By Donald Schoderbek, CSU Extension Range Specialist

Let’s talk about stocker cattle in Colorado.

Maybe you know them as a savvy buyer of ‘odds and ends’ at the sale barn.  Perhaps they are a cow-calf operator who holds back some steers for extra profit.  Or, they run a crackerjack starting yard.  I’m talking about the so-called ‘elusive’ stocker operator.   These operations exist because of a simple fact – young cattle are risky cattle, and feedlots prefer a safer investment.  Stocker operators get those rangy steers into feedlot shape!

PUBLIC NOTICE

Colorado law requires the county assessor to hear objections to real property classifications and valuations beginning no later than May 2, 2017. Objections to the valuation or classification of real property must be postmarked, delivered, or presented in person to the county assessor’s office no later than June 1, 2017.

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is warning the public about a current phone scam. Multiple community members have reporting that they were contacted by a person claiming to be a CDOT representative. The caller states that they are conducting a survey on behalf of CDOT and requesting personal information such as date of birth, driver’s license number and address.

When the community members refuse to give any information, they have been threatened with deportation.  

Drovers, a Farm Journal Media franchise, and the Farm Journal Foundation have announced acceptance of a challenge by global philanthropist and American farmer-rancher Howard G. Buffett to raise at least $2 million to help ranching victims of the devastating wildfires that burned 1.6 million acres in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado in March. All monetary donations to the Drovers/Farm Journal Foundation Million Dollar Wildfire Relief Challenge will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, up to $1 million. 

By Chris Sorensen

Drought conditions continued to improve for southeastern Colorado following early April rain and snow storms, however a new area of abnormal dryness has encroached on northwest Colorado counties.

This week at Lamar Theatre

Starts Friday

Dreamworks The Boss Baby, "He's the Boss," 6:45 p.m. daily

Power Rangers, "It's Morphin' Time," 8:40 p.m. daily

Coming Soon

Going in Style

The Fate of the Furious

Regular pricing Thursday for The Boss Baby.

By Chris Sorensen

Rain, which began Thursday afternoon, will continue Friday across much of eastern Colorado.

• Fun Tote Program now is a great time!  The program is designed for ages 0 to 8 years old.  The totes are available for check out at the Kiowa County Library.

• Eads Driver’s License Schedule Renewal’s Only April 25-26

• The Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site will be doing a 10 year Retrospective at the Crow-Luther Cultural Events Center Thursday evening (April 27) beginning at 5:30pm. More information to come about this event.

Clark Beeson

(May 16, 1922- April 19, 2017

Funeral services are pending at this time.

Brown Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

April 16-22 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Colorado. We will be brining you a series of tips each day so you can be prepared for the weather ahead. Thursday’s article is available here. NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio is another great way to monitor the weather and receive warnings.