1994 — The Ponca City High
School and Mid-High cheerleaders made the finals in
National Cheerleader Association competition in Dallas.
The high school squad was named 18th in the nation while
the mid-high squad was named 9th in the nation.
The Planning Commission agreed to the plan for First
Lutheran School to build a mid-high at 1000 N. 5th
Street, and also endorsed the concept of the overall
future school expansion plan.
The Department of
Human Services presented awards to the Opportunity
Center for achieving a compliance level of 89 % in
meeting the standards of the Accreditation Council. The
Center provides workshop and community integrated
employment as well as group home services.
National Cheerleader Association’s national championship
in Dallas. The Po-Hi cheerleaders placed 18th in their
competition. More than 500 squads from 39 states were
competing.
A new facility was built on North Ash
to house Head Country Bar-B-Q Manufacturing.
Rocky
Nichols purchased Kinder’s Campers and Trailers from
George Kinder, and relocated the business to 2201 N.
Ash.
On January 11, close to 80% of the voters
approved a half-cent sales tax for economic development
in what city officials called the heaviest turnout ever
for similar referendums. Passage of the tax would
initiate bringing Thorn Apple Valley, a meat processing
plant, to Ponca City. Mayor Andrews commended
co-chairpersons Carol Bouldin and Pat Mulligan for their
hard work on the campaign.
On January 11, 1894,
the Post Office opened in Ponca City. So, on January 11,
1994, they celebrated 100 years by distributing special
centennial cachet envelopes with a pictorial
cancellation marking the event.
Sherri McGuire
and Ben Duggan were crowned as Queen and King of courts
at the basketball games at Robson Fieldhouse. Junior
attendants were Whitney Sims and Jonathan Hopkins, and
Sophomore attendants were April Roland and Cameron
Anderson.
Po-Hi Steppers Leslie Murphy and
Christina Williams were named to the All-American
Dance/Drill Team. At the American Drill Team School and
Camp, Murphy received the Outstanding Dance Technique
Award and Williams was named All-American High Kicker.
Ponca City Tomorrow Board of Directors began
implementing the community vision and goals that had
been established in 1993.
Sun Manufacturing Co.
officials, Marsha Zembower, co-owner, and Dan Pflock,
plant manager, helped cut the ribbon for their new
facility at 2401 N. Ash. Members of the Presidents Club
of the Chamber and Economic Development chairman, Pat
Mulligan, welcomed the new company to Ponca City.
The High School Instrumental Music Department had 23
students selected for the Oklahoma Music Education
Association’s All State Band and Orchestra. Over 1800
Oklahoma instrumental music students auditioned for the
200 places in the band and orchestra. Po-Hi led the
state in the most students from one school being chosen.
In late January, Wynona Winn, superintendent of
schools, submitted her resignation to the Board of
Education effective at the end of the contract year. She
had been with the district for two years. She had
accepted a superintendent position of the Turner Unified
School District in Kansas City, Kansas.
On
January 22 at 6:00 a.m., the Conoco refinery surpassed
2.5 million hours without a lost workday injury. This
safety milestone had been reached only twice before in
the facility’s 75-year history.
In February, the
Child Development Center celebrated 26 years of quality
child care to low income and special needs families in
Ponca City.
On February 4, four-way stop signs
were placed at the intersection of Lake Road and Pecan
Road. Rumble strips were also placed on the pavement to
call attention to the new signs.
Former mayor
John Raley played the role of a Union Private in the
re-enactment of “The Battle of Middle Boggy” at Fort
Gibson. The Oklahoma and Atoka County historical
societies cosponsored the re-enactment. Raley was issued
an authentic Civil War firearm and uniform for the part.
Owners David and Shirley Zimmerman opened the new
Rose Stone Inn at 120 S. Third Street. The 25-room
lodging facility also had a restaurant, Derricks, on the
lower level.
Voters in the Ponca City School District
elected two new Board of Education members, John Young
and Pat Smith. A runoff election was for the third seat
between David Kinkaid and Stephen Stalcup. Stalcup won
the runoff.
The Oklahoma Association of
Broadcasters presented WBBZ Radio with a special
recognition award, honoring the station’s efforts to
promote the Centennial of the Cherokee Strip land run.
