Nine-year-old Trenton Barnes takes advantage of the extra days out of school as he and his brothers played on the icy hills near their home. (Photo by Larry Barnes)


Snow Day
Winter weather hits the state

Stacy Barnes

Winter weather made its way into town as predicted on Friday, causing many parents to pick their kids up early from school.

Mustang school’s Superintendent Karl Springer estimated that 65 to 70 percent of students were already home before the busses ran their afternoon routes. He said many parents had called the schools to see if they would close early, but the administrator said that would never happen.

“Parents need to know we will keep our schools open. Even if a bunch of students have gone home we will still have somebody there to make sure the kids are taken care of,” said Springer. “Short of a nuclear explosion, if we have school, parents can know we will have school all day.”

Despite crews working throughout the weekend, school was canceled Tuesday and Wednesday due to icing on residential streets and in school parking lots. City manager David Cockrell said he was pleased with the way crews cleared the streets and expressed relief that the majority of precipitation fell in the form of sleet and not freezing rain.

“This would have been an extremely expensive storm had it come down in the form of freezing rain,” he said. “As it is, it was very inexpensive. All told it was probably less than $10,000—a lot less than what we were planning for.”

In addition to the usual salt and sand mixtures, the city used a new product to melt the ice and give drivers some traction on the road. Cockrell said the chemical, haydite, worked well on the sleet where it is difficult to apply sand.

As of Monday there had been no accidents in the city limits that could be attributed to the hazardous road conditions, Cockrell said.

“Accidents are usually a good measure of your response,” he said.

The worst ice storm in recent history to hit the area was in January 2002. Cockrell said it cost the city in excess of $300,000.

Picture Perfect
Locals learn about watercolor

Carol Brimm

Oklahoma artist Lynden Wilcoxson taught a sketch class at the Mustang Public Library last week. Wilcoxson's work is on display this month at the library along with other Oklahoma artists. Wilcoxson, is an award-winning artist and president of the Oklahoma Watercolor Association. Visitors to the library will see Wilcoxson’s “The Governor’s Veranda” in addition to pieces by Terrell Roos and Ramona White.

Wilcoxson says he has been painting most of his life. He became interested in the arts in Junior High as he wiled away lazy afternoons drawing and painting with a friend who he says was an excellent artist. This interest led to his decision to major in art in college.

“I thought I would become an architect,” Wilcoxson said, “but I later changed my major to music.”

Wilcoxson graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. He taught music, art and history in Canut and Custer City for several years before earning his Master’s in School Guidance Counseling. He moved to this area in 1975 and was a Guidance Counselor at Washington Schools, just south of Norman for 22 years. He and Kathleen married in 1982. They have one daughter, Stacy. Kathleen was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate in 1996 and was re-elected in 2000 and 2004. She represents Moore, South Oklahoma City, Mustang and Yukon.

“She finished her doctorate at OSU and went to work for the Republican Party,” Wilcoxson said. “She taught for a lot of years and then went back into politics.”

Wilcoxson says he has no political aspirations of his own. He says he has always been associated with creative people and has always had the urge to draw and paint. His favorite medium is watercolors.

“I paint with acrylics now, but they are water based so that gives more flexibility,” Wilcoxson said. “You can do transparent watercolors with acrylics, but you can also do oils.”

Wilcoxson said he has taken some classes with Bert Seabourn, an Oklahoma artist, and classes in Santa Fe and Taos on trips to visit his brother-in-law there each summer. Many of his paintings are realistic representational paintings, he says.

“The last one I sold was a picture of cows in a pasture. A typical Oklahoma landscape,” Wilcoxson said. “Most of my paintings are landscapes or barns. My barns seem to do quite well.”

He enters four or five art shows a year but says he doesn’t go to street festivals much anymore. His work is shown at 50 Penn Place Gallery at least four times a year and he says he tries to show in the Oklahoma Watercolor Association shows and Oklahoma Art Guild shows. This is his third year as president of the Oklahoma Watercolor Association and he is a member of the Oklahoma Art Guild.

Wilcoxson’s work was displayed at the City Arts Center as part of “Heroes and Outlaws: 100 Oklahomans by 100 Oklahomans” a celebration of Oklahoma’s Centennial. This exhibit featured the work of 100 Oklahoman artists from across the state creating works of art depicting or inspired by 100 Oklahomans from Oklahoma’s first 100 years.

Wilcoxson says art is trial and error with something learned from each trial.

