Hybrid Snow Plow on Golden Streets

Hybrid vehicles have now come to an unexpected place -- behind a snow plow. Erase the image of a Prius pushing a blade from your head right now -- Jefferson County officials have modified a hybrid dump truck to be what they believe is the country's first hybrid snowplow. The 2009 International Model 7300 Hybrid is normally used as a delivery vehicle. Fleet services tricked out the truck to push a plow, while reducing hydrocarbon emissions from a typical diesel snowplow by as much as 65 percent, according to the county. County officials said the hybrid snowplow will use 30 percent to 50 percent less fuel than standard snowplows, a real savings given the roughly $250 cost to a fill the snowplow's tank. Officials will measure the performance of the $162,240 snowplow before deciding whether to add more to the fleet.

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Flu Shot Clinics Tomorrow

A reminder that the H1N1 flu vaccine is now available to everyone in the area served by the Northeast Colorado Health Department, and there are two mass clinics tomorrow. The first is in Yuma at the Quintech Building; the second is in Wray at the Wray Rehabilitation and Activities Center. They will both be from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. or until vaccine runs out. H1N1 vaccinations from NCHD are free of charge.

In order to speed up the process of a large walk-in clinic, residents are urged to visit the health department’s web site, www.nchd.org, and print out the appropriate H1N1 consent forms listed on the front page. There are two forms listed in both English and Spanish, one for adults age 18 and over and one for children. A separate consent form must be filled out for each person receiving a vaccination. Those that print and fill out the forms prior to showing up at the clinic will move through the check-in process faster.