“I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, and or harm to give you a future with hope.” Jeremiah 29-11 (NRSV)

That verse from Jeremiah has been a favorite of many senior students for years, as well as newlywed couples. I like the word “hope” because it is so positive, and means so much to me for the future. For example, there are only six more weeks, more or less, of the school year, with lots of ballgames, track meets, concert practices, and field trips interrupting the daily schedules. Tracey Weeks, English educator at Kit Carson, told me Sunday that there are only 22 days left for her to try to teach all that she needs and plans to do. And that is if it doesn’t snow. I didn’t tell her that, one year on my birthday in May, we didn’t have school just because of snow!

Last week Vera (Fell) Hammons went to Las Brisas restaurant in Lamar to a big family gathering to celebrate her sister, Donna (Fell) Eaton’s, 91^st birthday. Donna goes to work every day with her veterinarian husband, Dr. Dwain Eaton. She still assists with the surgeries of small animals, and knows the names of all their customers’ pets. After graduating from CSU, Dr. Eaton came to Lamar as an employee of the USDA. Donna and Dwain married in 1962, and they opened the Eaton Veterinary Clinic in 1963. For many years, he also assisted at many horse races in different towns and cities.

Our dear Esther McCoin of Eads died last week, and was honored at a graveside ceremony in the Eads Cemetery. Her husband, Don, and her friend, Pastor Mark Imel, officiated the ceremony. Her home church friends from the Eads Community Church hosted a gathering afterward at the Eads Senior Citizen Center.

Mike and Sara Crawford, educators from Kit Carson, spent spring break at Hilton Head Island near South Carolina. I hope other educators around the state and nation can enjoy themselves in some restful activity that is a pleasure for them.

Tracey Weeks, Kit Carson Educator, took four Kit Carson senior boys to the state capitol where State Representative Rod Pelton visited with them. Pelton’s home is in Cheyenne Wells, so this visit was more personal and interesting for them.

Several young men from Eads took part in the state Rocky Mountain Tournament in Denver a week ago. Williams, Eder, and Bolander all wrestled. Young Eads second grade student, Sawyer Uhland, won second place. Fifth grade student, Jax Cordova, won the state title of champion, and walked away with a large trophy. Chael Cordova, who is in the seventh grade, placed fourth in his bracket. Dustin Uhland is the lead coach, assisted by Cody, and Skeeter, who was an outstanding wrestler at Crowley County High School. 

The restoration and construction are going on in the new, soon-to-be this year, library on Maine Street in Eads. Monday, there were loud motor sounds and banging sounds, plus what looked like smoke being emitted from a machine outside the brick buildings. However, the ladies at senior center said it might be dust. We are just so glad the work is well in progress. How wonderful it will be for our citizens and visitors to have a library right here on Maine Street where people will not have to go up and down stairs. Through the years, I have rather envied the folks in Crowley County where they could even go to their library on Sunday afternoon.

Alssandra Paez, Eads High School senior and outstanding basketball player, was invited to play in the southeast senior girls basketball tournament in Lamar, but felt she needed to keep her commitment to play in a soccer match with her Lamar team. I do not know Miss Paez, but other people tell me that she is a wonderful young woman and student.

Through the years, Pastor Mark Imel has been scheduled to come to meet with us each fourth Sunday of the month at Weisbrod and at the Prairie Pines. The residents at both facilities do enjoy his visits and sharing the scriptures.

Darrell and Jodi Stolzenberger saw their son, Chase, off on an airplane for his next adventure to work on Catalina Island in the ocean near San Diego, California, a few weeks ago. His parents are enjoying calls and videos of his new experience working as a cook in a wealthy resort. Chase has always relished water sports, so this is more fun for him than working in the high Rocky Mountains above Aspen.