El Paso County, Colorado

The El Paso County Fair and Events Center is over (😔), but it is still helping the community! Today, meat from the Fair's EPC JR Livestock Sale and the nonprofit Protein 4 Helping Others (P4HO) was donated to the Springs Rescue Mission. This collaboration provided over 5,500 pounds of protein, which will be used to provide meals and culinary skills at the Mission.

⚠️Driving Notice⚠️South Academy Boulevard Widening Project Weekly Update: July 22. Please review the closure and detours below.

For more information, visit: https://www.elpasoco.com/traffic-advisory-week-of-july-22-military-access-mobility-safety-improvement-project/

The US National Weather Service Pueblo Colorado has issued a Flash Flood Watch for El Paso County today. Heavy rainfall today may cause flash flooding. For safety tips visit: https://www.weather.gov/safety/flood.

Heavy rain from thunderstorms is in the forecast for today. Locations along the I-25 corridor, Wet Mts and southern Sangre de Cristo Mts will be under a flash flood watch from 10 AM until 10 PM. These areas saw heavy rain yesterday and additional heavy rainfall today may cause flash flooding.

Unseasonably cooler temperatures are expected for tomorrow, especially across the plains, as a cold front moves through by later in the day. There will also be widely scattered showers and a few thunderstorms during the morning hours, which will become more numerous during the afternoon. A few of these storms may be on the stronger side.

This week Amanda Grant, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, along with County Commissioners Cami Bremer, Longinos Gonzalez Jr. and Stan VanderWerf, attended the National Association of Counties, NACo, Conference in Tampa. On behalf of the Financial Services Department, Amanda accepted the NACo Best in Category award for financial management!

"Our team has worked diligently to ensure transparency and accountability of ARPA expenditures. The data dashboard is an innovative online platform that offers quarterly updates on fund allocation, comprehensive details on funded projects, interactive maps for spatial representation, mechanisms for public feedback, compliance monitoring, and user-friendly data visualization tools," said Amanda Grant, Deputy Chief Financial Officer.

Attention City of Colorado Springs residents: "The City administrative offices remain open, though some services may be impacted or delayed. (City employees, check with your supervisors or managers on department operations.)
Although the Colorado Springs 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Center is currently impacted, it’s important to emphasize the Colorado Springs Police Department and Colorado Springs Fire Department are continuing to respond to all emergencies. 9-1-1 phone lines and department radios are NOT affected and regular patrols remain active in the city. We want to remind community members to still call 9-1-1 for any life-threatening situation or crime in progress."

Follow the City of Colorado Springs page for more updates!

For your awareness. Follow the El Paso County Clerk & Recorder for updates!

🚨 Due to the worldwide tech outage, the state's DMV system is down. DMV services at all our offices are currently unavailable. Check back here for updates. 🚨

For your awareness: Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms will be likely this afternoon and evening across southern CO. Flash flooding will be possible in flood prone areas and burn scars. Gusty winds up to 65 mph, quarter to ping pong size hail, and heavy rain are the primary risks for I-25 and the plains. Dangerous cloud to ground lightning is expected with all storms.

If possible stay indoors, but if you are out, drive safe!

Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms will be likely this afternoon and evening across southern CO. The mountains can see winds gust up to 55 mph and heavy rain. Flash flooding will be possible in flood prone areas and burn scars. Gusty winds up to 65 mph, quarter to ping pong size hail, and heavy rain are the primary risks for I-25 and the plains. Dangerous cloud to ground lightning is expected with all storms.

⚠️Driving Notice⚠️ Highway 105A will be experiencing traffic impacts. Please review the closure and detours below.

Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are expected across much of S. CO this afternoon and evening. Primary risks will be wind gusts up to 70 mph, hail up to the size of half dollars, lightning, and heavy rain. The greatest threat for severe storms are in Kiowa and Prowers counties.

Don't forget that County Commissioner Carrie Geitner will be having a Town Hall at the El Paso County Fair and Events Center! The town hall is happening on Wednesday, July 17, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. inside Swink Hall

El Paso County Commissioner Carrie Geitner invites the public to attend a community Town Hall on Wednesday, July 17, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. inside Swink Hall at the El Paso County Fairgrounds.

The regularly scheduled Board of County Commissioners meetings for tomorrow, July 16 has been canceled. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of County Commissioners is July 23.

So many photos to share from our day at the El Paso County Fair and Events Center, but FIRST we have to celebrate our new 2025 El Paso County Fair Queen Gretta Dickson💙 We know you will be great!

