About Town

By Ida and Doris Lessenden

August 6, 2004

Lill Penn was so happy to have her daughter, Lisa and her daughter, Holly, come from Camarillo, California, to visit. She said, "They really had a ball". Lisa’s sisters, Sandra Jones and Deborah Immer live in Eads so it was a great visit for them too.

Faye Schmitt of Strasburg was feted with a wonderful birthday party at her sister, Ruth Miller’s home in Eads recently. Faye’s daughters, Marsha Mousel, Jodi Ritkowski, and Marlene Fields, and Faye’s granddaughter, Pam Mousel, brought the foods down for the luncheon. Other guests were Glaida Craven, Joe Schmitt, and Roger Mousel. The family is happy that Roger and Marsha’s son, Captain R. J. Mousel, is back from his tour of duty in Africa with the Marines.

Many family and friends of Dan and Evelyn Garner came for Dan’s funeral services Saturday afternoon at the United Methodist Church. Over the years Dan and Evelyn have endeared themselves to friends in farming, 4-H, Farm Bureau, from operating the bowling alley, the military friends, and other walks of life.

Several ladies with the Eads Assembly of God Ladies Missionary group had a garage sale at their property Saturday. The ladies were earning money to help with the building and furnishing of a women’s and children’s safe house where they can have care and rehabilitation. The ladies are going to have another "Yard Sale" this Saturday at the City Park community market. I saw three pretty young girls at the sale who turned out to be Deborah Immer’s granddaughters, Kayla, Sarah, and Emma. They have the lovely likeness of their mother, Carrie Miller who has been here from Denver also.

When it is a sunny day on Fridays, many residents of Weisbrod really look forward to taking a trailer ride. Bob Howerton, who constructed this wonderful carriage, took them on two rides last week and they thoroughly enjoyed their ride about town.

My mother, Ida, was pleased with their Meal of the Month at Weisbrod Thursday evening. When Mona Walker asked her "Do you want shrimp or fried chicken?" Ida’s reply was: "I like both". So the cooks gave her a little of both.

Last week when I was driving south of Haswell, I saw a mother doe and her twins climbing the embankment near the Haswell Westend Cemetery. That was a pretty sight. Drivers need to be on the watch out for deer and antelopes near roadways.

Tonya and Jason and three children were at the community market at the Eads City Park Saturday. They have about nine gardens in Kit Carson. Tonya says they plan to bring their vegetables, herbs, and other goods each Saturday to the community market. She is also looking for host homes for about 13 more students from China. If any readers are interested, I can contact her for you.

Friends of Gay and Mary Shafer were so amazed when they walked into the Haswell Post Office last Thursday. Guy had serious surgery on Wednesday, thinking he wouldn’t get out of the hospital till Friday but the next day, the nurse and doctor said, "You can go home, Guy." They even stopped on the way in Sugar City to have a Mexican food lunch. Now is he a miracle man or what?

Last Friday evening a group of Eads Senior Citizens went to La Junta to see the Picketwire performance of "The Little Shop of Horrors". I have always enjoyed the performances I have seen at the Theatre. Several years ago, Bob Seay, directed a group of Eads High School in the performance of this show. It was super.

Kiowa County 4-H members spent most of the day Monday at the Fairgrounds being interviewed by judges with their projects or getting ready for the evening fashion show which was hosted by the Prairie Queen Club. The stage setting was "Go Ape over 4-H". Some of us wondered what they would do with that theme. Actually it was quite unique and creative with about 16 toy gorillas, hanging around on stylized palm trees or forest ropes. The handsome young men, Brian James, as the narrator, Cardon Brandt, Jace Roberson, attired in tuxedo shirts and blue cumber buns and ties, were the escorts and Cody Fry giving the models fresh carnations lent a more formal touch to the show. Many people were very generous in their bids for the food action of foods exhibited that day. 4-H folks and supporters were very impressed with the large number of girls who modeled garments. In fact, for some years there have only been a few girls in the senior division, however, this year there were nine entries in the senior division where the coveted trip to the Colorado State Fair fashion show was won by Brandi Turrcott and Mattea Mayo. There were so many impressive and outstanding projects. No doubt soon the Extension Office will have a report on those winnings.

Best Wishes to Cindy Williams, the new manager of Our Place Restaurant, which reopened in Eads on Monday. She said, it was their first day and they had been so busy since morning. I talked to her about 9:00 p.m. and there were still 4-H families coming in for meals. She asked me the say for her, "Thank you, for your patience."

When we remember the "brownness" of the long winter and last summer, people are so thankful for the incredible greenness of our prairies. We thank God for the rain.

Last Thursday evening the First Christian Church in Eads hosted the Gateway Singers concert. Brother Clamp said, "Margaret and I count them among their favorite gospel singers" They were really fine, the musical equipment was not too loud and what I liked was that they sang many songs from the 60’s and 70’s as well as current popular gospel songs.

I went to help with the Cheyenne County 4-H fashion show last week. Their fair grounds are nearly all grass, cement, or bricks to walk or park on. It is just wonderful for mobility and dust control. Before we left town, we drove down their Main Street. I was pleased to see Jimmy and Amanda Brown’s new funeral home and was even more thrilled to see the large stone tablet of the 10 Commandments near the entrance doors.

"Happy Birthday" to our good –"South of Galatea friend", Betty Shotton. Her daughter-in-law, Connie Shotton, had planned a party for her but like some other parties, this summer, the rain detained some friends.

One of the best treats for a summer week is a cyclone from Just Betty’s in Eads. Last week I had peanut butter-chocolate. This week, my treat was a dish of that ice cream which was just as good.

College students are beginning to leave for the cities. Our neighbor, Steve Arth, took off Sunday for Golden. Those three neighbor boys have been dear to us. Steve is known to many folks as a clerk in the local Healthmart. Many Eads students and teachers are wondering how on earth they are going to get along without Steven’s wise counsel and fixing on the schools computers. He is indeed a marvel. I just found out that our other neighbor, Shawn Kraft, took off the same day for Golden too. Shawn and Steve are setting up apartment living and looking for jobs so they can attend Colorado School of Mines this fall.

I really do enjoy all the little children who come by my home this summer with tales of lizards, frogs, bobcats under bridges, new toys, baseball feats, and other stories. This is a great time for "kids to be kids".