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January 2013Vol. 3 Issue 6

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Making Beautiful Noise

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The Season We’ll Never Forget

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the latest show your support

January 10 - “Little Women” Movie - 2:00pm & 7:00pm @ McSwain Theatre January 12 - Mark Lowry, unplugged & unplanned 7:00pm @ McSwain Theatre January 15 - Trivia night - 8:00pm @ Vintage 22 Wine Bar & Bistro January 17 - “Going My Way” Movie - 2:00pm & 7:00pm @ McSwain Theatre January 19 - Jae L. & Crossover - 7:30pm @ McSwain Theatre January 24 - I’ve Got a Little Twist - 7:30pm @ Hallie Brown Ford Fine arts Center

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events Extracurricular programs, while tremendously important to our youth’s future, do not come cheap. It takes money to make a successful program and this might be more so with band than many others. The number of students involved in a good band program can make it quite the financial undertaking. This is why we are fortunate to have the Ada Band Booster Association working so diligently to help our program. They are doing great things to support the arts in our community.

When John Netherton became President of the Booster Association, he realized that the band was on the rise and doing some great things. Now they just needed the money that would help the program succeed at their endeavors. The main focus at first was simply to raise money. They needed to try to generate funds to supplement the money that simply wasn’t there anymore. Some schools had found it too difficult to continue with their band programs and had decided to drop band altogether. Even though Ada’s program continued, the cuts can make things difficult, making the Booster Association more needed than ever before.

Netherton’s first goal as President was to start bringing in money again. After the initial fundraising began, they had to decide what they wanted to spend the money on and how much more they would need. They wanted something that would benefit the entire band as a whole. After conversations among the boosters and with the band director, Eric Hall, it was decided that a semi-trailer to carry band equipment would be the best choice. It also opens up the opportunity for local businesses to advertise on the doors, showing their support for the band.

In addition to the big purchases, though, the boosters also help in smaller, yet very needed, ways. They provide drinks and snacks for the band members during home games and away games. They provide t-shirts for the students as well. Every purchase affects every student; no one group or individual is singled out for special treatment. They also have a couple get-togethers every year—a Christmas party and an end of the year banquet.

The two big fundraisers they hold take place in the summer, though. Last August they held their first golf tournament and it went so well that they decided to do it again this year. Shortly after that is done, they have a Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction hosted at the Methodist Church. These two events were not only successful in raising money for the band, but also in bringing the community closer together toward the common goal of helping our children.

You don’t have to have a child in order to be a part of the boosters. You could be a former band member, a teacher, or perhaps just someone who is interested in supporting the arts. The fees for membership may be low, but they add up as membership grows. They completely depend on the help of the community and are always looking for fundraising opportunities. If you are interested in helping the growth and advancement of our local band program in any way or at any level please contact John Netherton at (580) 399-4092 or by email at [email protected]. ■

by: Sunnie Dawn SmithA

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Refund Anti cipati on Check (RAC) is provided by H&R Block Bank, a Federal Savings Bank, member FDIC. Fees apply. You must meet legal requirements for opening a bank account. A RAC is a bank deposit, not a loan, and is limited to the size of your refund less applicable fees. You can electronically fi le your return and receive your refund without a RAC, a loan or extra fees. H&R Block Maine License Number: FRA2. Available at parti cipati ng offi ces. OBTP# B13696 ©2012 HRB Tax Group, Inc.

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During a student’s twelve or more years in the public school system, they are exposed to countless new ideas, activities, and ways of looking at the world. It is one of the reasons why we send our children to school. This is a formative period in their lives and the choices they make will shape the adults they become. Of the many choices possible, one with great potential for the student, is music. And here at Ada, we are very lucky to have a band program that not only cares about the students, but also pushes them to excel.

Back in the 80s and 90s, under the direction of Bronson Warren, the Ada High School band was as much of a powerhouse as the football team. This was quite the feat considering that we were at the small end of the 5A spectrum. It is very difficult to compete against larger schools with a larger student population. However, when a program has had the same director for such a long time, it is difficult when they leave. When Warren left in May of 2002, the band faced new challenges. Not only did they need to readjust to new leadership, but also funding for arts education was beginning to decline. Changes in the state Department of Education were taking place which put more emphasis on the core academic requirements, resulting in some students being forced to drop electives. All of these things conspired against the Ada High School band, dropping numbers dramatically. At one point, enrollment was down to 35, when less than a decade previous it had been over a hundred. Things were due to change, though.

