August 2026

Tammy Mayden

Roberts & Son Funeral Home

Tammy Lynn Mayden Oct 13, 1958 — Aug 2, 2026 Tammy Lynn Mayden passed away on August 2, 2026, at the age of 67 years old. She was surrounded by her loved ones who will continue to…

Carl “Wayne” Brock

Grace Memorial Chapel

Carl Dwayne Brock Oct 21, 1960 — Jul 29, 2026 Carl Dwayne “Wayne” Brock, 65, of Ponca City, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully on July 29, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.…

Dale Owen

Trout Funeral Home of Perry

Dale Edward Owen, 79, of Perry, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 9, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00…

Carmela Ochoa

Trout Funeral Home of Tonkawa

A full obituary is not available at this time for Carmela Ochoa. Trout Funeral Home welcomes you to provide your thoughts and memories on their Tribute Wall. Visitation Thursday, A…

Lester Ward

Trout Funeral Home & Crematory

Lester L. Ward, 89, of Ponca City, died Sunday, August 2, at the home with his family by his side. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory, 505 W Gra…

Tammy Lynn Mayden

Roberts and Son Funeral Home, Inc.

Tammy Lynn Mayden, 67, of Blackwell, Oklahoma, passed away on August 2, 2026, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.More information to follow.A Celebration of Life is scheduled for 2:00 PM,…

Lester Wedel, Sr.

Roberts & Son Funeral Home

Lester Author Wedel, Sr. Aug 28, 1944 — Jul 30, 2026 Lester Aurthor Wedel, Sr., of Cheney, Kansas, passed away Thursday, July 30, 2026, in Goddard, Kansas at the age of 81. Life st…

Pioneer Technology Center Introduces Students to Modern Manufacturing In Metalworks Academy

• •Pioneer Technology Center held a four-day Metalworks Academy for area students
• •Students designed custom dog tags then manufactured them using manual and CNC machines
• •Participants gained hands-on experience with lathes, milling machines, and robotic arms

Save Money, Support Local With a Staycation

• •Staycations save money while letting you explore local attractions you've overlooked.
• •Spending locally supports Ponca City small businesses and neighbors during your vacation.
• •Downtown Historic District offers boutique shopping, dining, theatre and local art experiences.

From Waiting to Wonder: Two Women Share Infertility Journeys to Break the Silence

• •Two Ponca City women share their different infertility journeys to inspire others.
• •Katy Wittman discovered endometriosis and blocked fallopian tubes after seeking care.
• •Melissa Pipestem managed PCOS for years before pursuing treatment at age 36.

Growing the Ponca City Community

• •PCDA invests public sales tax funds in both business growth and community quality of life
• •City Central transformed an underused building into a vibrant downtown hub for events and gatherings
• •Hispanic Heritage Festival celebrates Ponca City's diversity through music, food and community connection

Making Space for Creativity

• •Dione Smith opened DS Designs jewelry studio in Ponca City in 2023
• •She creates personalized jewelry using metal stamping and silversmithing
• •Smith rediscovered jewelry making in 2017 after initially being discouraged

You Gotta Know the Words

• •Vocabulary powers learning by giving students essential language for each subject
• •STEM academy students master specialized terms like thrust, apogee, algorithm and chassis
• •Right word choice adds clarity and precision—"mad" differs greatly from "furious" or "enraged"

A New School Year, A Renewed Sense of Possibility

• •PCPS staff prepared buildings, buses, and technology over summer for students' return
• •New students and employees bring fresh energy and experiences to the Wildcat family
• •Yellow buses return to streets; drivers should slow down and give buses space

The Thing I Thought Would Never Change Was Me

• •The author paused gardening to focus on starting a business and moving to new land.
• •Life comes in seasons; what seems permanent can change when circumstances shift.
• •The author's core values remain the same even as how she expresses them evolves.