About Town

By Ida and Doris I. Lessenden

October 22, 2004

The Old Fashioned Sing-A-Long at the Eads United Methodist Church was indeed wonderful and joyful Sunday evening with the Pastors from seven of the county churches attending. Philomene Liesen and Jimmy Brown played the piano and organ for most of the selections. I liked best, the prelude: "To God Be the Glory". The Musical Moms, Juanita Noska, Pam Crow, Sue Ramsay, Nancy Walker, Gail Voss, Dawn James, Diana Billheimer, Wendy Lott, Mary Eikner, Linda Eder, Sandy Jones, Kathy McCracken, Arêta Laird, Laura Negley, Donna Owens, and Sylvia Weeks were so outstanding. They were attired in black and white with glittery cummerbunds and matching glitter fabric neck-pieces. They sang harmonious selections and led the sing-a-long hymns which we could read on the overhead screen that was donated in memory of Tommy Liesen. People were blest to hear Gloria Peck and Sue Ramsay play their accordions accompanied by Gary Liesen on the guitar. The Kings Kids choir was a blessing also. It was all splendid.

FCE members traveled to Springfield last Wednesday for the Family Community and Education District meeting hosted by Baca County. Carla Gifford took us, Sis Howard, Kaye Kazsa, Nola Engstrom, Margie Wiltfang, the District Director, and me on the county bus. This was the last meeting of the Family Community Education Clubs. Ladies from Bent, Prowers, Kiowa, Otero, and Baca have been enjoying lessons, meetings, and fellowship for over 60 years. Another era has closed which is regretful, but times are changing.

Student Council Advisor, Dorie Musgrave, took Sanket Merchant, Tyler, McCracken,, and Matt Seay to the Annual Fall STUCO Leadership Conference on the Colorado State University-Fort Collins campus last week.

I want to add Vance Cole’s name to the slate of Eads officers who attended the State FFA Advanced Leadership Development Training Conference in Colorado Springs October 9^th and 10^th.

Phyllis and L. G. Vanderwork were pleased to have Gayle and Mavis Gaither of Moses Lake, Washington, and Doris Price of Kit Carson, visit them on Thursday. Gayle is the nephew of Doris and Phyllis. On Saturday, Diana Myer and her daughter-in-law, from Moline, Illinois came for dinner also. The Vanderworks enjoy visits from their daughter, Sylvia, and her family most every week in their Eads home.

Loretta Seibel tells me that the next Red Hatter Society meeting will be at 10:30 a.m. at Our Place dining room, Saturday October 30^th. My sister brought me such a cute purple bird with a red hat from Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It can be a tree decoration, but I have it hung so I can enjoy it all year.

Maxine Mays’s nephew, Gary Kasza, drove here from Lake Oswego, near Portland, Oregon, to visit her. He brought his niece, Jo Romero, from Pueblo and his niece and husband, from Fowler, John and Cindy Blake. They drove on to McClave to see his cousin, Willard Kazsa. They also drove around to try to locate Grandma Kazsa’s homestead southwest of Eads. Gary is interested in his family’s history.

Ula Robertson’s family is having a 95^th birthday party celebration for her October 23^rd at the Strasburg American Legion Hall. Ula is a dear friend to many people in Kiowa County since she formerly lived on a ranch northwest of Arlington.

Our sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Jim Adamson of Lamar who formerly lived in and around Eads and Chivington. Jim was in the military for many years and later worked around southeastern Colorado. His wife, Doris, and her mother, from Germany were always such a delight to visit with. Jim’s relatives and friends went to his services on Tuesday in Lamar.

After a pot luck dinner at Trinity Lutheran Church Sunday, we hosted Lou and Anita Boette, of the Denver area to tell us about the "Orphan Grain Train" mission. People can donate desperately needed materials (medical supplies, food stuffs, clothing, quilts, Bible materials, or money) that will be sorted and shipped to people in crisis in the United States and some parts of the world. Our church community will be donating more items to be taken to Julesburg where they are sent to the Nebraska headquarters. If anyone would like to donate goods or money they can contact me or Charles and Sis Howard or several other Eads families who attend the Kit Carson church.

The annual Haswell Fish Fry picnic was Sunday afternoon at the park. Paul Stoker, fishes at Blue Lake to furnish the fish as a "Thank You" for the community support of the Haswell Propane & Fuel Company. My mother, Ida, was thrilled to get to go to see the people from my van and she loves Paul’s fish. We had a nice visit with Marsha and Pam Mousel. They and Kent and Brent Stoker brought Joe Schmitt down for the day. We drove around to see her granddaughter, Glenda, and Paul’s yard and visited grandson, Shane, in the yard where Dally and Shaner told her about their goats and sheep. We returned by our country home and noticed wonderful green wheat and drying sunflowers fields. After the rains, Kiowa County is more colorful. We are thankful.

We extend our sympathy to the family of Chet Mast who died suddenly. Chet lived in Eads and drove to Lamar for many years where he was proud to be an employee at the Neoplan Bus Plant. Chet liked to visit friends at one of the local cafes over coffee.

Wayne Singer had a grand time in Washington, D. C. with his three brothers, Vern, Bill, and Larry. They toured the city, monuments, subway, Gettysburg, and other historic sites. Wayne said all that "walking certainly helped heal my body more quickly after my quadruple heart by-pass surgery on August 13^th. I enjoyed every second of it, but I am glad that I live in Eads, Colorado."

Sophomores at Eads took the PLAN test, designed by the ACT (American College Test) last week on Tuesday while the Juniors took the PSAT test (Pre-Scholastic Aptitude Test). We are grateful to Test Coordinator, Sue Fox, and the School Board for making this possible. These tests are a vital factor in preparing our youth for the college systems.

Haley Gibbs of Haswell was married to Jason Reedy of Lamar Saturday in Eads. It was a big, lovely wedding with lots of family and friends in attendance. The gowns and colors were in mellow blue and yellow. Haley’s great aunt, Janet McKnight, made beautiful boutonnières, corsages, and floral arrangements. Guests were welcomed to a reception and dance at the American Legion Hall.

Ginger Larrew and Dony McPherson were married Saturday at St. Frances De Sales Catholic Church in Lamar and then greeted guests at a reception dinner and dance at the Eads Community Building. It was such a heartwarming time to see friends and family there. Ginger’s mother is well known as a cake decorator and I must say that Fran created one of the most beautiful cakes I have seen. Teresa Witte arranged the beautiful burgundy rose corsages and boutonnieres and family friends kept the food tables well supplied for the party.

Family members have been here to visit Zelda and Carl Peterson. Carl has been very sick. His granddaughter, Kathy, and son, Peyton, drove up from Arizona to visit them.

Betty Shotton called me from Oklahoma Monday morning to talk about the amendments. I will be glad to hear better explanations about them Saturday night October 23 at the Republican dinner in Eads. Betty recently took two of her grandchildren, Shawna and Bryon Shotton, who are university graduates to Israel to "The Feast of Tabernacles" celebration. They also had many tours of the Holy Land and marched in the celebration parade with 4,000 people from 70 countries. They spent a wonderful day with Liz Hulteen formerly of Eads. Liz serves in the city of Jerusalem in charitable work for people in need. Betty said "It was a glorious trip". You can be sure she has made some wonderful memories for her grandchildren.

Charlie and Leanna Collins had a surprise visit from his brother, Alvin and wife who brought Charlie’s mother from Arkansas to see her son. Charlie is doing better while he recuperates at home.