LISTEN TO LOCAL NEWS

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FOR MOFFAT AND RIO BLANCO COUNTIES

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for today in Moffat and Rio Blanco Counties.  A Red Flag Warning means weather conditions are dry, warm and windy enough for any outdoor fire to get out of hand.  Residents are not supposed to burn trash or weeds on Red Flag Warning days.  While the warning doesn’t apply to Routt County, officials would still like to be notified if any private burning will be taking place.  The warning applies from noon to 9 tonight.

 

STEAMBOAT WATER OFFICIALS RECOMMEND WATER SAVING TIPS

The City of Steamboat has issued water use guidelines in anticipation of another summer of drought.  The recommendations include not watering lawns between 10 in the morning and 6 in the evening, using spring loaded nozzles when irrigating, and not wasting potable water on irrigation or cleaning.  City water officials also say you should adjust your sprinklers so your not wasting water on concrete surfaces, and you should cut your lawn no shorter than 3 inches to reduce soil moisture loss and promote deeper roots.  While the recommendations are only guidelines at this point, if dry conditions persist this summer, the local water districts will make those recommendations mandatory.  For more information on water saving tips, click here.

 

CULVERT REPLACEMENT SOUTH OF CRAIG WILL MEAN TRAFFIC DELAYS

There will be traffic delays between Loudy Simpson Park and the Craig/Moffat Airport next week.  New culverts will be put in next week on Moffat County Road 35, at the intersection of Highway 394.  County Road 35 is between Ranney and the airport.  Those with business at the airport or the golf course should give themselves e a little extra time.  The work starts Monday and should last through Thursday.  If you have questions you can call the Moffat County Road and Bridge Department.

 

STUDENTS NEED HELP ATTENDING NATIONAL COMPETITIONS

Two students from Moffat County High School have been invited to the National DECA and Future Business Leaders of America competition.  A request for donations doesn’t mention where that competition will take place, however the students need some help getting there.  Thomas McCoy and Adam Foster need to raise about $4,000 by Monday.  Any and all donations would be appreciated.  The boys will even make a formal request in person to you or your organization.  If you would like to make a donation or schedule a presentation, you can call 824-7036.

 

VOTER DEADLINES APPROACH AS PRIMARY ELECTION LOOMS

There are a couple of deadlines coming up for those that plan to vote in the primary election next month.  The state has moved primary elections up to June 26th this year in an effort to make the election more relevant on the national front.  Those that plan to change their party affiliation will need to do so by May 25th.  If you simply need to register to vote in the primary election, the deadline to do so is May 29th.  Those that plan to run for office as an unaffiliated candidate have until June 4th to file a nomination petition.  June 4th is also the day ballots will start getting mailed out to voters.  If you have questions, call your local County Clerk and Recorder’s Office.

 

LETTER CARRIERS WILL CONDUCT FOOD DRIVE NEXT WEEK

Local letter carriers will again participate in the annual National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive next week.  Saturday may 12th, residents are asked to leave a donation of non-perishable food items next to their mailbox for carriers to pick up.  A press release says all food collected will go to local food banks, which will then distribute items as necessary.  Last year, postal carriers nationwide collected over 70 million pounds of food.  Craig residents alone donated 3,500 pounds of that total.  Boxes will also be set up inside local post office lobbies, for those who don’t have home service.

 

POSTAL SERVICE ASKED TO CONTINUE MORATORIUM UNTIL REFORM BILL IS PASSED

A moratorium preventing post office closures ends this month, and a group of lawmakers are urging the U.S. Postal Service to extend it.  The group of 41U.S.Senators has asked that the moratorium stay in effect until a postal reform bill is passed.  The Postal Service has a list of rural post offices slated for closure, something the agency says needs to be done to keep the financially afloat.  However, lawmakers have been coming up with ideas to keep those rural office open, especially in areas where a closure would cause major inconveniences.  The current moratorium was enacted to avoid tax day issues, but ends May 15th.

 

DRUGGED DRIVING BILL PASSES HOUSE COMMITTEE

A legal marijuana limit for drivers similar to the blood-alcohol standard is closer to approval in Colorado. A House committee approved the measure 6-5 yesterday after hours of testimony debating whether drivers should be considered impaired if they test positive for 5 nanograms or more of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, per milliliter of blood.  Driving while impaired by marijuana or any drug is already illegal, but supporters of the THC blood limit say law enforcement needs an analogous standard to the blood-alcohol standard to keep stoned drivers off the road.  A similar bill failed last year in the Senate, but the measure faces better odds this year. The 5 nanogram standard already cleared the Senate and easily passed the House last year.  The White House has called for all states to adopt “drugged driving” standards.

 

CIVIL UNIONS BILL APPEARS HEADED FOR APPROVAL

Gay couples campaigning for civil unions in Colorado have claimed their biggest victory yet as a key Republican-led House committee advanced a bill yesterday that it had previously opposed.  The new found support means Colorado is likely to become the latest of more than a dozen states to provide legal protections to gay couples similar to marriage.  The measure approved yesterday evening faces two more committee votes, but sponsors are optimistic they have enough support to get the legislation to Governor John Hickenlooper, who is firmly behind the plan. The measure has already passed the Senate.

 

STATE’S SNOWPACK IS NEARLY GONE

Colorado’s snowpack is quickly melting, as warm, dry conditions persist.  The Natural Resources Conservation Service says the statewide snowpack was 19 percent of average as of May 1, with more than half of all snow survey locations in the state reporting no snow. The statewide snowpack was listed at 22 percent of average yesterday.  State conservationist Phyllis Ann Philipps of the Natural Resources Conservation Service says the statewide snowpack looks to have peaked around March 12, which is a month ahead of average. Current conditions match those recorded during the record-setting drought of 2002 in Colorado.  The state’s water storage volumes in reservoirs are above average, thanks partly to a wet winter last year, but there’s still a potential for water shortages late in the summer.

In high school sports:
Yesterday:
In girls lacrosse:
Steamboat lost to Eagle Valley.

In girls tennis:
At regionals in Grand Junction, all Steamboat players advanced to today’s finals.

Today:
In girls soccer:
Steamboat hosts Palisade at 6.
Moffat County hosts Battle Mountain at 4.

In girls tennis:
Steamboat continues at regionals in Grand Junction

Tomorrow:
In baseball:
Rangely plays Delores in Cortez at 10 in the district tournament.
Moffat County hosts a double header with Glenwood.  The first game starts at 11.

In girls lacrosse:
Steamboat is on the road to Aspen at noon.

In boys lacrosse:
Steamboat hosts Denver East in the first round of the playoffs at 6.

In track:
Rangely, Moffat County, Steamboat, Soroco, Meeker and Hayden run at Battle Mountain at 9.