Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association has received a $100,000 challenge grant from the Gates Family Foundation of Denver.

This funding has been gifted contingent upon VNA’s successful completion of fund-raising efforts for the acquisition and expansion of The Haven.

VNA’s public campaign, launched June 2, has generated numerous private contributions. In addition, a fund for the Haven has been established at the Yampa Valley Community Foundation with an initial contribution of $15,000.

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VNA will continue its fundraising efforts with outreach through community presentations.

Grants are pending with Adolph Coors Foundation, The Daniels Fund, El Pomar Foundation, Boettcher Foun-dation and Caring For Colorado Foundation.

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Donations may be sent to the VNA at 745 Russell Street, Craig, CO 81625.

Habitat for Humanity meets fourth Mondays

Habitat for Humanity of Craig meets the fourth Monday of every month at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Meetings begin at 7 p.m. The next meeting is Monday, June 27. Call 824-3470.

Memorial fund set up in memory of Gotwald

A memorial fund has been established at Bank of the West in memory of Kenny Gotwald. Proceeds from the fund will benefit Gotwald’s children, Rachel and Mikie. Call Earlita Ross at 824-0365.

Hayden Recreation Board seeking vendors

The Hayden Recreation Board is seeking vendors of arts, crafts, children’s items, garden items, etc. for the fourth annual Hayden Valley Summerfest, to be held July 2.

Vendors must have or apply for a Colorado state Sales Tax License and a Hayden Sales Tax License. If interested, call Lindsay at 276-3741.

Fire protection district taking applications

Craig Rural Fire Protection District is accepting applications for probationary firefighters. Successful applicants must be 18 or older, pass a medical physical, psychological evaluation, department physical agility test, drug screen, criminal background check, possess a valid Colorado driver’s license and have a good driving record.

Successful applicants will be required to become state certified Firefighter I and pass all other required fire department training within the first year. All needed training will be provided through Craig Fire/Rescue.

Positions are volunteer/paid-on-call with vested retirement after 10 years of service.

Applications are available at the Craig Fire Station, 419 Yampa Ave. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Completed applications must be returned to the fire station no later than 3 p.m. Sept. 1. Call the fire station with questions at 824-5914.

Head Start accepting applications for fall

The Craig Head Start pre-school is currently accepting applications for the 2005-06 program year.

Qualifying children must turn 3 or 4 on or before Aug. 31.

Donations being accepted for yard sale

The Moffat County Humane Society will hold a yard sale as a fund-raiser at 9 a.m. July 9 at 827 Russell St. Donations are being accepted at 827 Russell St. Call Patty at 824-7945.

DOW asking people to report animal sightings

Wildlife watchers in the western half of the state can help the Colorado Division of Wildlife track moose and river otters by reporting any sightings to a local DOW office.

Moose were transplanted in Northern Colorado in the 1970s and in southwest Colorado in 1992. Since then, the population has increased steadily. But because the moose are solitary animals and spread out over wide areas, it is difficult for wildlife managers to track their progress.

Moose recently have been released on Grand Mesa and are fitted with radio collars, enabling DOW staff to track them remotely. But wildlife managers still want to know where people see the animals.

Since being re-introduced to the state in the mid-1970s, the otters have steadily expanded their range. They are now found in most of the major river basins throughout the western portion of the state. Biologists, however, have no reliable way to estimate the river otter population because the animals are very elusive, trap shy, and cannot be fitted with external radio collars. Therefore any information regarding sightings by the public is helpful, explained Pamela Schnurr, a DOW species conservations specialist based in Grand Junction.

Schnurr said the otters appear to be expanding their range substantially from the original release sites, hunting year round for crayfish, channel catfish, suckers and other prey along major rivers. Otters are listed as a state threatened species and cannot be trapped or killed.

If you spot a moose or river otter while you are out hiking, fishing or sightseeing, please make some notes if possible. Wildlife managers need location, GPS coordinates if possible, type of terrain, number of animals, color, sex, and if animals are adults or juveniles.

To report a sighting, call (970) 255-6100; Monte Vista, (719) 587-6900; Gunnison, (970) 641-7060; Montrose, (970) 252-6000; Durango, (970) 247-0855.

Ex-Craig resident recovering from fall

Former Craig resident Mary Roland fell on March 11 and suffered multiple fractures. She currently is in rehabilitation at Larch Wood Inns and is expected to be released to her apartment soon. She enjoys hearing from her friends in Craig. Write to Roland at 999 Bookcliff, F5, Grand Junction, CO 81501.

CDOT, state patrol increasing enforcement

The Colorado Department of Transportation is teaming up with the Colorado State Patrol to increase enforcement in highway work zones for the duration of the summer.

The increased enforcement is part of the Slow for the Cone Zone campaign, which is designed to eliminate unsafe driving practices and reduce fatalities in construction and maintenance work zones.

Last year’s Slow for the Cone Zone overtime resulted in 1,839 citations. Thirteen were on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, and more than 1,300 were written for “hazardous violations,” which include unsafe driving practices such as speeding, ignoring traffic control devices and improper lane changes.

Work-zone safety enforcement activities will be increased in the following Western Slope road areas: I-70 through the No Name Tunnel and I-70 between Rifle and Silt.

Endangered places information sought

Colorado Preservation Inc. is seeking information about Colorado’s most-endangered places.

The deadline for submission is Aug. 1. For a nomination form, visit http://www.coloradopreservation.org.