Gunnison Country Times, March 20, 2025 by Alan Wartes Media

City’s updated land use code

Bella Biondini Times Editor

The City of Gunnison’s draft land development code — a guide to what can be developed in city limits and where — encourages property owners to take advantage of the limited space in town.

In 2024, the city began rewriting its land development code for the first time in nearly a decade. The alterations will influence how future development inside city limits looks and feels, as well as its density. This rulebook for private development typically Code A6

Local education funding intact for now Uncertainty clouds future planning

Alan Wartes Times Publisher

Looming federal budget cuts and workforce changes have yet to directly affect Gunnison Watershed School District and Western Colorado University programs. But administrators at both Gunnison Valley education institutions report that the current climate of uncertainty has complicated efforts to plan for future operations.

Both the university and the school district receive federal funding through a variety of

agencies, depending on the programs the money is meant to support. For K-12 schools, much of that money is aimed at helping local school districts meet the needs of students from low-income households and those with developmental or physical disabilities. At the postsecondary level, federal money supports low-income university students through Pell grants and subsidized and unsubsidized loans. In addition, federal grants help fund the research projects of undergraduate and graduate students.

While none of these sources of revenue have yet been directly trimmed or shut off, reliable information about what the Trump administration has

Funding A6

GVH expands cash-pay pricing Program

removes guesswork of insurance claims

Bella Biondini Times Editor

After a medical appointment, some residents may avoid the mailbox, dreading the arrival of an unexpected bill. Because health insurance coverage can come with a lot of question marks at the doctor’s office, Gunnison Valley Health (GVH) is expanding a program that provides more certainty.

At the start of the year, GVH expanded its cash-pay pricing program to its radiology

department. Driven by market demand, the decision is an attempt to serve patients who have high deductibles or limited coverage and those who do not have health insurance. According to CEO Jason Amrich, the radiology cash-pay program is part of the hospital’s effort to make health care “more straightforward, affordable and stress-free.”

“By offering clear pricing and eliminating surprise bills, we’re creating a better experience for our patients and empowering them to focus on their health,” Amrich said in a press release.

The cash-pay model first launched in the hospital’s rehab department roughly five years ago. A number of insurance companies had begun to put a cap on how many physical therapy sessions they would cover.

Cash-pay A9

SILVER LININGS: Despite the gray skies, a man and his canine companion enjoyed some ice fishing at Blue Mesa Reservoir on March 15. (Photo by Mariel Wiley)

“We try to put it into a new pond so it has that chance for new eyes … allowing those garments to get as far through their life cycle as possible.”

— Michael Tobiassen, All Sports Replay owner

Spring trail closures in place

Road, trail and area closures are in place throughout Gunnison County to help protect the Gunnison sage-grouse and protect wintering big game. Trails in the northwest corner of the Signal Peak area are closed to all uses until May 15. This includes the Ridgeline trail past the second radio tower, Rasta Gulch, Chicken Wing, Shoelace and the Cranor Hill trails. All entry points are marked with gates and are well signed. The entire Signal Peak area is closed to bikes until April 30, and no use is permitted before 10 a.m. May 1 to May 15. No motorized use is allowed until after May 15. While the trails at Hartman Rocks remain open to winter use, things are sloppy out there. Mud season closures will begin soon. All roads and trails south of Powerline Road (Bambi's, Sawtooth, Back-In, Outback, Nine-0, Skull Pass and Aberdeen Loop) are closed to motorized and mountain bike use until May 15.

Gunnison County, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service also have a number of spring closures. For a full list, visit gunnisoncounty.org/162/WildlifeConservation.

Black Canyon missing person update

Park rangers and a member of the Black Canyon Search and Rescue Team located human remains within a remote and highly technical area to access within the wilderness at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

They are believed to be those of Jordan Marsters of Denver, who was reported missing on Feb. 15. Multiple agencies have assisted with the search, and the national park is currently reaching out to adjacent parks that have extreme technical skill sets to help with the recovery. At this point, the death was believed to be unwitnessed and is under investigation.

John Q. Cope

John Q. Cope, III of Gunnison passed peacefully the evening of March 15, 2025 at the age of 90. His family surrounded him in love as he transitioned.

John was raised in El Cerrito, California where he had access to his dad’s shop and taught himself the McGuyver skills we all knew and loved. As a young boy, John built and successfully tested his own aqualung.

After high school, John attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA where he met his wife- Marilyn Matter. When John was offered a teaching position at WSC in the English department the two moved to the mountains where they raised their family and have lived ever since.

John was known as a poet. His works include “The River,” pieces in “Geography of Hope,” and hundreds of other pieces. He was rarely seen at family (or other) gatherings without his man-bag full of pencils, paper and poems.

In summers when college wasn’t in session, John found work in the hay fields, and later taught himself stone masonry. His masonry work can still be seen all over town.

John was preceded in death by his parents (Jake and Mary), sister (Emy Peterson) and grandson Nick Pike.

He is survived by his wife Marilyn and their daughters and their families- Ann (Connie Carlson), Mary (WoodyArnold), Amy (Rick Pike), Gail (Rich Purcell) and grand children Nancy Wynstra-Cope, Domenica Jubic, Mario Sciacca, Maddie Pike, and Rex Purcell.

Other survivors include niece and nephews Carol, Jim, Tom, and brother in law Al.

Very special thanks to Mario Sciacca for taking such AMAZING care of Grandpa. Also to Domenica La Capra, Shannon Frias, and Liz Anderson; and to GVH Hospice. Your kindness meant the world to all of us. A celebration of life will happen in July.

Judith Ann Settle-Kading (Archuletta)

Judith Ann Settle-Kading (Archuletta), 77, passed away peacefully at the Delta County Hospital on Jan. 26, 2025. She was born Sept. 2, 1947 in Lamar, Colorado and graduated from Gunnison High School in 1965. She was a member of the Rough Tough Cowboys cheerleading team. Moving on from Gunnison to pursue her goals and dreams, she became a successful cosmetologist, specializing in permanent make-up and practicing the ancient healing art of Reiki.

Judy was a well-known artist in the western states and was admired for her intricate fine line black and white artwork. She had many hobbies and adventurous interests. She loved racing. Her cherished Jeep (modified by her former husband and crew chief Bert Settle of Gunnison and Boise, Idaho) won her numerous trophies in hill climbs in the Pacific Northwest. She was a member of the Boise Strawberry Hill Parachute Club. Judith loved gardening, cooking and especially entertaining her friends, a diverse variety of doctors and

lawyers and common good ol’ folks. She loved everybody and never postponed exercising her good.

Judy is survived by Gracie, Roy, Georgia, Richard (Archie) Archuletta of Gunnison, Lorri Knull-Archuletta of Montrose, Betty Archuletta of Grand Junction and numerous relatives residing along the front range and Northern New Mexico.

Judy requested no services. Her, her husband RB and beloved dogs’ ashes return to the Boise River in Boise, Idaho.

An informal celebration of life is planned, TBA. Donations can be made to Surface Creek Animal Shelter in Cedaredge, Colorado at surfacecreekanimalshelter.org or call 970.856.2346.

Judy’s infectious smile, laugh, generosity and kindness will be missed by family, neighbors and longtime friends. A smile begets a smile.

Randy Jean Haggerty Morgan

With shattered hearts, Paul Morgan and his daughters, Dana, Carlee and Mackenzie, announce the passing of Randy Jean Haggerty Morgan. She died as she lived — with grace, strength and dignity, surrounded by love — on March 7, 2025 after a hard-fought battle with uterine cancer. This day also marked 31 years since Randy and Paul moved their family to Gunnison.

Born and raised in Succasunna, NJ, Randy met Paul at age 12, and he fondly says he "tricked" her into falling

in love. She was, and always will be, his best friend and “Cubby,” whom he will miss every day.

After honeymooning in Aspen, Randy and Paul moved to Colorado, where she embraced adventure — running, biking and competing in triathlons. She had a dedicated career in health care, finding her passion at the Gunnison County Public Health Department. If locals didn’t see her there, they likely saw her on a run or cheering on Gunnison sports teams.

Randy and Paul traveled countless miles to support their daughters and grandkids, Sydney and Bryce, who lovingly called her “Nammie.” She lived a life of intention, checking off many experiences on her bucket list. Yet, even with a life so full, she and Paul still had dreams left to chase. Her life was cut short, and her endless plans have inspired her family to live with hope, excitement, gratitude and no excuses. She was grateful for every day and reminded those around her to feel lucky.

To honor Randy’s memory, donations may be made to Gunnison Valley Hospice, Gunnison Tough or Living Journeys. The Morgans are endlessly grateful for these community organizations, whose care and support means so much.

An open-house-style celebration of her life will be held at the Gunnison Community Center on Sunday, March 30, from 2-4 p.m. All are welcome.

Ethel Rice

A celebration of life for Ethel Rice will be held on March 25 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in the West Wing of the Leslie J. Savage Library on the campus of Western Colorado University. Please note this time is earlier than the time that was announced in the obituary

audrie Townsend Broker/Owner

(Photos by Mariel Wiley)

970.641.1414

Publisher/Owner Alan Wartes publisher@gunnisontimes.com

Editor Bella Biondini bella@gunnisontimes.com

Staff Writer Abby Harrison abby@gunnisontimes.com

Photo Editor Mariel Wiley mariel@gunnisontimes.com

Sports Editor Alex McCrindle alex@gunnisontimes.com

Advertising Manager Steve Nunn steve@gunnisontimes.com

Advertising Assistant Bobbie Corn bobbie@gunnisontimes.com

Production Manager Issa Forrest issa@gunnisontimes.com

THE GUNNISON COUNTRY TIMES (ISSN 0892-1113) is published weekly by Alan Wartes Media LLC., 218 N. Wisconsin St., Gunnison, Colorado 81230. Periodical postage paid at Gunnison, Colorado. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Gunnison Country Times, 218 N. Wisconsin, Gunnison, CO 81230-0240

Hours:

9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday

Federal fiscal detox — pain and promise

Our coverage continues this week asking the question on just about everyone’s mind: What is the likely local impact of changes in the federal workforce and government?

If you haven’t read Bella Biondini’s excellent article in the March 6 edition of the Gunnison Times called “Firings threaten valley’s public lands,” then do yourself a favor and retrace your steps to rectify that. In it she does an excellent job of personalizing the local impact of sweeping changes underway in how the federal government operates.

It is good journalism, a thorough presentation of the facts regarding the impact of workforce cuts on public land management in the valley, without losing sight of the guiding light we try to follow in all our reporting every week: What does it all mean to our neighbors and friends? In other words — to paraphrase the famous internal memo to Clinton campaign workers in 1992 — “It’s all about the people, stupid.”

And yet, that goal comes with certain risks that we must also bear in mind; namely, the temptation to let sentimentality alone take the wheel and steer right past other important considerations. I stand behind every word we published in that

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.

story, but let’s take a moment to acknowledge the broader context, as well. Doing so may not be easy or comfortable, but I believe it will contribute to a more complete understanding of where we are — and perhaps where we must go next.

The common thread we are discovering in our reporting is fear. Some people in our community are afraid of what all this means for themselves and their families and friends directly, through job losses or uncertainty. Others fear losing important things like full access to public lands, or the services that protect and maintain them. We’re afraid of what could happen with regard to health care, education, senior services and a lot more.

It’s entirely natural to feel fear when things we value are threatened.

But that brings us to the hard part of the conversation as we go through this period of change together. Few people want to hear it — much less roll up their sleeves and do something about it — but the unvarnished truth is that much of what we fear losing as a result of Trump administration actions was already threatened before he took office. Read that again. As chaotic and painful as this process is — and it is — we’re only drawing back the curtain on things that have been true for a while and that we can no longer ignore.

That’s because the fiscal state of the union has been dismal — putting it mildly — for quite some time. The numbers involved are impossibly huge, almost to the point of being imaginary. The average person can be forgiven for entering a

kind of trance when we hear, for instance, that the Pentagon can’t pass an audit, with trillions of dollars unaccounted for. That’s not Monopoly money, it’s our money; but the hypnosis only deepens when it sinks in that this is certainly true of other agencies as well, and the scale of the problem grows exponentially.

And that’s before we consider that even the money we can account for is often spent on things that defy common sense and provide no reasonable benefit to the people whose money it is.

That lack of accountability is not something we’d tolerate from Gunnison County Commissioners, or the school district or any other taxing authority in the Gunnison Valley. Why do we accept it as “business as usual” from the federal government? (I suppose that’s a question for psychologists and sociologists to consider, but I won’t hold my breath for a satisfying answer.)

There is nothing radical or partisan about the idea that we’ve reached the point where we either deal with this mess or get buried by it. All sides have a share in the blame. As of March 18, we are more than $36 trillion in debt — and steadily climbing. That may seem like a weightless sum on paper, but it will feel heavy enough if it ever enters freefall and lands on Main Street.

President Trump and his team appear to understand this — and to be willing to act on it, come what may. The result of that action has already been messy and tumultuous — no less shocking for many than an addict’s first few days in detox.

The experience is absolutely seismic, but, without it, recovery is a fantasy. We can argue till the end of time over the methods employed, but the goal, at least, is something most of us ought to be able to agree on. Sometimes, as our coverage continues to reveal, the therapy can be applied too broadly or too suddenly, with unintended effects on important, or even vital, government services and the people who provide them. But if you accept the premise at all that America may have entered a fiscal state of emergency over the past few years, then it’s reasonable to assert that a measure of sacrifice and pain now to put things right, if we can, is preferable to the unthinkable consequences of systemic economic collapse. History is full of examples to prove that nobody wins in that scenario. Everything we now cling to would likely be lost anyway.

While this point of view offers no immediate comfort to those in our community living directly on the bubble of change, there is reason for collective hope that such bitter medicine might yet prove effective at securing the future of the nation we love. I think we can afford a little patience while we watch and see.

In the meantime, I’m confident that we in the Gunnison Valley will do what we always do in the face of a challenge — pull together and take care of our own.

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

Public lands deserve management, not mayhem

Jonathan Houck Special

Two weeks ago today, I sat at the end of a long table in the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., just a stone's throw from the U.S. Capitol. I was invited by Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet to testify to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources and

Biotechnology for a legislative hearing. For nearly two hours, I was engaged in presenting a witness statement and answered questions from many of the 10 United States senators — from both sides of the aisle — who attended the hearing to review the Fix Our Forest Act (FOFA) and options to reduce catastrophic wildfire.

I was there to represent the views of you, the citizens of Gunnison County. We earned this spot at the table because we value the federal public lands that make up 80% of our large county and touch every sector of our community. Whether it is our economy, history, culture or our values, these public lands and their sound management have shaped our way of life.

I spent a small amount of my time opining on FOFA and concerns for how the House version of the bill creates end-runs around sound environmental reviews and public participation that we, as a community, have a long history of deep and meaningful participation. The community’s fingerprints can be found on the GMUG forest and travel management plans, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) resource management plans and revisions, Gunnison sage-grouse plans, as well as many collaborative stewardship programs. We know that when the community gets a seat at the table, participates in good faith and shows willingness to meet in the middle, we end up with

durable plans with community support that translate into the social license our public land management agencies need to carry out those plans on the ground.

FOFA will erode the process we have successfully employed to make our local voice heard. It is my hope that my testimony will help the senators dig in and amend the bill in a way that does not cut local communities out of the conversation under the guise of efficiency and emergency.

The bulk of my testimony took on the absolutely devastating staffing cuts across the Forest Service, BLM and Park Service. I was the only elected

Alan Wartes Times Publisher

to the Times

official on the panel that could speak to what is actually happening on the ground, and how this administration’s forced retirements, firing of probationary employees and rescinding of contracts for seasonal employees — coupled with the hiring freeze — will essentially cripple the ability of these agencies to manage our beloved public lands.

It is my belief that this slash and burn approach is by design with the goal of rendering the agencies ineffective and broken. The administration will then utilize that chaos as the vehicle to further an agenda to allow industry to have unfettered access with minimal regulation and, God forbid, potentially the sell off of our public lands.

Let me be clear, the multiple use mandate for our public lands management is a philosophy I agree with as your county commissioner. I have supported the mineral withdrawals for Mt. Emmons and the Thompson Divide, but also extraction when sensibly regulated in other parts of the county. I support public lands grazing. Our Gunnison County ranchers have been stewards of public lands through their well-managed grazing practices on their allotments and leaders in Gunnison sage-grouse conservation.

We have seen record high timber harvest on public lands in Gunnison County. This has contributed to better forest health, mitigated wildfire risk and improved watershed health, while also bringing wood products to the market and supporting jobs locally and

LETTERS

Stick with the facts

Editor:

Elon Musk and Donald Trump claim that Social Security benefits are being sent to those who are over 100, 200 and even 300 years old. This is a misrepresentation of Social Security Administration’s (SSA) data.

This information is from the SSA records of those without a date of death, not those receiving benefits. In fact, the SSA system automatically stops payments to those who are older than 115. Shame on our leaders for spreading falsehoods to the American people. While there probably is waste, fraud and abuse in our federal system, I urge our leaders to stick with the facts and be transparent. There is no need to lie and create alarm.

The SSA current total workforce is being reduced from 57,000 to 50,000. That definitely will not make their work to clean up their records easier!

Holly Dodge Gunnison

Dead horse theory

Editor:

On Monday, March 10, the Gunnison Watershed School Board voted 3 to 1 to approve

at the Montrose Mill. Forest management and BLM resource plans have continued to support habitat improvements and strategies that benefit big game, healthy fish populations and continue to prioritize recovery of the Gunnison sage-grouse, while still providing some of the best sporting, recreation and outdoor experiences anywhere in the Rocky Mountains.

We have balanced multiple use on our public lands here because we have shown up for decades and relentlessly advocate for it. Gunnison County, the towns, nonprofits, conservation and sporting organizations, the Stockgrowers and recreationalists and so many individuals engage in the planning processes that are now under threat.

In Gunnison County, we have shown what true democracy looks like — we bring many different voices and ideas to the table, we attack issues without attacking each other, we disagree without being disagreeable and we do the difficult work of finding middle ground and still believe that compromise is something worth finding.

Some of the quick-moving legislation wants to bypass this type of civic engagement and ignore our voice and thoughts.

Some legislation wants to nullify BLM resource management plans we as a community worked hard to craft. The continued hollowing out of our land management agencies will have an impact on our ranchers, recreationalists, hunters and anglers, not to mention a severe impact on our economy. Remember that those folks in

the 2025-26 school calendar.

This is despite overwhelming opposition to early release Wednesdays, 71.5%, from the parents of Gunnison pre-K to eighth-grade students.

The dialog preceding the vote demonstrated clearly to me that the school board and district administration believe they know what is better for parents and students than the parents know for themselves.

As a business owner, if I ignore the input of 71.5% of my customers, I am destined to fail.

Parents are the customers of our school district as they and the community at large, many of whom are former or future parents, pay the bills of the district through property taxes and other taxes.

I believe most parents are predisposed to support schools and their mission to educate those who will shape our future. To ignore the voices of this important group will result in less support for our schools. “Why bother giving input when it is ignored because they think they know better than I do.”

The district is creating a “task force” to study the issue. I share the “Dead Horse Theory”.

The “Dead Horse Theory” is a satirical metaphor that highlights how some individuals, institutions and school districts handle obvious, intractable problems. Instead of accepting reality, they cling to justifying

our community who have lost their jobs, or had their seasonal employment rescinded are hardworking public servants who renew grazing leases, mark timber sales, clear and maintain trails, inspect boats at Blue Mesa, put out abandoned campfires and caretake our public lands. They spend their hard-earned salaries here, raise families here and volunteer and make positive contributions. They are not statistics. They are our friends and neighbors. We need to stand up for them.

One of the things that truly makes America great is public lands. They belong to us all equally, and we, in turn, have a responsibility to caretake them today and for future generations. Here in the headwaters, we know that public land is the source of our clean air and water, and when managed thoughtfully, are the wellspring of our economy.

Most importantly, perhaps, these wild public lands are a source of refuge, inspiration and reverence that have shaped our values both as a community and as individuals. Please join me in fighting to keep public lands in public hands, to demand balanced management and to fight for the dignity of those in our community who have dedicated their careers to the service of one of this country’s most valuable treasures: our public lands.

(Jonathan Houck is the Gunnison County commissioner for District 2. Houck’s written testimony and a full recording of the hearing can be found at agriculture.senate.gov/hearings.)

their actions and create a task force.

The fundamental “dead horse” principle is simple: If you realize you’re riding a dead horse, the most sensible thing to do is dismount and move on.

Many businesses, institutions and school districts resist dismounting the dead horse, instead, pouring time, effort and money into things that no longer or never served them. True leadership lies in recognizing when it’s time to stop, pivot and make smarter decisions.

Dave Taylor Gunnison

You do get what you vote for

Editor:

I read another letter by Cori Dobson and Neil Watko of the Gunnison GOP regarding the TABOR refund and other issues. This is their second letter regarding TABOR. In the first letter some weeks ago, they made so many incorrect accusations that I found their credibility to be lacking. For example, the letter stated that to receive your refund you needed to check a box. The implication to me was that the Democrats snuck the box in so people would forget to check

changes across the city’s zoning districts, with different guidelines found in residential areas compared to downtown.

Through a series of public open houses, the city noted residents’ desire for different types of housing in Gunnison: accessory dwelling units and flats, apartments for seniors, cottages, mobile home parks and modular homes. The community’s support for infill is also rising as it is a means of preventing urban sprawl into the surrounding open space and addressing the ongoing housing shortage.

In an effort to promote density, the draft code expands where the city allows accessory dwelling units (ADU), a small living space that sits on the same lot as a single-family home, in all zones, and considers the removal of minimum lot size requirements. Specific neighborhood styles, which would be applied to new housing developments, would help the city predict what new builds look like and encourage variety. All of the changes are meant to retain the “type of character that is consistent with what our community wants to see,” said City Manager Amanda Wilson.

A first draft of the land development code is expected by the end of April. This will kick off another round of public input sessions before the final code is approved this summer. The city will also release a revised zoning map that will help builders visualize how land can be used in Gunnison in the future. For example, some areas have been set aside for high-density development, and others to grow the small business community downtown.

Infill development, or the construction of buildings on previously vacant or underutilized land in city limits, is at

the center of Gunnison’s ongoing code revision. Currently, ADUs are allowed in all residential and commercial zones, but “R-1” single-family neighborhoods. Following the code approval, Gunnison residents will have the ability to build them anywhere. In the past, homeowners’ opinions on the introduction of ADUs into their neighborhoods were mixed, said Senior Planner Andie Ruggera. While ADUs have the potential to generate extra income, some feared the new builds would be converted into vacation rentals. In 2022, the city began drafting a plan to regulate short-term rentals, but the document was never completed. This process will resume after the new code is in place as a precaution against the problems vacation rentals have created in other communities across the West.

“I think we've changed over the years and recognize the value [of ADUs],” Wilson said. “The bigger concern is … making sure we have really solid regulations as it relates to shortterm rentals so that it doesn't become an unintended consequence.”

In most of Gunnison’s residential areas, the minimum lot size needed to build a home is either 6,250 and 8,000 square feet, depending on the zone. To increase density of neighborhoods, the draft code contemplates the removal of these size requirements. As home prices in the valley continue to increase, the change also has the potential to make homeownership more accessible to residents.

During a joint meeting between the Planning and Zoning Commission and Gunnison City Council on Feb. 4, the group worried that elimination of lot size requirements would allow property owners to divide lots into abnormally small sizes. Setbacks, or how far back the home is required to sit from the street and the other

property lines, are one factor that will act as a kind of “checks and balances” on density, said Mayor Diego Plata. Access to streets, alleys and utilities would also help control how small a lot could be.

“What we're all aiming at here is trying to figure out a way to allow — decently — anyone to put up a tiny house of sorts that isn't going to encroach on the neighbors, and is going to retain the character [of town] and create some more livable space. How do we find the intersection?” Plata said.

What will future development look like?

Another new concept in the city’s draft code is “neighborhood types,” intended to help the city predict and direct how large new developments look. Some neighborhood styles are similar to what exists in Gunnison today, while others incorporate a mixture of different types of housing. In “cottage clusters,” similar to the existing Rock Creek neighborhood, homes would face a common space, such as a park. These neighborhood types could be applied to the vacant parcels in West Gunnison, land that is annexed into city limits in the future or eventually the stalled Gunnison Rising development west of town.

One novel neighborhood type in the draft code is an “agrihood.” Instead of building a neighborhood around a golf course like Dos Rios, a developer would build around a smallscale farm, or a garden. The idea aligned with residents’ desire to find more ways to support local food production and urban agriculture.

For planning and zoning commissioners and councilors, hesitation stemmed from the fear of letting buildable land “go to waste” in a town where the amount of vacant land is already limited. The group also considered Gunnison’s short growing season compared to

other rural communities. But agrihoods will still have to meet minimum density requirements, and housing would still be considered the primary use, Ruggera said during the February meeting.

As it stands now, Gunnison’s land development code does not permit commercial farming, although some agricultural operations, such as Gunnison Gardens, do occur within city limits. Over the past year, staff have been trying to figure out how Susan Wyman’s farm fits into the code. Wyman founded the farm more than a decade ago, and the food she grows is a staple at the annual farmers market and community-supported agriculture (CSA) boxes that are distributed during the summer months.

According to Community Development Director Anton Sinkewich, Wyman’s fouracre farm is a “nonconforming use.” In zoning, this refers to a property use that was once legal, but no longer complies with the zoning regulations. The conversations between Wyman and the city are still ongoing, he said.

