Hinsdale County | The Silver World Newspaper

Facilities Manager at Sky Ranch Appointed as New Lake City Fire-Rescue Chief

by Jodi Linsey Newly appointed Lake City Fire-Rescue Fire Chief Justin Thompson is earnest in his hopes to provide quality leadership to the largely volunteer fire department. Justin is stepping into the role of Chief following the resignation of Bill Hagendorf, who acted as Chief, Fire Marshal, Training Officer, and Maintenance Officer.Justin and his wife Jacque, along with their nine and one year old daughters, moved to the Lake City area so that Justin could begin work as the Facilities Manager at Sky Ranch at Ute Trail. Justin and Jacque homeschool their children and were pleased to find a co-op in Gunnison that supports their vision.The Thompsons moved from Kirtland, Ohio where they ran a small construction contracting company. When not working as a contractor or playing with his young daughters, Justin spent his time in the Hudson Fire Department, with a mix of paid and volunteer personnel. While there he earned certification in a variety of aspects of firefighting skills, including obtaining Firefighter II certification, which requires a mix of class work, practical skills, and physical abilities.Soon after settling into their temporary housing at Sky Ranch, Justin began volunteering with Lake City Fire-Rescue as a firefighter. He is proud that he has built new connections between Sky Ranch and Lake City as he has encouraged other Sky Ranch employees to volunteer at the fire department.He is enthusiastic when describing the many people he has met through the department and in town. Justin readily described his feelings of being led to accept the position at Sky Ranch and the feeling of coming home to Lake City and the caring and supportive community they have found here.Justin looks forward to exploring the local area and sharing backcountry adventures with his family in what he describes as his “almost mid-life” vanity car, a pristine green Toyota FJ Cruiser.When describing his anticipated duties as Chief, Justin spoke at length about building relationships and providing leadership that the crew can depend on. Deepening relationships between the fire department and other emergency response entities in Hinsdale County is a priority as he anticipates working together to safeguard the Lake City community. Never Miss Another Story! Subscribe and receive the Silver World right to your inbox!

July 13, 2025 No Comments

Starry-Eyed Crowds Mesmerized at Annual Dark Sky Celebration

by Jodi Linsey Lake City’s own Star Man, Phillip Virden, worked closely with a small but enthusiastic group of astronomy fans to deliver this year’s festival of the stars, the most well-attended one yet in the short history of Star Fest.In just over 24 hours, astronomy fans from near and far packed in a smorgasbord of galaxy related activities, beginning with Cosmic Cocktails at Packer’s Saloon Friday evening, followed closely by Lights Out Lake City, star gazing from the Lake Fork Memorial Park. Early on Saturday, at least for night sky loving people, was Cosmic Insights, a presentation featuring two astronomers. Kyle Davis gave an informative talk on the development of telescopes while Jimmy Neguse took a deep dive into AGNs, or Active Galactic Nuclei.The middle of the day was taken up with a special opportunity for people to visit a portable planetarium set up at the Lake City Community School. Then Mountaineer Theatre had a special showing of the 1956 sci-fi classic Forbidden Planet.Saturday night was the finale of the festival with stargazing at the future home of the Lake Fork Earth & Sky Center, located near State Highway 149 on County Road 50, or Deer Lakes Road, near the top of Slumgullion Pass.The evening began before sunset to allow both professional and amateur astronomers to prepare themselves and their instruments for an evening of sharing the wonders of the cosmos with friends, neighbors, and strangers from all over.First the crowd was introduced to some of the wonders they would have a chance to observe over the course of the evening. They were also treated to personal stories of discovery by ever-enthusiastic Virden and other enthusiastic stargazers.Before the sun fully set and the show began, there were already more than 200 people making themselves comfortable, scattered across terrain that featured strawberries, tree stumps, and small currant bushes. They braced themselves for a chilly night, despite the heat of the day. They had chairs and blankets for cushioning and warmth, and many wore small headlights in anticipation of making their way from telescope to telescope.Present that evening were many locals, introverts and extroverts alike. There supporting the cause were representatives of the Lake Fork Valley Conservancy, including Board Secretary Cristina Abbenante, author and photographer Kristen Breeden, and Judy Boyce, the latter revered for her work with recent rehabilitation of the Blue Bird Project.Fervent amateur astronomer Bruce Scodova is a recent transplant to Lake City, in large part for the night skies. His 20” Dobsonian reflector telescope stood almost 6’ tall in the upright position and seemed to be the largest telescope in a field littered with impressive equipment. He is looking forward to getting his new house completed and settling further into the comfort of Lake City. This year’s stellar turnout for Starfest was, according to organizer Phil Virden, the best so far. Above, Jimmy Neguse shows off his high-powered telescope, and at right, with a magnificent mountain sunset blazing behind him, stargazer Bruce Scodova with a large reflector telescope. Seasonal residents Craig and Linda Bennet state that they have participated in this event as long as it has been happening. They are fans of Phillip Virden and happy to support his projects.Karen and Roy Shaw sat with dear friends from their old neighborhood. Lisa and Allen Davis are familiar with the environs of Lake City and the pristine skies in the area. The Davises are also pleased to be able to support their son Kyle, whose engaging discussion of the history of stargazing tools kept the audience entertained at the Mountaineer Theatre earlier in the day.Jimmy Neguse, the other speaker at the morning presentation, was found with fellow Dark Sky Colorado Board Member Deborah Price, making adjustments to his own Dobsonian reflector telescope. Deborah and Jimmy were both eager to speak about the importance of dark skies and how easily adjustments can be made that create a ripple of good in today’s overly lit world. One example they spoke about was how bright night lights can upset migratory bird patterns, and they pointed to Dark Sky International’s website at darksky.org or Dark Sky Colorado’s site at darkskycolorado.org for more information on the reasoning behind the dark sky movement.More curious visitors who made the trek to Slumgullion Pass were Sarah (Fry) Tooley and her engaging 9-year-old daughter Remi, with connections to Lake City but living in Utah now. Together with family from Montrose, they were here for a semi-regular visit to the stomping grounds of her youth, when she lived here with her dad, Lake City Community School instructor Brad Fry.From Loveland, Colorado, came Glen and Sara Gilbert. They had an impromptu and solitary episode of stargazing in Death Valley that whetted their appetite for more. This brought them to the Lake City area for the first, but not last, time.Perhaps the couple who most epitomize the mission of Star Fest are Sarah Bailey and Eric Tyson from Denver. Sarah took it as a sign to visit Lake City when it dropped into her social media feeds twice in less than a week. Seeing an ad for Star Fest prompted a discussion with her boyfriend and the discovery that neither of them had ever seen the Milky Way. They aimed to change that and headed to Lake City.Educational and literally illuminating, the Lake City Star Fest provided entertainment for a wide variety of people; older and young, professionals and amateurs and newbies, visitors and locals.The potential for this event is as large as a universe of stars.A twilight highlight at the opening of last weekend’s Star Fest were wide-eyed stargazers assembled on blankets and lawn chairs in Memorial Park Friday evening, June 27, to hear an opening salvo from Star Fest organizer Phillip Virden.Virden, who proceeded to entrance spectators as he pointed out constellations vividly visible from the downtown confluence park such as the Big Dipper, North Star, and Sagittarius, enthusiastically described himself to the spell-bound audience as an astronomy student at STU —Self Taught University.He first became entranced

