LOCAL

U.S., British Forces Slam Iraq
Chamber News
‘Small Pleasures’ Author Here for Reading Saturday
Family Looks in on Legacy Here

U.S., British Forces Slam Iraq

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. forces triggered a second wave of airstrikes against Iraq today as President Clinton said ‘‘it would have been a disaster’’ if the United States had stood aside and allowed Iraq to develop weapons of mass destruction.

Defense Secretary William Cohen said the first round of airstrikes had produced ‘‘severe damage’’ to some targets.

The second wave sent cruise missiles deep into Iraq, and Navy strike aircraft with laser-guided bombs targeted Iraqi air defenses along the border, said a senior defense official who asked not to be identified.

‘‘The B-52s are on the way,’’ said a senior military planner, who also spoke on condition of anonymity.

Clinton, meeting in the Oval Office with top military and foreign policy advisers this morning, expressed regret that there would inevitably be ‘‘unintended casualties.’’

The strikes began in the early evening Iraqi time, shortly after 11 a.m. EST, the senior defense official said.

In Baghdad, children went to school and government workers to their offices as usual after the first night’s attacks. Downtown streets were busy with traffic. Saddam Hussein’s whereabouts were unknown, but he appeared on television to condemn the ‘‘wicked people’’ who launched hundreds of missiles.

Amid images of crumpled brick buildings in Baghdad, an Iraqi doctor said 30 people were wounded and two killed during the initial attacks.

Clinton said the military operation would not be affected by the impeachment drama on Capitol Hill, saying, ‘‘We’re going to complete this mission.’’

The House, which had been scheduled to begin debating four articles of impeachment today, instead convened to approve, by a vote of 417-5, a resolution of support for American forces involved in the Iraqi operation.

Outgoing House Speaker Newt Gingrich told legislators: ‘‘No matter what our debates at home, we are as a nation prepared to lead the world’’

Clinton, for his part, brushed aside criticism from Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott and other Republicans skeptical about his motives for the attack. ‘‘I am convinced the decision I made ... though difficult was absolutely the right thing to do,’’ he said.

As to whether the attack was a diversionary tactic against impeachment, Clinton said, ‘‘I don’t believe any serious person would believe any president would do such a thing.’’

The delay in impeachment proceedings was not to last long. Republican leaders decided today to begin the House impeachment debate Friday and finish action against Clinton by Saturday even if U.S. attacks against Iraq were ongoing, congressional sources said.

At the Pentagon, Sen. John Warner, R-Va., the new chairman of the Senate Armed Services committee, said the first round of airstrikes had been effective.

‘‘The documentation of the photos clearly indicates a serious degredation of command and control, intelligence and indeed of the key military infrastructure,’’ Warner said. ‘‘The accuracy of the weapons was absolutely nothing short of astonishing.’’

The president said he had bent over backwards not to use force, noting that he canceled an attack at the last second last November when Saddam promised to comply with U.N. weapons inspectors.

Chamber News

A Chance to Both Give and Receive

This Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m., Sullins Stadium should be crowded with a happy group of area residents who have come to have a great time during the Holiday Season, enjoying the festivities and entertainment. They also have a chance to win a pretty substantial sum of money in the form of Ponca Bucks, with prizes totaling $10,000 to be given away during the grand prize drawings which will be held. We wish you all good luck!

That’s the chance to Receive … Here’s the chance to Give …

In the spirit of Christmas, the Chamber and the City of Ponca City are encouraging everyone who attends to bring with them one can of food which will be donated to those in the community who are in need. Collection points for your donations will be set up and we hope that as you get ready to head to the Giveaway drawing you’ll make it a special point to go to the pantry and get a can or two of food to donate. If you are planning to bring the kids, why not make this a way to help them better understand one of the very important parts of the Holiday Season … giving to others.

So this Sunday, bundle up, bring the kids and a can of food to donate … And look forward to a great time, beginning at 3 p.m. in Sullins Stadium.

Upcoming Events

Friday, Dec. 18 — Chamber Board of Director’s Meeting, 11 a.m., Marland Conference Center.

Sunday, Dec. 20 — Community Wide Holiday Giveaway, 3 p.m., Sullins Stadium.

Thursday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 25 — Chamber Office Closed for the Holidays.

‘Small Pleasures’ Author Here for Reading Saturday

Joe Kreger will read selections from his audio cassette, “Small Pleasures,” Saturday at Brace Books & More, North Fourteenth Street, from 2 to 4 p.m. “Small Pleasures” contains 13 entirely new poems such as “Homesick for Oklahoma” and the title poem, “Small Pleasures of Life.”

