About Town

By Doris and Ida Lessenden

May 21, 2004

Guy and Mary Shafer of Haswell traveled to two graduations last weekend. The first one was at Otero Junior College where they saw their grandson, Bobby’s wife, Yvette (Turner) Martin graduate. Yvette earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in the REAP Program with a degree from Adams State College. This Rural Education Access Program is wonderful and economical because students in our area can take classes from Lamar Community College, Otero Junior College, or Trinidad State College and via the Internet without having to travel to or live in Alamosa. On Sunday they drove to Hanston, Kansas, where they attended the graduation of Bobby’s sister, Geena Martin from the eighth grade. Bobby and Geena are the children of Peggy and Gerad Martin.

Weisbrod Hospital and Nursing Home was a "buzz" with lots of fun and educational events last week. One morning when I went up, two lovely ladies, from the La Junta Mental Health Center, were there playing Bingo with the residents and handing out generous prizes and treats. Another afternoon, the staff brought in potluck treats at 2 pm. It was supposed to be treats but it looked more like a fabulous smorgasbord. Renee Woods offered me a yummy water chestnut wrapped in bacon baked in a red sauce. Pam Batterton fixed me the best ice cream Sundae that I have had for years! Thada Hart was impressed with the nice Open House on Thursday and the all the refreshments. She said the chocolate covered strawberries were marvelous.

Wednesday afternoon most of the residents were on the balcony with staff and lots of visitors for a joyous balloon lift with the second and third graders. They released balloons for the residents with their names on the ribbons. Sheri Weber, asked, "I wonder if anyone ever finds any of these balloons." The answer was "Yes". Last week a letter came from Dean Watson of Parkville, Missouri, who returned the name labels of Ralph Lancaster and Sue Musgrave whose balloons were released in 2003. He said that he figured his pasture was about 500 miles from Eads where he was out looking on a hillside for deer antlers when he found the bright broken balloons. He wrote the informative letter on May 3, 2004 that is posted in the Hospital foyer.

L. G. and Phyllis Vanderwork were so very pleased and surprised when they went to the Lamar Cow Palace for what they thought was a dinner with Joe and Sylvia Shields. It turned out to be a dinner, with cake and balloons for their 60^th Wedding Anniversary. Phyllis said, "It was a wonderful family get-together". Four of her brothers and five of her sisters and their spouses have celebrated their 50^th anniversaries.

The Eads baseball team played at the Regional playoffs last Saturday in Las Animas. Las Animas won the game so they move on to the State finals. Sunday some of the young men from the Eads team were already playing in a Babe Ruth scrimmage in Wiley.

Jessica Watts and Anthony Voss, Eads seniors, will be competing in the State Track meet in Pueblo Friday and Saturday. Best wishes to them and congratulations to these outstanding EHS athletes.

There was a large audience to watch the talent show hosted by Lorena Melius’ Drama Club Friday night which included entertaining skits and vocal and instrumental solos. First place vocalists were Shalyn Laird, Heather Miller, Sylvia Weeks and Mary Eikner. Other vocalists were Jamie Richardson and Kyla Cole. First place instrumentalists were Leisha Peck, Cardon Brandt, Remington Brandt, Josh Fry and Matt Seay. Troy Miller was an instrumentalists also. Skit characters were Milly Spady, Shalyn Laird, Jennifer Negley, Chevaun Glover, Carrie Roberson, Tara Spady, Tasha Hueller, Vance Cole, Raina Kliesen, Sanket Merchant, Alyssa Hadley, Dalton Melius , and Lorena Melius . The Mistresses of Ceremonies, Jamie Richardson and Raina Kliesen, presented the awards for the art show. Since I was concentrating with my judging team, I don’t know who those prizes went to. It was a nice evening to see some of our talented youth and adults.

The community barbecue at Weisbrod Hospital was really great. Mona Walker and Bonita Bohrer and their team of fine cooks served a super supper off the grill and from the food laden tables. Phil Pollreis performed music from the balcony for the many guests seated at tables below on the patio. Rhonda Krueger and Tonya Lane with the help of nurses and other staff people planned a happy week of activities.

Our sympathy to Phyllis (Murray) Reinert in the loss of her husband, Jim Reinert. His services were held in Holly on Monday. Plainview School was not in session Monday in respect to Phyllis who has been a teacher there for many years.

Ruby Leckenby is happy to have her daughter, Judy, and husband here for a few days. They drove here from Ohio to visit Ruby and Jo Shoemaker, Judy’s sister.

Several elementary grades have had field trips this year. The one I heard the most about was the anticipation of going to the Royal George by the fifth graders with Ms. Peterson and sponsors.

Eads Baccalaureate Services were hosted at the Untied Methodist Church Sunday evening, Pastor Donald Lott gave the message and Pastors Gary Goettel and Steve Puls offered the prayers and Kelly Lindholm, Heather Miller, and Tyler McCracken read the scriptures. Morrell Koch was the acolyte, Rachel R. Buck and Jennifer Lynn gave fresh carnations to the graduates as they were ushered in by Josh Fry Brittany and Leisha Peck played prelude music and for group singing. The graduates and families and friends enjoyed refreshments in the fellowship hall served by the ladies group. Many blessings and prayers are shared for our precious seniors as they face the future as young adults now.

Rod Johnson says that all people are "bird watchers". Some newer birds to our community are the lovely gray-white Euro–doves. I love to watch them. These birds specially like Joyce Davis’s trees. No wonder. Her yard now was a sparkling picket fence, fountains, and artistically placed rock gardens and plants.

Gay Uhland’s Kindergarten class was promoted Monday evening. There were eight little students and many proud parents, relatives and friends at the graduation. There was a very nice reception of punch and cookies in the multi-purpose room afterwards.

This is the time of the year for branding cattle, so lots of neighbors are helping each other and family groups are working together. I heard one rancher say at the Monday night reception, "There just aren’t as many cowboys around to help with branding anymore". Now that is a sad state of affairs for Eastern Colorado.

During March and April the prairies were so brown, drier that I think I had seen them for years. However, in the last two weeks, the prairies are greening up around the area. When we went to Bible study in Kit Carson last Wednesday there was a huge rain, then lots of wind. When we neared the Rush Creek Bridge, the rain had stopped. That happens a lot it seems to us. In Prairie Queen they had rain and hail but my niece said they didn’t have any plants for the hail to damage.

The Eads and Kit Carson Graduation Ceremonies are the same hour at 2:00 p.m. on May 23^rd. Plainview’s graduation will be Saturday May 29^th at 2:00 p.m. We give our best wishes to our graduates to take the opportunities for solid job training. Even though I was a college-career advocate for years, I know we need to remember, that college is not the best option for every student.

Committee members met to select recipients for the Alumni Scholarships last week as did a committee for the Ethel Johnson Memorial Scholarship. I want to commend Mary (Adamson) Velasquez and Betsy (Legg) Barnett for their work this year to assist and encourage the seniors to fill out scholarship forms. They have "filled the gap" and tried to "pick up the pieces" when the role suddenly fell to them. I encourage parents to support these women and your high school students in career and college planning.