July 3, 2025 No Comments

219 Hardy Runners Finish 30th Annual San Juan Solstice

Warm temperatures and at-times gusting wind on the Continental Divide failed to deter hardy endurance runners in last Saturday’s 30th annual running of the 50-mile San Juan Solstice.In addition to wind and warmth, 292 runners who began the race pre-dawn at 5 a.m. Saturday also contended with a total of seven bracing creek crossings on Alpine Gulch at the race start and, further along on their precipitous trot, slogged through knee-deep patches of snow.The race concluded in Lake City Town Park at twilight, mere seconds before the mandatory 9 p.m. cutoff, as Megan Davey — the last of the 219 runners who finished the race — was wildly cheered as she sprinted across the finish line.On her third San Juan Solstice attempt, Davey finished the race just after 8:59 p.m. — a mere nine seconds before the 9 p.m. cutoff — and once again received cheers as she nimbly accepted the Andrew Kuziuk Award at the celebratory awards ceremony on Sunday morning.Also wildly cheered at both finish line on Saturday afternoon, June 21, and awards Sunday, June 22, was the lineup of three first place men and women Solstice runners, led by Becca Bramley, first among women athletes in the race with a finish time of nine hours, 46.16 minutes, and repeat Solstice contender Ryan Sullivan who was first to cross the Town Park finish line just eight hours, 12.05 minutes after the race start.Sullivan is a well known sprinter from past San Juan Solstices, the Grand Junction, Colorado, runner also finishing first in 2023, eight hours, 39.17 minutes, and third place among men, time eight hours, 37.32 minutes, in 2022.Close on Sullivan’s proverbial heels on Saturday were Matthew Vira, second place with eight hours, 38.10 minutes, and third place male finisher — and again a runner intimately acquainted with the Solstice — Carlo Ruibal, with a nine-hour, 3.24-minute finish time. Ever-exuberant, Ruibal, from Colorado Springs, makes a near-annual appearance at the San Juan Solstice.Gingerly walking to the podium at Sunday’s awards, first place women’s finisher Becca Bramley was joined by Isabella Poulos, second place among women, finish time 10 hours, 12.15 minutes and, in third position, Kaela Gaylord whose town park finish line time was 10 hours, 25 minutes. Poulus, from Telluride, was also a familiar runner on the Solstice trek, finishing last year’s race in third place, time, 10 hours, 47:35 minutes.Runners with a local association in Saturday’s Solstice were Logan Rhodes (finish time 11 hours, 34.16 minutes), Wade Wandrey (paced final portion of the run by Sarah Poet, finish time 12 hours, 14 minutes), Maddie McClure (12 hours, 26.48 minutes with pacer and past Solstice competitor Isaac Borchers), sister and brother combo Megan Levine and Bennett Levine (Megan 12.20:31 with boyfriend, Devin Paredes, 10.56:33, and Bennett, paced part of the way by former schoolmate Jaden McNeese, 14.15:03), Journey Fleishman (13.54:17), Gunnison journalist Chris Dickey (11.52:15) and Medical Center EMS Director Avery MacKenzie (13.36:38).Local runners starting the race but not finishing were Sarah Eby, Seth Withrow, Titus Humphreys, and Patrick Woods.Top men and women runners were cheered by family and fellow racers who were seated in the park while chowing down on a delicious awards breakfast on Sunday, and amiable announcer Amanda Hartman.Cheers repeatedly erupted as Hartman categorically coordinated impressive lineups of, first, runners who had crossed the finish line under 10 hours, followed by applauded lineups of runners who finished the race under 12, 13, 14, 15 and, finally, 16 hours.Hartman also presided for awards presentations on Sunday, including Davey for the Kuziuk Award, Sibling Award to local sister and brother runners Megan Levine and Bennett Levine; Jonathan Shaw who received the Persistence Award for finishing the race despite dislocating his shoulder on Alpine Gulch, and Nicholas Fender who received the coveted Marriage Saver Award after acknowledging running is easier when not accompanied by his wife, Amanda.During competition for Ugliest Feet Award, Solstice, Inc. Chairman Jerry Gray closely inspected a variety of bruised and bloody feet, torn toenails, etc., before declaring Mike Patrizi the most unfortunate in terms of painful foot injuries.In addition to custom embroidered Black Diamond jackets, caps and other colorful blind, top winners were presented with custom contour maps of the race route by Olson Designs. 197th place finisher Tom Feore, from Phoenix, Arizona, thoughtfully studied the wood contour map on Sunday, thoughtfully pointing out, “oh, I hated this spot” and, “oh, here’s another spot I especially hated” before concluding that in his mind only the finish was “awesome.”In accepting their awards, each of the top place men and women finishers were highly complimentary of the well-oiled San Juan Solstice organization for precision and enthusiastic volunteers from start to finish.Among the seated audience on Sunday was Mark Wing, Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Preservation Officer and leader of the Red Sky Drum Group, from Towaoc near Mesa Verde, Colorado, who spoke at the Solstice runners’ orientation in the Amory on Friday afternoon, June 20, and performed individual aromatic smudge ceremonies for the runners’ benefit.Wing was accompanied by his wife, Rita Pensoneau-Wing, Mrs. Wing’s brother and sister-in-law, Vincent Jacket and Nelia Naha, and their daughter and granddaughter, Madeline Jacket, 36, and Kaitlin Koinva, 16, who live on the Hopi Reservation near Flagstaff, Arizona.Madeline Jacket was among the 292 runners who lined up pre-dawn at the start of Saturday’s San Juan Solstice but returned to Lake City with a fellow runner after a severe head to toe dunking in Alpine Gulch. Jacket describes the creek crossing as “shockingly cold” but, on a brighter note, “the scenery was glorious.”Sixteen-year-old Kaitlin is a champion cross country runner at Hopi High School and was wide-eyed at her mother’s description of chilly Alpine Gulch but, with her mother, vows to return to Lake City and plans to compete in a future San Juan Solstice. During Mark Wing’s remarks at Friday’s runners’ orientation, he noted that Lake City and the Solstice race route are located within ancestral Ute Indian lands and urged runners to be buoyed by the spirits of his

