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July 16, 2014 VOLU M E 53 | I S S UE 28 | 7 5 ¢
PikesPeakCourier.net T E L L E R C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
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Woodland Park gears up for busy week Turley resigns Events begin Aug. 15 leading up to Aug. 22 stage By Danny Summers
dsummers@colorado communitymedia.com Stage 5 of the 2014 USA Pro Cycling Challenge will be Friday Aug. 22, in Woodland Park. But organizers of the local event have already begun planning a week’s worth of events. A kick-off party will take place Aug. 15 at the Downtown Artwalk, Business Window Decorating and Sidewalk Chalk Art, 5 to 8 p.m. The Woodland Park Roots Project Outdoor Movie follows at 8 p.m. Here is the rest of the week’s schedule: Saturday, Aug.16 Downtown Business Exposure (Downtown 20 & window/ sidewalk art display). Sunday, Aug. 17 Saddle Club Street Dance, UPCC Outdoor Pavilion, 6 to 10 p.m. Monday, Aug. 18 BeirWerks 5K Fun Run and Walk, 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20 Rampart Library District Story Time followed by a craft
- 10 a.m. Mountain Top Cycling Club Cruisers Family Bike Ride, UPCC - 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21 Rampart Library District Story Time followed by a craft - 10 a.m. Team Telecycle Intermediate Level Mountain Bike Ride - 5:30 p.m. Pre-Race Block Party, Beer Garden - 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22 Memorial Park Activities, 9 to 11 a.m. 10 years and younger Bike Decorating for Parade (before BMX Demo) Strider Cup Adventure Zone - sponsored by Kids on Bikes Bike Rodeo Signs for Life Bus and Helmet Fitting 10 years and younger Decorated Bike Parade - 11:30 a.m. BMX Demo - Stunt Masters Impact Street Team - 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Team Telecycle Entry Level Mountain Bike Ride - 1 p.m. Team Telecycle Advance Level Mountain Bike Ride - 3 p.m. Youth Prevention Expo, 2 to 4 p.m., UPCC and Outdoor Week continues on Page 21
Staff report
Woodland Park will be the starting point for Stage 5 of the of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge on Aug. 22. There will be lots of activities for a fans of all ages throughout the day. Courtesy photo
“I resign as the Mayor of Woodland Park effective today. July 14, 2014 David J. Turley “Public statement to accompany my resignation – July 14, 2014 “Upon being elected Mayor of Woodland Park I took an oath to faithfully to faithfully serve this community. Since then I have devoted myself fully to the mission of serving this great city and its people. However, over the past several weeks, after false allegations were made, it has become impossible for me to fulfill my obligations to this community in the manner this city and its people deserve. Therefore, so that the city may pursue its business free of these distractions, I respectfully tender my resignation as Mayor of Woodland Park effective July 14, 2014. “While I would be my preference to continue my service as Mayor of Woodland Park, the reality is that the given the allegations against me and the legal constraints placed upon me I cannot continue to provide the attention to the City of Woodland Park that it so richly deserves. “I want to state very clearly that I am innocent of the allegations that have been made against me and I look forward to having my name cleared of such in a court of law. It is unfortunate that these mere allegations against me Turley continues on Page 21
Victor goes all Main Street By Pat Hill
phill@coloradocommunitymedia.com
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OFFICE: 1200 E. Highway 24 Woodland Park, CO 80863 PHONE: 719-687-3006 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Teller County, Colorado, the Pikes Peak Courier is published weekly on Wednesday by Colorado Community Media, 1200 E. Highway 24, Woodland Park, CO 80863. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT WOODLAND PARK, COLORADO. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 11 a.m. Legal: Thurs. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 10 a.m. G ET SOCIAL WITH US
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In a place with magnificent mountain scenery, artistic vibrancy and architectural distinction, the charm of Victor is enhanced by its people. “We don’t do things like other people do,” said Becky Parham, manager of Main Street, a grant-funded program designed to revitalize downtown areas. Parham combines a sense of pride and desire to share the secrets of a place with less than 500 residents who live at an altitude of nearly 10,000 feet above sea level. “There are so many hidden gems around here,” she said. There’s Timmy the Hobo stirring up a pot of green chili on the stove at the Fortune Club. The stove happens to be right there in the eating area. Later in the day, the owner, Sue Kochevar, will be baking pies, with the finished product a show-stopper for the customers. Parham is especially proud of the new laundromat on Fourth Street. “It’s so neat and tidy and it smells good,” Parham said. “I just love coming here because it’s so clean.” Deb Downs, the city administrator, agrees. “The new laundromat has been a great boon to this community. People come in, not just from Victor but from Cripple Creek, too,” she said. “Things are starting to happen.” Proud of their quirks and a fine appreciation for the turn-of-the-century (19th) buildings, albeit some in disrepair, the city applied for Main Street designation and succeeded. As a result, Victor is eligible for technical assistance along with grants to spruce up the place. “They loved what Victor was doing, grassroots, volunteers, community members and no staff,” Downs said. “Leaders in the community stepped up and said ‘let’s do something.’” Just in case somebody missed the memo on refurbishing, the Façade Squad knocked on doors, in addition to calling absentee owners. “They’re a bunch of retired guys led by Mike Wallace who, with a grant from the mine (Cripple Creek & Victor Mining Co.) were able to leverage that money with Sherwin Williams (paint store) to get a huge discount on materials,” Downs said. “And the fellas began working with a graphic artist who donated his time to come up with historic color schemes.” From paint to restoring historic windows,
Milford Ashworth donated his collection of tractors to the Ag and Mining Museum in Victor. Photos by Pat Hill
The sculpture garden at Fourth and Diamond streets in Victor was an Eagle Scout project accomplished by Spencer Hoover. the squad became experts in preservation. “They just wanted to do something for their community,” Downs said. And with the Main Street Program, administered by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, the city has access to architectural assistance. “They’ll actually come in and suggest professional assistance to the businesses by
people we just couldn’t afford to hire,” Downs said. With the infusion of money and energy, Victor is capitalizing on the out-of-the-box ideas, some dreamed up by Parham. “Becky is expanding the season by planning more events such as Steampunk and Sinkhole de Mayo,” Downs said, the latter a celebration spawned by a large sinkhole that, in other places, could have been a negative. Parham relishes the independent spirit that characterizes Victor, particularly when it comes to the amphitheater project that will include the historic rock wall. “We’re being very careful so that what we end up with doesn’t look plastic, we don’t want anything to look too municipal,” she said. Walking along the avenue, Parham points to several of 12 benches around a four-block area. “We figure a walkable city has places to sit down,” she said. “It’s kind of rough terrain.” Despite the empty buildings scattered around, Parham and her Main Street committee have taken great pains to jazz up empty Victor continues on Page 3