From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Wednesday,
December 10, 1997
LOCAL
Historic Homes Featured on Candlelight Tour
Carnegie Funds Helped Perry Library Development
Carnegie Libraries Boon to Knowledge
Survey Reveals Girl Scouting Valuable for Girls and Adults
Holiday Activities Plentiful Throughout State
SJRMC Volunteers Recognized at Dinner
Calendar
Editor of Brio Will Entertain During Concert
Former Blackwell Police Officer Killed in Accident
Businesses May Get Tax Break For Five Years
Gift Certificates For Ponca Tribe
P.C. Student at UCO Member Of Nation's 'Best TV Newscast'
FCE Cookie Sale At Two Locations Here Saturday
Tim Muniz Performs Here Thursday Night
Kay Democrats Meet Thursday
Letters
Special Christmas Service In Remembrance of Children
Freshman Mixed Chorus In Christmas Concert
Emergency Sirens To Sound Thursday
Shidler Graduate Starring Sunday In ABC Movie
P.C. Publishing Gives Service Awards Eight Employees
World Premiere Features 'Amazing' 10-Year-Old
DEATHS
Mary E. Estes
Irene D. Waters
Mary Lena Swalley
Services Pending
Benjamin Waters Sr.
George L. Moore
Dolores E. Thomas
Earlee C. Fry
NEWS BRIEFS
LIFESTYLES
Engagement is Announced
Miriam Class Meets
SPORTS
Broken Arrow Slams Cats
Schneeberger Watch
Cats Nudge Out Guthrie
Blues Blow Off Slow Start
Frontier Shootout
Mat Results
9th Grade Blue Evens Record
Deer Harvest Nears Record
Northern Shovelers Grace Duck Stamp
By KATHY ZEHR
News Staff Writer
The annual Candlelight Historic Home Tour will take place Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. in Ponca City featuring a variety of designs from three historic neighborhoods.
All proceeds will be used to support the Festival of Angels Christmas Holiday lighting of the city. Tickets are available at Angel Central in advance and at each home the evening of the tours.
The four houses featured are diverse in style and history and include the Allen/Carter home at 84 Elmood, the Bogan/Bear/McConnell home at 1107 South Seventh Street, The Clark/Yeary/Pemberton home at 10 East Hillcrest and the Shallenberger/Bell home at No. 5 Hillcrest.
1107 South Seventh Street
The Stately Bogan home, now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Nelson McConnell, boasts 7,000 square feet in its three-story red brick frame. All three stories are included in the tour of this recently redecorated and renovated home.
Former owners included A.L. Bogan, who also built Bogan Pool and once owned the movie theaters downtown, and later by W.D. Beard, president of Ponca City Savings and Loan.
The McConnells also have fine China and antiques featured throughout the home and visitors are reminded to note the exquisite dining room chandelier, a custom-painted wall mural in the entry, and the award-winning needlework created by Mrs. McConnell's grandmother.
84 Elmood
In the north part of the city in the Acre Home Addition visitors will be taken back to the early 1940s at the home of Mrs. and Mrs. Bret Carter, 84 Elmwood. Built in the vernacular Colonial Revival style by William Caton of Winfield, Kan., the home features outstanding knotty pine paneling covering most of the walls, doors, built-in bookcases and bunk beds.
One of the most intriguing exhibits at this home is the material left in a time capsule by the Allen family. The Carters discovered the capsule in the attic of the World War II vintage home.
The Carters have installed antique fixtures and the home boasts many other vintage pieces that visitor will not want to miss. Flowering shrubs and flowers fill the heavily-wooded, two-acre backyard in the spring.
10 East Hillcrest
At 10 East Hillcrest, parking is difficult and visitors have been asked to park at the Presbyterian Church on the south side and catch the shuttle van to this unique home.
The Clark/Yeary/Pemberton home is tucked away at the end of a long private drive, which was originally a two-story mansion designed by J. Duncan Forsyth. When the home was struck by lightning and burned in 1949, the second story was eliminated when it was rebuilt.
This 5,000-square foot-home was originally built for the Dillard Clark family, then later occupied by Dr. and Mrs. Curtis Yeary. The home sits on three acres of land and features a pool area, lovely gardens and former polo grounds.
Perfect for entertaining, this home, now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Pemberton, is beautifully decorated. The master bedroom is outstanding, and an added attraction is the guest house.
No. 5 Hillcrest
The Shallenberger/Bell home at No. 5 Hillcrest is one of the six homes Marland commissioned for his executives in 1923. A special feature on the tour is the viewing of photos of the home while it was under construction for the George Shallenberger family.
Back in the 1920s, local residents called the Hillcrest area "snob hill" since the homes were owned by Marland executives.
Present owners, Mr. and Mrs. David Bell, enjoy the imposing entrance hall, Gothic archways and a one-of-a-kind staircase which features a spiral-type bannister and three landings.
Located on almost three acres of forested gardens, this home features landscaping designed by Henry Hatashita, Marland's Japanese gardener.
Tour Etiquette
Being invited into the historic homes of generous Ponca City citizens is a rare privilege. With that privilege, however, comes some responsibility on the part of the visitor.
Those on tour are reminded to exercise thoughtful judgment while touring the homes.
Some simple rules include not touching or picking up items, not wearing bulky clothing or carrying big items that might brush against valuable furniture and breakables; and wearing soft-soled shoes, both for comfort during the extensive walking required, and to protect hardwood or parquet floors.
Editor's Note: American industrialist and philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie shared his wealth with a number of rural communities by helping to finance book depositories known as Carnegie Libraries. One of these libraries is located in Perry.
By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Staff Writer
PERRY - The public library in Perry has been a source of local pride since its beginning 95 years ago. A major renovation was undertaken six years ago. Just recently an attractive red brick retaining wall and vintage street lights have been added to the Courthouse Square, where the beacon of knowledge stands.
Although the public library at Perry had six years in it's index before it became a classic Andrew Carnegie Library, it probably would not have done so if it had not been for Mrs. H. L. Boyes. She requested Carnegie to build Perry a library in this Noble County town. As a result the a gift of $10,000 was given to the city of Perry to build the building in 1909.
WCTU Involved
The history of the library tells that the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) operated a small reading area and rest room on the north side of the town square as early as 1902. This reading room had a selection of 150 books.
In the beginning the women served as "hostesses" for a few hours each day, but it finally became too burdensome for one group. So they called a meeting of the literary clubs and formed a library association in 1904. Each literary club had two representatives and three more were elected at large.
This library, operated by the association, opened its doors for book lending free of charge to Noble Country residents. By now there was a total of 500 volumes for lending. The city agreed to fund the operation using a small tax levy. This helped pay the $3 a week wages of the librarian.
Those early librarians were Mrs. Emma Delashmutt, Miss Lola Briscoe, Miss Irene McCune and Miss Lulu Wright.
Mrs. Boyles Instrumental
Another plus for library patrons was when the city began to give a small fund for books and magazines to the library. A library board was appointed and when Mrs. H.L. Boyes was treasurer, she was appointed assist in acquiring a suitable site for the library in 1907. Within three months Mrs. Boyles obtained the exact corner desired by the board and she also was successful in obtaining the monetary gift from Carnegie.
Later Mrs. Boyles would supervise the construction of the building and the removal of the books from the first library. Although the building had been obtained through Carnegie funds, it was still a constant challenge to keep the library in operation. For a while it was kept open only two days a week with the librarian drawing a $1 a day salary.
Club women of the town joined forces helping to earn money for books while volunteers served the school children by opening the library on a daily basis.
Survives Natural Disasters
The library survived drought, cyclones and tree blight and began to revive and be used more by the folks in the county. The city library continued to grow and was a complement to the libraries at Perry High School, Lutheran School and St. Joseph's Academy.
By 1934 the borrowers had increased in number to 1,261 and almost half of these were youth users. The inventory last year recorded 9,830 volumes, with 619 purchases during the year. Circulation had increased to 321,711 volumes lent for home reading, while attendance in the reading room was 13,304 persons.
Mayor Wanted Building
The time line of the Perry Carnegie Library shows some interesting details. After it was built in 1910 a dispute between the Perry mayor and the Library Association arose when the mayor wanted to use the library as city hall.
