Gunnison Country Times, September 5, 2024 by Alan Wartes Media

Library district will request tax increase this fall

Funds for CB South branch and expanded programming

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

The Gunnison County Library District is seeking a property tax increase to help defray the cost of a new library in Crested Butte South, and expand programming with a focus on digital books, movies and resources. The decision follows turbulence in the state’s property tax law that might obscure future revenues for Colorado’s special districts.

The library district plans to

ask county voters to approve a 1.1 mill levy increase this fall, scheduled to go into effect at the start of 2025. The question will appear on the ballots of all Gunnison County voters, as the district’s boundaries track county lines. If approved, the tax will amount to an additional $1.25 million in 2025, or 59 cents per month for each additional $100,000 of actual residential value, for the district. If voters approve the measure, approximately half of the funding would support construction of a new library in CB South. The other half will support expanding library services, such as events and activities for library patrons, increasing its collection of books, movies and BUBBLES AND BACKPACKS: Lake Preschool and Kindergarten students were

Library A6

the front

NEWS: Welcoming Week returns for third year, A12

COMMUNITY: ‘A Little Corner of Mexico,’ B1

SPORTS: GHS volleyball wins home opener, B8

A14-A17

flurry of bubbles on Aug. 28, the first day of school. For more, see B15.

Park Service to manage grazing at Curecanti, Black Canyon

Agency seeks public comment on plan

Bella Biondini Times Editor

A new plan may give public land managers more control over livestock grazing at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area.

Cattle and sheep have grazed within the boundaries of the national park and recreation area long before they

were formally established. While grazing permits in these areas have historically been managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the National Park Service will begin to take over after its grazing management plan is finished in 2025. The early stages of a draft began this summer with a public comment period.

The plan is part of a settlement stemming from a lawsuit filed in 2020 by the Center for Biological Diversity and Western Watersheds Project. The nonprofits sued the BLM, the Forest Service, Park Service

Whetstone plans more units, but fewer buildings

County narrows in on final design details

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

Not much has changed in Whetstone’s design since early 2023, but Gunnison County and its development partners are now adding more detail and resolving lingering engineering issues. To stay within its $130 million budget, the county removed several smaller buildings and wants to increase the size of the apartments to stay cost-efficient and house more people.

Whetstone is the county’s

planned 252-unit, incomerestricted housing project. The county will develop the project on a parcel just south of Crested Butte, while maintaining ownership of the land and controlling rents through income caps. Three years in, the county is in the final steps of its land use review process, with final approval as early as this fall. Planners hope to break ground on utilities next year and welcome the first residents by 2027.

The county cleared significant hurdles in the last month, including a commitment from Crested Butte Town Council to stretch repayment of the project’s $7.5 million tap fee over a decade, and to provide a

greeted at

door by a

(Photo by Mariel Wiley)

Grazing A6

Whetstone A8

“Our community is filled with little pieces from other countries.”

—

Yamel Aguirre,

Gunnison County Juvenile Services

The Journey of Mentors Work Crew

See story on B1

BRIEFS

Colorado’s only wolf pack to be relocated

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) announced on Aug. 27 that it was trapping and removing the Copper Creek Wolf Pack from Grand County as a result of ongoing wolf-livestock conflicts. The pack, which includes at least three puppies, is the first successful wolf reproduction from reintroduced wolves in the state.

According to reporting from the Coloradoan, the affected ranch’s death toll of livestock to wolves now numbers six yearling cattle and nine sheep since April 17, with five more missing. The Middle Park Stockgrowers sought a permit to kill the wolves, which was denied by CPW earlier in August. For the safety of the animals and staff, CPW will not share details about the pack’s relocation until it concludes.

Western Slope candidate debates

Colorado Mesa University will host a candidate debate in Grand Junction on Sept. 21, beginning at 8 a.m. Club 20 will host debates for each Western Slope House and Senate District races, as well as the seats for State Board of Education. The event will include remarks from 2nd Congressional District candidates and will conclude with the 3rd Congressional District debate between Adam Frisch and Jeff Hurd.

Fire plan for Curecanti, Black Canyon

The National Park Service is seeking public input on the development of a fire management plan for the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and the Curecanti National Recreation Area. The park’s existing plan was last updated in 2006.

The proposed plan would provide park-wide guidelines for the management of all wildfires, and guidance on the use of prescribed fire and fuel treatments. The comment period began this week and closes on Oct. 2.

This summer, GVM's dedicated youth work crew took on a variety of tasks across Gunnison, contributing to numerous local businesses and organizations The crew worked at Western Colorado University, Trader's Rendezvous, the Senior Center, Mountain Roots, Tall Texan, Dos Rios, Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch, The Dive, Gunnison Valley Mentors, and several other locations In addition to these tasks, the crew spent time cleaning up Blue Mesa, Airport Pond, and the Taylor River Fun days were also part of the schedule, with activities like rafting, fishing, hiking, and mini-golf keeping spirits high

The group consisted of five males aged 11-13 and ten females aged 11-16

Throughout the summer, they learned essential job skills and, more importantly, how to work as a cohesive team While there were moments of disagreement, boredom, or bad moods, these challenges provided opportunities for growth Through productive conversations and teamwork, bonds were strengthened, and resilience was developed

One of the most inspiring aspects of the summer was watching the youth take the lead When plans fell through or tasks didn’t go as expected, they became creative problem solvers, finding new ways to contribute to the community This not only boosted their confidence but also had a tangible impact on the places they served The facilities and maintenance staff even hosted a BBQ to express their gratitude for the crew ’ s efforts

Facilitators emphasized teamwork, leadership, initiative, work ethic, and positive communication They also encouraged the development of healthy coping skills, teaching the youth to maintain a positive mindset in the face of adversity

Looking ahead, there is excitement to see these young leaders continue to grow and inspire others Several of them are already eager to return next summer, ready to make an even bigger impact

The crew offers this advice to anyone considering giving back: “Give community service a try you might like it, and it makes you feel good!”

Giving back isn’t just about helping others; it’s about personal growth and seeing the bigger picture Whether balancing school, extracurriculars, or community service, these experiences have shaped the youth into more empathetic, resilient individuals And the best part? It’s never too early to start As the crew has shown, even small efforts can make a big difference in the community

For those inspired by this story, consider volunteering with Gunnison Valley Mentors Become a mentor today and help shape the future of the community!

Arety (Harbelis) Bathje was born on Nov. 23, 1938 to John and Antiopi Harbelis outside Chicago, Illinois. She and her three sisters, Mary (Nassos), Stella (Pierce) and Georgia (Di Tusa) were first-generation Americans, as their parents were both born in Greece.

Arety married the love of her life, Robert M. (Bob) Bathje, and traveled the nation while Bob was in the U.S. Army. After fulfilling his service duties, they settled back in Lombard, Illinois with their young family.

In July 1977, the family moved to Gunnison. Bob and Arety were co-owners of R&R Precision Machines in Gunnison until their retirement and transfer of ownership to their son, Steve. Artery was the bookkeeper, accountant and organizer of the business.

Arety was a devoted member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday school for over 25 years. She was also a hospice volunteer for many years with Gunnison Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, where she touched many lives and was a friend to patients and staff members alike.

Arety left this world on Aug. 26, 2024 to join her loving husband Bob, son Robert (Rob), sister Mary and her parents and relatives before her. She is survived by a community she loved and cherished, her son Steve (Julie) Bathje, daughter Karen Bathje, grandson Robert (Jessica) Bathje, granddaughter Amanda (Michael) Brackett, granddaughter Sophia (Kudzai) Makombe, grandson Andrew Bathje, granddaughter Amanda Spritzer (Brad Buckhorn) and grandson Shane (Garrett) Spritzer. Also surviving are her great-grandchildren Emmitt, Alayah and Tryton.

A memorial service will be

held Friday Sept. 6, 2024 at 10 a.m. at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Gunnison. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Gunnison Hospice or Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church.

Dan Whitesides

Dan Whitesides, a proud Texan and dedicated electrical lineman, passed away on Aug. 27, 2024 in Grand Junction, Colorado, at the age of 58. Born on Sep. 12, 1965, in Baytown, Texas, Dan's life was marked by his strong work ethic and a deep commitment to his profession.

Dan graduated from Willis High School in 1984. After high school he attended lineman school where he acquired the skills necessary for his future career. With numerous years of experience working in Texas and Gunnison, Colorado, Dan made significant contributions as an electrical lineman. His expertise extended beyond the field. He served as a Job Training and Safety Instructor for CREA of Colorado, where he took great pride in his work and positively impacted many lives.

A proud alumnus of Wisconsin, Dan earned an associate degree, which provided him with the foundation to pursue his passions. His interests led him to explore the great outdoors, indulging in hobbies such as hunting and camping. A devoted sports enthusiast, he not only played football and baseball but also cherished the moments spent watching games with friends and family. Dan was also an avid cook, known for his culinary creations that brought joy to those around him.

Throughout his life, Dan cherished memories of traveling across the country, embracing the thrill of new experiences and the beauty of diverse land-

scapes. His vibrant personality and commitment to his family and friends left a lasting impression on all who knew him.

Dan is survived by sons Wesley Whitesides, Tanner Means, brother Fred Whitesides, nieces Amanda Lucas, Emily Whitesides, Raegan Whitesides, Aunt Sissy and Uncle Neil Voytek, Aunt Peggy and Uncle Jim Atkinson.

Dan is preceded in death by his parents, Lemoyne Lafayette and Sue Whitesides, who provided him with love and support throughout his life.

Friends and family are invited to honor Dan's memory with a Graveside Service at Gunnison Cemetery on Sep. 6, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., followed by a Celebration of Life at the Fred R. Field Multipurpose building, starting at 2:00 p.m. in Gunnison, Colorado. Dan's spirit will continue to resonate in the hearts of those he touched with his warmth and dedication. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to HopeWest.

Kevin Smith

Kevin Smith, beloved husband, son, brother, friend and mentor passed away Aug. 22, 2024 from a sudden and unexpected illness. He was 64 years old.

Kevin was born on July 8, 1960 in Reading, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Dorothy Fish and Stanley Smith, and was a brother to Eilleen Herman and Karen Singer. He was also a loving uncle, mentor and friend to his many nephews and nieces.

Kevin met his wife, Janet, at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival on the summer solstice 1986, becoming friends and companions in life at that time. They continued on A5

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LAKE CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL: Tues. 10/22

Arety (Harbelis) Bathje

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Don’t log off this election season

One of my favorite things about venturing into the backcountry is putting my phone on airplane mode. Through the click of a button I’m immediately cut off from the outside world. With no emails, calls or texts to interrupt (a rarity in the newspaper industry) life is much simpler. It's the silence that comes with the arrival of the night sky, the subtle signs of the changing seasons or the body’s pleasant ache after carrying a backpack. But recently, it seems that every time I reemerge from the wilderness, history has been made. After a weekend offline in Silverton earlier this summer, I learned that former president Donald Trump had almost been assassinated. A week or two later, under similar circumstances, I read that Joe Biden had dropped out of the presidential race.

7,500 feet from the valley floor.

My heartbeat quickened when we first caught sight of the volcano. It towered over a landscape of glaciated giants, and the top looked as if it might serve as the entrance to a dragon’s lair. Rock horns rose from the ridgeline as we continued our march to the base.

Like hubristic Coloradans, we planned to attempt the rock route on the peak instead of the standard one that traverses up one of its more than a dozen glaciers. From afar, the rock looked steep and nasty. On summit day, my partner and I watched with jealousy as other teams followed a simple footpath across the glacier, skirting around crevasses with relative ease. Up we climbed.

Luckily, the crumbling San Juan and West Elk mountains at home prepared us well. After hours of navigating loose boulders, and a few questionable maneuvers on the upper face, we popped onto the ridge. We watched rivulets of smoke from a wildfire curl out of the valley below, painting the landscape in unearthly pinks, blues and purple. From the summit, I felt small as I gazed over the jagged peaks of the North Cascades.

last few years, I have watched women lose their reproductive rights, foreign countries descend into violence and extreme weather events reshape the future of the West. Adding the United States’ increasingly volatile political environment to the mix was simply too much. At the time, Biden still refused to call off his next election bid, and the energy created by Trump’s new running mate made me woozy. Neither seemed like a viable option.

I no longer felt hopeful about the future, and was overwhelmed with something much larger than the climate anxiety much of this generation is experiencing. Unless things change, this mounting fear is something that I expect to impact where I decide to live, if I choose to have children and the future of my career in journalism. Even voting, something that is supposed to give a sense of control amid the chaos, felt like it might be a hopeless act.

tion, long before the ballots are counted, is how we will incite change.

Journalists are here to help, and as we prepare to begin to launch our election coverage, starting next week, I ask you to stay with us. Our job is to arm you with the information you need to confidently fill out your ballot this November.

Through Voter Voices, more than 6,000 Coloradans have responded to surveys issued by their local newsrooms, asking candidates to focus their energy on things like the stifling cost of living, the environment and good government — a growing list that is called the “citizen’s agenda.” While the Times does not plan to run a formal survey, we still want to know what issues matter most to you.

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.

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Now, turning my cell phone back on when I return from the woods fills me with dread. Each notification on my screen — a source reminding me of an upcoming interview, a dismal news headline and a missed call from my mom — is enough to send small pangs of anxiety through my brain. It’s a clear reminder that I am back in reality. And with the pace of current events, I worry that the world may have ended while I was away.

I had similar feelings when I headed to Washington’s Glacier Peak Wilderness at the beginning of August. My team’s eyes were set on its crown jewel, Glacier Peak, is the most remote of the Cascade stratovolcanoes.

Although its summit tops out at just 10,000 feet, it rises a mighty

The bus is pulling away

Editor:

The bus was still at the stop. A man was running diagonally across the grassy park toward the front of the bus. The bus was still. I smiled to myself, thinking how awesome it was that the bus was waiting for the man. It was only an extra 30 seconds. The man got within 15 feet, or less, to the door of the bus. The bus pulled away.

This is not okay, and it is deeper than the bus not waiting for the man, who was Latino, huffing and puffing to catch up, likely trying to get up to a job up

Before we departed from the trailhead parking lot days earlier, I had triumphantly switched my phone into airplane mode — marking the official start of a much-needed vacation. Its sole purpose for the next four days was to be a camera. I looked forward to being blissfully unaware of the steady stream of local and national news that typically occupies my brain.

Until recently, I treated my limited consumption of election-related news similarly: Ignorance is bliss. The constant deluge of flashy content, served to us on a faux golden platter by a growing number of social media platforms, always seemed to find its way to my fingertips. Even the thought of what November might bring filled me with a mounting sense of panic.

So I chose to ignore it. I had found myself with a severe case of political burnout. Over the

in Crested Butte. I have ridden the RTA bus many times to what was a previous job up in Crested Butte, trying to save gas and decrease my carbon footprint.

I’m a white girl, I didn’t have to use the bus but, I did and I was grateful it was there. It has waited for me and others. One time, I remember crossing the street, waving at the bus that I was enroute toward. The bus driver saw me. It waited. That is privilege. Being seen, being given a moment of grace and goodwill.

I have seen the bus filled with Latino, Cora and Black folks (many who have grown up

My outlook brightened slightly when Kamala Harris stepped into the race, yet I still felt skeptical. Here in Gunnison, I found myself captivated by Colorado Senate candidate Marc Catlin’s message at a Republican meet and greet: This year, every single vote will count. If we are to influence our future, we have to participate.

While I’m not sure voting will lead to immediate changes at the national level, I can promise it will here in our small communities on the Western Slope. Just look at the results from the primary race for Colorado House District 58. A three-vote margin determined the winner. Just three votes out of the nearly 13,000 cast. A similar margin decided Lauren Boebert’s victory over Adam Frisch in 2022.

At the Colorado Press Association convention, the Times newsroom learned about a statewide project called Voter Voices. It is shifting election coverage from the traditional “horse-race” style (who will win?) to topics of immediate concern to local residents. It emphasizes that voter participa-

here) making their way up to a backroom job in Crested Butte. Doing our cooking, cleaning, construction and other dirty jobs that no one wants to do.

But we do not see them.

