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| Stained glass radiance | 18 - July - 2008by Susan Simons
LA VETA- St. Benedict Episcopal Church at 113 W. Field St. in La Veta is a small, plain rectangular building on a narrow lot. It is a classic country church with a pitched roof and tall, white steeple. It was built in 1900 at the southwest..
| 18 - July - 2008by Susan Simons
LA VETA- St. Benedict Episcopal Church at 113 W. Field St. in La Veta is a small, plain rectangular building on a narrow lot. It is a classic country church with a pitched roof and tall, white steeple. It was built in 1900 at the southwest corner of Main and Field streets by the Seventh Day Adventist Church and moved two lots east in 1910 to its present location. In 2004, it became the home of St. Benedict Episcopal Mission, and in June 2008, the last of six splendid stained glass windows designed and built by local artist, Anjillee Schwarz, was installed.
The long, narrow windows on the east and west sides of the building fill with morning and afternoon light. The light is always changing and the windows never appear exactly the same twice. According to the artist, stained glass is “…the only medium where you get direct light through color; all other mediums reflect color. It casts the color into the air.”
Each window was commissioned by one or more parishioners who visited with Schwarz, to give a sense of their color preferences and personalities. As a result, each window expresses personal meaning. For example, window #1, entitled Peace, was commissioned by Betty Elwell in honor of her husband, Carroll. Grace, harmony, and gratitude are also associated with this window. The colors are the blues, greens, and golds of nature. The window integrates curved and straight lines in a graceful design of multiple arches.
The designs of each window also incorporate more universal meanings. The designs are based on the principles of sacred geometry, and each speaks of different kinds of harmony in music, nature, and life. The basis of sacred geometry is the concept of phi, or the Divine Proportion. Implied in its mathematical expression are all primary geometric forms. “It describes how absolute unity can become…an endless interconnected array of forms.” These interconnected forms speak without words of such things as forgiveness, grace, unity, creation, truth and wisdom.
For example, window #6, the Unity window, speaks of the institutions that organize our communal life such as marriage. The dualities of life—light and dark, male and female—are contained in well-defined straight lines and bold colors under the godhead which is expressed in bright curves that speak of the more nurturing aspects of the divine.
Window #4 is the Creation window expressing the Eye of God generated by concentric circles. If we imagine truth and wisdom as two pebbles thrown into the water, the place where their concentric circles overlap would form the Eye of God or Vesica Pisces. All creation comes from that center. The peaceful, vibrant colors of sun, earth, and sky surround the luminous center.
The design and building of the windows took two years from beginning to end. Schwarz, the artist, describes working on the project as “…a profound experience, …a tempering process.” She has been working with the principles of sacred geometry since she was 19, and they are embedded in her artistic nature. She received a degree in Fine Arts from Fort Lewis College in Durango in 1981 and apprenticed with Master James Laughren on many large stained-glass projects in places such as Durango and Dolores, including the stained glass windows for the Catholic church in Ignacio, CO. She teaches for the La Veta School of the Arts and will offer a class this summer on August 1-3.
St Benedict will be open Sun. August 1 from 9-4 and Sun. August 3 from 12-4 to welcome people who want to view the windows. This will be stop #17 on the La Veta Studio and Gallery Tour sponsored by the Spanish Peaks Arts Council. The photographs of the windows for this article were done by Peggy Zehring of La Veta School of the Arts. | | Health Care Reform part four | 18 - July - 2008by Carla Dolce
HUERFANO- In this fourth and final segment on health care reform, we look at some health care reform options. Nearly everyone agrees our system needs major reforms. But, there is substantial disagreement on what those reforms should look li..
| 18 - July - 2008by Carla Dolce
HUERFANO- In this fourth and final segment on health care reform, we look at some health care reform options. Nearly everyone agrees our system needs major reforms. But, there is substantial disagreement on what those reforms should look like. The primary disagreement revolves around private health insurance. Should it be eliminated, deregulated or mandated?
A universal single-payer system, like that in Canada, would eliminate private, for-profit health insurance and would put the U.S. in line with every other industrialized country in the world, all of which have mandatory coverage with benefits administered by the government or nonprofit, government-regulated entities. Eliminating private insurance leaves medical decisions strictly between patients and their doctors. It also eliminates middle-man profits and administrative costs, which presently bleed our system of 31 cents for every dollar spent.
