You don’t have to hike often to know that trail quality and conditions can make or break a day of hiking in the mountains or foothills of Colorado. If you enjoy being in nature and you love making a difference, then volunteer opportunities to help maintain trails are a perfect fit for your summer plans. Four organizations within the state are dedicated to maintaining Colorado’s thousands of miles of hiking trails for generations of hikers and wilderness lovers to come. COLORADO FOURTEENERS INITIATIVE Colorado is endowed with 58 mountains whose peaks rise at least 14,000 feet above sea level ..read more

Volunteer to help maintain trail conditions You don’t have to hike often to know that trail quality and conditions can make or break a day of hiking in the mountains or foothills of Colorado. If you enjoy being in nature and you love making a difference, then volunteer opportunities to help maintain trails are a perfect fit for your summer plans. Four organizations within the state are dedicated to maintaining Colorado’s thousands of miles of hiking trails for generations of hikers and wilderness lovers to come. COLORADO FOURTEENERS INITIATIVE Colorado is endowed with 58 mountains whose peaks ..read more

Turn back time at these nostalgic Colorado destinations Cinema magic under the stars This summer visit Montrose-based The Star Drive-In and help celebrate their 75th year of continuous family ownership. The single-screen venue showcases double features of classic familyfriendly films all summer long. Visitors can expect longer wait times on weekends, and the cash-only box office opens 45 minutes before dusk. Take the time to enjoy this timeless setting that creates an experience your family will love. Visit www.stardrivein.com for a list of upcoming features, pricing, and more information. Get ..read more

Turning farm waste into renewable energy Agricultural operations at the Kraft family farms in Morgan County produce alfalfa, corn, milk, manure, and as of this spring, renewable energy. Husband and wife Chris and Mary Kraft and their son Stratton grow alfalfa and corn crops to feed some 4,500 black-and-white Holstein cattle at the family’s Quail Ridge Dairy near Fort Morgan. Those dairy cows produce about five semi loads of milk each day sold to make mozzarella cheese. The new anaerobic digester at Six Arrows Dairy near Wiggins turns manure into energy. Photo by Val Loose. However, those tho ..read more

Q: I have my central air conditioner and furnace serviced every few years to keep them running efficiently. Is there anything I can do to the air conditioner myself on the off years to improve its efficiency? A: There are several things you can do yourself to keep a central air conditioner or heat pump running at peak efficiency. Since the furnace air handler (blower) is also used for central air conditioning, maintaining it may also decrease your winter heating bills. A heat pump is actually just a central air conditioner that runs the refrigeration cycle in reverse when heating your home. Tw ..read more

Over the weekend of April 6–7, winds that in some areas exceeded 100 miles per hour slammed communities along Colorado’s Front Range. The high winds caused widespread power outages and significant damage to many homes and businesses. For some of Colorado’s electric co-ops, the high winds broke poles and took down power lines, which resulted in a temporary loss of electric service to co-op members. As they always do, electric co-ops rose to the challenging weather conditions and deployed crews to repair the downed lines and restore service as soon as it was safe to do so. Working around the clo ..read more

As the weather begins to warm and days get longer, it’s important to begin preparing your yard for a healthy growing season. While factors including climate, soil type, and grass type can all impact how your yard grows, there are a few steps you can take during the spring months to help your lawn thrive. Simple chores such as dethatching, aerating, fertilizing, and mowing can help ensure your yard looks its best and is prepared to fight off seasonal weeds, disease, and drought. MAINTAIN YOUR MOWER Before it’s time for the first mowing of the season, inspect your mower and perform any routine m ..read more

“Simple doesn’t always mean easy,” Christopher Kimball writes in his book Milk Street Simple. Rather, he writes, a simple recipe is one that is constructed so each step and ingredient is essential and in balance with the whole. Kimball’s recipe for chow mein with broccoli and bell peppers checks the “simple” box — the harmony of the ingredients and the minimal steps make this a great option for a weeknight dinner. The fact that this is cooked in the oven on a rimmed baking sheet and uses instant ramen noodles also makes it quick and easy. Let us know how you like this recipe — find us on Faceb ..read more

Hooked on nature, hooked on healing Jennings Hester, 35, is standing knee-deep in the South Platte River outside Denver. It’s far more tranquil than his earlier days as a 245-pound inside linebacker on a full-ride scholarship to the University of Alabama as part of football coach Nick Saban’s first recruiting class. Now, he’s more interested in fish running and taking the backing off his line than stopping a running back coming through the line. Sure, fly-fishing can be frustrating at times. Your line gets tangled, tying the knots is a pain, and the fish might not bite. But it’s also tremendou ..read more

Read the May 2024 co-op local pages to find out the latest news at your electric cooperative and what’s happening in your neck of the woods. Empire Electric Association, Cortez Read May News 970-565-4444 • eea.coop Grand Valley Power, Grand Junction Read May News 970-242-0040 • gvp.org GCEA, Gunnison Read May News 970-641-3520 • gcea.coop Highline Electric Association, Holyoke Read May News 970-854-2236 • hea.coop K.C. Electric Association, Hugo Read May News 719-743-2431 • kcelectric.coop Morgan County Rural Electric Association, Fort Morgan Read May N ..read more