Steamboat Today: Stories for April 4, 2010

LIFT-UP officials threaten prosecution for after-hour contributions

Routt County donation center director tries to deter dumping

LIFT-UP of Routt County relies on the revenue of its thrift store to generate money for the food bank, for hotel and utility vouchers and for basic expenses. But Director David Freseman said after-hours donations are bogging down the process as donors are repeatedly dumping items outside the center while it is closed.

Officials: Budget cuts won’t affect class size

Steamboat schools to remain unchanged with exception of kindergarten

Despite the elimination or reduction of 34 staff members, the class sizes in the Steamboat Springs School District won’t really change for the next academic year, Superintendent Shalee Cunningham said. The Steamboat Springs School Board eliminated or reduced 17 licensed probationary staff and 17 classified staff positions at a meeting March 29.

Jail Report for March 27 to April 2

Triple Crown could be scaled down

Negotiations under way for future of summer sports tournaments

A Fourth of July adult softball tournament is returning for 2010, but after this summer, Triple Crown Sports could operate on a smaller scale in Steamboat Springs. The city’s contract with the Fort Collins-based sports event provider expires after this year.

Spring skiing takes hold at Steamboat Ski Area

Good to the last drop

Sun spotted the expansive valley below Mount Werner and Steamboat Ski Area on Friday afternoon, but as the day ground on, the clouds held their place above the mountain, making for a gray existence. Plenty of powder was left over from a Thursday storm that stretched into Friday morning, and, according to skiers and riders, it felt like a regular midwinter day.

Joel Reichenberger: Some Olympians left out

Like any good Steamboat Springs local, Greg Rawlings stood along Lincoln Avenue and cheered as the town’s brightest heroes passed in the Hometown Heroes Parade on Friday evening. Seventeen of Steamboat’s treasured winter Olympians were invited to ride in the parade, as were their teammates and coaches and members of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club.

Steamboat baseball loses 2 games against Delta

The Steamboat Springs High School baseball team lost two games Saturday to Delta. The Sailors lost the first game, 16-5, and the second game, 14-1. Steamboat (2-8 overall, 1-3 in the Western Slope League) plays at 11 a.m. Saturday with a doubleheader against Palisade.

John F. Russell: Making a name

This was the day that Olympian and Nordic combined gold medalist Billy Demong had been preparing for since he was a child. It didn’t take thousands of jumps on the large hill, and he didn’t spend hours training on a grueling cross-country course to complete this task. No, he prepared for this day with a Sharpie in his hand and a smile on his face.

Best of the Web: Humble Ranch

Humble Ranch is there to help a population of people who benefit from specialized intervention. There are hiking and biking trails all over this valley and beyond, available for everyone’s use.

Susie Makens: School concerns

After attending the Steamboat Springs School Board meeting on March 29, I am very concerned about what is happening in our school district. There were parents that gave good information about ways to cut some of the school district’s expenses.

Mary Anne Fairlie: Save our schools

Previous to moving to Steamboat, my family lived in a city with a poor public education system. Virtually every family with the means put their children in private schools. I had a special needs child who was not accepted into any private school because they could not provide the necessary services.

Omar M. Campbell: Public vote on TDR?

Transfer of Development Rights is the latest growth issue to confront our community. Indeed, it is of import equal to the recent Steamboat 700 affair, and perhaps more so. Ben Beall’s letter to the editor in the March 24 Steamboat Today lays it out quite well, and Jack White in his March 31 letter to the editor appropriately asks for more time for community understanding and input.

Susan E. Birch: Public Health Week

Please observe National Public Health Week 2010 with us from Monday to April 11. This year, the American Public Health Association’s theme is “A Healthier America: One Community at a Time.” Public Health, an essential regional service, is provided by the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association, a local nonprofit agency.

