1996 — In January, law
enforcement agencies across the county arrested 32
people in a major drug raid ordered by District Attorney
John Maddox. The operation also uncovered a burglary
ring and cleared up at least 12 pending area burglary
cases.
The Ponca City Police Dept. started the
Citizen’s Police Academy as a way of involving private
citizens in the support and understanding of law
enforcement in the city.
Commercial building had led
the construction effort in Ponca City during 1995. The
two largest projects were the power plant repowering
project, valued at $40,015,000 and the Thorn Apple
Valley project that totaled $22,500,000.
On
Jan. 22, Ponca City became the first Kay County
community to form an agreement with Sheriff Marion Van
Hoesen’s department so city police officers can assist
sheriff’s deputies in emergencies.
The last
weekend in January, close to 400 people flocked to Kaw
Lake to watch for the bald eagles.
Rep. Jim Holt
announced that he would not run for re-election to the
state House of Representatives. He had occupied the seat
since 1975.
Tickets to the annual Chamber
banquet sold out, and the event had to be moved from the
Hutchins Memorial to Conoco in order to accommodate
everyone. Argus Hamilton, humorist and Ponca City
native, was the speaker for the evening, with Foster
Johnson as emcee.
The City Commission agreed
with the Marland Estate Commission that work needed to
begin immediately to restore Lydie’s Cottage. No city
funds would need to be used.
Voters in every
community across the county approved emergency, local
support and building fund levies.
Personnel at
the Pioneer Woman Museum began packing and cataloging
artifacts, which would be moved to a storage area while
the museum was being expanded. Since the old display
cases were not going to be used in the new museum, they
had been donated to Karen Dye for the Newkirk Museum.
The Board of Education voted to decrease the size
of the board to seven members. The change took effect in
January.
Tim Burg was name the new chairman of
the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce. He was vice
president and treasurer of T-N-T Construction, in
partnership with Terry Pollet.
The Oklahoma
Dept. of Commerce awarded a $200,000 community
development block grant to construct sewer lines in the
north part of the city, specifically for Lowes Home
Improvement Center.
On Feb. 21, Ponca language
classes began at White Eagle to help preserve and
perpetuate the tribe’s official language.
The
schools received $350,000 to help improve the
Alternative Education program. In the first year of the
program, the number of dropouts decreased by 50%.
Attorney D.W. Boyd was sworn in as district judge for
the Eighth District, Kay and Noble counties. Gov.
Keating appointed Boyd.
The annual report on
Ponca City Tourism showed many increases. Almost $4.3
million was recorded as new money due to tourism. The
total tourism tax collected from motels was $113,535, a
12% increase from 1994, and the highest since the tax
was created in 1987. New signs and brochures used the
slogan, “Ponca City…Where the ’20s Still Roar.”
Construction began on the new Lincoln Elementary School
in April.
Commissioners voted to keep the 5%
emergency telephone service tax in effect, which would
enable the city to upgrade communications equipment.
Several churches had building projects in 1996.
Northeast Baptist built a new worship center to seat
650. Grace Episcopal added a 7700 square foot two-story
church school building. First Baptist renovated the
auditorium of the former sanctuary. Central Baptist
built a new auditorium and nursery facilities. Longwood
Baptist built an addition for a fellowship hall and
classrooms.
April 4 marked the 20th anniversary
of the opening of the Marland Mansion to the public.
In Kay county, 64% of the voters voted no on the
controversial State Question 669, which proposed to roll
back taxes to 1993 levels.
The Board of
Education hired Dr. John Scroggins as the new assistant
superintendent.
Marvin Clark became a new
member of the Board of Education. No one filed to run
against him, so he automatically won the seat.
At the Oklahoma Community Theatre Association’s
conference, Ponca Playhouse received the two most
coveted awards – Theatre of the Year and “OCTAVISION.”
Ruslyn Hermanson, president, accepted the awards.
Ponca City was selected as the site of the next
statewide conference in 1998.
John’s Apparel
held a grand opening at their new store in the renovated
historic bus depot at Second and Grand.
Curves
for Women, a 30-minute fitness and weight loss center,
opened at 914 E. Highland.
Western Sizzlin’ on
East Prospect underwent a major remodeling.
Grand Central Station, and their sponsoring
organization, Pro-Teens, celebrated the 10th anniversary
of the teen center, honoring Jan Merrifield, founder and
director.
Flags were at half-mast and all
government business halted for 168 seconds on April 19
to commemorate the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing
a year earlier. Locally, citizens attended a
ribbon-tying ceremony at the Memorial Tree located west
of the Post Office building and a memorial service was
held at Centennial Plaza.
In the City
Commissioners election, Dick Stone defeated incumbent
Bill McCann. Lyn Boyer was elected to fill Hubert Watt’s
position. Watts had chosen not to run for reelection.
The 381st Replacement Battalion of the Army
Reserves in Ponca City was ordered to prepare for
mobilization in support of American troops in Bosnia.
