post 14, 7:30 p.m., Post Home, 407 West South Avenue. December 29 Ponca City Senior Center Pitch, 6 p.m., Senior Center, 319 West Grand Avenue. January 6 American Legion Pancake and Sausage Feed (all the pancakes you can eat), 6:30 a.m.-10 a.m., 407 West South Avenue, adults $3.50, children under 12 $2, children under 6 free, proceeds go to the POW-MIA Monument. January 8 Collaborative Action Team (CAT), 4 p.m., United Way, 205 North Second Street, to work on East Pride Night, call 765-2476 for information. Ham Radio Class, 7-9 p.m., Conoco Fourth Street Clubhouse, 1500 South Fourth Street, pre-register with Tom Montgomery, 765-8636 or 767-0380. January 13 Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration, Poncan Theatre. January 19 Best Little Klezmer Band in Texas, Poncan Theatre, 580-765-0943. January 20 Bald Eagle Viewing, Kaw Lake, contact Kathy Tippin, 580-762-9494. Free Peer Mediation Training for Adults, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Conoco Fourth Street Clubhouse, 1500 South Fourth Street, 765-2476 for information. January 26-February 3 You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (musical), Ponca Playhouse production. New Engineering Contract Tops School Board AgendaBy KRISTI HAYES News Education Editor A new engineering contract to replace the air conditioning system in the Fine Arts Building at Ponca City High School tops the agenda of the Ponca City Board of Education’s monthly meeting Monday night, 6:30 p.m. The engineering agreement will be with Bass and Associates, Inc. to provide the engineering expertise to replace the air conditioning system. The 24-year-old system was unable to be repaired in September. Mike Bass of Bass and Associates has provided the HVAC engineering services on other projects such as West Middle School. Since Bass is also working on the Lincoln project, he was able to cut his costs. Ponca City’s Maintenance staff will complete most of the work required by the engineering design. As part of the $5,400 agreement, Bass will also supervise the implementation of the design and installation of the equipment. Also on the agenda will be change order two for the West Middle School project. The change order, which is a reduction of $12,870.17, is a result of the teamwork between the City of Ponca City, the general contractor Lambert Construction Company, Younger Electrical Contractor, Inc., the electrical subcontractor and engineers from Bass and Associates, Inc. The city staff approved a request for downsizing the electrical service entry for the West Middle School project after a review of the building’s electrical needs. This change order is a reduction in the costs as a result of changes in the equipment and materials brought about by the different electrical service entry. The change order also includes two additional costs. Emergency lighting in windowless classrooms was required and a cost saving measure of eliminating an office between the two computer labs necessitated HVAC and electrical changes. Other Agenda Items Other agenda items include rescinding the decision to move to a weighted grading system based on five (5) points indefinitely. The Academic Council has requested that the board rescind the decision to move to a weighted grading system based on five points. They recommend the current weighted system of a .03 add-on continue to be figured by hand. The rationale is that other means of calculating weighted grades do not seem as fair to the students. Moreover, the council says any weighted system that adds the weight before figuring the GPA will reward students for taking fewer courses which seems contrary to the decision to expand opportunities for students to take more courses. Board members will vote on an agreement with Compaq that allows the district to purchase Compaq computer servers with any obtained eRate monies at the National Education Price List cost. This eRate agreement is good for one year. Discussion topics for the evening include a report on the district technology plan and Po-Hi Principal Jerry Winkle will give an update on how the first trimester went. Employee of the Month and Friend of Education Awards will be presented to Nancy Taylor and Dr. Nancy Niemann, Certified Employees of the Month; Kathleen Ailey, Support Employee of the Month; and Ann Slief, Friend of Education. Specialist To Deliver Keynote AddressDr. John Stanley III, maternal-fetal specialist from Oklahoma City and a Ponca City native, will return on Friday to deliver a keynote address at a fundraiser benefiting Raindrops Child Loss Supportive Services. The event will be held at Ponca City Country Club at 6:30 p.m., and tickets are on sale through Saturday at Pioneer Bank and Trust and Brace Books and More. Stanley graduated from Ponca City High School in 1979 and is the son of John and Mary Stanley of Ponca City. Currently, he practices at Children’s and University hospitals and is a specialist in high-risk pregnancy. He is board certified in both obstetrics/gynecology and maternal-fetal medicine and is the assistant professor and section chief of maternal-fetal medicine, department of obstetrics and gynecology, University of Oklahoma School of Medicine. Stanley serves committee appointments at Children’s, University, and Mercy hospitals in Oklahoma City and has to his credit more than one million dollars in research grants and contracts. Stanley and his wife Teresa live in Edmond and have four children — Kyle, 11, Kristen, eight, and twins Jamie and Jeffrey, six. A buffet dinner, casual dress, “silent angel” auction and holiday entertainment by Erin Sylvester are planned for the evening fundraiser. Physicians, clinicians and other professionals touched by loss will attend along with community supporters and Raindrops families. Table sponsorships are still available. Questions about the event can be directed to Lisa Lewis, 765-6159. Raindrops provides support and resources for families who have experienced the death of a child of any age. Raindrops is a stand-alone nonprofit organization and all Gala proceeds benefit Raindrops programs. Board of Commissioners To Discuss Get Real CablePonca City’s board of commissioners are scheduled to meet for a regular work session on Monday at 2 p.m. in the Public Safety Center’s commission chambers, 200 East Oklahoma Avenue. Highlighting the meeting, commissioners are expected to receive staff comments on an application by Get Real Cable for a permit to use public rights of way for cable TV and delivery of telecommunications information. Commissioners will also hear two presentations at the meeting. One of the items is an update from Chris Henderson, Community Development director, on the Highlander Apartment complex code enforcement issues. The second presentation will be by Ken Parr, director of Public Works. He will present to commissioners the final recommendation to complete the Wastewater Treatment Plant’s improvements, Phase II. Commissioners are expected to review the Ponca City Library’s long range plan for 2000 through 2005 at the meeting. Mayor Tom Leonard will also lead a discussion on the character trait thoroughness. The government of the city of Ponca City encourages participation in city activities by all interested persons. If your participation at this meeting is not possible due to a disability, you are asked to notify the City Clerk’s office, 516 East Grand Avenue, at 767-0304 prior to the meeting time so any necessary arrangements can be made. New Business Items To Be Discussed at Monday MeetingKay County commissioners are scheduled to meet for a regular session on Monday at 9 a.m. at the Kay County Courthouse in Newkirk. There are several items of new business scheduled for the meeting. Highlighting the agenda is to consider and approve an agreement between Kay County and the State of Oklahoma Department of Civil Emergency Management for the sub-grant of the Emergency Management Performance Grant Program funds. Members will also consider and approve resolutions to deposit funds into the Open Dump Reward Cash Fund to the office of the Kay County court clerk in the amount of $20.90 and to the office of the court clerk, Blackwell division, for reward fees of $90 for the month of November. Members are expected to approve a resolution to deposit funds into the Highway Cash Fund to SBC Communications Inc. in the amount of $16.94 for a refund of credit for the sand pit phone in District No. 1. Commissioners will also vote to approve a resolution depositing funds into the Juvenile Block Grant Cash Fund to the State of Oklahoma, Office of Juvenile Affairs, in the amount of $3,900. These are additional funds for the Juvenile Accountability Program. Oklahoma Blood Institute To Sponsor Benefit Drive for Newkirk ResidentThe Oklahoma Blood Institute will sponsor a blood drive in honor of Newkirk resident, Steve Austin, who received a liver transplant on Dec. 2. The drive will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 19, at the Wheatheart Senior Citizen’s Center, 311 North Main, in Newkirk. Austin, an employee of the Kay County Court Clerk’s office for 17 years, was listed in May at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City for a liver transplant. The transplant actually took place much sooner than the family expected. Numerous blood products are normally used during and after this type of surgical procedure. “We are delighted to be hosting this blood drive for Steve. So often, at a time like this, friends, family and co-workers want to do something to help. What better gift could a person give than a part of themselves with a “gift of life,” said Pixie Rowland, manager of the OBI Ponca City Center. “This drive will be an outpouring of love, friendship and respect for Steve.” Austin has been able to gather a lot of valuable information about transplants from another Newkirk resident, Carrol Sheid, who received a liver transplant four years ago. “I encourage everyone to roll up their sleeves and donate blood in honor of Steve,” said Sheid. “Many blood products are used for transplant patients. I truly know the importance of having blood available and I am thankful each and every day that the blood was there when I needed it. I am very grateful to those people who take the time to donate that special gift.” In order to be a blood donor with OBI, you must be at least 17 years old, weigh 105 pounds and be in relatively good health. There are many misconceptions about who can and cannot donate blood. People on blood pressure or cholesterol medicine may donate as long as everything is under control. A recent change that has taken place is that insulin-dependent diabetics may now donate with permission from their doctor. Anyone with specific questions about blood donation or the drive, or those wanting to schedule an appointment may call the OBI Ponca City Center at (580) 762-9488. If you want to donate for Steve and cannot be at the drive on the 19th, you may donate on another day at the OBI Ponca City Center located at 518 North Fourteenth Street. Call for an appointment. The Oklahoma Blood Institute is an independent, regional, not-for-profit blood collection center with locations in Oklahoma City, Ada, Ardmore, Enid, Lawton, Tulsa and Ponca City. They are responsible for supplying blood to approximately 75 percent of the hospitals in the state as well as many cancer centers, outpatient surgery center and home health care agencies. OBI is the exclusive supplier of all blood products for medical facilities in Ponca City and Oklahoma City. Local Child Care Provider Earns Associate CredentialsJudy Bales of Ponca City has been awarded a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential in recognition of outstanding work with young children. The credential was awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, D.C., which represents the early childhood profession. CDA is the only major national effort to improve child care by evaluation and recognizing the skills of individuals providing care. The first credential was awarded 25 years ago, and now 46 states plus the District of Columbia include CDA in their child care licensing regulations. Parents who use child care are especially concerned today about their children’s welfare. With this in mind, as part of the CDA assessment process, every candidate for the CDA credential is observed working with young children or families by an early childhood professional. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the ability to work with families to develop children’s physical and intellectual capabilities in a safe and healthy learning environment. The CDA credential is having a positive effect on the quality of child care. Its impact is evident in center-based care and home visitor programs as well as family child care, the most common form of care for children under 5 years of age. Ms. Bales accredits her ability to achieve her CDA to the support she received from the local Child Care Resource and referral program and the TEACH scholarship program both of which are funded by the Department of Human Services. Child care staff and parents wanting information on CDA should call Connie Schones, Child Care Resource and Referral Director at 762-3517. Control Farming May Gain SteamWarnings about the pitfalls of corporate control of farming that previously fell on uninterested ears may soon be taken seriously, according to one state Senator. Senator Paul Muegge, D-Tonkawa, expects the controversy will gain momentum and have a snowball effect with the recent findings that farmers planted a variety of Aventi’s StarLink bioengineered corn that was not approved for human consumption. More than 1,300 acres of StarLink seeds were planted in Oklahoma fields this year. “If you were told that your dinner table included food made from products that had not yet been deemed safe for people to consume, you wouldn’t buy it. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what the originators of bioenginered crops have been counting on- no one noticing until our food supply and been completely infiltrated with unapproved products,” said Muegge. “I’ve argued for years that something like this would happen if the corporate giants didn’t step up and make the proper decisions about the profit versus the integrity of the agriculture industry. It sounds ludicrous that food considered unsuitable for human consumption would make it as far as your dinner table, but that is exactly what is happening now.” Consumers are not the only ones being deceived, according to Muegge. The farmers who grow corn with the seed developed by the biotech industry are being forced to put their trust in the biotech designed seed, and the StarLink situations has given many farmers an abrupt wake up call. “The farmers of these crops simply cannot afford to take the risk when something like this happens. It jeopardizes their livelihood,” said Muegge. “Leaders in this industry have to be held liable for occurrences like this, because the farmer has no choice but to trust them with the quality of seed stock they purchase. If the corporations say it can guarantee the integrity of its bag of seed, as StarLink did, they should be willing to take responsibility for their product. If they aren’t willing to do that, then that indicates to me that something’s not right with the system. Labeling has been presented as a means to encourage biotech companies to take responsibility for disclosure on their products, but the companies don’t’ choose to proceed with labeling. Senator Muegge sees this choice as a silent, strong-arm tactic of keeping consumers and farmers in the dark. “Now we know why biotech companies do not want labeling. When I asked the genetically modified organisms (GMO) representatives at four different conferences during the past 18 months why they were against labeling all I got was the company’s stock answer--”It would bee too difficult for farmers to keep track of this grain.” “Yes, it would be difficult to keep track of, and that’s why labeling will not work. So, instead they put on the blinders, hope to integrate and infiltrate the crop until no one can tell the difference, and then argue that since no one could differentiate the crops, what does it matter?” Although the health issue certainly poses a concern for farmers and consumers, Muegge is focusing on the biotechnology industry’s stance on the rising popularity of these engineered seeds. He contends the biotech industry has a strong foothold in the marker already, but so far, has failed to show evidence of the conscience and integrity necessary to be considered responsible in farming circles. “The problem is not necessarily what comes out of the laboratory in designer crops. The monster that corporations are creating will ultimately mean that farmers won’t have a choice as to what they will grow and the consumers will get whatever is on the shelf at their local supermarket.” “Simply said, people just aren’t aware of the implications of this issue,” continued Muegge. “As more people learn the facts about genetically engineered products, I anticipate we will see and hear more protest from consumers who expect a higher sense of responsibility from the companies we rust with our agriculture products.” Sawyers Supports Rescue, RecoveryNavy hospitalman Jeramy D. Sawyers of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit recently supported rescue and recovery efforts for the USS Cole after the Oct. 12 attack that left 17 sailors dead and many others wounded in the port of Aden, Yemen. Sawyers is the son of Bonnie S. Sawyers and David G. Sawyers of Ponca City, Sailors and marines were called to respond to the terrorist bombing, forming Joint Task Force Determined Response. Sawyers’ unit provided immediate security during repair efforts and towing operations. Sawyers’ unit is an expeditionary intervention force with the ability to rapidly organize for combat operations in virtually any environment. MEUs are composed of more than 2,000 personnel and are divided into an infantry battalion, aircraft squadron, support group and command element. With this combination, Sawyers’ unit supplies and sustains itself for either quick mission accomplishment or clearing the way for follow-on forces. Sawyers is a 1998 graduate of Po-Hi and joined the Navy in April 1999. ‘Angel Hosts’ Greet Visitors During Festival of AngelsEach year, civic groups, organizations and individuals are asked to serve as “Angel Host” for the Festival of Angels which is open nightly until Dec. 30 from 6 to 10 p.m. Volunteers act as Angel Hosts at Lake Ponca Park every night. “These Angel Hosts take their positions at the exit gate to personally greet all the visitors to the park, hand out festival maps and collect donations. Each volunteer host is decked out in an official angel smock, complete with wings on the back,” comments Linda Groth, Festival of Angel board member who is responsible for scheduling the Angel Hosts. Many of the organizations take one or two nights every week and supply volunteers for the duration of the Festival. The volunteers usually work a two-hour shift. “The Angel Host program is an integral part of the Festival of Angels,” Groth says. “Most of the organizations who participate comment on the favorable reactions and the impact the Festival of Angels has on its visitors. Festival guests are usually awe-struck by the time they reach the exit gate and express their delight in the spectacular light display to the Angel Hosts. It’s a very satisfying volunteer job.” Viewing the Festival has always been free, but donations are accepted as you drive through Lake Ponca Park. The donated proceeds from each previous year, along with the help of corporate sponsors, allows the Festival board to purchase additional displays for the next year and to maintain the existing lights and equipment’s. Corporate sponsors this year include Conoco Inc., Bank of Oklahoma, Cherokee Strip Credit Union, KLVV-FM 88.7 Christian radio, Ponca City Publishing Company — The Ponca City News/WBBZ AM 1230 radio, St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Evans and Associates Construction Co., Frontier Siding and Window Co., Holiday Inn, Home National Bank, Lindsay Manufacturing Inc., Mid-America Door Co., Pioneer Woman Museum, Ponca City Noon Lions Club, Ponca City Rotary Club, Ponca Machine Co., Pryce Monument Co., Quality Water Services/Quality Pools and Spas, Stolhand Heating and Air Conditioning. Other sponsors include Braudrick Printery, Ceja Corporation, J.C. Penney Co., Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pioneer Bank and Trust, Parker Pest Control Inc., Rusty Barrell Supper Club, Trout Funeral Home/Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery, Ponca City Council of Garden Clubs, North Central Pump, Chitwood Construction Co., Family Discount Pharmacy, Ponca City PEO Chapters, Cavett’s Portable Building and Larry Murphy Insurance Agency. Free Festival of Angels maps are available at Lake Ponca Park, Angel Central, Cann Botanical Gardens, Marland Estate and the Chamber of Commerce office. Nickles, Istook Secure Funds for P.C. TechnologyOklahoma Senator Don Nickles and Rep. Ernest Istook Friday secured $4.7 million for the Ponca City bandwidth project. The funding will allow Ponca City to increase its technology capabilities. Funding was included in the FY2001 Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Conference Report which passed the Senate late Friday. “It’s important we provide communities the tools to accommodate growth,” Nickles said. “These improvements will help ensure Ponca City can tap into the educational and economic opportunities afforded by 21st Century technology. I’m glad Congress agreed to fund this important project.” “These funds will help keep the ‘digital divide’ away from this part of Oklahoma,” said Istook. “This is more than just a high-speed network and Internet access. This is the capacity not only for major interactive links for education, but also for major economic development that attracts high-tech businesses. This is great news for Ponca City and all of Oklahoma.” “This is one of the most significant things to happen in northeastern Oklahoma in many years. The money will help to bring fiber optic cable and increase Ponca City’s [bandwidth allowing for distance learning and other technology-based opportunities],” said Carl Renfro, president of Pioneer Bank. “This will connect us to the rest of the state, the entire United States and the world. This is a very significant thing and I appreciate the work Don Nickles and Ernest Istook have done for Ponca City and for the state of Oklahoma.” Funds will help create a high-speed broadband Internet hub based in Ponca City, part of a public-private effort for education and economic development. The bill next will go to the President for his signature. Health Cuts Organ Playing, But Not Enthusiasm for MilesBy LOUISE ABERCROMBIE News Business Editor Organ music has been at the heart of Christmas, for Ken Miles and his followers the last four decades. This year, for the first time in 40 years, Miles will not be playing the organ at a bank, Christmas party or some other yuletide event. In April, Ken lost his right foot to diabetes, so this will be a blue season for him, as he forfeited the ability to operate the “expression” pedal of an organ. But he hasn’t lost his Christmas cheerfulness or music fascination. “I always played the favorites, I love Christmas music,” Ken says. Among his favorites are “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer,” “Let it Snow,” “White Christmas,” “Sleighbells,” “Silverbells,” and many more. Ken said already this year he has had about 15 or 20 people ask him if he is going to play at the bank this year. Three generations in some cases have been listening and enjoying the delightful organ music Miles has graciously played for this community and others. Over the years Ken has performed his wizardry on the keyboard for presidents, governors, state and national conventions and countless other special events. He played for former president Jimmy Carter at a political rally in Cleveland, Okla., and for the inauguration of Oklahoma Gov. Henry Bellmon. When the world-acclaimed evangelist Billy Graham’s films were playing at the Poncan Theatre, Miles played the invitational hymn for the audience. Through the ages Miles, 78, has entertained thousands with his organ music. His musical career began when he was in the insurance business. As a bonus gift he won a Hammond Organ and he loved it and played it every day. He had some piano lessons early in life from Vern Denny and could read some musical notes and says he could improvise and the rest The lessons coupled with a natural ear for music, made Ken and his music a natural favorite with the public. One of his first officials engagements was for the opening of the Massey Ferguson dealership, owned by Wally Edwards. From then on he was in demand in Ponca City and elsewhere. He remembers riding in the Blackwell Christmas parade in the back of a truck playing carols. There was no Hammond outlet here, but folks began wanting the organs and Ken sold them out of the Oklahoma City outlet, while he was still in the insurance business. Finally Hammond sent a representative to see him and find out who was selling all those organs in Ponca City. And as they say the rest is history. Quits Insurance The Hammond franchise for this area was signed over to Miles and with his wife Pauline thus began a fulfilling career. Miles often played at Safeway stores across the area and would take a load of organs with him and sometimes had to come back to Ponca City and get another organ. Organs were extremely popular as Christmas presents and Ken and his sons Gary and Kip might be out until nearly midnight delivering