Ada HUB March 2012

c o m m u n i t y

trails March 2012 Vol. 2 Issue 8

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Publisher

Michael Keith

Account Representative

Heather Keith

Managing Editor

March 2012

Adam Flanagan

Art Direction

Layers Media, Inc.

Ad Designer

Guillermo Martinez

Guest Writers

Roy Deering Brandon Frye Sunnie Dawn Smith

Photography

contents

Adam Flanagan Courtney Folsom

8,000 copies direct mailed every month!

To advertise call 235-5722 or 421-7874

HUB

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Comments or Suggestions? info@adahub.com (580) 421-7874 A rticles and advertisements in the Ada Hub do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or Twelve Media Group, Inc. Twelve Media Group, Inc. does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors.

The acceptance of advertising by Ada Hub does not constitute endorsement of the products, services or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service that is fraudulent or misleading in nature. Ada Hub assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.

A Publication of twelve media group, Inc. © Copyright 2012

4 Escaping Disaster

12 7 The Editor

12 Happy Trails

7 Recipe

17 Scissortail Creative Writing Festival

8 Shop Ada

18 Bound for Nationals

11 Marketplace 14 Easy Living

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disaster Escaping

by: Roy Deering

Jana Johnson has had a lot of time to contemplate the good things in life lately, taking every opportunity to hug her three hockey-playing sons after the family narrowly escaped a violent car crash with a drunk driver.

Johnson, a full-time hockey mom, drives more than 1,500 miles a week shuttling her boys between Ada to Oklahoma City for games and practice. On Feb. 12, all those miles nearly caught up with the family less than 20 miles from home when a drunk driver plowed into their Ford Expedition.

Witnesses to the accident said It was a miracle that anyone walked away from the crash.

“It had been a long weekend of hockey, and we were about 15 minutes from home Sunday night when I saw some headlights coming toward us really fast, and it looked like the car was all over the road,” Johnson said. “I backed off the cruise control and had just a second or two before he hit us. It all happened so fast, and all I could think about was I can’t let anything happen to my boys.”

Benjamin, 9, was in the front seat next to his mother, while Bryce, 11, was in the middle section of seats and Bryden, 10, was on the last row in the back of the SUV. As Johnson veered to the right to avoid the oncoming vehicle, the other driver made the same decision, forcing Johnson to swerve back to the left in a last-ditch effort to avoid the crash.

Unfortunately, the oncoming car once again appeared to follow Johnson’s headlights and the two vehicles met headlightto-headlight in a violent collision.

“When it was over, all I could think about was that I had to get my boys out and see if they were okay,” Johnson said.

“There were already cars coming up on the wreck, and people trying to help us get out 4 • www.adahub.com

of the Expedition.

“I got out and looked at the truck and could not believe any of us made it out alive,” she said.

They did more than just “survive,” escaping with just a few cuts and bruises.

Other than missing Monday, all three boys were back in school the rest of the week and eager to get back to hockey practice.

Jana suffered a pretty severe cut on her leg, while Benjamin received stitches for a gash on his hand after apparently ramming his hand through the windshield in the collision. Bryden and Bryce both escaped with only minor cuts and bruises.

The driver of the other vehicle, a 21year-old Ada man who had apparently been drinking before the crash, was taken by helicopter to a Tulsa hospital with serious injuries. Two other helicopters were called to the scene of the crash when officers first saw the Johnson vehicle. Those two choppers left empty.

“They just knew there were going to be several people in our car hurt really bad,” Johnson said. “The trooper said he could not believe that none of us was hurt worse.

He said it was an absolute miracle that anybody walked away, let alone that all of us basically came out of it without any injuries.”

Jana’s husband and the boys’ father, Darren Johnson, was working in the Texas panhandle at the time of the crash. Unable to make it home because of a snowstorm that Sunday evening, he finally managed to make it to Ada late Monday night.

“That was really hard for us, but I’m sure it was really harder for him,” said Jana.

“He wanted so bad to be here, and I know the boys really needed their dad, but there was no way he could get here until late that next day.”

The next weekend (weekend of Feb. 18) all three boys were on the road again, this

time with their father, attending a hockey tournament in St. Louis, Mo. Benjamin was not allowed to play because of his hand injury, but he suited up with his brothers and other teammates. Jana was home after having been ordered to rest her injured leg.

Playing in that next hockey tournament was quite an emotional accomplishment for three young boys who had been through so much. But something else about the trip stood out to their mother more than returning to the ice.

