Gunnison Country Times, August 31, 2023

Lowline Fire well contained

Two coal tailing piles require special attention

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

The spread of the Lowline Fire has slowed significantly over the last couple weeks, following intermittent rain and the relative success of fire lines along the southern and eastern boundaries closer to the City of Gunnison. As of Aug. 29, the fire had spread to 1,899 acres and remains 55% contained.

The Lowline Fire is burning about 14 miles north of Gunnison. It was reported on July 26 on a ridge between Squirrel and Mill creeks, and fire experts believe it was Lowline A6

Gunnison Rising out of money, for now

Construction on pause until next year

Bella Biondini Times Editor

It’s been a quiet construction season at the Gunnison Rising

development because its owners have run out of money — stalling progress until 2024. Following upheavals in the credit market, most of the work scheduled for the season has been pushed to next year.

“It’s pretty obvious we’re not doing the work we intended to do this season … It's a very difficult time to be out in the mar-

ket,” said Gunnison Rising project manager Jeff Prosapio. “We are turning over every stone that we can to find it, but right now we're not funded.”

Gunnison Rising is still not connected to a permanent power source following delays installing utility infrastructure, while progress on phase two, a future neighborhood that will

hold some of the developments first homes, has been paused. Barely two years into construction, Gunnison Rising developers have already had a number of hiccups. Since construction crews broke ground, the project team is having trouble hooking up phase one to power, dealing Rising A6

County pursues more conservative electrification code update

Building codes public hearing set for fall

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

Those looking to embark on a new build in Gunnison County will soon have to comply with an updated set of building codes, as the county is set to adopt the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).

The IECC codes establish a minimum requirement

for energy-efficient buildings, helping local governments set greener standards for new builds. The county is already trailing the City of Gunnison and the Town of Crested Butte — both of which adopted these codes last year. Planning officials made a formal code recommendation to the County

Commissioners on Aug. 22 that included solar and electricready modifications and incentives for using an energy efficiency rating system.

Adoption will bring the county’s current 2015 building codes into state compliance. Last Codes A2

ROAD TO REGROWTH: The Lowline Fire burned up a hillside on private property near Mill Creek weeks ago. Regrowth has already started, as various green grasses and small shrubs push through the topsoil and ash. For more on the Lowline Fire, see A6 (Photo by Abby Harrison)

QUOTE of the week

“Their contributions to our culture, as wonderful human beings, go far beyond what contractors typically do.”

— Jim Woytek, GHS principal

See story on B1

BRIEFS

GMUG revised forest plan released

The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests published its revised forest plan and environmental impact statement (EIS) on Wednesday, Aug. 30. The current GMUG forest plan was approved 40 years ago in 1983 and has been amended five times.

“Community participation on our public lands management has helped produce an inclusive plan that focuses on forest restoration, resilience and climate adaptation,” said Chad Stewart, GMUG forest supervisor.

The revised plan will provide the foundation for future management activities across the forests for at least the next 15 years. The plan addresses drought, tree mortality and wildfire risk while amplifying forest restoration and resiliency through local and state partnerships. It’s estimated the plan will support 3,900 jobs and provide $125 million in labor income, add 46,000 acres of recommended wilderness and increase fuel treatment objectives by 60%.

The plan’s release initiates a 60-day objection period. All materials for the revised forest plan and EIS as well as instructions for filing objections will be published on the GMUG’s home webpage.

The National Forest Foundation and GMUG will host webinars on Tuesday, Sept. 5 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 5-6:30 p.m. The Montrose County Events Center will host an in-person meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 6 from 5-6:30 p.m. This is an opportunity for members of the public to receive an overview of the plan.

Corrections

The Aug. 24 edition of the Times stated that Cam Chioffi won Top Rod at the Superfly tournament. Annika Engholm won the award. On A1, the Times also incorrectly stated that Gene Hart was a founding member of Superfly.

year, the Colorado legislature approved a bill that required all state jurisdictions to adopt the 2021 IECC codes by 2026. That bill also requires the county to adopt the Model Electric Ready Code and Solar Ready Code as a baseline, with the ability to make standards more strict as desired.

Overall, the recommended electric- and solar-ready codes call for new residential and commercial builds to prepare for electrification in the future, but are not demanding it now. New codes will apply to all new construction but also to major renovations or additions, defined as 50% or more of the building’s total area.

New provisions include designation of a rooftop solar-ready zone and a potential pathway to connect that zone to an electrical panel. New builds must also have a circuit close enough to support a future EV-designated parking space and enough capacity to support electric appliances.

“The solar-ready code is really meant to get people thinking. It's not so much that you have to put in the solar panels. It's more like you have to have a designation on your rooftop of where these panels are going to and you have to show that on your plans,” Building and Environmental Health Official

Crystal Lambert told the Times .The committee chose waivers that allow the solarand electric-ready code to flex in several instances. When residences are affected by natural disasters, in the case of disastrous fire or flood, the board can consider whether a new building has to comply with current or previous codes. Another waiver allows commercial buildings over 10,000 square feet to choose less strict code compliance if owners can prove the cost of full compliance is significant.

Incentivizing greener builds

County planning officials also made further recommendations for IECC codes, including incentivizing — and mandating, for homes greater than 5,000 square feet — the use of an Energy Rating Index (ERI), a rating that captures the energy efficiency of a home by reducing the cost of the plan review fee from 30% to 22%. They also recommended the county consider incentivizing ERI costs for income-qualified homeowners.

Assistant County Manager for Operations and Sustainability John Cattles anticipates that as the state continues to fine-tune building codes, the ERI will become a baseline requirement to rate homes. To get ahead of the curve, planning officials want to push use of the rating now.

“We're trying to do is create incentives, as well as some mandates, to slowly start to create a market in this valley … so when that comes down, we're not just dropping that on our community all at once,” Cattles said.

Planning officials also recommend the county prohibit a

number of amenities for both residential and commercial builds: gas-fired heaters for pools and spas, exterior heated walking surfaces, parking areas and driveways. All other ice and snow melt systems must have controls that only activate when the temperature is less than 40 degrees fahrenheit.

“We have snow melt on the [Gunnison County Courthouse], which we're working on decommissioning because we've learned that same lesson ourselves. It's an absurd amount of energy,” Cattles said.

Some arguments were made in favor of commercial use of heated sidewalks and driveways, like at hospitals or universities. But an engineering study in Pitkin County showed that the overall energy emissions of snow melt exceeded plowing, even using diesel-powered trucks. And, buildings outside the city are rarely large enough to merit those concerns, said Cathie Pagano, assistant county manager for Community and Economic Development.

“We don't want to legislate for the exemption,” Pagano said.

“And in my mind, that would be legislating for the exemption by trying to create a complicated system to allow snow melt for the public good, but those buildings are in the municipalities.”

Planning officials tabled the more aggressive option of an energy “budget,” which would restrict overall energy use by asking homeowners to offset luxury amenities like spas or heated driveways with other energy-saving features.

For all code requirements, builders are able to make an argument to the Gunnison County Board of Appeals for an exemption. Members of the public will have a chance to weigh in on the proposed codes at a public hearing. That hearing is not scheduled yet but it will likely occur in October or November of 2023.

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

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ABSOLUTELY STUNNING 2800sf home at the end of the Ohio Creek valley sits on 40 acres with Carbon Creek running through the acreage. Custom home & garage offer in-floor heat, 3 bdrms/3 bath, south facing windows with incredible views and a 4 car garage with work space & a walk-in cooler. 3750 County Road 737; $2,500,000.

IMMACULATE & charming 3 bdrm/2 bath home in town on a large corner lot with mature landscaping, raised garden beds, dog run & chicken coop. House is 1,777sf with an attached garage that’s 624sf with plenty of storage. 917 N. Spruce St.; $695,000.

MOUNTAIN HOME with loft nestled in the trees with Gold Creek in the back yard on over 3 acres. Just 3.5 miles from Ohio City, 1 bdrm/1 bath, bordered by national forest, built in 1994 with well & septic. 1,008 square feet with generator and shed too. 3491 County Road 771; $635,000.

HISTORIC BASSICK MINE in Ohio City has produced Gold & Silver on the over 50 acres of 5 mining claims. Property includes a 3 bdrm./2 bath house with huge attached garage & is fronted by 300 feet of Gold Creek. 5498 County Road 771; $2,500,000.

Road

$875,000.

PROPERTY POTENTIAL Here’s your chance to purchase R-3 lots & finish the West End Townhomes for a spec option, rental investment or employee housing. City approved site plans allow for two more duplex units. Water & sewer taps are already installed. Centrally located near the schools & RTA bus stop. 817 W. Denver Ave.; $297,000.

4 BDRM/2 BATH, 1920sf home and a fully remodeled basement with 2 car detached garage conveniently located near the new library & trail system. Includes a cozy great room & bonus room for storage or crafts. 108 Irwin Street;

Gunnison County will soon enact stricter energy building codes for new construction in accordance with state law. (Photo by acob Spetzler)

“Dolly” Rosie May Terry Lavato

“Dolly” Rosie May Terry Lavato passed away on Aug. 24, 2023 at Gunnison Valley Hospital surrounded by her loving family. She was 82. Her devotion to family and loving husband of 56 years, Lloyd Danny Lavato, will be dearly missed.

Rosie was born in Buena Vista, Colorado on May 12, 1941

to the late George and Grace Terry. She was a devoted wife and mother to five children, Shirley Ruggera, Lloyd Danny, Jr. (deceased on Mar. 17, 1970), Tracey Miller, Deanna Berry and Steven Lavato.

She spent most of her life in Pitkin, raising her children and working side-by-side with her husband, Lloyd. She was a wonderful mother and dedicated wife that always put her family first. She worked in the sawmill, loaded timber and peeled poles. She also worked at the Pitkin post office for several years. In 1990, she and Lloyd relocated to the big city, also known as Gunnison. During this time, she worked at the senior care center as a dietary aid, took care of Lloyd until his passing on Nov. 18, 2013 and helped raise her grandchildren.

Rosie was blessed with a

Regal feathers

loving family. She is survived by four of her children and their families, her sister, Janet Paxson and family of Wilburton, Oklahoma, her brother, Johnny Mac and family of Grand Junction, Colorado, grandchildren Alex, Zachary and John Lavato, Taylor Miller and Jason Ruggera and great-grandchildren Holly and Dashel Warren, Randy, Otto, Dante and Roman Ruggera.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd, son, Lloyd Danny, Jr., parents George William and Grace Terry, sisters Ruby, Minnie, Ester and Lucile, brothers John Estel, George and Jack, father-in-law Salvador John, mother-in-law Olive and several nieces and nephews. Services were held on Aug. 31st, 2023 at the Pitkin Church, with interment following at Pitkin Cemetery.

3.5 baths and

of living space to host your family and friends. Spacious kitchen, formal dining area and a wood burning fireplace. The garden level has a spacious game area with a pool table and entertainment space. Attached 2 car garage, two decks overlooking the Gunnison River, and the home has operated as a very successful VRBO.

MLS # 805280 340 Tomichi Trail

$1,695,000

4 Bedrooms

4 Bathrooms

0.310 +/- Acres

A treasure on the golf course!

Beautiful two story Craftsman Mountain style home with 3,032 square feet, built in 2017. Enjoy unobstructed views overlooking the course, ponds, and Hartman Rocks area from oversized windows. Master suite on the main level, open concept living, gourmet kitchen with Thermador appliances and granite countertops. Gas fireplace in the living area, cedar siding, heated 2 car garage.

Local wildlife photographer Joe Enenbach captured a bald eagle resting its wings in a tree near the Gunnison County Public Library on Aug. 22.

(Photo by Joe Enenbach)

970.641.1414

© 2023 Gunnison Country Times

Publisher/Owner Alan Wartes publisher@gunnisontimes.com

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Editor Bella Biondini bella@gunnisontimes.com

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Photo Editor Jacob Spetzler jacob@gunnisontimes.com

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Issa Forrest issa@gunnisontimes.com

THE

Kids come first in school board election

Alan Wartes Times Publisher

It’s election season again — as hard as that is to believe — and this time around all eyes are on the first contested Gunnison Watershed School District board election in more than three decades. Some might interpret going that long without a race for open seats as a sign of community complacency. But I think it’s just as likely to be evidence of general satisfaction with how our schools have been run, measured by student achievement.

Either way, this year’s large (and still growing) cadre of candidates suggests that people in the community are certainly not

LETTERS

This kind of behavior has no place in our community

Editor:

complacent and possibly less than satisfied with the direction they see the school district taking. If we are honest, we have to admit that at least some of the reasons for that are rooted in national-level issues. Battle lines that are largely drawn elsewhere run through our community, but they didn’t originate here.

That is not meant to minimize or invalidate the opposing points of view that constitute the dividing line, but rather to frame the campaign ahead realistically and orient ourselves within the big picture. This will help us remember that, no matter what else we perceive to be at stake in the election, the top of the list must always be what’s good for kids. Not “kids” in the generic sense. These kids. Our kids. That kid who just wants to be safe, seen and accepted.

The truth is, once elected, school board members can make waves far into the future in ways that aren’t necessarily true of other local elected officials. Sure, county commissioners or city council members can

for school board candidates. It means people are paying attention to the first school board election in 35 years.

make choices today that have serious long-term implications. But most of the time, if those decisions turn out to be harebrained, they are also reversible. The pendulum swings and ordinances can be revoked and resolutions dissolved. New policies can be crafted to replace and correct the old ones.

But school board decisions have the potential to live on, possibly for generations, because their consequences can be indelibly imprinted on the hearts and minds of young people for a lifetime. That alone ought ot make the decision to run for a seat on the school board a sobering one. For the rest of us, it highlights the importance of casting our vote calmly and wisely, never forgetting that children will shoulder the result.

It’s not a stretch to say that politics in America today is beginning to resemble a nasty divorce. The idea has begun to take root that our differences are irreconcilable and that reducing the “other side” to ash is acceptable. When compro -

In response to Asay’s letter

Editor:

mise on middle ground is abandoned, then a winner-takes-all strategy is all that’s left. Like in any divorce, the children are often caught in the middle.

For this reason, our commitment at the Times is to cover this election as fairly and accurately as possible, without amplifying rumor or unfounded perceptions. We intend to let candidates speak for themselves and convey their message to our readers without prejudice. We believe in everyone’s right to speak and be heard, because the free flow of ideas is what feeds good decision-making on election day — and in board meetings once the community has made its choice. We will do our best to maintain focus on our local schools and the wellbeing of our kids.

We challenge others to commit to these goals as well.

(Alan Wartes can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or publisher@gunnisontimes.com.)

Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday

Not one who usually feels the need to write to the paper, I believe it is important to inform the community that our school board signs for Anne Brookhart, Jody Coleman and Mark VanderVeer were burned down, right in front of our house.

2023

LETTERS POLICY

Letters to the editor must be 500 words or less. We favor local topics and discourage argumentative letters addressed to particular people. If you reference data, please include sources for fact-checking.

We will not print letters from candidates for public office.

Email letters to editor@gunnisontimes.com or send to 218 N. Wisconsin St., Gunnison, CO 81230. Include your full name, address and a phone number — for our internal use only.

The deadline is Tuesday at 12 p.m. Letters may be edited for grammar, clarity or length.

We are quiet, law-abiding citizens with a young child and were extremely upset by this act of violence. Not only am I unsettled by the thought of a violent individual coming onto our property, but my mind goes to the tragic loss of lives and homes because of fires spreading through neighborhoods just like ours. This careless act of stupidity could easily have ended up destroying more than just signs.

Our signs are back up, and we will support Anne, Mark and Jody now more than ever, and we hope you will too. You can donate online at ss4sb.com/give or by mail to Community for Student Success, PO Box 1746, Gunnison.

But more importantly, go vote! This kind of behavior has no place in our community or schools.

Erin Harrington Gunnison

What comes next?

Editor: Honorable and respectful behavior is what will win in the end. It is great that yard signs are popping up to show support

This is a tremendously important election. People care about this and will come out to vote to protect public education. It is extremely sad to learn that some people have turned to outrageous and dangerous measures to attack their opponents.

Yard signs for Ann, Jody and Mark have been removed, vandalized and even burned by those who have no confidence in their own candidates and feel they must revert to drastic measures. What comes next?

Consider the children. Yard signs are protected, as a right of free speech. This is violent vandalism. Burn yard signs, ban books, burn books. What comes next?

For as long as I have lived here, over 30 years, this community has always felt safe, where one can express opinions and comfortably agree to disagree. Neighbors with opposing yard signs may even chuckle about it over the fence.

Burning yard signs is intimidating, dangerous and unacceptable. Stand with the honorable candidates who will keep our education system strong and fair for all: Ann Brookhart, Jody Coleman and Mark Vanderveer.

Rita Merrigan Gunnison

I read Stu Asay’s very intellectual and well-written letter with a degree of consternation. As has been typical of the Republican Party in general, not only is the letter insulting on a number of issues, it implies that letters have been written by people new to the valley and therefore don’t understand the culture of hunting.

