On July 25, the residents of Gunnison’s Frontier Land mobile home park received a notice that the owner had terminated their leases. They have Eviction, A8
NEWS: Nearly $7 million spent on Lowline Fire, A6
COMMUNITY: Western student brightens campus with murals, B1
Despite recent heavy winds, the fire crews working at the Lowline Fire have made significant progress in containing the wildfire.
As of Wednesday, Aug. 9, the Lowline Fire had spread to 1,870 acres and was 55% contained. After discussions with
fire officials, the Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office lifted the evacuation order in the Mill Creek drainage area on Aug. 4. The area will remain under a pre-evacuation notice, likely for the duration of the fire. County Road 727 is closed except to local homeowners.
The Lowline Fire, which is burning only 14 miles north of Gunnison, was reported at 8 a.m. on July 26 on a ridge between Squirrel and Mill creeks. Fire experts believe a lightning strike caused the wildfire. Over the past two weeks, the fire has continued to
spread slowly, fueled by warming temperatures and a lack of precipitation.
According to Lowline Fire public information officer Kimberly Kaschalk, the wind has worked in the fire crew’s favor. This week, the wind has mostly been moving out of the west and northwest, pushing the fire back onto itself. It also gave firefighters the opportunity to test their existing fire lines along the east portion of the fire, which borders some of the neighborhoods in the Ohio Creek drainage.
“The conditions are a little bit
SPORTS: Stingrays take on the best at state, B6
OBITUARIES A2-A3
OPINION A4-A5
CLASSIFIEDS A19-A22
SPORTS B6
more extreme than we would like,” Kaschalk said. “But we need to challenge those lines. We need to make sure they are going to hold.”
Although the acreage has increased gradually, Kaschalk said the overall growth of the Lowline Fire has been very minimal and much of the lingering smoke is from interior pockets within the fire. The wildfire burned in what fire managers call a “mosaic,” a mixture of heavily and lighter burned areas, with patches in between.
Lowline, A6
Despite a season of abundant spring rainfall and runoff in the Gunnison Valley, the late arrival of monsoon season has set the stage for fire, robbing the basin of the moisture it relies on each year to reduce the chance of starts.
After nearly a month of lit-
tle-to-no precipitation, the valley started registering drought conditions in mid-July. Lack of monsoon rains and high temperatures have exacerbated and prolonged the drying pattern, bringing drought back to the county and setting the stage for multiple fire starts around the Western Slope. Although a few storms have graced the valley recently, more significant precipitation is not expected for at least a week.
Each year around mid-July, monsoon rains travel north
See story A15
The League of Women Voters of the Gunnison Valley has invited all candidates running for the Gunnison School Board to participate in public forums in Crested Butte and Gunnison this fall. Details will be forthcoming regarding the dates and venues.
The League is soliciting questions from the public. Questions should focus on the issues that are important to the school community. A committee will select the final questions that will be asked at the forums. They may be edited to meet the League’s nonpartisan standards.
All candidates will be asked the same questions in the forum and will receive the selected questions in advance.
Questions can be submitted at the League’s website, lwvgunnison.org., emailed to school_election@lwvgunnison.org or mailed to LWVGV, 322 N Wisconsin St., Gunnison, CO 81230. Questions must be submitted no later than Aug 18. Questions sent via the mail need to be received by Aug 18.
w
Crews mobilized on Monday, Aug. 7 to begin permanent repairs to Hwy. 133 at mile marker 16, which was damaged from a sinkhole following heavy spring runoff.
Traffic will continue to utilize the temporary bridge structure while work is performed below the roadway surface. Traffic impacts for permanent repairs are expected to be minimal.
Once the culvert is replaced, the final phase will be to remove the temporary bridge and begin the prep work for final paving and striping. During this final phase, traffic may be moved down to a single lane. This is expected to be short term.
It is anticipated all work will be complete by Nov. 17, 2023.
Valerie Hoagland was born on Dec. 18, 1946 in Chicago, Illinois to Everett R. Fornecker and Stephanie Barciak Fornecker. Valerie was blessed with one older sister, Mary A. Salz and one younger brother, Randy R. Fornecker. She had one child, Eva Marie Lovin and four grandchildren, Hanna, Jack, Ben and Sam. There were also several nieces and nephews.
Valerie grew up in Boulder, Colorado, graduated from Fairview High School and received an associate’s degree in business administration. She worked in the treasurer’s office at Western State College from 1967-1971. From there, she moved to Hanau, Germany for two years and then returned to Boulder after spending six weeks in Czechoslovakia, where she met her grandfather and her cousins while the country was still under Communist rule. She met her second husband, Bruce S. Hoagland, in Boulder. They were married in July of 1982.
In late summer of 1985, Valerie and Bruce moved to Gunnison and were both avid flyfishers. They built a log home on the Gunnison River and enjoyed all the beauty of the Gunnison Country.
Valerie worked at Gunnison Savings and Loan for six years. She was a parish member at St. Peter’s Catholic Church and became a secular laity in the Carmelite Third Order. She pursued her studies in religious formation after the death of her husband, Bruce, and made promises for a virtuous life. She served on the parish council of St. Peter’s for several years. She loved to make handmade quilts
and give them to relatives and friends. She kept the rest of her life simple and unassuming.
Valerie passed away at the University of Colorado Medical Center in palliative care on July 24, 2023. She is survived by her daughter, Eva Marie Lovin of Greely, Colorado, four grandchildren, Hanna Lovin of Colorado Springs, J. Lovin of Gunnison, Benjamin Lovin and Sam Lovin, both of Greely, her brother, Randall (Barbara) Fornecker of Estill Springs, Tennessee and her sister, Mary Ann Salz of Thornton, Colorado.
Officiating pallbearers are Randall Fornecker, Nick O’Neil, Jason Kibler, Mike Salz, Jack Lovin and Matthew Schauman.
The Rosary will be said at 6 p.m. on Aug. 13 and funeral mass will be held on Aug. 14 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Gunnison, 301 N. Wisconsin St., with burial to follow at Gunnison Cemetery, District #1, 41001 E. Hwy. 50.
Glenna Faye HoskinsGlenna Faye Hoskins went to be with her Lord on Saturday night, July 22, 2023. It was exactly two days after her 52nd wedding anniversary. She passed peacefully in her sleep with her family at her side.
Glenna was born at home in Morgan Mill, Texas on July 19, 1937. Her parents were Albert and Arbie Yancy, who owned a small grocery store much like the one featured in the old radio show called “Lum and Abner.” She was the eldest of three children with a younger brother named Don and a sister named Martha.
After graduating from high school, she attended Tarleton Junior College and the University of North Texas in Denton, where she received her degree in education. After graduation she taught third and fourth grade classes in various cities throughout Texas.
Glenna actually had two careers, one as a Navy wife and the other as a school teacher. She excelled at both.
As a Navy wife, she moved
often and got to see much of the world, including places like Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines and various cities in the U.S.
Of her two careers, the second, being a Navy wife, was probably the most stressful as well as the most rewarding. In addition to being required to move about every two years, she often had to manage the entire household while her husband was away due to temporary duty or ship deployment. Nevertheless, she didn’t neglect her first career, that of being a teacher.
As a teacher, she taught on a full-time basis in various Texas cities. It was in one of these, Victoria, where she met her husband, P.D. Hoskins, and her life changed completely. She gave up her career as a full-time teacher and only taught as a substitute in the cities where they were stationed.
One interesting sidelight in her teaching career was when she taught English to a group of Japanese executives in the auto parts industry. Now, automobile executives in Detroit are sometimes visited by Japanese businessmen speaking English with a Texas accent.
Later, she had more time to enjoy life and developed hobbies to fill her leisure time. The two most important ones were golf and fishing. Much of her vacation time was devoted to those two hobbies. In her retirement years, she spent summers in Colorado and winters in Texas, where she became quite adept in both sports.
Glenna is survived by her husband, P. D. Hoskins, her daughter, Elvah Yates, who now resides in Temple, Texas, three granddaughters, Emily Martinka, Hannah Frank and Jessie Vrana, along with four great-grandchildren. She also has a stepson, Ralph Hoskins and three stepdaughters, Teri Rathweg, Nancy Schmidt and Carolyn Hoskins. Her son, Glendon Willingham, preceded her in death.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at
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Marcia J. Neal
Marcia Neal was born on November 9, 1933 in Gunnison to Don and Gwendolyn (Peacock) McKee. She grew up on a ranch nine miles north of Gunnison on Ohio Creek. They had no electricity until she was about 6 years old and Franklin Delano Roosevelt established the Rural Electric Association. Her father was of the third generation of McKee ranchers in Gunnison, having made their way from Chebanse, Illinois in the late 1870s. She had a sister, Ann, and two brothers, Don (Jr.) and Keith. Marcia graduated from Gunnison High School and then from Western State College in 1955. In 1957, she married Russell Neal, also from Gunnison. After a fairly brief stay in Denver, they moved to Grand Junction, where she remained. She and Russell had three children, Melissa, T.J. and Mitch.
Marcia was an employee of KREX for several years and saw the introduction of television to Western Colorado. There was one channel on the air from 4:30-10:30 p.m. for quite a few years. She was there when John Fitzgerald Kennedy visited and later had the dubious distinction of likely being the first person in Grand Junction to hear of his death. Marcia was walking by the teletype machine when it erupted into the famous “shots fired in Dallas, Texas” scenario. She tore it off and carried it up to the radio broadcasting booth to Bill Cleary.
She later moved on to a
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“This kind of work is a way to make sure that you can have the growth we all need to live, but not in a way where you’ve lost your soul in the process.”
-Wade Shelton Trust for Public Land
teaching career, teaching sixth grade at the new Scenic Elementary School.
Russell died suddenly in 1976. Following his death, she owned the Rimrock Bookstore in Grand Junction for nearly 10 years. She was very involved with the Downtown Development Authority as well, serving as president for a year. Afterward, she transitioned back into education, teaching American history and geography at Grand Junction High School.
Following her retirement, she was urged to run for a seat on the Mesa County School Board. She won the race and spent the next eight years on the board. In 2008, she ran for the Colorado State Board of Education representing the 3rd Congressional District and was elected. Marcia served for seven years before finally retiring.
Marcia loved to read and her house was always full of books. Many treasured conversations were had with her regarding book recommendations and the current reading lists of her family and friends. She also loved to travel extensively, both abroad and in the U.S. Her grandchildren have fond memories of summer trips which always entailed interesting history lessons and museum visits.
She is survived by her daugh-
ter, Melissa (Chris) Loncarich, son, Mitchell (Cindy) Neal, seven grandchildren and one great-grandson, Hank. She is preceded in death by her son, T.J. Neal and husband, Russell Neal.
A memorial open house will be held on Aug. 18 at 4 p.m. at the Redlands Community Center at 2463 Broadway, Grand Junction, Colorado, 81507. Please visit the family’s memorial website to share any memories and stories, send condolences or to see photos from Marcia’s life at marcianeal.com. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at callahan-edfast. com for the Neal family.
Warren Keith Stegall IIWarren Keith Stegall II died on July 21, 2023 due to Parkinson’s Disease complications.
Keith was born on May 17, 1936 to Warren Keith Stegall and Flora Mannette Stegall in Clarendon, Texas. The family, including his two sisters, Janet and Mary, moved to Gunnison
in 1943. Keith grew up roaming the county hunting and fishing, helping his dad run his hunting camp and pulling a few pranks with life-long friend, Tom Wilson.
Keith married Martha Maxine (Mickey) in June of 1961. They moved to Leadville, Colorado in 1962, and he was a teacher at the Lake County High School for 32 years.
Keith was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Janet Wuske (Jim), brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, son-in-law, Kirby Williams and niece, Patricia Wuske.
He is survived by his wife, Mickey, children, Stephanie Williams (Kirby), Liz Jolls (Mike), Karla Tuggle (Kurt) and Jim Stegall, grandchildren, Annette, Baxter, Sarah, Cora and Daniel, and sister Mary Englehart (Jim), as well as many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held on Sept. 2 at Freight in Leadville at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers please donate to:
-Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s
-Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
-St. George Episcopal Church and Community Meals in Leadville
Ladies Auxiliary hosted its monthly Veterans Breakfast on Aug. 5 in the American Legion Post 54. This free breakfast takes place on the first Saturday of every month.
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PTSD and addiction. According to Ben Sessa, because of this, the demand will far outweigh the supply.
Delaney Keating Special to the TimesLast November, Colorado voters approved Prop 122, to be promptly followed by the world's largest psychedelic gathering — the Psychedelic Science 2023 Conference — held in Denver in June. Over 12,000 attendees from around the world congregated at the Colorado Convention Center for a week of workshops and lectures spanning the history and future of psychedelics for mental health and well-being. While it is too early to predict how and when access to psychedelics will appear in Gunnison, a handful of local artists and therapists were seen at the conference. A diverse section of humanity was represented, from scientists, researchers, policymakers, leaders and Indigenous healers to artists, individuals, therapists, innovators and business professionals.
Access to psychedelics has vast implications, both beneficial and challenging — from trauma healing and applied methodology to supply and demand, environmental exploitation and cultural appropriation.
"Upon FDA approval of MDMA, alone, there will be 3.5 million adults who meet the criteria for MDMA trauma therapy, followed by millions more for alcohol and tobacco addiction," he said. MDMA is anticipated to gain federal approval within the year.
Psychedelics are full of promise for mental health, and the data is increasingly available to support their success. In Bessel Van der Kolk's study of 20,000 individuals, “MDMA was 80% more beneficial when weighted against psychotherapy [talk therapy].”
While MDMA is not listed among the plant-based psychedelics in Prop 122, its federal approval provides national access to psychedelics. According to one expert, it also offers a solution to the proposed demand bottleneck and concerns around environmental exploitation.
"Synthetics, like MDMA, could offer a solution to the demand while protecting the rights of plants and indigenous people," according to researcher Jeeshan Chowdhury.
"Synthetic psilocybin with nonhallucinogenic effects is already being manufactured, as well."
eral plant-based medicines would not support human demand, leading to plant exploitation and the risk of extinction.
Another central theme at the conference was reciprocity and cultural appreciation versus cultural appropriation.
"In Indigenous plant medicine practices, the wisdom cannot be copied or taken. It is only available through initiation," said Lila Vega, a transpersonal psychotherapist and traditional healer. "You are not the medicine. Community is the medicine. We have a huge blindspot when we focus on only healing the individual."
The question of honoring Indigenous cultures, who have historically stewarded many plant medicines, was presented across disciplines — whether the topic was specific to business, therapy, research or culture.
Despite being an illegal Schedule 1 substance for decades, psychedelics have never ceased to be used and have remained recreational or "underground." Society now faces sweeping ethical, philosophical and spiritual questions, as these medicines become increasingly approved for mental health.
psychedelic adventure.
Akin to many environmental philosophies, the message is consistent that understanding the relational interconnectedness of plant-based medicines is central to mitigating the possible negative impacts. How we proceed will reflect our relationship with healing — ourselves, our community and the earth.
For Coloradoans, Prop 122 serves as a roadmap for psychedelic use, decriminalizing the personal possession, growing, sharing and use of five natural substances by individuals aged 21 and over. Initially, substances found in psychedelic mushrooms — psilocybin and psilocin — and three plantbased psychedelic substances — dimethyltryptamine (DMT), ibogaine and mescaline — are legal to possess. Sales of the substances will remain illegal. Access to purchase and administer these substances will be made available through licensed facilities by late 2024.
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.
We will not print letters from candidates for public office.
Email letters to editor@gunnisontimes.com or send to 218 N. Wisconsin St., Gunnison, CO 81230. Include your full name, address and a phone number — for our internal use only.
The deadline is Tuesday at 12 p.m. Letters may be edited for grammar, clarity or length.
Throughout the conference, researchers shared their findings on the usage of psychedelics for depression, trauma,
Editor:
This letter is in answer to the several letters to the editor in the July 27, 2023 edition of the Gunnison Country Times.
Let’s start with what seems to be the biggest concern of everyone: that really scarylooking military-style rifle on the postcard mailer for the GOP Lincoln Day Dinner. It is a simple bolt action rifle, similar to tens of millions of hunting rifles that are in the hands of citizens throughout the nation and most other nations in the world. It is not a semi-automatic or a belt-fed machine gun. If you don’t know anything about guns, don’t comment on them.
Furthermore, this type of weapon has not been used in a school shooting, or any other mass shooting.
In my opinion, the best deterrent to this problem, and many others, would be swift
On a global scale, according to Laura Dawn, founder of the podcast Psychedelic Leadership, "psychedelic substances, like peyote and ibogaine, are already in short supply for Indigenous people with religious rites." Dawn added that the time to propagate sev-
and severe punishment for anyone using a firearm in any crimes. Quick and severe sends a message to others.
