4th Annual Morgan County Sneaker Stroll September 28

The 4th Annual Morgan County Sneaker Stroll, benefiting the JDRF, the largest charitable funder of Type 1 Diabetes Research, will be held Sunday, September 28 at Memorial Park in Brush. Registration starts at 11am, bbq at 12pm, and the walk starts at 1pm. To register for the event, or to make an online donation visit www.jdrf.org/teamjdrf. Register and raise $25 in donations to earn a Morgan County Sneaker Stroll T-Shirt. For questions or for more information contact Cara at 970-380-2272, Kate at 970-467-1199, or Teresa at 970-590-6017.

Republican Candidates Forum June 2 in Fort Morgan

***Courtesy of AM 1400 KFTM and www.kftm.net***

The Morgan County Republican Central Committee and the Morgan County Republican Women will be holding a Republican Candidates Forum on June 2 at 7 pm at the Morgan County Administration Building, 231 Ensign St. Fort Morgan. The evening will start with a question and answer session with the candidates for Morgan County Clerk and Recorder, LaNette Nestor and Susan Bailey. We will also hear from other local candidates, and candidates for the other state and national offices. For more information contact Vivianne Lorenzini, 645-2485, Louise Pilcher, 867-7003, Judy Mortensen, 842-2016 or Micky Ashby, 970-988-2059. Like us on Facebook at morgancountygop.

Needs Assessment for Farmers, Ranchers, and Landowners in Logan and Morgan Counties

CSU Extension is partnering with other organizations and governmental entities to conduct a survey of post-September 2013 flood unmet needs from farmers, ranchers, and landowners on private lands. Participation is voluntary and responses will be kept anonymous. The survey is available at http://surveymonkey.com/s/NOCO2013Flood-unmet-needs-landowner-farmer-rancher Surveys are due March 12 at noon. For paper copies, or for more information call Renda at 970-580-0560 or Lydia at 970-466-0639.

MCEDC Legislative Coffee Feb 24 in Fort Morgan

The Morgan County Economic Development Corporation will be hosting a Legislative Coffee with State Representative Jerry Sonnenberg February 24 at 6:30am at Cafe Lotus, 307 E. Kiowa in Fort Morgan. This is a non-partisan meeting for all community members to visit with Rep. Sonnenberg about the issues and concerns pertaining to the area.

Food Bank of the Rockies Dates for the Morgan County Fairgrounds

The Food Bank of the Rockies mobile pantry truck will be at the Morgan County Fairgrounds in Brush, January 22, February 26, March 26, April 30, May 28, June 25, August 27, September 24, October 22, November 26, and December 24 from 10am-12pm providing food assistance to community members. There are no qualifications, membership fees, or eligibility forms to complete. Product is distributed on a first come, first served basis. Please bring bags, a sturdy box, or a basket to transport product home. For questions, or for more information call Lisa at 542-0908, or Steve at 542-3531.

3rd Annual Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Banquet January 25 in Brush

***Courtesy of AM 1400 KFTM and www.kftm.net***

The 3rd Annual Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Banquet will be held on Saturday, January 25th at 5pm in the Mark Arndt Event Center at the Morgan County Fairgrounds in Brush. Ticket/sponsorships prices are: Herd Bull Table: 8 meals, 4 memberships, and $800 worth of raffle tickets. $850.00 Trophy Bull Table: 8 Meals, $800 worth of raffle tickets, 3 memberships, 1 sponsor membership, and guaranteed gun!! $1,500.00 Premier Table: 8 meals, $800 worth of raffle tickets, $400 worth of progressive raffle tickets, 5 sponsor memberships or 1 life membership. $2500.00 Couple: 2 meals and 1 membership $95.00 Single person: 1 meal and 1 membership. $65.00 Youth meal: $20.00 Tickets are available at the door or by calling Jeremy at 970-381-7247

Food Bank of the Rockies Pantry Truck in Brush December 17

The Food Bank of the Rockies Mobile Pantry Truck will be at the Morgan County Fairgrounds, 718 Ellsworth Street in Brush December 17 from 10am-12pm.  There are no qualifications, membership fees, or eligibility forms to complete.  Product is distributed first come first served to anyone seeking extra food assistance.  Please bring bags, a sturdy box, or basket to transport product home.  For more information contact Lisa at 542-0908 or Steve at 542-3531.