First of all, is that even remotely accurate? When is one new to the valley? Secondly, the letter goes on to state that being socially liberal somehow equates to being anti Second Amendment. I don’t recall one letter that was opposed to hunting or gun ownership. The real issue was the association of any type of a gun with a school board election in light of the appalling number of children murdered in their classrooms. The letter goes on to imply that the public schools are more interested in “social engineering” than reading, writing and arithmetic i.e., basic education. I am not sure what that means.

Is the writer opposed to open discussions in social studies classes on social issues? Is this part of education?

With vast experience in public education, I can assure you that nothing is farther from the truth. Our public schools in this valley do a remarkable job considering the number of ESL students and other social problems coupled with the lack of funding.

I find it hard to take candidates seriously when supported

by a party that uses scare tactics, innuendo and spinning the facts to pander to certain populations.

Charles Welch Gunnison

Traffic circles, the good and the bad

Editor:

Bottom line up front, construction of traffic circles in Crested Butte at the intersection of 6th and Elk, as well as 6th and Whiterock, are a good idea. Putting them at Red Lady, Treasury Hill and Pyramid would be a waste of taxpayer dollars.

The twin primary benefits of traffic circles are vehicle traffic efficiency and safety. Pedestrian crossing and traffic calming are tertiary effects, where anyone selling you otherwise is simply inexperienced in the matter.

What most folks, and even uneducated planners, misunderstand about implementing traffic circles is that they are largely incompatible with road systems laid out in a formal grid. Simply dropping traffic circles on top of random stop sign intersections (or traffic signal intersections) will result in failure and waste.

Effective planning and implementation of traffic circles is to locate them at the intersection of two primary thoroughfares, and the intersection of a primary and secondary thoroughfares, which otherwise don’t require a traffic signal. Anyone

Welcoming Week returns to Gunnison for second year

Kick off scheduled for Friday, Sept. 8

Bella Biondini Times Editor

Welcoming Week, a series of community-building events that promote inclusivity and belonging, as well as progress within the Gunnison Valley, is returning for the second year in September.

“This week our efforts are really trying to bring in that sense that everyone here belongs, no matter where you come from, your socio economic background, ethnicity, or how you identify as a person,” said Ricardo Esqueda, an outreach liaison for the City of Gunnison who helped put the event together.

In 2022, Welcoming America, a national nonprofit that is leading a movement to create more inclusive communities across the United States, selected Gunnison to participate in its Rural Welcoming Initiative. With direction from Welcoming America, the city launched its first-ever “Welcoming Week” that fall — created to highlight programs and organizations that have already begun to implement equitable services and influence others to make changes.

Welcoming Week will return with even more in-person celebrations from Sept. 8 to 16. Local leaders from the city, Gunnison County, the Hispanic

Affairs Project, Inmigrantes Unidos and the Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley formed a team to craft a full list of events for the week.

The group, which just referred to itself as a “site team” in 2022, returned this year with a new name, the Gunnison Cultural Connection. But Esqueda said it still has a similar mission: “To build bridges to create a sense of belonging for everyone in our community.”

“We thought it really captured what it was we were trying to do,” said County Commissioner Liz Smith.

“We're trying to honor the work that lots of organizations have been doing for decades in the valley, and consolidate some of that energy and push it forward into new and exciting directions.”

Each day of the event has its own theme to encompass the different sectors needed to make a community welcoming including civic engagement, economic development, education and equitable access.

Welcoming Week kicks off on Friday, Sept. 8 at Western Colorado University with a free evening screening of “From Here,” a documentary about the immigrant story. Esqueda said he hopes it launches discussion about the lived experiences of Gunnison’s immigrant community and will be followed by a panel.

Over the course of the week, residents will have an opportunity to register to vote with the League of Women Voters, learn about the upcoming election and meet their local law enforcement officers and fire -

fighters. Welcoming Week also creates an opportunity for community organizations to show the progress made over the past year to expand services for the valley’s Spanish-speaking community members. For example, there are plans to highlight Gunnison’s first-ever Business Idea Lab for Hispanic entrepreneurs and the Resiliency Project’s growing microgrant program.

Welcoming Week will be filled with celebrations, from a community potluck to a music cruise and a downtown social. The event will conclude on Sept. 16 with a “diversity walk” parade down Main Street with a Hispanic Heritage celebration with food and music from 4-8 p.m. on Virginia Avenue. Although it will likely look different each year, the city hopes to make Welcoming Week an annual event to close out the summer season. The City of Gunnison has not yet been officially certified as a “welcoming” community by Welcoming America, but the organization has offered a great model to follow, Esqueda said.

“There needs to be a certain level of infrastructure in place,” he said. “I don't necessarily mean physically, but with resources, services and accessibility. A lot of organizations are already continuing to expand on those. This week is our continued commitment to improvement here.”

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

selling some other purpose is simply inexperienced in what traffic circles do, and bound to waste our money.

Who am I to make such statements? I have a degree in engineering and spent a career as a civil engineer officer in the Air Force, which practically speaking represents the equivalent of both public works and portions

of city management, including comprehensive community planning.

Notably, I had the pleasure of serving four years in Germany, which provided the opportunity to daily drive and observe the mastery that country had over the widespread implementation of traffic circle intersections. Please note that the coun-

try most certainly did not use them as a “gatekeeping” function approaching the entrance to towns, nor as a means to persuade a pedestrian crossing. As an aspirational aside, west Elk Avenue would be wonderful if much of it were converted to a “walkplatz.”

Dan Black Crested Butte

Scenes from Welcoming Week 2022. (Courtesy Ricardo Perez/Hispanic Heritage Project)

caused by a lightning strike. Although the fire consumed nearly 1,700 acres in the first week, it has grown just 100 acres in the last month. As of Aug. 25, 34 firefighters and three engines were working the fire, a significant drop from the over 400-person response team dispatched at the start of the month.

Those three engines are primarily patrolling the east side of the fire, closest to man-made structures like homes, said Theo Engel, assistant fire management officer at the Gunnison Ranger District. The District assumed command of the fire two weeks ago and entered a long-term management plan, meant to keep the fire safely contained until it can burn out.

Fire crews are checking water pumps to make sure they are working properly, and monitoring any potential growth on the eastern edge. Suppression crews in the south are working in rougher terrain, ensuring that the fire stays within the containment lines, Engel said. The fire lines set along the southern and eastern edge, laid primarily to protect structures on private property, have kept the fire contained on boundaries closer to town.

Last week, Lowline crept slightly along the western flank, expanding about 30 acres toward the West Elk Wilderness. It moved through dead and downed fuels in an Aspen stand when it came across more available fuels and burned it out. Not much will change in terms of how firefighters are containing the fire, were it to reach the wilderness area, Engel said. Firefighters are already working in steep, rugged terrain.

Rising

from

with misplaced electrical lines and entangled in a lawsuit for contractors left unpaid. (See related story on A9.)

Although its owners are temporarily out of money, they are still hopeful about Gunnison Rising’s future. Due to the development’s size, the team supporting the project believe it may help correct the housing market, one that is tightening as the Gunnison Valley runs out of land to build on.

Empty pockets

Already more than two decades in the making, the 630acre Gunnison Rising development is located just east of town and stretches along both sides of Hwy. 50. The project is not only large by Gunnison Valley standards, but for anyone — with cost estimates for the total project between $120-130 million.

Gunnison Rising is primarily supported by two investors, longtime Gunnison local Dick Bratton and Denver-based

Lowline will likely burn until significant precipitation can put it out. It is going to be a “longduration” event, commonly characterized by fires burning in mixed conifer at high elevations, Engel said.

“What will really put this fire out is a significant snowfall,” he said. “Until that arrives, it'll probably look very similar to what it does now, in terms of staffing and ensuring that we're protecting the values at risk that we've identified.”

Closures are still in effect on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands at the Lowline Fire. County Road 727, Mill Creek, remains closed to the public. The Mill-Castle Trail and Low Line Trail are also closed. The BLM has temporarily closed approximately 1,000 acres of public land from Cunningham Gulch, north to Mill Creek Road.

Old mines, new fire

In the first day or two of the fire, Lowline ignited piles of coal tailings on private land near Mill Creek. Just the tailing piles ignite, rather than a coalseam fire, which could burn for much longer and be more complicated to put out. The tailings are associated with the Hinkle Mine, an abandoned coal mine that last operated from 1950-58.

As of Monday, 2-3 acres of coal refuse was burning across seven piles on the mine’s footprint.

As soon as the burning piles were found, fire managers brought in mine specialists from the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, because the Forest Service does not have the equipment or expertise to manage industrial mining waste. The Division visited the site on Aug. 4 and estimated it had been burning for roughly a month.

The Division will bring on a

real estate lawyer and investor Byron Chrisman. The project broke ground in 2021 and is projected to take another 20 years to fully build out.

The project will be split into multiple phases, and two are already underway, but far from finished. While a 38,000 square foot FedEx distribution center and the Bureau of Land Management Gunnison Field Office are finished and occupied, the rest of the property remains undeveloped.

Construction at the “government campus,” the project’s first phase, has been accompanied by the development of Gunnison Rising’s main utility lines. These are extensions of the city’s existing lines for electric, water and sewer, the capacity of which needed to be upgraded to support the project. Once it’s fully built out, Gunnison Rising will be a third of the size of the city, making infrastructure installation both a massive and costly undertaking.

Prior to the start of 2023, Gunnison Valley Properties (GVP), the company behind the Gunnison Rising subdivision, was funding the development out of pocket. The cost burden

contractor next week to extinguish the coal piles, now that the initial Lowline emergency response is over. Coal tailing piles can burn extremely hot and require special treatment to fully extinguish. The work will start on Sept. 5 and should take about four to five weeks, Division Reclamation Specialist

The contractor will excavate the coal a minimum of 20 feet beyond the edge of where it's burning, or until ground temperatures reach less than 85 degrees. It will then be blended with earthen materials and spread out to cool (to below 100

degrees), before being graded back onto the original contours of the land.

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

of large developments is disproportionately front loaded, with costs that won’t balance out until midway through the multiphase project, Prosapio said. He estimated that GVP has already invested close to $30 million in Gunnison Rising.

Prosapio said the primary

reason the funding ran dry is because the project team anticipated closing on its first metro district bond offering in 2022, but the market went south when interest rates continued to climb.

Metro district bonds are a common way to fund large

Tara Tafi wrote in a statement to Times

The burned forest has revealed decades-old secrets from the Hinkle Mine. A metal stove, partially grown into a tree, sits on the hillside among metal cans and other mysterious equipment. (Photo by Abby Harrison)

to future home and business owners. Now that the market is improving, Prosapio said he will continue to seek potential capital partners in the coming weeks.

Power struggles

Connecting Gunnison

Rising to the city’s electric grid has been a challenge for both project managers and the city, which reviews and approves development plans since the property was annexed into city limits in 2007. With help from a contractor, the city’s Public Works Department upgraded one of its electric substations so that it had enough power to support Gunnison Rising.

The project team needs to run underground conduits from the substation in town south to Gunnison Rising to connect it to permanent electricity. The route ran through a mixture of private and state lands and had to be redirected because it passed through sensitive archeological sites. This reroute became another holdup to finishing phase one.

Despite the challenge of finding the right route, Prosapio said all of the easements have finally been secured. Crews started to install the power feeds this spring, but had to stop almost immediately when money ran out. As a result, FedEx is still without power and has been running on generators for more than six months.

Prior to the distribution center’s completion, FedEx signed an agreement with the developer that it would operate at its own risk until permanent power was supplied. The

Times reached out to FedEx’s developer, Saad Development Corporation, based in Mobile, Alabama, but received no response. According to Prosapio, the team is working with the city engineer to come up with a different solution to connect FedEx to power before the end of the year.

Phase one was expected to be fully energized this November. Water and sewer were finished late last year.

Construction crews also planned to wrap up infrastructure at phase two, on the north side of the highway, this year.

But now that’s a 2024 project, Prosapio said. In 2024, the total budget is another $30 million that may kick over into 2025. This will be accompanied by an aggressive work schedule to make up for delays this year.

An island

Gunnison Rising offers roughly 1 million square feet of commercial and office retail space in its master plan and enough room for the equivalent of approximately 1,700 single-family homes. Phase one, which offers larger, more industrial lots, is the only portion of Gunnison Rising that is publicly listed for sale. Four lots are still available.

Earlier this year, local Bluebird Real Estate broker Brian Cooper was officially named as Gunnison Rising’s sales and marketing director. The Bluebird team will represent all of the sales within the development. Despite delays, Cooper said Bluebird has already received “tremendous interest” in the project from both residential and commer-

cial developers.

“Everybody involved in this, including our team at Gunnison Rising, the owners of the project, as well as our developers here, know the demand for housing is not going away,” Cooper said. “It's not changing, it's not getting softer.”

The current mission is to get the land ready for developers to come in with their own money and teams to build housing for all parts of the market — from affordable, deed restricted homes to the missing middle and those on the upper end. Some could argue that 2023 was a missed opportunity, but there will be the same opportunity in 2024, Cooper said.

Besides Whetstone, right outside Crested Butte, no other large developments exist in the Gunnison Valley. Most other comparable mountain communities are running out of space to expand, with little room to take pressure off of rapidly-rising home prices. Crested Butte is one example close to home.

“If we keep this town as it is, it’s going to get more expensive, just look at Crested Butte,” Cooper said. “Why Crested Butte? It is an island surrounded by open space. It might as well be the ocean … [Gunnison Rising] is the future of development in the Gunnison Valley. Period.”

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

Gunnison ranch to loan water for the environment

New framework allows for more frequent leases

Heather Sackett Aspen Journalism

A Gunnison County family ranch plans to use a relatively new tool to help keep water flowing in a chronically dry section of creek while still irrigating its hay crop.

In dry years, the Peterson Ranch will temporarily loan some of the water it diverts from Tomichi Creek to the state’s instream flow program, which is aimed at keeping water in rivers for the benefit of the environment. The agreement was approved by the Colorado Water Conservation Board this year under legislation passed in 2020 designed to make the water loans more attractive to water-rights owners and effective as a conservation tool.

“We don’t like to see the fish suffer, so we thought this was one way to allow us to continue with our operation and do something for the creek,” said ranch owner, former legislator and Colorado River Water Conservation District board member Kathleen Curry. “For us, it was a way to make a contribution.”

Historically, Curry and her husband, Greg Peterson, have flood irrigated their 220 acres of river bottom ranchland about 15 miles east of Gunnison, beginning in the spring until the end of July. The end of spring runoff, combined with irrigation season, can cause river flows to plummet during the hottest time of year, which is bad news for fish.

“Historically, Tomichi Creek dries up in several locations,” said Tony LaGreca, a project manager for the Colorado Water Trust. “A dry-up is the complete worst thing to happen for an aquatic ecosystem, because everything that needs water to live does not live.”

In late July, Curry and Peterson normally stop irrigating to allow their fields to dry out for a few weeks so that they can get their one annual hay cutting in August, during which time — with the help of monsoon rains — creek flows tend to rebound. They resume irrigating in the fall to regrow some pasture grass and to replenish the groundwater for the next season, which leads to another dip in river flows.

But with the lease agreement enacted, Curry and Peterson would turn off their four ditch headgates at the end of June and keep them off for 37 days — usually the hottest, driest time of year and when Tomichi Creek could most use a boost. By turning water off a month early, they expect to lose about 20% to 25% of their yield, for which they will be compensated nearly $25,000 by the state of Colorado.

A second part of the agreement would let them irrigate in

August and leave the water in the creek in September, when streamflows are lower. Peterson Ranch could get $2,500 if it enacts the lease in the second operational window. If they do both windows, they could get $30,000.

Over 7 miles of Tomichi Creek would benefit from the loan of water. Depending on the location in the stream and time of year, the project could add between 2 and 18 cubic feet per second back to the stream for a total of 116 acre-feet of water conserved.

“It’s a win-win,” Curry said. “We can go with a little bit less yield and they are compensating us very fairly.”

Legal pathway

The statute that allows irrigators to temporarily loan their water to the state’s instream flow program was originally crafted in 2005 with the help of Curry when she was a state representative. (Curry this week told Colorado Politics that she intends to run in 2024 to represent House District 58.)

The instream flow program allows the Colorado Water Conservation Board to appropriate water rights to “preserve the natural environment to a reasonable degree.” Since it was created in 1973, the CWCB has appropriated water rights on nearly 1,700 stream segments, covering more than 9,700 miles of streams, according to its website. But because these rights are so junior compared with most other water users, their effectiveness as a tool for keeping water in rivers is limited.

Under the prior appropriation system — the cornerstone of Colorado water law — the

holders of the oldest water rights, which usually belong to agriculture, get first use of the river. That means in many locations across the state, the much younger instream flow water rights — 18 cfs in the case of Tomichi Creek, with an adjudication date of 1980 — are not met. Temporary leasing of agricultural water to the instream flow is one way to remedy the problem.

Still, the tool is not widely used, despite tweaks to the legislation in 2020 with House Bill 1157 that allowed projects to expand to being used five of every 10 years from three of every 10 years. The Peterson Ranch lease is one of just three projects using the five-in-10 lease program, according to CWCB staff. There are six other similar projects across the state that came about under the previous three-in-10 legislation.

