News Staff Writer

News events for the month of March included the Tonkawa Tribe reach a settlement with the National Indian Gaming Commission, the presentation of awards and a major fire in downtown in Blackwell.

First up, the Tonkawa Tribe reached a settlement on quarterly statements and fees which were filed late.

The tribe was notified in February that it failed to submit timely quarterly statements and fee payments for the Tonkawa Indian Casino for the quarters ending March 31, June 30 and Sept. 30, 2008, and for the Native Lights Casino for the quarter ending Sept. 30, 2008.

The settlement agreement assesses a $17,000 fine, which was to be paid within 30 days by the contract manager of the tribe's casinos at no cost to the tribe.

Area Main Street organizations honored many at ceremonies.

In Ponca City the Grandz Awards, were given out at the Poncan Theatre to honor outstanding contributions to the work of the Main Street Program.

Organizers went all out in high style for the "Night at the Main Street Awards."

Award winners included the historic downtown murals and The Louise Fluke Flag Plaza at Marland's Grand Home along with many businesses.

Newkirk Main Street also honored their volunteers as well as Kay County Commissioners and Judge D. W. Boyd for their work on the county courthouse roof.

Ponca City News County reporter and Midweek editor Sharon Rowen was also honored with the Newkirk Main Street Shutterbug Award.

Also receiving an honor in March was Braman mayor Jerry Johnston.

Johnston was honored by the Oklahoma Municipal League in a surprise dinner and ceremony held in the Braman firehouse.

Carolyn Stager, executive director of OML, said, "It is an honor and a delight to honor Jerry Johnston and his wife Marilyn." She paid tribute to the contributions the Johnstons have made over the years to the OML.

Ponca City was recognized with two awards at the annual Oklahoma Heritage Association's annual membership and awards luncheon held in Tulsa.

The Marland Mansion Estate Foundation received the Edward L. and Thelma Gaylord Oklahoma Territory Award for Preservation of State and Local History and T.L. Walker, executive director of Standing Bear Foundation, was the recipient of the Oklahoma Heritage Distinguished Service Award for Preservation of State and Local History.

Lew Ferguson, a native of Ponca City, and former wire editor and sports writer for the Ponca City News and sports announcer for WBBZ, was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame.

Ferguson is the sixth person associated with The Ponca City News to be inducted into the Journalism Hall of Fame. Others are Corb Sarchet, Allan Muchmore, Clyde Muchmore, Gareth Muchmore and Ivy Coffey.

Ferguson, who has returned with his wife Sue to retire in Ponca City, went to work for the Associated Press in 1960. Prior to becoming an Associated Press correspondent working out of Topeka, Kan., Ferguson was stationed in Sioux Falls, S.D., and Kansas City, Mo. In 1970 he became correspondent in charge of the Topeka Statehouse bureau.

Over the years, Ferguson, 75, covered nine national political conventions, as well as, 29 Kansas legislative sessions and six Kansas governors. He retired in 1999.

Another person honored in March was Jeff Lockett, Pioneer Technology Center's Agriculture Business Management coordinator, received the state's honor as Resource Conservation and Development Council Member of the Year in March at the annual Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts' state meeting.

Lockett was recognized as an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the state by his work as a council member of Wheatland Resource Conservation and Development Council. Lockett calls Fairfax his home and has been employed at Pioneer Technology Center in Ponca City for more than eight years.

"Jeff's involvement and partnership, not only with our local county conservation groups, but with Wheatland and the state, benefit the Pioneer Tech District by bringing in innovation, knowledge, and one-on-one assistance to our agriculturally based stakeholders," Pioneer Superintendent Dr. Steve Tiger said.

"Lockett has provided excellent leadership to the Wheatland RC&D Council, and served as the chairman for seven years. Under his leadership, the council was able to modify by-laws to expand membership and increase diversity. Lockett has been instrumental in the development of Wheatland's area plan, which has included the completion of 35 to 50 new projects each year," Tiger said.

Lockett coordinates Pioneer Tech's Agricultural Business Management program. His program offers farm families a variety of services including Quicken record-keeping and assistance with preparing farm plans, farm loans, financial statements, marketing and tax planning. Individual farm visits are planned to determine each farmer's needs and goals.

With the good comes the bad as job losses continued to plague Kay County.

Jobs at the ConocoPhillips complex began to leak away as part of a 4 percent global reduction in March.

The loss of jobs is in addition to the announcement in mid-February that the Ponca City complex was to lose 250 jobs.

The eventual plan is to eliminate all jobs here that do not relate to the refinery. That is about 750 positions total that will be relocated within the next two years. The refinery workers, who will remain, number about 700.

Another blow to the local economy came when Tyson announced it would close its meat processing plant in the Airport Industrial Park.