June 27, 2025 No Comments

Fun-Filled 4th on Tap, Followed by Myriad of Summer Events

With the summer season officially upon us, Lake City is awhirl with activity and fun events for all ages and interests.Thursday, July 3 will be a day for family fun in the park, beginning at 4 p.m. in Town Park. There will be a beer garden with snacks and drinks available for purchase, as well as rousing games of cornhole, then a street dance with the band Coal Creek Connection performing from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. from Memorial Park, weather permitting. Additionally, anyone interested in pumping some iron can head over to the Lake City Armory at 6:30 p.m. for Elevated Physique’s strength and conditioning class. Visit lakecity.com to reserve your spot.On July 4, kick off the day with a hearty breakfast at Lake City Community School, which will be hosting its annual pancake breakfast fundraiser beginning at 8 a.m. through 10 a.m. for $10 per person. Also beginning at 8 a.m. at the school and running through 1 p.m. will be the annual yard sale in the school’s gymnasium.At 9 a.m., be sure to head over to Lake City Library for their annual book sale, and don’t forget to pet the kitties, Holmes and Watson.The annual parade, themed 150 Years in Lake City, A Walk Through Time, begins at 10 a.m., with the reading of the Declaration of Independence at the Hinsdale County Museum immediately following. This year’s Town Crier and reader will again be Schuyler Denham, who, according to wife Carol Robinson, has acquired a new spiffy set of duds for the event. The exhilarating USAF flyover is planned for 10:45 a.m.Events in Town Park begin at 11 a.m., with Tannah Snow singing the National Anthem, and continue through 3 p.m., including shoe kick, egg toss, a variety of foot races for all ages, beer garden with beer, wine and seltzers, and multiple gastronomical offerings, including the newly-opened Summit Wing House food truck. Lake City Community School will also have brisket plates available in Town Park for $15, with all proceeds going toward the D.C. fundraiser. The Pioneer Jubilee Women’s Club will once again have their hot dog booth adjacent to the park, and the Chamber of Commerce tent will be offering a variety of beverages and snacks.Always a competitively-charged and well-attended event is the 3 versus 3 basketball tournament fundraiser, beginning at 2 p.m. at Lake City Community School. The cost is $45 per team.At 3 p.m., folks can head over to Memorial Park for the Ducky Derby. Ducks will be dropped into Henson Creek at Pumphouse Park and collected in the confluence at Memorial Park. Tickets can be purchased at the Visitor’s Center, the Country Store at BINGO or at the Town Park during Independence Day festivities. The cost is $5 per duck, or 5 ducks for $20. Typically there are hundreds of multi-colored ducks travelling down the river and it is quite a sight to see. Cash prizes are $500 for first place, $250 for second place, $125 for third and $50 for the last place duck.At 4 p.m., crowds head back to Town Park for BINGO, and a raffle drawing. Don’t forget about the ghost tour on Independence Day evening; meet at the Hinsdale County Museum at 7 p.m. Also, at 7 p.m., the movie Patton will be shown at the Mountaineer Movie Theatre.On July 5, be sure to be at the corner of Bluff Street and Second Street at 1 p.m. for the Old West Cowboys western re-enactment to experience tales of the old west – this year’s show theme: Adventures in a Lawless Land.Directly after the performance, at 2 p.m., head over to the Hinsdale County Museum, where Dr. Mette Flynt will be giving the Lost Lake City walking tour. You’ll learn about early African-American entrepreneurs, Jewish community leaders, the railroad, the Red Light district, and forgotten people and places erased by fire, flood and social changes in Lake City. This is a 1.5 hour walking tour and tickets can be purchased at the museum or on lakecity.com.Also on July 5, Lake City Arts will host their First Friday art opening, an exhibit called Respect the Wildlife, honoring the beauty and wild spirit of the creatures that call this region home. The show invites attendees to pause, reflect and appreciate the natural world through the eyes of local artists. The exhibit opens at 4 p.m. in the Moseley Arts Center gallery.On Sunday, July 6, beginning at 9 a.m., Breakfast Hangout and Euphoria at 925 Oceanwave Drive will be serving delicious bruch with live music from Tim Mallory. Reservations are strongly recommended – call 970-944-4244.Additionally, the annual Community Church Service starts at 10:00 a.m. in the soccer field across from the Medical Center. Be sure to bring your own blankets or chairs. Also, probably not a bad idea to bring an umbrella as well.An offering is requested at this service every year, with the entire amount collected going towards local charity Community Christian Services (CCS).All of the Lake City churches, Community Presbyterian, First Baptist, Grace Fellowship, Saint James Episcopal, and St. Rose of Lima, will all be participating, with members of each congregation doing a reading. This year’s sermon will be delivered by Baptist Church’s Dan File.Also at 10 a.m. July 6, Dr. Mette Flynt will be conducting this season’s second Ute-Ulay mine tour, taking visitors through one of Hinsdale County’s most significant mining complexes. Dr. Flynt will be exploring the history of the Henson community, the infamous 1899 strike, the technology of mining and more. This is a walking tour with steep inclines, if you attend, be sure to wear proper walking shoes and attire. Tickets can be purchased at lakecity.com or at the Hinsdale County Museum.In the evening of July 6, head out to Lake San Cristobal for Art with a View at Inn at the Lake. The event begins at 5 p.m., and artists Nam Phanthong, Michael Underwood and Susan Farm-Heumann will be speaking on their respective crafts, with wine and charcuterie served.

June 26, 2025 No Comments

GCEA to Begin Work Summer 2025 on Multi-Phase Infrastructure Improvement Project

by Gianna Morera Last April, Gunnison County Electric Association (GCEA) was awarded a $5-million grant under a federal initiative to deploy clean energy in rural and remote America. Work on the multi-phase infrastructure improvement project, which will ultimately result in a more flexible and resilient electric grid for Hinsdale County residents, is planned to begin this summer.The stretch of distribution line running between Gunnison and Lake City is one of the oldest in GCEA’s service area, according to GCEA Strategy Execution, Technology, & Member Experience Manager Matt Feier.By the end of 2026, 138 existing poles dating from the late 1950s will be retired and replaced. An additional 83 poles will be installed to support a new heavier, thicker distribution line with greater capacity. The upgraded line will take Lake City from one source of energy to two, making the community less vulnerable to prolonged outages.“The Lake City substation gets a transmission lineVol. 48, No. 12 Friday, June 20, 2025 Lake City, Hinsdale County, Colorado 81235 U.S.P.S. No. 436-63075¢feed from Tri-State Energy. If that were to go down, we could feed the whole community on this new line,” explains Feier.Electrical substations convert high-voltage electricity from power plants to levels that can be delivered to customers. The existing distribution line is undersized to provide power to all of the homes and businesses in Lake City, but the new line will enable GCEA to feed in enough backup power from Gunnison to get the town back up and running should the primary feed or local substation fail.“That redundancy creates quite a bit of resiliency for the community. Had we had this upgrade already done, the people that experienced a 28-hour outage [after a substation failure in February 2023] would’ve experienced more like a one hour outage.”Critical to securing the grant was the other important benefit of this work – the ability to take advantage of alternative energy sources. An Jonesupgraded line would be able to tie in to renewable power projects, such as hydroelectric or solar, which cannot be done with the infrastructure in place today.One such source could be the disused hydroelectric dam at the location known locally as Crooke Falls, suggests Feier. “We will be in a better position to take advantage of options like that because we’ll have a line with available capacity that can accept inputs of energy,” he says.GCEA has contracted with Englewood-based Ward Construction to complete the field work. During the first phase of the project, scheduled to begin July 2025, Ward will replace poles and upgrade transmission lines between the Iola boat ramp at Blue Mesa Reservoir and Powderhorn. In Summer 2026, work will continue on the lines from Iola back to the Skito substation outside of Gunnison and another 3-mile stretch south of Powderhorn, for a total of 33 miles.The $5-million in grant money will cover about half of the cost for these first two phases, and GCEA will fund the rest via amortized rate increases for their members.Funding for the last roughly 20-mile stretch between Powderhorn and Lake City has not yet been secured, leaving the timeline for completion undefined.

