From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Thursday,
December 25, 1997
LOCAL
'Christmas With a Cop' Helping Needy Families
Five Juveniles Arrested For Vehicular Thefts
Festival Lights of the Holidays
Letter
DEATHS
Robert Ray Tapp Jr.
Melissa Ann Johnson Stephens
George Vernon Ehler Jr.
Obituaries
Shirley Kay Fesler Clinton
Services Pending
Judy Elliot
Funerals
Walter Doyle Ailey
Leanna I. Sauzek
Alice K. McMichael
NEWS BRIEFS
LIFESTYLES
Care for Poinsettias
Padens Celebrate 50 Years
SPORTS
Mat Results
By KATHY ZEHR
News Staff Writer
"Christmas with a Cop" takes on a whole new meaning in Ponca City, as members of the Fraternal Order of Police, Ponca City Police Department, and the City court system employees join together to help needy families.
PCPD Officers, Tom Burg and Brad Fultz, recently became aware of a family in need and expressed that need to some employees in the Ponca City Police and Municipal Court offices.
"That's all it took!" says Sherry Bowers in the PCPD offices.
Within a few short days, $925 was accumulated on Bowers' desk from members of the FOP, Ponca City police officers, private citizens and others who wanted to assist the family.
Sherry Bowers and Nancy Hunt spent numerous hours selecting gifts for the family including bicycles for five of the children. Cases of food and several boxes of clothing were also donated in addition to the monies.
Officers Burg and Fultz, works with a new program recently established by a special grant to work closely with families and youth in two areas of Ponca City where special attention is needed. In the process of working with those neighborhoods, the officers noticed the special family who needed a hand-up.
"We have several others, especially elderly widows, in these neighborhoods who are also in need of food and other help. A part of the donated canned goods will go to them," said Officer Fultz.
Ponca City Police have arrested five juveniles, ages 14-17, in connection with a three-day car theft spree. Police recovered the vehicles involved.
In one night - Nov. 29 - police reported that five vehicles were stolen, four were attempted stolen and two were burglarized from the area of 300 West Hartford Avenue, 1800 block of Riggs Drive, 1700 block of Potomac Drive and the 200 block of Lake Road. Later, on Dec. 2, two other vehicles were stolen from the 1200 block of South Fifth Street and South Avenue.
The investigation also the Tonkawa and White Eagle Police Departments in solving four stolen car cases in their areas.
ANGELS AND OTHER holiday scenes light up Ponca City during the annual Festival of Angels. Neighborhoods and attractions throughout the city have beckoned visitors to step into the wonderland of lights. The Festival continues through Sunday. (News Photo by Michael Kennedy)
Book Tells of History
Gene O. Heagy's reminiscence of his grandfather, William Robert Heagy, as reported in the issue of Sunday, Dec. 14, was among the 800 family stories from the North Central Oklahoma: "Rooted in the Past - Growing for the Future." This two-volume set containing 1,100 pages and over 3,000 pictures is an excellent source of those families that made the Cherokee Strip Run in 1893 as well as the succeeding generations that now live in Ponca City and the surrounding area.
OKLAHOMA CITY - Robert Ray "Bobby" Tapp Jr., 39, former Ponca City resident, died Dec. 21, 1997, in Oklahoma City.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26, 1997, at the Ponca Indian United Methodist Church with the Rev. Abraham Jackson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the Ponca Indian Cemetery under direction of the Trout Funeral Home.
Born April 14, 1958, in Pawnee, he was the son of Robert Ray and Mamie (LeClair) Tapp. He attended Braden School and the Ponca City Schools.
Tapp made his home in Oklahoma City where he was employed in general construction work. Survivors include two brothers: Ralph Tapp and Henry J. Tapp, both of Ponca City; three sisters, Sharon Carey and Jerri Conner both of Bartlesville, and Adelle Werts of Copan and his father, Robert Ray Tapp Sr. of Ponca City. His mother preceded him in death.
Casket bearers will be Mark Tapp, David Tapp, Ralph Tapp, Hank Tapp, R. J. Tapp, and Lionel Worthington.
