“It is more blessed to give than to receive” Acts 12:35

Merry Christmas season to you, Dear Readers! It is certainly holiday season around southeast Colorado - a least in Eads. Maybe these cheery feelings and greetings are more so since the election is over and there is more news and not so much politics, although that was also important too!

Gail Voss, who is important to so many people around Kiowa County and elsewhere, had the pleasure to ride with her three young adult grandsons to South Dakota for a buffalo roundup and “works.” Aiden Michael from Wiley, Ty from northern Colorado, and Case Stolzenberger from Eads drove their grandmother to McLaughlin, South Dakota, just four miles from the North Dakota line. They were there for over a week to round up the buffalo on a big ranch that her son, Brett Rusher, supervises. Brett found out last year that his family members who came did a much quicker job than the usual locals local do. Brett and Stephanie’s daughter, Cally, from fairly near, Anton, Colorado, with her little children, also came to help. Gail was the cook, and reported she had a good time with her family.

Gina DeBono Dechant sent numbered name tags from “Angel Tree” children in Cheyenne County, so we took some to buy for. Then, at the Eads Chamber of Commerce meeting, we learned that there were still names of children in Kiowa County that President Dennis Pearson said were not taken off the Angel Trees around town. So, my friend Liz Hulteen and I picked some more up at the bank. We had a good time at the Dollar Store buying big gift sacks of gifts for babies and youth. Last Tuesday was Giving Tuesday in America. It feels good to give.

Two of our staff at Weisbrod Health, Darci Weeks-Johnson and Jessica Sierra, left Thursday morning for three days of meetings at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. We do thank these busy ladies, who have jobs, active children, and teenagers, and have volunteered all these years to serve on the Eads School Board. Superintendent Glenn Smith also attended. They will tell me more next week.

Another wonderful lady in our town is Charlene Gifford. She had been the third grade teacher for many years. This cheerful educator has organized and taught her third grade students to make crafts, artwork, and enjoy visiting and entertaining residents at Weisbrod Health for years. In fact, I think she has taught three generations of my niece and nephew’s families.

When we went to JJ’s Restaurant for lunch, I saw so many vehicles parked by many rooms at the Travel Lodge. The diners said it has been that way for quite a while. I thought the increased business was for the installation of wind towers on the east end of the county, but Chamber of Commerce members said that is in the future. Most of those workers are at the gas plant north of Eads. It looks as if there are about 10 or more trailer houses parked behind the Dollar Store.

When I called Dennis Pearson, President of the Chamber, to ask him how the chili supper went and if Santa did come, he said it was well attended, and that the treat sacks were well received from Santa. Lots of families took photos with Santa by the fire truck, or Chamber members took photos for them.

Home decoration contest prize winners will be announced before the live stage show December 22. This is the big day of Merry on Maine, which begins about 12:00 p.m.

The joyful story for December 12 is the Eads Elementary School program, which I will tell you about next week.

We send out again our congratulations to the McClave girls volleyball team for winning the state championship. We know and remember what a joy it is to win at state. The photos were great!

Dr. Sean Oquist and Chad Debono of Lamar Community College have been organizing the holiday basketball tournaments for many years in Lamar in December. I hope many of you can be there to support the teams.

We do thank Van Brown for his many years of dedicated work and service for the Town of Eads. He plans to retire the first of the year. He seems too young to me to retire. Do you ever wonder, “Where did the years go?”

Did you read the list of High Plains League All–Conference Selections for 2024? https://kiowacountypress.net/content/2024-all-state-volleyball-recognitions-announced From Eads: Emma Woolert and Alessandra Paez and Honorable Mention was Bailey Sierra. Girls I know from Kit Carson are Avery Johnson and Shae Rady, plus Ashlee Koch on the Honorable Mention list. Kinley Williams, who lives near Brandon in Kiowa County, was listed on the First Team. She attends Granada. Another girl with Eads ties is Lane and Deborah Gooden’s granddaughter, Alyah Muth, who plays on the Cheyenne Wells team. There were other worthy girls listed whom I don’t have the privilege to know.

The beautiful roses that young Steven Blake gave to me last week are still lovely. Since I couldn’t find any rose bowls in town, I made a little arrangement for each lady in a clear glass for her table or room so that I could share Seven’s wonderful gift with others.

Why not try attending a school wrestling match or basketball game in December?