“This is a mostly white community; we don’t have a race problem here,” I have heard it said by folks not wanting to get into the stickiness of diversity, equity and inclusion. This kind of comment, the blindness behind it, is the problem itself.

We do not see certain people holding up our community, taking care of the stuff we don’t like because we don’t see their value (trained architects, moms,

What do you want our Gunnison County candidates to talk about as they compete for your votes? Write to us. Your responses will become the backbone of the questions we pose to the local candidates running for county commissioner seats in a Gunnison Country Times election forum in mid-October (details coming soon).

“For 32 years I have been writing about and advocating for a more voter-centric model in election coverage,” Jay Rosen, a New York University professor and well-known media critic, said in a recent Voter Voices newsletter. “I have never seen an opportunity like the one you have in 2024.”

While I plan to pack up my backpack and head off grid a few more times before the snow falls (desert season is almost upon us), I am choosing to pay attention as November inches ever closer. It’s time to log back on.

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

farmers, family men, professors …) and give them the crappy jobs (I acknowledge that there are white people that do this too, though far fewer) so we build walls, ascribe Latino and BIPOC folks to the drug trade, users of the system we made them dependent on (to supplement those crappy jobs) or in general, as criminals — and so we do not wait for them.

Cheryl Cwelich Gunnison

Bella Biondini Times Editor

OBITUARIES

married after 13 years together on the winter solstice in 1998 becoming a force of duty and love to each other working as a team to fulfill their dreams together.

Kevin made his way to Colorado on his Harley in 1982 to visit friends in Fort Collins. He quit his job over the phone at Donnelley Printing as a machinist and never looked back. Shortly after, he moved to the Gunnison Valley, falling in love with the Western Slope and the western United States with a sense of all the potential adventures yet to be fulfilled. It definitely was his happy place!

He continued his love of hunting and fishing upon arrival to Crested Butte. He hunted elk with a muzzleloader, bow and finally rifle. He hunted ducks from the Taylor Reservoir along the Gunnison River in various locations all the way to Grand Junction. He hunted pheasant all over Delta County with his friends and beloved hunting dogs. He loved skiing powder, floating rivers and riding every twisty road or desert canyon he could possibly find.

Kevin was a self-taught historian. He knew all manner of

LETTERS

Empty promises

Editor:

Who is running this country and making policies with irreversible consequences?

Unelected wealthy elitists. So, Harris steps into Biden's shoes, but nothing will change. The plan will continue. The Supreme Court refused to overrule the lower court prohibiting student loans to be forgiven. That was the obvious outcome all along, but it influenced enough young people who will vote for them because of an empty promise.

Remember Obamacare? It was not at all what was represented for people who were gainfully employed. Now the promise is Medicare for all, even though Medicare is expected to be depleted by 2036.

Free college for all. No tax on tips. Free food and housing for immigrants. Government workers receive perks and generous retirement benefits the private sector does not enjoy. So, tax and spend. It gets votes. Inflation is the cruelest tax of all. Everyone pays.

In China, if you do not do the job the overseer assigns to you, you cannot have subsidized rent or utilities or shop at the commissaries. Your child cannot attend school and you cannot get medical care. Free stuff comes with a high cost. It's population control. You can only raise prices so much and then customers stop coming, you are out of business and people lose their jobs.

We see it in Gunnison. Minimum wage works against young people because adults will gladly take that wage. Higher wages equal higher pric-

facts related to the progress of man through time and could name dates, places of battles and the origins of civilizations across the globe. When he and Janet watched movies together, he could name the weapons being used, whether it was accurate for the time, how it affected the battle and the outcome it had on history. His heroes included most people crucial in forming this country he loved. He flew the flag proudly at our home. He passionately defended the rights set forth in our Constitution.

Kevin developed many talents. He was a fishing guide on the upper and lower Gunnison River, a karate teacher in Crested Butte for 10 years, snowmaker, bus driver, carpenter, snow plow driver, heavy equipment operator and first and foremost Boy Scout. He brought integrity to all of these professions. He fought for safety in the snowmaking and construction industry. Kevin passionately strived to teach his students integrity, humility and strength in the challenge of becoming a good human. He earned a black belt in Shoto-Kan Karate under Sensei Donald Tucker. He built 13 homes over his lifetime as

es so it’s a net loss for the poor. It is devastating for business. Capitalism made America great. If people keep voting for free stuff, they will pay with their freedom.

The United States, under Biden and Harris, is spending $3.5 trillion per year on the "Green New Deal" alone, until 2050. The projected total is $105 trillion. The national debt is over $35 trillion. It is unsustainable. We need fiscal and social responsibility by lowering taxes, stop spending money we don’t have and let the power of free enterprise work, unbridled by government regulations and overreach.

Wikipedia.org: “Elections in the Roman Republic were an essential part of its governance, with participation only being afforded to Roman citizens. Upper-class interests, centered in the urban political environment of cities, often trumped the concerns of the diverse and disunified lower class, while at times the people already in power would pre-select candidates for office further reducing the value of voters’ input. The candidates themselves at first, remained distant from voters and refrained from political presentations, but they later more than made up for time lost with habitual bribery, coercion, and empty promises. As the practice of electoral campaigning grew in use and extent, the pool of candidates was no longer limited to a select group with riches and high birth. Instead, many more ordinary citizens had a chance to run for office, allowing more equal representation in key government decisions.”

This is what our founding fathers understood when they framed the Constitution and set

well as working on many projects ending with our final home in Cedaredge. He would say his greatest accomplishments were all the friendships created during this wonderful dream he called life. When you miss Kevin, think of him riding his favorite motothe Beast on 92. Friends and family are invited to gather in celebration of his life at Campfire Ranch (formerly the Gunnison River Park) on the Taylor 12-4 p.m. Sept. 21. Please bring a side dish and beverage of choice. BBQ will be provided. "Ride fast, Take Chances.”

Ellen Ranson

Ellen Ranson, 90, peacefully passed away on Aug. 20, 2024, surrounded by her beloved husband, Baldwin "Baldy" Ranson, daughter, Jeanne, and pup, Ollie. A force of nature, Ellen was a professional actress, entrepreneur and world traveler who lived life to the fullest. She exuded laughter, kindness, curiosity and adventure. Condolences will be welcomed by her daughter, Jeanne Ring, at jeanneringe@gmail.com.

our republic in place. Rome fell and so can we. So who really is a threat to our democracy?

Pam Randall Gunnison

Wilson is serious about her job

Editor: [Gunnison City Manager]

Amanda Wilson is a special person. I think she does a good job, and I like her so much. She does a lot for the community. She makes me so happy as a friend, and she is a woman that works hard at her job. She is always so happy and takes the time to help me. She loves her job and I am thankful to her because she does her job seriously.

The community is safe with her. I hope we can keep her here in Gunnison County.

John Mazzuca Gunnison

digital content and additional open hours. If voters don’t approve the ballot measure, the district will continue to design the library, he told the Times He didn’t provide further detail on how the district would fund the project.

At a special meeting on Sept. 3, the district’s board of directors greenlit the ballot language and selected Denver-based Studiotrope LLC to design the coming library. There is currently no library in Crested Butte South, but the district intends to build one on a parcel it owns in the community’s commercial district.

Earlier that day, Drew Brookhart, executive director of Gunnison County Library District, received permission from county commissioners to add the question to the ballot, a requirement under state law. Commissioners unanimously approved the request, but commissioner Jonathan Houck clarified that the decision is not an endorsement for or against it.

“Libraries are for the people, and so if the people want more libraries and more library services, I think giving them the option to say that at the ballot box is the right way to do this,” said County Commissioner Laura Puckett Daniels.

The library district, which oversees the libraries in Gunnison and Crested Butte, is funded primarily through property taxes. A small portion of its revenue also comes from grants and investments. After lawmakers put a tax revenue growth cap on local government districts and cut residential, commercial and agricultural tax rates this year, funding for various special districts around the state could be uncertain. The Gunnison Valley entities that might be affected include the Gunnison

County Metropolitan Recreation District (MetRec), the Gunnison Watershed School District and the county’s various fire districts.

“We had hoped that the growth in the community would translate to growth of the library district,” Brookhart said to commissioners on Sept. 3. “We were on track to have enough money in the next few years to do this without approaching voters for additional funds.”

The ballot question asks voters if the district could increase the mill levy to offset further reductions in the assessment rate, language that was also included in the district’s 2019 ballot question. Nevertheless, all district income, including the mill levy approved in 2019, will be subject to the new growth cap

Since its formation in 2008, this marks the district’s third time asking voters to help finance new projects and expand its book and digital collection. In 2011 the district asked voters to approve bond sales to fund the construction of a new library in Gunnison and an expansion of the Old Rock Library in Crested Butte. The district also ran a companion question in 2011, a mill levy to support public library operations. Both ballot initiatives were rejected by voters. In 2019, voters approved a 1.9 mill levy increase to support overall district operations.

“I think this board has a history of doing things that are community oriented, and I’m ready to rock and roll,” said library board member Pam Montgomery.

The concept of having three distinct libraries across the Gunnison Valley was first laid out in the district’s 2022 strategic plan, after the board had discussed it for years. Like the district’s other two libraries, the new space in CB South is expected to offer public meeting space, a children’s library, a teen space and outdoor amenities. The building will be powered in part by onsite geothermal and solar energy.

“This new branch really lends itself to a creative public library

experience that's going to draw people from both ends of the valley,” Brookhart said in the library board meeting. “It’s a blank slate in terms of how we can be experimental with other library services and have the community tell us what they'd like to see.”

The new library is slated for a just over 1-acre parcel the district owns in CB South’s commercial district. It was approved for subdivision by the county, and the Crested Butte South property owners’ association, this summer. The new library is expected to cost $12 million if the board approves an affordable housing component, and $8 million without.

The district’s board is considering co-locating up to nine affordable housing units on the same site. The board will make a decision on including the housing in the schematic design phase, early next year. District designer Studiotrope has an affordable housing expert on staff, if the board chooses to move forward.

The library district received a $1 million grant from the state in July to pay for design, engineer-

ing and preconstruction costs, accelerating the project’s timeline, Brookhart told commissioners.

Sparring at the state level

The district’s anticipated annual revenue could change as a result of this past legislative session, with a series of bills that reduced the tax burden on property owners. Legislators have sparred for years on property tax rates — attempting to strike bipartisan deals that fund public schools and special districts while tamping down on the state’s inflated cost of living. The issue was especially urgent this year after property values soared in 2023.

Senate Bill 233, passed in the final days of the session, enacted a 5.5% annual cap on local government revenue growth, in addition to cutting residential, commercial and agricultural tax assessment rates beginning in 2025. Months later, lawmakers went into four days of special session and the result was House Bill 1001, considered a compromise to remove two

harsher citizen-driven tax cuts that were headed for the ballot this fall.

HB 1001 adds another $200 million in tax relief for property owners around the state. It reduced the growth gap again to 5.25 % for local governments, removed the state’s responsibility to backfill local revenue losses for the state’s special districts, and capped school district property tax revenue growth.

“I understand that people have been experiencing difficulty [with property taxes], and there are active measures to tamp that down … This additional mill is not exacerbating the situation that we've been in. In fact, it's responding to the cuts in many ways,” Smith said in the meeting.

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

and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to protect the Gunnison sage-grouse from the impacts of livestock grazing in the Gunnison Basin. The lawsuit challenged the agencies’ reliance on an outdated conservation agreement — citing a significant decline in the bird’s population between 2013 and 2020.

As the Park Service prepares to take over the grazing permits, public land managers hope the new management plan gives them more insight into how livestock and wildlife and native plant species in the parks interact, ecologist Danguole Bockus said at an open house at the Fred Field Center on Aug. 28.

“That will help us gain that knowledge and protect the resources that were charged to preserve for future generations,” Bockus said.

The Park Service is considering two alternatives for its grazing plan with this question in mind: Where do cattle and

sheep grazing fit into the stated purposes of the two parks? The first, a “no action” alternative, would keep livestock management essentially the same, under the guidelines currently used by the BLM. The second would give the Park Service more control over grazing. Both are designed to better align with its mission to preserve and protect the land’s natural, cultural and recreational resources for the public benefit, said Black Canyon Superintendent Stuart West. The Park Service is seeking public input through Sept. 20.

Cattle and sheep roam on roughly 20,000 acres within Curecanti and the Black Canyon. This land is part of grazing allotments that overlap with the recreation area and the park. Twenty-two permittees from across the Western Slope pay to graze their livestock on public lands in defined units called allotments. Seven cross the boundaries of the Black Canyon, and 17 in Curecanti. Today, the management is split between the Gunnison and Montrose BLM field offices (one is managed by the Forest Service). The

Wiley)

Seven grazing allotments overlap with the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. (Photo by Mariel

Kids gather for a storytime at the Gunnison County Library in mid-July. (Photo by Mariel Wiley)

permits are renewed every 10 years. It is not uncommon for national parks to allow grazing, as the presence of livestock sometimes preceded the park’s establishment. This is true in Capitol Reef, Grand Canyon and Grand Teton national parks, among numerous others. Congress grandfathered-in existing permits and leases when it established Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in 1999. At Curecanti, the Park Service took over land from the Bureau of Reclamation — the agency that led the creation of the three dams along the Gunnison River — shortly after the construction of Blue Mesa Reservoir.

The Park Service’s adoption of a grazing plan will mark another management transfer, which will occur slowly as permits expire and are renewed. Regardless of which alternative is chosen, this is the first time the Park Service will issue its own “special use” permits for grazing. Similar permits are used for those interested in filming within a national park, and hosting weddings, organized sporting events or large group camps. For grazing, these permits would need to be renewed every one to five years.

Just like the BLM, the Park Service will meet with ranchers annually to discuss their grazing plans, such as timing and duration, for the upcoming year. If the Park Service chooses to move forward with the adap-

tive management alternative, existing grazing permits could be adjusted on a case-by-case basis to further protect native species and the sagebrush ecosystems present within the two parks.

Danguole Bockus National Park Service

“It’s more comprehensive … It means we would consider things like riparian areas, wet meadows, impacts to Gunnison sage-grouse habitat, bighorn sheep, rare plant communities, the wilderness areas and annual drought forecasts,” West said.

The agency could alter the timing, duration and intensity of grazing, and tweak the type or number of livestock permitted in specific areas. It could also mean issuing pasture rest periods and installing fences to keep cattle from wandering into sensitive areas like wetlands.

For example, when a herd of cattle repeatedly walk through a riparian area they can cause soil erosion and trample native plant communities. This can make it easier for invasive species, such as cheatgrass, to take over. And as the region becomes more arid, it will only become more difficult to do restoration work, Bockus said.

“We've got to take that into account with everything that we do now, not just long-term drought, but climate change … If we lose some of the native vegetation, we're not going to get it back right away,” she said.

In terms of wildlife, in addition to the sage-grouse, the main species of concern is the bighorn sheep. Pathogens carried by domestic sheep can cause deadly pneumonia outbreaks and easily spread when livestock cross paths with bighorns. The presence of grazing operations can also impact the quality of wilderness and cause conflict when cattle wander through highly trafficked recreation areas.

The Park Service is currently looking for feedback on the management options. A draft will be released for another round of public comments in the spring. the final plan is expected in the summer of 2025. Comments may be submitted online at parkplanning.nps.gov/ ManagementPlans.cfm.

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

1,900

100 JACOBS LANE, LAKE CITY

2,744

$1,095,000

EMMONS ROAD UNIT #317,

CRESTED BUTTE

guaranteed utility connection. The county and town have yet to settle on a final timeline for renovations to the intersection of Brush Creek Road and Hwy. 135, but will revisit the issue at a council meeting later this month.

“We are at a point where we have some urgency to get through a process now so that we can finance this thing and start ordering [materials] with long lead times,” said John Cattles, assistant county manager for operations and sustainability.

Major impact projects like Whetstone must go through three rounds of approval before planners can break ground: the sketch plan, preliminary plan and final plan. Gunnison County Commissioners and the Gunnison County Planning Commission approved the sketch plan in early 2023. The sketch plan is conceptual, and lays out the broad strokes of the project and its initial designs. The preliminary and final plans call for more detail, laying out precise engineering and design schemes for unit types, sidewalks, snow storage, utilities and more.

