By Shannon Lukens.
A very strong letter of frustration and disappointment with Colorado Parks and Wildlife was sent to Director Jeffrey Davis, from State Senator Dylan Roberts and Speaker of the House Julie McCluskie Monday. They both call out CPW for denying the request on Dec. 22 from Don Gittleson to remove the depredating wolves in North Park. Those two wolves have been there for at least two years and are responsible for killing or injuring 16 head of livestock and four working dogs including one heifer on Gittleson’s ranch last month.
The letter says CPW has not defined “chronic depredation,” and did not tell Don Gittleson the definition of what would be permissible under the 10J Rule for lethal mitigation of the wolves.
Senator Roberts and Speaker McCluskie end the letter asking CPW to “take swift action to remove the depredating wolves that continue to kill and injure livestock and dogs in Jackson County.”
And they say Colorado Parks and Wildlife must immediately provide a definition of “chronically depredating,” and if they can’t, they need to tell the General Assembly and the public why a definition can’t be determined.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis was copied on the letter along with Dan Gibbs, the Executive Director of Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Reid DeWalt – Assistant Director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Travis Black – Northwest Regional Manager of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Don Gittleson, North Park Stockgrowers Association and
Colorado Cattlemen’s Association.
CPW GETS HARSH LETTER DEMANDING ANSWERS FROM ROBERTS AND MCCLUSKIE
A Celebration of Life is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23, for Jake Hill and his daughters, who died recently in Phippsburg. The service is at the 1st Baptist Church in Yampa. A Go Fund Me page has been set up for the family. https://www.gofundme.com/f/jesse-hill-7yr-girl-and-summer-hill-3yr-girl
Large Special Event Permits were discussed in a work session by Routt County Board of County Commissioners Monday. The concern has been from rural residents of Routt County about the SBT GRVL bike race in August, which has 3,000 riders on county roads, with spectators, staff, volunteers, drones, and camera crews.
County Commissioners went through the new proposed Large Special Event Permit, which is now four pages instead of two. They gave staff action items. One would be to define how many extra people are on the race course with those 3,000 riders. Define enforcement and policing, controlling or supervising and who does it. Is it race organizers or law enforcement who monitors any infractions?
Routt County Commissioners will have another Work Session before approval, which will probably be in early February.
ROUTT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DISCUSS LARGE SPECIAL EVENT PERMITS
Routt County Sheriff officer Stephen Harbison has been chosen as the Colorado American Legion Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. He was nominated by American Legion Post 44. Harbison has been a school resource officer in the county for the past four years and in law enforcement for 17. Harbison lives in Oak Creek. He will be honored as the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in Longmont on Jan. 27.
Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club cross country ski athlete Henry Magill has placed 5th at the Bauhaus Cup, which is an international event in Sweden. Magill was the top U.S. male in the event.
Former Steamboat Springs mogul skier Jaelin Kauf had a second place finish at the World Cup in Canada. It is Kauf’s 29th World Cup podium.
Check out what’s happening in the Yampa Valley on the Community Calendar on our website.
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