Election Results Salida voters chose a new mayor and three new councilmen in the November election. P.T. Wood beat the incumbent Jim LiVecchi with 68.91 percent of the votes to become the new mayor. Dan Shore will represent Ward 1 after winning 74.14 percent of the vote, Justin Critelli won 70.96 percent of the vote …
A Mysterious Suicide in Turret A 92-year old Turret resident was found dead in the basement of his home by friends Sept. 12 after they had not heard from him in over a week. Edwin Bartheld, who hand-built his off-grid home on an abandoned mine site in the old ghost town, had lived alone since …
River Claims Victims The summer of 2014 has seen multiple fatalities on the Arkansas River, including the death of a Vernal, Utah woman who disappeared after a raft she was a passenger on went over a spillway just north of Salida during an evening float trip on June 28. Amanda Taylor, 31, was found four …
A Loquacious Bill
A bill has been introduced by Sen. Gail Schwartz and Rep. Jim Wilson to address a controversial speed study initiated by the Colorado Department of Transportation. The bill, SB-14-146 does not mince words: “Concerning information that the Department of Transportation may consider when conducting a traffic investigation for the purpose of determining the appropriate speed limit for a portion of a state highway for which a municipality has proposed a speed limit alteration.”
By Christopher Kolomitz
Snow – and Headaches – Pile Up
Snowfall in early February has helped the region’s snowpack considerably and has caused a few headaches at the same time. At Monarch Mountain, the magical 100-inch base was reached after it snowed more than 11 feet in two weeks, creating some epic powder days. The big dumps made for dangerous avalanche conditions, with slides hitting and closing U.S. 50 on multiple occasions, blocking the Taylor River Road for 24 hours and taking out a vault restroom near Gothic. Big rigs, including a tanker, rolled off the road in Gunnison County during one of the storms; and near Kebler Pass a snowmobiler was killed when buried by an avalanche. Heavy snow collapsed the roof of the 74-year-old Sayer-McKee building in downtown Leadville after 20 inches of snow fell in one day. And the multiweek burst of moisture caused Leadville leaders to begin work on a snow removal plan. Apparently the “Cloud City” has never had a formal plan.
By Christopher Kolomitz
Rockslide Tragedy
Dwayne, Dawna and Kiowa-Rain Johnson, all of Buena Vista, plus two other relatives visiting from out of state, died in a rockslide Sept. 30 while they were hiking at Agnes Vaille Falls. Gracie Johnson, 13, was seriously injured after being trapped in the rubble. The deaths were a big blow to the community, Dwayne was an electrician, landscaper and football coach, Dawna was a popular waitress in town and Kiowa-Rain was a senior at the high school.
More than $50,000 has been raised for the Johnson Family Fund and an additional $10,000 was raised for a scholarship by Gracie’s fellow middle school students, reports The Chaffee County Times. The popular hike to the falls has been closed by the U.S. Forest Service and no timetable has been set for its re-opening.
Walter, Thorpe Win Triple Crown
The triple crown in burro racing was won by both Hal Walter of Westcliffe and Karen Thorpe of Salida in a first-ever sharing of the elusive crown.
Walter won his seventh World Championship and, at age 53, is the oldest person to have won the event in its 65-year history. Walter won his races with the help of the burro Full Tilt Boogie, and Thorpe gained her crown with the assistance of her burro, Kokomo. Please see Hal’s column this month.
Neither Rain Nor Snow …
Salida’s mail processing center will close on June 1. The U.S. Postal Service announced the closure on May 17 as part of a two-phase plan to consolidate 461 mail processing centers nationwide.
Most out-of-town subscribers to Colorado Central Magazine will not see a difference in delivery times, but residents of Salida and Buena Vista may see a one- day delay as mail will now be shipped to Denver and back for sorting before delivery.
By Christopher Kolomitz
600 Jurors Called for Gunnison Murder Trial
First degree murder charges have been dropped against Frederic Mueller, the Texas man who was accused of killing his wife in Lake City back in 2008. A Gunnison trial earlier this winter resulted in a hung jury. However, Mueller still faces another trial on second degree murder charges in Gunnison starting May 20. More than 600 potential jurors have been summoned, reports the Gunnison Country Times.
