2005

2005 — The passage of the state lottery was the top story in January. The measure carried by 64% of the vote.
 
The Ponca Townsite Company opened at 116 N. Fourth. The building had most recently been Hunter Appliance. Tony Radka, owner, billed the new restaurant as “The Gathering Place.”
 
Shannon Muchmore interviewed Kim Manning, former Ponca Citian. Kim had performed at the Grammy Awards, and appeared on television in the “Bernie Mac Show, ” “NYPD Blue,” and “Boston Legal.” She also played on the independent film, “Football, the Movie.”
 
Rep. Jim Newport filed legislation he said would fund desperately needed improvements to Oklahoma’s crumbling roads and bridges, without raising taxes. House Bill 1218 by Newport would redirect funds derived from the state motor vehicle tax to pay for road and bridge maintenance.
 
Po-Hi Wildcat wrestlers won the Frontier Conference crown, beating Stillwater 49-19, then went on to win the District 5A championship. They upset archrival Broken Arrow in the semifinals of the Dual State Tournament, and then won the East Regional Championship easily, qualifying 12 wrestlers for the state tournament.
 
Associate Municipal Judge John Raley retired from the bench.
 
City Commissioners Stan Kistler and Paul Krueger announced they would seek reelection to a second term. Diane Anderson, ConocoPhillips employee, registered for Kistler’s position. The upcoming City Commission election was scheduled for March 1.
 
The Pioneer Woman Museum hired a new director, Rebecca Larsen Brave. Originally from New York, she had been assistant curator with the Brooklyn Children’s Museum.
 
On January 20, President George W. Bush was sworn in for a second term in the White House.
 
On January 24, the City Commission voted unanimously to proceed with litigation against Continental Carbon, operators of the carbon black plant south of the city. The class action lawsuit against the company would be for allegedly polluting the city with fugitive dust from the plant.
 
The annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet featured David Myers, Economic Development director, as emcee. The Outstanding Citizen Award went to Fred Boettcher. Dave May was feted with the Community Service Award. Ambassador of the Year was Becky Hatton, and Rhonda Stolhand received the Larry Hughes Leadership Award.
 
Ponca City native Ashley Van Hoesen was crowned 2005 Miss Oklahoma Rodeo.
 
The new ConocoPhillips clean diesel project at the refinery was completed, insuring long term viability of the Ponca City Refinery.
 
In early February, David Myers, executive of Ponca City Development Authority, conducted a day-long Economic Development seminar for area leaders. He stressed that economic development is more than industrial recruitment. It is about jobs, investment, people, community desires, housing, professional services and realtors. “It is all about fit. Does the industry fit with the community and does the community fit with the industry,” Myers stressed.
 
All six of the Wildcat finalists in the state wrestling tournament won matches as the Wildcats won their third straight team Class 5A state championship. The winning team members were Marcelle Miller, Clay Branscum, Tyler Shinn, Daniel Morrison, Kelsey Empting and Jared Rosholt.
Sameera Rahman, Po-Hi senior, was named an Academic All-Stater for 2005. The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence honored 100 top public high school seniors, selected from 579 nominations statewide.
 
In the commission election on March 1, Diane Anderson defeated incumbent Stan Kistler.
 
The city put a new “quint” fire truck into operation. The truck cost $564,113 and is capable of performing five normal fire-fighting functions.
 
Great Lakes Airlines began service at Ponca City on March 13. The airline serves 33 towns in the Midwest Corridor. From Ponca City, they will fly two trips daily to Denver.
 
Sharon Luis, a physical education teacher at Garfield Academy, was named Ponca City Teacher of the Year.
 
Joey Bradford was named the new executive director of the Ponca Housing Authority.
 
The Editor’s Choice Award from poetry.com for Outstanding Achievement in Poetry was presented to Ponca Citian Judith Sober. Her poem, “I Believe in Rainbows” was published in “Eternal Portraits” by the International Library of Poetry.
 
In March, sales tax in Ponca City increased from 7.5 to 8%.
 
Ponca City area quilter, Karen Bogadi, was selected as semi-finalist for the 2005 American Quilter’s Society Quilt Show and Contest, held in Paducah, Kentucky. Karen’s quilt, “Circle of Seasons” was chosen from a field of 852 quilts.
 
The Workforce Investment Act youth program, offered through Northern Oklahoma Youth Services, geared up for its fourth year of summer work experience. Kay and Noble county youth, ages 14-21, participated.
 
