Gunnison Country Times, March 7, 2024

School district to update health education policy

Butte’s Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory year round, its grounds bustling with a mixture of established researchers and students during the summer months. The winter is quiet, but small teams hunker down in the cabins as the snow falls and the work continues.

The biological laboratory’s reputation as a leader in the science field has already brought millions of dollars into the valley. RMBL’s increasing focus on emerging technologies, such as sensors, drones and satellites, has also been growing the pool of money available for atmospheric science. As a result, the valley has become a magnet, attracting researchers

Rady A6

First changes in over 20 years

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

The Gunnison Watershed School District is about to update its comprehensive health education policy, which includes sex ed, for the first time in over 20 years.

The district’s previous four health education policies — last updated in 1997 and focused on HIV and AIDS, family life and sex ed, substance use and general “health education” — are being combined into one broader policy. The district's new policy is meant to help stu-

dents maintain healthy behaviors, while delaying the onset of risky behaviors and developing health literacy skills.

Colorado school districts are not obligated to offer health education, but if they do, the lessons must align with Colorado law and state health education standards. The district is paying for consultants to help with the policy update with a grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), which also supported a student focus group. The district board discussed the coming changes at a work session on Feb. 26.

Board members have already held two work sessions on the health policy, and had a first School health A6

Ditches

TREBLE-MAKERS: Visiting conductor Susan Kinnischtzke leads the Western Colorado University Treble Choir through a series of musical arrangements on Saturday, March 2. Western choir singers joined guest conductors in song during the Western Slope Choral Festival from Feb. 29 to March 2. For more, see A8. (Photo by Mariel Wiley)

QUOTE of the week

“It was always great to get a hug from Ron because his hugs kept giving.”

— Kevin Freeman

See story on A14

Gunnison County election results

In Colorado’s presidential primary election Tuesday, Joe Biden won Gunnison County with 83% of the vote. Ten percent opted for a “noncommitted delegate.” This choice gives Colorado voters the option of sending unbound representatives to the National Convention who can back any candidate on the floor.

County voters selected Donald Trump as the Republican nominee with 52% of the vote. Nikki Haley was not far behind, with 45%. Haley ended her campaign on Wednesday morning after suffering significant losses to Trump.

All results are unofficial and have yet to be certified.

Gunnison County’s voter turnout was 40%, with 4,820 ballots cast out of roughly 12,100 active voters.

Gunnison County’s precinct caucuses are coming up next on Saturday, March 9.

Commissions bump

Marble’s 2024 LMD payment

At a meeting on March

5, Gunnison County Commissioners — acting as the Gunnison River Valley Local Marketing District (LMD) board — approved a $30,000 payment to the Marble Crystal River Chamber of Commerce.

Commissioners approved a roughly $10,000 increase to soften the effects of declining LMD revenue in the Marble area. Between 2018 and 2022, Marble’s LMD tax collections hovered between $27,000 and $38,000. In 2023, they fell to just over $18,000.

Correction

In the story “Fentanyl seized in valley doubles,” in the Feb. 29 edition of the Times , the A6 photo was incorrectly captioned. It should have read: “Narcan is kept in the nurse’s office at the Gunnison Community School.” The Times apologizes for the error.

Eric Ian Freson

Eric Ian Freson leapt out of the stardust on March 19,1987 into the waiting arms of Monica and Tony Freson on a warm, Vermont dawn. Filled with celestial energy from the start, even as an infant the outdoors was his happy place. The fluttering of grandma’s maple tree leaves calmed him as a threemonth-old and as an adolescent; we can still hear him saying how he loved the quaking of the poplar leaves in our backyard. It all hinted at his future love of Colorado’s aspens. His early adventures were exploring the woods and stream by his childhood home. Few friends could tolerate the mosquitos and freezing brook water as he did. He brought back many empty bird and wasp nests as gifts for mom. Eric moved from team sports (baseball, basketball, football) to his true passions of skiing, biking and rock climbing, which were kindled at the wilderness challenge camp he attended multiple summers.

Even though Eric said that all schooling after kindergarten was a drag, he was a bright and curious honor student. After a thorough search of college campuses and programs, Eric knew instantly that he had found his place and people when he discovered Western State College and his beloved Gunnison Valley. This move with all his worldly possessions (bikes, skis, kayaks, ropes) into the freshman dorm room was truly a seismic shift in his life. He knew he’d found “home.”

Eric jumped head-first into the Western community by

joining scholastic achievement programs, such as the Academic Leadership Program Scholarship (ALPS), and the Wilderness Pursuits program, for which he later became a lead guide.

Though time spent as a competitor in various freeskiing competitions throughout the West took up much of his free time while at Western, Eric always managed to provide mentorship and advocacy for the students he shared campus with. His endeavors on the mountain, paired with his continuous outreach on campus, synergized to inspire Eric to co-found the Western Freeride Team. This skiing program laid the foundation for the Western Colorado University Mountain Sports program.

Eric had the good fortune to interact with many great people and organizations in the Gunnison Valley that would guide his professional growth. While at school, Eric began to weave himself into the fabric of the valley, and he shared the area’s bright possibilities with prospective students across the country.

A lifelong student, Eric pursued a master’s degree that he hoped would one day enable him to follow in friend and mentor Gary Pierson’s footsteps as an administrator in institutions of higher learning.

Immediately after graduation, Eric was employed by Western in the admissions department. He later extended deeper roots into the valley by accepting a position with the Gunnison Chamber of Commerce. The valued connections and experiences that he gained while working for the chamber would inform his decision to participate in the economy of the Gunnison Valley by co-founding a successful local business.

Throughout his adult life, Eric remained dedicated to his personal and professional growth. His relentless pursuit of selfimprovement extended into diverse topics such as finance and real estate, and an overall

desire to further understand the world and its complexities. Eric's curiosity and determination to better himself not only enriched his own life, but also profoundly impacted his relationships with others. He was a multifaceted individual, gifted with many talents, which he seamlessly integrated to be a compassionate and capable human. Whether it was through his expertise, his empathy, or his unwavering integrity, Eric left an unforgettable mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Eric’s commitment and conviction to take care of this valley was insatiable. He was heavily involved in local non-profits, such as Gunnison Trails, the Crested Butte Avalanche Center and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. Eric also visited the Gunnison Valley Senior Care Center one day to lend a hand and was introduced to a gentleman in need of a ramp for access to his home. That initial construction project planted a seed that grew into a yearslong relationship involving grocery and hardware store runs, home improvement projects and quality time together. Few people, including some of Eric’s very closest friends, ever realized the true extent of his time spent caring for others in the community.

It would be a disservice to Eric’s memory not to mention his wide array of outdoor pursuits and the deep connection he had with western landscapes. Eric could often be found in a kayak, whether it was in a farmer’s dilapidated diversion ditch or winding deep through the labyrinth of the Grand Canyon. Western waterways served as both a solitary pursuit and quality time spent with others.

Eric was just as likely to be seen running Oh Be Joyful Falls as he was having a beer on the Upper Taylor with 50 of his closest friends. He could link up mountain bike rides in ways that would simultaneously induce fear and empower those

he invited along. He applied this same methodology to nearly every pursuit in his life.

Eric discovered hunting through close friends. He got his start by tagging along on a few hunts and helping pack elk out of the mountains. He shot his first elk, a cow, in a blizzard in an aspen-choked draw and never looked back. Eventually, Eric would become one of the Gunnison Valley's most passionate and disciplined elk hunters.

He was never one to shy away from work, and this certainly applied to his pursuit of elk. In an activity defined by hard work and long days, Eric would make a point of harvesting elk in some of the deepest and most isolated spots in the Gunnison Basin. Eric's friends would anxiously await the miserable packout they would have to endure when he took his rifle into the woods, but there was solace in knowing that he would be the first one to show up when the shoe was on the other foot.

Eric enjoyed skiing, snowmobiling and ice climbing in the winter months. He combined all three passions frequently in pursuit of placing turns at obscure places and times. Eric rallied his friends to start skiing at night to get more hours in during the day. Nighttime second bowl laps became a weekly occurrence. His ski equipment frequently included ropes, crampons, ice axes, and deep trust between partners as essential tools for skiing the lines he was interested in. Eric would patiently scout lines, sometimes for multiple seasons, until conditions aligned, but would also be up for a quick strike mission when the snow was good. For Eric, the people and the places were just as important as the snow conditions to have a good ski day.

While Eric was an elite outdoorsman, he was not defined by these pursuits. He was a complete man. He brought the high level of drive that motivatcontinued on A3

continued from A2

ed him athletically to relationships with the people in his life. Everything he did, he did with intention, thought, honesty, discipline and keen intelligence.

Eric was a remarkable son and brother to his younger sister, Claire Freson and her partner, Krispin Scanlon-Hill. He

BIRTHS

was a loving partner to Ailee Larson, devoted dog dad to Daisy and Zero and loyal friend to many. His community has lost a thread in its weaving. One of Eric’s final wishes was for his friends and family to move on from his absence. As we move forward, we will not leave him behind. We will hear his voice in the bugling of the elk, see his

Avery Alt Avery Alt was born to Allison and A.J. Alt of Gunnison on Feb. 26, 2024 at 12:41 p.m. She weighed 7 lbs. 5 ozs. and measured 20.5 in. long at birth. She is welcomed by her grandparents, Chris and Kurt Portwich and Kathy and Joe Alt of Gunnison, great-grandparents, Georgeann Booth of Gunnison and Arlene Weber of New Rockford, North Dakota, uncle, Connor Portwich of Gunnison,

Rosenberg wedding

smirk headed down the river, channel his determination on the steepest climbs and feel his encouragement on a snowcovered mountainside. We will hear his intractable realism as we make life’s hardest decisions, and we will endeavor to love as unconditionally as Eric Freson did.

aunt, Tina Alt of Gunnison and her big sister, Adeline Alt, who is 2 1/2 years old.

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970.641.1414

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Extraordinary times — and letters revisited

Who knew that one of the trickiest parts of running a local, hometown newspaper is managing the letters to the editor pages? I certainly didn’t. But in nearly three years as publisher I’ve felt more friction from the community over our letters policy than just about anything else we’ve done. I’m sure this has always been true to some degree, since opinions are by nature “strongly held” — doubly so for someone who has bothered to write a letter expressing theirs in public. Nothing new about that.

Still, there’s no denying that, these days, the stakes feel higher to most folks than they have for a long time. Defensiveness and volatility seem to be on the rise. Sometimes, trying to moderate a fair and constructive conversation in our pages reminds me of the classic scene in western movies when some poor soul has to drive a wag -

LETTERS

From the Mountain Chamber Alliance

Editor:

2023

2023 Member

LETTERS POLICY

Letters

We will not print

Email

The deadline is Tuesday at 12

onload of nitroglycerin at top speed over rocky ground in a hail of bullets while being chased by bandits.

Okay, I’ll admit that’s a bit exaggerated — but not by much.

This is not the first time I’ve written about this issue, which I offer as proof that getting it right is very important to our team at the Times . We care whether our readers feel their voices are heard and respected. We consider it to be a great honor and a deep responsibility to provide a safe place for people to participate in shaping our community and our nation.

Nevertheless, to keep that wagon from going over a cliff requires us to put up some basic guardrails of fairness, civility and accuracy. That’s what our letters policy is meant to do — certainly not to silence anyone or favor anyone.

So, with the 2024 election officially underway, I thought the time was right to reevaluate that policy with an open mind. After all, some of that community friction I mentioned might mean that something isn’t quite right and some finetuning is in order. Sure enough, I noticed one way in which we could stand to ease up on the reins — a little.

If there were a Ten Commandments of hometown newspaper publishing, one of

MCA opposes:

HB24-1005 - Health Insurers Contract with Qualified Providers

The Mountain Chamber Alliance (MCA), a group of chambers of commerce in Colorado’s mountain region, works to apply our collaborative impact to ensure that our mountain communities have a voice on regional and state issues of importance. Our vision is to advance public policy goals that enhance economic vitality and oppose those that negatively impact our communities and businesses across the region.

