231 N. Silver St. Ste 2,
Lake City, CO 81235

County Board Poised for Interim Hire of Delta Paramedic

Hinsdale County Commissioners held a Special Workshop on Tuesday, April 21 to discuss the possibility of contracting with Reuben Farnsworth of Rockstar Education and Consulting to assist Hinsdale County EMS through a transition period following the resignation of Chief Paramedic Brad Jones.Hinsdale Commissioners Kristie Borchers and Robert Hurd attended the meeting in person, Commissioner Greg Levine attending the workshop remotely via Zoom.EMS Director Katherine Heidt was also present in the meeting room, while EMS Medical Director Dr. Avery MacKenzie and Rueben Farnsworth attended virtually. Following introductions, Farnsworth recited an impressive list of qualifications and accomplishments, most relevant to the discussion being his decades of experience working on the Western Slope as a Paramedic and his experience educating Basic and Advanced EMTs.MacKenzie stated she has worked with Farnsworth for many years and seemed pleased the Commissioners were contemplating bringing him in to support the Hinsdale EMS system.Responding to comments and questions from the Board, Farnsworth noted he had already consulted with Heidt about shared priorities, with the number one priority being to make sure Hinsdale County has good solid coverage over the upcoming summer season.He went on to talk about ideas to get the current EMT students on the verge of

Read More »

Regular Meetings, Special Sessions Top Busy April for County Board

by Jodi Linsey Hinsdale County Commissioners were kept busy with their regular meetings and special meetings in April, with their regularly scheduled workshops and meetings on April 1 and April 15, and two additional special meetings pertaining to Hinsdale County EMS on April 8 and 14.Since the February 26 dismissal of Amanda Hartman there have been numerous communications from then Chief Paramedic Brad Jones and EMS Director Katherine Heidt to the Commissioners, which resulted in a tense meeting with Heidt on April 8. Jones resignation on April 9, and a contentious special meeting on April 14 with the Commissioners, Director Heidt, Medical Director Avery MacKenzie, and a large audience on Zoom and in person.The first special meeting occurred on April 8, dealing with three updates to Heidt’s job description and duties. Following a reminder from Commissioner Borchers that all employees of Hinsdale County were subject to periodic updates to their job descriptions, Heidt was asked to comment on the revisions regarding her duties.Her only response was to refer them to previously submitted remarks.The other special meeting was held following the resignation of Jones, and the lone agenda item was to discuss Hinsdale County EMS.Commissioners invited Heidt and Medical Director MacKenzie

Read More »

Editor's Pick

Letter to the Editor,

Since its launch in January 2024, Senior Connections has quickly become a vital part of our community. The program is led by Brooke Jones, Public Health Senior Coordinator, and is supported largely by a dedicated group of volunteers.In just over a year, Senior Connections has achieved several meaningful milestones:Bi-monthly lunches

Read More »

Dear Grant,

With the couple of letters published in the SILVER WORLD and the talk that’s been around town about the state of Hinsdale County Emergency Medical Service (HC EMS) leadership, I cannot remain silent any longer.Nearly three years ago, I was given the opportunity to become an ambulance driver for EMS.

Read More »

Dear Community,

As we celebrate National Volunteer Awareness Week, we pause to recognize the extraordinary individuals whose generosity, compassion, and dedication strengthen our community every single day. Volunteers are the heartbeat of service—quietly giving their time, energy, and talents to make life better for others. Their impact is felt in our schools,

Read More »

Dear SILVER WORLD and Hinsdale County family,

I have been overwhelmed with support and love from this community since news of my termination from Hinsdale EMS became public. I have heard from so many past patients and supportive community members. Your kindness has carried me through a difficult time. While I understand that the county leadership will

Read More »

Editor:

Over the winter months as things slowed down and I took on more responsibilities within the Sheriff’s Office, I observed that my professional, ethical, and legal based values did not align with those of the current Sheriff.As a result, I tendered my resignation from my post as a Hinsdale County

Read More »

Dear Grant,

To Mrs. Laura Neely, GT Foundation: it was very hard for me to deal with my early diagnosis, but with all the prayers and support of Gunnison Tough Enough to Wear Pink, it made it easier for me to deal with the screening costs.For many of my friends, thank you

Read More »

COMMUNITY EVENTS AND INFORMATION

The Lake City SILVER WORLD (U.S.P.S. No. 436-630)
Published weekly on Fridays
$50 a year mailed in Hinsdale & Gunnison Counties,
$50 online for computer, Ipad, Kindle, tablet, smart phone,
$60 a year elsewhere U.S. Silver World Publishing Co.,
P.O. Box 100, Lake City, Colo. 81235 (970) 944-2515
Second Class Postage paid at Lake City, Colorado
e-mail address: [email protected] FAX: 970-944-7009
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to SILVER WORLD
P.O. BOX 100, LAKE CITY, COLO. 81235
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER FOR THE TOWN OF LAKE CITY
AND HINSDALE COUNTY, COLORADO
Editor & Publisher Grant E. Houston
Production Coordinator Jennifer Rightsell
Bookkeeper – Cindy Young

Signed articles and letters are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the editor. Letters to the editor should be no longer than 800 words and will be edited at the editor’s discretion for length. Letters should be pertinent to community issues.

Verified by MonsterInsights