Published: June 10, 2009 07:47 am      

Prime Timers entertained by Mary Roberts

Prime Timers (April)

The Ada Prime Timers met at J.D.’s Cafe for the regular monthly meeting and buffet dinner on April 21, 2009. The meeting was called to order by President Elvin Jaquess who also led the Pledge of Allegiance. Ruth Ann Taylor gave the invocation. April birthdays and anniversaries were acknowledged, and reports were given on members who were ill. The March minutes were read and Bryna Lane gave the treasurer’s report. Mary Sue Roberts, who had been ill, was welcomed back and she entertained with her humorous stories.

Shelley Hamby, director of Development for the Valley View Foundation, gave a brief history of Valley View and told about the fundraising campaign. She then introduced Mr. Bob Thompson, the new CEO of Valley View Regional Hospital. After the completion of 13 successful years as the president of Mercy Memorial Health Center and more than 40 years of health care experience in Oklahoma, serving many of those years in rural health care facilities, Bob Thompson thought he was going to retire.

Others apparently thought differently and persuaded him to assume oversight and responsibility for rural growth strategies for Mercy in Oklahoma. A main focus of his new responsibilities is to establish relationships with rural hospitals and clinics, setting up partnerships that allow patients to receive care within their own communites. He reported that Valley View remains a not-for-profit, locally-owned hospital. Thus, Valley View remains locally-owned with Mercy providing support. Valley View’s board of directors remains at the helm, overseeing all operations.

Members and guests present included Leland and Mary Helen Newton, Betty and L.T. Williams, Elvin and Sue Jaquess, Mary Sue Roberts, M.E. and Mary Lou Carr, Duane Doane, Betty Parham, Ruth Ann Taylor, Lanny Sliger, Andy and Joann Hood, Derrelyn Metz, Ella Mae Todd, Alma Hogan, Bryna Lane, Bobbie Sachs, Ted and Jackie Savage, Bette and Vestel Cole, Gerri and Tom Stephens, Bob Thompson, Shelley Hamby, George Seaton, Kathy Adams, Roberto and Dorothy Escamilla, Evelyn Tribbey, Mildred and Kenneth Clinton and Kathy Savage.



Prime Timers (March)

The Ada Prime Timers met at J.D.’s Café for the regular monthly meeting and dinner on March 17, 2009.  The meeting was called to order by President Elvin Jaquess who also led in the Pledge of Allegiance.  The invocation was delivered by George Seaton.

Guests welcomed to the meeting included Charles and Carol Meyers, Kathy and Bill Adams, Lee and Jean Young, and Ed Poblete.  March birthdays and anniversaries were acknowledged.  Reports were given on members who are ill.  The February minutes were read and the treasurer’s report was given by Peggy Bagley in the absence of Bryna Lane. 

Mary Sue Roberts entertained with humorous stories.

Tom Stephens introduced the speaker, Ed Poblete, who has been a minister at Central Church of Christ since 1979 and also worked as missionary planting churches in the Philippines.  Mr. Poblete is now serving as director of the Compassion Outreach Center in Ada which was started by the Central Church of Christ in March, 2004, servicing those who have no health insurance for the glory of Jesus Christ.  About 18% of Oklahomans have no health insurance and 4500 families of this group live in Pontotoc County.     The Compassion Outreach Center is open the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. and offers medical care, counseling, food, clothing, and other needs.  The Center is able to provide a wide range of services to patients because of the large number of volunteers from local physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, optometrists, social workers, and others.  Many agencies are also involved such as Valley View Hospital, Chickasaw Nation Health System, Department of Human Services, Big 5 Community Action, RX for Oklahoma, and others who supply such things as x-rays, ultrasound, radiology, insurance, supplies, medications, appliances, and surplus computers.  There has been a ripple effect and volunteers in fact come from all over the community and surrounding areas to make this endeavor a true community effort belonging to the citizens of Ada.  The Outreach Center has a budget of about $70,000.00 annually with Ada citizens supplying about 98% of these funds. 

M. E. Carr will arrange for the program for the April meeting.

Members present included George Seaton, Mary Sue Roberts, Leland and Mary Helen Newton, Tommy and Carol Vass, Elvin and Sue Jaquess, M. E. and Mary Lou Carr, Peggy Bagley, Juanita Sutton, Andy and Joann Hood, Neal and Patsy Beasley, Wendell and Treva Gurley, Tom and Gerri Stephens, Ted and Jackie Savage, Bobbie Sachs, Betty Parham, Duane Doane, L. T. and Betty Williams, Bill and Mildred Clinton, Lanny Sliger, Ruth Ann Taylor, Vestal and Betty Cole.



Tanti History Club

The History Department of the Tanti Study Club met on April 6, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. in the home of Verna Rice. Others in attendance were Peggy Bagley, Ann Barton, Vivian Blake, Mary Ann Briggs, Dorothy Escamilla, Betty Mitchell, Charlotte Oxford, Sara Pritchett, Billie Jean Rice and Ruth Wills.

President Charlotte Oxford presided at the meeting, and Peggy Bagley led the group in the Club Collect. Billie Jean Rice was welcomed as a new member. Verna Rice, secretary and treasurer, read the minutes of the March meeting. The group decided to make a donation to the Little Red School House in memory of former member Jean Stonecipher.



