“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5

Brent and Melissa Jones hosted a graduation party at their ranch home north of Chivington last week for their daughter, Brooklynn Jones, who received her degree from Lamar Community College in horse training and management and equine business. 

Zelda Peterson, formerly of Eads, has been celebrating her 101^st birthday the past two weekends. This sweet lady still looks as perky as ever in photos her daughters have posted of her.

Kelly (Barlow) Courkamp, Eads eighth grade Civics teacher, has a yearly community project. This year the students picked up a lot of trash on a very cold day.

The Crow-Luther Cultural Events Center board had a packed agenda this month where they set up committees for the July Maine Street Bash. They invested in a new sound system board, deadbolts for the street doors, and a web site designer. Chair Betsy Barnett reported that the bricks for the new sidewalk will be here soon, and Hoffman Metalworks is making new letters for the marquee. McClave, Kit Carson, and Eads have booked movie days on different school days.

These are such busy days with so many school dinners, concerts, and ball games to go to, besides my regular clubs and activities to attend, but they are even more enjoyable when one remembers that we lost a whole year of such fun times in 2020. 

Class mothers set out the potluck foods for the annual athletic-academic awards banquet at which each educator and coach gave awards for outstanding grades or excellence. Most impressive to many of us is that eight seniors have completed so many college credits in dual credit classes ranging from 29 to 53 credits. Wow! This will really lower their college tuition in the future. The faculty nominated sophomores Maggie Haase and A. J. Vasquez to receive the Hugh O’Brian Leadership Award. Eads High School’s nominee for the CU-Boulder Outstanding Junior Award is Rhaelie Rittgers, which comes with a $1,000 scholarship should she attend CU. The Society of Women’s Engineer Awards went to Rhaelie Rittgers, Mollie Kelley, and Ally Spady for excellence in math and science classes. The coaches’ speeches were enlightening about players and games. Coach Trey Eder applauded the fine work of Darryl Adamson and Bobby Rittgers on our football and track fields. The most coveted awards were the the Leadership Award, going to Ally Spady, and the All–Around Student, presented to Mollie Kelley. Both young ladies have certainly made positive impacts on the Eads High School student body. Students received a packet with their certificates and pins from clubs and awards that were assembled by Mrs. LaDawne Britten, which takes many hours to do.

Last Monday evening, the Eads Future Business Leaders of America and Future Farmers of America organizations had a joint awards dinner and program, beginning with the Mrs. Shannon Ellenberger’s FBLA students clad in grey t-shirts and slacks to receive numerous district and state awards for their accomplishments. The officer team of Mollie Kelley, Rhailie Rittgers, Amber Kopasz, and Maggie Haase, presided the program. Next the guests ate a nice dinner, and then the FBLA students changed their clothes to FFA attire as they were members of this group, too. Ms Tia Konig and the officer team of Ally Spady, Hatch Nelson, Rhailie Rittgers, Maggie Haase, Piper Sorter, Samantha Coukamp, and Taegen Ferris presented many awards, including a special recognition of Adult Honorary FFA members to Pam Cole, Dawn James, Mary Vasquez, and Shelby and La Dawne Britten that included last year’s award.

Jared Weeks was home from Arcadia, California, for the graduation of his sister, Jordyn, in Kit Carson. He is studying at the Los Angeles Music Academy. We were glad to have him play the piano for church hymns at Trinity. He received the music scholarship for the fourth year at the Kit Carson High School graduation.

Last Sunday, I had the pleasure to attend the Kit Carson senior graduation in their new building, which was even more lovely because their school band played so beautifully. What a joy to hear a school band again, which is directed by Tom Rhoades. Miss Faye Buttry sang “Rise Up” by Andra Day. What a wonderful talent she has! JaNae Voss delivered the Salutatorian speech, followed by the three co-Valedictorians, Tieler Randel, Cally Booker, and Jordyn Weeks.

Last Wednesday and Thursday evening, those who went to the concerts by grades 3, 4, and 5 and then grades K, 1, and 2, were in awe to hear those lively precious children sing so loudly and so exuberantly with dancing and body motions! Our Mrs. Monica Uhland is an absolutely marvelous music educator! She has taught those young students to be good enough to go on the big stage! So many grandparents and relatives came from great distances to see their little ones. We are so impressed! Parents, Accountability Committee, School Board - I urge you to protect this program from ever being cut as some of our other valuable classes have been in the past.

The National Hospital Week festivities at Weisbrod climaxed Friday evening with a community barbeque in the patio cooked by Ginger McPherson’s dietary crew and served by some of the lead staff.

Rich and Koy Glover hosted a barbeque meal at their home at the same hour for the Cheyenne County and Kiowa County VFW members and Auxiliary Friday evening. Rich really enjoys grilling and cooking for his friends.