Santa visits children at Arcadia Community Center

The Joy Sunday School Class met on Monday evening, Dec. 17 with only nine present because of snow and sickness. Cards were signed for Bob and Ava Mae Adams and Roger Harris. Following the fine dinner, blessed by Jerry Coonrod all were busy packing the yearly gifts of Cookies for the elderly, shut-ins and former Arcadia friends of the Arcadia Christian Church. Forty boxes of cookies were delivered by the members. Others present were President Patty Peterson, Gary Peterson, Wayne Parrish, Lilly Coonrod, Jack and Mary Lee Payne, Betty Dehn and the Treasurer, Mary V. Shead.

The first meeting of the New Year will be the third Monday of Jan. 15, 2008.

In December, Forrest and Ernestine Berkey celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary. Their daughter, Angela and granddaughters, Kristen and Bethany Redd, surprised them with with a pineapple upside down cake when they served them a supper of homemade lasagna.

Larry Shead attended the funeral of his cousin, Stella Mason, in Cheney Witt Chapel in Fort Scott on Tuesday, Dec. 18. Her husband, deceased in l974, was Ralph Mason,

She is survived by a son Jerry Mason and wife, Tabitha, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Burial was in the National Cemetery in Fort Scott.

After a check-up in Pittsburg last week, Betty and Emory Briggs visited friends in Mt. Carmel Medical Center, then drove to Arcadia. Pastor David Peterson took communion to the home of Wanda Norris, who partook of it with Betty and Emory before they headed back to Nowata, Okla. The Briggs left gifts of Home made banana bread for his former JOY Sunday School members in Arcadia. All were pleased they were remembered in this way.

The annual Christmas brunch to remind friends the real meaning of Christmas hosted by Patty Peterson was held in her beautifully decorated home on Saturday morning, Dec. 22, with 10 guests who braved the weather to attend.

Her daughter, Kristin Girard, of Joplin, Mo. entertained with the reading of two children's illustrated books with the familiar stories of "Twelve Days of Christmas" and "The Visit of St. Nicholas." The large dining table was decorated with seven tall red candles standing in crystal holders on doilies that are decorated Christmas handkerchiefs.

On the buffet were coffee cakes, cinnamon rolls, fruit bowl, cheese ball, various sliced cheeses, crackers, etc all served with cranberry tea, orange juice, hot tea, coffee and topped off with cherry chocolates.

The hostess' granddaughter, Megan Peterson of Girard was the greeter of these guests: Carolyn Girard of Arma and the following from Arcadia: Shirley Garrett, Mary Lee Payne, Carole Garrison, Cathy Allen, Betty Dehn and Mary V. Shead.

Friends in Arcadia have received Christmas greetings from former Arcadians including, Margaret Maxine Gabel Brooks in assisted Living, Bolivar, Mo., Velma Jewell, assisted living in Ozark, Mo.; Reva Heath Best, assisted Living, Hueston, Texas. She was the music and home economics teacher in Arcadia High School for four years in 1933-1937. Margaret Corporon Wickstrom, assisted living in Edmond, Okla. Juanita and Owen McWilliams, assisted living in Joplin, Mo. and Leona Mayfield, Arma, Kan. Care Center. George and Dorothy Quier former teachers and Superintendent are proud to say they are still in their own home, Joplin, Mo.

Over 100 children with parents and friends attended the Santa Claus night Dec. 16 in Arcadia Community Center to receive gifts, treats and pictures with Santa. To the widows unable to brave the storm, Santa delivered to them in person. Edith and Bill Bridgewater have headed this special treat for many years and want to thank folks who assisted them. In turn we thank them.