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Police still investigating Richard Lopez's death

Steamboat Springs police still are investigating the death of Sgt. 1st Class Richard Lopez, who died after an altercation in Steamboat. The police did not release any updates, and no affidavits were available to the public Monday, Capt. Joel Rae said.

"There's nothing new that we are releasing," he said. Rae would not release information about whether anyone had been arrested.

Lopez died of severe head and brain trauma three days after being found unconscious early Jan. 2 at Seventh Street and Lincoln Avenue. He had been in an altercation with two men. The dispute began because of a jukebox song selection at The Tap House, and it became physical when the men left the restaurant and bar.

The case had not gone to the Routt County district attorney as of Monday.

Wintry conditions close pass Monday morning

U.S. Highway 40 at Rabbit Ears Pass was closed from the early hours to 9 a.m. Monday because of snowy and windy conditions, Colorado State Patrol troopers said. The Colorado Department of Transportation decides when to close the pass, Trooper Tonja Cowan said.

Icy and snowy conditions as well as drivers' inattention led to several wrecks during the weekend, Cowan said. She helped handle six. Drivers must be careful, she said.

"Really, they need to brake way sooner than they think they do and not do it hard," Cowan said. "Braking and turning is bad."

Howelsen chairlift to resume this weekend

The chairlift at Howelsen Hill Ski Area will resume operation this weekend and will run every Saturday and Sunday for the rest of the ski season, city spokeswoman Lauren Mooney announced Monday.

Because of citywide budget cuts, the chairlift had been shut down for the season, but Mooney said Howelsen Hill staff found a way to free up enough money to reopen it. Interim City Manager Wendy DuBord said she has received several complaints about a Poma lift being the only option for skiers and snowboarders at the small, city-owned ski area.

City, Moffat County pursue mediation about $142K

The city of Steamboat Springs and Moffat County will enter into mediation to resolve a dispute regarding $142,000, City Attorney Tony Lettunich told the Steamboat Springs City Council last week.

Last year, Moffat County officials insisted that the city of Steamboat Springs owes them $142,420 because it breached contract terms related to the Regional Transit Center constructed on the east side of Craig. Steamboat Springs officials said the requested sum is unreasonable and offered a lesser amount that was rejected by Moffat County.

The dispute focuses on two construction-related issues at the transit center site, which Steamboat Springs bought from Moffat County for $220,000 in 2005.