CDOT to host distracted driving campaign
In recognition and support of the National Safety Council’s designation of April as “Distracted Driving Awareness Month,” the Colorado Department of Transportation is launching a new campaign focused on the notion that sending a text message while driving is like wearing a blindfold.
To combat distracted driving:
Put the cellphone out of reach while driving.
Recognize that hands-free devices offer little safety benefit.
Understand the dangers of cognitive distraction to the brain.
Be vocal with family, friends and coworkers about the dangers of distracted driving.
To help build awareness, CDOT will promote campaigns in addition to pushing its own efforts. One of the campaigns is Red Thumb Reminder – an anti-texting and driving campaign founded in 2013 by Steve Babcock and Evolution Bureau of Boulder.
Taking the challenge is simple: People paint the nail on the thumb they use to operate their phone. Every time they go to send a text, their red thumb will remind them to put away their phone.
For more information, visit www.coloradodot.info/programs/distracteddriving.
Atmos hosts iDig It campaign
Atmos Energy Corp. invites the public to join its “iDig It” campaign designed to remind property owners, construction crews and do-it-yourselfers to always call 811 before they dig.
Atmos Energy’s “iDig It” campaign offers participants the chance to win $811 if they take a picture of a clearly marked digging site in their community. The contest information and rules are on Atmos Energy’s Facebook page and at www.atmosenergy.com/home/safety/callbefore.html.
The goal of the campaign is to educate the public about the need to call 811 before every digging project.
By calling 811, property owners and contractors are connected to their local one-call center, which notifies the appropriate utilities about the excavation. Professional locators are then sent to the digging site to mark the locations of underground utility lines with flags or spray paint.
Many Forest Service roads remain closed
The Dolores Ranger District reminds the public that many Forest Service roads remain closed to protect muddy surfaces from rutting, while other forest roads are still closed to protect areas of critical deer and elk habitat.
Roads closed for surface protection are being monitored, and gates will be opened as soon as road bases dry out.
The Dolores-Norwood Road is open, and as other roads dry out, the district will open lower gates to offer vehicular access to higher gates.
In addition, new road closure dates are in effect to protect critical wildlife habitat as part of the Boggy-Glade Travel Management Plan. Forest roads accessing the Glade will remain closed until May 1.
In addition to several secondary access roads, annual closures include Lone Dome Road access to McPhee Dam (Forest Road No. 504), Ryman Creek Road (Forest Road No. 512) and House Creek Road (Forest Road No. 528).
Motor vehicle use maps are available for free at the Dolores Public Lands Office. For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/sanjuan under “San Juan Road Info.”
Ignacio library announces events
Ignacio Community Library, 470 Goddard Ave., will host these events:
The One Book 4 Colorado event will take place at 5 p.m. Tuesday. The library will have a party for the community’s 4- year- olds. The event will include story time, snacks and free books. Sign-up is needed.
A Vermicompost Lecture will take place at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
A story time with Melanie Milburn will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Milburn will read the book I Love You More Than Chocolate and sing songs.
For more information or to sign-up, call 563-9287.
National Forest planning spring burns
The Dolores Ranger District Fire plans spring prescribed burning operations in four separate areas of the San Juan National Forest, beginning as soon as the week of April 7 and continuing sporadically through April and May, weather and conditions permitting.
The Little Bear prescribed burn is planned for 25 acres of National Forest lands about one mile north of Joe Moore Reservoir on Forest Road 559.
The South Carver prescribed burn is planned for 1,661 acres about seven miles east of Dolores near the intersection of Forest Road 556 and 557.
The Guard Station prescribed burn is planned for 1,522 acres 10 miles southeast of Dove Creek, off Forest Road 506 in the Doe Canyon area.
The Ferris East prescribed burn is planned for 136 acres 8.5 miles east of Cahone off Forest Road 521 east of Ormiston Point.
Specific timing of each burn will depend on weather conditions to maximize fire effects and aid in smoke dispersal. No more than 350 acres will be burned per day to limit resulting smoke. However, smoke may settle into nearby low-lying areas during the night and morning hours after burning.
For more information, call 882-7296.
Herald Staff