Peggy Bagley presented the program using the book, Same Kind of Different as Me. This is an emotional story of a modern-day slave from Louisiana and an international art dealer and his wife. The book relates an inspirational tale of how very unlikely strangers with the greatest differences can share the deepest friendships.

Following the program, refreshments were served to the group.

Tentative plans for the May meeting are to meet at a restaurant for lunch.  Peggy Bagley presented the program using the book "Same Kind of Different as Me." This is an emotional story of a modern-day slave from Louisiana and an international art dealer and his wife. The book relates an inspirational tale of how very unlikely strangers with the greatest differences can share the deepest friendships.

Following the program, refreshments were served to the group.

Tentative plans for the May meeting are to meet at a restaurant for lunch.  



Vanoss HCE (April)

The Vanoss group of Oklahoma Home and Community Education members met Wednesday, April 8, 2009 for a regular monthly business meeting. They met in their clubhouse located on Highway 19 just north of Vanoss.

Mary Hightower called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Arminda McCauley led the group in pledging allegiance to the American flag and Kathryn Floyd led in reading the OHCE Creed in unison.

Kathryn Floyd provided inspirational thoughts by reading a short story entitled “Lord, Prop Us Up.”

Membership roll call was answered by 14 members and three guests. The guests were Marie Porritt and her daughters, Catherine and Margarett. Mrs. Porritt lives in Ada, having moved from Nevada. She became a welcome new member of the Vanoss group.

Jessie Welch, secretary, read the minutes from March 2009.

Ann Stevenson, treasurer, presented and explained the financial report for the past month.

Mary Hightower gave a report from the Old Midland cemetary committee; the letters to the donors would be in the mail soon.

A sign-up sheet for volunteer workers during the Pontotoc County Quilt Show on April 24-25 was passed around and everyone was urged to help if possible if only for a couple of hours.

There are a lot of hours involved in putting on a show of this size. Wednesday, April 22 entries are accepted from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The person entering will determine whether their entry will be judged or for "show-only." Thursday, the quilts will be judged and all entries will then be placed on tall display racks. Friday and Saturday, the show will be open to the public with doorprizes and also hourly demonstrations. The beautiful raffle quilt will be given away at 4:00 p.m. Saturday the 25th. There will be volunteers mingling with the crowd and watching to prevent mischief or damage to any entries.

On Wednesday the 22nd, Vanoss group will help decorate the show area.

Wednesday the 15th, a local workshop will be in the Vanoss clubhouse to finish the bags that will contain the doorprizes.

Ann Stevenson presented the monthly lesson “Let’s Get Techy.” She explained various technical devices such as an ipod and a Blackberry. She gave a very informative lesson.

The group sang “Happy Birthday” to Marjorie Vandegriff.

A potluck lunch followed the meeting.

Attending were Helen Roberts, Jean Beth Martin, Dixie Pennington, Estaline Waters, Ann Stevenson, Marjorie Vandegriff, Arminda McCauley, Kathryn Floyd, Patsy Coffey, Mary Hightower, Patty Rost, Carolynn Pittman, Nina Tiffin, Jessie Welch, Catherine and Margarett Marie, Ellene Meek and Janna Kelly.



Vanoss HCE (May)

The monthly business meeting of Vanoss Home and Community Education group was conducted May 13, 2009 in the clubhouse located on Highway 19. The meeting was chaired by President Mary Hightower and called to order at 10:00 a.m.

Kathryn Floyd led the group in pledging allegiance to the American flag.

Ann Stevenson read an inspirational article entitled “25 Reasons I Owe my Mother” and closed with prayer.

Membership roll call was answered by 14 women telling of their “Favorite Hot Drink.” Jessie Welch, secretary, read the minutes of April 8, 2009. They were approved with one correction.

Treasurer, Ann Stevenson, presented written reports of the financial status of the group. Reports of activities- Mary Hightower reported the Old Midland Cemetary fund balance. Several responses have been received from the letter that committee member Oma Waters mailed to loyal supporters of the project.

Three club members volunteered to make pies to be auctioned at the benefit concert for Harold Pennington and the Lloyd Burk, Jr. family on May 15.

The Vanoss HCE group will cater the Vanoss School Alumni banquet again this June 27 with the same menu as last year.

Vanoss senior Collin Low was chosen as recipient of the annual $100 scholarship provided by the Vanoss HCE.

Carolynn Pittman gave a report of the recent tour of Pauls Valley that was attended by eight members.

Jean Beth Martin gave a report of the Pontotoc County Quilt Show held in Ada in April. She stated the quilt made and raffled was won by Karen Spears. The entire quilt show was a success with 179 quilts on display and 119 of those were judged. The Peoples’ Choice was won by Dee Beavers. Four Vanoss members, Patsy Coffey, Jessie Welch, Dixie Pennington and Jean Beth Martin, gave demonstrations during the two-day show.

Kathryn Floyd presented the monthly program “What’s the Difference Between Coffee, Expresso, Cappuccino and Latte?” She stated that the average person spends $164.71 each year on coffee. The meeting was adjourned, followed by a potluck lunch.

Attending were Kathryn Floyd, Mary Hightower, Jean Beth Martin, Arminda McCauley, Betty Orr, Dixie Pennington, Patty Rost, Ann Stevenson, Zamora Stringer, Nina Tiffin, Estaline Waters, Jessie Welch, Marjorie Vandegriff and Carolynn Pittman.