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STUDY SAYS MOFFAT COUNTY RESIDENTS COULD LOSE MILLIONS IN INCOME WITHOUT SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS

An on-line publication says if Moffat County residents didn’t receive their monthly payments from the Social Security Administration, 4 and a half percent of total personal income in the county would be lost.  In 2009 figures, that amounts to over $24.6 million.  That’s actually lower than the national average, which stands to lose 5 and a half percent of total personal income.  In Moffat County, Social Security recipients make up nearly 14% of the population.  However, because of the sparse population of rural counties, the recipients tend to receive higher payments than those in urban counties.  In those 2009 figures, payments to beneficiaries averaged just over $1,750 each per month.  Congress is considering the changes, while looking for ways to balance the federal budget.  The study shows the impacts the changes could have on rural counties.

 

CONDITIONS RIGHT FOR STEAMBOAT TO START MAKING SNOW

Conditions have been good for snowmaking at the Steamboat Ski resort.  With help from Mother Nature, which brought a snowstorm to Steamboat Tuesday and Wednesday, ski area officials have fired up their snowmaking machines on the mountain.  The resort is expecting another great year, as forecasters have predicted another big snow season.  The resort upgraded and extended their snowmaking abilities this year, with equipment that uses 30% less energy, while producing the same amount of snow.  Opening day for the ski area is November 23rd.  That’s Scholarship Day, when proceeds from discounted ticket sales go to the Steamboat Winter Sports Club.

 

INTERIOR DEPARTMENT MAKES PLANS FOR SOLAR POWER KNOWN

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has made public, a supplement to the federal plan to facilitate responsible utility-scale solar development on public lands in six western states, including Colorado and Utah.  The revised plan is said to reinforce and improve on the department’s work to establish meaningful solar energy zones with transmission solutions and incentives for large scale projects on public lands.  It gives a more complete description of the process for identifying the zones, including a study of transmission availability and potential conflicts.  The announcement begins a 90-day public comment period, after which the BLM will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision.  You’ll find an online comment form here.

 

NATIONAL DRUG TAKE-BACK TAKES PLACE IN CRAIG TOMORROW

The Craig Police Department and the Colorado State Patrol are participating in this year’s National Drug take Back.  The event focuses on prescription medication.  Authorities say it’s dangerous to keep outdated and unused prescription pills in your medicine cabinet.  Rates of prescription drug abuse and accidental poisonings are rising every year in the U-S, which prompted the event.  The drugs collected will be destroyed.  In Craig, you can drop off unwanted or unused prescription medication in the Centennial Mall parking lot from 10 to 2 tomorrow.

 

RECYCLING EVENT TO BE HELD IN STEAMBOAT TOMORROW

Yampa Valley recycles and the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council will host a recycling event tomorrow in Steamboat.  Staff manning the site will accept everything and anything that can be recycled, including electronics, appliances, car batteries, plastic, books, light bulbs, shoes, and more.  It takes place tomorrow from 9 to noon at Howelson Hill.  If you would like a complete list of what will be accepted, click here.

 

CRAIG CHAMBER HOSTS CRABFEST TOMORROW NIGHT

The Craig Chamber’s Crabfest is tomorrow night.  The chamber’s annual fundraiser will feature a crab dinner, live and silent auctions, and entertainment.  The Moffat County High School Theater Department will give a performance.  A comedian from Denver will also perform for the crowd.  Tickets are $50 each.  It takes place at the Boys and Girls Club in Craig.  The doors open at 6, dinner will be served at 7, and the entertainment starts at 8.  You can get tickets by calling the Craig Chamber, or at the door.

 

FULLER CENTER HAS WORK WEEKEND IN CRAIG

The Moffat County Fuller Center for Housing is planning another work weekend.  The Center has torn down the Old Simmons Rooms building and is in the process of building a home, which will eventually go to a qualifying family in the county.  The center operates with volunteers, and is asking anyone who would like to help out, to show up this weekend.  Water, snacks, hard hats and work gloves will be available for the volunteers.  Those who want to help can meet at the structure at731 Yampa Avenue between 9:30 and 5:30 tomorrow, or between 1 and 6 on Sunday.

 

SURVEY SAYS COLORADO WORKERS CAN EXPECT A RAISE NEXT YEAR

If you have a job and you’re hoping for a raise next year, the outlook is slightly better than for 2011.  The Mountain States Employer Council survey contacted more than 600 employers in Colorado, Arizona and Wyomingto come up with their predictions.  Statewide, workers could see an average 2.2 percentage raise next year.  Among individual fields, raises in the oil-gas industry top the list at 4.4 percent. The lowest projected increase is in the public sector.

 

In high school sports:
Yesterday:
In soccer:
Steamboat beat D’Evelyn in the first round of the state playoffs.

In volleyball:
Little Snake River Valley topped Hulett in the first round of the state tournament in Casper.

Today:
In Football:
Little Snake River Valley hosts Hulett at noon in the first round of the playoffs.
Hayden goes to Lake County at 7.
Rangely heads to Paonia at 7.
Steamboat travels to Battle Mountain at 7.
Meeker hosts Hotchkiss at 7.
Moffat County hosts Eagle Valley.  You can catch that game live on KRAI, with the pre-game at 6:45 and the kick-off at 7.  You can also listen online at krai.com.

In volleyball:
Little Snake River Valley plays Kaycee at 4:30 in the 2^nd round of the state tournament in Casper.

Tomorrow:
In volleyball:
Little Snake River Valley finishes up at the state tournament in Casper.
Steamboat plays at the district tournament in Durango.  They’ll take on Montrose at 10:15 and Eagle Valley at 1.
Hayden, Meeker and Rangely play at the district tournament at Soroco High School, which starts at 9.

In Soccer:
Steamboat plays at Air Academy in the second round of the state tournament.

In Cross Country:
Moffat County, Steamboat, Meeker and Rangely head to the state meet at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds.

Broncos:
The Denver Broncos host the Detroit Lions Sunday.  You can catch all the action live on 55 Country, with the pre-game at noon and the kick-off at 2.