Steamboat Pilot & Today

National Forest offices sell Christmas tree permits

Christmas tree permits are now available at all Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest offices, including the Steamboat Springs office, for $10. Each permit allows for the cutting of one tree on National Forest system lands. There is a limit of five permits a household. Trees must be for personal use and cannot be sold. The permit must be clearly displayed around the stem of the tree before leaving the cutting area.

Some areas of the forest may be closed to tree cutting, so contact your nearest Forest Service office for more information. Cutting is prohibited in the Fish Creek Falls area and within the boundaries of the Steamboat Ski Area. Designated wilderness areas also are off limits. Other reminders include: trees may not be cut within 100 feet of roads or 200 feet of campgrounds, picnic areas, scenic pullouts and administrative sites; choose a tree that is growing with other trees in a cluster; maximum tree height is 20 feet; cut the tree 6 inches or less from the ground; do not cut boughs from other living trees. For more information, call 879-1870 or 638-4516.

Special Event Funding applications available

In an effort to boost year-round tourism, the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association is accepting applications for Special Event Funding. Special Event Funding, pending the determination of the city budget in December, will distribute $75,000 to help market new events in the non-ski season months of 2007.

The money will be granted to the marketing efforts for new events. A committee of representatives from the Steamboat Marketing Committee, Chamber Board and City Council will be formed to evaluate the applications. Applications will be considered based upon the event's tourism possibilities, long-range potential, media appeal and event organizer experience, among other aspects.

The committee is expected to meet after the city budget is determined in December, and it will begin to consider applications in January. All applications are due Dec. 8. They can be picked up at the Steamboat Springs Resort Chamber Association offices or downloaded at www.steamboatchamber.com under the "Community Bulletin Board" heading.