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January 7 - 20, 2014

Check Out Valuable Coupons On Page 13

PROMOTIONS

Black Hawk, Central City promos, parties & giveaways Pages 4-5, 9-11

COLORADO HISTORY

New History Colorado exhibit explores Colorado’s people and the landscape Page 16

5

TRAIL’S END

A female breaks the male barriers of National Western Stock Show Page 17

GOING GREEN

10 popular herbs that heal the green way Page 18

COUPONS • COLORADO HISTORY • CASINO GUIDE •GAMING • MAP • ENTER TAINMENT

The Last Hand voters may have to give their nod to some of the proposals.

We’re all holding our breath over the football situation and the fortune of our beloved team.

Are the BronBy Bob Sweeney cos the 2013-14 team of destiny The National Western Stock Show is a with the greatest quarterback of all time welcome event coming back to the Queen at their helm? Not to be forgotten is the owner Pat Bowlen who has been such a City of The Plains. dedicated team owner. He has given the Plans are to have a redo of the National Western Event Center facility and some needed remodeling and physical and educational improvements in this historic Denver event.

Stock Show officials will be making some announcements soon and Denver

January is all about the Stock Show and our Denver Broncos

PAGE 2

Broncos every thing they could ever want along with Hall of Fame player, and VP John Elway.

The stage is set, let the play unfold.

It is not enough to just be good, a team must also be lucky. May good fortune in 2014 descend upon our Denver Broncos and the readers of the Colorado Gambler.

Gambler

Tony Thorpe Maverick Sharp www.coloradogambler.com

THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 23 Years

coloradogambler

cogambler

January 7 - 20, 2014

Earn up to

10X points Every Monday

Swipe your card at one of three gold kiosks to reveal your multiplier.

Plus, receive one free buffet after earning five unadjusted points.

Redeem your ticket at the players club or cashier services prior to playing to activate your multiplier. Not valid on video poker.

Win a 60” tV or Cash!

Friday, January 10, 17, 24 and 31 5:30pm – 10:00pm Five Drawings Each Day! Those selected will win $100 CASH or a new 60” TV. Receive one free entry each promotional day and earn additional entries with every 20 unadjusted points.

Win your sharE of

15,000!

$

Tuesday, January 7, 14, 21 and 28 3:00pm – 7:00pm Cash prizes are hidden behind snowflakes and icicles.

Grab all the cash you can until you “freeze”!

10 winners selected each night. Receive one free entry per promotion day and earn additional entries with every 10 unadjusted points.

1-800-THE-ISLE • www.theisleblackhawk.com © 2013 Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. Must be 21 years of age or older. Promotions subject to change or cancellation without notice. Please visit the players club or cashier services for details. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. www.theisleblackhawk.com

www.bullwhackerscasino.com www.goldenmardigras.com

Jackets in January

Guests may earn or win January jackets, Wednesdays – Tuesdays, Jan. 1-28, 2000 base points – 1 per week, maximum 4 jackets. 15 hours of tracked table play with a $10 average bet – 1 per week, maximum 4 jackets. Jackpots(taxable) of $1200 or more – no limit on jackets

Ladies Night

Every Tuesday in January, 5 – 9 p.m.

Includes specialty drinks, drawings and hors d’oeuvres.

Fat Tuesdays

Every Tuesday in January - Earn 100 base points and receive Fat Tuesday Beads (Classic). Earn 250 base points and receive Fat Tuesday Premium Beads.

Enjoy Louisiana-style food specials every Tuesday at Bourbon Street Café & Buffet.

$400,000 Winter Wheel of Cash

172 winners will have a chance to win their share of up to $400,000! Drawings every Friday and Saturday in January from 1 – 9 p.m. Two winners will be randomly selected at each drawing time to spin the wheel for their chance at up to $2,500 cash. One spin per winner – the prize that the wheel lands on is theirs to keep. Wheel MUST make at least one full revolution to be considered valid. Ten base slot point or 30 minutes of tracked table or live poker play to get an entry. 25X entries on penny machines every Tuesday.

Disclaimer

Must be 21 years old or older. Must be an A-Play Member. Guests may win one regular drawing per day. Prizes less than $1,000 will be awarded in QuickPlay, $1000+ will be awarded in QuickPlay or cash. Activation required to receive entry multiplier. Activation required on drawing day to be eligible to win. Management reserves all rights. See A-Play Club for rules. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-5224700.

PAGE 4

$40,000 Cozumel Getaway

Win up to $250 in Free Slot Play during our January daily drawings. Grand prize drawing Feb. 1 at 9:30 p.m. win a trip for two to Cozumel or be one our four $500 in Free Slot Play winners. Stick around for our $250 drawings at 10 p.m., 11 p.m. and midnight.

MLK Day

Join us Martin Luther King Day Monday, Jan. 20th for 10X Points on all Slots and 4X Points on Video Poker.

Most points

Bullwhackers is the place for the most points. 6X points on slots every Tuesday and Wednesday.

Lucky Bull Club

New Members can get up to $15 in Free Slot Play when signing up for a Bullwhackers Lucky Bull Club card. Membership is free. $10 for signing up, an additional $5 for your email address and receive 4X Points all day.

Take a ride on us

Bullwhackers offers convenient free shuttle service directly to Johnny Z’s Casino in Central City. Shuttle runs Thursdays, noon – 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, noon – midnight, and Sundays 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

poker.

• Earn 50 base points for a free meal in the Garden Buffet or pay only $4.99.

• Discount in The Café during select hours.

• $20 bus refund with 250 base points.

A blizzard of cash is blowing in on Saturday, Jan. 25 From noon – 9 p.m., 15 winners will have the choice to take $500 cash or $1,000 Promo Play. Then, the big storm hits at 10 pm with one winner of $5,000 cash. Earn 25X entries on Wednesdays. Bonus. Play on Saturday, Jan. 25 and Sunday, Jan. 26 to carryover all of your January Grand Prize entries into the February Grand Prize Drawing.

Win a share of over $200,000 Fridays, January 10, 17, 24 and 31 and Saturdays, January 11 and 18. Between 4 – 11 p.m., six guests will each win up to $4,600 in cash and Promo Play prizes. Plus, earn 25X entries every Wednesday.

Mystery Point Multiplier Thursdays

Receive 10X points on penny slot machines Wednesdays, Jan. 8, 15, 22 and 29 from 9 a.m. – midnight.

Park, Play, Free Buffet

Cold Cash Scratcher

$5 Promo Play for Email

Provide a new email address in January to Guest Services and receive $5 Promo Play.

10X Penny Points

Every Wednesday-Sunday earn 20 base points on the day you valet park at Saratoga Casino and receive a free meal at the Garden buffet. Not valid on holidays. Offers must be redeemed during buffet hours on the day you park. Must present current day valet parking stub and earn 20 base points on the day you park.

Spin and Win

Earn 50 base points on slots or average a $5 bet for 30 minutes on table games each Sunday in January to receive your Saratoga Casino gift from noon – 8 p.m. Limit one per guest, while supplies lasts.

Facebook Trivia

Like us on Facebook for your chance to win $50 Promo Play and a free buffet for two.

A new trivia question will be posted and a new winner drawn each week.

Saratoga 50+: Bigger and Better Birthday Bonus Mondays and Tuesdays guests 50 and over reap the rewards.

• 5X points on slots and 2X points on video

black-hawk-ladyluck. isleofcapricasinos.com

It’s a point multiplier mystery! Stop into Lady Luck for mysterious fun Thursdays in January. Starting at noon until 8 p.m. guests will swipe their player’s card at the SCA Kiosks and choose one symbol to reveal their point multiplier for the promotional day. Point multipliers can be 2X, 3X, 5X, 7X, 10X or 20X. Guests must redeem voucher at the promotions area prior to playing to receive points. Point multiplier is valid from time of registration until midnight on Thursdays in January. See guest services for rules and additional details for all promos.

Sunday Gift Giveaway $200,000 Flurries of Cash

Club 40

$20,000 Snow Me the Money Grand Prize

Win up to 10X points every Thursday from 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. Spin the wheel before you play to receive your point multiplier for the day. Not valid on video poker or keno.

www.saratogacasinoBH.com

at Guest Services any time before 6:30 p.m. to be eligible to win.

Do you have a birthday in January? Join us on Sunday, Jan. 26 to be one of three $100 winners at 7 p.m. Swipe your Club card

from 9 – 10:45 a.m. Then starting at 11 a.m. play for the Moolah. The top five high scorers will be awarded a cash prize at the conclusion of the tournament, top prize $250. After, join us for a bonus drawing at 2 p.m. when two tournament player names will be drawn for $100. Guests must be present to win cash drawing.

