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4 Women's heart disease has local medical groups seeing 'Red"
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6 Cover Story: Facing mortality brought artist inspiration, faith
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10 Tackling county's lowliteracy rate a matter of reading between the lines 11 Special Olympics goes beyond sports with art, music competitions
8 Production of "Willy Wonka Jr."
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Mercy Hospital Ada and the Chickasaw Nation host an annual Wear Red for Women luncheon to raise awareness for heart disease and to raise funds to help maintain 52 automated defibrillators placed around town.
PHOTO BY ANGELA MARTIN
Women’s heart disease has local medical groups seeing ‘Red’ By Sunnie Dawn Smith
W
hile February is the month of Valentine’s Day and people exchange hearts filled with candy and other goodies, it is also American Heart Month during which people work to raise money and awareness for heart-healthy behaviors, research and technology. According to the American Heart Association, every 43 seconds someone dies from heart disease, stroke, or another cardiovascular disease. Every 60 seconds a woman dies from heart attack or stroke. In fact, heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in this country. In order to raise awareness of this fact and to help the community with life saving technology, Mercy Hospital and the Chickasaw Nation have teamed up to hold their fourth annual Wear Red for Women Luncheon. From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 23, there will be a luncheon and silent auction at the Pontotoc County Agriplex Convention Center in order to raise money to maintain the Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in the community and provide matching funds to several local churches who wish to purchase an AED. An AED is a computerized medical device that administers a shock to a person in order to restore their heartbeat to normal. One of the remarkable things about these devices is that if someone can turn it on, they can use it with little to no training. The device instructs the user how to operate the machinery, allowing them to save a life before the paramedics have a chance to get there. In cases of cardiac arrest, every moment counts. The American Heart Association estimates that a bystander only has about five
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minutes to administer CPR or use an AED after someone’s heart has stopped beating. “When we began raising money in 2015 to purchase AEDs, it was with the goal of placing a device in every place where we learn, play, work, and pray in Ada and the surrounding communities,” said David “Bud” Morriss, a paramedic with Mercy’s emergency medical services. “We have had such great success in this effort. Timing is everything when it comes to cardiac arrest, and even if we spend money to purchase and maintain an AED and it sits unused for several years, it is worth it to know that the technology is available and can save a life if the need arises.” Last year’s luncheon raised $10,640 to help maintain the 52 AEDs located in the community. Tickets for this year’s event are $25 and can be purchased online at mercy.net/WearRedAda. This year’s event – co-chaired by President Lori Wightman of Mercy Hospital and Shonda McCage, Diabetes Care Center Program Manager from the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health – will feature a lunch that is both heart healthy and tasty as well as a silent auction. They will have about 35 pieces available for bidding, including purses, wallets, jewelry and travel bags. Some of the designers and brands featured are Dooney and Bourke, Kendra Scott, Kate Spade, Disney, Draper James, Brighton and Disney. As a new addition this year, they are also offering special surprise grab bags for $20 each. Each bag – which is actually a cute little mini purse – contains items that will be at least a $20 value.
However, some of the bags could have products up to $100 in value. They will have 100 of these bags for sale available on a first come first serve basis. “This gives people an opportunity to go home with something, even if they don’t win an item at the auction,” Wightman said. In addition to the luncheon and auction, there will also be two speakers. Diana Elmore, care transition manager at Mercy Hospital Ada and manager of Mercy’s new Community Paramedic Program, will speak about hands-only CPR, and Morriss will give an update on the placement and maintenance of AEDs in the community. One of the reasons why this luncheon focuses on women – though men are welcome to attend as well – is that heart attacks are often “silent killers” of women because they manifest in different and more subtle ways. Instead of the classic symptoms associated with male heart attacks, such as chest pains and pain in the left arm, women may experience any of the following symptoms: pain in the neck, jaw, one or both arms, back, shoulder or upper abdominal in addition to shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, lightheadedness or dizziness, sweating, fatigue and an impending sense of doom. This is one of the reasons why it is important to know the symptoms and get help immediately. There are also many lifestyle factors that can help promote heart-healthy behavior, such as getting at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise each week, weight management, making healthy eating choices, quitting smoking, sleeping seven to nine hours daily and receiving a regular checkup at their primary care provider.