We thank Maddy, our 2024 El Paso County Fair Queen, for being a wonderful role model to all our contestants. You can see both our Queens at the El Paso County Fair all this week!

A Heat Advisory has been issued for El Paso County today.

Please be sure to:
- Stay hydrated
- Wear sunscreen
- Stay indoors, when possible
- Make sure your pets are also safe from the heat

Hot and dry conditions are expected today, which have led to Heat Advisories across the plains and Red Flag Warnings for dry thunderstorms across the high country. Outflow winds with gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with storms today!

Statement from El Paso County BOCC

“We are deeply saddened by the attempted assassination of former President Trump at his campaign rally today. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family, and all those affected, including the deceased and injured rally attendees. We stand in solidarity with everyone impacted by this senseless attack and strongly condemn political violence.”

KKTV 11 News KOAA 5 KRDO NewsRadio KRDO NewsChannel 13 / KRDO.com FOX21 News The Gazette

⚠️Driving Notice⚠️South Academy Boulevard Widening Project Weekly Update: July 16 Please review the closure and detours below.

For more information and photos of maps, visit: https://www.elpasoco.com/traffic-advisory-week-of-july-16-military-access-mobility-safety-improvement-project/

UPDATE: The work has been completed. The bridge is back open.

July 12: ⚠️Driving Notice⚠️ the bridge on Ramah Road east of the Lemesany Road and Ramah Road intersection is closed. Please review the closure and detours below.

For more information, visit: https://www.elpasoco.com/bridge-on-ramah-road-west-to-close-beginning-wednesday-july-3/

Here are Extreme Heat safety tips for the Heat Advisory this weekend.

• Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun.
• Consider spending the warmest part of the day in public buildings such as libraries, schools, shopping malls, and other community facilities.
• Drink plenty of water
• Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight, and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible.
• Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day.
• Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning.

Temperatures at or around record breaking values are expected during the next few days. Heat advisories are in effect for parts of the lower elevations. Any thunderstorms will be few and far between.

Reminder: El Paso County Commissioner Carrie Geitner invites the public to attend a community Town Hall on Wednesday, July 17, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. at the El Paso County Fair and Events Center! 🎡

For more information, visit: https://www.elpasoco.com/public-invited-to-community-town-hall-at-el-paso-county-fair/

El Paso County Commissioner Carrie Geitner invites the public to attend a community Town Hall on Wednesday, July 17, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. inside Swink Hall at the El Paso County Fairgrounds.

A Heat Advisory has been made for our County! Expected temperatures will be in the mid 90s to the lower 100's across southeast Colorado.

Please be sure to:
- Stay hydrated
- Wear sunscreen
- Stay indoors, when possible
- Make sure your pets are also safe from the heat

Expected temperatures in the mid 90s to the lower 100's across southeast Colorado has prompted the issuance of Heat Advisories for portions of El Paso, Pueblo and Fremont counties Friday through Sunday. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and try to limit time outside or move in doors to an air conditioned room.

It's EPIC Out Here! The 2024 El Paso County Fair and Events Center visitors can expect to experience epic live entertainment, including a pirate high dive show, a Paul Bunyan Lumberjack show, and a fire stage show.

Visit www.elpasocountyfair.com to purchase tickets and find more Fair information.

Today the Board of County Commissioners passed a Proclamation expressing their gratitude to Melanie Sheridan after 25 years of faithful and dedicated service to El Paso County. Mrs. Sheridan was hired in September of 1999, and has served six County Clerks in various roles over her career; most recently as a Motor Vehicle Technician where she assisted our Citizens of El Paso County with their Motor Vehicle needs and requirements at the Clerk and Recorder’s Office.

We all wish you the best in your retirement and thank you for your 25 years of service!

⚠️Driving Notice⚠️South Academy Boulevard Widening Project Weekly Update: July 8. Please review the closure and detours below.

For more information, visit: https://www.elpasoco.com/traffic-advisory-week-of-july-08-military-access-mobility-safety-improvement-project/

Strong to severe storms are appearing likely late this afternoon through this evening. While this risk is expected over much of the plains, the highest chances for severe storms will be along and just east of the I-25 corridor.

On Decemeber 05, the Board of El Paso County Commissioners recognized December 7, 2023, as Pearl Harbor Day in El Paso County, Colorado, and urge all residents to set aside time on this day to honor the profound bravery of all those who served and to pay special tribute to those who gave their last full measure of devotion on that fateful day 82 years ago.