Ed and Cheri Trousil: Humble explanation

Trust and vision only can be shared between two parties where there is underlying mutual respect. The city of Steamboat Springs’ perception of “trust and vision” does not entitle the city to bully a landowner into unconditional public access across private property, or to ignore wildlife closure dates in order to provide year-round recreational access.

Carole Milligan: Reason prevailed over fear

Thank you to Rep. John Salazar, Sen. Michael Bennet and Sen. Mark Udall for voting for the recently passed health care reform legislation, which begins to address some of the issues of justice in our health care system. As a physician, I have long seen the inequities in the system, which have gotten worse and worse.

Our View: Hayden board acted poorly

The Hayden School Board’s handling of recent administrative positions and structure has been disappointing at best and illegal at worst. Hayden taxpayers and parents deserve open, honest discussion about school district issues.

Business File: Business reinvention forum Friday at Rex’s

The Steamboat Springs Economic Development Council is presenting a forum titled “Reinventing Your Business: Building a Shared Vision for the Future,” from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday at Rex’s American Grill & Bar, adjoining the Holiday Inn on U.S. Highway 40 south of Steamboat Springs.

Steamboat briefs: Winds close some lifts at ski area

High winds shut down several lifts at Steamboat Ski Area on Saturday morning and afternoon. All had reopened by 2:30 p.m. According to Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. spokesman Mike Lane, the Storm Peak Express, Sunshine Express, Sundown Express and Four Points lifts were down as of about 11 a.m.

Hayden elementary students learn about saving

Presentation part of education program through First National Bank of the Rockies

Students in Lori Hornstein’s first-grade class at the elementary school heard a presentation Tuesday about saving money from Traci Day, bank manager for the Hayden office of First National Bank of the Rockies.

Routt County Spotlight: Sandy Moon

Sandy Moon Age: 48 Occupation: Landscape maintenance manager and garden design Place of birth: Houston

Class notes: Christian Heritage School announces honor roll

Christian Heritage School students who made the honor roll for earning A’s and B’s include seventh-graders Lauren Anderson, Andrea Clark and Paige Eivins.

Laurie Hallenbeck: Hayden news for April 4

Sue Fulton and her family traveled to Louisiana for a vacation during spring break. They visited Sue’s parents and did some sightseeing and relaxing.

Lila Rider: Oak Creek/Phippsburg news for April 4

Everybody’s excited about the Easter buffet we’re going to have with friends and family here at the Doak Walker Care Center.

School lunches for the week of April 4

On the Market: Sales up in February and 2010 compared to 2009

February real estate sales of $32 million represent 267 percent of February 2009 and bring the year-to-date total to $82 million, almost 230 percent of where that number stood at the same time last year.

Lincoln Avenue landlords and tenants prepare for downtown construction

Lincoln Avenue business owners are entering a difficult transition.

The Record for April 2

Challenging fundraiser honoring Cody St. John draws 75 skiers

A week ago, the organizers of Cody’s Challenge Randonee Race were worried about how many racers might show up to the event, and what kind of conditions those who did would find. A stormy day dogged the second annual event again this year, but the 75 racers couldn’t bring themselves to complain.

Longtime jeweler making her own cuts

Longtime jewelry maker opens shop in downtown Steamboat

Angela Mecca, a master jeweler, opened The Jeweler’s Mine on Jan. 15 at 117 Ninth St. in downtown Steamboat Springs. Mecca makes original and custom jewelry and repairs items ranging from watches, rings and necklaces to ski boots, prescription glasses, stained-glass lampshades and antique safes.

Stories for April 4, 2010

Lead stories

Early Morning

Negotiations under way for future of summer sports tournaments

Steamboat schools to remain unchanged with exception of kindergarten

Stories

Routt County donation center director tries to deter dumping

Steamboat schools to remain unchanged with exception of kindergarten

Negotiations under way for future of summer sports tournaments

Good to the last drop

Presentation part of education program through First National Bank of the Rockies

Longtime jewelry maker opens shop in downtown Steamboat

May events