Gunnison Country Times, June 13, 2024

Gunnison River water levels

highest since 2019

Oh Be Joyful race canceled following accident and safety concerns

Bella Biondini Times Editor

Fueled by warm temperatures, snowmelt from the high country had been flooding into rivers, pushing water levels to the highest seen in years.

River closures in Gunnison and Crested Butte will likely remain in place through at least Friday due to dangerous conditions on the water, according to Gunnison County Sheriff Adam Murdie. In the North Valley, the Slate River is closed from Pittsburgh to the confluence with the East River, and from the

NEWS: Wickenhauser sentenced to four years in community corrections, A8

COMMUNITY: Wilderness ‘Wunderkinder,’ B1

SPORTS: Born to pickle at CharMar, B6

A2

A4

A14-A17 SPORTS B6

Bridge on schedule for limited opening by Fourth of July

CDOT crews to move to Lake Fork Bridge

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

Prefabricated steel has arrived on site at the Hwy. 50 middle bridge, and Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) contractors are set to start bolting it to the bottom of the bridge this week. This keeps the repairs on track for a limited opening on the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

The middle bridge closed on April 18, after CDOT inspectors discovered a crack in the steel.

Seven weeks later, repairs are now underway with the goal of a full reopening by the end of October. The state’s contractor Kiewit is set to start inspecting the Lake Fork Bridge, just a few miles west and made of the same type of fracture critical “T-1” steel, in coming weeks. CDOT officials plan to ask the Transportation Commission of Colorado for another $10 million this month, on top of $20 million already approved for ongoing repairs.

On the Fourth of July holiday weekend, the bridge will begin opening once in the morning and once in the evening — with weight restrictions — for passenger and emergency vehicles, said CDOT Region 3 Director

Men’s group seeks to step in before ‘breaking point’

Brothers Helping Brothers kicks off with dinner at the Dive

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

In the last six months, as many Gunnison County residents have died by suicide as in all of 2023. In an effort to reach those who are struggling before the breaking point, a group of locals has come together to create a space for young men to talk and connect.

The group, “Brothers Helping Brothers” offers a space for

the Gunnison Valley’s young men to gather for fishing, hiking, rafting, pool or darts. Throughout the summer, they’ll also gather once a month on Mondays for “Dude talk dinners” at the Dive. Mental health nonprofit CB State of Mind is overseeing the program, with support from Gunnison local Chris Peterson, the Hillbilly Jokers Motor Club and Gunnison County Juvenile Services.

“If you're not able to express yourself in a healthy way, it comes out like aggression, instead of compassion,” said Brothers’ board member Corby Hudson. “That's the real fight, within yourself. There's not too many things in this world that support that, that allow you to

SUMMER ARRIVES: While snow still lingers at high elevations in the West Elk Wilderness, the melt is in full swing. Water is rushing from the mountains into rivers and creeks, creating waterfalls and fueling the first wildflower blooms of the season.

(Photo by Bella Biondini)

“Every day I wake up with a sense of gratitude that I’ve never felt before, not only for my rescuers, but for a second chance of life. It’s surreal.”

— Cole Brunner, kayaker

See story on A1

Dave

appointed to MetRec board

The Gunnison County Metropolitan Recreation District (MetRec) appointed Dave Wiens to fill the vacancy left by board president Loren Ahonen. Wiens was the only person to submit a letter of interest. His term will expire in May 2025, and he will then face election.

Tri-State purchases two Colo. solar projects

On June 4, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association announced that it had purchased two solar projects on the Western Slope. Tri-State supplies power to the Gunnison County Electric Association.

These are Tri-State’s first two renewable energy facilities under the “direct-pay provisions” of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA allowed nonprofit electric cooperatives to receive direct payment of federal renewable energy tax credits, empowering cooperatives to invest directly in the ownership of renewable resources. Before the passage of the IRA, electric cooperatives could not directly benefit from the tax incentives available to for-profit utilities and independent power producers.

The projects are Axial Basin Solar, a 145-megawatt (MW) project in Moffat County, and Dolores Canyon Solar, a 110‐MW project in Dolores County. Both solar projects are scheduled to begin delivering power to Tri-State’s members in late 2025, when members will reach 50% renewable energy use.

Correction

The story titled "GHS teacher arrested for sexual assault " that ran in the June 6 edition of the Times stated that Thomas Kattnig is currently on paid administrative leave. The Times would like to clarify that the district placed Kattnig on leave on Jan. 29, the same day it received a student report of possible inappropriate behavior from Kattnig toward a student.

Kelli Elaine Lightfoot was born on May 25, 1984 in Oceanside, California and grew up in New England. As a child, she lived on a small family farm in rural Massachusetts, where she fostered a love for animals, nature and creativity. Some of her favorite memories were of helping her mom raise their sheep, lambs and goats. In high school, her love for the arts was ignited with help from a very special art teacher. She studied art education at Johnson State College in Vermont and graduated with a B.S. in environmental science and natural resources. Her love for the outdoors led her to the Gunnison Valley. In the spirit of pursuing hands-on work with animals, Kelli began working at Oh Be Dogful Pet Ranch in Crested Butte. She established FoxHare Cards and Portraits in 2016 to bring her two great passions together by creating custom pet portraits. Kelli painted hundreds of commissioned pet portraits and many different works of art. A staple at the Crested Butte Farmers Market, Kelli’s artwork and delicious homemade Daisy Pass Pasta were powerful testaments to her entrepreneurial talents.

Kelli fulfilled a great love in this life when she became a mother. She was an incredible mom to two children, Cecelia and Virgill. They shared countless adventures in the great outdoors of the Gunnison Valley and always had a house full of pets, pasta, art and love.

Kelli’s life was cut short by a rare brain cancer diagnosed

audrie Townsend Broker/Owner (970) 209-6208

last fall. She died on November 19, 2023. Her spirit and passion were contagious, and live on through her friends, family and children.

In addition to Cecelia and Virgill, Kelli is survived by her father Deke, brothers, Will, Austin and Stephen, sisters, Ally and Diana, niece, Emma, nephew, Tom, pups, Arti and Pablo and her partner, Jeff. She was preceded in death by her mother, Debby and stepmother, Cathy.

Please join us for a celebration of Kelli’s life on June 30 at the I Bar Ranch. Gates open at 4 p.m. and we’ll gather around the bonfire at 5:30 p.m. to share memories. In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider a donation to Gunnison Tough (Tough Enough To Wear Pink), Living Journeys, Gunnison Hospice and Oh Be Dogful Rescue and Sanctuary. Each of these organizations provided crucial support during Kelli’s illness.

We love and miss you, Kelli. Enjoy your adventures with Bari and Rhino.

Joe Waggoner was born in Belton, Texas on Oct. 27, 1941. He was the youngest of three sons born to Allen Fain Waggoner and Princess (Boyd) Waggoner. Joe passed away in his home in Gunnison on Jan. 4, 2024. The family moved to Temple, Texas when Joe was in grade school, where his father and mother were an administrator and teacher in the local schools.

After high school, Joe joined the army reserves and went

to college to prepare to enter the highway patrol academy in Austin, Texas. After graduating from the academy, he moved to Hereford, Texas, where his first patrol partner was Ed Richards. They have been best friends ever since. After Hereford, the highway patrol moved him to Houston, Texas.

Joe was on the force from 1965-71. After that, he became one of the pioneers of the newly-formed Texas food stamp fraud program. He served as an investigator for that program from 1975-87 and was best known for his honesty and thorough work. While in the food stamp program, he became friends with Lonzo Kerr, whose family became life-long friends with the Waggoners.

Joe then studied to be licensed as a private investigator. His first job was for a law firm in Austin. He then moved to Dallas, Texas to be an investigator in his brother, Boyd Waggoner’s law office from 1989 to 2000. After that, Joe and Boyd moved to Stephenville, Texas. They had a law firm there and also ran Boyd’s cattle ranch together. Joe was the primary cook at the ranch for parties, fishing tournaments and hunting.

Joe loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting and trapping, and was a great camp cook and outdoor photographer. In 2006, he retired to Gunnison, where he was a professional outdoor photographer. Joe is well-loved by his family, who are proud of his hard work in life and as a father, brother, uncle and friend. He will be greatly missed.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Boyd (1936-2023) and Hal Fain (1934-2022). He is survived by his daughters, Kimberley Lynn Waggoner of Texas and Jody Princess Bowlds (Robert) of Gunnison. A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on June 22 at Community Church, 107 N. Iowa in Gunnison. A reception will follow in Webster Hall, adjacent to the church.

Lynn M. Mangum, 75, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away on May 21 at Abrazo Arizona Hospital in Phoenix after complications from heart surgery.

Lynn was born on November 10, 1948 in Bryan, Texas and was later raised in Pueblo, Colorado with his brothers. The family subsequently located to Gunnison, where he graduated from Gunnison High School in 1967. He excelled in wrestling and sports and was also a talented singer who sang for weddings and funerals. He served on the Crested Butte Ski Patrol for a short period of time as well.

He also had a natural gift of rhythm and dancing to accompany his singing. He was especially good at impersonations of famous politicians and celebrities. One of his favorites was Flip Wilson and his impersonation of “Geraldine” from Flip’s TV show. It was hilarious! Without fail, every hunting season, he was with his dad and his brother, Flynn, hunting elk and deer in the Gunnison Country. They also went fishing on Blue Mesa whenever Mac would get the boat out in the spring and summer.

The Mangum three, Mac, Lynn and Flynn, worked together, forming M & M Glass, the family commercial and auto glass company. Over the years, Lynn also worked for Miller Furniture in Gunnison, doing floor covering installation. He later opened his own flooring business. When an offer came from a friend in California to join a construction boom

Wiens

Kelli Elaine Lightfoot

Joe Prince Waggoner

Lynn M. Mangum

there, Lynn and the family left Gunnison in 1986.

As the years flew by, Lynn worked for numerous construction companies and even some auto glass companies along the way. However, his heart was forever in the Colorado Rockies and eventually he returned there after the kids were grown. He eventually settled a few years later with daughter, Christy, and her husband, Eric, when they moved to Phoenix, where he thrived in the warmer desert weather.

Lynn found an independent living center complex in Phoenix which he liked and had many friends. He lived there for approximately the past 10 years. Lynn and his girls enjoyed many sightseeing road trips together, visiting relatives and friends along the way. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren and they all cherished their time together.

Cremation has already taken place. A celebration of life is planned at the Kivel

BIRTHS

Anna Mae Fowler

Anna Mae Fowler was born to Candi and Jeremy Fowler of Gunnison on May 13, 2024. She weighed 7 lb., 9.1 oz. and measured 21 in. long at birth. She is welcomed by her grandparents, Harry and Sharon Lind of Gunnison and Carolyn Payton of Buena Vista, Colorado and her siblings, Jimmy (3), Blake (20) and Jessica (23).

Cedar Meier

Cedar Meier was born to Morgan Fields and Clay Meier of Crested Butte on May 8, 2024

Independent Living Center, where he lived, in Phoenix on June 19. Lynn also enjoyed volunteering to drive residents of the facility who needed transportation to their respective appointments throughout the day in his private vehicle. He was a popular guy and always busy!

Lynn is survived by his children, daughters, Lyndee Dean (Rick) of Simi Valley, California, Christy Gruber (Eric) of Phoenix, former wife, Dianne Mangum Kahl of Simi Valley, brother and sister-in-law, Bryan and Loretta Mangum of Everson, Washington, sisterin-law, Roberta Mangum of Powderhorn, Colorado, granddaughter, Caleigh Gizis (Charles Rodriguez) of Simi Valley, grandson, Trevor (Alexis) Pagano of Fresno, California, grandson, Noah Dean (Allyson Herndon) of Placerville, California, great-granddaughter, Kadence Gizis of Simi Valley, and many other beloved nieces and nephews.

Lynn is preceded in death by

at 8:20 p.m. He weighed 7 lb., 3 oz. and measured 20 in. long at birth. He is welcomed by his grandparents, Nancy GruberMeier and Skip Meier of Crested Butte, great-grandparents, Melanie and Doug Fields of Taylors Island, Maryland and his big brother, Liam, who is three years old.

Taiyo William Kamikura

Taiyo William Kamikura was born to Susan and Motoki Kamikura of Gunnison on May 25, 2024 at 4:33 p.m. He weighed 6 lb., 1 oz. and measured 18.5 in. long at birth. He is welcomed by his grandparents, David and Terri Williams

his parents, LaVar L.J. Mac and Esther R. Mangum and his twin brother, Flynn.

An additional celebration of life is planned for a date later in June at the Antioch Church in Simi Valley at 4555 Runway Street. Call the family for more details at 805-791-4985. All are welcome to attend. Donations may be made in Lynn’s name to the American Heart Association.

Lynn was a man of great faith in the Lord and never missed a chance to give his testimony to anyone who would listen to him. He loved to talk about Jesus!

of Macomb, Oklahoma and Kunihiro and Ikuyo Kamikura of Machida, Japan.

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Committed to a culture of trust

Last week’s article “GHS teacher arrested for sexual assault” reports on an important and difficult matter for our entire community, and continues a courageous line of reporting undertaken by the Times about sexual assault. I have expressed to reporter Abby Harrison, editor Bella Biondini, and publisher Alan Wartes that I applaud their shining a light on a matter that can be hard to talk about. I hope their articles bringing sexual misconduct into the open will lead to greater understanding of and abilities to talk about these issues, and as a result, create a safer community for all.

In reporting the arrest of one of our teachers, however, the Times unfairly suggested that the district did nothing when concerns were raised about staff behavior. In fact, the district does act when concerns are raised. As noted and corrected in today’s Times edition, last week’s article omitted the critical fact that immediately upon learning on Jan. 29, 2024 of a student concern of inappropriate behavior by a teacher, the district made a mandatory report to law enforcement and placed the teacher on adminis-

LETTERS

2024

LETTERS POLICY

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

We will not print letters from candidates for public office.

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

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

trative leave that same day. When a student tells us they feel uncomfortable around a staff member, or makes any other complaint, we take action. We are far more than “curious,” which is the unfortunate impression I gave in a quote in last week’s article. Our process includes the following:

The staff person has an initial conversation with the student to hear their story.

If this information triggers a mandatory report, we make that report immediately. We then cooperate with all investigations undertaken by law enforcement or child welfare.

If this information suggests an ongoing safety concern, steps are taken to protect students and staff, possibly including placing a staff person on administrative leave.

We investigate further, including conversations with other students or staff involved. We seek a preponderance of evidence in clarifying what happened.

