LOCAL

Tonkawa Meth Lab Busted By Police
Local Churches Plan Christmas Eve Services
Millennium Celebration Countdown Is On
District Court
Nearly News
Wildcats Snag a State Champion
Two Contests At Grand Central Station on Dec. 31
Camp Cimarron Horses Safe
Outdoor Pets Need Special Care in Preparing for Cold

Tonkawa Meth Lab Busted By Police

By MARK GALVIN

News Staff Writer

TONKAWA — Three people were arrested overnight after law enforcement officials served a search warrant at a Tonkawa residence and found an alleged methamphetamine laboratory in the loft of the detached garage behind the house.

Authorities reported Kevin Ingmire, 35, of Tonkawa, and Gary Brien, 31, and Jaclyn Brien, 28, both of Pawnee, were jailed this morning at the county detention facility and were facing charges of illegal methamphetamine manufacture in District Court.

The bust resulted in the confiscation of four firearms and two vehicles, along with an estimated $3,000-to-$5,000 worth of methamphetamine believed to be extracted from over-the-counter antihistamines.

Tonkawa Police Chief David Arent said a “no-knock” warrant was served at around midnight following information obtained about the operation in a week-long investigation.

The bust involved the assistance of the Kay County Sheriff’s Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the district attorney’s drug task force.

Investigator Freddie Garza of the drug task force said the alleged operation at the Tonkawa residence, which is located two blocks away from the Northern Oklahoma College campus, appeared to be a later step in a certain method of processing methamphetamine. The preliminary steps of the process — which produce a smell that resembles cat urine — were conducted at a rural location, Garza said.

Arent said the overnight bust required 30 hours of overtime for Tonkawa police officers Gary Wingo and Robert Price. “It was worth every bit of it,” he said.

The bust is part of area authorities’ increased watch on chemicals used to extract meth from substances such as non-prescription cold remedies.

Narcotics investigator James Leone of the DA’s Drug Task Force said public awareness of illegal meth lab operations is important to get some control over the problem.

He listed several items that in sufficient quantities or combinations can indicate the intentions of a homemade meth lab, such as large quantities of iodine crystals, Vicks Inhalers, cold medications that contain ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, anhydrous ammonia, Red Devil lye, and any form of acetone, toluene and paint thinner.

Leone’s list includes unusual quantities of starting fluid (for ether), denatured alcohol (for filtering), ammonia cleaning products, dry ice — to extract pure ammonia, and three-volt lithium batteries usually used for cameras (the lithium strips inside the battery are used for cooking process).

“A lot of this stuff they’ll steal because they know we are watching,” Leone said.

Citizens or merchants who become suspicious can call the sheriff’s office at 580/362-2517 or the narcotics unit of the district attorney’s office at 580/362-2571.

Kay County Sheriff Craig Countryman said, “People see suspicious things all the time; they just don’t always think to call us.”

“We’re not trying to slam anybody’s product … or raise eyebrows toward everybody,” Countryman said. “But if someone’s buying large quantities of these items and you know they don’t have a cold and they’re not the type to be fertilizing tomato plants, we would like to know about it.”

Local Churches Plan Christmas Eve Services

By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE

News Staff Writer

Christmas Eve services have been scheduled for several area churches, including First Lutheran, Prince of Peace, First United Methodist, First Baptist, St. Mary’s, First Christian, First Presbyterian and Grace Episcopal.

First Lutheran

Beginning at 7 p.m., there will be the Family Service of Lessons and Carols. Various family groups will read the seven lessons which will be interspersed with Christmas carols. The service will end with a candle lighting ceremony. At 11 p.m., the candlelight Communion service will be held.

Prince of Peace

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church has set a Christmas Eve service for 7 p.m. The service includes Christmas Carols and Holy Communion.

First United Methodist

Two candlelight Communion services are planned for First United Methodist Church. Special services are scheduled at 8 and 11 p.m.

Special music will include Pete and Donna Butler singing “Christmas Means Thinking of Jesus.” Throughout the services there will be Christmas Carols sung by the congregation.

First Baptist Church

The candlelight Christmas Eve service at First Baptist Church will begin at 5:30 p.m. Christmas carols will be sung and there will be special musical numbers.

Providing the special music will be Stephanie Council, Mary Jane Barraclough, Lance Johnson, Chris Johnson and Robert Ywang.

There will be a special Christmas sermon by the Rev. Hance Dilbeck.

St. Mary’s Catholic Church

Three Christmas Masses have been scheduled for St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The first Mass is set for 4:30 p.m., with Katherine Paschal providing special music.

The second service at 6:30 p.m., features the Junior Choir and Lisa Hermes playing the flute. The 11:30 p.m. service features the Adult Choir and a brass quartet. Members of the quartet are Katie Mulligan, Ben Hay, Tim Connelly and Jarod Merle.

Christmas morning Mass is set for 9 a.m. Special music will be by Katie Mulligan who will be playing the trumpet. Christmas Day Mass is at 11 a.m., and will be in Spanish.

