With four seats opening up at the end of the year, an almost entirely new city council may face some of Gunnison’s largest and longstanding issues such as the construction of a new water treatment system and the dwindling affordable housing inventory.
In December, the terms of Council A6
NEWS: Hospital hires housing coordinator, A10
COMMUNITY: Growler race celebrates 15 years, B1
Last week, the Gunnison Watershed School District (GWSD) and Gunnison County Education Association (GCEA), the district’s union, ratified the 2023-24 Master Agreement, an annual document that sets
teacher salaries. This year, levers pulled at the state level meant more money will flow into the district. The nearly $1.6 million bump allowed the district to offer its employees raises across the board.
The boon came from Colorado’s School Finance Act, a bill that increased the per pupil revenue, or the amount each district gets per child, for all school districts. The bill Raises A6
SPORTS: Gunnison summer youth programs begin, B8
this year, the local business community is cautiously optimistic the crowds will come. With river flows at record highs and Blue Mesa levels on the mend, many are confident it will be another busy summer.
OBITUARIES A2 OPINION A4
CLASSIFIEDS A14-A17
SPORTS B8
Bella Biondini Times EditorAlthough tourism officials have predicted that the number of visitors flowing into the Gunnison Valley may decline
Following an impressive 202223 ski season, the Tourism and Prosperity Partnership (TAPP), the organization responsible for marketing the Gunnison Valley as a year-round vacation destination, forecasted a possible slow down in tourism as businesses prepared for Tourism
Despite tourism slowdown, numbers still stronger than pre-pandemic
We are slowly, carefully and with a great effort digging out of a tremendous hole that public education has been in in Colorado for over a decade.
— Leslie Nichols, GWSD Superintendent
The family of Fred Haverly invites you to share in a memorial service in his honor on June 3 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Baptist Church in Gunnison. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers please donate to Rick Barton Ministries, PO Box 1155 Gunnison, CO 81230 or Lighthouse Pregnancy Center, PO Box 7103 Gunnison , CO 81230.
See story on A1
Kebler Pass closed indefinitely
Kebler Pass, which offers a shortcut from Crested Butte to the Roaring Fork Valley, has sustained major damage due to runoff and is not passable by vehicle, according to a May 31 press release from Gunnison County. The pass will remain closed until repairs can be made and the road is rebuilt. No timeline has been established for the opening.
Blue Mesa Reservior’s Elk Creek boat ramp in Curecanti National Recreation Area opened on Friday, May 26. It will remain open from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day for the remainder of the 2023 season.
Elk Creek marina opened on Tuesday, May 30.
Motorized and trailered watercraft launched onto Blue Mesa Reservoir must be inspected for aquatic invasive species prior to launching. Inspection stations are available at the Lola, Elk Creek and Lake Fork boat ramps from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Boaters are encouraged to get an exit inspection to verify watercraft are clean, drained and dried.
Earlier this month, the park completed a project to reconfigure marina infrastructure, so it is more mobile and able to better adapt to changing water levels driven by prolonged drought. The project now allows park staff to move the infrastructure without having to rely on contracted services and operationalize the marina regardless of water levels.
Blue Mesa Reservoir is currently at 7,479 feet in elevation, which is about 40 feet below full pool. By early July, Blue Mesa is expected to rise to within 5 to 10 feet of full.
Diana Lee Martinez, 89, formerly of Pagosa Springs, Colorado passed away on May 5, 2023.
Our mother was born in San Antonio, Texas on Nov. 8, 1933. Diana was raised in Dallas, Texas and met her husband Jerold Ray (Jerry) Martinez while attending Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Jerry and Diana were married in June of 1953 and had three children: Cindy, Kirk and Bradley.
Diana was an avid golfer at Dos Rios Golf Course in Gunnison. She later ran the clubhouse at Dos Rios and was famous for the Burraco and Tomichilata back in the day. Diana and Jerry lived in Pagosa Springs for many years in the 80s and 90s when Jerry was an Archuleta County Commissioner. After Jerry’s passing, Diana moved to the Aztec/Farmington area in New Mexico.
Diana is preceded in death by her loving husband, Jerry Martinez; daughter, Cynthia Joy Johnson and her son Bradley Ray Martinez.
Diana is survived by: son, Kirk Martinez; grandson, Justin Martinez; son-in-law, Shane Johnson, Sr.; grandson, Shane Johnson, Jr. and his wife Liz and their son Walter; granddaughter Kaytlyn Johnson and her partner Cristen Claire; granddaughter, Jessica Barge and her children, grandsons Samuel Martinez and Max Martinez.
We are sorry to announce that Barbara P Zahradka (nee Woodvine), 82, passed away on May 11, 2023 from cancer. Barb leaves behind her husband, George Michael “Mike” Zahradka; her children, T. Paul C. Zahradka and Katherine E Kramer (Liz/Beth, nee Zahradka); and her niece and nephews in the UK, Helen Horscroft (nee Orr), Andrew Orr, and Richard Orr.
Barb was born on March 26, 1941 in Sheffield, England. She met Mike in Cardiff, Wales when Mike was stationed there during his time in the U.S. Army. Barb and Mike eventually moved with their children to Gunnison, Colorado in 1984, where Barb became an integral part of many children’s lives working for the Gunnison school system and eventually at Tenderfoot Child and Family Development Center. Barb’s influence of love and joy at even the simplest things will forever keep her family protected through good times and bad.
A celebration of life will take place at the chapel at the Gunnison Cemetery on July 8 at 2 p.m. We invite anyone who knew Barb, or who would like to support Mike to attend and remember Barb’s wonderful life. We ask attendees to wear bright colors.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made in Barb’s name to the Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley at cfgv.org/donors/.
Megan was born on July 6, 1969 in Parma, Ohio to Janice Black Walker and Frank T. Black and passed away on May 20, 2023 in Louisville, Colorado. Meg grew up in Strongsville, Ohio and graduated from Bates College. Soon after graduation, Meg moved to Colorado and lived the rest of her life in the Crested Butte and Boulder County areas.
Meg was a vibrant and adventurous soul from the very beginning, learning to ski almost before she could walk. Meg was destined to live amongst the mountains she loved. She would ski all winter and spring and then trade her skis for a mountain bike and hiking boots. To support this habit, Meg worked for several small businesses and had her own accounting business. Life was always a paradox for Meg; lurking behind the fun was a difficult battle with depression. We miss her ever so much and she will be remembered as a funloving, kind and smart woman with a smile that people never forget. She loved her family and friends in a way that will stay with us always.
Megan is survived by her mother, Janice Walker (Austin, Texas), siblings Larry and Teri Sue Lodge (Vorhees, New Jersey) Libby Black (Boulder, Colorado) Andy Black and Hope Mitnick (San Francisco, California), Kevin and Lynn Lodge (Gordonville, Texas), Jennifer and Kevin Standley (Austin) and honorary sister Kelly McDevitt (Boulder, Colorado); six nieces and neph-
ews and her crazy dog, Luca. Meg and her big laugh will be missed by many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Megan was preceded in death by her father, Frank T. Black and brother, Thomas C. Black.
Meg’s family is planning for a celebration of life and remembrance in September. Please sign up below where it says “Get Updates” if you are interested in the details as they develop.
If you would like to honor Meg’s life with a gift, please consider High Country Conservation Advocates, NAMI or any charity of your choice. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at dignitymemorial.com.
NEW PRICE 3 bdrm/2 ½ bath nearly 1,700sf home in excellent condition with additional family room & attached 2 car garage features a fully fenced backyard on just over half an acre. 430 Fairway Lane; $675,000
VALLEY VIEWS from this 4 bdrm/3 bath, 2,788sf home on 4.7 acres with loafing shed. Lovely open kitchen, office off the mudroom, main floor master suite. Downstairs features 3 bedrooms, bath, living room, wood stove & bonus space for a home gym or game room. 262 Sage Drive; $875,000.
SPORTSMANS RESORT in Ohio City features a 3 bdrm/1 bath, 1808sf main house with year-round access location, mature trees, all positioned on 1.28 acres. Rustic cabins onsite would make great storage. 116 County Road 771; $499,900.
NEW LISTING 3 bdrm/2 bath, 1680sf home with new carpet in Antelope Hills. Large open living room & kitchen, master suite, two other bedrooms share a full bathroom. Plenty of yard space to fence for your pets. 9 Ridge Lane; $425,000.
3 BDRM/2.5 BATH, 1,348sf townhome with first floor master bedroom and laundry room. Kitchen has been fully renovated with quartz countertops and lighting. Property has a fully fenced backyard. 50 Bambi Lane; $565,000.
COZY CABIN on 35 acres features 2 bedrooms, an open living room & kitchen with custom made oak cabinets, Upstairs loft includes additional beds for guests & the woodstove keeps the cabin warm. Well in place & solar panels for electricity. Seasonal pond and sold partially furnished. Lot 1 Stratman Subdivision; $425,000
PRICE REDUCED 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; $335,000
MAKE AN OFFER 4 bdrm/2 bath, 1920sf home and a fully remodeled basement with 2 car detached garage conveniently located near the new
RANCH STYLE 3 bdrm/2 bath, 2500sf home on over 7 acres of horse property with barn & detached garage that features a huge workshop above. Just a 10 minute drive to town for conveniences & the RTA bus stop for access to Crested Butte. 776 Pashuta Drive; $900,000.
WHITEPINE LAND Very nice lot in the town of White Pine about an hour from Gunnison. This is a great location to park your RV. 9900 County Road 888; $25,000.
MOTIVATED SELLER 3 bedroom/2 bath year round home with woodstove, large open kitchen, laundry room & work shed in Pitkin. Built in 2012, great condition, tile entryway, tucked away in the trees. 832 River Street; $449,000
Emi Rae Larson
On May 15 at 6:44 p.m., Emi Rae Larson was born to Hana and Beau Larson of Crested
Butte, Colorado. She weighed 5 lbs. 12 ozs. and measured 19.5 inches in length. She has an older brother named Micah Larson who is 2 ½ years old.
Diana Ilene Shirley Moore
Diana Ilene Shirley Moore was born to parents Brianna Montomery and John Moore of Gunnison, Colorado on May 3 at 10:01 p.m. She weighed 6 lbs. 5 ozs. and measured 21 inches in length. Her grandparents are Brenda and Brian Moore of Graham, North Carolina, April and Warren Stansell of Griffin, Georgia and Daniel Montgomery of Dallas, Georgia. Her great grandparents are
Jon and Mary Ellen Raymond of Cary, North Carolina and Vickey Kessinger of Dallas, Georgia.
Times staff report
On Thursday, May, 25 at approximately 9 p.m. members of the Gunnison Police Department were dispatched to the 200 block of North Colorado Street for a reported suicide. Officers found a 31-yearold woman with a possible
self-inflicted fatal injury. The woman was later identified as Gunnison local Celeste Hendry, who owned Healing Waves Chiropractic.
Her death is currently under investigation. A release of the cause and manner of her death is pending an investigation and a toxicology report that
will likely not be finalized for four weeks, Gunnison County Coroner Michael Barnes told the Times According to Police Chief Keith Robinson, there is no risk to the community at this time. Updates will become available as the investigation proceeds.
To exist without cars
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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
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2023
Letters to the editor must be 500 words or less. We favor local topics and discourage argumentative letters addressed to particular people. If you reference data, please include sources for fact-checking.
Email letters to editor@gunnisontimes.com or send to 218 N. Wisconsin St., Gunnison, CO 81230. Include your full name, address and a phone number — for our internal use only.
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Editor:
For five hours, one day a year, the stage is set for a special community gathering high in the alpine.
Community members on all forms of two wheels rendezvous the Thursday before Memorial Day to the base of Cottonwood Pass above Taylor Reservoir. Some start from their houses, some start from the gate, some come on e-bikes, some on carbon road bikes, some (like myself) come on locally handmade custom steel Randonee bikes. There are hand cycles, recumbents, mountain bikes, seniors, children, the valley’s elite athletes and Six Points clients.
It is not a race, you can start whenever you want, but most people start between 9 and 10 a.m. to have plenty of time to meander, and beat the afternoon wind. We ride six-wide or on the left side of the road, at least until the first descenders begin flying down. Around every corner there are the smiling faces of friends emerging from their winter skin.
There is a coffee station, and many opportunities to stop and take in the scener y. The only sound is the soft chatter of birdsong and snowmelt springs. The ride crescendos to an impressive snow-tunnel with 20-foot banks. And then it’s the top, on the Continental Divide at 12,126 feet. We take a picture, eat something, drink something and definitely put on a layer! Then it's time for an exhilarating 12-mile descent on
perfect pavement back through the snow tunnel, past treeline, past the snowmelt streams and emerging leaves. Back at the gate, snacks and a commemorative hat await along with more chatter and banter before we make our way to the afterparty on the patio of Three Rivers Resort.
Thank you to the Gunnison Nordic Council volunteers, Gunnison County staff and all those who contributed to making the third annual Cottonwood Classic happen. Thank you for imagining this event and holding space for our diverse cycling community to exist without cars. It is without a doubt one of my favorite days of the year.
Arly Landry GunnisonEditor:
We are writing to support Frank Stern in this Gunnison County Electric Association (GCEA) board member election.
As our local electricity provider, GCEA, is entering a critical time in its efforts to use less polluting and more sustainable electric generating resources and we need Stern’s expertise on the board. He has over 30 years of professional engineering experience transitioning his electric co-op and other clients to less polluting and more sustainable energy sources.
GCEA’s electricity provider, Tri-State, has recently had its
credit rating downgraded again because of its historic commitment to using coal and natural gas. This history has resulted in more of its member co-ops terminating their contracts to pursue using more alternative energy sources.
While Tri-State has recently committed to using more alternative energy, a major challenge for the GCEA board now is to assure that Tri-State follows through on its stated goals. This requires time, commitment, focus and attention to detail. Stern will provide all these needs and has the experience and desire to closely follow TriState’s future actions.
In last week’s issue of the Crested Butte News, Stern’s opponent touted his commitment to providing “good governance.” The fact is that in March 2021, he was the only board member to vote against supporting state legislation which clarified the fiduciary duties of Tri-State and required more transparency by that organization. Stern has the experience and knowledge and is willing to provide consistent good governance for our member owned electricity provider.
Ballots were sent in the mail last week and it is also possible to vote online through the GCEA website. Please vote by June 16 and join us in voting for Stern because the future of our co-op and its need to use more clean energy are at stake.
Jim and Annie Starr Crested ButteEditor:
I am voting for Greg Wiggins for another term as a director of the Gunnison County Electric Association.
I have witnessed Wiggins in the community for the last 35 plus years run a successful business that employs 15 people, and he purchased two employee housing units for some of them to live in. He has chaired the Skyland Metro District from its early formative days since 1988. He has sat on the board of the GCEA for the last 12 years including two years as the chairman.
He continues to find the time to stay engaged with the ski area for over 35 years and raise a family in the Gunnison Country. Because of these qualifications and commitment to the Gunnison County, I believe he is more than qualified to lead GCEA and all of its members and consumers into the future. He is more than qualified to manage the challenges of providing budgeting, safety, policy, rates and working with the board to keep the Association on the leading edge of electrical service and expanding far-sighted vision for years to come.
Vote Wiggins.
Charlie Farnan Mt. Crested ButteTaco La Esquena, a new bright red food truck stationed on Tomichi Avenue, opened its doors just in time for summer, offering residents and visitors alike an authentic taste of Mexico.
The taco truck, which sits on the corner of Tomichi Avenue and 12th Street, celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting on Sunday, May 28. Taco La Esquena has a multitude of different Mexican dishes on its menu including tacos, burritos, flautas, tortas, spicy homemade salsas and sandwiches — all served hot and with plenty of flavor. A small Mexican store filled with colorful candies and sodas is also on site, as well as outdoor seating for customers to sit and enjoy their food.
“It's salt, lemon and chili
and that’s all you need,” said founder Silvia Veronica Perez Hernández.
She is also the owner of Gunnison’s Agave Family Restaurant. For the past couple of years, she has not been as involved at the restaurant, her focus shifting to launching the food truck. Her end goal is to eventually build a tortilla factory on the site, offering the Gunnison community fresh corn and flour tortillas — something that has always been a dream of hers.
“That's the dream of the immigrant, to come here and work towards something,” she said.
Perez Hernández followed her family to the Gunnison Valley almost 25 years ago from Chihuahua, Mexico. She was drawn to the peace of the valley, a stark contrast from the pace of the large city she came from.
Perez Hernández, who was originally a stylist, said she quickly learned that making tamales was one of her hidden talents. During the winter time while her husband worked in local Mexican restaurants, she would pull her daughter, along
with tamales and cheesecake, in a sled, going from door-to-door to sell.
The pair ended up making more money from selling tamales within the community than he made working at the restaurant, so they decided to try and start their own. Agave was later founded in 2014.
Over time, she noticed a growing demand for more Mexican food within the community, but fast food as well.
When residents are on their lunch hour, the only fast food options available are McDonalds, Taco Bell and Arby’s, she said.
“Now we are going to be able to put a taste of Mexico on that corner,” Perez Hernández said.
(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)
At the end of May, representatives from the seven basin states came to an agreement they hope will protect the infrastructure along the Colorado River that supplies water and electricity to millions across the West.
