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Legal, Finance

& Government

Ada Evening News

The Future Starts here....Progress 2011

By Randy MitchellCity Editor

ADA — Gary Kinder is enjoying living in Ada.

Kinder is a recent hire for the city of Ada and its newest engineer. Although he works on many projects at any given time, his current project involves water.

One major project is wastewater treatment plant improvements. Phase one was just com-pleted.

“We’ve got phase two of the wastewater treat-ment plant improvements which is advertising this month,” Kinder said. “We’ll get construction going in another month as a continuation of phase one.”

The entire project was created to make the plant more efficient and save money. Another major project is a water tower to be placed on the south-side of Ada.

“We’re about 75 per-cent completed with the design phase,” Kinder said.

He was hired in September 2010, moving to Ada from Yukon. At the time, he was working for a consulting engineering firm in Oklahoma City when he was informed of the Ada position by another Ada city engi-neer, Cody Holcomb.

“Cody and I worked together at the same firm,” Kinder said.

Kinder was born in Iowa, but moved to Oklahoma as a young child.

“I was born in Iowa but I’ve lived here for the past 42 years, so I guess I’d be an Okie at this point,” he said laugh-ingly.

As a child, Kinder wanted to be an aeronau-tical engineer when he grew up.

“I’ve always had that engineering desire and always wanted to know how things worked and design things,” he said. “I always liked airplanes when I was younger.”

He eventually moved towards environmental engineering.

“I also thought at one time about being a game ranger too,” Kinder said. “Environmental engineer-ing seemed to be a kind of compromise between the two. There was a lot of demand for environ-mental engineers and still is, so it seemed like a good career choice.”

He earned a bachelor’s degree in environmen-tal engineering from Oklahoma University and a master’s degree in environmental engi-neering from Oklahoma State University. Kinder says he cheers for both schools but when they play each other, he leans toward OU.

Kinder married wife Sohee in a traditional Korean wedding in South Korea. They make several trips to Korea to visit her family. An avid outdoor-sman, Kinder said the hiking is great in South Korea as well.

“The mountains up

there are very pretty and it’s a pretty country,” he said.

The couple adopted Sohee’s niece, Min Kang, five years ago. She is a chemical engineering student at OSU.

In addition to hiking, Kinder enjoys other out-door pursuits including fishing, camping, back-packing, mountain biking and kayaking. He said he enjoys living here.

“The trout fishing is really good on the Blue River and the hunting is good down here,” Kinder said. “I got three deer (in 2010). I like the country living.”

www.adaeveningnews.comLegal, Finance & Government2A Sunday, March 27, 2011

Arvest is Celebrating 50 Years1961-2011

Ada's new engineer takes on water

Photo by Richard R. Barron

Ada City Engineer Gary Kinder enters the City of Ada Advanced Wastewater Pollution Control Facility.

Photo by Richard R. Barron

Ada City Engineer Gary Kinder points to a panel inside the Advanced Wastewater Pollution Control Facility.

Photos by Richard R. Barron

Above, Ada City Engineer Gary Kinder looks over plans. At right, he over-looks the wastewater treatment facility.

Gary KinderAs a kid, Ada's newest city engineer

knew he wanted to be in engineering when

he grew up ... Although he also considered

becoming a game ranger due to his love

of the outdoors.

On the cover...Ryan Eaker takes a ride in a "police cruiser." Although he hasn't expressed what he wants to be when he grows up, "The Future Starts Here." (Photo by Richard R. Barron)

By Justin LoftonStaff Writer

ADA — Veneshia Ferdinand, compliance officer at Citizens Bank, said while she wasn’t sure what she wanted to be when she grew up, she knew her eventual profes-sion would likely be busi-ness-related.

“I knew it would be something along the lines of accounting, business and finance,” she said.

Ferdinand was born and raised in India. She got her high school educa-tion and college degree there before coming to the United States with a green card in 1999.

“I came to the United States in 1999 on an exchange program,” she said.

Initially, Ferdinand worked as an intern for a large non-profit organiza-tion in New York. She said the hardest part of gaining citizenship to the U.S. was not being able to visit family for the first four to five years while she had her green card.

“When you become a green card holder, they give you an option,” she said. “After the first five years, you have an option to apply for citi-zenship and that’s when I applied.”

She said the immigra-tion process was more time consuming than dif-ficult.

“Once I had the option to become a U.S. citizen it was not that hard. It took about six months from the time I applied,” she said.

She said she had to adjust to several cultural differences in the U.S. Food was the biggest cultural hurdle but after finding the right places to

shop, she eventually felt more at home.

“You can pretty much get everything here that you would get over there,” she said.

In New York, Ferdinand eventually met Robert, who would become her husband. Robert—also from India—was a math professor at East Central University when they met in New York, so Ferdinand moved to Ada when they were married.

Since being married, she said she’s visited her family in India once and has also gone to visit her brother’s family in the United Kingdom. She said a down-side of U.S. citizenship is that visit-ing family isn’t always an option.

After moving to Ada, she applied for a job at Citizens Bank.

“The bank has been like a family,” Ferdinand said. “I’ve been here almost nine years, now.”

Her extended family at the bank has been with Ferdinand and her hus-band through the births of two children: 18-month-old Keira and two-year-old Keane. Both are natu-ral-born U.S. citizens.

She said First United Methodist Church and Ada Rotary Club have also become part of her extended family away from India.

“(First United Methodist Church members) really made us feel at home here,” she said. “When we’ve needed someone, they’ve always been here.”

She said Rotary has offered her and her fam-ily an opportunity to meet friends and get to know more people in the com-

munity.“You can’t be alone in

this town whether you like it or not,” Ferdinand said. She said she enjoys Ada because it’s quiet, nice and her daily com-mute is much shorter than it was in New York.

“When I lived and worked in New York, it took me two hours either way to home and get to work,” she said. “When I was single, it was fine. I could get caught up on my reading.”

She said she can’t imag-ine commuting in New York with her two chil-dren.

“It’s a lot of work when

you have two little ones with a full-time job,” Ferdinand said.

She said she’s enjoyed her time in the U.S. and Ada.

“We really appreciate the extended family we have here at work and church,” she said. “It really fills the void.”

Ferdinand said many opportunities are avail-able to U.S. immigrants with the right kind of work ethic.

“There are a lot of opportunities if you work hard, you’re willing to take that extra step and you’re willing to go above and beyond,” she said.

Sunday, March 27, 2011 3Awww.adaeveningnews.com Legal, Finance & Government

Senator Susan Paddack District 13

Occupation: State Senator; Nonprofit ConsultantEducation: University of Colorado, B.S. Education; East Central University, M.E. Secondary EducationLegislative Experience: Senate Member, 2004 - presentHometown: Ada, OKParty: DemocratPersonal: Married to Gary for 35 years, two children, Geoffrey, 29, and Elizabeth, 26. She is an elder and a former youth group leader at the First Presbyterian Church.Honors:Oklahoma Professional Economic Development Council Legislative Advocate of the YearLegislator of the Year from the Oklahoma State Troopers AssociationOutstanding Member of a State Legislature, Dr. Nathan Davis Award from the American Medical AssociationCommittees: Education, Energy, Transportation, Appropriations, Appropriations Subcommittee on EducationContact: (405) 521-5541 Email: paddack@oksenate.gov

OKLAHOMARep. Todd Thomsen District 25

Profession: Southeast Oklahoma Representative for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Education: University of Oklahoma, Bachelors in Management Information Systems Legislative Experience: House of Representatives, 2006 - Present Home Residence: For last 21 years, Ada, OKParty: RepublicanPersonal: Married to Melanie for 21 years. They have 5 children: Tal, Menee, Aneli, Tovan & Tyde. The Thomsens have lived in Ada for 21 years and have been active members of First Baptist Church. Contact: 405-557-7336, todd.thomsen@okhouse.gov.Committees: He is Chair of Higher Education and Career Technology, a member of Public Safety, Transportation; and the Subcommittee on Education.Honored to Serve District 25

Your Oklahoma

Legislators

Senator Paddack meeting with Ada

Retired Educators

A journey to U.S. citizenshipVeneshia Ferdinand shares her experience

Photo by Justin LoftonVeneshia Ferdinand, a compliance officer at Citizens Bank, became a U.S. citizen recently.