the musical instrument. Many a household has been awaken on Christmas morning to those favorite Christmas tunes, some of them the same ones that Miles played over the years. A native of Ponca City, Miles grew up here, served a stint in the military and returned to his hometown to enter the insurance business. His musical and organ career began with Hammond in 1960. Since the beginning the business has grown enough to warrant two stores in Wichita, one in Enid and Oklahoma City. Gary and Kip are on the road a lot between the out of town stores. Ken himself, along with his prosthesis, was able to deliver an organ to Oklahoma City the other day by himself. In days passed when Ken would be working the Enid area he would stop in Billings at the resthome, unload the organ and drop in for an unscheduled musical session. The residents were always delighted. They like to sing along and often danced to the music. Looking over his memory book, Miles becomes enthused just recalling his wonderful world of music. He laughingly said about his many and varied performances, “They got me because I was cheap — but I sure did enjoy it.” Medical Foundation Board Lists Seven New MembersSt. Joseph Medical Foundation, Inc. director Sandy Gearhart has announced the names of board members and officers for fiscal year 2001. There are seven new members on the Foundation Board. They include: Barry Bickle, Home National Bank; Charles Casey, Attorney at Law - Ponca City; Bob Edwards SJRMC President/CEO; Jack McCarty, Attorney at Law - Newkirk; Diana Mills, Ponca City; Sherry Muchmore, Ponca City; and Ron Stevens, Baskin Hadley and Associates. Returning for another term are Linda Brown, Evans and Associates; Gearhart, SJRMC; Steve Linville, Home National Bank; Pat Mulligan, AXA Financial Services; Larry Murphy, Murphy Insurance; Mark Palmer, M.D.; Sister Nora Phelan, CSJ, SJRMC; Carl Renfro, Pioneer Bank and Trust; Mary Rigdon, SJRMC; Stuart Tate, Attorney at Law - Ponca City; Jane Thomason, M.D.; and Duane Wilson, Conoco, Inc.. Larry Murphy is the new chairman, Linda Brown is vice-chairperson, Stuart Tate is secretary, and Pat Mulligan is treasurer. St. Joseph Medical Foundation was incorporated in 1997 to advance the mission of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center by raising funds for support of programs, projects and services operated by the hospital. Nearly NewsPonca City’s Festival of Angels is featured in the November-December 2000 issue of Home and Away magazine, an official publication of AAA. The article on “Seasonal Attractions” includes a picture and information on this year’s Festival. It is one of five attractions featured which include Santa’s Workshop at Pikes Peak, Crown Center in Kansas City, Mo., Old Fashioned Victorian Christmas at Old Cowtown Museum in Wichita, Kan., and Fantasy of Lights Display in Wheeling. W.Va. LettersOfficers AppreciatedAs president of our Citizen’s Police Academy Alumni Association and as a citizen of Ponca City, I have a great admiration for our Ponca City Police Department. Many of our fine officers were “appreciated” at our recent annual banquet for officers and support personnel and their spouses. Some have even used the word “roasted.” It was an evening of fun, food and great fellowship and, at the same time, an evening of great sorrow. We had planned to recognize Judge Northcutt at the banquet for his work and wisdom concerning our community’s youth. He will be greatly missed. Our hearts go out to his family during this season of faith, hope and love. I thank the business community for the help and support that they have given our police department this past year. Our officers deserve respect for the job they do keeping our city and citizen’s safe. The next time you are stopped by an officer for speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, or drinking while driving, you probably might not say thank you at that time, but that officer might just have saved your life and/or the life of innocent people. Police officers, too, have families waiting at home. Next month, 20 more citizen’s will get a glimpse into the life of a Ponca City police officer as the next Citizen’s Police Academy begins and we wish them well. It will be an exciting time for them. Have a very safe and Happy Holiday, Ponca City. Sammie Coats Sportsmanship NeededMy family attended the JV and varsity basketball games in Stillwater Friday evening, Dec. 1. We were very impressed and encouraged by the effort and sportsmanship of every player. They hustled, encouraged easy other, graciously accepted coaching, and respectfully submitted to the referees’ calls. They were fun to watch. Thank you, teams. However, my family agreed that, overall, the evening was miserable. The Stillwater fans, mostly students, were rude and obnoxious. They would boo when our players were introduced, turning their backs. They sang “air ball” at every opportunity. The warm-up music was very offensive. You might be tempted to think “they’re just kids.” But should we expect and accept rude behavior from kids? Rude kids become rude adults, which brings me to an even more discouraging comment. Several Ponca City adults loudly and angrily berated and belittled the referees on every controversial call against Ponca City. Do these fans expect perfection? Do they think the referees see all players from all angles at a times? I would be surprised if their children had learned to respect authority, something I believe is essential to a successful life and peaceful society. Please support and encourage your kids by teaching them to respect, rather than berate, those in authority over them. M. Beth Ford Contract Vote FavoredNo one questions the bravery or the courage it takes to go into a burning structure to check for someone who cannot get out. The price of life is not measured by dollars when such risks are taken to save someone. If our mayor is unsure of the value placed on this service by those who serve, then I strongly endorse the vote of the people to decide this issue. In the wake of what has happened nationally on a recent election, I would only ask that the question on the ballot be clear for all who vote. If the lawyers get hold of this and twist the question so as not to know if a yes vote is for or against the firefighters, then the lawyers win. Mickey Stavinsky Don’t Block DrivewaysWe the taxpayers do not appreciate in bad snowy weather when you grade the roads and block our driveways where the people cannot get out. Some of the residents are elderly and cannot afford to pay someone to open their driveways. You should have extra help to go behind the grader and open the driveway. Jim Lyons DEATHSNorvell Leon Olson ObituariesNorvell Leon OlsonNorvell Leon Olson died Dec. 15, 2000 in Norman. He was 75. Funeral services for Norvell Leon Olson will be Monday, Dec. 18, 2000 at 11 a.m. at the McCafferty-Bolick Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Joe Howard officiating. Burial will follow at the Tonkawa IOOF Cemetery under the direction of McCafferty-Bolick Funeral Home. He was born Nov. 27, 1925 on a farm near Lamont, Okla. Norvell’s parents, Foster Bee Olson and Moree C. (Black) Olson moved to Tonkawa, Okla., in 1932 where Norvell attended elementary school and graduated from high school in 2943. Swede, as he was known to his friends, played center on the Tonkawa High School Buccaneers football team. He also played center for Oklahoma State University, Northern Oklahoma College, and Northwestern Oklahoma State University football teams. During World War II, Norvell served from 1944-1946 in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theatre amphibious operations: Assault and capture of Iwo Jima; Volcano Island; assault and capture of Okinawa, Ryukus Islands, and occupation of Aomori, Honshu, Japan. He served on the USS Bayfield and with the 5th Div. 5th Jasco Marine Corps. Norvell was employed in public schools as a teacher, coach, junior high principal, high school principal, superintendent of schools, and counselor. He retired after 43 years in education as a counselor in the Norman, Okla., schools. Participating in the 50th Anniversary Commemoration of Iwo Jima for Oklahoma Iwo Jima veterans, held at the State Capitol on Feb. 27, 1995, was a special experience. He also enjoyed the Iwo Jima Survivors Association meetings in Wichita Falls, Texas. Norvell is survived by his wife, Dorothy (Ellis) and two children, Sandra Nemeth in Houston, Texas and Foster Olson in Norman, Okla., and one grandchild, Samantha Nemeth, in Houston, Texas. Also surviving is his mother, Moree Olson in Tonkawa, Okla. He will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in his name to the Tonkawa Education Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 1, Tonkawa, OK 74653. paid obituary Services PendingRuth JohnsonSALISBURY, N.C. — Ruth Johnson died Friday, Dec. 15, 2000, in Salisbury, N.C. She was 69. She is survived by her parents, Ed and Jo Smith of Tonkawa. Services are pending with Anderson-Ridgeway Funeral Home of Tonkawa. NEWS BRIEFSAccident — A two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Hartford Avenue and Holbrook Street was reported to Ponca City police at 7:29 a.m. Friday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Santa For hire. 762-7825 adv. Accident — A one-vehicle accident at the intersection of Hartford Avenue and Holbrook Street was reported to Ponca City police at 7:45 a.m. Friday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Stormescape Shelters, perfect for garage, under vehicle. Installed, $2,395. 765-2633. adv. Accident — A hit-and-run accident in the 800 block of North Lake Street was reported to Ponca City police at 12:31 p.m. Friday. A vehicle was hit while parked on the street in that area. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Fireworks Christmas special. 14th and South Avenue. Buy one get one free. Hometown Thunderbird firewood. adv. Inventory Clearance sale on in stock storm shelters and alum- inum pickup ramps. Leave mes- sage. 765-7199. adv. Subject Held — An officer in the 2000 block of Turner Street reported a 32-year-old man was taken into custody on a city warrant at 1:19 p.m. Friday. Great Gift Idea! Massage Certificates! Purchase at Curves for Women (10th & Highland) or leave message for Genise Hallisey (certified massage therapist) at 762-8039. adv. Santa Will be at Daily Grind December 19, 6pm till 9pm. adv. Parking Problem — Ponca City police were advised at 2:54 p.m. Friday several vehicles were parked in handicapped zones in Wal-mart parking lot, 1101 East Prospect Avenue. An officer was assigned and a citation was issued for one of the vehicles. M&M Family Flowers. For all your holiday floral needs. 765-3335. adv. Now Serving shrimp tostadas. Served with a red corn tortilla shell, pico de gallo, and monterrey jack cheese, $3.25/each. Enriques. adv. Stalled Vehicle — A stalled and abandoned vehicle was reported at the intersection of Union Street and Westbury Avenue to Ponca City police at 3:20 p.m. Friday. An officer was assigned. The owner of the vehicle arrived on the scene when police arrived and had the towed home. Windshield Chips repaired professionally. Guaranteed and insurance approved. Ponca Glass, 300 W. Highland and Pine. 762-6522. adv. Homemade Quilts, all sizes. Barn board items. Reasonably priced. Ideal Christmas Gifts! 762-0293. adv. Stalled Vehicle — Someone reported to Ponca City police at 4:14 p.m. Friday a vehicle that was being towed out of the ditch was causing a traffic hazard. An officer was assigned. The vehicle was pulled out of the roadway. OU & OSU pewter frames, Pistol Pete dolls & more! Now at Carla’s Hallmark, Downtown. adv. Wright Masonry for all your masonry needs. Call Raymond or Doug 1-580-765-1901. adv. Stalled Vehicle — A motorist reported a vehicle was stalled in the northbound lane near the intersection of Elmwood Avenue and Fourteenth Street to Ponca City police at 4:16 p.m. Friday. Precious Moments Snow globes, three designs and Frosty too! Just $30. Carla’s Hallmark, Downtown. adv. Accident — An accident at the intersection of Hartford Avenue and Stoneridge Road was reported to Ponca City police at 5:02 p.m. Friday. A vehicle had slid off the road and two juveniles were standing beside the vehicle. An officer was assigned. The vehicle was pulled from the ditch. No report was taken. $1.00 Off outfits with any beanie kid purchase. Carla’s Hallmark, Downtown. 765-3094. adv. Accident — A one-vehicle accident in the 200 block of North Fourteenth Street was reported to Ponca City police at 5:09 p.m. Friday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Holiday Meat trays, order today, Snyder’s Grocery. 762-4686. adv. Don Sawyer “The Chimney Sweep”. In business for 26 years, no mess. 762-8883. adv. Subject Held — An officer at the intersection of Central Avenue and Fifth Street reported a man was taken into custody for public intoxication and assault and battery on an officer at 10:23 p.m. Friday. Jueschke Carpet Cleaners. For professional carpet cleaning, call the professionals. Jueschke Carpet Cleaners. 