Lotto winner hits it big with ticket bought in Granby

Saturday’s Colorado Lotto drawing resulted in a big win for one lucky individual. The winning ticket, valued at $6,554,244 ($3,277,122 if taken in lump sum), was purchased last week at the Granby Kum & Go, located at 308 E Agate Avenue. The winning numbers were 1, 4, 10, 31, 38 & 39. According to lottery officials, the winner had not yet come forward at the time of press. Check your tickets, you could be a winner! For more information, visit: coloradolottery.com.

 

Winter Park Resort raises base pay for 2018-2019 season

Winter Park Resort will be recruiting over 1,000 seasonal employees this fall and has announced an increase in base wage, from $11/hour to $12/hour this season.

According to HR Manager, Becca Smith, the resort has “bulked up their screening process” this season and plans to speak with every applicant directly. The resort also continues to recruit students from South America and the South Pacific to work for the winter season on temporary visas, but numbers for the upcoming season are not yet available.

A Fall job fair is planned for Saturday, September 29th, in West Portal Station, located at the base of the resort, from 11 am – 2 pm. For more information, visit: winterparkresort.com/employment.

 

Grand Lake travel advisory

Beginning Tuesday, September 4th, bridge work will begin on W. Portal Road, resulting in bridge closure through mid-November. It should be reopened for the winter season and will be finished up in spring 2019.

Travelers heading to Adams Falls or the East Inlet boat ramp detour east on Grand Avenue all the way to the end of town ,then left onto N. Inlet Road, and right, onto W. Portal Road.


5th Annual Kickin’ it to Cancer Kickball Tournament set for Labor Day

Come on out to the 5th annual Kickin’ it to Cancer Kickball Tournament on Labor Day at the Fraser Sports Complex with prizes, a Silent Auction, Photo Booth, Food Trucks, Kids’ Game and more.

The Kickin’ It to Cancer Kickball tournament was initially created in 2013 as a one-time fundraiser to help our dear friend, Traci Brammer, fulfill her bucket list after a devastating cancer diagnosis. After witnessing her local community of friends, neighbors and even strangers, surround her with love, laughter and support, she asked her friends to continue the tradition in order to raise money to help other local families dealing with the same frustrations and issues that inevitably accompany this horrible disease.

Since then, the Brammer Family Fund has helped many of our locals, just as Traci intended. With the money raised, rents have been paid, doctor bills have been satisfied, a family was sent on a trip to spend their last precious moments with their little boy, without the worry of how they were going to pay for the trip on top of their medical bills – it‘s truly magical to experience a community come together for each other. Grand County is the definition of COMMUNITY. For more information, visit: grandfoundation.com.

 

Upcoming HTA volunteer opportunities

On Friday, August 31st, Headwaters Trails Alliance(HTA), and trail adopters, Damsels on the Fly, are heading out to Lake Evelyn Trail. Join us as we hike up this trail making improvements along the way. This will be a light trail work day as we work on drainages, corridor clearing and eliminate some trail braiding. Meet at the HTA office (120 Zerex, Fraser, CO 80442) at 8:30 am on August 31st and car pool to the trailhead. Call HTA with any questions: (970) 726-1013.

 

On September 8th & 9th, HTA will be working on the Byers Peak Trail and need about 20 volunteers for the trail improvement projects including drainages, check dams, corridor clearing and more. Volunteers will meet at the St. Louis Creek parking lot, at the intersection of CR 73 and FS road 159 at 8:30 am both Saturday, September 8th, and Sunday, September 9th. Feel free to join for both days or just one day. Lunches will be provided for all volunteers Saturday and Sunday, and, breakfast burritos will be available on Sunday.

Please RSVP for this project by Friday, August 31, so HTA can make volunteer lunch orders. RSVP by calling HTA at (970) 726-1013, or email: gcadoptatrail@gmail.com.

 

Dart to be inducted into Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame

On October 6th, the Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame will induct 5 new members, including Winter Park’s own, the late Bob Dart. A member of the Winter Park Resort family for over 37 years, Dart had an impact on resort growth as well as to the industry itself. Dart will join other 2018 inductees, Chris Anthony, Brad Ghent, Moe Mosley and Lonny Vanatta.

The Hall of Fame Induction Gala will take place at the Vail Marriott mountain Resort on Saturday, October 6th at 5 pm.

 

Silver Creek Fire Update

The Silver Creek fire started July 19, a result of a lightning strike. Located 16 miles northwest of Kremmling, the pre-evacuations for the Old Park, Gore Lakes, and Latigo Ranch areas were lifted on Tuesday. Residents continue to remain alert and aware, as the fire is not 100% contained, and heavy winds and dry conditions can increase fire activity.

Latigo Ranch announced its reopening on Sunday, September 2nd, for the remaining three weeks of the season.

At the time of press, the fire was at approximately 4,772 acres in size and 50% contained, with full suppression strategy continuing. Minimal fire behavior is expected with isolated heat and smoke in pockets of heavy timber within the fire’s perimeter. Crews continue to strengthen the firelines by taking action on hot spots where safe to do so. Fire restoration work continues along the perimeter as well. Restoration includes the installation of water bars, removing hazard trees, and chipping excess debris to reduce fuels and minimize erosion. Heavy equipment crews have completed constructing contingency fireline along Forest Service Roads 250 and the area directly west of the Old Park community.
While many lands sustaining wildfire are naturally stimulated & recover to healthy conditions, some catastrophic fires can damage the land, causing threats to human life, property, & biological and cultural resources downstream.  In these situations, land managers may decide to apply “first-aid” immediately, even before total containment of a wildfire, to help stabilize and repair the landscape. These efforts, known as Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER), help to prevent further degradation of natural & cultural resources, and protect life and property.
Beginning September 10th, a BAER team assembled by the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, will assess hazards through a rapid assessment process. The BAER team consists of hydrologists, soil scientists, road engineers, biologists, and archaeologists. They will coordinate with other local, state, and federal agencies. The team’s analysis and recommendations will focus on Forest Service lands but can provide information to private and other federal and state administered lands as well.

All hunters and recreating public are advised to view the revised closure at fs.usda.gov/detailfull/mbr/alerts-notices/….

The Type 3 Incident Management Team, led by Incident Commander Robert Lehmann is currently made up of 115 assigned personnel. Information on the fire can be found at: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5985/.

 

Sugarloaf Fire Update

The Sugarloaf Fire, which started on Thursday, June 28, 2018, from a lightning strike near the South Fork of Darling Creek, just south of Byers Peak Wilderness, is still smoldering and is being closely monitored daily. Firefighting resources continue to camp out near the fire, monitoring, patrolling and testing pumps and hoses for structure protection purposes daily. A closure area remains in effect. The area is rugged and steep, remote with no roads and no safety zones for firefighters. It is part of a mountain pine beetle epidemic that devastated lodgepole pine forests 20 years ago in various parts of the Forest. The numerous dead trees still standing now present a particularly dangerous condition from extreme overhead hazards and high potential for sudden and unexpected tree fall.

A Type 4 Incident Management Team continues to utilize a suppression strategy. The fire is currently at 1,280 acres and is 35% contained. 7 personnel and 2 Type-6 engines remain onsite. Information can be found at: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5872/

 

Grand County remains in Stage 1 Fire Restriction status through the Labor Day weekend.