The county and its partner, Norris Design, presented updated plans to the Planning Commission at a work session on Aug. 29. At that meeting, the Commission discussed various land use incentives and modifications offered under the LUR for affordable housing projects that the county is seeking for Whetstone’s design,. This includes increasing building heights and size, and slight changes in landscaping and setbacks.

The changes represent the county’s effort to keep the project affordable by creating economies of scale, while not forfeiting “liveability” pieces that community members asked for, Cattles told the Commission.

“If this was an urban place, we could probably double that [252 units], but we're not,” he said. “And so we're trying to find that compromise between working with what's around us … but being dense enough and using the asset we have really efficiently.”

Making Whetstone ‘liveable’

Since the sketch plan was approved, the county has increased the number of units from 231 to 252, adding over 40 bedrooms and another acre of open space. The largest building in the preliminary plan is an apartment complex, planned to be just over 45,000 square feet. The remainder are a mix of apartments, townhomes, triplexes and duplexes.

include a youth soccer field, a community meeting space with a kitchen, a playground area and a fenced dog park — amenities shaped with years of public input through meeting and design charrettes. The county has not yet drafted a parking management plan for the site, but it will be a mix of some reserved spots and free spots, Cattles said.

Many units will have access to covered garages, and 10% will be set up to charge EVs, only for residents. Since the sketch plan, the number of parking spaces has fallen to help increase the number of units and accommodate snow storage. With the anticipated connection to the RTA bus system via Brush Creek Road, future renters will be able to access public transit.

The overall building number was reduced to allow for more snow storage, a playing field and a central rec path that connects the north and south ends of the site to public transit and the underpass. Planners removed several “alley flats,” small detached residential units, due to difficulty with snow removal and the lack of cost efficiency, while making several of the apartment buildings larger.

The largest apartments will be located at the entrance, creating a “sense of arrival,” according to an Aug. 22 staff memo. They are also more cost- and energy-efficient, and can house more people. The project team is requesting a 25% height increase, as allowed in the LUR, for several buildings, to create more cost efficiency. Staff found that those increases, if approved, would not impede solar access for surrounding structures.

A 3- to 6-foot berm with landscaped trees and shrubs will act as a buffer for the building, including for some of the corridor’s well-loved views. And, depending on the site location, the housing will be 30-45 feet lower in elevation than the highway, creating a “tucked in and screened” feel, said Norris Design’s Elena Scott.

The site allows for up to 1,000 square feet of commercial space, but none is currently planned. That could accommodate a small coffee shop or convenience store, Scott said. The property will be powered by geothermal, air and ground-source heat pumps, and it will be solar ready. The county has already received some grant funding for the well fields and equipment, but the biggest incentive is what Cattles estimates could be up to 50% in state tax rebates.

Porches, patios, landscapes areas, front door landscaping and sidewalks could help slow the speed of traffic through the site and add a neighborhood feel. The county is requesting the Commission approve a reduction in setbacks, as smaller roadways are safer for residents as they prevent speeding, said Cathie Pagano, assistant county manager for community and economic development. Whetstone is envisioned to

In late August, the Valley Housing Fund approved a $100,000 grant to the project. The money will help the county with cost inflation on materials and cover development expenses after officials close on construction loans planned for this winter. Town council will revisit the Brush Creek Road renovation timeline at a meeting in late September. A joint public hearing for the preliminary plan is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Oct. 8 in the Gunnison County Courthouse.

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

greeted by an open and inviting kitchen-dining area, adorned with cherry cabinets and equipped with state-of-the-art stainless steel appliances. The tiled shower and bathtub add a touch of luxury to the bathrooms, while the master bedroom boasts its own oasis with a reading nook or small office space. The 2-car detached garage features 8-foot doors and 10-foot ceilings inside, providing ample space for 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 new construction your forever home. Contact us now to schedule a viewing and witness the epitome of contemporary living!

114 Camino Del Rio #26 MLS# 817094 $599,000 Do you love to fish and golf right from your front door? Then this property is a perfect home for you! Spacious 3 bedroom/2.5 bath with a large loft area and storage closet with an attached heated 2 car garage. This project sits along the Gunnison River so all of the owners get to enjoy private fishing rights. It is also situated next to the Dos Rios Golf Club which makes it easy to drive your cart right to the greens. Complex has new metal roofs as of 2022 and they just replaced the water lines in the complex and the assessment has already be paid by seller. Property has a nice open floor plan in the main living area with new flooring and a newer gas fireplace to keep you nice and cozy. The bedrooms are carpeted and good sized and the main suite also has access right out to the back patio. Both the front and back areas are fenced and property is pet friendly. Seller is extremely motivated and all offers will be considered!!!

TBD W Denver Ave. MLS# 816647 $610,000 Spectacular 2.5 acre level lot located in Gunnison’s new subdivision Elk Ranch. This parcel is located just outside City limits on the west side of town and seller has it set up to be built on immediately. Lot has a well permit already in place along with the required approval for well from the Upper Gunnison Water Conservancy District which can be transferred at closing. Buyer of lot may also pay for tap fees to hook into the City water and sewer main that will be extended north by City this fall. There is a shared road/driveway into the subdivision and it will be completed by this fall as well. Lot has been surveyed and a building envelope has been established for a single family residence but other dwellings such as barns/sheds etc. will be allowed. Come enjoy some country living with incredible views of mountains up Ohio Valley and the Palisades while being so close to town.

16 Irwin St. MLS# 817525 $625,000 6 bedroom/3 bath updated brick home located in Palisades subdivision. This home has 2 kitchens and separate living spaces and the downstairs has its own entrance from the back of house. The breezeway from the house to the 2 car oversized garage is fully enclosed and is great space for entertaining or storage. Close to schools and new Gunnison Library. This is great starter home that can produce supplemental income!

Cooking matters

The smell of simmering vegetables wafted through the Gunnison County Library during a Cooking Matters class on Aug. 28. This was the first installment of the six-week program organized by the Mountain Roots Food Project. During the session, volunteer instructors worked with participants to make a tofu or chicken stir fry. Each Cooking Matters lesson is designed to equip families with recipe “frameworks,” or knowledge about the basic food groups that create a balanced meal on a budget. Cooks can then get creative and experiment with different recipes that include healthy proteins, fats, carbohydrates, grains, fruits and vegetables.

2 Ridge Lane MLS# 817530 $330,000 2 bedroom/2 bath home with 1 car attached garage located in Antelope Hills. Cozy home with all appliances included, huge fenced yard and great views from the top floor! Good value in our market!

(Photos by Mariel Wiley)

SELLER MOTIVATED

Red Lady saved from industrial mine threat

on the mountain, and will focus on reclamation and meeting water quality standards.

Jon Hare Special to the Times

A mineral extinguishment has been finalized between the Gunnison Valley community and a mining company for a valuable molybdenum deposit located just west of Crested Butte.

Since the discovery of molybdenum within Mt. Emmons in 1977, a mountain locally known as Red Lady, the proposal for a large industrial mine has been the catalyst for the community to embrace the surrounding natural environment, inspiring an ethos for the conservation of public lands and open space far beyond the valley.

For nearly 50 years, the community — led by nonprofit High Country Conservation Advocates (HCCA) — has opposed mining on Red Lady. It has worked through the required environmental review processes to demonstrate how mining would pollute drinking water and headwaters streams, undermine the local tourismbased economy, and have negative impacts on agriculture, recreation and the mountain communities in the area.

For reasons including the community’s long-standing opposition and the potential impacts, Mt. Emmons Mining Company (MEMC), owner of the private land and mining rights on Red Lady, came to the decision to forego future mining

“The mineral extinguishment formalizes, and symbolizes, the community’s final transition to a tourism and amenities economy,” said Crested Butte Mayor Ian Billick. “It demonstrates the community’s commitment to the sustainability of the ecological processes supporting this economy and the quality of our lives, including water quality, fire management and biodiversity. The mineral extinguishment, along with the land exchange, demonstrate the wonderful things we can make happen when we come together as a community.”

In addition to the mineral extinguishment, MEMC has also signed conservation easements to prohibit industrial or residential development on Mt. Emmons. It also provides legal public access to traditional ski and hiking routes that cross the mine-owned private lands.

The mineral extinguishment and the conservation easements, executed through the Crested Butte Land Trust, are enforceable through local town and county governments. Additionally, the Mt. Emmons land exchange — between MEMC and the U.S. Forest Service — transfers the federal lands on Red Lady already impacted by past mining into MEMC’s ownership in exchange for undeveloped land in Gunnison and Saguache counties. Parcels in Gunnison County, originally intended to hold mine tailings, will now be included in the national forest and managed for public access moving forward.

"This victory is an incredible testament to the staying power of the greater Gunnison Valley community,” said Julie Nania, Red Lady program director for HCCA. “To say that not many mine fights end in a collaborative solution eliminating the potential to mine is an understatement. Finding a pathway to keep Red Lady mine-free has required creativity, trust building with MEMC, and decades of hard work. We feel immense gratitude for all who have helped us arrive at this moment."

HCCA was founded in 1977 by members of the community to oppose the mine on Mt. Emmons.

“This is one of the greatest outcomes of the conservation legacy in our nation’s history. As a resident of this valley, I am so thankful and appreciative of the people who have invested themselves in keeping the Gunnison Country a place where people can live and visit to enjoy unspoiled public lands and small mountain communities with recreation and agriculture-based economies,” said HCCA Advocacy Director Jon Hare. “HCCA is dedicated to protecting the health, integrity, and beauty of the public lands, waters and wildlife in Colorado’s Gunnison Country for the next 50 years.”

The community will celebrate Red Lady on Oct. 4 in Crested Butte with a live band street dance on Elk Avenue.

(Jon Hare is the advocacy director of High Country Conservation Advocates.)

A cloud inversion sits under Mt. Emmons. (Courtesy Xavi Fane)

REMINDERS

Please

Gunnison is ‘all in’

Year three of Welcoming Week marks growth

Bella Biondini Times Editor

Welcoming Week, scheduled for Sept. 13-22, will return to Gunnison this year with a new theme: “We’re all in.”

Welcoming Week is an annual campaign that celebrates the work communities across the globe have done to become a more welcoming place for everyone, including immigrants. The City of Gunnison has been participating in the initiative since 2022 with a schedule of events designed to create stronger connections between residents regardless of age, religion or race.

According to City Outreach Liaison Ricardo Esqueda, the theme serves as a reminder of the community’s ongoing work to create a space where newcomers have the resources they need to thrive in the valley.

“That sounds very idealistic because things aren't picture perfect here right now and there's difficulties,” he said. “But the amount of work that's being done to ensure that everyone at least has the access to that opportunity is really telling of this community's commitment to supporting each other.”

Welcoming Week 2024 will kick off with a community paint day on Sept. 13 at the new “Little Corner of Mexico” mural that is taking shape at Tacos La Esquina restaurant on Tomichi Avenue. The event, held in partnership with the Gunnison Creative District, will include food and music. On Saturday, the League of Women Voters will host a voter information booth at the farmers market, followed by an interfaith potluck with the Gunnison Congregational Church at Legion Park.

Later in the week, the

Gunnison Watershed School District will celebrate the grand opening of the new Gunnison Community School playground with popsicles and music. Gunnison Mentors, 4-H and Gunnison County Juvenile Services Choice Pass will have booths with student resources. A Gunnison Country Food Pantry parking lot party is set for Wednesday, Sept. 18. The week will end with a Diversity Walk parade down Main Street, and food and music at Jorgensen Park.

All of the events are designed to connect residents with the resources they need, whether it's affordable food or housing, a place to create and share their art or small business grants.

“[There are] a lot of ways for people to get connected, and I think that's what really we're hoping to create with that sentiment of ‘We're all in.’” Esqueda said. “We're all in this together, right? This is our community, and we should be working toward the vision that we want to see for our community together.”

Welcoming Week creates momentum around the change happening within the community in the space of inclusion and accessibility to resources, Esqueda said. With each passing year, a growing number of nonprofits and city and county entities are building on that progress. This is anything from translating city council agendas and hosting language access hours to creating positions that offer support to newcomers.

For example, Gunnison Valley Health recently added a bilingual patient navigator position. More organizations are headed in that direction, he said. As the number of Spanishspeaking students enrolled in the school district grows, its leadership is trying to expand the opportunities available for them to be successful both inside and outside of the classroom.

Over the past couple of years, more Hispanic residents have begun to participate in community events, such as the Fourth

of July, as food vendors. This has inspired a growing number to inquire about eventually opening their own businesses. Other entrepreneurs have applied for and received grants to grow their existing businesses.

“It's taken small and seemingly disconnected commitments to really bring this welcoming all the way to what seems like the next generation,” said Paul Duba, an adjunct faculty member at Western Colorado University. He was the former director of the Gunnison County Library’s literacy program, which is now called the Center for Adult and Family Education (CAFE).

“It’s the school district hiring ELL [English language teachers] in 2002 and for one of those teachers at the high school to start the LULAC Club [League of United Latin American Citizens]. Bottom line is it was a place for Spanish-speaking and LatinX students to have a cultural connection.”

Last year, the group that organized Welcoming Week, which just referred to itself as a “site team,” returned with a new name, the Gunnison Cultural Connection. It consisted of members from the county, the Hispanic Affairs Project, the city, the Community Foundation, Gunnison Valley Health and more.

Starting this fall, the Cultural Connection will extend its reach beyond Welcoming Week. The group plans to create a “map” that shows where Gunnison’s gaps are and where structural racism may still exist. It will also be a space to invite the perspective of new members, such as the school district and Western. Once complete, the map will be shared with city and county leaders.

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

Community members march in a diversity walk in 2023. (Photo by Jacob Spetzler)

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/GES - Permanent Substitute

CBCS - Mini Bus Driver

CBES - General Educational Assistant

CBES - Half-time SPED Educational Assistant

Special Education EACSigniﬁcant Needs Bus Drivers Food Service Substitute teachers

PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

District School Psychologist GHS - Special Education Teacher COACHING

CBMS - Assistant MS Girls’ Basketball Coach GHS - Assistant Girls’ Basketball Coach GHS - Rock Climbing

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

CITY OF GUNNISON EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Chief of Police

Full-Time: $131,700-$162,367/yr. Seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to serve as its next Chief of Police. This pivotal role requires an individual with a strong commitment to community safety, a proven track record in law enforcement, and a passion for fostering positive relationships within the community.

Equipment Operator

Full-Time: $59,500-$69,900/yr. Operates a variety of City-owned heavy equipment, vehicles and tools in the construction and maintenance of City streets and alleys, curbs and gutters, sidewalks, traffic/street signage and other City infrastructure and services. Drives garbage and recycling trucks with hydraulic lifts on a rotational basis with other team members along designated routes.

Electric Lineman

Full-Time: $77,300-$90,800/yr. Performs technical and manual work in the installation, maintenance, and repair of electrical distribution systems for the City.

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.

Part-Time Openings:

Ice Rink Concessions Manager -up to $32.21/hr.

Zamboni Drivers -up to $24.63/hr.

Ice Rink Concessions Workers -up to $24.23/hr

Rec Center Front Desk Workers -up to $22.53/hr.

Climbing Wall Attendants

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.

including select weekends and holidays. A valid Colorado driver’s license is required, and a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is preferred at hiring or the ability to obtain such within one (1) year is required. Starting salary is $53,100 to $59,500 for entry level. $58,000 to $75,000 salary available for operators/electricians with experience and appropriate state licenses. Excellent benefits package including 100% employer paid premium family health, dental, and life insurance, 12 paid holiday days, two weeks paid vacation, paid sick leave, paid personal leave, employer contribution to retirement plan (5% automatic mandatory employer matching with 1-3% optional additional matching), employer provided uniforms, and a wellness benefit/ski pass. Full job description is available at www. mcbwsd.com. Please submit cover letter and resume to Mt. Crested Butte Water and Sanitation District, PO Box 5740, Mt. Crested Butte, CO 81225, or email info@ mcbwsd.com. Position is open until filled. MCBWSD is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY

is seeking applicants for the following fully-benefitted position.

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.