The Mountain Chamber Alliance supports the following proposed legislation:

MCA supports:

HB24-1001 – Reauthorization of Rural Jump-Start Program

HB24-1131 – Local College Districts

HB24-1156 – Chamber of Commerce Alcohol

Special Event Permit

SB24-100 – Commercial Vehicle Highway Safety Measures

SB24-106 – Right to Remedy Construction Defects

HB24-1160 - Economic Development Organization Action Grant Program

SB24-002- Local Government Property Tax Credit Rebates

them would certainly be: Thou shalt publish only what is local. Fair enough. In our news coverage, we abide by this fervently. Even state news has to pass the local relevance test to make it into our pages.

But what about opinion?

Should the “local only” standard be as strict there? After reflection, I think the answer is, probably not. The fact is, living in a small community doesn’t mean we occupy an alternate universe, insulated from events happening outside county lines. Few people would disagree that we are living in pretty extraordinary times, facing national and even global challenges that are increasingly hard to compartmentalize as only happening “over there somewhere.”

These are things that readers of this paper and members of this community care about. A lot. They want to express their concern and offer their perspective on what can be done. So, in our letters policy, we’ve decided to lighten up on the local only checkpoint a bit. Let’s talk about what frightens and angers us in our world.

That said, we are still unenthusiastic about letters that make no attempt at all to answer these questions: What do big picture events mean here? What can be done here to make our community stronger and

less vulnerable? What does it all mean for the Gunnison Valley? We only have so much space to devote to letters to the editor. Truth is, ones that put national issues into a local context and answer these questions are far more likely to make the cut. Better still, letters that address what the county commissioners or city council members are up to, or shine light on truly local issues, events and people, move straight to the top of the pile every week.

While we’re at it, here are aspects of the policy that have not changed:

• 500 words • No libelous or defamatory accusations

• No tit-for-tat running arguments with other letter writers

• Go easy on statistics without providing references. We don’t have time to wade through a swamp of unsupported “facts.”

• Even if you send one letter a week, we’ll publish no more than one a month.

We truly want everyone to be heard and for all well-reasoned points of view to be considered as we navigate troubled and troubling times.

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

HB24-1008 – Wage Claims Construction Industry Contractors

HB24-1098 - Cause Required for Eviction of Residential Tenant SB24-033 – Lodging Property Tax Treatment

MCA is monitoring:

HB24-1299 - Classification of Short-Term Rental Units for Purpose of Property Tax Treatment

Thank you in advance for listening to our perspective and for your consideration. We appreciate the work that you are doing to support our mountain communities.

(The Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce is a member of the alliance.)

Mountain Chamber Alliance

Nothing matters until you quit buying Chinese

Editor:

The most important act you can do for the global climate and world peace is to stop buying products made in China. Last year, China built 300 plus coal powered plants, and in 2024 the Chinese will

build another 360 coal powered plants. Why? It’s the cheapest form of energy to supply products to the United States and the world — including solar panels and batteries for electric vehicles.

China builds over 70% of the world’s solar panels and EV batteries. Each time you buy a product from China, you are promoting China’s growing economy to continue to build coal powered plants and more importantly buy billions of dollars of oil from Iran and Russia.

Think about it, for each shipment of oil from Russia and Iran to China, these funds are going to two war fronts, Ukraine and the Middle East. A stalemate in Ukraine, and the 200 attacks by the Iranian backed proxy fighters on U.S. bases in the Middle East, of which three U.S. soldiers were killed, can be traced to Chinese influence.

When you buy Chinese products, you are basically helping the U.S. fund both sides of each war at the same time increasing the pollution from the present 1,142 coal powered plants, which will total 1,502 by the end of 2024.

Let’s see how serious city and county governments are about climate change and war. If they can ban gas stoves, they can certainly ban Chinese goods. Here’s our opportunity.

Neil Watko Gunnison

Thank you to responders

Editor:

Annie and I want to sincerely thank Matt Evans and the rest of the Crested Butte Fire and EMS responders who came to assist when I was seriously hit by snow cascading from our roof on Feb. 3.

I was not totally buried, but they had the training and experience not to move me other than expertly to an ambulance for my ride to the Gunnison Valley Hospital (GVH). It turned out I have a broken back.

We are also grateful for the caring and professional services provided by the emergency room staff at the GVHl, the calming attitude of the flight crew and all the excellent caregivers at St. Mary’s Hospital.

It has been quite the experience, and my daily improvements remind us that with the help of these folks and our loved friends in the Gunnison Valley, life will return to normal and we will continue to bask in the beauty of this community and these mountains.

Everyone, please stay safe out there and keep your eyes on those snow-covered roofs!

Jim and Annie Starr Crested Butte continued on A5

Alan Wartes Times Publisher

Community to gather for suicide prevention

Ten suicides in last 13 months

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

When Chris Peterson received news that the Gunnison Valley had lost another of its young men to suicide, she knew it was time for the community to respond.

At the start of February, Jacob Martin lost his life to suicide. He was 25 years old. Within a week, Peterson, who lost her son Christian to suicide last summer, met with county employees and local businesses to find a way to raise awareness and prevent more deaths. The outcome was “The Putt Putt Challenge” fundraiser, scheduled for 4 p.m. on March 23 at the Fred Field Center.

Peterson asked local construction companies and businesses, like Western Lumber, Ace Hardware and Christopher Klein Construction, to build putt putt holes. On March 23, they’ll bring the makeshift holes down to Fred Field for a community gathering where attendees can have a meal, participate in a silent auction, play putt putt and learn how they can help prevent suicide.

“[It’s] to form those connections that you don't always see, or that you don't realize are right there waiting,” Peterson said.

The public can attend for free, but donations will be accepted. Gunnison County Juvenile Services and the Gunnison County Substance Abuse Prevention Project have also contributed to the event.

Peterson is no stranger to involvement in suicide prevention and awareness work. In 2015, Peterson mourned alongside a close friend who lost a

LETTERS

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Honored by your support

Editor:

KBUT wants to thank the entire Gunnison Valley community for yet another historic outpouring of support for our Winter 2024 Pledge Drive, which ended last week.

We have continued to grow and serve the community in more ways, but everything got more expensive everywhere. Only six months ago, we asked the community to get us to $70,000 for the first time ever, and gave ourselves 12 days to do it. We reached our goal on the morning of the 12th day.

Earlier this month, we asked for $70,000 again, and we had it by 8 p.m. on the ninth night. We didn't stop there and, by the end of the drive, this com -

child, Colton Didericksen. In 2016, she organized the Out of the Darkness Campus Walk, bringing community members together to walk for suicide prevention. She then served on the Colorado Board of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for five years.

She stepped down from the board at the start of 2023, to focus her efforts locally. Seven months later, she lost Christian. She recalled seeing Jacob and his “uncle” Rob Thiede at her house days later when friends and family gathered to support her.

After losing Jacob, she felt it was time to invest her efforts on young men in the trades. Jacob and Christian worked for the same local construction crew.

“Prevention is not working,” said local therapist Andrea Breiner. Breiner has been involved in suicide prevention since 2015, when Didericksen died. “What can we do to make it more about community involvement, people hanging out, being outdoors, and just knowing there's someone out there for you?”

Since January of 2023, the Gunnison Valley has lost 10 people to suicide, according to data provided by Gunnison County Coronoer Michael Barnes. Seven of those people were men between the ages of 21 and 41.

“We don't feel like we have an outlet. Even our friends. I think that's part of the stigma behind mental health,” Thiede said. “We don't want to seek help because we can get through it, we're men. Right? That's what we do. It's our job. It’s our responsibility … That’s part of what we need to move past.”

The putt putt event is just the first of what Peterson hopes to be multiple community-building events for young men in the

munity had come together to raise and donate more than $92,000 to support community radio, independent journalism and thousands of hours of volunteer-driven entertainment and information — delivered throughout the Gunnison Valley and all over the world.

As an organization, we just can't get over the pace and amount of support this community pours into KBUT. We are honored by it, and proud to turn that support into the best radio station in the world. In the coming weeks, you’ll hear thank yous to the dozens of local businesses that kept the DJs, phone ops and staff fed during the drive.

There are too many to thank here. We'd like to thank the Old Town Inn, The Slogar and the Center for the Arts Crested Butte for contributing to our early bird prize. We also want to

valley. The long-term goal is to create a substance-free space for men to gather — over activities like fishing or kayaking — and make talking and sharing difficult feelings easier, Peterson said.

The money raised at community events will pay for those gatherings, ensuring financial barriers don’t prevent anyone from participating. She also hopes to loop more people into SafeTALK trainings, which prepares people to respond to someone who is suicidal.

“Everything I taught for eight years means [nothing] to me at this point. My son didn't show those signs, Colton didn't show those signs … But we're starting to look at the signs [of suicide] that we saw versus the signs that I taught,” Peterson said.

Jacob was a member of the Hillybilly Jokers Motor Club, a space for local hot rod drivers and motorcycle riders to build community. After his death, Hillbilly Jokers co-founders Thiede and Paul Coleman said they decided to focus more on mental health. They said the club will continue to support Chris and plan their own events in the future.

“Nobody wants to admit it or talk about [suicide]. We can be loud and obnoxious, and we're going to be. It's not going to be Gunnison’s dirty little secret anymore,” Coleman said.

People in crisis should call the Colorado Crisis Services Hotline at 1.844.493.8255 or text TALK to 38255. CB State of Mind provides 10 free sessions with a local therapist. For peer support specialists at Gunnison Valley Health, email behavioralhealth@gvh-colorado.org or call 970.648.7128.

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

thank Crested Butte Mountain Resorts’ Epic Promise for donating the grand prize that every donor was entered to win.

I'd like to personally thank KBUT's incredibly dedicated staff, and our ceaselessly talented and creative volunteer DJs, the heart of all we do. More than anything, I want to pass along a heartfelt, humble and awestruck thank you to the Gunnison Valley community and our listeners around the world, for such an unprecedented outpouring of generosity.

Jackson Petitio KBUT

from around the world to study how water and weather moves through mountain systems like the East River Valley.

As technology continues to advance, working together made sense for RMBL Director Ian Billick and Jeni Blacklock, dean of the Rady program and director of the CU Boulder partnership program. It can be difficult for the RMBL team to design its own measurement sensors, maintain field equipment and translate data streams into knowledge. The growing Rady program, which will soon introduce aerospace engineering, covers all of these areas and creates a plethora of new opportunities for RMBL and the students who work there.

With the exception of marine science, engineering hasn’t always been a big part of terrestrial biology, Billick told the Times

“To get out into the remote parts of the ocean you had to figure out how to do it, and that involved engineering,” Billick said. “Engineering hasn't had the same place in terrestrial biology. … It's a fantastic opportunity that could change field science everywhere.”

The partnership program between Western and the University of Colorado (CU) Boulder offers tracks in mechanical engineering and computational sciences. Rady students are encouraged to problem solve through handson projects on campus and within the community, such as gear testing and helping startup companies at the ICELab. Last year, roughly 200 students were enrolled in the partnership program at Rady.

The new partnership with RMBL is supported by $200,000 from the Tourism and Prosperity Partnership (TAPP), the organization tasked with marketing the Gunnison Valley to prospective students and visitors. In addition to funding new research, Executive Director John Norton hoped the partnership will create more well-

School health

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reading at a regular board meeting on March 4. After a second reading, the board expects to adopt the policy before the end of the school year.

“I am encouraged to see such an overarching envelope of what health education is, and that is so important, especially with our mental health concerns,” said board member Jody Coleman.

The new health policy includes professional qualifications for teachers, definitions for health and sex education and an exemption process. The draft policy requires that parents are notified of the topics that will be covered in their child’s health class, and allows them to excuse their child from parts of the lesson. From July to December of 2023, only two

paying jobs and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) career opportunities for Western students after graduation.

TAPP’s original 2024 budget included a $600,000 allocation to Blister Labs, a joint venture between the Crested Buttebased gear review company and CU Boulder. Norton proposed an amendment at a regular county commissioners meeting in February, funneling a portion of the money to the new RMBL partnership. The money from TAPP will pay for a postgraduate program that will allow students to continue this work within the valley for a year.