By Patty LaTaille
Severe Drought
SLV residents experienced the second worst drought year on record for Colorado since 1895. 2012 was right up there with recorded extremely dry years at the height of the Dust Bowl.
The U.S. Drought Monitor currently shows all of Colorado under dry conditions, with the eastern plains under extreme or exceptional drought conditions. Only Mineral county differs from all the rest of the San Luis Valley counties, experiencing severe drought, but not extreme or exceptional.
Uranium Mine on the Horizon?
Western Fremont County might become the site of multiple uranium mines if the price reaches a profitable threshold, according to The Mountain Mail.
Black Range Minerals Colorado owns the mineral rights to 13,500 acres on the Hansen site, which contains one of the largest deposits of triuranium octoxide ore, approximately 90 million pounds. The 13,500-acre site is located northeast of Cotopaxi, along Tallahassee Creek. Officials with Black Range have dubbed the site the Taylor Ranch Uranium Project.
Worldwide demand for uranium is on the increase and if prices reach $70 a pound Black Range hopes to begin borehole mining. Prices are currently $45 a pound. Permitting for the operation through multiple U.S., state and local agencies, could take up to three years.
Region Spared Flooding
Despite the ravaging floods in Colorado’s Front Range foothills, the central Colorado region was spared the devastation but did receive large amounts of precipitation.
As of Sept. 26, Salida received three inches of rain for the month, compared to an average of 0.89 inches. In Gunnison, 2.41 inches had fallen as of Sept. 26, compared to a two-decade average of 1.3 inches.
Voters Kind to Kids
Several area school districts hit the jackpot this November when voters passed ballot measures supporting school replacements and improvements.
In Salida, the 3A bond passed, allowing the school district to qualify for a B.E.S.T. (Building Excellent Schools Today) grant to replace the Longfellow Elementary School.
Voters in Buena Vista passed ballot measure 3C which will replace a wing of the Avery Parsons Elementary School by the summer of 2014. They also passed a mill levy to help with book purchases and technology upgrades.
Wildfire in Custer County Destroys Homes
WETMORE – A forest fire in Custer County has burned nearly 2,100 acres near Wetmore and was at 65% containment as of press time. Hundreds of nearby residents were forced to flee their homes, of which 14 were destroyed in the Greenwood area.
Among those who sustained the loss of their homes was Custer County deputy Mike Halpin, who discovered his own home in flames while going door to door to alert residents, according to the Wet Mountain Tribune.
An estimated 240 firefighters and support personnel are working the fire. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
Ballot ID Simmers, Boils Over
In Chaffee County, the issue of ballot secrecy simmered in the spring and early summer and then finally exploded in mid-August. A Buena Vista man said he cracked the code to identify ballots cast by specific voters in the June primary. County officials had long denied ballots could be traced by barcode, and refused to comply with a subpoena to provide records used to print ballots and record them. Upon learning the barcode cracking news, Secretary of State officials issued an emergency ruling preventing counties from printing ballots with unique numbers and barcodes that could be used to link voters to their ballot. Watermarks may be used instead. This all goes back to an election activist group called Citizen Center and their belief that by using barcodes, six counties have not protected voter secrecy. The group filed a suit in U.S. District Court, which is working its way through the system, although a settlement could be in the works.
Wildfire Season Underway
Severe drought conditions, high temperatures and low humidity are a portent of what may shape up to be a dangerous year for forest fires in the West. In Central Colorado the Springer Fire, 3.5 miles southwest of Lake George in Park County, burned more than 1,145 acres forcing the evacuation of several residents. It began on June 17 and investigators believe it may have been started by recreational shooters. Air tankers fighting the fire were grounded for about 90 minutes due to reports of a meteor shower.
By Christopher Kolomitz
Molly on the Move
LEADVILLE – Climax Mine shipped its first bag of molybdenum concentrate on May 10 following a restart of the legendary mine atop Fremont Pass in Lake County. It was the first “moly” to be shipped from the mine in 17 years, the Leadville Herald Democrat reported. The mine first opened in 1916 and was a major economic stimulus to the region for decades before finally shutting completely down in 1995. Restart of the mine began in 2010 and has totaled about $700 million with projections that 20 million pounds of moly will be produced by 2013. About 300 people work at the mine which is owned by Freeport-McMoRan. In early May the company foundation awarded more than $550,000 to non profit organizations in Lake, Chaffee and Summit counties.