The Department of the Interior announced that Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming had finally come to a consensus on how to cut back on water consumption on May 22. The agreement calls for the conservation of at least 1 million acre-feet of water per year in the Lower Basin states of Arizona, Nevada and California through the end 2026 — when the operating guidelines for Lake Powell and Lake Mead are set to expire.
Of those savings, 2.3 million acre-feet will be paid for through funding from President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which includes $4 billion for water management and conservation in the Colorado River Basin and other areas impacted by drought. The remainder will come from voluntary, uncompensated reductions. The exact details of how these reductions will be achieved under the ninepoint plan have not yet been released.
“I am proud of the Reclamation team’s work and thank our partners across the basin and the Basin states representatives for reaching this moment,” Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton said
in a press release. “This is an important step forward towards our shared goal of forging a sustainable path for the basin that millions of people call home.”
The existing 2007 guidelines used to manage water shortages in the Lower Basin are not set to expire for another three years. Historically low reservoir levels during the summer of 2022 prompted the Bureau of Reclamation, the agency that manages water deliveries in the Lower Basin states, to initiate a temporary revision to the guidelines to avoid a potential system crash.
Reclamation began the process of analyzing the environmental impact of larger and more immediate cuts last November. The agency demanded the Lower Basin states work together to find a way to make harsh reductions in their water use, but they were unable to reach a consensus. At the end of January, six of the seven states submitted a proposal that would help protect storage levels at Lake Powell and Lake Mead, while California drafted its own alternative.
The states finally came to an agreement at the end of May. As proposed, the terms of the Lower Basin plan states that water conservation will be “mandatory, enforceable, measurable, verifiable, and nonretrievable.” Up to 2.3 million acre-feet will be compensated under a portion of the Inflation Reduction Act earmarked for drought response and preparedness. Th e remaining cuts may be compensated in whole or in part by state and local entities, or not paid for at all.
While the federal government has the authority to force cuts in the Lower Basin states, it does not have the same control in the Upper Basin. The states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming are left at the mercy of Mother Nature and receive their water directly from
the river and its tributaries.
This agreement finally publicly acknowledges that the cause of the problem is in the Lower Basin, said John McClow, general counsel for the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District. The Lower Basin has consistently over consumed water from the Colorado River, while use in the Upper Basin has gradually declined following years of drought.
“The only way to solve it is in the Lower Basin, which we've been saying for years and everybody's been ignoring us,” McClow said. “Finally, attention is directed in the right place. That’s progress.”
But this agreement, although a step in the right direction, is only temporary. In a letter to Commissioner Touton, representatives from the seven states emphasized the need to find more sustainable and longterm solutions for the use of the Colorado River beyond 2026.
“Having one good winter does not solve the systemic challenges facing the Colorado River,” the letter reads. “We strongly encourage Reclamation to advance the process for the development of new operating guidelines.”
The goal is to have interim guidelines in place before the fall, with heavier water cuts in the Lower Basin starting in 2024. Negotiations will happen all over again before the arrival of 2026, when the original guidelines officially expire.
“It's going to be a lot harder because they [Lower Basin states] think they need to get paid to change their way of doing business,” McClow said. “And that's just not going to work.”
(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Mayor Diego Plata, Pro-tem Mallory Logan and Councilor Boe Freeburn are set to expire.
On May 23, at a regular council meeting, Councilor Jim Miles announced that he will resign in August for personal reasons before his term expires in 2025. This leaves four open seats headed into elections this fall.
Logan, who has served two consecutive four-year terms, is the only Councilor who cannot run for re-election. Freeburn told the Times he will not run for re-election. Plata plans to run again and is hopeful to continue to search for ways to slow down traffic in town, engage Gunnison’s Latino community and hire a sustainability coordinator. His first four-year term will end this year.
The City of Gunnison holds elections for its five-member city council every two years. The two candidates who receive the highest number of votes each receive a four-year term, while the rest serve for two. This allows for some overlap between council members, ensuring that there is never an entirely new board and that knowledge can be passed down.
This year, Plata and Logan’s four-year terms will expire,
Raises from A1
also set aside more funding for rural schools, which for GWSD will amount to an additional $338,000 this coming school year. Although the bill increased the district’s revenue by 8%, other expenses deflated the overall budget increase to about 3.8% over last year’s revenue.
Per the agreement, every employee will receive a step increase of 2%. In addition, classified staff will get 15% base pay increase, administration will get 9%, teachers and special service providers (counselors and social workers) with bachelor's degrees will get 13%, and those with masters degrees will get 12%. Th e extra percent for bachelors degrees is meant to help keep the district from getting too “top-heavy” and help retain younger employees who have yet to pursue advanced degrees, said GCEA Co-president Sierra Cucinelli. “[Negotiations] were an amazing process, the way that everyone could collaborate and everybody's voices were shared. It's an amazing team,” Cucinelli said. “We're kind of known across the state as the unicorn district, because of how well our union and our district work together. And I think our negotiation process is proof of that.”
This year’s Master Agreement also increased the number of lanes in each salary column, which removes shorter-term salary caps so that step increases don’t get frozen after a certain number of years. Although the state still mandates professional development for teachers, the change means a teacher could have a full, multi-decade
alongside Freeburn’s two-year term. Councilor Jim Gelwicks’ term does not expire until 2025.
Elections are set for Nov. 7, and new council members will be sworn in at the first meeting in December. Unlike Crested Butte, the City of Gunnison does not permit voters to select the mayor. During this council session, members will appoint the mayor through a secret ballot.
On July 27, the city will host “Council 101,” an hour-long informational session about how the government is run, council’s current strategic priorities and responsibilities for those interested in running for a seat. Aug. 8 is the first day someone who is interested in running for council can pick up a nomination petition. Potential candidates must collect 25 signatures from Gunnison resi-
dents to get on the ballot.
Plata encouraged anyone interested in learning more about serving on city council to reach out and participate.
“We need voices from all sides to come together and help move things forward,” Plata said.
Board vacancies
The City of Gunnison also has a number of commit-
tee vacancies headed into the summer months. Four seats are opening on the Parks and Rec Advisory Committee, two on the Planning and Zoning Commission, three for the Senior Center Advisory Committee and two for the Zoning Board of Adjustments and Appeals. When full, each committee has between five and seven members.
Gunnison resident Greg Larson has served on the Planning and Zoning Commission since 2009 and plans to step down this year. He encouraged his neighbors to get involved.
“If you don't like the way things are going, then it's important to become part of the process … Being part of the commission gives you a large say in how things are going to grow and happen within your community,” Larson said. “It’s just been a rewarding experience.”
Those interested should submit a letter of interest to council by June 7 with reasons why they would like to serve on a certain committee or board. Council will consider applicants at its June 13 meeting.
(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)
$730,000 from the district’s budget and this year, it will remove only $329,000, the smallest amount in over a decade. For Nichols, the teeter-totter of budget stabilization clouds the good news about raises, as it represents nearly 15 years of the de-prioritization of public education.
“These raises that we were able to achieve this year are important, and they're good, and they're also in the shadow of the last 14 years of not being able to keep up with the cost of living or what teachers should reasonably be making,” she said. “So it looks like, ‘wow, the school districts did amazing, teachers are doing great,’ but that's just not true. We are slowly, carefully and with a great effort digging out of a tremendous hole that public education has been in in Colorado for over a decade.”
career with a bachelor's degree — including yearly raises — without getting capped out and forced to pursue a higher degree.
“It lets people work a whole career without breaking themselves to get 10 graduate credits,” Cucinelli said.
The School Finance Act essentially allowed the state to put K-12 funding back into local districts even though local property taxes are increasing, said GWSD Business Manager Tia Mills. Even with an enormous leap in Colorado property valuations this year, statewide tax law — the Taxpayer Bill of Rights and the Gallagher Amendment — acts as a countermeasure on increasing school district collections by capping the amount public institutions can collect. When local shares increase, backfill
from the state must decrease, a process that ultimately created savings for the state. Th is year, legislators chose to reinvest that money in K-12 education by increasing per pupil revenue.
In addition, legislators brought down the budget stabilization factor by the largest amount in at least a decade.
Budget stabilization is a 2009-recession era tool the state uses each year to balance its overall budget by reducing funding for each school district, a measure District Superintendent Leslie Nichols described as “balancing the state budget on the backs of 6year-olds.”
The Colorado School Finance Project, a nonprofit that collects and aggregates school finance data, estimates that GWSD has lost nearly $22 million since 2009. But last year, it removed
But for teachers in the district, the raise could make a subtle, but meaningful difference, Cucinelli said. It could be the diff erence between a summer job, putting less on credit cards or paying off student loans more quickly.
“Some people, with that big raise, might actually be able to start saving or not living paycheck to paycheck … people are struggling and there was overwhelmingly [a sense of] 'I'm just tired of struggling. I'm tired of living paycheck to paycheck,’ and hopefully this will help ease that burden,” she said.
People are struggling, and there was overwhelmingly [a sense of] ‘I’m just tired of struggling. I’m tired of living paycheck to paycheck,’ and hopefully this will help ease that burden.
Sierra Cucinelli GCEA Co-president
the busy summer season. This spring, early reservations and flight bookings were lower than in years prior — many of which were record gains as tourists swarmed Gunnison, Crested Butte and the surrounding public lands.
But numerous Gunnison Valley businesses are still riding the tail end of the pandemic boom. Despite the warning signs of a slowdown,visitor numbers and the associated lodging revenue to date have stayed higher than those recorded prior to the arrival of the pandemic in 2020. Contrary to TAPP’s gloomy forecast, Gunnison Chamber of Commerce Director Celeste Helminski predicted a “normal summer” with steady traffic. Even if there are fewer visitors, many local businesses agreed.
This year, business at Gunnison Pizza Company started picking up in January alongside the introduction of Friday night concerts and hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down, said owner Blake Eastman.
“Every summer I have a better summer than the one before,” he said.
While other resort towns and vacation destinations were hit hard by the pandemic as businesses shuttered and festivals and events were canceled, the Gunnison Valley provided the outdoors, said TAPP Marketing Director Andrew Sandstrom.
With that, lodges and hotels were able to raise rates, while the large influx of visitors spent their money across all of the valley’s other restaurants and businesses, he said.
The boom finally began to taper off last summer as occupancy rates fell across the region and rates rose to try and accommodate the shift. The Gunnison Valley followed a similar trend that carried over into the winter. Although lodging tax collections for March were down 25% from 2022, it was still the second largest March on record and paced well ahead of what was collected prior to the pandemic.
Summer predictions for similar Colorado vacation destinations are full of “mixed signals,” Sandstrom said. Telluride is expecting a fairly strong summer in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of its local film festival. At the same time, Aspen is reporting occupancies down 18%. In Gunnison County, occupancy rates are mostly flat for June and July, typically two of the busiest months of the year. Bookings are pacing behind for August and September.
Gunnison generally receives more summer traffic from guests who drive to the valley rather than fly. It can be more difficult to make predictions about this market, which makes last minute decisions and books trips much closer to arrival dates, Sandstrom said. These visitors can also be heavily influenced by high gas prices and inflation, and more conscious of what
they’re spending their money on.
“The drive market is very much going to kind of shape the outcome of our summer … Last May, things were looking pretty good. But by the time we got into July, we were flat to down because those last minute bookers didn't didn't come”, Sandstrom said. As visitors started to trickle into town for Memorial Day weekend, Stephanie Eastman, the owner of the Toggery on Main Street, said it is starting to feel like the summer before COVID. Although she said she has been grateful for the business, the past two years, which contained some of the best months the store has had since she opened nine years ago, have been overwhelming.
“Burnout is definitely something that I've been experiencing a little bit more, just to try to do it all and maintain the experience for our customers,” she said. But with Blue Mesa Reservoir filling, and the arrival of warmer temperatures, she’s optimistic for the summer season.
“The springtime was a little challenging,” Eastman said. “Not only was it really snowy and a long winter, but we had a lack of sunshine. I definitely see a little drop off for that time, but now that we're getting nice weather and the trees are blooming, I think people are going to be ready to rock and roll.”
At Three Rivers Resort & Outfitting in Almont, a healthy snowmelt signals extra weeks
September. According to management, revenue at the outfitter, which has been able to keep up with the demand by staying fully staffed, is still way ahead of 2019. Three Rivers houses a decent portion of its employees in Almont.
To date, occupancy is slightly down at the resort, but Schumacher hopes the drive
“We're kind of curious to see what that post-pandemic normal will look like going forward,” he said. “We're definitely hoping to drive the market comes through here later in the summer.”
(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Nieset LeFevre sifts through an outdoor rack in front of Treads ‘N’ Threads on Memorial Day.
The 4-H Horse Committee and Cattlemen’s Days Tough Enough to Wear Pink cleared some of the Mill Creek area trails on Sunday, May 28 in preparation for the 4-H Poker Ride. The Poker Ride will be held on June 10 at the Mill Creek trailhead. Registration begins at 9 a.m., with the last riders on the trail no later than 11 a.m. Poker hands are $20 for the first hand, then $10 each additional hand or five for $50. The event is sponsored by Slo Down Ranch and the Talk of the Town.
NEW
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Call Gerald Lain 970-209-0077
The Times’ own Libby Marsden (top) attended karaoke night at Double Shot Cyclery last week to sing her final Alicia Keys tribute before moving to Oregon. The Thursday night tradition has turned into a locals-favorite event.
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Gunnison Rising is the newest mountain town development with a bold vision. It is a premier destination for people, businesses, and entrepreneurs that hold a love for the natural world. Gunnison Rising is a place to live, work, play, and raise a family in an environment that fosters a commitment to community and the lands which surround it, making Gunnison, Colorado one of the best mountain towns to live in.
To discover more about the lifestyle Gunnison Rising offers, visit gunnisonrising.com.
Breathtaking views of Blue Mesa Reservoir and surrounding area from this well cared for 3 bdrm/2 bath, one level home that’s 1,620 square feet. There is a 40 x 26 garage with 14 foot garage door for you to park your boat in and be right next to the fish cleaning station in the garage. The bunk house above the garage is phenomenal and features 2 bedrooms and a half bath for your guests (sleeps 6). Home is sold mostly furnished and is ready for you to bring your suitcase! Located in a quiet and peaceful setting with just 5 homes in the gated community. Features include large covered porch, plenty of storage, fenced yard, pellet stove and a smoke house for BBQing. Everything you need is at 33000 Highway 149 in Gunnison, Colorado. This is a seasonal home with access to the Curecanti National Park, Black Canyon, and riding trails near Powderhorn and Lake City. Don’t miss your opportunity at this gem!
33000 STATE HIGHWAY 149 • $385,000
1207 Van Tuyl Circle, 3 bed 2.5 bath, 1628 sqft $710,000
MLS#798505
This hidden gem, single family home within the Van Tuyl Subdivision consists of 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, approximately 1628 sqft. with a detached one car garage with a carport. Updated, move in ready, high ceiling, recessed lights, and open kitchen with an island separating the kitchen from the living room, pellet stove. The abundant natural light from the of a bathroom that consists of a walk-in shower with modern touches located in-between inviting, and intriguing home with a master suite downstairs with its own entrance and mini calling your agent today.
The Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority is now accepting applications for the next lottery! There will be 4 units that are 1 and 2 bedroom units being offered at $170k- $229k and 2 units that are 3 bedroom units being offer at $409k-$429k. Application deadline is July income deed restricted units. There will be an open house on Saturday June 24th from 11 AM - 2 PM and on Thursday June 29th from 4 PM - 6:30 PM. Contact us or GVRHA to obtain Individuals can apply for all available units and local business’s or institutions can apply for the 3 bedroom units only for employee housing.
970.641.4880
129 EAST TOMICHI AVENUE GUNNISONREALESTATEANDRENTALS.COM
Delivering every Wednesday for over 50 years
Last week, the Gunnison Valley Hospital (GVH) Board of Trustees gave Gunnison County Commissioners an update on the hospital’s staffing, budget and housing status. Since the board’s last update at the beginning of the year, not much has changed on the traveler-to-full-time staff ratio. Contract labor continues to account for about 6% of overall staff, and the Senior Care Center (SCC) remains at 15%, the hospital system’s highest traveler usage.
GVH’s “People First,” team (based on a “People First” tenet in the “Super Six” strategic plan) has made some progress, said Chief Executive Officer Jason Amrich. Th e hospital continues to off er tuition reimbursements for qualified staff and is increasing access to mental health and trauma counseling. GVH is also offering some technical tools, like memberships to meditation app Headspace and career development tools on LinkedIn Learning.
GVH recently brought on a full-time housing coordinator, Tyler Stribling. The role is meant to ensure that none of the hospital's housing units go unused, especially as executives plan to either master lease or own between 40 to 50 units in the next three to four years. Already, some “touchy” issues have cropped up surrounding the current units, Amrich said, including a former employee refusing to leave a home and another not caring for a unit.
“It's interesting as you turn from employer to also landlord, all the things that go along with that. It could create some potential awkward moments, especially if employment is no longer needed or available …. How do you then move through the landlord-tenant arrangement?” Amrich told the Times
The hospital is not the only public entity questioning that tenuous relationship. Just weeks ago, when the Gunnison Watershed School District considered offering its employees housing, Superintendent Leslie Nichols inquired about the same issue: what happens to someone’s housing when that housing is contingent on a job?
“If we can house people while they work for us, but then once they no longer work for us, they have to leave the valley where they raised a family, I don't know quite what the options are,” Nichols said in the meeting.