“This could present a pipeline of job opportunities for some of the best kids that chose Western and Rady, and in turn create something exciting to recruit with,” Norton said.

The conversation between Rady and RMBL started several years ago. It has resulted in five interdisciplinary research projects, three of which are already in progress. For example, some students will be tasked with helping develop a new approach for measuring snow cover using remote sensors. Others will design a light-weight mounting system for scientific instruments.

“One of the core differentiators of our program is that we all work together,” Blacklock said. By bringing in aerospace and biomed in the future, it's going to open the possibilities for some of the research that we can do. This is foundational research that no one else is really working on.”

Research will continue through the summer months during Rady’s undergraduate research program at the biological laboratory. From there, the ongoing projects will be integrated into senior capstones in the fall.

While the county commissioners were in support of the new partnership, commissioner Liz Smith asked Billick and Blacklock how they imagined it could sustain itself in the future, without financial help.

“Local marketing district dollars have to be pretty adaptable,

students across the district were exempted from the comprehensive health and sexual education course.

“I'm a huge advocate for parents choosing what they want for their children … Parents and children could have such strong communication that they feel comfortable with doing that at home,” said board member Mandy Roberts.

The draft is also meant to take cultural differences into account and include sensitivity to students who’ve suffered trauma, all while ensuring it’s tailored for students with different learning abilities. The policy also states that sex ed will not emphasize abstinence as the primary or only acceptable pregnancy prevention method — as required by Colorado law.

Overall, the policy update is about shifting from a “con -

continued on A7

depending on economic conditions and where we need to pivot with marketing and tourism,” she said.

Blacklock said she would continue to apply for grants for Rady’s postgraduate program. The university’s work with RMBL could also attract additional investments from CU Boulder, an R1 research institution, she said. R1 universities pioneer research projects, often backed by millions of dollars.

RMBL’s strategy is to create a “data rich” environment that builds on itself and continues to attract teams of scientists to the valley. The biological laboratory’s rising payroll has shown that this tactic is working. Over the last 20 years, RMBL’s payroll has grown from under $100,000 to more than $2 million. And much of the ongoing research supports local science, with teams collecting data designs to improve water supply forecast-

ing and help manage wildfires.

“It's a matter of filling in the little cracks and creating opportunities that make it easier for the next round of scientists to come in,” Billick said.

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

Scientific instruments sit in front of Gothic Mountain near RMBL during the winter of 2022-23. (Photo by Bella Biondini)

RMBL scientist Ian Breckheimer, Rady faculty Travis Hainsworth and student Jayden Omi work on a drone project in Gothic last September. (Courtesy Western Colorado University)

Gunnison Elementary School students make their way to the cafeteria for an assembly on March 6. (Photos by Mariel Wiley)

continued from A6

tent-based approach to a skillsbased approach”, said Katie Gallagher, the district’s instructional technology specialist. Gallagher was a former health education teacher in the district and had been involved in the policy update.

“Instead of having a whole unit, for example, on nutrition or healthy eating, you have a unit on analyzing influences, decision-making, goal setting or how to access valid and reliable information,” Gallagher told the Times

The draft policy recommends that students from pre-K to second grade receive at least 40 minutes of health education per week and that students in third through 12th grade receive roughly an hour and a half. But these are general recommendations that could change at the next reading of the policy, Superintendent Leslie Nichols said. Health education is integrated into the regular classroom for elementary school students. But in middle school and high school, it becomes a separate course.

In recent years, the health education offerings across the district were inconsistent, especially for middle schoolers, Nichols said. During the 2022-23 school year, Gunnison fifth graders received health classes for the first time after several years with minimal or no instruction. Sixth and eighth graders didn’t receive a semester-long class that seventh graders were getting, according to Gallagher.

“Health [education] has changed. We know better about how to get the outcomes that we want, which is people living healthy lives, knowing their options and being able to make good choices based on reliable information,” Nichols said.

Sex ed survey

In the spring of 2024, over 100 middle and high schoolers in Crested Butte and Gunnison participated in a focus group designed to gauge what students want and need from sex education. The survey was funded by a CDPHE grant that will pump nearly $350,000 into the district’s sex ed programs by 2026. The district brought on two consultants — Ocean Candler from the Trailhead

Institute and Bekkah Abeyta from Thrive Consulting — to administer the focus groups.

The surveys were meant to bring student voices into their own health education, Gallagher said. Students were given three questions about sex ed: What has your experience been in sex education? What characteristics does your ideal sex ed teacher have and what would your ideal sex ed program look like?

Students said that previous sex ed classes felt awkward, but important. Others said there was missing information for LGBTQ+ students, and about a wider understanding of sexual expression. They also wanted more education around what healthy relationships look like, and teachers who are nonjudgemental, accepting and straightforward.

When asked about an ideal sex education class, students wanted less time in large lectures and more in small groups. They wanted the lesson to feel “relatable” and teach functional skills like how to use a condom and how sexuality can affect sports and puberty. High schoolers asked for online and social media safety resources.

The district is also working to increase transparency and help parents better understand what “what [health education] is and what it isn’t,” Gallagher said. The draft policy clarifies that all material used to teach health education will be available for public review during school hours.

Gallagher is planning a health education night for parents this fall, in addition to bringing in representatives from Project Hope and Gunnison County Juvenile Services to speak with students. She also hopes to create handbooks that students could take home to share with parents.

“The parents are grateful because [they say], ‘I didn't know how to broach this topic, but now it's an assignment. I just have to ask these questions.’ They love it for that,” Gallagher said. “And also it allows families to instill their own values and share things that we don’t include at school.”

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

Gunnison Elementary School students sing the national anthem during an assembly on March 6.

Crested Butte resident found dead near Hwy. 135

Case under investigation

Bella Biondini Times Editor

On March 3 at approximately 11 a.m., officers were called

to Hwy. 135 near Riverland for a report of a woman found deceased in the snow, according to a press release on Monday from the Mt. Crested Butte Police Department.

Gunnison County Coroner Michael Barnes confirmed the woman to be Crested Butte resi-

Mountain melodies

dent wKelsey Boleski, 34. The cause and manner of death are pending an investigation. No more information was available by press time.

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

Audience members trickled into Western Colorado University’s Kincaid Concert Hall for the final performance of the Western Slope Choral Festival on March 2. A harmony of voices floated from the stage as firefighters greeted patrons at the door. Proceeds from admission donations benefited the Gunnison Volunteer Fire Department. Admission to the concert was by donation to the Gunnison Volunteer Fire Department. The three day event featured performances from several Western choir groups led by visiting guest conductors.

(Photos by Mariel Wiley)

Ditches

from A1

ditches, which provide free irrigation water to approximately 40% of Gunnison residents.

After weeks of preparation each year, water begins rushing through the Gunnison’s irrigation ditch system in mid-May. Funneled from the Gunnison River at a headgate north of town, up to 41 million gallons of water flows through the ditches through September.

The unused water returns to the river, or seeps into the ground where it helps recharge the aquifer underneath town — eventually feeding into the wells that supply town with its drinking water. The irrigation ditches also decrease water demand in the city during periods of peak use in the summer.

The city recognizes the importance of the irrigation ditches to Gunnison’s water system as a whole, but the system of pipes that carry water through Gunnison is falling apart. The maintenance costs are rising and it takes a significant amount of time and manpower to clean them out each spring. According to a report from Public Works Director David Gardner, more than 200 culverts are in a state of disrepair.

In 2024, the city will take a closer look at the condition of Gunnison's ditch system, which depends on pipes that date back to the 1960s. During a regular meeting on Feb. 27, city council approved a request to kick off a master planning process Public Works hopes will show how much money is needed to keep water flowing through the irrigation system well into the future.

“We don't know a lot about ditches other than they cost a lot,” Gardner said. “And they're very popular.”

Over the past several years, the city has conducted water, sewer and electric “master plans,” which evaluate the condition of the utility systems, the future demands of growth and the cost of operation. Many of the studies revealed Gunnison’s utilities were outdated or unable to accommodate popu-

lation growth. It’s the same process that resulted in the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant, and plans for a new water plant at VanTuyl Ranch.

“I think it's time that we know more about the condition of our system, what it actually costs us and to look for ways that we can better, more efficiently run it,” Gardner said.

Gardner anticipates the study to take at least a year so the project manager can monitor the ditches when they are running and dry. The city did not disclose its budget for the master plan in hopes of obtaining competitive bids for the project this month. The study will begin this summer.

Along with the cost of longterm maintenance, the master plan will reveal more about water loss and other deficiencies in the ditch system. Many of the culverts are in poor condition. City crews have discovered almost 20 deteriorating pipes that cross under Hwy. 50 and Hwy. 135. Some of the bottoms have completely rusted out, and these pipes tend to plug with mud and debris.

The estimated cost to replace them exceeds $2 million, Gardner wrote in the council report. Repairs for the other 225 road crossings total more than $30,000 a piece. The final report will outline a 10-year financial plan that will cover annual operations, maintenance and improvement projects. Rate studies will not follow until after the city learns how much the updated ditch system is expected to cost.

The water from the irrigation ditches is free, but not everyone has access. Residents without a ditch often use potable water for landscaping during the summer and therefore pay higher water bills — making the ditch system inequitable. Neither council, nor the water department has proposed a fee system for irrigation ditches yet.

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

Rusted irrigation ditch culverts city crews excavated in late 2020. (Courtesy Mike Rogers/City of Gunnison)

1105 N Pine St., MLS #810392, $845,000. Welcome to your dream home in the picturesque

Van Tuyl Village subdivision! This brand-new, 3-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom property is a testament to modern design and quality craftsmanship. As you step inside, you’re greeted by an open and inviting kitchen-dining area, adorned with cherry cabinets and equipped with state-of-the-art stainless steel appliances. The tiled shower and bathtub add a touch of luxury to the bathrooms, while the master bedroom boasts its own oasis with a reading nook or small office space. The 2-car detached garage features 8-foot doors and 10-foot ceilings inside, providing ample space for your vehicles and storage needs. The extra space above the garage, accessible via exterior stairs, presents exciting opportunities. Whether you need additional storage or dream of an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit), the potential is yours to explore with City of Gunnison approval. Don’t miss the chance to make this new construction your forever home. Contact us now to schedule a viewing and witness the epitome of contemporary living!

216 Lochleven Lane, MLS #804508, $875,000, 3-Bedroom 2-Bathroom 1,988 sqft, built in 1985, and with1.056 acres with attached car garage. Well built home situated in the beautiful little Homestead Subdivision in Almont. Sit on your large front deck and revel in the views up the East River Valley. Located just 10 min from Gunnison and 20 min from CB, you are centrally located to enjoy the activities the area has to offer from world class fishing, rafting and hiking to snowmobiling and skiing. This 2 story home has its main living area on the top floor with a large open kitchen/ dining living room area with a wood stove that keeps the top floor nice and warm. This area is a great space to gather and entertain as you take in the views surrounding the property. The property also has a sunroom that can be accessed from the second level or has 2 separate entrances from the exterior. There is a 1 car oversized attached garage and located next to the garage is a very large storage room/closet for all of your storage needs. The home has a lot of deck area on the outside for outdoor entertaining or to casually relax and take in the many different views. Almont is a quaint small town with 2 restaurants/bars located within minutes from the property. There is a free bus that runs up and down the valley from Gunnison to CB with a stop located in Almont.

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.

(Photos by Abby Harrison)

Sheriff’s office staffing levels improve

Office subsidizes cost of police academy for applicants

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

After a year of staff shortages at the Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office, numbers are improving as two incoming cadets from police academy prepare to finish school. And for the first time since 2022, three full-time deputies are now patrolling the north end of the county, near Somerset and Marble.

In 2023, the office lost six employees in just eight months. That forced the remaining deputies to take on extra duties and strained the budget as overtime hours increased. After the two cadets finish police academy and come on as patrol deputies, the office will only have one patrol vacancy left. The office is also in the process of bringing on two jail deputies, said Sheriff Adam Murdie.