“We recognize [the farm] is a definite community asset … We'd like to create a situation where she's able to continue to do this,” Sinkewich told the Times

Moving to the downtown area, the city is also looking for more control over the facade of commercial buildings. Gunnison’s existing code does not prevent a building, like the Family Dollar Store on Tomichi Avenue — with a large parking lot out front and an unattractive exterior — from being constructed.

The draft code acts as a loose guide for building design, and is meant to preserve a downtown feel visitors experience when they wander down Main Street. For example, the code requires a certain number of windows and encourages display cases, landscaping, murals

and awnings to create variety between buildings. The guidelines are extremely flexible and present a variety of options for developers to choose from. The proposal is not the equivalent of Crested Butte’s BOZAR architectural requirements, designed to preserve the town’s historic buildings and appearance.

“We're just looking to keep large blank walls and dark windows from being on our street fronts … There are enough options here that an architect can make a building work without having to completely redo their design,” said City Councilor Matt Schwartz.

The health of Gunnison’s central business district, which intersects Main Street and Tomichi Avenue, has been the subject of debate for a number of years. While the first two blocks of Main Street house a steady group of core shops and businesses, the energy quickly fizzles out to the north. A number of vacant storefronts have been slow to reopen, and real estate and insurance offices have moved in more quickly than shops and restaurants.

Using Crested Butte’s Elk Avenue as a model, the city is considering horizontal zoning for the first time. Horizontal zoning would mandate that the ground floor of buildings in Gunnison’s downtown area house only retailers. In the draft code, the restrictions are only applied to the properties facing Main Street (three blocks north, and the first block south) and Tomichi Avenue (first block east and west), and not side streets. Existing office spaces would be grandfathered in.

“It's very positive that the city is looking at the future of what it means for the business district,” Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce Director Celeste Helminski told the Times.

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

planned — and what role court challenges might play from day to day — is hard to come by, local officials say. That has the effect of undermining administration and student confidence in what might be around the corner.

“It's a tsunami of information that has significant implications,” said Jessica Young, Western Colorado University provost. “Our human resources for being able to keep up with the daily flood of relevant information are much lower than those at larger universities. That's the reality for our smallbut-mighty team at Western.”

Funding buckets

Much of the federal funding that schools receive is subject to annual congressional appropriation. For example, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), passed in 1965, established a number of pathways by which fund -

ing is dispersed through the Department of Education. Title I provides funding for programs to help disadvantaged students; Title II is for teacher development; and Title III aims to aid English learners. The formula used to calculate the amount each district receives is set by law, but the total budget is determined each year by Congress. In fiscal year 2024, ESEA programs received $28.8 billion, with nearly 65% of that going to Title I programs.

The discretionary nature of ESEA funding makes it a possible target for future cuts related to the Trump administration’s stated goal of eliminating programs that don’t comply with new DEI-related non-discrimination standards. On Feb. 14, the Department of Education Office of Civil Rights sent a letter to the nation’s education institutions giving them 14 days to “ensure that their policies and actions comply with existing civil rights law,” and to cease any reliance on thirdparty organizations that serve to “circumvent prohibited uses of

race” in their operations.

“Institutions that fail to comply with federal civil rights law may, consistent with applicable law, face potential loss of federal funding,” the letter states.

Indeed, some cuts have already been made. For instance, on Feb. 16, the Department of Education terminated $600 million in grants to institutions and nonprofits on the grounds that the funds were being used to promote “divisive ideologies,” according to a statement on the department’s website.

“Western is confident that we do not practice any discriminatory or illegal DEI activities,” Young said. “We have a strong university and state policy that prohibits discrimination, harassment or retaliation, and all campus activities, programs and clubs are aligned with that policy.”

Gunnison Watershed School District Superintendent Leslie Nichols echoed that, noting that the district regularly updates school policy to conform with any changes in the law.

“The executive orders have not directly changed regulation or law at this point,” she said. “If they do, or if laws change, we will review and revise our policies to align with federal laws or state laws.”

School lunches

Some education-related funding streams, by contrast, are legally mandated, meaning they were established by permanent legislation and are not subject to annual appropriations. A prominent example is money to support free school lunches for low-income K-12 students. The National School Lunch Program is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is not subject to annual budgeting.

However, Nichols singled out the future of Colorado’s free lunch for all program as among her top concerns. Federal and state funding only serves to supplement the lunch budget, so any shortfall must be borne by the district, she said.

“The risk of (federal funding) stopping without a lot of notice

is probably one of the biggest concerns that we have, because we have over a dozen food service employees and our families,” she said. “Everybody in Colorado gets free school meals for all. The federal and the state (revenue), even together, don't pay for all of our food service costs by any stretch.”

District planners further worry that the loss of any discretionary federal money could cascade through their budget and indirectly pressure things like lunch funding.

“The state is having revenue challenges of its own,” said Tracie Rainey, executive director of the Colorado School Finance Project, a nonprofit advising local school districts on finance issues. “The combination of things that happen at the federal level then trickles down to the state. The timing of the federal budget is not synced with the state budget, so the timing of those things may look very different.”

The picture regarding school

lunches is especially complicated in Colorado since voters approved Proposition FF in 2022 making free school meals available to all students, regardless of income status. The legislature funded the program by lowering a tax credit for taxpayers earning over $300,000 a year. However, planners underestimated participation in the program, which has produced an estimated shortfall in the 2024-25 cycle of up to $50 million. The legislature is currently considering HB 25-1274, which proposes two more ballot measures this fall to try and gain voter approval for more funding.

Colorado’s school lunch program is not mandated — districts must opt in to receive the funds. However, once a part of the program, districts are bound to follow the rules for implementation set by the legislature, leaving little room for dealing with local shortfalls.

Student research grants

According to Young, Western currently has been awarded $4.2 million in federal funds across approximately a dozen grants for student research. Roughly half of that goes directly to students to support projects that are key to their degree program. Of the total, $2.5 million has not yet been drawn for use.

“These are grants that affect our community, not just at

Western, but in other ways,” Young said. “There are grants that have geologists working with high school teachers, and lots of grants associated with ecological restoration or research that helps us in this valley with wildlife and ecological studies, and grants that involve us working to improve food systems within the valley.”

This funding comes through a variety of sources, including federal agencies. Young said it’s unclear given available information what impact President Trump’s executive orders might have on the future of these programs.

“There is definitely a high level of concern from faculty and from the students about this uncertainty,” she said. “But to date, we have not had any cancellations or direct orders that lead to the discontinuation of awarded grants or pending grants.”

Financial aid

Pell grants and subsidized student loans comprise another source of federal funding for Western students. According to Western’s vice president for marketing and enrollment, Leslie Taylor, in the 2023-24 school year 26% of full-time Western students were awarded Pell grants for a total of $2.1 million. Forty-two percent received a federal loan, either subsidized or unsubsidized, for a total of $5.8 million.

Pell grants were authorized by the Higher Education Act of

1965 and provide income-based assistance that does not have to be paid back. Pell grants in particular can make a significant difference for some students, she said.

“Going to college can be a generational change,” Taylor said. “For first generation and low-income students, it doesn't just change their life, it changes the whole trajectory of their family.”

The good news, she said, is that Western anticipates no immediate changes to federal funding for programs meant to help low-income students.

“Right now, I feel like federal Pell grants and all of the federal loans are in good shape,” she said. “It's something we do need to keep an eye on … but we’ve always had bipartisan support for those programs that could be in danger.”

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

The City Center

Your local government’s weekly community ad. Call the City Clerk’s office at (970) 641-8080.

City Council Meetings gunnisonco gov/CouncilMeetings

When: 5:30pm, 2nd & 4th Tuesday of every month

Where: City Hall, Second floor Council Chambers, 201 W. Virginia Ave. Agendas and packets available online the Friday before meetings. Electric Rates Public Hearing

Pursuant to Sections 40-3.5-104(1) and (2) C.R.S., the City has given notice of a Public Hearing on proposed changes to the City of Gunnison Electric Rates.

Each municipal utility customer shall have the right to appear, personally or through counsel, at this hearing for the purpose of providing testimony regarding the proposed new schedule.

Copies of the proposed rates are available:

City Clerk’s office in City Hall, 201 W. Virginia Avenue Online at gunnisonco.gov/ProposedElectricRates2025

Published as notice in the Gunnison Country Times March 6, 2025

Public Hearing - Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 5:30pm City Hall, 201 W. Virginia Ave., 2nd Floor

Comments may be submitted to the City Clerk at Email: cityclerk@gunnisonco.gov

Subject line “Proposed Electric Rates Public Comment” In Person: Attend on April 8, 2025 to comment on the record

Gunnison Valley photographers

it and not receive their refund. Wrong, there is no box.

The letter stated that “we are automatically registered to vote and receive a mail-in ballot.” Wrong again. One must physically register to vote in Colorado. The letter went on to imply, without any proof, that there is a great deal of voter fraud. Wrong on the third count.

In last week’s letter, the pair implied that having to fill out your state tax forms to receive your TABOR refund is somehow a diabolical plot by the Democrats in the legislature. I am not sure what I am missing.

The writers then go on to point out that the Democrats in the legislature failed to support a bill to lower income tax rates and to stop taxing social security along with the fact that the state is running a $1 billion deficit in the general fund. Does it make any sense to lower taxes and further increase the deficit?

The way the laws are written, the only option is to cut spending. So to balance the budget, would it not be irresponsible to lower taxes and make even greater cuts to services? Shall we cut Medicaid and put lower income seniors and children at risk, or possibly cut school funding to our already woefully underfunded schools?

I do however love the letter’s last sentence “you get what you vote for”. As an example locally, grants to the Gunnison County Electric Association (GCEA) have been paused so expect increased electric bills. The Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service have had mass firings and a moratorium on hiring. Who will manage these organizations, and fight wildfires this summer?

Ranchers and farmers will lose markets for their products. Expect higher food prices. Millions of women have lost their right to privacy and make decisions regarding their own bodies. The stock market is in freefall.

How will this affect pension funds and wealth in general?

I hate to think what the trickle down effects will be. I could go on but in the interest of brevity let me just say that you do get what you vote for.

Charles Welch Gunnison

Public lands matter to Coloradans

Editor:

Let’s imagine Colorado without any public lands. In this alternate reality, our state shifts from 57% private land to 100%. How would your life change?

Could you walk your dog on your favorite hiking trail? Go on that annual family camping trip? Fish along your favorite riverbank, or scout your best hunting grounds for fresh signs? For most of us, probably not. Coloradans rely on our state’s public lands, whether we are consciously aware of it or not.

Even if you don’t hike, ski, bike, hunt, fish, ranch, horseback ride or watch wildlife, where

does your clean air come from? Your drinking water?

Additionally, if public lands are sold to private investors, what will happen to intact forests, clear-running streams and native species? Private landowners are mostly free to do as they please with their property. That includes subdividing land, developing oil and gas operations, clear-cutting, removing sagebrush, mining — the list goes on.

Personally, I don’t want to see mountaintops removed from my favorite ski area. I don’t want to lose access to our national forests. I don’t want to see our state follow the path of so many others east of the Divide, where 90-99% of land is privately owned. And for what? To balance a government budget? No, thank you.

As a writer, range rider and holder of a master’s degree in public land management, I witness the beautiful, intricate dance between humans, wildlife and public lands every day. I know I’m not alone. Yet as we speak, federal officials are attempting to privatize Colorado’s public lands. Proposed changes to federal regulations could open the door to future sell-offs.

This is not fiction — it’s a viable threat. The House Rules Package adopted by the 119th Congress removed a safeguard that required cost assessments, revenue loss considerations and acquisition offsets for land sales. This increases the risk of unchecked public land transfers.

Additionally, public land selloffs are explicitly listed in the federal budget reconciliation package, a legislative process that bypasses the usual checks and balances. With a simple majority vote, our public lands could disappear. This coordinated attack betrays our nation’s conservation legacy and threatens our way of life.

For those who rely on public lands for their livelihoods, the threat is even more acute. Ranchers, outfitters and those in natural resource management would be directly affected. In practical terms, thousands of people could lose their jobs and livelihoods.

Thankfully, our general assembly took a stand. The Senate unanimously passed a joint resolution out of the general assembly recognizing the intrinsic value of public lands and opposing federal attempts to sell them. But sustained advocacy is essential. Rep. Jeff Hurd must vote against any reconciliation package that includes provisions for public land privatization.

History tells the story of what happens when industrialism, greed and egos take precedence over nature. I don’t know when caring for plants, animals and landscapes became a partisan issue, but to me, this is a huge mistake. Protecting our public lands should be one of the least controversial causes we, as humans, could stand for.

Gabriela Zaldumbide Gunnison County

Cash-pay

But based on the injury, some patients needed more appointments to fully recover. For others, care that carried over into the new year came with high deductibles.

The cash-pay program offered another option. For example, a patient with an $1,800 deductible could instead pay $124 per visit out of pocket for a 45 minute session, or $84 for 30 minutes at the Gunnison Valley Orthopedics and Sports Medicine clinic.