We decide what actions to take in response to what we have learned. We take action, which can include:

• Dismissal of the staff person;

• A change of duties for the staff person that prevents the complaint from occurring again;

• A formal letter of direction or reprimand to the staff person;

• An improvement plan for the staff person which could include a training program, education about particular concepts, regular meetings with their supervisor for coaching,

Bound by stronger ties than editorial suggests

Editor: Alan, your recent editorial titled "Shall we choose war?" presents a dramatic perspective that I must respectfully challenge. While I have endeavored to give you the benefit of the doubt regarding your commentaries, which often lean significantly to the right, I can no longer remain silent. Suggesting that our nation is on the brink of war or armed conflict due to political disagreements is not only alarmist, but also a disservice to the leadership role you occupy in our community.

Your skepticism toward the judicial process appears to stem from a disagreement with the conviction of former President Trump. However, casting aspersions on the integrity of our legal system without substantial evidence is problematic. It is one thing to be an observer and commentator; it is another to masquerade as an impartial voice while disseminating a biased narrative.

or other measures to support growth, improvement, and lasting behavior change from the staff person;

• A conversation with the staff person redirecting their behavior;

• A facilitated, restorative conversation between the staff person and the student, only if the matter is appropriate for this and if all involved are ready and willing to have such a conversation.

We follow up with the student to explain what has happened with their complaint and a request that the student report any further concerns.

I’d like to reiterate: when any staff member of Gunnison Watershed School District (GWSD) learns of possible abuse or neglect of a student, we report to local law enforcement, local child welfare, or by calling 844-CO-4-Kids, the statewide child welfare hotline. Every employee of GWSD, every year, completes mandatory reporter training from the Child Welfare Division of the Colorado Department of Human Services. We take our role as mandatory reporters seriously. We take action to keep students safe.

A challenging element in all of this is that we work with children, and protecting their privacy is paramount to our work. This means that when a complaint is received, investigated, and acted upon, we are not able to report publicly the results of that process. This can lead to a perception that “nothing was done” when in fact, something is always done.

We also, like all organiza -

The community of Gunnison, Colorado, along with much of the United States, is bound by stronger ties than your editorial suggests. We are a society that values dialogue and understanding over conflict and division. The implication that we would resort to war because our beliefs are challenged underestimates the resilience and unity of our people.

I urge you to reconsider the language and implications of your commentary. Sensational titles may attract attention, but they do not contribute to the thoughtful and nuanced conversation we need. We are all navigating a complex and rapidly changing world, grappling with issues that are deeply human and often spiritual in nature.

Let us focus on fostering a community that prioritizes constructive debate and mutual respect, rather than one that sensationalizes our differences.

Eric Jepsen Gunnison

tions, have an obligation to protect the privacy of our employees. We value our employees and treat our staff fairly and according to laws and policies protecting personnel matters. For this reason as well, we cannot report publicly the results of a complaint process.

At the same time, the district seeks to be as transparent as possible in everything it does as that is critical to building trust and confidence in our schools.

Balancing the two responsibilities of protecting privacy and providing transparency is a tremendous and ongoing challenge.

While most people will not know the details of the results of a particular complaint, I assure you that we take all concerns seriously. We listen. We investigate. We act.

Students’ and their families’ trust and willingness to participate in this complaint process is important. We know that saying something can be hard, and we will always act when we — teachers, coaches, administrators, or other staff — know what has happened. We continuously seek ways to reduce any barriers students may feel in sharing a concern or making a complaint to a staff person. We are committed to creating a culture of trust, rooted in strong communication, at our schools.

(Leslie Nichols is the superintendent of the Gunnison Watershed School District.)

Let’s support our system

Editor:

I personally found your editorial in the June 6 edition of the paper extremely offensive. Mr. Trump was charged in Manhattan and a jury of 12 peers heard the evidence against him. The verdict, after several weeks of hearing the evidence, came back guilty within two days.

That is our judicial system.

I don’t understand why you say these were questionable charges.

I don’t understand why you claim there were dubious judicial tactics. You provide no discussion to back up these charges.

The prosecution proved its case. Mr. Trump was found to be guilty. That is our system. That is the rule of law. By claiming somehow that there is something questionable going on, without evidence, all you do is undermine the rule of law which has been followed since our founding.

It must be noted that Mr. Trump’s company has also been found guilty of fraudulently reporting the value of

his properties to lower his tax bill or improve the terms of his loans. Additionally, he lost a case against E. Jean Carroll who said Trump assaulted her. That was another trial with twelve jurors again in a court of law.

Another case against Trump was a civil suit against his foundation in which the Trump family was found to have shown a “shocking pattern of illegality.” The foundation was shut down. Additionally, Trump faces charges in Georgia, Florida and Washington for his Jan. 6 role and for his actions with respect to documents he improperly retained.

In every case, the prosecution has to prove the charges. If they do, how can you dissent? How many times does he have to be found guilty before you see him for what he is?

With all this evidence in one direction, I find your editorial offensive. If something unfair happened, how about presenting that case. Just referring to what you think is the case doesn’t make you right. I hope we get through this

Leslie Nichols Special to the Times

LETTERS

period, but that will only happen if we stay faithful to our institutions. That is your role. Let’s support our system. Otherwise it will be lost and people like you will be responsible.

Carol Spector Gunnison

Let the youth lead!

Editor:

I am writing to express my enthusiastic support for Shannon Hessler as a candidate for the Gunnison County Electric Association (GCEA) electric co-op board.

Having lived in our community for 34 years, I have seen leadership come and go, but I am impressed and excited about the prospects of a fresh perspective at the table, and that's Shannon. I have known her for a few years, being close friends with my daughter Bel and believe she'd be an incredible partner working for us on the board.

As a young female deeply invested in community engagement, she has demonstrated her commitment to making a difference every single day. Her efforts in this campaign are proof of her dedication and effectiveness as a leader. Shannon has gone door to door throughout the GCEA service territory, engaging with residents on a personal level. She has not only raised awareness about this election, but also sparked an interest in our energy future among the younger generation. My adult children, along with many of their peers, have been inspired by Shannon to think critically about their electricity and engage in local politics.

At the recent GCEA meet-andgreet, it was remarkable that the room was filled with young people asking insightful questions and showing genuine interest in our cooperative's future. This unprecedented level of youth engagement is a direct result of Shannon's ability to connect with and mobilize the next generation. It is clear that she possesses the skills needed to bridge the gap between generations and foster a more inclusive and forward-thinking community.

Shannon's vision for energy independence and renewable energy aligns perfectly with the needs of our community. She understands the importance of transitioning to sustainable energy sources to ensure a brighter, more resilient future for all of us.

I support Shannon Hessler for the GCEA board. Her commitment to community engagement, her ability to inspire and mobilize the younger generation and her forward-thinking vision for our energy future make her the ideal candidate for this role. Let's come together to support Shannon and build a stronger, more sustainable community for the future. Voting is still open, and you can vote online in the SmartHub App, or on your mailin ballot.

A new generation of leaders

Editor:

We first met Shannon Hessler years ago in 2019 when she reached out to Protect Our Winters (POW) looking for volunteer opportunities. POW always needs volunteers to help the outdoor community take action in their local communities, so we said of course! Typically, volunteering involves spending hours together and getting to know each other. With Shannon, I was immediately impressed with her sincere passion for protecting mountain communities.

Over the years, Shannon stayed in touch with POW through her sustainability work. We are always proud to see young members rise to the challenges of leadership in this mission-critical work.

POW has a long-standing history of advocacy for the protection of the Gunnison Valley and Western Slope of Colorado. From championing public lands protections and state-level legislation, we have provided support and opportunity for the hundreds of Outdoor State members in the valley to learn how to advocate and protect the places we love.

Through both our staff as well as the members of our Athlete and Creative Alliance living on the Western Slope, we deeply understand the risks and vulnerabilities a changing climate poses to our landscape and communities.

At POW, our mission is to help protect the places we live and experiences we love from climate change. We aim to be a voice for all those who love the outdoors and seek to protect them — whether you ski, climb, bike, fish, hike, paddle or just love being outside. At the end of the day, we advocate for finding common ground and common sense policy solutions and drive difficult conversations all centered around our actual common ground: the love for the land.

In early 2024, Shannon reached out again, but this time to Protect Our Winters Action Fund, the sister organization to Protect Our Winters. POW Action Fund has helped in previous GCEA board elections to help turn out the vote among the outdoor community.

From what we knew of Shannon, she was a person who embodied the value of finding common ground and has since gained the energy expertise to make a strong member of the GCEA board. As with many of the candidates we have endorsed for rural electric cooperatives, we are proud to support a thoughtful, experienced and energetic person who will advocate for policies that protect pocketbooks and our Colorado communities. Shannon represents a new generation of leaders ready to shepherd a sustainable and vibrant future.

POW Action Fund believes in the power of democracy and the process of electing board members to help make decisions

about our energy. Shannon has proved to be a candidate who exemplifies the ability to build common ground and earn every vote. We are proud to see a young woman stepping up and running a positive campaign, encouraging members to come together and advancing our collective goal to decarbonize.

If you have not yet voted, please do so by June 16 on your online portal. And we promise you will stop seeing our social media ads and receiving reminder emails. Until next year, that is!

Lindsey Halvorson Protect Our Winters Action Fund

A departure from journalism principles

Editor:

Concerning your editorial in last week’s paper: You owe it to your readers to get specific when you say something like Trump’s trial “departed from the principles of judicial process and constitutional protection.” What “judicial tactics” were “dubious,” and why? To simply throw down the statements with no supporting evidence is a departure from the principles of journalism.

We assume, based on your blanket indictment of the whole “process,” that one of your concerns about “constitutional protection” was the “gag” order placed on defendant Trump (and enforced)? Violating his freedom of speech? This nation has been debating how far the constitutional protection of speech goes for 250 years.

But there’s generally a line drawn on this side of promoting violence against one’s fellow Americans. Pushing that line is one of candidate Trump’s chief campaign strategies, promising “blood on the streets” if the election is again “stolen” from him by us “vermin.”

A judge who tries to prevent an unruly defendant from giving license to his personal army of supporters to threaten, “swat,” or otherwise disrupt the lives of court personnel (and their families) is very arguably justified in limiting absolute freedom of speech.

Beyond that, you need to tell us why you dismiss the whole trial as a departure from “the principles of judicial process and constitutional protection.” We’ve seen these facts brought forth: Candidate Trump did something illegal to cover up having done something stupid. It was discovered, investigated and put before a jury of Trump’s peers — with his lawyers participating in the jury selection — and they found him to be guilty. From journalistic accounts of the trial, I did not see any departures from what I know of the “principles of judicial process.” Please enlighten us.

You seem to join those who seem to think the whole trial was like the “show trials” of the Stalin era — showing what happens to you if you don’t toe the line — but there is only one sense in

Kerry Young Crested Butte South

East to where it flows into the Gunnison. Effective June 5, the Gunnison is still closed from Almont to the County Road 10 bridge near Cranor Hill.

Bridges along these rivers have low clearance, and the water is extremely cold with a lot of debris, said Gunnison County Emergency Manager Scott Morrill.

“With the warm weather, people want to be out on the water, but it’s just not safe right now, especially for folks who don’t have experience with these kinds of flows,” Morrill said.

Water levels on the Gunnison River are the highest recorded since 2019. This year, the river gauge at the whitewater park showed that flows peaked on June 9 at 4,300 cubic feet per second (cfs). In 2023, water levels only reached 3,200 cfs.

A sudden stretch of warm and dry weather in mid-April triggered rapid snowmelt in the Gunnison Valley. But a cooldown followed in early May, with heavy precipitation at higher elevations, stalling the runoff, said Beverly Richards, senior program manager at the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District. At the same time, soil moisture levels — boosted from two decent winters — had reached almost normal and more water moved into rivers and creeks rather than into the ground.

‘A game of inches’

Over the weekend, high water levels and safety concerns led to the cancellation of the annual Oh Be Joyful Steep Creek Race. On June 7, the day prior to the race, Crested Butte local Cole Brunner got into a kayaking accident while training for the event. A number of would-be volunteers traveled to Grand Junction to stay with Brunner in the hospital.

Oh Be Joyful Creek runs off the backside of Mt. Emmons in Crested Butte and into the Slate River. It is considered a class 5, expert level creek. Each year, the event depends entirely on snowpack, which feeds directly into the creek each spring during the melt. The race follows a narrow stretch of river, and passes through a series of large waterfalls and rapids.

“Everybody loves high water, it's less abusive on the boats

Bridge

from A1

Jason Smith. The openings are meant to accommodate commuter traffic, but exact time frames are still unclear. County Road 26 (the Lake City Cutoff) which offers a detour around the closure, will continue to have limited travel windows as the bridge reopens.

“We continue to recognize what a hardship this has been for everybody that's had to go through this,” CDOT Deputy Executive Director Herman

and instead of just sliding down rocks, you're actually getting to paddle … But there’s significantly less room for error when it’s high water like that,” said race organizer Paul Raymond. “It’s already a very difficult and somewhat dangerous creek and the people who paddle it know that.”

At the end of last week, the water was running high and fast through Oh Be Joyful, fueled by the wet month of May and temperatures that neared 80 degrees. After talking to boaters on Friday, and then Saturday after he made the decision to cancel, Raymond said he got the impression that some had considered backing out from the race because they felt nervous about the flows. This is the first time the race was canceled due to high water.

“I want people to be excited about racing and not super scared … Ultimately we decided it was safer not to have it this year,” Raymond said.

Brunner, who survived the accident with minimal injuries, became caught in the rapid known as the “Speed Trap,” located about halfway through the race course. When the water is high, the large slide ends in a hole that recirculates water. It’s a spot that has trapped kayakers before, forcing them to abandon their boats.

On Thursday, the day before the accident, Brunner and a group of kayakers hiked their boats up Oh Be Joyful in the evening, but turned around because the water was too high. They put in the next day, much more confident in the conditions. The first few rapids went smoothly. Then Brunner hit a rock and was caught in the blink of an eye, he said.

“We like to say it's a game of inches up there, and I was on the wrong inch,” Brunner said.

After he became stuck, Brunner, upside down, tried to roll his boat a few times, battling the water. He eventually pulled the skirt of his boat, attempting techniques he’d used in the past to escape a similar situation. But the water held onto him. Still trapped in the hole, he went unconscious and was swept downstream. He drifted into an eddy just above one of the creek’s large, 23-foot waterfall.

Two friends and fellow boaters from the Roaring Fork Valley, Scott Dillard and Mathieu Dumoulin, pulled Brunner onshore and started CPR. By the time first respond-

Stockinger said in a June 11 briefing. “It's impacting your lives, and as we move into the summer months, it's impacting your livelihoods.