Security I: Full-time (40 hours/ week). Starting pay rate $17.04/ hour. This position is scheduled for night shifts (8 p.m. – 6 a.m.) and is paid an additional 14% ($19.42/hour) for weeknights and 20% ($20.45/hour) for weekends.

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

a full time, salaried position, salary range $50,000-$65,000 DOE, and requires some weekend and evening hours. View the full job description at www. crestedbuttemuseum.com. Please email your cover letter, resume and any questions to cbmuseumjobs@gmail. com. Application deadline is August 30, 2024.

THE ADAPTIVE SPORTS CENTER is seeking a Program Manager to help the organization continue to grow and thrive. Work for a local non-profit that provides therapeutic adventure-based programming for people with disabilities, their friends and family members. Join a fast-paced, professional team in a state-of-the-art facility in the Crested Butte Mountain Resort base area. ASC has been rated Outside Magazine’s 50 Best Places to Work many years in a row.

The Program Manager is responsible for consistently facilitating high quality daily operations, managing volunteers and seasonal staff, scheduling, participant record keeping and other key aspects of program management for the Adaptive Sports Center.

The Program Manager provides and sets the stage for outstanding customer service for clients and oversees many critical aspects of programming oriented public engagement for the organization. With support from the Program Director and Assistant Program Director, the Program Manager serves as the lead program operations and instructor supervisor in their absence.

This position is year round and exempt. Salary range is $54,400 - $62,500 plus a competitive benefits package including 401(k), Paid Time Off and Holidays, Health Insurance Reimbursement, Season Pass, Ski/Equipment Locker, Professional Licenses/Certification Reimbursement.

Estimated annual benefit value starting at an addition of $13,200.

Currently accepting applications. Desired start date Nov. 1 or until the position is filled.

To apply, submit a letter of interest, resume, and references to Elizabeth Philbin, Assistant Program Director, elizabeth@ adaptivesports.org and Chris Read, Program Director, cread@adaptivesports.org. Subject Line: “Program Manager”.

EXPERIENCED CARPENTERS NEEDED in Crested Butte. Local Crested Butte-born, residential construction company, growing regional, excellent pay. Text/call 970-5961131.

THE CRESTED BUTTE HERITAGE

MUSEUM is hiring a full time year round Executive Director to further our mission and strategic plan by leading the Museum’s operations, fiscal management, human resources, fundraising, membership, community relations, programming and marketing. We are seeking a highly organized, creative team player who enjoys wearing many hats. Required qualifications: a relevant bachelor’s degree and 3-5 years’ work in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience, demonstrating ability required to support a non-profit organization and manage a small museum and museum store. This is

The Adaptive Sports Center is an inclusive organization and an Equal Opportunity Employer.

For full job description and more information visit adaptivesports.org/about-us/careers.

LITTLE RED SCHOOLHOUSE IN CB

SOUTH is hiring a full time infant/toddler teacher to start at the beginning of the school year! This is a great opportunity for a full time year round stable job with great pay and benefits! It is rewarding and fun, and there is a lot of potential for growth in this career. Please submit resume to Jessica at lilredschoolhouse1@gmail.com

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY is hiring in CB. Potential for housing and ski pass reimbursement. Seeking a conscientious, responsible, motivated person. Year round position of 15-25 flexible

employees working 40 or more hours per pay period are eligible for benefits on the first of the month following date of hire. PRN staff are not initially eligible for benefits.

Please visit our website for more in-depth position descriptions, specific qualification requirements and to apply online at gunnisonvalleyhealth.org/careers or call HR for questions 970-6411456. (PRN = as needed). All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a negative 10 panel drug screen test, criminal background check, reference checks, infection prevention procedures (TB test, Flu Shot, immunization records, etc.), physical capacity profile and acknowledgement of policies.

hours weekly. Duties include landscaping, snow removal, handy man type projects, property inspections, etc. Excellent pay. Please call or text 970-596-9333.

HIRING FOR THE FALL SEMESTER: Mochas Coffeehouse and Bakery in Gunnison is seeking baristas to join our team. Must be able to complete all aspects of the job as an equal member of the team in a positive and fun work environment. Hourly pay plus tips and shift meals. Drop your resume off or fill out an application at Mochas, 710 N. Main St.

THE CLUB AT CRESTED BUTTE is hiring an Executive Chef. This is a full-time yearround position with medical, retirement, vacation benefits and a competitive salary. For more information or to apply please visit theclubatcrestedbutte.com.

THE PAPER CLIP is seeking a customer service and detail oriented individual to work in the Copy Center. It is a full-time position, 8:30-5 M-Thursday and 8:30-noon on Fridays. Training available, but must have a moderate understanding of computers, cell phones, and tablets. Pay DOE, hourly plus commissions and benefits. Drop off resume to 107 N. Wisconsin or email jenny@ thepaperclip.com.

THE GUNNISON VALLEY REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY (GVRHA) is hiring! Join our team and help us make a difference! We are hiring an Office / Accounting Administrator - can be PT or FT. Quickbooks Online experience required. $24-$26/DOE. Please email resume to hiring@gvrha.org for more information.

POLICE OFFICER: Town of Mt. Crested Butte Police Dept. Full-time $69,876$90,828/yr. - Performs general law enforcement duties to protect the lives and property of the residents and visitors of the Town of Mt. Crested Butte by enforcing laws and ordinances, preventing, solving and detecting crimes, assisting with emergency services and maintaining peace and order. POST Certification preferred but not required. Opportunity for financial aid for housing. Employer paid health, vision and dental for employee and dependents. For more info go to www.mtcb.colorado.gov/ employement or call 970-349-6516

DO YOU ENJOY SOCIAL MEDIA AND GENERAL MARKETING? Locally owned and operated Gunnison real estate office is seeking a dynamic Office Admin to join our team. We’re looking for someone who can manage our social media presence, assist with basic marketing initiatives, and handle general office admin tasks. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, organized, reliable, and a natural people person. Previous office and marketing experience is a plus. This is a part-time position with a flexible schedule that we’ll finalize together based on our business needs and your availability. Interested? We’d love to hear from you! Please send a cover letter introducing yourself, along with your resume to: gunnisonforsale@gmail.com.

GUNNISON COUNTY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Public Health Nurse II –Substance Abuse Prevention

HHS: 20 hours/week, hourly pay range from $33.79 to $41.08 plus partial benefits.

Patrol Deputy Sheriff: Full-Time, 40 hours/week, the annual salary range is from $70,288 to $99,422 plus full benefits.

Heavy Equipment Operator

Public Works: Full-Time, 40 hours/ week, hourly range from $22.91 to $30.77 plus full benefits.

Building & Environmental Health

Inspector and/or Building & Environmental Health Inspector/ Plans Examiner

Community Development: Full-Time, 40 hours/week, the annual salary range is from $63,162 to $99,422, depending on experience, plus full benefits.

Juvenile Services

Facilitator I & II

Juvenile Services: Full-Time, 40 hours/week, hourly pay range is $27.03 - $30.36, plus full benefits. Bilingual - English and Spanish Speaking (Required)

Family Support Manager

Juvenile Services: Full-Time, 40 hours/week, monthly pay rate is $6,581.00 plus full benefits.

Recycle Technician

Public Works: Full-Time, 40 hours/ week, hourly pay range is from $22.91 to $26.08, depending on experience, plus full benefits.

Family Support Partner

Juvenile Services: Part-Time, 20 hours/week, starting hourly pay rate is $21.82 plus partial benefits.

Planner Technician & Planner I

Community Development:

Full-Time, 40 hours/week, the annual salary range is from $56,215 to $76,786 plus full benefits.

Permit & Right of Way Manager

Public Works: Full-Time, 40 hours/week, the monthly salary range from $5,857.00 to $7,120.00 depending on experience plus full benefits.

Data Analyst II

Assessor: Full-Time, 40 hours/ week, the annual salary range is from $63,162.00 to $71,912.00, depending on experience plus full benefits.

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

HIRING BAKER: Mochas is looking for a part time Baker. Flexible hours. Starting at $18/ hour. Drop your resume off or fill out an application at Mochas, 710 N Main St. Or email mochasbarista@gmail.com.

MOUNTAIN EXPRESS DRIVERS NEEDED: JOIN OUR TEAM OF DRIVERS WHO DRIVE THE PAINTED BUSES! – PAID CDL TRAINING and LICENSING COSTS! Mountain Express is looking to recruit drivers for immediately available shifts as well as for the upcoming 2024/2025 winter season. We will offer a FREE in-house CDL workshop for one week beginning Sept. 23.The training period will be paid at a trainee’s wage of $15/hr. and once training is completed and your CDL is attained, the starting wage will be $22.60/hr. along with a sign-on bonus of 1k after your first 10 shifts worked with MX as a CDL’d driver. We are also hiring already CDL’d drivers – this also includes a the 1k sign-on bonus after the 10th shift worked at MX - hourly wage for already CDL’d drivers is DOE. Inquire for more details! Health insurance is available based on hours worked. Ski locker benefit. Drivers are responsible for the safe transport and friendly assistance of passengers on our bus route. Please contact Leah Petito at lpetito@mtnexp.org to apply and for a complete Job Description visit mtnexp.org. Application deadline is August 30, 2024. EOE THE TOWN OF MT CRESTED BUTTE is looking for a full time year around maintenance worker. Typical job duties will vary from season to season and

will include but are not limited to: snow shoveling, plowing of the Mt. Crested Butte roads and various parking lots, maintaining town equipment and vehicles, emptying trash cans, repairing fence lines, building maintenance, road maintenance including sweeping, flagging, filling potholes, maintaining the town’s ditches and culverts.

Schedule is 4 – 10 hour days with one weekend day in the winter being required.

Overtime is expected during snow cycles.

Minimum qualifications include the ability to obtain a class B commercial driver’s license, clean seven year driving record, ability to obtain their flagger certification, safely lift 80 pounds, good customer service, communication and team work skills, ability to walk on uneven surfaces, ability to work outdoors for an extended period in the summer and winter, basic knowledge of heavy quipment and snow plowing experience. Preferred qualifications include having a class B commercial driver’s license, flagger certification knowledge of heavy equipment operations, loader, backhoe and snowplow experience, knowledge of vehicle and heavy equipment maintenance (mechanic) welding experience and building maintenance and upkeep experience.

Starting pay range is $47,599 to $60,951 depending on experience. The Town offers an amazing benefit package with paid health, vision and dental insurance for you and your family, 401(1) or pension plan, 12 paid holidays, generous vacation and sick time, wellness program and more.

Please visit mtcb.colorado.gov for the full job description. Contact Bobby Block at bblock@mtcb.colorado.gov with any

questions. To apply email your resume, cover letter and three references to Tiffany O’Connell at toconnell@mtcb.colorado.gov

EXPERIENCED LEAD CARPENTERS

NEEDED in Crested Butte. Local Crested Butte-born, residential construction company, growing regional, excellent pay. Text/call 512-947-7797.

TEMPORARY FLEXIBLE PART-TIME POSITION AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY AT GUNNISON CEMETERY: This person will assist with grounds maintenance, including lawn mowing, trimming, burials, etc. UNTIL NOVEMBER 1ST, 2024. Valid Colorado Driver’s License is required. For further information, please call 642-1152 or email guncemetery@yahoo.com.

GUNNISON CEMETERY DISTRICT is now accepting applications for Assistant Cemeterian. This person will assist the Cemeterian with grounds maintenance, which includes lawn mowing, trimming, burials, etc. and maintaining equipment and tools. The position is 40 hour/week with some weekend hours from April 1st thru October 31st. From November 1st thru March 31st this person would be on call as needed to assist with snow removal and burials. Starting wage will be $18.50 an hour. Valid Colorado Driver’s License is required. Position will remain open until filled. For more information and to apply contact guncemetery@yahoo.com or 970-642-1152.

HOME HEALTH ASSISTANCE NEEDED for 72 y/o female cancer patient living in Crested Butte. Primary care giver needs someone to provide 10-20 hours a week of assistance with bathing, bathroom, moving from room to room and general support. Looking for mature, compassionate individual with patience. Must be non-smoker. Willing to pay premium salary plus travel for the right individual. Please text 970-306-1098 if interested.

PROJECTS SUPERVISOR JOB

CAPITAL

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 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.

enforcement or security. A valid Colorado Driver’s License is required within 30 days of employment. Compensation is $60,000$65,000 without POST certification, with negotiable rates for POST-certified officers. We offer 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision benefits for employees and dependents. For the full job description, benefits, and application, visit our website at www.townofcrestedbutte.com. To apply, email your application to jobs@crestedbutteco.gov. The Town of Crested Butte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

NOTICE

BAND INSTRUMENTS WANTED: School is starting up and beginning band students will be looking for band instruments. So, if you have a used instrument that you would like to sell, please contact Mr. Koepsel at 970-6415904. Let him know the type of instrument, the brand name, playing condition and your asking price.

REAL ESTATE

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 BEDROOM CABIN FOR RENT: 20 miles East of Gunnison. $1,000/month. Contact Greg at 303-902-6337

1,658 sq-ft Professional Office Space Available at 210 W Spencer Ave, Suite B, Gunnison. $3,600/ mo. plus utilities. Includes large lobby area; executive office; 3 other private offices and 3 additional spaces for offices and/or storage; kitchen with full-size fridge and sink, 2 restrooms; off-street parking and ability to reserve adjoining large conference room with A/V equipment.

Call 970-641-6065 for more information.

Regular Meeting September 9, 2024 5:30pm

Crested Butte Community School Library

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

• Call to order

• Roll call

• Pledge of Allegiance

• Approval of agenda (ACTION, All)

• Commendations and celebrations (Information, Successful Students, Strong Employees)

• Public comment (Information, Engaged Community)

• Please use the public participation form, or use the Q&A feature in Zoom, and indicate your name, address, and topic for comment.

• Consent agenda (ACTION, All) Items in the consent agenda are considered routine and will be enacted under one motion. There will not be separate discussion of these items prior to the time the board votes unless a Board Member requests an item be removed from the grouping for separate consideration.

a. Board

Matt Prinster

b. School Board Policies for First Reading (Discussion, All)

▪ JICDA - Code of Conduct

c. School Board Policies for Second Reading (ACTION, All)

▪ AC - Non Discrimination / Equal Opportunity

▪ GBA-Open Hiring/Equal Employment Opportunity

▪ GBJ-Personnel Records and Files

▪ GCE/GCF-Professional Staff-Recruiting/ Hiring

▪ GDE/GDF-Support Staff-Recruiting/ Hiring

▪ IKFB-Graduation Exercises

▪ JB-Equal Educational Opportunities

▪ JF-Admission and Denial of Admission

▪ JICDD- Violent and Aggressive Behavior

THE TOWN OF CRESTED BUTTE is hiring a Deputy Marshal. This role involves a full range of law enforcement duties, including ensuring public safety, protecting life and property, and enforcing laws and ordinances while upholding integrity, exemplary service, and professionalism in partnership with the community. Minimum requirements include a high school diploma or equivalent, successful completion of Police Academy training, and one year of experience in law

d. Other Administrative Report Items(Discussion, All)

▪ Dr. Leslie Nichols

• Items introduced by Board Members (Discussion, All)

• Board committee reports (Information, All) a. Board/Student Engagement - Dr. Coleman and Mrs. Roberts

b. School Board Policy - Mrs. Brookhart and Dr. Coleman

c. Executive Committee for Bond Project

- Mr. Martineau

d. Superintendent Evaluation- Mrs. Brookhart and Dr. Coleman

e. District Accountability Committee

(DAC) - Mrs. Roberts

f. School Accountability Committees (SAC)GHS - Dr. Coleman

GCS - Mrs. Brookhart

CBCS - Mr. Martineau

g. Gunnison County Education Association Negotiations - Mr. VanderVeer

h. Gunnison County Education Association 3x3 - Mr. VanderVeer

i. Fund 26 - Dr. Coleman

j. Gunnison Memorial Scholarship - Mrs. Roberts

k. Health Insurance Committee - Mr. VanderVeer

l. Housing Advisory Committee-Mr. VanderVeer

m. Gunnison Valley Education Foundation-Dr. Coleman

• Upcoming agenda items and meeting schedule (Information, Engaged Community)

a. September 23, 2024

Work Session@5:30pm-GUN

b. September 30, 2024

District PD Day-Gunnison Community

School

c. October 7, 2024

Regular Meeting@5:30pm - CB

d. October 28, 2024

Work Session@5:30pm - GUN

e. November 11, 2024

Regular Meeting@5:30pm- GUN

• Adjournment

Gunnison Country Times

Gunnison, Colorado Publication date of September 5, 2024 14767

NOTICE OF HEARING

NOTICE OF HEARING BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO § 15-10-401, C.R.S.

