“Everything is possible for one who believes” Mark 9:23

The community is invited to the Chamber After Hours Monday, July 9, which is scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m. at the Prairie Pines Assisted Living Center on Lowell Street. Chef Christina Wolf and staff will be serving burritos and toppings. This is “free” this month. It is an important event because the Citizen of the Year and the Volunteers of the “year will be announced and recognized. These individuals will receive a plaque and their service to the community will be recognized. They will also be marshals for the county fair parade September 8.

Lola Igou had the “best birthday” ever this year. Her request was that she could spend a week with just her three children. So, Denny flew from Oklahoma to meet Lola of Eads and Nikki of Karval, to fly from Denver with his mother and sister to Dallas, Oregon, where they stayed with her daughter, Ronda and John Hadley. Lola and her children put thousands of miles on the car sight-seeing the country and ocean around Oregon

Last week 34 4-H members and parent sponsors drove in several cars and the county van on a field trip to Cripple Creek to a mine. They really had fun in a Manitou park where they played while their van tire was repaired. The driver heard one young girl exclaim on the way home, “This is the best day of my life!”

It is shocking to see the photos of Kenny Bergman’s home that was burned to the ground last Monday evening. Ken’s sister, Betsy Evans, thanked and praised the Kit Carson Fire Department and ambulance crew for their quick work and care of Kenny. His home is about three miles east of the gas plant off Highway 287.

Virgil and Wanda Lessenden hosted the Westenders Senior Citizen’s group with a fried chicken patio supper party at their ranch northwest of Arlington. Virgil is good help to Wanda since she is going through a series of carpal tunnel surgeries. 

Our community lifts up sympathy to Roberta (Birdie Mays) and Corky Hines of Canon City, after the death of their son, Rusty Hines, in Midland, Texas. Also, this is a sad time for his sister, Tanya Lane and family of Eads. A funeral was held Sunday afternoon at the Eads Praise Community Church with his burial by his brother in the Eads Cemetery.

Larry and Barb Gitchel served at the Sheridan Lake Bible Church last Sunday. Pastor Larry gave the message. They are a much-loved couple who pastored there for many years. I remember them well for driving over to sing in the annual Christmas Cantata.

We extend our sincere sympathy to the family of Lonnie and Beth Spady and their children, Lauren, Allison, and Porter, who lost Beth’s father, John Horber. The family and friends gathered in Las Animas Friday for his funeral. He was the funeral director there for many years.

Little Victoria Itzy Ramirez asked me last week when we were on our way to the weekly coffee hour at Prairie Pines, “When was the town of Eads established?” I was ashamed I didn’t know. But I do now after reading the new attractive brochure about Kiowa County that I received in my Rural Philanthropy Days packet. The answer is 1889. 

I was blessed to ride to Colorado Springs in the new county transit van that has a manual lift up ramp. The helpful and friendly drivers were Lola Igou and Teri Salisbury. The ride to the eye specialist was more pleasant in this new van compared to the larger bus-type van, and we could see the beautiful blue Rocky Mountains!

It is nice to see the staff pushing Weisbrod residents in wheelchairs or riding on the trailer about town with the residents. Even 102-year-old Pansy Foxworthy was out on the trailer Wednesday morning. They have little trips to get ice cream cones or drinks from one of the local stores. 

Zach Haase and Brigdon Parker, congratulations, on being named to the honorable mention baseball team by Colorado High School Activities Association! What an honor! These young men played baseball for Eads High School.

Keep in mind the best event in the summer of 2018 will be the Maine Street Bash hosted by the Crow-Luther Cultural Events Center. It is planned on a format of tents down the middle of Maine Street Saturday, July 28, beginning at 11:00 a.m. The food court was a popular place last year, plus the music on the stages and the kid’s games. It is free, so we hope people from near and far will come to support the CLCEC group and all the vendors for a fabulous time from 11:00 to about 11:45 p.m. 

Travelers and locals stopped by Tereso Valenzuela’s Bronco tent across from the Memorial Park in Eads Friday. His fresh fruits, melon, and vegetables are so good. We stocked up on produce to last several days.

People from around the area and the cities are finding their way to our lakes in Kiowa

County to go boating or fishing. Some people are camping, and others are picnicking and yet others are at one of the attractive baseball fields off north Maine Street. Another event this July 4th week is to watch the fireworks show at the Fair Grounds about 9:00 p.m.