Northern Oklahoma College had a grand opening on
April 27 for its 527-seat Performing Arts Center. Dr.
Joe Kinzer dedicated and named the building’s new
gallery and arts gallery for 1931 alumna Eleanor Jones
Hayes.
On May 10, area residents escaped to the
movie theaters to see their own backyards at the
premiere of the big budget movie, “Twister,” filmed in
and around Kay County in 1995.
In the second
major drug raid of the year, Kay County law enforcement
officers arrested 15 individuals on Sept. 23 from Ponca
City, Newkirk, and Blackwell, culminating a three-month
investigation.
Mayor Andrews appointed a Blue
Ribbon Committee to target several city buildings and
make recommendations regarding their renovation and
upkeep. City Hall, Civic Auditorium, No. 1 Fire Station,
Public Safety Center, Hutchins Memorial and the Cultural
Center were included in the review.
U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers determined that bones and casket
materials on the shores near Coon Creek Cove, northwest
of Kay City, were leftovers from a cemetery that existed
prior to construction of Kaw Lake in the 1970s.
The Kay County Courthouse, which earned national
attention by being completely paid for before it opened,
celebrated its 70th birthday.
In July, the
Industrial Arts Building at the high school was
bulldozed, and construction began on the new
Math/Science/Business Center. The Board of Education
toured the new Vo-Ag building at 344 Pleasantview Road.
City Commissioners awarded a contract for Phase 2
of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements in the
amount of $14.6 million. They also approved purchase of
a golf course irrigation control system.
The
City sold some of their property on Ash Street to Center
Line, Inc., Leach Paper Co. and Mitchco, Inc.
Phase I of the Waverly Street and Sykes Boulevard paving
improvements project was completed. It included a
four-lane road with a left turn bay.
In July,
upgrading and new paving began at the junction of U.S.
60 and Hwy. 177, near Standing Bear Native American
Memorial Park.
Spring Village and Woodridge Place
were annexed into the City.
Effective July 1,
the Ponca City Municipal Court received jurisdiction
over youths charged with misdemeanor crimes of
vandalism, shoplifting, trespassing, and assault and
battery. The court was now able to develop and implement
programs to impact youth.
Ponca City was chosen
to receive the “1996 Learn Not to Burn” Champion Award
from the National Fire Protection Association, one of 70
cities nationwide that were selected.
The
Airport Industrial Park received a $1.665 million grant
from the Economic Development Administration of the U.S.
Department of Commerce. The grant funded the
construction and improvement of infrastructure to
support expansion of the park.
In August,
commissioners called a special election for an
additional half-cent sales tax for the Economic
Development Foundation. Voters defeated the measure.
The City leased the Marland Estate Conference
Center and Hotel to Monumental Enterprises, Inc. MEI
took over the property on September 1.
The
22-foot bronze statue of Chief Standing Bear was
unveiled October 25 at Standing Bear Native American
Park. A colorful 60-foot diameter circular viewing court
is located at the base of the statue. It contains large
sandstone boulders around its perimeter, each affixed
with the official brass seals of the six area tribes –
Osage, Pawnee, Otoe-Missouria, Kaw, Tonkawa, and Ponca.
The names of eight clans of the Ponca Tribe are inlaid
in the floor of the plaza in earth tone colors. A center
pool reflects the sky and at its center, the eternal
flame of “grandfather fire” burns on a large round
sandstone pedestal. The developed portion of the 63-acre
park encompasses more than eight acres with off street
parking, a one-acre pond with central arrowhead island,
and a walking trail winding through native grasses and
wildflowers.
In October, the Oklahoma Conference
of Mayors named Mayor Marilyn Andrews the 1996 Oklahoma
Mayor of the Year.
Commissioners authorized the
calling of an election to issue $8.75 million in general
obligation bonds. The proposition would renovate and
expand the city complex and the police station,
construct a new No. 1 Fire Station and purchase
emergency response vehicles for the police and fire
departments. Renovation and repair of the spillway at
Lake Ponca was included. The voting took place in
December, and all propositions were soundly defeated.
In the November election, Jim Newport defeated
Bernie Jackson to become the new State Representative
for District 37.
The Oklahoma Department of
Commerce awarded a $550,000 grant to expand the
landfill, adding 15 acres and extending the life of the
landfill by 20 years.
Angels were everywhere in
Ponca City during the 1996 Festival of Angels Lighting
Celebration. A thirty-foot lighted angel, placed at the
Pioneer Woman Circle, was one of the new exhibits. The
large displays were now at Lake Ponca Park instead of
the Marland Mansion, where traffic had been a problem. A
host of heavenly activities was scheduled during the
five weeks of the Festival including a lighted downtown
parade, a performance of “The Nutcracker” at the Poncan
Theatre, the Christmas Gala at the Marland Estate, a
Candlelight Historic Homes Tour, a children’s Christmas
Show by Ponca Playhouse and a Christmas Tree Collage
exhibit on display at the Art Center.