765-3421. adv. Marry Me! 30% Off Sale on Dresses, for Church, Office, ect., Jacket Dresses, Silk Cruise Pant Suits, short length Formals. Open Tuesday thru Friday 12-6, Saturday 10-4. Merry Christmas! adv. Welfare Check — A resident reported seeing a man walking down the street without a shirt in the 100 block of North Elm Street to Ponca City police at 2:20 a.m. Saturday. An officer was assigned. A 21-year-old man was taken into custody for public intoxication and on a Kay County warrant. Burglary — A resident reported seeing three juvenile girls enter Lincoln Elementary School, 1501 West Grand Avenue, to Ponca City police at 3:15 a.m. Saturday. An officer, assigned to the call, went in foot pursuit of the girls. The three girls were taken to the police department for second degree burglary, the later released to their parents. 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. Subject Held — An officer in the 3000 block of North Fourteenth Street reported a 19-year-old man was taken into custody after a traffic stop for driving under intoxication, reckless driving and minor in possession of beer at 3:21 a.m. Saturday. Prize Drawing everyday ‘til Christmas! $100 drawing December 20th. Register daily at Carla’s Hallmark, Downtown. adv. Rent-a-Santa- Have Santa come to your house or party. $25 minimum. 762-3345. adv. Flu Clinic — The Kay County Health Department, 1201 East Hartford, will be offering approximately 200 doses of flu vaccine to the general public on Thursday, Dec. 21, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. These doses are limited to the high-risk population. It is recommended participants wear a short-sleeve shirt. For more information call 762-1641. Fried Turkey, one day only! Friday the 22nd, call today to order. Snyder’s Grocery 762-4686. adv. Gas Drive-Off — A clerk at Triple T No. 3, 720 South Waverly Street, reported a $12 gas drive-off to Ponca City police at 6:52 a.m. Saturday. A description was given of the vehicle. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Marry Me! 30% off-Friday, 2-6 and Saturday 10-5. Sale includes only Dresses for church or office, etc., Jacket Dresses, and Silk Cruise Pant Suits. Great Christmas Gift. Pioneer Shopping Center. adv. Try The taquito from a A La Carte menu served with a special taco and pico de gallo, $3.25. Enriques. adv. Winter Break — Ponca City schools will close this Wednesday, Dec. 21 for break. - LIFESTYLESMeals on Wheels Menu Announced Meals on Wheels Menu AnnouncedMeals on Wheels are delivered at noon Monday-Friday by volunteers. The meals are prepared at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center and special diets can be prepared with a written order from a physician. Meals are available to persons 65 years of age and older. Those younger than 65 may receive meals if disabled or for two weeks following dismissal from the hospital. Cost is $2.50 per meal, and adjustment is made for financial need. For more information call 762-4707 or 765-0331. Substitutions may be made by SJRMC if necessary. Monday, Dec. 18: Beef and macaroni casserole; breaded cauliflower; dinner roll; Sunset jello salad; Rice Krispie square. Tuesday, Dec. 19: Meatloaf; whipped potatoes with brown gravy; cauliflower au gratin; kidney bean salad; peach cobbler. Wednesday, Dec. 20: Beef Stroganoff with noodles; winter mix vegetables; dinner roll; fresh fruit salad; brownie. Thursday, Dec. 21: Chicken fried steak; whipped potatoes with gravy; fried cabbage; tossed salad; raspberry gelatin. Friday, Dec. 22: Catfish fillet with tartar sauce; tater tots; zucchini; apple-raisin slaw; bread pudding. Origin of Decorated Trees For Christmas InterestingBy PATTI CARMACK News Lifestyles Editor When your children ask why you do the same things year after year during the holiday season, this might be the time to begin their education in the time-honored traditions of your families. Perhaps you cook the same dishes that your mother and your grandmother do at Christmastime. Maybe you have added your husband’s family recipes to the tradition. However you choose to celebrate during the holidays, I feel certain that family tradition is behind most of your ideas as to what is the best way to decorate, what special dishes are prepared, and how your family celebrates. Perhaps your family gathers for Christmas Eve service at a local church, maybe they open gifts on Christmas Eve or wait for Christmas morning. Maybe a full dinner with turkey or ham and all the trimmings is served or perhaps the family helps themselves to a buffet meal. Friends of ours make it a practice to sing carols to the neighbors on Christmas Eve and to take gifts to church for those in need. They incorporated the singing and gift-giving from both sides of the family when they married, and have passed this tradition to their children. Nostalgia always hits me in a big way at Christmas as I unwrap ornaments that belonged to my grandparents, ones I bought for my children to one day decorate their tree when each gets married, and the star that tops the tree each year dating from the first Christmas my husband and I celebrated together. I always move the Santa Claus ornament (now an antique!), that my parents put on their tree. It was my first ornament as a baby and I feel the need to switch it’s place on their tree each year and have a little private conversation with Santa! Our food has changed somewhat in the way it is prepared — the microwave is handy — but the dishes remain similar. My grandparents always fixed chili for Christmas Eve, and in later years, my parents put the chili over enchiladas, which my children liked better. A friend says they have Shoepeg corn with the meal on Christmas, and yet another says her family always has “Gulliver’s Corn,” a mix of corn, whipping cream, butter and cheese. Others have a tradition of lasagna, the made-from-scratch kind; pizza; a six-foot sub sandwich; and sweet rolls for breakfast. Another friend says they have a long tradition of having boiled shrimp for Christmas Eve dinner. Others are content with the tradition of roasted turkey, pumpkin and pecan pies, or baked ham. For many years I have prepared a breakfast casserole with eggs, cream, cheese, sausage and bread for my family and my parents to enjoy Christmas morning. In our mobile society the customs and traditions of the area where we reside add to the mix. Friends who moved overseas were thrilled to receive food items, from family, that were not readily available in the part of the world they found themselves in at holiday time. Something I did this year —that I have been intending to do since my children were born — was to write down information about various ornaments and customs from my ancestors as well as their father’s. One family I know, with “his and her’s” children, but no “ours” still wait on Christmas for a son, now 26, to distribute gifts — just like he has done every year since he was a youngster. Another family makes a practice of enclosing gifts in a box that was holiday-covered years ago and is passed around to a different family member each Christmas. In my family, we use whatever box fits the gift, but not necessarily appropriate to what’s inside. We still tease our son about the year he was four-years-old and unwrapped a box that had a picture of a coffeemaker on the outside. He very graciously thanked the giver and said it was what he always wanted — but was very relieved — to open the box and find a pair of “moonboots!” Just for fun, and hopefully, you will find it worth reading, I have gathered some historical information about trees, traditions and customs for Christmas. Enjoy! ...and Happy Holidays to you and yours! Winter Festival The decorated Christmas tree can be traced back to the ancient Romans who during their winter festival decorated trees with small pieces of metal during Saturnalia, a winter festival in honor of Saturnus, the god of agriculture. An evergreen, the Paradise tree, was decorated with apples as a symbol of the feast of Adam and Eve held on Dec. 24 during the middle ages. In the 16th century Martin Luther was credited as being the first to decorate an indoor tree. After a walk through a forest of evergreens with shining stars overhead, Luther tried to describe the experience to his family and showed them by bringing a tree into their home and decorating it with candles. United States The custom of the Christmas tree was introduced in the United States during the War of Independence by Hessian troops. An early account tells of a Christmas tree set up by American soldiers at Fort Dearborn, Ill., the site of Chicago, in 1804. Most other early accounts in the United States were among the German settlers in eastern Pennsylvania. In 1834, Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, brought the first Christmas tree to Windsor Castle for the Royal Family. Charles Minnegrode introduced the custom of decorating trees in Williamsburg, Va. in 1842. By 1850, the Christmas tree had become fashionable in the eastern states. Until this time, it had been considered a quaint foreign custom. Mark Carr brought trees from the Catskills to the streets of New York in 1851, and opened the first retail Christmas tree lot in the United States. Franklin Pierce was the first president to introduce the Christmas tree to the White House in 1856 for a group of Washington Sunday School children. The first national Christmas Tree was lighted in the year 1923 on the White House lawn by President Calvin Coolidge. Tradition Not for All Christmas wasn’t always celebrated the way it is today. In fact, the Puritans of Massachusetts banned any observance of Christmas, and anyone caught observing the holiday had to pay a fine. Connecticut had a law forbidding the celebration of Christmas and the baking of mincemeat pies! A few of the earliest settlers did celebrate Christmas, but it was far from a common holiday in the colonial era. Editor’s Note: This is the first of several features on this topic. Information for this article was gathered from a variety of Internet sources and books about the holiday season, including the University of Illinois extension site, Oklahoma extension site, Herbert Hoover archives from the National Archives and Records Administration, Christmas archives, “It’s a Wonderful Tradition” and others. Eunice Fath Celebrating 90th BirthdayEunice Bessie (Herd) Fath will observe her 90th birthday Dec. 20. Birthday cards may be sent to her at 6600 South13th Street, Tonkawa, OK 74653. She is a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Tonkawa. Her children are a son, J.C. Fath, and a daughter, Mary Lou Fath. She has one grandson, Dale C. Fath, and one great-grandson, Blaine C. Fath, all of Tonkawa. Eunice Bessie Herd was born to Mary Effie (Yocham) Herd and Vernon Edward Herd on Dec. 20, 1910, at a farm between Catoosa and Broken Arrow, the third daughter to be born to the couple. When Eunice was three, her father was struck and killed by lightning. She then went to live with her Grandma (Margaret) and Grandpa (Morris) Herd on a farm near Broken Arrow for six years and attended grade school in town. When her mother re-married, Eunice went to live with her mother and stepfather in Broken Arrow. That union added three more daughters and two sons to the family. In 1923 the family moved to Three Sands on the Ogg Lease, where her stepfather worked his team of horses in the oil fields, and Eunice attended grade school and high school there. In the early 1930s she attended U.P.S. in Tonkawa. She married John Conrad Fath Nov. 13, 1935, at the Catholic Church Rectory in Perry. They farmed and ranched and raised registered and certified seed wheat in the Tonkawa area all their married life. He died in 1980. Eunice remembers when she was a young child visiting her grandma Annie Adline (Pace) Yocham and grandpa Harvey Ray Yocham at their farm on the White River near Peel, Ark., and riding one of their horses down to a running spring on their farm and eating fruit out of their large orchard. Some of Yocham’s land is now part of Bull Shoals Lake. Sharla McGrew Bride-ElectAnnouncement is being made of the engagement of Sharla Kay McGrew and Casey Clifford Shirley, both of Edmond. They are planning a March 31 wedding in Southminster Presbyterian Church in Tulsa. The bride-elect is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mike McGrew of Tulsa, former residents of Ponca City, and the granddaughter of Jayne Cooper, Don and Mary Ann McGrew, all of Ponca City, the late Bill Cooper, and the late Joyce McGrew. Grandparents of the future bridegroom are Orvil and Florine Shirley of Edmond, and the late Herman and Wathia Austin. Miss McGrew is a graduate of Ponca City High School