2004 — The Critical Care Unit
of Via Christi Medical Center earned high marks from a
Press Ganey Associates survey. The CCU was listed in the
“best” category.
Mary Frances Haney filed as a
second candidate for Mayor of Ponca City. Dick Stone had
already filed.
On Martin Luther King Day, Dr.
John A. Reed Jr. was a guest speaker for “A Day of
Celebration” at Attucks Community Center. The next day,
Rev. Don Stanton was the keynote speaker at the
Interfaith Prayer Breakfast at First Baptist Church, as
the celebration of Dr. King continued.
The
Poncan Theatre Board voted not to purchase the original
organ for the theater. The $16,000 purchase price plus
the $70,000 for moving and refurbishing was too
expensive, according to Michael Varnum, manager.
At the annual Ponca City Chamber Banquet, Chairman Linda
Brown passed the gavel to new chairman Keni Ray. Pat
Evans was named Outstanding Citizen, Ambassador of the
Year was again Suzanne Zanardi, ASC was named Industry
of the Year, Phil Bandy was named the Community Service
winner, and Stolhand Heat and Air was the Top Business
with Darrell Stolhand receiving the Leadership Award.
Cable One announced a rate increase.
On
January 31, the Wildcat wrestlers claimed the Big Four
wrestling tournament after two days of matches. In
February, they won the Dual State and State Tournament
titles for the second straight year.
Both Supt.
Dr. White and Executive Director of Curriculum Dr. Patty
Ladd reported that local students were scoring below the
state average on API testing.
Po-Hi student
Bryan Henning was selected as a Finalist in the 2004
National Merit Scholarship Program.
According to
David Myers, Economic Development director, “The Ponca
City Development Authority has launched a new website,
providing businesses both inside and outside the area
with a tool for information. www.goponca.com is
dedicated to building the economy of Kay County by
providing economic news, demographic information, links
to government, organizations, the Ponca City News,
Native American nations and our regional partners in
Blackwell, Newkirk, Stillwater, and Tonkawa.”
The Wildcat wrestling team won their second straight
state tournament championship, and had the outstanding
wrestler of the tournament in Class 5A. The Oklahoma
Wrestling Officials Association named Po-Hi Coach Todd
Steidley coach of the year. The Wildcats crowned three
individual champions – David Parker, Jared Rasholt, and
Justin Roland.
On March 1, the jury selection
for Terry Nichols began. Brian Hermanson of Ponca City
was a lead attorney for Nichols.
Dick Stone,
city commissioner, was elected mayor. He won by a 43%
margin over his opponent Mary Frances Haney.
The
Pioneer Woman Museum and the Daughters of the American
Revolution honored outstanding women of Kay County.
Honorees were Erma Carmack, Eleanor Hayes, Jo Saylors,
Louise Abercrombie, Lillian Taylor, Jane Morris, Dusty
Branstetter and Marquetta Brown.
Volunteers
worked at cleaning up and making minor repairs to the
buildings and grounds of Camp McFadden.
In
mid-March, former wildcat wrestling coach Pat Young was
honored during the State High School Wrestling
tournament. He had recently been inducted into the
National
Wrestling Hall of Fame for his service to
the sport of wrestling.
Marc LaBossiere, finance
director, treasurer and city clerk of the City of Ponca
City, was awarded the designation of Certified Municipal
Clerk from the International Institute of Municipal
Clerks for achieving high educational and service
requirements, including a history of responsible
experience in local government.
Westminster
Village won two awards from the Oklahoma Association of
Homes and Services for the Aging. Westminster’s
Celebration of Life program was chosen for the
Innovation of the Year Award, and Dixie Weers,
activities assistant at Westminster, was named
Outstanding Employee of the Year.
On March 21,
outgoing Mayor Tom Leonard administered the oath of
office for mayor of Ponca City to Dick Stone, former
City Commissioner.