First Christian Church

Christmas Eve service at First Christian Church will be a candlelight Communion service beginning at 6 p.m.

Special music during the services will be a piano solo by Blake Braden, a violin number by Kelsey Hill and songs by the Marvin Clark Family.

First Presbyterian Church

The Candlelight Communion service at First Presbyterian Church begins at 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Special music will be by Kati and Jacque Salmons.

The Chancellor Choir will sing and soloists are Ed Nanni and Jacque Salmons.

Grace Episcopal

Grace Episcopal Church will have a family Mass with the children’s story at 4 p.m.

The Festival Mass (Midnight Mass) is set for 11 p.m. with special music by the Grace Church Handbell Choir; Mark Moore, Guitarist; Kati Salmons, flutist.

Homilist will be Father Bob Seney, former Assistant Rector of Grace Church. Celebrant for both masses will be Father Ken Armstrong, Rector, assisted by Deacon Steve Mallory.

Millennium Celebration Countdown Is On

The Ponca City Millennium Celebration is getting closer. The Dec. 30-31 event is a wholesome, entertaining, drug-, alcohol- and litter-free event for people of all ages said a committee spokesperson.

Starting out the celebration on Thursday, Dec. 30 are two events. At 7:30 p.m. at Hutchins Memorial, the contemporary Christian group, Big Tent Revival, will be performing a free concert. At 8 p.m., former Ponca Citian Argus Hamilton, stand up comedian will be performing at the Poncan Theatre. Featured as warm up acts for Argus will be skits from former Taste & Tasteless shows. The Hamilton show is by ticket only. A few tickets remain and can be purchased at Home National Bank, Second and Grand, from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. during the weekdays.

Big Tent Revival

Big Tent Revival currently has received five Grammy nominations, one for every album they have recorded. Driven by a desire for musical excellence and spiritual maturity, Steve Wiggins, guitar/vocals; Spence Smith, drums; Randy Williams, lead guitar, Steve Dale, bass; and David Alan, keyboard, hit the road for 200 plus dates per year for one single purpose — to tell the world about Jesus.

Although Big Tent Revival thrives on ministering to their audience, they also recognize the necessity of receiving ministry and spiritual authority in their lives.

Big Tent Revival will be performing at Hutchins Memorial on Thursday, Dec. 30, and is a free concert. This event is sponsored by the Millennium Commission, area church youth groups and KLVV 88.7 FM Radio.

Argus Hamilton

Oklahoma born and bred, Argus Hamilton has been dubbed “the Will Rogers of the Baby Boom” by no less than Robin Williams. Like the great cowboy philosopher, Hamilton splits his time between live comedy performances and writing a daily newspaper column, riding roughshod over every social and political convention of American society.

Argus is the son, grandson and great-grandson of Methodist ministers in the south. (His dad was the minister of First United Methodist Church here in the 1960’s.) Argus graduated from Ponca City High School in 1969 and from the University of Oklahoma in 1976. He went on to find his own “congregation” at The Comedy Store on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood. Mitzi Shore, owner of The Comedy Store, was responsible for giving Argus his start in 1976.

In 1980, Johnny Carson gave Argus his first network TV break, and Argus has since appeared on the air with Johnny 25 times.

While he prefers the Sunset Strip to working “the road,” Argus has regularly starred in Las Vegas at The Dunes and the Golden Nugget.

Argus Hamilton’s material is always up-to-the minute, continuously evolving with the day’s news reports. His act is completely clean and topical. His latest jokes are published Monday through Friday as a daily column in Oklahoma City’s “The Daily Oklahoman.” Like his comic idols, Will Rogers, Bob Hope and Johnny Carson, Argus has an uncanny knack for extracting punchlines from the headlines.

Argus will be performing on Thursday, Dec. 30 at the Poncan Theatre at 8 p.m. This show is by reserved tickets only — and there are approximately 100 tickets left. The remaining tickets are $10 and are available at Home National Bank.

“The Best (or Worst) of Taste and Tasteless”

Serving as “warm-up acts” for Argus will be local talents performing skits from previous “Taste and Tasteless” performances. Audience members will be in for quite a treat with this array of “local talent.”

Foster Johnson will be the director and emcee for this event. Featured “performers” will include Phil Bandy, Mike Mott, Steve Huston, Foster Johnson, Randy McDaniel, Mark Brooke, Larry Bittman, Tim Burg, Larry Felix, Bruce Evans, Dave May, Craig Myers, Baird Casey, Jeff Smith, Eric Kurtz, Bobby Gibson, John Northcutt and members of the famous Lawn Chair Brigade. Musicians and behind the stage workers will include Cynthia Crowe, Sue Lippert, Randy Hall, Bill Goldsberry, Sandy Bishop, Don Nuzum, Terry Huston, Karen Rivers, Vickie Hart, and Vickie Dailey.

