ALPINE BANK ALTERNATIVE BANKING OPTIONS

• Alpine Bank customers can use Alpine Online to pay companies and individuals electronically, transfer money to and from your Alpine accounts and other financial institutions
• Bank anytime, anywhere with our AlpineMobile app. Find us on the app store on your iPhone, iPad or Android device - Must be enrolled in Alpine Online banking
• Visit a surcharge-free ATM. Alpine Bank is part of the Allpoint ATM network, 43,000+ ATMs across the U.S.
• Use our automated information phone line, 888-4-Alpine (888-425-7463), for 24-hour access to account balance, account history, transfer funds, make payments, and activate or report a lost or stolen debit card.
• Use our green Live Chat button found on the right side of every alpinebank.com page
• To learn more, call your local Alpine Bank branch, or visit online www.alpinebank.com

IKON PASS ADDS TWO NEW SKI AREAS FOR NEXT SEASON

Alterra Mountain Company, the owner of the Ikon Pass, announced that there will be two new mountains added to the pass for the upcoming season, Mt. Bachelor in Oregon and Windham Mountain in New York. That brings the total number of areas available to Ikon Pass holders to 43. Ikon Pass holders have seven days at each ski area without blackout dates. Base Pass holders have five days at each area with some blackout dates.

PRESIDENT MOVES TO KEEP MEAT PROCESSING PLANTS OPEN

President Donald Trump Tuesday signed an executive order designed to keep meat-processing plants open. Hundreds of workers at the plants have fallen ill and there have been concerns about meat-supply shortages. The president invoked the Defense Production Act to keep the facilities open, designating the plants as critical infrastructure under the law. The order directs the Agriculture Secretary to take all necessary steps to ensure the continued operations of meat and poultry processing facilities. At the same time, the Labor Department will issue guidance to protect meat-processing workers.

STREAMING MOVIES WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR OSCARS IN ONE-TIME MOVE

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that the consideration for the award of Oscars will include films that were not released in cinemas because of the nationwide shutdown of movie theaters. The Academy said it was a one-time-only provision and it represents a major change for the Academy which has maintained very strict eligibility rules for its iconic awards. The rules will be changed only for the 93rd Academy Awards, scheduled for Feb. 28, 2021, the Academy said.

ASPEN COUNCIL OK'S STRICT RULES ON 5G TECHNOLOGY, MAJOR LEGAL ISSUES

The Aspen City Council Tuesday approved strict rules on the small-cell wireless infrastructure that supports 5G technology. The major provision was that carriers had to provide annual reports that detail the radio frequency emissions from specific sites in order to determine potential health effects. That provision brought a major objection from lawyers representing Verizon, who argued in a letter to council that the council's requirement of a report violated the federal Telecommunications Act. The council already felt hamstrung because the Federal Communications Commission had significantly reduced local control of small-cell wireless infrastructure, including any regulations on the basis of health concerns and radio frequency emissions.

CHANGES AT ASPEN CITY HALL: FOSTER NEW ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER

Aspen City Manager Sara Ott Tuesday announced that Diane Foster is the new assistant manager, filling a post that has been vacant for 16 months. Foster is the former city manager of Park City, Utah. She left her position in Park City in October 2019. Ott also announced that longtime manager of parks and recreation Jeff Woods is retiring. Woods worked for the city for a decade and will officially retire June 30. The city manager said she will leave the position open for the rest of the year as the parks department has taken a severe financial hit due to the loss of tax revenues.

BLM GEARING UP FOR WILDFIRE SEASON

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management issued a news release this week that said it is working with federal, state and local partners to develop COVID-19 plans to provide for the safety of wildland firefighting personnel. The move comes as some local firefighters will be restricted to their local areas because of COVID-19 concerns and state inmate firefighting crews are not able to leave prisons due to COVID-19. The BLM has dozens of helicopters, air tankers and other aircraft on contract for the season, and access to well over 1,000 additional aircraft through partnerships and call-when-needed contracts.

COUNTRY JAM, PALISADE BLUEGRASS AND ROOTS FESTIVAL CANCELED THIS YEAR

On its website, Country Jam announced that this year's Jam, scheduled for June 18-21 has been canceled. People who have purchased tickets can transfer their tickets to next year's festival or request a refund. To request a refund, go the Country Jam website before May 30. Also on Tuesday, the Palisade Board of Trustees voted unanimously to postpone the Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Festival until June 2021. The town will be offering refunds to people who had reserved tickets, but will be encouraging them to instead roll that reservation over to next year.

