Crested Butte approves Whetstone utility link
Agreement gives staff 100 days to resolve major issues
Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer
County planners inched closer to breaking ground at Whetstone after Crested Butte Town Council approved a request to connect the housing project to the town’s utilities. But the agreement does not provide answers to serious financial hurdles, which threaten to kill the project.
Whetstone is Gunnison County’s over $130 million, 252-unit affordable housing development, planned for just south of Crested Butte. HANG ON TO YOUR
Country Meadows residents seek park ownership again
Western enrollment down nearly 200 students
Homeowners association asks county for help
Bella Biondini Times Editor
Country Meadows residents are trying to purchase the mobile home park for a second time.
On June 21, owner Ski Town Village LLC put the mobile home park up for sale, just two years after it was purchased. The notice followed months of unresolved electrical outages at a number of homes in the park. The incident is still under investigation by the state’s Division of
Housing.
This month, the Gunnison County District Court granted the Division of Housing's request for a temporary restraining order against Ski Town Village. It requires the landlord to obtain a state electrical permit, provide alternative housing for the affected homes and reimburse the residents for the rent paid between February and June. A hearing for the Division's preliminary injunction request is set for July 18. The Times has reached out to park manager Mark Hodge multiple times with no response. Under Colorado’s Mobile Home Park Act, residents have 90 days to make an offer and arrange financing. Homeowner
Numbers suffer from WorkDay, FAFSA issues
Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer
Western Colorado University’s enrollment is down nearly 200 students from last year. The low numbers are a result, in part, of delays in the federal financial student aid process and the university’s implementation of a new computer software system.
Western has to maintain its enrollment in order to keep perpupil revenue coming in, and the school’s finances healthy. Its goal this year was to keep growing its on-campus student pop-
ulation following pandemic-era declines. But issues with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a new operations management software system called WorkDay complicated the process. As a result, fewer students — new, continuing and re-admits — have enrolled for the upcoming school year.
The university has not yet calculated the exact impact on revenues, as enrollment is still changing day-by-day, Chief Financial Officer Ian Higgins told the Times. However, due to increased enrollment of non-resident students (freshmen or transfers not from the state of Colorado), who typically pay more, the financial impact of fewer students might lessen.
“As I think about next fiscal
HORSES: Cowboys from across the country traveled to Gunnison to put their bronc and bull riding skills to the test during three nights of Cattlemen’s Days rodeos from July 11-13. For more, see B8. (Photo by Bella Biondini)
“I get a lot of joy seeing improvement, and watching these students unlock new problems they never thought they could solve.”
— Chris Lindner, former professional climber
MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT
In January of this year, the City published part one to a collection of FAQs regarding the Water Treatment Plant. This publication is part two of that same collection.
WHY DOES OUR COMMUNITY NEED A WATER TREATMENT PLANT?
See story on B10
BRIEFS
Fire breaks out at landfill
On Monday evening, a large fire broke out at the Gunnison County Landfill just a couple miles east of town.
“It was burning pretty high and the whole face was on fire,” County Manager Matthew Birnie said at a commissioners meeting on July 15.
The Gunnison Fire Department fought the flames until midnight, and were forced to build a fire line through the landfill. The entire Public Works crew responded to the incident and stayed through the night until the fire was under control.
By the time Birnie gave his update on Tuesday morning, the fire had cooled down and was smoldering. It is still unclear what caused the fire, but Bimie said he suspected it was a lightning strike.
Mandatory recount issued for HD58
On July 15, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold ordered a mandatory recount of the results for the Republican primary race for Colorado’s House District 58 (HD58).
After the final count, Larry Don Suckla had received 50.01% (6,488 votes) and J. Mark Roeber received 49.99% (6,485 votes) — with just three votes separating the winner. Because the differential in this race is within 0.5% of the winner’s total, a recount is required by law. All eight counties within HD58 have been notified to begin preparations to proceed with a recount, which must be completed by Friday, July 26.
HD58 comprises Dolores, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose, Ouray and San Miguel counties, as well as portions of Delta and Montezuma. Once the recount begins, all eight counties will work with their bipartisan canvas boards to complete a logic and accuracy test (LAT) on the required tabulation equipment.
Our community needs new water system infrastructure to meet regulatory requirements that ensure safe drinking water. Technically, the City is not currently in violation, but the City knows that our aquifer is influenced by what happens on the surface and that means more advanced treatment is required to address potential contaminates. This is not optional. To date, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has not placed the City on notice; however, when it does, the City will have 18 months to provide additional treatment measures. These laws are based upon science and ensure our community has quality drinking water for years to come. Events like wildfires or chemical spills and even pesticides can negatively impact our water sources. To protect the public’s health, it is critical that our community has multiple ways to adapt to unknowns and changes.
WHERE WILL THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT BE LOCATED?
The City doesn’t currently have a water treatment plant. The new water treatment plant facility will be located on the VanTuyl Ranch at the existing Headquarters location. All treatment occurs at the wellhouses. In addition to a water treatment plant, new wells and piping are required. An infiltration gallery will also be constructed to help collect water closer to the Gunnison River. An infiltration gallery is basically a horizontal well made of perforated pipe(s) that collect water. In the future a new reservoir and storage tank may be constructed but these are long-term needs and not currently a top priority.
WHY CAN’T THE CITY FIND ANOTHER LOCATION?
The City thoroughly considered several options for locating the new facility. Many factors come into the evaluation. Treatment facilities require land for the building, filters, pumps, and storage. The location needs to be close to existing services, so extensions are not too costly. Also, proximity to the river is advantageous. The City purchased the Ranch for the purpose of drinking water and additional water rights exist at this location that need to be put into beneficial use. For all of these reasons, the City Council made a final decision to locate the facility at the Ranch.
WHAT WILL THE NEW FACILITY LOOK LIKE?
The City has not started the facility design process yet. The facility’s height, scale, and bulk will be kept to a minimum to maintain viewsheds and respect the character of the ranch. Advancements in technologies allow treatment equipment to be housed in buildings, unlike past approaches with big footprints and large tanks that feel industrial. Initial concepts reflect barn-style structures.
WHEN WILL THE PROJECT BE CONSTRUCTED?
The timing of construction depends upon funding that has not yet been secured. Assuming the rate study and key portions of the design are completed in 2024, construction could begin as soon as 2025 and is expected to take approximately five years to complete all initial priority projects. Construction timing is dependent on receiving funding, phasing and the contractor, equipment and material availability.
ARE MY RATES GOING UP? HOW WILL THE CITY PAY FOR THIS PROJECT?
Yes. In 2022, the City Council approved an initial increase to water user rates of 25% for three years. That said, before making substantial investments in equipment or construction, the City is conducting a comprehensive rate study in 2024 to ensure that future rate increases remain responsible. City Council recognizes that many in our community struggle to pay utility bills at the current rates. Public hearings and multiple notices will be provided prior to any rate increases.
MORE INFORMATION TO COME: As this project progresses the City will continue to share information with the community in monthly articles, the News section of our website at gunnisonco.gov/News, and at City Council meetings. City Council agendas are posted at gunnisonco. gov/Council, the Friday before Council meetings and on facebook.com/ CityofGunnison the Monday before Council meetings.
Audrey Jean Miller
Audrey Jean “Sweet” Miller, a longtime resident of Gunnison, passed away on Friday, June 28, 2024. She is preceded in death by her parents, Ralph Mike and Wilma Sweet and her sister, Betty Eberhard.
Audrey was born in Salida, Colorado on August 25, 1936 and died on June 28, 2024 in Ona, Florida with family by her side. She dedicated her life first and foremost to raising her children, pouring her heart and soul into their upbringing. She is survived by her loving children, daughter, Michelle Lincoln (partner, James Violett), son, Michael Smith (wife, Allison) and daughter, Heidi Peterson (husband, Jim Miles). She has seven lovely grandchildren, Tyler Lincoln, William Lincoln, Morgan Stahler, Laycee Lowry, Scott Sellers, Sam Peterson, Aiden Peterson, her bonus grandchildren, Michelle Gallowich, Melissa McLeod, Billy Miles and 14 beautiful great-grandchildren.
Beyond her role as a devoted mother, Audrey spent her working career at Western State College for over 37 years. She served as a civil servant in an executive position and was able to use her skills to benefit the inner workings of the institution. She was very proud of Western and was an avid recruiter wherever she traveled. Her career as a civil servant and devoted mother were only matched by her passion for outdoors and traveling.
Audrey’s adventurous spirit led her on numerous journeys by land, sea and air, exploring the world with enthusiasm and wonder. Audrey’s insatiable curiosity and love for knowledge were defining aspects of her character. She had a particular fascination with historical spots, which was always present in her travels and daily
life. This passion drove her to seek out and explore significant sites, constantly expanding her understanding of the worlds of history and culture. In 19992000, Audrey worked on a floating university semester at sea. She recently verbalized “It was one of the best things I’ve ever done.”
Audrey started creating a lasting legacy of community service while working at Western. She was instrumental in developing programs that empowered women to further their education, opening doors for many to pursue new opportunities and personal growth. Her innovative program, “Women in Tradition,” earned her the Governor’s Award. This model is used today in universities around the nation.
Audrey volunteered for the Opportunity Shop, Young at Heart, the high school hot lunch program, the RSVP retired senior volunteer program and PEO. In her retirement years, she dedicated her efforts to establishing the first senior center and associated programs, significantly improving quality of life for seniors in the area. She volunteered at the Gunnison Pioneer Museum every Saturday for her entire retirement. She also volunteered many hours to the oral history project, promoting preservation of some of Gunnison's finest.
Audrey was a great bridge player and enjoyed her group for many years. She participated in exercise her entire life. Cross country skiing was a particular passion and gave her some of her fondest memories. Audrey drove just about every back road in Colorado. While “tullin’ in the hills,” as she would call it, she became fascinated with disappearing outhouses. She decided to do research to try and catalog the remaining outhouses here in Colorado.
She wrote a paper about them and it’s featured at the museum.
Audrey was a ferocious reader, particularly historical, always sharing her newly-gained insights. She loved antiques and working in her yard, and she had the best raspberry patch.
Family and friends will miss her sparkle.A graveside service will be held on August 24.
Richard
“Dick” Emmitt Nolan
Richard “Dick” Emmitt Nolan, 72 years old, of Gunnison died in Gunnison at his home on January 10, 2024.
Dick was born in Littleton, Colorado in 1951 to Weneford “Gene” Nolan and Inola C. Nolan. As a child, he was introduced to the Boy Scouts of America. He worked hard as a scout and worked his way up through all of the ranks, which fed his passion for the outdoors.
Dick attended Western Colorado University in Gunnison and received his bachelor’s degree in business. He was also a national champion wrestler. He attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado and received his master’s degree in business. He then moved back to Gunnison to be near friends and started working construction. Dick was an avid outdoorsman who loved to share his passion with everyone, whether it was hunting, fishing, camping or snowmobiling.
Dick is preceded in death by his parents, Gene and Inola Nolan, his sister, Rodena Childress and his nephew, Wade Richards. He is survived by his niece, Wendy Haak and other extended family.
Andy Medina
A celebration of life for Andy Medina will be held on July 27 at 2 p.m. at Legion Park. The American Legion will officiate the service and it will begin promptly at 2 p.m. Please bring a dessert or side dish to share, but mainly bring great stories of the man we loved.
Katherine Haynes
Katherine “Kathy” Haynes passed away on June 7, 2024. Please join her family for a funeral mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Church on July 31 at 11 a.m. Please note that this is an updated time from her obituary published on June 20. A luncheon celebrating Kathy will immediately follow at Webster Hall. A rosary service will be held on Tuesday evening, July 30 at 7 p.m. at St. Peter’s.
Gems from the BiBle ARE YOU AFRAID?
The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
~Psalm 27:1
Selected by Renee Balch & Leta Haverly
970.641.1414
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Supporting local journalism begins and ends with you
It’s July in the Gunnison Valley and I am chasing the warmth and the long, sunny days like many others. There’s no time to waste, or to consider how another year has come and gone. I know it’s summer from the ache of my legs from miles in the backcountry, the truly terrible tan lines that never seem to fade, the mosquito bites that cover my body and the whine of the fan. Who could complain?
But there’s one thing. The summer months, however joyous, come with the bitter taste of burnout at the office. It’s difficult to ignore even when counteracted with wildflower gazing on the weekends, and long evening bike rides. One of the only medications for the ailment is reflecting on why I do this job (or a vacation). Without the “why,” the incessant pace of the local news cycle will reduce you to the walking dead.
2024
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.
a love of storytelling, but from a love of people and place. We care, so we write. And we do so with fervor.
But to sustain this momentum, we need your support. While we’re accustomed to staying out of the limelight, our elected officials and community leaders should not miss opportunities to uplift the work of local journalists, both in this county and across the Western Slope. During a time when the public's faith in the media is waning, we work tirelessly to prove otherwise. The Times remains a source of reliable information, and voice for people who live and work here.
Hearing leaders continuously repeat the phrase “In the Colorado Sun …” is like getting dead-legged from behind. It’s become such a regular occurrence that we’ve started a count on my office cork board that’s nearing 20 tally marks. While I also read the Sun, and believe its journalists produce some of the best reporting in the state, each tally counts a time when the role of local journalists was forgotten.
the Times on air for “tirelessly chronicling the impacts of the Highway 50 bridge closure.” It cited Harrison’s story “It takes three villages” with the quote: “For all, the closure of Blue Mesa bridge is a reminder of place … that on the Western Slope, the bonds that keep goods flowing and life here practical are not only necessary, but fragile at best.”
Don’t get me wrong, the local spotlight feels good, along with the personal notes we occasionally receive from readers. But what we lose as a community, in the few moments it takes to acknowledge the local reporter in the room, outweighs them.
In an era when small town newspapers — the headwaters of the news ecosystem — are vanishing, these moments are a chance for the Gunnison Valley to say, “They matter to us.”
ers’ job to seek the shocking or unusual (think the Gold Creek Campground tragedy). It’s not a bad thing to have eyes on our little corner of the world, but it sometimes feels like we are an exotic caged animal. The Front Range pokes sticks at us from a distance.
If you’ve run into me on a Thursday, I am rarely myself. My colleagues and I have stayed up late each night, only to wake up early, to publish another edition of the newspaper. Add the chaos of Cattlemen's Days, the Fourth of July and a high page count to the mix and you can see why it’s hard not to wish for the comfort of shoulder season.
Over the last four years, I’ve found the only way to make it through is leaning on our team’s desire to see this community thrive, work through conflict and move confidently into the future — especially during a time when our country feels divided. It comes not only from
LETTERS
A well-oiled machine
Editor:
We have made the Gunnison Cattlemen's Days our oncea-year go to event for the last three years. The difference this year over the last two years was amazing. Weeks before the event, we started seeing posts about upcoming events. 4-H fair highlights, the location and days for the carnival, local events occurring in the arena and the golf tournament. Previous years we had to search the web just to find the date and times for the rodeo. During our visit, post-
Earlier this month, Gunnison County hosted Sen. John Hickenlooper for a briefing on the impacts on the Blue Mesa bridge closure. He joined county commissioners and leaders from around the valley. A member of the group highlighted the Sun’s coverage of the closure as an example of “great, interesting” reporting. Times reporter Abby Harrison, who has exhaustively reported on the bridge since it shut down in April, sat a few feet away. She was the only person in the room not introduced to Hickenlooper and his team.
Hearing our leaders’ constant praise of the Sun (you could insert any statewide or national publication) tells residents that this is the journalism they read. Therefore, this is the journalism they value, and the stories that matter to them.
In June, 9News recognized
ing continued to keep us up to date on the highlights of the fair, everything coming up and all the winners.
At the rodeos we attended, the spectator areas were easily discerned, vendors were so fun, food offerings were good, your royalty were so gracious and welcoming and this year the rodeo itself seemed like a well-oiled machine. Andy was great as always, never missing a beat. John Harrison is one of our favorite entertainers and the Latigo riding team was electric.
My company sponsored the rodeo a couple years ago. We weren't thanked, never saw any
Small town journalism is not immune to the upheaval in the news industry. The rate of local newspaper closures accelerated to 2.5 a week in 2023, according to a report from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. The result is widening news deserts in communities not unlike Gunnison. As quoted in the Guardian last month, “if local newspapers are dying, will local democracy die with them?”
Statewide news begins here, at our businesses, on our public lands and in our courtrooms. The Denver Post, the Sun and Colorado Politics generate a large portion of their news from issues that originate in “small town” Colorado.
At times, it creates roadblocks in our own reporting. When I covered evictions at the Frontier Land mobile home park, the former Housing Authority Director advised me to leave the residents be. They had recently been photographed and interviewed by the Sun during a time of upheaval.
Larger news outlets come and go almost as quickly as they arrive. It’s often these report-
mention and there wasn't any social media. The event seemed to be just going away. This year, even with the bridge and detour (we drove from Mesa County), the event was so vibrant. We felt so in contact and welcomed. Congratulations and we'll see you next year.
Ben and April Nichols Mesa County
Local reporters are the last to leave the conversation, and continue to write long after the eye-catching headlines have faded. These are our neighbors, coworkers, family members and friends. The newspaper sits alongside you in late-night public meetings and at memorials. We cheer at sports games and celebrate the milestones we reach as a community. Like you, we experience the challenges of life on the Western Slope, and embrace what it means to live in a mountain town: the good, the bad and the ugly. Due to our newsroom’s limited capacity (two news reporters, a photographer and a sports editor covering the more than 3,000 square miles of Gunnison County), it is unglamorous work. Some stories simply lay out just the facts. It means breaking news like the start of the Lowline Fire and writing stories about the inner workings of the city and county, where elected officials make decisions that shape our small town life. Where else does this news exist but in the pages of our local newspapers? It’s not flashy, but it’s what matters to the people who live here, who see themselves reflected in our pages each week. And we are incredibly lucky to have not only one, but two healthy newspapers in our valley. Stand up for local journalism, for the world would be a darker place without it. The stories begin here, with you at their center.
(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Look less at media, more in the mirror?
Editor:
Few would argue, I suspect, that the tenor of public discourse in our country has deteriorated in recent times. The media often take the brunt of the blame.
And so it was in a letter published in the July 11 edition of the Gunnison Country Times. The writer decried the “sycophants” who work at the “alphabet soup” of media outlets — excepting the presumably honorable journalists who work for “conservative media.”
Bella Biondini Times Editor
I have not dedicated my professional life to studying the media and the inherent biases that inevitably seep in when any human beings attempt to observe, understand and relate the state of the world as it unfolds in all its chaotic complexity around us. However, I can state, as a matter of “fact,” that even a casual observer of mainstream media has had ample opportunity to watch, read or listen to concerns about the age-related cognitive and general health conditions of a certain 81-year-old since before he was even elected president.
No shortage of voices, inside and out of that particular media bubble, have pontificated on this subject. Here’s another news flash: The pope is Catholic and bears do indeed poop in the woods.
So here’s a thought (a naive one, admittedly): Instead of using sweeping generalizations to point the finger of blame at a perceived injustice perpetrated against the bedrock of democracy — that being an informed and engaged citizenry — perhaps we’d be better served if we spent a little less time staring at those scorn-inducing screens of our TVs and computers and instead occasionally glance in the mirror.
There, we could ask what that person is doing to address the plague of incivility that is doing far more to endanger the future of our republic than any government action or inaction, including any media outlet’s reporting on the same.
Chris Dickey Gunnison
Re: State homeschool law
Editor:
In response to the ‘notice’ to homeschool students in last week’s paper, parents and guardians should be aware of these additional items:
The state has an excellent, comprehensive homeschool law, thanks to many smart, for-
ward-thinking individuals who paved the way several decades ago. Parents may submit their 14-day notice of intent to any school district in the state. It does not need to be submitted to the school district where the family resides. Parents have two other choices for keeping homeschool records. Neither of these are associated with public schools, nor with ‘declaring intent’.
First, they may enroll their children in a private, or independent school for the sole purpose of record keeping, with no need to actually take classes at the school. There are many varied and affordable independent school options state-wide, and two or more families may even form their own. Second, they may designate a certified teacher, either themselves or someone else, to teach their children. There are no ‘notice of intent’ requirements, nor public school oversight, with either of these choices.
The Home School Legal Defense Association is an excellent resource for homeschooling families. Contact them with questions and concerns, and for curriculum and teaching suggestions. To learn more about state homeschooling laws, visit hslda.org.
Anne Linville Gunnison
Our first home
Editor:
We would like to send out a huge thank you to the Gunnison-Crested Butte Association of Realtors (GCAR) for their generous gift that has helped us purchase our first residence.
The GCAR homebuyer assistance program has given us a little breathing room to deal with some of the unplanned costs of closing and moving into our very own place, which certainly helps with our stress level. After celebrating seven years of marriage this week, we
The auctioneer’s chant
are excited to finally have the chance to live together without roommates for the first time.
And I suspect that our current roommates, my brother and his expecting wife, will also be happy to have a little more space. Thanks again! We really appreciate that you are helping to ease the burden of locals when purchasing a home.
We have written you a poem: What is a home?
It's a place of rest
It's a place to nest
It's where your gear is stored while you sleep
It's where you watch the snow build up deep
It can keep you warm and cozy
Or hide you from that neighbor, so nosy
It can welcome a treasured friend
Or be where an epic ride does end
But one thing about our home is true
The purchase was made easier by you!
Travis and Elisha Guyser Gunnison
A plea for the people
Editor:
In recent weeks our community has suffered a severe loss. To my knowledge, we only had this delectable vittle for a few weeks before the surprise departure, and what a deprivation it has been. Our freezer shelves are empty and the ice cream shop, a sad stop, having to suppress a craving with other-also delicious, but not the one-flavors.
This letter is a plea to Third Bowl to bring back the “salted almond” ice cream! The best almond ice cream ever tasted, we — Gunnison County — cannot finish summer without it. It’s messed up. Hear our cry.
Josie Tuthill Gunnison
Spectators packed the Fred Field Center to the brim for the Gunnison County 4-H Junior Livestock Auction on July 13. Bidders caught up with 4-H students during a barbeque before bidding on award-winning cattle, goats, sheep, swine and rabbits. The 4-H results will be published in next week’s edition.
• 1880tapas.com Happy Hour daily from 4:30-5:30pm Escape the summer heat with our refreshing Dishes & Cocktails
July
8 am Fun Run/Walk, 9th & State Street 9 am Kids Fishing Contest, Kid's Pond 10:30 am Games, Basketball Court Noon Meal, Newcomb Center 1:30 pm drawing, Newcomb Center 3 pm Egg/Balloon Toss, Pavilion 4 pm Duck Race, 2nd and Main Street
Pitkin’s Got Talent, Town Hall
(Photo by Mariel Wiley)
The project’s creators hope it vastly expands the Gunnison Valley’s stagnant rental market and provides options for the “missing middle,” those who make too much to qualify for federally-subsidized housing, but not enough to buy in the open market.
“Many of our businesses don't have workers … That is a problem that's just going to intensify,” said Crested Butte resident and Valley Housing Fund Board President Scott Desmarais during public comment. “I'd like to make sure that we're all aware of this opportunity, the amount of impact it could have in housing.”
After nearly three years and $5 million spent on design and engineering, the county is now pressed against a narrowing timeline. If costs inflate too much, rents could no longer serve the valley’s workers. Time is of the essence as county planners need permits from the state to issue bonds this winter and break ground on utilities next spring.
“The county represents our community ... And I think the consequences of not acting are severe.”
Ian Billick
Crested Butte mayor
Council approved the utility connection at a meeting on July 15. Councilors also approved an agreement that requires the county to initiate annexation within five years of Whetstone’s completion.
The utility extension agreement secures the town’s commitment to connect the development to its water and wastewater system. This allows the county to begin a permit approval process with the state and move Whetstone along in its own land use approval process. If the county can’t get state approvals this year to break ground in the spring, the project will likely no longer be possible, County Commissioner Laura Puckett Daniels said.
As the agreement stands now, the county must pay a $7.5 million tap fee in a lump sum two months before utility service starts. But were the county forced to make that payment, the project would become too expensive to keep rents affordable, Assistant County Manager for Operations and Sustainability John Cattles told the Times. The same goes for the Brush Creek Road roundabout and underpass; the agreement requires the county to complete
the intersection before, or along with, Whetstone.
“The terms as they're written right now are financially untenable for the project,” Puckett Daniels said. “So [we’re] wanting to make sure we all stay at the table. We're committed to a timeline that works for everybody.”
As a result, the agreement gives the town and county 100 days for “good faith negotiations” to figure out how to manage the tap fees and adjust the Brush Creek Road timeline to keep the project feasible. If the county and town can’t come to a consensus after those 100 days, the county could either back out, ending the project, or amend the agreement with town approval to continue negotiations.
During public comment, numerous Crested Butte residents urged the town not to sign the agreement out of concern for the way it was drafted, and because of lingering questions about financing tap fees.
“What we really have is a bunch of terrific ideas that are in process,” forty-year, parttime Crested Butte resident Jim Watson said. “But we don't have any agreements.”
“How's this going to work so we don't get farther down the road — day 73, day 89, day 107 or day 742 — and say, ‘we really bungled this and the county has spent so much money, the town has spent money and we've gone too far?” Crested Butte Resident Paula Martin said.
Utility capacity questions
Connecting Whetstone, which would represent about 7% of the town’s total water and wastewater capacity, will bring the water and wastewater system to its limit. In this calculation, town staff also accounted for future developments like Mineral Point, the town’s coming affordable housing project.
For this reason, plugging Whetstone in has pros and cons, according to a town staff report. It prevents the construction of another wastewater treatment site, which would compound the burden on the Slate River by adding another discharger. And, the county will be responsible for all maintenance and construction of Whetstone’s utility infrastructure. However, connecting Whetstone could limit the town’s ability to support future development while accelerating the need to replace and repair utility infrastructure.
“We need to be thoughtful about this right now because we're taking everything we have between Whetstone and our affordable housing initiatives,” said Crested Butte Public Works Director Shea Earley.
So far, the town’s utility modeling for Whetstone’s has shown that while the town can provide water service to Whetstone right now, the wastewater treatment system might need to be upgraded. However, the data is not yet final and Whetstone’s utility demands are not yet fully understood, Earley said.
And, council’s decision on whether or not to extend the payment timeline of the tap fee depends, in part, on whether plugging Whetstone into the system triggers the need for fur-
ther expansion of the wastewater treatment facility. If that were the case, having the $7.5 million up front would be more critical, Crested Butte Mayor Ian Billick told the Times
One way the town can reduce the burden on the wastewater system, and therefore the need for an immediate expansion at the treatment plant, is to reduce inflow and infiltration (I&I).
Infiltration is the amount of groundwater seeping into sewer pipes through cracks and leaky pipes. Inflow is stormwater that enters the system through illegal basement sump pumps or foundation drains.
Theoretically, the town could free up “room” in the current system for Whetstone by increasing compliance. Earley estimates most of the town’s I&I is mostly lack of compliance after years of repairs like lining manholes and repairing pipe. For example, last year the department found a business on Elk Avenue with an illegal sump pump that was dumping 180 gallons a minute into the system — running 24 hours a day, that leakage could have been eating up to a third of the entire system’s daily capacity.
Risks to all
The county has asked the town to extend the $7.5 million tap fee payment over 15 years, reducing its initial bond amount and allowing it to use rent revenues to cover the cost. Already, the county agreed to pay any unforeseen costs to the entire system, directly attributable to Whetstone, for the first five years.
The $5 million the county has sunk into Whetstone so far is a mix of its housing fund (not related to the Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority) and county reserves. The town has also spent money on Whetstone with an engineering study and financial impact study of annexation.
“Every day we spend money on engineering plans, that can be money well spent answering these questions and pursuing this project if there's a project at the end,” Puckett Daniels said. “But if there's no project at the end, we'd rather cut our losses sooner.”
Not signing the utility agreement or seeing Whetstone fail could substantially increase risk for Crested Butte residents, Billick said. Taxpayers and rate-
payers would benefit from the addition of $7.5 million into the town’s enterprise fund, supporting future improvements in the utility system. Adding ratepayers also spreads fixed costs out for everyone. And, the county’s project will help the town keep its servers, builders and teachers who are being chased from the North Valley by lack of housing.
“The county is us, right?” he said. “This is not a private developer that's out there just trying to make a lot of money. The county represents our community … And I think the consequences of not acting are severe.”
(Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Crested Butte Community School second graders visited the Whetstone site last year. (Courtesy Gunnison County)
The county held a number of design charrettes so community members could weigh in on Whetstone’s unit types and amenities.
association president Elizabeth McGee implored Gunnison County Commissioners at a July 2 meeting to consider investing in the land and pursuing a loan proposal with state and community partners. At $5.7 million, the purchase price is more than double what it was in 2021.
“We know the infrastructure needs in our park far exceed what any private investor would ever take on without serious expense to the residents … [But] we want a long-term, substantial solution for our park,” McGee said.
Country Meadows, recently renamed Ski Town Village, is located just north of Gunnison. The mobile home park consists of 52 homes, all of which are individually owned by the residents who pay lot rent to the owner.
The previous owner first put the mobile home park up for sale in 2021. Fearing an investor would buy the park and force them out, residents banded together to try and purchase the property. They formed a new homeowners association, called Organización de Nuevas Esperanzas (ONE). But the timeline was too tight, and after spotty communication with the former owner, the deal fell through.
McGee told the Times she feels more confident this time around to transition Country Meadows to a communityowned mobile home park — even after the “rollercoaster ride” that defined the last three years, she said. Residents have dealt with ongoing maintenance problems and filed a lawsuit to fight a substantial rent increase after the park changed ownership. The case closed with a private settlement in 2023.
“We’ve continued to work with our volunteers and lawyers … I think we are all pretty prepared this time around,” she said.
The ONE Association’s first step is getting an appraisal, and then finding loan and grant options to determine if a local government or nonprofit — or a group of those entities — is willing to step forward as a borrower. ONE would not necessarily have to raise money upfront, and could repay the loan through rent payments over time.
According to Annie Beall,
the board intends to approach the county, City of Gunnison, the Valley Housing Fund and the Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority about their potential role in developing a loan proposal. Beall is a Gunnison-based mobile home park advocate and has been working with ONE as a volunteer since 2021.
While the purchase is complicated by the high price and a “Pandora’s box” of infrastructure needs, grants designed to preserve and improve manufactured communities exist, Beall told commissioners.
“As the days of the trusted ‘mom and pop’ ownership slip away into decades past, this is where we have the opportunity for community ownership,” Beall said during the meeting. “There are now more resources than ever emerging for municipal nonprofit and community land trust, acquisition of mobile home parks, as well as grants and low interest loans for infrastructure investments and cooperative management.”
The three-month window to organize funding expires in mid-September. County Commissioner Liz Smith said she had already begun to chase down possible resources linked to the recently passed state legislature such as Proposition 123. This ballot measure allowed the state to invest a portion of sales tax revenue into affordable housing.
Recent changes to the Mobile Home Park Act have granted homeowners more rights and protection, including requiring park owners to pay fair market value for homes if residents are displaced, Smith said. Another update requires the owner to “negotiate in good faith” if presented with a resident offer to buy the park.
“I'm not saying that I can guarantee a different outcome,” Smith said. “But I can say that from a procedural standpoint, we're in a different place than we were in 2021 … We recognize that you all are essential to the community. This is workforce housing, it's affordable housing. And it's a tremendously important thing for us to protect.”
(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)
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The Country Meadows mobile home park, recently renamed Ski Town Village, is located just north of the City of Gunnison. (Photo by Mariel Wiley)
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Titus 2:11
Western from A1
year, this has to turn around, period,” President Brad Baca said in a June 27 Board of Trustees meeting. “If this is our only priority next year, then it is going to be our only priority. I'm committing to you as president that there's nothing more important because these numbers are going the wrong way.”
Western’s goal for the 2024-25 school year, following years of population fluxes in on-campus students due to the pandemic, was to grow its enrollment to just over 1,650 undergraduate students. As of July 16, only 1,455 students had enrolled in on-campus courses. That represents an 11% decrease in overall enrollment over last year, Vice President of Marketing and Enrollment Leslie Taylor told
The drop is due in part to FAFSA, a program that allows students to apply for financial assistance from the federal government and offset the cost of college. Last year, the government overhauled the system in a bid to make the process simpler and support lower-income applicants. Instead, applicants were plagued with confusion
Like universities across Colorado and the country, FAFSA issues delayed Western’s financial aid award notifications by over two and a half months. Normally, the university expects students to make housing deposits around this same time, an indicator they have decided to attend the university. As a result of the federal aid delays, fewer students made campus enrollment and housing deposits by the usual mid-May prior-
The FAFSA delays were made worse by complications implementing WorkDay, an $11 mil-
lion IT system that manages finances, business operations and student and staff information. Last fall, WorkDay issues — combined with a period of staff shortages in the university’s finance department — led to a more than $1 million budget shortfall that’s since been remedied. In March, the board freed up an additional $1.1 million to allow administrators to problem-solve WorkDay issues.
The software the university used in previous years ushered admitted students into the university’s student information system overnight. But with Workday, that period stretched into days, creating confusion and delays for prospective students. And, students had difficulty accessing their financial aid award information.
As Taylor predicted at the start of federal FAFSA delays, the most impacted population has been Western’s new lower-income and first-generation students, who mostly come from Colorado. First-generation deposits were down 6% from last year. However, non-resident students — generally less impacted by FAFSA issues — currently make up about 40% of new students, 8% higher than last year.
The university expects to enroll another 70-100 students by the fall. This could be a mix of deposited students who have yet to formally enroll, transfers and continuing students that waited until the last minute to register for classes. But current enrollment trends reveal that it’s possible the university will end up at or near its “worst case scenario,” of 1,520 students. The university is now pressured to keep its retention up, making sure that every student it enrolls in the fall stays throughout the year.
Admitting those missing students between now and August isn't impossible, Taylor said, but she worries about students who
are no longer just not considering Western, but questioning college in general. And, despite the fact that a higher proportion of non-resident students improves the university’s financial prospects, it weighs on Western’s charge to provide an affordable education to Coloradoans.
“That’s our primary mission and goal, to educate Colorado students,” Taylor said. “Where are those Colorado residents going to school? If they’re not going to school, we need to reengage with them.”
The university continues to reach out to prospective students and host events for incoming freshmen. For example, the university chips in for prospective students within a 200-mile radius to get a day pass at Crested Butte Mountain Resort for skiing in the winter or biking, hiking and or leaf peeping in the fall.
To increase the number of first-generation and lowincome students, the admissions team has discussed offering transportation for campus visits from the Front Range or more rural parts of the state. This is in addition to ramping up its engagement with pre-collegiate programs that bring high school students on to college campuses for programs or visits.
“I believe in illuminating that pathway to seeing yourself in higher education, in a different environment … But certainly when we're competing with the Denver public school kid against Metro [Metropolitan State University], or even against the community colleges, it can be hard. But I believe getting them here with their family members can make a difference,” Taylor said.
(Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Prospective students and their families chat with Western faculty during a Preview Day in March. Preview Days give a glimpse into life at Western through academic fairs, tours and info sessions. (Photo by Mariel Wiley)
A big 4-H thank you
After a successful Gunnison County Fair week, 4-H youth members presented a thank you banner to the Gunnison County Commissioners during their regular meeting on July 16. (Left to right) Brekken Hildreth, Dixie Sponable, Jonathan Houck, Hannah Cranor-Kersting, Kaden Robbins and Laura Puckett Daniels. Liz Smith joined virtually.
Fresh from the farm
Booths beside IOOF Park bustled with activity as shoppers picked up fresh produce and snacks during last week’s farmers market on July 13. Crowds gathered on Main Street to watch the Cattlemen’s Day parade, and stopped by to browse farm-fresh and artisan goods after the show. The Gunnison Farmers Market will run every Saturday through Oct. 19.
(Photos by Mariel Wiley)
(Courtesy Hannah Cranor-Kersting)
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Crested Butte Mountain Resort proposes new cell tower
The U.S. Forest Service is reviewing a cell tower proposal submitted by Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR).
The proposed network will provide wireless service to staff and visitors at CBMR throughout its year-round operations. Although some areas of the resort currently have adequate cell service, it is poor or nonexistent in others.
The proposal involves developing a wireless network of six “nodes” in the ski area on National Forest System lands. These nodes will be connected by fiber and owned and operated by the resort. Each node will include a 45-foot pole and an 8-feet-by-12-feet shed to house equipment. The project also includes expanding the fiber network (without additional construction) to support the current ski and mountain biking systems and accommodate future wireless use by other operators.
CBMR has worked with the Forest Service to design a new system with the goal of reducing visual impact of the project. The design uses natural terrain and tree cover as much as possible and prioritizes visitor safety. It also uses existing utility, roads and lift pole pathways to minimize further disturbance from fiber and power installation.
The project is confined to CBMR's permitted ski area boundary and private lands. The proposed node locations are Teocalli Lift Top, Uley’s Cabin, Paradise Bowl, Paradise Warming House, East River Bottom and East River Top.
“We have all experienced the spotty cell service at the ski area … Similar systems have been installed at other ski resorts in Colorado and beyond, providing effective wireless solutions for ski patrol, staff and the public as they travel to the resort,” said Gunnison District Ranger Dayle Funka.
A true garbage fire
Additional project information and maps can be found at fs.usda.gov/ project/?project=66556.
(Source: U.S. Forest Service.)
On Monday evening, a large fire broke out at the Gunnison County Landfill just a couple miles east of town. Crews had extinguished it by the morning. County officials believe a lightning strike caused the fire.
A digital mock-up illustrates the appearance of the nodes. (Jon Diack/ NeuComm Solutions)
Fleet-footed steeds
Contestants flew across the Gunnison Country Fairgrounds arena on horseback at breakneck speeds during the annual Watershed Roping and Barrel Race on July 10. Racers deftly guided their horses around a series of barrels in an attempt to secure the lowest time. Later in the evening, roping teams worked together to capture cattle on the run.
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Today you have the opportunity to help save lives. GVH Paramedics urgently need a new station to improve response time to 911 calls and provide you, your family, and our community with the best emergency medicine and rescue services available. Please help us reach the final funding needed to build this summer. Every gift helps, especially now. Donate today! Jenny Birnie, Vice
Donate today
(Photos by Mariel Wiley)
Billick to retire from RMBL next year
Interviews for new executive director set for this month
Bella Biondini Times Editor
After nearly 25 years, Ian Billick will step down from his position as the executive director of the Gothic’s Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) next summer.
Billick took his first biology class during his senior year of college, originally a side track to his degree in math and physics from Trinity University in Texas. But he feared he was headed toward a career bound by coffee and office cubicles.
Billick knew he preferred to spend time outside and heeded the advice of his biology professor: spend a summer at a research station in Gothic. Billick’s classes ended in May, and he traveled to Guatemala to visit a friend. A month later, he spent five days traveling by bus and train from Central America to the high country of Colorado. He said he managed to hang onto his luggage until Salida. It was 1988, and Billick arrived in Gothic at the age of 22 with no bags.
Thirteen summers after he first arrived, Billick assumed the role of director. Under his leadership, RMBL’s reputation in the science world grew far beyond the boundaries of the Gunnison Valley. The work that takes place in Gothic has reached millions, attracting press, researchers and a greater investment in science in the East River Valley.
“There are not many ecologists who wouldn't recognize the name Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, both nationally and internationally … The lab's stature and reputation have grown tremendously during the time [Billick] has been director,” said biologist David Inouye, who has worked at RMBL for more than 50 years.
This year marks Billick’s final summer as director. He will officially retire June 1, 2025. In the coming years, Billick expects the North Village development at the base of Snodgrass in Mt. Crested Butte to progress — where RMBL will eventually build a new visitor center, housing and research laboratories. With the timeframe still largely unknown, he said he didn’t want to leave the large project partway through. The hope is the new executive director will stay with the North Village project from start to finish.
The RMBL board is interviewing candidates this week with a final decision expected in August. While Billick said he may stay involved with RMBL, his pending retirement comes with waves of sadness, joy and excitement. Billick built his life around the research station. It’s where he met his wife, Jennie, and raised his two sons,
Cormac and Giles.
“I won the life lottery stepping off that bus after five days coming up from Central America,” Billick said.
When he first arrived in Gothic, the modern research center and dining hall were yet to be built and it would be another 15 years before students and scientists had access to treated drinking water.
“The buildings were rustic and we pretty much drank water straight out of the stream,” he said.
But having grown up in Kansas, he found Gothic “way more interesting.” He dabbled in hummingbird, butterfly and ant research and then left temporarily to pursue a PhD. He spent that winter in Gothic, which is only accessible by skis once the snow falls, and wrote his dissertation. He claims to be the only person to ski partway to his thesis defense at the University of California-San Diego.
Biologist Carol Boggs, who has studied butterflies at RMBL since the 1970s, first met Billick when he was still a college student in Gothic. Billick had brought a soccer ball with him to a field exercise.
“Soccer balls and butterfly behaviors do not mix,” Boggs said. “My first impression was that he was a really smart undergrad with attitude.”
Boggs headed the search committee that hired Billick as director in 2000. Billick became RMBL’s first, full-time director and would live in the Crested Butte area and represent the laboratory year-round. Following a shift in structure, the board diversified with the addition of members that had experience in finances, management and fundraising, rath-
er than just science.
The two have worked together for the entirety of Billick’s career. Boggs watched Billick lead RMBL through various transitions, from modernizing its cabins and research labs, to expanding the “scale of science” in Gothic, she said.
“In my mind, he’s had more of an impact on RMBL and its development than anyone since the founder,” Boggs said.
Research at RMBL used to center primarily on ecology and evolutionary biology, the study of living organisms and how they interact with the environment. Today, with the addition of hydrology and atmospheric research, the laboratory’s queries into how the world works are much larger. And as satellite technology advances, the possibilities have only widened.
With these new tools, Billick hopes to reduce the uncertainty in climate models and unravel the “biology of climate change.”
“I imagine it's like if you work on cancer and it's the early 70s,” Billick said. “You really want to solve it, but you don't have the tools. What can you do? You just keep trying. We're going through that same change where technology has caught up with the questions that we want to answer.”
Over the decades, RMBL has continued to attract people with interesting backstories, such as billy barr, who has collected 50 years of weather data in the valley, and Paul Ehrlich, who wrote the “Human Population Bomb” in 1970. With a stunning backdrop of Gothic Mountain, it’s an attractive place with “great science to tell,” Billick said.
In just the last year, nearly 70 independent media pieces were based on research projects occurring in Gothic, including
features in national publications like National Geographic and the Washington Post. With the media comes more active researchers, papers published and federal investment in science in the Crested Butte area. In the 1980s, RMBL’s budget was about $400,000. This year it neared $3 million. Large research projects have also been funded by federal agencies such as NASA, the Department of Energy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
“It's a virtuous cycle,” Billick said. “Once you get it going, it takes on a life of its own.”
The result is years of continuous research that slowly builds on itself. Even in the midst of change, Billick helped RMBL lean into what makes it unique
amongst other research stations — its support for longterm studies. Some scientists have spent almost their entire careers in Gothic, and have raised their families there. The next generations, Inouye’s son and granddaughter, will carry on his research on the timing and abundance of wildflower blooms.
“[Long-term studies] probably were originally a quirk of faith, but now it's a big part of who we are scientifically,” Billick said.
(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Ian Billick (far left) started at RMBL as an undergraduate student in the summer of 1988. (Courtesy Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory)
Ian Billick in 2018.
Commissioners opt out of state law, say firearms still permissible in county offices
Concealed carry no longer allowed on Western campus
Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer
Gunnison Valley residents and county employees can continue to carry firearms into the courthouse on 200 E. Virginia Avenue. A new state law would have prohibited it, but county commissioners opted out of the legislation at a special meeting late last month.
The Colorado Legislature passed SB24-131 in early May and it went into effect on July 1. The law prohibits people from carrying firearms in certain public spaces, including state legislative and local government buildings and public schools and universities. Breaking the law is a class 1 misdemeanor, subject to jail time and fines.
Up against a tight deadline, commissioners chose to opt out
— an option baked into the bill — but were open to continuing conversations about where firearms are allowed in the future. Montrose, Moffat, Delta and Douglas counties also opted out of the bill, according to a story published on July 15 by Western Slope Now.
“What this resolution says is ‘Hey, the state’s one-size-fitsall.’ That's not how we do business,” commissioner Jonathan Houck said.
The new law prohibits a person from carrying a firearm, either openly or concealed, on public college or university campuses. As a result, concealed carry is no longer allowed on Western Colorado University’s campus. The only exception is for concealed carry permit-holders in the university’s parking areas. Western is updating its policy and the student handbook to reflect the new mandate, according to a July 1 campus-wide email from Director of Campus Security Services Dashown Wilson.
Had commissioners not opted out, firearms would have been forbidden in the entire courthouse building, as it contains “sensitive” spaces where local government is based. In
this case, those spaces are considered the county manager’s office and the county commissioner’s meeting room on the second floor — often a gathering space for public meetings and hearings.
“What this resolution says is, ‘Hey, the state’s one-size-fits-all.’ That’s not how we do business.”
Jonathan Houck
Gunnison County Commissioner
Already, people are not allowed to bring firearms into the county or district courtrooms in the northern section of the building. So, opting out now means that firearms are prohibited in one half of the building, while being
allowed in the other. County Commissioner Laura Puckett Daniels said that despite the fact that splitting the building down the middle doesn’t make sense, she supports opting out for now in favor of a more public discussion in the future.
“We live in a county where firearms are a daily part of people's lives in a lot of different aspects,” Puckett Daniels said. “And so we just want to make sure that we're communicating with folks clearly about what our policies are, and giving them a plenty of heads up around it.”
The bill prohibits firearms only in certain “sensitive spaces” and would not have affected any other county buildings, including the Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office, the Blackstock building, the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport and the Fred Field Center. Already, the county has the authority to manage how those public spaces are used, and what rules govern them.
The new courthouse has more safety measures in the design, Houck said. Before extensive renovation completed in June 2015, the old building had multiple entrances, and
Faith Directory
Bethany Church
909 N Wisconsin St. (behind Powerstop) • 970-641-2144
Two services at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. FREE lunch for college students following the 10:30 a.m. service gunnisonbethany.com
9 a.m.: 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 bnaibutte@gmail.com
Serving the Jewish communities of Crested Butte, Gunnison and the Spiritual Leader: Rabbi Mark Kula is available for you at RabbiMarkKula@gmail.com bnaibutte.org
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 10 a.m. / Wednesday 7 p.m. newsonggunnison.net
Community Church of Gunnison
107 N. Iowa • 970-641- 0925
Pastor Larry Nelson
Sunday Morning Worship 9:30 a.m.
Weekend Services 9:30 a.m.
Nursery & Age-Graded Ministry
Weekly Student Ministry
Weekly Adult LifeGroups
Office Hours: Mon-Thurs, 9-4
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
SUNDAY
Sunday School at 10 a.m.
Sunday Morning Worship at 11 a.m.
Sunday Evening Service at 6 p.m. (during school year)
WEDNESDAY (during school year)
Truth Trackers Kids Club at 6:30 p.m.
Youth Group for Teens at 7:30 p.m. firstbaptistgunnison.org.
Gunnison
Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
317 N. Main St. • 970-641-3203
Open and Affirming
Whole Earth · Just Peace
Sunday, 10 a.m.
Casual, Relaxed, “Come As You Are” Worship gunnisonucc.org
Trinity Baptist Church
523 N. Pine St. • 970-641-1813
Senior Pastor - Joe Ricks Sunday Service 9:30 a.m. Adult Bible Study 8 a.m. trinitybaptistsgunnison.com
Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church
711 N. Main • 970-641-1860
Senior Pastor Robert Carabotta
Assoc. Pastor Jacob With Childrens Sunday School – Sunday 9 a.m.
Adult Sunday School – Sunday 9 a.m.
Divine Service of the Word – Sunday 10 a.m.
The Good Samaritan Episcopal Church
307 W. Virginia Ave. • 970-641-0429
Rev. Laura Osborne, Vicar First Sunday of each month –11 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II
Alternating at Good Samaritan and All Saints in the Mountains
Check our websites for location
Second Sunday-Fifth Sunday –9 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II
Children’s Sunday school –2nd and 4th Sundays, monthly Office hours: M-TH 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Taize – 1st Wednesday, monthly - 7 p.m. goodsamaritangunnison.org
Visit our partnership church: All Saints in the Mountains, Crested Butte
Meeting Second-Fifth Sundays at 5 p.m., Holy Eucharist, Rite II 403 Maroon Ave, Crested Butte
Visit our website for location of 11 a.m.
Holy Eucharist, First Sunday of each month allsaintsinthemountains.org
housed Colorado State Patrol, the Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office and a jail. Opting out also benefits the multiple county staff and elected commissioners that have concealed carry permits, said County Manager Matthew Birnie.
“Bad guys don't follow rules, and we don't have somebody at the door all the time ... This law doesn’t keep who's ill-intentioned from doing bad things, full stop,” Birnie said.
Existing Colorado law already prohibits open carry of a firearm within any polling location or central count facility. It is also prohibited within 100 feet of a ballot drop box or any building with a polling location while an election is occuring.
(Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Church in the Barn 8007 County Road 887 Waunita Hot Springs Ranch • 970-641-8741 Sundays, 10:30 a.m. Non Denominational Come as you are.
Rocky Mountain Christian Ministries 1040 Highway 135 (1/4 mile N. of Spencer Ave.) • 970-641-0158
Sunday Morning Worship 9:30 a.m. Nursery and Children’s ministry through Middle School “Remedy” Worship Nights Small Group Ministries mcmchurch.org
St. Peter’s Catholic Church 300 N. Wisconsin • 970-641-0808 Fr. Andres Ayala-Santiago gunnisoncatholic.org crestedbuttecatholic.org or call the Parish Office.
St. Peter’s - Gunnison Sat 6:30 p.m. & Sun 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m. (Spanish) Mass First Sunday of every month bilingual Mass 11 a.m. Queen of All Saints - Crested Butte, 401 Sopris Sun 8:30 a.m. Mass St. Rose of Lima - Lake City Mass Service, Sat. at 4 p.m.
GUNNISON WATERSHED SCHOOL DISTRICT
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
CBES - Permanent Substitute
CBES - General Educational Assistant
CBES - Half-time SPED
Educational Assistant Bus Drivers Food Service
CBCS - Assistant Building Manager
Substitute Teachers
Special Education EA - Significant Needs Lake - Educational Assistants
PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
District School Psychologist
CBSS - Language Arts (one-year only)
GHS - Special Education Teacher
CBES - 3rd grade Teacher Leave of Absence (Aug. 19-Nov. 15)
GMS - 8th Grade Math Teacher
COACHING
CBMS - Assistant MS Girls’ Basketball Coach
GHS - Assistant Girls’ Basketball Coach
Please contact: Superintendent’s Office JoAnn Klingsmith 800 N. Boulevard 970-641-7760 jklingsmith@ gunnisonschools.net
call 970-3496281.
EARLY CHILDHOOD AMERICORPS
MEMBER: Join our Bright Futures AmeriCorps cohort. Bright Futures is enrolling two AmeriCorps members to serve in an early childcare center in Gunnison. Members will gain professional development and handson experience serving with young children. AmeriCorps offers health insurance, an education award of $7,395 and a housing stipend. Contact Gwyn at AmeriCorps@ brightfuturesforchildren.org or call 970-9015676.
THE CRESTED BUTTE MUSEUM is seeking a Curator to work with our collections, larger Crested Butte area community and be a team player with our great staff. The ideal candidate should have a strong passion for our valley’s mining and tourism history, as well as having excellent communication skills, effective organizational abilities and is task oriented. Priorities include managing our diverse collection, updating various exhibits and assisting with a variety of operations and fun events at our museum. This position is fulltime with an annual salary of $49,000. Benefits include a Simple IRA with employer match after one year of employment, three weeks
GUNNISON COUNTY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Public Health Nurse II –Substance Abuse Prevention
Juvenile Services: 20 hours/week, hourly rate range from $33.79$41.08 plus partial benefits.
Patrol Deputy Sheriff: Full-time, 40 hours/week, the annual salary range is from $70,288-$99,422 plus full benefits.
Heavy Equipment Operator I: Full-time, 40 hours/week, hourly rate from $22.91-$26.08 plus full benefits.
Building & Environmental Health Inspector and/or Building & Environmental Health Inspector/Plans Examiner
Community Development: Fulltime, 40 hours/week, the annual salary range is from $63,162-$99,422, depending on experience, plus full benefits.
Juvenile Services Facilitator II
Juvenile Services: Full-time, 40 hours/week, hourly range from $30.36-$34.57 depending on experience plus full benefits. Bilingual, English and Spanish-speaking (required).
Family Support Manager
Juvenile Services: Full-time, 40 hours/week, monthly range is from $6,581.00-$7,493.00, depending on experience, plus full benefits.
Fairgrounds Facilities Maintenance Assistant: Full-time, 40 hours/week, annual salary range is from $50,511.00-$61,406.00, depending on experience, plus full benefits.
For more information, including complete job descriptions, required qualifications and application instructions, please visit GunnisonCounty.org/jobs.
WE ARE HIRING DELIVERY DRIVERS!
WEDNESDAY SHOPPER ROUTES:
North car route Wednesday starting at noon.
1-2 hrs.
$60 plus $15 for fuel.
South car route Wednesday starting at noon.
2-3 hrs.
$75 plus $25 for fuel.
THURSDAY TIMES ROUTE: Deliver the Times to Crested Butte!
Delivery starting time varies between 10pm-12am.
3-4 hrs.
$125 plus $25 for fuel.
To apply please email publisher@gunnisontimes.com call 970-641-1414 or come in the office at 218 N. Wisconsin St.
PTO and a monthly cell phone allowance. Please contact Melinda Hulm at director@ crestedbuttemuseum.com or call 970-3491880 for more information.
LAKE CITY AREA MEDICAL CENTER is hiring a full-time or part-time RN or LPN, 16-32 hrs/week, $25-30/hr with benefits (FT). Email your CV to lcmedcenter@lcamc.net. EOE.
CITY OF GUNNISON EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Utilities Manager Full-time, $109,200-$134,667/yr
$52.50-$64.74/hr
Responsible for all phases of the operation, maintenance, repair and security of the wastewater treatment plant, wastewater collections system and water distribution system including equipment, vehicles, grounds and the laboratory.
Police Officer
Full-time, $68,900-$93,100/yr
$33.13-$44.76/hr
Performs technical, professional, and administrative duties related to maintaining the security of the city, protecting constitutional guarantees of all persons, protecting life and property, preserving public peace and order, preventing, solving and detecting crimes, facilitating the safe movement of people and vehicles and other emergency services as needed. POST Certification not required. The city will pay for the police academy if needed and pay a cadet wage of $50,900 while attending the academy. Includes a $15,000 signing bonus. Increased wages over above-listed salary available for working nights. Personal liability insurance paid by the City of Gunnison. Housing is available.
Construction Project Manager
Full-time, $149,100/yr
Up to $71.86/hr
This is a temporary, full-time position that is anticipated to be renewed annually for technical oversight for a 5 to 7 year-long, $50 million multi-phased design and construction program for the city’s water system improvements project.
Water/Wastewater Operator
Full-time
Starting Salary Ranges:
Worker $49,700-$55,400
Class “D”
Responsible for the operation of the water supply, distribution and storage systems. They also perform maintenance, repairs and construction of water distribution, sewer collection, irrigation and storm drain systems, installations, repairs and testing on all water meters.
The City of Gunnison offers a competitive benefit package, including 75% of medical, dental and vision premiums paid for the employee and their dependents, 5% of gross wages in a retirement plan, 3 weeks of vacation (increasing based on the years of service), 13 paid holidays and 12 days of sick leave per year.
For more information, including complete job descriptions, benefit packages, required job qualifications and application instructions, please visit GunnisonCO.gov/HR.
WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY
is seeking applicants for the following fully-benefitted positions.
Western’s benefit package includes Colorado PERA retirement, low-cost insurance plans (with generous employer contributions to medical/ dental/vision), employee and dependent tuition benefits, paid vacation, paid sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year. Employees receive basic life insurance and disability insurance at no cost. Employee wellness programs and professional development trainings are available for FREE.
The Center for Learning and Innovation is looking for a Budget Analyst to join our dynamic team: Full-time (40 hours/week). Starting pay range $40,000-$50,000.
The Facilities Services Department is seeking candidates for the Custodian I position: Fulltime (40 hours/week). Starting pay rate $18.78/hour.
To view the full job announcement and apply, visit western.edu/jobs and click on “View Careers” (AA/EOE).
PUBLIC HOUSE IS SEEKING A MOTIVATED LINE COOK to join the team. This role is directly responsible for all kitchen functions including food, preparation and maintenance of quality standards, sanitation and cleanliness, preparation, plate presentation, portion and cost control. This position will work closely with managers and co-workers to provide excellent service to customers.
position requires 2-plus
ÚNASE AL EQUIPO DE HARMELS EN ALMONT: Todavía necesitamos cubrir dos puestos de tiempo completo lo antes posible: Cocineros a partir de $18 por hora y camareros a partir de $14,50 + propinas, barista desde $16/hora + propinas, y bartender desde $17/hora + propinas. Buscamos personas con experiencia y grandes actitudes. Llame al 970-641-1740 o envíe su currículum por correo electrónico a jointheteam@harmels.com.
OFFICE MANAGER opening in Gunnison to support the Catholic churches of Gunnison, Crested Butte and Lake City. If you are looking for a professional and friendly presence as a representative who supports and assists the pastor and parish in its ongoing mission of the church as well as being a resource for both members and non-members, this is the job for you. Organization, attention to detail and proficiency in Microsoft Office, Outlook and other office tools are important. If you would like to learn more about this parttime position, please email your resume to Fr. Andres Ayala-Santiago at Fr_Andres@ gunnisoncatholic.org or call the office at 970641-0808.
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.
GUNNISON LIQUOR (The Ghost) is currently looking for part-time help. Nights and weekends a must. Pay DOE. Stop by with a resume. 603 W. Tomichi Ave., Gunnison.
experience in a full-service restaurant, problem solving abilities, self motivation and organization. This position also requires knowledge of ingredients for flavor profiles and basic cooking techniques. The ideal candidate will have a culinary certificate and/or degree and knowledge of cuisine and familiarity with wine pairings. This full-time, seasonal position starts at $25-30/hour plus tips, depending on experience and qualifications. The season runs May-Nov. We also offer opportunities for career growth within our organization. If you are passionate about cooking and thrive in a dynamic kitchen environment, we would love to hear from you. For more information and to apply, please visit elevenexperience. com/careers.
LITTLE RED SCHOOLHOUSE is hiring a full-time preschool teacher and a full-time infant/toddler teacher to start now and work through the school year and beyond. Looking for an enthusiastic, patient, nurturing team player who is wanting a stable career that is year-round, full-time. Great pay, fantastic benefits and many perks. This is a rewarding and fun job. Please inquire with resume to Jessica at lilredschoolhouse1@gmail.com.
RENICK WOOD FLOORS is looking for fulltime help. Contact Wes Mayfield. 970-5962945.
IRWIN BREWING COMPANY is seeking a business-minded, growth-oriented sales and marketing manager who will play a pivotal role in increasing our brand awareness and expanding our market presence. This position will be responsible for developing and executing strategic sales and marketing initiatives to promote our products and increase sales revenue, and will lead a team of sales and operations staff to execute selfdistribution logistics. This position offers a unique opportunity to combine a passion for craft beer with expertise in sales and marketing to help grow our business, and will be the public face of the IBC by becoming more visible and involved with large account customers and the retail public, engaged at local beer festivals and IBC’s tap room, Public House. This position requires a bachelor’s degree and 5-8 years related experience and/or training, or a relevant combination of education and experience, as well as a valid driver’s license and clean MVR. The ideal candidate will have non-beer alternative beverage production experience. This full-time, year-round position starts at $65,000 annually plus sales commissions, depending on experience and qualifications. For more information and to apply, please visit elevenexperience.com/careers.
COORDINATOR FOR RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION position opening to manage or assist in managing the religious education program for the Catholic churches of Gunnison, Crested Butte and Lake City. The CRE will be the face of the church, supporting the pastor and Catechist (instructors) in teaching and guiding our youth in their faith formation. It is important the candidate is able to demonstrate skills and knowledge in theology, program coordination, Catechist development as well as organization and administrative skills. If you would like to learn more about this part-time position, please email your resume to Fr. Andres AyalaSantiago at Fr_Andres@gunnisoncatholic. org or call the office at 970-641-0808.
ELEVEN IS SEEKING A CONFIDENT, TEAM-ORIENTED EXPERIENCE MANAGER to lead collaboration with all Eleven departments to create and execute
once in a lifetime experiences for Eleven Colorado guests by planning intricate and dynamic itineraries that exceed guest expectations. This position will also provide leadership within the Eleven hospitality team by encouraging and supporting the team to deliver the Eleven product to the highest possible standards everyday, and further Eleven product development by questioning operational norms, proposing solutions and striving to innovate and streamline the Eleven operation in Colorado. This position requires a clean motor vehicle record and valid driver’s license, as well as proficiency with operational systems, including Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Microsoft Excel and Salesforce. The ideal candidate will have extensive knowledge of the Crested Butte and Gunnison County areas, as well as willingness to work a flexible schedule, including early mornings, late evenings, weekends and holidays. This full-time, summer seasonal position starts at $22-$24/ hour plus tip pool, depending on experience and qualifications. The summer season runs May through Oct. For more information and to apply, please visit elevenexperience. recruitee.com/o/experience-managercolorado.
FACILITIES MANAGER: Crested Yeti
Property Management is hiring for a facilities manager/maintenance manager. Full-time, year-round salaried position. Benefits include IRA match, ski pass, PTO and paid fuel. Duties include driving a bobcat for snow removal and general maintenance and minor repairs. Send resume to Hop@CrestedYeti. com.
LAKE CITY AREA MEDICAL CENTER is hiring a part-time administrative assistant and receptionist, $15-$20 per hour. Please submit questions and resumes to lcmedcenter@lcamc.net or call 970-9442331. EOE.
COOK WANTED: Full and part-time. Apply in person. No experience necessary. 820 N. Main St., Gunnison. 970-641-9223.
COME JOIN THE HARMELS TEAM IN
ALMONT: We are still needing to fill a few full-time positions as soon as possible: Cooks and housekeepers starting at $18/ hour and servers starting at $14.50+ tips, housekeepers starting at $18/hour, barista starting at $16/hour + tips, bartender starting at $17/hour + tips. We are looking for experienced persons with great attitudes. Onsite housing possible. Call 970-641-1740 or email resume to jointheteam@harmels. com.
COMMUNITY BANKS OF COLORADO is currently seeking candidates to fill both a relationship banker ($20/hour) and an associate banker ($18/hour) position in our Gunnison banking center. These are excellent opportunities with a generous
benefit package. For position details and to apply, please visit cobnks.com. NBH Bank is an equal opportunity employer.
ID SCULPTURE IS HIRING
Interested in making the world’s best playgrounds, climbing boulders and interactive art? ID Sculpture designs and manufactures climbing boulders, playground sculptures and fine art sculptures for parks, schools and public spaces across the country. We use a combination of technology and traditional methods to create unique interactive environments.
IDS provides secure, year-round indoor and outdoor work in a unique fabrication environment with opportunity for travel and room for advancement. We offer benefits including PTO, healthcare and retirement. ID Sculpture is an equal opportunity employer. We are currently seeking:
Production Assistant(s): Ideal candidates possess a positive attitude, good work ethic and are eager to learn. Applicants must have physical strength, hand-eye coordination, and endurance. Initial responsibilities are to provide general labor and assist artists, fabricators and shipping departments as needed. Compensation is $20-$25 per hr. depending on prior construction experience and/or aptitude.
Project Fabricator(s): The ideal candidate for this position has construction trades experience, welding experience, the ability to work well with a team and a positive attitude. Initial responsibilities are to fabricate various components for standard and custom products. Compensation is $23-$30 per hr. depending on prior construction experience and/or aptitude.
Project Sculptor(s): The ideal candidate for this position has a passion for creating works of art, ability to work well with a team, fastidious attention to detail, a positive attitude, experience sculpting concrete, rock climbing, course setting and construction trades experience. Initial responsibilities are hands on sculpting of foam, concrete, and epoxy. Compensation is $24.50-$55.00 per hr. depending on familiarity with IDS process, prior experience, employment references and body of work.
To apply for this unique opportunity, please provide a resumé, cover letter and references to hello@idsculpture.com with the position of interest in the subject line, or drop off your resume at 591 S. Boulevard St. Gunnison, CO 81230.
Learn more about what we do at idsculpture. com.
CAPITAL PROJECTS SUPERVISOR JOB
employer matching with 1-3% optional additional matching), employer provided uniforms and a wellness benefit/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.
TOMICHI MATERIALS, LLC is seeking concrete ready-mix delivery truck drivers. CDL-B license and pre-employment drug screening required. $30/hour and above DOE. Company-match IRA, health and dental insurance, paid holidays and sick time, vacation earned after 1 year, job attached status available during off-season. Call 970-641-4038 or email jamespfrymoyer@ gmail.com to express interest and obtain an application.
ICLEAN IN CRESTED BUTTE is looking for cleaners. Pay DOE. Please call 970-3312417. Buscamos limpiadores. Por favor, comuníquese con IClean al 970-3312417. Para trabajar en Crested Butte.
ESTATE SALE
ESTATE SALE: July 21, 410 S. 10th St. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Middle of storage units. Please park on the street.
NOTICE
SAGUACHE COUNTY
THE
COMISSIONERS invite you to apply for a sales tax grant through our official website at saguachecounty.colorado.gov/saguachecounty-sales-tax-grant To make it even easier, individuals and agencies will need to complete the grant application online only. Awarded grants range from $500-$7,500. Funding ideas must fall under one of these three categories:
-Youth and Senior Services and Programs -Alternative Energy Projects and/or Business/Job Creation Opportunities -Emergency Services, Public Health and Safety
The Saguache County Sales Tax Grant was established through a ballot initiative that created a fund to distribute to individuals, groups and organizations to better the Saguache County Community as a whole. This funding is derived from a 1% sales tax on most goods sold in Saguache County. Don’t hesitate. The grant application deadline is 3 p.m. on August 9. All applications must be submitted online only to meet the 3 p.m. deadline, as stated above.
-Kitchen renovations for commercial kitchen compliance
-Heating upgrades
-Plumbing upgrades
-Electrical upgrades
-Playground, grounds, and fencing upgrades
The ideal contractor will have a record of experience with:
-General contracting includes the ability to assess carpentry, heating, plumbing, and electrical.
-Knowledge of commercial kitchen regulations and ADA compliance.
-Responsive communication.
The selected contractor will be responsible for assessing the building, with possible assistance from a qualified consultant on Child Care Facility regulations.
Please include in proposal: -A description of the contractor, including name(s) and credentials of those that would be involved in the project.
-A description of the previous relevant experience of the contractor.
-Proposed budget.
-Schedule availability.
-General Liability insurance documentation and documentation of Workers’
-Compensation insurance as required by the Labor Code of the State of Colorado and Employers Liability Insurance. Evidence of qualified self-insured status may be substituted.
Direct general RFP project questions to Wendi Maez, Saguache County Administrator, at wmaez@saguachecountyco.gov.
Proposals may be submitted by email to wmaez@saguachecounty-co.gov by the deadline of Friday July 31, 2024, at 3 p.m HOME SCHOOL STUDENTS: The parent/ guardian of a resident student who is to be educated in a home schooling program for the 2024-25 school year must submit to the superintendent in writing, the name, age, place of residence and hour of instruction 14 days before beginning the program the first year and each year thereafter. Home school packets may be picked up at the Lake School Administration office. 800 N. Blvd., Gunnison.
REAL ESTATE
Visit our website at saguachecounty. colorado.gov/saguache-county-salestax-grant to apply. Let’s continue working together to make Saguache County a great place to live, work and play.
Saguache County Childcare Committee Request for Proposals for Assessment to Remodel Childcare Facility in Saguache, Colorado
POSTING: The Mt. Crested Butte Water and Sanitation District is accepting applications for a capital projects supervisor. Under the general direction of the district manager, this full-time position is responsible for professional level oversight on all phases of capital expenditure construction projects for the district. Desired skills and experience include a successful record of delivering projects on schedule and within budget, strong project management skills, effective communication skills, both written and verbal, and a passion for water and wastewater construction projects. Important qualifications include a combination of experience and education with a desired Bachelor of Science degree in construction management, a PMP certification and/or a PE license in the state of Colorado. A valid Colorado driver’s license is required. Starting salary is $90,000-$130,000 DOQ. Excellent benefits package, including 100% employerpaid premium family health, dental, vision and life insurance, 12 paid holiday days, paid sick leave, paid personal leave, two weeks paid vacation, employer contribution to retirement plan (5% automatic mandatory
The Saguache County Childcare Committee is a coalition of community members and Saguache County employees to establish a daycare facility in Saguache, Colorado. We are seeking proposals from licensed contractors to assess 710 Denver Avenue, Saguache, Colorado for renovation needs, in compliance with regulations of the State of Colorado for Childcare Facilities. The purpose of this RFP is to invite contractors with relevant experience to submit proposals to the Saguache County Childcare Committee.
The Assessment will include:
-Physical building upgrades and repairs, including but not limited to carpentry, roofing, flooring, and painting.
-Bathroom renovations for ADA compliance
701 ANDREW LANE: New neighborhood, 3BR/2.5BA, big two-car garage on oversized lot with private, fenced backyard. $750,000, motivated seller. Call/ text Mindy Costanzo, Bluebird Real Estate, 970-209-2300. Mindy-Land.com. FOR RENT RESIDENTIAL: Gunnison 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath available immediately. S. 7th Street, backyard and small front deck. $2,800 plus utilities. Pets ok with deposit. 847-769-7800. liskorinternational@gmail. com
FOR RENT COMMERCIAL: 235 N. Main. Rear section fully built out office and conference area with private bathroom available. 2,000 sq. ft. $2,500 monthly. 847-769-7800 or liskorinternational@gmail. com.
TWO HOME BUILDING SITES:405 Sequoia Drive. Each over one acre, stupendous views. Electric, sewer/water available. $112,500 each. Call/text Mindy Costanzo, Bluebird Real Estate, 970-2092300. Mindy-Land.com.
1,500 SQ. FT. RETAIL/OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE in the Gunnison Meadows Mall next to City Market. Address: 722 N. Main. $22/ft. NNN = $2,750/month. For more information, call Jordon Ringel, 817-7336947 or visit GunnisonMeadows.com.
COLORADO
NOTICE OF INTENT TO DISPOSE
NOTICE OF INTENT TO DISPOSE:
To the following parties that have their personal property stored at Plotts Mini Storage, LLC, 312 W. Hwy 50, Gunnison, CO, 81230:
All property will be sold or disposed of, unless claimed and/or all rent and fees paid prior to July 20, 2024.
Unit 221 – Max Ryan
Gunnison Country Times
Gunnison, Colorado Publication dates of July 11, 18, 2024 14058
NOTICE OF LAND USE CHANGE PERMIT APPROVALS
CREATING A VESTED RIGHT
GUNNISON COUNTY, COLORADO
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that Gunnison County has approved the following Land Use Change permits with site-specific development plans(s) within unincorporated Gunnison County, which creates a threeyear vested property right pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes, Article 68 of Title 24 C.R.S., as amended.
A “vested property right” gives the following applicant(s) the right to undertake the development subject to the condition(s) of approval of the site-specific development plan(s).
LUC-24-00004 – Aero Marketing and Logistics LLC has received County approval to construct a 195’ freestanding wireless communications tower on USFS parcel 29190000006, located approximately 3.7 miles up FS Road 898.
SUMMONS
DISTRICT COURT, GUNNISON COUNTY, COLORADO
Address: 200 East Virginia Avenue Gunnison, Colorado 81230 (970) 642-8300
Plaintiff: PEARLS MANAGEMENT, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company, v. Defendants: TOWN OF MT. CRESTED
BUTTE, COLORADO, a home rule municipality; CRESTED BUTTE LTD., a Colorado limited liability company; and ALL UNKNOWN PERSONS WHO CLAIM ANY INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS ACTION
Attorneys for Plaintiffs: HUCKSTEP LAW, LLC
Aaron J. Huckstep, Atty Reg No. 39898 426 Belleview Ave, Unit 303 P.O. Box 2958 Crested Butte, CO 81224
Telephone: (970) 349-2009
/s/ Sean Pope Land Use Planner
Gunnison County Community Development Department
Gunnison Country Times
Gunnison, Colorado Publication date of July 18, 2024
14187
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Kelsey Julia Boleski, Deceased Case Number 24 PR 30015
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Gunnison County, Colorado on or before November 18, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Michelle Boleski, Personal Representative c/o Flatiron Legal Advisors, LLC 3393 Iris Ave., Suite 110 Boulder, CO 80301
Facsimile: (970) 797-1023
E-mail: huck@hucksteplaw.com
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
TO THE DEFENDANTS NAMED ABOVE: You are summoned and required to appear and defend against the claims of the complaint filed with the court in this action, by filing with the clerk of this court an answer or other response. You are required to file your answer or other response within 35 days after the service of this summons upon you. Service of this summons shall be
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado
Publication dates of July 18, 25, August 1, 2024 14123
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Roberta K. Lohr, aka Roberta K. DeMuth, Deceased Case Number 2024PR30018
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Gunnison County, Colorado on or before November 12, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Cathleen G. DeMuth P.O. Box 36 Crested Butte, CO 81224
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication dates of July 11, 18, 25 2024 13810
complete on the day of the last publication. A copy of the complaint may be obtained from the clerk of the court.
If you fail to file your Answer or other response to the Complaint in writing within 35 days after the date of the last publication, judgment by default may be rendered against you by the court for the relief demanded in the complaint without further notice.
This is an action to quiet the title of the Plaintiff in and to the real property situate in Gunnison County, Colorado, more
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of James S. Barron aka Jim Barron, James Stanley Barron, James Barron, Deceased
Case Number 2024PR16
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Gunnison County, Colorado on or before November 18, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Megan R. Mays 33 Churchill Place Dedham, MA 02026
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication dates of July 18, 25, August 1, 2024 14128
Dated: June 21, 2024 /s/ Aaron J. Huckstep
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication dates of June 27, July 4, 11, 18, 25, 2024 13924
Lights & Sirens
CITY OF GUNNISON POLICE REPORT
JULY 10
PROPERTY - FOUND — 220 N.
SPRUCE ST.
INFORMATION — 203 W. HWY. 50
MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATION —
900 N. 11TH ST.
MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATION —
300 N. TAYLOR ST.
NUISANCE CODE VIOLATION —
200 W. DENVER AVE.
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF — 612 E. VIRGINIA AVE.
INFORMATION — N. 14TH ST.
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF — 114 N. BOULEVARD ST.
ACCIDENT — 438 TINCUP DR.
JULY 11
THEFT: INTENDS TO PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE — 800 N. COLORADO ST.
AT-RISK PERSON - THEFT — W. GUNNISON AVE.
WELFARE ASSIST — N. TELLER ST.
WELFARE ASSIST — N. COLORADO ST.
JULY 12
VIOLATION OF PROTECTION ORDER: CRIMINAL ORDER — 405 W. TOMICHI AVE.
DISORDERLY CONDUCT: FIGHTING IN PUBLIC X2 — 226 N. MAIN ST.
PROPERTY - LOST — 275 S. SPRUCE ST.
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF - DAMAGE TO PROPERTY — 108 N. MAIN ST.
FAILURE TO APPEAR - OTHER JURISDICTION — 100 N. TELLER ST. PROPERTY - FOUND — 221 N. WISCONSIN ST.
ACCIDENT — 306 N. MAIN ST. TRAFFIC - DUR - HABITUAL OFFENDER — 201 E. TOMICHI AVE.
FALSE IMPRISONMENT — PAINTBRUSH AVE.
WELFARE ASSIST — W. TOMICHI AVE.
DISTURBING THE PEACE — 16 IRWIN ST.
JULY 13
ANIMAL - VICIOUS/DANGEROUS - MUNICIPAL — 901 W. DENVER AVE.
DISORDERLY CONDUCT: FIGHTING IN PUBLIC — 323 S. TAYLOR ST.
THEFT: INTENDS TO PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE — 303 N. WISCONSIN ST.
CIVIL PROBLEM — 403 E. TOMICHI AVE.
JULY 14
UN-SECURE PREMISES — N. WISCONSIN ST. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE — PAINTBRUSH AVE.
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF - DAMAGE TO PROPERTY — 119 N. 12TH ST.
DISTURBING THE PEACE — 212 S. 11TH ST.
GUNNISON COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT
JULY 9
-Deputies took one person into custody on an in-county warrant
-Missing person reported but later made contact
-Deputies took a suspicious person/activity report
-2018-30 dog at large - taken to
GVAWL and picked up by owner
-Deputies assisted the Colorado State Patrol with a truck vs. elk
-Welfare check
JULY 10
-Information report
-Somerset/Marble deputies performed a welfare check
JULY 11
-Somerset/Marble deputies took a theft report
-Deputies took one person in for an active warrant for a parole violation
-Deputies issued a citation for driving under suspension
-Somerset/Marble deputies had a search and rescue on Coal Creek
-Third degree trespassing report
JULY 12
-Deputies assisted the Gunnison Police Department with a fight in progress
-Agency assist to the National Park Service with a disorderly subject
-Deputies assisted the CSP with a car accident in front of Thousand Trails - Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch
-Somerset deputies responded to a harassment call
-Fraud report
-Deputies responded to a trespass complaint
JULY 13
-Information report on a road rage situation
-Vicious dog report at Silver Jackunder investigation
-Deputies took one person into custody for domestic violence, harassment, criminal mischief, menacing, first degree criminal trespassing, obstruction of a peace officer, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and two counts of second-degree assault
-Deputies responded to an offhighway vehicle accident with injuries
-Deputies issued a summons for no proof of insurance, driving without a valid driver’s license and failure to maintain single lane of travel
JULY 14
-Deputies assisted the GPD with a domestic in progress.
-Deputies and the Western Mountain Rescue Team responded to a search and rescue call on Owl Creek - party was found
-Deputies assisted the GPD with a domestic in progress
-Welfare check
JULY 15
-Somerset deputies assisted the CSP with a vehicle accident at the intersection of Serpentine Trail and County Road 3
-Deputies assisted the CSP with a one-vehicle accident on Hwy. 114
-Search and rescue call for an injured dirt biker
-Theft report taken and under investigation
-Deputies served civil papers
-Somerset/Marble deputies took a harassment report
-Found wallet on Kebler pass
7 beds • 4 baths • 3,736 sq. ft.
Full of charm with rentals in place in the heart of Gunnison
215 N. Colorado Street, Gunnison
$595,000
3 beds • 3 baths • 1,470 sq. ft.
Unlimited potential in the heart of Gunnison 452 E. River Lane, Almont
$2,950,000
6 beds • 4 baths • 3,971
Meticulously maintained legacy home near the Almont Resort
1105
your vehicles and storage needs. The extra space above the garage, accessible via exterior stairs, presents exciting opportunities. Whether you need additional storage or dream of an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit), the potential is yours to explore with City of Gunnison approval. Don’t miss the chance to make this
Care designed for ... SCREENING & PREVENTION
At Gunnison Valley Health we have the screenings and services you need to monitor your health and identify concerns early.
COLONOSCOPY
A screening colonoscopy is recommended for everyone over 45 years old even if you do not have any symptoms.
SPECIALTY CLINIC | 970-641-3927
711 N. TAYLOR | GUNNISON
BREAST SCREENINGS
We provide a comprehensive set of breast screening services.
3D TOMOSYNTHESIS MAMMOGRAPHY | AUTOMATED WHOLE BREAST ULTRASOUND (ABUS)
RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT | 970-641-7253
711 N. TAYLOR | GUNNISON
DIRECT ACCESS LAB TESTING
Convenient access to year-round low-cost laboratory testing.
LABORATORY | 970-641-7259
711 N. TAYLOR | GUNNISON
PRIMARY CARE
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711 N. TAYLOR | GUNNISON
WEATHER: A record-breaking June,
Scenes from Cattlemen’s Days,
SPORTS: U8 Stingrays win swim championship, B12
• THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2024
The fast and the curious
Western engineering students tour European automotive industry
Mariel Wiley Times Photo Editor
With the exception of the annual Car Show, Gunnison has never been known as a global hub for cutting-edge automotive innovations. Most of the rugged cars driving through town are outfitted to haul bikes and skis, and rev their engines over mountain passes rather than at the starting block of a racetrack. But that hasn’t stopped a group of Western Colorado University students and supercar enthusiasts from pursuing a “need for speed.”
learn about real-world careers in the automotive industry. During the two-week trip, the group toured auto manufacturing facilities and museums and met with top engineers and professors. Amidst the glitz and glamor of these automotive wonders, the students caught a glimpse of potential engineering careers beyond Gunnison.
Rady faculty members Anne Linville, Melanie Peddle and Michaela Keefe organized the itinerary after several students expressed interest in learning more about the behind-thescenes work that goes into creating luxury cars in Europe. They hoped that the trip could offer students an opportunity not only to learn about the country and culture, but also gain real-world experience applicable to their studies, Linville said.
“We had this huge spreadsheet that we had already filled with countries,” she said. “Everybody’s wheels were turning.”
professionalism, and came prepared with plenty of questions, Linville said.
This spring, 13 students from the Rady School of Engineering traveled to Italy and Germany to
Through mutual LinkedIn connections, Peddle and Linville were able to arrange a meeting
with an engineer from luxury sports car manufacturer Pagani, as well as a luncheon with professors from the Technical University of Munich. The students approached each encounter with an impressive level of
“We started off asking about how their company works,” said mechanical engineering student Aidan Grant. “But then we started
asking for life advice … It was really inspiring. There aren’t a lot of engineering opportunities in the valley yet, so it was nice to get out and see something like that.” The group toured the Audi,
PHOTOS:
GUNNISON COUNTRY TIMES
Aidan Grant stands with Elvis Presley’s BMW at the BMW museum in Olympic Park, Munich.
Students learned about the evolution of racing in the Mercedes-Benz museum in Germany. (Courtesy Michaela Keefe)
The students got a close-up look at some of Ferrari’s formula racing cars.(Courtesy Aidan Grant)
July Sale!
Engineering from B1
Maserati and Ducati factories to watch workers build high-end cars and motorcycles. During the factory tours, students witnessed different types of “work culture” firsthand, Peddle said. The visits also offered insight into how factories generally operate across many different industries.
At Pagani, a tight-knit staff meticulously handcrafted carbon fiber parts for the multimilliondollar cars. In a stark contrast, the highly-mechanized workflow at German automotive manufacturer Audi presented a more fast-paced, individualistic environment. Here, “Terminator-like” robot arms helped workers lift and move heavy car components, Linville said.
Although jam-packed with educational outings, the group also made time for sightseeing.
At the Porsche, MercedesBenz, Lamborghini, Ferrari and BMW museums, students learned about the evolution of race cars, drove racing simulators and even posed for pictures with Elvis Presley’s BMW. They also attended a Formula One race at the Imola track south of Bologna, Italy. For most of the students, the outing was a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the electric atmosphere of 250,000 fans gathered to watch
the world’s fastest race cars fly past at over 200 miles per hour, Grant said.
Grant hopes to pursue an engineering career with a Formula One racing team, preferably Ferrari, he said. Meeting with the Munich professors opened doors for his career, he said. Grant is now considering pursuing graduate studies overseas after he finishes at Western next year.
The same was true for engineering student Samuel Buono, who hopes to pursue a career in data analytics. Through his conversation with the engineer at Pagani, Buono realized the importance of making genuine connections with future colleagues before striking out on the job hunt, he said. Many of the car companies the group visited were actively hiring, and encouraged the students to apply in the future.
“The most important thing is showing how passionate you are [about the job],” Buono said. “The trip inspired me to live in another part of the world, at least for a little while.”
(Mariel Wiley can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or mariel@ gunnisontimes.com.)
The group stands outside the Ferrari museum in Bologna, Italy.
Samuel Buono drives a racing simulator during a visit to Audi’s factory and museum. (Courtesy Aidan Grant)
Singer-songwriter shuffle
Some of Nashville’s finest musicians shared the stage at the Almont Resort during Gunnison Tough’s annual Singer-Songwriter Shuffle concert and auction on July 16. Dean Dillon, Brent Cobb, Buddy Cannon, Melonie Cannon and Marla Cannon-Goodman shared their repertoires of hit country songs. Audience members enjoyed dinner, dessert and drinks from local chefs throughout the evening. The money raised during the silent and live auctions will support Gunnison Tough’s cancer prevention, detection and support program in the Gunnison Valley.
(Photos by Mariel Wiley)
‘An agent of change’ Kyleena Falzone to be honored by
Mountain Roots
Alex McCrindle Times Sports Editor
Hordes of hungry Crested Buttians gathered for the grand opening of Two Twelve, the new live-fire grill from local restaurant mogul Kyleena Falzone on July 15. Patrons, dressed in signature, Elk Avenue fashion, donned felt hats and Blundstone boots, while sampling wood-fired salmon and foraged mushrooms.
Jam-packed restaurants are a familiar sight for Falzone, who also owns Secret Stash Pizza and Bonez Tacos and Tequila on Elk Avenue. But in 2020, the pandemic cast a dark shadow on the future of Crested Butte dining. Falzone was forced to lay off almost all of her 140 employees, and shut the doors on her restaurants indefinitely like many others in the valley. She responded to the food shortage by donating dinners, and opening the Secret Stash as a “farmer’s market” to feed locals throughout the pandemic.
This month, Falzone is being honored by the Mountain Roots Food Project at its flagship fundraiser.
Mountain Roots will host the event, coined “Feast-in-theField” on July 27 at Red Dog Ranch. The nonprofit, which works to build a “resilient and equitable food system” across the valley will serve food sourced from their gardens and hydroponic farms to wine and dine its network of partners and donors.
“Kyleena is a champion for all things food in Crested Butte," said Mountain Roots Executive Director Holly Conn. “She is the
biggest cheerleader for new food ventures in the valley, and is a rockstar within community food security, and supporting local farms and regenerative agriculture.”
“Our fundraiser has evolved into an uptown dinner, where we’ll serve produce from our gardens and offer a ‘makers area’ that displays local vendors and strategic partners," said Mountain Roots Development Director Rudy Germany.
Falzone will be recognized as the honored guest for her work in food security during the pandemic. For three months in 2020, the Secret Stash opened as a free farmer’s market and handed out produce. Falzone also packaged free pizza and taco dinner kits for locals that were out of work. By crowdfunding on social media, Falzone fed thousands while her restaurants were shuttered.
The donations inspired Conn at Mountain Roots, and led to a similar market opening in Gunnison that ran for 18 months.
“When Kyleena opened the free markets in Crested Butte at the height of the pandemic, we realized we needed it in
Gunnison too,” she said.
Falzone’s markets directly inspired a new program at Mountain Roots, called the Backyard Harvest. Every Tuesday, the program boxes up vegetables, eggs, bread and cheese from local producers, and delivers directly to 150 food-insecure households in Gunnison.
Now, over four years since the start of the pandemic, Falzone has added another restaurant to her Crested Butte fleet. She is maintaining a strong bond with Mountain Roots by using produce grown directly from their hydroponic farms and community gardens.
“I’m beyond honored to take this pivotal step in my career to work with Mountain Roots, and continue to be an agent of change in our small community,” Falzone said. “It’s been amazing to watch Holly continue donating boxes long after the pandemic, and keep that tradition alive.”
(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Falzone greets guests at Two Twelve on the second night. (Photo by Alex McCrindle)
Produce
‘The Odd Couple’
Crested Butte Mountain Theatre presents Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple” from July 18-20 at 7 p.m. and July 21 at 2:30 p.m. Find tickets and more information at cbmountaintheatre.org.
Seeking short play submissions
The Gunnison Valley Theatre Festival is seeking new 5-10 minute plays for its first annual play crawl on Aug. 10. The deadline for submissions is Aug. 1. Plays will be performed at venues around Gunnison. Visit westerntheatrecompany. squarespace.com/gunnisonvalley-theatre-festival for submission guidelines and more information.
Pitkin art show
The Pitkin Art and Craft Show will take place on July 19 and 20 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Newcomb Community Center, 800 State St. in Pitkin. All artisans are local to Pitkin or the Quartz Creek Valley. The show is sponsored by the Pitkin Historical and Community Association.
Drag bingo and storytime
Gunnison Valley Theatre Festival presents Drag Bingo on July 19 at 7 p.m. and Drag Storytime on July 20 at 10 a.m. Both events will be held in Taylor Auditorium on the Western Colorado University campus. Find tickets and more information at westerntheatrecompany.squarespace.com/ gunnison-valley-theatre-festival.
Paint party fundraiser
Community Church will hold a paint party fundraiser with artist Jenna Grosse on July 20 at 3 p.m. at Webster Hall in Gunnison. All painting supplies will be provided. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. All proceeds will support the church’s Cuba mission team. RSVP by calling 970.901.6315 or 978.502.3564.
Meadow restoration volunteers
Backcountry Hunters and Anglers seeks volunteers on July 20 for its annual Wet Meadow Restoration Project. Meet at the Centennial SWA lot, east entrance, at 9 a.m. to carpool up to the worksites. Work from
approximately 9:30 a.m-2 p.m, with lunch and refreshments to follow. Pre-register at backcountryhunters.org/co_upcoming_events.
Summer dance programs
The Crested Butte School of Dance will hold dance camps for preschool and elementary kids and dance classes for all ages from July 22-Aug. 16. Visit dancecrestedbutte.org to register. Contact programs@ dancecrestedbutte.org for more information.
WCU book launch
Graduate students in the publishing program at Western Colorado University will launch their latest short-story collection, “Feisty Felines and Other Fantastical Familiars” with an author meet-and-greet and book signing on July 24 from 6-7:30 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom. Call 970.943.2119 for more information.
Film festival screening
The Crested Butte Film Festival presents a screening of the film “Los Frikis” ("The Freaks") on July 24 at the CB Center for the Arts. Tickets are $25 with a VIP meet-and-greet option available. A book signing with director Ed Zwick will take place on July 28 at Townie Books. Find more details at cbfilmfest.org.
‘Undivide Us’
The Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley and the Gunnison Valley League of Women Voters will hold a free screening of the film “Undivide Us” at 6 p.m. on July 25 at the Gunnison Library. A community discussion will follow.
Pitkin Days
Enjoy Pitkin Days from July 26-27, with events for the whole family, including the annual Alpine Run/Walk, kids fishing contest, a fried chicken lunch on Friday, duck race, Saturday evening talent show and more. Find more information at pitkincolorado.com/communityassn.
Mountain Roots volunteers
Mountain Roots is seeking volunteers for their Feast in the Field fundraiser on July 27 at Red Dog Ranch in Crested
GUNNISON ARTS CENTER BRIEFS
Missoula Children’s Theatre
Registration is open for the Missoula Children's Theatre summer production of “Robin Hood.” Kids aged 6-18 are welcome. Workshops and camp will be held at Gunnison High School. For audition and performance information, visit gunnisonartscenter.org/movingarts.
Butte. Food will be provided. Visit mountainrootsfoodproject. org/feast or call 310.801.6885 for more information and to sign up.
Chamber After Hours
The Gunnison County Chamber of Commerce will host Chamber After Hours with live music by Evelyn Roper and Matt Grant and food from Spenny’s Ice Cream and 5 B’s BBQ at Cimarron Wealth Management and NuVista Federal Credit Union on Aug. 8 from 5-7 p.m.
Democrat dinner
Gunnison County Democrats will hold its annual Unity Dinner and Fundraiser on Aug. 11 at 4 p.m. at the I Bar Ranch. Enjoy live music and a catered meal. For more information, visit gunnisondemocrats.org.
HCCA hikes
High Country Conservation Advocates (HCCA) invites you to join its HCCA Hikes every Wednesday. View the full season schedule, reserve your spot and find more information at hccacb.org.
Fly fishing lessons
Harmels on the Taylor will offer free fly fishing lessons on select dates throughout the summer. Visit harmels.com or call 708.710.4427 for more information.
CB Museum tours
The Crested Butte History Museum will hold a Second Street-themed walking tour on July 27 at 10 a.m. History walking tours happen every Tuesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. Learn more at crestedbuttemuseum. com.
Pioneer Museum open
The Gunnison Pioneer Museum has one of the most famous narrow gauge train engines in Colorado history. 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of “Cinder Ella” appearing at the 1949 Chicago Railroad Fair. The museum is open daily. Admission is $15 for ages 13+, $5 for ages 6-12 and free for 5 and under. Follow their Facebook page or visit gunnisonpioneermuseum.com for updated information.
your bush! It’ll make your deck look bigger!
Sundays@6
Opal Moon will perform at Legion Park at 6 p.m. on July 21. Bring lawn chairs and enjoy food trucks, vendors and more.
Salsa dancing
Learn salsa in the Cumbia style at the Gunnison Arts Center from 6-7 p.m. on July 23. No partner is necessary. Find more information and register at gunnisonartscenter.org.
Removal, pruning, dead wooding and shaping of trees. Now available stump grinding! Fully Insured.
Trim
A record-breaking June
Bruce ‘Barometer’ Bartleson Special to the Times
The Colorado Monthly Climate Summary, a publication from the School of Atmospheric Sciences at Colorado State University, came out the other day with some very interesting news in its June edition: “Most of the state experienced a top-10 warm June, and it ranked as the warmest June on record in a few areas, according to NOAA.”
But in addition to that, it also stated “June is typically a dry month in southwestern Colorado, but not in 2024. Nearly the entire southwest corner of the state had a top-10 wet June, with many areas receiving more than triple their average June rain. In contrast, parts of northern Colorado were very dry in June, which followed a dry May.”
Furthermore, “June 2024 ranked as the 3rd-warmest June on record for Colorado, behind only 2002 and 2012. It was 3.7°F above the 1991-2020 average and 5.5°F above the 20th century average.”
“At Grand Junction, June 2024 wasn’t even close to any previous June in terms of being both warm and wet. Typically, in western Colorado, warm and dry go together in summer. But June 2024 was the 2nd warmest June on record while also being the 3rd wettest with 1.76” of precipitation, over 4 times the June average.”
Since we’re in southwestern Colorado, let’s see if we in Gunnison fit this pattern. Our average June high temperature
was 78.4 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 2.3 degrees above longterm average. But more dramatically, our average overnight low temperature in June was 42.5 degrees, which is almost 7 degrees higher than our longterm average. It also sets a record, beating the old record of 41.3 degrees set in 2015.
The average temperature for June 2024 was 60.5 degrees, which is 4.6 degrees above the long-term average. Keep in mind that we have weather data going back to the 1890s, one of the longest, continuous records in the state.
Okay, how do we fit the precipitation pattern of southwestern Colorado this year? I think you already know the answer to that one. Our long-term precipitation in June is a paltry 0.68 inches (our last 30-year average is 0.59 inches). This year the town of Gunnison got 1.46 inches as shown by a community collaborative rain, hail and snow network (CoCoRaHS) weather station on North Pine Street.
Now for the really good news. As you have noticed, our typical summer afternoon thundershower season is upon us. Yes, we are in the summer monsoon season, wherein cool, moistureladen clouds are streaming in from the Gulf of Mexico and the Sea of Cortez and producing much-needed rain. Yes, this is a real monsoon just like the one they have in India and southeastern Asia, and is formally known as the North American (or the Southwest) Monsoon. For more on the monsoon, visit weather.gov/abq/northamericanmonsoon-intro. It’s right on time and very welcome!
(Bruce Bartleson is a retired emeritus professor of geology at Western Colorado University. He spends most of his time now watching the weather.)
Storm clouds form over Sunshine Peak. (Photo by Bella Biondini)
The pop art experience
Gunnison Library hosts collage artist
Michael Albert
Maggie Reid Times Intern
Fingers became sticky with glue, microscopic bits of cardboard covered the tables and scissors cut at the speed of light during what could have been described as creative chaos at the Gunnison County Library last week.
On July 9, locals of all ages gathered for a collage workshop called the Pop Art Experience — led by New York City collage and pop artist Michael Albert. He has spent more than three decades drawing and creating colorful collages. Albert became known for his mosaic cereal box collages, created using a technique he coined as “Cerealism.”
His pieces are bright and shatter common images of popular cereal brands like Frosted Flakes and Cheerios.
Over the last 20 years, Albert has been crafting what he calls large-scale “epic” collage pieces with themes ranging from history and religion to mathematics and geography. He creates collages with small pieces of card-
board, usually cut from cereal or snack boxes.
His work has been featured in various art shows across New York. While he spends the majority of the year creating, he travels to libraries across the United States during the summer. There he hosts collage workshops for summer reading programs. This month, he made a pit stop on the Western Slope.
“Michael reached out to us and asked if he could do a workshop and we were thrilled,” said Gunnison librarian Keelin McCarthy. “It was a great opportunity that we couldn’t pass up.”
Albert has traveled to 48 states with his workshops, with
the exception of Alaska and Hawaii. His program is a combination of his personal history with art, a short demonstration and a hands-on collage workshop. He also brings copies of his art as gifts for attendees.
“It’s a great material because it’s nice and sturdy,” Albert said. “It’s full of fun characters, colors and letters. And when you look closely, there’s all sorts of fun things that you can cut out and make into your own art.”
(Maggie Reid can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or intern@ gunnisontimes.com.)
GCEA students tour Capitol Hill
Last month, six high school students visited Washington D.C. on a week-long tour sponsored by the Gunnison County Electric Association (GCEA). Luca Meyer, Elise Hanna and Josie Feier of Crested Butte School were joined by Annie Harvey and Dakota Sahagun of Gunnison and Priya Hartman of Lake City for the trip. The group toured memorials, museums and cathedrals, and visited Mt. Vernon, the Library of Congress and the U.S. Capitol. The Colorado Rural Electric Association organized the trip.
(Courtesy Alliy
THIS WEEK AT THE MUSEUM
“Wheels
a Rolling”
Submitted by Larry McDonald
This summer marks the 75th anniversary of the 1949 Chicago Railroad Fair, which our very own “Cinder Ella”, Baldwin Engine 268 C-16 2-8-0, played a major role representing the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad company. Her appearance in Chicago would be her second major “celebrity” role, following the one she had during the Denver & Rio Grande’s 75th Anniversary Tour held back in 1945.
The Chicago Railroad Fair was organized to celebrate and commemorate 100 years of railroad history west of Chicago and was held in 1948 and 1949 with 39 railroad companies participating and is often referred to as “the last great railroad fair”. It was rapidly organized and opened after only six months of planning with a parade that featured marching bands, contingents of cowboys and Native Americans, a replica of Tom Thumb, the first American locomotive, and the spry, octogenarian widow of Casey Jones, who served as honorary Grand Master. Admission was one dollar, which included all the attractions, displays, exhibits and shows.
One of the most popular rides for visitors was the 3-foot narrow gauge excursion train which ran the length of the grounds, charging 10 cents per ride. And it was our famous engine 268 that was painted in the iconic “Grande Gold” bumblebee colors and renamed Montezuma, in tribute to the very first engine in the Rio Grande’s fleet back in 1871. She was re-lettered and operated as the fictional Cripple Creek & Tin Cup Railroad during the 1949 event and passengers could take home a Time Table which included a wonderful history of Tin Cup and detailed
drawings and instructions on how to build your own scale model of engine 268. July 12 was set as Colorado Day and Governor Lee Knous raised our state flag and dedicated “Gold Gulch”, a replica of a 19th century mining community that included a miniature gold mine, jail and courthouse, opera house, rodeo in progress, Indian village and a model of the Moffat Tunnel. 5,000 silver dollars minted in Denver lined the streets of the model town and later put into circulation and are still a favorite item for collectors today. A week later “Rio Grande Day” was held, and total attendance was 34,700, of which 31,230 visited the Moffat Tunnel exhibit and 7,238 rode the Cripple Creek & Tin Cup Railroad with a Chicago area newspaper stating, “The Cripple Creek and Tin Cup” is the former Rio Grande narrow gauge locomotive 268 which lived a ‘Cinderella’ role at the Chicago Railroad fair.” The 1949 fair saw over 2.7 million people attend surpassing 5 million total over both years, and following Walt Disney’s visit in 1948, the event was considered the inspiration for his “Mickey Mouse Park” that eventually became Disneyland. We are so fortunate to have such a famous artifact of railroad history in our extensive collections and we will be featuring more intriguing stories of Cinder Ella’s past on our Facebook page and in upcoming articles, as 2024 also marks the 65th anniversary of her final “celebrity” appearance back in 1959, during the statewide “Rush to the Rockies” Centennial celebration. We encourage you to pay her a visit and ring her bell this summer before we close for the season at the end of September.
MUSEUM OPEN DAILY 9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. FROM MAY 15 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30.
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!
Sahagun/GCEA)
Michael Albert helps kids sort through cardboard scraps they will use to create collages. (Photo by Maggie Reid)
A rootin’ tootin’ rodeo roundup
Cowboys and bull riders from across the nation descended upon Gunnison en masse for three nights of rowdy rodeos at the Gunnison Country Fairgrounds July 11-13. Fans, dressed in their finest Western attire, packed into the grandstands to cheer on their favorite riders. In between events, a rodeo clown and his trick horse got the crowd laughing with jokes and silly antics.
(Photos by Mariel Wiley and Bella Biondini)
WESTERN: Mountaineer Bowl ticket update, B12
GYMNASTICS: Girls compete in last meet before state, B16
COUNTRY TIMES • THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2024
Former professional climber teaches Gunnison youth
Alex McCrindle Times Sports Editor
Chris Lindner, head coach of the youth climbing program at the Gunnison Rec Center, held his arms wide open and looked up at student Shiloh Cox. The afternoon sun reflected off the towering boulder at Jorgensen Park, as Cox navigated its western ridge. She kicked out with her right foot, placed her toe delicately on a hold and clambered upward.
“Look to your left at that green hold now … There you go!” Lindner called out. “Now climb out of the pool!”
Cox took one glance down, reached over the plastic boulder with both arms and lifted herself on top. She waved down to the rest of the class, and then began the slow downclimb.
The scene unfolded on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 10 at the Jorgensen Park climbing boulder. Lindner was coaching his weekly youth climbing class
for 5-11 year olds.
Lindner was a prodigy rock climber, and a professional for over 20 years. Now, after stepping away from the sport professionally, he coaches Gunnison youth throughout the summer and works as the IT director for Gunnison County. He said his passion is to introduce the sport to the next generation.
“Rock climbing is not just a physical sport, it is also intensely mental,” Lindner said. “I get a lot of joy seeing improvement, and watching these students unlock new problems they never thought they could solve.”
Just like his students, Lindner was raised at rock gyms and crags across the American West.
Raised in San Diego, Lindner was wearing climbing shoes at 3 years old. At age 4, he was on the cover of a Patagonia catalog, and by 9 he was already reaching extremely difficult climbing grades.
At 14 years old, Lindner had climbed 5.14, and catapulted into a career as an athlete. In his over two-decade run, he established numerous first ascents in sport climbing and bouldering, from “Window of Opportunity,” a 5.13+ climb on the coast of Northern California,
Learn the ropes
to “Roasted and Raw,” a technical, V12 boulder problem in Joshua Tree National Park.
After hanging up his shoes and starting a family of his own, Lindner now shares wisdom with little ones every Wednesday. His group crowded around the plastic boulder at Jorgensen Park. Lindner watched his students crest the top, and shared encouragement, keeping his arms open in case of a slip. The kids took turns navigating different routes and trying new holds.
“Climbing awareness is really important, because a lot of families think of climbing, and either think of summiting Mount Everest or Alex Honnold — and neither represent what climbing is really about,” Lindner said. “A lot of climbing is only 10 to 15 feet off the ground. It’s also a symmetrical sport, so you’re using both arms and legs in different ways.”
This summer, the group has practiced at the Jorgensen Park boulder, the Gunnison Rec Center rock wall and even made field trips to the Lost Canyon traverse, a rock band along the highway south of Almont often used for short bouldering climbs.
GUNNISON
Lindner
Garrett Strauss navigates up the wall as Chris Lindner spots him. (Photos by Mariel Wiley)
“We always start the season at the Lost Canyon traverse, so the kids can practice on beginner and advanced climbs, have unlimited ups and downs and enjoy hanging out with their friends,” he said. “It’s a setting that makes climbing a little bit easier to latch on to.”
Although he’s only coaching the team once a week this summer, Lindner has already watched his students reach new heights. Lindner said one of the most impactful gifts he ever received was a chalk bag from his idol, climber Scott Franklin. To pass on the torch, Lindner gives all of his students little chalk bags in hope they will pursue the sport, as he once did.
“It’s a small way of carrying on that tradition, and something they can hold onto for the rest of their lives,” he said.
(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Lindner’s class gathers around the boulder.
Lindner spots Aria Kisling as she begins her climb.
Students play tug of war during a break.
KBUT’s Summer Pledge Drive starts JULY 29th. Help us reach our $75,000 goal and kick off the drive with momentum and become an early bird donor!
Scan to Donate Call us at 970.349.7444 or Visit http://KBUT.org before July 29th to show your support and be entered to win our early bird prize.
U8 Stingrays take gold
Gunnison shines at Western Slope League championship
Alex McCrindle Times Sports Editor
The Gunnison Stingrays swim team earned its best results of the summer season at the 2024 Western Slope League (WSL) Championships July 12-14. The 8-and-under swimmers notched a dominant, firstplace victory in Montrose. The remainder of the age groups competed in Grand Junction, and finished fifth with 983 points.
In past years, the 8-andunder scores were recorded together with the entire team score. If that had been the case this year, the Stingrays would have finished third overall.
“It’s disappointing that a rule change impacted our overall Swimming B16
Mountaineer event ticketing opens this week
Gregg Petcoff Special to the Times
The ticketing webpage for Mountaineer home athletic events is now open for the upcoming fall season.
The addition of 414 seatbacks — bleachers with back rests — in the home stands of the Mountaineer Bowl at the Rady Family Sports Complex adds a new layer to ticket sales for home football games this year. Mountaineer Athletic Association (MAA) members and corporate sponsors will have the opportunity to purchase seatbacks at a 50% dis -
count beginning July 18. The ticket portal will open to the general public on Aug. 19. MAA members and corporate sponsors will receive a passcode to purchase tickets during this preseason sales promotion. Sales for Mountaineer Bowl seatbacks and for general admission tickets on the Hometown Ticketing web page are priced at $120 for the season, or $20 per game. MAA members who have not joined in the presale promotion may still purchase seatbacks at this non-discounted cost.
General admission ticket prices for football, volleyball,
basketball and soccer remain at $10 per game for adults (18 and older), $5 for visiting students and $5 for seniors.
Admission is free for Western students and faculty (must show Western ID), MAA members (with ID card), Gunnison Watershed School District students and children under 5 years old.
(Gregg Petcoff is the assistant athletics director for communications at Western Colorado University and can be reached at gpetcoff@western.edu.)
(Courtesy Alexandra Riser)
Blazing down the Butte
Old and young rippers rendezvoused at the Twisted Trees trail at Crested Butte Mountain Resort for the third edition of this month's Summer Race Series on July 12. The action will return on July 19. The last race is set for Friday, July.
(Courtesy Taylor Ahearn/Crested Butte Mountain Resort)
Cicatrizando heridas y cumpliendo sueños (segunda parte)
El Salvador de los años 80 y 90 fueron muy convulsionados por la guerra civil entre Frente subversivo Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional (FMLN) y la fuerza Armada de El Salvador (FAES), tiempos en que Zizue jugaba de niño en las canchas polvorientas de su pueblo, acostumbrado al sonido de las ráfagas de ametralladoras y sobrevuelos de helicópteros, que al escucharlos a la distancia, ya sabía que algo malo iba a pasar, y corría despavorido a su casa para esconderse bajo la cama.
Zizue recuerda que siempre entre tantas cosas que le causaban miedo, dos terrores principales lo asediaban, el primero era pisar una mina explosiva, y el segundo era el sobrevuelo de los helicópteros que lo dejaban paralizado, sentía que no podía respirar, sudaba, y caía en un estado de Shock que lo dejaba sin aliento.
Han pasado más de treinta años de esta terrible situación y Zizue aun siente miedo trayéndole horribles recuerdos de la guerra cuando escucha un helicóptero sobrevolar sobre su cabeza.
Zizue vivía con su familia cerca de un camino de montaña que comunicaba con varios pueblos, el cual era usado de tránsito por la población civil, militares y guerrilleros debido a su estratégica ubicación geográfica.
Zizue tenía dos tíos que eran militares activos en la guerra, los cuales le habían dado consejos y precauciones que debía tener en medio de la guerra. En su casa tenían fotos de sus tíos que debían ocultar rápidamente cuando los guerrilleros pasaban frente a su casa, ya que si los guerrilleros hubieran sabido que ellos tenían familiares en el ejercito hubieran sido asesinados sin ninguna piedad.
El modus operandi de los guerrilleros era pasar por las casas para tratar de llevarse a los jóvenes, que sin importar que fueran niños de 9,10,11 o 12 años, eran raptados para ser entrenados y convertirlos en armas de guerra en contra del ejército. La madre de Zizue les rogaba casi de rodillas a los guerrilleros
que no se llevaran a su pequeño debido a que él la ayudaba a traer agua del rio, buscar madera y hacer oficios habituales de los niños del campo mientras les preparaba comida a los guerrilleros con los pocos alimentos que tenían en casa.
Cuando pasaba el ejército las fotos de los tíos militares escondidas a los guerrilleros eran mostradas con orgullo a los soldados del ejército, buscando de esa forma que los militares no pensaran que la familia de Zizue eran auxiliadores de los guerrilleros, lo cual también les ocasionaría una muerte segura.
Cuando se acaba la guerra en El Salvador en 1992, el país quedo destruido socialmente y empezaron los grupos criminales a emerger en un país anárquico, desigual y carente de justicia, lo cual siguió dejando una estela de muerte y zozobra entre la sociedad civil que veían como estos grupos criminales violaban, asesinaban, extorsionaban apoderándose de cada rincón del El Salvador.
Esto fue un punto de inflexión que hizo que muchos Salvadoreños huyeran de su país, entre estos la familia de Zizue, que empezó con el padrastro de Zizue en 1994 migrando a Estados Unidos, luego la madre de Zizue en 1995, luego su hermana en 1996 y posterior la migración de Zizue en 1997 que como una triste anécdota, cumplió los 14 años mientras viajaba solo, por difíciles caminos y situaciones peligrosas hasta llegar a Colorado, junto a su familia en un reencuentro lleno muchas emociones, donde lloraron amargamente por los malos recuerdos, pero a su vez muy felices por las cosas buenas por venir.
La vida de Zizue fue marcada por duras y difíciles pruebas desde que nació. No conoció a su padre biológico, ya que con solo seis meses fue abandonado por su progenitor que también estuvo en la guerra, perteneciendo a un grupo militar denominado el “escuadrón de la muerte” que se encargaba de eliminar guerrilleros.