The profits from this auction will go to the Gunnison County GOP. They will be used for any candidate for the school board.
The issue of what assets each candidate will bring to the board will have to be answered by each candidate. I can’t answer for them. By the way, the candidates Cori Dobson, Lisa Henry and Bonnie Thompson have been holding Town Hall meetings every other Wednesday since last April. These meetings are posted on social media and shared by word of mouth. Go to these meetings and ask questions, share your concerns and comments.
Bob Delahey GunnisonFor Robbins, the answers start with shifting to "collectivism versus individualism."
For Vega, "We must bring spirituality back to science. They are not separate, and when we break things apart, we take away the sacredness that is connection." There is much to uncover in statements like these as we embark on this next
Editor:
I'd like to add my voice in support of Cori Dobson who is a candidate in the up and coming school board election.
I find Cori to be a hard working, honest person who is very concerned about the quality of education for our young people in the valley. Their success is our success. She keeps a pulse on local community issues and events important to all of us.
I think she is well informed and would like to have parents, teachers and as many others as possible establish a network of information and participation to improve our schools and address different concerns.
Some top priorities of hers include safety and security issues, ongoing educational issues and overall success in school generally in areas such as mental health and social interaction.
Local Colorado governments will be prohibited from banning licensed facilities, services and use of natural psychedelic substances as permitted by the measure, while allowing local governments to regulate these facilities' time, place and manner of operation. In 2026, state regulators will be allowed to expand the types of substances used in licensed facilities, including DMT, ibogaine or mescaline.
(Delaney Keating is a longtime Gunnison resident and businesswoman.)
Cori is well qualified to serve on the school board. She is a Colorado native who has been acquainted with the Gunnison Country since she was very young. She loves it here and has always wanted to live here and make a difference in the community. She does research work and, as a result, knows on which board she could contribute the most. She has been a paralegal for 20 years. She is also active in the Gunnison County Republican Party. She was elected to serve as second vice chair which requires attention to detail, communication skills and dealing with many different situations and people.
I believe Cori is well suited to the non-partisan position of the school board. Her concern is for children and the participation of parents and teachers within the community to work together.
There is no room or time for politics in our schools.
Concentration must be on our students and their performance. Elect Cori Dobson.
Jo Laird GunnisonThoughts on two letters
Editor:
I'd like to address some of the issues recently brought up by Mike Ritchey in his letter "Can't we do better?"
Starting with the National Firearms Act of 1934, automatic rifles are illegal to own without obtaining some very special licenses with registration. The 6.5 Creedmoor up for auction at the GOP fundraiser is a legal hunting and sporting bolt-action rifle which is not an "automatic rifle" as claimed in the letter. A significant part of our community here bow hunts and/or rifle hunts various animals for various reasons, a few reasons being meat for personal consumption to to be donated to those in need. Others may carry handguns on their person for personal protection. If you have a problem with all that you certainly have a right to express it, but please try to be more informed of what you write about next time.
Now to the comment in teacher Ms. Cucinelli's letter, "It creeps from news feeds into our nightmares." I was born in Colorado, so I'm curious about which part of rural Colorado the writer claims to be from. Did she do much hunting or fishing while growing up? Did her parents ever teach her the responsibilities related to firearm ownership? Did she ever squeeze the trigger on a .22 rifle? I'm asking because her letter reads like something thought up by an urbanized political speechwriter, not a rural country person.
As to the mention of school shootings in Colorado over the past 23 years. How many bolt-action hunting rifles were involved in those shootings? I ask because that's the gun being auctioned off. Handguns, not rifles, are used in the vast majority of criminal shootings. But the law somehow hasn't stopped the killing and maiming one bit from the lawless, has it? Could it be because criminals don't obey the law?
Frankly, I think both writers are only using faux outrage over an inanimate object that they don't understand in order to trash the GOP school board candidates they weren't going to vote for anyway.
We live in a sometimes violent world, with a segment of the population that doesn't follow the rules or the laws of
society, and who think human life means zip. Some of us take our own protection seriously, and we enjoy the outdoors doing things some may not understand or approve of, but we won't lose one wink of sleep over it.
Jon Matuszczak GunnisonThank you to our community
Editor: As our family navigates through this time, we have been reminded of what an amazing community we live in!
The night we found out that Christian was gone, our family, friends and his tribe flocked to our house to support us, share stories and be together. We received food from the W Café, Café Silvestre, Palisades Restaurant and friends (who really are considered family) to help feed everyone who dropped by.
Christopher KleinConstruction stepped in to assist with an overdue Six Points donation run and helped in organizing, pick-up and delivery and set up of the chairs and tables that Western Colorado University graciously allowed us to borrow. Dove Graphics, Inc. kindly designed and donated the programs for the service. Gunnison Ice reached out and offered to deliver as much ice as we needed to keep dishes and drinks cold on that hot summer day the service was held.
The Gunnison Police Department has been wonderful in assisting us with numerous items, including getting Christian’s sidekick Loki to us as quickly as possible. Michael Barnes and Gunnison Funeral Services gave us the time and space needed to make the important decisions and answered questions quickly as we slowly processed everything. Off Center Designs and The Paperclip helped tremendously with printing and scanning pictures for the service and photo album. CB State of Mind and numerous counselors volunteered to attend Christian’s memorial service to help support everyone in dealing with this loss. The service was so well attended that we ran out of chairs, and so many attendees donated food to help us feed everyone.
In total we received over $4,000 to help pay for the service, with all additional funds being donated to CB State of Mind to help provide free mental health services for those who are uninsured and in need
of support. Abby Harrison from the Gunnison Country Times met and chatted with many of Christian’s friends, Mama J and myself about what suicide loss means to us, we appreciate the time given to us before anything was printed!
For our family, the outreach from our families, friends, coworkers and this entire community has been absolutely amazing and we know that we have not been able to thank everyone. Although this has been a very tough summer for our family, seeing everyone at the memorial service showed us that this loss did not just affect us, it has affected our entire community very deeply. We all feel truly blessed for being a part of this wonderful community. Thank you to everyone for all of the love you have shared and support you have given.
Moving forward we ask that you please reach out when things are not okay, keep in mind that we are all here for each other, and continue to donate to CB State of Mind in Christian’s honor. We are hopeful that while we support each other every day, no other mother will have to suffer the loss of a child to suicide!
Thank you all for being you and doing what you do.
Chris Peterson
Scott Schlegel
Ben Nielsen
Alex Schlegel
Matt Schlegel Gunnison
Editor:
Last week Congresswomen Lauren Boebert disclosed that $1.75 million dollars passed the House Appropriation Committee to help fund the new water treatment plant in Gunnison.
The City of Gunnison plans to construct a new plant to implement a modern treatment process to refine water quality for its citizens. This investment will enable diverse water intake sources by using the city’s robust water right portfolio.
All of the ten funding requests by Congresswoman Boebert for Colorado’s Third District were approved and included over $19.7 million for important water and infrastructure projects.
Firefighters’ recent efforts have been focused on monitoring existing fire lines. After days of red flag warnings — which typically accompany dry conditions and high winds and signal a high risk of a fire that could spread rapidly — crews took a break from defensive burning.
“We want to hold off a little bit and let the fire do what it does and then reevaluate once conditions are better,” she said.
Although the fire is mostly contained on the eastern side, it continues to move toward the West Elk Wilderness boundary. The mountain topography of the area has made firefighting on the west side of the Lowline Fire a challenge. The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team has initiated the creation of a fire line near the boundary and is prepared to hold the fire if it continues to move in that direction. The team already has plans in place to construct additional lines if needed.
“There's no sense in risking a firefighter to put that line in if it's not going to hold,” she said. “You have to think of it as a military operation. You want to find a good fallback position, and then you let the fire come to you, and you engage it on your terms and in an area that it's going to work in your favor.”
The amount of time that smoke will linger in the Gunnison Valley will heavily depend on the weather. The fire could still kick up periodically, and Kaschalk said it could take months for things to completely clear up.
The Rocky Mountain
Complex Incident or “Type 1” Management Team worked its last shift on the Lowline Fire on Tuesday, Aug. 8. On Wednesday, the wildfire was transferred to a smaller, “Type 3” incident management team.
“This fire has become manageable to a point that we can start looking at the final end game, which is going to be turning this incident back over to the Forest Service and the
authorities that were in charge of this from the beginning,” she said. “We are a temporary measure. The locals did a wonderful job recognizing that this was beyond their capabilities. They called us in to help.”
(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)
As the Lowline Fire has slowly grown over the last two weeks, so too has the cost of fighting it.
As of Aug. 9, about $6.8 million had been spent on the incident, which includes firefighter wages and a substantial amount of fire fighting equipment.
The Lowline Fire started on U.S. Forest Service land between the Ohio and Mill creek drainages, and although it has spread to just under 2,000 acres, it remains largely on Forest Service and Gunnison County land. For this reason, the majority of the cost will likely be paid by the federal government, said Gunnison County Sheriff and Fire Warden Adam Murdie. So far, the agreement is that roughly one third of the
costs will be paid by the state and two thirds by the federal government, a share roughly decided by whose land the fire is burning on.
When fires break out in Colorado, the rule of thumb is that whoever manages the land is responsible for the cost of suppressing the fire, said Colorado Division of Fire Protection and Control (DFPC) Deputy Chief Phillip Daniels. But when the cost climbs into the millions and fire spreads, the state and the federal government look to cost-share agreements to divide the growing tab.
“Fires don't respect boundaries,” Daniels said. “If a fire starts on the forest and then spreads on the private land, we'll put together a cost share agreement to say, ‘Okay, we believe the cost can be equitably shared between the parties involved’ … Sometimes it's in our favor and sometimes it's not. In the long run, it comes out in the wash.”
The money is paying for firefighter time and equipment like dozers, choppers, tankers and fire engines. The cost of this
equipment, if not owned by the governement, is predetermined through agreements the federal government has with private contractors and coordinated through an ordering center in Montrose. Money spent on aviation is consistently more expensive than hand crews, amounting to over $6 million the DFPC has paid in the last five years as opposed to $1 million for hand crews.
The county has already spent money on the fire, as the Gunnison Fire Protection District had initial jurisdiction when it started. Until the DFPC takes up management of the fire, which happened within 24 hours of it being reported, everyone is “on their own,” Murdie said, accountable for paying whatever it has cost to that point to suppress the fire.
Within hours of the fire being reported, it was clear it outsized the District’s manpower and funding capabilities. Management was swiftly delegated to Murdie, who then immediately passed it to the DFPC.
The DFPC oversees state fire management by training firefighters, researching new firefighting technology and providing equipment and personnel to fight large fires. Lowline is the sixth fire this year the agency has been called into, and the second largest.
The state has some money set aside for fighting fire, but not much. Each year, about two thirds of all Colorado counties, most on the Western Slope, pay into an emergency fire fund. For the last several years, the county has contributed just under $13,000 annually. The state then uses those dollars to pay for wildland firefighting efforts across the state. That pot brings in about $1 million each year.
As of last week, the Lowline Fire’s bill was growing by about a million dollars a day, Murdie said.
When the state runs that fund dry, it looks for an executive order from the governor to dip into the disaster emergency fund — as it has done nearly every year, except two. In the first half of 2023, the state
has already spent over $7 million fighting fire. The DFPC has already received an order from Gov. Jared Polis to dip into emergency funds for the Lowline Fire.
As soon as the DFPC took over, county employees working on the fire started keeping a timesheet. Although the county will not be reimbursed for time spent fighting the fire, employee hours will be deducted from what it may owe in the future, per the terms of the cost-share.
“Instead of having to come up with actual dollars out of the county budget, we're hopefully covering all that with our time during the incident,” Murdie said.
The final cost of suppressing the fire, for the state and the county, won’t be known until far after it is out and hours and invoices have been submitted.
(Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@ gunnisontimes.com.)
While firefighters fight the Lowline Fire from the ground, a specialized drone has been busy helping crews suppress the blaze from above.
The unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operating at the Lowline Fire are relatively new technology and are owned by the U.S. Forest Service. The agency oversees several teams that travel with these types of drones to fight fires around the country. NASA is continually working with the Forest Service to improve these systems, which are designed to tackle dangerous tasks and help keep firefighters out of harm’s way.
The UAS assigned to the Lowline Fire runs on batteries and can reach up to 55 pounds when it is fully equipped. It has a 2-mile flight range and can fly for 20 minutes per battery set. These drones are typically flown by two operators, a pilot, a secondary pilot or spotter who watches over the shoulder. Both
must be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, (FAA), which involves rigorous training and field experience before they are placed on assignments.
The safer way
After a careful launch, the high-tech drone system can help map the edges of a wildfire and fly infrared flights, allowing fire crews to locate hotspots. In addition to collecting photos, it is able to pinpoint their exact locations on a GPS. It is also capable of flying through thick smoke and can be used to guide firefighters.
When trying to prevent a wildfire from spreading, crews may use a technique called “backburning.” Here, firefighters will deliberately start small fires along a man-made or natural firebreak, such as a ridgeline, in front of the main fire to eat up flammable material on the ground.
A UAS can be used to launch plastic spheres, which are similar in size to ping pong balls, onto the ground to aid with back burning. Approximately 10 seconds after a sphere, which is injected with glycol, hits the ground it ignites. The tiny aircraft can carry up between 300400 of the spheres at a time.
With new technology and the growing capabilities of UAS, fire officials are making choices to
use them where they know it would be risky to put its crews. Historically, firefighters were placed right in front of the fire to complete backfiring operations. This method of burning reduces firefighter’s exposure in dangerous areas of a wildfire as well as helicopter crews.
“This is a safe way of getting some of that done, particularly in heavy terrain with a lot of
dead and downed trees, snags and widow-makers, branches that are in up in trees that could fall and kill a firefighter — which is what we have out there in a lot of places,” said Jerry McAdams, a wildfire mitigation specialist based in Boise, Idaho, who has been working on the Lowline Fire.
(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)
‘IF YOU FLY, WE CAN’T’
If anyone flies a drone into the temporary flight restriction zone in place over the fire, the incident command will have to shut down all of its air resources until the drone is located and identified.
30 days from when it was issued to vacate their homes, which are leased on a month-to-month basis.
A purchase agreement between the Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority and the Frontier Land owner, CCNB Properties, had expired barely a month before. The Housing Authority filed an inspection objection with the seller. The parties did not come to an agreement, and the contract terminated as a result. The Times is working to obtain the property inspection report.
According to notices shared with residents in both English and Spanish, the terminated contract “led to an urgent need to start this project immediately because of the conditions of the park.” Some of the trailers at Frontier Land date back to the 1970s and are in poor condition. All trailers were tested for asbestos during the last week of July.
The notice states that the owner will start to remove the old trailers in the beginning of September so updated infrastructure can be installed. This will include new sewer and electrical lines, before new trailers are brought in. If all goes as planned, move-ins are expected by November or December of this year.
“I understand that it is not easy to find a place to live,” the notice reads. “I will be working hard to make this process as quick and efficient as possible so you can move back in as soon as possible. I am hoping the entire process will take 3-4 months.”
CCNB Properties indicated it intends to sell the new homes back to tenants who can qualify for the purchase. All existing tenants will be given first right of refusal to purchase the new trailers with financing provided if they cannot pay cash. More details on pricing were not available as of press time. The Times has reached out to the owner multiple times since the property went up for sale, without response.
Frontier Land, located just north of the airport, went up for sale in July of 2022 listed at $1.3 million. The mobile home park houses approximately 40 residents, many of whom are Spanish-speakers or part of the Cora community, an indigenous group from Mexico. Because it helped fund the inspections, the City of Gunnison also received the results. According to City Manager Amanda Wilson, the city has not completed its own inspection or determined the homes at Frontier Land to be unsafe. At this time, the Community Development Department does not plan to conduct inspections of the existing conditions since the owner has shared his intent to repair the infrastructure at the park.
When the Housing Authority became aware of the notice, the organization went into emergency response mode, said Director Andy Kadlec. The Housing Authority gathered with other local organizations to determine how it can best support the residents during the transition period — whether that is helping them vet opportunities for financing or finding temporary housing. The Authority is hosting a meeting this week to help residents understand their options.
“This is not the ideal time to find housing for 12 families within a month in the environment we are living in now,” Kadlec said. “We're doing what we can. We're reaching out to a lot of our community partners and have started conversations on finding some potential solutions that we feel cautiously optimistic about.”
(Editor’s note: The Times received the eviction notice the morning before publication. Further coverage will follow in the Aug. 17 edition.)