As of now, GVH's housing is fully contingent on employment with the hospital. Executives are in active conversations with legal counsel to “truly understand where employment law starts and stops and where tenant and landlord law starts and stops,” Amrich said.
In terms of housing coming online, seven high-efficiency units in the old Senior Care Center are meant to open at the end of July. These units will be offered free or at a “greatly reduced cost” to current SCC staff to incentivize them into full-time positions.
GVH books got a bit of a break in the first few months of the year, coming in nearly $1.5 million in net revenue. In contrast to state-wide hospital trends, GVH experienced stronger than expected demand in the first few months. Surgical admissions and patient days exceeded budgeted expectations.
The positive income lines dropped off in April, which Interim CFO Greg Majors attributed to the somewhat seasonal nature of the business. From March to April, revenue dropped nearly a million dollars.
“It really signifies both the seasonality of what we're dealing with and just how tenuous healthcare is,” Amrich said.
GVH is currently restaffing most of its senior financial leadership. After Mark VanderVeer resigned at the start of the year, executives started looking for another chief financial officer. Amrich said the hospital is currently looking at three “highly qualifi ed” candidates. Other open roles in the financial office include a director of revenue cycle and senior financial analyst.
“With where we're at in healthcare today, you need a really strong kind of army tactical team, almost a special forces team, to help us fight the fight when it comes to revenue cycle,” Amrich said.
GVH also signed a contract with electronic health record provider UC Health. The contract, which was “more on the expensive side,” will pay out over the next decade, Amrich said, as it creates an “a ffi liate” relationship with UC Health which gives GVH access to processes and policies that may allow cost reductions in the future. The program will not only streamline the hospital’s own record-keeping and offer cost savings, but allow better communication with larger referral hospitals like St. Mary’s Medical Center in Grand Junction.
(Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@gunnisontimes.com.)
There will be an open house on Saturday June 24th from 11 AM - 2 PM and on Thursday June 29th from 4 PM - 6:30 PM.
There will be 4 units that are 1 and 2 bedroom units being offered at $170k- $229k and 2 units that are 3 bedroom units being offer at $409k-$429k.
Application deadline is July 12th and the lottery will be held on July 20th. This will be
Prolonged drought across much of the Southwest has made the region’s trees more vulnerable to bark beetles — tiny insects that have the ability to devour forests whole. Although many of the forests in the Gunnison Valley have been spared by the hungry insects, local forest managers are closely monitoring nearby spruce and mountain pine beetle hotspots that have the potential to grow into a larger problem.
Although the U.S. Forest Service and its partners kept the insects at bay in the Taylor Park area, the agency is starting to see the spread pick up in small spots around Crested Butte near Oh Be Joyful and in the Ohio Creek drainage.
In 2022, the Forest Service mapped approximately 13,000 new acres affected by different species of bark beetle across the Grand Mesa Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests (GMUG). Earlier this spring, U.S. Forest Service entomologist Amy Lockner gave a local bark beetle update during the annual Spruce Beetle Epidemic and Aspen Decline Management Response (SBEADMR) meeting.
“Obviously we can't predict where the beetles are going to fly and how we should proceed,” Lockner said during the meeting. “But it is something that we are keeping a close eye on and we do know that it could become something pretty catastrophic in our area.”
Aerial surveys were used to map the areas where the beetles feasted, moving and spreading across the forest landscape over time. According to Lockner, spruce beetle activity in particular started to “explode” on the GMUG between 2012 and 2014. It has been on the decline for a couple of years now — mostly likely due to depletion of the host trees — but there is still quite a bit of spruce habitat in this area that has not been completely decimated yet, she said.
The spruce beetle’s hosts are the Engelmann spruce, a mostly high-elevation tree, and the blue spruce. The insects prefer larger,
more mature trees, but will move to smaller ones during high outbreaks. In Colorado, they have a two-year lifecycle and are able to reproduce in downed trees — which is a specialty of theirs, Lockner said. While other species of beetle can’t attack trees that have fallen over because of wind or an avalanche, spruce beetles have an advantage.
The Gunnison Valley has about 300,000 acres of untouched lodgepole pine that is vulnerable to attack from the mountain pine beetle species. These insects target lodgepole, ponderosa, whitebark limber and bristlecone pines.
In 2019, the U.S. Forest Service confirmed an outbreak in the Wilder and Gunnison Highlands area on the Taylor River. When first found, the outbreak was mapped at about 600 acres. Staff worked quickly with its partners to slow the insect, removing trees that were filled with beetles. Two years later, in 2022, the insects had spread to just over 800 acres.
“We never expected [the treatment] to stop it,” Lockner said. “But it has definitely slowed the outbreak because again, from 2019, it could have been exponential to thousands of acres.”
Although they have not reached outbreak status, the mountain pine beetles are slowly starting to spread around Crested Butte, as well as eastward near Fossil Ridge Wilderness. It’s not a giant space, but it is worrisome because it is in a wilderness area where treatment is not possible, Matt Ethington told the Times . Ethington is Lockner’s partner entomologist.
“If the beetles continue to expand there, that's kind of the worry,” he said. “They'll just gobble up whatever they want.”
The Forest Service is putting together a trapping plan to measure bark beetle populations around the Gunnison Valley this year. Staff will also trap in areas they suspect the beetles might be headed. The agency may do some work to get ahead of the insect by removing a certain percentage of the trees to allow the others to have more access to sunlight and water — making them more resilient to attacks.
(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@gunnisontimes.com.)
nurse and assistant explained and ask permission before they did anything. Excellent service!”
Bikers trekked up Cottonwood Pass for the third annual Cottonwood Classic right after (some of) the snow was cleared away on Thursday, May 25. The 12-mile ride peaks at the top of the Continental Divide
affordable County leased land with room for expansion. Allowed uses include an organic indoor growing facility, various types of light manufacturing, Millworks, cabinets and counters, sawmill, truss manufacturing, Warehouse and truck terminal, Glass product manufacturing, Furniture, upholstery, signs, Welding or machine shop, wholesale businesses, and MORE! The building has commercial conduit, abundant electrical, kitchen spaces and bathrooms.
Call Matt to see this exceptional building that is in prime condition and priced to sell at only $163/sq.ft. $995,000
Construction of the $3.3 million Taylor River hydropower plant at the Taylor Park Dam is set to commence in early June — a project that will boost local renewable energy generation.
The Gunnison County Electric Association (GCEA) and the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association plan to celebrated the start of the project with a groundbreaking ceremony on May 31. The two organizations formed Taylor River Hydro, LLC to jointly develop, own and operate the plant and have been working through the permitting and design process over the last three years.
When completed in early 2024, the plant’s 500 kilowatt (kW) generator will operate at or near full capacity 24 hours a day, year-round and produce on average over 3.8 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually.
“That’s about 475 Gunnison County households a year,” said GCEA Strategy Execution Specialist Matt Feier. “By comparison, a 500 kW hydro project would produce about the same amount of energy annually as some 2,500 kW fixed-tilt solar arrays.”
The advantage of hydro over solar is that it is available around the clock even in the winter and is very cost-effective in terms of kWh produced, versus a local solar project.
“Hydro also has a very good track record of producing for very long periods of time. There are hydro facilities that have been running for 100+ years,” Feier said.
The addition of the Taylor River Hydro project will bump GCEA up to nearly 3% local renewable energy generation, adding to its current portfo-
lio of two community solar gardens at the Crested Butte wastewater treatment plant and at the GCEA headquarters in Gunnison and a small wind turbine in Doyleville. Two more solar projects are currently in the works, and once completed GCEA will have met its current 7% local renewable energy allowance from Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association which supplies wholesale power to GCEA. TriState’s current energy portfolio consists of 34% renewable energy with commitments to be 50% renewable by 2024, 70% renewable by 2030 and to achieve an 80% carbon reduction from their 2005 level by 2030.
“We are relying on Tri-State for a large portion of our strategy with respect to the energy transition and climate action because there’s so much more that they can do, and much more cost-effectively than we can. They’re on a path to increase their renewable energy and making a lot of progress,” said Gunnison County Electric Association CEO Mike McBride.
According to staff, with Tri-State’s support and Uncompahgre’s partnership, GCEA is excited to provide clean renewable energy to its service territory without any negative impact on member’s electric rates.
“Our board and membership identifi ed that we want to take full advantage of that 7% and find a cost-effective way to do it,” Feier said. “Th is is our best opportunity.”
INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN REAL ESTATE BUT NOT SURE HOW TO GET STARTED? Coldwell Banker is seeking a broker support specialist to join our team. This position a perfect way to learn the business and get paid to do it! We are looking for an individual who works well with all types of people, has a strong attention to detail, will creatively help with marketing and is capable of implementing systems. The job requires strong computer knowledge for work on a PC in Excel, Word and many web based programs. This is a full time, year round position. Email resume to molly@ cbmp.com or call 970-209-4234.
TEMPORARY LABORERS NEEDED: Need some cash this off season? The Town of Crested Butte Parks and Recreation Department is hiring temporary laborers for spring prep/cleanup season. Work will begin once the snow is gone from the majority of parks and public areas. Duties include raking, power washing, painting and general cleanup and repairs. Full job description and application available online at townofcrestedbutte.com click on “Careers”.
Pay $19/hour. The Town of Crested Butte is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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 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.
OFFICE MANAGER needed for a growing construction and design firm. The ideal candidate will be someone who has excellent communication and organization skills, likes working closely with a team and is professional in dealing with clients.
A successful manager will be able to handle product ordering/tracking, inventory, AP/ AR and bank balancing. Knowledge in Quickbooks and Google Suite is a must. Please send resumes and inquiries to margie@paradisecb.com. Competitive Pay based on experience.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHOCOLATE
FACTORY in Crested Butte is now hiring and assistant manager – previous management experienced preferred. Counter helpprovide excellent customer service, scoop ice cream, stock cases and other duties. Fun job, great tips. Flexible hours. Apply in person at 314 Elk Ave., Crested Butte or send resume to ashlee.rmcf@hotmail.com.
ALPINE GETAWAYS: Local property management company hiring motivated maintenance workers. 30-40 hours per week / $20-$25 an hour DOE. Apply with a resume erik@alpinegetaways.com or call 970-9016657.
ASSISTANT CHIEF ENGINEER AT ELEVATION HOTEL AND SPA: The assistant chief engineer is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the engineering department inclusive of maintenance and managing a team. This position is eligible for full benefits including medical, dental, vision, PTO, 401k, gym membership, room night discounts and housing. For more information and to apply, please visit highgate.com/ careers. $55k-$65k per year DOE.
CRESTED BUTTE AUTO REPAIR IS HIRING: We are looking for a full-time service writer/office assistant for a fastpaced environment. Experience preferred but willing to train. Computer skills and strong attention to detail required. Tasks include communicating with customers, scheduling appointments, answering multiple phone lines, billing and developing cost estimates. Pay starting at $20/hour or more based on experience. We offer health insurance, retirement, vacation and sick pay. Please email resume to crestedbutteauto@ yahoo.com or stop by 301 Belleview to fill out an application.
*Housing is held for Gunnison County employees and may be available for you to rent*
Summer Seasonal Fairgrounds: 20 hours/week, hourly rate range from $15.75-$17.93 depending on experience plus partial benefits.
GRASP Co-Coordinator
Juvenile Services:
Part-time, less than 20 hours/week, hourly rate range from $27.15$38.41 plus partial benefits.
Parents as Teachers (PAT) – Parent Educator Juvenile Services: Part-time, less than 20 hours/week, hourly rate range from $25.62$36.24 plus partial benefits.
Juvenile Diversion Case Manager/ School Based Inspire Mentor Juvenile Services: Full-time, 40 hours/week, hourly rate range from $27.15-$38.41 plus full benefits.
Clinical Case Management Coordinator Juvenile Services: Part-time, 35 hours/week, hourly rate range from $28.78-$40.71 plus full benefits.
Accountant I Treasurer: 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $4,440-$6,281 plus full benefits.
Case Management Aide HHS: 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $4,707-$6,658 plus full benefits.
Eligibility Technician HHS: 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $3,764-$4,285 plus full benefits.
GUNNISON COUNTY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, INC. is currently seeking applications for an apprentice journeyman line worker position. This is a full-time position that will be reporting to the Crested Butte Outpost location. This position will assist with the installation, repair and maintenance of overhead and underground electrical power lines and auxiliary equipment. The pay range for a line worker position is between $82,032 - $109,377 a year. Starting pay will be dependent on qualifications and experience and will be paid on an hourly basis. Pay increases over time are based upon progress. Being on-call on a regular basis as well as working overtime hours is required. On-call and applicable overtime pay will apply. Upon meeting eligibility requirements this position offers health care benefits, retirement benefits, paid time off and paid scheduled holidays. To see the complete list of duties and qualifications and to learn how to apply please see our website at: gcea.coop (about tab, careers section). Deadline to apply is June 5, 2023.
CRAFT MOUNTAIN HOMES is hiring midlevel journeyman carpenters. A fast-paced and professional construction company we are offering full-time, year-round work with good compensation and benefits like paid time off, paid sick leave, a lifestyle spending account (an additional $250 per month toward wellness and lifestyle expenses) and training for career advancement in residential building and more. Signing bonus for the right candidate. Visit craftmountainhomes. com to apply.
DAVID GROSS GENERAL CONTRACTOR is looking for a highly organized individual with bookkeeping experience to work full time, year-round in a fast paced fun office environment. Must have solid computer skills and knowledge of Excel/Google Sheets. Experience in the construction industry is a plus. Please contact David at 970-901-1798 or send a resume to david@davidgrossgc. com.
SPALLONE CONSTRUCTION has immediate openings for dump truck drivers in the Gunnison, Crested Butte area. Experience of 3-5 years required. Must be able to assist laborer performing physical tasks involved in construction activities. Must have a valid drivers license, references required. $25-$38 depending on experience, benefits available after one year of employment. Please submit resume to: office@spalloneconstruction.com.
Summer Seasonal Public Works: Guaranteed 40 hours/week, hourly rate range from $15.75-$22.28 depending on experience, plus partial benefits. Outdoor work that includes, traffic control, fencing, tree and brush removal, trail work, recycling, equipment training and much more, all in a 4 day work week.
Building and Environmental Health Inspector and Plans Examiner Community Development: 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $5,552-$7,853, plus full benefits.
Health Coalition Coordinator HHS: Part-time, 25 hours/week, hourly rate range from $27.15-$38.4 plus partial benefits.
Facilities Maintenance Custodian Facilities: Full-time, 40 hours/week, hourly rate range from $21.72-$30.72 plus full benefits.
Event Manager Fairgrounds: 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $5,238-$6,537 plus full benefits.
Patrol Deputy Sheriff: Full-time, 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $5,552-$7,853 plus full benefits.
Detention Deputy Sheriff: Full-time, 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $4,989-$7,057 plus full benefits. Only work 14 days a month.
For more information, including complete job descriptions, required qualifications and application instructions, please visit GunnisonCounty.org/jobs.
GUNNISON COUNTY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, INC. is currently seeking application for an electrical engineer position. This is a full-time position that will be reporting to the Gunnison Headquarters location. This position is responsible for the design, coordination, over current protection, voltage regulation, load balancing, planning and troubleshooting of the cooperative’s electric power distribution system. This position will assist other departments using, configuring, and maintaining AMI, SCADA, GIS, OMS and billing systems. The wage for an electrical engineer is between $87,568 - $116,750 annually. Actual compensation offer to candidate may vary outside of the posted hiring range based upon work experience, education and/or skill level. Applicable overtime pay may apply occasionally or when needed. Upon meeting eligibility requirements this position offers health care benefits, retirement benefits, paid time off and paid scheduled holidays.
To see the complete job description and to learn how to apply please visit our website at gcea.coop, About tab, Careers. Job will remain opened until filled.
See GWSD website for details gunnisonschools.net
Gunnison Watershed School District believes that students thrive when they are connected to something bigger than themselves. That’s why we create learning experiences that spark curiosity, helping students discover who they are and how to make a difference in the world around them. And as they excel in academics, athletics, and the arts, students find the confidence to pursue any opportunity in life. Our team is “Driven to be the Difference!”
HOURLY OPPORTUNITIES
Food Service-CBCS and GCS
Educational Assistants-LAKE
ELL Educational Assistant-GMS
General Educational AssistantCBES
Building Manager-CBCS
Assistant Building Manager-CBCS
Lead Custodian-Lake School
Special Education EA- CBSS
Permanent Substitute-CBSS Bus Drivers Substitute Teachers
PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
IT Professional-District 3rd grade Teacher-GES
Counselor-GES-(1 year only)
Counselor-CBES
ELL Teacher-GMS
Special Education TeachersCBSS,GMS, and GHS Newcomer Teacher and Integration Specialist
Coaching: GHS-Speech and Debate
Please contact:
Superintendent’s Office JoAnn Klingsmith 800 N. Boulevard 970-641-7760 jklingsmith@gunnisonschools.net
is seeking applicants for the full-time positions below. Benefit package includes a shared contribution retirement plan, health and dental insurance, life insurance, employee and dependent tuition benefits and more.
Human Resources Specialist: Duties include new employee onboarding, benefits administration, compensation and HR information system support. Requires a bachelor’s degree. Successful candidates must have excellent interpersonal skills, a high level of attention to detail, solid computer expertise and work experience in an HR-related field.
