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Steamboat briefs: Strawberry Park Elementary finalist for $15K Succeeds Prize

Strawberry Park Elementary School in Steamboat Springs has been selected as a finalist for the 2017 The Succeeds Prize, honoring transformational public schools and educators. The local school was recognized as one of three finalists in the Excellence in STEM Education category.

Four winners will be announced at a live reveal celebration Oct. 3 at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Denver. Each winner will receive $15,000 in cash awards.

“The Succeeds Prize is a celebration of Colorado’s educators — one that gives us the opportunity to recognize and reward what is working in our schools, while also sharing these best practices with educators and schools statewide,” said Lt. Governor Donna Lynne, an honorary co-host of The Succeeds Prize, in a news release. “Congratulations to the finalists and honorable mention schools. We applaud their excellent work and look forward to diving deeper into the transformational impact these schools and educators are leading.”



The Succeeds Prize Selection Committee used a three-step, data-driven process for identifying and rewarding transformational public schools in Colorado. The committee will decide the award winners by reviewing information and conducting interviews with school leaders, teachers, parents and community members, which will be collected during site visits to each of the top three schools for each award.

Community members needed to assist with zero-waste events



Yampa Valley Sustainability Council’s Zero Hero volunteers are key to making more than 50 large community events waste-free, such as the Free Summer Concerts and the Farmers’ Market. Volunteers set up, staff and break down the Zero Waste stations, with each volunteer typically donating three hours of time.

Depending on the event and time commitment, volunteers can earn a free meal, Zero Hero T-Shirt and Old Town Hot Springs pool passes. Volunteers are still needed for this weekend’s Free Concert and Farmers’ Market. To view all volunteer dates and sign up online, visit yvsc.org/volunteer or email cameron@yvsc.org.

Integrated Community seeks volunteers to tutor area youth 

Integrated Community/Comunidad Integrada is seeking volunteers for its adult and youth English tutoring programs.

Volunteers are trained and matched with either an immigrant student in need of academic support or a limited-English speaking community member, depending on preference.

Pairs are asked to meet for one hour per week. No foreign language experience is necessary. Email or call Erin at educate@ciiccolorado.org or 970-819-3720.

Call 811 before digging to reduce risk of damaged utility lines

Atmos Energy reminds homeowners and excavators that they are required by law to call 811 to have all buried utility lines located and marked before digging.

Since 2008, Atmos Energy has seen a 36-percent increase in requests by the public to have underground natural gas lines marked. Once underground utility lines are marked, it is important to take special care around all line markings by digging by hand.

“The greatest risk to our natural gas pipelines is accidental damage while digging,” said Gary Gregory, president of Atmos Energy’s Colorado division, in a news release. “Even minor damage, such as a scrape, dent or crease in a pipeline or its coating, can cause a leak.”

Every time the excavating public calls 811 before digging, the chances of hitting an underground utility line decreases by 99.9 percent.

When calling 811, homeowners and contractors are connected to their local one-call center, which notifies the appropriate utility companies of their intent to dig. Professional locators are then sent to the digging site to mark the location of underground utility-owned lines with flags and spray paint, free of charge.

Atmos Energy located 1.5 million underground natural gas lines in 2015.

“We appreciate our customers observing this important safety law,” Gregory said. “Calling 811 is the law in every state that we serve. All excavators should call 811 at least three business days before digging on public or private property.

Visit atmosenergy.com/811 or call 811.com for more information.

Food boxes available to those in need in Routt County

Commodities Supplemental Food Program boxes are designed to supplement the diets of low-income seniors 60 and older. The boxes, distributed monthly by LiftUp of Routt County to area seniors, contain a variety of nonperishable food items and cheese. If you or someone you know may benefit from this program, call the LiftUp Food Bank at 970-870-8804 for more information.


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