Health Dept closed
WALSENBURG- The Las Animas Huerfano Counties District Health Department office will be closed Friday May 22 in order to participate in an Emergency Preparedness Table Top Exercise at TSJC.
Lathrop Park
Sat. May 23 9 am
Hike the Hogback Trail
Join local nature enthusiast and veteran of the State Park system Jon Sudar for a morning hike. Enjoy learning about the local history of the area, as well as the local flora and fauna. This hike will take approximately 2 hours. Make sure to bring sunscreen, water, and hiking shoes/boots recommended. This hike will be meeting at the Hogback Trailhead.
Sat. May 23rd 7:30 pm Songs from the Past
Come out and enjoy the sounds from a simpler time with Dennis Rains. Dennis is a local musician who will entertain you with his Old Time Country, Bluegrass, and Old Cowboy Ballads. This concert will be held at the Pinon Campground Amphitheater.
Sun. May 24 9 am
Pancake Breakfast
Lathrop State Park Interpreter, Peter Galopin, will be cooking up a homemade breakfast for park guests of REAL pancakes made from scratch. Come and enjoy a filling breakfast sure to get you ready for a full day of boating and fishing, and also get to know your fellow campground neighbors. Breakfast will be served in the courtyard area of the Visitors Center.
Sun. May 24 8:30 pm
A Brief History of the Walsenburg Area
Jon Sudar, volunteer interpreter and State Parks veteran, will take us on a journey back in time to examine the history of Huerfano County, Walsenburg, and Lathrop State Park. Jon’s program will take us all the way from when the buffalo ran wild, to the Native Americans, Spanish explorers and fur trappers, through the ranching, railroads and mining era, and up to present day. This program will be taking place at the Pinon Campground Amphitheater.
Historical Tour
HUERFANO RIVER- At one time it seemed as if all roads led to St. Mary′s Crossing on the Huerfano River – north and south and east and west, trails and roads fanned out like spokes on a wheel.
An historical trip this Saturday, May 23, will pass near this 1860s settlement where a church, school, hotel, store and various buildings once stood.
The trip will focus on four cemeteries in the Huerfano River Valley. Any interested persons are invited to meet at 9 am Saturday at the west end of the Safeway parking lot, West Seventh in Walsenburg, to form a caravan with a guide. The journey will end between 1 and 2 pm so snacks and water would be good. However, the restrooms along the trail are nearly non-existent. Sponsored by the Huerfano County Historical Society, a fee of $3 for members and $5 for non-members is requested to pay for handouts and other expenses. For information contact Carolyn Newman 719-738-2840.
Kids’ Summer Baseball League
WALSENBURG- Southern Baseball League will be having sign up for Summer Baseball on Saturday, May 23 from 10 am to noon at the Huerfano County Community Center baseball field. There will also be sign up on Mon. May 25 from 5 to 6 pm with a parent meeting at 6 pm. Kids from age 4 to age 15 are eligible. If you are unable to attend or if you have any questions, please contact Michael Vigil, League president at 719-250-6741 or Sandra Vigil, League Secretary at 719-250-8524.
La Veta Graduation this weekend
La Veta- Graduation will begin at 10:30 am, Sat. May 23 in the gymnasium. See related story on page 4.
4th Annual
Memorial
weekend
Art Show
LA VETA- The La Veta Fine Art Gallery and Piñon Hill Pottery, will host the 4th Annual Memorial Weekend Art Show at their respective Main Street locations on Saturday May 23rd, from 5-7 PM. Meet the artists, enjoy a snack and see new work from local, regional and internationally recognized artists.
The Fine Art Gallery will feature new work from a variety artist working with photography, sculpture, glass, painting, and jewelry. For more information, send email to lavetagallery@centurytel.net
Piñon Hill Pottery will feature work from 3 artists new to the gallery including Machiko Yamazaki and new work from some local favorites. For more, go to www.pinonhillpottery.com
Vacation Bible School
WALSENBURG- Vacation Bible School will be held Mon. May 25 through Fri. May 29 at 137 W. 1st St. (1st & Albert St.) in Walsenburg, at the big pink house in the backyard. The VBS is free, and will run from 1:30 to 3 pm each day, for children aged 4-12. There will be games, snacks and loads of fun. The VBS is sponsored by the SE Colorado Area Missionaries in connection with the American Missionary Fellowship. For information, contact Bill & Mary Glidden 738-2487 or 989-8918.
Tourism Board
WALSENBURG- The Huerfano County Tourism Board meets Wed. May 27, at noon in the commissioners’ room in the courthouse. On the agenda: signs, the 3-panel brochure and hosting the five-county heritage group.
Brown Bag it!
LA VETA- Brown Bag Book club members hold their regular monthly meeting on the last Friday of each month. This month, that means May 29, at noon at the La Veta Library. You do not have to have read a book to come.
Tobacco Coalition
WALSENBURG- The last meeting for this grant cycle will be Wed. June 3rd, at the Iron Horse at noon.
Gardner Meeting
GARDNER- There will be a community meeting to discuss the future of La Clinica, and to hear announcements regarding Malachite Spring. Be at the Gardner Community Center on Wed. June 3 at 7 pm.
13th Annual Stonewall Fishing Tournament
MONUMENT LAKE- The 13th Annual Fishing Tournament, sponsored by the Stonewall Fire Auxiliary, will be held Sat. June 6, at the Monument Lake Resort, west of Trinidad on Scenic Hwy 12. Registration will begin at 7 am with fishing from 9 to 3 pm.
