A wildfire is an unplanned, unwanted fire burning in a natural area, such as a forest, grassland, or prairie. There’s a misconception that wildfires only happen in western and the Great Plains states. While wildfires are more common in certain states, they can occur anywhere in the country.

In addition, homes and business are more susceptible to wildfires as building development expands into once forested areas. This is called the wildland urban interface, and this interaction can put individuals at risk for exposure to wildfire.

Playing at a water park, by a lake, or in a pool are all popular summer activities, especially on a hot Colorado day.  Swimming is a great recreational sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, but it’s important to know how to be safe while you’re in the water. The American Red Cross and Safe Kids Worldwide offers these important swimming safety tips you should take into consideration before you head out to the lake or pool:

By Pastor Rich Z

PLANS

“Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance.” Proverbs 20:18

By Slim Randles

The real growth of Dewey’s company began after The Weekly Miracle ran that story about his fertilizer empire.

The young reporter might have gone overboard a bit by writing “… with a pure heart, strong arms and a shovel, Dewey Decker pioneered a civilization based on cow manure.”

Maybe just a little…

By Chris Sorensen

Chances of thunderstorms return to Kiowa County for the early part of the week, with the best possibilities occurring Monday afternoon, increasing during the evening up to midnight, and returning with slightly lower risk Tuesday afternoon into the late evening. A slight chance of afternoon and evening showers and continues through Thursday.

Where showers do occur, less than one-tenth of an inch of rain is expected. Higher amounts are possible with thunderstorms.

One of our most popular features from the past 15 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 June 3, 2016, Kiowa County Press - Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site. Photo by Jeanne Sorensen.

The massacre of about 230 Cheyenne and Arapaho men, women, and children along the banks of the Big Sandy Creek in southeastern Colorado, known today as the Sand Creek Massacre, will be the topic of a free interpretive walking tour at the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site (NHS) on Saturday, June 18, 2016.

The 2016 Colorado Wheat Field Days will be held June 9-15 at eleven different variety trial sites throughout eastern Colorado. The field days are jointly hosted by the Colorado Wheat Administrative Committee (CWAC), Colorado Association of Wheat Growers (CAWG), Colorado Wheat Research Foundation (CWRF) and Colorado State University (CSU) Cooperative Extension and Agricultural Experiment Station.

CWAC President Dave Anderson of Haxtun encourages all wheat farmers to attend.

• The Eads Swimming Pool will be closed on June 6th and 7th, 2016 for a Training

• Senator Crowder and Secretary of State Wayne Williams will be at the Kiowa County Courthouse Meeting Room on June 7, 2016 at 3:00 pm. Everyone is invited. They had scheduled earlier for June 9th BUT this did not work. AGAIN mark your calendar for JUNE 7th at 3:00 pm at the Kiowa County Courthouse Meeting Room in the basement. The PUBLIC is INVITED.

15 Years Ago

June 8, 2001

USDA Updates: Producers planting dual-purpose varieties of grain sorghums this year, need to notify the FSA Office of the variety planted. Varieties can make a difference on eligibility for LDP and other programs.

25 Years Ago

June 6, 1991

Everyone in the county is invited to attend a special teleconference that will address the nation and state’s