At his death in January, 1874, pioneer Pueblo, Colorado, attorney, journalist, and past territorial lieutenant governor George Aaron Hinsdale, 1), had no intimation his memory would be revived in 2024 as Hinsdale County celebrated its sesquicentennial marking 150 years since its creation with neighboring LaPlata and Rio Grande Counties. As part of the ongoing celebration, Assessor Sherri Boyce and her deputy, Sarah Tubbs, 2), presided over refreshments in their courthouse office on August 1.
In addition to the county’s formation, 2024 was also notable as 150th anniversary of Town Founder Enos Hotchkiss building Lake City’s first cabin, August 16, 1874, and — less savory — Alferd Packer consuming fellow prospectors in late winter/early spring 1874.
On an upcoming note, notable anniversaries continue in 1875 with 150 since creation of Town of Lake City’s predecessor, the Lake City Town Company, and — on a journalistic note — 150 years since first issue of the original SILVER WORLD Newspaper, June 19, 1875.
Also notable in 2025 is 50th anniversary of Phillip Virden’s Mountaineer Movie Theatre.
Superlatives in Lake City Recreation Department’s February 3 Ice Climb were repeat wife-and-husband winning team from Golden, Colorado, Kristin Felix, 3), with rapid vertical ice ascent two minutes, 16.39 seconds in the Top Rope competition, and her husband, Todd Felix, 4), who was once again first among men in Lead Rope, inspiring 54.82-second ascent. Denver ice climber Jaren Summer, 5), was among the women contenders in this year’s event (photo by J.T. Stratton). Local climbers in the annual ice event were Sam Fyler and J.T. Stratton.
Supervised by Rec. Dept, Leader Ben Hake, climbable ice on Henson Creek continues to expand, Hake with assistants including Danny File and Christian Hartman dousing an added section of challenging vertical cliff across from the Devil’s Kitchen cave with 1,350 additional feet of water pipe this fall for added ice climb challenge.
Local girl Buffy Hurd Witt, 6), achieved notable success and was responsible for significant advances during her four-years as Hinsdale Emergency Medical Service Director starting December, 2019, and continuing through December, 2023, when she announced her intent to resign. Witt received a state-wide honor in December 2023, with Best EMS Director Award.
Witt’s replacement as EMS Director effective March 25 was eight-year Lake City resident Katherine Heidt, 7) a familiar face among local emergency medical responders who was accredited as EMT in 2020 and worked closely with Witt as EMS Coordinator, Heidt was also certified as Wilderness EMT in 2023.
Simultaneous with Heidt’s appointment as EMS Director, Amanda Hartman and Dan Humphreys were named EMS Captains charged with ambulance staffing, ensuring ambulance response is sufficiently staffed with responders on a 24/7, year-round basis, and overseeing ambulance supply restocking and vehicle maintenance. Also continuing as an immense asset to Hinsdale EMS was the return of Brad Jones on a part-time basis as Chief Paramedic.
Seth Withrow once again headed up Hinsdale Search & Rescue’s February 19 Ice Fishing Derby at Lake San Cristobal, 8), this year’s lunkers plucked from beneath the ice 22-1/8” lake trout by John Warren, first place, second and third place honors respectively Nicole Schulties, 19-7/8”, and Sam Pankratz, 19-1/2”.
Seven Lake City area students commenced an intense five-month Emergency Medical Technician class, 9), on January 9, four of the students — Kelly Elkins, Sarah DeCristino, Grant Loper, and Danny Oge’ — completed certification for an awards ceremony which was held on June 13.
Lifesaver Awards signifying teamwork, professionalism, and excellence of care were bestowed by Hinsdale Commissioners to local emergency responders in March, recipients posed with Ann McCord, 10), including Amanda Hartman, Buffy Witt, Richard Williams, Jordan Kaminski, Kelly Elkins, Katherine Heidt, Melody Crump, and Rachel Moore.
11), Greg Olson received his oath of office as newest board member of Lake Fork Health Services District from board chairman Lynn McNitt on February 16, joins fellow board members McNitt and Katie Elkins, together with Jordan Kaminski and Hector Gomez, the latter two resigning near year’s end creating two vacancies on the health board.
Dr. Ann Treisman, 12), was named Medical Director at Lake City Area Medical Center on January 1, Treisman taking the place of Gunnison physician Dr. Bill Gattis who had served in that capacity — and who was credited as a “stabilizing force” during a significant period of change — since 2020.
Dr. Treisman’s tenure at Lake City Area Medical Center dates back to summer, 2014, when she worked at the center when she was a medical student. She interned at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Denver, and was awarded her Doctorate of Medicine Degree from University of Colorado School of Medicine in 2017.
Lake City’s Fourteeners middle school girls’ basketball team enjoyed a tremendous season, ending play after advancing to Consolation League Tournament in Alamosa, Colorado, in February where teammates, 13), Carson Shepherd, Aven Humphreys, Morgan Hardy, Brylee Elkins, Cora Kaminski, Nadya Kaminski, and Blake Tubbs walloped their Ortega Middle School counterparts in a down-to-the-wire nailbiter.
In addition to a fine season by Lake City middle school girls, also ending successful seasons in February, 2024, were Fourteeners’ middle school boys’ team coached by Doug Eby and Kelly Elkins, 14), Brantley Votruba, Rhys Phillimore, Quan Lemon, Henry Shepherd, Dax Elkins, Daniel Hays, Elliott Hartman, and Joseph Tubbs; older high school basketball team, Mace Elkins, Dean Brown, Silas Hartman, Levi Hartman, Micah Humphreys, and Peter Loper, 15), and Fourteeners’ high school girls, Rowan McNeese, Lucy Hays, Kadance Simmons, Mackenzie Phillimore, Priya Hartman, Eva Wingard, Ingrid Piltinsgrud, and coach Sarah Eby, 16).
HUB networking office sponsored by DIRT and Visionary Broadband upstairs in the bank building was enlivened in January with artwork by Lake City school alum Sophie Borchers and Nick Arbogast, 17).
Hinsdale Ski Team coached by Henry Woods had a successful showing against counterpart downhill skiers from Pagosa Springs and Silverton, Colorado, during the annual Matt Milski Memorial Ski Race at Lake City Ski Hill on March 2, superlatives with hands raised in victory, 18), first and second place finishers Henry Shepherd, completing the slalom 35.21 seconds, and Elijah Wuest, 37.21 seconds; competing for Lake City on the hometown team and dressed for the occasion in short, was Peter Loper, 19). 4Cutoff, D), led in alternating single-lane formation by pilot cars.
In addition to its ongoing efforts raising in excess of $400,000 for restoration of historic narrow gauge passenger and freight Car 211, Hinsdale County Museum opened an expansive new exhibit highlighting the Ute Indians and the 1873 Brunot Treaty which transferred Indian land ownership to the U.S. Government. As part of that display, a tepee, E), was erected by volunteers on museum grounds.
Hinsdale County again partnered with Colorado Parks & Wildlife and National Park Service with a manned monitoring station, F), at Lake San Cristobal’s Peninsula Park for watercraft inspection and — if necessary — decontamination to stop the inadvertant spread of invasive water-borne species such as the proliferating Zebra and Quagga Mussels.
The partners held public workshops in November to explain greater lake security, including installation of a boat ramp gate at the lake to prevent unauthorized launching when the inspection station is closed, and placing boulders on county property on the east side of the lake to preclude watercraft entering the lake.
Graduation caps were airborne at Lake City Community School, G), on June 1 as four Lake City graduates — Silas Hartman, Kadance Simmons, Shaye Stephens, and Ethan Witt — received their diplomas. Lake City graduates posed with school staff and school board directors, H); in addition to the four Lake City high school grads in 2024, two Hinsdale County students from the South End of the county — Wyatt Hoover and Jaden Reed — also graduated from Pagosa Springs High School.
I), Commissioner Greg Levine presented an appreciation bouquet to Bobbi Vickers McDonald in June in recognition of McDonald’s unprecedented four-decade tenure as Office Supervisor at Hinsdale County Sheriff’s Office. McDonald was first hired by then-Sheriff Burton Smith on June 4, 1981, and has served in her managerial post under seven different county sheriffs.