Burl “Butch” Herring was named the new chief for the Ponca City Fire Department, effective April 30. He came to Ponca City from Jonesboro, Arkansas where he had been a fireman for 20 years.
 
The 13th Annual Healthy Kids Day was celebrated at the YMCA on April 3. The day was designed to highlight the wide range of activities and youth sports available to kids at the Y.
 
For the third year in a row, the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters honored Praise 88.7 FM and 89.7 The House with a community service award.
 
On April 30, The Iris Festival was not only in full bloom with garden tours and special iris exhibits, but also was full of food, ranging from barbecue to real German bratwurst. And, of course, the Grand Central Station featured chocolates of every kind imaginable.
 
The Po-Hi Robotics Team 476, known as the “Tornado Alley Cats,” went to Houston for the Lone Star Regional competition. Continuing a history of excellence, Team 476 was rewarded for their team structure and efforts. They received the special Judges Award for the team that truly exemplifies the meaning and core values of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology).
 
On May 7, the Perkins Family restaurant on North 14th Street was destroyed by fire. The fire was caused by an electrical short circuit in a light on the front of the building.
 
On May 12, Jim Mulva, ConocoPhillips Chairman and CEO, announced that the company would build a $5 million Conoco Museum in Ponca City and a $5 million Phillips Museum in Bartlesville. The museums were a gift for Oklahoma’s Centennial in 2007, since both companies began in Oklahoma. They would be designed to preserve the rich history, traditions and “can do spirit” of the companies.
 
At the 16th Annual Oklahoma Main Street Awards Banquet in Oklahoma City, Fred Boettcher was named Oklahoma “Main Street Hero” for 2004. The award recognizes outstanding contributions by an individual toward the revitalization of a downtown or neighborhood commercial district. A spokesman said that Boettcher prevented many of Ponca City’s historic buildings from crumbling away and had contributed more than $3 million to the infrastructure of the district.
 
On May 7, citizens helped raise funds by participating in the March of Dimes WalkAmerica, held at Lake Ponca. Rhonda Stolhand was the chairwoman.
 
The Ponca City Regional Airport was named “2005 Airport of the Year in Commercial Services,” at the 19th Annual Oklahoma Airports Conference held in Oklahoma City. The honor recognized the airport’s efforts in anticipating what its needs will be in the next five years and for continued growth. There are 116 airports that make up the state Airport System.
 
On May 9, City Commissioners, as trustees of the Ponca City Utility Authority, approved a contract for the purchase of property north of Ponca City to be used by Ponca City Energy. The PCUA subsequently bought the property from the Kaw Nation for $700,000. The city planned to renovate the property and existing buildings to accommodate administrative offices, a warehouse and a storage yard for the operations of Ponca City Energy. The property was formerly owned by J.H. Kelly, and is located 1.5 miles south of Oklahoma Hwy. 11 on U.S. 77.
 
The Police Department acquired its second police dog, “Ben,” a Belgian Malinois who would share K-9 duties with the department’s other Belgian Malinois, K-9 Officer “Rocky.”
 
On May 17, Ponca City Municipal Judge Bill Kirkpatrick administered the oath of office to newly appointed Associate Municipal Judge Paige Lee.
 
A major remodel of the exterior of Ponca Plaza began in late May. Jack Bowker and Jim Buttram built the shopping center in 1971, and this was its first renovation.
 
Ponca City Public Schools unveiled its new school logo. Dr. David Pennington, superintendent, said they used the Pioneer Woman in the new logo because she represents the early settlers whose hopes and dreams are still alive today. The tag line is “Achieving Excellence.”
 
Five Ponca City girls were chosen to attend Girls State 2005 – Lyndsay Giddens, Mathavi Jothimurugesan, Ashley Daniel, Kati Musgrove, and Leslie Sanders. Girls State is a nationwide program of Americanism and good citizenship sponsored and conducted by the America Legion Auxiliary. The girls are selected for their high moral character, leadership, honesty, scholarship and interest in government.
 
Lady Wildcat golfers won the Class 6A State Academic Championship, awarded during the state tournament. Team members were Brittany Mead, Carrie Sanders, Haley Schauvliege, Lauren Degan and Alyssa Potts. The girls won the trophy with a combined GPA of 3.9. Haley Schauvliege finished sixth among the top golfers.
 
