Ever dreamed of biking, skateboarding or roller blading down the runway at Yampa Valley Regional Airport without the fear of being arrested or hit by a plane?

You’re in luck.

On Sunday, June 14, airport visitors will be able to ride on the newly resurfaced runway at the airport during a grand re-opening party from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

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Free hot dogs and hamburgers will be served.

R.S.V.P by calling 970-276-5001 or emailing tbuskirk@co.routt.co.us.

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All runway riders will be required to wear a helmet.

The runway is scheduled to reopen Monday, June 15.

Local liftee gets big recognition

Dave Herman, a lift system engineer at the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation, was recently honored with the Robert E. Lesage Award at the Rocky Mountain Lift Association Conference. The award represents the highest lift honor in the ski and snowboard industry.

“Dave is at the forefront in designing, constructing and implementing innovative projects to improve the operations of the resort’s lifts and enhance the overall guest experience,” Doug Allen, vice president of mountain operations for the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp, was quoted as saying in a press release. “His technical contributions have touched every lift and continue to have a lasting impact, not only at the resort, but across the industry.”

Herman oversees the engineering for the ski area’s lift system, which includes 18 lifts, including the gondola.

He joined the resort in 1976.

Ace Hardware manager gets award

Recently retired Ace Hardware manager Scott Schlapkohl is getting some national recognition for his leadership in Steamboat Springs.

Schlapkohl is one of two recipients of the Ray A. Griffith Retail Leadership Award.

The award is named after former Ace Hardware CEO Ray Griffith and is given annually to the Ace retailers who most personify Griffith’s outstanding leadership traits and exemplify Ace’s core values, according to a press release.

The other award was given to Ron Williams, of Houston, Texas.

“Ron is an unparalleled leader with the ability to drive continuous improvement and inspire his teams, and Scott has an innate ability to innovate, all the while exceeding his customers’ expectations and finding teachable moments for his teams,” Jim Ackroyd, chairman of the board for Ace Hardware, said in a press release.

Schlapkohl worked at the local Ace store for 30 years.

Attorney teaching at CU

Ralph Cantafio, whose law firm has six attorneys and seven staff members in Steamboat and downtown Denver, will teach for the Global Energy Management Program this summer at the University of Colorado.

“It is very difficult to articulate the immense respect I have for the GEM administration, the staff and the professors,” Cantafio was quoted as saying in a press release. “I look forward to working very hard to make sure that I deliver to my students a quality of education consistent with the same very high standards that I benefited from as a student.”

PostNet franchisees earn top recognition

Steamboat Springs PostNet franchise owners Terry and Kathy Stokes have been named the company’s 2015 Franchisees of the Year.

The Stokes have owned a PostNet franchise for 18 years, and this is the second time they have won the award.

“Over the years, I have learned a lot about this business, this company and its franchisees,” Terry Stokes said upon receiving the award. “Sometimes, you ask yourself how you got up every morning for the past 18 years and kept striving for excellence. It boils down to having the desire to serve people by taking away their worries. You get so much out of it.”

Terry and Kathy Stokes first met 30 years ago while waiting tables at a ski resort in Colorado.

“One of the reasons we love being a part of the PostNet franchise system is that we love what we do,” Kathy Stokes said. “Why do we join so many committees? It’s because we want to be a part of this company. We want to make sure that everything is on the right page moving forward. We want to be involved in everything that affects us.”

New mosquito control company arrives

Yampa Valley residents have a new way to get rid of mosquitos.

The Mosquito Authority recently set up shop and offers a backyard barrier treatment the company says will keep mosquitos and other insects out of a backyard for three weeks.

The Mosquito Authority is operated by former long-time Steamboat residents Gino and Barb Panepinto.

Learn more about their business by visiting busbite.com or calling 970-846-2781.