Tax workshop

Teller County Assessor Kurt Schoenberger holds forums on the senior/disabled veterans Homestead Exemption and how property taxes are collected. Hosted by the Greater Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce, the forums are from 5:30 to 7 p.m. March 11 at the Centennial Building in Cripple Creek and from 5:30 to 7 p.m. March 12 at the Ute Pass Cultural Center in Woodland Park.

Thinning project

Multiple agencies have begun the Rampart Range Fuel Break Project, which is intended to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfires, improve forest health and protect adjacent communities.

Phase 1 of the project will include 25 units encompassing over 750 acres. Operations will happen December through April annually. This thinning will utilize mechanized thinning treatments with heavy equipment to reduce the potential for initial fire spread from the forest floor to treetops and reduce the amount of hazardous fuels. Many of these areas will be treated with prescribed fire in the future to reduce surface fuels and help prevent catastrophic, high-intensity wildfire.

The project is being conducted by the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands and the National Forest Foundation. It aims to reduce mountain pine beetle and other insect infestations and protect watersheds and wildlife habitat by creating fuel breaks in strategic locations.

Rampart Range Road is one of the most highly used roads on the Pike National Forest and provides a popular setting for off-highway vehicle enthusiasts and other recreationists. The road is also used to access private land that exists within the National Forest System boundary.

Expect additional truck traffic during operations. For public safety, small areas of the national forest will not be accessible during operations. Please adhere to all signage and be aware of any temporary closures.