“Many waters cannot quench love.” Song and Solomon 8:7

Colorado has had all too many wildfires in the beautiful Rocky Mountains, but when the fires started in the towns northwest of Denver near Boulder Thursday, the photos on the news were just too horrific for words. Wild winds were clocked at 105 miles per hour, so it was utterly impossible to contain the fires. What a blessing that snow began to fall Friday morning. Governor Polis stated that they had only had time to check homes from air planes before about 9:00 a.m. The authorities estimate that 500 to 1,000 homes and places of business may have been lost. In days to come we will know more. In the meantime, we Coloradoans and others can be praying for families, and we can help them by donating money to official organizations assisting the survivors. We who live out here on the plains may be wise to think about what we can do to protect our dwellings and possessions if such a disaster comes upon our communities.

The good news is that another Physician Assistant is coming to begin service at the Eads Medical Clinic this month. Abby Huff comes from Western Kentucky with a wide education and experiences in the medical field. She will be a great addition to join the clinic team and our other PA, Morgan King, who Is held in high regard by all those I have heard of going to her with concerns, including me. One can call the clinic at 719-438-2251 for an appointment. Tonya Lane, who is the Office Manager, usually answers the phone to set appointments. The public is invited to attend a welcoming reception at the Cobblestone Inn in Eads from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. January 10, to greet the two new Physician Assistants. May I also add that you could even go early or stay later to order good food from the Cobblestone menu. I favor their thick crust Breckenridge pizza when I dine there.

Lives of people in Kiowa County who need to go to the courthouse will be changing this year. Because the leaders need to cut the budget, courthouse offices will be open Monday through Thursday. This also means that the Social Services office and the County Health Nurse office on Maine Street will be opened four days a week. However, the library will be open Tuesday through Friday because Friday is their busiest day. Librarians Kemma Alfono and Valorie Briggs often work long and extra hours to implement their creative ideas and serve adults, teens, and children. Their monthly bags of crafts and reading skill work is so impressive for youthful readers. Some that I have seen, I think, “I wish I was a kid. That looks fun!”

Sue Fox and Dawn James have been the high school Knowledge Bowl coaches for years. For the past few years, they have also taken on coaching the middle school students who want to be on the Knowledge Bowl team. This means that the students and teachers must find time early in the morning for later at night or after sports practice to practice their skills. In December several Eads Middle School students competed at Springfield. Congratulations to Kennedy Guyrman, Tucker Wallace, and Jayson Bletzacker who brought home the seventh grade trophy for winning first place. Others students who competed were Karsten Buller, Eric Murdock, Ayden Hough, and Anthony Paez.

I was pleased to have the Addington sisters visit me. They are Brenda Stoker of Eads and Julia Larrew of Loveland. Julia’s husband, Gary, died last fall after 12 years of coping with Parkinson Disease. Julia moved to Loveland to be near her children and grandchildren, and is adjusting to her new home.

Gloria Peck’s funeral will be January 15 at 10:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Eads.

The Eads senior citizen’s brunch will be held as usual on the first Thursday of the month, January 6 at 10:00 a.m. If you are a senior citizen, we do invite you to come, especially if you have never come before. Come to “try us out.” January 19 will be the monthly noon lunch and business meeting.

We are sad to hear the news that Ron Wyatt died December 28. Their home has been at Wiggins for a number of years. He and his wife, Linda (Davis), have three young adult children.

The basketball games next week are away at Granada and Walsh, but the following three weeks, Eagle fans can attend home games January 14, 21, 28 and 29 in Eads. It means a lot to the teenagers. I do encourage readers to attend the local games at least. We were impressed last year that John and Jura (Engstrom) Wilson, who moved here from Denver, attended local and away basketball games.

Areta Laird showed me a photo she had taken of Barb Diel in a Greeley store with her daughter, Kassie, and her daughter. Barb said that she lives with her daughter, Ginger, in Denver. She says hello to her Eads friends.

Thank you to the Kiowa County Press staff for the colorful December editions of the news papers, the colorful sponsor greetings, the Haswell Christmas party photos, and the “Pages from the Past” feature. I, along with other people, really do enjoy them. Well done, Editors.

Shalom, My Friends.