Lead stories
Stories
Seminar teaches women self-defense
At 46, Virginia Rangitsch says she's not that strong. Still, she can throw men almost twice her size to the ground.
River ideal for floating
Mick Havrilla has seen his share of uses for the Yampa Valley River in the 15 years he has been floating it. "I've seen everything from a family trip to outfitters bringing big groups," said the Craig resident." It is a versatile river for all ages."
Raveling reveling in win
Saitta forced to drop out with stress fracture
Jason Saitta knows how it feels to run alone on County Road 129, so he hung on, stress fracture and all, for seven miles, pushing John Raveling to a top finish in the 22nd annual Steamboat Marathon on Sunday.
Giving furniture the distressed look
It's ironic but when William McQueen fixes up a piece of furniture these days it sometimes means pounding dent marks into the piece.
Steamboat offers array of trails to run
The mountains and trails surrounding the Steamboat Springs area are a recreational or competitive runner's dream.
The summer season begins
Races, graduation, weather bring thousands to town
A popular running race, a high school graduation and summer-like weather brought thousands of visitors and much-needed business to restaurants, stores and hotels over the weekend.
Prepare now for another grasshopper invasion
Believe it or not, volunteers are counting grasshoppers this spring in designated areas throughout Routt County. If we experience another dry spring such as last year, we can expect to be inundated with grasshoppers again this summer.
Wanted: Meadow knapweed, tamarisk
Matt Custer, Routt County's weed supervisor, has asked all residents of Routt County to be on the lookout for meadow knapweed and tamarisk. These invasive and noxious plants are top priority this year for detection and control.
Being a water-wise gardener
There are many ways to conserve water this summer while maintaining attractive and healthy landscape.
Soil often key to lawn maintenance
When it comes to a healthy Routt County lawn, it's the stuff you don't see that makes the biggest difference. While the merits of various grass species can be debated a hundred times over, the fate of a lawn is often determined by the quality of the top soil, said Jeff Crochiere, owner of SOL Solutions, a Steamboat Springs-based lawn and tree care company.
Kitchen remodeling trends toward the rustic
Bill Martin can't cook, so he has no set idea on how a kitchen should look. Instead, Martin listens to what his clients want and tries to incorporate their desires and his expertise into every one of his original designs.
Variety of programs offered for youth
The snow may have melted and the ski lifts are long since closed, but a wealth of recreational and educational activities for local and visiting children are offered throughout the summer in the Steamboat Springs area.
South Routt communities have family feel
Oak Creek is a very tight-knit town that develops closely around its main street. Perhaps it is the surrounding mountains that commanded the planners of old to focus development in the central area.
Irrigation system reduces water usage
Spring is in the air. Now is the time to start considering how you can maintain a healthy, water-wise lawn.
Vinyl decks require little maintenance
Enjoyment of a deck is high on the priority list of most homeowners. Joy turns to drudgery, however, when homeowners must abandon cushy deck chairs to deal with the realities of wood decks: split boards, nails that pop up, and faded stains or paint.
Lots of options when it comes to flooring
The options may floor you. There's no short supply of flooring alternatives for the homeowner who wants to invest a little time and money in sprucing up a room or two.
Fish the Western Yampa
Fishing should be good in Northwest Colorado this summer, according to one local fisherman. Burt Clements, a member of the local Bass Masters Association, said one hot spot this year should be Stagecoach Reservoir in northwest Routt County.
Craig features a taste of the Old West
Where to start on a history connoisseur's tour of Moffat County? Yampa Avenue's Museum of Northwest Colorado could be your best bet, filled with bits of pieces of a colorful county's history.
Hayden offers stock car racing
With engines bellowing and dirt flying, the racers who blast around the Hayden Speedway zoom through a Saturday evening, keeping the crowds and themselves energized and excited with their driving and daring. The speed, the barely-make-it-through moves and turns, the close finishes and dominant blow-outs, the crashes and bumps all add up to thrill the fans, drivers and nervous family members with the power and passion of racing.
Summer concert series delivers diverse music
Last year, the air was thick and dry with the smell of wildfire smoke, and grasshoppers parted with every step like the Red Sea, but still people danced. The free summer concert series brought listeners to concerts at both Howelsen Hill and the base of Headwall at Steamboat Ski Area.