WBBZ General Manager Kathy Adams and Production Manager
Dave May accepted the award.
Atmosphere for the
1994 Chamber banquet at Hutchins Memorial was provided
by live tableaus, arranged by Sandy Bishop, depicting
various times from the past. Appearing in authentic
dress of the 1890s, Cary and Kate Emig made sand plum
jelly in a 1890s kitchen. The 1920s scene featured Laura
Streich dressed in a riding habit, ready for the fox
hunt. A 1950s Po-Hi Sock Hop, complete with juke box and
Wildcat pennant, featured Alechia Mudgett, Kaylan Silky,
Jake Hess, and Mike Hampton. Pat Mulligan was named
Outstanding Citizen. Gene Heagy was Ambassador of the
Year. St. Joseph Regional Medical Center was presented
the Large Industry Appreciation Award and Greenwood
Aviation received the Small Industry Award. Dennis
Parker, outgoing chairman, passed the gavel to Velta
Reed-Johnston, incoming chairman.
According to
Blake Wade, Executive Director of the Oklahoma
Historical Society, the Pioneer Woman Museum generated
an economic impact in 1993 that exceeded $2.2 million in
benefits for Ponca City and the surrounding area. There
had been 23,117 visitors at the museum.
Po-Hi
Student Council Officers were elected. Lyndsey
Merrifield was named president, Kristin Maddox, vice
president, Trent Lutz, secretary, and Bryan Magstadt,
treasurer.
Library Director Steve Skidmore submitted
his resignation to accept a position in the Chicago
area. He had been Library Director for 13 years.
In March, Dr. Jane Thomason and Dr. Ahmad Agha announced
plans to construct a 23,000 square foot medical office
building at 415 Fairview, known as The Northern Oklahoma
Regional Clinics. Construction was to be completed by
December.
The Fire Department purchased a new 1994
Ford rescue truck, built by Marco, a division of Mertz.
The pumper had a 250-gallon capacity and also housed the
“Jaws of Life” and other rescue equipment.
Jimmy’s Western Wear opened on North 14th.
The
City annexed 40 acres at the Highland Avenue extension
and Highway 156 for future development.
In
mid-March, incumbents Dick Bird and Greg Gregson won
re-election to the Commission. No opponents had filed
against them.
Po-Hi student David Tang was named
the Outstanding Math Student at a State Math competition
in Sand Springs.
Committee members officially
announced plans to create a city-wide display of lights
at Christmas. “Festival of Angels” was scheduled to
begin Thanksgiving Friday and continue to New Year’s
Day. Areas to be lighted included the Marland Estate,
Cultural Center, Cann Gardens, Pioneer Woman, and
Centennial Plaza. Angels were chosen for the theme of
the festival because they are universal to all
religions.
Po-Hi Steppers were named State
Champions at the National Cheerleader Association’s
Oklahoma State Drill Team competition at OU.
Jean
Ladner, stepdaughter of John Duncan Forsyth, donated the
architect’s drafting and design instruments to the
Mansion. Paul Prather framed the tools for display.
Julie Berman, longtime Ponca City pharmacist, was
presented the “Special Business Award for Excellence in
Public Health,” a statewide award by the Oklahoma Public
Health Assn.
Dugan’s Bar-B-Q opened at 14th
Street and Oklahoma Ave. Dugan had been a part owner and
manager of Head Country Bar-B-Q for eight years.
E.W. Marland’s statue was removed from the Civic Center
corner for renovation. Pryse Monument Company contracted
to do the work at a cost of $4000. Bank IV funded the
renovation. The statue had been dedicated on the 77th
anniversary of Marland’s birth in 1951. Mrs. Lydie
Marland presented the statue to then Mayor Herman Smith.
In March, the “Bag Ladies” were prepared for the
second annual “Taste and Tasteless” event at the Poncan
Theatre. They handed out a bag, fork, plate, cup, and
napkin to each patron. They also acted as ushers and
directed traffic flow. Several area restaurants and
caterers donated delightful hors d’oeuvres.
Former Newkirk wrestler and OSU freshman Mark Branch was
the NCAA wrestling champion, helping OSU capture another
national crown.
