Snow accumulation in the Upper Gunnison Basin is off to a strong start, with levels at 200% of average for the month of January alone.
While snowfall was a little scarce during the fall season, it returned in December — giving the snowpack a boost with the arrival of the new year. The active storm pattern continued into January, and by the 18th of the Water supply A6
tract with Brian Berger to fill the vacant city manager position.
Bella Biondini Times Editor
After extensive interviews and a community Q&A session, Gunnison City Council has directed staff to work toward negotiating an employment con-
Berger presently serves as the town administrator, treasurer and clerk for the Town of Poncha Springs, just east of Monarch Pass. Council will make a final decision in the coming weeks, likely in a special session before Feb. 14.
Council selected three finalists for the position, which has been vacant since late October, during a closed session last week. The candidates were invited to a
Gunnison County’s largest and most ambitious affordable housing development, Whetstone, is still years away from completion, but last week the public had an opportunity
to offer input. At a Jan. 19 public hearing, county officials and consultants laid out the twoyear evolution of the project. Every member of the public who commented affirmed their overall support, but each had a few modifications in mind.
The development is located
just a mile and a half south of the Town of Crested Butte off of Hwy. 135, near the intersection with Brush Creek Road. The county purchased the 15-acre parcel in 2019 and work started in the spring of 2021 with a
Construction on phase one of the City of Gunnison’s Ohio Avenue Multimodal Project is expected to begin this summer, creating a corridor from the North Colorado Street intersection to the intersection of 11th Street.
Bids for the project came in higher than budgeted, even with additional grant funding. In response, the city is initiating two phases to manage the cost.
On Tuesday, city council supported a staff grant application for $3 million for the design and construction of phase two.
The state is reviewing a proposed merger between Kroger and Albertsons, the companies that own City Market and Safeway, to ensure it is fair to customers, workers, farmers and suppliers.
Attorney General Phil Weiser will hold a community conversation with Gunnison County residents to listen to their feedback and concerns about the merger. The session will be held in the South Conference Room at Western’s University Center on Sunday, Jan. 29 from 2-3 p.m.
On Jan. 23, Gunnison County Commissioners discussed possible changes to their regular board appointment process.
Commissioner Jonathan Houck said the county often receives “varied” responses to the postings because there are no stated guidelines or expectations laid out for each appointment.
Commissioners considered requesting a letter from the applicant, materials that highlight their qualifications and a board-specific questionnaire.
Commissioner Laura Puckett Daniels added the board should value practical knowledge as much as education.
Elizabeth Mildred (Bette)
Dunbar was born March 10, 1923 in Independence, Kansas. She has one sister, Syliva Zwingelberg, who lives in Aurora, Colorado, and two brothers Bob (deceased) and Ken Baden who lives in California. Also her husband Jack’s brother and wife, Joe and Dorothy Dunbar, who live in Bel Aire, Kansas.
After attending college, Bette worked for Sinclair Pipe Lines as a Stenographer until
she married Jack Dunbar on March 25, 1951. When Jack returned from Korea, where he was stationed with the Army, they moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma. Jack graduated with a degree in geography and Bette earned her PHT (Putting Hubby Through). They then relocated to Kansas City, where Bette worked for a truck leasing company. From there, they moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 1988, where Jack was employed as a Cartographer for the Army Map Service. When Jack retired in 1992, they moved to Gunnison for happy living. They enjoyed the area on snowmobiles, motorcycles and boats. They also enjoyed many trips throughout the U.S., Canada and especially Alaska.
After Jack passed away in 2006, Bette moved to town from the home they built north of Gunnison. She wanted to enjoy “getting around” with her friends and to be closer to the Mount Calvary Lutheran
Church where she volunteered for many years. In 2020, Bette decided to move into assisted living at the Willows. At that point she donated her home to the church to house the Pastor. It is now the Dunbar Parsonage.
Bette also volunteered at the Pioneer Museum, Young at Heart and was a founding member of Boomers and Beyond. By donating her time and funds she helped create a place for seniors to socialize.
Bette is well known in Gunnison as a strong, independent and kind woman who loved her “Health Food” at Piezan’s. She had a “Bette Special” at least once a week, which consisted of a slice of pizza and a beer.
She made a never-ending impact on so many in the Gunnison Valley, Independence and beyond. Bette has an amazing group of friends staying behind, including Tim and Eileen Jensen, Frank Vader, Katie Lewinger, Rupert Meek
and their baby August, whose name was inspired by Bette’s dad, August Baden.
We’d like to thank her many friends who became family. Ashleigh Pipher and her team at the Willows, Bre Norris and her amazing in-home private hospice team, Your Journey Forward, the GVH staff that has always shown so much loving care for Bette. As much as we will miss Bette, her spirit and humor will live on in us all for years to come.
Her Memorial will be held 12 p.m. this Jan. 28 at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. This will be followed with a celebration of life at Piezan’s. In lieu of fl owers, donations can be made to Mount Calvary Lutheran Church Building Repair Fund or the Pioneer Museum of Gunnison. Bette’s remains will be returned to join her husband Jack and their two dogs at Mt. Hope Lutheran Cemetery in Independence.
County and city officials were joined by community members on Friday, Jan. 20 to formally celebrate the renovations at the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport. The $29 million three-year overhaul completely changed the function and character of the space. County Commissioners Jonathan Houck, Liz Smith, Laura Puckett Daniels and former commissioner Roland Mason cut a ribbon standing next to a large wooden topographic map of the valley — an art piece that welcomes travelers to the new terminal space. “This is going to be a fantastic asset for the community because the oceans join continents, roads connect cities, air connects the whole world,” said Airport Manager Rick Lamport.
NEW LISTING Fantastic opportunity to run your business out of this 2535sf shop with two 14 foot garage door openings, as well as an 8 foot garage door, ¾ bath & a ½ bath and 665sf of office space. Fully fenced & secure yard for
electrical updates, new garage doors & new forced air heaters. 555 S. 10th St.; $900,000
OHIO CITY Opportunity knocks at Sportsmans Resort! Year-round access location, mature trees, positioned on 1.28 acres, would make a great retreat or base camp. Ride Cumberland Pass over to Taylor Reservoir for the day. 116 County Road 771; $499,900.
3 HOMES TOTAL Investment opportunity in town where each home is 2 bdrm/1 bath, tenants pay utilities, $5,400 income per month. Location near the airport and fairgrounds. 314 S. 12th St; $1,200,000.
4 bdrm/2 bath, 1920sf home and a fully remodeled basement with 2 car detached garage conveniently located near the new library & trail system. Includes a cozy great room & bonus room for storage or crafts. Easy to show! 108 Irwin Street; $649,000.
Move-in ready 3 bdrm/2 bath, ranch style home with fully fenced yard, covered porch & attached 2 car garage. Interior was recently painted, house is 1,344sf & the garage is 630sf. The yard features aspens & evergreens. 102 S. 8th St; $495,000.
COMFORTABLE & COZY 3 bdrm/2 bath, 1,824sf home with main floor office or guest area. Custom owner designed with Douglas fir handrail, window & baseboard trim, maple kitchen cabinets, large southern windows for passive solar & stained concrete floors downstairs. 210 S. Boulevard; $675,000.
MOUNTAIN GETAWAY Home on 5 mining claims in Ohio City features an excellent mixture of wildlife, nearby trails, aspen, pines & 300 feet of Gold Creek frontage. 3 bdrm/2 bath house, huge attached garage, large detached barn, touched by Forest Service lands. 5498 County Road 771; $1,750,000.
PRICE REDUCTION 3 bdrm/ 2 bath home with large yard, detached garage & additional cabin. Large living room & open kitchen, plenty of storage for your toys. Zoned R-3 on 6 city lots. 502 S. 11th; $585,000.
HOME ON 18 ACRES 3 bdrm/2 bath home on 18 acres of fenced & irrigated pasture, 2 car detached garage, multiple sheds & small animal barn. Lots of wildlife, no covenants, home is 1,173sf with a 400sf mudroom. Kitchen appliances included, antique decorative ranching equipment & woodburning stove. 44829 County Road 18VV; $499,000.
CALL FOR A SHOWING 3 bdrm/2 bath, ranch level home with a walkout basement. Open kitchen & dining area with a pellet stove. Property has an attached oversized 2 car garage. Over 1,800sf with great southern views of Sawtooth Mountain & W Mountain. $435,000.
MINING CLAIM 9.80 acre high alpine mining claim located outside the town of Whitepine. Forest Service Road 7888; $20,000.
COZY CABIN on 35 acres features 2 bedrooms, an open living room & kitchen with custom made oak cabinets, Upstairs loft includes additional beds for guests & the woodstove keeps the cabin warm. Well in place & solar panels for electricity. Seasonal pond and sold partially furnished. Lot 1 Stratman Subdivision; $425,000.
week I’ve always loved the excitement, you know? The blowing, hissing steam, even the dirty smell of coal.Russ
On Jan. 18, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission named the Gunnison and Taylor rivers as the newest Gold Medal waters in the state — a high status that ensures the rivers’ abundant trout fisheries are protected for future generations.
CPW may designate a stretch of a river or stream as “Gold Medal” if it meets two specific criteria. The agency must demonstrate that it produces 60 pounds of fish per acre and at least 12 trout that are 14 inches in length or larger per acre. The Gold Medal status will make the stretches a management priority and require the careful stewardship of the community and visitors so their quality is maintained.
The portion of the Gunnison River that flows through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison is already considered a Gold Medal water. The new designation adds the confluence of the East and Taylor rivers in Almont and the Gunnison’s path downstream to the twin bridges. The designation also adds 20 miles of the Taylor River beginning below the Taylor Park Reservoir. The addition of the two stretches boosts the number of Gold Medal sections to more than 360 miles across the state.
“The Gunnison and Taylor Rivers really represent a successful conservation story with lots of partners that have made this fishery what it is today,” said CPW Aquatic Biologist Dan Brauch in a press release.
While the Gunnison and the Taylor are newly designated gold, they have been considered premier trout fisheries for decades, Brauch told the Times Taylor Park Reservoir was built solely to store and deliver irrigation water to the Uncompahgre Valley, but negotiations follow-
ing the construction of Blue Mesa created flow levels that would support healthy, coldwater habitat. Today, a group of local water users provides recommendations for Taylor Park releases each year.
CPW biologists sample fish populations through a common method called electrofishing, where an electric current is used to temporarily stun fish so they can be netted. Fish are then weighed and measured, allowing staff to estimate the number and size of trout present in the stream. Surveys are usually conducted every three years and provide data that made the Gold Medal designation possible.
The amount of trout in both the Gunnison and the Taylor rivers has consistently surpassed each of the Gold Medal water requirements. In 2021, the tailwaters of the Taylor produced more than 400 pounds of fish. During the same year, biologists recorded over 200 pounds of trout present in the Gunnison River near Almont, with more than 70 trout that were 14 inches or longer.
With a Gold Medal listing comes a renewed responsibility for biologists to manage the river in a way that preserves the qualities that landed it with the special designation.
“When they're acknowledged to be Gold Medal water, they're high profile and locked in as a management focus,” Brauch said.
The beauty of the designation is also its direct relationship to conservation along the Taylor and the Gunnison, said Bryan Hess, who is the president of the
Gunnison Angling Society — a local chapter of the national organization, Trout Unlimited. This could involve re-evaluating the amount of fish that can be taken from the river or the types of lures and bait allowed if the limits of the resource are pushed. The designation also adds a second layer of protection by requiring the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to pay closer attention to releases and any structural changes to the river that may impact the overall water quality.
“Trout are kind of like the canary in the coal mine — they're an indicator species,” Hess said. “Anytime that the water quality changes and degrades, trout can't live there. So as long as we have this significant amount of trout in the water, we know that our water is clean and cold.”
Less than 0.4% of Colorado’s streams reach Gold Medal status. Because it’s no secret that the Gunnison and the Taylor are prime fishing destinations — the tailwater below Taylor Park Reservoir is known as one of the best places to fish for trout in the state — Hess said he doesn’t expect the number of anglers who travel to the Gunnison Valley to drastically increase.
Either way, Hess hopes the organization uses the Gold Medal designation as an opportunity to focus on education.
“This is a limited resource,” Hess said. “Everybody that touches that water needs to be a steward of the water.”
(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@gunnisontimes.com.)
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(Editor’s note: The views expressed in guest commentaries are those of the author alone and do not represent the position of the Times.)
How would you like to start a bar fight? One suggestion is to walk in and shout a single word: Wolves!
For centuries, our European ancestors dreaded the animal as the personification of all their fears. My ancestors immigrated to North America (some before the U.S. existed) and brought that fear with them. This resulted in the deliberate extermination of all wolves in the lower 48 states, except in a tiny sliver of northern Minnesota.
The old views remain, bolstered by vested interests who use fear-mongering to create worry. However, scientists now recognize that wolves play an important role in balancing the otherwise sedentary habits of our elk.
Wolf recovery in Colorado will be a success, but I have also long recognized that wolves will cause problems for a few ranchers. On occasion, wolves will kill livestock. But let's not overstate the case. Wolves take a fraction of 1% of cows and sheep annually.
When you consider how many ways livestock prematurely die, from disease to loose dogs, predation by wolves is not a threat to the industry as a whole. However, individual ranches can feel the
pain of wolf predation acutely, in the pocketbook and on an emotional level. That is why many good people from all sides of the issue have been working to create a robust compensation program — as well as management strategies that can work out non-lethal practices to the age-old problem of conflict between wild predators and domestic livestock.
I've heard the local stockgrowers express concern about wolves. No surprise there, considering the historical antipathy. But I believe their misgivings are exaggerated. They claim that they practice low-stress techniques and that the mere presence of wolves will disrupt this practice. But the good news is that wolves routinely fail to prey on cattle that are so managed.
Why? Because low-stress handling increases herd instinct, one of a prey animal's primary means of providing a proper response to lupine predation. Teaching cattle how to act around coursing predators like wolves is the cutting edge in modern stewardship. It sounds daunting, but has proven successful and is just one
method that will lower vulnerability to wolf predation.
Turning our attention to the interplay between predator and prey, there is much to consider. With wolves, reams of published science underpin the issue. Yet, we often hear that wolves will destroy the elk. Rubbish. If wolves are so bad for elk, then why did they exist together for millennia before any Europeans stepped ashore at Plymouth Rock?
In fact, Idaho — one focal point of wolf recovery — has what their game agency is calling the "second golden-age of elk hunting.” In the presence of hundreds of wolves. Imagine that. Montana, Wyoming and Idaho all have more elk now than they did before wolf recovery. Does that mean Colorado's elk population will go up? Not necessarily, but it casts doubt on any claim that wolves will "destroy" native big game.
I've heard hunters express concern about hunting opportunities. That the shear number of elk might not matter if wolves change elk behavior too much. Yet, again, looking at where wolves currently prey on elk, hunter success rates have remained stable.
For one blessed period of my life I was able to work directly with wolves. I have few illusions about the animal. I worry about predation on cattle, because it affects my neighbors. Yet, hav-
ing studied both engineering and wolf biology, I know that the negative effects of wolves can be mitigated by human ingenuity. To do any less is a disservice to everyone who has a stake in this issue.
We, the citizens of Colorado, have a unique opportunity to do wolf recovery right. It is indeed fortunate that a citizen-led body of stakeholders and scientists have come together to formulate a plan that will work for every person.
In the end, having wolves on the working landscape will be a challenge. A challenge that can be met with the input of all those who are concerned about the issue.
Are you wholeheartedly for it? Are you skeptical? Still forming an opinion? Regardless, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has released its 293-page draft wolf management plan. I've read it, and I encourage anyone interested to do the same. To comment until Feb. 22, visit engagecpw.org.
(Tom Zieber once worked directly with wolves in captivity as a handler, has tracked wild wolves in Michigan, and worked as a biological technician on the Yellowstone Wolf Project. He is now an independent advocate and member of the Southwest Colorado Wolf Cooperative. He can be reached at tomzieber@ gmail.com.)
THE GUNNISON COUNTRY TIMES (ISSN 0892-1113) is published weekly by Alan Wartes Media LLC., 218 N. Wisconsin St., Gunnison, Colorado 81230. Periodical postage paid at Gunnison, Colorado. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Gunnison Country Times, 218 N. Wisconsin, Gunnison, CO 81230-0240 Winter Hours: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
Editor:
I’d like to thank the Times and publisher Alan Wartes for the thought-provoking opinion section in last week’s paper.
Alan, I couldn’t agree more with you about the danger of vilifying dissent. But, I would add to that list the frailty of doing the same to authority and leadership — positions which seem to have grown anathema in our land, but without which a functioning community and democracy as a whole crumbles.
While viewed through a hyper-local lens, I did not see, hear or experience that much of the former, at least not publicly. But as a citizen of this community and former publisher of this newspaper, I most certainly did the latter.
And if those individuals who We the People have entrusted to make those often routine but occasionally excruciatingly difficult decisions were to tell it (which they won’t), that vilification went even beyond “harsh and divisive name calling.”
As for keeping politics out of
it, I wake each morning wishing for an end to world strife and free unicorns for all the children. Alas, without hope what does one have, really?
Perhaps we at least could strive to identify and nullify the widespread and deliberate dissemination of false and misleading information, the proverbial “flooding the zone with s*!%” made infamous by self-seeking individuals.
And, to think, letters by not one, but two divinity scholars in one edition of our hometown newspaper. That’s heady stuff, and thanks Kelly Jo and Ian for the beautiful reminders of grace and love that can be found in a book so confoundingly contradictory.
Can’t wait to read next week’s edition.
Go Cowboys!
Dickey GunnisonEditor:
In last week’s opinion, Alan shared lessons he learned from the pandemic years. His stated
purpose was to start an honest conversation about his conclusions. In that spirit, I am offering some thoughts.
He highlighted the strong sense of community we share in the valley. I agree and think that helped us do as well as we did during the pandemic.
He said lockdowns may have caused more harm than good.
I agree that lockdowns had impacts. Whether those effects are worse than what might have happened if we hadn’t locked down is something we won’t know. If he expects extraordinary threats to be handled with no consequences then perhaps a reality check is in order.
He said the economic impacts of lockdowns would have been worse if not for the infusion of federal aid. The key point is that aid did come and our economy took some hits, but came through pretty well overall.
We now know that school shutdowns had a negative impact on learning progress for many students. How does that balance against the goal of trying to cut down on the spread of a serious disease through the community?
Good arguments can be made
either way, but I don’t fault the health officials and school district for erring on the side of caution when it came to making tough decisions during uncertain times.
Alan admits he forms his opinions with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. He may have forgotten that things were much more uncertain when those decisions were being made. The sensible lesson isn’t that lockdowns shouldn’t be used, but to make sure the potential impacts of lockdowns are considered in the decision making process about whether to use them. I assure you that those considerations were a key part of all of our discussions.
Alan contended that mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) may have dangerous side effects. His implied suggestion is that we shouldn’t encourage people to get the vaccines. Discussion of this topic must be able to wrestle with the concept of relative risks. Since 1.1 million Americans have died of COVID, and 500 still die daily, these dangerous side effects he speaks of must be pretty bad to be worse than that death toll.
The reliable data at the CDC
Vaccine Effects tracking system shows mRNA vaccines cause severe allergic reactions (five cases per million vaccines, treatable and rarely fatal) and Myocarditis (50 to 100 cases per million doses, treatable and almost never fatal).
Out of 670 million COVID vaccines given in the U.S. 18,649 deaths have occurred near the time of vaccination. It’s unclear what percentage of those were actually caused by the vaccine. Even if all of those were due to vaccines, it means that .0028% of folks died of getting the shot.
Comparing 1.1 million deaths from COVID mostly in unvaccinated people versus at most a .0028% chance of dying from the vaccine it should be clear which choice makes more sense — both for personal safety and the wellbeing of the community.
Arden Anderson Gunnison
Editor:
The controversy swirling around the Gunnison Libraries’ holdings and their access seems mired in a range of narratives. I suggest we engage in conversations anchored in our experiences instead of these fabrications.
My experiences with friends and acquaintances who are also LGBTQ+ have enriched my life. They engage many of the same joys and sorrows that I do. They also want the same things I want: freedom, equity, safety and quiet enjoyment of their lives.
There’s an old saying that it’s hard to hate someone you know. Please get to know our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters. I suggest you’ll be amazed at what you’ve been missing.
In our national experience, 20 states have outlawed conversion therapy. These are misguided and damaging attempts to alter LGBTQ+ individual’s sexual orientation. It never worked, other than to shove these people further into darkness and despair. Additionally, same sex couples are providing loving and supportive homes to children who grow up to be heterosexual. Simply put, the dismal failure of conversion therapy and the success of heterosexual children being raised by same sex couples indicates that our sexual orientation is baked in. The narratives that suggest that an adolescent will read a book and change their sexual preference is simply far afield of our human experience.
Although I am not a religious person, I am aware of multiple biblical references that say all of us were consciously formed and are loved by the Creator. The good news is that we are all born worthy and God’s job is taken! Our job is to treat each other with the dignity and respect that is our birthright.
As we continue our great democracy experiment, it’s fundamental that we each be humble in accepting all humans whether they are like us or not.
Access to reading materials that validate our personal stories
Mark Tardiff Crested ButteEditor:
Some personal thoughts on the current discussion about the ideas of being “judgmental.” The local paper is not the best platform for arguing theology, yet I am concerned about the influence that words have on some that can be easily influenced, because they may not be grounded in what the Bible actually says. Since the book of Romans has been the recent topic, I encourage anyone to read what it says for themselves.
The original concern was about graphically sexual books that are not age-appropriate, because of their content, and the question as to whether they should be made available to children. The whole idea of the morality of LGBTQ+ is a loaded topic and is definitely addressed in scripture, along with other tenants of moral law — like stealing, adultery, idolatry, etc. They are laws to those who recognize the authority of scripture in their lives, and many have been adopted into our society.
It is ridiculous to think that we cannot speak about the concerns of violating laws because to do so would be “judgmental.” That would disqualify all forms of authority and justice including parents, judges and police, to name a few. This would produce a lawless society (which we are presently seeing take shape).
I believe the spirit behind the biblical teaching of “judge not” was to point out that all of us are guilty of some infractions of moral law (because we are all human) and no one can really brag about how good they are in comparison to another. It is actually a theme of practicing humility, and the goal was to help the listener realize that no matter how righteous a person feels about their “good deeds,” it doesn’t address the necessity of changing the attitudes of the heart, which is the deeper issue, and that’s where we all need help.
Where we can all perhaps agree is that we shouldn’t devalue another person because of what they do (because we all stand guilty of something, even if it’s minor).
We can always treat others with respect and empathy because of their humanity, and as Christians, we are called to love the person, even when we disagree with what they do. It doesn’t always mean ignoring a behavior, however, and I don’t believe that it negates addressing choices that are in violation of set standards that have to be addressed in our society in order to maintain boundaries.
We can again agree that issues like child or animal abuse, murder, rape, and such, should be “judged” and dealt with. It’s when cultural norms change and even violate the conscience of some, where problems begin. To many, the sexual exploitation of children through normalization is abhorrent, and their
desire to protect the innocents is admirable, yet they are “judged” by those who feel it is good to set the minds of the youth “free” to explore their own sexual path. It is clear from statistics that this is producing a social contagion amongst the young and impressionable and those who aren’t mature enough to make such choices (especially those that are permanent) and are caught up in the confusion. Is standing up to protect these youth then justifiable, or is it judgmental?
Michelle Duft Gunnison
Editor: Thank you for printing the story regarding the new property tax break for “non-soil” food producers in last week’s Times There’s no doubt that this new law will be of significant benefit to anyone involved in commercial-scale hydroponics, but there are a few details that the Gunnison County Assessor’s Office would like to clarify.
First, the new law applies to what are defined as Controlled Environment Agricultural Facilities. There are three components to any such facility: the land, the physical structures on the land and the equipment inside the structures. Of these, only the equipment is exempted from property tax under the new law. The land and structures will continue to be valued and taxed in the same way as other commercial property.
Second, there are a few important caveats: the new law does not apply to traditional greenhouse operations, only those that specifically employ hydroponics; it does not apply to any facility used to cultivate marijuana; and the property tax exemption on equipment is temporary — it only applies for tax years 2023 through 2028.
Finally, if someone is thinking about starting a business involving non-soil food production, we encourage them to contact the assessor’s office. We would be happy to help them understand the potential property tax implications at a detailed level, so they can build realistic estimates into any business plan.
William Spicer Gunnison County Assessor’s Office
Editor:
It is said that Colorado voters in 13 out of 64 counties voted for the reintroduction of wolves into our state — counties that will not ever see the wolves unless they happen to wander into their territories.
What about the Gunnison sage-grouse that we have spent over $500 million dollars to save?
These birds do not have the survival instinct to save themselves and definitely will not be able to survive the wolf predators. Once the grouse are put on the endangered list, what will hap-
month, the amount of precipitation the valley had received jumped to 220% of average, according to data from the National Weather Service. Hydrologists monitoring the region are hopeful the moisture persists and presented the first water supply outlook of 2023 for the Upper Colorado River Basin on Jan. 19.
Most of the area is near to above average precipitation for the water year so far, said Ashley Nielson, a senior hydrologist at the Colorado River Forecast Center. The current water year stretches from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023.
“We're off to a good start in terms of precipitation,” Nielson said.
At the beginning of 2021, the entire state of Colorado fell into the U.S. Drought Monitor’s extreme or exceptional drought categories — the highest on its intensity scale. Nielson noted some improvement last year, but much of the region remained in moderate or severe drought.
Conditions across Colorado are looking much better in 2023, including portions of Gunnison County, she said. The northern half of Gunnison County no longer has a drought designation, while the southwest half is
from A1
team led by consultants Trestle Strategy Group and Williford LLC.
The Whetstone Community project team took 18 months — starting in spring 2021 — to conduct an extensive design process that included site walks, work sessions and stakeholder meetings with everyone from neighbors to developers to valley youth. Those meetings surfaced community priorities for the development, chief among them preserving open space.
“What people really valued and what they wanted to see included in the plan was a series of outdoor spaces,” said JV DeSousa, project architect. “A park, a central greenway and a boundary trail became formative elements in the design of this neighborhood.”
The current sketch outlines 231 units spread among four distinct neighborhoods or “zones.” Unlike any other county housing project, Whetstone is proposed to have multiple building types; triplexes, townhomes, walk up flats and apartments. The goal is that it be 100% deed-restricted, although the county’s Land Use Resolution only requires at least 40% to be considered an affordable housing project. Different housing styles will allow the county to offer units at varying income levels, Cattles said.
Before boots are on the ground, the project must pass through three phases of development with the planning commission. The sketch plan, submitted in October of 2022, is exploratory, with no detailed engineering plans. With approval of the sketch plan comes the preliminary plan, where detailed engineering and
labeled “abnormally dry.”
Each fall, the Colorado River Forecast Center analyzes the basin’s soil moisture, usually after the irrigation season has ended and before winter begins. This ensures models are “as close to reality as possible” before heading into the next runoff season, she said. Streamflow observations, reservoir inflows, precipitation levels and past runoff volumes are just a few of the data sources the forecast center uses to adjust its models.
Soil moisture conditions are near to below normal across the Gunnison River Basin. This deficit is the result of the persistent drought across much of the Southwest. This can result in a lower water supply forecast, because more water will seep into the ground before it reaches rivers and streams when snow begins to melt in the springtime.
“We still have below average soil moisture conditions for the entire basin and a soil moisture deficit that we'll need to overcome before we can see efficient runoff,” Nielson said.
Although the southern half of the basin is drier, snow conditions are above average for the basin, she said. The overall snowpack for the Gunnison River Basin hovered around 157% of normal as of Jan. 19, exceeding the amount recorded in January of 2022.
All of these factors combine
to create 2023’s first water supply forecast, a prediction of how much water will enter the basin’s rivers and reservoirs once the snow begins to melt. The Jan. 1 April through July water supply forecast for the Gunnison River Basin ranges from 90-110% of average based on the time period between 1991 and 2020.
The median forecasted inflow for Blue Mesa is 650,000 acre-feet, which is 102% of average, and a recent increase thanks to a wet January. Forecasts vary widely because mid-January is still a little less than halfway through the snow accumulation season, leaving room for lots of uncertainty, she said. The Jan. 1 forecast in 2022 was also 650,000 acre-feet, but Blue Mesa ended up with only 431,000.
“There's a lot of winter left, and we'll see things change over the next few months,” she said. While an atmospheric river pushed inward from the coast to the Colorado River Basin during December and January, that pattern has shifted, Nielson said. Warm, moisture rich storms that were good at producing precipitation will be disrupted by a northwest flow bringing colder storms with less moisture.
Blue Mesa projections
Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) Hydrologist Erik Knight also gave an update on Aspinall Unit operations, which includes the Blue Mesa, Crystal and Morrow Point dams. Blue Mesa ended 2022 at an elevation of 7446.5 feet, which is 44 feet below the Bureau’s
the project is significant.
“[I’m] doing everything I possibly can to continue making a life here. I recently counted the number of houses I have lived in during those 10 years, and the numbers match. 10 years,10 houses.”
Planning commission member and contractor Fred Niederer said bigger buildings can achieve better economies of scale, saving upwards of 30% at higher densities.
Pulling the apartment buildings farther away from the highway created “detrimental impacts” of larger parking lots and smaller green spaces. DeSousa added that building placements were a result of many plan iterations that accounted for the most efficient parking access and safest traffic flows.
desired winter target elevation, he said. The reservoir is currently 35% full. Taylor Park Reservoir sits at 62%.
According to projections from the BOR, Blue Mesa will reach a maximum seasonal fill of approximately 590,000 acre-feet of storage, or 71% full. The estimated end-of-year content is 485,000 acre-feet, which is 30 feet higher than where the reservoir ended 2022.
“That is some good news,” Knight said. “Obviously not getting close to a full reservoir, but definitely adding some water on top of where we were last year in 2022.”
(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@gunnisontimes.com.)
south expressed support for the project, but brought a few concerns to light.
Tod Colvin, owner of the Creekside Subdivision, expressed interest in an access agreement, preserving a berm between the lots, and limiting unit density and building height.
John Murphy, who lives in the Riverland Industrial Park, said he has concerns about the soil drainage. A soil report done when he moved onto the property revealed a need to route water away from the buildings due to unstable soil that may affect the foundation. He has concerns that those soil conditions extend onto Whetstone property, posing potentially expensive repairs down the line.
design work is required. The final phase will include staff and planning commissioner review before the formal green light on construction.
The current sketch proposes significant changes to the Brush Creek intersection, including a roundabout acting as an entrance to Whetstone. To accommodate public transportation, the county plans to move the bus stop to the west and improve it with larger bus pull-outs and waiting areas.
