GARCO WHOOPING COUGH CASES ON THE RISE
Glenwood Springs—Parents of school kids in the Roaring Fork Re-1 district have been alerted about two more cases of whooping cough in the community. According to information from Garfield County Public Health, the two latest cases of pertussis were confirmed in Glenwood Springs bringing the countywide total to 10. Of those 10, three are adults. Garfield County Public Health Director Yvonne Long says they will now offer free Tdap vaccinations for anyone 10 and older. The Tdap includes tetanus, diptheria and pertussis. To arrange for a free vaccination or for more information, call 945-6614 or 625-5200.
CRYSTAL THEATRE FUNDRAISER
Carbondale—The use of 35 millimeter film will soon fade to black. Most movie theaters around the country have made the switch to digital projection. The old Crystal Theatre in Carbondale, a longtime local favorite is looking to modernize but it isn’t cheap. The owners have launched a community-wide campaign to raise 70 thousand dollars by May 31st to update the single-screen theatre’s projection equipment. Movie studios are no longer using film and soon will phase out the distribution of film reels. Crystal Theatre owners say if they don’t convert to digital they’ll have to close. If you’d like to make a contribution to the campaign, you can do so at the theater box office or go to any Alpine Bank and mention “Crystal Theatre Digital.”
FRYINGPAN RIVER CLEAN UP
Basalt—For over a decade, hundreds of volunteers in the Roaring Fork Valley have gathered in late April to help clean up the Frying Pan River. Tomorrow marks the 15th year of the annual event. Organizers with the Roaring Fork Conservancy are asking for more volunteers to report for duty tomorrow morning at 8:30 at Lion’s Park in Basalt. A free breakfast will be served before the work begins and prizes will be awarded for various categories of clean up including, Best of Trash, Most Toxic, Most Useful and Most Unusual.
WILDFIRE BILL INTRODUCED IN SENATE
Washington, D.C.—Despite the improved snowpack, this summer could be bad one for wildfires in Colorado and the rest of the region. Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet are deeply concerned. That’s why they’ve introduced legislation to reauthorize Stewardship Contracting authority for the U.S. Forest Service and the BLM on a permanent basis. Udall says the concept will support public-private partnerships to reduce fuels on public lands, allow the private sector to turn the problem of excess biomass into profit and create new jobs.
WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST TRAIL CLOSURES
Glenwood Springs—It’s elk calving season and that means the closure of some popular backcountry trails within the White River National Forest. Yesterday the Tom Blake Trail and Anaerobic Nightmare Trail in the Aspen District closed and will remain closed until June 21st. The Government Trail will close May 15th. Wildlife monitoring cameras have been installed in key areas and anyone caught violating the trail closures will be fined up to 5 thousand dollars.