Come warm your wallet with cold cash Saturdays in January. Earn a cold cash scratch ticket for every 200 unadjusted points earned, 2 – 10 p.m., up to TEN scratch tickets per player each promotional day. Guests must swipe their player’s card at the SCA Kiosks and redeem their voucher at the promotions area.

Players will scratch their cold cash scratch ticket with the marketing representatives to receive a cash prize. Prizes will range from $10 all the way up to $500.

Rolling Cash Progressive

Join your friends at Lady Luck Tuesdays in January, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. for a Rolling Cash Progressive. One winner will be chosen every half-hour for their chance at the progressive prize. The cash prize will start at $50 at 10 a.m. and all unclaimed prizes will rollover into the next drawing time, increasing by $50 until the prize is claimed. Once claimed the prize resets at $50. The final 6pm cash prize is guaranteed to go. Guests will receive one free entry and additional entries for every 50 unadjusted points played, starting at 8 a.m. on Tuesdays.

Moolah Monday Free Slot Tournaments

We’re giving out the Moolah every Monday morning in January. Sign up for our FREE slot tournament Monday mornings

THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 23 Years

Club 40 is now twice as nice. Join us twice a week, Wednesdays and Fridays, for Club 40. All guests age 40 or better will receive 4X points on slots and 2X points on video poker. Guests will also receive a free entrée at Otis & Henry’s once they earn 50 unadjusted points on their Lady Luck Player’s Card.

Play And Stay

Play and Stay with your friends at Lady Luck! Sundays through Thursdays in January earn a free room in the Lady Luck Hotel Tower. To Earn play 500 unadjusted points on Lady Luck Player’s Card.

Poker and Table Games guests can earn too! Play 4 hours at table games or play 6 hours in a live poker game. Visit guest services or speak to a table games supervisor to redeem offer. Offer subject to availability. Excludes holidays and blackout dates.

Table Games

We always have multiple $5 games.

Play $2 craps Monday through Thursday with 10 X’s odds daily. We Offer Craps, Roulette, Buffalo Blackjack Bonus, Three Card Poker and 21 + 3 Xtreme. Club 40 – Play 2 hours and receive a $10 Meal at Otis & Henry’s every Friday. Play 4 hours Sunday’s – Thursday’s and earn a free night Stay (Excludes Holidays and Blackout Dates). Play 3 hours and have your bus ticket reimbursed up to $18. Earn Cash Offers, Match Play Coupons, Food Comps and other Great Offers based on play.

Poker

Bad Beat Top Award is currently $93,631 (as of Dec. 26) with qualifiers of Aces Full of Jack’s beaten. Be in a game Sunday – Friday by 10 a.m. and receive 2 - $10 Bounce Back Coupons after 4 hours of play. Be in a game Sunday – Friday by 11 a.m. and receive a $10 Bounce Back Coupon after 3 hours of play. Earn $2 in comp for every hour of live play.

Play 3 hours and have your bus ticket reimbursed up to $18. Play 6 hours of live action Sunday’s – Thursday’s and earn a Free Night Stay (Excludes Holidays and Blackout Dates). Earn an entry to Blizzard of Cash Poker promotion for every hour of Live Play.

Continued on page 5

January 7 - 20, 2014

until you choose the one that says “freeze.”

Receive one free swipe each promotional day and earn one additional swipe with 20 unadjusted points.

Continued from Page 4

Gear up for the Big Game Get ready for the big game when you have a chance to win a 60”TV or a cash prize.

Drawings will take place Friday, Jan. 10, 17, 24 and 31 from 5:30 – 10 p.m. Two guests will win $100 cash and one will be given a new 60” TV! Guests will receive one free entry on promotion day and additional entries with each set of 10 unadjusted points earned. Five drawings held each night.

www.theisleblackhawk.com

Mystery Point Multiplier

receive 3X points on all slots, 2X points on video poker, a free ice cream and a Free Calypso’s Buffet after earning five unadjusted points. For complete details, please visit the player’s club.

night on us! Check with the Player’s Club or Cashier Services once you have earned your points to receive your hotel offer. This offer is valid only on the day the points are earned and is based on availability, blackout days may apply...

Bus Fare Refund

Table Games

Do you ride the bus to Black Hawk?

The Isle will refund your bus fare up to $20. Simply earn 35 unadjusted points on your player’s card and present your return bus ticket to the player’s club or cashier services. Table Games and Poker players will receive their bus fare back with four hours of consecutive play.

The Isle has all your favorite table games including blackjack, craps with 10 times odds and roulette! Also available at the Isle, Three Card Poker, Bonus 6, Buffalo blackjack, Double Deck blackjack, and 21+3. Mississippi Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold’Em and Let-It-Ride are all linked to one progressive jackpot that as of Dec. 31 is $97,262. Three Card Poker has its own progressive jackpot and is at $1,097.

And now exclusively at the Isle you can play “Craps-Free Craps” with 10 times odds.

With 3 Aces on the board still qualifying, this is the easiest way to win a bad beat around.

Quad 2’s through 7’s beaten would pay more than $45,324 or 50% and Quad 8’s or better beaten would pay over $67,986 or 75%!

For complete rules, please contact the Poker Room at 303-998-7905.

Free Food – The Isle provides free food for poker players seated in a live cash game or tournament including: Hot & Fresh Pizza, hot dogs, brats, 2 varieties of soup, nacho’s & cheese, chili, as well as vanilla, strawberry or chocolate milkshakes made to order!

Tournaments – Monday through Friday, there will be two tournaments each day in September at 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Every Thursday is Omaha Day at the Isle with 2 weekly Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo Tournaments to choose from. For complete information, please contact the Poker room at 303-998-7905.

Receive up to 10X points Mondays, Jan. 13, 20 and 27. Swipe your card at any of the three gold kiosks to reveal your point multiplier. Bring your slip to the Players Club or Ca- 5X Points On Pennies Play 10 Points, Receive $10 shier Services prior to playing. Point Each Thursdays, 8 a.m. – midnight, All new members of the IsleOne® Tradewinds multiplier not valid on video poker. earn 5X Points on all Penny slot machines. player’s club will receive $10 after Tradewinds at the Isle has a new menu Point multiplier is not valid on video poker playing 10 unadjusted points on that features what we believe to be the best Poker Room and you must register at the players club or their new players card.

Snow Bank Giveaway Bad Beat – The Isle has the EASI- hamburgers in Black Hawk. Whether you try cashier services prior to playing.

Win cash Tuesdays, Jan. 7, 14, 21 and 28 from 3 – 7 p.m. Grab all the snowflakes you can until you “freeze.” Each snowflake and icicle as a cash value hidden behind it and you get to keep all the cash you collect

Paradise 50 Plus Each Sunday, all guests age 50 or better can join the Paradise 50 Plus club. You will

EST BAD BEAT TO WIN in Black Hawk! The Bad Beat Jackpot Pool as of Dec. 31, 2013, is $90,649. That means Aces full of 10’s through Kings beaten would pay over $9,064 or 10% of the total jackpot pool.

Play and Stay

Play 30 unadjusted points on your IsleOne club card Sundays through Thursdays between 8 a.m. and midnight and stay the

the classics, a green chili and chipotle, the black & blue or mushroom and Swiss burger you will not be disappointed. Tradewinds® even offers a mouthwatering cheeseburger burrito.

NEW MEMBERS GET UP TO $15 IN FREE SLOT PLAY

JANUARY 1ST - FEBRUARY 1ST

50, 000 E -Z WIN ! $

40,000

$

COZUMEL & CASH GIVEAWAY

DAILY DRAWINGS

WIN UP TO $250 per drawing every day in JANUARY

WIN YOUR SHARE OF UP TO $40,000 & A TRIP TO COZUMEL

FRIDAYS - SUNDAYS

January 1st - February 1st Grand Prize Cozumel Getaway Drawing, February 1st

WIN UP TO $1,000

CEN

www.johnnyzscasino.com

January 7 - 20, 2014

|

TRAL CI T Y

303-582-5623

|

See Club Z for complete details

DAILY DRAWINGS JANUARY 1 - FEBRUARY 1

THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 23 Years

PAGE 5

Gaming

Understanding the Insurance Bet

“Insurance anyance bet would be $5, one?” Benevolently whenever the dealer enquired by the reveals an Ace up dealer whenever card. Insurance pays he or she exposes off at odds of 2-toan Ace as their up 1. In the event the card. In my opinion dealer does not have a natural (blackjack) the Insurance bet is then the player would probably the most misunderstood and By Maverick Sharp lose the $5 Insurance bet and the hand will misconceived bet in the game of blackjack. One thing merely be played out. If the dealer you must understand is that the happens to have a ten-value card casinos are not in the business of in the hole then player would lose philanthropy, therefore, they are their original $10 bet but win the not going to offer a player an op- $5 insurance bet, at odds of 2-totion which yields a positive expec- 1, thus, winning $10 and breaking even. tation.

