This is the Northwest Colorado News.
By Shannon Lukens.
Courtesy photos.
A Routt County family lost their 106-year-old family homestead in a fire south of Hayden Friday. Joe and Lysa Long and their four kids lived there, with Lysa’s brother, Will Valora. They are all OK, but the dogs died in the fire. Joe and Lysa both work in the Hayden School District. Will Valora works for Routt County Road and Bridge. They are all involved in 4-H and FFA.
They come from multi-generational homesteading families in Routt County. The home that burned belonged to their great grandparents.
A fund has been set up to help the family at Mountain Valley Bank. Gift cards can also be dropped off at the Hayden School District and Wild Goose Coffee Shop in Hayden.
West Routt Fire Chief Trevor Guire says the fire was on Routt County Road 37, about 12 miles south of Hayden. There is no way to know how the fire started yet. Multiple agencies responded: Oak Creek Fire Rescue, Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue, Routt County Sheriff’s Office, Hayden Police, and Routt County Road & Bridge.
More on the Story – Hayden Family Loses Everything in Fire
The Routt County Board of County Commissioners have a work session today. One agenda item is regarding costs of the Dispatch Center.
Yampa Valley Autism is raising money for a permanent home in the Yampa Valley. Executive Director Heidi Mendisco says it will allow Yampa Valley Autism to expand services and support more families in Routt, Moffat, and Grand counties after more than 20 years in the Yampa Valley.
“This really allows us to have a permanent home in the valley forever. The coolest thing is it will decrease our overhead costs by 60 percent which means we can serve more kids in the valley, which is really exciting.”
Yampa Valley Autism currently rents office space but they are under contract for a permanent home on Mid Valley Drive, which is near Walgreens in Steamboat. It is ADA accessible and on the bus line, and there are private offices for therapy sessions.
And the goal is to expand even further with offices in Moffat County.
“Eventually we can find a home in Moffat County and just be serving more kids.”
The goal is to raise $400,000 in the Capital Campaign to move into the new space. Mendisco says they have a donor that will match that amount.
Find out more and donate at YampaValleyAutism.org
The ski season at Steamboat Resort has ended. The last day was Sunday.
On Saturday afternoon, those 11 skiers and riders who took a run every single day of the season were recognized with a belt buckle that says “148.” That’s how many days they skied this season. Sunday would have been 149, and many said they would be skiing on Sunday as well.
YouTube Video of skiers/riders who skied 148 days in 2024-2025
- Chantal Kane
- Dani Booth
- Doug Hecker
- Leila Kruelskie
- Charles Smith
- Larry Budwig
- Justin Booth
- Anders Anderson
- Brad Kruelskie
- Paul Madeen
- Gregory Dalsis
The Steamboat Symphony Orchestra has hired a new Executive Director. Dr. Jennifer Lain Wheeler brings over 20 years in the performing arts. She will be moving to the Yampa Valley from Plano, Texas.
The Amble Project at the base of Steamboat Resort has topped out, meaning the final beam has been placed on the structure, which will be a residential community of 42 residences. The Amble is set to open in Spring of 2026.
A second development near the Meadows parking lot has also just been announced. The ROAN Townhomes are being sold through The Steamboat Group.
The Future Business Leaders of America team from Moffat County High School is competing at the state competition in Denver today through Wednesday. Twenty-one students are hoping to qualify for the national competition which is in Anaheim, Calif., June 28-July 2.
The Routt County 4-H program is hosting an Entrepreneurship Program for youth ages eight to 18, in conjunction with the Routt County Economic Development program. There are four monthly workshops with guest speakers, dinner, and learning activities. It starts Monday, April 28. The Steamboat Springs Rotary Club provided a grant to make the project possible.
Find out more by contacting Tami Eggers at the Routt County 4H Extension Office at 970-879-0825. Or email RC4H@co.routt.co.us
More on the Story — An entrepreneurship program for youth is being offered by Routt County 4-H
The Steamboat Springs School District has opened up new student registration for the upcoming school year. This includes preschool registration and for any students that live outside of the district. Link to register
It’s a quiet week in Steamboat Springs this week as it is spring break for the Steamboat Springs School District.
Howelsen Ice Arena is closed Monday, April 21 to Sunday, May 11. All locker users need to have their equipment out of their lockers before April 21.
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.