Steamboat Pilot, Sept. 6, 2009

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DOCTOR, BANK LEADER TO EARN WILLETT AWARDS |

ROUTT COUNTY 1D

ATHLETES HUCK OFF JUMP

$1.00

A FRESH APPLE Mac Ranch offers computer classes, gadgets in new store

Kangaroo flip wins inaugural Huck-a-thon SPORTS 1C

BUSINESS 3A

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2009

VOLUME 123, NUMBER 8 • STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO • www.steamboatpilot.com

Enrollment up in ’Boat Student numbers increased this year, despite weak economy Jack Weinstein

PILOT & TODAY STAFF

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS

If history is any indication, Steamboat Springs will find itself larger and more affluent after this period of economic uncertainty — as it did following recessions in the early 1990s and post-9/11, said Scott Ford, a local financial consultant. Since moving to Steamboat in 1992, Ford has worked with the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association, Steamboat Springs School District and

Colorado Mountain College’s Small Business Resource Center. He said school enrollment likely would increase in Steamboat during the recovery period after a recession, after people experience “cataclysmic events” in their lives that force them to make a change — such as moving their families to a mountain town. But he didn’t expect the increase in enrollment that’s occurring right now. Ford said it was surprising to him that numbers are up for the Steamboat Springs School District this

school year, which began Aug. 24. “The general feeling was that people had left the area, people had folded up their tents and went away,” he said. “That certainly has happened, but based on this information, some families have found a way to stay.” The district’s enrollment has increased, as of this week, to 2,154 students — including North Routt Community MATT STENSLAND/STAFF Charter School, which grew by Soda Creek Elementary School teacher Beth Leech leads her class outside six students — from 2,139 last after school Friday. Enrollment in Steamboat Springs schools increased slightly this

year despite the economic recession, which some administrators thought would have caused families to leave Steamboat.

See Enrollment, page 9A

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS

See Air Fest, page 8A

See Swine flu, page 8A

T

SUNDAY FOCUS

MATT STENSLAND/STAFF

Jen Alexander finishes her ride in Charlie Huff’s plane Saturday during the Wild West Air Fest. The festival continues today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

reationally and that Jen joins him. The couple lives in Parker outside Denver. “She puts her life in my hands, and I said, ‘You’re much better off with this guy. He’s got a lot more experience than me,’” Steve Alexander said. Jen Alexander made it safely back to the ground and said the flight was

Zach Fridell

PILOT & TODAY STAFF

“awesome.” She’d been concerned that the plane was small and she’d be claustrophobic. She wasn’t. “Taking off was great, lifting off from the runway was great, just that

Visitors take to skies in vintage, new aircraft at 5th annual event

shade. But people lined up to ride it at $50 a pop. Alexander was riding partly because her husband, Steve, planned to head up in a biplane later in the afternoon. He held her handbag as she overcame her hesitation and boarded the plane. Steve Alexander said he flies rec-

County agencies prepare for H1N1

Emergency and health officials in Routt County are preparing for the coming flu season but face several uncertainties, including the specter of the H1N1 virus, the For more severity of a potential outEight things break and the you should availability of know about vaccines. swine flu With continSee page 8A gencies in place for a variety of outcomes, local officials are awaiting news from the federal government. Spokeswoman Suzi Mariano, of the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association, said the flu season tends to start when students go back to school but that so far H1N1 vaccines are not available. “We don’t know the amount of vaccine we’re going to receive or when we’re going to receive it,” she said. The federal government will distribute the vaccine to states, which will in turn distribute to local health agencies. Mariano said the VNA has several plans ready for different scenarios. The VNA has worked with Routt County Emergency Management Director Bob Struble to develop a list of the critical county employees who would first receive the vaccine — emergency responders, law enforcement officers, elected officials, road and bridge crews and others. That list includes about 275 people, including the employees, their spouses and children, Struble said. After those critical employees are vaccinated, the vaccines will be offered to all county employees and the public. “At the county level we’ve been

Record turnout at Air Fest hree people stood outside a dandelion-yellow J-3 Piper Cub on Saturday afternoon, two talking and one listening. Jen Alexander got the safety rundown from Carol and Charlie Huff before boarding the twoseater World War II plane. They showed STORY BY her the bars to grab BLYTHE so she could pull herself aboard into the TERRELL front seat before pilot Charlie Huff settled into the back. “Why would I want to use the rudders?” Alexander asked as the Huffs pointed out parts. “You’re flying.” “If you want to fly, I’ll let you fly,” Charlie Huff told her. Alexander hit the skies in the Cub during the fifth annual Wild West Air Fest at Steamboat Springs Airport off Routt County Road 129. The Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association sold more than 1,600 buttons for entry, the most ever, master of ceremonies Mike Forney said. Airport Manager Mel Baker suggested that as many as 2,500 people attended. Children younger than 6 are admitted free, and volunteers and pilots added to the crowd. People set up chairs in the shade of plane wings, seeking respite from the baking-hot concrete. Huff’s Piper Cub, which weighs 800 pounds empty, didn’t provide much

Time for flu looms

Steamboat trying to streamline spending New community support framework to aid 10 percent cuts in 2010 Brandon Gee

PILOT & TODAY STAFF

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS

There will be no shortage of drama when the Steamboat Springs City Council attempts to cut spending by 10 percent in 2010, but the governing body has taken steps to distance itself from one of the more emotionally charged aspects of the budget process. The planned 10 percent cut to spending citywide amounts PAGE DESIGNED BY ALLISON MIRIANI

to about $2 million and comes on top of massive budget cuts this year — including a furlough program that has seen city employees’ pay and hours cut by 10 percent — that amounted to a 13 percent reduction in spending from 2008. Steamboat Springs’ sales tax collections decreased by 21.5 percent in June compared with June 2008. The city collected less than $1.2 million in sales tax in June, compared with about $1.5 million for the month last year. That puts the

year-to-date collections at $8.7 million, compared with $10.5 million year-to-date at this time last year. That’s a 16.8 percent decrease. With the help of volunteers, the city has created a new framework for its community support spending, a relatively small but emotional portion of the city budget that goes toward organizations dedicated to areas such as the arts, human services and the environment. The city doesn’t plan to spare the spend-

OUTSIDE

INSIDE Business . . . . . . . . Classifieds . . . . . . . Comics . . . . . . . . . Crossword . . . . . . . Happenings . . . . . .

ROUTT

3A 3B 5D 6D 2A

Horoscope . . . . . . . Obituaries . . . . . . . Outdoors . . . . . . . . Viewpoints . . . . . . . Weather . . . . . . . . .

COUNTY’S

6D 6A 6C 4A 2A

See Budget, page 9A

VIEWPOINTS

needs. Here, Jason Weber, left, and Randall Hannaway check a map to plan a search for missing snowmobilers a couple of years ago.

DELIVERY PROBLEM?

LAST WEEK: Are you concerned about an outbreak of swine flu in Routt County this fall? Results/5A

An afternoon storm. High of 76. Page 2A

NEWSPAPER

ing from additional cuts this year, but the new process should depoliticize decisions. “We did request they stay within a 10 percent reduction just like we’re requesting for all the departments,” interim Finance Director Bob Litzau said. The city is modeling the new JOHN F. RUSSELL/FILE PHOTO process on the one subsection of community support spend- As the city looks in coming weeks to trim 10 percent from its 2010 budget, ing that everyone seems to agree its contribution to Routt County Search and Rescue will be part of decisions about local

THIS WEEK: Will the Denver Broncos make the playoffs this season?

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RECORD

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