Prior to the limited opening of the bridge around July 4, Kiewit crews will continue plating through June, further reinforcing the structure and allowing it to bear more weight, Smith said. Kiewit has installed all the required scaffolding to attach the first wave of steel plates on areas where there’s cracking, considered the first, or “emergency” phase of repair. The second phase of repair

ers arrived nine minutes later, Brunner was already awake and breathing. Brunner was then airlifted by helicopter to Saint Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction.

It was Brunner’s eighth time running the creek so far this season. As experienced kayakers, Brunner said the group performed a rescue that they had practiced for. Most were CPR certified or had some form of wilderness first aid training.

“This is why we do it, because we want to be able to save each other,” he said.

Brunner had cracked his helmet, but did not suffer from any head injuries. He returned to work, and ran Taylor River this week in his kayak.

“Every day I wake up with a sense of gratitude that I've never felt before, not only for my rescuers, but for a second chance of life. It's surreal,” Brunner said. “I had a helmet cam on when the incident happened, and I watched that footage. That was pretty difficult, but I answered some questions that I had, and it gave me some more gravity to the situation.”

Know before you go

While the rivers are high, minimal flooding has occurred in Gunnison so far. Last week, water overflowed from the new Shady Island River Park into the adjacent Garlic Mike’s parking lot. The flooding came from a culvert at Shady Island that either became clogged or couldn't handle the high flows, Murdie said. Gunnison County cut a trench across the road to drain the water. As of Wednesday, the Gunnison River still had levels that hovered around 4,000 cfs.

In Salida, the Arkansas River has reached water levels seen only a few times over the past 30 years, according to reporting from Heart of the Rockies Radio. With the annual FIBArk Whitewater Festival set to kick off on June 13, organizers are considering the cancellation of the Hooligan Race. The Salida Fire Department will announce a decision early Saturday morning. Depending on flows, FIBArk organizers may move some of their events to August. At this time, nothing has been canceled.

Kestrel Kunz, Southern Rockies protection director for American Whitewater, encouraged boaters to “know before you go” and to check river gauges before getting out on the water. Boaters should also

— attaching smaller steel plates to the bridge’s over 100 “anomalies” — will require more time to complete, but can be performed safely in between traffic openings. When permanent repairs are done, ideally by the end of October, CDOT will allow full loads back onto the bridge, Smith said.

In the next few weeks, Kiewit will start inspections on the Lake Fork Bridge. Crews will set up traffic controls in order to put up scaffolding, and start asphalt and paint removal. CDOT plans to have steel and personnel in place if any repairs

carry the proper gear and rescue equipment, such as a throw bag and pin kit. For those on foot, river crossings may be small early in the morning and become much higher, and sometimes impassable, in the afternoon as it starts to warm up.

“Unfortunately, right now is not a great time for beginners to be out on the water,” Kunz said.

“Even sections of river that are considered class two or beginner-intermediate are moving

really fast. There's fewer eddies, and so there's fewer places to get out or or stop if somebody swims out of their boat. That could lead to a long time in the cold Colorado snowmelt water.”

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

are needed, Smith said. Flaggers will coordinate between the two bridges to keep traffic flowing. Construction in the Little Blue Creek Canyon is expected to wrap up by July 4, lessening hold-ups for commuters.

“We figured it's best to get in there while we have crews, materials and equipment onsite for the middle bridge,” Smith said. “And, we can coordinate the two efforts and try to get them both completed as quickly as possible to minimize the overall impact.”

Kiewit has started maintenance and repair work on

County Road 25, reinforcing it with gravel in case repairs on the Lake Fork Bridge require significant traffic restrictions, or it needs to be shut down entirely. CR 25 parallels CR 26 as it winds north from Hwy. 149 to Blue Mesa Reservoir. So far, Gunnison County has kept the road closed to through traffic. If CR 25 opens, it would be controlled with pilot vehicles, much like CR 26, said Assistant County Manager for Public Works Martin Schmidt. Since the closure, residents in

Cole Brunner returns to the Taylor River four days after the accident. (Courtesy Rob Dickinson)

A kayak maneuvers through Oh Be Joyful Creek during the 2023 race just north of Crested Butte. (Photo by Jacob Spetzler)

Sapinero and Arrowhead have been cut off from their mail deliveries, and instead forced to boat or take the CR 26 detour into Gunnison. Gunnison County Emergency Services is working to allow postal delivery vehicles on CR 25, said Gunnison County Emergency Manager Scott Morrill.

CR 26 remains open several times a day for east- and westbound traffic. Even after weeks of maintenance, heavy traffic is creating washboards, potholes and other damage to the road due to the almost 1,000 cars a day crossing it. Kiewit crews will continue to lay gravel and maintain the road to keep it safe for the public, Schmidt said. The road is not open at night, and violating this travel restriction may result in a fine of up to $850. Vehicles that need an

oversize or overweight permit are not yet allowed on CR 26. But all vehicles under the state’s legal load limit of 85,000 pounds are allowed, which includes livestock trailers, campers and other heavier vehicles.

Gunnison County will continue to maintain Kebler Pass, which connects Crested Butte to the North Fork Valley. Flaggers on either side are enforcing the 50-foot length and 30,000-pound weight limit, but there are no other traffic restrictions.

Up-to-date information can be found on gunnisoncounty. org, from the CDOT hotline, 970.648.4423 or by emailing us50bridge@gmail.com.

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

Prefabricated steel plates have arrived on-site at the bridge. The plates will be fastened to the bottom of the bridge to reinforce weak, and cracked, areas. (Courtesy Liz Smith)

CDOT executives give a media tour on June 11. (Courtesy Laura Puckett Daniels)

Wickenhauser sentenced to four years in community corrections

Danni headed for trial in August

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

Following charges of drug distribution at the I Bar Ranch in 2023 and entering a guilty plea, Bryan Wickenhauser was sentenced to four years in community corrections on June 10. Wickenhauser, who owns the I Bar Ranch business, pled guilty on April 18 to Distribution of a Controlled Substance, Schedule I or II, a class 2 drug felony.

LETTERS

continued from A5

which the Trump trial could be called that: it showed that not even Donald Trump is above the law. Let’s hope the Supreme Court was watching too.

Meanwhile, please do follow the journalistic principle of following a controversial allegation with supporting facts.

George Sibley Mike Ritchey Gunnison

Will we choose truth?

Editor:

I was disappointed in Alan Wartes’ opinion piece last week as he fanned the flames of divisiveness. He accepts as true the conservative narrative that convicted felon Donald Trump is the victim of a conspiracy to inappropriately use the justice system to persecute him.

This propaganda, like his persistent lie that he won the 2020 election, is pushed by Trump and the sycophants that enable him. It’s long on emotional indignation, but woefully short on evidence. Merrick Garland and his Department of Justice have no control over what cases Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg chooses to prosecute. I haven’t seen evidence that Bragg even spoke with Garland or Biden to develop such a conspiracy.

There is a more obvious explanation for this trial and the others that Trump faces — one that is supported by substantial evidence. That is that Trump regularly engages in criminal activity and is furious that he’s facing consequences for his crimes.

Trump was found guilty in court of sexual assault and defamation in the Jean Carroll case. He was found guilty in court of massive tax fraud with fines of $450 million. He faces dozens of other felony indictments for hoarding and hiding top secret

Wickenhauser and Dominic Danni were arrested in September of 2023 on felony drug warrants. The men were accused of selling cocaine to undercover law enforcement officers at the I Bar Ranch in August of 2023, according to an arrest affidavit. Danni and Wickenhauser were each charged with Illegal Distribution of Schedule II Narcotics, a class 3 drug felony, and Conspiracy to Distribute Illegal Narcotics, a class 1 drug felony.

The Gunnison Police Department, joined by members of the 7th Judicial District Task Force (including agents from the Drug Enforcement

documents and election interference. Like an experienced criminal with an army of lawyers, he has managed to delay many of these trials. His hope is that, despite his convictions and indictments, he can get elected and make many of them disappear by inappropriate manipulation of the justice system.

Whether it has gone to trial, or not, we all heard the recording of Trump trying to coerce Georgia’s Secretary of State into manipulating legitimate election results and “finding” him an extra 11,000 votes to win the state — blatantly illegal. We know of the boxes of top secret documents that Trump illegally took to unsecured locations in Florida then tried to hide them from authorities when they came to retrieve them — blatantly illegal.

We heard testimony about Trump illegally extorting a desperate Ukrainian president withholding United States assistance until he “did him a favor” of digging up imaginary dirt on political rival Joe Biden. We heard testimony about Trump conspiring with others to incite his followers to attack Congress on Jan. 6.

We heard the Planet Hollywood tape with Trump bragging about sexually assaulting women. We heard Trump’s lawyers argue that, as the president, he should be above the law and should not be held accountable for any illegal activity.

Mr. Wartes contends that Bragg enforcing the law and 12 jurors deciding on the convincing evidence presented to them signals the downfall of our system and could spark violence in some misguided souls. Evidently his preference would be to not hold Trump accountable for his numerous crimes, elect him to a second term where he can implement his stated dream of becoming a dictator and exacting retribution on his enemies that dare to hold him accountable.

I fear that outcome would have a much greater chance of

Administration and Colorado Bureau of Investigation) made the arrests after multiple surveillance operations at I Bar Ranch. During those operations, both Danni and Wickenhauser allegedly sold undercover agents cocaine, according to the arrest affidavit. Danni pleaded not guilty to both charges at a hearing on March 5 and requested a jury trial that has been scheduled for August 26-30 of 2024. His next hearing is scheduled for July 23 at 3:30 p.m.

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

destroying the long held beliefs and values of our nation.

Arden Anderson Gunnison

It took a lot of courage

Editor:

Kattnig’s behavior was witnessed by my son in 2019. It was so apparent in the classroom that it not only became a barrier to learning, it was a point of contention. We strategized on how to deal with this toxic classroom environment, however it was so nuanced there was no way to prove any wrongdoing. Reading in the Gunnison Country Times that a teacher observed this behavior, reported and nothing was done about it- is disturbing and a failure on the school district leadership. It took a lot of courage for those girls and teacher to speak out, I believe them and it is not their fault, they deserve more support. I look forward to reading more about how this horrible situation will inform a better response from school leadership.

Mary Burt Gunnison

be seen for who you are.”

More Gunnison Valley residents have committed suicide in the first half of 2024 than over all of 2023 combined, according to data from Gunnison County Coroner Michael Barnes. Of the 16 Gunnison County residents who have died by suicide since Janurary of 2023, seven have been men between the ages of 21 and 33.

For years, Peterson served on the Colorado board for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, organizing suicide prevention training and awareness events. But last summer, she lost her own son Christian to suicide. In the months following his death, she refocused her efforts on men in Gunnison Valley.

Christian worked on a local construction crew, and in the year since he died, Peterson has weathered the loss of two more young men who worked in the trades. Each death, a loss that swept family and friends into grief and questioning.

In conversation with her son’s friends, Peterson said that practically none felt therapy was okay or would call a suicide hotline number in crisis. In response, she and colleagues started wondering what intervention would actually work, if not the more traditional options.

“It goes back to something my son said on his final day — I didn't know until days later — but they said ‘you need help. You need to talk to someone.’ He said ‘I would but no one would understand,’” Peterson said. “So that’s a portion of this, there is someone in this community, or someone that somebody else knows that would completely understand the situation. You're not alone.”

The five-person board consists of Peterson, a mental health professional, a school district employee, a tradesperson and a rancher — a variety meant to cover the valley’s many professions. Local motor club HillBilly Jokers is contributing to Brothers as a financial sponsor. And, some club members are volunteering to attend the events.

Dude talk dinner will occur at the Dive once a month. The Dive is closed to the public on Monday nights, offering a private and “neutral” space for more vulnerable conversation, Peterson said. The hope is to reach someone who might be struggling before it gets to the crisis point.

“We’re trying to nip it in the bud,” Hudson said. “Where you know that you're going to be missed. You know that you’re loved. You know that you're seen and that you’re not the only one that feels that way.”

Two mental health professionals will be present to guide the conversation, but it’s not formal group therapy or crisis intervention. Peterson’s hope is that it flows freely and offers a space to vent about the day or what’s weighing on someone.

Hillbilly Jokers has also considered opening a fund for families who have lost a loved one to suicide. Despite the club’s chosen focus on prevention, board members know the financial toll of suicide can be steep, said club founder Paul Coleman.

The next Dude talk dinners are scheduled for July 15 and Aug. 12 at 6:30 p.m. Activities start in late June, and will continue each month. The schedule is not yet final, but is likely to include fishing, hiking, rafting, mountain biking, cornhole, darts and more. Brothers’ partnered with Juvenile Services to host safeTALK, a suicide prevention training, at 5B’s BBQ from 12-4 p.m. on June 14.

For more information on Brothers, email info@gunnibhb.com. People in crisis should call the Colorado Crisis Services Hotline at 1.844.493.8255 or text TALK to 38255. 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.)

The Brothers’ logo. (Courtesy Chris Peterson)

Gunnison Creative District looks forward

‘Little Corner of Mexico’ community mural planned for summer

Bella Biondini Times Editor

Just two years old, the Gunnison Creative District has added a noticeable splash of color to downtown and is busy planning for the summer season ahead.

Colorado Creative Industries (CCI), a part of the state’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade, officially named Gunnison as a Creative District in 2022 — one of only 30, including Crested Butte, statewide. Gunnison County is now the only Western Slope county that boasts two creative districts within its boundaries.

The Gunnison Creative District, which operates as a nonprofit, is governed by a nine-member board. Its members represent and advocate for different sectors of the art community, from theater and sculpture to multicultural works. Over the past two years, the newly-formed organization has kept its hands full promoting public art projects, boosting the First Friday Art Walk and creating a valley-wide creative directory.

Directory is to make it easier for artists to connect with new clients and expand their reach in the valley. Categories are not limited to fine arts, and include craft food, architecture, dancers and performing artists, videography and creative writing. So far, the growing directory features 50 artists, out of what executive director Arly Landry estimated was hundreds of creatives working in the valley.

Over the summer, the Creative District will also give 10 artists the opportunity to sell their work on one Saturday at the Gunnison Farmers Market, which runs from June through mid-October.

The intent is to reduce the financial, and sometimes language barriers for up and coming artists who may be intimidated to host a booth for the market’s entire season.

Vendors typically have to bring their own tables and tents, and must provide proof of valid commercial general liability and personal injury insurance, which can cost hundreds of dollars. The Creative District is still accepting applications for the artist’s booth.

The process of building the nonprofit has been slow, but the board understands how transformative a Creative District can be for a rural town like Gunnison, said president and Gunnison-based ceramicist Paige Stewart. While the Creative District doesn’t operate out of a set location like the Gunnison Arts Center, the board wants to instead bring art to the people. And as the community increases its investment in art, creatives will help the economy grow, Stewart said.

“If we can figure it out, we can really offer something incredible for our community, not just art pieces that we get to enjoy, but this larger way of being and prioritizing in our town,” she said.