District Court

Newkirk

Marriage Licenses

Howard Wayne Veach, 28, and Natalia Jane Gonzales, 20, both of Ponca City.

Stephen DeWayne Bagshaw, 21, Ponca City, and Crystal Dawn Lauver, 18, Marland.

Troy Edward Roberts, 21, and Ginny Ann Waycaster, 21, both of Blackwell.

Mark A. Boren, 24, Lincoln, Neb., and Julianne Kristine Stokke, 24, Ponca City.

James Robert Lane, 40, and Michelle Lin Harrison, 32, both of Blackwell.

Civil Petitions

Cross Check Inc. vs. John E. Holden Jr.; plaintiff seeking judgment for $4,500.

Mazda American Credit vs. Hayden W. Jones; plaintiff seeking judgment for $9,010.37.

Sears Roebuck & Company vs. Robert C. Christian; plaintiff seeking judgment for $3,322.60.

Nearly News

For those planning to be on hand for the 7 p.m. Christmas Giveaway at Sullins Stadium tonight, the gates will open at 5:30 p.m. Parking will be scarce, according to Lisa Coy, vice president of the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce.

Wildcats Snag a State Champion

By FRED HILTON

News Sports Editor

Merry Christmas, Ponca City football fans!

The Wildcats got an early Christmas gift Wednesday when Watonga’s Frank Piccirillo accepted the head football coaching position at Ponca City High School.

Piccirillo, 49, has been the coach at Watonga for the past 10 years, leading the Class 2A Eagles to two state championships in four trips to the state finals. Watonga won back-to-back titles in 1993-94 and were runners-up in 1992 and 1997.

Piccirillo was offered the position after Po-Hi athletic director Rusty Benson and the selection committee went through 41 applications from Oklahoma and 10 other states, some as far away as South Dakota and North Carolina.

The list included coaches of 14 state championship teams.

“I welcome the challenge of coaching at Ponca City,” Piccirillo said Wednesday night. “It has been a goal of mine to coach at that level. I think, with some hard work, we can turns things around for the Wildcats.

“I’m not a miracle worker. But I think we can be successful.”

Last season, the Wildcats were 1-9 under Benson, who served as an interim coach. Ponca City has not had a winning season nor appeared in the playoffs since 1986.

Piccirillo’s hiring is conditional on his being released at Watonga and accepted by the Ponca City Board of Education at its next meeting.

“I think [Piccirillo] is a good fit for our team and for Ponca City,” Benson said.

A native of Shelton, Conn., Piccirillo played college football at Oklahoma’s Panhandle State, starting for two years as a linebacker.

He has coached in Oklahoma since 1981. He was head football coach at Texhoma from 1984 to 1990. He moved from there to Watonga as athletic director and head football coach.

At Texhoma, Piccirillo’s team went undefeated during the regular season for three years, 1987-89. The Class A Red Devils were district champions those three seasons and were bi-district champs in 1986-87.

In 16 years as a head coach, Piccirillo has a record of 159 wins and 36 losses. His streak of 16 consecutive winning seasons was broken this year when the Eagles finished 5-5. His teams have had 13 straight playoff appearances.

Two Contests At Grand Central Station on Dec. 31

An “Old Time Fiddler’s Contest” will be held at Grand Central Station 2:30 and 4 p.m. on Dec. 31. Everyone is eligible and participants should sign up as soon as possible.

There is to be a swing dance contest to “In the Mood” type music at Grand Central Station between 6 and 7 o’clock. Everyone is eligible and welcome to enter.

In both contests, the prizes are: first prize is $200 cash, Second prize is $100 cash, and third prize is $50 cash for both of the individual contests above. The sign up sheets will be at the Chamber of Commerce until Dec. 31, and they will then be moved to Grand Central Station for sign up. If there is a partner split, that will be the signee’s responsibility. Signups will be taken until the contest starts.

Camp Cimarron Horses Safe

STILLWATER (AP) — Children who visit Camp Cimarron during the holidays won’t have to do without some of their favorite four-legged friends after all.

Punky, Savannah and Pass-em were back at the Camp Fire Boys and Girls facility Wednesday, a day after the stolen horses were recovered in Oklahoma City.

As Jennifer Tucker and Jan Robinson, assistant executive director for Camp Fire Boys and Girls, were hauling the horses to the camp near Coyle, people in the Camp Fire office were calling children to let them know that the horses were safe.

Ms. Robinson of Edmond said the children had been ‘‘beside themselves’’ since the horses were stolen from the camp during the weekend.

Mrs. Tucker of Stillwater, riding director for the camp, said Punky’s tail was missing a little hair and the horses had a couple of bumps and bruises, but all were going to be fine. She said the horses had been a little thirsty and hungry when police were recovering them Tuesday night.

‘‘They’re alive and kicking,’’ Mrs. Tucker said. ‘‘Kicking one another for sure.’’

Mrs. Tucker said the horses immediately knew who they were. She said they are friendly horses.