(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)
from the Gulf of Mexico, bringing moisture to the region after months of heat and aridity. But this year, the monsoon was delayed and the valley didn’t see any precipitation until the end of July. As fuels continued to heat and dry, several small fires started around the Western Slope, as close as Hotchkiss and further south in Bayfield and Pagosa Springs. Most of the southwest corner of the state is now under a red flag warning.
Lack of monsoon weather means heat can stay around for longer, as late-afternoon thunderstorms usually break up high pressure systems that keep heat in the valley. Heat and lack of cloud cover means the sun’s energy radiates more readily to the ground, heating and drying fuels even more.
“They go hand in hand. The high [pressure system] was over us so it wasn't able to bring moisture into the area, it just kind of sat there, and it also exaggerated the drying,” said National Weather Service Forecaster Kris Sanders.
These lingering high pressure systems have ushered in record-breaking temperatures for both Gunnison and Crested Butte. Cities all over the Western Slope set temperature records this year, Sanders said.
Thunderstorms that follow
prolonged periods of drying tend not to bring “deep moisture,” he said. Dry air at ground level prevents moisture in the atmosphere from reaching the ground, causing dry thunderstorms. Fire officials have stated that the Lowline Fire burning north of Gunnison was likely started by a lightning strike, and most fires burning around the state have also been started this way.
The high pressure system finally moved out in late July, bringing some moisture. Even then, rain fell in a few isolated incidents while darker storm clouds hung along the edges of the valley and didn’t quite make it into town.
Far less rain fell in June and July compared to the historical averages; 0.05 inches of rain was recorded in Gunnison in July compared to the average of 1.31 inches and 0.48 inches of rain was recorded in June compared to its average of 0.57 inches.
In the last couple weeks, Arizona has started to see some monsoon rains. But moisture down south doesn’t always mean rain in the Gunnison Valley. If the valley doesn’t receive enough moisture from the weakened monsoon, there’s potential that fire season could carry into early fall, Sanders said.
“When that moisture gets here, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's going to be wide-
spread rainfall for everyone,” Sanders said. “It's still sort of a hit or miss.”
The delayed monsoon has also contributed to the drought conditions creeping back, after the valley (and most of the state) clocked months of no drought conditions — the first time since 2019.
On July 18, the southwest corner of the state, including Gunnison County, started
registering moderate drought conditions. As of Aug. 8, 87% of Gunnison County was categorized as “abnormally dry,” the lowest level of drought indicator on the monitor.
Reservoir storage in the Gunnison River Basin is currently sitting at 90% of average and Blue Mesa Reservoir is only 10 feet below its fill line, sitting at 89% of full. Taylor Park Reservoir is currently at 91% of full. The Bureau of Reclamation will draw Blue Mesa down to
70% by December, in order to meet their icing target, meant to prevent damage and flooding from ice flows.
According to the U.S Drought Monitor’s long-range forecast, dry conditions are likely to persist through October.
(Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Instead of creating another long-term plan to address the abundance of vehicles speeding through town and dangerous intersections, Gunnison’s new city manager is trying to take more immediate action.
The community has consistently asked for change on Gunnison’s streets, often putting improving traffic safety at the top of the city’s list of priorities. But many have gotten frustrated with traffic studies and long-range planning projects that sometimes take years to hit the ground. While traffic projects along Hwy. 50 and Hwy. 135, major thruways in the Gunnison Valley, will always take longer due to the need for approval from the Colorado Department of Transportation, City Manager Amanda Wilson is leading the development of a new program that will streamline more prompt action on city-owned streets.
At a regular city council meeting on July 25, Wilson introduced a “traffic calming”
program in Gunnison. Once put in place, the program would create guidelines for how city employees should respond to and make decisions related to public safety complaints on busy roads and intersections, conceivably reducing the amount of time it takes to find solutions. The city plans to ask for public feedback on a draft as soon as next month, with adoption scheduled for October.
“This isn't another plan,” Wilson said. “This isn't a document, analysis or traffic study. Think of it more like a policy around if we have an issue, how are we, as staff, assessing the issue and making a decision.”
Once the program is launched, the city will look to residents to identify problem areas where pedestrians and bikers don’t feel safe. City Engineer Cody Tusing said the Public Works Department and its partners could use both reactive and proactive approaches: tackling areas where it is actively witnessing safety incidents; and developing more multimodal projects in places that have higher levels of traffic.
A traffic calming program is usually a one-page document and would help city officials choose a fix that makes the most sense based on the geometry of the road in question, the speed limit and the volume of traffic at the location. Tusing highlighted bulbouts, tempo -
rary speed bumps, signage and road diets, or the narrowing of streets, as just a few examples of road alterations that could be used to slow down traffic.
Although the list of possible solutions is long, Tusing said the city needs to make sure its selections are tailored to Gunnison specifically.
“We need this program to help us get ready to aim and then fire appropriately at the right spot at the right time and with the right approach,” Tusing said. “We don't want to try and copy something we saw in one town and say, ‘That was a cool solution, I bet it would work great over here.’”
Mayor Diego Plata asked how the city will fund a traffic calming program, and said he anticipates a flood of input from the community at numerous intersections around Gunnison.
During the city’s upcoming 2024 budgeting process, Wilson said she expects a conversation around how much city council wants to dedicate toward safety improvements. While some projects will be covered through its annual budgets, others, such as a neighborhood-specific request, may require residents to pitch in, following approval from council.
For example, a specific neighborhood may have a speeding problem and want to add speed bumps to help ease the problem. Larger projects,
such as narrowing streets, may require grants or even a ballot measure to complete.
The idea to create a traffic calming program was spurred by an uptick in community concern about the dangers at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Spruce Street — often busy due to its proximity to a stop light used to cross Hwy. 50. But there wasn’t any guidance in place, and everyone tried to approach the problem from a different angle, Wilson told the Times
“We were stalled out on something that really should be pretty straightforward and simple,” she said.
Although the traffic calming program and policies are still being drafted, Wilson, along with Public Works, wanted to take more immediate action at
this intersection. Tusing said he hopes to have a temporary fix in place before the end of the month. The department is also looking at long-term solutions, with guidance from the public, to implement by 2025.
“None of these happen fast, as you can see with Ohio Avenue, but it takes time to do things right,” Tusing said. “Throwing solutions that don't fit may feel good when they're because they're fast, but we could create more problems. I think this is a much better process.”
(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)
a
1 bedroom,
1 bathroom.
trailer homes provide comfortable accommodations with varying bedroom and bathroom counts. There is 2,258 sq ft of combined living space between all 4 homes. Outdoor living areas along Steuben Creek, which runs throughout the property, and recent updates, like a new septic system and bridge, add to the property's allure. This remarkable property with scenic surroundings is a must-see.
Harmels on the Taylor in Almont is looking for new team members to fill the following positions ASAP:
Housekeepers and Cooks - both starting at $20/hr
Servers - starting at $15/hr+ tips
Dishwashers - starting at $17/hr
All positions can be full or part-time, seasonal or permanent. Housing is a possibility. Email jointheteam@ harmels.com with contact information and type of work desired, or call 970-641-1740.
Since its founding in 1998, Gunnison Valley Habitat for Humanity has facilitated the construction of numerous affordable housing units in Gunnison and Crested Butte, many of which are designed to be energy efficient and low cost well into the future. Although the actual number of families the organization has housed in the local community is relatively small, Executive Director Julie Robinson said the impact Habitat has had on them is not.
“Because of the housing crisis, we’re criticized for not making enough of an impact,” Robinson said. “We’re not even trying to compete with government housing, or building 50 to 100 units. We’re not that kind of developer. The impact that we’ve made on families’ lives, one at a time, in our opinion, is huge.”
The number of homes Habitat has built in the valley doesn’t compare to those that will become available at new affordable housing developments such as Gunnison’s Sawtooth or Crested Butte’s Whetstone. But Robinson said the nonprofit has recognized its need to find a way to reach more members of the community.
Since 2014, Habitat for Humanity has built five, single-family homes on South 6th Street on the west side of Gunnison. The properties are already zoned as multi-family lots, but the board has debated on how to increase density as the inventory of affordable housing in the valley dried up.
“In my opinion, I don't think we should be able to build single-family homes on multifamily lots … It seems like a no brainer,” Robinson said. “Let’s enforce density where it’s already supposed to be dense.”
She hopes to max out the remaining space it has at South 6th Street by constructing “cottage clusters,” which would be potentially the first of their kind in Gunnison. This style of
development is gaining popularity throughout the nation as an alternative way to provide affordable housing at a scale that can fit into existing neighborhoods. According to the city’s building code, cottage clusters are characterized by a single property with several homes that share a common yard or green space.
It is a fairly new type permitted home design within the city’s code that has yet to have been taken advantage of, said Senior Planner Andie Ruggera.
Habitat has submitted a preliminary draft to the city’s Community Development Department for review. Although the plans are far from final, Robinson said she hopes to receive approval from the city within the next couple of months. If the plans are approved, Habitat will resume building in 2024, and continue to serve one family each year.
The goal is to build four homes on the next two lots, both of which are slightly larger than the others on the block. A utilities easement runs through the center and prevents Habitat from building on that portion of the property. This would be used as a shared green space. The idea is that two free-standing homes would be built on each lot, with the entrances facing each other.
Habitat is taking a year off from construction as it works through the cottage cluster plans. Instead of working with a client to construct a new home
in 2023, it recycled one — a rare occurrence in the Gunnison Valley. Home “recycling” typically happens when a family moves away or an elderly client dies.
Through the program, Habitat is able to buy the home back and offer it to a new client with a mortgage that does not exceed 30% of their income. This has only happened six times in the 25 years Robinson has been with Habitat, she said.
Habitat built the home, which is a duplex, in 2009. One of the original owners, Rachel Adams, was a single mom who raised her three kids in the Habitat home. Her children have since moved out and started lives of their own, and Adams has recently remarried.
Before she moved in, Adams never thought she’d own a house in the valley and worried she’d be forced to leave as the cost of living rose. She was surprised when Habitat accepted her application and soon she had a home of her own that she filled with memories. During the years she lived there, Adams also built up close to $100,000 in equity.
“It's time for this to go help somebody else,” she said. “I was really happy to pass it on … I know a lot of people out here struggling for living situations, especially affordable ones.”
(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Gunnison Valley Health held a groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 2 for the new EMS station. The $12 million station will be a significant upgrade for paramedics, and will offer 10 bedrooms, eight truck bays, a training space and an industrial kitchen. GVH executives hope the station will help improve EMS response times and training capacity.
Welcome Home to your 1 bedroom/1 bath mountain home with loft nestled in the trees with Gold Creek in the backyard and on 3+/- acres. 3.5 miles from Ohio City and 45 minutes from downtown Gunnison and 30 minutes from the Pitkin area. Property is bordered by national forest. Built in 1994, with well & septic, generator & shed and approximately 1,008 square feet. Off-grid cabin in the Colorado mountains is close to hiking and 4-wheeling trails. This property has other locations to park additional RV’s and camp trailers to make this the family summer cabin! Schedule
Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer
One of two natural gas drilling companies operating in Gunnison County, Gunnison Energy, has taken federal land managers to court, the latest round in a long history of litigation surrounding the extractive industry in Colorado.
On July 3, Gunnison Energy filed a complaint in federal district court, claiming the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) failed to process two drilling applications in one of the company’s drilling development units. Gunnison Energy claims the delay is not only a violation of federal law, but delaying the permits will cost tens of millions of dollars, according to court filings.
Gunnison Energy filed applications for permits to drill for two wells in the Iron Point Unit in the winter of 2022. Iron Point is one of three units in the company’s North Fork Mancos Master Development Plan, a 35-well master drilling plan hugging the border of Delta and Gunnison counties.
The complaint alleges that the BLM did not confirm that the application was complete or required more information within the 10-day timeframe outlined in the Mineral Leasing Act, the 100-year-old arbiter of how the federal government leases its over 700 million acres of subsurface resources.
That law also requires the BLM to issue the permit within 30 days if all other requirements have been met, including a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis, a federal review that looks at a broad swath of environmental impacts. That deadline came and went with no decision.
Another lawsuit and a delayed decision
Gunnison Energy is not the first to sue the BLM for the same project. Conservation groups in and around the valley, including High Country Conservation Advocates and Paoniabased Citizens for a Healthy Community, filed a lawsuit in 2021 against the BLM, claiming that the master development plan failed to properly consider the impacts of development on climate, wildlife and water. The plan was then vacated by a federal judge in the spring of 2022, due to the court’s finding that the greenhouse gasses analysis was insufficient.
In February of this year, the BLM revised the environmental assessment to address these
climate impacts. Because of the scale of some of the changes in the new assessment, BLM sent the document back out for public input and is now reviewing those comments.
But Gunnison Energy claims that although the two permits are included in the master plan, approval of that plan and the permits are separate processes. Companies are allowed to submit individual drilling applications before the master plan is approved by the BLM, as long as those permits have all the necessary components. A master development plan is not required, but is used to plan larger extractive projects in a way that minimizes overall impact on the environment.
The NEPA analysis for the larger plan can be used for individual permits in the plan, as long as it is final. That updated environmental assessment was completed in February, and is in the hands of the BLM, which is reviewing public comment. According to BLM employees, the agency’s policy prohibits comment on ongoing litigation.
The company calls the delay a “subjective desire” to issue the supplemental environmental analysis for the master plan before issuing the permits. BLM staff replied that they were “unwilling or unauthorized” to process the applications until the supplemental environmental assessment was approved. Ensuing communications describe that the agency confirmed the applications were received, but was deferring the decision until after the updated environmental assessment was issued.
“It’s a matter of timing,” said Gunnison Energy Vice President of Land and Business Development Tyson Johnston. “We need to have the permits in hand so that we can commit our capital to our upcoming projects.”
The company estimates that if it is forced to abandon its 2023 operations, the cost of lost production and re-locating personnel and equipment to alternative locations could exceed $43 million. The company estimates in the complaint that revenue from the two wells is conservatively estimated at $16 million in the first year of production.
“We have had a longstanding relationship with the BLM, and we want to continue that relationship. We just need to take the steps necessary to ensure that we can plan our business accordingly,” Johnston said.
(Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@ gunnisontimes.com.)
1203 Van Tuyl Circle, MLS #805249, $784,000, 4-Bedroom 3.25 Bathrooms 1766 sqft built in 2017. This quaint contemporary single family home is surrounded by magnificent views of the Palisades in the quiet neighborhood of Van Tuyl Village. This 4-bedroom 3.25-bathroom property, a primary bedroom with full bathroom on the ground floor and half bedroom by the utility room that is easily accessible by guests and friends when entertaining. The living room is equipped with a pellet stove, moving into an open kitchen area with granite countertops, a deep sink and dining area nearby. The upstairs consists of a second primary bedroom with 3/4 bathroom and two large bedrooms with a full bathroom in the hallway. The natural sunlight from the expansive windows throughout the property provides views and sun exposure. The huge fenced in front yard will enable you to garden and play with your pet(s) and/or entertain your family and friends during the beautiful sunny summers in Gunnison. The irrigation ditch is available during spring/summer/fall months to water the yard and provide you with ambient noise to enjoy during the pleasant Gunnison evenings. Call the listing agent for further questions and to schedule a showing.
613 W New York, MLS #804709, $857,000, 4 houses located on W. New York Ave. in a growing area of town. The 4 houses contain 5 units that have been rented for many years. Theproperties have excellent rental history and good cash flow. New water lines installed last year and sewer lines in 2 small houses on 12th have been replaced in the last 5 years along with new roofs for these 2 houses in the last 4 years. The small house at 613 W New York had a new heater and refrigerator installed this past winter. All units currently have leases in place so an investor can start cash flowing the property immediately. Property is older and in need of some deferred maintenance but is being sold “as is” at this price. This property includes the addresses: 202 S. 12th, 206 S 12th, 613 W New York and 615 W New York.
305 Roper Lane, MLS #804514, $1,775,000, 3-Bedroom 3-bathroom 2,290 sqft, built in 2008, 2.751 acres and attached 2 car garage. Welcome to a fisherman’s paradise located about 10 min. north of Gunnison on the Gunnison River. As you arrive and walk into the property you will notice that the main focus of this home is the river and it can be seen from almost every room in the house! This well-appointed ranch style home sits just up from a large shelf area that is along the river. This shelf area with 397 ft of river frontage can be developed into a fantastic riverside entertaining area with maybe a gazebo, firepit or maybe even a small sleeping structure to enjoy the sounds of nature. The main entertaining area of home has a large open kitchen/dining/ living room area with vaulted ceilings which are perfect for entertaining and has plenty of large windows that let in a lot of light and also gives you great views of the river. Amazing interior finishes include: wood floors throughout most of the home, large tiles in some areas, granite countertops and vanity tops, stainless steel appliances, wonderful accent lighting, beautiful stone work around the gas fireplace, T&G ceilings, solid wood trim and interior doors and solid wood built in bookcases. The location of this home is very private and quiet yet close enough to town for those quick errands. It is also located about 20 miles from Crested Butte and is centrally located to enjoy all of the activities our area has to offer. Put your raft in at your home and float down the river to the famous Garlic Mikes and join them for an evening of great food or have a drink at their river bar while listening to live local music on the weekends.
