By KAREN ODELL
The Capitol and Tie Creek weather has been warming up all week; until by Saturday and Sunday, it was a wonderful warm day to be outdoors in the beautiful calm sunshine.
Dick and Erma Albert got some extra shopping done in the Hills, on Tuesday. Erma got a massage in Buffalo, on Wednesday. Friday was the taco bar at the Senior Center. Bobbie had egg sandwiches for those who were recognizing Lent on Friday. Many people had gone to Rapid City for the state girls’ basketball tournament, so there were not so many at the Senior Center this week. On Sunday, Dick and Erma went to the Catholic church for mass, and then stayed for the pot luck dinner. In the afternoon the church presented the viewing of the movie ‘The Passion’.
Marlee Cordell went to Belle Fourche, on Tuesday. Ashley Pearson went with her to Spearfish to watch Black Hills State play basketball. The season is coming to an end, but it seems there are chances for her grandchildren, to play throughout the year. Alvin’s calving is in full swing, now. Ryan and Tawni and doing night checking. Bobby and Terry Cordell have come out to spent a few days helping Alvin cut trees.
Doug and Julia Davis had a very exciting week, last week. They got to fly to Alabama to visit their son and also to help their grandson celebrate his fourth birthday. Since Rory only remembers celebrating twice, he has decided he is really only two years old. Maybe that’s what Karen Odell can do, too; forget some of those birthdays. Travis and Doug got to view the testing of some engines that Travis had designed and helped build for the Saturn Five project. They were extremely loud, but everything went well. Doug and Julia spent a week in the south-land, and came back on Wednesday. They spent another day in the Hills, before coming on home. Their flight was a late one, and staying over gave them time to do some shopping before coming home. Morgan Buck had been watching the cows, and there were two new calves when they got home, so they have officially started calving. Morgan spent the weekend in Camp Crook, where he helped his dad, Darren, finish a few projects, while they both were at home.
Ernie and Rachel Melum visited Karen Odell for a while on Saturday night, Rachel and Tommy went to church in Baker on Sunday, and then stayed for the Youth Group meeting in the afternoon. They brought home some groceries for Shirley and Junior, and visited there in the evening.
Bryce, Dawn and Dorothy Padden had a busy week. They have scheduled calving between sports seasons, as much as possible. This time everyone went to Summerset to stay with Brian Olmsted during the South Dakota State Girls’ Basketball Tournament, that began on Thursday, in Rapid City. Dawn, of course, had her camera, and got some wonderful shots of the girls during the games. Once she looked up into the crowd, and discovered that her mother, Helen Stevens, and sister, Michelle Tooke, had come down for the tournament, too. Their family excursions are often spontaneous, so Dawn wasn’t surprised, and was glad to share a place to stay with them, too. Brian was the designated driver in Rapid City, and he was especially good at finding parking spaces close by the door, so Dorothy didn’t have to walk so far. The games were all exciting, and the action never stopped, and the girls should be very proud to have earned sixth place in the state tournament.
Ronda Cordell is continuing to sort and wash clothes from the storage unit to go to Goodwill. She also is sorting tin and boards at the new barn. On Sunday evening, those jobs were finally finished.
On Wednesday, Ronda went to Ekalaka to get an oil change. Nellie Howell treated her to lunch at the Wagon Wheel; then gave her a ride to her car; when it was finished. Diane Wear rode to Spearfish with Ronda on Friday. They enjoyed lunch at the Pizza Ranch. It’s always nice when Diane is able to go, and she spells Ronda while driving home. On Saturday morning, Ronda ate breakfast with Gerald and Becky Burghduff. Curt Zolnoski and Erik Berglund came from Rapid City to work on barn door installation; several days this week. They stayed with Clint and Denise Zolnoski. Gene Secrest continues to help Clint with feeding and corrals, and Kim Secrest came for the weekend.
Karen Odell finally got her signs put up this week. The weather on Saturday was perfect for working outside with the signs. This week, Karen visited with her brother, Ron Evans, and learned that her sister-in-law, Patsy, was doing much better after hip surgery. Recovery is not easy, but is worth the effort because she is getting more agile. Karen especially enjoyed watching the SD State Girls’ Basketball Tournament on YouTube. It was like having the best seat in the house, and is one of the best services the state can provide, especially for those who find the distances are a little discouraging. It is also great that the games can be watched at any time; making them available for those who are working during those times. Every game was very exciting. Karen could text comments to her kids, who were also watching in Mitchell, Minnesota, Iowa, and Washington. Karen saw one local grandma on camera, too, who threw the ball back onto the court with a camera in her other hand. Chancey Odell had a meeting in Rapid City, which made it just right for him to stay to watch some of the games on Thursday, too. It was great to be able to watch all three levels of the tournament on YouTube, and even get to see the special awards, and ‘Spirit of Su’ awards. On Sunday, Karen enjoyed the warm sun, and visited with her high school classmate, Bill Foulkes in Ohio. It is always so much fun to visit with old friends and hear about ‘old folks at home’. His weather was not so nice, and they were expecting snow there.
Men travel faster now, just so that they can sit through more hours of unproductive, boring meetings with unimaginative slide shows.
daughter, Kanyn, had advanced to the state competition in girls’ wrestling, and both Brandon and Ashley were coaches. Bryce and Dawn were needed at home to do the chores, but they, too, got away on Saturday, to go to Baker for the AAU wrestling competition. Bryce was coach of the young group from Ekalaka that competed, and they were glad to have their coach there with them.
On Monday, Bill Anders stopped by at Karen Odell’s to do some telephone work. Then, Karen spent time this week, gathering tax information and records from last year. She made a trip to Wolffy’s, on Wednesday, and took letters to the post office. Karen’s cousin, Ralph Anderson called from Florida to visit on Friday, and learned that our snow had melted. The strong, cold wind on Friday was directly from the west, dropping the wind-chill way below the real temperature. Karen Odell visited with her brothers, Ron and Jim Evans in Ohio. She also visited with high school classmate, Bill Foulkes, and college friend, Jeanne Dineen. Mollie Smith and Micki Odell called, too. Karen visited at Chancey Odell and Megan’s a few days this week. Chancey and Megan went to White Sulfur Springs for his grandfather, Wally Owens’s, funeral on Friday. Wally had been born near Ekalaka and had lived in this area for much of his life, and had many friends here.
On Saturday, Karen got to watch neighbor, Kanyn Padden, wrestle in the South Dakota State High School wrestling tournament. Cody and Kellan Odell were at the state tournament, and texted to remind Karen that she might get to see it on-line on YouTube. John Latham and Brock Besler were there as referees, and Cody had talked to other Harding County people. Karen had to search through some videos of various mats, but found a couple of Kanyn’s matches, and both were very exciting. Karen learned that Kanyn had won the first match, but lost the second and had to ‘wrestle-back’ to stay in the competition. Her matches were very close and exciting, and she won sixth in the state as first Harding County girl wrestler to place at state, and also as third generation in the Padden family to place at state for Harding County wrestling.
This week, we were saddened to hear of the death of Charlotte Ottmo and also of Wally Owens. We will miss them both very much, and hope you will keep the George Oleson and Chancey Odell families in your prayers.
Being blatantly truthful is usually just an excuse to belittle or embarrass someone you find intimidating.
