YAMPA STREET BUSINESSES MAKE CHANGES | BUSINESS 3A
$1.00
KINDERGARTEN FILLING UP Routt County schools on track for full enrollment ROUTT COUNTY 1D
TIGERS RACK UP POINTS Hayden, Soroco compete at final day of state track meet
SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2009
VOLUME 122, NUMBER 44 • STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO • www.steamboatpilot.com
SPORTS 1C
T I G E R S
T O
F L I P
T A S S E L S
T O D A Y
MATT STENSLAND/STAFF
Dale and Christine Johnson, of Towson, Md., repair a tent pole while setting up camp Saturday afternoon at Steamboat Campground in west Steamboat.The couple was passing through the area after attending a graduation in Wyoming.
Campgrounds expect increase Travelers lean toward low-cost vacation alternatives for summer Brandon Gee
MATT STENSLAND/STAFF
By the numbers
PILOT & TODAY STAFF
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
As Memorial Day weekend and the traditional start to summer approaches, many expect a busy year for local campgrounds — despite the economy — because of low gas prices and vacationers seeking cheaper alternatives. “It’s been our experience that our visitation will either stay the same or go up when the economy is down because of that whole ‘staycation’ idea,” said Brent Lounsbury, senior ranger at Steamboat Lake State Park. “For a $6 day pass, there’s a lot you can do in a state park.” Statewide, camping reservations are up 2 percent at Colorado State Parks, spokeswoman Deb Frazier said. Steamboat Lake will be open for Memorial Day weekend. Lounsbury noted that the park’s overall camper numbers likely will be down this year despite the increased demand, because several campsites will be closed while the park mitigates the impacts of the mountain pine beetle infestation. The same is true for U.S. Forest Service campgrounds. Lingering snow and hazardous
Hayden High School graduating senior Caitlin Mahanna shares memories of her high school athletic career with Wayne and Deanna Sweetser during Caitlin’s graduation party Saturday at Yampa River State Park. Caitlin will be attending Colorado State University in the fall, where she will study chemistry.
Colorado average gas price for a gallon of self-serve regular Saturday $2.26 Memorial Day weekend 2008 $3.91 Memorial Day weekend 2007 $3.33 Source: AAA Colorado
trees mean no Forest Service campgrounds in the Hahn’s Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District will be open Memorial Day weekend. District recreation specialist Kent Foster said the Forest Service is working hard to prepare campgrounds for what could be a busy summer. “I’ve talked to a lot of people who said they’re going to camp local this year,” Foster said. Private campground operators also are experiencing an increase in demand. Steamboat Campground Manager Heather May said reservations are down for Memorial Day weekend but that the campground and RV park is booked solid in July and August. “We’ve definitely had an increase. Usually we’re not fully booked by this time,” May said. “We’re seeing a lot more people locally … from Colorado … rather than taking that trip to California or Mexico.” See Camping, page 7A
Celebrating the end Hayden’s Class of 2009 distinguished in academics, athletics
T
he great unknown of the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley awaits Hayden High School valedictorian Lissa Hoza. Hoza will graduate today with the rest of Hayden’s Class of 2009 in a ceremony that begins at 2 p.m. at the high school on West Jefferson Avenue in Hayden. Baccalaureate begins at noon. With more than 30 college credits through dualenrollment programs and STORY BY online courses, Hoza said ZACH FRIDELL she’s ready to tackle college, even if she’s not quite sure what she wants to major in. “I have a younger brother … and he has some special needs. I’ve always seen him working with different types of counselors, and it inspired me to become a counselor,” she said. Hoza said she often takes care of her 8year-old brother and hopes she will be able
SUNDAY FOCUS
MATT STENSLAND/STAFF
Mahanna cuts her graduation cake during her party Saturday.
If you go What: Hayden High School graduation When: Baccalaureate begins at noon today, graduation at 2 p.m. Where: Hayden High School, 495 W. Jefferson Ave.
to continue into some type of education. “I learn a lot from him,” she said. “Last week my mom was down in Colorado Springs, and I was put in her shoes. I worked with him on his homework every night and took care of him. It’s frustrating at times, but it’s really rewarding to work with him, so I think a career like that would be good.” High school counselor Michelle Henderson said the competition for top honors in this year’s graduating class was tough. Hoza was selected as valedictorian based not only on her high grades, but also the number of college credits she earned. See Hayden, page 6A
Van De Carr pushes for youth center Nonprofit leader has early plans for development, environmental facility Blythe Terrell
PILOT & TODAY STAFF
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
In Gretchen Van De Carr’s dreams, a building rises out of land near a forested area. The environment includes different habitats: meadows, conifer forests, aspen groves, water. In the building and on the land, youths are learning, seniors are hiking and people of all ages are interacting with the enviJOHN F. RUSSELL/STAFF Gretchen Van De Carr, one of five Coloradans to receive the 2009 Livingston Fellowship ronment. Van De Carr, who founded from the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, hopes to transform her dream of a youth development and runs the Rocky Mountain and environmental center into reality.
PAGE DESIGNED BY AMANDA PHILLIPS
OUTSIDE
INSIDE Business . . . . . . . . Classifieds . . . . . . . Comics . . . . . . . . . Crossword . . . . . . . Happenings . . . . . .
3A 3B 5D 6D 2A
Horoscope . . . . . . . Obituaries . . . . . . . Outdoors . . . . . . . . Viewpoints . . . . . . . Weather . . . . . . . . .
ROUTT
6D 8A 6C 4A 2A
Mostly sunny. High of 74. Page 2A
COUNTY’S
Youth Corps, would like to see this vision transformed into a youth development and environmental center. In her ideal world, the center would be off the grid, environmentally friendly and beneficial to nonprofit groups across Northwest Colorado. “What I would hope is, we could assist in filling gaps or moving the youth environmental world to the next level,” Van De Carr said. The idea for a center grew out of a youth corps staff retreat about a year ago, but Van De
DELIVERY PROBLEM?
VIEWPOINTS LAST WEEK: Are pedestrian safety improvements needed on U.S. Highway 40 crosswalks? Results/5A THIS WEEK: Will Steamboat Springs sales tax rebound with a summer tourism boost?
NEWSPAPER
OF
RECORD
Carr has had it on a back burner for six or seven years. A youth and environment center would centralize her group’s operations, she said. The corps has offices at Colorado Mountain College’s Alpine Campus, keeps equipment in a warehouse off the premises and runs a science camp at PerryMansfield Performing Arts School and Camp. “There’s really no place in Northwest Colorado that you can house 100 people,” she said, “Perry-Mansfield excepted, but obviously they have their pro-
grams, and they’re pretty full.” Van De Carr expects to need 5 to 8 acres for the buildings and sleeping accommodations, as well as immediate access to 100 acres of natural environment. She’s looking at several options, including Emerald Mountain land that Lyman Orton owns. “There’s a lot of land in this area that would be perfect,” Van De Carr said. “It’s just a matter of finding the right partner.” See Youth center, page 7A
��������������� Every MLS property.
To report home delivery problems, please call 970-871-4250 on Sunday from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Missed papers will be delivered by 10:30 a.m.
Every Realtor®. Updated every day. And all with ����������������� the click of a mouse.
www.steamboatpilot.com
steamboathomefinder.com
SINCE
1885
www.