Part of the intersection design includes an underpass under the highway to allow pedestrians to access the bus stop without crossing multiple lanes of traffic.
The Deli trail, which deadends at the brush Brush Creek intersection, would cross the road, pass under the Hwy. 135 and connect to Whetstone, allowing multimodal travel to the site.
All of the proposed buildings at Whetstone are two stories tall,
save the two proposed dark red apartment buildings along Hwy. 135, which will be three stories tall. Those structures will frame the entrance of the neighborhood and are meant to “create a sense of arrival,” especially for those arriving on bus, bike or foot, DeSousa said.
The proposed 230-units was the middle ground for density, he said.
“We believe that was enough density to make the neighborhood transit oriented and to work well for sustainability, but at the same time still provide those open spaces for the people who would live in the neighborhood,” he said.
Support and concerns Resident Lindsey Freeburn supported density, and said it “is like the backbone of creating community,” by connecting neighbors and friends. For Freeburn, the potential impact of
But valley resident George Gibson expressed concern about the buildings, both for their livability and impacts on the view. He fears the apartment buildings along Hwy. 135 will set a precedent for other builds along the highway in the future.
“Using the guise of traffic calming and justifying the RTA pedestrian underpass, we hurt the residents in these buildings trapped between the highway traffic noise and the large parking lots,” he said. “And we have destroyed the city’s up-and-down valley view for locals and visitors.”
Forty-five-year resident Nan Lumb agreed.
“The worry I have is the location of these buildings will significantly and forever alter the historic and iconic view corridor in the two-mile entrance to Crested Butte,” she said. “Buildings this massive will diminish the rural feel and agricultural character of the North Valley and set a precedent to urbanize.”
Neighbors to the west and
Andy Kadlec, executive director of the Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority, supported the goal of 100% deed restriction and reiterated the value of adding housing stock.
“We see a consistent stream of community members who need workforce housing, as well as people that have jobs and are looking for housing to come to the valley … and the reality is that we just cannot meet that need in a variety of different ways,” he said.
Former County Commissioner and Town of Crested Butte Councilor Jim Starr spoke on behalf of the Valley Housing Fund and said after witnessing nearly 40 years of affordable housing projects and efforts.
"Whetstone is the biggest advancement in that effort to date,” he said.
(Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@gunnisontimes.com.)
“Meet the Finalists” forum on Thursday, Jan. 19 at the Gunnison Rec Center, but two of them withdrew their applications the evening before the event for “personal reasons,” according to staff
Berger, the remaining candidate, fielded questions from residents and local leaders about affordable housing and obtaining grants, among other issues. The following day, Berger was interviewed by numerous city and community stakeholders — including representatives from Western Colorado University, the Town of Crested Butte, Mt. Crested Butte, the Hispanic Affairs Project, Gunnison County and the Gunnison Country Chamber Commerce.
Although Berger was the only candidate who participated in this “face-to-face” process, Mayor Diego Plata said council felt comfortable moving into negotiations. Residents expressed some questions around Berger’s experience following the forum, but Plata said the comments collected were supportive.
“While he has a somewhat short career span, he's really delved deep into the inner workings of the operation at Poncha Springs,” Plata said. “He's got his pulse on fi nance, how to drive the plow truck and on grants. I feel like that breadth of experience and the career point that he’s in, in many ways, primes him to become an even greater leader.”
The failure of ballot initiative 2A in 2022 left the city in need of a new plan for funding street maintenance. During a work session on Jan. 24, staff requested direction from council on developing a path forward.
Acting City Manager Ben Cowan presented council with three different courses of action: keeping operations status quo and allowing existing roads to continue to deteriorate, bringing a modified ballot initiative back to voters and exploring ways to make budget cuts. Staff recommended a combination of the latter two options — making it possible that the city will attempt to bring its request back to local voters in 2023.
“We just don't have enough
funding,” Cowan said. “And the way we're doing it right now, within five years, there's kind of a point of no return … if we don't change anything, and keep funding it at half the level we need, it is kind of like a vote no is a vote for gravel streets.”
In November, Gunnison residents voted against the proposed 0.5% sales tax increase to create a dedicated funding source for street maintenance and rehabilitation. The final ballot counts read 56% against and 44% in favor.
Although council remained undecided on a specific strategy to locate additional funding, the majority favored a combination of trying to pass a tax increase again and making cuts to city services that directly compete for the same funding as streets. These areas include parks and recreation, fire and police departments, community grants and its strategic fund, which can be used for aff ordable housing and sustainability projects.
If the initiative is returned to voters, it will likely look a little different. The options Cowan shared included broadening the appeal with larger tax — including coverage for alley and sidewalk maintenance and a request to remove the 2032 sunset on a portion of the recreation sales tax that was passed in 2007.
What ultimately convinced voters to pass the recreation tax, Cowan said, was coupling the pool with the ice rink and trails, creating enough appeal to pass the initiative..
At the same time, council members emphasized the importance of doing a better job educating the community about the city’s funding need. Although it was a close vote, there was no effort to get it over the finish line, said Councilor Mallory Logan.
“We didn't have that broad concerted educational push and effort to be out there advocating for it as a council,” Logan said. “And I think that's where we failed.”
Council member Boe Freeburn said letting Gunnison’s roads return to gravel shouldn’t be an option.
“We've got too much at stake to go that direction,” Freeburn said.
(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)
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On Jan. 17, Gunnison County Commissioners heard an update on the county government’s emissions status from Assistant County Manager for Operations and Sustainability John Cattles. The update used emissions information from 2020, and data show that county-wide emissions have decreased since 2015. To continue the trend and meet, or exceed, state goals, commissioners are considering a variety of energy and building code updates.
The county has seen some progress in the last half decade; in-boundary emissions decreased 6% since 2015. Buildings represent the vast majority of those emissions; heating, cooling and operating buildings amounts to nearly 60% of total. Cattles said even though buildings represent the vast majority of emissions, they are more efficient, on a square foot basis, than they were in 2015.
Vehicles represent the next biggest piece of the pie. Filling county vehicles with diesel and regular gasoline accounts for 33%. Air travel remains small at 3%, a mere 1% increase from 2015.
Emissions from waste remained steady at 8%, from methane emitted from landfill and waste. These calculations include the county landfill, but also waste regenerated in the north end of the valley that is exported to Montrose County for disposal.
With the county primed to adopt 2021 International Code Council building codes this year, there could be room for improvement, Cattles said. Commissioners also signed onto a goal of a 50% emissions reduction by 2030, which can be achieved through improvements in different sectors: building, transportation, utilities and waste.
The county is aiming to reduce emissions in residential and commercial buildings by 20% and 25%, respectively. With just the 20% reduction in residential, the county would be considered average for similar communities in the climate zone.
The county is also aiming for an 8% drop in vehicle miles traveled, which would bring usage down to 2001-era mileage, adjusted per-capita. Goals also include a 50% increase in the use of electric vehicles, 80% reduction in utilities and 100% reduction in waste.
Two years ago, the county joined ICLEI — Local Governments for Sustainability, an international group of local governments formed to promote climate action. Cattles said the county’s goals are right on par with the goals that ICLEI outlined for it. If the county follows what’s been currently laid out, it will reach 37% by 2050, rather than the 60% the group outlined as possible — an area of growth where commissioners can consider energy and building code changes.
“Reinforcing two worlds”
The Planning Commission asked commissioners for guidance about tighter building codes and whether they’re interested in any policy or programmatic opportunities like an impact fee.
Larger builds out in the country tend to use more electricity than smaller ones within city limits.
County Commissioner Liz Smith asked if there was an opportunity to apply “more aggressive requirements” to those homes that are not occupied year-round.
Cathie Pagano, assistant county manager for community and economic development, said the county has considered allotting an average energy consumption, a “budget” of sorts, and then any generation beyond that will have fees attached or necessitate that that energy be generated on-site though solar or geothermal. Those fees would then be used to offset energy use in existing homes, especially for low income individuals. Commissioner Laura Puckett Daniels worried about the effect a fee may have on the housing market, potentially worsening the “tiered” perception that exists between valley residents and second homeowners.
County Manager Matthew Birniew said that the bifurcated market is already here, and a fee would not necessarily create those worlds, “it reinforces two worlds,” he said.
Instead of tacking fees onto extra usage, the county could consider a net-zero outcome, Smith said.
“The fee based system, the storytelling around it, can be interesting, and make it look like it's more effective for climate action than it really is,” she said. “And I don't want to fall into that trap."
The county did an analysis on the cost of implementing energy codes, using guidance from the The International Energy Conservation Code, over 30 years, and found there was a “wide margin” of net financial benefit for users over that time period. The projections look at the up-front cost to building a home compared to the life cycle costs of operating now under less-efficient codes. High-efficiency codes tend to cost more to build, but can save users money in the long-run, Cattles said.
“That lifecycle cost versus first cost is going to be a continuing discussion,” Cattles said. “We can model that to a reasonable level, but we can never totally understand what energy costs would be in the future.”
The affordability conversation needs to include assumptions of renters, especially in a highinterest market for home-buying, Smith said. Renters shoulder the burden of utility costs, so landlords may not be initially incentivized to reduce energy costs. When the costs of energy are not tied to the building owner, utility prices can skyrocket for renters; a problem most persistent in the private rental sphere. Some renters are shouldering utilities that cost as much as their rent, Birnie said.
"This is a long term investment,” he said. “When we talk about our code, it does have a cost to it, yes. There is the cost calculated over time versus the upfront costs and almost every model shows that the increased cost up front pays itself back over time.”
(Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@gunnisontimes.com.)
pen? They will shut down ranchers grazing livestock.
Another thing is the fact that the Division of Wildlife (DOW) fights hard to stop shed hunting and allow privacy for the deer, elk and other animals while they are in delicate stages such as through pregnancy. Even the rutting season will be interrupted. They are so worried about human interaction with the wildlife, but wolves will be hunting them 24/7.
Elk herds are declining drastically already. The wolves do need to go into lower lands, such as towns and neighborhoods, in the winter — walking through our neighborhoods daily searching for prey. These aren’t dogs, they are wild animal predators. Don’t think about letting your pet out to run your property without you going with, as the wolves might attack, and you can’t defend it because your pet is worth less than the wolf.
Another thing is the rule that the wolves can’t be released within 60 miles of Tribal or federal lands. So where will they be released? Do the wolves know their boundaries? No. DOW will be working with local landowners to release them on their land, and only that landowner will know when this will happen.
It doesn’t matter if you are armed because there is a hefty fine, $100,000, prison time and possible loss of hunting privileges if your life is threatened by a wolf, and if you decide to take action to defend yourself. You can defend yourself against the humans that are threatening your life or others, but you can’t defend yourself against a wolf if it decides to attack you, someone else or your pets even. Only if you are given a special permit that will only be issued to certain landowners.
Maps show where the wolves will be released — between Hwy. 114 and Hwy. 149 (Hartman Rocks to Saguache to Lake City area) and don’t think they
won’t roam up to Crested Butte. Wolves are known to roam 12 miles a day, an average of 50 miles immediately after release and up to 140 miles.
Western Colorado University held a meeting about the releases on Jan. 25. These meetings are happening all over Colorado and are held by the Parks and Wildlife Commission.
Cori L. Dobson GunnisonEditor:
I would like to thank the people of Gunnison, Denver and Montrose and all the towns I cannot name and would like them to know that I appreciate all the people that care. People have been so nice to my brother Garry and I.
I am so blessed. Garry was well liked and I am going to miss him so much. I cannot tell you how kind people are to Garry and I — all the people at Six Points, my nephews, Blane and Steven, sister Shannan, Sam in Montrose, my brother and all the cousins in Denver, Jani of Gunnison, the people of Mountain Home Health, the newspaper office and the American Legion.
I am so thankful to all. God bless you and thank you.
John Mazzuca Gunnison
Editor:
My knees would like to thank the city for plowing the Van Tuyl trail. Much appreciated! Keep up the good work.
Dana Brown Gunnison
26 Meadowlark Trail $1,150,000 MLS 792288. Built 2022 4bed 3bath 2471 sqft.
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12 Mobile Home Trailers built between 1962,1968,1970,1971, 1972 &1973
Great opportunity to own 12 unit manufacturer home trailer park, Frontierland which is located within R3 zoning for multifamily residential development. Their 12 trailers are fully leased and owned by CCNB Properties LLC with month to month leases managed by Gunnison Real Estate & Rentals. Fronteirland is within Gunnison city limits and generates about $6,225 a month, gross income. The trailers are owned by the landowner so a potential buyer can update the trailers and/or replaced the trailers with new trailers. The new trailers can be sold individually or rented out at higher rents; either of these two options will lead to more income opportunities for a potential buyer. Property taxes 2021 are about $1061.00.
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Brand new 2 bed/1 bath house in the Lazy K Subdivision. Property has an attached carport, vaulted ceilings, all kitchen appliances with a W/D hookup. This is a deed restricted property order to submit an offer.
Lazy K, Gunnison’s
Gunnison Watershed School District officials have continued with the next steps in the school bond process after voters approved ballot initiative 5A last fall. On Jan. 18, Stifel Public Finance of Denver priced the $95 million of general obligation bonds — “selling” the bonds in an electronic auction to secure the funding necessary to complete the district’s projects.
Bond funding will be utilized for improvements at all four of the school district’s campuses in Gunnison and Crested Butte, as well as the Marble Charter School. The projects are centered on creating safer schools, major maintenance, adding additional learning spaces and expanding vocational programs.
According to Superintendent Leslie Nichols, construction is expected to begin this summer with the goal of project completion in 2026. Timelines specific to each campus have yet to be determined.
The bonds were well received in the market, due in large part to the school district’s “Aa2” bond rating, the third-highest long-term credit rating, from Moody’s Investor Services. With the strong demand, interest rates could be lowered. The true interest cost for the 25-year bonds is approximately 4%, indicating savings from the initial bond funding request presented to voters.
“Locking in the low interest rates will allow the GWSD to achieve lower payments than permitted under the ballot question approved,” said Stifel Managing Director Todd Snidow.
In November, ballot measure 5A passed with a slim margin of 125 votes out of approximately 8,900 ballots cast on the issue. The bond will be supported by a property tax increase of approximately 5.7 mills, which equates to about $200 per year for every $500,000 of assessed residential property value.
The total amount of principal and interest allowed by the ballot question was $186 million, while the true maximum amount locked in at a price of $182.6 million, Snidow said. The maximum payment approved in the ballot question was $9.4 million annually, but the highest actual bond payment will be $9.161 million. The bond sale will close on Feb. 1.
“The Board of Education and I are tremendously grateful for the support of our voters for approving the bond,” Nichols said. “We are excited that these projects will become a reality and know that this will support our mission of ensuring that all students are successful.”
The district intends on making regular community updates via social media and at www. gunnisonschools.net/bond.
(Source: Gunnison Watershed School District.)
GUNNISON | 970-641-8899 CRESTED BUTTE | 970-349-5103
The Gunnison National Forest fuels crew is nearing the end of 2 months-long winter burn season, spending the last few days a little over 10 miles south of Lake City, in the Lash Tree Salvage Unit. Lash tree is a 500 acre, three-year logging unit over Slumgullion Pass on which tree removal was completed just last fall.
On Jan. 23, the Times joined the crew near Slumgullion.
The Forest Service burn district includes Saguache, Gunnison and Hinsdale counties.
