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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Tag: Steven Vetter

  • Trump Administration Grants Gold Star Families and Military Veterans Free Entrance to National Parks, Refuges and Other Public Lands Starting Veterans Day

    Trump Administration Grants Gold Star Families and Military Veterans Free Entrance to National Parks, Refuges and Other Public Lands Starting Veterans Day

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — On behalf of the Trump Administration and in support of America’s military members and families, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt signed Secretary’s Order 3387 at the Iowa Gold Star Museum in October, announcing that Gold Star Families and U.S. military veterans will be granted free access to national parks, national wildlife refuges and other federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior starting on Veterans Day (Nov. 11) this year and every day onward. 

    “The Trump Administration is committed to honoring American patriots – the men and women who have served in our armed forces,” said Secretary Bernhardt. “With the utmost respect and gratitude, we are granting veterans and Gold Star Families free access to the iconic and treasured lands they fought to protect starting this Veterans Day and every single day thereafter.” 

    Entrance fees for the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wildlife Refuge System, and standard amenity recreation fees for the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation sites will be waived for veterans and Gold Star Families. They will have free access to approximately 2,000 public locations spread out across more than 400 million acres of public lands, which host activities to fit any lifestyle, from serene to high octane, including hiking, fishing, paddling, biking, hunting, stargazing and rock climbing. Additionally, lands and waters managed by the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are participating in the program. 

    Many Interior managed lands have direct connections to the American military, such as frontier forts, Cold War sites, battlefields, national cemeteries and memorials. These special places pay tribute to our veterans and serve as reminders of their courage and sacrifice throughout the history of our nation, from Minuteman National Historic Park where colonists stood in defense of their rights, to Yellowstone National Park, which was protected from vandalism and poaching by the 1st U.S. Cavalry before the National Park Service was established, to Mount Rushmore where modern warriors attend reenlistment ceremonies.  

    For purposes of this program, a veteran is identified as an individual who has served in the United States Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves, and can present one of the following forms of identification: 

    • Department of Defense Identification Card
    • Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
    • Veteran ID Card
    • Veterans designation on a state-issued U.S. driver’s license or identification card 

    Gold Star Families are next of kin of a member of the United States Armed Forces who lost his or her life in a “qualifying situation,” such as a war, an international terrorist attack or a military operation outside of the United States while serving with the United States Armed Forces. 

    The Interagency America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Program already includes a free annual pass for active-duty members of the U.S. Military and their dependents. Other free or discounted passes are available for persons with permanent disabilities, fourth-grade students, volunteers, and senior citizens age 62 years or older. 

    Interior also offers fee-free entrance days for everyone throughout the year to mark days of celebration and commemoration including the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., National Public Lands Day, Veterans Day and the signing of the Great American Outdoors Act. 

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  • New podcast and video discusses wildfire impacts on wildlife

    New podcast and video discusses wildfire impacts on wildlife

    DENVER – 2020 has seen the three largest wildfires in Colorado history and over 600,000 acres have burned across the Centennial State. Along with many of the obvious concerns that come with fires of such magnitude, additional concerns have been expressed towards the impacts on wildlife.

    In the newest podcast episode of Colorado Outdoors, we dive right into the pros and cons of wildfire as it relates to wildlife, aquatic life and the health of our forests.

    Providing us with the context on the subject is senior wildlife biologist for CPW’s northeast region Shannon Schaller, northeast region senior aquatic biologist Jeff Spohn and Casey Cooley, who is CPW’s forest habitat coordinator. 

    Listen to the podcast here

    The Cameron Peak Fire in Larimer County has burned into largest fire in Colorado history at nearly 209,000 acres. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has 30 elk with GPS satellite collars on in the burn area and their location data helps to show how wildlife react and move when fire comes across the landscape. Wildlife biologist Angelique Curtis discusses what the satellite collars on the elk are showing us in this video on elk movement in and around the Cameron Peak Fire.

    For more information on the study taking place and why the elk have the GPS collars on in the first place, please click here. 

    Photos below:

    Top: a picture of the Cameron Peak Fire progression map overlaid with elk movements in and around the fire perimeter

    Bottom: An cow (female) elk gets a GPS satellite collar placed on it in Golden, February 2020

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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  • Colorado Parks and Wildlife to plan restoration efforts for gray wolves in Colorado

    DENVER – On November 3, 2020, Coloradans voted to pass Proposition #114 – The Restoration of Gray Wolves, a measure directing the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission to develop a plan to reintroduce gray wolves west of the Continental Divide. With this decision, the planning process for reintroduction will begin.

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife wildlife experts currently manage 960 wildlife species for the state and have restored several of Colorado’s most iconic species. CPW staff is fully prepared to work with stakeholders, including consultation with other state agencies with specific experience with introducing the species, to develop the plan to reintroduce gray wolves over the coming months.

    “Our agency consists of some of the best and brightest in the field of wildlife management and conservation,” said Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Dan Prenzlow. “I know our wildlife experts encompass the professionalism, expertise, and scientific focus that is essential in developing a strategic species management plan. CPW is committed to developing a comprehensive plan and in order to do that, we will need input from Coloradans across our state. We are evaluating the best path forward to ensure that all statewide interests are well represented.” 

    Colorado voters passed Proposition 114, directing the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission to develop a plan to restore gray wolves to Colorado, west of the Continental Divide. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

    For over 120 years, the people of Colorado have looked to Colorado Parks and Wildlife for leadership and expertise to protect state lands, secure a successful wildlife legacy in Colorado, and provide quality outdoor recreation that evolves with generational trends and demographic population changes. 

