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The Prowers Journal Site Has Moved

The Prowers Journal Site Has Moved

The Prowers Journal website has been permanently moved to a new hosting company.  Please go to theprowersjournal.com to access the most up to date news in Prowers County.  Don’t forget to update your bookmarks to reflect this change. To better serve you, the Prowers Journal has upgraded its website.  The site offers a new, more streamlined appearance making it easier to find the news that is important to you.  The site also includes additional features such … Read entire article »

Filed under: Agriculture, Art, Business, Business of the Week, Chamber/Local Business, Churches, City, College, Commissioners, community, County, Economy, Education, Employment, Energy, Entertainment, Events, Featured, Festival, Granada, Health, History, Holly, Lamar, Law Enforcement, Letters to the Editor, Media, News, Notice, Obituary, Police Reports, Politics, Public Safety, Recreation, School, Sports, The Journal Alert, Tourism, Transportation, Utilities, Weather, Wiley, Youth

Highway 160 Bridge Project Set to Start

Highway 160 Bridge Project Set to Start

July 10, 2012 – Southeastern Colorado/CDOT Region 2 – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) begins a three-bridge improvement project on U.S. 160 next week, east and west of Pritchett. CDOT is replacing the bridges with concrete box culverts at North Fork Sand Arroyo (built 1935), 11 miles west of Pritchett and at Lone Rock Draw (built 1936), four miles west of Pritchett.   The bridge at Cat Creek (built 1939), about three miles west of U.S. … Read entire article »

Filed under: Agriculture, Business, City, community, County, Economy, Featured, News, Public Safety, Tourism, Transportation

Public Invited to Meet City Administrator Candidates this Thursday

Public Invited to Meet City Administrator Candidates this Thursday

The Lamar City Council is hosting a public meet-n-greet this Thursday, July 12, for the remaining five City Administrator candidates.  Interim administrator, Steven Rabe, reminded the council and those attending the July 9 council meeting, the event will be held at the Multi-purpose room at the Lamar Community Building from 5pm to 7pm.  A light meal and refreshments will be provided. There were 19 candidates applying for the position originally, and those were narrowed to seven … Read entire article »

Filed under: Business, community, Employment, Featured, Lamar, News, Politics

LUB Reviews Financials, Approves Scholarship Renewals

LUB Reviews Financials, Approves Scholarship Renewals

The Lamar Utility Board reported that Year to Date electric sales through May of this year were 4.2% lower than the same time last year.  Residential, commercial and industrial customer sales were off 5% and irrigation loads were down approximately 16% compared to the same time last year.  Total operating revenues for 2012 are $4,426,444 and total operating costs are $3,414,759.  Net income for the Lamar Light Plant is at $715,961, Year to Date.  Compared … Read entire article »

Filed under: Agriculture, Business, community, Employment, Energy, Featured, Lamar, News, Public Safety, Utilities, Youth

Another Monthly Increase for Lamar City Sales Tax

Another Monthly Increase for Lamar City Sales Tax

May 2012 sales tax collections are up another month for the City of Lamar.  City sales tax is up 7.33% over the same period last year and total sales and collections show a gain of 7.72% for a gain of $19,523.06.  Total city sales tax collections for May are $256,618.54. Year to Date figures show city sales tax collections up 4.60 for a gain of $68,345.84.  Total tax and Use Tax collections are up 5.66% for … Read entire article »

Filed under: Business, Chamber/Local Business, community, Economy, Employment, Entertainment, Featured, Lamar, News, Recreation, Sports, The Journal Alert, Utilities

Another Monthly Increase for Lamar City Sales Tax

Another Monthly Increase for Lamar City Sales Tax

May 2012 sales tax collections are up another month for the City of Lamar.  City sales tax is up 7.33% over the same period last year and total sales and collections show a gain of 7.72% for a gain of $19,523.06.  Total city sales tax collections for May are $256,618.54. Year to Date figures show city sales tax collections up 4.60 for a gain of $68,345.84.  Total tax and Use Tax collections are up 5.66% for … Read entire article »

Filed under: Business, Chamber/Local Business, community, Economy, Employment, Entertainment, Featured, Lamar, News, Recreation, Sports, The Journal Alert, Utilities

Motel Lodger’s Tax Proposed to Lamar City Council for November Ballot

Motel Lodger’s Tax Proposed to Lamar City Council for November Ballot

Lamar voters should decide this November to approve a proposed lodgers or pillow tax on motel room rentals.   As outlined during the city council work session on Monday, July 9, by Shawna Hodge, Lamar Main Street Director, and Pat Palmer, President of the Prowers Lodging Tax Panel, the proposed tax will levy a simple $2 fee on each motel or Bed & Breakfast room rented in the City of Lamar.   The fee, Hodge explained, will … Read entire article »