In the radiology department, the cash-pay program applies to MRI and CT scans, used to diagnose a variety of conditions including cancer, heart disease and injuries, as well as ultrasound services. While the pricing is typically not cheaper than what insurance providers might cover, it helps individuals avoid high deductibles. Some health care plans require patients to pay $5,000-$10,000 out of pocket before the insurance company picks up any amount.

“People [are] trying to figure out other ways to access care without having to use that catastrophic health insurance,” said Wade Baker, vice president of operations at GVH.

To access the program, patients must first obtain a physician's order for their imaging needs. For example, an athlete with a suspected ACL tear must first visit an orthopedic doctor and receive a referral for an MRI on the knee. Once the patient arrives at the radiology department, they must pay upfront using cash, check or a debit or credit card.

The price of radiology services are available on the GVH website, and patients will not receive any additional bills after their appointment is over. X-ray services are not included in the new cash-pay program because, in most cases, the cost is “already low,” and remains the same whether billed through insurance or paid out-of-pocket, according to GVH’s website.

The cash-pay prices set by GVH cover the cost of service, but allows the hospital to avoid billing and follow-up required when insurance companies are involved. This is one of the reasons the price is slightly discounted, said former Chief

Financial Officer Angela Kobel. Her last day in the office was March 14. Afterward, patients can still decide to request an itemized bill from the customer service team and submit it to their insurance.

“It's the fact that [patients] can pay cash, and be done with it,” Kobel said.

The expansion of the cash pricing program to the radiology department was in part due to the market demand, Baker said. The lab testing GVH provides is largely requested during the annual health fair. And over the last several years, more hospitals have launched similar programs as the health care insurance landscape has changed.

Roughly 5% of valley residents do not have health insurance. While GVH is not expecting a high volume of patients to choose the cash-pay option, it's just another opportunity for people to get access to care, Baker said.

Over the years, GVH has faced declining insurance reimbursements from Medicaid and Medicare, whose rates are set by the state and federal governments. Across Colorado, hospitals have absorbed almost $5 billion of un-reimbursed care provided to Medicaid patients since 2019, according to Colorado Hospital Association data.

“Sometimes we don't get paid when we think we should, so it helps us all,” Kobel said.

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

Palisade Townhomes | S 6th Street | Gunnison

Gunnison Valley Health radiology technician Blake Hageman completes an MRI scan. (Courtesy Joelle Ashley/GVH)

exterior stairs, presents exciting opportunities. Whether you need additional storage or dream of an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit), the potential is yours to explore with City of Gunnison approval. Don’t miss the chance to make this new construction your forever home. Contact us now to schedule a viewing and witness the epitome of contemporary living!

TBD W Denver Ave. MLS# 816647 $599,000 Spectacular 2.5 acre level lot located in Gunnison’s new subdivision Elk Ranch. This parcel is located just outside City limits on the west side of town and seller has it set up to be built on immediately. Lot has a well permit already in place along with the required approval for well from the Upper Gunnison Water Conservancy District which can be transferred at closing. Buyer of lot may also pay for tap fees to hook into the City water and sewer main that will be extended north by City this fall. There is a shared road/driveway into the subdivision and it will be completed by this fall as well. Lot has been surveyed and a building envelope has been established for a single family residence but other dwellings such as barns/sheds etc. will be allowed. Come enjoy some country living with incredible views of mountains up Ohio Valley and the Palisades while being so close to town.

457 Ute Dr. (Arrowhead) MLS# 820145 $40,000 Beautiful, secluded 1 acre lot located on the north edge of the Arrowhead subdivision off of the main road.

Ski season

A “small but fearless” group of Gunnison Senior Center skiers visited the Arrowhead Mountain Lodge on the Alpine Plateau for the final ski adventure of the season on March 11. The group enjoyed a hearty lunch at the lodge after their excursion. This year is the first time groomed cross-country tracks have been available at Arrowhead, which is located off of Hwy. 50 halfway between Gunnison and Montrose.

(Courtesy Elizabeth Gillis/Gunnison Senior Center)

Morrill awarded for emergency service

Plans to retire in June

Alan Wartes Times Publisher

Scott Morrill has been on the front line of emergency response in the Gunnison Valley for more than four decades. On the eve of his retirement as the Gunnison County emergency manager at the end of June this year, the Colorado Emergency Managers Association has awarded him the organization’s highest honor. He is this year’s recipient of the President’s Award, given to recognize a lifetime of achievement in the field.

“Scott has been a mentor to a ton of us,” said CEMA President Nathan Whittington. “I'm protesting [his retirement]. He's just always been a pillar of our community within the emergency management world. He's been the foundation a lot of us have built our careers on.”

Morrill first came to Gunnison when he was 12 years old, tagging along with an older brother who was considering attending Western State College. The brother declined and went elsewhere, but Morrill’s mind was made up — the Gunnison Valley would be his home. When the time came, he enrolled in Western and studied business administration.

A chance encounter with a classmate led Morrill to join the university’s Western Mountain Rescue Team.

“I was just instantly hooked, just the concept of college kids forming a group like that to go and help community members or visitors who needed help,” Morrill said. “It was just so gratifying, and a lot of hard work and training and all that, but every bit of what was worth it.”

After graduation, Morrill was working multiple jobs to make ends meet when he heard about an opening at the Gunnison Police Department for a dispatcher. The position paid just enough to allow him to quit the

extra jobs. Besides, he “fell in love with it,” growing addicted to the experience of helping people when they needed it most.

He spent 17 years in dispatch, rising to the position of supervisor. Then, after a year spent trying to sell furniture and appliances at a local retailer — a job he quickly realized was not for him — he applied to become Gunnison County’s emergency manager. He not only got the job, but in many ways created the position as he went.

“Scott’s attention to detail and deep care for this community are evident in the carefully considered emergency plans and scenarios he has overseen over the years,” said County Commissioner Laura Puckett Daniels. “In his tenure he’s had to face some of the biggest emergency scenarios a community can face: a global pandemic, a forest fire, and a bridge closure on a critical highway. Whatever the crisis, Scott has been a calm, steady hand.”

Between his time on the search and rescue team, as a dispatcher and then emergency manager, Morrill reckons he’s been “on call” long enough. After retirement he plans to spend at least some of his time in a small cabin he owns in the San Juan mountains with “power, but no internet, no phone, no cell coverage.”

According to Whittington, Morrill leaves behind a legacy that spans the state, in the form of the emergency systems he helped design and procedures he developed that he freely shared with other departments.

“I've just been doing my job, and for others to recognize me like this was very meaningful and really humbling,” Morrill said. “There were 500 people in that room when I got the award, and there's probably a couple dozen of them that were as deserving as I am.”

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

CEMA President Lori Hodges presents Scott Morrill with the 2025 President’s Award. (Courtesy Nathan Whittington/Colorado Emergency Managers Association)

GUNNISON COUNTY LANDFILL

SAGE GROUSE HOURS OF OPERATION

Please be advised that during the time period of March 15 to May 15, 2025 the Gunnison County Landfill will be temporarily changing its hours of operation. The Gunnison County Landfill will be open Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. This change in hours is to reduce disturbance to Gunnison Sagegrouse during mating season and complies with the Record of Decision issued by the Bureau of Land Management. If you have any questions please contact our office at 970-641-0044.

RAFT GUIDE COURSE

Grateful for Gunni Gals

The Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce is celebrating Women’s History Month with a “Grateful for Gunni Gals” campaign. Community members can nominate a woman in their lives who has inspired them, who contributes to the health and wellbeing of others or is an “unsung hero.” One of this week’s nominees is Laura Osborne. “As a leader and pastor at the Episcopal Church of the Gunnison Valley, she mobilizes her congregation to make a difference, directing people and resources toward local nonprofits and providing emergency assistance to both residents and travelers in need,” said Jodi Payne, who nominated Osborne. “Laura leads by example, with a quiet yet powerful presence.”

Pasta for pets

Diners carried plates piled high with spaghetti during the Gunnison Valley Animal Welfare League’s (GVAWL) annual Spay-ghetti and No Balls Dinner at Palisades Restaurant on March 11. Musician Jack Mangan performed an acoustic set throughout the evening. The dinner is one of GVAWL’s largest fundraisers of the year. The event last week raised roughly $2,800 to support GVAWL.

(Photo by Mariel Wiley)

Western, CU launching biomedical engineering partnership

Peddle is particularly excited for the hands-on aspects of the program.

Building on the success of the partnership program as well as industry demand, Western’s Rady School of Computer Science & Engineering and the University of Colorado Boulder (CU) will launch a biomedical engineering degree in Gunnison starting in fall 2025.

“Today, and for the foreseeable future, the U.S. needs more engineers to create sustainable solutions to address society’s most challenging problems. Our Western-CU Boulder partnership students have the skills and sensibilities to make a positive impact on the Western Slope and Colorado,” said Keith Molenaar, dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science at CU.

Students in the Western-CU Boulder Partnership Program enjoy the personalized learning of a small, rural university and the resources and rigor of a top-tier engineering school, with access to state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment.

“Western’s partnership with CU Boulder continues to create incredible opportunities for our students,” said Western President Brad Baca. “Expanding it to include biomedical engineering speaks volumes about Western’s commitment to training our students for high-impact careers in areas that will fuel Colorado’s economy."

This particular biomedical engineering program will focus on functional biomechanics and equipping students with the knowledge and hands-on experience to innovate in the areas of physical trauma recovery, orthopedic design, sports science and rehabilitation engineering.

Faculty member Mel Peddle is obtaining her EMT certificate to ensure her trauma knowledge is as current as possible.

FREE WORKSHOP: WATER PROJECT FUNDING PROGRAM

“Our BME program will have a trauma focus under the broader umbrella of functional biomechanics,” she said. “Students and faculty will work with local organizations like the hospital and emergency medical services for communitybased projects as part of the curriculum.”

The degree is highly interdisciplinary and integrates principles of engineering, biology and medicine to create solutions related to everything from prosthetics to dialysis. Students will be prepared for careers, or graduate and medical school upon graduation. Because Western’s campus sits at an elevation of 8,000 feet, biomedical engineering students in Gunnison will also have the opportunity to study and design solutions for athletes and patients living at high elevation.

Since getting its start in 2019, the engineering partnership program has seen significant success in the mechanical engineering major, with valuable community and industry collaborations and employment contracts signed by 95% of 2024 graduates, who earn an average starting salary of $78,000.

Applications are still open for the first cohort of biomedical engineering majors with the Western-CU Boulder Engineering Partnership Program, who will start in fall 2025 with a planned graduation date of spring 2029. A degree in aerospace engineering in Gunnison is also slated to welcome its first cohort in fall 2026.

For more information, visit Western Colorado University Admissions or email radyschool@western.edu.

(Seth Mensing is the media and communications manager at Western Colorado University.)

Seth Mensing Special to the Times

(Courtesy Western Colorado University)

PALISADES AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY BLUE MESA RECREATIONAL RANCH

is looking for housekeepers, maintenance, grounds-keeping and front desk customer service employees. If you would like to stay on-property with your RV, rent is only $150/month and includes all utilities. $15-$18/hr depending on experience. Full-time work, then enjoy this beautiful area on your days off. Must commit to the full summer season through 10/7. Call 970-784-6190 if interested.

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

CBES - Permanent Substitute Bus Drivers Food Service

Substitute teachers

PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

GHS - SPED Teacher

GHS - Social Studies Teacher

GHS/GMS - Band Teacher

GHS - Ofﬁce Manager

GHS - Educational Assistant

GES - Music Teacher

CBSS - English Language Arts Teacher

Pathways Outdoor Education and Generalist Teacher (1FTE)

COACHING

GHS - Assistant Girls’ Basketball Coach (C team)

GHS - Girls’ Diving/ Asst. Swimming coach

CBHS - Head Hockey Coach

CBHS - Volleyball Coach

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

GUNNISON COUNTY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Patrol Deputy Sheriff: Full-Time, 40 hours/week, the annual salary range is from $72,397.26 to $102,405.83 plus full benefits.

Take home vehicle & uniform allowance provided by the Sheriff’s Office.

Detention Deputy

Sheriff: Full-Time, 40 hours/week, the annual salary range is from $65,056.55 to $92,022.40 plus full benefits.

Uniform allowance provided by the Sheriff’s Office.

Heavy Equipment Operator

Public Works: Full-Time, 40 hours/ week, hourly range from $23.60 to $31.69 plus full benefits.

Deputy Finance Director

Finance: 40 hours/week, monthly salary range is from $9,071.59 to $11,028.17, depending on experience, plus full benefits.

Administrative Assistant –Evidence Custodian

Sheriff: 40 hours/week, hourly range is from $22.47 to $25.59, depending on experience, plus full benefits.

Detention Captain Sheriff: 40 hours/week, monthly salary range is from $6,778.80 to $8,240.87, depending on experience, plus full benefits.