Awards are based on the weight of the fish and time weighed in and will be given for trout and salmon only. Cash prizes are awarded in adult and youth categories. The prizes are 1st place: $500, 2nd place $300, and 3rd place, $200. There is no fishing license required on this day. There will be bait available, or you can bring your own, but absolutely no minnows are allowed. The cost to enter is $20 for adults and $15 for youth with early registration discounts of $5 for adults, $3 for youth. To pre-register, send to Stonewall Fire Auxiliary, Box 126, Weston, Co, 81091. For more information call 719-868-2249 or go to www.stonewallfire.us. For lodging information go to www.monumentlakeresort.com.
4-H news
by Rachael Schneider
HUERFANO- Thank you to Bobby Andreatta who made the talent show possible. For any one who is interested in a rabbit project, Terri Smart has some free at 738-1969. The Animal Care and Housing forms still need to be turned in. Small animal, pig, lambs, and goat check in is Sat. June 6 from 9 to 11:30 am; remember your cool forms. The Ambassador Program will also be on June 6. Another quality assurance will be held June 12 at the Walsenburg Community Center.
In other 4-H news, congratulations to Gabrielle who was awarded Youth of the Year from La Veta. Thank you to Tamara White for donating to the Snowy Range 4-H Cub from the Candy Bean. Horse Certificates are due in the extension office May 29 before 6:30 pm. Finally, note that the Kids Health Fair is May 30 at the Walsenburg Community Center at 9 am.
La Veta Library
LA VETA- La Veta Public Library has announced their summer schedule.
• Stories and Special Activities for children in 2nd grade and younger will run each Thursday, June 4 through July 30 from 1:30 to 2:30 pm.
• Those in 3rd grade and up have their time at the library on Tuesdays from 1:30 to 2:30, June 2 through July 28.
• The Toddling 2’s can participate on each Tuesday from May 19 through 28 each Tuesday from 9:30-10:15 am.
• Story Times are scheduled for June 1 through July 29 on Mondays at 1:30 pm & Wednesdays at 10am.
• Reading to Rover is on Thursdays at 10 am from June 4 through July 30.
• 5th-8th Grade Book Club:
Wednesdays 1:30 pm, June 4- July 29.
• Incentive Reading:
May 22nd – July 24th
• Teen Incentive Reading: June 1st – July 28th
• Andy Hackbarth presents “Dr. Seuss and Hannah Montana; Turn Your Favorite Book Into a Song!” July 3rd 1:30
• Story Teller Donna Ingham, August 11, 10am
All events are free and at the library.
New attraction at Mining Museum
by Carolyn Newman
WALSENBURG- Have you always wanted to go into a coal mine tunnel?
Now you can- in a recreated tunnel at the Walsenburg Mining Museum. Even though the Mining Museum is housed in an 1896 county jail, one long cell has been transformed into a dim coal mine tunnel with miners at work using their hand tools. Even a yellow canary stands guard to detect any lethal gases.
Exhibit builder John Carlson combined modern building materials with long-ago tools to create the tunnel. Pat Kazmerski used her skills with paint, Brian Pratt built a small mine car and Margaret Gleisberg arranged the miners in working poses. Ben Ree weilded a paint brush as others carried and sawed until the authentic look was just right.
The museum, at 112 West Fifth Street behind the courthouse, is open seven days a week until the end of September. Hours are 10 to 1 weekdays, 10 to 1 Saturdays and l to 4 Sundays or by appointment Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for teens. Local books are for sale. 719-738-1992. Volunteers are always appreciated.
EMS Appreciation Week
HUERFANO- Huerfano Ambulance Service (HAS) has responded to thousands of calls since its creation in 1980, averaging over 975 calls per year for the past ten years. With a staff of less than 30, the HAS provides 24 hour Advanced Life Support to all corners of Huerfano County. The staff has over 145 years of combined pre-hospital training and experience, and the recent addition of Dr. Jim Trione, as the new medical advisor, brings an additional eight years of hospital experience.
With a fleet of four ambulances, HAS has EMT Basics, Intermediates, and/or Paramedics staffed 24/7 to run two units. HAS also has mutual aide agreements with the five bordering counties.
May 17th through 23rd is National EMS Week, and with 7,837 people, 1,592 square miles, their one mission is preservation of life. So, if you see one of the crews in the county, please thank them for what they do for all of us!
Logo contest and free music tickets
HUERFANO- The Fox Theater Renovation Project needs a logo! Win two free passes to the Spanish Peaks International Celtic Music Festival, September 25-27, 2009 (a $250 value) if your logo is chosen. There is a drive to renovate the Fox Theater in Walsenburg to a high professional standard so that live drama, dance and music productions and theater classes can take place there. Create your logo design in color or in black and white on white, 8 x 11 inch paper. Send your design in a manila envelope along with your name, address, and phone number to: Fox Theater Renovation Project, Box 217, La Veta, CO 81055. Submissions deadline is June 15. The winner will be notified by June 20.
@ your
library
WALSENBURG- The Spanish Peaks Library Distict, in conjunction with the Las Animas-Huerfano Counties District Health Department, will implement a health and wellness initiative program for the citizens of Huerfano County. This program will include a health station at the library, which will facilitate access to healthcare related issues. With this access, the community should become better educated about their own health and well being. The use of media will be implemented by including healthcare books, magazines, educational videos, and posters. There materials will be available for use and a new topic will be displayed monthly at a health station. Through this improved access to health information resources, it is hoped that the community of Huerfano County will be empowered to take charge of their health, be more attentive during healthcare visits, and ask question of their healthcare providers.