June 20, 2025 No Comments

Recreational Improvements Unveiled to Public Ahead of 2025 Summer Season

Major public recreational improvements are being unveiled to the public at the start of the 2025 summer season, including Hinsdale County’s new ADA accessible fishing pier at Lake San Cristobal Peninsula Park and — for the first time since 2021 — the inaugural reopening of Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests’ Deer Lakes on Slumgullion Pass.Although unrelated, both projects received significant funding through Colorado Parks & Wildlife, $150,000 funding through Parks & Wildlife’s Fishing is Fun Program with 25 percent local match enabling the county to proceed with its long-envisioned EZDock railed walkway and pier which is now open at Peninsula Park.With county match, total cost of the new fishing pier aggregates $193,925 which includes $165,925 paid to the EZDock firm, $3,500 to Ediger Construction, $21,525.45 to Hinsdale Road & Bridge for site work and installation last fall and this spring, and $2,282.80 materials, together with $510.60 administration costs.With mixed reviews and an earful to Hinsdale County Commissioners, Gunnison National Forest has also now unveiled both fishing lakes and adjacent Forest Service campground at Deer Lakes which has been closed since a washout of the complex’s uppermost lake in June, 2021.Funding for GMUG’s refurbishment at Deer Lakes totals in excess of $1.5-million and includes $400,000 from Colorado Parks & Wildlife for rock rip-rap reinforcement and other improvements — including easily accessed ADA fishing pier — at the fishing lakes, as well as a $1-million federal Great America Outdoors Act grant to the Forest Service for a major overall and expansion of the adjacent campground.A caveat to this season’s inaugural Deer Lakes Campground opening is widespread public outrage referenced during county commissioners’ open discussion at the Wednesday morning, June 4, meeting resulting from realization that Forest Service concessionaires at the popular campground are now charging a day-use fee for parking.A popular summer fishing destination since Hinsdale County Chamber of Commerce built the lakes on Forest Service ground on the upper Cebolla side of Slumgullion Pass in 1954, the newly implemented day-use fee for both fishing and parking at the campground impacts not only fishermen but also wildlife-watchers, in particular locals and visitors who frequent the lakes to catch sight of moose.In addition to the new day-use fee for parking at Deer Lakes, a new $18-per-night charge has been implemented for overnight camping, reflecting upgrades completed by Forest Service contractor Mike Davis & Sons, Grand Junction, last fall which increased designated trailer and tent camping from 11 to 13 spaces, three new double-vault toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, and bear-proof food storage lockers.In the wake of critical comments during last week’s open discussion — Commissioner Hurd reflecting he has been contacted by 40 or more “highly upset” people — Hinsdale Administrator Sandy Hines issued a press release on June 5 reiterating that the campground concessionaire at both Deer Lakes and the upper Lake Fork’s William Creek Campground is contracted to RRM — Recreation Resource Management of America.In the county’s press release, Hines states the newly instigated day-use fee at Deer Lakes is $8, “allowing people to park at the day use area to use the facilities such as the restroom, picnic tables, throw trash away, hike the trails, and fish. If folks want to just picnic in a campsite for up to two hours, then they will charge them $6.” “There will be a drop box for people to pay, and there is a host on site as well.”On behalf of the Forest Service, Hinsdale County also advises that RRM, the campground concessionaire, is offering an inaugural, first-year season pass for $50 which increases to $100 per year for subsequent years.Members of the public with additional questions on the newly implemented day-use charge are advised to contact the GMUG’s Delta, Colorado, office, 970-874-6600, or the Forest Service’s Gunnison office, 970-641-0471.At open discussion on June 4, Hinsdale Commissioners Levine and Hurd indicated they had been “blindsided” by the decision to require a day-use charge at Deer Lakes, Commissioner Hurd declaring there “is no way” fishermen — who have already paid for a fishing license — should be assessed a further charge for using public lands. Hurd stated he had conferred with GMUG Supervisor Dale Funka who indicated the decision to implement a day-use charge was the result of a decision further up in the government echelon.Both Hurd and Levine indicated they would like to revisit the day-use charge in advance of next summer, both men expressing the hope that a no-charge solution might be reached next year.Commissioner Borchers stated that in her view the bulk of the money used for the campground refurbishment came from federal sources. “The Forest Service spent a ton of money,” according to Borchers, while minimal funding was required from Hinsdale County. Commissioner Levine countered that the county has funded some signage at Deer Lakes, in addition to being “big proponents and heavy advocates” for the enhancement project at both the lakes and campground.By way of background, Deer Lakes on Forest Service land began in 1954 as the brainchild of Hinsdale County Chamber of Commerce with the goal of expanding fishing opportunities in the region. Volunteers from the chamber used heavy equipment to construct a series of four lakes, funding coming from private individuals who donated cash in return for the lakes being named for the donors.Routed wooden signs on display at Hinsdale County Museum recall the lakes’ early names, including Lake Hildegarde for Hildegarde Wupperman, together with lakes named for Emory Carper, Slug Stewart, and Art Weaver. Although located on Forest Service property, Colorado Parks & Wildlife historically maintained and regularly stocked the increasingly popular lakes after it was determined it was not legal to post signs naming each of the lakes on public lands.Beaver activity, together with the heavy tread of moose was cited as the reason for an unexpected breach of the top lake on June 27, 2021. As initially engineered, the top lake fed in succession on descending levels through Deer Lakes Nos. 2, 3, and 4, although as a result of the