This year, the Creative District is turning its attention to the valley’s vast network of artists and creatives, both new and established. At the start of 2024, the Creative District launched a Gunnison Valley-specific artist directory. Designed to become a full catalog of all of the area’s working artists, the directory lists creatives along with short bios, links to their portfolio and contact information.

The goal of the Gunnison & Crested Butte Creative

Let there be murals In 2023, the Creative District fundraised $29,000 to coordinate three public art projects with Gunnison-based artist Jennifer Vannatta: the totem sculpture update at the Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce, the “Elevate your Fun” mural on the south wall of Wheelies and Waves and “The Wildflower” mural on the east wall at Auto Corral.

This summer, using grant money from CCI, the Creative District will lead a new mural project at Taco La Esquina with artist Luke Schroeder. He is known for his whimsical depictions of the people and happenings in the Gunnison Valley and designed the Crested Butte “Community Matters” bus with CB State of Mind.

The mural is titled “The Little Corner of Mexico,” and will be painted on the west side of the building on Tomichi Avenue, and visible to travelers entering Gunnison from the west. Board members Ricardo Esqueda, the community liaison for the City of Gunnison, and Yamel Aguirre with Gunnison County Juvenile Services, are working with focus groups within the immigrant community to come up with themes for the project.

Silvia Veronica Perez Hernández, the owner of the restaurant, asked to see traces of the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, treasured for her independent, yet feminine presence in the art world. There is also a desire to portray the Indigenous roots of the different groups that come from Mexico, depicted

with vibrant colors and sense of place, images of traditional clothing and the story of the agave plant, a common ingredient in tequila.

The vision is for the mural to be something that describes the immigrant dream and perspective, Esqueda said. It will be one of the first public murals that represents Gunnison’s growing Hispanic and immigrant population. The community is invited to participate in the project, which will be set up like a traditional “paint by numbers” once the design is complete.

“Being able to see yourself and your culture represented makes you proud to be here,” Esqueda said. “This piece is [also] a way that people can make sure that they are remembering their roots.”

“The Little Corner of Mexico" is only one of the four mural projects planned for the summer season. The remaining contracts have not yet been finalized. The Creative District is producing a bumper sticker and postcards of the “Gunnison” mural at IOOF Park. The proceeds will go toward the creation of more public art.

As the nonprofit becomes

more established over time, one of the Creative District’s goals is making Gunnison feel like a creative place, Landry said. Although the new mural at IOOF Park was not a Creative District project, it was a “pretty big step,” she said. It is common to see visitors pull over to stop and take a photo in front of the mural. Located at the heart of downtown, during the summer, it’s become the location for afternoon concerts and events.

“Some people come to Gunnison to visit Gunnison, but most people are passing through … We want to have creative disruption,” Landry said. “People are like, ‘What’s that?’ And then they’re out of their cars, interacting with our town, building a connection with it and hopefully buying something and supporting a local business.”

Business and property owners interested in hosting a public art piece can find more information at gunnisoncreativedistrict.org.

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

Sawtooth phase 2 underway

Community members, public officials and the Fading West construction crew gathered to celebrate the start of phase 2 of the Sawtooth affordable housing project on June 5. Phase 1 of the project finished last year, and developers hope to welcome new residents into phase 2 properties later this year.

Over 40 years in Sales & Service In the Gunnison Country Lowest priced, year round home-sites in the valley Two home building sites , $112,500 each All underground utilities available!

Lot 37: 1.3 Acres | Lot 39: 1.2 Acres | Total: 2.5 Acres

In 2023, the Gunnison Creative District funded “The Wildflower” mural on the east wall of Auto Corral. (Courtesy Anne Michel)

(Photo by Mariel Wiley)

‘Beat the cheat’

Cheatgrass stood no chance against an army of volunteers who uprooted the invasive weed around town during an annual Cheatgrass Pull Day on June 8. After a long morning of pulling grass, the group enjoyed pizza at Legion Park. This year, the group collected 575 pounds of cheatgrass.

(Photos by Mariel Wiley)

‘My Walmart Wilma’

retires after nearly three decades at Gunnison Walmart

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

The Walmart intercom crackled to life, and a voice stretched over the store asking associates to gather in the break room. They filtered in, clad in blue vests, headsets and reflective gear. Nearly every person in the room had either been interviewed, or directly hired, by Wilma Duffy. But that morning, they gathered to bid her farewell after nearly 30 years of employment.

A far cry from the plains of Oklahoma where she was born and raised, the Gunnison Valley has served as Duffy’s home for a decades-long career in the Gunnison Walmart. Over the years, her unflinching, yet kind and generous leadership has given the store a “small town” feel, said store manager Steven Meade.

“She has seen so many different things and gone through many similar situations,” Meade said. “She has great advice, great ways to calm you down and talk about past experiences.”

Duffy’s 43-year tenure as a Walmart employee predated her time in Gunnison, and began in the early 80s in Weatherford, Oklahoma. After she graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University with a degree in business and office administration, she considered working as a legal secretary. However she ended up with a job as a sales clerk at the Weatherford Walmart — better pay, better benefits, she said.

After a few years in Weatherford, she moved onto Kingfisher, the hometown of Walmart founder Sam Walton.

Over the years, Duffy met Walton several times. At a yearend meeting in North Carolina, Duffy and two associates took the stage in front of Walton and other company executives. Under a spotlight, they chanted the trademark Walmart cheer for the entire management team.

Her career as a Walmart employee took her around the West and Midwest. That included time in New Mexico, California, Arkansas, Nebraska and many cities in Oklahoma, such as Lawton, Weatherford and Kingfisher.

“There's good and bad in every company,” Duffy said. “But me? I have had more good than bad.”

Each time, the company moved her to help open a new store, cleaning up the old business and setting up Walmart’s new counters and displays according to the planogram, the schematic drawing for putting out merchandise, meant to maximize sales. At some setups, employees held picnics outside, brought Crock-Pots full of food and played basketball in between shifts.

“It’s the satisfaction … You can just make it work and get it set up correctly. For the new stores, Walmart's going to help people that can afford it,” Duffy said.

In 1990, Duffy was called to Gunnison for the same task. It was a fitting match, she said, as she’d always loved to ski and already had some family in the area. When she started, the building was brown, rather than light gray — a bygone era for the Gunnison Walmart. Outside a brief stint back in Oklahoma to be with her parents, Duffy remained in the valley until her retirement last week, on June 7.

She stayed at Walmart through the years because of the friendships, strong benefits and a love for the Gunnison Valley community, she said. The steady work made it possible for her to remain in the valley while raising her son. She’s been involved in the community as a longtime member of the

Gunnison Elks Lodge and the now-defunct Gunnison Kiwanis Club.

Duffy’s colleague Gonzo Garnes worked alongside her for 34 years, after she hired him in the early 90s. He recalled her “big Oklahoma hair” and her showing up to work in long skirts and high heels. She was always straightforward, Garnes said, but judicious and fair in her expectations of colleagues and friends. Years ago, Wilma allowed a colleague to live in a condo she had in town while they figured out a permanent place to live, Garnes said.

“If you’re in a bind, she will help you out,” Garnes said. “She's helped a lot of people … She would give her shirt off her back to help another associate or another member in the community.”

Many of her customers have become close friends, including a close contingent of former employees self-described as the “grouchy old ladies club.” She recalled the distinct bellow of Ron Earl, who would call her up and say, “‘Okay my Walmart Wilma, I'm ready for lunch.’ And she would always be there.

In the back corner of the break room sat a flower arrangement from friends and framed photos of her many moments in the Walmart over the years. Between hugs and tearful reflections, Duffy led her team in one final chant.

“Give me a W. Give me an A. Give me an L. Give me an M. Give me an A. Give me an R. Give me a T. What's that spell? I can't hear you. Who's the best? Who's really the best? The customer. Hoo-rah!”

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

Wilma Duffy looks back on 30 years of employment at the Gunnison Walmart during her recent retirement party.

(Photo by Abby Harrison)

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

Assistant Building ManagerCBCS

Substitute Teachers

Special Education EASignificant Needs Lake School - Educational Assistants

PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

District - School Psychologist

CBSS - Science

CBSS - Language Arts (one-year only)

CBSS - Math Intervention

GHS - Special Education Teacher GES - Music

GES - Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Teacher Lake School - Kindergarten

COACHING

CBMS - Assistant MS Girls’ Basketball Coach

GHS - Assistant Girls’ Basketball Coach

Please contact: Superintendent’s Office JoAnn Klingsmith 800 N. Boulevard 970-641-7760 jklingsmith@ gunnisonschools.net

CARS & TRUCKS

2001 COACHMAN ROYAL TRAVEL

TRAILER: 35” bumper pull. In good condition. $6,000. 970-641-8757.

OFFICE MANAGER: $25/hour plus benefits. Full-time, year-round. Please send resume to PR Property Management, prpropertyoffice@gmail.com or call 970-3496281.

WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY

SUPERVISOR: The Mt. Crested Butte Water and Sanitation District is accepting applications for a Wastewater Treatment Facility Supervisor. Under the general direction of the district manager, this fulltime position is responsible for directing the wastewater and collection operations for the district and serves as the operator in responsible charge for both systems. This position has overall responsibility for the dayto-day operations and managing all aspects of the wastewater department. Important qualifications include a combination of treatment operations, employee supervision, construction and regulatory compliance. A State of Colorado Wastewater class “B” or “A” and/or Collection class “3” or “4” license or the ability to obtain such within one (1) year is expected (training for certifications provided). A valid Colorado driver’s license is required. Starting salary is $90,000-$130,000 DOQ. Excellent benefits package, including 100% employer-paid

and

GUNNISON COUNTY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Public Health Nurse II –Substance Abuse Prevention Juvenile Services: 20 hours/week, hourly rate range from $33.79$41.08 plus partial benefits.

Patrol Deputy Sheriff: Full-time, 40 hours/week, the annual salary range is from $70,288-$99,422 plus full benefits.

Detention Deputy

Sheriff: Full-time, 40 hours/week, the annual salary range is from $63,162-$89,344 plus full benefits.

Heavy Equipment Operator I: Full-time, 40 hours/week, hourly rate from $22.91-$26.08 plus full benefits.

Landfill Operator

Public Works: 40 hours/week, hourly pay range from $22.91$26.08 plus full benefits.

Administrative Generalist

HHS: Full-time, 40 hours/week, hourly rate range $22.91-$26.08 plus full benefits.

Building & Environmental Health Inspector and/or Building & Environmental Health Inspector/Plans Examiner

Community Development: Fulltime, 40 hours/week, the annual salary range is from $63,162$99,422 depending on experience, plus full benefits.

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

additional matching), employer provided uniforms and a wellness benefit/ski pass. Full job description is available at mcbwsd. com. Please submit cover letter and resume to Mt. Crested Butte Water and Sanitation District, P.O. Box 5740, Mt. Crested Butte, CO 81225 or email info@mcbwsd.com. Position is open until filled. MCBWSD is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

ID SCULPTURE IS HIRING

Interested in making the world’s best playgrounds, climbing boulders and interactive art? ID Sculpture designs and manufactures climbing boulders, playground sculptures and fine art sculptures for parks, schools and public spaces across the country. We use a combination of technology and traditional methods to create unique interactive environments.

IDS provides secure, year-round indoor and outdoor work in a unique fabrication environment with opportunity for travel and room for advancement. We offer benefits including PTO, healthcare and retirement. ID Sculpture is an equal opportunity employer.

We are currently seeking:

Production Assistant(s): Ideal candidates possess a positive attitude, good work ethic and are eager to learn. Applicants must have physical strength, hand-eye coordination, and endurance. Initial responsibilities are to provide general labor and assist artists, fabricators and shipping departments as needed. Compensation is $20-$25 per hr. depending on prior construction experience and/or aptitude.

Project Fabricator(s): The ideal candidate for this position has construction trades experience, welding experience, the ability to work well with a team and a positive attitude. Initial responsibilities are to fabricate various components for standard and custom products. Compensation is $23-$30 per hr. depending on prior construction experience and/or aptitude.

Project Sculptor(s): The ideal candidate for this position has a passion for creating works of art, ability to work well with a team, fastidious attention to detail, a positive attitude, experience sculpting concrete, rock climbing, course setting and construction trades experience. Initial responsibilities

CITY OF GUNNISON EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Public Works Director

Full-time, $135,000-$155,000/yr

$64.90-$74.52/hr

This position oversees engineering, electric, fleet, facilities, refuse and recycling, streets and alleys, wastewater collection and treatment, water treatment and distribution, and stormwater all managed by experienced, capable superintendents, including a utilities manager.

Utilities Manager

Full-time, $109,200-$134,667/yr

$52.50-$64.74/hr

Responsible for all phases of the operation, maintenance, repair and security of the wastewater treatment plant, wastewater collections system and water distribution system including equipment, vehicles, grounds and the laboratory.

Procurement, Contracts and Grants Administrator

Full-time, $69,500-$93,900/yr

$33.41-$45.14/hr

Performs advanced professional work planning, coordinating, developing and overseeing all aspects of the city’s formal and informal procurement and contracting activities related to the acquisition of goods, materials, supplies, equipment, construction and services. This position also performs advanced professional work applying for and administering grants, including providing technical assistance and compliance to all city divisions, departments and personnel for grants considered and/or received by the city.

Water/Wastewater Operator Full-time

Starting

Class “D” $49,700-$58,367

Class “C” $54,600-$64,200

Class “B” $60,100-$70,600

Class “A” $66,100-$77,700

Responsible for the operation of the water supply, distribution and storage systems. They also perform maintenance, repairs and construction of water distribution, sewer collection, irrigation and storm drain systems, installations, repairs and testing on all water meters.

Police Officer

Full-time, $68,900-$93,100/yr

$33.13-$44.76/hr

Performs technical, professional, and administrative duties related to maintaining the security of the city, protecting constitutional guarantees of all persons, protecting life and property, preserving public peace and order, preventing, solving and detecting crimes, facilitating the safe movement of people and vehicles and other emergency services as needed. POST Certification not required. The city will pay for the police academy if needed and pay a cadet wage 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.

Part-Time Openings

4th of July Workers - $29.90/hr

Construction Project Manager

Full-time, $149,100/yr. Up to 71.86/hr

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

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.

are hands on sculpting of foam, concrete, and epoxy. Compensation is $24.50-$55.00 per hr. depending on familiarity with IDS process, prior experience, employment references and body of work.

To apply for this unique opportunity, please provide a resumé, cover letter and references to hello@idsculpture.com with the position of interest in the subject line, or drop off your resume at 591 S. Boulevard St. Gunnison, CO 81230.

Learn more about what we do at idsculpture. com.

