Gunnison Country Times

Addicted to the ice

Sawtooth to open doors by summer

Affordable housing development offers relief to ‘missing middle’

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

Gunnison County’s next affordable housing development is just months away from welcoming new residents. Dubbed “Sawtooth'' by Gunnison County Commissioners — in honor of the landmark mountain south of Gunnison — the complex will be located on South 14th Street, just west of the Gunnison County Fairgrounds, on land that has historically been used for overflow parking during

Cattlemen’s Days.

By making Sawtooth units for rent only, instead of for sale, the county hopes the development will address the “missing middle,” which refers to residents who earn too much to qualify for a mortgage on housing that is deed restricted, said John Cattles, assistant county manager for operations and sustainability.

Federally subsidized housing like Garden Walk and Palisades Apartments serve those around 70% of the area median income (AMI) and below. The city offered units from 80% to 140% AMI for their affordable housing development Lazy-K, and many on the higher end of the AMI limit have been difficult to fill.

“One of the reasons why this project won’t be for sale is that we’re concerned that for-sale,

Sawtooth A6

Finalists emerge for city manager position Council’s decision expected by February

Bella Biondini Times Editor

Gunnison City Council has selected three finalists for the city manager position, which has sat vacant since late October. Staff expect a new manager to be in place by April 1.

RTA bus ridership soars in 2022

Gunnison transit center in the works

Biondini Times Editor

bus ridership skyrocketed in 2022, with the organization reporting its “biggest year” on record — only one bus load short of a quarter of a million passengers.

The RTA’s numbers have continued to rebound as pandemic impacts fade. Ridership was up a little over 40% in November,

Jacob Spetzler

Bella

Gunnison Valley Rural Transportation Authority (RTA)

Anglers from all across the Western Slope gathered near Elk Creek on Blue Mesa Reservoir for the annual Ice Addiction fishing tournament on Saturday, Jan. 14. The tournament is put on through Tightline Outdoors with support from the Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce. The angler who captured the heaviest fish went home with $7,500. For more, see A20.

Jacob Spetzler

City manager A6

Little Blue open through remainder of winter

On Jan. 13, the Little Blue Creek Canyon construction project opened to two lanes of traffic with no delays until the spring. Work will resume once weather allows and continue through summer of 2023. The project team has not announced a spring start date.

Name a city snowplow

The City of Gunnison is hosting a snowplow naming contest that will remain open until Jan. 27.

Staff will select up to 15 finalists for a public voting round starting on Feb. 6. Visit surveymonkey.com/r/BK5GC3L to submit snowplow name ideas.

State opens new affordable housing incentive program

On Jan. 13, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade announced a new funding opportunity to support the development of the state’s innovative housing manufacturing industry. The fund is expected to create up to 5,000 low-cost housing units over the next five years.

The Innovative Housing Incentive Program (IHIP) is expected to lower the cost of affordable housing projects for local governments and organizations looking to purchase factory built housing, so they can provide rentals for lower- and middle-income households. Compared to traditional building practices, modular, manufactured and kit homes can be produced more efficiently and at a lower cost.

The program grew out of innovative housing manufacturers’ need for help with supply chain constraints, narrowing margins and longer-term financing to build factories.

“Transformative programs like this ensure there is housing for every budget in our communities which is increasingly important as our state grows,” Gov. Jared Polis said in a press release.

County distributes hundreds of doses of life-saving drug

Narcan trainings given to high school students, bartenders and bus drivers

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

For many months, headlines have warned of the heavy toll that fentanyl is taking on families and communities in America. The drug — which is many times more potent than heroin — increasingly claims younger and younger victims, as accidental overdose rises.

While Gunnison County is faring better than most other counties on the Western Slope, it’s no accident, as local officials have been working hard to keep it that way.

Community-wide distributions

For the past year, members of Gunnison County Juvenile Services and the GRASP consortium, a group emphasizing harm reduction, treatment, recovery and prevention for Substance Use Disorder across all age groups, have been distributing Narcan to community members around the valley.

The distributions are a part of GRASP’s Narcan Awareness and Distribution strategy, which first started in 2019 to address increased incidences around the state of fentanyl found laced in cocaine, methamphetamine and prescription drugs. Since July of 2022, the consortium has distributed over 500 doses of the drug and received more requests for large-scale trainings than ever before.

Overdosing can disrupt essential body functions and be fatal within minutes. Narcan reverses or reduces the effects of an opioid overdose by attaching to opioid receptors in the brain and blocking the effects of other opioids.

“All of us may come in contact with somebody who needs Narcan,” Juvenile Services Director Kari Commerford said. “A good way to think about it is it's a life saving device just like an AED, or knowing first aid or CPR.”

Some community members are seeking out opioids such as fentanyl, Commerford said, but some are unknowingly ingesting it laced in cocaine or prescription drugs coming from well-known distributors like Xanax or Vicodin.

Drug-seeking behavior is not the only way fentanyl poses a risk to the community, she said. People who have taken prescribed pain medication for long periods of time may continue to take opioid-based medications to manage their pain, but those people are at risk for overdose if they stop taking painkillers for a period of time and then restart again.

“We're starting to understand more and more that there is a population of people who are overdosing, who are not using drugs as a way to get high,” she said.

The first trainings were for staff at Western Colorado University, emergency responders, firefighters and city and county police officers. The training starts with education, GRASP Coordinator Kyle Tibbett said. Before participants are taught how to distribute the drug, they discuss trends and statistics about the occurrence of drug use in the valley. Tibbett said one of the things that stuck out to him was the number of

The pandemic put a pause on the campaign, but in 2021, Commerford and Tibbett started expanding the sessions across the community to staff at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, bartenders, Mountain Express bus drivers, Western students and Gunnison Watershed

Move-in ready 3 bdrm/2 bath, ranch style home with fully fenced yard, covered porch & attached 2 car garage. Interior was recently painted, house is 1,344sf & the garage is 630sf. The yard features aspens & evergreens.102 S. 8th St; $495,000.

Into the classroom

Commerford, accompanied by a City of Gunnison police officer, gave the firstever Narcan training to a current events class at Gunnison High School in the fall of

NEW LISTING 4 bdrm/2 bath, 1920sf home and a fully remodeled basement with 2 car detached garage conveniently located near the new library & trail system. Includes a cozy great room & bonus room for storage or crafts. Easy to show! 108 Irwin Street; $649,000.

COME AND VISIT 3 bdrm/2 bath, ranch level home with a walkout basement. Open kitchen & dining area with a pellet stove. Property has an attached oversized 2 car garage. Over 1,800sf with great southern views of Sawtooth Mountain & W Mountain. No HOA or covenants. 851 County Road 18; $435,000.

3 BDRM/2 BATH home with large yard, detached garage & additional cabin. Large living room & open kitchen, plenty of storage for your toys. Zoned R-3 on 6 city lots. 502 S. 11th; $585,000.

VIEWS from the main floor & upstairs of this 2,304 square foot, 4 bdrm/2 bath, two story home on 6.8 acres overlooking the Ohio Creek Valley & Horse River Ranches. Partially fenced with loafing shed for your horses. Unobstructed views of Carbon Peak & the Anthracites to the north. 174 Tiama Trail; $1,400,000.

GREAT BUY 3 bdrm/2 bath, ranch level, 1,200sf home with a small fenced yard. Open kitchen & dining area. Master suite has large windows for natural light. Located near the new Lazy K Park & the West End River Park. 1208 W. Tomichi Ave. #4; $299,000.

COMMERCIAL BUILDING Fantastic opportunity to run your business out of this 2,535sf shop with two 14 foot garage door openings, as well as an 8 foot garage door, ¾ bathroom and a ½ bath & 665sf of office space with extra storage. 555 S. 10th St.; $900,000.

LAND FOR SALE Very nice lot in the town of White Pine, CO. White Pine has rich Colorado history known for Coal and Silver Mines. This is a great location to build your dream cabin or park your RV. 9900 County Road 888; $25,000.

OHIO

3 HOMES TOTAL Investment opportunity in town where each home is 2 bdrm/1 bath, tenants pay utilities, $5,400 income per month. Location near the airport and fairgrounds. 314 S. 12th St; $1,200,000.

1 ACRE RIVERFRONT PROPERTY on the Ohio Creek. Property has electric to the lot line with central sewer available. Water is serviced by a shared well. 205 Spring Meadows Trail; $349,000.

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; $1,750,000.

Western students who know what Narcan is or had already used it.

School District staff That group now includes high school students.

District Nurse Sherliyn Skokan holds a Narcan nasal spray.

Abby Harrison

Narcan nasal spray is kept in the nurse’s office at Gunnison Community School.

Harold F. “Hal” Yale passed away Dec. 28, 2022. A celebra-

tion of his life will be held this summer at a date and time to be determined. Donations in honor of Hal can be made to the

Zaya Wren Cammack

Zaya Wren Cammack was born Dec. 31, 2022 at 5:17 a.m. to Laurel and Dan Cammack of Gunnison, Colorado. She weighed 7 lbs. and measured 19.5 inches in length. She has an older brother named Alder Emerson Cammack who is 2 ½. Her grandparents are Kristen Wellis, Bernard Reinhardt, Mary Helen and David Cammack all of Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Her great grandparents are James and Carol Ann White of Pagosa Springs.

2022. The school district had already changed their policy in 2021 to allow schools to keep Narcan in health offices, but Commerford’s training was the fi rst time students were taught how to use it.

“With the growing awareness of fentanyl in not just our community, but all communities, and that it was so lethal and has already become a real problem — it was already on people's radar,” said District Nurse Sherilyn Skokan.

After the first training, students in the civics class asked the administration to give the training to the student body as a whole. Now, most juniors, and all staff and administrators in the district have received the training. GHS Principle Jim Woytek said the school is planning to train the rest of the student body.

Education for adults and for kids looks different, Commerford said. Adult training includes an assumption of some drug use, meaning the work is more about harm reduction and personal safety, whereas student training focuses more on upstream prevention and education, centering on risk factors that might increase the likelihood that a young person is going to choose to use a substance at all. These trainings live in a larger ecosystem of education about suicide, bullying prevention and mental health promotion — eff orts

to ensure positive health outcomes for youth.

Upstream strategies to prevent substance abuse in kids tend to look the same for addressing alcohol, nicotine, opioid and cocaine, but fentanyl is different, Commerford said. Prevention is more about teaching kids not to take a prescription drug that's not prescribed to them.

Data from the Healthy Kids Colorado survey, a once-everytwo-years study that takes a closer look at the overall health and well-being of students across the state — revealed that since 2009 that the use of prescription drugs for non-medical

P.O. Box 1274 Gunnison, Colorado 81230 or to a charity of the donor's choice.

purposes has increased for 6th -12th graders. Although numbers reported for the Gunnison Watershed School District were not quite as high as the rest of the state, juvenile services wanted to get ahead of the issue, Commerford said.

“We said, let's get ahead of this. Let’s start to understand prescription drug misuse in kids, and include that in our prevention, treatment and recovery across the lifespan model, so that we don't see those same trends that we're seeing nationally, locally,” Commerford said.

That fentanyl is showing up more and more in counterfeit pills passed off as prescription drugs, like Percocet and Adderall, makes awareness among young people even more crucial, Commerford said.

“Our biggest concern with youth is individuals taking what they think is a Percocet that has fentanyl laced in it,” she said. “And pills are tricky, because you need just a grain of salt of fentanyl to cause an overdose.”

Training is available for anyone in the community who feels that they themselves, or someone close to them, is at risk for an overdose. Those interested in receiving Narcan training can reach out to Commerford at kcommerford@gunnisoncounty.org.

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

Harold F. Yale

Rotary Scholarship fund

All of us may come in contact with somebody who needs Narcan … a good way to think about it is it’s a life saving device just like an AED, or knowing first aid or CPR.

Kari Commerford Director of Juvenile Services

OPINION

Lessons learned — part two

970.641.1414

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As I promised in part one of this commentary, I propose to present a few possible lessons learned in the wake of three very challenging pandemic years. I set myself the goal of doing that with a local focus, in the hope of seeing clearly what we might do differently as a community when the next storm rolls in.

However, it’s impossible to get there without first taking a hard look at some truly uncomfortable topics that aren’t strictly local, but that we can’t afford to ignore. My premise is that it’s a conversation we must have, if we hope to avoid doing it all over again.

Ask anyone who calls the Gunnison Valley home why they chose to live here and most will say our sense of community keeps them here. That didn’t just happen, it was built by everyone who came before us, through the many challenges that they faced. Now it’s our turn to do that work and hope to leave the community better than we found it.

I don’t have all the answers about how to do that. Finding answers is harder than ever, and talking about what you find is even harder. That’s because everyone now inhabits what one friend recently called their own “media ecosystem.” That means people may find some of the things I identify below to be truly shocking, because they aren’t reported by preferred news outlets, despite coming from credible sources. This may, in fact, be the problem that feeds all the others.

Here are a few things we

LETTERS

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 Winter Hours: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday

Editor:

I have a Master’s of Divinity and have served as a pastor in congregations for 30 years. I’m a Western alum and I have lived in the valley for 20 years. A few thoughts:

1. A public library has no responsibility to God or the Bible. A library is a public institution and has a responsibility to the citizens it serves.

2. If someone doesn’t like books about differences in gender or sexual orientation, they don’t have to check those books out. No need to ban books. Banning books flies in the face of anyone or any group who claims to value freedom. Freedom of the press is part of the First Amendment. Any attempt to ban books puts us on a path to losing our democracy. It should be a huge red flag when any group attempts to ban books.

3. The book of Romans is very dense and contains many social issues of first-century Rome and Corinth. The Apostle Paul wrote this letter as guidance for a specific group of people during a specific time frame. When reading the Bible, we must always situate it in its context, so as not to

must account for on our way to lessons learned. (Please keep in mind the large helping of hindsight involved and that my purpose is to learn, not to lay blame.)

• Lockdowns may have caused far more harm than good. It didn’t take long after the early months of the pandemic to realize that the worst case scenario was unlikely to materialize. Yet business closures and other severe social restrictions persisted. Without the infusion of millions in pandemic relief funds, the cost to our local economy would have been much more severe than it was. As it is, repercussions are still being felt, and whether the “return” justified the hardship and risk is debatable.

• The mRNA vaccine may have dangerous side effects. If you search that question online, you’ll find several pages of sites claiming to debunk this notion.

But a different story may now be emerging. Based on data from multiple sources, many health and insurance industry professionals are beginning to sound the alarm about adverse health effects possibly linked to vaccination.

A good place to start in studying this idea yourself is the CDC’s own Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, which records possible harmful outcomes after any vaccine, as reported by health care professionals. The data suggest an urgent need for serious investigation.

• Access to information about all the above has been intentionally suppressed. Recent revelations about Twitter have invited the conclusion that a coordinated campaign of censorship continues to deprive Americans of their right to speak freely — but also to hear all points of view on important topics in order to make informed decisions.

To be abundantly clear: These are mysteries to solve, not foregone conclusions. But they will never be solved if we refuse to acknowledge them in the first place.

With that in mind, here are a few suggested conclusions that can be used as a guide in the future.

• Public health and politics don’t mix. It is worth noting that the impact of most of the above is politically neutral.

That is, if the picture painted by these ideas passes the test of inquiry and turns out to be accurate, then its impact is felt by everyone. Yet, during the height of the pandemic, much of what passed for debate seemed motivated by a desire for political advantage, making honest analysis hard to achieve. Let’s agree to guard against this in the future.

• National authorities aren’t infallible. Nor are they incorruptible. As a community, it’s okay to be skeptical and to make the official narrative stand up to scrutiny — according to what seems best here. Let’s communicate to our local leadership that we support that kind of thinking and that we have their back as they undertake tough, outside-thebox decisions.

• Transparency is everything. When those tough decisions have been made, they should be clearly communicated to those who must live with them — with access to all the information that went into the choices.

Accountability is never more important in governance than when the stakes are really high.

• Demonizing dissent is a bad idea. As I’ve argued before, in a small community like ours, we need each other and have to live together long after a particular challenge has passed. Harsh and divisive name-calling may feel satisfying in the heat of a moment, but it undermines everything else we must do as a community.

One last time: My purpose is not to promote one set of conclusions over another. It is to start an honest conversation so that the conclusions we do reach are sound.

(Alan Wartes can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or publisher@ gunnisontimes.com. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his alone.)

use it for our own gain. (Nor use it as a weapon against others.)

In short, the main point of Paul’s letter was to stress the importance of not judging each other. (2:1) If anyone wants to have a longer discussion about the book of Romans or any other part of the Bible, my number and email are: 970.209.1613 and jellykoclark@gmail.com.

Kelly Jo Clark Gunnison

The Bible is a dangerous book

Editor:

In seventh grade I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. In ninth grade I was baptized. After college, I earned an M. Div. from an evangelical seminary.

I was intrigued by a letter in last week’s Gunnison Country Times that quoted Romans I, a chapter often used to bash gay folks. Now we’re more sophisticated and use it to knock trans people, too.

But context matters. Romans I leads to this: “Therefore you’re without excuse ... when you judge others: in passing judgment you condemn yourself, because you're doing the same

thing.”

The author isn’t interested in condemning gay people or trans people. He’s leading his readers toward a reminder that judging others is a dumb thing to do.

Here’s another Bible story: one of Jesus’ disciples dreams of a voice instructing him to eat “unclean” food. When he refuses, the voice says, “Don’t call unclean what I’ve called clean.” The disciple wakes up and goes to visit some people he assumes are “unclean.”

He soon realizes the dream wasn’t about food, but people. “Don’t call anyone unclean.”

But seriously, who cares? In a secular society, religious institutions and ideologies don't get special treatment and the Bible has no bearing on which books the public library should have in its collection.

In a secular society, many of us are going to see things that offend our religious sensibilities. Jews and Muslims don’t eat pork. I can’t salute the flag. But we make space for pigs and flags.

Last week’s letter asserts that being gay or trans is a lifestyle. Being LGBTQ is identity, not lifestyle. Being a rancher or a ski bum is a lifestyle and there are queer ranchers and gay skiers. Being a Christian entails lifestyle choices, and I know

queer Christians. Identity is not lifestyle.

The religious tradition that shaped me centers the marginalized and encourages compassion and solidarity. And it’s part of what motivates me to live and work toward justice and equity.

Here’s where the writer and I agree. I, too, care about innocent, defenseless children — children who know that if they express their identity a religion of grace will be weaponized against them.

I care about children left without resources to navigate the common human experience of becoming an adult, finding identity, feeling new attractions to others. Books are a great avenue for self-exploration and understanding.

Books are both safe and dangerous — dangerous because they expose us to new ideas that radically deconstruct the world, and incredibly safe, because that exposure takes place in one's mind, where new ideas and old ideas can interact.

The Bible is a dangerous book. It’s dangerous because it is used to promote horrendous hierarchies of race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity,and class. But it’s also dangerous because it sets fire to

In response to letter titled ‘We are not afraid of new ideas’

Alan Wartes Times Publisher

those very hierarchies, burning down dehumanizing systems and encouraging human flourishing. Of course, that’s the reading I prefer, and I hope my coreligionists will do the same.

Ian Wrisley Gunnison

Simply love them for who they are

Editor:

This is in response to Jo Laird’s letter “We are not afraid of new ideas.”

Growing up, I always went to church. My family went to a small non-denominational church, but I questioned a lot of what was told to me. As a young child, I remember asking my local pastor if dogs go to heaven. As a small girl who had just lost a pet, I cried when he told me, “no, because dogs don't have souls.” I credit that moment to my lifelong questioning of my family’s faith.

While I don’t identify with the faith anymore, I still carry some of the principles of selflessness, service and acceptance that I learned from my time attending church. I now give myself over to service, working tirelessly for young people in our community. I know the young adults in our valley, and some of the kids are not alright.

In May of 2022, the most recent and diverse national study of LGBTQ+ youth came out with some telling statistics.

• In the past year, 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide.

• 14% of LGBTQ youth attempted suicide in the last year, including nearly 1 in 5 transgender and nonbinary youth.

• LGBTQ youth who felt high social support from their family reported attempting suicide at less than half the rate of those who felt low or moderate social support.

• LGBTQ youth who found their school to be LGBTQaffirming reported lower rates of attempting suicide.

• LGBTQ youth who live in a community that is accepting of LGBTQ people reported significantly lower rates of attempting suicide compared to those who do not.

• Nearly two in five LGBTQ youth reported living in a community that is somewhat or very unaccepting of LGBTQ people.

• 89% of LGBTQ youth reported that seeing LGBTQ represen-

tation in TV/movies made them feel good about being LGBTQ.

To sum up, there are LGBTQ+ children in our community. Banning books that show LGBTQ+ representation and publishing harmful letters to the paper are two ways that we show the kids — and trust me they are watching — that this isn’t an accepting community. Those are two ways we increase their chances of committing suicide.

If you’re worried about the “rest of their lives,” accept them, so that they can live those lives. If you want to protect innocent, defenseless children, simply love them, for who they are.

If you, or someone you know is struggling with mental health, there are resources that can help you. You can call 1.844.493.8255 or text TALK to 38255 to connect with Gunnison’s Mobile Crisis Services.

Sierra Cucinelli Gunnison

Whetstone offers next opportunity for attainable and affordable housing

Editor:

I’m writing in support of the Whetstone Housing Project which has now been in development consideration since August of 2021. From the available materials on the website and in other public forums it’s clear that there has been significant, iterative consideration for the project. As a community, we speak a lot about housing challenges facing our workforce, small businesses and people in general. Yet, oftentimes when it comes to executing carefully considering solutions to these challenges, many of us become experts in the least productive way possible.

I will acknowledge that I am no affordable housing design or development expert — but I am a supporter of those who have invested their careers and expertise into developing housing for others.

I will wholeheartedly say I’m fortunate to own a home within 100 feet of the largest affordable housing development in the county, Paintbrush. I’m fortunate because affordable housing developments at scale (like Paintbrush and Whetstone) create opportunities for my friends, neighbors and fellow citizens to succeed, which buttresses our community.

To me, Whetstone offers the next opportunity to offer attainable and affordable housing at

scale where it’s needed most in our community. Let’s all get behind this.

Loren Ahonen Gunnison

Life is precious

Editor: Damar Hamlin recently stopped breathing due to a blow to his chest in an NFL football game between the Bills and Bengals. Thanks to the timely intervention of medical personnel and the outpouring of prayers of so many, he has achieved a remarkable comeback.

Some have asked, was his recovery a miracle? His answer to that question: “God has been involved all the way.”

The value placed on Hamlin’s life by so many speaks for itself, and I write to bring attention to the life and death decisions being made in Gunnison County by expectant mothers considering permanently stopping the heartbeat of the unborn child in their womb.

Some expectant mothers feel so overwhelmed and helpless that they see aborting their baby as their only option. Those mothers are faced with the decision: Should they have this baby? Fortunately, Lighthouse Pregnancy Center of Gunnison can help these mothers realize that support is available and give them the confidence necessary to celebrate the “precious life” of their child.

The Lighthouse Pregnancy Center offers these brave women and their partners a safe and loving place to carefully consider all their options so they can make a choice from a place of strength — being fully informed, rather than from a place of stress and fear. The Lighthouse doesn't tell anyone what to do, but instead walks alongside them in their journey.

Over the past few years, the number of clients served through the Lighthouse has increased from 10 to 69, with 55 children impacted in 2022 alone. More and more families are finding help and support. Parents have free access to education, support, advocacy and supplies during the pregnancy and after the birth of the baby.

About half the clients are expecting, and half have infants and need supplies and education. And the Lighthouse relies completely on financial donations and grants to operate.

For more information, phone

continued on A19

City manager

After serving for six years, former City Manager Russ Forrest announced his resignation in August 2022, with plans to return to Vail where he worked in different roles for over a decade. Finance Director Ben Cowan has fi lled in as interim since Forrest’s departure.

Staff hired a recruitment service called Columbia Ltd. to begin a national search for a replacement. Over the course of a month and a half, the city received more than 25 applications. During a closed session on Jan. 10, Columbia Ltd. CEO Andrew Gorgey reported that the company had reduced the applicant pool to six. City council narrowed the number of candidates even further — selecting three finalists.

Gunnison residents are invited to a “Meet the Finalists” forum on Thursday, Jan. 19 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Gunnison Rec Center in the Palisades Room. This event will give the community an opportunity to meet the candidates and to provide input that will help council members select Gunnison’s next leader.

Finalists will be screened by a variety of interview groups, allowing the city to gather input from other local entities, city employees as well as the public. The interview

process will wrap up at the end of this week with an official announcement likely to occur before the beginning of February. City managers are often required to give 60 days notice to their current employers, meaning a new manager could feasibly be in place by the first of April, Cowan said.

The city manager is the only employee council is responsible for selecting.

“This is one of the bigger decisions the council will make,” Cowan said.

The city manager is responsible for all other city employees and oversees a budget of more than $38 million. The manager drives the overall direction of the city through projects and relationships with other municipalities and entities such as Western Colorado University and Gunnison County. As the chief administrative officer, they help guide every corner of the city system, from the finance department and public works to parks and rec and everything in between.

“We want to make sure that we vet all of the finalists and find someone who can bring to the community both experience and proven leadership,” said Mayor Diego Plata.

“While we're in a bit of a ‘let's get to the finish line mentality,’ so we can get somebody in place and get the operation under the right

Sawtooth

from A1

especially with this interest rate environment, is a burden on people,” Cattles said. “People won’t have to find a loan and be subject to those interest rates.”

Sawtooth was mostly funded through federal COVID relief money; three rounds of stimulus funding through the American Rescue Act of 2021 amounted to just under the $6.1 million project.

The county selected Fading West Construction, a Buena Vista modular housing manufacturer, to build the housing complex, which will consist of 18 modular units made up of six duplex buildings and six singleoccupancy spaces. The latter will sit above two-car garages behind the duplexes.

Site work was originally scheduled to begin in the fall of 2022, but supply chain delays pushed construction to earlier this year. Units will go into production in March, be installed by May and ready for occupancy in late June, said Thomas Grasp, Fading West project coordinator.

The development will include yard space, which was priority, since another of the county’s affordable housing developments, Paintbrush Apartments, does not have any, Cattles said. Fading West’s factory-built townhomes were similar in cost to site-built framing, but the schedule was much faster.

“We’ve seen the need for attainable housing and want-

ed to be part of that solution," Grasp said. “People are knocking down our door asking for cheaper housing. We've seen a huge demand since we've opened up our manufacturing facilities.”

To stay on track with the county’s climate goals, the new development will be fully-electric and use ground source heat pumps — which are two and half times more efficient than electric baseboard heating — to heat and cool the buildings. The units are expected to be solarready and to comply with 2021 International Code Council standards.

The project was designed in two phases. Phase one, the 400 Block, encompasses the north end and is situated between San Juan Avenue and Evans Avenue.

Cattles said the modular style of housing fits pre-existing zon-

FINALISTS

Brian Berger

As the town administrator, treasurer and clerk for the Town of Poncha Springs, Colorado, Berger does a little bit of everything for the small community — including plow driving. Prior to city management, Berger worked as lift revenue controller for Monarch Mountain and as the officer manager for Rock Cottage Glassworks in Merriam, Kansas.

Christopher Lowe

Lowe is a recruiter for managers and consulting services governments with a company he founded in 2019. Previously he served as interim town manager for the Town of Elizabeth, Colorado, and was the Town Manager for the Town of Monument.

