About Town

By Doris and Ida Lessenden

June 25, 2004

Saturday morning, Ethel Ferris called from up north of Haswell to tell us that over two inches of slow rain has fallen at their ranch since last Tuesday. Since we have had general rains part of the last three days, no doubt Ethel and Ronald are really happy. The only problem may be in driving those muddy roads near Ellicott to get their grandchildren, Cara and Curtis Logan to stay with them a while.

Oh, the Junior Rodeo in Eads was a really a muddy, muddy place this weekend.

However, when we were at Michael’s Service Center at 9 a.m. on Sunday the events were beginning with the playing of the National Anthem and around 4:30 p.m. most of the trucks with horse trailers were pulling out of town. Mrs. Merchant, manager of the Econo Lodge said they had a busy weekend.

The Ladies Auxiliary hosted a Father’s Day party Friday afternoon at Weisbrod. Cardon and Remington Brandt favored the guests with piano and trumpet selections. Sandie Kelley and Remington even played a jazzy duet on the piano. The ladies served root beer floats in frosted cups and gave the men caps with an Eads flag motif embroidered on the caps.

Funeral services for Paula Jean Rose Johnston were held in Longmont on Tuesday. Paula and her husband, Howard Johnston, are former Arlington residents. Howard’s brothers, Clifford, and Lowell and wife, Joyce, still live on the Johnston Ranch north of Arlington. Paula’s parents, Paul and Amy Rose were cousins of the Andersons of Arlington and the Durretts of Arlington/Eads. (Arla and Paul were sister and brother.)

Zelda Peterson of Eads flew to Seattle, Washington, with her daughter, Charlotte, and Gary Billings of Eaton and granddaughter Amy and husband Jimmy Danley to the graduation of her grandson, Andy and wife, Kristen. The couple graduated from the University of Washington, School of Architecture with their Master’s Degrees. Zelda marveled to see the beautiful flowers and bushes and loved the seafood!

My great granddaughter, Rachel R. Buck, returned from a week long tour of Washington D.C. where she was chosen to represent Southeastern Colorado on a trip sponsored by the SECPA. There were about 1,500 youth from around the nation there who visited monuments, had a cruise up the Potomac River, and experienced many wonderful sights around the capital city. On Youth Day they attended a seminar to hear inspirational speakers.

Hazel Spady’s daughter, Bobbi Wroblewski, of Lamar and her sister, Kitty Ann Long of Las Animas brought her favorite fried chicken meal up to her Saturday to celebrate her birthday. Then Sunday, we saw her son, Roger, come with a pretty gift. We are glad to report that Hazel is feeling better these days.

Nurse educator, LeAnne Bradley , has been teaching ten girls Certified Nursing Assistant classes the last few weeks. LeAnne is planning a graduation ceremony for them Thursday evening at Weisbrod. She said that they had to put about ten or more other potential students on a waiting list. It has been interesting for the residents to watch the young ladies who are learning the new skills to take care of them.

Two county bus loads of Eads folks and several people in cars traveled to Hugo Saturday to attend the area annual Eastern Slope Telephone meeting and dinner. Eads definitely had the largest delegation and a lot of fun at the affair. Plus Marie Lang, Elwin Forrester, Margaret Frazee, Jeanne Sorenson, Vivian Gifford, Betty Crow, the Kiowa County Press, and the Eads First Christian Church won $25.00 and Faye Barber won $50.00. So it was fun for about thirty seven folk from Eads and ten or more from Haswell. We were glad to see Gary and Kristie Borns there. Alice Glover and her daughter, Peggy Dunlap, had a tour of the Borns’ beautiful home in North Hugo.

Kassie (Diel) Longsworth of Evans, formerly of Eads, graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley this spring. Her parents, Jake and Barb Diel of Eads were on hand at the outdoor ceremony for this happy occasion for Kassie who gained her Business Administration Degree.

Among the many friends and family who came to Eads for the funeral services for Marvin Templer were Amber (Liebl) Kinnaman and Erin and Fisher from Lincoln, Nebraska. We were tickled to see Erin and Fisher running into Just Betty’s for supper with their cousins and uncle and aunt, Jay and Duff Haase the other night. They were our little neighbors, whom we really enjoyed watching play in the backyard.

Next Monday evening, June 28^th, 4-H members will be competing in the Creative Cook and Demonstration and Illustrated talk contests out at the community building. The public is invited to watch.

Hallie (Barlow) Fowler and her assistants have been adding to the attractive outdoor appearance of the new Child Care Center at the Bransgrove Building. Pretty white pots of flowers which are painted with children’s handprints are outside on Maine Street. Milton Watt’s workers are replacing the old crumbling sidewalk for the Monday open house. The children tell us that it is a great place to be. I heard glowing reports of how really beautiful the whole building is now since the remodel.

Charles and Sis Howard have enjoyed having their daughter, Dr. Angela Howard, here for a week from her home near Houston, Texas. She is a professor at the University of Texas-Clearlake where she teaches women’s studies and historical research.

A number of Eads senior citizens gathered at the Center Wednesday for their fried chicken monthly pot luck dinner and business meeting. President LaVerle Kelley said that people enjoyed hearing Jon Looney from Denver speak about AARP. Vern Harris and Bill Yohey reported on the Assisted Living plans.

L. G. and Phyllis Vanderwork of Eads were pleased to have their granddaughter, Stephanie and husband, Kevin Sewell and little girl, Chyanne, of Araphaoe come to bring their grill and serve up a great father’s day steak dinner. The Vanderwork’s daughter, Syliva and Joe Sheilds were here from Vilas to enjoy the family day also.

There were many relatives in town for the Blooding Reunion this weekend. Rosamond Pollreis and I surely enjoyed those who came up to see us. The Wissel girls, Lee and Maxine Blooding, Lila (Blooding) and husband, Rev. Doug May, Phil and Madonna Pollreis and their daughter and granddaughters and others came up to the Home. They had a good time and so did we.

The First Christian Church family led the Weisbrod chapel service Sunday. How nice to have eighth grader, Doug Weirich and seventh grader, Garrett Smith lead the hymns as Pam Weirich played the piano. The residents were glad to meet and hear the speaker, Superintendent Glenn Smith, who spoke on "The Grip of Grace". His wife, Tracy Smith is loved as the Home’s in-house beautician.

People in our neighborhood are delighted to have Keith and Melissa Orman back about town for a short time. They are having yard sales this Friday and Saturday and then will take off for their home in Eagle Point, Oregon.

Pastors Gary and DeEtta Goettel and Arêta Laird were the delegates for the United Methodist annual conference last week. They were glad to visit with former Pastor Kay and Rich Marsh.

Parents are welcomed to bring their children ages, 4 to 12 to the 5-Day Bible Club at our home on 305 E. 13^th Street Monday through Friday at 9-10 a.m. next week.

When I read the poem sent to the editor by Betty Jacobs last week about how soldiers need and want letter, made me (Doris) cry too. I am very grateful to people who have given our Vacation Bible School mission items for the boxes of foods and personal needs we hope to mail to some soldiers. Yes, and how nice of those who said they would give money for us to buy foods or supplies. Please, I hope more people will feel moved to help or send your own letters to our young men and women. We have several soldiers in the military from Kiowa County. A letter only costs 37 cents and a little of your time.