Shop Foreman

Public Works: Full-Time, 40 hours/ week, hourly range from $34.81 to $39.63 plus full benefits.

Treasurer’s Technician

Treasurer: 40 hours/week, hourly range from $23.30 to $28.69, depending on experience, plus full benefits.

Emergency Management Director

Emergency Management: 40 hours/week, monthly salary range from $7,616.73 to $9,018.73, depending on experience, plus full benefits.

Communications Director County Manager: 40 hours/ week, monthly salary range from $7,616.73 to $10,773.85, depending on experience, plus full benefits.

Temporary Planner I Community Development: 30 hours/week, hourly range from $31.28 to $38.02, depending on experience, plus partial benefits.

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

your application, cover letter, and resume to jobs@crestedbutte-co.gov. Position is open until filled. The Town of Crested Butte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

SAGUACHE COUNTY is seeking an On-Site Wastewater Treatment System Inspector.

This position is responsible for maintaining and enforcing public health regulations relating to the community’s environmental health. Through investigation, inspection, education and enforcement, the On-Site Wastewater Treatment System Inspector takes action to mitigate or eliminate public health hazards. Inspections and investigations occur indoors and outdoors facilities such as residential homes, restaurants, swimming pools, public schools, penal institutions, childcare facilities, nursing homes, body art facilities, cannabis/hemp facilities, campgrounds, mobile home parks, public accommodations, bars/ lounges, etc. On-Site Wastewater Treatment System Inspectors are assigned primary responsibilities in specific environmental programs but are required to possess knowledge of all programs in order to respond to public health emergencies.

Salary to be determined on experience starting at $37,000/year. Applicants must have a valid Colorado Drivers License, must pass a criminal background check as well as a pre-employment drug test.

The County Employee benefit package includes vision, dental and health insurance coverage, paid time off, 12 holidays per year, and a generous 401k retirement plan.

The employment application and job description can be found on www. saguachecounty.colorado.gov, picked up at the Saguache County Administration Office, 505 3rd Street, Saguache, CO or can be emailed to you, please contact April Quintana at 719-655-2231.

Completed applications can be hand delivered to the Saguache County Public Health, Attention Mona Lovato, 505 3rd Street, mailed to PO Box 68, Saguache, CO 81149 or emailed to mlovato@ saguachecounty-co.gov. Applications will be accepted until filled.

Saguache County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

gallery or as a Guest Artist. Currently, we are looking for a Floor Display Artist to become a full member starting this summer. The application deadline for this jurying is March 27. Hurry in! Jurying will start after 3 p.m. on April 2, 2025. Applications can be picked up at the Paragon Art Gallery, 132 Elk Ave., Crested Butte. Or print out an application at Paragonartgallery. com. Fill it in and bring it to the Gallery. We are open seven days a week 11 a.m.-7 p.m.. POWERSTOP is looking for head cook. Pay is $50,000 minimum, position also offers paid time off and health insurance reimbursement. Pay is based on 40 hours a week. Applications must be able to work mornings or evenings and weekends. Resumes to be in a sealed envelope attention Sean. Drop off at Powerstop.

THE CLUB AT CRESTED BUTTE is hiring an Accounting & HR Administrative Assistant. This is a part-time/full-time summer seasonal position, starting pay $22-$26/hr. DOE. Potential to become a year-round position for the right candidate. Employee benefits include employee discounts and complimentary golf. For more information or to submit a resume, please visit theclubatcrestedbutte.com.

laterals negotiable.

Full job description is available on the Town’s website at www. townofcrestedbutte.com. Please submit

QUICK DRAW CLEANING is hiring Carpet, Window and Duct cleaning Technicians! Full and part time positions starting in April. Training and beginning wages starting at $24.00/hr. Scan the code for more info.

THE TOWN OF CRESTED BUTTE is looking for a Seasonal Recreation Program Assistant. This position is 24 hours/week and performs a variety of duties associated with the planning, coordination, and

administration of Parks and Recreation programs and activities in a supporting role to the Recreation Program Coordinator. Requirements: must be at least 18 years of age, high school diploma or equivalent, must possess a valid Colorado Driver’s License, Current CPR & First Aid certifications or able to obtain within 30 days of employment. Pay: $21/hr. Full job description is available on the Town’s website at www. townofcrestedbutte.com. Please submit your application and resume to jobs@ crestedbutte-co.gov. Position is open until filled. The Town of Crested Butte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

ID SCULPTURE IS HIRING: Would you like to make the world’s most creative 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 $22-$27/hr. DOE.

Project Fabricator(s): The ideal candidate for this position has: construction trades experience (min 5 years), welding experience (structural certification required), steel fabrication (min 2 years), the ability to work well with a team, and a positive attitude. Responsibilities are to fabricate various components for standard and custom products using steel and a variety of other materials. Compensation is $26.00$35.00/hr. DOE.

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.

BE PART OF THE LOCAL ART MOVEMENT: The Paragon Gallery is always accepting applications for local artists to potentially become a working member of the

DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT: The Development Assistant will support Crested Butte Land Trust’s fundraising and outreach efforts, communications, data entry, and event coordination. This role will also help with marketing and general administrative tasks, including maintaining records and supporting donor campaigns. The Development Assistant will be detailoriented, creative, and comfortable working both independently and as part of a team. Strong communication and organizational skills are essential. This is a seasonal (appx. May 1-Sept 30) part-time (appx 10-20 hours/ week) position with flexible work hours primarily Monday through Friday with some weekends. This position is based on Crested Butte, CO and reports to the Development Manager. For more information about the Crested Butte Land Trust, please visit www. cblandtrust.org. Cover letter and resume must be submitted to hiring@cblandtrust. org by March 30, 2025. The Crested Butte Land Trust is an equal-opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. Pay rate: $21-23/hour DOE.

BE YOUR OWN BOSS: Campground looking for someone to run a camp store. You bring the stock, you keep the cash. Looking for summer season 2024, MaySept. or Memorial Day-Labor Day. Call Lori for details. 970-784-6190.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER/PRINT SPECIALIST Dove Graphics in Gunnison seeks creative professional with Adobe Suite expertise for design, file preparation, and hands-on print production. Computer skills essential; will train on printing equipment. Friendly, flexible team player needed. 25-30 hrs/week. $2025/hr DOE. Apply: www.dovegraphics.net GOLDEN EAGLE is looking for CDL and non-CDL drivers. Pay is based on experience. Call 970-641-3230.

PROJECT HOPE OF THE GUNNISON

VALLEY seeks a Director of Operations for a 32 hour/week position to provide bookkeeping and administrative support. To apply, send resume, cover letter, and 3 references to: director@hope4gv.org. See further info on our website at www.hope4gv. org/employment

TOMICHI TREES IS HIRING: Ground Worker: $25/hr minimum, more DOE. Experience is a plus, but not required. Will be working with chainsaws, chippers, aerial lifts, ropes, loading grapples and dump trucks/trailers.

Certified Arborist: $38/hr minimum, more DOE. Certified Arborist will have a current ISA Certificate. Experience working with lifts, and climbing is mandatory. Call 970-901-6680

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

POLICE OFFICER: The Town of Mt. Crested Butte Police Dept. Full-time $69,876-$90,828/yr. - Performs general law enforcement duties to protect the lives and property of the residents and visitors of the Town of Mt. Crested Butte by enforcing laws and

RANGER: The Recreation and Conservation Ranger will provide recreational users with information about safe and sustainable outdoor recreation; will assist Crested Butte Land Trust staff with maintenance, monitoring and improvements on conserved open spaces and recreation sites; and will conduct and compile surveys of recreational users. The Recreation and Conservation Ranger will possess a diplomatic and engaging character, will enjoy communicating with land users with diverse points of view, and will be comfortable working outdoors in variable weather conditions. The position entails walking long distances and standing for long periods of time in natural areas on a daily basis, and will require regular physical labor, for example trail building, fence repair, and noxious weed control. This is a seasonal (appx. May 31-August 15) full-time (40 hours/week) position based in Crested Butte, Colorado reporting to CBLT’s Stewardship Director.

For more information about the Crested Butte Land Trust, please visit cblandtrust. org. A Cover Letter and Resume must be submitted to hiring@cblandtrust.org by April 1, 2025.

The Crested Butte Land Trust is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. Pay rate: $21-23 /hour.

DOS RIOS GOLF CLUB is accepting applications for the 2025 season. We will be looking for full & part time line cooks, servers, cart barn, and maintenance. Experience preferred but not required. Apply in person Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm or contact Stacy at 970-641-1482.

PROJECT HOPE OF THE GUNNISON

VALLEY seeks a Bilingual Advocate for a 25-27 hour/week position to serve victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and/or stalking. To apply, send resume, cover letter, and 3 references to: director@hope4gv.org. See further info on our website at hope4gv.org/employment.

THE CLUB AT CRESTED BUTTE is hiring part-time Group Fitness Instructors, pay rate is $50 per class. Employee benefits include employee discounts and access to the fitness center. For more information or to submit a resume, please visit: theclubatcrestedbutte. com.

BE PART OF THE LOCAL ART MOVEMENT: The Paragon Gallery is always accepting applications for local artists to potentially become a working member of the gallery or as a guest artist. Currently we are looking for a floor display artist starting this summer. The application deadline for this jurying is March 29. Hurry in! Applications can be picked up at the Paragon Art Gallery, 132 Elk Ave., Crested Butte, Colorado. Open 7 days a week 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Application available at paragonartgallery.com.

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

ADAPTIVE SPORTS CENTER SUMMER

INSTRUCTOR: The Adaptive Sports Center is seeking qualified adaptive instructors to facilitate exceptional adaptive sport and recreation activities for the 2025 Summer Season. Pay ranges from $21-$30/hour based on experience. Benefits for full time seasonal staff include pro-forms, certification and membership dues, exam reimbursement, paid sick days, 5-day stipend and a 401(k) match. More information and summer application is at https://www.adaptivesports. org/careers . Applications are due March 15.

WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY invites applications for the full-time position of Academic Affairs Business Operations and Event Manager. This position ($24/hour) reports to the Executive Assistant in the Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs, overseeing essential functions in event coordination, budget management, and personnel support. This is an on-campus position. This position is FLSA exempt. Western offers an excellent benefits package including shared premiums for a comprehensive health insurance plan, dental insurance, retirement plan, life insurance, and other insurance options. After one year of employment, Western provides free tuition for dependents enrolled full time in undergraduate programs for up to four years. Application deadline is April 1, 2025. To receive the full job announcement and apply, contact Katie Walters at kwalters@western. edu.

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR WANTED FOR ESTABLISHED LAW FIRM: Law of the Rockies, in Gunnison, Colorado. Candidate must be organized, detail-oriented, efficient, self-motivated, and able to communicate effectively verbally and in writing. Administrator will be primarily responsible for business management tasks, but will also be required to perform legal assistant tasks as necessary. Prior experience in a legal or accounting environment is preferred, but not mandatory. Microsoft-based environment. College degree required. Full-

time with benefits. Initial salary $55,00075,000, depending upon experience and qualifications. Long-term growth potential. Visit lawoftherockies.com to learn about our firm. Email cover letter, resume, and references to Marcus Lock at mlock@ lawoftherockies.com by April 7th.

LITTLE RED SCHOOLHOUSE IN CB

SOUTH is hiring a full-time teacher! This position is with 4 year olds and there is lots of potential to sub in other classrooms to create a full time position. This is a wonderful family environment with fabulous kids and teachers! Creativity, flexibility, and calmness under pressure are traits that help with success in this job. Multiple ways to grow in the field. Great pay, huge benefits, and year round stable employment. Please inquire with resume and interest letter to lilredschoolhouse1@gmail.com.

THE TOWN OF CRESTED BUTTE is looking for a Seasonal Open Space & Trails Assistant. This position is 40 hours/ week and is responsible for open space & trails monitoring and maintenance projects, including project organization, implementation, inventory of tools/ equipment, and other tasks as assigned. Requirements: must be at least 18 years of age, must possess a valid Driver’s License, must possess a high school diploma or equivalent, ability to spend full days outside in a variety of inclement weather hiking through off-trail, high elevation, rugged terrain while performing physical labor, ability to lift, carry, push, pull items up to 50 pounds unassisted, current First Aid & CPR certification or higher-level certification, and ability to utilize basic software in an office setting for tracking and reporting. Pay: $22/ hr. Full job description is available on the Town’s website at www.townofcrestedbutte. com. Please submit your application and resume to jobs@crestedbutte-co.gov.

Position is open until filled. The Town of Crested Butte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

ID SCULPTURE is a leading designer and manufacturer of commercial playground equipment and public art in Gunnison. We are seeking an Assistant CNC operator to join our team. You’ll be working in a unique fabrication environment using cutting edge digital fabrication equipment. The ideal candidate will have a strong attention to detail, a desire to learn and the ability to work in a fast paced, highly coordinated environment. Some CNC experience is preferred. Full time position with benefits, PTO and opportunities for growth. Starts at $22/hr. Please send your resume and references to hello@idsculpture.com.

