Financial assistance is available for Colorado companies with organic certification. In order to qualify for this year’s reimbursement, producers and handlers must have received certification or continuation of certification by a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) accredited certifying agent commencing October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016.

Under the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2013, cost share assistance payments are limited to 75 percent of an individual producer’s or handler’s certification costs up to a maximum of $750 per category of certification.

Arkansas Headwaters

By Doris Lessenden

Connie Sue (Howerton) McPherson, 63, departed this life in Independence, Missouri on September 3, 2016 surrounded by family.

Connie was born on December 13, 1952 in La Junta, Colorado, the third daughter of Bobby & Elberta Howerton.

Hundreds of thousands of counterfeit prescription pills, some containing deadly amounts of fentanyl, have flooded the nation, according to a recent report released by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is seeking public input on a Supplemental Park Management Plan for the state-owned lands managed by Lake Pueblo State Park. The lands that are part of the planning include the CPW-owned portions of the Honor Farm, a parcel owned by the State Land Board and the Chain of Lakes along the Arkansas River. It does not include the bulk of the park property that is owned by the Bureau of Reclamation. Park staff will kick-off an 8-day public comment period on Tuesday, September 13, with an open house.

Join the Lincoln County Tourism Board, the Colorado Agritourism Association and the Colorado Tourism Office for a program designed to offer tips and advice on agritourism marketing, insurance and the Cultural, Hearitage and Agritourism Mentor Program (CHAMP) which will help you improve or expand your business in order to reach more visitors.

The program will take place Thursday, October 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Homestead Farms, 57920 CR 30, Genoa Colorado.

Agenda

American Legion District 1 and American Legion Post 9 are honored and pleased to announce that the newly elected American Legion National Commander Charles E. Schmidt will be in La Junta, Colorado on Wednesday, September 14, 2016.

Schmidt is a member of The American Legion, Post 63 in Burns, Oregon. Schmidt’s Legion eligibility is derived from 27 years of service in the United States Air Force and he served in Vietnam.

I have dreaded this day since I first learned that my colleague, friend and mentor, Connie McPherson, had recently opted to stop cancer treatments.

Connie passed away last night.

Just over a year ago, she called my mother and I to her home to make the announcement that she was ill, could no longer do the work she loved, and would be moving in with her daughter, Bobbi’s, family to start treatments. She planned to be back in a year.

Though we had been concerned about Connie for some time, the announcement was stunning.

By Chris Sorensen

The potential for isolated thunderstorms returns Sunday, especially for eastern Kiowa County, while the western half of the county can expect drier conditions.

Low 90s are expected through Wednesday before a gradual decrease to near 80 for Saturday. Overnight lows will also taper from the low 60s during the early part of the week to low 50s by Friday evening.

In addition to Sunday’s storm potential, a slight chance of thunderstorms returns for Labor Day – mainly later in the day into the evening.