Churches schedule special services

Steamboat Springs — Many children from the five towns in Routt County will be eagerly awaiting Santa’s visit with his roaming Christmas tree again this year, and he is scheduled to reach a lot more children than he ever has before.

The unique Lions-sponsored event begins in Steamboat tomorrow evening, Christmas Eve, and Santa is expected to make his rounds of the homes shortly after the sun sets. All who expect his visit are asked to leave their porch lights on.

The following day, Santa travels to Oak Creek with his brilliantly lighted tree, Christmas treats and music of the season. He will continue on the same day to bring Yule cheer to the children of Phippsburg and Yampa, and he will be in Hayden the day after Christmas to complete his tour of this area.

Several Steamboat churches will hold special services for Christmas, with the times set by their ministers. All other churches will maintain their regular schedules.

Pilot opinion: From the new editor

Even being away 1,500 miles, one does not get away from the sound of Steamboat. The activities, the skiing, the people which make up the enthusiasm and the spirit of this community have always warmed my heart.

It is good to be back in Steamboat and at the helm of the Pilot. Big shoes need to be filled, and it will take time to get into full stride.

The Pilot is your newspaper – you make the news. Any time an event is going on or takes place, let us know about it.

I once heard that people are like steamboats – they toot the loudest when they are in the fog. This is not so of an informed public, and it is the Pilot’s desire always to be the source you can turn to for the news and happenings of this area.

Cutter races to run this weekend at airport

Much interest is being shown here in the coming cutter races to be run at the airport Dec. 27 and 28.

Old timers who remember fast and fancy one-horse sleighs driven by young blades of another day have marveled at the speed and flexibility of today’s racing cutters, seen in races sponsored here the past two years by the Steamboat Kiwanis Club and staged by the Snake River Cutter Association.

Younger spectators saw a “new” sport, rapidly gaining wide popularity among winter sports.

Twenty teams are entered from Colorado for this year’s races, with the Stetson Ranch of Oak Creek and Leonard Lighthizer, of Hayden, among the local entries.

The Snake River Association, with headquarters in Wyoming, is made up of ranchers along this river in Colorado and Wyoming. About five years ago, the group revived the sport of cutter racing and has added various refinements, such as a special type of shoe for better footing of horses, and a very low-slung cutter. Special skills are required of drivers, who stand in these cutters, and horses are specially trained for the sport.