Have you ever wondered how they can handle recycling your cans, bottle, plastic and paper when you put them all in the same single stream bin? I have. While I know nothing about recycling except that I should do it, I can use common sense to know assume that the processes of recycling tin and recycling paper are probably very different.

It turns out that they are. In fact there is a facility that is entirely devoted to sorting all of our single stream waste into separate streams so that aluminum can be made into more aluminum, plastic can be made into carpet, and paper can be made into more paper. It serves a few different areas of this region, and Larimer County and the City of Fort Collins are included.

After the streams leave our homes, they go to the Waste Managment Materials Recovery Facility(referred to as MRF, like ‘Murph’ by those in the loop) in North Denver. Tour the facility with Paul and you’ll see that when it comes to disposal, we are really on the right track!!

The great news is that the City of Fort Collins recently announced that paper cartons that hold things like milk and juice can now be recycled! Hooray! Click here to listen to Paul’s interview about it.

Click here for a list of recyclable items with the City of Fort Collins.

It’s one of the biggest IPO’s (Initial Public Offerning) in history. Mark Zuckerberg is the richest young man this side of Richie Rich. Facebook has been a revolution.

Now you can buy a piece of the social networking company. Stocks were predicted to open at about $38, but that’s not the average Tom, Dick, and Harriet price. Unless you are a hedge fund or an investor that has monies in the hundreds of thousands with your investment group, you won’t be able to buy until  sometime later today, when the price may go as high as $90 per stock.

The good? Facebook is a revolution. It’s a structural change in society. Those things make money.

The bad? Higher stock prices value the company at high levels, meaning, if you bought it at a price that put it at over $100 billion, it has to perform at close to that level for you to ever see your money back.

Celebrate Breast Cancer Survivor ship and the 12th Anniversary of Hope Lives. ‘‘.

Thanks to Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests / Pawnee National Grassland for the latest updates.

The Evacuation Center is established at Cache La Poudre Middle School, 3515 West County Road 54G in La Porte, Colo. If you have large animals, you may take them to The Ranch off of I-25.

Highway 14 is still closed at Ted’s place. Residents may leave the area but will not be allowed to re-enter until the road is reopened.

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH is in effect for the Front Range and northeastern plains for today, due to the warm, windy and dry conditions.

Both the Weld and Larimer County Health Departments have issued Wildfire Air Quality Advisories.

As the most beautiful of all horse breeds, this guy, aka William, was in a photo clinic on the beach near Santa Barbara when he bolted and swam 2 miles out to sea.

Rescue crews were able to help the horse who was exhausted, had some water in its lungs, but is doing fine. He managed to stay afloat despite having his long tail wrapped around one of its legs for almost three hours. It’s a bit like the rescue in ‘The Black Stallion’ movie.

William (April Visel/KSBW)

via City of Greeley

The Hewlett Fire northwest of Fort Collins has grown to approach Greeley’s Milton Seaman Reservoir.  The Forest Service has evacuated city buildings, including the home of the reservoir caretakers there. The Milton Seaman Reservoir provides water for the City of Greeley and there is potential for the water supply to be affected. 

Ash and sediment runoff into the Poudre River could compromise the City’s water quality, both during and after the wildfire.  At this time, Greeley’s water supply is not affected.  To avoid any impacts to drinking water quality for Greeley residents, the City has the ability to close the Poudre River intakes and draw water from Horsetooth Reservoir.  Residents will notice no change in water quality.

“We have planned for situations like this.  Because we have multiple water sources, we have alternatives when one or more sources are threatened,” said Jon Monson, Director of Water and Sewer for Greeley.

Greeley is cooperating with the Forest Service, allowing them to draw water from Milton Seaman Reservoir to try to control the fire.  The amount of water is relatively small and does not compromise Greeley’s water supply.  “We are glad to help,” Monson added.

Impacts on Greeley’s Water Quality

The extent of impacts to water quality are not known at this time.  Sooty water affects quality, so if residents notice any change in the smell or appearance of their water, you can call the City of Greeley Water Department at 970-350-9811.