“It doesn’t appear at the rate it’s being utilized, it’s going to solve environmental problems all across the state just like that,” said Kate Ryan, executive director of the Colorado Water Trust. “But on the streams and rivers where it’s used, it’s transformative. It makes a huge difference.”

State Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, who represents District 8, was one of the sponsors of HB 1157. The bill also made it possible to renew loans for two additional 10-year periods, meaning that holders of agricultural water rights can theoretically loan their water for the benefit of the environment for 15 of every 30 years. Roberts said he has heard positive feedback about the expanded loan program.

“We’ve cut down some of the barriers and made it easier

to participate, but the whole

time we’ve kept it voluntary,” Roberts said. “I think the tool is only going to become more important as we head further into drought and dry summers.”

Curry said she got involved with the original bill that created a legal pathway to loan water to ensure that it was workable for livestock producers.

“The state is changing, and we have to face that there are other values for water,” she said. “We just need to make sure if we go down this path, these types of projects need conditions: They wouldn’t hurt ag, they wouldn’t hurt your neighbor, it’s voluntary — things like that.”

State engineers at the Division of Water Resources still need to give their final sign-off for the Peterson Ranch project to move forward. In the spring, Peterson Ranch will decide whether to enact the lease for

conditions for the agreement would be a below-average runoff year but not in the bottom 10%.

Despite the lease program’s limited use so far, Ryan said she has seen more interest lately in partnerships among water-user groups.

“We don’t have to choose between ag and the environment,” she said. “I think water users are seeing there is a natural partnership between ag and the environment. But it’s still complicated and takes a lot of work.”

(Aspen Journalism is a nonprofit, investigative news organization covering water, environment, social justice and more. Visit aspenjournalism.org.)

2024’s irrigation season. Ideal

Tomichi Creek, a tributary of the Gunnison River, runs through the Peterson Ranch property. The Colorado Water Conservation Board holds an instream flow water right for 18 cfs on the creek in this stretch. (Photos by Heather Sackett/Aspen Journalism)

Kathleen Curry, co-owner of Peterson Ranch.

Construction firms in legal battle over Gunnison Rising

Defaulted payments and faulty contracting work spur lawsuits

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

Gunnison Valley Properties (GVP), the company responsible for the valley’s largest coming development project, Gunnison Rising, is entangled in a lawsuit with former and current contractors.

Construction crews broke ground on the over $100 million dollar development in the spring of 2021, but just two seasons later, GVP ran out of money for the project. Within months, a lawsuit was filed in Gunnison District Court by local contractor Spallone Construction, which claimed the company failed to pay for nearly $70,000 of work. Soon after, the project’s construction material supplier, Wesco Distribution, filed its own claim against GVP for just over $400,000 of withheld payments.

But court records paint a complicated picture for the 2021 construction season. Accusations of faulty utility work, breached contracts and missed deadlines culminated into GVP’s own counterclaim against Spallone for nearly $350,000 — the amount GVP is claiming in damages for inadequate work on sewer and water lines.

No money, more problems

Spallone started work on the Gunnison Rising’s government campus, the first phase of the project, during the spring of 2021. The company was contracted to install underground utilities, including sewer and potable water lines, and build streets. But GVP claims that by the end of that first construction season, Spallone failed to complete all of its contracted work. In a counterclaim GVP filed on Aug. 1, the company said Spallone did a shoddy job installing roads and sewer infrastructure, and project managers later found multiple sewer and manhole leaks and damaged water mains that Spallone failed to inspect. GVP also states that project managers found a leaking sewer lift station and a cement pad, meant to hold a generator and propane tank, installed in the wrong location. Spallone has yet to issue a

formal answer to GVP’s allegations.

In 2022, Spallone did not resume work and GVP hired another local contractor, Dietrich Dirtwork & Construction, to finish it. GVP claims it incurred significant expenses along the way, accumulating to a total of $350,000. The same year, Gunnison Rising brought on a new project manager Jeff Prosapio to replace the former, Ron Welborn.

In its initial complaint filed on May 19 of 2023, Spallone claimed it performed all the necessary work as described in the contract, but was shorted just over $67,000 by GVP. To attempt to recover those damages, the company filed a mechanics lien against the property, a legal claim on the property title that, if upheld by the court, guarantees Spallone payment for the construction project.

Spallone also filed for breach of contract and unjust enrichment, charges that allow the court to decide on further damages GVP may have to pay Spallone, in addition to paying for the construction work. Spallone asked for the court to validate its lien and award the company any additional damages. GVP has denied all of Spallone’s major allegations.

While GVP and Spallone dispute who owes who money, the project’s recent lack of capital has spurred another company to sue GVP. Just months after Spallone filed its lawsuit, Wesco, a national company providing all the construction materials, filed its own claim against GVP for just over $400,000, claiming it failed to pay for some materials. Like Spallone, Wesco filed a lien against the property. In GVP’s answer filed on Aug. 27, it claimed the amount of lien is “excessive and/or overstated.”

Gunnison County, which holds the deed to the property, is also listed in the lawsuit as the public trustee, but the Gunnison County Attorney’s Office confirmed to the Times that it has no liability in the case. In Colorado, all deeds are signed over to a public trustee, who serves as a neutral third party until all financial obligations related to the land are met. Combined, GVP could be liable for nearly $500,000, if the court finds in favor of the construction companies. According to state statute, if the lien is upheld by the court and GVP is unable to pay, it could be forced to sell portions of Gunnison Rising and use those proceeds to pay the contractor.

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

VENDOR DAY

The American Public Works Association West Slope Branch is hosting a public “Vendor Day” at 9 am, Thursday the 7th of September for all interested parties. Equipment, supplies, materials, and resource vendors related to dirt work, safety, compliance, and construction activities will be in attendance. There will be a $10 per company fee to attend. This is a great opportunity to get big city access in the mountains. For further information please contact Gunnison County Public Works Department at 970-641-0044

ALAN WARTES MEDIA IS HIRING!

We are looking for a creative and motivated person to join the Gunnison Country Times and Gunnison Country Shopper team.

Part-time Advertising Representative

Duties:

-Assist the Ad Manager with managing ads for existing clients

-Business development and lead generation

-Champion new and existing sponsorship pages

-Work closely with the Ad Manager and Production Team

Skills:

-Sales and Marketing experience preferred, but not required

-Pro cient with a digital work ow

-Preferred experience with with CRM, Trello, and Google Drive

-E ective self-starter who wants to develop new clients

-Growth oriented

Compensation:

-20 hours per week

-$22 per hour with the opportunity to earn commission

-Flexible hours

-Excellent team-oriented working environment

Gas prices soar in Gunnison

Spike in latesummer travel, international politics push prices

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

Gas prices around the Gunnison Valley have soared in the last month, reaching as high as $4.30 for a gallon of regular gasoline. The uptick follows a summer of extreme weather around the country that derailed refinery production, international crude oil supply cuts and locally, a summer of record-breaking travel.

The average price for a gallon of gas in Gunnison County, as of Aug. 30, was $4.30, according to AAA. The statewide average is hovering around $3.97. Colorado counties hit hardest by inflating prices include a swath on the Western Slope — Eagle, Pitkin, Chaffee, Hinsdale and Ouray, among others.

At the start of the year, the state’s only crude oil refinery, Suncor, shut down due to two facility fires. Gov. Jared Polis then issued an emergency order calling for neighboring refineries to pitch in supply, as the state scrambled to fill the gasoline gap. Although the refinery reopened in early March, high prices can still linger after the shake-up, said Skyler McKinley, AAA regional director of public affairs.

“Whenever you have a supply disruption of that magnitude, it does take a long time for oil and the refined product to work its way throughout the system … when it comes back online prices aren't necessarily so elastic that they follow up instantly,” McKinley said.

Prices in Gunnison, historically higher than Front Range counterparts, are also a result of continually-easing COVID restrictions, McKinley said. It’s been a busy summer all around the state and people traveled more than they have in recent years, especially in late summer. As travel increases, so does demand for petroleum.

“We saw in our data that Memorial Day was a recordbreaking travel holiday, spring break was a record-breaking travel period, even the Fourth of July,” McKinley said. “You’ve got a lot of people jumping into planes, trains and automobiles.”

Even without record-breaking travel across the state, summertime gas prices are usually higher than cold-weather months. The Denver metro and north Front Range are designated as non-attainment zones — areas where air pollution consistently exceeds national ambient air quality standards. To help remedy the issue, each

summer the state switches to a more expensive eco-friendly gas mix, used by all sellers regardless of location.

“This is where rural counties are the victim of growth on the Front Range … because we have one refinery, folks from Montezuma to Moffat county are going to deal with it,” McKinley said.

Years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) downgraded the northern Front Range to the most severe nonattainment status. This means the state may switch over to reformulated gas, which is even cleaner but more expensive, at the consumer level as early as 2024. The difference in price for reformulated gas is debated, but federal data from 2021 shows it’s about 30 cents more expensive per gallon.

Pressure from across the country and overseas is also hiking prices. Most of the county’s oil refineries are clustered near the Gulf of Mexico, an area notoriously vulnerable to hurricanes. But this summer, it was record-breaking heat that stymied production. Multiple refineries along the Gulf shut down or massively downscaled production due to excessive heat or fires that broke out.

A supply cut among Middle East oil producers has also contributed. In July, Saudi Arabia announced it was going to reduce its crude oil output by about 1 million barrels per day. The decision followed an early summer Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting with Russia and other smaller producers to “balance and stabilize,” the oil market. In early August, the country announced it may extend the voluntary rollback past September.

McKinley expects prices may fall after Labor Day, after the state switches back over to a winter gas blend, which is less expensive to produce.

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

Greta Schoonover pumps gas at the City Market gas station.

(Photo by Jacob Spetzler)

BLM seeks comments on fee hikes at four local campgrounds

Crested Butte’s Oh Be Joyful cost may double

Bella Biondini Times Editor

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has plans to increase the nightly fees at four campgrounds in the Gunnison Field Office in an effort to keep up with increased use and the rising cost to manage them.

The agency is seeking feedback on a draft business plan for what are the only four fee campgrounds the agency manages in the Gunnison Office: Oh Be Joyful (including River Flats) in Crested Butte, Red Bridge and The Gate to the north of Lake City and Mill Creek just to the south. The comment period will remain open until Sept. 21, 2023, with fee increases likely to take effect next summer.

“Constructive feedback helps shape the future management of these recreation sites,” Gunnison Field Manager Jon Kaminsky said in a press release.

Although all of these sites have had established fees in place for years, the revenue generated has not been enough to cover the cost of operating the developed campgrounds — with a nearly $35,000 gap in 2021. Many of the fees haven’t been adjusted in decades.

The proposed price increases are based on the fees charged at comparable public and private campgrounds in the Crested Butte and Lake City areas. The cost of the BLM campgrounds was found to be much lower. For example, on average it costs $36 per night to camp near Lake City. At comparable campgrounds near Lake Irwin and

Paonia, costs hovered around $20. At the BLM’s Mill Creek campground, a $7 fee has been in place since 1999. At the Gate and Red Bridge, camping is only $5.

Prior to 2016, no formal campsites existed at Oh Be Joyful, an area that can see as many as 200,000 visitors per year. Worried about resource damage, the BLM created designated sites and has since reconstructed one loop, installed bear boxes and new toilets and parking areas. The agency also hired a campground host and constructed a foot and horse bridge over the river. Despite all of these improvements, the nightly fee has stayed at $10.

Based on the business plan, the BLM is proposing a fee increase from $10 to $20 at Oh Be Joyful, as well as Mill Creek. The remaining two are proposed to rise to $10. The plan also proposes tying the new fee structure to the consumer price index. The BLM could review campground fees annually and adjust them in $2 increments based on inflation.

The fees that are collected at those campgrounds stay in the hands of the Gunnison Field Office and go directly back into on-the-ground management. The money pays for regular site maintenance, the cleaning of restrooms, ranger patrols and campground hosts.

“Those fees actually equal jobs,” BLM Supervisory Outdoor Recreation Planner Jim Lovelace told the Times . “They equal people on the ground actually doing the work and taking care of those things.”

The plan can be viewed at blm.gov. For more information or questions on the draft plan, contact Jim Lovelace at 970.642.4953 or jlovelac@blm. gov.

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

The Bureau of Land Management maintains the Oh Be Joyful campground just north of Crested Butte. (Courtesy Tim Malloy/Bureau of Land Management)

215 N Colorado Street | Gunnison, CO

1203 Van Tuyl Circle, MLS #805249, $799,000, 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.

A triathlon for everyone

Gunnison Parks and Rec hosted the annual Gunni Hi Tri sprint triathlon on Saturday, Aug. 26. The adult course consisted of a 500-yard swim (10 laps) at the Rec Center pool, a 14.5-mile bike ride and a 4-mile run. Kids took on the same challenge, but the courses varied in length depending on the age bracket.

(Photos by Jacob Spetzler)

Upper Gunnison seeks money to cover pricey snowpack flights

Data helps water managers make more accurate forecasts when snow melts

Bella Biondini Times Editor

Accurate snowpack data is becoming increasingly valuable to water managers in the Colorado River Basin as the climate becomes more unpredictable. But this often comes at a cost.

The introduction of Airborne Snow Observation (ASO) flights has significantly increased accuracy and reliability when measuring the amount of snow in a drainage or watershed. ASO flights used a laser-imaging system called LiDAR that can map the depth of the snow every few meters by measuring the relief of the landscape with snow both on and off the ground. This gives water managers a clear look at the amount of water the snowpack is holding with a margin of error as little as 4%.

As drought becomes more prevalent across the western United States, knowing how much water will enter the system in the spring when the snow begins to melt is necessary to make accurate forecasts. This is the water that will eventually be used to create hydropower, fill downstream reservoirs and fuel river recreation.

“We need to have a good figure on what amount of water we have and how we're going to distribute it throughout the season for the benefit of our local community and economy,” said Sonja Chavez, general manager at the local Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy

District. “Accuracy is important.”

But the technology that powers ASO flights is still relatively new, and not cheap. A single flight can cost close to $150,000, which includes the equipment and data processing. Although the District has been using ASO data on and off for years, the flights have always been paid for by its partners. For example, over the past two years, the District has had access to ASO data due to a hydrological study at Gothic’s Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory that was supported by federal dollars. This study ended in June, and without the help of outside funding, the District alone does not have the budget to continue the ASO flights next winter.

In 2023, the Bureau of Reclamation, the agency that is in charge of releasing water from federal reservoirs downstream, launched its first-ever snow water measurement grant program. The District applied for $1 million to fund two flights per year through 2026, hoping it will continue to help improve water management in the Gunnison Basin. Applications will be reviewed and approved this fall.

Historically, the District has relied on water supply forecasts from the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center, which uses a 30-year average to make estimates about the snowpack. It also monitors established sites called SNOTEL stations, which measure snow depth at a single point on the landscape. But snow coverage is extremely variable, said David Gochis, a hydrometeorologist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, which frequently conducts research in the Gunnison Basin.

“It's really hard, I would say impossible, to come up with a very accurate estimate of how much snow is sitting on the landscape across these mountain watersheds from just a cou-

ple of points,” he said.

These models couldn’t handle the “big swings” in hydrology that Gunnison Basin was experiencing as it moved from wet to dry extremes, and their predictions were off, Chavez said. In 2018, the District began working with Gochis to develop an alternative modeling system for Taylor Park Reservoir that would boost accuracy. When it was available, Gochis incorporated ASO data into his study.

Chavez found that this new model performed much better than the Forecast Center models. The District’s proposal is to continue this work, which will soon be augmented by data collected from a local doppler gap radar system set for installation this October.

Costly mistakes

SNOTEL stations are a relatively low-cost method used to monitor the snowpack, and most smaller, rural water districts like the Upper Gunnison can help support their operation. Although airborne snow measurement data greatly increases forecasting certainty, the price often exceeds what these districts can pay for.

But the costs that follow a bad forecast are real, Gochis said. If 15,000 acre-feet of water fail to show up in the Taylor Basin, the result could be a rafting season cut short, a missed opportunity for irrigators to get another cutting out of their pasture and jeopardized fish habitat when flows are low and warm.

“Those costs don't immediately go back to the district, but each one of the users feels those,” he said. “The combined impact may be upward of a couple million dollars.”

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

A snow depth map of the Upper Taylor from May 2023. Cooler colors signal areas with deeper snow. (Courtesy Airborne Snow Observatories)

1ST STREET

Election season in full swing

All six candidates vying for three open seats on the Gunnison Watershed School District Board have recently held meet and greet events. Anne Brookhart, Jody Coleman and Mark VanderVeer, running under a “Student Success” slate, held an event at High Alpine Brewery on Aug. 22. Cori Dobson, Lisa Henry and Bonnie Thompson also held a community event at the Ol’ Miner on Aug. 23, as they have every other Wednesday for the last couple months. Thompson dropped out of the race and Greg Kruthaupt recently announced he’ll be running.