A lawsuit was filed and the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that the building was only to be used as a library.
In 1933, a significant event took place with the first library tea, which was sponsored by the Perry Progress Club . This event has been held annually as a fund raiser for the library, with the exception of two years during World War II.
Books Destroyed Due to Polio
An interesting health related epidemic caused several books to be ordered destroyed in 1949-1951 by a public health officer due to an outbreak of polio.
Air-conditioning was installed in 1964 and the basement of the library was completely renovated with the children's library being relocated there.
In 1991 the library building was reopened after being completely renovated and made accessible to the handicapped. The was about a half-million dollar project. During the one-year renovation, the library was quartered in the American Legion Building in order not to interrupt service to the public.
The new sidewalks and retaining wall were secured through an ICETEA grant.
Throughout the years the library has continued to be upgraded with public access to computers acquired in 1993. This year bar coding of all books was completed in preparation for automation of the library, according to Karen Bigbee, library director.
Editor's Note: Due to the generosity of a Scottish industrialist, the settlers of the Cherokee Strip were given the opportunity to read more abundantly about their fellow man, new inventions and discoveries. Numerous public libraries were built in the Cherokee Strip, primarily funded by the trusts of Andrew Carnegie foundations.
By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Staff Writer
A Scottish-born, American-made industrialist and philanthropist with a social consciousness provided just enough seed money for those who wanted to read and educate themselves to succeed.
Through the funds of Andrew Carnegie, who made his wealth in steel, several libraries in the Cherokee Strip came into being a short decade after the turn of the century and a few years after the opening of the Strip in 1893.
Some of these settlements would not yet have wooden walkways when the hunger for books and thirst for further knowledge made themselves known.
In a number of these instances the push for books came from women's clubs. These were literary groups or book clubs as they were known. The women began movements to acquire a library for better reading and wider selections, as well as for the children's education.
Two of the so-called Carnegie libraries in this area were the Ponca City Municipal Library and the Blackwell Library in Kay County and the Perry Carnegie Library in Noble County. After the new library was built in Ponca City in 1930 it no longer carried the Carnegie designation.
The first library funds Carnegie committed to building a public book repository was the Northside Carnegie Library built in Allegheny, Pa. on Feb. 11, 1890. This was the first of thousands of municipally-supported libraries that Carnegie was to construct.
The book "Cultural Gems," tells that construction funds were granted by Carnegie for 1,679 public libraries in 1,412 communities in the nation. Most of these communities had no public library before the legacy of Carnegie. Only about a third of the libraries actually were named Carnegie Libraries.
For about the first three decades the design of the libraries was left up to the officials in the town where the library was to be located. Later Carnegie began an architectural review of the proposed buildings starting in 1910 due to waste and misuse of funds.
Seeing the need for trained library personnel from 1926 to 1941, the Carnegie Corporation earmarked the lion's share of funds for grants for library training programs, as well as, endowments for the American Library Association.
By KRISTI HAYES
News Education Editor
Parents and volunteers benefit from Girl Scouting as much as the girls themselves, according to a just-released outcomes study called "Girls, Families and Communities Grow Through Girl Scouting." The study is being released locally by Bluestem Girl Scout Council.
Among the findings, 54 percent of the parents polled report that Girl Scouting allows them to spend more quality time with their daughters and nearly 50 percent find that their relationship with their daughter has improved.
"This statistic is significant because study after study has shown that a stronger parent-child bond means a stronger child - emotionally, academically and socially," said Elinor Ferdon, national president of Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.
Of the largely female volunteer pool studied, 87 percent say that they have developed leadership skills and 74 percent feel their self-confidence has increased because they served as Girl Scout troop, group or assistant leaders.
Although no one from Bluestem Girl Scout Council was involved in the survey, many parents share the same reflection about their Girl Scout experience.
"When I first began my daughter's Girl Scout troop, I wasn't sure if I had what it takes to be a Girl Scout leader. Now I am confident in my role and have just as much fun as my troop," said Peggy Marts, Bluestem Girl Scout Council Cadette Girl Scout Troop leader.
When Girl Scouts and non-members of the same age group were surveyed, Girl Scouts reported greater opportunities to achieve nine positive outcome measures: self-reliance; self-competence; social skills (ability to make friends); respect for others; feelings of belonging; helpfulness/concern for the community; teamwork; leadership, and values clarifications/decision-making.
Among the findings that confirm these and other positive effects:
- Brownie Girl Scouts (ages 6-8) report experiencing teamwork, feelings of belonging, leadership, helpfulness and values/decision-making more often in their troops or groups than in school.
- Junior Girl Scouts (ages 8-11) see leadership opportunities as 14 percent higher in their Girl Scout troops or groups compared to at school.
- Cadette Girl Scouts (ages 11-14) experience such positive outcomes as concern for others, feelings of belonging, and values/decision-making more often in troops or groups than in school.
- Senior Girl Scouts (ages 14-17) say troop activities versus school activities provide substantially higher levels of experiencing leadership, respect for others, teamwork, helpfulness, feelings of belonging and values/decision-making opportunities.
- 76 percent of parents indicate they are building friendship with other adults through having a daughter involved in Girl Scouting and 67 percent report they fell that they are giving back to the community.
- 95 percent of volunteers felt they had a positive influence on the development of girls, 83 percent say they developed skills they otherwise would not have developed, and 85 percent agree they receive rewards they don't typically receive in their daily lives.
"A a parent and Girl Scout volunteer, I have seen the positive effects the Girl Scout program has on the lives of girls. I have seen girls come into the program shy and timid and they have grown to become more vocal and outgoing," said Marts.
Her daughter, Samantha, has been involved in the Girl Scout program since first grade and is now a Cadette Girl Scout in the seventh grade. "The Girl Scout program has helped me a lot. I have learned about friendship, respect and I am taking on more of a leadership role within my troop and school," she said.
More than 5,000 Girl Scouts and their non-member counterparts, 2,000 parents of Girl Scouts and 544 volunteers were surveyed, during the National Outcomes Study, conducted by Social Program Evaluators & Consultants Inc. (SPEC Associates), a leading research and program evaluator of non-profit organizations. Troops and groups from all regions of the country were polled with an emphasis placed on including gifts from diverse racial and ethnic populations.
"We know there are factors that place girls 'at risk' and we know there are factors that are building blocks for girls' choosing health behaviors, said Kimberly Lynch, executive director of Bluestem Girl Scout Council.
"For over 85 years, Girl Scouting has been providing those building blocks and now we have data to show that girls and their parents benefit from their participation," she said.
A brochure detailing the study is available through Bluestem Girl Scout Council. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the council at 511 East Eleventh Street, Bartlesville 74003.
EDMOND - The rush is on for parents throughout Oklahoma to help Santa Claus find the "perfect" gifts for their children. And choosing gifts is just one of the many fun - but perhaps stressful - activities of the season.
One way to escape the pressures of the endless "to do" lists of the holidays is to enjoy the many quality holiday attractions and events held throughout the state.
From the new books, Exploring Oklahoma with Children (second edition) and Exploring Oklahoma Together, here are the best memory-making activities for the holidays:
There's something magical about the state's lighting displays during the holidays. In recent years, many communities have produced festivals that feature displays showing everything from Santa "diving" into a swimming pool to huge angels and Christmas trees.
Called the most dazzling light display in America, the Festival of Light in Chickasha, held through Dec. 31, is an excellent example of these types of events.
No matter which festival you attend, come prepared to park the car and walk around to explore all of the activities. Sleigh rides, hay rides, gift shops, refreshments, musical programs, and visits from Santa are often included in the fun.
For more information about the Festival of Light call (405) 224-0787.
Other highly recommended lighting festivals include Muskogee's Garden of Lights, (918) 684-6302, held through Jan. 1; Midwest City's Festival of Lights Spectacular, (405) 739-1293, held through Dec. 30; Ponca City's Festival of Angels, (800) 475-4400, held through Dec. 28; Bartlesville's Fantasyland Forest, (800) 364-8708, held through December 31.
