By Shannon Lukens.
Discussions are continuing regarding a negotiated resolution for 17-year-old Holt Lemaster, who is accused of stabbing a local pre-school teacher who was housesitting in April of 2024 at a home in Steamboat Springs. It was ruled earlier this month that Lemaster will be tried as an adult in the case. He is currently being held in the Grand Mesa Youth Services Center in Grand Junction, where he appears virtually for any court proceedings like the one last week. The next court date for a status conference is now 11 a.m. on Friday, May 2.
A group called Colorado Advocates for Smart Wolf Policy has announced the filing of the final language for a citizen-led ballot initiative to end the introduction of gray wolves in Colorado, by Dec. 31, 2026. Patrick Davis is leading the campaign.
“I saw an actual need for this coming from the farming and ranch community, coming from the State Legislature. Apparently, they can’t even afford to pay for the loss as it’s written, can’t afford to pay for the remediation of the animals that the wolves have killed. There’s a need to go back to go. Go back to before this law started, so that we’re able to start fresh and maybe come up with a smarter more pro-active policy that can work for everybody in the State of Colorado. The first thing we have to do is get rid of this unworkable law that’s on the books.”
The state’s Ballot Title Setting Board will hear the details starting April 2. Signatures will be collected statewide starting April 10 to be on the ballot in November 2026. When enough signatures are collected and the initiative qualifies, it will be on the November 2026 ballot.
But former Colorado Senator, and Representative and current Garfield County Commissioner Perry Will says the damage is done.
“I applaud the effort. But the situation is they’re out on the ground. They’re there. And it’s a must win. If it gets on the ballot, you have to win it.”
More on the Story — Ballot initiative to end wolf introduction by 2026 has been filed
Air service into Yampa Valley Regional Airport is expanding this spring, summer, and fall. United Airlines is offering a larger, mainline aircraft from Denver for the first time, and a new nonstop flight from Los Angeles. There’s also a nonstop flight from Houston. Southwest Airlines also will continue to offer year-round service from Denver.
More on the Story — United Airlines is expanding air service in to Yampa Valley Regional Airport this summer
Josh Schroder has been named as the new airport manager for the Steamboat Springs Airport/Bob Adams Field. He most recently served as Airport Supervisor for Grand County.
The Community Budget Center in Craig had a successful online auction and party to raise money to support their programs in the community. Here’s Operations Manager Valerie Guevara.
“The auction was a success and we wanted to thank all the people that sponsored it and the great donations that helped make the night a success.”
The auction raised just under $4,000.
The Moffat County Board of County Commissioners is meeting with Rio Blanco County Commissioners today to discuss areas of mutual interest. Moffat County Commissioners will meet with the Board of Public Health for their quarterly meeting on Tuesday.
Tuesday morning, the Routt County Board of County Commissioners is meeting. Agenda items include a report from Roberta Smith, the Routt County Public Health Director, and Elizabeth Woods, the Routt County Fairgrounds Manager. Then, Tuesday afternoon, there is a public hearing for the Yampa Valley Regional Transportation Authority. That is at 1 p.m. in the Routt County Courthouse. Then Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. there is another RTA meeting in Craig City Council Chambers.
Find out more at SteamboatSprings.net/RTA
Spring Break for SoRoCo and the South Routt School District is March 24-28.
Registration is open for new students in the Steamboat Springs School District for the upcoming school year. This includes preschool registration. Information is at: steamboatschools.net/enrollment/2025-2026 Be prepared to upload:
- Your child’s birth certificate
- Immunization records
- Current proof of residence (utility bill, property tax bill, or lease/rental agreement)
Check out what’s happening in the Yampa Valley on the Community Calendar on our website.
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