Thank You

Doris, Robin, Janet, Jerry, Linda(s) and Gloria for those Holiday Treats.

Have a wonderful Christmas and may it be filled with your favorite things and the people you love.

This Jan.1, Colorado Parks and Wildlife invites Coloradans to welcome 2017 by heading outside to a Colorado State Park. First Day Hikes are guided activities that offer a chance to start the new year right by getting people out for some exercise in nature. For the new year, 27 state parks are participating by hosting an organized hike on New Year's Day.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for 2017 Noxious Weed Management grants. This year, the Department plans to award over $755,000 in grant funds to organizations and associations for projects that focus on controlling the state’s designated noxious weeds. Of that amount, over $105,000 are from the U.S. Forest Service’s State and Private Forestry program. These grants, which are administered through CDA, support projects that reduce noxious weed infestations occurring close to Forest Service-managed lands.

Preparedness starts with you.  As you begin considering your 2017 resolutions we ask you to consider dedicating this year to preparedness.  We will continue our Prepare Colorado initiative with our partners from the Colorado Red Cross and FEMA Region VIII.  We hope you will join us in making Colorado the most prepared state in the Nation.

You can start today by “Resolving to be COReady in 2017”.  Take action today with any of these steps:

Slim Randles

It began the way most miracles do: by accident or the hand of God, take your pick.

It might have been the weather, at least partly. For December, the day had been almost balmy and warm. You know, sweaters instead of heavy coats. No mittens in sight.

By Pastor Rich Z

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

“A man's heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

15 Years Ago

December 28, 2001

Wild Horse Roundup-Curtis Schrimp: Going through a little metal box I found some tokens that was used for sales tax years ago. These had the name Lindquist who had the store probably 1909 or 1910

25 Years Ago

December 26, 1991

Once more Kit Carson area residents will be able to take  one of local artist, Glaida Craven, courses through Lamar Community College

The overall assessed value of Kiowa County rose almost $2 million dollars

By Chris Sorensen

While Kiowa County didn't have a white Christmas, some may appreciate the alternative even more during the current drought conditions: a thunderstorm moved northeast across the county at 5:00 a.m. The storm brought heavy rain, and some very small hail, briefly to the area. Temperatures across the eastern plains remained in the mid- to upper 40s overnight, with low 50s in Prowers and Baca counties.

Isolated showers continued in the area until about 8:00 a.m. Sunday.

Snow, cold, wind, a lack of food – those are just some of the difficult conditions that Colorado’s wildlife face during the winter. People may also cause problems for wild critters and Colorado Parks and Wildlife asks residents to avoid disturbing wildlife during the cold-weather months.

“Wildlife are uniquely adapted to survive the winter; and by understanding the animals’ biology, people can help wildlife survive the winter,” said Patt Dorsey, Southwest Region manager for CPW in Durango.

The Colorado Corn Administrative Committee (CCAC) recently awarded a total of $7,500 to three FFA chapters in Colorado, helping those students and advisers with projects ranging from greenhouse irrigation and fertilization systems to livestock facilities, and in one particular case, helping a brand-new chapter get off the ground. 

Adding to its support of other youth-focused projects, the CCAC began its FFA grant program in 2013, and has now contributed $28,984 total to local FFA chapters through the program.

This year's recipients (receiving $2,500 each) are: