LOCAL

Millennium Signal Begins With Tree Planting Jan. 9
Nearly News
Chamber News
Victims Impact Panel Recalls Story
Transplants Happy To Find Home Here

Millennium Signal Begins With Tree Planting Jan. 9

By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE

News Staff Writer

Planting of a Red Oak Tree at Standing Bear Park on January 9, 1999 at 3:30 p.m. will signal the beginning a year-long series of activities celebrating the Millennium, which will be climax on January 1, 2000.

Ponca City began preparing for a year-long celebration in recognition of the millennium with the appointment of former Mayor John Raley to head up the Millennium Commission. The appointment was made in October by Mayor Tom Leonard.

Since that time the Commission has met regularly to outline a number of activities and events marking the 1000 year anniversary of time.

Raley enlisted a number of individuals to head up successive key events, including the planting of a Millennium tree to start the year-long activities. During the course of the year 2,000 trees will be planted at a number of locations including Ponca City Schools, Pioneer Woman Museum, Standing Bear Memorial Park, Fifth Street extension and by individual homeowners across the entire community.

Funds for the trees are being sought from private donations, school children fund drives, federal and state grants and in kind contributions by several businesses. The concept is for the trees to give a long lasting legacy to remember the celebration and as well as enhancing the community.

During the upcoming year, efforts will be made to continue assembling items for a time capsule which will be placed in a prominent location in the community. The concept is to assemble what future generations will see that represents society at this moment and time in history.

Many other events have been planned or are currently in the planning stages and as of this date not all of the details have been finalized, but rest assured the Commission working on these events will be striving to make this one of the best events that North Central Oklahoma has seen, according to Raley.

In addition to Mayor Leonard and Raley, a number of other talented individuals from a broad cross section of the community and area are involved.

Many individuals with many different talents, tasks and titles are represented on the Commission. These include James York, Bill Lundeen, Ruslyn Hermanson, Keith Pichanick, Cathy Ferguson, Jan Jarrett, Steve Sprehe, Kenn Wessel, Earl Sutton, Joanne Muchmore, Danny Thompson, Larry Bittman, Connie McAbee, Carl Renfro, Gary Martin, Kathy Adams, Missy Moreland, Susan Powell, Dr. Sally Downey, Dr. Joe Kinzer, Dr. Bill White, Commissioner Dick Stone, Lisa Coy, T.L. Walker, Dane Pryse and Tim Burg.

Burg, according to Raley, is the Advents Director of the Millennium celebration. Many others will be involved with the events and activities throughout the year and the list of those individuals will continue to grow as the events are finalized.

Volunteers are needed in every aspect of the events, from the Torch Run events to the fireworks display, from the Multi Cultural events to the story telling programs for children. Those who wish to be more than just a spectator, are asked to contact either Cathy Ferguson at Ponca City Tomorrow, (580) 767-0823, Lisa Coy at the Chamber, (580) 765-4400 or Tim Burg, (580) 765-2049.

Nearly News

Teenage kindness is alive and well in Ponca City according to a senior citizen who needed assistance walking from Penney’s to Albertsons. The senior was given assistance by Cory Graham and was most appreciative.

Chamber News

A Few Odds and Ends as 1999 Nears ...

Festival of Angels

Special Thanks are certainly in order to all of the sponsors and volunteers who worked diligently to stage this year’s Ponca City Festival of Angels. We’ll all agree that the displays were a true pleasure to see.

In Oklahoma, there are perhaps six or eight communities which go “all out” to mark the Holiday Season with outdoor Christmas displays. Ponca City’s effort provides a source of enjoyment for local residents and large numbers of visitors who travel here to see the sights and share our city’s unique brand of Christmas spirit. Congratulations on a job well done!

Last Chance to Win

Here’s a final reminder with regard to the Holiday Giveaway. The Grand Prize drawings, which took place on December 20 at Sullins Stadium, drew a large throng of ticket holders who were on hand to see if they were the winners of $10,000 in prizes that were given away. But that wasn’t the end of the Holiday Giveaway program sponsored by local businesses as a way to say “Thank You For Shopping in Ponca City”. Ten additional numbers were drawn for another $500 in prizes. Those numbers are:

023381 132322 060373

222588 083436 314225

112937 331971 121734

427424

We hope you kept your ticket stubs. If you have one of the winning numbers, just drop by the Chamber of Commerce office at 420 E. Grand to claim your prize. The deadline is two weeks from December 28.

