“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:4

Congratulations of Heath and Jaylin Spady who were married at the Haswell Methodist Church Saturday, June 24, with family members attending. In the evening they hosted a reception at their ranch home with extended family and many friends coming to enjoy cake and refreshments in an outdoor decorated area. It was a pleasant evening to dance or visit while listening to the music of Dee-jay, Darwin Nelson.

Arabella Anne was born on June 14 in Lamar. She is the daughter of Vincent and Victoria Koeller of Sheridan Lake. Vincent is an educator and farmer. Congratulations to their family and her grandparents, Marvin and Gail Koeller of Sheridan Lake. I remember going to their wedding in Lamar when they rode or were pulled on a trailer by a big green tractor out to the reception from the Catholic Church to the Elks Club.

Elda Stavely enjoyed having her families and friends from the Haswell area come to celebrate her 90^th birthday with her at the Rocky Ford Assisted Living Home. Elda’s daughter, Franci Cain, always arranges such pretty parties for her mother. Wanda Lessenden took Colby Stoker and Katie Johnson to the party. Elda was delighted and surprised to see these young girls who had grown so much since they visited her in her Haswell home.

4-H’ers in the three-county area who are enrolled in projects that could be modeled which they will show in a fashion show. This contest will be in the Plains Theatre on July 13 at 6:00 p.m. It has quite classy to watch last year in the lovely theatre.

The Haswell Propane Shop and Collectable shop is stocked up with foods and drinks for the harvesters and travelers who come through. They have good visits with the bicyclists who stop for a cool place to be and refreshing foods.

Jennifer (Rittgers) Schofield’s friends are hosting the movie “Cars 3” July 14 to 16 to earn money to help her cover the costs of having cancer treatments, travel, and other expenses such as caring for her teenage children. If you cannot go to this movie to support Jennifer and would like to donate to her cause, maybe you could donate the cost you would spend if you went to the movie. Two ladies, Janelle Crow and Charlene Gifford, would be happy to receive your donation for Jennifer.

Congratulations to Dr. Vance Cole formerly of Chivington-Eads who has opened the La Junta Chiropractic Office. We do wish him the best in his business. I have known for years that if a person has a monthly check with a chiropractor they will be able to maintain better health. Vance was active in 4-H and in the Eads FFA program when he was at Eads High School. His parents, Rod and Pam, still continue to be strong supporters of the FFA program.

July 29 is a big day in Eads America. It is the place to be to see the Main Street Crash Derby, participate or watch the golf tournament, watch or run in the Maine Street 5K Color Dash to benefit the Prairie Pines Assisted Living Center, to watch and listen to local bands and singers during the day and night.  The band, JUDI, out of Lamar will highlight the night.  The CLCEC, Crow Luther group will have lots of vendors along the middle of Maine Street for people to come and go during the day and night. If you are thinking of being a vendor, contact CLCEC for cost. This is all taking place between 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 pm. There is no admission for this fun day. I just heard yesterday that the 4-H’ers plan to have a concession stand plus the Maine Scoop and Charlie’s Kitchen will be open on Maine Street.

Charlotte Woelk kindly brought Ellen M. Simmons’ funeral folder to me since I couldn’t attend. I read that two pastors, Tony Jensen and Paul Floyd, officiated the service and Charlotte played the piano for the four hymns that the Blooding sisters sang, Areta Laird, Mary Eikner, and Sylvia Weeks. Ellen’s favorite Psalm was 91:1-11. I particularly like verse 11: “For He (God) shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways.” This is the verse I pray or repeat when my friends or family or I am traveling.

Shannon (Barlow) Ellenberger, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) sponsor, traveled last week with her students to Anaheim, California, to the National FBLA Convention. The young ladies who were competing were Lauren Brown, Kaycee Ellenberger, and Emily Guyrman.

Molly Stolzenberger, a junior at Eads High, has the chance of a life time last week to fly to Washington, D.C.  She was chosen to be in the Colorado delegation to attend the Summer National 4-H Convention where she will attend seminars and have many tours of our nation’s capital. Her brother, Chase, is in Montana with his uncle and aunt, Brett and Stephanie Rusher, and learning about managing a buffalo and horse ranch

One of the more popular 4-H projects is “shooting sports.” July 1, Extension Agent Jeramy McNeeley, took several 4-H’ers to La Junta for workshops and practice on various types of shooting related to shooting guns and bows and arrows.

Jeff Campbell most often writes about accounts of the west and history related to the Native Americans; however, his recent essay on “Teach Them Well” was outstanding. I thought, “Well I agree with that!” “That is the truth!” Campbell pointed out flaws in many of our educational systems and ways that we communicate.  I certainly do agree with this former educator and police man that we need a return to more oral communication and interactive ways of learning subject matter. Years ago, I learned that people learn in different ways, so parents need to know how their child learns the best.  It is just like in an art class when a person says or thinks, “I can’t draw,” or “I can’t even draw a straight line.” My response is “you just need to be trained.” There are some students who are born with natural talent. It is innate, like the talent of Kelly Lujan in Albuquerque, or of Amy Nordquist in Colorado Springs, or Allison Hollis in Eads. However, with encouragement and training, many others in our community have created pleasing works of art that has given them and their families a lot of pleasure and satisfaction. There is value in the fine arts. That is why many schools require at least a semester of art class or band or choral music.