18 06 28

Because every town needs a park, a library and a newspaper

Carbondale’s weekly

community connector

Volume 10, Number 21 | June 28, 2018

Summer(with strings attached)

amona Ahrenskeaff, Paige Middleton and their fellow Jam Camp students recently serenaded the Carbondale Farmer’s Market — which runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays at the Fourth Street Plaza. Incidentally, if strings are your thing, the Aspen Music Festival opens June 28 with concerts every day through August (many of them free). Photo by Jane Bachrach

THE VALLEY’S LARGEST LIQUOR STORE JUST GOT

AND OUR PRICES ARE LOWER!

970.963.5880

11,000 S Q FEET OF PURE AD U PLEASUR LT E!

On the SE Corner of Hwy 133 and Main Street in Carbondale

Carbondale Commentary

The views and opinions expressed on the Commentary page do not necessarily reflect those of The Sopris Sun. The Sopris Sun invites all members of the community to submit letters to the editor or guest columns. For more information, email editor Will Grandbois at news@soprissun.com, or call 510-3003.

t takes a very special village to raise a nonprofit community newspaper. Once again, you, our readers, showed us your love.

Last week, we not only reached our $10,000 summer solstice fundraising goal, we surpassed it!

And while the money is critical, equally important is how this show of community support reenergizes us — The Sopris Sun staff and board — to keep working our hardest to put out the best little paper we can.

Next February, we’ll celebrate the The Sopris Sun’s 10th birthday. Between now and then (and forever!), we will be asking

again for your financial support. If you missed donating to the summer solstice campaign, you don’t have to wait for the next appeal; we are happy to take donations anytime. It’s easy to give online at soprissun.com, but checks via mail or dropped off at the office are just fine, too.

Lastly, no offer of thanks would be complete without including our generous advertisers. They carry the lion’s share of the load when it comes to financial support of this paper. Please return that love by shopping locally, attending their events, and using their services. This paper truly would not exist without them.

Sincerest thanks to our Honorary Publishers

for their generous, ongoing commitment of support.

Jim Calaway, Chair Kay Brunnier Bob Ferguson – Jaywalker Lodge Scott Gilbert – Habitat for Humanity RFV Bob Young – Alpine Bank Peter Gilbert Umbrella Roofing, Inc. Bill Spence and Sue Edelstein Greg and Kathy Feinsinger Carolyn Nelson

$10,000

Thank you to our SunScribers and community members for your support!

Thanks to you, we made it!

Learning from the past

By Paige Meredith Perhaps a few old timers will remember the following incident from a reprint of a 1951 Rocky Mountain News article concerning the Crystal River Valley; and perhaps some newer residents will take heed of its implications.

My deceased mother saved this article in one of her scrapbooks. Although a child, I remember the events recorded here when seventy strangers were forced (but welcomed) to spend the night at our ranch which did not yet have electricity or indoor plumbing. The only thing my mother had to feed that many people was cornbread and beans. At that time, State Highway 133 was just a dirt country road, and it seemed like you’d get a flat every time you drove to town.

“50 Autoists Marooned by Rock Slides Are Rescued”

Carbondale, July 22.— More than 50 persons in 17 cars trapped by dirt and rock slides on State Highway 133, south of Carbondale, were rescued by 10:30 a.m. today.

A three-man crew headed by Roy Whitbeck, Pitkin county road superintendent, worked 20 hours straight to free the victims, none of whom was injured or uncomfortable, other than being stranded.

Altogether, Mr Whitbeck said, there were 31 different slides, beginning eight miles south of Carbondale and continuing for six or eight miles toward Redstone.

OPINION

Mutt & Jeff

MUTT & JEFF page 14

2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2018

It truly takes a village to keep The Sun shining.

Letters

The Sopris Sun welcomes your letters, limited to no more than 500 words via email at news@ soprissun.com or 250 words via snail mail at P.O. Box 399, Carbondale CO 81623. please include your name, town, and contact information. The deadline for submission is noon on Monday.

Redstone Independence Day Attention all veterans: This is just a reminder to mark your calendar for the Redstone Fourth of July parade. This year our parade recognizes all of you for your service. We’ll have a float and hopefully a large contingent of veterans to march alongside the float and be recognized and have your hand shaken by a lot of very grateful people.

If you still have your uniform or part of your uniform, please wear it. We’ll be meeting in the lower Redstone Inn parking lot about 11:30. There will be a couple of open vehicles for anyone who can’t walk the route. An honor guard from Post 100 of the American Legion, in Carbondale, will accompany the parade. I hope to see you there.

Thanks for your service.

Skip Bell Redstone LETTERS page 14

To inform, inspire and build community.

Donate online or by mail.

P.O. Box 399 Carbondale, CO 81623 520 S. Third Street #32 970-510-3003 www.soprissun.com Editor Will Grandbois • 970-510-0540 news@soprissun.com Advertising: Carol Fabian • 970-510-0246 adsales@soprissun.com Reporter: Megan Tackett Photographer: Jane Bachrach Graphic Designer: Terri Ritchie Delivery: Tom Sands Current Board Members board@soprissun.com Marilyn Murphy, President Raleigh Burleigh, Vice President Stacey Bernot, Secretary Barbara Dills, Treasurer Debbie Bruell • Cliff Colia Olivia Pevec • Nicolette Toussaint John Colson The Sopris Sun Board meets regularly on the second Monday evening of each month at the Third Street Center.

Founding Board Members Allyn Harvey • Becky Young • Colin Laird Barbara New • Elizabeth Phillips Peggy DeVilbiss • Russ Criswell Send us your comments: feedback@soprissun.com The Sopris Sun, Inc. is a proud member of the Carbondale Creative District The Sopris Sun, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.

Donations to The Sun are fully tax deductible.

Fireworks don’t work during a drought

By Megan Tackett Sopris Sun Staff It sounds counterintuitive: it’s legal to sell fireworks in Garfield County, but their use — even in unincorporated areas — is absolutely banned.

“We have the fireworks stand in the west end of our district, and in years like this, it can be pretty controversial,” Carbondale Fire Chief Rob Goodwin said.

“The commissioners and the sheriff, they — and I think rightly so — instituted burn restrictions. They were one of the first, and I applaud them for that. It’s just terrible conditions right now.”

But, he acknowledged, decisions about their sale require nuance. On the one hand, there’s a public safety concern. On the other, there are questions about the impact on private business to consider.

“People don’t buy fireworks without the intent to set them off,” Goodwin said.

“I also think... that the county commissioners and the sheriff try to walk that line of hav[ing] restrictions, but I think they feel strongly about, in their view, depriving someone from their ability to make a living. That’s a tough place for them to be. I’m glad I didn’t have to make that decision.”

In 2013, Garfield County commissioners did vote to ban both the use and sales of fireworks. A subsequent 2-1 vote overturned the ban on the latter after commissioners heard appeals from Ray Cordova, who operates the fireworks stand near Cattle Creek between Carbondale and Glenwood Springs, to allow sales.

In addition to his argument that people buy fireworks for occasions other than Independence Day, Cordova also told commissioners he felt that there was a “God factor” surrounding the drought and fires that year, saying that the conditions were part of God’s punishment in light of Colorado becoming “such a liberal state,” according to a Post Independent article that ran June 18, 2013.