Woodward's Crystal Christmas, (800) 364-5352, held through Jan. 1; Tulsa's Zoolightful, (918) 669-6600, held Dec. 12-30 (closed Dec. 24-25); Anadarko's Holiday Celebration, (405) 247-6651, held through Dec. 28; and Turner Fall's Fantasyland, (405) 369-2917, held Dec. 3-Jan. 4.
Christmas Trees
What could be more fun than spending the day choosing the perfect Oklahoma Christmas tree? Start a new tradition by choosing and cutting your own fresh Christmas tree from one of 34 farms located in 20 Oklahoma counties. To determine the nearest tree farm, you should call (405) 527-5873 or (918) 482-3414.
The many specially decorated trees exhibited during Treefest at Omniplex help families explore the holiday traditions of other countries and ethnic groups. The event is held during the regular Omniplex hours through Jan. 1. Call (405) 424-5545 for more information.
Other Events
The Victorian architecture of historic Guthrie creates a lovely and nostalgic backdrop for the holidays. Activities include home tours, downtown lighting, evening trolley rides, living window displays, a Christmas parade, and caroling. The Pollard Theatre's annual production of "A Territorial Christmas Carol" is a "must-see" holiday production and Preservation Playhouse's musical comedy entitled "Four Tickets to Christmas" is Guthrie's newest addition to the holiday scene and includes dinner. Call the Guthrie Chamber of Commerce at (800) 299-1889 for a complete schedule of events.
Oklahoma Children's Theater in Oklahoma City presents a holiday production entitled "The Gift" from December 2nd through the 21st, weekdays at 10:30 a.m. and weekends at 2 p.m. Learn how different cultures celebrate the holiday season through this "made for kids" production. Children over age two are $4.
The Candlelight Tour held at historic Fort Gibson in Northeast Oklahoma on December 12th and 13th allows visitors to experience firsthand an 1848 Christmas at the Fort. Guests are led by candlelight through the log fort where they observe scenes from Christmas past. Officers talk politics, soldiers celebrate, and wives tend to their holiday chores - all without recognition of an audience. The tour lasts about 45 minutes and is held mostly outside. Call (918) 478-3355 for reservations and more details on this outstanding living history event.
Celebrate the New Year during Opening Night held in downtown Oklahoma City and nearby Bricktown on New Year's Eve. A variety of musical entertainment, storytellers and hands-on activities add to the festivities of this wholesome event. The highlight of the evening is the "ringing in" of the New Year with a fantastic fireworks display.
While the holiday rush is often hard to ignore, plan now to create special memories by sharing special holiday events such as these. Be sure to collect mementos and take photographs to add to your holiday scrapbook! After all, the time spent together as a family is often more precious and treasured throughout our lifetimes than what is under the tree or in our stocking on Christmas day.
BY-LINE: by Sarah Taylor, author of the travel guidebooks Exploring Oklahoma Together and Exploring Oklahoma with Children. Perfect for holiday gift giving, each book retails for $12.95 and includes information about over seven hundred attractions and $200 in coupons and discounts. To determine where books may be purchased or to order books directly, contact Inprint Publishing, Inc. at 405-340-1404. Corporate Sponsor of the project is Children's Hospital of Oklahoma.
St. Joseph Regional Medical Center Volunteers were honored recently at the Thanks for Giving Recognition Dinner. Following the invocation by Sr. Clarita Waner, the Thanksgiving meal was served by teen volunteers and hospital staff.
Director of Volunteers Irene Ackerson introduced special guests in attendance: Bill Lawter, Chair of the SJRMC Board of Trustees; Pat Mulligan and Steve Boone, directors of the St. Joseph Medical Foundation; Marijane Boone, member of the SJRMC Board of Trustees and Vice Chair of the St. Joseph Medical Foundation; and Edd Scovill, MD, and Donna Veal, MDF, physicians who volunteer at the Community Clinic.
Keynote speaker for the evening was Jim Stovall, co-founder and president of Narrative Television Network, which makes movies and television accessible to the blind and visually impaired. Stovall, who lost his sight at age 29, emphasized the significance of each person and the impact he or she can have on others. He stated that no matter how insurmountable a situation may seem, dreams can still be attained.
Following a moment to remember the volunteers who have died since last year's dinner, Sr. Mary Kay Liston, CSF, Vice President of Mission Services at SJRMC, announced recipients of awards. Presentations were made by SJRMC Trustee Chair Bill Lawter and Foundation Vice-Chair Marijane Boone. Volunteer Carl Coates photographed the presentation.
Those receiving awards were as follows: 100 Hours, Harold Brown, Rita Brown, Judith Lawson, Betty Rogers, Nelda Skinner and Joe Walcott; 500 Hours, Pauline Fauchier, Gertrude Murphy, Kathryn Prescott, Deanna Reed, Loma Smith, Betty Webb, Willis Webb and Jeanie Wilks; 1000 Hours, Genie Turner; 1,500 Hours, Theresa Butt, Darrell Lyerla, Zack Martin, Fay Nix and Leora Rhoads.
2000 Hours, D.KJ. McCabe, Joann Ward, Alpha Watts and Kenneth Wright; 2,500 Hours, Carl Coates, Harold Goodman, Mike Moriarty, Chris Orr and Jessie Smith; 3,500 Hours, Hazel Stanfill and Virginia Turner; 4,500 Hours, Virginia Brown, Maxine Davenport and Zenna Wright; 5,000 Hours, May Harris; 5,500 Hours, Ellen Bailey; 6,500 Hours, Clara Wilhelm; 11,000 Hours, Lila Kizer and 21,000 Hours, Faye Sackett.
A special presentation was made to volunteer Bob Olinger, who will be moving from Ponca City after Christmas.
Gift shop manager Julie Beam presented awards to Darrell Lyerla, Jessie Smith and Betty Rogers, who worked more than 365 combined hours in The Raspberry Thicket Gift and Snack Shop during the previous six weeks to help start up the new store. Garry England, SJRMC President and CEO, closed the evening by expressing thanks to the volunteers for their service. He recognized volunteers present who have served the hospital for more than 17 years. They are: Ellen Bailey, 17; Clara Wilhelm, 18; Nancy Dick and Lila Kizer, 20; Marjorie Walker, 21; May Harris and Faye Sackett, 22; Maxine Davenport and Marilyn Tharp, 23; Rachel Taylor and Doris Mires, 24; Mary Ruckel, 28; Stella Hursh, 32; Zenna Wright, 37; Betty Venzke, 38 and Helen Gower, 40.
Servers for the evening were Volunteens Jennifer Brown, Leslee Layton, Joy Sharp, Caroline Buck, Matt Helms, Carolyn Hunget and Ashley Seirer. SJRMC staff servers were Marilyn Clarke, Director of Social Services; Jeff Seirer, Chief Financial Officer; Cheryle Heibert, Safety Officer; Sandy Gearhart, Director of Marketing and Public Relations; St. Clarita Waner, Director of Pastoral Care; John Davis, Director of Engineering Services; Rick McCumber, Pharmacy Director; Doug Wilson, Director of Rehabilitative Services; Sr. Mary Kay Liston, CSJ, Vice President for Mission Services and Mary Winters, Vice President for Patient Services.
November 28-December 28
November 28-January 5
December 7-31
December 12
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February 7
Christian radio KLVV 88.7FM is presenting Rebecca St. James and the Christmas Acoustic Tour with String Section Friday at the Hutchins Auditorium in Ponca City.
The special guest will be Susie Shellenberger from Focus on the Family's Brio magazine. Susie will open the concert with a humorous talk on handling the stress of the holidays. She will also do an interview segment with Rebecca by using questions taken from the audience.
Susie has been with Focus on the Family since 1989. She left her teaching job to create Brio which is the Focus magazine for Christian teen girls. She has also written 21 books and is a speaker for Compassion International. She feels her greatest gift is helping people become intensely focused on a more intimate relationship with God.
Rebecca St. James and the Christmas Acoustic Tour with String Section will be at the Hutchins Auditorium in Ponca City Friday, Dec. 12 and is presented by KLVV 88.7 FM. General admission tickets are available at all Christian bookstores in Ponca City, Enid, Stillwater, and Blackwell. Tickets for all ages are $9 in advance, $8 for groups of 10 or more and will be $11 at the door. Reserved seats are available for $12 at KLVV. Tickets (including reserved seating) can be purchased by mail to KLVV, P.O. Box 14, Ponca City, OK 7402, or by using Visa/MasterCard/Discover from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays at (580) 767-1400.