The official announcement was made from corporate headquarters in Springdale, Ark.

The plant once employed 580 and produced a variety of deli-style luncheon meats and ham products.

"This is a very difficult decision because it affects the lives of our people, their families and the community, however, it is critically important to our business," said Dick Besito, senior vice president of processed meats.

"After extensive consideration, we've concluded closing Ponca City and moving the production to three other plants is necessary to improve the viability of our overall processed meats operations," he said.

Currently the plant employees a skeleton crew and the Tyson officials say they are attempting to find a buyer for the plant, which opened in 1995.

Smith International plant in Ponca City added to the continuing bad news as it announced its workforce was being furloughed March 29 to April 4.

"It is our intent with the furlough to minimize lay-offs. We are trying to do everything possible without laying off employees. This is why we are furloughing to keep our senior employees," said Oscar Thomas, vice president of human resources in Houston.

Thomas said at the time there was no consideration being given to re-tooling the plant to manufacture products that are not involved with the petroleum industry.

"The Ponca City plant is one of our best producing plants and we have faith that the oil business is going to return," he said

Also, Mertz Inc. was reported to have layed off 36 employees in March.

Businesses were not the only entities to suffer losses, the White Eagle community saw their police department eliminated by the Secretary of Interior. However the Bureau of Indian Affairs took over all of their equipment and units.

At the county jail, two suspects were caught by sheriff dispatchers attempting to smuggle contraband into the jail.

Undersheriff Steve Kelley said a Blackwell woman was arrested after trying to pass a hacksaw into the jail.

A dispatcher found the hacksaw sandwiched between two pieces of notebook paper.

Jail staff also caught a subject trying to smuggle marijuana into the jail.

Kelley said the dope was sewn into a shirt collar.

In Kansas a Hutchinson man pleaded guilty to burglarizing six airports in four states, including the Ponca City Airport and Strother Field in Winfield, Kan.

Michael S. Wagner, 27, pleaded guilty to four counts of interstate transportation of stolen property, two counts of wire fraud and two counts of mail fraud.

Wagner was accused of stealing from small airports in Kansas, Colorado, Texas and Oklahoma over a nine-month period.

Authorities started investigating two years ago when Wagner was found in a vehicle close to a damaged fence at the Emporia Municipal Airport.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation searched a location in Wichita where agents turned up stolen items, including laptop computers and weapons, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Investigators determined some of the stolen merchandise was sold on eBay, and buyers paid by mailing money through the U.S. Postal Service.

According to the indictment, Wagner was involved in burglaries in 2005 and 2006 at Strother Field Airport, Ponca City Municipal Airport, R.L. Jones Riverside Airport in Tulsa, Front Range Airport in Denver and Collin County Airport in McKinney, Texas.

Ponca City police spokeswoman Sherry Bowers said the Ponca City burglaries were reported in July 3, 2005.

On the shores of Kaw Lake the Army Corps of Engineers were initiating their own type of crackdown in an area near Camp McFadden.

Lead Park Ranger Jim Anderson said that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers planned to place a permanent gate on Hartford Avenue just east of the entrance to Camp McFadden to keep all vehicles out.

Anderson and Kaw Lake Manager Arlyn Hendricks said littering, target shooting and the use of off road vehicles in the area was taking a toll.

"The environment has been severely impacted," Anderson said.

"The problems have progressively worsened in the last two years," added Hendricks.

"We have had the Kay County Sheriff's office respond to many calls out here."

Anderson said the activities are illegal and that target shooting is also a violation of federal regulations.

In Blackwell it was fire not crime that wreaked havoc on the community.

Flames ravaged parts of the 200 block of North Main destroying one building and damaging two others.

Deputy Fire Chief Steve Wayman said it was initially reported that the fire was burning the American Legion post, but upon arrival, firefighters found 206 North Main, the building next door to the American Legion, engulfed in flames.

"It was massive black smoke and a massive job," said Blackwell Fire Chief Tom Beliel.

No one was injured but two pets did lose their lives in the inferno.

Crews from Ponca City, Newkirk, Tonkawa, and Braman responded.

Students and schools were also busy making news in March.

The Ponca City School district announced that Shelley Wilson, principal of Lincoln Elementary School, submitted her resignation and Carla Fry, principal at Woodlands Elementary School, will take her place.

Fry has been principal at Woodlands for nine years.

The school district started a search for a new principal at Woodlands.

At West Middle School, The Technology Students Association hosted a "Flight Simulator" day at the Ponca City Regional Airport's Fly In.

Students were on hand to provide opportunities for children and youth in the area to experience a "hands-on" flight simulation.