“Right after the wreck, all three of them talked about how they weren’t sure they ever wanted to get back in a car again and take off on a trip,” she said. “And I completely understand that. Going through something like that is hard enough for an adult.”

Amid all the attention and concern that friends and relatives have shown since the crash, Johnson said her thoughts keep going back to those seconds before the crash. She knows it wasn’t chance that she and her boys survived the accident, and she’s thankful .

“So many things could have happened differently that could have ended up with one of us being hurt really bad, or worse,” she said. “I had just enough time to hit the break and turn the cruise control off, and I am so very thankful that we were driving the Expedition and not something smaller.

“God was definitely watching out for us, allowing us to survive that crash and keep living. That’s something I want the boys to understand, so they can make the most of every day He gives them,” she said. ■

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the editor What would we do without smartphones?

O

spinach artichoke dip 2 lb soft cream cheese 1/3 cup of mayo 1/2 lb fresh baby spinach or one 8 oz can drained 1 12 oz jar of quartered artichoke hearts drained 1/4 tbsp horseradish 1 tsp shirracha (thia chilli sauce) 1 tbsp worchestershire zest and juice of 1 lemon pinch of kosher salt and ground black pepper

Mix all ingredients in a bowl except artichokes and spinach. Fold in artichokes and spinach. Put in ceramic or pyrex cassarole dish. Bake untill golden brown and bubbly at 350 degrees. Serve with pita crisps or your favorite crackers.

Daniel Eul chef MARCH TIP: “Slow down! dont try to do too much at once , if you get frustrated STOP and take a break.”

ver the past few years, connectivity and mobility have changed dramatically. Who would have thought you could snap a picture of your kid blowing out candles on a birthday cake, and in the next 60 seconds that memory is shared with family and friends across the globe. Does anyone remember the film process? It is incredible what we can accomplish with a piece of technology that is small enough to fit in our pocket, especially considering the first computers could fill a large room. We are able to do more things from our smartphones than ever imagined and new applications are being developed daily.

Personally, I have become dependent on my smartphone and I find it more and more that I have to have it with me at all times. We all used to despise red lights, now we just wish for a few more seconds to update our status, “Just saw 8 ppl texting and driving”. I don’t know about you, but there are other times when I just want to throw the thing out the window if I hear it make one more noise. So, what would we do without smartphones?

Perhaps we would spend more quality time with our families, finish that project around the house or maybe just be still for a moment. I am making a decision to turn my smartphone off at certain times of the day so I can just focus on more important things around me.

Let’s force ourselves to remember that old saying, “You can have too much of a good thing”. Visit us at www. facebook.com/adahub and share three things you will do without your smartphone. By the way, I wrote this article on my smartphone.

Adam Flanagan was born in Red Deer, Alberta in 1981. He grew up in Marietta and later moved to Ada where he graduated from ECU. Adam married his wife Karrie in December of 2001 and they had their son, Keaton in July of 2006. He enjoys videography, photography and of course, writing.

www.adahub.com • 7

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Absolutely not, however, it does mean Investment “B” must reward investors with a higher expected return in order to compensate them for taking the additional risk(s). Be aware that there is a Risk/Return tradeoff for any investment you make. If you hang on to this simple truth, you will be more likely to pursue your long term financial goals with greater success.

Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. Insurance products offered through LPL Financial or its licensed affiliates.

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ada marketplace

A Gem in the Community Gem Jewelers by: Adam Flanagan

G

em Jewelers has been serving the Ada area since 1941. You would think a store being around for over 70 years would have a long list of various owners, however, ownership has only been transferred three times.

The current owner, Dianne Criswell, took over the store in the 80’s and she is proud of the heritage at Gem Jewelers. Manager, Ron Taylor says, “We want each customer to feel at home when they enter our doors”.

You might be surprised when you walk through the doors to find that it’s not just about jewelry. They are a full-service jewelry store offering gold, custom engraving, diamonds, colored stones, jewelry repair, bridal registry and even complimentary gift wrapping. They are also an exclusive dealer for “Hearts on Fire” diamonds in the area. If you are looking for OU or OSU jewelry, then you have to stop by and see their Arista collection.

Gem Jewelers has something special for everyone’s budget with some collections starting at under $100.

Their bridal registry specializes in

many brands of China including, Lenox, Mikasa, Vera Wang, Wedgewood, Waterford Crystal, Silverplate and even Sterling Hollowware. Not only does Gem Jewelers have a wide variety of products, they have a deep commitment to excellent customer service. “We have a customer who moved to Florida and she still sends her ring in once a year to have it cleaned and serviced,”

said Dianne. Whether it’s a new ring or you want to bring in your own plans for a custom style, they are dedicated to helping each person celebrate the special occasions in life. Gem Jewelers is also an Authorized Dealer, which means they have access to the latest, most in demand styles of the season.

