By Shannon Lukens for Steamboat Radio News.
The Routt County Sheriff’s Office is ending their contract with Flock Safety and is in the process of deactivating the Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) camera system. Deactivation begins immediately.
From a Routt County Press Release: “Public safety depends on more than technology. It depends on trust. While automated license plate reader systems can be valuable investigative tools, maintaining the confidence of the community we serve is equally important,” said Routt County Sheriff Doug Scherar.
The Sheriff’s Office recognizes that community members may have differing perspectives on the use of ALPR technology. Some see it as an effective public safety tool, while others have expressed concerns regarding privacy and the collection of vehicle data.
The deactivation of the Flock camera system will begin immediately, and the Sheriff’s Office is in the process of submitting a notice to terminate their contract with Flock.
Moving forward, the Sheriff’s Office will continue exploring investigative tools and strategies that help keep the community safe while maintaining transparency, accountability, and public confidence.
The Town Council of Hayden meets at 6 p.m. tonight. Items to be reviewed and discussed include Automated License Plate Readers, and the creation of a Community-Police Advisory Commission.
The Routt County Planning Commission meets at 6 p.m. tonight. Agenda
A pair of bears have been visiting the SkiView Place Apartments along Whistler Road every day and night this week. Here’s one of the residents talking about when it started Monday morning.
“I woke up, and we heard some hollering outside. And so we walked outside, and there was a bear crawling out of our neighbor’s apartment window. We checked on the apartment to make sure nothing was extremely damaged and if we could maybe shut her window for her. And there was a second bear inside the apartment when we opened– or when we went to go look inside that window. We got the second bear out, and her apartment was destroyed.”
She said the neighbor wasn’t home, but the window had been left open.
There was a screen there, but Christy Bubenheim with Keep Bears Wild Steamboat says that doesn’t matter right now.
“Screens do not keep bears out. We need you to close your windows, close your main level doors, and lock them. We don’t want bears in homes. We don’t want bears making contact with people.”
The resident there says the bears have been back and trying to get into her windows every night. The screens have been ripped off the windows.
“And there’s bear paw prints, muddy bear paw prints all over my back glass door.”
Colorado Parks and Wildlife has been called. As another reminder, keep all doors and windows shut and locked on your homes, apartments, building, and all vehicles, all of the time right now.
More on the Story – A bear pair is breaking into apartments near Whistler Road
Main Street Steamboat Springs is looking for qualified candidates to join its Board of Directors. It needs to be someone who represents a downtown Steamboat Springs business. They meet monthly. Link to apply or email Lisa Popovich at Lisa@MainStreetSteamboat.com
Sidewalk Sales are this weekend in downtown Steamboat Springs.
The 2026 Labor Day celebration in Oak Creek starts today and runs through Monday, Sept. 3-7. The schedule and more information is on the Town of Oak Creek website and Facebook page.
Highlights include a pancake breakfast Saturday and Monday mornings in Main Street Park. There’s also free Family Fun all day in the park on Saturday with Bingo at the Fire Station Saturday afternoon and live music at the Oak Creek Tavern Saturday and Sunday night. The No Fun Run is Monday morning with the parade down Main Street in Oak Creek starting at 11 a.m. Then there’s games, vendors, food and PIE afterwards at Decker Park.
The 15th Annual Yampa Valley Crane Festival is Sept. 3-6 in Steamboat Springs, Hayden, and Craig.
- 5:15 – 6:15 p.m. – Spirit Wind Aerial Arts – Library Lawn – Dancers, led by aerialist Heidi Miller
- 4 – 5 p.m. – “Crane Basics” – Sandra Noll and Erv Nichols, naturalists and crane experts
The Silent Auction to support SOAR, which is Supporting Older Adults in Routt, has started. Bidding runs until 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14. More information is at SoarRoutt.org, or call 970-879-0633. The Silent Auction helps support programs like Meals on Wheels, transportation services, recreation, and social opportunities, as does the upcoming 6th Annual SOAR Golf Tournament on Sept. 14.
Whoa! Hold your Horses is a big night out of music and dancing to benefit the Historical Society of Oak Creek and Phippsburg. Doors open at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3, at the historic Colorado Bar in Oak Creek. Enjoy music from Joe Ghiglia and Randy Kelly. Tickets are $50 and it includes food, entertainment and Fun. $25 is a tax deductible donation. Tickets are available at the Tracks & Trails Museum or the Colorado Bar and Grill in Oak Creek. Call 970-736-8245 or 330-720-6205.
In high school sports,
The undefeated Steamboat Sailors football team has a home game TONIGHT. The Sailors host Coal Ridge. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. and we’ll be there with coverage on KTYV 105.7 and through our website.
MOFFAT COUNTY BOYS SOCCER is AWAY vs. CRMS
STEAMBOAT SAILORS TENNIS is HOME vs. Central HS from GJ at noon