About Town

By Ida and Doris Lessenden

August 27, 2004

Floyd and Billie Cordova and their family hosted a large Mexican food supper and wedding reception at the Haswell Community Building for their son, Julian C. Cordova, and his bride, Jamie Toler, Saturday evening. J. C. and Jamie were married last winter in Korea where they were both stationed in the Army. Jamie is from Newburn, North Carolina, and was pleased that her classmate, Robert, who is a student at the Air Force Academy came to the reception. Floyd’s family had seven brothers and seven sisters and 10 of the remaining twelve were here along with many nephews and nieces from all over the country. Monday was an emotional day for the family because the bridal couple left for their next station in Sierra Vista, Arizona and Floyd went to Colorado Springs Memorial Hospital to get a heart pacer. I am glad to report that Floyd looks much better than when I visited last February and March in the Eads Hospital. Billie said some of their family stayed at the Eads Econo Lodge and were pleased with the wonderful new furnishings and accommodations at the motel.

Shealynn McCracken and Grandma Lois were in Lamar last week visiting Aunt Weltha and Uncle Elden and Aunt Glendoris and also went to the fair.

Dorothy Lyon has been a happy grandmother this summer and busy too. Her granddaughter, Destiny Lyon married C. J. Filbeck and her granddaughter, Marla Gwinn married Tim Rassmussen. Both couples live in Eads and we do wish them happy lives together. Both young ladies are employed at the Weisbrod Hospital District so we are pleased to get to see them often.

Marie Lang was in the La Junta Medical Center for a while and chose to come back to Eads to recuperate from her terrible fall which severely injured her shoulder and arm. She is glad to have her friends come by to help her with her needs since her arm is immobile uncomfortably wired together.

Word was received that Pete Hoepner, former Eads grad, is battling cancer in Thailand. He chose to live there after he retired from teaching. He needs the prayers of his friends here as he takes treatments for brain cancer. His address is Pete Hoepner, 20 Nimmenhamin, Soi 3 Chaing Mae, 53200 Thailand.

In observance of Andrew McCracken’s birthday, guests in the Lois McCracken home for Sunday dinner were Mr. and Mrs. Andrew McCracken and family, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Walker, Kenneth McCracken and Vivian Gifford.

Burrell (Henry) Wissel and Mildred (Millie) Bourne were the Silver King and Silver Queen candidates from the Eads Nursing Home who participated in the Arkansas Valley Court Contest. Burrell was pleased to see his Air Force recruiter friend there and to be given an Air Force cap and other gifts. Later he hopes to go to an Air Force Academy football game. We have been interested to hear about Burrell’s World War II experiences as we sit out on the veranda. Millie was the runner-up in the Queen Contest, so she too received gifts and a beautiful blue plaque with a silver queen statuette. When Millie was asked where she would like to take a dream trip, she said, "I don’t know, I traveled a lot in the nation and the world, why I was even baptized in the River Jordan where Jesus was baptized." Her helpers in filling out the application said…Why don’t you say, "go to Cripple Creek to play the nickel machine." It sounds as if this will be where she will meet some of her family and friends someday soon. Mildred was a teacher for many years in Las Animas and her home town of McClave. People love visiting with this cheerful lady who keeps us entertained by telling jokes and stories.

Janie and Joe Bush entertained ladies from Lamar, Kit Carson, and Eads at their ranch home with a luncheon for the Red Hat Purple Dress Society Saturday the 21^st. They served their famous brisket with sauce, peanut coleslaw, potato salad, and chili brown beans. Each lady received a large handmade purple and red glittered favor of a high heel shoe, a hat with feathers and jewels on an elegant stand that Janie had created. After the luncheon, the ladies met at Our Place Restaurant meeting room in Eads to plan their float for the county parade.

The Artists of the Plains members have had several meetings lately to plan details for the regional Art Show during the Kiowa County Fair and the weeks following. People who want to enter art pieces could call Lill Penn, Jo Shoemaker, Sandie Jones, Bonnie or Dwight Lessenden, Phyllis McDaniel, or Gerard Bachand or any other member for more details.

It was good to hear that Beatle and Sharon Koch are safe in their home in Florida after the devastating hurricane near where they live.