Former state senator Paul
Muegge from Tonkawa received the 2004 John F. Kennedy
Profile in Courage Award in Boston. He was honored for
standing up to the hog industry and pressing legislation
to protect the environment and the health of his
constituents.
Ponca City Development Authority
gave a “thumbs up” for the new ‘spec’ building, Bob.
The new building was being constructed at the west
end of Sykes Boulevard in the Airport Industrial Park.
The Ponca City Library celebrated 100 years of
service with ceremonies kicked off by the Twentieth
Century Club’s tea, “Honoring the Past.”
In late
March, Sen. David Myers and Rep. Jim Newport were guest
speakers at the Chamber’s Legislative Review Committee’s
Friday Forum at City Hall.
A group of area
landowners, Ponca Tribe members, and officials with the
PACE Union demonstrated at the state capitol, protesting
the pollution of the Continental Carbon plant in Ponca
City.
Adult Role Models (ARMS) received a
$10,000 grant from ConocoPhillips. The ARMS program of
Northern Oklahoma Youth Services works to improve the
quality of life for area children through mentoring.
William Ziegenhain was honored with the Oklahoma
Heritage Distinguished Service Award for Preservation of
State and Local History.
Queta Henderson, math
teacher at Ponca City High School, was named 2004-05
Teacher of the Year.
Richard Hayes, CEO of the
Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce, died unexpectedly
at Heart Center Hospital in Oklahoma City.
Dr.
Phillip Tyndall held a grand opening at his new dental
office on East Hartford.
Three NOC graduates
received Distinguished Alumni Awards. Those recognized
were Leo Canaday, 1956, Granvil Hays, 1961, and Gerald
Steichen, 1982.
ConocoPhillips officials gave an
update on local activity to city business leaders. This
included the credit card operation, refinery upgrade,
pipeline transportation, technology and community
investment.
The Lady Wildcats’ tennis team won
the Ponca City Invitational Tournament at the Wally
Smith Tennis Center and the Ponca City Country Club
courts.
In mid April, Paul Krueger announced he
would run for City Commissioner.
The Kaw Nation
Tribal Youth Program conducted a cleanup, picking up
trash along the highways to Newkirk and Kaw City as well
as the areas around the tribal facilities.
Sue
and Fred Boettcher were recognized for donating the
building at 205 N. Second Street to the United Way.
The Board of Education discussed changes in dress code
policy for students in the Ponca City schools.
Kristi Hayes, Education Editor of the Ponca City News,
received a Marshall Gregory Special Recognition Award
for Single Coverage/Feature from members of the Oklahoma
Education Association.
Lauren Detten, OSU
student, was chosen vice president of OSU Student
Government.
On April 28, Rich Cantillon of
Blackwell was named president of the Ponca City Area
Chamber of Commerce. He had been the Blackwell Chamber
executive since 2000.
May 2004 saw crude oil hit
$40 a barrel for the first time since 1990.
An
Oklahoma jury in McAlester convicted 49-year-old Terry
Nichols for his part in the April 19, 1995 bombing of
the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City that killed
168 people. In August, he was sentenced in McAlester to
life in prison without parole.
A new addition to
the annual Iris festival was the “Made in Oklahoma” wine
and cheese tasting area. Six wineries and three cheese
makers from Oklahoma presented a wide assortment for
sampling. The Grand Marshal of the event was Jerry
Cathey, founder of the Iris Festival 15 years earlier.
Mayor Dick Stone proclaimed May 1, 2004 as Jerry Cathey
Day in Ponca City. Ladies named “Iris” also received
special recognition.
Also on May 1, Aaron
Wright, senior at Po-Hi, was named Miss Ponca City in a
contest held at the Poncan Theatre.
Five Po-Hi
senior girls were selected to attend the 2004 Oklahoma
Girls State, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary.
