NEWS: State could boost school district budget, A8
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VOL. 143. NO. 6 | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2024 | $1.00
Colo. River District to protect key Western Slope water rights State commits $20 million to preservation of Shoshone Bella Biondini Times Editor
The Colorado River Water Conservancy District is working to obtain the water rights tied to the Glenwood Canyon’s
HOOPS ON THE LOOP: A group of Nordic skiers donned vibrantly-colored hoop skirts as they made their way down Elk Avenue to the Alley Loop starting line on Saturday, Feb. 3. The event is Crested Butte’s biggest costume party of the year, and a qualifier for the largest cross country ski race in the nation: the American Birkebeiner. For more, see A14. (Photo by Mariel Wiley)
Shoshone A5
New composting The toll of trauma: TODAY drop site at City part two Sexual assault Market case drags on INSIDE
NEWS: Gunnison Trails grows team, A12
COMMUNITY: Figure skating for everyone, B1
Mountain Roots partners with Salida company Bella Biondini Times Editor
SPORTS: Cowboy swim places second at regionals, B6
OBITUARIES A2, A3 OPINION A4 CLASSIFIEDS A15-A18 SPORTS B6 ONLINE GUNNISONTIMES.COM
At $12 per month, subscriptions are open to Gunnison Valley residents for a new composting drop site at City Market. The new residential composting program was established through a partnership between the Salida-based company, Elements Mountain Compost, and Gunnison’s Mountain Roots Food Project. Subscribers will have 24-hour access to the drop site, located on the north wall of City Market in
Gunnison, through the use of a lock code. Elements opened the drop site this month. Composting is the recycling of organic matter, such as food and yard scraps, into a natural fertilizer. From apple cores and banana peels to eggshells and coffee grounds, roughly 20-30% of landfill waste is compostable and could be recycled. When food waste goes into the landfill, it eventually rots and produces greenhouse gasses. “Especially when we're facing a climate crisis, composting has so many benefits as far as soil retention, and the reduction of CO2 emissions from landfill,” said Ally Reeder, a member of Mountain Roots’ food security team. “We're hoping that this
32%
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$ 69 EACH
OFF
Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer
(Editor’s note: This is the second of a three-part series covering sexual assault cases handled in Gunnison District Court. The next, and final installment will appear in the Feb. 15 edition of the Times.) Highway 92 stretches into the rumpled horizon of western Colorado, corralled from the arid landscape only by telephone poles and cattle fences. Along this road lies the town of Crawford, which offers passersby a Methodist church, a humble public library, an uncrowded cemetery and a lone gas station.
Hart A6
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$ 79
F! UP TO 37% OF
Composting A11
for five years
For those who call it home, Crawford can feel insulated from the turmoil of the outside world. Generations of farmers and ranchers occupy boxy homes on a hill scabbed with sagebrush. It’s a town where last names matter. A patron at the post office knows one’s grandmother. But when an allegation of sexual assault emerges, the comforting smallness of rural life can turn sour. Rumors circulate as truths, whispered across every dinner table and slick bar top. For Crawford local Jazmyn Hart, it’s what pushed her to leave her childhood home. At the age of 15, Jazmyn was sexually assaulted by a longtime family friend, according to an arrest affidavit filed in early 2021. Her case dragged on for nearly five years. Her assailant
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A2 • NEWS • Thursday, February 8, 2024
QUOTE
of the week
Gunnison Country Times
OBITUARIES Andy Medina
“I now understand why so many women do not come forward” — Jazmyn Hart
See story on A1
BRIEFS Subway to reopen this summer The Subway on East Tomichi Avenue is expected to open this summer, said owner Jim Cagle. Interior renovations started last week. Jim and Liz Cagle are Grand Junction-based business developers who own a number of Subway franchises around the Western Slope. The store closed at the end of July 2023 and laid off all its workers. Reporting from Times revealed that in the months prior to its closure, employees alleged years of neglect on the building and business equipment. The building was originally built in 1945, and the last major renovation was in 2003.
Small food business grants open The second round of grants through the Community Food Access program is now available for small food retailers and family farmers. Up to $50,000 is available to expand opportunities for Coloradans living in low-income, low-access communities to purchase healthy groceries. Applications close on March 11. Small grocery stores, carnicerias, farmers markets, community supported agriculture (CSA) programs and may also be eligible for the grant. To learn more, visit ag.colorado. gov/CFAgrant.
Commissioners appoint TAPP and STOR members Gunnison County Commissioners appointed members of the Tourism and Prosperity Partnership (TAPP) and the Sustainable Tourism and Outdoor Recreation (STOR) committee on Feb. 6. Bill Ronai and Chris Miller were appointed for three-year terms and Kendal Rota for a partial term (ending in 2026) on TAPP. Kimberly Schappert, Dave Ochs, LB Mullin and Hedda Peterson were appointed for two-year terms on STOR. Commissioners also affirmed Andrew Sandstrom’s appointment to STOR on behalf of TAPP.
Andy Medina, born on March 2, 1942 in Pitkin, peacefully passed away on Jan. 7, 2024. A devoted husband, loving father, cherished grandfather and great-grandfather, Andy's life was a testament to the enduring power of family, love and laughter. Andy is sur vived by his beloved wife of over 30 years, Peggy Medina, and his children, Ken Me dina (Kim), Kelly Medina (Kristie), Cindy Wells (Gary) and the late Steve Muirhead. His legacy is carried forward by eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, each a living reminder of the joy he brought into their lives. Born to Climaco Medina and Rosavella Medina, Andy's heart was always close to home. Growing up in a large family, he spent his youth playing with brothers, sisters and cousins, leaving behind cherished memories of laughter and camaraderie. Andy's mischievous spirit added a touch of playfulness to every gathering, and he was known for being a little "ornery." Andy's love for the great outdoors was a defining feature of his life. Whether he was hunting in the serene wilderness or casting a line into a peaceful river, nature was his sanctuary. His passion for the outdoors was matched only by his love for his family, and he found immense joy in being surrounded by loved ones. A loving husband and father, Andy worked tirelessly to provide for his family. He never missed an opportunity to attend
his children's and grandchildren's games and events, where his unwavering support and enthusiasm were felt by all. His commitment to family created a legacy of love and togetherness that will endure for generations. Later in life, Andy faced the challenges of dementia, but his spirit remained resilient. Despite the hardships, he would occasionally recant a fun memory from his life, bringing joy to those around him. These moments became treasured glimpses into a lifetime of cherished experiences. A celebration of Andy's life will take place this summer, and details will be shared with friends and family. As we say our goodbyes, let us remember Andy for the laughter he shared, the love he bestowed upon his family and the enduring legacy of a life well-lived. Rest in peace, dear Andy, knowing that your love will continue to resonate in the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing you.
Michael “Mick” John Fuller
Dorothy Lee Coleman
Michael “Mick” John Fuller, 58, passed away at his home in Gunnison on Jan. 25, 2024. He was born in England on Jun. 25, 1965 and moved to Gunnison with his family from England in the summer of 1979. He graduated from Gunnison High School in 1983 and attended Western State College, now Western Colorado University. Mick worked at Precision Alignment for many years, and for the past 20-plus years had
Surrounded by family, Dorothy Lee Coleman passed away on Jan. 30, 2024 at the Senior Care Center in Gunnison, just about a month shy of her 98th birthday. Dorothy was born in Cañon City, Colorado on Mar. 8, 1926 to Elva and Donald Kellogg. Dorothy was an only child and was the apple of her parent’s eyes. She would travel with her dad to Gunnison and Sapinero on fishing trips.
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been employed by Copper Creek Homes in Crested Butte. Mick is survived by his mother, Liz, of Gunnison, sister, Sarah (Rick) Moore of Mead, Colorado, brother, Richard (Gina) Fuller of Carbondale, Colorado, nephews, Steven Moore of Utah and Trevor Moore of Virginia and niece, Grace Fuller of Carbondale. In addition, Mick is survived by uncles and aunts in Canada, Cyprus, England and Scotland and cousins in New Zealand, Canada, Australia and England. He is preceded in death by his father, Brian W. Fuller and cousins, Geoffrey Doe, Clare Row e a n d L i s a Hu b b a rd . Despite Mick’s many medical problems over the years, he was known as a hard worker, always there to help everyone, and continually had a smile on his face! The family would like to send heartfelt thanks to the entire community for all the love and support they have received. A celebration of Mick’s amazing life will be held this summer.
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.
3 HOMES TOTAL Investment opportunity 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.
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. PROPERTY POTENTIAL 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.
People’s Choice Award for Best Realtor 2021 & 2022
continued on A3
NEW LISTING Nice lot that features a 32 x 28 detached garage with concrete floor & electric is ready for your manufactured home. Water & sewer taps are installed. You could also park your camper for the summer adventures in the Gunnison Valley. 7 Willow Lane; $275,000.
40 ACRE HISTORIC PARCEL is the town site of Sherrod & 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; $215,000.
IMMACULATE CONDITION Move-in ready one level, 3 bdrm/2 bath, S Oover 1,600sf home has been fully remodeled in 2017 &L features a large backyard D garage. with two car detached 403 S. 14th St.; $649,000.
She was also a skilled pianist and always had a piano in her home. One of her favorite stories to tell was about her piano recital at the Cañon City High School, where she was the second pianist in a dueling piano performance. After graduating from Canon City High School in 1944, Dorothy went to Boulder, Colorado to attend nursing school. During school, Dorothy’s summers were spent working at her uncle’s ranch in Westcliffe, Colorado. It was in Westcliffe where she met the love of her life, Jack Coleman, at a barn dance. Dorothy took the leap and moved to Westcliffe to live the ranch life at the Coleman Ranch. Her sassy and strong personality helped her keep up with the six Coleman boys on the ranch and she proved to be a helpful addition with her horse “skills” — she always joked about her trick to get her horse to go for her with little effort. Ja c k a n d D o ro t hy w e l comed their first two children, Nancy and Bill, while living in Westcliffe. Shortly after, in 1950, they moved to Gunnison and Jack started the Gunnison Truck Line with his brother, Gene Coleman. They welcomed their third child, Donnie, in 1953. Dorothy was a devoted mother and wife. She also worked at The Gunnison Country Times for many years as the society editor, which was fitting because she was always a social butterfly around town. She was a member of the Rebeccas, numerous card clubs and social clubs. Her style was always on point and some say that they never saw her wear the same outfit twice. Dorothy also had impeccable taste, which showed in her house and yard, winning Yard of the Week back in the 1980s, one of her proudest accomplishments. Dorothy and Jack loved to travel and went on many family trips, driving once with their camper and kids to Alaska for an adventure of a lifetime. As Dorothy aged, she spent
GORGEOUS CUSTOM HOME 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.
READY TO BUILD lot located 3 miles west of town features a county sewer tap with electric & well installed. No HOA dues. 104 Phyllis Lane; $180,000. 40 ACRE PARCEL close to the city limits of Gunnison. Features include two permitted commercial wells, southern exposure making for possible solar arrays & green energy with endless development possibilities. Crest View Drive; $3,000,000.
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 & shed too. 3491 County Road 771; $635,000.
View listings at: www.clarkeagency.net
Thursday, February 8, 2024 • NEWS • A3
Gunnison Country Times
OBITUARIES continued from A2 more time in the camper with Jack, going on trips with her daughter, Nancy, and enjoyed spending time with her grandkids and great-grandkids. She also was an avid reader and would breeze through an astonishing number of books. The last ten years of Dorothy’s life were spent at the Gunnison Senior Care Center, where she was loved by the staff, who all called her “Grandma.” As Dorothy’s mind was failing in her final years, her sassiness and strong character prevailed and she was a joy to be around. Dorothy lived a rich and beautiful life and she will be missed
dearly by her friends and family and by the Gunnison community. Preceding her in death were her husband, Jack Coleman and grandson, Michael Hurd. She is survived by her three children, Nancy Quinata of Colorado Springs, Bill Coleman (Kathy) of Gunnison and Donnie Coleman (Gena) of Gunnison. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Eddie Quinata, Lisa Quinata, Steve Coleman, Christopher Coleman and Sarah Coleman and great-grandchildren, Elania Padilla, David Quinata, Angel Galicia, Tristen Coleman, Autumn Coleman, Felix Quinata and Jack Coleman and one greatgreat-grandchild, Elicia. Services
will be held in the spring.
Sterling, Kentucky and Claudia Hoag of Medford, Oregon.
Pierre, South Dakota) and their love for flora and fauna. Her middle name, SueAnn, is a combination of their mothers’ middle names — a tribute to them both for their continued guidance and inspiration. Meadow is showered with lots of love from family, spanning from Maine to San Diego.
Suzanne H. Dexter Suzie Dexter passed away peacefully on Jan. 27 with her husband, James, at her side. We will publish a picture and biography at a later date. No memorial is planned at this time, however, we encourage all to share a glass of wine with friends in her honor and support the arts! For those wishing to remember Suzie with a charitable donation, please support the Crested Butte School of Dance, P.O. Box 506, Crested Butte, Colorado 81224.
BIRTHS Scottie Jean Reynolds
Meadow SueAnn Kean
Quill Otis Hagelin
Scottie Jean Reynolds was born to Savannah and Tyler Reynolds of Almont on Dec. 20, 2023 at 6:36 p.m. She weighed 7 lbs., 3 oz. and measured 19 1/2 in. long at birth. She is welcomed by her grandparents, Paul and Jeri Hoag of Magnolia, Texas, David and Terri Reyolds of Almont and great-grandparents, Diane Burget of Cedaredge, Colorado, R a m o na Wat s o n o f Mt.
Parents Joy and Joseph Kean and big sister, Clementine, are proud to welcome to the world Meadow SueAnn Kean, born on Jan. 15, 2024 at 7:46 p.m. She weighed 6 lbs., 8 oz. and measured 19 3/4 in. long at birth. Her first name, Meadow, is a nod to both parents’ hometowns (Corvallis, Oregon and
Quill Otis Hagelin was born to Nicole Marella and Eric Hagelin of Gunnison on Jan. 29, 2024 at 9:25 a.m. He weighed 8 lbs., 6 oz. and measured 21 in. long at birth. He is welcomed by his sister, Colette (13) and brothers, Cohen (14), Link (9), Fox (7), Fray (7) and Hopper (4).
MEETING NOTICE-RTA The next meeting of the Gunnison Valley Transportation Authority (RTA) will be February 16, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. at the Crested Butte Town Offices. For copies of the Board of Directors meeting packet, please go to www.gunnisonvalleyrta.com/meetings or call Scott Truex at 970-2750111. Two or more County Commissioners may attend these meetings.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2024
ALANWARTESMEDIA
LETTERS
OPINION
970.641.1414
Health care 2024
© 2023 Gunnison
Editor: I have been a supporter of universal health care since 2015. I continue to work toward this goal in Colorado. In 2016, we (the Colorado Fou n d at i o n f o r Un i ve r s a l Health Care) failed to pass a Colorado amendment that would have created such a system. We were outspent by more than 4:1 by supporters of the status quo — the insurance industry, the large hospital corporations and big pharma. Then, too, most Colorado citizens did not support a publicly financed program, privately delivered. Times have changed. Currently, according to the Colorado Health Foundation, 6 9 % o f C o l o r a d a n s h av e extreme or serious concerns about the cost of health care. Sixty percent want fundamental changes to health care financing. As a physician, I have worked with many people who suffer due to their inability to access or afford health care. Roughly 380,000 Coloradans have no insurance at all according to a Colorado Health Foundation poll. More have high-deductible insurance leading to the same result. A case in point was a 55-yearold friend who had a long history of heartburn that gradually worsened over two years. He saw no providers because he could not afford insurance. He finally talked to me about his symptoms. Ultimately, he was diagnosed with metastatic cancer of the esophagus. He died five months later. It makes me very sad that many cannot afford health care, or go bankrupt by paying for their health expenses, or get sicker or die as a result of avoiding care until it is too late. At the same time health care corporations are reaping huge profits. A statewide system providing care to all Coloradans might solve these problems. This year the Colorado legislature will vote on a bill (HB 24-1075) to study the questions we all have about such a system. I urge you to support this bill that will ask and answer questions about whether Colorado can create a simpler, more efficient health care payment system. Earlier studies in 2022 have suggested that it would be cheaper, costing citizens less out of pocket with taxes, than our current chaotic insurance payment system. Contact your state representative and senator and tell
Country Times
Publisher/Owner Alan Wartes publisher@gunnisontimes.com Office Manager Bonnie Gollhofer bonnie@gunnisontimes.com Editor Bella Biondini bella@gunnisontimes.com Staff Writer Abby Harrison abby@gunnisontimes.com Photo Editor 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 Issa Forrest issa@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
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.
them of your support. Now is the time to take the next logical step and build on the work that has already been done. Let’s find out if we can do better in Colorado. In Gunnison County, your state representative is Marc Catlin and your state senator is Perry Will. Laird Cagan Crested Butte
Overwhelmed with gratitude Editor: We would like to thank our community for all the support and love we have received during these trying times. Mainly all of the prayers. When Jacky was first diagnosed, we were overcome with fear. Cancer is a scary thing! But when people started finding out, we were overwhelmed with love and generosity. The kind of which we've never experienced before. And now, we are overwhelmed with gratitude. This community is amazing. And we are so happy and proud to be a part of it. We would like to especially thank the donors and volunteers of Living Journey's and Tough Enough to Wear Pink, the doctors, nurses and staff at Gunnison Valley Health and Cancer Center, Moore Orthopedics, Montrose R e g i o na l He a l t h a n d t h e San Juan Cancer Center, all of the people at the United Congregational and Queen of all Saints churches and all of the locals and non-locals alike. You are all amazing. There is still quite a battle ahead, but with all of the loving thoughts and prayers surrounding us, we have no doubt that this cancer will be beat! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support. God bless. The Creed Family Almont
In response to Sibley’s letter Editor: George Sibley wrote a perfect play book article full of unjustified name calling, against a true patriot, albeit not perfect, candidate running for president. The jackals who hounded this candidate even before he was elected president of the United States, and every day during his time in office and every day since then are still at it. "Would be dictator,” he is not.
Even so, with the jackals at his heels, he, unlike so many, did what he said he would do when he campaigned, and he upheld his oath of office and began to drain the swamp. We were better off. He is not everyone's cup of tea in his personal life, but neither was Churchill. Who does not respect the constitution and the rule of law? Look at the mess we have been handed by the current administration. My sister said she really likes our current vice president. I said "What about the fact that she didn't do her job at the southern border." She said "I don't know anything about that." Well she and the rest of the spoon-fed liberals wouldn't know what is really happening in this country. They are fed talking points and propaganda. The points they make about the other party, they should be making in front of a mirror. The POTUS takes an oath to defend our nation, not to decimate it. But that is what is happening right now, by a puppet ruler. The swamp is terrified and doing all it can to keep our democracy from being fair and just to all. What is happening to the candidate who would be president could happen to any of us in any level of civic affairs if we let them get away with this obvious election interference. Pam Randall Gunnison
Protecting reproductive freedom in Colorado Editor: Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom is a coalition putting forth Initiative #89 “Right to Abortion,” a ballot measure that will allow the voters of Colorado to decide if the right to abortion should be enshrined in the Colorado Constitution. Learn more on their website: coloradansforreproductivefreedom.com. Following the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, the President of the National League of Women Voters said, “Our ability to participate in our democracy is dependent on our autonomy over our own bodies. We will continue to follow the lead of reproductive rights organizations across the U.S. in the fight for abortion care.” League of Women Voters (LWV) is a non-partisan political organization. It neither supports nor opposes any individual candidate or political party. LWV fulfills its mission of empowering voters and defend-
ing democracy through educational programs and advocating for issues supported by its members. For over 100 years, LWV has fought for citizen’s rights, beginning with a woman’s right to vote. You can find more information on our website at lwvgunnison.org. League of Women Voters of the Gunnison Valley
Pet animal registration system? Editor: A lot of interesting things are happening in the legislature over in Denver these days. One such occurrence which was thankfully placed on indefinite hold after being sponsored by Representative Regina English, a Democrat from the 17th District in Colorado Springs. House Bill 24-1163, or the “pet animal registration system,” would add a new tax from a base of $8.50 to $25 on each pet you own, and includes all animals, even invertebrates. The tax would be paid every year and requires each pet to be registered with the state and assigned a "designated caregiver." If none is assigned, the tax goes up to $25 annually. I'm not going to expand any further on something like this. What I would like to know, since our home is a sanctuary for two shelter fur babies, is how this particular bill was even placed under consideration by our elected officials in the first place? Jon Matuszczak Gunnison
We appreciate you all Editor: The Elk Mountains Backcountry Alliance would like to thank those who helped bring the 5Point Adventure Film Festival to the Gunnison Valley last week for the first time ever. Many thanks to Bluebird Real Estate for their generous sponsorship. Thanks, as well, to the Crested Butte Film Festival which helped us present the festival, to the Majestic and the Western Colorado University theaters and to all those who attended the festival and support EMBA and human-powered recreation. Elk Mountains Backcountry Alliance Board of Directors
Thursday, February 8, 2024 • NEWS • A5
Gunnison Country Times
Shoshone from A1 Shoshone hydropower plant for $98.5 million. These rights are the largest and oldest nonconsumptive water rights on the mainstem of the Colorado River. Ev e n t h o u g h t h e p l a n t is outside of the Gunnison River Basin, the water that runs through it benefits users upstream and downstream. Once finalized, the purchase is an assurance that the water will not be diverted elsewhere, safeguarding millions of acre feet of water for agriculture, endangered fish habitat and the booming outdoor recreation industry across the Western Slope. At its Jan. 22 meeting, the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District’s Board of Directors signed a letter of support for the River District's purchase. If the power plant were to cease operations without permanent protection, the negative impacts to western Colorado would be “immediate and profound,” Upper Gunnison's letter reads. “[This purchase] provides water security for both our current and future generations,” said General Manager Sonja Chavez. The Shoshone hydropower plant is located along the Upper Colorado River near Glenwood Springs. Since it was built in the early 1900s, it has been owned by the Colorado Power Company, which today is a subsidiary of Xcel Energy — the state's largest utility company. Xcel is the primary provider of electricity and natural gas in the Denver metro area. In Colorado, the right to divert and use water is governed by a priority system under a “first in time, first in right” rule. The Shoshone water right predates the Colorado River Compact of 1922, as well as trans-basin diversions that move water from the moun-
tains to the eastern side of the state. This means the water of the Colorado River will flow through the Western Slope in a future where less water is available for the seven Colorado River Basin states, and regardless of growth on the Front Range. The water right that feeds the Shoshone hydropower plant can command up to 1 million acre feet per year, just over the amount of water Blue Mesa Reservoir can hold at full capacity. The electricity it generates is passed to western Colorado communities, and then the water that moves through the turbines is returned directly back to the river. This “non-consumptive” water right then boosts river flows and water quality, and promotes healthy native fish populations, such as the bonytail chub, the Colorado pikeminnow and the razorback sucker. The water also supports Colorado’s $12 billion agricultural economy. “We're not adding water to the river, we're maintaining the flows that have been the foundation of the communities and the water users on the Western Slope for so long,” said River District spokesperson Lindsay DeFrates. The River District serves Colorado’s 15 Western Slope counties. Preserving the Shoshone water right also means this water will continue to flow through this segment of the Colorado River, even if hydropower production becomes inconsistent, or stops. This is not unexpected, as the plant is situated in an area that has been heavily impacted by wildfires, rockfall and mudslides, DeFrates said. The power plant has not been running since last spring. If the plant shuts down permanently, the Shoshone water right would be available for purchase and the water could be diverted to the Front Range or elsewhere. With support from a coalition
of Western Slope governments and water districts, the River District has been trying to purchase the Shoshone rights for over 20 years. It has approached Xcel four separate times for the sale, DeFrates said. In late December, the River District finally signed a purchase and sale agreement with Xcel. But the agreement is only the beginning of what will be a years-long process to permanently protect the flows through this stretch of the Colorado River. The closing date for the purchase is set for the end of 2027. The River District committed $20 million to the purchase. On Jan. 29, the Colorado Water Conser vation Board voted unanimously to appropriate another $20 million for Shoshone preservation. This state agency conserves and manages Colorado’s water supply. Members of the Western Slope coalition anticipate contributing at least another $10 million. The River District hopes to leverage this money to cover the remainder of the purchase price — possibly through the federal Inflation Reduction Act, which allocated billions of dollars for drought mitigation across the United States. “These groups have been working at this for decades and to be at this point is incredibly exciting,” DeFrates said. (Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)
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A6 • NEWS • Thursday, February 8, 2024
Hart from A1 Luke Chesnik, 37 at the time, would later plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of sexual assault, part of a plea deal that offered probation and no jail time. Jazmyn eventually left the Western Slope in search of a new home, a new job, a place where nobody knew her name. She battled severe endometriosis — which her doctors attribute to the assault, according to her mother Jessica Hart. Her case was so severe that it required surgery in the spring of 2019. In July of 2023, on the day Chesnik was sentenced, Jazmyn implored the court to recognize the damage the process had caused her. “Please tell me how justice was served when he wouldn’t even be on probation for as long as I have been going to court,” she said. “Probation is not what makes him accountable for the hell he has put me through. This nightmare is, and has been, in my life for the last five years.” She stood at the podium, addressing the judge, the deputy district attorney and her assailant. She was trembling, but her voice was clear, steady. “I now understand why so many women do not come forward.” ‘Uncle Luke’ Growing up, Jazmyn lived with her three siblings and parents in a modest home in Crawford. A large box elder tree shades the porch, where the family lounges during the summer months. She worked odd jobs during high school: housekeeping, dishwashing and waiting tables at the local restaurant, the North Fork Boardwalk. Chesnik was always in the periphery of Jazmyn’s childhood memories, present at family barbecues and athletic games. Her father, John Hart,
worked with Chesnik for years at the Elk Creek Mine north of Crawford, before it closed in the mid 2010s. Friendships forge quickly in a job that is brutal and thankless, so Chesnik became something like a family member, Jessica said. The Hart children called him “Uncle Luke.” One evening during the summer of 2018, Jazmyn asked her mother if she could go on a campout outside town. Her best friend and sister were busy that night, and her parents were sick. Jessica, not keen to send her middle daughter out alone, let Jazmyn go only because Chesnik agreed to take her. He’s a longtime family friend, she thought. He will protect her. But according to the arrest affidavit, Chesnik instead “supplied her with alcohol to the extent that she passed out” and sexually assaulted her in his truck. The Times reached out to Chesnik’s lawyer Jon Schumacher, but did not receive a reply by press time. During an early interview with a victim advocate in October of 2018, Jazmyn said she woke up the next morning next to Chesnik in his car, halfnaked and physically sore with only fragments of memory from the night before, according to a Gunnison County Sheriff ’s Office report. She got out of the truck, and started walking away. He soon pulled up behind her and told her to get in the truck, and he’d drive her home. Three days later she told her sister Jade, who pleaded with Jazmyn to tell their parents. “Uncle Luke” could no longer be trusted, she said. It would take Jazmyn another three months to tell her mother what had happened, on a chilly October evening. She was balled up on her bed in her room, weeping. “I was worried about the relationship between everybody,” Jazmyn said. “I wish I would have told them sooner, it would
Gunnison Country Times have saved a lot of headache. But I just didn't want anybody to ever know. I tried to keep it under the rug.” Her mother, stunned, walked down the stairs and told her husband. John later called Chesnik, his friend of nearly three decades, asking him to explain. But Chesnik sat on the other end of the line, silent, before John hung up, Jessica said. The next day, she called the Delta County Sheriff 's Office to report the assault. The case was later transferred to Gunnison County because it occurred just miles within its boundaries. Jazmyn and Gunnison local Celeste Hendry (see part one of this series in the Feb. 1 edition of the Times) lived over a hundred miles apart with timelines that barely overlapped. But they are bound by a familiar thread that runs through the justice system in Gunnison County, and in the country as a whole: what is legal is rarely fair, and going to court for sexual assault can prolong trauma, drain victims of hope and offer little justice for the crimes that have scarred their bodies. Unanswered calls Jazmyn was first interviewed by Gunnison County Sheriff's O f f i c e D e t e c t i v e Ma t h e w Taramarcaz in October of 2018. It had been just over three months since the assault. The investigation carried on, and in August 2019, after months of phone calls and interviews, the district attorney’s office advised Taramarcaz that there was likely not enough evidence to file charges. In Crawford, Jazmyn’s grades at school had slipped, her interest in softball waned. Her boyfriend at the time explained to detective Bob Summer that her buoyant and outgoing personality had withered, according to the sheriff ’s report. She stopped smiling at school and “shut herself away from every-
Jazmyn outside her home in Cheyenne, Wyoming. (Photos by Abby Harrison)
one.” Friends noticed she no longer hugged Chesnik, and instead pulled away when he approached her. Before the investigation closed, Taramarcaz left the sheriff ’s office. When he did, many cases on his desk, including Jazmyn’s, sat collecting dust for eight months. In June of 2020, Summer picked up the case file and noticed a number of “contradictions” in the previous investigation, he stated in the sheriff's report. Summer decided to reach back out to the Harts. That same month, Jessica filed a complaint with the Colorado Victim Rights Act (VRA) Subcommittee — the first of two she would submit. In the complaint, she detailed a spotty record of communication from the sheriff’s office during the nearly two years that had passed. Many of her calls and emails went unanswered, she wrote. The committee ultimately found that no violation had occurred. Jazmyn’s victim advocate, who offers emotional and logistical support through the investigation and court proceedings, “went above and beyond,” the ruling stated. But, it also acknowledged lapses in replies from the sheriff’s office, making the communication “less than adequate.” “Every one of them at some point [said], ‘This is just the way that things are done,’” Jessica told the Times, referring to both the sheriff ’s and district attorney’s offices, “It felt like it was a way bigger deal to us than it appears to be to any of them.” Gunnison County Sheriff Adam Murdie, who was elected to the position in late 2022, told the Times that the office takes some responsibility for letting Jazmyn's case languish. "There were some unfinished cases on the desk," Murdie said. “They should have been picked up and run with at that time."
Imperfect evidence Ja z m y n w o u l d e v e n t u ally move from Crawford to Wyoming, to escape the distress that followed her home each day. She started therapy and found a secure job: driving a pilot vehicle for the enormous semis that rumble along I-25 and I-80. Still, nightmares plagued her. She’d snap awake in the middle of the night and lie in bed riddled with anxiety before slipping back to sleep. But those dreams soon became flashbacks, and she recalled more from that night: the warmth of the heaters blowing on her face, the chugging sounds of the diesel engine. Jazmyn said that when she first spoke to detectives in 2018, not only did she not remember everything, but she obscured some details out of fear and shame. She was in a “weird position,” she stated to detectives. She knew what Chesnik did was wrong, but did not want him to get in trouble. In December of 2020, after Summer’s additional investigation, the district attorney’s office filed a charge of “contributing to the delinquency of a minor” against Chesnik. The arrest warrant was issued just a couple months later. But, like in Celeste’s case, it took law enforcement over a year to locate him. Immediately after the assault, he moved to Utah. He was finally arrested in Utah in March of 2022 with a bond set at $5,000. Bu t ju s t a m o nt h a f t e r Chesnik was located, Jazmyn called the district attorney’s office, stating she wanted to speak further. When she was reinterviewed by Summer and detective Skye Wells, she offered an account of her assault that included more, and slightly different, details. As that summer night back in 2018 grew weary, Chesnik continued on A7
Thursday, February 8, 2024 • NEWS • A7
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continued from A6 told her it was late and they needed to go home, Jazmyn said to detectives. She got in his truck. Instead of taking her home, he drove her down a U.S. Forest Service road to a remote, wooded spot. There, he sexually assaulted her, according to the sheriff’s report. She recalled trying to push out of his grasp and his multiple attempts to “pin” her arms to the seat, according to the sheriff ’s report. She twisted away and rolled out of the truck, grabbing her pants and bra before rushing away into the early morning light. She remembers shivering as she walked, gravel and twigs pricked her bare feet. Chesnik soon drove after her, telling her to get in the truck and he would drive her home. Jazmyn said she was initially afraid to tell anyone and figured she could just live with what happened, Wells wrote in the sheriff ’s report. Since the assault, everyone had looked at her in pity, and she didn’t want it to get worse. “I felt so embarrassed,” Jazmyn told the Times. “I mean, I was 15. We don't really like to talk about sex to older people.” Disclosing more or contradictory information at a later time is a well-documented phenomenon in research covering sexual assault, said Amy Kirschbaum, executive director of Project Hope of the Gunnison Valley. Project Hope is Gunnison’s only nonprofit devoted to providing confidential assistance to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or human trafficking. “Because of the way different people deal with trauma, there is no cookie cutter answer for how a trauma is going to play out,” Kirchbaum said. “Some people aren't able to process it right away, and that's why, seemingly, stories change.” But in the eyes of the court, Jazmyn’s story was now weaker. Sexual assault cases are already difficult to prosecute: the crime often occurs in a private setting, between two people with no witnesses, said Deputy District Attorney Darren Struble, who handled Jazmyn’s case for the last year. It’s then complicated by the passage of time, lack of physical evidence and changes in a victim’s account of events.
And, Jazmyn had been drinking that night, with alcohol Chesnik supplied. When she got home that morning, she threw away the pants she’d had on during the assault. She didn’t go to the hospital to have a rape kit done. It took her days to tell her sister, and months more to tell her parents. By then, the best evidence was already lost. A final blow Still, in April of 2022, the district attorney's office amended the complaint to include sexual assault and sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust—both felony charges. But those charges didn’t stick. In May of 2023, nearly five years after the assault, Struble offered a plea deal that included a misdemeanor charge of sexual assault and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, also a misdemeanor. Chesnik accepted and was sentenced to four years of sexoffender specific probation, and served no additional jail time beyond 11 days in a Utah jail after being picked up on the arrest warrant for Jazmyn’s case. He was required to pay $7.05 in restitution to the district attorney’s office. At a sentencing hearing in July, Struble said he acknowledges that the Harts feel “let down by the system,” according to a court transcript. Jessica said that, in her family’s opinion, the plea agreement accomplished nothing: It did not obtain justice for Jazmyn, punish Chesnik or keep the community safe. She beseeched chief District Judge J. Steven Patrick to deem the plea inappropriate. But he accepted the plea, stating that the standards for rejecting it were not met, according to the transcript. Jessica winced, pulling Jazmyn close to her on a hard wooden bench in the gallery. “Every step of the way, I kept telling myself that it's going be worth it in the end. We just have to keep fighting,” Jessica told the Times. “And it absolutely wasn't.” Project Hope can be reached at 970-275-1193 for 24/7 for support with sexual assault, domestic violence and more. (Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@ gunnisontimes.com.)
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A8 • NEWS • Thursday, February 8, 2024
Experience Dinner at Taylor River Lodge.
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Gunnison Country Times
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School district budget gets small boost Superintendent vouches for rural districts in Denver Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer
DO YOU HAVE A TREE YOU WOULD LIKE OUT OF YOUR YARD AND THINK IT WOULD MAKE A GREAT CHRISTMAS TREE FOR THE CITY? Must be easily accessed and be approximately 50ft tall. Contact the City of Gunnison Public Works at 970-641-8020.
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While previous surpluses in the Gunnison Watershed School District's budget allowed the district to offer raises, it’s now “spending down” its fund balance on smaller, one-off projects. A minor boost to the district's 2023-24 budget also allowed it to put away money for future capital projects. Each year, the district’s business administrator adjusts the budget in January to match real-time student enrollment numbers and revenue from local property taxes. This year, the district received nearly a million more than expected, bringing its revenue to over $27 million. That additional money came from annual state funding, grants and interest earnings. Board members adopted the amended budget at a regular meeting on Jan 29. “Our landscape has changed,” business administrator Tia Mills said at the meeting. “We're not dire at all. We are still very healthy. But the conversations are going to shift.” A small benefit Most of the extra money from the state was due to increased enrollment of nearly 200 additional “at-risk” students and students learning English in local schools. These students are counted with greater weight in the school finance formula, which determines how much money public schools receive each year from the state. More of these students means more money to the district to support them. The district also received a boon from interest earnings. The additional $850,000 is going into a capital account that could be spent, for example, on the district’s future housing projects, Mills said. In July 2023, the board directed affordable housing consultant Willa Williford to draft a housing action plan to help recruitment as the district faces a teacher retirement cliff and staff with dwindling purchasing power. But the district can’t just accumulate endless amounts of revenue. The board set a goal to only keep an amount equal to 25-30% of expenditures in its fund balance. The fund balance is currently at 33%, so the board decided to spend it down. In negotiations with the district’s teacher union, Gunnison County Education Association, administrators considered spending that money on salary increases. “We have a highly educated group of teachers who struggle
to live in this valley, and we have a lot of teachers that will be retiring over the next few years,” Mills said “As much as it would take to make salaries competitive and get quality staff here to educate our kids. I don't know what that amount is, I just know that teachers struggle.” Administrators have been working to establish a base salary of $50,000. Currently, teacher salaries range from $47,000 to just over $100,000, the highest end requiring a master’s degree and 30 years of experience. Administrators make between $76,500 to $172,000 each year. But after last year’s consid-
“We’re not dire at all. We are still very healthy. But the conversations are going to shift.” Tia Mills Gunnison Watershed School District
erable pay raises, Mills said the district’s fund balance can no longer support that type of spending. Instead, she recommended one-time expenses, like a new lighting system for the GHS auditorium, fencing for the baseball field and iPads for a Crested Butte graphic design class. “We have really targeted spending down that fund balance and we have put it into our people, which is great,” Mills said. “It's just getting harder to do that.” Murky state revenues While the district handles minor changes this year, looming decisions at the state level may change not only how much money public schools receive each year, but the amount allotted to at-risk students and those learning English. Last year, Gov. Jared Polis submitted a budget to the legislature that proposes Colorado public schools be fully funded for the first time in over a decade. Lawmakers must approve the budget before they adjourn on May 8. Each year, the legislature compares each district's calculated budget to how much money lawmakers actually set aside for K-12. Whatever the state can’t finance is simply siphoned from public schools — a recession-era tool called the budget stabilization factor. The Gunnison Watershed School District has lost nearly $22 million from the BS factor in the last decade and a half, according to the Colorado
School Finance Project, a nonprofit that collects and aggregates school finance data. If legislators approve the budget, millions of dollars could return to the Gunnison Watershed School District in coming years, but the exact amount is unclear. Were that money to flow back into local schools, it could be used for teacher salaries, Mills said. “It’s better to not have the budget stabilization (BS) factor, which is balancing the state budget on kids' backs,” said Superintendent Leslie Nichols. “But we're still so grossly underfunded that relative to the rest of the country, we are at the bottom of the barrel.” While the legislature considers budget stabilization, a task force composed of public school experts, district superintendents (including Nichols) and state representatives are tweaking the school finance formula. The group was tasked to make the school finance formula more “equitable” for public school students. If the legislature accepts its recommendations, the group estimates it would add $474 million to the state’s K-12 public schools in 2024-25. And, 93% of all districts would receive more money. The recommendations also drastically increase funding to students learning English and at-risk students. The group recommended increasing the base amount districts receive for each full-time student to $12,000, and pushing more money to Colorado's most vulnerable students. By increasing the “weight” of each type of student in the formula, funding would increase for at-risk students by 91% and ELL students by over 600%. The formula was last updated in 1994. Public education today barely resembles its prior self, Chuck Carpenter, chief financial officer of Denver Public Schools and task force chair wrote in the group’s final report. The growth of statewide testing, the expansion of charter schools, the increase in school shootings and the pandemic have all changed what public schools are, and what their teachers and students need, he wrote. But it’s still unclear just how much money public schools need to thrive, Nichols said. That exact number will be determined over the course of the year, via two studies commissioned by the task force. (Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Thursday, February 8, 2024 • NEWS • A9
Gunnison Country Times
Snow brings art lovers together An evening snowstorm was no deterrent at this month’s First Friday Art Walk on Feb. 2. Art revelers wandered between the Peace Museum, Blue Mesa Music Store and the Gunnison Gallery to enjoy live music and various art installments. At the Gunnison Arts Center, young creatives stood beside their plastic brick creations during the organization’s fourth annual Lego art showcase.
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Sheriff ’s deputies awarded with medals of valor Gunnison County Sheriff Adam Murdie handed out awards to several sheriff’s deputies at a county commissioners meeting on Feb. 6. He acknowledged deputy Ross Downs’ work in the double homicide near Blue Mesa, the plane crash in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and for performing the heimlich maneuver at the W Cafe while off-duty, saving a woman’s life. Murdie recognized investigator Skye Wells’ effort on multiple complicated investigations. Deputies Wesley Hersberger and Mitchell Parker were given medals of valor for disarming and arresting a suspect who was wielding a gun.
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A10 • NEWS • Thursday, February 8, 2024
Gunnison Country Times
1105 N Pine St., MLS #810392, $845,000. Welcome to your dream home in the picturesque Van Tuyl Village subdivision! This brand-new, 3-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom property is a testament to modern design and quality craftsmanship. As you step inside, you’re greeted by an open and inviting kitchen-dining area, adorned with cherry cabinets and equipped with state-of-the-art stainless steel appliances. The tiled shower and bathtub add a touch of luxury to the bathrooms, while the master bedroom boasts its own oasis with a reading nook or small office space. The 2-car detached garage features 8-foot doors and 10-foot ceilings inside, providing ample space for your vehicles and storage needs. The extra space above the garage, accessible via exterior stairs, presents exciting opportunities. Whether you need additional storage or dream of an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit), the potential is yours to explore with City of Gunnison approval. Don’t miss the chance to make this new construction your forever home. Contact us now to schedule a viewing and witness the epitome of contemporary living!
UNDER CONTRACT
216 Lochleven Lane, MLS #804508, $875,000, 3-Bedroom 2-Bathroom 1,988 sqft, built in 1985, and with1.056 acres with attached car garage. Well built home situated in the beautiful little Homestead Subdivision in Almont. Sit on your large front deck and revel in the views up the East River Valley. Located just 10 min from Gunnison and 20 min from CB, you are centrally located to enjoy the activities the area has to offer from world class fishing, rafting and hiking to snowmobiling and skiing. This 2 story home has its main living area on the top floor with a large open kitchen/ dining living room area with a wood stove that keeps the top floor nice and warm. This area is a great space to gather and entertain as you take in the views surrounding the property. The property also has a sunroom that can be accessed from the second level or has 2 separate entrances from the exterior. There is a 1 car oversized attached garage and located next to the garage is a very large storage room/closet for all of your storage needs. The home has a lot of deck area on the outside for outdoor entertaining or to casually relax and take in the many different views. Almont is a quaint small town with 2 restaurants/bars located within minutes from the property. There is a free bus that runs up and down the valley from Gunnison to CB with a stop located in Almont.
State candidates visit Gunnison The Gunnison County Republicans met at Palisades Restaurant on Saturday, Feb. 3 to discuss the upcoming election season and volunteer opportunities. Curtis McCrackin (pictured below), a candidate for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, and Larry Don Suckla, who is running for Colorado House District 58, mingled with the group over coffee before answering questions.
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.
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(Photos by Mariel Wiley)
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Thursday, February 8, 2024 • NEWS • A11
Gunnison Country Times
717 SI XTH STREE T / UNIT/SUITE #B, CRESTED BUT TE NEW LISTING
437 S.F. retail space with a prime location Convenient parking, close to bus stop Includes Misty Mountain Floral, a thriving flower shop w/ loyal customer base Sales and wedding bookings tripled over last 3 years, owner will support during transition. $400,000 MLS#810606
112 CAMINO DEL RIO #23, GUNNISON 1,634 S.F. Heatherwood Villas condo 2 Bedrooms/ 2 Bathrooms+ oversized loft 2 Car Garage Private fishing on the Gunnison River Conveniently located near the Dos Rios Golf Course $525,000 MLS#807680
205 KIOWA TRAIL, GUNNISON NEW LISTING
Elements’ compost collection truck fills with food waste from the City Market in Gunnison. (Courtesy Julie Mach/Elements Compost)
Composting from A1 residential program will show there is a need and a want for a composting program in the valley long term.” While there have been a number of attempts to create a centralized community composting system in the valley, many fell through due to costs and lack of labor. But it hasn’t been from a lack of desire, Reeder said. Some households compost at home, and a few small-scale operations are scattered around Gunnison and Crested Butte. Through its Gunny Gold operation, the City of Gunnison turns sewage into compost, but does not accept food waste. Julie Mach, the owner of Elements, has provided compost to Mountain Roots in the past. Last fall, Mach also began to pick up extra produce that had gone bad at City Market each week. After conversations with the Mountain Roots team, Mach saw another opportunity that would not only benefit her small business, but the wider community. “We’ve got a model that we’ve proven here in Chaffee County that we can hopefully replicate,” she said. Elements works primarily in Salida, Buena Vista and Poncha Springs, where Mach and her crew pick up food waste from restaurants, grocery stores and schools. Local households can also dump their food scraps at one of Elements’ three drop sites in Chaffee County. The waste is eventually mixed with wood chips, sawdust and leaves before being processed. The finished product is sold back to members of the community for gardening, agriculture and restoration projects. Most of the compost stays within county lines. “Compost is pretty heavy,” Mach said. “The more we can keep it local, the less we have to
transport and the more climate benefits we get from keeping the whole system local.” The new drop site in Gunnison is currently accepting food scraps, which are then picked up and hauled over Monarch Pass to the processing center in Salida each week. According to Mach, her longterm goal is to set up a full-sized commercial composting facility in Gunnison County. With support from Mountain Roots, and a few other partners, she is putting together a state grant application that would help pay for equipment and the composting center. She estimated the cost of equipment, permitting and construction to be near $500,000. In 2023, the city began exploring the feasibility of designing a municipal-scale composting system where it would collect food and yard waste in Gunnison and bring it to a central location. Mach said she plans to support any of the city’s future composting programs, rather than compete. Elements serves roughly 200 households in Chaffee County with a similar subscription system. Her goal is to serve another 100 households in Gunnison, and eventually grow the number and establish drop sites in Crested Butte. Elements started off as a small composting operation in 2014, but has grown in the last couple of years. Over the past decade, Mach has remained passionate about reintroducing nutrients back to the soil. The region is known for its often poor, and sandy soils, making it challenging to grow. “Particularly in rural communities, and those with an agriculture base, not only are we keeping it out of the landfill, we’re capturing that resource and putting it back into the soil,” she said. (Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)
2 Bedroom/2 Bathroom cabin in Wilderness Streams Subdivision Gated & fenced community, unparalleled privacy and seclusion Exclusive access to the Gunnison National Forest & West Elk Wilderness area Enjoy fishing at the private pond or nearby streams $895,000 MLS#810587 970.641.0077 137 W. Tomichi Ave., Suite A Gunnison, CO
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970.349.1394 315 Sixth St., Crested Butte, CO
GCEA ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE
Board Election and Annual Meeting Date The ELECTION FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS and the 85th Annual Member Meeting for Gunnison County Electric Association (GCEA) will be held on: Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at 5 p.m. at 37250 W US Highway 50, Gunnison, CO 81230
BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTIONS GCEA’s Board of Director positions eligible for election are as follows: DISTRICT NO. 6 - Incumbent Polly Oberosler DISTRICT NO. 7 - Open Seat For election information and how to become a candidate, please scan the QR code or go to gcea.coop. Contact Us
970-641-3520 gcea.coop
A12 • NEWS • Thursday, February 8, 2024
Gunnison Country Times
BUY OF THE WEEK
Girls gone fishin’ Women gathered at Blue Mesa Reservoir on Jan. 27 to take part in an all-day ice fishing workshop hosted by nonprofit Uncharted Outdoorswomen. Guides Ema Muslic and Erin Croke taught participants how to tie lures and use ice fishing equipment such as auger drills and fish finders. The nonprofit partners with local businesses to create a safe place for women to learn about outdoor activities. Uncharted hosts events across Colorado, Montana, Oregon and Wyoming.
A VERY NICE LOT within Antelope Hills that is ready to move your mobile home too. This lot has a 32x28 detached garage with concrete floor and electric. Sewer and water taps are installed. You could also park your 5th wheel camper for the summer adventures in the Gunnison Valley. The 5th wheel camper onsite is included with the sale of the property. It’s a 2014 Heartland 5th wheel. 7 Willow Lane $275,000
HONEST, ETHICAL, PROFESSIONAL ClArke AgenCy reAl esTATe Audrie Townsend Broker/Owner
(970) 209-6208
241 N. Main St. Gunnison, CO 81230 www.clarkeagency.net
People’s Choice Award for Best Realtor 2021 & 2022
(Photos by Mariel Wiley)
Josh Townsend Broker/Owner
(970) 209-4479
Ohio Creek Valley Home ...on nearly a full acre with views galore. The roomy
floorplan features a ground floor bedroom and bath, living and dining rooms, utility room large country kitchen, fireplace, and fabulous game or family room with south facing deck entrance. The upstairs features 3 more bedrooms and a bath and ample storage. Comes with a nice attached 2 car garage, 2 wells, some deeded water rights, and a brand-new engineered septic tank and leach field. Plenty of room for your pets or extra outbuildings for toys, horses or 4-H animals. Modest covenants and NO HOA fees. Call Matt to explore this country home that’s just minutes from Gunnison. $895,000.
Matt Robbins, CRS, GRI Monarch Realty, Inc. 970-596-0715 l matt@monarchrlty.com
P U C K
C A N C E R
PINK RINK IN THE
THANK YOU!
women's hockey tournament
TO THE WOMEN WHO PLAYED THEIR HEARTS OUT, OUR SPONSORS, AND VOLUNTEERS THAT MADE THIS TOURNAMENT POSSIBLE!
MVP Sponsor
SAW CONTRACTING MAGGIE DETHLOFF - BLUEBIRD REALTY GUNNISON BANK & TRUST COMPANY GUNNISON VALLEY HEALTH FOUNDATION
Hat Trick Sponsor ROCKY MOUNTAIN TREES SGM - SCHMUESER GORDON MEYER INC INTERIOR VISIONS
Slap Shot Sponsor MILLER CUSTOM HOMES HOWIES
Rookie Sponsor ALL THE PROCEEDS OF PINK IN THE RINK STAY IN OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN THE GUNNISON VALLEY WHO ARE DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AND NEED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP WITH EXPENSES . CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2024 CHAMPIONS, THE BREAST OF FRIENDS!
TRIC SALON PATRIOT PRESSWORKS PATS SCREEN PRINTING ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRAMES & TROPHIES CITY OF GUNNISON PARAGON COMPUTERS SIGN GUYS & GALS BUCKEL WINE WEST ELK HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
Thursday, February 8, 2024 • NEWS • A13
Gunnison Country Times
PUBLIC LANDS
Gunnison Trails fills new part-time role Rae Anglen appointed assistant executive director Mariel Wiley Times Photo Editor
After spending years as Gunnison Trails’ only full-time employee, Tim Kugler knew it was time to find someone to help him manage a growing workload. His search didn’t take him far: former 2021 Gunnison Trails crew leader Rae Anglen was a natural choice for an assistant executive director. She started in the new role this past December. Kugler began developing the role early last year in light of increased activity on local trails and a heavier workload for Gunnison Trails. In the summer of 2023, Gunnison Trails was awarded a grant from the Gunnison County Metropolitan Recreation District (MetRec), which provided the necessary funding to establish the position. “We’ve evolved and grown in a way that we can bring more to
the table for our land managers and partners … We reached a tipping point where we needed extra staff capacity to do it better,” Kugler said. More people on trails means more chances for human impact on the land. Kugler saw an opportunity for Gunnison Trails to mitigate the impact of increased activity through education, but couldn’t manage such an expansion alone. With Anglen there to help, Kugler will be able to pursue projects for Gunnison Trails with renewed vigor. Anglen’s responsibilities will include maintaining relationships with Gunnison Trails’ federal and local partners (such as the Gunnison County, the City of Gunnison and Western Colorado University), preparing proposals for new trails and fundraising. She will take the lead on project management and event coordination for some of the organization’s largest annual events, such as the Winter Blast and the Growler. She graduated from Western Colorado University in 2022 as a nontraditional student, having decided to pursue a college degree after jumping into the workforce straight after high school. Her recreation and outdoor education degree comple-
mented her experience working for Australian company Excursion Risk Services as a risk management trainer. “I have been feeling the pull to connect and invest locally,” Anglen said. “And this position gives me the ability to flex the skills that I have on a local level to the benefit of our community, which is exciting.” Anglen’s biggest goal for the position is to establish an inperson presence at some of Gunnison’s high-use trailheads, especially Hartman Rocks. She also hopes to develop a curriculum suitable for both adults and children that covers Leave No Trace principles, trail etiquette and sustainable recreation practices. She plans to pull on previous experience building educational programs for the Sustainable Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee (STOR), creating a replica of what she knows “already works.” By talking to hikers and bikers as they prepare to hit the trails, Anglen hopes to help recreators develop a deeper sense of place and connection to the land. This involves educating people on the valley’s history before the mining industry was established in the 1800s, bringing awareness to the original peoples of the region as well as
Rae Anglen (Courtesy Gunnison Trails)
its complex geological and ecological history. “Instead of it being ‘I went and visited Gunnison,’ I want people to remember that ‘I went and stood in this landscape,’” Anglen said. “That’s what I want people to connect with: this landscape includes us, but it
also includes every other living thing.” (Mariel Wiley can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or mariel@ gunnisontimes.com.)
HCCA begins to think beyond Red Lady CB nonprofit hires Hare Bella Biondini Times Editor
This week, Jonathan Hare joined Crested Butte’s High Country Conservation Advocates (HCCA) as the nonprofit’s new advocacy director. Founded in 1977, HCCA formed around the Gunnison Valley community’s desire to preserve Mt. Emmons, a peak locally known as the Red Lady. But over the last year, the decades-long fight to permanently protect Mt. Emmons from the threat of mining and development has come closer to a conclusion than ever before. As the local nonprofit enters its 47th year, it will continue to advocate for the protection of Gunnison County’s public lands as it prepares to undergo a transition. In December, HCCA began restructuring its staff positions, and removed the executive director role. It
sought an advocacy director to help the organization prepare for “life after Red Lady.” Hare, whose first day in the office was Monday, will run HCCA’s public lands program, a position that Matt Reed left last year. Hare will also assume some duties of HCCA’s former executive director. "We're preparing for the day when Red Lady is saved, knowing that our public lands will always need protecting,” said board president Sue Navy. “Hiring Jon Hare positions us well going forward. We have always been the advocates for our magnificent public lands, and this work will continue under Jon's leadership.” Hare grew up on the East Coast in a rural county south of Pittsburgh, his childhood structured around the outdoors. He graduated from college with a degree in political science and became drawn to the field of environmental policy. After a brief stint working for newspapers, a volunteer trip took him to the Gila National Forest of New Mexico. The U.S. Forest
Service asked if he’d come back as a seasonal employee the following summer. He described this role as his “invitation” into government service and what would eventually become a 20-year career in public lands management with the Forest Service. During his time with the agency, Hare worked as a trail builder, wildland firefighter, fish biologist, permit administrator and winter snow ranger. Hare landed in Colorado in 2004 and took a job with the White River National Forest — a neighbor to the Gunnison Valley, and the most heavily-visited national forest in Colorado. He later moved from Summit County to the Grand Mesa and eventually to the Gunnison Ranger Distr ict. Here, he learned the people, maps and boundaries that would serve as a foundation to his new role at HCCA, he said. “I was looking to evolve my conservation voice, and to use that knowledge and experience I had gained to problem solve … [It was] also the opportunity to
Jonathan Hare (Courtesy High Country Conservation Advocates)
speak unfettered as an advocate for public lands,” Hare said. With the land exchange and mineral withdrawal at Mt. Emmons yet to be finalized, Hare said HCCA will likely always have some work to do on that project. But he also has his eyes on the future of the valley’s vast system of public lands. He acknowledged the challenges of Gunnison County’s rich “mineral legacy” and balancing the
rising number of visitors with smart development. “What does it take to keep this place so there’s an experience on public lands that’s worth having?” Hare said. (Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)
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A14 • NEWS • Thursday, February 8, 2024
Gunnison Country Times
Cross country costume party A barrage of unicorns, superheroes, and tutu-clad racers on Nordic skis swept down Crested Butte’s Elk Avenue on Feb. 3 for the annual Alley Loop Marathon. Competitive skiers mingled with costumed participants at the finish line. Racers could register for either a recreational or competitive division, with courses ranging in distance from 1.5K to 42K.
(Photos by Mariel Wiley)
Bethany Church 909 N Wisconsin St.
(behind Powerstop) • 970-641-2144 Two services at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. FREE lunch for college students following the 10:30 a.m. service gunnisonbethany.com 9 a.m.: Family Service with nursery & children’s church Check out our website for updates! Or download our app on the App Store by searching, Gunnison Bethany.
B'nai Butte Congregation
PO Box 2537 Crested, Butte CO 81224 305-803-3648 bnaibutte@gmail.com Feb. 16 - Shabbatluck service, 6 p.m. pls bring a dish and drink to share. Feb. 17, 10:30 a.m., Kibbitz (chat) with Rabbi Mark at Rumors Coffee in CB. Feb. 17, 1-3 p.m., Mitzvah Day at the Gunnison Country Food Pantry, 114 s. 14th St, Gunnison. Feb. 17, 5:30 p.m., Havdalah service, in CB South, pls bring an appetizer or drinks to share. Feb. 18, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Torah Study in CB South. Spiritual Leader: Rabbi Mark Kula is available for you at RabbiMarkKula@gmail.com Go to bnaibutte.org for additional details and locations.
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. 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 firstbaptistgunnison.org.
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.
Trinity Baptist Church
Church in the Barn
523 N. Pine St. • 970-641-1813 Senior Pastor - Joe Ricks Sunday Service 9:30 a.m. Adult Bible Study 8 a.m. trinitybaptistsgunnison.com
8007 County Road 887 Waunita Hot Springs Ranch • 970-641-8741 Sundays, 10:30 a.m. Non Denominational Come as you are.
Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church
Rocky Mountain Christian Ministries
711 N. Main • 970-641-1860 Children’s Christmas Program Sunday, December 17th at 10 a.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7 p.m. Christmas Day Service at 10 AM
The Good Samaritan Episcopal Church 307 W. Virginia Ave. • 970-641-0429 Rev. Laura Osborne, Vicar First Sunday of each month – 11 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II Alternating at Good Samaritan and All Saints in the Mountains Check our websites for location Second Sunday-Fifth Sunday – 9 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II Children’s Sunday school – 2nd and 4th Sundays, monthly Office hours: M-TH 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Taize – 1st Wednesday, monthly - 7 p.m. goodsamaritangunnison.org Visit our partnership church: All Saints in the Mountains, Crested Butte Meeting Second-Fifth Sundays at 5 p.m., Holy Eucharist, Rite II 403 Maroon Ave, Crested Butte Visit our website for location of 11 a.m. Holy Eucharist, First Sunday of each month allsaintsinthemountains.org
1040 Highway 135 (1/4 mile N. of Spencer Ave.) • 970-641-0158 Sunday Morning Worship 9:30 a.m. Nursery and Children’s ministry through Middle School “Remedy” Worship Nights Small Group Ministries mcmchurch.org
St. Peter’s Catholic Church
300 N. Wisconsin • 970-641-0808 Fr. Andres Ayala-Santiago gunnisoncatholic.org crestedbuttecatholic.org or call the Parish Office. St. Peter’s - Gunnison Sat 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 a.m. Casual, Relaxed, “Come As You Are” Worship gunnisonucc.org
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2024
LISTINGS TODAY
44
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
641.1414 Stop by: Gunnison Country Times 218 North Wisconsin Gunnison, CO 81230 Email: classifieds@ gunnisontimes.com Ad policy & Rates:
• $7 for 20 words or less, 20¢ each additional word. • Display Classified rate is $9.40 per column inch. • Deadline is NOON SHARP TUESDAY.
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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: SPED-Educational Assistant - GMS Bus Drivers Food Service - CBCS ELL Educational Assistant - CBCS Assistant Building Manager - CBCS Lead Custodian - Lake School Substitute Teachers
CLASSIFIEDS EMPLOYMENT REAL ESTATE RENTALS
A15 A16 A16
NOTICES
A17
CROSSWORD
A16
LEGALS
COMMUNITY
PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Secondary Principal - CBSS School Psychologist - District Counselor - CBES MARBLE CHARTER SCHOOL Marble Charter School Director - (See posting on GWSD website) COACHING: GHS - Speech and Debate GHS - Assistant Girls Basketball Coach GHS - Assistant Track coach Please contact: Superintendent’s Office JoAnn Klingsmith 800 N. Boulevard 970-641-7760
PINNACLE ORTHOPEDICS is seeking a FT medical assistant to join our team. Duties include clinical documentation, x-rays, medical supply inventory management and casting/splinting. Good organization and computer skills while working in a fastpaced environment are important. On-site training is provided. Position is for both our Crested Butte and Gunnison offices. $24/ hr DOE. Please send resume to office@ pinnacleorthocolorado.com. WANT TO WORK 32 HOURS AND GET PAID FOR 40 HOURS? CB South Metro District is hiring for a full-time 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
GUNNISON COUNTY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Motor Vehicle/Recording Technician Clerk and Recorder: 40 hours/ week, hourly rate range from $21.82-$24.85 plus full benefits. Case Management Aide HHS: 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $4,966-$6,037 plus full benefits. Caseworker I HHS: 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $5,263-$6,399 plus full benefits. Public Health Nurse II – Substance Abuse Prevention Juvenile Services: 20 hours/week, hourly rate range from $33.79$41.08 plus partial benefits. Seasonal Public Works: Guaranteed 40 hours/week, hourly rate range from $20.58-$23.43 depending on experience, plus partial benefits. Outdoor work that includes traffic control, fencing, tree and brush removal, trail work, recycling, equipment training and much more, all in a 4-day work week. Patrol Deputy Sheriff: Full-time, 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $5,857-$6,669 plus full benefits. Detention Deputy Sheriff: Full-time, 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $5,263$5,992 plus full benefits. Only work 14 days a month. For more information, including complete job descriptions, required qualifications and application instructions, please visit GunnisonCounty.org/jobs.
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. 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, full 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. GUNNISON H&R BLOCK OFFICE has two open positions. Tax preparer, will train, full or part-time for 2024 tax season. Receptionist, full or part-time for 2024 tax season. Contact Gunnison office at 970-648-4121 or Lisa at 970-731-1080. THE CLUB AT CRESTED BUTTE is hiring a communication coordinator. This is a full-time, year-round position with medical, retirement and vacation benefits. Pay range is $25-30/hr. DOE. Previous experience in graphic design and business writing preferred. For more information please email: jobs@clubatcrestedbutte.com. To submit a resume, please visit: theclubatcrestedbutte. com.
GUNNISON VALLEY HEALTH IS HIRING: Please note this is not a complete list of all our open jobs. You can view all open positions on our website at jobs.gunnisonvalleyhealth.org. Financial Counselor, Customer Service - FT $18.50-$23.12 Medical Assistant, Behavioral Health - FT $17-$19.55/hour DOE Unit Coordinator, Emergency Dept - FT $19.10-$22.91/hr DOE Benefits Eligibility: Medical, dental, vision, health care FSA and dependent care FSA. All active employees working 40 or more hours per pay period are eligible for benefits on the first of the month following date of hire. PRN staff are not initially eligible for benefits. Please visit our website for more indepth position descriptions, specific qualification requirements and to apply online: gunnisonvalleyhealth. org/careers/ or call HR for questions 970-641-1456 (PRN = as needed). All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a negative 10-panel drug screen test, criminal background check, reference checks, infection prevention procedures (TB test, Flu Shot, immunization records, etc.), physical capacity profile and acknowledgement of policies. IRWIN BACKCOUNTRY GUIDES is seeking on-mountain hospitality candidates for our cat skiing operation. This position requires the ability to work in an alpine environment with high physical demands and long days. This role is guest-facing and applicants must have a strong desire to provide exceptional hospitality to high-end clientele while maintaining a professional appearance. The diversity of this role requires experience in both food preparation and mountain operations, as well as a hard-working team player with attention to detail and good communication skills. Marker certification, CPR/first aid certification and the ability to operate a snowmobile is preferred. Clean motor vehicle record is mandatory. Full-time and part-time winter positions are available immediately. More information about our company can be found at irwinguides.com and elevenexperience.com. This is a winter seasonal position starting immediately through Apr. 15. Compensation starts at $175-$200 per day, plus tips. To apply, please send resume and cover letter to info@irwinguides.com. HABITAT FOR HUMANITY GUNNISON VALLEY is seeking a construction manager/hands-on builder with experience coordinating subcontractors, ordering materials and working with volunteers. Thurs.-Sat., May-Oct.. Pay negotiable, based on experience. Send job qualifications to P.O. Box 1295, Gunnison, CO 81230 or for more information call 970-641-1245. THE CRESTED BUTTE WILDFLOWER FESTIVAL is hiring an executive director. The CBWF is a well-loved event by both locals and visitors that takes place over two weeks in July. An ideal candidate has a background in non-profit work, experience with project development and execution, excellent communication and leadership skills and an interest in the natural world and trail systems around Crested Butte. The position is 3/4-time. Mid-May through MidAugust is the most time-intensive period of the year and the candidate must be available during those months to be considered. For more details and info on compensation, please visit CrestedButteWildflowerFestival. org and email resume and cover letter to info@cbwildflower.com. CLEANER POSITION: The Town of Mt. Crested Butte is hiring for a part-time cleaner. This position will be Monday through Friday, approximately 3-4 hours per day. The cleaner will clean the Mt. Crested Butte Town Hall, police department, maintenance building, TC-1 (Gothic lot) bathrooms and the sitting area in the transit center. The Town Hall and police department cannot be cleaned until after 5 p.m. but other areas can be cleaned on your own schedule. Must be at least 18 years old with a clean driving record, valid Colorado driver’s license and the ability to pass a CBI/
FBI background check. Town pays sick time for all part-time employees. Pay is $25-$35 per hour based on experience. To apply for this position, please submit a resume, cover letter and references to Tiffany O’Connell at toconnell@mtcb.colorado.gov or drop off your application materials at the Mt. Crested Butte Town Hall, 911 Gothic Road, Mt. Crested Butte, CO 81225. If you have any questions please email or call Tiffany O’Connell at 970-349-6632 or toconnell@ mtcb.colorado.gov.
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.
ARE YOU TIRED OF WORKING MULTIPLE JOBS TO MAKE IT IN THE VALLEY? Iron Horse is looking for the right individual to join our expanding property care team. This individual is responsible for property inspections, inventories and the overall quality and presentation of vacation rentals in our luxury inventory. You will work hand-inhand with our maintenance, housekeeping and reservation teams to ensure that our guests experience vacation perfection. Pay is DOE plus a company car, health insurance, on-call pay, paid vacation, ski or health and wellness pass, 5-day work week and more. If you are detail-oriented, organized, punctual and only want the best, then submit your resume to steve@ironhorsecb.com and qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview. Clean driving record is required. No phone calls please.
JOB OPPORTUNITY, ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN II (STAKING ENGINEER): Gunnison County Electric Association is currently seeking applications for an Engineering Technician II (Staking Engineer) position. This is a full-time position that will be reporting to the Gunnison headquarters/ Crested Butte outpost. This position plans for the construction of electric services including line design and preparing staking sheets. This is an hourly or non-exempt position, and the pay range is between $85,862$114,483 annually. Actual compensation offer to candidate may vary outside of the posted hiring range based upon experience, education and/or skill level. Applicable overtime pay may apply occasionally or when needed. Upon meeting eligibility requirements, this position offers health care benefits, retirement benefits, paid time off and paid scheduled holidays. To see the complete job description and to learn how to apply, please visit our website at gcea.coop, About tab, Careers. Job will remain open until Feb. 20, 2024. LEGAL SERVICES AND VICTIM SERVICES POSITION is available immediately in the Gunnison District Attorney’s office. Legal services: This position requires excellent data entry and word processing skills (Microsoft Word), a professional demeanor and an ability to enjoy working with the public. Duties include Legal filings and case data entry, telephones, electronic filing, greeting visitors and coordination with court and law enforcement personnel. Legal or criminal justice background is preferred but not required. Victim assistance: You will be responsible for assisting victims through the criminal justice system as it relates to the DA’s office. Full-time, 40 hours a week, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Salary: $19-26 per hour (DOE). Benefit package. Please mail your resume with employment references to the following address: Office of the District Attorney, Attention: Administrator, 1140 N. Grand Avenue, Ste. 200, Montrose, CO 81401, Or submit via email to mail@ co7da.org. This position will remain open until filled. COMMUNITY BANKS OF COLORADO is seeking qualified candidates to fill both a relationship banker and an associate banker position in our Gunnison banking center. Full-time with benefits. Excellent opportunities to start your career in banking. For position details and to apply, please visit cobnks.com. NBH Bank is an equal opportunity employer. CARPENTERS NEEDED: Growing regional, local, Crested Butte-born, residential construction company. Excellent pay and benefits. Text 970-596-1131.
Thursday, February 8, 2024 • CLASSIFIEDS • A16
Gunnison Country Times
CITY OF GUNNISON EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Chief Water Operator Full-time, $72,800-$85,500/yr Leads Water department staff and performs a variety of skilled technical duties and skilled labor in the operation and maintenance of the city’s nine (9) potable water wells, water distribution system, wastewater collections system, irrigation ditches, etc. 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 tomaintaining the security of the city, protecting constitutional guarantees of all persons, protecting life and property, preserving public peace and order,preventing, solving and detecting crimes, facilitating the safe movement of people and vehicles and other emergency services as needed. POST Certification not required. The city will pay for the police academy if needed and pay a cadet wage of $50,900 while attending the academy. Includes a $15,000 signing bonus. Increased wages over above-listed salary available for working nights. Personal liability insurance paid by the City of Gunnison. Housing is available. 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
CLUES ACROSS
1. Gene type 5. Persian male given name 10. Type of protection 12. Cloud 14. One who returns to life 16. Gym class 18. General’s assistant (abbr.) 19. Baby’s dining accessory 20. Enchantress 22. Prefix denoting “in a” 23. Spiritual leader 25. Cavities 26. Relative biological effectiveness (abbr.) 27. Foot (Latin) 28. Sweet potato 30. Pharaoh of Lower Egypt 31. Land 33. More inquisitive 35. Dog breed: __ Apso 37. Stood up 38. Direct and uninhibited 40. Authorless 41. Blocking type of drug (abbr.) 42. Retrospective analysis (abbr.) 44. Root mean square (abbr.)
DOS RIOS GOLF CLUB in Gunnison is hiring for the position of golf course equipment technician (mechanic). This is a full-time, year-round position. Pay range is $55-60,000/year DOE. Please visit turfnet. com/jobs/j55009-turf-equipment-technician/ for a more detailed job description. Send resume and/or questions to groundsuper@ dosriosgolfclub.org. ADAPTIVE SPORTS CENTER SUMMER INSTRUCTOR: The Adaptive Sports Center is seeking adaptive instructors to facilitate exceptional adaptive sport and recreation activities for the 2024 Summer Season. Pay ranges from $20-$29/hour based on experience. Benefits for full-time, seasonal staff include pro-forms, certification and membership dues, exam reimbursement, paid sick days, 5-day stipend and a 401(k) match. More information and summer application is at adaptivesports.org – about us – careers. Applications are due Mar. 15. THE GUNNISON CONSERVATION DISTRICT is hiring for the position of district manager. This is a part-time position (30 hrs/wk). Required skills include strong accounting skills and knowledge of QuickBooks, Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, Excel, grant writing and management and supervisory ability. Applicants with a strong dedication to natural resource conservation, agriculture, watershed science, demonstrated ability to work with minimal supervision and strong attention to detail preferred. Salary range $22-$25/hour. Questions and/or resume may be submitted to gunnisoncd2006@gmail.com. WHITEOUT SNOW REMOVAL in Crested Butte is looking for part-time and fulltime roof shovelers. Pay rate depends on experience. Call Ben at 970-787-0702. CARPENTER WANTED: RAM Construction, a Crested Butte-based construction company, is seeking a carpenter with at least 2 years of on-the-job experience. Base pay starts at $35/hr. Please email a cover letter and resume with references to ramconstructioncb@gmail.com or call 970209-7548. THE CLUB AT CRESTED BUTTE is hiring the following part-time and full-time seasonal positions: Front desk attendant, $16-$20/hr., line cook, $21-$25/hr. + gratuity. Employee benefits include employee discounts and ski storage at the base area. For more information or to submit a resume, please visit theclubatcrestedbutte.com or email jobs@clubatcrestedbutte.com. WASTEWATER OPERATOR: The Mt. Crested Butte Water and Sanitation District is accepting applications for a full-time Wastewater Operator position to be part of a team environment focused on operation of the wastewater plant and collection system for Mt. Crested Butte. Important qualifications include a combination of construction, field operations and electrical/mechanical/ maintenance repair. A licensed electrician is preferred. A State of Colorado Collections and/or wastewater license or the ability to obtain such within one (1) year is mandatory (training for certifications provided). Operators are required to take on-call responsibility including select weekends and holidays. A valid Colorado driver’s license is required, and a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is preferred at hiring or the ability to obtain such within one (1) year is required. Starting salary is $44,500-$52,000 for entry level. $52,000-$72,000 salary available for operators/electricians with experience and appropriate state wastewater and/ or electrical licenses. Excellent benefits package including 100% employer-paid premium family health, dental and life insurance, 12 paid holiday days, a season ski pass, employer provided uniforms and employer contribution to retirement plan (5%
45. Macaws 48. Actress Remini 50. Polynesian wrapped skirt 52. City of Angels hoops team (abbr.) 53. Fitzgerald and Baker are two 55. Bowling alley must-have 56. A way to cool down 57. Ethnic group in Asia 58. A way to alter 63. Set of five 65. Removes from the record 66. Dummies 67. Set period in office
CLUES DOWN 1. DC Comics superhero 2. Brew 3. Play 4. Single-celled animals 5. Rough to the touch 6. Small island (British) 7. Often noted alongside cons 8. Preparation of rootstock 9. Atomic #44 10. Egyptian unit of capacity 11. About secretary
automatic mandatory employer matching with 1-3% optional additional matching). Full job description is available at mcbwsd.com. Please submit cover letter and resume to Mt. Crested Butte Water and Sanitation District, PO Box 5740, Mt. Crested Butte, CO 81225 or email bburks@mcbwsd.com. Position is open until filled. MCBWSD is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
NOTICE THE CITY OF GUNNISON is accepting written price quotes for handheld narcotics identification equipment. Quotes close Feb. 12, 2024 and details can be found at bidnetdirect.com/Colorado. SAGUACHE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SEEKS SAGUACHE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS: Saguache County Board of Commissionersare seeking members and alternates from: La Garita/Center area - member and alternate Town of Center and surrounding area alternate Moffat and surrounding area - alternate Hooper and surrounding area - member and alternate At Large for All of Saguache County alternate Crestone and surrounding area - alternate The representative must be a property owner or property manager and reside in the area they are interested in representing. Regular member terms are for three years and the alternate terms are for one year.
1 BEDROOM APARTMENT FOR RENT: No pets, no smoking, $1,800. Utilities included. 970-312-5767.
FOR LEASE: Approximately 2,000 sq. ft. shop/office located on S. 11th close to the airport. Commercial zoning. Call 970-2093676 for information.
PALISADES AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY
Palisades Apartments is currently accepting applications for our waiting list. Our 2 bedroom, low income apartment community is income-based. You must meet restrictions. Our newly renovated 2 bedroom apartments are a must see. Apply in-person at 600 N. Colorado in Gunnison.
We are a no smoking property. For further information please contact us at 970-641-5429 or palisadesmanager@ silva-markham.com
Saguache County Planning Commission meets on the last Thursday of each month in the Road and Bridge meeting room. The Planning Commission may also have work sessions throughout each month to work on the Saguache County Master Plan and different items.
REAL ESTATE HOUSE FSBO: 10-year build. 2,200 sq. ft. Two car garage. Two story. Fireplace. 1/3 acre. Greenhouse, shed, chicken coop. End of cul-de-sac. As is. Showing to pre-qualified buyers. $748,000. Call 970-648-4113. COMMERCIAL KITCHEN AND RETAIL SPACE FOR RENT beginning mid-April. 1,700 sq. ft. property. The front 400 sq. ft. is now successful, well-established deli, including display refrigerators, counter and seating. Back of the property is 1,300 sq. ft. complete commercial kitchen, bathroom and office. Located in Crested Butte with plenty of parking and great delivery and loading area, this property is perfect for deli, catering, bakery or endless possibilities. Rent or purchase is negotiable. $3,885$5,885/mo. 970-209-3920.
13. Particular groups 15. Poke fun at 17. Make certain that something occurs 18. Financial term 21. Justify 23. Arbiter 24. 007’s creato 27. Czech name for Prague 29. Groans 32. American time 34. No seats available 35. __ Stahl, journalist 36. Cleft lip 39. Talk incessantly 40. Expresses atomic and
CROSSWORD ANSWERS FOR PREVIOUS WEEK
molecular weights (abbr.) 43. A part of a river where the current is very fast 44. Curdled milk 46. Running competitions 47. A team’s best pitcher 49. Carthaginian explorer 51. World-renowned city 54. Most common Japanese surname 59. The bill in a restaurant 60. They __ 61. City of Angels football team (abbr.) 62. Distinctive practice 64. One quintillion bytes
We’re always looking for stories that impact the lives of the Valley’s residents. Send us your photos or story ideas. Email editor@gunnisontimes.com 970-641-1414
Saguache County Planning Commission members and alternates are paid $100 for every regular meeting they attend, plus mileage reimbursement. If you are interested, please send a brief letter of interest stating qualifications and interest to: Saguache County Land Use, Attn: Amber Wilson, PO Box 326, Saguache, CO 81149 prior to Thursday, February 29th, 2024. All applicants will be interviewed by the Board of County Commissioners. Should you have any questions please call Amber Wilson at 719-655-2321.
Have an idea? Let us know!
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A17 • LEGALS • Thursday, February 8, 2024
Gunnison Country Times
Legals
a. Board/Student Engagement - Dr. Coleman and Mrs. Roberts
AGENDA
b. School Board Policy - Mrs. Brookhart and Dr. Coleman
Regular Meeting Agenda February 12, 2024 5:30pm Crested Butte Community School This meeting will be conducted in person and by distance using the video conferencing platform ZOOM Webinar. Please check the GWSD website for further instructions. 1. Call to order 2. Roll call 3. Pledge of Allegiance 4. Approval of agenda (ACTION, All) 5. Commendations and celebrations (Information, Successful Students, Strong Employees) 6. Public comment (Information, Engaged Community) Please use the public participation form, or use the Q&A feature in Zoom, and indicate your name, address, and topic for comment. 7.Consent agenda (ACTION, All) Items in the consent agenda are considered routine and will be enacted under one motion. There will not be separate discussion of these items prior to the time the board votes unless a Board Member requests an item be removed from the grouping for separate consideration. a. Board of Education Minutes January 15, 2024 Regular meeting January 29, 2024 Regular meeting/ Amended Budget b. Finance: Approve for payment, as presented by the Director of Finance, warrants as indicated: General Account # 43481-43569 Payroll Direct Deposit # 59244-59629 c. Personnel Savannah Hatfield-Assistant Building Manager-CBSS Jarrod Hinton-Bus Driver (part-time) Cynthia Bruton-Transitional Employment for the 2024-25 school year Kelly Kirby-Transitional Employment for the 2024-25 school year Jill Peterson-Transitional Employment for the 2024-25 school year Kylie Collins-Resignation-4th grade teacherCBES Ernie Kothe-Resignation-Secondary Principal-CBSS Erin Moran Shields-Resignation-School Psychologist-GCS Noah Savini-Resignation-Permanent Substitute-CBCS 8. Items for information, discussion, and action Public comment is welcome following board discussion of individual items below. Please use the public participation form, or the Q&A feature in Zoom, and indicate your name, address, and topic for comment. a. Facilities Improvement Program Update and Consideration of Authorizing Bond Program Executive Committee to Continue with Updated Schematic Design Estimates (ACTION, Functional Facilities) Chris Guarino & John Usery, Artaic Group Bond Program Executive Committee: Tyler Martineau, Tia Mills, Paul Morgan, Leslie Nichols Dave Taylor, Former Board Member b. Housing Action Plan Presentation (Discussion, Functional Facilities) Willa Williford, Williford, LLC c. Consideration of Resolution to Reauthorize Marble Charter School (MCS) (ACTION, Engaged Community) d. Strategic Planning RFP (Discussion, Engaged Community) Dr. Leslie Nichols, Superintendent e. School Calendar Recommendations for 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 (Discussion, Engaged Community) Dr. Leslie Nichols, Superintendent f. School Board Policies BEDB - Agenda (Discussion, Engaged Community) First reading of policy BEDH - Public Participation at Board Meeting (Discussion, Engaged Community) First reading of policy AC - Nondiscrimination/Equal Opportunity (ACTION, All) Second reading of policy for consideration of approval g. Other Administrative Report Items (Discussion, All) Dr. Leslie Nichols, Superintendent 9. Public comment (Information, Engaged Community) Please complete the public participation form, or use the Q&A feature in Zoom and indicate your name, address, and topic for comment. 10. Items introduced by Board Members (Discussion, All) 11. Board committee reports (Information, All)
c. Executive Committee for Bond Project Mr. Martineau d. Superintendent EvaluationBrookhart and Dr. Coleman
Mrs.