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Facing mortality brought artist inspiration, faith By Sunnie Dawn Smith
S
ometimes it is in the moments of quiet when inspiration makes itself known. This is a lesson that local artist Kathryn Brunk has carried with her through her life. In fact, it is these moments of quiet that have made her the person she is today. When she was a child, she was sickly. Because of this, her mother kept her inside most of the time. Of course, this was the time before video games, cell phones and tablets. In order to keep her entertained, Brunk said her mother would bring her old wooden puzzles. She would sit on the floor as a young child and finish them easily. When she was very young, she had done them so much that they had lost their challenge, so she would dump all of them on the floor at once and sort them out as a new kind of game. This quiet, inside activity shaped the way she looked at the world in a visual sense. “I think that is where I started to develop pattern recognition, color associations and shape definition,” Brunk said. These are all skills that shaped her vision of the world and helped her become the great artist she is today. In addition to the puzzles, her mother gave her paper and colors. She would draw a lot and experiment with the different colors. “I think about that a lot, and I'm truly grateful that I had that quiet time to develop my imagination and aesthetics,” Brunk said. “I had time to create.” Brunk continued developing her artistic skill, but it was around age 12 when she realized that she was an artist after completing a pen and ink drawing while babysitting. Any time there was an art class available, she would take it. In fact, she still continues to take art classes even though she is already an accomplished artist. She said she believes that you can never learn too 6 • www.adahub.com
Artist Kathryn Brunk explains the process behind researching and creating the realistic depiction of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ portrayed in her painting, “Tetelestai: Paid in Full.”
PHOTO BY ANGELA MARTIN
much, and you can always push your skills and vision forward. Brunk’s life changed dramatically when she was 25, though. She had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and the doctors estimated that she had approximately 120 days left to live. Her world was turned upside down. She had a threeyear-old child and had always envisioned her life to be spreading out in front of her, and now she was faced with an abrupt end. This moment led her to think deeply about God.
“You begin to ask what are really important questions,” Brunk said. “One of the most important question of my life was that I didn't even know if God was really real. Was there a heaven? Was there a hell? And how good did you have to be if there was a heaven? What would merit hell?” She attempted to find answers and peace in what seemed to be a life cut short. She had taken some tests and had to wait an agonizing two weeks for the results to come back. She turned to the Bible,
which had always seemed dry and lifeless to her before. She had never understood it. But now, as she was asking questions of God, it seemed as if the answers were always right in front of her. It took her two weeks, but she realized that this was God’s way of talking to her and answering her questions. She received her results at a grocery store pay phone. Her tests were clear. She had a new chance at life. Her back collapsed on a cold stone wall, and she heard God’s voice speak to her saying, “I’m giving your life back to you. Use it to glorify me.” Shortly after her life was returned to her, Brunk came down with pneumonia and was in the hospital from October to March. While she was laying in the hospital, she saw a copy of “Field and Stream” magazine. There was a photograph of a deer in it, and she thought it would make a good pastel. She asked them if she could take the magazine, and a few months later she was finally strong enough to stand and work. It took her several months, but her painting called “Silent Watch” was finished. It ended up being reproduced by Home Interiors and Gifts, selling 3 million copies over the next 10 years. This single painting helped her support her family after her marriage ended, and it was taken out of circulation once she remarried her current husband, Bill. “It is a modern day story of loaves and fishes,” Brunk said. “Sales increased just enough when I needed it, and then it came out of the line because Bill was my provider.” The inspiration and purpose of her work varies from piece to piece. Sometimes it is a labor of love, sometimes it is an experiment and sometimes she sees it as a direct commission from the Lord. This is particularly the case in her painting, “Tetelestai: Paid in Full.” She was called to do this painting after hearing a woman speak about the graphic and brutal nature of crucifixion. She wondered why she had never seen a depiction of the crucifixion that showed the full brutality of it. Once again she heard God speak to her saying, “It is for you to do.” What followed was a year full of research, doubt, inspiration, courage and faith during which Brunk struggled with her newest painting. Finally, through much soul-searching and prayer, she finished what she said is her masterpiece. Brunk continues to push herself as an artist, both because she loves art but also to glorify God. “It is a gift that he gave me – to bring beauty and express truths that he would show me and allow me to create,” Brunk said.