“I like to see if I can come up with something pleasing and colorful and a well done piece of work,” Wilcoxson said. “I may paint five or ten paintings before I am really pleased with a piece. With each trial you learn how to do a technique or coloring contrast or shadow better. It is not a cut and dry thing for any artist. There is no magic brush or magic color,” Wilcoxson said. “My advice to new artist would be, take a few classes, get a good teacher but you just have to practice if you want to paint. Just put paint on canvas or paper.”

Wilcoxson says he hopes to teach some art classes in the Mustang area in the spring.

Judge rules Pope violated federal telephone law

Brendan Hoover

A federal district judge ruled Jan. 9 that Mustang resident, political consultant and former state representative Tim Pope violated a federal law when he arranged to have 20,000 automated, prerecorded telephone calls delivered to Oklahoma County residents in January 2006.

The ruling was handed down in a lawsuit filed last May by Oklahoma state Attorney General Drew Edmondson. The state’s top lawyer received 11 complaints about calls made on Jan. 29, 2006, a press release from the Attorney Generas office stated.

Pope could face a penalty of up to $10 million due to the judgment.

“I’m disappointed in the verdict. We’re going to appeal it as far as we have to, all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary,” Pope said Thursday.

Federal District Judge Robin J. Cauthron ruled that Pope’s calls were illegal under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which took effect in December 1991 and was instituted to restrict the conduct of telephone solicitation.

The TCPA requires that unsolicited callers identify the organization they represent and provide a number or address for the organization to be contacted.

The TCPA authorizes a fine of $500 per violation.

Cauthron wrote in her opinion: “the defendant retained a telecommunications company to call the homes of thousands of Oklahomans and play a prerecorded message about Oklahoma County Commissioner Jim Roth when the calls were answered.”

“Quite clearly, the message did not state the identity of the individual, business, or entity responsible for initiating the calls or its telephone number,” Cauthron wrote.

Stephen Jones of Enid, Pope’s attorney, argued in court that his client’s telephone calls were exempt from TCPA technical requirements because they were non-commercial calls. He also argued that case law and legislative history do not support the proposition that the TPCA applied to First Amendment and/or political type calls.

“Anonymous political discourse is a protected constitutional right, and I don’t think (Judge Cauthron) addressed it adequately. To relegate the First Amendment to a footnote (in her ruling) was not to give it its full meaning,” Jones said Thursday.

Jones said in its history the U.S. Supreme Court "time and time again" has stuck down prohibitions on anonymous printed media with political messages, like “The Federalist Papers.”

“It’s a small step from an anonymous handbill to an anonymous phone call. The TCPA requirements are unconstitutional under the First Amendment,” he said.

Cauthron ruled that these arguments are without merit.

Edmondson said that even in the most unfavorable light, the TCPA could not possibly be construed as an infringement up the right to free speech.

“This is about the method, not the message. Mr. Pope can say anything he wants, he just has to follow the law when he uses the telephone to say it,” Edmondson said.

The recorded message that played when the calls were answered contained the following:

“Stand by for an important message. Hear County Commissioner Jim Roth speak of his success in advancing the homosexual agenda in Oklahoma County. Including homosexual language into the county personnel handbook and fighting to keep homosexual books in the children’s section of the library. Commissioner Jim Roth will discuss his role in advancing the homosexual political agenda..."

Jones said that at the time of the calls Pope was involved in a professional capacity in the campaign of Dave Mehlhaff, Roth’s opponent for the District One Oklahoma County Board of Commissioner’s seat in 2006.

“The intention of the calls was to get more people to (Roth’s) event,” Pope said.

Jones said there was another reason for the calls.

“He wanted to draw attention to the fact that Mr. Roth is gay,” he said.

Roth said Thursday that he was pleased with the judgment.

“I’m thrilled that the citizens of Oklahoma County are defended by the Attorney General and a federal judge against Tim Pope’s bigotry. I personally believe and have more faith in the citizens’ kindness than Mr. Pope has,” Roth said.

Roth defeated Mehlhaff in the Nov. 7 election with 63 percent of the vote.

Pope has 18 days from the time of the ruling to reach a settlement with the Attorney General’s office or appeal the judgment.

Task force's first response a success

Carol Brimm

Mustang Fire Chief, Carl Hickman, said the maiden voyage of the Canadian County Task Force last week was a success. Oklahoma City Fire Department called for assistance with a fire at 44th and County Line Road at approximately 1 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, according to Hickman. Firefighters from Mustang, Yukon and Oklahoma City were fighting that fire when a second call came for help with a grass fire on S.W. 119th between S.H. 92 and Czech Hall Road.

