fbpx

The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Category: Local News

  • Colorado launches new COVID-19 vaccine hotline

    The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment launched a new call center for the public to ask questions specifically about the COVID-19 vaccine. Now through the end of January, the vaccine call center is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Beginning Feb. 1, hours will extend to 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The new toll-free number is 1-877-CO VAX CO (1-877-268-2926).

    Vaccine call center staff are trained to answer COVID-19 vaccine-related questions, provide information about vaccine providers across the state, and give general information about COVID-19. Fifty operators are available to answer calls and can provide information in multiple languages. Staffing will expand as call volume requires. 

    The 1-877-CO VAX CO number is the go-to for vaccine-related questions for the general public, but they should continue using the Colorado Health Emergency Line for the Public (COHELP) and 2-1-1 Colorado for general information about COVID-19, such as the number of cases in Colorado, the list of symptoms, or how you can protect yourself. 

    COHELP can be reached Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. by dialing 303-389-1687 or 1-877-462-2911. 

    2-1-1 Colorado Community Resource Navigators are available to help by phone, Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and can be reached by dialing 2-1-1 or toll-free 866-760-6489, or by visiting 211Colorado.org. 

    Right now, Colorado is in phase 1A and 1B above the dotted line of its vaccine distribution plan, which means frontline health care workers, first responders, and people age 70 and older are eligible to receive the vaccine. Until the vaccine is widely available and used, and community immunity is achieved, it is important to continue taking precautions to slow the spread of the virus, like wearing masks, avoiding large gatherings, and practicing physical distancing. More information about Colorado’s vaccine efforts is available at covid19.colorado.gov/vaccine.

    Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.

     

    SPREAD THE NEWS

    COMMENT, Like, Follow & SHARE @I70Scout

    CURRENT EDITION

    WEATHER & TRAFFIC    PUZZLES    RECENT NEWS    ADVERTISE WITH US

     

  • Byers, ‘Burg tip off season tonight; games available online

    Both the Byers and Strasburg High School boys and girls commence the COVID-19 Season B tonight on the hardwood, and while visitors into gyms are limited, both sets of contests can be viewed online.

    Byers travels to Kiowa tonight to face off with the host Indians. The varsity girls game is slated to start at 5 p.m. with the varsity boys to follow at 7 p.m. Both games are available to view on the Kiowa Athletics YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBrHhgJmTULn01bO-QMj49w.

    Both Strasburg varsity teams host Weld Central this evening with the Lady Indians to tip off at 5 p.m. and the boys at 7 p.m. Online access for both games is available at https://youtu.be/0yey-ah0ulA or by going to the Forever Indians of Strasburg High School page on Facebook and clicking on the link for the YouTube broadcast.

    For coverage of both schools’ games and other basketball games and wrestling matches contested through Thursday, Jan. 28, see the Feb. 2 edition of The I-70 Scout.

     

    SPREAD THE NEWS

    COMMENT, Like, Follow & SHARE @I70Scout

    CURRENT EDITION

    WEATHER & TRAFFIC    PUZZLES    RECENT NEWS    ADVERTISE WITH US

     

  • Full weekend closure of Quebec Street under I-70 starts Jan. 8

    Full weekend closure of Quebec Street under I-70 starts Jan. 8

    DENVER — As part of the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Central 70 Project, Quebec Street will close in both directions under Interstate 70 from 8 p.m., Jan. 8, to 10 a.m., Jan. 10. Overnight closures to I-70 will also be required to allow crews to safely demolish the I-70 bridge above Quebec Street. 

    TRAFFIC IMPACTS:

    • Full closure of Quebec Street under I-70  – 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 8, to 10 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 10
      • Motorists traveling northbound will use the Quebec Street on-ramp to eastbound I-70, exit at Central Park Boulevard, travel north to the Central Park Boulevard on-ramp, and exit at the westbound I-70 off-ramp to Quebec Street
      • Motorists traveling southbound on Quebec Street will take the Quebec Street on-ramp to Stapleton North Drive, turn left on Holly Street, turn left to Stapleton South Drive to the Holly Street on-ramp to eastbound I-70, and exit at Quebec Street
      • Motorists traveling to Monaco Street north of I-70 during this time will travel south on Monaco Street to Sandown Road and turn left to Quebec Street. Here they will follow the marked detour for northbound Quebec Street, travel north to the Central Park Boulevard on-ramp, exit at the westbound I-70 off-ramp to Quebec Street, and then travel across Quebec Street to Stapleton North Drive. 
    • Intermittent lane closures on westbound and eastbound I-70 at Quebec Street – 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 8 to 8 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 9 and from 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 9 to 8 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 10

    This work is weather-dependent and subject to change. 