Dave Carr, fuels specialist at the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests esti-
mated that the 6-12 person crew burned over 1,200 piles over nearly 3,000 acres this season alone. The crew has to stop burning in January because larger piles can smolder for months, and need to be extinguished before the snow retreats.
The piles of timber up Slumgullion are made by machines, and unlike the hundreds of smaller hand piles that were visible over Monarch Pass at the beginning of winter, these can get up to 20 feet high and 50 feet wide. The three-person crew traveled up to the logging site — and between piles — in a snowcat, allowing them to traverse quickly over the snow.
The crew uses red, metal drip torches and flammable gel to ignite the piles. The drip torches have a three-to-one gas to diesel mixture; the gas gives flammability and the diesel prolongs the burn time, Carr said. The gel packets are a mix of powdered aluminum, diesel and gas. The crew ignited the gel and placed it inside dry
pockets in the piles, surrounded by brush, sticks and logs of various sizes. Once sparks are members move onto the next pile.
No more than 30 minutes after first ignition, the crew drove back by the piles. Some were still smoking, struggling to catch while others sent bright orange licks of flames 50 feet in the air, throwing a wall of thermal radiation so intense the crew can’t open the snowcat doors. These piles take anywhere from days to months to burn to completion.
Carr said crew members will return in the early spring to check on the piles, move soil around and reseed the plots. In just a few years, it will be hard to tell that a occurred there, Carr said.
(Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@gunnisontimes.com.)
Just weeks ago, Gunnison County’s exemption allowing off-highway (OHV), all-terrain (ATV) and utility terrain vehicles (UTV) use along a popular stretch of road outside Marble expired, resurfacing a yearslong debate about noise and air pollution, road crowding and parking enforcement. County commissioners are considering whether to renew the exemption or pursue other solutions.
On most Colorado county roads, unlicensed recreational vehicles are prohibited, but on a small portion of County Road 3 (CR 3), the unlicensed vehicles have been allowed since 2016. The road winds south from Hwy. 133 to the Town of Marble, considered a “gateway community.” That means the town, with a population of just 120 year-round residents, is the throughway for the nearly 17,000 visitors who visit Marble and Crystal and the surrounding lands each summer, including the popular 13-mile Lead King Loop.
In May 2016, Gunnison County Commissioners authorized an exemption to the OHV ban, allowing use along that portion of the road. The reason boiled down to parking management, County Commissioner Jonathan Houck said in a Jan. 17 work session.
Health and safety issues arose along the road when individuals attempted to trailer an unlicensed vehicle, like an ATV or UTV, to the trailhead, rather than drive it on the road illegally. Limited space and turning radii led to traffic jams and trailers backed into personal driveways. The crowding made it difficult for people to get to work, move in and out of their homes or access their driveways safely.
Those multifaceted pressures led to the creation of the Lead King Loop stakeholder group in 2018, convened to provide management recommendations and balance the interests of Marble, Crystal, Gunnison County, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the White River National Forest.
But after COVID-era visitation soared and OHV access surfaced new issues, commissioners put an annual renewal on the exemption, which expired just weeks ago, to keep the conversation open as new challenges came to light.
Marble residents have expressed concern about noise, road safety, parking and environmental degradation due to the uptick in visitation and use of OHVs. Crowding along the road even created concern about the ability of emergency vehicles to access residences along CR 3.
Emergency vehicles in Marble, on a busy weekend with trailers lining CR 3, cannot access the Lead King Loop, the Town of Crystal or even the residents on Daniels Hill, said Marble Town Administrator Ron Leach in the work session. Environmental groups like High Country Conservation
Advocates have expressed broader environmental concerns for wildlife and air quality.
an attendant to facilitate. The report also identified three opportunities for further management, including a parking management plan, a reservation or permit system and educational outreach to users.
An opportunity for a parking lot was identified at the base of Daniels Hill, which could be a trailhead-like amenity with space for loading and unloading, and even include restrooms and kiosks. That parking development would require coordination with the U.S. Forest Service, but the organization has expressed that current priorities and demand preclude the option of a parking lot. The permitting system is also not top-of-list, as usage of the area and impacts has not merited limiting use or collecting those metrics just yet.
Liz Smith County CommissionerIn October of 2022, the working group released a report containing suggestions for the management of the area, which included extending the exemption, creating some parallel parking along CR 3 and in Marble, parking signage and
Forest Service collaboration is not the only limiting factor. A trailhead parking area at the base of the hill was “vehemently opposed” by residents along CR 3 between Beaver Lake and the top of the hill, Houck said.
A small parking lot may lead to the same issues, Public Works Director Martin Schmidt said, ultimately pushing trailers back down the road into town.
Marble Mayor RyanVinciguerra said the county and forest service should continue to explore the idea of a parking lot at the base of Daniels Hill.
“I think that it is a responsibility of theirs to offer the proper infrastructure for such an amazing trail,” he said. “The town is shouldering a lot of the parking responsibility, whether or not we want to, and I'm hoping that we can continue to do so in the interim.”
In addition to the health and safety concerns around vehicular crowding, county law enforcement has not been able to keep up. The county has struggled to find another deputy to assist the one who currently serves the entire northern portion of the county.
Commissioner Liz Smith said the conversation comes down to safe access. She’s heard from community members that the exemption has made the issue worse.
“Allowing this use on County Road 3 has increased the demand, the ‘build it and they will come’ kind of mentality, where we have more volume because of this lifted restriction,” she said.
Smith said her support for recreation infrastructure is conditional on how stakeholders can control the volume that's associated with it.
“The easy answer is we just don't renew this and let this be an enforcement issue,” Houck said. “But I’ve been doing this work long enough to know that the problems still exist and that's why I'm not willing to take that easy off ramp.”
The board’s decision on the CR 3 exemption will not require a public hearing, so individuals who would like to make a comment on OHV use along the road can email county commissioners at bocc@gunnisoncounty.org or call individual commissioners directly at their numbers listed on the Gunnison County website.
(Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@ gunnisontimes.com.)
On Jan. 23, Gunnison Valley Health welcomed Augustine J. Lee as the newest member of its medical staff.
Lee is board certified in general and colon and rectal surgery and brings over 20 years of experience to the health system. Most recently, Lee worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida where he was named a “Top Doc” by Tampa Magazine in 2022.
Gunnison Valley Health CEO, Jason Amrich, said Lee’s
experience and specialized training in colorectal surgery will bring new opportunities and services to the Gunnison Valley.
“Dr. Lee is an experienced and talented surgeon who will support expanded offerings through our general surgery clinic,” Amrich said. “His commitment to collaboration, quality and innovation make him the perfect partner for our existing surgeon, Dr. Andrew Salim. I believe that togeth-
er they will build a surgical program at Gunnison Valley Health that will allow more people to receive cutting edge care without leaving Gunnison County.”
Lee received his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and completed his general surgery residency at Suny Downstate Health Science University. Lee also completed a colon and rectal surgery fellowship at UT
Southwestern Presbyterian Hospital. He practiced for 11 years in hospitals in the Fort Worth, Texas area before moving to Florida.
Lee wanted to join the Gunnison Valley Health team not only to fulfill a lifelong dream of living in the mountains, but also for the opportunity to partner with Salim and build high-performing surgical services in a rural setting.
“I am already in love with the Gunnison Valley and am
thrilled to have this opportunity to put down roots in the community,” Lee said. “Dr. Salim will be an incredible partner and I know that together we can build the services that everyone living in or visiting this beautiful area need to support their health and wellbeing.”
(Source: Gunnison Valley Health.)
Allowing this use on County Road 3 has increased the demand, the ‘build it and they will come’ kind of mentality, where we have more volume because of this lifted restriction.County Road 3 winds all the way up to the Lead King Loop trailhead east of the Town of Marble.
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LITTLE RED SCHOOLHOUSE is hiring a full time preschool aide/teacher starting Jan. 30 with training beforehand to replace a teacher on maternity leave. This is a great opportunity for full time year round employment, with great pay and benefits. If you adore children, are flexible, patient, a team player and enthusiastic, please inquire with Jessica at lilredschoolhouse1@gmail. com.
POSITION: The Town of Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado is hiring a community development director. The community cevelopment cirector is responsible for organizing, directing, and coordinating activities and operations of the functions of the Community Development Department, including building, zoning and planning.
Direction is given to staff of technical and professional employees. Performs a variety of supervisory, administrative, technical and professional work related to the development and implementation of land use and related short- and long-range plans and policies. A qualified candidate for this role is a strong teammate who is organized and well-versed in development planning and partnerships.
The Town staff is small and nimble, wearing multiple hats and working closely together on special projects. The ability to work effectively with a team and across departments is essential.
Qualifications:
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework, a degree in land-use planning, urban planning, public administration, landscape architecture, or a closely related field.
Seven years’ experience in rural or municipal planning. Any equivalent combination of education and experience that the Town deems appropriate to perform the duties of the position.
Member of the American Planning Association and AICP certification (or identified date for securing certification).
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
Requirements:
Must have a clean driving record and valid Driver’s license. Innovative, selfmotivated, and able to problem-solve for a variety of situations. Organized, proactive, and solutions-oriented with a keen attention to detail. Ability to work well in group and individual situations.
Exceptional communication skills. Ability to use independent judgement and assume responsibility for decisions and actions.
Excellent listening and communication skills and a positive attitude. Flexibility and adaptability to adjust to ever-changing situations effectively and efficiently.
Proven ability to effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously, meet assigned deadlines, and collaborate across a variety of teams, departments, and organizations.
Knowledge of business attraction and retention programs. Knowledge of methods used in analyzing local economic trends and industry trends. Knowledge of Federal, State, and County resources for economic development and business assistance.
Knowledge of local land use development practices, zoning, and policies. Ability to supervise the work of professional consultants.
Starting salary range is $110,364 to $132,436, based on qualifications and experience. Housing or housing stipend may be part of the compensation package. The Town also offers an amazing benefits package, including paid health, vision and dental insurance for you and your family, 12 paid holidays a year, sick time, vacation time, 401(a) retirement account, and more.
Applications will be accepted until a qualified pool of candidates is established, but preference will be given to complete applications received by February 6, 2023. Those who do not apply by this date may or may not be considered.
For the full job description please go to mtcb. colorado.gov. If you have any questions, please email or call Tiffany O’Connell at toconnell@mtcb.colorado.gov or 970-3496632. To apply please email your cover letter, resume, and three (3) professional references to Tiffany O’Connell at toconnell@mtcb.colorado.gov.
GUNNISON REGIONAL HOUSING
AUTHORITY is looking for our next property manager to oversee our portfolio of rental properties in the Gunnison Valley. This is an active and engaging job that is a great mix of in-office and field work and is an essential role in maintaining and providing essential housing to our community members. Hiring range between $60-65k/year. Please visit gvrha.orgto see full job description, or email akadlec@gvrha.org for more info.
LOOKING FOR A HYGIENIST for progressive, mercury-safe dental office in Crested Butte. We have cool lasers and bright sunny operatories to work in. Prefer full-time, but part-time availability would be considered. Full benefits included. Please send resume to info@ intergrativedentistrycolorado.com.
INTERESTED IN A CAREER WITH BENEFITS? The Crested Butte Bank (a branch of the Gunnison Bank and Trust Company), has an opening for a full-time teller to join the operations side of our growing Bank. Applicants should have strong customer service skills, the ability to multi-task, and a willingness to learn. GB&T fosters a learning environment where you will gain exposure to multiple areas of the Bank, with a strong foundation in operations, pay starting at $18.00. Robust benefits package includes 401(k), medical insurance, vision insurance, life insurance and disability insurance (ST and LT). Pooled transportation is available. Send resume to abrown@crestedbuttebank.com or lbeda@ gunnisonbank.com.
MOUNTAIN ROOTS seeks a full time professional to provide leadership, coordination and strategic development of our district-wide Farm to School program, including direct teaching, guiding program growth and training/management of our 3-5 person program staff. The incoming director will build on ten years’ success and take the program to the ‘next level.’ $50K w/ benefits. Starts March 2023. Read more: mountainrootsfoodproject.org/join-our-team.
BLIND FAITH CUSTOM WINDOW FASHIONS is hoping to find an administrative support/customer relations teammate. This full-time role will oversee that the support is provided to ensure efficient operation of the office. Supports staff through a variety of tasks related to organization and communication. You will be responsible for time sensitive scheduling and effectively communicate via phone and email ensuring that all communication is delivered with high quality and in a timely manner. Responsibilities will include but aren’t limited to: answering phone calls and scheduling appointments, reply to email, return phone calls and greet and assist visitors to the showroom, shipping, receiving and organization of inventory (including staying on top of digital communication about the orders/order process), submit and reconcile invoices all while resolving scheduling conflicts and providing polite professional communication. Please email: admin@ blindfaithcb.com or call Kelly: 850-855-8838.
ARE YOU TIRED OF WORKING MULTIPLE JOBS TO MAKE IT IN THE VALLEY? Iron Horse is looking for the right individual to join our expanding property care team. This individual is responsible for property inspections, inventories, and the overall quality and presentation of vacation rentals in our luxury inventory. You will work hand in hand with our maintenance, housekeeping and reservation teams to ensure that our guests experience vacation perfection. Pay starts at $22 per hour plus a company car, health insurance, on-call pay, paid vacation, ski or health and wellness pass, 5 day work week and more. If you are detail oriented, organized, punctual and only want the best, then submit your resume to steve@ ironhorsecb.com and qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview. Clean driving record is required. No phone calls please.
NO EXPERIENCE? NO WORRIES: We provide on-the-job training. The Town of Crested Butte is looking for a Public Works maintenance worker/heavy equipment operator to fill an open position. Qualifications: Colorado Commercial Drivers License (CDL) or ability to obtain one within thirty (30) days of the date of employment. This is a full-time position with benefits. Starting pay is $40,000 – $57,000 DOQ. Benefits include fully subsidized medical, dental and vision insurance for employees and dependents. Paid holidays, vacation time, sick time, disability insurance, life insurance and retirement are also position benefits. The full job description is available
Recycling Technician Public Works: Full-time, 40 hours/week, hourly rate range from $21.72 to $30.72 plus full benefits.
Payroll Specialist Finance: Fulltime, 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $4,440 to $6,281 plus full benefits.
Patrol Deputy Sheriff: Full-time, 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $4,989 to $7,057 plus full benefits.
Family Planning Nurse Practitioner/Physician’s Assistant HHS: Part-time, 6 hours every other week, hourly rate range from $38.15 to $53.96 plus full benefits.
IT System Administrator: Full-time, 40 hours/week, starting monthly salary range from $6,613 to $9,354, plus full benefits.
Recycling Technician/Landfill Operator Public Works: Full-time, 40 hours/week, hourly rate range from $21.72 to $30.72 plus full benefits.
Public Health Nurse II: Family Planning Coordinator HHS: Parttime, 30 hours/week, hourly rate range from $32.03 to $45.31 plus full benefits.
Public Health Nurse II: Child Care Health Consultant HHS: Part-time, 6 hours/week, hourly rate range from $32.03 to $45.31.
Patrol Deputy (Marble and Somerset Area) Sheriff: Full-time, 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $4,989 to $7,057 plus full benefits. Work in the Marble and Somerset area.
Detention Deputy Sheriff: Fulltime, 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $4,229 to $5,982 plus full benefits. Only work 14 days a month.
Heavy Equipment Operator I Public Works: Full-time, 40 hours/ week, starting hourly rate $21.72 to $30.72 depending on experience, full benefits.
