When Great-Grandmother Ada talks, I listen
There I was minding my own business in the Ada Public Library, and who do you suppose walked in: Great-Grandmother Ada.
I hadn’t seen her in town since the night Zac Dysert was drafted by the Broncos. She doesn’t live here anymore. I think she moved to Ada, Oklahoma, but I’m not certain. Anyway, I know she’s retired. She looked really good, though. A little purple wave in her hair and a really nice tan.
As soon as she sat down I knew she’d start talking. She has lots of opinions on Ada. You know, the usual: What ever became of so-and-so, and who bought that property on North Main Street?”
Of course, she has a right to ask pointed questions since she’s Great-Grandmother Ada.
Great-Grandma comes back to town each around Christmas to buy a supply of Ada products for presents.
She was on her way to Wilson’s to get some Super Bowl balls. The next stop was Northern On Main for the Ada Icon cinnamon rolls. She planned to stop into Reichert’s for some Bulldog and Polar Bear sports wear and later pick up a pile of Bulldog Cards. She had also hoped to buy some of those new Ada corn chips, too.
She told me that was really happy to see that the East Lima street project was finished. And, she is looking forward to the senior living community going up north of the high school.
In her words, “It’s about time.”
And she had lots of good things to say about the Christmas lights in the Depot Park. She also left a heavy donation pledge to repair the Pennsy Railroad caboose, claiming that she rode in it into town the night it was originally placed in the park.
Who’s to doubt her?
She didn’t have many kind words to say about the railroad when the gates were down for 20 minutes last week, however.
Oh, yeah, she was really happy that the pool levy passed by 61 percent. I guess she still has an official residence here, since she said she voted absentee.
She expressed disappointment on missing the style show in McIntosh in November, mumbling something about wanting to wear a bikini but had second thoughts. (I was glad she backed out, but didn’t voice this opinion.)
She had lots of positive things to say about new businesses moving downtown, especially Simply Torn.
Great-grandma said that she really likes the old photos on The Icon. In fact, she showed me one (see the photo at the beginning of this column) that she claims she is in.
Once again, who’s going to question Great-grandmother Ada? Not me.
She left the library to go over and check out the progress on the First United Methodist Church. She simply opened the construction gate and walked right into the church!
I figure I’ll see here about the time that the pool opens in the summer. I’ll keep you informed. But if you see her before I do, tell her she dropped her library card in the reading room.
Stories Posted This Week
Friday, September 4, 2026
- Labor Day weekend pause for the Icons
- Bluffton Icon headlines, Sept. 1-4
- Ada chamber holds custom-made Harvest & Herb football raffle
- Before Our Weakness Gets Too Strong: Science to modulate our immune system
- Ada Library Flower Arrangement Class
- P.S. Why read, like and share local news?
- Bulldog volleyball rallies past Lima Temple Christian
- Bulldog girls soccer shuts out Delphos Jefferson
- Meet Dailah and Kenley, Ada candidates for Hardin County Fair queen
Thursday, September 3, 2026
- UWF hosts Chicken and Noodle Luncheon on Sept. 19
- Bulldog boys soccer loses to undefeated Miller City
- The Pulse opens Freed Center season on September 12-13
- ONU Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, September 25-26
- Ada Council recap: Vendor documentation query and rail spur update
- Save the date: Sept. 19 is 40th Harvest & Herb Festival