Day: October 18, 2024

The Stratton’s would like to commend Hinsdale County Road and Bridge, the Commissioners, and the construction crew for the recent improvements to County Road 30. The chip-and-seal is an excellent addition, and the repairs made beyond the inlet are highly appreciated. As locals that use this road daily, we are very grateful. Thank you all! The Stratton FamilyLake City

HD58 has a very clear difference between the candidates who are running to represent us in the coming years. First, we have Kathleen Curry, whose previous service as a Representative for HD58, actively ranches, served as a successful advocate for Western Slope issues for years, and has actual experience working on the Colorado River Compact and water management for Upper Basin and the western slope.This is one of THE most serious issues facing farmers, ranchers and urban and rural cities. The Challenges are many, but what we need is someone who has the knowledge, actual experience, the passion and professionalism to work with the legislature to find solutions. That means she will reach across the aisle; has reached across the aisle to find solutions.Her opponent has said in previous posts that he will not compromise. In an environ of political and social polarization, Kathleen Curry is a breath of fresh air, a person who works for solutions not chaos.She is forward thinker who is in constant learning mode. That is the key, a willingness to learn, have opinions, listen to pros and cons, then develop a position and that is Kathleen Curry.Her opponent does not have her level of experience inside or outside state government. She is passionate, professional and proud to be a Western Slope Advocate. She is the person that HD 58 needs.Vote Kathleen Curry HD 58! John PavlichMontrose

Kathleen Curry is a candidate for Colorado House District 58 and I believe her to be the most qualified and experienced person to represent the people of this district.I have had many opportunities to attend her events over the course of her campaign and I have found her to be knowledgeable about the issues, articulate and easy to get to know. She has spoken of her passion about protecting our water rights on the Western Slope and understands the concerns of ranchers and farmers having operated her family ranch with her husband for 20 years.Kathleen has a wide range of experience including serving 3 terms as a representative to the state house and later advocated for water, wildlife and agricultural agencies. She also owned and operated her own small business.Kathleen Curry is ready to get to work on day one. She knows how the legislature functions and how to work on both sides of the aisle. Kathleen knows the needs and concerns of the people in our district and will work every day on our behalf.Jane RyanMontrose, ColoradoDear Grant,A quick google search will show that out of 65 seats in the Colorado House of Representatives, only six are from the Western Slope. Every single voice we send to Denver matters, especially at a time when the front range is looking over the divide to the Colorado River for more water, in addition to pressures from Lower Colorado Basin States. That is why I will be casting my vote for Kathleen Curry to be our next Representative on November 5.Kathleen has decades of experience in the water field, including several years as the Manager of the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District – which includes Lake City. She then went on to serve as our state Representative, where she chaired the House Agriculture, Livestock, and Water Committee. She has a strong background on this issue and has the legislative experience to be effective on our behalf in Denver.As a professional working to protect our terrestrial and riverine habitats in the Lake Fork Valley, I have had the opportunity to work directly with Kathleen and know first hand her capabilities. I’m voting for her in 2024 for the same reason I wrote in her name in 2010 – she is simply the best person for the job, regardless of party. She always commits to good policy above partisan politics and cares about all communities she represents.Join me in voting for Kathleen Curry this November. Camille RichardLake City

The Gunnison Basin is a vital ecosystem in Colorado, home to a diverse array of native species that depend on healthy watersheds for survival. Watersheds, which include rivers, streams, wetlands, and the surrounding landscapes, play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance that sustains local wildlife.Healthy watersheds provide clean water, abundant vegetation, and suitable habitats essential for the survival of species such as the Gunnison sage-grouse, cutthroat trout, or beavers and elk. These species are deeply intertwined with the health of the Basin’s watersheds, relying on them for food, shelter, and breeding grounds.The Upper Gunnison Basin Wet Meadows Restoration Program is a significant initiative aimed at preserving and restoring these critical habitats. Wet meadows in particular are essential for species like the Gunnison sage-grouse—a bird that relies on moist, vegetated areas for nesting and raising its young. However, due to historical land use changes and climate impacts, many wet meadows have been degraded, threatening the delicate balance of the ecosystem.Restoration efforts focus on degraded wet meadows by reconnecting ephemeral water flows to their floodplains to promote the growth of native mesic vegetation. By doing so, the program enhances the resilience of these ecosystems, ensuring that they can continue to support the wildlife and working rangelands that depend on them.Another example of collaborative conservation efforts includes the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program, which is a public and private partnership of water users, conservation groups, and state and federal agencies. The Gunnison River is a suitable habitat for endangered fish species such as Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, bonytail, and razorback sucker.By protecting and restoring the Gunnison Basin’s watersheds, we ensure that native species can continue to thrive in a balanced and vibrant environment. We can contribute to these efforts by supporting local conservation initiatives, volunteering for habitat restoration projects, and advocating for sustainable land use practices. Together, we can help preserve the natural beauty and ecological integrity of the Gunnison Basin for future generations. Sincerely,Savannah NelsonGBRT Public Education, Participation, and Outreach (PEPO) Coordinator