and has attended the University of Oklahoma. She earned a bachelor of science degree in human environmental sciences from the University of Central Oklahoma. She is employed with the state medical association. The prospective bridegroom, a graduate of Edmond Memorial High School, earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Oklahoma State University. He is employed with Member Service Life Insurance Company. Alpha Chi Omega Alumnae Chapter Conducts BazaarThe Alpha Chi Omega Alumnae chapter, Delta Lambda Delta, met for their “Holiday Bazaar and Auction” in the home of Doris Stanley. Co-hostesses for the meeting were Verna McKenzie and Terry Muchmore. The business meeting was conducted by Tammie Barham, president. Officer’s reports were given by Verna McKenzie and Julie Lawrence. Panhellenic representative Sandy Hudack distributed the Panhellenic yearbooks and reported on the Christmas House Tour that was held on Dec. 3. Proceeds from the tour are used to fund scholarships for area women who attend rush week and pledge a sorority. Four scholarships were awarded for the 2000-2001 year. Melinda Glasgow gave a report from the House Corporation Board at Gamma Epsilon chapter at Oklahoma State University. Sandy Hudack, Province Alumnae chairman for Oklahoma and Arkansas, reported on the continuing project Pathway to the Future Garden at National Headquarters in Indianapolis. Gifts to this project are used to endow the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation which has many programs for collegians and alumni. All members brought various food and craft items, as well as several mystery packages, for the auction. Melinda Glasgow and Sandy Hudack acted as auctioneers. The proceeds from the auction are used to help fund contributions to the National Altruistic Project which is Domestic Violence and to help fund contributions to the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation. Funds are also set aside to help defray costs of sending a delegate to the National Convention. The next convention will be held in 2002 in Denver. The next event planned is a luncheon for active members in late December. The next regular meeting will be Jan. 23, at the home of Fran Mathews. Wheatheart Nutrition Menu Listed for WeekFor Wheatheart Nutrition Menu information call 767-1620. Volunteers are needed to deliver noon meals to the elderly homebound. Menus for this week are as follows: Monday, Dec. 18: Spaghetti and meat sauce; buttered broccoli/cauliflower; cinnamon apples; garlic bread; chocolate chip cookies. Tuesday, Dec. 19: Oven fried chicken; mashed potatoes with cream gravy; buttered mixed vegetables; whole wheat roll with margarine; tinted pears. Wednesday, Dec. 20: Turkey roast; dressing; potatoes and gravy; green beans; roll; pecan pie; cranberry sauce. Thursday, Dec. 21: Barbecue beef; tomato juice; potato chips; baked beans; bun with margarine; ice cream cookie. Friday, Dec. 22: brunch at 10:30 a.m. Sausage and egg casserole; hash browns; orange juice; biscuits; mixed fruit. Christmas Memories,Traditions Program Subject for KiwanisShaun Searle led a discussion of favorite traditions and memories at a recent meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Ponca City. One of his favorites was decorating the house with his grandmother on the Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving. He did recall that he did the work while his grandmother supervised, but it has become a tradition carried on with his own family ever since. Agnes Hatlelid remembered growing up in North Dakota and all the snow they had. She said that someone always went out and made “reindeer” tracks in the snow to be found on Christmas morning to prove that Santa had visited. Tom Sanford has had a tradition with his four children, and now is starting with five grandchildren, to take each one out individually for dinner at a place of their choice and then to do Christmas shopping. Jody Sanford shared the family’s tradition of having stockings and one unwrapped gift from Santa available when everyone first wakes up on Christmas morning. Those can be immediately inspected, she said. However, before more presents can be unwrapped, everyone must wait until all have gathered in a circle and then one person opens one present at a time. It savors the moments and helps people properly thank the giver for the gift, said Sanford. Timilyn Crank likes the tradition of hiding the Christmas “pickle” in the Christmas tree to be hunted for and, when found, the finder receives a special treat. Irene Czaplinski grew up in New Jersey and liked the tradition of going to bed on Christmas Eve with no tree, presents, or decorations around and then waking up on Christmas morning to a decorated Christmas tree, abundant decorations, and presents. Earl Czaplinski shared that his family always had “lots of music going on. They all played instruments and had lots of caroling in their home and around to neighbors and friends.” He said that he misses the tradition of caroling. The club started a tradition of giving dormitory presents to each of the four dorms at the American Legion Children’s Home. A party was held recently to play games, have refreshments, and give the gifts. Members also plan to ring the bell for the Salvation Army at K-Mart and bring basic necessity items to give to the elderly. These basic necessity items, such as tissues, soap, and lotion, should be brought to the next Tuesday meeting. Ponca City High School students for the day were John Lee and Natalie Holmes. John is the son of John and Deborah Lee. He is a senior with plans to attend Northern Oklahoma College and then go to Oklahoma University to become a personal trainer. John is the president of an Explorer Post. Natalie Holmes is the daughter of Fred and Patty Holmes. She is a senior, a cheerleader, and involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Natalie plans to attend Southwest College in Winfield, Kan., to also become a personal trainer. Singles Network To MeetThe Singles Network activity schedule for the week of Dec. 17-23, will include an “Early Lunch” at Mickael’s Bakery, on Seventh Street, at 11 a.m. on Dec. 18; dinner at Pauline’s at 6 p.m. on Dec.19. Call Norma June at 765-5410 to reserve a space. The monthly card party will be at Phil’s on Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. Bring snacks to share. Little NewsDarin and Julie Kirchenbauer announce the birth of a son, Luke Alex Kirchenbauer, at 1:11 p.m. Dec. 8, 2000, in St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. The baby weighed 8 pounds, 9 ounces, and measured 20 1/4 inches long. He has a brother, Michael, and two sisters, Haley and Hannah. Maternal grandparents are Gene and Pat Morahan, and paternal grandparents are Clint and Patty Kirchenbauer. Great-grandmother is Kathryn Kirchenbauer. Rylee Beth Luis is the name chosen by Leroy and Brenda Luis of Ponca City for their daughter born at 4:05 p.m. Nov. 19, 2000, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. The baby weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces, and measured 22 1/2 inches long. She has two sisters, Brianna, 9, and Taylor, 6. Maternal grandparents are Bill and Joyce Meadows of Ponca City, and paternal grandparents are John and Shirley Luis of Newkirk. Great-grandmother is Bertha Schieber of Newkirk. Couple Plans February VowsMr. and Mrs. Nick Currier of Nardin are announcing the engagement of their daughter, Lindsey Nichole, to Chad Anthony Meyer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Duane Meyer of Kildare. Friends and family are invited to attend the 2 p.m. ceremony on Feb. 17 in the United Methodist Church in Nardin and the reception following. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mary Loveall and Delores Currier, both of Blackwell. Meyer is the grandson of Elsie Johnson of Kildare and Lila Meyer of Ponca City. The couple graduated from Blackwell High School. The bride-to-be is employed as a certified nurses aide at the Blackwell Nursing Home, and the prospective bridegroom is employed with Wittwer Construction and is currently working in Atoka. Jolly Ol’ St. Nick?The time has come to dispel the myth that Santa Claus is a jolly old elf - ho -hoing at the drop of a hat. This is a first-hand account from the distaff side of the Claus duo. Mrs. Claus reports “gone are the days when the Claus family went out to the North Pole woods, cut down a tree and drug it home on the sleigh.” Just like most thrifty folk, the Claus couple went to K-mart (in disguise of course) and bought their tree at a 75-percent-off after-Christmas sale. Needless to say, a dollar saved means more toys for boys and girls. Now both types of trees have their merits. The real tree smells good but must be watered and then disposed of because of the fire danger. Or there are those live ones that have to be planted. The artificial trees look good, are shaped just so, but have to be stored — unless one wants the tree sitting in the den all year long. Mrs. Claus told about stashing the phony tree in the attic. Each year she skinnies up the stairs (Santa is too bulky to make the trip) and throws down the pieces of the tree. Then it becomes poppa Santa’s chore to put the tree together. This year much grumbling went on under Santa’s breath as he struggled to put the tree puzzle together. Meanwhile, Mrs. Santa was busy in the kitchen making fudge for holiday treats. She came in just as Santa has put the topper on the tree. But, alas, she noticed that fake wooden trunk piece that fits at the bottom had been left off the center pole. When she politely mentions this to Santa, he muttered, “Tell it to the elves.” There was no “ho hoing” here as he shifted the blame to his helpers. But then, Santa has a lot of work in front of him. Just filling out the paperwork for the trip is a year-long job. Getting the transportation ready for the trip is another problem. The Federal Aeronautics Agency, which doesn’t understand that reindeer can fly, questioned the flight plan. The sleigh runners needed oiling for smooth roof-top landings — and on occasion when the chimneys are a snug fit — Santa himself needs some lubrication. Securing permission from individual fire departments to come down the chimney was another bout with bureaucracy. Thank goodness for those who live in the countryside. This year the chimney descent is a little tricker because the Department of Labor has required Santa to wear one of those hefty lifting protection black belts. Another rule and regulation. The Internal Revenue Service has been cracking down on the gift provision allowance on the tax form. So Santa has turned this over to his accountant to figure out how to list all the gifts for the proper deduction. So — if Santa’s “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night” seems filled with relief — we’ll understand. Eta Delta Chapter Members MeetFifteen members of Eta Delta chapter met Dec. 11 in the home of Betty Wyatt. Members brought favorite holiday dishes for a dinner event. Judy Branch presided over the meeting. Marilyn Jouret reported that the December service project had been delivered to the Mission. Afghans made by a friend of the chapter will be given to a local nursing home as well. Paula Harryman received the Beta Bud Basket, and Judy Branch won the door prize. Members then exchanged Secret Sister Christmas Gifts. The next meeting will be held Jan. 8. Birthday PhotosPhotographs will be used with birthday stories for persons age 90 and older, and will be placed in the Lifestyles section of The News. Birthday stories without photos will be used for persons celebrating 75 years or more. Information and photos may be mailed, e-mailed or brought to the Lifestyles desk in the Newsroom, and photos will be available for pick-up or mailed back. Mailing address for The Ponca City News is Box 191, Ponca City, OK 74602 and e-mail may be sent to lifestyles@poncacitynews.com. Ponca City HappeningsSunday Pioneer Woman Museum, open Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays and holidays. Ponca City Art Center, 819 East Central. Wednesday through Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Marland’s Grand Home, 10th and Grand. Home of Indian exhibit, 101 Ranch collection, and DAR Museum. Available for receptions, teas, bridge parties, etc. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 767-0427. Marland Estate and Mansion, 901 Monument Road. National Historic Landmark with 55 rooms and 10 acres. Guided tours daily at 1:30 p.m. plus 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m., sunday 1-5 p.m. Available for receptions, weddings, meetings, parties. 767-0420. 