The high cost of living and limited housing availability continue to stifle application numbers, Murdie said. As a result, the office is trying to recruit more local applicants, who already have an established place to stay. For example, the two cadets in the police academy are both locals.

The sheriff’s office is covering their tuition at Western Colorado Law Enforcement Academy at Colorado Mesa University in Montrose in exchange for a two year contract with the sheriff’s office. They’re expected to start with the office by the end of May. An entrylevel patrol deputy starts at just over $70,000 and jail deputies start at just over $63,000.

The goal is to have enough deputies that the office can offer full-time shift coverage, rath -

er than on-call coverage in the middle of the night. Murdie said coming hires should put the office closer to this goal than it has been since he was elected sheriff at the end of 2022.

“But at some point, that pool will run out as well. So we’re going to have to keep our minds open and step out and try other things.”

Adam Murdie Gunnison County Sheriff

“That [strategy] is working rather well right now,” Murdie said “But at some point, that pool will run out as well. So we're going to have to keep our minds open.”

Sheriff’s deputies are responsible for law enforcement in over 3,000 square miles of the county, including the more remote reaches of the county. There are now three full-time

deputies (all of whom live in Paonia or Hotchkiss) assigned to the Marble and Somerset area, a marked improvement over last year when capacity was so tight that deputies could only respond to calls, rather than have a presence in the area.

“It's been tough finding people [for that area],” Murdie said. “But we're in good shape.”

A jail deputy is now stationed in the entryway of the Gunnison County Courthouse each day. For a period of several months in 2023, no court officer was stationed there. County governments are responsible for staffing state court facilities. But the county did not receive grant funds from the state last year or this year — which helps fill budget gaps and keep the position filled.

This officer is intended to keep the courtroom safe by screening for weapons at the entrance, escorting jurists and those in custody and intervening if violence erupts in court.

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

trent@bbre1.com

trentbonarealtor.com

Cadets at a law enforcement training camp held at Western Colorado University in the summer of 2023. (Photo by Jacob Spetzler)

City to begin two road projects

Work will last between 2024 and 2026

Bella Biondini Times Editor

During a regular meeting on Feb. 27, Gunnison City Council greenlighted the early stages of two projects on College and West Virginia avenues, both set to undergo construction by the end of 2026.

This year, the city plans to extend College Avenue, which

the existing trail system, as well as sidewalks. To meet the grant deadline, the city plans to begin construction as early as this spring.

Tusing said the extension will significantly lower the future developer’s upfront costs. Homes cannot be built at phase 2 until there is a connection to either the highway or a city street, he said.

“We don't have any plan right now in terms of when the units would be constructed,” Tusing said. “But this essentially could never happen without the extension of College Avenue.”

College Avenue extension

In 2022, the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) awarded the city $1.8 million to support Gunnison Rising’s first affordable housing project at phase 2. Located in between Western and the Gunnison Cemetery, phase 2 is planned to contain the development’s first residential neighborhood. Unlike the government campus on the south side of Hwy. 50, which houses the FedEx building and the Bureau of Land Management Gunnison Field Office, the north side still remains undeveloped.

Although the timeline remains unclear, the project is expected to have 64 deedrestricted homes. The grant application's original guidelines required a significant investment from a private developer, but the city worked with DOLA to bend the rules. The department will use the grant money to extend College Avenue, along with utility lines such as sewer and electric, to the Gunnison Rising boundary.

At the campus boundary, College Avenue currently terminates. The project will extend the road a tenth of a mile, and include an ADA crossing over

Virginia Avenue redesign

West Virginia Avenue is characterized by cracked pavement and an inconsistent series of sidewalks and bike lanes that end abruptly. It is another one of Gunnison’s traditionally wide streets, and cars are known to speed through intersections.

With a total redesign planned from the western end of the road to Main Street, the Public Works Department hopes it can solve the majority of these problems at once. It will also give the city a chance to rethink the layout of the street.

On Tuesday, city council approved the department’s request to hire an engineering consultant that will create a series of conceptual designs — some of which may include “road diets” or the thinning of the street. The process will involve community input as West Virginia Avenue is a street residents often have said they feel is unsafe when traveling on foot or biking. Construction is not expected until 2025 or 2026.

“Just past Seventh Street, a drive on this section of Virginia could be described as very variable,” Tusing said. “We have different cross sections, parking configurations, some bike lanes and then not bike lanes … It's time to do something with the street.”

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

The City of Gunnison is using grant money to extend College Avenue, along with utility lines such as sewer and electric, to the Gunnison Rising boundary. (Photo by Mariel Wiley)

Housing Authority executive director search continues

On March 5, the Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority hosted a community meet-andgreet with the two candidates vying for the organization’s executive director position: Trevor Barlow and Dallas Blaney. Local officials asked questions about new affordable housing strategies that may be successful in the valley, leadership styles and how the candidates would address language barriers. On Wednesday, Interim Executive Director Julie Baca notified the Times that neither candidate was selected and the search will continue with a focus on financial management.

For the community

During a city council meeting on Feb. 27, Mayor Diego Plata read proclamations recognizing the ongoing work of Marketa Zubkova and Cinthia Saenz within the Gunnison community. Saenz works as a bilingual health navigator at Gunnison Valley Health and is a founding member of the Hispanic Affairs Project. Zubkova is the president of the Inmigrantes Unidos de Gunnison and works as a legal advocate for Gunnison Valley immigrants.

(Photo by Bella Biondini)

(Photos by Bella Biondini)

A life defined by confidence and kindness

Mariel Wiley Times Photo Editor

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

A cowboy with gemstone eyeliner and lavender-painted fingernails sat beside a lady with a mink stole draped across her shoulders. Across the room, kids in jeans and T-shirts giggled as they gathered fistfulls of glow sticks. People from all walks of life came as they were to Ron Earl’s memorial at the Fred Field Center on March 2. They wore the clothes they felt best in to honor Earl’s legacy of staying true to yourself.

Earl, who died on the evening of Feb. 22, graced the Gunnison Valley with his operatic singing voice and vivid personality for nearly three decades.

Many recall him as a staple National Anthem singer from Cattlemen’s Days, as their wedding officiant or through “Ron Earl and Friends,” a once-a-year sing-along and dinner event at Blackstock Bistro.

“The thing about him was ‘I am who I am and I don’t give a damn or care what anybody thinks,’” Brenda Sargent said. Sargent knew Earl for over a decade. “That's how he lived his life. And I respected him for that.”

His friendships span decades.

Ashley Formaz met Earl when she was just 15 years old. He showed up to each one of her birthday parties over the years.

At her 30th, he accompanied her at the entrance to Timbers Tavern, stupefied that the bouncer wouldn’t let Formaz in after she’d forgotten her ID at home. It wasn’t long before they were dancing inside, after Earl chided the bouncer for not recognizing Formaz as a fourthgeneration local and permitting her entry.

“He had the biggest heart and he had a piece of everybody's heart,” Formaz said.

Rebecca Pettigrew also met Earl as a teen. Her earliest impression of him was the way he made her feel included among her elders during neighborhood dinner parties. Since then, his presence in her life never wavered. He showed up for all life’s pivotal moments, including her wedding and the birth of her son.

Earl was a “guiding light” for many, she said.

“The definition of Ron is love. He just loved, accepted and encouraged,” Pettigrew said. “He was so invested in everyone that he met that everyone felt like they had the deepest connection with him and knew him on this spectacular level. And they did.”

Since his death, countless accounts of his impact on the Gunnison Valley community have been shared on social

Ron Earl: ‘I am who I am’

media, and soon at a formal memorial service in Crested Butte at the end of March.

Earl was an inspiration to people from all different backgrounds, whether they shared a similar life experience or not. This was true for Corey Alexander, who saw in Earl an aspirational future version of himself.

Alexander was going through a trying period of grief after losing his mother when Earl came into his life. Earl’s can-do attitude encouraged Alexander to prioritize his well being and begin the healing process.

“I just felt like I had somebody on my side,” Alexander said. “Which is unfortunate, because I just know that he and my mom are somewhere up there [gossiping] about me right now.”

Earl is remembered not only for his bright spirit, but for his physical presence in the world. It was not uncommon to see him breeze into a room in a full-length mink coat, a boa or red velvet jacket, accessorized with rose-tinted glasses and a cowboy hat. All who hugged him would walk away smelling

like his cologne-of-the-day — always commanding, never the same scent.

“It was always great to get a hug from Ron because his hugs kept giving,” said Kevin Freeman. He knew Earl for two decades. “He wore a cologne that was very unique. When you gave him a hug, you would leave and smell like Ron. My wife would say, ‘Did you hug Ron tonight?’”

Freeman and his wife attended a concert with Earl just a week before he died. In true form, they were out late enjoy-

ing a night of music and friendship.

“He was Ron. If you didn’t like Ron, he’s good with that. You can’t please everyone in life,” Freeman said.

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

(Mariel Wiley can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or mariel@ gunnisontimes.com.)

Visitors signed their names and left short messages to Ron on a poster board. (Photos by Mariel Wiley)

A guest pops a confetti cannon.

Bingo for the band

A trumpet fanfare filled the Gunnison Elks Lodge on March 1 as students and families gathered for an evening of bingo. As players found their seats, band students practiced short musical arrangements and warm up scales. Proceeds from door prizes, a bake sale and a silent auction benefitted the Gunnison Middle and High School band programs.

Faith Directory

Bethany Church

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

Two services at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

FREE lunch for college students following the 10:30 a.m. service gunnisonbethany.com

9 a.m.: Family Service with nursery & children’s church

Check out our website for updates!

Or download our app on the App Store by searching, Gunnison Bethany.

B'nai Butte Congregation

PO Box 2537 Crested, Butte CO 81224 305-803-3648 bnaibutte@gmail.com

Spiritual Leader: Rabbi Mark Kula is available for you at RabbiMarkKula@gmail.com

Go to bnaibutte.org for additional details and locations.

New Song Christian Fellowship

77 Ute Lane • 970-641-5034

A Christ Centered Gospel Sharing Community where we want to be part of a community who encourage and support one another in our spiritual journey.

Sunday 10 a.m. / Wednesday 7 p.m. newsonggunnison.net

Community Church of Gunnison

107 N. Iowa • 970-641- 0925

Pastor Larry Nelson

Christmas Eve Service 7:00 p.m.

Sunday Morning Worship 9:30 a.m. Weekend Services 9:30 a.m.

Nursery & Age-Graded Ministry

Weekly Student Ministry

Weekly Adult LifeGroups

Office Hours: Mon-Thurs, 9-4

For more info: ccgunnison.com or email info@ccgunnison.com

Join us in-person, listen to our broadcast on 98.3 FM, or view online stream on YouTube

Transforming Lives • Building Community

First Baptist Church

120 N. Pine St. • 970-641-2240

Pastor Jonathan Jones

9:30 a.m. Share & Prayer Fellowship

10 a.m. Sunday School Classes

11 a.m. Morning Worship Service 6 p.m. Evening Service

Wednesday 7 p.m. - Children's Patch Club

Gunnison Bible Institute

Thursday 7 p.m. - College & Career Christian Fellowship firstbaptistgunnison.org.

Church of Christ

600 E. Virginia • 970-641-1588

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

Sunday Morning Worship: 10:30 a.m.

Sunday Evening Worship: 6 p.m.

Wednesday Night Bible Class: 7 p.m.

Trinity Baptist Church

523 N. Pine St.

• 970-641-1813

Senior Pastor - Joe Ricks

Sunday Service 9:30 a.m.

Adult Bible Study 8 a.m. trinitybaptistsgunnison.com

Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church

711 N. Main • 970-641-1860

Children’s Christmas Program

Sunday, December 17th at 10 a.m.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7 p.m. Christmas Day Service at 10 AM

The Good Samaritan Episcopal Church

307 W. Virginia Ave. • 970-641-0429

Rev. Laura Osborne, Vicar

First Sunday of each month –11 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II Alternating at Good Samaritan and All Saints in the Mountains

Check our websites for location

Second Sunday-Fifth Sunday –9 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II

Children’s Sunday school –2nd and 4th Sundays, monthly Office hours: M-TH 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Taize – 1st Wednesday, monthly - 7 p.m. goodsamaritangunnison.org

Visit our partnership church: All Saints in the Mountains, Crested Butte Meeting Second-Fifth Sundays at 5 p.m., Holy Eucharist, Rite II 403 Maroon Ave, Crested Butte

Visit our website for location of 11 a.m. Holy Eucharist, First Sunday of each month allsaintsinthemountains.org

Church in the Barn 8007 County Road 887

Waunita Hot Springs Ranch • 970-641-8741 Sundays, 10:30 a.m. Non Denominational Come as you are.