Let’s go through some of the It is imperative to understand when it comes to Insurance is that mathematical gymnastics as to you are “not” insuring anything. why the Insurance bet is a “Bad” The insurance bet is nothing more bet. To keep things relatively simthan a side bet you are making ple I will use the single-deck for with the house as to whether the my illustration. In a single-deck dealer has a 10-value card in the of cards there are 36 non-tens hole, (as their down card). and 16 ten-value cards, therefore, Let’s go ahead and break down this gives us a ratio of 2.25-to-1 of the Insurance bet. To make an in- non-tens to tens. But wait a minsurance bet, a player is required ute here…The casinos are offering to place an additional bet which is the player a 2-to-1 payout on the one-half the value of their original Insurance bet when the true odds bet. For example, if the player’s against the dealer having a ten-valoriginal bet is $10 then the insur- ue card in the hole is 2.25-to-1. Do

Casino Blackjack

Random thoughts from 2013 poker talk Poker is getting tougher up in the mountains. It used to be a “soft” table could be found; now the level of play has gone up and those tables are few and far between - at almost any level. Darn it.

With that said - there are lots of new faces at the tables and this is good to see. Cheers to all those players who are moving up in stakes - that’s what it’s all about / play within your budget and within your skill level, then move up to the next level.

And, as in skiing, if you don’t fall a bit you won’t learn. So, stretch your skills and fall a bit it will lead to ultimate future success.

Tournament poker is back.

With the large World Series of Poker Circuit Events coming to Colorado, The Heartland Poker Tour’s multiple stops, and the numerous local tournaments throughout the mountain towns,

PAGE 6

BY LARRY JOHNSON

the tournament trail is back. Personally, I will be jumping in with both feet in 2014 - ready to get back into the tournament mode with my eye on a seat at the World Series.

Call ahead. Many poker rooms take call in’s - it’s nice when you get there and don’t have to wait.

Along those same lines take advantage of all the perks the rooms have to offer going into 2014 / there are bunches - just ask.

My personal poker results this year included a total of 385 hours played and ending the year positive $3,544 - for an hourly rate of $9.21. This included a full month

are a total of three cards exposed, your 10,10 and the dealer’s Ace in which we needed to factor in from the beginning amount of 52 cards, leaving us a balance of 49 unseen cards. Our expected value in this particular case, would be roughly -14.29 percent of our insurance bet of $5, thus, costing you roughly $0.72 on each bet long-term.

What this is saying is that the player can expect to lose, on average, 7.69 percent of their Insurance bet long-term. This is unequivocally not a good betting proposition especially when it’s more the 146 percent worse off than betting Black-or-Red on the American Roulette wheel. And in my opinion that is a horrible bet!

OK, now the question arises, “Should you only insure your winning hands?” As logical as this might sound the results are even grimmer. Suppose at the top of a freshly shuffled deck you were just dealt 10,10 verses a dealer’s Ace up card. Remember that there

Please understand that the value of your hand should have absolutely nothing to do with deciding whether or not to make the insurance bet. The only thing that matters when making the insurance bet is whether the ratio of nontens to tens are less than 2-to-1.

Another bad play many neophytes make at the blackjack tables is to take “Even-Money” on their blackjacks whenever the dealer exposes an Ace up card.

Keep in mind that taking EvenMoney is the same thing as taking Insurance. What’s that? I hear some objections…permit me to explain. Whenever you have a Blackjack and the dealer has an Ace up card a player can opt to take even-money, a 1-to-1 pay out. In the event the player

did not take even-money and chose to make the insurance bet of one-half of their original bet, in the case where the dealer also has a natural, the player would “tie” with the dealer and win the insurance bet at 2-to-1 in which would be equivalent to 1-to-1 pay off on their original bet.

Can the insurance bet be exploited? You better believe it can!

Via counting cards! In my book Dynamic Blackjack-The Professional Approach I reveal a very powerful card counting strategy that suggests when to make the Insurance bet and assures you, with an accurate count of course, it “Always” will yield a positive expectation.

In conclusion, I hope that I have clarified the Insurance bet for you and until then…I do not believe in luck but Maverick Sharp wishes you nothing but the “Best of Cards!”

Maverick Sharp is an expert high stakes Blackjack player and author of Dynamic Blackjack-The Professional Approach. To learn more about Maverick Sharp and the largest Blackjack book in print visit diamondbackpublishing.com or email any questions or comments at mavericksharp@ diamondbackpublishing.com

off over the summer and having the privilege of playing in 3 states and a few different rooms.

While it is always good news to end the year positive, I am actually disappointed in this performance. Why? Simply put I left money on the table through playing a sub-par game over the final few months of the year, ending the year with a tough loss of $980 in the big game last weekend. My goal at the beginning of 2013 was to win $50,000. While I missed that (by just a bit) - it was a positive year and I think I learned a bit that will make me a better player.

New tactic for 2014 - no goal set financially / just to play my best game every day. Let’s see how that works.

As the fictional Star Trek Captain Jean Luc Picard says on numerous occasions, “This stops HERE.” Discipline is the name of my game in 2014. If I can’t be disciplined, I will not play.

My “Best Beat” of the year: Winning 6 hands in a row in the

$30 - $60 with a ½ kill Hold em game for a tune of $3,300 in 15 minutes / then getting up and leaving.

My “Bad Beat” of the year: Was down $2,200 one late weekend night and climbed back to within $70 of being even - then in a push to get back above even lost $2,000 back over the next 12 hours. Lesson here: Take what the cards give, don’t try to force.

Check out the recently remodeled Poker Room at the Lodge Casino - a bit smaller but definitely cozy, staying full, and still with the best views of any poker room in the country.

Know where the “free” beverage machines are located near your favorite poker room - almost every room has one nearby. Usually lots of choices and saves more than you would think in tips daily (of course tip if ordering, but is a way to get a soda and take a walk).

Earlier this year the Black Hawk poker community lost one of its favorite players on the tournament circuit - Rest in Peace

Kammi, you and your upbeat attitude while playing will be remembered.

Finally, I am lucky enough to have had my first book published late in 2013. It is titled A Century of Change in Colorado and takes a reader to 80 different locations throughout Colorado through photographs from more than a Century ago and compares them with the same locations today along with a story of the spot from its historical beginnings to today.

Lots of fun to put together and I did much of the planning while playing poker this year. The book is available at all 3 Tattered Cover bookstore locations throughout the Denver area; at Fiocchi’s Restaurant in the DTC; at The Ameristar Gift shop Bookstore; and on Amazon.com.

Finally, I look forward to playing a bit more varied game in 2014 with many more tournaments on the agenda, a few more poker trips out of town, and the best year of my poker career.

Remember, play your game.

you see what’s going on here? The casino is shorting the players’ payoff on the Insurance bet as to what the actual true odds really are.

The real question to be asking is, “How much does it hinder the unknowledgeable player who makes the Insurance bet?” This can be quantified from the following expression.

Insurance Expected Value (2/1 x 16/52) + (-1/1 x 36/52) = -7.69 percent

Insurance Expected Value (2/1 x 14/49) + (-1/1 x 35/49) = -14.29 percent

THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 23 Years

January 7 - 20, 2014

Gemstone & Minerals

The story of Tanzanite

Tanzania is a country in east Africa. This country’s eastern border is formed by the Indian Ocean. Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, is in northeastern Tanzania.

The name Tanzania is derived from two states, Tanganyika and Zanzibar, which were united in 1964. The tiny country of Tanzania is known for a special gem called Tanzanite, which has become one of the world’s most coveted gemstones. Found in one remote place on earth (in Tanzania’s Merelani Hills, in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro), the precious stone is 1,000 times more rare than diamonds. It is rare because once this last purple gem is mined from Tanzania, that’s it, no more tanzanite.

