Archive for September, 2026
Colorado Employment Situation – August 2026
Nonfarm Payroll Jobs Decrease by 1,400 in August; Unemployment Rate Increases to 4.0 Percent Household survey data According to the survey of households, the number of unemployed individuals increased by 3,200 to 128,200 from July to August. Colorado’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased one-tenth of […]
September, 2026 ARPA Board Meeting overview
BUSINESS OPERATIONS – September 2026 ARPA Board Reviews Preliminary 2027 Budget: A preliminary budget was presented to the Board of Directors at the August 27 meeting. The budget does not anticipate any adjustments to ARPA’s wholesale rate and keeps in place the 8.6% rate decrease the Board approved in 2025. The proposed budget projects […]
Bob Seay appointed to fill vacancy for Ward I at Lamar City Council special meeting
A special Lamar City Council meeting was held on September 16, 2026, to fill the Ward I vacancy due to the resignation of Brent Bates. Council needed to have position filled within 30 days. It was posted to the public that they were accepting applications as well as informing the public of this special meeting. […]
Monty Dean Palmer – May 7, 1936 – September 16, 2026
A graveside memorial service for longtime Granada, Colorado resident, Monty DeanPalmer will be held at 11:00AM Friday, September 25, 2026 at the Hillside Cemetery in Granada, Colorado. Cremation will take place and there will be no visitation. Monty was born on May 07, 1936 at Granada, Colorado to Walter Mace “Bud” and Lela Irene “Bitty” […]
Connie Kay Vocke – September 7, 1947 – September 11, 2026
Funeral Services for Holly, Colorado resident, Connie Vocke will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, September 18, 2026 at Valley Memorial Funeral Chapel, Holly, Colorado with Pastor Kathy Leathers officiating. Interment will follow at the Holly Cemetery. Visitation for Connie will be held from 5:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m., Thursday, September 17, 2026 at the funeral […]
Lamar’s new Denny’s restaurant slated to open Monday, September 21, 2026
Entrance to Denny’s Restaurant in Lamar For those who remember the original “Grand Slam” breakfast or who simply long to again have a local restaurant that is open 24 hours, your wish has come true. Denny’s restaurant in Lamar will open its doors on Monday, September 21, 2026 at 9 am. The only 24/7 restaurant […]
Lamar Utilities Board meeting of September 15, 2026
After approving minutes from the August 25, 2026 meeting, Board members voted to approve Purchase Orders 2025-06828 through 2025—7190, which totaled $1,062,392.36. Purchase of August (estimated) power from ARPA was $1,028,479.59 of that amount. Bills totaling $108,592.94 were also approved for payment. Six bids were sent out for Bid #2087 for wire and line materials. […]
Lamar City Council meeting of September 14, 2026
Mayor Kirk Crespin presents Brent Bates with a plaque thanking him for his years of service as a City Councilmember for Ward 1. Bates recently resigned from Council. ***EDITOR’S NOTE: After publication, I was informed by Lamar Light and Power’s Superintendent Houssein Hourieh that the 12% Charter Appropriation Fee residents are seeing on their utility […]
Third bronze sculpture added to 911 Memorial in Lamar, completing the panel honoring heroes
The third and final bronze sculpture at the 911 Memorial in Lamar is now complete, after the official unveiling of the third piece during the recent Annual Tri-State 911 Memorial ceremony. Joining “Officer” (likeness of Will Jimeno) and “Firefighter” (likeness of Steven Siller) is “Warrior”. Warrior is a replica of Lamar’s own Bryson Schemahorn. Bryson, […]
Weld County officials approve construction of what could be the largest data center in the state
The Weld County Board of Commissioners hold a meeting about Global AI’s data center project near Windsor, September 9, 2026 – Photo by CPR News Article By CPR news reporter Cassis Tingley The Weld County Board of Commissioners voted Wednesday to approve the zoning for what could become the largest data center in the […]
John Paul Salas – June 26, 1935 – September 5, 2026
John Paul Salas passed away on September 5, 2026, in Las Animas, Colorado, at the age of 91. He was born on June 26, 1935, in Denver, Colorado, to Martin and Theresa (Whatley) Salas. John spent his early years growing up between Higbee and Denver, Colorado. He later made his way to Las Animas, where […]
Gallup Poll shows 7 in 10 Americans oppose construction of AIdata centers in their local areas
by https://www.gallup.com/people/item.aspx?a=100180Jeffrey M. Jones – WASHINGTON, D.C. — Seven in 10 Americans oppose constructing data centers for artificial intelligence in their local area, including nearly half, 48%, who are strongly opposed. Barely a quarter favor these projects, with 7% strongly in favor. These results, from a March 2-18 Gallup survey, represent the first time Gallup has […]
VA Eastern Colorado offering free walk-in flu clinics for veterans beginning September 14
VA Eastern Colorado to Offer Free Walk-In Flu Clinics for Veterans Beginning Sept. 14 Aurora, Colo. — The VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS) will begin offering free flu vaccine clinics for veterans on Monday, Sept. 14. Vaccines will be available by walk-in or appointment through the end of flu season, which typically […]
Thomas Dunagan, Prowers County Coroner and Las Animas Police Officer, facing felony charges following CBI investigation
The following is a September 11, 2026 press release from the Bent County Sheriff’s Office On September 9, 2026, formal charges were filed in Bent County District Court against Las Animas Police Department Officer Thomas Dunagan following an investigation conducted by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI). (EDITOR’S NOTE: Dunagan is also the Prowers County […]
Kennis Elmer Bentley – November 26, 1938 – September 4, 2026
Kennis E. Bentley, 87, of Lamar Colorado passed away peacefully September 4th, 2026, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was born November 26th, 1938, in Greasy Creek, Pike County, Kentucky to parents Willie D. Bentley & Martha Caroline (Damron) Bentley. He was born the sixth child of eleven children. Ken was a graduate of Virgie, Kentucky, High School. After graduation, […]