e. District Accountability Committee (DAC) Mrs. Roberts f. School Accountability Committees (SAC) GHS - Dr. Coleman GCS - Mrs. Brookhart CBCS - Mr. Martineau g. Gunnison County Education Association Negotiations - Mr. VanderVeer h. Gunnison County Education Association 3x3 - Mr. VanderVeer i. Fund 26 - Dr. Coleman j. Gunnison Memorial Scholarship - Mrs. Roberts k. Health Insurance Committee - Mr. VanderVeer Upcoming agenda items and meeting schedule (Information, Engaged Community)
Teocalli Ave, Crested Butte – Outside the Mail Building Crested Butte Crank’s Plaza – 507 Maroon Ave, Crested Butte – Outside Town Hall Mt. Crested Butte TC-1 Parking – 700 Gothic Rd, Mt. Crested Butte – Outside Lot Building Western Colorado University – 1 Western Way, Gunnison – Outside Student Service Center (South Entrance) TO ENSURE A VOTED BALLOT IS COUNTED, IT MUST BE RETURNED TO ONE OF THE ABOVE LISTED LOCATIONS NO LATER THAN 7:00 PM, MARCH 5TH, 2024 (ELECTION DAY). POSTMARKS DO NOT COUNT. If a resident of Gunnison County is not currently registered to vote, they may register in person at the Gunnison County Election’s Office, at any of the above listed VSPC’s until 7:00 PM on Election Day, March 5th, 2024, or by visiting GoVoteColorado.gov. To register to vote online, an eligible elector must possess a valid Colorado Driver’s License or valid Colorado Identification Card. For further information or questions please contact the Gunnison County Elections Division at (970) 641-7927. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the County of Gunnison, this 22nd day of January, 2024. Kathy Simillion, Gunnison County Clerk and Recorder
a. Monday, February 26, 2024 Work Session@5:30pm-GUN b. Monday, March 4, 2024 Regular meeting@5:30pm- CB c. Monday, March 25, 2024 Work Session@5:30pm-GUN d. Monday, April 8, 2024 Regular meeting@5:30pm-GUN e. Monday, April 22, 2024 Work Session@5:30pm-CB
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication date of February 8, 2024
13. Executive Session: None 14. Adjournment
NOTICE OF INTENT TO DISPOSE:
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication date of February 8, 2024
To the following parties that have their personal property stored at Plotts Mini Storage, LLC. 312 W. Hwy 50 Gunnison, CO 81230:
12171
NOTICE OF ELECTION PUBLIC NOTICE OF STATE OF COLORADO PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY GUNNISON, COLORADO TUESDAY, MARCH 5th, 2024 PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to law, an Election will be held in Gunnison County, in the State of Colorado, on Tuesday, March 5th, 2024. The Election will be conducted as a Mail Ballot Election. The Gunnison County Clerk and Recorder, Kathy Simillion, is the Designated Election Official for Gunnison County. Voter Service and Polling Centers (VSPC) Voter Service and Polling Centers will provide the following services: Ballot Drop-Off, Voter Registration & Updates, Replacement Ballots, and Electronic & ADA Compliant Voting. The VSPC’s will be open per the below schedules. The Blackstock Government Center VSPC will be located in the parking lot located at 221 N. Wisconsin St, Gunnison. Hours of operation as follows: February 26th – March 1st, 2024 (M-F) – 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM March 2nd, 2024 (Sat) – 7:00 AM until 11:00 AM March 4th, 2024 (Mon) – 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM March 5th, 2024 (ELECTION DAY) – 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM The Queen of All Saint’s Parish Hall VSPC located in Crested Butte at 405 Sopris Avenue, will be open the following dates and times: March 1st, 2024 (Fri) – 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM March 4th, 2024 (Mon) – 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM March 5th, 2024 (ELECTION DAY) – 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM The Western College University (WCU) VSPC located in Gunnison at 1 Western Way in the North Conference Room of the Student Service Center, will be open the following dates and times: March 4th, 2024 (Mon) – 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM March 5th, 2024 (ELECTION DAY) – 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM 24 Hour Secure Dropbox 24/7 Monitored & Secure Dropboxes are available at the below locations starting on February 16th, 2024. Blackstock Government Building – 221 N. Wisconsin St, Gunnison – Located at the South end of the parking lot Crested Butte South POA Mail Building – 61
12029
NOTICE OF INTENT TO DISPOSE
new 51’ monopole next to the existing 51’6” wooden utility pole, then demolishing the existing pole on a parcel legally described as Township 50 North, Range 1 West, Section 26 NWSW and Section 27 N1/2SE.LUC-2300001 – Peter & Alicen White Revocable Trust approved for an alteration of an existing building envelope on a parcel of land legally described as Lot 18, Gunnison Riverbanks Ranch Subdivision. LUC-23-00019 – Whetstone Industrial Park approved to amend covenants.
MEETING NOTICE Upper Gunnison River Conservancy District Board of Directors Meeting Monday, February 26, 2024 5:30 PM
LUC-23-00030 – James A. Wermers and Muna Bhanji approved to construct a single family residence on a ridgeline, on a parcel legally described as Lot 1, Red Mountain Estates Subdivision. LUC-23-00033 – Whetstone Industrial Park Lot Owners Association approved to amend covenants. LUC-23-00037 – Matthew E. Baser approved to construct a Driveway to Vacant Land on a parcel of land legally described as Lot 41, Block 2, MARBLE SKI AREA FILING NO. 5. LUC-23-00040 – Kent Lindberg approved to construct a Driveway to Vacant Land on a parcel of land legally described as Tract 6, Crested Butte Meadows Subdivision. /s/ Sean Pope Land Use Planner Gunnison County Development
Community Department
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication date of February 8, 2024 12119
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE OF INTENT TO DISPOSE: To the following parties that have their personal property stored at Plotts Mini Storage, LLC, 312 W. Hwy 50, Gunnison, CO, 81230: All property will be sold or disposed of, unless claimed and/or all rent and fees paid prior to Feb. 29, 2024. Unit 328 - Joshua Rowland Unit A11 - Shawn McKee Unit A35 - Jake Neil Unit A49 - Joshua Richards Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication dates of February 8, 15, 2024 12116
NOTICE OF LAND USE CHANGE PERMIT APPROVALS NOTICE OF LAND USE CHANGE PERMIT APPROVALS CREATING A VESTED RIGHT GUNNISON COUNTY, COLORADO PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that Gunnison County has approved the following Land Use Change permits with site-specific development plans(s) within unincorporated Gunnison County, which creates a threeyear vested property right pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes, Article 68 of Title 24 C.R.S., as amended. A “vested property right” gives the following applicant(s) the right to undertake the development subject to the condition(s) of approval of the site-specific development plan(s). LUC-21-00036 – John E. Armstrong and Teresa V. Chambers approved to construct a Driveway to Vacant Land on a parcel of land legally described as Township 49 North, Range 2 West, N.M.P.M. Section 12: NE1/4NE1/4. LUC-22-00013 – Commnet Four Corners LLC has been approved for the expansion of commercial use for the construction of a
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication date of February 8, 2024
LUC-23-00029 – Gage Pitkin Holdings, LLC approved to cluster Western Star No. 4 and 5 Lode Mining Claims, U.S. Survey No. 8138, QUARTZ CREEK MINING DISTRICT.
Unit 326 - Ladonna Garcia Unit 11 - Two Sisters Tea House
NOTICE OF INTENT TO DISPOSE
/s/ Erica Boucher, City Clerk, City of Gunnison
12151
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
12072
By order of Erica Boucher, City Clerk
LUC-23-00026 – Everett S. Johnson Revocable Trust approved for the construction of a Driveway to Vacant Land on a parcel of land legally described as Lot 24, Red Mountain Ranch.
All property will be sold or disposed of, unless claimed and/or all rent and fees paid prior to Feb. 15, 2024.
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication dates of February 1, 8, 2024
Colorado; mailed to the City Clerk at PO Box 239, Gunnison, CO 81230; or emailed to eboucher@gunnisonco.gov until 5:00pm, on February 26, 2024.
E. Martin Hatcher, Deceased Case Number 2024PR30003 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Gunnison County, Colorado on or before June 24, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred. Mark C. Hatcher Personal Representative c/o Kathleen L. Fogo, P.C. Attorney for Personal Representative P.O. Box 7200, Gunnison, CO 81230 Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication dates of February 8, 15, 22, 2024 12115
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING APPLICATION FOR RETAIL FERMENTED MALT BEVERAGE & WINE LIQUOR LICENSE VITAMIN COTTAGE NATURAL FOODS, INC. dba NATURAL GROCERS PURSUANT TO THE LIQUOR LAWS OF THE STATE OF COLORADO AND THE CITY OF GUNNISON, COLORADO, Vitamin Cottage Natural Foods, Inc. dba Natural Grocers, 1000 N. Main Street, Suite 1, Gunnison, Colorado 81230 has requested that the licensing officials of the City of Gunnison grant a Retail Fermented Malt Beverage & Wine Liquor License for dispensing malt and vinous liquor by the drink for off-premises consumption in the City of Gunnison. A Public Hearing on the application will be held in the City Council Chambers located on the second floor of City Hall, 201 West Virginia Avenue, Gunnison, Colorado at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at which time and place you may give testimony on the application. This public hearing may also be attended remotely by phone or computer by registering at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/ WN_5q0RJigHShCs_3ng5V1RfA
PUBLIC NOTICE Water
The Board of Directors of the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District (UGRWCD) will conduct a regular board meeting on Monday, February 26, 2024 at 5:30 PM at the UGRWCD Offices, 210 W. Spencer Ave., St. B, Gunnison, CO 81230 and via Zoom video/teleconferencing. For Zoom login information or questions, please call the District at 970-641-6065 or visit the website at: www.ugrwcd.org. Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication date of February 8, 2024 12152
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL Request Trash
For and
Proposal (RFP) Rubbish Removal
In response to the Saguache County Nuisance Ordinance, Saguache County is seeking contractors for the removal of and disposal of trash, rubbish, debris and assorted waste materials from land located in Saguache County. This shall include, but not be limited to, the removal and disposal of vehicles, trailers, building materials, trash, debris, and various materials that require removal. This position shall be on call or as needed. Bids should include, but not be limited to, hourly rates, and the rate for special material removal that may not be allowed for disposal in a land fill or conventional waste facility. Salvageable materials (excluding vehicles) may be kept by the contractor. Any salvaged vehicles must be taken to the designated vehicle area that will be located at the Saguache County Landfill. If hazardous materials are located, it will be up to the County to contract for that service. For questions, please email Amber Wilson at atorrez@saguachecounty-co.gov or call 719-655-2321. Proposal may be emailed, mailed or hand delivered. Email RFP to atorrez@saguachecounty-co.gov, mail to PO Box 326, Saguache, CO 81149 or hand deliver to 505 3rd Street, Saguache, CO 81149. Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication dates of February 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2024 12057
Putting arts and culture in the
spotlight.
Application Date: January 24, 2024 Principals: Kemper Isely, 3 Random, Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, 80113 Zephyr Isely, 14380 Crabapple Road, Golden, Colorado 80401 Heather Isely, 145 Hudson Street, Denver, Colorado 80220 Written comments may be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office located in City Hall, 201 West Virginia Avenue, Gunnison,
www.gunnisontimes.com
Thursday, February 8, 2024 • CLASSIFIEDS • A16
Gunnison Country Times
BUSINESS DIRECTORY 2 column x 7 inches
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Thursday, February 8, 2024 • NEWS • A19
Gunnison Country Times
Lights & Sirens CITY OF GUNNISON FEB. 3 POLICE REPORT JAN. 29 WELFARE ASSIST — N. COLORADO ST. INFORMATION — 800 W. OHIO AVE. ACCIDENT - HIT AND RUN — 400 E. RUBY AVE. ASSAULT: THIRD DEGREE - BODILY INJURY — 320 S. COLORADO ST. SEXUAL ASSAULT: ON A CHILD BY ONE IN POSITION OF TRUST — W. OHIO AVE.
JAN. 30 JUVENILE PROBLEM — E. TOMICHI AVE. HARASSMENT: MUNICIPAL — 600 N. COLORADO ST. THEFT: INTENDS TO PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE — 880 N. MAIN ST. ABANDONED VEHICLE — 900 W. DENVER AVE. ABANDONED VEHICLE — 700 W. ARTHUR AVE. ABANDONED VEHICLE — 500 S. 11TH ST. CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE: UNLAWFUL POSSESSION — 720 N. MAIN ST. AGENCY ASSIST — 107 OURAY LN.
PROPERTY - LOST — 600 W. VIRGINIA AVE. THEFT: INTENDS TO PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE — 910 W. BIDWELL AVE. AGENCY ASSIST — 711 N. TAYLOR ST. WELFARE ASSIST — N. COLORADO ST.
FEB. 4 DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE - ALCOHOL — 820 N. MAIN ST. JUVENILE PROBLEM — N. COLORADO ST. DEATH INVESTIGATION — E. GEORGIA AVE.
GUNNISON COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT JAN. 30 -Identity theft report in Marble -Welfare check -Notice to quit - posted -Temporary protection order served
JAN. 31 -Lift assist on a medical with Emergency Medical Services -VIN check
FEB. 1
DEATH INVESTIGATION — W. TOMICHI AVE. FRAUD - INFORMATION/WIRE — 312 E. TOMICHI AVE. ANIMAL - RUNNING AT LARGE - MUNICIPAL — 300 W. GEORGIA AVE. PROPERTY - FOUND — 100 N. MAIN ST. ASSAULT - MUNICIPAL — 1500 W. TOMICHI AVE. THEFT - LESS THAN $100 — 900 N. MAIN ST. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE - DRUGS — E. SPENCER AVE.
-Driving under the influence of alcohol arrest -Agency assist to the Colorado State Patrol with a vehicle accident
FEB. 1
FEB. 4
ASSAULT - MUNICIPAL — 916 W. GEORGIA AVE. PROPERTY - FOUND — 200 N. WISCONSIN ST. ANIMAL - RUNNING AT LARGE - MUNICIPAL — 600 W. GOTHIC AVE. ACCIDENT — 201 N. LOVELAND ST.
-Agency assist to the Gunnison Police Department with an unattended death
CRIMINAL TRESPASS: THIRD DEGREE — 900 N. MAIN ST. PROPERTY - FOUND — 200 W. TOMICHI AVE. ACCIDENT — 501 E. TOMICHI AVE. MEDICAL CALL — N. PINE ST. ALARM — 1498 W. TOMICHI AVE.
that includes paid time off, retirement, health insurance, bonuses, and paid overtime. Our salary ranges from $60,000-$110,000 depending on experience. Responsibilities include: • Coordination with engineer, architect, owner throughout the project. • Permitting, scheduling, budgeting, estimating. • Subcontractors, purchase orders, material take offs. • Maintain drawings and
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We are seeking a motivated Project Manager / Estimator for our Gunnison based business. We are a well respected General Contractor who specializes in both commercial
FEB. 2 -Information report -Agency assist to the CSP with a one-vehicle slide-off -Out-of-county warrant arrest -Deputies arrested one person for a traffic infraction and for driving under the influence of alcohol and/ or drugs
FEB. 5 -Harassment report in Marble under investigation -Information report on a vehicle slide-off/stuck in ditch on C.R. 38 -Dog at large report -Welfare check
Gunnison Valley Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Every injury is different and having an experienced team who can make the right decisions about your care is key to a successful recovery. From robotic-assisted total joint replacements to care of fractures to surgical and non-surgical treatment of sprains and strains, the providers at GVO have the expertise and skill you need to get back to the things you love. With multiple locations we offer convenient access and scheduling to meet your orthopedic needs.
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A20 • NEWS • Thursday, February 8, 2024
Featuring:
Gunnison Country Times
C I E X T R AVAG A S U M N R E T S NZA WE ALL COLORADO HONOR BAND WITH
THE WESTERN SYMPHONIC BAND
DAN BELL
MARK BONNER
Dan Bell — Guest Conductor - Colorado Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame Mark Bonner — Guest Conductor, Dir. or Athletic Bands, University of Central Missouri JOHN PIRILLO
DR. DARKSON MAGRINELLI
John Pirillo — Guest Soloist, Professional Trumpet Artist, Fort Collins, Colorado
ADMISSION BY DONATION
Gunnison Fire Department Benefit THURSDAY, FEB. 15 7:30 p.m. Symphonic Band SATURDAY, FEB. 17 2 p.m. All Colorado Band concert ALL PERFORMANCES AT WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY, QUIGLEY HALL. ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT GUNNISON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Dr. Darkson Magrinelli - Director of Woodwinds and Jazz Band, Western Colorado University Dr. Brett Keating - Director of Bands, Western Colorado University, Conductor - Colorado Brass
DR. BRETT KEATING
DR. BEN JUSTIS
Dr. Ben Justis – Dir. of Percussion, Drum Line and Steel Band, Western Colorado University
ALL COLORADO HONOR BAND — 71ST YEAR FIRE DEPT. BENEFIT CONCERT — 72ND YEAR
WATCH CONCERTS LIVE AND CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA! @ MUSIC AT WCU
Applications Due March 15, 2024 • Capital • Operations • Community
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COMMUNITY: Lake City expands ice park, B5
WEATHER: A strange winter, B4
SPORTS: GHS girls wrestlers poised for postseason, B6
GUNNISON COUNTRY TIMES • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Breaking the ice
Club members practice a pinwheel spin at the center of Jorgensen’s outdoor rink. (Photos by Mariel Wiley)
Western club welcomes figure skaters of all levels Mariel Wiley Times Photo Editor
For many, winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, hockey and ice skating are inaccessible due to the need for expensive equipment and a culture that looks down on beginners. In rural towns like Gunnison, participating in a sport during the long, cold months can be crucial in maintaining peak physical and mental wellbeing. T h e We s t e r n C o l o r a d o
University Figure Skating Club, open to Western students and community members of all levels, provides an opportunity to do just that without breaking the bank. In addition, there’s no risk of being labeled a “jerry,” or an incompetent newbie. The cost to participate is low compared to other winter sports. Dues are $35 per semester, and practices are held during Jorgensen’s free public skate sessions. Skates are available to rent at Jorgensen for $5 per day for those who don’t want to invest in their own pair right away. This is a far cry from the $700-plus price tag of an Epic season pass at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Traditional figure skating lessons often come at a great cost, too, with hourly rates ranging
anywhere from $20-$100 in Colorado. This prevents some children from learning figure skating fundamentals at a young age. Once they reach adulthood, the perceived level of skill needed to jump into the sport can be intimidating. This was the experience of current skating club president Abigail Krueger. She’s wanted to be a figure skater for as long as she could remember, but expensive lessons prevented her from participating in the sport as a child. It wasn’t until three years ago, as a freshman at Western, that she laced up her skates and ventured out onto the ice for the first time. “It’s not to win a competition or a certain title,” Krueger said.
