Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture, Don Brown, has named Les Owen of Las Cruces, New Mexico, as the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Services Division Director. Owen assumes his new role in August 2016.

“This is an exciting time for the Colorado Department of Agriculture and Colorado’s agricultural industry; Les will be enhancing our federal lands and issues efforts by leading our Department in federal land use and planning, and conservation and natural resources issues that impact agriculture,” said Commissioner Brown.

To celebrate its 100th anniversary, the National Park Service has launched the Find Your Park campaign. The Park Service is inviting Americans to discover parks near them. With this in mind, Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site (NHS) in southeastern Colorado has partnered with Fort Larned National Historic Site (NHS) in western Kansas to link two national parks that share common bonds of turmoil during the Civil War and Indian Wars.

By Chris Sorensen

After a chance of isolated thunderstorms Sunday afternoon into the evening, the week will start off hot and dry.

Sunday’s high will be near 100. Winds will be out of the south at 15-20 miles per hour by the afternoon, with gusts to 30 mph, as a low pressure system develops in the area.

Severe storms will be possible near the Kansas border later in the day, particularly in Prowers and Baca Counties, where large hail – potentially golf ball-size – may be possible.

By Slim Randles

We all know that someone will find Jenkins's cabin. Someday. Oh, it's up there in those hills somewhere. We all know that.

It's become a friendly object of conjecture and speculation. No one living has seen it, as far as we know. Jenkins himself died quietly when he was on one of his infrequent trips to town for supplies. Funny guy, that Jenkins.

Approximately 90 percent of all wildfires are caused by people.  One of the most common causes is unattended campfires.  Emergency responders need your help in keeping our forests and campgrounds safe for everyone.  There are a few key steps to making and maintaining a safe campfire.

Pick a Safe Spot

By Pastor Rich Z

CRIME

“When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, the hearts of

the people are filled with schemes to do wrong.” Ecclesiastes 8:11

Pages  from the Past

 15 Years Ago

July 15, 2001

USDA UPDATE: Some of the best yields in the county are being reported north of Haswell. This area received enough moisture last fall to insure the survival of wheat through the winter.

25 Years Ago

July 11, 1991