Melissa Ann Johnson Stephens, 216 South Washington, died Dec. 23, 1997 at Oklahoma Memorial Hospital in Oklahoma City. She was 30 years old.
The funeral will be Friday, Dec. 26, 1997, at 10 a.m. in the chapel of Trout Funeral Home with the Rev. Wayne Majors, pastor of Community Christian Church, officiating. Visitation will be Friday from 9 a.m. until service time.
Born Dec. 19, 1967, at Milaca, Minn., she was the daughter of Earl and Elizabeth Johnson. She moved with her family to Ponca City in 1976 where she attended schools and graduated from Ponca City High School in 1984.
Mrs. Stephens was employed by Wal-Mart for 10 years in the electronics department. She attended Community Christian Church. She enjoyed horseback riding, water sports, riding motorcycles, and making friends.
She is survived by her husband, James S. Stephens, of the home; her mother, Elizabeth Herrington of Warsaw, Mo; her father, Earl Johnson of St. Paul, Minn; her grandmother, Kathleen Herrington of Ponca City; a brother, Russell Herrington of Palestine, Ill; a sister, Marie Goff of Palestine, Ill; two nieces, a nephew, two great-nephews, a great-niece, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her stepfather, Jimmie K. Herrington, and a nephew, James Herrington.
Memorials may be made to Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, for AIDS research, 825 N. E. 13th, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73104.
KAW CITY - George "Gus" Vernon Ehler Jr., 63, longtime Kaw City resident, died Dec. 24, 1997, at his home.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26, 1997, at the Kaw City Community Center with the Rev. Shane Hickey, pastor of First Christian Church of Kaw City, officiating. Burial will follow in the Grandview Cemetery in Kaw City under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.
Friends may call at the funeral home until 11:30 a.m. Friday. The family will be at the home, 13 Dry Creek Road, Kaw City. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Ponca City, Inc., 1904 North Union, 103, Ponca City, Okla. 74601.
Gus Ehler was born Jan. 5, 1934, in Ponca City, the son of George Vernon and Muriel Katherine (Newman) Ehler. He was reared in the Bressie Community south of Ponca City. He received his education in the Marland schools and later attended Oklahoma A&M for a year.
He was engaged in farming, raising cattle and quarter horses and delivering propane for Collins Propane in his early years. He was an officer for the Ponca City Police Department for nine years. Ehler worked for the Farm Fresh Dairy for nine years and for Gammill Machine Shop for several years. He also served three years as a deputy sheriff and chief criminal investigator for the Kay County Sheriff's Office. He later worked for Enclean Industries for several years and at the time of his death was a trenching and backhoe contractor.
Ehler was married Dec. 7, 1988, in Kaw City to Jodi Cope Adams. A member of the Kaw City First Christian Church, he was serving as vice-president of the Kaw City School Board. He enjoyed woodworking and spending time with his family.
Surviving him are his wife, Jodi; six children, Michelle Rheam of Ponca City, Mitch Ehler of Tulsa, Teresa Spires of Marland, Sheila Clements of Barstow, Calif., Mike Ehler of Wellington, Kan., and Brandon Ehler of the home; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Casket bearers will be Jack Godberson, Steve Trueblood, Criss Barker, Larry Elmore and Bud Sinclair. Honorary Casket bearers will be Harland McClaskey, John Thompson, Bill Frazier, D. J. Tapp, Roy Arthur Case, Larry Decker, Brent Richardson, Bernie Drowatzky, Bing Shelton, Carl Cassell. Buddy Baker, Paul Dickerson, Dale Pinney, Farrel Eaton, Charles "Chuck" Ehler, Dale Thompson and Charles Gammill.
Shirley Kay Fesler Clinton, Kaw City resident, died Monday, Dec. 22, 1997 in an early morning fire at her home. She was 28.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27, in the Kaw City Community Building with the Rev. Shane Hickey, minister of the Kaw City First Christian church officiating. Burial of her cremains will take place at a later date in the Grandview Cemetery, Kaw City. Miller-Stahl Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
The Shirley Kay Fesler Clinton memorial fund has been established for her two daughters, Laurie and Ashley, and contributions may be made in her name through the NationsBank in Kaw City 74641, or any other NationsBank.
