• The Kiowa County Republican party will hold their organizational meeting on Monday, February 6, 7:00 pm at the Bank Meeting Room in Eads. The purpose of this meeting is to elect party officers for the county for a 2 year team, appoint necessary committees, and address any other business brought forward by committee members. The public is welcome to attend this meeting, but will not have voting privileges.

• Eads Drivers License Schedule RENEWAL'S ONLY February 7-8-14-15-21-22-27 MVR Reports Available

Motorcycle deaths hit all-time record

Preliminary data from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) indicates that traffic fatalities have risen by 24 percent since 2014. In 2016, there were 605 traffic fatalities in Colorado, compared to 547 fatalities in 2015.

"Colorado is growing, but that doesn't mean traffic fatalities must grow too," said CDOT Executive Director Shailen Bhatt. "A lot can be done to mitigate the increase; for example, if everyone buckled up we could save over 60 lives per year."

Seat Belt Use

The Kiowa County Commissioner’s Reorganizational Meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Chairman Richard Scott on January 10, 2017. Oswald opened the meeting with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Those in attendance were:

Richard Scott, Chairman

Cindy McLoud, Commissioner

Donald Oswald, Commissioner

Delisa Weeks, County Clerk

Tina Adamson, County Administrator

Member of Audience: Cathy Garcia (with Corey Gardner’s Office)

By Doris Lessenden

The next Weisbrod Hospital Auxiliary meeting will be February 14th at 11:00 a.m. for lunch in the J J’s Ranch House dining room.  The new officers, Alice Glover, President, Madonna Pollreis—Vice President, Doris Lessenden—Secretary, and Treasurer-–Loretta Seibel were elected at the January meeting.

Arkansas River Headwaters

by Doris Lessenden

Nine people reported feeling an earthquake that occurred south of New Castle in Garfield County Monday afternoon.

The quake, measuring 3.3 on the Richter Scale according to the United States Geological Survey, was centered about three miles south of New Castle, and was located 30 miles north west of a group of 17 smaller earthquakes that shook southwest Pitkin and northern Gunnison Counties earlier in the month. Those quakes measured between 1.1 and 2.8.

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site will be closed on Wednesday, February 8, and Thursday, February 9, 2017. The purpose of the two-day closure is for annual staff and administrative planning purposes and will include both the park, near Chivington, and the park’s administrative office in Eads. Both the park and the administrative office will reopen Friday, February 10 at 9 am.

For additional information, please call (719) 729-3003, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4 pm, or visit www.nps.gov/sand.

The Bent's Fort Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Association will hold its Annual Meeting on February 11, 2017 in the Grand Room of the JW Rawlings Heritage Center and Museum in Las Animas.  The Museum is located at 560 Bent Avenue (corner of Hwy 50 and 5th St.) in Las Animas.