MCC Morgan County Chorale Winter Concert December 7 and 8

***Courtesy of AM 1400 KFTM and www.kftm.net***

Morgan Community College Morgan County Chorale announces their winter concerts, Christmas with the Chorale. There will be two performances; both will be at the First Christian Church in Fort Morgan. The first event is on Saturday, December 7 at 7pm and also at 2pm on Sunday, December 8. Admission is $5.00; kids 12 and under are free.

MCC Morgan County Chorale Spring Rehearsals Start January 2

***Courtesy of AM 1400 KFTM and www.kftm.net***

The MCC Morgan County Chorale, led under the direction of Tertia Cain, is open to anyone who loves to sing. Rehearsals for the spring semester will begin on January 2, and are held at 7pm every Thursday at The School of Performing Arts (914 State Street, Fort Morgan). For more information about other CACE programs, please visit www.MorganCC.edu/CACE or for questions about this event call Chorale Director Tertia Cain at 970-467-2244.

Community Food Drive November 16 in Fort Morgan

***Courtesy of AM 1400 KFTM and www.kftm.net***

Justserve.org and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are hosting a Community Food Drive to support Caring Ministries of Morgan County. Volunteers will be staged at Edwards Right Place Market on 1201 E. Platte Avenue in Fort Morgan collecting donations on Saturday, November 16 from 8-5pm. The food pantry at Caring Ministries is in immediate need of canned soups, tuna, chicken, as well as pasta, peanut butter, jelly, and cold cereal. Toiletry needs include toilet paper, shampoo, deodorant, and bar soap. Your help in helping us support Caring Ministries is appreciated!

"Stress Reduction for Diabetes & Other Chronic Diseases" webinar November 14

***Courtesy of AM 1440 KRDZ and www.krdz.com***

"Stress Reduction for Diabetes & Other Chronic Diseases" will be held November 14th from 12-1pm. This webinar is presented by Michelle Sharp of Rural Solutions and sponsored by the Northeast Colorado Diabetes Task Force.  The webinar will focus on the impact stress has on health and ways to manage and reduce its effects. This special program will be broadcast live at several locations so participants will be able to interact. There is no fee to attend the seminar, but registration is required. To pre-register or for questions about this seminar call a local County Extension Office:

Kit Carson County 332-4151
Logan County 521-3129
Morgan County 542-3540
Yuma County 332-4151
Phillips County 854-3616
Washington County 345-2287

Blue Horizons Poetry Writing Contest For Morgan County Youth - Oct 24 Deadline

The October 24 deadline for the Blue Horizons Poetry Writing Contest for Morgan County Grades 7 through 12 students is rapidly approaching. All students interested should submit their entries as soon as possible to their designated places in their schools, or else contact Amy Ely at 842-5957. Nice prizes include HD Nook electronic readers to first prize winners in both middle school and high school as well as gift cards for second through fourth places.

Judy's Hats - A 4H Project To Provide Hats To Cancer Patients - Oct 26 at Morgan County Event Center

***Press Release***

Want a challenge?  Want some fun?  Want to learn something new?  Calling all community crafters who would love to spend a fun filled day laughing, working for a great cause and meeting new friends and learning new skills.  Saturday, October 26, 9:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. at the Morgan County Event Center, Snyder Pioneers 4H will be hosting a county wide 4H community project called “Judy’s Hats”.  Judy Barnhart, loyal friend of 4H, recently passed away from cancer.  A need she identified is the shortage of hats that are comfortable for patients to wear who have lost hair.  Our goal is to provide a hat to every patient one who needs and wants one.