La llegada de Zizue a Estados Unidos fue otro desafío, porque dejó atrás los horrores de la guerra, pero acá se enfrentó con las dificultades del aprendizaje del idioma inglés, y aunque el reconoce que en Colorado no recibió rechazo ni racismo de los americanos, los que mas resistencia le hicieron fueron algunos latinos que solo por saber ingles se creían superiores sobre los que apenas aprendían el idioma. Zizue fue un luchador desde que nació, y siendo adolescente trabajó en diferentes empleos, y habiendo trabajado con su padrastro en construcción en El Salvador, cualquier trabajo que hiciera acá en Estados Unidos se
combatants in Pequin, El Salvador in 1990. (Linda Hess Miller/Wikimedia Commons).
le haría mas fácil. Zizue se casó con la que actualmente 15 años después es su esposa. Zizue ha vuelto a El Salvador muchas veces con su esposa y dos hijos, recorriendo los pasos de cuando era niño, contándoles a sus hijos sus historias no para entristecerlos, sino por el contrario, para sensibilizarlos y hacerles entender que sus vidas en Estados Unidos está llena de privilegios con los que no cuentan muchos niños en el Salvador y Latinoamérica.
El Salvador gracias a su presidente Bukele ha hecho una transformación magnifica, judi-
cializando a todos los pandilleros que azotaron el país después de la guerra civil, convirtiendo a El Salvador como el país más seguro de Latinoamérica en la actualidad. Zizue y su esposa envían muchas donaciones, entre las cuales se resaltan los uniformes de futbol para personas de bajos recursos económicos, envían zapatos, ropa, hacen campañas y misiones, reciben donaciones y gracias a eso han podido construir cinco casas para las personas más necesitadas de su ciudad en El Salvador. La historia de Zizue, está llena de resiliencia, que
demuestra que aunque a veces la vida parezca que no tiene esperanza, siempre hay luz al final del túnel si luchamos sin rendirnos. (Dorian Gómez es residente de Gunnison. Es un periodista que emigró a Estados Unidos desde Colombia.)
Dorian Gomez Special to the Times
Young
Healing wounds and fulfilling dreams (part two)
Dorian Gomez Special to the Times
(Editor’s note: This is the final installment of a two-part series.)
El Salvador in the 80s and 90s was convulsed by civil war between the Farabundo Martí Subversive Front for National Liberation (FMLN) and the Armed Forces of El Salvador (FAES).
“Zizue” (the pseudonym of a current resident of Crested Butte) played as a child on the dusty fields near his home and was already accustomed to the sound of machine gun bursts and helicopter overflights. Hearing them in the distance, he knew that something bad was going to happen, and he ran home in terror to hide under his bed.
Among so many things that caused him fear, Zizue remembers two main terrors that plagued him: stepping on an explosive mine, and the sound of helicopters that left him paralyzed, in a state of shock, sweating and unable to breathe. More than 30 years have passed since this terrible situation and Zizue still feels fear — bringing back horrible memories of the war — when he hears a helicopter flying overhead.
As a child, he lived with his family near a mountain road that connected several towns, and was used for transit by the civilian population, military and guerrillas due to its strategic geographical location.
Zizue had two uncles, active soldiers in the war, who had given him advice and precautions that he should take in the midst of the war. In his house, the family quickly had to hide photos of his uncles when the guerrillas passed by, because if the guerrillas knew the family had relatives in the army, they would have been killed without any mercy.
The modus operandi of the guerrillas was to go through the houses to try to take the young people. Children as young as 9, 10, 11 or 12 years old were kidnapped to be trained and turned into weapons of war against the army.
Zizue's mother begged the guerrillas not to take her little boy because he helped her fetch water from the river, look for wood and do the usual jobs of rural children, while she prepared food for the guerrillas with the little food they had at home.
When the army passed by, the photos of the military uncles hidden from the guerrillas were proudly shown to the army soldiers. This way, the military would not think that Zizue's family were helping the guerrillas, which would also cause them a sure death.
When the war ended in El Salvador in 1992, the country was socially destroyed. Criminal groups began to emerge in an anarchic, unequal country lacking justice. These continued to leave a trail of death and anxiety among the people when they saw how these criminal groups raped, murdered and extorted, and took over every corner of El Salvador.
This was a turning point that caused many Salvadorans to flee their country. Among them was Zizue's family, beginning when his stepfather migrated to the United States in 1994, followed by his mother in 1995 and his sister in 1996. Zizue migrated in 1997. Sadly, he turned 14 while traveling alone, through difficult roads and dangerous situations until he arrived in Colorado to be with his family. The reunion was full of many emotions. They cried bitterly over the bad memories, but at the same time were very happy for the good things to come.
Zizue's life was marked by hard and difficult trials since he was born. He did not know his biological father, since at only 6 months old he was abandoned by his father, who was also in the war, belonging to a military group called the “death squad” that was in charge of eliminating guerrillas.
Zizue's arrival in the U.S. was another challenge. He left behind the horrors of the war, but here he faced the difficulties of learning the English language. Although he admits that in Colorado he did not
experience rejection or racism from the Americans, the ones who resisted him the most were some Latinos who — just because they knew English — believed they were superior to those who barely knew the language.
Zizue has been a fighter since he was born. As a teenager he worked in different jobs, and having worked with his stepfather in construction in El Salvador, any job he did in the U.S. would be easier for him. Zizue married his wife 15 years later. Zizue has returned to El Salvador many times with his wife and two children, retracing the steps of his childhood. He has told his children his stories, not to sadden them, but on the contrary, to raise awareness and make them understand that their lives in the U.S. are full of privileges that many children in El Salvador and Latin America do not have.
El Salvador, thanks to its current president Nayib Bukele, has made a magnificent transformation, prosecuting all the gang members who plagued the country after the civil war, and making El Salvador the safest country in Latin America today.
Zizue and his wife send many donations to El Salvador: soccer uniforms for people with low economic resources, shoes and clothing. They receive donations that have been used to build five houses for the most needy people from his city in El Salvador. Zizue's story is full of resilience, which shows that although sometimes life seems hopeless, there is always light at the end of the tunnel if we fight without giving up.
(This article was translated into English with the assistance of Google translate.)
(Dorian Gomez is a resident of Gunnison. He is a journalist who immigrated to the United States from Colombia.)
Putting arts and culture in the spotlight.
Thank you, -Deakun Summer for your continued support of the Junior Livestock Sale and for Gunnison Bank & Trust, purchasing my lamb, Pebbles.
Swimming from B12
score, but I’m still so proud of these swimmers for improving all summer,” said Head Coach Tami Maciejko.
In Montrose, the 8-andunder ‘Guppy’ team left the competition in its wake. Simi Larson and Everett Gerlock were the leading scorers for the Stingrays, racking in 66 and 58 points apiece. Maciejko said 5-year-old JoJo Milski was her standout athlete. Milski placed first in the 25-yard breaststroke.
“JoJo drives in from Lake City every day for practice, and won an 8-and-under event as a 5-year-old,” Maciejko said. “She was so excited to win, and paraded her trophy to dinner to celebrate.”
Thank you, -Haisley Summer to Loop Cattle Company, Jeff, Kris & Lauren Cole and Larry & Annie Blatt for your consistent support of the Junior Livestock Sale and for buying my lamb, Bam Bam.
Heidi Gehan and Beatrice Gerlock were the other Stingrays allstars, raking in 31 and 21 team points each. The collective effort by the Stingrays led to a final team score of 423 — beating the second-place Montrose Marlins by more than 130 points.
The older Stingrays competed in the WSL championships over the weekend in Grand Junction. Gracen Gorey added to her impressive summer season with a 119-point weekend, taking third in the 13-and-over, 400-meter freestyle. To top it off, she shed time in the 500-meter freestyle without goggles, after they broke in a previous event.
Decker, Keaton and Cooper Mickleson put up serious numbers in the boys brackets. Decker led the way with three runner-up finishes in
the 10-and-under, 200-meter IM, 100-meter backstroke and 50-meter backstroke. Gunnison Cowboys swimmers Kathryn Frey and Sam Jones scored high, with Jones taking second in the 100-meter breaststroke and Frey scoring 83 points. Elora Jones earned a whopping 69 points, and placed first in the 13-and-over, 400-meter IM.
Butterflier Gabe Larson capped off the weekend, taking fourth in the 11- and 12-yearold, 50-meter fly. He cashed in 80 points for the Stingrays. The Stingrays will return to the pool on July 19 in Pueblo.
(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Gymnasts light up last meet
The Gunnison girls gymnastics team dazzled at their final regular season meet on July 13 and 14 in Winter Park. In the optional group, Eliza Wickenhauser and Carly Ezzell secured top finishes. Wickenhauser took first place in the beam and floor, and Ezzell placed second on floor with an 8.2. Emma Bogart took third in the vault, and Tesla Weske placed third on beam to cap off an impressive optionals display. In the compulsory groups, Penny Tidwell placed second on floor, Jamie Moran placed third on floor and Lucinda Faulkner took third on vault. “All the girls did absolutely amazing this weekend,” said Head Coach Sam Denham.“I am so proud of every single gymnast this summer. There have been lots of laughs, lots of skill improvement and great team energy.” Twenty of the 26 gymnasts qualified for state, and will compete for a final time this summer at Hyland Hills from July 26-28.
(Courtesy Sam Denham)
VETERANS’ VOICE
The man who ‘prayed with his legs’
Michael Callihan Special to the Times
After 28 years of being enslaved in Missouri working as a shoe and boot maker for his “master,” future Gunnison resident William Clark made the dangerous decision to escape. He was perhaps inspired — as were many — by these words of another escaped slave, abolitionist Frederick Douglass: “I prayed for freedom for twenty years, but received no answer until I prayed with my legs.”
William Clark did indeed “pray with his legs“ when he and his wife, Rachel, made a daring multi-day run for Kansas, which was a “free state.” By walking at night and hiding during the day they crossed that border and found freedom. Then, when the Civil War erupted, William enlisted in the newly formed 1st Kansas Militia, becoming one of the first of an estimated 100,000 Black men who joined the Union Army during the war between the States.
Boot and shoemaker Clark soon became 1st Sergeant Clark — the senior enlisted man in that militia's Colored Infantry.
On July 17, 1863, Maj. Gen. James G. Blunt and the Union troops under his command, including the Colored Infantry, initiated a bold attack against a Confederate force twice their number at Honey Springs, near present day Checotah, Oklahoma, in what was then known as “Indian Territory.”
The Confederate installation at Honey Springs was unimposing, consisting of little more than a commissary building, a hospital and field tents. So why did the Union Army risk men's lives trying to take it? Because it straddled the Texas Road, the main Confederate supply route connecting the vast Indian Territory with Texas, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas. Simply put, it was a must-win for both sides, because win or lose,
the junction at Honey Springs would determine the future of slavery in the Midwest and beyond.
On July 17, 1863 — exactly 161 years ago this week — nearly 9,000 Confederate and Union soldiers clashed. Of the 107 confrontations that occurred in Indian Territory during the Civil War, the Battle of Honey Springs was the largest. Significant and often overlooked is the fact that most of the soldiers on both sides were either Black, Native American or Hispanic, in an otherwise predominantly white man’s war.
After their white commander was seriously wounded, and spearheaded by the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry, the Union troops drove the rebels from their stronghold at Honey Springs.
After that battle Gen. Blunt reported, “I never saw such fighting as was done by the Negro regiment. The question that Negroes will fight is settled. Besides, they make better soldiers in every respect than any troops I have ever had under my command."
In 1885, the Clark family moved to the booming town of Gunnison. Soon, the man who was forced to make shoes as a slave, celebrated the American promise he'd fought for when he opened the “William Clark, Boot and Shoemaker Shop” near the corner of 12th Street and New York Avenue. “The boss shoemaker of West Gunnison,” as one newspaper called him, was well-liked here.
He died peacefully at home on January 29, 1907. Fittingly, his funeral services were conducted by Gunnison Post 17 of the Grand Army of the Republic — a Civil War veteran's group in which he had been a longtime member. Over the next 117 years, as William Clark's tombstone slowly sank into the ground, it and his inspiring story all but disappeared. Then, earlier this year, the Gunnison
High School Legion Club stepped in.
After learning about its condition they carefully lifted the half-buried tombstone out of the ground, cleaned it and reset it. Why? Because as one of these young men said, “We don't want to just hear about patriotism, we want to do patriotic things, things that are good for our community and our country.”
1st Sergeant William Clark would wholeheartedly agree with that definition of patriotism. He, too, lived it.
(Special thanks to GHS Legion Club members, especially to Fraser Birnie, Gavin Vasquez and Nick Monitello and Legion Club co-sponsors Mark High and Chris Rush.)
(Michael Callihan is a U.S. Navy veteran who served during the Vietnam War. He also participated in the recovery missions of Apollo 8 and 10 in the Southwest Pacific.)
Charles Brickler and his wife, Beth, drove from Wichita, Kansas to visit the final resting place of his great-grandfather. (Courtesy Mike Callihan/ American Legion Post 54)
William Clark’s headstone after GHS Legion Club members and Gunnison Cemetery staff reset it.
A prominent promenade
Decorated parade floats, vintage cars, performers and riders on horseback made their way down Hwy. 50 onto Main Street during the annual Cattlemen’s Day parade on July 13. Crowds lined the candy-strewn streets to watch the festive promenade before the final rodeo event later that evening.
(Photos by Mariel Wiley)
(Courtesy Mike Ritchey)
The Cattlemen’s Day’s Committee wants to thank the community for their continued support over the past 124 years. Cattlemen’s Days would not be possible without the help from its generous sponsors, hardworking volunteers and dedicated fans. Thanks again!
Sincerely, Cattlemen’s Days Committee
5B’s BBQ
Alpine Lumber
Amy & Paul Rayl
The Bookie
Boot Barn
Brush Creek Village
Buff’s Collision Specialists
Camp Gunnison
Monty’s Auto Parts
Castleton Ranch
Cathy Carpenter Dea
Chris Klein Construction
Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural
Land Trust
Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley
Cowboy Channel
Crested Butet Land Trust
Cross Bar Ranch
CSI
Dan & Michelle Zadra
Days Inn, Comfort Inn, Wingate
Discount Self Storage
Dove Graphics
Echo Ridge Excavation, LLC
Layne Insurance Agency
Ferrellgas
Fullmer’s Ace Hardware
Gunnison County Electric
Gene Taylor’s
Gentle Dental
Goldstar Mortgage
Gunni Rents
Gunnison Auto Glass
Gunnison Country Times
Gunnison County Abstract
Gunnison Golf Club
Gunnison Liquor
Gunnison Materials
Gunnison Ranchland Conservation
Legacy
Gunnison Real Estate and Rentals
Gunnison Savings and Loan
Gunnison Valley Health
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GCAR
Hearne Excavating
Hitch N Stitch Custom Embroidery
IM Silver
J. Reeser Architect
Jason and Trina Cook
K D Custom Builders Inc.
KBUT Radio
Lacy Construction
M4 Ranch Group
Miller Furniture
Mountain Legacy Veterinarian Center
Mountain Sunrise Wellness
Murdoch’s
NuVista Federal Credit Union
O’Hayre Dawson PC
OffCenter Designs
Ol Miner Steakhouse
Palisades Restaurant
The Paper Clip
Pendleton Whisky
Pike Builders
Pizza Mountain
Plotts Mini Storage
Prime Performance Nutrition
Professional Contractor’s Inc.
Pyranha
Rick Barton Ministries
Rocky Mountain Vet Service
Saw Contracting LLC
SGM
Sharpe Equipment
Sign Guys and Gal
Slo Down Ranch
Spallone Construction
Spectrum
Summit Global Investments
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Tango
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Timberline Enterprises
TLC Ranch
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TRIC Salon
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Turner Chevrolet
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Umbrella Bar
Western Colorado University
Western Lumber Inc
Wet Grocer
Weise Mechanical, Inc.
Wrangler
Zaabadick Construction LLC
Doug Wynalda
KC Barber
JD Jimenez
Grafton Singer