Steamboat Today: Andy Bockelman

All in the family

Hunting is a way of life in Northwest Colorado for Lawton family

Up at 3 a.m. Getting acclimated with horses. Heading out before the sun rises. After 15 years, the process is still fairly new to Carrie Lawton, who married into one of the most ardent hunting families in Northwest Colorado. But to her credit, she didn’t grow up with the same routine as the rest of her family. As part of the Lawton clan, Carrie has grown to appreciate the early morning timelessness of hunting as a result of spending time with family patriarch LeRoy Lawton.

Crews battle Cedar Mountain blaze

Officials working to determine cause of 75-acre fire

Northwest Colorado agencies are working to contain what authorities described as a “wildland urban interface fire” near Cedar Mountain. The Cedar Fire, as named by the Northwest Colorado Fire Management Unit, began about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday on Bureau of Land Management public land. It is burning at the base of Cedar Mountain, off Moffat County Road 7, five miles northwest of Craig.

Community members, elected officials help CNCC commemorate new Craig campus

A community college can’t thrive without a supportive community around it. “It’s truly the thing that makes us go,” said Gene Bilodeau, vice president of administration at Colorado Northwestern Community College, a school with campuses in Craig and Rangely. Evidence of a supportive community, as well as appreciation for that support, surrounded Monday afternoon’s ribbon-cutting ceremony at CNCC’s new Craig campus, 2801 W. Ninth St. The campus includes a new academic building and career technical center.

Cross-bearing Missouri man marches through Routt County

Mike Rumsower is taking part in a project called Walking in Obedience and has covered more than 1,000 miles since departing from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on March 30.

BLM seeking feedback on coal proposal

The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comment on a proposal to lease an additional 400 acres for coal production adjacent to the Twentymile Coal Mine southeast of Hayden.

YVEA elects 3 new board members

The Yampa Valley Electric Association Board added three new members during its annual meeting Saturday at Hayden High School auditorium. Craig residents Larry Ellgen and Mike Brinks and Steamboat Springs resident Tom Fox are the newest members of the nine-person board. Larry Covillo, YVEA president and general manager, said about 19,000 ballots were sent to the company’s customers and members. “We usually get back about 2,400 to 2,700, so this year was about average,” he said.

Changes in store for Whittle the Wood

In organizing Craig’s biggest summer event, Craig Parks and Recreation Director Dave Pike has made some changes to this year’s Whittle the Wood Rendezvous. Some changes he believes people will be happy about, while others might not be as popular. People attending the 12th annual Whittle the Wood will not be able to provide their own alcohol at the event, which will take place June 15 to 18 in Craig City Park. Pike said the decision was made because Whittle the Wood organizers had been prompted by a similar event in Snowmass Village that had caused controversy with Colorado’s open container laws.

Agencies caution recreational water users about rising levels

Every year, once May rolls around, Ron Dellacroce sees an outbreak of spring fever, as people start to head into the rivers of Northwest Colorado for some water fun. But, the renewed interest in boating and rafting can be “a good kind of bad” if the weather shift has too much of an effect on river levels. Dellacroce, a ranger with Colorado State Parks, was one of several group representatives who attended the Moffat County Commission’s quarterly intergovernmental agencies meeting Tuesday afternoon.

Wildlife Commission bans hunting bears in dens

Issue arose from a November 2010 hunt involving Moffat County resident

The Colorado Wildlife Commission approved a regulation May 5 that bans hunters from hunting, killing or otherwise harassing bears in their dens. The issue first came to the attention of the Colorado Division of Wildlife in November 2010, when Craig resident Richard Kendall tracked and killed a 703-pound black bear in its den in Moffat County. Spokesman Randy Hampton said the DOW made the decision in an effort to promote safety and fair chase while hunting.

MCHS students assist elementary school with gardening project

Moffat County High School senior Jessica Wiseman hopes to someday work with children as a career. But, not everything about that line of work is easy on the first attempt, she concedes. So, for now, she’s planting seeds, both literally and figuratively.

2011 Colorado Coal and Power Generation Conference in Craig to be rescheduled

People interested in discussing and learning about the future of Northwest Colorado energy will have to keep their fires burning a little longer. The date for the 2011 Colorado Coal and Power Generation Conference has been pushed back to the fall to allow for further planning. Conference organizers originally planned the event for May 18, 19 and 20 in Craig, however a news release Wednesday announced the event would be rescheduled. “It’s important to the citizens of Colorado to have a strong, vibrant dialogue about the benefits and the issues that face coal,” event coordinator Gena Hinkemeyer said in the release.

