SUMMIT COUNTY - More travelers are expected in the mountains during Labor Day weekend this year than in 2009, and occupancy rates in Breckenridge are up 5 percent.
"We're definitely seeing a pick-up from last year," said Emily McCormack with the Breckenridge Resort Chamber.
At the current rate of bookings, the number of visitors staying in the town could be as much as 7 percent over last year, she said.
The town's occupancy this weekend is expected to be about 60 percent - which is typical of summertime, when bigger weekends range from 60-80 percent occupancy, McCormack said.
AAA Colorado expects travelers in the mountain region this holiday weekend to increase 11 percent from 2009. About 2.68 million people are to vacation at least 50 miles from home across eight mountain states, according to a AAA press release.
Trips by automobile are expected to increase 10 percent from last year. The price of gasoline has been relatively steady this summer, averagi
3 September 2010, 1:05am
BRECKENRIDGE - The Breckenridge Recreation Center is undertaking a major locker room remodel beginning Tuesday, Sept. 7.
From September 7 through October 17, both the men's and women's locker rooms, sauna and steam room will be completely closed to the public. All of these areas will re-open Oct. 18.
As a result of this community feedback, the Locker Room Renovation Project will entail replacing all lockers with a new, larger style; new individual shower stalls in the men's room; new flooring, benches and dividers in the locker rooms; new lighting; and new colors.
Financing for this project has been budgeted for several years and is coming out of the capital improvement fund. The capital improvement fund is separate from the general fund and, therefore, does not affect the Town of Breckenridge or Recreation Department's annual operating budget.
The family locker rooms and pool area will remain open for the duration of the project. Priority use of the two family locker rooms
From September 7 through October 17, both the men's and women's locker rooms, sauna and steam room will be completely closed to the public. All of these areas will re-open Oct. 18.
As a result of this community feedback, the Locker Room Renovation Project will entail replacing all lockers with a new, larger style; new individual shower stalls in the men's room; new flooring, benches and dividers in the locker rooms; new lighting; and new colors.
Financing for this project has been budgeted for several years and is coming out of the capital improvement fund. The capital improvement fund is separate from the general fund and, therefore, does not affect the Town of Breckenridge or Recreation Department's annual operating budget.
The family locker rooms and pool area will remain open for the duration of the project. Priority use of the two family locker rooms
3 September 2010, 1:05am
BRECKENRIDGE - The Tesla Roadster - which accelerates from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds without a drop of gasoline - is coming to Breckenridge on Saturday as part of a summer tour.
The zero-emission, high-performance sports car runs completely on electricity, produces no fumes and is hand-built of carbon fiber. It produces up to 295 lbs-ft of torque and 288 horsepower. The battery's range is 245 miles and it takes 3.5 hours to charge.
Test drives are limited but available to prospective buyers between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Grand Lodge at Peak 7. To schedule a test drive call Erin Callan at (303) 440-3758.
- Daily New staff report
The zero-emission, high-performance sports car runs completely on electricity, produces no fumes and is hand-built of carbon fiber. It produces up to 295 lbs-ft of torque and 288 horsepower. The battery's range is 245 miles and it takes 3.5 hours to charge.
Test drives are limited but available to prospective buyers between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Grand Lodge at Peak 7. To schedule a test drive call Erin Callan at (303) 440-3758.
- Daily New staff report
3 September 2010, 1:05am
BRECKENRIDGE - Highway 9 in the construction area north of town is to have four lanes available for traffic next week, though daily lane closures could continue before the widening project's anticipated completion later this month.
"We are just a little bit ahead of schedule," said Bob Smith, engineer with the Colorado Department of Transportation.
The roughly 1.5 mile highway segment between Valley Brook and Coyne Valley roads has been under construction since June 2009 for the widening project. The project paused during winter months.
While previous reports predicted project's completion as late as November, Smith said the four lanes are to be fully open by the end of September.
Meanwhile, there will probably be daily lane closures "one direction or the other for some work, final clean-up and seeding, and a noise wall we're building in front of Vienna Townhomes," Smith said.
The noise wall at the southeast corner of the inters
"We are just a little bit ahead of schedule," said Bob Smith, engineer with the Colorado Department of Transportation.
The roughly 1.5 mile highway segment between Valley Brook and Coyne Valley roads has been under construction since June 2009 for the widening project. The project paused during winter months.
While previous reports predicted project's completion as late as November, Smith said the four lanes are to be fully open by the end of September.
