Craig Daily Press

Christina Currie felt confident local Colorado Division of Wildlife officers would support her funding request, but she didn’t expect the state office to agree given Colorado’s budget climate.

The state office, however, agreed the Craig Chamber of Commerce sportsman’s information specialist position offered a valuable service, and moved to increase the position’s funding by $10,000 in the next year, from July 2008 to June 2009.

The decision brings the DOW’s total funding up to $15,000.

“This is a phenomenal move on the DOW’s part,” said Currie, Chamber executive director. “And, from the state’s perspective, a leap of faith on their part, based on the opinions of local wildlife officers about the quality of our services here. We greatly appreciate the support of the DOW and the people in this area and in Grand Junction and in Meeker to make this happen.”

The sportsman’s information specialist provides tips on where quality hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor recreation can be found in Moffat County.

DOW spokesman Randy Hampton said his agency has always agreed that the sportsman’s information position and the Moffat County Visitor Center are valuable and important to the area.

DOW officials felt it necessary to ask for the funding through the agency’s normal budget process because it already funds offices and staff in Craig, Steamboat Springs and Meeker.

“We want to make sure, as an organization funded by people that hunt and fish, we use their dollars wisely,” Hampton said. “The director of the Division agreed this was important, too.”

Currie said she is only now starting to look at possibilities afforded by the new funding.

For one, the Chamber could expand the position’s hours to full time all year. Currently, the position is only full time during hunting season and part time the rest of the year.

Currie said the Chamber also could look into expanding its sportsman’s services in general, perhaps through upgrading its Web site, putting a sportsman-centered informational kiosk in the Visitor Center or surveying sportsmen on what services they would use.

She said she would speak to the Chamber board about the opportunity at its meeting today and the board would provide direction.

She added she would coordinate with Terry Carwile, the current sportsman’s information specialist, and the DOW about how to spend the money, as well.

“The opportunities right now are really vast,” Currie said.

Collin Smith can be reached at 875-1794 or cesmith@craigdailypress.com