Summer Safety Notices

Summer means reading season at the Ignacio Community Library, so make sure to download the Beanstack app and sign up. A new form is available for anyone planning a controlled burn to fill out to alert 911 dispatchers to help prioritize resources. La Plata County also reminds people to sign up for CodeRED alerts, and after a confirmed sighting of a mountain lion in early May, the Ute Wildlife Division wants to make sure visitors and locals know what to do to stay safe. You're watching the "Local News Roundup" brought to you by Serious Texas Bar-B-Q and Dunkin' Donuts. I'm Sadie Smith. Ignacio Community Library's Summer Reading Program kicked off on June 5th and will run through the end of July. Signups for adults and children are on the Beanstack app. Make sure to download the app to start. There are events throughout both June and July and weekly themes with a chance to win a prize if you dress up as the theme. Check the library calendar for the full list of events, and make sure to stop by to pick up your next summer read. La Plata County residents are now asked to report their controlled burns to 911 through a new online form. Local 911 dispatchers spend about 233 hours annually logging calls about burns, and with the introduction of the form, the goal is to allow dispatchers to focus on high-priority matters while still maintaining smoke information. The form will capture essential burn details and contact information, which will feed into maps that will display the information to 911 dispatchers and local fire departments. The form will be purged daily, so make sure to fill it out at least 20 minutes before you start the burn. If you are planning a controlled burn on non-agricultural land, make sure to get a free burn permit from your local fire department. When planning to do any kind of controlled burn, check wind and weather conditions beforehand, and never leave any fire unsupervised. If your burn goes out of control or there is an emergency, call 911. The county also recommends making sure that you are signed up for CodeRED notifications. In the event of an emergency, emergency management will send a CodeRED message. CodeRED is an electronic emergency notification system used by local public safety authorities to promptly alert residents and businesses about potential emergencies that require immediate action. Notifications are delivered via telephone, text message, and email for quick delivery of critical alerts. After a confirmed sighting of a mountain lion on May 9th on the Southern Ute Tribal Campus, the Southern Ute Wildlife Division has tips for keeping safe and reducing the chance of an encounter. Reduce the chance of a mountain lion visiting your property by keeping landscaping open so the lion can't hide easily. Plant deer-resistant plants and trees to reduce the number of deer on your property. Keep pets from roaming and don't let kids play outdoors without supervision, especially during low light hours. To reduce the risk of encountering a mountain lion in the field, make sure to walk or run in pairs and make lots of noise. Avoid walking in lion-prone areas during the mornings and late in the day, and keep kids and pets within reach. Lions have been spotted in the past along the River Trail, Bear Trail, and Scotts Park. If you do encounter a lion, stay calm, pick up your child or pet if you have one to keep them from startling and running. Make yourself as big as possible, and back away slowly, keeping eye contact with the lion. Grab something to use as a weapon and be prepared to fight. If you spot a lion close to people or where people usually gather, or if you suspect it has attacked a pet or livestock, call the Southern Ute Wildlife Division during regular business hours or Tribal Dispatch, Tribal Rangers, and the SUPD during off hours and weekends. Learn more about these and other stories online at durangolocal.news. Thank you for watching this edition of the "Local News Roundup." I'm Sadie Smith.