    Detour map: 

    COVID-19 

    Safe transportation infrastructure is essential for all of us, particularly for emergency first responders and freight drivers as Colorado navigates the COVID-19 pandemic. With that in mind, CDOT maintenance and construction crews follow social distancing and other health safety measures to reduce COVID-19 exposure on the worksite. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced guidelines for construction activities. The public is urged to join the campaign for #DoingMyPartCO by practicing social distancing and wearing face masks. As traffic returns to normal levels, motorists must drive cautiously and heed the speed limit so all of us can return home safely. 

    Whole System.Whole Safety 

    Last year, CDOT announced its Whole System — Whole Safety initiative to heighten safety awareness. This initiative takes a systematic, statewide approach to safety combining the benefits of CDOT’s programs that address driving behaviors, our built environment and the organization’s operations. The goal is to improve the safety of Colorado’s transportation network by reducing the rate and severity of crashes and improving the safety of all transportation modes. The program has one simple mission—to get everyone home safely.

    About the Central 70 Project

    The Central 70 Project will reconstruct a 10-mile stretch of I-70, add one new Express Lane in each direction, remove the aging 57-year-old viaduct and lower the interstate between Brighton and Colorado boulevards. More information on the Project, including a list of the Project’s community commitments, are available at central70.codot.gov.

     

    Stay Informed

    • Text Alerts – Text Central70 to 77948
    • Email Updates – Sign up for Project updates at c70.codot.gov 
    • Website – c70.codot.gov – Traffic Impacts page 
    • Watch progress on the webcam 

    SPREAD THE NEWS

    COMMENT, Like, Follow & SHARE @I70Scout

    CURRENT EDITION

    WEATHER & TRAFFIC    PUZZLES    RECENT NEWS    ADVERTISE WITH US

     

  • E-470 Traffic Advisory Full Weekend Closure of Northbound On Ramp to E-470 from I-70 Access to Northbound E-470 from Smith Rd. and 19th Ave. also Closed

    E-470 Traffic Advisory Full Weekend Closure of Northbound On Ramp to E-470 from I-70 Access to Northbound E-470 from Smith Rd. and 19th Ave. also Closed

    Aurora, CO – As part of the E-470 Road Widening Project, the northbound on ramp to E-470 from I-70 will be closed from 7 p.m. Friday, December 18 through 6 a.m. Monday, December 21. This includes access to northbound E-470 from Smith Rd. and 19th Ave.

    Traffic accessing northbound E-470 from I-70, 19th Ave. and Smith Rd. will be detoured via southbound E-470 to 6th Pkwy./Stephen D. Hogan Pkwy., then east to enter northbound E-470. Motorists should follow all posted detour signs.

    These closures will accommodate full width replacement of the existing expansion joints for the E-470 bridge over Smith Rd. and Union Pacific Railroad. All work is weather dependent.

    SPREAD THE NEWS

    COMMENT, Like, Follow & SHARE @I70Scout

    CURRENT EDITION

    WEATHER & TRAFFIC    PUZZLES    RECENT NEWS    ADVERTISE WITH US

     

  • Link to Strasburg’s Friday Night Game

    Link to Strasburg’s Friday Night Game

    The schedule for the 1A quarterfinal football between Strasburg and Meeker has been changed to 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 20, at Winter Field in Strasburg. The date and time of the game were changed after the Nov. 17 edition of The I-70 Scout went to press. The staff of The I-70 Scout and Eastern Colorado News apologizes for the issue and for any inconvenience that was created. For updated postseason information, stay tuned to www.i-70scout.com or the Forever Indians of Strasburg High School page on Facebook.

     

    Here is a link to view the game  :   https://youtu.be/8RM3QazdUy0

     

     

     

     

    SPREAD THE NEWS

    COMMENT, Like, Follow & SHARE @I70Scout

    CURRENT EDITION

    WEATHER & TRAFFIC    PUZZLES    RECENT NEWS    ADVERTISE WITH US

     

  • Indians to host 1A quarterfinal 7 p.m. Friday Nov. 20

    The schedule for the 1A quarterfinal football between Strasburg and Meeker has been changed to 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 20, at Winter Field in Strasburg. The date and time of the game were changed after the Nov. 17 edition of The I-70 Scout went to press. The staff of The I-70 Scout and Eastern Colorado News apologizes for the issue and for any inconvenience that was created. For updated postseason information, stay tuned to www.i-70scout.com or the Forever Indians of Strasburg High School page on Facebook.