June 20, 2025 No Comments

Seven Lake City Community School Students Receive Diplomas as the Class of 2025 Graduates May 31

The grounds of Lake City Community School played host to more than a hundred celebrants as well as teachers, staff, and Board on Saturday, May 31.Under bright skies the LCCS graduating class of 2025 received their diplomas and opened the door to the future.Following the Pledge of Allegiance led by the kindergarten and 1st grade students Superintendent Rebecca Hall addressed the crowd. Displaying gentle good humor and keen insight of her students, Hall spoke of the sound of dedication, which is not found in the loud celebrations of milestones or in front an audience’s applause. Instead, she found the sound of dedication in quiet rooms, the effort marked by click clack, pause, and resume. The hum of the lights, the quiet voice from the next classroom, and the concentration of students is where greatness grows.Chosen by the graduates as the keynote speaker was Mindy McClung, World Language Teacher. McClung began by thanking her fellow teachers for their support of the students but noting that the students themselves provided the persistence, resilience, and commitment to growth that took them to the threshold of their lives.McClung went on with observations of each of the graduates gleaned from her years with most of them. She admired the way that Dawson Brown dug deeper into their studies of ASL (American Sign Language) to better understand deaf culture, adding depth to his language study.Silas Fox drew many superlatives for his work in her language labs, with McClung describing him as a steady and uplifting presence exhibiting thoughtful leadership. She went on to praise Priya Hartman for her kindness, generosity, and helpful attitude.Continuing her observations, McClung called out Leland Hudgeons for his loyalty to family and his commitment to always being his true self. Fellow classmate Titus Humphreys demonstrated quiet determination and a strong sense of purpose, often leading by doing.McClung’s insights continued by noting Ava Wingard’s spark, her ability to turn ordinary moments into something special, and her ability to give her all at all times. Noting that she had not had as much time with KC Wuest as with her other student, McClung was nonetheless able to point to his sense of humor and quick wit, his ability to be himself in all situations.McClung concluded her remarks by urging the graduates to take their curiosity with them into the world and that learning is a lifelong journey.As is the custom at LCCS, the graduates each took turns addressing the crowd of well-wishers.KC Wuest spoke with brevity, thanking his family and teachers, and remarking on future unknowns.Dawson Brown pointed out the bittersweet moment of graduation, noting that he did not like school but that he has shared many good memories with friends and family. Dawson had particular thanks for his family, especially his brother Dean. He was particularly grateful to his teachers for recognizing his struggles and offering him what he needed in the moments.Leland Hudgeons followed that with a touching tribute to a childhood friend lost to a tragic accident recently. After thanking his family and fellow graduates, he reminded everyone to remember those who have been lost and to not take loved ones for granted.Titus Humphreys made note of the transition of leaving childhood behind and moving into adulthood. He spent time thanking his extended family, and shared a quote from Nicola Tesla, “The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite insane.” Like Tesla, Titus looks to make a mark on the world. Ava Wingard took the podium to remind the onlookers that each day is long but the years are short. Ava spoke eloquently about her family and the lessons they provided for her. She also amused the crowd with a story involving some of her fellow graduates when they were in kindergarten, illustrating one of the peculiarities of a small school system.“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness, streams in the wasteland.” (Isiah 43:19) Priya Hartman spoke of the importance of doing new things and how that is possible knowing that one has a secure home base. She thanked her extensive family for her loving and sometimes riotous upbringing.Rounding out the afternoon was Silas Fox, who spoke about the experience of being in a small town and an even smaller school and the unexpected connections this can build. Silas explained that his connection to Lake City was not supposed to happen in the first place but for a fortuitous set of circumstances that brought him from Kazakhstan to the San Juan Mountains.Silas is also credited with bringing two special guests to the ceremony, former State of Colorado Representatives Kathleen Curry and Barbara McLachlan. Silas’ friendship with McLachlan dates back to an early school trip to the State Capitol. He found both of them to be inspirational mentors that fostered his love for politics and his decision to pursue a degree in Political Science.The commencement ceremony moved quickly through the presentation of candidates and awarding of diplomas. The crowd was boisterous in its approval of each graduate and the recessional led to celebratory cupcakes on the school lawn.

