Author Archives: KRAI

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association has announced the closing of the Nucla Station coal-fired power plant. The Craig Press reports the Nucla Station began operations in 1959 and it has 35 employees. The dismantling of the facility is expected to start during the first half of next year. Tri-State is providing a half-million dollars over the next five years in community support during the retirement. The Nucla plant is just over 100 miles south of Grand Junction.

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Craig City Council member Brian MacKenzie says something needs to be done about the president of Colorado Northwestern Community College, Ron Granger. MacKenzie, who is also a former CNCC employee, presented a petition with 29 signatures on it, to the Moffat County Affiliated Junior College District Board of Control. He says those who signed the petition have declared “no confidence” in Granger. The Craig Press reports the petition comes after a 2-3 “vote of no confidence” in Granger’s leadership from the five-person board in April of last year. MacKenzie also says there is a discussion of the CNCC campus in Craig shifting to an affiliation with Colorado Mountain College.

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A bank was robbed in Craig Tuesday morning. It happened at the Bank of Colorado. The man entered the bank and gave the employee a note demanding money. No one was hurt and no word on how much money the robber got away with. Craig Police say he is an American Indian, about 5’9” with a stocky build, a black cap and glasses. Call Craig Police if you have any tips at 970-826-2360. They do have some strong leads. Or call the Crimestoppers program, where you can remain anonymous, and you could get a reward. That number is 970-824-3535.

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More calls than usual have been coming in for Routt County Search and Rescue during archery season. There have been three calls involving hunters. One man died last week, hunting north of Hayden. Another man was hurt in the Sarvis Creek Wilderness. He was found and helped back to his camp. The third man was a bow hunter. He tripped and fell on an arrow while hunting near Clark. The arrow punctured his knee.

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The Hunt Fire grew over the weekend, to 3,766 acres. But burnout operations have been successful and the area isn’t closed anymore, under orders from the Bureau of Land Management. Containment is at 40 percent. Hot spots are still smoldering and flare-ups can happen within the perimeter. Lightning started the fire on Sept. 5, southwest of Meeker in the valleys north of the Roan Plateau.

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A prescribed fire will be burning Saturday, five miles southeast of Greystone, in the Douglas Mountain area. The Bureau of Land Management in the Little Snake Field Office will be conducting the burn on 100 acres of BLM and private lands. Smoke will be visible from Greystone, Highway 318, and possibly Highway 40 on Saturday. The public is being asked to not call 911, if they see smoke from the burn.

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A man died while hunting in Slater Park north of Hayden Wednesday. The 69-year-old man had a medical emergency and was having trouble breathing. Crews from Routt and Moffat County were dispatched to the scene which was in a remote area north of Hayden, also known as California Park. Hunters who were with the man were the ones who called 911. Routt and Moffat County Search and Rescue teams assisted along with Routt and Moffat County Sheriff’s offices, and the Routt County Coroner’s Office. Continue reading →

An elderly woman got a ticket from Craig Police after a wreck on Yampa Avenue Monday afternoon. A motorcyclist went to the hospital. Some witnesses at the scene helped the man, who was bleeding from a head injury. Then first responders arrived from Colorado State Patrol, Craig Fire/Rescue, Moffat County Sheriffs, and local medical personnel. The 92-year-old woman who got the ticket was Shirley Stehle of Craig. The citation was for careless driving involving serious bodily injury.

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A man was taken to Memorial Regional Health Monday afternoon, after a motorcycle accident. The Harley Davidson crashed with another vehicle, and a man was found lying on the sidewalk. The accident was near the intersection of 8^th Street and Yampa Ave.

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The Hunt Fire continues to burn in Rio Blanco County. Over 2,300 hundred acres have burned, in a remote area 26 miles southwest of Meeker. It’s burning in an area full of dead trees and thick brush. Two helicopters are working the fire along with firefighters from the Northwest Colorado Interagency Fire Management Unit and fire engines from the BLM. The Hunt Fire started last Thursday because of lightning.

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Robert Dean Evans mug shot.

A Craig man has told police he stole his ex-girlfriend’s journal after they broke up. 51-year-old Robert Dean Evens was arrested on a felony charge of first-degree criminal trespass and misdemeanor charges of domestic violence and theft under $50. Evans posted a $2,000 bond and will be in court on Oct. 1.

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Ronald Chovanec Mug shot

Mikayla Hoppe mug shot

A Craig couple is facing felony charges, that have to do with the alleged theft of some debit and credit cards. 29-year-old Ronald Martin Chovanec and 25-year-old Mikayla Diane Hoppe were both arrested late last month regarding the thefts, which was allegedly from people they were living with.

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