‘‘That was kind of the tragedy of it. They probably allowed themselves to leave with these people voluntarily,’’ she said.

Oklahoma City police Capt. Charles Allen said the horses were among five recovered after a resident recognized one horse tied to a tree as being an animal mentioned in an article Monday in The Daily Oklahoman. That horse was reunited with its owner.

Allen said officers recovered three saddles and three bridles and some other tack taken from Camp Cimarron. Mrs. Tucker said the camp was still missing quite a bit of tack and saddles and would be in a bind for riding.

The horses were valued at nearly $10,000 and the tack at about $5,000.

The CC Riders, the riding group, works with the horses on weekends and during summer camp. The camp’s other 18 horses were found roaming free after the gates were left open when someone made off with the saddles and tack.

Richard VanBuskirk, 28, was arrested on a complaint of concealing stolen property following the recovery Monday of Amigo, a black-and-white paint gelding stolen from 10-year-old Kelsey Murray. VanBuskirk was being held in the Oklahoma County jail on a $2,000 bond.

Outdoor Pets Need Special Care in Preparing for Cold

Winter is fast approaching and many of us are busy preparing our cars, boats, homes and yards for the cold winter months. Have you stopped to consider that your outdoor pets need some special care to prepare for the cold as well? Here are a few ideas to help ensure that your outdoor four-footed friends stay well through the blustery times to come.

It is always a good idea to take your outdoor pets to your veterinarian for a complete physical in the fall. This is a chance to be sure that there are no health problems starting that you may not have noticed. Intestinal parasite exams are a must. To be sure that your pet is getting the most from its food, and to reduce the stresses that worms put on animal, your veterinarian can perform a stool exam to determine if deworming is necessary. Special attention should be paid to the feet to be sure that the foot pads are healthy and sound. Toe nails should be kept short to avoid problems walking and snagging on frozen ground. Your pet will need to be in good physical condition and able to keep active to generate body heat, getting a physical in the fall helps detect minor problems that may become a big problem in the stress of the Winter cold.

Housing for your pet is also important. The shelter provided should be in good repair, clean, and an appropriate size for your pet. A huge house for a small dog does not allow the dog to efficiently use its body heat to warm the house. If a large dog has too small a house, he can’t get comfortable and body heat is wasted. Check with your veterinarian for an idea of the appropriate sized house for your dog. Repair any cracks and replace any splintering wood. The house should also be repainted and sealed. To reduce drafts and retain heat in the dog house, a door flap should be placed over the door.

The position of your dog’s house should be considered as well. The door of the house should face south and, if possible, there should be something such as bushes or shrubs providing an additional wind break from the north and west sides of the house. Sunshine is a benefit in the winter though, so don’t place the house in a shady spot.

Outdoor cats need consideration for housing as well. Provide a warm and dry place for your outdoor cats to find shelter from the weather. A pet door into a garage or shed will surely be appreciated by your cat when the cold winds blow.

Nutrition is extremely important at all times, but even more so in the winter. Your pet will need extra calories to generate the body heat it needs to stay warm.

DEATHS

F. Lucille Brown
Charles C. Whiles Jr.
Lloyd Caughlin
Oleta M. Stonehocker

Obituaries

F. Lucille Brown

F. Lucille (Young) Brown, longtime Ponca City resident, died Monday, Dec. 20, 1999, at the Belleview Nursing Center in Oklahoma City. She was 85. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 24, 1999, at the Trout Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Hance Dilbeck, pastor, First Baptist Church, officiating.

Lucille was born on Dec. 18, 1914, in Montrose, Colo. to Earle R. and Bessie Frances Paine. At age three her parents moved to Blackwell where her father established the Blackwell Printing Co. Following graduation from Blackwell High School in 1933, she attended Hill’s Business University in Oklahoma City and graduated in 1934. She worked for several years at Southwestern Bell, Carpenter Paper Company, Continental Oil Company, and civil service jobs from which she retired at age 67.

She also worked for a time at the County Courthouse in Newkirk. She married Edwin Young during this period. He preceded her in death in 1973. She moved to Ponca City in 1944 where she was very active in the Ponca City Women’s Club and the Literature Club. She was also very active in the Republican Women’s Club, serving as President for a time, and served as a delegate in Washington, D.C., for the national convention in 1960.

She also was very active in the PTA, had a bible study group for children, wrote articles for The Ponca City News, and was active in the genealogy club at the library. After the death of her husband, she later married Edwin K. Brown in August 1975. He also preceded her in death in 1985. She moved to Oklahoma City in 1998 to be closer to her daughter, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Lucille enjoyed playing the piano, spending time with her family, and loved to go fishing with Ed Young. She was a member of the First Baptist Church.