The Ponca City FCCLA Chapter treated eighth graders at East Middle School to a lock-in in March for fun, food, games and discussions.

About 50 eighth graders attended the event.

Other News Events

The Ponca City Board of Education approved propositions in March which call for an election in May for building and transportation bonds.

The proposals were for a series of three new bond issues, which would not result in an increase in taxes.

Sidewalk Project Approved

After years of planning and revising plans, the Ponca City Board of Commissioners approved a contract to remove and replace sidewalks downtown. The board approved a $344,057 contract with Hembree and Hodgson Construction.

'Ponca Works' Initiative Launched

Taking a pro-active stance in light of recent lay-offs and possible future terminations at ConocoPhillips, Smith International or others, Ponca City Development Authority trustees passed a "Ponca Works" initiative.

The main components are a Ponca City Quality Jobs incentive, Entrepreneur Boot Up, Econovator Award and an all-important Resume Mall.

"We wanted to be proactive and help mold the current anxiety and uncertainty into a positive future. The best way to do that is to help people help themselves," PCDA Executive Director David Myers said in unveiling the program.

"Ponca Works is really a product of Ponca Citians telling us what they need, whether that is a new job, the opportunity to start their own business, the chance to prepare themselves through education for the new economy or some of the other ideas we're still working through."

Agencies Request City Funding

The Ponca City Board of Commissioners received requests from outside agencies for contractual services for fiscal year 2009-10.

Among the requests from the outside agencies was one for $5,000 from the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce for the Ponca City Business Council Community-Wide Holiday Giveaway.

Rich Cantillon, CEO of the chamber, said in 2008 the give-away represented $7,800,000 in sales among the 76 member businesses during the holiday shopping season.

He said the city investment of $5,000 was for regional advertising in a radius 60 miles out from Ponca City, and the promotion is the largest retail event of its kind in Oklahoma and Kansas.

The Ponca City Tourism Bureau requested $196,667 for fiscal year 2009-10 to promote Ponca City through its marketing campaign.

Northern Oklahoma Youth Services Center and Shelter requested $15,000 for 14 services NOYS provides to benefit Ponca City and its residents. The funds are used to secure matching state and local funds from a variety of grant programs.

The programs include a 12-bed youth shelter program in Ponca City as well as assistance for the Ponca City Police Department in supervising runaways or other juveniles.

Cimarron Public Transit asked for $25,000 for fiscal year 2009-10.

The 10-year-old transportation program operates with 13 drivers and three staff members and provides transportation for 30 percent of Ponca City's work force, as well as transportation for education, social services, health care and shopping.

During 2008, Cimarron Transport provided 45,000 rides or an average of 183 daily trips. Of those trips, 10 percent is senior transportation which offers curb-to-curb transportation to the Ponca City Senior Center at no charge.

Attorneys Dispute Contamination Information

Texas attorneys representing Blackwell citizens in a class action lawsuit disputed information given at a February public meeting held at the Blackwell High School Auditorium.

In a press release, the firm of Nix, Patterson, and Roach disputed many claims made by Don Shandy, of Ryan Whaley Coldiron Shandy PC in Oklahoma City.

Shandy addressed data collected by the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

"The data reflects that one in 30 Blackwell children have an elevated lead level," Shandy said.

"It also cites that chipping lead paint and ceramic cooking pottery are considered exposure sources. If your children's toys come from China you should be concerned as well," Shandy said.

The attorneys claim that Shandy is wrong to suggest that lead paint, ceramics and toys from China are the cause of Blackwell's lead contamination.

The attorneys report that The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality confirmed in its 1996 Record of Decision that lead contamination in Blackwell is toxic waste from the Blackwell Zinc Smelter. Two attempts to contact DEQ for comment on the Feb. 24 meeting have resulted in no response.

Lead Ruling Could Affect Motocross

A ruling by the Consumer Product Safety Commission in March could have a direct financial impact on Ponca City and the NMA Grand National Motocross, sponsors feared.

The event sponsored by the Noon Ambucs has been held annually in Ponca City for 33 years.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission's ruling banning the sale of motorbikes and All Terrain Vehicles is an extension of a ban against toys with certain levels of lead content. These are motorbikes designed for riders ages 6 to 12, with a top speed of 25 to 30 miles an hour.

"I don't think anyone is going to lick a motorcycle engine and get lead poisoning," Ponca City State Rep. Ken Luttrell said in a statement to the Associated Press.

Luttrell added that the lead content standard being applied is less than what can be found in a glass of water in many cities.

Ponca City Designated Tree City

Ponca City officials and representatives of the Ponca City Tree Board received a special Tree City USA honor at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City.

