My family moved here when I was 4 and I grew up in Limon and graduated in 1985 from Limon High. I moved away for about 25 years. I have lived in Georgia, California, and various places in Colorado. I then returned to Limon to spend quality time with my Mom. We had planned to take road trips and wander about a bit to see new things. Unfortunately, my youngest brother Charles died about 6 years ago and our plans changed dramatically. My daughter and her family moved to Genoa to help support the family as well. I have had the absolute pleasure of filling in as a parent to my niece and nephew and I’ve been running the newspapers ever since. It’s been a challenge to learn how to produce two newspapers every week. I have a great deal of respect for my late brother Charles and some days I don’t know how he kept going by himself for as long as he did. Prior to my current job with SMH Publications LLC–better known as The Limon Leader and The Eastern Colorado Plainsman, I worked for the State of Colorado for 28 years in various positions. I have a degree in communications and use it every day. I am open minded, forward thinking, and a staunch supporter of the First Amendment.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My mother is 84 and still goes to work 7 days a week. My oldest brother and his wife live in Minnesota. My sister and her husband live in Grand Junction. My brothers, Michael and Charles, are deceased and so are my dad, Tom Thurston and my step-dad, Warren Hoffman. I have a bunch of extended family in Minnesota and most of my mom’s side of the family live in Ohio. I have one daughter, her husband, and two grand children. I also claim my brother Charlie’s kids as my own and my niece’s daughter will call me Grams.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I worked at the local radio station here in Limon back in the late 80s–KLIM. I worked at Stuart Anderson’s Black Angus and I’ve worked at Sears too. I started with the State of Colorado in 1993. My current career is keeping the doors open at your Lincoln County newspapers which involves doing everything from office work to attending meetings and taking photos at community events. I love seeing the photos that our community members share with us. The grins we get when a teenager sees their photo on the front page is good fun too.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
I prefer Grandma’s bed and breakfast. That’s what we started calling Mom’s house several years ago. She’s still the best cook I know.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I lived here from 1970 to 1985, and then 1988 to 1990, moved back again in 2016 and I have been here since then.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
There’s too many to name just one. Everyone has an interesting story to tell.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Dirty Dancing. Love the music and the social commentary that is portrayed.
Q: What is your favorite candy?
My sister’s homemade fudge.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
The same advice my sister gave me years ago. “Be where you are”. It means to pay attention to what is right in front of you and be present in the moment. It takes work but it alleviates a lot of worry and helps me concentrate on one thing at a time.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
The Sale Barn. My step-dad, Warren Hoffman, was the foreman there for many years. I would listen to the cattle low as I went to sleep as a child.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
I would like to have lunch with Amanda Gorman. She is the youth poet laureate of Los Angeles and the youngest inaugural poet. I think she is intelligent, creative and she has a lot to say. It would be wonderful to sit down with her in my own back yard and just listen to her ideas.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
I think the individual passions are unique in Limon. Many people here take a lot of their free time to be supportive and involved. You don’t see so much of it in other towns or bigger cities.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I will probably still be here in 5 years but all bets are off for 10 years. I would like to travel around the US and spend extra time in the places that I really like.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I will spend an entire night reading a good book and still get up and go to work after having no sleep.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Spending time with family. Spending time with family at a live music event gets an 11!
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My mother and my grandbabies. My mother is an excellent example of hard work and determination. My grandbabies are fun. lively and inspire me to look toward the future.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Once a Badger, always a Badger. Memories. Sanctuary.