J), Well-deserved accolades at DIRT and Lake City Chamber’s Appreciation Awards on June 11 included a Lifetime Achievement Award to multi-decade Town Trustee and ski hill advocate Henry Woods and Chamber Executive Director Kate Hopson posed with 2023 Citizen of the Year, the kind-hearted veterinarian Linda Downs. Other award recipients were Business of the Year, the General Store’s Danny and Tina Oge’, 84-year-old Pioneer Jubilee Women’s Club as Organization of the Year, Volunteer of the Year to Rich Landry, and Lake City Arts’ Lifetime Legacy Award to Peggy Vickers Bales. Volunteer of the Year Awards went to Jesse Kendall, Chris Denney, Caron Jones, Diane Bruce, Carrie Pitt, Katie Elkins, and Tom Arnold.
With her husband, Max, an avid and cheering spectator, Fruita, Colorado, ultra runner Katherine Robinson , K), carted her infant daughter, Billie, across the finish line in the 28th annual San Juan Solstice 50-mile mountain run on June 22 (photo Duane Keprta). Robinson’s first place women’s finish time was 10 hours, 26.10 minutes. Second and third place honors among women runners went to Caitlin Jones, Durango, Colorado, and Isabella Poulos.
Solstice founder Chip Lee extended congratulations to local runner Silas Hartman, L), who, age 18, was the youngest runner in this year’s Solstice, finish time 15 hours, 24.49 minutes. M), first place male finisher in the Solstice was Jimmy Elam, Midway, Utah, who strolled across the town park 50-mile finish line with finish time just 8 hours, 32.29 minutes (photo Duane Keprta); second and third place men, Colorado Springs runners Carlos Ruibal and David Metzger.
N), Mark Wing of the Ute Mountain Utes shared insights into the indigenous tribe, including its reverence for nature and wildlife, during Solstice opening ceremonies on June 21, race organizer Jerry Gray in background.
Outgoing Hinsdale County Sheriff Chris Kambish, O), saluted the audience with a farewell wave during a Town Park appreciation reception on June 9. In a letter to Hinsdale Commissioners May 31, Kambish stated he intended to resign effective July 12; his multi-year tenure with Hinsdale County Sheriff’s Dept. began 2014-2018 when he served as Deputy under Sheriff Ron Bruce; following an intermission when he worked law enforcement in Mesa County, Colorado. Kambish returned to the local law enforcement agency as Undersheriff under Sheriff Justin Casey and became Sheriff after Casey resigned in January, 2020.
Pictured left to right with the departing Sheriff are his Undersheriff, Jordan Kaminski, who resigned in June, 2024, and later waged an unsuccessful campaign for sheriff in the fall election; Deputy Sarah Poet; Deputy Denim Starnes who was elected Hinsdale Sheriff in November; Brennan Pantleo who was Hinsdale County Deputy from July 2020 until his resignation May 31 this year; and Deputy Mark Zeckser, who was off-duty and at home when he unexpectedly died in early December, 2024.
Hinsdale County had close connection with the Grand Junction-based Colorado West Slope advocate organization Club 20 since Perk Vickers was among its founders in 1952. Past Hinsdale County Commissioner Cindy Dozier served as Club 20 Chairperson 2018-2020 and, starting in April this year yet another Hinsdale County resident, local boy Michael Murphy, P) will serve as Club 20 Chair 2024-2026. Murphy is shown at a Club 20 meeting in January with the organization’s outgoing chair, Brad McCloud.
Modern technology was evident in June with a Colorado State University three-dimension camera, Q), manned by Macy Turner, R), documenting both interior and exterior multi-dimensions of Lake City’s four historic churches — Episcopal, Presbyterian, Catholic, and Baptist — together with Courthouse, Armory, Museum, and portions Lake City Arts’ Hough Block.
