Author Archive for Russ Baldwin
PMC Board Renews Quorum Contract
“The past two years has made the difference in this decision,” said Candy Ruedeman, Prowers Medical Center board chairman, referring to the new three year agreement the hospital has made with its consulting firm, Quorum Health Resources. She added that the board and management of the hospital have worked on the renewal contract […]
Concluding a Career of Service
Paul Westhoff, CDOT Resident Engineer for southeast Colorado, came to the end of the road, you might say, with his retirement party held at the Division of Parks and Wildlife headquarters in Lamar this past Friday, March 28. “I started part time in the summer of 1979 without too much of an idea of […]
LPI Board Discusses Healthy Places Initiative with PUMA Reps
What market is currently being served by the retailers along Main Street in Lamar? What business or store could become an anchor to Main Street that could induce local residents or visitors to frequent? Those were topics of discussion during the monthly LPI meeting at the Lamar Chamber of Commerce offices this past Wednesday, March […]
Out for a Stroll on Improved Paths
With early spring temperatures moving into the warm range of 60s and 70s, more Lamar residents are starting to stretch their daily or weekend exercise walking routes. One recently improved course circles the medical campus off Memorial Drive. Emily Nieschburg of Healthy Places told the PCDI board members recently that the course was recently upgraded […]
New Board Line-up for PCDI
Marsha Willhite, Holly Town Administrator, stepped down as president of PCDI, Prowers County Development Incorporated, following her one year term. Rick Robbins, GM of Colorado Mills, was elected President, followed by new board member, Aaron Leiker of Holly as Vice President and Lawrence Brase will remain as Secretary-Treasurer for his final year as a board […]
Redevelopment Board Approves Beech Street Property Purchase
The Lamar City Council, meeting as the Lamar Redevelopment Authority Board on Monday, March 24, discussed the merits of purchasing the vacant lots in downtown Lamar that adjoin the City’s existing municipal parking lot on the north and abuts Beech Street on the lot’s south edge. Shawna Hodge, Lamar Main Street Coordinator, and City Administrator, John […]
Colorado Revenue Forecast Shows Increase for Current, Next Fiscal Years
DENVER — Tuesday March 18, 2014 — The state’s general fund budget forecast for the current budget year (FY 2013-14) will be $93 million higher than forecast in December and $61 million higher in FY 2014-15, roughly a 1 percent increase. “Colorado’s economy continues to show sustained economic momentum with many indicators showing that […]
NWS-Skywarn Weather Spotter Training Set for Lamar
WHAT: SKYWARN Weather Spotter Training by the Pueblo National Weather Service office. WHERE: Lamar, High School Auditorium, 1900 S. 11th Street. WHEN: April 2nd, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. WHO: Current NWS Pueblo weather spotters and anyone else with an interest in volunteering. Weather spotters are volunteers who report weather conditions, such as large […]
Prowers Lodging Panel Okays Funding for Lamar Days
Marketing expenses associated with this year’s Lamar Days, May 16-18, were approved by the Prowers County Lodging Tax Panel during their monthly meeting, Tuesday, March 18. The three day annual event highlights Lamar’s anniversary and the Lamar Chamber of Commerce was granted $2417.47 of their $2,780 request as the balance, $362.53, was being […]
Healthy Places Week for Lamar, March 29-April 5
Everybody in Lamar is encouraged to voice their ideas about health oriented improvements in the community during “Wellness Week”, March 29 through April 5 at various locations around the town. Each day will focus on a segment of community improvement ideas from the public that will be incorporated into a Parks, Trails and Recreation […]
Colorado Employment Situation-January 2014
Colorado Employment Situation-January 2014 Employers in Colorado added 7,300 nonfarm payroll jobs from December to January for a total of 2,412,200 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Private sector payroll jobs increased 7,600 and government decreased 300. According to the survey of households, the unemployment rate decreased one-tenth of a percentage point to […]
Letter to the Editor: Military Strength
It is hard for me to accept what our president is doing to our military and our country. When Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced they were going to cut back our military to pre-World War II status, I wasn’t surprised. Let me see if I have this straight: Hagel is the Secretary of Defense […]
Recovered Stolen Calves
Media Release-March 16, 2014 Deputy Shawn Stone of the Prowers County Sheriff’s office has been investigating the theft of calves from around the area. This weekend 25 calves were recovered. With the assistance from the brand inspector, five calves have been returned to their owners, 13 have been identified belonging to owners in Kansas and […]
Marble & Cook Advance to GOP Primary, Four Sheriff Candidates Stilll in Play
The Lamar Community College, Large Lecture Hall was filled to capacity for the Prowers County Republican Assembly on Sunday, March 16. County GOP Chairwoman, Janet Marriot said 103 delegates had been allowed for the state convention following the Credential Committee report presented by Kathy Callison. Nine GOP state and national level speakers addressed the audience, including […]
Wildfire in Colorado, Where do you get your Information
The names roll off the tongue, the 2000s have been rough years for fire in Colorado…Hayman, Four Mile, High Park, Missionary Ridge, West Fork Complex, Waldo Canyon, Black Forest, East Peak, and Royal Gorge. These are but a few of the fires we have seen in the past 10 to 15 years. Drought, pine […]
Prowers County 4-H Foundation Kicks Off Annual Membership Drive
Southeast Area—The Prowers County 4-H Foundation is holding their third annual “Membership Madness” round-up. This is an opportunity for 4-H alumni, businesses or individuals to become a supporting member of Prowers County 4-H programming and Foundation is pleased to have seen support grow each year. The Prowers County 4-H Foundation is heavily invested in supporting […]
Granada Customers to Vote on SECPA Sale
Granada Trustees voted to approve a resolution during a February 26 public meeting to hold a community election on whether to sell the city’s electric power to SECPA, Southeast Colorado Power Association. The election will be held Tuesday, April 1. The negotiated purchase price is $475,000 and it will be approved or denied by […]
Lamar City Sales Tax Revenue Takes a Slide
For the second month in a row, the sales tax revenue for the City of Lamar has decreased, an anomaly in what has been small, but continuous growth for the past several years. January Sales Tax collected this past February shows a 7.05% drop-off and loss of $16,690.44 from the previous period. Use […]
Producers Urged to Vote in Wheat Assessment Referendum
LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Wheat producers in 32 Colorado counties are invited to vote on whether to re-approve an increase in the wheat assessment through the Colorado Wheat Marketing Order. In 2007 wheat producers approved an amendment to increase the assessment from one cent per bushel to two cents per bushel, subject to re-approval by […]
Rural By Choice-PCDI Annual Meeting
One Prowers County resident was elected to the Prowers County Board of Directors and three current members retained their seats on the board during the annual PCDI meeting on Wednesday, March 5. Aaron Leiker was elected as a board member-at-large and Debra Choat, John Marrin and Doug Thrall will retain their seats on the […]