CORONAVIRUS TESTING NOW AT MERCY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

Officials at Mercy Regional Medical Center Tuesday announced that the medical center is now offering widespread community testing for coronavirus. The Mercy announcement said testing would be offered at the Emergency Department. Previously, Mercy had only tested patients with severe symptoms. Now, Mercy can test anyone with known symptoms of COVID-19. Tests are also available seven days a week at Durango's Centura Centers for Occupational Medicine clinic for all those who have a medical provider referral, effective immediately.

VAIL IS FIRST MOBILE PLASMA COLLECTION SITE IN THE STATE

Vail and Eagle County was the location of some of the first known cases of COVID-19 in the state and the now, Eagle County is the first county in the state to have an approved plan for re-opening business. Because it was first in known cases, there are also people who have recovered from COVID-19 and those people can give blood plasma that might help critically ill patients. Vitalant, the nation’s second-largest independent blood provider, was in Vail Tuesday for one of the country’s first mobile convalescent plasma donor events. The Vitalant mobile lab will be back tomorrow, Thursday, April 30, and return for the next two Tuesdays and Thursdays after that.

STIMULUS CHECKS: GOOD MEASURE OF COST-OF-LIVING IN A STATE

Ownerly, a New York-based company that tracks home-pricing data, calculated the amount of the average household's estimated stimulus check amount in each state, then compared it to the typical monthly household expenses and ranked all 50 states. Where the check went furthest:

• 1. Mississippi: Estimated average stimulus check amount: $2,659; typical monthly bills: $1,491; share covered: 178 percent
• 2. Arkansas: Ave. check: $2,489; bills: $1,398; share covered: 178 percent
• 3. Oklahoma: Ave. check: $2,434; bills: 1,437; share covered: 169 percent
• 4. West Virginia: Ave. check: 2,470; bills: $1,483; share covered: 167 percent
• 5. South Dakota: Ave. check: $2,248; bills: $1,384; share covered: 162 percent
• 6. Alabama: Ave. check: $2,515; bills: $1,588; share covered: 158 percent
• 7. Kentucky: Ave. check: $2,371; bills: $1,517; share covered: 157 percent
• 8. New Mexico: Ave. check: $2,571; bills: $1,674; share covered: 154 percent

STIMULUS CHECKS: GOOD MEASURE OF COST-OF-LIVING IN A STATE

Ownerly, a New York-based company that tracks home-pricing data, calculated the amount of the average household's estimated stimulus check amount in each state, then compared it to the typical monthly household expenses and ranked all 50 states. Where the check helped least:

• 42. Colorado: Ave. check: $2,033; bills: $2.300; share covered: 88 percent
• 43. New Hampshire: Ave. check: $1,899; bills: $2,198; share covered: 86 percent
• 44. Maryland: Ave. check: $1,918; bills: $2,279: share covered: 84 percent
• 45. Washington: Ave. check: $1,946; bills: $2,373: share covered: 82 percent
• 46. New Jersey: Ave. check: $1,931; bills: $2,586; share covered: 75 percent
• 47. New York: Ave. check: $2,121; bills: $2,847; share covered: 74 percent
• 48. Hawaii: Ave. check: $2,189; bills: $2,948; share covered: 74 percent
• 49. California: Ave. check: $2,206; bills: $3,116; share covered: 71 percent
• 50. Massachusetts: Ave. check: $1,879; bills: $2,880; share covered: 65 percent

HONORING MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES ACROSS COLORADO

Alpine Bank is a proud sponsor of the upcoming 2020 Governor’s Minority Business Awards happening in August 2020. All for-profit, minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses that have contributed to the economic diversity and success of Colorado diverse communities are encouraged to apply to one of the four award categories: micro, small, medium and large businesses across four regions of our state. An additional award will be given to recognize a for-profit, non-minority-owned business that strongly supports the minority-owned business community. This exciting event will be held at the Governor’s Mansion on Wednesday, Aug. 26, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Awardees, donors, MBO partners and VIPs will be invited to celebrate the award recipients at this ceremony. Applications for nominees are open through April 30, self-nominations are acceptable and encouraged. Benefits and eligibility requirements are listed on the MBO website at the link below.