Veneshia FerdinandBorn in India,

Veneshia Ferdinand

knew she would be

in a business-relat-

ed field. Her jour-

ney brought her to

the United States

where she gained

her citizenship.

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CLEET

In a Word... Professionalism

In the old days it wasn’t unusual for a community to have a lawman whose only credentials for keeping peace were the badge on his chest and the gun on his hip. Training was non-existent. Even as late as the 1950s and the 60s those charged with upholding the law received only 48 hours training or less. Thankfully, those days are gone. Today the keyword is professionalism and we at the Council on Law Enforce-ment Education and Training (CLEET) hold it as our sa-cred responsibility to ensure every officer who walks onto our campus leaves with the tools he or she needs to fulfill critical roles in their respective communities. Recruits’ training consists of more than sitting in a class-room to soak up knowledge dispensed by veteran law pro-fessionals, though that is part of the educational process. Recruits also role play dangerous situations, learn driving

techniques on our 356 acres, practice shooting on two firing ranges and much more. All this training is designed to ensure Oklahoma communities are equipped with the most professional law enforcement officers anywhere in the United States.

www.adaeveningnews.comLegal, Finance & Government4A Sunday, March 27, 2011

Sunday, March 27, 2011 1Bwww.adaeveningnews.com Legal, Finance & Government

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PONTOTOC COUNTY MARKETING & TOURISM

FROM A WALK IN THE PARKTO A SPLENDID NIGHT ON THE TOWN

AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

1710 N. BroadwayAda, OK 74820580-332-9267

Bgilstrap@visitpontotoc.com

www.visitpontotoc.com

April CalendarApril 1st -2nd Tuley Team Roping

April 1 – www.cougsforacause.com Cougs for a cause – Benefi t Basketball GameApril 2 – www.cougsforacause.com Cougs for a cause – Benefi t Baseball Game

April 4th – Ken Lance Arena 3Crosses Youth Camp Monday Night “Bull Buck Out” April 5th – Lazer Zone - every Tuesday nights it is College 2 for 1 night

April 7th – Lazer Zone - every Thursday night, family nightApril 7th - Donkey Basketball 7:00 @ Kerr CenterApril 8th – 10:00am – 12:30pm -Tour of the Stars

April 8th-9th Oklahoma Mule Sale, Pontotoc County Agri-PlexApril 8th-9th The Chickasaw Nation Presents World Championship Bullfi ghts and Concert

April 9th-10th Monkey Business Consignment Sale Pontotoc County Agri-PlexApril 9th McSwain Theatre presents Mark Shultz with Jason Gray and David Klinkenburg April 14th @ 7:00pm Pam Weston, Christian Country Artist, a free concert with CrossCut

Cowboy Church at the Pontotoc County Agriplex Convention Center.April 15th-16th Southern Oklahoma, Cutting Horse association

April 15th-16th OK Boer Goat Show April 16th Rockin S Team RopingApril 16th-17th Gun Show

April 16th McSwain Theatre Showcase Presenting Jae L & Crossover April 16th-17th Oklahoma Boer Goat Show

April 18th Impressive Dress, Fabrics & Fashions, Consumer Buying Contest April 23rd Rockin S Team Roping

April 22nd-24th Miniature Horse Show April 23rd Rockin S Team Roping County Agri-PlexApril 28th – 30th AII Performances – Sweeney Todd

April 29nd-30th The 2011 Pontotoc County Quilt Show Flying High with Color April 30th Rockin S Team Roping

April 30th Ada Opry Country Music Show April 30th Rockin S Team Roping

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION GO TO: VISITPONTOTOC.COM

Interpreter helps Hispanics at bankBy Justin LoftonStaff Writer

ADA—Elizabeth Hernandez grew up in Mexico and said she always wanted to be a good example to her four sib-lings

“I wanted to make sure they looked at me as someone to inspire them,” she said.

Her family moved to Texas for two years when she was young before mov-ing back to Mexico.

“I went to school (in Mexico) up to sixth grade,” Hernandez said.