[ via City of Greeley ]

TwitPic User: @TyCBS4

The Hewlett Fire northwest of Fort Collins continues to spread and more evacuations have been ordered this afternoon.

The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office has issued a mandatory evacuation order for 65 homes in the area of Bonner Springs Ranch Road, Deer Valley Road, Obenchain Road, Ingleside Road, and 15 homes on Highway 14 from the Greyrock Trailhead to the North Poudre diversion dam (approx. mile markers 113 to 115). All residents are asked to evacuate immediately.

An Evacuation Center has been established at Cache La Poudre Middle School, 3515 West County Road 54G in La Porte, Colo. A public meeting is tentatively scheduled for tonight at the evacuation center for 6:30 p.m. tonight.

If you have large animals, you may take them to The Ranch off of I-25. Highway 14 is closed from Stove Prairie to Ted’s Place until further notice. Residents can use the road to leave.

As of this afternoon the fire is estimated to be at 5,090 acres and growing.

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road closuresand updates:

Residents along Hwy 14 between MM 110 to 115 are being asked to get ready to evacuate.

In an update from the offices of Larimer county this morning officials have started pre-planning and coordination with the Livermore and Glacier View Fire Protection Districts in the event the fire moves in that direction.

Road closures are expected along hwy 14. Specifically hwy 14 will be closed this afternoon at the intersection of hwy 287/Ted’s Place. CDOT will also close SH 14 eastbound traffic to Stove Prairie Campground.

Health warning:

Children, Elderly, and People with Respiratory Conditions

If you can see or smell smoke, children, elderly, pregnant women, and people with pre-existing respiratory conditions should stay inside with the windows and doors closed. If it is hot outside, run an air conditioner if you have one, but keep the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside. If you do not have an air conditioner and it is too warm to stay inside with the windows closed, seek shelter elsewhere.

Complete information about this emergency can be found by clicking here.

flikr/Dana Dean

Natural disasters such as tornadoes can bring out the best in people, as strangers reach out to help others in need. Unfortunately, crises also bring out those who choose to take advantage of the victims. According to the Better Business Bureau, one of the most common “after-disaster” scams involves roofs.

Whether your roof got hit hard by a natural disaster or just needs to be replaced due to time, take precautions when it comes to hiring a roofing contractor. In 2011, BBB received more than 3.3 million inquiries from consumers looking to find a roofer they could trust – making it the top inquired industry in the BBB system.

If you need a new roof or just a repair, your BBB advises:

Do your research. Check with your insurance company about policy coverage and specific filing requirements. Save all receipts if temporary roofing repairs are necessary.

Stay calm. Although you may be anxious to get things back to normal, avoid letting emotions get the better of you. Don’t be pressured into making an immediate decision with a long-term impact.

Shop around. Get three to four estimates based on the same specifications and materials. Check out references and verify that the contractor is required to be licensed and/or registered to do work in your area. Also, check with your local building inspector to see if a building permit is required.

Avoid high-pressure sales tactics. Be wary of door-to-door workers who claim to have leftover materials from a job “down the street” or who do not have a permanent place of business.

Get everything in writing. Clearly written proposals that are detailed and broken down into separate line items are a good sign that the contractor is thorough and has prepared an accurate estimate. Require a written contract that includes their name, address, license number and phone number. Read and understand the contract in its entirety, don’t sign a blank contract, and make sure you get a copy of the signed contract at the time of signature.  Some contracts include a clause where substantial cancellation fees or liquidation damages are required if the homeowner decides not to use the contractor after insurance approval of the claim. In some instances you may be required to pay the full agreed price if you cancel after the three-day cancellation period.

Start With Trust. For trustworthy consumer tips and information, visit wynco.bbb.org or call 970-484-1348 or 800-564-0371.

[BetterBusinessBureau.org]

Ethan Miller, Getty Images

A sad day in music as we are getting information that Donna Summer has died this morning after a battle with breast cancer.

According to TMZ Summer was in Florida at the time of her death. She was 63-years-old. Summer was a 5-time Grammy winner who shot to superstardom in the ’70s with iconic hits like “Last Dance,” “Hot Stuff” and “Bad Girls.”

