By Doris Lessenden

Have you ever trusted in someone or something and been disappointed or let down?  The Psalm writer wrote in Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord of God.”

Lee and Maxine (Peck) Blooding celebrated their 70^th Wedding Anniversary with family and friends in Fort Collins Saturday afternoon.  The Bloodings organized the Prairie Queen 4-H Club in l948 so there are still some adults in this community who lovingly remember them and the life changing lessons they taught us.

Prairie Queen 4-H Leader, Shawn Roberson, invited me to come to the 4-H demonstrations and picnic supper at the Courthouse Park Sunday evening.  Their tradition for many years was to tour to each member’s home to see their animals and projects.  However since their members live near Wiley, Sheridan Lake, Haswell, and Eads this year, they went swimming at 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. and then met at the park.  This Wednesday some members will be in the Fashion Show at the Eads Plains Theatre and on Thursday, the 21^st the club will go to Garden City, Kansas to the Zoo and their fantastic big Swimming Pool.  4-H’ers are completing 4-H projects for the 4-H Achievement Day Fair which is August 8^th and the County Fair, September 7-11^th

The Farewell-Good Luck Barbeque for Dawn Back PA, our Physician Assistant, was attended by many well wishers in the Weisbrod Patio where Jose Hernandez grilled hamburgers and hot dogs.  Hospital staff “fanned” and served side dishes.  Shannon Dixon of Weisbrod and Mary Eikner, President of the Hospital Board, spoke for the public to express the appreciation and love of the people to Dawn.  We will miss her very much but we know it is important for her to be with her husband and adult son and his family near Santa Rosa, New Mexico.  They work for her brother, Justin Smith, who manages a 2,200 acre ranch.  Dr. David Lenderts and Dr. Jay were there to greet the people. 

The CLCEC, Crow-Luther Group is firming up plans for the MAIN STREET BASH which will be Saturday July 30^th.  We are excited that there will be a number of fun activities for children in the KidsZone.  Fred and Debi Derby will have the fine Miniature Golf course, the Sheriff Department Rock Climbing wall, Radar Throw, Face Painting, Cotton Candy, and other fun activities as well as a craft table for kids.  We have hired two bands, the Kit Carson “Rodeo Road Apples” and the Denver “Dance on Fire” Band.  Volunteers will be manning the Beer Garden and Darwin Nelson will have Karaoke Music in the Theatre for people to come join in the singing.  Darwin prints out the song a singer(s) want to sing and then the singers, just line up for the fun time on stage.  At the two gates Admission is $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for students, preK is Free.

It is great to see City Judge Jeff Campbell walking about town as part of his recovery plan following a stroke in the spring.

Dana Brown and Sandy Penn Jones were at their new enterprise, “The Out Building”,

Saturday morning where they offer new, re-purposed items, and art works made by them and Tammy Crockett and Lisa Trigilio.   The little “store” is behind Sandy’s home across from Cheryl Rehm’s home.

Congratulations to Tammy McMillan who was married to John Higgins in early spring.   The couple lives in Eads.

Christina Woelf, Pam Weirich and staff served a buffet of fabulous desserts following the Prairie Pines Fashion Show.  The models were resident, Evelyn Garner, Itzy Ramirez, William Ramos Junior, Adyn Hough, Madyox Hough, Reese Barnett, Jordon Turcotte, Nash Galloway, Alex Egley, Zoie Kraft, Kendra Kraft, Taivyn Kraft, and Peggy Sheldon-Bentley.   Peggy model a beautiful three piece green trimmed in gold traditional Pakistani ensemble and showed a gorgeous fushia jeweled dress and her father’s long traditional blue shirt from the many years she lived in India and Pakistan.  Thanks to Barb Diel who paced the models for me to announce.

There will be a National Park Program at the Plains Theatre at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday July 23^rd where a Park Ranger will tell about Fort Larned in Kansas.  This is a FREE program.

Jodi Stolzenberger is teaching a number of students in the Nurses Aide Class at Weisbrod.  Several students are from out of town.  

Thanks to Pam Mousel of Bennett, CO who left several bags of clothing by my ramp door and to Norma Troue Emerson who mailed $10.00 in postage of new bed sheets for the Trinity Lutheran Church’s Orphan Grain Train project.  People have been generous to us for the sake of less fortunate people who have experienced disaster in the USA and around the world.

Morgan Blodgett and Tyler McCracken have been feted with a bridal shower in Eads.  They will be married in the KA hall in Sheridan Lake July 30^th.

It is important to attend the August 1st meeting at 3:30 p.m. in the Courthouse to learn about the proposed Kiowa County Fire District.  It is taxpayer’s chance to express their opinion.

Our town was filled with lots of people from six towns or regions to compete in the 

16 U Regional Softball Tournament.  It began last Thursday; where after registration at the Cobble Stone Inn, they had dinner at the Fairgrounds.   Holly Mitchek and Sharon Wilson organized the opening ceremony and other details that brought more people to town.  Jan Richard’s of KCEDF-Chamber of Commerce arranged for ten coupons to businesses to be given to the players and or their families.  Traffic about town increased

by Eads fans, Denver area, Coffeville, KS, Dodge City, KS, Cotton Valley Missouri, and Lamar  (Southeast Plains).

Pastor Chris Richardson is about town getting acquainted with groups and individuals.  I found her exercising with Prairie Pines residents so she stayed for our Bible Study.  She is really a delightful person who has been to Israel two times.  Sunday after conducting worship at the United Methodist Church, she and Nancy Walker led the church service at Weisbrod.

Each week it seems that the new Love’s Store grows larger and more complete.  The tower of the cement plant south of town is growing taller.  Progress is a good thing.  When one spends time on Maine Street, especially around the ice cream store one can meet lots of interesting people.  The bicyclists who come through and camp in the parks also pass the word along   A pediatric doctor from Germany had heard about the ice cream and when Virgil Lessenden told him about the theatre, he went into the movie also. Bud Bennett’s flags attract people to the block also.  Three men on motor cycles asked him the other day, “Where is the closest bar for a good beer?”        

We are getting acquainted with the three families who moved here from Florida after buying two or three houses.  My new neighbor told me not to worry about his dogs; he said, “They are friendly”.  I thought, “I hope.”   (smiling)