Governor’s Inaugural Ball

On January 9, Ponca City has been given the honor of again hosting the Governor’s Inaugural Ball. The event will be held at the Marland Mansion and promises to be a truly enjoyable and historic evening. It also will provide our city with an opportunity to be in the statewide spotlight. If you haven’t yet purchased your tickets to the Inaugural Ball, now’s the time to take care of that. Tickets are on sale at Pioneer Bank and are $35 per person. Everyone is invited and the Organizing Committee in charge of the event is looking to a large crowd to be in attendance. The Inaugural Ball is a chance to be a part of our state’s history. Come on out and enjoy the evening!

Chamber Elects New Officers

The Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce recently elected a slate of officers who will serve the Chamber, its members and our community as we enter what promises to be another year of accomplishment and challenge for Ponca City. Serving as the core leadership group for 1999 will be: Craig Myers, Chairman; Barry Bickle, Chairman-Elect; Karen Furman, Vice-Chairman; Jim Lindsay, Treasurer; Richard Severance, Immediate Past Chairman and Jan Jarrett, President/CEO.

We appreciate the willingness of these people, along with the many volunteers who give so freely of their time to work diligently on behalf of Ponca City to help make it a better place for all of us to both live, and make a living. They deserve your support and encouragement.

A Very Special History Lesson

A final note ... This past week, a rather unusual meeting was held. Invitations were received to attend a Birthday Party for two of Ponca City’s long time leaders. Upon arrival, best wishes were passed all around among those in attendance. Following a cordial luncheon, the program then turned to regaling the honorees with stories about themselves and earlier times in Ponca City. Some were funny, some inspiring and others told of special milestones in our history as a community. All were told with a special reason in mind.

You see ... this gathering was more than just a Birthday Party ... it was held to mark another year, in a more than thirty year tradition, of drawing local people together for the primary purpose of passing on the deep and rich history and lore of Ponca City by sharing the experiences of those who have led the way throughout the years. Knowing how we came to be who we are today through this oral history lesson was an event to cherish and remember.

As we enter 1999, the last year of this Millennium, we extend to you our sincere wishes for a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, Jan. 5 — Education Committee, 11:45 a.m., Chamber Conference Room.

Wednesday, Jan. 6 — “Give Ponca The Business” Committee, 8:00 a.m., Chamber ConferenceRoom.

Victims Impact Panel Recalls Story

By KATHY ZEHR

News Staff Writer

Out of the files at the office of the Victims Impact Panel office in Newkirk, comes a story of drinking and driving titled the “Doll and the White Rose” The true story is written by an anonymous man whose attitude and life was forever changed by a drunk driver.

“I hurried into the local department store to grab some last minute Christmas gifts ... looked at all the people and grumbled to myself. I would be in here forever and I just had so much to do. Christmas was becoming such a drag. I kinda wished that I could just sleep through Christmas. But I hurried the best I could through all the people in the toy department.

“Once again, I kind of mumbled to myself at the prices of all these toys and wondered if the grandkids would even play with them. I found myself in the doll aisle.

“Out of the corner of my eye I saw a little boy about 5-years old, holding a lovely doll ... he kept touching her hair and held her so gently. I could not help myself, I just kept looking at the little boy and wondered who the doll was for. I watched him turn to a woman, calling his aunt by name and saying ‘Are you sure I don’t have enough money?’

“She replied a bit impatiently, ‘You know that you don’t have enough money for it.’ The aunt told the little boy not to go anywhere — that she had to go get some other things and would be back in a few minutes and she left the aisle.

“The boy continued to hold the doll. After a bit I asked him who the doll was for, and he said, ‘Its the doll my sister wanted so badly for Christmas. She just knew that Santa would bring it.’

“I told him maybe Santa was going to bring it and he said ‘No, Santa can’t go where my sister is — I have to give the doll to my momma to take to her.’ I asked him where his sister was and he looked at me with the saddest eyes and said, ‘She has gone to be with Jesus. My daddy says momma is going to have to go to be with her.’ My heart nearly stopped beating.