District Court, Gunnison County, Colorado Court Address: 200 W. Virginia Avenue

In the Interest of:

Andre Swanson

Attorney or Party Without Attorney:

Tabitha Rich Joshua Hoppstadter

508 S. 12th St. Ste. A. Gunnison, CO 81230

706-455-4000

tabithat2014@gmail.com

Case Number: 23PR9

To: Cheree Swanson Last Known Address, if any: Unknown

A hearing on guardianship of a minor, full and permanant guardianship of Andre Swanson, will be held at the following time and location or at a later date to which the hearing may be continued:

Time: Sept. 18, 2024 Time: 4:30 p.m.

Courtroom or Division: B Address: 200 W. Virginia Ave., Gunnison, CO 81230

The hearing will take approximately 30 minutes.

Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication dates of August 29 and September 5, 12, 2024

14665

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of EARL ELLIS PARTCH aka EARL E. PARTCH, aka EARL PARTCH

Deceased Case Number 2024PR30024

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to District Court of Gunnison County, Colorado on or before December 13, 2024 or the claims may be forever barred.

Francis Parch, Personal Reresentative Personal Representative c/o Hoskin, Farina & Kampf, P.C. Post Office Box 40 Grand Junction , CO 81502

Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication dates of August 29 and September 5, 12, 2024 14607

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Candi Kay Borah

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 East River Valley in Colorado.

Sept. 6 from 6-8 p.m.: Shabbatluck dinner, pls bring a dish/drink to share.

Sept. 7 from 4-5:30 p.m.: Kibbitz with the Rabbi/Havdalah at Rumors in CB

Sept. 8 from 9:30-11 a.m.: Torah Study in Gunnison

Sept. 8 from noon-4 p.m.-MITZVAH DAY –TIKUN OLAM w/ Habitat for Humanity

Sept. 15 from 3-6 p.m., Welcome Week event

Spiritual Leader: Rabbi Mark Kula is available for you at RabbiMarkKula@gmail.com

For more details and locations go to 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

a/k/a Candi K. Borah, Deceased

Case Number 2024PR30027

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Gunnison, County, Colorado on or before December 30, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Julie Head as personal representative of the Estate of Candi Kay Borah a/k/a Candi K. Borah 12650 S.W. 119th St. Mustang, Oklahoma, 73064

Please contact through counsel: Jacob A. With, Atty. #:40546 Law of the Rockies 525 N. Main Street Gunnison, CO 81230 970-641-1903 ex. 2

Gunnison Country Times

Gunnison, Colorado Publication dates of August 29 and September 5, 12, 2024 14678

PUBLIC HEARING

The Saguache County Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing at the Saguache County Road and Bridge meeting Room located at 305 – 3rd Street, Saguache, Colorado, on the following date:

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2024, at 6 PM to consider proposed changes to the Saguache County Land Development Code.

To view the proposed changes, you may contact the Saguache County Land Use Department – PO Box 326, Saguache, CO 81149 or atorrez@saguachecounty-co.gov or by calling 719-655-2321 or you may also view the changes on our website at www. saguachecounty.colorado.gov .

Written comments will be accepted until Friday, September 27, 2024, at 3pm, and may be sent to Saguache County Land Use Department at PO Box 326, Saguache, CO 81149 or email to atorrez@saguachecounty-co.gov .

Gunnison Country Times

Gunnison, Colorado Publication dates of September 5, 12, 19 and 26, 2024 14758

PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE OF A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING

CONCERNING LUC-22-00049 A LAND USE

CHANGE APPLICATION FOR GUNNISON COUNTY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ESSENTIAL AND WORKFORCE

HOUSING DEVELOPMENT KNOWN AS WHETSTONE COMMUNITY HOUSING

HEARING DATE, TIME AND LOCATION: The Gunnison County Board of Commissioners and the Planning Commission on October 8, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. in the Commissioners Meeting Room, 200 E Virginia Ave, Gunnison, Colorado, will hear public comment concerning a land use change permit preliminary/final plan application for an essential residential housing development known as Whetstone Community Housing.

APPLICANT: The applicant is Gunnison County.

PARCEL LOCATION: The parcel on which the land use change is proposed is located south of the Town of Crested Butte at 25115 Highway 135. The parcel is legally described as a tract of land in the NW1/4SE1/4, Section 12, Township 14 South, Range 86 West, 6th pm.

PROPOSAL: The applicant proposes the development of an essential workforce housing residential development on the site. The total parcel is 15 acres. 252 residential units with 476 bedrooms are proposed at the site of which the majority (more than 40% per Essential Housing standards) will be restricted for essential housing. The unit types vary and include: apartments, townhomes, and live/work units.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: The public is invited to submit verbal or written comments at the hearing, or to submit written comments by email: planning@gunnisoncounty.org; or letter (Community Development, 221 N. Wisconsin, Suite D, Gunnison, CO 81230), so long as they are received by 5 p.m. the afternoon before the date of the meeting so that they may be submitted for the public record during the hearing. A copy of the application is available online at: https:// permitdb.gunnisoncounty.org/citizenaccess/ Select “Projects” Select “Application Number” and type “LUC22-00049” or select “Project Name” and type “Whetstone”

ADA ACCOMMODATIONS: Anyone needing special accommodations as determined by the American Disabilities Act

Faith Directory

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

may contact the Community Development Department prior to the day of the hearing. /s/ Cathie Pagano Assistant County Manager for Community & Economic Development Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication date of September 5, 2024 14713

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

RFP – Town of Mt. Crested Butte – Exterior Repairs to Mt. Crested Butte Town Hall Building. The Town of Mt. Crested Butte (Town) is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to provide exterior repairs to the Mt. Crested Butte Town Hall Buildings. The Town Hall buildings are located at 911 Gothic Road, Mt. Crested Butte, CO 81225. This Project involves exterior repairs to two separate Town buildings, including the Town Hall Administration Building and the Town Garage Building. The purpose of this Project is to provide exterior building siding and roof repairs in 2025 and potentially beyond. The improvements may involve a combination of refurbishment, repairs and replacement. Project phasing and costs are a major consideration for the Town. The Town’s primary objectives for this Project are: Task 1: Assess the need and timing of exterior repairs – per building and type of repair. Task 2: Identify a phased means and method for accomplishing exterior repairs –per building. Task 3: Identify the repair costs proposed for 2025 – per building and type of repair. The Proposal deadline is Friday, November 15, 2024 at 3:00 PM (Mountain Standard Time). The Bid Documents and any addendums can be found on the Town’s website at https://mtcb.colorado.gov/ request-for-proposals. For more information please email Jeff Smith at jsmith@mtcb. colorado.gov or call him at 970-349-6632 ext 108.

Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication date of August 29 and September 5, 12, 2024 14684

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.

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.

Church of Christ

600 E. Virginia • 970-641-1588

Sunday Morning Bible Class: 9:30 a.m.

Sunday Morning Worship: 10:30 a.m.

Sunday Evening Worship: 6 p.m.

Wednesday Night Bible Class: 7 p.m.

Lake City Uncorked

SATURDAY SEPT 21, 2024

Gates open at 10am Music starts at 11am • Wine flows at noon GET TICKETS ONLINE LAKECITYFESTIVAL.ORG

Western to celebrate grand opening of Mountaineer Bowl

Seth Mensing Special to the Times

A new era at Western Colorado University will start on Sept. 7 with the grand opening of the newly renovated Mountaineer Bowl at the Rady Family Sports Complex.

Mountaineer Bowl is the world’s highest collegiate stadium and will play an important part in life on Western’s campus. In addition to hosting football games and track and field meets, it’s where students start and end their academic journeys at the university, as the site of both freshman orientation and commencement. But the stadium hadn’t seen a major renovation since it first opened for homecoming in 1948.

Thanks to the support of longtime Western donors Paul (1978) and Katy Rady, Western broke ground in the summer of 2022. The $44 million project transformed Mountaineer Bowl from a modest venue into a toptier facility.

Fans will now enter through the stadium’s new 20,000-square-foot gateway, which includes a new ticket office, locker and training rooms, officials’ locker room, restrooms and a retail shop. Inside the bowl, in addition to a new artificial turf playing surface, state-of-the-art track

and field facilities and a new expanded scoreboard, the stadium now has a 10,000-squarefoot press box. The press box contains scorekeepers and coaches boxes, broadcast booths, hospitality suites and a concession concourse.

“Mountaineer Bowl is more than just a stadium — it’s a symbol of the Western community’s collective spirit and the achievements of our students,” said Western President Brad Baca.

“This renovation represents a significant investment in our future, and I’m so grateful for the continued generosity of the Rady family and their vision for the Rady Family Sports Complex.”

The new stadium and the adjacent soccer facilities, known collectively as the Rady Family Sports Complex, were made possible through the significant generosity of Paul and Katy Rady.

“Mountaineer Bowl has always had the best views in the country. Now, we have the most amazing facilities to match the stunning backdrop,” said Western Athletic Director Miles Van Hee. “This project to create a championship-caliber facility has been a top priority for the University and our athletic department for years. Thanks to Paul and Katy’s commitment and the support of other generous Mountaineers, the long-

awaited dream of a true Division II stadium at The Rady Family Sports Complex is now a reality. Our student-athletes deserve nothing less than the best, and this renovation solidifies Mountaineer Bowl as one of the premier stadiums in the conference.”

Coming off a successful 10-2 season that included a playoff berth, the Mountaineer football team is looking forward to taking the field in the new stadium.

“This renovation is a gamechanger for us. It’s one of the best facilities in the RMAC, in a premier location,” said head football coach Jas Bains. “The new facilities provide our athletes with a state-of-the-art stadium in which they can be proud to compete at a high level. We can’t wait to welcome our fans to the new Mountaineer Bowl. It is absolutely breathtaking.”

The grand opening ceremony will start at noon on Saturday, Sept. 7, with tours of the renovated facilities, a tailgate party and festivities, followed by a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. The event is open to the public.

For more information visit gomountaineers.com.

(Seth Mensing is the media and communications manager at Western Colorado University.)

(Courtesy Western Colorado University)

Lights & Sirens

CITY OF GUNNISON POLICE REPORT

AUGUST 27

DISTURBING THE PEACE — 1010 W. VIRGINIA AVE.

ADMIN - UNASSIGNED INCIDENT

— 1010 W. VIRGINIA AVE.

CIVIL PROBLEM — MEARS WCU

PROPERTY - FOUND — 800 W. OHIO AVE.

ASSAULT: THIRD DEGREE - BODILY INJURY — W. NEW YORK AVE.

FRAUD - INFORMATION / WIRE — 910 W. BIDWELL AVE.

THEFT: INTENDS TO PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE — 212 S. 11TH ST. CIVIL PROBLEM — 618 W. TOMICHI AVE.

AUGUST 29

TRAFFIC - REGISTRATION VIOLATION — N. IOWA ST. UNSECURE PREMISES — N. MAIN ST. TRAFFIC - REGISTRATION VIOLATION — N. IOWA ST.

BURGLARY: FIRST DEGREE — 300 E. DENVER AVE. INFORMATION — W. TOMICHI AVE.

AUGUST 30

CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE: PARAPHERNALIA, POSSESSION — 800 W. OHIO AVE.

FINANCIAL TRANSACTION DE -

VICE: UNAUTHORIZED USE — 303 N. MAIN ST. ACCIDENT — 713 W. TOMICHI AVE.

THEFT - COMMITS TWO OR MORE THEFTS AGAINST THE SAME PERSON — 880 N. MAIN ST.

THEFT: INTENDS TO PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE — 707 N. IOWA

ST. TRAFFIC - NPOI — 100 S. SPRUCE

ST. ADMIN - UNASSIGNED INCIDENT — 100 S. MAIN ST.

AUGUST 31

DISTURBING THE PEACE — 406 S. 11TH ST.

ANIMAL - RUNNING AT LARGEMUNICIPAL — 200 S. 14TH ST.

ANIMAL - RUNNING AT LARGEMUNICIPAL — 200 N. 11TH ST.

ASSAULT: THIRD DEGREE - BODILY INJURY — W. DENVER AVE. ACCIDENT — 900 N. MAIN ST. UNSECURE PREMISES — 1129 N. MAIN ST.

SEPTEMBER 1

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE - DRUGS — 300 E. TOMICHI AVE

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE – S. 11TH ST. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE — W. DENVER AVE.

ASSAULT: SECOND DEGREESTRANGULATION — VAN TUYL

CIR.

ADMIN - UNASSIGNED INCIDENT – HWY. 135

THEFT: INTENDS TO PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE — 900 N. MAIN ST. AGENCY ASSIST — CLARK BLVD.

SEPTEMBER 2

PROPERTY - FOUND — 317 N. SPRUCE ST.

THEFT: INTENDS TO PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE — 721 S. 9TH ST.

ASSAULT: SECOND DEGREE - OFFICER/FIRE/EMS BODILY INJURY — N. MAIN ST. AGENCY ASSIST — N. MAIN ST.

GUNNISON COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT

AUGUST 27

-Civil paper served -Welfare check in Somerset

AUGUST 28

-Stolen chain saw reported -Theft reported involving a money order

-Information- property dispute in Somerset

-Deputies and care flight responded to a one vehicle accident with injuries

-Found and returned fanny pack style bag near County Road 743

AUGUST 29

-Deputies assisted the Colorado State Patrol with a single vehicle rollover with four occupants

AUGUST 30

-Deputies responded to Oso Creek in Powderhorn for a menacing and assault case where two people received summons

AUGUST 31

-Altercation in Somerset, possibly medical

SEPTEMBER 1

-Deputies, Gunnison Fire/ Rescue and Emergency Medical Services responded to a camper on -fire in Pitkin

-Lost wallet reported -Welfare check

-Agency assist to the Colorado State Patrol with a dirt bike versus truck accident -Information / welfare check on a suicidal subject

SEPTEMBER 2

-Search and rescue up at Bald Mountain Reservoir in Somerset

-Deputies assisted the Gunnison Police Department with an arrest -Deputies assisted the Gunnison Police department and the Colorado State Patrol with a DUI crash

-Lost wallet reported

Care designed for ... MOMS

Gunnison Valley Health offers a wide spectrum of services designed to support a mother’s health at every stage.

OBSTETRICS

DR. MAIJA SWANSON SPECIALIZES IN FAMILY MEDICINE OBSTETRICS AND IS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE FULL SPECTRUM PRENATAL, LABOR AND DELIVERY AND POSTPARTUM CARE.

FAMILY MEDICINE CLINIC | 970-642-8413 707 N. IOWA ST., GUNNISON

MATERNAL FETAL MEDICINE

WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE COLORADO FETAL CARE CENTER AT CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL COLORADO AND ST. MARY’S MEDICAL CENTER TO PROVIDE SERVICES AT THE HOSPITAL FOR FAMILIES FACING HIGH-RISK PREGNANCIES.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL ST. MARY’S MATERNAL FETAL MEDICINE OFFICE AT 970-298-2275

MOUNTAIN MAMAS CAFE

Come meet other mamas and their little ones! | ¡Ven a conocer a otra Mamas!

GUNNISON: MONDAYS, 1:30 - 3:30 P.M. MENTORS SCHOOL HOUSE, 101 NORTH 8TH ST.

CRESTED BUTTE: THURSDAYS, 10 A.M. - 12 P.M. OH BE JOYFUL 625 MAROON AVE

(EN ESPANOL) GUNNISON: MIERCOLES, 2 - 4 P.M. MENTORS SCHOOL HOUSE, 101 NORTH 8TH ST.

‘A Little Corner of Mexico’

Mural celebrates immigrant community

Mariel

Wiley

Times Photo Editor

Over the past two weeks, vibrant whorls of paint bloomed across the formerly white wall on the western side of the Tacos La Esquina restaurant on Tomichi Avenue.

In one corner of the mural, a man and a woman make an arduous trek through a barren yellow landscape along a dark fence, carrying a baby swaddled in blue blankets. A cross atop a pile of stones honors the travelers who never completed their journey. A lush section of red, pink and green flora nods to Mexico’s diverse natural ecosystems.

Nearby, bold blocks of color are overlaid by faint stencil outlines of scenes soon to be painted.

After months of planning, a community mural titled “A Little Corner of Mexico” is nearing completion. The mural, designed by Gunnison Valley artists Luke Schroeder and Yamel Aguirre, brings together symbolic figures and scenes that represent the heritage of Mexican and Cora communities in Gunnison.

“I’m one of those people that believes it’s really good to understand someone else’s perspective and respect it, too,” Aguirre said. Aguirre is the cultural linguistics lead at the county’s Juvenile Services Department. “It’s not just representative of Mexico, but also the community we live in … Our community is filled with little pieces from other countries.”

Silvia Hernandez, owner of Tacos La Esquina, had long

Mural B2

The painters start with a solid block of color, adding shapes and finer details to complete each section of the mural.

Volunteers were hard at work adding to the mural during a second community paint day on Aug. 31. (Photos by Mariel Wiley)

Mammogram? ABUS? MRI? Breast screening can be a maze, but you don’t have to navigate it alone — we’re here to help!

Check Your Chest: Navigating your screening quest

Tuesday, September 17

5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Gunnison Valley Health Hospital Main Lobby

Topics include:

• Available Screenings at GVH

• Screening Types: Key Differences

• Why Specific Screenings Are Recommended

• Screening vs. Diagnostic: What’s the Difference?

• Breast Density’s Impact on Screening

Free Food Door Prizes

Q&A With Experts

Insurance Q&A

Community Resource Information

dreamed of filling the blank wall on the side of her restaurant with a community mural. Hernandez worked with the Gunnison Creative District to apply for a grant to fund the project. She proposed a mural that brought a “little corner of Mexico” to Gunnison, with allusions to her story arriving in Gunnison in pursuit of the American Dream, said City of Gunnison Community Outreach Liaison Ricardo Esqueda.

After winning the grant, the Creative District approached Schroeder to design the mural. Schroeder’s past experience leading community painting projects prepared him for the unique circumstances that the undertaking would require. He’d previously organized community paint days with Gunnison mental health and youth programs, including Crested Butte State of Mind and the Gunnison County Substance Abuse Prevention Project. One of Schroeder’s most notable collaborations carries passengers around Crested Butte on a daily basis: a Mountain Express bus painted with mental health messages and encouragements.

“You have to be strategic with the style you go for. It has to be approachable for the average painter,” Schroeder said. “But I’m constantly surprised by people’s skills, and people surprise themselves when they get out here.”

Schroeder opted for a minimalistic, impressionistic style that allows for small imperfections that add character, he said. Once the design was finalized, Schroeder overlaid a grid onto the scene. When scaling up the sketch to the wall, painters work their way through each square on the grid. They fill in each of Schroeder’s stenciled outlines in a similar fashion to popular Paint by Number kits, matching color and brushstroke as they reference printouts of the design.

Although this was a streamlined process for Schroeder, this project presented a new hurdle for him: working with a culture that was not his own, he said. Input from community members, artists and project manag-

ers helped evolve the original draft into something all parties could be proud of, he said.

“It’s been really challenging and rewarding, trying my best to be as respectful as possible and bring their vision to life as best I can,” Schroeder said.

Fellow artist Aguirre had initially joined the project during the grant proposal stage, but returned to help with design later on. In addition to Schroeder’s own research, Aguirre’s photographs of murals and architecture in Mexico led to the final color palette of punchy red, pink, yellow, green and blue.

Aguirre and Schroeder held design meetings to discuss Aguirre’s Mexican culture, including traditions and symbolism from different regions around the country. Gunnison resident Victorino Díaz provided insight on the significance of different patterns in the Cora culture, which is also reflected in the mural.

At the mural’s heart is an arched window surrounding three figures. Aguirre designed this portion of the mural herself, wanting to incorporate the vast diversity of culture within Mexico. A dancing male figure represents the Afro-influenced traditions of southern Mexico, while a female dancer is frozen mid-twirl in a traditional dance from Chihuahua in the north. A third figure, deftly weaving together fibers to create a tapestry, represents the Indigenous population.

“This is the first of its kind here in the community, for the community to see themselves in,” Esqueda said. “And in the future, hopefully this inspires other cultural murals and propels people to start those projects here.”

The final community paint day to finish the mural will be held at Tacos La Esquina at 618 W. Tomichi Ave. on Sept. 13 from 4-7 p.m. to kick off Welcoming Week. Free tacos will be available to all painting volunteers.

(Mariel Wiley can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or mariel@gunnisontimes.com.)

SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2024

8:30 AM to 3:30 PM at

Since 1937, the Colorado River District has been the voice for West Slope water users. Join us for a full-day event where you’ll gain valuable insights into the critical water issues shaping our region. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed and engaged in the future of West Slope water.

Painters referenced printouts of Luke Schroeder and Yamel Aguirre’s design.

A lifeline for the trees

Mongolian visitors learn from Gunnison Valley forest management projects

Mariel Wiley Times Photo Editor

Gunnison’s rolling desert hills and snowy forest biomes are not so different from the landscapes of a country thousands of miles away: Mongolia. But the similarities shared by these ecosystems go deeper than just their beauty. Rising temperatures are threatening the health of both countries’ forests, half a planet away.

Last month, a group of Mongolian foresters traveled to Colorado to learn from forest management projects across the state. Their trip was part of a three-year Mongolian forest health project. During their stay in the Gunnison Valley, they visited sites in Taylor Canyon and Taylor Park to learn about successful tree health management projects.

Mongolia is a small nation bordered by Russia in the north, and China in the south. The country is renowned for its vast grasslands and boreal forests.

The Gobi Desert covers most of Mongolia’s southern regions, expanding further into China.

Mongolia’s high altitude grasslands and forests are especially sensitive to climate change, with minute changes in temperature impacting tree growth patterns and health. This also makes forests more vulnerable to pest infestation and disease.

“One of their most repeated phrases was, ‘This looks like Mongolia,’ which is one of the reasons why we brought them here,” said U.S. Forest Service

retiree Tom Eager. “The biggest issue facing Mongolia is climate change … That’s the root of their forest health problems, and they’re trying to cope with a moving target there.”

Eager joined the project three years ago alongside several other seasoned forest management experts from the United States and Canada. In the projects’ early stages, the group visited Mongolia to learn more about the nation’s declining forest health.

Last year, foresters from Mongolia visited the eastern U.S. to learn how agencies here deal with gypsy moth infestation. Gypsy moths are voracious eaters, stripping trees of the foliage they need to protect them from further insect infestation. This year, in the project’s final stage, the Mongolians visited Colorado.

The high alpine forests of the Western Slope closely resemble the coniferous, boreal forests of Mongolia. Most of Mongolia’s population hails from traditional pastoralist societies, where the belief is that the land belongs to all people rather than the individual. In the west-

ern United States, low population densities and vast acreages of forest under the care of federal agencies closely resembles the situation in Mongolia, Eager said.

In both Mongolia and Colorado, changing temperatures and weather patterns require foresters to adapt current practices. This makes Colorado a fitting place for Mongolian foresters to learn collaborative forest management practices that they can implement back home.

The group’s visit to Gunnison highlighted two local forest health management projects.

In recent years, residents of the Wilder Project, a group-owned property in Taylor Canyon, have found ways to successfully manage bark beetle infestations.

In small numbers, bark beetles play a role in the ecosystem of a thriving forest. In the past, the onset of winter regularly reduced their population back down to manageable levels. But as temperatures rise, those kill offs aren’t happening, and the beetles’ outsized presence begins to fell trees.

Wilder Project residents, in

collaboration with the U.S. and Colorado Forest Services, successfully reduced the bark beetle population in their area by thinning living tree populations and clearing dead ones.

“It was a good example of cooperative forest management,” Eager said. “That was what we wanted to show them, because they’re subject to the same public pressures: Do it now and do it here.”

On another foray, the foresters visited an Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change project site located to the west of Taylor Park. Silviculture typically refers to the cultivation of trees meant for timber harvest. The project, led by Western Colorado University’s Jonathan Coop, studies different silviculture practices to gauge their effectiveness in the face of rising temperatures and the threat of infestation.

As the project draws to a close, the hope is that the Mongolian foresters can start implementing the knowledge they acquired on their trips at home, Eager said. He and the other project managers also plan to help foresters from

Mongolia enroll in university courses in America and Canada to further their education even after the visits conclude.

The group’s stay in Gunnison wasn’t all business, however. The visitors built in some time to shop, patronizing businesses around town, including Gene Taylor’s, All Sports Replay and Walmart, Eager said.

They loaded up on T-shirts, carved bear figurines and kids’ books from the free Book Bus to take home. The group also partook in Gunnison’s annual Car Show, meandering through rows of vintage vehicles and snapping many pictures to commemorate the event.

“I was so proud of Colorado,” Eager said. “We were planning to get them into ‘small-town U.S.A.’ And I said I know just the place.”

(Mariel Wiley can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or mariel@ gunnisontimes.com.)

Hope Fest seeks to ‘spread love’

‘Heaven is for Real’ Colton Burpo to visit Gunnison

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

This weekend, Gunnison Valley residents can gather for music and spiritual connection at the first “Hope Fest,” an event organized by Gunnison residents Tony and Elly Smith. The couple, with help from local churches and newly-formed Christian groups We Care Gunny and We Care CB, hopes to spread a sense

of communion to combat residents’ quiet struggle with depression and suicide.

The event will take place from 4-7 p.m. at Legion Park on Sunday, Sep. 8. Evelyn Roper and her band Opal Moon will play music, and attendees can enjoy a shared meal. Pastor Mark England from the Rising Church in Gunnison and Colton Burpo, the individual from the early 2010s book and movie “Heaven Is For Real,” will attend.

Tony and Elly organized Hope Fest to address the Gunnison Valley’s growing suicide numbers. Since the start of the year 10 valley residents have died by suicide — more in the first six months than all of 2023, according to data from Gunnison

County Coroner Michael Barnes. The pair waited to hold the event until Western Colorado University students were back on campus, in an attempt to reach Gunnison’s younger population.

Smith said the purpose of Hope Fest is to encourage loving each other and bringing people to Christ. In recent months, he said he’s fielded many calls from friends who were in a dark place, needing support.

“That's what it's supposed to be about, letting people know that there are people that care about their fellow humans,” Tony said.

The event is co-sponsored by the Gunnison Valley, faith-based groups and Heaven is for Real Ministries, the work of Colton

and his father, Todd. The book “Heaven Is For Real,” written by Todd, recounts Colton’s near death experience at age 3 when his appendix burst. While in surgery, he says he visited heaven, and spoke to Jesus and deceased family members. Colton and Todd will attend the event to retell the story.

The Burpos started Heaven is for Real ministries in 2010. The goal is to share the hope of heaven with people, and show them how to get there, Colton said. The ministries’ work slowed down in 2015, following news stories that cast doubt on Colton’s experience and his father’s book. Interest picked back up in 2019, but the pandemic hit and barred in-person gatherings. The coming

event marks his first in-person public appearance in years.

In the meantime, Colton has been working in the Vail Valley as an electrician, and with youth ministries in the area. Tony met Colton years ago at the Crested Butte Mountain Resort. They stayed in touch and the time was right when Tony asked Colton to come to Gunnison and share his story during Hope Fest.

“My family and I are really excited just to be able to get back out into the world, more or less to continue to share that ‘Hey, heaven is real,’” Colton said. “Jesus is the way you get there.”

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

The eight foresters from Mongolia visited a site in Taylor Canyon to learn how to manage spruce beetle infestations. (Courtesy Tom Eager)

GAC reopens renovated main gallery this week

Three new art shows debut at September Art Walk

Bella Biondini Times Editor

The Gunnison Arts Center (GAC) is celebrating the reopening of its main gallery with a ribbon cutting on Friday, Sept. 6. The event kicks off three new art shows for the month of September.

The art center’s central space has been renamed the Cy Baird Gallery, after long-time patron of the arts C.B. Baird Jr. (Cy), who died in 2021. While Baird was originally from Fort Worth, Texas, he frequented Gunnison during the summers, fly fishing the valley’s many creeks and rivers. He founded the art center’s permanent art collection which features work from around the Western Slope. The ceremony will include ice cream and lemonade in his memory, a request made by his children.

“I’m excited about how we’re opening it back up ... there were so many artists that said ‘I want to be the first in there.’”

Jeff Erwin Gallery Manager

The main gallery has swapped spaces with the Black Box Theater, previously located on the north side of the building. The gallery now connects to the art center’s main entrance, encouraging passerby to wander through. Large wooden barn doors, crafted from reclaimed wood from the historic building, will separate the main gallery from the theater. This will allow the GAC to host larger concerts, galas and other events. Theater construction is expected to wrap up later this year.

The gallery’s inaugural show is a group exhibition titled “Resurgence,” a play on words that marks the GAC’s slow revival following years of construction. The show features work from 20 Gunnison Valley artists with works ranging from sculpture and paintings to mixed media.

“I’m excited about how we’re opening it back up,” said Gallery Manager Jeff Erwin. “There were so many artists who said, ‘I want to be the first in there.’ [We decided] to open it up to everybody.”

The celebration will extend to the Cafe Gallery by the courtyard, with the opening of “Sip and Savor,” a colorful collection of vessels — some functional and others more decorative. Most hold the shape of cups or mugs, the cathartic objects that many use to either start their day with coffee, or to close it with evening tea, Erwin said.

“The show is trying to celebrate the intimate objects of our daily life that can go unnoticed,” he said.

Each piece has its own personality. Scaled serpents serve as the handles of the work of Crested Butte ceramic artist Natalie Walker. Her art showcases the deep black tones produced during the raku firing process. Using this Japanese ceramics technique, glazed ceramics are taken from the kiln early and placed in a flammable material, such as sawdust or newspaper. This starves the clay of oxygen and creates a matte black coloring.

On another shelf, the faces of three men stare at the viewer from vessels handcrafted by Paul Sauter. Delicate red poppies sprout on the sides of another cup made by Kristin Gruenberger, the thorns on their buds sharply visible.

Upstairs in the Tredway Gallery, the solo show “Animal | Nature,” by Gunnison Valley native Chelsea Lord will be on display. The show features printmaking as well as sculptures made from natural and found materials such as antlers, dried yarrow and dogwood. Lord recently began experimenting with a manufactured product called sola wood flowers, which are made from the tapioca plant root. The cork-like material lasts longer than cut flowers and can be dyed different colors. The flowers are shaped by hand.

“The pieces that I'm making will last, and you won't have to replace those natural elements as time goes on,” she said.

Lord didn’t think of herself as an artist until she entered Western Colorado University’s architecture program. Because it was housed within the university’s art department, she enrolled in all of the basic art classes. She said the step-oriented nature of printmaking captured her attention because of its parallels with construction.

“With the traditional printmaking processes, like etching, lithography, woodcuts and even screen printing, you have to go through so many specific processes — very down to the 16thof-an-inch type measurements. It really appealed to the ‘logical step’ oriented part of my mind. It helped me ease into art making, because I didn't feel like I had a lot of natural talent.”

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

Construction in the Gunnison Arts Center’s main gallery wrapped up on Sept. 4. (Photos by Bella Biondini)

Work by Paul Sauter in the new “Sip and Savor” exhibition.

Artist Chelsea Lord’s “Animal | Nature,” features sculptures that are made with found objects and natural materials. (Courtesy Chelsea Lord)

GOP Lincoln Day Dinner

Gunnison County Republicans will host the annual Lincoln Day Dinner and fundraiser Sept. 7 from 4-8 p.m. at Three Rivers Resort in Almont, Colorado. The event will feature music, dinner, candidate speakers and a silent auction. Tickets are available at gunnisoncountyrepublicans.org.