June 6, 2025 No Comments

Dear Grant, seasonal residents and visitors, and the People of the county of Hinsdale,

Considering the recent implementation and passage of statutory laws that are solely infringements against the natural, God-given, and constitutionally secured rights of the people, as well as events nationally and here locally, I would like to remind the American reader of their true significance and power. We are not a nation of tyrants and their endless regulations and usurpations. We are a constitutional Republic founded on natural rights and common-law, though we have strayed very far from the fundamental principles and vision of our Republic’s founders.As was stated by them, a Republic is the best form of government for an intelligent and knowledgeable populace but the worst for an ignorant one. Is it any wonder that our government-ran schools no longer teach the civics and hierarchy of law that was established by the wise and courageous founders? Article VI, Clause 2 of the constitution for the United States of America, known as the supremacy clause, ordains that: “This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.”If our public servant legislatures, executives, or judges who are sworn in under oath to be “bound thereby” violate the supreme law instead of upholding it, who then will maintain the highest law clearly intended to supersede all others? Ultimately, this is the duty and responsibility of the people, who are the true sovereignty of our once great Republic that has fallen far from the wayside of true progress and freedom. This is succinctly defined in our law as follows: “SOVEREIGN POWER. See SOVEREIGNTY.The sovereign or supreme power in every state resides in the people. Blackstone supposes the jura summi imperii, or the right of sovereignty, to reside in those hands in which the exercise of the power of making laws is placed. Our simple and more reasonable idea is that the government is a mere agency established by the people for the exercise of those powers which reside in them. The powers of government are not, in strictness, granted, but delegated powers.They are then trust powers and may be revoked. It results that no portion of sovereignty resides in government.” Anderson ;1 Sharsw. Bl. Com. 49. (Bouvier’s Law Dictionary, 1928, Page 1121). Consequently, we should never accept being a commercial nation, state, or county comprised of subjects and their public masters, but a Republic of we the People with our public servants bound by oath to sustain our will; the latter who currently necessitate being duly reminded of their subordinance and subservience to the former. ~ JT Stratton, one of the People of Colorado domiciled on the county of Hinsdale

