All Entries in the "Public Safety" Category
Friday Fire Jumps Arkansas River, Heads to Lamar
Firefighters in Lamar and Prowers county were called out in force late Friday afternoon and into the evening on April 22, to combat a wind-driven blaze north and east of the city. Lamar Fire Chief Marshall Cook said the fire spread across the Arkansas River and was moving westward, blown by winds that fortunately, weren’t […]
Traffic Stalled on Main (Again)
Last month a northbound oversized scoop/shovel got hung up on Main Street, just past Olive as the load was over-wide. Police had to ask those persons parked along Main Street to move their cars to make room for the vehicle. This past Tuesday afternoon, Lamar police and fire departments responded to a semi, again at […]
Hazards in Fort Lyon Fire Burn Area
(LAS ANIMAS, COLORADO) Las Animas Assistant Fire Chief Steve Bourne is advising the public to stay away from the Fort Lyon Fire burn area due to the number of dangers in the area. “We know there is a lot of curiosity about the damage the fire has caused, but burn areas are always very […]
“Text Me, I’m Dying to Hear from You”
High School Students view the start of a mock exercise The dangers of texting while driving were brought home in dramatic fashion this past Friday morning, April 15, at Lamar High School. A mock car accident resulted in one fatality, the arrest of the teenaged driver and two passenger accident-injuries. Students lined […]
Commissioners Discuss Fire Ban
Staffon Warn, Rural Fire Chief, and Jim Faull, Sheriff and Fire Marshall for Prowers County, discussed the recent fires in Bent and Baca Counties and the Prowers County fire ban enacted last month. Sheriff Faull said the Red Flag warnings posted by the National Weather Service usually serve to curtail non-permit burns in the county. “Farmers […]
Air Tankers Make Water Drops on Bent County Fire
13,500 acres of prairie have been burned in the Bent County fire since Saturday afternoon. According to Chris Sorensen, Public Information Officer for the Bent County Sheriff’s Office, heavy and light airplanes have been making water drops on the fire as of Wednesday morning. “A combination of large tankers and a single engine plane, […]
Colorado Brownfields Foundation Reviewing Lamar Asbestos Situation
Decades ago, when asbestos was considered a good way to insulate, not much was known about the health precautions needed when using the substance. Numerous homes and commercial buildings in Lamar were insulated with it, floors, walls, attics and even ceiling tiles. Over the years some of those buildings have become […]
Lamar City Council Approves Officers for Caged Conflict Event
Lamar Days committee members received permission from the city council for waiver of carnival fees at $290 for Crabtree Amusements, a new concession conducting the carnival in Lamar. The council also approved permission to locate one carnival house trailer for three employees at Willow Creek Park from May 11 to May 15. Another house trailer […]
Bent County Weekend Fire Summary and New Developments
Above Photos Courtesy of Jill Smith (all rights reserved) Pictures for Video Courtesy of John Robinson and Mark Menz The weekend fire that engulfed over 7,000 acres of prairie in Bent County continued to burn in some locations this Monday afternoon. The fires were situated on the north and south side of the Arkansas River […]
Vets Honored by County Commissioners/Grasshopper Population on the Rise in Southeast
Two local veterans were honored during the Prowers County commissioners meeting Thursday, April 6 in recognition of their service to their country. It was a prelude to the theme for National County Government Month: Serving Our Veterans, Armed Forces and their Families. The morning pledge of allegiance was led by Pete R. Hernandez who served […]
Weekend Altercations in Lamar
Lamar Police Make Arrests on Saturday Night Stabbing On April 9, 2011 at approximately 10:00 P.M. officers from the Lamar Police Department responded to the 100 block of West Hickory Street on report of an injured man in the street. The injured man was identified as Brian Hager, 34, of Lamar was transported to Prowers […]
Containment of Bent County Prairie Fire Continues
Update – An estimated 7,000 acres situated north of the Arkansas River in Bent County and an undetermined amount south of the river have been scorched since Saturday afternoon, when a fast-moving fire broke out shortly after 1pm. 11 homes north of CR JJ in Hasty were evacuated as a precaution earlier Sunday afternoon, when […]
Mop Up Operations Contain Bent County Fire
Highway 50 between Las Animas and Hasty opened to traffic around 7pm Saturday night, but firefighters from five counties are continuing their efforts to contain the last remnants of the fire that began just after 1pm Saturday afternoon. The fire, which consumed about 800 acres of grassland and several farm structures, was in the John […]
Highway 50 Closed Near Las Animas due to Rangeland Fire
A wind-driven, fast-moving prairie fire closed highway 50 to traffic at 1:10 pm Saturday afternoon. There is a multi-community response from area fire departments to contain the fire. Traffic was diverted just outside of Lamar at the Wiley Junction and another detour point at county road 20 near Hasty. The fire closed traffic on Highway […]
Asbestos for Holly Landfill & Prairie Dogs Concern Town Board
Marsha Willhite, Holly town Administrator, informed the town trustees that the landfill will be able to accept asbestos under the regulations set up by the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. She said the inspection looks good for friable asbestos to be deposited after several steps have been met including: amending the landfill operations plan, […]
Child Safety Concerns Addressed
Seatbelt safety and child safety seat law changes will be discussed this Saturday, April 9, from 9am to Noon at the Lamar Community Building. Cheryl Gilmore said Colorado has made changes in booster seat laws and recommended changes in rear-facing safety seats, and these and other subjects will be discussed at the public session. Gilmore […]
Severe Weather Awareness and Spotter Training
Each spring the National Weather Service in Pueblo provides sessions, a cooperative effort of local government officials and the National Weather Service. The sessions are free of charge and usually open to everyone, except when noted. Participants receive information about The National Weather Service; when and how to report severe weather; the basics of thunderstorm development […]
The Lamar Theater Marquee Takes Another Hit
A Frozen Food Express delivery truck took a two foot long chunk out of the base of the Lamar Theater marquee Thursday, March 31. Theater owner Rick Ross said he notified the driver that the truck was very close to the curb, and the driver needed to be cautious when he pulled back into the […]
Three Calls, No Fires for Lamar F.D.
The Lamar Fire Department was kept busy with responses over the weekend, and fortunately there were no fires or injuries. The first call came shortly after midnight, Saturday, March 26 to a Lamar Community College dorm for a heat sensor alert in a basement. An investigation showed the sensor was activated due to a system […]
Lamar Police Make Arrest in School Bomb Scare
Media Release from Lamar Police Department Monday, March 28, officers of the Lamar Police Department made an arrest in response to the bomb threat and evacuation of the Lamar High School last week. Officer arrested a 16 year old student at the Lamar High School as a result of the investigation into the incident of […]