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BENNET TO DISCUSS FARM BILL IN HAYDEN FRIDAY EVENING
Senator Michael Bennet will be in Hayden Friday. The senator is a member of the Senate Agricultural Committee, and plans to hold a Farm Bill listening session. According to a press release, Bennet wants to hear ideas on how best to support the state’s agricultural producers, and drive job creation and economic development in rural areas. He’ll meet with the public Friday evening at 7 at the Haven in Hayden. If you want to be there, you have to reserve your spot by calling 846-5607 or by sending an RSVP e-mail to RSVP2@bennet.senate.gov
POWER OUTAGES IN CRAIG AND MAYBELL OVER THE WEEKEND
The cause of a power outage in Craig Monday was technical in nature. Monday, residents in the Ridgeview subdivision in Craig were inconvenienced with a series of outages that lasted a little less than four hours. It was due to a failed cable. There were just over 100 customers affected, and the cable itself was repaired yesterday. An outage in Maybell Sunday was caused by a cat that got into the substation there. The cat did not make it.
PRESCRIBED BURN PLANNED FOR ALDRICH LAKES AREA
Forest officials are planning a prescribed burn in the Aldrich Lakes area sometime over the next month. Rangers will wait for favorable weather conditions. The site is 19 miles northwest of Meeker, and the same distance south of Craig on both private and Forest lands. Rangers expect the burn to improve wildlife habitat by stimulating new growth. They also say the area has not had any fires for years, and therefore needs to be cleared of many of the fuels that would allow a fire to get out of hand. There is no set date for the burn, but when it happens, motorists along highway 13 between Craig and Meeker will likely see smoke from the highway.
FULLER CENTER TO DEMOLISH SIMMONS ROOMING HOUSE
The Moffat County Fuller Center for Housing has been given approval to take down the Simmons Rooming House in Craig. Demolition starts next weekend. The group is looking for volunteers to help with the work. They’ll provide hard hats, safety glasses, and gloves to those that don’t have any. All volunteers will also be served lunch on work days. Fuller Center reps will take next week to assess the work that needs to be done. The first two work days will be September 17th and 18th. If you’d like to help out, call 824-7087.
FASTER PROJECTS ON TAP FOR NORTHWEST COLORADO
The Colorado Department of transportation’s FASTER program has projects waiting in Northwest Colorado. FASTER is Funding Advancements for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery. It funds highway projects. One of the projects on tap is the replacement of the East Fork Elk River Bridge on Highway 40. The plan is to have it done by next fall at a cost of over 8 million dollars. Another project expected to be done next fall is the reconstruction of a section of Highway 131 near Oak Creek. Work there is currently underway. The program has also funded projects in the past, such as recent culvert replacements on both Highways 13 and 40. More information about FASTER projects can be found on the Transportation Department’s web site.
HIGH-QUALITY HUNTS ANNOUNCED IN MEEKER
MEEKER, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife, in cooperation with two local landowners, is offering big-game hunters an opportunity to apply for a limited number of high-quality elk and mule deer hunts on private ranch land in the Meeker area.
A total of 27 hunts will be available to hunters who have already drawn limited deer and elk licenses for Game Management Unit 23 for the coming big-game seasons. Hunters who are interested in applying for these hunts must do so in writing by October 3.
“This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for hunters,” said District Wildlife Manager Bailey Franklin. “We encourage everyone to take advantage of this chance to enjoy this rare, high-quality private land hunting experience.”
This unusual opportunity grew out of the working relationship between local rancher Mike Grady, the Klinglesmith family and wildlife managers with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Local wildlife managers are spearheading a large-scale big-game habitat improvement effort in the region. Grady and the Klinglesmith family have placed conservation easements on more than 13,000 acres of important big-game habitat in the area and are participating in the habitat improvement program.
The properties are within the White River mule deer and elk herd units, which are the two largest big-game populations in the state of Colorado. Habitat varies on the 13,000-acre properties, consisting of high elevation aspen forest, mountain shrub lands and lower elevation pinyon-juniper woodland and sagebrush.