Western May Seek University Designation
GUNNISON – Administrators at Western State College (WSC) in Gunnison are considering changing the title of the school to ‘university.’
The idea was discussed with WSC faculty and staff in late September. College president Jay Helman cited the establishment of a graduate program, capital improvement projects at the college in recent years, and success in private fundraising as several indicators towards the new title, according to the Gunnison Country Times.
Trio Caught after Camping Out
WESTCLIFFE – Three siblings from Florida who were subjects of a national manhunt were apprehended after a high-speed chase on I-25 near Colorado City but not before spending a final night of freedom camping at the St. Charles trailhead in the San Isabel National Forest.
Ryan, Dylan and Lee Grace Dougherty had been on the lam since Aug. 2 after being accused of an armed bank robbery in Georgia and the attempted murder of a Florida police officer.
The trio had been spotted purchasing camping gear in Colorado Springs and attempting to buy ammunition at the Cañon City Walmart. A tip led authorities to the campground but they had already decamped. Soon after they were spotted on the interstate where a high-speed chase ensued and the fugitives crashed their car and were apprehended. There are currently 76 charges against the trio pending in Colorado.
Over the River EIS Scheduled for May
CANON CITY – The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has indicated that the environmental impact statement for the proposed Christo and Jeanne-Claude art project, “Over the River,” will most likely be released in May. The EIS is required for any project that “significantly affecting the quality of the human environment,” by the National Environmental Policy Act.
Expanded Motorized Routes Challenged
DENVER – Five environmental group are suing the U.S. Forest Service alleging that by approving expanded motor vehicle routes in the forest, it violated several federal laws.
The group would like to remove 500 miles of expanded motor vehicle routes in the Pike and San Isabel National Forests.
The expanded routes are being challenged as “unauthorized and unanalyzed” by the Center for Native Ecosystems of Denver, the Wildlands CPR of Montana, the Wilderness Society, the Quiet Use Coalition and the Great Old Broads for Wilderness, according to a Mountain Mail article.
According to the lawsuit, the expansion allows for “motor vehicle travel on approximately 500 miles of routes that have never been designated” in previous travel management plans. The groups are seeking an injunction to halt the forest service from initiating the expansion on routes that have not been analyzed under the Environmental Policy Act.
A courtroom proceeding and conference on the lawsuit are scheduled for May 4.
Student Bottle Bill Defeated
DENVER – Students at the Crest Academy in Salida wanted to do something about the amount of beverage containers that end up on roadsides and in landfills. They decided to approach State Rep. Dan Pabon (D-Denver) and Sen. Gail Schwartz (D-Snowmass Village) about introducing a state bill requiring a $.05 deposit on all glass and plastic bottles in the state.
Noted Gunnison Sportsman Passes Away
GUNNISON- A former Western State College professor who was also the first-ever recreation director for the City of Gunnison died January 10 after a brief illness.
Ken MacLennan was considered a pioneer of sport in the Gunnison Valley. As a student at WSC in the 1950s he was well known for his talents on the intercollegiate ski teams. In 1961 he became the city’s first recreation director after having trained with the U.S. Olympic biathalon team, according to the Gunnison Country Times.
MacLennan was also involved with the creation of Jorgenson Park and the Cranor Hill Ski Area. Additionally he helped Lake City locate a town ski hill and was a volunteer and organizer with the Gunnison Nordic Club.
He was also a coach at WSC for nearly 18 years and retired in 1996.
Some Steamy Issues
NATHROP – The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has decided to issue a lease for geothermal development near Mount Princeton to 3E Geothermal.
The bureau received 16 letters of protest from residents and landowners in the vicinity of the proposed lease whose concerns focused mainly on fears of water contamination.
Historic Theater Update
SALIDA – The saga of the old Salida Opera House continues. The structure, which was built in 1889, was deemed unsafe in 2007 and has been the focus of much debate and consternation. Known locally as The Unique Theater, many locals are concerned that the negligence of the current owner will lead to its inevitable demolition and are trying all methods to avoid that scenario.