According to Oklahoma Highway Department spokesperson, 82-year-old William Dawson of Blackwell was fatally injured when the pickup he was driving struck a crane traveling westbound on State Highway 11.
Dawson sustained "massive internal chest injuries" and was pronounced dead at the scene around 1 p.m.
The impact of the collision caused the driver of the crane, 28-year-old Mark Allen Mitchell of Blackwell, to be thrown 20 feet from the cab of the crane. Mitchell sustained shoulder injuries and was transported to Blackwell Regional Hospital where he was treated and released.
NEWKIRK - According to Kay County Assessor Tresa Engle, a new or expanding manufacturing business may be exempt from ad valorem tax for a period of five years.
Engle said Section 22 of Article X of the state constitution has provided this exemption to attract new businesses, and to encourage existing manufacturers to expand.
The amount of exemption is reimbursed back to the County from the State to prevent a loss of tax dollars, The manufacturing facility exemption may include land, building structures, machinery, and equipment used directly for manufacturing.
To qualify a business must have hired 15 new employees, with health benefits, and have a minimum $250,000 capital investment within a required time. Applications must be submitted for approval by the Assessor by March 15.
To request a packet containing the application and state requirements, contact Engle's office at 580-362-2565.
All Ponca Tribal enrolled members, 55 or older, living within the Ponca City area may pick up gift certificates at the Ponca Tribal Affairs Building during the week of Dec. 15 to Dec. 19, 1997. For more information contact Paula S. Mendoza.
A Christmas dinner will be held for all enrolled tribal members at the Ponca Tribal Cultural Center on Dec. 22, 1997, at noon. Please bring your own dishes and chairs.
The Ponca Tribe extends warm wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all their friends in the community.
By KRISTI HAYES
News Education Editor
Marla Jurina of Ponca City is a member of the broadcasting team at the University of Central Oklahoma's student-run television news station, KCSU, recently honored for the "Best Television Newscast" in the nation.
The annual contest is overseen by the National Association of College Broadcasters and took place at Brown University in Rhode Island.
Jurina, a junior broadcasting major at UCO, is a 1995 graduate of Ponca City High School. She is the daughter of Sid and Pat Osborn of Ponca City.
Airing live at 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday on Multimedia Cablevision Channel 39, the newscasts are written, produced, reported and anchored by UCO broadcasting students.
The original broadcast is then repeated several times throughout the evening and the next morning.
The newscasts offer a news, weather and sports format, and focus on UCO and Edmond events related to city government, education, police and area sports.
"A lot of what we cover in Edmond is not covered by the typical Oklahoma City television stations," said UCO Assistant Professor of Broadcasting Dr. Keith Swezey. "We certainly cover Edmond sports with more vigor."
Having been named a finalist three of the past five years in such categories as television newscast, feature story, radio newscast and radio program, the UCO broadcasting department has repeatedly established a name for itself through the National Association of College Broadcasters' competitions.
"It's not uncommon for out-of-state students to choose to attend UCO because of our broadcasting department's past results in this national competition," Swezey said.
In addition, he noted, UCO is the only university in the state with a "working newsroom," as a part of its broadcasting program.
"The students work on a day-to-day basis in a real news environment," he said. "Students must meet deadlines, be accurate and meet professional standards to be on the air - they are taught the hands-on art of television reporting and how to do a news show."
And the job market can't wait for these students to graduate, Swezey said.
"Most of our graduates find jobs immediately. And some work professionally in the area while they are still in school," he said. "The job market for broadcasting students is growing by leaps and bounds."
Swezey points to cable news organizations and full-motion news broadcasts on the Internet as new potential employers.
"Our students are in a great position," he said. "There has never been more of an opportunity to be employed in the broadcasting field than now."
Swezey said UCO broadcasting alumni can be found working in top-level positions at network news gathering agencies, as local and national on-air personalities, and behind the scenes as photographers, writers and producers.
UCO serves about 120 broadcasting majors a year.
Kay County FCE members will be holding their annual Cookie Sale this Friday in Tonkawa and Saturday at two locations in Ponca City.
Friday's sale will be held at the Service Bank, 111 East Grand in Tonkawa from 9 a.m. until noon, or until sold out.
The Saturday Cookie Sale in Ponca City will be held from 10 a.m. until sold out and will be located at both the Oklahoma Ranch Supply, 900 East Prospect, and at the Grand Olde Mercantile, 209 East Grand.
Customers have the opportunity to select a combination of cookies to fill a decorated tin of their choice. At only $3 a tin, these cookies make an inexpensive Christmas treat for yourself or someone special.
By KATHY ZEHR
News Staff Writer
Tim Muniz, local singer, songwriter and upcoming Nashville recording artist will be performing songs to reflect the "True Meaning of Christmas" at The Master's Touch Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The public is invited to shop and enjoy the Christmas vocals by Tim.
Muniz says, "I am both excited and privileged to share the real meaning of Christmas with my hometown friends and family at the Masters Touch. I feel that whatever we accomplish in life is meaningless without a relationship with Jesus Christ."
Muniz, is well known in the area as a vocalist, having performed in numerous local productions, including the annual Hometown Christmas programs and in Suzanne Kem's Christmas Holiday "Ponca Pazazz" programs. He has also been very active in vocal music at Northern Oklahoma College.
Currently the multi-talented singer and songwriter has a contract pending with a Nashville Recording studio and recently sang with artist Ernastine Dillard on the nationally televised program commemorating the rescue workers of the Oklahoma City bombing.
Recently Muniz spent an exciting day in Branson with friend Kevin Kem who is a regular with "Branson City Lights." He saw the Tony Orlando show, and attended Kevin's show.
While there, the star of the "Lights" show came into the audience and asked Tim to sing "White Christmas." After his impromptu performance, he received enthusiastic applause from the audience and was invited back stage after the show where he met several big-name stars in the big cast.
After the show, Tim and Kevin and Kevin's parents, Bill and Suzanne Kem, went to eat in an entertainer's small favorite hangout. While in the club, he and Kevin performed on stage before several Branson entertainers and some directors, including the music director for the Tony Orlando show who also wrote "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."
Also in the audience was "Rooster" one of still performing "The Platters." Tim sang "Only You" and dedicated it to The Platters bringing down the house with applause. He and Kevin were later invited to the recording studio to sing some backup for The Platters.
According to Bill Kem, "the exciting thing about the whole day was everyone was asking Tim 'where are you working now?'"
Tim will be "working" in Ponca City this Christmas season, donating his talents first at the Master's Touch Thursday evening, then on the Ponca City "Toyland" Christmas program and on the Hometown Christmas show as well.
The Kay County Democrats will meet Thursday, at 7 p.m. in the OCAW Hall, 1202 West Ponca Avenue.
The public is invited to hear Kay County Clerk Pam Goodno discuss the technology update at the courthouse. She will also give an update from her office and various county boards for which she is secretary.
During the business meeting the County Democrats will work on a schedule for rotating the meeting location to various towns in the county. They will also be planning a Democratic Party party for early next year.
Members will also be assembling Christmas food baskets at the meeting.
Tresa Engle and Anna Belle Ewy are in charge of refreshments. For more information, contact county chairman Andrea Morriss, 765-6260.
Decision Praised
Congratulations to the Kay County residents. Your county board of commissioners showed exceptional wisdom in turning down the sale of the IOOF Cemetery to the Canadian-based Loewen Group.
