Atmos Energy invites people to enter its Yard Rescue 811 contest.

As part of National Safe Digging Month in April, the contest reminds property owners, construction crews and do-it-yourselfers to stay safe by always calling 811 before digging. By calling 811 in advance, property owners and contractors are connected to their state’s one-call center, which notifies all appropriate utilities about the excavation. Professional locators mark all underground utility lines at the digging site with flags or spray paint.

Atmos Energy’s Yard Rescue 811 contest offers participants the chance to win $2,000 for a yard makeover. Participants should take a photo of their yard, which can be at a home, church, school or business, then upload the photo to www.atmosenergy.com/contests or through the contest tab on Atmos Energy’s Facebook page. Ask friends and family to vote for the photo every day on the Atmos Energy Facebook page, and the photos garnering the most votes in each state that Atmos Energy serves wins.

The contest will end at midnight April 24.

FLC board examines investment policy

The Board of Trustees for Fort Lewis College will conduct a special meeting by teleconference at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in the President’s Conference Room, Berndt Hall 2503.

The meeting will be for the purpose of reviewing the proposed investment policy. An executive session may be convened for purposes of receiving legal advice concerning specific legal questions that may arise during the discussion.

No public comment will be taken.

For more information, call Peggy Sharp at 247-7437 or email [email protected].

Writers and Scribblers examine sentences

Writers and Scribblers will meet from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday at Pine River Valley Bank, 1701 Main Ave.

“Building Better Sentences and Stories: Great Tips for Writers” will be presented by Melissa Stacy. Guests are welcome.

Senior center to offer computer workshops

The Durango/La Plata Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave., will offer these computer workshops conducted by The Computer Tutor, Jon Cordalis, from 9 a.m. to noon:

Technology 101: Overview of Current Technology will take place Tuesday. The class will look at tablet and smartphone technology; wireless Internet basics; streaming video content; Internet competency; uses of digital photos; Skype/Facebook; and more.

Buying and Selling Safely Online will take place April 9. People will learn how to sell and buy items and more using the most popular sites on the Internet. The class will cover understanding how sites work and how to create an appealing ad. Participants also will explore the ways to make sure people are doing this safely.

Classes are $15 each, and pre-registration and pre-payment is required. For more information and to register, call 382-6428.

2015 property-tax exemption available

A property-tax exemption may be available for the tax year 2015, affecting taxes payable in 2016 for qualifying seniors, disabled veterans and surviving spouses of those who previously qualified.

For those who qualify, 50 percent of the first $200,000 of the actual value of their primary residence is exempt. The state pays the tax on the portion that is exempt from property tax if monies are available. The exemption remains in effect for future years, and the applicant should not reapply. To verify if you already are signed up or to receive an application or brochure, call the La Plata County Assessor’s Office at 382-6228. The application deadline for seniors is July 15.

Disabled veterans should contact the Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs for an application. The application deadline for disabled veterans is July 1 with the Division of Veterans Affairs.

Durango Corral hears about arboglyphs

The Durango Corral of Westerners will meet at 7 p.m. April 10 at the Strater Hotel, 699 Main Ave.

New members are welcome. After dinner, which will cost $25, Ruth Lambert will present a program titled “A Study of Hispano Arboglyphs Along the Pine-Piedra Stock Driveway.”

To make a reservation by 6 p.m. Tuesday, call Duane Smith at 247-2589.

Herald Staff