INTERESTED IN A CAREER WITH BENEFITS? The Crested Butte Bank, a branch of the Gunnison Bank and Trust Company, has an opening for a full-time teller to join the operations side of our growing bank. Applicants should have strong customer service skills, the ability to multitask, and a willingness to learn. GB&T fosters a learning environment where you will gain exposure to multiple areas of the bank with a strong foundation in operations. Pay starting at $19. Robust benefits package includes 401(k), medical insurance, vision insurance, life insurance and disability insurance (ST and LT). Pooled transportation is available. Send resume to abrown@crestedbuttebank. com or lbeda@gunnisonbank.com.

REAL ESTATE

235 N. MAIN REAR SPACE with great features in floor, fireplace gas burning, private office, entrance from Rear , will divide 1400 s.f. fro $1,400. 847-769-7800 or liskorinternational@gmail.com.

PRIME RETAIL SPACE NEXT TO CITY MARKET IN GUNNISON: 1,500 sq. ft. of prime ground floor retail space available in the Meadows Mall next to City Market in Gunnison - Huge parking lot, tons of foot traffic, excellent 135 highway visibility - Rent is $2,750/month NNN - For more information, call Jordon Ringel at 817-733-6947 or visit GunnisonMeadows.com.

VERY PROFITABLE RESTAURANT AND BAR FOR SALE IN GUNNISON: Large seating capacity and centrally located. Financials available for serious buyers only. Call 970-989-8577.

AGENDA

Special Meeting March 24, 2025 5:30pm

Lake School Conference Room

This meeting will be conducted in person and by distance using the video conferencing platform ZOOM Webinar. Please check the GWSD website for further instructions.

• Call to order

• Roll call

Pledge of Allegiance

Approval of agenda (ACTION, All)

Public comment (Information, Engaged Community)

Please use the public participation form, or use the Q&A feature in Zoom, and indicate your name, address, and topic for comment.

• Items for information, discussion, and action

• Review board vacancy applications and decide next steps (ACTION, Engaged Community)

• Adjournment

Work Session March 24, 2025

Immediately Following Special Meeting Lake School Conference Room

This meeting will be conducted in person and by distance using the video conferencing platform ZOOM Webinar. Please check the GWSD website for further instructions.

Work Sessions do not allow for public comment.

Work Session discussion items:

Strategic Planning Discussion part 2

Tristan Connett and Esther Valdez, Colorado Education Initiative

Gunnison Country Times

Gunnison, Colorado

Publication date of March 20. 2025

16585

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

Gunnison Friends of the Library Annual Meeting-Legal Notice 2025

Gunnison Friends of the Library’s Annual Meeting will be held Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 4:00 pm. This meeting will include the President’s Report summarizing the activities provided to support the library and future plans. The Treasurer’s report will provide budgetary information for 2024 and 2025 The Annual Meeting will be held at the Gunnison Public Library, 1 Quartz St, Gunnison.

Gunnison Country Times

Gunnison, Colorado Publication dates of March 20 and 27, 2025

16552

NOTICE OF INTENT TO DISPOSE

INTENT TO DISPOSE

Notice is hereby given to the following parties that their personal items stored at Discount Self Storage, 500 S. Blvd will be sold or disposed of unless claimed prior to March 27, 2025

Unit 39 – Jacob Neil

Date of Redemption: March 27, 2025

Gunnison Country Times

Gunnison, Colorado Publication dates of March 13 and 20, 2025

16450

NOTICE OF NAME CHANGE

PUBLIC NOTICE OF PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME

Public Notice is given on March 3, 2025 that a Petition for a Change of Name of an Adult has been filed with the Gunnison Combined Court.

The Petition requests that the name of ARYSSA JANE FAIRLESS be changed to ARYSSA JANE GERRITY

Heidi Duryea Clerk of Court /s/ Heidi Duryea

Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication dates of March 6, 13 and 20, 2025 16413

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of CRAIG ERWIN ANDERSEN Deceased

Case Number 2025PR30006

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of GUNNISON County, Colorado on or before July 6,, 2025 or the claims may be forever barred.

AARON J. HUCKSTEP, ATTY.

ATTORNEY FOR APPLICANT PO BOX 2958

CRESTED BUTTE, CO 81224

Gunnison Country Times

Gunnison, Colorado Publication dates of March 6, 13 and 20, 2025

16366

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

In the Matter of the Estate of KENNETH L. DARBY, aka KENNETH DARBY, aka KEN DARBY, aka KENNETH LLOYD DARBY, II Deceased

Case Number 2025 PR 30003

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to District Court of El Paso County, Colorado on or before July 13, 2025, Catherine Anne Seal P.O. Box 6 Colorado Springs, CO 80901-0006

Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication dates of March 13, 20 and 27, 2025 16429

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Neal Frederick Brady Deceased

Case Number 2025PR

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to District Court of Gunnison County, Colorado on or before July 6, 2025 or the claims may be forever barred.

Neal D. Brady 765 Madouse Ct. Whitmore Lake, Michigan 48189

Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado. Publication dates of March 6, 13 and 20, 2025 16365

REQUEST FOR BIDS

The Gunnison County Water and Sewer District is requesting bid proposals from qualified consultants to conduct a comprehensive water and wastewater rate study. Please contact Gunnison County Public Works at 970-641-0044 or visit https:// gunnisoncounty.org/Bids.aspx for bid details.

Gunnison Country Times Gunnison, Colorado Publication date of March 13 an5 20, 2025 16516

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Town of Mt. Crested Butte Municipal Court Judge Services

INTRODUCTION

The Town of Mt. Crested Butte is inviting proposals from qualified individuals to provide Municipal Court Judge services to the Town. The Town of Mt. Crested Butte is a Home Rule Town, and the Home Rule Charter (Article VII(B)) addresses the Judiciary and Municipal Judge. Mt. Crested Butte Municipal Court is a Court of Record and meets as required but typically once per month for an hour.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, proposals should be prepared and submitted in a form that addresses the needs outlined herein. Late proposals will not be accepted. Proposals will be accepted until 5:00pm, April 11, 2025. Proposals shall be sent to:

Tiffany O’Connell, Town Clerk Town of Mt. Crested Butte P.O. 5800 Mt. Crested Butte, CO 81225

toconnell@mtcb.colorado.gov

OBJECTIVE

The objective is to choose a reliable and experienced individual with demonstrated knowledge in providing municipal court judge services in a comprehensive, timely, effective and efficient manner. Interested individuals should have significant experience in matters addressed by municipal courts. The Municipal Court Judge will work with the court clerk to preside over the Municipal Court.

• QUALIFICATIONS OF APPLICANTS

Attorney at law admitted (active) to practice in Colorado who is at least twentyone (21) years of age.

Ability, capacity, and skill as a prospective judge.

Ability to meet the time requirements of the Town (approximately 1 hour or less per month).

• Reliability, character, integrity, reputation, judgment, experience, and efficiency.

• High performance quality in previous or current judge contracts, if any.

• Ability to determine compliance with applicable laws and ordinances.

Availability and adaptability of services to meet the needs of the Town.

Resident of Gunnison County, Colorado.

SCOPE OF SERVICES

The Municipal Court Judge presides over Municipal Court matters in which the Municipal Court has jurisdiction.

• POWERS AND DUTIES

• The Judge shall have all judicial powers and duties as provided in the Town’s Charter and ordinances and in the Colorado Revised Statutes applicable to municipal judges, except as otherwise provided by Charter or ordinance.

The Judge is authorized to exercise contempt powers, and enforce subpoenas issued by any board, commission, hearing officer, or other body or officer of the Town authorized by law or ordinance to issue subpoenas, and all other powers inherent with the office.

• The Municipal Court convenes for at least one (1) regular session of the Municipal Court on the first Wednesday of each month and more often as needed. Sessions of the Court are typically held at 9:00 A.M. The Municipal Court complies with HB23-1182. Remote access is provided for the public to observe court proceedings.

TERM OF OFFICE

The term of office of the Municipal Court Judge would begin June 4, 2025 and expire on May 31, 2027, unless otherwise terminated by the Mt. Crested Butte Town Council.

• PARTICIPATION BY AND EXPECTATIONS OF THE TOWN

The Town expects that the Municipal Court Judge will preside over court in-person, keep abreast of current legislation and obtain ongoing education and training, remaining current on all matters relating to municipal courts and municipal judges. Costs associated with these efforts may be shared with the Town with prior approval and as budgeted.

• COMPENSATION

The Town will pay the Municipal Court Judge for judicial services rendered at a rate of $300.00 per court session or compensation set by the Town Council, the amount of which shall not be dependent upon the outcome or number of matters to be decided by the Municipal Court Judge.

KEY-DATE (May 6, 2025)

The Town Council, at its discretion, may invite applicants to deliver a short presentation during the regular Town Council meeting on May 6, 2025 addressing the proposals submitted.

• INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED/ SUBMITTED

The following information must be included in your written proposal. It is important as it may be your only opportunity to present your qualifications.

Name of the person who will be in charge of providing Municipal Court Judge services to the Town. This is the person who will be recommended for appointment to the position of “Municipal Court Judge” by the Town Council. A resume of this person’s background and experience should emphasize the municipal law experience of that person and the level of responsibility in this area.

• Specific information on the certification, licensure/registration and continuing education training for the preceding calendar year, including such information as may be necessary to establish that the applicant is an active attorney at law admitted to practice in Colorado.

Please disclose any potential conflicts of interest that you may have in relation to the Town of Mt. Crested Butte.

• Provide details regarding your existing workload and how you will fit this contract into your existing work priorities.

• Provide a list of references with whom you have worked in the past five (5) years. If you have provided municipal court judge

services to municipal or government clients in the recent past, please submit municipal or government client references as well.

Each respondent’s proposal and bid should address the ability to perform this scope of work, along with the specific expertise, education, and experience.

• The proposal should address the topics covered in Sections C and G and the municipal court judge’s ability to perform services within this operating framework.

SELECTION

The Town reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive irregularities or informalities in proposals, and to re-advertise for proposals if desired. After considering proposals and information provided during the application process, the Town will select the individual who is the most advantageous to the Town from the standpoint of service, previous experience, and ability to deliver or for any other reason deemed by the Town to be in the best interest of the Town.

The Municipal Court Judge Services Proposal must be received by the Town Clerk, Tiffany

O’Connell, by 5:00pm, April 11, 2025, at PO Box 5800, Mt. Crested Butte, CO 81225 or via email to toconnell@mtcb.colorado.gov.

Any proposal received after that date and time will not be accepted. In consideration of the environment, we request that your proposal should be black and white, two-sided copies without binders.

The Town of Mt. Crested Butte Judicial Subcommittee may perform an initial screening and may interview potential candidates. Finalist(s) will be selected for final interviews by the Town Council and may be asked to appear before Town Council on May 6, 2025.

The Town reserves the right to undertake its own investigation to evaluate any candidate.

The Town shall have the sole discretion to accept or reject any proposal. All proposals become the property of the Town upon receipt and will not be returned. Whether the proposal is accepted or rejected will not affect this decision.

The Town operates under applicable public disclosure laws. Proprietary information must

be identified and will be protected to the extent that is legally possible. Your costs in developing the proposal, attendance at any meetings relating to the proposal, and other costs relating to the proposal are your responsibility and will not be reimbursed by the Town.

The Town of Mt. Crested Butte thanks you for your interest in providing us with a proposal for Municipal Court Judge services. Please submit any questions regarding this RFP in writing and directed to the Town Clerk, as soon as possible after receipt of the RFP at the address below.

Tiffany O’Connell, Town Clerk

Town of Mt. Crested Butte P.O. 5800 Mt. Crested Butte, CO 81225 toconnell@mtcb.colorado.gov

Gunnison Country Times

Gunnison, Colorado Publication dates of March 13, 20 and 27, 2025 16514

Fried fish frenzy

A line stretched from the kitchen to the front door at St. Peter’s Catholic Church during a fish fry on March 14. The Knights of Columbus were busy in the kitchen prepping meals for diners to share with family and friends. The local chapter of the Knights of Columbus hosts fish fries each Friday at St. Peter’s throughout Lent, except on Good Friday.

Faith Directory

Bethany Church

909 N Wisconsin St.

(behind Powerstop) • 970-641-2144

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

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

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

Check out our website for updates! Or download our app on the App Store by searching, Gunnison Bethany.

B'nai Butte Jewish Congregation

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

Serving the Jewish communities of Crested Butte, Gunnison and surrounging areas in Colorado.

For more details and locations go to bnaibutte.org Spititual leader: Rabbi Mark Kula is available for you at RabbiMarkKula@gmail.com bnaibutte.org

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

Reverand Ian Wrisley

Welcoming, Open and Affirming, Building a Just world for All.

Sundays, 10 a.m.

Fridays Meditation, 12:30-1 p.m.

“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.

