Three months ago this weekly column’s closing sentence in Orient’s pre-celebration comments was, “Orient’s 125th will be the place to be after the July 4th firecrackers have had their sparkle and bangs.”

It didn’t take a prophet to predict the event would be successful but it did take people to come from near and far to support the “hometown/country” residents’ celebration. All the work and preparations that went in to the 125th activities, hosted by this energetic, dedicated and fired-up small community’s anniversary gathering, was rewarded with the top purple ribbon, the A+ score, the best of show or whatever descriptive words one chooses to report July 6, 7 and 8, 2012 in Orient, S.D.

The days surrounding the Orient celebration found the crowds attending Faulkton’s annual Wild West Days and July 4th celebrations in Miller, Highmore, Redfield. Hot weather was the way it was! No complaints that our normal South Dakota wind was a no show!

Attendees were not about to be deterred from the high school reunion, the picnic in the park and breakfast in the hall, the parade, fireworks, museum displays, programs, time capsule, Kangaroo Court, and ALL the events and reminiscing crammed into the schedule. Another memory making three days in Orient, South Dakota’s history is now recorded with the 100th, 75th, 50th and 25th anniversary celebrations.

Life at the home of Dolores Clement has been just a bit busier than normal. Dorothy Ann LeDuc arrived from Huntsville, Ala. for the Orient celebration/school reunion and spend two weeks with her sister. Dick and Shirley Gebhart, Menomonie, Wis., were also guests of his sister.

The Clement children home for Orient’s 125th events were Gene and Carol Clement, Huron, Ben and Jill and their spouses and children; Sharon and Curt Spangler, Miller; Michelle, Lindsay and Amber and families; Bill and Deb Clement, Faulkton; Dustin, Kelly and Kayla and families. Also joining the family events were Dale Clement, Miller; Father Tom Clement, Herried; Susie and Bob DeGeest, Huron, Kirsten and Steven; Don and Jodie Clement, Brandon and Abby and Kevin Clement from Orient.

One could only say there was definitely lots of family activity at the former Catholic Church rectory. And it is good to have family enjoying the home. Dolores and the late Louie Clement purchased in the former rectory in 1987. After moving from the Eggerling house, they moved in to from their farm east of Polo. Father John A. Krebs and his sister/housekeeper Anna lived there from 1916-1951, followed by OMI priests, Fathers Greziak, Kegler, Babin and Minwegan.

Terry and Carol Witte’s family spent several days at the farm when they were home for Orient’s 125th celebration. Enjoying the reunions and visiting were Brent and Dawn Witte and five children, Sioux Falls; Sheila and Tim Hargens and four children, Parkston; and Tina and Mark Peterson and two children,Wray, Colo.

Home for the July celebration in Orient with Virg and Millie Hansen were Marlys Hansen, Waterloo, Iowa, and Rick Hansen, Christopher and Kadyn, Hot Springs. Virg’s sisters Lavilla Levtzow, Rockham, and Phyllis Markegard, Redfield, were also among those in Orient for the school reunion and events.

Jim and Marietta Wieseler had as guests over the weekend the co-ed softball team that Laree and Jerry Giovannettone belong to in Sioux Falls. They came to play in the Orient Tournament.  There were 13 adults, two grandsons, John and Lane, and two dogs.  It was a houseful, but everyone had a good time. They returned to Sioux Falls Sunday afternoon.

Matt and Chelsey Stoecker and Cebastian, and her sister Marissa Badger, stopped to visit Jack and JoAnn Schaefers Sunday afternoon en route back home to Sioux Falls. They had spent a couple days visiting his parents, Jeff and Carole Stoecker, Darin, Jeremy and Chantel in Tolstoy and Hoven.

Spending the weekend with Ron and Sharon Wieseler to take part in Orient’s parade and celebration were Mike and Rita Moe, Evie and Mason, Aberdeen; Ben Wieseler, Gettysburg; Dennis Wieseler, Pierre; and Pat Wieseler, Watertown

The rest is yet to come—since time to make calls doesn’t fit in between all Orients activities.

WEATHER REPORT is simple and only three letters long…HOT or DRY. Both apply. The heat being at the 100-degree mark for area parades and events, for work and play is definitely not comfortable. So it is for July 2012 and it does make Monday’s 80 degrees feel cool in comparison.

Rain continues to elude us as we notice the effects of no moisture for the past weeks. While the gardens, grain fields and grass continue to grow and the corn fields do their normal shoot daily, with growth spurts of inches, it is apparent moisture would be welcome and is much needed.

Orient’s 125th is overwhelming success