A limited amount of public access for mule deer and elk hunting was negotiated as part of the perpetual conservation easement agreements on both the LK Ranch and the Grady properties, which are jointly managed as a big-game recreational hunting enterprise. Some limited form of public access will now occur annually on these properties.
Between now and October 3, the Meeker Service Center of Colorado Parks and Wildlife will be accepting applications from hunters with valid tags for GMU 23. These hunts are open to all eligible hunters, though special preference will be given to youth and military veterans. There is no cost associated with the application.
The following hunts will be available:
FOUR UNGUIDED BUCK MULE DEER HUNTS
- Second regular rifle season – 10/22 through 10/30/2011
- Applicant must have drawn a limited deer license for DM012O2R
- Applicant must confirm eligibility and indicate interest in buck deer hunts
- Five day access – Days are selected by landowners and the Meeker District Wildlife Manager
FOUR UNGUIDED BULL ELK HUNTS
- Fourth regular rifle season – 11/16 to 11/20/2011
- Applicant must have drawn a limited elk license for EE012O4R
- Applicant must confirm eligibility and indicate interest in the bull elk hunt
19 UNGUIDED LATE-SEASON COW ELK HUNTS
- First Cow Season – 11/25 to 11/29/2011
- Five hunters will be selected
- Applicant must have drawn a limited license, or purchase a leftover license for hunt code EF011P5R
- Applicant must confirm eligibility and indicate interest in the first season cow elk hunt
- Second Cow season - 12/3 to 12/7/2011
- Five hunters will be selected
- Applicant must have drawn a limited license or purchase a leftover license for hunt code EF023P5R
- Applicant must confirm eligibility and indicate interest in the second season cow elk hunt
- Third Cow season – 12/11 to 12/15/2011
- Five hunters will be selected
- Applicant must have drawn a limited license or purchase a leftover license for hunt
code EF023P5R
- Applicant must confirm eligibility and note interest in the third cow elk hunt
- Fourth Cow Season – 12/19 to 12/23/2011
- Four hunters will be selected
- Applicant must have drawn a limited license or purchase a leftover license for hunt code EF023P5R
- Applicant must confirm eligibility and indicate interest in the fourth cow elk hunt
To be considered for these hunting opportunities, eligible hunters must submit an application to:
Colorado Parks & Wildlife – Meeker Service Center Attn: Bailey Franklin/Special LK Ranch Hunts PO Box 1181, Meeker CO 81641
All applications must be received by 5 p.m. Monday, October 3, 2011.
Applications can be printed from our website at the following link: http://wildlife.state.co.us/SiteCollectionDocuments/DOW/Hunting/BigGame/LKRanchSpecialHuntApplication.pdf
Hunters who have qualified will receive notification and specific dates and details in early October.
All selected hunters will be required to follow travel restrictions and access rules designated on a LK Ranch public hunt map.
Please call the Colorado Parks and Wildlife office in Meeker with any questions, at (970) 878-6090.
IN HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS:
YESTERDAY:
IN BOYS SOCCER:
STEAMBOAT BEAT SUMMIT.
TODAY:
IN VOLLEYBALL:
STEAMBOAT HOSTS VAIL MOUNTAIN AT 6.
IN BOYS GOLF:
MOFFAT COUNTY HOSTS A GAME AT YAMPA VALLEY GOLF COURSE WITH STEAMBOAT, MEEKER AND RANGELY ATTENDING.
IN BOYS TENNIS:
STEAMBOAT HOSTS AIR ACADEMY.
TOMORROW:
IN VOLLEYBALL:
MOFFAT COUNTY HOSTS GRAND JUNCTION AT 6:30.
LITTLE SNAKE RIVER VALLEY WELCOMES H-E-M AT 7:30.
IN BOYS SOCCER:
MOFFAT COUNTY HEADS TO ROARING FORK AT 4.
STEAMBOAT HOSTS GLENWOOD AT 6.
IN BOYS GOLF:
MOFFAT COUNTY, MEEKER AND STEAMBOAT PLAY AT HAYMAKER GOLF COURSE AT 9.
