WHOOPING COUGH SHOWING UP IN GARFIELD COUNTY KIDS
Glenwood Springs—In December, state health officials declared it an epidemic but no cases had been reported in Garfield County. Now, four cases of Pertussis, also known as whooping cough have been confirmed by Garfield County Public Health. Young children and infants are most vulnerable to whooping cough which starts out like a common cold with a runny nose, sneezing and a mild cough and within a week or two can lead to pneumonia, seizures, brain damage and eventually death if gone unchecked. Health officials say kids, pre-teens, pregnant women and anyone who works around kids should get a vaccination. Garfield County Nurse Manager Laurel Little says pertussis is very contagious and spreads easily through breathing, coughing or sneezing. To arrange for a vaccination, call Garfield County Public Health at 945-6614.
GARFIELD COUNTY EXAMINES ANIMAL CONTROL BUDGET
Glenwood Springs—With leaner financial times on the horizon, Garfield County officials are reevaluating programs like animal control. The county has budgeted nearly 700 thousand dollars in contracts this year with Colorado Animal Rescue (CARE) and Divide Creek Animal Shelter for the boarding and medical care of stray dogs and cats.
BLM SUSPENDS OIL AND GAS LEASES IN THOMPSON DIVIDE
Silt—The Bureau of Land Management chose to suspend the oil and gas leases in the Thompson Divide, forcing two Houston, Texas-based companies to do a more thorough environmental analysis. The Thompson Divide Coalition was hoping the agency would allow the leases to expire. The suspension gives SG Interests and Ursa Resources Group about a year to come up with some new development plans.
JOHN DENVER’S WINDSTAR PROPERTY SOLD
SNOWMASS VILLAGE, Colo. (AP) – The 950-acre property that John Denver bought in the late 1970s as headquarters for his Windstar Foundation is being sold. The property in Old Snowmass is under contract to be sold to a private buyer. The conservancy placed the property on the market in September for $13 million. The Windstar Land Conservancy was founded in 1996 by the Windstar Foundation and the Rocky Mountain Institute to own and manage land. The institute operates an office on the property for about 20 employees. Foundation officials want to use the money to help the institute achieve its goal of opening a state-of-the-art green office building in Basalt.