Michael Thomas

Thomas is the city administrator for the City of Amity, Oregon, a small rural community of less than 2,000 in the northeastern corner of the state. He is a 20-year U.S. Air Force veteran and former lieutenant colonel and squadron commander.

(The candidates will introduce themselves and share their qualifications to lead the city on Thursday, Jan. 19 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Gunnison Rec Center. This will be followed by a Q&A session. Interpretation services will be provided.)

leadership, I wouldn't say that we're in a rush to pick someone for the sake of picking someone,” Plata said. “The

opportunity to open the search back up does exist. And while it wouldn't be my first pick, it's certainly not off the table.”

People are knocking down our door asking for cheaper housing. We’ve seen a huge demand since we’ve opened up our manufacturing facilities.

Thomas Grasp Fading West Construction Project Manager

ing, so there was no need for a months-long public process just to rezone the land.

Phase two, the 500 Block, is everything south of Evans Avenue to the end of South 14th, and is a little more complicated, he said. South 14th Avenue dead-ends on Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office land, so the county needs to figure out how to install utilities and acquire parking access for vehicles. In just a few weeks, the county will start work with the City of Gunnison on that planning process, which will likely involve rezoning the 500 Block.

The county intends for the start of leasing to coincide with Rural Welcoming Week.

“We want to make sure we're reaching out to non-English speakers,” Cattles said. “We’re trying to find out what barriers

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

might exist for other groups that sometimes struggle to get into housing like this and see if we can lower those barriers.”

The county will not place deed restrictions on the units, since officials have no current interest in selling them, but will instead manage the rents through county policy, Cattles said. So far, half of the 18 units are committed to rents not exceeding 80% AMI. There is no policy yet for the other nine units, but those will likely be offered to county employees using a qualified income ratio anywhere between 80-120% AMI. The county will contract with the Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority to manage and administer the units.

“We would like to keep a few units with flexibility while we maintain our affordability goals on the majority,” he said.

Revenue from Sawtooth will be funneled into the county’s newly-minted Housing Authority Fund. This will, in part, help pay for the county’s coming affordable housing projects, like Whetstone, located just south of Crested Butte.

“We're going to keep that revenue focused on that goal of affordable housing,” Cattles said. “It’s a nice way for us to take a one-time influx of funding and turn it into a sustainable revenue source that will last as long as those buildings.”

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

THREE

FOR GUNNISON’S CITY MANAGER POSITION

Jacob Spetzler

Sawtooth will be built along South 14th Street, west of the Gunnison County Fairgrounds.

RTA

while the count continued to climb into the end of the year.

RTA buses moved more than 38,600 passengers across the Gunnison Valley in December.

On New Year’s Eve alone, buses carried over 1,900 riders.

“We were way, way up … nine of the last 10 months have been records,” said RTA Executive Director Scott Truex during a regular board meeting on Jan. 6.

Ridership isn’t the only thing that has improved, Truex reported. Equipment upgrades have made it easier for the large buses to operate in winter weather.

Although the Gunnison Valley has been continuously hit by winter storm cycles since the holidays, RTA buses have been able to climb the hill below Crested Butte Mountain Resort even when the roads are slick. This is due to a combination of aggressive tread, chains and a new suspension system that allows the driver to drop the tag axle, giving buses better traction. In the past, riders often unloaded at the Crested Butte 4-Way Stop to catch a smaller Mountain Express bus to the ski resort when road conditions deteriorated.

“Buses have been rolling really smoothly,” said RTA board member Boe Freeburn. “They're looking great.”

Truex said RTA staff are working with Alpine Express, the company that runs the RTA’s bus services, to improve its alert system on the app it uses to keep passengers informed of delays and route changes. Visitors and residents can use the international “Transit App” to get live updates on where buses are and when they will arrive at each stop by favoriting the route.

Although the RTA is not able to change how the technology works, staff are working on ways to create a better system, Truex said.

“We're doing our best to improve our messaging so that passengers fully understand what's happening,” Truex said. “The message to Alpine has always been, the clearer we are to the passenger from a passenger perspective, the better, because sometimes the alerts go out and they say Route F3

isn't running today. That doesn't do us any good as a passenger.”

As the busy winter season continues, Truex also acknowledged some overcrowding in the five o'clock window when locals head to and from work. He said the RTA may try to add an additional bus in that time slot next winter.

Reducing the carbon footprint

The RTA’s monthly bus reports include the number of bus trips, riders on board and miles traveled. Board member Anna Fenerty asked if Truex could find a way to calculate the amount of emissions generated from the bus system.

“I think both sides of the valley are really interested in staying conscious of, and accountable, to the emissions we create,” Fenerty said.

After the arrival of two new buses in April, Truex said that 80% of its fleet will run on recaptured CNG, which stands for compressed natural gas. CNG, which is essentially recaptured methane, is a cleanburning alternative to gasoline and diesel that reduces exhaust emissions.

Jason MacMillan, another RTA board member, said gathering the information would be an interesting addition — allowing the RTA to speak to the benefits of catching the bus instead of driving around the valley.

“I want to reduce my carbon footprint,” MacMillan said. “Knowing what those numbers are may encourage people to take the bus more often that may not otherwise.”

Transit center in the works

The RTA has been working with City of Gunnison and Gunnison County planners on a Hwy. 135 and Hwy. 50 access plan that will begin to prepare the travel corridors for future development. The plan will include a recommended location for a transit center.

Truex said he hopes to present the RTA board with a proposal in the coming months so the project can progress. One potential location is on Spencer Avenue near the Gunnison Rec Center, but nothing has been finalized, he said.

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

from A1

Jacob Spetzler

A Gunnison RTA bus picks up passergens at the Gunnison High School stop.

City’s community grant program survives cuts in 2023

Search for way to fund street maintenance continues

Bella Biondini Times Editor

While searching for ways to fund ongoing street maintenance operations after voters failed to pass a sales tax increase last fall, Gunnison City Council has decided against making any immediate or drastic cuts to its community grant program — one that often provides much-needed financial support to nonprofit groups and organizations throughout the valley.

City council holds a work session once a year following the approval of its budget to select the recipients of its economic development and public service grants. The program, common amongst municipalities and governments, is designed to fund services not directly offered by the city and promote new ways to increase sales tax revenue.

Members of council shared their preliminary funding suggestions with the finance department before the annual session on Jan. 10. With nearly $2 million in requests, council carefully divided the $244,000 allotted in the 2023 budget. Although the future of Gunnison’s road system was still undecided, the majority agreed that immediate changes would do more harm than good.

The city’s community grant program is split into two categories. Public service grants bolster private or nonprofit programs that promote the health and well-being of the city.

Past recipients have included the Gunnison Valley Health Foundation, Gunnison Trails and Safe Ride. The second, economic development grants, are intended to boost the city’s sales tax base. Cattlemen’s Days and the Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce have been regular recipients.

The money used to support the grant program is pulled from the city’s general fund and the marijuana tax, which can only be used to pay for educational programs related to substance abuse prevention and counseling.

The majority of the funds are generated by local sales tax revenue. The amount budgeted for community grants has remained flat in recent years.

This year, council focused on mental health support and child care facilities. The Gunnison

Arts Center, the Gunnison Country Food Pantry, Gunnison Valley Mentors and GCSAPP also received significant portions of the allotted amount.

While Mayor Diego Plata and the rest of council helped divide the money, Councilor Jim Miles abstained from the process. Following the failure of ballot initiative 2A last fall, Miles said would not take part in “giving city money away.”

“This is one place we can cut without hurting our infrastructure … I beg you to cut back on some of this to roll the money into streets and alleys and our infrastructure,” Miles said. “I'm certain it's going to upset some, and it's going please, I'd say, the majority. The people that benefit from it are actually few. Hardly anybody gets even a portion of what they asked for.”

Council member Jim Gelwicks said his goal was to try and reduce the grant budget by 10% — marking “quite a few zeros down the line.” He expressed worry about the 26% decline in marijuana funding available compared to the previous year.

Using a different approach, Council member Mallory Logan said she went “all or nothing” as she moved through the grant requests. She favored organizations such as Project Hope and those “that really do make a difference in the health and safety of our residents,” Logan said.

Looking at the grant program as a whole, Plata agreed that it was an area where the city could potentially save money. But it would be a disservice to ask, receive and review applications in 2023 and then not fund them, he said.

“I’m all in for this year and then maybe we discuss the approach to the entirety of the process for next year’s cycle and, through that, give individuals and applicants the space and time required for them to plan their financial years as necessary,” Plata said.

Cutting the grant program

They’re pillars of our community, and a lot of the volunteers work tirelessly to provide services.

Ben Cowan Finance Director and Interim City Manager

Floodgate brings bluegrass to the ‘Mont

entirely would save approximately $100,000 within the city’s “general fund.” This part of the budget covers expenses for parks and rec, the police and fire departments and more — all areas competing for the same funding as road maintenance.

On Jan. 24, council will hold another special session to try and address the failed election. Different courses of action include keeping operations status quo and allowing roads to continue to decline, bringing a modified ballot initiative back to voters and exploring ways to make budget cuts.

“Maybe the grants are part of it,” Finance Director and Interim City Manager Ben Cowan told the Times

Although reducing grant funding is always an option, choosing the right amount to cut is a matter of debate, he said. Cowan said he’s seen numerous councils try and

make the cuts, but it can be a challenge, as many residents receive direct benefits from Gunnison’s nonprofit community — from clients at Six Points to students and those who are food insecure.

“They're pillars of our community, and a lot of the volunteers work tirelessly to provide services,” Cowan said.

Tina McGuinness, executive director of Gunnison Valley Mentors, said the grant awards are an important piece of the nonprofit’s funding puzzle each year. Money from local governments also gives the organization credibility in the eyes of other potential funding streams.

“An award from the City of Gunnison is an investment in the lives of our local youth, and benefits the whole community into the future,” McGuinness wrote in an email. “It really makes a difference.”

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

912 W Gunnison Ave, Gunnison CO 81230 MLS#796363 $890,000

12 Mobile Home Trailers built between 1962,1968,1970,1971, 1972 &1973

Great opportunity to own 12 unit manufacturer home trailer park, Frontierland which is located within R3 zoning for multifamily residential development. Their 12 trailers are fully leased and owned by CCNB Properties LLC with month to month leases managed by Gunnison Real Estate & Rentals. Fronteirland is within Gunnison city limits and generates about $6,225 a month, gross income. The trailers are owned by the landowner so a potential buyer can update the trailers and/or replaced the trailers with new trailers. The new trailers can be sold individually or rented out at higher rents; either of these two options will lead to more income opportunities for a potential buyer. Property taxes 2021 are about $1061.00.

100 Chipeta Ct, $427,473 782 sqft 2bed 1bath with carport MLS#794678

1205 Van Tuyl Circle, SOLD

Brand new 2 bed/1 bath house in the Lazy K Subdivision. Property has an attached carport, vaulted ceilings, all kitchen appliances with a W/D hookup. This is a deed restricted property order to submit an offer.

1208 W Tomichi Ave Unit 5 Gunnison CO 81230, MLS # 797554 $355,000 1261 sqft. 3 bedroom/2 bathroom, one level unit with fenced back yard and access to the city ditch for area, and storage shed included. Unit has been a rental for the last several years to a long term tenant and is currently rented at $1600/month plus utilities and lease ends October 31, 2022. PRICE IMPROVEMENT 160,000

touch. Gunnison Country Times Thursday, January 19, 2023 • NEWS • A9

calling

Crested Butte’s Floodgate Operators played at the Almont Resort on Friday night, Jan. 13 as a part of the Snowdance

Taylor Ahearn

Western welcomes two new trustees

Ferchau leaves board after two terms

Western Colorado University recently welcomed two new members to the Board of Trustees: Millie Hamner and longtime Gunnison resident, Dave Wiens. Hamner fills the position vacated by Pam Shaddock, and Wiens replaces Erich Ferchau, who served eight years on the board.

“I am thrilled to have both of them join our board,” said Western President Brad Baca. “They bring expertise, experience and a strong understanding of Western’s strengths and opportunities.”

Hamner resides in Summit County and is an affiliate at the Keystone Center in Keystone, Colorado. From 2010-2018, Hamner served in the Colorado House of Representatives, where she represented parts of Gunnison County, serving as chair or vice chair of the Joint Budget and Education committees. Before her time as an elected offi cial, Hamner was the superintendent of the Summit School District and educator in both K-12 and higher education institutions.

Wiens resides in Gunnison and is the executive director of the International Mountain Biking Associate (IMBA). He is also the founder and director of Gunnison Trails Inc. and was instrumental in establishing Western’s Mountain Sports program. Along with serving on the USA Cycling Board of Directors, Wiens served on the boards for the National OffRoad Bicycling Association and the National Interscholastic Cycling Association. A 1990 graduate of Western, Wiens was inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in 2000.

“I love the Gunnison Valley,” Wiens said. “Having Western here for over 100 years has, in part, defi ned this valley, and I think in a very positive way. I would like to just be a part of

that moving forward.”

In particular, Wiens said he is interested in promoting greater integration between the campus community and towns at both ends of the valley.

Erich Ferchau is leaving the board after eight years, but his history of involvement with Western spans many decades. His father, Hugo Ferchau, was a biology professor at Western for 30 years.

“He was a phenomenal person and a very committed faculty member,” Ferchau said. “He loved his students. We lived on campus. It was my playground.”

Looking back on his tenure as a trustee, Ferchau acknowledged that higher education faces headwinds, but said he sees opportunity in that.

“If you're the best at your game, I don't think that matters, he said. “The university is producing good results, I don't care if enrollment is going down across the country, we're going to get as many people or more that want to be getting an education and there will always be people going to college.”

