Conservation district offers $2,000 scholarship

Bookcliff Conservation District is honored to announce that the Norman Hunt Memorial Scholarship is available for high school seniors residing in the Bookcliff District. The Hunt family has contributed an additional $1,000 with the $1,000 that Bookcliff Conservation District contributes for a $2,000 scholarship. Norm Hunt served on the Bookcliff Conservation District board for 14 years, contributing countless hours and was instrumental in receiving several grants to assist the water users in the Silt Water Conservancy District.

If you are a high school senior in Parachute, Rifle, Silt or New Castle and entering into a career related to agriculture, conservation, environment or science, call the District office at 945-5494, ext. 105, for more information or an application.

GRHD partners offers breast cancer screenings

Starting Feb. 1, Grand River Hospital District and Medical Center in Rifle will be collaborating with Women's Wellness Connection to help women ages 40-64 receive free cervical and breast screenings if they qualify. Grand River is one of the few organizations offering Women's Wellness Connection screenings in Western Colorado, giving more options to women who are uninsured or underinsured to protect their health.

Today, women have a much better chance against cancer than what they may think. In fact, nearly 100 percent of women who are diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer early, live to survive it.

Women who are interested in learning about Grand River's partnership with Women's Wellness Connection are encouraged to call 625-6205 and find out if they qualify and learn about the process. Women who qualify have the peace of mind knowing they can get their screenings right at Grand River. Grand River Hospital and Medical Center is located at 501 Airport Road in Rifle. For more information call or visit www.grhd.org.

Feb. 19deadline to file NC ballot issue comments

There will be two ballot issues on the April 6 ballot in New Castle. Between 12 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 19, the town of New Castle will accept “pro” and “con” statements regarding the ballot issue related to vehicle use tax. Comments must address the specific ballot question and shall include a signature and an address where the signer is registered to vote. Comments will be accepted by the town clerk at the Town of New Castle, 450 West Main Street, P.O. Box 90, New Castle Colorado 81647 until 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 19. Comments filed by registered New Castle voters will be summarized by the town clerk, printed and mailed to all registered voters in the town of New Castle between Feb. 22 and March 8. To read the ballot language visit the town's website at www.newcastlecolorado.org.

March deadline for Junior Duck Stamp program

The Junior Duck Stamp Program is in full flight in 2010 and all student (K-12) in Colorado are welcome to participate in this free art and science opportunity designed to teach wetlands habitat and waterfowl conservation. Using scientific and wildlife observation principles, the Junior Duck Stamp Program helps students communicate visually what they have learned by creating an entry to the Junior Duck Stamp art contest. This non-traditional pairing of subjects brings new interest to both the sciences and arts to students throughout the state while fostering a greater awareness and conservation ethic toward the nation's national resources.

The first-place design from the national contest is used to create the actual Junior Duck Stamp for the following year. Junior Duck Stamps are sold by the U.S. Postal Service for $5 per stamp. Proceeds from these sales support environmental education and provide awards and scholarships for the students, teachers and schools that participate in the program. All entries must be postmarked by March 15, 2010. The award ceremony to honor all the state winners and schools with certificates and prizes will be held at an award's ceremony in May 2010.

For more details on how kids, teachers and schools can participate in this fun, educational program, contact Colorado state Coordinator, Seth Beres at (303) 289-0867 or visit www.fws.gov/juniorduck.ArtContest.htm.

Volunteer opportunities in NC

Current volunteer needs in the town are for LIFT-UP of Garfield County, which needs pasta, spaghetti, tuna and peanut butter. Volunteer New Castle is looking for more volunteers to staff the Ricer Center office on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon. For the most current needs of the community, go to http://volunteernc.wordpress.com. Sign up on the website to have new posts emailed to your inbox.

Backyard farming workshop

Bookcliff, Mount Sopris and South Side Conservation Districts are hosting a workshop on Feb. 27 at the Glenwood Springs Community Center for small acreage landowners that are interested in backyard farming and sustainability. The workshop will address tree care and pruning fruit trees, challenges and opportunities in gardening, forest management, biological control, grazing management for horses, cattle selection and sheep guard dog management. Registration is $10 and includes lunch. Call 945-5494, ext. 105, for more information.

