Craig Daily Press / Michelle Balleck

Michelle Balleck began her tenure at the Craig Daily Press as a photographer and features writer in October 2004. Michelle is originally from Ohio, the youngest of five children. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology and a certificate in journalism from Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. She is married to Keith Balleck and has a 9-year-old stepson. She enjoys photography, sewing, interior decorating and scrapbooking.

Recent stories

Michelle Balleck: Kick-starting the holiday season: By Michelle Balleck; November 30, 2011; There’s plenty on the calendar for this weekend, with a range of feel-good activities to heel-stomping fun, many geared toward throwing you full-force into the holiday season. But, before I tell you what’s planned, a couple of personal notes first. This will be my final Livin’ It Up column, and next week you’ll see a new face here. I am moving onto a new challenge and am very excited. Also, I’d like to shamelessly use this space to wish our little man happy birthday today. He’s now 9, and a “tween” — yikes. Happy birthday, Shane!
Michelle Balleck: Avoid the snow with shopping, ‘Footloose’ & ‘Happy Feet Two’: By Michelle Balleck; November 16, 2011; There’s plenty of indoor fun on the docket for this weekend, when it’s forecasted to snow some more. Get into the holiday spirit with craft shows, a turkey giveaway, a donation collection and the adorable “Happy Feet Two.” ■ Everybody cut “Footloose” at Moffat County High School’s performance of the famed musical this weekend. The show is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday at the high school auditorium, 900 Finley Lane. The cost is $5 per person at the door. Call the high school at 824-7036 for more information.
Michelle Balleck: Food, flicks & fun: By Michelle Balleck; November 9, 2011; There’s music and food and movies and shopping. What else could you ask for in a weekend? ■ Rock out with Chancey Williams this weekend at the Sports Page Bar at the Holiday Inn of Craig, 300 S. Colorado Highway 13. The band takes the stage at 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, but drink specials start at 5 p.m. each night if you’re looking for pre-game action.
Michelle Balleck: Settling in for winter: By Michelle Balleck; November 2, 2011; Halloween is over, and now’s when we all get settled in for a long winter. Oh the joy. Stores already have their Christmas decorations and merchandise out. Only 52 shopping days left.
Hundreds enjoy Trick-or-Treat Street in Craig: By Michelle Balleck; 08:54 p.m., October 31, 2011 Updated 12:00 a.m.; Kayden Hinson, 5, kept a smile on her pink lips as she waited for her family to catch up on Yampa Avenue. The best parts about Halloween, Hinson said, were getting to wear her grandmother’s lipstick and her mother’s eye shadow.
MCTA to move offices, looks to settle Chamber MOU debate: By Michelle Balleck; October 28, 2011; The Moffat County Tourism Association Board expressed its desire to move forward in its mission at a special meeting Wednesday. The board approved signing a contract for new office space and discussed finalizing revisions to its memorandum of understanding with the Craig Chamber of Commerce, City of Craig and Moffat County. “Sales and marketing is our mission. I want to do that. That’s the fun part,” board member Kerry Moe said.
Michelle Balleck: Ghosts, ghouls, goblins & crab: By Michelle Balleck; October 26, 2011; It is officially Halloween week. Get pumped for free candy, costume mania and big scares. Plus, there’s Crabfest, one of those events to look forward to all year. ■ It’s party time. Excellent.
Michelle Balleck: ‘Tis the season for spooky: By Michelle Balleck; October 19, 2011; It’s that time of year again, where pumpkins, ghosts and cobwebs reign supreme. There are several autumn-themed, and sometimes spooky, activities planned that will keep you in the spirit of the season. ■ Prepare to be scared as American Legion Post 62 offers its haunted house beginning this weekend at Centennial Mall, 1111 W. Victory Way.
Chamber to pursue ‘shop local’ speaker for Craig event: By Michelle Balleck; October 14, 2011; The Craig Chamber of Commerce Board approved Thursday pursue bringing Cinda Baxter, founder and president of The 3/50 Project, to Moffat County to present the program to small business owners. The project, launched in 2009, encourages consumers to choose three independently owned businesses they would miss if they were gone and to spend $50 each month in those types of businesses.
Michelle Balleck: Classic autumn activities on the agenda: By Michelle Balleck; 11:36 a.m., October 11, 2011 Updated 12:00 a.m.; Things that say fall: eating plenty of food, looking ahead to the holidays, football, pumpkins and hunting. And there’s a bit of each on the agenda for this weekend.

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Recent photos

Cuauhtemoc “Memo” Barragan, 33, said he is a friendly man who likes to smile. His motto for life is: “Love God and look forward.”

Dwight Siverson, a retired Craig Middle School mathematics teacher, has enjoyed success outside the classroom in photography. Siverson launched his photography business, Frank Mills Studios, in 1979 and shot senior pictures, weddings and sporting events.

Dwight Siverson, 69, battled colon cancer in 1994, but never took time off from teaching. He said battling cancer was difficult, but it made him realize he wants to spend the rest of his days in pursuit of endeavors he loves.

Cuauhtemoc “Memo” Barragan, waiter and manager at Fiesta Jalisco Mexican restaurant in Craig, came to the U.S. in 2003 to make a better life for himself. He said he’s been working since the age of 6 and it’s something he takes pride in doing.