The task force in El Reno dispatched assistance from El Reno, Yukon, Mustang, Tuttle, Newcastle, Bridgecreek, Union City, Okarche and Calumet Fire Departments.

“Before the task force could get to the fire on 44th the call came in for the fire on S.W. 119th,” Hickman said. “It was pretty confusing because everyone was on the fire on 44th St. when this happened.”

Hickman said the number of departments responding to the task force call was not an over response and he feels the “task force maiden voyage” went well.

“We learned some things and there are some things we will probably change,” Hickman said, “but all in all it went pretty well I think. Both fires were out and we were back at the station within about three hours. We will only improve and get better.”

According to Hickman the task force, organized in 2006 to coordinate the assistance of multiple fire departments in Canadian and Grady Counties, is a “tremendous firefighting arsenal”.

“There’s strength in numbers and that holds true in firefighting,” Hickman said. “I became a strong advocate to get multiple fire departments coordinated after the December fire last year. It would have been far easier to manage that event with the task force in place.”

Hickman said the County Fire Chief’s will review what went right and what went wrong at their regular meeting on Jan. 18th. The Canadian County Task Force is only the second task force organized in the state, according to Hickman. Cleveland County organized the first.

Threat mailed to area school
Elementary school recipient of Mustang district's first mailed threat

Carol Brimm

Lakehoma Elementary received a mailed threat on Fri., Jan. 12; just one week after a threat was found written on a wall in the boy’s bathroom. Principal Sondra Bivens discovered the threat Monday and immediately notified Superintendent Karl Springer, who contacted Mustang police.

“I called Monte James as soon as I found out about it,” Springer said. “We are in the process of some analysis, but the timing is almost exactly the same. I really do think they’re related,” Springer said of the two threats.

According to Mustang Police Captain Willard James, the letter said, “Beware Lakehoma” and was written in a way that makes it appear to be from a juvenile. James said the letter was not mailed in Mustang and the police are investigating the incident fully.

“State Statue 21-1304 makes the mailing of a threat a felony,” James said.

The captain said utilizing the United States mail could also bring federal charges but the incident is being investigated on a local level at this time.

Springer said all threats are taken seriously and security at the school will be increased. An officer was placed at the school last week after the first threat was discovered. Parents were notified of the first threat in a letter from Bivens on Jan. 5.

Travel restrictions to change soon

Brendan Hoover

Due to new Departments of State and Homeland Security regulations, citizens returning to the United States by air from anywhere in the Western Hemisphere must present a valid passport to enter the country beginning Jan. 23.

“This change in travel document requirements is the result of recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission, which Congress subsequently passed into law in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004,” a State Department press release noted in November.

This is the first phase of the two-part Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. The second phase, which could be implemented as early as Jan. 1, 2008, would require U.S. citizens to present passports upon returning from Western Hemisphere countries by land or sea.

“The Department has dedicated additional resources and personnel to meet the increased demand for passports generated by these requirements. In Fiscal Year 2006, the Department issued a record 12.1 million passports to American citizens and anticipates issuing 16 million passports in Fiscal Year 2007,” the press release noted.

For Mustang residents, obtaining a passport for the first time is not necessarily an easy task. A spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Service in Mustang said that they do not handle passport applications. First time applicants must apply in person to one of 9,000 passport application facilities across the country. The closest place to Mustang to apply for a passport is in downtown Oklahoma City.

Applicants must present proof of U.S. citizenship, proof of identity, two, two-inch by two-inch color photographs, and all necessary fees.

The total cost for a passport, including all applications and processing fees, is $97. Expedited processing of an application can be performed for an additional $60. All fees go to the State Department.

While Mustang residents have to travel elsewhere to get a passport for the first time, some local businesses are offering services to make the process a little easier.

Yukon Mail and Copy Plus owner Jean Fouche said residents can pick up passport applications and have their passport photos taken at his store, located at 1300 W. Vandament Ave., next to the Wal-Mart Supercenter.

“I’m also working to be a U.S. passport application agent, but I’m not there yet,” Fouche said.

Other businesses in Mustang that take passport photos include: Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy, Wal-Mart, and Your Mail Store, 202 N. Mustang Rd.

Book Buddies make positive difference for students

Shannon Rigsby

Mustang North Middle School’s alternative education classes have been making a difference in the life of a Mustang Creek Elementary classroom for three years.