A year ago Kreger published a book of his poems “Lookin’ at Life.” Since that time he has continued to write poetry, though none of his new poems have yet been published in book form.

Kreger was born and raised in Tonkawa. As a young man, he worked as a cowboy on ranches in Colorado, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. He rodeoed through his college years and, as he says, “Being a rather slow learner, it took awhile to discover that I was not particularly talented in this endeavor.”

A graduate of Northern Oklahoma College and Oklahoma State University with a degree in animal science, he later did graduate work at OSU in agricultural education.

Kreger has spent most of this life in the livestock business, both self-employed and as an employee. He says that, “Like many other under-capitalized operators, I have often had additional employment to help ‘outrun the wolf’ in the cattle business.”

He has taught agriculture at NOC and has also worked for Conoco. For about the past 20 years, he has raised purebred Beefmaster cattle and sold ranch equipment.

Kreger never wrote poetry until the fall of 1995 when he was 56 years old. In the past few years, he has been a frequent speaker at various farm and ranch functions. He has also been featured on radio programs of the Innovative Broadcast Corporation, which published his book “Lookin’ at Life.”

“Many fans have commented they would like to hear Kreger recite his poems instead of reading them from a book. Now they can have it both ways,” said Jerry Brace of Brace Books & More. “We expect Joe to recite a few of his favorites on Saturday, as well as to sign copies of the cassette and his book.”

Family Looks in on Legacy Here

By PATTI PFEIFFER

News Staff Writer

Tracing a family tree can be exciting especially when the roots could lead to a mansion.

Members of the Marland family were in Ponca City this week to tour the Marland Mansion and view the many sights representative of the legacy of E.W. Marland — a possible relative of theirs.

“We’re in the process of discovering just how we are related to ‘this’ Marland,” says Ron Marland of Los Gatos, Calif. “Our father remembers meeting E.W. in Philadelphia when he was 14 or 15 years old.”

Ron says that he and his sister, Mary Marland Matheson of St. Louis, Mo., first learned of E.W. when their father gave them a book on the oil baron’s life.

“I was fascinated with the story of Marland and wanted to know more and find out if we’re related,” he says. “I think there was a rift in the family way back when. E.W. was kinda of maverick — he had his own way of doing things and some didn’t like that too much.”

The family came to Ponca City earlier this week for the sole purpose of touring the Mansion, seeing the various Marland sights and exploring their family roots.

“It has been really great, our name appears all over the place,” says Matheson. “I’ve been buying everything I can that has our name on it.”

Their trip was not limited to Ponca City however. What Marland family tour would be complete without a visit to the city of Marland?

“We’re really getting into this. We had our Christmas cards postmarked in Marland and had a great hamburger at the general store there,” said Ron’s wife Pat.

Marland says he was able to obtain a list of all of the Marlands in the United States and would like to see a huge Marland family reunion at the Mansion someday.

“I think we should all congregate here someday,” he says.

In the meantime, Ron and his immediate family plan on returning soon to have their own reunion in the mansion that bears their family name.

DEATHS

Darline Ruth LeValley
James A. Stringer
Leo Daniel Case
Joshua James Rodgers

Darline Ruth LeValley

BRAMAN— Darline Ruth LeValley, longtime Braman-Blackwell area resident, died Tuesday evening, Dec. 15, 1998, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Ponca City. She was 74.

The funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Braman United Methodist Church. The Rev. Kent Reubell of the Billings Christian Church and the Rev. Don Martin of the Braman United Methodist Church will officiate. Burial will be in the Braman Cemetery under the direction of Roberts Funeral Home, Blackwell.

Darline R. (George) LeValley was born May 2, 1924, in Mullinville, Kan., to Homer Allen and Nelle Marie (Batchelder) George. She attended schools in Blackwell and Braman. She was baptized at the age of nine at the Blackwell Church of God, then changed her church membership to Braman United Methodist Church in 1942.

She was married to J. Kenneth LeValley on May 8, 1942, by the Rev. Raymond E. Dewey at the Methodist Church parsonage in Wichita, Kan. They made their home in Blackwell and Braman all their married life except while Mr. LeValley served in the military during World War II. Mrs. LeValley had worked in the hospitals in Blackwell and Wellington, Kan., and was known for baking and decorating cakes for area residents for more than 45 years. She was a member of the Variety Fun Club, DAV Auxiliary and the United Methodist Women, where she served as treasurer for 17 years.