Jennifer Miller, Erika Martin, Rachel Potts, Laura
Lechtenberg, and Dara Moyer attended assemblies and
seminars at East Central University in Ada, where they
learned the responsibilities and processes of a
democratic republic. All five of the girls were honor
roll students and members of the National Honor Society.
Ponca Playhouse presented “I Do! I Do!” at the
Poncan Theatre in May, featuring actors John and Marisa
Kuhlmann.
Ponca City Main Street won first place
honors in four categories during the annual Oklahoma
Main Street Awards Banquet. Honors included Best “Public
Improvement Project” for outstanding design and
renovation of the City Hall complex; Best “Volunteer
Development Program” for the Senior Citizen Center RSVP
Program; “Best Community Education/Public Awareness
Program” for the “Then and Now” Heritage Program; and
“Best Historic Building Art contest” for artwork by
Darion Osbey, 4th grade Garfield student. Other Ponca
City finalists were “Promotional Campaign/Marketing
Package” for 2003-2004, and Fred Boettcher, who was
nominated as “Main Street Hero.”
In girls Po-Hi
sports, Michaela Cavener won her third straight
individual state championship golf title in May and the
Lady Cat Golfers finished second in the state. In
addition to Cavener’s win, Ponca City junior Haley
Schauvliege had one of her best tournaments of the year,
finishing fifth in individual scoring.
The Lady
Cats tennis team placed in all four divisions of the
Class 5A State Tournament. They took second in the No. 2
Singles and the No. 1 Doubles.
Long distance runner,
Chelsie Baldwin, won two individual gold medals at the
state track meet. She won the 3,200-meter run in the
Class 6A state track meet and came back the next day to
win the 1,600.
The American Cancer Society Relay
for Life held its 10th annual celebration on May 21 at
the Hutchins Memorial Auditorium with several hundred in
attendance. Teams of 8 to 15 people camped out overnight
at the Hutchins and took turns walking around the track.
A candlelight ceremony was organized to honor cancer
survivors and to remember those who lost the battle to
cancer.
In May, Stolhand Heating and Air
Conditioning, owned by Rhonda and Darrell Stolhand,
garnered top honors from the National Small Business
Administration at a special presentation in Orlando,
Florida. The Stolhands were one of ten companies that
received the 2004 U.S. Small Business Administration
Family Owned Business Champion Award.
The Stolhands
were also recognized at a Ponca City reception hosted by
Home National Bank and the Small Business Council.
On May 15, First Baptist Church honored 108 couples in
Ponca City who had been married for 50 years or more.
The event was sponsored and organized by the 2003-2004
Leadership Ponca City class as part of the “Character
First” program.
Ginger Mendenhall, a math and
reading specialist at Liberty Elementary, received the
“Oklahoma Medal for Excellence in Elementary Education”
from Oklahoma first lady Kim Henry. The award was
presented at the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence
awards banquet in May. Ginger received a $7,500 cash
prize, a medallion and an etched glass Roots and Wings
sculpture. In addition, Liberty School received a $1,000
cash prize.
Artrain USA, the nation’s only art
museum on a train, stopped at the Ponca City train depot
for three days in May. The featured artwork was a
contemporary Native American exhibit called “Native
Views: Influences of Modern Culture.” The collection
included 71 pieces of art produced by 54 Native American
artists from all over the U.S., including four from
Oklahoma. There were paintings, ceramics, sculptures,
traditionally woven baskets, and interactive artwork on
computer. Displayed in three rail cars, the exhibit was
entertaining, educational and informative for both
children and adults. Ponca City Arts & Humanities
Council and ConocoPhillips funded the project, along
with many local benefactors.
There were 390
seniors and three foreign exchange students who
graduated from Ponca City High School at its 103rd
commencement ceremony. Megan Benyshek and Katie
Didericksen gave the co-valedictorian address, and Bryan
Henning gave the salutatorian address. Following the
graduation exercises, graduates headed for an evening of
fun and relaxation at Great Escape 2004 held at
ConocoPhillips.