In 2011 Eric Hall joined the ranks at Ada

High as their new band director. He had previously been very successful with a smaller band in Kingston. However, the school board there had made the decision to cut the positions of art teacher and music teacher in the elementary school. As the father of a young child, and an ardent supporter of the arts, this was unacceptable to him. He began looking for alternatives and ended up taking the job in Ada. Last year, the band had 70 members but now it is up to 98. In fact, every age group at every school has increasing enrollment numbers. They have even added two more band classes at the Junior High and work with the student’s schedule. If they can’t take the band class for their grade level, and have the appropriate ability, there is no hesitation in placing them with an older group.

Hall is truly rebuilding the Ada band. They have to order new uniforms because they are out; they need more instruments because they don’t have enough. Instruments were replaced ten years ago, but the band was smaller. These are good problems for Hall to have, though. During this process of regrowth, Hall stays focused on the music, not the awards. He is not as worried about their rating as much as making them better musicians. For instance, even though Ada was ranked as a 4A school this past year, he still had them work on 5A caliber music. It is a bit of a risk, taking more difficult music to contest, but it challenges the kids, making them better musicians and feel better about themselves. It gives them something to be proud of, a true accomplishment, and

that hard work and tenacity involved in the process helps them to become better students and people as well.

One of the great things about music is that it teaches you more than just notes and rhythms. It teaches you discipline, hard work, perseverance, and team work as well. However, in addition to these values, it also makes your brain stronger. Music uses your entire brain, not just one side of it. To play music, you must use the analytical, mathematical parts in order to read and decipher what the composer has written. However, you also have to use the expressive side as well; you must think the music as well as feel it. Being in a program like band doesn’t just teach you a skill. It teaches you how to be a more well-rounded individual and a better student.

We are lucky to have so many great programs at Ada High School. The school board is fully supportive of the extracurricular programs and this makes all the difference in the world. In these times of slashed budgets, many school boards have decided that the core subjects are all that matter. In turn they cut art and music programs. Thankfully, this is not the case in Ada. They realize that extracurriculars matter. These are the programs that make students want to come to school and want to do well. Because of the support of the school board and the community, our band is growing strong. New leadership and approaches help us to have a band we can be proud of. But, most of all, it gives the students their own sense of pride. So come support your local high school band and hear some wonderful music as well. ■

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by: Sunnie Dawn Smith

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Young kids dream of becoming an Ada High Cheerleader. To be able to cheer on the Cougars and keep the crowd excited, is a job for only the most spirited kids in school. All aspiring cheerleaders know that in the spring they will have the chance to show their stuff and try to earn their spot on the squad. The week before tryouts consists of learning a dance, cheers, jumps and perfecting your tumbling skills. Everyone goes home after the process and must wait about an hour before calling a special number to find out if they made it. “The hour seems like forever,” says Taylor Skillern. Sixteen kids made the squad in 2012.

Sponsor, Katie Walker, began practices in May and the squad starting to bond and become a team. New uniforms were needed, so the squad got to work with several fundraisers. They sold t-shirts, Scentsy and even pumped gas to reach their goal. As summer rolled around, it came time for team camp. The squad travelled to Norman to attend the OU Cheer Camp. During the 3 days they learned tons of cheers, stunts and dances. The Cougar Cheerleaders won the Spirit Award one day during camp. They also won a contest when they performed their overall cheer, dance and stunts. Three kids from the squad also achieved All American for their solo performances.

Camp was over, school was back in session and it was time for the first game of the season. The Cougars were ready to take on the Ardmore Tigers. All the cheerleaders were pumped and ready to cheer their hearts out for the season opener. It was the seniors last first game of the season and they started the game with a prayer and a special chant (if you are a cheerleader, go ahead and do the chant now). Well, the Cougars earned a win against the Tigers and they kept the streak going on Friday nights for many weeks.

Things were shaken up when kids learned about the loss of Cody. “It was so quiet when I walked into Ada High that day,” said Skillern. The seniors were hurt most, but everyone felt the loss. Counselors were provided to help kids deal with the tragedy and teachers were very supportive. The squad really came together as a team and encouraged each other. The entire community seemed to pull together and even the opposing team that next Friday night paid their respects as well. Skillern also shared, “The Cougars had played well all season, but now it seemed like they really had something to play for”. The next game was exciting and the squad led the crowd with an outstanding performance. At the last two minutes, with the Cougars in the lead, the cheerleaders were jumping up and down hoping to keep the lead and win. They did. The final game didn’t end well for the Cougars but the season was a huge success overall. I think the games would have a different tone without the Ada High Cheerleaders, so let’s do our best to cheer them on for another successful season. ■

by: Sunnie Dawn Smith

sharingcougarspiritA

“it was so quiet when i walked into ada high that day,”



In January 1955 two brothers, Henry and Richard Bloch were just starting in book keeping business. They were doing income tax preparation on the side; however, they found it was too time consuming, so they decided to operate a separate business for tax preparation. They ran an ad in the local paper for $5 tax returns and the next day their office was full of clients.