(Photos by Abby Harrison)

THIS WEEK AT THE MUSEUM

“The Tradition of the W”

Natural Grocers opening delayed in Gunnison

Local partnerships could benefit farmers, food pantry

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

Submitted by Larry McDonald

Discussion and lobbying for a college on the Western Slope of Colorado began in earnest back in 1882, with the August 23 edition of the Gunnison Review-Press stating, “…that the proposed State Normal School be located at Gunnison, seems to be meeting with general favor. The delightful, healthy atmosphere, magnificent surrounding scenery are all conducive to mental effort, and the school marm would bud and blossom in this region with the utmost rapidity.”

The lobbying effort by locals would continue for decades, and it was a headline from the April 5, 1901, Gunnison Tribune that read, “Throw Up Your Old Hat for Gunnison’s Normal School”, and after nearly two decades, our Representative, C. T. Rawalt, signed the bill with a gold pen and stated, “That pen will never be used again”, and that it would be placed on permanent exhibition in the institution.

It would be another decade before the doors of the Normal School would finally open for new students in September of 1911, and it was Dr. John Johnson who suggested building an “N” on Smelter Hill, after seeing the big “C” on a hill overlooking San Francisco and the Golden Gate above the University of California during his studies there. The “N” was built and later converted to a “G” by Gunnison High students.

And it was only a few days after Governor Sweet signed the bill changing the name of the Normal School to Western State College in the spring of 1923 that Dr. Johnson and four students began planning the construction of a giant “W”. They gathered in the middle of

the football field, which was then located where the fieldhouse is today, and spotted the place on Tenderfoot mountain where they thought it should be. Using bed sheets, dead trees, rocks, and string they outlined the letter, went back to the football field, and deciding the letter too short, went back up and added another 100 feet, making each line 18 feet wide and 400 feet long. Western President Quigley decreed a holiday on May 2, and “…most of the students and some of the faculty climbed the mountain carrying hundreds of heavy flat rocks from the side of Tenderfoot and placing them within the borders of the lines that outlined the W.” Freshman male students were tasked with carrying 100 lb. sacks of lime while upperclassmen melted snow for water and a bucket brigade passed the white wash from person to person before the “splashers” applied it to the rocks.

The legacy of Western and the famous “W” can be found throughout our campus, with an interpretive sign located behind the beautiful Paragon Rural School house, and artifacts from the college in the Andy Mallet Car Barn and elsewhere. And it was local engineer Homer Gray that surveyed Tenderfoot Mountain back in 1930, prior to the college buying the 1,149 acres for $1,436.35, and today his former home now sits on our campus furnished with intriguing relics of Gunnison’s past. And on this 100th anniversary of the iconic “W”, we invite students, parents, and others to plan a visit to the museum prior to our closing date on October 1 and experience more intriguing local history!

MUSEUM OPEN DAILY 9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.

FROM MAY 15 THROUGH OCTOBER 1.

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!

Natural Grocers, the organic grocery store breaking ground in the former Darnell’s True Value building off Spencer Avenue, is now slated to open Nov. 29. Delays in the permitting and construction process pushed the original timeline out a couple months, said Katie Macarelli, Natural Grocers public relations manager.

Since the new location was announced this spring, the company has filled about three quarters of the nearly 20 available positions, Macarelli said. Four open positions, including a grocery manager, are still posted on the Natural Grocers hiring website and hourly wages are listed starting at $18 an hour up to $22 an hour.

The Natural Grocers Human Resources team has been working with Gunnison High School and the Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce to get the word out to fill the final job slots, Macarelli said. Employees do not have union representation, but the company offers a benefit package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance, paid leave and a 401k, among others.

When the store opens, local producers and craftspeople may have a chance to sell their products in-store, through the company’s local vendor program. Produce must be certified organic, and refrigerated

items could include dairy, eggs, fresh meat, beverages and even breads. The company will consider non-consumable items like homemade body care, jewelry or stickers.

The grocery store is also set to support the Gunnison Country Food Pantry as a Feeding America partner. Through Feeding America, a national nonprofit network of food banks, the pantry receives food past its “best-by” date from other grocery stores in the valley, including City Market and Safeway.

“We're excited to have an additional resource in town that focuses on the health of its community … it should be especially healthy food, too, which is sometimes not always things we get from our Feeding America partners,” said Jodi Payne, the pantry’s executive director.

Natural Grocers will also run a “bring your own bag” program that benefits the pantry. For each customer who brings a reusable shopping bag, the store will donate five cents to the pantry. Since the bag program started in 2009, Natural Grocers has donated about $2 million to local pantries, Macarelli said. The pantry will also receive a $2,500 donation when the store opens.

Each donation, no matter the size, helps, Payne said. Last year, the pantry received a nearly $600,000 matching grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Office, but the pantry must raise money to receive that money.

“It's contingent upon community support. We were able to prove that when writing the grant, but it can't stop, because we received the funds. The pantry gets this money if the community continues to support us. That's why the Natural Grocers reusable bag funding can only help, even if it’s only $100 a year,” Payne said.

The store’s grand opening will include events to encourage pantry donations, and those fundraisers and food drives will continue throughout the year, Macarelli said, especially during the holiday season.

“In one of our stores, someone picks up produce and gives it to their goats at the end of every two weeks,” Macarelli said. “So there's all sorts of ways that we work with people and working with the food bank is one of our genuinely favorite things to do.”

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

Midweek music, hot dogs and beer

Music-lovers gathered at IOOF Park on Wednesday, Aug. 25 for another installment of Midweek on Main, a summer-long free music series in downtown Gunnison. Families and friends broke out picnic blankets and beer to enjoy the late-summer show. Coal Creek Connection, a Crested Butte-based band, took the stage and performed a variety of genres including classic rock, Americana and country.

e iconic “W” celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2023. Photo of WSC cheer squad from 1985.

Major renovation on the building, located off Spencer Avenue just across from Walmart, has yet to begin. (Photo by Jacob Spetzler)

(Photo by Abby Harrison)

It’s Maryo Gard Ewell Day!

Following Maryo Ewell’s retirement from the Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley, friends and colleagues from all sectors of the local government and nonprofit world gathered at the Jorgensen Ice Rink to celebrate her many contributions to the community and her 75th birthday. She celebrated an almost 50-year career in the arts and community development, decades of which was spent building the creative fabric of the Gunnison Valley. Mayor Diego Plata took the stage to officially announce Aug. 25 as Maryo Gard Ewell Day. The Community Foundation set up a Creative Community fund in Maryo’s name, to garner donations and continue Maryo’s lasting artistic vision for the valley. Letters and donations can be sent to Community Foundation Director Lauren Kugler.

THIS WEEK AT THE MUSEUM

“High School Moves Out”

Submitted by Larry McDonald

With the continuing rapid growth of the Colorado Normal School and Gunnison’s population, it was the November 23, 1921, edition of the “Top of the World” newspaper that announced, “On Wednesday morning the Gunnison County High School moved out of North Hall.” “The crowded condition of the Normal building is now adjusted.” It went on to report that a noisy crew of high school boys were tasked with carrying chairs, tables, books, and other property belonging to the high school into their new building, “which is to be called South Hall, …” and went on to describe the new facility in detail.

When the new Normal School opened its doors to a small handful of students and poorly paid faculty back in 1911, it was some creative thinking that founded a long relationship with our local public schools. With plenty of space in the impressive 3-story building, and some well-educated instructors, the high school students were moved into North Hall where they shared teachers with the college students, who were paid by both the county and college.

Even as enrollment at the college and the population of the region continued to grow, this arrangement went on for many decades, even with an ongoing push for a “stand alone” high school by community members. A headline from the May 22, 1914, Gunnison News-Champion read, “Normal and High School Commencement Next Week”, and went on to detail the joint graduation events taking place over the next week for the third year in a row. A report by School Superintendent James Herbert

Kelley dated August 18, 1916, states, “The teachers give just as much attention to the High school pupils as they do to the Normal school students, and they will be glad to help you find suitable living arrangements.”

This arrangement would likely have ended earlier if a high school bond issue hadn’t been narrowly defeated by a vote of 246-236 back in 1917 when the News-Champion decried, “Ranch Interests Unite Against Town Folks’ Plan for Educational Improvement.” With voters in Gunnison District 1 voting 150-19 in favor of the bond, the majority of those in the other 29 districts seemed to be united in voting against it. Only the districts of Pitkin, Iola, Hillsdale, Powderhorn, Logan and Lake Fork joined Gunnison in voting in favor, and there was talk that some ranchers were concerned about too many of their able-bodied sons leaving home to explore a higher education offered..

The South Hall on Western’s campus continued to serve as Gunnison’s high school until 1938, when a new one finally opened just south of the college, where the new Rady School of Computer Science and Engineering stands today, and it was reported that the students formed a “book brigade” to move books and other supplies to the new school. And with the beginning of a new school year now underway, we encourage you to check out the Doyleville and Paragon rural schoolhouses on our campus that are filled with intriguing local educational history. And we also invite you to join us for our High-Country Heritage Day on Saturday, September 16, with free admission, a presentation by Dr. Duane Vandenbushe, along with music and refreshments. Follow us on Facebook for updates!

MUSEUM OPEN DAILY 9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.

FROM MAY 15 THROUGH OCTOBER 1.

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!

Colorado Normal School North and South Halls shown here in 1923.

(Photos by Abby Harrison)

or email rob@ toadpropertymanagement.com to set up a date and time that works for you. EMPLOYMENT

GUNNISON WATERSHED SCHOOL DISTRICT

See GWSD website for details gunnisonschools.net

Gunnison Watershed School District believes that students thrive when they are connected to something bigger than themselves. That’s why we create learning experiences that spark curiosity, helping students discover who they are and how to make a difference in the world around them. As they excel in academics, athletics and the arts, students find the confidence to pursue any opportunity in life. Our team is “Driven to be the Difference!”

HOURLY OPPORTUNITIES

Bus Drivers Food Service-CBCS and GCS

Special Needs Educational Assistants

SPED Educational Assistant-GES and GMS

ELL Educational Assistant-CBCS

Building Manager-CBCS

Assistant Building Manager-CBCS

Lead Custodian-Lake School

Permanent Substitute-CBSS and GHS

Substitute Teachers

PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Counselor-CBES

COACHING

GHS-Speech and Debate

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

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 information about our company can be found at irwinguides.com and elevenexperience. com. This is a winter seasonal position starting November 25 through April 15 and starts at $180-$230 per day, plus tips depending on experience and qualifications.

TOAD PROPERTY MANAGEMENT is seeking dynamic individuals to join our property management and maintenance team. Year-round and seasonal maintenance positions available for someone with a strong attention to detail, hard work ethic and passionate about career growth. Maintenance duties are subject, but not limited to, operating our snow cats, shoveling, irrigation, lawn care and general maintenance. Toad offers competitive pay, ski passes and housing. To submit your resume, please go to ToadPropertyManagement. com/employment.

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.

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 wellestablished 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.

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.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHOCOLATE

FACTORY in Crested Butte is now hiring an assistant manager, previous management experienced preferred, and counter help to provide excellent customer service, scoop ice cream, stock cases and other duties. Fun job, great tips. Flexible hours. Apply in person at 314 Elk Ave., Crested Butte or send resume to ashlee.rmcf@hotmail.com.

JOHN

Competitive pay, 401K, insurance, paid vacations. 40 hour work week.

Apply at John Roberts Motor Works.

4 DAY WORK WEEK M-TH (4x10)

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

ARE YOU READY for a year-round, fulltime, stable job with benefits in this seasonal town? Tired of trying to piece together offseasons? Do you love little people and being creative? Little Red Schoolhouse is the place to be! Looking for a committed, full-time, long-term teacher and another part-time aide who is willing to learn and grow, take necessary classes and trainings and be a part of an amazing team. Starting pay $20-$25/hr depending on education and experience, full benefits including health insurance stipend, retirement, season pass financing, paid vacation and sick days and many more perks. Please send resume and interest letter to Jessica at lilredschoolhouse1@gmail.com.

THE CLUB AT CRESTED BUTTE is hiring the following part-time and fulltime 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.

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.

EC ELECTRIC IS SEEKING

LAKE CITY AREA MEDICAL CENTER

is seeking a full-time or part-time RN, LPN or MA with some reception coverage, 1640 hrs/week, $18-30/hr with benefits (FT). Email your CV to lcmedcenter@lcamc.net. EOE.

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.

MARKETING CONTENT MANAGER position open with Mountain Roots. Adobe Suite experience required. Starting salary $45,000 DOE. Contact rachel@ mountainrootsfoodproject.org.

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.

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

ARE YOU TIRED OF WORKING MULTIPLE

JOBS TO MAKE IT IN THE VALLEY? Iron Horse is looking for the right individual to join our expanding property care team. This individual is responsible for property inspections, inventories and the overall quality and presentation of vacation rentals in our luxury inventory. You will work hand-inhand with our maintenance, housekeeping and reservation teams to ensure that our guests experience vacation perfection. Pay starts at $22 per hour plus a company car, health insurance, on-call pay, paid vacation, ski or health and wellness pass, 5-day work week and more. If you are detail oriented, organized, punctual and only want the best, then submit your resume to steve@ ironhorsecb.com and qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview. Clean driving record is required. No phone calls please.

PART-TIME REGISTERED NURSE OR NURSE PRACTITIONER in Crested Butte, CO for Fusion Health and Wellness Clinic. Pay starts at $35/hr and up depending on experience. Must be willing to perform tasks such as IV hydration, vitamin injections, weight loss, blood draws and aesthetics. Will train. Must be a team player. Send your resume to Lisamerck1@gmail.com and call 970-355-9686.

GUNNISON VALLY ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE has an opening for a support position, 9 hours per week at $19/hour, working directly with the cats and dogs as well as the public. To ask questions or to submit a resume, please call 970-641-1173 or stop by the adoption center at 98 Basin Park Drive in Gunnison during their adoption hours: Wednesdays and Fridays 4-7 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Resumes can also be sent to gvawlcentral@gmail.com.

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 710 N. Main St., or email mochasbarista@ gmail.com.

NUVISTA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION in Gunnison is looking for a highly-motivated, positive and dedicated member service representative who enjoys meeting and helping people, is a team player, great communicator, detail-oriented and has a desire to learn and have a positive impact on an organization as well as the community.

Roles and duties: Assist members with financial transactions including, but not limited to, member deposits and withdrawals, servicing vault/ATM maintenance and following all credit union policies and procedures. Send resumes to trhodes@ nuvista.org or bring to NuVista Federal Credit Union, 205 Sydney St. in Gunnison.

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.

INTERESTED IN A CAREER WITH BENEFITS? The Crested Butte Bank, a branch of the Gunnison Bank and Trust Company, has an opening for a full-time teller to join the operations side of our growing bank. Applicants should have strong customer service skills, the ability to multitask, and a willingness to learn. GB&T fosters a learning environment where you will gain exposure to multiple areas of the bank with a strong foundation in operations. Pay starting at $18. Robust benefits package includes 401(k), medical insurance, vision insurance, life insurance and disability insurance (ST and LT). Pooled transportation is available. Send resume to abrown@crestedbuttebank. com or lbeda@gunnisonbank.com.

ALTA CONVENIENCE is looking to hire store managers and associates. Applicants will need to have open availability, (days, nights, weekends, and holidays). Must be at least 18 years of age and pass a criminal background check. Please call 719-849-1636 for an interview and/or more information.

EARLY CHILDHOOD ASSITANT

TEACHERS: Tenderfoot Child and Family Development Center is seeking assistant teachers to join our early childhood team with children birth-5 years old. Must be at least 16 years of age. Full ($16.65/hr) or parttime ($14.65/hr) with flexible scheduling. Background checks and paid pre-service training required, sick/vacation benefits, possible 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.

ROBERTS MOTOR WORKS SEEKS COLLISON CENTER TECHNICIANS AND AUTOMOTIVE CENTER TECHNICIANS.

GUNNISON COUNTY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

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

Family Services Supervisor

HHS: 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $6,238-$7,584, plus full benefits.

Senior Administrative Assistant Community Development: 40 hours/ week, monthly salary range from $3,990-$4,850, 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.

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.

DO YOU HAVE MAINTENANCE SKILLS?

Are you looking for a full-time, year-round position in the valley with great pay, health insurance, on-call pay, company vehicle, company phone, paid vacation, ski or health and wellness pass, 5 day work week and more? Iron Horse Property Management is adding another position to our maintenance team and we are looking for the right individual to help maintain our luxury homes. We are looking for someone who has a great work ethic, maintenance skills, is punctual and wants to quit having multiple jobs to make it in the valley. If this sounds like you, and you have a clean driving record, then please send your resume to steve@ ironhorsecb.com. Qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview. No phone calls please. Pay DOE.

TOAD PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

is seeking a full-time maintenance technician for a large condominium building in Mt. Crested Butte. This position provides housing, competitive pay, ski pass and more. We are seeking a fun, hardworking, detailed-oriented, responsible

and experienced individual to join our team. To submit your resume, please go to ToadPropertyManagement.com/ employment or give us a call at 970-3492773.