My experience in Hollis shows the analysis by your local business people of the future if the sale had gone through is exactly right. Mr. Lowell, a Loewen Group executive, was quoted in a recent Daily Oklahoman article as saying "they would be good neighbors" WRONG. Three years ago when the funeral home owner where I had been manager for several years announced his planned sale to Mr. Lowell and not me, I resigned and with the help of local business people, opened my own funeral home in Hollis. They immediately began advertising complete traditional funeral services with 18 gauge steel caskets included for $1,895. This ridiculous price was intended to drive me out of business. Their prices have substantially increased but as Mr. Lowell became incorporated into the Loewen Group, I noticed no change in their less-than-cost sale of funerals in their advertising The people of Hollis have consistently blessed me with two-thirds of the funeral business in Hollis because they steadfastly support locally-owned business and they realize how exceptionally high services were before I opened up my business and they know prices would go through the roof if I closed. While funeral prices were at bargain basement prices in Hollis, the Loewen Group-owned funeral homes in Mangum and Altus (both 35 miles from Hollis) sported some of the highest prices in the state. Mr. Lowell and the Loewen Group operated the only funeral home in Mangum and Altus until their high prices invited competition. In my estimation, the new funeral home in Altus and the new funeral home I own in Mangum opened up against such a giant because they showed such willingness to take advantage of their customers.
These large corporate-owned funeral homes and cemeteries have many wonderful people working for them but the nature of their structure can make them ruthless in their dealings. For example, the local management is responsible to make a profit on its operation and report to the area administration that is responsible to show a profit and report to regional administration who shows a profit and reports to national administration that shows a profit and reports to the international administration that must pay for itself and pay a dividend to stock holders. All of this management and administration pressure to make a profit is squarely on the shoulders of the customers. Customers pay for all that. Now just how far up the chain of administration do you think customer satisfaction and community good will is reported or is it just dollars? Large corporate companies are probably good for hamburgers - where there are many thousands of operators - but funeral homes and cemeteries are relatively few and I feel operation of these companies best serves the public with independent, community-based operations. It is too easy for large corporations to sacrifice the customer for the good of the stockholder.
Carter Stewart
Owner
Stewart Funeral Service
Hollis & Mangum
Who Helps?
Tis the season shop Ponca City first why? What does the community give to our lower-middle class working people who can't even afford the bare necessities of life. Parents who can't figure out a way to fulfill the Santa Claus dreams of little children who believe. This makes for a sad holiday all around.
What about the young single parent of three? She works a full-time job that has no benefits and doesn't qualify for any assistance, because the car she drives is five years old and not an old junker. This mother of three brings home $750 a month to come all the needs of her family. There is nothing left for Christmas.
What ever happened to the community that helped people who deserve a helping hand, the doctors who donated their time and services to those in need? I know we have a community clinic, but it is only available on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. This clinic is greatly appreciated, but is this enough for the citizens and surrounding areas of Ponca City?
Tell me what ever happened to caring about our fellow man? Tis the season ? Don't forget why we celebrate this time of year.
Marilyn Dewey
Raindrops, a division of Hospice of Ponca City, is holding a Christmas Memorial Service on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the First Church of the Nazarene, 1900 West Grand in Ponca City.
This service is a special time for parents, family members and friends to come together to remember a baby or child of any age who has died. Parents of miscarriage and other types of pregnancy loss are especially encouraged to attend. Speaker for the event will be Claudia Barnes, RN, bereaved parent and Hospice nurse.
Those who attend are asked to bring an ornament(s) to place on the memory tree in honor of a deceased child(ren). The ornament may be homemade or purchased and should include the child's name on it. A special remembrance will be held at the end of the service during which time families will place their ornament(s) on the tree. Refreshments will be served in the fellowship hall following the service.
For more information about the service or to inquire about the Raindrops program, call Debbie at Hospice of Ponca City, 762-9102.
By KRISTI HAYES
News Education Editor
The public is invited to attend the annual Freshman Mixed Chorus Christmas Concert, under the direction of Carol Green, on Friday at 8:20 a.m. in the Ralph Lester Auditorium at Ponca City Mid-High School.
The program will include the Christmas musical, "Forever Christmas" arranged by Mac Huff, "Who Would Imagine a King," from the motion picture, "The Preacher's Wife," "Silent Night," arranged by Greg Gilpin, and "One Bright Star," as recorded by Vince Gill.
Student chairmen will be Whitney Rainville and Becky McReynolds. Characters will be portrayed by Megan Potter, Sheena Chance, Matt Linville and Tim Dancey. Santa will be played by Seth Erkenbeck, Frosty by Adam Dorris, Rudolph by Doug Caldwell and Suzy Snowflake by Tracina Jones.
Solos will be sung by Meagan King, Micah Thompson, Jacque Salmons, Jennifer Long, Karrie Hraban, Heather Brown, Heather McMath, Mitch Bradley, Whitney Thilsted, Dusty Howery and Chris Coppock.
Dancers for the program will be Kristen Young, Tara Nelson, Karrie Corbin, Mercy Avila, Jamica Roland, Kia Coburn, Alecia Hagerdon, Amber Stolhand and Natalie Holmes. Chipmunks will be played by Amanda Rogers, Coral Kern and Jeanne Erickson. Chorus choreography will be done by Mercy Avila, Kia Coburn, Whitney Rainville, Becky McReynolds and Natashia Copple.
Narrators will be Kodi Luis, Ashley Coleman, Anna Overbey, Micah Thompson, Terri Guerin, Kelly Stokes, Lauramily Fonseca and Jennifer Arner.
Instrumentalists will be Ann Salmons, electric piano; Larry Lenhart on guitar; and Chris Coppock on drums.
Other chorus members are April Allen, Kira Barrett, Christina Bookout, Crystal Bounds, Kristy Boyer, Matt Bradley, Meagan Browning, Marie Cadle, Talia Ceniti, Amory Clark, Rene Cortez, Jerimy Cox, Jennifer Daine, Elizabeth Danforth, Holly Fristoe, Kendra Gauger, Mindy Gray, Jessica Hammett, Jolene Hicks, Kinzie Hinton, Diana Keeler, Jeff Kellison, Christin Kirchenbauer and Kayla Kirchenbauer.
Others are Tasha Leatherman, Francine LeClair, Nick Ley, Emily Luebecke, Rachel Maxon, Meghan McCoy, Laura McDaniel, Cory Meadows, Lacey Meyers, Kim Miller, Elizabeth Milligan, India Poore, Stefanie Reece, Brenda Reed, Amy Ridgebear, Hillary Robinson, Joey Rogers, Ashley Sawyers, Amanda Shelton, Tim Short, Kelly Stokes, Laura Todd, Sarah Whitlock, Summer White and Erika Wiles.
Stage set up and sound will be done by Jim Armstrong, with Lee Williams and Mel Arner assisting with sound. Spotlight will be done by Sam Overbey and stage lights will be done by Megan Clark and Rachel Gilliland.
There will be no charge for admission.
The testing of the Ponca City emergency siren warning system will be held at noon, every Thursday, according to Tom Montgomery, emergency management operations officer.
The test is scheduled throughout the year.
Montgomery said that in case of inclement weather, the test will be postponed, and in this case or if additional tests are planned, the public will be notified by the Ponca City News and the radio stations.
SHIDLER - Sunday evening Rance Howard, a 1946 Shidler High School graduate will star in "Holiday in Your Heart," an ABC Network Movie.
Rance is the father of Ron Howard, who played Opie Taylor on the Andy Griffith Show, and went on to produce and direct movies.
The two-hour made for television movie is a story about a young girl who has aspirations of being a country western singer and perform at the Grand Ole Opry.
A fading over the hill, country western star becomes her secret mentor and offers advice and guidance. Country and western teenage singer LeAnn Rimes plays the staring role, along with film star Bernadette Peters.
The elder Howard plays a supporting role of a mysterious old blind man. He says, "This beautiful poignant story was written by Ellen Weston, produced by Frank Von Zerneck, and directed by Michael Switzer."
In the letter to the Shidler Revue, Howard urged readers to check the Sunday ABC TV listing for the time.
Employees of the Ponca City Publishing Company, and their families, were guests at a Christmas dinner Tuesday evening at the Ponca City Country Club.
Master of ceremonies for the event was Tom Muchmore, business manager. The invocation was offered by Marjorie Decker.
Service awards were presented Max Stokesberry, 40 years; Al Jones, 25 years; Foster Johnson, 15 years; Michael Kennedy, 15 years; Wayne Hemken, 10 years; Nala Watkins, 10 years; Randy Bishop and Dave May, 5 years.
Entertainment was provided by Les Gilliam, vocalist and guitarist. He provided a variety of songs with an Oklahoma theme and related several anecdotes.