The actual discovery of tanzanite remains something of a mystery. The mineral is believed to be born about 500 million years ago

January 7 - 20, 2014

as the eruption of Mount Kilimanjaro created a unique set of conditions deep within the earth that led to formation of tanzanite crystals. High heat and pressure in the presence of a rare chemical, vanadium, allowed for this fascinating stone to form.

According to some sources, tanzanite was first discovered in 1967 when an enormous grass fire swept the land below Kilimanjaro. As tanzanite is a brownish color in its rough state, the crystals lying on the surface were never noticed. After the grass fire had burned the land and heated the stones, they turned a bright, glittering violet-blue.

A magical carpet of tiny gemstones glittering in the sunlight attracted the attention

of some Maasai tribesmen.

They were mesmerized by the stones and picked them up becoming the first humans to ever hold tanzanite in their hands.

Tanzanite is the blue-purple variety of the mineral zoisite. Tanzanite is noted for its remarkably strong ability of showing three different colors in the three different directions when viewed under alternating lighting conditions. The colors appear alternately sapphire blue, violet and burgundy depending on the crystal’s orientation. After heat treatment, only two hues, purple and blue, are apparent when viewed under incandescent light. The blues appear more evident when subjected to fluorescent light and the violet hues can be seen readily when viewed under incandescent light.

Tanzanite in its rough state is usually a reddishbrown color. It requires heat treatment in an

oven to bring out the blue-violet of the stone. The gemstone was named by Tiffany’s after Tanzania, the country in which it was discovered. Because of relatively softness, tanzanite is most commonly set in necklaces and earrings.

From 1967 to 1972, an estimated 2 million carats of tanzanite were mined in Tanzania before the mines were nationalized by the government. The world’s largest faceted tanzanite is 737.81 carats. One of the most famous large tanzanite gems (242 carats) is called the Queen of Kilimanjaro. It is set in a tiara and accented with 803 brilliant garnets and 913 diamonds. The piece is part of the private collection of Michael Scott, the first CEO of Apple Computers. In 2005, the largest-ever tanzanite crystal was found in one of the mines. It weighs 16,839 carats.

A related story from a Staurer

THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 23 Years

catalog goes as follows: Two years after the discovery of tanzanite in 1967, a Maasai tribesman knocked on the door of a gem cutter’s office in Nairobi. The Maasai had brought along an enormous chunk of tanzanite that he was looking to sell.

His asking price was $50.

But the gem cutter was suspicious and assumed that a stone so large could only be glass. The cutter told the tribesman, “No thanks,” and sent him on his way. Big mistake! It turns out that the gem was genuine and could have produced a dazzling stone that would have dwarfed the world’s largest cut tanzanite at that time. Based on common pricing, that “chunk” could have been worth close to $3,000,000. The Tanzanian gem cutter missed his chance to hit the jeweler’s “jackpot”... and make history.

(Author’s note: Tanzanite was added to the birthstones for December in 2002.)

PAGE 7

Cover Story

2013 roared in Colorado’s gaming towns T

By Linda Jones

he biggest casino sale of 2013 was announced very early in the year - the entire Ameristar chain sold to Pinnacle Entertainment. The Black Hawk Ameristar Casino will keep its name, along with its dedicated clientele and drawing power. The negotiations of 2012 produced several other casino sales, and often a name change, in 2013 in Black Hawk Bullwhackers Casino, situated along Gregory Street and Hwy 119 since 1992, also sold but is keeping its original name at this time.

Penn National Gaming sold the casino to JZ Gaming, owner of Johnny Z’s Casino in Central City. John Zimpel, managing member of JZ Gaming and developer of Johnny Z’s, sees advantages to owning a casino in each city and running a shuttle bus between the two.

The new owners also acquired the gas station along Hwy 119, two buildings behind the casino, one a former indoor playground for children now housing offices and the other the former Gold Mine Casino/Silver Hawk building, now vacant.

The Golden Mardi Gras, Golden Gates and Golden Gulch casinos were sold to Affinity Gaming and two of their casino names survived the sale; only the Mardi Gras dropped the “Golden.” After the official Grand Opening on Aug. 3, Mardi Gras sports an expanded gaming area, a remodeled signature restaurant and new games. (Golden Gulch continues to be the only 100 percent all-coin casino in Black Hawk.)

The familiar Riviera sign at the Hwy 119 entrance to Black Hawk has been replaced by a Monarch sign.

The official change-ofbranding date was April 26 and big changes are coming for the casino. Monarch’s master plan calls for doubling the existing casino space, adding a 22-story hotel tower with 507 guest rooms and suites, an upscale spa and pool, four restaurants, additional bars, and a new 10-story parking structure, for a to-

tal of 1,551 parking spaces.

Fitzgeralds, a familiar sign on Main Street in Black Hawk, was replaced by the Saratoga Casino logo. The owner of the Saratoga Casino & Raceway in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., now owns the casino and the historic buildings fronting Gregory Street, the parking lot and some of the open space behind the structures for future additions. A $7.5 million renovation of the casino moved the table games area, upgraded games, added Diamond Jim’s Bar and a 120-seat Garden Buffet restaurant on the third floor, with a new escalator to serve the new buffet.

Saratoga’s General Manager Andrew Gentile said, “In 2013 we could hardly imagine a more ambitious goal than becoming the NEW place to play in Black Hawk. We owe the success of our transformation to the very core of our casino, which has remained unchanged, the dedication of our talented team members and the loyalty of our patrons.”

These additions and renovations bring more and more entertainment seekers to Black Hawk, and Horizon Coach Lines is ready to serve them with more than 80 round-trips from the Denver area to the gambling towns daily. The year 2013 was the first full year of operation for the new owners of the former Coach USA and the year was outstanding for the coach company.

Jim Vondreele of Horizon said “We cannot thank the gamblers and employees enough who continue to trust us in providing them with safe and comfortable transportation to the gaming towns of Black Hawk and Central City.”

The continued success of Black Hawk’s casinos dovetails well with the city’s plans to become a destination resort.

Toward

The new City of Black Hawk Public Works Building on Miners Mesa. Photos by Linda Jones

PAGE 8

that goal, the City of Black Hawk took several steps this year. One is declaring Maryland Mountain a History Appreciation Destination District; the city plans to create trails on the mountain showcasing the historic mining and milling properties in that area. Another new district, the History Appreciation and Preservation District, was created to encompass the 1877 City Hall and the historic church and school above City Hall.

The most obvious change will be in the new GOLD District – Gaming, Outstanding Lodging & Dining District – along Gregory Street. GOLD was designed to create a destination area encompassing gaming, entertainment, retail, lodging, services, restaurants, bars, indoor recreation, and amusement and parking. The most obvious change to occur in 2014 will be the relocation of Gregory Street in order to create space for a pedestrian plaza area alongside the street.

Other business news includes the closure of Bevie Sue’s Emporium on Main Street in Central City, as well as the demise of Doc

Holliday’s Casino and Crystal Palace. Annie Oakley’s Liquor & Grocery, the popular convenience store in Central City, sold in 2013 to a group of three purchasers, one of whom is Craig Ramirez, well-known in the gambling community as a successful general manager, currently at the Red Dolly.

Small businesses are gradually returning to both gambling towns. In Central City, the Gilpin Market opened in late 2013 at 430 Lawrence Street. Gilpin Market is an infusion of fresh air for Gilpinites, as it offers “Fresh, Organic & Local” food products. A second coffee shop, Cholua, opened in Black Hawk, but it is only open on Saturdays because wholesaling is their priority. The other coffee shop in Black Hawk – Mountain Mocha on Hwy 119 - also is a successful wholesaler of coffee, but this shop is open daily and is a preferred meeting site with its comfortable furniture and WiFi. Lastly, don’t miss a chance to look over the Batmobile on display now at The Reserve Casino in Central City. It’s not often the chance to gaze at a $6.4 million auto comes along.

The most obvious change to occur in 2014 will be the relocation of Gregory Street in order to create space for a pedestrian plaza area alongside the street.

Don’t miss a chance to look over the Batmobile on display now at The Reserve Casino in Central City. It’s not often you get the chance to gaze at a $6.4 million auto.

THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 23 Years

January 7 - 20, 2014

What’s Rockin’

Looking to advertise in the Colorado Ga ?

Gambler

Your guide to live entertainment and events at Colorado’s casinos

Golden Mardi Gras Casino

Go BONKERS with Bonkerz Comedy Club every Friday and Saturday at 10 p.m. at Bourbon Street Café and Buffet. Loads of laughter and the show is free so join us.