Starting March 5 - Wednesday night service at 7pm.

St. Peter’s Catholic Church

300 N. Wisconsin • 970-641-0808 Fr. Andres Ayala-Santiago gunnisoncatholic.org crestedbuttecatholic.org or call the Parish Office.

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

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

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

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

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.

Church of Christ

600 E. Virginia • 970-641-1588

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

Sunday Morning Worship: 10:30 a.m.

Sunday Evening Worship: 6 p.m.

Wednesday Night Bible Class: 7 p.m.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Gunnison Branch 810 N 11th St. 970-648-4804

Sacrament Meeting 10 a.m.

Attending church each Sunday is a respite from fast-paced daily living. Join us to worship God, strengthen your spiritual connections, and focus on Jesus. Worship with a community of people who are trying to be more Christlike and learn from each other.

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

(Photos by Mariel Wiley)

Lights & Sirens

CITY OF GUNNISON POLICE REPORT

MARCH 10

TRAFFIC - SPEEDING — 300 W. TOMICHI AVE.

CRIMINAL TRESPASS: FIRST DEGREE - VEHICLE — 122 FLORESTA ST.

MARCH 11

FRAUD / HACKING - COMPUTER INVASION — N. 7TH ST.

THEFT: INTENDS TO PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE — 300 N. ADAMS ST.

PROPERTY - FOUND — 200 S. ADAMS ST.

THEFT: INTENDS TO PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE — 510 W. BIDWELL AVE.

TRAFFIC - NPOI — 821 W. TOMICHI AVE.

MARCH 12

ACCIDENT — 600 N. WISCONSIN ST. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE — 880 N. MAIN ST.

ACCIDENT — 800 W. TOMICHI AVE.

ACCIDENT - HIT & RUN — 600 N. MAIN ST.

MARCH 13

THEFT OF LICENSE PLATE — 400 ESCALANTE DR.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE - ALCOHOL — 100 N. 11TH ST.

MARCH 14

AGENCY ASSIST — INDUSTRIAL PARK RD. CIVIL ASSIST — 430 PAINTBRUSH AVE.

CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE: UNLAWFUL DISTRIBUTION, MANUFACTURE, SALE- EXCEPT CIVIL PROBLEM — 1313 W. OHIO AVE. FRAUD — SUNNY SLOPE DR. ANIMAL - RUNNING AT LARGEMUNICIPAL — 11TH ST. DISTURBING THE PEACE — 600 N. COLORADO ST.

MARCH 15

AGENCY ASSIST — W. HWY. 50 ALARM — 820 N. MAIN ST.

MARCH 16

WELFARE ASSIST — E. TOMICHI AVE.

WELFARE ASSIST — N. TAYLOR

ST.

GUNNISON COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT

MARCH 11

- Information report - harassment

MARCH 12

- Information report – found property

- Trespassing report

- Agency assist to detention center

MARCH 13

- Information report – found property

- Traffic infraction

- Information report – financial issue

- Information report – trespass

- Traffic infraction

- Information report – accident

MARCH 14

- Domestic violence report - Agency assist to Gunnison Police Department

MARCH 15

- Information report - Harassment report - Warrant- out of county

MARCH 16

-Agency assist to Gunnison Police Department -911 accidental call

MARCH 17

- Information report – barking dog

April 7-12

OSTEOPOROSIS & BONE HEALTH CLINIC

Osteoporosis is a silent but serious disease that weakens bones and increases the risk of fractures. Our clinic is dedicated to protecting your bone health through early detection, personalized care and specialized treatments.

PERSONALIZED BONE HEALTH PLANS

We create tailored care plans to help reduce fracture risk, promote healing and prevent future injuries. With expert guidance on early detection, lifestyle adjustments and targeted treatment, we are here to support you every step of the way.

MOUNTAIN CLINIC

The only state licensed emergency center and certiﬁed urgent care provider on the mountain. Located at the base of the Silver Queen Lift.

Mountain Clinic | 970-349-0321 12 Snowmass Rd., Axtell 100 Mt. Crested Butte, CO 81225

URGENT CARE CLINIC

O ering convenient care for minor injuries and illnesses that can’t wait for a doctor’s appointment. No appointment necessary and open seven days a week.

Urgent Care | 970-648-7105 707 North Iowa St. Gunnison, CO 81230

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

Our Emergency Department (ED) is a fully-sta ed eight bed ED which provides emergency care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Care by Board Certiﬁed Emergency Physicians and nursing sta who are either certiﬁed in emergency nursing or hold advanced degrees.

Emergency Department 711 North Taylor St. Gunnison, CO 81230

Your Health System

We received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Silver quality achievement award which recognizes our commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment based on nationally recognized, research-based guidelines.

Giving clothes a new life in Gunnison

Johnelle Lamarque

Special to the Times

Megan Yost, 24, pierced the flannel with needle and thread, stitching a small patch to a tear in the sleeve of a handme-down shirt that was older than her. The shirt had been her dad’s, she loved its timesoftened fabric and roomy feel. She hoped the patch could become a story about the shirt, and allow her to keep it in use a while longer.

The repair was a demonstration in a textile care and garment repair class Yost designed and offered through the Western Colorado University’s Center for Learning and Innovation, which provides hands-on experiences for students and community members. The class is the latest iteration of a loose network of people and organizations aiming to extend the life of clothing and textiles in Gunnison through donation, consignment and repair.

Yost, a graduate student in Western’s Master of Environmental Management program, said she is happy to repair garments for others, but would rather empower people by passing along her skills.

“I love the overlap between environmental stewardship and care, recreation and creativity,” Yost said.

Though more textile waste is diverted to recycling and other more sustainable forms of disposal than ever before, the vast majority of clothing, shoes, towels, sheets and pillowcases thrown away in the United States end up in landfills. The tonnage has ballooned since the 1980s with the explosion of fast fashion brands like Shein, H&M and Zara.

Six Points Thrift Store manager Anita Halpern was not surprised. She said the volume of donations, particularly “throw away brands,” has steadily increased each year. Yost and others in Gunnison said they would like to see the effects of fast fashion slowed down.

“Since we have so many outdoor resources and places to go, the folks here value the environment maybe more

PHOTOS: Free the heels!

SPORTS: Cowboy track starts in Pueblo, B4

GUNNISON COUNTRY TIMES • THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2025

Attendees learned how to patch holes in clothing during a garment repair workshop at Western Colorado University on Feb. 25.

Michael Tobiassen and Tom Mehlin organize racks full of outdoor clothing at All Sports Replay. (Photos by Mariel Wiley)

Sew magic from

B1

than other areas because we spend so much time out there as a community,” said Michael Tobiassen, owner and manager of All Sports Replay, a store in Gunnison that specializes in outdoor mountain sports and consignment.

Local opportunities are plentiful to keep older clothing and textile waste out of the landfill. Residents can donate or consign gently used, clean clothing, or buy someone else’s at Six Points, through Western’s FreeCycle program or at one of the several consignment stores such as Boom-a-Rang. Those shops keep the items for a period of time before moving them along.

Six Points Thrift Store accepts donations from individuals, FreeCycle and businesses around town, such as OffCenter Printing and Walmart. What doesn’t sell at Six Points goes to another nonprofit thrift store in Cañon City, New Horizons, which offers the clothes in its own shop and then recycles what doesn’t sell.

“The aim is for it to continue recycling after it’s left us,” said Six Points employee Kyle Flannigan.

All Sports Replay uses a similar process as a way to reduce waste from technical clothing and gear, which may include synthetic materials and additives like waterproofing that may not biodegrade well in a landfill. The business moves along clothing that has not sold after roughly three months.

“We try to put it into a new pond so it has that chance for new eyes … allowing those garments to get as far through their life cycle as possible,” Tobiassen said.

Buying used clothing can also stretch a wardrobe budget. Whether it's lifestyle or technical clothing, most mountain sports require expensive gear, said Tobiassen. All Sports offers discounted prices, as well

as a wide range of items, like tapes, buckles, cords, sprays and washes, for repairing and refreshing technical garments. Some repairs are simple and Tobiassen is happy to offer advice to customers, but other repairs might need more expertise.

When clothing is in tatters and cannot be donated or consigned, Allison Sinkewich will take it. Sinkewich does a lot of repair work for others, but also teaches people how to use their own sewing machines and offers classes in different fiber skills at her shop. She even visited Lake Preschool and Kindergarten to show students how to make hats from old sweater sleeves.

“I love the overlap between environmental stewardship and care, recreation and creativity.”

Megan Yost Sewing teacher

“There’s really no end to a thing’s life. Even when it’s completely worn to nothing,” said Sinkewich, who opened Subversive Stitches Sew Shop on Main Street last May. Sinkewich unravels old sweaters to reclaim yarn and makes patchwork dresses out of small bits of fabric, among other creative reuses of cast offs. “We have plenty here and if we just source what we have, I feel like that’s what we should be doing.”

Buying used can also be an exercise in creativity. Artists frequent free bins around town for old clothes and scraps for inexpensive raw material, like reclaimed fabric from a pair of

old pants or skirt. One afternoon, Halpern stopped Jan Scheefer, a frequent Six Points shopper, to ask her to show off her hat. Scheefer was wearing a hat that had once been a skirt she bought from Six Points, and a Polo shirt.

“A sewing machine is a great thing,” she said.

Six Points provides free material for school teachers and participated in past summer experiences where students in kindergarten through 12th grade came into the shop, found clothes and learned sewing skills they used to transform them into new creations, Halpern said. These lessons help students maintain a reusemindset in the community, she said.

Yost said she sees clothing repair and reuse as a creative way to care for the environment that both tells a story and can foster community. A beautiful patch or some creative embroidery over a tear can spark a conversation.

“It’s extending the lifespan, telling a story and building community around this,” Yost said.

Yost said she believes Gunnison is the kind of place where people take time to care for their clothing, and could support a makerspace for fiber artists, artisans and teachers. Residents could come to ask questions, learn new skills and shop more sustainably. In short, she envisions a place where all of the community tendrils that work the magic of breathing new life into clothing and textiles could come together.

(Johnelle Lamarque is a copyeditor, cultural anthropologist and novice sewing magician living her best life in Gunnison this academic year.)

Hand sewing is valuable skill that is easy and inexpensive to learn.

PEOPLE & HAPPENINGS

Rooted Within March is Women's History Month and Rooted Within would like to invite local American Legion Post 54 members and the Gunnison community to join us in recognizing our Gunnison Valley women Veterans March 30 at 4 p.m. at the American Legion Post. If you, yourself are a Veteran or know of military women who are Veterans, please have them contact Debbie Vitulli or Karen Immerso in advance of this event at debbievitulli@comcast.net or kimmerso@hotmail.comm or call for more information 970.641.3875.

Honoring Vietnam veterans

The Gunnison High School Legion Club is sponsoring a "Honoring Vietnam Veterans" assembly on April 10 at the Gunnison High School auditorium from 10-10:30 a.m. All Vietnam-Era veterans are welcome to join us. RSVP by calling 970.901.8400. Our guest speaker will be former Sheriff Rick Murdie.

Gunnison Valley Producers’ Guild

Join the Gunnison Valley Producers' Guild on March 29 at 6:30 p.m. in the GAC Blue Box Theatre for the third annual Farm & Garden Poetry Slam. Register online to bring a poem related to

local food, farming or ranching or just come and enjoy an evening of poetry & learning about local farms. Dress like a farmer for a chance to win prizes! Suggested donation is $10 and a cash bar will be available.

Rotary grants

In response to the school district’s suspension of the Summer Experiences program, the Rotary Club of Gunnison invites proposals from nonprofits serving Gunnison area youth in summer, 2025. A limited number of $1,000 awards will be made to groups expanding, discounting or making free their summer programs to accommodate more young people. Priority will be given to ideas emphasizing low-income youth. The deadline for receipt of completed applications is March 21. Grant announcements will be made on April 3. To obtain guidelines and the application form or for questions, email gunnisonrotarygrants2025@gmail.com.

Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District

The Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District (UGRWCD) is presenting a free workshop at the Gunnison Library in Room B, 1 Quartz St, in Gunnison on March 25 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. This workshop will feature multiple presentations from local, state and federal personnel on different fund-

GUNNISON ARTS CENTER BRIEFS

Strung Necklaces with Gemstones

Join us March 22 at 11:30 a.m. for youth and 4 p.m. for adults with Anette Akelson for an engaging jewelry-making class. In this hands-on session, you’ll learn how to design and string a beautiful necklace using gemstones. Anette will guide you through selecting stones, arranging them and stringing them to create a unique piece that you can take home and enjoy. Whether you're a beginner or have some experience, this class is a great way to relax, unwind and explore your creative side.

Souper Bowl

Join us March 23 from 5-8 p.m. for an exciting evening at the Souper Bowl MMXXV—a celebration of art, soup, and fun, supporting the Gunnison

Arts Center’s Clay Studio. Enjoy tasty soups, live entertainment, handmade bowls of all sizes and friendly competition, all while supporting local artists. All ages welcome.