In early June, Ponca City Public
Schools in conjunction with the Ponca City Chamber of
Commerce and the City of Ponca City, hosted a reception
for Dr. Bill White, outgoing superintendent, and
welcomed Dr. David Pennington, incoming superintendent.
Sixteen Native American communities in Oklahoma
received more than $59 million in federal assistance to
promote affordable housing., Local housing authorities
receiving aid included Kaw Nation, Otoe-Missouria,
Pawnee and Tonkawa.
The Ponca City Humane
Society hosted its annual Trail of Tails walk and wag
competition on the lawn of First Presbyterian Church.
The event was held in conjunction with the Herb
Festival. Proceeds benefited the Ponca City Humane
Society.
Carrying on the tradition of the
doo-wop hits of the 1950s, The Crew Cuts brought their
classic sounds to the Poncan Theatre in June.
Ponca City World War II hero Jake McNiece was featured
on NBC News as part of the
D-Day coverage of
the 60th anniversary of the June 6, 1944 invasion of
Europe by Allied Forces. An NBC correspondent
interviewed McNiece before he left with his wife,
Martha, on his first trip to the beaches of Normandy
since his World War II days.
Up to 150
participants took part in the 19th Annual Lake Ponca
Triathlon.
The Ponca City AMBUCS celebrated the
20th anniversary of AMBUC Pool and dedicated a special
plaque to honor Mary Sutton for her many years of hard
work in support of the club’s projects.
Economic
Development was the sole subject of the Ponca City
Annual Summit. Several high profile heavy hitters with
Ponca City connections participated including VIP’s from
Texas, California, Kansas, Minnesota, Oklahoma City and
Atlanta.
The 11th annual KawFest was held at
Sandy Beach on Kaw Lake. Activities included the Team
Bass Fishing Tournament, Sand Sculpture contest, Sand
Volleyball Tournament and a concert on the beach.
Children’s storyteller Al Bostick performed at the
Juneteenth Celebration at the Attucks Community Center
on South Twelfth St. Bostick’s presentation was
“Fabulous Fibs, Fables, and Folklore – Africa to
America, Anansi to Brer Rabbit.”
Owner and
renovator Leon Smith of Sharp’s Pawn and Jewelry was
awarded Ponca City Main Street’s “Traveling
Revitalization Award” for the renovation of the interior
and exterior of the old Bowker Ford dealership on the
corner of Second and Central.
Residential Copper
was recognized at the Small Business Administration
Awards as one of the Oklahoma Small Business Institute
Cases of the Year.
Eight members of the Stolhand
family were on hand at the 2004 Oklahoma Small Business
Champion Awards at Rose State College. The company won
the state, regional, and a national award for the family
owned heating and air conditioning business. Fred
Stolhand accepted the award for owners Darrell and
Rhonda Stolhand, who were out of state.
Fred and
son,Darrell Stolhand started Stolhand Heat and Air
Conditioning in 1977.
A new Ponca City Tourism
Bureau was established at the offices of the Ponca City
Area Chamber of Commerce on Fifth Street and Grand
Avenue.
Mayor Dick Stone was named a member of
the Oklahoma Conference of Mayors.
John
Erickson, creator and author of 44 books in the
celebrated “Hank the Cowdog” series of children’s books
appeared here on June 16, giving two presentations at
the Poncan Theatre. He was in Oklahoma as part of the OK
Mozart Festival in Bartlesville, and Ponca City was
lucky enough to have him appear here for one day. OK
Mozart turned 20 years old in June. The festival
celebrated its two-decade milestone in Bartlesville with
an array of musical artists and special events, then
came to Ponca City on Sunday afternoon and presented a
concert at the Poncan Theatre. This was the first time
OK Mozart had “hit the road” after it closed in
Bartlesville.
Through the generosity of Lillian
Taylor, Marland’s Grand Home received several pieces of
memorabilia from the No. Six British Flight Training
School. One of the pieces was a large picture, “Miss
Ponca City, the Flying Fortress B-17 Bomber.”
