Events over the past month have created a conflict of sorts in the minds of students and community members. Despite having been assured of the strength of the Ada economy, lay offs and adjustments in one major community organization have raised questions?
     Valley View Regional Hospital’s Board of Directors, last Tuesday, voted unanimously to "terminate the employment relationship" with hospital President and CEO Ron Webb. This decision came just weeks after the dismissal of over 100 members of staff.
     Students have presented arguments suggesting an impact, while others are unaware of any significant influence on Ada.
     "I can’t really tell too much in Ada because it’s a real small town, real small community. So most of what the economy affects is big cities. I don’t see as much of an effect here in Ada," Josh Maldonado, Garland, Texas junior, said.
     Maria Maynard, Coalgate postgraduate, has seen another picture.
     "People in the grocery stores are looking more for what they are going to buy. They tend to complain about not being able to buy and fill their carts because of groceries being too expensive," Maynard said.
     According to Randy Martin, Ada businessman, Ada is still economically safe. He describes Oklahoma as being insulated from much of the impact of the coastal markets as well as Wall Street. However, Martin theorizes that members of the Ada community have perceived a local economic crisis.
     "Perception then becomes reality, and the impact is a wave of depression. It makes people a little panicky, unsure and uncertain," Martin said.
     As the owner of Martin’s Jewelry, Martin has seen instances where customers' apprehensions won over their desire to buy his wares.
     "A man came into the store wanting to get something for his wife for Christmas, then he said, ‘With the economy so bad I think I better not.’ He left and didn’t buy anything. Sad for me, but all the things he hears tells him that things are bad. This gentleman is retired and living on a fixed income. His income is going to be the same this month, next month, next year, yet he is concerned because of what we see in the media. He’s not affected by the housing market. He’s not going to be selling his house this month, next month. As a matter of fact, he probably has more money in his pocket with gas prices going down," Martin said.
     James Rauch, assistant professor of business administration puts forward that the anxiety and heightened precaution is largely due to external factors that have little or no relation to the economic situation. These events simply add to gloom and anxiety - this is the case with Valley View.
     "I think it was totally related to the mismanagement of the hospital itself. I don’t see a lot of other layoffs coming. I think what happened was a case of mismanagement that will be solved right away. In the future people will even probably be rehired. I just see it as a temporary loss of things and they have to adjust in order to fix what happened," Luann Evert, instructor of nursing, said.
     According to a statement from the VVRH Board of Directors, their decision to dismiss Webb was made based on an accretion of debt they attributed to his inabilities to collect accounts and control expenditure. The previous layoffs were based on similar internal economic reasons.
     Despite the lack of a direct correlation to the national economy, however, the impact of the adjustments and dismissals at VVRH will be felt by the city of Ada. Students and other community members have lost jobs in a crucial demand and business period. Valley View will also reduce its need for some local services. Food purchasing costs for company cafeterias and advertising expenditure, for example, are likely to be reduced.
     Ada’s and in general Oklahoma’s history books show a somewhat similar economic eye opener some 10 years ago. An oil bust and reductions in produce and cattle prices were evident at that time. Oklahoma’s investments in aerospace technology were incorporated to add to an economy that was becoming solely dependent on oil and agriculture.
     "I don’t think people should be worried that Valley View will fall apart at all. It is still a trustworthy hospital and I think it will recover. I don’t see Ada going the way the rest of the economy is. The east and west coast people are the ones who will be impacted most, not us," Evert said.
     In the interim, Martin assures Ada citizens of the solid framework that is the Ada economy. He encourages students and families to maintain wise spending choices while dispelling unnecessary fears and anxiety.
     "All of us individuals, schools, state government and local governments must aim to live within a budget and live within our means," Martin said.