Her family moved back to the United States when she was 12.

“When we first got here, it was kind of hard,” she said. “When I first got here, I didn’t speak any English at all so they put me back in the fifth grade.”

“For the first couple of years, I really struggled. I was always a good student. I maintained good grades,” she said.

Despite being an “A” student in Mexico, Hernandez said she was fail-ing English, reading and spelling.

“I would come home crying and tell my mom, ‘I want to go back,’” Hernandez said.

“After one or two years, things started falling into place,” she said. “I had more friends. The language barrier just went away. I started picking up on the culture.”

She doubled up on English and his-tory classes during her sophomore year

of high school to get caught up and graduated from Coalgate High School a year early in 2000.

“Being exposed to that has been one of the things that has allowed me to accept change easier than other peo-ple,” she said.

Hernandez went on to major in finance at East Central University, where she received a scholarship thanks to her school counselor, Amy Mauk.

Her family bought a house in Ada her junior year of college and Hernandez has lived here ever since.

She graduated in 2005 and became a United States citizen in 2007.

“When I first graduated, I always

thought that in order to have a really good job you had to move to a bigger city,” she said.

Instead, Hernandez was happy to find a good job in Ada.

“When I first started working at Vision Bank it was kind of by accident. I just noticed an ad in the newspaper,” she said. “They had a help-wanted ad for a loan assistant.”

She applied for the job and began on Oct. 10, 2007. After two months as a loan assistant, Hernandez said there was an opening for an officer training program.

“I told my supervisor, ‘I know that I’ve only been here two months and I feel like I haven’t really proven myself to you, but do you think it would be good for me to apply?’” she said.

Her supervisor encouraged her to take the opportunity.

“I went through the interview pro-cess. There were four other employees who had applied for it.”

Following an interview with the bank’s management, Hernandez was selected as the candidate for the officer position.

She said her experiences have helped her as an interpreter for Spanish speak-ing customers.

“You have to really understand what they need,” she said. “It feels great to be able to just step in, find out what they need and get it fixed.”

In addition to helping Spanish speak-ing customers open accounts, Hernandez is also a loan officer and supervisor of customer service.

“I do anything else that’s needed,” she said. “I try to fill in every time we have a need for someone to step up to the plate.”

Her parents and two brothers cur-rently live in Ada. She has a sister in Norman and a sister in Tennessee.

She’s married to Rodrigo Hernandez and they have a four-year-old son named Yazid.

Herndandez said she enjoys her job at Vision Bank very much.

“I’ve been kind of fortunate that I’ve found a job in banking,” she said. “I love what I do and it’s allowed me to use every skill that I have.”

Elizabeth HernandezAs a kid,

El izabeth

Hernandez

just want-

ed to be a good example for

her siblings.

ELIZABETH HERNANDEZ

PROGRESS

2011

www.adaeveningnews.comLegal, Finance & Government2B Sunday, March 27, 2011

County roads one of top prioritiesBy Justin LoftonStaff Writer

ADA — Pontotoc County commis-sioners say they are busy working on roads in their district.

DISTRICT ONEGary Starns, district one’s commis-

sioner of 12 years, said his childhood dreams have been realized.

“When I was growing up, I wanted to be an equipment operator,” he said. Starns said he also had aspirations of becoming a county commissioner.

Starns has worked for the coun-ty approximately 20 years. He said he worked four years under Commissioner Chester Timmons, four years under Commissioner Alvin Ogee and five years under Commissioner Mark Manuel.

“When Mark was about to resign, he came and talked to me about run-ning,” Starns said. His filing fee was paid by Marvin Stokes and Starns won the election.

“I’ve never regretted it a bit,” he said. “I enjoy working with the people and trying to help our area out.”

Starns said Pontotoc County has received help from sev-eral of its rep-r e s e n t a t i v e s and residents throughout the years. He said C o n g r e s s m a n Tom Cole has always been quick to lend a hand in get-ting the county’s FEMA money.

“ S e n a t o r Susan Paddack has always worked with us on differ-ent projects,” Starns said.

He said the Chickasaw Nation also works very closely with the county.