THE ADAPTIVE SPORTS CENTER is seeking adaptive ski and snowboard instructors to facilitate exceptional adaptive sport and recreation activities for the 20232024 winter season. Pay ranges from $2029/hour based on experience. Benefits for full-time seasonal staff include pro-forms, certification and membership dues, exam reimbursement, paid sick days, 5-day stipend and a 401(k) match. More information and the winter application are at adaptivesports. org/about-us/careers. The deadline to apply is Sept. 15.

THE TOWN OF MT. CRESTED BUTTE has 3 full-time, year-round positions available.

Parks Supervisor: Responsible for managing a parks crew of 2 full-time and 1 seasonal position. In addition to overseeing a crew, the parks supervisor works closely with his/ her crew to maintain the parks, recreation path, campground and special projects. This is an exempt position. Starting salary is $68,372-$82,046 depending on experience.

Parks Worker: This position has a wide range of duties from landscaping, maintaining playgrounds, cleaning up after events, installing and repairing sprinkler systems, operating chain saws, vehicles, power and hand tools, light equipment such as skid steer and lawn mowers, snow removal in the winter with hand shoveling, ice picking and using a bob cat. Starting pay is $44,000$61,000 depending on experience.

Maintenance Worker: Maintenance duties vary from season to season and will include but are not limited to snow shoveling, plowing of the Mt. Crested Butte roads and various parking lots, maintaining town equipment and vehicles, emptying trash cans, repairing fence lines, building maintenance, road maintenance including sweeping, flagging, filling potholes and maintaining the town’s ditches and culverts. Class B commercial driver’s license or the ability to obtain one is required for this position. This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing as per federal law regarding the Class B commercial driver’s license. Starting pay range is $48,590-$56,436 depending on experience.

The town offers an amazing benefits package: full health, vision and dental insurance premiums paid for you and your immediately family, paid life insurance, retirement plan through PERA, 12 paid holidays, generous vacation time, wellness program, Aflac and more. All positions require a clean, seven-year driving record. For the full job description and more information please visit mtcb.colorado. gov/employment. To apply for a position please email your resume, cover letter and three references to Tiffany O’Connell at toconnell@mtcb.colorado.gov.

THE MT. CRESTED BUTTE WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT is accepting applications for a full-time water operator position to be part of a team environment focused on operation of the water plant and distribution system for Mt. Crested Butte. Important qualifications include a combination of construction, field operations and electrical/mechanical/maintenance repair. A State of Colorado water and/or distribution license or the ability to obtain such within one year is mandatory. Training for certifications provided. Operators are required to take on-call responsibility including select weekends and holidays. A valid Colorado driver’s license is required. Starting salary is $44,500-$51,500 for entry level. $58,000-$75,000 salary available for operators with experience and appropriate state licenses. Excellent benefits package including 100% employer paid premium

family health, dental, vision and life insurance, 12 paid holiday days, two weeks paid vacation, employer contribution to retirement plan (5% automatic mandatory employer matching with 1-3% optional additional matching), employer provided uniforms and a seasonal ski pass. Full job description is available at mcbwsd.com.

Please submit cover letter and resume to Mt. Crested Butte Water and Sanitation District, P.O. Box 5740, Mt. Crested Butte, CO 81225 or email info@mcbwsd.com. Position is open until filled. MCBWSD 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.

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.

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.

PROJECT HOPE OF THE GUNNISON

VALLEY seeks a bilingual advocate for a 25 hour/week position to serve victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and/or human trafficking. To apply, send resume, cover letter and three references to info@ hope4gv.org. See further info on our website at hope4gv.org/employment.

EVENTS AND VOLUNTEER

COORDINATOR position open with Mountain Roots. Cultivate authentic community connections! Starting salary $45,000 DOE. Contact rachel@mountainrootsfoodproject. org.

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.

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.

HEARTH DESIGN BUILD: Small, local, dynamic firm dedicated to community housing. Seeking passionate and driven individuals. Experience appreciated, not necessary. 802-595-9576, hearthdesignbuild.org, hearthdesignbuild@ gmail.com.

GARAGE / YARD SALES

JACK’S CABIN ANTIQUES: We’ve been out picking for more unique treasures. Tons of new, old, cool, unique finds for our big Labor Day sale this weekend. Please join us Sept. 1-4 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 15624 N. State Highway 135, Almont. Yellow house at the Jack’s Cabin Cutoff.

MOVING AUCTION: Gary Fabiano 3390 County Road 730 Gunnison, CO Sept. 9, 2023Preview 8 a.m, bidding 10 a.m. Antiques and MORE antiques. Many unusual, one-of-a-kind items, like the mining cart from the Forest Queen. Everything in excellent condition. Quality throughout. See website for photos and complete listing: NorthForkAuction.net

970-209-0910 NORTH FORK AUCTION

STORAGE UNIT SALE: New merchandise added weekly. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. 108 S. 11th, alley side.

MISCELLANEOUS

MISC. SUPPLIES: 36 boxes, 28 faceplates, 7 outlets, 15 switches, 10 light parts, 1 outdoor fixture, lots of insulated wire, pipes, louvered shutters and antique wheelbarrow. Call for pix and prices. 303-870-3098.

REAL ESTATE

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. 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, 970-497-9113.

ROOM FOR RENT: Taylor Canyon, 3 bed/3 bath house. Professional/student, respectful, mature desired. Dogs. October 1st. $900, all included. Text for info: 802-595-9576.

OFFICE SPACE TO RENT: In Gunnison. Health, beauty, general. Shared bathrooms and kitchen. Call 970-641-2423 or text only 970-497-6121.

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.

Colorado Statewide Network

To place a 25-word COSCAN Network ad in 91 Colorado newspapers for only $300, contact your local newspaper or email Colorado Press Association Network at rtoledo@colopress.net

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Legals

NOTICE OF INTENT TO DISPOSE

Notice is hereby given to the following parties that their personal items stored at Discount Self Storage, 1825 N. Hwy 135 will be sold or disposed of unless claimed prior to Sept 14th:

Unit 105 – Carrie Lee

Date of Redemption: Sept. 14, 2022

Gunnison Country Times

Gunnison, Colorado

Publication dates of Aug. 31, Sept. 7, 2023

10564

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

James A. Pendergraft, Deceased

Case Number 2023PR30034

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Gunnison County, Colorado on or before December 15, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Stacy Gail Pendergraft

Personal Representative

c/o Kathleen L. Fogo, P.C.

Attorney for Personal Representative

P.O. Box 7200, Gunnison, CO 81230

Gunnison Country Times

Gunnison, Colorado

Publication dates of Aug. 17, 24, 31, 2023

10299

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of MARK STEVEN REEB aka REEB,

Deceased

Case Number 2023PR30035

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of GUNNISON County, Colorado on or before December 21, 2023 or the claims may be forever barred.

AARON J. HUCKSTEP, ATTY.

REG # 39898

ATTORNEY FOR APPLICANT

PO BOX 2958

CRESTED BUTTE, CO 81224

Gunnison Country Times

Gunnison, Colorado

Publication dates of Aug. 24, 31, Sept. 7,

2023

10405

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Valerie J. Hoagland, Deceased

Case Number 2023PR30033

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Gunnison County, Colorado on or before December 15, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Randall R. Fornecker

Personal Representative

L. Fogo, P.C.

c/o Kathleen

Attorney for Personal Representative

P.O. Box 7200, Gunnison, CO 81230

Gunnison Country Times

Gunnison, Colorado

Publication dates of Aug. 17, 24, 31, 2023

10300

ORDINANCE

ORDINANCE NO. 13, SERIES 2023:

An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Gunnison, Colorado, Adopting an Additional Appropriation for the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2023.

A full copy of the ordinance can be found on the city of Gunnison’s website at gunnisonco. gov in the city council e-packet information or at the city clerk’s office in City Hall, 201 West Virginia Avenue in Gunnison, or by calling 970-641-8140.

Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado

Publication date of Aug. 31, 2023 10504

PUBLIC HEARING

SAGUACHE COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

THE SAGUACHE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, SITTING AS THE SAGUACHE COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION, WILL CONDUCT HEARINGS ON PROPERLY FILED NOTICE OF DETERMINATIONS PROTESTS ON:

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2023, AT 9:30AM FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2023, AT 9:30AM (as needed)

HEARINGS WILL BE HELD IN THE COMMISSIONER’S ROOM, SAGUACHE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, 501 4TH STREET, SAGUACHE, CO.

WENDI MAEZ SAGUACHE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR

08-25-2023

Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado

Publication date of Aug. 31, 2023

10506

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests Revised Land Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement

USDA Forest Service Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests Delta, Garfield, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Mesa, Mineral, Montrose, Ouray, Saguache, San Juan, and San Miguel Counties, Colorado

SUMMARY: The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, is revising the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison

National Forests’ Land Management Plan (Forest Plan). The Forest Service has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the revised Forest Plan and draft Record of Decision (ROD). This notice is to inform the public that the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests are initiating a 60-day period where individuals or entities with specific concerns about the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests’ revised Forest Plan and the associated FEIS may file objections for Forest Service review prior to the approval of the revised Forest Plan. This is also an opportunity to object to the Regional Forester’s list of species of conservation concern for the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests. The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests’ revised Forest Plan, FEIS, draft ROD, the Regional Forester’s list of species of conservation concern, and other supporting information will be available for review at: fs.usda.gov/ goto/gmug/forestplan or at the following office: Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests, 2250 Main Street, Delta, CO, 81416, phone: 970-8746600.

DATES: The publication date of the legal notice in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests’ newspaper of record, Grand Junction Sentinel, initiates the 60-day objection filing period and is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection (36 CFR 219.52(c)(5)). An electronic copy of the legal notice with the publication date will be posted at https:// www.fs.usda.gov/goto/gmug/forestplan. It is the responsibility of the objector to ensure that the Reviewing Officer receives the objection in a timely manner. The regulations generally prohibit extending the length of the objection filing period (36 CFR 219.56(d)).

How to File an Objection: Objections must be submitted to the Reviewing Officer at the address shown in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. An objection must include the following (36 CFR 219.54(c)):

(1) The objector’s name and address along with a telephone number or email address if available. In cases where no identifiable name is attached to an objection, the Forest Service will attempt to verify the identity of the objector to confirm objection eligibility; (2) Signature or other verification of authorship upon request (a scanned signature for electronic mail may be filed with the objection); (3) Identification of the lead objector when multiple names are listed on an objection. The Forest Service will communicate to all parties to an objection through the lead objector. Verification of the identity of the lead objector must also be provided if requested; (4) The name of the plan revision being objected to, and the name and title of the responsible official; (5) A statement of the issues and/or parts of the plan revision to which the objection applies;

(6) A concise statement explaining the objection and suggesting how the draft plan decision may be improved. If the objector believes that the plan revision is inconsistent with law, regulation, or policy, an explanation should be included; (7) A statement that demonstrates the link between the objector’s prior substantive formal comments and the content of the objection, unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the opportunities for formal comment; and (8) All documents referenced in the objection (a bibliography is not sufficient), except the following need not be provided: a. All or any part of a Federal law or regulation, b. Forest Service Directive System documents and land management plans or other published Forest Service documents, c. Documents referenced by the Forest Service in the planning documentation related to the proposal subject to objection, and d. Formal comments previously provided to the Forest Service by the objector during the proposed plan, plan amendment, or plan revision

comment period.

Additionally, objections should be identified as pertaining to the “GMUG National Forests Plan” or the “Regional Forester’s Species of Conservation Concern List” for the GMUG National Forests, as these are subject to separate objection processes. Objectors filing objections on both topics should submit these as separate objection letters.

ADDRESSES:

Objections must be submitted to the Objection Reviewing Officer by one of the following methods: Electronically to the Objection Reviewing Officer: Electronic objections are preferred and may be submitted through the project webpage at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ gmug/forestplan_objections; Electronic submissions (including all attachments) must be submitted in a format (Word, PDF, or Rich Text) that is readable and searchable with optical character recognition software. An automated response will confirm your electronic objection has been received. Via regular mail, private carrier, or hand delivery to the following address: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Attn: Reviewing Officer, C/O Director of Strategic Planning 2nd floor, 1617 Cole Blvd. Building 17, Lakewood, CO 80401. For hand delivery, office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, excluding Federal holidays. By Fax: If fax is the only method available for objection, please contact Administrative Review Specialist Scarlett Vallaire at scarlett.vallaire@usda.gov or 801-989-6605. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Forest Plan Revision Team Leader, Samantha Staley at samantha.j.staley@ usda.gov or 970-852-9812. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf and hard of hearing (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 800-8778339, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The decision to approve the revised Forest Plan and the Regional Forester’s list of species of conservation concern for the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests will be subject to the objection process identified in 36 CFR part 219 Subpart B (219.50 to 219.62). Per 36 CFR 219.53 only individuals and entities who have submitted substantive formal comments related to a plan revision during the opportunities for public comment that are attributable to the objector may file an objection unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the opportunities for formal comment.

Responsible Official: The responsible official who will approve the record of decision (ROD) for the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests revised plan is Forest Supervisor Chad Stewart, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests Headquarters, 2250 South Main Street, Delta, CO 81416, and phone: 970-874-6674. The responsible official for the list of species of conservation concern is Regional Forester Frank Beum, USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region, 1617 Cole Blvd., Lakewood, CO 80401.

The Regional Forester is the reviewing officer for the revised Forest Plan because the Forest Supervisor is the responsible official (36 CFR 219.56(e)). Objection review of the Regional Forester’s list of species of conservation concern will be subject to a separate objection process from the objection review of the Forest Plan. The Chief of the Forest Service is the reviewing officer for the list of species of conservation concern because the Regional Forester is the responsible official (36 CFR 219.56(e) (2)). This authority may be delegated to an individual Deputy Chief or Associate Deputy Chief for the National Forest System, consistent with delegations of authority provided in the Forest Service Manual at sections 1235.4 and 1235.5.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Homestake Mining Company has filed a notice of completion of reclamation and has requested release of reclamation responsibility for Forest Service lands on its mining permit at the Pitch Mine Reclamation Site. The location of the Pitch Mine Reclamation Site is approximately 10 miles ESE of Sargents, Colorado in Saguache County. Homestake Mining Company has completed reclamation activities on Forest Service lands within its permit area and requests to be released of financial warranties for the land. The affected lands total 2,302.67 acres. The land sought to be released to the Forest Service is generally described as an Access Road between the Marshall Pass Road (Forest Service Road #243) and the private property access control gate, a former millsite and stormwater pond, and a former limestone quarry.

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A big thank you to local firefighters

Gunnison Middle School tightens cell phone policy

Devices now disallowed from drop-off to pickup

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

Starting this school year, students at Gunnison Middle School are no longer allowed to have their cell phones out during the school day. The policy change brings GMS up to date with the other middle and lower schools in the district that have used the policy since last year.

“We, as a district, value and recognize the importance of managing these electronic devices that we all live with, and we know limiting them at schools makes sense,” Superintendent Leslie Nichols said at an Aug. 14 school board meeting.

When kids returned to school this week, cell phones and other two-way communication devices — like Apple Watches and iPads — now have to be stored in lockers or backpacks at the start of the day and remain there throughout the day. New GMS principal Lance Betts said the cell phone question was a priority for his leadership team this summer.

“We really looked at, ‘what are our values as a middle school? And do cell phones support those values?’ And we decided that the answer was absolutely not,” Betts said.

For years, teachers have noticed that the more students are on their cell phones, the less focused they are on developing in-person relationships, Betts said. Social media, too, has taken its toll on young folks. Time spent on social media apps not only takes students away from in-person learning, but also creates a space to communicate and share information that is harder for adults to monitor.

“Kids are being drawn to social media which, as we know, can lead to many negative effects with some of the main ones being mental angst,

addiction and added-on screen time,” Gunnison Elementary Math Interventionist and Coach and parent Maren Eberly wrote in a statement to the Times Eberly has also publicly shared her concerns about cell phones at two school board meetings this past spring.

During school, students will continue to have access to district-owned Chromebooks, which are used to complete assignments in and out of class. Years ago, the District allowed students to bring in personal devices like laptops or iPads, but phased the policy out in 2020 once the chromebooks were brought in.

At Gunnison High School, students will continue to be able to use cell phones in passing periods and at lunch. Teachers are able to set their own classroom cell phone use guidelines, sometimes using the devices as lesson aids. Throughout the District, a “digital citizenship” model is taught, which includes how to engage with those devices, especially online, responsibly.

“We're talking about this a lot with our adults in the District, like what can we do as the adults in the spaces to show and teach good use of these devices,” Nichols said.

There’s been overwhelming support from the elementary and middle school staff, she said. She anticipates that parents may have trouble adjusting, especially those who are used to having instant contact with kids via text. Parents who are looking to get ahold of their child during the day can call the office to do so, she said. School PA systems allow the front office to then communicate with classrooms right away.

“We really value the importance of face-to-face relationships that are happening at school,” Nichols said. “During COVID, we learned so acutely how important being with each other is and when we have our devices creating a barrier between those relationships, it lessens the experience.”

