The BLM’s grazing advisory board for Southwest Colorado recently elected new regional board members, including Steve Suckla, of Cortez, who represents the Tres Rios area and specializes in cattle.
The BLM grazing permittees of Southwest Colorado elect a board every three years.
Others who have been elected are: Tres Rios representative Ernie Etchart, of Montrose, specializing in sheep; Gunnison representatives Pat Youmans, of Gunnison (cattle), and Terri Snyder Lamers, of Norwood (sheep); Uncompahgre representatives Mark LeValley, of Hotchkiss (cattle), and Ross Allen, of Hotchkiss (sheep).
These members of the grazing advisory board are charged with administering the monies returned to the counties from BLM grazing fees. Each year, 12.5 percent of the monies the BLM collects in grazing fees on federal lands are returned to the states where they were collected. In Colorado, these monies are directed to be returned to the counties where collected and then paid over to the board to be used to make improvements to grazing permits as the oard sees appropriate.
Empire Electric Association and the Colorado Energy Office have partnered with Grid Alternatives, a nonprofit solar installer to build a community solar garden in Cortez that is available to income-qualified Empire Electric members.
Grid Alternatives will host two educational sessions for community members to learn about the program and how to qualify to reduce your monthly electric bill with solar. The sessions are open to the public.
Educational sessions are at the Cortez Empire Electric office at 801 N. Broadway on Wednesday, April 6 at 6 p.m.; Thursday, April 7 at 11 a.m.
If you can’t attend a session, but want to learn how to qualify for the program, contact Brandee at 720-943-5162.
After being held in Durango and Crested Butte the past four years, Pagosa Springs was selected to host the annual Southwest Colorado Tourism Summit on April 13-14.
The summit will be held at the Ross Aragon Community Center. To register and review the agenda, visit www.swtourismsummit.com.
The summit will feature speaker Cathy Ritter, new director of Colorado Tourism Office, and include multiple general sessions and 16 breakout sessions.
The summit appeals to businesses that rely on tourism, offering educational workshops, expert keynote speakers and professional networking opportunities located in Southwest Colorado. Sessions include social media, marketing best practices and storytelling, and international and adventure travel and hospitality.
The summit costs $75 if registered by April 5, and includes one breakfast, two lunches, two networking events and a variety of educational sessions.
The Journal
