Spring is in the air, and baseball's not far behind

Spring is in the air, and baseball's not far behind. The Class 1A District Baseball Tournament, which was scheduled to be played Thursday at Plainsmen Park, will be in full swing Friday on Tiger Field at Sterling High School. The third place game between Peetz and Briggsdale, took place this morning, as well as the championship contest. The Northeastern Junior College Plainsmen will host Western Nebraska Community College at 2:00 this afternoon in the opening round of the Region IX Tournament at Plainsmen Park. NJC and Western Nebraska will also play Saturday and Sunday, if necessary.
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Changes to The Buffalo RE-4J Board of Education 2013-14 calendar were approved recently

Changes to The Buffalo RE-4J Board of Education 2013-14 calendar were approved recently. In order to participate in the Northeast Collaborative next year, the district had to add seven days to the calendar for Professional Learning Community days. District teachers and administrators from 11 districts will meet to align curriculum, create common assessments and design interventions as well as enrichment activities for students.
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Economic development moved into high gear at a CDOT work session Tuesday

Economic development moved into high gear at a CDOT work session Tuesday. Representatives from the Colorado Department of Transportation were in Sterling this week to meet with the Logan County Commissioners for an open conversation, about ensuring safety, while keeping economic development in mind. CDOT also talked about it's region boundary expansion, which was implented when commissioners and communities were dealing with more than one region. There are 422 positions at CDOT in Region 4 and it will grow to around 520, with 68 to 70 for the new transition. They only have 368 positions filled, and are at 10 to 12 percent vacancy most of the time. Officials also addressed projects in Morgan and Sedgwick counties, and a planned project for Highway 14, to direct traffic from the east side of Sterling to Highway 14 and West Main Street.
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You can send a time capsule to mars

You can send a time capsule to mars. The University of Colorado and NASA is launching their "Going to Mars Campaign," and you can submit your name and a personal message online for a DVD that will be carried aboard their MAVEN spacecraft to probe the Martian upper atmosphere.The DVD will carry every name that is submitted, but only three personal messages, like a three-line poem, or haiku, will be selected. NASA's MAVEN spacecraft is scheduled for launch in November. The deadline for all submissions is July 1. An online public vote to determine the top three messages to be placed on the DVD will begin July 15. Submit names and messages at lasp.colorado.edu.
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Smaller communities are getting a helping hand

Smaller communities are getting a helping hand. Morgan Community College Limon (LIE-mun) Center has graduated the first students from its Advanced Emergency Medical Technician program. The AEMT certification provides EMT's in Colorado communities where they are most needed, and is the first of it's kind east of the Front Range. MCC was able to offer AEMT through the Limon Center utilizing distance learning tools, which allowed students to attend class without having to travel.
For more information about the AEMT program or other emergency medical service courses offered at MCC, contact the nearest MCC Center. Morgan Community College is now registering for summer and fall semesters. Visit MorganCC.edu to apply.
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Motorists will have to deal with construction on two main thoroughfares this month

Motorists will have to deal with construction on two main thoroughfares this month. Bridge repair and maintenance work began yesterdy on Highway 34 from west of Fort Morgan to east of Brush and construction begins next week on Highway 14 near Sterling. Traffic will be affected on 34 from mile marker 158 to 173, with single lane closures, in both directions of the highway, between 6:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., everyday through May 30, except Fridays, Saturday's, and Sundays. Highway patching with single lane closures is planned between 6:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. starting Monday, May 6 through Thursday, May 9 on 14 at mile marker 236 near Sterling. Speed limit will be reduced to 40 MPH and there will be single lane closures in both directions of the highway. Motorists should expect delays through both project zones.
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