Payroll and Liability Accountant: Duties include processing payroll and related liability payments for employees; maintaining records, handling payroll questions and completing other tasks necessary for monitoring and overseeing Western’s payroll processes. A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field is required. Successful candidates must be technologically savvy, possess strong numerical aptitude and attention to detail, and have excellent communication, collaboration and customer service skills.
To view the full job announcement(s) and apply, visit western.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/western. AA/EOE
Journeyman & Residential Wireman for projects in the Gunnison and Crested Butte areas. Must have a valid Colorado driver’s license and pass a pre-employment drug screen. Top pay & Benefits.
Send resumes to info@ec-electric.com or call 970-641-0195 www.ec-electric.com/careers
Communications Assistant/
Records Manager Full-time, $47,500-$55,500/yr. $22.84-$26.68/hr.
Provides a high level of customer service to both internal and external customers of the City. This position has the important responsibility of records management and invests substantial amount of time in online communication and the implementation of strategic communication through social media, the website, video, photos and print. This position collaborates internally and externally to drive civic engagement through transparent, clear and proactive communications.
Police Officer Full-time, $62,200-$84,000/yr. $29.90-$40.38/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: Parking Attendant -up to $25.44/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
FLEXIBLE, FULFILLING, AND NEVER BORING? Six Points is seeking a highly motivated administrative assistant/office manager to work with our management team. Organizational and basic Microsoft Office skills a must. Clean driving record preferred and background check. Partand full-time available. Potential for a hybrid work situation. 50% off everything in the store; stipend for 30+ hours/week worked. $15-$18, DOE. Contact director@ sixpointsgunnison.org.
SERVICE PLUMBER TECHNICIAN:
Timberline Mechanical Contracting is looking for a service technician for troubleshooting and plumbing repair. Plumbing and customer service experience preferred. We offer high pay, paid holidays, paid vacation, health insurance and ski pass. Clean driving record is mandatory.
Timberline Mechanical Contracting Crested Butte, CO. Phone: 970-349-5679. Email info@timberlinemech.com.
THE ELEVATION HOTEL AND SPA AND JOSÉ CRESTED BUTTE are hiring for the summer season and beyond. Full time team members are eligible for full benefits including medical, dental, vision, PTO, 401k, gym membership, room night discounts and housing. The following roles are available to high quality candidates: Bellperson $17/ hour plus tips, front desk agent $20.25/hour, bartender $17/hour plus tips, barback $16/ hour plus tips, server $15/hour plus tips, host $18/hour, cook $19/hour, dishwasher/ steward $17/hour, part time banquet server $15 hour plus tips, room attendant $18/hour, engineer 1 $21/hour, engineer 2 $22.50/ hour, engineer 3 $24/hour, assistant chief engineer $55-65k/year, food and beverage manager $65-70k/year. For details and to apply, please visit highgate.com/careers.
DOS RIOS GOLF CLUB RESAURANT AND BAR: Now hiring for AM/PM line cooks. Starting pay $21 per hour. Rate increase after two months. Please call 979-530-3801 to set up an interview. Free golf. Open 7 days a week.
AUTOMOTIVE MASTER TECHNICIAN. If you are curious about how your current job compares to Precision Automotive? EMAIL your resume to precisionauto4040@hotmail.com, call or text Steve at 970-596-9999 ALL INQUIRIES ARE STRICKLY CONFIDENTIAL! Benefits include: PAID VACATION, PAID HOLIDAYS, MEDICAL, DENTAL, MATCHING IRA.
AUTOMOTIVE APPRENTICE Do you love cars? Get your start in the well paid and exciting world of Automotive Repair that could turn into your life passion. Work along side your mentor a Master Certified Technician while completing online modules such as: Electrical, Engine mechanical, Transmission, Drive train, Suspension & Steering, Heating & A/C, Engine Performance and Brakes.
CAR WASH/DETAILER/SHOP MAINTENANCE. Call or text 970-596-9999 for interview.
PRECISIONAUTO.NET
CRESTED BUTTE BURGER COMPANY is hiring the following positions: Cooks and cashiers, flexible schedule available, starting pay $16-$18/hr. plus gratuity. Assistant manager, full-time seasonal, starting pay $18-$20/hr. plus gratuity, pay DOE. For more information or to submit a resume, please email: crestedbutteburgerco@gmail.com.
LUNA BAKERY is looking for a retail assistant for our Gunnison Farmers Market booth every Saturday. $18/hr plus bread perks. Please contact Deven at 970-2313247
SPALLONE CONSTRUCTION has immediate openings for laborers in the Gunnison, Crested Butte area. Experience required not required, but preferred. Must be able to assist laborer performing physical tasks involved in construction activities. Must have a valid drivers license, references required. $22/hr or higher depending on experience, benefits available after one year of employment. Please submit resume to: office@spalloneconstruction.com.
THE CLUB AT CRESTED BUTTE is hiring a financial accountant. This is a full-time yearround position with medical, retirement and vacation benefits. Additional benefits include employee discounts and complementary golf rounds. Salary range is $72,000-$78,000/ year. For more information or to submit a resume, please visit theclubatcrestedbutte. com or email: jobs@clubatcrestedbutte.com.
PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE
TECHNICIANS WANTED TO JOIN THE SEALCO TEAM: $33+ hourly - $1,800+ weekly potential with performance and safety bonuses. Seeking motivated, hardworking and dependable individuals. No experience necessary. On the job training working outdoors. Paid weekly. Must be capable of lifting 60 pounds. Email resumes to Aaron@sealcoincorporated.com or call 970-641-4260.
CLERK OF COURT I (.3 FTE): The Hinsdale Combined Court located in Lake City, Colorado is seeking applications to fill a .3 FTE (12 hours per week) position of a Clerk of Court I. This in person position on site in Lake City, Colorado provides technical, administrative and supervisory work in the operation of a Clerk’s Office of the Colorado Judicial Branch. Application shall be filed electronically. To apply go to www.courts. state.co.us under the Careers/Career Opportunities tab and follow the instructions to apply for this position. Applications must be filed electronically on or before June 12, 2023.
HIRING CASHIERS AND COOKS: Full and part time pay based on experience. But expect $22+ after tips. Drop resumes at Powerstop.
ICLEAN IN CRESTED BUTTE is looking for cleaners. Pay DOE Please call 970-3312417. Buscamos limpiadores. Por favor, comuníquese con IClean a 970-331-2417. Para trabajar en Crested Butte.
COLORADO MOUNTAIN CLUB is hiring for stewardship crew members based in Salida/ Gunnison. Spend your summer being paid to hike and live outdoor, while giving back to our public lands and maintaining trails! For more information or to apply visit cmc.org/ about/jobs/trail-stewardship.
GOLDEN EAGLE IS LOOKING FOR FULLTIME WORKERS: Mechanics, painters and welders. CDL and non CDL employees. Pay doe. to schedule an interview call 970-64123230.
DO YOU HAVE MAINTENANCE SKILLS?
Are you looking for a full time year around position in the valley with great pay, health insurance, on-call pay, company vehicle, company phone, paid vacation, ski or health and wellness pass, 5 day work week and
47. Wife
More dried-up 51. Socially inept person 54. Clusters on fern fronds 59. Bar bill
Prefix indicating “away from”
more? Iron Horse Property Management is adding another position to our maintenance team and we are looking for the right individual to help maintain our luxury homes. We are looking for someone who has a great work ethic, maintenance skills, is punctual and wants to quit having multiple jobs to make it in the valley. If this sounds like you, and you have a clean driving record, then please send your resume to steve@ ironhorsecb.com and qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview. No phone calls please. Pay DOE.
COLLECTIONS INVESTIGATOR (.5 FTE):
The Gunnison Combined Court is seeking applications to fill a .5 FTE (20 hours per week) position of a Collections Investigator. Position performs the full operational level of work in administering, enforcing, and collecting on court orders or judgments entered with respect to fines, fees, restitution, or any other accounts receivable of the Court, Judicial District, or Judicial Department. Application shall be filed electronically. To apply go to www. courts.state.co.us under the Careers/Career Opportunities tab and follow the instructions to apply for this position. Applications must be filed electronically on or before June 12, 2023.
PRECISE PAINTING IS HIRING PAINTERS:
Seasonal or year-round full-time. Must be willing to commit for at least Spring/Summer/ Fall. Pay starts at $22/hr. for inexperienced candidates, more with experience. 4 or 4.5 day work week, earn PTO, raises come quickly, opportunity for benefits. Happy to train the right people. Call Rob at 970-5090851.
WE NEED YOU! Find your niche at Six Points helping adults with disabilities with activities of daily living. No experience needed. Clean driving record preferred and background check. Part- and full-time available. 50% off everything in the store, plus the intangible benefits of building meaningful relationships. $15/hr. Contact resmg@sixpointsgunnison. org.
KDCB IS LOOKING FOR LEAD CARPENTERS AND CARPENTERS. Call 970-275-6969.
SAGUACHE LAND USE DEPARTMENT is accepting applications for a full time second Code Enforcement Officer. Salary to be determined on experience starting at $35,000/year. Applicants must have a valid Colorado Drivers License, must pass a criminal background check as well as a preemployment drug test. The County Employee benefit package includes vision, dental and health insurance coverage, paid time off, and a generous 401k retirement plan.
The employment application and job description can be found on saguachecounty. colorado.gov, picked up at the Saguache County Administration Office, 505 3rd Street, Saguache, CO or can be emailed to you, please contact April Quintana at 719-6552231.
Completed applications can be hand delivered to the Saguache County Land Use Department, Attention Amber Wilson, 505 3rd Street, mailed to PO Box 326, Saguache, CO 81149 or emailed to atorrez@ saguachecounty-co.gov. Applications will be accepted until filled.
Saguache County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
HIGH ALPINE BREWING COMPANY is hiring for all positions for summer an beyond. Join our team and enjoy a fastpaced, fun and positive work environment. No experience necessary. Servers: $10.63/ hr. plus excellent tips. Kitchen staff: $14-$21/hr. dependent upon experience & responsibilities. $500 signing bonus for all kitchen staff after completion of 3 consecutive months of full time employment. Email gm@highalpinebrewing.com or drop off your resume in person.
THE CLUB AT CRESTED BUTTE is hiring the following part-time and full-time seasonal positions: Line cooks and dishwasher $20$25/hr. plus gratuity; Housekeeping, flexible schedule available, $20-$25/hr.; Swim Instructors for both private and small groups, must be CPR/First Aid certified, starting pay $25/hr.; Front desk attendants, $16-$18/hr.; General facility maintenance $18-$20/hr.; Employee benefits include complimentary golf rounds and employee discounts. For more information or to submit a resume, please visit theclubatcrestedbutte.com or email: jobs@clubatcrestedbutte.com.
Colorado Statewide Network
To place a 25-word COSCAN Network ad in 91 Colorado newspapers for only $300 contact your local newspaper or email Colorado Press Association Network at rtoledo@colopress.net
ANSWERS FOR PREVIOUS WEEK
THE TOWN OF MT. CRESTED BUTTE is looking for a full time year around maintenance worker. Typical job duties will vary from season to season and will include but are not limited to: snow shoveling, plowing of the Mt. Crested Butte roads and various parking lots, maintaining town equipment and vehicles, emptying trash cans, repairing fence lines, building maintenance, road maintenance including sweeping, flagging, filling potholes, maintaining the town’s ditches and culverts. Schedule is 4 – 10 hour days with one weekend day in the winter being required. Overtime is expected during snow cycles. Minimum qualifications include the ability to obtain a class B commercial driver’s license, clean seven year driving record, ability to obtain their flagger certification, safely lift 80 pound and good customer service, communication and team work skills, ability to walk on uneven surfaces, ability to work outdoors for an extended period in the summer and winter, basic knowledge of heavy equipment and snow plowing experience. Preferred qualifications include having a class B commercial driver’s license, flagger certification knowledge of heavy equipment operations, loader, backhoe and snowplow experience, knowledge of vehicle and heavy equipment maintenance (mechanic) welding experience and building maintenance and upkeep experience. The Town offers an amazing benefit package with paid health, vision and dental insurance for you and your family, 401(1) or pension plan,12 paid holidays, generous vacation and sick time, wellness program and more. Please visit mtcb.colorado.gov for the full job description. Contact Bobby Block at bblock@ mtcb.colorado.gov with any questions. To apply email your resume, cover letter and three references to Tiffany O’Connell at toconnell@mtcb.colorado.gov.
PINNACLE ORTHOPEDICS is seeking a FT medical assistant to join our thriving practice. This is an excellent opportunity for one looking to develop a skill set in patient care including X-rays, clinical documentation, casting/splinting and medical supply inventory management. Good interpersonal, organization and computer skills while working in a fast paced environment are important. Position is for both our Crested Butte and Gunnison offices. Salary DOE. Please send resume to office@ pinnacleorthocolorado.com.
WONDERLAND NATURE SCHOOL is looking for a passionate director to lead our non-profit infant through Pre-K nature-based school. The director will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the school, including: curriculum development (in collaboration with classroom teachers); staff training, team building and mentoring; parent communication; and finance management. We are looking for a leader who is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for our students and who can ensure that our preschool meets all regulations and our strategic goals. The director must hold or be close to holding a Director’s Certificate. The ideal candidate has extensive early childhood education experience, excellent communication and conflict resolution skills, leadership/ management experience and a passion for working with kids. Annual salary starting at $60,000 (DOE) plus benefits including free childcare while working. For a full job description, visit wonderlandnatureschool. org. To apply, send a resume and cover letter to admin@wonderlandnatureschool. org.
INFANT TODDLER TEACHER: Tenderfoot
Child and Family Development Center is seeking early childhood qualified teachers to work with children aged birth-3 years old. Infant and Toddler program lead teacher positions with part-time ($19.16/hr.) or fulltime ($21.16/hr.) schedules. Tenderfoot will support professional development to earn credentials for these positions. Benefits include flexible scheduling, a supportive team, paid time off, free child care while
working and continuing education. Email tfootdirector@gmail.com or call 970-6421949 for more information. EOE
BRAND NEW 3 BR 2.5 BATH in Gunnison for $3,000 a month with garage. Available Aug. 1. Send inquiries to info@davidgrossgc. com.
FOR SALE: Mobile Home, 3 Rivers Resort, Almont, CO. 81210 #23. $75,000 plus monthly Lot Fee $700. One big bedroom, one big bathroom, open concept through-out completely new remodel, new roof, new appliances. Must be approved and follow guidelines of land owner. Contact AlmontMobileHome@gmail.com 970-404-0218.
PRIME OFFICE SPACE on Main St. Five private offices. Client waiting/conference
reception desk, 12 paved parking spaces. Call or text 970-596-9999 for more
Conference
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
V. Commendations, recognition of visitors, and public comment
*Visitors who
b. Payroll Direct Deposit #
3. Personnel* Heather Trezise-Speech Language Pathologist-District Anthony Oldani-Resignation-Permanent Substitute-CBCS Elizabeth Shaw-Resignation-SPED EAAchievement Center Cynthia Tusing-Resignation-Kindergarten EA-Lake Marie Cuccaro-Resignation-Cashier-Food Service-GCS Lane Giannone-Resignation-Permanent Substitute-CBES
4. Correspondence
B. New Business
1.
C. Old Business 1.
VIII. Comments from the public *Visitors who wish to address the Board, please make known via Zoom or if in-person, please complete the public participation form.
IX. Items introduced by Board Members a.
X. Board Committee assignments for the 2022-23 school year District Accountability CommitteeMrs. Roberts School Accountability CommitteesMr. Martineau, Mrs. Mick, Mrs. Brookhart Gunnison County Education Association Negotiations- Mr. Taylor Gunnison County Education Association 3X3- Mr. Martineau Fund 26- Mrs. Mick Gunnison Valley Community Foundation- Mrs. Mick Gunnison Memorial ScholarshipMrs. Roberts Health Insurance Committee- Mr. Taylor
XI. Forthcoming Agendas/ Meeting Dates and Times
Monday, June 26, 2023 Regular meeting/Budget Adoption Gunnison/Lake School
XII. Executive Session
C.R.S. 24-6-402 (4)(f) that the Board enter executive session to discuss a personnel matter. The particular matter that is to be discussed behind closed doors is the superintendent evaluation.
XIII. ACTION ITEMS
a. Consider approval of the Superintendent Contract Addendum
b. Consider approval of the Superintendent Final Evaluation report
XIV. Adjournment
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication date of June 1, 2023
9280
NOTICE OF INTENT TO DISPOSE:
To the following parties that have their personal property stored at Plott’s Mini Storage, LLC. 312 W. Hwy 50 Gunnison, CO 81230.
All property will be sold or disposed of, unless claimed and/or all rent and fees paid prior to June 2, 2023
A40 Amy Woody
Gunnison Country Times
Gunnison, Colorado.
Publication dates of May 25 and June 1, 2023
9177
NOTICE OF LAND USE CHANGE PERMIT APPROVALS
CREATING A VESTED RIGHT
GUNNISON COUNTY, COLORADO
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that Gunnison
County has approved the following Land Use Change permits with site-specific development plans(s) within unincorporated Gunnison County, which creates a threeyear vested property right pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes, Article 68 of Title 24 C.R.S., as amended.
A “vested property right” gives the following applicant(s) the right to undertake the development subject to the condition(s) of approval of the site-specific development plan(s).
