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VOL. 143. NO. 1 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2024 | $1.00
Resort towns lean into affordable housing with new vigor New report shows progress since ‘mountain migration’ shook local economies Bella Biondini Times Editor
A N“ICE” EVENING: Siblings Tomas and Tatchi Collins sprawled out on the ice at the Jorgensen Ice Rink during the bluegrass-themed “Skate to Lights” event on Dec. 29. A group of kids used metal balance trainers to collect ice shavings at the center of the rink while skaters circled the perimeter. See more on A9. (Photo by Mariel Wiley)
INSIDE
TODAY
NEWS: AspectAvy aims to reduce avalanche deaths, A12
COMMUNITY: A modern Vincent ‘Vans’ Gogh, B1
A recent report shows that since 2020, the Mountain West has been aggressively pushing for the policies and legislation it Housing A6
GVH to buy local orthopedic clinic Purchase would expand GVH care in CB and Gunnison Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer
Gunnison Valley Health is planning to acquire a private
orthopedic practice, a move that would increase its ability to provide orthopedic surgery and add its first-ever surgery center that is not in the main hospital. Executives hope the purchase will be completed by March of this year. “Our whole purpose of pursuing this is trying to [bring together] economies of scale within orthopedics, in a community that's been sorely lacking for years,” said hospital CEO
Jason Amrich in a Gunnison County Commissioners meeting on Dec. 19. “When I first came here, I always described this as an orthopedic problem that’s too big for a county that’s this small.” In a valley where outdoor re c re at i o n hap p e n s ye a rround and broken bones are as common as scraped knees, orthopedic care is a necessity. Bringing the doctor under the GVH umbrella will bump the
number of in-house orthopedic surgeons up from one to two, also bringing more “unity” to the health system, Amrich said. The private practice, VailSummit Orthopaedics and Neurosurgery (VSON), has l o c at i o n s t h ro u g h o u t t h e Western Slope. In Gunnison County, VSON has locations in Crested Butte and in Gunnison on West Spencer Avenue. GVH Clinic A7
CB to CB South trail report released SPORTS: Titans trade punches with Mustangs, B8
Current iteration Creek Road on the east side of the highway for nearly five uses highway miles, and then a final half mile into CB South. This option, alignment identified as “Alignment A,” was Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer
OBITUARIES A2 OPINION A4 CLASSIFIEDS A16-A18 SPORTS B8 ONLINE GUNNISONTIMES.COM
Laying a trail that connects Crested Butte to Crested Butte South, an effort that’s over 20 years in the making, is closer than ever before to breaking ground. Last month, contractor Design Workshop released the first design report, which laid preliminary plans for what the trail could look like. Designers offered plans for a 12-foot wide trail that runs from Brush Creek Road to Cement
the most popular choice in both a survey and in-person workshop that Design Workshop facilitated at the end of 2023. The company presented the repor t to the Sustainable To u r i s m a n d O u t d o o r Recreation (STOR) committee at a meeting on Dec. 21. “These trails are really helpful in improving access to transit service, reducing vehicle miles traveled and the associated greenhouse gas emissions, and also improving safety,” said Design Workshop Principal and Trail A8
A draft digital schematic of what the final trail could look like. (Courtesy Design Workshop)
A2 • NEWS • Thursday, January 4, 2024
QUOTE
of the week
Gunnison Country Times
OBITUARIES Larry W. LeMay
“Instead of looking at little projects, and trying to plug holes, we’ve evolved … We’re thinking long term, or generationally.” — John Cattles, Gunnison County
See story on A1
BRIEFS Gunnison County adopts 2024 budget Gunnison County Commissioners adopted the 2024 budget on Dec. 12. Commissioners agreed to an over $90 million budget that includes a 5.5% cost of living adjustment for county employees, an expanded fund for affordable housing projects and utility rate increases of 4% in water, sewer and landfill fees.
Winter trail closures in affect All trails and roads at Signal Peak are closed to motorized use until May 15, and mechanized use until May 1 to protect wintering big game. The trails will remain open to foot and horse traffic until the springtime trail closures begin March 15. Winter closures around southwest Colorado are also in full swing. The Almont Triangle and Gunnison State Wildlife Area are closed to the public from Dec. 1 to April 30. Centennial State Wildlife Area is closed Dec. 1 to June 30. At Sapinero State Wildlife Area, snowmobiles are allowed only on the main Rainbow Lake and Red Creek roads.
Lar r y W. L eMay, 82, of Gunnison, joined the love of his life, Sondra, on Dec. 22, 2023. He was born on Nov. 11, 1941 in Kimball, Nebraska, a son of Joseph and Amy LeMay. He was a 1959 graduate of El Segundo High School in El Segundo, California. A veteran of the United States Air Force, Larry served from 1965-67 as a cryptologic equipment systems repairman at Clark Air Force Base, Philippines, supporting operations in Vietnam. He received the Air Force Good Conduct Me d a l , Na t i o n a l D e f e n s e Service Medal and the Armed Forces Medal. Larry served with the Gunnison Fire Department from 1970-90. He was the 1989 recipient of the Gunnison Volunteer Fire Department’s annual Robert R. Williams Firefighter of the Year Award. He was also a member of the GVFD’s state racing team from 1977-79, served as a lieutenant from 1979-81, and was the department’s treasurer from 1986 until he retired. He also worked at the Blue Mesa Hardware and Lumber Company from 1986-2006 and was an intense patriot, outdoorsman, bronc rider, avid reader and, most of all, a family man.
Joyce Stonecypher
Joyce Stonecypher fell asleep peacefully at her home on Dec. 28, 2023, surrounded by family and friends who will miss her dearly. She had been dealing with a serious health issue for several years — though the weight of this issue would have crushed the enthusiasm of most, she refused to let it define her. Her face always shined with the joy that was indicative of her strong Christian beliefs and character. One of her favorite verses comes from Nehemiah 8:10: “For this day is holy unto our Lord; neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Joyce was born on Dec. 15, 1955 and raised in Washington, Illinois in a wonderful family with five siblings. She graduated from high school in 1973 and went on to earn her bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Illinois College of Nursing. She worked as a nurse most of her life with her favorite field being neonatal care. She met her husband Rich while working at The Way International Headquarters in New Knoxville, Ohio. They enjoyed doing many activities together like hiking, canoeing, biking, skiing and ballroom dancing (the dancing sealed the deal for Rich; they were married in 1998). They went on to serve as lay ministers in Massachusetts and Michigan before accepting positions at Camp Gunnison, near Gunnison, Colorado, in 2016. The things Joyce deemed most important in life were supporting her husband, raising her two kids and holding God’s word and His promises steadfastly in her mind. Being a faithful minister to the family of God was her happy place. She was an excellent teacher. Whether to a small bible study or a group of 100 people, she always deemed it a privilege to be a spokesperson for God. She is preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Ethel Bernson of Washington, Illinois. She is survived by her husband, Rich Stonecypher, her daughter, Laurie, 18, and her son, Jonathan, 17, who all reside in Gunnison, as well as four brothers, Rick (Linda) Bernson of Loveland Colorado, Willard Bernson of Washington, Illinois, Ed (Gina) Bernson of Champaign, Illinois and Kevin (Schryll) Bernson of Shelbyville, Illinois, and one sister, Karen (Tim) Watt of Washington, Illinois, plus numerous cousins,
nieces and nephews. A recognition service will be held on Jan. 13 at 1:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Camp Gunnison, 606 County Rd 9. Gunnison, Colorado 81230. Donations in Joyce’s honor can be made to Gunnison Valley Mentors. This is a great organization that has h e l p e d u s t re m e n d o u s l y .
Charles P. Wilson, Jr. Chuck Wilson was born on Aug. 1, 1928 in Council Bluffs, Iowa to Charles P. Wilson, Sr. and Catherine Cross, and died on Dec. 1, 2023. Chuck joined the army in 1946 and served in Japan and Korea. He was discharged in 1949 at Fort Carson, Colorado. Chuck married Helga Gottwill in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was employed at Climax Mine until he retired after 30 years. During his employment, he lived at the boarding house in Climax, in Leadville, and in Twin Lakes, Colorado. Following his retirement, Chuck and Helga moved to Buena Vista, Colorado until 2018, when he moved to the senior care center in Gunnison. Chuck is preceded in death by his wife, Helga Wilson and daughter, Karen Jennings. He is survived by his daughter, Linda Bain (Grant) and son, Clay Wilson (Connie), grandchildren, Rory Wilson, Marlene Ohde (Charles Hoskinson), Jeremy Snyder (Brandi), Shawn Jennings (Tammie), and DJ Jennings. He is also survived by eight great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. This resilient and amazing man will be missed by all who knew him. Private services will be held in the summer of 2024.
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FEATURED PROPERTY
Almont stays a “population center” Gunnison County Commissioners reviewed proposed changes to the county’s Land Use Resolution at a regular meeting on Dec. 19. Planning staff wanted to undesignate Ohio City, Somerset and Almont as “population centers.” That change would increase the building requirements for development around the rural areas. Three Rivers Resort owner Mark Schumacher and local lawyer Marcus Lock protested the change, arguing that it’s already hard enough to build infrastructure, like affordable housing, in Almont. Commissioners agreed to keep Almont as a population center for now, pending more corridor planning coming in 2024 and 2025.
Larry is preceded in death by his wife, “that amazing lady”, Sondra, whom he deeply loved until his dying breath. He is survived by his daughter, Jeri Julian and her husband, Greg, of Punta Gorda, Florida, son, Garret LeMay and his wife, Christina, and son, Travis LeMay and his wife, Tammy of Fountain, Colorado. His grandchildren are Cory, Sara, Scott, Noah, Marissa, Jake, Matt, Crystal, Cynthia, Marcus, Brittany, Joel, Sonja, Rico, Ashley, Natalie and Joe. His Great-grandchildren are Jacob, Charlotte, Emily, Nico, Lucy, Phoenix and Ariya. A celebration of life service will be held in Gunnison with dates to be announced.
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HOME ON 50 ACRES in Ohio City features an excellent mixture of wildlife, nearby trails, aspen, pines & 300 feet of Gold Creek frontage. 3 bdrm/2 bath house, huge attached garage, large detached barn, touched by Forest Service lands. 5498 County Road 771; $2,500,000.
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY 3 homes total in town where each home is 2 bdrm/1 bath & tenants pay utilities. Located near the airport and fairgrounds. 314 S. 12th St; $950,000. GORGEOUS 2800sf home at the end of the Ohio Creek valley sits on 40 acres with Carbon Creek running through the acreage. Custom home & garage offer in-floor heat, 3 bdrm/3 bath, south facing windows with incredible views and a 4 car garage with work space & a walk-in cooler. 3750 County Road 737; $2,500,000.
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1.5 ACRE PARCELS are situated just a few miles from the Iola Boat Dock at the beautiful Blue Mesa Reservoir. There are 8 sites offered that are each 1.5 acres with no covenants or HOA. Affordable land options just 15 minutes from Gunnison. Spring Drive; $60,000.
MAKE AN OFFER Mountain home with loft nestled in the trees with Gold Creek in the back yard on over 3 acres. Just 3.5 miles from Ohio City, 1 bdrm/1 bath, bordered by national forest, built in 1994 with well & septic. 1,008 square feet with generator and shed too. 3491 County Road 771; $635,000.
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40 ACRE HISTORIC PARCEL is the town site of Sherrod and part of the Sherrod Loop on the Alpine Tunnel Loop past Pitkin, just before Hancock Pass. Sherrod was known for its rich silver lodes in the surrounding mountains. Great 4x4 country. 7800 Forest Service Road 839; $235,000.
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WATERFRONT BUILDING SITE to build your new home! Two lots totaling 1.78 acres. Great opportunity to own on the Gunnison River, hidden between the trees & close to the White Water Park. Level building site with mature trees and still close to downtown conveniences. 350 Rio Vista Road; $400,000. PROPERTY POTENTIAL Here’s your chance to purchase R-3 lots & finish the West End Townhomes for a spec option, rental investment or employee housing. City approved site plans allow for two more duplex units. Water & sewer taps are already installed. Centrally located near the schools & RTA bus stop. 817 W. Denver Ave.; $297,000. 40 ACRE PARCEL close to the city limits of Gunnison. Features include two permitted commercial wells, southern exposure making for possible solar arrays and green energy with endless development possibilities. Crest View Drive; $3,000,000.
View listings at: www.clarkeagency.net
Gunnison Country Times
Boebert to seek nomination in CD4, leaving Western Slope Republican candidates Hurd, Andrews remain Bella Biondini Times Editor
On Dec. 27, U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert announced that she will switch districts and seek the 2024 Republican nomination in the state’s fourth Congressional District on the Eastern Plains. Boebert, a conservative businesswoman and gun rights a c t i v i s t , h a s re p re s e n t e d Colorado’s third Congressional District (CD3) on the Western Slope, including Gunnison County, since 2021. In the race to represent CD3 in 2022, incumbent Boebert garnered 31% of the vote in Gunnison County, while Democratic challenger Adam Frisch took 69%. A week after election day, the race across CD3 remained too close to call. A mandatory recount later confirmed that Boebert won
the race with the final margin 50.06% to 49.89%. In CD3, Boebert faced a strong primary challenger this election season as well as repercussions from the “Beetlejuice” scandal in Denver where she was escorted out of the performance for inappropriate behavior. CD4, which encompasses the majority of the eastern portion of the state, is more conservative than CD3. In a press release, Boebert described the announcement as a “fresh start” following a difficult year for her and her family. "Professionally, Colorado’s 4th District is hungry for an unapologetic defender of freedom with a proven track record of standing strong for conservative principles,” she said. “I love Colorado’s 3rd District and I will continue working as hard as I can for the remainder of my term to be a great Representative for the district … But I also spent years living on the Front Range and years representing rural America. The 3rd and the 4th Congressional Districts comprise nearly 85% of Colorado’s footprint and have
Thursday, January 4, 2024 • NEWS • A3
less than 20 people per square mile. Rural America deserves a strong voice that fights for their freedoms.” Boebert leaves behind Republican candidates Jeff Hurd, an attorney and former president of the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce, and Russ Andrews, a financial advisor based in Carbondale. Following the announcement, Frisch, who hoped to unseat Boebert this year, said his focus will remain the same. “From Day 1 of this race, I have been squarely focused on defending rural Colorado’s way of life and offering common sense solutions to the problems facing the families of Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District,” Frisch said in a statement. (Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)
MEETING NOTICE-RTA
Lauren Boebert visited Gunnison’s W Cafe in 2022. (Photo by Jacob Spetzler)
The next meeting of the Gunnison Valley Transportation Authority (RTA) will be January 12, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. at the Commissioners’ Room in the Gunnison County Courthouse – 200 E. Virginia Ave., Gunnison, CO. For copies of the Board of Directors meeting packet, please go to www.gunnisonvalleyrta.com/meetings or call Scott Truex at 970-2750111. Two or more County Commissioners may attend these meetings.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2024
ALANWARTESMEDIA
970.641.1414 © 2023 Gunnison Country Times
Publisher/Owner Alan Wartes publisher@gunnisontimes.com
OPINION Growing pains — we can’t move forward without them
Office Manager Bonnie Gollhofer bonnie@gunnisontimes.com Editor Bella Biondini bella@gunnisontimes.com Staff Writer Abby Harrison abby@gunnisontimes.com Photo Editor Mariel Wiley mariel@gunnisontimes.com Sports Editor Alex McCrindle alex@gunnisontimes.com Advertising Manager Steve Nunn steve@gunnisontimes.com Advertising Assistant Issa Forrest issa@gunnisontimes.com Production Manager Stefan Scott Stefan@gunnisontimes.com
THE GUNNISON COUNTRY TIMES (ISSN 0892-1113) is published weekly by Alan Wartes Media LLC., 218 N. Wisconsin St., Gunnison, Colorado 81230. Periodical postage paid at Gunnison, Colorado. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Gunnison Country Times, 218 N. Wisconsin, Gunnison, CO 81230-0240 Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
2023
2023 Member
Bella Biondini Times Editor
I went home to Louisiana this Christmas for the first time in five years. With my “hard hat” on, I tried to be prepared for the off-hand comments about the trouble with today’s media environment, the looming presidential election, that not-so-great ex-boyfriend I’d hoped everyone would forget about and my younger sister’s new house — all of which would be made over the dinner table. I suspect I’ll live in my tiny apartment for another decade at this rate. I dodged bumbling travelers as I dashed across two terminals to make my connection at the Denver airport. Doused in sweat, I started to wonder if I had made the right decision. After all, I could have easily had a staycation in Gunnison instead. From the air, I watched the mountains slowly transition to plains, and then finally to marshland. I felt increasingly ill. O ver the cours e of the week, I started to realize why I despise Christmas. It wasn’t just the stress of gift buying, or the weight of the expectation that you must have that perfect Hallmark holiday most of us know isn’t possible (especially for a child of divorce like me). When my grandmother, who began quickly declining from dementia a few years ago, barely recognized me, it started to sink in. My family used to celebrate Christmas at her house, a place as close to a winter wonderland
as you could get in the South. The scent of frankincense and myrrh, thick enough to give you a headache, is ingrained in my memory along with the stories she told of Saint Nicholas and the Krampus. German cookies and chocolates of all shapes and sizes were plentiful. Slowly, that Christmas magic faded. Now she struggles to remember my name, and I am left to my own guilt for missing those last years of connection. Instead, I took my ski trips and was adopted into other families instead of facing my own fragmented one. Growing pains. That’s why I hate Christmas. It forces me to acknowledge the time that has passed and I won’t get back. It’s uncomfortable, like sitting in a stuffy room, crowded with people you don’t know. I am gone too often, and for too long. I am the stranger in that crowded room, like the kid who doesn’t have friends to eat with in the cafeteria. Except I was in my aunt's kitchen, trying to make small talk with family I felt like I barely knew. It is a choice that I made when I moved, as many of us have for whatever reason. I’ve missed weddings, baby showers and funerals. My dad’s hair has turned white seemingly overnight, and my sister is soon to graduate from college. With this comes the realization that I’m not the same person I was even a year ago. I’ve dealt with loss, climbed mountains (literally and metaphorically) and spent another year wrestling with the responsibility that comes with being a newspaper editor in a small town like Gunnison. For that I am thankful. The winters seem to come and go more quickly than I can keep up. In the Gunnison Valley, 2023 has been quite a year to look back on. In regards to the state
of affordable housing, it’s been a 365-day rollercoaster. The last time I wrote, I’ll admit I left you with my somewhat dark outlook on the state of housing here. I’d like to take this as a chance to share something a little more positive headed into the new year. A 2023 workforce housing report, which surveyed the state of affordable housing in resort towns across the Mountain West, from close to home to as far as California and British Columbia, showed that we have made progress. While many residents are still feeling the crunch of the housing market, planning and construction is underway. Whetstone, Lazy K, Mineral Point, Sawtooth, the list goes on. Our community is not waiting for a savior, or twiddling its thumbs by any means. We are trying to dig ourselves out of this pit, and I think with patience it can be done. Simply too much is at stake. O n c e i t ’s c o m p l e t e , Whetstone, the largest housing project the county has ever pursued, has the potential to be “transformational” for the community, assistant county manager John Cattles told me. At 255 individual homes and apartments, it may affect private-market rental rates, pressuring landlords to compete. Although Gunnison Rising had a rocky year, its developers remain hopeful about the development’s future. According to local housing consultant Willa Williford, all of the straightforward projects have already been done, and the ones coming down the road are likely to be increasingly challenging. But the Gunnison Valley is scrappy, and we have proven again and again that we can put aside our differences for our neighbors and the longevity of this community. Here, nim-
byism has faded. For proof, just look at 2023. While we didn’t all agree on the location, the city prepared to build a water plant that will ensure safe drinking water is available for future generations. A majority supported biodiversity with the reintroduction of wolves and searched for ways to make sure we have healthy forests amidst a changing climate. None of it was straightforward, or easy. It may take some time before we feel significant relief from woes of the housing market, but we can hope. I hope that maybe one day this younger generation can afford a home, even if it has to be a deed restricted one. I hope our neighbors decide to stay in the valley, and new businesses fill in the empty storefronts on Main Street and Elk Avenue. Even if all of this takes some time and compromise. Growing pains. Let’s keep pushing through them. Each time I go back to New Orleans it feels a little more alien, and Gunnison a little more like home. Maybe it’s okay to grow out of things in exchange for new people, big ideas and adventures. I am a better person because of it. Yet, I haven’t lost all touch with my roots. I still ache for the quiet canopy of oak trees, the occasional king cake and the embrace of my sister. It’s the same way I ache for the stillness that comes after it snows when I’m away, open space as far as the eye can see and the way I can’t go anywhere in Gunnison without seeing someone I know. As the Gunnison Valley embraces change, as best it can, we need to remember the reasons why we care deeply about the future.
I learned what these words m e a n i n f i f t h g ra d e c u rrent events. This was 11 years after the people still alive in the concentration camps of the Holocaust were liberated. When I was 10, I looked up these words in the dictionary. I saw them used in newspapers and news magazines (plural as required: at least two sources to substantiate any claim — a habit still). So — Who knows or cares what “Nazi” is? “Fascism”? “Authoritarian?” I do! I do! All these words have an explicit meaning. When we don’t call things by their “right name” we are asking to be deluded. It’s moving away from truth to call the Civil War “The Unpleasantries Between the States.”
The meaning of “Nazi” is why I have “A-7713, E.W.” tattooed on my arm. That’s the number tattooed on the arm of Elie Wiesel, author of the book, “Night,” when he was imprisoned in Buchenwald, Auschwitz. One doesn’t have to look up all these words, although it wouldn’t hurt. One could read “On Tyranny,” a short, clear book by Timothy Snyder, a historian and scholar of Nazi Germany. It deals in facts.
lion estimated in 2023 then, you need to remember the first book of the Christian bible, Genesis 1:26-29 “ ...Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.’” In Genesis 2:8-9, “The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground — trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.” Nowhere in the creation story of mankind does God say "Eat beef." The Jewish people knew this 2,500 years ago with their “spiritually impure" foods which include cloven hoofed animals. Jesus most likely practiced some form of vegetarian-
(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)
LETTERS
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.
These words have explicit meaning Editor: Twisted and misused words — not limited to “stories” and “narratives” — are among language devices being used worldwide to misinform us of facts. We have not been dealing with facts for a long time, for a lot of reasons. Misinformation makes it hard to discern truth amongst the garbage. It is our responsibility to try, though, and the first step is to pay attention to the definitions of words. I’m alarmed by Mr. Wartes’s statements about this. He asks : “Emergency? Crisis? Dictator? Insurrection? Communism? Nazi” … Who knows what they mean anymore?” I do! I do!
Lora VanRenselaar Gunnison
Truth to humanity Editor: If you are a God-loving, Godfearing Christian like the 2.6 bil-
continued on A6
Thursday, January 4, 2024 • NEWS • A5
Gunnison Country Times continued from A7 ism due to his Jewish culture. Additionally, other religious sects that practice vegetarianism include Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism, and many Muslims do not eat beef. Cattle are not native to the Americas. They were brought here from Europe by the Spanish around 1,500 CE. There is a season for everything, and the cattle (for beef ) industry will soon see its ending. Beef is a killer to humans. It is toxic to the human anatomy and linked to numerous cancers, obesity, high cholesterol, intestinal disorders and heart disease. Even the American Heart Association recommends cutting back on beef when you are diagnosed with a heart issue. When you are tired of being sick, you will stop eating beef (mammals).
Cows pollute the earth and not simply by their noxious gas. They pollute the water with their waste that leaches into waterways creating a variety of contaminants. Cows break trees and shrubs that are natural habitats for grouse and other wildlife. And all livestock — cattle, horses, goats, etc. — contribute to an increase in the insect population by the beetles and flies hatching and living off their dung. Cows are mammals similar in consciousness to humans, nurturing their young from their bodies, and forming family groups or herds — like people self-segregating of common nationality or race. Research shows that cows experience stress and anxiety when separated from their herd. Every rancher knows that when they separate the calves from their mothers, they bawl and
call each other continuously. The mother will mourn for days and bellow loudly. It is heartwrenching. You can harden your heart to it every year, but it damages the cow's spirit and yours. The gluttonous appetite of mankind and greed is what keeps the cattle industry going. God gave us plant protein to eat in the form of leafy greens, fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts. If the elk, bighorns and buffalo eat plant protein and maintain their huge body mass, an education in food health, changing poor habits and consumption of plant protein will increase the health of humans also. Don't blame the wolves for your lazy and uneducated habits. Teresa Golden Gunnison
Landowners move to protect meadow in Quartz Creek Illicit road restored before winter hit Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer
In the Gunnison Valley, the debate over protecting scenic areas, wildlife populations and water resources is often one that happens around the valley’s many public lands. It’s less common for private landowners to seek development restrictions on their own land. But in Quartz Creek, after an illegal road was laid in a high alpine meadow, locals and second homeowners came together to try and ensure the meadow is preserved for future generations. At the end of September, a Quartz Creek landowner carved a road through Chicago Park Meadow, just a few miles northwest of Pitkin — without permission from the landowners whose property it touched and without approval from the Quartz Creek Property Owners Association. Gary Brecka, the landowner who built the road, agreed to restore the meadow, but the incident still caused distress to the neighbors who have long cherished that open space. With consultation from Law of the Rockies, the U.S. Forest Ser vice, Gunnison County Geographic Information Services and Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Legacy, property owners association president Dave Denison drafted voluntary deed covenants for each parcel of land. If the landowners sign on, the covenants would prevent building into the meadow beyond a 100-foot buffer from the tree line where most structures already exist. If all goes as planned, Denison hopes to get the covenants done by early June. “I own property in a beautiful area, and I’m very sensitive
to keeping that area beautiful,” Denison said. “I think we all feel that way. Not just Colorado people, all the absentee owners like myself. We have equal respect for that property up there.” Brecka said it was the choice to use old mining claim maps that led to the road touching his neighbors’ property. But even if the road had been laid solely on his own land, the property owners association would have never approved it, Denison said. Nonetheless, Brecka has been willing to work with Denison since the uproar began. Restoration work, led by Hildreth Construction and subcontractor Percival Dirtworks LLC, was completed before the ground froze. Contractors decompacted the dirt, replaced the soil that sat on the edges of the road to its original position, graded the area and reseeded it with native vegetation. It’s expected to take a couple years for the road to fully melt back into the meadow scenery. It takes (the whole) village At the moment, no deed restrictions, covenants or easements on the land prevent any future building on the meadow, Denison said. But as the illicit road proved, the will of current owners doesn't necessarily predict what will happen in the future. In late 2023, Denison sought consultation from local government and lands agencies and Quartz Creek landowners to find a solution. The Conservation Legacy recommended a covenant as the best style of protection for the situation, and every single landowner indicated interest in it, he said. Maps were drawn up to show each landowner how much of their property would be included in the covenants. Twelve properties have a significant amount of land in the proposed covenants, and the rest just have “slivers” that extend into
the meadow. Denison estimates that the proposed protections would cover between 350–400 acres out of a total of 600 acres. Denison gave Brecka the proposed covenants for review in early December. Brecka is the “key” landowner, as he holds nearly 50 acres across five properties that bleed into the meadow. If Brecka doesn’t agree, Denison said he won’t ask the other property owners, because it wouldn’t be fair to ask some to commit while others don’t. “Unless everybody does it, we can still have people building out in the meadow, which we don’t want,” Dension said. “It’s an all or nothing situation.” The process is currently paused, as Denison has yet to receive an answer from Brecka. There’s a sliding scale of stringency when it comes to protections for private lands, said Conservation Legacy Executive Director Stacy McPhail. Particlaury after the county’s newly-adopted 2021 building codes, building requires multiple layers of review and approval from the Gunnison County Planning Commission. As an older subdivision, Quartz Creek doesn’t have the types of restrictions that are common nowadays in the Gunnison Valley, McPhail said. Covenants are subject to the will of the current homeowners board, making them less protective than other measures like deed restrictions and conservation easements. But McPhail said it’s not uncommon to see people come together over shared land values. “Some of those folks [in Quartz Creek] have owned property up there for decades,” she said. “They know one another, and they can speak to each other about what's special. That's where they come together.” (Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@ gunnisontimes.com.)
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A6 • NEWS • Thursday, January 4, 2024
Housing from A1 needs to address the worsening affordable housing crisis. Its writers believe Colorado resort towns, including Gunnison and Crested Butte, have made remarkable headway as middle class residents fight to stay in their communities. Last year was a trying one for affordable housing in the Gunnison Valley. While locals moved into new homes at Sawtooth and the county made progress on Whetstone’s design, some mobile home park residents lost their housing. Home prices at both ends of the valley broke new records, putting homeownership further out of reach for many. But mountain communities are addressing the housing shortage with a new intensity, something that is reflected in construction of hundreds of new affordable options across the region. This is true in Gunnison County, where in the past three years, Lazy K, Paintbrush, Mineral Point and Whetstone have been either started or completed, among others. At the same time, shortterm rental policies and deed restrictions ensure these homes will remain affordable in the coming years, while new ballot measures funnel money into workforce housing. This past November, the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments and the Colorado Ass o ciation of Ski Tow ns (CAST) released a regional workforce housing report — a thorough overview of affordable housing projects underway in more than 40 rural resort communities across Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, California and Utah (and Whistler in Canada). The report documents new programs and legislation that have helped each community house local workers — a visible mark of progress as the region tries to maintain its quality of life.
Blurred lines The 2023 workforce housing report comes a short three years after throngs of citygoers and remote workers fled to mountain towns during the pandemic, a phenomenon labeled the “mountain migration.” The move-ins flustered resort communities, some of which were already experiencing change from an influx of wealth. A study published shortly after the start of the migration found that 70% of newcomers and an even greater percentage of part-time residents arrived to the high country with wages averaging over $150,000 per year. Sixty percent of full-time residents, most with jobs tied to the local economy, earned notably less. But many of these newcomers never left, “blurring the lines between what were two distinct markets,” the report states. “The marketplace for attainable housing is broken, and the only way most workers whose wages are tied to the local economy can step into the housing marketplace (even to rent) is with some combination of a hand-up from government-subsidized housing, down-payment assistance and market regulation,” the report reads. But according to its writers, notable progress has been made throughout the region to address the workforce housing shortage. Out of the 43 communities that participated, 21 have a designated fund for housing, and more than half have implemented regulations for shortterm rentals. Many have special taxes to generate additional cash to build affordable homes and apartments in their communities. State and local policy changes since 2019 have also given resort communities the tools and money needed to build more quickly. Many local governments, including Gunnison County, took advantage of House Bill 22-1117, which per-
Gunnison Country Times mitted the reallocation of revenue from marketing and lodging taxes to housing with voter approval. This year, $1 million in local marketing district taxes went to Gunnison’s new Sawtooth development. Proposition 123 permitted the state to hold money from existing state tax revenue to invest in affordable housing, making more than $200 million available annually statewide. The report’s creators hope it will help housing experts, many facing similar issues across state lines, learn from other communities’ mistakes and successes and figure out what will work best within their own towns. It details policies used to regulate the number of vacation rentals within the community, deed restriction programs for workers, housing funds as well as zoning and construction costs. While housing market troubles span the country, it's in mountain towns that it’s reaching a crisis point, said Erin Ganser, who started as Crested Butte’s director of housing two years ago. The term “affordable housing” was rarely mentioned at the national level and now it’s become a buzzword everywhere, she said. “That is awesome, but we have so much work to do,” Ganser said. “The policy changes need to be at every local, state and regional level.” An economy on life support At roughly 30%, Gunnison County’s vacancy rate remains low compared to other Colorado resort towns. A home is labeled “vacant” if it is occupied by second homeowners or seasonal residents. Winter Park and Breckenridge have the highest rates, falling between 66-80%. In the Gunnison Valley, Mt. Crested Butte sat at 45%, Crested Butte neared 30% and the City of Gunnison fell at 9% — highlighted as one of the lowest in the region. In 2022, the Gunnison
Sawtooth move-ins in Gunnison happened in late fall 2023. (Photo by Mariel Wiley)
C o u n t y B o a rd o f C o u n t y Commissioners set a goal to build 300 new, affordable housing units by 2030. According to the report, 280 are in various stages of development. Rising construction costs and lingering supply chain issues have been a barrier to truly affordable housing locally and across the state. For example, in Aspen, the average cost to build a three-bedroom home exceeds $1 million. Gunnison County falls close to $500,000 — far above what most local families can afford. These markets often require some kind of subsidy or public-private partnership, said Northwest Colorado Council Executive Director Jon Stavney. “Those numbers don’t work as affordable numbers,” Stavney said. Despite the financial barriers, more housing projects are in progress in the Gunnison Valley than ever before. As home prices rose, so too did the pace of housing projects at both ends of the valley. All of the affordable housing projects were collaborative, whether it was shared between local governments or with private developers. The county designed some projects, like Whetstone, to lose money in the short-term by keeping rents low. But in the future, a portion of the profits may subsidize new housing developments. The first phase of Sawtooth, paid nearly in-full by pandemic relief money, is now generating revenue for the second phase of construction. “That's momentum building for us,” said John Cattles, assistant county manager for operations and sustainability. “Instead of looking at little projects, and trying to plug holes, we've evolved … We're thinking long term, or generationally.” While the county has made progress, Cattles said it is not keeping up with the impacts of the rising cost of living and demand for more housing. To the north, Elk Avenue is riddled with vacant buildings, and
“help wanted” signs. The school district and hospital still struggle to find and retain teachers, doctors and nurses. All of these are signs that the Gunnison Valley is “limping along,” Cattles said. The housing problems in the GunnisonCrested Butte corridor, which has often been described as an island, are exacerbated due to its isolation. Communities like Breckenridge and Glenwood Springs sit along the I-70 corridor and can siphon commuters from the Front Range. “Our economy is on life support in a lot of ways,” Cattles said. All of the projects underway in the valley face significant hurdles from the moment the first plans are drafted, to final completion. The process is resource intensive for small communities, many of which have limited staff and resources to turn toward housing. But the region has an appetite to maintain the character of these communities and keep neighbors in their homes, Ganser said. For her, it is a passionate field to work in, and one way or another, projects will get done. “A friend of mine joked decades ago, when I first got into affordable housing, that housing developments are constantly recovering from a series of unrecoverable blows,” she said. “It's true. Every day, you think, ‘Okay, what's going to kill it today?’ Then you’ve just got to work around it.” (Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Thursday, January 4, 2024 • NEWS • A7
Gunnison Country Times
Clinic from A1 intends to purchase the VailSummit practice on both ends of the valley, along with the building in Gunnison. The sale is still under negotiation, and Amrich did not comment on the price of the purchase. GVH is a county hospital, which means the Gunnison Board of County Commissioners appoints the GVH Board of Trustees and holds all of its properties. Commissioners discussed the deal during a regular meeting in late December. The purchase would involve three components, Amrich said. The first is the ambulatory surgery center, which is co-owned by Vail-Summit and local orthopedic doctor Gloria Beim. GVH intends to buy out all of VailSummit’s stake in the surgery center (70%) and leave the final 30% to Beim. GVH also intends to buy out the practice and the property in Gunnison, both of which Vail-Summit owns entirely. If the offer is accepted, GVH will own the building and practice on West Spencer Avenue, but only the practice in Crested Butte; Vail-Summit leases that location. The move will bring another surgery center under the GVH umbrella — the first that’s not located in the central hospital — and another room that already has OR infrastructure and could be converted for
surgery in the future. “The [surgery center] allows me to respond to community pressure, and just the future of health care, without having to build a brand new one at today's construction dollars, which alone is a gigantic advantage,” Amrich said.
