By Shannon Lukens.
The suspect in a burglary, vehicle theft, and multi-agency manhunt has been taken into custody by the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office. 43-year-old Valentin Velez is the suspect in a stolen blue Dodge pickup with Wyoming plates last Friday. Officers received a tip that they saw the truck on Cedar Mountain. Multiple agencies set up a command post there and issued a reverse 9112 shelter-in-place for the area. Law enforcement found the stolen truck and the stolen property but not the suspect. Craig Police received a tip then about a suspicious man walking on County Road 7. They made contact, the man tried to leave, but after a brief chase, they were able to get him in custody and arrest him. A loaded firearm was discovered as well as suspected fentanyl. Velez will be charged with multiple charges and is next in court this Thursday, April 3.
Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: SUSPECT APPREHENDED FOLLOWING BURGLARY, VEHICLE THEFT, AND MULTI-AGENCY MANHUNT
A wolf that visited a ranch property 12 days in a row in Jackson County may be headed to Wyoming. That’s what the rancher says he’s been told. Colorado Parks and Wildlife agents were at his property two nights in a row last week, to try to haze the wolf away from the sheep and cattle. That second night, the wolf got in a fight with the rancher’s three livestock guardian dogs, and the wolf was hazed with bean bag rounds and drones from CPW. It hasn’t come back and the rancher says he was told on Friday morning that the wolf was about 10 miles north of his house, headed to Wyoming. CPW does not share locations or specifics with media or the public.
March 29, 2025 — Wolf in Jackson County may be heading to Wyoming
Colorado Republicans have elected former Routt County Treasurer Brita Horn as the state party chair. Horn is from south Routt County and will serve a two-year term as the party’s GOP Chair. At the reorganization meeting in Colorado Springs, Horn told members of the state central committee that she wants Republicans to move past the internal fights that have consumed the party. The 62-year-old Horn is currently a volunteer fire chief in McCoy.
The Routt County Board of County Commissioners meets for a work session today. Scott Cowman reports from Environmental Health. Jean Levine has a report from the Council on Aging. Agenda
Steamboat Ski Resort begins spring operations today (Monday, March 31). It means there are a few fewer lifts, trails, and resort restaurants through the last day of the season, which is April 20. This weekend is the Cardboard Classic and Pond Skim.
More on the Story — Spring Operations begin at Steamboat Resort
Howelsen Hill is now closed for the season. The Return of the Rat Lake Pond Skim had everyone cheering for those trying to make it across the frosty pond of water at the base area. First place goes to 16-year-old Ethan Maines, a sophomore at Steamboat Springs High School with a layout backflip out of the pond.
“I knew that I just needed to go big. Do something crazy. Did a huge layout ‘backee’ and stomped it in the flats at the bottom.”
Ben Hoefer was second.
Kyler Butler was third. Molly Clynes was fourth.
David LaPointe was fifth with a flip out of the pond.
“Tried a front flip on the end and just backsplatted.”
Video of Ethan Maines and other Rat Lake Pond skiers and riders
Sponsors of the Return of the Rat Lake Pond Skim are Mountain Tap Brewery, Colorado Bagel, Ice House, and Bold Goggles.
The Routt County Prom Closet is collecting formal dresses, both long and short, and of all sizes, to donate to high school students in Routt County for prom. Drop your dresses by the Heart of Steamboat United Methodist Church before April 3. The dresses will be free for any Routt County students.
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.