LISTEN TO LOCAL NEWS
FIRE RESTRICTIONS EASED IN ROUTT NATIONAL FOREST
Fire restrictions are being eased a bit in the Routt National Forest. Starting today, the restrictions are being downgraded to Stage 1. That means campers can once again build campfires within the forest, but those fire still need to be in provided grates at established camp sites. The Medicine Bow National Forest and Thunder Basin National Grassland in Wyoming are still under Stage 2 restrictions, which outlaws campfires. Foresters say the downgrade on the Colorado side reflects the recent moisture the area has received. Stage 1 restrictions prohibit smoking anywhere except inside a building or a vehicle, using fireworks, doing any kind of work that requires an open flame, and most fires. The exceptions are campfires within an established pit, and petroleum fueled stoves.
CRAIG HOLIDAY INN TO REMAIN HOLIDAY INN
The Holiday Inn in Craig will remain a Holiday Inn. The hotel was put out to bid earlier this week, but according to a source at the hotel, bidders failed to meet the minimum amount that was being asked. The bidders’ identities weren’t made public, but according to the source there was more than one making a pitch for the hotel. The hotel will remain a Holiday Inn indefinitely, as there are no immediate plans to put it back on the auction block. It’s not clear what the reserve price was, but the high bid came in at just over $3 million.
STEAMBOAT RELAY FOR LIFE TO BE HELD TONIGHT
The Steamboat Relay For Life starts tonight. The event is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, with proceeds going toward the search for a cure. The Relay will take place on the Steamboat High School track, where participants will walk all night. The overnight activity is a symbolic message that cancer never sleeps. The opening ceremony is at 6 tonight, and cancer survivors will kick off the walking by taking the first lap themselves. This year’s event will feature a Mr. Relay competition that will see men dressing in drag to collect as much money they can in a 30 minute time period. That particular part of the night starts at 12:30. The winner will get gift certificates to various businesses. The walking ends at 8 tomorrow morning, and the closing ceremony takes place at 9.
AUTHORITIES LOOK CLUES TO AURORA SHOOTING IN GRAND COUNTY
A report says FBI and ATF agents have visited two separate gun shops between Winter Park and Hot Sulphur Springs, questioning the stores’ owners about Aurora shooting suspect James Holmes. 9 News is reporting that the owner of C&M Guns in Hot Sulphur Springs says the agents visited him Saturday, Monday and Tuesday and asked him whether the suspect had ever purchased ammo from his store. The owner told them no, and that he had never seen the suspect before. According to the owner, the agents told him the suspected shooter had likely been using the Beyer’s Canyon Gun Range in Hot Sulphur Springs. The agents also mentioned the suspect had likely been in the area back in June and that his hair was dyed red at that time. Local hotel owners were also questioned and asked if the suspect had stayed in any of their rooms. The owner of the Canyon Hotel says he doesn’t remember the suspected shooter ever staying there.
STEAMBOAT TO BEGIN PHASE TWO OF WATERLINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT MONDAY
Steamboat’s City Utilities Division is getting ready to start the second phase of the Elk River Road waterline replacement project, which means a new traffic route. Work on the waterline began last month. The second phase of the project starts Monday. The new traffic detour restores northbound traffic to its normal lane from highway 40 to the intersection at Copper Ridge Drive and Downhill Drive. At that point, northbound traffic will be routed through the Copper Ridge Business Park to the northern Copper Ridge Circle access, and then onto Elk River Road. Southbound traffic will be able to use their normal lane. Pedestrian and Bicycle traffic will also be restored. The entire project should be finished sometime in September.
TIPTON CALLS FOR FAIRNESS IN EXPORTING AG PRODUCTS
The Small Business Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade, under the chairmanship of Representative Scott Tipton, held a hearing yesterday on the impact of foreign sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures on small family farms and agriculture exports. SPS measures are non-tariff food requirements from foreign nations intended to protect the health and safety of their populations and environments. While SPS measures allow all nations to ban products that are unsafe, Tipton says in many instances foreign nations have imposed SPS measures that have little to do with scientifically-based safety concerns, but instead have become the preferred means to protect their own agriculture industries from competition. Despite historic drought conditions, America was last year’s top agricultural exporter. Tipton says because every $1 billion in agricultural exports supports over 8,000 American jobs, he is pledging to make sure American exports receive fair treatment in international markets.
YVEA BOARD OF DIRECTORS GETS 2 MORE MEMBERS
The Yampa Valley Electric Board of Directors have announced the appointments of a couple of new members. Frank Roitsch of Hayden will represent the members of District 5 and Glynda Sheehan of Slater will represent the members of District 1. District 5 is the Hayden area. District 1 is the north part of Moffat County and the Baggs area. Roitsch retired from Xcel Energy in 2006 as the Hayden Generating Station Director and Sheehan operates an accounting and income tax service in Baggs. Both directors were appointed to fill vacant seats and will serve for the unexpired term of the vacancy.
STATE BOARD LOOKING FOR MEMBERS TO SERVE ON NOXIOUS WEEDS COMMITTEE
The state’s Noxious Weed Advisory Committee is looking for 4 people to fill out board positions. The committee discusses weed management problems and crafts solutions to those problems. They then make recommendations to the Colorado Department of Agriculture based on their findings. The Committee consists of 15 members appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture. While the Department of Agriculture strives to ensure the various geographic areas of the state are represented, there are no eligibility requirements based on location. There are certain areas of interest that are needed though. The Committee needs one municipal official, one representative of the green industry, and one resource specialist. The 4th spot is an at-large position. Nominations are being accepted until September 15th. If you’d like more information, click here.