Rocky Mountain Christian Ministries

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

Sunday Morning Worship 9:30 a.m.

Nursery and Children’s ministry through Middle School

“Remedy” Worship Nights Small Group Ministries mcmchurch.org

St. Peter’s Catholic Church 300 N. Wisconsin • 970-641-0808

Fr. Andres Ayala-Santiago gunnisoncatholic.org crestedbuttecatholic.org or call the Parish Office.

St. Peter’s - Gunnison Sat 5 p.m. & Sun 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m. (Spanish) Mass

First Sunday of every month bilingual Mass 11 a.m.

Queen of All Saints - Crested Butte, 401 Sopris Sun 8:30 a.m. Mass

St. Rose of Lima - Lake City Mass Service, Sun. at 10 a.m.

Gunnison

Congregational Church

United Church of Christ

317 N. Main St. • 970-641-3203

Open and Affirming

Whole Earth · Just Peace Sunday, 10 a.m.

Casual, Relaxed, “Come As You Are” Worship gunnisonucc.org

(Photos by Mariel Wiley)

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

Assistant Building Manager - CBCS

Lead Custodian - Lake School Substitute Teachers

PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:

School Psychologist - District Newcomer Teacher and Integration Specialist

COACHING:

GHS - Speech and Debate

GHS - Assistant Girls

Basketball Coach

GHS - Head Wrestling Coach

GMS Track and Field Coach - (Shot Put and Discus) (Sprints and Long Jump)

Please contact: Superintendent’s Office

JoAnn Klingsmith 800 N. Boulevard 970-641-7760

jklingsmith@gunnisonschools.net

EC ELECTRIC IS SEEKING

Journeyman & Residential Wireman for projects in the Gunnison and Crested Butte areas. Must have a valid Colorado driver’s license and pass a pre-employment drug screen.

Top pay & Benefits.

Send resumes to info@ec-electric.com or call 970-641-0195

www.ec-electric.com/careers

GUNNISON COUNTY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Motor Vehicle/Recording

Technician Clerk and Recorder: 40 hours/ week, hourly rate range from $21.82-$24.85 plus full benefits

Case Management Aide

HHS: 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $4,966-$6,037 plus full benefits.

Caseworker I

HHS: 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $5,263-$6,399 plus full benefits.

Public Health Nurse II –

Substance Abuse Prevention

Juvenile Services: 20 hours/week, hourly rate range from $33.79-$41.08 plus partial benefits.

Seasonal

Public Works: Guaranteed 40 hours/week, hourly rate range from $20.58-$23.43 depending on experience, plus partial benefits. Outdoor work that includes traffic control, fencing, tree and brush removal, trail work, recycling, equipment training and much more, all in a 4-day work week.

Patrol Deputy Sheriff: Full-time, 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $5,857-$6,669 plus full benefits.

Detention Deputy Sheriff: Full-time, 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $5,263-$5,992 plus full benefits. Only work 14 days a month.

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

to help sustain and grow its programming. The activities of the AmeriCorps member, between Apr. 8 and Dec. 15, will focus on interacting, educating and collaborating with the local community in four key areas: 1. outreach, 2. program support, 3. workforce development and 4. expansion into the health sector. A living allowance and education award will be awarded. For more information, please view the service description on gvrha.org and apply through mountainrootsfoodproject.org/healthyfutures. Please email healthyfutures@ mountainrootsfoodproject.org with your questions.

TUTORS WANTED: We are growing our brilliant team. Tutors for all age groups and subject areas are needed. Please call 970417-0656. ElevatedLearningTutors.com.

CITY OF GUNNISON EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Chief Water Operator

Full-time $72,800-$85,500/yr

Leads Water department staff and performs a variety of skilled technical duties and skilled labor in the operation and maintenance of the city’s nine (9) potable water wells, water distribution system, wastewater collections system, irrigation ditches, etc.

Construction Project Manager

Full-time $83,200-$112,400/yr

This is a temporary, full-time position that is anticipated to be renewed annually for technical oversight for a 5-7 year long, $50 million, multi-phased design and construction program for the city’s water system improvements project.

Police Officer

Full-time, $68,900-$93,100/yr $33.13-$44.76/hr

Performs technical, professional, and administrative duties related tomaintaining the security of the city, protecting constitutional guarantees of all persons, protecting life and property, preserving public peace and order,preventing, solving and detecting crimes, facilitating the safe movement of people and vehicles and other emergency services as needed. POST Certification not required. The city will pay for the police academy if needed and pay a cadet wage of $50,900 while attending the academy. Includes a $15,000 signing bonus. Increased wages over above-listed salary available for working nights. Personal liability insurance paid by the City of Gunnison. Housing is available.

The City of Gunnison offers a competitive benefit package including 75% of medical, dental and vision premiums paid for the employee and their dependents, 5% of gross wages in a retirement plan, 3 weeks of vacation (increasing based on the years of service), 13 paid holidays, and 12 days of sick leave per year.

For more information, including complete job descriptions, benefit packages, required job qualifications and application instructions, please visit GunnisonCO.gov/HR

INTEGRATIVE DENTISTRY in Crested Butte is looking for a full or part-time dental assistant position to join our fun, high-energy, passionate dental team. Pay is dependent on experience, however no dental experience is necessary. Benefits are available to fulltime employees. Send your resume to info@ integrativedentistrycolorado.com.

WANT TO WORK 32 HOURS AND GET PAID FOR 40 HOURS? CB South

Metro District is hiring for a full-time Road Manager and Heavy Equipment Operator. This position would be responsible for planning, organizing, and directing all activities and staff related to the district’s roads and maintenance. Duties include road maintenance, snow removal, drinking water operations, wastewater operations and other day-to-day tasks of running a utility. This job requires the applicant to have motor grader and heavy equipment experience. Applicants must be 18 years of age and have a valid Colorado driver’s license. The successful applicant is eligible to receive an elite, full benefit package. Full

WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY

seeks applicants for a full-time (40 hours/week) Equipment Mechanic II.

This State of Colorado classified position provides maintenance, diagnosis and repair for all Western Colorado University vehicles and equipment, as well as for vehicles of other state agencies.

Western’s benefit package includes Colorado PERA retirement, low-cost insurance plans (with generous employer contributions to medical/dental/vision), employee and dependent tuition benefits, paid vacation, paid sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year. All classified employees receive basic life insurance and shortterm disability coverage at no cost. Employee wellness programs and professional development trainings are available for FREE.

To view the full job announcement and apply, visit western.edu/jobs and click on “View Careers” (AA/EOE).

pruning, dead heading, etc. Send a resume to SolFoodGardens@gmail. com.

ADAPTIVE SPORTS CENTER SUMMER

INSTRUCTOR: The Adaptive Sports Center is seeking adaptive instructors to facilitate exceptional adaptive sport and recreation activities for the 2024 Summer Season. Pay ranges from $20-$29/hour based on experience. Benefits for full-time, seasonal staff include pro-forms, certification and membership dues, exam reimbursement, paid sick days, 5-day stipend and a 401(k) match. More information and summer application is at adaptivesports.org – about us – careers. Applications are due Mar. 15.

COMMUNITY BANKS OF COLORADO is currently seeking candidates to fill an assistant banking center manager position in our Gunnison banking center. Great opportunity with excellent benefits package. For position details and to apply, please visit cobnks.com. NBH Bank is an equal opportunity employer.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN TREES AND LANDSCAPING now hiring for our 40th summer season. Come join a team that’s deeply rooted in the Gunnison Valley. Visit rockymountaintrees.com/employment/ to view available positions.

GUNNISON VALLEY HEALTH IS HIRING:

Please note this is not a complete list of all our open jobs. You can view all open positions on our website at jobs.gunnisonvalleyhealth.org.

Financial Counselor, Customer Service - FT $18.50-$23.12

Cook, Senior Care Center –FT $17-$19.55/hour DOE

Emergency Department Patient Access and Coordinator –FT $19.10-$22.91/hr DOE

Personal Care Provider, Assisted Living – FT $17-$19.55/hour DOE

Benefits Eligibility: Medical, dental, vision, health care FSA and dependent care FSA. All active employees working 40 or more hours per pay period are eligible for benefits on the first of the month following date of hire. PRN staff are not initially eligible for benefits.

Please visit our website for more indepth position descriptions, specific qualification requirements and to apply online: gunnisonvalleyhealth. org/careers/ or call HR for questions 970-641-1456 (PRN = as needed). All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a negative 10-panel drug screen test, criminal background check, reference checks, infection prevention procedures (TB test, Flu Shot, immunization records, etc.), physical capacity profile and acknowledgement of policies.

MECHANIC NEEDED FOR BUSY LOCAL

BIKE SHOP: Pay DOE and we’re willing to train the right person. Flexible hours and accommodating around you having a life. Drop off a resume with your availability to Dan at Double Shot Cyclery, 222 N. Main St. Gunnison. 970-642-5411.

LITTLE RED SCHOOLHOUSE is gearing up for spring and summer. Looking for a part-time teacher to start training in March and working part-to-full time after the mountain closes. This is a year-round, stable opportunity with benefits, great pay and lots of perks. It is also super rewarding. Do you love little people? Are you flexible and creative? Do you want more stability in your job? Please send resume and interest letter to Jessica at lilredschoolhouse1@gmail. com.

CLEANER POSITION: The Town of Mt.

Crested Butte is hiring for a part-time cleaner. This position will be Monday through Friday, approximately 3-4 hours per day. The cleaner will clean the Mt. Crested Butte Town Hall, police department, maintenance building, TC-1 (Gothic lot) bathrooms and the sitting area in the transit center. The Town Hall and police department cannot be cleaned until after 5 p.m. but other areas can be cleaned on your own schedule. Must be at least 18 years old with a clean driving record, valid Colorado driver’s license and the ability to pass a CBI/ FBI background check. Town pays sick time for all part-time employees. Pay is $25-$35 per hour based on experience. To apply for this position, please submit a resume, cover letter and references to Tiffany O’Connell at toconnell@mtcb.colorado.gov or drop off your application materials at the Mt. Crested Butte Town Hall, 911 Gothic Road, Mt. Crested Butte, CO 81225. If you have any questions please email or call Tiffany O’Connell at 970-349-6632 or toconnell@ mtcb.colorado.gov.

WATER TREATMENT FACILITY

FOREMAN: The Mt. Crested Butte

accounting systems access controls and oversight of accounting managers including accounts receivable, accounts payable, billings functions and payroll preparation.

Successful candidates will be detail-oriented and proactive in our fast-paced environment, with proficiency in Quickbooks and experience in ProCore a bonus. Competitive base salary and benefits. Please submit resume to david@davidgrossgc.com or call 970-901-1798.

MOUNTAIN EXPRESS SHOP

TECHNICIAN: JOIN OUR TEAM. Mountain Express is looking to recruit a shop technician for immediately available shifts. Applicant required to hold a CDL class BP-2 with no air brake restrictions, or we will pay for you to obtain one. Starting wage is $22.60/hr.

Health insurance is available based on hours worked. Ski locker benefit. Shop technicians are responsible for daily fueling and cleaning of fleet vehicles and other related tasks at the direction of the shop supervisor. Please contact Leah Petito at lpetito@mtnexp.org to apply. For a complete job description, visit mtnexp.org. EOE.

REAL ESTATE

ELK AVENUE OFFICE SPACE: Looking for the ideal office space that combines convenience and charm? Look no further.

With a variety of sizes to suit your unique needs, our spaces are conveniently located and affordably priced. Contact Kezia for details. kezia@toadpropertymanagement. com. 970-349-2773.