Each week students from Teri Hood’s Reaching Students Through Successful Education program are the Book Buddies in Patricia Weeks’ first-grade classroom at Creek. The older students listen to the first-graders read. The interaction helps the first-graders with vocabulary, pronunciation and learning to keep their place while they read. They also teach the first-graders how to ask the right questions about the book to improve reading comprehension.

“It is very helpful to have listeners for first grade students that are also capable of helping them with the writing process, reading, AR (Accelerated Reader) tests, etc. And the first graders have the opportunity to have a one-on-one experience listening to someone other than a parent or their teacher read books they have chosen. They form bonds with their book buddies,” Weeks said.

The older students reap benefits from the program as well.

“I found out the first year that when my students began asking questions about the story, they started to realize the things they needed to look for in their own reading time,” Hood said. “They started to infer, put sequences together, foretell and look for hidden messages. My students did better on their own book tests for the second semester.”

The relationship the Book Buddies develop with each other may be just as important as the acquired reading skills. The younger students are excited to see their Book Buddies arrive, which gives the middle school students a sense of self-worth, Hood said.

“The best part of this is to see my students feel good about themselves,” she said. “I know we go to help that little one read, but we get much more out of it than they do. One of my boys was telling a little Book Buddy last year, that he should always find something good about school, stay excited and never give up, even if it’s hard.”

Making a difference
Teachers of the Year 2007

Stacy Barnes


Nancy Graham

Some people just always seem to know what they’re destined to do with their lives. Nancy Graham is one of those people. Growing up in the small farming community of Prescott, Ark., Graham says she made the decision to be a teacher while still in elementary school.

“As a child I always liked going to school and looked forward each year to the new challenges and adventures that awaited me,” she said. “Naturally I chose a profession that would be fun, enjoyable and rewarding.”

Graham received her BSE from Henderson State University in Arkansas and has lived in the Mustang area for the past 25 years.

She has taught kindergarten at Mustang Valley Elementary for 20 years and says it is a dream come true for her to be able to teach eager young students each day. Graham says her goal is to provide a “safe and fun environment where children are surrounded and immersed in learning.”

According to Graham, kindergarten is an important social and academic step in the learning process as it is during this year that students learn many skills essential for success throughout life.

“Kindergarten is the first block in the building blocks of education,” she said. “I try to make that year fun and exciting so children are eager to come to school each day. I hope I instill a passion and curiosity for learning in my students that will be the foundation of their educational future.”

Graham and her husband Sammy have three children, Lindsy, Jamie and Sarah. Lindsy and Jamie are both graduates of Mustang High School. Lindsy graduated from Oklahoma Christian University and Jamie will graduate from the University of Central Oklahoma in May. Sarah is a sophomore at MHS.

Graham says in her spare time she enjoys traveling, gardening and snow skiing with her family. She attributes her success to support from her school staff and to parental involvement.

“I am honored to have been selected and have been fortunate to have the opportunity to teach at an exceptional school with a supportive and talented staff,” she said. “I also appreciate the support and involvement of the parents of my students each year.”


Donna Kaiser

A desire to make learning fun and exciting for children is what led Mustang Education Center Teacher of the Year, Donna Kaiser, to her profession.

“My elementary school experience was not very good and I wanted to make a positive educational impact on kids so they would enjoy learning,” she said.

A 24-year veteran teacher, Kaiser has taught in Putnam City, Yukon and, for the past seven years, Mustang. She earned her BSE from Central State University and a Master’s of Educational Administration from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

She currently teaches Elementary Gifted and Talented, grades 3-6 and says the best thing about teaching is seeing the children’s eyes light up when they learn something for the first time and then using that information to learn more.

Kaiser says she hopes the students she teaches will become better people.

“I hope that I instill in my students the desire to keep on learning, to have a positive attitude and to be a well rounded person,” she said.

She says her favorite story took place 28 years ago when she was still teaching in the PC school district.

“I had a student who I needed to retain for maturity reasons. I met with his parents and the principal and explained why he needed to be retained. His mother agreed if I would have him in my room again. He was ornery and I thought, ‘Do I really want to have him in my room again?’” Kaiser said.

“I did agree and we survived. He has kept in touch with me all these years. I was invited to his wedding and we have been out to dinner together. I just saw him in November and he is a buyer for Hobby Lobby. Having contact with former students is very rewarding.”

Kaiser met her husband of 34 years on a blind date. They have one son, John, who works for Bil-Jac dog food and owns a lawn service.

Kaiser said she was surprised and honored to have been selected Teacher of the Year by her peers.

“We have a great faculty at Mustang Education Center,” she said. “They are wonderful to work with.”

