Haigler Happenings - June 8, 2011

Don Harford is still in the hospital in Benkelman. Cards and letters can reach him at the Dundy County Hospital 1313 N Cheyenne Street Box 626 Room 104 Benkelman, NE 69021. 

Brent Wheaton came home Friday for the Memorial Day weekend. He was here to help with the McVey branding on Saturday. Adam and Stephanie Wheaton came Saturday afternoon and brought the new puppy to visit. The weekend was spent outdoors. The garden has some plants in it now. The guys went out to do a little trap shooting. The puppy was walked over several parts of Haigler. 

Haigler’s Alumni/Memorial weekend saw many people “return home.” The class of 1961 held its 50th year reunion with activities at the Haigler Community Legion Bldg., The Lodge, and Sage Hill Winery. Those able to attend the celebration were: Joan Phipps Luebbe of Seward, NE and her husband Roger; Freda Sass Hosic of Stockville, NE and her husband Darryl; Joan Kay Smith of Great Bend, KS and her husband Gail; and Joanie Wheaton Henderson of Haigler. Those class members unable to attend were: Dwight Beeson of Fredericksburg, VA; Carol Wall Flaming of Yuma, CO; Evelyn Williams Brozynski of Norfolk, NE; Cheryl Carlock Raile of Burwell, NE; Betsy Van Horn of CO; and Betty Schwartz from the west coast. 

Other Haigler Alumni Class Recognitions included the 55th thru 75th years. Special recognition was given to the eldest alumni attendees: Don Harford of Haigler for his 76th year; DeVeta Collicott Redfield of Palisade, NE and Royal Woods III of Wray, CO for their 72nd year. The Haigler Alumni Association also presented recognition awards to Laura Pearl Wall (class of 1940) and Joann Webster (class of 1949) for a lifetime of serving the Haigler community and preserving the history and heritage of Haigler. 

Over 150 people attended the Haigler Alumni pot luck luncheon at the Haigler Legion Community Bldg. on the Sunday of Memorial weekend. Everyone enjoyed all the special food treats, visiting and renewing friendships, and program hosted by the 50th year class of 1961. Remembrance of those Haigler alumni and Haiglerites who died this past year included: Dusty Wall, Lester Adams, Stanley Zuege, Grace Bannister, LeRoy Rathburn, Lucille Phifer Corder, and Velda Clark Smith. They shall be missed. 

DeVeta Collicott Redfield (Haigler Alumni Class of 1939), of Palisade, NE and her husband Dwaune spent Alumni Sunday in Haigler. They were accompanied by daughters Sharlene of Brighton, CO and Kaylene of Columbus, NE. After decorating Haigler family graves in the Haigler cemetery; they attended the Alumni pot luck luncheon at the Community Bldg., and the open houses at the Country Schoolhouse 67 South Museum and the Haigler Cornerstone Museum. Late afternoon was spent visiting with their nieces Myrna Collicott Mulligan and LaNeta Collicott Carlock. 

Dr. Tim and LaVeta Smith Blecha of Superior, NE visited family and friends over the Haigler Alumni/Memorial Weekend. 

The Collicott Sisters spent this past weekend in Estes Park, CO--recovering from the hectic schedule of alumni weekend. The Big Thompson River is expected to again this year have some flooding from the heavy snow melt in the mountains. Trail Ridge Road is still closed with 12 foot drifts of snow. 

Sophia Zuege visited with her sister, Irene Blacker, in Bennett, Colorado, from Thursday until Saturday.

Lois Zuege spent Thursday through Saturday with her sister, Irene Blacker, in Bennett, CO.

Memorial Day visitors of Lois Zuege were Diane and Larry Sack (who brought her mother, Hazel Chambers), Dorothy and Eileen Walker, Earl, Helen and Wes Unger, Doris Weaver and daughter Erma and husband Frankie. Other visitors were Idell Zuege and daughter Vernette and Bob Gorman, Vernett’s son Jason and wife and two boys. Also Rae White and Chris and Jim and Jerrie Wheaton came for a little while.

Visitors of Floy Fisher this past week have been Dwight and Leah Brewer and Dwight’s brother, Doug and friend. Dwight and Doug worked on Floy’s car air conditioning while the ladies watched and visited. Floy’s daughter, Sharna Richardson drove her to Goodland to bring home 3 nice 8 week old, part Siamese kittens. She took one of them and Floy kept two and has been entertained ever since; Floy’s son and wife, Garry arid Sharon Fisher stopped by on their way to Kansas City/ Shawnee Mission area to visit their son, Jonathan, and wife Wendy, and meet the new grandson, Reed Owen. Reed has a two year old sister, Taylar. They returned to their home near Wray on Monday. 

It is (unofficially) 94 degrees on Monday afternoon at 3:30 in Haigler. Is it going to be a hot summer?