Shirley Kay Fesler Clinton was born May 14, 1969, at Homestead Air Force Base, Homestead, Fla., the daughter of Richard and Brenda (Gault) Fesler She attended school at various military bases until 1985 when her family moved to Kaw City. She graduated from Shidler High School in 1988.
She married Jon Burns and later married Brett Clinton. She held various jobs around the Ponca City area, and at the time of her death she has been employed at Thorn Apple Valley for two years. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Kaw City.
She is survived by two daughters, Laurie, age 9, and Ashley, age 6, of the home; two brothers, Lee Fesler of Kaw City and Richard Lee Fesler Jr. of Ponca City; one sister, Kathy Croy of Liberal, Kan.; her maternal grandmother, Pearl Gault of Jonesville, S.C.; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Harold and Louise Fesler of Tonkawa, and her maternal grandfather, John Gault of Jonesville, S. C.
paid obituary
Judy Elliott, longtime Ponca City resident, died early today, Dec. 25, 1997, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.
Service is pending and will be announced later under the direction of the Trout Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Ponca City Humane Society, 900 West Prospect, Ponca City, OK 74601.
Friday
Walter Doyle Ailey - Funeral to be held at 2 p.m. at the Tonkawa First Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Tonkawa IOOF Cemetery under the direction of McCafferty-Bolick Funeral Home.
Saturday
Leanna I. Sauzek - Funeral at 10 a.m. at the Wellington Cornerstone Fellowship Church. Burial will be in the Prairie Lawn Cemetery under the direction of Hawks Funeral Home, Wellington, Kan.
Sunday
Alice K. McMichael - Graveside service at the Newkirk Cemetery
at 1:30 p.m. Friends may visit at the Miller-Stahl Funeral Service Chapel,
Newkirk, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.
NEWS BRIEFS
Burglary Suspect - A 21-year-old male suspect in a possible burglary in the 700 block of North Elm was stopped by a Kay County Sheriff's officer three miles south of Newkirk at 9:15 p.m. Wednesday. A city officer took custody of the suspect and brought him to the police station.
Car Recovered - At 10:02 Wednesday night police received a request to notify the owner of a stolen car in the 2200 block of North Fourteenth Street that his vehicle had been recovered at Presido, Texas.
Smoke Was Steam - A caller from the 200 block of North Birch advised police at 10:20 Wednesday night that she thought a house was on fire in the 200 block of North Peachtree, as smoke was coming out the back. All stations responded and discovered steam was coming from a dryer vent.
Suspect Arrested - A police officer brought a 32-year-old male suspect to the station at 10:26 Wednesday night and booked him for second degree burglary.
Deputy Requested - A 911 call to the Communications Center at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday from West Cowboy Hill requested a deputy. The call was transferred to the Kay County Sheriff's Office.
Gunshots Heard - A 911 caller from the 700 block of South Fifth, advised police at 11:32 p.m. Wednesday that gunshots had been heard in the area and sounds of a possible fight in the alley. Later there were reports of gunshots in the area of Sixth and Otoe and fast traffic in the alley between Fifth and Sixth. Officers were unable to locate any suspects.
Fight Noises - Police officers investigating a loud noise report in the 300 block of South Oak were advised that there had been a fight on the front porch. A 35-year-old male was arrested for assault and battery.
Driver Arrested - Following a traffic stop at 1:54 a.m. Wednesday at Elm and Overbrook an 18-year-old male was arrested by a police officer for DUI and no insurance.
Fire Threat - A man in the 2100 block of John requested a police officer Wednesday afternoon in reference to a subject threatening to burn his house down. A report was taken.
Driver Arrested - Officers were advised of an accident at Cleveland and Peachtree at 4:17 p.m. Wednesday. A 21-year-old male was arrested for driving under suspension, no insurance and failure to yield. A passenger in the car was reported AWOL from Fort Hood, Texas. The military station was advised.