“Then the boy looked at me again and said, ‘I told my daddy to tell momma not to go yet — I told him to tell her to wait till I got back from the store.’

“Then he asked me if I wanted to see his picture and I told him I would love to. He pulled out some pictures he had taken at the front of the store. He said, ‘I want my momma to take this with her so she don’t ever forget me. I love my momma so very much and I wish she did not have to leave me, but daddy says she needs to be with my sister.’ I saw that the little boy had lowered his head and had grown very quiet.

“While he was not looking I reached into my purse and pulled out a hand full of bills. I asked the little boy — shall we count that money one more time? He grew excited and said ‘Yes, I just know it has to be enough.’

“So I slipped my money in with his and we began to count it, and of course it was plenty for the doll. He softly said, ‘Thank you Jesus for giving me enough money.’ He said to me, ‘I just asked Jesus to give me enough money to buy this doll so momma can take it with her to give to my sister — and he heard my prayer. I wanted to ask him for enough to buy my momma a white rose, but I didn’t — but he gave me enough to by the doll and a rose for my momma.’ She loves white roses so very, very much’

“In a few minutes the aunt came back and I wheeled my cart away, I could not keep from thinking about the little boy as I finished by shopping in a totally different spirit than when I had started.

“I kept remembering a story I had seen in the newspaper several days earlier about a drunk driver hitting a car and killing a little girl and the mother was in serious condition. The family was trying to decide about removing the life support system. Now, surely this little boy did not belong with that story.

“Two days later, I read in the paper where the family had disconnected the life support and the young woman had died. I could not forget the little boy and just kept wondering if the two were somehow connected.

“Later that day, I could not help myself and bought some white roses and took them to the funeral home where the young woman was.

“There she was, holding a lovely white rose, the beautiful doll and the picture of the little boy in the store. I left there in tears — my life changed forever.

“The love that little boy had for his little sister and his mother was overwhelming and in a split second a drunk driver had ripped his life to pieces.”

Please don’t drink and drive, is the message this holiday season from the Kay County Victims’ Impact Panel, where they hear real stories like the “Doll and the White Rose” every day.

The Panel consists of people from all walks of life whose lives have been affected by drinking and driving and who have a common desire to prevent others from the pain and heartache they have experienced, by working to promote public awareness of the problem.

A speakers panel is made up of victims of drunk driving, firefighters, Highway Patrolmen and other law enforcement officers who talk to groups or convicted drunk drivers about their personal experiences with the consequences of drunk drivers.

For more information, about this important community service, contact Faith Davis, coordinator of Victims Impact Panel at the Kay County Courthouse in Newkirk.

Transplants Happy To Find Home Here

By PATTI PFEIFFER

News Staff Writer

What do three families from south Texas and one from Kansas all have in common? A love and excitement for their new found hometown. And “home sweet home” is the way they all affectionately describe Ponca City.

Alva Garcia is a wife and the mother of three. She and her family moved here over a year ago from Wesloco, Texas. She found not only a good job but a sense of peace and safety here in Ponca City.

“Where we come from there is a large population, and it was hard to find work. There were a lot of drugs and it is a pretty hard place to raise your children,” she says. “This is a great place to live. It is a small town and there is no crime. We really enjoy living here.”

Her enthusiasm is echoed among the other “newcomers.” Mona Knight came here with her family three years ago from Great Bend, Kan. And her family enjoys Ponca City as much as she does.

“There are so many parks here and so much for kids to do. There’s no time for them to get into trouble because there’s so much available to them,” she says. “My oldest daughter told me the other day that she hopes we never win the lottery because if we did she’s fearful that we would want to move and she doesn’t ever want to ever have to leave Ponca City.”

Alfonso Terrazas is originally from El Paso, Texas and upon high school graduation he headed north for Ponca City. Here he has found opportunities and in three years has worked his way up to a supervisory position at a local company.

“I love everything about Ponca City. The parks are well kept, there are good schools, and anything you want to do is close by. The big city is close but you can still sit on your front porch and holler at your next door neighbor,” Terrazas says. “Since day one everyone here has been very, very friendly.”

And Jose Medrano, his wife and their two children are proud to also call Ponca City home.

“Everywhere we go people have been great to us and helped us,” Jose Medrano says. “This is a great place to live and a great place to raise a family.”

