FLATWILLOW and WINNETT NEWS

Happy 2022 to everyone. Here’s hoping this year turns out to be a much better year in so many ways for all of us.

Flatwillow Homemakers held their Christmas party and meeting on December 14 at Luann’s home. She had prepared a delicious turkey and we all filled in whatever we wanted to go with the turkey and gravy. It was a delicious Christmas dinner. We celebrated two birthdays in December – Bonnie and Linda. Happy December birthday to both of you! There were eleven members present, two members absent, and we had one special guest, Marlene Samuels. She brought her mother Florence Wacker to our meeting. What a blessing to have Marlene here with us. Linda led the pledge and the thought for the day was read by Luann. It was an original poem she had written titled “The Night Before Christmas”. The thought for the day was special memories of Christmas from years past. How fun to hear everyone and the things we all remembered from Christmas there was some discussion on table favors for the senior citizens that we will make in January. Donna won the blind pig.

After the meal and business was finished, we had our Christmas gift exchange. We drew numbers on who went first, second, and so on. As the afternoon progressed, we could steal a gift from someone else and they could choose another one. It was fun and there were a lot of very nice gifts. The comradery and friendship means so much to all of us. Jean Cook, Linda Gershmel, Babs Lea, Donna Lund, Raye Anne Lund, Bonnie Moore, Ginger Moore, Lillian Moore, Florence Wacker, and Melody Whitcher as well as Marlene enjoyed every minute at Luann’s home. She had it so decorated up for Christmas. Our next meeting will be January 11 at Linda Gershmel’s home. See you then. Merry Christmas!

Linda hosted our Homemaker meeting at her home in January. Luckily the weather was decent so our travelers from Billings had no trouble coming. Bonnie Moore brought a wonderful friend Sherry Caulfield as her guest. It is always nice to see Sherry. We celebrated Sandy and Florence’s birthdays in January. Happy birthday to you to welcome in 2022. Linda had a fun thought for the day. She had a list of questions about winter that we all got to answer. Made us think for a minute or two. Linda made the cutest gnomes to put on each table at senior citizens as a centerpiece. They were such a nice centerpiece and so cute to see on the tables. Thank you, Linda. Bonnie won the blind pig and then there was a second prize for one of the gnomes. Raye Anne won the gnome. I am so glad. It has a place of honor on my piano. Babs will host us for the February meeting on the 8th. Roll call will be telling about your first kiss. This should be interesting. Jean Cook, Linda Gershmel, Sandy Gonzalez Happy January to all and see you next month.

Basketball season has started. Be sure to come out and support the kids from Winnett and Grass Range. WGR Rams are working hard and striving to be the best they can be. Good luck to our teams!

The youth program sponsored by the Petroleum County Community Center is going strong. They have anywhere from 12-20 kids every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 3:30 to 5:30. Then kids club at the Baptist Church is on Thursday nights from 4:00-6:00. Thank you all for your hard work in providing a safe and warm place for kids to hang out after school. This is for kids k-6th grade. Youth group for 7-12th grades meet on Wednesday nights from 7:00-9:00. They meet after basketball practice is finished and a supper is provided.

Our community sends our sympathy and hugs to the family of Jerry Caulfield. We are so sorry for your loss.

We’ve made it most of the way through January. There have been several bitter cold days, and then several days in the 40’s and 50’s. Stay warm, healthy, and enjoy each day. After such a hot and dry summer, it is hard to think we are already through the fall, part of the winter and looking towards spring and all the calves that will soon be running around, and planting being done. Let’s hope for lots of good moisture to replenish the earth.

WINNETT SENIOR NEWS

DECEMBER

Dec 2 - Twenty-five seniors and ten take-out lunches enjoyed Cabbage Patch Stew, fresh fruit, sliced cheese, Red Lobster biscuits, and cupcakes.

Leo Tarplee’s birthday is today. Happy birthday to you. Linda G. and Diane I. will both be making a birthday cake for this month’s birthday celebrations. The Christmas program at school will be on December 16 at 2:00 in the gym. Lots of activities planned for December.