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

A woodshop student at Gunnison Community School works in class last May. (Photo by Abby Harrison)

Firefighters at the Gunnison Volunteer Fire Department typically alternate cooking dinner after their evening trainings. They didn’t need to on Wednesday, Aug. 23 when the Ladies Auxiliary dropped off food at the fire station to say thank you to the 25 volunteers that worked on the Lowline Fire.

(Photos by Bella Biondini)

MAIN ST.

- FOUND — 880 N.

AGENCY ASSIST — COLUMBINE

RD.

HARASSMENT: MUNICIPAL — S.

BOULEVARD ST.

DRIVING WHILE ABILITY IM -

PAIRED - ALCOHOL — FRONTAGE

RD.

ACCIDENT - HIT AND RUN — 1000

W. NEW YORK AVE.

ACCIDENT — 501 E. TOMICHI AVE.

AUG 23

DEATH INVESTIGATION — W.

OHIO AVE.

CAMPING PROHIBITED — 707 N.

IOWA ST.

ALARM — 2401 E. NEW YORK AVE

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF - DAMAGE

TO PROPERTY — 373 ESCALANTE

DR. ACCIDENT — N. COLORADO ST.

FRAUD/HACKING - COMPUTER

INVASION — REED ST.

THEFT: INTENDS TO PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE — 1410 BLAZE

TRAIL RD.

AUG 24

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

- ALCOHOL — 1000 N. PINE ST.

ANIMAL: RUNNING AT LARGE IN PUBLIC — 1509 N. HWY. 135

GUNNISON COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT

AUG 18

-Found: specialized brown bike and purple/pink kids bike spray-painted orange - abandoned on someone's property

-Civil standby at the sheriff's office for a property exchange

-Parking complaint

-911 hang up - determined to be water in the phone line

-Agency assist to the Colorado State Patrol with a car versus a person

-Driving under the influence and obstruction arrest

-Overdue persons on OHVs - arrived safely and called in

AUG 19

-Medical call

-Harassment call

-Agency assist to the CSP with a one vehicle rollover

-Dirt bike crash with injuries

-Information report on possible stolen cattle - found

-County resolution 2018-30 - dogs at large and taken to GVAWL until owners arrived back in town

-Suspicious person/activity

AUG 20

-One arrest for criminal attempt of first-degree trespassing, third-degree criminal trespass and unlawful use of a controlled substance

-Unlawful red and blue lights on a vehicle without a permit in Pitkin

-Missing person out of Reno, Nevada

-Swift water rescue call

-Information report - property dispute

-Welfare check

-Found property - recovered by owner

-Harassment report in Somerset

-Second harassment report in Somerset

AUG 21

-Fully-involved house fire

-Found property - wallet - returned to owner

-Agency assist to the Gunnison Police Department with a dispute in progress

-Medical call - east of town

-Unattended fire

AUG 22

-Medical call in Pitkin

-Agency assist to the GPD with a two-vehicle accident in town

-Suspicious person/activity - County Road 12 - unfounded

-Accident report

-Gunnison County Resolution

#2018-30 - dogs at large - 2 warnings given

-Arrest for driving under the influence, driving under suspension and violated restriction on interlock

AUG 23

-Search and rescue call for a lost and stuck vehicle

-Agency assist to the CSP for a deer vs. car accident

-Vicious dog report

-Possible trespass report - under investigation

-Suspicious activity report

-Fraud and deceit report

-Possible harassment report

AUG 24

-One person arrested for unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful use of a controlled substance, violation of protection order and out-of-county warrant

-Information report - unattended

death

-Assault report

-Possible theft report

-Search and rescue report

-Possible theft report

-Trespassing report

ALAN WARTES MEDIA IS HIRING!

We are looking for a creative and motivated person to join the Gunnison Country Times and Gunnison Country Shopper team.

Part-time Advertising Representative

Duties:

-Assist the Ad Manager with managing ads for existing clients

-Business development and lead generation

-Champion new and existing sponsorship pages

-Work closely with the Ad Manager and Production Team

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-Pro cient with a digital work ow

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-$22 per hour with the opportunity to earn commission

-Flexible hours

-Excellent team-oriented working environment

(Photos by Jacob Spetzler)

Cleaning, day-in and day-out

Lepinske family reaches 15 years at Gunnison High School

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

Hundreds of students spilled through the Gunnison High School entryway this week, toting backpacks and keychains and frantically scanning the hallways area for friends they’ve not seen all summer. It’s a oncea-year, loud flurry that lasts for just minutes, before the students file into classrooms, leaving behind red and black balloons and dangling streamers.

When evening settles in and students have gone home, the cavernous room is not yet silent. The steady hum of a vacuum and whir of a floor scrubber carry down the hallways. In the east flank of the building, GHS custodian Carma Lepinske diligently swabs whiteboards and desks, dipping her rag back in the bucket every so often for a fresh squeeze.

Lepinske is joined by her family — husband Fred, sons

Jesse and John, daughter inlaws Jessa and Lupe and Indie — who work alongside her as GHS custodians. The family has been cleaning the high school for the last 15 years, spending early mornings and late evenings preparing the space for the next day. In the course of a single night, the family cleans the high school, the Pathways building and transportation center just across the parking lot.

“The Lepinskes are truly a part of the Gunnison High School family,” GHS Principal Jim Woytek wrote in a statement to Times. “Their kindness, work ethic and positive attitudes make this a better building for all of us. They take great pride in the appearance of the school … Their contributions to our culture as wonderful human beings go far beyond what contractors typically do.”

A good family makes good work

Indie whips by on her scooter, visible only for a moment as a flurry of dirty blond hair turning the corner towards the auditorium. She’s not the first young Lepsinke to accompany her parents on cleaning jobs. When they were children, Jesse and John followed their mother

to homes she cleaned, helping her wipe tables and put things away, and occasionally parking on the couch for cartoons.

The Lepinskes have lived all over the Western Slope, from Olathe to Frisco to Leadville. Carma homeschooled her four children and started cleaning houses and libraries in Fairplay, Hotchkiss and Paonia to bring in extra income. At one point, she led a Holiday Inn cleaning crew of 45 people.

The family settled in Gunnison in the early 2000s. John was lured by the beauty of the land and a call to help a new Jehovah's Witnesses Spanish congregation; John and his wife Lupe are both fluent in Spanish. Soon, his brother and parents joined him, working everything from drywall to driving buses to cleaning private homes.

“The communication between all of us helps,” John said. “We’re all willing to pitch in, you know? When something needs done, it’s always ‘could you do this? Yeah!’ So it works out really well.”

The entire family helped former head custodian Jay Corbett off-and-on in the year before he died. Carma and Fred worked alongside him cleaning the high school and Jesse, John

SPORTS: Softball fights back against Meloneers, B8

GUNNISON COUNTRY TIMES • THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023

Carma wipes desks in a classroom. (Photos by Abby Harrison)

Jesse vacuums a classroom. Lepinske, B2

B2 • ROUNDUP • Thursday, August 31, 2023 Gunnison Country Times

Indie rushes around on her scooter while mom Jessa uses the floor scrubber.

Lepinske

curve to figure it out,” Jesse said. “Still, every year, we learn new skills for how to do it better next year, and we try to write it down, so we don't forget it by the next year!”

Like many jobs in the Gunnison Valley, the work is seasonal. During the school year, it’s late nights and early mornings wiping whiteboards and vacuuming. But in the summer, each space gets a deep clean. Floors are stripped and rewaxed, walls are washed and bleachers and locker rooms pressure washed. It’s an all

hands on deck task, sometimes requiring the help of more family and friends.

Through the years, appreciation from teachers and friends has kept the family going. When members of the Lepinske family died or got sick, teachers cooked them meals and the District accommodated time off.

“Everyone involved has always been so appreciative, and that helps. Because it's hard, you pick up the same thing after the same group of kids every day for sometimes

FIRST FRIDAY art walk & music

September 1st from 5-11pm

years, and it gets hard,” Jesse said. “But when you have someone say thank you — and all the staff has been just incredible — it’s made it doable.”

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

WALK 5-8PM

Gunnison Art Center 102 S. Main St.: Join us at Gunnison Arts Center this Friday, September 1st! This month, we will be on the courtyard with multiple crafting tables including bracelet and necklace beading, post card making, community mural painting, and chalk art. Grab a drink from our full bar, and enjoy live music by Julian Young with family and friends!

Gunnison Gallery 124 N. Main St.: “Rest with Me: Images of Quietness” Photography by ALINA LUNA and New Butterfly Wing Mural by the amazing LAURA JANE WRZENSINSKI, Crested Butte Artist. Also enjoy Live Guitar Music by MATTHEW GRANT, Homemade Appetizers and Face Painting by PATRICIA in the Courtyard for a super Fun Evening!

Rocky Mountain Frames & Trophies 228 N. Main St.: Featuring Matthew Thornburg: Multimedia Western Art, Elinda Card: Watercolors, Fred Stinson: Woodwork, along with many other local artists. Music by Ron Kibler and The Old Time Pickers.

Peace Hero Museum 235 N. Main St.: PEACE EDUCATION THROUGH THE LIVES OF PEACE HEROS

GRASP Consortium IOOF Park: Could take part in a collaborative “Paint by Number” painting to celebrate International Overdose Awareness Day by joining Grasp to honor those lost to opioid overdose. Celebrate our community members in recovery. Alongside our interactive art experience, Fuerza Cora Brasil Musical will be playing music, and we will have offering variety of free non-alcoholic beverages at our “Mockail Bar” hosted by The Dive.

Gunnison Pizza Company 303 E. Tomichi: GPC 2023 Summer Concert Series, Dakoda Tagg returns for the 1st time since his Earth Day pop-up show with Chris Mayfield. Welcome him back & kick off Labor Day weekend proper with live music at the Elk Horn Building- just 2 blocks east of downtown/Main St. Gunnison & 2 blocks west of Western Colorado University.

High Alpine Brewery Company • 111 N. Main Mario’s Pizza & Pasta • 213 W. Tomichi The Dive Pub • 213 W. Tomichi

BELLA BIONDINI

ART LOYALTY, STABILITY, INCLUSIVITY. BANK WITH US TODAY. GUNNISON SAVINGS & LOAN

from B1

Many of the cleaning supplies are emblazoned with the family’s last name.

Is the insect apocalypse happening here?

David Inouye Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory

If you spend much time outside you’re surely familiar with some of the local insects. Pollinating bumble bees, pesky mosquitoes (although they do pollinate one of our local orchids), beautiful butterflies and determined biting flies are among them. Although you may have noticed that their populations vary from year to year, have you thought about how stable their populations are?

A few years ago, articles began appearing in scientific journals showing that the number of insects is declining at an alarming rate, a phenomenon coined the “insect apocalypse.” Most of these studies took place in heavily developed areas, including fields adjacent to agricultural areas or houses, raising the possibility that those declines are localized results of disturbances to habitat, use of pesticides, increases in street lights or other human-caused changes that could be detrimental to insects.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many places in the world where long-term data are available about the status of insect populations. But in 1984, the late Michael Soulé, internationally famous for his work in conservation biology, began sampling insects every week at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory. I and other collaborators have kept this project going since Soulé stopped his RMBL work.

Every week during the summer we set up a tent-like structure (a Malaise trap) to collect flies, wasps, moths and other insects for 48 hours. We then bring the insects into the lab to sort them into broad taxonomic groups (i.e., different types of flies, wasps, grasshoppers, etc.), count and weigh them.

By 2020 we had over 35 years of data and wanted to see if the “insect apocalypse” is happening at Gothic. In a recent scientific publication, we report that the number of insects has declined by 61% and the biomass by 48% since 1986. Declines this large would certainly have been conspicuous and caused alarm if they had occurred in local populations of people, big game animals or cows.

RMBL is a relatively undisturbed habitat, surrounded on three sides by National Forest land, so causes suggested for the alarming insect declines at most other long-term sampling sites are unlikely to affect the results here. For example, there have been no local changes in land use, no application of pesticides or fertilizers and no new street lights.

Using long-term climate data,

we found that summers have become warmer and winters drier over this time period. The number of insects in a given year tended to be lower when there was less snowfall in the previous winter, less rainfall in the summer and, to a lesser degree, warmer temperatures. A conclusion is that as the climate continues to change to warmer and dryer in this area, insect populations may continue to decline.

The local decline in insects may also be in part a result of other factors that we couldn’t test for, such as increases in the atmospheric dispersal via wind, rain and snow of pollutants such as pesticides or other man-made chemicals, such as endocrine disruptors. Studies elsewhere have documented the global dispersal and presence of such toxins, but their effects on insect populations are largely unknown.

Malaise traps aren’t good at trapping some kinds of insects, including butterflies and bees. RMBL researchers are conducting other studies that focus on these two groups. Carol Boggs and her students are following up on some butterfly surveys in the Copper Creek valley above Gothic, to see how populations have changed since surveys conducted by Soulé in the 1980s. She has already shown that the earlier springs and late spring frosts that have become more common are detrimental to the Mormon fritillary butterfly, because of the loss of nectar from frost-killed flower buds.

Rebecca Irwin now has 16 years of data on the phenology and abundance of about 200 of Colorado’s 1,000 species of native bees. This is one of the longest and most comprehensive surveys of native bees in the world and is documenting both how the bee and wildflower populations are interacting and how they are being

affected by the changing climate. Irwin and I are participating in a USDA-funded project to establish a national monitoring program for native bees (about 4,000 species) in the United States, and the RMBL data will contribute to this project.

Nora Underwood has decades of data on grasshopper populations near RMBL. Her annual census this year shows a record high number of them, and this is also evidenced by their effects on some of the local wildflowers. Aspen sunflowers this year lost a lot of their yellow petals to the grasshoppers. The local dusky grouse population is probably benefiting from the grasshopper abundance, as they eat a lot of them, and the garter snakes may too.

A decline in flies might not seem so bad — well, at least for hikers avoiding biting flies or motorists cleaning dead insects from their windshields. However, insects are extremely important in mountain ecosystems. They provide many ecosystem services, including pollination of wildflowers, breaking down organic matter and serving as a food source for other animals. The steep nationwide decline in insectivorous birds may be a consequence in part of the significant decline in their insect food source.

These insights into our local ecosystem, which have global implications, are only possible because of the decadeslong research that dedicated researchers, funded in part by the National Science Foundation, have carried out at RMBL. We’re fortunate to have this world-class research facility in our community.

(David Inouye has conducted research at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory since 1972.)

A Malaise trap below Gothic Mountain in the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab’s Research Meadow, where insect populations have declined significantly. (Courtesy David Inouye)

Back to school

Students, many flaunting new backpacks, their favorite outfits and big smiles, flocked back to campus on Monday, Aug. 28 for the first day of the school year. At Gunnison Community School, teachers and Gunnison High School students cheered kids on as they walked through the front doors of the school. Just before the bell rang, Superintendent Leslie Nichols made an appearance with a shiny, silver pom pom. At GHS, new and returning students spilled through the entryway and had a few minutes to catch up with friends before filing to class. Principal Jim Woytek made his way through the crowd with a huge smile, high-fiving and welcoming students back.

(Photos by Bella Biondini and Abby Harrison)

ELDER BEAT

Upcoming eventS

•Sept. 5 (10am): Splash Class starts! Join Sarah Schaefer, head lifeguard for the Aquatic Center, for a fun-filled class in the Leisure pool. Laugh, smile, enjoy the water – all while getting a good workout focused on balance and strength. This class is open to all levels. Please arrive early to sign up at the Rec Center front desk.

•Sept. 6 (1PM): Book Club. September’s book “The Midst of Winter” by Isabel Allende. Call Judy for more info – 973-584-4987.

•Sept. 7: Pass Creek Hike. Rated Easy. This is a great hike for all levels – join us to enjoy our beautiful public lands! Hikes fill up so sign up early!

FITNESS at THE REC CENTER -

Sign up at the Rec Center front desk!

Mondays & Wednesdays in the Gym

• Silver Sneakers Boom Muscle @ 9:30am

• Silver Sneakers Classic @ 10:15am

Splash class will resume on September 5th! (Tuesdays @ 10am)

SENIOR MEALS -

Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays @ 11:30am. $5.00 per meals. Advanced orders appreciate (24 hours). Pick-ups between 11am –11:15am (advanced orders only). ORDER MEALS: 970-641-8272

Menu: (all meals come with dessert!)

•Mon., Aug. 28 - Fri., Sept. 1: CLOSED for cleaning week.

•Mon., Sept. 4: CLOSED for Labor Day

•Weds., Sept. 6: Chicken Pot Pie, salad, homemade muffins, fruit

•Fri., Sept. 8: Brunch for Lunch!

Walk-ins & visitors welcome! Homebound adults ages 55 & up eligible for delivery. If you need a ride, call GVH Senior Bus @ 970-596-6700 (call in advance).

AT THE SENIOR CENTER 200 E. SPENCER AVE. ALL SENIOR CENTER PROGRAM INFO & RSVPS: EGILLIS@GUNNISONCO.GOV OR 970-641-8272.

