Citizen editorial

Groundhog needs to see shadow

The warm winter days we’ve experience in eastern Fremont County have been nice, but the groundhog needs to see his shadow today. With the extremely low moisture we’ve had this winter, another six weeks of winter - and its accompanying snowfall , if there is any - would go a long way to relieving the arid climate we’ve experience.

While snowpack in the mountains has been beneficial the past couple of years, it still won’t make up for not having any snow at the lower elevations. As the ground dries out, it becomes harder and harder to increase its moisture content with irrigation.

Thankfully, while the Colorado snowpack is lower than average, is not non-existent. The Arkansas basin is faring better than most at 85% of normal. That’s higher than any other basin in Colorado.

It’s too early to fret yet, but we hope we’ll see much greater precipitation this spring.

Letter to the editor

Save the stump

The recent clean up at the mobile home park on East Main Street allows us to view a huge stately cottonwood stump. I hope further clean-up activities on the site will not include removing that stump. Surely whatever future that site has could include saving the stump. I encourage everyone to check it out and help save the stump.

Nancy Huber

Citizen columnist

Over the back fence

By Bob Wood

Life in a small town may have its drawbacks, but when you suffer some adversity, you found out just how great it is to know your neighbors, your co-workers and your other acquaintances.

Once again my family suffered a huge personal loss, and on hearing there was another death in the family, friends and neighbors started showing up with flowers and plants, cards and an incredible mountain of food. There were phone calls and conversations on the street and in the store, with everyone expressing their condolences.

Perhaps the thing that struck me the most about these rituals is the sincerity in the voices of those offering their sympathies and offering to help in any way they could.

I know those things happen in other places, but I must tell you, Florence, this is one of the reasons I love living here.

All of you have made us feel loved and valued, and it just doesn’t get any better than that.

Thank you all for your generosity.