She is survived by one daughter, Judy Lewis, and her husband Steve of Oklahoma City; one son, Edwin “Andy” Young and his wife Jeannie of Morris, Ill.; one sister, Dorothy Tripp of Orange, Calif.; seven grandchildren, Cathy Fenwick, Tony Thompson, Dawna Lewis, Terry Thompson, Bruce Young, Cindy Whitaker, and Kelly Douglas; 11 great-grandchildren, Daniel and Deidre Graham, Kenneth Keller, James Young, Charity, Amanda, Samantha, and Daniel Douglas, Tara, Kellie, and Brendan Thompson; two great-great-grandchildren, London and Geneva Graham; several nieces and nephews. In addition to her two husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Donald Paine, and one daughter, Meredith A. Johnston.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church, 218 S. Sixth, Ponca City, Ok 74601, or to the Tourette Syndrome Association, 42-40 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361.

paid obituary

Charles C. Whiles Jr.

Charles C. (Charlie) Whiles Jr., 1416 McGraw, died early Wednesday morning, Dec. 22, 1999, at the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. He was 78.

The funeral service will be Friday, 1 p.m., in the Chapel of the Trout Funeral Home with the Rev. Dr. J.D. Ward, pastor, First United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow in Grandview Cemetery, Kaw City.

Mr. Whiles was born April 11, 1921, at Denver, Colo., the son of Charles Clarence and Minnie Elizabeth Bennett Whiles Sr. He grew up and attended schools in Severy, Kan.

On Oct. 29, 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy serving in the Atlantic as well as the Pacific during World War II. He was honorably discharged with the rating of Motor Machinist Mate First Class on Oct. 12, 1945.

Charlie and the former Marion Alice Meredith were married on Sept. 1, 1946, at Eureka, Kan. They lived in Severy, Kan. until moving to Independence, Kan., in 1949 where Mr. Whiles was employed by Stekoll Petroleum Co. In 1951 the couple moved to Shidler where he worked for Phillips Petroleum Co. from 1951 to 1964.

In 1964 Charlie moved the family to Ponca City where he and his wife operated Timz Drive-In until retirement in 1979.

His hobbies during his earlier years were hunting, fishing, and camping. More recently he taught himself to play the guitar and enjoyed taping songs for his grandchildren. He was an active member of the Phillips Men’s Club while in Shidler, and helped develop Little League baseball there. He was also a Boy Scout leader in Shidler. He was a member of America Legion Huff-Minor Post No. 14 in Ponca City.

Survivors include his wife, Marion, of the home; a son, Russell Dean Whiles, Ponca City; a daughter, Sharon Gayle Jones, Edmond; grandchildren, Tina Ann Chase, West Monroe, La., Renee Melanie Whiles, Ponca City, Jeremy David Whiles, Ponca City, Jennifer Diana McKinney, Hackett, Ark., Jon Michael Jones, Las Vegas, Nev., Jeffrey Alan Jones, Edmond.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Melvin, and a grandson, Steven Ronald Whiles.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alexis Whiles Education Fund, in care of Glenda Phillips, Commercial Federal Bank, 400 E. Central, Ponca City, OK 74601 or to the charity of choice.

The family will be at the home, 1416 McGraw.

paid obituary

Services Pending

Lloyd Caughlin

TONKAWA — Lloyd “Bucket” Caughlin, longtime Tonkawa resident, died Wednesday morning, Dec. 22, 1999, at the Blackwell Regional Hospital. He was 63. Arrangements are pending under the direction of McCafferty-Bolick Funeral Home.

Oleta M. Stonehocker

NEWKIRK — Oleta M. Stonehocker, 90, former resident of Newkirk, died Wednesday evening, Dec. 22, 1999, in Mercy Hospital in Independence, Kan. Services are pending with Miller-Stahl Funeral Home in Newkirk.

NEWS BRIEFS

Available — Large clean two-three bedroom house, central heat and air, ceiling fans, garage, phone 762-2785.

The Fox will be open at 1 p.m. Friday Christmas Eve. adv.

Two Rentals Available — 815 and 117 East Madison Avenue, one bedroom house, stove and refrigerator, $175 a month, $175 clean up deposit. Call Darrel Davis at 762-4883 or 765-8533.

Head Country all day Friday special­ All you can eat, smoked BBQ ribs, beans, potato salad,

and coleslaw, only $7.49, all day. 1217 East Prospect. 767-8304. adv.

Nice Rental — 508 West Grand Avenue, nice big two bedroom, $250 a month, $250 clean up deposit. Call Darrel Davis at 762-4883 or 765-8533.

Paulines Will be closed 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th for the Christmas holiday. Open the 28th at

5:00 p.m. Our staff wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. adv.

Items Missing — A person from the 800 block of North Third Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 8:25 a.m. Wednesday that some Christmas lights had been stolen. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Just Arrived! 14K clip earrings, 30” chains, diamond baby rings. The Jewelry Connection,

211 East Grand. adv.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 2200 block of North Fourteenth Street at 9:12 a.m. Wednesday that a 26-year-old woman was being held for defrauding an innkeeper. A report was taken.