Northern Oklahoma Youth Services Board of Directors held
its monthly meeting in the new Youth Shelter and Family
Service Center for the first time. The new NOYS facility
is located at 2203 N. Ash Street.
Gary Martin,
Ponca City city manager, was elected to the board of
directors of the Festivals and Events Association of
Oklahoma.
Quality Water Services introduced its
new RV Total Water Treatment System for recreational
vehicles.
Funding for a proposed replacement for
the “old” Arkansas River Bridge was on the agenda when
the Kay County Commission met in late June. In
accordance with an agreement signed earlier in the year,
area tribes, through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, will
pay $1.5 million of the total cost and Kay County and
the Oklahoma Dept. of Transportation will pay the
remainder. The new concrete bridge would be 32 feet 9
inches wide, 752 feet long, and rated to hold more than
240 tons. It would be supported by seven pillars and
have a 28 inch concrete side rail.
Gasoline
prices in Ponca City were the cheapest this side of
Galveston, Texas. The Phillips 66 station at North Union
advertised unleaded at $1.77 per gallon.
Tom
Cowley received national recognition in New York City
for his work in the promotion and advancement of
Community Theater in the United States.
Seniors
in the Po-Hi Class of 2004 attained an excellent record
doing concurrent enrollment. There were 67 class members
taking college courses while still finishing high
school. Together they earned 554 college credit hours
and maintained a cumulative grade point average of 3.38.
Mertz Manufacturing, LLC, a newly formed subsidiary
of Compact Power Inc., a North Carolina corporation,
announced the acquisition of substantially all the
assets of Mertz Inc.Mertz will continue to do business
in the same place with the same people and the same
quality of manufacturing, according to management.
In mid-July, City Commissioners officially opened the
new four-lane section of West Highland Avenue from
Sunset Street to Waverly Street. Work had begun on the
$540,000 project in March. The Highland/Lake Road
corridor is now a full four lanes from Waverly to Pecan.
The two candidates running for seat No. 1 on the
Ponca City Board of Commissioners were given an
opportunity to present their views at a televised public
forum. Paul Krueger and Darrin York each made opening
and closing statements and answered two questions from
Review Committee Chairman Steve Crank.
Sylvester
Earl Sullins died July 16 at the Shawn Manor Nursing
Home. He was 98. After teaching his first year at Paoli
in 1931, Earl moved and began teaching and coaching at
Ponca City High School. In 1942, he became the physical
education director for the Army Air Corps during World
War II. After the war, he came back to Ponca City and
served as athletic director at PoHi. Coach Sullins
finished his career in 1971 with a football record of
115-47-10. He also was the winningest coach of Po-Hi
baseball. Sullins Stadium was named after him in 1977
and he was inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Hall of
Fame and the Ponca City Sports Hall of Fame.
A
group of local bank executives, headed by Mark T. Detten,
president of Home National Bank, announced their
intention of buying Eastman National Bank of Newkirk,
Kay County’s oldest bank. The group executed a
definitive agreement on July 19, identifying
shareholders who owned more than 56% of the outstanding
common stock of Eastman National Bancshares, Inc.
ConocoPhillips Board of Directors elected James J. Mulva
to succeed Archie W. Dunham as chairman of the board
upon Dunham’s retirement on Sept. 30, 2004. Mulva would
continue to serve as president and CEO.
Northern
Oklahoma Youth Services celebrated their new Emergency
Youth Shelter and Family Service Center by hosting an
Open House on July 16.
Extensive and wanton
vandalism to the concession stand at Sullins Stadium
occurred on July 22, when trespassers gained entry by
smashing through the wooden customer window with
concrete cinder blocks. Locks were torn from the
refrigerators, food containers were smashed open and
food was strewn all over the interior of the concession
stand and on the pavement into the parking lot.