Lakewood suspect with Craig ties found dead

Authorities believed Nelson may have been coming to Craig

A man wanted on the Front Range for attempted murder whom the Craig Police Department was keeping an eye out for was found dead in a motel room Tuesday, authorities reported. Melvin “Catfish” Nelson, 60, had at least one relative in Craig and had lived in the city before, police said. He was wanted by the Lakewood Police Department for allegedly robbing and shooting a woman.

Moffat County soccer team beats Steamboat, 3-1

Sailors eliminated from playoff contention after loss

The Steamboat Springs High School boys varsity soccer team finished its season with an overall record of 9-5-1, 6-4 in the Western Slope League, after a 3-1 loss Thursday against the Moffat County High School Bulldogs (11-4, 7-4) at Craig’s Loudy-Simpson Park.

Steamboat volleyball scores win against Moffat County

Sailors team defeats rival Bulldogs squad, 3-2

Volleyball coach Wendy Hall was one of many people on the edge of her seat in the Moffat County High School gym Thursday night. But, unlike the residents, she walked out with a smile. The Steamboat Springs High School varsity volleyball team defeated rivals MCHS, 3-2, in the Thursday night game in Craig.

Steamboat cross-country teams race to strong finishes

Boys, girls cross-country each take home 3rd place from Moffat County Invitational

For Steamboat Springs High School runner Jack Burger, being on a flat course is advantageous. However, he said there’s another element that helps in a cross-country meet.

Sandrock Elementary names interim principal

Don Riley got a phone call a few weeks ago, and it was one he was happy to receive. The call was from a former protégé, requesting that he return temporarily to the education career he ended seven years ago. Not long after, he agreed to step back into the role of school administrator.

Grill games: Upcoming event a tasty treat for all ages in Moffat County

Gathering around the grill is no foreign concept to Craig residents, but a national-level barbecue competition is something entirely different. Although the size of an upcoming barbecue event in Craig may be rare for the community, it will nonetheless be well done if organizer George Rohrich has anything to say about it.

Fire near Maybell contained

Officials: Alkali blaze grew to 7,917 acres at its peak

At its peak, the Alkali Fire north of Maybell reached 7,917 acres, the Northwest Colorado Fire Management Unit reported. However, fire crews were able to contain the fire Thursday afternoon.

DOW to discuss black bear population with Moffat County residents

Northwest Colorado residents will soon have a forum to discuss ideas about living harmoniously with the area’s black bear population. The Colorado Division of Wildlife will host a public meeting from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 31 at American Legion Post 62, 1055 Moffat County Road 7, on managing the region’s black bears. The meeting provides an opportunity for local residents to give input to the DOW about the species and its presence in the areas north of Craig and Steamboat Springs, as well as all of North Park.

CNCC gets 1st glimpse at contractor bids

College officials analyze proposals, will announce their selection by next week

At a Friday gathering, Colorado Northwestern Community College got another step closer to it latest project. CNCC officials opened sealed contractor bids presented to them by seven contracting firms that submitted proposals for the college’s building project.

A strike against disease

Bowling fundraiser brings in money for Hayden family

After weeks of hospital visits, 6-year-old Logan Morrison, of Hayden, needed a way to take his mind off his medical situation. The community raised more than $4,000 at Saturday’s fundraiser for the Morrison family at Thunder Rolls Bowling Center in Craig to help with medical treatments after Logan was diagnosed in December with Burkitt's lymphoma.

Basin Roundtable postpones discussion on Yampa Doctrine

Group receives water consumption statistics

The Yampa/White River Basin Roundtable has yet to make a decision on the proposed Yampa Doctrine governing the water rights of the Yampa River.

100 days and more

Centennial closing ceremonies extended

As men's facial hair grew from January to April, so did the fervor of the community for Craig's three-month centennial extravaganza.

Walk the walk, talk the talk

Colorado man on trip across country for cancer awareness

Arriving in Steamboat Springs on Monday afternoon, Ron Kessler, feeling "tired and dehydrated," took a break from his trip.

Electrical line causes explosion, brush fire

While using a backhoe to dig a conduit line for fiber optic cables, Steven Tomlin, of D & D Construction, hit an unmarked electrical line. The unleashed current caused an explosion, which resulted in a fire in the surrounding grasses.

'Day by day'

Multiple sclerosis support group makes progress, needs greater attendance

Fatigue. Lack of balance. Blurred vision. Patsy Magness has had to contend with these symptoms and more since she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2000.

Disappearance of a memorial

Craig resident seeks return of 'Don't Drink and Drive' sign

When he went to bed on the night of June 6, Craig resident Bill Rowe disregarded barking coming from outside, from his dog, Shiloh. The next morning, he discovered what the Labrador/husky mixed breed had been trying to tell him.