Wiens joins Crested Butte resident Kara Buckley as one of two trustees representing the local community on the the board. Buckley is the founder and director of the Crested Butte Institute, which engages in academic research in three Western Slope policy areas: energy, land use and water.

Wiens said his first step as a new trustee is to listen to people in the community.

“I've thought about, okay, what how? What are the nuts and bolts of making this happen? How do I not just talk to all the people that I know and talk to some new people? I want to be as accessible as possible.”

(Source: Western Colorado University.)

Millie Hamner

Dave Wiens

Courtesy

Dave Wiens

WCU Board of Trustees

New law grants tax break to ‘non-soil’

Aquaponics and greenhouses qualify for ag exemption

Alexis Taylor Special to the Times

House Bill 22-1301, which went into effect on Jan. 1, lays the foundation for future changes in tax law that could have a positive impact on nontraditional farmers — ringing in a new era of agriculture in Colorado.

The bill, sponsored by Colorado Representatives Matt Soper and Dylan Roberts, amended an existing law to include “crops grown within a controlled environment agriculture (CEA) facility,” as a part of agriculture and exempted all agricultural equipment located inside a CEA from property taxes.

Before this bill passed, if a farmer spent tens of thousands of dollars on a greenhouse, it would raise their assessed property value and most likely increase their property taxes. Food production was only considered “agriculture” if it came through the land’s soil, and the property’s water was not considered an agricultural medium. This bill is the first step to stop penalizing farmers who need a greenhouse for their operation to succeed.

Alex Van Zandt, owner of Gunni Gal Aquaponics, has been a farmer in the Gunnison Valley for a year, producing high-quality greens, herbs, bok choi, pea shoots, tomatoes and more, year round. Yet, her operation was not considered agricultural, despite producing thousands of pounds of vegetables and fish for the community.

For Van Zandt, this new law gives aquaponic growers a “seat at the agricultural table” — finally valuing non-soil growing as farming, too. With the addition of water as an agricultural medium, hydroponic and aquaponic growers in the state of Colorado might finally begin to see some of the tax benefits

that soil farmers have enjoyed for decades.

Still, it won’t be an easy battle.

“The onus is on the farmer to prove to the county that the greenhouse structure itself is a part of the ‘equipment’ that is now exempt from property taxes,” Van Zandt said.

Greenhouses like Gunni Gal’s utilize passive solar and are essential to producing food year round, she said. Without the greenhouse structure consistently impacting the heat, humidity and light, it would be impossible for her to grow crops like greens throughout the year in the Gunnison Valley’s harsh climate.

“Investors in alternative types of farming are important for Colorado, especially because of our arid climate and finite supply of water,” Van Zandt said.

Aquaponic farming utilizes fish waste to benefit plants, and it uses significantly less water than flood or overhead irrigation which is frequently used in traditional soil farming. Regenerative soil farms conserve water through drip irrigation, whereas aquaponic grows recycle and recirculate the same water to reduce usage. Aquaponic operations also have a smaller footprint and are able to produce food year round in any climate.

“We can’t sustain life with only traditional soil farming,” Van Zandt said. “Diversifying farming practices is essential to continuing to produce food in the West with our rapid water depletion.”

While House Bill 22-1301 is likely not going to bring any tax benefits to the backyard grower with a small greenhouse, it will hopefully begin to bring tax relief to CEA farms and establish their importance to the future of agriculture in Colorado. Recognizing the value of all types of farming is an essential step in feeding our communities as the climate changes.

(Alexis Taylor has lived in the Gunnison Valley — and grown food here — for several years. She is the owner of Sundrop Flora, a flower farm.)

Courtesy Gunni Gal Aquaponics grows many varieties of greens year round.

LIGHTS&SIRENS

CITY OF GUNNISON POLICE REPORT

JANUARY 9

MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATION — 300 N. 9TH ST.

ANIMAL - RUNNING AT LARGE - MUNICIPAL — 1000 W. RAILROAD AVE.

ANIMAL:NUISANCE ABATEMENT - EXCREMENT — 600 N. COLORADO ST.

HARASSMENTCOMMUNICATIONS — 38064 W. HWY. 50

WARRANT SERVICE - OTHER JURISDICTION — 404 W. RIO GRANDE AVE.

JANUARY 10

AGENCY ASSIST — 711 N. TAYLOR ST.

FRAUD BY CHECK $100.00$500.00 — 412 W. TOMICHI AVE.

TRAFFIC VIOLATION — S. WISCONSIN ST.

JANUARY 11

HARASSMENT — 130 E. DENVER AVE.

WELFARE ASSIST — ESCALANTE DR.

HARASSMENTCOMMUNICATIONS — N. IOWA ST.

THEFT - INTENDS TO PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE — 318 REED ST.

ANIMAL - RUNNING AT LARGEMUNICIPAL — 800 W. OHIO AVE.

JANUARY 12

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF - DAMAGE TO PROPERTY — 301 S. 2ND ST.

PROPERTY - FOUND — 910 W. BIDWELL AVE.

AGENCY ASSIST — MM 155.5 W. HWY. 50

JANUARY 13

JUVENILE PROBLEM — W. TOMICHI AVE.

VIOLATION OF PROTECTION ORDER — 624 N. MAIN ST.

DISTURBING THE PEACE — 624 N. MAIN ST.

AGENCY ASSIST — 400 N. PITKIN ST.

HARASSMENTCOMMUNICATIONS — N. 8TH ST.

ANIMAL - RUNNING AT LARGEMUNICIPAL — W. ARTHUR AVE.

JANUARY 14

ABANDONED VEHICLE — 700 W. RUBY AVE.

ABANDONED VEHICLE — 700 W. RUBY AVE.

ABANDONED VEHICLE — 900 W. DENVER AVE.

ABANDONED VEHICLE — 900 W. DENVER AVE.

ANIMAL - VICIOUS / DANGEROUS - MUNICIPAL — 707 N. IOWA ST.

WELFARE ASSIST — S. 7TH ST.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE - ALCOHOL — 600 E. GEORGIA AVE.

JANUARY

JANUARY 16

THEFT — 213 N. LOVELAND ST. WELFARE ASSIST — E. TOMICHI AVE.

PROPERTY WATCH BURGLARY - SECOND DEGREE — 1140 N. MAIN ST.

GUNNISON COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT

JANUARY 10

-Deputies responded to a residence for a possible domestic -Vicious dog report -Theft report under investigation -Accident by a snow plow -Agency assisted the Colorado State Patrol and Gunnison Fire Rescue with a vehicle that had crashed and was in the river

JANUARY 11

-Harassment call -Vin Check

-North end deputies assisted a stranded motorist with his stuck truck blocking the roadway -Deputies assisted a driver who hit a ladder that was on the highway, causing the vehicle to become stuck

-Search and rescue call with Western Mountain Rescue team, stuck snowmobilers in a blizzard located safe -Deputies assisted the Colorado State Patrol with a slide off vehicle needing a tow -Deputies assisted the Colorado State Patrol with a citizen who slide off the road into the snow

JANUARY 12

-Deputies arrested one person for driving under the influence of drugs, illegal distribution of marijuana, possession of controlled substances, no proof of insurance, operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license and careless driving

-Deputies arrived on scene where a deer had been hit by a vehicle, injured and needed to be dispatched

-North end deputies assisted a stranded motorist

-Deputies responded to a stranded motorist but upon arrival the vehicle had gotten unstuck -Vin Check

-Lost property report of a jacket containing cash

JANUARY 13

-In county warrant arrest

-K-9 deputy Freya and her partner Deputy Janssen made a visit to the Gunnison High School and to the Gunnison Community School to meet students and answer questions

-Civil harassment call

-Deputies responded to stranded vehicle call

15

WELFARE ASSIST — N. 14TH ST.

ANIMAL - RUNNING AT LARGE - MUNICIPAL — 310 W. SPENCER AVE.

PROPERTY - FOUND — 201 W. TOMICHI AVE.

THEFT - INTENDS TO PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE — 1125 N. MAIN ST.

WELFARE ASSIST — W. TOMICHI AVE.

HARASSMENT - REPEATED

COMMUNICATIONS — W. DENVER AVE.

THE CITY OF GUNNISON HAS ARRANGED FOR CHRISTMAS

A T c r

TREES to be picked up for its refuse customers on January 21st. Please remove all decorations, lights, nails, and place the tree near your normal refuse pick-up area. City refuse customers and Gunnison County residents, may also take trees to the City Tree Dump (137 County Rd. 51) and set them on the left side of the gate.

Please do not block the gate.

JANUARY 21ST

JANUARY 14

-911 hang up call

-Agency assist to the Colorado State Patrol, Emergency Medical Services and Gunnison fire /

-Rescue with a one vehicle roll over accident

-Deputies assisted a stranded motorist

-Search and rescue by Western Mountain Rescue Team and Pitkin quick response team found the stuck snowmobiler

GUNNISON WATERSHED SCHOOL DISTRICT

EMPLOYMENT

CITY OF GUNNISON EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Electric Lineman:

Full-time, $74,800-$87,900/yr $35.96-$42.26/hr

Performs technical and manual work in the installation, maintenance, and repair of electrical distribution systems for the City.

Police Officer:

Full-time, $62,200-$73,100/yr $29.90-$35.14/hr

Performs technical, professional, and administrative duties related to maintaining the security of the City, protecting constitutional guarantees of all persons, protecting life and property, preserving public peace and order, preventing, solving and detecting crimes, facilitating the safe movement of people and vehicles, and other emergency services as needed. POST Certification not required. The City will pay for the Police Academy if needed and pay a cadet wage while attending the Academy. Includes a $5,000 signing bonus.

Part-Time Openings: Cranor Hill Ski Patrol -up to $23.53/hr

The City of Gunnison offers a competitive benefit package including 75% of medical, dental and vision premiums paid for the employee and their dependents, 5% of gross wages in a retirement plan, 3 weeks of vacation (increasing based on the years of service), 12 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

GUNNISON VALLEY HEALTH

Gunnison Valley Health is hiring. Please note This is not a complete list of all our open jobs - you can view all open positions at our website, jobs.gunnisonvalleyhealth.org

Physical Therapist, Home Health: FT $36.40 - $47.31/hr DOE.

IS Computer Technician: FT $22.61 - $27.13/hr DOE.

Receptionist (temporary) Behavioral Health: FT Temp $17.00 - $19.20/hr.

Care Associate II – GVO Clinic/ Family Medicine: FT $17.87 – $22.10/hr DOE.

Nursing Assistant (non-certified): FT $16.00 - $18.40/hr DOE.

Medical Assistant (non-certified): FT, $18.17 - $21.81/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, and GVH follows all Affordable Health Care Act Eligibility guidelines.

Please visit our website for more in-depth position descriptions, specific qualification requirements and to apply online: https://jobs. gunnisonvalleyhealth.org , 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.

HYDROPONIC FARM PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: No experience necessary, will train. $20/hr Part-time, available immediately, Gunnison. Full job description at mountainrootsfoodproject.org/join-ourteam.

TRIM CARPENTERS AND LEAD CARPENTERS WANTED: KD Custom Builders. PAY D.O.E. Call 970-275-6969.

ROOF SHOVELERS: Local snow removal company looking for roof shovelers for the remainder of winter. Pay DOE $30-50. Willing to train the right person. Call or email. 970-787-0702 ben@whiteoutcb.com.

PR/MARKETING

THE CLUB AT CRESTED BUTTE is hiring front desk attendants: part-time/full-time positions available, starting pay $16-$18/ hr. Employee benefits include employee discounts and ski storage at the base area. For more information or to submit a resume, please email: jobs@clubatcrestedbutte.com.

WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY: Lecturer of Teacher Education. FT, nontenure-track faculty position.

Required: Masters’ Degree in education or a related discipline, at least five years of successful K-12 teaching experience, familiarity with Colorado’s K-12 Teacher Quality Standards and Academic Content Standards, ability to teach and support learning in face-to-face, online, and hybrid environments, demonstrated commitment to social justice and educational equity in public schools and communities, and record of being collegial, supportive, and professionally flexible.

Responsibilities: Teach courses on curriculum, instruction, assessment, diversity, inclusion, and creating positive classroom environments, supervise/ coach undergraduate and graduate preservice teachers, provide leadership for undergraduate and graduate programs, collaborate with other faculty members on curriculum development and renewal, engage in service to the department, local school districts, the state, the region, and your professional organizations.

Start date: June 2023 or negotiable Salary: $42,0000-$45,000 annualized salary. Apply at western.edu/jobs. Required attachments to the application include: letter of application, curriculum vitae, transcripts, and a reference list with names and contact information for three references. Because this search is part of a DEI cluster search, please include information about your experience with and commitment to DEI in your letter of application.

App Screening will begin Jan. 9, 2023, until position is filled. AA/EOE

SOFTWARE DEVELOPER (PYTHON): Join our team to create warehouse automation solutions from our ski-in, ski-out office in Mt. Crested Butte. We are building hybridcloud containerized applications to move products faster and more efficiently using robots. If you have Python skills and want to be part of a growing team in the mountains, send resume to Chris Ladoulis at Slate River Systems (SRSI) at cladoulis@gosrsi.com. See seetheraft.com.

INTERESTED IN A CAREER WITH BENEFITS? The Crested Butte Bank (a branch of the Gunnison Bank and Trust Company), has an opening for a full-time teller to join the operations side of our growing Bank. Applicants should have strong customer service skills, the ability to

multi-task, and a willingness to learn. GB&T fosters a learning environment where you will gain exposure to multiple areas of the Bank, with a strong foundation in operations, pay starting at $18.00. Robust benefits package includes 401(k), medical insurance, vision insurance, life insurance and disability insurance (ST and LT). Pooled transportation is available. Send resume to abrown@crestedbuttebank.com or lbeda@ gunnisonbank.com.