LUC-22-00063 Chad and Danielle Weaber approved to cluster lots 9,10, & 11, Chair Mountain Ranch Subdivision, Filing No. 2, County of Gunnison , State of CO.
/s/ Beth Baker Community Development Services Manager
Gunnison County Community Development Department
Gunnison Country Times
Gunnison, Colorado
Publication date of June 1, 2023
ORDINANCE NO. 8, SERIES 2023:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GUNNISON, COLORADO, AMENDING THE WORK IN THE RIGHT-OFWAY PERMIT PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN SECTION 9.10.010, AND MAKING CORRESPONDING AMENDMENTS TO SECTIONS 12.10.030 AND 12.20.030 OF THE GUNNISON MUNICIPAL CODE
A full copy of the ordinance can be found on the City of Gunnison’s website at www. gunnisonco.gov in the City Council e-packet information or at the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall, 201 West Virginia Avenue in Gunnison or by calling 970.641.8140.
Gunnison Country Times
Gunnison, Colorado
Publication date of June 1, 2023
9301
ORDINANCE
ORDINANCE NO. 7, SERIES 2023:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GUNNISON, COLORADO, APPROVING A LEASE PURCHASE FINANCING TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO FINANCE UTILITY COST-SAVINGS MEASURES AND FACILITY IMPROVEMENT
MEASURES AND, IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH, AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING A SITE LEASE, A LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTATION RELATING TO THE FINANCING; AND PROVIDING OTHER
DETAILS IN CONNECTION WITH THE FINANCING
A full copy of the ordinance can be found on the City of Gunnison’s website at www. gunnisonco.gov in the City Council e-packet information or at the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall, 201 West Virginia Avenue in Gunnison or by calling 970.641.8140.
Gunnison Country Times
Gunnison, Colorado
Publication date of June 1, 2023
9300
ORDINANCE
ORDINANCE NO. 6, SERIES 2023:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GUNNISON, COLORADO, CHANGING THE ZONING DISTRICT CLASSIFICATION OF PARCEL 2, SAWTOOTH – PHASE 1 BOUNDARY LINE ADJUSTMENT FROM INDUSTRIAL TO R3 (MULTIFAMILY) AND AMENDING
THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF GUNNISON, COLORADO
A full copy of the ordinance can be found on the City of Gunnison’s website at www. gunnisonco.gov in the City Council e-packet information or at the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall, 201 West Virginia Avenue in Gunnison or by calling 970.641.8140.
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado
Publication date of June 12, 2023 9298
The Board of County Commissioners will hold a Public Hearing at the Saguache County Commissioners meeting Room located at 501 – 4th Street, Saguache, Colorado, on the following date:
TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2023 at 1:00 PM to consider proposed “Resolution Designating Site Selection and Construction of Major New Domestic Water Systems and Major Extensions of Existing Domestic Water Systems and Municipal and Industrial Water Projects as Activities of State Interest”.
To view the proposed resolution Thursday, May 4, 2023, you may contact the Saguache County Land Use Department – PO Box 326, Saguache, CO 81149 or atorrez@ saguachecounty-co.gov, or by calling 719655-2321 or you may also view the changes on our website at www.saguachecounty. colorado.gov .
Written comments will be accepted until Friday, JUNE 2, 2023 at 3pm, and may be sent to Saguache County Land Use Department at PO Box 326, Saguache, CO 81149 or email to atorrez@saguachecountyco.gov.
By: Tom McCracken, Chairman Saguache County Board of Commissioners Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado.
Publication dates of May 11, 18, 25 and June 1, 2023 8909
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Saguache County Land Use Office will be holding a series of education / outreach for the public on the passage of the Saguache County Nuisance Ordinance that was recently passed by the Board of County Commissioners. Dates, time, and location will be as follows;
June 20, 2023 – 5:00PM Center Kiwanis Club of Center – 510 S Broadway St., Center, CO 81125
June 21, 2023 – 5:00PM KV Homeowners Association – 26415 Woodward Ave., Moffat, CO 81143
2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNER Colorado’s best small community weekly newspaper
June 26, 2023 – 5:00PM Tomichi Creek Trading Post – 71420 US-50, Sargents, CO
81248
June 27, 2023 – 5:00PM Baca Grande
Property Owners Association – 68575 Co. Rd. T, Crestone, CO 81131
June 28, 2023 – 5:00PM Saguache County Road and Bridge – 305 3rd Street, Saguache, CO 81149
To view the Saguache County Nuisance Ordinance that was passed, you can go on the Saguache County Website at www. saguachecounty-co.gov or pick up a copy at the Saguache County Land Use Office, 505 3rd Street, Saguache, CO 81149.
Gunnison Country Times
Gunnison, Colorado.
Publication dates of May 18, 25, June 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, 2023
9041
NOTICE OF 2023 Commissioner
Redistricting
A public hearing will be held on June 6, 2023, for redistricting commissioner district boundaries, pursuant to CRS 30-10-306(1): “In no event shall there be more than five percent deviation between the most populous and the least populous district in each county, at the time such district boundaries are adopted.”
The hearing will be held at the Road and Bridge Department located at 305 3rd St Saguache, CO at 5:00 pm. A draft copy of a map with the boundary changes will be available for viewing, followed by a 30-day public comment period.
Proposed re-districting map may be viewed at the Saguache County Clerk and Recorders office at 501 4th Street, Saguache, CO.
For more information contact Wendi Maez, Saguache County Administrator at 719-6552231 or email at wmaez@saguachecountyco.gov.
Gunnison Country Times
Gunnison, Colorado
Publication dates of May 25 and June 1, 2023
9153
INVITATION FOR BIDS
Gunnison - Crested Butte Regional Airport
Gunnison, Colorado
AIP Project No. 3-08-0030-063/064/065-
2023
Sealed bids, subject to the conditions contained herein, for improvements to the Gunnison - Crested Butte Regional Airport, Gunnison, Colorado, AIP Project No. 3-080030-063/064/065-2023 will be received by the Gunnison - Crested Butte Regional Airport, Airport Manager’s Office, Gunnison, Colorado, 81230, until Monday, June 19, 2023, at 1:00 p.m., and then publicly opened and read aloud.
The work involved will include the following:
Schedule I - Reconstruct Ramp and Install Drainage
Schedule II - Reconstruct Ramp and Repair Hardstand
Schedule III - Reconstruct Ramp, Install Drainage, and Repair Hardstand
The approximate quantities of major bid items involved in the proposed work are:
C-100 – Contractor Quality Control Program 1 EA
P-101 –Pavement Removal – Full Depth 43,000 SY
P-152 – Unclassified Excavation 23,000 CY P-154 – Subbase Course (9.5-Inch)
10,400 CYf
P-209 – Crushed Aggregate Base Course 7,300 CY
P-401 – Bituminous Paving Course (PG 7634) 9,500 TON
P-401 – Bituminous Paving Course (PG 5834) 11,000 TON
D-701 – Install 30 Inch RCP, Class V 700 LF
D-705 – Install 6-Inch Perforated Polyethylene Pipe Underdrain
750 LF
Construction for this project is expected to take 105 calendar day(s).
Contract Documents. The complete set of Specifications and Contract Documents can be downloaded from Jviation, Inc.’s bid site (http://bid.jviation.com). beginning on May 22, 2023. In order to submit a responsive bid as a Prime Contractor and to receive all necessary addendum(s) for this project, you must be on the Planholder’s List. To view all planholder documents (contract documents, plans and addendums) you must fill out the online form located at (https://jviation.com/ bid-request/). By filling out and submitting this form, you agree to be publicly listed on the bid site with your contact information as a planholder for all projects requested. It is the planholder’s responsibility to review
the site for addendums and changes before submitting their proposal. This includes review for environmental changes. Environmental changes during construction could take up to four weeks for approval. For additional information, please contact us via email at bid.info@woolpert.com.
*Note that contractors will NOT be automatically added to new projects. You will need to re-submit the online form for access to new projects. Once granted access, additional projects will use your same login credentials. Note: Plan ahead when submitting the online request form and allow up to 2 business days for approval and access to projects.
Pre-Bid Conference. The pre-bid conference for this project will be held on June 7, 2023 at 1:00 p.m., in the Airport Administration Conference Room at the Gunnison - Crested Butte Regional Airport, 711 Rio Grande Ave, Gunnison, CO. 81230. All bidders are required to examine the site to become familiar with all site conditions prior to submitting their bid.
Bid Conditions. The bidder is required to provide all information as required within the Contract Documents. The bidder is required to bid on all items of every schedule or as otherwise detailed in the Instructions to Bidders.
Bids may be held by Gunnison County for a period not to exceed 120 calendar days from the date of the bid opening for the purpose of evaluating bids prior to award of contract.
The right is reserved, as Gunnison County may require, to reject any and all bids and to waive any informality in the bids received.
All questions regarding the bid are to be directed to Jesse Erickson with Jviation, Inc., 720 South Colorado Blvd., Suite 1200S, Glendale, Colorado, 80246, (303) 5243030, Fax: (303) 524-3031, or email Jesse. Erickson@woolpert.com.
Bid Bond. Guarantee will be required with each bid as a certified check on a solvent bank or a Bid Bond in the amount of five (5) % of the total amount of the bid, made payable to Gunnison County.
Performance & Payment Bond. The successful bidder will be required to furnish separate performance and payment bonds each in an amount equal to 100% of the contract price.
Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982
as Amended. In accordance with the DavisBacon Act, as amended, the Contractor will be required to comply with the wage and labor requirements and to pay minimum wages in accordance with the schedule of wage rates established by the United States Department of Labor.
Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Requirement. The proposed contract is under and subject to 41 CFR Part 60-4 and Executive Order 11246 of September 24, 1965, as amended, and to the equal opportunity clause and the Standard Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Construction Contract specifications including the goals and timetables for minority and female participation.
Title VI Solicitation Notice: Gunnison County, in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 252, 42 USC §§ 2000d to 2000d-4) and the Regulations, hereby notifies all idders or offerors that it will affirmatively ensure that for any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, select businesses, or disadvantaged business enterprises or airport concession disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full and fair opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and no businesses will be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency), creed, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), age, or disability in consideration for an award.
DBE Requirement.
Bid Information Submitted as a matter of responsiveness: The Owner’s award of this contract is conditioned upon Bidder or Offeror satisfying the good faith effort requirements of 49 CFR §26.53.
As a condition of responsiveness, the Bidder or Offeror must submit the following information with its proposal on the forms provided herein:
The names and addresses of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms that will participate in the contract;
A description of the work that each DBE firm will perform;
The dollar amount of the participation of each DBE firm listed under (1)
Written statement from Bidder or Offeror that attests their commitment to use the DBE firm(s) listed under (1) to meet the Owner’s project goal; and Written confirmation from each listed DBE firm that it is participating in the contract in the kind and amount of work provided in the prime contractor’s commitment; and If Bidder or Offeror cannot meet the advertised project
and non-DBE subcontractor quote submitted to the bidder when a non-DBE subcontractor was selected over a DBE for work on the contract.
The bidder shall make good faith efforts, as defined in Appendix A of 49 CFR Part 26, Regulations of the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, to subcontract 0.40 % of the dollar value of the prime contract to small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (DBE). In the event that the bidder for this solicitation qualifies as a DBE, the contract goal shall be deemed to have been met. Individuals who are rebuttably presumed to be socially and economically disadvantaged include, women, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, and Asian-Indian Americans. The apparent successful bidder will be required to submit information concerning the DBE’s that will participate in this contract. The information will include the name and address of each DBE, a description of the work to be performed by each named firm, and the dollar value of the contract. If the bidder fails to achieve the contract goal stated herein, it will be required to provide documentation demonstrating that it made good faith efforts in attempting to do so. A bid that fails to meet these requirements will be considered nonresponsive. Those firms currently certified as DBE’s by the Colorado Department of Transportation are eligible to participate as DBE’s on this contract. A list of these firms can be obtained from the State, the consulting engineer, or the Sponsor.
FAA Buy American Preference
The Contractor certifies that its bid/offer is in compliance with 49 USC § 50101, BABA and other related Made in America Laws, U.S. statutes, guidance, and FAA policies, which provide that Federal funds may not be obligated unless all iron, steel and manufactured goods used in AIP funded projects are produced in the United States, unless the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a waiver for the product; the product is listed as an Excepted Article, Material Or Supply in Federal Acquisition Regulation subpart 25.108; or is included in the FAA Nationwide Buy American Waivers Issued list.
The bidder or offeror must complete and submit the certification of compliance with FAA’s Buy American Preference, BABA and Made in America laws included herein with their bid or offer. The Airport Sponsor/ Owner will reject as nonresponsive any bid or offer that does not include a completed certification of compliance with FAA’s Buy American Preference and BABA.
The bidder or offeror certifies that all constructions materials, defined to mean an article, material, or supply other than an item of primarily iron or steel; a manufactured product; cement and cementitious materials; aggregates such as stone, sand, or gravel; or aggregate binding agents or additives that are or consist primarily of: non-ferrous metals; plastic and polymer-based products (including polyvinylchloride, composite building materials, and polymers used in fiber optic cables); glass (including optic glass); lumber; or drywall used in the project are manufactured in the U.S.
Per Executive Order 14005 “Made in America Laws” means all statutes, regulations, rules, and Executive Orders relating to federal financial assistance awards or federal procurement, including those that refer to “Buy America” or “Buy American,” that require, or provide a preference for, the purchase or acquisition of goods, products, or materials produced in the United States, including iron, steel, and manufactured products offered in the United States.
Trade Restriction Certification
By submission of an offer, the Offeror certifies that with respect to this solicitation and any resultant contract, the Offeror –is not owned or controlled by one or more citizens of a foreign country included in the list of countries that discriminate against U.S. firms as published by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR); has not knowingly entered into any contract or subcontract for this project with a person that is a citizen or national of a foreign country included on the list of countries that discriminate against U.S. firms as published by the USTR; and has not entered into any subcontract for any product to be used on the Federal project that is produced in a foreign country included on the list of countries that discriminate against U.S. firms published by the USTR.
This certification concerns a matter within the jurisdiction of an agency of the United States of America and the making of a false, fictitious, or fraudulent certification may render the maker subject to prosecution under Title 18 USC § 1001.
The Offeror/Contractor must provide immediate written notice to the Owner if the Offeror/Contractor learns that its certification or that of a subcontractor was erroneous when submitted or has become erroneous by reason of changed circumstances. The Contractor must require subcontractors provide immediate written notice to the Contractor if at any time it learns that its
certification was erroneous by reason of changed circumstances.
Unless the restrictions of this clause are waived by the Secretary of Transportation in accordance with 49 CFR § 30.17, no contract shall be awarded to an Offeror or subcontractor: who is owned or controlled by one or more citizens or nationals of a foreign country included on the list of countries that discriminate against U.S. firms published by the USTR; or whose subcontractors are owned or controlled by one or more citizens or nationals of a foreign country on such USTR list; or who incorporates in the public works project any product of a foreign country on such USTR list.
Nothing contained in the foregoing shall be construed to require establishment of a system of records in order to render, in good faith, the certification required by this provision. The knowledge and information of a contractor is not required to exceed that which is normally possessed by a prudent person in the ordinary course of business dealings.
The Offeror agrees that, if awarded a contract resulting from this solicitation, it will incorporate this provision for certification without modification in all lower tier subcontracts. The Contractor may rely on the certification of a prospective subcontractor that it is not a firm from a foreign country included on the list of countries that discriminate against U.S. firms as published by USTR, unless the Offeror has knowledge that the certification is erroneous.
This certification is a material representation of fact upon which reliance was placed when making an award. If it is later determined that the Contractor or subcontractor knowingly rendered an erroneous certification, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may direct through the Owner cancellation of the contract or subcontract for default at no cost to the Owner or the FAA.
Notice Of The Requirement For Affirmative Action To Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity
1. The Offeror’s or Bidder’s attention is called to the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Construction Contract Specifications” set forth herein.
2. The goals and timetables for minority and female participation, expressed in percentage terms for the Contractor’s aggregate workforce in each trade on all construction work in the covered area, are as follows:
Timetables
Goals for minority participation for each trade: 10.2 % Goals for female participation in each trade: 6.9%
These goals are applicable to all of the Contractor’s construction work (whether or not it is Federal or federally assisted) performed in the covered area. If the Contractor performs construction work in a geographical area located outside of the covered area, it shall apply the goals established for such geographical area where the work is actually performed. With regard to this second area, the Contractor also is subject to the goals for both its federally involved and nonfederally involved construction.
The Contractor’s compliance with the Executive Order and the regulations in 41 CFR Part 60-4 shall be based on its implementation of the Equal Opportunity Clause, specific affirmative action obligations required by the specifications set forth in 41 CFR 60-4.3(a) and its efforts to meet the goals. The hours of minority and female employment and training must be substantially uniform throughout the length of the contract, and in each trade, and the Contractor shall make a good faith effort to employ minorities and women evenly on each of its projects. The transfer of minority or female employees or trainees from Contractor to Contractor or from project to project for the sole purpose of meeting the Contractor’s goals shall be a violation of the contract, the Executive Order and the regulations in 41 CFR Part 60-4. Compliance with the goals will be measured against the total work hours performed.