216 Lochleven Lane, MLS #804508, $$990,000, 3-Bedroom 2-Bathroom 1,988 sqft, built in 1985, and with1.056 acres with attached car garage. Well built home situated in the beautiful little Homestead Subdivision in Almont. Sit on your large front deck and revel in the views up the East River Valley. Located just 10 min from Gunnison and 20 min from CB, you are centrally located to enjoy the activities the area has to offer from world class fishing, rafting and hiking to snowmobiling and skiing. This 2 story home has its main living area on the top floor with a large open kitchen/ dining living room area with a wood stove that keeps the top floor nice and warm. This area is a great space to gather and entertain as you take in the views surrounding the property. The property also has a sunroom that can be accessed from the second level or has 2 separate entrances from the exterior. There is a 1 car oversized attached garage and located next to the garage is a very large storage room/closet for all of your storage needs. The home has a lot of deck area on the outside for outdoor entertaining or to casually relax and take in the many different views. Almont is a quaint small town with 2 restaurants/bars located within minutes from the property. There is a free bus that runs up and down the valley from Gunnison to CB with a stop located in Almont.
459 Fairway Lane MLS #806172 $899,00 4-bedroom 3-bathroom 2291sqft. built in 1979
This contemporary quaint rustic house is within a profoundly well known subdivision, Dos Rios III. Close vicinity to the back 9 of the Dos Rios Golf Course. On a .46 of an acre, has 4-bedrooms and 3-bathrooms, the house features hardwood/tile floors, kitchen fully equipped with stainless appliances, kitchen cabinets and an open concept living room with a wood burning stove and second living room or/an office has a pellet stove. On the first floor you have a half bathroom that is easily accessible. On the second floor the master suite has an oversized bedroom with a full bathroom and a walk-in closet with a sliding barn door. The other full bathroom is down the hallway between the other two oversized bedrooms. The enormous backyard has a shed and plenty of sun exposure to plant/seed flowers, play with your pets and have get-togethers with friends. The two car garage is attached to the house and is very spacious and heated by a wood burning stove. There is sufficient amount of parking in the driveway and along the east side of the house. This home is magnificent so don’t miss out and schedule a showing by contacting the agent. 413 W New York MLS #805945 2125 sqft 1 bathroom Commercial Retail $525,000 Perfect Opportunity to Move a Business and/or a Start a New Business with great past history of tenants using the retail storefront i.e for nail/salon, daycare, mechanical auto body, pet/animal feed and accessories-retail and granite-retail/distribution to name a few. The property consists of about 1500 sqft of retail space with storefront access to New York and a half bathroom that is easily accessible for staff and customers to use. An added bonus is having an attached garage with about 625 sqft with an overhead garage bay. The garage could be a storage facility or part of business operations. The property has 5 parking spaces and close to Safeway and the new location of 5 Bs. A growing and upcoming neighborhood. Don’t miss this opportunity contact the listing agent to schedule a showing.
On Aug. 4, the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) issued a notice of a cybersecurity incident that may have compromised private student information. This included full names, social security numbers or student identification numbers, as well as other education records.
The breach could include those that attended a public institution of higher education in Colorado between 20072020 and those who attended a Colorado public high school between 2004-2020, among others.
As of press time, no known Western Colorado University student records had been compromised, according to a Western press release. The university’s knowledge of
the incident is “incomplete,” but administrators have not received any confirmation that faculty or staff data was also compromised.
The “unauthorized actor(s)” accessed CDHE systems between June 11 and June 19 of this year, and certain data was copied from those systems, according to a CDHE press release. The department became aware of the cybersecurity incident that impacted its network systems on June 19 and immediately took steps to secure the network and return it to normal function.
CDHE has been working with third-party specialists to conduct an investigation into the incident. Once the department reviews all the breached information, it will notify potentially impacted individuals by mail or email. The state is providing victims with complimentary access to credit monitoring and identity theft protection services through Experian for two years.
For more assistance, call 833.301.1346 or visit cdhe.colorado.gov/notice-of-data-incident.
The Missoula Children’s Theatre is back in Gunnison and gearing up for another local play put on by the valley’s youth. Fifty-two young thespians gathered at Gunnison High School for auditions in preparation for a performance of an original adaptation of “The Secret Garden” on Aug. 12.
Breathtaking Ohio Creek mountain views, excellent senior water rights to irrigate its’ lush meadows and pastures, and a private stretch of Ohio Creek for your enjoyment and fishing “bug”. Improvements include a nicely updated 3 BR, 1 3/4 bath one level home with detached 2 car garage, barns, sheds, and 2 historic cabins. Great productive history and a great location that rarely becomes available.
Call Matt to schedule your viewing today. $2,200,000.
Matt Robbins, CRS, GRI Monarch Realty, Inc. 970-596-0715 l matt@monarchrlty.com
A capital campaign is successfully underway, but we need your help to break ground on the new station! While hoping you never need to dial 911, a new station will dramatically improve response time to emergency calls so GVH Paramedics can provide you, your family, and our community with the best emergency medicine and rescue services available.
Jenny Birnie, Executive Director Gunnison Valley Health Foundation
jbirnie@gvh-colorado.org
970.642.8400
gunnisonvalleyhealth.org/savelives
More than $4 million, collected from local and federal partners, will be used to permanently safeguard 3,330 acres of forest on private property in the northern corner of Gunnison County.
The money will allow a ranch to be placed under a conservation easement, a legal agreement that will prevent the property from being developed in perpetuity. Once the deal is finalized, the project team hopes it will inspire nearby landowners to do the same — connecting the Gunnison River Basin’s vast network of public lands and protecting them for future generations.
The ranch sits at the intersection of Gunnison, Montrose and Delta counties, right outside of Crawford. Because the conservation easement is not yet finalized, the landowners preferred to remain anonymous until the project is complete. The goal is to close on the property within the next year. Trust for Public Land is the facilitating organization on the project, negotiating an easement that will work for all of the funding partners and the landowner.
The 3,330-acre conservation easement has been named the “Colorado Higher Ground Headwaters Project.” It is the first part of a project land and wildlife managers hope will protect nearly 47,000 acres of privately held forests that are surrounded by more than 3 million acres of public lands in the Gunnison Basin. Approximately 70% of the basin is under federal ownership and falls within the Gunnison National Forest, the Gunnison Gorge Wilderness, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and the Curecanti National
Recreation Area.
The desire to work remotely and move to or purchase second homes in more rural areas of the state has followed on the heels of the pandemic.
The area directly surrounding the ranch is experiencing an increase in pressure from developers, creating large incentives for landowners to sell off portions of their property, said Erik Castello, a forest stewardship specialist with the Colorado State Forest Service. But entering conservation easements through programs like the Forest Legacy are another option, “preserving the forest as it is,” he said.
“We want to keep these larger landscapes, which in the case of Higher Ground Headwaters, is over 3,000 acres, as an intact parcel,” Castello said. “It serves better ecologically as one chunk of land that we can manage with just one landowner rather than splitting that up into a couple hundred different little parcels and working with a couple hundred different landowners.”
A long-term management plan will accompany the conservation easement, helping local land managers steward not only the forests, but also any water resources present on the property. The ranch is home to the headwaters of two major creeks that eventually flow into the Gunnison River, more than 20 springs and a local population of Colorado River cutthroat trout.
With a contribution of $3 million, the Forest Legacy Program is providing the majority of the dollars needed to make this project possible. The intent of the program, which has been active since 1990, is to protect private, forested lands that are critical to the wellbeing of the entire landscape.
Traditionally, each state is only allowed to submit up to two projects a year. Sometimes it takes multiple years for a project to receive funding, as was the case for the Higher Ground Headwaters Project. The remainder of the money will come from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund and the Trust for Public Land among others.
The transaction underway is what Wade Shelton called “conservation real estate.” Shelton, a senior project manager at Trust for Public Land, works to stretch public dollars and help private landowners close these kinds of deals.
For working property owners, land is often their largest asset, Shelton said. For some, retiring often means they may have to sell.
“To me, this is a way to help a landowner that wants to see a property taken care of forever, and is willing to give up the money that they could make if they sold it for development,” Shelton said. “These conservation projects can be very lucrative, and they can really make a lot of financial sense for folks. But it ultimately happens because the landowner cares about conservation as much as they care about the money.”
The anticipated appraised fair market value of the property is $5 million, but the owners plan to donate to the project by selling the easement for only $4 million.
“It's really the landowner driving the boat because if they don't want to do this, it's not going to happen,” he said. Conservation easements have become more common in places like the Upper Arkansas and San Luis valleys, as development pressure slowly spreads from the Front Range into the rural backwoods of Colorado. Shelton said he hopes projects like the Higher Ground Headwaters inspire other landowners in the area to get involved. Once one project is successful, more usually follow.
“This kind of work is a way to make sure that you can have the growth we all need to live, but not in a way where you’ve lost your soul in the process,” he said.
(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Local rock-lovers gathered last weekend for Community Rock and Fossil Day, put on by the Gunnison County Public Library. The event began with a presentation from Rob Fillmore, a geology professor at Western Colorado University. Afterward, those who brought their own mysterious rocks took a stab at identifying them with the help of local geologists. Toy dinosaurs set in playdough gave kids a chance to create their very own fake trace fossils, left by animals that have walked across an ancient surface.
D'Luna Mexican Store hosted an event on Aug. 5 to celebrate the diversity of the Gunnison Valley community. Party-goers enjoyed fresh tacos, ice cream and live music.
The Lowline Fire between Gunnison and Crested Butte is a reminder that wildfire is a real risk in Gunnison County.
Nearly all properties in the county are part of the wildland-urban interface. In simple terms, the wildland-urban interface represents the zone where development meets untamed wilderness, presenting heightened risk of wildfire hazards.
In response to increasing risk from wildfire, the Gunnison County Board of County Commissioners adopted the 2021 International Wildland Urban Interface Code in 2022, which identifies standards for defensible space and ignition resistant construction for new structures and development.
“After we’ve seen so much devastating destruction from wildfires in Colorado, we felt it was important to get ahead of the risks and begin to change the way we build structures in Gunnison County, so that they are able to resist wildfires,” said County Commissioner Jonathan Houck.
Land managers including the Forest Service and the Colorado State Forest Service have increased their work in the past three years to mitigate the impacts of beetle infestations in the county including the 400-acre Wilder-Highlands Mountain Pine Beetle Response project in the Taylor Canyon and Lost Canyon areas to eliminate the infestations in those areas.
These proactive measures support a healthier forest and can reduce some wildfire risk. However, the risk of wildfire and destruction of life and property is exacerbated by rural development patterns and the construction of structures that are not fire resistant.
“Wildfire risk is driven by three important factors: the likelihood of fire occurring based on local conditions; predicted intensity of a wildfire based on vegetation and weather conditions; and the susceptibility of communities, structures and infrastructure to a wildfire,” said Mike Tarantino, supervisory forester of the
Colorado State Forest Service Gunnison Field Office.
The Colorado State Forest Service offers programs and resources to not only support vegetation management on public lands, but also on private lands. They help to reduce the likelihood of a high severity catastrophic wildfire occurring through fuels management. They also address the susceptibility of communities and structures to wildfire by working with private property owners to develop defensible space and land management plans for their properties. These resources are available at LiveWildfireReady.org.
All properties in Gunnison County — even property owners that live within the City of Gunnison, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte — have the opportunity to reduce their own risk and support our community and firefighters by creating defensible space around homes and structures. Defensible space is an area around a home or structure that creates a buffer of managed vegetation to reduce wildfire threats.
“Defensible space can be created through tasks that can be accomplished in a weekend such as mowing all tall grasses and vegetation on a property, removing wood piles and combustible materials away from your home and structures, trimming trees that are close to your house and thinning vegetation within 10 feet of a structure,” said Sean Caffrey of the Crested Butte Fire Protection District.
When considering building a new structure or doing an addition residents may be required (in Gunnison County) to utilize ignition resistant exterior materials. According to Gunnison County Building and Environmental Health Official Crystal Lambert, these materials may include noncombustible materials, fire-retardant treated wood, log or heavy timber, class A or 1-hour fire-rated materials.
Lambert said there is a large number of material options that homeowners can use that will reduce the risk of wildfire damaging their homes or structures
and encourages residents to talk with a design professional and local suppliers.
Hugo Ferchau, Gunnison Fire Marshal, said that another important measure that residents should implement is creating a “hardened zone” within five feet of their home and structures. This is an area of five feet surrounding the structure that does not include any flammable materials or vegetation and is maintained to resist wildfire.
This can include an area that replaces mulch beds with gravel or replaces a combustible wood deck with a non-combustible or class A-rated material. Research has found that structures are most often damaged through the carrying of fire embers on wind — these embers can travel for miles, and when they land in a mulch bed or on a wood deck they can catch fire and damage or destroy homes.
Wildfire always has been, and always will be part of the landscape in Gunnison County. The community has been fortunate there have not been catastrophic fires here in the past, but looking to the future, we should expect an increase in wildfire frequency and severity. Gunnison County residents have been incredibly supportive of the Lowline Fire firefighting efforts and they can further support those efforts by creating defensible space on their property and using non-combustible materials when building.
(Source: Gunnison County.)
The Colorado State Forest Service and West Region Wildfire Council offer specific programs and support for defensible space and fuels management for private property owners. Their information and other resources are online at gunnisoncounty.org/1005/WildfireInfo.
It was this week back in 1880 when a very distinguished guest was wrapping up his visit to our area and Gunnison was being mentioned in newspaper articles published across the country. Ulysses S. Grant, Civil War hero and President from 1869 to 1877, was making his third trip to Colorado, a place he cherished.
Grant, along with members of his family, arrived in our state on July 16, 1880, where the citizens of Trinidad, “without reference to party”, hailed their arrival with a welcoming address and informal reception followed by a banquet at the United States Hotel. From Trinidad, Grant’s party made stops in Pueblo, Colorado Springs, and Manitou Springs before heading on to Leadville, where he would visit many of the mines located in that region. The Denver & Rio Grande Railroad provided transportation for Grant and his party to the end of the line in Salida where they then boarded a four-horse stage and made a surprise appearance in Saguache after touring the silver mines near Kirber Creek.
On the afternoon of Wednesday, August 4, Grant’s party finally arrived in Gunnison, accompanied by his son, Colonel Fred Grant and family, ex-Governor Routt, W. W. Smith of Washington, and others taking rooms at the Cuenin House, followed by an informal reception attended by a number of Gunnison’s citizens. The next morning, they proceeded to Gothic, visiting mines there first before heading to Crested Butte and Irwin.
And on behalf of Irwin’s citizens, it was Judge Shackelford, who greeted the
distinguished guests with an appropriate and brief speech, followed by a procession up Ninth Street, which thronged with miners. “The music of the band, the waving of flags and handkerchiefs, and the loud hurrahs of the crowd reminded one of a gala day in the east. The party halted for a short time in front of the Elk Mountain Hotel, where the General met a number of old friends and former comrades.” From there they visited Lake Brennan (known as Lake Irwin today), followed by more area mines, and upon returning were met by a group of ladies who presented Grant with a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers. It would be the following day, during the return trip to Gunnison over Ohio Pass, that the General would stop and spend some time with local rancher Lewis H. Easterly, who had served under his command at the Battle of Shiloh, as a fife and drummer, at the tender age of 9.
Following Grant’s visit, the editor of the Denver Republican conversed with him and, “ascertained that he made a most careful and minute examination of the mines and mineral resources of the Gunnison country on his recent visit there and bore away a very favorable idea of its riches and future prosperity. The General says that in eighteen months from now he believes Colorado will have double it’s present population.” Our history is incredibly intriguing, and our museum has so much of it on display, including the Cuenin House guest register signed by General Grant’s party and Mr. Easterly’s drum from his service in the Civil War. We encourage you to plan a visit to experience more of our fascinating past soon!
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!
JULY 31
ANIMAL-RUNNING AT LARGEMUNICIPAL — 902 W. VIRGINIA AVE.
JUVENILE PROBLEM — N. COLORADO ST.
THEFT: INTENDS TO PERMA -
NENTLY DEPRIVE — 501 E.
TOMICHI AVE.