In August, Tom Leonard took the oath of office for Judge
of the Oklahoma Worker’s Compensation Court. Gov. Brad
Henry appointed him to the judgeship in June.
Through the efforts of concerned citizens, Camp McFadden
was once again ready to be rented. The exteriors of all
the cabins had been painted. Northern Oklahoma Youth
Services donated beds for the cabins. Broken windows and
doors were replaced and the overgrown grounds were
cleaned up, ready for campers.
A single donation
was given to the Instrumental Music Parents Assn.,
covering costs to replace all appliances, supplies and
equipment destroyed by vandals at the Sullins Stadium
concession stand.
In late August, Oklahoma City
bombing conspirator Terry Nichols was sentenced to life
without the possibility of parole for his role in the
worst act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history.
District Judge Steven Taylor ordered Nichols to serve
that term on each of 161 counts of first degree murder
and that the sentences run consecutively.
Ponca
City High School’s athletic department was notified that
the Wildcat soccer team, which reached the state
championship game with only one loss on the regular
season, was ranked No. 15 in the nation by the National
Soccer Coaches Association of America’s final poll. PoHi
soccer coach Steve Hermann said, “It is quite an honor
and rare for Oklahoma teams to get recognition unless
you’re among the big city schools.”
Kent
Marshall was introduced as the new girls’ basketball
head coach.
Everette VanHoesen beat out
incumbent Craig Countryman by 26 votes during a
Republican run-off election for sheriff.
In late
August, the Ponca Tribe had its 128th Annual Celebration
at White Eagle. Reigning princess Candice ThreeStars
crowned Autumn Moses as 2004-2005 Ponca Tribal Princess
in a ceremony amongst multiple dance competitions.
Smith Home Furnishings announced they would move their
business to the former Pemberton Auto Mall at 2500 N.
14th St.
There were 5,414 students enrolled in
the Ponca City public schools.
The Video
Production class at Po-Hi started a new project- the
Wildcat Weekly Update, a 6-minute segment of the Real
Deal Sports Show.
The Wildcat football team won
their first three games in September.
Country
Harvest Antique and Craft Festival marked the beginning
of Fall with exhibitors from five states. A week later,
citizens enjoyed the annual Fine Arts Festival on the
lawn of the Ponca City Art Center.
Main Street
again sponsored Ponca City’s Birthday Bash, with free
cake and ice cream for all.
In October, members
of the Leo Club at Ponca City High School helped Habitat
for Humanity volunteers refurbish a home on the 800
block of North Elm.
The Caddo Maple was
officially declared the correct tree for the downtown
area. Jim Eck, Ponca City Parks superintendent and
horticulturist, recommended the tree because it would
interfere less with business signs visibility and
pedestrian traffic.
Ponca City Development
Authority coordinated with Mertz Manufacturing on a
project that could add at least 66 new jobs.
ConocoPhillips announced that their Gas-to-Liquids plant
would be phased out by July 1, 2005.
On October
19, U.S. 177 opened as a four- lane highway. State Rep.
Jim Newport and State Sen. David Myers joined other
officials in the ribbon cutting ceremony.
In the
November elections, Republican incumbent, U.S.
representative Frank Lucas was reelected. Dr. Tom
Coburn, Republican, was named successor for Don Nickles
Senate seat, defeating Democrat Brad Carson and
Independent Sheila Bilyeu.
State questions 705
and 706 were approved by voters, thus creating a
statewide lottery. State question 712 addressed tribal
and racetrack gaming. Oklahoma voters clarified the
definition of marriage by passing a so-called “gay
marriage ban.”
County elections were very
competitive. Tammy Reese defeated incumbent Pam Goodno
for the County Clerk position, and Democrat incumbent
Wayne Leven defeated Don Garrett for District 2 County
Commissioner.
On November 19, Sen. Don Nickles
made his final Senate-floor speech, ending a 24-year
career in Washington, D.C. He had chosen not to run for
re-election, but planned to stay in the Washington area
to head a lobbying group.
