2018 Year in Review – November

 

 

 

Financial Fallout from 1A’s Defeat

4,002 votes were cast on November 6th concerning Prowers County Ballot Issue 1A, a proposed county tax increase to generate additional revenues for the ambulance service in and around Prowers County. The measure was defeated 2,102 against to 1,900 in favor.  Had it passed, it was estimated to be able to add an additional $400,000 per year to the overall ambulance fund which would be divided among the city, a contingency fund and the Holly Fire and Ambulance District.

The ambulance expenses for the operation of the Lamar Fire and Ambulance Service have been in the red for numerous years and the expenses continue to grow. The City of Lamar and Prowers County use revenues from their general funds to help offset annual losses forcing both municipal entities to decide that a .0025 per cent, county-wide sales tax would be the most equitable means to generate the needed funding.  With that recent ballot loss both entities are going to have to find a way to alter their 2019 and subsequent budgets to maintain the operation of the ambulance service.  Each call for service is estimated at $800, plus mileage expenses.

 

New Miss Colorado USA and Miss Colorado Teen USA Crowned

Greeley, Colo. – The 2019 MISS COLORADO USA and MISS COLORADO TEEN USA Pageants took place Sunday night at the Union Colony Civic Center. A large crowd filled the auditorium on Sunday afternoon for the pageant finals, where the panel of judges selected Madison Dorenkamp of Lamar as MISS COLORADO USA 2019, and Sydney Boehler of Fort Collins, as MISS COLORADO TEEN USA Both titleholders will now advance and compete next year at the MISS USA and MISS TEEN USA National pageants.

 

 

The Bugs Have Found a Home

After over a year, several bugs, created through the efforts of local artist/sculpture Jeremy Cooper and students from One Step Up at the HOPE Center at Lincoln School in Lamar, have finally found their home in Willow Creek Park.

Two or three of the unique creations dot the landscape surrounding the skate board park and one apparently landed on the welcoming sign at the southwest corner of the park near the bridge. They’re durable, they’re colorful, they’re one-of-a-kind and are the result of a collaboration of ideas that came from the imaginations of the students and the talents of Cooper.

The ideas for the bugs have been in development for over a year. They look like they came to life from a bunch of junkyard parts, used parts, mostly metal and ceramic and were cannibalized from pieces of discarded equipment.  Cooper said anything was up for grabs and that included wheel spokes, springs, levers, ceiling fan blades, rocker arms and assorted what-nots.

 

Lamar Loop Gains Ground

The Lamar Loop, an eight mile hiking path that will encompass a major portion of the community is making progress with recent construction efforts. This past summer, city crews improved a dirt and gravel pathway running eastwards along the canal which leads from Willow Creek Park across from the public tennis courts, following the creek to CR HH.5.  The Loop project is being funded from a GoCO Inspire Grant awarded to the City of Lamar several years ago.  The project was put on hold in order to develop news plans that matched the size of the grant to the estimated cost of the project from area construction bids.  The overall project is in the neighborhood of $1,000,000.

Within the past two weeks, MonCor, the company selected for the major portion of the construction, widened a pathway around Willow Creek Park, bordering the lawn adjacent to the roadways. According to Parks and Recreation Director, Rick Akers, Willow Valley Road from the Pike’s Peak Tower entrance travelling east and north to the tennis courts has recently been covered with asphalt and the same treatment is expected to be completed on the western side of the park along Parkview Avenue.

Additional construction is underway along the greenbelt west of Lamar. This path, according to Akers, will be made of concrete and runs south, parallel to, but a distance away from South 14th Street.  The concrete loop will run from Sherman Street to Maple Street along the sides of the road, pick up at Oak Street towards the green belt to Ft. Bent Canal.  From there it will move to 14th Street, crossing the Canal to 11th Street.

Plans call for the Loop to be built in stages, connecting several portions of the public pathway until all sections have been joined.
By Russ Baldwin

 

Lorrie Boyer Named 2019 NAFB President

Boyer to lead 900+ members

PLATTE CITY, Missouri (MONTH XX, 2018) – Veteran Farm Broadcaster Lorrie Boyer, current farm director at KSIR in Fort Morgan, Colorado, was named 2019 president at the 75th National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Convention, held November 7-9, 2018, in Kansas City, Missouri.

“NAFB is honored to have Lorrie Boyer represent our association as president for the 2019 calendar year,” said Tom Brand, executive director, NAFB. “Her passion for farm broadcasting, creativity, and outgoing personality will represent our 900+ members well.”

In her role with KSIR, Boyer covers issues at the local, state and national levels.