Survivors include her husband, Kenneth LeValley of Braman; one daughter, Karen Hutcheson of Fort Smith, Ark.; one son, Fred LeValley of Perry; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her step-father, George Clayton Davis; her step-mother, Helen George; and one brother, Louis George.

Casket bearers will be Jared LeValley, Raquel Ferguson, Darrin Hutcheson, Stanley Reubell, Bill Shoffner and Jim Henley. Honorary bearers will be Jim Panick, Danny Hutcheson, Dr. Berno Ebbesson, Darla Hutcheson, Dr. Paul Davis, Harold LeValley, Bob LeValley and Wayne Bumgardner.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. LeValley’s name to the Braman United Methodist Church, West Awning Project, c/o Roberts Funeral Home, 120 West Padon, Blackwell, OK 74631.

James A. Stringer

The Rev. James A. Stringer, former Ponca City resident, died Monday, Dec. 14, 1998 at Benton, Ark. He was 78.

The funeral will be Friday, 10 a.m. at the Ponca City First Church of the Nazarene with the Rev. Steve Bierly, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of the Trout Funeral Home.

Born March 1, 1920, at Warham, Mass., he was the son of Erford C. and Salome Smith Stringer. He graduated from Warham High School in 1939, then attended Southern Nazarene University. He served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and later with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. The Rev. Stringer was ordained an elder of the Church of the Nazarene and pastored in Oklahoma and Arkansas. He also served as an evangelist and worked with youth.

He and the former Peggy June Doing were married Aug. 11, 1950, in Denver, Colo. The couple lived in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. The Rev. Stringer served as administrator for the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Ponca City and the Pawhuska Nursing Home. The Rev. Stringer enjoyed golf, table games, and bowling. He was also an avid singer, a history buff, and liked politics and theological research.

He is survived by his wife, Peggy June of Fort Smith, Ark.; two sons, Samuel C. Stringer of Denver, Colo., and Kim S. Stringer of Norman; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and a brother, Raymond L. Stringer. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Erford C. Stringer II, and Otis Stringer; and two great-granddaughters.

Casket bearers will be Roy Essary, Charlie Hanger, Tim Harmon, Bill Lowther, James Pedigo, and Gordon Gillham. Honorary casket bearers will be Jeremy White, Brad Stringer, Jim Doing, Harold Mullins, John Maker, and Clifford Johnson.

Memorials may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International, 120 Wall St., 19th Floor, New York, NY, 10005.

The family will be at the home of Bill and Pearl Lowther, 2009 El Camino.

Leo Daniel Case

TONKAWA — Leo Daniel Case, lifelong resident of the Marland-Tonkawa area, died Monday, Dec. 14, 1998, at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kan. He was 76.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19., at the Tonkawa First Baptist Church with the Rev. Richard Thomasson officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of McCafferty-Bolick Funeral Home, Tonkawa.

Leo Daniel Case was born Sept. 16, 1922, in Marland, to Albert and Hazel Case. He attended Marland and Tonkawa schools, graduating from Marland High School in 1939. In September 1942, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and served during World War II. He was discharged in September 1945.

In 1946, he was married to Edythe Ann Colclasure. Case was a self-employed electrician and worked at his trade until his death. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and was an avid bird watcher.

Survivors include two daughters, Phyllis Benson of Loomis, Calif., and DeAnn Wiltfong of Oklahoma City; three sons, Bryan Case and Tom Case, both of Lancaster, Calif., and Danny Case of Oakwood, Ga.; one brother, Warren Case of Marland; 11 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother.

Obituaries

Joshua James Rodgers

Joshua James Rodgers, Ponca City area resident, departed this world Monday Dec. 14, 1998 to join our Savior. He was 25 years of age.

The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday Dec. 18, 1998, at the First Baptist Assembly Center with the Rev. Blaine Herron, pastor, Foursquare Gospel Church, officiating. Josh’s final resting place will be at Resthaven Memorial Park. Arrangements are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Josh was born on May 1, 1973, in Honolulu, Hawaii to David and Marilyn Rodgers. The family returned to western Pennsylvania when he was two years old and resided there until 1987 when he came to Ponca City. Josh graduated from Ponca City High School in 1991. He received an associate degree in computer science from Northern Oklahoma College in 1995.

Josh was married to Rachel Atchley on July 9, 1994. The couple made their home in Ponca City. Josh was employed by Sykes Enterprises Inc. as a help desk technician at the time of his death. He was a member of the Type2.com VW Club and spent many enjoyable hours with his friends restoring VW buses and attending VW shows. He also had a great love for riding his rail buggy in the Sahara sand dunes and camping and fishing at the Roaring River in Cassville, Mo.

