“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.” Nahum 1:7

Greetings, readers! I have been homebound except for the times when I roll out to look at my blooming daffodils or roll to the corner to put letters in my mailbox. There are fewer cars driving on the streets and or even fewer people walking due to the stay-at-home order to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Valorie Briggs, delivered an audio book to me, and Librarian, Kemma Alfano, instructed me on how to use it. Wow, this technology can be so marvelous!

Around Eads, life is very different. Due to the coronavirus, no one is allowed to visit Weisbrod Hospital or the Prairie Pines residents. People can order their food from the local eateries, but they have to take the food to their homes, park, or somewhere else to eat. 

The Eads School has a grant to prepare five days of meals for youth infant to age 18! Isn’t that wonderful? Superintendent Smith and the staff’s plan is to hand the bagged lunch across the table on the East side of the Cafeteria at the designated time. Students who are on a bus route can receive their meal and student learning packets from their teacher. When the bus arrives at their home, they can pick up their packets from the bottom step when the bus door opens. The staff placed the student’s belongings in bags, and they were placed in alphabetical order on the south side of the elementary gym for students to pick up at a certain time last week. The students and teachers were very happy to see each other - from a distance.

Several days last week, Superintendent Glenn Smith addressed the student families and public via e-mail audio from his office. He was very encouraging and reassuring to students as he addressed parent’s questions and concerns. Students and teachers will be communicating by the internet or phones. He stated that the teachers and school would be flexible through this new learning experience. One big concern was what it a family doesn’t have a computer? A survey has been done and it appears that these devices can be supplied by our BOCES office. Mr. Smith complemented the teachers and support staff for attending the many meetings and doing extra work to see that all these plans are set in action which may be for the rest of the school year. He assured the seniors that they will have their graduation even if it has to be in July. 

The Eads High School Prom had been scheduled for Saturday, April 4. The students had been planning a very special evening for some time. Perhaps they will be able to experience something really grand in the future.

On the brighter side, good things are happening in Eads. After word was out that there is a great need of surgical gowns for the physicians at Weisbrod Hospital, some women in our community took action! According to Hospital Board President Priscilla Waggoner, the hospital needed 20 washable gowns made from bed sheets which were quickly gathered and as much elastic and bias tape that could be bought or given was donated. Ladies cut out the gowns from a pattern made by Madonna Pollreis. The gowns were then delivered to ladies who offered to sew them in their homes. The ladies volunteering their time and talent were Madonna, Linda Trosper, Loretta Seibel, LaVerle Kelley, Joyce Berry, Gloria Peck, Carole Spady, Gail Voss, Cindy McLoud, and Areta Laird. We are praying that our doctors won’t need them. but if they do, thanks to these dear ladies the gowns have been delivered to the hospital. We all know how very important it is to have a hospital and pharmacy in our county.

Kelly Lujan, a former student from the ‘70’s, called last week from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to check on me. He is delightful to visit with and says his mother, Rose, who lives near him is doing well. He asked me to tell everyone “Hi”, especially Bob Woods.

Another student-4-H friend, David Ellicott, wrote a heartwarming card last week. He has had the misfortune to break his shoulder twice in this last year, but he says he is healing well. Dave is looking forward to gardening this spring. He learned well from his father, George. These kinds of messages are among the joys of having been a teacher.

The Kiowa County Republican Assembly met by conference call March 28. The delegates and alternates voted to ratify that Richard Scott and Donald Oswald will be the Republican nominees for County Commissioners as well as Cory Gardner for Republican Senator to Congress.

Thursday morning most all citizens received an emergency notice by cell phone or television. The governor issued an order that all people stay in their homes. He said that we should remember this is not a vacation, this epidemic is serious and may last a very long time.

We need one another in order to be what God wants us to be.