Local

Children from babies through fourth grade gathered at the Elsie Methodist Church on Saturday, April 4, for the annual Easter egg hunt sponsored by the Elsie Community Development Organization. In each age group, two prize eggs were hidden, with winners receiving a special toy. Children receiving the Prize Eggs were (left to right): Everett McCoy, Remi McCoy, Rylan McCoy, Grace Robertson, Rhett Robertson, William Robertson.

The Elsie/Madrid Community Blood Drive, held at Madrid City Hall, drew strong turnout and community support, with several notable milestones announced by coordinators Michele Cutler and Rosalie Curtis. Lunch and hospitality were provided by the Golden Plains Mennonite Church, offering donors a comfortable space to rest after giving blood and to enjoy a great meal as they completed the donating process. Donors reaching gallon milestones: Mary Harger reached 10 gallons and Marian Glunz reached 15 gallons, marking significant personal contributions to the community blood supply. A record number of first-time donors were: Kalynn Jantz, Jeffrey Koehn, Elle Ensz, Christina Toews, Madison Koehn, Lauren Schmidt, and Ashlyn Giesbrecht . Volunteers dedicating time and resources included Karen Giesbrecht and Mary Callahan. The next Elsie/Madrid Community Blood Drive is scheduled for July 24, 2026, at the Elsie Methodist Church. Community members who donated on April 3 left with the shared sense that an hour of their day can make a life-saving difference for others in need. Pictured above is Marian Glunz reaching her 15 gallon mark.