By Shannon Lukens.
The Colorado Water Congress is meeting in Steamboat Springs, with elected officials attending from across the state.
One Congressional panel discussion was with U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and U.S. Representatives Lauren Boebert and Joe Neguse.
Here’s Rep. Neguse.
“We’re going to continue to be a champion in Congress for the Colorado River, for preserving the lifeblood of the west. We made a lot of progress but we’ve got a lot more to do.”
Senator Bennet says major projects like the Arkansas Valley Conduit and improvements to the Farm Bill have happened as a result of the Colorado Water Congress held every year.
“I think that we’re in a moment where people are feeling optimistic, and they are feeling excited about what the future holds, and that’s exciting.”
The Colorado Water Congress has been happening since 1958.
Senator Hickenlooper held a roundtable hosted by Steamboat Fire Chief Chuck Cerasoli, and other local officials about fire mitigation in the region. Senator Hickenlooper says he learned how well the region works together as far as fire mitigation, building back healthy forests and forest resiliency and how the community is coming together to make sure people can insure their mountain homes in case of a fire.
“These kinds of things come out of a meeting like this… My job is to go back and get some resources and try to solve the problem, again with all the people today that were here helping us.”
Hickenlooper says there is nothing partisan about this, and that both sides need to work together.
U.S. SENATOR HICKENLOOPER SPEAKS ON FIRE MITIGATION
History of the Colorado Water Congress
Mark Beckett has been named the Police Chief for the Steamboat Springs Police Department. He had been serving as interim chief since February. Chief Beckett has served 22 years in law enforcement, most previously in Mesa, Arizona. He is responsible for 29 sworn officers and 15 professional civilian members in Steamboat Springs.
BECKETT NAMED POLICE CHIEF FOR STEAMBOAT SPRINGS PD
The Mid Valley Housing Project has been approved by Steamboat Springs City Council. This is an 11-acre parcel of lang along Hwy 40, across from Central Park Plaza. It includes 234 units. 150 will be for rent and 84 condominiums will be for sale. All will be deed-restricted for the Routt County workforce. Site work begins in the fall with construction scheduled to start in the spring.
The United Way of the Yampa Valley is celebrating a groundbreaking Thursday in Steamboat Springs. It’s from 5-7 p.m. Then there is a groundbreaking from 5-7 p.m. at The Warehouse in Craig. The United Way offices of both Routt and Moffat counties are coming forces to represent all of northwest Colorado.
Moffat County School District has received a grant from the Colorado Department of Education for $74,372. It is from the Mentor Grant Program, to be used to improve and expand the teacher mentorship program currently in the district. A Mentorship Program Coordinator will be hired to help train and support new teachers through mentor partnerships with veteran teachers within the district.
MOFFAT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT RECEIVES GRANT FOR MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
Alpine Bank is hosting a Community BBQ at Steamboat Springs High School today. It’s from 5-7 p.m. All are invited. It honors educators, local law enforcement and fire firefighters, and also Routt County Search and Rescue.
Northwest Colorado Health has hired Amanda Arnold as its new Chief Operating Officer. She has been with Northwest Colorado Health since 2018. Before that, she was the Executive Director of Moffat County United Way. Amanda was born and raised in Craig.
The Oak Creek Town Board meets tonight at 6 p.m.
The Routt County Humane Society has received $5,000 from the Colorado Pet Overpopulation Fund Tax Checkoff Grant. The money will be used to spay and neuter pets.
Check out what’s happening in the Yampa Valley on the Community Calendar on our website.
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