News in brief

CSP to step up New Year’s enforcement

On Sunday, Dec., troopers from Colorado State Patrol Troop 4B will be working saturation patrols around the New Year’s Eve events in the area. Troopers will be looking to detect and deter driving behaviors that lead to serious injury and fatal crashes. These driving behaviors include speeding, weaving, improper passing, failing to wear a safety belt, and driving while the driver’s ability is impaired by drugs and/or alcohol.

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During calendar year 2017, 593 persons lost their lives in Colorado as a result of motor vehicle crashes. In Troop 4B, which consists of Rio Blanco, Moffat, Routt, Grand, and Jackson counties, there have been 14 fatal crashes and 125 injury crashes in 2017. Of the crashes in Troop 4B, four fatal crashes, and 11 injury crashes occurred in which the driver of the vehicle was believed to be impaired by drugs and/or alcohol.

Troopers remind all drivers to celebrate responsibly this New Year’s Eve. Designate a sober driver before attending celebrations, or utilize one of the many forms of public transportation available in the area.

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Ring in 2018 by remembering to always buckle up, plan and prepare for inclement weather and never drive while impaired by drugs and/or alcohol. Troop 4B wishes all in Northwestern Colorado a happy and prosperous 2018!

Craig resident named to president’s list

Mattie Duzik, of Craig, was among 259 Chadron State College students who met requirements for the Fall 2017 President’s List by earning a 4.0 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Students must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours of coursework during the semester to qualify.

Chadron State College, founded in 1911, is the only four-year, regionally-accredited college in the western half of Nebraska. As a public institution with its roots in teacher education, Chadron State takes pride in its accessibility and affordability.

Nearly 3,000 undergraduate, graduate and online students currently attend Chadron State, and its curriculum has grown to offer programs and courses in more than 50 majors and endorsements and eight master’s degree programs.

CFD Christmas tree wins people’s choice

Handmade origami ornaments in pastel colors won admirer’s and People’s Choice during the 2017 Moffat County Festival of Trees in Craig.

“The clear winner was the Craig Fire Department with 44 votes. Tanya Mercer was the mastermind and designer behind this tree,” said Moffat County Clerk Lila Herod.

Following the theme “Christmas Around the World,” members and family of the fire department created decorations that would represent Japan, a country that doesn’t typically celebrate Christmas.

“I have a family member that lives in Japan, and we thought that would be a good county to choose,” said Mercer. “We worked on the decorations off and on throughout the year. None of us had done origami before, so we all had to learn.”

Craig Fire/Rescue will receive a $300 check from the Festival of Trees Committee.

Other top vote getters included the Community Budget Center’s tree, decorated to represent France; Northwest Colorado Chapter of the Parrotheads tree, decorated to represent Jamaica; and Connections4Kids tree, decorated to represent Scotland.

Colorado State Parks program expanded

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is expanding the “Check-Out Colorado State Parks” program. Academic libraries at publicly funded colleges and universities have joined public libraries in offering state park passes to check out, along with an activity backpack.

The park pass is good for entrance into all 42 state parks, and the adventure backpack is filled with park information, educational activities and binoculars. The kit can be borrowed for up to seven days and may be renewed according to the participating library’s renewal policy.

Users are encouraged to post pictures to Instagram and Twitter using the hashtag #CheckOutColorado.

Registration open for parenting class

The class offers simple and practical techniques to help parents raise responsible children, have more fun in their role and easily and immediately change their children’s behavior. The class, for parents and educators of all ages, meets from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays from Jan. 30 to March 13 at The Center of Craig, 601 Yampa Ave.

The class is free, and free child care will be provided.

Library announces preschool storytimes

Storytimes at the Moffat County Library in Craig are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursdays in the library’s children’s room, 570 Green Street. Librarians ask parents to arrive early, as entering the children’s room late causes distractions.

Dates and themes are as follows.

■ Jan. 4 — Nursery Rhymes

■ Jan. 11 — Mittens

■ Jan. 18 — Once Upon a Time: Fairy Tales

■ Jan. 25 — Let’s Build a Snowman

Library offers winter reading program

Moffat County Library is offering a winter reading program beginning in January, with new family storytimes, a youth winter book club and new themes for preschool storytimes. Family Storytime, featuring stories and activities for the whole family, is slated for 3:45 p.m. the third Thursday of each month.

The Winter Book Club, for readers age 10 and older, will meet at at 11 a.m. the last Wednesday of each month.

Readers will read a book before the club, then share thoughts about the book and participate in an activity.