Today the franchise boasts 12,700 offices worldwide. Ada’s H & R Block owner, Fonda Saunders knows the secret to their success, saying that tax work, with all it’s laws and changes, is something so demanding that only the best stay on top of all year long. “There’s so much to taxes that you have to concentrate on it. Especially with things changing all the time, it has to be your main focus year round,” she said.

Time and again they’ve welcomed clients who had done their taxes themselves or had a friend file for them, only to be faced with errors, missed deductions, and even the dreaded audit. “If you’re going to have anything that’s going to vary the tax return at all, you want a pro. You have to know where those numbers are supposed

to be. You can type in any information but if you’re not familiar and know the tax laws or how those numbers are going to come out, it’s probably not going to be accurate.”

Heading off those errors, Saunders said H&R Block is committed to a tried-and-true interview process that few tax preparation companies offer. “You have to communicate. If you don’t, there’s going to be errors or missed deductions and our clients pay us to get them the lowest tax obligation they can get. For example, I tell our employees that they have to ask questions about what a client has written down because, how they have it written down may be totally different than what it is. Then there’s also deductions they haven’t thought about or don’t know about and unless you visit with them about it, there’s going to be missed deductions.”

Employees take intensive training every year and are tested to stay on top of all the changes. The IRS will require paid tax preparers to pass a test next year and already, their employees are ready for it. “They’re right on top of that. H&R Block worked with the IRS as to what kind of

test and we have practice tests so they can be ready for the exam. We have that backing with all the training we need. We have comprehensive training and spend all year long when we’re not in tax season, getting ready for the upcoming tax season.”

H&R Block offers peace of mind with guaranteed services and easy filing options for busy clients. Clients can upload their tax return forms, answer the interview questions by phone or email, and then approve their return and pay online. “It’s awesome for my out of town clients but even Ada customers will review and approve theirs online if they don’t want to come back by.”

Request an estimate or set up an appointment for your income tax preparation at 580-332-0747 or stop by their office at 804 Arlington St., Ada Oklahoma. ■

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“our kids were absolutely incredible, the way they came together and supported one another,”







Athe seasonwe’ll neverforget

“I’m not going to lie to you,” Weber said. “It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever been through, and I hope I never have to go through it again. But, as bad as that tragedy was and still is, it gave the rest of our kids a real chance to shine in their leadership and their faith. And they really shined.”

All in all, anyone who watched this year’s Ada Cougar football team would have to say the 2012 season was amazing. Weber said he can’t consider the season a “success”, because at Ada that means you brought home another state championship. But, as much as the semifinal disappointment left a sad taste in Weber’s mouth, he said he’ll always look back on the season and feel nothing but pride.

“Even before Cody’s death, this was a tremendous season,” Weber said. “These young men won 12 games in a row and made it to the state semifinals before losing to a very good Clinton team. Every season really belongs to that team’s seniors, and we had an awesome bunch of young men who led this team through so much.”

“They faced adversity and overcame it,” he said. “They made themselves proud, they made our coaching staff and our school proud, and I think they represented this community in a way that has to be considered incredible.” ■

by: Roy Deering

when nothing seemed to go their way.“Losing any game is disappointing,

but losing in the semis when you don’t play the kind of game you would like to have played, that’s really hard to swallow,” Weber said of the semifinal loss to Clinton. “We had a magical season, and those kids -- especially the seniors -- accomplished so much and dealt with so much. But when you go up against a team like Clinton and turn the ball over five times, it’s really tough to win.”

With 23 seniors on the squad, Weber’s 2012 team blew through their early season games and all the way through their district schedule undefeated. They won their first playoff game handily, and then came tragedy.

Two days before the Cougars’ second-round playoff game against Cleveland, senior captain Cody Johnson was killed in a motorcycle accident. Johnson’s death struck the school, the team and the community hard, but Weber said the response was something he will never forget.

“Our kids were absolutely incredible, the way they came together and supported one another,” Weber said. “The community was awesome and the whole school came together. Even our opponents were so incredibly supportive.”