3. The Contractor shall provide written notification to the Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) within 10 working days of award of any construction subcontract in excess of $10,000 at any tier for construction work under the contract resulting from this solicitation. The notification shall list the name, address, and telephone number of the subcontractor; employer identification number of the subcontractor; estimated dollar amount of the subcontract; estimated starting and completion dates of the subcontract; and the geographical area in which the subcontract is to be performed.
4. As used in this notice and in the contract resulting from this solicitation, the “covered area” is Colorado, Gunnison County, Town of Gunnison.
Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (Federal Minimum Wage)
All contracts and subcontracts that result from this solicitation incorporate by reference the provisions of 29 CFR part 201, et seq, the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), with the same force and effect as if given in full text. The FLSA sets minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor standards for full and part-time workers.
The Contractor has full responsibility to monitor compliance to the referenced statute or regulation. The Contractor must address any claims or disputes that arise from this requirement directly with the U.S. Department of Labor – Wage and Hour Division.
Certification of Offeror/Bidder Regarding Debarment By submitting a bid/proposal under this solicitation, the bidder or offeror certifies that neither it nor its principals are presently debarred or suspended by any Federal department or agency from participation in this transaction.
Other Federal Provisions Award of contract is also subject to the following Federal Provisions: Civil Rights – Title VI Assurances
Lobbying Federal Employees Recovered Materials
Other Federal Provisions included in Part A of the Special Provisions
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication dates of June 1 and 8, 2023 9296
Putting arts and culture in the spotlight.
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* IRAs are tax-deferred accounts.IRAs do not have rates.Only the underlying investments within an IRA may have rates.Based on corporate bond yields to maturity effective xx/xx/xx, subject to availability and price change.Yield and market value may fluctuate ifsold prior to maturity,and the amount received from the sale ofthese securities may be less than the amount originally invested.Some ofthe available issues are callable.Bond values may decline in a rising interest rate environment.Your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor can provide more information about maturity dates and applicable call provisions.Any bonds called prior to maturity would result in reinvestment risk for the bond owner.
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* IRAs are tax-deferred accounts.IRAs do not have rates.Only the underlying investments within an IRA may have rates.Based on corporate bond yields to maturity effective xx/xx/xx, subject to availability and price change.Yield and market value may fluctuate ifsold prior to maturity,and the amount received from the sale ofthese securities may be less than the amount originally invested.Some ofthe available issues are callable.Bond values may decline in a rising interest rate environment.Your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor can provide more information about maturity dates and applicable call provisions.Any bonds called prior to maturity would result in reinvestment risk for the bond owner.
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MAY 22
ANIMAL - RUNNING AT LARGE -
MUNICIPAL — 900 N. PINE ST.
ANIMAL - RUNNING AT LARGE -
MUNICIPAL — 512 N. 12TH ST.
INFORMATION — 201 N. MAIN ST.
PROPERTY - FOUND —
714 N. PINE ST.
ANIMAL: NUISANCE ABATEMENT
- EXCREMENT —
915 N. SPRUCE ST.
DISORDERLY CONDUCT -
UNREASONABLE NOISE —
901 W. DENVER AVE.
MAY 23
JUVENILE PROBLEM - RUNAWAY
— GEORGIA AVE.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE —
N. COLORADO ST.
CIVIL PROBLEM — 1 JUNIPER LN.
INFORMATION — 200 N. MAIN ST.
AGENCY ASSIST — E. HWY. 50
MAY 24
PROPERTY - FOUND — 201 E.
TOMICHI AVE.
MAY 25
DEATH INVESTIGATION —
N. COLORADO ST.
FAILURE TO APPEAR - POLICE
DEPT. CHARGE —
400 W. TOMICHI AVE.
FRAUD - INFORMATION / WIRE —
N. WISCONSIN ST.
FORGERY — W. TOMICHI AVE.
MAY 26
ALCOHOL VIOLATION -
CONSUMPTION IN PUBLIC — 200
E. SPENCER AVE.
WELFARE ASSIST — E. RUBY AVE.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE —
N. COLORADO ST
THEFT — 200 S. ADAMS ST.
PROPERTY - FOUND
HARASSMENT: STRIKE SHOVE,
KICK — 1099 N. 11TH ST.
ACCIDENT - HIT & RUN —
201 W. VIRGINIA AVE.
ACCIDENT — 200 E. DENVER AVE.
MAY 27
WELFARE ASSIST —
720 N. COLORADO ST.
JUVENILE PROBLEM —
N. 11TH ST.
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
- ALCOHOL —
612 E. VIRGINIA AVE.
CIVIL PROBLEM —
403 E. TOMICHI AVE
PROPERTY - FOUND —
501 E. TOMICHI AVE.
MAY 28
ANIMAL-VICIOUS / DANGEROUS
- MUNICIPAL — 438 TINCUP DR.
SEXUAL ASSAULT: NON-
CONSENTUAL
CRIMINAL TRESPASS: FIRST
DEGREE - VEHICLE —
401 N. TAYLOR ST.
CRIMINAL TRESPASS: FIRST
DEGREE - VEHICLE —
602 N. TAYLOR ST.
MAY 29
OBSTRUCTING A PEACE OFFICER/FIREFIGHTER/EMS —
215 W. RIO GRANDE AVE.
MAY 23
-Deputies arrested one person for driving under the influence of drugs, possession of a controlled substance x 2, possession of drug paraphernalia and prohibited use of a weapon
-Deputies responded to a one vehicle accident with no injuries on west Hwy. 50
-Paper service
-Information report- suspicious activity
-Paper service
-Agency assist to the Gunnison Police Department with a harassment call
-Deputies took one person into custody for three active in-county warrants
MAY 24
-Paper service attempt
-Information report / welfare check on a vehicle
-Deputies responded to a one vehicle rollover accident
-Paper service attempt
-Agency assist to the Colorado State Patrol with a one vehicle roll-over accident north on Hwy. 135
MAY 25
-Agency assist to the Gunnison Police Department with a found wallet
-Agency Assist - Gunnison Police
Department
-Out-of-county warrant arrest
-Agency assist - Gunnison Police
Department
-Lost property report
MAY 26
-VIN inspection
-Agency assist - Montrose County Sheriff’s Office
-Paper service
-Paper service
-Information report - transport
-Paper service
-Information report - welfare check
-Information report - welfare check
-Theft report
MAY 27
-Agency assist - Gunnison Police
Department
-Information report - welfare check
-Paper service
MAY 28
-Domestic violence report
-Agency assist - Gunnison Police
Department
-Agency assist - National Park Service
-Traffic infraction
-Criminal mischief report
-Domestic violence report
-Information report - dispute
-County Ordinance 2018-30Vicious dog report
MAY 29
-Information report - civil issue
-County Resolution 2018-30 - Dogat-large report
-Information report - motorist assist
-Information report - fraud report
-Information report - civil dispute
Bren Corn Studios
Bren is inviting you into her world (4-8) to view works in progress, a commission, paintings, prints and pieces for sale. Take a glimpse at the inner workings of this gifted professional and see why the people voted her best artist of the Gunnison Valley. http://www.brencorn.com
Gunnison Arts Center
5:30pm presentation sponsored by The Gunnison River Festival and the UGRCD. Watch and listen as Colt Maule shares how experiences throughout his life has led him to the path of Art, Education, Conservation and Stewardship of the wild rivers of North America.
Gunnison Gallery
Featuring funky and cool mosaics created by JENNY PERRY using broken, found objects and porcelain tiles. Colorado Minerals by JESS FOUTCH and Face Painting by PATRICIA. Also enjoy Live Guitar Music by MATTHEW GRANT.
Peace Hero Museum
PEACE EDUCATION THROUGH THE LIVES OF PEACE HEROS
Rocky Mountain Frames and Trophies
Rocky Mountain Frames & Trophies featuring Ivana Crone; Wild Mustang photography, Sharon Mendonce; Pressed Wildflowers, Fred Stinson; woodworking along with 15 other local artists. Music by Ron Kibler “Old Time Pickers String Band”.
Gunnison Pizza Company
DJs K80 & Ego Tha Destroya, 7pm-2am, late-night food & full bar Play on our pet-friendly sun deck @GunnisonPizza #GunnisonPizza Gunnison Pizza Company theElkHornBuilding.com/events
High Alpine Brewery Company • 111 N. Main
Mario’s Pizza & Pasta • 213 W. Tomichi
The Dive Pub • 213 W. Tomichi
www. gunnisontimes .com
onntimes
More than 100 alumni and friends of Western Colorado University gathered to raise over $100,000 for scholarships to Western’s sports programs this month at the university Foundation’s third annual Mountaineer Gala in Denver. At the gala, Western alum Nancy Chisholm received the 2023 Mountaineer Award for Excellence, which recognized her service to the university on both the Board of Trustees and as Western’s interim president in 2021 and 2022. Her nephew and former Western student Connor Desch presented the award.
WEATHER: What is the coldest spot in the Gunnison Valley? B3
BIZCENTS: Blue Mesa Ranch under new ownership, B4
West Elk lacrosse wins Aspen tournament, B10
Cow bells rattled along Main Street as swarms of bikers celebrated the return of the Original Growler over the weekend of May 27 and 28. The mountain bike race, founded by Dave Wiens in 2008, follows a route of pristine single-track through Hartman Rocks. Each May, bikers flock to the Gunnison Valley from nearby states for the festival of cycling.
Amongst the sea of cyclists, a small group, wearing simple, black jerseys, lined up at the starting line. The riders greeted other teammates in preparation for a 32-mile ride with 4,000 feet of elevation gain. They were a medley of young and old, experienced and inexperienced, locals and non-natives — a community brought together by a shared faith. For Team Young Life (YL), the opportunity to race in the Original Growler was a chance to promote community and support each other.
The idea to create Team YL began three years ago, but its launch was delayed due to the pandemic. This year, the idea came to fruition with an added fundraising element. In the months before the race, local YL supporters and parents of racers donated $73,000 in support of YL and its riders. Th ese funds will be
Whitney Gilliam waves to her cheering supporters at the entrance to Hartman Rocks.
Julia Sams Growler B2
Tyler Hudson descends a slab trail.
Bobby Jarvis
SPORTS:
GUNNISON COUNTRY TIMES • THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 2023
used for “College Life,” the Western Colorado University (WCU) branch of YL, alongside outreach to students in the Gunnison Watershed School District.
“Our purpose of YL in the valley is to give kids and college students a place to belong, where they can develop genuine friendships and experience the love of Christ,” Logan Jacobs, the YL area director for Gunnison and Crested Butte said. “The Growler provided a new way for people who support YL to come together. It was a really cool bonding experience, and we raised almost our yearly college budget through donations.”
The team festivities began on Friday night, as riders gathered for a barbeque. Amongst a crackling fire and games of cornhole, veteran teammates shared advice and made final tweaks to their bikes. Of the 18 riders representing Team YL, only three had competed in the Growler before. Whitney Gilliam, an avalanche safety instructor at Irwin Guides and young adults pastor at Oh Be Joyful Church was preparing to race the Growler for her first time alongside Rob Andrews, her biking partner and mentor.
“I’m not going to lie, I was not looking forward to it at all,” she said. “I was honestly thinking about not doing it — but if doing some suffering on a bike supports YL and makes their presence in the valley more accessible, it was an easy decision.”
Across from Gilliam, throwing bean bags and eating a cheeseburger was Tyler Hudson. The recent WCU graduate placed second in the collegiate division in his first attempt at the Growler in 2022.
“Last year was my first mountain bike race ever, so I was just going out there with little expectations, just to challenge myself with friends,” he said. “This year, I really wanted to finish under three and a half hours, and when Logan asked me to ride for YL I was really stoked to bike with a really great group of people.”
On Saturday morning, Main Street hummed with activity. Bicyclists in the hundreds lined up underneath an inflatable
WCU arch as bystanders waved signs and shouted final encouragements. At 9 a.m. the race began. Led by a police escort, the peloton sped off, beginning with five miles of asphalt to the entrance of Hartman Rocks.
“On the morning of the race, I just prayed ‘Alright God, I want to ride for you and with you, I want to enjoy this, I want to experience your creation and these great people, and I want to not feel terrible,’” Gilliam said.
Upon reaching Hartman Rocks, the cyclists were met with the notoriously steep Kill Hill, followed by miles of single-track looping through the Sea-of Sage trails, Skull Pass, Josie’s and Graceland. The route snaked through rolling hills, featuring consistent climbs, and technical descents. After 30 miles, the riders cascaded down the final trail: Collarbone Alley, and crossed the finish line.
Hudson sped through the finish with a time of 3:21:39, beating his previous time of 4:03:24.
“I was happy with my performance and achieving the goal I set,” he said. “But I was never worried about my time or even placing in the race, because I just wanted to bike around with my friends and represent Team YL well.”
Gilliam and Andrews paced each other throughout the race, and finished with a time of 4:27:07.
“I told Rob that I wanted to go slow so I could feel good at the end,” she said. “Our goal to enjoy it and laugh was totally met, and at no point was I like, ‘I hate this, I don’t want to be here.In the last hour I felt good and we pushed, and we hauled the last leg and finished 30 minutes below my initial goal.”
Following the race, the team celebrated with a swim in the Gunnison River and a trophy presentation on Main Street.
Gilliam said the overall experience was really positive.
“Most importantly the race was just fun, we laughed a lot, and it was a great success and fundraiser for Young Life. It was just way more fun doing it for a greater purpose,” she said.
(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@ gunnisontimes.com.)
from B1
Cyclists charge into Hartman Rocks on Saturday.
David Primus Special to the Times
It’s no secret that winters in Gunnison are cold. After a particularly cold night, any gathering of locals becomes a competition to see who had the lowest temperatures. Those who have lived here for a while will recognize that some places in the Gunnison Valley always seem to be colder than others.
Several years ago, local weather guru Bruce Bartleson and I decided it was time to get to the bottom of this coldair dilemma. We gathered an interdisciplinary research team consisting of faculty, students and community members to embark on a professional research project investigating nighttime temperature variations in the Gunnison Valley.
On clear, calm winter nights, and especially those with significant snow cover, radiative cooling, or heat loss from the surrounding mountains, generates parcels of cold air that are denser than the air in the valley bottoms. This cold, dense air flows downslope, replacing the air in the valleys, and “pools” in the valley bottoms, often creating well stratified temperature inversions where the surface temperatures are colder than the atmosphere above.
This process is called ‘coldair-pooling.’ These pools and associated temperature inversions can persist for extended periods of time and, in valleys with large atmospheric pollu-
tion loads, can lead to significantly diminished air quality.
With generous support from local donors, grants from Western Colorado University and cooperation of local landowners, a set of high-quality temperature sensors were distributed throughout the Gunnison Valley to monitor the formation and spatial extent of these cold air pools.
The initial 25 temperature sensors were installed in February of 2022, with another five added in October. Six of the sensors also record humidity. Each sensor is named with a unique number and a three-letter code based on its location. All are set to record every three minutes, 24 hours a day. The data is downloaded every two months for analysis. So far, over five million data points have been recorded.
Preliminary results show some interesting findings. The sensor located near the intersection of CR 730 (Ohio Creek Road) and CR 727 (Mill Creek Road), called 14MIA, consistently records the coldest overnight temperatures in the valley during a cold-air-pooling event. The sensors located at higher elevations to the north and west are always warmer — clear evidence of a small-scale cold-air-
pooling effect.
While a valley-bottom sensor is expected to record colder temperatures than sensors on the hillside (a fundamental property of cold-air-pooling), further research is needed to understand why the Mill Creek sensor is so much colder than every other sensor, including those farther down the valley.
To this end, two additional sensors were added in October 2022, one a mile up-valley and another a mile down-valley from 14MIA. These sensors confirmed cold-air-pooling was occurring at the confluence of Mill Creek and Ohio Creek, as they both consistently record higher temperatures than 14MIA during a cold-air-pooling event. Looking at the topography, just downstream from the confluence is the narrowest part of the Ohio Creek Valley, with hills just east and west of Ohio Creek. Th e cold-air-pooling likely occurs because these hills block the fl ow of the cold air coming down Mill Creek from the West Elk Mountains, trapping it near the 14MIA sensor.
The team expects to continue the research for at least another year. The team is collaborating with Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory which has installed over 70 weather sensors, primarily in the north end of the valley. The project continues to be valuable to Western Colorado University science and engineering students. Recently, a group of computer science students designed and developed a website, gunnisoncoldpooling.net, for their Senior Capstone Project. The website allows anyone to see the sensor locations on a map, learn more about the project, and easily query and view the temperature data and results.
Thanks to a local donor, the team is excited to add five additional sensors this spring. One of these, a sensor to the top of Tenderfoot Mountain, will use the cellular network to update a website with real-time temperature and humidity data, allowing anyone who is interested to see the dramatic and often surprising diff erences between valley-bottom and mountaintop temperatures in Gunnison.
Gunni Gal Auqua Ponics Mixed Greens, BokChoi, Pea Shoots Spruce & Ruby Organics Local Planting Seeds Mountain Girl Bag Co-Individual Uniquely Handcrafted Removal,
(David Primus is a Gunnison historian and writer.)As summer approaches, snowmelt pours into Blue Mesa Reservoir. Hwy. 50 carves through the sagebrush, winding along the rocky shoreline. The West Elk Mountains dominate the horizon to the north. Out in this high-mountain desert, the potential of the land seems limitless.