Primary Election Results
Several contested election results occurred in the region in the August 10 primaries.
In Chaffee County, current Sheriff Tim Walker beat his opponent, John Spezze by 12 votes – not enough to justify an automatic recount. Afterwards Spezze questioned the integrity of the ballot boxes but decided not to pursue a recount. Walker will face Democrat Pete Palmer in November.
Leadville Women Murdered by Stalker
LEADVILLE -A Leadville woman was shot to death in front of her home by a man against whom she had a restraining order.
Yvonne Flores, 58, who worked as a teaching assistant in Leadville, was shot twice on July 7 by Anthony Medina, 58, who then took his own life, according to the Herald-Democrat.
Helicopter Stranded on Mountain
A Colorado Army National Guard helicopter that was diverted from a rescue effort June 15 on Mt. Shavano to another on Little Bear Peak in the Sangre De Cristo Range, made a precautionary landing after striking the mountain and will have to be removed in pieces, according to an AP story.
The CH-47 Chinook was originally dispatched from Ft. Carson to help rescue a 40-year-old Denver man who was suffering from altitude sickness on the ridge between Mt. Shavano and Mt. Tabeguache in Chaffee County. It was then diverted to assist an 18-year-old from Highlands Ranch who suffered a fatal fall from a rock face while attempting to climb Little Bear Peak.
Lawsuits Galore in Chaffee County
BUENA VISTA – Former Buena Vista mayor and current candidate for Chaffee County Clerk Cara Russell has filed a lawsuit against the B.V. town government and its board of trustees over an attempt to remove her from office in November 2008.
A notice of removal was prepared against Russell by the trustees after a column appeared in the Chaffee County Times in which she allegedly wrote unfavorably about them and about an upcoming vote on the annexation of the Villages at Cottonwood Meadows subdivision.
Leadville Deputy Charged After Jailing Fire Captain
LEADVILLE -A Leadville sheriff’s deputy was charged with three crimes stemming from his earlier arrest of a Leadville fire captain who had been treating a victim of an emergency call.
On March 27 Fire Capt. Dan Dailey responded to an emergency call at the sheriff’s office in regard to a woman there with a neck injury. Deputies Steven James and Arin Hart ordered him and another firefighter to leave and when Dailey refused, he was handcuffed and thrown in jail.
WSC Students Die in House Fire
GUNNISON – Two Western State College students perished in a house fire that occurred Jan. 30 in the 100 block of North Colorado Street in Gunnison.
Lucille Causley, 18, and Adam Lockard, 21, died in the blaze which was believed to have started in an unenclosed porch attached to the home that tenants of the home reportedly used for smoking.
Autopsies revealed the victims died from smoke inhalation. The college immediately set up a walk-in counseling center for those impacted by the fire.
New VA Tele-Clinic Opens in Salida
SALIDA – The Veteran’s Administration (VA) has opened a new clinic in Salida, which will allow veterans to use special videoconferencing equipment to communicate with doctors at a VA outpatient clinic in Pueblo. There will also be medical personnel on hand to assist veterans at the clinic.
The clinic, one of 10 tele-health clinics the VA plans to open in Colorado, is located the Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center campus. Clinic hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. It can be reached at 719-539-8666.
Ski Area Expansion Nixed
CRESTED BUTTE – Saying the project isn’t in the interest of the public, a local forest supervisor on Nov. 5 told Crested Butte Mountain Resort officials the agency will not enter an environmental review of proposed expansion to Snodgrass Mountain. The decision just about ends any possible expansion which has created a big rift among locals.
(and other items of interest)
Tanner Found Guilty
SALIDA – Andrew Tanner, 27 of Salida, was found guilty on nine charges including first degree murder and kidnapping Salida resident James Durgan Sept. 3 in 11th Judicial District Court in Cañon City.
The verdict came after 15 hours of deliberation by a seven man, five woman jury.
(and other items of interest)
Nestlé Permit Granted
SALIDA – Despite overwhelming public opposition, the Nestlé Corporation of Vevey, Switzerland was given unanimous consent on August 26 by the Chaffee County Commissioners for its application to remove water from a private spring adjacent to the Arkansas River and truck it to Denver to be bottled and sold.
