JOY class of 1956 celebrates beginning, accomplishments

On Friday evening March 9, the JOY Sunday School class celebrated their 56th anniversary with a buffet dinner at Chicken Mary's in Yale. Wayne and Christie Parrish were in charge of the preparation of decorations and dessert. Balloons were tied to pretty plastic bags of colored candies. Little plastic pots with tiny animals waving in the breeze, beside bright colored napkins. Nineteen attended and enjoyed a fine evening.

Vera Parrish, secretary, read the history of the class of the Arcadia Christian Church. This class started in 1956 when the class was organized at the request of a mother in the church so her soon-to-be-married daughter and husband would have a Sunday school class to attend made up of younger people.

The group met in the kitchen of the bungalow. The class, great in number, soon moved to the larger room. In all these years there were only three full-time teachers, Lula Garton, Emory Briggs and Gary Peterson.

Our monthly JOY Class dinners are really something to write home about and cannot be beat.

Helpful projects have also been accomplished such as helping at Vacation Bible School, monthly contributions to LATM, Campus Christians, faithfully helping Bosina Missions Team and giving to Santa for Christmas treats. Neighbors such as Mr. Compton and Carol Brooks purchased books for the school kids, boxed cookies for the elderly at Christmas, cleaned the kitchen and painted and papered the parsonage.

As a newcomer, Carol Bridgewater cleaned up the little kids' Sunday school room and the library, which led to a very large rummage sale. Many thanks go to Gary and Dave Bridgewater for their strength and help. Credit goes to Wayne and Christie for the cookie treats each Sunday morning at class time.

Others not named above who enjoyed the dinner and the history written and read by Vera Parrish and our president, Patty Peterson, who conducts our monthly meetings that open with a Bible question say, "Class, keep on keeping on and God bless JOY," are listed below: Brian Guest and Michelle Castrro; Charles and Willa Cable,, Walter Foulk; Pat and Cathy Allen, Mary V. Shead, Carol Garrison, John Parrish, Stuart and Ashley Semple and little Elizabeth.

Arcadia folks were sorry to hear of the death of Clifford Joe Edwin Myers, 69, on March 4 of leukemia in Emporia. He was the son of Ruby Schaub Myers and the late Clifford Myers who lived in Arcadia in their youth and attended Arcadia High School. Condolences to the family.

A birthday dinner was held for 5-year-old Katy Shead on Friday, March 9. Following a special dinner at 6 p.m., the birthday cake with five candles were blown out as a picture was taken. She was assisted by her brother Benjamin in opening her gifts.

Guests for the evening were grandmother J.D. Davis from Texas; great-grandmother Mary V. Shead, Arcadia; grandmother and grandpa Vickie and Larry Shead. Her parents, Haley and Mark Shead, were the hosts for the special occasion in their Fort Scott home.

Our Gang's next gathering is on March 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the Arcadia Community Center. Chicken is on the menu, so let them know by March 22 so enough chicken will be ordered. Steve Morris will pick up the chicken and side orders. You may pay that night at dinner. You are invited to take dessert if you wish.

Mary Shular Logan, 98, died in Wichita, March 1. She was the daughter of John and Mary Shular who lived in Gross, Kan., for many years. She was preceded in death by two brothers, John and Felix Shular. Her sister Rose Campbell lives in Pittsburg. All four were school teachers. Condolences to family.

Friends of Presbyterian Village in Fort Scott are invited to attend their Spring Fling on March 20 at 2:30 p.m. They will play games outdoors, eat delicious snacks and award fun prizes to all.

The Arcadia Fire Department is requesting that anyone who has oxygen containers sign a register at City Hall. This request will help them and you if there is a fire. They can be prepared when they arrive.

The department is also asking that anyone who has a basement let them know and sign a register. This is to help in the event of a storm like the one that hit Joplin, so they would know where to look for you.