Drought puts Blue Mesa in crosshairs again
Emergency
releases to benefit Lake Powell possible next year
Alan Wartes Times Publisher
After weeks of hot, dry and windy weather across western Colorado, Gunnison County Commissioners received a water-issues update on Tuesday that was filled with “sobering” news. In addition to details about Gunnison County’s worsening drought conditions, commissioners heard from representatives of the Colorado Water Conservation
‘Art
born of adventure’
BIZCENTS: Mountain Windows opens new showroom, A14
COMMUNITY: More than one way to get to school, A19
SPORTS: Cowboy football ramps up for fall, A25
A6
A20-A24
A25
New Pitkin gallery extends reach of valley’s art scene
Bella Biondini Special to the Times
Amidst the steady rumble of side-by-sides, jeeps and dirtbikes through the heart of downtown Pitkin, a new art gallery invites passersby to not only revel in the area’s natural beauty, but in its history — revealed to those willing to pull over and stop in.
“Just as Pitkin’s pioneers built from the raw land, the art within these walls aims to build new connections, foster environmental stewardship and remind us of the profound importance of creativity in every community,” artist and gallery co-founder Colt Maule wrote in a social media
post following the opening of the Terrible Mountain Gallery last month.
On July 18, a mixture of nearly 200 Quartz Creek and Gunnison Valley residents and out-oftowners packed into the new art gallery, the first of its kind in Pitkin, after a ribbon cutting ceremony. Maule said he and his wife, Jessee, sought new and established artists that use their work to inspire connection to the valley’s rugged landscapes. A place where “art and adventure converge,” on the walls of the gallery hang scenes of the familiar: glimpses of the Gothic Valley; Crested Butte entombed in snow; and rivers that twist and turn, carving their own distinctive path through the land.
During the summer months, many tourists ride through Pitkin with “their blinders on,” moving from point A to point B, like pinpoints on a map, Maule said. Some are headed to Tin
Blue Mesa Reservoir was 61% full as of Aug. 10, and is expected to finish the year at 51%. (Photos by Evan Bjornstad)
Jessee and Colt Maule stand in the main gallery. (Photo by Bella Biondini) Gallery A15
Blue Mesa A8
CITY OF GUNNISON EXPLORES POSSIBLE SALES TAX PROCESS
Public Input Encouraged by August 26
“[The bike bus is] a way to alleviate parents’ fears about children crossing the highways or biking to school themselves.”
— Jessica Eckhardt, Gunny Bike Bus
See story on A19
BRIEFS
Stage 2 fire restrictions begin as red flag warnings persist
As smoke from the Black Canyon of the Gunnison South Rim blaze settled into the valley this week, fire chief Hugo Ferchau announced the county will enter stage 2 fire restrictions beginning Aug. 15. Stage 2 fire restrictions place a total ban on outdoor fires, including charcoal grills and barbecues, coal and wood burning stoves and campfires within designated rings. The restrictions also ban all personal use of fireworks, smoking (except within an enclosed vehicle, building or trailer), welding and operating any internal combustion engine, such as chainsaws, generators or ATVs, unless it utilizes a spark-arresting device.
The stage 2 fire restrictions come after a week of red flag warnings, marked by strong winds, low humidity and a dry fuel bed. In Montrose County, the South Rim fire has now burned for over a month, and has spread to 4,200 acres as of Aug. 2. The blaze is now 52% contained, and fire activity is limited to isolated pockets and inaccessible terrain.
While firefighters began backhauling equipment and demobilizing from the area, a Burned Area Emergency Response Team completed an assessment and delivered their preliminary findings to the National Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation and Bureau of Land Management.
The most concerning finding was the loss of vegetation in the drainages funneling into the East Portal. The team concluded that the fire had impacted the stability of the steep slopes, which could pose a risk of rock fall or mudslides to anyone in the East Portal. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is now working to make the South Rim safe for visitors. The North Rim remains open to all trails, overlooks, facilities and the campground.
The City of Gunnison is exploring a potential change in how local sales tax is reported and collected by businesses. The idea is to have the State of Colorado handle the full collection process, including the City’s portion, so businesses would no longer file separate sales tax reports to the City. This change may justify eliminating or reducing the “vendor fee” that businesses currently keep for handling sales tax paperwork, allowing approximately $400,000 a year to be reinvested in the community’s economic prosperity without increasing taxes.
What Happens Today
When you buy goods or services within Gunnison city limits, you pay 8.9% in sales tax. Of that total, 4% goes to the City of Gunnison to help pay for vital services like street maintenance, parks, and emergency response.
Retailers currently submit two separate sales tax reports each month, one to the City and one to the State. To offset this extra work, the City allows businesses to keep 4% of their portion of sales tax. This vendor fee equals about 37 cents for every $100 spent.
While this may seem like a small amount, across all local businesses it totals over $400,000 a year. About half, roughly $200,000, is kept by the ten largest retailers, while the other half is shared among about 2,000 businesses.
What Could Change
If the way sales tax is collected and reported changes, City Council is considering whether to reduce or eliminate the vendor fee. Businesses would no longer submit sales tax reports or payments directly to the City. Instead, they would file only with the State of Colorado, which already collects and processes the state, RTA, and county portions of the 8.9% sales tax. The State would then forward the City’s 4% share directly to Gunnison.
This would mean one less report for businesses to complete. Since the City’s portion would be handled entirely by the State, the vendor fee, which was created to cover extra paperwork, might no longer be provided. For a business with about $10,000 in annual sales, that would mean receiving about $40 less from the vendor fee each year. For a business with about $45,000 in annual sales, the difference would be about $1,800 a year.
Why This Change Is Being Considered
One reason for considering this change is to be more business-friendly by simplifying reporting requirements. Businesses would no longer file separate sales tax reports to both the City and the State, reducing their paperwork and administrative burden. If the vendor fee were reduced or eliminated, approximately $400,000 could remain in the City’s budget each year. The goal is to explore whether this change could keep the sales tax process fair and efficient while ensuring more tax dollars work for the entire community, not just a few large businesses.
These local dollars could be reinvested through an Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to support local businesses, improve public spaces for a more inviting downtown, and attract new businesses and events to Gunnison.
facebook.com/CityofGunnison
What Is an EDC?
An Economic Development Corporation is an independent nonprofit that works to strengthen the local economy.
Instead of the City hiring staff and running an economic development office, these funds could help a community-run nonprofit lead initiatives, apply for grants, and bring in investment.
EDCs help existing businesses grow, attract new employers, and support entrepreneurs. Many thriving communities in Colorado, including Salida, Montrose, and Delta, have EDCs that play a major role in their success.
In Gunnison’s case, the City could provide start-up funding, but the EDC would be guided by local business leaders and community members, not City Hall.
The initiative to establish an EDC was a key outcome of the recently adopted Economic Development Plan. The full work plan is available on the City’s website under the Economic Prosperity section.
Share Your Perspective
Your feedback is important to City Council and will inform decisions on the abovementioned changes.
You can share your thoughts by:
• Attending the City Council meeting on Tuesday, August 26th, 5:30 pm at City Hall, Council Chambers, 201 W. Virginia Avenue
• Emailing your input to: cityclerk@gunnisonco.gov
Learn more at www.gunnisonco.gov/EconProsperity.
Portions of Blue Mesa under toxic algae advisory
Throughout the summer, National Park Service staff sample and analyze the Blue Mesa Reservoir water for the presence of blue-green algae containing cyanotoxins. The latest testing revealed that concentrations of the harmful algae within the Iola Basin exceed safe public health exposure levels.
Harmful blue-green algae is common throughout Colorado. Algae can multiply rapidly to form blooms and scum, particularly in areas of shallow, warm water. Certain types of algal blooms can produce toxins called cyanotoxins, which can be harmful to humans and animals.
Toxins were recently found at North Willow East, on the east side of Sometimes Island. That
general location has been posted with warning signs. Due to shifting winds and currents, other areas in the Iola Basin of the reservoir may also contain these toxins, and notification signs have been distributed to heavily used visitor areas. The park staff advises the public to avoid locations with suspected algal mats in this area, and throughout the reservoir.
Use caution and avoid unnecessary exposure to reservoir water if fishing, boating or recreating. Until further notice, the park recommends that no one swims in, or drinks from, reservoir waters in the Iola Basin. Also, do not allow your pets to drink the water in that area. Contact medical care (doctor or
veterinarian) if, after exposure to the water, individuals or pets exhibit nausea, vomiting, digestive distress, breathing problems, seizure or unexplained illness.
All of Blue Mesa remains open to boating and fishing. Be sure to clean harvested fish with treated (potable) water. As always, remember to clean, drain and dry all boats and fishing gear.
Staff monitoring water quality continue to sample critical areas and are monitoring conditions. Check the park website for updates at nps.gov/cure.
(Source: National Park Service)
Gems from the BiBle WE ARE GOD BREATHED
The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
A researcher samples surface water near the Iola Basin of Blue Mesa Reservoir. (Courtesy National Park Service)
Bennet takes up-close look at GORP aims
Floats Gunnison River to explore impacts
Nathan Deal Special to the Times
(Reprinted with permission from The Daily Sentinel in Grand Junction, Colorado.)
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet spent his Monday morning floating the Gunnison River, joined by multiple county commissioners, Bureau of Land Management staffers and conservation organizations.
The trip gave Bennet the opportunity to experience the lands that would be protected by the GORP (Gunnison Outdoor Resources Protection) Act, bipartisan legislation championed by himself, fellow Democratic U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper and U.S. House Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-Grand Junction).
Bennet was joined on his river trip by former Delta County Commissioner Don Suppes, Gunnison County Commissioner Jonathan Houck, Delta County Administrator Robbie LeValley, BLM Deputy Southwest Director Rob Potts, BLM Gunnison Gorge River Ranger Rooster Barnhart, Western Slope Conservation Center Executive Director Hannah Stevens and Conservation Lands Foundation Southwest Associate Program Director Ben Katz. The Daily Sentinel tagged along as well.
The group departed from Pleasure Park Fishing on jet boats, winding more than four miles upstream through the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area courtesy of Pleasure Park guides.
On the bank of the Smith Fork tributary, Bennet listened to others in the group for their perspectives on the GORP Act, legislation Bennet hailed as being written entirely in western Colorado rather than Washington, D.C., through the work of the Gunnison Public Lands Initiative that brought together various community groups for their input.
The GORP Act is described as protecting more than 730,000 acres of public lands in western Colorado, featuring provisions to allow for recreational jet boating in Delta County as well as public access to the Gunnison Forks boat ramp, which is located on private property.
Suppes detailed some of the clashing between Delta County and Gunnison County leadership before they compromised
and found common ground (or waterways), such as securing jet boat permits for the Gunnison Forks Day Use Area that he called “critical” for the county’s economy.
“We get a lot of auxiliary uses, from search and rescue to BLM using it for their tree planning and for stocking fish and for picking up some stray sheep up here and bringing them back down. We felt a real need to find a way to permanently secure this. This was our best path forward to make that happen,” Suppes said.
“We’ve had a lot of people with influence, a lot of famous people and rich people come up here and they use this jet boat to get up here; they love to fish this. Jimmy Carter used to come do this every year. They spend money in Delta County ... This jet boat brings an incredible amount of money into the economy. If we lost this, it would be felt in the economic side of Delta County.”
The boat ramp provision would allow jet boat use to continue if there is permanent public access to the jet boat. Delta County has a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the jet boat operator, Gunnison River Expeditions, that says that, if Delta County helps them secure a continuation of their permit, the operator would transfer their river access point to the county.
The BLM has nearby boat ramp access to the North Fork River, but this ramp is difficult for the public to access and leads into choppy waters.
Houck spoke about how the GORP Act was born out of local conversations and compromises in order to best serve the area’s “world-class” lands and waterways. He vouched for the protection of these lands as leading to more recreational use that, as a result, turns more outsiders into public lands advocates.
“One of the first things in our first meeting talking about GORP was that in Gunnison County … all existing uses continue to be allowed. If there’s a trail or a type of use that’s allowed, it will continue to be allowed. If there’s a grazing permit there, they’ll be allowed to continue grazing there,” Houck said.
Boat ramp access
“We understand these lands. Guides and outfitters, our ag producers, people who are in timber and energy.... All these different parts that make up our community, we really understand the nuts and bolts of the interaction, but we never lost sight of the fact that,
continued from A4
though these lands are closest to people in our counties, these belong to every single person in the United States.”
LeValley spoke about the GORP Act’s provision that would ensure that lands around the area would not be used for oil and gas purposes.
“As we looked at some earlier legislation and some of the earlier areas that BLM had over the years, because they’re multiple use, we still rely on that energy. The real concern from the community as a whole was, ‘Do we have to have it all right in our backyard, especially when we think about all of the ag in all of Delta County?’ It does rely on some portion of there not being oil and gas everywhere,” LeValley said.
“We looked at this lower valley floor and withdrawal of those minerals with the BLM at the table as well. That’s what you see in that legislation now. Just like certainty with the jet boat, there’s certainty with that mineral withdrawal.”
Potts provided The Daily Sentinel with the BLM’s perspective on the aims of the GORP Act, expressing appreciation that the bureau was given a seat at the table in the legislation’s crafting.
“We just celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area. It’s a gem. I think many people consider this the best whitewater rafting and wilderness in the state of Colorado, which is saying a lot,” Potts said. “I’m glad we’ve got all these people here today to talk about all of that.”
Water resources
Stevens and Katz both brought a conservation perspective to the group.
“The water resources we want to protect are directly linked to our economic health and vitality and farming and ag. The fact that Delta and Gunnison counties have been working with stake-
holders for years is really a testament to how important these processes are with community involvement,” Stevens said.
“We’re happy about the mineral withdrawal. That would withdraw 123,000-ish acres from the North Fork watershed from oil and gas developments, including much of the valleys, BLM parcels and some roadless areas higher up in the watershed.”
Katz added: “Thanks to Delta County and Senator Bennet and his team for inviting the conversation and finding people who can sit down and find some consensus in collaboration for how we solve these problems, how we make sure this boat ramp remains public, how we make sure there’s certainty from people in the North Fork that the public lands around their private properties are not going to be developed for oil and gas.”
Once the conversation concluded, attendees hopped into rafts and floated back down the Gunnison River to Pleasure Park.
Back at Pleasure Park, Bennet spoke to The Daily Sentinel about what he had gotten out of this excursion.
“It’s a project that was developed from the ground up,” Bennet said. “The ability to be able to include these jet boats as part of it is so critical to the local economy. It would have made no sense for them to go away, but it could go away. If we can pass this legislation, that economic benefit will be preserved, because you had a group of people at the local level working together across party lines, across county lines, to do this work, also in partnership with the private sector. It’s a winwin-win that I think sets a great example for other efforts across the western United States.”
Bennet expressed hope that the GORP Act will be quick to pass in Congress because of its bipartisan support. He praised Hurd, who represents Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, for his support of the legislation and his commitment to sponsor the
bill in the House. Bennet said he invited Hurd to join along for this river trip, but Hurd was unable to attend.
He was asked how he would respond to the GORP Act’s detractors, such as former Colorado GOP Vice Chairwoman Hope Scheppelman, who’s running against Hurd in CD3. A major tenet of her campaign is calling the GORP Act a “federal land grab.”
“That’s the furthest thing from the truth. This proposal not only preserves existing uses but it’s making sure that this motorized use can stay, because otherwise, it’s not going to be able to stay probably. I understand there are people all over the world who have ideological commitments to not expand any public lands, but I don’t think that honors the best traditions of our parents and grandparents, no matter what political party they were in. They preserved all of this for us,” Bennet said.
“What the GORP Act does is, in a very bipartisan way, in a ground-up way, far from being a land grab from Washington, D.C., express that these lands should be protected in honor of our parents and grandparents, and also for our children and grandchildren, so we know they too will have the chance to float and fish this river. That’s much more important than partisan politics.”
(Nathan Deal is a staff writer at The Daily Sentinel in Grand Junction, Colorado.)
The group, including Sen. Michael Bennet, floated the Gunnison River on Monday while discussing the GORP (Gunnison Outdoor Resources Protection) Act. Gunnison County Commissioner Jonathan Houck was also part of the tour. (Photo by Nathan Deal/The Daily Sentinel)
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GUEST COMMENTARY
Area plan ignores impacts
Steve Westbay Special to the Times
On Aug. 7, Gunnison County held a public hearing regarding the proposed Special Area Regulations as part of the Gunnison Area Plan under joint development with the City of Gunnison. It is the most significant land use regulatory document considered in the past 30 years.
The proposed regulations essentially zone two geographic areas in proximity to the City of Gunnison (Hwy. 135 corridor and Dos Rios). Essential housing is the primary focus, but the county’s process ignores the urban sprawl consequences that will occur. The county is also ignoring service costs to residents and impacts to the government revenue streams.
No consideration is given to urban density impact. If passed, the Dos Rios area could grow by about 1,650 units, and the Hwy 135 corridor may increase by about 2,000 dwellings. Furthermore, subdivision applications will be processed by “administrative review,” a lower regulatory standard which negates public input into very sig-
LETTERS
Successful pledge drive
Editor:
LETTERS POLICY
Letters to the editor must be 500 words or less. We favor local topics and discourage argumentative letters addressed to particular people. If you reference data, please include sources for fact-checking.
We will not print letters from candidates for public office.
Email letters to editor@gunnisontimes.com or send to 218 N. Wisconsin St., Gunnison, CO 81230. Include your full name, address and a phone number — for our internal use only.
The deadline is Tuesday at 12 p.m. Letters may be edited for grammar, clarity or length.
nificant future land use decisions. Degradation of the regional transportation system function is a given. Hwy. 50 experiences very significant traffic demand, and the traffic generated in the south development (Dos Rios) area could be 16,500 daily trips. During high traffic hours, the Gold Basin Road intersection will be extremely congested and not safe. Furthermore, our county leaders give no consideration that Gold Basin has one way in and out, which is less than ideal for public safety reasons. County leadership is trading the community’s health, safety and welfare for the sake of streamlining development review and accommodating essential housing.
So, what drives the need to double the housing units in the City of Gunnison ThreeMile Plan area? The answer is that very little future demand is anticipated. Based on the State’s growth projections, population and economic growth in Gunnison County will be stagnant for the next quarter century. Growth rates in the next 25 years will be about 120 people per year. Developable land in the Gunnison city boundary can easily accommodate the necessary dwelling units without promoting sprawl and traffic congestion in the county. Jobs in Gunnison County will be stagnant for the next quarter century. State projections estimate about 56 new jobs per year for the next 25 years.
Habitat and environmental
detriments to the Dos Rios area are probable. Dos Rios is critical winter habitat for deer. Osprey nest in the neighborhood and it’s designated as Gunnison Sage grouse habitat. Dos Rios has low-density levels because it is a high-groundwater area and large riparian habitat with jurisdictional wetlands. The planning does not account for urban stormwater impacts and water quality degradation to Tomichi Creek and the Gunnison River.
Fiscal impacts and staffing capacity strains are a real possibility. Regulations also include very complex architectural design standards to burden future essential housing development. No details are provided for water services, fire flow demand and sewer delivery capacities. Law enforcement and emergency services will be further strained. There is no consideration for domestic animal control. Future roads will be a mess during snow events, because the regulations reduce off-street parking standards and there will be no way to plow and store snow when cars are parked on the street. Property taxes are not sufficient to provide necessary services for sprawling urbanization. Utility services are structured to support operations and capital funding for system upgrades, but they ignore customer costs. Future debts to support increased facility needs are probable, and citizens in the proposed service areas will be strapped with
increased rates to pay down debt incurred.
Proposed regulations are modeled to support essential housing goals of Gunnison County. They do little to manage growth, enhance community character, or protect natural resources. These regulations promote sprawl and will reduce government services delivery. The resulting development will add units for second homeowners, but they will do little for housing affordability.
It’s also sad that the county leaders choose to promote the plan as a positive action without describing the true impacts of this regulatory proposal or listening to citizen concerns.
(Steve Westbay is a resident of Dos Rios. He is a former development director for Mt. Crested Butte, City of Gunnison, Teton County Wyoming and the U.S. Air Force Academy.)
With immense gratitude, KBUT Community Radio is proud to share that our 2025 summer pledge drive was the most successful fundraising campaign in our history. We set an ambitious goal of $95,000 and surpassed it in just eight days. By the end of the 12-day drive, our community had contributed more than $155,000 — and pledges are still coming in.
This success was truly a community effort: 670 individuals pledged their support, more than 50 DJs and all nine board members played music and contributed to on-air fundraising, more than 10 volunteers answered phones, and 18 local food-heroes donated meals for our crew. It was a powerful reminder that KBUT is community radio — by the people, for the people.
While we celebrate this achievement, we also face new challenges. Congress has ended support for all public media, resulting in an unexpected $180,000 shortfall for KBUT in the upcoming fiscal year. Thanks to the summer pledge
drive, we have already reduced that gap by about $60,000.
The message from the Gunnison Valley is clear: KBUT matters, and together, we will keep it strong.
KBUT team Crested Butte
Special session disrespects rural Coloradans
(Editor’s note: This is an open letter signed by 12 members of the Colorado legislature representing rural districts.)
Editor:
As rural legislators, we are deeply disappointed by Governor Polis’ decision to call a special legislative session during the Colorado State Fair — one of the most meaningful events for rural communities across our state.
This week is a time to honor the people who feed Colorado, power our economy and represent the values that make our state strong. It is a proud and important moment for rural Colorado, marked not only by the State Fair, but also by long-
standing traditions such as the Centennial Farms celebration and the Legislative Barbecue. These events recognize the hard work and deep roots of the families and workers who make Colorado thrive.
We have heard talk of a special session for nearly six weeks, plenty of time to coordinate a schedule that would not trample on rural participation. But alas, rural Coloradans and our Western way of life have once again been set aside and ignored.
By scheduling a special session during this time, the governor has shown how disconnected his priorities are from the people who do God’s work on God’s land. Rural Colorado deserves respect, not political theater that pulls us away from our communities during one of the most important weeks of the year. We urge the governor to consider the impact of his decisions on every corner of the state — not just the Front Range.
Marc Catlin, SD5 Larry Don Sukla, HD58
Spark the Arts
Editor:
After two decades of traveling, teaching, exhibiting and building community around the world, I’ve landed in Gunnison, which has proven to be a gift that keeps giving. One of the greatest treasures I have discovered here? The Gunnison Arts Center.
A true community space created by the people for the people. Not every town is lucky enough to have such a place, and after three years of renovations by Chris Klein Construction, our doors are open wider than ever.
Today the GAC is buzzing with concerts, exhibitions, art jams, cooking classes and countless ways to connect. Our dedicated staff and board are working hard to keep that momentum going — and now we need your help.
This week we launched Spark the Arts, a one-month campaign to fund our operations and ignite the next 40 years of creativity. Whether you’ve been part of the GAC story from the
beginning or have yet to step inside, this is your invitation to visit, become a member and help secure its future.
Arts centers like ours are more than buildings — they are beacons of connection, creativity and community health. Art is not just an artifact or a completed composition — it is a way of life, imbued with curiosity, flexibility and a source for innovation.
Let’s keep the GAC shining for generations to come!
Amanda Sage Gunnison
Kudos for integrity
Editor:
You find out a lot about the character and integrity of folks when you are completely reliant on them to get home safely. I was fortunate enough to experience the integrity and excellence of two Gunnison businesses when my truck died just below the summit of Monarch Pass on my way to visit family and friends in Lake City. Given that the incident was right before the Fourth of July holiday and I was pulling a large RV, I expected to be screwed. I was not.
Despite being 260 miles from home, I was treated like a local resident by Precision Automotive and H&H Towing. Both not only did fantastic work getting me to my holiday plans, but getting myself and my family back home safely, when I was realistically expecting to be raked over the coals.
I just wanted to take the time to publicly thank both for their business ethics and Colorado family-style integrity.
Brian M. Mayo Arvada
Mental health progress a team effort
Editor:
We are encouraged to see the recent decline in suicides in Gunnison County and grateful for every individual, organization, and volunteer who has contributed to this progress. While there is still much work to do, this decrease is a sign that coordinated, sustained efforts can save lives.
The recent Gunnison Country Times article from Dave Pinkerton highlights the contributions of WeCareGunny.com and other faith-based initiatives, and we agree that spirituality can play an important role in supporting individuals experiencing mental health challenges. It is also important to recognize that this progress reflects the cumulative impact of many community-based organizations, leaders and volunteers working together for years to reduce stigma, foster hope and bring people together for meaningful conversations. These efforts have included grassroots initiatives targeted at those most at risk, peer support networks, school-based prevention programs, community edu-
cation and expanded access to behavioral health resources.
However, the article does not mention the work of the Gunnison Valley Health Mobile Crisis Team, which for the past four years has provided 24/7 in-person response to approximately 500 community members experiencing a mental health crisis. Nor does it acknowledge the tremendous work taking place daily in the Gunnison Valley Health Emergency Department, where staff care for individuals in acute mental health or addiction crises and connect them to ongoing support.
The progress our community is seeing today is the result of a collective effort — nonprofits, healthcare providers, first responders, educators, faith leaders, local government and community members — each bringing unique strengths to a shared mission. This is not the accomplishment of any one approach, but rather a testament to what can happen when an entire community commits to working side by side to prevent suicide and promote wellbeing.
Gunnison Valley Health remains committed to building on this momentum, continuing to expand access to mental health services and ensuring that every person in Gunnison County knows they are not alone and that help is available.
Jenny Birnie Kimberly Behounek Gunnison Valley Health
Biblical Citizenship defense
Editor:
Thanks for printing the letter last week denouncing the Biblical Citizenship curriculum we are offering. I appreciate the open door the author provided.
Christian Nationalism is not what the Biblical Citizenship program is about, because that proposes the establishment of a theocracy in America — one religion for the entire country.
We thank the author for putting us in some mighty fine company who have been similarly falsely accused of Christian Nationalism.
When the Biblical Citizenship program is viewed in its entirety, and in context, participants find stated in the workbook that the founders “were trying to prevent a national denomination from being forced upon the citizens. None of their comments reflected intent to separate religious principles from government or from the public square. Just the opposite: They wanted to foster free expression, not political oppression.”
They did not want any specific faith to be the law of the land, but they often wisely spoke and wrote of the value of JudeoChristian biblical concepts and reliance on God as the foundation of our new nation.
Yes, horrific things happened in Bible stories when mankind went against the precepts of God. I used to think the Old
Testament was boring and only about God’s wrath. But we’ve learned that, just as a wise parent reacts when something threatens their child, God hates the deception of the enemy of our souls and knows what will give us better lives instead of the disastrous things we bring upon ourselves when we ignore His instructions.
The Jewish contributions to our world and American laws are many and undeniable. The video shows a Jewish rabbi saying, “I’ve found over the years that the only reliable matrix to reality is the biblical blueprint.”
For 27 years my husband and I have studied and now teach the Jewish origins of the church and the value of understanding the Jewish contributions to the world and our American founding. I have written adamantly against antisemitism, for which several members of our Jewish community have thanked me. We celebrate the Jewish feasts, and more, in the context of God’s Son being magnificently symbolized throughout the Bible. So, if the Biblical Citizenship course in any way diminished the significance of the Jewish people and faith, we would not be involved in offering it.
The author mentions Jubilee, which is every 50 years. The Shemitah suggests a rest for the land and the people every seven years. American bankruptcy laws come directly from this seven-year remission notion — one of many significant ways the founders enshrined Jewish laws and Hebrew Old Testament concepts into our nation’s history and legal structure. Many founders were farmers who possibly observed this on-going biblical practice of rotating crops to allow the land to replenish its nutrients.
With joy we appreciate the patriotism of our forefathers. Many Americans take for granted the level of their devotion for the cause of freedom. Biblical Citizenship classes foster a renewed appreciation for what they started and is worth proclaiming.
Fae Davidson Gunnison
Reasons to support GAC
Editor:
Here are 10 reasons the Gunnison Arts Center is good for the community:
1. Creates goodwill.
2. Good for kids.
3. Enhances the tax base.
4. Nurtures creativity.
5. Grows tourism.
6. Builds community and belonging.
7. Provides a place to do art.
8. Contributes to civic life.
9. Shapes community identity.
10. Promotes wellbeing.
David Klingsmith Gunnison
Transportation impact fee request stalls at Gunnison city council
GUC expands winter flights, begins airport master planning
Alex McCrindle Times Associate Editor
After months of discussion, the Gunnison City Council decided not to move forward with the implementation of Rural Transportation Authority (RTA) impact fees on future developments at an Aug. 12 meeting.
The decision comes after the RTA board suggested local jurisdictions decide whether to implement RTA impact fees to support transit infrastructure and future developments, such as bus stops and park-and-ride lots.
Transit impact fees were
Mesa from A1
Board (CWCB) that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is once again considering emergency releases from Blue Mesa Reservoir in 2026 to bolster falling water levels in Lake Powell.
According to drought.gov, approximately 50% of Gunnison County is in “extreme” drought, compared to just 5% one month ago. Conditions in most of the remainder of the county are rated as “severe.” Precipitation for most of the county has been between 25% and 50% of normal for the past 30 days, with little immediate relief in sight.
Problems at Lake Powell CWCB representative Amy Ostdiek told commissioners she believes emergency releases will come from elsewhere in the Upper Basin this year, but couldn’t rule out the possibility that Blue Mesa would be included.
“We don't have any assurances about that, and there's no hard and fast formula or any kind of calculation that's used to determine which reservoir is used,” she said. “But we do know that Reclamation and all the upper division states would look at how much water is uncontracted, that is, how much water is available in each reservoir. Flaming Gorge happens to have a lot more.”
If current conditions persist, Lake Powell is projected to fall below the critical elevation of 3,525 feet above sea level in the spring of 2026. This would be the second time that has occurred since the reservoir filled in 1980. The other time happened in 2021, precipitating emergency releases from Blue Mesa Reservoir and Flaming Gorge and Navajo reservoirs totaling
first proposed by Crested Butte Mayor Ian Billick at a February 2025 RTA meeting, citing a growing need for transit upgrades amidst new North Valley housing developments such as Whetstone and Starview. Billick proposed a one-time charge on new developments, much like the fee home builders must pay to tap into a city’s pre-existing water or wastewater systems. The money would help the RTA accommodate the increased traffic and public transit demand.
At an Aug. 12 Gunnison City Council meeting, the council agreed that more details and legal analysis were needed before moving forward. Additionally, City Manager Amanda Wilson proposed that transit infrastructure could be better addressed through the city’s existing land development code.
180,000 acre-feet. An acre-foot is the volume of water that would cover one acre a foot deep.
As of Aug. 10, Blue Mesa was 61% full and is projected to end the year at 51% of its storage capacity — without any additional releases. Taylor Reservoir is forecasted to be at 65% of average capacity at the end of 2025.
The threshold of 3,525 feet at Lake Powell was agreed to in the Upper Basin Drought Response Operations Agreement as the trigger point for possible releases. The purpose is to prevent Lake Powell from dropping below 3,490 feet, known as “dead pool” — the point at which the Glen Canyon Dam can no longer generate electricity. Up to 5 million people across six western states depend on hydroelectric power from the dam.
Emergency releases in 2021 were controversial. Critics argued that federal authorities did not properly consult with Upper Basin water users prior to the decision and failed to account for impacts to local economies and communities. Further, many objected on the grounds that water managers had no way of measuring whether the extra water in fact reached Lake Powell.
“We need to make sure that as we move to the future, that that isn't happening the same way,” CWCB Commissioner Becky Mitchell told county commissioners. “There needs to be a more thoughtful effort taken by the federal government before they do things like that, and also that appropriate actions are taken in the Lower Basin before they look to the already shorted Upper Basin.”
To complicate matters, the 2007 agreement between upper and lower Colorado River Basin states that guides decisionmaking in the event of shortages is set to expire in 2026.
“Another way to consider this is through our land development code — as we're contemplating off-site improvements associated with planned unit developments,” Wilson said. “They're not fees associated with individual building permits. They're more encompassing and then the developer is paying for it, not general taxes associated with that development.”
Airport summer growth sparks new master plan
At an RTA board meeting on Aug. 8, the board heard a report from Airport Director Rick Lamport about an upcoming master planning process.
This summer, the GunnisonCrested Butte Regional Airport (GUC) reported record-breaking passenger numbers for June and July. June exceeded all-time highs by a large margin, while July exceeded 2022 numbers by a smaller number. Projected
numbers are also surging, as GUC anticipates a 27% increase for August and a 29% increase for September.
In the wake of the strong numbers, Lamport said the airport has completed its major goals outlined in the current master plan, spurring on a new plan that will be coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA will approve a passenger forecast, which will in turn determine what the airport’s needs are before approving an airport layout plan. The entire process is likely to take 14-18 months.
“The forecast is one of the first steps, and already looking at our enplanements, we're way ahead of the forecast that was done in 2015,” Lamport said.
GUC also expanded flights to Illinois for the winter season. United is scheduled to operate two flights per week to Chicago beginning Dec. 19,
with the exception of the four weeks in January. During the holiday season, inbound flights from Chicago will arrive Friday and Saturdays, and return on Saturday and Sunday. Flights will operate on the same pattern throughout February and March, and end on March 29. Like airplane travelers, RTA bus ridership also rose in June, with the RTA reporting a 5.6% increase. The board submitted three grant applications that would expand and modernize the bus fleet. While waiting on the approval process, three new buses — funded by past grants — are on the assembly line in Winnipeg, Canada, and expected to arrive in the Gunnison Valley by early 2026.
(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Negotiations are underway to overhaul how all the reservoirs in the Colorado River system are managed. The Colorado River Compact was agreed to in 1922 and set the amounts of water that upper basin states — Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico — and lower basin states — California, Nevada and Arizona — are entitled to receive.
That agreement has been managed on a “demand-driven” model, Mitchell told commissioners. In other words, releases to lower basin states have exceeded their compact allotments based on increasing demand for water. That has occurred even when the supply of water in any given year is limited by lack of precipitation.
In response to prolonged drought across the West that has lasted more than two decades, Upper Basin negotiators are pressing for a “supply-driven” plan for determining how much water is released from Lake
Powell and Lake Mead each year — based on what’s available, not just what’s needed downstream.
Algae in bloom
In a related presentation, commissioners heard from U.S. Geological Survey scientist Katie Walton-Day about ongoing research to understand and better predict blooms of toxic algae in Blue Mesa Reservoir. Technically, this doesn’t involve algae at all, but photosynthesizing organisms called cyanobacteria. Some types of these bacteria release toxins when they die. Nevertheless, researchers refer to spikes as harmful algal blooms (HAB).
Portions of Blue Mesa Reservoir were placed under an HAB advisory this week (see related story on A3). While studies are ongoing and all findings are inconclusive at this point, initial evidence suggests that water levels and temperature may be key drivers of the frequency and severity of
toxic blooms. Researchers aim to develop early warning systems to adequately inform reservoir users about potential hazards. However, water managers hope to use the information to help inform BOR decision-making about water releases from Blue Mesa. Lower water levels in late summer or early fall, when releases would likely take place, may contribute directly to algal blooms and pose health threats that should be taken into account, Mitchell said.
“We need to keep elevating what can be done, what's possible, where it's not possible,” Mitchell said. “Talk about the facts, what's happening on the ground in the Upper Basin and also what's happening on the ground in the Lower Basin that needs to change.”
(Alan Wartes can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or publisher@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Low water levels may contribute to the frequency and severity of harmful algal blooms.
Blue
Farm-to-table feast
On July 26, the Mountain Roots Food
and
held the
(Courtesy Mountain Roots Food Project)
Project
annual Feast in the Field celebration
fundraiser at Red Dog Ranch in the shadow of Whetstone Mountain near Crested Butte. The farm-to-table event was catered by Chef Matt Santor of Crested Butte Catering Co.
Stories and songs
The Gunnison Arts Center presented Local Vocals on Saturday Aug. 12. The concert, organized by Chris Coady, featured five local singer-songwriters — Sierra Joy, Rachel VanSlyke, Sam Heart, Alan Wartes and Coady. Each shared original songs and the stories behind them.
(Photos by Brionyi Coady and Issa Forrest)
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 has already been extended north by the City.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.
457 Ute Dr. (Arrowhead) MLS# 820145 $40,000 Beautiful, secluded 1 acre lot located on the north edge of the Arrowhead subdivision off of the main road. Bring your RV or plan to build your private mountain retreat on this sloped, nicely treed lot with plenty of wildflowers and wildlife to be seen. This subdivision is quaint community located on the Alpine Plateau Road and has quick access to the Arrowhead Lodge where you can enjoy food and drink on their outdoor patio along with occasional live music. Come discover what living in the Rockies is all about!
Top O’ the World Garden Club has awarded the Serrano family of 606 W. New York with Yard of the Week. Maria Serrano: “My mother and I love to garden. Every year we usually start planting in the spring in mid-April and from there we plant more flowers. We love seeing the flowers bloom every day. We have a bunch of plants from roses to dahlias, sunflowers, petunias and much more. We also have vegetables like zucchini, radish, cilantro, chili and more. Every morning, we water our plants and sometimes in the evening when needed. We also water our plants with what we call "potato water" which pretty much is if we have leftover potatoes that are about to go bad we cut up the potatoes and put them in a bucket with water and let that simmer for a couple of days. That gives us the best results in more flowers and they will grow faster. We usually do this a couple times a month. We also use deer repellent to keep the deer from eating our flowers every three months and it works great. During the winter we take the flower roots out. For example,we take the dahlias out and put them in a paper bag and store them. Every spring we replant them again. We love our garden so much and just go outside and see the flowers grow. Every day is a blessing to us.”
300 A Van Tuyl Cir. MLS#826711 $650,000 Modern 3-Bedroom, 2-Bath Townhome in Prime Location! Discover this stunning end-corner unit townhome, perfectly situated in the highly desirable Van Tuyl Village subdivision—one of Gunnison’s newest neighborhoods. This property offers the ideal blend of convenience, comfort, and style, making it perfect for homeowners or investors alike. Spacious Layout: This 3-bedroom, 2-bath townhome boasts an open-concept kitchen, living, and dining area—perfect for hosting gatherings and creating lasting memories. Attached 2-Car Garage: Enjoy the convenience of direct access to your home with ample parking and storage space. Equipped with stainless steel appliances and abundant cabinet storage, this kitchen is a chef’s dream. The large master bedroom features vaulted ceilings and southern exposure, with multiple windows filling the space with warm, natural light. Simplify your daily routine with a conveniently located laundry room upstairs. Nestled on the north side of town, this townhome is within walking distance of bus stops, banks, stores, restaurants, a recreation center, and the scenic Van Tuyl trails. The RTA bus stop is just steps away, offering free transportation to Crested Butte—a world-class playground only 30 minutes away. This property has been a rental since its purchase and comes with tenants in place until spring 2026, making it a
(Courtesy Top O’ The World Garden Club)
MILK
‘Rite of Passage’ aims to guide young boys
Mentors program funded by opioid settlement money
William Spicer Special to the Times
The Southwest Colorado Opioid Regional Council (SWCORC) recently announced $1.5 million in community grants, which will be used to support local-level programs focused on mitigating opioid abuse.
These grants represent the first step in the distribution of $880 million in settlement funds that the State of Colorado will receive over the next 18 years. The settlements are the result of a series of lawsuits against companies involved in the production and distribution of prescription opioids.
In its initial 2025-26 grant cycle, the council gave out ten awards to support programs in the areas of prevention and education, treatment, harm reduction, recovery and law enforcement. Local non-profit Gunnison Valley Mentors is one of the recipients.
Mentors was awarded $100,000 under the prevention and education category, which it will use to fund a new group mentoring program, called Rite of Passage. The program, which is already under way, serves at-risk youth, with a focus on behavioral change and personal growth.
Mentors Executive Director Tina McGuinness said the organization had been looking ahead at national trends, and saw that especially in urban areas there was a lot of group mentoring. Group mentoring focuses on serving a peer group of mentees together, based on concepts such as identity, belonging and agency.
Around the same time, Malcolm Boyce, one the organization’s PLUS mentors, had been matched with a new mentee.
“This mentee in particular fell through the cracks,” Boyce said, because he had become involved with the legal system, and was on probation. “He and I made some agreements and some behavioral contracts, and he just did phenomenal.”
Then, through Mentors, the opportunity arose for Boyce and his mentee to attend a national mentorship conference in Washington, DC. The conference included groups from places like Buffalo, DC and Philadelphia.
The conference included a separate youth program, which the mentee attended, and it had a profound impact on him, Boyce said.
“When he got back from DC, he wanted to mentor a kid. He said, ‘I want to give back. We’re not bad kids. We don’t need to be fixed. We just need skills and tools.’”
The experience convinced Boyce that the time was right to create a group mentoring program in Gunnison, and McGuinness agreed.
“I went to Tina about it, and she saw an opportunity with SWCORC and started grant writing,” Boyce said.
The initial group mentoring program is targeted at boys in the 7th and 8th grades.
“We’re providing a safe space to talk about what it’s like being a young boy coming up,” Boyce said, which ties back to the program’s name — Rite of Passage.
Even though Rite of Passage is a group program, each boy is still matched with their own individual mentor.
“We looked particularly for mentors with lived experience, and we were able to recruit some really high quality mentors,” Boyce said.
The group has been meeting weekly for several months now.
“Early on, we tied it to values,” Boyce said. “We saw a disconnect between the boys’ values and their actions.”
In the initial sessions, the boys came together with their individual values, and from there came up with a set of shared values, which they called their code of honor, Boyce said.
“Everything we do is to enhance these values that they’ve selected for themselves.”
An important aspect of the program is that it includes a clinical support component, McGuinness said. Many of the regular weekly meetings are facilitated by a behavioral health clinician. Sessions cover cognitive therapy, which focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors and dialectical therapy, which addresses emotional regulation and how to deal with intense emotions.
These meetings typically start out with everyone together in a group discussion, which is then followed by time devoted to one-on-one mentorship.
One benefit of the group work, McGuinness said, is that it allows the mentors to develop better skills to work with the boys individually.
Another key difference with the Rite of Passage program is that most of the mentees come from home environments where there are co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders, McGuinness said.
Most of them are past the experimental phase with drugs, and into usage patterns that can lead to addiction, McGuinness said. “If we can disrupt that pattern of usage, we know we can prevent addiction into the future.”
That’s what makes the program a strong fit with SWCORC’s goal of prevention and education. Overall, the idea is to be more intentional in terms of personal development, and to address the underlying reasons for behavioral issues.
As the boys mature and grow through the program, the goal is for them to become mentors themselves.
“These kids become credible messengers for the next peer group,” Boyce said. Once they become freshmen, the idea is to match them up with elementary school students, and put them in a position of leadership.
“I want to help out other kids,” one of the boys said. “Just because we do bad things doesn’t make us bad.”
(William Spicer is a Gunnison-based freelance writer.)
Mentors Rite of Passage program mentees participating in a group mentoring session. (Photo by William Spicer)
PEOPLE & HAPPENINGS
First Artists Roundtable Roundup
Join the Gunnison Creative District and the Blue Thunder Circle on Aug. 14 from 5:30–8:30 p.m. for an evening of art and community. There will be snacks, refreshments and art stations. Connect with fellow artists, creatives and community members.
Shamanic journeying
This ancient spiritual practice, still used by indigenous cultures around the world, brings deeper understanding and perspective in life. Barbara Haas (ShamanicSOULutions. com) teaches the basics, along with this month’s theme of messages from Ratatoskr, the squirrel on the Norse Tree of Life. Aug. 14 from 5:45-7:45 p.m. Sanctuary Somatics in Gunnison, $35.
High Octane arts and crafts festival
Shop handcrafted goods from regional artisans on Aug. 16 at Legion Park in Gunnison from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Items include pottery, jewelry, woodworks, pet paraphernalia, home goods/ décor, custom t-shirts, fly rods/ lures, wine, jelly, honey, macrame, fine art, stained glass, candles and more. There will also be face painting.
Lower Loop trail run
Contributions are welcome and scholarships are available. Call 970.209.9890.
Sage Grouse meeting
The next meeting of the Gunnison Basin Sage-Grouse Strategic Committee will be Aug. 20 at 10 a.m. via Zoom or in the planning commission meeting room at the Blackstock Government Center. For more information please visit Gunnisoncounty.org/187/ Gunnison-Basin-Sage-GrouseStrategic-Com.
Duane Vandenbushe at Taylor Park Reservoir
Taylor Park Marina is honored to host this historian and guest speaker on Aug. 20 at 5 p.m. (social starts at 4:15 p.m.). Discover the history of one of the most treasured and breathtaking locations in Colorado. RSVP at 970.641.2922.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Directed by Firebird Artistic Director Tristan Buss, this Shakespearean comedy is considered one of his greatest works. Showing at the Crested Butte Depot Aug. 23–24 at 6 p.m. and the Quigley Bandshell Aug. 30–31 at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. This production is free to the public and will have concessions and merchandise for sale. For ages 12 and up. Donations are welcome.
Our mission is to connect our community to resources, education, and free counseling scholarships to improve mental wellness, eliminate stigma, and lower the rate of suicide in the Gunnison Valley.
Better. Together.
Check out our new look. Learn more. Get involved.
8/4/1953 - 7/26/2025
The Crested Butte Mountain Runners are holding a run on Aug. 16 at 8 a.m. Distance is 8 miles on single track trail, dirt and paved roads. Meet at Gareth Roberts’ house at 12 Ruth Road, Crested Butte. For trail maps and further information please visit cbmountainrunners.org.
Biblical citizenship classes
Join us for Biblical Citizenship class on Aug. 19 at Almont Three Rivers Dance Hall from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $40 per person includes BBQ lunch, workbook with pre-printed notes and a video presentation. Go to PatriotAcademy.com for more info and to register. Homeschoolers can earn credit.
Gunnison County Democrats annual dinner
Join us on Aug. 24 from 4–9 p.m. Rally starts at the 4-way stop in Crested Butte, then dinner follows at Rainbow Park. Tickets are $60, $30 for anyone under 30 years old and $15 for kids. For tickets or more information, visit Gunnisondemocrats.org.
Call for play submissions
The Gunnison Valley Theatre Festival invites you to submit a short play to schughes@western.edu. The deadline is Aug. 16. Selected writers will receive $100.
GUNNISON ARTS CENTER BRIEFS
Painting with Karen
away with some new ideas, skills and inspiration.
Join artist Karen Hill Aug. 22 5:30–7:30 p.m. for a monthly painting session. Bring your own project and get helpful tips and guidance as you paint alongside her. It’s a space to explore your creativity, ask questions and connect with fellow artists.
Songwriting workshop
Drawing the figure
Join us in a figure drawing class on Aug. 28 from 5:30–8:30 p.m. This class features a live nude model. Whether you’re a beginner or brushing up on fundamentals, this class is a great way to connect your art with the human form. Tommi Perry A celebration to honor this lovely lady will be held at West Tomichi River Park on August 20 at 11:30 a.m.
Join singer-songwriter Chris Coady for his songwriting workshop on Aug. 23 from 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Whether you are just starting out or are already a seasoned writer and performer, you are guaranteed to come
Cup, and others to Taylor Park or the Alpine Tunnel, and only pause in town for a meal after a day on the trails. Maule said he is hopeful the gallery becomes one of the places that helps change this pattern. Its front doors open directly to Main Street, and invite those who would just ordinarily be passing through to take a short detour and peek inside. There, they will find a place where the modern day mixes with the past.
“I'm hoping that people take the time to see that we've got a different way of life here, and respect it a little more by slowing down … It'd be great if we could celebrate the small-town atmosphere that we all still hold on to,” Maule said.
Pitkin, founded in 1879, and is said to be Colorado's first mining camp west of the Continental Divide. It’s tucked in the folds of the Gunnison National Forest and is home to a year-round population of less than 100. Few of Pitkin’s original buildings still stand. The ones that remain have survived not only the long winters, but pressure from a surge in recreational tourism that swept through most of the region.
In 2024, the historic Pitkin Hotel and Bon-Ton Bistro reopened after extensive remodeling. Its new owners went through great lengths to preserve the building’s original look, and stepping through the entryway is like entering a time machine. The old, restored wooden walls of the Terrible Mountain Gallery have a similar effect.
Enthralled by the area’s rich mining history, Maule and longtime Pitkin resident Tom Gibb worked in tandem to maintain the building’s character during the art gallery’s construction. Where paintings now hang, Gibb found more than 30 bullet holes in the walls, relics from the bar brawls of the Wild West that likely occurred at the former saloon. The hand-made electric blue sign outfront, bearing the name Terrible Mountain, is an ode to the harsh conditions miners of the past faced as they extracted ore in hopes of making a personal fortune, Maule said.
While pulling out old lumber, Gibb also discovered a printed chalk signature by the famed American cowboy Jesse James,
dated 1867. While a valley historian could not fully confirm its authenticity, Gibb kept the old board. (Historical records show that James did work at Parlin sawmill on different occasions, but it is unclear if he was in the valley during that time period).
Gibb’s gnarled fingers, strung back together after a table saw accident years ago, are proof of his lifelong work in carpentry. He has an affinity for the artistry found within Pitkin’s aging buildings and owns multiple properties around town. Much of the lumber used to rebuild the walls of the gallery dates back to the 1800s. It was a delicate project he and Maule approached with care in an effort to preserve the fingerprint of the former building.
“The trick was: How much can you salvage? How much can you save? How much can you reuse? … The kind of work that goes into this building in this era is quite a lot different than the way we build things now. And I just thought it ought to look like it did once upon a time,” Gibb said.
The building, originally the W.R. Reese Saloon had “crankout,” canvas-covered hoops to create shade out front, and windows that stretched floor to ceiling. The saloon changed hands numerous times, and eventually became a restaurant known locally as the Wagon Wheel. Gibb purchased the property roughly a decade ago with plans to reopen a restaurant. As years passed, it turned into his shop. Then Maule showed up with a different vision in 2023.
“I said, ‘Well, I know where there's some wall space,’” Gibb said.
On a lazy August afternoon two weeks after the art gallery opening, the foot traffic had slowed. While the gallery piqued the interest of two bikers and a pair of seasonal cabin owners, many side-by-sides zipped past the gallery’s open doors. Maule stood at the front counter and gazed out the window.
“You can see it for yourself, they just drive right by,” Maule said. “It's a unique kind of thing that we're getting used to, and trying to figure out how we can get some of them in here and share this experience.”
Maule, formerly a professional mountain biker, discovered Pitkin by chance after spending years on the road with his wife. The pair, mesmerized by the
beauty of the place, found they could afford land and started a tree service. After living off-grid for a decade, Maule began creating art with the “environment as [his] purpose.” More than 100 of his pieces eventually turned into a body of multi-media work called “Arteries of the Earth,” displayed at the Gunnison Arts Center in 2023. The exhibition, which celebrated rivers through watercolor and woodwork, encouraged viewers to understand the importance of protecting wild places. Maule is optimistic the artwork inside the new gallery will do the same.
At Terrible Mountain, his pieces will hang alongside a rotation of work from other local artists. This month, oil painter Zach Bauer’s pieces adorn the walls in one exhibit, and Alex Tiberio in another. The paintings are reminiscent of places around the Gunnison Valley: clouds gathering over the mountains above Cataract Lake near Lake City; a skier racing through an aspen grove; the train tracks that run past the Alpine Tunnel; and sundown in the San Juan Mountains. The gallery also features the work of Feathered Horse, Gothic Mountain Jewelers, sculptor Codie Aljets, Menagerie Woodworking, Terra Forma Studios, Leather Sage and others.
In the summer of 2026, Maule will open the doors to the Headwaters Studio, a classroom designed to cater to the “next generation of artists and stewards.” With a busy schedule in mind, he plans to host watercolor field trips, alpine photography workshops and free children’s classes led by valley art teachers. There is also space for a planned “Art and Adventure” lecture series, and future events and film screenings. The hope is to tie the arts scene of Crested Butte, Gunnison and Pitkin together, he said.
The Terrible Mountain Gallery, located at 409 Main Street, is open seven days a week from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. through August and September. The hours will taper off once the snow flies, but Maule plans to host special events throughout the remainder of the year. The goal is to eventually stay open year-round.
(Bella Biondini is the former editor of the Gunnison Times and can be contacted at isabellaebiondini@gmail.com.)
The Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Terrible Mountain Gallery on July 18. (Courtesy Colt Maule)
Gallery from A1
Saturday strings
The Gunnison Library hosted a performance of the Chaski Quartet on Saturday, Aug. 9. Quartet members included Gunnison native Sarah Cranor (violin), Alejandro Gómez Guillén (violin), Han Dewan (viola) and Amy Huzjak (cello). Chaski is known for performing in Colorado Department of Corrections facilities for incarcerated individuals and prison staff.
Super storytime
Gunnison youngsters gathered at the Gunnison Library on Aug. 9 for Super Saturday Storytime. After a story, local musician Lizzy Plotkin led families on a songwriting excursion inspired by nature. Participants explored a variety of instruments and contributed to an original composition.
(Courtesy Ellen Davis/Gunnison County Libraries)
(Courtesy Ellen Davis/Gunnison County Libraries)
Two for one
On Aug. 8, Nu/Vista Federal Credit Union and Cimarron Wealth Management teamed up to host a Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event. Nu/Vista featured 5B’s BBQ and live music by Matthew Grant. Just next door Cimarron provided dessert with Spenny’s Ice Cream and the music of Evelyn Roper.
$3,200,000 MLS# 818987 4,232 S.F., exceptional home on 1.192 acres. 6 bedrooms and 5.5 baths, turnkey and furnished. Heated 1 car garage, Mudroom includes a laundry area. Wraparound deck with a hot tub overlooking Mt. Crested Butte. Gourmet kitchen with high-end stainless appliances, island & cozy breakfast nook
$349,900 MLS #824211 836 S.F. Cinnamon Teal Condo. All the amenities you need-it features 3 bedrooms, 1 and ½ baths, washer and dryer and a 1 car attached garage. This is a great place and location to get you settled into the mountains. Well maintained and ready for its new owner. The RTA bus is a short walk for easy transit in the City of Gunnison.
$649,000 MLS# 817474 Lovingly maintained 3 Bedroom 1 3/4 bath cabin on large corner lot in Pitkin! Sits back from the road on 5 city lots. Covered front deck, wood-burning stove, and hot tub. Attached 1 Car Garage, detached 1 car garage, and additional shop space. Zoned Commercial, trade in the front yard for income!
(Courtesy Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce)
BIZ CENTS Mountain Windows buys
former Taco Bell building
we work with people. This gives us the space to do that.”
Windows, Patrick purchased the company.
Alex McCrindle Times Associate Editor
The fast food industry has well and truly departed from the former Gunnison Taco Bell location.
Last month, Mountain Windows and Blinds purchased the building at 310 W. Tomichi, and is set to swap crunchwraps and chalupas for a windows, blinds and doors showroom and office. The building is expected to reopen this October, and will be the city’s first showroom of its kind.
“It’s pretty wild that the same four walls that I went with my friends for tacos as a teenager will now be the building where my family grows our business,” said Mountain Windows coowner Evangelyn Willrodt. “We want to add to this community as an employer, and in the way
Mountain Windows and Blinds currently operates out of a small Main Street office with additional storage space in South Gunnison. The company serves as a retailer for doors, blinds and windows and partners with local contractors and homeowners. In recent months, the business expanded beyond the Gunnison Valley and took on projects in Lake City, Buena Vista, Montrose and Salida.
“Our current office space is very small, especially for our team of five,” Evangelyn said. “So our vision for the new space is to include offices, and a big conference room where our contractors can meet directly with homeowners and with us.”
While Evangelyn was raised in the Gunnison Valley and graduated from the Crested Butte Community School nearly 20 years ago, her husband and co-owner Patrick Willrodt grew up around his family’s small business in South Dakota. The couple returned to the Gunnison Valley in 2019 and after six years working as a contractor with Mountain
Although the design of 310 W. Tomichi caters to fast food, Evangelyn said the building will not require an overhaul. The couple plans to integrate a conference room and office space into the layout, with most of the building serving as a showroom for partnering manufacturers, such as Marvin Windows, ProVia and Hunter Douglas blinds. Although an exact date has not been set, the couple estimates the new location will open its doors this fall.
“We’ve looked at a lot of different commercial spaces, but with a little creative vision, decided on [this location] because it’s a very large space, and right on Tomichi,” Evangelyn said. “There isn’t anywhere else in the valley where homeowners and contractors can get a hands-on idea of options for interior doors, windows and blinds.”
(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@ gunnisontimes.com.)
More than one way to get to school
Gunny Bike Bus an innovative solution for safe, healthy transport
Gia Wright Times Staff Writer
Riding a bike to school has been an iconic childhood tradition for generations of American kids. How to continue that legacy in a way that’s supervised and safe in today’s environment is a question that Jessica Eckhardt set out to answer.
Eckhardt is the mother of two young children, and the founder of the Gunny Bike Bus — a newly formed program that provides a supervised bike ride to school for students every Wednesday morning. The bike bus project is sponsored by the Gunnison PTA and funded by grants from the Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley and the Gunnison County Metropolitan Recreation District. The idea was inspired by bike bus programs in various urban communities like Portland, Boston and Minneapolis.
“There are over 200 bike bus programs across the nation, but they are mostly in urban places, you don’t see them as much in rural areas,” Eckhardt said.
“I thought to myself, people in Gunnison are outdoorsy, outgoing — this would be the perfect community to start a bike bus. I was interested in replicating the urban model but modifying it for rural community needs.”
The way the bike bus works is simple. It is essentially a mapped-out group bike ride for children pre-K through 12.
Each route will be supervised by two adult “bike captains,” who ensure that all of the children make it to school safely.
Participants don’t need to register or sign up beforehand.
Riders identify the route and pick up times on the group’s website and “get on” the bike bus by joining the procession, or by hopping on at one of the designated stops. Parents are required to accompany pre-K children, but children in elementary school and older who are able to ride independently can join without a parent. Parental involvement for students of any age is welcomed and encouraged.
“[There is] strong research that suggests exercising before school can boost academic performance,” said Eckhardt.
Courses for the Gunnison Valley
“It’s also safer biking in groups, especially for little kids. [The bike bus is] a way to alleviate parents' fears about children crossing the highways or biking to school themselves.”
The bike bus combines elements of community-building and socialization with a safe, healthy, supervised way to transport children to school. It is also a way to help alleviate some of the transportation issues the school district is experiencing, while instilling healthy habits in kids — on and off the bikes.
The Gunny Bike Bus will operate five routes serving various areas of Gunnison and will run its first route starting Sept. 3. It will be available every Wednesday morning through Thanksgiving and, after a hiatus during the winter months, will return in spring, weather permitting.
“This is our first year, so it’s in an experimental phase at the moment. We’d like to eventually grow beyond once per week and expand to include afterschool routes as well as some servicing to further outlying communities,” Eckhardt said.
The bike bus is currently looking for more adult volunteers interested in helping out with the program. Bike captains will be paid for their time
through grant funding.
“We want to pay people for their time and also make sure that we can offset [any missed income] for parents out there who would need to take time off work to volunteer. We want as many people who want to be able to participate to be able to do so,” Eckhardt said.
For more information about the bike bus or to get involved, visit gunnybikebus.com.
(Gia Wright can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or gia@gunnisontimes.com)
Children readying themselves for a bike ride to school. (Times archive)
you can focus on moving your business forward. teamspruceconsulting@gmail.com EMPLOYMENT
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
Lake - EA/Bilingual Family Liaison GES ELL EA
GES General EA
GCS Significant Support Needs EA
Substitute Teachers Food Service Bus Drivers
PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
CBSS - Math Intervention Teacher
GES - 3rd Grade Teacher
CBSS - .71 Gifted/Talented Teacher
District Psychologist
GCS - Special Education Teacher
COACHING
CBHS - .5 Asst. Cross Country Coach
GMS - 7th Grade Volleyball Coach
Please contact: Superintendent’s Office Kim Fuller 800 N. Boulevard 970-641-7760 kfuller@ gunnisonschools.net
GOLDEN EAGLE is looking for CDL and non-CDL drivers. Pay is based on experience. Call 970-641-3230. THE ADAPTIVE SPORTS CENTER is seeking qualified adaptive instructors to facilitate professional adaptive ski and snowboard activities for the 2025-26 Winter Season. Pay ranges from $23-$33/hour based on experience. Benefits include season pass, certification and membership dues, paid in-house training, paid sick leave, on mountain locker, pro forms, exam reimbursement, mental health program, 401(k) match, workers compensation, monthly stiped, complementary accident insurance, and professional development scholarship opportunities. More information and application are at https://www. adaptivesports.org/careers . Applications are due September 15 and offers may be made earlier for strong candidates.
THE CLUB AT CRESTED BUTTE is hiring the following part-time and full-time seasonal positions: Bartender, $16/hr. + gratuity; Servers, $16/hr. + gratuity; Market Attendants, $16/hr. + gratuity; Dishwasher, $21/hr. + gratuity. Employee benefits include employee discounts and complimentary golf. For more information or to apply, please visit theclubatcrestedbutte.com or email jobs@ clubatcrestedbutte.com.
INTERESTED IN A CAREER WITH BENEFITS? The Crested Butte Bank, a branch of the Gunnison Bank and Trust Company, has an opening for a full-time teller to join the operations side of our growing bank. Applicants should have strong customer service skills, the ability to multi-
GUNNISON COUNTY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Patrol Deputy Sheriff: Full-Time, 40 hours/week, the annual salary range is from $72,397.26 to $102,405.83 plus full benefits.
Take home vehicle & uniform allowance provided by the Sheriff’s Office.
Heavy Equipment Operator
Public Works: Full-Time, 40 hours/ week, hourly range from $23.60 to $31.69 plus full benefits.
Summer Seasonal Public Works: 40 hours/week, hourly range from $21.20 to $24.14, depending on experience, plus partial benefits.
Utility Water/Wastewater Operator
Public Works: 40 hours/week, hourly position; initial annual range from $57,900.78 to $65,921.56, depending on experience, plus full benefits.
Temporary Human Resources Coordinator
Human Resources: 40 hours/week, hourly range from $27.84 to $31.69, depending on experience, plus partial benefits.
For more information, including complete job descriptions, required qualifications and application instructions, please visit GunnisonCounty.org/jobs.
WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY
seeks applicants for the following full-time (40 hours/week), fully benefitted positions.
Benefits Eligibility: Medical, dental, vision, health care FSA, and dependent care FSA: All active employees working 40 or more hours per pay period are eligible for benefits on the first of the month following date of hire. PRN staff are not initially eligible for benefits.
Please visit our website for more indepth position descriptions, specific qualification requirements and to apply online at gunnisonvalleyhealth. org/careers or call HR for questions 970-641-1456. (PRN = as needed). All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a negative 10 panel drug screen test, criminal background check, reference checks, infection prevention procedures (TB test, Flu Shot, immunization records, etc.), physical capacity profile and acknowledgement of policies.
task, and a willingness to learn. GB&T fosters a learning environment where you will gain exposure to multiple areas of the bank with a strong foundation in operations. Pay starting at $20. Robust benefits package includes 401(k), medical insurance, vision insurance, life insurance and disability insurance (ST and LT). Pooled transportation is available. Send resume to abrown@crestedbuttebank. com or lbeda@gunnisonbank.com.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN TREES & LANDSCAPING hiring multiple positions for the remainder of our summer season. Come join a team who’s deeply rooted in the Gunnison valley. Visit rockymountaintrees. com/employment/ to view available positions.
THE MT. CRESTED BUTTE WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT is accepting applications for a full-time Wastewater Operator and/or Licensed Electrician to join a team responsible for operating and maintaining the wastewater treatment plant and collection system for the District. Entry-Level: Starting salary $53,100 to $59,500. A valid Colorado driver’s license is required, and a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is preferred at time of hire or must be obtained within one (1) year. A State of Colorado Collections and Wastewater license, or the ability to obtain both within one (1) year, is required (training material provided).
Experienced Operators or Licensed Electricians: Starting salary $59,500 to $75,000. Operators must meet entry-level qualifications and have experience in construction, field operations, lab analysis, and electrical/mechanical/maintenance repair.
Operators work a 4-day, 10-hour work schedule, participate in an on-call rotation, including select weekends and holidays. The District offers an excellent benefits package including the following: 100% employer-paid family health, dental, vision, disability and life insurance premiums, 12 paid holidays, paid
Western’s benefit package includes retirement and insurance plans (with generous employer contributions), 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!
Equipment Mechanic II: This position provides vehicle maintenance and repair of Western Colorado University and other State of Colorado vehicles. It also performs maintenance and repair of other campus equipment, maintains shop and inventory, and trains new fleet employees. Starting pay $26.44 per hour ($55,000 annually).
Project Planner I: This position manages all aspects of campus facility/operations projects, including analyzing cost and value, coordinating work with contractors, and ensuring that construction projects are executed according to Colorado codes and laws, Office of the State Architect processes, and institutional policies. Starting pay $36.06 per hour ($75,000 annually).
Security I: This position patrols campus grounds to identify safety hazards and verify safe conditions, responds to traffic/ parking violations, documents incidents/responses, and notifies local law enforcement (as needed). Starting pay rate $17.38/hour. This position is scheduled for night shifts (8:00pm – 6:00am) and is paid an additional 14% ($19.81/hour) for weeknights and 20% ($20.85/hour) for weekends.
To view the full job announcements and apply, visit western.edu/jobs and click on “View Careers” (EOE)
vacation, personal and sick leave, a wellness bonus, employer-provided uniforms, boots, personal protective equipment and a retirement plan with up to 8% employer match. To apply, please submit a 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 it is filled. Full job description available at mcbwsd.
OF
Responsible for the operation of the water supply, distribution, and storage systems. They also perform maintenance, repairs and construction of water distribution, sewer collection, irrigation and storm drain systems, installations, repairs, and testing on all water meters.
Emergency Communications Specialist
Full-Time, $56,900-$70,100/yr
$27.36-$33.70/hr
Performs public contact and communications duties necessary for the dispatching of all law enforcements agencies, emergency medical services, and fire departments for emergency and non-emergency situations.
Police Officer
Full-Time, $73,500-$90,700/yr
Performs technical, professional, and administrative duties related to maintaining the security of the City, protecting constitutional guarantees of all persons, protecting life and property, preserving public peace and order, reventing, solving and detecting crimes, facilitating the safe movement of people and vehicles, and other emergency services as needed. POST Certification not required. The City will pay for the Police Academy if needed and pay a cadet wage while attending the Academy. Includes a $15,000 hiring bonus.
Part-Time Openings
Instructors:
After-School
$18.61-$22.64/hr
Youth Soccer Coach: $18.61-$22.64/hr
Lifeguards: $23.00-$29.33/hr
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. Transitional, temporary housing may be available.
For more information, including complete job descriptions, benefit packages, required job qualifications and application instructions, please visit GunnisonCO.gov/HR.
To place a 25-word
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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. This is a full time, seasonal, exempt position mid November through early to mid April. Salary range is $23,000 - $31,000 based on experience; must work weekends, some holidays, occasional evenings; competitive benefits package including 401(k), paid time off, additional monthly stipend, season pass, ski/equipment locker, access to pro deals, professional licenses/certification reimbursements, mental health funding (estimated benefit value of an additional $9.52 - $11.00 per hour). Desired start date is November 10 or until the position is filled. To apply, submit a letter of interest, resume and references to Elizabeth Philbin, Assistant Program Director, elizabeth@ adaptivesports.org. Subject Line: “Winter Training Manager”. The Adaptive Sports Center is an inclusive organization and an Equal Opportunity Employer.
HEARTH DESIGN BUILD: Small local dynamic firm dedicated to community housing. Seeking passionate and driven individuals for carpentry & excavation work. hearthdesignbuild.org or hearthdesignbuild@gmail.com. 802-5959576.
SAGUACHE COUNTY LAND USE
DEPARTMENT is accepting applications for a full time Code Enforcement Officer position. Salary to be determined on experience starting at $42,000/year. Applicants must have a valid Colorado Drivers License, must pass a criminal background check as well as a pre-employment drug test.
The County Employee benefit package includes vision, dental and health insurance coverage, paid time off, and a generous 401k retirement plan. The employment application and job description can be found on HYPERLINK “http://www.saguachecounty.colorado.gov” www.saguachecounty.colorado.gov, picked up at the Saguache County Administration Office, 505 3rd Street, Saguache, CO or can be emailed to you, please contact April Quintana at 719-655-2231.
Completed applications can be hand delivered to the Saguache County Land Use Department, Attention Amber Wilson, 505 3rd Street, mailed to PO Box 326, Saguache, CO 81149 or emailed to HYPERLINK “mailto:atorrez@saguachecounty-co. gov” atorrez@saguachecounty-co.gov. Applications will be accepted until filled. Saguache County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
THE TOWN OF PITKIN is seeking a town attorney. Please submit proposals, including a fixed monthly rate and hourly rate for additional services, to thetownofpitkin@ gmail.com. Monthly requirements are typically 5-hours or less and include: - communicate with the Mayor and Clerk as needed - review/draft ordinances as needed - attend monthly meetings on the 3rd Monday of the month 7-9 p.m. (remote attendance is an option and preference will be given to someone who could travel to be at one meeting each quarter)
Additional work is billed at an hourly rate. Additional work hours have been typically minimal (2023 - 12.2 additional hours; 2024 - 18 additional hours; 2025 to date - 8.4 additional hours).
WEST ELK HOCKEY ASSOCIATION is hiring the following two part-time seasonal positions: Part-Time Youth Hockey Director: Responsible for overseeing all coaches and player development. Salary range $15$20,000 for the period 9/15/25—3/15/26. Part-Time Adult Hockey Coordinator: responsible for overseeing all adult leagues including schedules & officials. Salary range $7,500-$10,000 for the period 9/15/25— 3/15/26. Please apply with Cover Letter & Resume to coachbill@wehockey.org.
ID SCULPTURE
Contact your Local Newspaper or email: rtoledo@colopress net
environments.
IDS provides secure, year-round indoor and outdoor work in a unique fabrication environment with opportunity for travel and room for advancement. Benefits include 80 hrs. of PTO annually, (10) paid holidays annually, health/dental/life insurance and a matching 401(k). ID Sculpture is a PlayCore company and an equal opportunity employer. We are currently seeking:
Production Assistant(s):
Ideal candidates possess a positive attitude, good work ethic and are eager to learn. Applicants must have physical strength, hand-eye coordination and endurance. Initial responsibilities are to provide general labor and assist artists, fabricators and shipping departments as needed. Compensation is $22-$27/hr. DOE.
Project Fabricator(s):
Ideal candidates have construction trades experience (min 5 years), welding experience (structural certification preferred), steel fabrication (min 2 years preferred), the ability to work well with a team and a positive attitude. Responsibilities are to fabricate various components for standard and custom products using steel and a variety of other materials. Compensation is $26-$35/ hr. DOE.
Assistant CNC Operator: You’ll be working in a unique fabrication environment using cutting edge digital fabrication equipment. The ideal candidate will have a strong attention to detail, a desire to learn and the ability to work in a fast paced, highly coordinated environment.
Some CNC experience is preferred. Full time position with benefits, PTO and opportunities for growth. Compensation is $22-$28/hr. DOE.
To apply for this unique opportunity, A position application and full description is available at playcore.com/careers.
GUNNISON LIQUOR (The Ghost) is currently looking for part-time help. Nights and weekends a must. Employee discounts and paid time off. Pay DOE. Stop by with a resume. 603 W. Tomichi Ave., Gunnison.
GUNNISON COUNTY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION is currently seeking applications for a Billing Assistant I position. This is a full-time position that will be reporting to the Gunnison, Colorado, headquarters location. This position performs routine billing and customer account support functions under close supervision. This is an entry-level position that assists in producing, maintaining, and verifying the accuracy of member, billing, and capital credit records. Providing excellent customer service is required. The pay range is between $60,382 - $80,496 a year. Starting pay will be dependent on qualifications and experience and will be paid on an hourly basis. This position is eligible for overtime pay; however, overtime is seldom required. Upon meeting eligibility requirements this position offers health care benefits, retirement benefits, paid time off and paid scheduled holidays. To see the job description with a complete list of duties, and qualifications and to learn how to apply please see our website at: gcea. coop (about tab, careers section). Deadline to apply is August 18, 2025.
THE CLUB AT CRESTED BUTTE is hiring the following part-time and full-time Front Desk Attendant, $18-22/hr. Employee benefits include employee discounts and complimentary golf. For more information or to apply, please visit theclubatcrestedbutte. com or email jobs@clubatcrestedbutte.com.
THE TOWN OF CRESTED BUTTE is seeking a skilled Mechanic to join our Public Works team. This position performs maintenance and major repairs on a wide range of vehicles and equipment, including diesel, gas, and electric-powered systems. Responsibilities include diagnostics, preventative maintenance, welding, fabrication, equipment operation, and record keeping. 2+ years of experience in vehicle/ equipment repair required. This full-time, year-round role offers a competitive salary ($55,458-$80,406 DOQ) and a generous benefits package, including 100% employerpaid health coverage. The Town of Crested Butte is an equal employment opportunity employer. Please send your resume, cover letter, and application tojobs@crestedbutteco.gov.
READY FOR A CAREER CHANGE?
Consider a fresh start at Crested Butte Glass, and become the newest glazier to join the team. What’s a glazier?
Glazier: (noun) - A tradesperson responsible for cutting, installing, and removing glass. We are magicians at replacing fogged or broken window glass, and we are artists at creating beautiful glass shower enclosures. We have fun during mirror installations, we get to use somewhat-dangerous machinery in the shop, and we occasionally cut glass using fire! It’s a delicate job that requires a sturdy person, a fantastic work ethic, and an attention to detail. A basic knowledge of simple tools can really help, but we’ll provide all the guidance to train you the CBG way. We are a locally owned and operated business, so manners and gentlemanliness (or ladylikeness) go a long way; but so does a good sense of humor! If you are ambitious and eager, let’s chat! We have (too much!) steady work and plenty of nice people around who need our help. We don’t discriminate, but a clean driving record and fluent English are definitely required. Debe hablar ingles fluido, sin excepciones.
Fun fact: CBG is actually located in Gunnison, but if you live in either town, or somewhere nearby, coordinating schedules is possible. Basically, we are looking for a friendly, trainable person who has a longterm vision of a career with us. We work long days Monday-Thursday, and enjoy 3-day weekends regularly. Pay DOE. We invite you to explore this opportunity. All interested individuals who make contact with us will be considered, and followed up with, whether they make the cut or not. We value good communication and follow through. Please send resumes and inquiries to: jaime@crestedbutteglass.com.
THE TOWN OF CRESTED BUTTE is seeking an experienced Finance and Administrative Services Director. This fulltime, year-round role offers a competitive salary ($116K–$142K DOQ) and a generous benefits package, including 100% employerpaid health coverage. If you have a strong background in financial management, budgeting, and leadership—and a passion for serving your community—apply today. Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a closely related field required. MBA and CPA preferred. Minimum of ten years of professional experience, including at least five years of directly relevant work in an accounting or financial management position. Government accounting experience is preferred. The Town of Crested Butte is an equal employment opportunity employer. Please send your resume, cover letter, and application to jobs@crestedbutte-co.gov.
MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN: Crested Yeti Property Management is hiring for a Maintenance Technician. Full-time yearround position. Benefits include IRA match, ski pass, PTO, paid personal fuel, and use of company truck during work hours. Duties include driving bobcat for snow removal, general maintenance, and mowing on a riding mower. $29 per hour. Send resume to Hop@CrestedYeti.com.
NOTICE
HOME SCHOOL STUDENTS:
The parent or guardian of a resident student who will be participating in a home schooling program for the 2025-26 school year must submit in writing to the superintendent the name, age, residence, and hours of instruction at least 14 days before starting the program in the first year and each subsequent year. Home school packets may be found on the GWSD district website. gunnisonschools.net/families-students/ homeschool
REAL ESTATE
FLAT LAND FOR LEASE AVAILABLE IN GUNNISON: Easy access - call Geoff 978473-9256.
FOR LEASE: The newly renovated mall building located at 123 W.Tomichi Ave. Gunnison. $850/mo. Includes utilities. Contact 720-308-8239.
ARTIST STUDIO SPACE: Please see beautiful artist studio spaces at 235 Off Main studios in the rear alley. $250 monthly. Fireplace. Open gallery area. Private office $300+utilities monthly. Call Paul 970-7109604 or Lishka 847-769-7800.
PRIME GROUND FLOOR RETAIL SPACE Next to City Market in Gunnison - 1,500 sqft of prime ground floor retail space available in the Meadows Mall next to City Market in Gunnison - Huge parking lot, tons of foot traffic, excellent 135 highway visibility - For more information, call Jordon Ringel at 817733-6947 or visit GunnisonMeadows.com.
Legals
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
Call for Nominations for School Directors Gunnison Watershed School District Gunnison County, Colorado
The Gunnison Watershed School District in the County of Gunnison, State of Colorado, calls for the nomination of candidates for school directors to be placed on the ballot for the regular biennial school election to be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
At this election, one director will be elected representing South of Round Mountain for a term of office of four years, and one director will be elected representing North of Round Mountain for a term of office of four years. To be qualified, a candidate must have been a registered elector of the school district for at least 12 consecutive months before the election. A person is ineligible to run for school director if he or she has been convicted of committing a sexual offense against a child.
A person who desires to be a candidate for school director shall file a written notice of intention to be a candidate and a nomination petition signed by at least 50 eligible electors who are registered to vote in the regular biennial school election.
Nomination petitions may be obtained beginning August 6, 2025, from Kim Fuller, Designated Election Official. Completed petitions shall be submitted to Kim Fuller no later than 3:30 pm on August 29, 2025. Office hours are 8:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Petitions may be obtained and submitted to the following locations:
August 6th – August 15th at Gunnison High School Counseling Office, 800 W. Ohio St., Gunnison, CO. 81230 August 18th – August 29th at the GWSD District Office, 800. N. Boulevard St., Gunnison, CO. 81230
Gunnison Country Times
Gunnison, Colorado
Publication dates of July 24, 31 and August 7, 14, 21, 28, 2025
18056
NOTICE OF BUDGET
NOTICE CONCERNING THE AMENDED BUDGET OF NORTH FORK AMBULANCE HEALTH SERVICE DISTRICT
NOTICE is hereby given that an amended budget has been submitted to the Board of Directors of North Fork Ambulance Health Service District for the year 2025; that copies of this proposed budget have been filed in the office of the District at 110 E Hotchkiss Ave, Hotchkiss, Colorado, where the same is open for public inspection; and that such amended budget will be considered at a public hearing of the Board of Directors of the District to be held at 110 E Hotchkiss Ave, Hotchkiss, Colorado on Wednesday August 20, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. Any elector within the District may, at any time prior to the final adoption of the budget, inspect the budget and file or register any objections thereto.
NORTH FORK AMBULANCE HEALTH SERVICE DISTRICT
By: Diane Perry Secretary to the Board
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication date of August 14, 2025 18230
NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT
NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT CITY OF GUNNISON N 12TH ST MILL OVERLAY REBID 24-35
NOTICE is hereby given that on or after August 28, 2025, final settlement will be made with PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE SERVICES, INC., PO BOX 1228, SALIDA, CO 81201, by the CITY OF GUNNISON, 201 W. VIRGINIA AVE, GUNNISON, CO 81230, on a contract for labor and materials for a project known as 12th ST MILL OVERLAY REBID 24-35, IN GUNNISON COUNTY, COLORADO. Any person, co-partnership, company, association of persons, or corporation who has an unpaid claim against PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE SERVICES, INC., or its subcontractors, for labor and materials, may, at any time, up to closing of business on the last work day prior to final settlement, that is, by August 25, 2025, at 4:30 p.m., file a verified statement of the amount due with JACKIE JOHNSON, PROCUREMENT, CONTRACTS & GRANTS ADMINISTRATOR, 201 W VIRGINIA AVE, PO BOX 239, GUNNISON, CO 81230, email jjohnson@gunnisonco.gov pursuant to C.R.S. 38-26-107, as amended. Failure on the part of the Claimant to make such verified statement, prior to the final settlement date, on the contract with
DISH Satellite
JACUZZI BATH REMODEL Inogen
DIVISION 5 WATER COURT- JULY 2025 RESUME
WATER RESUME
(This publication can be viewed in its entirety on the Colorado State Judicial website at: www.coloradojudicial.gov).
10. PURSUANT TO C.R.S., §37-92-302, AS AMENDED, YOU ARE NOTIFIED THAT THE FOLLOWING PAGES COMPRISE A RESUME OF THE APPLICATIONS AND AMENDED APPLICATIONS FILED WITH THE WATER CLERK FOR WATER DIVISION 5 DURING THE MONTH OF JULY 2025. The water right claimed by this application may affect in priority any water right claimed or heretofore adjudicated within this division and owners of affected rights must appear to object and protest within the time provided by statute or be forever barred.
25CW3119 PITKIN COUNTY. CRYSTAL RIVER OR ITS TRIBUTARIES. Crystal Basin Holdings, LLC, c/o Corona Water Law, 218 E. Valley Road #104 PMB 166, Carbondale, CO 91623, (970) 948-6523, cc@craigcoronalaw.com.
APPLICATION FOR FINDING OF REASONABLE DILIGENCE AND TO MAKE ABSOLUTE. Structure: Upper Coal Creek Diversion. Original decree: 3/27/12. Case No.: 06CW278. Division 5 Water Court. Diligence decree: 18CW3035, 7/7/19. Legal description: SE SE S10, T10S R89W 6th P.M.; 1,075 feet from South section line, 1,100 feet from East section line. Source: Coal Creek, tributary to the Crystal, Roaring Fork, and Colorado Rivers. Appropriation date: 12/6/04. Use: fill and refill Coal Creek Augmentation Pond Amount: 3.0 c.f.s., conditional. Work toward completion of the appropriation is included with the Application. Structure: Lower Coal Creek Diversion. Original decree: 3/27/12. Case No.: 06CW278. Division 5 Water Court. Diligence decree: 18CW3035, 7/7/19/ Legal description: SE SE S10, T10S R89W 6th P.M.; 1,100 feet from South section line, 765 feet from East section line. Source: Coal Creek, tributary to Crystal, Roaring Fork, and Colorado Rivers. Appropriation date:12/6/04. Use: fill and refill Coal Creek Pond No. 1, Coal Creek Pond No. 2, and Coal Creek Overlook Pond. Amount: 3.0 c.f.s., conditional. Work towards the completion of the appropriation is included with the Application. Absolute claim: Date: June 9, 2020. Amount: 3.0 c.f.s. Use: fill and refill Coal Creek Pond No. 2. Place of use: Crystal Basin Holdings, LLC’s property. Amount remaining conditional: 3.0 c.f.s. for filling and refilling Coal Creek Pond No. 1 and Coal Creek Overlook Pond. Structure: Upper South Dutch Creek Diversion. Original decree: 3/27/12. Case No.: 06CW278. Division 5 Water Court. Diligence decree: 18CW3035, 7/7/19. Legal description: NW NW S15 T10S R89W 6th P.M.; 610 feet from North section line, 480 feet from West section line. Source: Unnamed tributary to Dutch Creek, tributary to Coal Creek, the Crystal, Roaring Fork, and Colorado Rivers. Appropriation date:12/6/04. Use: fill and refill Lamphouse Pond. Amount: 3.0 c.f.s., conditional. Work towards the completion of the appropriation is included with the Application. Structure: Lower South Dutch Creek Diversion. Original decree: 3/27/12. Case No.: 06CW278. Division 5 Water Court. Diligence decree: 18CW3035, 7/7/19. Legal description: NW NW S15, T10S R89W, 6th P.M.; 420 feet from North section line, 730 feet from West section line. Source: Unnamed tributary to Dutch Creek, tributary to Coal Creek the Crystal, Roaring Fork, and Colorado Rivers. Appropriation date:12/6/04. Use: To fill and refill Dutch Creek Pond No. 1. Amount: 3.0 c.f.s., conditional. Work towards the completion of the appropriation is included with the Application. Structure: Upper Dutch Creek Diversion. Original decree: 3/27/12. Case No.: 06CW278. Division 5 Water Court. Diligence decree: 18CW3035, 7/7/19. Legal description: NE NW S15, T10S R89W, 6th P.M.; 340 feet from North section line, 2,300 feet from East section line. Source: Dutch Creek, tributary to Coal Creek, the Crystal, Roaring Fork, and Colorado Rivers. Appropriation date:12/6/04. Use: fill and refill Dutch Creek Pond No. 2. Amount: 3.0 c.f.s., conditional. Work towards completion of the appropriation is included with the Application. Structure: Lower Dutch Creek Diversion. Original decree: 3/27/12. Case No.: 06CW278. Division 5 Water Court. Diligence decree: 18CW3035, 7/7/19. Legal description: NE NE S15 T10S R89W 6th P.M.; 480 feet from North section line, 420 feet from East section line. Source: Dutch Creek, tributary to Coal Creek, the Crystal, Roaring Fork, and Colorado Rivers. Appropriation date:12/6/04. Use: fill and refill Dutch Creek Pond No. 3. Amount: 3.0 c.f.s., conditional. Work towards completion of the appropriation was included with the Application. Structure: Coal Creek Pond No. 1. Original decree: 3/27/12. Case No.: 06CW278. Division 5 Water Court. Diligence decree: 18CW3035, 7/7/19. Legal description: SW SW S11 T10S R89W 6th P.M.; 1,060 feet from South section line, 590 feet from West section line. Coal Creek Pond No. 1 will be filled and refilled by the Lower Coal Creek Diversion Source: Coal Creek, tributary to the Crystal, Roaring Fork, and Colorado Rivers. Appropriation date: 12/6/04. Uses: Irrigation, firefighting, piscatorial, recreational, aesthetic, and wildlife watering. Amount: 15-acre feet, conditional, to be filled and refilled in-priority Diversion rate: 3.0 c.f.s., conditional. Work towards completion of the appropriation was included with the Application. Structure: Coal Creek Pond No. 2. Original decree: 3/27/12. Case No.: 06CW278. Division 5 Water Court. Diligence decree: 18CW3035, 7/7/19. Legal description: SW SW S11, T10S R89W, 6th P.M.; 990 feet from South section line, 250 feet from West section line. Coal Creek Pond No. 2 is filled and refilled by the Lower Coal Creek Diversion Source: Coal Creek, tributary to the Crystal, Roaring Fork, and Colorado Rivers. Appropriation date: 12/6/04. Uses: Irrigation, firefighting, piscatorial, aesthetic, wildlife propagation, and recreational. Amount: 25 AF, conditional, to be filled and refilled in-priority. Diversion rate: 3.0 c.f.s., conditional. Work towards completion of the appropriation was included with the Application. Claim to make absolute: Date: Coal Creek Pond No. 2 was initially filled June 9, 2020. Amount: 8.4 AF. Surface area: 1.2 acres Uses: Irrigation, firefighting, piscatorial, aesthetic, wildlife propagation, and recreational. Place of use: Crystal Basin Holdings, LLC’s property. Amount remaining conditional: 16.6 AF. Structure: Coal Creek Augmentation Pond. Original decree: 3/27/12. Case No.: 06CW278. Division 5 Water Court. Diligence decree: 18CW3035, 7/7/19. Legal description: SE SE S10 T10S R89W, 6th P.M.; 1,220 feet from South section line, 500 feet from East section line. Coal Creek Augmentation Pond will be filled and refilled by the Upper Coal Creek Diversion. Source: Coal Creek, tributary to the Crystal, Roaring Fork, and Colorado Rivers. Appropriation date: 12/6/04. Uses: Irrigation, augmentation, firefighting, piscatorial, aesthetic, wildlife watering and recreational. Amount: 15 AF, conditional, to be filled and refilled in-priority. Diversion rate: 3.0 c.f.s., conditional. Work towards completion of the appropriation was included with the Application. Structure: Lamphouse Pond. Original decree: 3/27/12. Case No.: 06CW278. Division 5 Water Court. Diligence decree: 18CW3035, 7/7/19. Legal description: NW NW S15, T10S R89W, 6th P.M.; 180 feet from North section line, 850 feet from West section line. Lamphouse Pond will be filled and refilled by the Upper South Dutch Creek Diversion. Source: Unnamed tributary to Dutch Creek, tributary to Coal Creek, the Crystal, Roaring Fork, and Colorado Rivers. Appropriation date: 12/6/04. Uses: Irrigation, firefighting, piscatorial, aesthetic, wildlife watering, and recreational. Amount: 20 AF, conditional , to be filled and refilled in-priority. Diversion rate: 3.0 c.f.s., conditional. Work towards completion of the appropriation was included with the Application. Structure: Dutch Creek Pond No. 1. Original decree: 3/27/12. Case No.: 06CW278. Division 5 Water Court. Diligence decree: 18CW3035, 7/7/19. Legal description: NE NW S15, T10S R89W 6th P.M.; 630 feet from North section line, 1,500 feet from West section line. Dutch Creek Pond No. 1 will be filled and refilled by the Lower South Dutch Creek Diversion. Source: Unnamed tributary to Dutch Creek, tributary to Coal Creek, the Crystal, Roaring Fork, and Colorado Rivers. Appropriation date: 12/6/04. Uses: Irrigation, firefighting, piscatorial, aesthetic, wildlife watering and recreational. Amount: 25 AF, conditional, to be filled and refilled in-priority. Diversion rate: 3.0 c.f.s., conditional. Work towards completion of the appropriation was included with the Application. Structure: Dutch Creek Pond No. 2. Original decree: 3/27/12. Case No.: 06CW278. Division 5 Water Court. Diligence decree: 18CW3035, 7/7/19. Legal description: NW NE S15, T10S, R89W, 6th P.M.; 700 feet from North section line, 2,200 feet from East section line. Dutch Creek Pond No. 2 will be filled and refilled by the Upper Dutch Creek Diversion. Source: Dutch Creek, tributary to Coal Creek, tributary to the Crystal, Roaring Fork, and Colorado Rivers. Appropriation date: 12/6/04. Uses: Irrigation, firefighting, piscatorial, aesthetic, wildlife watering, and recreational. Amount: 15 AF, conditional, to be filled and refilled in-priority. Diversion rate: 3.0 c.f.s., conditional. Work towards completion of the appropriation was included with the Application. Structure: Dutch Creek Pond No. 3. Original decree: 3/27/12. Case No.: 06CW278. Division 5 Water Court. Diligence decree: 18CW3035, 7/7/19. Legal description: NE NE S15, T10S, R89W, 6th P.M.; 150 feet from North section line, 20 feet from East section line. Dutch Creek Pond No. 3 will be filled and refilled by the Lower Dutch Creek Diversion. Source: Dutch Creek, tributary to Coal Creek, tributary to the Crystal, Roaring Fork, and Colorado Rivers. Appropriation date:12/6/04. Uses: Irrigation, firefighting, piscatorial, aesthetic, wildlife watering, and recreational. Amount: 15 AF, conditional, to be filled and refilled in-priority. Diversion rate: 3.0 c.f.s., conditional. Work towards completion of the appropriation was included with the Application. Structure: Coal Creek Overlook Pond. Original decree: 3/27/12. Case No.: 06CW278. Division 5 Water Court. Diligence decree: 18CW3035, 7/7/19. Legal description: SE SE S10, T10S, R89W, 6th P.M.; 300 feet from South section line, 430 feet from East section line. Coal Creek Overlook Pond will be filled and refilled by the Lower Coal Creek Diversion. Source: Coal Creek, tributary to the Crystal, Roaring Fork, and Colorado Rivers. Appropriation date: 12/6/04. Uses: Irrigation, firefighting, piscatorial, aesthetic, wildlife watering, and recreational. Amount: 15 AF, conditional, to be filled and refilled in-priority. Diversion rate: 3.0 c.f.s., conditional. Work towards completion of the appropriation was included with the Application. The Applicant owns the land on which the structures are located and the water will be put to beneficial use. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT YOU HAVE until the last day of SEPTEMBER 2025 to file with the Water Clerk a verified Statement of Opposition setting forth facts as to why this application should not be granted or why it should be granted in part or on certain conditions. A copy of such statement of opposition must also be served upon the applicant or the applicant’s attorney and an affidavit or certificate of such service shall be filed with the Water Clerk, as prescribed by Rule 5, CRCP. (Filing Fee: $192.00) KATHY POWERS, Water Clerk, Water Division 5; 109 8th Street, Suite 104 Glenwood Springs, CO 81601.
Gunnison Country Times
Gunnison, Colorado Publication date of August 14, 2025
18321
DIVISION 5 WATER COURT- JULY 2025 RESUME
WATER RESUME
(This publication can be viewed in its entirety on the Colorado State Judicial website at: www.coloradojudicial.gov).
3. PURSUANT TO C.R.S., §37-92-302, AS AMENDED, YOU ARE NOTIFIED THAT THE FOLLOWING PAGES COMPRISE A RESUME OF THE APPLICATIONS AND AMENDED APPLICATIONS FILED WITH THE WATER CLERK FOR WATER DIVISION 5 DURING THE MONTH OF JULY 2025. The water right claimed by this application may affect in priority any water right claimed or heretofore adjudicated within this division and owners of affected rights must appear to object and protest within the time provided by statute or be forever barred.
25CW3112 GUNNISON COUNTY – APPLICATION FOR WATER STORAGE RIGHT – 1. Name, Address, Phone Number, and E-Mail Address of Applicant. Treasure Mountain Ranch Inc., c/o Stuart Gillespie, Treasurer, 1203 Colorado Ave., Glenwood Springs, Colorado 81611; Phone: (901) 240-5188; E-mail: stuart.j.gillespie@gmail.com. Copies of all pleadings to David F. Bower and Cameron C. Frazier, Johnson & Repucci LLP, 850 W. South Boulder Road, Suite 100, Louisville, Colorado 80027; Phone: (303) 546-5608; E-mail: dfbower@j-rlaw.com and ccfrazier@j-rlaw.com. 2. Claim for Conditional Storage Right. (a) Name of Storage Structure. Treasure Mountain Ranch Pond No. 1. (b) Location. SW1/4 of Section 27 and NW1/4 of Section 34, Township 11 South, Range 87 West, of the 6th P.M. A map showing the general location of the Treasure Mountain Ranch and the pond is attached to the application as Exhibit A. (c) Description of Filler Structure. (i) Name of Ditch. Crystal Spring, Ditch & Pipeline [WDID 3801261]. (ii) Original Decree. Civil Action No. 5884, Garfield County District Court, Priority No. 735 for Water District 38, with an adjudication date of November 5, 1971 and an appropriation date of August 30, 1916. (iii) Decreed Legal Description. “… at a point at the terminus of the said spring area whence an iron pin in place, for corner No. 3 of Mineral Survey No. 7849 Township 11, South, Range 87 West of the 6th Principal Meridian bears South 25°26ʹ29ʺ East 290.40 feet.” (iv) Location of Headgate. NE1/4 NW1/4 of Section 34, Township 11 South, Range 87 West, of the 6th P.M., at a point described as Zone 13, NAD83, Easting 318686, Northing 4325135. (v) Rate of Fill. 1 cfs. (d) Sources. Springs, seeps, and other surface flows tributary to the South Fork of the Crystal River, tributary to the Crystal River, tributary to the Roaring Fork River, tributary to the Colorado River. (e) Appropriation Date. Date of application. (f) Amount. 4 acre-feet, conditional, with the right to fill and refill. (g) Uses. Recreation, piscatorial, fire protection, and augmentation. (h) Surface Area of the High Water Line. 1.0 acre. (i) Height and Length of Dam. The dam will be less than 10 feet in height and non-jurisdictional. (j) Total Capacity. 4 acre-feet. (k) Remarks. The Treasure Mountain Ranch Pond No. 1 will be used as a recreational amenity for the Treasure Mountain Ranch development. In addition, the pond will be the primary source of fire protection water for the area and can be used as an augmentation supply, if necessary, to replace out-of-priority depletion within the upper Crystal River basin. This application does not seek or claim a plan for augmentation, and any use of the pond for augmentation purposes at the Treasure Mountain Ranch or other locations will be pursuant to a separate matter. The amount claimed is based on Applicant’s estimate of the maximum volume of the pond; however, the final dimensions and capacity of the Treasure Mountain Ranch Pond No. 1 are still being determined. Topography and other siting and operational considerations may require construction of more than one impoundment structure that, combined, will be considered part of the Treasure Mountain Pond No. 1 appropriation. 3. Name and Address of Landowner Upon which any New or Modified Diversion or Storage Structure is Located. The Treasure Mountain Ranch Pond No. 1 will be on land owned by Applicant. WHEREFORE, Applicant respectfully requests that the Court grant the claim for water storage right as set forth above. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT YOU HAVE until the last day of SEPTEMBER 2025 to file with the Water Clerk a verified Statement of Opposition setting forth facts as to why this application should not be granted or why it should be granted in part or on certain conditions. A copy of such statement of opposition must also be served upon the applicant or the applicant’s attorney and an affidavit or certificate of such service shall be filed with the Water Clerk, as prescribed by Rule 5, CRCP. (Filing Fee: $192.00) KATHY POWERS, Water Clerk, Water Division 5; 109 8th Street, Suite 104 Glenwood Springs, CO 81601.
Gunnison Country Times
Gunnison, Colorado
Publication date of August 14, 2025
18322
Bethany Church
909 N Wisconsin St.
(behind Powerstop) • 970-641-2144
One service at 9 a.m. with nursery & children’s church.
Faith Directory
First Baptist Church
120 N. Pine St. • 970-641-2240
Pastor Jonathan Jones
SUNDAY
Sunday School at 10 a.m.
Check us out on YouTube at Gunnison Bethany. gunnisonbethany.com
B'nai Butte Jewish Congregation
PO Box 2537 Crested Butte, CO 81224 305-803-3648 bnaibutte@gmail.com
Serving the Jewish communities of Crested Butte, Gunnison and surrounging areas.
Spiritual leader: Rabbi Mark Kula is available for you at RabbiMarkKula@gmail.com bnaibutte.org
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
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
Reverand Ian Wrisley
Welcoming, Open and Affirming, Building a Just world for All.
Sundays, 10 a.m.
Fridays Meditation, 12:30-1 p.m.
“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 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.
Wednesday night service at 7pm.
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
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 5 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 Communion Service, Sun. at 10 a.m.
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.
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.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Gunnison Branch 810 N 11th St. 970-648-4804
Sacrament Meeting 10 a.m. Attending church each Sunday is a respite from fast-paced daily living. Join us to worship God, strengthen your spiritual connections, and focus on Jesus. Worship with a community of people who are trying to be more Christlike and learn from each other.
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
GHS football ready for new season
Head Coach Starman and senior leadership aim high
Evan Bjornstad Times Staff Writer
The GHS football program faced a rocky 2024 season, but ended with an important three-game win streak to finish the season 3-6. Now, in the wake of nine seniors graduating, the incoming upperclassmen have big shoes to fill. With a week of full practice and an
inter-squad scrimmage on Aug. 15, the young team is rapidly approaching game time against Eagle Valley on Aug. 30.
This season, GHS will rely on 10 upperclassmen. The Cowboys are led by five tightknit seniors: Landon Miller, Ethan Pierce, Cody Casebolt, Nolan Frymoyer and Del Magdaleno.
“We've been playing [together] since middle school, and it's turned into a bigger bond than we thought it would be,” Miller said. “Now that we are seniors, it's crazy how fast it went.”
After a season-ending injury on the first game in 2024, quarterback Ethan Pierce is back and ready to lead the offense.
“[Last season] we tried to never give up in games,” Pierce
said. “By the end of the season, we kept getting better. [This season] we need to grind and try to get there quicker.”
Former GHS offensive coordinator and Western wide receiver Chase Starman has taken the over the head coaching position ahead of the 2025 season.
“Landon Miller is definitely our vocal leader,” Starman said. “He gets guys going in the right direction and holds guys accountable. Ethan Pierce as well, being a senior quarterback is a ‘lead by example’ kind of guy.”
The offensive line is a key area that will determine the Cowboy’s success. The team lost a handful of senior linemen in 2025, including captain and
center Holden Vickers. This season, junior Jack Stone will step in as the snapper.
“This year we're leaning on our offensive line,” Starman said. “[Stone] is our veteran in that position — he’s stepping up and knows his stuff.”
First year head coach Starman has already outlined goals and principles for GHS football this year. Starman has several goals for his athletes and their impacts off the field and in the community.
“Our team goals stay the same every year, we need to have a team GPA of 3.0,” Starman said. “We want to have a positive impact on the Gunnison community whether that's giving back or just giving something the community can rally behind.”
On the field Starman's focus is in building an identity for Gunnison football, setting the fundamentals for the upcoming games and future success.
“Last year we didn't really establish an identity,” Starman said. “Obviously we want to win the last one, being the state championship at the end of the year — that's always the goal.”
The Cowboys start their home campaign on Aug. 30 against Eagle Valley before taking on Delta at home on Sept. 9. The boys will then go on the road to Meeker Sept.12, before returning home to face North Fork on Sept. 26.
(Evan Bjornstad can be contacted at 970.641.1414.)
Del Maydeleno works on his runs during pracitice. (Photo by Evan Bjornstad)
On Monday Aug. 11, the GHS JV golf team honed their skills at Dos Rios while varsity players Paden Davis, Jake Ebbott, Max Peluso, Kaiden Bartelli and Spencer Reynolds competed in the first tournament of the season — the Aspen Skier Invitational. Davis, a 2024 state qualifier, led the Cowboys with an 87, Peluso shot a 90, Bartelli finished with a 101, Reynolds scored a 104 and Ebbott ended with a 121. The Cowboys finished 12th as a team and will return to action on Monday Aug. 18.
(Photos by Evan Bjornstad)
GHS soccer returns to the pitch
The GHS soccer team is back on the field following a state qualifying 2024 campaign. The Cowboys practice schedule is ramping up ahead of a home opener against Mead on Aug. 23 at 1 p.m.
Eli Coop brings the ball down field. (Photos by Evan Bjornstad)
Charlie Wolfen Barger dribbles past Tucker Crosby.
Dylan Boscaro points to his teammate
BLOOD TESTING
GUNNISON
August 19, 20, 21
6:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Fred Field Center
A ordable Access
RADIOLOGY CASH-PAY PRICING
Take control of your health with a ordable options for essential imaging services like MRIs, CT scans and more. No insurance? No problem. Our straightforward cash-pay prices give you the flexibility to get the care you need without the financial guesswork.
For more information or estimates: 970-641-7208
View the full price list at: gunnisonvalleyhealth.org/radiology
Register online at: GUNNISONVALLEYHEALTH.ORG/WELLNESS . At Gunnison Valley Health, we’re making it easier to prioritize your health with a ordable, transparent pricing for radiology services and low-cost, convenient lab testing.
DIRECT ACCESS LAB TESTING
Need a quick health check? Skip the doctor’s order and get the tests you need at an a ordable price. From cholesterol to thyroid panels, our direct access lab testing is simple, fast and budget-friendly.
For more information: 970-641-7259
View the full price list at: gunnisonvalleyhealth.org/dat
Our laboratory is proudly accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), a distinction that elevates the quality of our services and reduces risk. This accreditation reflects our commitment to excellence, ensuring better care and improved outcomes for our patients.
