Grand County records highest organ and tissue donation rates

Grand County Clerk and Recorder Sara Rosene is proud to announce her office’s support of organ and tissue donation is amongst the highest in the state. Grand County posted the fourth highest donor designation rate in the state in 2017 at 75.32%. Well above the state average of 67.98%, the area’s donor designation rate, the percentage of individuals joining the state organ and tissue donor registry, demonstrates strong support for the gift of life in our area.

In 2017, 2,383 of the 3,164 individuals obtaining or renewing their driver license or state ID through the Clerk and Recorder’s office said yes to joining the Donate Life Colorado Organ and Tissue Donor Registry. This demonstrates support well above the national average of 50%.

“We are inspired by the generosity of Grand County citizens who are showing their support for donation at an ever‐growing rate,” said Rosene. “We’re proud of our efforts to educate residents on the importance and lifesaving benefits of organ, eye and tissue donation.”

Donor Alliance, the federally designated non‐profit organization that facilitates organ and tissue

donation in Colorado and most of Wyoming, recognized the Grand County Clerk and Recorder’s office for maintaining a donor designation rate over the state average for five years. Grand County has increased their rate from 65.63% in 2010 to 75.32% in 2017 by providing educational materials about organ and tissue donation in their office, inspiring the public to say yes.

There are nearly 2,500 people in Colorado on the transplant waiting list. Saying yes when obtaining or renewing a driver license or state ID supports the mission to save the lives of our neighbors. Donor Alliance recorded another remarkable year for organ and tissue donation and  transplantation, helping save the lives of 407 people through organ transplantation in 2017. The organization also worked with a record 1,752 tissue donors and their families to recover the lifesaving and healing tissue that will provide bone and skin grafts to thousands of recipients in need.

 

Granby in search of Mural Artist

The Granby Main Street Program is in search of an aspiring artist to complete a large scale mural project on Agate Ave. prior to June 1st. For more information, contact the Granby Chamber of Commerce at (970) 887-2311. To submit work samples, please send to jessica@granbychamber.com

 

Grand County hosts Ask A Lawyer Clinics

On Thursday, April 12, the 14th Judicial District and Grand County conducts a FREE legal clinic for residents of Grand County. The clinics are held monthly and are open to all residents to discuss civil legal problems such as divorce and child custody, protections orders, landlord/tenant problems, foreclosures, bankruptcy and court lawsuits filed against an individual. For more information, and, to make an appointment, call (970) 725-3357. Walk-ins will only be helped if time allows.

 


Department of Interior rethinks National Park fee increases

After receiving over 100,000 public comments from US citizens primarily opposed to raising National Park entrance fees, the Department of Interior and National Park Service officials are rethinking the plan, based on public comments that inundated the NPS website during the 30-day comment period.

In October, Department of Interior Secretary, Ryan Zinke, proposed an increase to entrance fees at 17 National parks from $25 to $70, the steepest fee increase since World War II. The cost of riding a motorcycle into the parks would have risen to $50, and, walking or biking in would have cost $30. The proposed increases would raise $70 million to help address a nearly $12 billion maintenance backlog with deteriorating park buildings, restrooms and roads. “Targeted fee increases at some of our most-visited parks will help ensure that they are protected and preserved in perpetuity and that visitors enjoy a world-class experience,” the secretary said in a statement.

While some sort of increase is still anticipated, the threat of reduced visitation became clear from comments received. The parks depend upon the revenue to support the system, and officials stated they believe there is room to increase the fees and the annual passes. The ultimate goal is to determine a more palatable fee adjustment level, which hasn’t increased in the last ten years. A 10 percent fee increase for all parks with entrance charges is being considered, as is a $20 increase for the $80 annual and senior lifetime passes. The agency is also debating whether to increase tour buses’ flat-rate charge, or implement a per-passenger bus fee to increase revenue.

We will continue to monitor and keep our readers informed on developments as they unfold.

 

Firefighters planning prescribed burns in Eagle and Grand counties

Fire managers from the Northwest Colorado Fire Management Unit are planning to conduct prescribed fires on Bureau of Land Management and Colorado Parks and Wildlife lands in the coming weeks when conditions warrant.

The prescribed fires are designed to reduce pinyon-juniper expansion and help restore sagebrush communities. Prescribed fires reduce dense vegetation and other fuels to lower the risk of large wildfires and stimulate new vegetation growth that benefits wildlife.

Fire managers are planning the following burns if conditions are favorable in Eagle and Grand counties, the 350-acre Dry Gulch Prescribed Fire in planned on BLM lands about 11 miles southwest of Kremmling along the Trough Road; and, also in Grand County, the 90-acre Geico Prescribed Fire is planned in the same general area as the Dry Gulch, on Colorado Parks and Wildlife lands.

“We will only ignite these prescribed fires if conditions are ideal for safe, effective burns, as well as for good smoke dispersal away from area communities,” said Toni Toelle, Supervisory Fire Management Specialist for the Northwest Colorado Interagency Fire Management Unit.

The BLM has been partnering with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and other wildlife partners to improve big game winter range for elk, deer and bighorn sheep within the project areas.

Smoke may be seen from nearby communities and roads.  It should dissipate during the day, but may remain on valley floors as temperatures drop. Fire managers have developed a detailed prescribed fire plan and obtained smoke permits from the State of Colorado for each planned burn.

For additional information, contact Toni Toelle at (970) 761-0124. Information on health affects of prescribed fire smoke is available at: colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe.