Gunnison Country Times, September 7, 2023

Sawtooth opening delayed

New move-in date set for October

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

The opening of Gunnison County’s newest affordable housing development, Sawtooth, has been postponed by at least a month, after a number of construction delays. County officials now expect residents to move in by the end of October.

Sawtooth will be completed in two phases and will ultimately include 48 new prefabSawtooth A7

NEWS: I Bar owner arrested on drug charges, A2

COMMUNITY: ‘Inherent’ opens at CB Center for the Arts, B1

County sheriff’s office struggles with staffing

SPORTS: GHS golf team places second, B10

OBITUARIES A3

OPINION A4,5

CLASSIFIEDS A18-A21

SPORTS B9

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

It’s been a year of high turnover at the Gunnison County Sheriff's Office. In the last eight months, six deputies have left the office, stretching resources thin and putting the sheriff’s administration in high gear to get fully staffed.

The sheriff’s office has been trying to make ends meet by sponsoring cadets at police

Juvenile Services and Housing Authority swap offices

academy and assigning patrol officers extra duties, including covering a recently-vacated court officer position. The office is currently waiting on three incoming deputies from the police academy, but despite the new additions, will still have four vacancies, two in patrol and two in the Gunnison County Detention Center.

The reasons for so many departures from the Gunnison office are varied. Some left for more affordable housing opportunities or better starting salaries elsewhere, and others departed after internal disagreements, said Gunnison County Sheriff Adam Murdie. All but one of the patrol depu-

Sheriff A6

Move creates more comfortable space for families and youth

Bella Biondini Times Editor

At the end of August, Gunnison County Juvenile Services and the Gunnison Valley Regional Housing

Authority traded offices — a move local leaders believe will benefit each organization as it grows to meet the community’s needs.

Juvenile Services, previously housed in the Gunnison County Courthouse on East Virginia Avenue, relocated down the street to the Housing Authority’s “Blue House” at 202 East Georgia Avenue. The intent is to create a safer, more comfortable place to work with the families and children it serves within the Gunnison Valley.

Juvenile Services fills numerous roles in the community from family advocacy to substance Swap A6

BREAKING ANKLES: Mountaineer senior running back Braeden Hogan carries the football during Western Colorado University’s victory over West Texas on Saturday, Sept 2. This season, the Mountaineers are playing home games at the Katy O. Rady Field while the new Mountaineer Bowl is completed. See more on B12. (Photo by Jacob Spetzler)

Six deputies have departed since the start of the year

QUOTE of the week

“I

so much

but also solace, from nature, where I am able to go out there and see and feel like I’m not alone.”

— Emily Palmquist, Western Slope artist

I Bar Ranch owner and employee arrested on drug charges

Wickenhauser, Danni accused of selling cocaine

Times Staff Report

See

BRIEFS

Property values exceed $1 billion

Property values in Gunnison County have exceeded $1 billion. On Sept. 5, Gunnison County Assessor Kristy McFarland gave County Commissioners the final 2023 property valuation report. By the end of the appeals period, nearly 1,800 appeals were submitted — 566 of which were adjusted.

The county has refined its appraisal process over the years and made it more precise, so the office fared better than other counties, which were unprepared for inflated property values and the sheer number of appeals, McFarland said.

Hwy. 50 passing lane project on schedule

The U.S. Hwy 50 Gunnison County passing lane project is on track to be completed by the end of next month.

The project is approximately 25 miles west of Gunnison near Blue Mesa. Improvements include a passing lane along with the removal and replacement of 39 guardrail end anchors. The resurfacing and widening will create smoother pavement, while adding chain-up areas will significantly increase safety for travelers when weather conditions change suddenly.

Drivers should still expect east and westbound intermittent single-lane, alternating traffic on Hwy. 50.

Corrections

The story titled “Natural Grocers opening delayed” in the Aug. 31 edition of the Times incorrectly stated that Natural Grocers was recruiting from Gunnison High School, but the company is recruiting from Western Colorado University. The story titled “Lowline Fire well contained” incorrectly stated that the coal tailing fire had been burning since the beginning of the fire, but had really only burned for a few days when officials visited on Aug. 4.

Last week, on Sept. 1, Gunnison locals Bryan Wickenhauser, 50, and Dominic Danni, 46, were arrested on felony drug warrants.

The arrest was conducted by the Gunnison Police Department and members of the 7th Judicial District Task Force, which includes agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Danni and Wickenhauser were both charged with Illegal Distribution of Schedule II Narcotics, a class 3 drug felony, and Conspiracy to Distribute Illegal Narcotics, a class 1 drug felony.

According to an arrest affidavit obtained by the Times, in early 2021 the police department started receiving anonymous reports that an individual in the valley, somehow associated with the I Bar Ranch and going by the name of “Nick,” was selling cocaine. Over a year later, in late summer of 2022, another individual was arrested on an outstanding felony warrant, and via information this person gave the police, officers were able to verify that “Nick” was an alias for Danni.

Police were told that Danni was a serious dealer who had been selling in the Gunnison Valley for a decade, possibly using the I Bar Ranch as a platform to sell drugs at concerts and other events. In October of 2022, a confidential source started informing police about

drug-related crimes in the city and provided information that further suggested Danni was dealing cocaine. Danni was arrested in November of 2022 for domestic violence-related charges and was found to be carrying what was later con

firmed to be cocaine.

In July of this year, another anonymous source told police that Danni was dealing cocaine. Later that month, Danni was arrested during a traffic stop for possession of two plastic packages of cocaine, totaling a little over 5 grams. At the time, Danni told officers he was preparing for a big music event at I Bar Ranch. In the middle of July, Judge Steven Patrick signed a sealed warrant authorizing police to collect geographical and phone use data from Danni’s phone, allowing them to see who he was calling and where he was.

On Aug. 6, members of the police department and the 7th Judicial District Task Force, which includes agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, set up a surveillance operation involving undercover officers at the I Bar during a live music performance. During that event, officers witnessed at least one known I Bar employee participate in a drug deal, and Wickenhauser sold two undercover agents almost 5 grams of what was later confirmed to be cocaine, according to the affidavit.

Later in August, the undercover officers returned for a two-day surveillance operation. At that time, Wickenhauser is alleged to have again sold undercovers about 3.5 grams of cocaine. Another undercov-

er officer bought cocaine from Danni. During that interaction, Danni “bragged to the [undercover] that he had moved large volumes of cocaine.” That interaction was video recorded.

Danni is currently being held in the Gunnison County Detention center on a $60,000 bond. Wickenhauser was also being held on a $60,000 bond but posted bail on Sept. 1. The investigation is ongoing, and several search warrants were executed within the City of Gunnison related to the case. A district attorney has not yet been assigned to the case and formal charges in the court case are not due for another 10 days. Wickenhauser will appear for arraignment on Sept. 26 at 2:30 p.m. Danni will appear on Sept. 19 at 10 a.m. for a plea hearing and appearance on bond.

located near the schools & RTA bus stop. 817 W. Denver Ave.; $297,000.

CAMPING SITE 38 acre parcel with 360 degree views of Colorado’s beauty across from the Dillon Pinnacles at Blue Mesa Reservoir. Bordered by thousands of acres of public lands for exploring, mountain biking, horseback riding, UTVing, boating and fishing. 12503 County Road 26; $55,000.

NEW LISTING 4 bdrm/3 bath house on a corner lot in-town that features 2 living rooms, granite counters, ample storage, finished basement and a 2 car detached garage. 704 N. Boulevard St.; $749,000.

MAKE AN OFFER 3 bdrm/2 bath, ranch level home with a walkout basement. Open kitchen & dining area with a pellet stove. Property has an attached oversized 3 car garage. Over 1,800sf with great southern views of Sawtooth Mountain & W Mountain. No HOA or covenants. 851 County Road 18; $399,000.

IN-TOWN HOME on 5 City lots is 2 bdrm/2 bath with large windows for passive solar, two inviting patios, metal roof, sprinkler

The I Bar Ranch is a popular music and events venue east of Gunnison on Hwy. 50. (Photo by Abby Harrison)

and his brother, John David Hinman.

Mike was a truly loving and gentle person who loved to tease. He loved animals, the outdoors, skiing, hiking, painting, reading, music and loved to play “Amazing Grace” on his violin.

After completing his higher education at San Diego State with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry, Mike served in the United States Navy for three years. Following his military service, Mike pursued a career as an X-Ray technician. His dedication and expertise in the field made a positive impact on the lives of many.

Mike cherished his personal and family relationships. He

BIRTHS

is survived by his sister Becky Heryford (Jim) and brother R.C. Hinman, nieces Staci and Allison, nephews Scott (Ruthie) and Cameron (Jenni), greatnieces Alexa, Ellie, Hannah and Simone, great-nephews Emory (Brittany), Benjamin and Jacob and his great-great-nephew, Jaxon James.

Mike Hinman will be remembered for his loving heart, gentle nature and the joy he found in the simple pleasures of life. He will be deeply, deeply missed by all. Donations can be made in honor of Mike to the Gunnison Valley Animal Welfare League.

Caelum Walter Koeman

Caelum Walter Koeman was born on Aug. 16, 2023 at 7:19 a.m. to Caroline Dartnell and Wade Koeman of Crested Butte. He weighed 9 lbs., 2 oz. and was 21.5 inches long at birth. He is welcomed by grandparents Rob and Kathleen Dartnell of Erie, Pennsylvania and Mary Major Koeman of Montrose, Colorado.

Marvin Otis Hahn was born on Aug. 29, 2023 at 11:37 a.m. to Emily Deemer and Brad Hahn of Crested Butte. He weighed 8 lbs., 1 oz. and was 20 inches long at birth. He is welcomed by grandparents Jan and Julie Deemer of Carmel, Indiana and Doug and Jan Hahn of Peoria, Arizona.

Peyton Jean Duft was born to Bobbie and Jesse Duft of Gunnison on Aug. 18, 2023 at 12:10 p.m. She weighed 5 lbs., 7 oz. and was 18 inches long at birth. She is welcomed by grandparents Bob and Bren Corn and Tom and Michelle Duft, all of Gunnison.

Afternoon monsoon

Dark rain clouds gathered over the mountains surrounding Crested Butte on Sunday, Sept. 3.

Mike Hinman

Mike Hinman, 86, of Gunnison passed away on Aug. 27, 2023. He was born on Apr. 4, 1937 in Hutchinson, Kansas to Lew Max Hinman and Hazel Gibb Hinman. Mike was preceded in death by his parents

Marvin Otis Hahn

Peyton Jean Duft

(Photo by Jacob Spetzler)

970.641.1414

© 2023 Gunnison Country Times

Publisher/Owner Alan Wartes publisher@gunnisontimes.com

Office Manager Bonnie Gollhofer bonnie@gunnisontimes.com

Editor Bella Biondini bella@gunnisontimes.com

Staff Writer Abby Harrison abby@gunnisontimes.com

Photo Editor Jacob Spetzler jacob@gunnisontimes.com

Sports Editor Alex McCrindle alex@gunnisontimes.com

Advertising Manager Steve Nunn steve@gunnisontimes.com

Production Hailey Bryant production@gunnisontimes.com

Issa Forrest issa@gunnisontimes.com

THE GUNNISON COUNTRY TIMES (ISSN 0892-1113)

OPINION

GUEST COMMENTARY

Can our housing problems be solved for $300 a month? No, but …

Gunnison Valley. Period.” Brian may well be right. But when I read that our future rests uneasily in the hands of an outfit that is basically bankrupt, already a year or two back there in the dust, the subject of a growing number of lawsuits? I don’t need shades to bear witness to a sad future like that.

2023

Member

LETTERS POLICY

Letters to the editor must be 500 words or less. We favor local topics and discourage argumentative letters addressed to particular people. If you reference data, please include sources for fact-checking.

We will not print letters from candidates for public office.

Email letters to editor@gunnisontimes.com or send to 218 N. Wisconsin St., Gunnison, CO 81230. Include your full name, address and a phone number — for our internal use only.

The deadline is Tuesday at 12 p.m. Letters may be edited for grammar, clarity or length.

Mike Ritchey Special to the Times

I don’t know if I’m inspired to write about housing problems because I’m really interested or (more likely) just tired of reading about them. Whatever. Here’s the thing: the school, the hospital, town and county governments, the ski company, Western Colorado University and other employers up and down Main Street are, or soon will be, in the housing business. They have to be. How do I know? Because I can read:

“Price Improvement!” Real estate ads touting a reduction in asking price for a $1.5 million house. The “improvement”?

“New price! $1.3 million!”

If middle- and working-class people can no longer afford to live here, if our young people can never even hope of buying a house, taking their part in the American Dream, how can we expect our bell-weather industries to keep pace, without broad backs and bright minds joining us?

I suppose we can continue waiting for “fixes” like Gunnison Rising, said by its designated Realtor, Brian Cooper, to be “the future of development in the

LETTERS

Besides, when and if Gunnison Rising does finally come to market, developers and builders will likely buy most of the lots and house prices will not just stay high but climb on up. Two local builder-types told me recently that costs to build in Gunnison now approach $600/sq. ft. and $1,000 in the valley’s north end. If that is even close to an accurate number, just think how quickly building costs have risen — too fast and too much to enable “affordable” housing to be built.

Hmm? Should we explore uncharted territory? Last week, camping in a U.S. Forest Service campground, we met the campground host, a young woman who lives in a “skoolie,” a tricked-out school bus — three solar panels on the roof, insulated, wood stove and so on. This was her second or third year to host (I’m old, so trust me: it was one or the other); it’s a gig worth not much cash, but comes with free and beautiful living space. And check this out:

The camp host lives in her bus year-round, including winters in Telluride Town Park, where she and other hardy hard-workers will be living again this winter, hooked up to town electricity, allowed to shower, etc., in the park’s facil-

ity and with dish- and clotheswashing capability to boot, ie: everything she needs, including heat. The only requirements are the basics — rent history, social security number, etc. — along with proof of employment. If she — if everyone who lives in the RV — has a job, she’s got a place to live for $300 deposit and $300 a month.

India Hilburn, Telluride’s Rental Administrative Manager, told me that Telluride has four or five housing facilities, all built by the Telluride Housing Authority, and 190 never-saydie types are on the waiting list. India said T’ride has only nine spaces for skoolies and other RVs “and all of them are taken, rented to the same people who’ve rented them every year.”

The first year was, it turns out, three years ago. Like Arnold, all nine will be back. I don’t know how many hopefuls are on waiting lists in Gunnison or Crested Butte, but I do know a lot of people without housing would love housing, and a lot of businesses without employees would love for them to find housing, and find it pretty doggone quick.

I am not suggesting that skoolies will save the day. Of course not. But they surely would help. Perhaps Gunnison Rising will finally be the solution. In the meantime, though, what if we installed powered-up spaces for, say, 50 skoolie-types? A few here, a couple there, up north and down south — nowhere, though, would we allow a sprawling RV ranch.

“Vanlife” is a new way of liv-

ing. An awful lot of quality people are trying it out, and they are not your bad-luck brother-in-law, living in his broken-down Buick behind a bar on East Colfax. Many of their “homes on wheels” run from $150,000 on up. Many don’t. But don’t forget: a local job would be required for everyone who lives in each space.

Also, another thought: a few years ago, the city ran the idea of “infill” by us — allowing ADUs (additional dwelling units) in the last R1 zone in town (on the south side). After quite a lot of debate — neighbors passing petitions for and against, flashes of bickering — the city suddenly discovered its sewer capability in that area could not accommodate substantial growth. But other cities are accommodating infill, and in this high-priced and crowded day and age why not?

Doing so would, I think, mean that we — as the growing number of towns and cities facing just this problem are doing — must strictly curtail Airbnb’s and VRBO’s, two systems that rob the market of rentals for locals. I know it’s a free country, but one reason we enjoy that great luxury is that we’ve followed basic rules that favor the many over the few — zoning regulations, for instance.

It is not, nor will it ever be, easy. But we already know that. What we don’t know is something else.

(Mike Ritchey is a former publisher of the Gunnison Country Times.)

Times

editorial

the truth and nothing but the truth

Editor: Alan Wartes's fine and muchappreciated and needed editorial in last week's paper should not go unread, nor should it disappear unheeded.

Schools are for the children and young people of our community, rather than another opportunity to square off with one another, looking for a fight. This upcoming school board election — the first in 30 someodd years — has all the earmarks of a humdinger: at last count, at least six candidates for three seats (as we put, uh, pen to paper, two more citizens were said to be rushing about in an effort to find enough signatures to make their petitions acceptable); plenty of all kinds of hills to climb to both continue the quality education available and reach even higher; more awful behavior nationally than we can

shake a stick at; and, well, then some.

But as Alan writes, let's not forget what/who this whole thing is about: our young people.

Thank you, Alan, and we look forward to your ongoing efforts designed to help us walk the line.

Mike and Susan Ritchey Gunnison

I offer gratitude to you

Editor:

So many, many people were at the Community Foundation’s wonderful “celebration of community” last Friday. To everyone able to come I offer gratitude to you, and for the good that you do in this special place. Thank you.

Maryo Ewell Gunnison

Thompson withdraws from school board running

Editor:

I am sorry to announce that I am officially ending my campaign for the school board. Thank you to all who supported me. I will be leaving my Facebook campaign page up (Bonnie Thompson for the Kids of Gunnison) in the event that I decide to run in the next school board election.

The reason I am withdrawing as a candidate is not for reasons such as the extreme hatred and public verbal attacks that I faced while I was running. I just could not seem to juggle having a healthy family life with the campaign, and I feel that I did not consider the cost, stress and time well from the beginning, so my relationship with them did suffer as a result. I feel as if I was trying to help someone else at the expense of my own family in the end, so I believe it was the

right decision for my family. There is a new school board candidate. His name is Greg Kruthaupt. Do your research and go vote for the candidates who hold your values on Nov. 7. The kids of Gunnison deserve a board that will fight for their best interests.

Cori Dobson and Lisa Henry have my vote and will for sure bring positive lasting changes to the Gunnison Watershed School District in my opinion. They need our support in more ways than one.

Bonnie Thompson Gunnison

Tending to our mental health

Editor:

Summer does get away from us. I just now got to read the July 6 issue of the Gunnison Country Times . And I wanted to thank Bella Biondini for her excellent

opinion piece on mountains and mental health.

As a person who’s profited from seeing a mental health professional several times in my life, it was refreshing to see Ms. Biondini sharing her personal issues, and relating how mountain climbing had been so useful to her. Besides being well written, the piece helps us all understand the importance of tending to our mental health in whatever ways that serve us.

Art Goodtimes Norwood

We get the government we deserve

Editor:

In recent weeks and months, and even over the last year or so, I have read the writings of Stuart Asay and Neil Watko, the leadership of the local Republican Party.

I find their writings to be generally snide and mean spirited, but that isn’t what I want to talk about. I want to talk mainly about the local school board election: the candidates, the support — or nonsupport — of them, and the happenings around their candidacies.

Most of us know that the school board election is supposed to be nonpartisan, that there are currently (as far as I know) six candidates and that the top three vote-getters will be elected.

I recently attended a forum at the W Cafe where three candidates were interviewed by a KEJJ radio station moderator. The event was directed by a woman I didn’t know but the event, in my view, was clearly facilitated by Asay, the chair of the Gunnison County Republican Party. During the forum, it was he who moved around the room, spoke off-mic with the candidates, the moderator, the director, some of the roughly 18-member audience and the KEJJ technician.

During the forum and after, I came to believe that these three candidates wanted the same thing most of us want: our children to be safe and well-educated in a friendly, open learning environment, free of worries and dangers, where young people can “learn who they are in their early years,” as said by one of the candidates.

I’ve attended two events where the other three candidates were present and spoke. They want the same things: safety, learning, openness and freedom of expression. The difference among the candidates to me is that the first group states only generally what they see as school board duties and responsibilities while the second group is more specific.

Another big difference is how the two groups see the board’s responsibilities regarding curriculum. The first group believes the board should be directly involved in curriculum development, while the second group believes school system professionals should formulate curriculum — with the board’s role being more one of “advice and consent.” For me, the second approach seems better.

All this puts me in mind of recent writings by the aforementioned Republican leadership. When terms like, “ignorant” and “lemmings” are used, and it’s suggested that newspapers save others’ writings for future “humiliation,” I find that mildly threatening, intimidatory and inflammatory.

So here’s my thought. Look at the tenor of recent Republican writings. Do you deem it positive? Constructive? Or something different? Think about the candidates they support and their relationship with the local Republican Party. Do you believe those candidates will reflect your views if elected?

Here’s my recommendation: When you are privately voting your ballot, think about voting for the person who is most like you, or perhaps just as important, the person you would like to be. Remember, whether we vote or not, we get the government we deserve.

Joe Dix Gunnison

More dialogue and less divisiveness

Editor:

The Chair of the Gunnison County Republican Party recently wrote a letter to this paper that ended with the claim that “liberal ignorance is on parade.” It was a divisive letter, inaccurate and frankly saddening.

It referred to liberals as “liberal lemmings” and an “ignorant group of people” and accused the Democratic Party leadership of not reaching out to Republicans to participate in their gatherings.

The local Dems invited all six of the school board candidates to our recent annual Unity Dinner. Only the slate of Anne Brookhart, Jody Coleman and Mark Vanderveer responded, explaining that they would not be joining us because of their strong desire to remain nonpartisan in their election.

The slate of school board candidates who will be attending the local Republican fundraiser where a rifle is being auctioned did not respond to our invitation or attend our fundraiser.

The letter also accused the existing school board of “social engineering.” Not only is this claim patently false, but the characterization echoes recent attempts to ban books from our county library.

Our school district is very highly rated among its Colorado peers and many of our newer neighbors moved here because of the quality of our public schools. The Gunnison County Democratic Party is an inclusive party and believes that most of our fellow citizens want more dialogue and less divisiveness, and equal rights for all of us.

Jim Starr Gunnison County Democratic Party

I believe suicide is preventable

Editor:

It had been the end of a normal day when I went to bed but I was suddenly woken up by the doorbell ringing and the police banging on my door. It was 12:45am.

They told me they had bad news. It was then that I learned that my son, Kyle, had died by taking his own life in Crested Butte. I was numb. The world stopped and everything went silent, seconds felt like hours.

You're never prepared for news like that. The shock and pain is indescribable, and almost 5 years later I still have a difficult time. If you've ever lost someone close to you suddenly and unexpectedly you know the pain.

Everyone deals with trauma in different ways, and for me Kyle's death took me on a journey of needing to understand why. What I've learned is that suicide is a very complex issue with many different risk factors — a stew of sorts. Some common factors are family/social issues, economic, substance abuse, isolation, a traumatic event, a lack of value or purpose and technology.

But the real surprise was how much our environment impacts us. I learned about the “suicide belt” and how suicide is three to four times greater than the national average for those living in communities above 8-9,000 feet in elevation like Crested Butte.

While I'm not aware of any definitive research, some researchers suspect that our bodies don't produce as much serotonin at high altitude compared to at sea level. Also low levels of oxygen (hypoxia) in our body tissues can cause confusion, bluish skin and changes in breathing and increased heart rate. Other symptoms include depression, headaches, insomnia, lethargy and loss of appetite. Some compensate by being more active, then the highs become higher and lows, lower mimicking bipolar symptoms.

I began Trek for Life 5 years ago because, unlike an incurable disease, suicide is a choice and I believe very preventable. While Trek for Life can't address all the risk factors we focus on removing barriers to services and hold events designed to build awareness, that educate, and address the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health issues.

Nobody can bring Kyle back. I wish I knew more at the time and that I was able to help him overcome his internal struggles. What I can do is honor Kyle's life by sharing my story so that others will be more aware and help to prevent someone else from taking their life.

Paul Uhl Crested Butte

ties who left Gunnison stayed in law enforcement. The Times reached out to some of the former deputies, but all of those declined to comment.

“Ultimately, there’s new expectations and everybody isn't on the same bus moving forward,” said Undersheriff Josh Ashe at a county commissioners meeting last month. “So far, the ones that have stuck it out are working well, they do a good job.”

Of all the vacancies the sheriff’s office has to fill, detention can be the most difficult because of the emotional demands of the job, Murdie said. Detention officers, despite the luxury of working in a climate-controlled office during the harshest of Gunnison’s seasons, deal with people on their toughest days.

“That work down in the jail is much different than being out on the road,” he said. “[All] of their work is surrounded by people that are having their worst time, and a lot of them are not fans of law enforcement. They’re getting belittled and berated.”

The county has hired three full-time deputies about to leave the Western Colorado Law Enforcement Academy (at Colorado Mesa University) in mid-September. All three of the incoming recruits received some form of sponsorship from the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s

office is now gearing up to send another potential recruit to the Academy.

One of the new recruits is looking to buy a house in Paonia, a move that could alleviate the office’s long-standing challenge of providing coverage for the north end of the county near Marble and Somerset. Deputies are still making two to three trips to the area a week. Despite the long drives, deputies mostly issue traffic tickets as cars roar around the curve on Hwy. 133 into town.

A vacancy in the courthouse

A notable vacancy in the sheriff’s roster is at the Gunnison County Courthouse, located on the corner of Virginia and North Iowa Street. Usually, a sheriff’s deputy is stationed at the entrance near the metal detection machine when court is in session. This person keeps the courtroom safe by inspecting the area, escorting jurists and those in custody and intervening if violence erupts in court. But for the last couple months, the post has been mostly vacant.

County governments are responsible for staffing state court facilities. The state offers the Court Security Cash Fund Commission grant as a way to help fill the gap and keep courthouses staffed with trained deputies. Despite previous years of support, the state did not award Gunnison County those funds in 2023

Each year, Gunnison County Court Judge Ashley

Burgemeister has requested roughly $80,000. In the past, that grant supported the full salary of the court officer, but last year was cut in half to just over $40,000 and required additional kick-in from the county to make ends meet. This year, the request was denied. Thirty other counties around the state receive grant funding, some as much as $150,000.

Deputy Amy Isham, who had the job when grant funds ran

out, left the sheriff’s office after the position was removed. In the interim, the sheriff’s office is piecing together coverage with patrol deputies, but a permanent solution has yet to materialize.

Even if money were flush, the issue of staffing remains, Murdie said. Despite factors out of their control like housing and competitive salaries, Murdie and Ashe have been working on solutions to what seems like it

could be a long-term problem.

“[The goal is] concentrating on local folks that are looking for jobs that we can employ and keep employed … we're talking to a lot of people out in the community,” Murdie said.

(Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@ gunnisontimes.com.)

abuse prevention and recovery. The Blue House is a countyowned building.

The exchange began during the middle of August, and both organizations are getting settled into their new spaces. The Housing Authority’s offices are now located on the first floor of the courthouse. The move is only temporary, and it plans to announce a permanent office change in the spring of 2024.

In just four years, the number of employees working for Juvenile Services nearly doubled, growing from seven to 13 (although not all are full-time). As the department grew, the Juvenile Services started to have conversations with county officials about the need for more space. At the same time, the team wanted to begin practicing “trauma-informed care,” which is understanding that it may be triggering for families who are involved in the justice system or in recovery to enter the courthouse.

“With youth, it’s usually their first interaction with law enforcement if they’re coming into diversion, so they don’t have any other experience with that,” said Juvenile Services Director Kari Commerford. “But sometimes parents do … Asking people in recovery to come into the courthouse wasn’t as welcoming and inviting as it will be here.”

The department has continued to expand the number of services available to young people in the valley. Last year, the department served approximately 50 youth between its Family Advocacy and Support Team or “FAST” and diversion programs alone.

Juvenile Services recently added a newer staff member who will serve kids whose parents are on probation or experiencing divorce and expanded the role of its interpreter and linguistic lead. Through a new partnership with the school district the department also supports children who are chronically absent from the classroom or at risk for suspension or expulsion.

Although it offers a large number of resources to the Gunnison Valley’s youth, Commerford emphasized that partnerships with other organizations, from Western Colorado University to Gunnison Valley Health, make their work possible. She said she hopes the new space will help Juvenile Services make more connections.

“We have a lot of the services that the community needs now, and hopefully it'll help with awareness,” she said. “Gunnison has a lot of services and resources, but the tricky part is knowing what they are and knowing how to access them.”

A new home for the Housing Authority

Over the next six months, the Housing Authority will search

for a new home. One of the spaces under consideration is the former Ann Zugelder Library on Wisconsin Street, said Housing Authority Director Andy Kadlec. This property is owned by Gunnison County, and has been vacant since the library moved to Quartz Street in 2022.

According to John Cattles, assistant county manager for

operations and sustainability, the county is planning to complete minor renovations to the old library over the winter to provide space for the Housing Authority and other county services.

The Housing Authority, currently a team of five, also hopes to expand its own team in the coming years and plans to grow its presence in Crested Butte as

new affordable developments such as Mineral Point are constructed.

(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)

Participants in a 2023 youth law enforcement camp practice with pool noodles in Gunnison. The camp was hosted by Western Colorado University and caters to young people interested in law enforcement leadership and technical skills. (Photo by Jacob Spetzler)

Juvenile Services, previously housed in the Gunnison County Courthouse on East Virginia Avenue, relocated down the street to the Housing Authority’s “Blue House” at 202 East Georgia Ave. (Photo by Bella Biondini)

Swap from A1

ricated units for the affordable housing-strained Gunnison Valley. Units from phase 1 hit the ground in Gunnison this year, and are currently sitting at their final sites on countyowned land just west of the Gunnison County Fairgrounds. These were offered to the community at around 80% area median income (AMI).

Locals made it clear that Sawtooth is a viable option for affordable housing simply through the number that applied. In the course of just two weeks, the Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority, the organization managing the leases, received 60 applications for the 18 available units in phase 1. The lottery for the units will happen in late September.

“I'm sure it would have kept going up and up if we kept the application period open,” said Housing Authority Executive Director Andy Kadlec. “We were really surprised. It was great to see that there's a lot of good outreach to the Spanishspeaking population as well.”

The Housing Authority worked with the Hispanic Affairs Project and city staff to loop in Spanish-speaking residents. Kadlec estimates that of the applications the Housing Authority received for units offered to the general public, at least half are from Spanishspeaking couples or families.

Applications from county employees were given priority, said Assistant County Manager for Operations and Sustainability John Cattles, as a part of the county’s ongoing effort to bolster workforce housing for its own staff. In the end, just under 50% of the units in phase 1 were earmarked for county employees, and the rest will go to other community members.

The county chose to rent the units rather than offer them for sale as formal deed-restricted homes, and will control rents through a tiered county policy. Those who make more than 80% AMI will have rents adjusted accordingly. However, most of the units have been offered to residents earning on the lower end of the scale, Cattles said.

Managing rents through policy instead of a formal deed restriction — often used as a control on a runaway private market — allows the county to be more flexible to meet the need, Kadlec said. At 80% AMI, three bedroom units were offered for $1,400 a month and one bedrooms are going to be around $1,000, both under the maximum that could be charged with a formal deed restriction.

“The county is definitely going further than they would have to, based on the AMI, to increase affordability as much as possible,” he said. “It's clear that they're going to provide that public benefit and want to do so at a lower level. It’s just

cutting some of that red tape.”

The final 30 units expected in phase 2 are in the design phase. County planners are working with the builders, Fading West Construction in Buena Vista, to iron out final details before construction can begin.

“We’re trying to solve some of the problems that come up with a project like this,” Cattles said. “You have to deal with stormwater, snow storage and fire access for fire trucks, all those things have to be laid out in a way that works.”

That portion of the project is yet to be fully funded, and county officials believe it will cost upward of $11 million. The county set aside nearly $3 million leftover from the phase 1 budget, and commissioners agreed to commit $1 million from the 2024 Local Marketing District (LMD) funds. The nearly $9 million gap will be filled with tax-exempt bonds. Fading West should be able to start building on phase 2 this winter, with delivery of those units slated for next spring.

(Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@ gunnisontimes.com.)

GHA SEEKING GRANT APPLICANTS

During 2023, The Gunnison Home Association has contributed over $51,000 in grant money to the Gunnison Senior Meals, GVH Hospice, Arts Center, American Legion, Food Pantry, Gunnison Valley Animal Welfare League, Willows Assisted Living Facility, Six Points and Mountain Roots. The Board of Directors of the Gunnison Home Association hopes these grants will help the Gunnison Valley and help organizations that have given to the Community this year in helping Seniors.

The Gunnison Home Association (GHA) is a group of volunteer Board members with a heart for Seniors in the Gunnison Valley. The GHA was established in 1973, and accepted 17.3 acres of land in West Gunnison donated by Ben Jorgensen to be reserved for Seniors. The GHA, with the help of hundred of citizens, contractors and banks, built the Senior Health Care Center in 1975, the Willows Assisted Living facility in 2000 and the Palisades Senior RV Park in 2007. Current Board Directors of the GHA are: Don Crosby, Bill Knowles, Linda Rees, Rogene McKiernan, Polly Oberosler, Sharon Mills and Debbie McVey.

The mission of the GHA is to provide living units for Seniors in the Gunnison Valley and to provide funding for ancillary activities that positively impact the lives of Seniors in the community. Each year, the GHA accepts grant requests for funding from primarily non-profit organizations that contribute to the lives of Seniors in the Gunnison community.

Grant applications and guidelines are available by contacting Debbie McVey at gha4seniors@yahoo.com or calling 970-641-8912.

Grant applications are due Sept. 30, 2023.

Toward prevention and recovery

GRASP held an event for Overdose Awareness Day at IOOF Park on Sept. 1. GRASP is a local coalition dedicated to the prevention, treatment and recovery from substance use disorder. The event was put on in conjunction with the Gunnison Arts Center’s First Friday ArtWalk, and made possible by a grant from the state’s Behavioral Health Administration. The evening featured music from Fuerza Cora Brasil Musical, mocktail drinks designed and served by The Dive and a piece of collaborative artwork that represented the journey of recovery. GRASP co-coordinator Cole Cooper handed out Narcan, a life-saving drug that reduces or reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, and pamphlets with instructions on how to access housing and job resources. “Prevention [and recovery support] looks like a lot of different things for different people,” Cooper said. “This event was not only about remembering the people that we've lost to overdoses, but also supporting people who are in recovery.” GRASP is working with other local partners to open a sober living home and create more recovery-friendly workplaces. Both projects will require broad community involvement and Friday’s event is evidence of what that might look like, Cooper said.

(Photos by Jacob Spetzler)

Mitchell shares priorities in ongoing Colorado River negotiations

State water commissioner meets with local leaders

Bella Biondini Times Editor

Becky Mitchell, Colorado’s representative on the Upper Colorado River Commission, has devised a set of “irrefutable truths” for the state as the rules for managing the water of the Colorado River are rewritten.

On Monday, Aug. 28, Mitchell visited the Gunnison Valley in hope of collecting stories about how the community uses and values its water. Although she works closely with the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District general counsel John McClow, this was her first in-person visit to a board meeting.

“My thought process as we're sitting down with these other states is saying, ‘What is Colorado willing to tolerate? What are we willing to do and what are some of our boundaries?’” Mitchell said.

The seven Colorado River Basin states are working to temporarily revise the operating guidelines of Lake Powell and Lake Mead, two of the largest reservoirs in the United States. Mitchell said she has stayed focused on the “long game,”

finding solutions that will save the overused river system and the communities that depend on it before it's too late.

This June, Mitchell became Colorado’s first full-time Upper Colorado River commissioner, a role designed to strengthen the state’s position in interstate negotiations. These conversations are focused downstream, but the Upper Basin states have also been under pressure to contribute to a solution as the impacts of drought linger in the West.

(Editor’s note: Below is an excerpt from her presentation. It has been edited for length and clarity.)

The first thing is, climate change is real. The reason I say that is. it's not whether we believe in climate change or not, we don't have to have that discussion. We're going to have a more variable future, and it could be hotter and drier. Or we may have hydrology at times that we don't expect. What I want to focus on communicating is that we need flexibility and the ability to adapt to changing conditions, and not just us in the Upper Basin. When there's no water in the system, we're not putting water on the ground or on the crops. The cattle are not able to eat the crops because of the lack of water. We are living on the frontlines of climate change, when it is drier, we respond

immediately. That is not necessarily the case across the basin. Yes, reservoirs are there to kind of equalize the flow. But when we've seen crisis to crisis in the media, it's because there's crisis to crisis on the ground. And that's not responsible management.

The second irrefutable truth is that water users in the Lower Basin are not more important than users in the Upper Basin. We absolutely have to stand together. Nobody is more important than anyone else. What I’ve seen is a real push to continue on the way we have been — using over 9 million acre-feet a year in the Lower Basin, while we're using somewhere between 3.5 to 4.5 million acre-feet in the entire Upper Basin. And [they’re] saying, ‘Well, what else can you give?’

I am sitting in the area right next to Blue Mesa. You all are very aware of the emergency release that occurred. That took us all by surprise. There was no more than a little over a week's notice, eight days to be exact. And what that said to me was they viewed our uses as ‘less than.’ They viewed our recreational income in this community as less than. Those releases were made at a time when we couldn't be sure how far that water went. Those releases were also made at a time that we were sure it would decimate the recreational economy in this

area. And it did. Right before Labor Day weekend. I took great offense to that.

That being said, we know these reservoirs are here for a reason. But that was not the way that they should have been operated at that moment. It was not the way they should have been operated to sustain continued overuse. That was the issue for me. We are all about being a part of a solution. We're not about being part of continuing the problem.

My next irrefutable truth is defending against curtailment. The intention of a demand management pool was to defend against a curtailment. It is not for continued Lower Basin overuse. And so we are in full compliance of the Colorado River Compact, and I want to make sure that we all know we always have been.

Part of what we're trying to do is tell the story. When we talk about the sheer amount of money that's going into this, and the impacts of that, this is not just money for the Lower Basin, or for the Upper Basin. This is the American people's money because they want to stop the fear. If there are not permanent reductions that we see because of that money, we have failed. One of our responsibilities is to hold people accountable. If the money runs out, and we have not solved the problem, the money runs dry and so will the river.

The next point is trying to protect the system and the critical infrastructure at Lake Powell and Lake Mead and prevent attempts to look upstream. If you look at the start of the NEPA process for the post 2026 [guidelines], the feds put out the notice of intent. Lots of interested parties responded, and I happened to get a hold of some of them. There was a lot that said ‘Let's look at these upstream reservoirs as part of the entire system.’ That's bull honkey, as far as I'm concerned. We know what they're there for, but it's not to be a part of propping up the continued sustained use. That creep up into the Upper Basin to continue to solve problems is not a solution. It just continues the problem.

We're trying to figure out how to get the message out. One thing that we've said is, ‘They've expended their checking account in Mead and expended their savings account in Powell. Now they want to max out their credit cards and keep looking upstream at our other Upper Basin reservoirs. It just doesn't make sense. It seems fairly simplistic to me that the answer is less use in the Lower Basin that's responsive to hydrology.

(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)

A view of the northern tip of Lake Powell near the Hite Bridge, right outside Blanding, Utah. (Photo by Abby Harrison)

Construction on historic Alpine Tunnel begins

The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests’ Gunnison Ranger District announced the start of reconstruction work on the Historic Alpine Tunnel road and Palisade Wall.

Construction began Aug. 21 and will continue through the fall season as weather allows. National Forest System Road #539, Alpine Tunnel road from Sherrod Loop to the west portal, and National Forest System Trail #298, Williams Pass Jeep trail, will be closed during construction for public safety.

Rock masonry crews will reconstruct the approximate 100-foot section of the Palisade Wall and Alpine Tunnel road that received extensive damage from an avalanche in 2016. This project is made possible by funding prioritized for deferred maintenance projects through the Great American Outdoors Act. The project is happening in partnership with the National Forest Foundation.

The Alpine Tunnel Historic District earned its place on the

National Register of Historic Places in 1996 due to its significance as North America's highest and longest narrow gauge railroad tunnel. The Alpine Tunnel road has gained popularity with Off-Highway Vehicle enthusiasts. The tunnel, which is located just east of Gunnison, opened in the early 1880s. At the time, it was the highest railroad tunnel in the world, sitting at approximately 11,500 feet in elevation.

“The Alpine Tunnel Historic District is a substantial piece of Colorado history,” said Dayle Funka, Gunnison District Ranger. “It’s important that we recognize its significance and preserve it for future generations. We are grateful for the Great American Outdoors Act funding that provides an amazing opportunity to help address these critical restoration needs.”

For questions or additional information, contact the Gunnison Ranger District at 970.641.0471.

(Source: U.S. Forest Service.)

(Photos from Times Archives)

End of summer artwork

September’s First Friday Art Walk looked a little different as the Gunnison Arts Center prepares to undergo its last round of major renovations. Following delayed asbestos abatement, the Arts Center put together a last minute show in its Cafe Gallery. Alina Luna’s photography was on display over at the Gunnison Gallery.

(Photos by Jacob Spetzler)

1203 Van Tuyl Circle, MLS #805249, $784,000, 4-Bedroom 3.25 Bathrooms 1766 sqft built in 2017. This quaint contemporary single family home is surrounded by magnificent views of the Palisades in the quiet neighborhood of Van Tuyl Village. This 4-bedroom 3.25-bathroom property, a primary bedroom with full bathroom on the ground floor and half bedroom by the utility room that is easily accessible by guests and friends when entertaining. The living room is equipped with a pellet stove, moving into an open kitchen area with granite countertops, a deep sink and dining area nearby. The upstairs consists of a second primary bedroom with 3/4 bathroom and two large bedrooms with a full bathroom in the hallway. The natural sunlight from the expansive windows throughout the property provides views and sun exposure. The huge fenced in front yard will enable you to garden and play with your pet(s) and/or entertain your family and friends during the beautiful sunny summers in Gunnison. The irrigation ditch is available during spring/summer/fall months to water the yard and provide you with ambient noise to enjoy during the pleasant Gunnison evenings. Call the listing agent for further questions and to schedule a showing.

613 W New York, MLS #804709, $857,000, 4 houses located on W. New York Ave. in a growing area of town. The 4 houses contain 5 units that have been rented for many years. Theproperties have excellent rental history and good cash flow. New water lines installed last year and sewer lines in 2 small houses on 12th have been replaced in the last 5 years along with new roofs for these 2 houses in the last 4 years. The small house at 613 W New York had a new heater and refrigerator installed this past winter. All units currently have leases in place so an investor can start cash flowing the property immediately. Property is older and in need of some deferred maintenance but is being sold “as is” at this price. This property includes the addresses: 202 S. 12th, 206 S 12th, 613 W New York and 615 W New York.

216 Lochleven Lane, MLS #804508, $$990,000, 3-Bedroom 2-Bathroom 1,988 sqft, built in 1985, and with1.056 acres with attached car garage. Well built home situated in the beautiful little Homestead Subdivision in Almont. Sit on your large front deck and revel in the views up the East River Valley. Located just 10 min from Gunnison and 20 min from CB, you are centrally located to enjoy the activities the area has to offer from world class fishing, rafting and hiking to snowmobiling and skiing. This 2 story home has its main living area on the top floor with a large open kitchen/ dining living room area with a wood stove that keeps the top floor nice and warm. This area is a great space to gather and entertain as you take in the views surrounding the property. The property also has a sunroom that can be accessed from the second level or has 2 separate entrances from the exterior. There is a 1 car oversized attached garage and located next to the garage is a very large storage room/closet for all of your storage needs. The home has a lot of deck area on the outside for outdoor entertaining or to casually relax and take in the many different views. Almont is a quaint small town with 2 restaurants/bars located within minutes from the property. There is a free bus that runs up and down the valley from Gunnison to CB with a stop located in Almont.

459 Fairway Lane MLS #806172 $850,00 4-bedroom 3-bathroom 2291sqft. built in 1979

This contemporary quaint rustic house is within a profoundly well known subdivision, Dos Rios III. Close vicinity to the back 9 of the Dos Rios Golf Course. On a .46 of an acre, has 4-bedrooms and 3-bathrooms, the house features hardwood/tile floors, kitchen fully equipped with stainless appliances, kitchen cabinets and an open concept living room with a wood burning stove and second living room or/an office has a pellet stove. On the first floor you have a half bathroom that is easily accessible. On the second floor the master suite has an oversized bedroom with a full bathroom and a walk-in closet with a sliding barn door. The other full bathroom is down the hallway between the other two oversized bedrooms. The enormous backyard has a shed and plenty of sun exposure to plant/seed flowers, play with your pets and have get-togethers with friends. The two car garage is attached to the house and is very spacious and heated by a wood burning stove. There is sufficient amount of parking in the driveway and along the east side of the house. This home is magnificent so don’t miss out and schedule a showing by contacting the agent.

413 W New York MLS #805945 2125 sqft 1 bathroom Commercial Retail $525,000

Perfect Opportunity to Move a Business and/or a Start a New Business with great past history of tenants using the retail storefront i.e for nail/salon, daycare, mechanical auto body, pet/animal feed and accessories-retail and granite-retail/distribution to name a few. The property consists of about 1500 sqft of retail space with storefront access to New York and a half bathroom that is easily accessible for staff and customers to use. An added bonus is having an attached garage with about 625 sqft with an overhead garage bay. The garage could be a storage facility or part of business operations. The property has 5 parking spaces and close to Safeway and the new location of 5 Bs. A growing and upcoming neighborhood. Don’t miss this opportunity contact the listing agent to schedule a showing.

‘Half Moon Rising’

Yonder Mountain String Band filled two nights with the sweet sound of bluegrass at the I Bar Ranch over the weekend. The performances marked the end of the venue’s summer concert season.

(Courtesy Mackenzie Bode/I Bar Ranch)

Universal Pre-K starts in Gunnison, not without issue

County fares well amidst rocky rollout around the state

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

Kids of all ages flooded into local schools last week during the annual back-to-school pilgrimage. For some 3- and 4-year-olds, it was their first time ever in a classroom, thanks to a new state program (known as UPK) that is providing free preschool to qualified families.

UPK offers 15 to 30 hours of free preschool for all Colorado 4-year-olds and a limited number of 3-year-olds with certain risk factors, like being homeless or in foster care. Through payments directly to local child care providers, nearly $800,000 will flow into Gunnison Valley over the next nine months, helping the local families seeking to enroll at preschool. Despite a bumpy road with rollout, including lawsuits against state education officials for fumbling enrollment, Gunnison Valley preschools are faring better than their Front Range counterparts.

“Our team has been amazing at focusing on individual families and making sure that they are getting connected to services,” said Gunnison-Hinsdale Early Childhood Council Program (ECC) Director Margaret Wacker at a regular county commissioners meeting on Aug. 15. “It’s really through that team's attention to detail and families that people don't fall through the cracks.”

In Gunnison County, 120 students are enrolled in UPK, and 14 of those students are receiving the extra benefit of fulltime care, or 30 hours a week.

Lana Athey, ECC coordinator, expects to see the number of full-time students increase in the coming months, as the state recently allowed families to go back into their applications and select more eligibility factors, all which increase the chance of receiving 30 hours.

UPK is essentially a tuition credit for qualified families. The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), which manages the program, gives money directly to participating child care providers. Gunnison County providers are receiving just over $10,500 per student for full-time care and just over $6,000 per student for part-time care. The county helps local preschools and families figure out the new system and iron out issues.

Even with high interest in the program, several child care providers around the county still have open slots. Wonderland

Nature School and Tenderfoot Child and Family Development Center in Gunnison and Stepping Stones Children’s Center and Paradise Place Preschool in Crested Butte all still have slots for UPK students.

Tenderfoot opened a new 4-year-old classroom this year and hired another teacher, partly in anticipation of the program. Currently, the preschool has 22 UPK kids of the nearly 80 total students.

“Any new initiative has its challenges, but we really are serving children and families,” said Tenderfoot’s Administrative Director Lynna Frymoyer “We have some children who have never been in preschool and are now able to attend with the financial assistance.”

Wonderland Executive Director Gina Loftus said it took a slew of personal emails and outreach to help parents along. Wonderland has nine UPK kids, of the total 50 enrolled. Both payments from the state, for August and September, have come through with no issue.

“It's made child care more obtainable in the sense that there's opportunity and flexibility,” she said. “But you know, I only have one child on an individualized education program (IEP). The rest of my kiddos don't have any risk factors.”

Children left behind

In the eight months before kids started school, CDEC administrators struggled to meet the needs of teachers, families and school districts.

The number of hours offered to each child changed, as did the timeline — the portal closed and reopened a number of times. Although local providers grappled with unclear expectations and confused parents, Front Range districts were hit hardest.

“Overall, UPK is a really good thing, way more kids are getting funded than ever before,” said Lake Preschool and Kindergarten Director Jennifer Kennedy. “That being said, the

Richardson Square Condos are offered for those 55 and over with easy walking distance to downtown. Unit 228 is a nicely appointed 725 square foot end unit that features 2 bedrooms and a full bath, stackable washer and dryer, carport and individual storage cabinet. One level condo in an 8 unit complex where each unit has their own individual outdoor patio. There are two entrances, one from the patio and one from the common hallway on the interior. Great opportunity in a convenient location!

rollout was extremely messy, time consuming and hard to understand, because they were kind of building that plane in the air.”

Three lawsuits have already been filed against state education leaders for the tumultuous rollout of UPK. Weeks ago, two education organizations and six school districts filed a lawsuit against Gov. Jared Polis alleging that the rollout of UPK was disastrous for some families. The lawsuit claims that the state education leaders even broke state and federal law by failing to effectively care for students with special needs and follow through on financial promises.

Kennedy said in the future, she’d like to see more local control and focus on the select 3-year-olds who qualify for UPK. The state pushed all 3-year-old applications and funding through the Gunnison Watershed School District, so child care providers now have to contract separately with the District instead of receiving payments directly from the state.

That diversion consolidated financial resources for those students, and some with special needs even received less funding this year. Kennedy said she still had some 3-year-olds in the portal, waiting to be matched. In the interim, teachers’ ability to best serve families and students, especially those with risk factors and IEPs, was lost, she said.

“We felt it harder here, because we are such a tight knit community. All of the preschools are used to working together, and we've always worked together to make sure all our kids are in the right spot and in the right school that fits for their family,” Kennedy said. “It took some of that autonomy away from us.”

(Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@ gunnisontimes.com.)

c 970.209.7880

maggie@bbre1.com CrestedButteNow.com

Top Producing Bluebird Broker in 2021 & 2022

Young students line up outside the Lake Preschool and Kindergarten on the first day of school, Aug 30. (Photo by Alex McCrindle)

Bluebird Real Estate welcomes Holly Zahand to our team!

2019, Holly embarked on a new chapter in the breathtaking Gunnison County, drawn by the warm embrace of her son, who is a Western Colorado University graduate. After 25 wonderful years in the bustling Northern Virginia and DC area, it was the perfect move. With over two decades of real estate experience, she helps her clients navigate the ever-evolving realm of property. She has always found immense joy in building relationships because, to her, real estate is about more than transactions; it’s about weaving connections that last a lifetime. Whether selling your home, finding your haven, or simply seeking guidance, she is here to be your advocate and confidante.

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SCOTUS cuts protection for some Colorado wetlands

State building new permit system to address ‘gap waters’

Bella Biondini Times Editor

A major ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court this year has put Colorado’s wetlands and streams at risk by removing some of the protections historically in place under the Clean Water Act.

The Sackett vs. EPA decision, settled in late May, narrowed down which wetlands and streams fall under the jurisdiction of “waters of the United States” or WOTUS — a federal rule that defines what bodies of water are protected from pollutants under the Clean Water Act. This created “gap waters” that are no longer protected. Since the settlement, Colorado water quality officials have rushed to find a temporary solution for these wetlands while a more permanent program is created.

The Sackett decision ruled that a continuous surface water connection must exist between a wetland and permanent body of water for it to be eligible for protection. But many wet meadows in high mountain communities like the Gunnison Valley are fed by groundwater, a water source that is invisible to the naked eye. Countless ephemeral streams in the basin only flow early in the year when the snow melts and dry out later in the summer.

The ruling is troubling for water managers in the West, where wetlands act as a buffer against drought and wildfire. The Gunnison Basin alone has already lost a significant amount of its wet meadows, a central focus of many ongoing restoration projects throughout the valley.

In the face of prolonged drought and aridification, wetlands offer numerous unspoken benefits to the landscapes they are found in, said Cheryl Cwelich, water resource specialist at the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District.

Increasing development pressure is a common threat to wetlands. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the EPA issue permits for dredge and fill operations that accompany construction and road projects that may impact any wetlands present on a property.

The plaintiffs in the case, Michael and Chantell Sackett, bought property near Priest Lake, Idaho to build a home. They began backfilling the lot with dirt, but the EPA told the Sacketts the land contained wetlands and the backfill violated the Clean Water Act, which prohibits discharging pollutants into WOTUS.

The EPA classified the wetlands on the lot as WOTUS because they were near a ditch that eventually ran into a creek that fed Priest Lake. The agency ordered the Sacketts to restore the site and threatened fines of more than $40,000 per day. The Sacketts sued.

In the past, Colorado has relied on the Army Corps and the EPA to make wetland determinations, which indicate whether an area is eligible for protection, using a “significant nexus test.” This determines if a natural hydrologic connection exists between a wetland and a nearby stream or lake. But the Supreme Court determined this to be too broad, and decided only wetlands with a direct surface connection to a stream or permanent body of water should be protected.

Because Colorado law requires the protection of both surface and groundwater under the Water Quality Control Act, the state is working on a new permitting system during this interim period — a process it started in 2022 in anticipation of the Sackett ruling. The Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment released a draft dredge and fill program earlier this summer and plans to continue public outreach. The goal is to have a new policy in place by 2024.

As long as the gap exists, the Sackett decision will remain a major blow to wetland health, said Julie Nania, water program director at Crested Butte’s High Country Conservation Advocates.

| bbre1.com

“The land is getting drier and drier,” Cwelich said. “As we lose these wetlands we’re losing the ability for our landscape to be resilient to climate change and drought. Those wetlands help provide water to animals, livestock to even our community.”

“We're a headwaters state, and we care a lot about water quality,” she said. “Our rule makers and legislators recognize that this is not a great opinion based on science if you really care about wetland health and protecting our drinking water sources. I'm cautiously optimistic that Colorado would like to see a higher level of care

given for these waterways.”

Sept. 10-12, the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission is holding its planning retreat in Gunnison. This will give elected officials and municipal water providers and other community members a chance to speak with the Commission, which plans to discuss WOTUS and the Sackett decision.

Yard of Week

The Top of the World Garden Club awarded Denise Mayfield and Al Caniff of 515 North Iowa Street with Yard of the Week. The historical Gothic Revival house built in the late 1882 is embellished by vintage flora in the early spring with lilacs on its borders, lupin and ground elder goutweed, which locals know as ‘snow in the mountain.’ Also seen in the spring are Johnny jumpups jumping up around the landscaped rocks. Throughout the summer a cast of peonies, delphiniums and bluebells expressed the front floral gardens. It is now the fall with most flowers preparing to hibernate, but the Virginia creeper, honeysuckle, yarrow, cutleaf coneflower and bouncing-bets are still trying to get the last warmth of the sun. What also needs to be recognized is the luscious lawn which is probably the most cared for crop of flora over the growing seasons on this Victorian site. The caregivers of this property would like to give a special shout out to the “Alley Floral Group” recognizing the redwhisker clammyweed, which locals know as the bumblebee plant. These flowering plants present beauty to the alley, but most important, nourishment to pollinating bees and hummingbird moths.

GUNNISON VALLEY HEALTH WOMEN’S HEALTH CLINIC

COMPREHENSIVE GYNECOLOGICAL CARE TO SUPPORT THE HEALTH OF WOMEN OF ALL AGES.

Services Include:

• Hormone replacement therapy

• Menopause care

• Infertility evaluation

• Evaluation and Treatment of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding & Irregular Menstruation

• Endometriosis Evaluation & Treatment

• Ovarian Cyst Evaluation & Treatment

• Hysterectomy

Dr. Deborah Tozer, MD Joy McElyea, WHNP

(Courtesy Top O’ the the World Garden Club)

(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@gunnisontimes.com.)

Restoration specialist Shawn Conner of BIO-Logic assesses past restoration work at South Cottonwood. These rock structures restore the hydrologic function of wet meadows, which also supports forage for livestock and wildlife. (Courtesy Cheryl Cwelich)

Firebird Theatre Company’s production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night opened last weekend and is set to run for two more nights on Sept. 9 and 10 at The Depot in Crested Butte. The show takes place outdoors and is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Entry is free. The cast includes Annie Flora, Genevieve Bachman, Tricia Seeberg, Jimmy Utley, William Spicer, Patrick Force, Tristan Buss, Bruce Eckel, Graeme Duke, Addie Pond, Jack Gibbons and Julia Wilson. David Flora directs this production, while Emily Sharan is stage manager. Dough Pizza Co. will be present on Saturday, Sept. 9, and Burnell’s Food Truck will serve up nachos and dessert bites on Sunday.

A Big Mine makeover

The melody of polyurethane skateboard wheels and rubber bike tires replaced the harsh sounds of construction at the Crested Butte Big Mine Skatepark last week as the major summertime renovations drew to a close. Skaters of all ages enjoyed the fresh concrete as the sun set on Monday, Sept. 5.

(Courtesy Robby Lloyd)

(Photos by Jacob Spetzler)

Concerning trends on local trails

CBMBA continues trails and clean up work

Dave Ochs Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association

Never saw that coming. The Fourth of July weekend was as civil as could have been expected — in the backyard that is. The roads weren’t that dusty, the camping wasn’t “full.” It was dreamy out there. The next week(end), oh my, did things change. What started out so lovely, so manageable, so seemingly in line with the previous two years, turned into a quagmire not unlike that of the COVID summer in 2020.

The 2021 and 2022 seasons were a breath of fresh air, with designated camping in place and a collective desire throughout the community to incorporate messaging around having a ‘B’ plan. A ‘B’ plan, as in: If you were coming here on a Friday night looking for a sweet camp spot, you should have a backup plan when you find them all full. This year, there were no ‘B’

Bethany Church

909 N Wisconsin St.

plans. It was more an “entitlement plan.”

What happened this year — who knows? But that weekend after the Fourth turned into a free-for-all with nowhere near enough enforcement to manage the multitudes of madness. They came in numbers, and they all wanted camp spots. When they didn’t find one, they made their own.

The upward (positive) trend of 2021-22 was out the door, as campers and users made new roads, camp spots and fire rings, with a larger than normal number of “unattended” fires. What the … !?

For some users, the feng shui of the designated site wasn’t cutting it. So, they ripped out the fire rings and relocated them to their desired site placement. These moved rings are not getting re-installed, as you can imagine. Some went further and took the fire rings home with them. Some pulled site posts, burned the barrier “worm fencing” for firewood, and left the perimeter of their site filled with toilet paper and worse.

The Crested Butte Conservation Corps installed 208 fire rings between 2020 and 2021 with an auger and loads of muscle power. We continue to install fire rings, move boulders, install worm fencing, “designate” the campsites and parking

(behind Powerstop) • 970-641-2144

Two services at 9am and 10:30am!

FREE lunch for college students following the 10:30am service gunnisonbethany.com

9 am: Family Service with nursery & children’s church

Check out our website for updates!

Or download our app on the App Store by searching, Gunnison Bethany.

B'nai Butte Congregation

PO Box 2537 Crested, Butte CO 81224

305-803-3648

Jewish communities of Crested Butte, Gunnison and the East River Valley in Colorado bnaibutte@gmail.com

Spiritual Leader: Rabbi Mark Kula; available for you at: RabbiMarkKula@gmail.com www.bnaibutte.

Church of Christ

600 E. Virginia • 970-641-1588

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.

and fix and replace signs. Along with our partners, the Gunnison Ranger District, we’ll continue to monitor, manage and keep up the designated camping. It works when it’s not abused and overrun.

The last two years (202122) saw a decline in the negative data we collect. This was a good trend. Things seemed to be working, and the messaging seemed to be getting through. This year, the numbers and data around the stuff we don’t want to see go back up.

Human waste, toilet paper, trash, unattended fires, illegal fire rings, illegal camp sites — all up. In 2022, we saw the lowest amount of human poop ever removed in our seven seasons of collecting data – 37 piles. So far, we’re at 50 this year, with an equal number of dog waste bags.

That’s a disturbing comparison. We decommissioned 52 illegal fire rings in 2022. So far in 2023, we’re at 80. The ugly number — a toss-up with the disgust of foul human waste finds — is the trash.

Our average number each season is 1,138 pounds. In 2021 it was 913 pounds, and in 2022, 1,264 pounds. This year we’re at 1,516.2 pounds. But hey, we’ve only pulled one backcountry toilet this year; no boats, no recliners and no backcountry

hot tubs!

At the same time, while the negative indicators are up, so are the positive indicators. While navigating the resource impacts and helping the Forest Service and other partners better manage the backyard, CBCC crews have been doing yeoman’s work on the trails and on the ground.

Just over 580 designated campsites and 39.6 miles of trail have been maintained. We’ve completed 62 “armoring” projects for a total of 1,212 feet of hardened trail surface. Crews have removed 215 trees from trails and access, and 625 feet of non-system or braided trails have been decommissioned. Workers have connected with 561 people and have seen or been seen by thousands of users.

In between the “stewardship” days on the forest and open spaces, our benevolent trail care crews have been ever so busy making for sustainable trails and delightful recreation experiences. Amongst other trails that require regular attention, CBCC crews have done major work on 403, 401, Death Pass, Teo Ridge, Middle Cement/ Fenceline, 405/D-Top, Crystal Peak and the good Doctor.

Thanks to all who came out on Aug. 19 to celebrate CBMBA’s 40th birthday with the

Faith Directory

Community Church of Gunnison

107 N. Iowa • 970-641- 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

120 N. Pine St. • 970-641-2240

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

307 W. Virginia Ave. • 970-641-0429

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, 403 Maroon Ave., Crested Butte.

Gunnison

Congregational Church

United Church of Christ

317 N. Main St. • 970-641-3203

Open and Affirming

Whole Earth · Just Peace

Sunday, 10:00 a.m.

Casual, Relaxed, “Come As You Are” Worship www.gunnisonucc.org

Grace Covenant Church Gunnison

101 N. 8th St. Gunnison

Meeting at the Historic 8th St School House

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 • 970-641-1860

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

New Song

Christian Fellowship

77 Ute Lane • 970-641-5034

A Christ Centered Gospel Sharing Community where we want to be part of a community who encourage and support one another in our spiritual journey.

Sunday 10am / Wednesday 7pm www.newsonggunnison.net

Wailers. What a special evening. Forty years! The oldest mountain bike club in the world, created on a deck on Teocalli Avenue in 1983 to advocate for legitimate use and to build and maintain trails for the nascent sport in the Gunnison Valley. Some of those characters were there to celebrate with us, and we can’t ever thank the good volunteers, board members, and hard-core community members enough who have truly created this trail network on their very backs.

This community comes together like no other when it comes to trails, and we’re grateful to grow alongside this community, this mountain bike mecca, as an organization whose mission is to build, maintain and advocate for sustainable trails and to steward the landscape of Crested Butte and beyond. That includes our beloved CBCC, now in our seventh season and the partnerships and collaborations we cherish with so many partners — locally, regionally and internationally.

(Dave Ochs is executive director of the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association.)

The Rising Church

92 C.R. 17 • 970-444-1545

Service times:

Sundays @ 9:30 a.m., Men’s and Women’s group, Tuesday @ 6:30 p.m.

Rising Gen (youth ministry) Thursdays @ 6 p.m. Gunnisonrising.church for more details!

Rocky Mountain Christian Ministries

1040 Highway 135 (1/4 mile N. of Spencer Ave.) • 970-641-0158

Sunday Morning Worship 9:30am

Nursery and Children’s ministry through Middle School

“Remedy” Worship Nights

Small Group Ministries www.rmcmchurch.org

St. Peter’s Catholic Church

300 N. Wisconsin • 970-641-0808

Fr. Andres Ayala-Santiago

www.gunnisoncatholic.org

www.crestedbuttecatholic.org or call the Parish Office.

St. Peter's - Gunnison Sat 8:30 am, 6:30 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 Mass Service, Sat 4:00pm

Trinity Baptist Church

523 N. Pine St. • 970-641-1813

Senior Pastor - Joe Ricks

Sunday Service 9:30 a.m.

Adult Bible Study 8:00 AM

www.trinitybaptistsgunnison.com

LISTINGS TODAY

Classifieds

BUSINESS SERVICES

FALL IS IN THE AIR and it’s time to think about winterizing your irrigation system. Toad Properties would love to blow out and winterize your irrigation system this fall. Please call 970-349-2773 or email rob@ toadpropertymanagement.com to set up a date and time that works for you.

CARS & TRUCKS

GUNNISON COUNTY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

*Housing is held for Gunnison County employees and may be available to rent*

Family Services Supervisor

WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY

HHS: 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $6,238-$7,584, plus full benefits.

Senior Administrative Assistant

Community Development: 40 hours/ week, monthly salary range from $3,990-$4,850, plus full benefits.

Stop by: Gunnison Country Times 218 North Wisconsin Gunnison, CO 81230

Email: classifieds@ gunnisontimes.com

641.1414 gunnisontimes.com

SCAN TO PLACE AN AD

THE CITY OF GUNNISON is selling a 2004 custom hazmat apparatus, built on a Ford F 650 Chassis, which was used by the Gunnison Fire Department. Seeking best silent offer with a minimum bid of $40,000. Item is being sold as is, no warranties express or implied. Bidding closes Sept. 17 at 4 p.m. MST/MDT. Please reference Unit 150 when placing a bid. Contact Tyler Brown, Gunnison Fire Department emergency vehicle technician, at 970-641-8183 or tbrown@gunnisonco.gov for questions or to place a bid.

EMPLOYMENT

EC ELECTRIC IS SEEKING

Journeyman & Residential Wireman for projects in the Gunnison and Crested Butte areas. Must have a valid Colorado driver’s license and pass a pre-employment drug screen. Top pay & Benefits.

Send resumes to info@ec-electric.com or call 970-641-0195 www.ec-electric.com/careers

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE

TECHNICIANS WANTED TO JOIN THE SEALCO TEAM: $33+ hourly - $1,800+ weekly potential with performance and safety bonuses. Seeking motivated, hardworking and dependable individuals. No experience necessary. On the job training working outdoors. Paid weekly. Must be capable of lifting 60 pounds. Email resumes to Aaron@sealcoincorporated.com or call 970-641-4260.

JOIN BRIGHT FUTURES EARLY CHILDHOOD AMERICORPS PROGRAM and serve in an early childcare center in Gunnison. Housing and stipend available, education award and professional development to gain. ECE certification is provided. Contact Kaity at AmeriCorps@ brightfuturesforchildren.org or 970-7285613.

4 DAY WORK WEEK M-TH (4x10)

AUTOMOTIVE MASTER TECHNICIAN. If you are curious about how your current job compares to Precision Automotive? EMAIL your resume to precisionauto4040@hotmail.com, call or text Steve at 970-596-9999

ALL INQUIRIES ARE STRICKLY CONFIDENTIAL! Benefits include: PAID VACATION, PAID HOLIDAYS, MEDICAL, DENTAL, MATCHING IRA.

AUTOMOTIVE APPRENTICE Do you love cars? Get your start in the well paid and exciting world of Automotive Repair that could turn into your life passion. Work along side your mentor a Master Certified Technician while completing online modules such as: Electrical, Engine mechanical, Transmission, Drive train, Suspension & Steering, Heating & A/C, Engine Performance and Brakes.

CAR WASH/DETAILER/SHOP

Senior Operations Accountant

Finance: 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $5,885-$7,924, plus full benefits.

Airport Operations Manager

Airport: 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $6,238-$8,194, plus full benefits.

Summer Seasonal

Public Works: Guaranteed 40 hours/ week, hourly rate range from $15.75$22.28 depending on experience, plus partial benefits. Outdoor work that includes traffic control, fencing, tree and brush removal, trail work, recycling, equipment training and much more, all in a 4-day work week.

Patrol Deputy Sheriff: Full-time, 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $5,552$7,853 plus full benefits.

Detention Deputy Sheriff: Full-time, 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $4,989$7,057 plus full benefits. Only work 14 days a month.

For more information, including complete job descriptions, required qualifications and application instructions, please visit GunnisonCounty.org/ jobs.

RANCHING, THE GOOD LIFE: Do you enjoy seeing well-run ranches? Do you like to work? Are you physically fit? Are you motivated to get things done? Do you like to look back upon your accomplishments?

Would you be interested in having the satisfaction of being a ranch caretaker? The job would include irrigation, haying, ranch maintenance, a few cattle drives if interested and learning all sorts of new things. Housing would be furnished. Families are welcome. Salary and benefits depend on experience and willingness to work. If these fit, call me at 303-808-5688.

MARKETING CONTENT MANAGER position open with Mountain Roots. Adobe Suite experience required. Starting salary $45,000 DOE. Contact rachel@ mountainrootsfoodproject.org.

DO YOU HAVE MAINTENANCE SKILLS?

Are you looking for a full-time, year-round position in the valley with great pay, health insurance, on-call pay, company vehicle, company phone, paid vacation, ski or health and wellness pass, 5 day work week and more? Iron Horse Property Management is adding another position to our maintenance team and we are looking for the right individual to help maintain our luxury homes. We are looking for someone who has a great work ethic, maintenance skills, is punctual and wants to quit having multiple jobs to make it in the valley. If this sounds like you, and you have a clean driving record, then please send your resume to steve@ ironhorsecb.com. Qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview. No phone calls please. Pay DOE.

HEARTH DESIGN BUILD: Small, local, dynamic firm dedicated to community housing. Seeking passionate and driven individuals. Experience appreciated, not necessary. 802-595-9576, hearthdesignbuild.org, hearthdesignbuild@ gmail.com.

seeks applicants for the Accounts Payable Analyst position. Responsibilities include providing professional accounting services in AP and other accounting areas, reviewing invoices and reimbursements for compliance with policy, answering campus questions about travel policies and AP procedures, and reviewing/ interpreting/applying university fiscal rules and relevant IRS rules.

Western’s benefit package includes a retirement plan, generous employer contributions to medical/dental/vision insurance, employee and dependent tuition benefits, paid vacation, paid sick leave and paid holidays. Employees receive basic life insurance and disability insurance at no cost. Employee wellness programs are available for FREE.

To view the full job announcement(s) and apply, visit western.edu/jobs and click on “View Careers” (AA/ EOE).

THE TOWN OF MT. CRESTED BUTTE has 3 full-time, year-round positions available.

Parks Supervisor: Responsible for managing a parks crew of 2 full-time and 1 seasonal position. In addition to overseeing a crew, the parks supervisor works closely with his/ her crew to maintain the parks, recreation path, campground and special projects. This is an exempt position. Starting salary is $68,372-$82,046 depending on experience.

Parks Worker: This position has a wide range of duties from landscaping, maintaining playgrounds, cleaning up after events, installing and repairing sprinkler systems, operating chain saws, vehicles, power and hand tools, light equipment such as skid steer and lawn mowers, snow removal in the winter with hand shoveling, ice picking and using a bob cat. Starting pay is $44,000$61,000 depending on experience.

Maintenance Worker: Maintenance duties vary from season to season and will include but are not limited to snow shoveling, plowing of the Mt. Crested Butte roads and various parking lots, maintaining town equipment and vehicles, emptying trash cans, repairing fence lines, building maintenance, road maintenance including sweeping, flagging, filling potholes and maintaining the town’s ditches and culverts. Class B commercial driver’s license or the ability to obtain one is required for this position. This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing as per federal law regarding the Class B commercial driver’s license. Starting pay range is $48,590-$56,436 depending on experience.

The town offers an amazing benefits package: full health, vision and dental insurance premiums paid for you and your immediately family, paid life insurance, retirement plan through PERA, 12 paid holidays, generous vacation time, wellness program, Aflac and more. All positions require a clean, seven-year driving record. For the full job description and more information please visit mtcb.colorado. gov/employment. To apply for a position please email your resume, cover letter and three references to Tiffany O’Connell at toconnell@mtcb.colorado.gov.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHOCOLATE

FACTORY in Crested Butte is now hiring an assistant manager, previous management experienced preferred, and counter help to provide excellent customer service, scoop ice cream, stock cases and other duties. Fun job, great tips. Flexible hours. Apply in person at 314 Elk Ave., Crested Butte or send resume to ashlee.rmcf@hotmail.com.

MICHAEL WEIL CUSTOM HOMES is looking for highly-experienced trim carpenters. Work for one of the premiere builders in Crested Butte. Exceptional pay and work environment. Contact info@ mweilcustomhomes.com.

JOHN ROBERTS MOTOR WORKS SEEKS COLLISON CENTER TECHNICIANS AND AUTOMOTIVE CENTER TECHNICIANS.

Competitive pay, 401K, insurance, paid vacations. 40 hour work week.

GUNNISON WATERSHED SCHOOL DISTRICT

Apply at John Roberts Motor Works. See GWSD website for details gunnisonschools.net

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. 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!”

HOURLY OPPORTUNITIES

Bus Drivers Food Service-CBCS and GCS

Special Needs Educational Assistants

SPED Educational Assistant-GES and GMS

ELL Educational Assistant-CBCS Building Manager-CBCS

Assistant Building Manager-CBCS Lead Custodian-Lake School

Permanent Substitute-CBSS, GHS, GCS Substitute Teachers

PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Counselor-CBES

COACHING

GHS-Speech and Debate

Please contact: Superintendent’s Office JoAnn Klingsmith 800 N. Boulevard 970-641-7760 jklingsmith@gunnisonschools.net

TOAD PROPERTY MANAGEMENT is seeking a full-time maintenance technician for a large condominium building in Mt. Crested Butte. This position provides housing, competitive pay, ski pass and more. We are seeking a fun, hardworking, detailed-oriented, responsible and experienced individual to join our team. To submit your resume, please go to ToadPropertyManagement.com/ employment or give us a call at 970-3492773.

DAVID CROSS GENERAL CONTRACTOR is hiring for a full-time, salaried office manager position for our fast-paced office environment. Duties include company asset management, obtaining bids and maintaining various insurances, fleet management, procurement for office and project needs, assisting project managers with subcontractor agreements and documents and personal assistance to the owner and general manager. Experience with Google Suite and Quickbooks is preferred. Compensation package includes ski pass, vacation time, paid holidays and health insurance. Please email resumes to david@davidgrossgc.com.

THE ADAPTIVE SPORTS CENTER is seeking adaptive ski and snowboard instructors to facilitate exceptional adaptive sport and recreation activities for the 20232024 winter season. Pay ranges from $2029/hour based on experience. Benefits for full-time seasonal staff include pro-forms, certification and membership dues, exam reimbursement, paid sick days, 5-day stipend and a 401(k) match. More information and the winter application are at adaptivesports. org/about-us/careers. The deadline to apply is Sept. 15.

PINNACLE ORTHOPEDICS has F/T and P/T openings for a medical assistant and receptionist in both our Crested Butte and Gunnison offices. On-site training provided. Strong interpersonal, organizational and computer skills are important, but overall we value a good fit for our team. $20+ DOE. Send resume and references to office@ pinnacleorthocolorado.com.

FRITO LAY IS HIRING for a route sales position in Gunnison,CO. Are you looking for a job that doesn’t require sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day? Here’s a fantastic opportunity: the starting salary is $63,000 with a $1,000 sign-on bonus. Work for a wellestablished company offering benefits that work as hard as you do, with industry-leading day one healthcare coverage, savings and investments to support different life stages and continued education opportunities. Visit fritolayemployment.com to apply today.

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-inhand 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.

PART-TIME REGISTERED NURSE OR

NURSE PRACTITIONER in Crested Butte, CO for Fusion Health and Wellness Clinic. Pay starts at $35/hr and up depending on experience. Must be willing to perform tasks such as IV hydration, vitamin injections, weight loss, blood draws and aesthetics. Will train. Must be a team player. Send your resume to Lisamerck1@gmail.com and call 970-355-9686.

THE CLUB AT CRESTED BUTTE is hiring the following part-time and fulltime seasonal positions: line cooks and dishwasher, $20-$25/hr. + gratuity, general facility maintenance, $18-$20/hr., front desk attendants, $16-$18/hr., greens and maintenance techs, $20-$23/hr., housekeeping, flexible schedule available, $20-25/hr. Employee benefits include complimentary golf rounds and employee discounts. For more information or to submit a resume, please visit theclubatcrestedbutte. com or email jobs@clubatcrestedbutte.com.

LOGISTICS MANAGER: Adaptive Sports Center (ASC). Full-time, year-round, nonexempt.

The Adaptive Sports Center is a missionfocused 501-c3 non-profit that provides therapeutic, adventure-based programming for people with disabilities, their friends and family members and is located in Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado.

The logistics manager supervises the planning and preparation for visiting groups, community groups, open enrollment camps and a university-based academic internship program. Key responsibilities include planning, budgeting and the logistical oversight of therapeutic-based adventure experiences for visiting organizations, healthcare institutions and private groups, including travel, lodging and hospitality, assisting the program director with the recruitment of new organizations, managing and supervising two logistics coordinators, oversight of up to four Interns, complying with and the seasonal maintenance of federal, state and local land use permits and state childcare licenses.

A proven professional background in staff/intern oversight, planning and managing adventure-based activities, risk management and working with the disabled community is highly desired. A current CTRS (Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist) is preferred. Exceptional attention to detail and ability to work well in a dynamic setting is essential. Working occasional weekends and evenings should be anticipated.

Compensation range and benefits: The annual starting salary range for this position is $54,000-$62,000 plus a competitive benefits package including 401(k), paid time off and holidays, health insurance reimbursement, season pass, ski/equipment locker, professional licenses/certification reimbursements (estimated annual benefit value of an additional $10,000). Desired start date Oct. 16 or until the position is filled.

To apply, submit a letter of interest, resume and references to Chris Read, program director, cread@adaptivesports.org, subject line “Logistics Manager”.

The Adaptive Sports Center is an inclusive organization and an Equal Opportunity Employer. More information at adaptivesports.org/about-us/careers.

HIRING BAKER: Mochas is looking for a part-time baker. Flexible hours. $20/hour. Drop your resume off or fill out an application at Mochas, 710 N. Main St. or email mochasbarista@gmail.com.

TEMPORARY LABORERS NEEDED: Need some cash this off season? The Town of Crested Butte Parks and Recreation Department is hiring temporary laborers for spring prep/cleanup season. Work will begin once the snow is gone from the majority of parks and public areas. Duties include raking, power washing, painting and general cleanup and repairs. Full job description and application available online at townofcrestedbutte.com click on “Careers”.

Pay $19/hour. The Town of Crested Butte is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

EVENTS AND VOLUNTEER

COORDINATOR position open with Mountain Roots. Cultivate authentic community connections! Starting salary $45,000 DOE. Contact rachel@mountainrootsfoodproject. org.

PROGRAM COORDINATOR: Adaptive Sports Center (ASC). Full-time, year-round, non-exempt.

The Adaptive Sports Center is a missionfocused 501-c3 non-profit that provides therapeutic adventure-based programming for people with disabilities, their friends and family members and is located in Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado.

This is a new position to the ASC. The program coordinator is responsible for facilitating programs, supervising volunteers and seasonal staff, scheduling, database management and other key aspects of program coordination for the ASC. Key responsibilities include coordinating

individual and family booking process, assisting with volunteer recruitment and management, invoicing, front desk oversight and overall daily operations support. The program coordinator sets the stage for outstanding customer service for clients and coordinates many critical aspects of programming. This position will average two days in the field instructing and three days in the office. At busier times, the program coordinator should expect to be in the office up to 5 days/week.

A minimum of two years of experience developing, coordinating and facilitating outdoor adventure programming, preferably in adaptive sports or similar organization desired. Motivated, organized and able to perform in a fast-paced and dynamic environment is essential. Experience coordinating volunteers, seasonal staff, and/or interns desirable. PSIA/AASI and/ or Adaptive certified and/or certified in key areas of summer-based programs (RCC, AMGA, river/raft guiding, etc.), first aid certification or higher required. Working weekends will be required and working evenings and some holidays should be anticipated.

Compensation range and benefits: The annual starting salary range for this position is $20-$23 an hour plus a competitive benefits package including 401(k), paid time off and holidays, health insurance reimbursement, season pass, ski/equipment locker, professional licenses/certification reimbursements (estimated annual starting benefit value of an additional $10,000). Desired start date Nov. 16 or until the position is filled.

To apply, submit a letter of interest, resume, and references to Elizabeth Philbin, assistant program director, elizabeth@adaptivesports. org, subject line “Program Coordinator”.

The Adaptive Sports Center is an inclusive organization and an Equal Opportunity Employer. More information at adaptivesports.org/about-us/careers.

GUNNISON VALLY ANIMAL WELFARE

LEAGUE has an opening for a support position, 9 hours per week at $19/hour, working directly with the cats and dogs as well as the public. To ask questions or to submit a resume, please call 970-641-1173 or stop by the adoption center at 98 Basin Park Drive in Gunnison during their adoption hours: Wednesdays and Fridays 4-7 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Resumes can also be sent to gvawlcentral@gmail.com.

CAREGIVER: Tom Morton’s family is looking for a caregiver. Position pay: $30 an hour and 5 days a week. Duties include companionship, light housekeeping, errand services and grocery shopping. Email tommy.mortom11@gmail.com for more details.

BARISTA: Mochas Coffeehouse and Bakery in Gunnison is seeking baristas to join our team. Good pay plus tips and shift meals in a positive and fun work environment. Drop your resume off or fill out an application at 710 N. Main St., or email mochasbarista@ gmail.com.

SERVICE PLUMBER TECHNICIAN: Timberline Mechanical Contracting is looking for a service technician for troubleshooting and plumbing repair. Plumbing and customer service experience preferred. We offer high pay, paid holidays, paid vacation, health insurance and ski pass. Clean driving record is mandatory.

Timberline Mechanical Contracting Crested Butte, CO. Phone: 970-349-5679. Email info@timberlinemech.com.

SPALLONE CONSTRUCTION has immediate openings for dump truck drivers in the Gunnison, Crested Butte area. Experience of 3-5 years required. Must be able to assist laborer performing

physical tasks involved in construction activities. Must have a valid drivers license, references required. $25-$38 depending on experience, benefits available after one year of employment. Please submit resume to: office@spalloneconstruction.com.

ARE YOU READY for a year-round, fulltime, stable job with benefits in this seasonal town? Tired of trying to piece together offseasons? Do you love little people and being creative? Little Red Schoolhouse is the place to be! Looking for a committed, full-time, long-term teacher and another part-time aide who is willing to learn and grow, take necessary classes and trainings and be a part of an amazing team. Starting pay $20-$25/hr depending on education and experience, full benefits including health insurance stipend, retirement, season pass financing, paid vacation and sick days and many more perks. Please send resume and interest letter to Jessica at lilredschoolhouse1@gmail.com.

SPALLONE CONSTRUCTION has immediate openings for laborers in the Gunnison, Crested Butte area. Experience required not required, but preferred. Must be able to assist laborer performing physical tasks involved in construction activities. Must have a valid drivers license, references required. $22/hr or higher depending on experience, benefits available after one year of employment. Please submit resume to: office@spalloneconstruction.com.

EARLY CHILDHOOD ASSITANT

TEACHERS: Tenderfoot Child and Family Development Center is seeking assistant teachers to join our early childhood team with children birth-5 years old. Must be at least 16 years of age. Full ($16.65/hr) or parttime ($14.65/hr) with flexible scheduling. Background checks and paid pre-service training required, sick/vacation benefits, possible free child care. Paid professional development and a great opportunity to grow as an educator. Call 970-642-1949 or email tfootdirector@gmail.com for more information. EOE.

THE MT. CRESTED BUTTE WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT is accepting applications for a full-time water operator position to be part of a team environment focused on operation of the water plant and distribution system for Mt. Crested Butte. Important qualifications include a combination of construction, field operations and electrical/mechanical/maintenance repair. A State of Colorado water and/or distribution license or the ability to obtain

such within one year is mandatory. Training for certifications provided. Operators are required to take on-call responsibility including select weekends and holidays. A valid Colorado driver’s license is required. Starting salary is $44,500-$51,500 for entry level. $58,000-$75,000 salary available for operators with experience and appropriate state licenses. Excellent benefits package including 100% employer paid premium family health, dental, vision and life insurance, 12 paid holiday days, two weeks paid vacation, employer contribution to retirement plan (5% automatic mandatory employer matching with 1-3% optional additional matching), employer provided uniforms and a seasonal ski pass. Full job description is available at mcbwsd.com. Please submit cover letter and resume to Mt. Crested Butte Water and Sanitation District, P.O. Box 5740, Mt. Crested Butte, CO 81225 or email info@mcbwsd.com. Position is open until filled. MCBWSD is an equal opportunity employer.

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 multitask, 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. 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.

TOAD PROPERTY MANAGEMENT is seeking dynamic individuals to join our property management and maintenance team. Year-round and seasonal maintenance positions available for someone with a strong attention to detail, hard work ethic and passionate about career growth. Maintenance duties are subject, but not limited to, operating our snow cats, shoveling, irrigation, lawn care and general maintenance. Toad offers competitive pay, ski passes and housing. To submit your resume, please go to ToadPropertyManagement. com/employment.

Colorado Statewide Network

To place a 25-word COSCAN Network ad in 91 Colorado newspapers for only $300, contact your local newspaper or email Colorado Press Association Network at rtoledo@colopress.net

DIRECTV

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AMERIGLIDE

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PORTABLE OXYGEN

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GARAGE / YARD SALES

STORAGE UNIT SALE: New merchandise added weekly. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. 108

S. 11th, alley side.

MOVING AUCTION

Gary Fabiano 3390 County Road 730

Gunnison, CO Sept. 9, 2023

Preview 8 a.m, bidding 10 a.m.

Antiques and MORE antiques.Many unusual, one-of-a-kind items, like the mining cart from the Forest Queen. Everything in excellent condition. Quality throughout. See website for photos and complete listing: NorthForkAuction.net 970-209-0910

NORTH FORK AUCTION

MISCELLANEOUS

MISC. SUPPLIES: 36 boxes, 28 faceplates, 7 outlets, 15 switches, 10 light parts, 1 outdoor fixture, lots of insulated wire, pipes, louvered shutters and antique wheelbarrow. Call for pix and prices. 303-870-3098.

REAL ESTATE

ROOM FOR RENT: Taylor Canyon, 3 bed/3 bath house. Professional/student, respectful, mature desired. Dogs. October 1st. $900, all included. Text for info: 802-595-9576.

RETAIL/OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE at the Gunnison Meadows Mall next to City Market, +/-1,500 sqft available. For more information and pricing visit GunnisonMeadows.com or call Jordon Ringel at 817-733-6947.

HOME FOR SALE: 1700 sq. ft. 2020 build. Very accessible single story home in great west Gunnison location. For further details enter 600 Carbon Court, Gunnison, Colorado into Zillow search and/or contact terravistalimited@gmail.com, 970-497-9113.

PRIME OFFICE SPACE on Main St. Five private offices. Client waiting/conference room, reception desk, 12 paved parking spaces. Call or text 970-596-9999 for more info.

Legals AGENDA

Regular Meeting

September 11, 2023

5:30pm

Crested Butte Community School Library

This meeting will be conducted in person and by distance using the video conferencing platform ZOOM Webinar. Please check the GWSD website for further instructions.

I. Call to Order

II. Roll Call

III. Pledge of Allegiance

IV. Approval of Agenda

ACTION ITEM

V. Commendations, recognition of visitors, and public comment

*Visitors who wish to address the Board, please make known at the beginning of the meeting via Zoom or if in-person, please complete the public participation form.

1. Andy Hanks, Learning Coach Specialist

VI. Administrative Action Summaries

A. Superintendent Summary - Dr. Nichols

1. Successful Students

Preliminary Performance Frameworks

2. Strong Employees

Organizational Chart

3. Engaged Community Election Update

4. Healthy Finance-Director of Finance

Tia Mills update on free & reduced lunch counts and process FY22-23 4th quarter financial update

5. Functional Facilities

VII. Action Items

A. Consent Grouping

Note: Items under the consent grouping are considered routine and will be enacted under one motion. There will not be separate discussion of these items prior to the time the board votes unless a Board Member requests an item be clarified or even removed from the grouping for separate consideration.

The Superintendent recommends approval of the following:

1. Board of Education Minutes

a. August 14, 2023 Regular meeting

2. Finance Approve for payment, as presented by the Business Manager, warrants as indicated:

a. General Account # 42859-42929

b. Payroll Direct Deposit # 57414-57712

3. Personnel*

Damian D’Apolito-Industrial Arts teacher-

CBSS

LaDonna Garcia-SPED EA-Achievement

Center

Susan Kamikura-ELL EA-GHS

Caitlyn Peed-Permanent Substitute-GCS

Danni Pringle-Elementary Counselor-GES

Rachel Sabbato-Permanent SubstituteGCS

Madeline Shugert-Office Manager-CBSS

Kevin Stanley-Nutrition Director-District

Maricel Epps-Food Service-GCS

Haley Trego-SPED EA-Achievement Center

Joshua Lambert-IT Professional-District

Ashley Crittendon-7th grade Assistant

Volleyball coach-GMS

Bradley Davies-Assistant Boys’ Soccer-

CBHS

Kailyn Pearson-Assistant 8th grade

Volleyball-GMS

Dani Pringle-Head 7th grade Volleyball

Brady Wilson-Assistant 7th grade FootballGMS

JoAnn Klingsmith-Resignation-Admin. Asst. to the Superintendent

4. Correspondence

B. New Business

1. First reading of policies:

a. JB-Equal Educational Opportunities

b. JII-Student Concerns, Complaints and Grievances

C. Old Business ACTION ITEM Second reading of policy:

a. JICJ-Student use of cell phones

VIII. Comments from the public *Visitors who wish to address the Board, please make known via Zoom or if in-person, please complete the public participation form.

IX. Items introduced by Board Members a.

X. Board Committee assignments for the 2023-24 school year District Accountability Committee-

Mrs. Roberts School Accountability Committees-

Mr. Martineau, Mrs. Mick, Mrs. Brookhart Gunnison County Education Association Negotiations- Mr. Taylor Gunnison County Education Association 3X3- Mr. Martineau Fund 26-Mrs. Mick Gunnison Valley Community Foundation- Mrs. Mick Gunnison Memorial Scholarship-

Mrs. Roberts Health Insurance Committee- Mr. Taylor

XI. Forthcoming Agendas/ Meeting Dates and Times

Monday, September 25, 2023 District

PD Day-GHS

Monday, September 25, 2023 Work Session at 5:30pm-Gunnison

Monday, October 16, 2023

Regular Meeting at 5:30pm-CB

Monday, October 30, 2023

Work Session at 5:50pm-Gunnison

Tuesday, November 7, 2023 Election Day Monday, November 13, 2023 Regular Meeting at 5:30pm-Gunnison

XII. Adjournment Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication date of Sept. 7, 2023 10637

NOTICE OF INTENT TO DISPOSE

Notice is hereby given to the following party that their personal items stored at Discount Self Storage, 1825 N. Hwy 135 will be sold or disposed of unless claimed prior to Sept 14th:

Unit 105 – Carrie Lee

Date of Redemption: Sept. 14, 2022

Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado

Publication dates of Aug. 31, Sept. 7, 2023

10564

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of MARK STEVEN REEB aka REEB, Deceased

Case Number 2023PR30035

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of GUNNISON County, Colorado on or before December 21,

ATTORNEY FOR APPLICANT

PO BOX 2958

CRESTED BUTTE, CO 81224

Gunnison Country Times

Gunnison, Colorado

Publication dates of Aug. 24, 31, Sept. 7,

2023

10405

50 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK

SEPT. 6, 1973

PUBLIC HEARING

SAGUACHE COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

THE SAGUACHE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, SITTING AS THE SAGUACHE COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION, WILL CONDUCT HEARINGS ON PROPERLY FILED NOTICE OF DETERMINATIONS PROTESTS ON:

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2023, AT

9:30AM FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2023, AT 9:30AM (as needed)

HEARINGS WILL BE HELD IN THE COMMISSIONER’S ROOM, SAGUACHE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, 501 4TH STREET, SAGUACHE, CO.

WENDI MAEZ SAGUACHE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR

08-25-2023

Gunnison Country Times

Gunnison, Colorado

Publication dates of Aug. 31, Sept. 7, 14, 2023

10506

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

Homestake Mining Company has filed a notice of completion of reclamation and has requested release of reclamation responsibility for Forest Service lands on its mining permit at the Pitch Mine Reclamation Site. The location of the Pitch Mine Reclamation Site is approximately 10 miles ESE of Sargents, Colorado in Saguache County. Homestake Mining Company has completed reclamation activities on Forest Service lands within its permit area and requests to be released of financial warranties for the land. The affected lands total 2,302.67 acres. The land sought to be released to the Forest Service is generally described as an Access Road between the Marshall Pass Road (Forest Service Road #243) and the private property access control gate, a former millsite and stormwater pond, and a former limestone quarry.

Public comments concerning the appropriateness of the release should be sent in writing within thirty (30) days of this publication to the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) office at:

Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety Room 215 1001 E. 62nd Avenue Denver, CO 80216

Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado

Publication dates of Aug. 24, 31, Sept. 7, 14, 2023

10417

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Lights & Sirens

CITY OF GUNNISON POLICE REPORT

THEFT - LESS THAN $100: IN -

TENDS TO PERMANENTLY DE -

PRIVE — 900 N. MAIN ST.

SEPT 1

DISTURBING THE PEACE — 406 N.

11TH ST.

THEFT - LESS THAN $100: SHOP-

LIFTING — 900 N. MAIN ST.

THEFT - LESS THAN $100: IN -

TENDS TO PERMANENTLY DE -

PRIVE — 900 N. MAIN ST.

CIVIL PROBLEM — S. 14TH ST.

VIOLATION OF PROTECTION

ORDER: CRIMINAL ORDER — 1200

W. HWY. 50

ACCIDENT — 520 N. 12TH ST.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT: UTTER-

ANCE/GESTURE/DISPLAY — 226

N. MAIN ST.

ANIMAL - RUNNING AT LARGE

— 124 E. VIRGINIA AVE.

AUG 29

HARASSMENT — 807 W. NEW YORK AVE.

ACCIDENT - HIT AND RUN — 1500

W. TOMICHI AVE.

WELFARE ASSIST — W. HWY. 50

TRAFFIC - DUS — 411 E. TOMICHI AVE.

ACCIDENT - HIT AND RUN — 900

N. MAIN ST. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE — 1609 W. TOMICHI AVE.

ANIMAL - RUNNING AT LARGEMUNICIPAL — 200 S. 7TH ST.

MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATION — 100 W. GEORGIA AVE.

AUG 30

THEFT: INTENDS TO PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE — 100 E. GEORGIA AVE.

DISTURBING THE PEACE — 215 W. RIO GRANDE AVE.

PROPERTY - FOUND — 200 S. ADAMS ST.

WELFARE ASSIST - MISSING

PERSON — N. PINE ST.

AUG 31

DISTURBING THE PEACE - ALLOWING OTHERS — 1005 W. TOMICHI AVE.

WELFARE ASSIST — 1010 W. VIRGINIA AVE.

ACCIDENT — 880 N. MAIN ST.

SUSPICIOUS REPORT — 1099 N.

11TH ST.

ANIMAL CRUELTY: NEGLECT/

MISTREATMENT - STATE STAT

ABANDONED VEHICLE — 700 N.

12TH ST.

THEFT - LESS THAN $100: IN -

TENDS TO PERMANENTLY DE

PRIVE — 900 N. MAIN ST.

- MUNICIPAL — 606 E. VIRGINIA

AVE.

SEPT 2

DISTURBING THE PEACE - AL -

LOWING OTHERS — 516 N. 12TH

ST.

WARRANT SERVICE - OTHER JU-

RISDICTION — N. COLORADO ST.

ACCIDENT — 508 W. TOMICHI

AVE.

PROPERTY - LOST — 121 N. COL-

ORADO ST.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

- ALCOHOL — 1000 N. MAIN ST.

THEFT - LESS THAN $100: IN -

TENDS TO PERMANENTLY DE -

PRIVE — 900 N. MAIN ST.

SEPT 3

THEFT: INTENDS TO PERMA -

NENTLY DEPRIVE — 900 N. MAIN ST.

INFORMATION — 1200 W. HWY.

50

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF — 419 N.12TH ST.

SEPT 4

THEFT: INTENDS TO PERMA -

NENTLY DEPRIVE — 1500 W. TOMICHI AVE.

HARASSMENT: STRIKE, SHOVE, KICK — 312 E. TOMICHI AVE.

ASSAULT: THIRD DEGREE - BODI-

LY INJURY — 305 N. 10TH ST.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

- DRUGS — 500 N. COLORADO ST.

PROPERTY - FOUND — W.

TOMICHI AVE.

DISTURBING THE PEACE — 314 E. RUBY AVE.

GUNNISON COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT

AUG 25

-Agency assist to the Gunnison Police Department with an altercation in progress

-Civil standby in an eviction in Somerset conducted

-Court-ordered arrest after sentencing

-Menacing report in Marble - under investigation

-Possible trespassing report made

-Agency assist to the Colorado State Patrol with a hit and run crash

-Trespassing report - warning given

-Fireworks called in - not found when patrolling the area

AUG 26

-Suspicious activity reported - mattress cover on the highway -911 hang-up call from Country Meadows - unfounded

-County ordinance #5 - vicious dog - bite under investigation

-Agency assist to the GPD with a dispute in progress

-Suicidal subject/mental health call - mobile crisis assisted -Search and rescue for overdue hiker - returned home before West Elk SAR was deployed

AUG 27

-Unattended death - search and rescue assisted -Welfare check

AUG 28

-Trespass in progress

-Burglary alarm

-Overdue hiker - found safe

AUG 29

-Menacing

AUG 30

-Unattended death in Almont

-Information report - harassment

AUG 31

-Vin check

-Lost property report - scope

-Information report on suspicious person/activity

-Bait advertising - fraud report

-Fraud report

Boating in memory

Gunnison Valley’s river running community participated in the sixth annual Matt Brown Memorial Float on Saturday, Sept. 2. The event, which takes place every first Saturday of September, pays tribute to the much beloved Matt Brown, who founded Scenic River Tours with Ches Russell in 1977. His son, Dustin Brown, now co-owns the operation and leads the yearly float. Boaters launched from Shady Island and ran the rest of the town stretch to the Gunnison Whitewater Park, making several stops along the way.

(Photos by Jacob Spetzler)

Guided by the rhythms, growth and decay of nature

‘Inherent’ opens at Crested Butte’s Center for the Arts

Bella Biondini Times Editor

Emily Palmquist’s muse is the landscape and creatures of the West, fringed in delicate gold. A Western Slope-based painter, Palmquist tells her own history through brilliant colors and patterns and self introspection.

Although her art has been featured in numerous galleries in Telluride and Ouray, she is showing her work for the first time in the Gunnison Valley at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts during the month of September. In her show, titled “Inherent,” nature is the common language she shares with her audience. Her work includes a series of self portraits as well the flora and fauna of

Colorado enshrined in color.

“For me, that brings up the point that I'm a part of it all,” she said. “I'm not separate from nature. I too, am an animal, and am putting myself out there to really feel a sense of connection.”

Palmquist grew up in the Midwest amongst the corn fields and spent her childhood in a small Illinois town with a single stop sign. She leaned into her creative side at an early age, encouraged by her family. Art was still the same placeholder in her life then as it is today — a safe place to explore the spectrum of feelings that accompany the human experience.

Palmquist moved to Colorado more than a decade ago after college, drawn to the state by the mountains and the vastness of the region. She has since moved around the Western Slope, her art inspired by its aesthetic beauty. Palmquist currently lives in Placerville, just outside of Telluride.

“My spirit needs a lot of space … I really need to have a place

I can go walk around on acres and acres each day and just soak in the landscape and the lighting,” she said. “That's been a thread throughout the years — observing the landscape through the seasons and watching the cycles of nature and the rhythms, decay and growth.”

As an artist, Palmquist uses her paintings to bridge the gap between her own internal and external worlds. She often begins with a landscape or something representational, such as an animal and starts to skew the image. This invites the viewer to be curious and look beyond the vivid images she creates.

Her medium of choice is typically oil on canvas, which she often builds herself. By pushing her palette, she uses bolder colors to express emotion in the paintings. Patterns, inspired by basket weaving and Indigenous crafts, add surreal details. Over the last couple of years, she began dabbling with gold

Palmquist B2

VOTING IS NOW OPEN FOR PEOPLE’S CHOICE 2023!

“Heart Cave”. (Courtesy Emily Palmquist)

enamel as a different element of light.

“It's very dynamic and has such a liveliness to it just based on where you're standing in front of the piece,” she said. “It dances with you. It’s also very specific to an original painting. Being able to view the piece in person creates this experience with it versus seeing it in a photograph.”

Painting has helped Palmquist heal, her images intertwined with themes of mindfulness alongside pain and trauma. Her compositions show the beauty of both sides and their connection to nature.

In her piece, “Prescribed Burn,” she portrayed herself laying past traumas to rest. These tangible emotions form a golden root ball under her feet. The figure is nude, with a trickle of blood running down her leg — a reference to womanhood and a miscarriage she had when she was young.

“I take so much inspiration, but also solace, from nature, where I am able to go out

there and see and feel like I’m not alone,” she said. “We’re all sort of dying and being reborn every season in our own way. I’m finding those natural cycles and seeing how they apply to myself.”

Since she moved to Colorado, her work has been strengthened by the support she has received from the creative communities she has lived in on the Western Slope. Palmquist also found opportunities for work trades, caring for property and animals, not only helps offset the cost of living, but provides her with a well of inspiration to keep creating.

Palmquist’s opening reception at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts is on Friday, Sept. 8. The show will run through the end of the month. The show is a collection of recent work that spans from 2018 to the present.

(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)

“Gunnison

Palmquist from B1

“Prescribed Burn”.

Palmquist in her studio.

Making more ‘good days’

Local veterinarian caters to senior pets

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

The oldest of the Gunnison Valley’s dogs and cats may be the most stubborn of the bunch. Like all creatures, with age comes a semblance of wisdom but mostly, an immovable sense of self-confidence and headstrong personality. For Ashley Portmann, Gunnison’s traveling senior vet, it’s one of the best parts of the job.

“They know who they are, they're not still learning who they are. So they're very clear about, ‘here's what I'm experiencing here are my boundaries.’ They will tell you what they need … They're funny, sweet and totally dialed into their people,” Portmann said.

Portmann, a certified hospice and palliative care veterinarian, owns Home Together Veterinary Services, a business that provides specialized care for the valley’s older pets. Aided by her two-person team, she travels around the valley visiting with four to eight older pets a day and their owners, who need guidance as animals near the end of their life.

The work keeps her on her toes, she said, as each consultation is different. One animal could need a laser treatment, which can restore strength to pets' joints, and another could need a months-long care plan with a tailored schedule for walks, feeding and medicine. She’s created treatments for a cat owner who lives in a van, a dog who couldn’t walk up stairs and one owner who struggled giving their pet shots. Years laters, the owner did so with ease.

“You can talk about physical things like pain, nausea, appetite support or inflammation, and then there's a lot of chronic medication management, which I find really fascinating … But then there's psychological and emotional factors and knowing the quality of life. Those are just as important to me, because it’s more of a gray area, it's more nuanced,” she said.

Although Portmann is most endeared to older animals, it’s a passion that started in her youth. Like many 4-yearolds, she wanted to be a vet when she grew up, but unlike most 4-year-olds, she actually became one. She escaped the heat in her home state of Texas by attending college in Colorado Springs, but soon moved on to the University of Tennessee in 2010 for vet school.

After graduating, she did clinic-based general practice for nine years. In her final few years there, she started gravitating toward pets that had chron-

ic diseases and needed more nuanced pain management plans. She found that caring for those pets was more of a challenge, and required big-picture thinking about what a good life for an animal looks like.

“I found I really enjoyed sticking with animal owners and just being holistic with them as much as I could,” she said. “But it took a lot more time than you have in a clinicbased scenario where you have so many animals that you serve every day.”

After attending a conference hosted by an animal hospice and palliative care association, a switch flipped, she said. After meeting people doing inhome euthanasia and providing hospice care, she understood that an entire industry existed around her attachment to older animals, and she could break out on her own. She moved to Gunnison in 2018 and soon opened her business.

Reflecting on nearly five years of providing care in the valley, she said the work is just as much about humans as it is about animals. As animals near the end of their life, or begin to have serious age-related health issues, the toll is twofold: on pets and their owners. Making decisions about life and death for a cherished companion is no easy task.

“It's always that balance. Euthanasia, for example,I want to do that at a time that they're not going to suffer, but I don't want to rob them of another good day. And so it's trying to find what does that mean? What is a good day?” she said.

And people come from all walks of life. It could be a college-aged kid who got their dog when they were 5 years old or a retired person who structures their entire day around their pet. No matter the owner, Portmann will inevitably hear a number of stories about her clients during the months or years she is providing care, from their most joyful adventures to darkest days.

Although she works with animals, her role boils down to passing the baton to pet owners, giving them information to handle the emotional and physical hardship of an aging pet.

“A big part of this is connecting with humans on a deeper level that empowers them to have some control of the situation and to do the caregiving confidently,” she said.

(Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@ gunnisontimes.com.)

Portmann listens to Daisy’s heart, while Twinkie looks on. (Courtesy Ashley Portmann)

Spiff the dog gets laser therapy.

Patootie the cat relaxes at home after her palliative care check-up.

Jake relaxes at home after his geriatric exam.

Art for the people

The annual Paragon People’s Fair returned to Elk Avenue in Crested Butte on Sept. 2 and 3. Local and visiting artists showcased their work while music flowed through the street. On Sunday afternoon, a crowd gathered to watch a dog show. Halfway through, a feline participant named “Fat Cat” went through the same obstacles as the dogs.

(Photos by Jacob Spetzler)

PEOPLE & HAPPENINGS

Living Journeys

Living Journeys hosts free and confidential monthly support groups — open to all Gunnison County residents.

-Caregivers Support Group: 1st Monday of each month.

-Bereavement Support Group: 2nd Monday of each month.

-Cancer Support Group: 1st Thursday and 3rd Monday of each month.

Professional therapists facilitate in-person and zoom meetings, no RSVP necessary. Get details at livingjourneys.org.

Caregiver support group

The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiver Support Group meets on the first Wednesday of every month from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the Gunnison County Library. For more information, contact group facilitator Mary at 970.596.5667 or taktser8@gmail. com.

Alcoholicos Anonimos

Cada semana, lunes y miércoles. 8-9:30 p.m. 101 N. 8th Street, Gunnison. Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor póngase en contacto 970.275.2241.

Overeaters Anonymous

Overeaters Anonymous meets on Thursdays from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. at The Last Resort, 114 Wisconsin Street in downtown Gunnison. This is an open meeting.

Free legal clinics

Two free legal clinics for parties with no attorney will be held on Sept. 13 from 2-5 p.m. at the Gunnison and Crested Butte libraries. Volunteer attorneys will answer questions and explain the process and procedure for areas of Colorado civil law including family, property, probate, collections, appeals, landlord-tenant law, small claims, veterans issues and civil protection orders. Call 970.641.3485 in Gunnison or 970.349.6535 in Crested Butte to be added to the sign-up sheet. Space is limited.

Shakespeare at the Depot

The Firebird Theater Company presents William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night on Sept. 9-10 at 5:30 p.m. Bring layers and rain gear, a blanket or chair and prepare to enjoy the

CB

Dance Aspen performance

Join the Crested Butte Center for the Arts for an evening of cutting-edge contemporary dance with Dance Aspen on Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. Ticket prices range from $35-$55 and may be found at crestedbuttearts.org

outdoor experience. The shows are free, suitable for audiences aged 12 and up and will go on rain or shine. Visit firebirdcb. com for more information.

Health care for veterans

Veterans who deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat zones have a special opportunity to enroll directly in Veterans Affairs health care without first applying for VA benefits. If you are a veteran who deployed to a combat zone, but never enrolled in VA health care, and left active duty between Sept. 11, 2001, and Oct. 1, 2013, you are eligible to enroll directly in VA health care. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. local time on Sept. 30, 2023. Visit VA.gov/PACT for more information and to apply.

Celebrate dark skies

The National Park Service presents AstroFest 2023 from Sept. 14-16 at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Refer to the park website for details, times and locations of events at nps.gov/blca.

Gunnison food pantry temporary closure

The Gunnison Country Food Pantry is moving and anticipates closure from Sept. 11-16. They plan to re-open for regular distribution on Sept. 18. Get updates via Facebook, Instagram, or call 970.641.4156 to learn about available volunteer opportunities, or visit gunnisoncountryfoodpantry.org.

AAUW meeting

The American Association of University Women will meet on Sept. 16 at 10 a.m. at West Tomichi Park in Gunnison. AAUW is a national organization that promotes equity for women and girls through research education and advocacy. Call Bobbi Harper at 970.641.2346 for more info.

Creede Repertory Theatre

Creede Repertory Theatre presents Ken Ludwig’s “Dear Jack, Dear Louise” in the Steddy Theatre at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts on Sept. 12 and in the Studio Theatre at Western Colorado University on Sept. 13. Both performances begin at 7 p.m. This exciting production will entertain folks from ages 8 to 108. Find tickets for the CBCA show

Art opening

On Sept. 8 from 5-7 p.m. there will be an opening reception for “Inherent” by Emily Palmquist and Robert Wilhelm in the Kinder Padon Gallery at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts. The show will run from Sept. 1-30 and is free to the public. Find more information at crestedbuttearts.org.

at crestedbuttearts.org or call 970.349.7487. Tickets for the WCU show are available at creederep.org, 719.658.2540, or boxoffice@creederep.com.

Pioneer Museum membership meeting

The Gunnison County Pioneer and Historical Society will host their annual membership meeting at the Paragon Rural Schoolhouse on the museum campus in Gunnison on Sept. 8 at 6 p.m.

Captain Gunnison museum tour

With the 170th anniversary of the Gunnison-Beckwith Expedition exploring our region, the Pioneer Museum will host a special tour of related artifacts for interested guests on Sept. 9 at 1 p.m. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through Oct. 1, with admission at $15 for ages 13 and up, $5 for ages 6-12 and free for ages 5 and under.

Music cruise

Join the last music cruise of the season on Sept. 12. The Western Colorado University Jazz Band will leave the WCU Fieldhouse at 5:30 p.m. Follow the music on your bike, enjoy from your porch as it cruises by or come to IOOF Park at 7 p.m., where the jazz band will be joined by the WCU Steel Drum band.

Local television premier

“A Land Made From Water” a story of human interactions with the waters of Boulder Creek on Colorado’s eastern slope, by hydrologist and writer Robert Crifasi, has been adapted into a short film by local writer George Sibley and Boulder videographer Len Aitken. The film will debut on the Rocky Mountain Public Broadcasting System on Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. and Sept. 8 at noon.

Hebrew school

Hebrew school for new students from 3rd grade up to adults will begin on Sept. 5 and will be held after school from 4:30-5:30 p.m. on Fridays in Crested Butte South. Email bnaibutte@gmail.com for more information.

MEETING NOTICE-RTA

Devon Allman and Donavon Frankenreiter

On Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m musicians Devon Allman and Donavon Frankenreiter will perform at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts as part of their attempt to set the official world record for the fastest time to play a concert in each of the 50 states. The current record is 50 states in 50 days. Find more information and tickets at crestedbuttearts.org.

The next meeting of the Gunnison Valley Transportation Authority (RTA) will be September 15, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. at the Crested Butte Town Offices. For copies of the Board of Directors meeting packet, please go to www.gunnisonvalleyrta.com/meetings or call Scott Truex at 970-2750111. Two or more County Commissioners may attend these meetings.

CENTER FOR THE ARTS BRIEFS

August 2023, and a little more

ern Colorado towns. Montrose showed an average high temperature of 90 degrees and an average of 74.2, whereas Grand Junction showed an average high of 94 degrees and an average temperature of 79.2. As you can see, that is about the same as our Tmax of 79.6.

Bruce ‘Barometer’ Bartleson Special to the Times

Again, August and the summer of 2023 was the hottest on record globally, according to numerous national news outlets.

So how did we do? Here in Gunnison, August 2023 shows the following. Our high temperatures (Tmax) averaged 79.6, (3.5 degrees cooler than July) compared to a long-term average of 78.7 degrees and the record of 85.7 set in 1931.

We’re a little warmer this year, but not so bad. Low temperatures in August averaged 44.5 degrees, compared to the long-term 41.1 and the record of 46.4 set in 1909. The average temperature in August was 62 degrees as opposed to the longterm 59.8. The record of 63.6 was set in 1934.

As you can see, most of our warming is coming in our overnight lows (3.4 degrees higher than average). Again we fared better than most other west-

Again, the bad news is our rainfall was a dismal .70”, about half of our normal amount. The monsoons are still well below normal. At least the Lowline Fire is more or less under control and we’re not plagued by smoke anymore.

As old-timers will recall, we frequently used to get freezing temperatures in mid-late August, but that has changed. Fortunately, we’re still holding to that pattern of a longer growing season. We had an official overnight low on Sept. 5 of 34 degrees and several places in town showed 37. However, a North Elk Meadows station showed 30.9. Here’s a chart of our number of frost free days (growing season) a former Western professor Andy Keck created.

(Bruce Bartleson is a retired Western Colorado University geology professor who now spends his time tracking the Gunnison Valley’s weather.)

Bike builders unite

Last week, the Goodday Bikeworks duo Arly Landry and Chris Besnia traveled to Portland, Oregon for the first annual MADE handmade bike show. The two brought a mountain bike designed for the Colorado Trail, a long-travel hardtail with integrated matching bags. The show featured 200 frame builders from around the world and 5,000 attendees.

The number of frost free-days in Gunnison between 1990 and 2020. (Courtesy Andy Keck)

(Courtesy Goodday Bikeworks)

Hunting season underway

Outdoors users and hunters should prepare to share landscape

Hunting season is on the horizon and hunters are gearing up for exciting adventures. (See the special publication in this week’s Times : Hunting: a Guide to the Gunnison Valley.) However, hunters aren’t the only ones rushing to the outdoors this fall to enjoy everything Colorado has to offer.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) reminds hunters, hikers, bikers, leaf peepers, wildlife viewers and OHV users that most of Colorado's outdoors is multi-use and intended to be shared. Hunters and nonhunters alike should show respect and courtesy to all users engaged in outdoor recreation activities.

How can non-hunters prepare for hunting season?

There is no need to limit your outdoor activities in the fall. However, non-hunters should recognize that there are hunters on the landscape and additional precautions should be taken. A general knowledge of hunting season dates can help keep you safe.

Big game season dates:

Rifle bear season - Sept. 2-30, 2023

Archery season - Sept. 2-30, 2023

Muzzleloader season - Sept. 9-17, 2023

Rifle seasons

1st season - Oct. 14-18, 2023

2nd season - Oct. 28 to Nov. 4, 2023

3rd season - Nov. 11-17, 2023

4th season - Nov. 22-26, 2023

For safety reasons, big game hunters using a firearm must wear fluorescent orange or pink when in the field. While not required, it is recommended that other recreation users wear these colors as well, especially during the muzzleloader and rifle seasons.

Hunters' role in wildlife conservation

Colorado manages its wildlife using the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, the cornerstone of modern

wildlife conservation across the United States. This revolutionary model was formed around the turn of the 1900s when sportspersons realized that market hunting was having an undeniable and potentially irreversible effect on North America's wildlife. This model created a structured system where fees from hunting and fishing activities are used to support conservation, defined as the planned and regulated use of our resources to prevent exploitation, destruction or extinction.

For almost two centuries, this model has been a large part of the reason why Colorado’s wildlife is so healthy and abundant. This model is still the most successful wildlife management model in the world.

Hunters also play an important role in CPW’s management of chronic wasting disease (CWD). Their participation in mandatory CWD testing initiatives is vital to wildlife managers’ ability to assess the disease's prevalence and make data-driven management decisions.

“One of the only CWD management tools we currently have at our disposal is the hunting community itself,” said CPW Big Game Manager Andy Holland. “Hunters play a vital role in controlling CWD by harvesting select deer and other cervids more likely to carry the disease and submitting samples for analysis. This helps CPW understand the disease's prevalence and distribution in the state and evaluate if management strategies are working.”

What can hunters expect this season?

Last winter, the northwest region of Colorado experienced one of the harshest winters in decades, with relentless snowstorms and bone-chilling temperatures. Wildlife in the area endured a challenging period as food became scarce and they faced some of the most severe snow conditions residents had seen in the past 70 years.

Hunters with a tag in the northwest can expect good hunting opportunities, with fewer hunters in the area and many deer and elk to be found in their usual hunting locations, although at lower densities. Hunters in other areas might

see additional hunting pressure due to reduced license quotas and shorter over-the-counter season dates in the Northwest, pushing others to hunt new areas. As always, hunters should watch weather forecasts leading up to their hunting seasons.

Much of eastern Colorado experienced an unusually dry winter last year, which resulted in minimal winterkill, and as spring arrived, residents witnessed an influx of muchneeded rain. The precipitation has been a significant boon for wildlife on the plains, considering the region's 10-year drought.

Pronghorn herds were less robust than they were five to six years ago, which is expected when accounting for the longterm impact of drought on their populations. Hunters can see that reflected in the number of female licenses available on the Eastern Plains.

Planning your hunt

Find locations to hunt using CPW’s Hunting Atlas. This resource allows you to find public land, save topographic maps, view big game migration corridors and concentration areas, and view OHV trails.

A reminder that if you purchased a small game license as your qualifying license earlier this year, you can hunt rabbits, squirrels, grouse, pheasants, doves and more within their respective seasons as listed in the small game brochure. Caliber restrictions apply west of I-25 during regular big game rifle seasons when hunting small game. To hunt furbearers or waterfowl, you must have a furbearer harvest permit or state and federal waterfowl stamps in addition to a small game license.

Additional licenses are still available. Licenses leftover from the draw are available for deer, elk, pronghorn and bear, and you can purchase overthe-counter licenses for bear, elk, pronghorn, and whitetail deer. Licenses returned by other hunters (reissue licenses) are available every Wednesday morning. Check the CPW website every Tuesday for a preview list of reissue licenses before they go on sale the following morning at cpwshop.com.

(Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife.)

(Courtesy Wayne D. Lewis/Colorado Parks and Wildlife)

RAFT WITH US DAILY

Chamber sculpture gets a facelift

The Gunnison Creative District (GCD) hosted a ribbon cutting to celebrate the restoration of the sculpture adorning the front of the Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, Aug. 31.

Local artist Jennifer Vannatta gave the sculpture a facelift last month. Nearly 40 community members attended the event and Mayor Diego Plata did the honors of cutting the ribbon.

Originally titled “The Totem,” the wood and steel sculpture was created by Richard Jagoda from Black Forest, Colorado in the 1990s and was a part of a sculpture program organized by the City of Gunnison. Jagoda earned his graduate degree in education at Western Colorado University. His paintings and sculptures are displayed all around Colorado. He passed away in 2013 in Black Forest. Fast forward to today, the sculpture was weathered and needed strengthening, said Gunnison Gallery owner and GCD board member Anne Michel. The GCD commissioned Vannatta to update the sculpture. It took her six days to

clean, repaint the metal base, vibrantly paint the wood sculpture and replace a new cow skull with glass mosaic tiles.

“It’s exciting to have a new splash of color outside the Chamber of Commerce and Jennifer was awesome to collaborate with,” Michel said.

Grace and Lynn Charuk, Louellen Coker, Sue Oates, Dick Bratton, Brian and Lauren Cooper, Bryan and Cherie Haugh and the GCD sponsored the restoration project.

The GCD has commissioned Vannatta for a second public art project called ‘Elevate your Fun Mural’ at Wheelie’s & Waves’ south wall at 110 S. Main St. It is slated for completion in the next two weeks.

The GCD will put out a Call for Artists in November for new summer 2024 public art installations. For more information or to volunteer, go to gunnisoncreativedistrict.org or call Michel at 970.641.6111.

Whether you are young or elderly, a professional athlete or a casual outdoors enthusiast we have the expertise, care options and depth of resources you need to recover from acute injuries and return to activity quickly and safely.

With multiple locations we offer convenient access and scheduling to meet your orthopedic needs.

(Courtesy Anne Michel/Gunnison Chamber of Commerce)

( Source: Gunnison Creative District)

Golfers finish second at Dos Rios

Pike and Noble excel on home turf

Alex McCrindle Times Sports Editor

The Cowboy golfers enjoyed home course advantage on Sept. 5 when the team played in its annual tournament at Dos Rios Golf Course. The event concluded as GHS’s best finish this season, placing second overall. Junior Preston Pike shot a 76 to place third overall.

Head Coach Kevin Mickelson said the home tournament comes with distinct advantages.

“Playing at our home course takes the burden of travel away, allowing our guys to sleep in their own beds and play a course they’re 100% familiar

with,” Mickelson said. “We have a couple weeks until regionals, and this tournament came at a perfect time.”

Through 18 holes, Pike led the way for the Cowboys.

Joseph Noble took 16 strokes off his score at Montrose to finish second with an 80. Carson Zummach finished third with an 82, while Paden Davis shot a 90. Mason Weitman finished with a 95.

On the JV side, juniors Tanner Maltby and Zachary Knoll each shot 100. Sophomores Ryder Church and Jacob Ebbott finished third and fourth with a 106 and 108. Freshman Cooper Mickelson rounded off the squad with a 116.

“We’re just getting better and better every week, and our scores are coming down,” Mickelson said. “Our players are

learning how to adjust throughout the course of a round, grind and make the most of the day.”

With the regional tournament three weeks away, all eyes are locked on Devil’s Thumb Golf Course in Delta on Sept. 26. The top players from GHS will travel with the ultimate goal of qualifying as a team for the state tournament.

In order to prepare for regionals, Mickelson rearranged the schedule to accommodate a practice round at Devil’s Thumb before the competition. This weekend, the team will play the Black Canyon Course in Montrose on Sept. 7.

(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@ gunnisontimes.com.)

Cowboys go undefeated in home tournament

Volleyball team stronger than ever

Alex McCrindle Times Sports Editor

GHS volleyball sealed homecourt dominance in a 12-team round robin tournament this weekend. The Cowboys won all four matches on Saturday morning without losing a single set.

Head Coach Lindsay Hart said the tournament displayed the teams’ ability to gain and hold momentum from the beginning.

“Tournaments are really hard because we play so many teams in a day, and it’s difficult to keep

SPORTS BRIEFS

Cowboy softball comes up short

The GHS softball team narrowly lost 9-5 against hardhitting Delta on Aug. 31 at Jorgensen Park. Despite a late resurgence from the clutch bat and the courageous baserunning of sophomore Kaylee

the same level of intensity,” Hart said. “But we did a great job starting strong against all four teams.”

The Cowboys opened the morning with a 2-0 victory over Salida. That score became a familiar theme. GHS defeated Dolores, Buena Vista and Del Norte with a score of 2-0 over the course of the day. Senior Addie Frymoyer and sophomore Rose Kowal had a strong presence behind the net, rising up for crucial blocks. Alongside them, outsides Amara Lock and Aubrey Welfelt drove the Cowboys’ offense.

“Our setters, Sienna Gomez and Ania Bryniarski did an awesome job changing the momentum of games,” Hart said. “We would go down six or

Vincent, the Cowboys were unable to rally in the bottom of the seventh inning. The loss puts the GHS overall record at 5-2-1, and 3-1 in the 3A Western Slope League. The girls headed to Alamosa to face the Mean Moose on Sept. 5, but scores were not available by press time.

seven points, and they would make plays to alter the flow of the game and put us back in charge.”

Including the tournament games, the weekend launches GHS to a 6-0 overall record, and 1-0 in the 3A Western Slope League. On Sept. 9, the Cowboys host Basalt in a vital home league matchup at 1 p.m. The game will be GHS’s second league game of the season, and it aims to take a definitive lead in the standings.

Hart said the team continues to mesh by the day.

“I love that this team is coming together,” she said. “We have so many girls and so many personalities, but they’re working to unify themselves and fight, whether on the bench or

GHS football takes down the Mean Moose

The Cowboys football team marched down to Alamosa on Sept. 1 and returned with a smash-and-grab, 23-14 victory. The win extends GHS’s winning streak to three games ahead of a matchup on the road against

the court. Every game they are proving their mental resilience and a desire to win.”

(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@ gunnisontimes.com.)

Monte Vista on Sept. 8. Despite a strong performance, the Cowboys suffered a blow when starting quarterback Jacob Riser left the game with a wrist injury. The Cowboys return home for their first league game against Buena Vista on Sept. 15 at 7 p.m.

Zummach studies the green. (Photo by Jacob Spetzler)

The Cowboys rally ahead of the first matchup. (Photo by Jacob Spetzler)

Gunni Grinder races finish strong at Jorgensen Park

The 2023 Gunni Grinder summer race season came to a dramatic conclusion on Aug. 31 at the Jorgensen pump track. The six-week season finished with two final races in each age group and bike category. Kids and parents celebrated afterward with a pizza party and awards.

Strider race - 2-year old

1st – Knox Percival

2nd – Beau Besler

3rd – Rosie Gayer

High Point – Knox Percival

Strider race - 3-4-year old

1st – Slade Nienhueser

2nd – Cayson Smith

3rd – Huck Riedel

High Point – Slade Nienhueser

Pedal race - 4-year old

1st – Teague McMahill

2nd – Lionel Gray

3rd – Lily Long

High Point – Teague McMahill

Pedal race - 5-7-year old

1st – Savannah Maher

2nd – Eddy Riedel

3rd – Waylon Baylor

High Point – Eddy Riedel

Stacyc race - 3-4-year old

1st – Fritz Hefftner

2nd – Lily Long

3rd – Lionel Gray

High Point – Fritz Hefftner

Stacyc race - 5-7-year old

1st – Evelyn Hefftner

2nd – Savannah Maher

3rd – Waylon Baylor

High Point – Evelyn Hefftner

DR. AUGUSTINE LEE, MD, FACS, FASCRS

ANDREW N. SALIM, MD

(Photo by Alex McCrindle)

2023 Gunni Grinder results

GHS scores new athletic trainer

Moto Kamikura to assist Cowboys and Titans

Alex McCrindle Times Sports Editor

For the first time in 10 years, GHS athletics is welcoming an athletic trainer to the sidelines this fall. Moto Kamikura, who previously worked as an assistant trainer at Western Colorado University over the past five years, is coming to aid the Cowboys and Crested Butte Titans through a partnership with Gunnison Valley Health (GVH).

Kamikura, who is employed by the hospital, rotates between the two schools and prioritizes contact sports such as football, hockey, lacrosse and soccer. Throughout the sports seasons, he will be directly involved in responding to injuries ingame, and the rehabilitation of Gunnison Valley athletes.

Cowboys football head coach Paul Vickers said Kamikura will bring a lot to GHS sports.

“I can already tell that Moto is very fair, incredibly knowledgeable and very personal,” Vickers

said. “This is an exciting move for GHS, and it shows how the district is bettering our athletic department. It also offers security for our parents, knowing we have medical aid in-house. I’m so blessed to have him here.”

For Kamikura, his first mission is to create a positive relationship with the athletes, families and coaches between the communities of Gunnison and Crested Butte.

“My goal at the moment is to introduce myself as the AT, so our students know who I am, what athletic training is and how I can help,” Kamikura said.

Kamikura became interested in athletic training and physical therapy following his anatomy and physiology studies at Metro State in Denver nearly a decade ago.

“I was fascinated learning how the body functions, muscle activation and how that affects the way athletes move,” he said. “My interest in medicine, anatomy, physiology and sports opened up my curiosity. Now, I’ve learned so much working with the trainers at Western, and am ready to bring that experience to high school.”

The position of athletic trainer is an intricate blend between emergency medical service and physical therapy. At GHS,

the trainer is responsible for responding to injured athletes and making a decision on the severity.

In football, a common scenario is concussion protocol, where the trainer will determine if athletes can return to the field. Injuries often range from fractures, dislocations and ligament trauma in the knees and ankles. Following the initial assessment, Kamikura will determine the best course of action, and rehabilitation and treatment in the following weeks and months.

“In my position, I’m responsible for securing the scene, identifying the condition of the athlete and making a decision,” Kamikura said. “Then I focus on the next plan. Do we need to call 911? Should we maintain the patient's condition and then refer them to a physician the next day? Then I communicate that with the coaches, and focus on helping the athletes recover.”

At the Cowboys home opener against Aspen, Gunnison paramedics and a local orthopedic physician volunteered alongside the trainer. Kamikura said the presence of medical officials is reassuring for parents and members of the community, making the GHS football field “the safest place in town.”

Cowboys fall to Cañon City

Throughout the fall sports season, and into the winter Kamikura will become a familiar face along the fields, rinks and courts.

“There is a need in this valley for students to compete in sports safely,” he said. “I’m real-

ly excited to hold this position, and to be helpful for our high school athletes.”

(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@ gunnisontimes.com.)

Kamikura and Coach Paul Vickers discuss the status of injured football players. (Photo by Jacob Spetzler)

Angel Morales receives the ball. (Photo by Jacob Spetzler)

The Cowboy soccer team suffered its second defeat in a row, falling to Cañon City 4-1 at home on Sept. 2. The loss puts GHS at a 2-2 overall record, ahead of its first league match on the road against Roaring Fork on Sept. 7. The Cowboys will return home on Sept. 21 to face Salida in a non-league matchup at 4 p.m.

“The Land Between”

Mountaineers defeat Buffaloes at home opener

Western Colorado University football got off to a fast start on Saturday, Sept. 2 against the West Texas Buffaloes with a 28-6 victory. Deyvon Butler got the Mountaineers on the board with a 2-yard run in the first quarter. Butler secured his second touchdown of the day seven minutes later with another 2-yard carry. The Buffaloes responded in the second with a pair of field goals from Preston Gregg. After a quiet fourth quarter, Braeden Hogan delivered a touchdown for the Mountaineers with a 3-yard run. Butler capped off Western's season opener with a 23-yard rushing touchdown to close out the game. Next up, the Mountaineers will meet University of Texas Permian Basin back at Katy O. Rady Field on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 1 p.m.

Submitted by Larry McDonald

It was in Gunnison-Beckwith Expedition geologist, James Schiel’s book, “The Land Between”, that on September 8, 1853, near present-day Sapinero, he wrote, “Although we knew that we were in the heart of the Utah country, we had only noticed the Indians once.” The expedition, consisting of 18 wagons, dozens of teamsters, numerous scientists and twenty U.S. Army Mounted Dragoons, had had very few interactions with Indians during their first two months of travel while surveying for a possible transcontinental railroad route. And it was expedition botanist, Frederick Creuzfeldt, while out exploring, who suddenly cried, “Indians!”, when he thought he saw an Indian village, only to find out it was a row of rocks in the shape of wigwams. Schiel noted that he was then warned by guide Antoine Leroux to omit any such further excursions, “…if I wanted to keep my scalp.”

Leroux’s warning was well justified, when a few days later, at their camp on the banks of Cebolla Creek, they found themselves surrounded by a crowd of Utes who seemed to have sprung from the earth.

“There were several hundred men, women and children, the men mounted for the most part on pretty Navajo ponies, which they had undoubtedly stolen from the sheep and horse raising Navajos. Some of the squaws, too, were mounted, astride their horses like men. They were mostly well-dressed and did not have that hungry and neglected appearance of many prairie tribes. In a way, they seemed quite prosperous.” After some hostile boasting by their chief,

Leroux declared, “The White Father has many brave warriors, he will punish your transgression. He has sent us through your country to see what his red children are doing.” After that his behavior changed, and the chief declared that the Utes, “had always been the Americans’ best friends.”

The expedition would continue to have regular contact with the Utes, and on the morning of September 17, after being harassed by small bands the day before, the chief of the bands, Si-ree-chi-wap, repaired to Captain Gunnison’s tent to talk and smoke. Gunnison informed him that, “the President had sent him to look for a good road by which his people, who live towards the rising sun, can visit those who live upon the great water where it sets; that the President was their friend, and had authorized him to make a few presents in his name.”

The chief’s son replied, “This is your land, and you can go over it at any time. There are bad Indians over the mountains, who kill white men, but the Utah’s are good, and glad to see the Americans.” Presents were then distributed, pipes smoked, and the expedition moved on.

Si-ree-chi-wap son’s warning would come to fruition on October 26, when a band of renegade Utes, led by the vengeance seeking sons of an elderly chief who had recently been killed while attempting to trade with an emigrant wagon train, massacred Captain Gunnison and seven members of his party. The legacy of Captain John Williams Gunnison lives on at the museum, with many artifacts on display throughout our campus, and we invite those interested in learning more to join us for a special related tour this Saturday, September 9, beginning at 1 p.m.

MUSEUM OPEN DAILY 9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. FROM MAY 15 THROUGH OCTOBER 1.

Admission $15 ages 13+, $5 for ages 6-12, Free for 5 and under. Follow us on Facebook for current information and amazing local history!

(Photos by Jacob Spetzler)

ELDER BEAT The stages of menopause

Knowing where your body is in the process

Menopause marks a moment in a woman’s life when her reproductive years come to an end. It is a natural part of aging and represents when a person has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. It is helpful for women to understand the characteristics and timing of each stage as they age. Here are the three broad categories:

Perimenopause

Although some may think that menopause lasts several years, it actually is a single moment in time when menstruation ceases. However, perimenopause is the period of years leading up to menopause, or when women or people assigned female at birth start to transition to menopause. Perimenopause also is called “perimenopause transition.” It usually starts in one’s forties and lasts until menopause. Gradual changes occur during perimenopause, including skipped periods, longer or shorter periods, hot flashes, or changes in mood. Perimenopause tends to set in anywhere from five to 10 years before a final period.

Menopause

A woman will not know she has reached menopause until it actually has happened and no subsequent periods occur. False alarms are not uncommon. During perimenopause, skipping periods is common, and menstrual cycles may shorten,

causing cycles to come on more frequently and run into one another.

While menopause can occur at any time in one’s 40s or 50s, the average age of occurrence in the United States is 51. The Mayo Clinic says symptoms of menopause can start during perimenopause and persist a few years after a person’s last menstrual cycle. These symptoms include chills, night sweats, hot flashes, sleeping disturbances, mood changes, weight gain and slowed metabolism, vaginal dryness, thinning hair and skin, and loss of breast fullness.

Many women also notice changes in the shape or performance of their bodies, such as changes in the waist and joints and muscles being stiff and achy. There are treatments available that may help with menopausal issues that can be discussed with health providers.

Postmenopause

Postmenopause is the name given to the time after menopause. During this stage, the severity of menopause symptoms may lessen. However, some women may experience symptoms for 10 years or more. Menopause puts people at risk for several health conditions due to reduced estrogen levels, including osteoporosis and heart disease, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

While menopause is a distinct moment in time when reproduction ceases, it is preceded and followed by other stages that affect women in various ways.

(Source: Metro Creative)

Ongoing Senior Services

SENIOR MEALS: The Gunnison Senior Center serves meals to community members ages 55 & up Monday, Wednesday & Friday. Costs: $5.00 per person. Meals feature locally raised produce and meats, and home-style cooked food with homemade breads & desserts. Advance orders requested! 970-641-8272

SENIOR CENTER PROGRAMS

•Sept. 6 (1pm): Book Club. September’s book “The Midst of Winter” by Isabel Allende. Call Judy for more info – 973-584-4987.

Delivery Assistance Hotline: (970) 641-7959 - assistance with ordering, pick-up and delivery of groceries and prescription medications This includes deliveries from the Food Bank

•Sept. 7: Pass Creek Hike. Rated Easy. This is a great hike for all levels – join us to enjoy our beautiful public lands! Hikes fill up so sign up early!

•Sept. 12: Camp Trail Hike. Rated Easy +/Intermediate for length (4.8 miles). This hike will be near Lake City and may offer a chance to stop for a treat there after the hike. RSVP required.

•Sept. 13 (12:45pm): Dried Flower Wreath Making. Led by local flower grower, Alexis Taylor. RSVP required.

Senior Meals: (970) 641-8272 for advance orders OR (970) 641-2107 for same-day service Pick-up or delivery only! Meals served Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays Please note: all meals, all days are $4 during this time Order in advance if possible! Upcoming menu:

• March 27: Lasagna, green beans, salad, garlic bread, dessert

• March 30: Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, corn, rolls, fruit, dessert

Regular Activities: Mondays – Bridge @ 1pm; Tuesdays – Mahjong @ 10am & Canasta @ 2pm; Wednesdays – Book Club @ 1pm on 1st Weds. of month; Thursdays – Bridge @ 1pm; Fridays –Art Club @ 12:30pm & Mahjong @ 1pm. All RSVPs and more info on Senior Center programs: egillis@gunnisonco.gov or 970-641-8272.

• April 1: Stew, carrot/raisin salad, Mandarin oranges, rolls, dessert

FITNESS @ THE REC CENTER – Sign up at the Rec Center front desk!

Senior Shopping Hours:

Mondays & Wednesdays in the Gym

• City Market – Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays (7AM – 8AM)

• Silver Sneakers Boom Muscle @ 9:30am

• Safeway – Tuesdays & Thursdays (7AM – 9AM)

• Silver Sneakers Classic @ 10:15am

• Walmart – Tuesdays (6AM – 7AM)

Tuesdays @ 10AM in the Leisure Pool

• Gunnison Vitamin & Health Food Store – Monday - Saturday (8AM – 9AM)

• Silver Sneakers Splash Class (all levels)

• Clark’s Market (Crested Butte) – Every day (8AM – 9AM)

SENIOR MEALS

Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays @ 11:30am. $5.00 per meals. Advanced orders appreciate (24 hours). Pick-ups between 11am – 11:15am (advanced orders only). ORDER MEALS: 970-6418272

MENU:(all meals come with dessert!)

Self-reporting Form: www.gunnisoncounty.org /covid19. If you have symptoms but are otherwise OK, please fill out the form If you cannot fill out the form, call the Call Center (970) 641-7660

-Mon., Sept. 11: Ham & Green Beans, homemade rolls, Jello with fruit

-Weds., Sept. 13: Baked Chicken, roasted fingerling potatoes, veggies, homemade bread

-Fri., Sept. 15: Taco Salad, veggies

Call Center: (970) 641-7660. If you are having symptoms, cannot fill out the online form, or your symptoms are worsening, call the Call Center DO NOT go to your doctor ’s or the hospital If it is an emergency, call 911

Walk-ins & visitors welcome! Homebound adults ages 55 & up eligible for delivery. If you need a ride, call GVH Senior Bus @ 970-596-6700 (call in advance).

Please practice social isolation. Remain 6 feet or more from others when needing to be out, but staying at home if at all possible.

ONGOING SERVICES

Gunnison Country Food Pantry – Mondays (1pm – 4pm), Wednesdays (1pm – 7pm), Thursdays for 60+ (10am – 2pm). Contact: 970-641-4156, Located on the SW Corner of Main St. & Ohio Ave. GVH Senior Bus: 7 days a week, 9am – 4pm. Call in advance! 970-596-6700. Crested Butte Senior Bus: Monday thru Friday, 9am – 4pm. Services Montrose & Grand Junction for medical appointments. Call at least 1 week in advance, or more. 970-275-4768. Gunnison County HHS Senior Resource Office: Call for appointments. 970-641-3244.

The Gunnison Senior Center & Community Recreation Center is closed until April 30th

(Courtesy Envato Elements)

How did Sue nd this fossil?

“I was pretty lucky,” remembers Sue. “But it does take more than just luck,” she admits. Sue Hendrickson also knew the right kind of rock to explore.

Fossil Hunters Know Rocks

Different layers of rocks were formed at different times in the earth’s history. This chart, called a stratigraphic column, can help you discover in which kinds of rocks T. rex fossils could be found.

Time Rock Layer Description

Paleocene 56 to 65 million years ago

Cretaceous 66 to 144 million years ago

Mudstone— ood plain deposit, contains mammal fossils

Sandstone—river deposit

Shale—deep ocean deposit, contains ammonites, mosasaurs and plesiosaurs

Below is a drawing of Sue—the largest, most complete and best preserved fossil of a Tyrannosaurus rex ever found.

Why is this T. rex named Sue?

Because it was found by Sue Hendrickson. She found the fossilized bones of this amazing T. rex in the summer of 1990 when she was a fossil hunter for the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research in Hill City, South Dakota.

Think I look good now? You should have seen me about 67 million years ago!

Follow these steps to draw a dinosaur. Have a family member try, too!

Draw lightly, you can erase this later!

Jurassic 145 to 199 million years ago

Triassic 200 to 251 million years ago

Paleozoic 252 to 541 million years ago

Chalk—ocean deposit, contains marine reptiles

Sandstone—river deposit

Limestone—shallow ocean deposit, contains shells

• Color layers that could include T. rex fossils BLUE.

For amazing facts about Sue, visit: fieldmuseum.org/ blog/sue-t-rex

Where would you look?

Apply what you learned from the stratigraphic column to figure out where in this map you would look for dinosaur fossils.

Standards Link: Earth Science: Students know that fossils provide evidence about the animal that lived long ago.

Over millions of years, layers of rock build up, burying—and preserving— fossils.

In North America, Tyrannosaurus rex lived between 66 to 90 million years ago. They did not have wings to y or ns to swim.

• Color layers that do not contain T. rex fossils because they were deposited under an ocean YELLOW. Stratigraphic

The Importance of Sue

Most of Sue’s bones are in excellent condition and have a high ______ of surface detail. Sixty-seven million years after her death, it is still possible to see fine ______ showing where ________, tendons and other soft tissues rested against, or attached to, the bone.

skeletons complete degree details muscles

Copyright © The Field Museum

Standards Link: Life Science: Students know some kinds of organisms that once lived on Earth have completely disappeared.

GEOLOGICAL COLUMN MILLION PRESERVED SWIM SPECIMENS SURFACE ROCKS WINGS FOSSILS SOFT BONES HIGH

BLUE SUE

Look through the newspaper and find 5 or more adjectives that would describe the T. rex called Sue. Put the adjectives in ABC order.

Standards Link: Spelling: Put words in alphabetic order.

E L S E N O B R S U A W H R N O G S L C G E M C N T N B I X U K I M F E H G L S W X W O M N O I L L I M S I C L M A R I N E C F O S S I L S F E D E V R E S E R P T G E C A F R U S

With hundreds of topics, every Kid Scoop printable activity pack features six-to-seven pages of high-interest extra learning activities for home and school! Get your free sample today at:

This week’s word:

FOSSIL

Fossil is a noun that means the remains of a living animal or plant from long ago.

Try to use the word fossil in a sentence today when talking with your friends and family members.

Dinosaur Obituaries

, why and how

First day excitement

Little students arrived at the Lake Preschool and Kindergarten on Wednesday, Aug. 30 for their first day. Bubbles and smiles were abundant.

(Photos by Alex McCrindle)