Athletic heritage at the Pioneer Museum

Many artifacts depicting our intriguing local athletic heritage can be found on display at the Pioneer Museum. Open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through September, with admission $15 for ages 13+, $5 for those 6-12, and free for 5 and under.

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.

Band instrument drive

School is starting up, and beginning band students will be looking for band instruments. Anyone with a used instrument to sell can contact Keith Koepsel at 970.641.5904. Let him know the type of instrument, the brand name, playing condition and your asking price.

History slideshow

Join Duane Vandenbusche for an exciting slideshow on the Quartz Creek-Taylor Park region at 6 p.m. Sept. 6 in the beautiful and newly renovated Pitkin Hotel in Pitkin, Colorado. Topics covered will include Ohio City, Pitkin, the Alpine Tunnel, Tin Cup, Taylor Park and the Taylor Dam. The event is free and open to the public.

Fairview cleanup and potluck

The Fairview Community Association will host a cleanup day and potluck on Sept. 29 from 1-5 p.m. The event is aimed at revitalizing the 1906 Fairview schoolhouse at 4440 CR 730. For more information, email dg@ townhouseexperts.com.

CB CENTER FOR THE ARTS BRIEFS

Lauren + Richard Eisen reception

As the leaves in Crested Butte decay around us, Lauren and Richard Eisen bring the natural forces of nature to the walls of the KPG on Sept. 12 from 5-7 p.m. Richard uses a photographic image construction that represents the rebirth from decay. Lauren focuses on memory and place, exploring aspects of industry that affect native plant and animal life.

Colorado West Performing Arts Company

Join Colorado West Performing Arts Company (CWPAC) on Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. for a mixed repertoire performance. Showcasing the versatility of our dancers, this performance celebrates excerpts from classic and romantic ballets as well as displaying original contemporary works. The cost is $35+.

Yard of the Week

Walking bus

Due to the school bus shortage and to help kids get to afterschool programs at the Rec Center, the Gunnison PTA is looking for volunteers to organize a Walking Bus. Please contact Donita at gunnisonvalleypta@ gmail.com or go online for the sign up link which can be found on the “Gunnison PTA” Facebook page.

Mental health film screening

Gunnison Valley Health and Gunnison County Extension office will host a screening of “Legacy: Mental Health in Colorado’s Modern-Day Agriculture.” This free community event will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 24, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Western Colorado University movie theater. Attendees are invited to join their neighbors to enjoy dinner, camaraderie and a meaningful discussion about mental health in our community.

Rocky Mountain Burlesque Festival

The Inaugural Rocky Mountain Burlesque Festival is a three-day experience on Sept. 28 starting at 7 p.m that features performances and classes from some of burlesque’s brightest and best performers in the Southwest. The crown jewel of the festival is a performance at the Center for the Arts. The cost is $35-$100.

The Top O’ the World Garden Club awarded Jesse and Holly Rickert with Yard of the Week. The Rickerts’ goal for the location was to keep it simple and low maintenance, while also conserving water. The property, which formerly housed a gym, pool and racquetball center, was abandoned with a yard containing overgrown weeds. The Rickerts have since created a wildflower bed in the entryway, a xeriscape garden by the front door and added stone walls and parking dividers. The pair established a lawn in the backyard where the old pool had been located, as well as a natural shrub and flower area around the lawn. The remaining backyard area has been left untouched to encourage native fieldgrass and sage.

SATURDAYS, THROUGH OCTOBER 19TH

gunnisonfarmersmarket.org

(Courtesy Nancy Dean/Top O’ the World Garden Club)

“North Dakota Favored over Dalton Gang”

Submitted by

Larry McDonald

Touchdown! We look forward to hearing that call often at the newly renovated Mountaineer Bowl, located on historic Smelter Hill above the campus of Western Colorado University, which provides such beautiful fall views of Gunnison. Researching our wonderful local historic newspapers indicates that the sport of football was becoming popular in our “neck of the woods” in the late 1800’s, with “footballs, football suits and shoes” being offered for sale at Gunnison Hardware in the fall of 1895, and John Geiser filing a complaint with the town marshal when boys playing the sport in the middle of the street spooked his horse in 1898. And on election day in 1899, a “Rugby football game” was played between the Grammer and High School teams, attended by “quite a number of people”, ending in a final score of 5-5. “No one was injured, and the game was greatly enjoyed by the players and spectators. Dell McKee acted as referee.”

win over Montana State for using an ineligible player, even though they lost the game 27-6. Western’s 1963 team went 8-1 and saw their 10 game winning streak broken by Arizona State, losing 14-7, all while being outweighed by nearly 20 lbs. per man.

A 1900 newspaper article noted that two local boys, Ernie and Mack Lewis, were members of the Denver Athletic Club team, with Mack “being considered much the best fullback in the state.”, and that same year a game was played at Salida with the home team winning by a score of 7-5, and with no “rooters” for the Gunnison team, several “Salida young men organized to root for the visitors”.

While both Western and Gunnison High School have fielded many excellent teams over the past 100 plus years, many consider the college team of 1964 the best one ever, although the team of 1954 might disagree, as they went 10-0 by virtue of a forfeit

Coach Dalton’s 1964 team, the “Dalton Gang”, had to come from behind with less than four minutes left in the fourth quarter, after QB Chuck Stewart found end Sid Gilbreath in the end zone for a touchdown, to wrap up their 9-0 undefeated regular season with a snowbound 7-3 victory over Southern Utah in Cedar City. Talks with both the Pecan Bowl in Abilene, Texas and the Mineral Water Bowl in Excelsior Springs, Missouri had begun earlier in the season, and it was on Saturday, November 29, that the Mountaineers came up just short, losing to highly favored North Dakota State 14-13 before 5,000 spectators in Missouri. Western had scored their second touchdown with just 2:44 left in the game when a two-point pass attempt slipped just under the receiver to give the Bisons the victory.

This Saturday, our legendary Mountaineer Bowl will host its first ever games on artificial turf and under lights, and attendees will experience over $30 million in additional improvements to the stadium, along with a winning team that is back in the national rankings and a contender for the conference title. We invite everyone to plan a visit to the museum to experience the many wonderful and intriguing artifacts representing our exceptional athletic heritage that can be found throughout our campus, with many items representing Gunnison High School on display in the Paragon School and Western State College items in the Andy Mallet Auto Barn. Game on!

Mentors and teachers come in many forms

Wendy Videlock Special to the Times

There’s an old Buddhist saying that the teacher is always right in front of you. The peach tree in front of you is a teacher. The praying mantis in front of you is a teacher. Every emotion you feel is a teacher. Even the most toxic person who crosses your path is a teacher, demonstrating how not to behave. I’ve had dozens of teachers, but for today I’ll just focus on the three that came into my life early on and left a lasting impression.

My first real teacher was a neighbor friend named Liz. I met her when we were both 5 years old. Because we looked alike, it was especially disconcerting that we were profoundly different.

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!

LOCATION: 803 E.

Liz was good at everything. She could groom and ride even the most skittish horse at the nearby dude ranch without flinching or showing any fear. She spoke with people graciously. She knew the names of plants and trees. She excelled in school and even sports. Liz was clearly not beset with the same insecurities just about everybody else I knew possessed. One day I told her she was lucky because she was good at everything. She was running a curry brush over the flanks of an old mare, dust and flies filling the air, none of which seemed to bother Liz one bit. She looked at me for a moment and then said, “It’s not that I’m good at stuff, it’s just that I really enjoy learning.”

This was a complete revelation to me. All this time I’d thought learning was a chore, and something I could one day put behind me, not a process one could cherish. Years later, I realized Liz was saying that a love of learning is a gift we give ourselves. It is a beautiful and rewarding way to live our lives, because ultimately, the purpose of learning is action.

Of course, I was still a clumsy, fearful creature. And not long after that, Liz and her family moved away and I remained, not just clumsy and fearful, but bereft. It wasn’t long after that my brother suddenly seemed to take an interest in my education. To my horror he told me all about the Vietnam War and about the corruption of a man named Nixon. He explained that the radio contained this thing

called FM and that AM was no longer cool. He explained the nature of pollution and big industry. He spoke fervently about caring for the less fortunate.

He turned me into a fan of the Beatles and Aretha Franklin, and then one day he placed a book titled “Thus Spake Zarathustra” by Fredrick Nietzche into my hands.

I’d always enjoyed books and stories, but this was an incomprehensible text, entirely over my head, entirely mysterious and provocative and ultimately thrilling. Here was a person writing about his inner life. At that point in my young life, I didn’t even know the inner life was something we all had.

I should be clear that the Beatles' and Aretha’s lyrics completely escaped me and I had no idea what Nietzsche was really going on about. But I had entered the world of feeling — of feeling and paying attention to my thoughts and sensations. I found myself feeling a little less alone.

Like most of us, I’d been conditioned to believe that feelings were to be avoided like the plague. To experience feeling as a positive thing was entirely new to me. Not long after, I experienced my first meaningful teacher in an actual classroom.

I had decided to take a journalism class and my teacher was the first true eccentric I had ever met. His name was Freeman, and he was an ex-DJ. I learned later he had conducted the final interview with Buddy Holly before that fateful plane crash.

Freeman was a spelunker, an avid ghost-towner, journalist, creative writer and a sensitive, empathetic human being. He also had a physical challenge: one of his legs was much longer than the other. His walk was ridiculed regularly. Students were not kind to him and neither was I, until one day he looked me in the eye and asked, “What sort of person do you want to be?”

This was a question I had never considered. That same school year I had an art teacher whose primary teaching strategy was to berate students into submission. His name was Mr. Wolf. And so I replied, “I don’t want to be like Mr. Wolf.” It was pretty risky to say something negative about another teacher to a teacher, but Freeman didn’t bat an eye. He simply said, “That’s a start.”

Those three words helped me understand something about beginnings. “That’s a start” may sound flippant, but it felt to me like permission to start paying attention, to start considering myself as capable of growth, as capable of learning, as capable of becoming a better person.

We became friends that day.

Freeman encouraged my creative writing. He gave me my first real taste of confidence. I was beginning to see life as something in process and art as a playground to which we are all invited.

Freeman and I wrote letters to one another until I was well into my 30s, when he passed away. I miss him still, and wish I'd been able to express to him just how much he changed the direction of my life and how much he meant to me.

It is the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu who is attributed with saying, “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.” He also said, “When the student is ready, the teacher disappears.” And aren’t both of these things equally true? I leave you with a poem by another teacher of mine and a dear friend, Tasmanian poet, Cally Conan-Davies:

Learning Ukulele

Long as the latitude I allow love—

my one and only daughter sings along the downstroke of her thumb strum her head nodding to the ukulele neck.

I keep mum as mothers learn they must who listen on the other side of window glass, my other ear to the bush beyond where the murder birds are bound to turn in their coffin dreams.

Didn’t all the angels weep when a single angel wept, wiping out the difference? I make believe I could kiss all the tears from all their baby faces crooning nothing is amiss, nothing amiss when the sweetest little bird voice breaks from the minor chord she bumbled— is how it dawns on me there is no right way to do this.

(Wendy Videlock lives in Palisade where she teaches and advocates for the arts. She currently serves as Poet Laureate of the Western Slope. You can reach her at westernslopeword@gmail.com.)

Western students incentivized to spend money in town with ‘Greenbacks’

Chamber offers $10 per student

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

Following a dip in enrollment at Western Colorado University, the Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce stepped in to bring students into town, and help them feel more connected in the community. Through its decades-old “Gunnison Greenback” program, the Chamber is looking to give each on-campus student $10 in Greenbacks this fall.

In mid-July, university enrollment was down nearly 200 on-campus students from last year, a result, in part, of delays in the federal financial student aid process and the university’s implementation of a new computer software system. Numbers have recovered over the last month. As of Aug. 26, 1,586 are now enrolled, which means Western is now down just 3.5% over last year.

Low enrollment not only strains the university’s finances by draining tuition dollars, but can draw down the Gunnison labor pool — as local businesses are often staffed by students during the academic year. In acknowledgement of the shortage and to foster a sense of community across town, the chamber’s board is offering Greenback dollars to students.

Gunnison County Commissioners agreed to reimburse this effort, up to $5,000, based on the actual number of Greenbacks claimed. Chamber Executive Director Celeste Helminksi asked the City of Gunnison for the same but has not yet received a reply. Gunnison Bank and Trust has already committed $500, Helminski said. The chamber did not ask Western to contribute financially, but did ask the

university to spread the word and distribute the certificates.

“What can we do that can help people feel welcome and get them introduced to the city, to what we offer, and make them participate, engage and encourage that kind of activity?”

Helminski said in an Aug. 20 commissioners meeting.

The Gunnison Greenback program incentivizes spending at local businesses by allowing individuals to purchase Greenbacks at the chamber at any time throughout the year at a discounted price. This “local currency” can be used at retail shops, restaurants and even gas stations and grocery stores. However, businesses retain the discretion to accept or reject Greenbacks.

The Greenbacks were first created by the chamber in the late 90s and have a set distribution time, usually during the holiday season, and an expiration date. The program can amplify each dollar spent by giving shoppers store credit that exceeds dollars spent buying the Greenbacks. For example, in 2022 a $80 packet of Greenbacks had a face value of $100 at participating local businesses.

Helminski estimated the program to cover on-campus students at Western this fall would cost between $15,000 to $17,000 — depending on final enrollment. The chamber can support about a third of the cost from its reserves, she said.

“With the cost of college going ever upwards, and rent and all the other things, I think that it gives an opportunity for students who may not have as much discretionary income to be able to go have a cup of coffee somewhere,” said County Commissioner Liz Smith.

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

SEPTEMBER 8

The chamber hands out Greenbacks in 2023. (Photo by Aric Olson)

SOFTBALL: GHS stumbles against Grand Junction, B9

GHS wins gritty, 7-goal shootout against Tigers

Marmolejo bags four goals in first win

Alex McCrindle Times Sports Editor

Following two narrow defeats in the opening games of the season, the GHS soccer team finally found the back of the net, and the win column, against rival Cañon City. The Cowboys clawed their way back from a 1-0 deficit to win 4-3 at home on Aug. 31.

Head Coach Susan Powers said the win was a major boost to team morale.

“The guys felt like they were playing well, just not getting the results that they wanted,” Coach Powers said. “It was huge to take down a 4A team, but even bigger for the guys to catch a glimpse of how much potential they have.”

The two opening losses knocked the wind out of the Cowboys. Despite controlling the midfield and creating chances, GHS struggled to finish in key moments. The boys were building out from defense and connecting passes, but still falling short. But on Aug. 31, everything started to click for the Cowboys.

The Tigers opened the scoring early in the first half. Still, the Cowboys pressed forward and junior striker Cesar Marmolejo Soccer B10

Cowboys wrangle Titans in home win

Loken leads GHS to perfect start

Alex McCrindle Times Sports Editor

The GHS volleyball team cruised to its first home win on Aug. 31, taking down the 2-5 Coal Ridge Titans in four sets. The win moved the girls to a 2-0 record ahead of their first league matchup away to Grand Valley on Sept. 5.

A perfect start to the season has been a positive omen to Head Coach Lindsay Hart, who is working to fill holes left by graduating seniors.

“I think this team can take it all the way if we learn to communicate together, and overcome the learning curve of playing new girls in new positions,” Hart said. “It is reassuring to

have lost some important players from last year, and still come out super strong.”

The Cowboys’ junior and senior core already looks capable of another postseason run.

On Saturday, Aubriel Loken was named player of the game. The junior has been transitioning into the setter position after playing a massive role as a defensive specialist last season. She earned 18 digs in the back row, and 17 assists, leading the team in both categories against the Titans.

“Aubriel is a really talented setter, and it’s the role we needed help with this season,” Hart said. “It’s great to have her out there playing in both positions.

She’s led in assists for the past two games and is turning into a strong leader.”

Another key player, Sienna Gomez, welcomed the Cowboy Bullpen back to her “Block party” on Saturday. The senior hitter earned 10 kills and two

blocks, bringing momentum to the GHS attack. Rose Kowal was also a powerful force at the net. The junior led GHS with 12 kills and also added 15 digs to her stat sheet.

