The last day for Food for Fines at Bud Werner Memorial Library is today. Kids can “pay-off” their library fines while helping local families in need by participating in the annual program. For every can or box of food kids bring to the kids’ desk, the library will waive $1 of their overdue fines. In addition, if kids bring in the following high-need food items, $2 in fines will be waived: Hamburger or Chicken Helper in a box; re-fried beans, taco or enchilada sauce; taco shells in a box; gluten-free products; and toothbrushes or deodorant. All food will be donated to the LIFT-UP of Routt County food bank. This program is for kids 17 and younger only and the fee waivers cannot be used to cover replacement fees. Visit http://www.steamboatlibrary.org/services/kids/food-for-fines-december for more information.

Final day to get free-use firewood permits is Wednesday

The Parks Ranger District in Walden will issue personal free-use firewood permits, according to a news release. This program allows the public to gather firewood at specific sites within the Parks Ranger District where beetle-killed and other hazard trees have been cut and stacked.

Participation in the program does require a firewood permit and load tags.

Currently, Big Creek Lakes Campground, Forest Road 615 and the Jack Creek area are the only sites in the Parks Ranger District that have free-use firewood available. Maps and directions to the free-use firewood areas will be provided with the issued permits.

The free-use permits are available through today or until supplies are exhausted. Users can obtain permits for as many as 10 cords per household. These specific free-use permits can be obtained only through the Parks Ranger District.

Typically, all Routt National Forest Districts, including parks, sell firewood permits at $10 per cord, with a minimum two-cord purchase ($20) per transaction.

Public gathering of the wood helps to remove excessive amounts of dead trees from multiple sites and reduces public safety hazards. Firewood gatherers need to respect the rights of other forest users by not blocking roads, adhering to recreation area quiet times and not gathering wood within an occupied campsite. 

PTC Rebate application to be available online Wednesday

Eligible applicants may start applying for the 2014 year PTC Rebate on Thursday.

The 2014 PTC application booklet will be available today on the Department of Revenue’s Taxation Web site at http://www.taxcolorado.com. Click the File button, then select PTC Rebate.

First-time PTC applicants must submit a paper return with copies of required paper documentation as outlined in the PTC application booklet. Depending on when an application is approved, installment payments are issued in April, July, October and January.