News from Neighbors

Family Dollar struck by car

STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE, April 18 — An accident involving a vehicle Thursday afternoon closed the Family Dollar store at the Broadway Shopping Center in Sterling.

According to Sterling Police Chief Tyson Kerr, at around 1:30 p.m. Tiffany Landry, 29, of Sterling, visited the store for a brief shopping trip. She parked her green 2014 Nissan Rogue in front of the store, leaving her 4- and 6-year-old children inside. She left the engine running due to the cold, with the car in park.

The full article is available in our e-Edition. Click here to subscribe.

Pandemic hits local ag processing plants hard

STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE, April 17 — Agriculture is starting to feel the pain of the coronavirus pandemic across the American heartland.

While several farmers contacted by the Journal-Advocate said they’re moving ahead with spring planting when weather permits, they may run into a backlog when it comes time to harvest.

Sterling Ethanol General Manager Dave Kramer said the Sterling plant has throttled back considerably and he’s running out of room to store the product. That’s because Coloradans aren’t driving nearly as much, which means gasoline isn’t selling, and neither is the ethanol blended with it.

“With fuel demand dropping, our tanks are full, the (railroad) tankers are full, the refineries are full,” Kramer said. “It’s devastating. Between 50 and 60 plants are shut down nationwide, and it’s just as bad for the oil refineries.”

The full article is available in our e-Edition. Click here to subscribe.