Since moving here all four families have bought a home and laid down roots, roots it seems that if the families have any say in the matter will not be transplanted any time soon.

DEATHS

Elva Lea Henderson
Stephen A. Hinton
Lillie F. Sebor
Orla Ancle Flaker
David Loren Moore
Lorene E. Rodgers
Patrick T. Edwards

Elva Lea Henderson

BLACKWELL — Elva Lea Henderson, former Blackwell resident, died Wednesday morning, Dec. 30, 1998, at her home in Ponca City. She was 59.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, 1999, at the Roberts and Son Funeral Home in Blackwell. The Rev. Rick Longcrier, Blackwell First Baptist Church, will officiate. Burial will be in the Blackwell Cemetery.

Elva Lea (Huhn) Henderson was born Aug. 26, 1939, to Lawrence M. and Thelma A. (Mitchell) Huhn. She grew up in Blackwell and graduated from Blackwell High School in 1957.

She married Gene Arley Henderson on Nov. 23, 1956, in Blackwell, where they made their first home. In 1962, they moved to Joliet, Ill., and Mrs. Henderson began employment with American Greeting Cards Company. As they began their family, Mrs. Henderson became a full time homemaker. They moved to Ponca City in 1978, and Mrs. Henderson began employment with Farm Fresh Dairy. She retired from Farm Fresh on Nov. 1, 1998 as head of the Human Resources Department. She was a member of the Blackwell First Baptist Church, Beta Sigma Phi sorority and was active in several bowling leagues in Ponca City.

Survivors include her husband, Gene Henderson of Ponca City; one daughter, Gena Westerman of Ottawa, Kan.; one son, Ty Henderson of Arlington, Texas; her father, Lawrence Huhn of Blackwell; and two grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her mother.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Henderson’s name to Hospice of Ponca City, c/o Roberts Funeral Home, 120 West Padon, Blackwell, OK 74631.

The family will visit with friends and relatives at 1204 South Eleventh Street, Blackwell, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Stephen A. Hinton

Stephen A. Hinton, lifelong Ponca City resident, died Monday, Dec. 28, 1998, at his home. He was 49.

The funeral service will be Saturday, Jan. 2, 1999, 10 a.m. in the chapel of the Trout Funeral Home with pastor, Bob Innis, Word of Life Christian Center, officiating. Burial will follow in Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery with military honors provided by Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 750.

Casket bearers will be Jimmy Monsour, Dane Monsour, Frank Renbarger, Harold Miskulin, Paul Waldron, and Kinzie Hinton.

Born March 6, 1949, in Ponca City, he was the son of Billy Bob and Jacqueline Wilson Hinton. He attended Ponca City schools, graduating from Po-Hi in 1967. Hinton joined the U.S. Army and served a tour in Vietnam.

Following his discharge he earned a degree in accounting at Oklahoma State University. At the time of his death he was employed as a computer technician at Midwest Computers and More. He enjoyed golf and horseshoes, and loved working with computers.

He is survived by his mother, Jacqueline Hinton of Ponca City; a sister, Jean Weingart of Ponca City; three brothers, Glenn Hinton and Craig Hinton, both of Ponca City, and Bill Hinton of Oklahoma City. He was preceded in death by his father, Bill Hinton, on Aug. 10, 1998.

Memorials may be made to Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Heart Research, 825 N.E. Thirteenth Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73105.

The family will be at 1501 East Oklahoma.

Lillie F. Sebor

Lillie F. Sebor, longtime Ponca City area resident, died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1998, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was 88.

An evening vigil service will be held at 5 p.m. Friday at Grace Memorial Chapel with the Rev. John J. Michalicka, pastor, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, officiating. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday Jan. 2, 1999, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with the Rev. Michalicka as celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.

Lillie (Malon) Sebor was born Jan. 7, 1910, in Caddo County, Okla., the daughter of Louis and Bessie (Kvasnica) Malon. She attended the Stronge Catholic School in Amber, Okla.

She was married to Arnold Sebor on Oct. 3, 1929, in Anadarko. The couple made their home on a farm in rural Kay County, two miles south of Kildare. Mrs. Sebor was active in all operations of the farm. She managed all operations of the farm after the death of her husband until 1985, when she moved to Ponca City. Mrs. Sebor had opened the farm to tours for area schoolchildren to see the variety of animals raised there, including flocks of turkeys, chicks, ducks and geese.