C-KARS AUTO AND TRUCK REPAIR IS FOR SALE: Owner wants to retire. 970-6414060.

FOR LEASE: Approximately 2,000 sq. ft. shop/office located on S. 11th close to the airport. Commercial zoning. Call 970-2093676 for information.

Legals

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Albert Lee Falsetto, Deceased Case #2024PR030006

REQUEST FOR BIDS

City of Gunnison (Owner) is requesting Bids for the construction of the following Project: CRANOR HILL GARAGE FACILITY

Project ID: 24-08

No phone calls please.

LOCAL LAWN CARE SERVICE COMPANY

looking for full-time, seasonal employee, four 10 hr. shifts, Tues.-Fri., May through Oct. Zero turn mower operation, grass trimming and general yard maintenance experience preferred. Sprinkler system knowledge and maintenance a plus. Pay range $20-30 DOE. Submit resume or contact j2funke@gmail. com.

FULL OR PART-TIME MAINTENANCE

POSITION: Alpine Getaways is seeking a full or part-time maintenance tech to perform basic duties. Full-time employees may receive health benefits. $25-$30 per hour DOE. Please contact Erik at erik@ alpinegetaways.com or call 970-349-0539.

Water and Sanitation District is accepting applications for a full-time Water Treatment Facility Foreman 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 treatment operations, employee supervision, construction and electrical/mechanical/ maintenance repair. A State of Colorado Water B and Distribution 3 license or the ability to obtain such within one (1) year is mandatory (training for certifications provided). Operators are required to take on-call responsibility including select weekends and holidays. A valid Colorado driver’s license is required. Starting salary is $74,200-$91,000 DOQ. 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, PO Box 5740, Mt. Crested Butte, CO 81225 or email info@mcbwsd.com. Position is open until filled. MCBWSD is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

FULL-TIME POSITION AVAILABLE AT

GUNNISON CEMETERY: This person will assist with grounds maintenance, including lawn mowing, trimming, burials, etc. throughout the summer. For more information, please call 970-642-1152 or email guncemetery@yahoo.com.

HIGH-VOLUME, PROFESSIONAL

GENERAL CONTRACTOR seeks fulltime, experienced controller with 5+ years experience. Duties include overseeing general ledger and accounting functions, balance sheet reconciliation, maintaining

PALISADES AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY

Palisades Apartments is currently accepting applications for our waiting list. Our 2 bedroom, low income apartment community is income-based. You must meet restrictions.

Our newly renovated 2 bedroom apartments are a must see. Apply in-person at 600 N. Colorado in Gunnison.

We are a no smoking property.

For further information please contact us at 970-641-5429 or palisadesmanager@ silva-markham.com

of Gunnison County, Colorado, on or before June 29, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Katie Louisa Falsetto, Personal Representative c/o Brown & Brown, P.C. 1250 E. Sherwood Dr. Grand Junction, CO 81501

Gunnison Country Times

Gunnison, Colorado

Publication dates of February 29, March 7, 14, 2024 12336

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

JOHN LAWRENCE MARSHALL, a.k.a. JOHN L. MARSHALL, a.k.a.

JOHN MARSHALL, Deceased

Case Number: 2024 PR 30002, Division P

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the Gunnison County District Court, Gunnison, Colorado, on or before July 8, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

MICHELE LYNN LAMBERT Personal Representative 66 Goren Street Crested Butte, Colorado 81224

Telephone: 970-275-2527

Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication date of March 7, 14, 21, 2024 12306

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Eric Ian Freson, Deceased

Case Number 2024PR12

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 July 7, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Anthony Freson Personal Representative 587 Sugar Hollow Rd. Pittsford, VT 05763

Gunnison Country Times

Gunnison, Colorado Publication dates of March 7, 14, 21, 2024 12361

Bids for the construction of the Project will be received electronically at the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System (“RMEPS”): portal at https://www. bidnetdirect.com/colorado. Submittals must be received in the RMEPS submission portal on or before, March 15, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. MT. Hardcopy submittals will not be accepted. It is the Respondent’s sole responsibility to ensure all required documents are submitted through RMEPS by the submission deadline. RMEPS does not allow for uploading of documents after the submittal due date and time has closed.

Bids (as hereinafter defined) received after the above specified due date and time, or which are not prepared and filed in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Request for Bids (“RFB”), may not be considered for evaluation.

The Project includes the following Work:

The Project is located in Gunnison County, approximately three (3) miles north of Gunnison city limits. The Work shall be performed in accordance with the Contract and generally includes earthwork, concrete footings and slab, framing, metal roofing, metal siding, thermal/moisture protection, electrical, windows, doors, finishes, and other appurtenances. The Contract provides a list of applicable plans, specifications, and permits. The 2015 International Building Code is the governing code. The building type is a V-B with an S-2 Low Hazard Storage Occupancy.

Obtaining the Bidding Documents

Information and Bidding Documents for the Project can be found only at the following designated Bidding Documents Website:

Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System (“RMEPS”): portal at https://www. bidnetdirect.com/colorado .

Bidding Documents may be downloaded from the designated website. Prospective Bidders are urged to register with the designated Bidding Documents Website as a plan holder, even if Bidding Documents are obtained from a plan room or source other than the Bidding Documents Website in either electronic or paper format. The Bidding Documents Website will be updated periodically with addenda, lists of registered plan holders, reports, and other information relevant to submitting a Bid for the Project. All official notifications, addenda, and other Bidding Documents will be offered only through the Bidding Documents Website. Neither Owner nor Engineer will be responsible for Bidding Documents, including addenda, if any, obtained from sources other than the Bidding Documents Website.

Instructions to Bidders.

For all further requirements regarding bid submittal, qualifications, procedures, and contract award, refer to the Instructions to Bidders that are included in the Bidding Documents.

END OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

Gunnison Country Times

Gunnison, Colorado

Publication dates of February, 22, 29, March 7, 2024 12248

AVE.

TOBACCO VIOLATION - UNLAW-

FUL POSSESSION RE1J — 1099 N. 11TH ST.

HARASSMENT: STRIKE, SHOVE, KICK — 608 W. NEW YORK AVE.

FEB. 28

INFORMATION — JOSEPH LN.

CIVIL PROBLEM — 806 N. COLORADO ST

DISTURBING THE PEACE — 406 N. 11TH ST.

ANIMAL - RUNNING AT LARGEMUNICIPAL — 880 N. MAIN ST.

FEB. 29

ABANDONED VEHICLE — 600 E. VIRGINIA AVE.

MENACING: NO WEAPON INVOLVED — N. 11TH ST.

ANIMAL - VICIOUS/DANGEROUS - MUNICIPAL — 200 S. BOULEVARD ST.

ANIMAL - RUNNING AT LARGEMUNICIPAL — 1000 N. 8TH ST.

HARASSMENT: REPEATED COMMUNICATIONS

MARCH 1

NUISANCE CODE VIOLATION — 223 W. HWY. 50 FRONTAGE RD.

VIOLATION OF PROTECTION

ORDER: CRIMINAL ORDER

*DV* — 600 N. COLORADO ST.

MARCH 2

CRIMINAL TRESPASS - MUNICIPAL — 226 N. MAIN ST.

HARASSMENT: INSULTS, TAUNTS, CHALLENGES — 311 N. 12TH ST.

PROPERTY - FOUND — 226 N. MAIN ST.

CIVIL PROBLEM — 311 N. 12TH

CIVIL PROBLEM — 221 N. BOULEVARD ST.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF — 1210 VULCAN ST.

DEATH INVESTIGATION — W.

NEW YORK AVE.

DRIVER'S LICENSE - ALTERED, FORGER, MODIFIED — 500 W. HWY. 50

HARASSMENT: MUNICIPAL — 408 S. 14TH ST.

MARCH 3

ACCIDENT — 910 E. TOMICHI

WELFARE ASSIST — N. TELLER

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE - ALCOHOL — 201 W. TOMICHI

UN-SECURE PREMISES — N.

MAIN ST.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF — 408 S.

14TH ST.

GUNNISON COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT

FEB. 27

-Deputies and Crested Butte Search and Rescue responded to a search and rescue call in the Splains Gulch area.

-Agency assist to the Colorado State Patrol with a one-vehicle accident on Hwy. 149 and C.R. 27

-Deputies assisted a medical call

-Deputies assisted the CSP, Gunnison Fire/Rescue and the Emergency Medical Services team with a one-vehicle accident

-Deputies were advised of an avalanche that had occurred on C.R. 742 near Park Cone - spoke to witnesses and were advised that there is no indication that anyone was in the slide. Deputies advised Taylor Park and Gunnison County Public Works, who assessed the avalanche, closed the road and made plans to clear it.

FEB. 28

-Deputies responded to a one-vehicle accident where the driver had suffered a seizure, no injuries or property damage

-Deputies and the Gunnison Park Rangers responded to a deer stuck in the ice at Wilson’s Landing. Park rangers were able to approach the deer with two ropes and were able to hoist it out of the ice and onto the ground, where she was able to run into nearby trees. Way to go park rangers.

-Deputies assisted the CSP with a one-vehicle car crash with property damage and injuries - possibly due to a medical episode

-Information report on a landlord/ tenant issue

FEB. 29

-Unlawful sexual contact

-Deputies issued a citation in Marble for speeding, no proof of insurance and failed to obtain valid Colorado registration within 90 days after becoming a resident

-Deputies arrested one person for an in-county warrant for failure to appear

Agency assist to Chaffee County - snowmobilers found a man they suspected of having a heart attack

-Deputies responded to a hit-andrun accident

MARCH 2

-Deputies took one person into custody for weaving, driving under the influence and an open alcoholic container in the vehicle

-Civil paper service in Somerset -Somerset/Marble deputies responded to a downed power pole that had fallen on power lines and started on fire

-Information report regarding a possible welfare check/mental issue call

-Agency assist to the Gunnison Police Department with an attempted break into a residence

MARCH 3

-Gunnison County Resolution 2018-30 - dog at large/vicious – a cross-country skier was bitten by a group’s dog who was passing by them

-Deputies assisted the GPD with a vehicle stuck in the snow and driving under the influence of alcohol arrest

ROMPSKISREACHESNEW PEAKS

Crested Butte ski company has new owner

Alex McCrindle Times Sports Editor

Romp Skis, a cult-favorite brand in the Gunnison Valley, passed its keys to a new owner last month. The team believes the sale will take the local company to new heights.

Every day, many drive past the unassuming Romp warehouse tucked onto the southside of Belleview Avenue in Crested Butte. However, on a boisterous powder day, when skiers stand shoulder-to-shoulder in the Silver Queen line, Romp skis appear everywhere.

Since its inception in a Crested Butte garage in 2010, the company has become a

locals-only relic of the ski bum lifestyle. In February, Romp sold to Texas-based real estate developer Chase Gardaphe. The sale enables founder Morgan Weinberg to return to his original passion: designing Romp skis and maintaining a connection with the Gunnison Valley.

“Chase really believes in this company,” Weinberg said. “He’s super enthusiastic, and wants to increase community outreach, and work with local nonprofits and organizations. I’m excited to get back in the workshop, create new designs and improve what we do.”

On a late February afternoon, just days after the purchase, the small team of craftsmen were busy sanding down new skis. Weinberg worked alongside 10-year ski builder Andy Shabo, using a router to cut out the freshly pressed sticks.

Production manager and Western alum Eligh Purvis rolls out a topsheet deign. (Photos by Mariel Wiley)

Completed sets of Romp Skis are displayed in the future retail store next to the factory.

Romp B2

Romp from B1

Music played over the workshop speakers, and the hum of a sander filled the warehouse with noise.

Product manager Eligh Purvis, who graduated from Western Colorado University in 2021, looked over printed artwork on his workshop table. The art, designed by local artist Sophia Mace, was a pink scene

It’s hard to explain the passion I have for this town, and the desire to do good by Crested Butte and Gunnison.

Chase Gardaphe Owner Romp Skis

of leaves on a blue background, formatted in the shape of a ski topsheet. Skis in all different stages, some freshly sanded, others rough around the edges, rested on wooden racks.

