All Entries in the "Hot Topics" Category
Project HOPE Chili Dinner Set for Friday’s Whistle Game
Volunteers and members of Project HOPE made final plans for their annual chili dinner fund-raiser this year. The event will be held on the east end of Savage Stadium from 5pm to 6:30pm this Friday, October 23 for the classic Whistle Game match-up between rivals Lamar and La Junta. This will be the first time […]
Council Says “No Sale” on Proposed Yard Sale Ordinance
A public hearing was not needed to review a proposed ordinance prohibiting Perpetual, Prolonged and Extended Yard Sales in Residential zoned areas of the City of Lamar. The proposal died for lack of a motion from the council. Additional discussion and definition will be needed before the council comes to a conclusion on the final […]
Lamar City Council Sets 2016 Budget
The Lamar City Council was joined by the Lamar Utility Board of Directors for the public hearing held regarding approval for the 2016 budget. Revenues for the City are projected for next year at $7,890,328, which is an increase of $233,035 compared to the 2015 budget. The Sales Tax Revenue of $1,357,206 is steady against […]
Municipal Judge Kim Verhoeff Explains Useful Public Service Options
Lamar Municipal Court Judge, Kim Verhoeff, attended a city council work session Monday, October 5, to shed some light on her interpretation of how and when to apply Useful Public Service to area defendants. Judge Verhoeff had been informed there was some concern over the lack of use of the service during her term as […]
Lamar VFW Post Ended
The struggle to keep local VFW Post 3621 on South Memorial Drive open has apparently concluded with life members being notified by mail that the charter is being ended. The letter, from Patrick Botbyl, Director of Member Dues Processing states that life members have the option of transferring either to a local post of their choice […]
Tri-State 9/11 Tribute Set for the Weekend
The 4th Annual Tri-State 9/11 Tribute honoring all first responders and Armed Forces members will be in full force this weekend in downtown Lamar as part of the Fall Festival activities on Friday, September 11th, and a full day of scheduled activities at the Prowers County Fairgrounds following Saturday’s 10am parade. A small, patriotic presentation on […]
Arkansas Valley Conduit Project is Updated
The alignment of the Arkansas Valley Conduit project was updated for Prowers County Commissioners and interested citizens during an informational meeting on Wednesday, September 2. The $400M project, to move 15 million gallons of water per day to 39 entities between Pueblo and Lamar, was proposed in the early 1960s. Because of lack of funding, […]
Four Vehicle Pile Up on 287, Dust Closes Hwy S. of Lamar
The Colorado State Patrol is currently investigating a four-vehicle injury crash, which occurred on Colorado State Highway 287 near milepost 69.5, approximately 6.5 miles south of Lamar. The accident occurred shortly after 5pm on Saturday, August 22. A white 2000 Peterbuilt tractor trailer driven by Jose Ortiz a 43 year old Texas male collided with […]
REACH Air Medical Services Opens New Air Ambulance Base in Colorado
La Junta, CO – August 6, 2015 – REACH Air Medical Services announces the opening of its new air ambulance base in La Junta, Colorado, which will operate under the name Southern Colorado CareConnect. This much needed and anticipated emergency medical helicopter service will provide Pueblo County and an expansive surrounding region with 24/7/365 emergency […]
Court Reinstates Portner’s Hospital Privileges
Dr. Barry Portner has been informed that the dismissal of hospital privileges by the Prowers Medical Center Board of Directors has been overturned by a conditional Pueblo Court ruling. Portner said 10th Judicial Court Judge Scott Epstein ordered a stay on the hospital board’s vote taken during their June 24 meeting. Portner added that the […]
Prowers County Sheriff Requests Pueblo SWAT for Local Arrest
The Prowers County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an assault and menacing incident. The suspect, Joseph James “J.J.” Marble, 36, of Lamar, had made threats of killing family members, law enforcement, and was in possession of several weapons, inside the residence. Marble had assaulted a family member the prior night, Thursday, 7-23-15, which Prowers […]
Southeast Colorado is Drought Free
Spring rains have upgraded the drought status of south central and southeast Colorado as Drought Free, according to the report released July 16 by the U.S. Drought Monitor. June precipitation totals across that region were near to slightly below normal across most of the southeast plains with slightly to well above normal precipitation experienced over […]
Funding Crucial to Ports to Plains Development
A series of connected highways running 1,390 miles from Mexico to Canada through Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and other northward states Dakota make up the basic Ports to Plains Corridor project. Lamar hosted a regional meeting this past Wednesday, July 15, allowing participants to learn about the most recent developments for highway development and the need […]
Beer is on the Menu for the Sand and Sage Fair
The Lamar City Council voted unanimously in favor of the special events permit request allowing beer to be served during the August fair at the Prowers County Fairgrounds. The request was made by the Sand and Sage Fair Board following a public hearing during the council’s regular meeting, Monday, July 13. Essentially it was a […]
Beer Garden Still a Hot Topic, City Council Hearing Set for July 13
The Prowers County Commissioners were offering some different viewpoints regarding the approaching July 13th Lamar City Council public hearing for a special events permit allowing the Sand and Sage Roundup Fair Board to host a beer garden next month. Discussion over the event, but not an official public hearing, was held in early June by […]
Marrin Takes Over as Action 22 Board Chair.
At the July Board meeting held at Wildwood Casino in Cripple Creek John Marrin, President of Lamar Community College and board delegate from Prowers County took the reins as Chair of the Action 22 board. Marrin was Chair-elect but stepped in after Betty Clark-Wine resigned. Marrin has been President of LCC since 2008 and […]
ARPA and City of Lamar Perspectives on Required Demolition Permit
The City of Lamar and ARPA, Arkansas River Power Authority, have been at legal loggerheads for the past year over the failed Lamar Repowering Project, its ultimate disposition and the ability to default on the construction bonds used to build the coal fired plant. The plant has been offline since late 2011. In September 2014, […]
Drought Conditions Improving for Southeast Region
Update from Colorado Water Conservation Bureau A cool and wet May has eliminated drought conditions across much of Colorado. With 31 weather stations recording the wettest month ever, statewide May 2015 was the wettest May since record keeping began in 1895. In total much of the state experienced 300% of normal May precipitation. June temperatures […]
Colorado Employment Situation for May 2015
Employers in Colorado added 4,900 nonfarm payroll jobs from April to May for a total of 2,514,500 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Private sector payroll jobs increased 4,400 and government increased 500. According to the survey of households, the unemployment rate increased one-tenth of a percentage point in May to 4.3 percent. […]
GoCO Makes Major Grant for Lamar Loop
There’s a lot of work to be done to start the 7.3 mile Lamar Loop, a walking trail that will encompass most of the city, but now the money is there to get the job moving. Emily Nieschburg, coordinator for Healthy Places in Lamar and LiveWell Prowers County, said the Summit meeting at Amache Farms […]