Po-Hi Commencement ceremonies for the 357 members of Class of 2005 were at Sullins Stadium. Sameera Rahman was valedictorian and Samuel Garlett was salutatorian. Tyler Fender, Student Council president, addressed the class. Following graduation exercises, the students headed for “Great Escape 2005” at the ConocoPhillips Complex. This was the 15th year for the traditional event, designed to provide a safe, drug and alcohol-free celebration.
 
In June, the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce featured the “Born to Be Wild Summer Blow-out” at the Marland Mansion, which included both live and silent auctions.
 
Bill Murphy of Ideal Auto Sales donated a van to Northern Oklahoma Youth Services, a very much needed and appreciated gift.
 
The City bought a hydraulically operated mobile stage for outdoor community events and performances. The 32 x 14 foot unit was purchased from Century Industries in Indiana for $96,789. The money was from the Ponca City Motel/Hotel tax that funds tourism activities throughout the city. The stage is designed as an acoustic shell stage with professional theater lighting and sound.
 
A Champagne Brunch was held at the Marland Mansion as a fundraiser benefiting the Opportunity Center building fund.
 
Kaw Fest 2005 added new activities to their annual summer celebration, including a talent revue, disc golf tournament and sand bunker challenge. They still had the bass tournament, Co-ed Sand Volleyball Tournament, and sand sculpture contest.
 
Pioneer Water Garden Society sponsored a tour of eleven area ponds.
 
The School Board accepted the low bid for the demolition of Garfield Academy. Midwest Wrecking of Oklahoma City was approved for the job with a bid of $84,800. The terra cotta from the original school building was carefully removed and stored.
 
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation agreed to finance a $500,000 grant to replace sections of downtown sidewalks.
 
As a fundraiser for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates,) volunteers came up with the idea to auction off handcrafted, one-of-a-kind birdhouses. Local artists and crafters designed birdhouses and donated them for the auction. Money raised went to train volunteers for supporting children placed in the county foster care system.
 
Attucks Community Alliance and Ponca City Network Group hosted the Juneteenth Celebration for Ponca City at Attucks Center and Park. Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. Entertainment featured Jahruba, the African Connection, and Les Taylor and his band, both from Oklahoma City.
 
Tegan Magsam of Ponca City was the winner of the “For the Health of It’ 5K run, sponsored at Lake Ponca by the YMCA. Magsam, a 17-year-old Po-Hi student, ran the distance in 18 minutes, 49 seconds, topping second place Chris Buck of Edmond by 20 seconds.
 
The new “old” river bridge was completed in June, a cooperative project involving the Ponca Tribe and Osage County. The Ponca’s contribution was the construction cost and
Osage County paid for engineering. The Ponca Tribal Business committee named the bridge Wesa-TaGa, which means Big Snake. Big Snake was a prominent member of the Ponca Tribe and brother of Standing Bear.
 
Eastman National Bank opened their new full service branch at Fifth Street and Prospect.
 
The Ponca City Commissioners established the Senior Advisory Board, composed of ten appointed members. Those citizens included Stan Brown, Chuck and Joan Clark, Susan Kirkpatrick, Cleta Kirkpatrick, Stan Kistler, Wayne Foxworthy, Rev. Tom Ramsey, Cecelia Schieber and Jann Schieber. In addition, Jim Sindelar, director of Park and Recreation, served as an ex officio member and the city’s administrative staff adviser.
 
Ponca City’s Car No. 98, a 1928 Ford Model “A” Racer, owned and driven by Greg Cunningham and navigated by Sam Goeppinger, won Stage Three of the Great Race through Kentucky.
 
Michaela Cavener, Po-Hi graduate and University of Tulsa sophomore, won her first Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association state title.
 
Ponca City Main Street selected award winners for the summer quarter. Danielle Behar, Iris Festival planning committee, was selected as Outstanding Committee Member. Nida Austin was chosen Outstanding Board Member. The Good Neighbor Award was given to the First Christian Church of Ponca City. The church was chosen based on its continuing to be one of the attractive and viable properties in the downtown historic district.
 
Phil Bandy, Chairman of Ponca City Main Street Board of Directors, was honored for his contributions to the local program for the past two years. He received a Distinguished Service Plaque and a framed portrait of the historical re-enactor group of Ponca City of which he is a part. Bandy portrays B.S. Barnes, the 1893 first mayor of Ponca City.
 
