Author Archive for Barbara Crimond
Local martial arts students bring home trophies from Oklahoma championship
Several local martial arts students recently competed at the 33rd Annual U.S. Central Open/Oklahoma Kukkiwon Hanmadang Martial Arts Championship held in Oklahoma City. Masters and students competing were from Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Texas, and Colorado. Some of the local students were competing for the first time at this event Competing were: Lea Austin (Form and […]
Mitchel Hammes selected as next Lamar City Administrator at special Council meeting on September 29, 2025
Mitchel Hammes, new City Administrator for Lamar Lamar City Council met in special session the evening of September 29 with a short agenda, the most important of which was the selection of Lamar’s next City Administrator. The pool of candidates had recently been narrowed down to four, with three finalists visiting Lamar last week for […]
US 50 Business/I-25 intersection undergoing massive construction project – Prowers County residents traveling to Pueblo, Colorado Springs will need to take detour beginning October 10
Travel Alert – Southbound Ramp Closures at the I-25/US 50B Interchange Beginning at 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, a long-term closure of the southbound I-25 off-ramp to eastbound US 50B and the westbound US 50B on-ramp to southbound I-25 is required to advance and facilitate the construction of the I-25 and US 50B interchange. […]
Wesley “Wes” Reed Smith – August 23, 1964 – September 26, 2026
A graveside service for longtime Wiley, Colorado resident Wesley Reed Smith, affectionately known to his family and friends as Wes, will be held at the McClave Cemetery on Wednesday, October 8th, 2025 at 11:00AM with Pastor Mike Schneider officiating and will be followed by a remembrance at the McClave Park from 12:00PM to 3:00PM. The […]
Kevin Ridder promoted as Chief of Police in Lamar – has been serving as interim Chief since May
The City of Lamar has promoted Kevin Ridder as its Chief of Police. Ridder has served in the interim capacity since Chief Al Fear’s departure in May. With previous experience in the agency, Ridder rejoined the Lamar Police Department in January of 2025 as Lamar’s Commander of Support Services. Support Services includes the detective bureau/drug […]
Officer’s joke about ‘narcotics-smelling’ horse panics suspect, leading to chase, arrest
Lubbock Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD/Gray News) – In Texas, police officers on horseback chased down a suspect who ran after taking a joke about a “narcotics-smelling” horse way too seriously. Officers Bryson Lewis and William Trotter with the Lubbock Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit were assisting with a routine patrol last […]
Melanie Theresa Johnson – May 3, 1956 – September 22, 2025
A Memorial Service for La Junta, Colorado resident, Melanie Johnson will be held at 10:30 a.m.,Saturday, October 4, 2025 at Trinity Lutheran Church in La Junta, Colorado. Pastor Rick Miller will officiate. Melanie Theresa Johnson passed away on September 22, 2025 at Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center at the age of 69. She was born […]
Shirley Frans – January 19, 1956 – September 24, 2025
A memorial service for longtime Lamar, Colorado resident, Shirley Frans will be held at 10:00AM on Thursday October 2, 2025 at the Grace Family Worship Center with Tony Jensen officiating. Per Shirley’s request cremation will take place. Shirley was born on January 19, 1956 at Gunnison, Colorado to Harold Eugene and Ilene (Casebolt) Mathews and […]
Prowers Medical Center’s Zero Suicide Committee strives to end the stigma surrounding suicide
Prowers Medical Center’s Zero Suicide Committee members at the recent Anthony LaTour Memorial 5K Zero Suicide Committee: Working Together for Prevention The Zero Suicide Committee at Prowers Medical Center is dedicated to preventing suicide in our community by raising awareness, strengthening connections, and supporting those who may be struggling. Recently, the committee has been honored […]
Miles Grant Moran – February 23, 1960 – September 24, 2025
A memorial service for lifelong Lamar resident, Miles Grant Moran, will be held at a later date. Miles was born on February 23, 1960 at Lamar, Colorado to Roy Gene and Ethel DeLois (Wheeler) Moran and passed away on September 24, 2025 at the Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo, Colorado at the age of 65. […]
Dora Hernandez – September 4, 1934 – September 21, 2025
A Funeral Liturgy for Lamar, Colorado resident, Dora Hernandez will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, October 3, 2025 at Valley Funeral & Cremation in Lamar, Colorado with Deacon Allan Medina officiating. Per Dora’s request, cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation. Dora M. Hernandez passed away, with her family by her […]
Lamar Rotary Club prepares for its 25th annual dictionary distribution to local third grade students
Lamar Rotary Members prepare dictionaries for the 25th annual distribution to local students The Lamar Rotary Club is preparing for its 25th annual dictionary distribution. Each year, every third grader in 14 schools located in Prowers, Baca, Kit Carson counties as well as McClave School receives their own dictionary, personalized with a handwritten note from […]
Sergio Banda Vargas
A memorial celebration of life for former Lamar, Colorado resident, now of Billings, Montana will be held at a later date. Visitation for Sergio will be held on September 30, 2025 from 11:00AM until 3:00PM at the Peacock Family chapel. Sergio was born on May 28, 1979 at Salamanca Guanajuato, Mexico to Jose Banda Ojeda […]
Lamar Utility Board meeting of September 23, 2025
The board approved minutes from the September 9 meeting as well as purchase orders 2025-00050 through 2025-00582. There was an unusually large number of purchase orders to approve due to the recent Tyler software conversion for the City of Lamar. Purchase orders totaled $1,226,408.58, of which $1,192,806.28 needed board approval. The largest purchase order was […]
Lamar City Council meeting of September 22, 2025
All council members were present for the September 22, 2025 meeting. Mayor Kirk Crespin announced that the four finalists for the City Administrator position were in attendance, welcoming them and saying that it was an opportunity for them to see how council meetings are run. He gave a public thank-you to Doug Harbour for all […]
