The Craig Daily Press will host its monthly Coffee and a Newspaper on Jan. 6. The Craig Daily Press is inviting City Council and Moffat County Commissioners to speak with newspaper representatives about how the paper can better cover government. Free coffee and pastries will be served. For more information, call 970-875-1788.

Gas prices continue to decline across state

Average retail gasoline prices in Colorado fell 2.4 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $1.85 per gallon Sunday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 2,158 gas outlets in Colorado.

That compares with the national average that has fallen 1.7 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.01 per gallon, according to gasoline price website gasbuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Colorado during the past week, prices were 67.1 cents per gallon less than the same day one year ago and are 16.6 cents per gallon less than a month ago. The national average has decreased 15.8 cents per gallon during the past month and stands 53.3 cents per gallon less than this day one year ago.

“We are going to end this year with the lowest gas prices since 2008, and people want to know can it get even lower? Yes, it can,” Jeff Pelton, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy, said in a statement. “There is simply too much crude oil out there for gas prices not to decline. The national price decline has stalled and recently nudged up a hair based on localized spikes in the Great Lakes region. But, the good news is this too shall pass. Expect refineries to do their part to get through the glut of crude on hand and that will put pressure on gas prices to fall the next month or so. Unfortunately, not only does spring bring with it more accommodating weather, it also brings higher gas prices based upon the one-two punch of spring maintenance and the switch-over to more expensive summer blends.”

For a complete listing of current averages and other fuel price data, visit media.gasbuddy.com. For fuel news and alerts, follow @gasbuddynews on Twitter.

Closures announced to protect wildlife

Annual winter closures begin this week on certain lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management’s Little Snake Field Office to reduce stress on wildlife, according to a news release.

All areas south of the Ridge Trail in BLM’s Emerald Mountain Special Recreation Management Area are closed to all forms of entry through June 30 to protect elk during their sensitive winter and calving seasons. The closure includes the Beall Trail and Kemry Draw. The closure corresponds with Colorado Parks and Wildlife lands to the east of the SRMA and the Humble Ranch property to the southeast.

“Stress to wintering and calving wildlife poses a significant threat to their survival, and we need people to respect the closure,” BLM Little Snake Field Manager Wendy Reynolds said in a statement.

Violators to the closure face a $175 fine. Reynolds recommends those wishing to enjoy Emerald Mountain during this closure visit Ridge, Rotary and Wild Rose trails that will remain open.

Maps of the closure area are available at the Little Snake Field Office.

For more information, call the Little Snake Field Office at 970-826-5000, or log on to blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/lsfo.html.

I-70 travel information returns for motorists

The Colorado Department of Transportation is expanding its live streaming Mountain Travel Radio service on cotrip.org to help motorists better navigate Interstate 70 this winter, according to a CDOT news release.

The radio service is a part of CDOT’s Change Your Peak Drive winter driving campaign. The service provides motorists with the most accurate and up-to-date travel information, road conditions and more, stated the news release.

The live broadcast will regularly air Friday afternoons, Saturday and Sunday mornings and afternoons and Monday holidays.

With major changes to the Mountain Corridor, namely the implementation of the Traction Law and the launch of the I-70 Mountain Express Lane, Mountain Travel Radio will be a key communication avenue for I-70 travelers to learn up-to-the-minute road conditions.

“Conditions along the I-70 Mountain Corridor change extremely quickly, and doing a live broadcast is one of the best ways to inform motorists and keep them updated with the most accurate info,” CDOT Director of Communications Amy Ford said in a statement.