By Betsy Markey, SBA Region VIII Administrator

As the voice for our nation’s entrepreneurs, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) celebrates all small businesses on a daily basis.  When our small businesses do well, our communities do too. Therefore, as part of our annual tradition, I encourage you to join millions of Americans and “shop small” on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26, to complete your holiday shopping (or to start your holiday shopping, as the case may be…).

Colorado Lags In Seat Belt Use While Nation Reaches Historic High

Kiowa County has released its budget for fiscal year 2015, which begins January 1, 2017. A copy of the 60 page document is attached below this article (requires the free Adobe Acrobat PDF reader available from adobe.com if you do not currently have the software - most computers do).

The budget was sent to all county offices Wednesday morning.

Due to decreases in tax valuations, the county has made what it terms "severe" cuts to the budget.

Despite the cuts, full-time county employees will receive a $0.25 per hour raise, equivalent to about $500 per year.

Tree failure is a major cause of residential property damage and the leading cause of power outages nationwide. There are many ways a tree can fail: an ice storm can overload all the branches on a tree, a hurricane or high wind can blow down a tree if its roots are compromised, or a cracked tree can fail under its own weight.

"Homeowners who are worried about trees falling and damaging property should call a professional arborist for an on-site inspection," advises Tchukki Andersen, CTSP, BCMA*, staff arborist with the Tree Care Industry Association.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has announced $832,830 in grants for two new projects, one that empowers veterans, older Americans and others with disabilities to pursue or maintain careers in agriculture, and another to deliver farm safety education to youth seeking employment or already employed in agricultural production. 

Downlod and print the handy list attached at the bottom of the page (free Adobe Acrobat PDF reader required).

This year, seven entities across the state will receive $525,185 in grant funds for projects aimed to improve water quality. Projects must be focused in one of three areas: stormwater management training, projects that improve water quality where there’s been a violation, and the planning and/or construction of stormwater or wastewater improvement projects. Government agencies, publicly owned water systems and nonprofit water systems, watershed groups, stormwater program administrators, training providers, and private landowners were eligible to apply.

The Kiowa County Hospital District and County Board met in regular session on October 25, 2016 at 6:32 p.m. at the Bank Meeting Room.

District Board members present were: Robert Woods, Priscilla Waggoner, Mary Eikner, Sylvia Shields and Cathryn Anderson.

County Board members present were: Kim Harris, Craig Kerfoot and Lori Shalberg. Absent: Dennis Pearson (called) and John Negley

Others present: Tristen Sheridan, Wendy McDowell, Shannon Dixon, Kevin Siefkas, Braylynn Eder and Cassie Frey.

The meeting was called to order by Mary Eikner, Chairman of the Board.