By Chris Sorensen

After a few weeks of stability, drought conditions worsened in Colorado, with a notable deterioration in Kiowa County.

Northwest Moffat remains the only part of the state untouched by any level of drought, while 60 percent of the state is considered abnormally dry – the lowest drought category.

Breakfast

December 12: Waffles, orange juice, milk, mixed fruit

December 13: Egg patty, toast, sausage, grape juice, milk, V8

December 14: Doughnuts, cereal, grape juice, milk, orage

December 15: NO SCHOOL

Lunch

December 12: Italian beef steaks

December 13: Nachos

December 14: Sloppy Joes

December 15: NO SCHOOL

• There will be a Christmas program at the Sheridan Lake Bible Church on Sunday December 11 at 6p.m.  There will be finger food following the program.

• Plainview  Christmas program Tuesday, Dec. 13

• Tuesday, December 13th is the Annual Christmas Dinner party at the Prairie Pines.  The community is invited to come and asked to bring and side dish or dessert to this semi-formal dinner.

The Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Board awarded the first round of implementation funding for six Inspire Initiative pilot communities, totaling $13.5 million in grants.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has  announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will offer farmers and ranchers more opportunities to participate in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The announcement includes new CRP practices to protect water quality and adds an additional 1.1 million acres targeted to benefit wildlife, pollinators and wetlands.

Melissa Marie Kirkpatrick, 43, was arrested on December 5, 2016, by the Walsenburg Police Department on suspicion of First Degree Murder of her ex-husband Timothy Kirkpatrick in September.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) and the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) are seeking applicants for agricultural energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The total amount available for assistance in FY 2017 is $250,000. The funding is available to Colorado agricultural irrigators, dairies, greenhouses, nurseries, and cold storage facilities.

By Chris Sorensen

Another earthquake has been recorded south of Pueblo near the location of a quake that occurred in early November. Five earthquakes were recorded in or near Colorado during the first full week of November.

Tuesday’s quake measured 2.5 on the Richter Scale, and was located about 90 miles south of Pueblo along the Colorado-New Mexico border. It occurred around 9:40 a.m. and was between two and three miles beneath the surface.