About Laramie County, WY

The Cheyenne Animal Shelter will be conducting off-site adoption drives during the month of January on

Saturday, January 8

Sierra Trading Post

11 am to 3 pm

Saturday, January 15

Petco

12 pm to 4 pm

Saturday, January 29

Murdoch's

11 am to 2 pm

Several wonderful adoptable animals (canines and felines) will be on site looking for a caring new home and a second chance at life.

For over 30 years, the Cheyenne Animal Shelter has extended the hand of kindness to neglected and abused companion animals in Cheyenne and Laramie County. Their goal is to go beyond sheltering the homeless and unwanted pet populations and find a home for every adoptable companion animal that's brought to their door.

To learn more about the adoption process visit Cheyenne Animal Shelter. .

Every animal needs and deserves to be in the arms of someone who cares; why not make your arms their home today!

Now that the holidays have ended, many of us are beginning to pack up our ornaments and dispose of the Christmas tree.

The Boy Scouts will picking up Christmas Trees again this Holiday Season on Saturday, January 8, 2011

Tree pick-up will occur throughout the City Limits of Cheyenne. Trees to be picked up should be placed on the front curb by 6:30 am and must be free of tinsel, wire, nails, ornaments, plastic bags and other non-natural materials. In case of windy weather, trees should be secured to your mailbox or another fixture with twine that can be easily cut.

If you are looking to dispose of your tree prior to Saturday's pick-up, you are urged to drop it off at one of the following locations:

• City Compost Facility: Thursday and Friday, 10 am to 5 pm or Saturday, Noon to 4 pm
• Solid Waste Transfer Station: Monday through Friday, 7 am to 2:30 pm or Saturday, 6:30 am to 4 pm
• Grant Farms: Anytime in the Perineal Yard
• Riverbend Nursery: Anytime in the fenced in area outside the gate

New Year's is celebrated by many every year in numerous different ways. Whether you spend the night relaxing at home, or spend a night out on the town, as long as you ring in the New Year surrounded with people you love, you will have a great start to 2011.

Along with ringing in the New Year, comes the ever so popular New Year's resolutions. If you plan to make one for the upcoming year, remember to make your resolution practical, achievable, and make it something that bring health, happiness, and/or joy to you and those around you.

Some popular resolutions that are made year after year include:

• Become more self-confident
• Lose weight
• Become more cost-effective
• Give up smoking, drinking and other bad habits
• Get a superior job
• Eat correct
• Get an enhanced education
• Get out of liability
• Save money
• Get fit
• Decrease anxiety
• Take a trip
• Volunteer to help others and more

Thinking of buying a home in 2011, maybe even in 2012. Start planning now with some secrets to homebuyer budgeting, provided by Michele Lerner of Bankrate.com, and you will be on your way to affording the house of your dreams.

1. Build Strong Credit. Credit is sacred when it comes to securing a loan at the best mortgage rate. Keep an eye on your credit score as you begin to build it higher and higher. There are many places that offer free credit reports, like AnnualCreditReport.com. To improve credit scores, buyers should pay off past-due bills, pay every bill on time and reduce balances on every account to less than 30% of the available credit limit. It is also best to have three to five credit accounts, such as a car loan, student loan or credit card, for one year or longer.
2. Save Cash. To build up savings and learn to budget for actual mortgage payments down the road, buyers should make "virtual" mortgage payments. Estimate what your mortgage could be based on how much you are wanting to spend on a home and set that amount aside each month, or a portion of it to begin building your savings account. If you are currently paying rent, then take the difference between what your mortgage could be and your rent payment and set that amount aside.
3. Reduce Debt. While increasing your savings, you should also be reducing your debt. Debt-to-income ratios are an important element in a loan approval. This ratio compares minimum monthly debt payments to gross monthly income. In general, FHA will only go up to 43% and conventional lenders will only go to 41% for the overall debt-to-income ratio.
4. Get Educated. Although visiting a lender two years before a home purchase may be premature, it can be valuable for consumers to know if they qualify for a mortgage. Visit many open houses to learn how far you can really stretch your budget on buying a house. Sometimes less can buy more.

Just wanted to take the time to wish all of my Cheyenne neighbors, their families and friends, a very happy and healthy holiday!