2013 Year in Review for Prowers County: November & December

The Prowers Journal has Highlighted the Top News Events of 2013

November 2013 Year in Review 

Mail-in ballots were used exclusively for the General Election on the 5^th, a development which incorporated the entire state for future elections.  Most of the local election balloting was for school board positions for Wiley and Granada as well as a tax mill levy for Wiley school funding which was defeated.  Three candidates were elected in Wiley: Chad Krentz, Greg Spitzer and Jeff Wells and in Granada, Ty Harmon retained his seat on the school board and Natalie Musik and Rita Marquez ran for the board with no opposition.  Statewide, voters focused on two tax issues. Amendment 66 in Prowers County was defeated by a vote of 2,410 to 659 in favor. The issue was a proposed tax increase to fund preschool through grade 12 in Colorado by $950,100,000 annually for the first fiscal year, followed by other amounts stipulated by amendments and statutes on educational funding. Proposition AA was approved in Prowers County by a vote of 1,715 in favor to 1,343 opposed on the question of a marijuana funded sale tax amounting to $70,000,000 of which $40 million would be spent on public school capital construction and a sales tax on enforcing marijuana sales and regulations.

During a commissioners meeting, Prowers County Sheriff Jim Faull expressed his concern about a small, but growing trend of heroin use in Prowers County, especially among young females.  The sheriff said he has been in contact with members of the county’s medical community who told him that detoxification programs for heroin are pretty much beyond the scope of local facilities.  Faull said a community awareness campaign would soon be released to the media and the public at large regarding the influx of the drug into the county.  Several meetings had been held among interested parties, especially in law enforcement and medical communities about helping to stem what some saw as a growing trend towards heroin use in the community.

December 2013 Year in Review

Deputy Shawn Stone announced his candidacy for the Sheriff’s office.  Stone, formerly with the Lamar Police Department, had joined the County Department several years ago after helping form the K9 Unit for Lamar.

Shawn Stone

County Commissioner Joe Marble also announced his candidacy for another term, serving Prowers County residents from District Two.  He is the only commission whose position will be open in 2014.

Other candidates were also noted in the southeast region of the state as State Senator Greg Brophy announced his intentions to run for Governor in 2014 and Tim Dore, current State Representative for the 64^th District in Colorado, also make several campaign swings through this section of the state.

Senator Brophy at Brew Unto Others

The Lamar Chamber of Commerce gained three new board members for 2014 with the election of Mark Carrigan, Jenna Davis and Vickie Dykes.  Lisa Thomas is replacing Denise Carder at Chamber President for 2014.  The Lamar Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet was scheduled for Thursday, January 31 at the Lamar Eagles Lodge.

A regional, sports-oriented milestone was achieved in mid December with the 50^th annual Holiday Basketball Tournament in Lamar.  As in previous years, eight boys and girls teams convened in the town to claim first prize in the three day event.  The Holiday Tournament became a win-win event for participants and retailers alike in the Lamar community, as it afforded a holiday shopping opportunity for residents of surrounding towns while their youngsters were in competition at the Lamar Community Building.  The McClave boys narrowly defeated Holly for the championship, 49-48 and the Springfield girls outscored the Kit Carson team for the victory, 55-46.

Looking East over South 14th in Lamar

No snow for Christmas, but portions of Prowers County received another reminder of the persistent drought, now into its second decade by some accounts.  A dust squall on the afternoon of Christmas eve, spread across the county from the northwest, bringing another episode of silt and dust, tumbleweed and wind.

By Russ Baldwin