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Colorado Employment Situation – October 2015

  Employers in Colorado added 13,000 nonfarm payroll jobs from September to October for a total of 2,533,100 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Private sector payroll jobs increased 13,400 and government decreased 400. According to the survey of households, the unemployment rate decreased two-tenths of a percentage point in October to 3.8 […]

City Sales Tax Revenues on Continued Increase

  The Lamar City Sales Tax revenue collected this past September shows a 5.85% gain, or $15,314 compared to this time last year. Total Sales and Use Tax collections were up 3.98% for the same period for a gain of $11,218.  Year to date collections show City Sales Tax revenue up 7.94% for a gain […]

Inspire Award Caps Healthy Places Visit

Members of the Colorado Health Foundation, PUMA and Healthy Places visited Lamar for three days in what was styled as a Fall Fling. The term is somewhat deceptive, for although the time spent in Lamar was enjoyable, it was also a critical work session which gained an assessment on the accomplishments of the Healthy Places […]

Lamar Family Appearing on “Shark Tank” November 6

A Lamar based mother/daughter entrepreneurial team will be the featured guests on ABC ‘s ‘Shark Tank’ television show, this Friday, November 6th. Linda Clark who owns and operates the Play Clay Factory at 215 South Main Street in Lamar, and her daughter, Gloria Hoffman, will appear and pitch their balance board, a physical fitness device, […]

Rural Connections Concept Discussed at PCDI Meeting

Several hundred seniors graduate from southeast Colorado high schools each year. If they aren’t attending college in Lamar or La Junta, what does the local job market hold for these graduates?  How prepared are they to enter into the business world available to them? Julie Worley of “Rural Connections” in La Junta broached those questions […]

Redevelopment Authority Approves 2016 Budget, Funding for Pocket Park Construction

Two funding resolutions were passed by the Lamar Redevelopment Authority Board during Monday night’s meeting, October 26th.  One resolution adopts the 2016 budget for the Lamar Redevelopment Authority at $137,245, providing for revenues and expenditures.  The other approves up to $50,000 in funding for the improvement of the Shore Arts Center Pocket Park.  City Administrator, […]

Lamar Chamber Seeking Board Members for 2016

The Lamar Chamber of Commerce is seeking business and community professionals, interested and willing to dedicate their time, energy, and expertise, to serve on the Lamar Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.  Candidates must be willing to serve a three year term, beginning January 1, 2016.  The Chamber Board of Directors annually considers applications and […]

City of Lamar, Sales Tax Revenue Report-August 2015

Sales Tax Revenues continued to stay on the plus side through the summer with August Sales and Use Tax collections showing a 4.58% increase and a year to date growth of 6.75%. That translates to a $12,560 increase for August of 2015 compared to the same time last year and a $166,459 increase over last […]

Living History Encampment at LCC

The campus at Lamar Community College displayed a vision into the past on Friday and Saturday, October 2nd and 3rd, offering a view of different segments from a century of development across the High Plains. The Living History Encampment is featured every two years at the college, organized by history professor, Kelley Emick. Volunteers and […]

Busy Weekend with Breezy and Cool Oktoberfest

The windy and cooler weather during Lamar’s Oktoberfest Saturday, October 3rd, reflected the approaching autumn and may have held back the attendance for the Lamar Chamber’s beer garden that evening. The turnout was good during the day, with a record number of entrants for the 4th Annual Beers and Brats for Boobies 5K race to […]

Pocket Park Plans Begin with Funding

The Lamar City Council is reviewing a multi-page concept for the Pocket Park proposal. The former parking lot between Daylight Donut and Shore Arts Center, has been closed to cars for the past year, but open to a number of community oriented activities. The most recent was the early September Fall Festival which featured BBQ, […]

Patriotic House Decorations on Display for 9/11 Tribute

The Lamar Chamber of Commerce identified the three winning households in Lamar who decorated for the 3rd Annual 9/11 Tri-State Tribute, held this past Saturday, September 12. This is the second year the Tribute parade route has not followed the traditional path along Main Street, south to the Prowers County Fairgrounds. Because of concerns the […]

Lamar City Sales Tax Report: July 2015 – Drop for Motel/Hotel Revenue

  Total Sales and Use Tax Collections for the City of Lamar showed positive gains for July 2015, as reported in the August summary with a 5.05% increase for the month and a 7.02% increase for year to date. July collections showed a gain of $13,874 comparing 2015 to 2014 for a total of $287,501 […]

Fall Festival 2015 Brings Out the Crowds

This year’s fall festival combined downtown vendors, music and the aroma of BBQ burgers in the downtown Lamar area on Friday, September 11. The Pocket Park, north of the Shore Arts Center, served as the gathering place for over 100 persons who used the portable tables and chairs as a picnic area which was decorated […]

A Fitting Tribute for Responders and Servicepeople

The 3rd Annual Tri-State 9/11 Tribute in Lamar had several highlights Saturday, September 12, ranging from the performing bands and float entries that extended from West Beech Street all the way along South 9th Street and from there into the Prowers County Fairgrounds for the day. Red, white and blue were the predominant colors of […]

Hodge Departing from Lamar’s URA and Main Street Program

Shawna Hodge has submitted her resignation as Lamar’s Main Street Community Coordinator, effective September 30. In her letter, submitted to the City of Lamar on Tuesday September 8, Hodge said she will relocate to the Denver area to pursue a career in similar fields. Hodge is also the Executive Director of Lamar Partnership Incorporated and […]

Summer Sales Tax Continues Gains

City of Lamar Sales Tax collected in June was up 14.21% for a $35,497 increase over last year and Total Sales and Use Tax Collections was up 9.71% for a $26,688 gain during same period. Year to date collections show an increase of 8.63% for the period between January and July of this year for […]

Lamar City Council Holds a TiPS-y Discussion

The standard question for the past several years now, that has been asked of applicants for special events permits from the Lamar City Council is, “Are you or are any of your staff TiPS trained?” The question was first introduced several years ago for the annual Lamar Chamber Oktoberfest and the associated beer garden. Now, […]

Hot Dog! What a Night

      Wieners were served up from the grill at the Prowers County Fairgrounds and Willow Creek Park on Tuesday evening, August 4. Residents could choose from the National Night Out event at Willow Creek Park and enjoyfree swimming, a movie and dozens of chili dogs with cheese and all the toppings, or they […]

Find Your Fashion at the Back to School Fashion Show

Diana Lynn Fashion is hosting an event August 8, 2015 that is sure to be fun for the whole family! After watching the Sand & Sages Fair parade, hop on over to 116 N. Main Street and enjoy the Back to School Fashion Show and the vendor booths featured by Lamar’s own merchants. With school […]