Colorado
Southern Colorado community provides no-cost resources for veterans
PUEBLO, Colo. (KKTV) – Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center hosts a monthly community resource fair in Pueblo known as “Helping Hands,” to provide essential resources and services to veterans at no-cost.
On Wednesday, organizations came together to help meet the needs of veterans in the community. One of the businesses at the event was Vets Auto Clinic, a veteran-owned, non-profit mobile mechanic service. With this service, the mechanics can meet a person wherever their car is located, take it back to where they work on the car and return it to the owner once it’s repaired.
One of the owners of Vets Auto Clinic, Benjamin Norris, says their non-profit helps those struggling financially.
“We did just start vets auto clinic, which is our nonprofit and that’s to help those who are in economical hardships and need their car.
“Most of the time they need it to go to work and it breaks down on them and they don’t have the money to pay for it so the nonprofit will cover that part of the repair.
“We also want to help those that have physical problems and they still they can drive, they can operate the vehicle, but they’re on a fixed income. You know they got to pay for their groceries sometimes they got to pay for their medicine and they don’t have money to keep their car running. So Vets auto clinic is going to be there for them.”
Another service available for veterans at “Helping Hands,” was an ultrasound and pregnancy testing mobile unit, provided by the local non-profit, A Caring Pregnancy Center (ACPC).
Lindy Hendrich, the Patient Services Director at A Caring Pregnancy Center, says it is vital to inform people who may be pregnant about the choices they have and this helps bring the community together.
“We can give them education you know on their options that they have for pregnancy.
“Maybe what (it) could look like for (them) if they were interested in getting connected with material services. We have a baby boutique so we can give them diapers, different types of material support stuff like that.
“The more like community outreaches that you have like this, the more a community can grow and just become knit together and understand ways that they can help each other. They may have a need, but they can also serve in a different way.”
Laurie Collins the Client Service Specialist at Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center says they want to give back to veterans as best as they can.
“We like to be sure you know our entire community, the food insecurities are met.
“Anybody can come out. We also want to try to get in touch with all of our veterans who can come in and see us to come visit us to receive wraparound services.
“We just want them to know how special they are to us and so we want to provide these wraparound services to them to come out look at the resources we have and you know be able to help in anyway that we can.”
If you’re interested in learning more about Vets Auto Clinic click here. If you’re wanting to learn more about ACPC click here.
Copyright 2024 KKTV. All rights reserved.
A powerful search engine that organizes and provides access to vast information on the internet.
Colorado
Julian Lewis Says Deion Sanders’ Colorado ‘Wasn’t Really Looking at Defenses Much’ Last Season
Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis made a stunning admission that could explain the team’s 3-9 finish to the 2025 season.
While speaking to ESPNU at Big 12 media days, Lewis was asked what the biggest difference was between last year and this year, and he revealed that the Deion Sanders-coached Buffaloes typically didn’t watch film during his first season with the team.
“My play, I’m actually looking at the defenses now,” Lewis said. “Last year, we wasn’t really looking at defenses much, just kind of high school free-balling, just out there playing football. But it’s a lot bigger than that now, so it should be fun.”
Before taking a redshirt year, Lewis played in four games as a true freshman with two starts and threw for 589 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions while completing 55.3 percent of his passes. He should fare even better this season with the benefit of film study.
Lewis will enter the 2026 campaign as Colorado’s starting quarterback, so he will have the opportunity to show his improvements when the Buffaloes open the year against Georgia Tech on Sept. 3.
State and federal agencies are starting to reopen public lands, state wildlife areas and a segment of the Colorado River that were closed in light of the Snyder Fire in Mesa County.
Stage 2 fire restrictions — banning all open fire or flames, including charcoal grills and wood-burning stoves — remain in effect as extreme fire danger, spurred on by hot and dry conditions, persists across the region.
The Snyder Fire started on Friday, June 26, when several smaller fires burning on the Colorado-Utah border combined. As of July 7, the fire was 98% contained after burning over 30,200 acres and killing three wildland firefighters.
With fire activity decreasing and containment increasing, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Bureau of Land Management shared their plans Tuesday to reopen lands impacted by the wildfire.
Parks and Wildlife said in a news release that it, alongside the Bureau of Land Management, had lifted the closure for public access and downstream recreation on the Colorado River, starting at the James M. Robb-Colorado River State Park in Fruita and extending to the Utah state line. It also reopened the boat ramp at the Fruita section of the James M. Robb-Colorado River State Park in Fruita to downstream traffic.
The state agency’s Horsethief State Wildlife Area in Fruita and the Loma Boat Launch State Wildlife Area also reopened.
The BLM said in a news release that all lands within the perimeter of the Snyder Fire burn area remain closed to ensure public and firefighter safety.
“The burned landscape — including vegetation — remains dynamic and unpredictable as it naturally recovers from the fire impacts. This order is effective immediately and will remain in effect until the order is rescinded,” the BLM said.
Both agencies also warned that fire danger remains extremely elevated and Stage 2 fire restrictions are in place.
A map of current federal and state fire restrictions is available on the Rocky Mountain Area Interagency Fire Restriction Dashboard or by visiting DFPC.Colorado.Gov/sections/wildfire-information-center. The Colorado Trails Explorer (or COTREX) app also has wildfire closure alerts.
Under current conditions, Parks and Wildlife advised the following actions to prevent sparking wildfires:
- Use established rings: Where permitted, only build campfires inside permanent metal fire rings in designated campgrounds.
- Clear nearby debris: Remove all dry grass, leaves and pine needles within a 10-foot radius of any flame.
- Drown and stir: Extinguish fires completely with water, stir the ashes, and ensure the debris is cold to the touch.
- Watch campfires constantly: Never leave a fire or portable stove unattended. If you see an unattended fire, call 911.
- Keep vehicles off brush: Avoid parking or idling cars on tall, dry grass where hot exhaust systems can ignite a fire.
- Secure towing equipment: Ensure trailer safety chains do not drag and spark against asphalt. Check them at every stop.
The BLM added that under its Stage 2 restrictions, smoking is prohibited except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
Gas-powered stoves or grills with a shut-off valve are still allowed in cleared areas under this stage.
Violating Stage 2 fire restrictions by lighting a campfire is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Violators face an immediate citation, a mandatory court appearance, steep fines and potential jail time. Additionally, you can be held financially liable for all fire suppression costs and property damage if the campfire sparks a wildfire.
-
Louisiana4 minutes agoNorman C. Francis library naming honors Lafayette education legacy
-
Maine11 minutes agoLive updates: U.S. and Iran escalate attacks; jockeying starts in Maine after Graham Platner drops Senate bid
-
Maryland14 minutes agoHow the Baltimore-style hot dog tells a uniquely Maryland story
-
Michigan19 minutes agoMichigan immigration advocates react after Supreme Court ruling on Temporary Protected Status
-
Massachusetts26 minutes agoIs new construction right for you? There are benefits to buying a brand-new home in Massachusetts.
-
Minnesota29 minutes agoWhere to watch Cleveland Guardians vs Minnesota Twins: TV channel, start time, streaming for July 9
-
Mississippi34 minutes agoWhere Ace Reese, Mississippi State signees appear in latest MLB mock drafts
-
Missouri41 minutes agoMissouri Farm Bureau to host agritourism conference in Hermann | Fulton Sun