Jan. 10-11: John Hilder as seen on Fox Network with special guest Nathan Lund Must be 21 years old or older.

Free Admission with a two item minimum purchase.

John Hilder

Call Sharon Sweeney today!

303-503-1388 • cogambler@mac.com

Crossword Puzzle 1

2

3

4

5

6

www.goldenmardigras.com Saratoga Casino Black Hawk New Year’s Eve DJ Mario DJ Mario of Sounds Unlimited 8 a.m. - 1 a.m.

7

8 9

10

11

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13

14 15

16 17

www.saratogacainsobh.com

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Central City Nuggets ings, 1 – 9 p.m. every other hour. Every day in January.

MLK Day www.bullwhackers.com $50,000 E-Z Win

Join us Martin Luther King Day Monday, Jan. 20 for 10X Points on all Slots and 4X Points on Video Poker.

New members

Drawings every Monday - Thursday – win New Members can get up to $15 in Free up to $250 at each drawing. Friday-Sunday, Slot Play when signing up for a Club Z card. we have weekend progressive drawings, win Membership is free. $10 for signing up and up to $1,000. an additional $5 for your email address. In Addition new members will receive 1 free $10,000 Doublin’ Dice Roll your way to big winnings in the Z- entry into our daily drawings, $1 off a StarSpot Pit and win up to $200. Daily draw- bucks and 4X Points on Slots.

21

22

ACROSS:

1. Colorado Springs rock band with all the right friends (3, 8) 7. They have this on the frozen lake in Evergreen (3, 7) 9. They make Madden NFL (2) 10. Holiday drink with eggs, milk, and cream (6) 12. A light went on in your head (4) 15. One of the most painful things to break (3) 16. Miley Cyrus is telling us she’s all this (5, 2) 17. Govt agency responsible for monitoring fracking (3) 18. Thorpe, Aussie swimmer (3) 19. Popular crop from Boulder to Greeley (5) 20. Guinness size (4) 21. Popular gin mixer (5) 22. Wise man or mint family herb (4)

DOWN:

1. He said “Please sir, can I have some more?”

(6, 5) 2. The town that brought down Denver’s Winter Olympics (9) 3. Rocky Mountain mammal (3) 4. National Governing body for tennis (4) 5. Popular form of bodily movement among country folk (4. 7) 6. Replaced the cassette tape (2) 8. Firm that hired Conrad Murray to look after MJ (3) 11. Type of farming, GMO free (7) 13. Ghost town in Chaffee County, CO (7) 14. Mechanical agents that build cars (6) 20. Helps you calculate the circumference of a circle (2)

Crossword puzzle by Tony Thorpe Answers on page 18 January 7 - 20, 2014

THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 23 Years

PAGE 9

Central City Nuggets Make My Multiplier Tuesday

www.central-city.cnty.com Tropical Treasure Pair-A-Dice

Fridays and Saturdays through Feb. 1, 5 – 10 p.m. Three winners chosen each hour.

Winners take turns rolling the Tropical Pair-A-Dice to climb their tropical tree. First winner to reach the top of their tree wins $250. The second place and third place winners win $100. Earn entries with every 150 base points played on your Player’s Club card starting Dec. 29. Earn 4X entries on slots and 2X entries on video poker with all your play on Wednesdays. Our three chosen winners will take turns rolling our Tropical Treasure Pair-A-Dice to try to be the first to climb 21 spaces up their Tropical Tree. Each dice roll climbs closer to the prize, unless the player rolls a 7 or an 11, which sends them back to start again at the bottom of the tree. First player to the top wins $250, while the two runner-ups each win $100.

PAGE 10

Join us on Tuesdays in January from 11 a.m.

– 7 p.m. and enjoy a mystery multiplier on all your play. Starting at 10:45 a.m., we will select an hourly $100 Hot Seat winner to spin the “Make My Multiplier Wheel” and earn everyone in the casino up to 5X points on slot play for the next hour. Each hour we find a new winner and a new multiplier to benefit our players until 8 p.m.

BINGO –Thursday Bingo

Enjoy FREE Bingo every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a $100 PRIZE for each game. Players with a Player’s Card can pick up their Bingo card at the Player’s Club one hour before each game.

4X Entries On Slots & 2X Entries On Video Poker On Wednesdays Get 4X entries on slots and 2X entries on video poker every Wednesday for Tropical Treasure PairA-Dice Drawings for $100, $150, or $200 every hour Fridays and Saturdays.

Sunday Football Score Board

Score a touchdown and $700. Sundays at Century feature drawings every half hour

from 2 – 6 p.m. Every player with a Century Casino Player’s Card can get one entry to the drawing per drawing day, additional entries are available to players who receive our mail.

Winners punch out spots on our game board to find out how many “yards” they earned on that “down.” Gain a total of ten yards or more for a First Down to win $100 instantly. Score a Field Goal to win a total of $300. And score a Touchdown to win $700. Everyone playing the board wins at least a $50 prize

WIN PLAYOFF TICKETS!

Friday, January 10th at 10pm we will draw for a pair of Denver home game playoff tickets!

Earn entries with every 150 base points played on your Player’s Club, entries are also good for Tropical Treasure Pair-A-Dice! Must be present to win!

Senior Celebration on Wednesday and Thursday

Guests aged 50 or better receive 2X points on play ALL DAY from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., plus 50 percent off purchases (up to $25 in one day) at the Retro Deli or Mid City Grill. Please note that 50 percent food discount cannot be combined with any other coupon or discount, and including the $8.99 daily food specials.

THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 23 Years

Dazzling Doubles Win bonus payouts on blackjack, craps and roulette when the lights are flashing. Ceiling lights will flash at random times through out the day. Bonuses will be paid in chips if the following occurs while the lights are flashing; $5 for a blackjack, double the doubles in the craps field and pay 4X the amount bet on the 2 and 12 and double the 1st dollar bet for a direct number hit on Roulette. Join us on the weekend (Friday 6 p.m. to Saturday close) when we will dazzle the blackjack bonus by doubling the amount paid to $10.

Sunlight Bonus Get $10 cash back for 3 hours play if seated between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Thursday through Sunday.

Quad of the Day Get the specified 4 of a kind on its matching day and win the progressive payout. Payouts have been as high as $12,000.

Bad Beat Have a chance to win our bad beat. Quad 8’s or better beaten will win our bad beat which is approaching $42,000 (as of late December).

January 7 - 20, 2014

Central City Nuggets www.famousbonanza.com

2X Mondays

Blackjack Bonanza

The Parlour

Double points on Video Poker

Every Friday night play in The Parlour for cash drawings from 8pm-Midnight, building to a $200 drawing at midnight! Ask your dealer for details.

The Parlour at the Famous Bonanza Casino offers the best in table games, featuring 2 Deck pitch Blackjack, Buffalo Blackjack, Roulette and 3-Card Poker. $5 minimum to $50 maximum on 2 Deck pitch Blackjack and $3 minimum and all shoe games.

Enjoy 2X Points on all video poker machines every Thursday!

Join us on your Birthday

*For complete details on any of our promotions see the Miner’s Club.

New Players

Match 12

3X Points on Quarter Machines

Join us every Friday night from 7PM – 11:30PM for Match 12! Over $2,500 in cash prizes every Friday.

Every Tuesday earn 3x points on all quarter machines.

Join us on your Birthday

Earn 2X points all day on all machines

Slot Tournament Wednesdays FREE Slot Tournament every Wednesday at The Famous Bonanza. Come play between 1-5 PM. Pays the top 8 scores!

Double points on Video Poker Enjoy 2X Points on all video poker machines every Thursday!

January 7 - 20, 2014

Come celebrate your birthday with the Famous Bonanza and Easy Street Casinos and receive 500 free points. Players over 55 years of age will receive 800 free points.

New Players Earn just 250 points on your first trip and receive a $10 meal voucher to either Millie’s or Stella’s restaurants.

2X Mondays Earn 2X points all day on all machines.

3X Points on Quarter Machines Every Tuesday earn 3x points on all quarter machines.

THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 23 Years

Come celebrate your birthday with the Famous Bonanza and Easy Street Casinos and receive 500 free points. Players over 55 years of age will receive 800 free points.

Earn just 250 points on your first trip and receive a $10 meal voucher to either Millie’s or Stella’s restaurants.

Fun for Kids Bring your children to the lower level of the casino to enjoy a wide variety of arcade games for our under 21 guests. *For complete details on any of our promotions see the Miner’s Club.

