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Jimmy Westlake: Planets gather in evening sky

The five naked-eye planets — Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn — are among the brightest objects visible in our earthly sky. These wandering stars occasionally pass close to one another as they thread their way through the 12 constellations of the zodiac.

Data Sense: Sales tax collections poised for continued growth

It’s amazing how much information we can extract from small bits of data. Take the sales tax collection data recently released by the city of Steamboat Springs, for example.

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Tom Ross: Steamboat Lake sheds its winter mantle of ice

Senior Steamboat Lake State Park ranger Brent Lounsbury said the campgrounds are muddy and there are many chores to do, including turning the electricity on, but the snow is going fast.

Deb Babcock: A great vine for all your senses

If you’re looking for a vine that will cover a fence, arbor, trellis or other support system, consider hops (Humulus lupulus). The hop plant vines grow fast reaching a height up to 25 feet by midsummer.

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Tom Ross: "Storage Wars" fails to materialize at west Steamboat auctions

Thirsting for adventure this week, I cruised over to a couple of storage unit auctions. I learned that while there isn’t an antique in every locker, there definitely can be some pleasant surprises.

John F. Russell: Hitting the road for a weekend of soccer

When you are 46, a trip to Denver requires clean underwear, a clean shirt, deodorant and a toothbrush. But when you are taking your 11-year-old daughter to Denver, it’s a different story.

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Andy Bockelman: ‘Iron Man 3’: Same suit, different day

For a comic book film series, the third movie is the moment of truth, determining whether any imminent projects will soar high or go down in flames. Although it threatens to self-destruct at times, “Iron Man 3” inevitably blasts its way to greatness.

Rob Douglas: How not to build a police station

It’s time the council cast aside its economic development delusions of grandeur and return to the basics of running the city based on the actual needs of the city.

Thoughtful Parenting: Social skills for the playground

Next time you go to the park, don’t just stand back and watch. Play with your child. It gives you a chance to teach and practice social skills in real time.

Eugene Buchanan: Cruisin' the crust

When a perfect crust forms on the spring snowpack atop Rabbit Ears Pass, it serves up something relatively unusual in Steamboat and its high-altitude flats: crust skiing.

Joel Reichenberger: Steamboat track coaches get creative to power team

Faced with a team that doesn't harbor much postseason hope, Steamboat Springs track coaches found a way to challenge their athletes.

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Jimmy Westlake: Bootes, the celestial cowboy

There are 88 constellations in our sky and only one of them begins with the letter B. Know which one it is? It’s Bootes, the Herdsman.

Tom Ross: The best things in life are free, or so sang a famous musician

I can’t find a record of it, but I believe it was also 1994 when Sheryl Crow understandably canceled her free show in Steamboat because David Letterman’s staff had called to offer her an appearance on “Late Night.”

Jane McLeod: Ongoing care for hardy roses

Hardy rose plants awaken slowly from dormancy in our climate, and given the fickle nature of our weather, this is a good thing.

Monday Medical: Spring into motion

As part of the Wellness and Community Education Program at Yampa Valley Medical Center, we are challenging our employees to “spring into motion.” Won’t you join us?