YOU ARE NEEDED: Find your niche at Six Points helping adults with disabilities with personal care, cleaning, transportation and community activities. No experience needed; clean driving record preferred and background check. Part- and fulltime available. 50% off everything in the store, plus intangible benefits of building meaningful relationships with clients. $15/hr. Contact Margaret.schneider@ sixpointsgunnison.org.

WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY seeks innovative candidates with public financial management executive level experience for our controller position. This opportunity offers tremendous experience and an exceptional environment.

DUTIES: The controller reports to the Vice President for Finance and Administration/ Chief Financial Officer and is expected to lead an administrative department providing strategic leadership, fiduciary guidance and customer service excellence. Position leads four full-time employees and is required to direct all accounting activities for an institution with 300+ employees and over $60M in annual revenues. The controller will work closely with the senior management team in ongoing development of the University’s short and long-range financial and strategic plans.

QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree in accounting and three years in higher education or public accounting, at a managerial-level, is required. Governmental accounting (GASB) experience preferred. Advanced degree in public administration, accounting, CPA or CMA strongly preferred. Successful candidates must possess strong, proven leadership and management skills, excellent oral and written communication skills. Successful candidate must be technologically savvy, preferred candidate will have State of Colorado public governmental accounting experience and familiarity with WorkDay software.

TO APPLY: Apply online at western.edu/jobs. (Controller position is Workday). Required attachments to online applications include a cover letter describing position specific interest, resume, and a list of professional references. Application review of applicants begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

DAVID GROSS GENERAL CONTRACTORS is seeking finish carpenters at top pay. We offer ski passes, 401k, profit sharing, paid vacation and potential health insurance benefits. No subcontractors please. Call DG at 970-901-1798.

FREELANCER: Mountain Roots is accepting proposals for a $25K contract for regional PR, marketing, outreach and education around local food. View full Request for Proposals at mountainrootsfoodproject.org/join-our-team.

Classifieds

GUNNISON COUNTY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

*Housing is held for Gunnison County employees and may be available for you to rent*

Patrol Deputy Sheriff: Full-time, 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $4,989 to $7,057 plus full benefits.

Family Planning Nurse Practitioner/Physician’s Assistant HHS: Part-time, 6 hours every other week, hourly rate range from $38.15 to $53.96 plus full benefits.

IT System Administrator: Full-time, 40 hours/week, starting monthly salary range from $6,613 to $9,354 plus full benefits.

Recycling Technician/Landfill Operator Public Works: Full-time, 40 hours/week, hourly rate range from $21.72 to $30.72 plus full benefits.

Public Health Nurse II: Family Planning Coordinator HHS: Part-time, 30 hours/week, hourly rate range from $32.03 to $45.31 plus full benefits.

CRESTED BUTTE BURGER COMPANY is hiring cooks and cashiers for the upcoming winter season: flexible schedule available, starting pay $16-$18/hr. + Gratuity. For more information or to submit a resume, please email: crestedbutteburgerco@gmail.com.

MOUNTIAN ROOTS seeks a full time professional to provide leadership, coordination and strategic development of our district-wide Farm to School program, including direct teaching, guiding program growth and training/management of our 3-5 person program staff. The incoming director will build on ten years’ success and take the program to the ‘next level.’ $50K w/ benefits. Starts March 2023. Read more: mountainrootsfoodproject.org/join-our-team.

TITLE

Public Health Nurse II: Child Care Health Consultant HHS: Part-time, 6 hours/week, hourly rate range from $32.03 to $45.31.

Patrol Deputy (Marble and Somerset Area) Sheriff: Full-time, 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $4,989 to $7,057 plus full benefits. Work in the Marble and Somerset area.

Detention Deputy Sheriff: Full-time, 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $4,229 to $5,982 plus full benefits. Only work 14 days a month.

Heavy Equipment Operator I Public Works: Full-time, 40 hours/ week, starting hourly rate $21.72 to $30.72 depending on experience, full benefits.

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

upon request.

Application period: 1/12/2023 - 1/19/2023

Applicants must apply online through USAjobs.gov

Please contact the Gunnison Ranger District at 970-641-0471 with any questions. We are happy to help you through the application process.

Specific Positions in Gunnison are: Official Title PP/Series/Grades Announcement No

Forestry Technician (Timber Sale Prep) GS-0462-05 23-TEMP4-R2-0041-5DT-MM

Forestry Technician (Timber Sale Prep) GS-0462-04 23-TEMP4-R2-2466-4DT-MG

Forestry Technician (Timber Sale Improvement) GS-0462-05 23-TEMP4-R23138-5DT-SC

communication. You will be responsible for time sensitive scheduling and effectively communicate via phone and email ensuring that all communication is delivered with high quality and in a timely manner.

Responsibilities will include but aren’t limited to: answering phone calls and scheduling appointments, reply to email, return phone calls and greet and assist visitors to the showroom, shipping, receiving and organization of inventory (including staying on top of digital communication about the orders/order process), submit and reconcile invoices all while resolving scheduling conflicts and providing polite professional communication. Please email: admin@ blindfaithcb.com or call Kelly: 850-855-8838.

THE TOWN OF CRESTED BUTTE seeks applicants for a building inspector and efficiency coordinator position to join the Community Development team. The building inspector and efficiency coordinator performs a variety of commercial, industrial, and residential building and safety inspections of new and existing properties for compliance with Town adopted regulations and building codes and coordinates building efficiency and renewable energy programs for the Community Development Department’s responsibilities to the Town of Crested Butte’s Climate Action Plan. This yearround position includes an excellent benefits package with 100% employer paid employee and dependent health, dental, vision, life insurance and matching contributions to a retirement plan after one year of employment. Starting salary is $50,958 – $60,585 DOQ. Full job description is available on the Town’s website at townofcrestedbutte. com. Please submit an application, cover letter and resume via email to HR at jobs@ crestedbutte-co.gov. The position is open until filled. The Town of Crested Butte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

LOOKING FOR HOUSE CLEANER once a week 2 bedrooms 2 baths, living room. Prior experience and references required. Erik 970-596-6160.

in hand with our maintenance, housekeeping and reservation teams to ensure that our guests experience vacation perfection. Pay starts at $22 per hour 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.

LOADER OPERATORS NEEDED ASAP IN CB: Very high pay for qualified people. Willing to train the right person. Ski pass and end of season bonus. Call Jean at 970-2758731.

LOOKING FOR A HYGIENIST for progressive, mercury-safe dental office in Crested Butte. We have cool lasers and bright sunny operatories to work in. Prefer full-time, but part-time availability would be considered. Full benefits included. Please send resume to info@ intergrativedentistrycolorado.com

LITTLE RED SCHOOLHOUSE is hiring a full time preschool aide/teacher starting Jan. 30 with training beforehand to replace a teacher on maternity leave. This is a great opportunity for full time year round employment, with great pay and benefits. If you adore children, are flexible, patient, a team player and enthusiastic, please inquire with Jessica at lilredschoolhouse1@gmail. com.

HOUSEHOLD & FURNITURE

FULL FUTON FRAME AND MATTRESS: Wood frame. Both are in good condition. Comes with 2 covers. $50. Text 303-8478493. I am

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. I. Call to Order II. Roll Call

Pledge of Allegiance

Approval of Agenda ACTION ITEM V. Commendations, recognition of visitors, and public comment

who wish to address the Board, please make known at the beginning of the meeting via Zoom or if in-person, please complete the public participation form.

Administrative Action Summaries

Superintendent Summary - Dr. Nichols

Amended FY23 Budget PresentationMrs. Tia Mills, Business Manager

Bond Project Update-Dr. Nichols

Consent Grouping

Items under the consent grouping 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 clarified or even removed from the grouping for separate consideration.

CRESTED BUTTE LAND

GUARANTEE COMPANY is currently seeking candidates who want to learn about the real estate market and start or change their careers. Our customer experience officer must be detail-oriented and have a solid knowledge of email and Microsoft Office Suite. This role would be a great entry point for someone looking to make a career change or launch a career with a phenomenal company. Competitive compensation. Full Time. Visit us at ltgc.com/careers/

USDA FOREST SERVICE LOCAL GUNNISON POSITIONS:

Temporary positions (approx. June –November)

Do you want to work outdoors? Do you want to contribute to natural resource management in the Gunnison Valley? Do you want to get paid to have fun in the forest? If so, apply to work for the USDA Forest Service in Gunnison, Colorado! We are offering multiple temporary positions with flexible work schedules, paid federal holidays and paid time off. Positions are available in a variety of departments including timber sale preparation, timber stand improvement, trails, customer service and wildland fire. Wage is dependent on experience and ranges from $14.38/hour - $18.06/hour with opportunities for overtime. No experience is required for some of these positions. Health, vision and dental benefits are available to all employees expected to be in pay status for 90 days or more. Housing may be available

Forestry Technician (Timber Sale Improvement) GS-0462-04 23-TEMP4-R23137-4DT-DM

Forestry Technician (Wilderness/Trails) GS-0462-06 23-TEMP4-R2-0037-6DT-SC

Forestry Technician (Trails) GS0462-05 23-TEMP4-R2-2861-5DT-MM

Forestry Technician (Trails) GS0462-04 23-TEMP4-R2-2860-4DT-EW

Customer Service Representative GS0303-05 23-TEMP4-R2-2456-5DT-EW

Forestry Tech (Fire) GS-0462-04 23-TEMPF4-R2-0003-4DH

Forestry Aid (Fire) GS-0462-03 23-TEMPF4-R2-3867-3DH

START YOUR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CAREER WITH WONDERLAND NATURE SCHOOL the only nature-based early childhood center in the Valley. Now hiring starting at $1618 depending on experience. Full time preferred, but part-time hours may be available. Retirement match, mental health and paid training benefits provided. We are a supportive, friendly work environmentjoin our team and make a difference in our little ones’ lives. Email us at admin@ wonderlandnatureschool.org.

BLIND FAITH CUSTOM WINDOW FASHIONS is hoping to find an administrative support/customer relations teammate. This full-time role will oversee that the support is provided to ensure efficient operation of the office. Supports staff through a variety of tasks related to organization and

THE GUNNISON ARTS CENTER seeks a strategic leader to fill the director of development full-time position that ensures the evolution of the GAC’s financial resources. The DD works to build a portfolio of successful grant awards, builds and maintains donor relationships, and secures business sponsorships. Cultivating and collaborating with the GAC’s Board of Directors the DD advances GAC financial goals through forecasting future income, setting fundraising goals and objectives and planning and executing fundraising strategies. Salary range $45 - $52K. Full details at gunnisonartscenter.org. To apply email cover letter, resume, and 3 references to carlie@gunnisonartscenter.org.

THE TOWN OF MT CRESTED BUTTE is looking for a part time, winter seasonal employee. Job duties will include but not be limited to plowing the Towns recreation path, shoveling public walkways and stairs, chipping ice, emptying trash receptacles, maintaining equipment, and helping full time staff with projects as needed. Schedule will be 2 days per week from 7a.m.-5:30 p.m. Applicant needs to have skid steer or similar equipment experience, ability to safely lift a minimum of 50 pounds and a clean driving record. Contact Tim at troybal@ mtcb.colorado.gov for more information. The full job description can be found on our website at mtcb.colorado.gov. This position pays $25 per hour. To apply for the position please email your cover letter, resume and three references to Tiffany O’Connell at toconnell@mtcb.colorado.gov.

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

PALISADES AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY

Palisades Apartment 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

The Superintendent recommends approval of the following: 1. Board of Education Minutes a. January 9, 2022 Regular Meeting 2. Finance Approve for payment, as presented by the Business Manager, warrants as indicated: a. General Account Last update 1-9-2023 b. Payroll Direct Deposit Last update 1-9-2023

Wise-Resignation-Preschool

Teacher-Lake

Horton-Resignation-SPED

Kaichen-Preschool Lead

DIVISION 5 WATER COURT- DECEMBER 2022 RESUME

(This publication can be viewed in its entirety on the Colorado State Judicial website at: www.courts.state.co.us).