Ponca City Federated Music Club
scholarship winners were Jamie Peterson, Julianna Stokke
and Kari Bell.
Carl Renfro, Chairman of the
Native American Memorial complex committee, announced
plans to erect a large memorial to Chief Standing Bear.
The Cotton Patch Café opened on North 14th.
The Drug Warehouse, Oklahoma’s largest discount drug
store chain, opened on North 14th, next to Brace Books
and More. The building had formerly housed Hobby Lobby.
“Who Fixed Fast Phil?” a Dave May production
starring Phil Bandy as “Fast Phil,” was presented in a
dinner-mystery theatre at Greenwood Aviation Hangar in
April as a fundraiser for Peachtree Landing.
Ponca City won two top honors at the Oklahoma Main
Street awards in Oklahoma City. The best public
improvement award was Centennial Plaza, a joint project
of Ponca City Rotary Club, the Cherokee Strip Centennial
and the City of Ponca City. Best Retail Event was the
“Classic Mustang Giveaway.”
The full length
film, “The Trial of Standing Bear,” a classic docudrama
movie depicting the life of Native American hero, Chief
Standing Bear, was presented for a second viewing in
Ponca City at the Poncan Theatre in April. The film was
shot in part on Chilocco Indian School grounds in the
late 1980s.
Ponca City Auto Electric, 118 W.
Grand, celebrated its 70th anniversary in business.
Leonard Fawcett founded the company in 1924.
Conoco donated money to St. Joseph Regional Medical
Center to help them continue the “Under the Rainbow”
sick child care program. The program cares for children
ages six weeks to 16 years who are unable to attend
school or day care due to illness or injury.
The
Ponca City High School Symphonic Band and the Symphony
Orchestra both earned superior “Gold” ratings at the San
Antonio Heritage Music Festival. Approximately 180 Po-Hi
students competed against 17 other schools.
A
significant improvement in early monitoring of severe
storm warnings for Kay county became a reality in
midsummer, thanks to the combined efforts of the Kay
County Amateur Radio Club, Ponca City’s Department of
Public Safety, and a donation from Conoco.
Tabitha Lee Hardy, daughter of Rocky and Joan Hardy, was
named Miss Ponca City.
A new and unique delivery
service opened here, known as The Running Chef. The
service picked up and delivered meals from Dixie Dog,
Head Country, KFC, and Mazzio’s.
Head Country
Restaurant moved to a new location at 1217 E. Prospect.
Thorn Apple Valley officials were in Ponca City to tour
the training facilities at Pioneer Area Vo-Tech. They
also came to “fine tune” arrangements for building the
pork processing plant in west Ponca City.
Officials with Festival of Angels created a fund raising
campaign known as “April is for Angels.” Canisters were
placed in businesses all over town for citizens to
donate to the new holiday event. Committee members made
presentations to civic clubs to explain how they could
become sponsors.
Smith Home Furnishings moved
into the historic Paris and Sons furniture store.
Former President Richard M. Nixon died on April 22, 1994
from a stroke he had four days earlier.
Greg Holt
opened MicroTech Computer Services, a new business at
313 N. 4th Street.
Downing Johnson, owner of Quality
Water Services, announced they had purchased the Pioneer
IGA building at 115 E. Highland as new headquarters for
the expanding business.
In April, Iris Festival
brochures, Cherokee Strip Cook-Off posters, and Marland
Mansion information were posted at the Oklahoma Tourism
Information Center on I-35 near Braman. The staff each
received an Iris Festival T-shirt to help advertise the
event.
On April 28, Marland’s refurbished statue was
returned to Centennial Plaza at Fifth and Grand.
An “ice cream popper” was one of the major attractions
at the Cherokee Strip Cook-off in May. Roy Sullivan
fired up his 1936 John Deere “poppin johnnie” to freeze
50-gallons of the tasty delicacy. Farm Fresh provided
the 20 gallons of milk, and Buy For Less donated the
rest of the ingredients.
Jacqueline Kennedy
Onassis died on May 19, 1994.
Three Po-Hi
students, Julianne Stokke, Andrew Stoeckley, and Jeb
Wallace, were chosen to attend the world famous summer
camp, Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan.
