By Shannon Lukens.
A Steamboat man has been sentenced to five years in the Colorado Department of Corrections. 26-year-old Skylar Pichon reached a plea agreement on charges of sexual assault on a child, who was an underage relative. Because of that agreement, there wasn’t a trial. The crimes occurred in Hayden when Pichon lived there. The victim testified in Routt County Court Wednesday, in front of Judge Michael O’Hara, that it ruined so many things for her and her family and that it will affect her for the rest of her life. Many family members spoke including Pichon’s mother who told her son via Webex that “Today is your judgment day.” Pichon was also sentenced to two years mandatory parole after the five years in the state prison system.
The winter air schedule for Yampa Valley Regional Airport in Hayden has been announced. There will be 16 nonstop flights accessible via six major airlines. The carriers are Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, and United. Direct flights will include daily flights from Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Houston, and Los Angeles.
The Yampa River through Steamboat Springs is open up again. The commercial and voluntary closures have been lifted for all recreation except for fishing.
It’s official from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Bears are entering into hyperphagia. That’s the big word that says bears are doing everything they can to get food and pack on the pounds. They’ll spend up to 20 hours a day trying to eat more than 20,000 calories to fatten up for the winter. Watch your trash cans, pet food, bird seed and BBQ grills. Keep your doors and windows locked on your home and your car. They know how to get into cars, and if the door shuts, they can’t get out.
There is a Community Bear Aware presentation at 5:30 tonight at Bud Werner Library in Steamboat.
The agriculture staff of U.S. Senator Michael Bennet has announced that the regional staff is hosting two days of Farm Bill listening sessions. Those sessions are in Craig Thursday afternoon and Steamboat and Kremmling on Friday. The goal is for Colorado residents to share with Senator Bennet’s staff members how Washington can be a better partner to producers across the state. Details on how to attend are on our website and social media.
The Routt County Fair continues at the fairgrounds in Hayden. Wednesday was the Market Swine and Showmanship. Michelle Gray won Grand Champion with her 286-pound crossbreed pig named Timothy.
Michelle will be a 7th grader in Hayden.
Today is the Rabbit Show and Breeding Beef Show with the big bonfire tonight. Friday night is the Demolition Derby. Saturday night is the Ned Ledoux Concert at the fairgrounds. Tickets are available through the RouttCountyFair.org website.
Tonight is a special performance at Yampa River Botanic Park with four members of the Steamboat Symphony Orchestra. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and it is free.
Friday, Aug. 19, is the North Routt Community Charter School fundraising BBQ. It’s from 4-7 p.m. at the Steamboat Lake Outpost, formerly the Roadhouse. There’s a Silent Auction and Dessert Auction and prize drawings. It’s $15 for adults; $8 for kids
The Colorado Mustang Stampede rolls into town Friday and Saturday. Check out the cars on display on Yampa Street in downtown Steamboat Springs from 10th to 12th on Saturday.
And finally… Zipper Merge in the construction zone along Hwy 40 in Steamboat. Use both lanes until the merge point.
For the KRAI Time, Temp, and Weather Hotline, call 970-824-1918.