World-class fishing in area rivers, lakes
Steamboat Lake State Park has gained national recognition for the beauty of its campgrounds. And it's an obvious destination for trout fishermen in Northwest Colorado. What people may not realize is that the impoundment 30 miles northwest of Steamboat Springs has become the repository of thousands of "extra" fingerling trout that could produce a fishing bonanza for several years to come.
Growing vegetables can be a tricky proposition
There's good news and bad news about growing vegetables in the Yampa Valley. The good news is the valley has the most predictable weather pattern of any location in Colorado, so gardeners can easily and accurately plan when to plant their crops, according to the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Office.
Gardening in a raised bed
Gardening in raised beds, a common practice before colonial times, is enjoying a resurgence of popularity among home growers.
Putting sound and light at your fingertips
Did you hear the subtle sounds of the brush hitting drums behind Ornette Coleman's trumpet? Of course you didn't. Those cabinet speakers you've been listening to since college aren't as good as they used to be.
Grandpa's store had penny candy, one-armed bandits
Independent retailers are a treasure that help Steamboat Springs stand out
I thought of Dorothy Wither last week while I sat in the ballroom of the Steamboat Grand Hotel and Conference Center. An image of her beehive hairdo popped into my head while I listened to the experts debate the future of commerce in Steamboat Springs.
Simms has plan to end deficit
Schools superintendent's recommendation likely to include personnel cuts
Steamboat Springs School District Superintendent Cyndy Simms will announce her recommendations to eliminate an estimated $500,000 deficit in the district's budget at tonight's School Board study session.
Moffat County is an outdoor paradise
With rolling hills, rocky cliffs, thick forests, flowing streams and trout-filled lakes, one might say Northwest Colorado offers a bit of everything for outdoor enthusiasts.
Northwest Colorado reveals its beauty
With rolling hills, rocky cliffs, thick forests, flowing streams and trout-filled lakes, one might say Northwest Colorado offers a bit of everything for outdoor enthusiasts.
Take a Hike -- Trails all over Routt County
Hikers visiting Steamboat Springs will find trails both convenient and adventurous all within a short walk or drive from downtown.
Sports programs abound in Steamboat
ADULT SOFTBALL LEAGUE Men's, Women's and Co-ed teams. Season runs June 2 through August. Games played Monday-Thursday evenings between 6-10 p.m. at Howelsen Park.
Much to do at Howelsen Park
The Skate Park at Howelsen Hill has six street ramps, a pyramid, a fun box and a mini-ramp on a concrete pad. Participants are responsible for their own protective equipment including helmet, kneepads and elbow pads. The Park will be open seven days a week, weather permitting.
Floating the Yampa is a cool summer pastime
Last year's drought provided less than satisfactory tubing conditions on the Yampa River and caused tubing companies and the river to be closed much of the summer season.
Tread of Pioneers Museum showcases area's history
Tuckered out hikers, bikers and kayakers -- look no further. The Tread of Pioneers Museum offers a respite for the recreation-weary. Northwest Colorado offers a surplus of recreational amenities, but visitors shouldn't pass up its cultural and historical resources.
Abandoned canoe investigated
Search and Rescue says it's likely lost property, not missing person case
canoe found overturned and tangled in brush along a stretch of the Yampa River is being treated as lost property, not a sign of a missing person or persons, according to Routt County Search and Rescue.
Huck Finn day set for June 7
"The widow she cried over me, and called me a poor lost lamb, and she called me a lot of other names, too, but she never meant no harm by it. She put me in them new clothes again, and I couldn't do nothing but sweat and sweat, and feel all cramped up," Huckleberry Finn said in Mark Twain's classic.
Golfers have five courses from which to choose
Golfers who visit Northwest Colorado this summer can discover plenty of challenges on the area's five unique courses.
National forest provides getaway for serious bikers
It's the time of year to swap boards for bikes. The change of seasons means some of the best biking trails around are drying out. Steamboat Springs is home to plenty of gearheads. The town's proximity to the Routt National Forest makes it a prime gateway to a memorable afternoon or all-day riding experience.
