Donation …

Gayla Cudo of Natural Soda, Inc., presented Rangely Mayor Frank Huitt and town council member Lisa Hatch a check for $15,000 on Oct. 19 to help fund a $100,000 communication system upgrade for Rangely’s emergency first responders and dispatch systems. Hatch, who applied for the grant money, said the project has been “a very big collaboration process” among emergency service entities across the county. The upgrade, which will be complete by early next year, will bring the town’s two-way radio communications within federally-mandated narrow-band requirements and provide the fire department, emergency medical personnel and police with 800 mhz radios required by the Colorado Statewide Digital Trunked Radio System. The combination of VHF narrow-band and 800 mhz radios, along with a dispatch console donated by the county, allows for “better collaboration and communications across the county,” Hatch said. A $39,000 Justice Assistance Grant, along with money from CCITF and the Rio Blanco County 911 Board, will complete the project’s funding.