U.S. Third District
Congressman Frank Lucas secured vital funding for the
Standing Bear project. On November 20, the House of
Representatives passed a bill allocating $500,000 for
the Standing Bear Museum, Educational and Welcome
Center.
A life-size statue of Lew Wentz, Ponca
City businessman and philanthropist, sculpted by local
artist, Jo Saylors, was placed at Centennial Plaza near
the corner of Grand Avenue and Sixth Street. C.D.
Northcutt, Ray Kinsinger and Tom Muchmore spearheaded
the project. Members of the 2003 class of Ponca City
Leadership helped raise funds for the statue. Wentz was
a millionaire oilman and philanthropist who left many
gifts to the city, including Wentz Camp. The Wentz
Foundation continues today, providing higher education
scholarships for students at O.U. and O.S.U.
Ponca City Main Street was recognized for exceeding the
$20 million milestone for private investment in downtown
Ponca City. Kathy Taylor, Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce
and Tourism, presented the award on behalf of the state
Main Street organization to Ponca City Main street
chairman Phil Bandy and executive director Jayne Detten.
Ponca City is one of only three cities to reach this
milestone.
Approximately 100 local homes were
featured in a new book, “Historic Homes of Ponca City
and Kay County,” written by John Brooks Walton and Kathy
Adams. The book was released in November.
On
November 15, the school board voted unanimously to
proceed with renovation efforts at Garfield Academy in
the fall of 2005. The school would be closed for 18 to
24 months, reopening for the 2007-08 school year.
Members of the Save our Neighborhood Schools committee
had fought intensely to preserve the school.
At
the same meeting, board members voted 6-1 to continue
operating seven schools following the completion of the
Garfield project. In two years, the board would return
to the issue and decide which one of the district
elementary schools would be closed when Garfield
reopened.
School Board members also acted to
reduce the size of the board from seven to five members.
The district would be reapportioned into five districts
and board members would serve five-year terms instead of
four.
The Fraternal Order of Police and the City
of Ponca City signed a two-year collective bargaining
agreement on November 8, retroactive to July 1. Previous
agreements had always been annual.
Dee Schieber,
Kay County commissioner for District 1, officially
closed the Old River Bridge to begin tearing down the
existing structure to make way for a new bridge. Crews
began dismantling the bridge in November. The project
was made possible by an agreement with Kay and Osage
counties and the Ponca Tribe.
Po-Hi wrestlers
Jared Rosholt and Tyler Shinn signed early agreements to
wrestle at OSU. Lady Wildcat golfer Haley Schauvliege
signed a letter of intent with OSU.
Ponca City
High School was named the top Class 6A school in the
sportsmanship conduct ratings by the OSSAA. The school
was ranked on the conduct of administration, coaches,
teams and crowds, as reported by game officials from
football, basketball, baseball, softball, wrestling,
soccer and volleyball.
In early December, city
commissioners drafted a resolution addressing the black
dust that had covered large areas of the city within the
last six months. The board had been actively pursuing
the problem for months, discussing it at length in
numerous executive sessions. The resolution expressed
the commission’s commitment to determine the source of
the pollution and to terminate its cause.
Continental Carbon and Union workers at the local carbon
black facility finally reached an agreement on December
3, allowing employees to return after a 3 ½ year
lockout.
The Oklahoma Department of
Environmental Quality said that the Continental Carbon
facility in Ponca City had signed a consent order
concerning emissions and dust. The company was ordered
to perform $1.66 million in upgrades to control the
discharge of carbon black into the air and to implement
a plan to control the dust. Failure to comply with the
order would result in fines of $1000 a day, according to
DEQ.
State Rep. Jim Newport was named as an
assistant majority floor leader in the state House of
Representatives and was also tapped to serve as vice
chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations and
Budget. He also was to help track legislation flowing
through various House committees and subcommittees.
