The Life-Long Learning Lecture Series at Fort Lewis College will present “Blazing Ice: Pioneering the 21st Century’s Road to the South Pole” at 7 p.m. Thursday in Noble Hall, Room 130.

Mining geologist and explosives engineer John Wright will share his personal story of the team of Americans who forged a thousand-mile transcontinental “haul route” across Antarctica in 2006 despite hazards as daunting as they were for Norway’s Roald Amundsen or England’s Robert Scott when they raced to be first to the South Pole in 1911-12.

For a schedule of lectures, visit www2.fortlewis.edu/professionalassociates.

Lifeguard banquet to be held Saturday

The Lifeguard sixth annual banquet will be held Saturday at Sky Ute Resort in Ignacio.

Lifeguard is the pro-life organization in the Four Corners, counseling women outside of the Durango Planned Parenthood facility and educating the community about life issues. Lifeguard President Kristan Hawkins will attend the event. Students for Life is partnering with Lifeguard.

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. The event will begin at 6 p.m. The cost is $40 per person.

To RSVP, call 749-0436 or email [email protected]. Visit http://lifeguardlaplata.org/02-22-14-6th-annual-banquet/ for more information.

Medicare Supplement class offered

A free Medicare Supplement class will be offered from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 27 at Pine River Valley Bank, 1701 Main Ave.

The same seminar will be presented March 6 at the same time and location. People turning 65 are encouraged to attend, and anyone who is curious about what happens to their health insurance as they age is welcome.

To reserve a seat either day, call 749-0206 and leave a name and telephone number. Appointments are available.

Fundraising walk, run to aid Native education

The Title VII Native American Education program at Durango School District 9-R will host the first annual Spirit Runners 5K/1 mile fun run/walk on April 19. The early registration deadline is April 1.

The event will be held at Escalante Middle School, 141 Baker Lane, and aims to raise money for Native American students and families enrolled in the Title VII Program.

For more information, call Lucinda Long-Webb at 946-1751 or email [email protected].

Prescribed burn to take place near Pagosa

The Pagosa Ranger District will conduct a second round of prescribed burning today on two units within the Chimney Rock National Monument.

The units will be smaller than those burned in late January, approximately 41 and 18 acres in size, versus 30 and 100 acres in size. About one dozen firefighters will ignite by hand needle litter and debris left over from a 2009 mechanical fuels-reduction project to further reduce flammable fuels on the ground. Burning operations are expected to take place from about noon until mid-afternoon for optimum smoke dispersal. Smoke is expected to be minimal but may settle down drainage overnight. No visibility concerns are expected.

For more information, call (970) 264-2268.

Herald staff