Martie Henderson running against King for Commissioner in District 2
HUERFANO- Martie Henderson, owner and operator of several downtown Walsenburg businesses has a vision for the county and to catch a glimpse, just take a look at what she has already accomplished.
    In 2005, she remodeled three downtown buildings and subsequently opened the Cowboy Connection western store; Southwest Imports home decor and an Antique Mall.  All are thriving and are a real testament to the economic viability of our community.
    Henderson says, "We are blessed to have a lot of traffic moving through the county.  That creates the perfect climate to offer numerous shops and services not generally seen  in areas with  a population as small as ours.
    I believe there is an opportunity for every citizen in the county to benefit and become more financially secure as more businesses and economic options open up. The beautiful aspect of creating lots of little  home-grown businesses is that we are able to maintain our small town and rural lifestyles and still tap into that stream of traffic (money) as it flows through."

March Library Events
WALSENBURG- The Spanish Peaks Public Library has two new events scheduled for March.  Both will take place at the library building a 323 Main St. 
• Watercolor Lesson  for 4th and 5th grade students Fri. Mar. 14 at 1 pm.  This is a great opportunity for kids to get a few watercolor tips from Dianne Hanisch to use with a spring project.  Students may return to the library and paint a bug to advertise our summer reading program.
• Student′s Bug Building Group Mon. Mar. 31, at 1 pm.  Create a found object sculpture bug with Maria Berger to display in the library or town as an advertisement for our summer reading program.
    Remember, you may sign up for reminder phone calls for any of our presentations.  Ask for the events notebook on the circulation desk, or call 719-738-2774.

Angel Food Launch
WALSENBURG- The Walsenburg Church of Christ is now offering the Angel Food Ministries (AFM) program to Huerfano County and surrounding areas.  AFM was begun in 1994 in Georgia as a non-profit, non-denominational organization to help neighbors needing a hand.  Today AFM is at work in over 3,200 communities and feeds over half a million families each month. 
    For $30, participants receive a box of food containing fresh and frozen items.  Anyone may participate by placing and paying for an order once per month.  Two weeks later the shipment will arrive.   The next order deadline is March 16.  Call the church at 738-1542 or Melissa at 738-3477 for more information.

Introduction to Organic Gardening
PUEBLO- CSU Extension/Pueblo County is accepting registrations for the Introduction to Organic Gardening class scheduled for Saturday, March 15, 2008 from 9 am – 4 pm in the CSU Extension office at 212 W. 12th St. Suite 220 in Pueblo.  This class is designed to help those gardeners who would like to learn more about organic gardening techniques.  Topics include:  What is organic, building your soil, managing disease and pests organically and providing nutrients in an organic garden.  Pre-registration is required and the fee is $25.  For more information contact: Colorado State University Extension, Pueblo County at 583-6566.

Two Peaks Update
LA VETA- The Two Peaks One Book program features the book Bless Me Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya. The next event is:
• Thu. Mar 13, 7-8:30 pm
Let’s Talk About the Book, Betty Brown, moderator.
    All events are free and are held at the Library unless otherwise noted.  Books are available for purchase or for loan at the La Veta Public Library.  One does not have to read the book to attend the events.  Call 742-3572 for more information.

Remember La Veta
LA VETA-  The La Veta Historical Preservation Committee is seeking historical information about businesses in La Veta by distributing watermelon red maps of downtown La Veta.  Citizens can pick up a map, mark on it the businesses and business locations they remember, date and sign it and return it to the committee.  The maps will be kept on file as a record of how La Veta has changed through the years.  Maps are available at Charlie’s, the library, Ryus Bakery and the Candy Bean.

Da Vinci’s Last Supper in Walsenburg
WALSENBURG- The people of Huerfano County are invited to witness a living  interpretation of the painting, The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci.  The Sonrise Church of Colo. Springs will present the event on Sun. Mar. 9 at 1 pm at the United Church of Walsenburg, 108 Kansas Ave, downstairs in Hatfield Hall.
    The players recreate the painting with costumes and props to match what Da Vinci painted.  Then each disciple speaks his thoughts.  The people at the table never move during the various speeches so that the painting is as created in the 1500s. Admission is free.

Democrats assembly postponed
HUERFANO- The Democratic Party’s County Assembly was rescheduled due to yesterday’s heavy snowfall across the area.  It will now be held next Wednesday Mar. 12, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Huerfano County Community Center in Walsenburg.  Don’t forget to bring bake sale items.

Republicans hold county assembly
HUERFANO- The Huerfano County Republican Party held its county assembly Sat. March 1 in the La Veta Community Center. Most of the delegates elected at the Feb. 5 caucuses were able to attend and participate.
    The meeting was opened at 10 am by County Chairman, Dick Chenault. After the invocation and pledge of allegiance, Chenault read letters of introductions from the candidates for state or national office.  Those present at the assembly were asked for a straw poll of the candidates and all were endorsed unanimously.  Those being endorsed were Bob Shaffer for U.S. Senate, Wayne Wolf for 3rd Congressional, and Marcy Freeburg for Colorado House District 62.
    The assembly then moved on to the important business of nominating and voting on candidates for Huerfano County offices. Nominated was Commissioner Roger Cain, who is currently serving as Huerfano County Commissioner for District 3. Cain was nominated for re-election by Gary Baldwin.  A vote was taken of all the eligible delegates present and Cain won 100% of the delegate votes.
    Also nominated for Huerfano County Commissioner was Martie Henderson, for District 2.  Martie was nominated by Ron Andreas and also received 100% of the delegate votes.  Martie has done wonderful things to improve downtown Walsenburg and was encouraged in her candidacy.
    The Assembly then moved on to elect delegates and alternates to the Republican State Assembly to be held in Broomfield on May 30-31.  These delegates will represent the Republicans of Huerfano County at the state level.  Those elected as state delegates were: Dick Chenault, Charlie Nuss, Mary Copeland, Bill Belt, Roger Cain, Brian Manning, Murphy McMakin, Deb Nott, and Ron Andreas.  Alternates elected were Vivian Price, Jacque Goemmer, Beverly Brownlee, Melissa Hessler, and Jan Chenault.
    All precinct chairs and co-chairs elected at the February caucuses were then ratified by the assembly.
    In closing, everyone was made aware of the upcoming Lincoln Day Dinner to be held Mar. 15 at Andy’s Smokehouse in Walsenburg.  The guest speaker is Dick Wadhams, Chairman of the Colorado Republican Party.  Anyone interested in attending the auction and dinner should contact Mary Copeland at 738-1058. Tickets are $25 for the all-u-can-eat ribs and catfish dinner.

Methane update
An updated report was given to the Huerfano County Commissioners on  the monitoring of water wells in the River Ridge Ranch and other nearby lands for methane gas. Peter Gintautas of the Colorado Oil and Gas Commission (COGCC) says that Petroglyph of La Veta is working on Phase I programs for drilling monitoring wells. Over 50 wells, cisterns and well vents have been screened for methane in January and February of this year. Residents of the area attending the meeting  asked if safety measures are being taken to prevent problems with methane gas. Gintautas says that they take those concerns seriously.  Continued testing for Phase I will go on for quite some time.