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The Albin News is general news items about an out-of-the-way railroad town in the very southeast corner of Wyoming.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Albin news Nov 15, 2010

Albin News Readers,

It's been a slow news week in the community of Albin. After the late warm fall we've been having winter finally gave us our first snow! It was a beautiful put-the-wheat-to-bed blanket of wet snow that had the roads slick at night and sloppy in the day. The ground hasn't froze yet so most of this moisture should be around for next spring. We're now past the time change now too so there it plenty of time in the evenings to get together and enjoy the season.

To kick off the season of get-togethers, the Albin Community Center hosted it's second “Albin's Got Talent” community talent show. There were 18 wildly diverse talents on display this year. There was a little cowboy song and dance from last year's winner Tony Childers (Take Me Out to the Pasture to the tune of Take Me Out to the Ballgame), Diane Lerwick showed her geek streak by solving a rubic's cube in under six minutes, Caleb Anderson hammered out a daring drum solo, Brad Lundberg played his trumpet, and all the participants sang “God Bless America” at the end. The winners this year were Dean Anderson and Justin McCoy who played a couple blues harp duets. They showed real talent! Honorable mention had to go to the skit performed by Jill Lerwick, Sandra Anderson, Heather Lerwick, and Shawnae Branigan. The foursome replayed the harrowing tale of “Me and Earl” hauling a trailer load of “USDA grade 'A' cluckers” down Wolf Creek Pass. A good time was had by all.

There are also several more evening activities to announce this week. There is also adult volleyball at the community center on Tuesday nights and may be Thursday night basketball starting in December. More details to follow on the basketball. Also, Albin is in need of more volunteer EMTs. There are currently four in the community but I'm sure some of them wouldn't mind a break. If anyone is interested in training to become an EMT, contact Shannon Weller at 245-3400. You can also talk to our current EMTs Robyn Whitehead, Dean Anderson, Ed Allen or Kary Deselms. Evening classes will be two days a week starting in January. The class is still awaiting approval at the state level so I'll try make an announcement again later if it's a for sure thing.

The Boyce-Marlatt Chapter of American Legion Auxiliary met November 10 with five members present: Kathy Olson, Mary Kay Romsa, Elaine Perrault, Bertha Sandberg and Joann Hays. Wanda Carpenter of Pine Bluffs was awarded a certificate for 60 years of Auxiliary membership. $35 was donated to the community center for Christmas treats and $100 was donated to the Cheyenne Veterans Hospital for their project Christmas Year Round – this money is used during the year for holidays and birthdays. The next meeting will be Wednesday December 8 with guest Sheri Best, District President.

Here's the latest on Tim from Dixie:

Today, our church had its Thanksgiving Service and Potluck.  During praise time, several spoke and those  who spoke of Tim were so precious and encouraging.  Tim raised his hand to speak..."I'm thankful to be alive, thank you for praying and keep praying!"  He was very excited to have his jeans on--we will work on his belt, buckle, and boots soon! He had very good therapy sessions both days--able to sit in an armless chair, bend left knee up and half-way down, then I could push it on down to the floor, spit better when brushing teeth, bend left arm more, learning how to whisper, and his attitude continues to be very positive.  His patience with us gives us encouragement and laughter!!  I've heard about and will be finding the book by Kerry and Chris Shook, Love at Last Sight.  It talks about having relationships develop and get better and better everytime you talk or see someone because you never know if it may be the last sight--More on the book after I read it (many of you are laughing right now when you read that I am reading a book!) We hope each and every one of you are planning a great Thanksgiving and you make a gratitude list!  We love you !”

I got to visit Tim this week and it was good to see that he's still Tim! He hasn't lost his sense of humor or competitive flair.

Here's the latest from Cindi on Garrett's condition:

Wow! Where to begin. OT (occupational therapy) started working with Garrett. Mon OT wrote numbers and words on a piece of paper, which G either showed the numbers on his fingers or pointed at (ear, nose, knee). G did curls and other stuff with a 4# weight and he spelt his name in sign lang. On Tue G went down to the gym. He sat at a table with about 7 objects. He found the flashlight and tried to it on (it was a trick, the flashlight had no batteries) - found the brush and brushed his hair, found the hammer and tapped it on the table. Was given pencil and paper but could not write his name. Oh well, that's OK. We don't want to do everything all at once - have to stretch it out!!!
Speech showed G 2 pictures and he pointed to the correct one every time. Still working on swallow. He has a strong swallow, it's the control of the tongue we are working on. She has also started working with voice. There was one PM I was washing my juicer and I could have swore I heard him say MOM. So I started talking to him. Went over to the bed and asked him if he said MOM or if he was just clearing his throat - nodded his head at MOM. Thank you Jesus even though he has not done it since then. The way I look at it - once is better than nothing!
PT, also at the gym, stood G up at the parallel bars then sat down. Did that twice. Now I am not saying that G STOOD up at the parallel bars, but they HELPED him. They actually did most of the work, BUT they could feel G trying to help. (If that makes sense.) They also put his feet on bicycle pedals, which he did do all by himself. OK only half of the rotation since his L side does not work. PT also put him a wheelchair. Talk about dying and going to Heaven. I'll take the wheelchair over the recliner chair any day. Just a little push and he'll roll right away from you. Today, in fact, he dropped his R hand, put it on the wheel, and was helping me. (Kind of - I was going faster than his hand was moving - we would still be out there if I waited for him!)
Talk about bursting a bubble -- come in from outside, G gave no indication if he wanted the radio or TV, so there was nothing. He was sitting there quietly and I was busy with something. A nurse came in and said something about entertaining him - what - entertain him - now I have to think! Went to Walmart and got a couple of little things. Ask him if he wants to play a game - nods head. By the time I raise him in bed and get him situated, he falls asleep on me. Now what does that tell you?
Told you last week that the nurses were telling me that G's status was changed from sub-acute to acute rehab. Well that must be true. Ripley came to re-evaluate. Have had a visit from Spalding and Craig liaisons. Scott came to Denver on Fri so we could tour. It matters not where we go because God is doing the healing - but what would you pick - 4 wks or 60 days? So, Monday we will be leaving for Craig. What to pray for #1 transition to Craig will go smooth. Mon we will move, then the next couple of days will be evaluating. #2 G can STILL walk out of Kindred and push his mother in the wheelchair! #3 L side movement #4 voice.
God is so amazing and ever so present. I praise Him for His sovereignty, love, wisdom, power . . . I trust Him with the 'whatevers'. Deuteronomy 29:29 31:6 Psalm 62:7-8, 11-12 Proverbs 16:9 Psalm 121 

In ag news this week, the commodity markets do seem to be cooling off for the time being. We are five months away from spring planting though so there is a lot of story left to tell on this acreage battle. There is a NASS report out in January that will tally the planted winter wheat acres. In 2008, it was this report that sparked the huge bull run that ran wheat up to $13.00/bu! With the late fall we've had, and wheat prices staying strong through wheat planting time, it's hard for me to believe that there won't be plenty of winter wheat planted this year.

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