Back to profile

Matt Stensland

Stories by Matt

Steamboat lifeguards acted quickly in rescue

Firefighters confident CPR was effective

Lifeguards working Wednesday at the Old Town Hot Springs provided precious minutes of life support to a woman who went into cardiac arrest.

Woman suffers from heart condition at Old Town Hot Springs

A woman thought to be in her early 60s was taken to Yampa Valley Medical Center and was being flown to a Denver hospital after suffering from a heart condition Wednesday afternoon in the Old Town Hot Springs pools, Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue Lt. Michael Arce said.

Bond set at $10K for man accused of distributing child porn

Assistant District Attorney Brett Barkey said charges have not been filed. He did not want to discuss details about the case because documents related to the case have been sealed.

Tease photo

Bulb Eater provides environmentally friendly option for disposal

Local recycling advocates say Routt County is now a little friendlier to the environment thanks to the Bulb Eater.

Steamboat man suspected of distributing child porn

Routt County Sheriff’s Office deputies served an arrest warrant Tuesday afternoon for a 20-year-old Steamboat Springs man suspected of distributing child porn.

Tease photo

US Congressional candidate offers ideas for job creation

Democratic candidate Sal Pace told a group of about 20 people Saturday that he anticipates a close race in an effort to unseat Republican incumbent Scott Tipton.

Tease photo

Steamboat police Chief Joel Rae calls on Jerry Stabile as captain

Colleagues and friends say Steamboat Springs’ new police captain, Jerry Stabile, is a motivator who has served as a role model for hundreds of local youths.

Tease photo

Survey shows pine beetle epidemic slowing

More than 2,000 downed trees cleared from local trails

Forest officials say a 2011 aerial survey helps confirm that the mountain pine beetle epidemic has slowed after devastating 3.3 million of the 24.5 million acres of forest across Colorado. But they caution that the epidemic is not over, particularly on Colorado’s Front Range, and that the effects on forests will be felt for decades to come.

Tease photo

Steamboat firefighters recognized at ball

$4,000 raised at this year’s event for community assistance fund

A firefighter who colleagues say consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty was recognized during Saturday’s second annual Fireman’s Ball. For his accomplishments, firefighter Brian Shively was given the Life Saver Award.

Tease photo

New police Chief Joel Rae takes reins in Steamboat

Steamboat Springs Police Department Detective Nick Bosick said his new boss has the strongest backbone of any man he’s known.

Steamboat teen sentenced to alternative prison program

William Ellifritz, 18, is to serve four years in the CAPS program in Craig. The sentence stems from his involvement in several downtown business burglaries in May.

Tease photo

Couple sentenced for Routt County construction scam

Taufens stole an estimated $950,000 from local victims

Two Routt County victims were disappointed to learn Friday that a Kremmling man will not serve time in prison after he stole an estimated $950,000 from them in a construction scam.

Tease photo

Snowboarding crash severed Aaron Easter's artery

Aaron Easter, the 31-year-old snowboarder who died Tuesday after a snowboarding accident Monday at Steamboat Ski Area, died from a severe carotid artery injury, which led to a heart attack and an anoxic brain injury.

Clark's Vista Verde owner dies of meningitis

Routt County memorial service for Throgmartin is Sunday at ranch

A memorial service is being held Sunday in Routt County for a successful Indiana businessman, Jerry W. Throgmartin, who owned the Vista Verde Guest Ranch in Clark.

Tease photo

Steamboat's Old Town Hot Springs delays fundraising to focus on image

Old Town Hot Springs officials have decided to delay an effort to raise $5 million for renovations and expansion and instead focus their efforts on an education campaign.

Man who died in snowboarding accident described as adventurer

The man who died Tuesday from injuries suffered in a snowboarding accident was an adventurous Illinois native seeking happiness in Steamboat Springs.

Woman who hit snow gun is released from hospital

Laken Wilson, the 19-year-old Mississippi woman who suffered serious head injuries after sliding into a snow gun Jan. 1 at the ski area, has been released from Denver Health and returned home Sunday.

Woman skis into snowmobile at Steamboat Ski Area

A 71-year-old woman was taken to Yampa Valley Medical Center with leg injuries after skiing into a parked snowmobile at Steamboat Ski Area on Tuesday morning.

Man dies after snowboarding accident at Steamboat Ski Area

Aaron Easter, 32, has died from injuries he sustained while snowboarding Monday at Steamboat Ski Area.

Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. seeks feedback on master plan

Plans for new restaurants, chairlifts and terrain will be discussed during Wednesday night's master plan open house.

Tease photo

Science behind snow not an exact one

Meteorologist says 2 major factors play into Steamboat snow totals

Joel Gratz, a meteorologist who founded www.opensnow.com, said making accurate snow predictions at ski areas involves having specific knowledge about the area and how it is affected by storms.

Man gets 6 years for gun incident with Steamboat police

Rodney Williams III, 24, has been sentenced to six years in prison for eluding Steamboat Springs Police Department officers and trying to take one of their guns.

Steamboat Fireman’s Ball to raise money for community-assistance fund

With a newly created community-assistance fund, Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue firefighters have been able to provide more help to those in need.

Tease photo

Forecaster: ‘It's going to dump’

Snow: That’s what the weather experts are forecasting for Steamboat Springs this weekend. One forecaster is calling for 10 to 15 inches of snow to fall at the ski area overnight Saturday.

Tease photo

Firefighter saves dog from frigid water in Steamboat Springs

The new acting deputy fire chief for Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue is being credited with saving the life of Spike, an 8-year-old border collie that took a frigid dip in the Yampa River on Wednesday night.

