About Town

By Ida and Doris Lessenden

November 19, 2004

Colette Wright and her husband came from near Colorado Springs to show Red Cross display boards and many informative booklets at the FBLA Dinner last Tuesday evening. Colette spoke about her experiences as a volunteer for many years with the Red Cross. She was one of the people from across the nation who went to Florida to help with the hurricane disaster. Her slide show illustrated some terrible scenes property damage and trials of the people. She said that it is rather incomprehensible to realize the devastation unless you can actually be there to see and hear and smell the problems people are trying to deal with. Elaine Lindholm, Kiowa County Emergency Management coordinator, told the large crowd of diners that Police Captain Chad Ray from our county is the Emergency Management Officer. Colorado state officials asked him to fly with others from the state to Alabama to assist disaster victims after the hurricane hit there this fall. Later the volunteers drove to Florida to help out. She said, "Chad is interesting to talk with people about what he saw in those states."

We commend Shannon Ellenberger, Business Education Teacher, at Eads High School and her FBLA students who served the baked potato dinner last Tuesday evening. 75% of the proceeds were donated to help with Red Cross funds for the hurricane disasters in the USA Southern states. After the dinner some folks stayed to play Bingo hosted by the Lions Club.

Elaine Lindholm who is the Kiowa County Emergency Management coordinator explained her new role and job. This fall she has taught lessons to some juniors and seniors in Mr. Tinnes’ Civics classes. The students who met on Friday completed the practical tests on how to survive a disaster by using emergency response techniques were awarded certificates on the stage at the FBLA-Red Cross dinner. Those youth who now have their SERT (Student Emergency Response Trainee) certificates and cards are: Rachel R. Buck, Joe Andrew Bush, Kyla Cole, Josh Fry, Alyssa Hadley, Kelly Lindholm, Jennifer Lynn, A. J. McCracken, Sarah McCoin, Stephanie Noska, Delma Ramos, Jennie Richards, Karissa Sicklebower, and Alyssa Uhland. Elaine said that 5 or 6 more students will be able to earn their cards when they have finished the testing. Lance Jagers as a Fireman and Euince Weber, the EMS director also volunteered time for the fire extinguishing, first aid, and CPR lessons as part of the 9 day training.

According to the conductor of the Community Cantata, she and the choir were pleased to have even more people than expected come for the first practice. It is not too late, the leaders told me, "If you can moan, groan, whistle, or sing and are under the age of 91," you are welcome to practice with the choir at 2:00 p.m. on Sundays (Nov. 21, 28, and Dec. 5^th and 12^th) the joyous Handel’s Messiah Cantata.

We remind readers of the 25^th annual Christmas Bazaar for the benefit of the Kiowa County Hospital and Nursing Home on Saturday, November 20^th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the community building. Individual vendors will have goods and goodies for sale as well as the WIFE Club will have fine lunches and pies throughout the day. There are many gifts already donated for the door prizes. Auxiliary members have tickets or one can buy them the day of the Bazaar.

Tim and Sylvia Weeks, June Blooding, Mary Eikner, June and Bonnie Weeks, Grady Weeks, and Shalyn Laird traveled to Torrington, Wyoming, to see the performances of "Nunsense". Tim and Sylvia’s daughter, Shelby Bennett, was an actress and singer playing the part of Sister Mary Hubert. Shelby sang in several musical stage plays when Bob Seay directed them in Eads in the l990’s.

Delisa Weeks, Domestic Safety Resource Board member for our five county area and Captain Chad Ray, Kiowa County police forces, were delegates to the annual COVA (Colorado Victims Assistance) conference in Keystone. They attended such workshops on how to deal with homicides, death notification, domestic abuse, meth labs, drugs, and sexual assault. Delisa said that the "Deana Griswould Memorial COVA Award" was given again this year. Deana was Delisa’s classmate and my niece so this award in memory of Deana’s life work means a lot to us.