Thirteen
school teachers received a special year-end surprise
when members of the allocations committee of the Ponca
City Public School Foundation and its trustees paid
surprise classroom visits to deliver grants totaling
$5,905.
The old Airline Drive-In at Highland and
Waverly was expected to open within a few weeks,
according to partners Bill and Kate Guzenski and Bernie
and Sherri Schwartz. The drive-in had closed in 1982, so
concessions and restroom areas had to be renovated and
landscaping cleaned up.
Thorn Apple Valley chose
a different site for their plant. Property at Waverly
and Industrial road was more acreage than the original
site, so they could expand the plant to 160,000 square
feet and employ 700 people.
Ponca Auto Mall
received the Buick “World Class Customer Satisfaction
Achievement Award.” Richard Adkins, Service Manager and
Joe DeNoya, new car sales manager displayed the award
for the media.
A red fox and her litter of
offspring set up housekeeping in the Conoco tank farm
south of the refinery’s South Plant. Refinery personnel
noticed the new furry-tailed residents after the mother
established a den on the external wall of a refinery
tank berm. The presence of red foxes in Ponca City has
been common for decades, dating back to the foxhunting
days of E.W. Marland. Red foxes are not indigenous to
this area, but they are here because Marland had them
brought here from Pennsylvania.
Longtime jeweler
Carter Buller purchased Spray’s Jewelry and Gifts at 210
E. Grand from Robert L. Spray. Buller had been with the
store for nearly 30 years, and had managed it since
1985. D.C. Spray founded the store in 1916.
The
Special Olympics were held in May at OSU, and several
local athletes participated with 4,000 other entrants.
The 3-day event on the OSU campus is the largest
amateur-sporting event held in Oklahoma. Oklahoma
Special Olympics provides year-round training and
athletic competition in 12 sports for almost 9,000
individuals in Oklahoma with mental retardation.
A team of eight students from Ponca City Mid-High scored
first in the state in the Knowledge Master Open. The
academic contest uses knowledge derived from all areas
of school curriculum. Scores are based on accuracy and
speed. For scoring first in the state, the students each
received a $100 gift certificate to purchase any
Knowledge Master Software. Winning students were Peter
Shultz, Geoff Forbes, Jeff Burch, Glen Simpson, Matt
Szabo, Renu Sahai, Molly Baugh, and Mark Dubois.
Ponca City Athletic Director Jerry Runyan was voted
Region II Athletic Director of the Year, one of eight
region winners who would be considered for Oklahoma
Athletic Director of the Year.
The Board of
Education for Pioneer Area Vocational-Technical School
voted in May to change the name of the school to Pioneer
Technology Center.
In a memo to commissioners at
budget time, City Manager Gary Martin noted, “We are
moving into the most complicated and challenging budget
year this city has ever seen. At no time in the past has
a commission experienced major renovation and expansion
of so many facilities at the same time.”
Trustees
and employees of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center
joined with interested citizens to dedicate the new
helicopter landing facility at the corner of Hartford
and 14th.
U.S. Senator Don Nickles of Ponca City and
five other well-known Oklahomans were inducted into the
Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
On June 1, Conoco
announced the relocation for three of their company
executives, all of whom began their careers in Ponca
City in the 1970s. Richard Severance was named to a
newly created position of general manager, Mid-Continent
Business Unit. He also assumed responsibility for
Coordination Management operations at the 2,923 employee
Ponca City site. George Paczkowski relocated to Ponca
City from Conoco’s Humber refinery in England where he
was production manager. He became manager of the Ponca
City refinery. Dennis Parker transferred from Ponca City
to Conoco’s worldwide petroleum headquarters in Houston
as general manager, Materials and Services.
More
than 125 riders entered the Jet Ski Races at Sandy Beach
on Kaw Lake. The event was part of Kaw Fest. Other
activities included a fishing tournament, a classic car
show, volleyball contest, sand castle building contest,
fish fry and a dance.
Groundbreaking for the $42
million repowering project at the Steam Plant on North
Union was in early June. The project was a cooperative
effort between the City of Ponca City and the Oklahoma
Municipal Power Authority.
