About Town

By Ida and Doris Lessenden

November 28, 2003

A number of people from Kiowa County and the area went to the huge Bill and Gloria Gaither Gospel Concert in Colorado Springs Friday night. The Gaithers have written some of our religious songs.

The youth and families connected with the United Methodist Youth group were pleased with the good turn out of people who drove through their alley at the church to pick up their chicken or beef sukiyaki meal orders which were packaged to take home.

Our condolences to the family of Paul Yost. Paul passed away last week in LaCrosse, Kansas. Their sons, Jim and Denny, went to high school in Eads. Paul was the depot agent at the Eads Railroad Station in those years and he and his wife, Jean, used to be farmers near Haswell.

Reports are that the Melodrama, "Stop that Villain" which was preformed at the Crow-Luther Fine Arts Center was a real hit with the people. Their Director Lorena Melius, directed them well with comical scenes and outstanding costuming. Their program featured their photos ( though I could only recognized three of the students) The actors and actresses were Jamie Richardson, Rachel Brown, Raina Kliesen, Vance Cole, Brandon Bohrer, Tasha Hueller, Sanket Merchant, Milly Spady, Destiny Saffer, Sarah McCoin, Tyler McCracken, Brandon Cordova, Chad Barnett, and stage crew: A.J. McCracken, Caitlin Philpy, and Jace Roberson and makeup Kyla Cole, Janice Hollis, and Adrienn Adamson. We are glad that the students are learning so much and sharing their talents.

Thanks to Linda Trosper and to Suzanne Williams for their years of arranging and advertising the Eads Auxiliary Hospital and Nursing Home Bazaar Saturday at the Community Building. There were lots of booths and good food served by the ladies of the W.I.F.E. Organization. This event takes lots of work but brings happiness to those who can buy gifts and useable items locally.

Congratulations to Tyler McCracken whose application was chosen to try to catch a heifer at the National Western Stock Show in Denver in January 2004. McCracken is a freshman in the Eads FFA class.

Thursday afternoon, Doris’ brothers, Virgil Allen and Dwight, met with the dealer from Colorado Springs Morning Star Mobility to see the new Prowler Purple Power Chair she ordered and to learn how to manipulate it. She is pretty excited already with how wonderful it is for her to get around the house. She also ordered a silver van with an electric ramp to make her life easier.

Eads artists hosted a large gathering of people from the art coalition at the Artist of the Plains Gallery Tuesday morning. Men and women from Baca, Bent, and Kiowa Counties met to share what they are doing in their counties to promote art and they also discussed ways to encourage tourism and in funding and organizing their own art galleries. All three counties exchanged art pieces to be displayed and possibly sold in their galleries for three months. Economic Directors, Janet Frederick of Kiowa County and Kathy Finau of Bent County have worked with the group for years as facilitators. Tuesday afternoon there was another large gathering in Eads at the Senior Citizen Center. This was the bi-monthly meeting of the (AAA) Arkansas Valley Area Agency on Aging with executive Director, Donna Rhode. Men and women who are appointed to the council by their commissioners came from Baca, Bent, Prowers, Crowley, Otero, and Kiowa County There were many photos of the successful "Speak Out" that was held at the Lamar Cow Palace in early October. Some of the urgent business had to do with the news about the Congress considering the Medicare changes. The next meeting will be in January in Las Animas for the election of officers.

Many Eads senior citizens gathered for their Thanksgiving dinner Wednesday the 19^th. LaVerle Kelley baked the turkey, Loretta Seibel and Lorene Richardson provided the mashed potatoes, and Faye Barber made the stuffing and rolls were made by Ilene Eder. Other guests brought in a variety of salads and desserts. The nominating committee presented names for the election of officers at the December meeting. Some folks stayed over for card playing in the afternoon.

The Community Cantata Practice Sunday brought more singers out. Love Liebl is playing the organ this year and Charlotte Woelk will be at the piano. Other accompanists will be Jimmy Brown, Cheryl Wyatt, and Annetta Maxcy for various ensembles. Community church folk are working on specials and the children are learning new songs for the December 14^th performance. There has been fun jesting by the singers who can actually wear western attire which they think will be fun compared to heavy choir robes or dress up clothes of past years.

The Haswell Westender Senior Citizen group had a grand time Wednesday night for their Thanksgiving dinner. Wanda Lessenden had the rooms decorated beautifully in fall colors and baked the turkey. Other families brought salads, vegetables dishes and desserts. Milt and Dorothy Gribble and Pat Kesterson came from Las Animas and La Junta and Lucille Ansely came from her ranch up north to play their guitars and with Lucille at the keyboard they entertained with country songs. Some people danced and most all folks sang along. It was a good old fashioned time for those celebrating their thankfulness.

Ninety-three youth had a great time at the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) Fun Night Rally at the Sheridan Lake Community center Saturday night. Lane and Deborah Gooden are sponsoring FCA in Eads this year and took youth over to the gathering. Some of the other towns kids came from were Lamar, Burlington, Cheyenne Wells, Plainview, Eads, and Kansas. We have been avid supporters of FCA for over 30 years and we do encourage anyone who wants to donate time, treats, or money for the good of our kids to check in with the Goodens about how you could help them.

Margaret Kemps has come from Woonsocket, South Dakota, to live with Don and Esther McCoin at their town home this winter. Esther’s mother will be 102 years old in February and has been living by herself for many years. Don and Esther worked on their home for several months to get it remodeled.

Don Oswald , President of Kiowa County’s Farm Bureau, was the voting delegate to the State Convention held at the Antlers in Colorado Springs last weekend. Our family knows that this is a good organization. Farmers need to work together to get legislators to listen to their needs and to educate consumers about their products.

People were pleased to have a little snow Saturday night…it was so cold on Sunday that it didn’t melt much but we do have a light cover for which we are grateful for.

Haswell friends served a lunch for a large group of family and friends before and after the Memorial Service for George "Pete" Stoker Saturday afternoon at the Community Center.

The Eads FFA chapter will be fixing Holiday Baskets so there is a need for canned foods and if you have toys, they are welcome too. Lance Jagers and the students would like to have donations by December 3.