Osprey Packs’ fall sale for locals nets $3,350
Through this October’s Fall Locals Sale, Osprey Packs raised $3,350 for the Four Corner Recycling Initiative.
The Recycling Initiative will use the donation to support local high schools’ pilot program to recycle plastics.
“The efforts we will be supporting include bins for commodity collection, transporting the commodities, and education,” said Lisa Roche, board of directors of Four Corners Recycling Initiative.
Through Osprey’s biannual one-day sales, the company donates a percentage of all proceeds to organizations vetted and selected by the company’s volunteer-led Green Team.
The spring and fall sales this year raised $7,650.
Hay prices, statewide demand are flat
Due largely to a glut in supply and stagnant demand, average cow hay prices throughout Colorado this week remain flat, according to Dec. 18 figures on current average per region from the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
“Snow is in the forecast for the coming holiday which could get some farmers or ranchers to start supplementing hay to help start moving this abundance of cow hay,” the USDA-CO wrote in its report.
Prices in Southwest Colorado remain unchanged from last week. Large squares of good grade alfalfa hay averaged $235 per ton. Small bales of premium alfalfa hay averaged $270 - $280 per ton. Alfalfa/grass mix was reported to be $270 per premium small bale.
Colorado gas prices down 17.6 cents
Average fuel prices in Colorado are down to $2.39 per gallon, 11 cents cheaper than average prices last week.
Montezuma County averages were lower than the state average, with prices starting at $2.19 per gallon.
According to the U.S. Energy Administration’s weekly fuel price report, the average price for regular gasoline as of Dec. 15 was $2.55 per gallon, down 13 cents from the previous week, and 69 cents lower than the same time last year.
Unemployment 4.1% in state, county
The Colorado unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been since Jan. 2008, at 4.1 percent, according to the most recent jobs report from the state Department of Labor.
The number of people participating in the labor force increased 1,600 over the month, and the number of people reporting themselves as employed increased 8,200. The most recent Montezuma County unemployment figures put joblessness at 4.1 percent.
Experts to examine business, economy
The 23rd annual Southwest Business Forum returns to the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College on Wednesday, Jan. 7. The forum is free, open to everyone and runs from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The forum brings together experts on local, state, national and international economics and business to discuss the past, present and future.
The forum is sponsored by Wells Fargo and Fort Lewis College.
Information: (970) 247-7294.
Jessica Gonzalez