Nocturnal spectators were spellbound at Lake Fork Valley Conservancy’s annual celebration of the nighttime constellations, StarFest, on the summit of Slumgullion Pass. Phillip Virden used a green lazar to pinpoint specific constellations, S), while the spectacular night sky, T), drew ooohs and ahhhs from comfortably reclined spectators on blankets (photos Michael Underwood).
Changing of the generational guard was evident with the Gubernatorial appointment of former Ouray County Judge C. Cory Jackson, U), to take the place of retiring 7th Judical District Chief Judge J. Stephen Patrick, V). Judge Patrick, who retired effective July 1, began as 7th Judicial District Court Judge in 1993 and presided at a number of sensational Hinsdale County court cases, including the “Bug-at-Boo’s Saloon” charges against then-Sheriff Frank Wilcox in 1994, and the first trial for Leslie Mueller’s murder in 2012. especially for weighty and large-size vehicles and transports continuing on both the Dillon Pinnacles and Sapinero Bridges, piloted, one-way traffic continued at specific day and nighttime times on CR 26 across Sapinero Mesa.
Non-stop day and nighttime work termed “herculean” by Colorado Dept. of Transportation contractor Kiewitt Construction alleviated traffic delays starting in late summer and into the late fall; traffic across the Blue Mesa middle bridge returned to near-normal both day and night in mid-October, and reinforcement work on the Sapinero Bridge finished in mid-November.
Ron Bruce posed with past County Sheriff Chris Kambish, 2), as Bruce received his oath of office as new commissioner-appointed Hinsdale County Sheriff from Allison Athey on July 12. Bruce, who served as county sheriff 12 years up until retirement in December, 2018, will now serve as interim sheriff — in the process boosting staff salaries and investing in upgraded patrol vehicles — until his successor is sworn into office on January 14, 2025. With his return to office, Sheriff Bruce has the rare distinction of being both the county’s 35th and 38th county sheriffs.
Accompanied by Rosie Whitlock and Alaska-departing Celeste Scott, Ginny Burroughs, 3), once again directed Lake City Community Choir at its August 17 presentation “Songs of Salvation” at Community Presbyterian Church. The presentation so well received that Burroughs and choir members also subsequently sang at other Lake City churches.
4), Commissioners Borchers, Levine, and Hurd joined Forest Service Supervisor Dayle Funka on a tour of revamped campsites and newly rock-armored reservoirs at Deer Lakes on the upper Cebolla in August. Funded in part with in-kind Forest Service labor and $400,000 from Colorado Parks & Wildlife, work by F.S. contractor Mike Clarke & Sons, Grand Junction, remedied a bad wash out which occurred from the uppermost lake June 27, 2021. Work this summer resulted in a rock-lined spillway from the uppermost lake incrementally taking water to the three lower fishing lakes.
Deer Lakes work also included reinforcing the earthen dams on three of the lakes and construction of an ADA fishing pier.
Equally of interest to Hinsdale Commissioners is next summer’s scheduled reopening of the Forest Service’s Deer Lakes Campground, F.S. Civil Engineer Chad Wellman, 5), shown with Levine at one of the campground’s new 16×16’ compacted tent pads. Old Deer Lakes Campground featured a total of 11 campsites and this has now been increased to 13 campsites for both tent and RV campers with new picnic tables and metal “bear boxes” for safe food storage.
Deer Lakes campground improvements — including newly resurfaced and widened access road, parking area, and three double-vault toilets — was funded in part with a $1-million grant to the F.S. through Great America Outdoors.
Senior Citizens in Hinsdale County received an uplifting boost starting in January with a succession of meetings, attendees including Cheryl Tate and Mary Nettleton with fido Hamlet, 6), together with Lonnie Sweet, Commissioner Greg Levine, and Silver Thread Public Health’s Tara Hardy, with the goal of creating a vibrant senior center in the Armory, together with related senior services.
Planning lead to a well-attended kick off meeting for the new organization, Senior Connections, on June 26, followed by ice cream social, and opening of Senior Connections’ Center in the town’s Armory Annex on August 2.