Tom Jankovsky was the dissenting vote, citing the interests of public health, safety and welfare. “At this time, I would vote the same way I did in 2013, which was our last drought year,” Jankovsky

wrote in an email.

Garfield County is experiencing severe drought, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System.

“Our conditions right now are just as bad as they’ve ever been, ever,” Goodwin said. “We had a day or two of rain, and that literally does nothing. We need weeks and weeks of rain.”

A heated debate One thread on the Roaring Fork Swap Facebook page generated 63 comments.

Another had to be deleted outright because an administrator felt “people were being very hateful and attacking others,” Ray Alexander — another page administrator — confirmed.

“I was shocked to see a Fireworks Stand near Cattle Creek Rd. With this hot, dry weather & forest fires going on.

There are no open burns for campfires, so why is this guy allowed to sell fireworks?” the existing comment reads.

Carbondale resident Hank van Berlo had the same question. So he reached out to Jankovsky.

“I was educated that they have to run a public notice, so it has to be decided by the commissioners whether or not to ban sales 60 days before the actual implementation,” he said about their conversation.

And while the retired firefighter — who fought the Red Canyon fire in 2013 — understands the bureaucratic obstacles to creating an official ban on sales, he didn’t sugarcoat his personal feelings about the matter.

“I think it’s unconscionable to allow the sale but not the use,” he said, mirroring the sentiment of many of the 63 comments on the Roaring Fork Swap page.

Cordova declined to comment for this story — but his stand is not the only place from which people can buy fireworks.

One employee at a Rock Springs, Wyo. shop confirmed that he sees plenty of customers from Colorado. Whereas anything that leaves the ground is illegal in Colorado regardless of additional fire restricFIREWORKS page 6

“If you see an old guy up there with his truck, remind him that he’s 67 not 37,” Sharill Hawkins told a crew on their way to fight the Oak Meadows Fire.

Photo by Josh Greene

The little engine that still can

By Will Grandbois Sopris Sun Staff When the Carbondale crew arrived on a mutual aid call for the Oak Meadows Fire up Four Mile, Jim Hawkins and his 1965 Dodge PowerWagon fire engine were there ahead of them.

Jim owns Four Mile Creek Bed and Breakfast with his wife, Sharill, but he’s never quite been able to shake his time working for Denver Fire. So, when Will Handville decide to part with a truck that had served in Redstone and the North Fork Valley, Jim jumped at the chance.

“As a retired career firefighter, you kind of like something that’ll shoot water,” he noted. “It’s also fun for parades, but I’m not going to have one that isn’t functional.”

Most folks on Glenwood Springs Fire have since got to know Jim, either through his video tribute for the anniversary of the South Canyon Fire (youtu.be/ wf_73RKAu7c), that time he lassoed a bear to rescue it from a cheese ball container (tinyurl.com/y7pywtba) or because he has a tendency to put out spot fires in his neighborhood.

“It’s totally understood that I’ll get out of the way when they get there,” he noted. “If I can get water on it first, I’m

“As a retired career firefighter, you kind of like something that’ll shoot water.”

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gonna do it. It’s only 500 gallons, but if you know how to use it judiciously, you can flank a fire pretty well.”

On this particular occasion, the engine had actually been in storage in Glenwood until the morning of June 15. After parking it — empty — at the B&B, the Hawkinses went into town and came back to find the power off and a plume of smoke up the road.

They managed to get their landline working with an older phone, and while Sharill fielded call after call from concerned friends, Jim set off up the hill in search of water.

“It would take me three hours to fill that tank with a garden hose, so I went up to Oak Meadows and hooked onto a hydrant and filled the tank in about three minutes,” he said.

He also managed to connect with Glenwood Fire Chief Gary Tillotson, who handed him a coat and a helmet (he ended up sending Sharill for his own gear rather than stand out in a white hat) and stationed Jim between the fire and the houses on Argonaut Farm “just FIRE ENGINE page 6

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Celebrating Celebrating 125 125 Years Years of of Continuous Continuous Operation Operation

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In observance of the July 4 holiday, the deadline for ad reservations for the Thursday, July 5 issue is Friday, June 29 noon.

Contact Advertising Manager, Carol Fabian at 970-510-0246 or adsales@soprissun.com

The Sopris Sun, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2018 • 3

Scuttlebutt

Send your scuttlebutt to news@soprissun.com.

Taters take flight

invites you to participate in the Carbondale Affordable Creative Space Survey, aimed at understanding affordable housing needs for Carbondale’s Creative Community. The survey will be available online at www.CarbondaleAffordableCreativeSpaceSurvey.org from June 25 to August 6.

That’s the theme for this year’s Potato Day, Oct. 6. It’s apparently the 100th anniversary of the first airplane’s arrival in Carbondale, so we expect to see plenty of steampunky pilots and perhaps some Red Bull Air Race style flying contraptions. If you decide you want to be a bug, bird or bat, though, we can’t imagine anyone complaining.

Stellar student Roaring Fork High School graduate Michael Skinner was named to the dean’s list for his spring semester student at Colorado State University – Pueblo, where he is pursuing a degree in Engineering. Michael is the son of Amy Burdick of Carbondale and David Skinner of Southern Missouri.

Wild abandon Garfield County Public Health is urging residents to let stray and wild animals be, check their pets’ vaccination status, and take other precautions to avoid rabies.

Bats are very active right now, and some of them may be carrying the rabies virus.

In Garfield County, animals such as young foxes and coyotes have had to be euthanized because humans handled the animals, and were scratched, bitten, or exposed to saliva through an existing cut or wound. If you are concerned about the welfare of an animal, contact your local animal control or the Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Speaking of wild, the BLM is seeking comment

by July 5 on two potential wild horse gathers near Maybell (go.usa.gov/xQGdT) and Meeker (go.usa.gov/xQGGW).

In loving memory After just arriving at the Aspen Valley Polo Club in Carbondale on one of the several trailers from Florida, these four polo ponies are being led to their respective stalls or pens by Fernando Torres. The Ganzis have brought in 105 ponies so far with others arriving this week from teams in Texas and California. The Craig Sakin Memorial tournament is the first of the season and will be played on July 8, which is opening weekend. The public is welcome. Photo by Jane Bachrach

True blue Be sure to wear blue for autism awareness on Ascendigo Night at the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo on Thursday, June 28.

Also, Ascendigo Autism Services will be bringing mini horses for the kids to pet.

Gay for good

Grand old flag

A Rocky Mountain G4G chapter has been formed in an effort to bring the LGBTQ community and its allies together for service projects and social activities. The first event is a Carbondale Town Cleanup starting at Sopris Park at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 30. More info at gayforgood.org; sign up on Facebook to help with food planning.

In addition to a First Friday opening on July 6, DJs on Main will be showing John Runne’s works based on the American flag alongside work by several other Carbondale artists with a 6 to 8 p.m. opening on June 29.

PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION Open seats on the Town of Carbondale Planning & Zoning Commission.

Contact Janet Buck 970.510.1208.

Applications may be found at www.carbondalegov.org or at Town Hall.

Applications are due by June 29, 2018 at 5 pm.