Health and Recreation Association offers pool, workout
If visitors want to get some summertime exercise without leaving the city limits, they do not have to go any further than the Steamboat Springs Health and Recreation Association.
Summer youth programs
The Steamboat Springs Parks, Open Space and Recreational Services offers summer youth camps for children in preschool through eighth grades. Camps run weekdays all summer long beginning June 9 and ending Aug. 22. See specific camps for days and hours.
Steamboat Springs Running Series Schedule
May 3 -- 18th Annual Spirit Challenge. A 5k run/walk and 10k run. 5k run/walk is a scenic, rolling on and off road loop. 10k is out uphill and back downhill through Strawberry Park. Call (970) 871-9602
Interior painting can be more art than work
Rollers and paintbrushes are no longer the only tools to choose from when it comes to giving your walls a new look.
Rodeo series provides thrills, spills and chills
Cowboy hats, boots and rodeo have been a part of the Steamboat Springs summer for the last 100 years.
Miountain keeps rolling even without snow
When the snow melts, Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp. doesn't shut down. The mountain hosts a variety of activities in Gondola Square and shuttles visitors to the top of the gondola for hiking, biking and dining.
Lighting can alter a room's mood
A common decorating dilemma is how to lift the spirit of a room. There are several ways, but the best solution is lighting. It's easy, it's affordable, it adds dramatic design elements and it even upgrades the value of a home.
Hayden promotoes small town pride
West of Steamboat Springs, the town of Hayden (population 1,500) offers several restaurants, bars, retail shops and even a museum, as well as a handful of recreational opportunities with a flavor slightly different than that of Ski Town USA.
Clark provides access to Steamboat Lake, National Forest
A short drive north from Steamboat Springs on Routt County Road 129 welcomes travelers to Steamboat Lake State Park, a popular and beautiful summer destination that offers an abundance of recreational opportunities.
Craig's Calendar of Events
June 1 -- North American Dog Agility Council Agility Trials at the Maybell Park. Contact Lori Visintainer at (970) 824-4159 for more information.
Museum offers into Craig's past
The Museum of Northwest Colorado began as the Moffat County Museum in 1964. Until 1990, it was housed in the Moffat County Courthouse. In 1991 it opened at its new location at 590 Yampa Ave. in the former Colorado State Armory.
Get a view of wildlife through your lens
Hunting may be the most popular winter sport in Northwest Colorado, but it isn't the only way to get up close and personal with animals.
Botanic Park a natural beauty on Yampa River
The Yampa River Botanic Park is billed as "a place of serenity." The six acre property is just yards away from the road, but feels miles away from the rest of the town. The park is free to visit and the goal is to keep it free, park director Gayle Noonan said.
Kremmling is in the heart of the mountains
Centrally located in the northwest Colorado Rockies, Kremmling boasts easy access by air or ground transportation. Its full-service, instrument approach airport (elevation 7,364 feet), an AMTRAK station in nearby Granby, and all-weather U.S. Highway 40 and Colorado Highway 9 make Kremmling a convenient destination, just two hours from Denver.
Follow steps to install light posts correctly
In the early 1980s, we installed post lights along our driveway. We lived on a flag lot then, and the driveway was about 200 feet long. The lights were spaced approximately 10 feet apart and were buried in concrete.
Small touches add life to a bathroom
The smallest room in your house is also one of the least complicated to remodel.
Strings in the Mountains provides the sounds of summer
The snow melts away from the bottom of the ski mountain and the white Strings in the Mountains tent takes its place. The Strings in the Mountains Festival opens in June and hosts a full calendar of music through August.
New recreation sites on Yampa attract kayakers
"Park-n-play" is one of the strongest trends in whitewater kayaking, and it's thriving in downtown Steamboat. There was a time when kayakers had to drive great distances and paddle through long stretches of flat water to get to their favorite standing waves. No more.
Fish Creek Falls a must see for visitors
The U.S. Forest Service, which manages the land surrounding Fish Creek Falls, estimates that 100,000 people visit the falls every year. The 283-foot cascading waterfall is a winter's worth of snowmelt crashing over a cliff into the canyon creek below.
