By Shannon Lukens.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers have been working with local ranchers and landowners on a bait operation that has helped bait wildlife away from potential conflict with livestock. Wildlife are getting into feed lines for cattle and horses, increasing the potential for elk to become aggressive as they compete for hay with livestock.
In late February, wildlife managers loaded up with hay at the CPW shop in Craig and headed to the Yampa River drainage near Maybell. Hay was placed at bait sites, to entice deer and elk away from local ranches. Since the operation started, area wildlife staff have distributed over 1,000 tons of hay to about 100 landowners and ranchers in Craig, Maybell, Rangely, and the surrounding areas. Financial support has been provided by the Habitat Partnership Program State Council. Wildlife managers will continue to monitor the wildlife populations for the next 30-to-90 days as it will be a crucial time for wildlife survival.
COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE HELPS FEED ELK AND DEER IN NW COLORADO
A new bill passed in the State Legislature could directly benefit Memorial Regional Health in Craig. The bipartisan Senate Bill 68 is the Operations of County Public Hospitals Act. It helps four county-owned Colorado Rural Hospitals, one of which is Memorial Regional Health, so that these facilities can receive 5% of county funds from their respective counties if County Commissioners agree. The current state statute wouldn’t allow it.
“Rural and frontier hospitals in Colorado confront unique financial challenges. Senate Bill 68 is one way to help rural hospitals alleviate some of these obstacles.”
That’s Meghan Lukens, the co-sponsor of the bill and also the Colorado State Representative for House District 26, which includes Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt, and Eagle counties.
BILL PASSES THAT COULD DIRECTLY HELP MEMORIAL REGIONAL HEALTH
The base of Steamboat Ski Resort now has a UCHealth Urgent Care facility. It’s on the lowest plaza level next to the Ski Patrol offices. The on-site urgent care clinic is open on the same days that Steamboat Resort is open. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., seven days a week through Sunday, April 16. It will reopen in the summer on the same days of operation for Steamboat Resort.
UCHEALTH OPENS AN URGENT CARE NEXT TO SKI PATROL AT BASE AREA
There is a Vitalant Blood Drive Wednsday afternoon at the Latter Day Saints building in Steamboat and then Thursday morning at UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center. Colorado Mountain College will host the next Blood Drive May 17-18.
Vitalant Blood Drive is March 22-23 in Steamboat Springs
The Brown Ranch Annexation is having a Town Hall tonight. The Brown Ranch committee wants to hear the public’s view on water, wastewater, stormwater, and public transit. Babysitting and interpretation will be available. The meeting is at 5:30 p.m. at the Steamboat Springs Community Center.
Steamboat Sailor Hockey players have been honored. Andrew Kempers is First Team All-State and All-Conference. Connor Chapman will play in the state’s All-Star game. The full list is on our website.
SSHS HOCKEY PLAYERS ARE RECOGNIZED
Check out what’s happening in the Yampa Valley on the Community Calendar.
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