Marianne Mogon

Lake George officially received its distinction as a Purple Heart Community at a ceremony at Lake George Charter School on Sept. 12.

Spectacular showings of the stars and planets have been witnessed by thousands of people at the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument from all over the U.S. and the world. The park provides monthly astronomy-based interpretive programming opportunities and public Night Sky activities for all ages.

Lake Florissant once stretched from the area of Teller County roads 1 and 11 to west of the community of Lake George. Thirty-four-million years ago a catastrophic volcanic ash and mud flows came into the area from the Guffey volcanic center killing the trees. The lower parts of the trees were covered in the mud and ash but the unburied upper parts of the tree rotted away. Over time water percolated through, dissolving the mud and ash.

Florissant Fire Protection District hosted a special training along with Colorado Natural Gas at Station 1 on Oct. 15. Approximately 50 members of Lake George, Four-Mile, and Divide Fire Protection Districts joined the training presented by Joe Wilkes, senior safety specialist with Colorado Natural Gas.

Four-Mile Fire District was paged to a wildland fire on property adjacent to Wright's Reservoir on County Road 11 on Oct. 10 at 1:08 pm. Incident command was Chief Chris Hawkins, who called for mutual aid. 4-Mile responded with two brush trucks and eight personnel. Florissant Fire District assisted with two brush trucks and a tender with a total of six personnel.

When you think of the terms to describe selfless sacrifice or doing for others, volunteer firefighter is near the top of the list.

The NoFloCo Fire Mitigation Posse held its awards ceremony on Oct. 19.

John Kessel has made Park County home since 2017 when he became co-founder of Bison Peaks Lodge off Tarryall Road (CR77). This was after 50-plus years of being very active with the sport of Volleyball. Recently, at the International Volleyball Hall of Fame ceremony Oct 19, in Holyoke, Mass., Kessel was presented with the “Mintonette Medallion of Merit” award. “Mintonette” was the original name given for volleyball, when William G. Morgan founded the sport in 1895.

Students of Lake George Charter School honored local Veterans in a special assembly on Nov. 11. The program was filled with expressions of thanks and gratitude for the veterans in attendance.