Kenny Ladner of Quality Water Services, now servicing Kay County. Call 762-7555. adv.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police department reported from the intersection of North Fourteenth Street and East Prospect Avenue at 10:18 a.m. Wednesday that a 20-year-old woman was being held on a city warrant.

Threat — A woman from the 300 block of Woodbury reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 11:42 a.m. Wednesday that she had been threatened. An officer was assigned and information was logged that the incident occurred in the county and the Kay County Sheriff’s office was notified.

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. 765-9689. adv.

Check for Fire — The Communications Center received a 911 call at 12:28 p.m. Wednesday from the 1000 block of Poplar Avenue that n outlet in the attic was smoldering. Four units from the Ponca City Fire Department responded to handle the situation.

Subject Held — The Communications Center received a 911 call at 12:57 p.m. Wednesday from Hastings, 2900 North Fourteenth Street, that a juvenile was in custody for shoplifting. An officer was assigned and a 13-year-old boy was held for petit larceny.

Vehicle Burglarized — A man from the 3500 block of Springwood reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 2:06 p.m. Wednesday that his vehicle had been burglarized. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Accident — The Communications Center received a report of an accident in the parking lot of the 2000 block of North Fourteenth Street at 2:38 p.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Juvenile Held — An employee of Wal-Mart reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 2:47 p.m. Wednesday that a juvenile girl was being held for petit larceny. An officer was assigned and the girl was brought to the police department and released on a promise to appear. A citation was issued.

Subject Held — An employee of Wal-Mart reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 3:38 p.m. Wednesday that a man was being held as a shoplifter. An officer was assigned and a 25-year-old man was held for petit larceny.

Juveniles Held — An employee of Wal-Mart reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 5:38 p.m. Wednesday that two juvenile boys were in custody. An officer was assigned and the two were held for petit larceny.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 100 block of North Fifth Street at 11:29 p.m. Wednesday that a 20-year-old man was being held on a Kay County warrant for failure to pay.

Accident — The Communications Center received a call at 7 p.m. Wednesday that an accident had occurred in front of Mid West Easy Stop, on East U.S. 60. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Osage County Sheriff’s Office responded and McCord Volunteer Fire Department stood by for traffic control.

Shoplifters — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from Wal-Mart at 6:58 p.m. Wednesday that two 15-year-old girls were being held for petit larceny.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of West Central Avenue and South Waverly Street at 5:58 p.m. that a man was being held on a Kay County warrant application to revoke, second degree burglary, and failure to pay.

Structure Fire — The Communications Center received a 911 call from a residence in the 11000 block of Richter Road at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday that the house was on fire. Units from the Osage Cove Volunteer Fire Department, the McCord Volunteer Fire Department tanker and two units from the Ponca City Fire Department responded to handle the situation.

Keep Family Safe — The holiday season has arrived, and it’s time to decorate the house. The Electric Department of the City of Ponca City offers tips that include following recommendations for indoor and outdoor light displays, discard any cords that are frayed or otherwise damaged and keep greenery fresh by watering.

GARDENING

Several Options Available For Landscape Design
Holiday Gift Ideas for Gardeners

Several Options Available For Landscape Design

By POPULAR MECHANICS

For AP Special Features

The landscaping you do outdoors can be as important in making a house a home as the decorating you do indoors. It may be even more important in terms of building equity. But while most of us know the look we’re after in the family room, fewer of us can conceptualize a well-styled and self-sustaining menagerie of outdoor plants that will add real comfort and street appeal. There’s design to consider, of course, but plants are living things, with specific and sometimes limiting soil and sunlight requirements. And at today’s prices, it pays to get it right the first time.

So how to proceed? You really have three options. You can do the job yourself. You can hire a nursery-garden center to draw up a plan and either do the plantings yourself, according to the blueprint, or contract the nursery to do it all. In this case, the planner is usually a certified landscape designer (CLD), with a background in horticulture. And, finally, you can hire a design specialist — a registered landscape architect.

While these approaches can differ significantly, there is also some overlap. A do-it-yourselfer, for example, will certainly seek out the extensive free information to be found at every garden center. Moreover, while garden centers and nurseries usually employ horticulturists with design training, some also employ, or contract with, registered landscape architects. And though landscape architects are usually not associated with nurseries, a developing trend in the business is the “design/build” concept. In these cases, architects work with preferred subcontractors to provide turnkey services — plans, plants, plantings and all.

The difference between a designer and an architect, is that certified landscape designers are often horticulturists with secondary training in landscape design. Though not always the case, they tend to know more about plants and plant diseases than architects. In some areas, CLDs are tested and certified by the state, while in others, it’s an industry certification.

A registered landscape architect masters most of the same things, but comes to the task from a different angle. He or she is a designer by training and temperament, but must also be versed, and state certified, in landscape principles, including grading and drainage, property laws, irrigation and erosion control. From the consumer’s point of view, there’s also a significant difference in the professional relationship. A landscape designer usually works for a nursery and creates an inexpensive plan for about $50 to $200. This fee is typically credited to your account after you purchase a certain level of merchandise, say $500 to $1,000. It’s understood that the nursery profits from the materials you buy. The plan is a big help to the consumer, but it’s also an effective sales tool, and everybody knows it.

