May 22, 2026
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preparing to serve an influx of patients this summer.Historically, patient volume increases 67 percent between the months of May and October.LCAMC is happy to announce it is now fully staffed following the addition of PhysicianAssistant Amanda Fender, who began her full-time position in April.Amanda joins two other medical providers, Family Nurse Practitioner Sherry Huisman and Dr. Ann Treisman, who is the Medical Director for the clinic.Now with three medical providers, the medical center is able to extend its operating hours to include Saturdays beginning June 6.Amanda Fender grew up in Alabama and attended Auburn University for her undergraduatestudies in Nutrition. When she visited Colorado as a teenager with her father, she fell in lovewith the mountains. She shares her journey to Lake City and views on patient care in her own words below:“I went to PA School at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions with the goal of living and working in a rural mountain community in Colorado. I have always had a passion for providing healthcare in remote communities and being a part of a tight-knit mountain town.“When my husband and I first came to Lake City to hike 14ers in 2023, we both fell in love. Ifound out Lake City had a health center and made it my goal to eventually be able to live andwork here.” “I love getting to provide medical care to people who share a passion for the beauty of this remote town. I am passionate about providing care to people so that they can continue to do what they love, where they love.”“I value patient-centered care, taking into account the patient’s goals and values. I like approaching care as though the patient and I are on the same team working towards the same goal for the patient and their health. I am looking forward to providing continuity of care for patients, expanding resources in our town, and continuing to learn and grow alongside the incredible staff here at the Lake City Area Medical Center.”“Outside of work, I am a trail runner and skier. I’m looking forward to running in the San Juan Solstice 50 mile race this summer. I am married to my husband, Kamp, and we have twodogs, Mowgli and River.” Fender joins a medical center team that offers: primary and preventative care, in-clinicprocedures, testing and diagnostics, urgent care, and dental care. According to the medical center’s website, the clinic’s team is committed to “serving the community with compassionate, quality healthcare.LCAMC aims to make healthcareaccessible, compassionate, and reliable.Consistent with Fender’s goal of “expanding resources in town.”Fender recently participated in a portable ultrasound training in Colorado Springs. This Butterfly Ultrasound Device is used for Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS), which allows providers to perform rapid imaging without bulky hospital machines. The device, which connects to a cell phone, can assist with quick diagnostics, allowing a trained provider to visualize internal medical problems.Commonly used for trauma assessments, cardiac screening, lung imaging, OBGYN imaging,and bladder scans, the POCUS device expands the capabilities of the medical center to assessand treat patients.In recent months, in collaboration with other healthcare partners, medical center staff have endeavored to expand urgent care preparedness, as required by the clinic’s distinction as a certified Rural Health Center.Dr. Treisman has been collaborating with Dr. Avery Mackenzie — Medical Director for HCEMS and ER doctor at Montrose Memorial Hospital — to strengthen urgent care capabilities and readiness. Staff have participated in several scenario-based training sessions this spring.Storm Gozola, RN, and Rachel Moore, Executive Director and EMT, recently attended aPediatric Preparedness Seminar in Crested Butte. The seminar featured Pediatric Medical Specialists from Children’s Hospital of Colorado and EMS for Children Colorado.The training focused on equipping medical providers to assess and treat children presenting with medical emergencies and included both case reviews and hand-on skills training.Rachel Moore with EMT and Administrative Assistant Sarah DeCristino attended the Colorado Rural Healthcare Conference in April, seeking to learn from similar medical clinics across the state.Melody Crump, EMT and CNA, is soon to complete her training and education as a Registered Nurse.While Lake City Area Medical Center is fully staffed with medical personnel, they do currently seek to hire a janitor. The job offers a flexible schedule and an opportunity to work in adynamic team environment. Clinic staff invites the community to join them in welcoming Amanda Fender to Lake City, in celebrating Melody Crump’s recent completion of her nursing education, and to consider how the local clinic can help meet your medical needs this summerand in the future.Next week’s SILVER WORLD will include an article welcoming a Physical Therapist, now operating out of the medical center building.
Last Thursday morning’s destructive Wade’s Addition house fire, reported in last week’s SILVER WORLD, has been determined to be caused by defective electric wiring. According to Lake City Fire Chief Justin Thompson, the determination is the result of an inspection the day following the blaze, Friday, May 15, by Kevin Crawford, an investigator based out of Grand Junction with Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. As reported last week, the Wildflower Cabins’ rental cabin destroyed in the blaze was of older vintage, dating to construction in 1954, with old electric wiring. The cabin was unoccupied at the time and was being readied for summer use, Investigator Crawford determination being that an electric motor seized and caused the fire as the result of a light and ceiling fan which were left on over night. Since our report on the fire last week, SILVER WORLD has learned that an unsung hero assisting in alerting neighbors to the early morning fire on Thursday was Wade’s Addition resident Jim Gowdy. Gowdy, who lives on Park Street within a half block of Wildflower Cabins, apparently sighted the escalating flames from both the cabin and an adjacent spruce tree which caught fire, and dashed across the street to alert neighbors prior to arrival of the fire department. At the across-the-street Rightsell residence, he banged on windows, also alerting residents of the Waddington house which is just across the alleyway from the burning building.
Thank you for the “spot on” covering of the Hinsdale County Search and Rescue side by side that the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office and Hinsdale Search and Rescue recovered from Lake San Cristobal on April 27, 2026.We appreciate the community support and the hospitality that we received in Lake City during our stay.It was a pleasure talking to you on that day — know that you are always welcome within the confines of the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office at any time. Thank you for sending us the newspaper story, I shared copies with our dive team. Sincerely,Gene R. Lillard and StaffMontrose County Sheriff’s Office
I would like to share an important public service announcement for all pet owners in the LakeCity area.This week, we nearly lost Hamlet, Mary Nettleton’s beloved guide dog. Hamlet suddenlydeveloped weakness and paralysis in his hind legs. Initial testing, including bloodwork andspinal X-rays, was completely normal, leaving us without an obvious diagnosis. Over the nextseveral days, his condition worsened, progressing to involve his front legs until he was unableeven to sit up.Fortunately, we eventually discovered the cause: a female tick embedded deep in his skin.Once the tick was removed, Hamlet began to improve rapidly. Today, he took his first steps againand is expected to make a near-complete recovery!In my 36 years of veterinary practice, this is the first case of Tick Paralysis I have personallyencountered. This includes years of practice in regions of the country where ticks are far morecommon than they are here. In rare cases, certain species of female ticks produce a neurotoxin intheir saliva that can cause progressive paralysis, respiratory failure, and even death if the tick isnot found and removed.What is particularly surprising is that this occurred here in Lake City, despite our high altitudeand generally dry climate. Hamlet does not roam in the backcountry; the tick was most likelyacquired during Mary’s walks along Silver Street.Check your dogs daily for ticks, especially during the warmer months. Consider using tickpreventive, such as Simparica, NexGard, or Bravecto.And remember to check yourselves aswell, since ticks can transmit diseases to humans as well. Sincerely,Linda Downs, DVMLake City