Surviving are his wife, Rachel, of the home; his mother, Marilyn Wiseman, of East Brady, Pa.; his father, David Rodgers, of Oklahoma City; one brother, Dr. Jeremy Rodgers of Davenport, Iowa; a sister, Rachel Kress of Florida; his in-laws, Duane and Ann Gray of Ponca City; maternal grandparents, Dave and Carolyn Irwin of East Brady, Pa.; and paternal grandmother, Ethel Rodgers, of Tom Bean, Texas. He leaves also one nephew and one niece and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Joseph Rodgers.

Casket bearers will be Jackey Walker, Jason Sledge, Brad Beyers, Chad Cantwell, Brent Buller, and Rusty Duckett. Honorary Casket bearers will be Kenny Smith, Justin Mays, Robert Swope, Robert Nichols, Vincent Perez, Beth Caldwell, Lori Newsome, Chelsie Sledge, Larry Floyd, Keith Seamon, George Allen, Craig Hambleton, Marcus Anderson, Jeremy Schoonover, and Chad Trenary.

A fund has been established in Josh’s name with Becky Bezdek at the Commercial Federal Bank, 1417 East Hartford, Ponca City, OK 74604.

The family will be at 500 Shannon.

paid obituary

NEWS BRIEFS

State Certified DUI School — Bridgeway, Inc., is Kay County’s only local nonprofit organization that offers both midweek and weekend DUI schools and assessments. Next school is scheduled for Friday and Saturday starting 5 p.m. A 24-hour DUI school is now offered. For additional information and to make reservations, call 762-1462.

Total Close-Out. Prices reduced near cost. Graham Photo.

201 No. First. adv.

Closed Offices — The Administrative offices of Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa will be closed from Dec. 24 through Jan. 3. Faculty and staff will report back on Jan. 4. Classes will begin on Jan. 11.

Head Country all day Friday special­ All you can eat, smoked

BBQ ribs, beans, potato salad, and coleslaw, only $6.95, all day.

1217 East Prospect. 767-8304. adv.

Accident — A vehicular accident one mile west of South Waverly Street on U.S. 60 was reported to police at 8:10 a.m. Wednesday. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol was contacted.

Free Hallmark gift with purchases over $75! (Limited supply)

Carla’s Hallmark, downtown. adv.

Ladder Theft — A woman in the 200 block of North Osage Street reported the theft of an extension ladder at 9:17 a.m. Wednesday.

Moving Sale Back on the Rack.adv.

Stolen Bike — At 9:46 a.m. Wednesday a woman in the 400 block of South Palm Street notified police of a stolen bicycle.

Donate A new toy and get the Best of HBO package activated

free! Save $10! Great entertainment for these cold winter nights.

Call Cable ONE at 762-6684 for details. adv.

Broken Window — Police were advised at 10:26 a.m. Wednesday of a broken window in the 500 block of South Lincoln Street. An officer was assigned.

Dougan's Bar-B-Q Friday special from 4-8 p.m., all you can eat

ribs with beans, potato salad and coleslaw, $7.49. 215 South 14th,

765-7979. adv.

Accident — A three-vehicle accident in the 2800 block of North Fourteenth Street was reported to police at 1:14 p.m. Wednesday.

Dougan's Bar-B-Q Thursday special from 4-? 1/2 BBQ chicken

with 2 vegetables. $4.25. 215 South 14th. 765-7979. adv.

Arrest — Police arrested a 34-year-old man at 2:34 p.m. Wednesday from South Oak Street and West Oklahoma Avenue on a city warrant for failure to obey.

Being Relocated, or in town for a short time? We have homes

available by the month or longer. All homes are full furnished with

appliances, furniture, linens, pots and pans. Inclusive of cable,

local phone, and utilities. Please call 580-762-7980 or 580-718-0681.

adv.

Arrest — A 42-year-old woman was arrested at 2:44 p.m. Wednesday from the 100 block of Glenside Avenue for domestic assault and battery.

Arrest — At 3:58 p.m. Wednesday a 25-year-old woman was arrested for driving under suspension.

Stolen Jewelry — A woman in the 1400 block of West Broadway Avenue contacted police at 3:59 p.m. Wednesday reporting the theft of jewelry. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential.

Hours: Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. and Thursday, 6-

8 p.m. 700 West Broadway. adv.