In 1984, Jim Loken, a Gunnison resident, harnessed this potential. Loken started the Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch from scratch with a 100-acre piece of land adjacent to Blue Mesa Reservoir. The ranch sits right off Hwy. 50 about 13 miles west of Gunnison. The Loken family grew the ranch into a membership-only entity offering tent camping, cabins, RV sites, clubhouses, pools, miniature golf and other recreational amenities to members.
Loken said it ended up being one of the largest employers in Gunnison. Over the years, the Lokens built 26 ranches in 13 states and one in Mexico. Eventually, 20,000 people became membership holders.
“We actually, at one time, had members that had joined from 38 different states,” Loken said.
Loken said his family no longer wanted to be a part of a nationwide system, leading them to sell the ranches. However, the Loken kids want-
ed to keep Blue Mesa Ranch. The family-operated property caught the attention of Thousand Trails, one of the largest networks of resorts and campgrounds in North America. According to their website, Thousand Trails has been operating since 1969 and owns over 80 locations in 22 states and British Columbia.
In February 2022, Thousand Trails purchased Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch from the Lokens.
“We had got to know the people that ran Thousand Trails over the years because they had considered buying us out in the past,” Loken said. “They wanted more presence in Colorado, so they came in and made the [Loken] kids an offer they really couldn’t refuse.”
Th ousand Trails began overseeing operations at Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch in May of last year. Lori Fisher has been the property manager for the Thousand Trails Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch since then. Although this is her first season working with Thousand Trails, she has been familiar with Blue Mesa for years as a previous Blue Mesa member and former workamper for the Lokens.
“It’s always different when you’re working for a real big corporation than a mom-andpop business, so it’s a shift,” Fisher said. “There’s some things we have to change because it’s a liability, and there’s some things we’re trying to keep the same.”
Thousand Trails will also be opening the ranch to nonmembers for the first time in
its history. Non-members can plan their visit to the ranch at rvonthego.com. But one thing hasn’t changed for those who had Blue Mesa memberships in the past.
“Anybody that was a previous member of Blue Mesa, they allowed the contracts to come over to Thousand Trials, so they still get the same membership,” Fisher said. “So whatever their contract is, Thousand Trails honored their contract.”
However, the Blue Mesa Ranch membership does not grant access to all Thousand Trails campgrounds. Thousand Trails provides zone camping passes, which is an annual membership allowing access to campgrounds located in a
respective zone out of five different zones: the Southwest, Southeast, Northwest, Northeast and Midwest. The southeast zone has the most sites, with 23 campgrounds across seven states. Thousand Trails has three locations in Colorado, including Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch.
Fisher manages the entire campground from the paved RV lots to the cottages nestled in the cottonwoods. Fisher also thinks of creative ways for the campers to interact with the area and each other. Recently, she painted rocks and hid them around the property as a scavenger hunt. Additionally, she hosted a craft sale for campers and community members.
“We didn’t want Blue Mesa members to feel like they’re not getting what they’re used to,” Fisher said. “This is considered their home campground, so they are always able to come here.”
When the ranch was sold, Loken said he was left searching for something to capture his working spirit the way that 100acre plot of land did in 1984. Developing the ranch was a wonderful experience, he said.
“Everything I’ve ever done, I just loved doing it,” Loken said. “So, I couldn’t call it work.”
(Abby Fostveit can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or intern@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Alex McCrindle Times Staff Writer
Glass cases display hundreds of antique beer cans and walls feature historic posters and flashing neon signs inside the Pioneer Museum. The exhibit, titled the “Gary Fabiano Coors Breweriana Collection,” is set to open this June, and volunteers believe it to be one of the most extensive Coors collections in existence.
The collection is attributed to years of dedication from Gunnison realtor Gary Fabiano, who grew an affinity for the beer company during his time studying at Western State College. Now, after numerous acquisitions, the exhibit is set to open in a brand-new building on the Pioneer Museum grounds. The question left on everyone's mind: how does the local display stack up against the largest in the world?
Volunteer Larry McDonald
said the museum has worked to acquire the assortment of Coors memorabilia, and verify its size.
“We’ve tried to contact Coors and the Coors family, and we don’t believe their collections to be as large as Gary’s,” McDonald said. “Gary’s collection is reported to be one of the best Coors collections in the world.”
Fabiano’s passion for Coors began after an early retirement. The collector had graduated from Western State College with a degree in business administration in 1971. Unwilling to move away from the valley to climb corporate ladders, he stayed in Gunnison and founded Monarch Realty Inc. By 1995, Fabiano decided to retire, turning his focus to the Coors brand.
“In 1995, I was 45 years old, retired, without kids, and decided to start collecting this stuff,” Fabiano said. “I went to auctions, I started joining breweriana association clubs, and attending their national meetings. At that point, anything Coors that popped up, I bought.”
Over the last three years, Fabiano agreed to fund a new building at the Pioneer Museum. He has since donated chests of patches and pins, cabinets filled with glassware, and tap handles in the shapes of guitars, chili peppers and state outlines, all branded by Coors.
As final pieces are transported and the collection is complete, McDonald and members of the Gunnison Valley Pioneer and Historical Society are eager to evaluate the size of the collection, and contact Coors for potential collaboration.
“Somebody always has bigger and better, and I don’t know how it compares to other collections,” he said. “But everything in my collection is 1997 or older. This has been my passion for the past 25 years, and something I want to share with the world. I don’t want it broken up, I just want to share it in Gunnison, my home, and a place that will be in my heart forever.”
This summer, annual passes to the Pioneer Museum are available for $25, extend-
ing from the beginning of May until the end of September.
The museum volunteers aim to open the Coors collection by mid-June.
RV sites overlooking Blue Mesa Reservoir fill up at the Thousand Trails Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch. Abby Fostveit (Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@ gunnisontimes.com) Rows of antique Coors cans line the shelves at the Pioneer Museum
A crowd gathered at the Gunnison Cemetery on Monday morning, May 29, for the annual Memorial Day ceremony. Local pastor Bryon Roberts bookended the ceremony with prayers and Mike Callihan gave the keynote speech which highlighted the struggles and sacrifices of veterans.
Crested Butte Museum camp and tour
Join The Crested Butte Museum June 11-15 for a fiveday journey throughout the San Juans exploring historic and geologic sites with historian Duane Vandenbusche and geologist Steve Jenkins. This tour includes all transportation leaving from Gunnison, all accommodations, all tour and activity fees, a fi eld note booklet and select meals throughout the trip. Register by May 10 by visiting crestedbuttemuseum.com/san-juan-tour or call 970.349.1880 for more information.
The Environmental Protection Agency invites the public to learn about the status of remediation and bulkhead closure plans at the Standard Mine Superfund Site on Mt. Emmons. The public meeting will be held June 8 from 4-5 p.m. More info can be found by sending an email to duggan.jessica@epa.gov.
Free raspberry cultivation class
Join us for a free workshop at Gunnison Gardens Greenhouse located at 600 W. Hwy. 50 from 2-5 p.m. on June 4. Learn about best practices for growing raspberries at altitude.
Singles nights will focus on an introduction to wheel throwing. On the first Friday of the month, starting June 2 from 6-9 p.m., students will learn to center, pull and shape their own masterpiece. All ability ranges are welcome. The instructor is Cat Avila and the cost is $64 per member and $75 for non-members.
Sweet servers
Dish up those favorite sweet
Bethany Church
treats in your very own set of dessert bowls. On June 7 from 6-9 p.m. students will create a pair of dessert dishes using playful texture and hand building techniques. All ability ranges are welcome. The instructor is Kristin Gruenberger, and the cost is $64 for members and $75 for non-members.
Join us Thursdays from 5-7 p.m. on June 3-July 1 for this photography workshop (the first and
Mark your calendar now for June 13 at 11:30 a.m. at Gunnison Library where the League of Women Voters will host a light lunch and the annual June official business meeting. The program is a recap of legislative action in Denver, election of officers and planning for summer events.
Pollinator workshop
The Water Wise Pollinator Gardening Workshop will take place on June 9 from 12:30-5 p.m. at the BLM building at 2500 East New York Ave. in Gunnison. We will have speakers on best management for pollinators, local native plants to propagate and native pollinators in our area, landscape design and then a hands on
last class meets on Saturdays from 2-8 p.m.) This is for 21 and younger and will teach the fundamentals of photography through the lens of documentary and culminate with a group exhibition at the GAC. No experience necessary. All photo equipment will be provided. Space is limited. The instructors are Gunnison Country Times photographers Jacob Spetzler, Morgan Raspanti and Abby Harrison. $50 sliding scale workshop fee. For more information email jacobspetzler@gmail. com.
session on planting native species. The workshop is free and includes a goody bag for the first 35 participants to sign up. RSVP to marcella.tarantino@ usda.gov or 970.707.3049.
Blue Mesa tour
Take a tour on June 6 with David Primus to explore what was Beneath Blue Mesa. Dave has been researching this topic for over 20 years and has recently published the book “Beneath Blue Mesa: The Gunnison River Valley Before the Reservoir.” He will stop at various locations to point out and discuss the three towns, sixteen fishing resorts/ hotels and fifteen ranches that once existed along this 23-mile stretch of the Gunnison River. Register at western.edu/academics/center-learning-innovation, then click on "Local History."
Baked at altitude
Struggling with one-wholecookie-sheet cookies? Do your brownies droop and your bread is a puck? Join us in our incredible new kitchen for this 2-hour Sunday workshop. From 10 a.m.12 p.m. on June 4. Learn all of the tips and tricks to turn out bakery quality treats at 7,700 feet. The instructor is Brieanna Radford, and the cost is $51 per member and $60 for non-members.
909 N Wisconsin St. (behind Powerstop) • 970-641-2144
Summer schedule, One service at 9am! gunnisonbethany.com
9 am: Family Service with nursery & children’s church Check out our website for updates! Or download our app on the App Store by searching, Gunnison Bethany.
B'nai Butte Congregation
PO Box 2537 Crested, Butte CO 81224 305-803-3648 www.bnaibutte.org
Friday night service, June 9th-Shabbatluck at the Kaufmann’s-bring a dish and drink to share
Saturday June 10th-10:30 AM, Meet with Rabbi Mark at Rumors Coffee in CB Noon- Baby Naming service for Shaiah, daughter of Tal and Cayden, Rainbow Park
3:30-5pm: Hike with B’nai Butte at Whetstone Vista
5pm- Havdallah service at the Bilows-bring an appetizer and drink to share
Sunday June 11th- Torah study at the Rolfes, Gunnison Spiritual Leader; Rabbi Mark Kula, RabbiMarkKula@gmail.com www.bnaibutte.org for additional details
Church of Christ
600 E. Virginia • 970-641-1588
Sunday Morning Bible Class: 9:30 a.m.
Sunday Morning Worship: 10:30 a.m.
Sunday Evening Worship: 6 p.m.
Wednesday Night Bible Class: 7 p.m.
Community Church of Gunnison
107 N. Iowa • 970-641- 0925
Pastor Larry Nelson
Sunday Morning Worship 9:30 a.m.
Nursery & Age-Graded Ministry
Weekly Student Ministry
Weekly Adult LifeGroups
Office Hours: Mon-Thurs, 9:00-4:00
For more info: ccgunnison.com or email info@ccgunnison.com
Join us in-person, listen to our broadcast on 98.3 FM, or view online stream on YouTube
Transforming Lives • Building Community
First Baptist Church
120 N. Pine St. • 970-641-2240
Pastor Jonathan Jones
9:30 A.M. Share & Prayer Fellowship
10 A.M. Sunday School Classes
11 A.M. Morning Worship Service
6 P.M. Evening Service
Wednesday 7 PM - Children's Patch Club
Gunnison Bible Institute
Thursday 7 PM - College & Career Christian Fellowship www.firstbaptistgunnison.org.
The Good Samaritan
Episcopal Church
307 W. Virginia Ave. • 970-641-0429
Rev. Laura Osborne, Vicar
Sunday Morning Holy Eucharist, Rite II 9 a.m.
Children's Sunday school 9 a.m. - 9:40 a.m. Office Hours: M-Th 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. www.goodsamaritangunnison.com
Visit our partnership church: All Saints in the Mountains, Crested Butte Holy Eucharist, Rite II, Sunday 5 p.m. Union Congregational Church, 407 Maroon Ave., Crested Butte.
Gunnison Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
317 N. Main St. • 970-641-3203
Open and Affirming
Whole Earth · Just Peace
Sunday, 10:00 a.m.
Casual, Relaxed, “Come As You Are” Worship www.gunnisonucc.org
Grace Covenant
Church Gunnison
101 N. 8th St. Gunnison
Meeting at the Historic 8th St School House
Reformed, Confessional & committed to Expository preaching
Sundays 10:00 a.m.
Thursdays 1:00 p.m.
Women's Bible Study gracegunnison.com
Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church
711 N. Main • 970-641-1860
Bible Study and Sunday School at 9:00 a.m. on Sundays
Church Service at 10:00 a.m. on Sundays
Pastor Robert Carabotta, Pastor Jacob With
New Song
Christian Fellowship
77 Ute Lane • 970-641-5034
A Christ Centered Gospel Sharing
Community where we want to be part of a community who encourage and support one another in our spiritual journey.
Sunday 10am / Wednesday 7pm www.newsonggunnison.net
Join us for the Sacred Feminine Circle on June 6 at 7 p.m. at the UCC in Crested Butte located at 403 Maroon Ave.
The Gunnison Valley Theatre Festival will be held June 8-24 at the Quigley Bandshell on Western Colorado University campus and the Crested Butte Center for the Arts. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $10 for students and $100 for a season pass. For tickets visit westerntheatrecompany.squarespace.com.
Monday through Thursday, June 5-June 8 from 12-3 p.m., students aged 10-15 will learn the fundamentals of wheel throwing, hand building, coil building and slip and scoring to make fun masterpieces. Each day they will make a new project. All ability ranges are welcome. The cost is $149 for members, $175 for non-members or $44 for the daily drop in fee.
Rocky Mountain Christian Ministries
1040 Highway 135 (1/4 mile N. of Spencer Ave.) • 970-641-0158
Sunday Morning Worship 9:30am
Nursery and Children’s ministry through Middle School
“Remedy” Worship Nights Small Group Ministries www.rmcmchurch.org
St. Peter’s Catholic Church
300 N. Wisconsin • 970-641-0808
Fr. Andres Ayala-Santiago
www.gunnisoncatholic.org
www.crestedbuttecatholic.org or call the Parish Office.
St. Peter's - Gunnison Sat 8:30 am, 6:30 pm & Sun 10:30 am, 12:00 pm (Spanish) Mass
First Sunday of every month
bilingual Mass at 11am
Queen of All Saints - Crested Butte, 401 Sopris Sun 8:30am Mass
St. Rose of Lima - Lake City Mass Service, Sat 4:00pm
Trinity Baptist Church
523 N. Pine St. • 970-641-1813
Senior Pastor - Joe Ricks
Sunday Service 9:30 a.m.
Adult Bible Study 8:00 AM www.trinitybaptistsgunnison.com
The Crested Butte Center for the Arts hosted the fourth annual Mountain Words Festival over the weekend, May 25-28. Over 40 authors and presenters participated. Writers in attendance included Ted Conover, author of “Cheap Land Colorado: Off Gridders at America’s Edge”and Heather Hansman, who wrote “Powder Days Ski Bums, Ski Towns and the Future of Snow.” The founders of the Colorado Sun spoke about the current state of journalism in the West before a diverse group of scientists, journalists and historians discussed water policy.
Proceeds help support local shooting sports, the Gunnison Sportsman's Association and Gun Education. Proceeds do not go to NRA Politics. HELP STOP GUN
“Gunnison
On Thursday, May 25, local toddlers stepped out of their usual evening routines to race in the second annual strider and stacyc bike competition at Jorgensen Park, hosted by Gunnison Parks and Rec. At 5:30 p.m., the 2-3 year old group kicked off their no-pedal, balance-bikes for the first round of half-track racing. This was followed by a 4-year-old fleet on traditional balance-bikes and a second, smaller group of 4-year-olds on stacycs, which are electric balance-bikes. Over the next hour, each group went around the track three times. All participants received a dog tag necklace and Tootsie Roll lollipop. Tears were minimal and all racers made it home on time for dinner, baths and bed. For more photos, see B10.
Jacob Spetzler
Photo and Sports Editor
The shouts, cheers and crack of bats hitting softballs emanated from Jorgensen Park on May 25, at the first home youth softball game of the year.
The U12 fastpitch game against North Fork marked the true beginning of summer sports in the Gunnison Valley. The adult softball league is already two weeks in and now that school is out, the rest of the youth softball and baseball teams will start competing this week. Alongside the usual staples of softball, baseball, tennis and swimming, Gunnison Recreation Supervisor Ginny Baylor said the Rec Center will also offer a few new programs this summer.
The Never Ever Mountain Biking program is one. The first
session is already halfway finished but, due to “overwhelming popularity and a huge waitlist,” the Rec Center plans to off er a second session in July. Program founder Erin Smith, who also coaches the new mountain bikers, was inspired to start it after participating in Never Ever Hockey lessons over the winter.
The second new program is a strider and stacyc race series for riders under the age of 5. The Rec Center hosted two last summer and Baylor said the demand has remained. The department put on two trial races to gauge interest on May 25 and June 1.