Mayor Homer Nicholson, City Manager Craig Stephenson and Park and Recreation Department Director Jim Sindelar celebrated Tree City USA Status for Ponca City with Secretary of Agriculture Terry Peach, State Forester John Burwell, Col. John Richard, Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, Sen. David Myers and Rep. Ken Luttrell.

Bill Could Benefit Ponca City

Legislation already passed in the Oklahoma House and pending in the Senate in March could be a boon to Ponca City.

House Bill 1468, supported by Triton Scientific, manager of OSU University Multi Spectral Center, and Ponca City Development Authority, modifies the state Quality Jobs Act by making qualified federal contractors eligible for tax benefits.

The bill would benefit the entire state and is something not being done anywhere else in the nation.

David Myers, PCDA executive director, explained that the goal of 1468 is to increase the amount of federal subcontracting business in Oklahoma, primarily in the defense industry. The bill would amend the current Quality Jobs Act to provide a 1 to 2 percent incentive to the prime contractors to do their federal subcontractor work in Oklahoma.

The House Bill, authored by Rep. Michael Jackson, R-Enid, was pushed through the Democratic Caucus by Rep. Ken Luttrell, D-Ponca City, and through the Rural Caucus by Rep. Dale DeWitt, R-Braman. The bill is being carried in the Senate by Sen. David Myers, R-Ponca City.

"This bill could ultimately impact not only the UML, but places like Tinker Air Force Base, McAlester, Vance Air Force Base, Enid, Altus Air Force Base, Presbyterian Health Foundation, OU Medical Center, OSU and any place where there is an opportunity for federal subcontracting," Myers said.

He explained that any federal contract must have 20 percent to 40 percent downstreamed to small businesses.

"Typically there is from 15 percent to 20 percent gap that they can't fill of the 30 percent they are required to fill. So they have to make some finding to the federal government that says 'Gee we're sorry but we couldn't find anyone to do this or some other mechanism.'"

Myers said, "This 1 percent to 2 percent of loaded labor in Oklahoma would give the federal contractors an incentive to put it in Oklahoma. By loaded labor, I mean to the only incentive is paid on labor that exists and is conducted in Oklahoma — not only a payroll but someone who is actually doing the work here."

City Approves Ambulance Purchase

Ponca City's Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of a Type I ambulance for the Ponca City Fire Department in March.

Fire Chief Butch Herring presented bids from three vendors, ranging from $103,886 to $122,876, along with a recommendation to award the contract to Taylor Made of Newport, Ark., for $106,347.

Taylor Made submitted the low bid, which specified a 2008 chassis, as well as the alternate bid for a 2009 chassis, Herring said.

The ambulance will be built on a one-ton pickup truck chassis with a modular unit.

The 2008-09 Fire Department budget allocated $110,000 for the purchase of an ambulance, Herring said.

The specifications for the ambulance included a modular design, a dual rear-wheel chassis, an LED emergency lighting system and a powered cot, which is compatible with existing units.

Kaw City Building Brouha Ignites

The controversy surrounding the construction of a new fire station continued to rage in Kaw City in march.

The issue became a firestorm when construction of the new station began without council members being consulted.

The council approved a grant late last year from the Northern Oklahoma Development Authority for the Kaw City Volunteer Fire Department in the amount of $16,875. The fire department was responsible for $3,375.

KCVFD fire chief Jason Bliss told the council that the fire department would be able to pay its part without city funds.

Construction began when Bliss agreed to allow Blue Sky Construction, owned by Todd Wilhelm of Newkirk, to begin construction at a cost of $13,500.

"I called Debbie (Mayor Debbie Taylor) and said we can get this building done in a week," said Bliss. "We thought it sounded good and we went ahead."Taylor explained that since city funds were not an issue in the matter, the construction of the new station would not need council approval and construction began, upsetting some.

The council held a special meeting and voted to send the matter to the planning commission for review.

Lawsuit Filed Against Newkirk

Attorney Jonathan Ihrig, representing Kay Electric Cooperative and the Kay County Rural Water District No. 3, filed a petition for declamatory judgment and injunctive relief against the City of Newkirk Friday in the Blackwell division of Kay County District Court in March.

Ihrig also asked for and was granted a temporary restraining order against the city, preventing Newkirk from taking any action to enact an ordinance of annexation for the new county jail site.

Judge Leslie Page was scheduled to oversee a hearing regarding the restraining order in April at the courthouse in Newkirk.

"Kay Electric and the Rural Water District feel very strongly that the Newkirk City Commission has failed to adhere to both substantive and procedural requirements necessary for annexation of the jail site property," Ihrig said.

"Each of these entities has a fiduciary obligation to their respective members to protect the integrity of their service territories certified by the State Legislature and the Kay County Commissioners, which affects all members' rates and costs," he added.