Craig Daily Press

Craig — Influenza season usually peaks in February, according to a Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association news release. The VNA will be holding drop-in flu clinics for all ages on the following dates and times:

• Jan. 3, 4 to 5 p.m.

• Jan. 10, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

• Jan. 16, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

• Jan. 22, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Adult flu shots are $22 and children’s flu shots are $14 or less. Medicaid and Medicare are accepted — bring cards to the clinics. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. All clinics will be held at the VNA office, 745 Russell St. in Craig. For more information, call the VNA flu hotline at 871-7684.

Secretary of State supports paper ballots

Mike Coffman, Colorado Secretary of State, will make a recommendation to the state Legislature that a polling place election using paper ballots be utilized for the 2008 presidential election, he announced Wednesday, Dec. 26.

“I have more confidence in having votes cast on paper ballots at the polls rather than relying exclusively on electronic voting machines or in voting by mail,” Coffman said, in a press relase. “If Douglas County had paper ballots available for voters at their vote centers in the 2006 mid-term election they would not have the distinction of having the last vote cast in the country sometime after 1 a.m. on the following day.”

Coffman recently decertified many electronic voting machines and optical scan devices used in Colorado. He questioned the security and accuracy of the voting equipment and wants the problems resolved in time for the 2008 election.

The Secretary of State does not support a majority of county clerks across the state who want the legislature to approve an all-mail ballot for next year’s presidential election.

“Today, voters in general elections have the ability to either vote by absentee ballot or in person at a polling place,” Coffman said in the release. “I think these choices ought to be preserved.”

Though he disagrees with the growing sentiment among county clerks for an all-mail ballot, Coffman acknowledges the clerks are overwhelmed with managing an election process that is “continually changing and becoming more and more challenging.”

“County clerks are the hardest working elected officials in Colorado and I fully understand that switching to an all-mail ballot system will lighten their load considerably and that’s something for the Legislature to consider,” he said. “Whichever way the Legislature chooses to go, I will work with them as well as the county clerks to make it the best election possible.”

Wildlife Commission to consider shed antler issue next month

The Colorado Wildlife Commission is scheduled to make a final determination regarding shed antler collecting on public lands in the Gunnison Basin at its meeting Jan. 10.

The meeting will be at the Colorado Division of Wildlife Hunter Safety Building, 6060 Broadway, in Denver. It is open to the public.

Collecting shed antlers for commercial use has grown significantly the last five years, the Wildlife Commission reported. There are concerns that antler collectors disturb deer and elk on their winter range, and Gunnison Sage Grouse during their breeding period from mid-March to mid-May.

DOW looking for info on alleged poaching

The Colorado Division of Wildlife is looking for any information on an alleged poaching incident Saturday, Dec. 22, along Rio Blanco County Road 142.

Several mule deer were taken out of season and two mule deer were shot and left, the DOW reported.

Rio Blanco County Road 142 is located north of Highway 64, about 15 miles west of Meeker.

A $2,500 reward will be given for information leading to the conviction of parties involved in the alleged poaching incident. Callers may remain anonymous by calling Operation Game Thief at 877-COLOGT, or 265648, or by calling the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office at 970-878-9620.