PLANTS & PRODUCT OF THE WEEK

25% OFF REGULAR PRICES

SPECIAL THIS WEEK 25% OFF All Vegetable plants STORE HOURS! Mon-Sat. 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Sunday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Closed Wed. July 4th

25% Off

25% Off

PERENNIAL of the week Coneflower. – A sun loving perennial with daisy-like blooms. Many varieties include purple, white, pink, yellow or orange blooms.

PRODUCT of the week Pottery – Take advantage of this rare

sale and choose from our great selection of containers. Just in time to add a new pot to the deck for the Fourth of July party.

Folks celebrating another year of life this week include: Beth Mulry (June 28); Katie Mac, Patty Phelan (June 29); John Stickney, Erin Rigney (June 30); John Matchael and Jax Moss (July 1); Staci Dickerson, Jeanie Chestnutt, Dean Harding and Laurie Loeb (July 2); Addy Moss, Sissy Sutro, Maggie Jones, Tony Mendez, Cindy Sadlowski and Katie Jones (July 3) Rachel Cooper and Brad Geddes (July 4).

Bears are back!

All garbage or refuse containers must be stored in a secured enclosed area or own a bear resistant container.

Up to $1,000 fine for violating trash/bear ordinance!

Warnings will not be issued!

Help keep the bears out of town and Carbondale safe.

Contact the Carbondale Police Department for more information at (970) 963-2662.

Carbondale Town Ordinance:

25% Off

Remember: Senior Day is every Tuesday.

15% off storewide for 62+ year olds.

400 Gillespie Drive, El Jebel, CO 81623

The Town of Carbondale in partnership with the Carbondale Creative District

They say it’s your birthday

(Except on collection day between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.)

PLANT (SHRUB) of the week Amur Maples – A large shrub with brilliant red fall color. Varieties include ‘Hot Wings’ (with bright red seeds in summer) and Ginnala.

Survey says

Join family and friends of Jack Sebesta at the Village Smithy from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 3. Jack was a resident of Carbondale for 25 years before he returned to the Chicago area to be by his children in his later years.

970-963-1173

4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2018

Sec. 7-3-60 (b) No person, including but not limited to an owner, occupant, lessee, person in possession or control, homeowners’ association officer, property manager or agent of a given premises, shall place any refuse or garbage container in any street, alley or other public place or upon any private property, whether or not owned by such person, within the Town, except in proper containers for collection, as provided in Section 7-3-50 above. No person shall place any such refuse or garbage container in any public street right-of-way for trash collection purposes by the Town or a private trash hauler, except for on the day collection occurs. For purposes of determining compliance with this requirement, refuse and garbage containers may be stored in a public street right-of-way only between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on the day of collection. Placement of refuse or garbage containers outside of this time period shall result in the levying of fines, pursuant to Subsection (g) below. Except for between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on the day of collection, and except in the instance that a refuse or garbage container is bear-resistant, as defined in Section 7-3-10 above, all refuse and garbage containers must be stored in secure enclosures when not out for collection.

Prince Creek camping getting an official makeover

LOWER CAMPGROUND SITE PLAN

By Will Grandbois Sopris Sun Staff

With great use comes infrastructure improvements.

As work wraps up on newly beautified bike trails along Prince Creek, the Bureau of Land Management is turning its attention to the mess of unofficial campsites tucked among the gambel oaks.

Back in 2015, the BLM drafted a Risk Management Plan which called for the prohibition of dispersed camping in the Crown Special Recreation Management Area southeast of Carbondale (of which Prince Creek is part), which has long seen ever-increasing recreation with minimal management. Fol-

lowing the 2017 acquisition of the 112-acre Haines parcel, the BLM released an Environmental Assessment which further spelled out the agencies plans.

It calls for twelve developed campsites in two new campgrounds of two acres each featuring a large concrete pit toilet, graveled parking and access roads, tent pads, fire rings, picnic tables and the like. One would be located just below the first turnoff north to The Crown and other on an s curve just up

Crews have begun decommissioning dispersed camping and prepping two sites for formal campgrounds up Prince Creek. Photo by Megan Tackett

Connect

the road.

“It’s actually where a lot of people are camping now,” Assistant Field Manager Brian Hopkins pointed out. “We were dealing with long term campers, the risk of fire, trash and human waste and constant complaints all year long. This strategy is to have the minimum amount of development to protect resources and have the experience people want.”

More than five additional acres will be targeted for rehabilitation. It’s a noticeable contrast to the trend toward decommissioning campgrounds going on elsewhere on public lands. Most recently, White Owl and Coffee Pot campgrounds on National Forest land in the Flat Tops are in the pro-

cess of having amenities removed in the face of shrinking public lands budgets.

Eventually, the BLM plans to create a fee structure to cover maintenance of the sites. In the meantime, prohibitions against camping within a quarter mile of the creek or staying for more than a week during the summer are in place.

Folks looking for a more rustic experience will have to venture further on up the road.

body & soul

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The Sopris Sun, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2018 • 5

Fireworks

Fire engine

continued from page 3

tions, that’s not the case in Wyoming.

“It’s illegal to shoot those in Colorado, but it’s not illegal for him to sell them in Wyoming. He’s not doing anything wrong, technically, by the law,” Goodwin said. “It’s a strange business.”

And while people can legally purchase fireworks, Goodwin is hoping they’ll follow the rules. “Please use your common sense and good judgment. There’s just no substitute for that,” he said.

One of Carbondale’s last municipal fireworks shows in 2010.

Photo by Will Grandbois

Myth Busted:

At least I can still barbecue…

Sparklers don’t count

“They’re a firework,” Goodwin said matter-of-factly. “They’re actually one of the leading causes of fires because we all run around with sparklers.” In fact, in 2012, a 17-year-old was charged with fourth-degree arson after allegedly instigating a brush fire with a sparkler that grew to about two acres below Glenwood Park.

“Anything you light — smoke bombs, the little snake things that we all love — they’re all not allowed,” Goodwin said of the current Stage 1 fire ban. “It’s just as simple as that.”

… for now. Under Stage 1 fire restrictions, building a fire, campfire or stove fire is prohibited except when in developed recreation sites with constructed, permanent fire pits or fire grates.

“Stage 1 fire restrictions are already in effect for Garfield County, state lands and Bureau of Land Management lands within Garfield County borders, the City of Glenwood Springs, and the Town of Carbondale. No permits for open burning are being approved until sometime this fall,” according to a press release issued this month by Garfield County officials.

That means yes, you can barbecue — as long as restrictions aren’t upgraded to Stage 2, which outright prohibits charcoal grills, barbecues and coaland wood-burning stoves, even in developed camping and picnic grounds.

God Bless America Land that I love.

Stand beside her, and guide her Thru the night with a light from above.

From the mountains, to the prairies, To the oceans, white with foam God bless America, My home sweet home.

JOHN FROST MERRIOTT

Happy 4th of July

from my family to yours Certified Public Accountant

Office: 970-704-1101 • Fax: 970-704-9101 Email: frosty@frostycpa.com • Web: frostycpa.com 1101 Village road LLA2 • Carbondale, Colorado 81623

in case it got that far.”

It didn’t. By 10 p.m., he was back at the B&B with the tank still full, chatting with guests and neighbors by kerosene lamplight.

“It’s gonna be alright,” he said. “They’ve pretty well got this thing contained.”

Drops by small and large fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters had begun blasting the blaze within hours of the first report of a 200-yard brush fire, and ground crews from multiple area agencies were instrumental in the defense.