Ken Parr was named
the City’s new Director of Public Works. He was
currently a partner of Chapman, Parr and Gill, a local
engineering firm.
Sounds Incredible moved into a new
3,000 square foot building on Union, north of Hartford.
The store, owned by Mark and Barbara Nowlin, had been in
business for 15 years.
Drug Warehouse opened in
mid June at 1211 N. 14th St, next to Brace Books and
More.
The Planning Commission approved the proposed
three-story Fairfield Inn, to be located at the corner
of 14th Street and Queens.
Joe Wideman, Kay/Noble
County district attorney, announced he would seek his
seventh term in office. John Maddox announced his
intention to run for the same office. He had been
assistant city attorney and municipal court prosecutor
for Ponca City since 1991.
Jim Holt planned to seek
an 11th two-year term in the Oklahoma House of
Representatives.
Former State Senator Bill
O’Connor announced he would run for the District 20
State Senate seat.
“The Gift of Willie Cry”
returned to the stage of the Poncan Theatre. The
original show was a part of the 1993 Centennial. Many
people had requested an “encore” performance, so the
original cast and the original director, Jo Ann Muchmore,
returned in full force.
The Cherokee Strip
Committee and the Lions Club partnered on the project
this year, and split the proceeds. The Lions Club used
their portion to contribute to Sight First, a program to
prevent blindness worldwide. The Committee contributed
their portion to the restoration of the Poncan Theatre.
Patrons enjoyed the newly air-conditioned theatre, the
new sound system, and the comfortable reclining seats
almost as much as they enjoyed the show. The bonus for
the evening was the “enlightening” experience when the
marquee was officially lit for the first time in many
years.
Holly LaBossiere was named director of the
Ponca City Library. She had been interim director since
April, when Steve Skidmore left Ponca City for a library
in Chicago.
Dr. William White from Deer Creek-Edmond
was named superintendent of the Ponca City Public
Schools. He filled the vacancy created by the
resignation of Dr. Wynona Winn.
Pat Mulligan,
manager of Smith International, was promoted to vice
president of manufacturing.
Pete Whitehead
renovated the building at 214 W. Grand for a new Subway
Sandwich Shop.
The Candy Mountain at 315 E. Grand
opened with a new owner, Jeff Denton, who is food
service manager for the Ponca City Public Schools.
Quality Water Services and Quality Pools and Spas
moved to the former Pioneer IGA building on East
Highland.
The Ponca City Mid-High Cheerleading
squad was the only junior squad that qualified for state
competition at the National Cheerleaders Association
camp at OSU. Five squads out of 33 in attendance were
chosen to compete at nationals in Dallas.
Dawson
Smith, Ponca City business owner, announced his
candidacy for the District 20 State Senate seat.
Dr. John Robinson, local dentist and former mayor,
died of an apparent heart attack at St. Joseph Medical
Center.
Phyllis Worley was named manager for
Oklahoma Natural Gas in Ponca City. She replaced Roger
Mitchell, who was transferred to ONG’s Oklahoma City
district as customer services manager.
The
Convention and Tourism Authority began working with City
and Chamber officials on the process of restructuring
the organization. The new CTA Board will consist of four
members appointed by the mayor, one by the Chamber, two
restaurant owners, and two motel owners.
There
were eight Po-Hi students selected to attend the Art
Institute at Quartz Mountain. Those chosen were Patrick
Muchmore, B.J. Huston, Cynthia Thompson, Ted Sissons,
Scott Norris, Robert Irons, Will Oldfield, and Peter
Bagley.
Democrat incumbent Paul Muegge announced
his plans to seek re-election for the District 20 Senate
seat.
In late June, former Ponca City Treasurer
Richard R. Freeman was formally charged in Kay County
District Court with a felony count of embezzlement.
Freeman had resigned earlier in the month. The City
conducted an audit that revealed a $4,086 shortage
existed in the treasurer’s office. City Manager Gary
Martin confirmed that a short time following the audit,
the funds had been reimbursed to the city.
Ponca
City received a $50,000 grant from Southwestern Bell to
help create an information telecommunications center. To
be eligible for the grant, the city had to be a part of
the Main Street program.