[ Global Grind ]

Flickr - stepol

The Hewlett Gulch fire grew in size over night from about 1,000 to about 5,000 acres. Highway 14 could be closed from time to time today to facilitate fire fighting. Officials have also released an air quality health advisory because of excessive smoke in the atmosphere.

Detailed information on the fire can be found at http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2863/ or by calling the Forest Service Information line at 498-1030.

Kyra 

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Meet Kyra, the friendliest cat around. Whether there are other pets or even little tikes in the home, Kyra welcomes new pals. Kyra is a 6-year-old, spayed female Domestic Mediumhair that is calm and confident, classified as an orange “Sidekick” in the Meet Your Match program. This independent feline is always great company but welcomes time alone to pamper herself, as well. This gracious little lady can be yours for $25.

Oreo 

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This charmer is just as sweet as can be! Oreo is a five-month-old, female mouse who can’t get enough playtime on his wheel or snuggle time with his favorite person. Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to share your life with this delightful, low-maintenance pet. Oreo can be yours for $5 today.

Ringo 

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Ringo gets by with a little help from his friends. This 3-year-old, male Pit Bull will make your heart sing. Classified as an orange “Busy Bee” in the Meet Your Match program, Ringo is a playful and trusting pal who will join you on adventures and then curl up with you to unwind. Snatch this rock star up today for $100.

To visit with these featured pets or any other adoptable animal, stop by Larimer Humane Society at 6317 Kyle Avenue in Ft. Collins. The shelter is open from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more info, call (970) 226-3647 or visit larimerhumane.org.

Dan Kitwood, Getty Images

A while back, we told you about the Jewish girls’ school in Brooklyn that instituted a Facebook ban for its students, saying using the social media site violated its religious tenets.

Now an elementary school in Australia is following suit, but its demand that kids delete their Facebook pages has an entirely different reason: it’s an attempt to wipe out cyber-bullying.

Leonie Hultgren, principal of Harlaxton State School in Toowoomba, Queensland, said in a newsletter that children must obey Facebook’s rule stating no one under 13 is permitted to sign up for an account. It’s not uncommon for kids to lie about their ages to circumvent that policy, but Hultgren said any of her charges who did so would face expulsion.

Falsifying one’s age to gain access to Facebook is not only against the law, she wrote, but “there has been some considerable Facebook traffic that either bullies a child of this school or in some cases denigrates some staff and the school. Either of these circumstances warrant the school becoming involved.”

Some parents are outraged at the new policy, but child psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg applauds it, saying Hultgren’s stance is “directly related to the lack of supervision of very young people who do not have the skills, knowledge and strategies to manage their digital behavior.”

[The Age]

The Hewlett Gulch fire in Poudre Canyon could still be days away from containment as over 300 fire personnel and quite a few ground and air vehicles battle the blaze. One firefighter has been injured and residents of the area are on standby for evacuation.

No further details are available as to how the fire started, except that it was caused by human activity. For up to date information, please visit the Larimer County Emergency Information Update website.

Paramount Pictures / Universal Pictures / Lionsgate

This weekend, you’ll have your choice between a goofy comedy, watching things blow up, and a tale about the joys and perils of new parenthood.

In ‘The Dictator,’ Sacha Baron Cohen stars as the title character who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed.

Based on the classic board game, ‘Battleship’ is an epic action-adventure that unfolds across the seas, in the skies and over land as our planet fights for survival against a superior force.

And ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting,’ inspired by the self-help book of the same name, tells the story of a group of expectant parents dealing with the surprise demands of pregnancy.

Here’s a sneak peek.

‘The Dictator’

Directed by: Larry Charles
Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley, Jason Mantzoukas
Get Tickets & Showtimes

‘Battleship’

Directed by: Peter Berg
Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgård, Rihanna, Brooklyn Decker, Tadanobu Asano, Hamish Linklater, Liam Neeson
Get Tickets & Showtimes

‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’

Directed by: Kirk Jones
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Chace Crawford, Brooklyn Decker, Ben Falcone, Anna Kendrick, Matthew J. Morrison
Get Tickets & Showtimes

AndyRobersPhotos, Flickr

Many say healthy eating is more expensive than eating not-so-healthy. It seems like you can get those sugary snacks and value deals pretty cheap, but a new study finds that healthy eating might actually be cheaper when you break down the prices. New findings indicate that most fruits, vegetables and healthier choices might actually cost less than those higher in fat, sugar and sodium.

