To help introduce aspiring ice anglers to the joys of catching fish on frozen water, Stagecoach State Park is offering the free rental of ice fishing kits to anyone who wants to learn about the sport.

“Like many other outdoor activities, you want to be sure you have the right gear,” Park Manager Craig Preston said in a news release. “This is a great deal for anyone that may have thought about ice fishing but is not sure about investing in all of the proper equipment just yet.”

Made possible with a grant through the Foundation for Colorado State Parks, the kits include the basic equipment necessary to get started, including two rods designed for ice fishing, tackle, an ice scoop and an ice auger upon request.

“I’m sure that once people try it, they will probably head out and get their own gear,” Preston siad. “It really is a lot of fun, especially when you share the experience with friends and family.”

The gear can be rented for free at the park’s office during regular business hours. Renters must possess a valid Colorado fishing license, and all equipment must be used at the park and returned at the end of the day.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds ice fishermen to use caution, bring a partner and always drill test holes to determine ice thickness. Each angler should also wear a life jacket and carry ice picks, 50 feet of rope and bring a cell phone. Stay away from cracks, pressure ridges and slushy or darker areas that signify thinner ice.

To learn more about ice fishing and safety, visit http://www.cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/IceFishingSafety.aspx.

Steamboat Youth Basketball now accepting registrations

Steamboat Springs Youth Recreation League Basketball, powered by the High Altitude Basketball program, is now accepting registrations for the 2015 season. Interested boys and girls in third through sixth grades can register online at http://www.highaltitudebasketball.com or by calling 970-875-6775 or emailing highaltitudebasketball@hotmail.com.

Steamboat graduate named to Furman dean’s list

Malia Fraioli was named to the 2014 fall semester dean’s list at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. To make the dean’s list, a student must earn a grade point average of 3.4 or higher on a four-point system. Fraioli is the daughter of Melissa Fraioli and Marc Fraioli of Steamboat Springs.

First Steps Seminar to focus on small business start-ups

This month’s free First Steps Seminar will focus on small business start-ups. It will be offered from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Alpine Campus of Colorado Mountain College in Steamboat Springs. The class will focus on what it’s like to run a small business and how to get started. It will be held in room 127 in the new Academic Center. For more information, call CMC Small Business Resource Center manager Randy Rudasics at 970-870-4491. These seminars are a collaborative effort of the Colorado Mountain College Entrepreneurship Center and SCORE.

Free online carpool service offered to area residents

Residents of Routt, Moffat and Rio Blanco counties have access to a free, online carpool matching service sponsored by Yampa Valley Data Partners, according to a news release.

Organizers hope the website, http://www.carpoolworld.com/northwestcolorado, will be a resource to help Northwest Colorado residents save on transportation costs. The project was created as part of the Northwest Colorado Energy Education Plan, which was funded by a grant from the Colorado Energy Office.

Unattended vehicles left idling against state law

As part of the anti-idling education campaign Spare the Air, the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council would like to remind drivers that leaving an unattended vehicle idling is illegal under Colorado law. A state law approved in 2011 also limits idling of diesel engine vehicles of more than 14,000 pounds to 5 minutes per hour.

Join the Spare the Air initiative to save money, engine wear and air emissions by limiting unnecessary idling to 30 seconds. According to the Consumer Energy Center, idling is not an effective way to warm up a car engine. On winter days, the best way to warm an engine is to drive after idling no more than 30 seconds.

Learn more at http://www.yvsc.org/programs/spare-the-air.

VNA offers low-cost birth control, STD screenings

The Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association’s Community Health Center offers low-cost birth control, STD screenings (for men and women), pap smears, breast exams and general women’s health care based on income. All income levels are welcome. Make an appointment in Steamboat by calling 970-879-1632 or in Craig by calling 970-824-8233.