Shoplifter Report - A caller from Wal-Mart reported at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday that a 16-year-old male shoplifter had been taken into custody. An officer brought the suspect to the police station on a grand larceny charge.
Abandoned Bikes - The Communications Center was advised Wednesday morning of two abandoned bicycles at 2100 North Union. Animal was to pick up the vehicles for police.
Pair of Accidents - Police responded to the 1:16 p.m. report Wednesday of a two-vehicle accident at Gary and Union. There was also a separate two-vehicle mishap at the same location.
Suspicious Caller - A caller on North Elm advised police at 8:29 p.m. Wednesday that two males had carried out stereo equipment from a location after gaining entry through a window. They left southbound on Elm in a white four-door vehicle. The window had been forced, but officers were unable to contact the owner immediately.
DUI School - The state certified DUI School is scheduled Jan.
5 and Jan. 6 starting at 5 p.m. Bridgeway Inc. is Kay County's only local
non-profit organization that offers both midweek and weekend DUI schools
and assessments. They now offer the 24 hour DUI School. Call 762-1462 for
reservations and information.
LIFESTYLES
Greenhouse grown poinsettias aren't use to cool, low-light, indoor conditions. To prevent leaf drop, place them in a warm, brightly lit area. Too much direct sunlight will fade the bracts, so use a sheer curtain to diffuse the light or place the plant near, but not in, a sunny window. Also, don't put poinsettias on the television or close other heat sources.
Poinsettias grow best with moist soil - not too wet and not too dry. Water the plant thoroughly when the soil surface feels dry to the touch and add enough water so it begins to seep through the pot's drainage holes. If the pot is in a saucer, discard the excess water, since poinsettias left sitting in water may suffer root damage. lt isn't necessary to fertilize your poinsettia when it's in bloom during the holiday season.
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Paden, 2621 Winter Green Avenue, are observing their 50th wedding anniversary today.
Bill Paden and the former Dolores Edmonds were married Dec. 25, 1947 in the First Baptist Church with Dr. William A. Carleton officiating. Both are graduates of Ponca City High School.
Following Mr. Paden's graduation from the University of Oklahoma he was employed with Continental Pipeline, transferring to Colonial Pipeline in 1963. The couple lived in several states in the Northwest and the South before retiring in Ponca City in 1990.
Mr. and Mrs. Paden have two sons and four grandchildren. Reed Paden and his wife, Dr. Mary T. Crowder, of Charlotte, N. C. are the parents of Sarah, Will and Drew. Randy Paden and son, Niles, reside in Atlanta, Ga.
Mr. and Mrs. Paden celebrated their anniversary in August when Reed and
Mary took the couple on a cruise to Alaska. A party in Atlanta is planned
after the first of the year.
SPORTS
Tonkawa Tournament
Division I
40 - Dylan Towsend, 2nd
43 - Aaron Delaney, 3rd
46 - Douglas White, 2nd
49 - Brett Reedy, 1st
52 - Kyle Ailey, 4th
60 - Andrew Schmauch, 1st
Hwt - Jacob Ailey, 3rd
Division II
70 - Joshua Fansler, 1st
75 - Torran Compala, 2nd
75 - Brandon Humble, 3rd
83 - Brian Stangeland, 2nd
90 - Justin Kremeier, 1st
Division III
58 - Trey Branscum, 1st
61 - Justin White, 2nd
64 - Deland Kemble, 2nd
70 - Joshua Fansler, 1st
90 - Bradley Plunk, 1st
90 - Justin Kremier, 2nd
100 - Mandell Wehr, 4th
110 - Tyler Compala, 4th
Hwt - Sonny Biggoose, 1st
Division IV
64 - Trey Branscum, 2nd
64 - Brent Horton, 3rd
76 - Andrew Carter, 2nd
84 - Justin Weatherly, 2nd
130 - Kelsey Empting, 4th
140 - Jason Levitt, 1st