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Abigail Krueger laces up her skates before practice.
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Gunnison Country Times
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“We do it because it’s fun and we can all come together and watch each other grow.” Krueger met four other members at Jorgensen’s outdoor ice rink on a frigid Sunday evening to prepare for an upcoming performance. They worked together to finish the choreography to their group number set to Rihanna’s “Love on the Brain,” impervious to the whirlwind of other skaters circling the rink’s perimeter. Each of the five members chimed in with choreography ideas, which were all considered equally regardless of the member’s skill level. In a sequence of graceful arabesques and synchronized loop turns, the group of skaters danced through their routine in perfect harmony. The low-pressure nature of the club was a welcome change for Aoba Matsunaga, who started her skating career in her home country of Japan at the age of 3. She competed solo in her teenage years, which she acknowledged could feel lonely and stressful at times. “I wanted to enjoy skating, and having a team helps with that,” Matsunaga said. “My teammates are so kind and friendly.” Matsunaga, a Western graduate student, also credits the club for helping her learn English, which is her third language after Japanese and French. As one of the more experienced skaters, she helps coach newer recruits. Teaching others while simultaneously learning ice skating terms in English is a challenge that Matsunaga relishes. Although neither Krueger nor Matsunaga have plans to compete anytime soon, they were both excited for the opportunity to get dressed up in costume and perform their routine for a crowd. Krueger hopes that the club’s upcoming show will attract new members and encourage more people to take the leap and get out on the ice. “It’s fun to skate with the people who live here in Gunnison,” Krueger said. “I think part of that is just about building community and making sure that anyone who has an interest in skating knows we exist.” The skating club will perform during halftime at the Western hockey game against the Colorado School of Mines at 7 p.m. on Feb. 16. Learn more about the club on Instagram @ western_figure_skating. (Mariel Wiley can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or mariel@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Abigail Krueger stretches with assistance from Jules Lovino.
Aoba Matsunaga glides across the ice.
Krueger holds an arabesque as she skates backwards.
2024 HOMES AND GARDENS is around the corner! GET YOUR ADS IN NOW!
if you’d like to get an ad into the homes and gardens, contact Steve nunn by NOON 2/16 at admanager@gunnisontimes.com OR 970.641.1414
HOMES & GARDENS GUNNISON COUNTRY
AD DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 16!
PAGE 30
Rocky’s Gym:
THE TRANSFORMATION
BACKYARD CHICKENS
KOREAN FARMING
PATIO PROJECTS
RENOVATING WITH KIDS
Thursday, February 8, 2024 • ROUNDUP • B3
Gunnison Country Times
PEOPLE & HAPPENINGS Daddy-daughter dance
Free cooking course
Gunnison MOPS and Moms Next will host the sixth annual Daddy-Daughter Dance on Feb. 10 at Webster Hall, 107 N. Iowa St., in Gunnison from 6-8 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door for $20 per daddy/daughter and $5 for each additional daughter. Guests will enjoy a live DJ, desserts, photo booth and fun.
Mountain Roots Food Project will host a free Cooking Matters course on Wednesdays from Feb. 21-March 27 from 11 a.m.1 p.m. at the Gunnison County Library. This six-week course is for low-income adults seeking to gain confidence in the kitchen and improve their overall health. Spanish translation and childcare are available. For more information, contact Hayden Keene at 603.667.5311 or hayden@mountainrootsfoodproject.org.
League of Women Voters meeting The League of Women Voters of the Gunnison Valley will meet at 4 p.m. on Feb. 13 in Conference Room S at the Western Colorado University Student Center to discuss current legislation on reproductive freedom in Colorado and nationwide. Learn about the B89 Right To Abortion Initiative, medical services and contraception available locally and more. This meeting is open to the public. For more information, visit lwvgunnison.org.
Oscar-nominated shorts The Crested Butte Film Festival brings two programs of Oscarnominated short films to the Majestic Theatre in Crested Butte on Feb. 17 and 18 from 6:30-9 p.m., leading up to a live telecast of the Oscars on March 10. Tickets and more information are available at cbfilmfest.org and cbmajestic.org.
Move the Butte The 15th annual Crested Butte Dance Collective production of Move the Butte, a dynamic collection of dance featuring over 140 local adult dancers from the Gunnison Valley, takes place from Feb. 22-24. Tickets are on sale now at movethebutte.com/ tickets.
Republican caucus The Saguache County Republican Party will hold their caucus on Mar. 7 at 6 p.m. at two locations in the county. Precincts 1, 2, 6 and 7 will me et at Mountain Valle y School cafeteria in Saguache. Precincts 3, 4 and 5 will meet at Moffat School cafeteria in Moffat. If you are a registered Republican and not sure what precinct you are in or have other questions about the caucus or upcoming county assembly, please call 719.530.1257 or email mkc@ accentusa.com.
Youth nicotine anonymous Nicotine Anonymous for Young Adults meets every Wednesday from 2-3 p.m. at 601 6th Street 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.
Watercolor wilderness Phyllis Guerrieri and Barbara Briggs met up at the Gunnison Senior Center for afternoon art club on Jan. 26. Briggs, using vibrant alcohol-based paints, worked on her new rendition of an aspen grove from a past painting. Guerrieri opted for watercolor crayons to capture the likeness of a mountain sunset. Guerrieri, who recently celebrated her 92nd birthday, has been painting with Briggs for almost a decade.
GUNNISON VALLEY SENIORS CALENDAR SENIOR CENTER PROGRAMS
Ongoing Senior Services
• Feb. 8: Nordic Ski Lesson. Advanced registration required. • Feb. 13Assistance Snowshoe Hike – CANCELLED. Delivery Hotline: (970) 641-7959 - assistance with ordering, • Feb. 15: Nordic Ski Lesson. pick-up andSnowshoe deliveryHike of groceries and prescription medications. • Feb. 20: & Avalanche Safety Class — Slate River. Rated Easy+. required! from the Food Bank. ThisRegistration includes deliveries • Join us for a meal on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays! (see below for more info) • Want to smile a lot, maybe giggle a little and meet some new folks? Come to one of our Senior 641-8272 forBook advance orders (970) for regularMeals: activities(970) – Canasta, Mahjong, Club, Art Club orOR Bridge. (see641-2107 below for times)
same-day service. Pick-up or delivery only! Meals served Mondays, allTuesdays meals, all days are $4 during this time. Wednesdays, & Fridays. Regular Activities: Mondays Please – Bridgenote: @ 1 pm; – Canasta @ 2pm; Wednesdays – Book Club @ 1 pm on 1st Weds. of month; Thursdays – Bridge @ 1 pm; Fridays – Art Club @ Order in advance if possible! Upcoming menu: 12:30 pm & Mahjong @ 1 pm • March 27: Lasagna, green beans, salad, garlic bread, dessert All RSVPs and more info on Senior Center programs: egillis@gunnisonco.gov or 970-641•8272. March 30: Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, corn, rolls, fruit, dessert • April 1: Stew, carrot/raisin salad, Mandarin oranges, rolls, dessert FITNESS @ THE REC CENTER – Sign up at the Rec Center front desk!
Senior Shopping Hours: Mondays & Wednesdays in the Gym SilverMarket Sneakers–Boom MuscleWednesdays, @ 9:30am • -City Mondays, Fridays (7AM – 8AM) Silver Sneakers Classic @ • -Safeway – Tuesdays &10:15am Thursdays (7AM – 9AM) • Tuesdays Walmart@–10AM Tuesdays (6AM – 7AM) in the Leisure Pool • -Silver Gunnison Vitamin Health Food Store – Monday - Saturday (8AM – 9AM) Sneakers Splash & Class (all levels) • SENIOR Clark’sMEALS Market (Crested Butte) – Every day (8AM – 9AM)
Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays @ 11:30 am. $5 per meal. Advanced orders appreciate (24 hours). Pick-ups Form: betweenwww.gunnisoncounty.org/covid19. 11 – 11:15 am (advanced orders only). Self-reporting ORDER MEALS: 970-641-8272
If you have symptoms but are otherwise OK, please fill out the form. (all fill meals dessert!) If youMenu: cannot outcome the with form, call the Call Center (970) 641-7660.
• Mon., Feb. 12: Cornbread Chili Pot Pie, frogeye salad, fruit • Weds., Feb. 14: Baked Chicken, roasted potatoes with Parmesan cheese, homemade Call Center: (970) Jello 641-7660. If you are having symptoms, cannot fill out the rolls, veggies, with fruit • Fri., Feb. 16: Salisbury Steak, potatoes, salad, veggies, online form, or your symptomsmashed are worsening, call the Call homemade Center. DOrolls NOT go & visitors welcome! Homebound 55 & up eligible delivery. If you need toWalk-in your doctor’s or the hospital. If itadults is anages emergency, callfor 911. a ride, call GVH Senior Bus @ 970-596-6700 (call in advance) or call the Senior Center 970-6418272.
Please practice social isolation. Remain SERVICES 6 feet or more from others when ONGOING needing to be Food out, Pantry but staying at(1home if Wednesdays at all possible. Gunnison Country – Mondays – 4 pm), (1 – 7 pm), Thursdays for 60+ (10 am (Photo by Mariel Wiley)
– 2 pm). Contact: 970-641-4156, Located on the SW Corner of Main St. & Ohio Ave. GVH Senior Bus: 7 days a week, 9 am – 4 pm. Call in advance! 970-596-6700. The Gunnison Senior Center & –Community Recreation Center Crested Butte Senior Bus: Monday thru Friday, 9 am 4 pm Services Montrose & Grand Junction for medical appointments. Call at least 1isweek in advance, or more. 970-275-4768. closed until April 30th. Gunnison County HHS Senior Resource Office: Call for appointments. 970-641-3244.
B4 • ROUNDUP • Thursday, February 8, 2024
Gunnison Country Times
Valentine’s Day reminds us that love has many faces
Wendy Videlock Special to the Times
It is said that the most recognizable symbol in the world is the iconic heart. Heart shapes were used in ancient societies, (often upside-down) and seem to have represented not just romantic or erotic love, but all the various kinds of love. The actual physical heart, (which bears only a slight resemblance to the symbol we’ve come to know) was seen by the ancients as the seat of the soul and the emotional center. He re l i e s t h e m o nt h o f February, wedged between something meek and a distinct kind of roaring — as though wars might cease and peace might land in the palm of the hand when lions are smitten with lambs.
The heart-shape we now all recognize only became a symbol of romantic love in 1250. The first known case of the romantic love association was discovered in a French manuscript in which a young man offers his lover a pine cone. The pine cone was in the shape of a heart. In northern Africa, the citystate of Cyrene is best known for growing fennel. This plant produces silphium, and was thought to be useful for contraception, producing heartshaped seed pods. These pod shapes were depicted on their coins, and might have helped eventually connect the heart shape to sexuality. The Medieval notion of courtly love often used the heartshape as a symbol for romance, further popularizing the association. Tarot cards and playing cards both contained the bloodred suit of Hearts. I can be knee-deep in misery, on a whim, sky high or medium, frumpy, glumpy, full of grandeur, wracked with candor, showing all my years, grinding all my gears, bumbled as a bee, consumed with some idea, and still you give to me a gentle kind of sigh, a slant kind
of rhyme, those gentling I-love-you eyes. The establishment of Valentine’s Day to honor the martyred saint who performed secret marital ceremonies for lovers, further deepened the connection between the heartshape and romantic love. But love, (as a concept — and as both a noun and a verb), clearly contains multitudes. In my daughter’s eyes I am the wise, the one who knows who put the moon inside the sky, but does not tell. She thinks I keep a secret when I say I do not know. Some things I know. I have been told one does not brace for sudden falls. When her day comes to take this throne from under me, I wish, upon a little star that it might be a gentle sort of fall, and that she'll recognize me there without the crown at all. A well-known bit of wisdom attributed to the Sioux declares that the longest journey you will ever make in your life is from the mind to the heart. In prac-
tical terms, this doesn’t mean that intelligence or knowledge is a negative thing, but that without the depth of feeling or empathy we associate with the heart, any learning or progress is a cold and perhaps even dangerous endeavor. I don’t buy it says the CEO. As tender as it is hale, the heart replies, “It’s not for sale.” The ancient Greeks believed that there were eight different kinds of love: Eros, erotic or romantic love; Philia, or platonic love, which is the love between close friends; Storge, or familiar love, associated with love of family; Ludus, associated with the early stages of falling in love; Mania or obsessive love; Pragma, or enduring love, as in long marriage or long-lasting romance; Philautia, or self love, which is distinguished from vanity or narcissism and instead refers to respecting the self and practicing self compassion; And Agape, the selfless love. T h e G re e k s c o n s i d e re d agape the highest form of love — a universal, a spiritual love that transcends all other forms. Today the concept might be known as benevolence, or Christ consciousness, or in Buddhism, loving kindness. Valentine's Day is as good
a time as any to be reminded that there are endless ways of expressing love — and many dialects that fall within the language of the heart. I Dedicate These Words to all the beautiful lovers whose gentle fingers turned to claw at one another. I have left these notes for the ordinary Joe who forked the other road and still became his father. I am singing for the woman stubborn as a pile of bricks who in her zeal to live has forgotten to forgive. I am sister to those half broken and half whole, given to the mead, sweating in the sheets, or raking in the leaves of joyousness, and sorrow. I am counting on those for whom the bell tolls, who’ve settled near the river, having failed to walk on water. (Wendy Videlock is poet laureate of the Western Slope. She teaches and advocates for the arts across Colorado and believes that language informs our thoughts, our behaviors and our ways of perceiving the world. Contact her at: westernslopeword@gmail.com.)
Warmer-than-usual temperatures persist in January
Bruce ‘Barometer’ Bartleson Special to the Times
So far, it's been a strange winter and an unusual January in terms of weather in the Gunnison area. The long-term average low temperature in January for Gunnison is 7.4 degrees below zero. For most of January this year, the average low was running about 3 degrees above zero. Up until mid-January, the coldest temperature we’d had was 8 below zero. Furthermore, there was no snow on the ground until mid-month. Then it became Gunnison again and it snowed almost 14 inches and the temperature dropped to 18 below zero on Jan. 16. We finally ended up with an average low of 0.6 degrees above zero. The last time the average low was above zero was in 2005.
The record 5.35 above zero, set in 1980. The long-term average January temperature (average of high and low temperatures) is 9.2 degrees above zero. We ended up with an average of 14.9 degrees above zero, almost 6 degrees above average. The record is 21.4 degrees above zero set in 1981 — What’s with this 1980s stuff? The coldest January in history was in 1966 when the average low temperature was 21.5 below zero, and the overall average temperature was 3.6 degrees below zero. The entire winter of 1965-66 had 38 days when it reached at least 20 below zero. But that’s not close to the record of 46 days of 20 below zero in the winter of 1918-19. Precipitation-wise in January, Gunnison ended up with a respectable 1.49” of moisture and 20.9 inches of snow — both well above average. As of Feb. 5, the Upper Gunnison Basin is 94% of its median snow-waterequivalent (SWE), so things could be worse. However, the Upper Rio Grande is at 79% SWE, and southwest Colorado is 84% SWE. Keep in mind, climatologists remind us we are still in moderate to severe drought in the total Colorado River Basin. All those
Average January temperatures by year in Gunnison. (Courtesy Alantha Garrison/GCEA)
atmospheric rivers aren’t helping the southwestern United States that much (except in Los Angeles, but that doesn’t help us).
(Bruce Bartleson is a retired Western Colorado University geology professor who now spends his time tracking the Gunnison Valley’s weather.)