FAILURE TO APPEAR-OTHER JU-
RISDICTION — 501 E. TOMICHI
AVE.
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE: UN-
LAWFUL DISTRIBUTION, MANUFACTURE, SALE - EXCEPT MARIJUANA — N. TAYLOR ST.
VIOLATION OF PROTECTION
ORDER: CRIMINAL ORDER — 501
E. TOMICHI AVE.
AGENCY ASSIST — 501 E.
TOMICHI AVE.
CRIMINAL TRESPASS: THIRD DEGREE — 501 E. TOMICHI AVE.
AUG 1
HARASSMENT: COMMUNICA -
TIONS — REED ST.
DISORDERLY CONDUCT - UNREA-
SONABLE NOISE — 1005 W. DENVER AVE.
INFORMATION — E. RUBY AVE.
ACCIDENT — 1 QUARTZ ST.
ACCIDENT — N. MAIN ST.
ACCIDENT - HIT AND RUN — 221
N. BOULEVARD ST.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE — E. TOMICHI AVE.
Bethany Church
INFORMATION — N. MAIN ST.
MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATION —
100 N. TELLER ST.
AUG 2
FRAUD — ROCK CREEK RD.
HARASSMENT — N. 12TH ST.
MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATION —
701 N. 14TH ST.
VIOLATION OF PROTECTION
ORDER: CRIMINAL ORDER — 501
E. TOMICHI AVE.
PROPERTY - FOUND
MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATION —
513 W. SAN JUAN AVE.
AUG 3
ANIMAL - RUNNING AT LARGE -
MUNICIPAL — 1215 W. NEW YORK
AVE.
DISORDERLY CONDUCT - COARSE
OR OFFENSIVE — 201 E. TOMICHI
AVE.
HARASSMENT: MUNICIPAL —
1500 W. TOMICHI AVE.
FRAUD/HACKING - COMPUTER
INVASION — SUNNY SLOPE DR.
ANIMAL TREATMENT - CRUELTY
- MUNICIPAL — FRONTAGE RD.
MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATION —
400 E. RUBY AVE.
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF - DAMAGE
TO PROPERTY — N. COLORADO ST.
AUG 4
JUVENILE PROBLEM — W. OHIO AVE.
PROPERTY - FOUND
ABANDONED VEHICLE — 600 N. COLORADO ST.
ANIMAL - RUNNING AT LARGEMUNICIPAL — 220 N. SPRUCE ST.
CRIMINAL TRESPASS - MUNICIPAL — 226 N. MAIN ST.
WEAPONS VIOLATION: PROHIBITED USE - UNDER INFLUENCE — 41883 E. HWY. 50 VIOLATION OF PROTECTION
ORDER: CRIMINAL ORDER — 41883 E. HWY. 50
AUG 5
ACCIDENT — 600 N. MAIN ST.
AUG 6
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
- ALCOHOL — 300 E. SAN JUAN AVE.
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
- ALCOHOL — 501 E. TOMICHI AVE.
GUNNISON COUNTY SHERIFF REPORT
AUG 1
-Found property
-Wildland fire in Pitkin - United States Forest Service responded -Deputies arrested one person for domestic violence and harassment
-Fraud/theft report
AUG 2
-Fire investigation on Lowline Fire -County ordinance #5 - vicious dog report
-Information report regarding drone flying
-Dog at large call - dog not located
-Smoke report up Gunnison County Road 12 - Paonia Fire responded
-Theft of mail - under investigation
-Lightning strike on Round Mountain with a plume of smoke - deputies observed this spot with no other smoke or flames visible
-Possible search and rescuemissing person made contact, no assistance needed
-Search and rescue for stranded motorists near the summit of Tomichi Pass
AUG 3
-Accident report - vehicle ran into a downed tree after avoiding a large rock - Texas Creek
-Civil dispute over work report
-Civil property easement report
-Disorderly conduct
-Driving while ability impaired arrest
-Summons issued for speeding76 mph in a posted 45 mph zone
-Information report on campfires possibly under a red flag warning in Marble last week
AUG 4
-Agency assist to the Gunnison Police Department with a driving under the influence arrest and arrest of the passenger for violation of protection order
-Warning issued for dogs at large documented on neighbor’s property
-Agency assist to Mesa, Arizona on a fraud case
-OHV accident with injuries
-Welfare check on a possibly missing person - emergency message sent by error
-Medical call
-Information - family dispute
AUG 5
-Possible missing person - found
-Civil standby
-Found - black and blue child-size mountain bike
-Disorderly conduct at a campground
-Civil assist
-Possible missing person - unfound - no phone service at the time
AUG 6
Disturbing the peace call/disorderly conduct
-Civil assist
-Civil assist - deputies took 2 dogs at large in Saguache county to Gunnison Valley Animal Welfare League
-County ordinance #2018 - 30 dogs at large
-Non-injury accident report
-Information report possible search and rescue
-Domestic violence arrest
AUG 7
-Welfare check
-In-county warrant arrest
-Information report/possible harassment, north end of the county
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
Friday 7/28- Shabbatluck services at the home of the Hogues- 6pm, Pls bring a dinner dish to share
Meet the Rabbi - Saturdays 7/29 and 8/5, 10:30 AM at Rumors, CB
Sunday 7/30- Memorial service for Steve Polan, 11:30 am at the CB CemeteryFriday 8/4- Shabbatluck services at the home of the Elfenbeins, 6pm, Pls bring a dinner dish to share
Saturday 8/5- Havdallah service at the Shawn Horne and Dawn Cohen Gallery, 7pm, Pls bring a dessert/drink to share
Sunday 8/6- Torah study at the Rolfes, 11am, Gunnison
Details on additional services, activities and locations at www.bnaibutte.org
Spiritual Leader-Rabbi Mark Kula, rabbimarkkula@gmail.com / 305-803-3648
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, 403 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
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
Please note this is not a complete list of all our open jobs. You can view all open positions at our website at jobs.gunnisonvalleyhealth.org.
Computer Technician - FT $22.61$26/hr. DOE
is seeking applicants for the following fully-benefited positions.
Western’s benefit package includes a retirement plan, generous employer contributions to medical/dental/vision insurance, employee and dependent tuition benefits, paid vacation, paid sick leave, and 11 paid holidays per year. Employees receive basic life insurance and disability insurance at no cost.
Employee wellness programs and professional development trainings are available for free.
Academic and Admissions
Advisor in Education: Full-time (40 hours/week). Annual base salary $48,000-$52,000. Duties related to advising, coaching, recruitment, admissions, tracking and monitoring student progress and working with public schools to secure student teaching residencies.
Human Resources Generalist: Full-time (40 hours/week). Annual base salary $45,000$50,000. Duties related to recruiting, new employee on-boarding, unemployment, workers’ compensation, employee relations and HR succession planning.
Security I: Full-time (40 hours/ week). Starting pay rate $16.53/ hour. This benefited position is scheduled for night shifts (8 p.m.–6 a.m.) and is paid an additional 14% per hour on weeknights and 20% more per hour on weekends. Duties related to campus patrol, safety and law enforcement.
Structural Trades I: Full-time (40 hours/week). Starting pay rate $20.10/hour. Duties related to carpentry, painting, drywall repair, door/window repair, furniture repair, key shop needs and general labor on campus.
To view the full job announcement(s) and apply, visit western.edu/jobs and click on “View Careers” (AA/ EOE).
be able to correctly diagnose and make repairs on a variety of equipment which may include welding. Duties include equipment operation, maintenance repair of various pieces of light and heavy motorized equipment used in road construction, road maintenance, snow removal, drinking water operations, wastewater operations, manual labor and other generalized work. Applicants must be 18 years of age and have a valid Colorado driver’s license. The successful applicant is eligible to receive an elite benefit
Housekeeper, Senior Care Center - FT $17-$19.55/hr. DOE
Personal Care Provider/Assisted Living - FT $17-$19.55/hr. DOE
Unit Coordinator, Emergency Department - FT $19.10-$21.96/ hr. DOE
Benefits Eligibility: Medical, dental, vision, health care FSA and dependent care FSA. All active employees working 40 or more hours per pay period are eligible for benefits on the first of the month following date of hire. PRN staff are not initially eligible for benefits. Please visit our website for more indepth position descriptions, specific qualification requirements and to apply online: gunnisonvalleyhealth.org/careers/ or call HR for questions at 970-641-1456. (PRN = as needed). All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a negative 10-panel drug screen test, criminal background check, reference checks, infection prevention procedures (TB test, Flu Shot, immunization records, etc.), physical capacity profile and acknowledgement of policies.
package. Full job description, requirements, pay ranges and benefits are available on the district’s website at cbsouthmetro.net. Email resume to info@cbsouthmetro.net or drop off at 280 Cement Creek Road.
DAVID CROSS GENERAL CONTRACTOR is hiring for a full-time, salaried office manager position for our fast-paced office environment. Duties include company asset management, obtaining bids and maintaining various insurances, fleet management, procurement for office and project needs, assisting project managers with subcontractor agreements and documents and personal assistance to the owner and general manager. Experience with Google Suite and Quickbooks is preferred. Compensation package includes ski pass, vacation time, paid holidays and health insurance. Please email resumes to david@davidgrossgc.com.
Competitive pay, 401K, insurance, paid vacations. 40 hour work week.
Apply at John Roberts Motor Works.
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.
CAREER OPPORTUNITY: Gunnison Savings and Loan Association is seeking applications from qualified individuals with strong customer service skills looking for a career in banking. The position includes performing teller functions and assisting in the loan department. The successful applicant will demonstrate a strong work ethic, attention to detail and an enthusiastic, positive attitude. Benefits include an
enjoyable and friendly work environment, employer-assisted health insurance, monthly health savings account contribution, 401-K retirement plan, paid vacation and sick leave. Starting salary will depend on qualifications and experience. Please submit a letter of application and resume with references to Janice English, Sr. Vice President, 303 North Main, Gunnison, CO 81230, jenglish@gunnisonsl.com or 970642-4642. Equal Opportunity Employer.
WONDERLAND NATURE SCHOOL is looking for a part-time finance director to help support our non-profit infant through pre-k nature-based school. The finance director will be responsible for overseeing the financial health of the school, including creating and managing the annual budget, grant writing, tracking and reporting, AR/ AP budget tracking, budget projections and reporting and fundraising. The ideal candidate has grant writing and nonprofit management experience and is able to work collaboratively with others. Wonderland is the only nature-based school in the valley and we’re looking for a finance director who is passionate about our mission to create a learning culture engendering social equity, ecological consciousness and critical thinking. Pay starting at $23/hr (DOE), plus benefits. Remote hours and flexible schedule. For a full job description, visit wonderlandnatureschool.org. To apply, send a resume and cover letter to board@ wonderlandnatureschool.org.
B&B PRINTERS is looking to fill an entrylevel training position in our press room. Candidate would train in all production facets including offset and letterpress press operation, bindery operations and equipment maintenance. Call 970-641-2672 or email jimstanley@bbprinters.com.
FRITO LAY IS HIRING for a route sales position in Gunnison,CO. Are you looking for a job that doesn’t require sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day? Here’s a fantastic opportunity: the starting salary is $63,000 with a $1,000 sign-on bonus. Work for a well-established company offering benefits that work as hard as you do, with industry-leading day one healthcare coverage, savings and investments to support different life stages and continued education opportunities. Visit fritolayemployment.com to apply today.
THE TOWN OF CRESTED BUTTE seeks applicants for an HR manager to join the finance and administrative services team. The HR manager is responsible for the daily operations of human resources to include, but not limited to, payroll processing, recruitment, staffing, retention, training, benefits administration, wage administration, employee relations, terminations, workers’ compensation, risk management and the smooth operation of the HR office in compliance with all company policies, as well as federal, state and local legislation. This year-round position includes an excellent benefits package with 100% employer paid health, dental, vision, life insurance and contribution to retirement plan after one year of employment. Starting salary is $67,089-$80,320 DOQ. Full job description is available on the town’s website at townofcrestedbutte.com. Please submit application, cover letter and resume via email to jobs@crestedbutte-co.gov. Position is open until filled. The town of Crested Butte is an equal opportunity employer.
GUNNISON LIQUOR (The Ghost) is currently looking for part-time help. Nights and weekends a must. Stop by with a resume. 603 W. Tomichi Ave., Gunnison.
ROAD MANAGER/HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CB SOUTH METRO
DISTRICT: This position would be responsible for planning, organizing and directing all activities and staff related to the district’s roads and maintenance. Duties include road maintenance, snow removal, drinking water operations, wastewater operations and other day-to-day tasks of running a utility. This job requires the applicant to have heavy equipment experience. Motor grader and loader specifically. Applicants must be 18 years of age and have a valid Colorado driver’s license. The successful applicant is eligible to receive an elite benefit package. Full job description, requirements, pay ranges and benefits are available on the district’s website at cbsouthmetro.net. Email resume to info@cbsouthmetro.net or drop off at 280 Cement Creek Road.
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.
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
See GWSD website for details gunnisonschools.net
Gunnison Watershed School District believes that students thrive when they are connected to something bigger than themselves. That’s why we create learning experiences that spark curiosity, helping students discover who they are and how to make a difference in the world around them. As they excel in academics, athletics and the arts, students find the confidence to pursue any opportunity in life. Our team is “Driven to be the Difference!”
HOURLY OPPORTUNITIES
Food Service-CBCS and GCS
Finance Assistant
Office Manager-CBSS
Achievement Center Educational Assistants
ELL Educational Assistant-CBCS
Special Education EA-CBSS and CBES
Building Manager-CBCS
Assistant Building Manager-CBCS
Lead Custodian-Lake School
Permanent Substitute-CBSS Bus Drivers Substitute Teachers
PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Industrial Arts-CBSS
Nutrition Program Supervisor IT Professional-District 4th grade Teacher-CBES Counselor-GES-(1 year only) Counselor-CBES ELL Teacher-GMS
Coaching: GHS-Speech and Debate
GMS 7th grade-Head and Assistant Volleyball Coach GMS 8th grade-Assistant Volleyball Coach
Please contact:
Superintendent’s Office
JoAnn Klingsmith 800 N. Boulevard 970-641-7760 jklingsmith@gunnisonschools.net
Please contact: Superintendent’s Office JoAnn Klingsmith 800 N. Boulevard 970-641-7760 jklingsmith@gunnisonschools.net
LITTLE RED SCHOOLHOUSE is seeking a fabulous addition to our family. Looking for a motivated, fun, creative and flexible teacher who is willing to grow and learn and loves small kiddos. Great pay, $20-$25/hr starting. Great benefits including insurance and retirement and a lot of opportunity for growth. Super fun and fast-paced job with a great group. Please inquire with resume to Jessica at lilredschoolhouse1@gmail.com.
FRONT DESK RECEPTIONIST: Tenderfoot Child and Family Development Center is hiring a front desk receptionist for our large
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
*Housing is held for Gunnison County employees and may be available to rent*
Maintenance Technician I
Facilities and Grounds: 40 hours/week, hourly rate range from $21.72-$26.40, plus full benefits.
Senior Operations Accountant
Finance: 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $5,885-$7,924, plus full benefits.
Airport Operations Manager
Airport: 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $6,238-$8,194, plus full benefits.
Public Health Nurse II – Family Planning Coordinator
HHS: Part-time, 24 hours/week, hourly rate range from $32.03-$45.31, plus partial benefits.
IT Help Desk Technician
IT: 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $4,229-$5,141, plus full benefits.
Family Advocacy and Support Team (FAST) Coordinator
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.
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.
experience, however, no experience is needed. We will train. Please send resume or inquiry to mark@diamondbluespa.com Store is located in CB.
COME JOIN THE HARMELS TEAM: We are looking for servers with a great attitude. Pay is $18/hr plus tips and can be full or part-time. Housing may be a possibility for a lesser hourly rate. Call 970-641-1740 or email resume to jointheteam@harmels. com.
PINNACLE ORTHOPEDICS has F/T and P/T openings for a medical assistant and receptionist in both our Crested Butte and Gunnison offices. On-site training provided. Strong interpersonal, organizational and computer skills are important, but overall we value a good fit for our team. $20+ DOE. Send resume and references to office@ pinnacleorthocolorado.com.
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.
ALL POSITIONS OPEN: Looking for front desk, housekeeping and maintenance. Come in for an application at 411 E. Tomichi Ave. Immediate hire. $250 gift card after three months of employment.
THE CLUB AT CRESTED BUTTE is hiring the following part-time and full-t ime seasonal positions: line cooks and dishwasher $20-$25/hr. + gratuity, general facility maintenance $18-$20/hr., front desk attendants $16-$18/hr., greens and maintenance techs $20-$23/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.
