“How good and pleasant it is when brothers (people) live together in unity.” Psalm 133: 1 NIV

Next weekend is the big weekend we have been planning and waiting for with much anticipation: the Maine Street Bash! We look forward to pursing all those tents of vendors down Maine Street. The Lamar radio Stations, KLMR and KVAY, will have live feeds of music and local interviews. The food court on the west of Maine was a real hit last year. There are several Asian Thailand families who have moved to Eads, and people love their flavor of foods. Another new-to-Eads lady who likes to bake will be there. The 4-H members will have a bake sale. Some vendor booths are free, and others charge. Some are free like the Sheriff Office’s climbing wall or Mrs. Deb Imel and her friends will host children’s games for a fun time with water games too. Larry and Carla Gifford have been downsizing to move near their grandchildren, so they will have lots of house goods. Oh! … the music and dance! … now that is what will be so entertaining! Special guest entertainers will be on stage at 3:00 p.m. with Jamie Crockett and friends featuring local talent including Alicia James, Jamie and Elise Crockett, Jared Weeks of Kit Carson, Echo Urie, and others. A new group of young children who make up Kristina Uhland’s dance troupe will perform at 5:00 p.m. From 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., local recording artist, Rhett Uhland, will perform with his band and will be followed from 8:30 to 12:00 by the Denver band, “Union Gray.” This may be interspersed with sparkly fireworks. People can dance in the street or on sidewalks or sing Karaoke. The museum will be opened at 9:00 a.m. Registration for playing horse shoes and corn hole will be in the Horse Shoe Park to begin at 4:00 p.m., where people could make big winnings. There will be a beer garden for wine coolers also and continual movies in the theatre. I assure readers that there is much more to anticipate but space just doesn’t allow.

Congratulations to the business men and women who founded the Cobblestone Inn in Eads. Last week they were honored as the KCEDF “Business of the Year.” Well-wishers and board members of the Kiowa County Economic Development Foundation gathered at the Cobblestone Inn and Suites Thursday to visit and munch on hor d’oeuvres. People who stay overnight there and who eat meals or have beverage there give the Cobblestone staff and the facility and décor high ratings and good compliments.

Gail Voss was warmly thanked and complemented for the outstanding fried chicken and gravy and wheat buns she served that was served with Joyce Berry’s mashed potatoes at the Eads monthly senior citizens’ dinner. Other side dishes and delicious desserts added to the zest of the day. Special speakers were Dr. Dennis Bartha, who is on the Weisbrod Hospital physical therapy staff. He also told more about the dry needling that he does to relieve pain for clients. Dr. David Lenderts, Weisbrod Chief of Staff, was thrilled to be with the seniors. Doris Lessenden and Gail Voss gave some updates on the future senior center which Commissioner Cindy McLoud has been spending many, many hours on writing and applying for grants. Alice Glover and LaVerle Kelley, who are Eads’ delegates to the Area Agency on Aging meeting, reported on a very important meeting September 20 and 21 in La Junta. Heads of departments will speak at crucial workshops for a person’s welfare. The center will pay for a county bus to take people to Otero Junior College if they need a ride.

Families and friends of Brooke Crawford of Kit Carson and Logan Smith of Eads, who have been students at Fort Hays University, are happy that they are safely back after choosing to minister for 58 days in inner city places in Mexico and the USA. Both agree that it was an amazing experience. Eboni Nash of Eads, who is on a similar mission trip, wrote of some of her new experiences living in inner city Chicago while also coping with rats and bed bugs. We realize we are fortunate to live a rather sheltered life in eastern Colorado.

The First Christian Church hosted the concert by Frankie and Phyllis Valens which was well attended by people from other church families. The ladies seemed especially enchanted when he sang such songs as “Unchained Melody,” “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” “This Magic Moment,” and the gospel and patriotic songs. Afterwards people enjoyed the bounteous dessert and sandwich bar.

Jeff Campbell is such a fine historical writer of Sand Creek accounts plus writing books and poetry. I heard him once when he read some of his poetry at a lovely Mother’s Day tea in the Artists of the Plains gallery years ago.

Our county has been blessed by rain, finally, and we are so grateful!

Nearly every day we see bicyclists camping in the park by the railroad or cycling to and from the east or west coast on the Centennial Route which goes through our county.

Last week, Sheridan Lake Bible Church hosted a stay-over family in their church who were such a delight to them.