     

    SPREAD THE NEWS

    COMMENT, Like, Follow & SHARE @I70Scout

    CURRENT EDITION

    WEATHER & TRAFFIC    PUZZLES    RECENT NEWS    ADVERTISE WITH US

     

  • Newest COVID-19 model indicates Colorado hospitalizations are increasing more sharply than previous predictions

    Newest COVID-19 model indicates Colorado hospitalizations are increasing more sharply than previous predictions

    Avoiding surges in infections and hospital demand over the next two months will require a substantial and rapid increase in transmission control

    REMOTE, (Nov. 6, 2020): The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the Colorado School of Public Health released an updated modeling report showing hospitalizations from SARS-CoV-2 are increasing more sharply than last week’s projections. Keeping hospitals at or below demand capacity will require substantial and rapid action to prevent transmission. People should only interact with members of their own household, avoid gatherings, stay home when they are sick, wash their hands, physical distance, and wear a mask.

    Colorado has now reached the greatest number of COVID-19 hospitalizations we have had to date, exceeding our peak in April. We reached this even faster than the modeling predicted. If the epidemic curve is not bent, Colorado could surpass intensive care unit (ICU) capacity in late December instead of January as reported in last week’s modeling report. If contacts increase over the holidays (for example, due to gatherings between multiple households), surge capacity could be required in mid-December, unless transmission is reduced. 

    The latest modeling provides projections based on COVID-19 hospital census data through November 2, 2020. The models are based on Colorado data and assumptions based on the current state of the science.

    Key findings from the report:

    • Hospitalizations continue to rapidly increase. On the current trajectory the limits of current ICU capacity may be reached in late December. If spread of infections increase over the holidays due to, for example, social gatherings, ICU capacity could be exceeded in mid-December.
    • Avoiding peaks in infections and hospital demand over the next two months will require a substantial and rapid increase in transmission control. The magnitude and timing of reductions in transmission will determine the severity of COVID-19 in Colorado in the months ahead.
    • The probability of encountering an infected person in the population is higher than it was at any point since SARS-CoV-2 arrived in Colorado. In some counties, like Denver, the virus is spreading even faster at a rate of approximately 1 in 100 Coloradans.
    • Using an extended modeling approach that includes case data, we estimate that transmission control has declined for all age groups. Individuals aged 20-39 have the lowest estimated level of transmission control. Notably, transmission control estimates continue to decline in the oldest age group (age 65+) suggesting they are increasingly becoming infected with the virus, leading to growth in hospitalizations in this high-risk group. 

    The Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH) assembled the expert group that works with the state on modeling projections. The group includes modeling scientists at the ColoradoSPH and the University of Colorado School of Medicine at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, as well as experts from the University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Denver, and Colorado State University. 

    All previous modeling reports are available on the Colorado School of Public Health’s COVID-19 website. 

    The Colorado modeling team began using a new “transmission control” indicator in mid-October to describe the collective impact of all policies and behaviors on the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Transmission control captures ALL behavioral and policy changes in response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic including mask wearing, physical distancing, improved ventilation, working from home, contact tracing (including both isolation and quarantine), moving activities outside, and any seasonal impact. This approach has the advantage of requiring fewer assumptions and increasing accuracy for the Colorado model. In technical terms, the transmission control parameter describes the percent decrease in effective contacts between infected and susceptible individuals compared to pre-pandemic behavior. 

    The state will continue to review data and model findings as the pandemic continues to inform policy decisions. 

    Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.

    SPREAD THE NEWS

    COMMENT, Like, Follow & SHARE @I70Scout

    CURRENT EDITION

    WEATHER & TRAFFIC    PUZZLES    RECENT NEWS    ADVERTISE WITH US

     

  • FREE COVID community testing site event in Bennett for Tri-County residents and neighboring counties

    FREE COVID community testing site event in Bennett for Tri-County residents and neighboring counties

    Testing event is open from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on November 6 at 610 7th Street Bennett CO 80102.

    Bennett, Colo. (November. 05, 2020): Tri-County Health Department, with the help of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), is hosting a FREE COVID-19 community testing site event in Bennett, Colorado. The testing site is at Bennett High School at 610 7th Street Bennett CO 80102 and will run from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on November 6.

