Author Archives: KRAI

Brooke L. Forquer, William C. Ellifritz, and Skyla M. Piccolo-Laabs Mug Shots

The local District Attorney’s office will NOT seek the death penalty for three suspects accused of murdering 26-year-old Elliott Stahl last October. The DA’s office didn’t give a reason because prosecution is pending. Three residents of Craig will stand trial on first-degree murder charges. They are William C. Ellifritz, Brooke L. Forquer, and Skyla M. Piccolo-Laabs. They face separate trials. Ellifritz pleaded not guilty during an arraignment hearing Thursday. His trial starts May 11. Forquer and Piccolo-Laabs are set to enter pleas on March 13.

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A trail of wolf tracks observed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers in
Northwest Colorado on January 19, 2020

A group of wolves is living in northwest Colorado, and it has been confirmed again by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Officers heard howls in the area and were able to see the pack of six wolves, they then found their large tracks, which were as big as 5.5 inches. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service says killing a wolf can result in federal charges, including a $100,000 fine and a year in prison, per offense. Contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife through a form on their website if you see or hear a wolf anywhere in the state.

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Here are the local headlines for KRAI on this Wednesday, January 22nd.

The Moffat County Road Department has retired their crusher for the season. With the snow not set to let up anytime soon, it made for an easy decision to call it for the season. Continue reading →

Here are the local headlines for KRAI on this Tuesday, January 21st.

The process between memorial regional health and SLC health continues to move forward as both entities are in the midst of due diligence process. That is going to run until the middle of March, and it really is mostly the sharing of information. This all comes on the heels of a unanimous vote on December 19^th by the board of trustees from Memorial approving the intent agreement with SLC. For the full story, visit the craigdailypress.com website. Continue reading →

Here are the local headlines for KRAI on this Monday, January 20th.

The three murder suspects in the Elliot Stahl case will stand trial, and will continue to be held without bond. The three suspects will face individual trials on charges of first degree murder after deliberation, first degree felony murder, aggravated robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. Continue reading →

KRAI News

Here are the local headlines for KRAI on this Friday, January 17th.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is offering a class for hunters to learn how to field dress their animals. You can learn how to prepare a big game animal for human consumption at a special class coming up. It’s offered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, as part of their Hunter Outreach Program. “Field Dressing 101” will use real animals, showing the best methods and techniques for field dressing, and getting the meat out of the field. The class is at Horsethief Canyon State Wildlife Area which is along the Colorado River west of Fruita. It’s in the evening on Monday, Jan. 27. Sign up on the Parks & Wildlife website, or by calling 970-255-6100. Continue reading →

Heavy snow in Colorado is making ski resorts happy. For a seven-day period this month, Steamboat and Wolf Creek picked up 28 inches of snow. Around the corner, Winter Park had 21 inches. It snowed 11 out of the first 14 days in January in the Yampa Valley. Nine of those days were officially “Powder Days in the ‘Boat,” at Steamboat Resort. The Denver Post reports that every river basin in the state has above-average snowpack. The Yampa and White River drainage, which includes Northwest Colorado is 18 percent above average. With all the snow comes the threat of avalanches. Conditions are rated at considerable, which means, “dangerous” according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

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Eric Reynolds. (Department of Corrections photo)

The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that a New Castle Police officer shot and killed an armed man Saturday. 43-year-old Eric Reynolds of New Castle fled the scene of an attempted robbery in Glenwood Springs. Reynolds headed west on I-70, but eventually lost control and crashed. He tried to run, and had a weapon. Reynolds didn’t obey the officer’s commands and was ultimately shot and killed by New Castle Police. A woman who was with Reynolds surrendered without incident. I-70 had to be closed for several hours. Court records show Reynolds had spent time in the Department of Corrections for multiple felonies.

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A Craig Man has entered a not guilty plea. 53-year-old Rick Barnes is accused of sexual assault. He has requested a 12-member jury trial in 14^th Judicial District Court. The five-day trial was approved by Chief Judge Michael O’Hara III and will start May 4. Barnes had received a plea deal from prosecutors but instead opted to try his case in front of a jury.

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Courtesy of the National Weather Service in Grand Junction

A winter storm warning remains in effect for the Yampa Valley until 8 p.m. tonight. The National Weather Service in Grand Junction says this latest storm could bring up to a foot of snow with heavy winds up to 35 mph. Be careful on the roads.

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Tri-State Generation is closing all three of its coal-fired power plants and coal mines in Colorado and New Mexico by 2030. The Craig Station Unit 2 and 3 power plant, and the Colowyo Mine in Northwest Colorado will close in ten years. The Escalante Power Plant in New Mexico will close by the end of this year. The power provider serves nearly 20 rural electric cooperatives. The Craig Press reports that Tri-State is working with state and local leaders to support affected employees and communities. The closures will impact about 472 employees in Moffat and Rio Blanco Counties.

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A preliminary hearing is underway for the three suspects charged in the murder of Steamboat resident Elliot Stahl. 26-year-old William C. Ellifritz, 21-year-old Brooke L. Forquer, and 23-year-old Skyla Marie Piccolo-Laabs are all from Craig. A timeline of events that led to the discovery of Stahl’s body near the Flat Tops Wilderness Area was the focus during the two days of testimony at the Routt County Judicial Center. A fisherman found the body. The timeline includes Stahl being involved in a traffic stop west of Hayden, and then getting a ride to the Kum & Go in Craig after the driver of that car was arrested.  There was also surveillance video from Casey’s Pond before the murder that showed Stahl and the suspects. There’s also video of the car they were in passing through Oak Creek, and then heading back more than an hour later. There was an autopsy. Cause of death is loss of blood due to stab wounds. The preliminary hearing will resume Jan. 16.

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