The Po-Hi Steppers drill team had a successful year. They performed and competed at the dance and drill team national competition, hosted by the University of North Texas in Denton. Each individual dancer was named a national champion. The judges also presented the Hi-Stepper officers the Award of Excellence.
 
Sun ‘n Fun had new owners. Bill and Betty Rutz sold the property to Ron Behar.
 
Artsplace Ponca City opened a great exhibit, “In Citizens Garb: Southern Plains Native Americans, 1889-1991. The display depicted the change that Kiowa, Comanche and other affiliated tribes were going through in getting accustomed to different wearing apparel.
 
Ponca City’s two teams in the Great Race were double winners. Greg Cunningham and Sam Goeppinger, in a 1928 Model A Ford Racer, held on to a slim lead from Friday, the 8th, to win on the 9th in the expert division. Meanwhile, a team of local high schoolers racing a 1930 Ford Pickup finished second for the day, but completed the national crossing by winning first place. Team members were Zach Rawlings, Chris Martens, Agustin Mohedas, Ib Mohedas, Troy Schmitz, and Michael Nash. Drivers were John Lee, Sergio Mohedas and Mel Mallory.
 
The Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security announced Ponca City and Blackwell were to receive decontamination trailers in the first phase of a $16 million regional response system. The trailers arrived on the first of August.
 
Winners of the Summer Sizzler Two-Man Quota at Ponca City Country Club included Bill Flegler and Mike Mott in the Palmer Flight and Dr. Phil Knight and Wade Lessert in the Nicklaus Flight.
 
Dr. Linda Powers, principal at Ponca City High School, resigned effective July 29, to become principal of Perry High School.
 
From St. Louis, there was an announcement by Host Analytics, one of the nation’s fastest growing software companies for business performance management, that it would open a North American Center of Excellence in Ponca City.
 
There were 16 area youth who completed 40 hours of training in the Police Youth Academy sponsored by the Ponca City Police Department. Graduation ceremonies wee held at the Public Safety Center.
 
John Woody was named interim Ponca City High School principal, effective August 1.
 
The City of Ponca City placed a sticker on the front door of city hall, signifying that the facility is powered by wind energy being provided by the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority.
 
The city also purchased a new patrol boat to be used at Lake Ponca. The 18-foot craft is equipped with a 150 horsepower Mercury outboard motor, police light bar, siren and trailer.
 
Kevin Conlin, president of Via Christi Health Systems, announced that Via Christi Oklahoma Medical Center in Ponca City was up for sale.
 
A brand new hotel, Comfort Inn, opened in August on North 14th Street at Crawford Avenue.
 
City Commissioners decided to sell the old City Ag building at 705 W. Hartford. The building, built during World War II as an airplane hangar, had been used by the Ponca City Regional Airport as a maintenance building. More recently, the city had used it to store utility poles.
 
Quality Water Services held a fund drive to send water to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The company matched all contributions. Sullivan Trucking transported supplies to Mississippi. ConocoPhillips employees participated in a relief effort, as well. Ponca City Cable One deployed technicians to northern Mississippi to help Cable One offices in the South. Dozens of the company’s associates were homeless or missing. Larry Harris, chairman of the Ponca City Police Department chaplain program, was activated to assist with hurricane relief through the International Police Chaplain program.
 
Don Nuzum was inducted into the 2005 Oklahoma State School Boards Association School Board.
 
Ambuc Pool “went to the dogs” for the last swim of the season when it hosted a dog swim for all willing canines and their owners.
 
Ponca City Art Association held its 31st annual Fine Arts Festival on September 17 and 18. The show had 52 artists participating from Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Best of Show winner was Floyd Gibson for his watercolor painting titled “Reflections.” Jo Saylors won the Trustees Award for her bronze sculptures. The Florence Riesen Award winner was Betty Dalsing for her oil painting, “Love of the Land.”
 
Quality Water Services continued to help the Red Cross with disaster relief along with Glass Trucking, Aquifer bottling and Keystone Tape and Label. Local media provided free air time and advertising space to promote the local effort. All citizens were challenged to match Quality Water’s contribution case for case. Two trucks with 50,000 cases headed to Lake Charles, Louisiana to help victims from New Orleans being housed at the Civic Center. Two more trucks shipped water to Feed The Children, thanks to the overwhelming response of the community.
 