City Commissioners
approved the city’s support for Festival of Angels,
which included installing new electrical hook-ups at the
various city locations where the displays would be.
The Marland Estate received a $2,500 grant from the
National Trust for Historic Preservation. The funds
would be used to prepare a restoration master plan.
The importance of the Main Street program came into
focus at the organization’s awards ceremony. David
Keathly, executive director, highlighted current
projects in the downtown area. He told about the
renovation of the Paris building by Smith Home
Furnishings, the opening of Subway downtown, and Fred
Boettcher’s renovation of the bus depot building.
Awards went to Grand Café for Best Business, Rose
Stone Inn for Best Renovation, Poncan Theatre for best
historic renovation, Rotary Club for Best Public
Improvement with Centennial Plaza, and Betty’s Boutique
for most improved business. Special recognition was
given to Brian and Holly Harpster for renovation of the
Higdon Building at Grand and 14th.
Construction
began on Sterling House, an assisted living center. The
33-apartment facility was going in on Bradley, east of
14th Street.
O’Reilly’s Automotive Parts started
construction on a new building at First St. and Grand.
In July, the Conoco refinery established a new
all-time safe work record of 3.1 million hours without a
lost workday injury.
A new industry opened in the
Pioneer Technology Business Incubator. Abercrombie
Window Works, a custom vinyl frame window company, was
their first manufacturing client.
Sen. Paul
Muegge announced that Ponca City’s Municipal Airport
received two grants totaling over $250,000 for a project
to extend the runway and reconstruct hangar access and
taxi lanes.
Patti Robinson Apman, executive
director of the Marland Estate, announced that two key
positions at the Marland Estate were eliminated in order
to trim expenses. The positions were Convention
Coordinator, held by Nancy Frolich, and Maintenance
Superintendent, held by John Sutton.
Howard Sissel,
manager, announced that the Conoco Employees (Ponca
City) Credit Union name had been changed to Cherokee
Strip Credit Union.
The summer reading program
at the library drew a record number of children.
Attendance reached the 500 mark in the 12 programs
offered.
On July 25, City Commissioners approved
a resolution contract with Thorn Apple Valley. The
50-page document called for a $35 million facility to be
constructed on 42 acres of land across from Albertson’s
warehouse with 180,000 square feet. The project was
scheduled to be completed by July 1995.
Oklahoma
Historical Society allocated $220,000 toward an
expansion project at the Pioneer Woman Museum. The
community was expected to raise enough funds to make the
$500,000 plan a reality.
Graphix Xpress owners,
Marly and Danny Bober, were named Incubator Tenant of
the Year at Pioneer Technology Center.
Today’s
Technology on West Hartford, and Ponca City Business
systems in Ponca Plaza joined the Cellular One network.
The Board of Education voted to approve the Ponca
City Public Schools Inclusion Plan, designed to include
students with disabilities into the education system.
A fire that caused an estimated $650,000 damage to
the 300 block of West Grand was investigated as an act
of arson. Flames engulfed the Ponca City Beauty College
after gutting A&A Paint and Decorating and then spread
to Bill Mock Fashion Floors. Police were searching for
James Goza, owner of A&A Paint. The day after the fire,
Mr. Goza turned himself in.
The 1994-95 labor
contract between the City and the International
Association of Fire Fighters local No. 2479 was
approved. Firemen received a 3% wage increase.
Almost 200 employees in the Upstream area of Conoco
received notice that their positions were eliminated as
a result of the most recent global staffing review. Due
to the Conoco Downstream organization review, 82
employees in that department were released.
Chuck
Gregg built a new office, service, and retail complex on
North Union. Known as Chu-Ona Plaza, the businesses
included Elite Laundry and Cleaners, Mex-Itali’s
Restaurant, with room for several more tenants. There
were eight offices upstairs.
Jeff Denton opened Candy
Mountain, a deli and old-fashioned candy store on East
Grand.
Dale Hicks, a 16-year veteran of the fire
department, was named Deputy Fire Chief.
St. Joseph Medical Center opened an Outpatient Physical Therapy Center on North 14th.
Moto-Photo changed their name to Photo-Pro.