Brushing up on art skills

Weekly

Happenings

(Courtesy Elizabeth Gillis)

A summer chock full of river festivities

Future of Gunnison River Festival to be determined

Jacob Spetzler

Photo Editor

A crowd of costumed boaters gathered at the Shady Island boat ramp Aug. 26, for the final event of this year’s Gunnison River Festival — the Sunni Gunni Costume Float & River Celebration. The festival was different this year than in summers past, and the costume float was no different. Since its inception over two decades ago, the festival has been concentrated into a single weekend. This year, the events were spread out over the past three months.

Other festival events included an art exhibit at the Gunnison Arts Center called Arteries of the Earth that ran for most of the summer. It also included a fishing derby, the Taylor Downriver Race, the Fly Fishing Film Tour and a stand up paddleboard tour on San Cristobal Lake.

Over the years there have been plenty of other changes. Aside from the change in schedule, the festival also put more attention into a few aspects — specifically an emphasis on safety and diversity — while some other events were dropped.

Conditions were perfect on Saturday morning for floating the town stretch of the Gunnison River. The sun was warm, the water was crisp and the boater’s costumes were as ridiculous as always. Before the river runners took off, Cheryl Cwelich, who is both the firstyear director of the festival and a water resource specialist with the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District, gave a speech to the group on river etiquette and safety. Participants then floated to the whitewater park where the Taco La Esquina food truck was situated alongside vendor tents representing Three Rivers Outfitters, the Gunnison Kayak Program, Alpine Surf Co, Western Alumni, Wilderness Pursuits and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The vendors represented a special effort to promote safe river usage among a diverse population. Wilderness Pursuits, the guide and gear rental program of Western Colorado University, provided free personal flotation device (PFD) — or “life vests” as they used to be called — rentals for anyone tubing or trying out a SUP board provided by Alpine Surf Co.

“The event on Saturday was also meant to reach young adults and incoming students, folks we have seen in recent years get on the river without a personal flotation device and

pools toys, which are not appropriate watercraft on a river,” Cwelich said. “Our hope was to reach those new to boating and encourage them to be a river hero through wearing the PFD, along with asking other floaters to be that role model and river hero by wearing a PFD and practicing good river etiquette.”

In the same vein, the Gunnison Kayak Program, a local kayak instruction company headed up by Dave Bumgarner put on two free classes on Saturday — a swiftwater rescue clinic and a kayak roll clinic.

The festival partnered with Inmigrantes Unidos to provide a free float to 16 members of the Hispanic and Spanish-speaking community, guided by boaters associated with Three Rivers Outfitters.

“This is our first year really trying to incorporate all of the members of our community,” Cwelich said.

Though there was plenty that was new this year, there were a few noticeable absences. In particular, Saturday’s festivities didn’t include any spectator events such as the raft rodeo, hooligan race or surf jam. The decision to cancel the first two, Cwelich said, had to do with limited participation in terms of the actual competitors, though the competitions did draw a crowd of spectators. Cwelich went on to say she hopes that will change in the future.

“It’s a question for the larger boating community of what they want to see.” she said.

The surf jam is one event that has grown in popularity over the years, but it was hosted by Gunnison Waves — a group primarily focused on improving the man-made features of the white water park which was forced to cancel due to low staffing, Cwelich added.

Cwelich came into the role of director this summer, replacing Joellen Fonken, who held the position for the past several years. Whether the festival will remain spread out over the summer or revert back to a single weekend is still up in the air and the question will likely be decided at Upper Gunnison’s next board meeting which is slated for Sept. 28. Cwelich said she hopes the festival will draw from its roots and Western will become more involved, though the festival and the university haven’t yet made any concrete plans.

To get involved with the future of the festival, send an email to gunnisonriverfest@ gmail.com.

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

(Photos by Jacob Spetzler)

Caregiver support group

The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiver Support Group meets on the first Wednesday of every month from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the Gunnison County Library. For more information, contact group facilitator Mary at 970.596.5667 or taktser8@gmail. com.

Alcoholicos Anonimos

Cada semana, lunes y miércoles. 8-9:30 p.m. 101 N. 8th Street, Gunnison. Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor póngase en contacto 970.275.2241.

Crested Butte Film Festival

The Crested Butte Film Festival is bringing actor Matthew Modine (Oppenheimer, Stranger Things) to Crested Butte for CBFF kick-off weekend events from Aug.31-Sept. 3. More information and tickets to all events are at cbfilmfest.org.

Shakespeare at the Depot

The Firebird Theater Company presents William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night on Sept. 2-3 and 9-10 at 5:30 p.m. Bring layers and rain gear, a blanket or chair and prepare to enjoy the outdoor experience. The shows are free, suitable for audiences aged 12 and up and will go on rain or shine. Visit firebirdcb.com for more information.

Paragon People’s Fair

Since 1984, the un-juried Paragon People’s Fair in Crested Butte has celebrated local artists over Labor Day weekend. This year, visit over 75 booths, enjoy live music, a dog show with costume contest and more. Please bring your own reusable shopping bag and refillable water bottle. Find more information at paragonartgallery.com.

Sacred feminine circle

All women are invited to the back room of Union Congregational Church at 403 Maroon Ave. on Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. for a safe space to slow down, find connection and descend into the mysterious realms of the soul. No experience required.

Health care for veterans

Veterans who deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat zones have a special opportunity to enroll directly in Veterans Affairs health care without first applying for VA benefits. If you are a veteran who deployed to a combat zone, but never enrolled in VA health care, and left active duty between Sept. 11, 2001, and Oct. 1, 2013, you are eligible to enroll directly in VA health care. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. local time on Sept. 30, 2023. Visit VA.gov/PACT for more information and to apply.

Celebrate dark skies

The National Park Service presents AstroFest 2023 from Sept. 14-16 at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Refer to the park website for details, times and locations of events at nps.gov/blca.

Gunnison food pantry temporary closure

The Gunnison Country Food Pantry is moving and anticipates closure from Sept. 11-16. They plan to re-open for regular distribution on Sept. 18. Get updates via Facebook, Instagram, or call 970.641.4156 to learn about available volunteer opportunities, or visit gunnisoncountryfoodpantry.org.

Sculpture celebration

The Gunnison Creative District will celebrate the “Chamber Sculpture Update” by local artist Jennifer Vannatta on Aug. 31st at 5:30 p.m. at 500 E. Tomichi Ave. with a ribbon cutting ceremony by Mayor Diego Plata. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Extraordinary book sale

The Union Congregational Church is having a book sale at the People’s Fair in Crested Butte on Sept. 2-3. Browse new and gently-used, high-quality books, including recent bestsellers and known authors of fiction, non-fiction, kids and Colorado history. All are priced to sell and all proceeds will go toward building houses in Guatemala.

Overeaters Anonymous

Overeaters Anonymous 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.

CB CENTER FOR THE ARTS BRIEFS

Dance Aspen performance

Join the Crested Butte Center for the Arts for an evening of cutting-edge contemporary dance with Dance Aspen on Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. Ticket prices range from $35-$55 and may be found at crestedbuttearts.org

GHA SEEKING GRANT APPLICANTS

During 2023, The Gunnison Home Association has contributed over $51,000 in grant money to the Gunnison Senior Meals, GVH Hospice, Arts Center, American Legion, Food Pantry, Gunnison Valley Animal Welfare League, Willows Assisted Living Facility, Six Points and Mountain Roots. The Board of Directors of the Gunnison Home Association hopes these grants will help the Gunnison Valley and help organizations that have given to the Community this year in helping Seniors.

The Gunnison Home Association (GHA) is a group of volunteer Board members with a heart for Seniors in the Gunnison Valley. The GHA was established in 1973, and accepted 17.3 acres of land in West Gunnison donated by Ben Jorgensen to be reserved for Seniors. The GHA, with the help of hundred of citizens, contractors and banks, built the Senior Health Care Center in 1975, the Willows Assisted Living facility in 2000 and the Palisades Senior RV Park in 2007. Current Board Directors of the GHA are: Don Crosby, Bill Knowles, Linda Rees, Rogene McKiernan, Polly Oberosler, Sharon Mills and Debbie McVey.

Art opening

On Sept. 8 from 5-7 p.m. there will be an opening reception for “Inherent” by Emily Palmquist and Robert Wilhelm in the Kinder Padon Gallery at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts. The show will run from Sept. 1-30 and is free to the public. Find more information at crestedbuttearts.org.

The mission of the GHA is to provide living units for Seniors in the Gunnison Valley and to provide funding for ancillary activities that positively impact the lives of Seniors in the community. Each year, the GHA accepts grant requests for funding from primarily non-profit organizations that contribute to the lives of Seniors in the Gunnison community.

Grant applications and guidelines are available by contacting Debbie McVey at gha4seniors@yahoo.com or calling 970-641-8912.

Grant applications are due Sept. 30, 2023.

Cowboy football wins under the lights

Scrappy offense takes down Aspen

Alex McCrindle Times Sports Editor

The GHS football team put on a show at Friday night's home opener against the Aspen Skiers.

Utilizing a veteran offensive line and dynamic rushing game, the Cowboys dealt the Skiers a 35-20 loss under the Gunnison lights. The victory cements a 2-0 record for GHS as it prepares to face the Alamosa Mean Moose on the road on Sept. 1.

“My immediate reaction was the boys didn’t lay over and play dead, even when Aspen went down and scored consistently,” Head Coach Paul Vickers said. “In these early season games, I find out if my team is resilient, and if they have the fortitude to go back out and answer. It shows their character, and I

Sluggers come back to beat Meloneers

Cowboy softball overcomes 8-1 deficit to beat Rocky Ford

to-back first inning home runs for the Meloneers forced the Cowboys into the passenger seat. By the second inning, the score stood 8-1, and Head Coach Leslie DiLorenzo turned to defensive adjustments.

offense into gear and brought in runs immediately. Senior Nicola Roberts and junior Nella Gardner also came up big. Between the third and fourth innings, the Cowboys batted in nine runs to retake the lead.

Alex

McCrindle Times Sports Editor

The GHS softball team faced a challenging two-game weekend, playing the Strasburg Indians and Rocky Ford Meloneers on Aug. 25 and 26. Despite an 18-3 loss to the Indians on Friday evening, the Cowboys rebounded in a dramatic comeback against Rocky Ford the following morning, winning 13-11.

The two non-conference games moved GHS to a 4-1-1 record overall, and 2-0 in the 3A Western Slope League. Against Rocky Ford, back-

Isabella Crown replaced senior, southpaw pitcher Brooke Rickert on the mound at the start of the third inning.

DiLorenzo said her starting pitchers give the team defensive flexibility.

“Brooke and Isabella are great tandem pitchers,” she said. “Isabella has a few more pitches and her speed is different, while Brooke throws hard and she’s a lefty. It forces the other batters to adjust, and we know both will come in and throw strikes.”

In the third inning, the Cowboys’ bats came to life.

Juniors Kylee McDougal and Maddie Vollendorf drove the

Even after the Meloneers’ top pitcher took the mound, GHS hitters continued to bring home runs. Vollendorf and Roberts finished the game batting over .500, and the Cowboys pulled off a massive comeback, winning 13-11.

DiLorenzo said the win will change how the girls approach future opposition.

“The girls realize that they can compete with almost any team in the state,” she said. “But we need to bring it for every game, regardless of who we’re playing. We currently have a target on our backs, and we need to go into every game ready to fight from the start.”

The Cowboys traveled to Cedaredge on Tuesday, Aug. 29 to play their third league game of the season. Scores were not available by press time. The girls will return home on Aug. 31 to face Delta at Jorgensen Park at 3 p.m.

970.641.1414 or alex@ gunnisontimes.com.)

Jacob Riser scrambles out of the pocket. (Photo by Jacob Spetzler)

(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at

The infield meets at the mound. (Photo by Alex McCrindle)

Football, B9

saw a lot of resilience on Friday night.”

On Aug. 25, Aspen made its arrival known with a gutpunching, 80-yard touchdown to begin the game. The Cowboys, led by junior quarterback Jacob Riser, responded immediately with a lengthy drive and rushing touchdown from junior running back Grady Buckhanan. Throughout the first half, the Cowboys and Skiers traded touchdowns. But by putting together grueling drives and running Buckhanan and Royce Uhrig, GHS gained a foothold.

Senior wide receiver Hunter Vincent galloped into the end zone in the second quarter to take a 15-12 lead over the Skiers, and slowly, the Cowboys defense came to life. Aspen quarterback Tanner Benson had

initial success scrambling out of the pocket and finding slot receivers. However, late in the second, GHS linebackers forced a sack on third down and a turnover on downs to wrap up the first half.

“At halftime, I just told the boys this is why I love coaching the game of football,” Vickers said. “This game was a friggin’ fight. I asked them which team was going to be tough enough and resilient enough to finish strong? But man did our kids play hard. Good things are going to happen for our little team.”

The Cowboys flew into the second half with a point to prove. Immediately the defense drove Aspen into its own end zone, narrowly escaping a safety. In the following drive, junior Bridger Flores broke tackles and weaved into the endzone. During the next drive, Flores

intercepted a pass up the middle, and returned it 45 yards for the touchdown to take a 28-12 lead.

Despite a few daunting passes from Aspen, junior defensive end Tate Taramarcaz came up with the defensive play of the game—intercepting a pass on the goal line late in the third quarter. Uhrig ensured victory in the following drive, marching into the end zone to polish off the game as a 35-20 victory for the Cowboys.

“I gave the offensive player of the game to Jacob Riser because he managed the quarterback position very methodically,” Vickers said. “We wanted our players to step up, not get caught in the game, but manage it well. I thought Jacob did that. Our backs played really well. We have players like Grady, Royce and Fraizer [Bernie] who can run different packages and we

were able to find a lot of success through them.”

Next up, the Cowboys will face a difficult test away at Alamosa on Sept. 1, before playing Monte Vista on the road on Sept. 8.

Volleyball wins gritty game against Aspen

can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@ gunnisontimes.com.)

Cowboy volleyball showcased its mental fortitude in a 3-1 home win against Aspen on Aug. 25. Despite dropping the first set, the girls battled back and won the remaining sets by slim margins. Head Coach Lindsay Hart said the victory highlighted an improving defense, and positive growth in team culture. “I’m beyond happy to see the girls coming together, and showing more mental toughness,” Hart said. “They’re bonding into the team unit that we’ve been looking for, and are showing confidence in themselves.”

Throughout the tug-of-war on Friday afternoon, the Cowboys' talent shined. Senior libero Lily Wild led the team for digs, while Ryann Nordberg and Aubriel Loken stepped up in defense. The victory gives the Cowboys a 1-0 record in the 3A Western Slope league, and a 2-0 record overall. This weekend, GHS will face off in a four-team tournament at home on Saturday, Sept. 2, with games beginning at 9 a.m.

(Alex McCrindle

continued from B8

Players embrace in prayer before kickoff. (Photo by Abby Harrison)

Mason Williams and Grady Buckingham celebrate a big play. (Photo by Jacob Spetzler)

Sienna Gomez tips a ball over Aspen blockers. (Photos by Alex McCrindle)

Players shout following a Cowboys touchdown. (Photo by Abby Harrison)

The Cowboys regroup before the second set.

Q&A with new GHS athletic director

Mickelson returns to the helm of Cowboy athletics

Alex McCrindle Times Sports Editor

Following the departure of former Athletic Director Jarrod Hinton, Kevin Mickelson returned to the position this summer, just ahead of the fall sports season.

Mickelson accepted the role in his 33rd year at Gunnison High School. He held the athletic director (AD) position from 1999-2004 while teaching full-time and coaching basketball, track and field and boy’s and girl’s golf. Ahead of his self-titled “AD part-two” era, Mickelson spoke with the Times about his vision for GHS athletics.

(Editor’s note: This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.)

Why did you decide to accept a second term as AD?

I love Gunnison High School. I love the students, the student athletes and all the pieces that make up our athletic community. I just have an affection for it. I've always been a firm believer that nobody bleeds red and black more than me. It’s also a great opportunity.

We have a really solid administration with Jim Woytek as our principal and our new Vice Principal Susan Powers. Our superintendent, Leslie Nichols, recognizes the importance of athletics in student achievement, so I embraced the idea to come back.

What do you hope to bring to GHS athletics?

Accountability and expectations. The idea is, expectations are great, but without accountability they're all for naught. I've been charged with making some changes in GHS culture, and we're going to use athletics as a gateway for that. We've tightened the ship a lot in terms of our expectations. The first step is giving our student athletes a sense of identity. I am a firm believer that you behave like a champion long before you ever become one. Student athletes will be held more accountable for school attendance and practice attendance with school authorities. The bottom line is, as student athletes, we're going to show up, and we're going to show up on time. And we're going to do the right things. We also want to resuscitate the identity of our Athletic Council, which is composed of all our head coaches. Our goal is to give them a sense of family, and to get them more involved in the other sports. It's a cultural change, and with that there are

a lot of dynamics and moving parts to the success of our athletic programs.