House Speaker-elect Todd Hiett selected state Rep. Dale
DeWitt for two leadership positions. The Braman
Republican would serve as one of the majority party’s
whips and oversee the house committee responsible for
studying legislation that affects Oklahoma’s rural and
agricultural communities. Hiatt appointed DeWitt
chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and Rural
Development.
The Ponca City Public School
Foundation, Inc. funded seven grants in the amount of
$15,900 for Ponca City schoolteachers.
Ponca
City Rotary Club initiated a new local project in 2004
as a continuation of its support for the Literacy
Program within the community. The club distributed a
free personal copy of a specially designed dictionary to
each third grader within the Ponca City area, including
public and private schools, and McCord.
Fred
Boettcher was recipient of the prestigious Eagle Award
at the annual banquet of North Central Oklahoma Board of
Realtors. Keith Lawrence was installed as president of
the organization.
Voters passed a one-half cent
sales tax increase on December 12. The tax may be used
for five projects: reconstruction of the YMCA pool;
reconstruction of hazardous downtown sidewalks;
restoration of decorative ceilings at the Marland
Mansion; restoration of Wentz Pool and Camp facilities;
and renovation of the kitchen at Marland’s Grand Home.
The United Way campaign for 2004 reached their
lofty goal of $735,000 and even went over by $25.
Campaign chair was Lee Little.
On December 22,
Kim Manning returned to Ponca City to perform at the
VFW. The city native has been performing around the
world as a solo artist, actor, dancer, and feature
musician for some of the biggest names in the music
business.
The Ponca City Fire Department awarded
a Certificate of Commendation to firefighter Lt. Larry
Albert. While off duty, he responded to a call for help
at Lake Ponca. He saved a man’s life by performing CPR
until paramedics arrived by ambulance. Interim Fire
Chief Gary Reed said that without Lt. Albert’s quick
assistance, the man would not have survived.
Ponca City Main Street commended Chris Henderson as
Outstanding Committee member, Barbara Impson was named
Outstanding Board Member, and Gary Ray received an
Excellence award for refurbishing many historic
buildings in downtown Ponca City.
Pioneer Bank
and Trust promoted Craig Myers and Jeff Cowan from
senior vice presidents to executive vice presidents.
Mayor Dick Stone appointed Jeff Cowan and Carey
Head as co-chairmen of his “Vision 2020 Committee.” The
group was composed of 30 appointed citizens, city
management, and seven city department heads. Meetings
were to begin in January.
Robyn Young was the
grand prizewinner of $5000 in Ponca Bucks at the
community-wide holiday giveaway, sponsored by the Ponca
City Chamber of Commerce.
Pioneer Equipment
Rental and Supply moved its company’s corporate
headquarters to Ponca City, with assistance from the
Ponca City Development Authority.
The Wildcat
basketball team finished their season with a record of
nine wins and one loss.
They got to play in
Florida at the KSA Boys Basketball Holiday Classic Black
Bracket on Dec. 30, defeating East Islip, N.Y., 62-54.
The Tournament was played in the Disney Wide World of
Sports Complex.
Wildcat wrestlers continued
their domination of Oklahoma’s Class 5A wrestling
throughout the season. Standouts for Coach Todd Steidley
included Jared Rosholt, Tyler Shinn, Kelsey Empting, and
Daniel Morrison.
Wildcat swimmers honored at the
end of the season were Judy Merz, Kelsey Whitebay,
Jonathan Roth, Patrick Powers and Kelsey Geheb.
Football awards were presented to Chris Vaughn, Jared
Kelle, Wes Badley, Kelsey Empting, Donnie Grant, Zak
Frederick, and Michael Detten.
Cross country
team members who received awards were Cassy Kendrick,
Emily Powell, Mark Chaney, Tiffany Chambers, Tyler
Taber, Cecilia Burley, Alex McCumber, Maleah Dyer, and
Alston Benton.