About Town

By Ida and Doris Lessenden

July 30, 2004

Happy 80^th birthday to Margaret Frazee who celebrated with family and friends at the court house Saturday, July 24. Her sons, Forrest, Dr. Denny, and Rob, and their wives hosted the affair. Her daughter-in-law, Sharon, cooked a grand meal for the guests. Margaret told me that she was happy to have most all her grandchildren here plus her brother, Robert, and wife, Linda Patton from El Rena, Oklahoma. Margaret’s sister, Betty Holthus and her son, Barry, and daughter, Shelly (Holthus) Kotes and family were here from Denver. Her brother-in-law, Merle, of Galatea and his son, Larry and Arnitha from Oklahoma came as well as their son, Dr. Tyler and Mrs. Frazee. Tyler graduated from Veterinary College this summer. Her sister-in-law, Betty Frazee, of Eads and her son, Steve and his grandson came also. Margaret was pleased to have her long-time lady friends, Vi Koch, Betty Crow, and Delores Rector enjoy the day with her and her family.

Our community is very happy to welcome Dr. Bilah Ahmad’s wife, Deeba, who has recently moved here from Kashmir. The young couple is at home on Luther Street. Dr. Ahmad works mostly in the Wiley Clinic for the Weisbrod Hospital District.

Alice Glover, and her sister, Mary Hood of Pueblo, and sister, Barbara, and husband, Don Smith of Colorado Springs went on a four day road trip to see many sights on the western slopes of Colorado. The Smiths recently celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary. At one time they lived in Sheridan Lake when Don was a postmaster.

The Prairie Queen 4-H Club had their tour to member’s homes Sunday. After they had a business meeting chaired by Milly Spady, more members gave demonstrations. It was the first time in many years that they couldn’t picnic out in Dwight and Bonnie Lessenden’s beautiful yard. But this year, July was just too cold to meet outside.

Many locals and folks from other towns are frequenting the Community Market at the Eads City Park on Saturday mornings between 9 and 11:00 a.m. The Larrew ladies have their wonderful baked goods there, Linda Hopkins has interesting products, and Linda Eder has fresh fruits and other goods to offer. Mattea Mayo and the Morlan family had quite a truck load of a variety of vegetables and fruits. Other people may have had tables too, but I didn’t get to see all that was there because of all the cars and people.

George and Dorothy Ellicott have many pumpkins, squashes, root vegetables and other good looking garden products. Many of the Prairie Queen 4-H families were amazed to see all varieties of garden plants they have in their little truck patch. They told me that he doesn’t even have weeds.

A lot of Eads middle school and senior high girls had aching muscles last week after their volleyball camp in Eads. Then early Friday morning a number of players took off with their coach, Mindy Krentz, to the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque for a volleyball camp. I was glad that they could experience that lovely state.

Last week I had the pleasure to meet the Mr. Skinner, who Curtis Schimp often writes about in his Wild Horse Round-up column in the Press. It turns out that he is an artisan. He was setting up a new display of beautiful belt buckles and bolos made of lovely woods decorated mostly with western motifs in the Kit Carson Tuesday Shop. However, there was one buckle with a John Deere tractor on it. I immediately thought of Jason Weirich, I must tell his mother, Pam.

George Ellicott brought a copy from the Imperial Republican with a photo story on their son, Justin, who coaches Livestock Judging in Nebraska. His intermediate team placed second in a two day event at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Justin’s son, Tanner, garnered individual honors from the contest with top honors of a 540 score and placed first in beef, second in swine and fourth place in reasons in the intermediate division.

After an appointment in La Junta last Friday, Robin Musgrave and I went to Bent’s Fort for a tour. If readers haven’t been there, it is really an educational experience that brings to mind a lot of imaginations of what life might have been like over 150 years ago or so.

Alice Glover was glad to have her grandson, Troy Dunlap, from Denver, visit about 10 days and her granddaughter, Ashlynn Miner, visit about three days from Gruver, Texas.

The Kiowa County Fair Board met this week to make more plans for the county fair September 8^th to 11^th. So this is a reminder, right now for people to be thinking about, "What could I exhibit or do, to make the county fair better?" Maybe art work, or field crops, grasses, flowers, baked goods, or hand crafts, animals, or a huge variety of other entry categories. There are open class age groups for children and youths. It may take a little more time for the parents, but it is such a thrill for the kids or adults to see their exhibits on display at the fair, win or lose.

The Under 15 year old boys and their families returned from the State play-offs at Gunnison late Sunday nights. They report having had a good time even though it was cold and damp at times.

A number of ladies met at Our Place Restaurant for the Weisbrod Auxiliary meeting last Tuesday. It was very nice to meet the new Administrator Warren Yule, who came from the Akron area. He and his wife, Opal, have five grown children. Their youngest son, just graduated from high school. They are excited about this new season in their lives. As soon as they can sell their home in Akron, they will be moving to Eads and are currently looking for a home here.

Faye Barber and Annie Cole made the long drive to Springfield to represent Kiowa County at the Area on the Aging Council last Tuesday. The ladies say that when the "blue books" come out, it would be wise to study the Tabor Amendment and Proposition 23 if they get on the ballot. Another part of Faye’s volunteer jobs is to serve on the Assessment Committee. Monday, she went to Lamar where they evaluated two facilities to see how the money that is allocated is being spent.

Last Wednesday about 36 Eads Senior Citizens met at the Center at noon for an in-door picnic of hamburgers and hot dogs that Jo Shoemaker cooked outside. Next Thursday, August 5^th at 6:00 p.m., senior citizens are invited to the evening pot luck supper and are welcome to stay to play cards.

Congratulations to Barry Holthus who has recently graduated with a four year university degree in Accounting.. He has been working for a number of years for a hospital in Denver all the while taking college courses. He is now a senior accountant.

As Nancy Walker was walking out of Weisbrod Sunday afternoon, I thanked her for coming to play the piano again. She said, "My grandparents taught me the importance of visiting at Nursing Homes". That would be those dear people, Mr. and Mrs. Claude Frost formerly of Towner.

We have been blessed with a lot of rain during the last week. Thursday evening I drove to Haswell to my great nieces, Dally Jo’s, 13^th birthday party. Usually we have a cook out at their home, but that sudden very windy rain storm came up so we went inside. Reports were that the rain was wide-spread throughout southeastern Colorado.