Advocates of a single-payer system compare our 31% administrative costs to Canada′s 16.7%. The Blue Ribbon Commission′s final report released earlier this year shows that Coloradoans would save $1.4 billion annually on health care spending with a single-payer system while providing universal coverage. On the federal level, Rep. John Conyers (D.MI), says his national single-payer bill now pending in Congress (HR 676, “Medicare for All”) will provide health coverage to every American at a cost no greater than what we now pay. This is possible not only due to deceased administrative costs, but also because the risk of illness is spread among more people than any other other system. The more people who pay into the system, the less each has to pay.
The Aurora, Colorado-based organization, Freedom and Individual Rights in Medicine (FIRM), demonizes single-payer health care as “socialized medicine” and promotes a free-market solution based on individual rights and personal responsibility. Under this system, there is no government regulation. Insurance companies and medical providers charge whatever people are willing to pay and refuse coverage or services on any basis. Christian Care Medi-Share is the closest thing to free-market insurance. It looks like insurance (monthly payments, co-pays, deductibles, etc.), but avoids government regulations by using a disclaimer and not using insurance terminology. Since Medi-Share is not regulated, it can – and does – exclude from coverage diseases resulting from an “unbiblical” lifestyle such as emphysema from smoking. You can become a Medi-Share member only if you′re a Christian and you don′t smoke, abuse alcohol, use illegal drugs or “practice gluttony” (you′re obese).
By excluding coverage for pre-existing conditions and covering only people living healthy lifestyles, costs under Medi-Share are a fraction of what they are under regulated insurance. Mary Glidden, who has a booth at Antique Ave. in Walsenburg, pays only $246/month for her Medi-Share membership. A Medi-Share member under 40 with a $250 deductible plan pays only $121/month. Compare this to the $464/month paid by Huerfano County per employee in 2007.
For those living a less-than-biblical lifestyle, there′s no need to get excited about universal single-payer reform or worried about free-market reform. Neither is likely to be implemented any time soon. While Senator McCain talks about individual responsibility and free markets, his health care reform proposal is more like a bag of bandaids. It includes proposals to reduce insurance regulation by allowing insurance to be sold across state lines. It also provides tax incentives for moving the health insurance burden from businesses to individuals including a tax credit for individuals. It requires workers to pay tax on the value of employer-provided insurance.
Senator Obama′s proposal, a bag of different and perhaps bigger bandaids, includes creating a new publicly-administered health plan and expanding SCHIP and Medicaid. Obama would create a National Health Insurance Exchange through which small businesses and individuals without access to other programs or coverage could enroll in the new public plan or in an approved private plan. His plan mandates health insurance for children and provides subsidies for families that can′t afford it.
It′s unlikely that either Obama or McCain′s reform plans will be implemented before the Colorado General Assembly enacts the mandatory insurance program recommended by the Blue Ribbon Commission. On June 3, Governor Ritter signed into law S.B. 217 that creates the necessary infrastructure including a basic health plan called the Centennial Care Choices Plan. Full implementation may be less than two years away. Once implemented, noncompliance could result in stiff penalties as high as a year′s worth of insurance premiums. Government subsidies will be available for those unable to buy insurance according to income guidelines set by the state. The Blue Ribbon Commission estimates this insurance mandate will increase health care spending in Colorado by $1.1 billion each year.
What′s best for Huerfano County? Single-payer with adequate provider reimbursements administered through a quasi- governmental entity (autonomous from the government) would provide health care benefits to everyone and breathe vitality into our local hospital by eliminating bad debt, Medicare and Medicaid write-offs. Undoubtedly, if this system could be implemented, it would benefit the majority of Huerfano County′s residents. Can it be done? Did we put a man on the moon?
If you don′t have faith in American′s ability to implement a single-payer system at least as good as that in other industrialized countries or if you′re healthy, young, don′t trust government, or don′t want to subsidize those with unhealthy lifestyles, you may favor a free-market solution. If the status quo is working well for you, mandatory insurance may be your preference.
Whatever your opinion, now is the time to express it. Write to your elected representatives before it′s too late to make a difference! | | Walsenburg annexes Northlands | 18 - July - 2008by Brian Orr
WALSENBURG- In a deal 12 years in the making, the City of Walsenburg formally annexed the triangular chunk of land just to its north. Three of the principal parties that have been pushing the project; Bill Shepard, Tom Powell and Tom Cave, wer..
| 18 - July - 2008by Brian Orr
WALSENBURG- In a deal 12 years in the making, the City of Walsenburg formally annexed the triangular chunk of land just to its north. Three of the principal parties that have been pushing the project; Bill Shepard, Tom Powell and Tom Cave, were on hand to hear the final vote to expand the City’s borders, with Mayor Edi Sheldon casting the last ballot with “without question; yes!”