5. PURSUANT TO C.R.S., §37-92-302, AS AMENDED, YOU ARE NOTIFIED THAT THE FOLLOWING PAGES COMPRISE A RESUME OF THE APPLICATIONS AND AMENDED APPLICATIONS FILED WITH THE WATER CLERK FOR WATER DIVISION 5 DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2022. The water right claimed by this application may affect in priority any water right claimed or heretofore adjudicated within this division and owners of affected rights must appear to object and protest within the time provided by statute or be forever barred. 22CW3127 GUNNISON COUNTY. CRYSTAL RIVER OR ITS TRIBUTARIES. Scott Thompson and Jennifer Olson, c/o Paul L. Noto, Esq. and Jason M. Groves, Esq. Patrick, Miller & Noto. P.C., 229 Midland Ave, Basalt, CO 81621, (970) 920-1030. APPLICATION FOR CONDITIONAL SURFACE WATER RIGHTS, APPROVAL OF A PLAN FOR AUGMENTATION, AND APPROPRIATIVE RIGHTS OF EXCHANGE. FIRST CLAIM: Name of structure: Thompson-Olson Pump and Pipeline. Legal description: (Crystal River POD): At a point on the north bank of the Crystal River within the SE ¼ NE ¼ of Section 27, Township 11 South, Range 88 West of the 6th P.M. UTM (Zone 13) Easting: 309234, Northing: 4327059 (Source: CDSS). (Slate Creek POD): At a point on Slate Creek within the SE ¼ NE ¼ of Section 27, Township 11 South, Range 88 West of the 6th P.M. UTM (Zone 13) Easting: 309295, Northing: 4327122 (Source: CDSS). Source: Slate Creek and the Crystal River, tributary to the Roaring Fork River, tributary to the Colorado River. Date of appropriation: December 29, 2022. How appropriation was initiated: Field visit, filing the application, and formulation of intent to appropriate water for the beneficial uses claimed. Date of beneficial use: N/A. Amount: 0.5 c.f.s., conditional and cumulative for both points of diversion. Uses: Irrigation and filling Thompson-Olson Pond for its decreed uses. SECOND CLAIM: Name of structure: Thompson-Olson Pond. Legal description: An off-channel pond located within the SE ¼ NE ¼ of Section 27, Township 11 South, Range 88 West of the 6th P.M. UTM (Zone 13) Easting: 309275 Northing: 4327111. Source: Slate Creek and the Crystal River, tributary to the Roaring Fork River, tributary to the Colorado River. Appropriation date: December 29, 2022. How appropriation initiated. Field visit, filing the application, and formulation of intent to appropriate water for the beneficial uses claimed. Date of beneficial use. N/A. Amount: 0.3 acre-feet, conditional with the right to refill. Filling source: The Thompson-Olson Pond will be filled using the Thompson Olson Pump and Pipeline described in this Application at a rate of 0.5 c.f.s. Surface area: 0.18 acre. Dam height: Less than 10 feet. Dam length: 100 feet. Active capacity: 0.2 acre-feet. Dead storage: 0.1 acre-feet. Uses: Recreation, aesthetic, piscatorial, fire protection, and irrigation. If irrigation, complete the following: Total number of acres proposed to be irrigated: Approximately 2.25 acres. THIRD CLAIM: Augmentation Plan. Name of structures to be augmented: Thompson-Olson Pump and Pipeline. Thompson-Olson Pond described in First and Second Claims above. Water rights to be used for augmentation: Colorado River Water Conservation District Contract for at least 4.35 acre-feet of augmentation supply from the River District’s sources which include Wolford Mountain Reservoir and Ruedi Reservoir described in paragraphs 20. A. and 20. B. of the application. Complete statement of plan for augmentation: Applicants seek to augment out-of-priority depletions from irrigation and pond evaporation on their property during downstream calls on the Colorado River. The Thompson-Olson Pump and Pipeline will be used to irrigate up to 2.25 acres on the Applicants’ property and to fill and refill the Thompson-Olson Pond for its decreed uses. Tables of estimated demands and depletions are attached to the Application. Replacement of out-of-priority depletions. During downstream calls on the Colorado River below the confluence with the Roaring Fork River, Applicants will utilize a River District contract for augmentation releases from Wolford Mountain Reservoir and Ruedi Reservoir. Augmentation will occur by exchange under the appropriative rights of exchange claimed in this application. During times of local stream administration on the Crystal River, Applicants will cease diverting the Thompson-Olson Pump and Pipeline. Applicants own the property where the augmented structures are located and where water will be put to beneficial use. Map of structures on file with court. FOURTH CLAIM: Name of exchange: Thompson-Olson Crystal River Exchange 1. Upper terminus: Thompson-Olson Pump and Pipeline (Crystal River POD): At a point on the north bank of the Crystal River within the SE ¼ NE ¼ of Section 27, Township 11 South, Range 88 West of the 6th P.M. UTM (Zone 13) Easting: 309234, Northing: 4327059 (Source: CDSS). Lower terminus: (For Wolford Mountain Reservoir Releases): The confluence of the Colorado River and the Roaring Fork River located in the SE ¼ NW ¼ of Section 9, Township 6 South, Range 89 West of the 6th P.M. UTM (Zone 13) Easting: 299744, Northing: 4380338. Source: River District Contract. Appropriation date: December 29, 2022. How appropriation was initiated: Field visit, filing the application, and formulation of intent to appropriate water for the beneficial uses claimed. Date of beneficial use: N/A. Amount: 4.355 acre-feet, conditional. 0.5 c.f.s., conditional. Use: Augmentation by exchange. FIFTH CLAIM: Name of exchange: Thompson-Olson Crystal River Exchange 2. Upper terminus: Thompson-Olson Pump and Pipeline (Crystal River POD): At a point on the north bank of the Crystal River within the SE ¼ NE ¼ of Section 27, Township 11 South, Range 88 West of the 6th P.M. UTM (Zone 13) Easting: 309234, Northing: 4327059 (Source: CDSS). Lower terminus: (For Ruedi Reservoir Releases): The confluence of the Crystal River and the Roaring Fork River located in the SW ¼ NW ¼ of Section 28, Township 7 South, Range 88 West of the 6th P.M. UTM (Zone 13) Easting: 307491, Northing: 4365660. Source: River District Contract. Appropriation date: December 29, 2022. How appropriation was initiated: Field visit, filing the application, and formulation of intent to appropriate water for the beneficial uses claimed. Date of beneficial use: N/A. Amount: 4.355 acre-feet, conditional. 0.5 c.f.s., conditional. Use: Augmentation by exchange. SIXTH CLAIM: Name of exchange: Thompson-Olson Slate Creek Exchange 1. Upper terminus: Thompson-Olson Pump and Pipeline (Slate Creek POD): At a point on Slate Creek within the SE ¼ NE ¼ of Section 27, Township 11 South, Range 88 West of the 6th P.M. UTM (Zone 13) Easting: 309295, Northing: 4327122 (Source: CDSS). Lower terminus: (For Wolford Mountain Reservoir Releases): The confluence of the Colorado River and the Roaring Fork River located in the SE ¼ NW ¼ of Section 9, Township 6 South, Range 89 West of the 6th P.M. UTM (Zone 13) Easting: 299744, Northing: 4380338. Source: River District Contract. Appropriation date: December 29, 2022. How appropriation was initiated: Field visit, filing the application, and formulation of intent to appropriate water for the beneficial uses claimed. Date of beneficial use: N/A. Amount: 4.355 acre-feet, conditional. 0.5 c.f.s., conditional. Use: Augmentation by exchange. SEVENTH CLAIM: Name of exchange: Thompson-Olson Slate Creek Exchange 2 Upper terminus: Thompson-Olson Pump and Pipeline (Slate Creek POD): At a point on Slate Creek within the SE ¼ NE ¼ of Section 27, Township 11 South, Range 88 West of the 6th P.M. UTM (Zone 13) Easting: 309295, Northing: 4327122 (Source: CDSS). Lower terminus: (For Ruedi Reservoir Releases): The confluence of the Crystal River and the Roaring Fork River located in the SW ¼ NW ¼ of Section 28, Township 7 South, Range 88 West of the 6th P.M. UTM (Zone 13) Easting: 307491, Northing: 4365660. Source: River District Contract. Appropriation date: December 29, 2022. How appropriation was initiated: Field visit, filing the application, and formulation of intent to appropriate water for the beneficial uses claimed. Date of beneficial use: N/A. Amount: 4.355 acre-feet, conditional. 0.5 c.f.s., conditional. Use: Augmentation by exchange.

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT YOU HAVE until the last day of FEBRUARY 2023 to file with the Water Clerk a verified Statement of Opposition setting forth facts as to why this application should not be granted or why it should be granted in part or on certain conditions. A copy of such statement of opposition must also be served upon the applicant or the applicant’s attorney and an affidavit or certificate of such service shall be filed with the Water Clerk, as prescribed by Rule 5, CRCP. (Filing Fee: $192.00) KATHY POWERS, Water Clerk, Water Division 5; 109 8th Street, Suite 104 Glenwood Springs, CO 81601.

Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado. Publication dats of January 19, 2023 7424

JANUARY 15

-Deputies with K-9 Deputy Freya assisted the Gunnison Police Department with the search of a vehicle believed to be connected in a crime

-Summons issued for under age possession/ consumption, and one person was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and underage possession/ consumption of marijuana

JANUARY 16

-Suspicious person call -Welfare check on an upset young person in the highway with his bike

-Harassment call -Medical call for a different county- mistakenly called Gunnison

-One person was arrested for driving with ability impaired and careless driving

Wendy Solheim 970.275.6167 or legacyceo.lfm@gmail.com.

Greg Kruthaupt Gunnison

Great Decisions

Editor:

I am excited to share an upcoming opportunity with the Gunnison community to participate in a non-partisan discussion group called Great Decisions, an annual forum featuring a variety of timely foreign policy topics.

These sessions will be held Wednesdays at 6 p.m. at the new Gunnison Library and virtually between Jan. 25 and March 15. Topics to be discussed this year — selected by the Foreign Policy Association — include energy geopolitics, war crimes, China and the U.S., economic warfare, politics in Latin America, global famine, Iran at a crossroads and climate migration. Each one-

hour session will consist of a 30-minute video lecture on the topic of the week, followed by an engaging discussion.

Attend all the sessions or choose weeks featuring topics that pique your interest. Supplemental reading materials will be available at the Gunnison Library or electronically by request.

This foreign policy discussion series is a chance to come together as a community to learn and share differing viewpoints about current events and challenges facing our world. And, as I see it, for all of us to move a little more towards the middle and away from polarized viewpoints.

All willing to learn and engage in cordial discourse are welcome and encouraged to attend. I hope that it will strengthen our ties as a community and as global citizens.

Lindsay Davis Gunnison

Never-Evers forever

Raspanti Special to the Times

Each winter, for one hour on Sunday evenings, adults with little-to-no hockey experience lace their skates as tight as possible and exchange the stability of solid ground to glide onto ice and scratch the surface of a new sport. Th ese players are part of the Never-Evers hockey league, a 8-week program for local adults who have never, ever, played hockey and are curious to learn the fundamentals of the game.

The 2023 season of NeverEver adult hockey kicked off on Jan 8. at the Jorgensen Ice Rink — representing its 20th year on ice. After a 10-minute warm up at this year's first session, an echoing whistle vibrated off the indoor rink's glass panel borders.

“That’s the long whistle, the long whistle means stop what you’re doing,” said Paul Morgan with the intensity of a coach training high-level athletes. Morgan both runs and founded the program.

Skating towards the rink’s center, he instructed the group to circle up, softening his demeanor to introduce the class. A passionate and skilled hockey player, Morgan's true motivation for coaching NeverEvers is to surround himself with people who want to take a risk and learn something new.

“Th e big thing is, this is not about hockey at all,” Morgan said. “This is about being around adults that are accom-

plished in other aspects of their life, that are willing to take a risk to try something different.”

Morgan approached the Gunnison Parks and Rec Department shortly after he moved to Gunnison 30 years ago, asking for ice time to introduce the sport to others. Having learned to play hockey as a young adult himself, Morgan said the long-running program initially stemmed from a desire to make the learning process easier and safer for others.

Since then, the Never-Ever hockey program has brought skating, stickhandling and the basic rules of the game to community members whose ages typically range anywhere from mid-20s to mid-60s. Many come from different professional and athletic backgrounds.

“Hockey can be intimidating, but this program allows our community an avenue to get on the ice and learn the game,” said Recreation Supervisor, Ginny Baylor. “Paul makes it what it is and because of him, this program fills to capacity each year with a substantial waitlist.”

Some participants climb the tiers of local adult leagues, some never ever play again and some are what Paul calls, “Never-Evers-Forevers” and take it as many times as he lets them. Others get hooked, practice independently and quickly join the leading ranks of the local rink-rat pack.

Never-evers B2

GUNNISON

Morgan

Paul Morgan introduces hockey to local adults for over two decades

h adults t w

Participants lace up before the first Never-Ever class of the 2023 season.

Paul Morgan demonstrates proper skating stance.

Assistant Coach Jon Kaminsky to Paul Morgan, demonstrates skating technique.

Jacob Spetzler

Never-evers

from B1

Just 10 years ago, ice rink referee, adult-league player, occasional Never-Ever assistant and full-time hockey dad Aaron MacLennan had never played himself. He reflected on his surprise when he realized how humbling it was to learn how to skate.

“The best part about [NeverEvers was] Paul Morgan's attitude and affi nity to help other people learn the game of hockey,” MacLennan said.

Th e class fee is $75, but the only required equipment is a well-fi tting hockey helmet and skates — which are available to rent with no additional charge. The Parks and Rec Department has intentionally kept the fees low and requirements minimal to make the sport accessible, Morgan said.

Until recently, playing hockey felt unattainable for Cheryl Cwelich, who joined the NeverEvers last year. She said she was pleasantly surprised by how welcoming and inclusive the Gunnison hockey community was.

“Never-Evers has really provided a way to get into hockey and play it for the without feeling like you didn't have all of the right gear, or all of the right skills,” Cwelich said.

Uninhibited by barriers to entry, Cwelich often practices in her free time and now plays in both the fall and winter C-League. While reminiscing on Never-Evers, she made a point to add how special it was to be taught the sport by “the one and only Paul Morgan.”

One of this year's participants, Elaina Adams, joined the program because she was looking to start a new hobby, meet more people and make the most of a winter in Gunnison following her AmeriCorps service. Adams captured the tone of this season as she looked back on the first practice with excitement.

“It’s so cool to see, [especially with] so many women, and we just had fun learning some new skills.”

Adams laughed, remembering when the whole group fell in unison on the blue goal line the first time they tried hockey

stops. She made mastering that skill her goal.

Along with hockey stopping, the program aims to teach skating, stick handling, shooting the puck, positioning and the rules of hockey. Th e group won’t be using sticks until the third week and, as tradition goes, it will conclude with a game against previous NeverEvers on Feb. 26.

“Just when you think there's

no more Never-Evers out there, it's exploding,” Morgan said. “People want a safe environment where they're going to learn a new sport … I never wanted to take over a program but as long as there's a need, I will do it forever.”

(Morgan Raspanti can be contacted at 970.641.1414.)

Jacob Spetzler

Local man travels to Alaska wilderness for once-in-lifetime adventure

Bella Biondini Times Editor

Gunnison big-game hunter Michael Grosse had traveled thousands of miles and endured the most physically demanding experience of his life in search of the animal that now stood before him.