In contrast, a landscape architect — except for the design-build variety — does not profit from materials or installations. On a practical level, this means that an architect has to charge more for his plan, but is more willing to accommodate exhaustive revisions. In addition to superior design training, his or her willingness to work your thoughts and afterthoughts into the mix is likely to yield a more striking and satisfying plan. Which is the better choice? For most of us, a garden-center design will do just fine. Simple yards, simple plans. But if you’re shooting for something beyond a proportional pleasantness, or if your property is large, with multiple elevations and complicated drainage requirements, then a registered landscape architect is worth the investment.

Holiday Gift Ideas for Gardeners

By LEE REICH

For AP Special Features

How about this for a holiday gift for a gardening friend or relative: An electronic moisture detector that plays a musical tune when plants need water? No thanks. Such a gift might make any gardener nutty.

Many tempting gift items can be found among garden gadgetry, but too many are sure to end up lost in the back corner of a garage or closet. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a gardening video would seem to be a great educational tool for a beginner. But come March 15 when a question arises during the frenzy of pea planting, which will be more useful: a book index or a video’s fast forward button? A book is quicker and easier to use.

So what is a good gift for a gardener? How about a watering can? Even an inexpensive one, which gushes water out of its holes, is fine for watering newly planted trees and shrubs beyond the reach of a hose. A rain gauge is useful for confirming whether a summer rain really was a downpour. A thermometer that records minimum and maximum temperatures might help explain why tomato leaves show frost burn one spring morning.

Seed packets, some opened and some unopened, seem to turn up everywhere around the house and garage by midsummer. A couple of plastic freezer containers keep seeds organized and stored in good condition.

Tools like shovels, hoes and trowels are indispensable in the garden and therefore good candidates for gifts. Stools and cushions for garden work are useful to the gardener who likes to stay put and pull every weed from a square foot of soil before moving on.

Necessary, yet expendable, items make good gifts for gardeners. A stack of current seed catalogs is a good gift especially for beginners. Inexpensive wooden labels and a pencil will be appreciated in the spring to mark rows where vegetable and flower seeds are planted. Gardening gloves, whether cheap or expensive, rarely last more than one season. So new ones are always welcome.

A ball of string is definitely on the list of good gifts for gardeners. No gardener forgets to buy seeds and transplants in the spring, but not many gardeners remember to buy the string they will need for tying tomato vines, marking rows and making bean trellises. The best string for gardening is that made of natural fiber so that it, along with entangling vines, can be tossed onto the compost heap at season’s end.

SPORTS

New Coach Says He Is Here to Stay
Bearcats Just More Talented

New Coach Says He Is Here to Stay

By FRED HILTON

News Sports Editor

New Wildcat football coach Frank Piccirillo plans to stay around a while.

The successful Watonga head football coach accepted the Po-Hi head coach position Wednesday and will be the fourth head coach the Wildcats have had in four years.

That’s enough of that, Piccirillo says.

“Having four coaches in four years is tough on these kids,” The coach who has been with Class 2A Watonga for 10 seasons said. “Each coach has his own system and its hard on players to have to keep learning new systems. I want the Ponca City kids to know that I am going to be here for a while.”

That was one of the main things Po-Hi Athletic Director Rusty Benson was looking for when he went on the search for a new head coach.

Benson thinks he’s found what he was looking for.

“He’s 49, but a young 49,” Benson said. “He has a lot of enthusiasm and is an innovative coach.

“He was using the one-back offense at a small school even before it became popular and he believed in an aggressive defensive.”

But just as importantly, Piccirillo believes in altering his system to fit the personnel.

“I don’t know what kind of athletes Ponca City had last year,” Piccirillo said. “So I’ll be watching a lot of film when I get there. But I understand Ponca City had a real good ninth grade team and a pretty good eighth grade team. So the players are coming up.

“I’m not a miracle worker,” the coach said, “but I believe in hard work and I feel with some work we can turn thing around in Ponca City.”

Piccirillo first because a head coach at Texhoma in 1984 and led the Class A Red Devils to 54 wins and 11 losses in six seasons.

He moved to Watonga as head coach and Athletic Director in 1990. In 10 seasons there, the Eagles have won 105 games and lost 23.

The Eagles won back-to-back state championships in 1993-94, going 28-1 in those two seasons, Watonga was a state runner up in 1992 and again in 1997.

Piccirillo’s teams had 13 straight playoff appearances until this season when the Eagles slipped to 5-5.

“Watonga had good teams when I got here,” Piccirillo said. “But they couldn’t get to the next level. We won the district championship my first year here and were in the state finals two years later.”

Piccirillo admits than that kind of turn around may take more time at Ponca City

“When a team has been down that long, it becomes a mental problem,” the coach said. “But I think with some hard work we can build a winning attitude there.

