Colorado ranks below 28 other states in numbers of welfare recipients, a report from the National Center for Social Statistics, U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) shows. The ten states with the greatest number of recipients per 100 persons were Mississippi, Louisiana, California, Georgia, New York, Main, Hawaii, Alabama, Illinois and Michigan. The 10 states with the fewest were Wyoming, North Dakota, Nevada, Nebraska, Indiana, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, Montana and Minnesota.
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The biggest event of the year in Dolores is Ridiculous Day. Among events being planned by the Chamber are a big parade, horse show, log cutting contest, watermelon eating contest, greased pole climbing, minibike races, greased pig chase, egg tossing contact and many others. In addition to the big sidewalk sale by local merchants with bargains galore, there will be a merchants' lunch by the Eastern star, a rummage sale by the Methodist Church ladies, flower display in the library by the Garden Club, a booth by the Alter and Rosary Society.
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The Jersey Jim Fire Lookout has been closed for economy reasons following a study which proved that these stations were not locating enough fires per season. The tower at Devil Mountain near Pagosa was also closed. Mrs. Porter, who has manned the Jersey Jim tower for many years, will be working in the Glade Lookout Tower.
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Mancos: A gigantic crack has appeared in the earth dam of Bauer Lake and the dam is moving, causing flash flood warnings to be given to residents below the lake on Wednesday of last week. The dam holds over 1,500 acre-feet of water.
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Telluride: The famous July 4 celebration which was supposed to have been canceled this year is apparently alive and well with the new attraction of ski racing to be added this year in Tomboy Basin just east of Telluride.
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Nucla: Jay Larkin, 8 years old , of Littleton, has been missing since Friday, May 18, when the raft he was riding down the Dolores River overturned. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Larkin, had to walk out from the scene of the accident, about 24 miles south of Bedrock, and were unable to report the accident for 24 hours.
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Rico: Unseasonable high temperatures have resulted in heavy runoff and caused some flooding along the Dolores River and some side streams. In Rico, several sections of cribbing near the Jim Ferando home washed out and emergency repairs were made with old car bodies and heavy ballast. The west abutment of the bridge to West Rico was cut away by swirling high water, and old car bodies and ballast from Silver Bell Mines were used to save the structure. During the weekend, Clyde Coppinger kept the highway crew on patrol. Sunday, Coppinger, Jim Starks and Grady Leavell went fishing - with grappling hooks, to clear the big tube under SH 184 at Horse Gulch, which ad become clogged with boulders and debris.