“Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it, Jesus, is my plea, Daily walking close to Thee Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.” Gospel hymn

Nineteen people from Brandon and Eads were among the over 250 attendees at the RPD-(Rural Philanthropy Days Conference) in Lamar last week. It was an amazing happening for the good of people in our seven-county area of Southeastern Colorado. Every four years people can pay to go to this three-day Conference to speak and appeal for your group or non–profit, government agency, small business, or facility, for money. I mean like thousands and thousands of dollars if you qualify for what the grantors give or donate money to. We were astonished at the amounts of dollars that a group maybe could receive and wondered why weren’t there more people at the RPD to see if they could apply for funds to make organizations and facilities even better in Kiowa County than they are. It was impressive to see that the majority of funders who listened to our two minutes speeches were attractive young ladies in their 20’s and 30’s who had so much decision-making power over the money possibly given. I liked watching many ladies in high heels, pretty clothes and lovely jewelry. One lady next to us said, “Oh, I want that hat!” It was our cowboy, Mike Johnson, in his dark felt dress hat. He was a striking figure amongst lots of women. Here is a list of people from Kiowa County who gave up three days of their work and family life to do lots of listening, walking in 103 and 101 degree heat for their company, business, or group: Kemma Alfano for the a new Library site, Dawn Back, Jessica Hyman, Char Korrell, Priscilla Waggoner, and Sylvia Shields for the Kiowa County Hospital District, Betsy Barnett and Mary Vasquez for the Crow Luther Cultural Events Center, Mike Johnson and Barbara Scranton for the Kiowa County Fair and Rodeo Board, Karen Jones for the Kiowa County Fire Protection District, Mike Lening and Pam Weirich for the Prairie Pines Senior Living Center, Teresa Witte collaborating with Eunice Weber for a combined office for County Emergency and Ambulance combined site, Tina Kraft and Shawn Kraft for the future Child Care Center, Deborah Gooden for community needs, Gail Voss and Doris Lessenden for the Eads Senior Center interior finishing and furnishing on the Eads side of Maine, and Commissioner Cindy McCloud. Cindy was like a guardian angel for us to suggest funders we ought to talk to and ways we could appeal. She was such a blessing and encourager in a new experience for us. Cindy’s guidance and her Commissioner contacts were so invaluable to us. For example, she invited two ladies to stop in Eads from Denver who were funders for USDA. They looked at our future senior site and the Theatre and the two empty buildings that we hope to open up soon as well as she took them to Prairie Pines. One speaker on the platform said that they were so impressed to hear of all the good things that were happening in Eads and to see how we are growing. The major problem in all the little and big towns is LACK OF HOUSING. We certainly know that there are many vacant homes in Eads that could be such fine dwellings for people if heirs (children) would just let loose of them to rent or sell them. This is a problem that Town Councils and Commissioners need to deal with! Another major problem in Eads and Kit Carson is lack of child care providers. (Baby sitters)

The Weisbrod Auxiliary met Wednesday and presented Linda Trosper a framed Certificate of Appreciation and gift certificate to JJ”s Ranch House to say “thank you” for her over 35 years of organizing the Annual Hospital Fall Bazaar. She started the bazaars with Virgyln Griswould, Mary Lou Williams, and Ruby Wissel years ago to help the finances of the hospital when they were in a low time.

Do remember the spaghetti dinner for our Eboni Nash, who will be doing a summer mission and college work in Chicago. The benefit dinner is Friday, June 22, at the Community Building from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Congratulations to Eads ladies who are on the Lamar Community College Honor Roll: President’s list is Micah Crawford and Laura Lindholm and Eads juniors: Emily Gyurman and Lauren Spady, and on Dean’s List is Madison Kelley, Eads graduate of 2018.The latter three students took dual credit classes in Eads that gained them high school and college credits at the same time.

Our sympathy goes out to the families of Phyllis Batterton who passed suddenly last week at Prairie Pines where she has lived since it opened in 2006, 12 years. She was baptized in their pool and has been a faithful member of the First Christian Church. We admire their church family who has always seen that Phyllis had a ride to church and activities there. Her children are Rhonda, Brent, Deana, Blayne and Darla. 

Jessica Buck had her mother, Lola “Bambi” Seibel (Buck) Connor buried at the Eads Cemetery. Jessica’s father was the late Elvin Buck and Lola was an 1972 EHS graduate.

The younger employees of the Kiowa HealthMart painted the awning poles white that Will Rybacki built last winter. It looks really welcoming for the many sales they have inside and outside this wonderful store.