Turning to other City business, the Council listened as Councilwoman Edi Flanagin reported her discussions with Walsenburg’s water lawyers. the City’s water rights are in good shape. The few water court cases the City is involved in won’t reach the dockets until 2010. The replacement valve for Martin Lake has more hoops to jump through, and won’t be in place until 2010. The City should begin to seriously look for new storage sites for the water they are letting slip away.
City Administrator Eric Pearson told the Council that 50 to 75 houses are slated to have their water cut off, and that he has never heard such foul language used, as that by people coming in to complain. Several had to be escorted off the premises by the police.
Pearson also informed the Council about a New Energy Communities (NEC) grant that Pueblo, Huerfano and Las Animas counties will all be competing for. The grant money would go towards building a new multi-jurisdictional campus for local governments to use. He asked if the City would like to support the endeavor, and they said yes.
Local businessman Rich McEntee came before the Council to honor a pledge he made last year during Walsenburg’s Waikiki Days to donate money towards a water feature at Walsenburg Wild Waters. His matching donation of $4,675 brought the total raised up to $13,043, which will be matched by the Gates Foundation. In addition, McEntee will donate $8,043 to the Walsenburg Golf Course to be used for the Walsenburg Youth Golf Program, to pay for memberships in 2009.
Finally, Pearson told the Council that the City’s waste treatment plant has been cleared by the State on its proposed site, and that construction plans are 60% done. | | Gardner Fire District reorganizes | 18 - July - 2008by Carol Stevens
GARDNER- Upper Huerfano Fire Protection District (UHFPD) board began their regular meeting Wed. July 9 by expressing sympathies to County Commissioner and board member Roger Cain and his family due to his mother’s passing.
Ken McArthur..
| 18 - July - 2008by Carol Stevens
GARDNER- Upper Huerfano Fire Protection District (UHFPD) board began their regular meeting Wed. July 9 by expressing sympathies to County Commissioner and board member Roger Cain and his family due to his mother’s passing.
Ken McArthur resigned as Fire Chief Thurs. June 26, after the special meeting that reinstated Assistant Fire Chief Joe Albano. The fire board is taking applications for the position until July 22, 2008. A special board meeting will be held on Wed. July 23 at 6 pm to review applicants and to discuss firefighter pay, benefits and by-laws.
The department received a special plaque from Jeff Cunningham of VFIS for having no worker’s compensation claims for the past year.
Assistant Fire Chief Albano reported that it has been quiet with no response or mutual aid calls. The training held Sat. June 28 had a special discussion regarding the recent events to keep everyone informed and on the “same page”. The next training will be Sat. July 26 at 9 am. Brush truck 501 will be out of service due to a leaking water tank that needs replacing.
Pro-tem Chair Stephen Hodges commented about the new, usable equipment being housed at the Redwing substation. The board agreed to hold a workday to clean up the substation, move the equipment to the Gardner station, and haul away the trash. Another workday will be scheduled in the fall at the Gardner station to repair plumbing.
The board opened the floor to Gardner residents for suggestions. Clark Diamond, who is a founding board member, offered to help locate the missing files and by-laws from 1985 to 1996. Board members unanimously gave Diamond the go-ahead. Gardner resident Melissa Salierno requested a “wish list” from the board, stating how residents could help the department. Hodges will be informing residents how they can help. | | The seeping ditch swamps La Veta meeting | 18 - July - 2008by Carol Dunn
LA VETA- Is there any issue that is brought before the La Veta Town Board more often than water?
Bob and Lisa Northup, who have previously sought audience regarding their water meter, were back to request relief on a $2,219 water bill c..
| 18 - July - 2008by Carol Dunn
LA VETA- Is there any issue that is brought before the La Veta Town Board more often than water?
Bob and Lisa Northup, who have previously sought audience regarding their water meter, were back to request relief on a $2,219 water bill caused apparently by one or more leaks. Trustee Dawn Blanken apologized but said, “We need to abide by the policy that exists.” That policy requires full payment. In the end, however, the matter was tabled because several Trustees felt the current practice of estimating water bills over the winter has caused hardship for consumers with leaking water lines.