Chavis Jackson, the 10-year-old star of "Kites Toward Heaven," is already a "trooper." When asked how long he's been acting, he says "I think about three years." "Kites" is his fourth film.
The film's world premiere will be at the Poncan Theatre on Saturday at 7:30 pm. The public is welcome to attend.
Chavis and his fellow artists share mutual admiration. "He's amazing to work with," says his director, Robyn Kreger.
Diane Mounts, the Ponca City resident who co-stars with him, beams when his name comes up. "He's a darling boy," she says. "When we met each other it was an instant connection."
Chavis agrees. Kreger is his favorite director because "she's always happy and she's funny." And when asked how he liked working with Mounts, he says "I liked that especially. She's very nice."
Ms. Kreger cast Chavis after a careful audition process. The story of the film is based on the life of Truman Capote. Since Capote was a southerner, Kreger sent letters to casting agents from Louisiana to North Carolina. Many responded by sending video tapes of children's auditions.
After reviewing them, she narrowed the field and sent a portion of the script to a few. They videotaped themselves reading the text, and sent the tapes to Kreger. Kreger reduced the search to four. Then she flew to Baton Rouge to meet them personally. Chavis emerged as the "hands down" favorite, according to Mounts. "There wasn't any doubt," she says.
Chavis loves acting. When asked what he liked about "Kites Toward Heaven," he says that he "really liked the characters and the action and stuff."
"I really liked all the characters," he says, but he particularly liked the character he plays because "he was always doing stuff."
"He didn't sit in front of a TV or anything," he adds.
Like many fine actors, Chavis' real strength is the ability to be natural in front of a camera. "I don't act a lot in terms of showing off," he says. "I just try to act normal." Kreger agrees. Of all the auditionees, "he gave the most real, the most genuine performance," she says.
Kreger and Mounts both call the 10-year-old "a real professional."
Kreger says he has an "amazing memory." And when they made corrections in a scene, "he would always go to another level."
Mounts admired his ability to get focused. "The minute he got in front of a camera, he did what he had to do."
Kreger remembers W.C. Fields' advice to "never work with children or animals." "I broke both the rules, but Chavis works like an adult," she says. Unlike most kids, if the shot didn't go as well as he'd like, "he'd always ask for another take," she adds.
Still, Chavis is a kid. He found a great prop, a stick, that he carried around for days of shooting. But he had to stop using it to hammer ice, because if he'd broken it, a new stick might not match the stick they'd already filmed.
Chavis has a favorite scene in "Kites." It's the moment he digs up a worm with a stick and then goes cross-eyed looking at it.
He's one of three brothers, all of whom are athletic. Chavis also loves science. He and his younger brother both like to act, but he says his younger brother "just hasn't gotten really serious about it."
The film is approximately an hour long, and it is suitable for audiences of all ages.
For more information, patrons may call the Poncan Theatre at 405-765-0943.
DEATHS
Mary E. Estes, former Ponca City resident, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1997 in Phoenix, Ariz. where she was residing. She was 96.
Funeral service was held Friday, Dec. 5, 1997 at 2:30 p.m. at Messinger Mortuary Chapel, 7601 East Indian School Road in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Mary E. Estes moved to Arizona 13 years ago from San Jose, Calif. She had lived in Sun City since that time. Prior to moving to Arizona she lived in Eureka, Kan. from 1900 to 1920; in El Dorado, Kan. from 1920 to 1935; in Wichita, Kan. from 1935 to 1938; in Ponca City from 1938-1961, and in Cupertino, Calif. from 1961 to 1984.
Surviving are two sons, C.R. "Bob" Estes of Scottsdale, Ariz. and W.E. "Bill" Estes of Saratoga, Calif.
Irene D. Waters, long time Ponca City resident, died early Tuesday morning, Dec. 9, 1997. She was 78.
A prayer service will be held this evening and Thursday evening at 7:30, at the Ponca Indian Cultural Center. The Traditional Indian Feast will be held at noon Friday, at the Cultural Center, followed by the funeral service at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Ted Freeman, pastor of the Ponca Indian Baptist church officiating. Burial will follow in the Ponca Indian Cemetery under direction of the Trout Funeral Home.
Irene D. Waters was born July 29, 1919 on the Ponca Reservation, the daughter of James and Nellie (Headman) DeLodge. She attended the Pawnee Indian School.
Mrs. DeLodge was a member of the Ponca Indian Baptist Church. She is survived by two daughters: Delores Terry and Virginia Murray, both of Ponca City; one son, Alan Waters of Shawnee; her sister, Cornelia LeClair of Marland, and one brother, William Jones of Ponca City; also 16 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Stacey Waters, her parents, one son and a sister.
Casket bearers will be grandsons: Robert Murray Jr., Donald Murray, Otis Murray, Kirvin Murray Sr., Thomas Terry III, James Terry, Joe Don Waters, Stacy Waters and Alan Waters.
Mary Lena Swalley, longtime resident of Ponca City, died Monday, Dec. 8, 1997 in Amarillo, Texas where she was residing. She was 89.
The funeral service will be Thursday, Dec. 11, 1997 in the Chapel of Polk Street United Methodist Church with Dr. Jim Garrett, senior pastor officiating. Additional services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 12, 1997 in First United Methodist Church in Ponca City with the Rev. Denny Hook, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the IOOF Cemetery at Ponca City under direction of Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle, Amarillo, Texas.
Lena Swalley was born in a dugout near Buffalo, Okla. She moved to Amarillo in 1991 from Ponca City where she had resided for 65 years. She was active in the Order of the Eastern Star where she served as Grand Chaplain of the state order.
She was a 60-year member of the First United Methodist Church in Ponca City where she had been active in the Women's Circle, having served as circle chairman 16 times. She moved her membership to Polk Street United Methodist Church where she also was a member of the Gleaners Sunday School Class.
She and Fred Swalley were married Oct. 4, 1934 at Wellington, Kan. He preceded her in death in 1989.
Survivors include a daughter, Janette Dickerson of Amarillo; two sons, Clinton L. Swalley of West Sacramento, Calif. and Larry R. Swalley of Lewisville, Texas; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
The family requests memorials be made to the First United Methodist Church of Ponca City.
Benjamin Waters Sr., Ponca City resident, died Tuesday evening, Dec. 9, 1997 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. He was 87.
Funeral arrangements are pending with Grace Memorial Chapel, and will be announced later.
George L. Moore, 83, resident of Lamont, died Wednesday morning, Dec. 10, 1997 in St. Mary's Hospital in Enid.
Funeral arrangements are pending with McCafferty-Bolick Funeral Home in Tonkawa, and will be announced later.
Dolores E. Thomas, Ponca City resident, died Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1997 at her home. She was 67.
Funeral arrangements are pending with the Trout Funeral Home, and will be announced later.
Earlee C. Fry, resident of Ponca City, died Tuesday evening, Dec. 9, 1997 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was 94.
Survivors include a daughter, Bonnie Fry of Ponca City.
Funeral arrangements are pending with Grace Memorial Chapel, and will
be announced later.
NEWS BRIEFS
Open House - The Kaw City Museum Board will host a Christmas Open House Sunday, 2-4 p.m. at the museum. An open invitation is extended to the public to visit and enjoy refreshments.
Navy Seaman Graduates - Navy Seaman Jose E. DeLaVega, son of Margie Tebow, 7271 East Hubbard, Ponca City, recently graduated from Basic Cryptologic Technician (Operator) School. He was trained as a Special Intelligence Communication Center Operator. The 1993 graduate of Dalhart High School in Dalhart, Texas, joined the Navy in February 1997.
Spending Holidays at Sea - While most Americans are celebrating the holiday season at home or with family, Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Stanton R. Wellington, son of Linda G. Krout of Ponca City, is scheduled to spend the holidays deployed to the Mediterranean and Arabian seas aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, serving as a preserver of peace as part of the nation's forward defense forces. The 1992 graduate of Ponca City High School joined the Navy in November 1992.
Holiday Bingo - PCSEA (Ponca City Site Employees Association, former CEA) will host bingo Saturday in the Conoco Atrium. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., games begin at 7 p.m. Theme is Christmas sharing. Bring can or nonperishable food item which will be distributed by PCSEA to needy. Wear favorite Christmas outfit.