The center provides a comfortable gathering space for county residents over age 60 and makes use of the adjoining kitchen area. Gourmet chef Anne Marshall prepared the first seniors’ luncheon on September 13, serving up a total of 87 grilled chicken and spinach pasta meals, a portion of which were home-delivered. Senior Connections started 2025 with a no-charge smoked ham and bacon Happy New Year Brunch on January 3.
Christine Fletcher, 7), was buoyant July 6 as she was first to finish Lake Fork Valley Conservancy’s paddle board competition at Peninsula Park on Lake San Cristobal. Fletcher, who owns a home at the lake, said she entered the competition to advance public awareness on the impacts of sedimentation into San Cristobal from Slumgullion Creek.
In September local contractor Wally Hays made quick work dismantling the old metal shop building, 8), adjacent to Hinsdale County Courthouse on Henson Street. The Butler metal building with sheet metal panels was erected by Hinsdale County in 1954 and served as headquarters for the county’s road & bridge dept. from 1955 until the new shop headquarters was built north of town in 1993.
Clearing the county-lots north of the courthouse and extending to the northwest corner of Henson and 4th Street clears the way for the county’s planned construction of $4-million, 6,409-square foot operations center which includes offices for Hinsdale County Administration and Hinsdale County Sheriff’s Office.
Site plan for the new edifice, 9), by Durango-based Reynolds Ash & Assoc. illustrates the new building’s corner location in relation to the historic, 148-year-old county courthouse. Principal funders in the $4-million Operations Center Building include $2-million in Congressionally-Directed Spending sponsored by Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet, $1-million through Colorado Department of Local Affair’s Energy Impact, and $800,000 from Hinsdale County based on $250,000 from sale of the Wee Care property, $100,000 Capital Improvement Account, and $600,000 from All Hazards Program; added to the $4-million construction price tag is roughly $300,000 for electric wiring in the new building through Colorado Energy Office.
Predictable wild applause followed Lake City Stinger Band’s annual Reunion Concert, 10), which was held in the gymnasium at Lake City Community School on July 28. Local band musicians were joined by visiting musicians from throughout Colorado and far-flung states including Ohio for a high-energy performance directed by Western Colorado University’s Dr. Brett Keating.
Mountain bike athlete Brian Elander, 11), from Moab, Utah, was the first male finisher in Lake Fork Conservancy’s annual Alpine 50 bike race on August 24, the Utah racer completing the 50-mile loop up and over Cinnamon and Engineer Passes and back to Lake City with a remarkable time of just 3 hours, 34.11 minutes. Youngest and oldest bicycle contenders, both from Lake City, were 12-year-old Landon Rhodes (time 7 hours, 4.52 minutes), and 69-year old Dan File; others from Lake City finishing the Alpine 50 were Jaden McNeese, Lydia McNeese, brothers Silas and Levi Hartman, Bennett Levine, Greg Levine, Brant Cunningham, and Todd Schweitzer.
12), 29-year-old Grant Massey was hired in October as Lake City Town Clerk, Massey taking the place of Heather Kuellenberg who resigned June 14 after eight months in the municipal position.
The four-mile section of Hinsdale County Road 30 from Highway 149 up valley and up and around Lake San Cristobal to the lake’s inlet was traditionally a well-travelled dirt-surfaced thoroughfare which was first spot-paved as far as the lake outlet in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
With Colorado Dept. of Transportation funding in 1987, the road was paved as far as the lake’s inlet but deteriorated by the late teens and early 2020s with a proliferation of bone-jarring potholes.
The decision was made in 2022 to grind up the old oil-based asphalt and resurface the road with the resulting “black gravel” This compacted, gravel-based road surface was reworked again by Road Supervisor Don Menzies and his crew in 2023 in preparation for this past summer’s 1-1/2”-thick chip and seal surfacing, 13), which began in late August and covered the entire four miles of CR 30 to the lake inlet.
Funding for this past summer’s road resurfacing totaled approximately $1.1-million and included $900,000 from Colorado Dept. of Transportation for road surface and bike lanes, and the remainder of the cost from Hinsdale County. The result, according to Commissioner Hurd, is hopefully a “trouble-free road surface which will last many years.”