The Police Department initiated a
Bicycle Patrol, using two officers to make rounds in the
downtown area.
Thorn Apple Valley’s
groundbreaking ceremonies were held at the Greenwood
Aviation hangar, due to inclement weather. Over 1,000
citizens attended and enjoyed the company’s product
samples afterwards.
On the 101st anniversary of
the Cherokee Strip Land run, there was a party at
Centennial Plaza to mark the completion of the $500,000
project. Larry Stephenson, Centennial Committee chairman
thanked the city, the Ponca City Rotary Club, and all
the volunteers who worked on the project. There were
6,912 named bricks purchased by citizens.
Conoco
donated 63 acres of land along the southeast edge of the
city for erection of a large monument to honor Ponca
tribal Chief Standing Bear. Carl Renfro, Chairman of the
Native American Monument Committee, said the statue will
stand on the high point of that property and look toward
the east, out over the Arkansas River. A dedication
ceremony for the Native American Standing Bear statue
was held on October 22.
The Poncan Theatre
celebrated the completion of a million dollar
restoration with an Open House in September.
In
September, Ponca City Pro golfer Craig Poet posted his
first win in the professional ranks by winning the
Nebraska Open.
In October, Ponca TrueValue
Hardware moved to 801 W. Grand, doubling the floor
space.
The Opportunity Center workshop was busy
assembling holiday luminaries for the Festival of
Angels. The luminaries were made of plastic ice cream
containers.
The City Commission gave authority for
the City of Ponca City to issue sales tax revenue bonds
in the amount of $5.8 million for additional funding of
the Thorn Apple Valley project.
The Post Office
built an architectural stone elevator shaft on the west
side of the building. ADA regulations require all
government buildings to have handicap accessibility.
New owners of Southwest Business Products were
Edwina Wynn, Don Sloan, and Dennis Dye.
Ground
was broken in October for the new Fairfield Inn, the
first in the state.
Commissioners approved new
street lights along Virginia Avenue and a new 10-foot
wide alley between 14th Street and Fairview Ave.
Ponca City Main Street Authority was recognized by
Oklahoma Main Street for private re-investment of over
$10 million in the downtown area.
The Lady
Wildcats softball team had the best season in many years
with a regional championship and berth in the 5A State
Tournament, ending with a 28-14 record.
Po-Hi
cheerleaders took first place in the regional
cheerleading competition.
The “Big Blue” band of
Ponca City High School set an Oklahoma School Band
record when they received a “Superior” rating at the
OSSAA Regional Marching Contest for the 46th straight
year. The Po-Hi Flag Corps also received a “Superior”
rating in the solo and ensemble competition.
Westminster Village began construction of 29 additional
retirement apartments.
Mailboxes, Etc. opened on N.
14th St.
Brace Books & More remodeled and added
on to their store on North 14th, and added new and
different product choices.
In November, Frank
Keating was elected Governor. John Maddox unseated Joe
Wideman as District Attorney, 18,502 votes to 5,517.
Incumbent assessor Tresa Engle of Newkirk defeated David
Lowther, Ponca City. Dee Schieber won his bid for County
Commission over Scott Blubaugh. Rex Purdy, Tonkawa
defeated Vern Willbanks of Blackwell for County
Commission. In state elections, Jim Reese was re-elected
for state representative. Paul Muegge of Tonkawa
defeated Bill O’Connor for State Senate.
The
“floating” Christmas tree was hoisted into position
above the intersection of Third and Grand, fitting in
with the “Old Fashioned Christmas” theme in downtown.
Oktoberfest 1994 drew over 14,000 people for the
two-day event.
Mike and Donna Culver were the new
owners of A+ Printing.
Bill Mock Fashion Floors
and Interiors announced that they would rebuild.
Po-Hi’s 52 Annual Pon-Dram Panic played to a full house.
The theme of the production was “Hee Haw.”
Jo
Ann Muchmore was chosen recipient of the Governor’s Arts
Award for Arts and Education in recognition of her work
in theater education, and for her work with the Poncan
Theatre.
Centerline president Michal Engstrom
received the Oklahoma state award for a new industry.
Po-Hi football Coach Woody Roof announced that he
would not return to coach next year.