Park-and-Ride Reminder
Riders on The Lift Transit buses are reminded that the only approved park-and-ride parking is located in the parking garage at Cooper Creek Square. People parking in other lots, including Safeway and the Murdoch’s Center, may be towed at their own expense. For more information, call dispatch at (970) 726-4163.
Fridge Drop for Hunger
Hunger, the refrigerator, has been placed on the children’s Lions Pond in Fraser and tickets are now available to make your guess as to when it will fall through the ice. Tickets are available at Mountain Family Center, their thrift store, Main Street Thrift, or at Grand Foundation in Fraser. Additionally, there will be some pop-up sales at local grocery stores over the next few weeks as well. You can also buy tickets online at mountainfamilycenter.org.
Volunteer Opportunity
Want a chance to pre-ski the Ranch2Ranch route this week? Event organizers could use some help with posting signs before the trek next Saturday, February 8, as well as pulling them after the trek. To volunteer, send an email to president@grandnordic.org. High school athletes receive community service/volunteer hours for skiing. Thank you for helping out!
OLRTAC leadership change
After three years, Paul Bruchez has stepped down as the Open Lands, Rivers & Trails Advisory Committee (OLRTAC) Chair and will continue to serve on the Advisory Committee as Vice-Chair.
The new chair is the Hot Sulphur Springs Representative, Mike Crosby. Mike had a 34-year career with Colorado Parks & Wildlife where he managed wildlife resources in Grand, Summit, and Routt counties. In 1999, he became the District Wildlife Manager for the Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado District, which he served until his retirement in 2015. Throughout his career, Mike was involved in the Ranch for Wildlife program, Ducks Unlimited, establishing turkeys and reintroducing Bighorn Sheep at Radium, and initiating conservation easements on three ranches in Grand County, among many other accolades. The committee looks forward to working under Mike’s leadership!
Input sought for Behavioral Health survey
Have you ever had experience with the mental health system? Or know someone who has?
Please, take 10-15 minutes to complete this survey. It will help the Office of Behavioral Health and the Task Force to better understand – from YOUR perspective – what is missing and how to change it. Complete the survey at surveymonkey.com/r/OBHCommunityConversation.
Powder Addiction changes hands, becomes Jones Pass Guides
New this winter, Fraser Valley local Ehren Samuelson has assumed ownership of the all-day snowcat adventure tour operations. Located in the Jones Pass area, with an operating permit of 2,600 acres, the conditions merit more than enough powder, vertical and adventure for an epic powder experience. At 12,454′, the high altitude combined with good Northern exposure keeps the snow cold and light. Operations run seven days a week and is one of the closest snowcat tours, located just 45 minutes from Denver. All trips include powder demo skis, safety gear, lunch provided by Rudi’s Deli, and 2 free beers at the end of the day, compliments of Steamworks Brewery. Book your snowcat adventure at jonespassguides.com.
Need a VIN inspection?
If you purchased a vehicle outside the state of Colorado, or you are moving to Grand County with an out of state vehicle and reside in Winter Park or Fraser, the Fraser Winter Park Police Department can complete the required VIN inspection for you. Either at the location of the vehicle, if located within the town limits of Fraser or Winter Park, or, you can bring the vehicle to the police department Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm.
Slash pile burning continues
Firefighters across the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests have been able to take advantage of snow conditions this winter to successfully burn over 17,000 slash piles, improving forest health conditions. Check inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4648/ to learn more.
Nutrition and Cooking Class
Mountain Family Center is offering a free six-week cooking class for adults with pre-diabetes and diabetes diagnoses. You’ll learn how to create healthy and delicious meals to prevent or manage your diagnosis and strategies for meal planning, how to save money at the grocery store and much more. The classes will be held Tuesdays, starting February 11, from 5-7 pm in the Lion’s Club Educational Kitchen at Mountain Family Center. For more information and to register, call Jordyn or Bailey at (970) 557-3186.
2020 Census job opportunities
The 2020 US Census is coming and they’re still looking for people in Grand County to help with the count. Learn more and apply at 2020census.gov/en/jobs.
PRC Childbirth Prep Classes
Calling all parents to be with due dates in March, April, May, and early June….. PRC will be hosting Childbirth Preparation Classes on Saturday, Feb 15th, Saturday, Feb 22nd and Saturday, Feb 29th from 11 am to 2 pm. Classes will be held at the Pregnancy Resource Connection. Dress for comfort. The classes are FREE, pre-registration is required. Please call (970) 887-3617 to reserve your spot!