My name is Bennett Levine. I was raised in Lake City, graduated from LCCS in 2022, and I got my first jobs here in town (both of which I still have) around age twelve at the Mountaineer Movie Theatre and Lake City Bakery. I love Lake City and the community, and it is for that reason I am writing this letter to you all. Yes, I am Greg Levine’s son, but that is not the only reason I support him. I have a deep rooted love for Hinsdale County, and I want what is best for it. I do not support a candidate for any position because I like them; I support them because they are the best for that job.My dad has resided in this county since the 90s, and in my lifetime has done a tremendous amount of work in Lake City. In the last thirty years, he has owned his own custom cabinet and furniture shop, operated a refrigeration business, and was the director of the Chamber of Commerce. He also worked for the Public Works Department, eventually becoming the director; and for the last four years, he has been a County Commissioner. With all that said, I can say with certainty: he is the right choice this November.My dad does not accept any funding for his campaign; it all comes out of his wallet, not from a “Committee” or people pushing a very specific agenda. If you look closely at the election advertisements in the Silver World, you will see that one is paid for by a committee and one is paid for by the candidate. Let me ask you this Hinsdale County: who is really “working for you”, the guy being used to try to push a very specific agenda, or the guy who listens to all sides and works tirelessly to find common ground between them, while not receiving any money for his campaign?My father’s opponent claims there needs to be “big changes,” but why and what changes? I don’t know, and I doubt he does either, because when someone has no real ideas, it is easy to say “we need change.” When someone is not connected with the community and only listens to one side they become deluded and biased. My dad, on the other hand, has been part of real change since 2020. He is open to change, but not willing to change in order to meet one extreme’s desires.You want to talk about having honesty and integrity? Then stop using falsehoods and cherry picking stats. You say you are “not in it for the money,” then forgo the Commissioner’s salary if elected. If you care so much about entities such as the school, EMS, Public Health, and the fire department then why have you not reached out to them or attended their board meetings? You want to help increase services for seniors, but Greg Levine is the one actually doing that as part of the Senior Connections Team. Do you not think every commissioner’s goal is to “enhance the quality of life for all citizens”? If you are so “honest” and “upfront” then why are your three main issues so vague? If you think you can actually offer the county anything valuable, then be specific about what it is. All three of the current commissioners have the same concerns and are actively working on them. You think respect should be given equally? Then why are you not reaching out to people who have the opposite opinion as you? My dad’s opponent wants to build another fence; a metaphorical fence that creates more division in Hinsdale County. Commissioner Levine, on the other hand, strives for balance in this county, and balance is exactly what we need and deserve.In my dad’s first term as Commissioner, he has worked hard with the other two Commissioners to forge many new opportunities and open new doors for us as citizens. Have you gotten hooked up to fiber broadband internet? Pretty nice huh, well Commissioner Levine was a driving force behind bringing that here. Have you attended any events put on by the senior connections team? As alluded to earlier, Commissioner Levine is an integral part of that group. Have you walked across the peninsula bridge at Lake San Cristobal? The current board of County Commissioners, which includes Commissioner Levine, made that possible. The list goes on and on. I have yet to see his opponent’s list of civic accomplishments because there are none.Greg Levine is one of the most active members of this community, and he was before being elected. That is who deserves to be a Commissioner. The candidate who not only does his job at a high level, but can also be found in countless places doing what he can to keep Hinsdale County great and make it better. When you cast your vote this November, vote for the candidate who has the best interest of our county at heart, not the one who is clearly biased. When you vote this November, vote to reelect Greg Levine. With Love and Respect,Bennett William LevineLake City

