“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

Baccalaureate 2022 was one of the most memorable I can remember. It was hosted at Praise Community Church by Pastors Lane and Deborah Gooden who involved the youth in customary ways. Kara Wilson and Lexi Shotton were the acolytes and flower girls. Jaden Self served as the usher to lead in the Pastors Gooden and including Ms. Gail Voss and Pastor Ken Grant. Jimmy Brown rendered beautiful and moving hymns on the grand piano and sometimes with his left hand on a large electric organ. Senior graduates: Rhealie Rittgers, Chase Stolzenberger, Ross Brown, Ty Wilson, Kyra Sheridan, and Will Crow offered prayers or read scriptures. The audience was pleased to hear Ms. Alicia James and Mrs. Ashley Gooden sing the duet, “Different” by Micah Taylor, accompanied by Jimmie Brown. As a music video by Lee Greenwood played, the seniors were invited by Mrs. Gooden to take flowers from the large vases and present them to their mothers and/or other people who had impacted their lives. After a moving address by Mr. Gooden, the students took a group photo under a graduate banner prepared by Cheryl Wyatt and Deborah Gooden. The Goodens presented the students with gifts and invited them to visit over refreshments in the fellowship hall. The twelve Eads students will graduate at 2:00 p.m. May 28. Kit Carson seniors graduated last Sunday.

The Weisbrod dietary staff and several office leaders served a wonderful outdoor barbeque from the Aubrey and Betty Shotton memorial patio last Friday evening. Marla (Gwinn) Darnell, the new lead Dietary Director, was surrounded by fellow caretakers (cooks) attired in black. They looked so professional! There was one glamorous lady in a totally blue beaded and sequin dress. I just didn’t know her, I asked her name two times, finally she took off her wig to reveal the cheery Gloria Trosper. During National Hospital Week, the staff arranged special events, meals, games, and dress days. I missed the lively guitar and keyboard music by Phil Pollreis that he used to entertain for many years before he moved to Littleton.

Eads alumni are encouraged to attend the next alumni reunion planning meeting, May 23 at 5:30 p.m. in Eads High School library.

Rhrett Uhland, formerly of Eads, has a new album is being released May 27. Rhett graduated from West Texas State University last year, and he and his band are booked every week to sing somewhere in Texas. 

The wildfires have caused fear and anxiety nearly every day in all counties in Colorado and western Kansas. The accounts of people who lost homes or nearly lost their homes near Holly, Haswell, Sheridan Lake, and Brandon are startling. When one reads about Brad and Meadow Larrew’s fiery experience, that brings it close to home. Brad is the son of Randy and Fran Larrew of Eads. We are so grateful to all the men and women who volunteer to fight these horrible fires that threaten us and our homes. Thank you all!

Remember that Wednesday, May 18, is the noon monthly lunch and meeting at the senior center in Eads.

It was a nice day for the kids’ free fishing at Jackson’s Pond Sunday. Thank you to the Eads Chamber of Commerce for the free lunch. Thank you to the wildlife officers who educated the youth and parents and gave out wonderful fishing poles. Kiowa County Economic Development Foundation bought the prizes.

Rod Pelton, our District Representative, gives informative news and radio reports from the State House or his Cheyenne Wells home.

We shopped in Cindy’s Treasure store Saturday. It was nice to see her father, Cardon Berry’s, white and aqua Ford – a 1955 I think parked - outside.

Many weekends till fall, golf fans can participate or watch one of many tournaments that are scheduled out at the Eads golf club. This former school building was brought in from Galatea, which we called “The Alamo” because of its design.

Dusty Eikenberg has enlarged his Haswell truck farm and has announced that he can deliver vegetables and flowers to Eads on the weekend if one calls him.

The Eads baseball team has done well this year. Diane K. Brown’s photo of Porter Spady appearing to do a cartwheel as he takes a base could easily win a major prize.

To our Kiowa County Commissioners, Donald Oswald, Butch Robertson, and Mike Lening, I say for our people, “thank you, gentlemen, for your service and delving into the ‘head-aches’ that you no doubt have to deal with as you serve.” I rush to write thank you to Tina Adamson, the Commissioner’s Administrative Assistant. She works many extra and long hours to research issues, write plans, letters, and design strategies to benefit Kiowa County.

Mr. Justin Lenox’s Future Farmers of America class has had a fruitful year under his leadership. Many awards were given at their end of the year banquet this month. Mr. Lenox is a former Eads graduate who taught at Hugo High before returning to Eads.

Rich and Koy Glover hosted an outdoor picnic for the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the VFW Auxiliary Tuesday evening.