Power was turned off to the area and a reverse-911 telephone message went out to some of the subdivision residents directing them to evacuate, but folks were allowed to return to their homes before midnight.

“This early effort undoubtedly kept the fire from spreading,” noted a press release from the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office.

By June 25, the fire was entirely contained. No structures were lost, although the fire advanced to within a few hundred yards of some cabins and buildings in the area. Crews were released on June 25 — just in time to snuff a small fire on Iron Mountain near the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.

Garfield County remains in high fire danger with stage one restrictions — with the potential to move to stage two. Jim is the first to tell you how easily a shift in the wind, an ignition point on the other side of the subdivision, or a slower response could have led to a very different outcome. Locals are likely to see more smoke plumes if conditions don’t improve, but if it’s anywhere up Four Mile, they might also spot a vintage truck and a fireman to match.

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6 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2018

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0760 Hwy 133 • Carbondale, CO • (970) 963-2220

Town Report The following items are drawn from Town Manager Jay Harrington’s weekly report to staff, trustees and others.

AVENGER, a natural citrus burndown herbicide, has been applied to the ballfield, RV Park, Promenade and North Face Park. The Highway 133 corridor, meanwhile, was subject to manual eradication and weedeating.

JOIN P&Z by picking up an application at the Town Hall or grabbing one online at carbondalegov.org and returning it by June 29.

TRAIL RECOMMENDATIONS from the Bike and Ped commission will be presented to the trustees on July 10. Singletrack Trails, LLC has been hired to build the trails ,with hiking trail builds organized

by Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers beginning July 24. For more information, go to www.redhillaccesstrails.com.

SNOWMASS DRIVE trail construction continued, with the contractor installing one of the drywells near the north end of the retaining wall area, completing excavation for the new retaining wall and setting the base course of blocks for the wall.

THE 2017 TOWN AUDIT was presented to the Board of Trustees on June 26 by McMahan and Associates.

ROCK WARRIORS climbing camps are now available for registration which culminate with a field trip to climb at Rifle Mt. Park with AMGA Guides.

RENTALS over the weekend included the Gus Darien Rodeo grounds for a Stepping Stones fundraiser on June 23 and 24 and the Rec. Center on June 23 for a quinceañera.

FRIDAY FIELD TRIP for this week sends seniors on the road to Leadville.

BIKE LESSONS at North Face Park are still open for registration, featuring pumping, jumping and cornering for ages 6 to 12. There are also skateboard lessons for beginners, intermediates and girls only.

AQUATIC FITNESS CLASSES include Water Aerobics from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Aqua Zen from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Tuesdays and Thursdays and Aqua Zumba from 4 to 5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.

LEAKS in park irrigation were repaired, as was a dripping shower at the Gateway RV Park.

A NEW FIRE HYDRANT was installed near Fourth and Garfield.

SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER training began for Officer Bell. Chief Schilling and Lt. Wurtsmith traveled to Colorado Springs for the annual Chief’s Conference (CACP).

Cop Shop From June 15 through the 21, Carbondale Police handled 244 calls for service. During that period, officers investigated the following cases of note: FRIDAY June 15 at 1:20 a.m. A 73-year-old man was stopped for speeding and was arrested on a warrant for failure to appear.

SUNDAY June 17 at 8:25 a.m. A resident reported his bike stolen from his front porch. The next day, someone else filed a similar report.

SUNDAY June 17 at 1:45 p.m. Carbondale Police assisted the Garfield County Sheriff’s office with a domestic violence call. A 24-year-old man was subsequently arrested for careless driving, driving under restraint, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of a restraining order.

TUESDAY June 19 at 2:28 p.m. Police responded to a minor two-vehicle accident on Highway 133.

A couple of hours later, another accident took place down the road, also with no injuries.

WEDNESDAY June 20 at 12:39 p.m. A 33-year-old restaurant owner was issued a summons for failure to pay sales tax.

Additionally, on June 21 at around 4 a.m., an inmate at the Garfield County Jail was found unresponsive during “a routine medical check.” The Coroner’s Office later found that 40-year-old Morris Lee Andreatta’s death had likely been natural. The final death certification will take place after toxicology, histology and a review of his medical history.

El Pueblo de Carbondale y el Distrito de Protección contra Incendios Rurales y Carbondale han implementado

Town of Carbondale and Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District have implemented

Ordenanza No. 9 Serie del 2018.

Ordinance No. 9 Series of 2018.

Fire restrictions within Town limits.

Restricciones contra incendios dentro de los límites del Pueblo.

No se permiten incendios de ningún tipo, excepto de parrillas de carbón, gas y fumadores.

No se permite fumar excepto dentro de un vehículo o edificio cerrado.

No use soldaduras ni operación de acetileno u otra antorcha similar con llama abierta.

No se permite usar materiales explosivos.

No se permite el funcionamiento de ningún motor de combustión interna sin un dispositivo de detención de chispas instalado y en funcionamiento.

El jefe de bomberos para el Distrito de Protección con Incendios Rurales y Carbondale puede permitir un incendio si se considera apropiado.

Cualquier violación de los términos de esta Ordenanza estará sujeta a una penalización de $100, citación a corte o enjuiciamiento de conformidad con el Articulo 4, Capitulo 1 del Código Municipal.

8 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2018

No fires of any type are allowed except for charcoal or gas grills and smokers.

No smoking is allowed except within an enclosed vehicle or building.

No welding or operation of an acetylene or other similar torch with open flame.

No use of explosive materials is permitted.

No operation of any internal combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed and in working order is permitted.

The fire chief for the Carbondale and Rural Fire District may permit a fire if deemed appropriate.

Any violation of the terms of this Ordinance shall be subject to issuance of a penalty assessment ticket in the amount of $100, summons or prosecution pursuant to Article 4, Chapter 1 of the Municipal Code.

Impasse averted in Thompson Park affordable housing debate

Vaping, hydroelectric also discussed by trustees

By Will Grandbois Sopris Sun Staff With only four of seven members present at the latest of Town Council meeting, the Thompson Park development needed unanimous support to move forward — and their initial proposal wasn’t getting it.

With nine years and thousands of dollars already invested, the developer was pushing hard for a significant exemption from the Town’s affordable housing requirements under the Unified Development Code. Although the total number of such units (eight) were deemed adequate, the distribution of price points proved a sticking point.

“What we want to do is have units in the entire project that are attainable,” explained attorney Jacques Machol. “The percentages on this are extremely tight.”

As such, he advocated for two units at 100 percent Area Median Income (AMI), three at 120 percent and three at 150 percent. But while Mayor Dan Richardson was willing to back down on having at least one 80 percent AMI unit, he wanted as many 100 percent units as the Town could get.

“There’s a large portion of our population where 120 percent of AMI is not attainable,” he observed. “This is our only tool to provide deed restricted housing for that group.”

Trustee Luis Yllanes agreed.

“It seems to me like what staff is recommending would be to your favor,” he said. “I want to come out of this knowing 254 of 315 that we’ve done the best that we can for the residents of Carbondale.”

Richardson challenged the Thompson Park crew to “up the ante.” They did, first by offering a higher Real Estate Transfer Assessment (RETA), but that didn’t cut it.