After reading last week’s letters to the editor, I feel the need to respond to set the record straight with regards to an 84% mandate of support for OHVs and the dire consequences for the Town of Lake City if we don’t give the OHV crowd everything and more.First off, a small civics lesson – when it comes to electing County Commissioners, it’s the voters that matter. With that, let’s review two of the Hinsdale County OHV Program Survey results specific to the voter responses: Question 49: Would you prefer to see OHVs use the existing staging/loading area outside of town instead of giving OHVs access to Highway 149?Yes responses: 133No responses: 132I do not know: 25Question 54: If you supported the OHV pilot program in 2019, what is your level of support today?Greater support: 49Equal support: 61Less support: 39No support: 46Did not support in 2019: 84Other: 10 Based on the voter survey results, 169 out of 289 (58%) have less support or no support for the pilot program in 2023/2024 when compared with 2019. This result assumes those who didn’t support in 2019 still do not in 2023/24. Results in question 49 seem pretty obvious – more voters specifically stated they would like OHVs to be staged vs allowed to use highway 149. Per the voters who filled out the survey, I see less of a mandate for the pilot program and more of a desire to scale back the program.Second, let’s review the original purpose of the pilot program. It was to complete the loop, if I’m not mistaken. Now, it has grown beyond, requesting access to Woodlake RV Park and the Toy Wash. I consider myself a geography buff, but even if I wasn’t, I think I could figure out that neither of those are destinations on the Alpine Loop. The “OHVs must have everything they want” crowd would suggest that tourists will abandon Lake City if we don’t expand the pilot program or if there is a shortened OHV season – hogwash! Three thoughts with this. 1. Where are tourists going to go instead? Are they going to Moab for the 100+ degree heat? Will they skip the Alpine Loop and all it has to offer because they cannot ride on highway 149 to the Toy Wash in Lake City? Maybe they will stay in Silverton or Ouray instead where they have to trailer their OHVs. 2. For many people, it’s a badge of honor to say they’ve been coming to Lake City for 30, 40 or 50 years and beyond. They came to Lake City before OHVs; will people stop coming to Lake City if they can’t have free OHV reign in our town and beyond? 3. Tourists that visit our town with their OHVs can trailer them hundreds of miles to get here – why can’t they trailer them to an area to use? Is their main desire to just ride around town and on highway 149, or is it to see the Alpine Loop and other areas of Hinsdale County?Fear mongering runs rampant these days. Bold statements such as Lake City falling on its face if we don’t kowtow to OHVs is just silly. Last June while visiting Gunnison, I noticed how City Market was virtually empty mid-day. I’m sure it was because the OHV pilot program in LC was rolled back to mid-June; certainly there is no other explanation for it. Lake City is absolutely at or beyond carrying capacity for most of the summer. Not expanding OHV access isn’t a death knell. With a reduced pilot program this past June, June 2024 physical tax receipts were up 14.8% in the town and 19.5% in the county when compared to 2023. I would say that reducing OHV access further wouldn’t matter either. Again, where else are tourists going to go? Are all visitors from Texas and Oklahoma going to stay in TX or OK and ride their OHVs there? I doubt it. Other than those arriving from the west side of the Alpine Loop on an OHV, just about every other tourist that arrives in town arrives in a passenger vehicle. It would be great if we could encourage those tourists to use their passenger vehicles more often in town and reduce the noise levels making Lake City a more quaint and quiet town.To close, I’d like to thank Greg Levine for working for “the quiet half of the town and county.” Survey results by voters indicate the County Commissioners should be working toward compromises or reductions in OHV usage. Elected officials work for all the voters, not just the ones screaming in their faces. Close to half of the voters in the county would prefer less OHV time – that equates to a quieter mountain town. There are always two sides to every story – it’s nice to hear the quiet side once in a while. Please vote for Greg Levine for County Commissioner. Sincerely,Tim CristLake City