Column by Hal Walter
Mountain Architecture – September 1999
I’VE ALWAYS MARVELED at the environmental practicality of mobile homes. While many take a dim view of trailers, they make more sense than trophy homes in Colorado, where historically every economic boom has ended in bust. Once the current real-estate cycle crashes, trailers could be rolled away and disposed of properly. They could be recycled like cans.
Article by Jeanne Englert
Colorado Status – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
IT WON’T MAKE YOU a better driver, but it’s fun to sport a Colorado pioneer license plate if you qualify for one.
Zoe Hubbard, a descendant of four pioneer families in southern Weld County, established the pioneer plate program two years ago to honor Coloradans whose ancestral roots go back 100 years. The State of Colorado agreed to make these pioneer/settler plates as long as 250 of them are in use. The program has been hugely successful. Over 7,000 such plates have been approved since its inception.
Review by Ed Quillen
Local History – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
The San Luis Valley – Land of the Six-Armed Cross
by Virginia McConnell Simmons
Second Edition
Published in 1999 by University Press of Colorado
ISBN 0-87081-530-X
Review by Columbine Quillen
Food – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia: – A Comprehensive Resource for Healthy Eating
by Rebecca Wood
Published in 1999 by Penguin Arkana
ISBN 0-14-025032-8
Review by Jeanne Englert
Regional History – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
Brujas, Bultos y Brasas: Tales of Witchcraft and the Supernatural in the Pecos Valley
by Nasario García
ISBN 1-889921-03-3
Essay by Ed Quillen
Western Development – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
OFTEN I READ that the West is just getting too crowded and developed — indeed, on many occasions, I have myself written prose to that effect.
But as Bob Ewegen at The Denver Post often observes, “journalism is the art of relentless oversimplification.” While it is true that our part of the world is in general getting more crowded and developed, that’s a simplification based on generalization.
Sidebar by Ed Quillen
C&TS RR – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
The C&TS locomotives are now confined to the tracks between Antonito, Colo., and Chama, N.M., but when they were put into service decades ago, they pulled freight and passengers across vast stretches of Colorado and northern New Mexico.
In the 1920s, the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad promoted “Narrow-Gauge Circle Tours.” A tour typically began with a trip from Denver or Pueblo over the standard-gauge to Salida, where they shifted to narrow-gauge for a trip over Marshall Pass to Gunnison, and then a climb over Cerro Summit to Montrose.
Sidebar by Steve Voynick
C&TS RR – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
A TICKET TO HISTORY
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a Registered National Historic Site and a New Mexico Registered Cultural Site. Recently, the Society of International Railway Travelers named the C&TSRR to its list of the world’s top 20 railway experiences.
Article by Steve Voynick
C&TS RR – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
I ADMIT THAT I ENVY Tom Atkinson’s job. He begins work by climbing into the cab of No. 497, a huge, black, 96-year-old Baldwin steam locomotive. Coupled to a six-car train, the K-37 Mikado-type locomotive has been building steam for two hours. At 10:30 a.m. sharp, Atkinson pulls an overhead cord and sends two wailing blasts of the steam whistle echoing across the little town of Chama, New Mexico. Then he nudges open the throttle and No. 497 pulls slowly away from the Chama station, accompanied by a cloud of black coal smoke and the rhythmical hiss of escaping steam.
Letter from Clay Warren
Dialect – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
…and apparently he agrees
Editors,
I don’t know whether or not to think that my unique style of commentary is under attack by common ridicule, or that imitation is really the sincerest form of flattery. In any event — and at the risk of alienating both of my faithful readers, one of whom had to go to Nevada to find work — I shall refrain from tempering my comments with dialect.
Letter from Paul Brown
Dialect – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
Enough with the dialect…
Dear Editor,
I wish you would quit encouraging what you must feel is the humorous “hick dialect” writing style of letter-writer Clay Warren (and why is he afraid to use his real name). As a descendant of true hillbillies, I find the style offensive and a reminder of disrespectful urban people’s attempts to make fun of and alienate rural residents and their culture.
Letter from Trout Creek Ponderist
Seasons – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
As summer wanes, it’s time to return to routine
Salute —
After several trips and the usual summer influx of diversions, we have realized that our few precious days of summer are quickly waning.
Reality or the true Colorado routine, if it does exist, leads us to bill paying. Thus, after your gentle reminders, we enclose our contribution to another year of entertainment and thought-provoking perusal of Colorado Central. We did enjoy this past year’s issues with the exception being the spring issue when it appeared your attentions were on the computer website or perhaps the enjoyment of mud season.
Letter from Gene Lorig
Guns and Politics – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
He’d like to see what pulses through their veins
Ed and Martha,
Persistence is thy name. Here’s $40 to keep you off my back for a couple years.
Since your first card, in May, I have been trying to think of something original to say, but life is too pleasantly dull here to so do, if you are able to forget the outside world. And the outside world is so absurd it dumbfounds. I have even found myself agreeing with Ken Hamblin — on JFK Jr. And maybe somewhat on guns.
Letter from John Walker
Hal Walter’s August 99 column – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
Nature will not miss the god made of gunpowder
Editors:
In an age where technology makes many feel powerless, it is comforting to know that a gun can still transform a man into a god blessed with the power of life and death. I am referring to Hal Walter, whose “Killer Coyotes” (August, 1999) administers CPR to the moribund notion of “good animal” vs. “bad animal.” From his ranchette on Mount Olympus, Walter laments that deer are eaten by coyotes rather than Division of Wildlife license-holders like himself. He also bemoans his six missing house cats while expressing no regrets over loosing a half-dozen exotic predators into the wild. In a final challenge to credulity, the writer claims to be “a part of nature.”
