Senate committee passes Taylor’s bill

The Colorado Senate’s Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy Committee approved a bill sponsored by Sen. Jack Taylor, R-Steamboat Springs, on Thursday.

Senate Bill 96 passed with a unanimous vote. The bill would expand the purposes for which the Wildfire Emergency Response Fund could be used to include costs associated with employing crews to fight a wildfire for the first two days. The bill also would create the Wildfire Aerial Attack Fund for wildfire preparedness activities and could be accessed upon executive order of the governor. The fund would receive money from the 2006-07 fiscal year budget.

“We’ve all seen the devastation that results from wildfires in Colorado, both personally and economically,” Taylor said in a news release. “Unfortunately, many Coloradans have experienced this devastation first hand.

“While we can’t stop Mother Nature’s fury completely, Senate Bill 96 would provide additional tools to assist our firefighters in protecting the citizens of Colorado.”

SB 96 will now go to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The Lowell Whiteman School using deadlines

Because of a growing number of applications from students in the Steamboat Springs area, The Lowell Whiteman School is moving from a rolling admissions process to a deadline process.

The school has two admission deadlines for next school year. Those seeking early admission should submit applications no later than Wednesday. Applications for regular admission are due April 15.

Applications are available at the school or at http://www.whiteman.edu. For more information, call admissions director Travis Jones at 879-1350 or e-mail jonest@lws.edu.

Lacrosse registration is under way through Feb. 15

Registration for spring lacrosse is under way for boys in grades four through eight and girls in grades six through eight. The deadline for youth lacrosse registration is Feb. 15. Registration forms can be downloaded from http://www.yampavalley.info after clicking on the “Recreation” and “Lacrosse” links. Call Neill Redfern at 870-6545 for more information.