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ACT II performers rehearse for upcoming productions of “Willy Wonka Jr.” running March 8-11. So many kids auditioned for the play that director Micah Gordon decided to create two casts. PHOTO BY ANGELA MARTIN
Kids land a sweet gig in production of “Willy Wonka Jr.” By Sunnie Dawn Smith
M
ost people are familiar with the story of Willy Wonka. Whether it is from Roald Dahl’s 1964 novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” the classic 1971 film “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” starring Gene Wilder or 2005’s remake “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” directed by Tim Burton, Willy Wonka and Charlie Bucket are characters that have captured the imagination of children and adults alike for decades. What some might not know, however, is that in 2004, Tim McDonald and Leslie Bricusse wrote an musical adaptation of the Willy Wonka story to be performed on stage. There are several versions of this stage musical, each geared toward different ages of actors. On March 8-11, members of the Ada community will have a chance to see one of these, “Willy Wonka, Jr.,” performed as children’s theater by Act II community theater. Director Micah Gordon said she is excited for the final product,
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but also for the experiences that the children involved will have. Gordon remembers her first production when she was ten years old. It was a play called “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” and it changed her life. “I was kinda shy and uncomfortable with people,” she said. “The theater gave me a chance to be free of all the pressures of having to act a certain way and talk to people a certain way.” She realized that she liked it, and it was something she did well. She never looked back, and the arts became her life. Now Gordon is the choir director for Ada Junior High School and Ada High School after teaching music at Washington Elementary. Her love of theater has grown as she has grown. Gordon has been performing in productions in the Ada area since she first came to East Central University as a student. Some of her notable roles have been Cinderella in “Into the
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Woods,” Maria in “The Sound of Music” and Audrey in “Little Shop of Horrors.” This will be her second time directing for Act II. In 2013, she directed a production of “Little Women.” This will be her first children’s show for Act II, though she has done many in her hometown of Poteau, including productions of “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Aladdin Jr.” and “Children’s Letters to God.” Directing children’s theater presents unique challenges and rewards, Gordon said. For instance, since for many of these children it is their first or second show, it may take a little longer for them to develop their characters. Some of the younger children may need extra help memorizing their lyrics, dance moves and lines. However, Gordon said the challenges are worth it when she sees the kids figuring out that are really good at this and that they love it. “Every show you will have at least one kid who realizes, ‘Oh my gosh! This is where I belong!’” Gordon said. There is such a strong pool of child talent in Ada that Gordon said she had to do two different casts for her show, which means that of the four performances each full cast will perform twice. More than 90 kids auditioned for the show, and while she was not originally considering doing two different casts, it was necessary because of all the talented kids who auditioned. Every kid who auditioned got a part, whether it is a speaking role or an oompa loompa. “For children’s theater shows, I want everybody to have the opportunity to be a part of it,” Gordon said. “Especially because it is stressful to come out and audition for the shows as well. It takes courage.” For Gordon, the theater is a way of life. She fell in love with her husband Kaleb during a production of “Annie.” She is simultaneously directing “Willy Wonka, Jr.” while also co-directing an Ada Junior High production of “James and the Giant Peach” with Merrie Palmer, which stages Feb. 19-20 at the Ada Cougar Activity Center. Gordon said she loves seeing children get involved in the theater because it could be really good for them. “I think it is so important for kids to find something to be involved in,” Gordon said. “It can be sports, it can be choir and for so many kids it is theater.” “Willie Wonka, Jr.” will have performances at 7 p.m. March 8-10 and 2 p.m. March 11 in the Dorothy I. Summers Theatre on the ECU campus. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors and $6 for children under 6. Email act2ada@gmail.com or call 580-421-5122 for more information.