Stolen Bike — At 4:22 p.m. Wednesday a man in the 1100 block of South Ninth Street reported the theft of a bike.

Taco Stop will be closed Thurs., Dec. 24th and Fri., Dec. 25th for Christmas. adv.

Vehicle Vandalism — Police were contacted at 9:32 p.m. Wednesday regarding a vehicle with windows that had been broken in the 2000 block of North Fourteenth Street. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Arrest — A 31-year-old man was arrested at 10:55 p.m. Wednesday from South Oak Street and West South Avenue for speeding, no driver’s license and no insurance.

Girls Shot — At 12:19 a.m. Thursday police were contacted by the North Oklahoma Youth Shelter, 415 West Grand Avenue, reporting that three girls had been shot with a BB gun. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Beer Theft — A clerk at Citgo, 320 West Grand Avenue, reported the theft of a 12-pack of beer to police at 3:56 a.m. Thursday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Meetings Canceled — The Ponca City Board of Commissioner’s work session scheduled for Dec. 21, and the Park and Recretion Advisory Board meeting for Dec. 17, have been canceled.

GARDENING

Gift the Gardener With an Assortment of Tools
Finish Preparing Garden for Winter Weather

Gift the Gardener With an Assortment of Tools

By Nicola B. Godfrey

Copley News Service

Editor’s Note: Remember the gardeners in the family when shopping for the holidays

You better not just call a spade a spade. Professional gardeners don’t. At one time a spade and shovel were practically synonymous. But technology today offers up as many variations of the basic spade as eggs on a breakfast menu: Hollow backs, close backs, solid shanks, cushion poly “D” handles, square points, round points, perforated, beveled-edge blade spades.

It is the same with many garden tools we once assumed to be pretty basic. And if we believe the gospel of the gardening catalogs, we wouldn’t even consider getting our hands dirty, let alone our thumbs green, without an assortment of tillers, trimmers, pruners, whackers, weeders, shears, loppers, brush cutters, mowers, rollers, chippers, shredders and spreaders­to name a few.

It’s enough to have you running indoors. But don’t despair, because any seasoned gardener will tell you that underlying all the newfangled gadgets available on the market, there are just a few basic tools that have withstood the tests of time since they were first developed in the 1600s and perfected during the Industrial Revolution.

A consensus of several gardening sources recommends the following list of 10 tools every green thumb needs for basic yard maintenance

Spade. Yes, there is a difference between a spade and a shovel. Shovels have deep, curved blades compared to the flat-edge blade of spades. Spades come in all shapes and sizes, literally. One gardening catalog alone offers 102 different styles. An important factor when choosing a spade or any other longhandled tool is to get the right length for your height to avoid backache. A four-pronged or “tined” spading fork is also good to have for particularly heavy root lifting work.

Pruners. Look for a quality cutting edge, spring mechanism and safety latch, and consider a style with replaceable blades. Long-handled pruners, known in the biz as loppers, make pruning dense shrubs and high branches easier and can usually cut inch thick woody stems. A good pair of hedge-clipping shears can also double as a more cumbersome alternative to pruners. Shears are also good for cutting lawn edges and borders.

Rake. Like spades, they come in a variety of styles for leveling soil and gathering leaves. Angled handles and springy tines make for quicker work with less stress on the body.

Weeder. Unwanted growth in your garden is inevitable. Weeders come in a selection of shapes and sizes and just make it easier and quicker to get rid of the pesky intruders.

Hoe. Used primarily for aerating soil, a good hoe can replace the need for a weeder. They are easy to use and gentler on plants being hoed around.

Hand trowel. For planting flower beds, seeding and potting plants and intricate weeding, a hand trowel is the most essential and, because of its size, the most often misplaced tool among the shrubbery. Trowels come in many widths. But narrow blades are recommended for giving more soil maneuverability. Ergonomic designs now offer handles to reduce wrist stress, and bright handles make them easier to find in the garden.

Wheelbarrow or gardening cart. Invest in a sturdy, heavy-duty cart or wheelbarrow that should last your lifetime because there is an awful lot of fetching and carrying of large loads involved in serious yard maintenance.

Watering cans. A selection of inexpensive, lightweight plastic cans can make watering a whole lot easier and faster.

Hose and sprayer. Again, invest in a quality hose. Nozzles are available in all shapes, sizes and water-spouting speeds and are cheap, so you can buy a selection for different applications. A sprayer, whether hand pumped or fitted to a hose, makes for easy and quick application of fertilizer and pesticides.