When it comes to jewelry and fine gifts, you need to think Gem Jewelers. ■

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430 North Monte Vista Street, Ada, OK (580) 421-1183 www.adahub.com • 11

by: Brandon Frye

12 • www.adahub.com

trails

T

ucked away behind a wall of trees just east of Ada, a top-notch off-road mountain biking trail system is in continual development at the Elk’s Lodge.

The trails lie in wait for lovers of the outdoors thanks to the cooperation and dedication of Dave Henley of the Elk’s Lodge and local bike enthusiasts within the Ada Cycling Club.

A project eight years in the making, it found its start back in 2005, when Dave Henley, Assistant IT Director at East Central University, decided to clear a path for a trail system behind the Ada Elk’s Lodge. As a solo effort, he plotted and cleared paths winding around the woods surrounding the lodge. The trails were, “Originally designed for the use of the Elk’s Lodge members and their families to promote healthier living and enjoy the benefits of the property,” Dave says. “It was overgrown.

The lodge supported my efforts by providing weed spray and the money to put up posts and a map. I started in with a pair of loppers and a rake.” What began as one mostly unused trail slowly grew piece-by-piece into a six-section set of trails. “As I developed them, I had in mind where it would be a continuous track where you could make an infinite loop with multiple combinations of trails,” Dave explains. As more trails were developed and people came out to use the trails, it became apparent a map was needed. In cooperation with the Chickasaws, a high resolution photo of the Lodge property was provided. Henley used a GPS to measure the trails and create accurate trail overlays on the map. Thanks to his determination, it was a success. He says, “There were people from the lodge that would come out and use the trails. It kind of spread by word of mouth.”

When the Ada Cycling Club began in 2008, members were thrilled to learn about the existing trail system Henley created. “Paul Emrich was one of the first people I talked to about the trails,” Dave informs. Through Paul, an active member of The Ada Cycling Club, word spread to a few people with enough interest in off-road cycling to make a large impact.

In late 2009, a crew of Ada Cycling Club members attended a trail-building workshop offered by the International Mountain Bicycling Association. There, they learned the ins and outs of developing trails using recommended tools and techniques. In the years following, Dave Henley and members of The Ada Cycling Club combined resources and experience to

take the trails to a whole new level.

Ryan McMahan, a member of the Ada Cycling Club and co-founder - alongside Paul Emrich - of the ECU Cycling club, witnessed and played an active role in the transformation. “It’s not so much that a new trail has been built, it’s that the other trails have been enhanced. The great foundation was already there. The flow of the trails and how they ride, that’s been there all along,” Ryan says, acknowledging the hard work and planning Dave had put into the trails.

He adds, “Trey Edwards, Cody Spaulding, Paul Emrich, Paul Mayer, and myself have all put in numerous hours; but without Dave Henley and the cooperation of the Ada Elks Lodge, people would have to drive hours to ride trails this great.” Rock bridges have been applied to support areas prone to trap water. Grade drips channel water away that would otherwise erode the trail. Also, berms, or embankments around turns, have been implemented in many areas.

These are just a few additions to the quality of the trails, on top of general plotting and clearing of paths. “Now they are top quality trails,” Ryan says, “Just as good or better than something you’d find in Oklahoma City or Tulsa.”

Currently, the Elk’s Lodge Trails span a good chunk of the 140 acre plot. There is approximately 7.75 miles of track. The six color-coded trails snake through the trees, ravines and stream crossings: Yellow, Blue, Red, Orange, Green and Violet. They all vary in difficulty. According to Ryan, “The Red and Violet trails, they are pretty advanced. For a beginner, I would recommend starting out on Green or Blue.” Dave also informs, “The Orange trail is more of a flat, longer trail and it doesn’t have very much incline to it,” making it more accessible to beginners. A new seventh trail, Turquoise, is currently in the works as a collaboration between Dave Henley and the Ada Cycling Club, and will be placed in the most rugged and inclined area of the lodge grounds.