PUBLIC HOUSE IS SEEKING A MOTIVATED LINE COOK to join the team.

This role is directly responsible for all kitchen functions including food, preparation and maintenance of quality standards, sanitation and cleanliness, preparation, plate presentation, portion and cost control. This position will work closely with managers and co-workers to provide excellent service to customers. This position requires 2-plus years cooking experience in a full-service restaurant, problem solving abilities, self motivation and organization. This position also requires knowledge of ingredients for flavor profiles and basic cooking techniques. The ideal candidate will have a culinary certificate and/or degree and knowledge of cuisine and familiarity with wine pairings. This full-time, seasonal position starts at $25-30/hour plus tips, depending on experience and qualifications. The season runs May-Nov. We also offer opportunities for career growth within our organization. If you are passionate about cooking and thrive in a dynamic kitchen environment, we would

love to hear from you. For more information and to apply, please visit elevenexperience. com/careers.

THE CRESTED BUTTE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT is looking for a fleet and facilities manager to ensure our emergency equipment, vehicles, stations and housing units are maintained and ready to serve our community. If you have automotive repair, general maintenance, communications and organizational skills, we want you on our team. Starting pay is $29.28-$34.86 per hour DOQ. Benefits include health, vision and dental insurance, 457-retirement plan with employer match, sick, vacation, family leave programs and annual ski pass. Visit cbfpd.org and click “Join Us” for additional information and application materials.

THE GUNNISON BANK AND TRUST is seeking applications for an assistant to the CFO. This is a full-time position that will be responsible for supporting the financial department of the bank. This includes, but is not limited to, the handling of transactions, month-end closing tasks, financial statement preparation, internal/external audit preparations, year-end close-outs, budget preparations, risk calculating and reporting and other job-related duties as assigned. This position will support general accounting, accounts payable and payroll. Applicant should have a thorough understanding of accounting principles. Essential duties and responsibilities: monitors and maintains the general ledger, performs account analysis and reconciliation of balance sheet accounts and all subsidiary ledgers at month end, compiling and analyzing financial information for month-end reporting, including welldocumented journal entries for approval

to ensure financial records are accurate, resolving accounting discrepancies, yearend closing tasks, fixed asset accounting; investment accounting, monitoring cash balances daily. Assist other departments and bank officers as needed. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from employees and/or customers. High level of oral and written communication skills, attention to detail, ability to organize work and set priorities to meet deadlines, be an effective team member. Ability to plan, initiate and complete work assignments with a minimum of direction. Comprehensive knowledge of use of financial, worksheet and word-processing software, including Excel and Word. Recognition as a CPA is a highly desirable qualification, with a minimum of four years of progressively responsible experience in accounting. Competitive and comprehensive benefits package includes 401(k), medical insurance, vision insurance, life insurance and disability insurance (ST and LT), paid time off, holiday pay and wellness benefits. Monthly salary range: $4,875-$6,250 DOE. Please email resume to apply@gunnison.bank.

EXPERIENCED BOOKKEEPERS

NEEDED in Gunnison and Crested Butte. Part and full-time. Requires extensive knowledge of QB Desktop and/or Online. Hourly rate $30hr+ DOE. Please email gunnisonvalleybookkeeper@gmail.com.

THE TOWN OF MT. CRESTED BUTTE IS HIRING FOR A SUMMER PARKS

POSITION: Hours will be between 30-40 hours per week. Minimum age requirement is 15 years old. Responsibilities include planting flowers, watering, weeding flower beds, mowing, cleaning up after events in the pavilion and garden, cleaning bathrooms, emptying trash containers and more. Candidates should be expected to work outdoors in variable mountain and inclement weather conditions. They should be able to stoop, bend and carry up to 40 pounds. Pay range is $22-$25 per hour. For the full job description, please go to mtcb.colorado.gov. If you have any questions, please email or call Addison Ives at aives@mtcb.colorado. gov or 970-349-6632, ext 115. To apply, please email your cover letter and resume to Tiffany O’Connell at toconnell@mtcb. colorado.gov.

LOCAL EVENT COMPANY SET-UP CREW: Work outside this summer. Event and tent set up, full and part-time hours available, $25/ hr. Dishwasher: part-time, flexible schedule, $25/hr. Please contact via phone or email for a complete job description. 970-596-2145. operations@alpengloweventsco.com.

LITTLE RED SCHOOLHOUSE is seeking a long-term, full-time, qualified early childhood teacher to join our fantastic team. Very competitive pay, benefits and perks offered all the time. This is a super rewarding career and a fabulous group of families and teachers. Please email interest letter and resumé to Jessica at lilredschoolhouse1@ gmail.com.

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.

ICLEAN IN CRESTED BUTTE is looking for cleaners. Pay DOE. Please call 970-3312417. Buscamos limpiadores. Por favor, comuníquese con IClean al 970-3312417. Para trabajar en Crested Butte.

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE

TECHNICIANS WANTED TO JOIN THE SEALCO TEAM: $33+ hourly - $1,800+ weekly potential with performance and safety bonuses. Seeking motivated, hardworking and dependable individuals. No experience necessary. On the job training working outdoors. Paid weekly. Must be capable of lifting 60 pounds. Email resumes to Aaron@sealcoincorporated.com or call 970-641-4260.

ROOFERS/LABORERS WANTED: No experience necessary. All safety gear provided. Starts at $27/hour. Call or text Curtis. 970-452-1476.

MOUNTAIN EXPRESS DRIVER: JOIN OUR TEAM. PAID CDL TRAINING. Mountain Express is looking to recruit drivers for immediately available shifts. We will offer CDL training at an outside CDL training agency, as well as a sign-on bonus. Starting wage is $22.60/hr. Health insurance is available based on hours worked. Ski locker benefit. Drivers are responsible for safe transport and friendly assistance of passengers on our bus route. Please contact Leah Petito at lpetito@mtnexp.org to apply and for a complete job description, visit mtnexp.org. EOE.

CBMR IS HIRING FRONT OFFICE

MANAGER: Seeking an experienced manager for the Lodge at Mountaineer Square. Managing a team with hotel experience is key. Salary $55-60k.

Housekeeping supervisor: Inspect and help clean units for outer properties across Mt. Crested Butte and ensure proper procedures are followed. $22-24/hr. Front desk agent: Lodge at Mountaineer Square is seeking full-time front desk agents for the summer season. $20/hr. Please contact Michael Laird, 970-349-4044 or mlaird@vailresorts. com with inquiries.

BARISTAS: Hiring for the summer season. Mochas Coffeehouse and Bakery in Gunnison is seeking baristas to join our team. Must be able to complete all aspects of the job as an equal member of the team in a positive and fun work environment. Hourly pay plus tips and shift meals. Drop your resume off or fill out an application at Mochas, 710 N. Main St.

WATER TREATMENT FACILITY

FOREMAN: The Mt. Crested Butte 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, paid sick leave, paid personal leave, employer contribution to retirement plan (5% automatic mandatory employer matching with 1-3% optional additional matching), employer provided uniforms and a wellness benefit/ski pass. Full job description is available at mcbwsd. com. Please submit cover letter and resume to Mt. Crested Butte Water and Sanitation District, P.O. Box 5740, Mt. Crested Butte, CO 81225 or email info@mcbwsd.com. Position is open until filled. MCBWSD is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHOCOLATE FACTORY in Crested Butte is seeking a store manager. Previous restaurant or retail management experience preferred. Will

train. Manage all aspects of operations to include supervising, customer service, daily books, inventory control, ordering and cost control/profitability. Send resume to rmc. cb@hotmail.com.

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.

FACILITIES MANAGER: Crested Yeti Property Management is hiring for a facilities manager/maintenance manager. Full-time, year-round salaried position. Benefits include IRA match, ski pass, PTO and paid fuel. Duties include driving a bobcat for snow removal and general maintenance and minor repairs. Send resume to Hop@CrestedYeti. com.

WET GROCER IS HIRING SUMMERTIME HELP: Apply at the store. 970-641-5054.

GUNNISON VALLEY MENTORS IS HIRING

A BILINGUAL CASE MANAGER IN CRESTED BUTTE: Qualifications: Spanish and English fluency. BS degree or higher in human services, education, social sciences or related fields desired, although lived experience will be considered. Desire to work with young folks in school and community environments. Strong organizational and youth advocacy skills. Innovative approaches to problem solving. Ability to collaborate with community youth and family serving agencies and organizations. Ability to make a two-year commitment. Responsibilities: Recruit, screen and process potential mentors for referred youth, intake youth and families, organize and attend monthly group recreational activities, provide professional case management services to a caseload of up to 25 school and community-based mentoring partnerships, plan, implement and evaluate mentoring partnerships, arrange and attend workshops, conferences and other professional development opportunities as related to the position, work directly with mentors, mentees and families to build youth resiliency skills. Benefits: Employee wellness stipend, liberal PTO, retirement plan, awesome team, hybrid work option with flexible scheduling. Contact Johnna Bernholtz, CB Senior Case Manager, for job description and additional information at: jbernholtz@gvmentors.org.

ASSISTANT OPERATIONS MANAGER for PR Property Management. Full-time, year-round, starting now. Insurance reimbursement, IRA, ski pass. $28/hour DOE. Valid driver’s license and experience required. Please email prpropertyoffice@ gmail.com or call 970-349-6281.

PINNACLE ORTHOPEDICS is hiring an office manager for our Crested Butte and Gunnison locations. Responsibilities include various organizational and administrative tasks, patient and staff support, inventory management and coordination with external resources. Come join our dynamic team. $28+/hr commensurate with experience. Send resume to office@ pinnacleorthocolorado.com.

NUVUE PHARMA IS HIRING A LEAD

organizational and youth advocacy skills. Innovative approaches to problem solving. Ability to collaborate with community youth and family serving agencies and organizations. Ability to make a two-year commitment, exhibits a growth mind-set. Responsibilities: Works one-on-one with up to 12 referred youth, providing social-emotional and academic support in school and/or community settings. Benefits: Employee wellness stipend, liberal PTO, retirement plan, awesome team, some flexibility in scheduling, although considerable time will be spent in school during the school day. Benefits: Employee wellness stipend, liberal PTO, retirement plan, awesome team and a superb opportunity to elevate young folks into healthy and hope-filled futures. Contact Johnna Bernholtz, CB Senior Case Manager, for job description and additional information at jbernholtz@gvmentors.org.

NOTICE

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

DENTAL PATIENT RECORD

DESTRUCTION NOTICE: Community Dental Health Clinic / PIC Place at 87 Merchant Drive, Montrose, CO 81401 and the dentists mentioned below will be destroying dental records for their adult patients which are older than 05/2017 and records of pediatric patients which are older than 05/1999 per Colorado Dental Board regulations. If you do not want your records destroyed and wish to retrieve your dental records, please contact us at 970-252-8896 and press option 2. There will be no charge for your records.

Rahul Salunke, Andrew Loomis, Todd Southhall, Christopher Burchette, Tim Howard, Robert Saunders, Terry Butler, Sabrina Butler, Amiee Rawlings, Richelle Richmond, Tyler Morgan, Leo Galvez, James Gerweck, Corg Best, Brent Johnson, Joshua Eastman, Ryan Helgerson, Daniel Hatch, William J Barminski.

FLOOD INSURANCE: In the event of a flood, are you and your family adequately prepared? There is a 30-day waiting period for new flood insurance policies to take effect once they are purchased. Floodplain residents should purchase flood insurance, and any resident may purchase flood insurance if you think your home is

vulnerable. Historically, about one-third of all flood insurance claims occur outside of the mapped regulatory floodplain area (for 100year floods). Generally, a less expensive preferred risk policy is available for these properties. For more information about flood insurance, contact your insurance agent. You can also visit floodsmart.gov or the Colorado Water Conservation Board at cwcb.colorado.gov/focus-areas/hazards/ flood-information-resources.

For local flood hazard information and to find out if your property is located in a flood hazard area, please contact the community development office of the jurisdiction in which you reside:

City of Gunnison Floodplain Manager Eric Jansen. 970-641-8151. ejansen@ gunnisonco.gov, or Gunnison County Floodplain Manager Hillary Seminick, 970-641-7930, HSeminick@gunnisoncounty.org, or visit gunnisoncounty.org/1011/FloodplainDevelopment

Town of Crested Butte Floodplain Manager Troy Russ 970-349-5338, truss@crestedbutte-co.gov, Town of Mt. Crested Butte Community Development, 970-349-6632, Gunnison County Emergency Management, 970-641-2481, smorrill@gunnisoncounty. org, orLBickford@gunnisoncounty.org.

SEGURO DE INUNDACION:

En caso de inundación, ¿están usted y su familia adecuadamente preparados? Existe un periodo de espera de 30 días para que las nuevas pólizas de seguro contra inundaciones entren en vigencia una vez adquiridas. Los residentes en zonas inundables deberían contratar un seguro contra inundaciones, y cualquier residente puede contratar un seguro contra inundaciones si cree que su vivienda es vulnerable. Históricamente, alrededor de un tercio de todas las reclamaciones de seguros contra inundaciones se producen fuera de la zona de terreno inundable reglamentaria cartografiada (para inundaciones de 100 años). Por lo general, estas propiedades disponen de una póliza de riesgo preferente menos costosa. Para más información sobre el seguro contra inundaciones, póngase en contacto con su agente de seguros. También puede visitar floodsmart.gov o la Junta de Conservación del Agua de Colorado cwcb. colorado.gov/focus-areas/hazards/floodinformation-resources . Colorado Statewide Network

CROSSWORD

FOR

BUDTENDER: Join the best dispensary in town as a management team member. Our leads help staff provide the best customer service, ensuring customers receive the product they desire and have an enjoyable experience. $17.50 with a raise at three and six months. Full-time with benefits and paid time off. Requires previous retail experience, preferably as a budtender. Stop by the store at 1003 W. Tomichi or apply online at Indeed. com.

GUNNISON VALLEY MENTORS IS HIRING BILINGUAL PLUS MENTORS IN GUNNISON AND CRESTED BUTTE: Qualifications: Spanish and English language proficiency, strong interpersonal and academic skills, experience working alongside youth ages 6-17, strong

Para obtener información local sobre riesgos de inundación y saber si su propiedad se encuentra en una zona de riesgo de inundación, póngase en contacto con la Oficina de Desarrollo Comunitario de la jurisdicción en la que reside.

Administrador de inundaciones de la ciudad de Gunnison Eric Jansen, 970-641-8151ejansen@gunnisonco.gov, o Administrador de inundaciones del condado de Gunnison Hillary Seminick, 970-6417930, HSeminick@gunnisoncounty.org or visite gunnisoncounty.org/1011/FloodplainDevelopment

Administrador de inundaciones de Crested Butte Troy Russ, 970-349-5338, truss@crestedbutte-co.gov, Desarrollo Comunitario del Pueblo de Mt. Crested Butte, 970-349-6632, Administración de Emergencias del Condado de Gunnison, 970-641-2481, smorrill@gunnisoncounty.org or LBickford@ gunnisoncounty.org.