Donna Adams and Mike Heck were on hand to plead that something be done about the seeping Dyer Ditch (also referred to as the Francisco-Dagger Ditch). Adams stated that the seepage is causing ruts in the road on High Street, mosquito problems, and flooding in her home. Mayor Schmidt gave the audience a historical summary of the Dyer Ditch problem, which he called “chronic.” Although the Town of La Veta, the Andreattas and the City of Walsenburg planned at one point to pipe the ditch, they were stopped by the Division 2 Water Engineer’s Office because “return flows” would have been affected. The Board decided to find out if the Division 2 decision still stands and to determine if piping the ditch could be reconsidered.
Kevin Tautkus, a representative of CGRS Environmental Services, explained proposed monitoring wells on Town property. The wells are required as part of the investigation by the Division of Oil and Public Safety into the underground release of petroleum products about four months ago at La Veta Oil. It is believed that the contamination was caused by a leak at the front dispenser which has since been repaired by the owner, Joe Geiser. CGRS plans to do soil borings and drill six twenty-foot deep monitoring wells at the following Town properties: the Town maintenance facility, the fire station location, Main and Moore, the baseball field north of the railroad tracks, and two on West Moore. These are expected to last beyond remediation, possibly three to five years. The cost of cleanup will be paid from the Petroleum Storage Tank Reimbursement Fund. The Fund comes from Colorado′s environmental response surcharge fee, collected on each tanker load (8,000 gallons) of fuel for sale or use in Colorado.
In other business, the Board accepted an application for replat of the lots at 300 West First Street. Because the application requires an amendment to the zoning map, it will be discussed during a public hearing on Aug. 5 at 6:45 pm. The regular Board meeting will be held the same evening at 7 pm. | | Health care reform, part three | 11 - July - 2008by Carla Dolce
HUERFANO- In Part I of this four part series, we saw how 47 million in the U.S. lack health insurance resulting in thousands of deaths each year. In Part II, we saw how health care spending in the U.S. was about $7,500 per person in 2007 -- ..
| 11 - July - 2008by Carla Dolce
HUERFANO- In Part I of this four part series, we saw how 47 million in the U.S. lack health insurance resulting in thousands of deaths each year. In Part II, we saw how health care spending in the U.S. was about $7,500 per person in 2007 -- more than twice the average of other industrialized countries. Corporations have responded to escalating medical care costs by reducing employee benefits and moving manufacturing facilities to other countries. Many uninsured individuals, including those in Huerfano County, are coping by simply not going to the doctor.
This strategy of not going to the doctor works most of the time. Unfortunately, most people don′t remain perfectly healthy until they reach that magic age of 65 when they can look to Medicare for health care benefits. Many of the 1,800 Huerfano County residents without health insurance eventually have health problems that mandate a trip to the doctor. Given that most uninsured patients wait until an illness progresses to the point of being serious before seeking medical help, that trip to the “doctor” may well be a trip to the Spanish Peaks Hospital emergency room. A trip to France might be cheaper.
Since our local hospital is a public institution, it can′t refuse treatment despite the patient′s inability to pay. The result: the hospital wrote off over $1.1 million in bad debts in 2007. To be fair, this bad-debt write off is not solely attributable to the uninsured. A good part is attributable to patients unable to pay high deductibles and/or amounts billed and not paid by the patient′s insurance.
Even when the patient agrees to pay, the payment may be spread over years. For example, Joe Kancilia, owner of the Pawn Shop on 7th Street in Walsenburg, was insured at the time he went into the hospital for knee surgery. According to Mr. Kancilia, his insurance company agreed to pay only $5,136 of the $14,309 bill claiming that that amount was the standard payment for the services rendered and refusing to pay what it deemed excessive hospital charges. While Mr. Kancilia also contended the charges were excessive, he nonetheless agreed, after much wrangling with the hospital, to pay the remaining bill of $9,173 over about a ninety-month time period. After this experience and with significant increases in the cost of health insurance, Mr. Kancilia has joined the growing ranks of the uninsured.