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Tackling county’s low-literacy rate a matter of reading between the lines By Sunnie Dawn Smith
L
iteracy is something that many people take for granted. It is so ingrained into people’s daily lives that they tend not to think about it when they read street signs, medicine labels, nutrition labels or social media. However, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, 11 percent of Pontotoc County residents are considered to have “low literacy.” This is when someone has a difficult time dealing with everyday functions that require reading. This is one of the reasons why the Pontotoc County Literacy Coalition (PCLC) is offers the services it does to the community. PCLC was founded in 1984 in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. Now more than 30 years later, they have grown to have 14 tutors and offer many services that are all free to the public. They have tutors for math, English, English as a Second Language (ESL) and computer literacy. In addition to these services, they also offer free one-onone preparation for the GED and HiSET tests, which allow someone to attain a high school diploma equivalency. These days, a high school diploma is crucial to attaining occupational and financial security. According to the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, 21 percent of Pontotoc County has less than a 12th grade education and six percent has less than a ninth grade education. Once someone has attained basic literacy and their high school diploma, PCLC can also help people with free ACT prep to help them get into college and increase their opportunities. PCLC focuses on individual one-onone tutoring, though they will hold classes for groups if that is what meets people’s needs. The individual approach, however, allows them to tailor the tutoring to fit the unique situation of each client. “There are as many reasons for lowliteracy as there are people,” program director Carol Williams said. These reasons can include learning disabilities like dyslexia, but they can also stem from social and environmental factors, Williams said. A lot of these people had trouble at an early age, got behind and fell through the cracks. Also, if they 10 • www.adahub.com
The Pontotoc County Literacy Coalition – located on the top floor of the Ada Public Library – takes an individualized approach using tutors to help solve the area’s 11 percent low-literacy rate.
PHOTO BY ANGELA MARTIN
didn’t come from a family that reads, then the importance of reading might not be as fundamental to them. For instance, according to ProLiteracy, children whose parents have low literacy have a 72 percent chance of being low-literate themselves. Literacy affects every aspect of people’s lives, Williams said. If they aren’t math literate, then it can be difficult to stay healthy and read nutrition labels. It can also be difficult to go shopping and budget money. If they have difficulty reading, this can severely impact their ability to fill out a job application or apply for health insurance. It can also negatively impact their health if they can’t read prescription labels or instructions from their doctors. Computer literacy is of more importance than ever before, because many companies have turned to online job applications – not to mention all the other aspects of daily life that have moved online. If someone is in need of help, they can call the PCLC, email them or stop by. They are located on the top floor of the Ada Public Library. Their email address is pclc@ada.lib.ok.us, and their phone number is 580-436-5443. Once someone has contacted them, their first step is to do an intake evaluation so they can decide how to best help the client. After a discussion about their goals and needs, the individual
is placed with a tutor who can tailor a program to help them. While PCLC receives grants from the Oklahoma Department of Libraries and Dollar General, monetary donations are always appreciated. It is a community effort, with all the local volunteers and accounting provided as a donation by Lowe and Webb. The board of directors also pours their time into the effort, including President Jolene Poore, Vice President Patsy West, Secretary Helen Roberts, Treasurer Jennifer Greenstreet, Jennifer Towler and Ann Dotson. However, one of the things they need the most is more tutors, Williams said. It doesn’t matter if your background is in teaching or not, everyone has the ability to help. They ask that volunteers go through a nine-hour training workshop and then commit to working with a client for two hours a week. They ask for a one-year commitment to help provide stability in their clients’ lives. Training sessions are provided two or three times a year, though if someone is ready to start volunteering right away they can provide training on an individual basis. Once tutors are matched with their clients, they can start meeting with them on a regular basis. Two hours a week is all it takes to change a person’s life drastically for the better, Williams said.