In her spare time Kaiser enjoys reading, traveling, walking in her Surry Hills neighborhood and playing Bunko with friends. She also likes to travel with her husband when he plays in his Gospel Band.

Sports
Mustang's Zanotti plays well in homecoming against OU

Brendan Hoover

NORMAN--It was a tough assignment, one that Kansas State sophomore Danielle Zanotti spent four years as a Lady Bronco to prepare for.

The 2005 Mustang High School graduate and second-year Wildcat spent most of her 31 minutes in K-State’s Jan. 3 Big 12 Conference opener against the Oklahoma Sooners defending or being defended by national college basketball standouts Ashley and Courtney Paris.

“We defended them as well as anyone else can,” she said after the game.

Zanotti made the most of her time on the floor that night, scoring six points on 2-3 three-point shooting and holding All-American Courtney Paris to a below average 18 points and 9-21 field goal shooting in the Sooners’ 78-56 victory.

Zanotti, a 2005 6A first-team all-state selection and Wendy’s High School Heisman National Finalist, said her former coaches helped her raise her game to the collegiate level.

“They really had me prepared for college. We run a lot of the same stuff defensively that we did at Mustang. Coach (Nichole) Copeland prepared me well,” she said.

Zanotti has started 10 games so far for the Wildcat’s this season after getting 10 starts in her freshman campaign, helping Kansas State to a Women’s National Invitational Tournament championship in 2006. She averages 20.1 minutes and 3.6 points per game. She scored a career-high 11 points on Dec. 15 against Santa Clara in Manhattan, and logged 12 minutes in K-State’s 48-45 upset of 17th ranked Texas A&M on Jan. 6.

The Wildcats, 13-2 overall and 1-1 in Big 12 play, received 60 points in the latest AP women’s college basketball poll and are close to cracking the top 25.

Zanotti said she has learned to respect the college game and that her skills have improved to fit.

“It’s a lot faster, more aggressive and physical. You can get exposed if you aren’t prepared at every position. You have to be more rounded. I’ve gained a lot of confidence. I look for an open shot now. I have a good basketball IQ, and I’ve improved at setting screens and on defense,” she said.

Many of Zanotti’s family and friends showed up to the Lloyd Noble Center for the OU game wearing Wildcat purple, and some of her old teammates were there to cheer her on.

Although maybe the one award Zanotti did not get as a Lady Bronco was a state championship gold ball, she said she was thrilled when they won in 2006.

“I felt like a proud mom,” she said.

And even though K-State did not pick up the victory against the Sooners, a top-ten ranked team and national title contender, Zanotti said she was excited that she could point out her hometown to her college teammates as they flew into Oklahoma City before the game.

“I kept pointing out the window, 'There's Mustang!'" she said.

Sports
MHS swimmers at home at OCCC

Brendan Hoover

OKLAHOMA CITY--The Mustang High School swim team arrived at the Putnam City Triangular meet Jan. 9 at the Oklahoma City Community College swim facility as the visiting school competing against the three host PC squads.

But since the entire Mustang team practices at OCCC almost every day and has competed there twice already this season, the Broncos felt right at home in the familiar 25-yard pool.

All four Mustang swimmers placed in the top three in events at the meet and the team netted four total first-place finishes.

At the same time, three Bronco swimmers have qualified in five different events for the OSSAA state swimming championships, which will be held Feb 16-17, also at OCCC.

Head coach Rocky Maynard said it is a big deal for his swimmers to qualify for state.

“We think our individual swimmers have a shot at placing at state,” Maynard said.

Junior Ryan Lindsey won two events he entered at the PC meet. Lindsey touched the wall first in the 50-meter boys freestyle at 24.66 seconds, .09 seconds faster than the state qualifying time in that event. He also finished first in the 100-meter boys breaststroke with a time 1:07.90. The state qualifying time for that event is 1:11.

“Ryan had just an unbelievable meet,” Maynard said.

Freshman Carli Wentworth, who already qualified for state in the 100-meter girls breaststroke earlier in the season, took first in the 200-meter girls individual medley and second in the 100-meter girls freestyle at the PC meet.

Wentworth’s time in the girls 200 IM, 2:31.50, beat the state qualifying time by 2.5 seconds. Her 1:02.33 time in the girls 100 freestyle just missed the state qualifying time of 1:01.

“She had a great race,” Maynard said of Wentworth’s girls 200 IM finish. “She was doing so good in the Kerr McGee meets so I knew she’d qualify for sure.”