Rising health care costs not only result in individuals going without health care or straining financially to pay for it, they leave providers like our local hospital scrambling to find the funds to stay in operation. Reimbursements from government-run programs like Medicare and Medicaid have not kept pace with rising costs. The bad-debt write-offs for the Spanish Peaks Regional Hospital pale in comparison to the write-offs for amounts not reimbursed by Medicare and Medicaid. In 2007, the hospital wrote off over $5.3 million in billed amounts not reimbursed by Medicare and over $1.6 million in amounts not reimbursed by Medicaid. This isn′t all the write-offs. Other government programs and regulations, as well as patient concessions, require additional write-offs. According to data provided by Steve Perkins while he was still the hospital administrator, the sum of all write-offs for 2007 was $11,044,842 out of total patient charges billed of $19,683,488 or a little over 56% of all patient charges written off as a loss. The specter of these losses increasing paints a grim picture for our hospital′s future.
One final consequence of rising health care costs and rising insurance premiums is an increase in the amount of money leaving the county to pay for health insurance premiums for the approximately 77% of Huerfano County residents who have insurance. In 2007, for example, the county paid $718,504.75 in health insurance premiums for county employees while RE-1 School District paid roughly $345,000. This money comes from virtually every Huerfano County resident through property taxes. Some of it comes back in the form of payments to medical providers in the county. However, given that many residents seek medical care from providers in Pueblo and other cities, it′s likely that much of the money that leaves the county to pay for premiums never find its way back home.
With hundreds in the county having little or no access to health care, with rising costs straining individuals as well as our local hospital, and with a dollar drain leaving the county to pay for rising insurance premiums, which health care reform plan will help us the most? Stay tuned for Part IV! | | La Veta Principal Betty Trahern retires | 11 - July - 2008by Carol Dunn
LA VETA-La Veta Elementary Principal Betty Trahern will retire as of August 1, 2008. According to Superintendent Dave Seaney, Ms. Trahern’s letter was received this week and will be voted on by the School Board at its July 15 meeting. Seaney..
| 11 - July - 2008by Carol Dunn
LA VETA-La Veta Elementary Principal Betty Trahern will retire as of August 1, 2008. According to Superintendent Dave Seaney, Ms. Trahern’s letter was received this week and will be voted on by the School Board at its July 15 meeting. Seaney said, “Betty did a great job for the school district, and we’re very appreciative of her efforts and the wonderful things she has done.”
According to Seaney, July is not a good time of the year to be looking for a new principal. He said with the help of the elementary staff, they will get through the year without a principal. He expects recruitment for a replacement to take place early next year, when, as he put it, “there will be a good pool of candidates.”
“We have a fabulous teaching staff. Our people do a great job, and the school is performing well,” Seaney said. He explained that teacher committees will be set up and stipends provided to spread out the duties, for instance curriculum review. “This is an issue we’ll deal with,” Seaney added, “but it won’t be as good as Betty being there.”
Ms. Trahern could not be reached before press time for comment. | | Chuck Smithey resigns | 03 - July - 2008
Walsenburg- In a recent turn of events in the saga of the troubles at the RE-1 school district, Chuck Smithey, Assistant Principal, and director of the Opportunity and Enrichment School tendered his resignation today, July 3rd to be effective August 3, 200..
| 03 - July - 2008
Walsenburg- In a recent turn of events in the saga of the troubles at the RE-1 school district, Chuck Smithey, Assistant Principal, and director of the Opportunity and Enrichment School tendered his resignation today, July 3rd to be effective August 3, 2008 per his contractual arrangement. One of the primary reasons was the school boards vote of no confidence in turning him down as athletic director. He said, "They (the board) sent him a message, loud and clear. He has already accepted a position as Assistant director and Assistant Principal at Rocky Ford High School. For the complete story, see next weeks Journal. To see what the boards reaction will be, come to the meeting July 8th at 6:30 pm | | Health care reform, part 2 | 03 - July - 2008by Carla Dolce
HUERFANO- This is the second part of a four-part series on health care reform. Last week we saw how our current system leaves about 47 million in the U.S. with no health care coverage, including about 1,800 Huerfano County residents, and how..
| 03 - July - 2008by Carla Dolce
HUERFANO- This is the second part of a four-part series on health care reform. Last week we saw how our current system leaves about 47 million in the U.S. with no health care coverage, including about 1,800 Huerfano County residents, and how this lack of coverage is responsible for over 18,000 deaths each year. This coverage gap and consequent loss of lives are often cited by progressive liberals in support of health care reform. Conservatives, however, are also advocating for an overhaul of the system but for different reasons. As Senator McCain notes on his website, “bringing costs under control is the only way to ... allow our companies to effectively compete around the world.” Skyrocketing medical care costs are bringing businesses – large and small -- to their knees.