“It’s not my favorite. I’d rather have the extra unit — that’s another family,” noted Trustee Marty Silverstein, who proposed continuing the conversation until more information was available and a full board was assembled. Richardson wasn’t

backing down, though.

“You guys subtracted something as part of the design process that is just part of our code,” he said. “I think it’s very important that we provide as many 100 percent AMIs as we can.”

Ultimately, they settled on three units at 100 percent AMI, two at 120 percent and three at 150 percent with a 1 percent RETA. Richardson, Yllanes, Silverstein and Lani Kitching then supported a motion to direct staff to draft the changes for final site plan, permit and agreement approval.

2018 Summer

Orthopedic Lecture Series

Stanley Gertzbein, MD

Nadmar Kazemi, MD

Waqqar Khan-Farooqi, MD

Tomas Pevny, MD

Eleanor von Stade, MD

Thea Wojtkowski, MD

In other action…

The board connected with Mandy Ivanov of Eagle County Public Health via speakerphone to discuss the practical aspects of the Town’s plan to increase the tobacco and vaping age to 21. “What we’re really finding is for it to be effective there needs to be ramifications in place for when retailers violate that law,” Ivanov noted. Potential problems include auditing, online sales, and licensing. Still, the board felt the effort would be worth it. “I see vaping in particular, but smoking as well, as a significant threat to our youth,” Richardson said. “If they start that, it could lead to bad things.”

Trustees decided to move ahead with the design and implementation of a hydroelectric system on the water supply line on South Nettle Creek. The proposal would require no new diversions, would pay for R itself long before the end ATTACHMENT of its expected lifespan and provide enough energy to run the adjacent water treatment plant and then some. The only concern raised

by Utilities Director Mark O’Meara was that the added stress might increase the chances of a failure in the line — but he characterized it as unlikely. “We’re taking advantage of energy that’s essentially being wasted right now,” Richardson said.

“To me this is an absolute no brainer and a total win.”

Learn from top orthopedic specialists about common conditions, innovative treatments and exciting new technologies. Ask questions and discover the best way to live your life in motion.

ASPEN

BASALT

ALL ASPEN LECTURES TAKE PLACE 12:00 NOON – 1 PM

ALL BASALT LECTURES TAKE PLACE 5:30 – 6:30 PM

WEDNESDAY, JULY 11 The Female Athlete Thea Wojtkowski, MD

TUESDAY, JULY 17 Common Orthopedic Summer Injuries Thea Wojtkowski, MD

THURSDAY, JULY 19 Ultrasonic Shock Wave Therapy: An Alternative to Foot and Ankle Surgery Waqqar Khan-Farooqi, MD

TUESDAY, JULY 24 Osteoporosis of the Spine Stanley Gertzbein, MD

THURSDAY, JULY 26 What’s New in Total Knee Replacement: An Update Eleanor von Stade, MD MONDAY, JULY 30 Osteoporosis of the Spine Stanley Gertzbein, MD WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8 Are you a candidate for partial or total knee replacement?

Tomas Pevny, MD

TUESDAY, JULY 31 Rotator Cuff Tears: An Update Namdar Kazemi, MD TUESDAY, AUGUST 7 Are you a candidate for partial or total knee replacement?

Tomas Pevny, MD THURSDAY, AUGUST 30 Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle Waqqar Khan-Farooqi, MD

MONDAY, AUGUST 13 Shoulder Arthritis: An Overview Namdar Kazemi, MD

FREE; Full schedule at orthoaspen.org NO RSVP REQUIRED

Talks take place in Aspen and Basalt!

ASPEN VALLEY HOSPITAL Oden Conference Room 0401 Castle Creek Road, Aspen

BASALT REGIONAL LIBRARY Community Room 14 Midland Avenue, Basalt

Town of Carbondale Micro-Hydro Feasibility Conceptual Design, Impulse Turbine Layout.

0401 Castle Creek Road, Aspen, CO 81611 | orthoaspen.org OrthoAspen Graphic provided by Small Hydro Consulting, LLC The Sopris Sun, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2018 • 9

Community Calendar THURSDAY June 28

BOOK SIGNING • Chris Kalman speaks about his book “As Above So Below” — the short fictional story of a mountain climbing accident — from 6 to 9 p.m. at Ragged Mountain Sports (902 Highway 133).

ACOUSTIC DUO • Feeding Giants plays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Carbondale Beer Works (647 Main St.).

FRIDAY June 29

CELTIC COUNTRY • Indigo Mojo plays Marble Distilling (150 Main St.) from 7 to 10 p.m. with no cover.

REGGAE DUB • Tatanka brings heavy drum and bass grooves to The Temporary (360 Market St., Willits) for an 8:30 p.m. show. $15 in advance at tacaw.org or $20 at the door.

CLASSIC COVERS • Whiskey stomp plays Stubbies Sports Bar (123 Emma Rd., Basalt) from 9 p.m. ‘til midnight.

FRI to THU June 29-July 5

MOVIES • The Crystal Theatre (427 Main St.) presents “Hearts Beat Loud” (PG-13) at 7:30 p.m. June 29-July 5; “Mountain” (PG) at 5:30 p.m. June 30 and “RBG” (PG) at 5:15 p.m. July 1.

To list your event, email information to news@soprissun.com. Deadline is noon on Monday.

Events take place in Carbondale unless noted.

FRI & SAT June 29-30

FERMENTATION FEST • Live music, food and, of course, an assortment of the best-fermented potables from across the region, including craft beer, cider, and liquor come to Two Rivers Park. Entry to the festival includes tasting tokens and a commemorative sample glass. It’s family friendly from 4 to 8 p.m., then turns 21+

SATURDAY June 30

BROADWAY DREAMS • After a week of intensive training with industry professionals, students from ages 8 to 18 take the stage with their Broadway heroes to showcase their talents at 10:30 a.m. at the Hurst Theatre (470 Rio Grande Pl., Aspen).

AMERICANA • Callin’ Old Souls returns to Batch (358 Main St.) for a 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. set.

POP FOLK • Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs play from 7 to 9 p.m. at Steve’s Guitars (19 N. Fourth St.).

INDIE ROCK • Wildermiss and Anna Morsett of The Still Tide play at 9 p.m. at The Temporary (360 Market St., Willits). $13 in advance at tacaw.org or $18 at the door.

ECLECTIC HITS • R2 Productions presents 4AM at The Black Nugget (403 Main St.) from 9 p.m. ‘til midnight. No cover; 21+

SUNDAY July 1

DIPPER DANCE • Celebrate the American Dipper, a local indicator species of the health of rivers with a free film, original music and participatory dance from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Third Street Center (520 S. Third St.).

MONDAY June 2

EATING ANIMALS • Directed and produced by Christopher Quinn “Eating Animals” tells the story of the beginning of the end of factory farming at 8 p.m. at The Temporary (360 Market St., Willits).

Part of an Aspen Film series, it’s $8 for members or $11 in advance at tacaw.org and $13 at the door.

Tuesday June 3

LIBRARY BIRTHDAY • The Carbondale Branch Library (320 Sopris Ave.) celebrates 80 years with cake and ice cream at noon.

RETRO RECESS • Remember how fun recess was in elementary school? Relive those days from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Basalt Regional Library (14 Midland Ave.) with field games, life-size Hungry Hippos and ice cream.

COUNTRY TRIO • Maybe April plays at 8:30 p.m. at Steve’s Guitars (19 N. Fourth St.).

