S T E A M B O AT
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AUGUST 31, 2009
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
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Vol. 21, No. 208
RO U T T
C O U N T Y ’ S
DA I LY
N E W S PAP E R
Gas prices Cost of a gallon of regular unleaded fuel on Sunday
Fuel Stop ................... $2.50 West Kum & Go ....... $2.46 7-Eleven ................... $2.46 Petro West ............... $2.69 Phillips 66............................ $2.69 Bob’s Conoco ...................... $2.69 Hilltop Sinclair ..................... $2.64 Anglers Kum & Go ............... $2.46 Ski Haus ................................. $2.69 Mount Werner Sinclair ........... $2.46 Shell ......................................... $2.68 Shop & Hop ............................. $2.59 State Average ....................$2.53 .................... National Average ...............$2.60
S T E A M B O AT S P R I N G S
Dog days of summer 6th annual Stock Dog Challenge kicks off Saturday at Stanko Ranch Page 3
SPORTS
MATT STENSLAND/STAFF
Two-year-old Eva Reynolds, of Hahn’s Peak, shows her aunt, Rebekah Reynolds, of New Hampshire, what a sandhill crane sounds like Friday at the Steamboat Lake State Park visitors center. A total of $3 million is being cut from the state parks system.
Parks take budget hit
Impacts on state areas smaller in Routt County; fee increases proposed Brandon Gee
PILOT & TODAY STAFF
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
Triathlon hits town Page 23
■ LOTTO
■ INDEX Briefs . . . . . . . . .10 Classifieds . . . . .30 Colorado. . . . . . .17 Comics . . . . . . . .28 Crossword . . . . .29 Happenings . . . . .7
A $3 million cut to the state parks system is forcing officials to make difficult decisions about proposals such as fee increases, but Routt County thus far has been spared from the most drastic decreases in spending. Traditionally, the state Legislature has allocated about 10 percent of the state parks system’s budget from the state
Horoscope . . . . .28 Nation. . . . . . . . .18 Scoreboard. . . . .27 Sports. . . . . . . . .23 ViewPoints . . . . . .8 Weather . . . . . . .39
Saturday night’s Cash 5 numbers: 12-14-24-28-31 Drawings are held Monday through Saturday.
general fund. For this fiscal year, which began July 1, the Legislature cut its share by 32 percent, or about 5 percent of the agency’s total budget. Colorado State Parks spokeswoman Deb Frazier said the agency is eliminating 12.5 positions, leaving vacancies open and cutting back on other expenses such as travel, administration, equipment and seasonal employees. Parks employees also must take mandatory furlough days instituted statewide.
■ WEATHER
Evening storms. High of 79.
Page 39
The agency also is proposing increases to camping, reservation and boating registration fees. The Colorado State Parks Board will vote on the proposed increases at its board meeting Sept. 17 and 18 in Steamboat Springs. If approved, the new fees would take effect Jan. 1. Last week, Colorado State Parks announced it would close Bonny Lake State Park in eastern Colorado from Oct. 1 to May 1. “It’s one of those parks
On the ’Net For more information about Colorado State Parks, including how to purchase an annual pass or to comment on proposed fee increases, visit www. colorado.gov/parks.
that requires a bigger subsidy,” Frazier said. Managers at Stagecoach, Steamboat Lake and Pearl Lake state parks in Routt County are having their seasonal workSee Parks, page 13
■ THERE’S MORE ONLINE For around-the-clock updates, breaking local news and sports scores, videos, photos and an interactive community forum, visit www.steamboatpilot.com.