About Town
May 28, 2004
Families and friends went to the Kindergarten Graduation last Monday evening where teacher, Gay Uhland presented her children to Superintendent Smith who gave them diplomas. There was a very nice cookies and punch reception in the multi-purpose room afterwards.
Delores Rector, Annie Cole, Faye Barber, and Doris Lessenden represented Kiowa County at the Area Agency on Aging at Ordway Tuesday to hear updates on new legislation, the drug discount cards, and other news briefs. I really enjoyed visiting with Delores (Smokey) about her childhood on their sheep farm near Agate as we drove to and from Ordway. Then Sunday I was privileged to meet her delightful twin brother at the Eads graduation. They came especially to see his great nephew, Chad Barnett, graduate and to visit with the other Legg relatives.
Many high school families gathered for dinner and the Academic/Athletic Awards Program at the community building Tuesday evening. I especially liked the awards given by Bruce Holman, the new science teacher, who acknowledged outstanding qualities in some of students.
About 36 Eads senior citizens met for the monthly noon potluck dinner at the Center. They honored Mary Anne Hulteen with a birthday cake and a pretty clock as a retirement gift. Margie Wiltfang is training to be the new Sage manager for Kiowa County.
I went to the school to watch the seniors practice their marching for graduation and to take some photos. I commend the seniors and their parents for the beautiful graduation stage they created in their colors of black and gold and with many sunflowers. The students gave their parents large sunflowers after they received their diplomas. That was a nice touch.
Linnae Gibson and son, Tyler, of Amarillo, Texas, and Raeanne, of Colorado Springs were here over the weekend to visit their mother, LaVerle Kelley. When I saw them they were walking to the t-ball field to watch their little niece, Madison, who is the daughter of their brother, Paul and Shawn.
Arlene Rehm was beaming Sunday as she went into the gym, with four of her five granddaughters who were here for their brother, Brad’s, graduation. I don’t see Arlene out and about much anymore, but her daughter, Cheryl, is here every weekend to tend to her needs and beautiful yard.
Congratulations to Jalynn Richards of Eads who was listed on the Dean’s Honor Roll at Otero Junior College.
Coaches Larry and Carla Gifford and Sue Fox were at the State Track with EHS students. Jessica Watts placed seventh in the Discus competition and Anthony Voss placed fifth in the high jump finals and brought home a medal. I read that my Eads high school biology teacher, Warren Mitchell, now of Limon was honored by Limon students who wanted to win more points to honor him. He continues to coach after 50 years. He is definitely a marvel.
Betty and Natalie Watts and my sister, came from Kansas to visit with friends and relatives at Arlington. They came to visit with Mary Ruthhardt from Texas and Michelle Wyckoff. They also visited at Virgil and Wanda Lessenden’s home north of Arlington and went to Jacob Buck’s birthday party out in Prairie Queen. And of course Ida really cherished the time she could visit with them.
A large crowd of well wishers gathered for the Eads graduation Sunday afternoon. Valedictorian, Ashley Brown, daughter of Van and LeAnna Brown and Steven Arth, son of Barb Seay and the late Ricky G. Arth and Bob Seay, was the Salutatorian. They gave fine speeches with wise words for their classmates and for the audience. Betsy Barnett presented numerous scholarships along with awards by local scholarship presenters. She also acknowledged Mary Vasquez who gave the students opportunities to fill out many scholarship forms in the College Prep class. I assure the scholarship donors that students and parents are very grateful for the generosity of these monetary awards.
One of the "fun things" to do is to drive around some of the graduation party sites. We saw white tents in a yard, black and gold balloons bobbing in yards and on porches, lots of cars around residences, the court house, the city park and other places where seniors were enjoying time with their families and many friends.
Monday morning most of the senior class left early to board the Amtrak train at Lamar for California. Much to the horror of Pam Batterton, when she called the Amtrak offices late last week to see if every thing was in order, she was told that the students could not carry their luggage onto the train in Lamar. This was terrible news to sponsors, Pam and Delisa Weeks. However, Skyler Weeks took the load of their luggage to the train depot at La Junta where the students were supposed to be united with their luggage. We can’t understand why they did not tell the class this detail in the beginning, especially after laying down so much money! Pam and Delisa’s husbands and teacher, Lance Jagers, are making the trip with the seniors this week.
Loretta Seibel of Eads went to the college graduation of Matt Legg at Chadron, Nebraska, where he earned a degree to be a teacher of history and to coach. She traveled with his mother, Cheryl (Richard) Wren of La Junta and they met Matt’s father Brett (Cindy) Legg of Cheyenne Wells for the graduation festivities.
Hazel Spady and Ida Lessenden both of Eads are very proud grandmothers of Celena Lessenden. Celena recently won an award plaque from the Southern Colorado Teacher Education Alliance during a ceremony at Hoag Hall in Pueblo. One of Celena’s former 4th grade students, Christiana Kournik of La Veta, wrote a letter acknowledging what an inspirational teacher Celena was for her and her classmates last year. The grandmothers were pleased to see two photos of Celena in the La Junta Tribute-Democrat Newspaper last week.
June Blooding and her daughters, Arêta Laird and Sylvia Weeks and Shalyn Laird of Eads met their sister, Micki Faulkin of Davis, California; all were in Denver over the weekend to attend the Potawatomie Indian Tribal Pow Wow.
Congratulations to Elise Deverman who graduated from the Lamar District Project Acquire with her high school diploma last Thursday at ceremonies in the Cow Palace Garden Room.
Barb Seay was thrilled to have her mother, two of her sisters, Carol and Mary, and brother, Barry, fly to Colorado from Minnesota and Chicago with three friends and three nephews for the graduation of her son, Steven Arth and a family reunion.
While Richard and Cheryl Wren were in Alaska recently, Loretta Seibel of Eads stayed with their children in La Junta. Richard who is the Chief of Police taught some classes in Alaska.
When we were in Our Place Restaurant Monday at noon we saw Colorado Governor Bill Owens and his large entourage come in for a town meeting. Local elected officials, business persons, Town Council and Chamber of Commerce members were among the guests.
Judy Beeson was in Colorado Springs to attend the graduation of her son, Matthew Bontrager Bain, from the University of Colorado. His degree is in Geography and Environmental Sciences. Matt plans to attend a law college next.
Many important plans are being made for the three day "Our Town" happening. June 3, 4, and 5th which is free.. Let us make an effort to make an application to be there. Call the county agent’s office or Kiowa County Development Foundation Office for more information. If I understand correctly, we are only one of five towns in the nation to be chosen for this event.