The government says that it’s all in how you compare the cost. When they broke comparisons down, the study found that grains, vegetables and fruits are actually less expensive that meats and higher fat and sugary foods.

That means bananas, carrots, lettuce and pinto beans are all less expensive per portion than French fries, soft drinks, ice cream or ground beef.

“Using price per calorie doesn’t tell you how much food you’re going to get or how full you are going to feel,” said Andrea Carlson, scientist at the USDA’s Economic Research Service and an author of the study.

[ 9news.com ]

Jason Merritt, Getty Images

Is Jennifer Lopez the most powerful celebrity in the world? Forbes magazine thinks so and has placed J.Lo atop its Celebrity 100 list, citing her “stunning career reinvention” as a judge on ‘American Idol’ and her renewed success as a performer.

Lopez pocketed $52 million over the past 12 months to beat out megastars like Oprah Winfrey, Justin Bieber and Tom Cruise for the No. 1 spot. Forbes credits Lopez for landing endorsement deals and perfume and clothing lines just a couple years after her career seemed to be in trouble following a series of album and movie failures.

The magazine noted that J. Lo has huge followings on Facebook and Twitter, making her one of the queens of social media, a factor that helped her achieve the No. 1 ranking. Unlike most Forbes lists, this one isn’t based strictly on income, but rather on a subjective analysis of fame, which the magazine defines as “media visibility in print, television, radio and online, plus social media power, which we measure by looking at each celebrity’s presence on Facebook and Twitter.”

Oprah places second, just ahead of Bieber, who graces the cover. The Biebs raked in a whopping $55 million, a figure that could go up next year with the release of his upcoming ‘Believe’ album. Forbes credits Bieber for his often-overlooked business dealings, noting that he has stakes in Spotify and Tinychat.

Three of pop music’s biggest female artists hold down spots 4-6: Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and Britney Spears, while Katy Perry comes in at No. 8. Other artists who rank highly include Taylor Swift (No. 11), Beyonce (No. 17), Adele (No. 24), Jay-Z (No. 38) and Kanye West (No. 45).

[button href="http://popcrush.com/most-anticipated-2012-summer-tour-readers-poll/" title="Vote for J. Lo's 2012 Summer Tour in PopCrush Poll" align="center"]

Source: PopCrush.com

andrusdevelopment, Flickr

There is some trouble brewing in the “Sweetheart City.” Loveland is holding an open forum this evening for the public to share their input over the city’s marketing, logo and new slogans. This week, the city received many emails complaining about the new marketing and asking for a re-do.

A logo that can be interpreted variously as a letter “L,” a heart, or a piece of sculpture does the work along with these tag lines: “Loveland: Everything You Love,” and “Loveland: Colorado’s Masterpiece.”

[ Reporter-Herald ]

If you want to share your input, there is a forum tonight at City Hall at 500 E. Third Street in Loveland at 6 p.m.

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Reports this afternoon from the Denver Channel are saying that the fire continues to burn out of control and is still only 5% contained.

There are no official orders to evacuate but many residents are taking their pets and getting out of the area.

The fire is difficult to fight as its in rough, steep terrain about 20 miles northwest of Fort Collins. According to officials on site the fire is active and heading northeast. Residents that haven’t decided to leave yet are packing up boxes to be able to leave at a moments notice. These homes are along hwy 14 between mile markers 110 and 115.

Officials are also considering putting new neighborhoods — Glacier View and Livermore — on possible standby to evacuate.

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As reported by the Denver Channel, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman, Jackie Parks, the Hewlitt Gulch fire in the Poudre Canyon was caused by humans near a hiking trail Monday afternoon. As of this morning the fire has burned through 982 acres.