Meanwhile, there will probably be daily lane closures "one direction or the other for some work, final clean-up and seeding, and a noise wall we're building in front of Vienna Townhomes," Smith said.
The noise wall at the southeast corner of the inters
3 September 2010, 1:05am
SUMMIT COUNTY - Gov. Bill Ritter on Wednesday announced the appointment of Mark Duncan Thompson of Breckenridge as Fifth District Court judge, according to a press release from Ritter's office.
Thompson, who's a shareholder of Breckenridge law firm West, Brown, Huntley and Thompson, was selected among three finalists to fill the seat Judge Terry Ruckriegle vacated Aug. 31.
Thompson has been with the firm since 1999 and his practice has consisted of construction litigation, property litigation and general civil litigation. He is the co-author of Chapter 27 of the Practitioner's Guide to Colorado Construction Law, according to Law Week Colorado at www.lawweekonline.com.
He received his bachelor's degree from Bates College in Maine in 1989 and his law degree from the University of Denver in 1992, when he began practicing law.
Ruckriegle served on the bench for 26 years before retiring.
For a district court judge, the initial term of office is two years. Afterward, voters dec
Thompson, who's a shareholder of Breckenridge law firm West, Brown, Huntley and Thompson, was selected among three finalists to fill the seat Judge Terry Ruckriegle vacated Aug. 31.
Thompson has been with the firm since 1999 and his practice has consisted of construction litigation, property litigation and general civil litigation. He is the co-author of Chapter 27 of the Practitioner's Guide to Colorado Construction Law, according to Law Week Colorado at www.lawweekonline.com.
He received his bachelor's degree from Bates College in Maine in 1989 and his law degree from the University of Denver in 1992, when he began practicing law.
Ruckriegle served on the bench for 26 years before retiring.
For a district court judge, the initial term of office is two years. Afterward, voters dec
2 September 2010, 1:05am
Today, the Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and Action [CCGAA] 'Ride Against Genocide' will be in Breckenridge at 2:15 p.m. at the Blue River Plaza.
The Ride Against Genocide educational tour is stopping in more than 20 towns throughout Colorado to increase awareness of, and promote advocacy against genocide. Tour volunteers will offer tools for people to take action against crimes in Darfur.
The four-day tour will cover more than 1,500 miles, beginning in Denver, traveling through Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Trinidad, Walsenburg and Alamosa the first day. The second day included brief stops in Durango, Ignacio and Montrose.
The third day the van continued on to Gunnison, Grand Junction, Rifle, Glenwood Springs and Aspen. The fourth day included stops in Vail, Breckenridge, Evergreen, Golden and Denver.
The Ride Against Genocide educational tour is stopping in more than 20 towns throughout Colorado to increase awareness of, and promote advocacy against genocide. Tour volunteers will offer tools for people to take action against crimes in Darfur.
The four-day tour will cover more than 1,500 miles, beginning in Denver, traveling through Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Trinidad, Walsenburg and Alamosa the first day. The second day included brief stops in Durango, Ignacio and Montrose.
The third day the van continued on to Gunnison, Grand Junction, Rifle, Glenwood Springs and Aspen. The fourth day included stops in Vail, Breckenridge, Evergreen, Golden and Denver.
2 September 2010, 11:48am
BRECKENRIDGE - The man accused of burglarizing Mountain Outfitters three times earlier this year has accepted a plea bargain with the District Attorney's office and awaits sentencing.
Jason Roger Oberg, who was 23 when the events occurred, was arrested in March early one morning near the scenes of burglaries at both Primo Outdoors and Mountain Outfitters in downtown Breckenridge.
He was taken to a local hospital after he ran from police and had a violent encounter with a sheriff's office canine.
The original charges against Oberg included four counts of burglary and two counts of theft - each class IV felonies punishable by two to six years in prison and fines of $2,000 to $500,000.
Misdemeanors against him included cruelty to animals, theft, resisting arrest, obstructing a law animal and two counts of criminal mischief, District Attorney Mark Hurlbert said.
The plea agreement has Oberg facing a Sept. 20 sentencing on one count of burglary and two coun
Jason Roger Oberg, who was 23 when the events occurred, was arrested in March early one morning near the scenes of burglaries at both Primo Outdoors and Mountain Outfitters in downtown Breckenridge.
He was taken to a local hospital after he ran from police and had a violent encounter with a sheriff's office canine.
The original charges against Oberg included four counts of burglary and two counts of theft - each class IV felonies punishable by two to six years in prison and fines of $2,000 to $500,000.