Re-2 feedback

As the Garfield Re-2 School District goes through the budget process for 2010-2011, it will welcome your feedback on the Garfield Re-2 budget as we evaluate what reductions we must make for the coming school year. If you would like to keep up on the latest Garfield Re-2 budget information, go to www.garfieldre2.org and click on the Budget Information tab on the left hand side. There is also a form you can complete to tell us what you value within Garfield Re-2 and what you feel we should evaluate closer for budget reductions.

GarCo Humanitarian Awards nominations

The 21st annual Garfield County Humanitarian Service Awards Dinner, sponsored by the Garfield County Commissioners and the Garfield County Human Services Commission, will be held Monday, April 12. The venue is to be determined, but in the meantime, take the time to nominate a friend, neighbor or staff member who has the willingness to help someone or an organization in need; someone who takes action for Garfield County.

Nomination guidelines and the nomination form may be found at the Garfield County web site — www.garfield-county.com. Click on News at the top of the page and Humanitarian Awards. Read through the guidelines and fill out the form. Every nominee will be individually honored at the awards dinner, so he sure to create a nomination which details everything your nominee has done in a humanitarian spirit so your nominee will be acknowledged for all their facets of contribution. More information will be published as soon as he details are confirmed. For more information about the Humanitarian Awards, please email kvasilakis2222@gmail.com or call Kay at 618-6689.

Wolford Mountain Reservoir Ice Fishing Contest

If you like ice fishing, $13,000 could be yours with the winning tagged fish! Come celebrate the 13th annual Wolford Mountain Reservoir Ice Fishing Contest on Saturday, Feb. 20, on Wolford Mountain Reservoir in Kremmling. There is a $5,000 cash purse for the top ten largest fish, hourly big fish prizes, huge prize drawing and a kids division with goody bags sponsored by Eagle Claw and Grand Fence, Kremmling. Entry fee is $35; youth 15 and under are free, unless they want to be eligible for the cash purse. No on will be permitted on the ice until 6 a.m.. Hole drilling begins with a shot of the flare gun at 7 a.m.

Contest ends at 3 p.m. Cash and door prizes will be awarded at 4:30 p.m. on the stage of the Visitor Center in the Town Square Park in Kremmling on Saturday, Feb. 20.

Rules and registration can be found at www.active.com, www.fishexplorer.com, www.kremmlingchamber.comor visiting the judge's tent beginning at 6 a.m. the day of the event.

Spellebration 2010

Enjoy a ‘spell' in gaie Paree

Sponsors, silent auction donations and teams are needed for Literacy Outreach's Spellebration 2010! Save the date of this annual event on Friday, March 5 and be transported to beautiful Gaie Paree, where love is in the air and the creme de la creme of adult spellers gather to win bragging rights for the next year! C'est bon!

Literacy Outreach has trained 750 volunteers who have, in turn, tutored over 1,400 students and offered scholarships to promising adult GED students. Invest in adult education and the future of Garfield County. Oh la, la for literacy!

CMC announces new CMC Alumni site on Facebook

To better meet your needs as an alum of Colorado Mountain College, the CMC's Alumni site has been moved to Facebook, making it more user-friendly, immediate and interactive. CMC Alums, or anyone who has ever taken a class at CMC, are encouraged to visit and become a fan at www.facebook.com/CMCAlumi.

Scholarships available from Western Rockies Federal Credit Union

Western Rockies Federal Credit Union announces that applications are now available for four $1,000 scholarships. Three of the scholarships are for degree-granting programs of higher education at schools located in Mesa, Garfield, Eagle or Pitkin counties. The fourth scholarship may be applied toward a degree-granting program of higher education at a school located anywhere in Colorado.

Eligible for consideration are incoming freshmen, continuing and adult students, undergraduates and graduate and vocational program students. Selection criteria includes the need for financial assistance, 2.0 minimum grade point average, short essay and college acceptance. The student must be a member of Western Rockies Federal Credit Union.

The scholarship application may be obtained at school counselor and financial aid offices, at any Western Rockies Federal Credit Union branch or in the Links section at: www.westernrockiesfcu.org. The application deadline is May 1, 2010.