All of the Bronco swimmers also are members of the privately sponsored Kerr McGee team in order to secure practice time at OCCC’s pool facilities.

Incidentally, sponsorship of the club team switched from Kerr-McGee to Chesapeake on Thursday.

Junior Katharine Maynard finished third in the girls 50-meter freestyle at the PC meet with a time of 27.73 seconds. The time was .23 seconds shy of the state qualifying time for that event. She already qualified for state in the girls 100-meter backstroke earlier in the season with a time of 1:09.80.

“It’s killing her to be so close and not get it,” Maynard said of her girls 50 freestyle time.

Sophomore Justin Logan, who joined the team after the season had started, finished third in two events at the PC meet, touching the wall in the boys 50 freestyle in 25.53 seconds and finishing the boys 100-meter freestyle in 57.50 seconds.

Maynard said that although Logan has not qualified for state yet, his times are coming down and he has a good chance to make it.

Sports
Shhh...Lady Broncos riding 15-game streak

Brendan Hoover

OKLAHOMA CITY--The Mustang High School girls basketball team won their 15th game in a row dating back to last season with a 77-41 win over Putnam City North Jan. 9.

The Lady Broncos had three players scoring in double digits against PC North, led by junior forward Lacy Ramon with 20, and Mustang turned a seemingly close 39-27 halftime lead into a 36-point rout by outscoring the Lady Panthers 38-14 in the second half on stifling man-to-man defense and quick transition offense.

And while the winning streak, which began after a 56-52 loss to Del City in the regional playoffs last February and includes a 48-37 6A state championship victory over Edmond Santa Fe last March, grows longer and looms larger after each Mustang conquest, head coach Nichole Copeland said her team is more concerned with getting better each and every game.

“We’ve won 15 in a row, but we really don’t talk about that. We play our season one game at a time and really one possession at a time. Going undefeated was not a preseason goal for us. We talk about how we are going to get each team’s best shot every night and how we have to be prepared both mentally and physically as we enter the home stretch of the season,” Copeland said.

In the win against PC North, the Lady Bronco defense stretched many Lady Panther offensive possessions to over a minute, most ending in a missed shot or a turnover.

“Playing really good defense and forcing the offense to work longer than they are used to really gets our kids fired up. Our bench gets going and the kids on the floor feed off that energy. I think the long possessions play into our hands mentally because the (opposing) offense tends to get frustrated and often will try to force things that just aren’t there,” Copeland said.

Conversely, the Lady Bronco offense ran the floor whenever they could. Easy fast break buckets helped boost their 64 percent field goal shooting in the second half.

“Our transition game was exceptional, not only off turnovers, but even after made baskets. When you make the opponent work so hard on offense and they finally score, the normal reaction is to relax and celebrate your small victory. But when we are able to take the ball out of the net and advance the ball up the floor for an easy layup, that can really take the wind out of their sails,” Copeland said.

Junior guard Brittnay Prandy and junior forward Jordan Pyle were the other two Lady Broncos in double digits, with 14 and 12 points respectively. Junior guard Kaitlin Ellison had nine points on the night. Senior point guard Kasey Tweed had six points, and senior forward Julie Lofland chipped in five. Senior guard Christina Wilson came off the bench to hit a three late in the game. Senior guard Danni Creach had two points off the bench, as did junior guard Karmin Smith.

So with their winning streak intact the Lady Broncos quietly march on. Their game with Choctaw Tuesday was postponed due to the ice storm and will be rescheduled. The Lady Broncos have upcoming games against old foes Putnam City and Edmond Santa Fe before traveling to Jenks on Jan. 25 for their tournament.

Sports
MHS grapplers split duals
Homecoming will be Thursday due to ice

Brendan Hoover

YUKON--The Mustang Broncos picked up an important 5A-4 district dual win at Moore on Jan. 9, but then lost their first dual of the season against district rival Yukon Thursday night.

The team was scheduled to go to Sand Springs for a tournament over the weekend, but changed its plans and was set to compete in a tournament in Tuttle when ice was forecasted earlier in the week.

When the weather hit Friday, both events were cancelled, head coach Dave Rankin said.

Mustang's homecoming dual versus Lawton on Tuesday night was also postponed due to the ice. Homecoming ceremonies will now be held Thursday at 7 p.m. before the Putnam City varsity dual.

On Thursday night, the enthusiastic Yukon faithful cheered loudly after each home victory, and early momentum for the Broncos gained on pins by sophomore Kyle Webster at 171 pounds and Baker, and a 22-5 major decision for Taylor, was erased when the Millers won five straight matches at the lower weights for a come-from-behind 36-32 win.