How high are these skyrocketing costs? According to the non-partisan Kaiser Family Foundation, the cost for health care in the U.S. in 2007 was $7,500 per person – more than twice the average of other industrialized countries. Health care costs in the U.S. are the highest in the world and are rising rapidly, outpacing general inflation. Per person spending on health care increased 77% from 1995 to 2005 while cumulative inflation was 26.9%. Insurance premiums have risen even faster.
Everyone agrees that our escalating health care costs are unsustainable and are unquestionably affecting the competitiveness of American businesses. According to a study released this year by the New America Foundation (NAF), U.S. manufacturers pay $2.38 an hour for health benefits, while manufacturers among America’s major trading partners pay only $0.96 an hour on average. Ohio State University′s Center for Occupational Health in Automotive Manufacturing says that the “Big 3 auto production companies spend more for health care than they do on steel, and health care costs are approaching $2000 per vehicle produced.”(www.coham.osu.edu)
Since corporations are obligated by law to act in the best interests of their shareholders ( i.e., maximize profits), they′ve reacted to rising health care costs by doing everything from reducing employee wages and health benefits to moving manufacturing facilities overseas. According to the NAF, these strategies work for the long run but are not effective in the short run because of institutional constraints like union contracts and minimum wage laws. Competition from foreign manufacturers makes passing escalating health care costs on to consumers unrealistic. The net result is that U.S. businesses, and manufacturing in particular, remain at a competitive disadvantage in the global market place.
Of course, this only applies to businesses that offer health benefits to employees. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the percentage of employers offering health benefits declined from 69% in 2000 to 60% in 2007. Among firms with 3 to 9 workers, the percentage offering health benefits dropped from 57% in 2000 to 45% in 2007.
Nearly all of Huerfano County′s privately owned small businesses are in the majority -- not offering health benefits. As Don and Mitzi Keairns, owners of Charlie′s Market in La Veta, will tell you, “It′s too expensive. ” After paying the high cost of workers compensation insurance each month, they couldn′t stay in business if they also had to pay for health insurance for their thirteen mostly part-time employees.
While larger businesses providing health benefits to employees are screaming for relief from the burden of increasing costs, individual Americans are staying awake at night worrying about whether they should take the risk of not seeing the doctor for that persistent headache versus the risk of seeing the doctor and not having the money to pay. Ask just about any of the county′s 1,800 uninsured how they resolve this dilema and you′ll likely get the answer, “I don′t go to the doctor.”
How do rising health care costs and this individual strategy for dealing with such costs affect us in Huerfano County? Stay tuned for Part III! | | Win $500 from the Huerfano Journal! | 10 - April - 2008 The Huerfano Journal just finished awarding Al Julch of La Veta “One Day’s Interest on a Million Dollars” in our Blackout Bingo promotion. Many readers won gift certificates from participating merchants while the overall winner won the money.
Begin..
| 10 - April - 2008 The Huerfano Journal just finished awarding Al Julch of La Veta “One Day’s Interest on a Million Dollars” in our Blackout Bingo promotion. Many readers won gift certificates from participating merchants while the overall winner won the money.
Beginning April 17th, readers can participate in another fun promotion that will net some lucky winner a $500 shopping spree with participating merchants.
Called “A Shopping Spree for Me,” it is similar to Blackout Bingo in that you cut out the promotion ad from the Huerfano Journal each week, fill in the blanks and either bring it in to the Journal office or mail it to us. You can enter as many times as you like each week, but you have to use an entry form clipped from the Journal- no photocopies. Contestants must be 18 or older.
Here is how you fill out your entry form: Visit participating businesses to see what you would like to buy. Each entry form has a place to write down how much “spree money” you would like to “spend” at each shop. The amount of spree money you want to spend has to be at least $25 with each merchant but no more than $275 with any one merchant. The total amount of spree money you put in the form has to add up to $500.
We will draw a first round winner each Tuesday through August 28. Those 20 qualifiers will then have their entry forms submitted for the $500 grand prize drawing which will be held in September. The grand prize winner will receive $500 in gift certificates to the participating businesses.
More information will be in next week’s first contest form and on the HJ website at
www.huerfanojournal.com. Sales manager Larry Patrick says the contest offers readers an opportunity to get some fabulous merchandise from the participating merchants while spending all of the money “locally” to benefit everyone concerned.
Be looking for the new contest, “A Shopping Spree for Me” in next week’s edition of the Huerfano Journal. It’ll be fun, easy and rewarding. | | |
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