When winter really digs in, you might not think about your favorite state park or wildlife area as a destination. It’s cold and only the hardcore hikers, campers, ice-fishing enthusiasts, cross-country skiers and snowshoers have us at top of mind.

Don’t forget about us or you’ll miss out on some great winter festivals and wildlife viewing opportunities available across the state this time of year. I’m particularly thinking about our annual Eagle Day Festivals on the first weekend of February at both Lake Pueblo State Park and Barr Lake State Park in Brighton.

In a month that saw dry conditions expand rapidly across all of Colorado, the situation continued to deteriorate in the southeast corner of the state.

While large portions of the northeast plains of Colorado will remain below the freezing mark Saturday, mountain and foothill areas from Boulder to the Colorado-New Mexico state line will see 50s and 60s, and a risk for fire returns.

Birthdays

January 1

• Chad Krentz
• Bylie Jo Beeson

January 2

• Rhonda Koehn
• Jared Splitter
• Eugene Splitter
• Neil Lane
• Charlie Sawyer
• Michael Stewart
• Russ Engstrom
• Amber Kopasz

January 3

• Lacy Webster
• Kristina Uhland
• Rhett Uhland
• Judy Weeks
• Olivia Specht

January 4

One of our most popular features for 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.

Tues Jan 2

Teacher's return

Wed Jan 3

Students Return

Fri Jan 5

SCHOOL IN SESSION

Sat Jan 6

3 pm HS BBall HOME vs Holly

Wed Jan 10

3 pm JH BBAll HOME vs Karval

Thurs Jan 11

5 pm HS BBall HOME vs Springfield

Fri Jan 12

8:30 am HS Knowledge Bowl @ Manzanola

Tues & Thurs Jan 16 & 18

TBA JH BBall League Tourney @ Cheyenne Wells

Tues Jan 18

4 pm HS BBall HERE vs Las Animas

Fri Jan 19

8:30 am HS Knowledge Bowl @ Eads

Fri Jan 19

5 pm HS BBall HOME vs Wiley

Tuesday, Jan. 2

School Resumes

Lunch:  BBQ Ribs and Buttered Noodles

Wednesday, Jan. 3

Lunch:  Chicken Sandwich w/ French Frids

Thursday, Jan. 4

Lunch:  Cheeseburgers and Chips

Friday, Jan. 5

School In Session 

2:00 p.m. Early Release

4:00 p.m. HS Basketball (H) Cheraw

Lunch:  Chicken Pot Pie

Saturday, Jan. 6

10:00 a.m. Wrestling at Lamar

4:00 p.m. HS BB at Stratton lv 1:45

Monday, Jan. 8

3:00 p.m. FBLA Meeting

Lunch:  Burritos w/ Green Chili

• Towner Senior Citizens have pecans for sale., $13 per bag. Please contact Barbara Wilson or Sharon Scott
• Did you know there is a program that could pay for a portion of your heating costs if you qualify?

Unlike the eastern plains, temperatures will be noticeably warmer over the coming days for the western half of the state; however, conditions will also favor increased fire danger for parts of the southern mountains. Welcome to December in Colorado!

Eastern Plains

Look for a pleasantly warm Friday across the plains – but don’t get too comfortable. Highs will be below freezing Friday night until at least Tuesday for most of the region, and overnight lows will drop below zero Sunday and Monday nights in some areas.

The Rio Blanco Sheriff’s Office has closed the missing person case for Peter Christian Ruffner, 66, who was reported missing in early October, and had last been seen alive in late September.