The Clay Lab: Outdoor Sculptures

Join us March 27 - April 17 for 4 Thursdays with Kit Wijkowski for a creative Clay Lab session where you’ll design and build outdoor sculptures. In this workshop, you'll learn techniques for shaping and detailing clay to create unique pieces perfect for gardens, patios, or outdoor spaces. Kit’s guidance will inspire you to explore your artistic side and leave with a one-of-a-kind sculpture to display.

CB CENTER FOR THE ARTS BRIEFS

Opera Colorado:

“Hansel and Gretel”

On March 25 at 7 p.m. follow the trail of breadcrumbs to Opera Colorado’s production of “Hansel and Gretel.” Stranded in the Magic Forest, things look “Grimm” indeed for Hansel and Gretel. The pair encounter everything from a magical sandman to a witch with a sweet tooth and a taste for children. The cost is $10-$45.

ing opportunities available for water resources. To register for the workshop, contact Bailey Friedman at bfriedman@ugrwcd. org. For more information visit ugrwcd.org or contact the District at 970.641.6065. A free lunch will be provided.

Crested Butte School of Dance

We are excited to offer 8 weeks of Summer Dance Camps for elementary kids. These camps are for incoming Grade K-5, and each week will have a different theme. Camps will be held every Monday and Thursday from June 16-Aug. 8. Families can choose half-day camps in the morning (9 a.m.-12 p.m.) or afternoon (1-4 p.m.), lunch add-on (12-1 p.m.), or select all three. Register starts March 24 at 9 a.m. Visit dancecrestedbutte.org to view schedules, create accounts and register. Limited scholarships may be available. Contact programs@dancecrestedbutte.org for more information.

Valley Rally

Join us March 22 at 12 p.m. at the Gunnison County courthouse for a rally protesting in favor of protecting public lands, our neighbors from unlawful deportation, re-instating federal workers who have been fired unlawfully and other important issues affecting our community. Everyone is welcome.

Tiger Electric with Opener Alden Burt

Join us March 28 at 7 p.m. for the The Moonlight Concert Series to rock out to Tiger Electric. A doo-wop garage, rock, surf, punk band from Gunnison. .

Jenny Hill Pankratz + Lizzy Plotkin featuring The Golden Shoals

Join us April 18 at 7 p.m. for The Moonlight Concert Series. Jenny Hill Pankratz and Lizzy Plotkin have been making beautiful folk music together for over ten years, inspired by the mountains. This special night will feature their performance, followed by Golden Shoals, who play lively old-time music with a modern twist. The evening will end with an exciting collaboration that will really get the crowd going.

Sip Into Spring

Join Renee Newton of Montanya Distillery on March 27 at 6 p.m. for a hands-on cocktail seminar celebrating the bright, botanical side of rum. Perfect for cocktail lovers looking to refresh their repertoire, this session will leave you inspired to bring a little garden-to-glass magic to your next happy hour. The cost is $45.

Disco

Inferno

Get ready to groove the night away at KBUT's annual Disco Inferno, happening on March 28. This community event invites you to don your most dazzling disco attire and dance to the hottest tracks spun by local DJs. The festivities will take place at the Center for the Arts, promising an awesome evening of music, dancing, and vibrant energy. All ages at 6 p.m. and 21+ at 8 p.m. The cost is $60.

MEETING NOTICE-RTA

The next meeting of the Gunnison Valley Transportation Authority (RTA) will be March 28, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. at the Mt. Crested Butte Town Offices Council Room – 911 Gothic Road, Mt. Crested Butte, CO. For copies of the Board of Directors meeting packet, please go to www.gunnisonvalleyrta.com/meetings or call Scott Truex at 970-275-0111. Two or more County Commissioners may attend these meetings.

SWIMMING:

Cowboy baseball opens with two wins

Buckhanan leads at the plate

Alex McCrindle Times Sports Editor

The GHS baseball team galloped out of the starting gate last week, and won its opening games against Rye and Cedaredge.

Armed with a stout senior class, and a nearly-eight man pitching rotation, the Cowboys will aim to capitalize on their early momentum at a warmweather tournament in Arizona on March 20-22. On the eve of the “Cactus League” spring training, the Cowboys sit with a 2-0 overall record, and will open their league campaign at Coal Ridge on April 5.

“We didn’t have a single error against Rye, which is unheard of this early in the season,” said Head Coach Tom Percival. “Then we started flat against Cedaredge, but found a way to get the win.”

GHS track and field starts season in Pueblo

Hindes returns to winners circle

Alex McCrindle Times Sports Editor

The GHS track and field team opened its season at the Banana Belt Classic in Pueblo on March 15.

The Cowboys competed with a smaller squad as key athletes recovered from lengthy winter sports seasons. Still, standout seniors Angela Hindes, Sienna Gomez and Jemma Petrie earned top placements, and Head Coach Stacey Mickelson said the meet provided key varsity experience for the large group of underclassmen.

“Our younger kids did really

like to race at a high school meet,” Mickelson said. “We have a really great group of underclassmen coming up, but it will be really exciting to see how our seniors do this year.”

Hindes, coming off a fourthplace finish in the high jump at the 2024 state championships, stepped into her final campaign with a newfound hunger. The senior signed a letter of intent to jump at Houston Christian University next fall, but has a GHS record to beat before trading in her high school spikes. Hindes started right where she left off, and earned a first-place finish in Pueblo with a top height of 5 feet, 2 inches.

Petrie also returned in top form, and starred in the 1600meter run. The senior distance

Gomez returned to the track with a second-place finish in the long jump, with a distance of 16-6. Lee Brunsting capped off the girls performance with a fifth-place leap in the triple jump.

On the boys front, cross country breakthrough athlete Jackson Dalleck led the team with a ninth-place finish in the 1600 meter. Senior thrower Shane Mensing added a 15th-place discus toss to the Cowboys team score, and capped off a positive opening meet for the GHS athletes.

The Cowboys will return to the spotlight at the Mickey Dunn Invite in Grand Junction on March 3.

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

Sienna Gomez and Eden Williams practice a relay event at Western Colorado University in 2024. (Photo by Bella Biondini)

Cesar Marmolejo celebrates a close play at the plate. (Photos by Evan Bjornstad)

Baseball B6

Noble takes fourth at nationals

Mountaineer fifth-year earns All-American honors

Gregg Petcoff Special to the Times

Western Colorado University’s Dean Noble earned an All-American honor at the 2025 NCAA Division II Men's Wrestling Championships on March 15. The fifth-year grappler also placed fourth in the 149-lbs bracket to earn national honors his second year in a row. Noble squared off against Cael Larson from Augustana University in the semifinals on Saturday. Larson registered the only takedown of the match in the second period to earn a 4-3 decision. Noble shifted to the consolation bracket.

Guaranteed no worse than sixth place, the Mountaineer needed a win to elevate into

the third-place match. Noble took a 3-0 lead in the opening period against University of Indianapolis' Jackson Hoover, and held a 4-3 advantage going into the final period. Hoover scored a takedown with 49 seconds left to take the lead. But Noble earned a reversal as time expired to tie the score at 6-6 and force overtime.

It was Noble that scored the deciding takedown, winning 9-6 in sudden victory to move into the third-place bout. The match pitted Noble against Brennan Watkins of King University Saturday afternoon.

Noble scored first with a takedown, but Watkins pulled the escape to trail only 3-1 entering the second period. Watson deferred to begin, and Noble elected to start in the down position. Watson took advantage by scoring a 4-point nearfall.

Noble earned an escape with 30 seconds in the period and then added a takedown in the final second to inch back in

front, 7-5, going into the final period. Watkins pulled within a point with an escape, and then scored a takedown with 15 seconds left in the match. Noble managed a quick escape, but time ran out, and the match ended as a 9-8 victory for Watkins.

Noble's All-American, fourthplace finish improves upon his All-American seventh-place finish at last year's national tournament.

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

Noble competes at home. (Courtesy Western Colorado University Athletics Communications)

The Rye Thunderbolts stood as the Cowboys’ opening-day test in an away game on March 8. The GHS seniors started hot at the plate despite an abbreviated spring preseason.

Grady Buckhanan opened his account going 5-5 at the plate, and racked in two doubles and three RBIs. He crossed home five times, setting an impressive pace for what will be a vital season for the senior cleanup hitter.

Marshall Spann also trotted onto the diamond in flying form. The senior catcher knocked in three runs and scored twice. A pair of RBIs from Rylee Berry, and two hits from junior Nolan Frymore propelled the Cowboys past the Thunderbolts in a 14-1 barnburner.

Just three days later, GHS faced a familiar foe in the Cedaredge Bruins. This season, the Bruins reclassified from 3A to 2A, moving outside the Cowboy’s 3A Western Slope League. Still, the former league rivals posed a scrappy threat to the GHS early season.

In the first inning, a poke single from senior pitcher Talon Kibler wasn’t enough to get the offensive wheels turning. The Bruins took a 1-0 advantage, and then struck out the Cowboy lineup in the top of the second. Kibler earned two crucial strikeouts and forced a weak grounder to return to the dugout unscathed.

At the start of the third,

Buckhanan and Kibler reached on a walk, while Cesar Marmolejo got on board with a hit-by-pitch. Buckhanan stole second, and crossed home after a pitch skidded into the backstop. The Cowboys tied the game 1-1, but again, stranded runners at the corners.

The Bruins took advantage with an immediate, three-bag shot to the centerfield wall in the bottom of the third. Hot off the leadoff triple, the Bruin baserunner flew too close to the sun, and GHS catcher Berry caught him stealing. The Cowboys then polished off the remaining batters, and the stalemate continued.

Frymore and Kibler crossed home after consecutive walks opened the fourth inning. The Cowboys took advantage of the Bruins mistakes on the mound, and the game stood 3-1 after a single to center field from Ethan Pierce.

Cedaredge rallied late in the game, and added a pair of runs in both the sixth and seventh. But the Cowboy offense clipped along, thanks to runs from Buckhanan and Marmolejo, and late singles from Pierce and junior Landon Miller. The GHS defense closed out the game, and secured a 7-5 victory over the former-league rivals.

The Cowboys will open their home schedule against Basalt in a doubleheader on April 12.

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

Gunnison Valley Storm claims home tournament

Grady Buckhanan makes solid contact against Cedaredge.

Talon Kibler warms up on the mound.

The Gunnison Valley Storm men’s hockey team defended its home ice, and won its third consecutive Brent Carlson Memorial Tournament on March 16. The Storm faced off against the red-hot Salida Regulators, who won the Gunnison competition league and Southwest Cup this season. Despite a game cagey opening, the Storm polished off the win in the third period to keep the trophy safe and sound in the Gunnison Valley.

(Courtesy Emily Pilon)

Western athletes finish strong in Indiana

Morgan Nielsen shatters school swim record

Gregg Petcoff Special to the Times

Western Colorado University track and field, and swim and dive athletes brought back school records and All-American awards from the 2025 NCAA Division II Winter Championships Festival that ran from March 11-15 in Indianapolis.

Morgan Nielsen made a successful appearance at the Women's Swimming and Diving Championships at the Indiana University Natatorium. The sophomore set personal bests in all four of her events while also breaking three Western records.

Nielsen started with a schoolrecord time of 10:19.85 in the 1000 freestyle on Wednesday. Then she swam a 1:53.51 in the 200 free for a career best the following day. In Friday's preliminary heats of the 500 free she bested her own school record, setting a new mark of 4:59.23 — her first time under the 5-minute mark.

Since entering the program last year, Nielsen has now set records in successive years in the 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyle events, while earning a place at the NCAA championship meet both years.

At the DII indoor track and field championship, Emma Kjellsen and Esteban Deniz were first to compete for the Mountaineers. The pair ran in the preliminary heats of the women’s and men’s miles on the opening day of the championship.

Neither Mountaineers advanced from the prelims, but Kjellsen earned second-team All-American honors by placing 15th overall with her time of 4:52.23. Deniz claimed an honorable mention All-American honor with his 18th-place time of 4:13.41.

Sammie Bretz earned an AllAmerican second-team award in the women’s high jump, placing 14th by clearing a final height of 1.67 meters, and Allison Beasley picked up a second-team All-

Nielsen flies in the Indiana Natatorium.

American award in the women’s 3,000-meter run with her 13th-place, season-best time of 9:35.90.

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

We are searching for a STAFF WRITER to help record the history of our great Valley — as it is happening!

inquisitive • passionate about this place • motivated by excellence in media

• experienced or eager to learn

Sammie Bretz soars over the high-jump bar. (Courtesy Western Colorado University Athletic Communications)

Morgan

Free the heels!

A horde of costumed telemark skiers zig-zagged downhill during the 51st annual Al Johnson ski race on March 16 at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. The racers cooled off with an après-ski party with DJ Reverend Severyn.

(Courtesy Taylor Ahearn/Crested Butte Mountain Resort)