What can the community expect from their new AD? Communication. We really want better avenues for communication with our athletes, our parents and members of the community. I want to have an open door and make myself available and accessible, because, in athletics, it's all about our kids. It truly does take a village. I embrace anybody and everybody, as long as we're wanting to make a difference for betterment for our kids.

What is your vision for the future?

When it’s time for me to ride off into the sunset, I just want to know that I've left Gunnison High School and the athletic programs in a much better place. My hope is GHS will continue the success that we’re going to build in the next five years. I also hope we can continue positively adapting to changing demographics, modes of parenting and other variables to consider while making athletic decisions.

(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@ gunnisontimes.com.)

Cowboy soccer continues hot start to season

Photography by ALINA LUNA “Rest with Me: Images of Quietness”

The GHS soccer squad responded to its 9-2 demolition of Pagosa Springs on Aug. 19 with a 6-0 win over Colorado Springs Christian on Aug. 26 at home. The Cowboys sit 2-0 overall, but have yet to play a league match in the 3A Western Slope. The boys played Manitou Springs at home on Tuesday, however scores were not available by press time. Next up, the Cowboys will face Cañon City at home on Sept. 2 at 11 a.m.

Brian Perez looks for an open teammate. (Photo by Jacob Spetzler)

Golf team fights hard in Montrose

Pike leads way for Cowboys

Alex McCrindle Times Staff Writer

The Cowboy golf team played in the Montrose Red Hawk League Tournament at Cobble Creek Golf Club on Aug. 24. Junior Preston Pike shot a teamleading 74 to finish seventh in individual rankings. As a whole, the Cowboys placed sixth out of 19 teams with a combined score of 236.

“We played really, really well in Montrose,” Head Coach Kevin Mickelson said. “Our guys are starting to play better, mature, adapt to their games and play to their strengths. Golf is a puzzle, and when you can put all the pieces together it can look pretty good. We’re trying to put those pieces together and get better every week.”

Pike led the Cowboys shooting two-over-par, followed by juniors Mason Weitman and Carson Zummach who scored 80 and 82. Sophomore Paden Davis finished third on the team with an 89, and Joseph Noble rounded out the pack, shooting a 96.

Montrose played lights out to win the tournament on its home course. As a team, the Red Hawks shot 15-under-par to lift the trophy. Basalt and Aspen finished second and third.

Mickelson said his players showed experience throughout the tournament.

“Mason and Carson played solid and steady all day long,” he said. “Carson showed a lot of maturity and kept himself collected after having a tough hole midway through his round. But he bounced back with two solid pars and didn’t give up. Paden Davis is improving each week. He's trying hard to vie for

the fourth and final spot come regionals, and Joey Noble is working hard to put some pieces together. I’m really proud of all of them.”

The Cowboys headed to back-to-back tournaments at Hillcrest Golf Course in Durango on Aug. 30, and Conquistador Golf Course in Cortez on Aug. 31. Scores were not available by press time.

(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@ gunnisontimes.com.)

GHS riders rip at Frisco

Mountain bike team finishes third

Lisa Wishard Special to the Times

Under threatening skies, the Gunnison High School Mountain Bike team arrived to compete at the Frisco Bay Invitational mountain bike race last weekend. With 20 riders, the team has doubled in size since last year and moved up to Division 2 in the Colorado League.

On Aug. 26, riders competed across two laps of a 5.9 mile loop with 552 feet of climbing per lap. Varsity riders rode three laps of the same course. Led by team captain Allie Schwartz and coaches Sierra Cucinelli, Eddie Vargas, Jay Hakala, Karen Hausdoerffer, Tim Neyman and Jason Janelle, the Cowboys ended the day on the podium, placing third.

On Saturday, the team cheered on team captain and the team’s only varsity rider, Allie Schwartz, at the start line. She had a powerful race with a 1:45:37 for her three laps.

Crested Butte rider Finn Veit placed first overall for the varsity boys and had the day’s fastest lap on his third at 23:10.

The JV boys and girls had great races with Olivia Neyman (7th with 1:06:37), finishing the race wearing her trademark

smile. Norah Lee (8th with 1:08:58) and Abby Cattles (10th with 1:12:44) for the girls and Julian Ryter (10th with 55:03) for the boys received top-10 finishes. Ryter had a stellar race starting in 37th in the field and passing a staggering 27 riders. Other JV racers included Josephine Wishard (1:18:02) and Megan VanderVeer (1:40:06) for the girls, and Rowen Downum (1:01:57), Liam Tullous (1:02:25), Porter Houk (1:05:45) and Raiden Janelle (1:24:06) for the boys, who all brought their giddy-up for the Cowboys.

“I was definitely nervous for the team’s point standings when we moved up to Division 2 but we all showed up and crushed it,” said senior rider Josephine Wishard.

The sophomore girls also had an excellent showing with Ava Baer (1:12:54) scoring big points for the team with a 15th place finish. Emily Cattles (1:14:07), June Ebbott (1:19:44), Aya Hausdoerffer (1:21:07) and Jacey Jones (1:24:19) all had great races for the Cowboys.

The GHS riders have a herd of freshman boys racing this year, and they finished strong in their first race. Freshman compete in a race against the clock with an individual time trial. Results of the time trials are used to seed these riders for position in their field.

Best friends and teammates, Owen Frazier (7th with 58:49) and Kyle Mason (11th with 1:00:25) secured spots in

the first heat for future races. Carbon Kruthaupt (1:07:15) and Bruce Lafoe (1:12:13) also brought their A-games. While not all the Colorado League officials found it amusing, Owen put an exclamation point on the day with his wheelie across the finish line.

“[This is a] great group of kids,” said parent Jarral Ryter. “Our coaches really put out effort and time to make something really cool and help the kids become better adults.”

The team’s next race is the Spring Valley Scramble in Glenwood Springs on Sept. 9-10. For complete results visit my.raceresult.com/258619/.

(Lisa Wishard is a parent, and proud supporter of GHS mountain biking.)

Carson Zummach practices at the Dos Rios range in late August. (Photo by Alex McCrindle)

(Courtesy Lisa Wishard)

Yard of the Week

AHORRE DINERO Y AUMENTE LA COMODIDAD DE SU HOGAR

EL EQUIPO DE PROMOCIÓN DE ENERGÍA PARA EL HOGAR DEL VALLE DE GUNNISON

FÁCIL ACCESO A UNA EVALUACION DEL CONSUMO Y ACTUALIZACIONES EN LA ENERGÍA DE SU HOGAR PARA LOS CONDADOS DE GUNNISON Y HINSDALE DESDE 2017

AUTORIDAD DE VIVIENDA REGIONAL DEL VALLE DE GUNNISON PROGRAMA DE ENERGÍA RESIDENCIAL ASEQUIBLE DE COLORADO FACILITANDO ASISTENCIA. ES UN PROGRAMA DISEÑADO PARA AQUELLOS QUE CALIFIQUEN DE ACUERDO CON SUS INGRESOS PARA PROPORCIONAR A SU HOGAR MEJORAS EN LA ENERGÍA GRATIS PARA BAJAR SU FACTURA MENSUAL DE ENERGÍA

CONTACTE A GESA MICHEL AL 970-254-5613 O INFO@GVHRA. ORG PARA VER SI CALIFICA!. VISITE WWW.GVRHA.ORG/ GVHEAT PARA CONOCER MÁS DEL PROGRAMA

PASE POR NUESTRAS OFICINAS EN EL EDIFICIO DE LA CORTE (200 VIRGINIA AVE.) DE 8 AM A 2 PM L-V Y RECOJA UNA BOMBILLA VERDE GRATIS CUANDO MENCIONE ESTE ANUNCIO

Top O’ the World Garden Club awarded Yard of the Week to Kat Mattoon in memory of all her hard work in her garden and for the club. Mattoon's flowers and vegetable gardens at the French Garden Apartments continue her legacy and love for playing in the dirt and giving the tenants and visiting friends an eyeful of colors, plant varieties, a pond with waterfall and evening lights like something out of Disneyland. Located at 404 South Wisconsin, the entire backyard is a walk-about experience, complete with a secret garden, a yellow-brick road, Land of Oz feature and two clock walls by the wet bar — where it's always 5 o'clock. Kat, a long-time member of the Top O' the World Garden Club, passed away unexpectedly last summer, but her flowers, veggies and all things growing including a large mix of perennial poppies, wild geraniums, columbines, peonies, grapevines, clematis and echinacea. Vegetables include tomatoes, tomatillos, garlic, squash, lettuce, cabbage, onions and lots of CSU potato varieties. Looking down from Heaven, we're all sure that Kat is delighted to be selected as Yard of the Week. www.

(Courtesy Top O’ the World)

‘Todos Juntos’: an event to celebrate diversity

D’Luna unites a variety of cultures and tradition

Laura Cardozo Special to the Times

(Translated by Ricardo Esqueda.)

The Gunnison community celebrated an authentic festival of cultures and diversity called ‘Todos Juntos’ at the D’Luna Mexican Store on Aug. 5. The event was a product of a partnership between D’Luna and the Gunnison County Multicultural Resource Services. It gathered different nationalities from the valley to share and celebrate their diverse traditions.

“The goal of the festival is to gather and celebrate together the diversity and cultural richness that is present in

Gunnison. And to create a space where entrepreneurs of different places of origin can offer their artistic and gastronomic products,” said Marisol Luna, businesswoman and event organizer.

The event brought in visitors from different cities across Colorado and caught the attention of the local community. Those who were present took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy pupusas from El Salvador, tamales from Guatemala, Mexican tacos and Colombian arepas, to mention a few of the foods and the countries that were available at the festival.

The entrepreneurs that offered their typical foods expressed feeling proud and grateful for the opportunity to participate in the festival.

According to Andrea Velazco from Colombia, this was her first opportunity to sell stuffed arepas.

“This was my first time participating at an event, and I hope it will help me to grow

my business and open my own Colombian food in Gunnison,” Velazco said.

Luna said she hopes to host the event again in the future.

“I would like it if more people would participate in this initiative and that we could host a larger cultural festival, where there would be people from many different countries,” Luna said.

Participants said the traditional music and traditional food were a taste from home. Children and adults celebrated their own cultures while also taking the opportunity to see and learn about the traditions of other nationalities.

(Laura Cardozo can be contacted at 970.641.1414.)

'Todos Juntos': un evento para celebrar la diversidad

y celebrar juntos la diversidad y la riqueza cultural presente en Gunnison. Además, crear un espacio donde emprendedores de diferentes lugares de origen puedan ofrecer sus productos gastronómicos y artísticos,'' Comentó Marisol.

un gran grupo de personas de diferentes lugares de origen, por lo que es preciso señalar la notable influencia multicultural en la cotidianidad del valle.

Laura Cardozo

Especial

para los Times

La comunidad de Gunnison celebró un auténtico festival de culturas y diversidad. El evento que estuvo liderado por la tienda mexicana D'Luna y los servicios de recursos multiculturales del Condado, reunió diferentes nacionalidades que hacen presencia en el valle y les permitió dar a conocer sus tradiciones.

Según Marisol Luna, empresaria y organizadora del evento, ''el objetivo del festival es reunir

El evento atrajo la presencia de visitantes de diferentes ciudades de Colorado y llamó la atención de la comunidad local. Quienes aprovecharon para disfrutar de las pupusas de El Salvador, tamales de Guatemala, tacos mexicanos y arepas colombianas por mencionar algunas de las comidas y países presentes en el festival.

Cabe destacar que la población hispana y latina es la minoría étnica más numerosa en Estados Unidos. Por su parte, el condado de Gunnison se ha convertido en el hogar de

Los emprendedores que ofrecieron sus comidas típicas expresaron sentirse orgullosos y agradecidos por la oportunidad de participar en el festival. Según Andrea Velazco de Colombia, esta fue su primera oportunidad para vender arepas rellenas. ''Esta es mi primera vez en un evento, espero poder crecer en mi negocio y poder abrir mi propio restaurante de comida colombiana en Gunnison''.

La organizadora del festival, Marisol Luna, dice tener todo el interés de seguir realizando el evento. ''Me gustaría que más personas se sumen a esta iniciativa y poder realizar un gran fes-

tival cultural, donde estén presentes personas de diferentes países,” comentó Marisol.

Música y comida de tradición hicieron sentir a los asistentes como en casa. Niños y adultos celebraron su cultura y tuvieron la oportunidad de conocer y aprender sobre las tradiciones de otras nacionalidades.

(Foto tomada por Laura Cardozo)

Si deseas conocer sobre los diferentes eventos de la ciudad o necesitas apoyo, puedes contactar a inmigrantes unidos de Gunnison y los servicios de recursos multiculturales.

(Laura Cardozo puede ser contactada por 970.641.1414.)

The Gunnison Country Times monthly Spanish language and culture page is produced in partnership with Inmigrantes Unidos.

(Courtesy Laura Cardozo)

D’Luna une una variedad de culturas y tradiciones

I really, really, REALLY need that video game, dad!

Four students were asked to list their needs. How many did each student list? Use the clues to complete the chart. None of the students listed more than five needs.

A is something you must have in order to survive. You need shelter, clothing, food, water and sometimes medicines.

A is something you would like to have, but can live without.

A music player, a computer, a television and a bike are wants, not needs.

ometimes it is hard to decide if something is a need or a want. For example, cake is a food, but it is not a need. It’s a want.

Which of these following foods are more wants than needs?

Look at each picture. Put a green N on each picture that shows something you need each day. Put a red W on each picture that shows something you might want, but not need.

The school cafeteria is making students think before they buy a snack.

The prices are all written in code! and so forth until you get to

To figure out what each snack item costs, you must first find out what number goes with each letter in the word. Then, add the numbers that “spell” each word to get the price.

For example:

In today’s world, is education a want or a need? 3¢ + 8¢ + 9¢ + 16¢ + 19¢ = 55¢

WANTS and NEEDS

Newspaper Search

Look through the newspaper for pictures of things that represent wants and needs. Paste them into the spaces below.

WANTS NEEDS

Find

I Make a Di erence

Tell about how you make a difference in someone’s life in your family, at school or in your community.

Bethany Church

909 N Wisconsin St. (behind Powerstop) • 970-641-2144

Two services at 9am and 10:30am!

FREE lunch for college students following the 10:30am service 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

Jewish communities of Crested Butte, Gunnison and the East River Valley in Colorado bnaibutte@gmail.com

Spiritual Leader: Rabbi Mark Kula; available for you at: RabbiMarkKula@gmail.com www.bnaibutte.

Church of Christ

600 E. Virginia • 970-641-1588

Sunday Morning Bible Class: 9:30 a.m.

Sunday Morning Worship: 10:30 a.m.

Sunday Evening Worship: 6 p.m.

Wednesday Night Bible Class: 7 p.m.

Faith Directory

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

The Rising Church

92 C.R. 17 • 970-444-1545

Service times: Sundays @ 9:30 a.m.,

Men’s and Women’s group, Tuesday @ 6:30 p.m.

Rising Gen (youth ministry) Thursdays @ 6 p.m. Gunnisonrising.church for more details!

Rocky Mountain Christian Ministries

1040 Highway 135 (1/4 mile N. of Spencer Ave.) • 970-641-0158

Sunday Morning Worship 9:30am

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

FAMILY TIME

The effects of untreated ADHD

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, often referred to as ADHD, is more common than people may realize. According to the organization Children and Adults with AttentionDeficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), a 2015 meta-analysis of 175 studies worldwide estimated that roughly 129 million children had ADHD at the time of the study. That’s nearly twice the population of the entire United Kingdom and more than three times the population of Canada.

Children aren’t the only people with ADHD, which can continue into and throughout adulthood if left untreated. Untreated ADHD can have immediate consequences on children, as the American Psychiatric Association notes that the condition can make it difficult for students to focus on tasks in school and compromise their ability to listen to teachers in the classroom. Each of those side effects can adversely affect students’ academic performance, potentially affecting their long-term futures as a result.

Untreated ADHD can produce some unpleasant and surprising consequences outside of the classroom as well.

Untreated ADHD and substance abuse. A study published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that stimulant therapy for patients being treated for ADHD lowered their risk for substance use disorder. People with untreated ADHD were three to four times more likely to develop substance

abuse disorder than individuals who were receiving treatment for the condition.

Untreated ADHD and driving. Driving is a skill that requires drivers to be attentive and aware of their surroundings at all times. The Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry published research suggesting that the stimulants used to treat ADHD can make people with the condition better drivers. Such medications were found to reduce inattention, distractibility and impulsiveness, each of which is a known characteristic of ADHD. Without such treatment, individuals with ADHD could be putting themselves, their passengers, fellow drivers, and pedestrians at risk each time they get behind the wheel.

Untreated ADHD and education. It’s no secret that the earning potential of college graduates is significantly greater than that of individuals whose highest level of education is high school. A 2006 study published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that adults who self-reported ADHD were far less likely to have graduated college than those who reported that they had been diagnosed with ADHD (19% compared to 26%).

ADHD is a common condition across the globe. Seeking treatment for ADHD could have a profound and positive effect on individuals throughout their lives.

(Source: Metro Creative.)

(Courtesy Envato Elements)