PAGE 11

Casino•Guide Casino

Games

Slots

Ameristar - 24/7

BJ, P, C, R, VP

Black Hawk Station Bull Durham

Lodging

Food

Parking

Contact

over 1400 536 rooms

B, D, SD, Starbucks

free valet and self parking

720-946-4000/.ameristar.com/Black_Hawk.aspx

VP

120

No

SD,SB

city lot

303-582-5582/ blackhawkstationcasino.net

VP

188

No

SB

city lot

303-582-0810/.bulldurhamcasino.com

Bullwhackers Sun-Thur 8am-1am/ VP Fri-Sat 8am- 3am

400

No

SD

free valet and self parking

1-800-GAM-BULL/bullwhackers.com

Canyon - 24/7 Fri/Sat

BJ, C, R, VP

415

No

SD, SB

free valet and self parking

303-777-1111/canyoncasino.com

Saratoga - 24/7 Fri/Sat

BJ, C, R, VP

585

No

SD, B

free covered valet

303-582-6100 (1-800-538-LUCK)/saratogacasinobh.com

Gilpin - 24/7

BJ, C, R, P, VP

460

No

SD

free valet across the street

303-582-1133/thegilpincasino.com

Golden Gates - 24/7

BJ, P, C, VP

280

No

D

free valet and covered self parking

303-582-5600/thegoldengatescasino.com

Golden Gulch

VP

140

No

V

free self/free valet

303-582-5600/thegoldengatescasino.com

Golden Mardi Gras - 24/7

BJ, C, R, VP

680

No

SD,SB,D

free valet and covered self parking

303-582-5600/goldenmardigras.com

Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk - 24/7 BJ, C, P, R, VP

1308

238

B,D,SD

free valet and self parking

1-800-The-Isle/theisleblackhawk.com

Lady Luck - 24/7

BJ, P,C, R, VP

500

164

SD,SB

free covered valet and self parking

1-888-Lady-Luck/ladyluckblackhawk.com

Lodge - 24/7

BJ, C, R, P, VP

975

50

B, D, SD, SB

free valet parking

303-582-1771/thelodgecasino.com

Red Dolly

VP

149

No

SD

free self parking

303-582-1100/reddollycasino.net

Monarch - 24/7

BJ, C, R, VP

766

No

B

free valet and self parking

303-582-1000/monarchblackhawk.com

Sasquatch

No

70

No

D

No

720-880-1616

Wildcard

VP

220

No

D

city lot

303-582-3412/thewildcardsaloon.com

Century Casino - 24/7

BJ, P, C, R, VP

520

26

SD,D

free covered self parking

303-582-5050/cnty.com

Crystal Palace

VP

101

No

D

free city lot

720-253-1669

Dostal Alley - 24/7

VP

64

No

SD

free self parking

303-582-1610/dostalalley.net

Easy Street

VP

205

No

SD

free self parking

303-582-5914/famousbonanza.com

Famous Bonanza

BJ, P, R, VP

244

No

SD , D

free self parking

303-582-5914/famousbonanza.com

Johnny Z’s - 24/7

BJ, C, R, VP

367

No

SD, D

free covered parking

303-582-5623/johnnyzscasino.com

Reserve Casino Hotel - 24/7

BJ, P, C, R, VP

700

119

SD, D, B, SB, V

free valet and self parking

1-800-924-6646/reservecasinohotel.com

The Brass Ass - 24/7

BJ, P, C, R, VP

250

No

SD

free covered self parking

800-635-LUCK/triplecrowncasino.com

Bronco & Buffalo Billy’s - 24/7

BJ, P, C, R, VP

750

23

SD

free self parking

877-989-2142/broncobillyscasino.com

Century Casino - 24/7

BJ, R,

448

18

SD

free self parking

719-689-0333/cripple-creek.cnty.com

Colorado Grande - 24/7

BJ, R, VP

211

5

SD, SB

free self parking

877-244-9469/coloradogrande.com

Double Eagle & Gold Creek - 24/7

BJ, P ,C, R, VP

700+

158

SD, SB

free valet and covered self parking

800-711-7234/decasino.com

Johnny Nolon’s - 24/7

VP

255

No

SD

free self parking w/validation

719-689-2080/johnnynolons.com

J.P. McGill’s - 24/7 Fri/Sat

VP

300

40

SD

validated self parking

800-635-LUCK/triplecrowncasinos.com

Midnight Rose - 24/7

P, VP

400

19

SD, B

validated self parking

800-635-LUCK/triplecrowncasinos.com

Wildwood Casino- 24/7

BJ, P, C, R, VP, TH 530

68

SD, D, B

Climate controlled self parking

877-945-3963/playwildwood.com

Closed

Games Key

Food Key

BJ - Blackjack, P - Poker, C - Craps, R - Roulette, TH - Texas Holdem’, VP-Video Poker

B-Buffet, D-Deli, SD-Sitdown, SB-Snackbar, V-Vending Machine

This information is subject to change without notice.

January 7 - 20, 2014

THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 23 Years

PAGE 13

PAGE 14

Clinton won $4,500 at Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk.

Phi was a $23,800 Jackpot Winner at Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk.

Danny won $9,619.66 playing 3 Card Poker at Mardi Gras Casino.

Victoria won $4,500 playing a Triple Double Stars machine at Mardi Gras Casino.

Deborah won $3,000 playing a penny Pompeii machine at Saratoga Casino.

Ramon won $10,000 at Saratoga Casino.

THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 23 Years

January 7 - 20, 2014

real

Here are some valuable coupons with exciting savings – compliments of these leading Colorado casinos!

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to

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Earn 20 base points on the day you valet park at Saratoga Casino Black Hawk and receive a free meal at the Garden Buffet.

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Gambler K

CASINO

formerly FITZGERALDS

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FREE APPETIZER {wITh ThE PuRchAsE oF onE mEAl} simply join the miner’s club ... It’s Free Too! Find millie's Restauraunt on the upper level of the Easy street casino in historic central city.

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for readers of The Gambler

Limit one coupon per table. Not valid with other offers.

Gratuity not included.

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One per day, day, Mon.Mon.-Fri. One Coupon Coupon per per guest, guest, per Fri. only only -- Expires Expires 1/20/14 4/15/13

(inside Easy Street Casino)

January 7 - 20, 2014

THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 23 Years

PAGE 15

Colorado History

New History Colorado exhibit explores Colorado’s people and the landscape

By Rosemary Fetter

Despite its beauty and breathtaking scenery, Colorado was never an easy place to settle. In 1820, explorer Stephen Long described the high plains as “The Great American Desert, unfit for human habitation.”

Although the New Hampshire-born engineer never considered the Native Americans “human” and underestimated the determination of future gold seekers and pioneers, his opinion was not entirely unfounded. As the Long expedition crossed the dry, dusty plains only to reach the imposing grandeur of the Rocky Mountains, the environment must have seemed hostile and forbidding. Sometimes, it still does.

The relationship between Colorado’s people and its landscape is examined through History Colorado Center’s new Living West exhibit, a 7,000 square foot exhibition and the second of three phases at the museum. Through three stories, Mesa Verde, The Dust Bowl and The Mountains Today, visitors examine how people have struggled and survived over the centuries, what the problems have been and what solutions evolved. Not only has Colorado’s fragile environment shaped human history, human choices have reshaped the land, sometimes with devastating results.

According to B. Erin Cole, assistant State Historian, the exhibit aims to get people thinking about the interconnectivity between man and the landscape, how our actions have impact the environment, and how the choices we make will affect generations to come.

Mesa Verde

The first section exhibit travels back in time to explore the Mesa Verde of 800 years ago, featuring nearly 200 artifacts, assembled with the assistance of tribal representatives from the Santa Clara, Zia, Acoma, Zuni and Hopi Tribe. Most of the artifacts come from the museum’s renowned Mesa Verde Collection, collected nearly a century ago.

With several interactive stations, this entertaining and unusual museum experience includes with both visual and hands-on exhibits, such as the opportunity to paint a pot or weave yucca fibers. A diorama of Mesa Verde during the Anasazi period, originally created by the WPA during the 1930s, has been recently refurbished for the display. Living West Activity Books can be downloaded with art projects and experiments kids can do at home.

The Dust Bowl

The second section deals with the nation’s landmark ecological disaster, the Dust Bowl of the 1930s.