Despite whalloping the Titans 25-10 in the first set, GHS fell in the second set by 4 points. Coal Ridge battled through the third, but the Cowboys scraped away with a 26-24 win. GHS polished off the victory in the fourth set with a calm, 25-17 win.

Following an away bout with Grand Valley on Sept. 5, the girls will take on Bennett and Vanguard Classical East at a Denver tournament on Sept. 7. Results were not available by press time. The Cowboys will return home to face Montrose on Sept. 17 at 6 p.m.

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

Eli Coop wins a high challenge against the Tigers. (Photos by Mariel Wiley)

The Cowboys C team celebrates winning a point against the Titans. (Photo by Mariel Wiley)

Softball falls to Grand Junction

Josie Vollendorf’s diving catch a highlight

in home defeat

Alex McCrindle Times Sports Editor

The Cowboys softball team lost its third consecutive game against Grand Junction at home on Sep. 3.

The 13-3 defeat to the Tigers comes after a 13-3 loss to Strasburg on Aug. 30, and 12-2 loss to Rocky Ford on Aug. 31. The string of results moves the Cowboys to a 2-4 overall record, and 1-1 in the 3A Western Slope League.

On Sep. 3, the Cowboys held the Tigers within reach in the

early innings thanks to pitching from senior slinger Isabella Crown. After taking a 1-0 deficit into the bottom of the first, senior Maddie Vollendorf poked a single into right field. The knock was unable to start a rally, and the Cowboys stranded two runners.

In the top of the second, Crown sat down three consecutive batters to polish off the inning. Still, the home team couldn’t get the bats firing, and the score stood 1-0.

The Tigers blew the barn doors off in the third, sending eight runners around the bases. Josie Vollendorf made the play of the game in left field to finish the inning. The freshman outfielder snatched a laid-out, diving catch on the foul line. She added momentum at the plate in the next inning, recording a single to shortstop.

Crown added to the offense with a single, and a sacrifice bunt from Nella Gardner brought Josie home. Maddie Vollendorf split the second baseman and shortstop with a line drive RBI single. Romie Uhrig smoked a double to left field, tacking on one more run in the third. The Cowboys lunged back into the contest, 8-3.

The Cowboys attack slowed in the fourth, and the Tigers continued adding pressure to the home defense. The game ended 13-3 for Grand Junction.

Next up, the girls will travel to play Delta and Cedaredge before returning to Jorgensen Park on Sep. 10 to take on Delta again.

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

GHS football shutout by Devils

The Cowboy football team opened its fall season with a 32-0 loss to 3A rival Eagle Valley on Aug. 30. Even worse, the boys lost three key players to injury. Starting quarterback Ethan Pierce suffered a broken collarbone, ending his junior season prematurely. Running back Grady Buckhanan broke his wrist on the second play of the game, however the senior is expected to return to action this season. Tate Taramarcaz also left the opening game, suffering a hyperextended knee. Head Coach Paul Vickers said he is expected to return to practice next week. The Cowboys will next play defending state champions Delta away on Sept. 6. Results were not available by press time.

Heat Pump 101 Training

Pastures Grass Fed Beef, Calder Farms Pork, Gunni Gal Aquaponics, Crested Bucha Kombucha, LazEwe Goat Cheese, Mountain Oven Bakery, Third

Oliver Parker rallies the Cowboy defense. (Courtesy Cooper Imel)

Romie Uhrig, who ripped an RBI double off the left field wall in the third inning, takes a cut at home plate. (Photo by Mariel Wiley)

scored an equalizer before the break. GHS again found the Tiger defense on its heels, and put pressure on the back line. Marmolejo scored another goal to take the Cowboys first lead of the season, 2-1.

“It was huge to take down a 4A team, but even bigger for the guys to catch a glimpse of how much potential they have.”

Susan Powers Head coach

Cañon City continued to catch the GHS defenders off guard, equalizing 2-2, and then 3-3 after another Marmolejo goal. With 15 minutes to play and tied at 3-3, Maromeljo scored the winner —bagging his fourth goal of the game to seal the 4-3 victory.

Despite the incredible individual effort from the GHS striker, Coach Powers credited the entire attack for the offensive masterclass. Senior Cristian Aguilar notched two assists from beautiful passes played into Marmolejo, while sophomore Eli Coop earned one.

A double pivot in midfield between Owen Powers and Coop was another highlight. The duo won duels and distributed to the offense, allowing Marmolejo to play undetected in the attacking third. After only scoring one in the previous two games, the flurry of goals was a welcome sight for Coach Powers.

“This season we have worked so much on building out from the back and holding possession in the midfield, but last week we really practiced finishing under pressure,” Coach Powers said.

“The key was transitioning from defense into the attacking third. Every goal was a team effort.”

The Cowboys now look ahead to a home game against the 0-3 Grand Valley Cardinals on Sept. 7, before taking on Ridgway away in the first league matchup of the season. GHS will return home on Sept. 28 after five consecutive away games.

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

Tilden Martinez flicks the ball away from the Tiger defender.

Hat trick hero, Cesar Marmolejo, dribbles into the final third.

Golf takes seventh in Vail

Vail Golf Course proved to be a difficult challenge for the GHS boys golf team on Sept. 3. The Cowboys took seventh place overall with a combined score of 250. Preston Pike led the all-senior varsity team with an 11th place individual score of 78. Carson Zummach and Joseph Noble tied for 34th, each shooting 86. Mason Weitman and Zachary Knoll wrapped up the scoring with a 92 and 93. The Cowboys will host a home tournament at Dos Rios Golf Club on Sept. 9 starting at 9:30 a.m.

Carson Zummach tees off. (Courtesy Kevin Mickelson)

Preston Pike led the Cowboys, shooting a 78.

GHA SEEKING GRANT APPLICANTS

During 2024, the Gunnison Home Association has contributed $52,345 in grant money to:

• the Gunnison Senior Center Meal Program

• The Gunnison Valley Heat Program

• The Gunnison Country Food Pantry

• The Gunnison Valley Animal Welfare League

• The Willows Assisted Living Facility

• Six Points

• Mountain Roots

• GVH Hospice

• the Crested Butte Senior Center Pilot Meal and Activity Program

The Board of Directors of the Gunnison Home Association hopes these grants help primarily non-profit organizations that have given to the Community this year.

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

The mission of the GHA is to assist in the provision of basic needs and amenities to Seniors in the Gunnison Valley. Those services may include housing, food assistance, transportation, medical needs, or social and cultural enrichment opportunities. The goal of the GHA is to enhance the lives of Seniors in the Gunnison area, whether full-time residents or summer residents. Each year, the GHA accepts grant requests for funding from non-profit organizations that contribute to the lives of Seniors in the Gunnison community.

The GHA will be accepting grant applications for 2025 in September.

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

Grant applications are due Sept. 30, 2024.

Putting arts and culture in the spotlight.

Renewal and remembrance

Community members gathered at IOOF Park to observe International Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 30. Attendees enjoyed live music, yard games and free mocktails provided by the Dive. Local mental health resource information was also available. Gunnison County’s harm reduction program, GRASP, organized the event. GRASP provides treatment and recovery support for those struggling with substance abuse.

Art for the people

Gunnison Valley artists took over Elk Avenue during the annual Paragon People’s Fair over Labor Day weekend. The fair is a non-juried arts and crafts festival that enables regional Colorado artists to showcase and sell their work. The weekend also featured live music, food vendors, a farmers market and a dog show hosted by Oh Be Dogful Rescue.

(Photos by Mariel Wiley)

(Photo by Mariel Wiley)

D’Luna eclipsa Gunnison

Dorian Gomez

Special to the Times

Definitivamente en los tiempos donde se habla mucho de el empoderamiento femenino, Dulce Marisol Luna García es un digno ejemplo de que se puede ser inmigrante, madre, empleada, manager, ejecutiva, visionaria, líder y punto de referencia social para enlazar mediante su valioso aporte empresarial y sociocultural el crecimiento de la tienda D’ Luna, empresa creada con sus propias manos , sudor y sacrificio en 2014 con dos empleadas, siendo Dulce Marisol una de las empleadas de su propio negocio, y ahora 10 años después ha crecido al punto de generar siete empleos directos, aportando con sus impuestos al crecimiento comercial del condado, en tiempos en que muchas

empresas no siguen vigentes, desaparecen o simplemente decrecen por diferentes motivos, D’Luna no solo creció si no ha diversificado sus servicios que van desde funcionar como agente bancario para el envío de divisas a otros países, venta de alimentos importados de países del sur y centro América, ser una heladería típica con sabores de frutas tropicales y naturales, hasta la venta deliciosos alimentos calientes preparados por manos expertas y con una sazón exquisita.

Cuando se vive fuera del país de origen una de las cosas que mas se extraña son los sabores y comidas de nuestra tierra, y es donde la tienda D’Luna se ha convertido en una especie de portal mágico cultural, debido a que con mucho esfuerzo llegan a la tienda desde Colombia, Venezuela, Perú, Honduras, Guatemala, México o el Salvador para mencionar algunos países; refrescos, harinas, dulces, quesos, picantes, salsas, chocolates, café, y si sigo escribiendo no terminaría la innumerable lista de productos alimenticios y de uso general.

En mi caso que soy colombiano encontré en la tienda un chocolate de marca Corona

muy típico de mi país, el cual se prepara caliente con leche, y cuando bebí mi primer sorbo de chocolate mientras miraba las montañas de Crested Butte, me sentí transportado a mi tierra por los sabores de ese delicioso y humeante chocolate. Lo mismo le pasa a todo aquel inmigrante que encuentra en D’Luna los sabores de su tierra, convirtiendo la tienda en una feria constante donde las diferentes culturas se entrelazan y conocen, ya que no solo compramos los productos de nuestros países sino de los otros y de esa manera diversificamos los gustos y sabores, asunto por el cual todos los que visitamos la tienda llegamos siempre con una sonrisa a un lugar feliz. Lo hermoso de este asunto es que no solo une a la comunidad de habla hispana, sino que los americanos también están disfrutando de todo lo que ofrece D’Luna.

Tras la marca D’Luna hay una mujer exitosa, talentosa, convecida de que lo que se propone lo consigue, motivo por el cual siempre esta innovando; hay una buena historia que resume mucho de su temperamento aplicado a nivel empresarial. Cuando amplio su negocio

y pensó en poner la heladería varias personas se opusieron a su idea, le dijeron que como se le ocurría pensar que en una ciudad donde cae nieve y la temperatura baja a -0 grados Fahrenheit varios meses en el año, a las personas le pudiera gustar comer helado? Le decían que era una idea no acertada, que no era un negocio viable, etcétera, pero al contrario de los comentarios negativos sobre su heladería, fue un éxito! Dulce Marisol Luna García convencida que la vida está lleno de retos, escogió tomar sus propias decisiones, bajo la premisa de vivir sin miedo al éxito.

La visión de Dulce Marisol Luna García es seguirse proyectando como empresaria, y por eso no solo se encarga de gerenciar su negocio, sino que además está estudiando para obtener la licencia en ventas de seguros, paralelo a su nuevo proyecto como es la apertura en enero de 2025 de su nueva empresa que contara con expertos en asesoramiento financieros, apoyo en trámites de pago de impuestos, tramite para obtención del número ITIN ante el IRS, ventas de seguros para personas, empresas, vehículos, viviendas y otros tra-

mites ligados a la misión de su negocio.

Construir un edificio lleva meses e incluso años de planeación y trabajo en equipo, pero para derribarlo solo toma minutos con una implosión, igual ha pasado con los pocos inmigrantes que se han portado mal, impactando negativamente la imagen de millones de inmigrantes que cada día se levantan para construir con su esfuerzo y dedicación un país que en su nombre Estados Unidos de América está claramente el significado de una nación multicultural. Precisamente es importante resaltar ante la sociedad americana el gran aporte de personas como Dulce Marisol Luna García, que con mucho empeño y dedicación, como empresaria líder social que apoya organizaciones como migrantes unidos y otras actividades de alto impacto social, se destaca por su liderazgo, sirviendo de ejemplo y llevando la bandera de que los buenos somos más! (Dorian Gómez es residente de Gunnison. Es un periodista que emigró a Estados Unidos desde Colombia.)

D’Luna eclipses Gunnison

Dorian Gomez

Special to the Times

Definitely in times where there is much talk about female empowerment, Dulce Marisol Luna Garcia is a worthy example that one can be an immigrant, mother, employee, manager, executive, visionary, leader and social reference point, through her valuable business and sociocultural contribution the growth of the D’Luna store. This is a company she created with her own hands, sweat

and sacrifice in 2014 with two employees (which includes herself). And now, 10 years later, it has grown to the point of generating seven direct jobs, contributing with its taxes to the commercial growth of the county. In times when many companies are no longer in business, D’Luna not only has grown, but has diversified its services. These range from functioning as a banking agent for sending foreign currency to other countries, selling imported food from countries in South and Central

America, being a typical ice cream shop with tropical and natural fruit flavors, to selling delicious hot food prepared by expert hands and with an exquisite seasoning. When you live outside your home country, one of the things you miss the most are the flavors and foods of your land. That is where the D’Luna store has become a kind of cultural magic portal. Because, with great effort people from Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico

or El Salvador arrive at the store, to mention just a few countries. They come for soft drinks, flours, sweets, cheeses, spices, sauces, chocolates, coffee … and if I continued writing, I would never finish the innumerable list of food and general use products.

In my case, as I am Colombian, I found in the store a Corona brand chocolate that is very typical of my country, which is prepared hot with milk. When I drank my first sip of chocolate while looking

¿Estás pensando en comprar o vender tu casa en Gunnison?

Soy tu agente local de bienes raíces. Hablo español y me encantaría ayudarte. ¡Contáctame hoy para una consulta gratis y sin compromiso!

at the mountains of Crested Butte, I felt transported to my land by the flavors of that delicious and steaming chocolate. The same thing happens to all those immigrants who find the flavors of their land in D’Luna, turning the store into a constant fair where different cultures intertwine and get to know each other.

We do not only buy products from our countries, but from others as well, and in this way

Infórmate B15

“We read to know we are not alone.” — C.S Lewis

“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” — Frederick Douglas

“To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable spelled out is a spark.” — Victor Hugo

“There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all” — Jacqueline Kennedy

Classroom cheer

success. Her vision is to continue projecting herself as an entrepreneur, and that is why she is not only in charge of managing her business, but she is also studying to obtain a license in insurance sales, parallel to her new project. Opening in January 2025, her new company will have experts in financial advice, support in paying taxes, procedures for obtaining the ITIN number with the IRS, sales of insurance for people, companies, vehicles, homes and other procedures linked to the mission of her business.

Building a building takes months or even years of plan-

ning and teamwork, but to tear it down it only takes minutes with an implosion. That’s what has happened with the few immigrants who have misbehaved, negatively impacting the image of millions of immigrants who get up every day to build with their effort and dedication a country whose name — the United States of America — is clearly the meaning of a multicultural nation. It is important to highlight before American society the great contribution of people like Dulce Marisol Luna Garcia, who with great effort and dedication, as a businesswoman and social leader who supports organizations such as

Inmigrantes Unidos and other activities of high social impact, stands out for her leadership. She serves as an example and carries the flag that there are more of us good people.

(This article was translated into English using Google translate.)

(Dorian Gomez is a resident of Gunnison. He is a journalist who immigrated to the United States from Colombia.)

Lake Preschool and Kindergarten students were greeted by a shower of bubbles on their first day of school on Aug. 28. Parents accompanied their kids inside to meet teachers and tour classrooms. After saying goodbye, the students followed their line leader to class for a day full of learning.

(Photos by Mariel Wiley)

Savor the season

GB&T Donation

Matching CD

• Designate your favorite local charity* when you open your GB&T Donation Matching CD.

• Choose the term of your CD—1 year to 5 years.

• Interest earned will be automatically donated quarterly to your designated charity with the addition of a 25% match donation from GB&T.

*Charity must have an account open with GB&T.

Gunnison Valley Mentors Program pictured here.

Autumn is approaching, but the Gunnison Farmers Market is still going strong. Vendors displayed a rainbow of seasonal fruits and vegetables and handmade goods during a market on Aug. 31. The farmers market will continue every Saturday through Oct. 19.

(Photos by Mariel Wiley)