Storm Mountain News

Archived News
Week of Jan 1st, 2006 

Friday, January 6th -Martin Luther King Day Torch to Visit Loveland ... 

Loveland will be an official stop on the journey of the Martin Luther King Day ceremonial torch.  In an effort to unify the various celebrations across the state and to symbolize the connection of Coloradoans with the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Colorado Holiday Commission is leading the symbolic “Passing of the Torch” to cities throughout Colorado .  Between January 9-16, this torch will visit many of the Colorado cities who host annual celebrations honoring Dr. King.   

In anticipation of Martin Luther King Day, the torch will visit Loveland on Tuesday, January 10^th at 1:00 PM.  The ceremony will include: Opening and Introduction by Dave Steward, Principal of Lucille Erwin Middle School, Welcome by Mayor Pro Tem Gene Pielin, Cultures Club reading excerpt’s from MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech, the “Passing of the Torch” run by the Lucille Erwin Middle School Cross Country 2005 Conference Champions team members, and a brief press conference with winning student essay readings and Vern Howard, member of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Colorado Holiday Commission.  

After the press conference, the commemorative Martin Luther King Day torch will continue its journey towards Fort Collins .  

Interested residents and the press are invited to this gathering.  Lucille Erwin Middle School is located at 4700 Lucerne Avenue , Loveland .

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Wednesday, January 4th -Free Nicotine Patches Available... Quitting smoking is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions and Larimer County Department of Health and Environment is helping to promote a statewide effort that makes quitting easier than ever. Free nicotine patches are available to anyone who joins the Colorado QuitLine cessation program. The patch is considered to be one of the most effective cessation treatment options for addicted smokers and tobacco users, and the counseling and support provided by the Quitline are important enhancements for success.   

The Colorado QuitLine is a free telephone counseling service that connects people who want to quit smoking with trained counselors who can guide and support them through the quitting process. Statistics show that tobacco users are seven times more likely to successfully quit with the QuitLine than trying it on their own. The service is available to Colorado residents in English and Spanish, seven days a week at 1-800-639-QUIT (7848).    

“This free program will encourage more people to stop smoking and, in turn, save many lives and ease the burden of health care costs to everyone in Colorado,” states Adrienne LeBailly , MD, Director of Larimer County Department of Health and Environment. “Tobacco use is one of Colorado’s most serious public health problems, and this program is an important use of the state’s tobacco tax dollars.    

”Participants receive free support and advice from an experienced counselor; a personalized quit plan; self-help materials; and a free four-week supply of nicotine patches. Participants that stay with the program after four weeks are eligible to receive an additional four-week supply, if needed. The patches have a retail value of $150. To be eligible, callers must be at least 18 years of age.   

The patch is one of the most successful nicotine replacement therapies. It is applied directly to the skin once a day. The nicotine is absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream, maintaining an even level of nicotine without smoking. Over the quitting period, the strength of the patch is reduced until a person no longer needs to rely on the patch at all.    

Tobacco use is the state’s leading cause of preventable death, responsible for more than 4,200 deaths annually. More Coloradans die from smoking each year than AIDS, drug and alcohol abuse, homicide, suicide and car accidents combined.  Smoking is directly responsible for most cases of lung cancer, chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and it is a major factor in coronary heart disease and stroke.    

Tobacco use also is responsible for large economic burdens in Colorado. With approximately 130,000 smokers developing smoking-related illnesses each year, annual healthcare costs in Colorado directly related to tobacco use exceed $1 billion. Taxpayers pay much of that cost. For more information call the toll-free Colorado QuitLine at 1-800-639-QUIT (7848).

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Snowy view from Storm Mountain at 7am today

Tuesday, January 3rd -Snowy Start To Day...  As fast moving storm dropped a quick inch of wet snow across the area between 6:45am and 7:15am this morning. Residents are advised to use caution as roads may be slippery in less traveled spots.

This storm is expected to move out of the area quickly giving way to another nice day, with highs expected in the 50's.

Avalanche Victims' Names Released... The two snowmobilers killed in a New Year's Day avalanche near Cameron Pass have been identified as Jacob Kroeger, 25, of Stockton, Iowa, and Gabriel Medina, 32, of Wilton, Iowa.

The two were with a group of seven caught in an avalanche on January 1st. The group was reported to be "High Marking", a contest to see who can climb their snowmobile the farthest up a hillside before stalling or sliding backward, when the avalanche occurred.

The deaths of the two snowmobilers on Sunday brings this season's avalanche toll to four.

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Aerial View of Trap Lake Area

Monday, January 2nd - Snowmobilers Killed Near Cameron Pass...  A New Year's Day avalanche killed two snowmobilers near Cameron Pass, northwest of Rocky Mountain National Park.

A blizzard moving through the area near Trap Lake, made communication difficult, so few details were available.

Larimer County Sheriff's spokeswoman, Eloise Campanella, said a wildlife agent reported the accident Sunday morning, and the two snowmobilers were confirmed dead two hours later. Their identities have not been released.

Five other members of the group were also caught in the avalanche, but managed to escape safely. The group was reported to be engaged in an extreme snowmobiling activity when they triggered the slide.

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Sunrise at mouth of Big Thompson Canyon

Sunday, January 1st - Photo Of The Week... Taken on the morning of Wednesday, Dec. 28th, this week's photo captured the view looking down the Big Thompson River near the mouth of the canyon at sunrise. The lights of the "Dam Store" can be seen in the lower center of the photo.   

As this is our first article of 2006, we at Storm Mountain News would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a "Happy New Year" and thank you immensely for your patronage. You have helped make this site a successful part of our community information system.   

We look forward to providing you with news stories and photos from around our area, throughout the upcoming year.

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Recycle Your Christmas Trees Free Through January 16...  Larimer County residents can drop off their Christmas trees at the Larimer County Landfill free of charge from December 26 to January 16. We will also provide a drop-off site for Christmas trees in Wellington at 6th and Grant (near the current recycling drop-off) for use by Wellington residents. (This is an update from our previous Web posting. We will not be providing containers at the Wellington or Berthoud transfer stations. The town of Berthoud provides a drop-off site for its residents.) The trees will be recycled into mulch, which will be available free to residents in the spring.

Trees must be "cleaned up" before being dropped off. This means all lights, tinsel, garland, plastic wrap, tree stands, wire, rope, nails, and any other foreign materials must be removed from the trees before recycling. Flocked trees (those decorated with fake snow) CANNOT be recycled.

For a list of additional drop-off sites for Christmas trees in the Fort Collins area, click here; for sites in Loveland, click here.

Also accepted for recycling all year round at the Larimer County Recycling Center are wrapping paper, packaging paper and greeting cards. These materials may be placed in the paperboard bin. Corrugated cardboard may be recycled at this location, as well. Foil wrapping paper and Styrofoam are NOT accepted. For more details about what can be recycled in Larimer County, click here.

Any other trash will be charged regular landfill fees. The landfill and recycling center are located at 5887 S. Taft Hill Road, Fort Collins. Regular hours are Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but please click here for holiday closures.