Mower. An obvious necessity for gardeners with grass. Whether it’s a push mower, mulcher, electric or ride-on, choose a model that best fits your budget and the size of your lawn.

Meg Smith of Gardener’s Supply Co. suggests additional equipment to advance your basic tool kit, including a seed-starting kit, compost starter and a hammock.

“Every gardener needs a place to relax and enjoy the fruits of one’s labor,” Smith says.

Of course, specialized gardening requires its own set­of tools. Because of increasing concerns about the environment, a growing gardening movement is organic gardening, for which Mike McGrath, editor of Organic Gardening magazine, offers the following list of “Top 10 Tools Every Organic Gardener Needs”:

A compost bin.

Another compost bin.

“I’m serious about that!” McGrath exhorts. “You need the second one so that you have a place to throw fresh stuff when the compost in the first bin is almost finished, because organic gardeners never have enough compost.”

A chipper/shredder to get everything ready for the compost pile and to turn leaves into fabulous mulch and branches into chippings for the garden path.

A mulching lawn mower.

A sturdy fence to keep out critters.

Naturally rot-resistant wood for raised beds.

McGrath says, “Organic gardeners have to grow in raised beds because of all the advantages they convey, and they want to avoid poisonous substances like treated wood, so they use naturally rot-resistant woods like cedar or cypress.”

A good nozzle for pinpoint spraying.

A wheelbarrow.

A good hoe.

“The No. 1 tool organic gardeners need,” says McGrath, “is a sense of humor so they come back and garden again next year!”

Finish Preparing Garden for Winter Weather

By LEE REICH

For AP Special Features

A few carrots and parsnips still await harvest, and late pansies still poke their heads up in protected nooks. Nonetheless, the gardening season has pretty much drawn to a close. Before closing the garden gate, a few odds and ends must be attended to in areas where cold winter weather dominates the forecasts.

Perennial flowers need be mulched to prevent alternate freezing and thawing from heaving plants out of the soil. Good mulches include straw, evergreen boughs, corn stalks and leaves. Oak, hickory and beech leaves are the best to use because they stay fluffy even when wet.

Some perennials — including delphiniums, foxgloves, Canterbury bells, and garden pinks — are susceptible to crown rot during the winter. So they should not be covered. Tuck mulch under the leaves. Then protect the plants’ crown with an overturned flowerpot, a basket or a few wisps of straw. Perennials such as pansies, sweet william, and coreopsis are best left uncovered.

The evergreen nature of evergreen trees and shrubs brings potential problems in the cold months ahead. As the soil freezes, these plants’ roots have an increasingly difficult time replacing water lost by the leaves. A thick mulch helps by limiting depth of frost penetration into the soil.

Winter winds and bright winter sunshine — the sunshine made more brilliant as it reflects off snow — increase water loss through evergreen leaves. A screen of burlap tacked on wooden stakes, or a temporary fence of wooden boards, will create some shade and break the drying winds.

Evergreens’ leaves also catch wet winter snow, possibly causing stem breakage. Prevent breakage by gathering branches loosely together with stout cord.

Thin bark on trunks of young deciduous trees is susceptible to sunscald. Damage occurs when sunlight warms the bark on a clear winter day, then bark temperature plummets as the sun dips below the horizon. Avoid sunscald by painting the trunk with white latex paint, or wrapping it with bundled cornstalks or commercially available tree-wraps or plastic spiral tubes.

Hybrid tea roses, tender climbing roses, and tree roses now are ready for their winter swaddling if needed. Cut back hybrid teas to about 2 feet high and mound soil or wood chips up around the plants. Or use one of those styrofoam rose cones sold in garden centers.

Untie climbing roses from supports and lay the canes on the ground. Bend tree roses to the ground by pushing a spade into the ground next to the plant on the opposite side to which you will bend the plant. Then gently ease it down. Anchor the tree rose down with a few rocks. Cover now-prone climbing or tree roses with a thick mulch of leaves or straw.

SPORTS

Cowboy Grapplers Head West
Better Defense Sure To Prove Difference for Fiesta Champs
Usual Suspects Make Pro Bowl

Cowboy Grapplers Head West

By FRED HILTON

News Sports Editor

STILLWATER — After nearly a two-week break in action, the Oklahoma State wrestlers head west for five duals in three days over the weekend.

The Cowboys travel to meet Cal-Poly and Fresno State Friday. They then take part in the Reno Duals Sunday, going against three teams in that day-long event.