REAL ESTATE

1,500 SQ. FT. RETAIL/OFFICE SPACE

AVAILABLE in the Gunnison Meadows Mall next to City Market. Address: 722 N. Main. $22/ft. NNN = $2,750/month. For more information, call Jordon Ringel, 817-7336947 or visit GunnisonMeadows.com.

GUNNISON RIVER RETIREMENT

COMMUNITY CONDO FOR SALE: Two

bedrooms on the river. Furnished. Unit C #1. Available for showing July 1. Asking $350,000. 713-594-4675.

Gunnison, Colorado

Publication dates of June 6, 13, 2024 13599

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

District Court, County of Gunnison, State of Colorado Court Address: 200 East Virginia Avenue Gunnison, CO 81230

In the Matter of the Estate of:

FRANK DAVID LUCKY, Deceased

Attorney or Party Without an Attorney: M. Kent Olsen Atty. Reg.#: 6431

Olsen & Mahoney, LLP

650 South Cherry Street, Suite 100 Glendale, CO 80246

Phone Number: (303) 329-4670

FAX Number:

E-mail: mkolsen@olsenmahoney.com

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION PURSUANT TO §15-12801, C.R.S.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Frank David Lucky, Deceased

Case Number 2024PR30012

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 October 6, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Cecily Ann Miller 6526 37th Street Lubbock, TX 79407

NOTICE OF INTENT TO DISPOSE:

To the following parties that have their personal property stored at Plotts Mini Storage, LLC, 312 W. Hwy 50, Gunnison, CO, 81230:

All property will be sold or disposed of, unless claimed and/or all rent and fees paid prior to June 20, 2024.

Unit A40 – Colin McManus Gunnison Country Times

Bethany Church

909 N Wisconsin St.

Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication dates of June 6, 13, 20, 2024 13589

PUBLIC HEARING

Notice of Public Hearing for Liquor License Application

The following liquor license application

(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.org

Serving the Jewish communities of Crested Butte, Gunnison and the East River Valley in Colorado

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

Go to website for location and more details.

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

will be considered during a public hearing on Monday, June 24, 2024 at 6pm at the Newcomb Community Center located at 801 State Street, Pitkin, Colorado: An application for a hotel & restaurant liquor license was submitted on May 7, 2024 by the Pitkin Hotel located at 329 Main Street, Pitkin Colorado, which is owned by Pitkin Hotel, LLC and managed by Bob Taylor of 567 Grasshopper Road Pitkin, Colorado.

Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication date of June 13, 2024 13708

Faith Directory

Community Church of Gunnison

107 N. Iowa • 970-641- 0925

Pastor Larry Nelson

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

SUNDAY

Sunday School at 10 a.m.

Sunday Morning Worship at 11 a.m.

Sunday Evening Service at 6 p.m. (during school year)

WEDNESDAY (during school year)

Truth Trackers Kids Club at 6:30 p.m.

Youth Group for Teens at 7:30 p.m. firstbaptistgunnison.org.

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

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

Senior Pastor Robert Carabotta Assoc. Pastor Jacob With Childrens Sunday School – Sunday 9 a.m.

Adult Sunday School – Sunday 9 a.m.

Divine Service of the Word – Sunday 10 a.m.

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 6:30 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, Sat. at 4 p.m.

Church of Christ 600 E. Virginia • 970-641-1588

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

Expert Care. Designed for you.

Care designed for ...

BREATHING EASIER

At Gunnison Valley Health, our specialized respiratory care team are here to help you breathe easier.

PULMONARY FUNCTIONS TESTING

Pulmonary Functions Tests (PFTs) determine the functionality of your lungs and is the gold standard in lung testing. The test can determine the lungs’ ability to move air in and out and oxygenate your body.

RESPIRATORY THERAPY | 970-648-7132

711 N. TAYLOR ST. | GUNNISON

CARDIOPULMONARY REHABILITATION

Designed for cardiovascular and pulmonary patients recovering from a cardiac or pulmonary event. The program builds around the patient’s whole health and lifestyle to get the heart and lungs working properly again.

CARDIOPULMONARY REHABILITATION | 970-641-7201

711 N. TAYLOR ST. | GUNNISON

SLEEP CENTER

We offer at-home and hospital-based sleep studies in our high elevation sleep center. If you are experiencing sleep disturbances and want to explore if a sleep study is right for you, talk with your primary care provider.

SLEEP CENTER | 970-642-4811

711 N. TAYLOR | GUNNISON

TOBACCO CESSATION PROGRAM

Commit to Quit is a smoking cessation program designed to help you stop using tobacco by developing an action plan that modifies your behavior and coping techniques to eliminate tobacco.

RESPIRATORY THERAPY | 970-648-7132

711 N. TAYLOR ST. | GUNNISON

Lights & Sirens

CITY OF GUNNISON POLICE REPORT

JUNE 3

PROPERTY - FOUND — 220 N. BOULEVARD ST.

ABANDONED VEHICLE — N. 11TH ST.

ACCIDENT — 213 W. TOMICHI AVE. WELFARE ASSIST — E. TOMICHI AVE.

JUNE 4

AT-RISK PERSON - THEFT — 910 W. BIDWELL AVE.

NUISANCE CODE VIOLATION — 800 N. WISCONSIN ST.

ANIMAL - RUNNING AT LARGE - MUNICIPAL — 133 E. TOMICHI AVE.

MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATION — 122 C.R. 13

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF — 212 S. 11TH ST.

ALCOHOL VIOLATION - UNDERAGE POSSESS./CONSUME PRIVATE PROP. — 215 N. 12TH ST.

VIOLATION OF PROTECTION ORDER: CRIMINAL ORDER — 312 E. TOMICHI AVE.

JUNE 5

WELFARE ASSIST — N. MAIN ST. INFORMATION — N. 3RD ST.

ABANDONED VEHICLE — 600 S. 10TH ST.

ANIMAL - VICIOUS/DANGEROUS - MUNICIPAL — 900 N. COLORADO ST.

JUNE 6

ANIMAL - NUISANCE ABATEMENT - MUNICIPAL — 1313 W. OHIO AVE.

ADMIN - UNASSIGNED INCIDENT — 900 N. MAIN ST.

CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE: UNLAWFUL POSSESSION 1G LESS FENTANYL — 600 W. RIO GRANDE AVE.

JUNE 7

UN-SECURE PREMISES — 108 W. TOMICHI AVE. PROPERTY - FOUND — 910 W. BIDWELL AVE.

ANIMAL - VICIOUS/DANGEROUS - MUNICIPAL — 707 N. IOWA ST. ACCIDENT — 201 E. TOMICHI AVE.

ANIMAL - RUNNING AT LARGEMUNICIPAL — 700 N. WISCONSIN ST.

HARASSMENT: STRIKE, SHOVE, KICK — 900 N. MAIN ST. WARRANT SERVICE - OTHER JURISDICTION — 864 E. TOMICHI AVE.

WELFARE ASSIST — N. COLORADO ST.

JUNE 8

ACCIDENT - HIT AND RUN — 213 W. TOMICHI AVE. INFORMATION — 700 N. TAYLOR

JUNE 9

THEFT: INTENDS TO PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE — 223 N. MAIN ST.

PROPERTY - FOUND — 910 W. BIDWELL AVE.

ACCIDENT - HIT AND RUN — 827 N. MAIN ST.

DISTURBING THE PEACE - BARKING DOG — 1010 W. VIRGINIA AVE.

GUNNISON COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT

JUNE 4

-Deputies took a property dispute report in Marble

JUNE 6

-Information report - property dispute in Somerset/Marble area

-Deputies assisted Emergency Medical Services with patients believing they were overdosing on mushrooms

-Deputies in Marble took a report where neighbors heard someone shooting a gun

JUNE 7

-Gunnison Resolution 2018-30 - vicious dog report taken

-Agency assist to Mt. Crested Butte regarding some false allegations that were made and admitted to being false

-Somerset/Marble deputies took a reckless endangerment reportunder investigation

-Property dispute - disagreement on easement

-Deputies assisted the Gunnison Police Department with a felony arrest

-Information report on a welfare check

-Deputies assisted the GPD with disorderly conduct at the Alamo

-Deputies took one person into custody for driving under the influence of alcohol

JUNE 9

-Marble/Somerset deputies assisted the Paonia Fire Department for a report of a fire at the Somerset Water Treatment Plant

JUNE 10

-Marble deputies took a menacing report - under investigation

-Marble deputies took a harassment report - under investigation

-Identity theft report

-Deputies arrested one person on an in-county warrant

-Information report on possible trespassing

-Deputies took one person into custody for an in-county warrant

ART: ‘In the Larder’ opens Friday, B4

INFORMATÉ: In a new land, do what you see, B10

SPORTS: Softball triumphant against Buena Vista, B6

GUNNISON COUNTRY TIMES • THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2024

Wilderness

‘Wunderkinder’

Mountain Roots’ Junior Naturalist

camp gets kids outdoors

Mariel Wiley Times Photo Editor

On a sunny afternoon in Taylor Canyon, three kids cooked veggie burgers over a campfire beneath the watchful eyes of camp counselors. The group pulled their vittles from the flame, and divided the patties up amongst themselves to sample. As the cooks bit into their burgers, they were met with a burst of bright, grassy flavor provided by the burgers’ star ingredient: dandelion flowers.

The trio of kids, alongside their two counselors, Julia

Dunlavey and Lily Rhinehart, had spent the day learning how to safely collect edible plants like dandelions alongside the Taylor River. Foraging is just one of many wilderness skills taught during Mountain Roots Food Project’s Junior Naturalist camp, which ran from June 3 through 7. At its core, the camp provided a flexible environment for both campers and counselors to spend time in nature.

The new addition to Mountain Roots’ roster aimed to provide child care for families during the week-long gap between Gunnison and Crested Butte schools ending before Mountain Roots’ regular summer programming starts. Although low enrollment threatened to cancel the camp before it even started, the counselors’ dedication to creating space for kids to learn outdoors kept the plan in motion,

Naturalists B2

Counselors Julia Dunlavy and Lily Rhinehart led the three campers through a week full of wilderness activities. (Photo by Mariel Wiley)

The group visited the Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery to feed trout and learn about fishing. (Courtesy Julia Dunlavey)

Naturalists from B1

said Mountain Roots Director of Youth Education Kristen Aaltonen.

Aaltonen joined the Mountain Roots team this spring, and one of her primary goals for the next year is to bring back educational opportunities that ceased during the pandemic and have yet to return. This involves expanding current summer and after-school programming to fill gaps in child care and education, Aaltonen said. The Junior Naturalist camp is the first manifestation of this effort.

Dunlavey, who spearheaded curriculum development for the camp, credits her childhood spent outdoors for the creativity and strong imagination she carried with her into adulthood. She was excited to offer that same opportunity to campers, she said.

“I was born and raised on the cusp of modern technology, so I was outside a lot making ‘mud soup,’ and figuring out what kinds of grass I could and couldn’t eat,” Dunlavey said. “All my happiest memories are playing outside and being immersed in nature.”

Dunlavey looked to the National Park Service’s (NPS) Junior Ranger program for inspiration when planning out activities for the week. That program operates in hundreds of national parks across the country, including Curecanti National Recreation Area and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. When visiting a participating park, kids complete a series of wilderness activities, share their answers with a park ranger and receive an official Junior Ranger patch and certificate.

Mountain Roots’ Junior Naturalist camp featured daily outdoor activities including foraging, fishing, survival skills

and how to participate in “citizen science,” or contributing data towards established scientific research projects. Dunlavey designed stickers to award to campers at the end of each day to recognize their newfound wilderness expertise, similar to the Junior Rangers patch.

To learn about foraging, Dunlavey and Rhinehart took their campers on a hike through Taylor Canyon, where they learned how to identify different kinds of berry bushes, and how to make their fruit into a jam. They collected dandelions as they talked about what plants elk and bears favor, and how to share the space with wild animals.

For fishing, the group visited the Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery to feed trout and get some angling tips and tricks. A day dedicated to survival skills involved learning how to pitch a tent, or how to create a makeshift shelter from natural materials if a tent isn’t available. The campers then learned how to properly extinguish a campfire. Although each day centered around a specific focus, the small group size allowed counselors to cater activities towards each of the campers' interests and get to know each camper on a personal level. The three campers in this year’s program were already well-versed in some topics, but Dunlavey and Rhinehart were ready to adapt, expanding upon what the campers already knew.

“It’s a good break for their brains — there’s a lot of focus on sitting down to learn reading and math,” Dunlavey said. “But there’s just so much valuable stuff to learn from being outside.”

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

During a survival skills lesson, the campers learned how to construct a shelter from natural materials. (Courtesy Julia Dunlavey)

Never too young to learn

Fairchild discusses new book at the Gunnison Library

Maggie Reid Times Intern

On June 6, Cedaredge author and Gunnison native Judy Fairchild gave a presentation about her new novel, “The Old Eve Tree,” at the Gunnison County Library.

“During the summer of 1952, in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, seven-year-old Tilly Harris begins to see her world differently,” states the book synopsis. “This story, told through her eyes, discovers prejudice against differences, truths that have to be hidden, cruelty disguised as righteousness, and strength in standing up for what is right.”

“The Old Eve Tree” is a deep, intimate and hilarious story that shows that knowledge knows no age. The narrative includes intricate characters that are easy to fall in love with and a storyline that forces readers to really think. Fairchild keeps her characters honest and true to themselves, which throws some curveballs into the storyline. Tilly, the protagonist, simplifies the world with a child’s viewpoint, reminding readers that

they are never too young to learn.

“When you’re writing, you know that you created your characters, but you have a feeling that they’re their own person,” Fairchild said.

“The Old Eve Tree” is Fairchild’s first published work, though she has always been a storyteller. She made up stories with her family as a child and always loved writing in English class. She recalled a time in the first grade when her teacher read the class Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, “Evangeline.” She said she remembered finding the story so touching that she started crying, and knew at that moment that she wanted to tell stories.

On Nov. 26, 2016, Fairchild said she awoke with the first line of the “The Old Eve Tree” in her head. As she laid in her bed, the story built itself. Fairchild spent the next nine months laying out and refining its details before she wrote anything down.

She said she is grateful to everyone who helped her through the writing and editing process, as well as her readers.

“We only get so much time on this earth,” Fairchild said. “It means a lot to me that people choose to spend a little bit of their time with me.”