She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the 55 and Older Card Club and the Polka Club in Pond Creek. True to her Czech heritage, the polka was her favorite music and she enjoyed listening to polka programs on the radio.

Surviving are a son, John Sebor, of Ponca City; two daughters, Joan Williams and Anna Stuever, both of Ponca City; two sisters, Beatrice Polifka of Enid and Elizabeth Wells of Del City; one brother, George Malon, of Anadarko; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; a daughter Celestine; and a son Ernest.

Casket bearers will be Don Sebor, Greg Sebor, Bobby Sebor, J. Paul Williams, Bill Stuever, and Ronald Sebor Sr.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Sebor’s name to St. Mary’s Catholic Church 408 South Eighth, Ponca City, OK 74601, or to the American Diabetes Association, c/o Lori Hodges at Pioneer Bank and Trust, P.O. Box 111, Ponca City, OK 74601.

The family will be at the Stuever home, 1250 East Furguson Road, five miles North of Ponca City.

Orla Ancle Flaker

BLACKWELL — Orla Ancle Flaker, longtime Blackwell resident, died Tuesday morning, Dec. 29, 1998, at Hillcrest Manor Nursing Home. He was 85.

The funeral is set for 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, 1999, at the Blackwell First Christian Church. The Rev. Rick Longcrier of Blackwell First Baptist Church will officiate. Burial will be in the Blackwell Cemetery under the direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home.

Orla Ancle Flaker was born July 31, 1913, in Minden, Mo., to Oral A. and Jesse (Sailor) Flaker. He grew up and attended schools in Minden, graduating in 1932. He attended Pittsburg State College in Pittsburg, Kan. for one year, then returned to rural Minden to farm.

He married Jennie Procko on Nov. 28, 1935, in Missouri and the couple made their first home in Barton County, Mo. In 1949, they moved to Miami, Okla., where he worked for Prudential Insurance. In 1957, they moved to Blackwell, where he continued in the insurance business. While living in Blackwell, he was active in several civic functions and helped with the development of the Kitty Huston Complex and the Senior Citizens Center. He was a member of the Blackwell First Christian Church.

Survivors include two sons, Richard of Wichita, Kan., and Nick of Odessa, Texas; three sisters, Dixie Beal of Kansas, Floda Stanback of Independence, Kan., and Juanita Rogers of Lamar, Mo.; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife on Oct. 16, 1998; his parents; and three sisters, Bonnel Myers, Twylet Jones, and Bernie Procko.

Casket bearers will be Floyd Buesing, JoDel Shepherd, Frank Dyer, Sam Barber, J.C. Estes, and Paul Love.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Flaker’s name to the First Christian Church, 306 East Coolidge, Blackwell, OK 74631.

Obituaries

David Loren Moore

TONKAWA — David Loren Moore, longtime resident of the Tonkawa and Lamont communities, died Tuesday evening, Dec. 29, 1998, at his home in Tonkawa. He was 54 years of age.

The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, 1999, at the McCafferty-Bolick Funeral Home, Tonkawa. Mr. Ronald Richmond will preside over the service.

David Loren Moore was born Sept. 20, 1944, in Tonkawa, the son of George L. Moore and Dorothy Maxine (Marston) Moore. He received his early education in the Lamont public schools, graduating from Lamont High School in 1962. He later attended Okmulgee Tech where he learned skills in auto mechanics.

He entered the U.S. Navy on Oct. 10, 1962. He served during the Vietnam War era as a jet engine mechanic with tours of duty on the aircraft carriers USS Wasp and the USS Ranger. He was honorably discharged from the Navy on Oct. 7, 1966. He then returned to Lamont where he entered into auto mechanic work.

He was married to Elda Hodges on Nov. 5, 1970, at the First Christian Church in Stillwater, and the couple made their home in Tonkawa. He was a member of the First Christian Church of Lamont. He enjoyed his family, small engine repair, motorcycles and playing pool.

