A SMALL REQUESTIn reference to the triple crown story published Aug. 8:

We come to Steamboat each year during the summer months as the tournaments. We rent a condo just to escape summer in Florida and to breathe the quiet fresh air of the Western Slopes unlike any other in the United States. However, all of the 250 teams you mention took turns living in the condo above us or others along the upper hall. Central booking never put teams on the lower level. We listened to their screaming, stomping, ball-bouncing 18 hours a day. We met the coaches and talked to the parents and players all eager, friendly folks. We saw and heard the happy faces of the winners and the gloomy mien of the losers. Ah, yes, youth must be served at any cost. But could it be, please, just a little quieter or they may grow up to be cranky old codgers like us.

Ken Davey

Ski Inn, Steamboat Springs

BRING THE HORSE BACKI read the “View” article date Sunday the 19th in reference to the future of the Triple Crown in Steamboat. I spend the entire summer in Steamboat. If I had a preference I would much rather have the cutting horses back and get rid of the baseball.

Brockton V. Schupp

Vero Beack, Florida

NOT SO GREAT LAKESMy wife, Katy, and I recently completed construction of our new home in Elk River Mountain Ranch. During the planning and building phases, we have commuted into Steamboat monthly to confer with architects and the builder. Since completion we have been in and out of the Hayden airport once or twice a month.

I am writing to share with our new neighbors in the Yampa Valley our truly horrendous experience this summer with Great Lakes Aviation. Flights have canceled without explanation. In one instance, because it was the last flight out of Denver, we had to spend the night and take the first flight in the morning. In another, we waited for the next flight, but because of the overload of extra passengers from the canceled flight, we could not be accommodated on the next flight, or any flight that day. Employees in Hayden have told me that this is an all-too common occurrence.

Yesterday, while waiting for our flight from Denver, we were told that the flight was “weight restricted” and my daughter and I were “involuntarily denied” boarding. This is the third time this has happened to me since Great Lakes has been servicing Hayden.

I read in your Feb. 19, 2001, article that Great Lakes disclosed that “…there would be some days this summer when the Brasilia would not be able to carry a full load of passengers and baggage because of the lower amount of lift it generates at high elevation.” However, this disclosure is, to put it charitably, not the whole truth.

Great Lakes did not disclose that they might have to take off regularly with only half the seats occupied. Great Lakes did not disclose that they would accept reservations, sell tickets and accept payment for the remaining seats, knowing full well that they could not allow boarding. It is not a surprise when it is hot in Denver in the summer! Great Lakes does not warn passengers of this potential problem when it accepts reservations and sells tickets. Although the FAA permits airlines to overbook against the likelihood of last minute cancellations, it is questionable whether the FAA permits airlines to sell tickets when it knows it simply cannot provide the service.

This is the first time I have ever written a letter like this one. And, I hope it is the last.

David Brown

Steamboat Springs

NO PROFICIENCYYour editorial writer should have first looked up the definition for “proficient” prior to arguing the CSAP math scores should be expanded from grading schools to grading students.

Proficient Well advanced in any branch of knowledge or skill; possessed of considerable acquirements; well-skilled; versed; adept

The scores reflect what is taught in the schools. That so few students are proficient does not mean the students are failing. It means the schools are not teaching the topics needed for a high school student to be proficient in mathematics.

It is well documented that the great majority of adults are not proficient in math and that over 50 percent of college freshmen require remedial classes. The goal of this test is to indicate whether schools are correcting or contributing to this problem. The test results show that now, as in the past, schools are not covering the topics needed for their students to be proficient in math. Thus, the test results show that so far the school systems have made little progress in fixing this problem.

Scott Wedel

Steamboat Springs

LOSING ONE’S SOULThe upcoming negotiations with Triple Crown Sports is getting a lot of press lately. Meanwhile, the very heart of this community a historical and socioeconomic resource is in imminent danger of relocating to Park City, Utah (some would say it is a foregone conclusion). Does anyone else find it peculiar that this community’s investment in “Ski Town, U.S.A.” is having trouble getting the ear of our decisions makers while Triple Crown baseball appears to have their full and undivided attention? Losing a summer activity designed for visitors, not residents, may be a bit of an economic blow. Losing a community’s soul is quite another matter altogether.

Towny Anderson

Steamboat Springs