For more information, including complete job descriptions, required qualifications and application instructions, please visit GunnisonCounty.org/jobs.
on the Town’s website at townofcrestedbutte. com. Please submit an application to the Town of Crested Butte via email at jobs@ crestedbutte-co.gov. The position is open until filled. The Town of Crested Butte is an Equal Opportunity Employer. (1/20/135).
CRESTED BUTTE LAND TITLE GUARANTEE COMPANY is currently seeking candidates who want to learn about the real estate market and start or change their careers. Our customer experience officer must be detail-oriented and have a solid knowledge of email and Microsoft Office Suite. This role would be a great entry point for someone looking to
make a career change or launch a career with a phenomenal company. Competitive compensation. Full Time. Visit us at ltgc. com/careers/.
ROOF SHOVELERS: Local snow removal company looking for roof shovelers for the remainder of winter. Pay DOE $30-50. Willing to train the right person. Call or email. 970-787-0702 ben@whiteoutcb.com. TRIM
D.O.E.
Gunnison Valley Health is hiring. Please note This is not a complete list of all our open jobs - you can view all open positions at our website, jobs.gunnisonvalleyhealth.org
Driver - Senior Services: PT or FT $16.00 - $18.40/hour DOE
IS Computer Technician: FT $22.61 - $27.13/hr DOE
Physical Therapist, Home Health: FT $36.40 - $47.31/hr DOE
Care Associate II – GVO Clinic/ Family Medicine: FT $17.87 –$22.10/hr DOE
Medical Assistant (non-certified): FT $18.17 - $21.81/hr DOE
Benefits Eligibility: Medical, dental, vision, health care FSA, and dependent care FSA: All active employees working 40 or more hours per pay period are eligible for benefits on the first of the month following date of hire. PRN staff are not initially eligible for benefits, and GVH follows all Affordable Health Care Act Eligibility guidelines.
Please visit our website for more in-depth position descriptions, specific qualification requirements and to apply online: https://jobs. gunnisonvalleyhealth.org , or call HR for questions 970-641-1456. (PRN = as needed). All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a negative 10 panel drug screen test, criminal background check, reference checks, infection prevention procedures (TB test, Flu Shot, immunization records, etc.), physical capacity profile and acknowledgement of policies.
WESTERN
seeks innovative candidates with public financial management executive level experience for our controller position. This opportunity offers tremendous experience and an exceptional environment.
DUTIES: The controller reports to the Vice President for Finance and Administration/ Chief Financial Officer and is expected to lead an administrative department providing strategic leadership, fiduciary guidance and customer service excellence. Position leads four full-time employees and is required to direct all accounting activities for an institution with 300+ employees and over $60M in annual revenues. The controller will work closely with the senior management team in ongoing development of the University’s short and long-range financial and strategic plans.
QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree in accounting and three years in higher education or public accounting, at a managerial-level, is required. Governmental accounting (GASB) experience preferred. Advanced degree in public administration, accounting, CPA or CMA strongly preferred. Successful candidates must possess strong, proven leadership and management skills, excellent oral and written communication skills. Successful candidate must be technologically savvy, preferred candidate will have State of Colorado public governmental accounting experience and
Gunnison Watershed School District believes that students thrive when they are connected to something bigger than themselves. That’s why we create learning experiences that spark curiosity, helping students discover who they are and how to make a difference in the world around them. And as they excel in academics, athletics, and the arts, students find the confidence to pursue any opportunity in life. Our team is “Driven to be the Difference”
Special Education EA-GHS Library EA-GCS Teacher Librarian/Media Specialist/ Instructional Support-CBCS Finance Assistant-GCS ELL Educational Assistant-GHS Math Intervention Teacher-CBSS Supervision EA-CBCS Special Education EA- CBSS Permanent Substitutes Food Service-CBCS and GCS Bus Drivers Substitute Teachers
Coaching: CBHS Assistant Track Coach CBHS Asst. Lacrosse coach GMS Assistant Gymnastics coach (2 positions)
Please contact: Superintendent’s Office JoAnn Klingsmith 800 N. Boulevard 970-641-7760 jklingsmith@gunnisonschools.net
familiarity with WorkDay software.
TO APPLY: Apply online at western.edu/jobs. (Controller position is Workday). Required attachments to online applications include a cover letter describing position specific interest, resume, and a list of professional references. Application review of applicants begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
PR/MARKETING FREELANCER:
Mountain Roots is accepting proposals for a $25K contract for regional PR, marketing, outreach and education around local food. View full Request for Proposals at mountainrootsfoodproject.org/join-our-team.
AIRPORT: We are looking for a few qualified candidates to distribute research surveys to departing passengers at Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport from now through March, possibly until early April. The pay rate is $23/hr + bonus potential for strong performance. The shifts are somewhat flexible and are based on flight departure schedules. You don’t need to be available for every shift to apply. We have early morning, mid-morning and afternoon shifts. Looking for weekday and/or weekend coverage. The anticipated number of hours to work would be 20 hours or less per week. No sales involved. Must be energetic, outgoing, able to easily approach others and have strong organizational skills and attention to detail. If interested, please send a summary of your relevant experiences/qualifications and your
availability to Sue@rrcassociates.com RRC Associates is a consumer research and consulting firm specializing in the travel and tourism industry.
THE TOWN OF CRESTED BUTTE seeks applicants for a building inspector and efficiency coordinator position to join the Community Development team. The building inspector and efficiency coordinator performs a variety of commercial, industrial, and residential building and safety inspections of new and existing properties for compliance with Town adopted regulations and building codes and coordinates building efficiency and renewable energy programs for the Community Development Department’s responsibilities to the Town of Crested Butte’s Climate Action Plan. This yearround position includes an excellent benefits package with 100% employer paid employee and dependent health, dental, vision, life insurance and matching contributions to a retirement plan after one year of employment. Starting salary is $50,958 – $60,585 DOQ. Full job description is available on the Town’s website at townofcrestedbutte. com. Please submit an application, cover letter and resume via email to HR at jobs@ crestedbutte-co.gov. The position is open until filled. The Town of Crested Butte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
BUILD CUSTOM HOMES IN CRESTED BUTTE: Ridgeline Builders is looking for motivated carpenters and apprentices to frame, install exterior siding and interior trim work. Good pay with benefits for long term employees. Call Kevin at 970-275-8124.
LOADER OPERATORS NEEDED ASAP IN CB: Very high pay for qualified people. Willing to train the right person. Ski pass and end of season bonus. Call Jean at 970-2758731.
DAVID GROSS GENERAL CONTRACTORS is seeking finish carpenters at top pay. We offer ski passes, 401k, profit sharing, paid vacation and potential health insurance benefits. No subcontractors please. Call DG at 970-901-1798.
UP AND COMING ELECTRICAL SERVICES COMPANY is seeking motivated individuals to join our team. Stonefly Electric is now hiring. Education and experience in the trade helps, but we are eager to train the right person. Journeymen, residential wiremen and master electricians are welcome to apply, and pay will be reflected accordingly. A positive attitude, professional demeanor and the ability to work with others is a must. Please send resume with cover letter to StoneflyElectric@gmail.com.
THE CLUB AT CRESTED BUTTE is hiring front desk attendants: part-time/full-time positions available, starting pay $16-$18/ hr. Employee benefits include employee discounts and ski storage at the base area. For more information or to submit a resume, please email: jobs@clubatcrestedbutte.com.
Palisades Apartment is currently accepting applications for our waiting list. Our 2 Bedroom Low income Apartment Community is Income based. You must meet restrictions
Our Newly renovated 2 bedroom apartments are a must see. Apply in person at 600 N. Colorado in Gunnison. We are a no Smoking property.
For further information please contact us at 970-641-5429 or palisadesmanager@ silva-markham.com
CRESTED BUTTE BURGER COMPANY is hiring cooks and cashiers for the upcoming winter season: flexible schedule available, starting pay $16-$18/hr. + Gratuity. For more information or to submit a resume, please email: crestedbutteburgerco@gmail.com.
SPECTRUM IS HIRING FIELD TECHNICIANS IN GUNNISON:
As a field technician you will resolve cable and internet issues, and install Spectrum’s high-performing cable, TV, Internet and Voice products throughout your community. As you drive from location to location, you will build relationships with a diverse-base of customers and deliver technical solutions. This is a career that grows with you and the knowledge you gain will take you far.
Job Perks: Receive a company vehicle, tools, professional uniform and personal protective equipment to do your best and stay safe.
Dynamic Growth: Progress through a defined career path, or move into roles like supervisor, manager or director.
Competitive Pay: Generous starting salary, plus pay increases as you advance.
If you’re looking for a hands-on career opportunity that allows you to work face-toface with the people directly impacted by your work, consider joining our team. For the complete job description, visit us at jobs. spectrum.com Field Technician – Gunnison, CO.
THE TOWN OF MT CRESTED BUTTE is looking for a part time, winter seasonal employee. Job duties will include but not be limited to plowing the Towns recreation path, shoveling public walkways and stairs, chipping ice, emptying trash receptacles, maintaining equipment, and helping full time staff with projects as needed. Schedule will be 2 days per week from 7a.m.-5:30 p.m. Applicant needs to have skid steer or similar equipment experience, ability to safely lift a minimum of 50 pounds and a clean driving record. Contact Tim at troybal@ mtcb.colorado.gov for more information. The full job description can be found on our website at mtcb.colorado.gov. This position pays $25 per hour. To apply for the position please email your cover letter, resume and three references to Tiffany O’Connell at toconnell@mtcb.colorado.gov.
SOFTWARE DEVELOPER (PYTHON): Join our team to create warehouse automation solutions from our ski-in, ski-out office in Mt. Crested Butte. We are building hybridcloud containerized applications to move products faster and more efficiently using robots. If you have Python skills and want to be part of a growing team in the mountains, send resume to Chris Ladoulis at Slate River Systems (SRSI) at cladoulis@gosrsi.com. See seetheraft.com.
YOU ARE NEEDED: Find your niche at Six Points helping adults with disabilities with personal care, cleaning, transportation and community activities. No experience needed; clean driving record preferred and background check. Part- and fulltime available. 50% off everything in the store, plus intangible benefits of building meaningful relationships with clients. $15/hr. Contact Margaret.schneider@ sixpointsgunnison.org.
LOCATION FOR LEASE: North main street office, retail, brewery or restaurant. 1600 to 2200 sq. ft. Call 970-596-9999.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly to the electors of the Gunnison County Fire Protection District of Gunnison County, Colorado.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election will be held on the 2nd day of May, 2023, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, 3 directors will be elected to serve 4-year terms. Eligible electors of the Gunnison County Fire Protection District interested in serving on the Board of Directors may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form from the District Designated Election Official:
Deborah Ferchau
417 S. 10th Street Gunnison, CO 81230 970-417-0687 debferchau@hotmail.com
The Office of the DEO is open on the following days: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The deadline to submit a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form is close of business, 5:00 p.m. on February 24, 2023.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, an application for an absentee ballot shall be filed with the Designated Election Official no later than the close of business on the Tuesday preceding the election, April 25, 2023.
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado. Publication dates of January 26 and February 2, 2023 7569
§1-13.5-501, 1-13.5-1102(3), 32-1-905(2), C.R.S. TO
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election will be held on the 2nd day of May, 2023, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, 4 directors will be elected to serve 4-year terms.
Eligible electors of the Ragged Mountain Fire Protection District interested in serving on the board of directors may obtain a SelfNomination and Acceptance form from the Ragged Mountain Fire Protection District office: 3688 Highway 133 Somerset, Co 81434 970-929-5500
The Office of the Ragged Mountain Fire Protection District is open on the following days: Monday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Tuesday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm and Friday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
The deadline to submit a Self-Nomination and Acceptance is close of business on Friday, February 24, 2023 (not less than 67 days before the election).
Affidavit of Intent To Be A Write-In-Candidate forms must be submitted to the office of the designated election official by the close of business on Monday, February 27, 2023 (the sixty-fourth day before the election).
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, an application for an absentee ballot shall be filed with the designated election official no later than the close of business on Tuesday preceding the election, April 25, 2023.
Designated Election Official Signature
Eric J. Gross Attorney P.C. P.O. Box 608 Carbondale, Co 81623 Phone 970-778-0826 Email: ejg@roaringforklaw.com
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado.
Publication date of January 26, 2023
7537
Arrowhead Fire Protection District
§1-13.5-501, 1-13.5-1102(3), 32-1-905(2), C.R.S.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the electors of the Arrowhead Fire Protection District of Gunnison County, Colorado.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election will be held on the 2nd day of May 2023, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, two (2) directors will be elected to serve 4-year terms
Eligible electors of the Arrowhead Fire Protection District. (Defined as a registered voter of the state of Colorado and a resident of the district or the owner or spouse or civil union partner of the owner of taxable real or personal property situated in the District) If interested in serving on the five member board of directors you may obtain a SelfNomination and Acceptance form from the District Designated Election Official (DEO): Ken Harbert 50 Hazel Lake Drive Cimarron, Colorado 970-862-8430
Jkharbert57@gmail.com
The Office of the DEO is open on the following days: Tuesday -Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The deadline to submit a Self-Nomination and Acceptance is close of business 4:30 on February 24, 2023 (not less than 67 days before the election).
Affidavit of Intent To Be A Write-In-Candidate forms must be submitted to the office of the designated election official by the close of business on Monday, February 27, 2023 (the sixty-fourth day before the election).
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, an application for an absentee ballot shall be filed with the designated election official no later than the close of business on Tuesday preceding the election, April 25, 2023.
Gunnison Country Times
Gunnison, Colorado. Publication date of January 26, 2023
7586
stored at Discount Self Storage, 500 S. Blvd, Gunnison, CO will be sold or disposed of unless claimed prior to February 9, 2023.
E34 - Peter Holm
D46 - Raymond Hellinger
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado. Publication dates of January 26 and February 2, 2023
7579
PUBLIC NOTICE OF
FOR CHANGE OF NAME
Public Notice is given on January 17, 2023 that a Petition for a Change of Name of an Adult has been filed with the Gunnison County, Colorado Court.
The Petition requests that the name of Kaden Brady Koksma be changed to Kaden Brady Light Clerk of Court Cirenda Fry
/s/ Susan K. Piloni Clerk of Court/Deputy Clerk
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication dates of January 26 and February 2, 9, 2023
7477
Estate of Harold Francis Yale Deceased Case Number 2023PR30000
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to District Court of GUNNISON County, Colorado on or before MAY 20, 2023 or the claims may be forever barred.
Gary Yale 4559 Cedarmere Dr. Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado. Publication dates of January 19, 26 and February 2, 2023
7451
Estate of DEAN LEROY LAMPTON, Deceased Case Number: 2022PR30045
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to District Court of Gunnison County, Colorado on or before May 15, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.
Attorney for Personal Representative: David Skarka PO Box 38 Delta CO 81416
Kathryn Lampton PO Box 5 Snowmass CO 81654
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado. Publication dates of January 12,19 and 26, 2023
7372
City Clerk’s Office located in City Hall, 201 W. Virginia Avenue, Gunnison, CO; mailed to the City Clerk at PO Box 239, Gunnison, CO 81230; or emailed to eboucher@gunnisonco. gov until 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 14th, 2023.
