News brief
CDOT to pave Highway 82 and Aspen roundabout Tuesday
The Colorado Department of Transportation announced Thursday that crews are scheduled to pave damaged sections of Highway 82 on Tuesday beginning at 7 a.m.
In an effort to allow traffic to continue moving through the area during the paving operation, motorists will be put into a head-to-head (two-way) traffic configuration in the eastbound lanes.
Cones will be set up to delineate the flow of traffic into two-way traffic on the eastbound lanes. There will be no westbound access to Highway 82 from Maroon Creek and Castle Creek Roads. Motorists wishing to head westbound will need to first head eastbound into Aspen and then get turned around to go westbound. Delays up to 60 minutes could be expected when the paver enters the roundabout. Crews are expected to be in the roundabout mid-day. The paving is expected to take all day.
Commercial truck traffic and RFTA buses will still be able to utilize Highway 82 although delays can be expected. All other vehicular traffic is encouraged to use the alternate route — Cemetery Lane to McClain Flats Road.
To receive real-time updates about the construction, visit http://www.cdot.gov and click on the green cellphone icon in the upper right-hand corner of the page. Live road conditions are available at http://www.cotrip.org or by calling 511 from anywhere in the state.
Basalt’s Junior Chefs fall short of prize
A group of students from Basalt participating in a statewide competition to promote healthy eating and fitness among youth weren’t able to secure a cash prize Tuesday night, but they learned a valuable lesson, anyway.
Five fourth-graders in teacher Melissa Gatlin’s enrichment class gave a presentation on healthy snacking at school at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science on Tuesday afternoon. Gov. John Hickenlooper was in the audience.
The Basalt team, who called themselves the Junior Chefs, competed in the Imagine Colorado competition. They were one of five finalists in the youth division. The finalists gave presentations Tuesday afternoon and evening in competition for $25,000 in prizes.
The Junior Chefs didn’t finish in the top three, but they represented the school well and got their picture taken with Hickenlooper.
Gatlin’s entire enrichment class of fourth-graders made the trip to support the Junior Chefs.
Carbondale ranch to host Western Slope’s first autism walk
Smiling Goat Ranch is hosting the Go Autism Family Fun Walk, the Western Slope’s first-ever autism awareness walk, at 2 p.m. Sunday in Carbondale on the Rio Grande Trail.
Smiling Goat Ranch, an affiliate of the internationally acclaimed Horse Boy Method, brings the healing effects of horses, movement, nature and a supportive community to help children with autism and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, said a statement from the ranch. Smiling Goat does not charge families for services.
Registration begins at 1 p.m. at the Carbondale rodeo grounds. There is no fee to register, but organizers are encouraging participants to get walk sponsors. Anyone who raises $100 by walk day will receive a T-shirt.
The just-under 5K walk will start at the Carbondale rodeo grounds and proceed on the Rio Grande Trail to Town Hall in Carbondale, where an aid station awaits participants. The aid station will be staffed by Ascendigo, a locally based autism camp.
The Glenwood Springs High School Junior ROTC color guard will lead the walk. The members have also been helping build a playground at Smiling Goat and working on building the program’s sensory walk.
Smiling Goat Ranch will follow the walk with a party, when the JROTC members will unveil the new playground. Food will be catered by chef Susie Jimenez and will cost $15 for adults and $5 for children. Children younger than 5 are free.
Registration for the walk is online at http://goautismfamilyfunwalk.eventbrite.com. For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/smilinggoatranch or call 970-379-1383.
