COLONA — With its deadline to raise matching funds fast approaching, the Save Colona School project will host its third fundraising open house with a both a live and silent auction on Sunday, Jan. 18 from 1-5 p.m. at the historic Colona School.
“Auctions are always fun, and we know people are anxious to help preserve this great old building.” said Joyce Loss, Co-Chair of the preservation effort. The project stands to gain $250,000 from the State Historic Fund if it can raise matching funds by February 1.
 Father and son Doyle and Bruce Irvine of the Ditch Gang Band play at last Saturday's Family Fun Night in the historic Colona School. (Community Photo submitted by Jane Bennett) Advertisement |
Other, now-familiar features of the popular open house series include food provided all afternoon by the ladies of the Colona Grange, admission to the Ranch History Museum housed in two of the old classrooms at the historic school, and 3 p.m. storytelling by local storyteller Jane Bennett.
Admission to the open house is free, but donations are requested to help raise matching funds for a grant to restore the historic school building. A registered historic landmark, the Colona School was placed on a list of Colorado’s Top 10 Most Endangered Places in 2006. It is located 1/4 mile west of US Hwy 550 on Ouray County Road 1. For more information, please call 970 626-5075.
———
MHS speech team takes third
PALISADE — The Montrose High speech team overcame the barrier of not being able to have team and Congress practice due to the recent school evacuation and still took third at Palisade High School this past weekend.
Coach AJ Smith said she was exceedingly proud that the team rallied, adjusted, and did not let this upsetting event affect competition.
“Many came in at 9 p.m. on Thursday in order to be prepared,” Smith said.
The following placed:
Laurel Twitchell & Addison Ellis — 2nd — Duo
Emily Capshaw — 2nd — Poetry
Addison Ellis — 2nd — Original Oratory
Laurel Twitchell — 3rd — Original Oratory
Elisa Heine — 4th — Drama
Lynn Baird — 1st — Humor
Lauren Bony — 4th — Humor
Ross Valdez — Outstanding Congress Speaker
Lynn Baird — Outstanding Congress Speaker
———
Knowledge Bowl
MONTROSE — Montrose High School will host the Knowledge Bowl Saturday Feb. 7 from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., and lunch is provided. The MHS Knowledge Bowl team is in need of community readers (think Alex Trebec). If you are interested, and haven’t read before, there will be a training, contact George Perfors, Montrose High School, 249-6636, or e-mail gperfors@mcsd.k12.co.us for more information.
Used electronics collection
MONTROSE — The Montrose High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Chapter is once again collecting used cell phones and laptop computers. The group cannot accept desktop computers.
The goal of this project is twofold. First, electronic devices should not be disposed of in the landfill because of the toxic chemicals that can leach into the groundwater. Secondly, the items can be sold for recycling and the money donated back to our community.
The collected items will be recycled and the money received will be donated to the San Juan Cancer Center. Please drop off any donations of your electronic devices in the main office of Montrose High School by Jan. 31. For more information, contact Jayna Simpson, Montrose High School, 249-6636 or e-mail jsimpson@mcsd.k12.co.us.
———
January is Radon Action Month
MONTROSE — Radon, an odorless “silent killer,” is the second cause of lung cancer deaths in the United States. However, testing for it is as simple as attending a Montrose County meeting.
Montrose County, along with most of Colorado, is considered a high radon area with indoor screening levels greater than 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L), according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Radon moves up through the ground and enters into the home, making testing for radon very important because the radioactive particles can be inhaled and reek havoc on lung tissue.
Montrose County commissioners proclaimed January 2009 as Radon Action Month in Montrose County, hoping to get information and free tests out to the community.
Montrose County Health and Human Services’ environmental program is holding radon information sessions for the public. Each person who attends a meeting, receives a free radon testing kit for their home.
The next, and last sessions, will be held Wednesday, Jan. 21 at two different times for the public’s convenience. One meeting takes place from noon to 1 p.m. at the Library Conference Room; a second meeting is from 5 to 7 p.m. in the board room at Montrose County Health and Human Services.
For more information on radon, contact Richard Thompson at (970) 252-5000.
———
Forest Service posts report on future proposal for ski area
DELTA — In keeping with the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest’s commitment to keep stakeholders informed, the Forest has posted the most recent geological report for Snodgrass Mountain to the Forest’s Web site. This document incorporates a review of previous reports and information and has been subjected to peer review and approved by the chief scientist within the U.S. Geological Service.
“This report doesn’t make any decisions about potential operations on Snodgrass Mountain,” stated Charlie Richmond, Forest Supervisor. “What it does do is contribute substantially toward the ongoing efforts to obtain the best information and to become more knowledgeable about the geological conditions on Snodgrass Mountain.”
The Forest Service stated that they look forward to working with CBMR to incorporate information from this latest report into their future proposal for the ski area.
“It’s important to remember that no proposal has been submitted to the Forest yet and this document simply provides more information on the geology of the mountain and a review of previous studies,” said Jim Dawson, Gunnison District Ranger. “Since this document has just been released, we expect that it will take all parties some time to review it.”
Copies of this latest report and previous reports are available for reference and/or printing on the GMUG’s Forest website at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/gmug/policy/ under “Recreation-Ski Areas.”
The latest document is entitled: USGS Review of Recent Slope Stability Studies - January 8, 2009 (PDF).
• Be respectful of others, the writer and the subjects in the story.
• Be relevant. Keep your comments on point.
• See the guidelines for TalkAbout. Perhaps your comment is best for that community forum, available from the home page, instead of commenting on a particular story.
Comment posters are responsible for the opinions they express and the accuracy of the information they provide. We urge comment writers to treat this as a public forum where manners matter. We encourage a collegial, non-insulting tone. All readers comments must be approved by our staff before posting to the Web site. Be aware, in accordance with the Communications Decency Act and provisions upheld in judicial appeal, that you are responsible for comments posted on this Web site. Montrose Press is not liable for messages from third parties.
DO NOT POST:
* Potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.
* Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
* Personal attacks, insults or threats.
* The use of another person's real name to disguise your identity.
* Comments unrelated to the story.
Opinions, advice and all other information expressed in montrosepress.com's reader comments represent the individual's own views and not necessarily those of the Montrose Press. Montrose Press does not endorse and is not responsible for statements, advice or opinions offered by anyone other than authorized Montrose Press spokespersons.
Thank you for your comments!