The Pokes are slated to improve on their 48-dual win streak against the California teams. OSU has never lost to either team, having beaten Cal-Poly 17 straight times and are 12-0 against Fresno State.

It will be a different circumstance at Reno with several ranked teams looking to scalp the No. 1 ranked Cowboys. The Reno field includes Arizona State, Nebraska, Purdue, Central Michigan, Boise State, Cal State-Bakersfield, Cal State-Davis and Cal-Poly. Oklahoma State has won the duals two years in a row.

The Cowboys boost three wrestlers who are ranked No. 1 individually, Teague Moore at 125 pounds, Eric Guerrero at 133 and Mark Smith at 174. Smith was the Outstanding Wrestler at the Reno Duals last year.

In addition, Jimmy Aries (157) is ranked No. 4 by Intermat and Amateur Wrestling News, Mark Munoz (184) is No. 7 in Intermat and No. 9 in the Wrestling News poll and Reggie White (149) is No. 9 in Intermat and 11th in the Wrestling News poll.

Moore, Guerrero and Mark Smith are all 3-0 on the season.

Guerrero, a finalists for the Dan Hodge Award, is going after his third national championship this year and Moore is seeking No. 2.

Jeff Ragan (7-3) will see action at 125 pounds in the two California duals, Jamill Kelly (1-2) is the regular at 141 but Charles Walker (5-3) will see his first dual action of the season somewhere in the stretch.

Shawn Smith (2-4) upset favored 165-pounder Ty Wilcox in ranking matches. Wilcox will also make the trip. The redshirt freshman is 3-3 on the year.

Tim Moore backs Munoz at 184 and could get his first career start for the Cowboys on this trip.

Josh Cruzan (4-3), in his third year with the Cowboy program, is scheduled to start at 197 with Pat Popolizio seeking to redshirt with a shoulder injury.

Heavyweight Dave Anderson (5-2) was the hero of the Cowboys’ dual with Minnesota on Nov. 29, getting a second-period fall to bring the Cowboys from behind against the Gophers. Anderson has four falls on the season.

The schedule gets tougher after the first of the year with the Cowboys scheduled to wrestle Nebraska (Jan. 3) and Michigan State (Jan. 7) at home before going on the road to Arizona State (Jan. 10). They then take part in the National Duals (Jan, 16-17)

Better Defense Sure To Prove Difference for Fiesta Champs

By BOB BAUM

AP Sports Writer

PHOENIX (AP) — Bobby Bowden is as big as they get in Tallahassee. In Atlanta, he’s just another tardy airline passenger.

The Florida State coach was a no-show at the Fiesta Bowl news conference Wednesday because he missed his connecting flight in Atlanta.

‘‘I had a flight out at 8:50, and I got there at 8:51,’’ Bowden said by telephone hookup. ‘‘I could look out the window and see the plane, and they would not open the door. They didn’t care who I was.

‘‘You’d think all the times I sat and waited for 20 minutes while other people get on, they’d wait for me, but they didn’t.’’

Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer, who did make it to Phoenix, joked that he’d rather Bowden ‘‘leave Peter Warrick and a couple of those defensive linemen behind.’’

While Bowden’s chair was empty, one of the trophies he covets was on display between football helmets from Tennessee and Florida State. That national championship trophy, from the American Football Coaches Association, automatically goes to the Fiesta Bowl winner.

The other trophy, from The Associated Press, does not necessarily go to the Fiesta winner, even though No. 1 (Tennessee) is playing No. 2 (Florida State). The writers who vote in the poll will determine who is No. 1 after the Jan. 4 showdown is over.

Bowden wanted nothing to do with speculation that somehow, if Florida State wins and leaves no national title contender unbeaten, someone other than the Fiesta winner could wind up with a share of the national crown, a possibility the new Bowl Championship Series was supposed to eliminate.

‘‘The winner of this game will be the national champion,’’ Bowden said. ‘‘That’s already been declared. I don’t worry about that. I don’t know what the other polls are going to do. The winner of this game is going to be the national champion.’’

Fulmer said all he can do is try to make sure Tennessee finishes the season unbeaten and leaves no doubt who should be the champ.

‘‘We’ve tried to take care of ourselves all year long. It’s been a real interesting — I guess for lack of a better word — scenario for the BCS to get to this point,’’ he said. ‘‘Certainly I believe the winner of this game should be the national champion.’’

Both coaches expect defense to dominate.

‘‘It will probably be 6-3 the way these teams play defense,’’ Bowden said.

