For many Americans, the summer grilling and travel season begins this weekend. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service wants to make sure you and your family avoid food poisoning this summer. An estimated 128,000 Americans are hospitalized with food poisoning each year, but foodborne illnesses can be prevented during summer months by properly handling perishable foods during travel, and by using a food thermometer when grilling.

Joei Hamill of Lubbock, Texas, recently signed her Letter of Intent to rodeo at Lamar Community College this fall.  The recent graduate of Frenship High School in Wolfforth, will add her goat tying and breakaway roping skills to the 2018-2019 Lopes Rodeo team.

Hamill is finishing an impressive year, as noted by LCC Head Coach Fred Sherwood.

“Joei is in eighth place in Texas Region 2 goat tying and is headed to the Texas State High School Finals in June,” he said.  “She also ropes very well and should make an immediate impact on our women’s team.”

Mary-Amanda (Mandy) Harmon joined the staff at Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site as an interpretive park guide on April 4, 2018. While Mandy may be new to Kiowa County, she’s no stranger to working at national park sites. Prior to joining the park team at Sand Creek, Mandy has worked over 8 years as an interpretive park guide for the National Park Service.

The number of cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Colorado feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 head or larger was estimated at 940,000 head as of May 1, 2018. The latest inventory is 1 percent below last month’s inventory and 2 percent below the May 1, 2017 inventory. 

Cattle feeders with 1,000 head or larger capacity marketed an estimated 150,000 head of fed cattle during April 2018. This was 6 percent below the previous month’s marketings, but 20 percent above the marketings one year earlier. 

One of our most popular features for over 17 years - a full-page color photo on the front of the Kiowa County Press showing various impressions of life in Kiowa County and across Colorado.

Copies of the print version of the Kiowa County Press can be purchased each week at Kiowa Healthmart, COOP C-Store in Eads, Haswell Propane, and Thunderbird Petroleum, our at our business office at 1208 Maine Street, Eads.

Hot – but perhaps not dry – conditions will dominate the unofficial kickoff to summer for Kiowa County this weekend.

Low 90s are expected Saturday under sunny skies. Afternoon wind will be out of the south in the 20 to 25 mile per hour range with some gusts up to 35 mph. Winds will decrease slightly overnight as temperatures drop into the low to mid-60s.

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Makes:   6 Servings 

BIRTHDAYS

May 28

• Linda Offill
• Darrell Hollis
• Shelly Hines
• Rachel Hoffman
• Mike Crain Sr.
• Kolton Sewell
• Therisa Brown
• Johnathan McClave

May 29

• Adam Watts
• Jena Mathis Smith
• Devrah Kay Muth
• Charlotte Gunning
• Samantha Weeks
• Abby Kiniston Marciel
• Dawna Peck

May 30

A brush fire is threatening the Island Acres Campground at the James M. Robb Colorado River State Park. The park is located in western Colorado along I-70 near Grand Junction.

At 7:00 p.m. Friday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Deputy Region Manager Aaron Fero reported that Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff had evacuated all campers from the campground, which was fully booked for the Memorial Day weekend. The campground has 77 campsites.