11th Step AA meeting — open, 11 a.m.; AA Discussion meeting, 8 p.m. Harmony House, 212 South Third. Monday Al-Anon meeting, 8-9 p.m. Monday, upstairs in the Harmony House, 212 South Third. Domestic Violence Group, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Mondays. Programs for women and children of family violence. Babysitter provided. For information call 76A-BUSE. Fibromyalgia Support Group meets the fourth Monday of each month at the First Baptist Church parlor. For information contact Betty, 762-9776, or Vivian, 765-8871. There will not be a December meeting. Members will meet on Jan. 22. Multiple Sclerosis Support Group meets the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Westminster Chapel. For more information contact Lori White, 767-1668. There will not be a July or August meeting of the group. Ponca City Rotary Club, noon Monday, American Legion. Simple Steps AA — closed, noon; AA Step Study — closed, 8 p.m.; Harmony House, 212 South Third. TOPS OK 308 members weigh-in time is 5:45- 6:15 p.m. on Mondays. For information call Betty Flower at 765-5448, or Delpha Clemens, 762-2844. Principles Before Personalities, Narcotics Anonymous, 8 p.m. Monday, Harmony House basement (use south entrance by parking lot). Pioneer Area Quilter’s Guild meets the first Monday of each month at Community Christian Church on West Grand. Business meeting begins at 12:30 p.m. The July and September meetings are held the second Monday of those months. Lions Vision Group meets the first Monday of each month, with the exception of holidays, at 10 a.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, using the Thirteenth Street entrance. Refreshments are served at 9:45 a.m. For a ride call 765-4370. The meetings are open to visually impaired residents. Tuesday The American Family Support Group will meet 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at 1105 West Highland. The topic will be Child Welfare Services and child abuse. Kay County Wheatheart Sweet Adelines, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Performing Arts building (south entrance) Northern Oklahoma College, Tonkawa. All women welcome. For information call 765-6829, 628-5026, or 762-2885. Kiwanis Club, noon Tuesday, Apple Cart restaurant. New-Found Freedom Co-dependents Anonymous, 8 p.m., Tuesday, Harmony House (upstairs library). AA Discussion meeting at noon; AA Big Book Study — closed, 8 p.m. Harmony House, 212 South Third. Freedom Group of AA; Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Woodlands Christian Church (Room 202), Fourteenth and Hartford. Smoke-free meeting and building. We study and practice tradition. Study Discussion of “As Bill Sees It” and other AA approved literature. For more information, call John at 762-3345 or Darron, 765-0021. Parent Support Group, 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Northern Oklahoma Youth Services Center. Focus on parental concerns and frustrations, as well as ways to increase understanding and communications between parent and child. Support, education, coping techniques, and introduction to nonpunitive parenting styles. Preschool storytime for 4-, 5-and 6-year-olds, 10 and 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays at the Ponca City Library. Ponca Prairie Pleaters meet the first Tuesday evening of each month with the exception of the summer months. For more information call Nathalia, 762-3820. The Pioneer Water Garden Society meets the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Cann Garden. Those interested in water gardens are welcome to attend. For more information call Marsh, 765-8249, or Ray, 762-7806. Weight Watchers meeting, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Weigh-in begins at 6 p.m. Fanchon Chapter 53, Order of the Eastern Star, meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Masonic Temple, 1200 West Grand. Free pregnancy test is kept confidential at Birth Choice, 700 West Broadway, Hours are 6-8 p.m. Tuesday; 1-3 p.m. Wednesday; 6-8 p.m. Thursday. Call 765-9689. The Vision AMBUCS meet at 6:30 p.m. every second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Raindrops Support Group for parents who have lost children meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Hartford and Pecan. For more information call Lisa Lewis, 765-3972. Wednesday Deadline for Happenings and items for Sunday’s edition of Lifestyles is 5 p.m. Wednesday. For Happenings include name of club, time and day of meeting, place and hostess. Pioneer Toastmasters Club, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, R&D East Auditorium, Conoco Complex, 1000 South Pine. Guests welcome; public invited. For additional information, contact Bob Ennis, 767-5946. Ponca City Bahai Community Discussion Group, 7:15 p.m. Wednesday. For location call 765-5695 or 762-5529. Simple Steps AA meeting; Step Study — closed, noon. AA Discussion meeting, 8 p.m. Harmony House, 212 South Third. Al-Anon meeting, 8-9 p.m. Wednesday, upstairs in the Harmony House, 212 South Third. Storytime for 2 and 3-year-olds, Ponca City Library, 515 East Grand, 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Short stories, songs, use of flannel board. Lasts about 15 minutes. Ponca City Council of Garden Clubs meets at the Cann Center on the first Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. Anyone interested in gardening, flowers, birds, butterflies, conservation, historic preservation, landscape design or environmental education, is welcome to attend. For more information call 762-3695, or 762-3555. Principles Before Personalities, Narcotics Anonymous, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Harmony House basement (use south entrance by parking lot). Noon Lions Club meets at noon each Wednesday at the American Legion. Four O’Clock Garden Club meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. Chapter FC of PEO will meet at St. Paul’s United Methodist church at 1 p.m. Jan. 3. Co-hostesses will be Betty Thompson and Verlee Gardner. Grace Chism will give the program about “Founder’s Day.” Thursday AA Discussion meeting, noon; AA discussion meeting, 8 p.m., Harmony House, 212 South Third. Freedom Group of AA; closed Big Book Study at 8 p.m. Thursdays, Woodlands Christian Church (Room 202), Fourteenth and Hartford. Smoke-free meeting and building. We study and practice tradition. Open meeting the last Thursday of each month for birthdays. For more information, call John at 762-3345 or Darron, 765-0021 Model Railroad Club, 7-10 p.m. Thursday, Stephenson Building, 113 North Third. For information call 762-8687 or 765-7996. Parent Support Group, 9:30-11 a.m. Thursday Northern Oklahoma Youth Services Center. Focus on parental concerns, frustrations, as well as ways to increase understanding and communications between parent and child. Support, education, copying techniques and introduction to non-punitive parenting styles. Ponca City Newcomers Club meets the third Thursday of each month at the Ponca City Country Club. For more information and to make reservations call Joyce Fox, 762-9578. Story hour for school-aged children Thursday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Ponca City Library. Principles Before Personalities, Narcotics Anonymous, 8 p.m. Thursday, Harmony House basement (use south entrance by parking lot). American Legion Post 14 meets at 7:30 p.m. the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at the Huff-Minor Post home, 407 West South Avenue. Disabled American Veterans meet the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at 401 South Lincoln. Friday Simple Steps AA — open, noon; AA speaker meeting — open, 8 p.m. Harmony House, 212 South Third. Principles Before Personalities, Narcotics Anonymous, 8 p.m. Friday, Harmony House, 212 South Third, basement (use south entrance). Smoke-free building. For more information call 762-3345 or 765-9459. Pioneer Rotary Club meets at noon on Fridays at Westminster Village. Saturday AA Discussion meeting at noon Saturday. AA Discussion meeting at 8 p.m., Harmony House, 212 South Third. New Found Freedom Co-dependents Anonymous, 8 p.m. Saturday, Harmony House (upstairs library). Smoke-free. Order of the Amaranth meets the first and third Saturdays of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Masonic Temple. Overeaters Anonymous group meets 10-11 Saturday mornings at Woodlands Christian Church. The meetings are open to “anyone who desires to stop eating compulsively.” For more information call 762-2161. Marland’s Grand Home, 10th and Grand. Home of Indian exhibit, 101 Ranch collection, and DAR Museum. Available for receptions, teas, bridge parties, etc. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 767-0427. Lifestyle Page Policies AnnouncedForms for engagement, anniversary, wedding and Little News (baby) announcements are available at the desk of the Lifestyles Editor at The Ponca City News. The deadline for stories and pictures for the Sunday edition is 5 p.m. Wednesday, but stories and pictures may be submitted earlier. Stories for the daily edition should be submitted one to two days prior to the date of publication. In order to keep stories current, The News prefers to have wedding stories submitted within two weeks of the event; however, we will use a photograph and story within three months after the event. If a wedding story is submitted more than one month after the event, the date will not be used and the story may be abbreviated. We cannot reproduce photographs from a newspaper or magazine. Prints or negatives only, please. Either color or black and white photos are acceptable. Soft focus pictures do not reproduce well in a newspaper. Almost any size photograph is acceptable since they will be computer-enlarged or reduced as needed. Photographs are included with wedding anniversary information beginning at 25 years. There is no charge for wedding, anniversary or engagement announcements or any news article used in Lifestyles, and pictures are returned free of charge. A return name and address should be printed on the back of the photographs. “Sticky” notes are preferred since ink may show through the picture if the writer presses too hard. The News cannot be responsible for the spelling of names if the information submitted is handwritten rather than typed. Forms are preferred; however, the Lifestyles Editor is available to write the story from facts you provide (Just provide her with the “who, what, when, where, etc. ”). It is not necessary for you to write the actual story, but you may certainly do so if you desire; but, be aware that the story is subject to editing. Items may be mailed, e-mailed, faxed or brought in person to The News. Please be sure to include a name and telephone number in case more information is needed. Those who would like to mail information should include the post box number 191 for the Ponca City News, 74602-0191. Fax number is 580-765-7800. Telephone number for the Ponca City News is 580-765-3311. E-mail address is lifestyles@poncacitynews.com For further information about items to be published in The News contact the Lifestyles Editor. If the article is intended for the Lifestyle pages please write this on the material you submit by mail. As a service to readers of The News forms may be found via e-mail. Address is http://www.poncacitynews.com/lifeforms Announcement of a birth requires a signature and telephone number by a parent or grandparent. If the parents of the baby are not married a special form must be signed by the father of the child. These forms are available at the Lifestyles desk. Birth announcements will not be taken by phone. Publicity guides to help organizations with story information are also available at the Lifestyles desk. Photo ReturnSeveral photographs used in the Lifestyles pages the past three years for engagements, weddings, anniversaries and birthdays are available for pick up at the Lifestyles desk in the newsroom. Those persons who made arrangements to pick up pictures after they were used in the newspaper need to retrieve the photos soon. Numerous pictures have been mailed, but several do not have mailing addresses. The News realizes how valuable such photos are to families and the pictures will not be thrown away; however, storage space is limited. Steichen, Schiltz, Bellinghausen Families Meet for Annual ReunionThe annual reunion of the Steichen, Schiltz, and Bellinghausen families was held Nov. 23 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parish Hall. Hosting the reunion this year were John and lone Steichen, Joe and Ruth Steichen and Bob and Margaret Steichen. Attending were 119 family members from several states. The Thanksgiving reunion began with picnic gatherings in the pecan grove at the family farm after World War II. After the Round Grove Community Center was built in the 1950s, the family started meeting there every Thanksgiving. Through the 1960s and1970s, the family members enjoyed food, visiting, playing cards, touch football and entertainment presented by grandchildren at Round Grove. Around 1980 the family reunion was moved to St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parish Hall. The