Fort Lupton Press 3
March 31, 2022
Rabid Skunks in Weld County Health officials recommend domestic animals get vaccinated BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Authorities found two rabid skunks on properties south of Greeley on March 11 and 14 according to the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment. “Weld County is a hot spot for rabies; we encourage residents to get your animals vaccinated. If an animal is unvaccinated and is infected with rabies, the animal would have to be euthanized,” said Lisa VanBerg, Fort Lupton Animal Control. “Fort Lupton requires residents to register your dog for a city license at no charge. You must bring proof of the rabies vaccination to register. And the vaccination tag must be displayed.” The skunks got into a run-in with dogs at each property, so the owners turned over the skunks to the WCDPHE laboratory, and results came back on March 14th and March 16th positive for rabies. The two dogs were rabies vaccinated. According to health officials, if rabies is left untreated, it’s 100% fatal. Colorado bat and skunks are the two leading carriers of rabies, but not all skunks are infected with rabies. If a skunk is spotted in day-
light acting strangely, lying on the ground, or physically paralyzed and acting aggressively, it could be sick with rabies. Christine Bevel Environmental Specialist (WCDPHE), said, “If we are aware of the dogs history and is unvaccinated we can isolate the dog for several days and give them a series of vaccinations to save the pet. But if the animal has already developed the rabies they would have to be euthanized.” Wild animals such as foxes, skunks, raccoons, coyotes, and bats could also get infected with rabies. Health officials recommend a rabies vaccination on all domestic animals such as cats, dogs, horses, and livestock. Within the past several years, humans have come in contact with rabies, which requires an immune globin and vaccine post-exposure treatment of rabies. A vaccination treatment is available to treat rabies before symptoms appear. In Weld County, there are no reported human deaths from rabies infection according to health officials. Rabies is a virus that attacks the nervous system and causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, which could be fatal. According to health officials, transmission is from the saliva of an infected animal or through an open wound, cut, or scratch. To prevent exposure to rabies: Do not feed, touch, or handle any wild animals. Ensure dogs, cats, horses, and
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livestock are regularly vaccinated livestock by a licensed veterinarian. Keep a close eye on any new puppy or kitten while outdoors until it has received the rabies vaccine for 28 days. Spay or neuter pets to reduce the number of unwanted or stray ani-
New traffic signal could be online by end of the month BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The city of Brighton said work on a controlled signal at East 144th Avenue and Sable Boulevard is in the last phase. A Fort Morgan baseball coach died in a crash at that intersection almost three years ago. That prompted the call for a controlled traffic signal at all four corners. The city said the project is about 85 percent complete. City spokesperson Linda Ong said the project consisted of two phases.
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“I wasn’t surprised,” Hooton, who has brought similar legislation for several years, said of the outcome. “I got a lot of very, very valuable feedback about how we might be able to move forward in the future.” The question of whether the use of cannabis off the clock can disqualify a person for a job or lead to their firing has been swirling in Colorado since voters passed Amendment 64 in 2012, which legalized the sale and use of recreational cannabis. Most states that have lifted prohibitions on pot leave the question of how to handle employees’ marijuana use up to employers, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Nevada and New Jersey are two
The first part was underground infrastructure, followed by burying overhead power lines because of conflicts. The second phase — and the most visible to traffic — is the installation of the signals and other infrastructure. “Last week, the contract team completed the installation of the traffic signal poles,” Ong said. “The team will be installing the traffic signal components over the next week and begin testing the signal. The final components include items such as the traffic signal heads, signage, guard-
rail, traffic signal controller cabinet, and other similar components.” Ong said the signal should be fully operational by the end of the month. Before that, the signal’s use starts with a flash test for several days. “We ask the public to please use caution while construction is finalizing and slow speeds when approaching traffic control to keep our team safe,” Ong said. “Additionally, be prepared for the change of flow in traffic and the new configuration as the transition from a four-way stop is made to a signalized intersection.”
exceptions. In New Jersey, employers can prohibit employees from using cannabis while on the job or from showing up to work impaired. But they are not allowed to penalize an employee solely because of their offthe-clock recreational cannabis use. In 2015, the Colorado Supreme Court sided with Dish Network, which fired an employee, Brandon Coats, after he tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol – or THC – in a random drug test. Coats had a medical marijuana card as a result of back spasms caused by his quadriplegia. Muscle spasms are one of the seven debilitating conditions for which medical marijuana can be recommended under Colorado law. The closely watched case highlighted Colorado’s pot paradox: Marijuana is legal but consuming it can still be grounds for termination. Amendment 64 included the following provision: “Nothing in
this (ballot measure) is intended to require an employer to permit or accommodate the use, consumption, possession, transfer, delay, transportation, sale or growing of marijuana in the workplace to affect the ability of employers to have policies restriction the use of marijuana by employees.” Amendment 20, the 2000 ballot initiative allowing medical marijuana sales and use in Colorado, included a provision about how it does not “require any employer to accommodate the medical use of marijuana in any workplace.” This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. The Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.
mals in the neighborhood. Contact WCDPHE at 970 400-2290 for questions or if anyone or their pets has had contact with a skunk. For after-hours outside of 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday, contact Weld County Dispatch at (970) 3509600 and select option 4. PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t be surprised by Social Security taxes When you apply for your Social Security retirement benefits, you need to think about how much you want withheld for taxes. Many people overlook this issue – only to face an unpleasant surprise at tax time, because Social Security benefits may be added to taxable income. Using Form W-4V, you can have 7, 10, 12 or 22 percent of your monthly benefit withheld. Your tax advisor can help you choose the appropriate percentage. And you have other ways to control the taxes due on your benefits. For example, if you meet certain conditions, withdrawals from a Roth IRA will not be taxed, so they won’t increase your taxable income or your Social Security taxes. Also, the earlier you take Social Security, the lower your monthly payments, and the lower the taxes. Still, taxes shouldn’t determine when you want to start taking payments – instead, consider other factors, such as your life expectancy, your employment situation, your spending needs and the benefits for your spouse. The more you know about the impact of Social Security benefits on your taxes, the better prepared you’ll be to incorporate these benefits into your retirement income plans. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
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