An investigation by Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers into the poisoning of bald eagles in the San Luis Valley ended with the conviction of a Rio Grande County man.

John L. Divine, 77, pleaded guilty to 10 misdemeanors of illegal take of wildlife and using poisons to kill wildlife. He paid $8,283.50 in fines in April.

Divine told wildlife officers that he put out the poison because he claimed coyotes were killing his sheep.

Satchin Panda,

There’s a pop culture entity that can be seen right now that features foulmouthed puppets doing risqué things and is an absolute blast for anyone mature enough to handle it. I’m speaking, of course, about “Avenue Q”, the Tony-winning musical of consistent popularity that has been playing in New York since 2003. There’s also a new movie called “The Happytime Murders” that features foulmouthed puppets doing risqué things.

Producers made significant harvest gains last week amidst warm weather and isolated precipitation, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. 

Several crops were noted to be progressing a little ahead of the average and last year. Limited seeding of winter wheat also began last week in a few counties. 

Some northwestern counties received needed moisture last week. A reporter noted the precipitation was enough to keep producers from haying in areas. 

Lopes Open Season 4-1 at Quiznos Classic

The Lamar Community College volleyball team is off to its best start since 2013 after going 4-1 at the Quiznos Classic last weekend.

The host Lopes defeated its first three opponents in straight sets before beating Cisco in five and suffering its first loss in four sets to Butler.

Virgil L. Drescher

January 3, 1952 - August 28, 2018

Funeral services will be held Monday, September 3, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. at the Cheyenne Wells High School (old).  Burial will follow in the Arapahoe Cemetery in Arapahoe, CO.  Visitation will be held Sunday, September 2, 2018, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home in Cheyenne Wells.

Periodic storms across southeast Colorado have contributed to further improvements in drought conditions while the western half of the state continues to see the worst of this year’s impacts.

As much as two inches of rain fell in parts of Las Animas, Baca and Prowers counties, contributing to the improvement for the far southeast.

Most of Crowley County, along with lesser portions of Otero, Bent and Kiowa counties, shifted from extreme to severe drought.