He is survived by his wife, Elda, of the home; his mother, Dorothy Moore of Ponca City; one son, Elton Ray Moore Hodges of Tonkawa; and one daughter, Tracy Bailey of Tonkawa; one sister, Georgianna Adams of Ponca City; two grandsons, Michael Loren Hodges of California and Garrett Bailey of Tonkawa; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, George L. Moore.

Honorary casket bearers will be Charley True, Travis Logan, Curtis Hicks, Gary Nicholas, Steve Ballinger and Bobby Phillips.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Ponca City, 1904 North Union, Suite 103, Ponca City, OK 74601 or to the Blackwell Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 401 East Dewey. Blackwell, OK 74631.

The family will receive family and friends from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at McCafferty-Bolick Funeral Home, 400 East Grand, Tonkawa.

The casket will be closed at the service.

paid obituary

Services Pending

Lorene E. Rodgers

Lorene E. Rodgers, Ponca City resident, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1998, at Shawn Manor Nursing Home. She was 85. Arrangements are pending with Trout Funeral Home.

Funerals

Saturday

Patrick T. Edwards

Memorial service at 11 a.m. at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church in Midland, Texas. Arrangements are under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home, Midland.

NEWS BRIEFS

Vehicle Fire — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department requested a fire department unit to the 500 block of North Eighth Street at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday for a possible vehicle fire. A unit from the Ponca City Fire Department responded and information was logged that it was just heavy smoke.

Free Pregnancy test. Birth

Choice cares. Confidential.

Hours: Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., Wed-

nesday, 1-3 p.m. and Thursday, 6-

8 p.m. 700 West Broadway. adv.

Harassment — The Communications Center received a 911 call at 3:25 p.m. Wednesday from the 1200 block of Dixie Avenue concerning a disturbance. An officer was assigned and a report was taken on harassment.

Dougan's Bar-B-Q Friday spe-

cial from 4-8 p.m., all you can eat

ribs with beans, potato salad and

coleslaw, $7.49. 215 South 14th,

765-7979. adv.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of East South Avenue and South Ninth Street at 10:48 a.m. Wednesday that a 50-year-old man was being held on a city warrant for failure to pay.

New Years Eve Party at Ponca

Bowl. 2000 Lake Road 9:00 p.m.

to 2 a.m. Must be 21 years and

older. One price includes party

food and favors, soft drinks, jack

pots and bowling. Call to reserve

spots. 762-3333. adv.

Accident — An accident in a parking lot of the 700 block of North Fourteenth Street was reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 1:23 p.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Kaw City Old Town Cafe,

chicken enchiladas. Sunday $5.89

all day, January 3. adv.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 600 block of North Osage Street at 2:24 p.m. Wednesday that a 34-year-old man was being held on Kay County warrants.

Dougan's Bar-B-Q Thursday

special from 4-? 1/2 BBQ chicken

with 2 vegetables. $4.25. 215

South 14th. 765-7979. adv.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 400 block of South Fourteenth Street at 4:33 p.m. Wednesday that a 25-year-old woman was being held on a city warrant for a dog violation.

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.

Citation Issued — The Ponca City Police Department received a report at 5:09 p.m. Wednesday that a black pickup in a street in the 700 block of North Birch Street was parked illegally. An officer was assigned and a citation was issued.

Kaw City Old Town Cafe. KC

Strip and shrimp $11.99. New

Years, January 1. adv.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 500 block of North Osage Street at 5:42 p.m. Wednesday that a 36-year-old woman was being held on a city warrant for failure to appear.

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.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 1000 block of North Ash Street at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday that a 25-year-old woman was being held on a city warrant for failure to appear.

Carpet Need Cleaning? Con-

fused about who or what to use?

Call Floorcraft 762-8381, let us

help you make the right choice.

Call Mr. Clean at Floorcraft. adv.

Stereo Stolen — A man reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 8:05 p.m. Wednesday that while parked in the 2900 block of North Fourteenth Street someone had broken into his vehicle and stole the stereo. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Bicycle Abandoned — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported at 1:47 a.m. Thursday that a bicycle had been abandoned in the 1400 block of West Grand Avenue in the front yard area of the Middle School. The information was transferred to Animal Control.