Due to over-cultivation and a long drought period, between 1934 and 1941, hundreds of dust storms blew loose topsoil in great black clouds across the Great Plains. Both a man-made and a natural calamity, the damage done by these storms would be exacerbated by the Great Depression. Many lost their farmers, like the Joad family in Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath. With no money for medication and no hospitals nearby to treat them, people

Visitors examine a diorama of Mesa Verde, recently restored for the exhibit.

Photo courtesy Science Museum of Minnesota

died or suffered irreparable lung damage from dust-related pneumonia. Besides the dust storms and drought, grasshopper infestations destroyed what was left of the crops.

Although the situation improved due to federal assistance, the government relocation program, better agricultural methods and the end of the drought, some previously successful farming lands, like those in Baca County, never fully recovered.

This part of the exhibit is illustrated by a particularly well-done multimedia presentation that allows guests to vicariously experience the terrible “Black Sunday,” April 14, 1935, when more than

300,000 tons of topsoil blew from eastern Colorado, Nebraska, Texas and Oklahoma to the East Coast. From the howling wind to the encroaching black cloud, firsthand accounts detail the terror recalled by survivors and the desolation left behind. At the end of the program, President Roosevelt’s encouraging speech plays over an old-fashioned radio, reassuring the beleaguered farmers.

After Black Sunday, Congress established the Soil Conservation Service to provide guidance in reducing soil erosion, improving forest and field land and conserving natural resources.

The Mountains Today

The last section focuses on the mountains, which have great impact on the state’s economy both as a tourist attraction and the main source of water. Among the exhibits are a small replica of the westbound Eisenhower tunnel and a video of a drive from Denver to Breckenridge, where the historic mountain town has become a recreational ski resort.

An interactive feature demonstrates just how many feet of snowpack are needed to get a just a small amount of water.

Another interactive section, a small pine forest, details the infestation of the pine beetle and the damage it’s doing to our forested areas.

The mountain section ends at the Summit Cafe, an interactive space designed to replicate a small restaurant in a town like Breckenridge, with skis and vintage ski resort posters hanging on the walls. Visitors can measure their carbon footprint and even provide suggestions for solutions to mountain traffic issues, and there’s a play area for kids.

For information on the many programs and presentations related to the exhibit, visit www.historycolorado.org.

‘The Living West’ Location: History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday noon - 5 p.m.

Admission: Adults: $12, Seniors 65 and older: $10, Students (13-22) with student ID: $10, children 6-12, $8, 5 and under free.

Members also are admitted free.

Tickets: Online at www.HistoryColoradoCenter.org.

Parking: Available at the Civic Center Cultural Garage across the street at 12th Avenue and Broadway and at the garage adjacent to the Center at 1255 Broadway.

Metered spaces are also available

FAR LEFT: This youngster paints her own clay pot.

LEFT: Jackrabbits multiply during times of drought.

Photos courtesy History Colorado Center

PAGE 16

THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 22 Years

January 7 - 20, 2014

Trail’s End A female breaks the male barriers of National Western Stock Show Mildred Montigue Genevieve “Tweet” Kimball

In the spring 1954, a young divorcee with two young sons, Mildred Montague Genevieve Kimball, was looking to purchase land in the West. Her exhusband had offered to buy her anything she wanted west of the Mississippi River as part of the divorce settlement. Kimball, a vibrant, energetic and independent woman accepted the offer.

“When I divorced him, he said I’d probably go back to Tennessee and talk about him. He said, ‘If you’ll buy property west of the Mississippi, I’ll help you. And that’s what I did.”

She was born at Fort Oglethorpe in Catoosa County, Georgia, on June 18, 1914. Her father, a graduate of West Point, became a career soldier, eventually earning the rank of colonel. Thus, the family moved often.

Young Mildred adjusted to the many moves with ease and her proud father gave her the endearing nickname of “Tweet,” a name she cherished and would proudly carry the rest of her life.

With this proud heritage and independence, Tweet moved on with her life; a new independent life in the West. As Kimball set out on an adventure in the West, she spent time in several states before visiting Colorado. A Realtor took her to a place in a valley close to the Rocky Mountains, but not too close, with plenty of sprawling land, yet less than an hour’s drive to Denver. It was the old Johnson ranch and his Charlford mansion in Douglas County. Exactly what Tweet had been looking for.

After negotiations with Johnson, Jr., Tweet purchased Charlford and the Johnson’s family landholdings, along with the adjacent land of the Sunflower Ranch, from Ray Blunt, in May 1954. Tweet owned more than 3,000 acres, becoming one of the largest land owners in the county.

The Rocky Mountain News of June 8, 1954 covered the story with this headline, “Charlford Now Cherokee.”

The old homesteads, along with the Charlford castle, appealed to Tweet for a variety of reasons. With her Scottish ancestry, she was particularly intrigued with the 15th century Scottish style castle. Yet, it was the land, the buildings and the barns

January 7 - 20, 2014

that brought a sparkle to her eye. It was here she could finally fulfill a life-long dream, a vision of a mighty cattle ranch. Tweet later recalled the time and the place when the dream of a cattle ranch first entered her mind. In 1938, she and her father attended a livestock sale at the King Ranch, near Kingsville, Texas. It was the magnificent Santa Gertrudis cattle that caught the eye of Tweet.

“We thought they looked marvelous,’’ she recalled.

This breed was the first distinctive American breed ever produced and was developed on the King Ranch.

Named for the Santa Gertrudis Creek that ran through the King Ranch land, the cattle were a crossbreed of a Brahman bull and a Texas Shorthorn cow. The result was a quality animal that garnered the attention of ranchers all over the South. In 1940, this new breed of cattle was recognized

by Texas cattlemen as the only breed solely of American origin.

Tweet began work on her plan for to make her cattle ranch a reality. She renamed her land Cherokee Ranch, in honor of the original Cherokee Trail and the Indian tribe that had once inhabited the land. She then renamed the Charlford castle Cherokee Castle.

When Tweet began to inquire

about the purchase means of support, of Santa Gertrudis she allowed him to cattle, she was met stay at the ranch with resistance by for two weeks. cattle ranchers all “But he was to over the South. The have nothing to do reasons for this with the cattle,” she lack of cooperasaid.

Evidently the tion were two-fold. foreman did not First, she was a fully grasp the woman, dealing in kindness extended a man’s world. Secby his former boss, ond, she was told as he later intenthat Santa Gertrudis cattle were actionally left the customed to warm pasture gate wide weather, and could open. Fortunately it was early in the not survive the cold morning when climate of Colo- The amazing Tweet Kimball Tweet discovered rado. The everPhotos courtesy of Denver Public persistent Tweet Library, Western History Collection her cattle wandering along the road leadeventually found a Texas rancher who agreed to sell to ing to her ranch. After gathering the her. With the purchase of two bulls cattle and returning them to the pasand 29 cows, Tweet began her herd of ture, she then ordered the foreman Santa Gertrudis cattle. immediately off her property. The However, her battles were just man refused to leave. beginning. Rumors spread quickly Kimball later stated, “Things were among the Douglas County ranch- different then. I called the sheriff and ers that Tweet was bringing “those he came out and got the man off the damned red Bremmers,” into the ranch. Today, you’d have to give the county. Once the Texas animals ar- man 30 days notice and probably take rived at Cherokee Ranch, Kimball’s him to court, and all the while he’d be ranch foreman refused to unload the wreaking havoc on the ranch.”

Tweet would not be deterred from cattle. According to Tweet’s own account of the incident, the foreman developing quality cattle ranch.

“I’m an optimist and a planner, was immediately fired, but because he had a family and was their only and I was always really interested in

animals,” she said.

After years studying this superior breed, she set out to prove her theory by a series of public events, showcasing the Santa Gertrudis bulls. She even provided an essay contest, with a first-class bull being awarded to the winner. It took time, yet eventually the ranchers of Douglas County were persuaded.

“People changed their minds when they saw what that bull could produce,” Tweet said.

She gained recognition as the first rancher, not to mention female rancher, to introduce the breed into Colorado. Next, Kimball approached the National Western Stock Show, in an effort to show her Santa Gertrudis cattle.

She later recalled, “They were very narrow-minded. They claimed the cattle weren’t purebred.”

In 1961, she established the Rocky Mountain Santa Gertrudis Association and entered her bulls in the National Western Stock Show , winning several prizes. By 1981, her bulls were still winning top prizes, including the Grand Champion Bull award.

After years of in-fighting, she was finally accepted as a respectable rancher and eventually served on the board of directors of the National Western Stock Show, the first woman ever to do so. This year’s National Western Stock Show runs Jan. 11 – 26.