Rebecca Here Friday - Rebecca St. James will be in a "Christmas" concert in Ponca City Friday, at 7 p.m. at the Hutchins Memorial Auditorium. Tickets are available in advance at the Master's Touch, at KLVV in Ponca City or at Christian books stores in Tulsa, Enid and Blackwell.
Accident - Police received a report of a one-car accident at 7:46 a.m. Tuesday west of Formable on Highland Avenue. Oklahoma Highway Patrol was notified.
Breakers Shut Off - At 8:15 a.m. Tuesday a man in the 1700 block of North Fourth Street requested police to send extra patrol because children were turning electrical breakers off and disrupting businesses in the area.
Arrest - Police arrested a 17-year-old man at 10:46 a.m. Tuesday for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
Arrest - At 11:19 a.m. Tuesday a 45-year-old man was arrested at Hobo Park on a city warrant for failure to appear.
Purse Found - A person in the 200 block of South Pine Street reported to police at 11:57 a.m. Tuesday that they had found a purse in a dumpster. It was taken to the police station.
Accident - Police received a report of a minor accident at 12:06 p.m. Tuesday at Summit Avenue and Waverly Street. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Arrest - At 12:56 p.m. Tuesday police arrested a 29-year-old man at the Hutchins Memorial for driving under suspension.
Arrest - A 22-year-old woman was arrested at 2:07 p.m. Tuesday on a city warrant for failure to pay.
Radio Found - A man in the 500 block of Virginia Avenue reported to police at 2:14 p.m. Tuesday that he had found a radio in the back of his pickup truck. The radio was taken to the police station.
Embezzlement - A woman reported an embezzlement at the EZ Mart, 2225 North Fourteenth Street, at 2:44 p.m. Tuesday.
Break-In - At 2:46 p.m. Tuesday a woman reported to police that her car had been broken into while it was parked at the Old River Bridge.
Stolen Bike - At 3:29 p.m. Tuesday a woman in the 300 block of South Sunset Street reported that a bike had been stolen from her home. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Gas Drive-Off - At 8 p.m. Tuesday Conoco, 3305 North Fourteenth Street, reported a $5 gas drive-off.
Accident - At 9:27 p.m. Tuesday police received report of a two-vehicle accident in the 800 block of East Prospect Avenue. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Arrest - Police arrested a 16-year-old boy at 9:46 p.m. Tuesday at Broadway Avenue and North First Street for driving left of center, no driver's license, no insurance and possession of marijuana.
False Alarm - A dog set off an alarm at McDonald's Electric, 339 South Pine Street at 10:08 p.m. Tuesday.
Arrest - At 10:22 p.m. Tuesday police arrested a 21-year-old man at 10:22 p.m. Tuesday from the 100 block of South Pine Street for assault and battery and public intoxication.
Students Threatened - A woman at Garfield School advised police at 3:03 p.m. Tuesday that two men had threatened a female student in the area of the school. An officer was assigned.
Accident Arrest - Police arrested a 26-year-old man for driving under suspension at 3:36 p.m. Tuesday at the scene of an injury accident at Hazel Avenue and Fourteenth Street. One person was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.
Injury Accident - Three people were taken by ambulance to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center after sustaining injuries in a two-vehicle accident at 3:40 p.m. Tuesday at the intersection of North Ash Street and West Hartford Avenue.
Crane Injury - Police received a 911 call at 5:51 p.m. Tuesday
regarding an accident in the 1000 block of West Hartford Avenue involving
a crane that had fallen over while the operator was inside of it. An ambulance
was called and the operator was taken to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.
LIFESTYLES
Announcement has been made of the engagement and approaching marriage of Christa Kennedy and Scott Kempenich of Norman. Parents of the couple are Rick and Vickie Kennedy of Wagoner, Nick Kempenich of Ponca City and Cheryl Warner of Wagoner. Grandparents are Donald Dean and Betty Kennedy of Wagoner, Celesta Walters of California and Bob Warner of Ponca City.
The couple graduated in 1996 from Wagoner High School and they are currently students at the University of Oklahoma. She is majoring in science education and is employed by the Dean of Engineering at OU. The prospective bridegroom is majoring in psychology with a minor in coaching. He is a member of the OU Sooner football team.
The couple will be married in a 7 p.m. ceremony Dec. 27 at the First Christian Church in Wagoner.
Members of the Miriam Class of First Baptist Church met at the Williamsburg Parlor of the church for the November meeting. The meeting opened with prayer followed by a brief business session. Thanksgiving baskets were discussed for "shut-ins." Serving as hostesses were Delores Rose and Ruthellen Summers.
Verna Wilson taught the class how to make crisscross baskets. Class teacher,
Fay Johnson, was presented with a completed basket. Guests were Marie King
and Betty Jo Myers. The class is planning a Christmas party for December.
SPORTS
By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
BROKEN ARROW - Ponca City's Wildcat wrestlers had it handed to them Tuesday night.
Ranked in the Top 10 in two coaches polls for the first time in years, the Wildcats learned what it is like at the top of that poll as Broken Arrow sent the weary, ailing Wildcats home with a 57-9 shellacking.
The defeat included a major upset as defending state champion Matt Dodgen was shocked by the Tigers' Rafael Maturino, 8-6, at 135 pounds
Dodgen, obviously not at full speed, was given smelling salts late in the match. Still, he carried a 5-3 lead into the final seconds. However, Maturino caught the Wildcat in a heel-and-head hold and took Dodgen to his back.
Dodgen escaped with 10 second left but didn't have enough time to retaliate.
"Matt hasn't wrestled well lately," Po-Hi coach Pat Young said, noting that something is physically wrong and has been draining him of his strength late in his matches. "We have to find out what's wrong."
But it was a bad day for the Wildcats from the very start. The Cats went into what was supposed to be a clash of the two top teams in the eastern regional with two starters out with the flu.
Ponca City started in a deep hole by giving up forfeits at 103 and 145 pounds.
Broken Arrow won the first four matches in the dual and led 19-0 before Mark Dodgen pinned Richard Koller in 2:25.
That fall and Hawley Tsoodle's 5-2 win at heavyweight were the only points for the Poncans.
Despite the setback, Young wasn't ready to go back to the drawing boards on the season.
"I knew this could happen," he said of the rout. "Broken Arrow is a very good team and we didn't wrestle very well."
But the Poncans have only one day to find the answer. The Wildcats open the home dual season Thursday against Edmond Memorial. That district clash will probably decide which team advances to Dual State. That clash will start at 7 p.m. in Robson Fieldhouse. Several JV matches will precede the varsity dual.
Tsoodle's win came against a much bigger Rene Torres. The Poncan fell behind 2-0 in the first period but turned Torres on his back in the second period to grab a 3-2 lead. Tsoodle then got a reversal to open the third period and rode out the win.
Broken Arrow padded its scoring with four falls, by Joey Sanders at 125 pounds, Brando Phillips at 140, state champion Scott Douglas at 189 and Wade Farquhar at 215.
Even though Broken Arrow dominated the dual, the Wildcats had a couple of close losses.
Philip Gelino almost overcame a poor start at 112 pounds. Trailing 4-0, the Ponca City senior got a takedown in the third period, let Tiger Ryan Patterson up and got another takedown with 21 seconds left. But he couldn't get a turn and lost 5-4.
The Poncans suffered another one-point loss at 160 pounds. Kyle Duren trailed Broken Arrow's Bo Jennings 4-2 entering the third period. He quickly got an escape, but Jennings got another takedown midway through the period. Duren escaped again and got a takedown of his own with 17 seconds left to tie the score, 6-6. But Jennings escaped with 12 seconds remaining and fought off Duren's attempts at another takedown.