    Please see CPW’s Wolf Management webpage to read Frequently Asked Questions and find living with wolves resources. For more information on CPW’s existing conservation programs, visit cpw.state.co.us/conservation. 

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  • 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.

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  • Arapahoe County Open Spaces virtual town halls, November 9-10

    Arapahoe County Open Spaces virtual town halls, November 9-10

    Arapahoe County seeks community input to prioritize the direction of its parks, trails and open spaces program 

    Potential priorities based on 2020 Master Plan public engagement findings 

    Littleton, CO – Arapahoe County Open Spaces is hosting two virtual Public Open House meetings to share potential priorities for its future direction for the next decade and beyond.  

    Community members are invited to attend to learn more about the master planning process, ask questions, review findings to date, and give feedback on potential priority areas for future conservation and recreation efforts. This is one of the last public input opportunities prior to Open Spaces drafting its updated master plan; Arapahoe County residents are strongly encouraged to attend and weigh in.  

    The virtual Open Houses will be held via Zoom on:  

    Monday, Nov. 9, 5:30-6:30 p.m.  

    Tuesday, Nov. 10, 5:30-6:30 p.m.  

    Visit arapahoegov.com/osmasterplan for the meeting links, an interactive StoryMaps tool and questionnaire, and to sign up for project updates. 

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  • MED issues Health and Safety Advisory

    MED issues Health and Safety Advisory

    November 5, 2020 – The Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR), in conjunction with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), is issuing a health and safety advisory due to the identification of potentially unsafe levels of Total Yeast and Mold contamination on Medical Marijuana flower (bud/shake/trim) produced by Physician Preferred Products LLC (d/b/a Doc’s Apothecary) . The CDPHE and DOR deem it a threat to public health and safety when marijuana is found to have levels of Total Yeast and Mold above the acceptable limits established in MED Rule 4-115.

    DOR has identified Harvest Batches of Medical Marijuana produced by Physician Preferred Products LLC that were confirmed to have failed contaminant testing. These contaminated Harvest Batches are listed below. The Harvest Batches were documented as having been produced on May 20, 2020, July 20, 2020 and August 3, 2020. Consumers who have these affected products in their possession should return them to the store from which they were purchased for proper disposal. Consumers who experience adverse health effects from consuming affected products should seek medical attention immediately and report the event to the store from which they purchased the product.

    All affected marijuana should have a label affixed to its container that, at a minimum, indicates the license number of the Medical Marijuana Business that cultivated the marijuana as well as the Harvest Batch number assigned to the marijuana. Patients should check the label on their container of Medical Marijuana flower (bud/shake/trim) for the following license number and Harvest Batch numbers.

    Medical Marijuana Cultivation Facility License: 403-01905

    Total Yeast and Mold Contaminated Harvest Batches: GT05202020F1

    BAN07202020F1

    TESS07202020F1

    GM08032020F2

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  • Redistricting Commissioner Applications Due in 5 Days

    Independent redistricting commissions making final push for applications.

    Applications for Colorado’s first Independent Congressional and Legislative Redistricting Commissions close on November 10, 2020.

    As of November 2, the Independent Congressional Redistricting Commission has received 349 applications, and the Independent Legislative Redistricting Commission has received 234 applications.  An overview document with demographic information about these applicants is attached, and posted on the commissions’ website.  Full listings of applicants for each commission are also available on the website at https://redistricting.colorado.gov/congressional_applicants/ and https://redistricting.colorado.gov/legislative_applicants/

    The Colorado Independent Redistricting Commissions were created by Amendments Y and Z in 2018.  The amendments anticipated at least 1,050 applicants for each commission, divided somewhat evenly among Democrats, Republicans, and unaffiliated voters.  Detailed information about the selection process is available on the commissions’ website under “Commissions.”

    The 12 members of each commission will be selected from their respective applicant pools by a combination of random draw and review by retired judges and legislative leadership, after vetting by nonpartisan staff to ensure minimum qualifications are met.  This process will begin in January 2021, with the full congressional commission selected by March 1, 2021, and the full legislative commission selected by March 16, 2021.

    Anyone interested in the redistricting process may sign up for our mailing list via a subscription link on the website.  Follow commission staff on Twitter @CORedistricting

     

     

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  • COVID-19 hospitalizations expected to surpass April peak

    COVID-19 hospitalizations expected to surpass April peak

    DENVER (AP) _ Hospitalizations from the coronavirus are expected to surpass the high levels seen in April in the next two or three days, Colorado health officials said Wednesday.

    Dr. Jon Samet, dean of the Colorado School of Public Health, said during a news conference that if transmission continues at the current rate, the state’s hospitals will exceed capacity in their intensive-care units by late December. He added that ICU units could become overwhelmed sooner if people gather during the holidays.

    Colorado’s rate of positive test results and the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, have jumped in recent weeks, The Denver Post reported.

    Health officials said 8.92% of tests have come back positive over the past week. The World Health Organization recommends that the positivity rate stay below 5%.

    The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Colorado is nearing the state’s peak of 888 patients in April. As of Tuesday, 814 people were hospitalized with the disease, an increase of 59 patients from the day before and the highest number since April 25.

    More than 13,700 new COVID-19 cases were reported last week, the second week in a row that more than 10,000 new cases were confirmed in the state.

    For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some _ especially older adults and people with existing health problems _ it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.

     

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  • 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.

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  • 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. 

     

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