About Town

By Ida and Doris Lessenden

May 7, 2004

Muriel (Merle) Wiser of Haswell was truly surprised Saturday evening when she went to visit at the home of her daughter, Rhonda (Doug) Uhland north of Eads. All of her children, Linda (Ron) Wyatt, Gloria Price, Pam (Brent) Frazee, Glen (Deborah) Davis, and Ross with Evany and Dalton Davis and most all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren came for this joyful occasion. Her brother, Frankie (Rosemary) Stoker, and their three sons and families were there also. Her nieces from Denver, Sheri and Lana and her fiancé attended and arranged for Muriel to visit on the telephone with her sister, Shirley, in Houston, Texas. This was a grand two days of celebration for Muriel and Bud plus the wonderful gift of lovely new lawn furniture.

The Arkansas Valley Wind and Percussion Ensemble Band held their spring concert in Lamar on April 27 at Lamar High School. Billy Brandt and his mother, Cindy, are members of the ensemble.

Our most sincere sympathy is extended to the family and many friends of Dennis Wyckoff of Arlington. His passing reminds me of how fragile life is for us to live.

Congratulations to Eads Class of 2002 grads Jalynn Kelcie Richards and Bleu Ellis who graduated from Otero Junior College in La Junta Saturday with Associate of Art Degrees. Congratulations to Deborah S. (Oswald) Davis of Haswell who graduated with an AA degree with a major in Business Administration.

Misty Beeson, daughter of Tammy Crow of Pueblo, graduated from Colorado State University-Pueblo Saturday at the same hour as her cousin, Jalynn Richards. So family and friends met in Pueblo for a celebration party for the young ladies.

The Annual Eads-Haswell Consumers Supply company dinner and business meeting was last Friday evening. The dinner was catered by Fran Larrew complimented by pot luck dishes brought in by the guests. Co-op Administrator Kip Peck and President Mike Weirich presented the annual reports and gift certificates.

I made a mistake last week when I wrote "there will be an auction of items at the former Joe and Catherine Oswald ranch." Well it was at the "Ted and Catherine Oswald ranch." I know better because I used to play and visit at Ted and Catherine’s when I was a little girl and young woman. However, people did find the ranch because I know of friends who went at 9:00 a.m. and were still there buying at 9:00 p.m. Wow, what a sale that must have been of mostly household items and antiques. My niece, Glenda Stoker, bought quilt blocks made by the Busy Bee Club members. I am so eager to see them. That brought tears of remembrance to me. There are only three of those dear members left; they are Beulah Hogan of south Kit Carson and Rosamond Pollreis and Ida Lessenden of Eads.

Even though it was a rather wet and chilly day Friday, our Eads Baseball team, played at Kit Carson. Since they won the two games they were scheduled to play Tuesday afternoon in Eads.

The Kit Carson United Methodist Church and Trinity Lutheran Church folk honored graduates at their respective churches Sunday. The Eads United Methodist Church will host the Baccalaureate Service on May 17^th at 7:00 p.m. led by the Ministerial Alliance pastors and youth. Other churches in the county are honoring our precious graduates with best wishes before they face many of life’s challenges and adventures.

One of the nicest things I saw in the Eads Baptist Church was a large bulletin board with photos and address of boys and girls from their congregation who are in college, the military, or working somewhere so local folk can write to them.

The Eads school administration and the Student Council gave gifts to the teachers Tuesday, May 4^th on "Teacher Appreciation Day." This is a good thing to do. Even if the gift is small like a certificate or a piece of candy, teachers do like to know that someone cares about all the efforts they put forth to help children and teenagers in the learning process.

The local Masonic Lodge hosted their annual barbeque dinner Saturday evening. Congratulations to Jimmy Bendorf and Ed Negley who received 50 year pens and to Mary Marble who was honored for her years of service and help in projects particularly with her good cooking. The men also awarded scholarships and generously gave $200 to all the applicants.

Maxine Mays was pleased to have her nephew, Dennis Williams, from Atwood, stop by to visit her. Maxine says she is getting stronger each day.

Jennifer Negley and Garrett Smith, Eads sixth graders, were selected to participate in the 5^th and 6^th grade Honor Band at Kiowa, Colorado. Jennifer and Garret won placement in the large band by being tape recorded while playing their instrument. After practicing all day for the evening concert, their parents, John and Laura Negley and Glenn and Tracie Smith attended their performance.

If you attended the Quilt Show at the Eads Artist of the Plains Gallery last year, you can imagine what a beautiful display there is this year. The display is open until May 8^th.

Jim Baxter called me from Anchorage, Alaska, Saturday with questions about the Kiowa County Liggett research that his sister sent him from the Internet. Of course he is interested in history of Kiowa County and especially the county school near his grandparent’s ranch south of Galatea. He said spring is coming and snow is melting in Anchorage.

Lana Peterson’s fifth grade class presented their play, "Pecos Bill" Tuesday afternoon for their families and friends. Other classes are enjoying field trips, practicing for track meets and their concert vocal and band pieces.

Charles and Kelly Oswald hosted a big barbeque for the Oswald clan last Friday night for many relatives who were here for his mother, Catherine’s estate auction. On Sunday, some ladies in the community hosted a bridal shower for Denise Oswald and Brian Gibbs who will be married in Jamaica soon.

Last week, Dorie Musgrave, Student Council Advisor, sponsored Student Council members, Sanket Merchant, Alysha Uhland, Destiny Saffer, and Bethany Kerfoot to a Leadership Conference at the Fountain-Fort Carson High School.

Faye Schmitt of Strasburg called Maxine Mays recently to tell her the good news that Dr. Dick and Carol Moore, formerly of Eads, and now of Brownsville, Texas, are the proud grandparents of twin grandsons, Joshua and Justin, who were born on February 27^th. Their daughter-in-law will be taking them to see their father, Dr. Andy Moore, in Okinawa, Japan soon. The Moore’s daughter, Jennifer, and husband had a baby boy, Ethan, on April 19^th.

Lorena Melius and Fine Arts and Drama Students are hosting an Art and Talent Show at the Crow-Luther Fine Arts Center Friday, May 14^th. Come early to see the art and stay for the talent show at 7:00 p.m.

Bob and Renee’ Woods’ home was lively this weekend when their daughter, Sheri, and Jim Lyon brought three of their little grandchildren down to visit. They live in Wamsutter, Wyoming. Aunt Leanna Collins and Aunt Marci Miller enjoyed taking the little ones to the city park Sunday afternoon.

Corynne and Elise Deverman were glad to have Corynne’s parents come from Taos, New Mexico and her sisters and families as well as Josh and Daisy Gifford to come from Colorado Springs for a pre-graduation party and dinner in Kit Carson Sunday for Elise.