We were so glad to see that more people are cutting tall weeds and their lawns about town as we road in the carriage that Bob Howerton made for the Weisbrod residents. Some people are cutting the weeds where people don’t even live. This is will be great for our town’s appearance during the county fair.

Pastor John Kurth of the Las Animas Lutheran Church visited Hazel Spady and Ida Lessenden Sunday afternoon.

Friday evening supper was enjoyed in the Lois McCracken home by Mr. and Mrs. Andrew McCracken and family, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Walker and Luther Vocke.

Latisha Robinson of Wild Horse surely felt a little more at home when she was moving into the dorm at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs to be greeted by Rob Miller of Eads who is a senior at UCCS. Rob was working in his role on the staff.

Chad Lyon, son of David Lyon of Eads, visited relatives and friends about town last week. Chad and his wife, Jenna, are both in the Air Force. They were moving from their base in Florida to a base at Salt Lake City, Utah. Darrell and Jodi Stolzenberger hosted a cook out at their home for some of Chad’s family and friends.

Cleo Everman was glad to have Betty Crow bring her a big beautiful red rose from her garden. This surely has brightened Cleo’s days while she is not feeling well.

Matea Mayo, Eads sophomore and Brandy Turrcotte, Eads freshman, were Kiowa County’s models in the Colorado State 4-H Fashion show at Colorado State University in Pueblo Saturday night. Matea in her white Capri’s and shirt that she decorated and Brandy in her white skirt and shirt that she decorated in appliqué chartreuse fabric were lovely representatives from our county. There were many friends and family members there to support the girls. Pam and Dally Lessenden gave me a descriptive account of other stunning garments. Our own Extension Agent, Kaye Kasza , was in charge of the State Show.

What fun the Saturday morning County Market at the park was! I stocked up on toys from the Ullman kids and wonderful baked goods from Trudy Briggs, the Larrew ladies, gladiolas from Dorothy Ellicott for ladies at Weisbrod and vegetables from Kelly Lindholm, Linda Eder, and the Ellicotts.

Bill and Linda Trosper and sons, Ryan and Timy, have helped their son, Matt, and wife, Dana, move from Oklahoma to Limon, Colorado, recently. Matt will be teaching social studies and coaching at Agate and his wife will be working in the Limon bank. Matt has been teaching for six years in Gallop, New Mexico, so the family is glad to have them nearer.

Friends of Rosa Shrammel of Box 247, Kit Carson, CO 80825 and Ida Lessenden of Box 817, Eads, CO 81036 are invited to send them birthday cards on their 90^th and 92^nd birthdays, respectively. Rosa and Ida’s parents, the Schrammels and the Pollreis’ immigrated to America from Gols, Austria, in the 1890’s.

School was in session Monday the 23rd. The teens and children I talked to were quite excited to be back in full swing. Education is so very important. We as citizens, wherever we live need to do everything we can to be supportive of our students, our teachers, sponsors and coaches, administration, custodians, and school boards.

The rains surprised many of us Sunday night. I was concerned for my friend, Betty Shotton, who has been having flooding in her basement this summer. Since it was really pouring in Haswell, she was relieved that it skirted her home south of Galatea.

There are usually not very many cars around Weisbrod at l:30 p.m. on Sundays at all, but this week, there were lots and lots of cars, mostly from Bent and Prowers. They were relatives and friends of Mildred Bourne who came to celebrate her 92^nd birthday. Her daughters from Denver and Florida served an elegant cake with ice cream and punch. She was delighted to have so many people who are dear to her come for this special day with cards, roses, and joyful hugs.

Joyce Warne has been glad to have her son, Chuck and wife Bridgette, and three sons here from Colorado Springs to help her move Bermuda grass from her parent’s home (Harvey and Clara Hollis) on 13^th and Rittgers out to her country home. Joyce enjoys her horses a lot and has taken a wonderful horse pack-in trip into the Colorado wilderness this summer.

The Eads Class of 1960 had a Reunion in Denver Friday through Sunday. Linda Graham Heil and Joyce Barber Wheeler organized the wonderful three day get together at the Hampton Inn where 12 of the classmates and some family members met. They spent hours and hours visiting and dining out and then attended the Rockies Baseball game on Sunday. Cardon and Joyce Berry attended from Eads.