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Briefs for April 03, 2008

Pueblo says No to Piñon Canyon expansion

PUEBLO- The Pueblo County Commissioners gave their unanimous support last week for a resolution opposing the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site.

    Commissioners Anthony Nuñez, Jeff Chostner and John Cordova made their decision following a presentation from members of the Piñon Canyon Expansion Opposition Coalition. 

    The Board also indicated they would pressure Colorado’s congressional delegation on its support for a federal law blocking funding of any and all aspects of the Pentagon′s plan. That legislation was authored by Rep. Marilyn Musgrave.

La Veta Boosters

LA VETA- The next meeting of La Veta Boosters Club will be Wed. April 9 at 4:30 in the Elementary Library.  New officers will be elected.  Anyone is welcome to run, vote and attend the meeting.      The club is planning to set new meeting dates and times to allow more people to participate. With that in mind, the final Wednesday  meeting will be at 4:30 pm  on May 14.  At that point the decision will be made for the new date and time, either two hours, once a month or one hour, twice a month.   Please contact Jackie Willburn with ideas at 742-5307 or lavetaboosters@live.com

 

Re-1 Kindergarten Screenings

WALSENBURG- Peakview School will have kindergarten screenings on April 9 in its library from 9 am to 3:30 pm.

Three libraries closed

WALSENBURG & LA VETA- Both Huerfano County public libraries and the La Veta School library will be closed Wed. Apr. 9 and Thu. Apr. 10 to install a new Integrated Library System (ILS). Staff will be learning to use this new software system that allows the library to check-in and check-out books, maintain fines, statistical records and catalogs of all library materials.

    The new software is replacing the older, outdated system with an up to date and user-friendly one that patrons will enjoy using when they go from one library to another. The new features will make using library services easier and more convenient for patrons. Some of the advantages of this will include being able to see the status of an account, check due dates, renew books, and place holds and reservations from home. It will also improve the ability for patrons to check out their own materials and log on to public computers.  The new system will “go live” on Fri. Apr. 11.

    For more information contact Spanish Peaks Library (738-2774) or La Veta Public Library (742-3572).

Stop smoking and get free diapers 

HUERFANO- Pregnant women in Huerfano County can now get help to quit smoking and get something they can really use after their baby arrives – free diapers. A proven effective stop-smoking program “Baby & Me, Tobacco Free” is being sponsored here by Rocky Mountain Health Plans with funding secured from the Colorado Health Foundation.

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that smoking during pregnancy increases the risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and low birth weight.  “Smoking during pregnancy is the single most preventable cause of death and illness among infants,” adds Terri Blessman of the Las Animas – Huerfano Counties District Health Department.

    “Low birth weight newborns more often require extended stays in neonatal intensive care units,” Blessman says, “and health problems don’t end when the baby goes home.” Low birth weight is associated with long-term disabilities — cerebral palsy, autism, mental retardation, vision and hearing impairments, and developmental disabilities. The CDC also estimates 150,000 to 300,000 cases of lower respiratory infection in infants and children each year are attributable to environmental tobacco smoke, primarily from a smoking mother.

    Pregnant smokers can be referred to the program by their physician or clinic. The mother-to-be completes cessation counseling and carbon monoxide (CO) testing. After giving birth, she returns monthly for CO monitoring. Every month she remains tobacco-free, mom receives a $25 voucher for diapers, Blessman explains.

    For more information about enrolling in the program, pregnant smokers in Huerfano County should contact Blessman at 738-2650.

Rotary’s for La Veta

LA VETA- Rotary International, the world’s first service club organization, is made up of over 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries.  Its members form a global network of business and professional leaders who volunteer their time and talents to serve their communities and the world.

    Rotary’s motto, Service Above Self, exemplifies the humanitarian spirit of the organization’s more than 1.2 million members.  Strong fellowship and meaningful community and international service projects characterize Rotary worldwide.

    The La Veta Rotary Club serves its community by inviting all interested seniors at La Veta High School to apply for the Charlie Masington Scholarship.  Two awards will be given this year, recognizing the students’ scholarship, character, good citizenship, and need.  The club has hosted many students at its weekly meetings who come to tell about themselves, their accomplishments, and their college plans.

    To raise money for the scholarship fund, the La Veta club is hosting a barbecue at the La Veta Community Center on Sat. May 17 from noon to 3 pm. There will be great food and a silent auction.  The proceeds will be split between the scholarship fund and the club’s international project- the eradication of polio.

    On May 24, watch for Rotarians at work on Hwy. 12 from milepost 5 to 7 as they do their quarterly clean-up of the road, another service project for the benefit of La Veta.

Help stop AIDS on April 12 in La Veta

LA VETA- The facts about the global AIDS crisis are staggering.  Every eight seconds someone dies of AIDS.  A child dies of AIDS nearly every minute of every day.  There are 40 million people living with AIDS worldwide and infections in India and Central Asia have increased dramatically in the past two years.  Hope is on the horizon however, with possibilities for providing persons with education about prevention, care and treatment.  Anti-retroviral treatments are becoming more available and the growth of new infections is being curbed.

    The people of La Veta United Methodist Church want to be a part of this hopeful trend by sending a mission team of five women to India to work in AIDS clinics in Chenai and Namakkal under the auspices of the Center for the Church and Global AIDS, an interfaith organization dedicated to reaching out to persons infected and affected by HIV and AIDS through programs of education, prevention, care and treatment.

    Donald E. Messer, Executive Director of Center for the Church and Global AIDS and President Emeritus at the Iliff School of Theology, is coming to La Veta to speak about the Center’s programs.  Dr. Messer is the author of Breaking the Conspiracy of Silence: Christian Churches and the Global AIDS Crisis, and co-author with George McGovern and Bob Dole of Ending Hunger Now.  He will speak at a gourmet Indian dinner at La Veta United Methodist Church on Sat. April 12 at 6 pm.  Tickets are $12 and can be purchased through the church by calling 719-742-3241. Proceeds will benefit the mission team.

    The community is invited to help out by attending the Indian dinner on April 12, or by sending donations to La Veta United Methodist Church– India Fund, PO Box 217, La Veta, CO 81055. 

    La Veta UMC and their mission team appreciate Huerfano County citizens’ participation in this important project and pray that each will feel the joy of responding to the words of Jesus, “I was sick and you took care of me.” (Matthew

Cement plant concerns

Building inspector suggests a negotiated move out of Northlands to site near prison WALSENBURG — The Walsenburg City Council convened a special meeting Friday, March

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