The public may attend Public Hearings and Regular and Special Sessions in person or remotely. To attend the meeting remotely go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/ WN_y-KrRIEbQRO5ETsvyIAYqw
City of Gunnison, Colorado City Council /s/ Erica Boucher, City Clerk Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado. Publication date of January 26, 2023
7565
909 N Wisconsin St. (behind Powerstop) • 641-2144
Two services at 9 & 10:30 am
Visit our website for more information - gunnisonbethany.com 9 am: Family Service with nursery & children’s church 10:30 am: Western Student Service with FREE lunch for college students following Check out our website for updates!
Or download our app on the App Store by searching, Gunnison Bethany
Please join us the weekend of 1/27/23-1/29/23 Website: bnaibutte.org
Friday 1/27/23, 4pm- 5:30pm: Hebrew School
Friday 1/27/23, 6pm: Tu Bishvat Seder and Potluck
Saturday 1/28/23 10:30am: Coffee with Rabbi Mark at Rumors in CB
The Board of County Commissioners will hold a Public Hearing at the Saguache County Courthouse located at 501 – 4th Street, Saguache, Colorado, on the following date: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7TH, 2023 AT 1:00PM
to consider public comment on possibly adopting a Saguache County Nuisance Ordinance.
To view the proposed changes, you may contact the Saguache County Land Use Department – PO Box 326, Saguache, CO 81149 or atorrez@saguachecounty-co. gov, or by calling 719-655-2321 or you may view the changes on our website at www. saguachecounty.colorado.gov.
Written comments will be accepted until Friday, February 3rd, 2023 at 3pm, and may be sent to Saguache County Land Use Department at PO Box 326, Saguache, CO 81149 or email to atorrez@saguachecountyco.gov.
By: Tom McCracken, Chairman Chairman, Saguache County Board of Commissioners
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado. Publication dates of January 26 and February 2, 2023
7573
Saturday 1/28/23 6-8pm: Book Discussion, after Havdalah - How to Fight AntiSemitism by Bari Weiss. Seating is limited- please RSVP to bnaibutte@gmail.com.
Sunday 1/29/23 11am: Torah Study
Please visit our website for event locations and more information!
600 E. Virginia • 641-1588
Sunday Morning Bible Class: 9:30 a.m.
Sunday Morning Worship: 10:30 a.m.
Sunday Evening Worship: 6 p.m.
Wednesday Night Bible Class: 7 p.m.
COMMUNITY CHURCH OF GUNNISON
107 N. Iowa • 641- 0925
Pastor Larry Nelson
Sunday Morning Worship 9:30 a.m. Nursery & Age-Graded Ministry
Weekly Student Ministry | Weekly Adult LifeGroups
Office Hours: Mon-Thurs, 9:00-4:00
For more info: ccgunnison.com or email info@ccgunnison.com
Join us in-person, listen to our broadcast on 98.3 FM, or view online stream on YouTube
Transforming Lives • Building Community
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
Virginia at N. Pine St. • 641-2240
Pastor Jonathan Jones 9:30 A.M. Share & Prayer Fellowship / 10 A.M. Sunday School Classes 11 A.M. Morning Worship Service / 6 P.M. Evening Service Wednesday 7 PM - Children's Patch Club / Gunnison Bible Institute Thursday 7 PM - College & Career Christian Fellowship www.firstbaptistgunnison.org.
THE GOOD SAMARITAN EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The Saguache County Board of Commissioners is accepting letters of interest for appointment from an individual who would like to serve as the Saguache County representative to the Colorado River District Board of Directors.
Letters of Interest may be addressed to the Board of County Commissioners and submitted to the Saguache County Administration office at 505 3rd Street, Saguache, CO or mailed to PO Box 100, Saguache CO 81149 by 3pm on FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2023. Letters of interest may also be emailed to wmaez@saguachecountyco.gov.
The deadline for letters of interest is FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2023 at 3PM. The Board of County Commissioners will review comments and make a decision on this appointment at their regular meeting on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2023.
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado. Publication dates of January 12, 19 and 26, 2023
7382
CITY OF GUNNISON NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
Notice is hereby given to the following party that their personal items stored at Discount Self Storage, 1825 N. Hwy 135, Gunnison, CO will be sold or disposed of unless claimed prior to February 9, 2023.
Unit 39 – Jacob Neil
Notice is hereby given to the following party that their personal items stored at Discount Self Storage, 246 Buckley, Crested Butte, CO will be sold or disposed of unless claimed prior to February 9, 2023.
UP 59 - Jacob Neil
Notice is hereby given to the following party that their personal items
PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT, pursuant to Sections 6.5 and 10.3 of the Land Development Code of the City of Gunnison, Colorado, a public hearing will be held at the hour of 5:30 p.m. on the 14th day of February, 2023 in the City Council Chambers, Gunnison Municipal Building, 201 West Virginia Avenue, Gunnison, Colorado on the merits of Major Change to a PUD application ZA 23-1 submitted by the City of Gunnison regarding additional density on Lot 16 and Lot 18, Lazy K Subdivision. The property is legally described as:
Lazy K Subdivision, Reception Number 675479, City of Gunnison, Gunnison County, State of Colorado.
AT WHICH TIME AND PLACE you may attend and give testimony, if you so desire. Written comments may be submitted to the
Saguache County Sales Tax Grants now available:
The Saguache County Board of Commissioners will be taking Grant Applications for Saguache County Sales Tax Grants until 3:00PM, Friday, February 17, 2023.
To be eligible grant applications must be for either: Emergency Services/Public Health and Safety; Youth and Senior programs, projects, or organizations; or Renewable Energy projects/Business Opportunities and Job Creation.
Grant applications are available on our website at saguachecounty.colorado.gov - use “sales tax grant applicationform5” or you can contact the Saguache County Administration office at 719-655-2231 to request a copy of the grant application.
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado.
Publication dates of January 5, 12, 19, 26 and February 2, 9, 16, 2023 7315
307 W. Virginia Ave. • 641-0429
Rev. Laura Osborne, Vicar
Sunday Morning Holy Eucharist, Rite II 9 a.m.
Children's Sunday school 9 a.m. - 9:40 a.m. | Office Hours: M-Th 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. www.goodsamaritangunnison.com
Visit our partnership church: All Saints in the Mountains, Crested Butte Holy Eucharist, Rite II, Sunday 5 p.m.
Union Congregational Church, 407 Maroon Ave., Crested Butte.
GUNNISON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
United Church of Christ Open and Affirming · Whole Earth · Just Peace Sunday, 10:00 a.m.
Casual, Relaxed, “Come As You Are” Worship www.gunnisonucc.org • 317 N. Main St. • 970-641-3203
GRACE COVENANT CHURCH GUNNISON
Meeting at the Historic 8th St School House 101 N. 8th St. Gunnison
Reformed, Confessional & committed to Expository preaching Sundays 10:00 a.m.
Thursdays 1:00 p.m. Women's Bible Study gracegunnison.com
MT CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH
711 N. Main • 641-1860
Bible Study and Sunday School at 9:00 a.m. on Sundays Church Service at 10:00 a.m. on Sundays
Pastor Robert Carabotta, Pastor Jacob With
ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES
1040 Highway 135 (1/4 mile N. of Spencer Ave.)
Sunday Morning Worship 9:30am
Nursery and Children’s ministry through Middle School
“Remedy” Worship Nights
Small Group Ministries www.rmcmchurch.org - 641-0158
ST. PETER’S CATHOLIC CHURCH
300 N. Wisconsin • 641-0808 • Fr. Andres Ayala-Santiago (www.gunnisoncatholic.org | www.crestedbuttecatholic.org) or call the Parish Office.
St. Peter's - Gunnison Sat 8:30 am, 5 pm & Sun 10:30 am, 12:00 pm (Spanish) Mass
First Sunday of every month bilingual Mass at 11am
Queen of All Saints - Crested Butte, 401 Sopris Sun 8:30am Mass
St. Rose of Lima - Lake City Communion Service, Sat 4:00pm
TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH
523 N. Pine St. • 641-1813
Senior Pastor - Michael McVey Sunday Service 9:30 a.m. Adult Bible Study 8:00 AM www.trinitybaptistsgunnison.com
ANIMAL - RUNNING AT LARGEMUNICIPAL — 440 N. 11TH ST.
INFORMATION — N. COLORADO ST.
ABANDONED VEHICLE — 500 W. RUBY AVE.
ANIMAL - RUNNING AT LARGEMUNICIPAL — 200 S. 10TH ST.
DISTURBING THE PEACE — PAINTBRUSH AVE.
ASSAULT - THIRD DEGREE — 709 W. NEW YORK AVE.
ASSAULT: THIRD DEGREEBODILY INJURY — PAINTBRUSH AVE.
TRAFFIC - DUS — 1100 N. MAIN ST.
FRAUD — 720 N. COLORADO ST.
DISTURBING THE PEACE — 432 PAINTBRUSH AVE.
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE - DRUGS — 500 W. VIRGINIA AVE.
HARASSMENT: FOLLOWING — 910 W. BIDWELL AVE.
FRAUD — QUARTZ ST.
ACCIDENT — 102 S. MAIN ST. INFORMATION — N. MAIN ST.
UN-SECURE PREMISES — 111 N. MAIN ST.
DISORDERLY
CONDUCT:UTTERANCE/ GESTURE/DISPLAY — 212 E. TOMICHI AVE.
UN-SECURE PREMISES — 213 N. MAIN ST.
UN-SECURE PREMISES — 324 N. MAIN ST.
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF — 200 E. SPENCER AVE.
TOBACCO VIOLATIONUNLAWFUL POSSESSION RE1J — 1099 N. 11TH ST.
TRAFFIC-OPERATED UNINSURED MOTOR VEHICLE ON PUBLIC ROADWAY — 200 S. MAIN ST. ADMIN - UNASSIGNED INCIDENT — 1140 N. MAIN ST.
HARASSMENT: REPEATED COMMUNICATIONS — 114 N. BOULEVARD ST.
INFORMATION — 201 E. TOMICHI AVE.
PROPERTY - FOUND — 910 E. TOMICHI AVE.
JUVENILE PROBLEM — S. SPRUCE ST.
JANUARY 17
-Medical call
-Welfare check on an overdue person found safe
JANUARY 18
-Welfare check on another person found safe
-Vehicle slide off call
-North end deputies responded to a vehicle that had slid off and got stuck in the snow. Deputies assisted the Colorado State patrol with a vehicle that had driven off the road and into the river possibly due to a medical emergency
-Unlawful conduct on public property call -Deputies took our K-9 deputy to the detention center for training
-Information report on an abandoned vehicle -Harassment report -Violation of protection order arrest
-Agency assist to the Colorado State Patrol with a driving under the influence arrest
-Agency assist to the Gunnison Police Department with a possible driving under the influence arrest -Citation issued for failure to maintain lanes, driving while revoked habitual traffic offender -Information report on an intoxicated subject north of town needing help getting home
-Warning issued for failing to call in a controlled burn prior to starting the fire -Deputies assisted the Emergency Medical Services with a cardiac event on the highway -Lost cell phone report Google pixel 7
JANUARY 23
-Courtroom deputies were notified of a disruptive person at the courthouse -Harassment call -Deputies arrested a person for violation of a protection order
STOPPERSCrime Stoppers is asking for your help with solving a burglary that occurred on Jan.15 between 10:15 and 10:30 p.m. on the 1100 block N. Main St. The local business was forcibly entered and a number of items were stolen. The suspect was captured on surveillance footage.
If you can identify this suspect, know who is responsible for the burglary, have information regarding the burglary or any other crime you are asked to contact the Gunnison Police Department at 970.641.8200 or Crime Stoppers. You may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.
Gunnison Valley Health is pleased to welcome Dr. Augustine J. Lee as the newest member of the medical staff. Dr. Lee is board certified in general and colon and rectal surgery and brings over twenty years of experience to the health system. Most recently, Dr. Lee worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida where he was named a “Top Doc” by Tampa Magazine in 2022.
Rail operation of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad through the Black Canyon lasted between 1882-1949. The route through the canyon and the towering granite point of the Curecanti Needle would become the emblem of the rail line.
steam and sounds of raw metal made real.
atching video clips of coal-fired steam engines rumbling down narrow-gauge tracks at the bottom of the Black Canyon is like looking through a rip in the fabric of time, the plumes of
But these scenes aren’t just relics of a disappeared century. They live in the heart, mind and hard drive of local resident and historian Russ Lallier, who has spent decades compiling photos and videos of Gunnison Valley trains, dams and town life from as far back as the 19th century.
Right: A young Lallier stands in front of a snowblower car in Chama, Colorado.
Courtesy Russ Lallier
Left: Russ Lallier stands for a portrait in his home.
from B1
Lallier represents a small but fundamental fraction of the Gunnison population — a lifetime local who has lived in the valley for nearly 60 years, working everywhere from radio booths to Mountain Express buses to sitting in the cab of oil field trucks moving mud and water. His parents even owned a pharmacy on the corner of Main Street and Tomichi Avenue from ’63 to ’94. He recalls the days of coal burning, seeing billows of black smoke rise from Crested Butte caking the air with soot.
He began working in radio at just 6 years old, doing ad spots for his family pharmacy
and later working for regional radio stations. The move into filmmaking was planted when Lallier was just a child. He got first 3mm and 8mm cameras in middle school, later working on the class yearbook and taking photography classes. He would continue these studies at Western State College.
By the time he learned to use a camera, the fascination with trains had already set in. His father used to take him to ride the Durango & Silverton and Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroads as a child, and he recalls the excitement of seeing the beasts rumble down the track.
“I've always loved the excitement, you know? Th e blowing, hissing steam, even the dirty smell of coal,” he said. “A lot of
the things I saw as a child were historic moments I just didn’t realize.”
The fascination heightened when he learned how essential trains were for the development of the Gunnison Valley. Without them, the town would never have gotten supplies in or goods out, he said. In 2004, after getting injured rolling an ATV, Lallier decided to marry his love of trains with film and started a new company, RussyBaby Productions, to produce historical movies covering train expansion to the West.
“Rather than just sit around and watch TV, I knew I always wanted to make movies so I kind of sophomorically jumped in and said ‘hey, let's give it a try,’” he said.
The first film he produced
was a clip about trains for the local museums. The ways tracklaying shaped the valley — and the West as a whole— is a narrative thread Lallier would follow for decades, ultimately turning that first 10-minute clip into a nine-movie series about narrow gauge railroad operations of the Gunnison Valley. He intends to make a total of 20.
For Lallier, studying the history of the Gunnison Valley has reframed old memories.
“Now I can look back at things I saw that I didn't really realize were important and say, ‘Oh, wow, I remember when that happened’ … It’s like rediscovering things because I was there, but I was also 5 years old playing in the mud, I had different priorities,” he said.
Lallier’s ninth film, “The
“The
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and his eight prior works
This
(Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Majestic Black Canyon” (Part II), played at Gunnison County Libraries on Sunday, Jan 22. The film covers rail operation of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad through the Black Canyon, and the construction of both Blue Mesa and Morrow Point dams. libraries always been important to me … It was kind of a safe place for me so it’s always a real honor to ever be asked to speak.” film can be found in the Gunnison County Library, in the Western History section. Top Left: In the mid 1950s, rail workers on the Denver & Rio Grande rail crew were tasked with tearing up the track that ran through Gunnison. Top Right: Lallier looks through photos on his hard drive. Bottom Left: The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad No. 482 car still operates tourist excursion trips. Bottom Right: Lallier has collected hundreds of books over the years about Colorado railroads. Courtesy Russ Lallier Courtesy Russ Lallier Abby HarrisonTurquoise is a staple gemstone around the Southwest. Many of us in the Gunnison Valley proudly don our turquoise. The little blue gem is charming and alluring. But why? What is its significance? Where does it come from?