Romp has been operating in tiny workshops its entire life. The company began near Buckhorn Ranch in Crested

Butte. Inspired by the handshaped surfboard shops along the California coast, construction workers Morgan and Caleb Weinberg hopped on the amateur ski building trend in 2010. The brothers churned out eight sets of skis that winter and handed them out to friends.

Fourteen years later, GearJunkie named Romp as a top ski brand in 2024.

In 2020, Morgan’s partnerin-crime, Caleb, stepped away from the company and moved across the mountains to Aspen. Left with a heightened responsibility and his hands full with ski manufacturing, marketing and finance, Morgan began exploring options to sell the company.

Gardaphe, who balances his time between the Gunnison Valley and the Lone Star state, was deemed a perfect fit. Before attending Texas A&M University, he worked as a ski rental technician at the Crested Butte Flatiron Sports in 2008, and has been surfing powder on Romp skis for the last six seasons. After purchasing the company in mid-February, he will charge back into the ski industry.

“It’s hard to explain the passion I have for this town, and the desire to do good by Crested Butte and Gunnison,” Gardaphe said. "This place sticks with you, and Romp will never lose its Crested Butte flavor.”

Armed with financial resources and business experience, Gardaphe will work to expand Romp into a regionallyrecognized brand. Marketing operations began in February, when Romp made its first

appearance at the 2024 Blister Summit — a consumer-focused gear testing event at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. The multi-day festival hosted top mountain athletes from across the country and showcased the largest ski brands.

“Under Chase, we’re getting someone with experience in marketing and sales, but also the connection and history with Romp,” Purvis said. “Now we’re working to develop a new strategy to grow the company strong, instead of fat. We’d like to reach small, independent shops throughout the West that reflect our, ‘ski-bum, do what you love,’ vision.”

Alongside the desire to expand out of the Gunnison Valley, Gardaphe is seeking opportunities to stay rooted in Crested Butte. Romp is now featuring local artists on the topsheets of skis. The company also plans to work with Western engineering students to experiment with new materials and designs.

A retail shop is also scheduled to open next to the factory on Belleview Avenue.

“We’ve already been able to show how far this company has grown, operating out of a local factory with local employees,” Gardaphe said. “As long as we’re able to improve our product, and put out the best that we’re capable of, we’ll turn some heads. If it can be skied in Crested Butte, it can be skied anywhere.”

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

Ski builders work in the backroom on a Friday afternoon.

Inside the workshop on Belleview Avenue, Purvis slides an ash and aspen-blend wood core from the rack.

A limited edition Romp snowboard sits in the workshop corner. The company has teased releasing a limited line of boards this summer.

Purvis lays out a topsheet design, featuring art from Gunnison artist Sophia Mace.

Children’s theater

Firebird Theater Company presents a locally-written adaptation of “Peter Pan” for all ages at Queen of All Saints’ Parish Hall, 403 Sopris Avenue in Crested Butte, on March 9 and 10 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $5 for kids, $10 for adults and may be purchased in advance at firebirdcb.com/ peter-pan.

‘All in the Timing’

Firebird Theater Company presents David Ives’ “All in the Timing”, a comedic play, at the Public House in Crested Butte on March 8, the Almont Resort on March 9 and 15, and Queen of All Saints’ Parish Hall on March 16. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. for all performances. Tickets are $15 for seniors, students and military with a valid ID or $20 per person at the door. Find more information and advance tickets at firebirdcb.com/timing.

Democratic caucus

The Gunnison County Democratic Party caucuses and assembly will be held on March 9. Precincts 3, 4 and 5 meet at Queen of All Saints Parish Hall, 401 Sopris Avenue, Crested Butte at 9:30 a.m. Precincts 1, 2 and 6-15 meet at the Gunnison Public Library, 1 Quartz Street, Gunnison at 11 a.m. Registration begins 30 minutes prior to the caucuses. Visit gunnisondemocrats.org for more information.

Republican caucus

The Gunnison County Republican caucus and assembly is March 9 at the Fred Field Center. Check-in is at 8:30 a.m. There will be a silent auction and food provided. Only registered Republicans in Gunnison County can attend. You must be registered or update registration by Feb. 16. People may attend via Zoom. For more information, contact Cori Dobson, chairperson for the Gunnison County Republican Central Committee, at 719.209.8158 or Cdobson13@ protonmail.com.

League of Women Voters meeting

The League of Women Voters of the Gunnison Valley will meet on March 12 at the Gunnison Library. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. and the program begins at noon. Barbara Garlock of the LWV Washington D.C. chapter will speak about the Quilts 4 D.C. project and there will be a Colorado legislative update from the LWVGV task force. This meeting is open to the public. For more information, visit lwvgunnison.org.

Conservation District meeting

The Gunnison Conservation District’s annual meeting will be held on March 19 from 6-8 p.m. at the Fred Field Center in Gunnison. Enjoy guest speakers, updates and dinner by Garlic Mike's for $15 a plate. RSVP at gunnisoncd2006@gmail.com.

GUNNISON ARTS CENTER BRIEFS

Firebrand soup workshop

Learn how to make veganfriendly Savannah Bisque, a Firebrand favorite, with Heidi Magnus on March 9 from 3-5 p.m. at the Gunnison Arts Center. The cost is $85 and includes plenty of soup to take home. Find more information at gunnisonartscenter.org.

Teen clay Tuesdays

Learn the art of clay through hand-building and wheel throwing in this self-guided class for ages 12-18 at the GAC on Tuesdays from March 19-April 9. Register online at gunnisonartscenter.org.

Wine in the limelight

Buckel Family Wine welcomed theater-enthusiasts for dinner and a show on March 2 in support of this summer’s Gunnison Valley Theater Festival season. As the audience dined on ramen and sipped wine, theater festival co-founders and artistic directors Heather and Steve Hughes performed readings of their short original plays.

ATTENTION

COUNTY ROAD 38/ GOLD BASIN USERS

Effective March 15, 2024 County Road 38 (Gold Basin Road) will be closed at the gate just past the shooting range to protect the road from resource damage. Property owners beyond the gate will be given access upon proof of ownership. There will also be a ten (10) ton weight limit during this closure.

The closure will be lifted when conditions allow on May 15, 2024.

Please contact:

Gunnison County Public Works Department at 970-641-0044 with any questions.

ATTENTION

COUNTY ROAD 734/SLATE RIVER USERS

Effective March 5, 2024 County Road 734 (Slate River Road) will be under a 15-ton weight restriction from the intersection of CR 734 and CR 317 (Gothic Road) to the end of winter maintenance at the CR 734 trailhead, to protect the road from resource damage. The weight restriction will be lifted when conditions allow.

Please contact:

Gunnison County Public Works Department at 970-641-0044 with any questions.

Ongoing Senior Services

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!! Are you someone who likes to make others smile? Who likes to feed others?? Then you might be interested in volunteering for the Senior Meals program!! Meal delivery and in-person meal hosts needed! We deliver about 120 meals per week to seniors, and serve more at the Senior Center – sign up to make someone smile & get a great meal! Days for volunteering: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays mid-day. Mileage reimbursement program available for volunteers age 55 & up. Contact: egillis@gunnisonco.gov or 970-641-8272.

Delivery Assistance Hotline: (970) 641-7959 - assistance with ordering, pick-up and delivery of groceries and prescription medications. This includes deliveries from the Food Bank.

SENIOR CENTER PROGRAMS

• March 20 (12:45pm): WORKSHOP – Avoiding Cons & Scams. Presented by Gunnison Police and Gunnison County Law Enforcement Victim Advocates. Learn how to keep yourself, your friends and family member safer by knowing more about common scams, frauds and cons happening in our community. And about the services provided by the Victim Advocate. RSVP requested for planning purposes.

Senior Meals: (970) 641-8272 for advance orders OR (970) 641-2107 for same-day service. Pick-up or delivery only! Meals served Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays. Please note: all meals, all days are $4 during this time. Order in advance if possible! Upcoming menu:

• March 27: Lasagna, green beans, salad, garlic bread, dessert

• Want to smile a lot, maybe giggle a little and meet some new folks? Come to one of our regular activities – Canasta, Mahjong, Book Club, Art Club or Bridge. (see below for times)

• March 30: Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, corn, rolls, fruit, dessert

• April 1: Stew, carrot/raisin salad, Mandarin oranges, rolls, dessert

Regular Activities: Mondays – Bridge @ 1 pm; Tuesdays – Canasta @ 1pm; Wednesdays –Book Club @ 1 pm on 1st Weds. of month; Thursdays – Bridge @ 1 pm; Fridays – Art Club @ 12:30 pm & Mahjong @ 1 pm

Senior Shopping Hours:

All RSVPs and more info on Senior Center programs: egillis@gunnisonco.gov or 970-6418272.

• City Market – Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays (7AM – 8AM)

FITNESS @ THE REC CENTER – Sign up at the Rec Center front desk!

• Safeway – Tuesdays & Thursdays (7AM – 9AM)

Mondays & Wednesdays in the Gym

- Silver Sneakers Boom Muscle @ 9:30am

• Walmart – Tuesdays (6AM – 7AM)

- Silver Sneakers Classic @ 10:15am

• Gunnison Vitamin & Health Food Store – Monday - Saturday (8AM – 9AM)

Tuesdays @ 10AM in the Leisure Pool

• Clark’s Market (Crested Butte) – Every day (8AM – 9AM)

-Silver Sneakers Splash Class (all levels)

SENIOR MEALS

Self-reporting Form: www gunnisoncounty org /covid19

Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays @ 11:30 am. $5 per meal. Advanced orders appreciate (24 hours). Pick-ups between 11 – 11:15 am (advanced orders only).

If you have symptoms but are otherwise OK, please fill out the form

ORDER MEALS: 970-641-8272

If you cannot fill out the form, call the Call Center (970) 641-7660

Menu: (all meals come with dessert!)

• Mon., March 11: Pork Roast, roasted fingerling potatoes, salad, veggies, homemade rolls

• Weds., March 13: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, veggies, fruit, homemade bread

• Fri., March 15: Baked Fish, rice, peas, muffins, cottage cheese

Call Center: (970) 641-7660 If you are having symptoms, cannot fill out the online form, or your symptoms are worsening, call the Call Center DO NOT go to your doctor ’s or the hospital If it is an emergency, call 911

Walk-in & 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) or call the Senior Center 970-641-8272.

Please practice social isolation Remain 6 feet or more from others when needing to be out, but staying at home if at all possible

The Gunnison Senior Center & Community Recreation Center is closed until April 30th

(Photo by Mariel Wiley)

Titans fall short in playoffs

Pair of Dietrich goals unable to inspire comeback

Alex McCrindle Times Sports Editor

The Crested Butte Titans hockey team was dealt a heartbreaking, 5-3 defeat against Liberty High School in the first round of the playoffs on Feb. 27.

The loss eliminated the Titans from the postseason, thus concluding its winter season.

In the tightly contested away game, Crested Butte held a brief advantage in the second period, but a flying Lancers attack sealed the game in the third.

The Titans finished the season with a 9-9-1 overall record, and 5-6 in the 4A Mountain League.

“It was a one-goal game and Hockey B6

Cowboys go down fighting

Girls basketball eliminated from playoffs by elite opponent

Alex McCrindle Times Sports Editor

For the second year in a row, the GHS girls basketball team qualified for the regional tournament, but fell to powerhouse Colorado Springs Christian in the first round. Despite battling through a difficult schedule all winter, the Cowboys faced their toughest opponents yet on March 1 — the undefeated Lions. After four hardfought quarters, the Cowboys fell 69-20, and were eliminated from the playoffs.

“Playing at regionals reminded us how much we want to

reach that level again,” said junior leader Kylee McDougal. “We understand where we need to grow next year, and can hopefully return to the tournament.”

Heading into the 202324 season without a single senior player on the roster, the Cowboys planned for a rebuilding year. Juniors McDougal, Sienna Gomez and Eden Williams were at the forefront, taking leadership roles and building team chemistry. The Cowboys squeaked into the regional tournament. However, GHS faced a team that had regularly beaten opponents by 80 points or more.

