Photo of the week for September 17, 2021, from the Kiowa County Press in Eads, Colorado - Storm clouds over the prairie in Kiowa County, Colorado - Damian Hernandez

Randal "Randy" Lee Hoffman

May 28, 1959 - September 11, 2021

Mr. Hoffman passed away at the Longs Peak Hospital in Longmont.

No public services are currently planned.

Arrangements are under the direction of Brown Funeral Home.

DATA

• Cases 121
• Hospitalizations 8
• Deaths 4**

*These are cumulative totals as of 09/14/2021 4pm **Deaths in people with a recent positive COVID test.

• CASES PAST 7 days: 2
• CASES PAST 14 days: 4

Kiowa county has had a single case in a vaccinated person. ALL hospitalizations and deaths in Kiowa County were in people who were not vaccinated.

Due to a number of reasons including this year drought conditions, water supply is becoming a major concern in western Kansas.

Nebraska wildlife experts are seeing an uptick in blue tongue disease, a potentially deadly virus that can kill deer, elk and bighorn sheep.

Republican Heidi Ganahl formally announced her candidacy for governor of Colorado.

Hurricane Ida has already caused oil supply losses of 30 million barrels, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reports, resulting in the first decline in global oil supply in five months.

The good news is that irritable bowel syndrom (IBS) can be managed with diet and lifestyle changes.

Wyoming crop progress and condition report from the USDA for the week ending September 12, 2021.

President Joe Biden’s orders requiring vaccinations for about two-thirds of the U.S. workforce add to a patchwork of vaccine mandates aimed at pushing more people to get their shots and bring the pandemic under control.