family began with Katie Schiltz, (Michael Schiltz died in 1936) and their children, Maude, Joe, Martha and Mike. Families now take turns hosting the event according to the birth order of Katie’s children. Those present from the John M. and Maude (Schiltz) Steichen branch were John and lone Steichen, James and E. Marie Steichen and Bethany Steichen, Elizabeth (Steichen) Bailey and Brian and Kevin Bailey, Sherman and Evelyn (Steichen) Otto and Gayle, Sheralyn, Stacia and Kelle Otto, Dennis and Carol Steichen and Jeff and Mitch Steichen, Joe and Ruth Steichen, Larry Steichen, Becky (Steichen) Bolene, Mary Steichen, Bob and Margaret Steichen, Steve and Jeanne (Steichen) Friesen and Jordan, Phillip and Garrick Friesen, Also Kevin and Erin Steichen and Patrick and Kelly Steichen, Matt and Suzanne (Steichen) McQuade and Jonathan, Brian and Andrew McQuade, Don and Brenda (Steichen) Dobbs and Ethan Dobbs, Jerry Steichen, Barry and Christine Steichen and Christian, Madalene and James Steichen. Those present from the Mike and Christine Schiltz branch were Christine (who celebrated her 90th Birthday this year), Dick and Mary Catherine (Schiltz) Detten, Mark and Jayne Detten and Lauren, Michael and Grant Detten, Carol (Detten) Goodwin and Elizabeth, Maria, Garritt and Daniel Goodwin, and Todd and Lisa (Detten) Bradley from the Detten side of the family. Those present from the Joe and Lucia Schiltz branch were Ray and Donna Schiltz, Raymond Schiltz and Ashley Schiltz, Paul Schiltz, Susan (Schiltz) White and Tressa White, Don and Colleen Schiltz, Leo Schiltz and Michael Schiltz, Dolores Schiltz, John and Nancy (Schiltz) Finn and Christopher, Dustin, Patrick, Jordan and John Jacob Finn, Wilfrid and Louise (Schiltz) Marak, Jim Marak, Steven and Robbie Marak and Travis and Stephanie Marak, Wes, Margaret, Brandy, Danelle, and Ellie, Mike and Lisa (Schiltz) Sanders and Gaelene and Keela Sanders, Jennifer Schiltz, Daniel and Janie (Schiltz) Cournerilli. Those present from the Martha (Schiltz) and Louis Bellinghausen branch were Betty (Bellinghausen) Brown, Wes and Melissa Brown and Blake and Nicholas Brown, Joe Brown and Jennifer and Joey Brown, Lorene (Bellinghausen) Buettner, Steve and Jan (Buettner) Foisy and Emily and Megan Foisy, Marjorie Bellinghausen, Kathy (Bellinghausen) Gray and Lacey and Mindy Gray. Carol Ann Rowe Becomes Bride of David H. Baur Jr.The wedding chapel of Monte Carlo in Las Vegas, Nev., was the setting for the Nov. 17, 2000, wedding of Carol Ann Rowe and David H. Baur Jr. Their double-ring vow were officiated in a 7:30 p.m. ceremony by the Rev. Anton T. Stacey. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ruben C. Rowe of Burbank, and the bridegroom is the son of retired USAF Maj. and Mrs. D. H. Baur of San Antonio, Texas. The bride is the granddaughter of Martha Rowe of Burbank and the late Homie Rowe and the late Cecil and Maude Rankin. The bridegroom is the grandson of Frances Clark of Houston, Texas, and the late Col. R.E. Clark, and the late Herman and Eleanora Baur. The bride wore a two-piece sleeveless white crepe designer gown embellished with pearls and iridescent beads at the neckline. She wore a headband of pearls and iridescent beads in her hair and carried a bouquet of long-stemmed Stargazer lilies tied with silver ribbon. Something old, borrowed and blue was a garter from a friend who had worn it on her wedding day, and something new was her gown. Out-of-town guests included Ruben and JoAnn Rowe of Burbank, parents of the bride; Joe and Peggy Rowe of Burbank, brother and sister-in-law of the bride; Mike Rowe of Burbank, brother of the bride; Michael, Amy, and Abby Rowe of Kaw City, the bride’s nephew and family; Travis and Jamie Rowe of Burbank, the bride’s nephew and family; and Hank and Kathy Brocksmith of Jenks. The newlywed couple resides at 100 Lakeview Drive. The bride is an auditor with the comptroller’s office for the state of Texas, and the bridegroom is construction manager with Sooner Construction Company of North Central Oklahoma. A reception was held at the Ponca City Country Club Dec. 8, honoring the couple. Hosts were Steve and Kellie Boone, Dane and Jennifer Butterfield, Travis and Margo Mullins, Michael and Amy Rowe, Susan Freeman and Cary Corlett. Concert RescheduledThe Christmas concert which had previously been scheduled for Dec. 13 by members of the American Guild of Organists has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 20, noon to1 p.m. at the First Christian Church. Members of the local chapter will play Advent and Christmas music as a gift to the community. It has been planned as a “come and go” concert so that those on lunch break from local businesses may attend. SPORTSBillings Fights To Keep Its Football Team Billings Fights To Keep Its Football TeamBy DAVIS DAVIS News Sports Writer BILLINGS — The Billings Bulldogs 8-man football team stayed home while neighboring Medford and Tonkawa played for state championships. But, the fact that Billings even had a team was enough to make it a successful season. The school board cut the football program four years ago. Since then, Billings entered into cooperative agreements with Deer Creek-Lamont for a couple of years, then with Pond Creek-Hunter. The co-ops allowed Billings students to play football for the other schools. But, under Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association rules, the Billings student population had to be added to the other schools involved in the co-op. The 1990 population was 550, but that has dropped. Like most small communities the job market and housing is extremely limited, so there are not very many reasons for a young person to stay. Currently, Billings High School only has 43 students. But even that number would have forced Deer Creek-Lamont and Pond Creek-Hunter from Class C into Class B. “We have 43 students in high school,” Billings Superintendent Roger Smith said. “We are one of the smallest schools in Oklahoma to still have classes from pre-K to the twelfth grade.” Smith said when he took the Billings job four years ago, there was a lot of talk that the school would be closed. “I don’t think so,” he said. “But, it all depends on the state legislature. You never know what the state legislature is going to do and the governor has an agenda. “He (Gov. Frank Keating) keeps talking about the four-by-four where the four core subjects of English, math, science and social studies are offered all four years in high school.” Currently, students take four English courses and three classes each of the other three. Smith said that could cause a problem for the smaller schools. The small town has a bank, a funeral home and a lumber yard. “He has a hardware store in the lumber yard and he takes care of your driver’s license and registration there. This is a farming community and a lot of retired farmers live here.” Billings is the home of Governor Henry Bellmon, the first Republican ever elected governor. The townspeople are trying desperately to keep what they have in the community while rebuilding it the community’s housing infrastructure, one home at a time through a grant. Reestablishing the football team was more than an avenue to provide extracurricular activity for students. It is a source of community pride. “It’s worked out pretty good with us having our own football team,” Smith said. “We get a good gate at home. People can still drive up to the field and watch from their cars. “Some of the expenses were large, but we understood that going into the situation. A very rough estimate would be about $8,000,” he said. “There were some other things we did to the field that we were going to do anyway that we don’t figure as an expense.” Smith said when they began discussing the football team, there were eight junior high students who traveled 35 miles to Pond Creek each morning for football practice. After practice, they hurried back to Billings for school. “That took two hours out of each morning. They missed another class in its entirety and they were having to make that up on their own time,” Smith said. “There were others who wanted to play but couldn’t afford to give up that much time.” Based on those numbers, the school administration determined there would be no problem having enough players for at least the next four or five years. “We have 18 players this year,” he said. “When the program was dropped, there were only a dozen or maybe less who wanted to play.” ••• The First Lady Cafe is the place where everyone gathers to talk about the weather, crops and sometimes, there might be a little horse trading. There is talk of Oklahoma Sooner football and for the first time in four years, there is talk of Billings football. “They should have never cut the program in the first place,” local insurance agent H. B. Evans said. “They’ve always had football. They used to play 11-man ball, but it got down to where they didn’t have enough players. “Let’s see. They were playing 11-man football when I left in ‘58 or ‘59, but then when I came back ...” “That’s the bad part,” a man on the other side of the small dining room yelled. “You came back!” Unfazed, Evans waved off the man’s remarks and said, “You let us get on with this interview! “Go talk to Richard Rush. He played that year when Billings beat Medford. They wrote the score on the game ball and placed it in one of the trophy display cases at the high school. It’s all shriveled now, but nonetheless, it’s THE GAME BALL used in THE BIG GAME when the Bulldogs beat Medford. “That’s the big game that everyone still talks about in Billings. They talk about it in Medford, too.” ••• Richard Rush stood next to the griddle. He watched as short order cook, Debby Fuller flipped burger patties. Though he didn’t need to, he wiped his hands on the white apron he wore. “Where does this one go,” he asked as he reached for the plate Fuller had just put the hamburger on. “Table number three,” she said. When he returned from the table he said, “You came at a bad time, but it’s about the tail end of the lunch crowd.” Rush picked up another plate and delivered it to another table. He mopped the floor and took out the trash and only after finishing his chores did he stop. “It’s like a movie,” he said. “We were still an 11-man team back then. In fact, I think it was the last year we played 11-man ball.” He paused momentarily as he searched his memories of the past, all the way back to 1959. The Bulldogs had won more games than they’d lost. That made the season a good one because there were only about 13 players the last couple of years before they went to eight-man football. “The fullback and the halfback weren’t allowed to play for disciplinary reasons,” he said. “I don’t know why. It could’ve been for smoking. But anyway, two days before the big game, we had only a quarterback — no fullback and no halfback. The next day [Thursday], the coach changed everybody around. I was [normally] the center and he made me the fullback. “The next day was Friday. Of course, we always played on Friday night. Medford was always the last game of the season and they always beat us. “They [Medford} came over here [to Billings] and we had one substitute. I think his name was Butch Garrett. “Medford showed up in two buses. They had forty-something players and they made a big deal doing their exercises and we were down here on the other end of the field in a little bitty circle doing our warm-ups and the whole situation looked entirely hopeless. “I just really don’t know what happened. They ran in fresh players on us all night. Somehow, [they were] over confident or something but somehow, we made a touchdown at the half and the score was 6-0. “They came back and made a touchdown and the score was 8-6. “With just a few minutes left in the game, Bruce Durke threw a desperation pass to Ray Seegers, this man’s son,” he said, pointing to a man sitting in one of the three booths in Rush’s Corner Market. Mr. Seegers patiently waited as Debby cooked his hamburger. “Ray wasn’t an end. He’d been like a guard or tackle, but that night he was an end. To make it even more dramatic, it was fourth down and twenty and something impossible, but anyway, it was a desperation pass and I can see it today. Bruce could throw the ball. He was a tremendous athlete and he threw the ball a long, long way and standing down there in the end zone was ol’ Ray Seegers. “Just to put icing on the cake, the ball came out and Ray bounced up into the air and caught it for the winning touchdown. “It was just against all odds. How could you do this? “Of course Medford was in a daze and couldn’t believe it had happened. The main thing Rush remembers is Medford running fresh players into the game all night long. Medford had offensive and defensive units. Billings had only one substitute who was told to warm up every time it looked like one of his teammates was injured. “I guess he got in the game, I don’t really know, but I