RESULTS
Broken Arrow 57, Ponca City 9
103 - Hopkins (BA) fft
112 - Patterson (BA) d. Gelino, 5-4
119 - Wartluff (BA) md. Bailey, 12-3
125 - Sanders (BA) p. Ivie, 1:43
130 - Dodgen (PC) p. Koller, 2:25
135 - Maturino (BA) d. Dodgen, 8-6
140 - Phillips (BA) p. Jones, 5:42
145 - Jaramillo (BA) fft
152 - Gibson (BA) md Beck, 13-0
160 - Jennings (BA) d. Duren, 7-6
171 - Smith (BA) md Bentley, 13-5
189 - Douglas (BA) p. Michael, 3:31
215 - Farquhar (BA) p. Steichen, :31
275 - Tsoodle (PC) d. Torres, 5-2
LAS VEGAS - Ponca City calf roper Jerome Schneeberger broke into the money during the National Finals Rodeo Monday and is among the top five in average for that event.
Schneeberger qualified for the National Finals for the first time after finishing 15th on the PCRA money list this year.
He placed fourth in Monday's go-around, roping his calf in 9.2 seconds and earned $3,544.
Through five rounds of action, Schneeberger is third in the average with a time of 50.1 seconds. He trails current leader Fred Whitfield of Hockley, Texas and Cody Ohl of Ochard, Texas. Whitfield has an average of 43.8 and Ohl 44.8
Schneeberger won the College National Finals Rodeo title for the second time this summer.
He started the year by winning the Mike Johnson World's Richest Calf Roping in Tulsa in January.
Schneeberger graduated from Murray State in May.
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See more about Schneeberger on the Ponca City News web site, www.poncacitynews.com.See photo feature, "Ropin' a Dream in Vegas."
Ponca City's sophomore boys overcame a slow start to nudge out Guthrie 50-47 in the season opener Tuesday.
The Po-Hi cagers dug themselves an 18-8 hole in the first quarter and spend most of the night digging out.
"Our defense was very poor in the first quarter," coach Jerry Orr said. "Our intensity and pressure picked up, especially in the third and fourth quarters. We forced several turnovers."
The Poncans edged to within eight, 28-20, at halftime and trimmed the lead to 35-33 to start the fourth quarter .
The Cats' pressure and ability to hit free throws brought them from behind in the final stanza.
"Hitting 8-of-12 free throws in the fourth quarter made the difference in the game," Orr said.
Barry Chance was a perfect 6-for-6 at the charity stripe in the fourth quarter and added a three pointer as he scored all 9 of his points late.
Jeff Furnas paced the Poncans with 18 points, scoring 12 in the second half.
Bret Skaggs also had 9 points while Evan Rupp had 4, Aaron Sattre and Arthur Urioste each had 3, Wes Crossen 2 and Blake Guebelle 1.
The sophomores are scheduled to play at Guthrie Thursday.
Shaking off a slow start, the Ponca City eighth grade Blue girls basketball team blew past Enid Longfellow, 42-21, Tuesday at the Ponca City Middle School gym.
Coming from behind the Blue Lady Cougars nudged in front 10-7 at the end of the first period. But from that point, the Poncans were in control, building a 24-14 halftime lead.
Jamee Neal and Amanda Summers paced the Blues with 14 and 12 points, respectively. Vicki Hadley, Jamie Duckett and Latoya Smith each had 4 points. Lindsey Lessert added 3 and Kathleen Larison had 1.
"We started slow," coach Calvin English said, "but came on strong at the end of the first quarter. We put pressure on their guards and caused several turnovers.
"We had two starters out but the other girls stepped up their play."
The eighth graders, now 5-1, will host Enid Waller Thursday. The tripleheader starts at 4 p.m.
Tuesday's Results
Garber 58, Oilton 42 (girls)
Newkirk 51, Waukonis 47 (girls)
Newkirk 44, Garber 43
Pawnee 55, Waukomis 36
Thursday's Games
4:30 - Newkirk vs. Pawnee (girls)
6 - Oilton vs. Pawnee (boys)
7:30 - Frontier vs. Garber (girls)
9 - Frontier vs. Newkirk (boys)
PC Kids Wrestling
Norman Tournament
Div. II
75 - Torran Compala, 3rd
Sperry Tournament
Div. II
64 - Chas Wilson, 4th
83 - Reno Redleaf, 3rd
90 - Justin Kremeier, 3rd
The Mid-High ninth grade girls' blue (varsity) team defeated Enid Longfellow, Tuesday, 30-23, to even their season record to 3-3.
For the game, Erica Wiles led the Lady Cougars with nine points, followed by Jennifer Hutchinson with eight and Kara Cusick with five. Jenni Nimmo had four, Jennifer Long had two, and Alecia Allen and Angel Penny both had one.
The blues are now off for the Christmas break, but resume their season January 6.
Preliminary harvest totals from this year's deer seasons show that the harvest has already established a new record, and when everything is said and done, deer season 1997 will shatter the previous harvest record by 6,000 or 7,000 animals. The total harvest is expected to top 70,000 deer for the first time.
During the early archery season and primitive and modern firearms seasons, hunters killed almost 66,500 deer. The figures do not include Wildlife Department personnel check book totals or Deer Management Assistance Program cooperator totals. The previous harvest record was established in 1995, with hunters taking a little more than 65,000 deer. Although this year's gun harvest was down about five percent opening weekend, most of the decrease was due to fewer does harvested. But hunters closed the gap during the remainder of the season, harvesting enough does to surpass last year's total.
"We'll probably add another 6,500 deer to the preliminary harvest total when these other books are logged in, and of course, hunters still have the rest of December to archery hunt," said Mike Shaw, wildlife research supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "I think we will probably approach 73,000 when the final figures are tabulated. The most telling thing right now is that this year's preliminary harvests totals for both bucks and does are up substantially over last year final totals."
This year's initial figures show that 24 counties have already registered more than 1,000 deer harvested, and another 10 or so are on the verge of recording four-digit harvests.
"I can remember when we listed every county that had a harvest of more than 1,000 deer - and there were only four or five," Shaw said. "That wasn't too many years ago. Harvest data from hunters is very important because it correlates to population status and helps us determine the relative health and population levels of the state's herd. Based on this year's preliminary harvest figures, I'd say that we've probably never had more deer in the state than right now."
Shaw also added that the annual harvest is greatly impacted by the amount of hunting opportunity available and weather conditions during gun season. This year, hunters had twice as much antlerless hunting opportunities as they had last year, and weather conditions were fair to good over much of the state.
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Preliminary reports show 1,175 deer have been harvested in Kay County, 664 bucks and 511 does. The gun season totaled 412 bucks and 364 does. Thge primitive gun season produced 180 bucks and 70 does. The first archery season had 72 bucks and 77 does.
Osage County had totaled 2,940 deer of both sexes through the last reporting period.
Next year's Oklahoma Waterfowl Stamp will feature a pair of northern shovelers floating in cattails painted by Jeff Klinefelter of Etna Green, IN.
The competition for the 1998-99 state waterfowl stamp was held Nov. 6 at the Wildlife Department's central office in Oklahoma City. Two Oklahomans received honorable mention in the contest. They were Jeff Mobley of Tulsa, and Gerald Mobley of Broken Arrow. Also receiving honorable mention was Richard Kirkman of Merced, CA.
Funds generated from the sale of Oklahoma waterfowl stamps and art prints have helped finance hundreds of habitat-related projects that benefit ducks, geese and other wildlife throughout the state. State duck stamp revenues have helped purchase, restore, enhance or create around 20,000 acres of wetlands and waterfowl habitat in Oklahoma.
"The duck stamp program is important because revenues are targeted at creating or restoring habitat," said David Warren, information and education chief for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "Habitat is without a doubt one of the most important factors in conserving wildlife populations. And in Oklahoma, it's especially critical because we have lost more than three-quarters of our wetland habitat."
Habitat conservation efforts, coupled with favorable springtime water conditions in the major duck breeding grounds in the northern prairie states and Canada, have helped duck numbers increase to near record levels.
"Waterfowl biologists have predicted a fall flight of more than 92 million ducks, and here in Oklahoma, we anticipate seeing excellent numbers of birds during the second splits of our duck seasons," Warren said.
Judges for this year's contest were Richard Osborn, Mercury Press Printing
Company of Oklahoma City; Steve Berendzen, manager of Sequoyah National
Wildlife Refuge, Vian; and Ross Murphy, an avid Oklahoma sportsman who has
provided assistance with numerous waterfowl and wetlands projects in the
state.