Tommy LeGrand formerly of Eads was married to Tina Beauvois, in the Nazarene Church in Rocky Ford last Saturday. His mother, Martina, and sister, Elaine Lindholm and family of Eads and other family members from around the state attended the ceremony. Martina called me to say that her husband's niece, Margaret Danner, drove all the way from Dubuque, Iowa, by herself to the wedding. Martina said, "I just think it is awesome because she is in a wheelchair and drives a van with hand controls." Martina was glad to meet Tina's mother who came from the country of France for her daughter's wedding.

Mrs. Etheldean Bell will be celebrating her 97^th birthday, November 27^th. Friends may send cards to her at 501 Cove Lane, Fort Morgan, CO 80701; Mrs. Bell was a much loved and respected Eads English teacher in the 1960’s.

Charlotte Phillips of Eads is recuperating at home from two complete knee replacements. Bless her heart; she is trying to work on many of her Social Services responsibilities at home. This reminds us to tell you that this is the time of year when so many gifts and food are needed to pack in Christmas boxes for families in our county. We are asking readers to please take gifts, canned foods, or send money gifts to the Social Services office on Maine Street. This would be so appreciated.

The annual Family and Friends of the Eads Nursing Home Thanksgiving Dinner was held at the Community Building last Sunday will a large crowd attending. Marvin Yule, the Hospital Administrator, gave a warm welcome, introduced his family and complimented Mona Walker and her wonderful dietary staff on the fine meal. The residents were wearing fresh carnation corsages and boutonnières that were donated by Teresa Witte. The guests sat at beautifully decorated tables where many centerpieces were loaned also by Teresa. Phil Pollreis of Wiley provided the dinner music while his wife, Madonna, sat with his mother, Rosamond, who is also a resident of the Weisbrod Nursing Home. Rhonda Krueger and Tonya Lane of the activity department were grateful for the help of some FFA members who helped them set up the hall on Saturday.

The Eads and Plainview juniors and seniors went to the College Fair at the Lamar Community Building last Thursday. I was pleased to be greeted by Sommer Lang who is one of the Lamar High School Counselors who hosted the Fair. Sommer is the granddaughter of Marie Lang and Phyllis and Bill Barlow of Eads.

Many families headed to Cheyenne Wells Monday afternoon for the final games in the Knights of Columbus Basketball Tournament where the "A" girls won1st place and the boys "A" and the girls "B" placed fourth.

A number of families bought books by Debbie Dadey, at the Eads Book Fair. It was a pleasure for the youth because the authoress, Debbie Dadey, was right here in Eads Monday the 15^th to autograph those books.

Our family enjoyed two birthday parties last week for two of our younger great grandchildren, Blake Stoker and Marisa Dixon.

We ask you to circle your calendar for November 30^th so that you can plan to give your blood at the Belle Bonfils Blood Drive, For an appointment you may call Linda Trosper at (719) 438-5777 or Rachel R. Buck at Eads High School or home for an appointment.

I heard that helicopter over Eads the morning of November 4^th and wondered if there was a Flight for Life happening. After visiting with Eunice Weber and then reading her article in the Press, I understand that now people can have a choice of being flown to St. Mary’s Corwin Medical Center in Pueblo or to Denver or Colorado Springs. There was a large gathering of medical personnel who met at the courthouse Saturday the 13^th to be up-dated or certified for this new venture.

We had a letter from Karl and Mary Anne Koch with the address of their grandson, Greg Koch. Greg has been a helicopter pilot in Iraq for over 6 months. His base is in Samarra northeast of Baghdad. Naturally the attacks on Fallujah are a concern for his family and friends. Here is his address: CW3 Greg Koch, D Trp ¼ Cav, lst Inf. Div. Operation Iraqi Freedom APO AE 09392.

Happy Thanksgiving week to come. Why not join your fellow citizens at a Thanksgiving Service in the community where you live? Two services that we know of are: Sunday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m. at the Eads Christian Church hosted by the Kiowa County Ministerial Alliance or Wednesday, November 24^th at 10:00 a.m. at the Kit Carson Trinity Lutheran Church.

"When you stop changing, you stop growing"…..Richard De Haan