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State government offices will be closed Thursday for Thanksgiving, and many state offices will be closed Friday, the third furlough day this year as part of ongoing efforts to keep the state budget balanced.

State driver’s license offices, the Department of Public Health and Environment’s vital records office, state history museums, and administrative offices for executive branch departments will be among the facilities closed Friday, with about 15,500 employees on unpaid furlough.

State troopers will be patrolling the highways, the Department of Transportation’s Traffic Operations Center will be running, and state nursing homes, hospitals and care centers will be open.

After Friday, the next closure day of the year will be Dec. 31. Additional furlough days are scheduled for Jan. 15, Feb. 12, April 2 and May 28 in 2010. The eight furlough days will save taxpayers $27.2 million.

Chefs preparing treats for mixer

The Craig Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors are offering a business after-hours mixer from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 3, hosted by Blue Ribbon Kitchens. The chefs of Blue Ribbon Kitchens, Aletha and Cindy, will prepare appetizers and Christmas treats at their new location, 2005 W. Victory Way.

RSVP by calling the Chamber at 824-5689, or e-mail office@craig-chamber.com.

Church to display nativity scenes

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is hosting its Sixth Annual Community Christmas Nativity Display starting Dec. 3.

The church, located at 1295 W. Ninth St., will open its doors at 5 p.m., and welcomes the community to visit.

More than 400 nativity scenes will be on display until 8 p.m.

Admission is free, and people can view the scenes by entering through the north door of the church.

The display also will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 4 and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 5.

For more information, call Tony at 824-2882.

VNA hosts 2nd annual Celebration of Life

The Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice will host the 2nd annual Celebration of Life from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in the VNA lobby at 745 Russell St.

Visitors may join to celebrate the memory of a loved one by placing a personalized ornament on the VNA’s community Celebration of Life Tree. Refreshments will be provided.

Ornaments and supplies for notation will be provided at no charge.

For more information, call Shannon Winegarner at 871-7626.

Library announces new closure dates

The Moffat County Library announced upcoming dates that the library will be closed. Those dates are Thursday through Sunday, and Dec. 8.

Craig Chamber selling firewood permits

The Craig Chamber of Commerce will be selling Forest Service firewood permits this fall.

The permits are $10 per cord, with a minimum purchase of two cords.

Instructions and locations will be provided when the firewood permit is purchased.

The Bureau of Land Management in Craig sold the permits for the past several years, but will not be selling Forest Service firewood permits this year.

BLM firewood permits are available at 455 Emerson St.

“We heard from folks in Craig that it’s important to have a local place to purchase firewood permits, rather than driving to Steamboat Springs or Yampa,” District Ranger Jamie Kingsbury said in a news release. “This partnership with the Craig Chamber of Commerce meets those community needs.”

Chamber executive director Christina Currie said the organization always is seeking new ways to serve its businesses and community, and selling firewood permits helps meet those goals.

The Chamber, 360 Victory Way, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extended hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the rifle hunting seasons.

For more information, call the Chamber at 824-5689.

Daily Press columnist releases book

Maren Schmidt, a regular Tuesday columnist for the Craig Daily Press, has released her book, “Building Cathedrals Not Wall.”

The book uses 90 “Kids Talk” columns from the last six years.

“Building Cathedrals Not Walls” is for sale at Amazon.com and BuildingCathedrals.net.

For more information, call Schmidt at 503-550-3143, e-mail her at maren@comcast.net, or visit www.MarenSchmidt.com.