The Ada Cycling Club plans to hold Saturday-morning rides. There are also plans to have the trails featured in the 2013 State Cross Country Mountain Bike Championship Series, or Tour de Dirt. In order to gain access to the trails, it is preferred that a person contacts either a member of the Elks Lodge, or the Ada Cycling Club through Apex Bicycles of Ada. Now is as good a time as any to explore such an interest, with the onset of Spring just around the corner.■

Photo by Garett Hatton

Photo by Garett Hatton www.adahub.com • 13

y a E $

g n i Liv r

n Mille

by: An

Saving Money on Entertainment

Every month when I review my expenditures, I’m always surprised by the amount of money I spend on entertainment activities. A movie here, a book there, and next thing I know I’ve gone over my entertainment budget for the month. If you make a conscious effort to focus on reducing your entertainment spending, you will find lots of savings without sacrificing the fun.

Movies and television subscriptions are a large portion of an entertainment budget. If you absolutely have to see a movie in the theater, I recommend a matinee or discount day when prices are reduced.

Ada’s local movie theater has discounts on Tuesday and you can sign up for a weekly concession coupon to be emailed to you as well. If you’re willing to wait a couple of months, a movie will be available at either a rental kiosk or local video rental store. By waiting you can save money on the cost of viewing the movie, now as low as $1.25 and the cost of concessions.

Homemade popcorn costs relatively nothing and tastes exactly the same.

With a little research and time, you can also save on your television subscriptions. The first step is to review your television habits, if you only watch the same 10 channels, why are you paying for the 400-channel package. I recommend downgrading your package to meet your viewing habits. If you research the rates of competitors and even the new customer rates at your current company, you have the ability to bargain with them for a reduced rate.

My entertainment weakness is books; I love to read both hardcopy and softcopy books. In fact, I have so many books in my house, I think I could start a library and I don’t even want to think about all the money I’ve spent on those books. The local library is an excellent source for books and in fact the Ada library has started allowing patrons to check out e-books. The best part about the library is that it’s free and they have a great selection of not only books 14 • www.adahub.com

but also DVD’s. If you absolutely must purchase books, you have two options that will help save you money. Twice a year the Ada Library hosts a book sale and if you become a Friend of the Library you get to attend the preview sale. You can purchase thousands of books at these sales at a fraction of their retail price. For newly released books that you purchase, I recommend selling them to new and used bookstore once you’ve finished reading it. This will help you recoup a portion of the purchase price and allow someone else to enjoy the book.

Entertainment for the entire family or a group of friends can be extremely expensive, but there are several ways you can save. If your family or a group of friends in interested in attending a concert, performance, or sporting event, team up and see if you can get a group discount, which is usually at least 10% off the ticket price. Another option is to host a board game night. Board games nights cost relatively nothing especially if you make it a potluck event and provide hours of fun for everyone.

A babysitting club is another way for families to save on entertainment costs. If you team up with one or two other families to split the cost of a babysitter for a night out, you’ve reduced that cost significantly.

Another option is to trade off one night a month with another family where you watch their children for a night and then they watch yours. This method of babysitting costs you nothing but time and coordination of schedules.

There are numerous free entertainment options available throughout the Ada area. Local retail stores offer free classes for adults and children. East Central University host countless seminars, lectures, and other free events that are open to the public. Ada’s local parks offer outdoor recreation activities for free.

If you check the community calendar on the Ada Area Chamber of Commerce Website AdaChamber.com you’ll find information on community events and festivals.

You don’t have to change your lifestyle to reduce the amount of money you spend on entertainment.

In fact, you may find that you have more fun will living frugally. I’d much rather bond with friends over a board game, than shell out $20 to sit next to them silently in a movie theater. You can rack up significant savings if you take a look at your entertainment expenses and make minor adjustments to your spending. ■

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421-7874

scissortail

by: Sunnie Dawn Smith

H

ave you ever wanted to hear a wonderful author read their work in person? Perhaps you thought, “Well, I don’t have time. I’d probably have to drive to Oklahoma City at least…and then it would probably cost a fortune with gas and entrance fees.” Would you be surprised to know that Ada hosts one of the premier literary arts festivals in the state? Here is your chance. For the seventh year in a row, ECU will be hosting the Scissortail Creative Writing Festival, April 5-7. Beginning that Thursday morning and continuing through Saturday afternoon, authors from twenty-eight different states will gather to share their work, for free.

It began seven years ago, when Hugh Tribbey, a poet and English professor at ECU, decided Ada needed a creative writing festival. He found the grant money and Scissortail was born. Since then, Ken Hada has worked to further the cause of the festival and bring in as many talented authors as he can. The quality of the writing is astounding, as is the willingness of the participants.

They have had eight state poet laureates attend, and all but the feature authors pay for this out of their own pocket. Writers who get paid to read all around the world come to Ada, with no compensation, paying for their own hotel, food, and travel expenses, just to attend this festival. They return year after year, looking forward to the next, just as one has concluded.

