“You’re off to great places, today is your day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way.” Dr. Suess

This quote was the motto of the Eads Class of 2019 which was on their stage backdrop with large yellow net wreath flowers sprinkled with sunflowers and burgundy roses. Juniors Lauren Brown, Jonah Schofield, Kaycee Ellenberger, and Morgyn Johnson served as escorts and handed out magazines of seven school’s seniors, plus the programs. Mollie Stolzenberger led the pledge before Hadlie Rittgers welcomed the guests. Salutatorian, Emily Gyurman, and Valedictorian, Lauren Spady, addressed the audience. As the students received their diplomas, school board members Ralph Berry, Keith Crow, Marilyn Eikenberg, Jessica Sierra, Darcy Johnson, and Marty Miller shook their hands. Principal Brain Bohlander presented the scholarship awards. 

Eads eighth grade students dressed up in their finest for a celebration dance party last week. Those moving on to high school are Samantha Courkamp, Taygen Ferris, Briana Habnick, Maggie Hasse, Piper Sorter, John Brown, Brooks Jones, Ty Michael, Brenden Refenshneider, and A. J. Vasquez. Those not present were Alex Lowe, Caleb Lane, and Trayton Specht. 

Happy 99^th birthday to Zelda Peterson last week. Pansy Foxworthy will be 103 years old June 1.

Melanie Benner Haskell was so happy about her granddaughter, Mykayla Krentz, graduating from Wiley High School that she had the Plains Theatre marquee in Eads announce their joy. 

Eboni Nash of Eads graduated with many honors from Hastings College in Nebraska. Her next adventure will begin with studies at Harvard University at the School Divinity in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Many Eads students had spectacular wins of medals at the Colorado state track tournament last week under the coaching of Mrs. Stephanie Bohlander and Mr. Trey Eder.

After graduation, many families had individual parties to celebrate their EHS graduate Saturday night. At the same hour, this was happening in Kit Carson and Hugo-Genoa too. I particularly enjoyed the food and fellowship of Paul and Glenda Stoker for their son, Blake, at the Cobblestone Inn in Eads. 

The memorial service for Jim Wallace was held at the Praise Community Church with Pastors Lane and Deborah Gooden officiating. The church family served an evening meal following. Our sincere sympathy is extended to his wife, Jaton (King), and young children, Paris, Tucker, and Asher.

The county cemeteries look so pretty with well mowed green grass. Saturday evening, the flags were waving in the breeze. Thank you to the volunteers of the American Legion Post #125 in Eads, and the VFW in Kit Carson, who took the time to display the flags on the veteran’s graves.

Among the people who came to listen to professors Dr. Ari Kelman and Dr. Elliot West about the reasons and history of the Sand Creek Massacre last Thursday was a young lady who drove all the way from Denver and returned that night! Friends of Dr. Alexa Roberts were so glad to see that she had driven back to Colorado from her home near Albuquerque, New Mexico. She said as she was driving up the highway from Las Animas to Haswell, “I just felt like I was home again”. Both of the speakers spoke highly of what a fine woman Alexa is and for her leadership of bringing the National Park to reality.

Happy 37^th wedding anniversary to Larry and Marilyn Kettle, former Eads Assembly of God pastors.

National Hospital Week at Weisbrod was fun for the residents and staff this year. Every day was a costume dress day. One of the best days was “rock star day” when the staff dressed up similar to the bands. I didn’t recognize some because of their wigs or hilarious dress. What fun! Activities director, Tonya Lane, said that one of the best activities was the family feud game. The week climaxed with a big outdoor barbeque around red and white checkered table cloth. Phil Pollreis played his western and patriotic music to make the evening more enjoyable. Phil played earlier in the week at Prairie Pines for their residents and, on the previous Sunday, he gave the church message at the Weisbrod Extended Care Unit with resident Rosemary Stoker playing the piano.

At our last Hebrew class, we had a feast of foods from Hebrew recipes, and pastries prepared by our teacher, Liz Hulteen, and Deborah Gooden. Besides the lesson sheets and some details from Liz’s book, the highlight was when Paula McMaines, who is a published poet, read some of her poems. A delightful one was about a Schwinn bicycle and a heart-touching reading about dealing with severe trauma and stress. Nola Engstrom told us about seeing the hiding places of Ann Frank and Corrie Ten Boom while on a tour in the Netherlands and Europe.

Laura Negley and I drove to Kit Carson for seven days last week to help and teach at the Vacation Bible School at Trinity Lutheran Church on “The Power of Praise and Prayer.”

People are invited to bring a side dish to the Eads Co-op annual meeting Wednesday, May 29, at the Community Building in Eads.

The United Methodist Church family hosted the Baccalaureate Service with Pastors Black, Gooden, and Imel sharing words of wisdom with the Eads graduates. Younger students who read scriptures or helped as flower girls, acolytes, or ushers were JaNae Voss, Ty Michael, Colby Stoker, Kara Wilson, Ralie Voss, Ally Spady, Chase Stolzenberger, Kennedy Gyurman, Ty Wilson, Rhealie Rittgers. Thank you to musicians Nancy Walker, Betty Crow, and Mary Eikner.