Wednesday July 4

INDEPENDENCE DAY • Get patriotic with a kids’ parade down Main Street at 10 a.m. followed by food, crafts, games, watermelon and music at Sopris Park and the John M. Fleet Pool.

Serving Clients from Aspen to Rifle and Vail

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LIONS MEET • The Carbondale Lions Club meets the first Tuesday of the month at the Gathering Center at the Orchard (110 Snowmass Dr.) starting at 6:30 p.m. Info: Chuck Logan at 963-7002 or Chris Chacos at 379-9096.

ROTARY • The Carbondale Rotary Club meets at the Carbondale Fire Station (300 Meadowood Dr.) at 6:45 a.m. Wednesdays.

The Mt. Sopris Rotary meets at White House Pizza (801 Main Ct.) at noon every Thursday.

HEALTH THROUGH NUTRITION • Free opportunities include… One-hour consultation about heart attack prevention, plant-based nutrition, other medical issues.

Call retired family doctor Greg Feinsinger, M.D. for appointment (379-5718). First Monday of every month catch a powerpoint presentation by Dr. Feinsinger about the science behind plant-based nutrition, 7 to 8:30 p.m., boardroom Third Street Center (520 S. Third St.). Fourth Monday of every month, plant-based potluck 6:30 p.m. Calaway Room, Third Street Center.

CALENDAR continued on page 11

Hours: 9am-4pm (lunch available for purchase at the school) Cost: $200 per session Ages: 13 years and up

Call

970-379-1575

REGISTER FOR WORKSHOPS BY CALLING CRMS: 970-963-2562 JOIN OLIVIA PEVEC AND LINDSAY GURLEY for a THREE-DAY INTENSIVE EXPLORATION of the power and beauty of our female selves through BLACKSMITHING AND YOGA at the Mountain Forge at Colorado Rocky Mountain School.

The workshop is for 12 women between the ages of 13 and 99. Each day begins with stoking our inner fire through yoga practice before heading into the forge to learn the ancient craft of forging hot Iron. Locally sourced picnic lunch provided by The Guest House Colorado each day is included in the cost of registration. Participants will produce work they take home with them as well as a contribution piece to the Rio Grand Archway: A monument to creativity scheduled for installation in October of this year. The retreat will close with a riverside social at 13 Moons Ranch.

Hours: 8am-4pm Cost: $333.00

10 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2018

BLUEGRASS JAM • Bring the instrument of your choice or just your voice for a weekly jam session first and last Sundays at 6:30 p.m. at Steve’s Guitars (19 N. Fourth St.) and all other Sundays at the Glenwood Springs Brew Garden (115 Sixth St.).

WE WILL LEARN BASIC BLACKSMITHING TECHNIQUES including fire, maintenance, forging, bending, team smithing and make useful objects to take home.

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BOOK CLUB • Join friends and fellow readers to discuss great books at Carbondale Branch Library (320 Sopris Ave.) at 4 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month; call 963-2889 for this month’s selection.

Two separate workshops which can be combined to include a big bonus afternoon and evening session.

(Fri. 7/13 you will need a bike)

TWIN LABS APPLIANCE REPAIR LLC

Today!

Ongoing

Community Calendar

continued from page 10

Ongoing

All events supported by Davi Nikent, Center for Human Flourishing. More information at www.davinikent.org.

YANKEE TAVERN • Thunder River Theatre Company presents Steven Dietz’s fierce, funny and mind-bending dramatic thriller about conspiracy theories at 7:30 p.m. June 28, 29 and 30. Directed by Dani Kopf and featuring Bob Moore, Brittany Dye, Christopher Wheatley and Brendan Cochran, it runs $15 to $20 with tickets at thunderrivertheatre.com or 963-8200.

RODEO • The nonprofit, volunteer Carbondale Wild West Rodeo returns at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Gus Darien Riding Arena on Catherine Store Road.

FARMER’S MARKET • Sample wares from a small, eclectic blend of local farmers, producers and artisans Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fourth Street Plaza.

HIGH NOON • Bring your compliments, complaints and ideas to Sopris Sun Editor Will Grandbois at 12 p.m. Thursdays at the Pour House (351 Main St.).

EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN • Staff and sources talk about this week’s paper and more at 4 p.m. Thursdays on KDNK (88.1 FM).

GRIEF AND LOSS • Pathfinders offers a grief and loss support group every other Monday at 6 p.m., and a caregiver support group every other Wednesday noon.

An RSVP is required to Robyn Hubbard at 319-6854. Pathfinders offers support groups from Aspen to Rifle and is located in

Carbondale at 1101 Village Rd. Info: pathfindersforcancer.org.

TRIVIA • Geeks Who Drink comes to Batch (358 Main St.) for free at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.

OPEN MIC • A new open mic takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays at Riverside Grill (181 Basalt Center Circle, Basalt).

Food and drink specials. Free.

LIFE DRAWING • Drop in for figure drawing with Staci Dickerson at 6:30 p.m. Mondays at SAW (525 Buggy Cr. Unit C).

YOGA • Get a donation based introduction to Hatha Yoga Tuesdays from 8 to 9 p.m. at The Launchpad (76 S. Fourth St.).

MAKERSPACE • Children and teens are invited to design, create, tinker, and play with art and technology to design and create with 3D Pens, make stop-motion animation films, engineer duct tape creations, build their own video games, and more from 2 to 3:30 p.m. every Wednesday at the Carbondale Branch Library (320 Sopris Ave.).

DHARMA • The Way of Compassion Dharma Center holds a Dharma talk and meditation from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and a silent meditation and Buddha of Compassion practice at 8 a.m. Saturdays at the Third Street Center (520 S. Third St.).

KARAOKE • The Black Nugget (403 Main St.) and Sandman bring you over 30,000 songs to choose from and a quality sound system to release your inner rockstar at 9 pm. every Thursday.

AIKIDO • Roaring Fork Aikikai (2553 Dolores Way) trains adults and teens Mondays through Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 3:15 and 4:30 p.m. and kids Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 4:30 p.m. (ages 5-8) and 4:45 to 5:45 (ages 8-14). More info at rfaikikai.com.

YAPPY HOUR • Colorado Animal Rescue’s Yappy Hour at the Marble Bar (150 Main St.) takes place at 5:30 p.m. the third Thursday of the month. Sip on handcrafted cocktails and meet a C.A.R.E. dog, with $1 from every drink donated to C.A.R.E. Bring your own dog along as well.

COMMUNITY MEAL • Faith Lutheran Church (1340 Highway 133) hosts a free community meal from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of the month. Info: 510-5046 or faithcarbondale. com. Carbondale Homeless Assistance also has its meeting on the fourth Tuesday of each month.

MEDITATION • Free silent meditation sessions are held at the Launchpad (76 S. Fourth St.) from 6:45 to 7:30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Additionally, The Monday Night Meditation Group meets from 7 to 8:15 p.m. at True Nature (100 N. Third St.) and offers instruction in the Buddhist practice of Vipassana. Also at True Nature, everyone’s invited for SRF meditation from 10 to 11 a.m. on the first Sunday of the month and 5 to 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month.

MINDFULNESS • The Mindful Life Program in the Third Street Center (520 S.

