Day: October 4, 2024

Thanks for hanging in there at the Lake City Uncorked Wine and Music Festival — rainy weather, awesome sound, great music, and good friends.Thank you for financial assistance from our elite sponsors (Proffer Surgical Associates), premier sponsors (Blue Spruce Building Materials, Inc., Community Banks of Colorado, Hall Realty, Inc., Hinsdale County Lodging Tax Board, Hinsdale County, Stephen & Happy Johns, San Luis Valley Brewing Company, and Town of Lake City); gold sponsors (Ron & Diane Bruce, Gowdy Property Vacation Rentals, Jud & Marian Hollingsworth, Lake City Liquors, Lakeview Property Management, Sandy & Bobbie Lewis, M4 Ranch Group, Rural Mountain Games Plus+, Joe & Laura Schneider, Schumacher & O’Loughlin LLC Attorneys at Law, and Southern Vittles); silver sponsors (Cabin Fever Mercantile, David & Ricki Jackson, G&M Cabins, Lake City Bakery, Mountaineer Theatre, Native Texan Landscapes, Rene’s Garage, The Texan Resort, 38 Degrees North, Utah’s Sanitation, Webco and Verde Designs); bronze sponsors (Hinsdale County Emergency Medical Services, Hinsdale County Sheriff’s Office, Hinsdale County Road & Bridge, Lake City Public Library, Keep in Touch Spa Salon, Lake City Arts, Lake City / Hinsdale County Chamber of Commerce, Murphy Real Estate, Pilgrim’s Rest Airbnb, Republic National Distributing Company, Silver World Newspaper, and Sweet Peas & Co.) Thanks to Nick Arbogast and Verde Designs for the 2024 image; Wildpeak Creative (Kate Hopson) for assistance with marketing design and fabrication; thanks to Wildbrush Artistry for the kids booth.Music was provided by Bruce Hayes and Kris Bloomer, opening by Hunny B’s Rhapsody, Ragged Mountain Bluegrass, Peach Street Revival, Blue Canyon Boys, Cash’d Out, and Rally Round. Production assistance was provided by Snob Productions, Park Avenue Rentals, High Octane Enterprises (Eric Grossman) with assistance by Bruce Conrad. Special thanks to Eric Bergman (director of DOLA) and emcee Kate Hopson. Thanks to Republic National Distributing and the San Luis Valley Brewing Company (Gary & Pam Malberg).Wildflower wineglasses were handpainted by Julie Reel. Thank you to our food vendors Haugen’s Mountain Grown Lamb, Sweet Peas, Bushwhack, and Beny’s; and art vendors Autumn Teneyl Designs, Dream Wild Studio, Lady Unique Boutique, Wildbrush Artistry/Verde Designs, Clay Memory, The Jewelry Smith, Pete Emerson Silversmith, Peppermills of Distinction, JB’s Sensational Seasonings, Queen Beads, Bohemian Spirit Designs, Sweet Peas & Co., Rocky Mountain Outback Hats, Corriente Chains, Hiding Place Woodworks, Tutas Leather, 38 Degrees North, Dancing Rainbows Tie-Dye, Leif Lane Lather, and Leaved Gates Essential Collection. Thanks to our lodging providers: The Texan, Gowdy Vacation Properties, Hall Realty Vacation Rentals, and Lakeview Property Management.Cheers to Diane Bruce and Roxanne Loper for overseeing a smooth Wine Tent operation and Greg Collins for the Beer Booth. Green room space provided by Lake City Arts (thank you!) and coordinated by Peggy Bales (thanks to all the donors of amazing food!). Thank you: Ruthanna Hall, Danielle Worthen, and Elaine Gray for overseeing the ticket booth and thanks to Lynn McNitt for an amazing product booth! Thank you to Charles Ferris and volunteers for providing security; to Katherine Heidt and Brad Jones and volunteer EMTs for on-site medical assistance; to the Hinsdale County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement; to Town of Lake City for use of the Safe Ride; Hinsdale County Road & Bridge for equipment delivery; and to Hinsdale County Emergency Manager Phil Graham and Fire Department’s help through Bill Hagendorf. Thank you, Marian Hollingsworth, for keeping all the finances straight. Thanks to Lex Mulhall for clean facilities and a Safe Ride Home. Thanks, Ben Hake, for park setup.Thank you to our 169 community volunteers who make this day possible.Special thanks to these restaurants and grab-and-go food locations for being open during the Festival: B’s Mini Mart; Beny’s Authentic Mexican Restaurant; Blue Bird Coffee Shop; Breakfast Hangout; CLIMB Elevated Eatery; Lake City Bakery; Lake City Brewing Company; Packer’s Saloon & Cannibal Grill; Sportsman’s BBQ Station; and The Country Store.See you next year on September 20, 2025. Respectfully,Lake City DIRT Board of Directors Elaine Gray, Sandy Murphy, Greg Collins, Ruthanna Hall, Roger Presnall, Danielle Worthen, Lydia McNeese, Diane Bruce, Kate Hopson and staff Kristie Borchers www.lakecitydirt.org