Letter from Betty Hurt
Erik Moore’s article in August 99 edition – September 1999
Many changes in Colorado, and they’re not for the better
Editors:
First of all, I must tell you that yours is one of the few magazines I receive that I read cover-to-cover as soon as I get it. The articles are controversial, funny, informative, and always interesting.
I particularly enjoyed “The Invasion of the Vicarians” by Erik Moore in the August edition. I came to Colorado 33 years ago and have seen profound changes here in that time.
Brief by Betsy Marston
Rural life – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
Bison Burger
Even bison, it turns out, need a bailout. Too many of the big critters are raised and not enough of us want to eat them.
After producing more bison-burger than the market could bear, ranchers recently asked the federal government for help — their second request in two years. The U.S. Department of Agriculture came up with the money, buying $6 million worth of bison meat for its school lunch program. A North Dakota-based coöperative representing 350 bison ranchers including the biggest, billionaire Ted Turner, cheered the federal subsidy.
Brief by Marcia Darnell
Regional action – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
Action 22 sets a regional agenda
by Marcia Darnell
Compromise and wide-angle views were the order of the day as the committees of Action 22 got down to specific issues on Aug. 14.
The political collective, patterned after Club 20, was formed at a flag-waving, band-playing, check-writing shindig in February. The group aims to increase the legislative pull of 22 counties in central and southern Colorado by creating “a single unified voice on issues of mutual concern to Southern Colorado counties.”
Brief by Rayna Bailey
Hillside CO Post Office – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
Hillside 81232
Travelers heading north on Highway 69 who blink at the wrong moment might miss the town of Hillside, which sits on the Frémont-Custer county line. About the only indication that there is anything more than a collection of homes and ranches scattered across the countryside is the towering sign along the road proclaiming, “Welcome to Hillside, Est. 1904.”
Brief by Central Staff
Internet – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
What you can learn in cyberspace
We keep hearing that the Internet is a superb educational tool, and now we’ve learned something.
When the Internet arrived here in the fall of 1995, we got an email account with the provider. The name had to be 8 characters or less, so we started getting messages at coloctl@rmii.com.
Brief by Central Staff
Buena Vista politics – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
New BV board re-instates old police chief
On account of the successful June 8 special election that recalled four of the town’s six trustees, Buena Vista’s old police chief has his job back, and the town administrator who fired him was suspended from work.
The issue that sparked the recall occurred early this year, when Town Administrator David Clyne fired Police Chief James Tidwell for “insubordination.”
Brief by Central Staff
Salida – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
Northern Expsosure, sure. But X-Files?
How many ways can a magazine get a story wrong?
We manage quite a few ways ourselves, but we’re more than willing to hand the prize to VQ: Vintage Quality motorcycles, a monthly published “for the connoisseur.”
Brief by Central Staff
Burro Racing – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
BV’s Barb Dolan wins another Triple Crown in ’99 burro races
Barb Dolan of Buena Vista continued her winning ways with another triple crown in this year’s pack-burro racing season. To gain that trophy, she and her burro, Rocky Top Chug, came in first in the women’s division of the Fairplay, Leadville, and Buena Vista burro races.
Brief by Marcia Darnell
San Luis Valley – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
Housing Woes
Another ugly phase of growth is elitism. The Monte Vista city council unanimously voted to ban low-income housing and even duplexes in a new subdivision. However, there was some good news for trees: A group of 100-year-old cottonwood was saved when Monte Vista city officials decided a plan to replace storm drains — which would have meant demolishing the trees — was too expensive.
Brief by Central Staff
Climate – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
At least the animals haven’t started to line up in pairs…
The meteorologists keep telling us that overall, this is a pretty normal year for Colorado weather. And maybe it is in a statistical sense, but it sure hasn’t felt that way on the ground.
Winter and spring were dry, and then in late April and early May, state river basins went from near-drought to normal storage and flow conditions.
Brief by Central Staff
Leadville – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
Working Mother puts Leadville in Top 10
Leadville is one of America’s 10 best places for working families, according to Working Mother magazine.
The ranking results from The Center, which offers infant and toddler care, preschool and kindergarten, plus after-school programs for children 5 to 13.
Brief by Central Staff
Law Enforcement – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
New West Cops
The Gunnison Country Times recently published short profiles of all the city’s police officers.
Comic Strip by Clint Driscoll and Laura Ravenwood
Mountain Life – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
Essay by Chris Frasier
Rural Life – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
TODAY I TOOK my first horse for his last walk, and marked the end of a 24-year partnership with the animal who taught me the most.
Bo was a sorrel ranch gelding with an ordinary pedigree and extraordinary spirit. Twenty-four years ago, he was three and I was a green thirteen.
Our first few rides were careless jaunts through the milk cow pasture. Bo couldn’t keep away from the old Brown Swiss cow, and if I obliged him, we would move her somewhere, anywhere, just for the thrill of turning a cow.
Article by Patricia N. Limerick
Juan Bautista de Anza – September 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
Editor’s Note
JUAN BAUTISTA DE ANZA is not a household name, but I wish he were. Why did celebrity status — and name recognition — come to some figures in Western American history, and not to others? A biography of a figure like Meriwether Lewis can become a fixture on bestseller lists. As a book trying for comparable popularity, a biography of Juan Bautista de Anza would seem defeated before it started, with no way to appeal to nationalistic pride or even to basic name recognition.