    The state is encouraging all Coloradans who need or want to get a COVID-19 test to go to any of the many community testing sites and events like these located throughout the state. There are no identification or insurance requirements, and the tests are free.  

    There are more than 50 free community testing sites across the state, as well as dozens of locations offered by private providers. The state’s website has a list of locations. 

    People with symptoms should always get tested immediately. Symptoms include:

    • Fever or chills.
    • Cough 
    • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
    • Fatigue
    • Muscle or body aches.
    • Headache
    • New loss of taste or smell.
    • Sore throat.
    • Congestion or runny nose.
    • Nausea or vomiting.
    • Diarrhea

    At the request of some local partners, the CDPHE is supporting mobile test sites and pop-up community testing events in communities to ensure everyone has access to tests. The state will continue to work with local partners to meet community testing needs in a manner that best serves their residents. As CDPHE aims to bring more accessible testing sites to communities in Colorado, we hope to have more community testing events like this one in the future. 

    Anyone who gets tested because of symptoms or because of a possible exposure should be in isolation/quarantine while waiting for the test result. All individuals who believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should quarantine for a full 14 days, even if they have testing done and that testing is negative. 

    While testing is an important tool in the COVID-19 response, the state cautions that a negative test doesn’t mean it’s ok to meet in large gatherings or ignore other public health orders, like wearing a mask. All Coloradans need to mask up, physically distance, avoid large gatherings, and stay home while sick.

    Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.

    SPREAD THE NEWS

    COMMENT, Like, Follow & SHARE @I70Scout

    CURRENT EDITION

    WEATHER & TRAFFIC    PUZZLES    RECENT NEWS    ADVERTISE WITH US

     

  • Bennett Testing Site, TOMORROW

    Tri-County Health Department in partnership with CDPHE, MAKO, Arapahoe County, Adams County and Bennet School District is helping to stand up a one day COVID-19 testing site TOMORROW, November 6th, 10am-4pm, at Bennett Elementary School. Testing is open and FREE to anyone in the community. Pre-registration is recommended. 

     

    SPREAD THE NEWS

    COMMENT, Like, Follow & SHARE @I70Scout

    CURRENT EDITION

    WEATHER & TRAFFIC    PUZZLES    RECENT NEWS    ADVERTISE WITH US

     

  • Bennett, ‘Burg football games moved to Saturday

    Bennett, ‘Burg football games moved to Saturday

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Both the Bennett Tigers and Strasburg Indians will play their Week No. 3 gridiron games a day later than originally expected as they both will kick off on the road at 1 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 24.

    The orange-and-black will travel to the Arkansas Valley to play at Rocky Ford while Strasburg is playing at Falcon High School against Banning Lewis Prep Academy.

    In the case of Bennett, its schedule received a two-week revamp as the Tigers were unable to play against Jefferson last week because of a Saints player that tested positive for COVID-19; that game results in a no contest. Earlier this week, The Pinnacle informed Bennett that it could not field enough eligible players for the game originally scheduled for tonight. Tiger head coach Rick Jacoby said Rocky Ford had a last-minute opening on its schedule and the two programs agreed to play each other.

    For Strasburg, the opponent this weekend is the same but its first-year Colorado Springs-based opponent decided to move the game back a day because of the Friday night forecast for below-freezing temperatures, wind and possible moisture.

    Coaches for both local teams wanted to get this weekend’s games in as they are tuneups for next Friday’s I-70 Corridor rivalry matchup between the two. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff, Oct. 30, at Winter Field in Strasburg; however, spectators will not be allowed to attend the game after Adams County implemented stricter COVID-response orders Oct. 16.

    The annual Tiger-Indian collision will be broadcast live online. For the broadcast link, visit www.i-70scout.com or the Forever Indians of Strasburg High School page on Facebook.

    In local 8-man action, Byers’ game at Calhan is still on schedule for a 7 p.m. kickoff today. Both teams enter the contest 1-1.

    Live coverage of tonight’s game is available online at:  https://beststream.live/hs-football.php?id=5242046&match=Byers%20vs%20Calhan

     

    SPREAD THE NEWS

    COMMENT, Like, Follow & SHARE @I70Scout

    CURRENT EDITION

    WEATHER & TRAFFIC    PUZZLES    RECENT NEWS    ADVERTISE WITH US