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By Norman L. Kincaide, Ph.D. A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request granted by the Pike National Forest and Cimarron and Comanche National Grassland (CCNG) in reference to the revised CCNG Management Plan and Draft Assessment on September 2, 2025 by Norman Kincaide of Rocky Ford, CO, has provided an initial document drop. On February…
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BACA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SHERIFF AARON SHIPLETT OFFICE (719) 523-4511 265 EAST 2 ND AVENUE FAX (719) 523-4587 Dear Baca County Residents,Fire season is upon us and has been for a while now. We are currently in varying degrees ofdrought in Baca County, the state, and in many parts of this nation. The fire danger…
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By Kent Brooks, historical context with observations from the research of Dr. Norman Kincaide History in Baca County and Southeast Colorado is not a straight line; it is a recurring cycle of high-altitude disconnect. Recently I began reviewing the 90 year parallels between the President Roosevelt’s 1936 drought commission and the 2025 /2026 Comanche National…
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History and Stories
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In 1905, the Rocky Mountain News dismissed the “flat country” of Baca and Prowers as good for “nothing… but broomcorn”—a cash crop that, paired with cane for feed, kept families afloat even as storms and feed shortages killed herds. A generation later, that same “nothing but broomcorn” would be recast as a badge of identity…
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Baca County History Book Reprint Nears Final Proof — and Volume II Submissions Coming Soon The reprint of the original 1983 Baca County History Book is one step closer to completion. After sending off the first proof copy earlier this month, we’ve been carefully reviewing every page, making improvements to ensure the final product is…
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The 1939 Plesiosaur Discovery in Baca County In March 1939, one of Colorado’s most remarkable fossil discoveries emerged from the eroded banks of a remote creek in Baca County, about 13.5 miles north of Pritchett. A recent flood had carved away a 20-foot shale cliff on the Earl Kern’s farm which was occupied by Vernon…
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Walking the Santa Fe Trail One Word at a Time During the The Bent’s Fort Years (1833–1849): Letters, Stories & Incidents from the Edge of the Frontier
NOTE: A couple years ago, I released Letters, Stories and Incidents on the Santa Fe Trail : The Bent’s Fort Years. Recently, someone asked me if the book was any good. My answer? Oh yes. It has the best discussion of the “innumerable” buffalo herds of the American West you’ll find anywhere outside the writings…












