Proverbs 18:24 ‘Friends come and …go but a true friend sticks by you.”

One of the highlights of last week was the Eads High School awards night for academics and athletics. Each teacher and coach talked and gave awards for outstanding students in their classes or sport. It was enlightening and entertaining. Two class mothers from each class organized a sumptuous meal for the students and families. Coach Hayden Uhland was an entertaining speaker especially in acknowledging Colorado State Champion wrestler Trevor Randel. Before the closing, Principal Betsy Barnett presented the eight graduating seniors and gave them the traditional ceramic eagle painted with each senior’s name: Trey McDowell, Damian Hernandez, Zach Haase, Trevor Randel, Madison Kelley, Brenna Rouse, Mariah Smith, and Mindi Uhland. Some of the top awards were: Hugh O’Brian Leadership Trip—Lauren Brown and Kaycee Ellenberger, Daughters of the American Revolution “Good Citizen” award Mariah Smith, all-around EHS Student—Zach Haase, Colorado School of Mines award-Lauren Spady, Principal’s Leadership award—Emily Gyurman, and Mindi Uhland received the prestigious DeKalb award.

Here are some details about the plight of the family of Mykayla Krentz, Wiley high school student. Mykayla is the lovely blonde singer who has sung in many Crow-Luther stage shows in Eads. She is the granddaughter of Tom and Melanie Haskell, who live south of Eads near the lakes. For many months Mykayla has been suffering from complications of various kinds of pneumonia and blood clots. Mykayla has had several ambulance rides and extended hospital stays which have caused extensive expenses. Thus, her Wiley friends are hosting an event at the Wiley High School June 3 beginning at 3:00 pm with a mini-Cheer Camp. There will be a tailgate style dinner at 5:00 p.m. and at 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. there will be an auction and a silent auction for the Krentz family. As many community members and former Eads students know, Melanie and Tom have been generous people through the years to many of us. I urge you to pray and give to the expenses fund of this family. 

The Eads senior citizens surely enjoyed the roast beef, potatoes, and carrot entre that Gail Voss cooked for us and her favorite wheat rolls. This was complimented with other vegetable side dishes and desserts. The AAA Director was a guest, and Ann Carter of Cotopaxi, whose office is in Pueblo, was here to make a presentation about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Afterwards, L. G. Vanderwork, joked, “How come you are talking about me?” However, Mrs. Carter certainly shared many points that concern some of us, so it was comforting to know that that is probably a “myth” and we are not alone. There are many tests to help reveal if some symptoms are actually dementia. She said that sometimes, it is actually that a person needs a medication for a thyroid condition. Ann Carter meets in person or on the phone with residents in southern Colorado. She welcomes calls at 800-272-3900 24/7 days a week. Gail Voss and Doris Lessenden gave a report on the training meeting they attended in Lamar for the three-day Rural Philanthropy Days conference they will attend in June to seek funding for finishing and furnishing the inside of our new senior center across the street.

The parents and Booster Club members helped track coach Stephanie Colander fill the nice purple bags that Jennifer Crow donated to the team going to State. That made the sendoff even more special Thursday morning as students, family, and friends gathered for a sendoff to the Colorado track and field meet in Denver: The little Kindergarten students stole the show with their cheers holding individual purple and gold “good luck” letters. The Eads team winning by their individual points a trip to State were: Zach Haase, Mariah Smith, Kailee Wilson, Reagan Johnson, Miranda Mitchek, Morgyn Johnson, Ally Spady, and Colby Stoker. Avery Snover, the Sheriff’s intern, led with blinking police lights, the team bus driven by coach Trey Eder, down Luther and Maine Streets toward Denver.

We can see that Commissioner Cindy McLoud has been busy putting pretty planters of greenery around Maine Street businesses and empty buildings. In April, she filled the large planters by the Prairie Pines doors with green and yellow plastic eggs and large purple translucent roses. Now in May she and probably her mother, Joyce Berry, (because I know Joyce has been out to Blue Roof Tomato and Plant farm) have planted pretty lavender pansies. I have quizzed Cindy and found out that the last four years she has bought and planted all these containers of flowers out of her own pocket! And yet this amazing woman goes to so many meetings for us! Attending all those meetings, typing grants, and constantly answering people’s questions must exhausting! Yet Cindy has the zest to help others and do so much more beyond what may be expected.

When we mentioned to Pansy Foxworthy that she will be celebrating her 102^nd birthday soon Friday, June 1, at 2:00 p.m., she smiles and says, “Yes!” 

Eads senior Graduation is Saturday, May 26, at 2:00 p.m. 

A quote from Ram Dass “Caring is a reflex. Someone slips, your arm goes out. A car is in the ditch, you go join the others and push. A colleague at work has the blues, you let her know you care. It all comes natural and appropriate. You live, you help.”