Readers can check out “The Old Eve Tree” at the Gunnison and Crested Butte libraries, or purchase it online or at a local bookstore.

From farm to table

(Maggie Reid can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or intern@ gunnisontimes.com)

The Gunnison Farmers Market returned for the summer season on Saturday, June 8. Customers browsed local farmer and makers booths alongside IOOF Park as Jim Davidson’s live acoustic blues music filled the air. The market will run every Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. through October.

(Photos by Mariel Wiley)

Fairchild reads an excerpt from “The Old Eve Tree” at a presentation on June 6. (Photo by Maggie Reid)

Loehle uses sculpture to explore a consumer’s relationship with food

Bella Biondini Times Editor

In her work, ceramicist Emily Loehle reimagines her relationship with the common foods found in everyday American life. Lifelike chicken nuggets dipped in gold, arranged as if they were ornaments, dangle from the wall by a ribbon. In another piece, an all-you-caneat red delicious apple plate is glazed an almost plastic shade of red and hangs at an unnatural angle.

I think of it as almost like a confessional. This is a middle American diet, a loaf of bread, a pack of hot dogs.

Emily Loehle Ceramicist

In a middle-class home, it is not unusual to find cupboards and refrigerators stocked with packaged, ready-to-eat foods. But Loehle believes what people choose to eat defines a significant part of how they relate to the world. In a “modern climate of convenience,” many are playing an ever-decreasing role in the creation of the food that nourishes them, she wrote in her artist statement.

“It's emblematic of the place that food holds in our lives because we're all too busy,” Loehle said.

By clay casting and creating replicas of food, Loehle, a lecturer at Western Colorado University, invites viewers to recall the industrial processes that are responsible for the existence of many common dishes and snacks. “In the Larder” will open on Friday, June 14 in the Calm and Current Gallery at 723 S. 9th St., Suite 2 from 5-8 p.m.

An artist’s talk is scheduled for July 26 at 6:30 p.m.

Loehle’s studio is filled with a variety of clay foods and dishes, all inedible, but still lifelike: baby carrots, bananas, bread loaves, eggs and gallons of milk. Some of the food is carefully positioned next to plates, pieces where Loehle bridges the gap between sculpture and functionality. Moving across the

‘In the Larder’

table, she picked up a hollow corn cob that could be used as a cup.

For the show, Loehle sampled from a similar idea she has been building upon for the past decade: food imagery. While the themes have shifted since she finished graduate school, the pressure to “keep creating” has lessened — giving her more freedom when she arranges her sculptures.

“It's fine to revisit an idea over and over again, make baby steps forward and let it be more simple and not try to overcomplicate it,” she said.

As an artist, Loehle uses food to think about her impact as a consumer and the industrialization of the foods Americans eat. Like many, she grew up eating “fast” foods that are packaged and highly processed. Today, she still feels influenced by the high price of groceries in the valley. She pulled an empty box of Kraft Mac and Cheese off the shelf behind her. Across the desk sat a plaster mold filled with hollow, clay Cuties ready to be fired in the kiln.

“I think of it as almost like a confessional,” she said. “This is a middle American diet, a loaf of bread, a pack of hot dogs. I picked foods that speak of that kind of simple diet that often visually speaks of industrial processes and repetition … Who doesn't eat Cuties all of the time? But there's something about them. They are too easy.”

Loehle creates sculptures using a technique called slipcasting. Using a pitcher, she poured liquid clay into a plaster mold. The walls would eventually thicken as the clay dried, creating a hollow form. For more delicate types of food, for example a head of lettuce, she uses alginate, the same material dentists use to cast teeth, to make molds.

Once complete, Loehle often positions her sculptures in precarious positions, such as hanging from the wall by a ribbon so the food feels heavy or even dangerous, she said. She uses color to speak of the monotony of processed food. Some are glazed a shiny, almost medical shade of white, without imperfections. Other colors are exaggerated oranges and yellows as if the food were made of plastic.

“It's odd, but in one sense it's a way to connect with the viewer,” she said. “How we eat is something we all have to deal with.”

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

“Golden

Emily Loehle works on a piece at her studio. (Photos by Bella Biondini)

Using a pitcher, Loehle pours liquid clay into a plaster mold.

tender dangle dip”. (Courtesy Emily Loehle)

PEOPLE & HAPPENINGS

Thursday night tennis

Weekly intermediate/ advanced tennis is back in Crested Butte on Thursday evenings at 5 p.m. starting on June 13. Just show up at the tennis courts located across from the visitor center. Arrive early to warm up. No partner is needed and everyone is welcome. The cost is $5 per night or $20 for the season and fees go toward tennis balls. For more information, call Don at 970.497.0123.

KBUT fish fry

Join KBUT on June 14 from 4-9 p.m. for the 22nd annual Friday Night Fish Fry at Crank's Plaza, 508 Maroon Ave. in Crested Butte. Enjoy a Cajun-style fish fry dinner, music from the band JUICE and KBUT DJs, plus kids activities, lawn games and the summer raffle drawing. Bring your own plate, cup and utensils. Find tickets and more information at kbut.org.

Walrod Gulch trail run

The Crested Butte Mountain Runners are holding a loop run starting at the Walrod Gulch trailhead on June 15 at 9 a.m. For trail maps and further information please visit cbmountainrunners. org.

Meet Kathleen Curry

Gunnison County Democrats will host coffee with HD58 candidate Kathleen Curry on June 15 and 22 at 10 a.m. at the Coffee Trader in Gunnison and an evening with Curry on June 15 at 429 Whiterock Ave. in Crested Butte at 5:30 p.m. RSVP for the evening event by June 13 by calling 970.209.2910.

Summer dance classes

The Crested Butte School of Dance will offer eight weeks of dance camps for preschool and elementary kids, plus dance

classes for all ages beginning on June 17. Enroll by June 16 for 50% off the registration fee (use promo code Summer2024-50 at checkout.) Visit dancecrestedbutte.org to view schedules and register. Contact programs@ dancecrestedbutte.org for more information.

Garden tour

Visit five gardens in Gunnison that feature Colorado native plants on June 16 from 1-5 p.m. Contact gunninativeplants@ gmail.com for tour info.

‘Murder Well Done’

Firebird Theatre presents “Murder Well Done,” a comedic murder mystery dinner theater experience at the Almont Resort on June 21-22. The show is suitable for those 13 and up. Tickets are $60 and include dinner at 6 p.m. Seating is limited and tickets must be purchased in advance. Find more information at firebirdcb.com.

Free Qigong for cancer

In partnership with Tough Enough to Wear Pink, Heidi Magnus will offer free, gentle Qigong for anyone who has been recently diagnosed, currently in treatment for, or in remission from cancer. Caregivers are welcome. Sessions will take place on Mondays from 4-5 p.m. through June 17 at Sanctuary Somatics, 513 S. Main St. in Gunnison.

Film fest screening

The Crested Butte Film Festival will screen “The Zone Of Interest'' on June 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Majestic Theater. Find tickets at cbfilmfest.org.

Six Points picnic

The Six Points Community Picnic happens on June 27 from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. at the thrift store,

Yard of the Week

1160 N. Main St. in Gunnison. Enjoy free food, drinks and activities for all.

Pioneer Museum open

The Gunnison Pioneer Museum is open daily from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. through September, offering visitors a wide variety of displays of western heritage in over 40 buildings and structures. Museum admission is $15 for ages 13+, $5 for ages 6-12 and free for 5 and under. Annual memberships are $25. Follow their Facebook page and visit gunnisonpioneermuseum.com for updated information.

Graduate degree scholarships

Western’s Masters of Behavioral Science in Rural Community Health program (MBS) has scholarships available this fall. The MBS program prepares students for health work in behavioral and social science fields including substance abuse prevention, health promotion and education/advocacy around a range of community issues. Learn more at western.edu or contact Jessica Eckhardt at jeckhardt@western.edu.

Habitat for Humanity volunteers

Habitat for Humanity Gunnison is seeking volunteers on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-5 p.m. at 211 S. 6th Street in Gunnison. Help with painting, landscaping and basic construction tasks. No experience is necessary. Volunteers get a free t-shirt and lunch on Saturdays. Call 970.641.1245 or visit hfhgunnisonvalley.org for more details.

The Top O’ the World Garden Club awarded Molly and Bryan Dillan of 623 North Spruce St. with Yard of the Week. The Dillans are working to create a yard favorable to both pollinators and their own daughters to play in. They recently planted milkweed, coreopsis, salvia and yarrow and reworked their backyard with the help of family and friends.

CHASKI

(Courtesy Nancy Dean/Top O’ the World Garden Club)

MOUNTAIN BIKING: CBMR opens for summer season, B7

BASEBALL: Gunnison victorious at Summer Slam, B8

GUNNISON COUNTRY TIMES • THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2024

Gunnison softball triumphant against BV

In a tight game, U18 team seals the win

Evan Bjornstad Times Sports Intern

The Gunnison U18 softball team defeated Buena Vista in a close game at home on June 6 at Jorgensen Park.

The matchup started with a number of obstacles for Gunnison. The team walked four batters in the first inning and allowed four runners to score. With the score at 4-0, Gunnison was quick to respond with multiple extra-base hits. The inning was capitalized with an inside-the-park home run from Kaylee Vincent and a double From Josie Vollendorf to score five total runs for Gunnison.

The top of the second started with back-to-back walks and followed a similar path to the first inning. Buena Vista scored four runs again, bringing the score to 8-5. Gunnison pushed into the bottom of the second with a more solid offense, putting up five runs to end the inning at 10-8.

Gunnison started the final inning with a quick defensive out. But with runners loaded on second and third, Buena

Vista hit a line drive to center that brought home a runner and kept the bases occupied. After multiple walks, the inning ended with Buena Vista up 13-10.

The bottom of the third was a crucial point for Gunnison and the girls started hot with two runners on base. Vollendorf hit another double and brought home two runners on a passed ball. She then stole home to even up the score.

After another two runners got on base, Caroline Sudderth hit an RBI sacrifice ground ball to bring a runner home and take the lead. The final at-bat from the game was an RBI double from Vincent that enforced the 5-run rule ending the game. With a final score of 15-13, Gunnison took home the victory.

“We're having a great season so far,” Coach Alyssa Geist said after the game. “The girls are learning a lot. We are getting a lot of games in and we are having fun.”

(Evan Bjornstad can be contacted at 970.641.1414.)

Born to pickle at CharMar

The Gunnison Park transforms into pickleball hotspot

Alex McCrindle Times Sports Editor

College professors, shirtless teenagers and retired couples flocked to the pickleball courts at CharMar Park on Memorial Day to bat the ball around.

Heavy-hitters Jim Armstrong and Kevin Nelson dueled on the far court, testing each other with powerful strikes at the net.

On the near court, retired kindergarten teacher Kathy Fischer played alongside Joan Arneson.

Cheers echoed throughout the park, amidst the continuous ping of pickleball rallies.

The CharMar pickleball courts are pushing 10 years old, thanks to the tenacity of “OG” players, Kentucky-natives Dave

and Diane Robertson in 2014. Even though the sport was still in its youth, the community quickly jumped on the pickleball train and brought its fruit to the Gunnison Valley. Now, players compete in white-knuckle rallies throughout the summer and Gunnison has bloomed into a pickleball hotspot on the Western Slope.

“It’s wonderful to see the courts overflowing on weeknights as the sport gets more popular,” Diane said. “We’re seeing RV tourists stay for the summer, and folks from Arizona and Florida escape the heat to play pickleball in Gunnison. It has already had a positive economic impact on our town.”

Pickleball is a blend between tennis and ping pong, played on a shrunken tennis court with a 3-foot-tall net stretched across the middle. Instead of racquets and tennis balls, players use large paddles and hit a perforated plastic “wiffle ball.”

Pickleball B7

Pickleball players challenge each other to a game at CharMar Park. (Photos by Alex McCrindle)

Kaylee Vincent pitches in the third and final inning of the game. (Photo by Evan Bjornstad)

A key difference between tennis and pickleball is the infamous “kitchen.” Players are forbidden to step inside the 20-foot by 7-foot rectangle on either side of the net, known as the kitchen, to prevent volleyball-like spikes.

The sport was established by a Washington State congressman named Joel Pritchard back in 1965. While vacationing near Seattle, he invented pickleball by hitting a wiffle ball with ping pong paddles across a badminton court, according to USA Pickleball. The game slowly adapted into its current form and spread across the United States, reaching retirement communities and country clubs. The sport exploded in 2019 and reached a wider age range and gained two professional leagues.

Long before its nation-wide boom, the Robertsons had a vision to bring the humble game to Gunnison. In 2014, the sport was being furiously played at the Gunnison Rec Center and newly-built Mountaineer Field House. The Robertsons had fallen in love with the game in Florida and wanted a location to play outside. That dream led them to pitch the idea to the city, fundraise at local pickleball tournaments and apply for a Great Outdoor Colorado (GOCO) grant.

“In the early days, it was dis-

couraging to wait 40 minutes to play pickleball at the Rec Center,” Diane said. “I always dreamed of having a spot to play outside in Gunnison, and now we’re seeing all sorts of players, young and old, playing at CharMar.”

By 2015, the city donated $40,000 to the project. The full cost of $400,000 was achieved through GOCO grants submitted by former Recreation Director Dan Ampietro, and numerous community donations. After the courts were finished, the pickleball craze spread like wildfire. Today, the courts host all levels of competition and beginner lessons. Memorial Day was a testament to the Gunnison community’s newfound enchantment to the sport. After each match, new teams would pick up their

Mountain bike mania

paddles and march onto the courts. Once the afternoon sun reached its apex, the players took a breather in the grass, and some biked home for the day.

“It’s a tremendous sport,” Armstrong said. “It’s lowimpact on my joints, and extremely portable. I’ve now played in 10 states, and it’s allowed me to meet others, and learn so many life stories. Pickleball is a social icebreaker like no other, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s so addictive, easy to learn and highly competitive.”

CharMar will host recreational pickleball throughout the summer. For more information visit playtimescheduler.com.

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

Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) hiking and mountain biking trails opened for exploration on June 8. Guests seeking a more relaxing way to spend opening day enjoyed the sun on the Butte 66 deck while DJ Red played live music. CBMR will be open daily for the 2024 summer season through Sept. 2, and will remain open on Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 29.

(Courtesy Taylor Ahearn/Crested Butte Mountain Resort)

Gunnison has had pickleball courts since 2015.

Gunnison victorious in Summer Slam tournament

U14 team wins the D2 bracket

Evan Bjornstad Times Sports Intern

Fans packed the GHS baseball fields for the Gunnison Summer Slam U12-14 baseball tournament on June 7 and 8. Gunnison’s U14 team won big in the second division after a challenging first day and a final match-up against another Gunnison team.