Expectations are always high when it comes to Ada Cougar football. After all, no school in the state has won more state titles than the Cougars -- who have 19 gold balls to their credit.

When the 2012 season began, fifth-year head coach Matt Weber felt this year’s team had a legitimate chance to play for the school’s 20th title. They came oh so very close, losing in the semifinal game to the eventual Class 4A state champion Clinton Tornado.

Although Ada is one of the state’s most powerful programs, a perennial playoff team, not many people gave them serious consideration in the pre-season championship discussions. They were expected to be good, but not too many people considered them one of Class 4A’s top teams.

And then the Cougars blew through the regular season undefeated. Along the way, a lot of naysayers changed their tunes. Suddenly, a lot of people were wondering if THIS wasn’t the year the Cougars would “finally” win that elusive 20th state championship.

The 2012 Cougars set more than a dozen team and individual records in the offense and scoring columns. They scored and scored and scored -- and then scored some more. They had 28 more take-aways than they did turnovers, until the semifinal game against Clinton,




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Dance can take many forms. It can be that happy moment when you get some good news or when you’re rocking out to music all by yourself. It can be a crazy and fun night with your best friend, or the closeness of moving in time with the one you love. Or, for some people, it can be highly competitive hard work that takes your time and energy yet makes you love it all the more. These are the people who make up Ada High School’s Pom Squad—the Couganns.

Last year the team celebrated its 40 year in existence. Over that course of time, many things have changed, yet the one thing that has stayed the same is the level of commitment to excellence. Peggy Taylor was the director of the program for many years and set a high standard for anyone who wanted to follow her. Suzanne Ivory, as an Ada High School alumnus and former cheerleader, was very aware of this legacy when she took the reins from Deanna Compton last year. And, in her first year, she has most definitely continued in the footsteps of previous directors.

The Couganns support all the sports teams and put in stunning performances at halftime for football and basketball games. However, some of their greatest accolades come from competition. Every year they compete at the Oklahoma State Dance Team Directors Association competition; it is a competition for the best dance team

in the state. And this year they competed in 5A. They performed in two different categories and won first in one and second in the other, which makes their eighth state championship to date.

Taking this position as pom squad director has been a wonderful experience for both Ivory and her two year old daughter who is always with her and the girls and thinks of herself as the youngest member of the team. As Ivory says, “The girls are a blessing. They are phenomenal. They support each other and they get along. The camaraderie and family feel is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. They set a standard that is tough for anyone to meet.” This is one of the most remarkable things about this group of girls—they set their own standards so high that they are continually pushing themselves and

amazing their director. She doesn’t have to push them; they push themselves. They are a true dance team and perform very difficult choreography.

Ivory is looking forward to upholding the respect that has been built over all the years past and continuing the level of integrity that the program has maintained over 40 years. She is, of course, looking forward to doing well at competition, but more than that she seems most excited about watching the girls perform at their consistently high level.

Dance takes a deep level of commitment, motivation, and determination. It is difficult. It is a challenge. But these obstacles do not deter the Couganns; it motivates them. Because of this we can all look forward to seeing even greater things in the future. ■

40 years and countingA LA Reflections Photography

LA Reflections Photography


SUNDAYMatinee: $5 pays $200 & $10 pays $300(Free random minis)

Evening: $5 pays $200, $10 pays $500 & $20 pays $800 MONDAY$5 pays $200 & $10 pays $300 (Paper only)

TUESDAY$5 pays $200 & $10 pays $300 (Half-off 45 card electronics)

WEDNESDAY$5 pays $200 & $10 pays $300 (Half-off 45 card electronics)

WINNERS CLUB THURSDAY$5 pays $200 & $10 pays $300 FRIDAY$5 pays $200 & $10 pays $500 & $25 pays $1000

SATURDAY$5 pays $200 & $10 pays $300

BINGO BONANZA!

Monday – Saturday: Minis at 6pm, Sessions at 7:30pm

Sunday Matinee: Minis at 12pm, Sessions at 1:30pm

Sunday Evening: Minis at 6pm, Sessions at 7:30pm

Every Saturday in January $100 Hot Seat Drawings every half hour from 2pm to 8:30pm with $1,000 drawings at 9pm & 10pm.MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN AND WAGERED ON DAY OF DRAWINGS

TREASURE CHEST DRAWINGS3 drawings every Thursday in January. Earn drawing tickets for every $10 spent at registers! Cash prizes of $75, $150 and $225! See Bingo for details.

ada hub jan 13

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