Tease photo

Jury finds Robert Cash guilty of attempted first-degree murder

Shooting victim Rhonda Heaton was overcome with emotion after a 12-person jury ruled Thursday that Steamboat Springs resident Robert Cash is guilty of attempted first-degree murder, the most serious charge he faced.

Tease photo

Jury begins deliberations in Cash's attempted-murder trial

It’s now up to the jury to decide the fate of Robert Cash, the man on trial for attempting to murder his wife in Steamboat Springs. The prosecution and defense delivered their closing arguments Wednesday.

Tease photo

Cash testifies Tuesday that shooting was an accident

Robert Cash told a jury that he did not mean for his gun to go off and that he was not aiming it at his former wife, Rhonda Heaton.

Tease photo

Unclear whether Robert Cash will testify

The first-degree attempted murder trial for Robert Cash will continue into its second week Tuesday, but it’s still unclear whether Cash will take the stand to defend himself.

Tease photo

Victim Rhonda Heaton testifies in first-degree attempted murder trial

Afraid that her husband was still in the house and willing to shoot her again, Rhonda Heaton told a jury Friday that she spent four hours thinking she was going to die. By calling Heaton to testify, prosecutors attempted to prove Friday that Heaton’s former husband, Robert Cash, intended to kill her on June 11, 2010, at their west Steamboat Springs home.

Steamboat fire chief in contract negotiations

Ron Lindroth said Thursday morning that his contract still is being negotiated to become the new fire chief for the Central Valley Fire District in Belgrade, Mont.

Tease photo

Rhonda Heaton expected to testify at attempted-murder trial Friday

Rhonda Heaton is expected to tell a jury Friday morning how her former husband shot her in the back of the neck and let her suffer for hours before help arrived June 11, 2010, at their west Steamboat Springs home.

Tease photo

Attorneys differ on whether Robert Cash planned to shoot wife

There was no dispute Wednesday morning that Robert Cash shot his wife in the back of the neck as she lay in the bed of their west Steamboat Springs home in June 2010. Where the defense and prosecution differ is in the intent of Cash’s actions that day.

Steamboat fire Chief Ron Lindroth is top pick for Montana position

The potential departure of the fire chief comes amid renewed efforts to consolidate the rural Steamboat Springs Area Fire Protection District with services offered by the city of Steamboat Springs.

Opening statements Wednesday morning in Cash trial

After two full days in the courtroom, eight women and six men were sworn in Tuesday to serve as the 12 jurors and two alternates for the Robert Cash attempted-murder trial.

Dog dies in mobile home fire near Hayden

West Routt Fire Protection District Chief Bryan Rickman suspected that a heat lamp or heaters, which were being used to thaw frozen pipes, caused the fire.

MusicFest attendee arrested after base-area brawl

A 24-year-old Texas man was arrested Saturday night on suspicion of second-degree assault related to a fight that occurred two nights previous in Torian Plum Plaza at the base of Steamboat Ski Area.

Jury selection ongoing in Robert Cash attempted murder trial

Opening arguments in the scheduled seven-day trial could begin as soon as this afternoon at the Routt County Justice Center in Steamboat Springs.

Less than a week after stroke, Judge Garrecht is back on the bench

Routt County Judge James Garrecht says there are no residual effects from his Wednesday episode, which doctors think was a stroke. He was released from a Denver hospital on Friday.

Tease photo

Retiring Steamboat police Chief Hays put ‘community 1st’

When JD Hays first interviewed with the Steamboat Springs Police Department, the Los Angeles cop had never heard of Steamboat, and it was snowing so hard he couldn’t see his hand in front of his face.

Tease photo

Steamboat hockey shuts out Pine Creek, 4-0

A two-week break in the season did not seem to slow down the Steamboat Springs High School hockey team Friday night as it easily handled the Pine Creek Eagles.

Mississippi woman still recovering after fall at Steamboat Ski Area

A 19-year-old Mississippi woman continues to recover at a Denver hospital from serious injuries she received after slipping and hitting her head on a snow gun Sunday at Steamboat Ski Area.

Snow finally back in Steamboat forecast

Forecasters are predicting a storm Saturday could bring 3 to 5 inches of much-needed snow to mid-mountain at Steamboat Ski Area and as much as 10 inches up top.

Tease photo

Joel Rae promoted to Steamboat police chief

The veteran patrol captain replaces longtime police chief JD Hays, who retired Thursday.

Woman recovering after fall at Steamboat Ski Area

A 19-year-old Mississippi woman was airlifted to a Denver hospital with serious head injuries after she slid down an icy trail at Steamboat Ski Area and hit a snow gun on New Year’s Day.

Street dedication Thursday for outgoing Steamboat police chief

The street is being dedicated at 11 a.m. in honor of retiring Steamboat Springs Police Department Chief JD Hays.

Tease photo

Routt County Sheriff’s Office changes its look

Routt County Sheriff Garrett Wiggins hopes new uniforms will help distinguish his deputies from other law enforcement officers in the county.

Tease photo

Hundreds called for jury duty in Cash trial

Hundreds of people have been told to report to the Routt County Justice Center on Monday to potentially decide the fate of Robert Cash, the man accused of trying to kill his former wife.

Tease photo

Steamboat single-day lift tickets stay below $100 mark

Prices of lift tickets during the holiday season at several major Colorado ski resorts have breezed past the $100-a-day mark, with Steamboat Ski Area coming in just lower at $99 per day.

Tease photo

Yampa Valley Regional Airport manages holiday crowds with improvements

With about 90 percent of incoming airline seats full, Saturday could prove to be the busiest day of the ski season at Yampa Valley Regional Airport.

Older