At the “Judy’s Hats” workshop we will be knitting, crocheting, or sewing a variety of hats that will be donated to various local agencies to distribute to area residents who need them.  Bring a sack lunch, water bottle for you, and whatever supplies you may have around the house--skeins of yarn, knitting and/or crochet hooks, polar fleece, a spool of thread, scissors, portable sewing machine and bobbins if you have ‘em.  IF YOU HAVE CROCHETED, KNIITED OR CAN SEW A SIMPLE SEAM, WONDERFUL!!   IF YOU HAVEN’T, YOU ARE JUST AS WONDERFUL BECAUSE YOU CAN GAIN SOME GREAT EXPERIENCE AND HAVE FUN DOING IT, PLUS YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE IN 4H TO PARTICIPATE!  

Snyder Pioneers challenges every other Morgan County 4H Club to send at least three members and adults with their supplies.  All ages of volunteer crafters are welcome, if you belong to 4H or not.  Hand-made hats already created and commercially made hats are welcome.  A donation box will be in place to collect any commercially made hats such as baseball caps, fedoras, or scarves brought to the Event Center that day.  Each hat will be packaged and an inspirational verse especially selected by Judy will be enclosed.

Awards will be given for the most hats created by each club, most hats created by an individual, and most hats donated.  If you choose not to participate or have other obligations that day, we are looking for people to donate snacks for the workers such as fruit, cookies, granola bars, or bottled water and clean out and donate their stash of yarn or polar fleece.  

Please register as a teacher, group leader, crafter, as a supplies donor or all four(!) for this event by October 10 by contacting Cyndi Hofmeister, Snyder Pioneers 4H Leader, at (970)768-5669.  We are asking people to wear pink if possible, one of Judy’s favorite colors.  Additional information can be accessed through the Morgan County Extension Office at (970)542-3540 and ask to speak to Jamie.  Currently we are looking for supplies and people willing to bring portable sewing machines and assist constructing the hats.   Help us meet the goal of supplying comfortable hats for all county residents who need them!!         

SBA Amends Disaster Declaration; Disaster Assistance Now Available to Private, Nonprofit Organizations in 8 Additional Colorado Counties

***Press Release***

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to certain private, nonprofit organizations (PNPs) in Colorado counties following the amendment to President Obama's September 24, 2013, major disaster declaration for Public Assistance (PA) as a result of severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides that occurred on September 11 - 30, 2013, announced Jeanne Hulit, Acting Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).  PNPs that provide essential services of a governmental nature are eligible for assistance.

SBA disaster assistance is now available in the Colorado counties of Adams, Boulder, Clear Creek, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer, Logan, Morgan, Washington and Weld.

PNP organizations should contact the Colorado Office of Emergency Management online at http://coemergency.com or contact Kenneth Brink at Kenneth.brink@state.co.us to obtain information about local briefings.  At the briefings, PNP representatives will need to provide information about their organization," said Alfred E. Judd, Director of SBA's Disaster Field Operations Center-West.  FEMA will use that information to determine if the PNP provides an "essential governmental service" and is a "critical facility" as defined by law.  If so, FEMA may provide the PNP with a Public Assistance grant for their eligible costs.  If not, FEMA may refer the PNP to SBA for disaster loan assistance.

SBA may lend PNPs up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.  SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

For certain private, nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA also offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster.  EIDLs may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster's impact.  EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the PNP suffered any property damage.

The interest rate is 2.875 percent with terms up to 30 years.  The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is November 25, 2013.  The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 24, 2014.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA's secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA's Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955 or e-mailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.  Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call (800) 877-8339.  For more information about SBA's disaster assistance programs, visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster. 

Friends of East Morgan County Library in Brush Book Sale Sept 27-28

The Friends Organization of East Morgan County Library is holding its Oktoberfest book sale Friday, September 27 and Saturday, September 28, in the newly remodeled Book Cellar.  All items for sale have been recently donated and all proceeds support the library.  The sale is open: Friday, September 27 for Friends Members from 11am to 1pm, and Saturday, September 28 for the General Public during the Oktoberfest from 10am to 1pm.