Misdemeanors against him included cruelty to animals, theft, resisting arrest, obstructing a law animal and two counts of criminal mischief, District Attorney Mark Hurlbert said.
The plea agreement has Oberg facing a Sept. 20 sentencing on one count of burglary and two coun
2 September 2010, 1:05am
SUMMIT COUNTY - The newly formed Summit Education Foundation wasted no time in pursuing its mission to support local schools: The local parent-led nonprofit, formed in May, made its first donation last week, totaling $24,000.
Summit School District officials will divide the inaugural contribution among all its schools on a per-student basis, at the organization's request.
Breckenridge resident Chris Renner founded the organization in the spring, when the school district was in the process of cutting the 2010-2011 budget due to declining revenues. Renner said parents and other community members have so far either pledged or donated a total of $40,000, with many donating by monthly subscription.
Money from the recent donation will primarily fund classroom supplies.
"What Chris and the foundation worried about was teachers having to spend money out of their own pockets for supplies in their classrooms," Summit Schools superintendent Millie Hamner said.
When Re
Summit School District officials will divide the inaugural contribution among all its schools on a per-student basis, at the organization's request.
Breckenridge resident Chris Renner founded the organization in the spring, when the school district was in the process of cutting the 2010-2011 budget due to declining revenues. Renner said parents and other community members have so far either pledged or donated a total of $40,000, with many donating by monthly subscription.
Money from the recent donation will primarily fund classroom supplies.
"What Chris and the foundation worried about was teachers having to spend money out of their own pockets for supplies in their classrooms," Summit Schools superintendent Millie Hamner said.
When Re
1 September 2010, 1:05am
BRECKENRIDGE - Town officials are looking for local volunteers for a committee of marketing experts to advise town council on promotional strategy.
"This is rolling up sleeves and getting into the marketing plan - into the spend," town Councilman Mike Dudick said Tuesday.
The marketing committee is to help guide the council on advertising, events and promotion of the town as a year-round resort with the intent of preserving the community's economic vitality.
Applicants for the seven-member committee must be electors or hold business licenses in town, and have previous marketing experience.
Three members must be owners, operators or employees of lodging businesses in town; one must own, operate or be employed by a local restaurant or retail business, and two members are to be selected at-large. The final member will be chosen from town council.
Town spokeswoman Kim DiLallo said the council member will help give committee members an idea of council
"This is rolling up sleeves and getting into the marketing plan - into the spend," town Councilman Mike Dudick said Tuesday.
The marketing committee is to help guide the council on advertising, events and promotion of the town as a year-round resort with the intent of preserving the community's economic vitality.
Applicants for the seven-member committee must be electors or hold business licenses in town, and have previous marketing experience.
Three members must be owners, operators or employees of lodging businesses in town; one must own, operate or be employed by a local restaurant or retail business, and two members are to be selected at-large. The final member will be chosen from town council.
Town spokeswoman Kim DiLallo said the council member will help give committee members an idea of council
1 September 2010, 1:05am
BreckChamber: Breckenridge Merchants Sidewalk Sale. Labor Day Weekend. Summer items, preview of winter gear. World class shopping. Don't miss it.
(Click here to read full article)
3 September 2010, 5:07pm
BreckChamber: Breck Wine Fest at Main Street Station, Sat. 9.4 12-5pm, Tickets $20 for 10tastings, wine glass and a rubber duck. http://bit.ly/bkL7In
(Click here to read full article)
3 September 2010, 5:05pm
BreckChamber: Your trip to Breckenridge can be completely coordinated with a personal guide. www.breckandcall.com
(Click here to read full article)
3 September 2010, 10:11am
BreckChamber: Breckenridge Wine Festival & Great Rubber Duck Race, Sat, Sept 4 @ Main Street Station. Volunteer opportunities. info@breckfilmfest.com
(Click here to read full article)
2 September 2010, 9:39am
BreckChamber: BRC Western Style Mixer at Dry Gulch Wed, Sept 1, 5-7pm with Paulaner beer, live music, campfire and western barbecue. http://bit.ly/bY5ELE
(Click here to read full article)
30 August 2010, 2:49pm
BreckChamber: Breckenridge Celtic Fest Sat, Aug 28, 9am-6pm at Main Street Station. Live music, celtic dancers and Guinness Beer Tent http://bit.ly/b7D5C7
(Click here to read full article)
27 August 2010, 5:37pm
is a service mark of