By Chris Sorensen

High pressure continues to dominate across Colorado. Hot days are expected this week, with near-record temperatures Sunday. Smoke from fires may limit warming, but only by a few degrees.

Kiowa County can expect high temperatures in the mid- to upper 90s through Saturday, slightly above seasonal norms. Overnight lows will be in the mid-60s.

Very little chance of precipitation is currently in the forecast. A ten percent chance of showers and thunderstorms is expected Wednesday and Thursday, increasing to 20 percent each evening.

Lightning strikes the ground in our state more than a half million times each year and with many of us participating in outdoor activities, we need to learn how to protect ourselves from lightning hazards.

Lightning Kills

In the United States there are an estimated 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes per year. Each one is a potential threat to life and property. The 30-year average of human lightning fatalities is 49. Last year 27 people were killed by lightning while many others were permanently injured.

Of those killed in 2015 by lightning:

By Slim Randles

“Carnsider this for a minute, boys,” Windy said, sadly shaking his head at the King Arthur memorial round table at the Mule Barn truck stop. “I mean to say, well you know them ladies actually asked me to be their speaker, right?”

We nodded and sipped our early afternoon coffee.

By Pastor Rich Z

LEADERS

Whoever the president or congressmen are, remember that God has a purpose. God even used wicked Pharaoh to demonstrate His great power. “The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases.” Proverbs 21:1 NLT

I know this was put in the paper a few years back, but it seems to fit our current political climate.

“When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!”

Given that a half million lightning flashes strike the ground in Colorado each year, and that more people are killed and injured by lightning than any other weather hazard, Governor John Hickenlooper has declared the week of June 19 through June 25 as Colorado Lightning Safety Awareness Week.

Lightning in Colorado is most common in the summer months, but can be a hazard throughout the year. And although nearly all lightning victims are struck outdoors, lightning can pose a threat to those indoors as well.

295 Citations for Unrestrained Children Under Age 15

From May 23 to June 5, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) combined efforts with the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and local law agencies for the May Mobilization Click It or Ticket enforcement period. The campaign resulted in 5,983 seat belt citations, which included 295 citations for unrestrained or improperly restrained children under the age of 15.

USDA Update

By Eads USDA Service Center

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

•                CCC-633EZ – Loan Deficiency Payment (LDP) agreement and request – MUST BE SIGNED AND ON FILE WITH FSA OFFICE BEFORE HARVEST.  

•                2nd Tuesday each month - Farm Loan personnel in Kiowa County FSA Office. 

One of our most popular features from the past 15 years - a full-page color photo on the front of the Kiowa County Press showing various impressions of life in Kiowa County. While a limited number of copies continue to be printed and distributed each week at Kiowa Healthmart, COOP C-Store in Eads, Haswell Propane, and Thunderbird Petroleum, we wanted to bring this feature to our online readers as well.

Shown below - the front page of the June 17, 2016, Kiowa County Press - bird of prey riding air currents. Photo by Jeanne Sorensen.

Birthdays

June 20

Savanna Phelps

Heather Ramsay

Evanee Pearcey

Billy Gourley

Derick Myskiw

Tyler Harris

Jamie Lindquist

Courtney Cochran

June 21

Bernice Tuttle

Gage Phelps

Zoe Dunlap

Deborah Owens

Alice Nelson

Taylor Jacobs

Colleen Rehm Buss

Piper Page McEwen

Wesley Hofferber

June 22

Alexa Grogan

Tobi Berry

Kristi Baxter