A bear, among the largest in the world, lumbered into view with a wide gait similar to that of a football player. The bear’s pure white claws indicated that it had spent more than two decades tucked in the remote wilderness of Alaska’s Kodiak Island. Grosse wondered: Was it big enough to be the prize he hoped for?

The island, situated off the southern coast of Alaska, is home to the world’s largest bears. The Kodiak brown bear is well fed by the island's salmon-filled rivers and experiences relatively little competition from other predators. A male can stand over 10 feet tall, and weigh up to 1,500 pounds.

Michael and his wife, Danielle, moved to Gunnison more than 40 years ago to raise a family and create a base for an international hunting business. They started locally with hunts for elk, mule deer and black bear in the Gunnison Basin, but the operation rap-

idly expanded far beyond the valley and Colorado. Over the years, Michael’s business carried him across the world — from alligator hunts in Louisiana, caribou in the sub-arctic region of northern Quebec, to Africa, Australia and the Royal Family’s Balmoral Estate in Scotland.

In his 44 years of hosting big-game hunters, Michael has stopped charging elephants, Cape buffalo, lions, leopards and crocodiles. But he said nothing compared to the excitement of hunting a famed Kodiak bear.

“This is the ultimate hunt if you want to hunt a bear,” he said. “These are serious, big bears … one swipe can about cut you in half.”

He finally received his chance this past fall. With his friend as a guide, the hunting party hiked 16 miles into a secluded area of Kodiak Island where the local government only permits one individual per year to hunt a brown bear.

According to Michael, brown bears are usually hunted by using boats and rafts, but the rivers in the area remained unnavigable because of rapids and log jams. Due to the bears’ remarkably powerful sense of smell, the crew moved across the mountainsides rather than the valley floor to remain undetected.

The hunting party stayed in one small tent with no heat as snow and rain fell. It was early November and temperatures had begun to drop, hovering around the low 20s, as strong winds lashed through the valley for almost the entirety of the two-week trip.

Around noon on the 11th

day, Michael spotted the bear along a small river tributary. Although he had seen bears daily, he knew this was the one. To stay out of sight and earshot, he stayed a quarter of a mile up the mountain side. He waited for the bear to come closer.

Seeking shelter from an oncoming storm, the bear quickly approached the thick of the forest — 10 more steps and he would’ve never been seen again. Michael yelled over the roar of the wind, and the bear stopped long enough for him to take his shot.

He killed the bear at less than 400 yards, but because of the terrain, it took nearly two hours to reach it and begin the process of skinning it for a lifesized mount.

The bear dwarfed Michael, his pelt alone — almost 10 feet tall from the tip of the nose to his tail — was more than twice his height, his paws larger than his head. A plane flew in three rafts to float the party and the bear out. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game estimated the bear was 24 to 26 years old, based on his teeth and skull.

At 73 years old, Michael said it was the most physical thing he’s ever done, and not without a little pressure. Hunters get one shot, and if they hit a bear, they don’t get to try again.

“Was I confident I was going to get one, yes,” he said. “Is it a sure thing? No, no it's not.”

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

Courtesy Michael Grosse

Winter 2022/23 – so far

So far, so good. Our snowfall, in town, is running close to average and the temperatures are actually warmer than average. Ditto for our friends to the north in Crested Butte.

Here are some numbers: The average high temperature for December in Gunnison was 29.8 degrees, very close to the long-term average. However, our overnight lows were above zero coming in at an average of + .5 degrees (not a record, +12.9 in 2010) compared to the long-term average of -2.6.

Our average temperature in December was 15.2 compared to the long term 13.5 degrees. Precipitation for December was .89”, a little above the average of .78”, and the snowfall was 9.5’ compared to the average 10.2”.

The Town of Crested Butte is showing 35” of snowfall in December which is dead-on average and their overnight lows (+.8) are well above the average -4.2. What’s also interesting is that we haven’t had any real cold temperatures* yet. The lowest official temperature so far all winter was “only” 18 below zero,

and at the Ruby Avenue station the lowest so far has been 13 below on Dec. 18.

Are we going to have a winter with no 20 belows? Balmy! Keep in mind that there are places, such as the North Elk Meadows area, that do typically have cold-

er temperatures than within Gunnison.

I’m sure most of you know that January is the coldest month, with a long term average of 9.2 and an average low of -7.4. As of Jan.13, we’re averaging +12.6 degrees and the overnight

lows are way above average at 0 degrees.

The amount of snow on the ground, 8-9”, is a little above average, (more is on the way) and, best of all, the Jan. 16 Snotel charts show the Gunnison basin at 141% of snow water equiva-

lent. It could be a lot worse! *If it doesn’t get to 20 below, it’s not cold.

Former Western student voyages to South Pole

Biopic shares story of resilience and adventure

Times Staff Report

A former Western Colorado University student will return to campus next week to share his story of achieving the impossible. “The Push” is a film that follows Grant Korgan’s battle to overcome life-altering injury and continue leading a life of adventure.

Korgan, world-class adventurer and nano-mechanics professional, suff ered a debilitating spinal cord injury over a decade ago in the Sierra Nevada backcountry. The injury only strengthened his passion for the outdoors. Two years later, he became the first spinal cord injured athlete to push himself nearly 100 miles

on a sit ski to one of the most inhospitable places on the planet — the geographic South Pole.

“Th is fi lm is about inspiring human beings, no matter what challenges are in front of you, that you can overcome those and excel beyond expectations,” said co-producer Kurt Miller.

The documentary has won awards at over 20 international film festivals. The film will play at Western Colorado University’s Taylor Hall on

Wednesday, Jan. 25. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the fi lm will start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the door. Korgan will introduce the film, which will be followed by a Q&A with the audience after the screening.

“It will be exciting to return to Gunnison and share ‘The Push’ with a live audience,” Korgan said in a statement shared with the Times . “I have so many great memories of exploring the outdoors while I was a student at Western.”

(Bruce Bartleson is a retired Western Colorado University professor of geology. He spends his time now watching the sky.)

Bruce ‘Barometer’ Bartleson Special to the Times

A 25-year record of average January temperatures. Alantha Garrison

Daddy Daughter Dance

Join us for the fifth annual Daddy Daughter Dance hosted by Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) and Moms Next on Feb. 4 from 6-8 p.m. at Webster Hall, 107 N. Iowa St. in Gunnison. Tickets are $20 for father and daughter and $5 for each additional daughter. Price includes DJ, desserts, refreshments and photos.

Gunnison Nordic Club

The next Moonlight Ski will be Feb. 4 at Van Tuyl starting at our wonderful new library. All of the grooming and club activities are done by volunteers

who devote about 3,000 hours per year to keep rails skiable, provide nordic lessons and outings for skiers of all ages. Trail grooming reports, membership information and events can be found at gunnisonnordic. com. Contact Gunnison Nordic at gunnisonnordic@gmail. com. Follow on Facebook and Instagram.

The 2023 Golden Marmot Awards

Join CBMT Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. on the Mallardi Cabaret Stage for a free night of celebrating our 2022 performances. CBMT is dedicating this year's Golden Marmot awards to the memory of Eric Ross for all the work he

GUNNISON ARTS CENTER BRIEFS

Wacky Wednesdays

Join us Wednesdays from 2-3:30 p.m. on Jan. 18-March 8 for Session one of Wacky Wednesdays featuring a new and unique project each day. These fun projects will range from painting and drawing to sculpting and building. Drop-in registration and half-course registrations will be available once the minimum of four students is reached. The instructors are Kit Wijkowski and Nathan Motsinger and the cost is $195 per person or $165.75 per member.

Adults Intro to Hand Building

If you don’t want to commit to a multi-week class join us Jan. 23 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. In this class, students will get introduced to hand building to shape their own masterpiece. Students with a range of abilities are welcome. Registration fee includes clay, tools, slip, glaze, kiln firing and instruction.

The instructor is Rachel Cottingham and the cost is $72 for non-members and $62 for members.

Ukulele (Ages 7-10)

On Jan. 23-March 6 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. instructor Jenny Hill will provide the opportunity to create and collaborate as a group, learn favorite songs, write original music and improve overall musicianship. This class will further your artistry and give you the special opportunity to make and share music with others. Students must bring their own ukulele.

The cost is $114 per person or $97 per member.

Soladera Soaps (advanced workshop)

In this single day workshop from 5-8 p.m. on Jan. 25, Jenifer from Soladera Soaps will walk you through the process of creating your very own bar of soap. This time around students will make a more complex two or three colored soap. The class will be held at the GAC clay studio. All supplies included in the price. Check in time is at 4:30 p.m.

The instructor is Jenifer Pusey and the cost is $48 per person or $40.80 per member.

did for the theatre. We’ll have a performance of one of Eric’s plays and improv from Subject to Change.

Crested Butte Center for the Arts fundraiser

Please save the date, Feb. 18, for this year’s CBSP Community Fundraiser at the Center for the Arts, in Crested Butte. Will it be a “Wall to Wall” party or will we need to adjust some attitudes? Only time will tell ... But one thing we do know is that this is a great thing for the community and it will be a fun night you won’t want to miss.

The Science of Pickles: Sauerkraut

In this class on Jan. 28 from 12-2 p.m. you will learn pickling science from the very basics. The class will begin with a half hour presentation followed by a demonstration and finally everyone making their very own sauerkraut. You will go home with knowledge that can be applied to a variety of foods along with a 2L Fido jar fi lled with pounds of product. Sauerkraut samples will also be provided.

The instructor is Jeff Deutrich and the cost is $80 per person or $68 per member.

Adults intro to wheel throwing

Join us 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. on Jan. 30 for this one-time wheel throwing class. In this class, students will get introduced to wheel throwing and will focus on centering, pulling and shaping their own masterpiece. Students with a range of throwing abilities are welcome.

Registration fee includes clay, tools, slip, glaze, kiln firing and instruction.

The cost is $72 for non-members and $62 for members.

Neglected dental issues can lead to pain, tooth loss, and heart disease.

CB CENTER FOR THE ARTS BRIEFS

Drawing + Drinks

On Jan. 24. from 5-7 p.m. learn the fundamental skills to help you become a better and more confident artist. These casual, supportive sessions focus on foundational skills like drawing with shapes, values, and proportions, along with observational drawing, use of a grid and one and twopoint perspective. Registration includes all materials, instruction, and one beverage of your choice (beer, wine or a canned cocktail). The class will be led by teaching artist Linsey Olesiak and the cost is $45.

Watchhouse

There are limited floor boxes still available for this sold-out show on Feb. 1. Watchhouse (formerly Mandolin Orange) is an Americana/folk duo based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Fresh off a European tour, don't miss them in Crested Butte for a rare intimate experience in the Steddy Theater Doors open at 7 p.m. for the 8 p.m. show.

AlpenPhunk with Cool Cool Cool

The Public House’s popular annual festival comes to the Center for one night with Cool

Cool Cool & special guest John Medeski! The cost is $40 - $55 and the doors open at 7 p.m. for the 8 p.m. show on Feb. 4. Box office and gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Center no longer requires proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test for entry into our facility, except as required by artists or talent presenting at the Center. We will continue to monitor the COVID situation closely and make adjustments to our policies as needed to ensure the safety of our community and staff. The Center retains the discretion to refuse entry to participants that demonstrate COVID-like symptoms.

Girls lose one, win one over weekend

Succumb to North Fork, overcome Aspen

Jacob Spetzler

Photo and Sports Editor

The GHS girls varsity basketball team played twice last week, winning one and losing one. The first game took place on Friday, Jan. 13, at home against the North Fork Miners. The Cowboys fell, 40-29 despite a narrow shot at a comeback in the third. The following evening, in Aspen, the theme was similar, but inverted. Gunnison dominated the skiers, 46-17. The two games moved the Cowboys’ season record to 3-4, and the league to 1-3.

On Friday, it took the Cowboys a couple periods to get comfortable. In the first half, the team only scored eight points total to North Fork’s 20. But after a readjustment over the break, Gunnison surged forward.

Kylie McDougal and Ava Stewart held it down with several from beyond the arc, while Lily Wild contributed one basket from the paint. Despite the hardy attempt, it would prove insufficient.

Gunnison added eight more points in the fourth quarter, but North Fork put together a series of runs for 13 points.

The next night was essentially the opposite for the Cowboys. Gunnison’s offensive performance was only matched the it’s defense. In the first quarter, Gunnison put up 12 points thanks to a 3-pointer from McDougal and baskets from Seinna Gomez, Stewart and Wild.

In the second, Meredith Diamond jumped in, putting in two baskets. Then, in the third, the Cowboys added another 15 due primarily to two baskets, a 3-pointer and a successful free throw all from McDougal. Diamond also put in two more while Stewart and Lorena Diaz each sank one. In the fourth, Aspen fell into foul trouble, giving Eden Wiliams and Yaslin Hernandez the opportunity to add a few points to the board. The final

score was 46-17.

The Cowboys faced the Crested Butte Titans on Tuesday evening, Jan. 17, taking the win, 50-30. More details were not available by

press time. This weekend, the girls varsity team will travel to Meeker on Friday before heading to Roaring Fork on Saturday.

(Jacob Spetzler can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or jacob@gunnisontimes.com)

Weekend split for boys varsity basketball

Triumph over Thomas McClaren, loss to North Fork

Jacob Spetzler Photo and Sports Editor

The GHS boy’s varsity basketball team went one for two over the weekend. The team fell to North Fork at home in a close 51-46 league game on Friday, Jan. 13. Then, on Saturday, the Cowboys drove to Colorado Springs where they beat the Thomas McClaren Highlanders with a confident final score of 62-40 in a non-conference competi-

tion. The two games moved the Cowboys to a 2-5 overall season record, and 1-2 in the 3A Western Slope league.

