“You shall love your neighbors as yourself.”   Leviticus 19: 18b

This is Homecoming Week at Eads High School.  The Eads Eagle boulevard street has been painted with the motifs of eagle heads that the booster club ladies and volunteers painted the names of students on.  This week the students will have fun dressing in various theme styles.  The upper classes will dress in Stone Age, “80’s hair bands,” and idols while the freshmen will be “objects” Monday, vegetables Tuesday, and Wednesday, they will dress as a Sesame Street character. Thursday, it will be “spirit dress” day.  In the afternoon, the students will decorate their section of the gym and plan their skits for that night for the homecoming rally on the football field - weather permitting.   Each day they will have competitions to gain the title of “Class with Class” that will be announced at the half time of the football game.  The volleyball and football games for the middle school and high school will be with the Cheyenne Wells Tigers beginning at 3:00 p.m., with the high school football game beginning at 7:00 p.m.  The king and queen will be crowned at that time also.  These are our last league games, so let’s get up to the school to support our Eads Eagle teams!

Thursday evening, it was quite a sight to see kids who appeared to be “crawling” all around on various types of playground equipment at the elementary school.  Later, I learned that it was the high school FFA students having a “Harvest Party.” They were painting the equipment.  What a great idea!  

October 8, Pastor Russell Parker led the service designed by the pianist, Annetta Maxcy, for the chapel service at the Weisbrod Extended Care Unit.   The residents and some family members who come out do appreciate that one of the local pastors come to speak and visit each Sunday. Mr. Parker has been working with many actors and actress in the community who will present the stories in a series of rooms during the Judgement House on Sundays, October 22 and 29.  It is free, and the public is invited, in fact some youth groups from other towns have come and plan to come.

The Haswell senior citizens had a good time last week when they took a little trip to the Fort Wallace Museum.   It is a good thing when senior citizens continue to learn and grow in exploring.  

At the 4-H Banquet Hatch Nelson and Samantha Courkamp were named the “Outstanding 4-H members” and the “Friend of 4-H Award” was awarded to Mark and Michelle Nelson for their outstanding service.   The Administrative Assistant, Karen Jones, and 4-H Agent, Jeramy McNeeley, arranged the program so that each 4-H’er had individual recognition for their project and activity awards.   Some long time fans of 4-H like George Ellicott, Gloria Peck, Areta Laird, and I agreed that this was one of the better banquet programs in recent years.

Eads FFA’s traveled to spend a two-day weekend at the Hotel Elegante in Colorado Springs last week-end for the annual leadership conference. This is an event that the youth enjoy because it is both educational and entertaining in a really lovely setting.

I heard that the concert by the “Down East Boys” quartet at the Praise Community Church was really fine.  The group has been coming here for many years and do enjoy staying at Jimmy and Amanda Brown’s country home.

Thursday evening, we saw about 20 to 30 youth “crawling around on the play yard equipment.  It looked as if they were cleaning or painting the metal works.  When I asked I learned that they were painting the metal works.  Their FFA Advisor, Lindsy Todd leads and teaches these young people in many caring and innovative ways such as this “harvest party.”

Jack Gardner’s life was honored Friday, October 13, when a number of his friends and relatives gathered at the cemetery for his committal with his friend, Pastor Mark Imel of the First Christian Church officiating.  It was good to see some of his classmates from the Class of 1955 there as well as his grandchildren, Megan Herren, Chris Herren, and Nate Weirich, and daughter, Jackie.  Jack endeared himself to many people around Eads in his 79 years of friendships and operating businesses in Eads.   He was admired for his story telling and deep interest in the history of this county.

The FBLA and Student Council sponsored a Volleyball Tournament Saturday to earn some money for a new vending machine. I remembered in 1988 when we arranged our first treat machine, I wisely put Waylon King and Jimmy Brown in charge of stocking and the care of the machine and money.  They were good, like marshals, in managing the buying and filling of the foods and beverages.

The motels in Eads and Kit Carson have been getting some good business from all these men and women who are hunting antelope in the area.

At the Weisbrod Hospital and Nursing Home Auxiliary meeting last Tuesday, the members approved paying $125.00 to help with the $250.00 bill for the supplies to make the fabulous fall wreaths for each resident’s room.  They also heard a report from Linda Trosper about the Fall Bazaar that we are hosting November 18. Teri told us more about Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner November 12.  That afternoon, Linda and Delores Eikenberg hung up a beautiful hand quilted “flying goose” quilt in the Extended Care Unit.  This quilt was made by Carole Spady, daughter-in-law of the late Elk and Hazel Spady formerly of Haswell.  

Betty Crow, Barb Diel, LaVerle Kelley, Madonna Pollreis, and Loretta Seibel were volunteers from the Hospital Auxiliary who went to the ECU to play games with the residents last Tuesday.

Little Itzi Victoria Ramirez celebrated her eighth birthday Saturday afternoon with a host of friends and family in their home on Maine Street.   Her mother, Brenda, always has such lovely array of foods with a spectacular cake that we enjoy. Her father, Roberto, had a big job in anchoring the large piñata on the Australian willow tree in that brisk cold wind that blew in during the festive party.

Artist Shelly Meyers gets up early in the mornings to paint appropriate designs on many store front windows that are so pretty and heartwarming.  I notice that some owners ask her to incorporate a scripture in her designs.  Isn’t it wonderful how some people use their talents and gifts to benefit others?  What a fine woman Shelly is!

This is a beautiful fall.   When you drive to area towns one can see patches of green young wheat, fields of rust red maize and milo, lush green alfalfa, golden dried stalks of corn.  The Ellicott’s dahlias are large and so pretty as well as bushes of mums around town.  We are so blessed to live in eastern Colorado!