Vehicle Recovered — A woman from the 500 block of Glendale Avenue reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 8:57 p.m. Wednesday that her vehicle had been stolen from the driveway. Information was logged that keys had been left in the vehicle and it was running. An officer was assigned, and while taking a report, received information from another officer that the vehicle was being pursued north on Twelfth Street from South Avenue. The vehicle was stopped at 9:27 p.m. just west of Flormable on Central Avenue, and a 31-year-old man was held for possession of stolen property, DUI, attempting to elude, leaving the scene of a property damage accident and reckless driving.

Accident — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of North Fifth Street and East Hartford Avenue at 9:06 p.m. Wednesday that an accident had occurred, as a result of one driver’s vehicle losing the brakes.

Vandalism — A person from the 3100 block of Meadow Lane reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 9:40 p.m. Wednesday that some Christmas lights had been vandalized. An officer was assigned and the information was logged.

Vehicle Fire — The Communications Center received a 911 call at 10 p.m. Wednesday that a vehicle was on fire in the parking lot of Hastings. A unit from the Ponca City Fire Department responded and handled the situation.

Vehicles Burglarized — A woman from the 1800 block of North Fourth Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 10:39 p.m. Wednesday that her vehicle had been burglarized and a purse stolen. An officer was assigned and a report was taken that two vehicles had been burglarized in the area.

Requests Assistance — A man in the 1000 block of South Sixth Street requested an officer of the Ponca City Police Department at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday concerning a 40-year-old man seeing his 15-year-old daughter. An officer was assigned and a report was taken on the situation.

Library Closed Friday — The Ponca City Library will be closed at 6 p.m. today and remained closed through New Year’s Day, Friday. Start the New Year right and visit the Library when it reopens on Jan. 2, 1999 at 9 a.m.

GARDENING

Ferreting Out Critters That Wreak Havoc in Yards
Flowering Maple Brings Color Indoors

Ferreting Out Critters That Wreak Havoc in Yards

By Sally McKee

Copley News Service

Bill Murray dropped dynamite into the holes of gophers in the movie “Caddyshack.” Audiences across the land laughed at Murray’s fanatical pursuit of eradicating those creatures from the golf course.

For some homeowners, the war with moles in their yard is equally intense.

They’ve tried drowning, choking, impaling, poisoning, starving, smoke bombing and basically causing the furry creatures to go insane to keep them from creating burrows in their neatly trimmed yards.

And, most have failed.

Meet “Dr. Mole.”

Dr. David Copeland, a retired pediatrician, is a hero among grass growers. Copeland has singlehandedly taken out 104 moles since 1989.

“I advocate trapping,” he said matter-of-factly. “It’s the only way you can do it.” He dismisses other mole-removal techniques, having tried them all. A lot of people advocate grub removal, saying it will starve out the moles, he said. But grubs are not the mole’s primary source of food­earthworms are, and the treatments don’t kill the worms. “I have tried everything,” he said. “Nothing works (except trapping).”

Copeland knows his moles. He has read all the material he can find about moles and even kept a few live ones as pets for a while to study them. He has a mole mounted on a board in his house. He donated a mole skull to a nature center.

“If you look at the skull you can see why chewing gum doesn’t work,” he said. “They can’t chew gum. Their teeth are not designed for chewing.”

His pursuit of moles began in the spring of 1988 when he noticed paths of destruction in the 1.3-acre lot of his new home. “They were everywhere,” he said. “I’d get up in the morning and a 10-by-20-foot area would be blown up. I’d tramp it down and the next day there would be more destruction just a few feet away.

“One day, with tears in my eyes, I said to my wife, ‘I don’t think we can take it; we have to sell,’” he recalled. Some people learn to live with it, he said. He chose to fight back. He concedes that not everyone agrees with his mole-murdering practice; but, in defense, says, “if they are opposed to killing moles, they have never dealt with the problem in their own yard.”

And it’s not like moles are an endangered species, Copeland is quick to point out. Besides, there are plenty of places for moles to live, such as parks and other wooded areas.

If you notice the trademark burrowing of the mole in your yard, tramp down the runs (the “mole dance”) or the grass will die because the roots will dry out, Copeland advises.

Then, decide if you can live with it or want to try to free your lawn from moles. If you select the latter, you might want to check out “Dr. Mole,” a book written by Copeland with advice, diagrams and stories of how to get rid of moles. It is available at nurseries and garden centers in Peoria, where Copeland lives.

