News & Travel with Ore Communications

- Black Canyon park ranger’s expert advice includes time, money saving ideas and ways to optimize national parks experience -

Gunnison Point (Photo courtey of Lisa Lynch)

Montrose, Colo. – Montrose, Colo., is home to one of the nation’s most breathtaking national treasures – The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, one of nearly 400 parks in the national parks system. Each year more than 275 million visitors converge on the nation’s special places.

“When visitors come to the national parks they are able to create stories to take back with them,” says Black Canyon Park Ranger Paul Zaenger. “The wilderness of the parks enables many people to see themselves as a part of the whole community of life on Earth.”

Whether one plans a trip to Black Canyon or one of the other national parks this summer, Zaenger has these tips every park visitor should consider to create the most memorable, relaxing and enjoyable vacation story possible. Continue reading →

– Grand Junction area provides optimal lavender growing conditions  –

 Grand Junction, Colo. – The 2nd annual Colorado Lavender Festival will take place July 6-8 in the western Colorado town of Palisade.

 Hosted by the Lavender Association of Western Colorado, the event will include self-guided and guided lavender farm tours to visit area growers in peak bloom season. The Festival at Palisade Memorial Park in Palisade will feature workshops, seminars and question-and-answer sessions on topics ranging from starting a lavender farm to lavender growing tips, history, uses and cooking.  Continue reading →

Montrose Resident Wins Contest for National, Montrose Cycling Posters
-- USA Pro Cycling Challenge awards cycling enthusiast from western Colorado town  –

Montrose, Colo. – Montrose resident Leanna Johnson has created the winning designs for both the national 2012 USA Pro Cycing Challenge poster contest, and the contest to design a poster for the Montrose stage of this summer’s cycling race.

A USA Pro Cycling Challenge judging panel selected Johnson’s design from the top 10 voter choices as determined in a public online vote on facebook. Her design now will serve as the official commemorative poster for the second annual race, which will lead 135 of the world’s best cyclists on a race through the Colorado Rockies Aug. 20-26. A separate, local, Montrose judging panel selected her design for the city’s poster. The City of Montrose will host the Stage 2 Start of the race on Aug. 21.

Continue reading →

-Past competitors dish on ‘world’s largest rodeo’, offer tips for spectators-

Rock Springs, Wyo. – The Sweetwater Events Complex in Rock Springs, Wyo., will host the 64^th Annual National High School Finals Rodeo July 15-21. The event is dubbed the ‘world’s largest rodeo’ and features 1,500 of the most talented cowboys and cowgirls from across the globe. In addition to bragging rights, these competitors vie for national titles, prizes and their share of thousands of dollars in college scholarships.

Of the 15,000 National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA) members, only 10 percent qualify to compete at the national rodeo. According to NHSRA executive director James Higginbotham, this sets the stage for a competition that is fierce and fun to watch. “The National High School Finals Rodeo showcases talent that is simply unmatched at any other rodeo,” says Higginbotham. “These kids could rodeo anywhere, they’re just too young.” Continue reading →