Chaffee County attorney requests special prosecutor to investigate 2004 death
SALIDA – A special prosecutor was requested by Chaffee County Attorney Jennifer Davis after 11th Judicial District Attorney Thom LeDoux refused to file charges against two men in connection with the 2004 death of a Highlands Ranch woman at Chalk Creek near Nathrop.
Uranium processing company is at it again
CANON CITY – The Cotter Corporation in Cañon City wants to reopen their troubled plant for the chemical leaching and crushing of 500,000 tons of uranium per year for 25 years beginning in 2014.
The plant, which sits above the Arkansas River on the south side of Cañon City, has been operating on a “stand-down basis” allowing Cotter to retain their operating license despite a 25-year old Environmental Protection Agency ruling ordering the plant to do a Superfund cleanup. That cleanup has been stalled and has had repeated violations over the years.
Brief by Martha Quillen
Regional News – July 2008 – Colorado Central Magazine
River Runs High, Wide and Muddy
Worries about high water ran almost as high as the Arkansas before Salida’s FIBArk festival, which happened June 12 through 15. But the four-day boating event went swimmingly, especially in attendance.
Brief by Martha Quillen
Regional News – March 2008 – Colorado Central Magazine
Weather, Weather and More Weather
Weather has been the biggest headliner this season. Snow has fallen in cumbersome amounts, resulting in huge snowpacks. As of February 13, the Arkansas basin snowpack was 168% of average, the upper Rio Grande, 169% of average; and the Gunnison, 147% of average (and on February 14th, it started snowing again). Heavy snowpacks have heightened avalanche dangers and clogged backcountry roads, inspiring travelers’ advisories: don’t stop, don’t stand, beware of treacherous trails, and double check conditions before x-country skiing or snowmobiling.
Brief by Martha Quillen
Regional News – November 2007 – Colorado Central Magazine
What’s It All About?
The Gunnison Country Times ran a front page story exploring why so many commercial properties are for sale there.
The newspaper reported that eight lodging businesses were for sale in Gunnison, as were a notable number of downtown shops and restaurants including “The Bean, Blue Addiction, The Gunnison Brewery, and The Corner Cupboard.”
Brief by Martha Quillen
Regional News – February 2007 – Colorado Central Magazine
Online Schools Not in Line?
On December 12, a front-page Denver Post article reported that a state audit had found Colorado’s online schools wanting.
Brief by Martha Quillen
Regional News – December 2006 – Colorado Central Magazine
Son Accidentally Kills Father
A hunting accident in Gunnison County in late October caused the death of Joseph DiBiasa Jr., 66, of Rankonkoma, New York. Witnesses say his son, Joseph Michael DiBiasa, 41, was carrying his rifle in a sling, when the sling broke.
Brief by Ed Quillen
Regional News – November 2006 – Colorado Central Magazine
School security
School security became a major issue in Central Colorado, and across the United States, after 16-year-old Emily Keyes was shot to death in a classroom on Sept. 27 at Platte Canyon High School along U.S. 285 near Bailey.
Brief by Ed Quillen
Regional News – September 2006 – Colorado Central Magazine
Water from the sky
It’s been raining a lot this summer. The traditional explanation is that the rain comes just after ranchers have cut their hay and have it spread out to dry before baling and stacking it.
To scientists, the summer rains are from the North American Monsoon (also called the Southwest U.S., Mexican or Arizona Monsoon). An area of high atmospheric pressure develops over the Four Corners, changing the wind flow so that moisture arrives from the tropical Pacific Ocean and the Gulfs of Mexico and California. It typically begins in early July in southern Arizona and moves north, with drier weather returning in September.
Brief by Martha Quillen
Regional News – August 2006 – Colorado Central Magazine
Sporting Events Marred By Tragedy
Diane Woolwine, a 65-year-old participant in the annual Ride the Rockies bicycle tour, died in Salida on June 22. According to the police account reported in the Mountain Mail, Woolwine and five other cyclists had stopped on the shoulder of U.S. 50 for the traffic light in front of Wal-Mart. But when the light turned green, Woolwine veered left into the traffic lane, and struck the side of a traveling motorhome; whereupon she went down and under the wheels of the vehicle.