“After a rough day of pool play on Friday, the boys banded together and played as a team on Saturday to win the D2 championship,” said Coach Kevin Walek. “This was exemplified by the 10 different pitchers who took the mound across our three wins in bracket play. ”

unable to push back. In the second, Gunnison scored twice more, putting the team up a solid 5-0 against an unresponsive Meeker team.

Meeker began to wake up in the third inning, scoring one run and shutting down Gunnison at the plate — bringing the score to 5-1. Meeker shut down Gunnison in the fourth, and put up another run on the board. The game concluded after two more scoreless innings and Gunnison’s U14 team advanced to the D2 championship after a 5-2 win.

The first inning ended when Gunnison’s U13 team brought two runners across home. With the score at 2-0, Salida came into the second inning with aggression, but only scored one run that was quickly suppressed by Gunnison’s bats.

Make sure they know about your business, organization or event by advertising in this year’s CATTLEMEN’S DAYS special publication. Contact Steve Nunn at 970.641.1414 or steve@gunnisontimes.com for help creating exactly the right ad for your needs.

The tournament started with frustration on Friday for the Gunnison teams. Each lost their first two games to Montrose, Olathe, Meeker and the Grand Junction Jets. Gunnison U14 lost both of its games, 16-4 and 23-1 — leading to an unsure future in bracket play.

After a slow start, Gunnison’s U13 and U14 teams started to heat up on Saturday. Gunnison’s U14 had the worst seed after pool play in the tournament. Under mounting pressure, the team faced Buena Vista first thing in the morning in a single elimination game.

Gunnison loaded the bases and brought four runners home, bringing the score to 4-0. But by the end of the first, Buena Vista tied the game. The second went scoreless, and as the clock ticked Gunnison started to feel fatigue from its small roster and large pitching needs.

The fourth was aggressive on both sides of the field.

Gunnison only scored twice and its defense shut down Buena Vista. The fifth and final inning followed similarly. Gunnison finished the game, winning 14-4 and moving on to play Meeker in the semifinals in the division two bracket.

Gunnison started the game by putting up three unanswered runs. Avren Hartzel started on the mound, and Meeker was

In the final inning, Salida scored one last time — giving them a one-run lead, 5-4. With the pressure on for Gunnison, the team landed two runners on base. After two back-to-back passed balls, Tytus Williams and Rylan Holler stole home. This victory then decided the final D2 matchup, Gunnison vs. Gunnison.

The final game started with the U13 boys striking first and scoring one run from a Lane Stone double. The energy came quickly to the U14 team at the start of the second with RBI singles from Hatcher Kruthaupt and Bennett Miramon, and two RBI triples from Avren Hartzel and Zaiden Amrich. The inning finished with seven batters rounding the bases and stomping on the U13 lead.

The bottom of the second resulted in a shutout from Asher Woytek. He collected two strikeouts to seal the inning and get the U14 boys back to the plate in the top of the third. The U13 boys then scored another five runs to bring the score to 9-6. In the final inning, the U14 boys were too hot to handle. The team finished the game 19-10 after a phenomenal final stand, winning the D2 Summer Slam championship.

(Evan Bjornstad can be contacted at 970.641.1414.)

Zaiden Amrich pitches the ball. (Photo by Evan Bjornstad)

The doctors of tomorrow

Gunnison Valley Health nurses and physicians teamed up to train the next generation of doctors at the Junior Mountaineers Camp on June 4. The campers spent the morning learning CPR, first aid and how to stop bleeding.

New digs for Rooted Apothecary

Briana Wiles celebrated relocating her shop, Rooted Apothecary, with family and friends during a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 7. Rooted’s new space at 144 North Main St. Unit D, next to Salon One Forty Four, provides ample space for Wiles to display her herbal creations.

THIS WEEK AT THE MUSEUM

The Summer of ‘24

Submitted by Larry McDonald

Recently we took a look at happenings in our area that took place in 1964, the year we opened our museum doors for the first time. This week we will go back even further, to the summer of 1924.

reign of tears is over. The slums will soon be only a memory. We will turn our prisons into factories and our jails into storehouses and corncribs. Men will walk upright now; women will smile and the children will laugh. Hell will be forever for rent.”

It was the June 4 edition of Western’s Top of the World newspaper reporting that Mrs. Sills and Carlton Sills had donated a parcel of land 300 x 300 feet adjacent to Highland Village for the construction of the new student Club House on campus and that the science club was already raising funds to purchase a new Victrola record player. It also reported that Dr. Johnson was creating a Biological Station on 160 acres just north of Almont on the Taylor River and that the college saw eighty-three students graduating this month and a record number already enrolled for the coming year. Coach Krause of the football team issued a challenge to his pigskin warriors to be ready as the upcoming schedule had the Mountaineers opening the season at Colorado College before travelling to Boulder to play CU, followed by home games against Greeley Teachers College and Brigham Young University, and concluding with games at Regis College and University of New Mexico at Albuquerque.

News from the northern end of our valley included a thorough inspection of our railroad facilities by Denver & Rio Grande Western officials, a destructive fire that burned much of the Elk Mountain House, and continuing discussion on the growing Ku Klux Klan issue. Prohibition was also a hot topic, with the Reverend William A. Sunday prophesizing after the adoption of the 18th Amendment, “The

And with the growing popularity of automobiles, related news stories dominated the headlines of the Gunnison News-Champion with one reporting that three hundred cars and 1,500 people attended the grand opening of the high bridge at Sapinero. And County road crews were busy improving Kebler Pass for a celebration at the top of McClure Pass where residents were hoping to impress state officials to build a highway to connect the communities of the Roaring Fork valley with ours and others on the Western Slope.

Our Women’s Relief Corp planted an evergreen tree in Captain Gunnison’s honor with Dr. Johnson giving a talk on his expedition stating, “That an adventurer for the sake of adventure was worth nothing, but an adventurer who went into new territory for a definite purpose was decidedly worthwhile.” And with a new street lighting system installed on Main Street, the American Legion proposed installing ten-foot flag poles in between the light posts to be used during holidays and requesting businesses contribute $2.00 each to purchase the necessary flags.

Our extensive museum collections are incomparable, and it is through the historic newspapers where our history truly comes alive. We encourage you to plan a visit to the museum soon to experience more intriguing Gunnison Country history!

MUSEUM OPEN DAILY 9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. FROM MAY 15 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30.

Admission $15 ages 13+, $5 for ages 6-12, Free for 5 and under. Follow us on Facebook for current information and amazing local history!

(Courtesy Joelle Ashley/Gunnison Valley Health)

(Photo by Mariel Wiley)

A la tierra que fueras haz lo que vieres

Dorian Gomez Special to the Times

En la cultura latina se acostumbra visitar a los parientes en vacaciones, especialmente cuando éramos niños.

Recuerdan que en la casa de las tías, tíos o abuelos había que respetar reglas incluso diferentes a las que habían en nuestras casas. Recuerdo que tenía una tía hermana de mi madre que se llamaba Marina y su esposo mi tío Toño, hombre rudo y fuerte, que con solo escucharle la voz uno temblaba.

A todos los primos nos gustaba ir a su casa, porque era muy limpia, grande y organizada, se veía mucha prosperidad y la comida era abundante y deliciosa, mis primos tenían muchos juguetes y mi tío Toño tenía un

Jeep Willys rojo descapotado de los anos 70, en el cual salíamos a la playa; pero sabíamos que al ir a esa casa debíamos todos pisar blandito, portarnos bien o nos ateníamos a las consecuencias, no nos pegaban, pero si nos portábamos mal inmediatamente nos devolvían a nuestras casas, que no eran para nada abundantes como la de mi tía Marina.

Siempre queríamos volver, y cada vez que iba me repetía en la cabeza siendo un niño como una lección del colegio, “no debo regar comida en la mesa, si uso el baño debo dejarlo seco, no debo correr dentro de la casa, etcétera etcétera” y cada vez que iba tenía claro que no debía hacer para que dejaran mis tíos visitarlos en su casa. Lo anterior contado no es una metáfora, es una realidad que viví y siempre la lleve en mi mente para aplicarla a cualquier lugar extraño o diferente a donde fuera. Nosotros cuando venimos a Estados Unidos nos chocamos con una realidad completamente diferente a la que vivimos en nuestros países. Encontramos reglas y un comportamiento social totalmente distinto a nuestras costumbres.

Los americanos no son para poner un ejemplo de colocar música de alto volumen o hacer fiestas ruidosas en sus casas, por el gran respeto que tienen con sus vecinos, siempre evitando en lo posible el conflicto. En nuestros países y ustedes lo saben, que cuando conducimos nunca se detiene el carro por completo en las señales de pare, y poco se respeta los límites de velocidad, porque somos de culturas diferentes. Ustedes saben que no importa del país de donde vengamos de Latinoamérica la policía hace retenes de tránsito esperando más como quitarnos dinero por cualquier cosa, que para control de tráfico, mientras en este país te detienen si has cometido una infracción de tráfico, tal vez en nuestros países era un poco más relajado, porque acá definitivamente es más común que te citen a la corte.

Muchísimos latinos estamos guerreándonos la vida en este país, muchísimos estamos dando lo mejor de cada uno para sacar adelante nuestras familias, y nos ha tocado enfrentarnos a demasiados cambios culturales, hemos dejado a nuestros familiares, la

tierra, los amigos y seres queridos por luchar por nuestros proyectos; somos muy importantes para este país, porque Estados Unidos ha sido un país de migración constante, y por eso es una potencia mundial, debido a que cuenta con la mano de obra de millones de inmigrantes buenos para el trabajo, que hacemos trabajos que el americano no hace, y eso no es un secreto para nadie. MI reflexión es que tengamos siempre presente que somos muchos más los que estamos con buenas intenciones, que unos pocos inmigrantes desadaptados que vienen hacer mal sin importar de que país vengan. Nadie está exento de cometer un error ante la ley, pero si pasa aprendemos y evitamos volver a fallar. Estamos en casa ajena, respetemos sus normas y leyes, aprendamos de su cultura y su seguridad, o díganme si en nuestros países podíamos dormir con las puertas de la casa sin tener una reja de hierro o se puede dejar las llaves dentro de los carros, o las bicicletas en el jardín sin que se las roben?

Cada vez que hay delitos de alto impacto como asesinatos,

robos a manos armada, redadas por drogas, violaciones, accidentes mortales de tráfico, los inmigrantes nos ponemos en el ojo del huracán. Estamos en año de elecciones presidenciales y siempre está el tema latente de las deportaciones. Con todo respeto, pero siempre se escucha de deportaciones de latinos, casi no escuchan de árabes, asiáticos o africanos, porque será? Será que esas culturas se portan mejor que nosotros, será que podemos aprender a mantenernos un poco más calmados y enfocados y fuera del foco de atención de las autoridades?

Como dice el salsero Rubén Blades que una Latinoamérica unida nunca será vencida, y creo que es la hora de mostrar lo bueno que somos y lo importante que fuimos, somos y seremos para el desarrollo de los Estados Unidos, lugar donde los sueños se cumplen.

(Dorian Gómez es residente de Gunnison. Es un periodista que emigró a Estados Unidos desde Colombia.)

In a new land, do what you see

Dorian Gomez Special to the Times

In Latin culture, it is customary to visit relatives on vacation, especially as children. We knew that in the house of aunts, uncles or grandparents we had to respect rules that might be different than those in our homes. I remember visiting my Aunt Marina, my mother’s sister, and her husband, my uncle Toño. He was a tough

and strong man; just hearing his voice made you tremble.

All of us cousins liked to go to his house, because it was very clean, large and organized, there was a lot of prosperity and the food was abundant and delicious. My cousins had many toys and my uncle Toño had an old red convertible Willys Jeep, in which we went to the beach. But we knew that when we went to that house we all had to tread softly, behave well or we would face the consequences.

They didn't hit us, but if we behaved badly they immediately returned us to our houses, which were not at all abundant like my Aunt Marina's. We always wanted to return, and every time I went I repeated in my head like a school lesson, “I should not spread food on the table, if I use the bathroom I should leave it dry, I should not run inside the house, etc.” And every time I went I was clear about what I should not do so that I would be allowed to visit

them at their house.

The above is not a metaphor, it is a reality that I lived, and I always carried it in my mind to apply it to any strange or new place. When we come to the United States, we encounter a completely different reality than the one we live in our countries. We find rules and social behavior totally different from our customs. Americans are not in the habit of playing loud music or having loud parties in their homes, because of the

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great respect they have for their neighbors, always avoiding conflict as much as possible. In our countries — and you know it — when we drive, the car never stops completely at stop signs, and there is little respect for speed limits, because we are from different cultures. You know that no matter what country we come from in Latin America, the police make traffic stops hoping more to take money from us than for Informaté B11

traffic control. In this country they stop you if you have committed a traffic violation that perhaps in our countries were a little more relaxed. Here it is definitely more common to be summoned to court.

Many Latinos are fighting for life in this country, many of us are giving our best to raise our families, and we have had to face too many cultural changes. We have left our families, the land, friends and loved ones to fight for our goals. We are very important for this country, because the U.S. has been a country of constant migration. That is why it is a world power, because it has the labor force of millions of immigrants who are good for work, who do jobs that the American does not. That is not a secret to anyone.

My reflection is that we always keep in mind that there are many more of us who have good intentions, than a few maladjusted immigrants who come to do harm, no matter what country they come from. No one is exempt from making a mistake before the law, but if it happens we learn and avoid failing again. We are in someone else's house. Let's respect their rules and laws, let's learn from their culture and their safety. Tell me if in our coun -

tries we could sleep with the doors of the house unlocked without having an iron fence, or if you can leave the keys inside the cars, or bicycles in the garden without them being stolen?

Every time there are highimpact crimes such as murders, armed robberies, drug raids, rapes or fatal traffic accidents, immigrants put themselves in the eye of the hurricane. We are in a presidential election year, and there is always the latent issue of deportations. With all due respect, you always hear about deportations of Latinos, but you hardly hear about Arabs, Asians or Africans. Why is that? Could it be that those cultures behave better than us? Could it be that we can learn to stay a little calmer and focused and out of the spotlight of the authorities?

As the salsa singer Rubén Blades says, a united Latin America will never be defeated, and I think it is time to show how good we are and how important we were, are and will be for the development of the U.S., a place where dreams come true.

(This article was traslated into English using Google translate.)

(Dorian Gomez is a resident of Gunnison. He is a journalist who immigrated to the United States from Colombia.)

Flow together

Families enjoyed a relaxing yoga session led by Diana Laughlin in both English and Spanish during a Kids Bilingual Adventure Yoga event at the Gunnison County Library on June 8. The yogis worked on kid-friendly poses, mindfulness and breathing exercises.

(Photos by Mariel Wiley)