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Black Hills Energy in Pueblo announced yesterday that it is immediately beginning construction on a new power plant to be built near the Pueblo airport. The announcement came after the Colorado State Department of Public Health and Environment awarded an air permit to the company yesterday, clearing the way for construction of the $450 million power plant. The construction will employ an estimated 400 workers at its peak and will add up to 20 permanent workers. The plant is set to open in 18 months. The air permit comes as city voters are considering a proposed 20-year franchise agreement between Black Hills and the City of Pueblo. That question will be answered on August 10th when primary election ballots are counted. The franchise vote does not affect the utility’s ability to build the plant complex. Black Hills intends to build two natural gas-fired turbines at a site near the Pueblo Memorial Airport, totaling some $450 million in construction costs. The first turbine will be operated by Black Hills Energy-Colorado electric and will serve Pueblo-area customers. The second will be owned by Black Hills Colorado IPP and will serve the Pueblo-area market, other customers and the spot market.

The Alamosa City Council is again attempting to address the city’s deer population. Council discussed its options for managing the deer on Wednesday night with Colorado Division of Wildlife. Basically, the city and the DOW have limited options: namely, educate residents on not feeding the deer and what to plant, build or apply to deter them. The city could draft an ordinance that would give the animal control officer more authority to write tickets for illegal activity such as feeding the deer. Special hunting seasons and sharpshooter services to reduce the population are also options. The last option is to simply live with the animal population. Mule deer, the animals most prevalent in Alamosa, are classified by the state as big game and as wildlife are property of the people of Colorado. The DOW’s mission is to protect, preserve and enhance wildlife for the people of the state. The city plans to host a public forum on the issue in the future.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing will jointly kick off a new pilot program today called “get covered, get in the game”, which is designed to encourage enrollment of middle and high school students into Colorado’s CHP+ program. The program, which covers health services ranging from hospitalization to regular checkups, to dental, vision and hearing needs, is available to kids in households with income up to 250% of the federal poverty level. Colorado is the first state in the U.S. to embark on this campaign, which will be expanded nationally if successful.

The first annual HTA Golf Tournament will take place at the Trinidad Municipal Golf Course on Saturday, July 31st, with a tee time of 8am. Play will be a 3-man scramble with 32 teams participating. Entry fee is $300 per team. Hole #7 will have a hole-in-one prize of $5000, plus there will be 3 bonus hole-in-one prizes including a set of Callaway big bertha irons, roundtrip airline tickets for two and a Sharp flat screen LCD television. There will also be gift bags for all golfers and concessions available. Call Mark for more information at 719-845-0060.

Effective immediately, Conejos County Sheriff Robert Gurule has lifted the countywide fire ban. Residents are still expected, however, to manage any open fires responsibly and to practice all safety precautions.