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Toping the news this morning, it's a power day. The Steamboat Ski Area is reporting eight inches of new snow that fell overnight. Expect periods of snow showers during the day today. It was 15 degrees at 8 a.m. Expect a high of 21.

Many Northwest Colorado residents spent the better part of 2006 skiing in or digging out from waist-deep powder. It appears many people also spent quality time indoors.

The Yampa Valley Medical Center set a record with 430 births in 2006, eclipsing the previous record of 386 births in 2004.

There were 239 boys born at the hospital last year compared to 191 girls. Seven families named their boys Ethan, which was the most popular name given to boys born at YVMC in 2006.

Technically, the hospital reported a tie between Grace and Haley for the most popular girls name, but five families spelled Haley different ways - Hailey, Hailie, Haily, Haley and Hayley.

Summer was the busiest time for the obstetrics department. Forty-nine babies were delivered in July, which equaled the previous record month of August 2001.

A second wave of vacationers has arrived, making for another busy weekend in Steamboat Springs. But this wave won't match what the city experienced over the Christmas holiday, which could prove to be the busiest holiday on record in the Yampa Valley.

The number of incoming passengers at Yampa Valley Regional Airport in Hayden peaked Saturday at 1,372.

Visitor numbers carried over into January, based on the number of arriving YVRA passengers, which is how more than two-thirds of all out-of-state visitors get to Steamboat.

People might begin to notice a younger crowd at the airport and at the ski area in the coming weeks.

This time of year typically attracts more college students and people in their 20s and 30s.

The Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association predicts this weekend will be similar to last weekend in terms of the number of people staying at Steamboat lodging properties. The Chamber surveys lodging properties weekly to estimate occupancy.

The survey indicates 14,000 people will stay in local lodgings Saturday night.

Next week's occupancy is expected to drop to 11,500.

Nancy Kramer has worked her last day as the executive director of Steamboat Springs Arts Council.

Jennifer Jones has been named the interim director until the Arts Council's board of directors finds a new director. Kramer's last day was Dec. 29.

The Arts Council is soliciting new board members.

Board members who have experience with grant writing are sought.

Anyone who is interested in becoming a board member should contact board president Katy Kriz at 291-9229.

Many of the other goals for 2007, which is the Arts Council's 35th year, will be discussed at the Arts Council's annual meeting at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Depot Art Center.

In sports, the Steamboat Springs boys basketball team will experience something different when they open league play against Rifle tonight in Kelly Meek Gymnasium - a team they match up well against.

After playing three preseason tournaments in which the Sailors were outsized in almost every game, Steamboat will play a quick, guard-oriented Rifle team very similar to its own.

Despite often giving up more than six inches to opposing players, Steamboat comes out of the holiday break playing its best basketball of the season.

After struggling to find an early rhythm in two tournaments, the Sailors played sound defense and unselfish offense in winning their pool at a tournament in Wyoming.