Sensitive to the new lake road surface, snow plowing this winter utilizes the county’s grader with special rubber-edged blade.
Seasonal resident Mike Harrington, a past Drill Sargeant with the U.S. Army, doubles during his time in Lake City as a Director of Hinsdale County Historical Society and knowledgeable tour guide on the museum’s lecture circuit. Harrington, 14), returns to his U.S. Army background with his appointment on June 19 as Hinsdale County Veterans’ Service Officer, taking the place of Erin Cavit, 15), who had served in that capacity for the past nine years.
Capacity Town Park crowds at Downtown Improvement & Revitalization Team’s Uncorked Wine & Music Fest September 20 were unphased by unusually soggy conditions, waterproof rain gear and umbrellas, 17) (photo Duane Keprta) almost as prevalent as Julie Reel’s custom-designed wine glasses. Crowds at the festival gyrated to a succession of top-rate musical groups appearing on stage, Antonio Mojica of the ever-popular Cash’d Out band, 16), Rally Round, Blue Canyon Boys, Ragged Mountain Bluegrass, Bruce Hays, Bill Hussey, Kris Bloomer, Hunny B’s Rapsody, and Peach Street Revival, shown with sequined singer Gonzales, 18).
Lake City Arts’ riveting entertainment at Mary Stigall Theater included “Radio Show” which was ably directed by Jodi Linsey over multiple nights in August, shown here with an amusing trio of stage readers, 19), comprising mustachioed Celeste Scott, Donny Rightsell, and Bill Goodwin; also top-notch on the Lake City Arts’ stage was a second-year revival of “Still Feelin’ Groovy”, directed by Celeste Scott, predictable highlights including a return of the swaying, harmonious ‘Elevations’, 20), Sue Beddingfield, Joan Huey, and Allison Wetzel, and Phillip Virden, 21), shimmering in gold lame, with his energized tribute to the late singer Tina Turner.
In a summer of amazing athletic events — ranging from paddle board to weight lifting, mountain biking, and long distance ultra runs, one of the most amazing was the annual August return of the 100-Mile High Five in which an initial field of 17 hardy ultra runners utilized head lamps in the night darkness as they scaled all five of the county’s 14,000’ peaks.
After a brisk early morning start on August 9, first across the Town Park finish line 44 hours and 15 minutes later was Fort Collins, Colorado runner Elijah Fleener, 22), pictured at right with second finisher Matthew VanCleave, from Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico, time 47 hours, 59 minutes.
23) An immense, multi-year financial undertaking by Town of Lake City started in October this year with the beginning of work on a much-needed expansion and renovation of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Harlan Meadow on the northeastern edge of Lake City.
The contract for construction of the project was awarded to Ridgway Valley Enterprises, out of Montrose, Colorado, and they completed as much work as possible this year before winter weather began to turn uncooperative in November, mainly preparing the site for when construction will begin in earnest, spring of 2025.
The WWTP renovation project is expected to cost the Town of Lake City more than 6 million dollars to complete, with funding coming from a variety of sources, including Town reserves, and loans and grants from the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority. Additionally, a small fraction of this cost is being dispersed through higher sewer rates for Town water and sewer customers; Town staff is also now taking into consideration the strength of wastewater and adjusting rates accordingly.
A highlight of Pioneer Jubilee Women’s Club’s summer fundraising season is the continually entertaining “A Toast to Mountains” chaired by Carrie Pitt and Sue Beddingfield on August 12. Highlights of the annual fundraiser included a drawing for numbered bottles of fine vino displayed on a towering centerpiece overseen by Karen Carter Shaw, 24), and 104 attendees dining on succulent hors d’oeuvres and sweets in Lake City Arts’ Anthony Gallery, 25).
Women’s Club President Pamela Weems Evans advises local journalists that 2025 is a notable year for Pioneer Jubilee as it celebrates the 85th anniversary of its founding. City Arts, Briggs’ replacement Genni Lynn Pearce.