“This was a young team, so just the opportunity to play on that big stage was a huge step and a big learning curve,” said Head Coach Chad Terry. “It was a great day, and a good game.”

Against Colorado Springs, the

Cowboys wanted to control the basketball, slow the game down and limit scoring chances. Terry said his goal was for the girls to enjoy the experience, and grow from facing a top opponent.

The Lions quickly racked up a lead on the Cowboys. However, GHS fought hard and limited the Lion offense. The contest ended 69-20, marking the end of the Cowboys’ winter season.

“We went into the game with a ‘nothing-to-lose’ mindset, playing to have fun and grow a lot from the experience,” said junior captain Sienna Gomez.

Now with a full season of leadership experience under their belt, the junior core will work throughout the offseason, preparing for another playoff charge next year.

“We can be as good as the time we put in this offseason,” Terry said. “I am so proud of these girls for battling through

a tough schedule and playing hard all season long.”

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

Senior captain Grady Dietrich looks for a pass at a home game last month. (Photos by Mariel Wiley)

The Cowboys huddle together after a game in early February. (Photo by Mariel Wiley)

Mountaineer wrestling crowns regional champions

Five grapplers qualify for NCAA championships

Gregg Petcoff

Special to the Times

Mountaineer wrestling crowned two regional champions and advanced five wrestlers to the national tournament after a strong showing on March 2 at the NCAA Division II Super Region VI Championship.

Ryan Wilson and Cole Hernandez won titles at the regional event. Patrick Allis, Dean Noble and Cole Gray will join the pair at the NCAA D-II national tournament.

Noble, Wilson, Hernandez and Gray each punched their ticket earlier in the day by qualifying for the championship bouts in their respective weight classes. The top three places in the regional earn automatic berths into nationals.

Allis — a three-time, AllAmerican — took a tougher route after losing in the semifinal round. He worked his way back into contention for the third-place bid, and won a rematch in his first wrestle-back match. His 1-0 decision and third-place finish gave Western its fifth national qualifier.

Wilson earned Western’s first regional champion on the day. He rallied from a late deficit for an eventual 5-4 decision in the championship match at 157-pounds.

Colorado State Pueblo's Cyruss Meeks scored an early third period escape to tie the match at 1-1. He then registered a takedown on Wilson with one minute remaining to jump ahead 4-1. Wilson picked up a point on an escape six seconds later. He then earned the match's clinching points with a takedown of Meeks with just 36 seconds left on the clock.

In similar fashion, Hernandez — ranked No. 2 in the nation at 174 pounds and a 2023 AllAmerican — also had to rally in the final moments of the third

period of his championship match.

Nebraska-Kearney's Trenton Munoz had the choice and selected the down position to start the third period. It didn't take long for him to earn an escape to put both he and Hernandez on their feet.

With 61 seconds left, Munoz registered a takedown to move in front, 5-4. But Hernandez threw a reversal for two points and accumulated enough riding time in the match for one more point in a 7-5 victory.

Noble entered the regional as the No. 2 seed at 149. He pinned his first opponent before earning two decisions in his next two bouts to find his way into the championship match against the top seed, Cody Thompson of Colorado School of Mines

Thompson took the lead from the start with a 9-2 advantage after the first period. He finished off the match with a 19-4 major decision, but had already earned a spot at nationals.

Gray worked through his first two bouts in the 184 bracket with 7-2 and 9-1 decisions, but lived on the edge in his low-scoring semifinal bout against Colorado Mesa's Jason Bynarowicz.

After a scoreless first, Bynarowicz picked up the first point with an escape early in the second — the only point in the period. Bynarowicz managed a late escape, but did not have enough time to rally back. This enabled Gray to win the 3-2 decision and move on to the championship match against the bracket's top seed.

WESTERN SPORTS BRIEFS

Track heads to indoor championships

The Mountaineer track and field team will travel to Pittsburg, Kansas, on March 8 and 9 for the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships. Western will be represented by Simon Kelati in the 3000- and 5000-meter runs. Tyler Nord will also run in the 3000-meter. Leah Taylor will take the track in the mile and the 3000 and will be joined by Peyton Weiss in the mile. Western will also be represented in the women’s and men’s distance medley relays.

Men’s basketball wraps season with loss

The men’s basketball team finished its season with a record of 11-17 overall, and 8-14 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. On Thursday, Feb. 29, the Mountaineers registered an 80-79 win over host Westminster University. Kade Juelfs hit the game-winning shot with 11 seconds left on the clock. The Mountaineers finished their season in Grand Junction, falling to No. 7 Colorado Mesa, 74-55.

Nebraska-Kearney's Billy Higgins scored an early takedown of Gray to start that match and would go on to claim the title with a 7-4 decision. Both he and Gray will be making the trip to the national event.

Walker Heckendorf, competing in the 165-pound division, came agonizingly close to a bid to nationals. He pinned his first opponent, and then scored a 9-4 decision in his second match to advance into the semifinal round. He and San Francisco State's Kyle Botelho were tied at 1-1 with the clock counting down in the third when Botelho scored a deciding takedown for the win.

Heckendorf dropped into the left side of the bracket to try to mirror Allis' feat, but he was unable to follow the same path. He finished the tournament in sixth place.

Nebraska-Kearney took the team title with 143.5 points, and Western finished in fourth place with 90 points.

(Gregg Petcoff is the assistant athletics director for communications at Western Colorado University and can be reached at gpetcoff@western.edu.)

Women’s basketball splits final games

The Mountaineers women’s basketball program concluded its schedule, splitting its final road trip of the season. The team started Thursday, Feb. 29 with a 72-60 win over Westminster. During the game, Ivey Scmidt scored a career-high 28 points. Western wrapped up its season with a 70-57 loss to the regular season RMAC co-champions at Colorado Mesa.

(Courtesy Western Colorado University)

it came down to the very end,” said Head Coach Joey Otsuka.

“This was two well-disciplined teams playing each other, and it's a shame we came out on the wrong end of the stick.”

Heading into the matchup, the Titans were prepared for a scrappy contest. The Lancers had already beaten Crested Butte 6-2 in their first meeting in early February. But after

We played well as a team, and never gave up. I couldn’t have asked for a better senior season.

Grady Dietrich Senior captain

returning to full health, the Titans filled with confidence.

Tuesday’s bout opened like a heavyweight boxing match. Both sides spent the first five minutes probing the attacking zones. Titan goaltender Ryder Church made two crucial saves in the opening minutes, sending Grady Dietrich sprinting out on counter attacks. But the Lancers silenced the traveling

fans, and scored the first goal in five minutes — taking a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

The Titans continued their season-long trend of electric second periods. Early in the period, Vojta Jirka centered the puck from the left wing. He found senior Rhodes Moffat who took a snap shot at the goalie, and Dietrich slotted home the rebound, tying the contest 1-1.

“Even though they got a goal in the first, we were still buzzing in the locker room at the break,” said senior captain Dominick Cerio. “We are the kind of team to bounce back after conceding goals, and held it together in the second.”

Less than four minutes later, the hungry Crested Butte attack found the back of the net again. Ethan Suazo pinged a pass across the ice to Dietrich, who fired a shot on target. Junior Carson Zummach polished off the play, taking a 2-1 lead. The Lancers quenched the comeback, and equalized 2-2 just minutes before the second intermission.

Liberty kept its foot firmly on the pedal after the final break. The Lancers took a 3-2 lead at the start of the third period, doubling its lead seven minutes later. With four minutes remaining, Dietrich scored his final goal as a Titan, leading his side back into the contest, 4-3. The Lancers again found the net, sealing the victory in the final minutes with a 5-3 win.

“We had nothing to be upset about,” Dietrich said. “We played well as a team, and never

gave up. I couldn’t have asked for a better senior season. It was easy to lead this group, and I’m hoping to leave behind ambition and drive for these younger guys.”

For a team that was considered to be in a “rebuilding year” at the start of the season, the Titans turned heads all year long. Otsuka, who returned to

Rising stars compete on the court

the program this season, will now train an exciting group of juniors to take the program deeper into the playoffs next season.

“We had one of the strongest leadership cores I’ve ever coached,” Otsuka said. “We’ll have a strong team next year.”

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

The Gunnison Rec Center hosted a fifth and sixth grade, round-robin style basketball tournament on Saturday, March 2. After a morning of intense competition, Team 1 took home the first-place medal in the championship game.

(Courtesy Wendy Buckhanan)

Freshman forward Ethan Suazo prepares for the face-off

South 9th Street Studios hosts second quarterly show

‘At Night'

by Karolina Szumilas

opens March 8

Bella Biondini Times Editor

Gunnison-based oil painter Karolina Szumilas uses color to bend her sense of place, creating almost otherworldly images in her new series “At Night.”

In the piece “Midnight,” moonlight scatters on the rocks below in flecks of gold and soft rose. It is also caught in the leaves of the tree, which appear to glow like the horizon. To any local, it’s obvious the painting is a depiction of a late night scene from Hartman Rocks. But Szumilas’ color choice forces the viewer to look at the familiar landscape through a fantastical lens — a consistent theme throughout her third solo show.

“At Night” will open on Friday, March 8 at South 9th Street Studios. An artist talk is scheduled for April 5. The show is part of local artist Paige Stewart’s “Quarterly Art Openings for Female Artists.” The first showcased fiber artist Allison Sinkewich and her series of cross-stitch stills from “2001, A Space Odyssey.”

“I love them because they’re varied in their color, depth and movement,” Stewart said. “For me, they’re very moody, but not necessarily dark.”

Szumilas moved to the suburbs of Chicago 12 years ago from a small town in southern Poland called Żabno. She didn’t know any English at the time and instead learned how to use art as her language. As a sophomore in high school she started experimenting with oil painting. She hasn’t stopped since.

“I have so much to learn in painting, and such a long way to

go,” she said.

Szumilas began painting dreamlike memories from her childhood in response to her family’s sudden move to the United States. In Chicago, everything was different. The high school she attended was the size of the town she grew up in, and she was overwhelmed by new people and places.

“I was plopped into a whole new world,” she said. “I used paintings to take myself back to where I came from.”

Szumilas relocated to the Gunnison Valley in 2019 and previously worked at the Gunnison Arts Center. Many of her recent paintings are almost fabulist in style, and based on her natural surroundings. From farmland to forests, Szumilas uses pattern and light to her advantage as her style evolves.

To create the “At Night” series, Szumilas tried a different approach to oil painting than she was accustomed to. Many of the scenes in her show are based on landscapes around the valley. While inspired by the plein-air technique, in which artists often start and finish their paintings outdoors, the method didn’t work for her.

Instead, she sketches with ink on site, capturing a loose composition with lines and shading. At home she adds layers of oil, building on the structure she created outdoors.

Her compositions are powerful, and move the eye around the canvas with strokes of light and dark. Although Szumilas uses reference photos when she returns to her studio, here she no longer feels limited by the everyday colors she sees outside.

“It's been fun to be bold with the decisions … I don't have to worry that ‘Oh, but the sky was dark blue at the time.’ I don't care,” she said. “You're separated from that space and it's much easier to not be so precise and feel like I have to recreate it the way I see it.”

“At Night” will open at The Calm and The Current gallery at 723 S. 9th Street Suite 2 from 5-8 p.m. and will run until April 26.

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

BLM HAS CLOSED SEVERAL GATES IN THE GUNNISON BASIN TO PREVENT ROAD DAMAGE

15-May

Gunnison County, Gunnison Ranger

and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The

will reopen on May 15.

For specific information on closures on BLM lands, contact the Gunnison Field Office at (970) 642-4940.

The BLM Gunnison Field Office is closing gates on BLM roads in the Gunnison Basin as part of the annual closure from March

15 to protect Gunnison sage-grouse during their mating and nesting season. The closures are in coordination with

District,

gates

Karolina Szumilas sits at South 9th Street Studios in The Calm and The Current gallery. (Photo by Bella Biondini)

“Midnight” by Karolina Szumilas.

At Gunnison Valley Health we provide the care you need to stay active and keep doing the things you love!

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We offer a diverse range of cutting-edge services to keep you active and well.

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