About Town

By Ida and Doris Lessenden

January 30, 2004

Delores "Smokey" Rector was the "Honored Senior Citizen" at the Cheraw-Eads Basketball game last Friday. She has lived here nearly 30 years and was a cook at the school cafeteria for many years. She enjoys attending school events to watch here niece and nephews, Jordan, Dain, and Chad Barnett and Brad Rehm. Congratulations to Smokey!

Our sincere sympathy to the family of Ward Wissel who passed away last week. His son, Raymond, and Shirley and all their children and grandchildren were here from Wyoming for the services and to support his mother, Ruth. Many relatives came from long distances to fellowship with the family and enjoy the hospitality at the Lodge Hall and of the United Methodist ladies. Ward is another one of our dear Prairie Queen 4-H club parents of whom we hold fond memories. We particularly remember how he, Lloyd Berry and my father, Virgil, loved homemade ice cream served with cherry pie when we had summer meetings on Sunday afternoons.

Mona Walker, Dietary Director, Bonnie Bohrer, and a large dietary staff and extra nursing assistants stayed later on Tuesday the 20^th at Weisbrod to serve a wonderful steak and shrimp dinner in three courses. Tanya Lane and Rhonda McDaniel set tables on lace clothes decorated with blooming potted bulb plants. The residents were entertained by the live music of "The Pony Kidd", Phil Pollreis, of Wiley which pleased his mother, a lot. It was truly as listed the "Special Meal of the Month".

Annie Cole, Margie Wiltfang, Faye Barber, LaVerle Kelley, June Blooding, Arêta Laird, and Doris Lessenden attended the Area Agency on the Aging at Chiramonte’s Restaurant on the La Junta Golf Course. This was the annual meeting where reports were given, dignitaries were introduced, legislative issues, health insurance and prescription updates were reviewed.

Bleu Ellis, former Eads grad is playing basketball for the Otero Junior College Rattlers who are undefeated and ranked 12^th in the nation of NJCAA. I cut a action photo out of the newspaper for the Gooden family.

Lacy Adamson, Sabrina Kiniston, Jennifer Lynn, Sarah McCoin, Adrienne Adamson, Rachel Brown, Tasha Hueller, and Sarah Sykes, coached by Kathy McCracken have been doing an outstanding job of cheerleading at games and wrestling meets.

Irene Gade of Kit Carson and formerly of Eads has had a serious back surgery. We are glad to report that she is much better and back working in her Hardware Store.

Pansy Foxworthy was welcomed home by her friends last week. She had a longer that expected Christmas vacation.

There was a large turn out of folks for the noon Eads Senior Citizen potluck dinner last Wednesday. New president, LaVerle Kelley, chaired the meeting. Faye Barber, Esther McCoin, and Gloria Peck sat at the officer table. Lela (Smitty) Burrows, Harold Stinson, and Alvin Clamp who had January birthdays were first in line for the great dinner. The folks decided they would continue to play cards on Monday and Wednesday afternoons at l:00 p.m. In May, they will have the first Thursday evening supper and card party.

We heard that the children enjoyed a school assembly last week on bus safety that was presented by the State Patrol. The delightful educational presentation featured "Buster the Bus". Third graders with Charlene Gifford told the Weisbrod residents about the assembly as they made snowman art projects for their adopted grandparents last week.

Nedra Milton was the guest speaker for the "Road to Joy" Saturday at the Eads Christian Church for a ladies day of refreshing spiritual growth and fellowship. Many ladies from several different denominations came to enjoy the marvelous hospitality, the speaker, and music and a noon soup and sandwich lunch. Nedra who was here last year with her husband, George, and son and daughter-in-law, David and Krista are gospel singers who travel across the nation. I highly praise them for their uplifting gospel concerts and sharing of the Word.

One of the very best happenings last week was when our Eads Band played lively pep songs from the stage at the basketball game. Thanks to Bob Seay our new instructor who is reviving the Eads Band. They sounded Grrrreat. Many families and fans were so joyful. Also, eighth grader, Wesley Richardson, played "The Star Spangled Banner" on his saxophone before the game began. He was Outstanding!

Faye Barber boarded the van last Thursday with AAA Director, Donna Rohde, and people from several counties to go to Burlington. They attended a Task Force which deals with legislative issues that are important to senior citizens.

Three event dates next week in February that readers may like to plan to attend are: Monday, February 3, at 10:00 a.m. to hear Faith Poet of Flagler who was an IFYE delegate to Greece and Denmark. She will speak at the Plainview School at 2:00 p.m. and will be at the Sheridan Lake Livewires Valentines potluck dinner at 6:00 p.m. Another 4-H hosted event is the Annual Valentines Dance at the Haswell Community Center. This is a fundraiser for upkeep of the community building. I can assure you that those families over there know how to have fun and show people a good time.

"Pack The Gym" is another annual event which is scheduled by the Student Council for Saturday, February 7. This will be during the Holly games. The Eads Basketball teams had exciting and victorious games last weekend. This week they will travel to Wiley on Thursday and north to Hugo to play Merino on Saturday.

The Eads Middle School Basketball players won the League Tournament by winning the boy’s and girl’s team League Championships at Cheyenne Wells last week.

Students at Eads schools are excited that Jeffery Bennett, an author, will be here with his book and knowledge on NASA topics at an assembly. We are glad that the children can have these enrichment opportunities.

The Eads Invitational Wrestling Tournament will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, January 31^st. This is an all day event with lots of noise, good foods offered by the Junior class, and a great chance to watch super wrestlers.

We were pleased and proud to see a colored photo and read an article in the Farm and Ranch special last Friday about Eldon and Sylvia Stoker. Eldon is a former Eads grad and Sylvia Steiner hails from Kit Carson. They run the La Junta Mill and Elevator which was established in 1887 and is the oldest continually running business in the Arkansas Valley. They make and sell many types of foods for livestock.

Lois McCracken was acknowledged as the "Honored Senior Citizen" at the wrestling tri-meet. She moved here in l949 from Towner and raised her children, Nancy (McCracken) Walker and Andrew. Lois enjoys coming to sporty events, concerts, and school activities. Currently her grandchildren in school are A. J. and Tyler and Shealynn McCracken.