Kristen Feiges, one of two candidates for the Steamboat Springs School District’s two-year school board seat, has withdrawn as a candidate, though her name will still appear on the ballot.

Remaining two-year candidate Sam Rush, assistant dean of instruction at Colorado Mountain College, is now running unopposed.

Feiges said Wednesday night that she felt she didn’t have the time to dedicate to the board and thought Rush was more qualified to serve.

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“I have decided to withdraw as a candidate for a school board position because I don’t feel I have enough time to dedicate to this important position to do it well and also because I believe Sam Rush is much more highly qualified than I am for this position,” Feiges said, via email.

Apart from the two-year seat, five separate candidates are still vying for three open four-year board seats.

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Oktoberfest arrives in Steamboat Springs today

The Oktoberfest tradition continues in Steamboat Springs this weekend with Suds N Grub today and the OktoberWest event on Saturday, Sept. 19

Suds N Grub, a downtown beer-tasting stroll, will kick things off from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. today.

The event takes participants on a tour of main street and along the beautiful Yampa River to mingle, nibble and sample draft beers at a variety of local restaurants. Beer tokens and a tasting mug can be purchased at Schmiggity’s starting at 5:30 p.m. Suds N’ Grub will end with an after party at Schmiggity’s featuring local musicians starting at 9:30 p.m.

OktoberWest, presented by Resort Group at the Steamboat Mountain Village, is free to attend and will feature live music from the Ben Miller Band, the I Love Beef Cook Off and plenty of regional beers to taste from the 35 Beer Garden brewers.

Saturday ticket pricing is: beef tasting, $20 at the door, $17 online; beer garden entrance, $35 at the door, $29 online; and beef tasting and beer garden combo, $45 at the door, $42 online.

Attendees must be 21 or older to enter the Beer Garden. To reserve tickets, visit steamboatoktoberwest.com.

Area survey on broadband extended through today

There’s still time to let broadband planners know about actual, local broadband speeds and experience. Routt County — in partnership with the city of Steamboat Springs, Steamboat Springs School District, Yampa Valley Electric Association, Yampa Valley Medical Center and Colorado Mountain College — has contracted with NEO Fiber to prepare a countywide broadband plan with the goal of improving service throughout the county. Both residential and business broadband customers can help assess the current status of service, costs and issues by taking a speed test at a time of high Internet usage by completing one or both of the following surveys:

■ For business users research.net/r/businessbroad

bandrouttcounty

■ For residential users

research.net/r/broadbandhome

routtcounty

Deadline for completing the surveys is today.

Friends of Yampa slated to host 3rd river clean-up

Friends of the Yampa is hosting its third river clean-up of the summer at 3 p.m. today. Students at the Yampa Valley Science School will assist with the effort in Steamboat Springs and at Yampa River State Park. Volunteers are invited to meet at Backdoor Sports and then will be assigned to one of five sections of the river. Pizza provided by Soda Creek Pizza will be served to volunteers at 5 p.m. at Backdoor Sports, 841 Yampa St.

Parks department, teen council show outdoor movie

The City of Steamboat Springs Parks and Community Services Department and the Steamboat Springs Teen Council will host an outdoor movie night featuring “Top Gun” at 9:20 p.m. today on the Maple Street field at Steamboat Springs High School.

The movie will start immediately following the Sailors home football game. The free event will also include a raffle drawing with great prizes. Those planning to attend are encouraged to dress warmly and bring their own blankets and chairs.

Council hopefuls to address issues at Wednesday forum

The annual First Impressions candidates forum will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23 in the County Commissioners Hearing Room on the third floor of the historic Routt County Courthouse, 522 Lincoln Ave. The event provides an opportunity for members of Routt County’s Early Childhood Council, First Impressions, and the public to hear from candidates on where they stand on issues facing families with young children. To RSVP, contact Stephanie Martin at 970-870-5270 or smartin@co.routt.co.us.

Local committee in need of nominations for awards

Each year, the Leckenby and Larson Awards Committee, in association with Tread of Pioneers Museum, presents two awards that honor persons who have enriched the quality of life in Routt County.

These residents have served public institutions, preserved local history or contributed significantly to the county’s heritage.

Since 1980, the Leckenby Pioneer Award has been given to a living person in Routt County; since 1982, the Stanley L. Larson Award has been given posthumously.

The committee is seeking the community’s help in assuring that people from all parts of the county are considered and nominated for these awards.

Nominees of the Leckenby Pioneer Award:

■ Should have lived a total of 30 years in the county. The nominee does not have to be living here now.

■ Should be involved with the community, responsive to community needs (past and present) and serve as a representative of the history of the community.

■ Should demonstrate personal integrity.

■ Should be inspirational to youth.

Qualifications for the Stanley L. Larson Award are:

■ The nominee must have lived in Routt County and must now be deceased.

■ The nominee must have made a major contribution to Routt County.

Community members are encouraged to submit nominations for these awards. A short summary of the nominee would be helpful in the committee’s decision-making.

Nominations can be emailed to topmuseum@springsips.com, attention Candice Bannister. Please include contact information and submit nominations by Wednesday, Sept. 23. Past nominations may be resubmitted.

Steamboat to host NFL Punt, Pass & Kick event

The city of Steamboat Springs Parks and Community Services Department will host the local NFL Punt, Pass & Kick local competition at noon Sunday, Sept. 20 at Steamboat Springs High School’s Gardner Field.

The program is a national skills competition for boys and girls ages 6 to 15. Girls and boys in five separate age divisions (6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13 and 14-15) compete against each other in punting, passing and place kicking in a fun and engaging forum.

The event is free for all participants. Visit nflppk.com and search for the Steamboat Springs event to register.

For additional information, call the Parks & Community Services Department at 970-879-4300.

Volunteers are also needed to assist with the event from approximately 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Email dstevenson@steamboatsprings.net or call 970-871-7037 to sign up.

Municipal airport to close runway for maintenance

Runway 14/32 at the Steamboat Springs Municipal Airport will be closed from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21 and Tuesday, Sept. 22 for marking and grass seeding. This will take the place of the previously scheduled closures in October. Crews will be applying the last coat of paint for the runway markings and seeding the grass in the construction areas of Taxiway A. This schedule is subject to change due to weather or any other unforeseen circumstances.