Pre-game the Big Game at the YMCA Sled Pup Bowl
Everyone knows the best part of the Super Bowl is the Puppy Bowl! This year, pre-game the Big Game at YMCA of the Rockies Snow Mountain Ranch with the YMCA Sled Pup Bowl. The sled dog litter, born this October, will reunite in a friendly “pigskin” competition (although they’d prefer pig ears.) Donate to your favorite pup as they compete in a sprint race, obstacle course, and maze. Purchase a raffle ticket and enter for a chance to win a free dog sled ride or merchandise from the Snow Mountain Ranch gift shop. All donations will go toward the ‘Mushing For Bethany’ memorial fund to help a child attend camp who otherwise wouldn’t be able to.
The YMCA Sled Pup Bowl will take place Saturday, February 1st from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm in the Library parking lot at Snow Mountain Ranch. Raffle tickets are $5 each or six for $20.
For more information, give the Snow Mountain Ranch Programs Department a call at (970) 887-2152 ext. 4135. snowmountainranch.org
Daddy/Daughter Dance set for February 1
The 17th Annual Daddy/Daughter Dance will be held on Saturday, February 1st, 2020 from 6:30 – 8:30 PM at the Inn at Silvercreek Ballroom. The dance is available to all young ladies ages 3 and over, along with the adult escort of their choice. Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be served and a DJ will play your favorite dance tunes and coordinate fun games.
Tickets are $35/couple and $5/additional child and can be purchased at the FVMRD Offices at the Grand Park Recreation Center or the Granby Recreation Department located at the Granby Town Hall. Pre-purchased tickets include coupons for local restaurants that can be used the night of the event for dinner discounts.
Winter Park Resort & Devil’s Thumb Ranch host SIA/WWSRA On-Snow Demos
After the 2020 Outdoor + Snow Show wraps in Denver, attendees will head to Winter Park Resort on February 3-4 for the SIA/WWSRA On-Snow Demo, the industry’s largest international on-snow demo. The nordic demo will take place at Devil’s Thumb Ranch on February 3rd. This year, there are over 115 exhibitors registered, showing the newest and most innovative skis, snowboards, boots and accessories on the market. This event is industry-only. Open to industry pros, they will test gear on the best snow conditions in Colorado. To register and get all the details, visit: snowsports.org/sia-wwsra-on-snow-demo/
After the on-snow demo on Monday, January 3rd, they will keep it going at the Demo Industry Party at the Derailer Bar from 8 pm to closing with live music by BLINK 90210.
Colorado’s third novel coronavirus test negative
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment received confirmation from the CDC earlier this week that the third test for the novel coronavirus was negative. The department continues to believe the current health risk is low for novel coronavirus in Colorado.
It is normal in situations like this to have several cases being investigated because health care providers are being extra cautious, looking for symptoms and, members of the public have a heightened awareness.
The department will continue to investigate and obtain CDC testing for patients under investigation and provide timely updates on any confirmed positive cases. That information will also be available on the 2019-nCoV website at colorado.gov.
While much of the world is focused on the coronavirus outbreak, influenza continues to take its toll in the United States, where an estimated 15 million people have been infected and 8,200 have died from the disease so far this flu season.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said those numbers aren’t unusually high, they’re far higher than the 4,583 cases of coronavirus and 106 deaths confirmed worldwide as of Tuesday morning. Five people have been stricken with coronavirus in the U.S. and no deaths have been reported.
Overall, the World Health Organization estimates that the flu kills up to 650,000 people per year worldwide.
Fraser/Winter Park December Police Report
As expected, December was a busy month for our Fraser Winter Park Police Department. Our police department responded to a total of 399 calls for service and completed a total of 76 written reports. This compares to 458 calls and 89 reports in 2018.
The busiest time was December 25 – January 5 when the following was completed:
244 calls for service (27% of all calls in Grand County)
60+ traffic contacts
56 written reports
18 arrests
60+ hours of overtime/contract labor.
The most serious incident in December was on New Year’s Eve when a wheelchair user was struck by a vehicle while in the crosswalk at Kings Crossing and Main Street in Winter Park. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries.
Also, in December, our police department was awarded a grant for $3,459 to allow the police department to participate in the Colorado Information Sharing Consortium. This grant will provide up-to-date information regarding criminal justice data from other law enforcement agencies.