“The Chickasaw Nation has 13 counties that they work in,” Starns said. “We’ve been fortunate in Pontotoc County. We’ve got a lot of projects with them because they have

so much here.”He said he has several upcoming

road projects.“On the five-year plan, I’ve got

a project that will run from where Country Club ends to old Highway 99,” he said. He said the project would be done in two phases.

He said Cotton Creek Bridge near Francis would be rebuilt on the five-year plan, also.

District one and the Chickasaw Nation will also be working together to raise and widen the intersection

by High Hill Church.

Starns said he hopes to use grant money to work on the over-pass by Thomas Ranch road.

“We’ve had a lot of wrecks on the Homer-Francis Road by the railroad crossing,” he said. He said he would be working with the Chickasaw Nation to raise

the railroad bed on the northside of the crossing.

He’s also working on Cullihoma Road with the Chickasaw Nation.

“It’s about a $3.5 million project,” he said.

A project near Lazy Acres is com-ing up.

“We’re looking at milling that up

and widening it just a hair.” He’s also working on projects in Byng with the Chickasaw Nation.

He said he hopes to oil and chip some roads in residential areas near Valley View Regional Hospital.

DISTRICT TWODanny Davis, who has been district

two’s commissioner for two years, said he’s wanted to do construction since he was a child.

“All I ever thought about being was a construction worker and devel-oper,” he said.

Davis started his career with Pontotoc County, where he worked for 11 years. He then worked for the city of Ada for 13 years.

Davis also has several road projects in the works.

He said all the districts have applied for a grant to do oiling and chipping on roads and he hopes to use the money to improve roads in Pickett.

“The Rodtky Creek Bridge project is still in the hands of the Historical Society,” he said.

Davis said his workers are patch-ing roads and hauling gravel to make repairs to damage caused by this year’s snow storms.

“We got our FEMA money in from last winter, so we should be able to make some improvements on our oiled and chipped roads this sum-mer,” he said.

He said the John Deere Road, Simmons Lane and Reeves Road would be taking priority next spring.

“The Garr-Corner cut-off road should be going this fall. It’s in the

process of having utilities relocated right now,” he said.

Davis said he’d also be working with Vanoss and Latta schools and helping them with a couple projects.

West Day Creek Bridge will be started when funding becomes avail-able.

Plans are complete on the Vanoss Bridge.

“(Chickasaw Nation) is paying to re-rock County Road 1540 from Pickett to Vanoss,” he said. “We’re in the process of doing that right now.”

County Road 3510 is also sched-uled to receive repairs.

DISTRICT THREEJustin Roberts is the newly-elect-

ed district three commissioner. He has been self-employed for 10 years doing contract work for the United States Department of Agriculture.

Roberts has lived 33 years in Ada.“I was born and raised in district

three,” he said. He said he’s known every county

commissioner in his district since the mid 1980s.

Roberts is jumping into the road projects in his district.

He said a project on Kerr Lab Road would kick off next year and he hopes to get easements for utilities on the project soon.

“I’ve got two bridges that will be replaced this spring,” he said.

Roberts said his district is involved in a $50,000 match grant with Chickasaw Nation to oil and chip several roads.

GARY STARNS DANNY DAVIS JUSTIN ROBERTS

“I enjoy working with the people and try-

ing to help our area out.”— Gary Starns

County Commissioner

By Randy MitchellCity Editor

ADA — The remodel-ing of Pontotoc County Courthouse is complete and all involved are ecstatic.

One of those is District Judge Tom Landrith who made many trips to the courthouse as construc-tion was in progress.

“I probably averaged going down there every other day,” Landrith said.

He provided plenty of input “whether they wanted it or not,” he said laughing. “They were very easy to work with.”

Landrith was glad to be leaving the tempo-rary location at Pontotoc County Agri-plex which was being referred to behind the scenes as “Agri-court” and “The Barn.” He said although it wasn’t ideal, it worked.

“We made it work,” Landrith said. “It was functional. It might not have been pretty with that PVC pipe (which sepa-rated the areas of each courtroom), but the price was right on the rent (free). Everybody worked as a team and were good stewards of the taxpay-ers’ money.”

Landrith said the court-house prior to the remod-el was a nightmare for everyone involved.

“None of it complied with the Americans with Disabilities Act,” he said. “None of it was to code.”

The ‘old courthouse’ leaked water through the exterior walls where grout had fallen away, causing terrible mold problems. One such area was the wall which bor-dered Landrith’s desk.

“I had a living wall for 16 years,” he said.

He said the mold could cause allergies and ill-nesses among employees. He said some old demons have been exorcised as well.

The courthouse was tainted due to some unfair rulings referring specifically to the wrong-ful convictions of Ron Williamson and Dennis

Fritz, two men Landrith set free in 1999.

“We needed to escape some of our judicial past,” Landrith said. “That old jail and that old courtroom was always a reminder of things that didn’t go right sometimes. So it’s kind of a fresh start.”

Landrith, an OU fan and alum, teased the workers from Piazza Construction Company, based in Texas, every time Texas University lost a football game. In retaliation, the workers hung a Texas plaque over where the Great Seal of Oklahoma was to be placed above his bench.

Landrith always has something good to say about those who work around him. He’s quick with a joke but takes judgment and sentences very seriously. He knows there’s no room for humor when people’s lives and freedom are at stake.

Born and raised in Ada, Landrith attended Ada Schools. He earned a bachelor’s degree from OU before joining the U.S. Air Force.

After serving fours years in the mili-tary, Landrith entered Oklahoma University School of Law on the G.I. Bill and graduated in 1976.

Landrith wanted to be involved in law as a child.

“I liked everything about it,” he said. “It was exciting back then and local lawyers were characters in the commu-nity.”

Landrith said he enjoys being a judge and serving the community.

“Sometimes it’s very rewarding and sometimes it breaks your heart,” he said. “Sometimes it’s very stressful. Probably the worst things I do are custody cases —custody

issues and divorce cases are the worst because no one really wins.”

Landrith has two chil-dren, Allyson Landrith Carson and Matt Landrith.

Allyson is the victim

services coordinator for the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office and Matt is an attorney in Houston, Texas.

Landrith enjoys playing golf and he and wife Gail reside in Ada and enjoy

traveling. Landrith played foot-

ball at Ada High and was part of two state champi-onship teams. He attends many Ada School func-tions and supports Ada athletics.

Sunday, March 27, 2011 3Bwww.adaeveningnews.com Legal, Finance & Government

Your saving federally insured to $250,000

National Credit Union Administrationa U.S. Government Agency

NCUA

Rising to MeetMember Needs

Since our inception in 1966 Ada Federal Employees Credit Union has been serving our members in and around the Ada area with exceptional fi nancial products. Currently led by Earlene McDonald, we at Ada Federal Em-ployees Credit Union have grown our membership to over 945 with assets of more than $7,413,505. We have three full time employees in a single main offi ce. Our membership is open to federal employees, including active or retired military, USPS, EPA, Department of Agri-culture, Department of Energy, Indian Health Services, Bu-reau of Indian Affairs, and SS, and their families. Ada Federal Employees Credit Union offers members a full service website that allows for true “Banking From Home” functionality, giving members the ability to conveniently ac-cess information via the Internet. Members may also take advantage of a full array of loans including for new and used cars. We are in our 45th year serving Ada area federal employees and bought our own building a year ago. Call or visit us any-time between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Ada Federal EmployeesCredit Union

317 S. BroadwayAda OK, 74820

(580) 332-0181

Photo by Richard R. Barron

Opening remarksDistrict Judge Tom Landrith speaks at dedication ceremonies for the improvements at Pontotoc County Courthouse prior to its open house March 4, 2011. For pictures of the courthouse after renovations were completed, see page 4B of this section.

‘New courthouse’ is boon for residents

Tom LandrithDistrict Judge

Tom Landrith knew he wanted to be involved in law from the time he was a child.

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Photos by Richard R. Barron

Courthouse renovations completePontotoc County Courthouse recently had a facelift and interior renovations. An open house was held for the courthouse March 4. After more than a year in Pontotoc County Agri-plex, business and court resumed at the newly remodeled courthouse March 21.