MTN DISPATCH

BUSTANG OUTRIDER

New Routes Added for Colorado Mountain Town Communities and Beyond

Monday, July 13, 2015 marked the official service launch for Bustang, the state’s first-ever, state-owned and operated bus system. Since that time the service has expanded and gained ridership from Grand Junction to Denver, Fort Collins and Colorado Springs with bus service stopping at existing park-and-ride locations along each route.

Bustang Outrider is now offering service connecting Durango to Grand Junction, Gunnison to Denver, Alamosa to Pueblo and Craig to Denver.

Ski and Snowboard afficinados can also access Steamboat Resort, Loveland and Arapahoe Basin with CDOT’s Snowstang as well.

Each coach is equipped with restrooms, bike racks, free WiFi, power outlets and USB ports. Coaches offer a 50-passenger capacity and are handicap accessible. All are currently.

Buy tickets in advance on the Bustang App or head to their website: www.ridebustang.com

PROTECTING YOUR HOME FROM WILDFIRE

Every year we all need to be concerned about wildfire even more so in the Fall as our vegetation dries out. Here are Some Tips To Protect Your Home From Wildfire:

• Actively manage your roof.

Clean roof and gutters of pine needles and leaves at least twice a year to eliminate an ignition source for potential fires. This eliminates an ignition source especially during dry weather.

• Stack firewood away from your

house. Locate firewood at least 15 feet uphill from your home. Do not stack firewood under the deck.

• Remove unhealthy vegetation.

Trees and shrubs that are stressed, diseased, dead/dying should be removed.

• Create defensible space on flat

ground a minimum of 75 feet around a home. Increase this diameter if the structure is located on a slope.

• Thin out continuous tree and brush (shrub) cover around structures.

Remove flammable vegetation from within the initial 15 feet around structures.

• Beyond the initial 15 feet, thin trees to achieve 10-12 foot crown

spacing. Occasionally, clumps of two or three trees are acceptable for a more natural appearance, if additional space surrounds them. • Mow grasses and weeds to a height of six inches or less for a distance of 30 feet from all structures. • Prune tree branches within the defensible space up to a height of 10 feet above ground.

• Dispose of all slash and debris

left from thinning by either chipping, hauling away or piling and burning if allowed. Contact your local fire department or local Colorado State

Forest Service forester for burning restrictions and/or assistance.

• Remove shrubs and small trees

or other potential ladder fuels from beneath large trees. Left in place, these fuels can carry a ground fire into tree crowns.

• Trim any branches extending over

roofs, and remove branches within 15 feet of chimneys.

• Place liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) containers at least 30 feet

from structures. Clear anything flammable, including vegetation, from within 10 feet of all tanks with flamable contents.

THE COLORADO SUN IS 3

Three years ago, on September 10, 2018, The Colorado Sun launched to build a trusted news source for Colorado, to tell important stories, hold the powerful accountable and celebrate those who make Colorado such a great place to live, work and play.

In a period of three years an independent audit of The Sun by the Media Enterprise Design Lab at the University of Colorado Boulder declared, “The Colorado Sun is a credible, comprehensive news source that strives to include a diverse range of voices and interests throughout the state while also working to strengthen other media through collaboration.” Their goal has not been to turn a profit. Instead their focus has been on producing the best possible journalism available to the public and acheive that with the help of their readers, and community backers. The financial support of their members, sponsors and benefactors has allowed The Sun to produce impactful, award-winning journalism every day.

Earlier this year, The Colorado Sun’s public service mission took them in a surprising direction. The Sun, along with their partners at the National Trust for Local News, became owners of Colorado Community Media, which covers two dozen Denverarea communities. Although The Sun had no plans to get back into the print business, they were eager to step forward to ensure that these community newspapers — some of them among the oldest publications in Colorado — remain in local hands and continue serving their communities with the hyper-local coverage that has distinguished them for decades.

We raise a glass to independence and wish everyone at The Colorado Sun long running success as an informative hub of news and a resource for everyone interested in our state, Colorado. www.thecoloradosun.com

BE GOOD TO THE BEARS

Bearproof your home (and your life)

Get in the habit of being bear-responsible. It’s like recycling — at first it’s a little extra effort, but soon it becomes a better way to live. You can be proud you’re helping to make Colorado a better place for people and bears.

Do’s & Don’ts

Don’t feed bears, and don’t put out food for other wildlife that attracts bears. Be responsible about trash and bird feeders.Trash bags stored outside— bears can’t resist checking them out. Burn food off barbeque grills and clean after each use. Keep all bear-accessible windows and doors closed and locked, including home, garage and vehicle doors. Don’t leave food, trash, coolers, air fresheners or anything that smells in your vehicle. Pick fruit before it ripens, and clean up fallen fruit. Talk to your neighbors about doing their part to be bear responsible.

If You See a bear near your home

If a bear comes near your home, do your best to chase it away. Yell, blow a whistle, clap your hands, and make other loud noises. But never approach a bear. Most conflicts between people and bears can be traced to easy-to-getat human food, garbage, pet food, bird seed or other attractants. When people allow bears to find food, a bear’s natural drive to eat can overcome its wariness of humans. Only people (like you) can prevent problems with bears! www.cpw.state.co.us