Filed under: Business, Chamber/Local Business, Commissioners, community, County, Economy, Energy, Entertainment, Events, Featured, Holly, Lamar, News, Recreation, Tourism, Utilities, Weather

Lamar Teen Center Moving to Lincoln Elementary School

Lamar Teen Center Moving to Lincoln Elementary School

Lincoln Elementary School, vacant for the past year, will host the students from Project HOPE from the Lamar Teen Center beginning next month. The two story building on East Elm Street sees about 75 to 90 young students each day after school, according to HOPE director, Lori Hammer. She said she’s, “very excited and a little nervous,” about making the transition to the new facilities in just four to five weeks from now. The Lamar … Read entire article »

Filed under: Business, Churches, City, community, Economy, Education, Featured, Lamar, News, Public Safety, Recreation, School, Youth

Lamar 18 & Under Team Wins Merchants Park Tournament

Lamar 18 & Under Team Wins Merchants Park Tournament

  The Lamar Merchants 18 & Under host team took only one loss during the three day Babe Ruth State Tournament this past Friday through Sunday at Merchants Park and won, defeating Limon in the extra game. Four teams had been scheduled for the double elimination tournament, but because Burlington dropped out at the last minute, the schedule was revised to accommodate the remaining three: Lamar, Limon and Kiowa. Lamar, coached by Bart Cruikshank, claimed the first victory … Read entire article »

Filed under: Business, community, Entertainment, Featured, Lamar, News, Recreation, School, Sports, Tourism, Youth

County and City Fire Ban Restrictions Amended

County and City Fire Ban Restrictions Amended

The governor has rescinded the state wide fire ban.  With the recent rains I believe that Prowers County can to some extent rescind most of the restrictions. I will keep the fire ban on red flag days and require everyone to revert to our previous method of calling the Communications Center for a permit. I am extremely proud of the citizens of Prowers County who adhered to the fire restriction especially the ban on fireworks.  Even with … Read entire article »

Filed under: Agriculture, City, community, County, Economy, Featured, Granada, Holly, Lamar, Law Enforcement, News, Notice, Police Reports, Public Safety, Recreation, The Journal Alert, Weather, Wiley

Planned July 11th Power Outage for Holly

Planned July 11th Power Outage for Holly

Town of Holly Administrator Marsha Willhite annouced Monday, July 9, that an electric power interruption is scheduled for Wednesday, July 11 which will affect only certain areas of the Holly system. The planned interruption is necessary to facilitat the installation of a substation regulator.  Those customers who reside or do business in the following areas will be affected by the outage: North of Park Street to the Buffalo Canal, between Eighth Street and CR 35. Between Park Street … Read entire article »

Filed under: Agriculture, Business, City, community, Economy, Energy, Featured, Holly, News, Notice, Public Safety, Utilities

Hickenlooper Lifts State Fire Ban, Options Open for Counties

Hickenlooper Lifts State Fire Ban, Options Open for Counties

Governor lifts statewide fire ban, local bans may still be in place DENVER ­— Sunday, July 8, 2012 — Gov. John Hickenlooper today lifted a statewide fire ban because extreme fire conditions have abated in all 64 Colorado counties as a result of current rainfall and short- and long-term forecasts predicting cooler and wetter weather. Local fire restrictions may still be in place. “Mother Nature is finally giving us some relief,” Hickenlooper said. “Even though the 2012 wildfire … Read entire article »

Filed under: Agriculture, Business, Commissioners, community, County, Education, Featured, Granada, Health, Holly, Lamar, Law Enforcement, News, Notice, Public Safety, Recreation, Tourism, Weather, Wiley

Weekend Highway Fatality in Bristol Area

Weekend Highway Fatality in Bristol Area

The Colorado State Patrol is investigating a one-vehicle crash that occurred July 7, 2012 on Highway 385,  milepost 103 north of Bristol. A 1994 Plymouth Voyager mini-van was traveling northbound when the vehicle traveled off the right side of the road and struck a delineator post. The mini-van was corrected back onto the roadway, swerved back and forth to the left side of the road where it struck another delineator post. The vehicle then rolled back across … Read entire article »

Filed under: community, County, Featured, Granada, Law Enforcement, News, Police Reports, Public Safety