C) Jodi Linsey received her oath as Lake City’s Newest Town Trustee, joining incumbents Jesse Kendall, Diane Bruce, Landon Whinnery, Henry Woods and Mayor Dave Roberts as the Town oversees a major wastewater treatment plant overhaul and continues its quest for affordable housing.
Two County Commissioners, the County Coroner, and Hinsdale County Sheriff were up for election in busy election year 2024.
D), An Unaffiliated Candidate with decade-long background as first Deputy and later Undersheriff with Hinsdale County Sheriff’s Dept., Denim Starnes received 343 votes county-wide, defeating his two opponents, former Hinsdale County Undersheriff Jordan Kaminski, a Republican, and Write-In candidate J.T. Stratton. Starnes, who will receive his oath of office January 14 as 39th Sheriff in the county’s 151-year history, first served as Hinsdale County Deputy under Sheriff Ron Bruce 2014 to 2019, then went to work in similar capacity for Gunnison County Sheriff’s Dept.,before returning as part-time deputy in March, 2023. He was named Hinsdale Undersheriff earlier this past summer.
With 479 affirmative votes, Lori Lawrence, E), ran unopposed and was handily elected to a two-year term as Hinsdale County Coroner. Lawrence, who is also Hinsdale County Treasurer, was first appointed County Coroner in November, 2022, taking the place of Jerry Gray and has now been elected to a two-year term; Lawrence’s deputies in the coroner’s office are Mandy Caldon, Rick Hernandez, and Jerry Gray.
Also unopposed and re-elected to his second four-year term as District 3 Hinsdale County Commissioner was Robert Hurd, F), commissioner since April, 2022 and, prior to that Hinsdale County Road & Bridge Supervisor from 1983 to 2016.
Also re-elected to his second four-year term was Independent District 1 Hinsdale County Commissioner, California native and past Director of Town of Lake City Public Works, Greg Levine, G), who defeated GOP candidate Steve Ryals.
Log-throwing was among the popular competitive events at Lake City Chamber of Commerce’s end-of-season Oktoberfest, shown here with a mighty effort by Lake City school student Bryley Elkins, H), superlatives in the event Lake City’s Forest Swift, 21’5” and Alyssa Meier, 6’.
Past Hinsdale County Undersheriff Ray Blaum, I), now a resident of Norfolk, Virginia, and his son Tim Blaum, were in Lake City on November 19 to commemorate the 30-year anniversary of the death of Hinsdale County Sheriff Roger Coursey (photo Jerry Gray).
J) New on the roster of Lake City events September 28 was the No Fear Power Lifting competition sponsored by Brennan Pantleo and Kaylin Trivisonno with top honors for male weight lifters going to Ben Autry, Joshua Leese (pictured), and Andrew Robertson and, among women, Zoe Worthen, Gabi Robbins, and Katie Elkins.
K), Kathleen Whinnery Murphy snapped this remarkable orange-tinted nighttime sky view on the lower Lake Fork Valley during the height of the rare Aurora Borialis in October. As explained by astronomer Phillip Virden, the rare sky tint — normally far to the north or south as part of the Northern or Southern Lights — was the result of a surge of energy and particles from the Sun.
L), Matthew Turner of GeoModel, Inc. was employed by Hinsdale County IOOF Cemetery District using subsurface radar in late September to identify probable unmarked graves in and around the cemetery at Capitol City. Radar employed by Turner shows up on the computer screen as intrusions in the subsurface ground strata. According to Turner’s calculations, a total of 21 unmarked graves are located within the Capitol City Cemetery fence enclosure and up to 10 graves which are located outside the fence. Observing Turner as he made repeated passes across the cemetery grounds were cemetery board directors Nancy Chambers, Alice Attaway, and Shawna Shidler, together with volunteer Hector Gomez.
M), Lake City Fourteeners boys middle school basketball team coached by Doug Eby and Kelly Elkins started off on a promising note with multiple baskets made by team members Joseph Tubbs, Elijah Wuest, Elliott Hartman, Rhys Phillimore, Henry Shepherd, Dax Elkins, and Landon Rhodes during home and on-the-road games against their counterparts from Creede and San Luis Valley teams from LaJara, Monte Vista, and Sargent.
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