“I know at the Class 6A level, there are more students to choose from and they are usually bigger. But coaching is still coaching at any level.”

Piccirillo said he hopes to get his release from Watonga as soon as possible and looks to be in Ponca City by Feb. 1 at the latest.

His taking the Ponca City post is contingent on him being approved by the Board of Education at its next meeting.

Bearcats Just More Talented

By OWEN CANFIELD

AP Sports Writer

NORMAN (AP) — No. 4 Cincinnati showed No. 21 Oklahoma what can happen when a team with more than a few outstanding players meets a team with just one.

The Bearcats, despite getting little production from All-American Kenyon Martin in the first half and from Pete Mickeal all night, still had no trouble beating Oklahoma 72-57 Wednesday night.

Martin did score 23, with nine rebounds and three blocks. But while he watched most of the first half due to foul trouble, freshman DerMarr Johnson and others made sure the Bearcats barely skipped a beat.

The Bearcats, coming off a 66-64 loss to Xavier in which a sluggish first half was costly, scored the game’s first nine points, made nine of their first 12 shots and wound up hitting 52 percent from the floor.

Oklahoma, meanwhile, shot a season-low 30 percent. Its best player, Eduardo Najera, had 16 points and 11 rebounds but he missed 15 of his 21 shots. He fouled out with 4:29 to play.

‘‘I think Cincinnati’s kids needed the Xavier game. I think they needed to lose that game to get their focus back,’’ Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson said. ‘‘I think our kids needed this game. This was a good experience for us.’’

But a painful one. The Sooners (9-1) seemed to get just what they needed when Martin went to the bench with 13:56 remaining before halftime. They trailed 15-7 at the time, and a 3-pointer by Tim Heskett 20 seconds later made it a five-point deficit.

But as Martin sat, the Bearcats controlled the backboards at both ends of the floor and challenged most every Oklahoma shot. Johnson, Ryan Fletcher and Jermaine Tate scored all the points in a 13-2 run that gave Cincinnati a 34-19 lead with 7:13 left before halftime.

Johnson scored 10 of his 12 points and grabbed six of his 11 rebounds in the first half.

‘‘DerMarr played wonderful,’’ Martin said. ‘‘He made some big shots, he penetrated. They kept it going until I could get back in there. Then I got back in there and I just tried to help as much as I can.’’

Oklahoma used a 3-pointer by J.R. Raymond at the start of the second half to cut Cincinnati’s lead to 39-32, and the Sooners still trailed by seven five minutes into the half.

Then Martin scored on an alley-oop dunk to start a 14-2 run that gave the Bearcats a 59-40 lead and made the final eight minutes incidental. Martin finished 11-of-13 from the field, with nine rebounds and three blocks.

‘‘They’ve got to play without me sometimes. You never know what happens,’’ Martin said. ‘‘Tonight I got into foul trouble early and they adjusted to me not being on the court.’’

Kenny Satterfield had 16 points for Cincinnati. Mickeal, arguably Cincinnati’s second-best player, didn’t score until there was 5:30 left in the game and finished with just four points.

‘‘We may not play a team as good the rest of the year until we get to the NCAAs,’’ Sampson said. ‘‘They exposed us and we haven’t been exposed this year.’’

Raymond had 13 points but was just 4-of-16, including 3-of-13 from 3-point range. Nolan Johnson came off the bench to grab nine rebounds.

No. 4 CINCINNATI 72, No. 21 OKLAHOMA 57

CINCINNATI (9-1) 

Tate 3-6 0-0 6, Mickeal 0-2 4-4 4, Martin 11-13 1-3 23, Johnson 5-10 1-2 12, Logan 1-6 2-2 4, Satterfield 6-10 4-4 16, Stokes 0-0 0-0 0, Fletcher 2-7 2-2 7. Totals 28-54 14-17 72.

OKLAHOMA (9-1) 

Heskett 4-9 0-0 12, Najera 6-21 4-6 16, Stone 2-3 0-0 4, Price 0-3 0-0 0, Raymond 4-16 2-2 13, Johnson 3-10 0-0 6, Newton 0-4 0-0 0, Avila 2-3 2-2 6, Heywood 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-70 8-10 57.

Halftime—Cincinnati 39, Oklahoma 29. 3-Point goals—Cincinnati 2-10 (Johnson 1-3, Fletcher 1-4, Satterfield 0-1, Logan 0-2), Oklahoma 7-32 (Heskett 4-9, Raymond 3-13, Price 0-2, Newton 0-3, Najera 0-5). Fouled out—Tate, Heskett, Najera. Rebounds—Cincinnati 42 (Johnson 11), Oklahoma 38 (Najera 11). Assists—Cincinnati 16 (Logan 7), Oklahoma 12 (Heskett, Raymond 3). Total fouls—Cincinnati 17, Oklahoma 19. Technical—Mickeal. A—13,023.