Friday’s game against North Fork remained competitive up until the last minute. Excellent scoring from the Cowboys in the first, third and fourth quarters kept the team in the game, but a slow second quarter gave North Fork an opening.

Rylin Richter led the way for Gunnison, putting together 12 points overall. Justus Williams helped, gathering a total of nine points, while Mike Riser followed with eight. Jacob Riser contributed six.

On Saturday, the Cowboys crushed the Highlanders primarily through consistent offensive pressure. The first

quarter was competitive with Gunnison scoring 10 points to Thomas McClaren’s 13. The Cowboys put up a healthy lead in the second, scoring 13 more points while the Highlanders struggled, only scratching out four more.

At the half, the scoreboard read 23-17. The score stayed close in the third but in the fourth, the Cowboys soared ahead, scoring 20 points.

Senior Wyatt Howery had a strong game. Just in the fourth, he put together four baskets. Jacob Riser sank four overall, but truly shined in free throws — successfully scoring all eight of his attempts.

The Cowboys hosted the Crested Butte Titans on Tuesday night, Jan. 17, but

results were not available by press time. The team will travel to Aspen on Saturday, Jan. 14 to face the Skiers.

(Jacob Spetzler can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or jacob@gunnisontimes.com)

Abby Harrison

Abby Harrison

Speedy slalom

Crested Butte Mountain Resort hosted a downhill slalom ski race on Jan. 7 and 8. Judit Hausdoerffer was the top placer for the Crested Butte Mountain Sports Team, notching sixth in the U14 on Sunday. She took seventh on Saturday. For the boys, Marius Somme was the highest placer, taking seventh in the U12 race on

SPORTS BRIEFS

Titans conquer Tigers on the road

The Crested Butte Titans hockey team traveled to Summit County over the weekend where it beat the Tigers 6-3. The game moves the team’s season record to 7-1-1 with about three weeks remaining in the regular season. The six goals against Summit were evenly distributed among the players and throughout all three periods. Sam Dukeman, Jake White and Grady Dietrich each scored

one in the first. In the second, a series of penalties gave the Tigers a brief opportunity for a comeback — scoring twice on power plays. But Blue Gardner and Carson Zummach each scored to maintain the Titan’s lead. Dietrich scored again in the third to seal the deal.

Mountaineer men’s basketball lose two

Over the weekend, the Western Colorado University men’s basketball team fell twice

on the road. On Friday, Jan. 13, the team traveled south to play New Mexico Highlands, but lost 76-64. The Mountaineers faced CSU Pueblo on Saturday, but fell again, 59-50.

Women’s basketball falls twice

The Western Colorado University women’s basketball team lost two close games over the weekend. In the first, on Friday, Jan. 13, the Mountaineers lost 54-49

to the New Mexico Highlands Cowgirls. On Saturday, the CSU Pueblo Thunderwolves beat Western, 61-56.

Western hires new head volleyball coach

Western Colorado University Director of Athletics Miles Van Hee announced Monday

In just three years as the head coach of the Conquistadors, she turned around the program around in a big way. It had only won four games the season before her arrival, into a squad that finished 22-9 in 2022, played in the NJCAA Region VI Semifinals, and produced six all-conference performers.

“I look forward to bringing a renewed level of excitement and competitiveness that the university and the City of Gunnison will be proud of,"

Western hockey battles Texas Tech

Jacob Spetzler

Jacob Spetzler

The Western Colorado University club hockey team hosted Texas Tech on Jan. 13 and 14 at Jorgensen Ice Rink. The Mountaineers fell in both. Friday’s game ended 7-0 and Saturday’s, 7-5.

The Times Literacy Initiative SPONSORED BY:

Proud to support students and teachers.

Benefits of reading to kids

Staff Report

Reading aloud to children is one of the joys of parenting. All children, whether they’re infants, toddlers or school-aged, can benefit from being read to, and parents whose youngsters have grown up often look back on story time as some of their favorite moments as moms and dads.

Reading aloud to children is about more than just establishing a bond between parent and child. According to Reading Rockets, a national public media literacy initiative, children as young as infants can benefit from being read to. Infants can

look at pictures as their parents point to them and say the names of the various objects within them. By drawing attention to the pictures and associating words with them and real-world objects, parents are helping infants learn the importance of language.

Kids of all ages can benefit from being read to, even after they learn to read on their own. The following are a handful of ways that reading aloud to children can benefit them.

• Reading to children dramatically expands their vocabulary. A 2019 study published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics found

that young children whose parents read them five books a day enter kindergarten having heard roughly 1.4 million more words than kids who were never read to. The disparity is even significant when comparing kids who are periodically read to each day with kids who are read five books per day. Children who are read to daily may hear slightly less than 300,000 words prior to entering kindergarten, while those who are read five books per day will hear more than 1.4 million words.

• Reading to children expands their imaginations. Research has shown that children who activate their imaginations through

being read to develop higher activity in the area of their brain that’s responsible for cultivating mental images and deciphering and comprehending verbal cues. That heightened activity bolsters youngsters’ imaginations and instills in them a greater fondness for reading.

• Reading can help kids learn to focus. Parents of young children no doubt know that such youngsters rarely sit still for any significant length of time. However, when being read to, young children, even those who are initially reluctant to engage in story time, will learn to sit still for the duration of the book. That can help them learn

to focus, a benefit that will pay dividends when children begin school.

• Reading to children can speak to children’s interests or emotional needs. Reading Rockets notes that children’s favorite stories may speak to their emotional needs and interests. That’s why so many youngsters insist on reading a favorite book over and over again. Though that’s often boring for parents, it can benefit youngsters, who will eventually move on to other books.

Reading to children can benefit them in myriad ways and provide a great way for parents to bond with their youngsters.

Proud to support all Gunnison Valley Students & Educators!

Times

Abby Harrison

The opening of the North Face

The Crested Butte Ski Area is famous for having the firstextreme skiing within ski area boundaries in the United States. It was not always that way. Theski area began during the winter of 1961-62. Seven years later, an event took place that would shape the ski area forever.

During the winter of 1968-69 Mountain Manager Vic Dennis and Snow Ranger Shammy Somrak began studying aerial photographs of Crested Butte Mountain and determined that there were huge open bowls adjacent to Paradise Bowl.

A party of skiers was put together to climb out of Paradise, cross the ridge and look at the bowls they had observed in the photographs.

On a clear February day patrol leader Mike Burns, assistant leader John Burns, patrolman Forest Ekblad, along with Dennis and Somrak made their way to the top of a ridge that looked north.

Thefivemen observed three giant and very steep slopes which ended almost at the East River. Explosive charges were thrown into the top bowl and nothing slid, so the five all skie the firstbowl without incident. Theskiing was sensational. Steep, great powder and a perfect fall line.

Theskiers then threw explosive charges again and cut the second bowl. Thee was one step or bowl left to the bottom. Looking at that very steep section, Somrak told the other four men, “Boys, we better not ski that ‘last steep,’ otherwise it’s going to be a long walk out.” And that is how the Last Steep restaurant on Elk Avenue got its name.

Thefivemen then cut left into the trees and returned to the Crested Butte Ski Area. Four days later, patrolman John Burns went back to the North Face with three ski instructors to show them what had been found. When they arrived at the top of the firstbowl, they saw that the entire slope had slid all the way to the bottom of the Last Steep. Not a word was said. Thefour did a kick turn and silently skied back to where they had come from. No one went back for the rest of the

year because the skiers knew the area would not be skiable.

During the next season,1969-70, only one trip was made to the North Face. Late in the season, two patrolmen, Cotton Harris and Rick Buzzell, came to Mike Burns and asked if they could climb to the top of the North Face, ski all three steeps and then work their way around the mountain back to the base area. Burns agreed and went with them.

When they reached the top, Burns threw a one-pound explosive charge. Nothing happened and Burns said, “Well, boys, take a cut across the slope.” Buzzell stepped out on the slope and started his cut when everything below him fractured across the entire steep, three feet deep. With a tremendous roar, it slid all the way to the bottom of the Last Steep. Buzzell quickly turned out of his cut and once again, not a word was said as the three men skied out.

Theevents of the winter of 1968-69 and 1969-70 were the beginning of extreme skiing at Crested Butte. In the early 1970s when the North Face was opened, about 15-20 of us skied the top two bowls and then traversed out because of no lifts below. Theskiing was fantastic. Steep terrain, deep powder, no bumps and only a few skiers.

Thee are great extreme runs today at Crested Butte, but the firstand greatest of them all was the fabulous North Face.

Ah, memories!

— Duane Vandenbusche

Cowboy wrestling divides and conquers

Jacob Spetzler Photo and Sports Editor

Cowboy wrestling spread out across the state to compete in three tournaments over the past week. Half of the boys traveled to Florence for the Mel Smith Invitational for the two day tournament on Jan. 13 and 14, while the other half drove to Westcliffe for the Custer County Bobcat Invitational last Saturday.

Th e girls squad traveled the furthest, heading to Colorado Springs for the Vista Ridge Alpha Female tournament on Jan. 14. All told, the Gunnison grapplers brought back a slew of top spots from all three competitions.

Royce Uhrig, who competed in Florence, maintained his perfect season record of 27-0 with a first placement in the 132-lb division. Th e wins have also meant Uhrig broke several Gunnison High School all-time wrestling records.

He’s now 96-1 for his high school career. His only loss came during the state finals his freshman year. That record puts him past former recordholder Doug, who competed in the mid-to-late 70s. Uhrig now holds the best high school record at 96-1, the best season record at 40-0 and the Tredway best tournament record at 28-0.

As for the rest of the Gunnison wrestlers who competed in Florence, Miles Harris came in third in the 138-lb division — putting his record at 26-2. Harris is on track to break the all time GHS takedown record which was set by Jed Widner in the ‘76-’77 season. He may set the record next weekend in the Cowboy’s home dual against North Fork.

Damyon Funk also had a successful tournament, notching fourth place spot in the 106-lb division, moving his record to 24-7. Head Coach Dave Uhrig said he was proud of the entire team’s performances.

“Miles Harris had a rock solid tournament,” Uhrig said. “Damyon Funk proved he’s one of the better kids in the state. He proved he can beat the best, now he has to work and make that happen.”

Uhrig also highlighted freshman Cody Casebolt for battling through the entire tournament.

“Cody Casebolt has improved tremendously,” he said. “He was only one match away from placing.”

Preston Gomez also rejoined

the line-up at the tournament. Up to this point, he’s had to sit out due to a broken arm from football season.

As for the girls team’s performances in Vista Ridge, Ava Witzel led the way — notching a first place finish in the 145lb division. Caroline Sudderth earned fifth for the 120-lbs division. Then, in Westcliffe, Vinny Niccoli, competing at 126, and Tate Taramarcaz, at 150, placed fourth and fifth respectively.

The girls team will kick off this week’s round of competitions in Olathe on Thursday, Jan. 19. Then on Friday, Jan. 20, the whole squad will compete in a tournament in Delta before traveling to North Fork for another tournament on Saturday.

Looking ahead, the Cowboys host a duel against North Fork High School at GHS on Thursday, Jan. 26. It will be the team’s final home competition.

(Jacob Spetzler can be reached at 970.641.1414 or jacob@gunnisontimes.com)

Royce Uhrig remains undefeated, breaks three GHS wrestling records

Courtesy GHS Wrestling

• Mon., Jan. 23:

• Weds., Jan. 25:

• Fri., Jan. 27:

Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays – 11:30 a.m. arrival. Pick-ups from 11 – 11:15 a.m. $5 per meal.

encouraged:

Dietary tips to combat health effects of aging

Times Staff Report

The human body is a marvel. How the body transforms over the course of an individual’s life is one of its more remarkable qualities, and those changes never cease, even as individuals near retirement age.

Th e changes associated with aging include physical transformations but also more subtle shifts the naked eye cannot see. For example, metabolism slows as individuals grow older, and aging also can lead to a decrease in bone density and muscle mass. These changes affect how men and women at or nearing retirement age should approach their diets in recognition of the various ways their nutritional needs change at this point in their lives. Any modifications to a diet should first be discussed with a physician, but the following are some ways aging adults can use diet to combat age-related changes to their bodies.

• Prioritize protein. The authors of a 2010 study published in the journal Current Opinion in Nutrition and Metabolic Care recommended that older adults consume

between 25 and 30 grams of protein with each meal. The researchers behind the study concluded that such consumption could limit inactivity-mediated losses of muscle mass and function.

• Overcome reduced production of vitamin D. WebMD notes that people over 65 typically experience a decrease in natural production of vitamin D. Vitamin D is not naturally found in many foods, so aging men and women may need to rely on supplementation to ensure their bodies get enough of it. Vitamin D helps with anti-inflammation, immune system support and muscle function, among other benefi ts. So it’s vital that aging men and women find ways to get sufficient vitamin D.

• Consume ample dietary fiber. The National Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging (NRCNA) notes that fiber plays an important role in the health of older adults. Fiber has been linked with heart health, healthy digestion, feeling full and preventing constipation, which the online medical resource Healthline notes is a common health problem among the elderly. Though the NRCNA notes that older adults

need slightly less fiber than their younger counterparts, it’s still a vital component of a nutritious diet. The feeling of fullness that fiber consumption can provide also is significant, as it can ensure adults who aren’t burning as many calories as they used to aren’t overeating in order to feel satisfied. That can make it easier for such adults to maintain a healthy weight.

• Monitor intake of vitamin B12. The NRCNA reports that vitamin B12 is involved in a host of important functions in the body, including nerve function and the formation of red blood cells. Vitamin B12 is most easily found in animal products, which many aging men and women must largely avoid due to other health concerns.

In such instances, men and women can discuss supplementation with their physicians as well as alternative food sources of B12, such as fortified cereals, salmon and other items.

Bodily changes related to aging increase the likelihood that men and women will need to alter their diets in order to maintain their overall health.

Abby Harrison