One of the reasons why this festival is so special is because it is simply a celebration of

c r e at i v e w r i t i n g f e s t i v a l

literature. There are no workshops. There are no panels of literary analysis. It is simply 56 authors sharing their poetry and fiction with whoever wants to listen. Panels begin at 9:30 in the morning and go through the early evening, so it’s possible to fit this into your own schedule instead of adjusting your schedule to fit the festival. Not only is it an experience we are lucky to have, it is also convenient.

This year the two feature authors are Norbert Krapf and Natasha Trethewey. Krapf, the former Poet Laureate of Indiana, is an acclaimed poet and will be reading at 6:30 on Friday, April 6th. Trethewey, reading at 6:30 on Thursday, April 5th is a Pulitzer Prize winning poet who tells the story of America in a profound, lyrical way. When Hada first met her, he was impressed by her work, her style, her presentation, and her personality; he knew that she had to read at Scissortail.

After all, how often does one get a chance to hear a Pulitzer Prize winning author read?

In addition to the feature authors, many other acclaimed readers will be present such as Larry Thomas, Rilla Askew, and LeAnne Howe. The Scissortail Creative Writing Festival provides an incredible opportunity to experience the world of literature in person. It makes the written word come alive. Whether you come for a session at 9:30 in the morning or Natasha Tretheway’s reading Thursday evening, you will be happy you did. For the complete schedule, visit www.ecuscissortail. blogspot.com or contact Ken Hada at (580) 559-5557 for more information. ■

Norbert Krapf

Natasha Trethewey

www.adahub.com • 17

bound for nationals

W

e all have dreams and sadly, sometimes those dreams just stay dreams. The East Central University Cheer Squad is ready to chase after theirs and they have a long way to run.

Coach Jill Clark has seen the team grow over the past year and they are hungry to take their skills to the national level.

How does a college cheer squad go to Nationals? Do they just pack their bags one day, board a bus and drive to the venue? Not at all. If a team wants to go to Nationals they must formulate a routine, video the performance, send it to a panel of judges and wait on a bid to see if they get accepted. With choreography from Champion Athletics, the team put all their efforts into executing an amazing routine filled with co-ed stunts, basket tosses, pyramids, jumps, tumbling and of course cheering. Jill sent off the video and they all awaited the news. Time went by and like a three pointer at the buzzer, 18 • www.adahub.com

by: Adam Flanagan

the cheerleaders went crazy when they received the good news that they were in. The remarkable dedication of each member of the team had paid off. When you get up each morning to practice at 5:45am, it’s nice to get a little reward for all your efforts. Jill says, “Each guy and girl on the squad wanted this, not only for themselves, but for the program as a whole”. Now the real work begins.

Going to Nationals does not come without a price tag. Unfortunately it’s not a discounted price tag either. The squad is now responsible for raising money to cover the cost of travel, registration, lodging and food. Flip this tag over and you will see a hefty $25,000.00. Midway through February the squad reached the $6000.00 mark, so they are still running hard to reach the finish line. They are selling T-Shirts, hosting clinics, putting on pancake gala’s and also accepting gifts from supportive donors. These college students are working hard and they really need their community behind

them to see them reach their goal.

“Nationals will be held April 11-15 and we really hope to be there”, says Jill. Jill also says, “This squad is really united as one. They hang out together, support each other and really act like a family. I get this overwhelming joy when I watch them practice that makes me want to jump up and cheer with them. They just have a fire that shows with everything they do.”

Squad member Amanda Rember says, “College Nationals is something I have always desired to be a part of. Being able to compete at that level would make so many of our dreams come true.” Any support will be greatly appreciated by Jill and the squad. You can join them on Facebook to see dates for fundraising events.

Just look up East Central Cheerleading in the Facebook Search Bar or you can email Jill at jillclark71487@gmail.com.

Let’s do our part to cheer them on and hopefully their dreams, won’t just be dreams. ■

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There is a reason Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is one of the Ada nation’s leading retail mortgage lenders Terry Thurber

Home Mortgage Consultant

1. Available on all qualified purchase transactions.

Tyler Thompson

• Wide selection of conventional • Responsive service and & government loans professional knowledge

580.920.6742 • Wells Fargo Closing GuaranteeSM1 Office: 580.924.7100 218 N. Washington. Durant, OK • PriorityBuyer® preapproval Teresa.A.Thurber@wellsfargo.com www.terrythurber.com

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580.272.3595 Office: 580.332.7100 123 S. Broadway. Ada, OK Tyler.C.Thompson@wellsfargo.com www.tylercthompson.com

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