By Chris Sorensen

With recent warm temperatures and generally dry conditions, drought intensity has increased in Colorado, particularly for north central counties.

Note: March 12 through 18 is Flood and Wildfire Safety Week in Colorado. This is the seventh and final article in a series on safety and preparedness. See Friday’s article here 

Colorado has more than its fair share of floods, flash floods, and wildfires. During the past week, in our effort to build a Weather-Ready Nation, we have presented information to you on how to stay safe and minimize property damage during flood and wildfire threats.

By Chris Sorensen

While the average March is Colorado’s snowiest month, this year feels more like early spring, with temperatures in the 80s this weekend and the potential to break records for this time of year.

Saturday starts off sunny, with a high around 80 in southern Colorado and an overnight low near 40.

One of our most popular features over the past 16 years - a full-page color photo on the front of the Kiowa County Press showing various impressions of life in Kiowa County. While a limited number of copies continue to be printed and distributed each week at Kiowa Healthmart, COOP C-Store in Eads, Haswell Propane, and Thunderbird Petroleum, we wanted to bring this feature to our online readers as well.

Shown below - the front page of the March 17, 2017, Kiowa County Press - Fence line. Photo by Jeanne Sorensen.

Food competition, celebration of state’s ag industry one of the most popular events under the Golden Dome

A celebration of Colorado’s agricultural producers and agribusinesses is set for Wednesday, March 22, at the State Capitol Building in Denver.

By Bob Garver

I bet when most people hear the term “Viet Cong” for the first time, they snicker at a mental image of King Kong fighting in Vietnam. Almost everyone outgrows this joke in about a minute, but not the makers of “Kong: Skull Island.” They’ve spent $190 million and years of effort making the King Kong/Vietnam crossover that nobody was demanding, but nobody’s in a hurry to reject either.

Arbor Day, an April holiday that celebrates the planting and caring for trees, is a popular time for homeowners to add new trees to their landscapes. Before doing this, however, homeowners should consider advice from expert arborists to ensure the trees' longevity.

"Too often, consumers waste hundreds of dollars on trees that will die because they were planted too deep," cautions Tchukki Andersen, BCMA, CTSP* and staff arborist with the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA).

By Doris Lessenden

Guests at the Weisbrod Hospital Auxiliary meeting March13th were Teri Castle, Kelly Darnell, and Ginger McPherson at the J J’s Ranch House for their business and lunch meeting. 

Madonna Pollreis chaired the meeting.  The Treasurer was given $10.00 for inactive dues which will be helpful for our spring expenditures. 

Teri Castle reported that there is a need for volunteers to help with the Health Fair March 24 and 25^th.

She also said that she has used most of the “birthday party supplies” that we ordered last year.

The Lower Arkansas Valley Area Agency on Aging (LAVAAA) is requesting proposals from qualified organizations interested in receiving a grant funded under the Older Americans Act to provide services to seniors age 60 and older in Region 6, which includes Baca, Bent, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero, and Prowers Counties. Qualified organizations include nonprofits, for-profits, public agencies, and private incorporated organizations.

Birthdays

March 20

Rev Phillip Hirsch

Keith Uhland

Jeffrey Dunlap

Allyrah Celeste Kelley Atkins

March 21

Lauren Weber

Barbara Wilson

Hazel Engstrom

Will Crow

Tabatha Ferris

March 22

Jordan Barnett

Tyler Stavely

Kailey Meardon

Sharon Wilson

March 23

Gayla Butler

Cora Coffman

Amanda Koeller