Photo: Photos and Information sought on Williams Fork Fire Cause: The cause of the Williams Fork Fire burning in Grand County on the Sulphur Ranger District remains under investigation. The fire investigation team is asking the public for help in gathering information about the start of the fire. If anyone was in the Williams Fork area the night of August 13 or morning of August 14 and has any photos of the area where the fire started, please email them to SM.FS.usfsarp@usda.gov. If you have other information to share, you can call (307) 745-2392, option 5, and leave your name and call back number so law enforcement can contact you.  For updates on the Williams Fork Fire, check InciWeb at inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6971/.  Photo courtesy of Denny Wisely

Winter Park Resort plans for winter season

Winter Park Resort has announced plans to open for the 2020-2021 winter season on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 (cue snow dances). Last week, Winter Park Resort president, Sky Foulkes, sent a letter to guests and employees announcing the resort’s initial plans for opening for winter. Plans include prioritizing guest, employee and community health and well-being. 

The resort continues to plan and prepare and will provide updates as those plans solidify and/or evolve. Learn more at winterparkresort.com.

2-hour Business Recovery Workshop: REFOCUS 

Feeling stuck? Go back to the basics to save your business. On Monday, September 14, from 5-7 pm, Grand County Economic Development and Freeport McMoRan will host a two-hour virtual workshop that will help you find the focus and clarity you need to shift your mindset and find a new way forward. 

In this workshop you will:

  • Determine immediate next steps needed to stabilize
  • Re-examine your venture using the CO.STARTERS Canvas
  • Strategize how to better solve your customers’ changing needs
  • Learn how to adapt or refine your business model

If you feel stuck, join this workshop to identify your best next steps together. This is a CO.STARTERS workshop designed specifically for Grand County businesses. Up to 50 local businesses can join. CO.STARTERS also is offering the Rebuild 10-week program. To register, visit eventbrite.com.

Youth Mental Health First Aid

On Thursday, September 17, from 9 am – 2 pm, a Youth Mental Health First Aid course will be available via the Zoom platform. The course is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers,  school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Research has shown that the training reduces stigma, enhances behavioral health literacy, and improves participants’ behavioral health.

This course is offered FREE to Grand County residents thanks to the generosity of The Grand Foundation, The Town of Winter Park and Grand Futures Prevention Coalition.

For Certification via the new virtual YMHFA format, participants must complete a 2-hour online webinar prior to the virtual class AND attend the instructor-led virtual class on September 17.

Registration is required. To register, visit: mhfaco.org/findclass/attend/1178.

New Granby business Ribbon Cutting

On Friday, September 11 at 3:30 pm, the Granby Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon cutting to welcome Fat Cat Cafe and Blue Federal Credit Union to the town of Granby. Immediately following, there will be a mini Farmers Market to celebrate. Festivities will be held in the lot between 129 and 185 E. Agate Ave.

Granby street improvements

The Town of Granby will be holding a presentation initial concepts for Hwy40/Agate street improvements and traffic calming. Staff has been working closely with a group from UC Denver on the concepts. The presentation will be held at Granby Town Hall on Tuesday, September 8th at 5 pm. 

Masks will be required for all attendees, and staff may need to limit the number of people. The presentation will be recorded and documents will be made available after the presentation for others to comment. This is an initial first step in the process for traffic calming and there is a lot of work ahead on how to make the Hwy 40 corridor more user-friendly and safe. The Town is hopeful community input on these initial concepts will help determine what the next steps will be. To learn more, visit townofgranby.com.

State of Colorado delivers KN95 Masks to Colorado Schools

The Colorado State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) has delivered 672,750 KN95 masks to Colorado schools. Four of 10 shipments are complete. On July 16, Gov. Jared Polis announced that Colorado will provide educators with medical-grade masks. This offer includes staff members who work directly with students at any K-12 public school, private school, charter, BOCES, district and facility school. 

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) worked with the SEOC to coordinate the delivery to Colorado schools for a 10-week supply of KN95 masks — one mask per week — for every staff member who works directly with students. 

Representatives from the Colorado SEOC called school districts, BOCES, charters, facility schools and private schools to coordinate delivery, confirm physical addresses and numbers of staff people who need the masks. The initial delivery of KN95 masks began on August 17, 2020. Masks will be delivered once a week for 10 weeks. 

Charter schools and non-Catholic private schools pick up their supply of masks in the district where they are located. Masks for staff members at Catholic schools will be delivered to each diocese. For more information, visit the KN95 Masks for Colorado Schools webpage.

State health officials recommend radon testing as more Coloradans stay home

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) recommends that Coloradans test their homes for radon as more Coloradans stay home for longer periods of time.

The Surgeon General lists radon exposure as the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States behind tobacco smoke. Radon is a gas that you cannot see, smell, or taste, that comes naturally from the earth. It is radioactive and can easily enter homes and buildings through small openings. In Colorado, about half of homes have radon levels higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended action level of 4 picocuries per liter of indoor air.

More than 500 lung cancer deaths are attributed to radon each year in Colorado.

“The best way to protect yourself against radon is to test your home. Testing your home for radon is simple and inexpensive,” said Chrystine Kelley, radon program manager for the department. “CDPHE also has a low-income radon mitigation assistance program for homeowners that can pay for your radon mitigation system if you qualify.”

Anyone with existing radon mitigation systems should retest their homes every few years to make sure the system is working properly. Through quick and inexpensive actions, Coloradans can protect their long-term health, the health of their family and the safety of their home. More information is available on CDPHE’s website, coloradoradon.info. Low-cost test kits are available at sosradon.org