Baylor said the race series so far has been a great success. Almost 40 young riders came out for the race last Thursday. She also said she received several requests for a pedal race division which she plans to trial this week. For more races are currently scheduled for late summer.
The Parks and Rec Department’s rock climbing program is also expanding with Coach Chris Lindner step-
ping up to lead it. Classes will be offered for all skill and age ranges and begin on June 6. Lindner enjoyed a storied professional climbing career before settling in Gunnison where he works in IT at Western Colorado University.
Aside from the standard game schedule for baseball and softball, the Rec Center has also coordinated three summer tournaments. The first, the Summer Slam, is set to take place in two weeks, June 9-11 and is for the U12 and U14 teams. The weekend after, the annual Diamonds in the Rockies fastpitch tournament for U12, U14, U16 and U18 teams is scheduled for June 16-18. The Gunnison Showdown, a baseball tournament for U10 and U12, is slated for July 1 and 2.
The only piece of the Rec Center seasonal calendar that’s being scaled back is its youth summer camp. Western is growing its own summer camp, providing ample opportunities for daytime programming. The Rec Center will still offer a half day, afternoon camp called Rec Trek
for kids ages 6-10.
Baylor said the enthusiasm for Rec Center programs is as high as ever which means the need for coaches, umpires and other adult volunteers remains consistent.
“We’re always looking to hire,” she said.
For specific dates or more
information about summer programming, pick up a summer program guide at the Gunnison Rec Center or visit gunnisonco. gov/departments/parks___recreation/.
(Jacob Spetzler can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or jacob@gunnisontimes.com.)
The Gunnison U12 fastpitch softball team took on its North Fork counterpart at home last Wednesday, May 24, kicking off the youth softball season. The game ended in a 15-15 tie after three innings. Coach Brett Adkins said the score was reassuring considering most of the other teams got almost a full-month headstart on practicing, while the Gunnison athletes waited for the local fields to dry out.
In U12, games are limited to five points per inning, per team, and a 75-90 minute run time. Both teams took full advantage of every at-bat, pulling in the maximum number of points. Going into the third inning with the score set at 15-10, Gunnison knew there was no room for miscalculations.
“They knew that. We told them, ‘look girls, you got to score your five runs’” Adkins said. “And they went in and
they did it and against the better pitcher on that team. We were really excited, and I think they even impressed themselves a little bit.”
Adkins highlighted the pitchers — Brynn Romero, Kylie Robbins and Ruby Wallin — contributed to keeping pace with North Fork.
Adkins is joined by coaches Keith Wallin and Krissy Robbins. Adkins also said high school softball coach Leslie
D’Lorenzo is occasionally helping with batting practice.
The U12 team is set to play again this Friday, June 2 — a doubleheader away game against Delta. The team’s next home game is scheduled for Thursday, June 8 against Buena Vista at 4 p.m.
(Jacob Spetzler can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or jacob@gunnisontimes.com.)
On May 30 and 31, GHS
freshman Aiden Tomlin
competed in the 3A State Tournament at the Aspen Golf Course. Following the first 18 holes, Tomlin finished the day with a score of 113. Scores for the fi nal round were not available by press time.
Head Coach Kevin Mickelson said he was proud of Tomlin’s high-level performance on a challenging course.
“She did really great, this was her first time playing a long course, with lots of bunkers and diabolical greens,” he said.
“Aspen Golf Course is a very difficult course, but it’s a good test of skill, and the experience she is getting is invaluable for her golf career.”
Tomlin endured a difficult spell at the beginning of the round, but was able to settle in and shoot lower scores as the course progressed. She said the difficult greens brought her score up, but she credited the impact of her coach in helping her mentally overcome the setbacks.
“I’m so grateful for Coach Mickelson and his encouragement,” she said. “Not just today, but throughout the season. The nerves got in the way of my thinking, and he really helped.”
Mickelson, who caddied for her throughout the entire 18 holes, offered assistance throughout the round.
“I just told her it's water off a duck’s butt, just let it go and work her way through it,” Mickelson said. “She showed a lot of character in mentally
fighting back.”
Tomlin said she hopes to take lessons from the first round into her final round on May 31.
“My goals for tomorrow are just to slow down, and appreciate playing at state as a freshman,” she said. “It’s such an awesome opportunity.”
(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Two weeks ago, May 12-13, the eighth grade West Elk lacrosse team came back from an early-bracket loss to win first place at a tournament in Aspen. In the first round, the team beat Vail 9-2, before winning over Steamboat, 3-2. During the next round, West Elk fell to Grand Valley 5-3, but dominated Montrose, 7-0. The Montrose game sent West Elk into the championship game where the team re-met Grand Valley — this time winning 4-2. The West Elk team includes Gunnison Valley players and athletes from the Summit County lacrosse program. This year the Gunnison Valley group played with the motto P4C which stands for Play for Cruise, referencing Cruise Verdeccia, a teammate who had to forego his season to undergo brain surgery.
Father’s Day BBQ Cookout & Whiskey Tasting
ON THE PAVILLION
All events, restaurant and bar, golf are open to the public
Saturday June 17th • 3-6pm
Reservations required
BBQ Brisket, Pulled BBQ Chicken, BBQ Carnitas Tacos and much more.
Whiskeys from around the world.
Live music provided by Neil Hall local singer/songwriter performing originals, classic rock and country.
$40 per person
continued from B8
Morgan Raspanti
Courtesy Ginny Baylor
Many adults feel there’s no better way to relax than curling up with a good book. Though a relaxing afternoon of reading may appeal to adults, kids could prove a little more reluctant to crack a book.
Children have much to gain from reading and being read to. Reading aloud to children supports their cognitive development; improves their language skills; prepares them for academic success; increases their discipline and ability to concentrate; and improves their imagination and creativity. Many of those same benefits apply to kids who read on their own, which may be more appealing as kids advance through elementary school and aspire to become more independent.
Since children have so much to gain from cuddling up with a good book, parents can try these strategies to encourage kids to read more.
Allow kids to read the same book . Parents of young readers or children learning to read undoubtedly know how much children like to read the same book over and over again. Though that might not engage moms and dads, experts note that allowing kids to read the same books again and again is an effective way to foster a love of reading in children. Researchers have linked reading repetition to greater vocabulary acquisition and improved reading comprehension, among other benefits. Kids are more likely to enjoy reading if they recognize more words and can better understand the stories.
Take a book along when running errands or traveling. The Children’s Book Review notes that books can be just as handy in cars as tablets and other devices kids use to watch movies while on the go. On long road trips, promise a movie after kids have read for an hour. When running errands with the
kids in tow, encourage them to read by keeping a couple of books or magazines in the backseat at all times.
Practice positive reinforcement with emerging readers. Another way to encourage young readers to pick up a book more often is to praise their efforts even if they struggle with words. Patience can go a long way toward instilling a love of reading in children. If kids are struggling with a word or words, read the sentence aloud with them. Reading also has a tendency to pique readers’ curiosity, so parents can encourage kids to ask questions about the books they read and help them find answers to those questions if necessary.
Enroll kids in library read-
THE 2023 EVENTS RUN FROM SATURDAY, JUNE 3 TO SUNDAY, AUG. 27.
EVERY WEEK:
Monday: 10 a.m. Storytime @ Gunnison LibraryTuesday: 10 a.m. Storytime @ Crested Butte Library
Wednesdays: 11 am Storytime @ Red Mountain Park, Crested Butte South Park 2:30-4 p.m. Craft Club @ Gunnison Library & Crested Butte Library
Thursday: 10 a.m. Storytime @ Gunnison Library
Friday: 10 a.m. Storytime @ Crested Butte Library
EVERY MONTH:
ing programs. Summer reading programs sponsored by local libraries have been found to be conducive to promoting reading in young children. Preschool and summer reading programs encourage children to spend significant amounts of time with books and also encourage parents to play a greater role in their children’s literacy development. Participation in such programs is typically free of charge, so there’s no reason why families cannot take advantage of these highly effective programs.
Reading benefi ts children in many ways. Parents can look to various strategies to foster a love of reading in their children.
(Source: Metro Creative.)
Weekend special events for the whole family including: Summer Sustainability Symposium on June 3 at Crested Butte Library Polka Party on July 21 at Gunnison Library Bubble Bonanza at both libraries in August
• June 1 (RSVP Required): Guided Wildflower Hike – FlatTop Trail. Prepare to be amazed on this hike! Spaces limited.
• June 6 (RSVP Required): Hike – Change in Location – Mill Creek. Rated Easy. Join us to get ready for the rest of the hiking season!
• June 8 (RSVP Required): Guided Bird-Watching Walk @ Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery. Participants must also Gunnison, or online.
• June 13 (RSVP Required): Hike – Curecanti Creek. Rated Easy + for incline (descending and ascending). This
• June 14 (12:45pm): Region 10 – Area on Aging Four-Year Plan. programs!
Monday
• Computer Use (9 a.m.)
• Bridge (1 p.m.)
Wednesday
NEXT WEEK’S MENU:
• Mon., June 5: Spaghetti, corn, salad, homemade garlic bread
• Weds., June 7: Hamburgers, macaroni salad, baked beans, tater tots
• Fri., June 9: Goulash, cucumber salad, homemade rolls, fruit
Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays – 11:30 a.m. arrival.
Pick-ups from 11 – 11:15 a.m. $5 per meal. Advance orders encouraged: 970-641-8272. Homemade desserts with every meal!
AT THE SENIOR CENTER
ALL SENIOR CENTER PROGRAM INFO & RSVPS: EGILLIS@GUNNISONCO.GOV OR 970-641-8272.
• Book Club (1st
Thursday
• Bridge (1 p.m.)
Friday
• Art Club
• Mahjong (1 p.m.)
Whether one places a dollop in tea or drizzles some in a yogurt smoothie, honey is the sweet finish that can make various foods and beverages taste that much better. In fact, honey is perhaps Mother Nature’s most natural sweetener.
While honey in any form can provide its share of healthy off erings, raw honey — which is unprocessed and taken straight from a honeycomb — may be even healthier than the alternatives. That’s especially true for seniors looking for relief from a variety of agerelated ailments.
According to a report in Medical News Today, some people believe that processing honey, which often involves pasteurization, removes many of its natural beneficial elements. But honey taken straight from the beehive contains bee pollen, bee propolis and scores of antioxidants.
Individuals interested in trying raw, local honey should consider buying it from a trusted local or regional producer. For those who need more con-
vincing, the following are five beneficial properties of raw honey.
Antioxidants. Raw honey contains plant chemicals that act as antioxidants. Healthline says some types of honey have as many antioxidants as fruits and vegetables, which can protect the body from free radicals that damage cells.
Antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Raw honey has antimicrobial properties that could kill certain bacteria, researchers have found. That is perhaps why honey long has been used as a natural salve for wounds. Honey can soothe a sore throat, and it also can attack bacteria in the throat responsible for certain illnesses. Healthline says raw honey also has been studied for its use against certain Candidarelated infections.
Allergy relief. Raw, local honey is made from local flowers and flowering plants. By ingesting local honey regularly, a person is taking in small, manageable doses of allergens from their area, which can help
build up an immunity to these allergens over time.
Digestive relief. Raw honey has been studied for use in treatment for H. pylori bacteria, a common cause of stomach ulcers. Raw honey also may help people overcome diarrhea. Honey contains prebiotics, which nourish good bacteria that live in the gut.
Brain health. A study published in the journal Pharmacognosy Research found ingredients of honey have anti-inflammatory properties that may help fight inflammation in an area of the brain called the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory.
Raw, local honey can help protect the environment because the public has a vested interest in maintaining natural spaces and healthy bee populations. It is available from various vendors, notably small operations at farmers markets who take quality control seriously.
(Source: Metro Creative.)
It was the July 3, 1880, edition of the Gunnison Review that announced the arrival of the Honorable George Willard and added that he was proposing to “give the people of Gunnison and vicinity solid comfort during these days of sunshine and dust. He will erect a first-class bathhouse on Tumitchi avenue south of Main. Let us have it by all means as the printers and lawyers need renovating the worst kind.” That was the last reference I found regarding the “first-class bath house”, but Mr. Willard would go on to play an important role in the establishment of one of our most iconic buildings, and during the summer of 1882 that building went by the name of the “Willard House”.
A March 10, 1882, article reported that Mr. Willard, of Ironton, Ohio, and president of the First National Bank there, “has been in this state two weeks and has already invested thirty-eight thousand dollars in it, and he remarked yesterday that he had been so favorably impressed with all he saw that he did not know how much more he might invest before he got away.”
Captain Loudon Mullin had begun preparations for a new hotel a few months earlier by accepting bids for excavating and construction of the stone foundation and with financial support from Mr. Willard, the May 18 edition of the Gunnison Daily Review reported, “The busiest place in Gunnison just now is in the basement of the new Willard House on the Boulevard. With forty stone cutters, tenders, etc., business in that vicinity would naturally be a little lively.” And with our newspaper’s on-going
rivalry with another boomtown, “The Leadville Herald says Gunnison contemplates the erection of an eighty-thousand-dollar hotel. An eighty-thousand-dollar hotel may do for Leadville but nothing short of a hotel to cost $100,000 will do for Gunnison, and Capt. Mullin says that will be the cost of the new Willard House he is now putting up here on the Boulevard.”
Work progressed on the Willard House at a frenzied pace throughout the summer of ’82 and in mid-July the News-Democrat reported that Mr. Willard was heading to Bolivia to engage in prospecting and mining there. The next mention of him appears in mid-August in an article titled, “The Lewis House”, and states that Mr. Willard “has become financially embarrassed and has withdrawn from the enterprise. The new house will now be known as the Lewis House.”
Construction continued on the “Lewis House” somewhat slower than those involved had initially planned, and it was a March 22, 1884, article that reported, “The name of the Lewis hotel will be changed to “La Veta” when it opens. Mr. Ben Lewis objected to the present name from the first. It was given the hotel by the directors without Mr. Lewis’ consent. The new name is a good one and will be appropriate for the name of a popular resort as the proprietors propose to make it.”
La Veta is a fitting name for the hotel that ended up costing well over $200,000, and its story is incredibly intriguing. We encourage locals and tourists alike to visit the Pioneer Museum and view its extensive collection of artifacts and photos of this iconic piece of our fascinating history.
MUSEUM OPEN DAILY 9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.
FROM MAY 15 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30.
Admission $15 ages 13+, $5 for ages 6-12, Free for 5 and under. Follow us on Facebook for current information and amazing local history!
In 1990, from July 31 to Aug. 4, three Soviet navy ships sailed into San Diego Bay to port. At the time, I was a corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps stationed at the Naval Amphibious School in Coronado, California.
I was selected, along with others, to represent our country in a professional exchange. There were about 30 of us — including four Marines — and around 200 of them. As the Soviet sailors departed the small transport ships, they seemed to hug the dock’s edge about 20 feet away, as if they were in gym class before their first game of dodgeball.
Nobody was speaking, but we noticed that most of the visitors had their eyes on us Marines. Then one of the people from the translation team said we should greet them, and we did.
We started our tour, and a couple of the Soviet sailors approached one of the translators and spoke to them, still looking at us. The translator then approached us.
“I don’t know how to explain you guys to them,” she said. “I called you ‘naval infantry,’ but they think you are Spetsnaz.”
(Spetsnaz was a famous Soviet special forces unit.)
“We’re not Spetsnaz, we’re just Marines,” someone said.
“[Compared] to the Navy we are, though,” one of the Marines said.
The U.S. sailors groaned and then laughed, and the translator explained the banter to the Soviets. They smiled and said that their military did the same.
As the tour progressed, when the leadership of the Soviet group saw the parking lot, they began to point and rapidly talk to the translators.
“They want to know who the cars belong to,” the translator said.
I pointed out mine and told them that all the cars belonged to officers and enlisted at the school. The Soviet officers and their senior staff began clambering in amazement.
“They want to know how you get [the owners] not to just leave and not come back!”
Later, the tour included a br iefi ng from a U.S. Navy master chief on equipment we used to load and unload ships. He became annoyed when he realized that all the Soviet sailors had their backs turned to him — looking once again at cars in the parking lot. Seeing this, the Chief arranged for the cars’ drivers to go outside and show them off
Alongside the cars was a Harley-Davison motorcycle that belonged to the Chief. He waved over one of the young Soviet sailors and had him sit on the bike, then started and revved it. He let the young man rev it up himself. It was like Christmas morning, judging from the look on the sailor’s face.
We ended the tour at the mess hall with a feast to remember. The mess chief was concerned, because the visitors weren’t eating any of the fruit that was displayed on the table with an ice sculpture. A translator explained they didn’t dare touch it, because, on their ship, fruit was only for high ranking officers. Hearing this, the mess chief began passing out the fruit and made sure that bags of oranges and bananas were loaded on the buses that came to take them back.
During their stay, these men were welcomed into the homes and hearts of San Diego. For
years they had been part of a dark and ominous force that was “out to get us.” In those few days, they were just men away from home — young men like
our own that serve their country.
Nothing says summer in Gunnison quite like the sound of the Grateful Dead outside on a warm evening. Easy Jim delivered the first of many such nights to come on Sunday, May 28 at the I Bar Ranch as the finale to the Growler weekend campout.
With school winding down and weather warming up, the Gunnison Community School held field days every morning of last week, with different grades taking part each day. Three legged-races, bubbles and snowcones comprised only a few of the stations.
