Craig Daily Press

Celebrating Colorado’s 10th annual Colorado Cares Day

Craig — On Tuesday, Gov. Bill Ritter announced that the 10th annual Colorado Cares Day will take place July 26. Community service projects will take place in locations throughout Colorado.

Colorado Cares Day will be on the day before Colorado Statehood day and promotes the Governor’s “Colorado Promise.”

“Fulfilling the Colorado Promise happens in many ways, shapes and forms, and there is no better way for us to mark statehood than by participating in volunteer community activities,” Gov. Ritter said in a news release.

Colorado Cares Day is a statewide day of service that promotes the enrichment of communities through volunteer action. Coloradans are all encouraged to take part in Colorado’s statewide event.

The great strength of Colorado is found in the hearts and souls of its residents. Volunteering at community service projects is a vital part of what makes Colorado a great place to live.

“Through outreach and service, we not only raise awareness about community needs, but we better serve our fellow Coloradoans by aiding in their projects,” the governor said in the release.

Last year’s Colorado Cares Day saw Governor Ritter and Lt. Governor Barbara O’Brien get involved in service projects such as cleaning up Cherry Creek State Park and restoring the washed out road at Gore Range Trail. In all, there were 38 total service projects that took place across the state.

This year’s event is expected to surpass the previous years’ as the state celebrates the 10th anniversary of the day. Projects are being planned in counties and cities throughout the Front Range and mountain communities, and record turn out is expected.

For information about Colorado Cares Day 2008, volunteer activities or project sites, contact the Governor’s Commission on Community Service at (303) 866-6426 or visit www.colorado.gov/coloradocares/.

Railroad Evening celebrates Craig’s 100

Railroad Evening honors the contributions of the railroad to the growth and development of the city. Sponsored by the Community Foundation of Northwest Colorado, the public is invited to the free event at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Center of Craig. Refreshments will be served.

Residents who grew up in the Moffat Road rail era will share memories and railroad stories that affected their lives. There will be a display of railroad memorabilia from the period and attendees are invited to share stories about the ways railroad impacted the history of Craig.

Recently, Colorado Preservation incorporated the Craig Depot on its 2008 Most Endangered Places list, which attracted the interest of Denver’s TV Channel 4. The interviews that resulted in a recent telecast will be shown as a video. The Community Foundation is spearheading the effort to save the depot as an important link in the history of Moffat County.

The history of the railroad in Craig is almost as old as the city itself and an important link in its growth and development. Railroad and mining entrepreneur David Moffat, who owned Craig’s Marcia Car, started the Denver, Northwestern and Pacific Railway. The venture started in Denver and was intended to connect with Salt Lake City, but excessive costs forced its closure.

The Moffat Road ended in 1913.