The Broncos forfeited the first match of the night at 152 pounds, and Vincent at 215 pounds could not hold a late lead against Miller wrestler Dante Campbell, losing 13-9.

Vincent forged to a 9-7 lead in the match by scoring a two-point takedown with 39 seconds remaining, but Campbell scored a takedown and a near-fall in the last 17 seconds to get the win.

Rankin called the nine-point swing a difference in the dual.

“Vincent just got lazy on his feet and got caught on an ankle pick,” he said. “We wrestled well tonight, but not well enough. We just didn’t do the things we needed to do.”

Rankin said that the strength of Yukon’s lower-weight wrestlers combined with the youth of the Broncos at the same weights led to the five straight defeats.

Freshman Tyler Butler was pinned by number-one state ranked wrestler Cory Stokes at 103 pounds. Sophomore Bobby Wilson suffered a fall to top-ten state ranked Cameron Wells at 112 pounds.

With Yukon leading 33-20 after 11 matches, the Broncos needed pins in two of their last three matches to win the dual.

Senior Jake Edmonds, back for the first time after aggravating a head injury early in the season and wearing a face mask, scored a pin at 135 over Matt Penwright.

But junior Jake Crossley lost a 12-6 decision to Kody Hopwood that sealed the Broncos’ fate.

Slater’s pin of Jeremiah McGuire at 145 pounds could not avert a Mustang defeat.

Rankin said many of his wrestlers performed well at Yukon.

“Baker had a good match. So did Slater, Taylor and Webster. Jake Edmonds wrestled awesome,” Rankin said.

However, Rankin said, the team is not reaching its full potential right now.

“We’re wrestling at about 60 percent of our ability right now,” Rankin said after the dual. “Which is really good because we have an opportunity to improve, but really bad because we’re not performing like we’re capable of.”

At the Moore dual last Tuesday, senior Rigel Baker at heavyweight and juniors Tim Taylor at 160 pounds and Auston Slater at 145 pounds all scored pins in their matches, and freshman Keegan Riffel won a 22-13 major decision in his 125-pound match to help give the Broncos a 43-27 victory.

In other key Mustang wins at Moore:

--sophomore Bobby Wilson defeated Anthony Taylor at 112 pounds, 9-4;

--senior Chayse Garrison defeated Bryce Hayes at 189 pounds, 5-2;

--and senior E.J. Vincent defeated Jacob Galindo at 215 pounds, 6-4.

“I was really pleased with the way we wrestled at Moore,” Rankin said.

Sports
Player of the Week: Austin Feureborn

Brendan Hoover

Junior forward Austin Feureborn earned Player of the Week honors for his season-high 15-point performance in the Broncos' down-to-the-wire 76-69 loss at Metro Athletic Conference powerhouse Putnam City North on Jan. 9.

The 6' 5" Feureborn has been the big man in the middle this year for the Broncos, who otherwise send a relatively small 6A lineup on the court every night out.

Feureborn scored nine first-half points against the Panthers on 3-5 field goal shooting. For the game he went 3-6 from the free throw line, which he admitted is an improvement for him.

The Broncos have looked inside to score more and more as the season progresses, and Feureborn said his teammates have urged him to take a larger role on the team.

"David Balenseifen told me after he broke his hand that I need to step up and focus more, and that's what I've tried to do," he said.

Feureborn missed the Broncos' first-round win at the Anadarko tounament Thursday with an ear and sinus infection, but he said he hopes to be back for the rest of the tournament, which was postponed due to the ice storm.


What is your favorite food?
Pepperoni pizza.

What is your favorite school subject?
English.

What is in your CD player right now?
A rap mix CD.

What do you do in your free time?
Hang with friends, sports.

What are your parents’ names?
Greg and Amy.

Who are your siblings?
Dakota, 12.

What is your favorite movie?
Gridiron Gang.

Where do you want to go to college?
I want to go to OU to play football.

Business
Moore & Co celebrates grand opening Jan. 20

Carol Brimm

Faithful customers of Total E-Clips hair salon will be greeted by a new owner and business name at the grand opening of Moore and Co. Salon on Saturday, Jan. 20. Mustang native, Crystal Moore, was a stylist and barber at the salon for two years before purchasing it from the former owner.

Moore says the new salon will offer the best hair color, cuts, nail color, and waxing in town with four barbers, one cosmetologist and a nail tech to serve all your pampering needs with a hometown touch.