Tennessee is eighth nationally in scoring defense (14.4 points per game) and is 17th in total defense (303 yards). Florida State is, by far, the No. 1 team in total defense (214.8 yards) and is second in scoring defense (11.5 points).

‘‘Their defense is as good as I’ve seen,’’ Fulmer said. ‘‘There are probably some NFL defenses that aren’t as good as Florida State is.’’

Tennessee is scheduled to arrive the night of Dec. 26. Florida State will come to Arizona two days later.

That will leave plenty of time for the hype that surely will precede the big game. Requests for media credentials and hotel rooms already have far exceeded expectations.

Usual Suspects Make Pro Bowl

By DAVE GOLDBERG

AP Football Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Zach Thomas, Miami’s middle linebacker, appeared to establish himself in 14 games as not only a Pro Bowl candidate, but a possibility for defensive player of the year.

Not to Pro Bowl voters.

When the results were announced Wednesday, the inside linebackers on the AFC team were Junior Seau of San Diego and Ray Lewis of Baltimore, not Thomas, who has overcome a lack of height to become the leader of a defense that has allowed 40 fewer points than any team in the NFL.

‘‘You don’t rate your success on making the Pro Bowl,’’ a disappointed Thomas said. ‘‘I know I had a great year and I’m still playing well. I look at the guys who made it, and they’re not playing any better than I am.’’

As usual, the Pro Bowl voting was often a case of rounding up the usual suspects.

Reggie White was selected for a record 13th time; Jerry Rice, back from a year off with knee injuries, made it for the 12th; and Bruce Smith and Bruce Matthews for the 11th.

Randy Moss earned what is likely to be the first of many selections, and Doug Flutie, back from Canada, proved that age (36) and height (5-9) aren’t impediments to stardom.

As usual, good teams were rewarded. The Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings, both 13-1, each led their conference with nine players each.

And the only four teams without representatives were clear losers — Indianapolis (3-11), Chicago (3-11), Philadelphia (3-11) and St. Louis (4-10).

But the Dolphins (9-5) came close, placing only defensive tackle Tim Bowens on the AFC squad that will face the AFC Feb. 7 in Honolulu. That’s compared with five from Baltimore (5-9)

‘‘As good as the defense has been playing, I felt we’d get some recognition,’’ coach Jimmy Johnson said. ‘‘It always make you scratch your head.’’

Still, there were a lot of pleasant surprises, like Flutie and Sam Gash, his Buffalo teammate, who was voted to the AFC team as the fullback.

‘‘I love that kid, a special guy,’’ said Jets coach Bill Parcells, who coached Gash in New England, where he tore up a knee and missed the Patriots’ Super Bowl against Green Bay. ‘‘There are some who are different, and he is one of them. It’s a great tribute to Sam. I think everybody in the league knows that now, what kind of player and person he is.’’

Moss was the only rookie voted to the team.

White, who leads the NFL with 16 sacks, vowed to break with a tradition observed by many veterans who decline to play once they’re elected. If he does go to Honolulu, he will set a record he shares with Ronnie Lott, Lawrence Taylor and Mike Singletary by actually playing in his 11th game.

Rice, out last season with knee injuries, capped his comeback with his 12th election, although teammate Terrell Owens, who has 12 touchdowns to seven for Rice, missed out.

‘‘It feels good that your peers and everybody still respects you,’’ Rice said. ‘‘But it takes a supporting cast. So I’m happy to get there, but I’m disappointed for Terrell Owens. He’s having a great season, so it leaves a little bad taste in your mouth.’’

Matthews, the Oilers’ 37-year-old guard, made it for the 11th straight season, Smith returned to his regular defensive end spot for the AFC and Deion Sanders of Dallas made the team at two positions — cornerback and kick returner, although Green Bay’s Roell Preston will also return kicks.

In addition to Thomas, two notable absentees are Dallas running back Emmitt Smith and Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre.

Smith simply lost by the numbers. He is fourth in the NFC in yards rushing, and the three players ahead of him were chosen — Jamal Anderson of Atlanta, Barry Sanders of Detroit and Garrison Hearst of San Francisco.

Favre, who has been the NFL MVP three seasons in a row, is having what for him is a down year. He couldn’t beat out Steve Young of San Francisco, who will start, plus Randall Cunningham of Minnesota and Chris Chandler of Atlanta.

Denver’s John Elway, chosen for the ninth time, is the AFC starter at quarterback, backed up by two players who started the season as second-stringers — Vinny Testaverde of the Jets and Flutie, who had played in the Canadian league for the last eight seasons.