Julie Alles outdistanced the field to win the Ponca City Country Club Ladies Club Championship for the ninth consecutive year. In the two day event, she had a score of 162.
 
Po-Hi senior student Mathavi Jothimurugesan qualified as a National Merit Semifinalist in the 51st annual Scholarship Program. The program also named Daniel Gilliland and Kyle Millemon as commended students in the 2006 competition.
 
In mid-September, ConocoPhillips announced plans to move approximately 500 jobs to Bartlesville by the end of 2006 through continued consolidation of its major internal support services.
 
The 12th annual Standing Bear Powwow was held the weekend of Sept. 18 & 19. All six north central Oklahoma tribes (Kaw, Osage, Otoe-Missouria, Pawnee, Ponca, and Tonkawa) co-hosted the powwow. The archway with the words “Standing Bear Native American Memorial Park” was moved to the entrance into the powwow arena. Autumn Moses was crowned the 2005 Princess of the Powwow.
 
On September 25, the Ponca City News converted to the new 25-inch web. The standard width of a Ponca City News page is now 12.5 inches.
 
Ponca City Broadband, a new utility of the city of Ponca City, began supplying bandwidth to local business customers. Among the initial 14 customers are ConocoPhillips, Via Christi Oklahoma Regional Medical Center, Mertz Inc., and Smith International.
 
Ponca Playhouse presented its initial production of the season with the comedy “Fools” by Neil Simon.
 
The Wildcats needed a win over Edmond Memorial after their 47-7 loss the previous week against Tulsa Union. This week, they had one of their better offensive games of the season and held Memorial to under 100 yards on their way to a 49-0 shutout.
 
On October 7, a light bulb burst at the Ponca City Library, causing a fire that closed the building for the weekend. Heaviest damage was in the children’s section, which remained closed for several weeks.
 
Ponca City Mayor Dick Stone addressed the Kay County Commissioners, sharing ideas about ways to raise revenue for the county.
 
County Commissioner Dee Schieber attended an Open Meeting Act workshop in Bartlesville after an investigation showed that the county commission had violated the act more than 100 times in a three-year period. Commissioner Wayne Leven attended a similar session in Norman.
 
There were 93 members of Delta Company who returned to Ponca City from duty in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. Ponca City Red Cross volunteers also returned after providing hurricane relief.
 
The City Commission approved a two-year collective bargaining agreement between the city and the International Association of Fire Fighters.
 
The Marland Mansion received a $180,000 grant from Save America’s Treasures and a $100,000 grant from the Inasmuch Foundation to restore and preserve the hand painted ceilings in the lower level of the Mansion.
 
City crews began dredging the Marland Estate pond in an effort to remove decades of muck and mire.
 
John Brooks Walton and Kathy Adams published their second book, “More Historic Homes of Ponca City and Kay County.” This book also featured more than 100 homes in the area.
 
Civic leader Steve Huston died in an apparent drowning while fishing in Arkansas.
 
The Po-Hi homecoming queen for 2005 was Katie Busby. Ponca City’s Lauren Detten was named a homecoming queen candidate at OSU.
 
ConocoPhillips reported third quarter net income of $3.8 billion, compared to $2.006 billion in the third quarter of 2004.
 
Crews demolished the old Cherokee Strip Credit Union building on South Avenue to make way for the construction of the new Conoco Museum.
 
Trout Elementary received a number one ranking from “Just for the Kids.”
 
The state nominated Union Elementary to be a National Title I Distinguished School.
 
Charlie Hollar, Great Expectations and Educators’ Leadership Academy founder and CEO, was one of seven to receive the George Washington Honor Medal award, which is the highest honor given by Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge National Awards Program.
 
Marie Trenary, RSVP program director, was a finalist for the Journal Record’s 2005 Woman of the Year Award.
 
John W. Raley was elected chair of the Oklahoma Ethics Commission.
 
Speaker of the House Todd Hiett appointed Carl Renfro to the Oklahoma Capitol and Centennial Commemoration Commission.
 
Ashley Van Hoesen, Miss Rodeo Oklahoma, was selected to represent the state in the 2006 Miss Rodeo America pageant in Las Vegas.
 
Four groups vied for ownership of Via Christi Oklahoma Regional Medical Center in Ponca City. They included Integris Health, Community Health Systems, Health Management Association Inc. and Capella Healthcare.
 