Buckskin Brigade Open Horse Show July 27

The Buckskin Brigade is hosting an open horse show at the Morgan County Fairgrounds in Brush on Saturday, July 27. Registration begins at 8am and the show begins at 9am. The show is open to all breeds and all ages of participants from kids to adults. For more information call Jackie at 970-380-0188. 

Morgan County Relay for Life Final Bank Night June 3

Attention all Morgan County Relay for Life Teams:  Final Bank Night will be on Monday, June 3 at the Elk’s Lodge in Fort Morgan from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.  Please bring all of your team money at that time and your Team t-shirts and information will be ready you to pick up.  Relay for Life is Friday, June 7 at 6:00 p.m. through Saturday, June 8 at 6:00 a.m.  As always, Relay is open to the public.  

Morgan County Relay For Life Participant Party May 16

The final Morgan County Relay for Life Participant Party will be held on Thursday, May 16 at the Elk’s Lodge in Fort Morgan.  Drop in anytime between 5:30 and 6:30pm.  Get last minute information about your team, bring your team money, purchase a luminaria, register a survivor, or just find out what’s going on this year.  As always, the parties and Relay are open to the public.  Relay for Life is Friday, June 7.  Contact Kim Grennan, Publicity Chair at 380-4807 for more information.  

BOBStock 2013 - Featuring Headlining Act Blue Oyster Cult

97-5 Bob FM, Viaero Wireless and Media Logic Radio are excited to announce Blue Oyster Cult as the headlining act at Bobstock 2013, July 5^th and 6^th in City Park in downtown Fort Morgan.

Blue Oyster Cult (often abbreviated BOC) is an American rock band from Long Island, New York, best known for such hard rock songs as "(Don't Fear) The Reaper", "Burnin' for You", and "Godzilla". Since the release of their self-titled debut album in 1972, the band has sold over 24 million albums worldwide, including 7 million in the United States alone. The band's music videos, especially "Burnin' for You", received heavy rotation on MTV when the music television network premiered in 1981, cementing the band's contribution to the development and success of the music video in modern pop culture.

BOC continues to tour having just wrapped up an Australian tour that included shows in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. BOC has dozens of shows scheduled throughout the United States in 2013 including Bobstock.

97-5 Bob FM has changed the schedule for the 6^th annual Bobstock music festival. This year the music will begin at 5:30 PM on Friday July 5^th and again at 10:30 AM on Saturday July 6^th. Bobstock is free to attend and will feature 15 different bands from 3 different states and the region.

Bobstock will feature several new events including a “Taste of Morgan County” sponsored by the Roots Group, and the Fort Morgan Area Chamber of Commerce has moved the Community Breakfast to be in conjunction with Bobstock. The Fort Morgan Lions Club will cook the pancake breakfast on Saturday morning. The Fort Morgan Chamber will again feature vendor booths throughout the park, plus Zumba to benefit SARA House, a poker run for Choices & Freedom to Cowboy Up, a pledge walk hosted by the Humane Society and the Elks Lodge beer garden.

If your nonprofit group or organization would like to use Bobstock as a fund raiser, please contact Melissa at 970-867-5674. For vendor booth space contact Robin at the Fort Morgan Area Chamber of Commerce at 970-867-6702.

Bobstock 2013 Title Sponsor is Viaero Wireless; Stage Sponsors include Colorado Plains Medical Center and Wolf Auto. Other major sponsors include Leprino Foods, Furniture Mart, Morgan County Tourism panel and the City of Fort Morgan.

Relay for Life of Morgan County Holding Events May 11

Help your community “Paint Main Street Purple” in celebration of the American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Morgan County. Support Main Street businesses that are displaying purple in their windows and make a
donation by City Park on Saturday, May 11 from 8 a.m. to Noon.

Come support our Relay for Life Multi-Team Yard Sale on May 11 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at City Park. Spots are free to all Relay teams. Great food, homemade goods, treasurers and a Volleyball Tournament, all to
help the American Cancer Society save lives from cancer, finding a cure and fighting back.

For more information, contact Chelsea Schraeder, Event Chair at 867-0809.