All Entries in the "Business" Category
Investigation into Cantaloupe Contamination Continues
The Food and Drug Administration confirmed that Jensen Farms’ Rocky Ford cantaloupes are one of three sources attributed to a multi-state outbreak of listeriosis. Jensen Farms in Holly voluntarily pulled its produce from the marketplace once it received word from state and health officials. The bacteria was found by the FDA in cantaloupe samples from […]
Colorado Agricultural Export Growth Continues
LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Colorado’s agricultural exports increased 20 percent to $718 million in the first seven months of 2011 over last year’s exports, lead by increases in beef, hides, dairy and grains. “Agricultural exports continue to play an important part in our state’s economic recovery,” said Commissioner of Agriculture John Salazar. “So far this year, […]
Mayhem II Coming to Lamar this Fall
The Prowers County Lodging Tax Panel approved $5,000 for marketing for Mayhem II, coming to the Lamar Community Building November 5. Arnulfo Ortega, local organizer, requested funding for the second Professional Mixed Martial Arts competition to be held in Lamar this year. The first was held during Cinco de Mayo this past May. The Lamar […]
Fall Festival, A Moving Experience
Photos and Video by Russ Baldwin – Click on a picture to see a larger version. Saturday’s perfect weather brought out the downtown crowds for Lamar’s Fall Festival. Vendors took advantage of the sunny day, while shoppers took advantage of the bargains offered along the sidewalks on Main Street and the added attractions on West […]
Air Care Brings Rye from the Sky
Prowers County residents may be wondering why there is a spray plane in the air at this time of the season. Danny Tinnes from Air Care is laying down rye grass seed over various cornfields in the area, providing a quick growing season for the hardy grass. His brother Monty says the land […]
State Labs Confirm Listeria Link
Laboratory results provide direct link from cantaloupe to patients DENVER – Laboratory results of samples obtained by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s state lab have confirmed a direct link between human cases in the Listeria outbreak and cantaloupe labeled as “Rocky Fords” from Jensen Farms in Holly. Cantaloupe samples from the refrigerator […]
Prowers County Backs Tri State Transmission Project
The Prowers County Commissioners joined with several other counties this past week, offering a resolution of support for the Tri State G & T, Tri State Lamar-Front Range Transmission Project. The project will develop a high voltage electricity transmission system by 2018 across eastern and southern Colorado. Fourteen counties in eastern Colorado, including six in […]
S.E. Colorado Job Market Shows Slight Gain
Colorado nonfarm payroll jobs declined by 1,800 from July to August for a total of 2,239,900 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Government added 500 payroll jobs and the private sector lost 2,300. At 8.5 percent, the unemployment rate was unchanged from the previous month based on household survey results. The labor force […]
Granada Board Reviews Landfill Upgrades/Policy Changes
The Granada Town Board reviewed several changes for operations at the town landfill during their monthly meeting, Wednesday, September 14. In light of several vehicle accidents at the landfill, some specific signs will be set up for the general public. The reminders will pertain to the limitations of the town’s responsibility for use of the […]
City of Lamar, August 2011 Utility Revenue Report
This past August showed increases in electricity, sewer and trash services and a slight decline in water purchases for the city of Lamar. Electricity was up 5.96% compared to 2010 for an increase of $85,529.63. Sewer services were up 2.82% for a dollar gain over August of last year of, $1,105.57. Trash collections improved 9.97% […]
Jensen Farms Recalls Cantaloupes
FDA PRESS RELEASE FDA warns consumers not to eat Rocky Ford Cantaloupes shipped by Jensen Farms (Editor’s Note: At the time of this publication, according to the Prowers County Health Department, there have been NO local cases of Lysteria identified in Prowers County) Jensen Farms recalls Rocky Ford cantaloupe due to potential link to […]
Bill Wootten Replaced on Lamar Utilities Board
Michael Bryant, former Lamar city councilman and director of the Prowers Medical Center Foundation, replaced Bill Wootten as a member of the Lamar Utilities Board during their regular meeting, Tuesday, September 13. Wootten had stepped down from the board over a year ago, but a replacement wasn’t approved until just recently. Another opening is also […]
Holly Commercial Club Plans for Fair and Christmas Activities
The Holly Commercial Club held their monthly meeting this past Wednesday, September 7th at the United Methodist Church to plan future activities on the calendar. With the annual Holly Fair around the corner, Michael Daskum needs volunteers to help set up for the fair I the Old Gym on Wednesday, September 21st and again for […]
Dead End for City-County IGA
Despite on-going negotiations between the City of Lamar acting as the Lamar Redevelopment Authority Board and Prowers County Commissioners, a final resolution on an Intergovernmental Agreement between the two never materialized. The IGA, if approved, would have spelled out the sharing of tax revenue funding from the Urban Renewal District. The IGA was developed about […]
Slight Gain on Lamar City Sales Tax
City Sales tax revenues, YTD for January thru August of this year increased 2.52% for an increase of $53,120.74. July Sales and Use Tax showed only a 0.01% increase for a gain of $29.51. July, 2011 city sales tax was up 1.54%, but Use Tax and Other Collections were down 13.58% and 13.15% respectively. […]
Lamar Area Hospice Begins Expansion Plans, City Council Waives Building Fees
The Lamar Area Hospice association has long had an expansion program planned, especially after taking over ownership of the former Lamar Hotel on West Olive Street. Hospice executive director, Debbie Pelley, asked the Lamar city council that an $8,143 building permit fee, based on the $1,000,000 renovation project, be waived by the council, […]
New District Boundaries Approved for Prowers County; Tri-State Resolution of Support Reviewed
The Prowers County Commissioners approved Resolution NO. 2011-8, adopting new district boundaries, during their regular meeting on Thursday, August 8. This action stems from a requirement that the boundaries in the three districts be altered to meet shifting population changes as outlined in the U.S. 2010 Census. It had been several decades since the […]
Cantaloupes from Rocky Ford Region Linked to Listeria Outbreak
DENVER – Today, September 12, 2011, Dr. Chris Urbina, chief medical officer and executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said, “People at high risk for Listeria infection should not eat cantaloupe from the Rocky Ford growing region. The department expects additional test results later this week that may help identify […]
The City/County IGA ‘Ball’ Goes Back to the City’s Court
It’s a question mark as to what will become of the long-pending Intergovernmental Agreement between the city of Lamar and Prowers County, when the city council meets this Monday evening, September 12. Three weeks ago, the city gave the county and the Prowers County Hospital District until September 12 to agree to the IGA proposal […]
Listeria Cases Spread to Several States
DENVER – The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has identified nine cases linked to a multi-state listeria outbreak. Preliminary results have identified cantaloupe as the likely source of the state’s listeria outbreak. While the state initially reported 13 listeria cases, just nine of those cases are linked to the multi-state outbreak investigation, which […]