CRESTED YETI PROPERTY
MANAGEMENT is looking for a full-time facilities manager. Looking for someone with repair skills for light electrical, light plumbing, light automotive, appliance repair, minor remodeling. The person that can fix everything. Full-time year-round career opportunity. Retirement savings plan and paid fuel. The kind of job you can live on. Reach out to Hop@CrestedYeti.com.
EARLY CHILDHOOD ASSISTANT
TEACHERS: Tenderfoot Child and Family Development Center is seeking assistant teachers to join our early childhood team with children from birth-5 years old. Must be at least 16 years of age. Full ($16.65/ hr) or part-time ($14.65/hr) with flexible scheduling. Background checks and paid pre-service training required, sick/vacation benefits, free child care. Paid professional development and a great opportunity to grow as an educator. Call 970-642-1949 or email tfootdirector@gmail.com for more information. EOE.
early childhood center. Position includes daily contact with children and families, administrative responsibilities to ensure adherence to licensing requirements, computer skills, subbing as a classroom teacher and flexible scheduling with shifts Monday-Friday, 7:45 a.m.-1 p.m. at $14.65/ hr with the possibility of full-time at $16.65/ hr. Background checks and paid pre-service training required, sick/vacation benefits, free child care and paid professional development. Email tfootdirector@gmail. com or call 970-642-1949 to apply or for more information. EOE.
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.
IRWIN BACKCOUNTRY GUIDES is seeking on-mountain hospitality candidates for our cat skiing operation. Position requires ability to work in an alpine environment with high physical demands and long days. This role is guest-facing and applicants must have a strong desire to provide exceptional hospitality to a high-end clientele while maintaining a professional appearance. The diversity of this role requires experience in both food preparation and mountain operations, as well as a hard-working team player with attention to detail and good communication skills. Marker certification, CPR/First Aid and the ability to operate a snowmobile is preferred. Clean motor vehicle record mandatory. Full-time and parttime winter positions available starting in November. Please send resume and cover letter to jobs@elevenexperience.com. More
Juvenile Services: Part-time, 35 hours/ week, hourly rate range from $28.78$34.03, plus full benefits.
Eligibility Technician
HHS: 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $3,764-$4,285, plus full benefits.
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.
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.
information about our company can be found at irwinguides.com and elevenexperience. com. This is a winter seasonal position starting Nov. 25 through April 15 and starts at $180-$230 per day, plus tips depending on experience and qualifications.
For more information, including complete job descriptions, benefit packages, required job qualifications and application instructions, please visit GunnisonCO.gov/HR
THE CRESTED BUTTE/MT. CRESTED BUTTE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE is seeking a membership coordinator is responsible for growing chamber memberships and for building sustainable relationships with, and accounting for, new and renewing memberships. This position is responsible for membership communications, growth, renewals and onboarding. Attention to detail is key. Knowledge of QuickBooks is preferred but not essential. This is a contractor position starting in August. Email cover letter and resume to director@cbchamber.com Please put ‘Membership Coordinator’ in the subject line. EOE. cbchamber.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.
COMMUNITY BANKS OF COLORADO is currently seeking candidates to fill both a part-time teller position and a relationship banker position in our Gunnison banking center. Excellent opportunity and competitive benefits. For position details and to apply, please visit cobnks.com. NBH Bank is an equal opportunity employer.
DIAMOND BLUE POOL AND SPA is hiring a part-time maintenance technician. 25 hours a week, year-round. We are flexible, benefits included and a vehicle to drive for work included. Come be a part of a great team. $20-$24 per hour depending on
BARISTA: Mochas Coffeehouse and Bakery in Gunnison is seeking baristas to join our team. Good pay plus tips and shift meals in a positive and fun work environment. Drop your resume off or fill out an application at Mochas at 710 N. Main St., or email barista@mochascoffeehouse.com.
CRESTED BUTTE BURGER COMPANY is hiring the following positions: cooks and cashiers - flexible schedule available, starting pay $16-$18/hr. + gratuity. Assistant manager - full-time seasonal, starting pay $18-$20/hr. + gratuity, pay DOE. For more information or to submit a resume, please email crestedbutteburgerco@gmail.com.
STORAGE UNIT SALE: New merchandise added weekly. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. 108 S. 11th, alley side.
HOME FOR SALE: 1700 sq. ft. 2020 build. Very accessible single story home in great west Gunnison location. For further details enter 600 Carbon Court, Gunnison, Colorado into Zillow search and/or contact terravistalimited@gmail.com, 970-4979113.
BIBLE BELIEVING WIDOWER is moving back home to Gunnison County hoping to exchange his real estate experience to manage your home or apartments in exchange for free rent. Excellent credit, local and national references. Non-smoker/
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vaper, no pets, blessed with excellent physical, spiritual, emotional and mental health, calm caring spirit. Call or text Gary Pearson 719-980-2490.
COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR RENT: This
1,000 sq. ft. space is located on Main St. with plenty of parking and storage. Please call Michelle at 970-641-0895 or email ceogcar1@gmail.com.
OFFICE SPACE TO RENT: In Gunnison. Health, beauty, general. Shared bathrooms and kitchen. Call 970-641-2423 or text only 970-497-6121.
PRIME OFFICE SPACE on Main St. Five private offices. Client waiting/conference room, reception desk, 12 paved parking spaces. Call or text 970-596-9999 for more info.
RETAIL/OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE at the Gunnison Meadows Mall next to City Market, +/-1,500 sqft available. For more information and pricing visit GunnisonMeadows.com or call Jordon Ringel at 817-733-6947.
FOR RENT: Half of historic duplex in nice Gunnison neighborhood. 2 bed, 1 bath. W/D, pets okay. Available now. $1,400/mo + deposit. 970-275-3273.
Regular Meeting
August 14, 2023 5:30pm
Lake School Conference Room
This meeting will be conducted in person and by distance using the video conferencing platform ZOOM Webinar. Please check the GWSD website for further instructions.
I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call
III. Pledge of Allegiance
IV. Approval of Agenda ACTION ITEM
V. Commendations, recognition of visitors, and public comment
*Visitors who wish to address the Board, please make known at the beginning of the meeting via Zoom or if in-person, please complete the public participation form.
1. School Improvement Project update
-Artaic Group
VI. Administrative Action Summaries
A. Superintendent Summary - Dr. Nichols
1. Successful Students
Response to public comment
Cell phone update
2. Strong Employees
PD Cohorts and Universal Design for Learning
3. Engaged Community
Back to School events
GCS Thursday, August 24 4:30-6pm
GHS Thursday, August 24 5:30-7pm
CBCS Wednesday, September 6 5-7pm
4. Healthy Finance
5. Functional Facilities
VII. Action Items
A. Consent Grouping
Note: Items under the consent grouping are considered routine and will be enacted under one motion. There will not be separate discussion of these items prior to the time the board votes unless a Board Member requests an item be clarified or even removed from the grouping for separate consideration.
The Superintendent recommends approval of the following:
1. Board of Education Minutes
a. June 26, 2023 Regular meeting/Budget Adoption
2. Finance
Approve for payment, as presented by the Business Manager, warrants as indicated:
a. General Account # 42598-42858
b. Payroll Direct Deposit # 57121-57413
3. Personnel*
Drew Hanks-SPED teacher-GMS
Kendra Stuckey-ELL EA-GMS
Kevin Walek-Social Studies teacher-GHS
Jeff Writer-Science teacher-CBSS
Michelle Crown-2nd grade teacher-GES
Earl Devanny-Asst. Boys’ Soccer coach-
GHS
Joey Otsuka-Head Hockey coach-CBHS
Meghan Solomon-Head Volleyball coachCBMS
Ashley Biggers-Resignation-SPED EA-GCS
Michele Pilon-Resignation-Food ServiceGCS
4. Correspondence
B. New Business
1. Consider approval of Commissioning Agent contract-Artaic
C. Old Business
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 2023-24 school year District Accountability CommitteeSchool Accountability CommitteesGunnison County Education Association NegotiationsGunnison County Education Association 3X3Fund 26Gunnison Valley Community FoundationGunnison Memorial ScholarshipHealth Insurance Committee-
XI. Forthcoming Agendas/
Meeting Dates and Times
Monday, August 14, 2023
Regular meeting@5:30pm-Gunnison
Monday, August 28, 2023 First Day of School
Monday, August 28, 2023 Work Session@5:30pm-Gunnison
Monday, September 11, 2023 Regular meeting@5:30pm-CB
Monday, September 25, 2023 District
PF Day-GHS
Monday, September 25, 2023 Work Session@5:30pm-Gunnison
XII. Adjournment Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado
Publication date of Aug. 10, 2023 10284
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR SCHOOL
DIRECTORS
Gunnison Watershed School District Gunnison County, Colorado
The Gunnison Watershed School District in the County of Gunnison, State of Colorado, calls for nomination of candidates for school directors to be placed on the ballot for the regular biennial school election to be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
At this election, three directors will be elected. Representing South of Round Mountain for a term of office of four years.
To be qualified, a candidate must have been a registered elector of the school district for at least 12 consecutive months before the election. A person is ineligible to run for school director if he or she has been convicted of committing a sexual offense against a child.
A person who desires to be a candidate for school director shall file a written notice of intention to be a candidate and a nomination petition signed by at least 50 eligible electors who are registered to vote in the regular biennial school election.
Nomination petitions may be obtained from JoAnn Klingsmith, Designated Election Official at Lake School, 800 North Boulevard, Gunnison, CO . Office hours are 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Completed petitions shall be submitted to JoAnn Klingsmith no later than 3:30 p.m. on September 1, 2023.
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado
Publication dates of Aug. 3, 10, 2023
10173
APPROVALS
NOTICE OF LAND USE CHANGE PERMIT APPROVALS CREATING A VESTED RIGHTGUNNISON 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-22-00059 – Ryan Margenau and Michael Landry- received project approval for a Boundary Line Adjustment for Lots 31 & 32 of Ohio Meadows Subdivision Filing No. 3, Gunnison County, Colorado.
/s/ Hillary I. Seminick, AICP Planning Director Gunnison County Community Development Department
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado
Publication date of Aug. 10, 2023
10292
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Donna Rae Bratton, aka Donna R. Bratton, aka Donna Bratton
Deceased Case Number 2023 PR 30031
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to District Court of Gunnison County, Colorado on or before December 10, 2023 or the claims may be forever barred.
L. Richard Bratton Personal Representative
c/o Hoskin, Farina & Kampf, P.C.
Post Office Box 40 Grand Junction , CO 81502
Gunnison Country Times
Gunnison, Colorado
Publication dates of Aug. 10, 17, 24, 2023
10220
Request For Proposal (RFP) Trash an Rubbish Removal
Saguache County is looking for a contractor for the removal of and disposal of trash, rubbish, debris and assorted waste materials from land located in Saguache County. This shall include, but not be limited to, the removal and disposal of trailers, building materials, trash, debris, asbestos and various materials that require removal. This position shall be on call or as needed. Bids should include, but not be limited to, hourly rates, and the rate for special material removal that may not be allowed for disposal in a land fill or conventional waste facility.
For questions, please email Amber Wilson at atorrez@saguachecounty-co.gov or call 719-655-2231.
BOARD MEETING NOTICE
Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District
Board of Directors Meeting
Monday, August 28, 2023
5:30 PM
The Board of Directors of the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District (UGRWCD) will conduct a regular board meeting on Monday, August 28, 2023 at 5:30 PM at the UGRWCD Offices, 210 W. Spencer Ave., St. B, Gunnison, CO 81230 and via Zoom video/teleconferencing. Please contact the district at 970-6416065 for Zoom login information. A meeting agenda will be posted at the district office prior to the meeting.
Gunnison Country Times
Gunnison, Colorado
Publication date of Aug. 10, 2023
10222
RFP for Contractor Services
Saguache County is soliciting interested contractors related to updating/remodeling
Saguache County Social Services lobby area, 605 Christy Ave., Saguache, CO 81149
Work to be completed: Update of Lobby area/Restrooms Plaster patching Updating light fixtures
Please text your email address to 719221-3173 to receive information regarding contractor requirements.
Letters of interest are due by 4:00PM on Friday, September 1st, 2023.
Interested parties should submit a letter of interest with costs for the project to the following address:
Saguache County Administration
Attn: Wendi Maez, Maintenance P.O. Box 100 Saguache, CO 81149
Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado
Publication dates of Aug. 10, 17, 24, 2023
10199
Gunnison County is seeking a qualified, experienced and creative firm to provide consulting, public engagement and deliverables for a Safety Action Plan along the State Highway 135 corridor from Gunnison to Crested Butte. Official Request for Proposal (RFP) documents can be found on the Gunnison County website: gunnisoncounty.org or call 970-641-0044.
Gunnison Country Times
Gunnison, Colorado
Publication dates of Aug. 3, 10, 2023
10165
Proposal may be emailed, mailed or hand delivered. Email RFP to atorrez@ saguachecounty-co.gov, mail to PO Box 326, Saguache, CO 81149 or hand deliver to 505 3rd Street, Saguache, CO.
Proposals must be received by 3pm on Thursday, August 31, 2023.
Gunnison Country Times
Gunnison, Colorado
Publication dates of July 27, Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24, 2023 10037
As the dog days of summer press on and people continue to enjoy outdoor gatherings, tasty and cool cocktails reman ideal when entertaining. Blueberries continue to be the stars of summertime shows, and can be the inspiration for your next drink.
The following recipe for “Blueberry Lavender Lemonade” from the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council pairs the sophisticated flavor of lavender with tart blueberry in a refreshing concoction that also includes gin. The result is fruity, floral and fragrant.
Blueberry Lavender Lemonade Cocktail
Makes 2 servings
Lavender Simple Syrup
1⁄2 cup granulated sugar
1⁄2 cup water
1 tablespoon dried edible lavender
flowers
3⁄4 cup blueberries, divided
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 ounces gin
1 tablespoon lavender simple syrup
1⁄2 cup club soda
2 sprigs fresh lavender
2 lemon wheels
1. To make the Lavender Simple Syrup: In a small saucepan set over mediumlow heat, combine all syrup ingredients and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes or until sugar is dissolved.
2. Remove from heat and let steep for 2 to 3 hours. Strain and set aside.
3. To make the Blueberry Lavender Lemonade Cocktail: In a cocktail shaker, add 2⁄3 cup blueberries and lemon juice. Muddle berries to release juices. Add gin and lavender simple syrup, and fill with ice. Shake until frosty.
4. Strain through fine-mesh sieve into two ice-filled glasses. Top evenly with soda water.
5. Garnish with remaining blueberries, lavender sprigs and lemon wheels.
Tip: Cover and store remaining lavender simple syrup in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
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Gunnison’s First Friday ArtWalk returned on Aug. 4 and featured local artists and musicians for all of the community to enjoy. Galleries along Main Street open their doors and put out snacks to welcome art-lovers in to peruse handmade, local treasures.
Alex
McCrindle Times Sports Editor
Hannah Cryder ran through the wildflower-covered foothills of Oh Be Joyful. It was early on an August Sunday morning as she crested a ridge and slowed to a stop. Overlooking the stillrushing Slate River, Cryder unzipped her backpack and pulled out a watercolor kit. She poured water from her Nalgene, dipped her brushes and began streaking pastels across a small piece of paper. Only a short time passed before the streams of blues and greens morphed into a landscape of the surrounding valley. She rinsed her brushes, closed her bottle and ran back into Crested Butte — just in time for service at Oh Be Joyful Church.
Cryder is a Montana-born, Alaska-raised nordic skier, trailrunner and artist entering her senior year at Western Colorado University.
In recent months, she has mirrored her artistic connection with the backcountry through vivid murals on campus. In the last year, she completed campus murals in the Rare Air Cafe and Mountaineer Field House. Now, is preparing to complete her third large-scale painting at the university on the Kelley kiosk, a brick storage building outside Kelley Hall.
In partnership with the Council for Creative Expression (CCE) at Western, Cryder will provide a colorful facelift to the
often unnoticed structure.
“We decided on Hannah for the project because her design was very savvy, elegant but also effectively engaging at the same time,” said Ben Justis, faculty advisor for the CCE. “She’s using wildflowers and aspen trees that are important to the naturalistic identity of the Gunnison Valley, while making an effort to include music, theater and creative writing. The design plays into the media diversity being part of our strengths and how we collaborate with one another.”
The kiosk is scheduled for completion by the beginning of the fall semester, and Cryder is set to leave behind another fingerprint in the town she calls home. A consistent theme across Cyder’s work is the “mimicry,” of natural wonder. She says her spark comes directly from a Christian faith.