I want to let Hinsdale County Voters know that I will be voting for and supporting current Undersheriff Denim Starnes for Sheriff. He is the best candidate available. He has stubbed his toe a few times but I have been counseling him on those and I have seen steady progress in his professional growth. Please vote for Denim.On another topic, I also encourage voters to strongly oppose the proposition to ban hunting of mountain lions/cougars and bobcats. I believe lynx may also be mentioned but they have been protected since their reintroduction to the state some years ago. A ban on mountain lion hunting would be the death knell for Colorado deer herds, considering a lion will kill a deer about every eight days. They also take down elk as well. Bobcats? Well, that is ridiculous on its face value. Biological issues should NEVER be put to the voters. They tend to vote emotionally and not with any intelligent research. Also bear in mind that lion attacks on humans are certain to go up significantly.In any case folks, please vote. This may be one of the most critical votes in the recent history of our country AND vote for Denim Starnes – Sheriff. Respectfully,Ronald (Ron) B. Bruce, Interim Sheriff

As coordinator of the 2024 Wine and Music Festival Green Room located in the Anthony Gallery, I would like to thank all food contributors. All dishes were delicious and scrumptious.I would especially like to thank Lake City Arts for use of the facility, chairs and tables. My assistants Carol Clauss, Joyce Stapelton, Beth & Jesse Kendall, and Karen McClatchie, helped set up, served and donated food.To them a BIG BIG THANK YOU.To the following contributors, thank you so so very much:Peggy Berg, Laura Schneider, Kristie Borchers, Ruthanna Hall, Greg Collins, Connie Frieze, Donna Waller, Danielle Worthen, Linda Gardner, Bobbi McDonald, Malinda McDonald, Lake City Arts, Karen McClatchie, Jeannie Brady, Jane Fleishman, Ricki Jackson, Lake City Dirt, Country Store, Lake City Bakery, Linda Downs, Kennedy Dry Goods, Susan Heumann, Margo Presnall, Kay Cherry, Cannibal Grill & Packers, Elaine Gray, Southern Vittles, and those I probably forget to list. The Green Room was a big hit with all performers and their families. See ya next year.Peggy L. Bales2024 Wine & Music Festival Green Room Coordinator

As many of you know, I lost my dearest Bobby on January 2 of this year. His kids, grandkids, brothers, sisters and other immediate family members held a private burial of his ashes and life celebration in Lake City’s upper cemetery on his birthday, September 14. He is up there in a beautiful location with so many of his family who passed before him.I would like to give Greg Levine much thanks and big hugs from all my family for prepping the grave site for me. Nothing is ever easy, but Greg did the hard work which made the service perfect, just as Bobby would have wanted. So appreciated Greg! You are a wonderful, caring person and Hinsdale County is lucky to have you as our Commissioner and friend.I would also like to call attention to two other individuals we are fortunate to have in Lake City. Our former and current Veterans Service Officers Erin Cavit and Mike Harrington. My Bobby was a proud Vietnam Veteran with the US Army, First Air Cavalry, serving in Vietnam and Cambodia in 1969-1970. He was a disabled Vet. Both Erin and Mike worked very hard to get him the benefits he was entitled to before his death. And they also helped submit all required paperwork for me (surviving spouse of a disabled Veteran) after his death to ensure I got benefits for which I was eligible. I cannot thank them enough. I would not have been able to navigate the system without their help.I would encourage any Veteran or spouse to make use of this service. Mike has been reaching out to all Hinsdale County Vets. Please reach back. Veterans’ benefits change. Stay involved. AndThank you for Your Service to Our Country. Sincerely,Becky VickersLake City