Third St.) offers group sessions Mondays at 7:30 p.m. Admission is by donation and registration is not necessary. Info: mindfullifeprogram.org and 970-633-0163.

WRITERS GROUP • Wordsmiths of all experience and abilities gather at the Carbondale Branch Library (320 Sopris Ave.) at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of the month.

STORY ART • Carbondale Branch Library (320 Sopris Ave.), in partnership with the Aspen Art Museum, invites kids to learn about artists and create masterpieces of their own at 4 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month.

YOUR STORY, YOUR LIFE • A free facilitated workshop for adults, writing your personal history, one story at a time. Facilitated by Shelly Merriam, historian/writer/ genealogist. First and third Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon at the Glenwood Springs Branch Library, (815 Cooper Ave.). Info at 945-5958 or gcpld.orgf.

STORYTIME • Carbondale Branch Library (320 Sopris Ave.) hosts stories songs and more for ages four and up at 10:30 a.m.

Thursdays and three and under at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays. Kids must be accompanied by an adult.

BRIDGE • The Carbondale Bridge Club hosts duplicate bridge (not sanctioned by ACBL) from 6:30 to 10 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at the Third Street Center (520 S. Third St.). $6/per pair. Contact Marlene for more info: 928-9805.

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The Sopris Sun, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2018• 11

Libel suit decision vindicates North Fork activist

By Amy Hadden Marsh Sopris Sun Correspondent

Peter Kolbenschlag can breathe a little easier after a District Court Judge in Delta County, Colorado dismissed a libel suit filed against him by energy company SG Interests.

When an energy company that owns oil, gas, and coal interests throughout the US, donated over $10,000 to Colorado Congressman Scott Tipton’s election campaign and whose owner has $96 million dollars invested in ranchland, filed a lawsuit against him, Kolbenschlag felt angry and annoyed at first.

“A deputy working as a process server served me on my porch in February, 2017,” he told The Sopris Sun in an email. “My first thoughts were that it was a bunch of bunk and I was going to fight back.”

For the next year and a half, Kolbenschlag didn’t back down. “I lawyered up. That was the first thing. Then I set up a legal defense fund. Then I notified media,” he said. It all started in 2005 when Houston-based SG Interests (SGI) and Gunnison Energy Corporation (GEC) secretly agreed to jointly bid on four natural gas leases in the Ragged Mountain Wilderness Area. Representatives of both companies attended the bidding event but only SG actually bid. That was part of the plan, according to last week’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two companies, SGI submitted bids for both companies under its own name and then gave half of the interest in the leases to GEC. Four years later, Anthony Gale, a former vice president of GEC who had written the MOU on behalf of the company, filed suit against SGI and GEC, exposing fraud against the Federal government. In other words, Gale blew the whistle. He alleged that the companies violated

Peter Kolbenschlag speaks at the People’s Press Conference in Grand Junction earlier this month.

Photo by Amy Hadden Marsh the False Claims Act by stating in the bid documents that there was no collusion.

In 2012, the United States filed a separate suit, charging the companies with violating the Sherman AntiTrust Act. The government said that it received less revenue for the sale of the leases than if would have if SGI and GEC had not illegally colluded to rig the bids. After a legal back-and-forth, the companies agreed to pay $275,000 each to the Federal government and $451,250 to the whistleblower.

So, where does Peter Kolbenschlag fit into all this? He brought it to public attention by posting an online comment to a Glenwood Springs Post Independent article (Divide Decision Likely to Land in Court, 11/29/16*) about lease cancellations on the Thompson Divide, some of which were SGI leases. The paper quoted SGI’s Robbie Guinn as saying that it was a “predetermined political decision” to cancel the leases and evidence of improper

collusion between the Obama Administration and environmental interests. Kolbenschlag took issue with that and, in his comment, drew attention to the proven collusion between SGI and GEC years earlier.

In turn, SGI hit Kolbenschlag with a libel suit. In a YouTube video, Kolbenschlag calls it a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation or SLAPP. “It’s something filed against a community member by someone rich and powerful that wants to silence them,” he says. “This isn’t about me,” he adds in the video. “This is about silencing a community. There are a lot of people [in the North Fork Valley] that don’t think this is a good place for fracking and drilling.” SGI has plans to drill for natural gas near Paonia.

Kolbenschalg has been on pins and needles until last week, when the judge exonerated him, stating that Kolbenschlag’s comment was true therefore not libelous. “Substantial truth is a complete defense against a defamation claim,” wrote Judge Steven Schultz in the Motion.

Eric Sanford, operations and land manager for SGI, told The Sun that he had not read the ruling and could not comment. Robbie Guinn, a vice-president of SGI, did not return phone calls from The Sun but told the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel that he doesn’t know if the company will appeal.

Kolbenschlag said he feels relieved and “as committed as ever”.

Just as the Post Independent predicted, the Thompson Divide lease situation ended up in court. In a synchronistic turn of events, just two days after the Kolbenschlag case was dismissed, SGI accepted $1.5 million from the Federal government in exchange for cancelling 18 illegallyissued leases on the Thompson Divide.

Parade & Pool Party Pool Open 10am-4pm

July 4th, 2018

$5 pool entry fee 10:30 am 40th Annual 4th of July Kid’s Parade All kids welcome, strollers to striders, unicycles to three wheelers, roller skates to skateboards. Come in costume, decorate your bike, be in a parade!

6th Annual

RAPTOR FAIR Thursday, July 5 3PM to 5PM

2nd & Main Street for staging.

11am: Watermelon Relay Race Teams of 2-4 race 100 meters with a watermelon Must be able to swim 25 meters

12pm: Treasure Dive Individual Event for ages 1-17

Dive for treasure! We have fake gold, real quarters, and real one dollar coins!

2pm: Cardboard Canoe Race

FREE @ Hallam Lake 100 Puppy Smith Street behind the Post Office in Aspen

Featuring ACES Resident Raptors & Visiting Birds from HawkQuest

Up-Close Interactions - Golden Eagle - Red-tailed Hawk Great Horned Owl - Bald Eagle - Harris Hawk Rough-legged Hawk - Peregrine Falcon - Screech Owl Activities & Prizes - Owl Pellet Dissection

Bring your own canoe made from cardboard and tape

Kids carnival games, bounce house, live music & free watermelon and ice cream sandwiches in Sopris Park!

12 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2018

this event is generously sponsored by:

Please walk, bike, bus, or carpool to Hallam Lake as parking Is very limited.

aspennature.org

SS_RaptorFair_1.4.indd 1

|

970.925.5756

6/25/18 4:03 PM

The Bike Tour of Colorado came through town on June 24. Cyclists arrived from Aspen via the Rio Grande Trail and camped out on Tiny Nightingale Field behind Carbondale Middle School.

To entertain the visitors — and locals — a bonus Sunday Concert was held in Sopris Park with the aptly named Songs from the Road band.

Photos by Laurel Smith

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The Sopris Sun, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2018• 13

Letters from page 2

Mutt & Jeff from page 2 QUARTERED IN RANCHES Among those marooned, Mr. Whitbeck continued, were several children, but none had to spend the night in cars.

“Most of the people,” said Mr. Whitbeck, “were taken care of at the two Meredith ranches and the MacHutchins place. There were a few grown-ups who decided to stick with their cars.”

One of the marooned autoists had a well-stock[ed] trailer and willingly shared his groceries with others caught in the slides.

