By Shannon Lukens.
Major improvements are coming to the Routt County Fairgrounds in Hayden. County Commissioners approved a contract with Hutchison Inc. to do $429,135 worth of improvements. The renovation includes all new fencing and railings, panels and chutes. The midway will be paved and bathrooms will be fixed. Here’s Routt County Commissioner Tim Redmond.
“It’s a great thing for Routt County because we have a large agricultural community and I’ve always looked at the fairgrounds as their community center. This is an opportunity to make that not only attractive but usable and most importantly safe for our participants. We’re looking to improve everybody’s experience out there. Public safety with new railings. The bathroom remodeled, making it convenient and ADA accessible for everyone. And then the paving of the midway will make it a much more user-friendly event and keep the dust down for everybody. I’m excited. This is the future and we’re going to make it happen now.”
Pictures of the gates and fencing at the fairgrounds now, before replacement.
Teardown begins this week at the fairgrounds. The proposed delivery date for the new fencing, gates, and chutes is March 1. Everything will be installed in the spring and it should take about a week.
Here is Routt County Fair Manager Noel Matt, shown with facilities manager Joe Stepan.
“We’ve worked really hard for this. It’s been almost two years in the making. This just means more growth for the fair and the fairgrounds as a whole.”
Joe Stepan added that no outdoor arena events have been scheduled now through mid-summer. The fairgrounds will be closed to block any usage.
“Really it’s been sort of a long growing project now. If you look at the fairgrounds, and the condition of the existing arena, and frankly it has gotten to the point where the usability is a question. And so now being able to move forward with this, it’s going to open up so many doors to new events, new types of events, just overall better utilization of the property. It’s going to be great.”
Routt County Commissioners voted unanimously to proceed on the construction contract.
FULL STORY – ROUTT COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS IN HAYDEN TO GET COMPLETE RENOVATION
Routt County Fairgrounds Outdoor Arena Renovation
The Iron Fire in Moffat County, north of Craig, is 75% contained. Widespread precipitation was received over the fire area which helped. All Moffat County roads will open back up Wednesday.”
FIRE IN MOFFAT COUNTY — 75% CONTAINED AS OF TUESDAY
Forty years ago, a group of 6th graders in Palm Springs, California, filled up 1,200 balloons with helium and sent them on their way to see where they would land. One of those balloons landed along Hwy 40 in Craig. Jim Phillips was working at Trapper Mine and he saw that balloon, picked it up, and read the card, which said, “Dear Balloon Finder: We at Cahuilla School sent balloons flying as part of a reading contest. Please help us by letting us know where and when the card was found and dropping the card in the mail.”
That’s what Phillips did, with an article about the fast-traveling balloon from the Daily Press. That balloon was estimated to have traveled about 650 miles in 15 hours.
The 11-year-old boy who sent the balloon was Craig Tockman. This past week, his mom made the journey to Craig to see where her son’s balloon landed. She met with Dan Davidson at the Museum of Northwest Colorado who helped her get in touch with Jim Phillips.
Here is Janet Morris.
“And he put Jim Phillips on the phone with me. And he remembered the story. And my son is 51 now and he was 11 at that time. So it took 40 years for me to personally come and thank everybody, but I’m here.”
The newspaper article says Bill Harding relaunched the balloon to see where it would go from Craig, but no one heard back from that one.
COUPLE VISITS CRAIG TO THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR AN EVENT FROM 40 YEARS AGO
It’s Homecoming Week for Moffat County and Hayden.
The dress theme for the Bulldogs today is Dress Like your Favorite Barbie or Ken.
Thursday is Bulldog Spirit. Tuesday is Twin Day. Wednesday is Ken v. Barbie with Macho Volleyball at 7 p.m. Thursday is Icon Barbie Dress up Day. The freshmen dress up as Weird Barbie and Allen, Sophomores are Futuristic Space. Juniors are Disco Barbie. Seniors are Western Barbie. Teachers are Holiday Barbie. Then the Bonfire is at 8 p.m. Thursday. Friday is Pink Power. The parade is at 1 p.m. and the football game is at 7 p.m. There’s more volleyball on Saturday morning. Wear pink as it is a Pink Out Game. Then the Homecoming Dance is Saturday night.
For the kids in Hayden, it is PINK OUT Day. Tonight is Macho Volleyball Hayden’s Homecoming week festivities.
Thursday is School Pride with Tiger Gear. The Pep Rally is Thursday afternoon and the parade is at 3 p.m. Friday is WHITE OUT day with volleyball starting at 3 p.m. and the football game at 7 p.m. The Tigers are playing Vail Christian. There is a Hayden High School alumni celebration from 6-7 p.m. in the school commons.
Today is Walk and Roll to School Day so keep an eye out for kids walking or riding their bikes.
WALK AND ROLL TO SCHOOL DAY IS WEDNESDAY, OCT. 4
The Hayden Holiday Craft Fair is looking for vendors for the event, which is Nov. 4. Reach out to Sarah Stinson at the Town of Hayden if you want to participate in the Hayden Holiday Fair which will be in Exhibition Hall at the Routt County Fairgrounds this year. Contact information: Sarah.Stinson@HaydenColorado.org Or call 970-276-0504.
Check out what’s happening in the Yampa Valley on the Community Calendar on our website.
For the KRAI Time, Temp, and Weather Hotline, call 970-824-1918.