By Shannon Lukens.
Watch for road closures and travel delays starting today on the west side of Steamboat Springs. There will be paving today and Tuesday and Striping the rest of the week. Downhill Drive is closed for paving but businesses are open. Paving at Highway 40 and Riverside Drive is tomorrow so those needing access to Riverside Drive should expect closures that could last up to 45 minutes. The new traffic signal at Downhill Drive and Highway 40 is expected to be turned on next Tuesday, Oct. 21.
More on the Story — Paving and closures continue this week at US Hwy 40 and Downhill Drive
File photo
Santa Claus and his Santa Claus house are looking for a new home this holiday season, when they visit Steamboat Springs. He won’t be able to set up his house on the lawn at the historic Routt County Courthouse anymore, after 20 years of doing so.
Routt County Commissioner Sonja Macys says the current policy doesn’t allow for the ongoing placement of items on county property. That includes the Santa House which stays on the lawn for six weeks. She says there is no record of formal approval from past county commissioners for it being there.
“As we move forward, our goal is to respect the diverse faiths, traditions, and perspectives within our community, while maintaining clear, transparent, and equitable guidelines for the use of public spaces.”
Will there be a Christmas Miracle? Will Santa find a new spot to visit with kids and hear their Christmas wishes? Lisa Popovich with Main Street Steamboat hopes so.
“We’re looking for a new place for Santa’s house to reside during the holiday season so we can start a new tradition, and make it great for the kids in Steamboat.”
Popovich is open to ideas to a new home for Santa’s House, somewhere in downtown Steamboat Springs. She’s in talks with a few folks and taking suggestions.
Popovich is also unsure whether the Light Up The Night Celebration will happen this year, unless there is a new spot for the Santa House and it happens there.
Popovich says she plans be at Tuesday’s meeting of the Routt County Board of County Commissioners to speak at public comment about Santa’s House.
More on the Story — Santa Claus needs a new home when he visits Steamboat Springs
Progress on the Craig River Park continues along the Yampa River. Tours were given by the City of Craig so residents could see how it looks.
Melanie Kilpatrick is the project manager for the Craig River Park and the Yampa River Corridor Project. She says it will be for everyone in the community.
“Really it’s for river users, it’s for families, it’s for retirees, it’s for someone who just wants to hang out by the river, walk their dog, have a picnic, and then also for rafters, or kayakers, or tubers, anglers. It really serves a broad population.”
The Craig River Park will have trails and water features, and three put-in access spots for non-motorized water craft like kayaks, tubes, canoes, and paddleboards. There’s also a boat ramp.
There will be nature play areas and a group picnic shelter. There are toilets. There will also be riverbank terracing and an amphitheater of boulders for seating.
A flyer that was handed out at the scene says the vision began in 2016. Construction started in 2023. Now, Kilpatrick says the new Craig River Park should be finished in the spring, with a grand opening ceremony next summer.
The cost of the Craig River Park is close to $6 million, with most of it paid for with grant money. A flyer that was handed out at the site said the project was made possible by:
- City of Craig
- Moffat County
- U.S. Economic Development Administration
- Great Outdoors Colorado
- Colorado Office of Just Transition
- Friends of the Yampa
- Hillsdale Fund
- Yampa River Fund
- Northwest Colorado Chapter of Parrotheads
- Trapper Mine
- Yampa White Green Basin Roundtable
- Colorado Water Supply Reserve Fund
- Colorado Housing & Finance Authority
- Resources Legacy Fund/Open Rivers Fund
- Colorado Department of Local Affairs
- Moffat County Local Marketing District
- Riverwise Engineering
- Anson Excavating & Pipe, Inc.
- Community supporters like you.
Video Interview with Mike Anson
More on the Story – The Craig River Park in Moffat County will benefit everyone in the community
Steamboat Resort is developing a new Mountain Safety Team (MST). They’ll know the National Ski Areas Association Responsibility Code and they’ll help promote safe practices on the mountain. Members of the MST will be at high-speed zones during peak times to provide education and encourage skiing and riding at safe speeds. These will be both paid staff and volunteers, who have an advanced skiing or riding ability. You’ll be able to recognize them from a designated uniform which has yet to be introduced, but it will be different than ski patrol. Apply through the Steamboat.com website. Apply here
More on the Story – Steamboat Resort is creating a Mountain Safety Team
The Moffat County Board of County Commissioners is meeting with Jennifer Riley, the CEO of Memorial Regional Health today, for a hospital update.
Meet the city council and school board candidates today in a Candidates Forum, hosted by First Impressions. It starts at 5:30 p.m. in the Routt County Community Room at 135 6th Street in Steamboat Springs. They’ll be asked to share views on issues that impact young children, families, and early childhood education in Routt County. A light dinner and childcare will be provided.
In football,
The Steamboat Sailors lost another one Saturday, this time to undefeated Buena Vista, 54-15. The Sailors are 4-2.
Moffat County lost to Aspen, 47-14, Friday. The Bulldogs are now 1-6.
Hayden crushed Rangely, 72-30 Friday. The Tigers are 4-2. They’ll travel to Oak Creek Friday night to play the SoRoCo Rams at 7 p.m.
SoRoCo is still looking for their first win of the season, after losing 56-0 to West Grand Friday.
The Steamboat Springs Cross Country team competed in the Mountain States Challenge in Grand Junction Friday, in a rainstorm. Top finishes from the team are listed on our website. The Sailors are co-hosting the next meet on Friday with Moffat County, at the Yampa Valley Golf Course in Craig.
More on the Story – SSHS Cross Country Team competes at a rainy meet in Grand Junction
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.