“Some of the motorists went back to Red Stone and spent the night there, when they heard the road was blocked,” Mr. Whitbeck said. “By now, however, they’ve all cleared out.”

BULLDOZER DOES JOB Mr. Whitbeck and his two helpers began working shortly after noon yesterday. They were able to slice through 23 slides before they got to a big one about 20 feet long and several feet high. Then they brought in a bulldozer about 2 a.m. today and used it until they had the road cleared, eight and one-half hours later.

“The road’s open, but it’s not in very good shape yet,” he explained.

Cloudbursts that washed loose earth and rocks down the slopes of hills along the road were responsible for the numerous slides,” he said.

In light of the geological nature of the Crystal Valley, I am aghast at Pitkin County’s willingness — no, their desire — to spend 30-50 or more million dollars on a bike path through a valley prone to cloudbursts; and make no mistake, these events and similar ones are not restricted to just the Highway 133 side of the valley. The railroad grade side of the valley is also subject to cloudbursts, mudslides, and rock falls.

I personally know of a rock as big as a small cabin which tumbled from a sandstone cliff not many years ago directly onto the railroad grade. Farther north, one passes Red Wind Point, a cliff projection which is also on the former railroad grade.

Prior to being a railroad grade, it was the wagon road up the Crystal, and it swung to the east as it rounded the point. Today that wagon road has been smothered by tons of rockfall over the years to the point of no longer being visible.

Surely these millions of dollars could be put to a more practical use!

Paige Meredith shares this column with fellow conservative Stan Badgett.

A sneaky move by the BLM

trip for me to drive to the BLM office in Grand Junction.

Please don’t let the BLM, and our Garfield County Commissioners, take away our right to know about what they are doing, what they are voting on, and what they are trying to “slip under the door” as quietly and quickly as they can, usually before adequate discussion can be heard! I need to attend these important meetings to express my desire to protect our health, our clean air, our water resources, the wildlife habitats, and all issues they will be able to “slip past us” if everything is being handled in Mesa County.

There is a reason why there is a BLM office in almost every county in the state. Don’t let them take our rights away!

They need to remember that: I vote — in every election to come. This is a battle, and I don’t intend to lose! It’s a clear case of: “Our Risks, Their Profits”.

This is a moral issue! Just because these oil/gas companies, logging companies, and any other “extraction” system they can set up, have purchased a lease to use these lands for their profit, it doesn’t mean they should be given a blank check (by our Garfield County Commissioners, and by the BLM), to poison our residents, poison our water, allow toxic chemicals and gases to “evaporate” into our air, and to rape our lands.

Keep the BLM Office in Garfield County!

Mrs. J. Moore Glenwood Springs, CO

Dear Editor: I read with great dismay in last Friday’s Post Independent that the BLM wants to abandon their offices in Garfield County and “move” to Grand Junction.

Although I can see there are monetary savings if the BLM offices are consolidated into one location, I believe that most of us who are paying attention to what is actually going on suspect there may be an additional reason for this move: to allow our Garfield County Commissioners to move forward with rubber-stamping any and all drilling and development permit requests they like.

I attended the URSA permit request meeting in Glenwood in November 2017 to drill a massive well site and huge “wastewater” injection well within a few hundred feet of an entire housing subdivision in Battlement Mesa. The minute that meeting was called into “recess” (so the commissioners could “consider” the permit without the public still in the room), they couldn’t get their approval notice out to the news media fast enough — it took them less than an hour. It was a real “belly punch” to every citizen who attended that meeting, who sent in opinions, and to the health concerns they skipped over.

Consolidating the Garfield County BLM Office into the offices in Mesa County will do a very good job of excluding the citizens of Garfield County from participating in these decisions, and using our right to attend those meetings. It is a 200 mile round

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Letters from page 14 Steppin’ out with Paula Dear Editor: It was my honor to march with Garfield County commissioner candidate Paula Stepp and her supporters at the Strawberry Days parade. An avid outdoors woman with solid credentials on environmental and climate issues, Stepp has plenty of much-needed fresh ideas.

The Board of County Commissioners needs some diversity. The staid, old, white male, Republican curmudgeons who’ve dominated the BOCC for years are out of ideas.

Marian Smith was the chairwoman of the BOCC back in the ‘90’s. The curmudgeons were Bucky Arbaney and Arnold Mackley.

In her quiet, but firm way, Smith could persuade them to think outside the box.

Stepp can do the same thing.

Fred Malo Jr. Carbondale

Don’t break up families Dear Editor: The stunning revelation that undocumented immigrant children are being taken from their families on our southern border is a horror, pure and simple. Comparisons to the treatment of European Jews by Germany in the 1930s and 1940s are inescapable.

Where is our moral compass?

An impoverished, illiterate mother and

small child flee from Honduran gangs, traveling by rail, by bus, by foot through Central America and Mexico, risking everything to come to America, where the Statue of Liberty proclaims, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free.” At the border, the woman claims refugee status. If she and her child aren’t refugees, who is?

But she’s arrested and separated from her child. She’s not told where her child is going. Rather, she’s given one of those 800 numbers where you go round and round, never reaching anyone who knows anything about your case.

Who can judge this woman? Who can say that in the same circumstances they would choose a different path? What kind of policy dictates that a mother and child be traumatized by border bureaucrats?

This is state-sponsored terrorism of helpless people. This is wrong.

Children are fragile. They cling to loved ones. Their family is the only world they know. Ask any psychologist. Ask any parent. Tear children from their families, and the scars will be deep and permanent.

And where do these kids go? Who knows? The Office of Refugee Settlement reported at the end of 2017 that of over 7,000 undocumented minors placed in foster care, 1,475 were unaccounted for.

This is an issue that transcends politics.

This is a test of who we are as a nation and a people. If there’s a God in Heaven, we will be judged.

Please contact our senators, Cory Gardner and Michael Bennett, and our representative, Scott Tipton, to let them know that breaking up families is not the American way.

Ed Colby New Castle

Improve home countries for immigrants Dear Editor: If we truly abhor the thought of ripping children away from families so desperate to leave the brutal violence of their

home, that they took their whole family on a long traumatizing journey.

Then perhaps the US could do something to help. We could stop placing and supporting brutal dictators in Central America. We could stop teaching their generals, at the School of the Americas, how to brutalize protestors, because the street gangs are copying their tactics. By not making their home countries intolerable, the people will be happy to live in the homes they love. Terrorizing traumatized people is how we make terrorists in the Middle East; must we make terrorists here also?

John Hoffmann Carbondale

Parting Shot

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THE GOOD SEED COMMUNITY GARDEN is accepting registrations for organic gardeners who would like to start or continue gardening with GSCG located at 110 Snowmass Drive, Carbondale. For sign-up packets and to enroll, contact Theresa (970) 963-8773 at The Orchard or Cindy Weaver (970) 319-1520.

BLOCK PARTY • Willits let loose on June 22 with live music, food, a mobile hot time, games and more — but we’re most impressed with whoever had the puntastic idea of bringing out giant blocks for the kids.

*Credit card payment information should be emailed to unclassifieds@soprissun.com or call 970-274-1076. Checks may be dropped off at our office at the Third Street Center or mailed to P.O. Box 399, Carbondale, CO 81623. Call 510-3003 for more info.

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