Along with advice, you get a sampling of Copeland’s sometimes humorous look at the furry critters. He writes: “They are crafty, wily, marvelously attuned to their environment and guided by instincts that have served them well for eons. After one of them successfully evades capture time and time again in my trap sets, I begin to wonder if, like the proverbial cat, they don’t have nine or more lives.”

At one time, Copeland made mole rounds in his yard similar to hospital rounds to see patients. Now that his problem is under control, he checks the lawn every third or fourth day-, so far, he has eliminated only one mole.

Now, if he could only keep the deer out of his flowers..

Moles are amazingly adept at survival, and some homeowners are amazingly persistent in pursuing them.

Here is a sampling of what some people have tried in their pursuit of moles:

Roll up pieces of chewing gum, drop them into the mole runs. The moles try to consume them, can’t digest them and die. Most experts agree this does not work.

Purchase gadgets that emit high-frequency sounds or cause vibrations in the yard, such as spinning daisies. They are supposed to drive the moles insane. Again, goodluck.

Grow Gopher Purge. This is one “honking-big ugly plant,” according to Genny Gibbs, horticulturist at Illinois Central College. But she asks, “Is it uglier than the damage the moles cause?” It is tall (3 to 4 feet high) with slender, green, reedlike leaves and produces small pale yellowish-white flowers. They have no scent that humans can detect, but the roots allegedly emit a scent the moles can’t stand.

Grub control. Treat your lawn with grub control to eliminate the moles’source of food. Note: Moles also eat earthworms, which the treatment does not kill.

Buy traps that trigger a sharp spike that snaps down and pierces the moles.

Buy live traps that save the moles to be released at another site.

Water Put a hose into a run and let the water pour in for a few hours. Note: Moles can swim.

Try using cats or dogs to keep moles away. Note. Moles are most active at night.

Poison peanuts: Shelled peanuts coated with a poison. Drop them down into the tunnels — don’t leave in a yard with children. Note: Moles can’t chew.

Obsession: Gibbs told the story of a man who would spend hours in his yard watching the moles dig their tunnels. When he saw one, he would take his shovel and decapitate it.

“How much time are you willing to devote to this?” wondered Gibbs.

Flowering Maple Brings Color Indoors

By LEE REICH

For AP Special Features

Maple trees, having shed their dazzling leaves, no longer command attention. So turn your eyes indoors to a houseplant called flowering maple. Colorful flowers hang like miniature hoop skirts from the branches. The flower petals — colored white, yellow, salmon-pink, or various shades of red — are each about an inch long, and protruding from their common center is a column of powderpuff yellow stamens.

Just a glance at flowering maple’s blossoms brings to mind the similar blossoms of okra, hibiscus, and rose of Sharon. All these plants are in the same family, the mallow family. Although flowering maples are not really maples at all, they get their name from their maple-shaped leaves. The leaves of some varieties are jazzed up with splashes of yellow. But the main attraction is the flowers which, although never dripping in abundance from every stem, do put on a reliable show all year, even through winter when any blossom is welcome.

Flowering maple also is easy to grow. In fact, growth is so vigorous that a plant quickly can outgrow its bounds. So watch out not to use too large a pot or to overfertilize the plant. Once the plant is as big as you want, let it stay somewhat cramped in its pot and slightly hungry. Do give flowering maple a sunny window, though.

Spring is a good time to repot a flowering maple plant. Unless you’re going to move the plant to a larger pot, cut back roots and soil from all around and under the root ball, then put the plant back into its pot with new potting soil. Also prune at this time. Cutting back stems balances root loss during repotting and stimulates new growth on which flowers are borne.

You can pinch the stems to train a flowering maple various ways. If you want a lot of branches to spread and fill a hanging basket, just keep pinching stem tips each time they have grown a few inches.

To train the plant, instead, to a single vertical stem, stake one stem, cut away all others, and pinch off all side branches as they develop. When the upright stem finally reaches a couple of feet in height, pinch off its tip, which will cause branching on top.

When you prune in spring, just shorten and thin out branches that grow near the top of that single, upright stem. With all this pinching and pruning, your plant will develop a trunk crowned with a head of leafy shoots — not unlike, in form, true maples that grow outdoors.

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