“I’m so lucky as an artist to live in such a rich and beautifully diverse landscape,” she said. “My inspiration flows from a sense of worship and getting to represent God’s creation. I will always have the mindset of depicting a small glimpse into how incredible God’s work is through watercolor and acrylics. But I also want to connect people with places and encourage others to explore the beauty of this place.”
Last year, Cryder created a mural in the Rare Air Cafe (RAC) on Western’s campus. The painting illustrated Western’s composting program.
“The mural I completed in the RAC was really difficult,”
she said. “I didn’t know how to approach a mural about food waste and make it visually appealing. In the end, it was really rewarding to add that resentative aspect to it.”
With bold acrylic colors, the mural flows in a circular pattern. Food waste is regenerated into compost and provides nutrients for flower beds and gardens. Cryder followed this project with a mural in the Mountaineer Field House, showcasing athletics and recreation on campus. A large part of the piece features the Mountain Sports teams — a program Cryder is involved in. She finished as an All-American nordic skier at Mammoth Mountain last March.
Now, with fall orientation swiftly approaching, Cryder is excited to bring new life to campus through her passion.
“Art is powerful in bringing creative life to something that might be mundane otherwise,” she said. “It is super humbling to elevate a space on campus and to be a part of that story — leaving an impact on future students down the road. Gunnison has had a huge impact on me, I’m just striving to capture the essence of this place and the memory and emotion that we feel here.”
More information can be found at hannahcryderart.com
(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Cryder poses after completing the composting mural in the Rare Air Cafe.
Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer
In 1998, a Gunnison resident could walk into shoe store Head Over Heels, on North Main Street, and buy a pair of Birkenstocks. They may even have been helped by now Fire Marshal Hugo Ferchau, who worked at the business decades ago. Now, a quarter century later, that same resident can walk through the threshold of the same business, now several blocks down Main and called Treads ‘N’ Threads, and buy the very same brand of shoe.
Treads’ 25-year history in the Gunnison Valley has been characterized by grit, adaptation and a love of doing business, said co-owner Kelly Osness — and, a few moments to keep them young, like customers that come out of the changing rooms naked or the store flooding. Over two and half decades, the business has had three names, three locations and grown from slinging several brands of shoes at their first location to over 100 brands of outdoor apparel.
Co-owner Chris Osness moved to the valley in 1996 and started working at Western Colorado University in Residence Life. He soon noticed that his peers were having to travel to Montrose or Grand Junction to buy shoes. Imbued with an entrepreneurial spirit, he sought to fill the gap in the
market and bought the property on North Main in 1998, what is now Rocky Mountain Frames. The pair married months later, and Kelly, also spirited and driven in business, was involved from day one.
The pair finally settled in their current location on Main Street, in a large space that used to house a J.C Penny’s. The former business, The Perfect Blend, housed a coffee shop. When Chris and Kelly surveyed the space, they realized they didn’t have enough inventory to fill it. So, until 2001, they sold shoes and served coffee in the same space, an eclectic but endearing combination.
It would be years before business would really pick up. When the Osness’ added clothes to their store, business doubled. Over the years, the pair tightened any loose ends to make sure every part of the store was serving its mission to share a love of the outdoors with all people. This means a consistent retail and management experience — no more scribbles on notepads, but a unified vision of what the team wanted to accomplish.
“I don't care how old you are, who you are, if you're in a wheelchair, you hardly have any money — it doesn't matter. It’s for all to embrace their mountain lifestyle. That is who we are,” Kelly said.
Like many businesses around the valley, COVID presented Treads with a unique challenge. Kelly said they had to let their entire staff go, but continued to do business by advertising key items and offering to run them out to customers who just drove up the door. Soon, friends and family were buying several gift
cards a piece, just to help keep the business afloat.
“We would go home at night and cry at the goodness and support,” Kelly said. “People said, ‘you're not going to go out of business, right? You're going to be here, right?’ Knowing how people counted on us meant so much.”
As the business became stronger, the Osness’ looked more to community service. Years ago, a friend approached them wondering if she could hang a poster to advertise an upcoming cancer walk. That single poster would pave the way for decades of monthly posters that would hang in the large window, now under the banner of the “window program.” The Gunnison Valley Animal Welfare League, the Gunnison Country Food Pantry, KBUT and the Gunnison Arts Center have all been patrons of the window over the years.
The infamous Gunni Love sticker, seen plastered on lampposts, bumpers and trailheads throughout the valley, is a Treads COVID-era charity project. When Gunnison Trails lost the chance to hold some of its major fundraising events due to the pandemic, Treads created the campaign to help funnel money to the nonprofit. A portion of the proceeds go to Gunnison Trails and to date, thousands have flown into local trails through the merchandise program, Kelly said.
Throughout the 25 years, Birkenstocks have waxed and waned in popularity, but Treads kept the brand through it all — a testament to the Osness’ refusal to fold in tough times. Were they not a long-time dealer, Kelly expects they couldn’t
be, given the brand’s burgeoning popularity. But to the success of the business, she credits her community.
“We can only exist because of all the people who have been integral to our existence,” Kelly said. “We were just the ones that put the initial money in, but it's our customers, other businesses, local government,
sales reps, our employees past and present, our families, the nonprofits, the chamber — without all of those things we would not be who we are today.”
(Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@ gunnisontimes.com.)
Treads employee Elaina Dillard helps a customer find the right pair of shoes. (Photos by Abby Harrison)The Gunnison County Board of Equalization will sit in the Board of County Commissioners Meeting Room beginning on September 1st, 2023 to review the assessment roll of all taxable proper ty located in Gunnison County, as prepared by the Gunnison County Assessor, and to hear appeals from determinations of the Gunnison County Assessor
The Gunnison County Board of Equalization shall continue its hearings from time to time until all petitions have been heard, but all such hearings shall be concluded and decisions rendered thereon by the close of business on November 1st, 2023.
Persons wishing to appear before the Gunnison County Board of Equalization to protest their proper ty value determinations made by the Gunnison County Assessor must send the proper appeal forms to the County Administration Office, 200 East Virginia Avenue, Gunnison, CO 81230, postmarked or hand delivered no later than 5:00 pm on September 15th, 2023 for real and personal proper ty. Appeals with attached scans of the proper appeal forms may also be delivered via email to CBOE@gunnisoncounty.org
The Gunnison County Board of Equalization will not hear appeals from persons who have failed to file a timely protest with the Assessor. www.gunnisoncounty.org
Virginia Street hosted the weekly Gunnison Farmers Market on Saturday, Aug. 5, allowing residents and visitors to meet some of their local farmers and creatives. From tarot readings to wildflower soap there's something for everyone.
The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiver Support Group meets on the first Wednesday of every month from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the Gunnison County Library. For more information, contact group facilitator Mary at 970.596.5667 or taktser8@gmail. com.
Alcoholicos Anonimos
Cada semana, lunes y m iércoles. 8-9:30 p.m. 101 N. 8th St, Gunnison. Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor póngase en contacto 970.275.2241.
Overeaters Anonymous
Overeaters Anonymous (OA) meets on Thursdays from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.at The Last Resort, 114 Wisconsin St. in downtown Gunnison. This is an open meeting.
Free
As a thank you to U.S. military members, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is offering active duty military, veterans and the National Guard free admission to all state parks for the month of August. Find more information at cpw.state.co.us.
American Legion Post 54 needs help to renovate its restrooms to be ADA compliant so all veterans and community members can use their facilities. You can read more and donate at gofund.me/1e53f21c or call Mark at 970.901.8400.
Fire officials appreciate the support and generosity shown to our firefighters by the community. If you wish to donate in a way that helps both local families affected by the fire and the firefighters, please consider donating to the Gunnison Food Pantry or to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, a nonprofit group that provides support to injured and fallen firefighters and their families, at wffoundation.org.
The Gunnison High School Marching Band will hold a car wash fundraiser on Aug. 11 from 1-4:30 p.m. at Powerstop at 905 N. Main St. Come support the band and get your car or truck clean at the same time. The cost is by donation.
A tennis round robin fundraiser will be held on Aug. 12 at Char Mar Park in Gunnison. Advanced participants will play from 9 a.m.–noon. Intermediates will play from 1-4 p.m. The cost to participate is $15, with no partners necessary. Funds raised will go toward equipment for the Char Mar tennis courts. Sign up at the Gunnison Rec Center, call 970.641.8060 or register online at gunnisonco.gov.
The next Gunnison music cruise is Aug. 15 with Les Choy and Gypsy Jazz, co-sponsored by the Gunnison Arts Center and the Crested Butte Center for the Arts. Join the bike parade that follows the music at any point along the route printed in this week’s paper. The parade begins at 5:30 p.m. in Jorgensen Park and ends at 7 p.m. in IOOF Park.
Nationally-recognized singer and rapper Uncle Kracker performed at the I Bar Ranch on Aug. 6 to an enthusiastic crowd. Amidst a scene of bonfires, beer and loud cheers, Uncle Kracker got the whole place dancing and singing along to songs such as "Follow Me.”
V e n g a a p r a c t i c a r t u i n g l é s o e s p a ñ o l a l a i r e l i b r e N o s r e u n i r e m o s e n l a B i b l i o t e c a d e G u n n i s o n y c a m i n a r e m o s j u n t o s p o r e l c i r c u i t o d e V a n T u y l m i e n t r a s c h a r l a m o s c o n n u e v o s a m i g o s . T o d o s s o n b i e n v e n i d o s .
i s h o r S p a n i s h i n t h e f r e s h a i r .
W e w i l l m e e t a t t h e G u n n i s o n L i b r a r y a n d w a l k a r o u n d t h e V a n T u y l l o o p t o g e t h e r w h i l e w e c h a t w i t h n e w f r i e n d s A l l a r e w e l c o m e
ALL EVENTS, RESTAURANT, BAR AND GOLF ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Bring this Ad for 2 FREE beverages
Friday August 25th 3-7pm $60.00 per person
Live Music 4-7pm
Menu:
Steamed Mussels
Oysters on the half shell
Fried Catfish
Baked Clams
Shrimp Cocktail grilled shrimp kabobs
All Events are open to the public
HEATED PAVILLION AVAILABLE FOR LARGE PARTIES
The Gunnison Stingrays’ season finale took place at the state tournament in Fort Morgan on Aug. 4-6.
The Stingrays placed fifth out of 16 teams. Gunnison High School school swimmers
Sam Jones, Jemma Petrie and Kathryn Frey bagged numerous podium finishes between the three of them. Keaton Mickelson walked away as the high-point champion in the 11-12 aged boys bracket with a whopping 186 points.
Assistant coach Alexandra Riser said the state meet and the season overall proved to be a success for individual athletes as well as the team as a whole.
“This weekend was a great environment for the kids to watch each other drop time and compete as a team,” she said.
“They had an opportunity to go out and have fun and make themselves proud. This team has gotten really close, and they are a family..These are memories they will keep forever.”
Gunnison had numerous athletes make a mark at the tournament. Cooper and Keaton Mickelson each reeled in over 100 points for the Stingrays.
Keaton dropped 8 seconds off his 200-IM, taking first in seven events. Cooper finished second in three events, taking 6 seconds off his time in the 200-backstroke. Russell Meeuwsen placed second in the 50-breaststroke and bested his previous score by 3 seconds.
The GHS varsity swimmers also made great strides in the pool. Frey secured 151 points for the Stingrays, taking 23 seconds off her 500-freestyle and placing third in the 200-backstroke. Petrie finished first in
the 100-breaststroke and second in the 100-butterfly, adding 128 points to the team score.
Sam Jones also put on an exceptional performance, taking 25 seconds off the 1000-freestyle, and placing second in three events.
Riser said the high school girls are excited to step into varsity meets following dropped times made this summer.
“These girls put a lot of work in over the summer, and are so excited to transfer those times over to high school this year,” she said. “This summer gave them more opportunities to compete, and really show them what to improve on for next season.”
Gunnison’s summer swim season ends with exciting news for next year. The Stingrays’ bid to host the 2024 state meet was accepted, meaning teams from across the state will flock to the Gunnison Rec Center for the competition in August 2024.
Head Coach Tami Maciejko said the event will be a massive
boost as summer sports slow down next year, and hopes more kids will join the Stingrays squad.
“We’re really pushing hard for kids to come out and swim,” she said. “We really want to win next year at our home pool.”
Alex McCrindle Times Sports Editor
The Six Points All Stars squad headed to the Grand Junction Motor Speedway for its first Cycling Special Olympics on July 31. Athletes competed in bicycle and tricycle races ranging from 250 meters to 25K. The team tackled 25 events total and won 13 first place ribbons.
Throughout the races on Monday morning, Joe Day and Johnny Iniego battled head-tohead in the longer events. Day won first in the 25K and 5K, while Iniego fought back and won first in the 10K. In his first
Special Olympics appearance, Hayden Dunn cruised past the opposing riders and won both the 5K and 1K races.
The event also offered a chance for longtime Special Olympics athlete Diana Hughes to return to the competition. She secured two second place awards in the 250-meter and 500-meter races.
Coach Brian Smith said the event increased team bonding and the athletes watched and supported each other throughout the morning.
“It was our first time competing in cycling Special Olympics, and I think it promoted more team camaraderie,” Smith said. “Unlike track and field, where there is a bit more separation between ability levels, there wasn’t much in cycling. There was a great competitive nature and it was a lot of fun.”
The day concluded with a visit to a former Six Points
athlete who moved to Grand Junction over 14 years ago. Smith said it was great for the team members to reunite with him before heading back to Gunnison.
After the competition had ended, Smith said he was happy to see Hayden Dunn receive his first Special Olympics award.
“This was the first time Hayden ever received an award, and the look on his face standing on the podium was priceless,” he said. “He was smiling ear to ear and high fiving all the other athletes. I really think our team will open a lot of opportunities for him.”
Next up, the Six Points All Stars will head to Colorado Springs for the State Cycling Special Olympics on Aug. 19. The team will soon receive custom jerseys from OffCenter DeSIGNS, and is excited to debut them at the competition on the Front Range.
Western Colorado University athletics named Mark Badowsky as the next head coach of the Mountaineers' men's and women's track and field program in July.
"I'm excited to get to Gunnison and add my experience to an already successful track and field program,” Badowsky said. “There's a lot of hard work in front of us now, but I know there's a ton of potential in this talented group of student athletes."
Badowsky arrived at Western following six seasons as the assistant coach at Southern Oregon University (SOU) where he led the recruiting efforts and coached of the sprints, hurdles, throws and combined events groups.
The 2022 NAIA West Region Assistant Coach of the Year, Badowsky produced 48 AllAmericans and a men's long jump national champion while with the Raiders program. His charges set 21 SOU school records along with achieving 60 top-three performances on SOU's all-time performance lists.
Competing in the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC), SOU athletes under Badowsky earned three CCC Athlete of the Meet honors at conference championships, 23 CCC individual championships — including 4 all-time CCC records — along with 69 AllCCC awards.
Prior to his work at SOU he was an assistant coach at Boise State University (201517) where he designed training programs for the hurdle, vertical jumps and throws groups. Those student-athletes achieved 16 personal bests over two seasons, four All-Mountain West performances and five topthree program performances.
His coaching career also includes serving one year as an assistant for the Heat Track Club in Georgia. After working one season as a volunteer coach at Central Michigan University where he coached the horizontal and vertical jumpers.
"Mark's extensive background coaching and recruiting to a wide range of training groups displays how prepared he is to take the leadership reins of our Mountaineer program," said Western Athletic Director Miles Van Hee. "He impresses with not only his coaching acumen, but also as a leader of collegiate student-athletes, working to form connections and to see the development of the person rather than just coaching the athlete to results.
"We are thrilled to have Mark joining our department and the program and know that the enthusiasm he brings will rub off on everyone with whom he is in contact here."
Badowsky graduated from Saginaw Valley State (Mich.) University in 2010 with a degree in kinesiology, then earned his master's in sport administration from Central Michigan in 2014.
( Source: Western Colorado University.)
The Dad-Bods achieved adult league immortality on Thursday, Aug. 3, defeating the 45’s in the championship match at Jorgensen Park. This marks back-to-back titles for the team, following a trophy in 2022.
e Colorado Geological Survey (CGS), a department of the Colorado School of Mines, has been funded through a grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) to conduct a 5-year study of baseline radionuclides and metals in groundwater obtained from privately owned residential water wells throughout Colorado. CDPHE’s reason for this study is education focused for homeowners on wells. Note: CDPHE has no regulatory authority over private wells. e grant is covering the costs so is free to home owners.
For this e ort, 50 water samples are currently available for Gunnison County. ese were divided up in a grid, with each grid space containing 1 or 2 proposed water samples. If the number of volunteers in a given grid space exceeds the quota, the CGS will prioritizing selection of participants by spatial distribution combined with geologic considerations, and secondarily a rst come, rst-served basis.