The Special Olympics will feature a wide variety of creations by special needs participants in a local art & music competition 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Ada Cougar Activity Center at 1400 Stadium Dr.
PHOTO BY ANGELA MARTIN
Special Olympics goes beyond sports with art, music competitions By Sunnie Dawn Smith
F
or many people, athletic events are usually what come to mind when they think of the Special Olympics. However, the Special Olympics also have an art and music competition to let the participants express themselves in different ways. This year, the art and music competition will be open to the public and held 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Ada Cougar Activity Center at 1400 S Stadium Dr. Washington Elementary School special education teacher, Glenda West, has taught in this field for 31 years and has been a Special Olympics coach for over 20 years. During her time, she has seen the art and music competition come and go, and now it has returned once again. West said her favorite part of the job is “seeing that light bulb flip on when they do something and know they have done it well.” The Special Olympics gives her – as a coach and a teacher – an excellent opportunity to help these children find an outlet at which they can excel. The categories for artwork have enough diversity that it allows the participants to actively engage their creativity, West said. They can choose from oil or acrylic painting, watercolor or tempera, and drawing with pen, pencil, crayon, chalk, marker or ink. They can make or paint ceramics or pottery or create other three-dimensional pieces using woodcraft, leather, candles, jewelry, mobiles, sculptures or wire art. There are also categories for sewing and fibercraft using rope, yarn, reeds, sand, crochet, macrame, knitting, weaving or embroidery. Other categories include collage, photography and sports art that uses the Special Olympics as a theme. Participants can be involved as young as age eight, and there is no upper age limit. Once the artwork has been submitted, they will be judged and given ribbons. Since West teaches third and fourth grade, this will be the first opportunity that many of her students have to be involved in the Special Olympics, she said. They have been working on projects for months and have some creative and unique entries. Some students are making scarves and blankets out of fleece. They made something like sand art but filled the bottles with colored chalk instead of sand. They made candle holders by rolling modeling clay into a ball, pressing a candle into the middle to form an in-
dentation and decorating the outside with gems, buttons and glitter – whatever sparked their creative imagination. Some students will create sculptures out of modeling clay, and one child made a hot air balloon mobile out of common household items. The music competition is another aspect of the Special Olympics, but West said she has had few students who show interest in it. “At this age, a lot of them are a little too shy to do it,” West said. Though she has had students in the past who have wanted to do the karaoke competition. The categories – much like the art competition – allow for a wide range of expression. There are dance categories where participants can show off in categories of folk dance, square dance, popular dance, creative dance or cheerleading. In the vocal music category, they can do a solo, but they can also be in a group as large as they would like. They can sing, or they can lip-sync. For the instrumental division, they can play any musical instrument or even a self-made instrument as a solo or a group. The Special Olympics gives West many opportunities to enrich the lives of her students, whether through art and music or the athletic events, she said. Every year, she takes her fourth graders to the state games, and it is something unlike they have ever experienced before. They go to Stillwater and stay in the dorms. For many of these children, this is their first time to stay away from home without a parent. In some cases – such as if the child has severe disabilities or behavioral problems – the parent will accompany the group, but for the most part the children are just going off with their friends and teacher to have a fun adventure. They take them out to eat, they take them out for fun activities and they get to participate in the games. By having the art and music division of the Special Olympics, these children have a chance to expand their creativity and express themselves in different ways, West said. They produce final products that they can be proud of, and the experience could even be something that they can hold onto and progress with in the future. www.adahub.com • 11
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