Zero Tolerance, Citations, Confiscation for Fireworks

Zero Tolerance, Citations, Confiscation for Fireworks

Zero Tolerance, Citations, Confiscation– Those four words pretty well sum up the attitude of the Lamar Police Department and Prowers County Sheriff’s Department regarding private use of any kind of fireworks in the city for the approaching holiday.  As of last Thursday, June 28,  Wal-Mart, the only retail store in the area that usually carried sparklers or fountains, pulled all their fireworks packages off the shelves in light of the Governor’s ban on open burning and firework … Read entire article »

Filed under: Business, community, County, Entertainment, Featured, Granada, Health, Holly, Lamar, Law Enforcement, News, Police Reports, Public Safety, The Journal Alert, Weather, Wiley

Local Medical Providers Collaborating on New Health Information Program

Local Medical Providers Collaborating on New Health Information Program

  The four main health organizations in Prowers County are forming an information group to foster community wellness and take steps to counter chronic illness and increasing obesity in the county.  This is being done, according to Jackie Brown from Prowers County Public Health & Environment, as the LiveWell grants are going away over the next 18 months.  She told the County Commissioners, LiveWell would be moved over into a sustainability program.  Jackie Brown , Jay Brooke … Read entire article »

Filed under: Business, City, Commissioners, community, County, Education, Featured, Granada, Health, Holly, Lamar, News, Public Safety, Wiley

June Precipitation Levels for S.E. Colorado

June Precipitation Levels for S.E. Colorado

Despite the summer heat, some areas of southeast Colorado continued to receive precipitation in amounts comparable to last year.  The overall drought status of southeast Colorado is slightly improved over last year, which is why some counties have not been red-flagged for burn bans from the National Weather Service.  Prowers and Baca Counties are two of those.  Despite the June precipitation levels, the combined heat and dry conditions have been enough to postpone the annual fireworks … Read entire article »

Filed under: Agriculture, Business, community, County, Economy, Featured, Granada, Health, Holly, Lamar, News, Recreation, Weather, Wiley

State Drought Assessment

State Drought Assessment

June 2012 Drought Update for Colorado from Colorado Water Conservation Board—  The persistence of above temperatures throughout the state continues to exacerbate persistently dry conditions on the west slope and parts of the eastern plains.  Some areas of the state have received good June precipitation.  However, high temperatures and winds have decreased the beneficial moisture.  Municipalities are reporting increased demand and decreasing storage volumes.  Some have implemented restrictions.  Evapotranspiration rates are at, or near, all time … Read entire article »

Filed under: Agriculture, Business, community, County, Economy, Energy, Featured, Health, News, Public Safety, Recreation, Weather

Drive Sober for the July 4th Holiday Week

Drive Sober for the July 4th Holiday Week

Don’t Lose Your Independence with a DUI Arrest this July 4th Week  June 28, 2012 – Traffic Safety – Extra DUI Patrols and Sobriety Checkpoints Begin Friday Night.   Denver – As Coloradans prepare to celebrate Independence Day, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and law enforcement agencies statewide remind everyone that with our freedom comes a responsibility to drive sober or face a DUI arrest.  The Colorado State Patrol and 82 law enforcement agencies are increasing DUI enforcement … Read entire article »

Filed under: Business, community, County, Education, Entertainment, Featured, Granada, Health, Holly, Lamar, Law Enforcement, News, Notice, Police Reports, Public Safety, Recreation, Tourism, Transportation, Wiley

PMC Offers CEO Position to Craig Loveless

PMC Offers CEO Position to Craig Loveless

  The search for a chief executive officer at Prowers Medical Center may be coming to a close.  Candy Ruedeman, PMC board chairperson, said the board made a job offer to interim Chief Executive Officer, Craig Loveless, following a late night executive session during the June 26 monthly meeting.  Loveless has not given an answer at this time, pending salary negotiations with the board and QHR, Quorum Health Resources, the managing firm for Prowers Medical Center.  … Read entire article »

Filed under: Business, community, Economy, Employment, Featured, Health, Lamar, News, The Journal Alert

Primary Victory for Andrade, Hixson and Schnabel

Primary Victory for Andrade, Hixson and Schnabel

Prowers County Unofficial Primary Results  Early voting and tabulation helped speed the June 26 primary vote count for Prowers County Clerk and Recorder Jana Coen and the election judges.  Shortly after the polls had closed, by 9:25pm, the unofficial results were made available to the public.  For District 1, Democrat challenger Don Seufer of Holly will go against incumbent commissioner Henry Schnabel of Bristol in the November general election.  Schnabel defeated challenger Mike Parker 749 to 574 … Read entire article »

Filed under: City, Commissioners, community, County, Featured, Granada, Holly, Lamar, News, Politics, The Journal Alert, Wiley

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