“The [surgery center] allows me to respond to community pressure, and just the future of health care, without having to build a brand new one at today’s construction dollars, which alone is a gigantic advantage.” Jason Amrich GVH CEO No dog in the fight Commissioners discussed the sale in light of recent legislation which made it legal, for the first time ever, for a county hos-
pital’s board of trustees to own its own property. In the past, only the county could own hospital property, raising the question of who might own the new building. The new law does not change current property ownership or mandate it be changed in the future, but simply creates the opportunity for property to be owned by the board. Currently, the county owns all GVH property. The question of who owns the property has no effect on the management of the facility, County Manager Matthew Birnie said. Even the liability question is moot, he added, as suing the hospital over issues at a property often means suing the county too. After a brief discussion in the meeting, neither Amrich, Birnie or the commissioners expressed a preference for who should own it, noting no obvious benefits for either party. They settled on maintaining the current structure of countyowned properties. “We looked at that [legislation], where someone tried to solve the problem and we don't really have a dog in that fight,” said Commissioner Jonathan Houck. “I think that speaks to the strength of our relationship.” While the county has no real influence over the day-to-day management of the hospital, commissioners hold all of its properties and adopt its budget each year. Trustees meet pubcontinued on A8
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Staged Reading of Henry & Ellen January 6 | 7:00pm Kick off 2024 with an intimate staged reading of Henry & Ellen, the powerful and moving love story of two of the greatest actors of all time. Starring Gunnison Valley’s favorite theatre power couple, Steven Cole Hughes, Director of Theatre at Western Colorado University, and Heather Hughes, WCU Artist-in-Residence. reserve your tickets at crestedbuttearts.org
A8 • NEWS • Thursday, January 4, 2024 continued from A7 licly with the county commissioners four times a year, to provide updates on the hospital’s finances, staffing outlook and new hires. In the past, poor communication between the county and GVH led to the hospital board to purchase and hold its own property, violating the former state law. Now, that relationship has improved, in no small part because the board delegated to Birnie the ability to enter into property agreements for GVH. The shift has simultaneously reduced lag time and kept the county abreast of GVH property negotiations, Birnie said. Help if needed The new law also removes an annual 5% limit on contributions from a county's general fund. But outside of a small mill
Trail from A1 Planner Jessica Garrow. The report only lays out 10% of the trail’s design, a common first step in large projects that will need to leverage federal or state funding down the line. Highly-anticipated details like whether the trail will be seasonal or year round and support e-bikes and nordic skiing are yet to be answered. In early October, the county presented its plans to the public to slot the highly-anticipated path along Hwy. 135. The decision was met with shock and consternation to some members of the public who had long dreamed the trail would wind through the privately-held meadows and ranchlands. But according to the county, that option was practically impossible as only one of the required 11 private landowners agreed to let the trail intrude on their property. Despite some ruffled feathers in the fall, the STOR committee recommended the county continue with the highway-adjacent design. A safe trail for commuters Through the summer of 2023, Design Workshop, with the help of Colorado Wildlife Science and Collins Engineers, surveyed the land and wildlife in that corridor. That research showed that an off-highway alignment would have greater impacts on wildlife and migration corridors, said Leah Stoltz, project manager with Design Workshop. The report also recommended that fencing be minimal, animal safe and not prevent Hwy. 135 crossings. Community members have championed the safety of the trail as a priority for years. The fall survey revealed that the majority of the nearly 600 participants selected Alignment A for its limited encroachment on private lands and fewer road crossings. This option does not cross Hwy. 135 like the others, and has four road and seven driveway crossings. Engineers used a setback requirement of 17 feet from the edge of the highway to the edge
Gunnison Country Times
levy that generates less than a million dollars each year for the Senior Care Center, GVH doesn't receive taxpayer money or allocations from the county. Should the hospital face serious financial hardship in the future, the county could choose to help, but is not obligated to do so. In the last few years, neighboring counties as close as Delta, have had to help bail out local hospitals. Leadvillebased St. Vincent Health was a day away from not being able to pay its staff, but was saved by a last-minute cash infusion from both the county and the state, a move that ended up costing Lake County taxpayers nearly $500,000. In early 2023, nearly all of Delta County Memorial Hospital’s on-hand cash was drained by pandemicera Medicare loans. Following the resignation of both the CEO
and CFO, the state stepped in to fill the gap to the tune of $1.4 million. “The community expects there to be a health system. It’s a local system, it's a public health system,” Birnie said. “So when things go sideways, they're going to look at [the county] like they have in the past. And we've stepped in, not always in the way that was requested, but always in some way to try to provide that help.”
of the trail, said Bryan Frantz, senior project manager at Collins Engineering. This distance creates a safe buffer for trail users and allows for snow storage. Although the buffer falls below that threshold in some areas, over half of the trail has a buffer of 17 feet or more. The 12-foot wide trail falls to 10 feet in a section where it gets closer to the highway. Assistant County Manager for Public Works Martin Schmidt said that in his conversations with other public works directors who manage similar trails, none have seen a fatality so far — even in areas where the trail touches the highway. The current plan includes signage and striping at all the driveway crossings and stop signs at road crossings, all meant to require trail users to yield to cars. “They all said that they would much rather have this trail than not,” Schmidt said “And I think that the key to building a trail like this is some of the details
that don't come with a 10% plan, but make it easy to use the trail and easy to stay on it.”
(Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Local bikers compete in the Growler in late May. (Photo by Julia Sams)
“These trails are really helpful in improving access to transit service, reducing vehicle miles traveled and the associated greenhouse gas emissions.” Jessica Garrow Design Workshop
The survey also showed that locals want the trail to connect with bus stops, have trash cans
and trail signs and support both biking and walking. They also made a play for Nordic skiing — 70% identified the winter pastime as a trail priority. Although the county has yet to decide if the trail will be all-year or seasonal, engineers designed a preferred alignment to accommodate Nordic skiing. The total cost of the trail ranges between $4.2 and $8.6 million, depending on the surface material. Using gravel instead of a paved path could cut the project costs nearly in half. Public Works has not yet settled on the total cost of maintaining the path as the seasonality and surface is not finalized. Schmidt added that gravel needs more maintenance more often at a lower cost, while pavement needs less, more costly maintenance. In the past, committee members have split over the question of whether or not to accommodate e-bikes, some concerned about how the speed of
the bikes and the risk posed to walkers. Colorado Department of Transportation CDOT has not released any guidelines yet for e-bikes on multimodal trails, Frantz said. The average incline of the trail is a mere 2% (excluding the dip in the road near the Slate River) so e-bikes could gather speed quickly. But as the trail would be relatively flat, sight distance isn’t an issue, he said. The STOR committee is also reconvening the CB to CB South Trail Subcommittee to review the report and provide feedback. Gunnison Valley Stewardship Coordinator Nick Catmur was tasked with reaching out to those interested in serving on the subcommittee so they could meet sometime this month. (Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Designers offered a 12-foot trail that hugs Hwy. 135, and runs less than five miles between Brush Creek Road and Cement Creek Road. (Courtesy Design Workshop)
Thursday, January 4, 2024 • NEWS • A9
Gunnison Country Times
Blading to bluegrass The Jorgensen Ice Rink’s last “Skate to Lights” event of 2023 delivered a fun-filled evening on Dec. 29. Skaters of all ages and skill levels danced across the ice to bluegrass music.
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(Photos by Mariel Wiley)
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A10 • NEWS • Thursday, January 4, 2024
Gunnison Country Times
Riding with fire to ring in the New Year
1357 Hwy 50 Delta, CO 81416 970-874-0612
Crested Butte Mountain Resort Ski and Ride School instructors zig-zagged down International with fiery road flares in hand as night fell on Dec. 31. A cheering crowd greeted the riders at the base area beneath the glow of fireworks. This year, instructors were required to qualify for the icy ride during a test run earlier in the week.
Go to VarnerEquipment.com to see a full list of Consignments
UNDER CONTRACT
1203 Van Tuyl Circle, MLS #805249, $769,000, 4-Bedroom 3.25 Bathrooms 1766 sqft built in 2017. This quaint contemporary single family home is surrounded by magnificent views of the Palisades in the quiet neighborhood of Van Tuyl Village. This 4-bedroom 3.25-bathroom property, a primary bedroom with full bathroom on the ground floor and half bedroom by the utility room that is easily accessible by guests and friends when entertaining. The living room is equipped with a pellet stove, moving into an open kitchen area with granite countertops, a deep sink and dining area nearby. The upstairs consists of a second primary bedroom with 3/4 bathroom and two large bedrooms with a full bathroom in the hallway. The natural sunlight from the expansive windows throughout the property provides views and sun exposure. The huge fenced in front yard will enable you to garden and play with your pet(s) and/or entertain your family and friends during the beautiful sunny summers in Gunnison. The irrigation ditch is available during spring/summer/ fall months to water the yard and provide you with ambient noise to enjoy during the pleasant Gunnison evenings. Call the listing agent for further questions and to schedule a showing. 216 Lochleven Lane, MLS #804508, $875,000, 3-Bedroom 2-Bathroom 1,988 sqft, built in
NEW PRICE ADJUSTMENT 1985, and with1.056 acres with attached car garage. Well built home situated in the beautiful
little Homestead Subdivision in Almont. Sit on your large front deck and revel in the views up the East River Valley. Located just 10 min from Gunnison and 20 min from CB, you are centrally located to enjoy the activities the area has to offer from world class fishing, rafting and hiking to snowmobiling and skiing. This 2 story home has its main living area on the top floor with a large open kitchen/ dining living room area with a wood stove that keeps the top floor nice and warm. This area is a great space to gather and entertain as you take in the views surrounding the property. The property also has a sunroom that can be accessed from the second level or has 2 separate entrances from the exterior. There is a 1 car oversized attached garage and located next to the garage is a very large storage room/closet for all of your storage needs. The home has a lot of deck area on the outside for outdoor entertaining or to casually relax and take in the many different views. Almont is a quaint small town with 2 restaurants/bars located within minutes from the property. There is a free bus that runs up and down the valley from Gunnison to CB with a stop located in Almont. 459 Fairway Lane MLS #806172 $850,00 4-bedroom 3-bathroom 2291sqft. built in 1979 This contemporary quaint rustic house is within a profoundly well known subdivision, Dos Rios III. Close vicinity to the back 9 of the Dos Rios Golf Course. On a .46 of an acre, has 4-bedrooms and 3-bathrooms, the house features hardwood/tile floors, kitchen fully equipped with stainless appliances, kitchen cabinets and an open concept living room with a wood burning stove and second living room or/an office has a pellet stove. On the first floor you have a half bathroom that is easily accessible. On the second floor the master suite has an oversized bedroom with a full bathroom and a walk-in closet with a sliding barn door. The other full bathroom is down the hallway between the other two oversized bedrooms. The enormous backyard has a shed and plenty of sun exposure to plant/seed flowers, play with your pets and have get-togethers with friends. The two car garage is attached to the house and is very spacious and heated by a wood burning stove. There is sufficient amount of parking in the driveway and along the east side of the house. This home is magnificent so don’t miss out and schedule a showing by contacting the agent.
413 W New York MLS #805945 2125 sqft 1 bathroom Commercial Retail $525,000 Perfect Opportunity to Move a Business and/or a Start a New Business with great past history of tenants using the retail storefront i.e for nail/salon, daycare, mechanical auto body, pet/animal feed and accessories-retail and granite-retail/distribution to name a few. The property consists of about 1500 sqft of retail space with storefront access to New York and a half bathroom that is easily accessible for staff and customers to use. An added bonus is having an attached garage with about 625 sqft with an overhead garage bay. The garage could be a storage facility or part of business operations. The property has 5 parking spaces and close to Safeway and the new location of 5 Bs. A growing and upcoming neighborhood. Don’t miss this opportunity contact the listing agent to schedule a showing.
UNDER CONTRACT 71 Caddis Fly Lane - $200,000, MLS# 809269 Nice level 1.07 acre lot with trees located on on dead end road so there is ultimate privacy. Electric to corner of lot and it is with in close walking distance to HOA rental house for owners use. Subdivision located just minutes north of town and includes fishing rights along the Gunnison River and also includes many walking paths throughout the subdivision. Lot A next to this lot is also for sale, now is a great opportunity to pick up 2 lots to create more privacy!
KELLY
MCKINNIS
970.641.4880
AJ
MANI
129 EAST TOMICHI AVENUE
GUNNISONREALESTATEANDRENTALS.
(Photos by Mariel Wiley)
Thursday, January 4, 2024 • NEWS • A11
Gunnison Country Times
GCEA proposes 5% rate increase this spring On Dec. 20, the Gunnison County Electric Association proposed a 5% overall rate increase for 2024, set to take effect on March 1. The board is expected to approve the increase at a meeting on Jan. 24, after the public comment period ends. This increase spans all rate classes and will be distributed across the monthly service availability charge, demand charge (for large power and industrial accounts) and the energy or “kWh” charge. According to GCEA, inflation, supply chain challenges and a 6.6% rate increase from the cooperative’s wholesale power supplier contributed to the proposal. GCEA is absorbing a significant portion of its increased costs and postponing the rate
increase to March to mitigate the impact on its members. Residential rates will rise 5.3% on average, with monthly bills to increase approximately $7 based on an average of 704 kWh per month of usage. The monthly service availability fee will increase by $3 for most residential and commercial accounts. Even though GCEA’s cost of wholesale power increased on Jan. 1, the board delayed the rate increase to March to assist members during the months of highest usage. In doing so, GCEA will absorb approximately $260,000 in increased cost. The board opted not to pass on an additional $400,000 of increased annual costs, further mitigating the rate increase in 2024. The board continues to advocate for beneficial electrification
as both a solution to climate challenges and a means to curb future rate increases. Increased kWh sales, driven by the shift from fossil fuel sources to electric alternatives in homes and businesses and transportation, are expected to reduce upward rate pressure. GCEA will hold a virtual member meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 9, at 6 p.m. to review rate increase details, listen to member concerns and answer questions. The last rate increase GCEA imposed was on May 1, 2023, with an overall increase of 3.8%. To view the complete list of 2024 rate changes, visit gcea.coop. A link to the virtual meeting can also be found on the website. (Source: Gunnison County Electric Association.)
Take a tumble, shoot some hoops
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO THE GUNNISON VALLEY!
Best wishes in 2024 from everyone at the Coffee Trader
Your coffee gift card headquarters! We look forward to serving you in 2024!
ON THE CORNER OF MAIN ST. AND DENVER
GUNNISON GALLERY FIRST FRIDAY’S
Art, Chocolate & Music Walk
On New Year’s Eve, parents and kids spent an active afternoon tumbling in the mat room and taking shots on the basketball court next door at the Gunnison Rec Center.
“PAPER FOR FOOD” Origami and Quilling for The Gunnison Country Food Pantry
Friday, Jan.5th 5-7pm
Live Classical Piano music by JODI COLEMAN Enjoy Chocolate Fudge Brownies, Macaroons and Veggie Pizza by JERMAINE’S.
124 N. Main St. • (970) 641-6111 www.gunnisongallery.net
(Photo by Mariel Wiley)
Artwork on display until January 27th.
T
RAC https://drive.google.com/file/d/140P4z-ZNeTsDElbUD2Uf-CNJpWGXI8t_/view?usp=drive_web ONT ER C UND
294 S 5th St. Gunnison, CO 2 Bed | 1 Bath | 1 Car Garage Listed for $395,000.00 MLS# 809664
425 W Spencer Ave Gunnison, CO 3 Bed | 2 Bath | 2 Car Heated Garage 1,650 Sq Ft Listed for $699,000.00 MLS# 809735
18801 County 30 Road Lake City, CO 1 Bed | 3/4 Bath 1,508 Sq Ft 15 Acre Mining Claim Listed for $325,000.00 MLS# 809715
18001 Hinsdale County 30 Road Lake City, CO 2 Cabins on 40 Acre Mining Claim Listed for $750,000.00 MLS# 809752
95 George Bailey Dr. Almont, CO 2 Bed | 1 Bath 660 Sq t Listed for $79,900.00 MLS# 809660
Commercial Property With Business: Rene’s Garage, Inc. 929 Ocean Wave Dr. Lake City, CO Listed for $1,229,000.00 MLS# 809678
Lots 6-7 Vickers Ent Ranch Est 2 Acres Listed for $179,000.00 MLS# 809714
2743 Silver Coin Lane Lake City, CO 1 Acre Listed for $149,500.00 MLS# 809716
Cumberland MC Tincup MD Almont, CO 27 Acre Mining Claim Listed for $44,000.00 MLS# 809725
Rose McOneil MC Pitkin, CO 17 Acre Mining Claim Listed for $19,000.00 MLS# 809726
Kelsey Loftis C. 970-784-6768 kelseyloftis@ crystalpeakproperties.com crystalpeakproperties.com
Empire MC Tincup Pitkin, CO 10 Acre Mining Claim Listed for $12,000.00 MLS# 809724
A12 • NEWS • Thursday, January 4, 2024
Gunnison Country Times
New app designed to simplify staying alive in avalanche terrain Local launches AspectAvy in hopes of reducing avalanche fatalities Bella Biondini Times Editor
With its unpredictable snowpack, Colorado leads the country in the number of avalanche deaths each winter. A Crested Butte-based mountain guide is hoping a new avalanche risk assessment app he’s pioneered helps to change that. Launched late last year, AspectAvy is a new risk management tool designed to make staying alive in avalanche terrain simpler. By mapping high risk zones and encouraging active observations about the snowpack, its interface gives skiers and riders what they need to make more informed decisions when recreating in the backcountry. Although it is not a substitute for checking the daily forecast or formal avalanche safety training, its creators hope AspectAvy saves lives. Jeff Banks, who co-founded AspectAvy with product designer JB Leach, is an internationally certified mountain guide and has taught avalanche courses for the last two decades. According to Banks, the current avalanche system is antiquated and doesn’t meet the needs of today’s backcountry skiers and riders — something that is reflected in the number of avalanche deaths seen each year. Banks had a moment of realization 12 years ago on the last day of a ski tour in Italy when an avalanche broke right under his feet. For a split second, he said he thought he was going to die. Banks quickly jumped
clear of the slab he was standing on, but the rope attaching him to his clients became taut and the group slid 1,500 feet. When they finally came to a stop, the skiers brushed off the snow, unscathed. Other guides and their clients had been crossing the same slope for days, but Banks was the one that hit the “landmine.” “I have the benefit of all that training, and decades of experience and I got it wrong,” Banks said. “How's a normal person supposed to stand a chance? That caused me to re-examine everything I thought I knew.” Av a l a n c h e s d o n ’ t h a p pen ever ywhere, and usually occur on slopes steeper than 30 degrees and in runout paths that can be much flatter. Because of this, huge swaths of terrain are still safe even when overall conditions are dangerous. Still, the snowpack is complex and ever changing, which can make decision-making a challenge — especially for those new to the backcountry. Backcountr y users are encouraged to take courses with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) that teach risk management and rescue techniques. But staying safe is not always straightforward, and Banks said it can feel like a “bait and switch” for students. “They leave the course and they’re like, ‘Well I’m confused, overwhelmed and scared to death.’” Banks said. “Others decide not to go out skiing unless it’s low danger. And it’s because the system is not set up to where it’s simple to have fun in the snow and come home to friends and family.” Many skiers and riders rely on static maps where the shaded slope angles of mountains appear the same whether avalanche conditions are low or high danger. With AspectAvy, avalanche safety is “made simple,” Banks said. On the app, a shading overlay on a map is used to show the current ava-
lanche danger. Red areas are “no go” zones, with risks similar to base jumping, he said. Clear means a risk similar to driving a car. Local skiers and snowboarders depend on avalanche forecasters such as the Crested Butte Avalanche Center (CBAC) and the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) for avalanche danger ratings. But forecasts are never 100% accurate, and backcountry riders need to be active participants in verifying the information presented, Banks said. AspectAvy helps users test the forecast using a checklist of simple observations that could mean more dangerous conditions are present. Users are asked if they are experiencing shooting cracks, “whumpfs” (the audible, and loud collapsing of the snowpack), the rapid accumulation of new snow and temperature changes. Check marks cause the map to automatically adjust the danger rating. The North American public avalanche danger scale has five colored levels, starting with green for low and ending with black for extreme. The third stage, which falls in the middle of the scale, is “considerable,” marked by the color orange. Here, backcountry users are encouraged to carefully evaluate the snowpack and make conservative decisions. Despite this warning, avalanche accident data shows that the highest number of deaths occur when the danger is rated at considerable. Because of this, Banks decided to deviate from the standard scale and use the color red. “When you see a stoplight, green means go and red means stop,” he said. “Orange means I’ve got to make a decision and use my judgment. Do I hit the gas and get through the intersection? Or do I hit the brakes hard? We're trying to tell people to stop, and stay out of avalanche terrain.”
OpenSnow, a popular weather and snow forecasting platform, has been an early adopter of AspectAvy. OpenSnow tells its users where they can find good snow, while AspectAvy helps show where it’s safer to ski and ride. “For backcountry riders, the consequences of a single decision can mean that they do not return home alive,” Joel Gratz, the founder and meteorologist behind OpenSnow said in a statement. “As a backcountry skier, I am thrilled to work with AspectAvy and to incorporate their data, their checklists and their well-timed reminders to ensure that I am making a noregrets decision.” Later this winter, popular backcountry ski routes will be added to the AspectAvy’s interface, helping users quickly plan tours. This will be accompanied by a web-based app that will feature 3D imagery of the terrain. According to Banks, AspectAvy is the most “revolutionary” backcountry safety device since the invention of the beacon. “For 50 years, we’ve only had access to reactive avalanche gear, which means everything’s gone horribly wrong and now we are reacting to an avalanche and digging our partner out,” Banks said. “This is the first preventive avalanche safety, and we expect this to become a new standard in a couple of years.” No ‘one-size-fits-all’ Even with the launch of AspectAvy, traveling through avalanche terrain remains complicated. No one should be fooled by a “one-size-fits-all” approach to avalanche safety, said Ethan Greene, director of the CAIC. “It’s just not something that exists,” he said. “People should carry rescue gear, get avalanche education, hire a guide if that’s appropriate and always read the forecast so they have good information.
People should use the tools they feel are most helpful and AspectAvy is one of them.” Zach Guy, a lead forecaster at CBAC, applauded the AspectAvy team’s innovation and said the organization has been providing suggestions to improve the app before it’s considered a viable public safety tool. The CBAC team worried the app could make it difficult to determine the location of dangerous run out zones. CBAC, along with Greene, also believe the inconsistencies between AspectAvy and the widely accepted North American danger scale also have the potential to create confusion. Despite this, AspectAvy helps users recognize dangerous slope angles, Guy said. While there are certainly users that will benefit, other groups will continue to ride steep terrain. “We see this with our forecasts,” Guy said. “We tell people these are the most dangerous slopes, but people still gravitate there — often because that’s ski terrain, and where they like to go recreate. Whether people choose to engage with the app and apply the information is another question that is to be determined. We hope that it does lead to safer travel habits.” (Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Gunnison Country Times
Thursday, January 4, 2024 • NEWS • A13
O Tannenbaum Janielle Tredway’s third grade Gunnison Elementary School class “boarded” a simulated Lufthansa flight to Germany to experience the country’s traditional Christmas markets on Dec. 20. The passengers enjoyed in-flight refreshments (Goldfish crackers) and entertainment (a German Christmas tale) before touching down in "Munich." Tredway’s mother-in-law and former Gunnison High School German language teacher, Frau Tredway, taught German phrases to the students, including please (bitte), thank you (danke) and Christmas tree (tannenbaum). Inspired by a recent trip to Germany, Tredway organized activities such as making pickle ornaments, decorating gingerbread and sampling cuisine to immerse her class in German culture.
(Photos by Mariel Wiley)
A14 • NEWS • Thursday, January 4, 2024
Gunnison Country Times
The playground primaries On Dec. 21, Lake Preschool and Kindergarten students filed one by one into the school’s conference room to cast their votes. On each ballot, voters selected their favorite of two options for new playground equipment. The winner will be constructed in the summer of 2024. This project is part of the Gunnison Watershed School District’s valley-wide improvement project, which follows the passage of a $95 million bond in 2022. At the Lake School, plans include swapping the wood fiber chips with a rubber surface for fall protection, new shade structures over the sandbox and replacing aging playground equipment.
(Photos by Mariel Wiley)
Board of Adjustments..........................................................................2
Through SUNDAY, JANUARY 7th at 5:00 pm
7th Judicial District Community Corrections Board ......................... 1 Cemetery District Board ...................................................................... 1 Environmental Health Board .......... 1 regular & 2 alternate positions Extension Advisory Committee .......................................................... 3 Gunnison Basin Sage-grouse Strategic Committee ......4 At-Large & 4 alternate positions Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Board ........................................ 1 Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority ................................... 1 Historic Preservation Commission ..................................................... 4 Library Board of Trustees .................................................................... 2 Medical Health Officer .......................................................................... 1 Planning Commission .....................................1 regular & 2 alternates Region 10, Transportation ................................................................... 2 Sustainable Tourism and Outdoor Recreation (STOR) Committee 4 Tourism and Prosperity Partnership (TAPP) Board .......................... 3 Western Regional EMS Council .......................................................... 1
Through TUESDAY, JANUARY 16th at 5:00 pm
Lights & Sirens CITY OF GUNNISON POLICE REPORT DEC. 21 PROPERTY - FOUND PROPERTY - FOUND DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE - DRUGS — 500 E. TOMICHI AVE. INFORMATION — S. 6TH ST. ASSAULT: THIRD DEGREE - BODILY INJURY — N. IOWA ST. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE — 226 N. MAIN ST.
DEC. 22 WELFARE ASSIST — N. 11TH ST. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE - ALCOHOL — 6 EMMONS RD. THEFT: INTENDS TO PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE — 900 N. MAIN
DEC. 23 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE — W. TOMICHI AVE. ANIMAL - RUNNING AT LARGE MUNICIPAL — 200 S. TAYLOR ST. PROPERTY - LOST — 100 S. 7TH ANIMAL - RUNNING AT LARGE MUNICIPAL — 229 N. MAIN ST. PROPERTY - FOUND — 910 W. BIDWELL AVE. CRIMINAL TRESPASS - MUNICI-
PAL — 900 N. MAIN ST. JUVENILE PROBLEM — N. 8TH ST. ACCIDENT - HIT AND RUN — 901 N. MAIN ST. OBSTRUCTING A PEACE OFFICER/FIREFIGHTER/EMS — 777 E. GEORGIA AVE.
DEC. 24 H A R A S S M E N T : I N S U LT S , TAUNTS, CHALLENGES — 212 E. TOMICHI AVE. ACCIDENT — 901 N. MAIN ST. HARASSMENT: COMMUNICATIONS — 136 C.R. 13
DEC. 26 FRAUD - INFORMATION/WIRE — 1107 W. TOMICHI AVE. ROBBERY — 510 E. TOMICHI AVE. INFORMATION — 711 W. RIO GRANDE AVE. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE — W. DENVER AVE.
DEC. 27 MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATION CRIMINAL TRESPASS: THIRD DEGREE — 900 N. MAIN ST. THEFT: INTENDS TO PERMA-
continued on A19
Thursday, January 4, 2024 • NEWS • A15
Gunnison Country Times
Western wins grant to plan for future nursing program in Gunnison ‘There’s a tremendous need for nurses’ Seth Mensing Special to the Times
Even before the pandemic put an incredible strain on health care workers, the number of nurses was woefully inadequate to meet the needs of people across the United States. Today, post-pandemic, the health care staffing shortage has become a crisis, specifically in Colorado and especially in rural areas. According to a report on workforce trends released by the global consultant, Mercer, employers will need to hire more than 1 million nurses across the country by 2026. On the list of 29 states where demand is outpacing supply, Colorado ranks behind only two others. The state is projected to be more than 10,000 nurses short of what will be needed. Western Colorado University is developing a nursing program focused on the needs of rural communities as the gap
between supply and demand grows toward a breaking point. Last summer, the university was one of 46 recipients of a $50,000 Opportunity Now grant from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. The money will help fund the planning effort for what will become the Western Slope’s newest nursing program. In October, Western was invited to apply for a $1.5 million grant from the same fund to help implement the program over three years. If its request is granted, Western will receive those funds in early 2024 and start work on the programs immediately. A third funding phase meant to help institutions scale their projects would be available later. “ T h e r e ’s a t r e m e n d o u s need for nurses,” Professor of Exercise & Sport Science Lance Dalleck, who served as the principal investigator for the grant, said. “This is a really big opportunity for Western.” Da l l e ck sa i d t hat si n c e Western has a pre-nursing program, the university already has the faculty needed to teach prerequisite courses for the program right now.
Bethany Church 909 N Wisconsin St.
(behind Powerstop) • 970-641-2144 Two services at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. FREE lunch for college students following the 10:30 a.m. service gunnisonbethany.com 9 a.m.: Family Service with nursery & children’s church Check out our website for updates! Or download our app on the App Store by searching, Gunnison Bethany.
B'nai Butte Congregation
PO Box 2537 Crested, Butte CO 81224 305-803-3648 B’nai Butte Congregation serving the Jewish communities of Crested Butte, Gunnison and the East River Valley in Colorado www.bnaibutte.org Spiritual Leader: Rabbi Mark Kula; available for you at RabbiMarkKula@gmail.com
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.
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
“But we will eventually need people who have a terminal degree in nursing. We’ve proposed three to four new faculty members plus a stand-alone administrator,” he said. “The other major expense is developing a space on campus where the students can be trained. As such, we have included funding in the grant for a simulation lab, where students can develop their nursing skills before they start their clinical rotations.” In order to start moving graduates into the workforce quickly, the grant proposes a nursing program that offers students three different options: a traditional four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), an accelerated BSN program that would allow students to earn their degree in approximately 18 months and a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program that will only take a few months for students to complete. A layered approach will allow students with a CNA certification to return for more education if and when they choose. It will also permit CNAs who are currently working in the valley to continue their education without leaving the valley.
“We lose one to two staff a year who are pursuing their career goals, mostly for nursing,” Gunnison Valley Health (GVH) Chief Nursing Officer Nicole Huff said. “We have had challenges recruiting their replacements for many different reasons, like the high cost of living, no housing and low wages compared to competitors. So we have had to default to travelers who make twice as much as permanent staff, and they too are short-timers.” Huff said that nurses in rural settings deal with their own unique challenges compared to their urban and suburban counterparts, and need to be trained accordingly. “Rural nursing is a special kind of nursing that illuminates the skills each nurse possesses. In Urban areas, nurses have their specialty. In rural nursing, it is an expectation to know a little about a lot. The ability of a nurse to deliver a baby, then take care of an elderly patient in surgery and then save a life in the emergency department tells you that rural health nurses are beyond special. They are unicorns — unique and rare. We need these nurses here in Gunnison.”
Faith Directory
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. www.newsonggunnison.net
Community Church of Gunnison
107 N. Iowa • 970-641- 0925 Pastor Larry Nelson Christmas Eve Service 7:00 p.m. Sunday Morning Worship 9:30 a.m. Weekend Services 9:30 a.m. Nursery & Age-Graded Ministry Weekly Student Ministry Weekly Adult LifeGroups Office Hours: Mon-Thurs, 9-4 For more info: ccgunnison.com or email info@ccgunnison.com Join us in-person, listen to our broadcast on 98.3 FM, or view online stream on YouTube Transforming Lives • Building Community
First Baptist Church
120 N. Pine St. • 970-641-2240 Pastor Jonathan Jones 9:30 a.m. Share & Prayer Fellowship 10 a.m. Sunday School Classes 11 a.m. Morning Worship Service 6 p.m. Evening Service Wednesday 7 p.m. - Children's Patch Club Gunnison Bible Institute Thursday 7 p.m. - College & Career Christian Fellowship www.firstbaptistgunnison.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. www.trinitybaptistsgunnison.com
Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church 711 N. Main • 970-641-1860 Children’s Christmas Program Sunday, December 17th at 10 AM Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7 PM Christmas Day Service at 10 AM
The Good Samaritan Episcopal Church 307 W. Virginia Ave. • 970-641-0429 Rev. Laura Osborne, Vicar Sunday Morning Holy Eucharist, Rite II 9 a.m. Children's Sunday school 9 a.m. - 9:40 a.m. Office Hours: M-Th 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. www.goodsamaritangunnison.com Visit our partnership church: All Saints in the Mountains, Crested Butte Holy Eucharist, Rite II, Sunday 5 p.m. Union Congregational Church, 403 Maroon Ave., Crested Butte.
To help the program recruit a n d re t a i n s t u d e n t s w h o can make an easy transition to employment, the GVH Foundation Board has committed $20,000 a year in scholarship money. “We need to have the program be sustainable when funding concludes in 33 months,” Dalleck said. “What we propose would transition from fully funded by the grant to partially funded to self-sustaining.” The goal is to recruit 20 students each year for the program, which would bring in 80 students total by the time the program is full. “The leadership and faculty at Western know how important addressing the needs of rural nursing is for our state, and we are ready to step up by training the next generation of nurses,” Provost Jess Young said. (Seth Mensing is the media and communications manager at Western Colorado University.)
The Rising Church
92 C.R. 17 • 970-444-1545 Service times: Sundays @ 9:30 a.m., Men’s and Women’s group, Tuesday @ 6:30 p.m. Rising Gen (youth ministry) Thursdays @ 6 p.m. Gunnisonrising.church for more details!
Rocky Mountain Christian Ministries
1040 Highway 135 (1/4 mile N. of Spencer Ave.) • 970-641-0158 Sunday Morning Worship 9:30 a.m. Nursery and Children’s ministry through Middle School “Remedy” Worship Nights Small Group Ministries www.rmcmchurch.org
St. Peter’s Catholic Church
300 N. Wisconsin • 970-641-0808 Fr. Andres Ayala-Santiago www. gunnisoncatholic.org www. crestedbuttecatholic.org or call the Parish Office. St. Peter’s - Gunnison Sat 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 Mass Service, Sun. at 10 a.m.
Gunnison Congregational Church United Church of Christ 317 N. Main St. • 970-641-3203 Open and Affirming Whole Earth · Just Peace Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Casual, Relaxed, “Come As You Are” Worship www.gunnisonucc.org
THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2024
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Classifieds EMPLOYMENT
EC ELECTRIC IS SEEKING
Journeyman & Residential Wireman for projects in the Gunnison and Crested Butte areas. Must have a valid Colorado driver’s license and pass a pre-employment drug screen. Top pay & Benefits. Send resumes to info@ec-electric.com or call 970-641-0195 www.ec-electric.com/careers
LITTLE RED SCHOOLHOUSE is hiring a full-time preschool teacher. This is a great opportunity for a year-round, full-time, stable job with great pay and benefits in a fun and supportive environment. Experience and education are preferred but not required and opportunities for growth are abundant. If you love little people, being creative and spending your days doing something rewarding, this is the job for you. Contact Jessica with resume at lilredschoolhouse1@ gmail.com. FOUR DAY/32 HOUR WORK WEEK: CB South Metro District is now accepting applications for a road manager and heavy equipment operator. This position would be responsible for planning, organizing and directing all activities and staff related to the district’s roads and maintenance. Duties include road maintenance, snow removal, drinking water operations, wastewater operations and other day-to-day tasks of running a utility. This job requires the applicant to have motor grader and heavy equipment experience. Applicants must be 18 years of age and have a valid Colorado driver’s license. The successful applicant is eligible to receive an elite benefit package. Full job description, requirements, pay ranges and benefits are available on the district’s website at cbsouthmetro.net. Email resume to info@cbsouthmetro.net or drop off at 280 Cement Creek Road.
PROJECT HOPE OF GUNNISON VALLEY seeks an advocacy director for a 34 hour/ week position to serve victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and/or human trafficking. To apply, send resume, cover letter and three references to info@hope4gv. org. See further info on our website at hope4gv.org/employment.
ELEVEN IS SEEKING A LODGE AND PREP COOK for our Taylor River and Scarp Ridge Lodges in Crested Butte, CO. This position will support the Colorado Culinary team with food preparations, transportation and meal service, performing at a high level in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment while maintaining a respectful, calm composure and fostering a team environment. This position will help manage inventory, maintain a clean, foodsafe, organized kitchen and interact with guests professionally to make sure they’re having the best possible experience. This position will also help host special events at all Eleven Colorado properties and offsite. One year previous food and beverage experience, along with team orientation and flexibility required. This position is fulltime, seasonal starting at $21-$23/hour, depending on experience and qualifications. This position also receives pooled tips. For more information and to apply, please visit elevenexperience.com/careers/.
MOUNTAIN EXPRESS FULL-TIME SERVICE MECHANIC NEEDED: Mountain Express has an immediate opening for a full-time service mechanic. The service mechanic is responsible for the repair and maintenance of fleet vehicles at the direction of the shop supervisor. This position will also maintain shop parts inventory, as well as assist with shop upkeep. A CDL is required for this position, but Mountain Express will provide training to get this certification. This position offers health insurance, life insurance, retirement participation with match, as well as the use of a ski locker at Mountaineer Square. Eligible applicants must be at least 21 years of age and be flexible to fill schedule gaps as needed to ensure year-round mechanic coverage. Annual salary of $55,000 per year based on experience. See full job description by visiting Mountain Express’s website at mtnexp.org/about-mtnexp/employment/. Please submit a resume via email to lpetito@ mtnexp.org. EOE.
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: Bus Drivers Food Service-CBCS ELL Educational Assistant-CBCS and GMS Assistant Building Manager-CBCS Lead Custodian-Lake School Permanent Substitute-GHS Substitute Teachers PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Counselor-CBES COACHING: GHS-Speech and Debate GHS-Assistant Girls Basketball Coach Please contact: Superintendent’s Office JoAnn Klingsmith 800 N. Boulevard 970-641-7760 jklingsmith@gunnisonschools.net
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OPENING: Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority (GVRHA) is seeking an executive director. Primarily operating out of an office in Gunnison, GVRHA is managed by an intergovernmental agreement among the City of Gunnison, Town of Crested Butte, Town of Mt. Crested Butte, and Gunnison County. The executive director reports to a nine-member board of directors and oversees a budget of $900,000 and a team of four staff. Core services include property management, monitoring deed restrictions, overseeing programs such as GV Heat, and consulting with community partners on affordable housing development. This is a great opportunity for a strong manager, creative problem solver and collaborative leader to join a passionate board and community partners in tackling the most important problem facing Gunnison Valley today. Salary range is $115,000-$140,000 annually DOQ and first review is Jan. 28. For more information, visit GMP Consultants at gmphr.com/job-postings/.
DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT: The Gunnison Food Pantry is seeking a dedicated and motivated individual to fill the role of development assistant. This parttime position is critical to the organization’s success in securing funds necessary to support the food pantry’s mission of providing food assistance in Gunnison County. The development assistant role includes grant writing, grant research, funding outreach within our community, appeal development and donor recognition. Salary range: $14,976-$16,848. Email Jodi at director@ gunnisoncountryfoodpantry.org to inquire. AMERICORPS SERVICE OPPORTUNITY: Food security coordinator. The Gunnison Food Pantry is looking for a full-time, selfmotivated and passionate team member to help with the food pantry’s program administration and volunteer coordination. We are looking for a team member dedicated to making a positive impact in the Gunnison Valley by working to better pantry programs that reach those in need. The food security coordinator position will aid in program facilitation, such as recording and reporting information, working with program partners
CITY OF GUNNISON EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Construction Project Manager Full-time, $83,200-$112,400/yr This is a temporary, full-time position that is anticipated to be renewed annually for technical oversight for a 5-7 year long, $50 million multi-phased design and construction program for the city’s water system improvements project. Police Officer Full-time, $68,900-$93,100/yr $33.13-$44.76/hr Performs technical, professional, and administrative duties related to maintaining the security of the city, protecting constitutional guarantees of all persons, protecting life and property, preserving public peace and order, preventing, solving and detecting crimes, facilitating the safe movement of people and vehicles and other emergency services as needed. POST Certification not required. The city will pay for the police academy if needed and pay a cadet wage of $50,900 while attending the academy. Includes a $15,000 signing bonus. Increased wages over abovelisted salary available for working nights. Personal liability insurance paid by the City of Gunnison. Housing is available. The City of Gunnison offers a competitive benefit package including 75% of medical, dental and vision premiums paid for the employee and their dependents, 5% of gross wages in a retirement plan, 3 weeks of vacation (increasing based on the years of service), 13 paid holidays, and 12 days of sick leave per year. For more information, including complete job descriptions, benefit packages, required job qualifications and application instructions, please visit GunnisonCO.gov/HR to support initiatives, special projects, and developing materials and program infrastructure as needed. AmeriCorps and other benefits. Email Jodi at director@ gunnisoncountryfoodpantry.org to inquire.
COMMUNITY BANKS OF COLORADO is currently seeking a candidate to fill a full-time associate banker position in our Gunnison banking center. This is a great opportunity for someone wanting to start a career in banking or for an individual looking for a career change. For position details and to apply, please visit cobnks.com. NBH Bank is an equal opportunity employer.
JOHN ROBERTS MOTOR WORKS SEEKS COLLISON CENTER TECHNICIANS AND AUTOMOTIVE CENTER TECHNICIANS. Competitive pay, 401K, insurance, paid vacations. 40 hour work week. Apply at John Roberts Motor Works.
Legals AGENDA Special Meeting/Mill Levy Certification January 8, 2023 5:30pm ZOOM only Agenda This meeting will be conducted by distance using the video conferencing platform ZOOM. Please check the GWSD website for further instructions. I. Call to Order II. Roll Call III. Pledge of Allegiance IV. Modifications/Approval of Agenda V. Mill Levy Certification presentationDirector of Finance, Tia Mills VI. Public comment relating to the Mill Levy Certification *Visitors who wish to address the Board please make known via Zoom. VII. Consider approval of Certification Action Item
Mill
VIII.
Levy
Adjourn
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication date of January 4, 2024 11800
NOTICE OF HEARING NOTICE OF HEARING BY PUBLICATION PURSUANT TO § 15-10-401, C.R.S. District Court, Gunnison County, Colorado Court Address: 200 W. Virginia Avenue In the Interest of: Andre Swanson Attorney or Party Without Attorney: Tabitha Rich Joshua Hoppstadter 508 S. 12th St. Ste. A. Gunnison, CO 81230 706-455-4000 tabithat2014@gmail.com Case Number: 23PR9
MOUNTAIN EXPRESS SHOP TECHNICIAN: Join our team! Mountain Express is looking to recruit a shop technician for immediately available shifts. Applicant required to hold a CDL class BP-2 with no air brake restrictions, or we will pay for you to obtain one. Starting wage is $22.60/hr. Health insurance is available based on hours worked. Ski locker benefit. Shop technicians are responsible for daily fueling and cleaning of fleet vehicles and other related tasks at the direction of the shop supervisor. Please contact Leah Petito at lpetito@mtnexp.org to apply and for a complete job description visit mtnexp.org. EOE.
REAL ESTATE HOME FOR SALE: 1,700 sq. ft. 2020 build. Very accessible single story home in great west Gunnison location. For further details enter 600 Carbon Court, Gunnison, CO into Zillow search and/or contact terravistalimited@gmail.com, 970-497-9113. 1 BEDROOM APARTMENT FOR RENT: Utilities included. 970-312-5767.
To: Cheree Swanson Last Known Address, if any: Unknown A hearing on guardianship of a minor, guardianship of Andre Swanson, will be held at the following time and location or at a later date to which the hearing may be continued: Time: February 13, 2024 Time: 9 AM Courtroom or Division: B Address: 200 W. Virginia Ave., Gunnison, CO 81230 The hearing will take approximately 60 minutes. Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication dates of January 4, 11, 18, 2024 11754
Thursday, January 4, 2024 • CLASSIFIEDS • A17
Gunnison Country Times PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING 2024 BUDGET FOR THE RAGGED MOUNTAIN FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, by the Ragged Mountain Fire Protection District, pursuant to C.R.S. 29-1-106, that on Tuesday, January 9th, 2024 at 6:00 pm, the Ragged Mountain Fire Protection District will hold a Public Hearing regarding the 2024 Budget. The Hearing will be held via conference call (605) 472-5550 Access Code 296143 and at 3688 Highway 133, Somerset CO 81434. The proposed budget is available for inspection by the public at the office of the Ragged Mountain Fire Protection District located at 3688 Highway 133, Somerset CO 81434. Office Hours are Monday 10am 2pm, Tuesday 1pm- 4 pm., and Friday 10am - 2pm. Any interested elector of the Ragged Mountain Fire Protection District may file any objection to the proposed budget at any time prior to the final adoption of the budget, in writing, delivered to the office of the Ragged Mountain Fire Protection District, located at 3688 Highway 133, Somerset CO 81434 or mailed to PO Box 570; Somerset, CO 81434.
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication date of January 4, 2024 11798
PUBLIC HEARING Notice of Public Hearing 2024 Budget – January 8, 2023 Gunnison County Metropolitan Recreation District, North Subdistrict, and South Subdistrict Notice is hereby given that the proposed 2024 budget has been submitted to the Board of Directors of the Gunnison County Metropolitan Recreation District. A copy of said budget has been filed at the District office, 710 S. 9th Street, Gunnison, CO 81230, where the same is open for public inspection. Or a copy may be obtained by emailing a request to admin@gcmetrec. com. That said proposed 2024 budget will be considered at a special meeting of the Gunnison County Metropolitan Recreation District Board of Directors to be held on Monday, the 8th day of January 2024, at 1:00 P.M. at the District office. The Board
will hold a public hearing at such a meeting during which all interested parties may be heard. A remote video communications link may also be obtained by contacting Derrick Nehrenberg, District Manager, via the phone number below or emailing a request to admin@gcmetrec.com. Any interested elector of the District may inspect the proposed budget and file or register any objections thereto at any time prior to the final adoption of the budget on January 8th, 2024. Derrick Nehrenberg, District Manager, (970) 641-8725. Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication date of January 4, 2024 11808
REQUEST FOR BIDS SEALED
BID
2001
OSH
KOSH
The Town of Mt. Crested Butte is accepting sealed bids for the following vehicle until 3pm, February 5, 2024. Bidding Item: Vehicle: 2001 Osh Kosh Mileage/Hours: 55,423 3,946 Hours
miles
and
VIN: 10TBRAF331S070020 Location for Inspection: 911 Gothic Road Mt. Crested Butte, CO 81225 Vehicle may be viewed and test driven prior to submitting a bid. MINIMUM SELLING PRICE: $10,000 ALL SALES ARE FINAL AND VEHICLE IS SOLD AS IS. Condition of Bidding: Item Condition: The vehicle advertised by the Town of Mt. Crested Butte (the “Town”) for sale by bid is sold AS-IS. The Town shall strive to make its best effort to assist interested parties in obtaining information about the vehicle for sale; however, the Town makes NO warranty of the condition of the vehicle nor accuracy of the vehicle description. Each bidder shall be responsible for verifying condition and accuracy of the item description prior to submitting a bid. The vehicle comes with a Monroe Spreader run by own auxiliary gasoline powered motor and an 11 foot Monroe Plow Blade. The truck is currently exhibiting a loss of power and backfires when or after going downhill. Terms of Sale: The successful bidder shall be provided a
written “Notice of Award” within ten (10) days after bid closing date. Successful bidder shall make full payment with cash or a cashier’s check made payable to the Town, and shall arrange to pick up the vehicle within ten (10) days of the Notice of Award. Default of Sale: Vehicle not paid for within the timeline provided shall forfeit their claim to the vehicle and shall not be eligible to bid on future items. If item is not picked up with the timeline provided, payment for the vehicle may be retained, in whole or in part, by the Town for damages. If bidder forfeits claim to bid, the Town may, at its discretion, offer the vehicle to the next highest bidder. To view or test drive the vehicle please contact Bobby Block, Maintenance Supervisor, at bblock@mtcb.colorado. gov or 970-349-6632 ext 114. To see the full bid and bidding instructions please go to our website at www.mtcb.colorado.gov/ departments-services/maintenance Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication date of January, 11751
Putting arts and culture in the
spotlight.
www.gunnisontimes.com
CLUES ACROSS
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48. You can take it 49. A radio band 51. Jaws of an animal 52. Short-billed rails 54. Chinese province 56. Shameless and undisguised 60. Horizontal passage into a mine 61. Adult males 62. Fail to entertain 63. Dried-up 64. City in north-central Utah 65. Southern U.S. 66. German river 67. Oxygen 68. Make law
CLUES DOWN
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CROSSWORD ANSWERS FOR PREVIOUS WEEK
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IR Name, Phone: News Gothic To download graphic files goMT toCnwww.edwardjones.com/graphics WebADVISOR Address: BodoniBerthBQ-Regular BILL MATTHEWS - FINANCIAL Childcare 641-6438 Windo 641-0400 • www.RaymondJames.com Unlimited Dialup Services SIPC line: News Gothic MT 210 W. Spencer Ave., Unit C SIGNS & SCREENPRINTING SmallHigh Ads Speed DSL starting at $17.95/month DSL To see why it makes sense to roll Member FINRA/SIPC IR name: Extra Condensed Franklin Gothic 641.3767 $17.95/month your 401(k) to Edward Jones, Mountai $19.95/month Unlimited Dial-up Email Only Accounts Address: News Gothic MT Cn Bus: (970) 641-1900 Large Ad Unlimited Dialup Services OUSE Improvement call today. S MITH OPERA HHome IR Street Address Cell: (970) 596-0715 North Main Satellite TV & Satellite419Internet Fax: (970) 641-1906 Gunnison, CO 81230 Web Design & Web Hosting Email OnlyFranklin AccountsGothic City/Town: Extra Condensed 114 N. Boulevard St., Suite 105 • Gunnison IR City, State, ZIP Sirius & XM Radio Matt Robbins CRs, GRi Frank Patin 715.892.1673 Web Design & Web Hosting IR Name, Phone: News Gothic MT Cn To download graphic files go to www.edwardjones.com/graphics BILL MATTHEWS - FINANCIAL ADVISOR Phone b ChildcareIRwww.edwardjones.com 641-6438 641-3702 or 641-6438 641-0400 • www.RaymondJames.com 641-6438 To download graphic files go to www.edwardjones.com/graphics/usa/sales/ads 210 W. Ave., Unit C Member SIPC SmallHigh Ads Speed DSL starting at Pre-school andSpencer Child Care 210 W. Spencer Ave. Unit C DSL $17.95/month FOSTER CONSTRUCTION 210 W. Spencer Ave., Unit C Terri Sokaitis "Helping Buyers & Sellers IR name: Extra Condensed Franklin Gothic Six weeks to 12 years HANDYMAN, CARPENTRY $17.95/month Since 1984" $19.95/month 525 N. Main St. Unlimited Dial-up Address: News Gothic MT Cn & RENOVATION SERVICES Bus: (970) Gunnison, 641-1900 CO 81230 Landscaping HOME IMPROVEMENTS, INC. Unlimited Dialup Services HOME IMPROVEMENTS, INC. 970-641-5036 Cell: (970) Office: 596-0715 North Main Satellite TV & Satellite419Internet Home Improvement 642-1949 Cell: 970-275-2899 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE Replacement Windows & Doors Fax: (970) 641-1906 Gunnison, CO 81230 Only Accounts Replacement Windows & Doors Email Fax: 970-641-5524 Personal & Residential Landscaping Roofing - Steel & Shingle www.monarchrlty.com Sirius & XM Radio Phone: ( 720-201-9100 tsokaitis@rockymountainre.com Roofi ng Steel & Shingle Email: brokers@monarchrlty.com Fax: (9 Insulated Siding Web Design & Web Hosting www.rockymountainre.com Insulated Siding Seamless Rain Gutters Patio Covers & Awnings Seamless Rain Gutters Warren 641-3702 or 641-6438 Mobile Home Improvements Patio Covers & Awnings 641-6438 To download graphic files go to www.edwardjones.com/graphics/usa/sales/ads Homebuilders Inc. Computers You Buy, Always Give Whitey’s a Try! re-school and ChildBeforeCare 210 W. Spencer Ave. Unit C Mobile Home Improvements • New Construction and Remodels TAX PREPARATION 210 W. Spencer Ave., Unit C
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mino Del Rio, CONSTRUCTION IR Name Gunnison, CO 81230 Investment Representative Thanks Everyone for keeping me busy the past 3 1/2
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years after my 19 year absence! 24th year here… Thanks for helping me!
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Thursday, January 4, 2024 • NEWS • A19
Gunnison Country Times
Lights & Sirens continued from A14 NENTLY DEPRIVE — 900 N. MAIN CRIMINAL TRESPASS: THIRD DEGREE — 900 N. MAIN ST. VIOLATION OF PROTECTION ORDER: CRIMINAL ORDER — 900 N. MAIN ST.
DEC. 21
THEFT - LESS THAN $100: SHOPLIFTING — 900 N. MAIN ST. THEFT - LESS THAN $100: SHOPLIFTING — 900 N. MAIN ST.
-Agency assist to the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office by retrieving a wallet at a Somerset residence -Deputies took one person into custody on one in-county warrant and three out-of-county warrants -Deputies issued a citation for driving while driver’s license is canceled/revoked -Deputies assisted the GPD with a fight in progress and an arrest
DEC. 29
DEC. 22
INFORMATION — 800 N. COLORADO ST. CRIMINAL TRESPASS: SECOND DEGREE - COMMON AREA — 900 N. MAIN ST. WELFARE ASSIST — N. MAIN ST.
-Detention took in a person on two out-of-county warrants -Deputies took another littering complaint in the county -Deputies assisted the Colorado State Patrol with the arrest of a person with a felony warrant -Deputies received a gun a family wanted to relinquish, it will be put in evidence and will be destroyed in 90 days -Deputies booked in a person turning themselves in on an in-county warrant -Deputies assisted the GPD with a suspect vehicle from a recent domestic -Harassment report
DEC. 28
DEC. 30 DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE - ALCOHOL — 700 W. VIRGINIA AVE. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE - ALCOHOL — 100 N. 11TH ST. MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATION — 101 IRWIN ST. THEFT: INTENDS TO PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE — 203 W. HWY. 50 ANIMAL - NUISANCE ABATEMENT - MUNICIPAL— 404 W. RIO GRANDE AVE. PROPERTY - FOUND — 108 N. TAYLOR ST. WELFARE ASSIST — N. MAIN ST.
DEC. 31 DRIVING WHILE ABILITY IMPAIRED - ALCOHOL — 200 E. GOTHIC AVE. ACCIDENT - HIT AND RUN — S. BOULEVARD ST.
JAN. 1 WELFARE ASSIST — W. GUNNISON AVE. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE — W. DENVER AVE. THEFT - UNDER $100 MUNICIPAL — 900 N. MAIN ST. CRIMINAL TRESPASS - MUNICIPAL — 900 N. MAIN ST. WARRANT SERVICE - OTHER JURISDICTION — 999 E. TOMICHI AVE. WELFARE ASSIST — W. BIDWELL AVE.
GUNNISON COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT DEC. 19 -Deputies took one person into custody for an in-county warrant -Dog at large and vicious dog warning -Paper service -Missing person/welfare check -Agency assist for the Gunnison Police Department with an emergency alert activation
DEC. 20 -Deputies issued a citation for speeding 68 in a 55, violations on an instructional permit and operating the vehicle with expired plates over 60 days -Found dog was taken to Gunnison Valley Animal Welfare League and later picked up by her owner -Civil paper service served
DEC. 23 -Theft of packages/mail - Arrowhead area - under investigation -Deputies assisted the GPD with an emergency button that was activated due to a trespass in progress
DEC. 26 -Deputies responded to a dispute in progress that resulted in the death of one of the parties -Computer crime reported in Marble - under investigation
DEC. 27 -Information report -Agency assist to the Greeley Police Department - welfare check on person they had listed as missing -Hit and run accident - driver was issued a summons
DEC. 28 -Information report on harassment by juveniles -Information report - citizen complaint/concern with underage driving on public roads
DEC. 29 -Civil assist/standby in a Writ of Restitution
DEC. 30 -Deputies assisted the GPD with an arrest of a fleeing subject -Welfare check -Information report - OHV accident with injuries -Vicious dog complaint
JAN. 1 -Information report - property watch -Fraud report -Family dispute at Hartman’s -Information report - welfare check
CO 135 SAFE STREETS FOR ALL ACTION PLAN How do you travel along CO 135/N Main St/6th St? Do you have safety concerns about the corridor?
WE NEED YOUR INPUT:
TAKE THE SURVEY & PIN THE MAP.
bit.ly/CO135survey1
EL PLAN DE ACCIÓN DE CALLES SEGURAS PARA TODOS DE CO 135
¿Cómo se viaja por la carretera CO 135/N Main St/6th St? ¿Le preocupa la seguridad del corredor vial?
NECESITAMOS SU OPINIÓN:
HAZ LA ENCUESTA Y DEJA PINES EN EL MAPA.
bit.ly/CO135survey1
FAMILY MEDICINE CLINIC
WELCOME TO GUNNISON VALLEY HEALTH
DR. WILLIAM GATTIS, MD
Dr. William Gattis, MD is a board-certified family medicine physician. Dr. Gattis attended medical school and completed his family medicine residency at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. Dr. Gattis has extensive experience providing both family and emergency medicine in communities on Colorado’s Western Slope. Recently, he served as the medical director of the Lake City Medical Center. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Gattis, contact: Gunnison Valley Health Family Medicine Clinic | 970-642-8413 WWW.GUNNISONVALLEYHEALTH.ORG
A20 • NEWS • Thursday, January 4, 2024
Gunnison Country Times
Expert Care. Designed for you.
Care designed for ...
ATHLETES
At Gunnison Valley Health we believe in supporting the valley’s incredible athletes by offering quality care to enhance performance and recovery from injuries.
REHABILITATION & ATHLETIC MEDICINE
We offer a diverse range of cutting-edge services to keep you active and well.
PHYSICAL THERAPY | OCCUPTATIONAL THERAPY | CONCUSSION REHABILITATION HOSPITAL | 970-641-7268 711 N. TAYLOR | GUNNISON
GUNNISON | 970-641-2001 322 N. MAIN ST. | GUNNISON
CRESTED BUTTE | 970-349-5684 214 6TH AVE. | CRESTED BUTTE
PRIMARY CARE With family medicine, internal medicine and pediatric care, we can help you be at the top of your game. SPORTS PHYSICALS | WELLNESS EXAMS | INJURY & ILLNESS CARE GUNNISON | 970-642-8413 707 N. IOWA | GUNNISON
WCU CAMPUS | 970-943-2707 104 TOMICHI HALL | GUNNISON
CRESTED BUTTE | 970-642-8413 305 S. 6TH | CRESTED BUTTE
Led by fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Blake Clifton, we have the expertise you need to recover from acute injuries and return to activity quickly and safely.
WE WORK HARD TO KEEP YOU PLAYING HARDER
GUNNISON | 970-641-8899 104 W RUBY AVE | GUNNISON
CRESTED BUTTE | 970-349-5103 433 6TH STREET | CRESTED BUTTE
WWW.GUNNISONVALLEYHEALTH.ORG
COMMUNITY: Spanns receive historic preservation award B3
WEATHER: Winter so far unusual, but no records, B4
SPORTS: Cowboy wrestlers shine on the road, B8
GUNNISON COUNTRY TIMES • THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2024
A modern Vincent ‘Vans’ Gogh
Anguiano holds a completed pair of shoes in his home. (Photos by Mariel Wiley)
Local artist Aaron Anguiano uses shoes as his canvas Mariel Wiley Times Photo Editor
For aspiring tattoo artists, the old adage that “practice makes perfect” is key. But the nature of the art requires a trusting subject to make a permanent commitment to a design on their skin. In 2021, Aaron Anguiano discovered the perfect medium to hone his craft and build a portfolio of work without needing a human “sacrifice”: the blank white canvas of Vans shoes. Three years ago this February, Anguiano was watching Super Bowl LV at The Dive when he struck up a conversation with Jason Oz, a tattoo artist based in Denver. Anguiano was eager to pursue a tattoo apprenticeship, but the inability to practice on human skin left him unsure of how to build up a portfolio and fine tune his art. “We started talking because
the game was kind of boring,” Anguiano said. “I was sure that he got this request all the time, but I was adamant about asking him to look at one of my drawings and get his advice.” After seeing Anguiano’s art and being impressed with his colorwork, Oz suggested that he try doing commissioned art for clients using canvas shoes as the medium. Each pair that Anguiano completed would expand his portfolio and prove to potential mentors that he could finish commissioned projects in a timely manner. Soon after his chance encounter with Oz, Anguiano decided to test the waters before taking on projects for clients. He got to work on his first pair of blank white Vans, creating a fantastical scene with ramen noodle motifs set against a cerulean sky. The artwork commemorated his first date with his current partner, Shelby Loken, at Blackstock Bistro’s popular Japanese ramen night. Creating a one-of-a-kind design that a client can proudly wear is of the utmost importance, Anguiano said. The unique artwork on each pair of Vans is a wearable mural of
Shoe boxes stacked on a chair in Anguiano’s home.
each client’s favorite memories or motifs that they can carry with them whenever they slip into the shoes. Anguiano’s love of art is nothing new. He drew throughout
his childhood, taking art classes here and there during his K-12 career in his hometown of Garden City, Kansas. After a four-year stint in the Navy, Anguiano moved to Gunnison
in 2015 to attend Western Colorado University. Anguiano now works as a glazier for Crested Butte Glass and as a snowboard instructor for Vans, B2
B2 • ROUNDUP • Thursday, January 4, 2024
YOUR PATH TO A FUTURE IN HEALTHCARE
Gunnison Valley Health’s Medical Pathways program is your opportunity to learn about careers in health care. The Medical Pathways program is open to grades 9 to 12 who have an interest in a health care career. This may include: • • • • • •
• • • • • •
Physical, Occupational or Speech Therapist Physician Physician Assistant Nurse Nurse Practitioner X-ray technician
Medical Coding Surgeon Social Worker Skilled Nursing Lab Tech And more!!
Gunnison Country Times
Vans from B1 Crested Butte Ski & Ride School. Despite his continued work on building a repertoire of completed projects, he’s not looking to jump into a tattoo apprenticeship anytime soon. “I want to give myself time to figure out what my style would be. There’s so many directions I could take it, and it’s almost scary to have to pick one,” he said.
On top of his hesitation to narrow down the possibilities for his art, he cites a lack of availability of mentors in the valley. Instead, he’s opting to wait for the right connection to come along naturally. In the meantime, he’ll keep creating shoes for clients who want a bit more pep in their step. (Mariel Wiley can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or mariel@ gunnisontimes.com.)
LAST CHANCE TO ENROLL FOR 2024 FIRST MEETING, JANUARY 10 FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE PROGRAM AND HOW TO SIGN UP, CONTACT BOBBIE HAMBLIN: bhamblin@gvh-colorado.org 970-642-8416
WWW.GUNNISONVALLEYHEALTH.ORG
GCEA RATE
2024 INCREASE
A current work-in-progress nestles in its shoe box.
The GCEA Board of Directors approved the publication of a proposed 5.0% overall rate increase for 2024, set to take effect on March 1, 2024. Join us on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 6 p.m. for a member meeting to review the proposed rate increase and Q&A.
VIRTUAL RATE MEMBER MEETING JANUARY 9, 2024 6 PM To view the new rates or to sign up for the virtual meeting, please scan the QR code with your phone camera or visit gcea.coop.
970-641-3520
GCEA.COOP
Anguiano sorts through his collection.
Thursday, January 4, 2024 • ROUNDUP • B3
Gunnison Country Times
Spanns carry on 145year ranching tradition
Upcoming eventS
• Jan. 3 (1PM): Book Club. January’s book “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison. For more info: 973-584-4987. • Nordic Ski Lessons – First Session Jan. 4, 11 &18: Open to never-evers through intermediates, age 55 & up! FREE Nordic ski lessons taught by Gunnison Nordic Club instructors. FREE ski equipment rentals from CB Nordic. Costs: Senior Center & Gunnison Nordic Club memberships. Registration required! • Jan. 8 (11:30AM): Senior Meals Re-Opens! Join us for affordable, nutritious and delicious meals with new and old friends. Delivery available for those who cannot travel to the Senior Center. Call: 970-641-8272. • Jan. 9: First Snowshoe Hike - Spring Creek. Rated Easy. Costs: Senior Center membership + $7.00. FREE equipment rental with advanced registration. Registration required! • Jan. 11 – Nordic Ski Lesson #2. Advanced registration required.
Weekly
FITNESS at THE REC CENTER LeeAnn Mick presented Lee and Polly Spann with the Gunnison County Historic Preservation Commission’s annual agriculture award in December. (Photo by Abby Harrison) Jan Washburn Special to the Times
The Gunnison County Historic Preservation Commission presents its annual agriculture award to families whose legacy of hard work and stewardship of the land over generations have contributed in meaningful ways to the vitality of Gunnison County’s economic and historic significance. At the end of 2023, the commission recognized Lee and Polly Spann, who carry on a remarkable family tradition. Lee and Polly, the leaders of Virgil and Lee Spann Ranches, Inc. have been ranchers and advocates for the livestock industry in the Gunnison Basin since the late 19th century. Lee’s paternal grandparents, the Imoberstegs, began as ranchers in Crested Butte near what is now the Danni Ranch after they emigrated from Switzerland in 1878. Olive Imobersteg Spann raised her eight siblings after her mother died when she was a teenager. She married Langdon Spann, who moved into the Upper East River Valley in 1900 from Missouri. Lang and Olive began ranching at Jack’s Cabin, on what is now known as the Y- Ranch; part of today’s Spann Ranches. Lang and Olive had three boys: Woodard, Aubrey and Virgil. Virgil was Lee’s father who grew up and went to school at Jack’s Cabin. He ranched with his father, and married Lois Spann (Campbell) in 1930. Lois was raised in Gunnison by her grandparents, attended Gunnison High School and was a Western State Normal School graduate. After they married, they started their own ranch closer to Crested Butte, but the winters were harsh. They borrowed money and bought the IVX place west of Gunnison to begin their ranching legacy. They had 100 cows and were well known for hosting community gatherings at Hillside building on McCabe’s Lane. Virgil and Lois had one son, Lee Spann, in 1933. He grew up ranching, and was a member of the first 4-H Club in Gunnison. In high school, he met his long-
time love, Polly. The first time he asked her out, she turned him down. He said, “Ok, I’ll pick you up at 7 p.m..” She was ready for him at 7 p.m. and never looked back. Polly was the daughter of Ralph and Marjorie Porter, and was very much a “town girl.” Ralph and Marjorie lived on Colorado Boulevard in Gunnison, where Ralph was the business school administrator for Western State College, as well as a member of the Colorado House of Representatives. Marjorie had a lovely singing voice, which she passed along to her daughter, Polly. Lee and Polly married in 1953. Almost immediately after, Lee was drafted into the Korean War. When he returned, he and Polly began a lifelong adventure of ranching in the Gunnison Valley. They had four children: Ken (Spann), Sandy (Ankenman), Susan (Rivale), and Jan (Washburn). Lee and Polly dove headfirst into growing the ranching operation, as well as advocating for ranching within the valley and the state. Polly adapted to life as a ranch wife with enthusiasm — riding, irrigating and cooking for branding and hay crews. She was also a charter member of the Gunnison Valley Cowbelles (Cattlewomen). Lee was President of the Gunnison Valley Stockgrowers and the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, and served on the Colorado River District and the Colorado State Brand Board. They were charter donors for the Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley, and now Lee serves on the Pioneer Historical Society Board. Over the last 145 years the ranch has grown from 100 to 800 cows. The legacy of the hard work that Lee and Polly put forth can be seen in the lush green hay meadows west of Gunnison, the contented cattle grazing in the Upper East River Valley. Their children and grandchildren still ranch with them and try to emulate the high standard of stockmanship and community service that Lee and Polly have set throughout their remarkable lives.
Mondays & Wednesdays in the Gym • Silver Sneakers Boom Muscle @ 9:30am • Silver Sneakers Classic @ 10:15am Tuesdays @ 10AM in the Leisure Pool • Silver Sneakers Splash Class (all levels)
Happenings Monday • Bridge (1 pm)
Tuesday
SENIOR MEALS -
• Canasta (2 pm)
Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays @ 11:30am. $5.00 per meals. Advanced orders appreciate (24 hours). Pick-ups between 11am – 11:15am (advanced orders only). ORDER MEALS: 970-641-8272
Wednesday
Menu: (all meals come with dessert!) • Mon., Jan. 8: Pork Roast, mashed potatoes, corn, Jello with fruit, homemade rolls • Weds., Jan. 10: Turkey Tetrazzini, green beans, salad, homemade bread • Fri., Jan. 12: Assorted Homemade Soups & Ham & Cheese Sandwiches, cottage cheese, chips
Thursday
Walk-ins & visitors welcome! Homebound adults ages 55 & up eligible for delivery. If you need a ride, call GVH Senior Bus @ 970-596-6700 (call in advance). AT THE SENIOR CENTER 200 E. SPENCER AVE. ALL SENIOR CENTER PROGRAM INFO & RSVPS: EGILLIS@GUNNISONCO.GOV OR 970-641-8272.
• Book Club (1st Wednesday) • Bridge (1 pm)
Friday
• Art Club (12:30 pm) • Mahjong (1 pm)
B4 • ROUNDUP • Thursday, January 4, 2024
Gunnison Country Times
Winter of 2023-24: Unusual, but no records
Bruce ‘Barometer’ Bartleson Special to the Times
Many people have been asking me, “Surely we’ve never had a winter like this, have we?” You already know the answer to that, don’t you? Have you ever heard of the infamous “Winter of No Snow” in 1976-77? This caused Crested Butte Mountain Resort to install snowmaking equipment in 1977. And then the winter of 1977-78 was a record year for snow at 360 inches. Let’s look at some data that deals with depth of snow on the ground (SNG) for which we have good records starting in 1965. Numbers show average snow depth in inches for the entire month. Winter of 1966-67 - 0.4 in December, 0 in January Winter of 1976-77 - 0 in December, 1.3 in Januar y (It snowed 3 inches on Jan. 3 and which then stayed on the ground until mid-month due to cold temperatures, and then SNG was 0.) Winter of 1980-81 - 0.1 in December, 0 in January Winter of 1986-87- 0 in December, 1.1 in January Winter of 1989-90 - 0 in December, 1.9 in January Winter of 1998-99 - 0 in
Precipitation for December 2023 was 0.4 inches, compared to the average of 0.78 inches. (Photo by Bella Biondini)
December, 2.7 in January Winter of 2017-18 - 0.4 in December, 0.1 in January Winter of 2023-24 - 0.2 in December, 0 in January so far. (You’ve forgotten that it snowed 1 inch on Dec. 7, which stayed on the ground for a few days until it evaporated.) As far as temperatures go, yes, it has been unusually warm, but no records have been broken. The high temperatures for December averaged 35.8
degrees compared to the longterm average of 29.7 degrees. The record is 48.5 degrees set in 1939. The low temperatures averaged 4.9 degrees, whereas the long-term average is 2.7 degrees below zero. The record was set in 2010 at 12.9 degrees. So far, the coldest we’ve had is 7 below zero and that seemed rather warm to me on first thought. However, upon checking the records, I find that 7 to 8 below
is the average low temperature for this time of year. I guess I just remember many 30 belows about now. The average temperature in December was 20.35 degrees, compared to the longterm average of 13.5 degrees. However, the record is 27.4, set in 1980. In December of 2010, the average was 25 degrees. Precipitation for December 2023 was 0.4 inches, compared to the average of 0.78 inches.
Snowfall was 3 inches (it was early in the month, and mostly in tenths of an inch, except for Dec. 7. The average December snowfall is about 10 inches. (Bruce Bartleson is a retired emeritus professor of geology at Western Colorado University. He spends most of his time now watching the weather.)
New Year's resolutions your pet wants you to make
Dan Estep and Suzanne Hetts Special to the Times
New Year’s resolutions are a reflection of our good intentions for the coming year. They often go unrealized because, as we learned long ago from our business coach, what we really should be doing is creating daily action steps that lead to the goals we are trying to achieve. So, for example, if your resolution is to start exercising regularly, that likely won’t happen without your commitment to an action step of going to the gym every day before work. What resolutions, in the form of action steps, could you commit to that would improve the health and happiness of your
dog or cat? Our suggestions are below. Resolve to make an appointment with your veterinarian for your pet’s annual wellness check up or to take care of any health issues you’ve been putting off addressing. Perhaps you know your pet has gained some weight, her nails are too long, or her teeth need cleaning. Commit to calling your veterinarian in January and scheduling an appointment to get those issues taken care of. Good health is more than the absence of disease — it’s an optimal state of wellbeing. Make time daily to increase your pet’s physical and mental activities including social time. It’s the rare dog or cat that doesn’t want, or need more walks or playtime. For older, smaller pets, or the couch potato personalities, just more petting and cuddle time. For some dogs, opportunities to play with other dogs can be enriching. But if your dog really doesn’t like other dogs, don’t feel obligated to push it; or work with a trainer or behaviorist to help your dog develop better social
skills. Most of us believe our pets are smart, yet we ask them to spend long hours home alone without much to do. Both dogs and cats benefit from increased mental stimulation with puzzle toys that require problem solving for access to treats. Cat dancers that encourage your cat to stalk, jump and pounce on “prey”-type toys you tangle from a flexible rod get your cat moving and provide comedy. A good game of “tug” is fun for both you and your dog, as long as your dog doesn’t get overly excited and become aggressive. Every time you catch yourself scolding your pet for misbehavior, stop and instead think about how you can have her do what you want. Rather than yelling at your dog for jumping on visitors, tell her to sit for a treat or have her chase a toy instead of jumping. If your cat is digging in your potted plants, cover the soil with aluminum foil or small decorative rocks. Puzzle toys that require your cat to “dig” in a small cup to get a treat is a good substitute.
Schedule weekly grooming time at home, more often if needed. Saturday mornings used to be our time to brush our dogs, trim our Irish setter’s feet, cut nails and brush teeth. Brushing your pets’ teeth has just as many benefits for them as regular brushing does for us. Brushing fur gets rid of dirt and cleans out the undercoat. During these regular grooming sessions, we’ve also found lumps and bumps that needed to be evaluated by our veterinarian, and in the process headed off more serious conditions. Cats are quite susceptible to mats, especially around the ears and the neck ruff. Matted hair pulls at the skin, is uncomfortable and increases the risk for skin infections. If your pet doesn’t enjoy being groomed, you may need to start with small steps and use lots of treats. Be sure your pets are prepared for the frigid Gunnison winters. First, no dog or cat should spend all of their time outside. We have selected these two species over thousands of years to be our companions,
which do best spending time inside with us. For outdoor activities, equip your dog with adequate cold weather protection which may include a coat and/or booties. Snowballs in the paws are painful, and even dogs with thick coats may not be able to withstand the windchill on windy, cloudy and damp winter days without extra help. Cats can’t be outside safely for very long in the cold. Even if you are already attuned to how to maximize the well-being of your pets, we hope these resolutions have given you a few new ideas. Mark your calendars for that trip to the pet store, the veterinarian, the groomer or to reserve space in your calendar for pet-time to put your intentions into practice. We wish you and your pets good health and joy in 2024. (Suzanne Hetts and Daniel Estep are certified animal behaviorists and part-time residents of the Gunnison Valley.)
Thursday, January 4, 2024 • ROUNDUP • B5
Gunnison Country Times
PEOPLE & HAPPENINGS Gunnison history podcast Join Duane Vandenbusche on Zoom for the History of the Gunnison Country Podcast every Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. through Feb. 27. Each session will include 20-25 historic photos. This series is offered for free. To sign up, visit c re s t e d bu tt e mu s e u m. c o m.
Dance classes Crested Butte School of Dance spring classes start on Jan. 8 and run through May 4 for youth classes and Jan. 8-April. 12 for adults. Visit dancecrestedbutte. org to view schedules, create accounts and register. Contact programs@dancecrestedbutte.org for more information.
Free legal clinics Two free legal clinics for parties who have no attorney will take place on Jan. 10 from 2-5 p.m. at the Gunnison and Crested Butte Libraries. Volunteer attorneys will answer questions and explain the process and procedure for all areas of Colorado civil law. Contact the Gunnison
HERE IS WHAT'S
Library at 970.641.3485 or 970.349.6535 in Crested Butte to be added to the sign-up sheet. Space is limited.
Democracy story circles The Gunnison Valley Theatre Festival invites valley residents to participate in two story circles to discuss how democracy is working in our communities on Jan. 13 from 1-4 p.m. and Jan. 14 from 1:30-4:30 p.m at the Gunnison Library. These facilitated discussions will serve as inspiration for local playwrights. Both events are free and open to those 18 and up. Learn more and register at localtheaterco.org/democracy.
Qigong classes Practice Qigong with Heidi Magnus: Mondays — Qigong Basics at Sanctuary Somatics from 9-10 a.m. Fridays — Qigong Through the Seasons at Sanctuary Somatics from 8:30-9:30 a.m. $10-$15. Saturdays — Fundamentals of Qigong at Gunnison Arts Center from 9-10 a.m. Saturdays — Movement Matters, family fun for young kids
and their parents at the Gunnison Art Center from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Cost is on a sliding scale. Ever y third Thursday — Qigong at the Gunnison Library from 6-7 p.m. This class is free for everyone! Call or text Heidi at 970.275.9081 for more information on any of these offerings.
Youth nicotine anonymous Nicotine Anonymous for Young Adults will meet every We d n e s day b e g i n n i ng o n Jan. 10 from 2-3 p.m. at 601 6th St. in Crested Butte and from 4-5 p.m. at the Fred Field McDonough Room in Gunnison. This is a mutual support group with no religious affiliation. Contact ajohnson@gunnisoncounty.org with questions.
Caregiver support group The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiver Support Group meets on the first Wednesday of every month from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the Gunnison Country Library. For more information, contact group facilitator Mary at 970.596.5667 or taktser8@gmail.com.
CB CENTER FOR THE ARTS BRIEFS
Coming Up
MONDAY, JANUARY 8 AT 9 AM
Free Yoga
at the
Library
Instructor Katie Thomas will lead participants in a gentle, all-levels flow. Mats provided, please bring your own props and water. at Gunnison Library | Free & Open to the Public
GunnisonCountyLibraries.org ART, CHOCOLATE
FIRST FRIDAYS & MUSIC
JAN. 5, 2024 5-7 P.M.
GUNNISON GALLERY Featuring “PAPER FOR FOOD” Origami and Quilling for The Gunnison Country Food Pantry with demonstrations. Also enjoy Classical Piano music by JODI COLEMAN and tasty Chocolate Fudge Brownies and Macaroons by JERMAINE’S for a really fun evening celebrating art and community. 124 N Main St
Live theater reading
Colorado Symphony
The Crested Butte Center for the Arts presents a staged reading of the play “Henry and Ellen” on Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. Ticket prices range from $25-$45 and may be purchased at crestedbuttearts. org.
Eight string players from the Colorado Symphony present an intimate evening of chamber music by a variety of classical and modern composers on Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts. Ticket prices range from $35-$50 and may be purchased at crestedbuttearts.org.
Kitchen Dwellers with Armchair Boogie The Kitchen Dwellers twist bluegrass, folk and rock through a kaleidoscope of homegrown stories, rich mythology, American west wanderlust and psychedelic hues on Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts. Ticket prices range from $41-66 and may be purchased at crestedbuttearts.org.
GUNNISON ARTS CENTER Join us at the for the continuation of our local artist market, a collaboration of over 25 creators. We’ll be featuring Gunnison’s own singer/songwriter, CHRIS COADY, converting positivity and transformation through his Americana and Folk music. And highlighting BASE CAMP BAKERY in the Cafe with chocolate delicacies for sale. See you at the GAC! 102 S Main St
PEACE HERO MUSEUM “If wars can be started by lies they can be stopped by truth” -Julian Assange Chocolate goodies available.
We would love your support!
235 N. Main St
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BLUE MESA MUSIC This Friday’s art walk features photography by MATT BURT and custom woodworking and jewelry by DAVID BEIGEL. W Live music by ALDEN BURT and DAVID BEIGEL. 132 N. Main St
NOW HIRING! PART-TIME POSTITIONS: PASSENGER SERVICE AGENTS AND RAMP AGENTS $21 PER HOUR
WE OFFER COMPETETIVE BENEFITS INCLUDING: DIRECT DEPOSIT COMPANY PROVIDED UNIFORMS
To apply visit G2securestaff.com - CLICK “Join our team”, Gunnison, Colorado or text “G2Jobs” to 22633
B6 • ROUNDUP • Thursday, January 4, 2024
Gunnison Country Times
Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce 2023 — a look back in photos Celeste Helminski Chamber director
Having a camera so easily accessible (aka phone) allows me to record my work and communicate who-what the chamber is. The Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce is first, a membership association representing our diverse members. I am proud to share out that our members represent our entire Gunnison County. We have members in Powderhorn, Arrowhead, Somerset, Mt. Crested Butte, Crested Butte, Almont, in Taylor Canyon, Pitkin, Wuanita Hot Springs, Monarch Crest, City of Gunnison, surrounding area and in Montrose. As wide as our miles cover, so is the range of members comprised of multiple industries of providers of goods and services to our community and beyond. Throughout a year, the Chamber touches MANY as we connect not only our members through education and networking opportu-
nities but also the touch points created with community events and the countless inquiries we receive. Our efforts are truly of the heart and for the greater good of our community. I am privileged to participate in so much community excitement, and happy to share my photos and perspective. I am honored to represent our chamber members and to shout out celebrations and accomplishments of our Valley. We have an awesome Valley with the best businesses, the best non-profits, the best institutions, the best people, with the biggest hearts one could find anywhere. The chamber organized during 2023 over a dozen Ribbon Greetings, six business focused learning opportunities, an Annual Membership meeting where we provided state wide perspectives from multiple business resources and contacts, a visit with Secretary of State Griswold, seven Business After/Before Hours open networking
events, the May Summer Forecast gathering, the Mid-Week on Main Street Summer Music Series, 4th of July activities in IOOF Park, Trick or Treat Gunnison Business District, the Annual Night of Lights, the Holiday Greenback Program and The Great Gunnison Elf Hunt with Gunnison Parks & Rec Department. We work with many partners throughout the year; Parks & Rec., Resiliency Project, City of Gunnison, the Gunnison Creative District, Western and others. The Gunnison Country Chamber is a member to the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, Care for Colorado Coalition through the Colorado Tourism Office, a member to the Association of Colorado Chambers, and to the Mountain Chamber Alliance. We follow business trends and legislation so we can bring this information to our members and greater business community. As well, the Chamber is pleased to be the curator for the Gunnison Visitor Center sharing local, regional,
and state information with many throughout the year. Our Visitor Services staff created over 1500 individual welcome packages for groups that came to town and mailed out hundreds of inquiry packages throughout the year. Annually we see 13K plus folks in person and many more when we host events and take information to groups. Our Visitor Services Manager, Kim Eastman, was recognized by Governor Polis’s office for her commitment to tourism, receiving a 2023 Frontline Worker Visitor Service award through the Colorado Tourism Office. I look forward to 2024 as we jump into January, ready to greet the new year. Our first ceremonial Ribbon Greeting is scheduled for January 12 at 1 pm and all are invited to join in and cheer for the re-opening/ new location of the Mountaineer Marketplace – In partnership with the Gunnison Food Pantry at Western Colorado University in the Pinnacles Apartments. Once again, we welcome
Tightline Outdoors as they host the return of the Ice Addiction fishing tournament at Blue Mesa Reservoir on January 13th with the possibility of 600+ visitors to our neighborhood competing for the largest fish on a January day! I encourage and ask for continued support of our local businesses and services as the Gunnison Valley business community are incredible supporters of our non-profits and school activities. Remember where LOCAL is located. Staying local, helps keep that packaging down at our recycle center and you get top notch service. We have an amazing, generous community that always shows up when asked. Thank you for an awesome, incredible, community filled 2023. I hope my photos share my story (our story). Cheers to the new year.
January — Blue Mesa Ice Addiction and January Marketing Seminar
February — Business Idea Lab Launch & Shop Local Campaign
March — Western Preview Day & Ribbon Greetings
April — Spring Seminar, Completion of Idea Lab & Business Before Hours
May — Summer Forecast
Thursday, January 4, 2024 • ROUNDUP • B7
Gunnison Country Times
June — Summer Events, Visitor Center Services & Ribbon Greetings
Western Business Resource Fair, Music in the Park, More Learning Opportunities
Halloween
July & August — MORE Summer Events, Visitor Center Services & Ribbon Greetings
October & September — Annual Golf Event, Business After Hours, Celebrating Accomplishments
And Then There’s December
BASKETBALL: Mountaineers win in closing seconds, B9
PICKLEBALL: Hawleys crowned champions, B10
GUNNISON COUNTRY TIMES • THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2024
Titans achieve tie against old foes Dietrich scores crucial goal in game’s final minutes Alex McCrindle Times Sports Editor
The Crested Butte hockey team settled for a tie against the Colorado Academy Mustangs 2-2 at home on Dec. 22. For Crested Butte, the stakes were higher against the Mustangs. Last year, Colorado Academy dealt the fatal blow to the Titans’ season and defeated Crested Butte 3-1 in the playoffs. Head Coach Joey Otsuka said the boys entered the game with a chip on their shoulder. “We wanted the boys to remember how their season ended last year, and to not let up against the Mustangs,” Otsuka said. Despite the Titan’s hunger, the boys fell behind 1-0 in the first period. Both sides traded shots early on, and the game flowed from side to side. Crested Butte found a foothold in the second when Titans defender Vojka Jirka scored an
The rowdy Crested Butte student section pounds on the glass. (Photos by Mariel Wiley)
unassisted goal to equalize. The game entered the final period at a deadlock, tied 1-1. “We had a tendency to play down to the opponents level on Friday,” Otsuka said. “I saw some old habits rise to the sur-
face. I think it was a bit of overconfidence, and trying to do too much with the puck. We still want these guys to mesh into our system, no matter who we’re playing.” A f t e r t h e s e c o n d i nt e r-
m i s s i o n , j u n i o r Ma r s h a l l Spann received a major penalty for boarding. The Mustangs pounced on the opportunity. The away side took a 2-1 lead with three minutes left on the clock.
Senior for ward Grady Dietrich had the final word, however. He scored a shorthanded goal in the final minutes to force overtime. After
Head Coach Dave Uhrig said he is impressed with the team's growth as it heads into the second half of the season. “Our girls are improving dramatically and are full of excitement,” Coach Uhrig said. “It’s been great to see our team stick together and enjoy battling together.” A ga i n s t C e nt au r i , C o d y Casebolt opened the Cowboys’ scoring with a victory in the 120-pound weaght class. Zach Benson and Noah Frymoyer a l s o n o t c h e d w i n s, w h i l e heavy-hitters Miles Harris and Royce Uhrig added to the Cowboys score. GHS fell 41-35, just 6 points short of the Falcons. The boys licked their wounds and wrestled again against the Panthers later in the afternoon. This time around, the Cowboys
didn’t put a foot wrong, and defeated Walsenburg 66 to 6. Brock Fry and Gavin Smejkal recorded victories in the 126and 190-p ound divisions.
Damyon Funk, Angel Morales, Preston Gomez and Kleber Flores all won by forfeit. “The boys, especially some of the younger guys, are mak-
ing leaps and bounds,” Coach Uhrig said. “They are competing well, taking chances and
CB Hockey, B10
GHS wrestlers succeed on the road
Girls shine against Walsenburg
Alex McCrindle Times Sports Editor
The Cowboy wrestling team closed out the first half of its season with strong performances away against Centauri and Walsenburg on Dec. 21. The boys faced off against both schools. They defeated the Walsenburg Panthers 66 to 6, but lost the duel to Centauri 41 to 35. The girls only wrestled the Panthers and walked away with a 36 to 12 victory thanks to wins from Penelope Kuehlhorn, Evelyne Cope, Eli Aguilar and Romie and Roxie Uhrig.
HOME SPORTS EVENTS THIS WEEK WEEKLY SPORTS CALENDAR SPONSORED BY BLUEBIRD REAL ESTATE 970-209-2300 | WWW.BBRE1.COM
Wrestling, B9
(Courtesy GHS Wrestling)
1/5 BOYS WRESTLING @ WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY 5 P.M.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
1/6 BOYS WRESTLING TOURNAMENT @ WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY 9 A.M.
From The MindyLand Team
1/6 GHS BASKETBALL HOME - GIRLS 3:30 P.M., BOYS 5:30 P.M.
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Thursday, January 4, 2024 • ROUNDUP • B9
Gunnison Country Times
Mountaineers win at the death Juelfs makes last-minute free throws to beat Eagles Gregg Petcoff Special to the Times
Western Colorado University men’s basketball notched a narrow 64-62 non-conference victory over host Northern New Mexico College on Dec. 19. Kade Juelfs sank a pair of free throws in the final seconds to lift the Mountaineers to victory. The win moved the Mountaineers to a 4-7 overall record heading into the holiday break. The team returns to the court Jan. 6 away at Colorado Springs. The Eagles tied the game at 62-62 nearing the final minute with a jumper in the paint. A Western miss and Northern New Mexico defensive rebound granted the Eagles a chance for the winning basket. After an Eagles timeout, Nigel Quaynor was met by a wall of resistance from Mountaineer Jamel Hollins. Tyler Halligan snared the Mountaineer rebound. Halligan quickly dished to Juelfs along the baseline where he was fouled by Eloy Medino. Juelfs calmly stepped to the free throw line and dropped in both
Wrestling from B8 giving their all.” On the girls team, Kuehlhorn
attempts for a 2-point Western advantage. A quick drive down the court set up an Eagles 3-pointer from the right corner by Emmanual Taban. The shot rimmed out and was ripped from the air by Hollins who fed Amar Rivers. The Mountaineers then dribbled out the remaining few seconds to preserve the victory. Juelfs led the Mountaineers with 15 points, none more important than his final 2 points from the free-throw line. Halligan, making his first start in a Mountaineer uniform, added 12 points. With 11 points over the course of the game, Hollins also reached double digits. Hollins' game-high of 10 rebounds gave him his second double-double of the season. Western had a strong night from the foul line, converting 16 of 18 attempts from the stripe, paced by Juelfs' perfect 10-for10 night. The Mountaineers leap back into Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action on Saturday, Jan. 6 at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. (Gregg Petcoff is the assistant athletics director for communications at Western Colorado University, and can be reached at gpetcoff@western.edu.) Kade Juelfs dribbles past a defender at a home game last month. (Courtesy Rylie Bonbrake/Western Colorado University)
recorded the first win for the Cowboys in the 120-pound weight class. Her teammates Romie and Roxie Uhrig joined her in the winner’s circle after victories in the 155- and 135pound bouts. Cope celebrated
Brock Fry attempts to pin a Walsenburg opponent
a big win in the 145-pound division, while Aguilar won in the 140-pound weight class. The Cowboys returned to Gunnison with a 36-12 victory over the Panthers. The GHS grapplers w ill
travel to Mountain Valley on Thursday, Jan. 4 before returning to the Gunnison Valley for a boys tournament at Western Colorado University on Jan. 5 and 6. Bouts begin at 5 p.m. on Jan. 5 and 9 a.m. on Jan. 6.
Eli Aguilar wraps up a Panther grappler on the ground.
(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@ gunnisontimes.com.)
B10 • ROUNDUP • Thursday, January 4, 2024
Gunnison Country Times
CB Hockey from B8 which the game ended 2-2. Junior goalie Jordan Silva was named player of the game for the Titans. He faced 49 shots from the Mustangs and stood on his head in the final minutes. The tie moved the Titans record to 2-1-1 on the season and 1-0 in the 4A Mountain League. “This team knows it’s special because it has miles of heart,” Otsuka said. “Although it takes heart to win hockey games, it takes more poise. We’re working to win through systems, skill and teamwork, not just passion alone.” The boys will hit the road on Jan. 5 and 6, facing powerhouse Battle Mountain and Air Academy. Crested Butte will return to the Jorgensen Ice Rink on Jan. 12 at 4:30 p.m. to take on Summit High School. (Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Hawleys crowned pickleball champions The Gunnison Rec Center’s adult pickleball season came to a dramatic conclusion on Dec. 21. Brian and Laura Hawley defeated Leah and Hannah Starinieri in the final round.
(Courtesy Ginny Baylor/Gunnison Rec Center)
Thursday, January 4, 2024 • ROUNDUP • B11
Gunnison Country Times
ALANWARTESMEDIA TO ALL OF OUR LOYAL ADVERTISERS FOR LETTING US HELP PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION. IN TURN, YOUR AD DOLLARS HELP KEEP LOCAL INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM ALIVE AND WELL! HERE’S TO A GREAT NEW YEAR! GV Observatory G Home Association CB State of Mind 1% for Open Space, Inc. GV Producers’ Guild G Sportsmen’s Association CB Wildflower Festival 1880 Tapas & Spirits CBMR Ski Patrol Community Fund G. Valley Home Electric Advance- GV Veterinary Clinic 4 U Consignment Auctions GVRHA ment Team GVHEAT Ceara Smith 4th Generation Mechanical H & H Towing G2 Secure Staff CHR 5 B’s Barbecue H & R Block District #7057 Garnering Hope Counseling Christopher Klein Construction Abba Eye Care Acuity Asher Habitat For Humanity GC Abstract Company Inc. Media Hall Realty GC Historic Preservation Board Church in the Barn Abracadabra Hannah Cryder Art GC Met Rec District Church of the Good Samaritan Academy Mortgage GC Substance Abuse Prevention Happy Habitats Cimarron Wealth Management Ace CB Hargrove & Kidd Construction Project GCSAPP Cintron Painting Adaptive Sports Center Harmels Gene Taylor’s Clarke Agency Almont Resort Hartman Castle Preservation Gentle Dental Care Clean Lines Alpengardener Corp GHS CO Parks & Wildlife Alpine Lumber Hi Country Carpet & Tile GHS Mountain Biking Coldharbour Institute Alpine Outfitters High Alpine Brewing Co. GHS Project Grad Coldwell Banker - Susan Todd Altitude Painting High Country Conservation AdvoColdwell Banker Mountain Prop- GL Computer Services AM Salvage cates HCCA GMS/GHS Choir erties Molly Eldridge Amazing Glamping Adventures High Mountain Liquor GO Orthopaedics Colorado Adventure Rentals American Civil Constructors Hockey Moms Good Day Bikeworks Colorado Cabin Cannabis American Family Insurance Holy Cross Energy Grace Covenant Church Colorado Geological Survey, American Legion Home Together Veterinary GRASP Consortium School of Mines Anderson Associates Services Greatland Engineering Colt Maule Anderson Associates - extras Homestead Hut Greatland Log Homes Community Banks of Colorado Anejo Bistro and Bar Hope & Glory Community Church of Gunnison Greg Wiggins for GCEA Antonucci Consulting (Falcon I-Bar, Inc. Community for Student Success GSO Fishing Project Solutions) Ice Lab Community for Student Success - Gunnison Anglers Society and Apogee Brokers ID Sculpture Trout Unlimited Anne Brookhart Appraisal Group of Western Ingrid Butts Community for Student Success - Gunnison Arts Center Colorado Inn at Arrowhead Gunnison Bank and Trust Jody Coleman Arcadia Cognerati Inn at Tomichi Village Community for Student Success - Gunnison Car Club Art in the Park Gunnison CB Tourism Association Interior Visions Mark VanderVeer Aslan Construction iRepair Gunnison Community Foundation Gunnison Gunnison Church of Christ Atmos Energy - Greeley Island Acres Motel Gunnison City Clerk Valley (CFGV) Auto Corral J Reeser Architect, LLC Gunnison City Finance Consolidated Electical DistribuAxis Health system Jan Washburn Gunnison City Parks and Recretors (CED) Back Country Cafe Jennifer Prosser ation Cori for the Community Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Jermaine’s Gunnison City Public Works CPA Network Balcomb and Green, P.C. Gunnison Congregational Church Jim Gelwicks Craftsman Construction (Frank BAMP (Dan McKenna) Jo Laird (GCCUCC) Patin) Barb Carroll - Town Bike Realty Joe Schultheis Gunnison Country Chamber of Creede Repertory Theatre Becky Glover John Roberts Commerce Crested Butte Dental BenchMark Mortgage Johnny Apple Tree Care Crested Butte Fire & EMS Volun- Gunnison Country Food Pantry Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP Gunnison County Administration KBUT Berkshire Hathaway - Gerald Lain teer Squad KD Custom Builders Gunnison County Community Crested Butte Glass, LLC Berkshire Hathaway - Heather Keating Wood Floors Crested Butte South Metropolitan Development Woodward Gunnison County Dept. of Health Kinikin Processing District Bethany Baptist Church Knight Interlock Services and Human Services Critter Sitters Bible Gems Crystal Peak Properties - Kelsey Gunnison County Electric Assoc Kooler Homes Big C Builders Krivanek Jewelers GCEA Bird Conservancy of the Rockies Loftis KW Restoration Gunnison County Emergency Custom Home Accents Black Canyon Quilt Show Lake City Arts Management Dan’s Fly Shop Blackstock Bistro Gunnison County Extension Office Lake City Auto Darby Design Studio Blaze Lake City Chamber of Commerce Gunnison County Human David F. Bower, Johnson & Blind Faith Lake City DIRT Resources Repucci LLP Blister Lake City Liquors Gunnison County Public Health David Hadley Blue Bird Boutique Land Title Guarentee Company Gunnison County Public Library David Sikora Blue Mesa Baptist Church Larene Summer Gunnison County Public Works Days Inn Bluebird - Bobby Overturf Gunnison Crested Butte Associa- Last Ditch Thrift Deer Creek Blinds Bluebird - Mindy Costanzo League of Women Voters tion of Realtors Delektabowl Bluebird - Steve Mills Legacy Family Ministries Gunnison Farmer’s Market Diamond Blue Pool and Spa Bluebird Real Estate Lisa Henry for School Board Gunnison Fish & Raft Dobrato Resophonic Guitars Bluebird Real Estate - Brian LIV Sotherby’s - Cassie Gates Gunnison Fly Shop Dog Cabin Resort Cooper Living Journeys Gunnison Funeral Services Dos Rios Golf Club Bluebird Realty - Bet Egelhoff Lookout Tower Cannabis Gunnison Gallery Bluebird Realty - Maggie Dethloff Double Dragon Luxury Western Cleaning Gunnison Lake School Downtowner Group B’nai Butte Main Street Clinic Gunnison Liquor Store Eager Beaver Tree Services Boom-a-rang MarCom Group, Inc Gunnison Muffler & Pipe, Inc. Early Childhood Council Bren Corn Studios Marios Gunnison Nordic Club EC Electric Bruce Couture Mark High Gunnison Pizza Company Echo Ridge Excavation Buckel Family Wine Martin Retail Gunnison Real Estate & Rentals Edward Jones Buff’s Collision Specialists Martinez JMTZ Painting Gunnison Rotary Club Edward Jones - Lacy Henry Bureau of Land Management Matt Miller Gunnison Savings and Loan El Paraiso Gunnison MAYA Gunnison Senior Center Electronic Solutions Butterfield Fireplace Services Mechanic on Duty Gunnison Sheet Metal Eleven Experience (Irwin BackBV Sportsman’s Association Media Resources, LTD Gunnison Shipping country Guides) Cake Me Away Menagerie Meadows (Safe Gunnison Trails Elk Creek Marina Cattlemen’s Days Harbor) Gunnison Underdog Rescue Elk Mountains Backcountry CB Center for the Arts Gunnison Valley Animal Welfare MetaSpace Alliance CB Chamber of Commerce Michelle Burns League GVAWL EMICO Media CB Clay Studio Miller Furniture Gunnison Valley Hospital Epiphany Dermatology CB Custom Closets Mochas Gunnison Valley RTA Equip Bookkeeping CB Festival of the Arts Gunnison Vitamin & Health Food Monarch Realty Fantasy Ranch CB Film Festival Monarch Ski Area Store Farmers Insurance CB Hottub Sales and Service Gunnison Watershed Barrel Race Montanya Distillers Firebrand CB Land Trust Gunnison Watershed RE1J Book Monte Vista Co-op First Baptist Church CB Majestic Theatre Moore Good Dogs Bus First Friday Art Walk CB Mountain Runners Gunnison Watershed RE1J School MOPS CB Mountain Search and Rescue Frank Stern Morrison Stone District Freeport-McMoRan CB Mountain Theatre Mountain Legacy Veterinary Gunnison Wildlife Association Friends of NRA CB Nordic Center Center GV Health Classifieds Frosty Leaf Dispensary CB Snowsports Foundation Mountain Roots Food Project GV Mentors CB South Property Owners Assoc. Fullmer’s Ace Hardware
Mountain Surfaces Squeeky Kleen Auto Wash Mountain Windows Inc St. Peter’s Catholic Church Mountaineer Theater Standard Tire Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church State Farm - Pete Klingsmith Murdoch’s Salida STOR Napa Auto Parts Stu Barton Natural Grocers Sugarplum Festival Nesbitt & Company LLC Summit Global (Pederson EnterNew Song Christian Fellowship prises) Nikki Pulitzer Sundrop Flora Nunatak Alternative Energy Sustainable Crested Butte Solutions Sustainable Development StrateNuVista Credit Union gies Group Offcenter Design Tango Oh Be Joyful Church Tava Real Estate Ol’ Miner Steakhouse, Inc. TAVA Real Estate - Ryan Jordi Olszewski, Massih & Maurer, P.C. Taylor Canyon Fire Station Packer Saloon Taylor Park Marina Palisades Apartments Tenderfoot CFDC Palisades Restaurant & Saloon Tenderfoot Outfitters Paper Clip The Coffee Trader The Dispensary Paradox Footwear The Dive Paragon Gallery The Episcopal Church Parkinson Association of the The Fireplace Company Rockies The Matterhorn Motel Patrick, Miller & Noto, PC The Mountain Express Patriot Pressworks The Rising Church Pawsitively Native The Schossow Group Peace Museum Colorado Thomas Riser Attorney Pet Adoption Page Three Rivers Resort & Outfitting Pfister’s Handworks Thurston Kitchen & Bath Pie-Zans Toad Property Management Pike Builders Today Realty Pioneer Museum Tomichi Creek Trading Post Pitkin Colorado Real Estate Top O The World Garden Club Pitkin Historical & Community Tough Enough To Wear Pink Assoc Town of Crested Butte Pizza Mountain Alamo Saloon Trader’s Rendezvous Post Office Ranch Treads N’ Threads Powerstop TRIC Salon Precise Painting LLC Trinity Baptist Church Precision Automotive Trout Creek Engineering Premier Mountain Properties True Media-Murdochs Project Hope Turner Automotive Quad Media Solutions United Country Real Estate Quick Draw Carpet Cleaning Upper Gunnison Water ConserRady Engineering Summer vancy District UGRWCD Program USIC RE/MAX Community Brokers Valley Housing Fund Region 10 Varner Equipment Rick Barton Ministries Vegan AF Ridgeline Roofing Visionary Broadband, INC. Right Path Health Screenings VSON Alpine Rita Merrigan Wallin Construction Rock N Roll Sports WCU - Center for Learning and Rocky Mountain Biological Lab Innovation Rocky Mountain Cannabis WCU Alumni Affairs Rocky Mountain Chocolate WCU Art & Music Dept Factory WCU Art & Music FFAW Rocky Mountain Christian WCU Athletic Association Ministries WCU Communications & MarRocky Mountain Elk Foundation keting Rocky Mountain Frames & WCU Dept. of Exercise and Sports Trophies Science Rocky Mountain IV Medics WCU Human Resources Roots RX WCU Swimming and Diving Roshambo WCU Theatre S 9th Street Studios & Galleries Saguache Chamber of Commerce Weehawken Creative Arts Wendy Buckhanan Saguache County Government Wendy Preston - Crested Butte Salida Arts Realty Salida Dermatology Wendy Stickler San Juan Strains - Gunnison Wentz Foot & Ankle Specialists Santa’s Little Helper West Elk Hockey Association SAW Advertising West Star Clothing Saw Contracting Western Lumber Sawbuck Outfitters Western Pilates Scenic River Tours Wet Grocer SealCo. Inc Wilderness Pursuits Secret Creek Spirits Willow Interior Design Service Directory (SPACE) Wily Nunn Web Development SGM Wonderland Clayworks Sharon Rose Wonderland Nature School Shondeck Insurance Young Guns 4-H Club Signature Properties Signature Properties - Erin Welfelt Zuni Street Brewing Signature Properties - Kelsey Loftis Simple Insurance, LLC Six Points Sodexo South Main Studios, LLC
B12 • ROUNDUP • Thursday, January 4, 2024
Gunnison Country Times
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ARTIST OF THE MONTH MATT BURT
Inspired by the dramatic landscapes in and around Gunnison, photographer Matt Burt spends much of his available time chasing light and fleeting moments of natural beauty. Matt immerses himself in those landscapes on foot, by bike, on skates, and on skis to find scenes of grandeur and more intimate details of his subjects. Although he is a landscape specialist, he also offers architecture, portrait, sports, and other genres. You can learn more about Matt Burt and other valley creatives at GunnisonCreativeDistrict.org
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