It all begins with geology, of course. Beneath our feet is an unfathomable amount of heat and pressure from tectonic plates sliding, pulling, diving and colliding. Much of the Southwest’s iconic landscape is formed from old rifts (tectonic plates pulling apart) and subduction zones (tectonic plates diving) causing volcanic activity millions of years ago. Volcanic areas create sulfuric, superheated environments turning rock into copper ore.
Mineral-rich groundwater percolates through the cracks, often carrying aluminum and zinc. The water can turn copper veins to a green-ish blue (like what happens on a sweaty fi nger wearing a copper ring). With just the right recipe, this relatively soft gemstone is formed and eventually — after a few million years — unearthed by human hands.
Turquoise mines are located in Iran, Egypt, China and the southwestern U.S. In each of these regions, early civilizations treasured the gemstone. They all believed it brought benefi ts to the wearer.
Egyptians considered turquoise sacred and buried Pharaohs with it. Persians believed it symbolized victory. Turkish traders introduced it to Europe, where it got its name tourques , meaning “Turkish stone” (even though turquoise never came from Turkey).
For Native Americans like the Zuni, Hopi and Navajo, turquoise jewelry embodies healing, protection, prosperity and happiness. In Navajo traditional teachings, turquoise serves as a reminder of the Blue or Second World. This is the realm in which First Man and First Woman observed blue-feath-
ered birds, insects and animals.
The majority of the turquoise in the U.S. came from Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico, but Colorado has had four turquoise mines in its history, including one in Leadville. The 1970s was a booming time for turquoise, but, by the 1990s, most turquoise mines in the U.S. closed. This was due to the cost of mining and a flooded market with turquoise mined from China. The last full-time production turquoise mine in the U.S. is the Kingman Turquoise mine in Arizona, making the region’s turquoise all the more rare and valuable. Each place of discovery has a different character of turquoise. It can vary in color — even white — and display unique patterns in the stone itself.
The same rare geological phenomenon that created turquoise beneath our feet happened in just a few places around the globe. In each place it was discovered, it brought humans joy, positivity and motivation. It became a main character in legends and stories. Turquoise has been universally adored for centuries. Next time you put on your ring, necklace or bolo tie, remember the human experience that predates each of us.
(Anna Coburn can be contacted at 970.641.1414.)
Jacob Spetzler
The same rare geological phenomenon that created turquoise beneath our feet happened in just a few places around the globe. In each place it was discovered, it brought humans joy, positivity and motivation.
Suzanne Hetts and Daniel Estep Special to the Times
Years ago, two dogs in a fenced backyard became quite agitated as we approached while walking our two Dalmatians, Mocha and Katie. One of those dogs jumped on his companion and began growling while biting her neck. At the same time Mocha jumped Katie and did the same thing.
None of the dogs were injured because the biting was very inhibited and both Mocha and the fenced dog calmed down and stopped biting their companions as soon as we were past the yard. Both of these pairs of dogs continued to get along and be friends before and after this episode.
There was a much different outcome with a similar situation involving one of our cat consultations. Two family cats, who despite years of a friendly relationship suddenly could not be in the same room without one attacking the other. This was the result of one cat, Oreo, coming up the basement stairs to see a free-ranging neighborhood cat clinging to the screen door in the backyard. Oreo, unable to attack this intruder, instead launched himself at his friend and housemate, Whitey, who was calmly sitting nearby in the kitchen.
When the owners called us for help several days later, they had been forced to keep the cats separated, because they would immediately try to attack each other on sight. It required three months of careful counter-conditioning and gradual reintroduction for the cats to be able to get along again.
Both incidents are examples of redirected aggression. This occurs when the recipient of aggressive behavior is different from the individual that precipitated it. In our examples, the dogs in the backyard were the trigger for Mocha’s aggression, but Katie was the recipient. Similarly, poor Whitney did nothing to provoke Oreo’s aggression, but was the target of his attack after he became angry in reaction to the presence of the outdoor cat. We’ve even had cases in which cats seem to have become aroused and angry merely in reaction to the smells and sounds of another cat and redirected their response to their housemates or even their owners.
In our experience, it seems more common for cats to experience lasting problems in their relationships after a redirected episode than do dogs. And cats
seem to be more susceptible to showing redirected behavior than dogs. We don’t know for sure the reasons for these diff erences, but it’s likely they have to do with the inherent differences in the social behaviors of dogs and cats.
Cats, while they can form social bonds with other cats, are naturally solitary. As a species, they don’t have the group structures and breadth of social behaviors dogs and wolves have. Consequently, their ability to repair relationships is very limited compared to dogs.
Both dogs and cats can redirect aggression to people as well. We’ve seen more cases of redirected aggression from cats resulting in injuries to people than episodes involving dogs.
Depending on the eliciting event, redirected aggression can be very easy to prevent, or almost impossible. In our example above, we could have easily avoided walking our dogs past the yard with the other dogs. A free roaming neighborhood cat can be trapped and taken to a shelter if an owner can’t be identified. The possibility of redirected aggression is another reason to not allow your cats to roam free.
Because cats are so easily triggered by odors, the unfamiliar odors clinging to a cat after a visit to the veterinarian or groomer can trigger redirected aggression from housemates. We advise owners to take preventative steps and separate the returning cat from feline housemates for several hours. Rub the returning cat with a towel that has first been rubbed on the other family cats, and then carefully supervise the reintroduction of the cats to help prevent aggressive encounters.
Dogs can occasionally show redirected behavior to each other in response to a visitor at the door. Such problems can be prevented by better management procedures, by counter-conditioning the dogs’ responses to visitors and by training alternative behaviors to replace running uncontrollably to the door.
Redirected behavior can be the cause of serious aggression problems, so it pays to know what it is, some of the circumstances that most commonly elicit it and ideas to prevent it.
(Suzanne Hetts and Daniel Estep are certified animal behaviorists and part-time residents of the Gunnison Valley.)
Join us for the fifth annual Daddy Daughter Dance hosted by Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) and Moms Next on Feb. 4 from 6-8 p.m. at Webster Hall, 107 N. Iowa St. in Gunnison. Tickets are $20 for father and daughter and $5 for each additional daughter. Price includes DJ, desserts, refreshments and photos.
Move the Butte 2023 returns on Feb. 23-25. The CB Dance Collective’s wildly creative signature production showcases over 100 local adult choreographers and dancers of all levels. This year’s show will happen at the CB Center for the Arts and will feature a stunning variety of dance modalities including tap, lyrical, contemporary, acro, pop, hip hop, ballet, aerial dance and more. Tickets go on sale Feb. 6 on the CB School of Dance website, dancecrestedbutte.org.
The Crested Butte Mountain Theatre will be holding auditions for its production of Lauren Gunderson’s “Silent Sky” on Jan. 29 from 5-7 p.m. and Jan. 30 from 6-8 p.m. at the Mallardi Cabaret upstairs in the Old Town Hall. Based on a true story, the play is centered on Henrietta Leavitt, one of three women who are credited with breaking the glass ceiling in astronomy at Harvard Observatory in the early 20th century. No prior preparation is required, since it is a cold reading audition. The cast consists of four women (two in their 30s, one in her 40s, one in her 50s) and one male in his 30s. Production dates are March 2-5 and 9-11. The play will
be directed by Paul Edwards. For more information call the CBMT office at 970.349.0366 or email paul@cbmountaintheatre.org.
The next Moonlight Ski will be Feb. 4 at Van Tuyl, starting at our wonderful new library.
All of the grooming and club activities are done by volunteers who devote about 3,000 hours per year to keep rails skiable, provide nordic lessons and outings for skiers of all ages. Trail grooming reports, membership information and events can be found at gunnisonnordic. com. Contact Gunnison Nordic at gunnisonnordic@gmail. com. Follow on Facebook and Instagram.
Please save the date, Feb. 18, for this year’s Crested Butte Ski Patrol Community Fundraiser at the Center for the Arts, in Crested Butte. Will it be a “Wall to Wall” party or will we need to adjust some attitudes? Only time will tell ... But one thing we do know is that this is a great thing for the community and it will be a fun night you won’t want to miss.
World Youth Day will be selling a variety of foods on Jan. 29 starting at 11:30 a.m.at 400 W. Georgia Ave. This event is to help support their trip to Lisbon, Portugal.
Celebrate the live Grateful Dead experience with Easy Jim
at the Almont Resort Jan. 28 for the 2023 Snowdance Winter Concert series put on by the I Bar Ranch. Local acoustic guitar and bass duo, The Woodshed, opens the show at 6:15 p.m. and Easy Jim takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 the day of and they can be purchased at thealmontresort. com/music.
Join us at the Mallardi Cabaret Theatre for “Subject to Change,” an improv comedy bonanza, presented by Crested Butte Mountain Theatre.
Upcoming all ages shows are: Feb. 4 and 11 at 5 p.m. for $5
Upcoming age 18-and-over shows are: Jan. 31, Feb. 4, 7 and 11 at 7:30 p.m. for $10. The Feb. 11 show will be an improv rendezvous featuring Subject to Change and Left Right TIM from CU Boulder. Tickets can be purchased and cbmountaintheatre.org.
On Feb. 9, the Gunnison High School National Honor Society and Student Leadership Council will host a volleyball game between staff members of GHS and the Gunnison Community School. The game will be held in the GHS gym at 6 p.m. to help gather food donations for the Gunnison Country Food Pantry during this season of giving and kindness.
The entrance fee will be a non-perishable food item or $2. There will also be a bake sale during the game to raise money for the 2023 prom.
Come enjoy some sweet treats and witness the greatest standoff between the teachers of our community.
In this class on Jan. 28 from 12-2 p.m. you will learn pickling science from the very basics. The class will begin with a half hour presentation followed by a demonstration and finally everyone making their very own sauerkraut. You will go home with knowledge that can be applied to a variety of foods along with a 2L Fido jar filled with pounds of product. Sauerkraut samples will also be provided.
The instructor is Jeff Deutrich and the cost is $80 or $68 for members.
Join us 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. on Jan. 30 for this one-time wheel throwing class. In this class, students will get introduced to wheel throwing and will focus on centering,
pulling and shaping their own masterpiece. Students with a range of throwing abilities are welcome. Registration fee includes clay, tools, slip, glaze, kiln firing and instruction.
The cost is $72 for nonmembers and $62 for members.
Join us Wednesdays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 1-22 for daytime throwing. Students will be taught centering, wheel throwing and trimming techniques. All ability-ranges welcome.
The instructor is Abra Karbin and the cost is $230 for non-members and $192 for members.
In this six week class, Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Feb. 1 to March 8,
students will explore various media including watercolor, sculpture, weaving and more. Instructor: Kit Wijkowski. The cost is $195 and $165.75 for members.
If you’re a beginner and have been interested in wheel throwing this class is for you! Thursdays, 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Feb. 2-23 students will be taught centering, wheel throwing and trimming techniques. Registration fee includes clay, tools, slip, glaze, kiln firings and instruction. Ages 12+ are welcome in this class.
The instructor is Paige Stewart and the cost is $230 for non-members and $192 for members.
On Friday, Jan. 20, the Cowboys swim and dive team hosted the Gunnison Cowboy Invite at the Gunnison Rec Center, earning first at the home meet. The young team earned top spots against its Western Slope rivals just in time for regional competitions, which are set for next month.
Head Coach Tami Maciejko said she was encouraged by the consistent growth of her swimmers.
“These girls put their heads down and are working hard,” Maciejko said. “They have become so supportive of each other and have come such a long way.”
The team experienced numerous individual successes including a fi rst place fi nish in the 100-yard breaststroke from Jemma Petrie, a second place finish in the 50-yard freestyle from Catalina Schwab and a second place finish from Madelyn Stice in the 100-yard freestyle.
But Maciejko said she was especially proud of the relay teams — particularly in light of how inexperienced her athletes are.
“We have a young team,” she said. “But you can see Sam Jones is swimming really well. Emily Cattles is my fastest freshman right now, and hats off to Morgan [Greenhalgh]. She was the third fastest in the 50-yard butter amazing.”
The 200-yard medley relay composed of Schwab, Jones, Petrie and Stice finished first with a time of 2:05.70.
Heading into the final stretch of the season, the Cowboys are eying regionals, which are scheduled for Feb. 4 and 5. To prepare, Maceijko said she expects her team to train harder than ever in its upcoming practices — which she affectionately calls “hell week” — in hope of peaking at the right time.
“We’ll be hoping to hit 8,0009,000 yards a day [as a team], get in some more yardage, a whole lot more sprinting, some technical work and then head down to Alamosa for a one-day meet,” she said.
Before regionals arrive, the Cowboys will compete this Saturday, Jan. 28, in a meet
Following a 30-50 win at home against Crested Butte on Jan. 17, the Gunnison girl’s basketball team managed a dramatic come-back at Meeker on Jan. 20 before losing to the
Roaring Fork Rams on Jan. 21.
The Cowboys struggled to gain traction off ensively in the first half during the team’s first game of the weekend against Meeker. Starting the game with an immediate 3-pointer, Ava Stewart remained active behind the arc and kept the Cowboys
within close distance of Meeker — heading into halftime only down 16-21.
“As a whole the team performed really well,” said Head Coach Chad Terry. “We just struggled to gain off ensive momentum in the first half.”
Coming back onto the
court, the Cowboys began to click around the basket. Kylee McDougal notched four points in the third quarter, alongside two more 3-pointers from Stewart.
“I was really impressed at the response in the third quarter,” Terry said. “We scored 15 or 16
points unanswered, Kylie was playing great, and this was Ava’s best offensive game of the season.”
The Cowboys’ growing momentum continued into the
at Adams State. The league championship will be held on Feb. 3 in Grand Junction before
the 3A state championship in Thornton, Colorado on Feb. 10. (Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414.)
Jacob Spetzler Photo and Sports Editor
The GHS boys wrestling squad competed twice over the weekend. On Friday, Jan. 21, the team won a dual over Olathe with a final score of 36-30. On Jan. 22, the Cowboys then traveled to North Fork for the Fight at the Fork tournament, pulling in a slew of top spots.
GHS Junior Royce Uhrig earned his 101st win of his high school career and took the “Outstanding Wrestler” award for the event. Miles Harris, also in his junior year, is on track to break the Gunnison takedown record — possibly as soon as this Thursday during the upcoming home dual against the North Fork team.
Head Coach Dave Uhrig said the win over Olathe on Friday was due largely to a few key match wins from Tate Taramarcaz and Preston Gomez — both of whom took the win with a pin. Coach Uhrig also highlighted Damyon Funk and Kleber Flores. Although they both lost, he said they put up a great fight.
“Damyon Funk and Kleber Flores both lost to top ranked opponents, but both had shots at winning their matches,” Coach Uhrig said. “Damyon was able to close the margin from last week when he wrestled the same kid and lost by more.”
During Saturday’s tournament performance, the podium saw Cowboy name after Cowboy name. Co-captains Royce Uhrig and Harris led the way in first place. They were joined by Cody Casebolt, Fraiser Bernie and Kenny
Gonzales, who won the final match against fellow teammate Asher Schellenberg.
Schellenberg took second along with Lalchaija Perez and Brock Fry. Damyon Funk and Nolan Frymoyer each found third after rebounding from early round losses. The team took third overall with 148 points, beating host North Fork but coming in right behind Mancos.
