Leroy Brase Honored, Craig Campbell Band to Perform at Sand & Sage Fair

The Prowers County Commissioners signed off on entertainment program contracts for this year’s Sand and Sage Fair during their regular meeting January 26. The annual Demolition Derby will be held June 16 at the fairgrounds and will be organized through last year’s promoter, Outlaw Promotions. Everyone hoped that the June scheduling will be accompanied by warmer and dryer weather compared to last year’s event. Musical entertainment during the fair will be provided this year by C & W recording star, Craig Campbell. The concert is set for 8pm, August 5 at the fairgrounds arena. Campbell, though a relatively new act, broke the top 20 Billboard charts last year with “Family Man” and “Fish” in the Hot Country division. The fair board’s cost for the one night event is $9,000 which is $500 less than what was paid for the Josh Abbott Band’s appearance last year.

One of the topics being covered at the 5th annual Conversation Day at Lamar Community College will focus on dwindling financial aid for college students in years to come. LCC President John Marrin told the commissioners, Provost Geri Anderson, featured speaker, will present some, “solid information” regarding federal mandates that higher education will be facing. Marrin said that will less available aid and increased tuitions costs, students will find themselves at a, “tipping point” on whether they can afford to pay for a college education, or have to find employment without a college degree. Marrin added that the college system is becoming financially conservative in their outlooks relative to loans and tuitions. He stated the Conversation Day will give the college community and Lamar community in general a chance to voice their concerns on LCC’s academic role and mission. He added the day will be capped by a discussion over branding and themes for a new logo for LCC. The college is currently identified through a logo of a burning torch against a blue background. He said there will be some discussion on what could be a better image for the college to employ.

Marrin said he had been in contact with Iris Clark, the President of SCORE, Service Corps of Retired Executives, for southeast Colorado. LCC can serve as a host site for a series of local entrepreneurship classes which can help aid local business development and expansion. He attended a recent meeting with local business development oriented persons and organizations such as the Lamar Chamber, PCDI and the Main Street Development program, to develop ideas for a five week course in March, and the best means of marketing the program to the public.

The Prowers County Commissioners presented a plaque to Leroy Brase for his 31 years of service to the community as a member of the Prowers County Planning Commission. Mary Root, County Land Use Administrator initiated the show of appreciation for Brase who appeared with other Commission members Randy Dunning and Sharon Heiner. Jim Larrick, Jim Peterson and Richard Widner comprise the remainder of the board.

By Russ Baldwin