Lillian won the 50/50 for $7.00 Congratulations, Lillian. Chuck Allen is in the hospital in Billings. Ron Kastner is also in the hospital in Billings and Tara P. is recovering from sickness at home. Stay healthy everyone as cold and flu season are happening at the same time as Covid. Lots of germs floating around.

Dec 9 - Pasta sausage bake, cottage cheese, a fresh veggie tray, and ice cream was enjoyed by twenty-five seniors and seven take-out meals. Patti was gone today so Raye Anne helped Cassie in the kitchen. Dwane and Patti should be back home tonight.

Chuck and Ronnie are both still in the hospital. They are putting heated air through tubes to help Ron’s lungs heal.

The 50/50 for $9.00 was won by Raye Anne.

The Christmas stroll is tomorrow night from 6-8pm. There will be a Holiday Market at The Breaks Store from 3-8:00pm.Finger foods, snacks, hot chocolate, drawings for prizes will all be happening at the store and will still be going on during the stroll. Don’t forget that the school Christmas program will be on December 16 at 2:00.

Our sympathy goes out to the family and friends of Shirle Wiggins. She passed away Nov 27. There are no public services planned at this time. She was a music teacher here and taught piano lessons as well as helping her husband on their ranch. She was a longtime member of the Flatwillow Homemakers. She was a good friend and neighbor. I, for one will miss her, but I know a lot of her friends here will miss her. We also want to send our sympathy to Orval Garrison’s family and friends. He was Grace Allen’s brother. Our thoughts and prayers are with both these families during this time.

Dec 16 - We had a good crowd for lunch today. Thirty-three members and seven take-out meals had Corned beef and cabbage with carrots, jello salad, mashed potatoes, rolls, relishes, and cheesecake.

Bill Kastner is in the hospital with Covid, Evelyn Kastner is in the hospital, Chuck Allen is back in the ICU as fluid was building back up on his lungs. Ron Kastner is home now. Mert Knutson and Donna Lund didn’t come in today because of the bitter wintry weather. Thinking of all our friends who are sick and not able to be here with us today because of sickness, weather, or other. Hope to see everyone healthy as soon as possible. Welcome back to Gary G. who has missed several weeks due to being sick.

The school program is today at 2:00 in the gym. Come out and support our kids as they sing and entertain us with Christmas music. Rumor has it Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be there and hand out bags of candy.

Ginger won the 50/50 for $11.50.

Rapid test kits for Covid are available from the county. They have a 98% positive test rate.

December 20, the blood mobile will be here in Winnett. If you want to donate and don’t have an appointment, be sure to contact Reba. She can get an appointment time for you.

There will be basketball games on Saturday at 2:00. Hopefully the weather will cooperate, so travel won’t be a problem. Stay safe out there.

Dec 23 - Today is birthday dinner of oven fried chicken, mashed potatoes with milk gravy, lettuce salad, cranberries, birthday cake with ice cream. Happy birthday to all who celebrate another wonderful year in December. There were twenty-nine members and 8 take-out meals today.

Seniors gifted our wonderful cooks Patti and Cassie with beautiful Christmas poinsettias.

Ralph gave an update on the progress of the community center. Delli gave an update on Gunda Lewis. She is doing fine but misses everyone here. Diane Iverson has visited with Chuck Allen. He has been moved to the rehab hospital over by the VA Clinic. They have cut his oxygen in half, so he is making wonderful improvements. Welcome back to Donna L. She made in for seniors today and is glad to be here.

Our postmaster Andrew Dean and his wife had a baby boy. He has been deployed to Kuwait but was given leave to fly home to be with his wife and baby for a few weeks. They named him Gabriel. Congratulations!

Lee and Marcia I. will be heading south in a few weeks. Marvel Manuel had a broken leg that had shattered. She is back in Valle Vista and doing much better.

Kim won the 50/50 for $14. Congratulations! Next week, be sure to bring your leftover Christmas goodies to share with everyone. That will be our dessert.

We send out hugs and sympathy to Sherry Caulfield and the rest of the family on the loss of Jerry. So sorry for your loss. Prayers and hugs to you.

Dec 30 - Both Donna and I were gone today so I don’t have any information.

Happy New Year to all. See you in 2022!