Thursday, February 8, 2024 • ROUNDUP • B5
Gunnison Country Times
Lake City expands ice park With ice climbers comes promise of yearround economy
5 PM
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15
e r u t c pi rame f
Bella Biondini Times Editor
Braving the slick roads, ice climbers traveled to Lake City on Feb. 3 for the ice park’s annual climbing festival. While this year’s festival was quieter than others, there was more ice than ever. Local businesses and Hinsdale County tourism officials hope the growing ice park continues to attract climbers to the area, incentivizing hotels and shops to keep their doors open through the winter months. Climbers from Colorado and across the country scaled the towering walls of ice — some that are nearly 200 feet tall — on Saturday as snow blanketed the neighboring San Juan Mountains. With an annual budget of only $16,000 for the ice park, the Town of Lake City manages the area, located right outside of the downtown along Engineer Pass. The ice is fed or “farmed” by piping water over the cliffs above Henson Creek from shower heads. The Lake City Parks and Recreation Depar tment usually turns the water on shortly after Halloween. The subsequent ice season spans from November until March, cold temperatures permitting. The Lake City Ice Park has three climbing areas : Pumphouse Park, Beer Garden and Dynamite Shack. With more than 75 routes, the park offers a variety of climbs at varying ranges of difficulty, making it a good place for beginners or climbers looking for steeper routes. A group of local climbers first began farming ice in the late 1990s, starting with the area known as Pumphouse Park. Over the past three years, Parks and Rec Director Ben Hake has continued to expand the ice
AFTE CR OONRN
magnets (Photos by Bella Biondini)
PLEASE RSVP!
Ellen@GunnisonCountyLibraries.org Crafternoons are monthly maker-oriented sessions intended for adults & teens. ~ FREE ~ & all materials provided
Hiring Executive Director Position park with projects mostly supported by donations. In 2021, Hake added ice to the popular Beer Garden walls and then last year to the Dynamite Shack, known for its long, vertical climbs. He has even more planned for the future. The ice park expansions have attracted more climbers to the remote area each year. With winter visitors, such as ice climbers, comes the possibility of a year-round economy, Hake said. Most businesses and restaurants close after summer visitors and second homeowners leave Lake City. But this winter, a few more decided to stay open. Since Hake added the Beer Garden, winter sales tax numbers have slowly started to rise. “ I t ’s a l l f o r t h e b e n efit of the town,” he said. This month, the ice park
launched its “24 in 24” campaign to raise $24,000 during the month of February for future expansions. This money will also be used to move the ice park off the town’s water supply at the original Pumphouse Park section. The end goal is to cover every cliff from Pumphouse to 1,000 feet past the Beer Garden for a mile of easy-to-access ice climbing. “We want to keep up with the growth and maintain that magical Lake City feel people have when they come here,” said Lake City-Hinsdale County Chamber of Commerce Director Kate Hopson. (Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)
3/4- time position with competitive pay. Job description & duties available at www.CrestedButteWildflowerFestival.org Please email resume & cover letter to info@cbwildflower.com
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Climbers scale ice walls at Lake City’s Beer Garden.
BASKETBALL: Cowboys sneak past Miners, B7
SOCCER: Indoor teams excel in Junction, B9
GUNNISON COUNTRY TIMES • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Cowboy swimmers finish second at regionals Petrie and Jones lead GHS to podium finish Alex McCrindle Times Sports Editor
The GHS swim and dive team has covered thousands of miles in the pool this season. Last weekend, the long practices and grueling workouts paid off as the Cowboys notched a secondplace finish at the regional meet in Grand Junction on Feb. 2 and 3. Juniors Jemma Petrie and Sam Jones led the charge for the Cowboys, finishing second and third in the 100-yard breaststroke. Now, all eyes are on the state meet in Denver this weekend. Head Coach Tami Maciejko said the girls stepped up to the challenge. “These girls have worked so hard,” she said. “They swam every morning at 7:30 a.m. all summer, and have been putting in the distance all winter long. I’m so proud of all of them for Swimming B8
The second-place Cowboy swim team celebrates with a plaque at practice on Feb. 5. (Photo by Abby Harrison)
Lady grapplers surge into postseason Caroline Sudderth, Romie Uhrig shine in Walsenburg Alex McCrindle Times Sports Editor
The Cowboy girls wrestling team wrapped up its regular season in style, finishing third out of 22 teams at the 2024 Lady Panther Invitational in Walsenburg on Feb. 2 and 3. The girls look poised on the eve of the upcoming regional tournament in Grand Junction this weekend. “It was a really successful
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week,” said Head Coach Mike Dawson. “We ended up third at the tournament with only seven wrestlers. The girls are getting better every match, and we look strong heading into regionals.” In 2023, Caroline Sudderth qualified for the state tournament during her freshman year. This year, she is ready to make a deep run in the postseason. Sudderth led the Cowboys at the Lady Panther Invitational, finishing first in the 125-pound bracket. Romie Uhrig joined her on the top podium and finished first in the 145-pound division. Roxie Uhrig was also a standout grappler over the weekend. She fell to a top opponent in the semi-final, but rebounded in the consolation bracketWrestling B9
Roxie Uhrig wraps up a Tiger grappler. (Photo by Mariel Wiley)
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Thursday, February 8, 2024 • ROUNDUP • B7
Gunnison Country Times
Western Nordic skiing wins at home, alpine takes on Powderhorn Kevin Geisen Special to the Times
Western Colorado University’s ski teams notched multiple podium finishes this weekend with strong results across the board. While the Nordic ski team hosted the WCU Invitational on its home tracks in Crested Butte, the alpine team traveled to Powderhorn Mountain Resort near Mesa. Both teams compete in the Rocky Mountain Conference as a part of the U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association. The Nordic team kicked off the weekend with the Alley Loop 21K freestyle. The men won the day with 14 points, coming in ahead of the University of Wyoming and Colorado Mesa University. Senior Conner Nilsen led the team in third, followed by junior Graydon Walker and senior Albert Hesse. The w omen’s team fin ished Saturday’s race in fourth with 39 points, falling behind Wyoming, Colorado College and Colorado State University. Freshman Maddy Rosenberger led the team in seventh, followed by senior Hannah Cryder in 11th and sophomore Eirwen McClish in 24th. The men’s team took home another win during Sunday’s 5K classic with 11 points, followed by Wyoming and Colorado
Mesa. Conner Nilsen again led the Western squad with a second-place showing. Graydon Walker finished fourth, while sophomore Tyler Hippchen secured his first career top-5 with a fifth-place finish. The women had a strong showing and secured second in the 5K classic with 41 points. Cryder and Rosenberger placed seventh and eighth. On the alpine side, Western competed in two races on Feb. 3 and 4 at Powderhorn. The men’s team had a great showing with sophomore Tucker Schultz leading the way with a secondplace finish in slalom and ninth in dual slalom. Freshman Noah Bagley placed 19th in slalom and 11th in dual slalom. On the women’s side, sophomore Parker Bolyard secured the first top-30 finish of her career. Next up, the Nordic team will compete at the CSU Invite in Leadville on Feb. 10 and 11, while alpine travels to Keystone on Feb. 17 and 18 for its last conference race before regionals.
Maddy Rosenberger flies out of the gate. (Courtesy David James)
(Kevin Geisen is the assistant director of campus recreation at Western Colorado University and can be reached at kgeisen@ western.edu.)
The Western Nordic team poses for a photo before the home race in Crested Butte.
Girls basketball victorious over Miners The Cowboy girls basketball team edged out league rivals North Fork 37-35 in a back-and-forth contest at home on Friday, Feb. 2. On Saturday, the girls fell 52-30 to undefeated powerhouse Grand Valley on the road. The mixed results move the Cowboys to a 5-9 overall record, and 3-7 in the 3A Western Slope League.
Kylee McDougal drives to the basket. (Photos by Mariel Wiley)
Sienna Gomez jockeys for a rebound.
B8 • ROUNDUP • Thursday, February 8, 2024
Gunnison Country Times
Swimming
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sticking with it and now dropping time.” The Cowboys shined during the two-day meet. On the diving boards, all-star Kailyn Japuntich finished second in the 1-meter dive, with teammates Z ia Schwab and Abby Cattles finishing on her heels in third and fourth. Despite achieving her personal best score for an individual dive, Japuntich finished second based on her combined scores. “Kailyn was bummed she didn’t win regionals,” Maciejko said. “I think it lit a fire in her, though. She’s ready to bring it at the state meet.” The GHS swimmers also had an exceptional meet in the breaststroke. Petrie and Jones finished second and third in the 100-yard, while sophomore Emily Cattles placed seventh. Petrie returned to the podium in the 200-yard IM, finishing second overall. Her sister, freshman Maya Petrie, took almost five seconds off in the 200-yard IM to finish ninth. In freestyle events, junior Kathryn Frey took off two seconds in the 200-yard to finish sixth overall. She joined Catalina Schwab and led the Cowboy 200-yard free relay team to a third place finish, alongside teammates Jemma Petrie and Jones. The regional meet marked the last chance for swimmers to claim a state qualifying time. Sophomore Aiden Tomlin, who narrowly missed state qualification her freshman year, dropped eight seconds off her 500-yard freestyle to book her ticket to Denver. She also qualified in the 200-yard freestyle after taking 6 seconds off her personal best. “I’m so proud of everyone,”
Jones said. “We all swam really well and beat a lot of our personal records. My highlight was watching Aiden race and take off time. She had the best performance on the team.” Fliers Morgan and Moriah Greenhalgh also made strides. Moriah dropped almost 10 seconds in the 100-yard butterfly to finish 12th. Morgan finished just ahead of her with an 11th place finish. In the backstroke, junior Rhone Flynn made finals in the 100-yard, taking seconds off across the weekend. She finished 14th overall. June Ebbott was another Cowboy finalist, who took time off in the 100-freestyle to take 15th overall. The combined effort resulted in a second-place team finish for the Cowboys. Now, the girls will “taper” before the big state meet set for Feb. 9 and 10. This means
the swimmers will reduce their workout intensity in upcoming days to rest and recover. The athletes who notched a state qualifying time this season will return to action in Denver and compete against top athletes in the state. “We didn’t taper before regionals, so I’m hoping to beat some of my personal times at the state meet,” Catalina Schwab said. “We’ll have our whole team supporting us. I’m so excited.” (Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Catalina Schwab, Morgan Greenhalgh and Maya Petrie compete at a home meet on Jan. 26. (Photos by Mariel Wiley)
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Maya Petrie rests poolside after the 200-yard IM at a home meet on Jan. 26.
Thursday, February 8, 2024 • ROUNDUP • B9
Gunnison Country Times
Wrestling from B6 to secure a third-place finish. Maddy Bacalis also took home a third place medal in the 110pound bracket, while Isabella Crown finished fifth in the 105-
pound division. Next up, the girls will travel to Grand Junction on Feb. 9 and 10 for the regional tournament. Dawson said he is confident that a number of wrestlers will qualify for the state meet. “Our message is to wrestle with confidence and be fearless,” Dawson said. “They have
the skills, and are in the best shape of their lives. Now we want to see them put their best effort out there and leave it all on the mat.” (Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Evelyn Cope eyes down a Cañon City opponent at a home bout on Jan. 31.
Indoor soccer frenzy The Cowboy soccer teams traveled to the Front Range for the CSU-Pueblo Indoor Soccer Tournament on Feb. 3 and 4. Over the course of the weekend, GHS competed in 14 games, with the Blue team crowned victors after a 1-0 championship game. The black team narrowly lost 4-2 in the final, finishing second in the bracket.
The Blue team, made up of Eli Coop, Saul Serrano, Miguel Juan Pascual, Pablo Lorenzo, Zavier Drendel and Tilden Martinez, took home first place. (Courtesy Susan Powers)
The Black team secured a second-place finish after falling short in the final.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2022
GIDDYUP
‘The world needs more art’ Student caffeine
use on the rise
Madi Behounek Giddyup Staff Writer
GHS senior Addie Frymoyer is an artist who mainly works with oil paints and charcoal. Frymoyer has been drawing since kindergarten, but began to get serious about her art during her sophomore year when she was inspired by her uncle, who is a professional artist. “One time we were visiting and he took me to his warehouse where he runs his business,” Frymoyer said. “I got to see his office and I remember that he had so many paintings hung up and drawings laid out everywhere. I remember thinking I wanted an art studio just like that.” To b e g i n a n a r t p i e c e, Frymoyer looks at photographs she took and tries to find one that inspires her. If that doesn’t work, she looks at other artists' work on gallery sites and tries to find what story she wants to tell through her piece. Once she has a general idea, she maps out the piece, like a blueprint. This beginning stage of making art is the hardest, she said, because she always hates how it looks. So, she forced herself to learn how to trust the process and keep going. While creating a piece, Frymoyer will spend up to 20 hours of time and effort on her art. Once the piece is finished, she hangs it up and shows it off. While hanging it up feels pretty good, the real reward is seeing how it makes people feel, how it inspires them,” she said.
Max Peluso Giddyup Staff Writer
“Reach” by Addie Frymoyer. (Courtesy Madi Behounek)
“It’s the best part because it inspires others to create art, and because the world needs more art,” Frymoyer said. Her most recent piece is an oil painting called “Reach,” which took her about seven hours. Some of her other favorite pieces are, “I Remember You In The Sun” which is a drawing of her and her brother when they were little.
Frymoyer applied to a few art schools to major in fine arts and is looking at studying architecture as well. Though she hasn’t committed to a specific path quite yet, she says her dream job is to one day be an art director. She also plans to start selling her art so people other than students at GHS and her family can enjoy it.
Colorado culture drew exchange student from Denmark Kleber Flores Giddyup Staff Writer
Nicoline Friedrichsen is an exchange student from Denmark who is currently attending Gunnis on High School (GHS) during her junior year. Friedrichsen is a member of the International Cultural Exchange Student Program (ICES). The program brings foreign exchange students to the United States to experience the American education system. Friedrichsen’s school system back home is different from the American school system because of the way they have classes with all grades instead of one. Also, students there don’t really get graded, they just get told if their work is good or bad.
When walking through the halls at Gunnison High School (GHS), visitors, educators and students will more than likely see a student with a caffeinated beverage or item. “Caffeine is a huge problem in our school and students are starting to rely on always having access to a caffeinated item,” GHS student athlete Cooper Boardman said. The most popular of these energy drinks are Redbull, C e l s i u s, Ye r b a Ma t e a n d Monster, which all have a large amount of caffeine and flavor and are relatively cheap. In an informal survey of GHS students, the majority said they needed the energy to get through the day and for physical activities like sports and weightlifting. “This is the highest caffeine consumption I've ever seen in my years as an educator,” Vice Principal Susan Powers said. Some students have been known to spend more than $40 a week on these drinks. Furthermore, interviews with a group of 10 different students
Nicoline Friedrichsen (Courtesy Kleber Flores)
GHS student Paden Davis holding a caffeinated Red Bull beverage. (Courtesy Evan Bjornstad)
Student screen time a growing problem Electronic use often required in class Natalia Sabino Giddyup Staff Writer
Her favorite aspects about the American school system are that the sports are connected to school. In Denmark, she played hockey. She chose to come to Gunnison because she wanted to experience Colorado culture. Nicoline did not have a choice in regards to what school she wanted to go to. “I like my host family a lot,” she said. “They are very nice people and very loving too.” Friedrichsen's host family chose her out of many student options.
with different backgrounds revealed they all had one thing in common: They started drinking and consuming caffeine when they first became GHS students, and their consumption gradually increased. Some students consume caffeine up to five times a day with the average student consuming caffeine once or twice a day.
Screen time is the amount of time spent using a device such as a smartphone, computer, TV or video game console. The Gunnison High School journalism class conducted interviews with students about their use of devices. While interviewing 21 students, class members found that the average screen time per day was 5.2 hours. Although, screen time varied from 40 minutes to 10 hours. These hours were spent on a variety of apps, including several social media platforms. “The phone is such an easy way to distract yourself and get out of things. It's also an easy way to pass time,” junior Damyon Funk said
“I think it could both be positive and negative. It could be educational and get us to be more creative in some way but it might also lead to sleep issues, and less motivation in doing your usual activities,” junior Maria Sabas said. Screen time can be misleading, depending on the amount of time students spend using their devices in the classroom. Many classes at GHS require students to be on a screen for a fair amount of time. Screen time can be productive and educational with the right content. “I think screens affect stud e nt s b e c au s e t h e y hav e allowed students, and people in general, to have short attention spans. Therefore, it's harder to learn, and students have less motivation to learn. I also believe it has affected the way subjects are being taught,” senior Johanna Hernandez said.
Thursday, February 8, 2024 • ROUNDUP • B11
Gunnison Country Times
Donkeys, ponies and puppies, oh my! Pet providers from across the Gunnison Valley filled the Fred Field Center on Feb. 3 to share information about their businesses, offer low-cost services — such as nail trimming and ear cleaning — and sell products. Residents wandered from table to table, striking up conversation with pet business owners as their dogs made new canine friends. Small children beamed from the saddle as they rode laps around the center on donkeys and miniature horses. Others sat patiently as face-painter Amber Knight fulfilled the children’s animal-themed requests. Fullmer’s Ace Hardware and Pawsitively Native sponsored the event.
(Photos by Mariel Wiley)
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WINNER! GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD 2022 2023 Colorado Press Association Awards
B12 • ROUNDUP • Thursday, February 8, 2024
Gunnison Country Times
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