Around Town

Epidemic of child abuse is focus of class
Organizations are in need of youth workers, and child predators know this. The average predator abuses 15-20 kids before being caught, with a 3 percent chance of ever being caught. A class Sunday, March 19, will cover the different types of child abuse, how to recognize a child predator and how to implement rules necessary for preventing child abuse.
This session for parents and youth workers will be at the Highline community room from 1-2:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required by Friday, March 17. Call Sheryl Farnsworth at 970-854-5123 or Kathleen Kropp at 970-580-5489.

Health dept. hosts food drive in March
March is National Nutrition Month, and this year’s theme is “Put Your Best Fork Forward.” To do that, Northeast Colorado Health Department is hosting a food drive in March. NCHD is excited to be helping its communities in this capacity because 26.9 percent of Colorado children live in food-insecure households.
Canned and nonperishable food items can be dropped off at 127 E. Denver St. in Holyoke through March 31. The food collected in each county will stay in local food banks. For questions, call 970-522-3741.

Sign up for Venango chili cook-off by March 4
Venango, Nebraska, Fire Department’s inaugural chili cook-off heats up Saturday, March 11, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Venango Fire Hall. Judging concludes at 1:30 p.m. with prizes for hot, medium and mild. There will be free cinnamon rolls, and freewill donations will go toward a LUCAS machine for CPR.
Cooks must be signed up by Saturday, March 4. Sign-up sheets are available at Venango Fire Hall, Middle of Nowhere Bar & Grill and Tin Can Diner. For more info, call Jennifer at 308-249-2259, Ashli at 970-520-3371 or Robbie at 308-353-0915.