“We will really listen to our clients because we want every client to leave happy,” Moore said. “Our nail tech uses only a file instead of a drill, that sets us apart.”

The grand opening celebration promises to be an exciting event with food catered by SupperThyme of Yukon, a wine tasting from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. provided by K.C. Wine and Spirits, as well as drawings for free hair cuts, highlights with cuts, a full set of nails and a $50 credit toward any service. Moore says goodie bags of Bed Head, Cat Walk, S Factor, Big Sexy, Scruples, Nioxin, Crew, Matrix, Biolage, Framesi, Creative, and OPI products will also be given away in addition to door prizes. New clients will receive haircuts for $10 from participating stylist and current clients will receive $5 off for referring new customers through Valentines Day.

Moore says the salon has been redecorated and is a fun, contemporary, modern, fashionable shop. One of Moore’s innovations is the offering of party packages for birthdays, weddings, or ladies night out.

“For parties all of the girls can get a mini up-do, manicure and pedicure and we will provide the food and cake,” Moore said.

Moore and Co. Salon is located at 1104 E SH 152 Ste 2, on the south side of SH 152 between Sara and Morgan Rd. Services are provided for men, women and children and walk-ins are welcome. For an appointment or more information call 256- MANE (256-6263).

Business
Changes of Yukon offers new cutting edge technology to enhance beauty

Carol Brimm

Changes of Yukon will celebrate their grand opening Jan. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The new business offers exciting new body makeovers using VIP System technology and massage therapy. Stacey Newhauser, manager, says VIP System treatments are the newest thing in inch reduction. According to Newhauser, one treatment is equal to 1000 sit-ups or three hours working out in the gym, but clients still need to eat healthy and do cardio exercise for the treatments to work The treatments use electric stimuli to command muscle movement which slims, tones, and lifts, according to www.getchanges.com.

“It is a non-surgical procedure with no injections, Newhauser said. “We do a body comp analysis by measuring skin folds, bone, and body circumference to determine what package fits the clients needs.”

Newhauser said she and technician April Hensley both have approximately 12 years experience in the medical field and have taken training to perform these procedures at the Changes corporate office in Tulsa. Diane and Marty Stallcup of Tulsa own the Yukon Changes affiliate which offers Transion, Isogei, Linfogei, Microgei, Chromogei, Flash rejuvenation and Body system treatments.

Newhauser said customers will receive free 25 minute Transion treatments and can enter drawings for 1 ten session package, valued at $1,000; one of four 2 session and free body comp analysis packages, valued at $250 per package; a free one hour massage, valued at $50; or several free product give aways at the grand opening on Saturday.

Changes, located at 937 S. Cornwell Dr. in Arvest Bank Plaza, is open Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sat. by appointment only. For more information call 354-7546.

Business
CPA gives tax prep discounts to new clients

Carol Brimm

Quinton Hiebert, CPA is offering a $5 discount on individual tax returns and a $25 discount on business services for new clients who bring in the ad from the Mustang Times. Hiebert says he works with small insurance companies and business owners throughout the year performing monthly booking services, handling payroll and writing checks, and preparing corporate and individual taxes.

Hiebert has been in business for himself since 1990 and is a Certified Public Accountant.

"I enjoy helping small start up businesses get on track, keep their paperwork straight, and stay on track with the IRS. Some people have an idea for a business but they are not good with paperwork, that's where I come in," Hiebert said.

Hiebert says it is important to have someone experienced prepare your taxes.

"As a CPA I have four years of college, 16 years experience and I work on returns all year long in comparison to a six week school for tax preparers most national chains have," Hiebert said.

CPA's are certified and therefore have a higher standard, according to Hiebert.

"I can take the stress and agony out of tax preparation because a lot of times people who are using tax software do not know how to answer a question and I can help them answer those questions correctly," Hiebert said.

Hiebert says he can work with individuals and businesses to help them get their taxes ready to file by April 15.

"I am available 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. throughout tax season," Hiebert said, "and I work with clients to help them get their taxes ready to file by April 15."

Hiebert said his rates are comparable and he does not charge for audit insurance.

"Based on IRS statistics, there is about one percent chance of being audited and if a client is audited I will go with them for a separate fee," Hiebert said.

Hiebert also offers his clients free electronic filing.

Hiebert has lived in the Mustang/Yukon area for 21 years and is convenient to all Mustang, Yukon and Oklahoma City clients.

He and his wife Sammy have three children, Blake 20, Katy 16, and Joseph 10. His children attended Mustang schools.

For more information call 627-8293.