By Shannon Lukens.
An incident occurred up at the Colorado Department of Transportation Maintenance Facility on Rabbit Ears Pass Tuesday afternoon. The CSP report says it involved a snowcat where two parties were possibly hit or run over, and transported with unknown injuries. CDOT is confirming that an incident occurred at the maintenance facility on Rabbit Ears Pass and it involved more than one employee. Elise Thatcher, the Northwest Colorado Regional Communications Manager with CDOT, says “We are supporting law enforcement investigatory work and do not have additional information to share at this time.”
Hayden Police Chief Greg Tuliszewski is retiring from the Hayden Police Department. He has served in Hayden for 10 years and as a law enforcement officer for 34 years. Sgt. Shawn Hockaday will step in as interim Chief. There is an Open House for Chief Tuliszewski at the Haven Community Center in Hayden on Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 4.
Two residents of Northwest Colorado have been appointed by Governor Jared Polis to the Fourteenth Judicial Nominating Commission. Casey Quillen of Steamboat Springs will serve as a Routt County attorney, unaffiliated. Staci Nichols of Craig was appointed as a non-attorney from Moffat County, a Republican.
Dr. David Wilkinson has retired as Emergency Medicine Physician at UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center. He worked his last shift Wednesday. Dr. Wilkinson has provided emergency care for 40 years, working an estimated 6,700 shifts.
“This hospital has been my family,” said Wilkinson, reflecting back on the estimated 6,700 shifts he has worked. “When I first moved to Steamboat, the people in the emergency department along with the EMS providers became my first family. I remember the early days when we had six bays with curtains, and I had a rotary dial phone and only two books on my desk. Now, we’re a leader in emergency care, have an incredible facility and have nationally recognized patient experience scores. There’s perhaps a certain deep sadness in leaving, and a great joy in remembering. I am blessed with a sense of how profound and intense and beautiful my career has been in this community at this hospital.”
The new Wild Blue Gondola will officially start carrying skiers and riders up the mountain on Saturday morning, to the Greenhorn Ranch SnowSports Learning Center. The celebration starts at the gondola maze at the base of the resort around 9 a.m. tomorrow. Hot chocolate and treats will be at the upper terminal.
Tubing at Howelsen Hill is open. It’s an actual tube near the beginner area of Howelsen Hill. Ride the carpet lift to the top and then cruise the tube. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, with one-hour time slots. Riders have to be at least 36” tall. Tubes are provided. Find out more at www.SteamboatSprings.net/tube.
The new tubing hill will NOT be open on Christmas Day, and neither will Howelsen Hill. There will be no Ski Free Sunday happening this weekend.
Winter Break starts today for the kids in the Moffat County School District. Steamboat kids are already on break. Winter Break for Soroco and Hayden students is Dec. 26 through Jan. 6. They’re in school this week, and break will start next Monday.
Santa Claus and his big fire truck sleigh are visiting Steamboat Springs neighborhoods every afternoon through Christmas Eve. Santa and his big red fire truck sleigh will hit the road at 4:30 p.m. Today, he’ll visit the neighborhoods of Tamarack, Cherry, Hillside Drive, Mountain Vista Circle, Wyatt Drive, Hilltop, Fish Creek Trailer Park and Alpen Glow which is the Walgreen’s traffic Circle.
When you are finished with your Christmas Tree, you can recycle it at Emerald Park. It’s free to drop off your tree to be recycled, starting on Friday, for about ten weeks. Trees can be dropped off in the northwest corner of the Emerald Park parking lot. Make sure all ornaments and lights are removed. And no wreaths, please.
Thursday is the last day for the 21st Annual Murphy Roberts Holiday Classic. Top skiers from across the country are competing in slalom at Howelsen Hill.
The Steamboat Tennis & Pickleball Center has been recognized by the United States Tennis Association as a “Premier Facility.” Racquet Sports Magazine also named the local center as their national “Commercial Facility of the Year.”
Check out upcoming events in the Yampa Valley on the Community Calendar on our website.
For the KRAI Time, Temp, and Weather Hotline, call 970-824-1918.