You still have time to enter the Sterling Public Library's pumpkin and gourd decorating contest

You still have time to enter the Sterling Public Library's pumpkin and gourd decorating contest. People can drop off their pumpkins and gourds Oct. 14-19. Judging will take place Oct. 21 and the vegetables will remain on display through Halloween, so the public can vote on their favorite. Also, the library's annual Fright Night, featuring Halloween stories and activities, will be Oct. 21.
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Members of the Sterling Fire Department visited area elementary schools during fire prevention week, last week

Members of the Sterling Fire Department visited area elementary schools during fire prevention week, last week. This year's theme is Prevent Kitchen Fires, and Sterling firefighters visited students at Ayres Elementary, Thursday, and showed a video with tips for preventing kitchen fires. Pluggy the fire hydrant also talked to the students about the importance of smoke detectors, and how to stop, drop and roll if they catch on fire. At other schools, older students got to use the department's smoke house to practice escaping from a fire. At the end of their presentation, the firefighters gave students a plastic fire helmet to decorate, and some stickers. They also gave them pictures to color for a coloring contest. Deadline to turn in the pictures is this Friday (Oct. 18). Several winners will then be chosen to visit the fire station for a pizza party.
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Pot smokers won't be able to light up, if Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, has his way

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock plans to introduce an ordinance this week that would make it illegal to possess, smoke or give away marijuana in city parks and other public places. Proponents of the constitutional amendment that allows recreational marijuana use and the American Civil Liberties Union say the ordinance is unconstitutional.
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Some Colorado immigrants are having a tough time putting thier lives back together after the September floods

Some Colorado immigrants are having a tough time putting thier lives back together after the September floods. More than 300 immigrants flooded out of their homes in Evans, Milliken and Longmont are living in warehouses, churches or hotels, or are crammed into the spare rooms of friends and family. Some are also suffering racial attacks or inflated rental rates. The Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, said they've received reports that some owners are asking for higher rent or for a bigger down payment when they learn that potential renters do not have documents. The immigrants — most of them from Mexico — are continuing to receive local help as they face these challenges, but many do not qualify for federal aid.
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