Tweet Kimball bought the historic Charlford Castle and renamed it Cherokee Ranch.

THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 23 Years

PAGE 17

Going Green

10 popular herbs that heal the green way What do you supslow the aging process. pose people in past ages did when they couldn’t phone or visit a docTen Healing Herbs tor every time they got 1. Basil: Basil has sick? They learned to been used for thoutake advantage of what sands of years as nature had to offer and medicine in India. healed themselves the By Linda Jones Today’s health progreen way. jones.128@live.com fessionals recomNow that the cold mend drinking basil and flu season is here, we can tea to combat the nausea associchoose to live simply green and use ated with chemotherapy and raherbs (many of which are in our diation treatments. kitchens) for healings instead of 2. Chamomile: This popular expensive over-the-counter medi- herb relieves stress and promotes cines. Herbs have powerful plant sleep. It also fights menstrual compounds to help fight cancer, cramps and helps alleviate digesdiabetes, and heart disease, while tive ailment. Drink chamomile tea working to relieve pain and dis- or infuse the yellow flowers in a comforts associated with seasonal warm bath to relieve stress. bouts of colds and flu.

3. Echinacea: There are dozens Try herbs in new and differ- of biochemical compounds that act ent ways in addition to cooking. in therapeutic synergy in this comHerbal teas are a great way to en- plex plant to support the immune hance your health. James Duke, system. It is most effective when PhD, recommends drinking two taken at the first onset of cold or cups daily of antioxidant-rich sinus infections. However, taking herb teas, (using herbs such as echinacea when a cold or infection basil, oregano, peppermint, rose- has already become serious may be mary, sage, and thyme) to help fighting a losing battle.

4. Oregano: Oregano is a potent anti-inflammatory agent that has been used for medicinal purposes throughout history. It is effective against food-borne pathogens, even those resistant to antibiotics. With 20 times the antioxidant power of many other herbs, it may help in fighting cancer.

5. Parsley: Originating in the Mediterrean countries, this herb has been credited for curing many ailments, from asthma to plague to jaundice. Parsley leaves are high in iron content and rich in vitamins A, B, C and trace minerals. Parsley adds color, aids digestion of the foods, and acts to prevent gas and bloating.

6. Peppermint: Peppermint tea soothes stomachaches, relieves gas and helps dissolve gallstones. Applied topically as oil, it is cooling and analgesic, relieving heat and inflammation while it increases blood flow to the painful area.

7. Rosemary: This herb combats food poisoning and is a natural preservative. Rosemary has long been used to aid digestion and help memory. Recent research in Japan

indicates that rosemary’s active ingredients and antioxidants may protect the brain from the ravages of harmful free radicals that can cause strokes and Alzheimer’s.

8. Sage: Sage has long been associated with immortality. The ancient Chinese drank sage tea every day to increase their longevity. When used in tea or in cooking, sage can help upset stomachs and may enhance memory. Externally, it can be rubbed in for upper respiratory inflammation. Sage is a well-regarded herb for relieving hot flashes of menopause.

9. Thyme: Fights against a variety of bacteria and fungi, dates

Horoscopes

Horoscopes by Teelok CAPRICORN - (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20) This is a good time for art, entertainment, writing, and financial speculation. Not the best time for family or romance. You want to avoid petty ego confrontations with those you love at this time. Lucky Numbers: 3, 15, 21, 23, 29, 42

AQUARIUS - (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) Although you can be reserved around people this is a time where you will feel more outgoing. You may be collecting more friends by attending group activities at this time. Seeds of romance mayb found there as well.

Lucky Numbers: 1, 4, 13, 17, 40, 53

PISCES (Feb. 20 - March 20) Starting a new health regime? Perhaps you are planning that big trip of a lifetime this year? This is all possible for you at this time. That trip is most likely with a special romanctic partner. Lucky Numbers: 12, 17, 25, 31, 44, 47

ARIES - (March 21 - April 20) Seems like either you are inviting people for get togethers or they are inviting you. You are working on your home for your guests. What you need is a rest. Lucky Numbers: 27, 31, 39, 40, 53, 59

back to the ancient Greeks. Thyme is one of the best herbs to use as a cough and cold remedy because it helps clear the lungs of congestion.

It is used topically for minor arthritis and in sweet-smelling personal care products. During World War I, its oil served as a battlefield antiseptic.

10. Turmeric: A major ingredient in curry, this herb has grabbed serious attention as a potentially powerful cancer fighter. Curcumin, the chemical responsible for turmeric’s golden color, is considered a top anti-cancer agent, helping to quell the inflammation that contributes to tumor growth.

Research suggests that it may protect against colon cancer as well as melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. It’s used topically in lotions for dry or inflamed skin, sores, and wounds. Researchers at Rutgers University are investigating a combination of curcumin and other anti-cancer compounds as possible treatments for prostate cancer.

Have a happy, healthy and green New Year!

email her at navamsa9@q.com VIRGO - (Aug. 23 - Sept. 23) If you are a student, teacher, lecturer, writer or performing artist this is a great time for you. Others can find themselves at the gym or spas having great success there. In general a good time to look into your intellectual side. Lucky Numbers: 7, 20, 21, 35, 42, 47

LIBRA - (Sept. 24 - Oct. 23) You have a great deal of energy at this time. You want to avoid to communicate to groups of people as not likely to go well. Many disagreements at this time in general. Watch your health as well. Lucky Numbers: 7, 22, 37, 39, 40, 52

SCORPIO - (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) This is a great time for communications whether in speech, writing, bodily expression or artistic media. You have greater confidence in the expression of your ideas and people accept what you have to say. Lucky Numbers: 1, 3, 6, 29, 33, 39

SAGITTARIUS - (Nov. 23 - Dec. 21) Romance is in the stars for you. Although you are likely to make your own opportunities in that are at this time. That’s okay as you will be successful.

Lucky Numbers: 17, 21, 25, 29, 47, 50

TAURUS - (April 21 - May 21) Although you are looking to start the new year as everybody with a new fitness plan, You have other ideas that are more inspired. People want to hear what you have to say as your expression of your ideas inspires others.

Lucky Numbers: 6, 13, 25, 33, 47, 51

GEMINI - (May 22 - June 21) Don’t be surprised if you meet somebody at the gym. You have more energy than usual and looking to set up your health regime. This is the time to meet that romantic somebody. Lucky Numbers: 1, 3, 6, 12, 21, 42

CANCER - (June 22 - July 22) You don’t feel understood by others at this time. You feel out of step with activities around you. Tired from the seasonal activities you should give yourself downtime. Lucky Numbers: 17, 18, 28, 31, 47, 51

LEO - (July 23 – Aug 22) A romantic by nature this is the time to do what you do best. In general culinary efforts, reasonable speculation, business affairs and family dealings are good at this time. Lucky Numbers: 7, 8, 12, 18, 24, 33

ACROSS: 1. One Republic 2. Ice skating 9. EA 10. Eggnog 12. Idea

15. Toe 16. Grown up 17. EPA 18. Ian 19. Onion 20. Pint

21. Tonic 22. Sage

DOWN: 1. Oliver Twist 2. Evergreen 3. Elk 4. USTA 5. Line dancing

6. CD 8. AEG 11. Organic 13. Alpine 14. Robots 20. PI

Contact Mary Nightstar at marynihtstar@yahoo.com and type “horoscope” in the subject line.

Crossword puzzle answers from page 9

PAGE 18

THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 23 Years

January 7 - 20, 2014

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THIS COULD

CHIP REDEMPTION NOTICE OF DISCONTINUANCE OF GAMING CHIPS AND TOKENS FROM THE RIVIERA BLACK HAWK CASINO 444 Main St. Black Hawk Co 80422 Effective October 21, 2013 Riviera Black Hawk chips and token will be discontinued. You may redeem Riviera chips, tokens, and unexpired tickets at Guest Services of Monarch Casino Black Hawk at 444 Main St. Black Hawk, Co 80422 during normal business hours through February 21, 2014.

January 7 - 20, 2014

BE YOUR AD!

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Apply in person or complete the online application on the careers tab at www.reservecasinohotel.com

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NOTICE OF CASINO CLOSURE

FOR CRYSTAL PALACE CASINO 118 MAIN STREET, CENTRAL CITY, CO 80427 Effective December 18th, 2013.

Valid Crystal Palace Casino TITO Tickets may be redeemed at the Main Cage of the Dostal Alley Casino

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THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 23 Years

PAGE 15

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