Coach Uhrig said Casebolt’s journey to first was particularly exciting.
“He beat some really good kids to win it,” Coach Uhrig said. “He is getting takedowns and no one has been able to ride him.”
While the boys battled in North Fork, the girls traveled to Colorado Springs for the Metro Girls Wrestling Championships. Cooper Imel and Ava Witzel each took second. Louise Blackley finished fourth and Isabelle Crown took fifth. All counted, the Cowboys took ninth overall.
This Thursday, Jan. 26, will be the final chance to see this season’s varsity squad compete at home. The Cowboys will host North Fork in the GHS competition gym. The JV boys will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the girls follow at 6 p.m. Varsity boys will start immediately after. There is a good chance Harris will break the school record for career takedowns, which was set by Jed Widner during the ‘76-’77 season.
On Saturday, the team will split up. The more experienced boys crew will head to Canon City, while those who’ve seen less mat time will compete in Grand Junction. The girls will take the weekend off
(Jacob Spetzler can be con-
at 970.641.1414
jacob@gunnisontimes.com.)
Keep your gas meter and house vents clear of snow and ice. For your safety, please: • Remove snow and ice from your gas meter carefully. This is helpful in emergencies and ensures that your gas meter works properly.
Keep your appliance vents clear to prevent deadly carbon monoxide build up. • Make sure snow and ice from your roof does not land on or bury your gas meter.
Visit www.atmosenergy.com/wintertips to learn how to properly remove snow and ice from your gas meter and house vents.
fourth quarter beginning with a 3-point basket from Lily Wild, an impressive defensive performance that only allowed 15 points from Meeker in the second half. The Cowboys came from behind to beat Meeker 44-36.
The following evening, the Cowboys traveled to Carbondale to face the Roaring Fork Rams. With three of the team's consistent starters missing, junior varsity players were able to gain varsity minutes and experience.
“There was a different dynamic within the team, though the girls played really hard,” Terry said.
Despite the defensive effort, the Cowboys fell to Roaring Fork 25-46, leaving Gunnison with a 5-5 overall record, and a 2-4 record for the 3A Western Slope League.
The Cowboys will return to action at home on Friday, Jan. 26 to face off against Aspen.
(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414.)
The GHS boys basketball team played three games last week, winning one at home and losing two on the road. The string of competitions kicked off on Tuesday night, Jan. 17, with an intervalley non-conference showdown with Crested Butte. Gunnison emerged triumphant with a 60-45 win. Then, on Friday, Jan. 20, Gunnison fell to Meeker 56-50, and again on Saturday to Roaring Fork, 68-41.
Tuesdays’ game against Crested Butte was rowdy — 20 of the Cowboys total points came from free throws. Of those, Mike Riser scored nine, Wyatt Howery, six and Justus Williams, five. Williams was the top scorer for the Cowboys, putting up 21 total points.
Friday’s game against Meeker
SPORTS BRIEFSThe U19 girls West Elk hockey team has two home games this weekend against Telluride, both scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 28. Games are slated for 11:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. at the Jorgensen Rink in Gunnison.
Colorado Girls Hockey League playoffs for the U15 and U19 girls teams are also in Gunnison this year, set for Feb. 10-12.
The West Elk U19 Wolverines will play at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10 against Durango in the first game of the double elimination playoff weekend.
The Crested Butte Titans hockey team record slid to 8-2-1 over the weekend after a pair of games on the road. On Friday, Jan. 20, the Titans fell to
was close, due in part to Mike Riser who put up 11 points. He was aided by two baskets from Richter, one from Giff ord Jauregui and a three-pointer from Jacob Riser.
Meeker led in points during the other three quarters, keeping the game tight as the clock ran out. A few mistakes and bad bounces from the Cowboys allowed Meeker to scrape the win, 56-50.
“The effort, fight, and no-quit attitude was there,” said Head Coach Cristian Aguilar. “The game was decided in the final three minutes, where we had empty possessions and they were able to capitalize.”
The Roaring Fork Rams put together a brutal first quarter lead of 29-3 the following night. Th e Cowboys regrouped at the break and came out on fire in the second.
Mike Riser and Williams each sank two 3-pointers, while Jauregui put in two from the paint. The Cowboys added 19 points in the quarter, holding the Rams to eight, in the second
the Glenwood Springs Devils, 4-2. Then, on Saturday, the team traveled to the Front Range where it bested the Mullen Mustangs, 4-2.
Friday’s game against Glenwood Springs was marked by the Devils’ aggressive offense, which wore down the Titan’s defensive wall. It stayed tight through the first and second as the teams traded goals.
Sam Dukeman answered an early game point from the Devils with a power play goal. The Devils scored again midway through the second, but the Titans were able to tie it up again before the end of the chapter. The Devils broke free with two more in the third.
The Titans overwhelmed the Mustangs on Saturday with a shots-on-goal differential of 43-17. Crested Butte’s Blue Gardner broke open the scoreboard midway through the first. Duke Sloan strengthened the lead, but the Mustangs slipped one in with one second
half, but Roaring Fork outscored the Cowboys in the second half to take the game, 68-41.
Aguilar said it was a tough game, but still saw a lot to work with. He also highlighted Mike Riser for finding a groove as a senior and captain.
“There’s still plenty of basketball left in the season and we’re learning and getting better every day,” he said. “Michael Riser showed unbelievable gut, poise and leadership this past weekend.”
The three games moved the Cowboys to a 2-7 overall season record, and 1-4 for the league. On Tuesday night, Jan. 24, the Cowboys played Pagosa Springs in an away game, but results were not available by press time.
The team will travel to Cedaredge to face the Bruins on Saturday, Jan. 28.
(Jacob Spetzler can be contacted at 970.641.1414.)
left in the first.
Dukeman scored on a power play during the second, but most of the third period remained scoreless. Trailing by one, the Mustangs pulled their goalie, but the Titans broke out and Gardner scored on the empty net.
Crested Butte will play two home games this weekend. On Saturday, the team will host the Summit tigers at 1 p.m. The Titans will face Durango at 3:15 p.m. on Monday.
Western Colorado University wrestling, ranked No. 23 in a recent NCAA Division II poll, closed out Saturday's University of Nebraska Kearney Midwest Duals with a resounding 33-15 victory over the No. 17 Fort Hays State University Tigers.
The same weekend the Mountaineers also suffered a
35-10 loss to No. 1 University of Central Oklahoma, followed by a 27-16 defeat by University of Nebraska Kearney.
Western will entertain No. 8 ranked Adams State on Friday, Jan. 27 in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference match at 6 p.m. at the Paul Wright Gymnasium.
The Western Colorado University track team had another successful meet at home in the Mountaineer Field House on Sunday, Jan. 22. Eleven athletes and two relay teams won top spots. Seven Mountaineers also earned NCAA provisional qualifying marks and four top-10 all-time performances.
However, none topped Ali Aldrich’s performance in shot put. On her first throw, she broke the university record with
an NCAA provisional qualifying throw of 14.19m (46 feet, sixand-three-quarter-inch), while taking first place in the event. Aldrich also came in first place in weight throw, with a third all-time and NCAA provisional qualifying throw of 17.64m (5710.50).
The Mountaineers will head to Alamosa for their next meet on Friday, Jan. 27 to compete in the Wes Lavong Invitational.
On Jan. 22, the Mountaineers and the Tigers jockeyed for the top spot at the Colorado College Classic, which took place at the Schlessman Natatorium in Colorado Springs. In the end, the hosting Tigers managed to fend off the Mountaineers to earn the Classic title, 1,113 points to 1,070 points.
Co-captain Mike Riser cheers on the team. Jacob Spetzler
• Jan. 25 (12:45 p.m.): Community Education - The 5 Wishes. Led by Dawn Stewart, MSW, LSW, Medical Social Worker & Bereavement Coordinator for GVH. Come learn about this tool for advanced directives and end of life care. Families, friends and caregivers welcome! RSVP requested for planning purposes - light snacks provided.
• Jan. 26 (RSVP Required): Nordic Ski Excursion - Crested Butte Nordic Tracks. Join us for a fun day skiing the beautifully groomed CB Nordic tracks! All levels are welcome - we will provide guides that will determine trails and levels of ability so that everyone has a safe and fun time. For those that have taken our January ski lessons, FREE rental equipment is available to you with advanced registration.
• Jan. 31: Snowshoe Hike - Mill Creek. Rated Intermediate. RSVP Required by Jan. 29th.
• Feb. 1 (1 p.m.): Book Club. February book “A Girl with a Pearl Earring” by Tracy Chevalier. More info, call: 973-584-4987.
• Second Session Nordic Ski Lessons - RSVP Required (Feb. 2, 9, 16). Come refresh your Nordic ski
• Tech Time Individual Appointments: Call to make an appointment for tech questions about your phone, laptop or tablet. 970-641-8272. Times vary.
Sign up at the Rec Center front desk! Ask how to include all Senior & Adult Fitness classes with your membership!
Mondays & Wednesdays in the Gym
Silver Sneakers Boom Muscle @ 9:30 a.m.
Silver Sneakers Classic @ 10:15 a.m.
Tuesdays & Thursdays in the Senior Center
Silver Sneakers Boom Move @ 9 a.m.
• Mon., Jan. 30: Baked Fish, rice, peas, homemade rolls, carrot & raisin salad
• Weds., Feb. 1: Chili, cornbread, salad
• Fri., Feb. 3: Chicken Enchiladas, rice, corn, Jello with fruit
Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays – 11:30 a.m. arrival.
Pick-ups from 11 – 11:15 a.m. $5 per meal.
Advance orders encouraged: 970-641-8272. Homemade desserts with every meal!
AT THE SENIOR CENTER 200 E. SPENCER AVE. ALL SENIOR CENTER PROGRAM INFO & RSVPS: EGILLIS@GUNNISONCO.GOV OR 970-641-8272.
Monday
• Computer Use (9 a.m.)
• Bridge (1 p.m.)
Wednesday
• Book Club (1st Wednesday) Thursday
• Bridge (1 p.m.) Friday
• Art Club (12:30 p.m.)
• Mahjong (1 p.m.)
Dear Savvy Senior, I had dental insurance through my work for many years but lost it when I retired and joined Medicare. Where can retirees find affordable dental care?
Uninsured Al
Dear Al, Unfortunately, about twothirds of U.S. retirees don’t have dental insurance today. Without coverage from traditional Medicare, and with private dental insurance typically costing too much to be feasible, most seniors are stuck paying full outof-pocket prices every time they visit a dentist. While there’s no one simple solution to affordable dental care, there are a variety of options that can help cut your costs. Here’s where to look.
Medicare Advantage. While dental services are mostly excluded under original Medicare, many Medicare Advantage plans do provide coverage for dental care, but it’s usually very limited. Medicare Advantage plans are government approved health plans (usually HMOs and PPOs) sold by private insurance companies that you can choose in place of
original Medicare.
Dental insurance. If you have gum problems and need extensive dental care, a dental insurance plan may be worth the costs versus paying for care yourself. Monthly premiums for individual plans range from about $20 to $80. A typical plan includes two or three cleanings and checkups per year, but these plans will likely have a waiting period — anywhere from a few months to a few years — before coverage for more expensive procedures kicks in.
Dental savings plans. While savings plans aren’t as comprehensive as insurance, they are a good option for those who don’t have dental insurance. How this works is you pay an annual membership fee — around $80 to $200 a year — in exchange for 10 to 60% discounts on service and treatments from participating dentists.
Veterans’ benefits. If you’re a veteran enrolled in the VA health care program or are a beneficiary of the Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMPVA), the VA offers a dental insurance program that gives you the option to buy dental insurance through Delta Dental and MetLife at a reduced cost. The VA also provides free dental care to vets who have
dental problems resulting from service.
Cheaper dental care. Because prices can vary by dentist, one way to ensure you get a good deal on your dental care is to call multiple providers and compare prices. To get an idea of what different dental procedures cost in your area, see FairHealthConsumer.org. If you’re paying cash, it’s also perfectly reasonable to ask your dentist for a discount.
There are also a number health centers and clinics that provide low-cost dental care to those in need. All university dental schools and college dental hygiene programs offer dental care and cleanings for less than half of what you would pay at a dentist’s office. Students who are supervised by their professors provide the care. See TeethWisdom.org to search for a center, clinic or school near you.
For more information about available services for seniors, contact Gunnison County Adult and Senior Services at 970.641.3244.
(Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org.)
Nationwide, more than 850,000 students are members of Future Farmers of America (FFA), which was founded in 1928 in Virginia and grew to be an infl uential educational club in middle and high schools across the country. With 8,995 chapters, FFA has made an impact on not only students. but the country as well. The organization works to set students up for a career in agriculture, but also helps them learn the skills to solve difficult situations that they
may encounter in their life. Thirty-one students currently participate in FFA at Gunnison High School, and teacher Scott Nordberg is the club’s sponsor.
“FFA creates many opportunities for students, like seeing the National Western Stock Show and learning to deal with animals through livestock operations,” said Nella Gardner, a member of the group. “We also learn to deal with kids and how to teach agriculture and livestock to them.”
Last weekend FFA ventured to the National Western Stock Show (NWSS), where students witnessed multiple rodeos and study better ways to show animals. Although GHS students have not historically participated in any events in the NWSS, they do participate in events at Cattlemen's Days
Rodeo, held every July in Gunnison. Some, like Gardner, even serve on the Cattlemen’s Days Committee. GHS FFA also hosts an annual food drive for the Gunnison Country Food Pantry later in the school year.
FFA also visits the Gunnison Elementary School to host Ag-Adventure Day for younger students every year in April. The club gets in touch with local ranches which provide animals for groups of FFA members, who then teach the elementary students about them.
“It’s like a petting zoo for them except they get to learn,” Gardener said. “I had alpacas last year.”
After high school, many FFA members plan to go to trade school, but participating in the club also helps them set up for opportunities like going
to vet school or into ranching. GHS carries on the ideals and traditions of this 95-yearold club, and students say
Not many high school students have the chance to take one day a week to ski at a world- class ski resort like Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR), and earn credit for it. But students at Gunnison High School can do just that.
Participation in the GHS Ski Program hit an alltime high this year, with a total of 18 students skiing or
snowboarding. The program is steadily growing back to its regular size, after the pandemic reduced the number of participants.
Austin Gibney, counselor at the Pathways program, took over the ski and snowboard program three years ago and has seen participation grow every year. Based on the growth of the ski program, he plans on expanding the outdoor program to what it was before the pandemic. Gibney would like to add climbing, ice climbing, hiking and many more outdoor activities, in addition to the current skiing and mountain biking programs.
Th e ski program takes place
every Tuesday for six weeks in the middle of winter, and students earn 0.25 credits for their participation. It's a good way for students to take advantage of the opportunities and resources that surround them, Gibney said.
Participation in the program does not require students to already know how to ski or snowboard, and quite a few are just learning how to ski and snowboard, Gibney said. After taking school vehicles to CBMR, students are grouped by ability and placed with an instructor for the morning. After lunch they are free to ski or ride with other students. Some students take the school
transportation back to school while others stay late and utilize the RTA.
This season, students have already been to CBMR twice and have been fortunate to enjoy massive powder days.
“It is fun to ski in powder and to skip school while having fun and earning a credit,” said program participant Burk O’Rourke.
This program is a good way for Gibney, as a counselor, to connect with students outside the classroom.
