By Shannon Lukens.
The new police chief for Oak Creek in South Routt County announced his resignation Friday. Jeffrey Mason of Barnesville, Georgia, started the job on Dec. 1.
Mason had planned to move the rest of his family to Oak Creek after his son graduated from high school in Georgia, but Oak Creek Mayor Melissa Dobbins says Mason’s wife told him she decided she wasn’t going to move to South Routt.
Dobbins tells Steamboat Radio News, “We are obviously very disappointed. We could see it as a setback, but it’s clear it wasn’t meant to be and the right person is out there for Oak Creek.”
The Town of Oak Creek will start searching for a new police chief on Monday.
- More on the Story — The new Police Chief in Oak Creek has turned in his resignation
- Nov. 4, 2025 — Steamboat Radio Facebook Page on the hiring of Jeffrey Mason
- March 21, 2024 – Steamboat Radio Facebook page on former Police Chief Ralph Maher’s retirement announcement
Photos courtesy RCSAR and Routt County Powder Riders.
The recent winds have downed hundreds of trees along winter snow roads between Dry Lake, Buffalo Pass, Rabbit Ears Pass and the Summit Lake areas. Lane of Pain halfway to the towers on Emerald Mountain was also affected with trees across the trail. Crews gathered over the weekend to start clearing the downfall. Those groups include Routt County Search and Rescue, US Forest Service, Powder Cats, and Routt County Powder Riders.
John Williams with RCSAR says snow conditions are extremely challenging at the moment. Low snowfall and warm weather have created a severe ice crust. Hidden obstacles are close to the surface. And partially downed trees are prone to fall unexpectedly. He adds, “Exercise extra caution if recreating in the backcountry. Any rescue efforts will be hindered by the current conditions.”
The date for the Friends of Stagecoach Ice Fishing Tournament has been changed to Jan. 17, due to concerns about the ice on Stagecoach Reservoir at Stagecoach State Park in Oak Creek. The tournament is limited to the first 300 participants. The cost is $40 and there will be cash prizes. Register through www.FriendsofStagecoachSP.org
Santa Claus spent Saturday afternoon at the base of Steamboat Resort, talking to so many wonderful kids. There are lots of pictures on the Steamboat Radio Facebook page, if you happened to be there.
Pictures on Steamboat Radio Facebook page — Santa Saddles Up in Steamboat
Courtesy photos.
Elves hid 489 homemade cloth Heart Bombs throughout Steamboat Springs heading into the weekend. They were all over town. If you found one, you get to keep it. The Heart Bombs say, “This heart carries Mountain Air and Steamboat Care.” This is the third year that the anonymous Heart Bombers have struck.
Photos courtesy NoCoGirls.
Steamboat’s Alexa Brabec took home TWO second place finishes in World Cup Nordic Combined in Austria over the weekend. Teammate Annika Malacinski, also of Steamboat Springs, also had another strong performance with an 11th place finish.
Adult Hockey is returning to Oak Creek. It’s at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday nights, starting Jan. 8, and runs until the ice melts. It’s $10-15 per session and goalies are free. Reach out to Mark Stepp (970-819-1939) for details.
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.