think he ran more yards than we did. “We didn’t make the extra point and I don’t know that we even tried real hard with only a few seconds remaining in the game,” he said. “It was just one of those things that happens in sports. “It was deŽnitely the biggest game I ever played.” Chester Craig was the coach that year. “He was my mother’s basketball coach, just to give you an idea of how old he was,” Rush said. “He loved trick plays. One of his favorites was the substitution play. Football was not like it is now. Back then, the crowd ran up and down the sidelines with the football team. “But he loved that play where the player being substituted for would never quite get off the field and the quarterback would throw the ball to him.” “Sometimes he got away with it, sometimes he didn’t.” It’s a coincidence, but on the play Durke was the quarterback, Seeger was the receiver and for that particular play, Rush had been moved back to his normal position as center. All three of them who handled the ball on the play are still in Billings. Seegers is a farmer, Durke works for an oil company and Rush owns the small convenience store that is located across the street from Rush Industries, a metal recycling plant. Sharon McKeown was the head cheerleader back then. Today, she is the owner of McKeown Market and president of the local chamber of commerce. In a sense, she is still a cheerleader. “We had a homecoming parade and the kids worked all week on their floats every night after school. As an old-timer, I was really impressed with the kids ... with their enthusiasm and their spirit. “It made me feel good to think the kids could actually be putting their energy into something that would be good for the entire community. “I think that’s important for any school.” McKeown found out the prize money for the žoats was $15 for first place. That wasn’t much considering the time and effort the kids put into their žoats. “In an hour’s time, we collected $400,” she said. Next year, she suggested the community start raising money earlier. ••• Don Pearson said he interviewed for the principal’s job last year about two weeks before school started. One of the items on his resume was that he’d started an 8-man football program in Freedom. “They asked if I could start one here,” Pearson said. “I said, ‘Well let’s look into it.’” Although he’d started the Freedom program, the majority of his coaching experience is as a junior high school coach at Woodward. Now, Pearson is the principal, athletic director and head football coach. Starting a football team isn’t easy. The school is not affiliated with a district. This year and next year the Bulldogs will play as independents. “The team won one game this year, but they played some very tough teams” Pearson said. “Some of these teams have a hard time scheduling games because no one wants to get beat. “But we play them and I tell the guys they have two strikes against them before they walk onto the field.” “First, you have an eighth grade coach and this is the first year they’ve played,” he said. “I wasn’t too hard on myself, but I let them know that I was a junior high coach who was a good fundamentalist and it’s enough for them to know they are improving every week. “We never go anywhere believing we won’t win, but they do need a real coach.” ••• Senior defensive end, tight end Jay Pemberton said he’s glad football is back. “I think it’s a really good deal. I wish they’d brought it back a long time ago and never really got rid of it,” he said. “It’ll be all right once we get it to going again.” He said he wasn’t interested in playing for another school. Senior quarterback Adam Tyler was a wide receiver when he last played in the eighth grade. He was selected for the position last year when they were doing drills and he threw a ball back to the coach. “We were running some routes out there and I threw it back,” he said. “That’s how I got it.” The Bulldogs won one game this past year. Do they believe that is their big game they’ll remember the rest of their lives? “I don’t know,” Tyler said. Do they know which game was the big game that Mr. Rush and the rest of the town remembers? “Medford.” Tonkawa Football ... And PhilosophyBy DAVIS DAVIS News Sports Writer “Winning is not a sometime thing: it’s an all the time thing. You don’t win once in a while; you don’t do the right thing once in a while; you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. “Unfortunately, so is losing.” — Vince Lombardi. (All are Lombardi quotes unless noted.) The fact that the Tonkawa Buccaneers high school football team is still the winner and defending Class A high champion isn’t so remarkable. The Bucs were written off simply because 15 seniors graduated from the 1999 championship team. A football team doesn’t win state championships merely because it is laden with players who have served their time in high school. Neither does a team lose a championship simply because it lacks players who’ve served their time. Winning is a choice. It is a conscious decision everyone makes every morning when they get out of bed. “It is essential to understand that battles are primarily won in the hearts of men.” Senior laden teams finish last every year. “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will.” The remarkable occurrence is the Buccaneers lost two games in the year 2000. The seniors on the team had never lost a regular season game until Fairview beat them in overtime in the third week of the season. The Bucs lost again in the sixth week to Hominy. The fact is that after three-and-one-half years, the Buccaneers lost two regular season games. The loss to Fairview ended a 37-game winning streak. The loss to Hominy cost them the district title. But after each loss, the team got up, dusted itself off and started all over again. “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” Who knows if Tonkawa will win another title next year. But, there are elementary and junior high school students who’s goal in life is to be Buccaneers someday. “Teamwork is what the Green Bay Packers were all about. They didn’t do it for individual glory. They did it because they loved one another” Let’s step down from the lofty philosophical plane and get down to statistics. Mark Twain said, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” But, statistics are interesting. After looking at them, the only astounding thing is the Tonkawa Buccaneers lost two games. Here are the statistics for the 14 games played by the 2000 Buccaneers. Scoring by Quarter 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT Final Tonkawa 204 142 167 117 7 637 Opponens 19 44 28 49 8 148 Season Team Statistics Tonkawa Opp. Rushing Attempts 566 592 Rushing yards 3,283 2,065 Yards per carry 5.8 3.5 Rushing TDs 49 14 Passing Attempts 218 207 Completions 116 62 Percent Completed 53.2 30.0 Passing Yards 2,371 794 Passing TDs 37 5 Interceptions 14 22 Interceptions Made 22 14 Penalties 107 67 Penalty Yards 899 610 Fumbles 22 33 Fumbles Lost 14 30 Fumbles Recov’d 32 10 Individual Statistics Rushing Atts Yards Yds/Att TDs Long Simpson 304 2217 7.3 37 87 Fath 74 314 4.2 5 44 Lucas 58 211 3.6 4 26 Robison 39 209 5.4 1 23 Boland 29 142 4.9 2 31 Durbin 19 65 3.4 0 7 Reese 8 47 5.9 0 37 Bowling 7 22 3.1 0 15 Ribs 16 22 1.4 0 8 Evans 5 15 3.0 0 4 Geiser 3 11 3.7 0 3 Howard 3 5 1.7 0 3 Levings 1 3 3.0 0 3 Passing Player Att C Pct Yds TD Int Fath 199 109 58.4 2172 35 13 Bowling 13 4 30.8 107 1 1 Reese 5 3 60.0 92 1 0 Geiser 1 0 0 0 0 0 Receiving Player C Yds Yds/Catch TDs Long Reese 50 1015 20.3 20 60 Marlin 24 463 19.3 5 57 Simpson17 369 21.7 3 74 Lucas 7 134 19.1 3 38 Geiser 6 155 25.8 3 36 Robison 5 56 11.2 1 26 Fath 1 35 35 1 35 Bowling 1 33 33 1 33 Balahtsis 1 16 16 0 16 Ochoa 1 33 33 0 33 Soucek 1 14 14 0 14 Scoring TD PAT 2PAT FG Pts Simpson 40 3/1 242 Reese 24 4/4 152 Ochoa 70/58 7/3 67 Lucas 8 48 Fath 7 42 Marlin 5 30 Geiser 3 18 Robison 2 6/3 1/1 17 Boland 2 12 Bowling 1 1/1 8 Soucek 0 2/1 1 Tackles Player Unassist Assist Total John Robison 37 90 127 Kolby Simpson 46 75 121 B. W. Marlin 39 69 108 Taylor Evans 29 64 93 Brady Fath 40 51 91 Tyler Reese 25 44 69 Shayne Marlin 24 24 48 Brody Lucas 13 33 46 Brian Bowling 25 20 45 Tracy Patterson 2 40 42 Scott Flanery 11 26 37 Fumbles/Interceptions Player Caused/Recovered INT Fath 3/2 3 Bowling 1/2 1 Jeremy Love 1/0 0 Shayne Marlin 2/3 3 Reese 2/4 5 Quarterback sacks: B. W. Marlin, 7; Scott Flanery, 4; Barry Lewallen, 3 Kickoff Returns: Reese, 11, 318 yards, 28.9 yard average, 2 touchdowns, 92 yards longest Punt Returns: Fath, 27, 427 yards, 15.8 yard average, 1 touchdown, 64 yards longest. Punting: Reese, 34 punts, 1100 yards, 32.4 yard average, 44 yards longest. Wentz To Increase Golfing Fees in 2001Cost of Maintenance Cause of Hike City commissioners have approved fee increases at Lew Wentz Golf Course effective Jan. 1, 2001. Under the new fee schedule, weekday green fees will increase from $13 to $15. On weekends and holidays, the new rates will increase from $14 to $17. Manager Mark Hilyard said the increases were necessary for the golf course to be self sufficient. He said the cost of maintaining the course has increased since the last rate increase about two years ago. “While operational costs have increased,” Hilyard said. “The number of players has remained at the same level.” The new rate fees are in line with other municipal 18-hole courses throughout the area. Annual fees for a single player will rise from $375 to $425; husband and wife, $475 to $525; family, $575 to $625. The daily adult membership remains unchanged at $2.78. The annual fees are payable in three installments in April, May and June. Unlimited single, unlimited husband and wife, unlimited family and senior annual membership programs were added under the new fee structure. An unlimited single annual membership costs a flat rate of $750, with no daily membership fees. The unlimited husband and wife is $850 and unlimited family is $950. Senior citizens are discounted 10 percent on any annual membership program chosen. Another new program is the 25 Round Play Card offered at $320. Essentially, the purchaser pays for 20 rounds of golf and receives five rounds free. The new rate fees are listed below. Sales tax is not included. Fee Old New Green Fees Weekday $13.00 $15.00 Weekends/Holidays 14.00 17.00 9 Hole Fee 8.00 10.00 Junior 6.50 6.50 Senior (Weekday) 10.00 10.00 Twilight (After 3 PM) 11.50 13.00 Super Twilight (After 5)10.00 11.50 Additional Round Fee 6.00 7.50 All Day (Includes Cart) ------ 37.50 Golf Cart Trail Fees Cart Fee 10.00 12.00 Golf Cart Rental Fees 18 Hole Full 17.00 19.00 18 Hole Per Seat 8.50 9.50 9 Hole Full 9.50 10.50 9 Hole Per Seat 4.75 5.25 Yearly Fees Single 375.00 425.00 Husband and Wife 475.00 525.00 Family 575.00 625.00 Junior (Weekdays) 100.00 150.00 Private Cart 350.00 425.00 Daily Adult 2.78 2.78 Daily Junior 1.86 ----- Unlimited Single ---------- 750.00 Unlimited H/W ---------- 850.00 Unlimited Family ---------- 950.00 Senior Annual Less 10 Percent 25 Round Play Card --------- 320.00 Others Locker Rental 36.00 24.00 Private Cart Storage 200.00 250.00 The golf course will not store any additional privately owned golf carts. Private golf cart storage is being phased out as the current agreements expire. Freshman Girls Win TournamentThe Ponca City freshman girls’ basketball team won first place at the Sand Springs Invitational Tournament. Ponca City beat Jenks in the semifinal game 30-25, then host school, Sand Springs Central in the final game 42-35. Nursing a 24-15 halftime lead the Poncans shut Sand Springs down, 10-6, in the third quarter. The freshman Lady Sandites made a run and outscored the freshman Lady Cats 14-8. It was not enough. Hannah Hopkins led the team with 10 points. Hannah Garrison was close behind with 9 points. Jordan Lunsford dropped in six. Emily Thompson and Chelsey Cobb each contributed two points and Amanda Bohon scored one from the free throw line. In the Jenks game, Garrison and Hopkins each scored 12 points. Jamie Trout scored six, Cobb put in four points while Jennifer Jenkins, Jordan Lunsford, Amanda Bohon and Emily Thompson each put in two points. The girls increased their record to 7-0 against Woodward on Tuesday. Garrison couldn’t miss and threw in 20 points as Ponca City routed the Woodward freshmen, 41-16. Lunsford dropped in six. Jenkins came next with five and Emily Beier placed four points in the basket. Thompson, Cobb and Bohon each put in two. Enid Waller Tops JV in OTEnid Waller came visiting the Ponca City freshman girls’ b asketball team and went back home with an overtime squeaker. Enid Waller beat Ponca 25-24. The local team’s record now stands at 1-4. Cassandra Baur led Ponca City in scoring with 9 points , Tiffany Pollard and Emily Beier each scored four points. Megan Benysheck, Molly Zoski and Emily Thompson each scored a bucket each.
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