Ponca City’s newest retail clothier, Goody’s, opened on October 20, with record sales for the state.
 
Sykes Enterprises celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Ponca City support center.
 
Kay Electric Cooperative continued its efforts to help hurricane-ravaged areas by deploying another crew of linemen to the Gulf Coast area.
 
Stephan Engster was named the new Wildcat soccer coach.
 
The Wildcat Football team scored a record win of 70-7 over Northwest Classen. They also defeated Sapulpa, 45-42 in four overtimes. The team finished the regular season with a record of 8-1, which gave the Wildcats a second place finish in District 6A-3, and a spot in the playoffs.
 
The state lottery began with brisk sales on October 12.
 
Civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks died at the age of 92.
 
Westminster Village marked the 10th anniversary of Via Christi Health Systems.
 
Police Chief Clayton Johnson was re-elected as chairman of the board of the statewide Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training – CLEET.
 
Union Elementary received the State and National Title I Distinguished School Recognition Award, one of only 50 schools to receive the award. The recognition was given for exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years.
 
ConocoPhillips began buying property adjacent to the northeast side of the refinery along Fourth Street. They planned to add a buffer adjacent to the greenbelt along the south end of 5th, 6th and 7th streets.
 
The Planning Commission gave preliminary approval to a site development plan for the proposed Conoco Museum at South Avenue and McFadden Drive. The museum would be constructed on the site of the recently demolished Cherokee Strip Credit Union building.
 
The Oklahoma Bar Association elected attorney Brian Hermanson to a three-year term on its Board of Governors.
 
John Woody, longtime assistant principal at Ponca City High School, was appointed principal of Po-Hi.
 
Community Health Systems purchased Via Christi Regional Medical Center. CHS corporate headquarters are in Brentwood, Tenn., a suburb of Nashville. They currently operate 71 hospitals.
 
Long John Silver’s/A&W All American Food opened in their new building on Prospect.
 
Six new directors were elected to the Chamber of Commerce board of directors – Jim Cochrane, Natalie Lindsay Fraser, Verona Mair, Janet Martin, Justin Krebs and Dan Gilliam.
Brad Parker was the outgoing chairman, and incoming is Kelly Johnson.
 
In December, Matthew Moore and Lauren Detten, both of Ponca City, were selected as OSU Seniors of Significance for 2005. The award recognizes students who have excelled in scholarship, leadership and service to campus and community and have brought distinction to Oklahoma State University.
 
The Pioneer Woman Museum featured the 18th Annual Hoffman Challenge Quilt Show in December and January. There were 66 of the prize-winning quilts on display, as well as quilted jackets and vests.
 
Lana Jones and David Kinkaid were the two new faces on the Ponca City Board of Education.
 
On December 6, Ron Stahl, marketing director for Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation, and host of “Discover Oklahoma” TV show, visited the Ponca Townsite Co. restaurant downtown to record footage for an upcoming segment of the show.
 
City Commissioner David Cummings announced he would not seek a re-election when his term expires in April. Stan Paynter, whose term also expires in April, announced that he would seek re-election. Wayne Foxworthy later announced his candidacy for Cummings seat.
 
Ellsworth “Elec” Rains, 88, assistant to the publisher and director of advertising for the Ponca City News, died on December 13. He had been an employee of the News for over 50 years.
 
It was a banner year for United Way of Ponca City. When United Way started here in 1938, they raised $19,500. This year’s fundraising broke all records with a total of $782,672. Campaign chairman was Lanita Chapman.
 
Blair Turney, Po-Hi varsity cheerleader, was named an OSSAA All Region Cheerleader during regional tryouts in Stillwater.
 
Bo Hannaford was named District Football coach of the year. Shabray Parker was the Receiver of the Year, Rashawn “Bubba” Parker was Defensive Player of the Year, and District Player of the Year honors went to Josh Johnson, who broke nearly all of the Po-Hi rushing records in his two years as a starter. Offensive tackle Sean Taglialatela and quarterback John Nimmo were named to the All-District Team, as well as defensive tackle Sonny Biggoose, linebacker Nick Schiltz, and cornerback Landon Kinkaid. Honorable Mention recognition went to kicker Jonathan Gilliland, free safety Antral Miller, linebacker Andrew Tabor and offensive lineman Wade Empting. Josh Johnson and Rashawn Parker were selected to the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State football team.

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