For this e ort we are seeking volunteers to whom we will ship, via FedEx Ground, a boxed sampling kit that contains sample bottle, instructions, a sample form to complete, and a pre-paid FedEx Ground return shipping label. Once we receive a water sample, we will assign a sample number to anonymize it. us, the owner’s contact information will stay solely with CGS. We anticipate at least 2 or maybe 3 month turn-around times before we can email lab results to the individual well owners.
Volunteers, please send an email to LSEBOL@mines.edu with your name, shipping address, (physical address of property if di erent) and phone number (FedEx requires phone numbers for shipping). A reply email will be sent with more detailed information. If possible, please also identify which grid space the well is located within (grids are shown on our county grid map).
(Courtesy Sam Denham)
Payment for testing is due at the time of service and insurance will not be billed.
Direct Access Testing is available at the hospital laboratory on a walk-in basis, no appointment necessary.
Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Last weekend, the Downhill Rockies Series stopped in Crested Butte for the third of its five-race series. The Downhill Rockies Series had its inaugural season last summer, and it is the only regional downhill race series for the Rocky Mountain West. The race at Crested Butte Mountain Resort drew nearly 200 athletes, including nine members of CBMR's own Mountain Sports Team. Race categories ranged from the 10 and under class all the way to the Category 1 level, and there were two courses set up to accommodate the varying ability levels. Winners were announced at an awards ceremony at Butte 66. Next up, athletes will head to Keystone Resort at the end of August for the next race in the series.
Residents and visitors to the Gunnison Valley will soon have an expanded menu of highquality entertainment opportunities thanks to the vision and commitment of a new theatre creation and production group.
Established in June 2023, Firebird Theatre Company of Crested Butte is the brainchild of Annie and David Flora along with a group of local, talented, theatre enthusiasts. Firebird Theatre hopes to enhance the amazing and diverse offerings in the valley and foster quality theatre in the area, including full length productions, children’s theatre, staged readings, comedy shows and more. Firebird welcomes people with all levels of skill to engage in performance and production, offering educational opportunities across a variety of disciplines.
David is a Kentucky-born, Colorado-based actor, director and podcaster. He holds a B.A. in Dramatic Arts and Music from Centre College, and has been involved with theatrical pursuits for almost 30 years. Annie is a writer, director and actor who has performed in theaters across the country and has written adaptations for Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Winnie the Pooh, The Nutcracker and more. She is also the co-host and co-writer of Quiz Quiz Bang Bang.
The Floras, who have more than 25 years of experience in all aspects of theatre, said they were inspired to start a company by their friends when they moved back to the Gunnison Valley.
“We have met so many talented people who are passionate about theatre and wanted to be a part of the endeavor,” David said. “We could never do this by ourselves, but luckily we have an amazing community of like-minded folks eager to help bring this great opportunity to life”. “We wanted to share our knowledge and experience with the community. We think starting up a new theatre is just like starting up a new restaurant. It’s adding options to the valley and the different types of entertainment opportunities that are available to both locals and visitors.”
Firebird Theatre debuts with a teen performance of Beauty and the Beast this month at the Majestic Theatre. Based on the original 1740 story written by Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve, adapted for the stage and directed by Annie, the show is a wild retelling and appropriate for all ages.
Firebird Theatre is bringing this version to life with a talented group of local Crested Butte teens and adults in a version adapted by Annie Flora. Come see this wacky, wild adaptation in Crested Butte on Aug. 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 1 p.m.
The original Beauty and the Beast is much different than the Disney version most of us know. It does not have talking candles or feather dusters, and what happens between Beauty and the Beast at the castle is distinctly altered. In Annie's adaptation, not all the characters in the play have read the original story. Instead, they try and add characters of their own making, like Lumyarr (who is half candle and half pirate) and Mrs. Pothole (who is, you guessed it, a pothole). They are joined by two evil sisters and a wicked fairy.
The play is a fun, interactive, retelling that doesn't take itself or its source material too seriously, perfect for kids and adults alike. The cast includes Fiona Feier, Maddy Carver, Brody Davis, Luella Turner, Jimmy Utley and Annie Flora. David Flora will be running tech.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids age 5 through 12 and available at cbmajestic.org.
(Source: Firebird Theatre Company.)
LUNCHING In the sun in front of the Twister Warming House, Saturday were Crested Butte, Ski Area, officials and members of the Gunnison and Grand Mesa - Uncompahgre joint National Forest advisory committees, when this is the newspaper staff photo was taken. Those identifiable (clockwise from left) include Dr. Mason M. Light, Taylor River District Ranger, Neil Edstrom, his assistant, Rudolph, ‘Shammy’ somrak, secretary of the Army Howard ‘Bo’, Calloway, ski Area, Manager Vic Dennis, Floyd Beech of Delta Deputy the Regional Forester, Al Mullen, and President Ralph Walton, Junior of Crested Butte Corp. The morning with sperm inside of the warming house discussing that needs for master planning through Colorado‘s rural mountain counties - to make certain the residents have a voice in in how and when their areas are developed.
Annie Flora
Who was it?
What did they do that was kind?
A little act of kindness can go a long way toward making someone have a better day. Can you draw a smile on each of these faces?
Who was it?
What did you do that was kind?
How did it make you feel?
Draw a picture or write about that memory.
Read each of the acts of kindness on this Bingo card.
Try to do each of these simple acts of kindness in the coming week. Color in a box every time you do one. Can you color in the entire Kindness Bingo card in a week?
Send a cheerful letter to a family member
Share your favorite book with a friend
Compliment a friend or family member
Invite a younger kid to play a game with you and your friends
Talk to a child who seems lonely
This is Trevor. He is new at school. He’s eating lunch all alone because he doesn’t know anyone yet.
Draw some new friends sitting with Trevor on the bench. It’s kind to introduce yourself and your friends to someone new!
Help clean up at home
Thank your teacher for all they do
Compliment your school custodian
Draw a picture for an elderly neighbor
Be a good sport, no matter if you win or lose
Pick up your toys without being asked
How did it make you feel?
Draw a picture or write about that memory.
Clear the table after a meal
Help set the table for dinner
In March of 2022, the kindergartners of West Side School in Healdsburg, California recorded laughter and messages they wrote to cheer people up. They set up a phone number where people could call and listen to these happy messages. Their Peptok line received more than 11 million calls in a year!
The teachers came up with another good idea. They asked students to make posters with positive messages and hang them around their communities. Posters are posted on telephone poles, in store windows, and on walls.
Once you display your poster, take a picture of it and send it to: Woodword@kidscoop.com Include your first name, age and state. Some will be shared on our Instagram page.
With hundreds of topics, every Kid Scoop printable activity pack features six-to-seven pages of high-interest extra learning activities for home and school! Get your free sample today at:
Andrea Pennington of 204 West Denver has been awarded Yard of the Week by Top O’ the World Garden Club. “Thank you TOW Gardening Club for considering our yard for this honor,” she said. “It's an honor to be recognized for our love of gardening. We have many different perennials including lupine, columbine, peony, flax and sedum. We also like to share the colors of annuals like geraniums, petunias and vinca. Our flowers and vegetables benefit from continued amending of our soil and deer deterrent fencing around our vegetable garden. Another gardening summer in the books.”
•Volunteers are Needed at the Gunnison Valley Health Senior Care Center located at 1500 W. Tomichi Ave.
•The Gunnison Valley Health Senior Care Center provides the perfect combination of person-centered care, with all the comforts of home.
•Volunteers do one on one visits with residents as often as possible, assist with bingo, attend activities, play games, assist with personal computing, attend off center outings, take walks and most importantly establish relationships with residents. Weekend companionship is encouraged!
•As a Region 10 RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) volunteer you will receive supplemental health, liability and auto insurance as well as a .50 per mile reimbursement and a� ��������� meal �������������
Interested?
If you are 55 years of age or ������� and are interested in making a difference in the lives of the ��������� �� ��� Senior Care Center Contact Gunnison RSVP Coordinator Scott LeFevre at 719-239-1364 or email: slefevre@region10.net.
Top O’ the World Garden Club awarded Amy Schwartz’s Family Vision Center with Business Yard of the Month. “I'm really appreciative of receiving the nomination for Business Yard of the Month,” she said. “As many know, this old building was once The Gunnison Creamery. It holds many memories for long-time locals in this valley. I routinely have comments from folks who came here as kids to get ice cream from Forrest Kelley or remember bringing cow’s milk here from their ranches. My husband and I purchased this building in April of 2012. It was in need of a lot of work at the time to make it Family Vision Center. I tell many that complement the work we did that my husband had a true vision of what this building could be. While he and our friend Jesse Rickert did the inside renovation, I have worked over the years on the outside landscape. Most of what I have planted here at the office has actually come from splits from the perennials I have growing at my house. One of those is catmint, which is a shared favorite between myself and local honey bees. It's so easy to grow here and the purple flowers start in the spring and last through the fall. The daisies, penstemon and coneflowers are also from my house. Growing up in the Midwest, I spent a lot of time working with my mom in her flower garden as well as her vegetable garden. Back there we simply put a seed in the ground and it grew. As most who garden in Gunnison know, it's a much greater challenge than that. For me it's a great way to unwind at the end of a busy day or while I’m on my lunch break here at the office. I hope to continue to work on becoming a better gardener here at Family Vision Center as well as at home.”
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Presenting Sponsors
Carolyn & David Miller
Katy & Kyle Miller
Meredith & Kyle Bebee
Gala Sponsors
Mary & Mark Barrett
Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Idea Ranch
Whetstone Mountain Foundation
Dinner Sponsors
Mary T. & Jack E. Blake Jr.
Fialkoff Family
Pat & Dan Wright
Auction Sponsors
Kathryn & Luke Kissam
Jennifer & Sean Reilly
Bar Sponsor
Benchmark Mortgage
Venue Sponsors
The Club at Crested Butte
Catherine & Bill Lacy
sponsor party sponsor
Bedell Frazier Investment Counselling, LLC
Two-Step Sponsors
Bob Valentine & Steve Bolton
Doris & James Brogan
Raemon & Robert Davis
DLA Piper
Lacy Construction Company
Turner Toyota
ENTERTAINMENT Sponsor
Cathey & Don Humphreys
the lavish loo sponsors
Barbara Silverman & John Kozyak
Cass & Austen Wright
Safe ride Sponsors
Adonia & Kevin Cokinos
Susie & Reggie Coon
Pinnacle Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
TABLE Sponsors
Jaima Giles-Alsum & Brian Alsum
Doris & Bill Altman
Debbie & Justin Bono
Heinle & Brethauer Families
Joe Calandra
Kate Bowman & Gordon Clark
Pamela & Evans Clements
Linda & Bob Colvey
Eileen & James DuPre
Kelly & Tony Lee
LIV Sotheby’s International Realty-
Crested Butte
Karen & Pat O’Neill
Peak Property Management & Sales
Harmels on the Taylor
Lila & Robert Sessums
Signature Properties Ebner & Associates
Meg & Michael Smith
Dawn & Dick Smith
Maureen & Christopher Stenger
Kimber Felton & Mike Ukropina
Western-CU Boulder Engineering
Partnership Program
Traci Van Pelt & Pat Wilson
Welcome Sponsors
The Clay Studio
High Country Beverage
Marchitelli’s Gourmet Noodle
Republic National Distributing Company
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Sign Guys & Gal
Swire Coca-Cola
Tito’s Handmade Vodka
Golf Cart Sponsors
Susie & Reggie Coon
J. Robert Davis Law Firm
N & B Home Services
Slate River Systems Inc. (SRSI)
Team Sponsors
Debbie & Justin Bono
Kate Bowman & Gordon Clark
Coburn Development
Priscilla Hodges & Team Trouble
Intergy Private Wealth
The Kienast Family
LIV Sotheby’s International
Realty-Crested Butte
Karen & Pat O’Neill
Patterson Law Group
Peak Property Management & Sales
Teri & Steve Pratt
Lila & Robert Sessums
Signature Properties Ebner & Associates
Slate River Systems Inc. (SRSI)
Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC
Kimber Felton & Mike Ukropina
Team Les Veltman
Western Colorado University
Kim & George Worth
Hole Sponsors
Charity Golf International
Coburn Development
The Dalton Family
Team Les Veltman
Patterson Law Group
Signature Properties Ebner & Associates
Tito’s Handmade Vodka
The Potter Family
auction donors
Adventure Company
Artisan Rug Gallery
Susan & Eric Barnes
Jared Bednar, Colorado
Avalanche Head Coach
Elisabeth Laux & Joel Benisch
Birdy Design
Black Tie Ski Rentals
Bob Valentine & Steve Bolton
Teresa & Tracy Boyer
Hailee Boyle
Bramble & Bloom
Brewers Association
Bulldog Tours
Bushnell
Nancy Bryant
Judy Byron
Cabot Cheese Cooperative
Joe Calandra
Casa Sueños
CB Power Yoga
Jerry Clark
Coda del Pesce
Linda & Bob Colvey
Crested Butte Dental
Crested Butte Gift Baskets
Crested Butte Nordic Center
Crested Butte Personal Chefs
Crystal River Jeep Tours
Raemon & Robert Davis
The Detail Shop
Eileen & James DuPre
The Fountain
Janet Farmer
Favor the Kind
Fialkoff Family
Four Sixes Ranch
Gagosian Gallery
Garlic Mike’s Italian Cuisine
Restaurant
Geographic Expeditions
Gunnison Sports Outfitters
Harmels on the Taylor
Matt Hartnett
Heather Biery Acupuncture
Cathey & Don Humphreys
Idea Ranch
International Management Group
It’s a Berglund
Janet Beth Designs
Nan & Mike Johnson
Barbara Silverman & John Kozyak
Diane Kresley
Kroenke Sports Charities
Catherine & Bill Lacy
Lake Fork Marina
Las Olas
Lavish
Kelly & Tony Lee
Sharidan Lippold
Mary Lockhart
Lyle Lovett
Lowes Resorts
Sage Maestro
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
Barbara & Pat McCelvey
McGill’s
Bill Meyers
Tierney Miller
Mountain Nugget Bodyworks
NIHI SUMBA
Nikki Mitchell Foundation
Old South Carriage Co.
Old Town Food Tours
Suzanne Pierson
The Post Oak Hotel
Mark Powell
Rad Hatter of Austin
Randy Watson Boots
Jennifer & Chris Read
Shelley Read
Rebecca Bourke Jewelry
Remington Flats Hotel
Michael Robillard
Ryce Asian Bistro
Sandy Beaches Cruises
Santurbane Photography
Shannon Dunn
Andrea & Richard Saperstein
The Slogar
Meg & Michael Smith
Meghan Smith
Maureen Stenger
St. Croix
Sunday Morning Skin
Third Eye Photography
Dawn Train
Kimber Felton & Mike Ukropina
Under Armor
Ryan VanLanen
Volcon ePowersports
Traci Van Pelt & Pat Wilson
Cynthia Wolff
Cass & Austen Wright
CB Open Committee
Eric Barnes
Susan Barnes
Eileen DuPre
Jesse Ebner
Joe Garcia
Mike Johnson
Kelly Lee
Meg Smith
Maureen Stenger
Cass Wright
A special Thanks to
ASC Board of Directors
Gage Barnes
Jess Barnes
Brad Bogard
David Bolding
Hunter Brothers
Paul Brothers
Josie Byron
Judy Byron
Tricia & Justin Clapp
The Club at Crested Butte
Linda Colvey
Gary Corbett
Rick Divine
Ben Doerner
James DuPre
Expedition School
Jordan Main
Adam Shedlosky
Kimery Duda
Adhyayan Singh
Blanca Gutierrez
Kent Fulton
Becca Glatz–GeoEx
Steve Grant
Sally Hensley
Ryan Hoynacki
Idea Ranch
Diane Kresley
Catherine & Bill Lacy
John Leonardi
Dan Loftus
Marchitelli’s Gourmet Noodle
Michael Marchitelli
Wendy Stewart & Tim Martinez
Allen Miller
Lynn Moore
Moose
Brandon Mueller
Jennifer Read
Dana Regan
Rocky Mountain Chocolate
Factory–Nancy & Ashley Riemer
Eric Roemer
Sidecar Mobile Bar–Maura Roche
Craig & Linda Sikes
Mike Swan
Shaun Taylor
Jamie Timmons
Tommy & Reba Tomathison
Paul Wieland
The Adaptive Sports Center enhances the quality of life of people with disabilities through exceptional outdoor adventure activities.
THE ATTENDEES, SPONSORS, DONORS, STAFF, AND VOLUNTEERS WHO MADE THE 2O23 CRESTED BUTTE OPEN A SUCCESS!