May 16, 2025 No Comments

Snow Showers, Elevated Spirits at Long-Awaited Groundbreaking…

After decades of discussion and faltered plans, Hinsdale County Commissioners, staff, and Sheriff’s Office personnel have broken ground on the 6,000-square foot Operations Building which is being built directly south of Hinsdale County Courthouse at the corner of 4th and Henson Street.Ground breaking in advance of this week’s start of work by contractor Buildings-by-Design and excavation subcontractor — additional photos, page 5— took place last Tuesday afternoon, May 7, with commemorative hardhats and diminutive gold-painted shovels in the midst of a spring snow shower.Pictured left to right are County Finance Officer Lynn McNitt, Administrative Assistant Davee Menzies, County Administrator Sandy Hines, Building Official Gabe McNeese, Dana Hlavac on behalf of Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Hinsdale Commissioners Robert Hurd, Greg Levine and Kristie Borchers, Hinsdale Sheriff’s Department Administrative Assistant Bobbi Vickers McDonald, and Hinsdale County Sheriff Denim Starnes. Cole Zwesler, a travel tech working with Montrose-based Alpine Archaeology — standing, far left — is monitoring subsurface excavations at the site of the new County Operations Building on Henson Street.Zwesler is keeping an eye out for remnants of the old county jail building which burned in 1946 — pictured below left at the site location from a 1902 Sanborn Insurance Map — together with another now vanished frame building at the site, identified below as an assay office, which was originally occupied as a library started by Rev. George Darley in 1877, and later briefly used as a hospital.

May 15, 2025 No Comments

Town, County OHV Regs, Hours of Operation in Advance of Busy Season

Hinsdale Commissioners at their Wednesday, May 7, meeting briefly discussed the county’s amended ordinance addressing increased safety fines, mandatory spark arrestors, and hours of operation for Off Highway Vehicles on county roads.As previously reported, the county’s annual Colorado Dept. of Transportation program allowing OHVs on the portion of State Highway 149 from the Lake Turnoff at CR30 south to and through the Town of Lake City once again commences the first Friday before Fathers’ Day – this year Friday, June 13 – and continues through September.In their amended ordinance, commissioners are enacting increased OHV fines for safety violations and, as a fire precaution, are mirroring State of Colorado’s requirement that OHVs are equipped with spark arrestors.In addition to the four-mile section of Highway 149 through town, OHVs are allowed on all county roads in unincorporated portions of the county at all times, although new this year and in effect from May 25, seasonal hours of operation June 1 – September 30 are limited to 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.Town of Lake City is in process of adopting similar mandatory hours of operation for OHVs on all town streets.Elsewhere during last Wednesday’s meeting, Commissioners Borchers, Hurd, and Levine heard an update on spring runoff outflow from Lake San Cristobal and lake outlet gates that are gradually being lowered as runoff peaks.Commissioner Levine reported on a whirl of activity at Lake San Cristobal Peninsula Park which includes work on the summit of the peninsula for the Ben Brownlee Memorial with engraved rails, Terry Klug’s new lockable gate regulating access to the county boat dock ramp per the invasive aquatic species program, and installation of the county’s new disability-accessible fishing pier that is scheduled May 21.Commissioner Borchers, who will address crowds attending the annual Memorial Day Veterans’ Service on May 26, updated her fellow commissioners that engraving is scheduled updating the Veterans’ Park Memorial with the names Paul Olson, Martin Franz, David Flynt, Robert Case, Denis Cox, and R.S. Scott.In announcing First Responder Appreciation Week this week, Borchers expressed gratitude to the local EMS team, reciting the following list: Brad Jones, Paramedic; Amanda Hartman, AEMT; Dan Humphreys, AEMT; Rachel Moore, EMT-IV; Melody Crump, EMT-IV; Leslie Nichols, EMT-IV; Katherine Heidt, EMT; Richard Williams, EMT; Kelly Elkins, EMT; Danny Oge’, EMT; Sarah DeCristino, EMT; Grant Loper, EMT; Lorie Stewart, Driver; Tom Arnold, Driver; Jenn Pierce, Driver; Lydia McNeese, Driver; Jerry Johnson, Driver; Daniel Bernat, Driver; and Sarah Moody, Driver.Borchers also announced that the county has competitively been awarded a no-match $1,100 grant from Sea Tow Foundation as part of a loaner life jacket program.Thirty loaner life jackets in bright yellow hue, together with applicable information on the life-saving importance of wearing a life jacket for lake water recreation, will be available from a metal stand which will be displayed at the county board dock starting this summer. The life jackets — in sizes infant, child, youth, adult, and adult extra large — are described by Borchers as part of a “great proactive project” and were timed for arrival in advance of National Safe Boating Week May 17-23.Intense discussion ultimately leading to an apparent difference of opinion at the Commissioners’ May 7 meeting revolved around disappointing results from this year’s Secure Rural Schools appropriation from the U.S. Forest Service.Last year’s SRS funding appropriation, which the county split with Hinsdale County School District, amounted to a hefty $276,353 of which half, $138,176, went to Hinsdale County School District and the county’s half, $138,176, allotted to Hinsdale County Road & Bridge Dept.A proverbial wrench in the budgeting works for both county and school, however, is the fact SRS legislation expired in 2024 and has not to this point been reauthorized by Congress.In lieu of SRS, the 1908 Act for apportionment of FS funds — for Hinsdale County, primarily receipts from logging on FS land and concessionaire payments from FS Campgrounds — is in effect and results in a dramatically reduced financial payment to the county.Instead of $290,000 which was budgeted in 2025, the county has in fact received just $88,503. Under the old SRS, Hinsdale County had already agreed to split the amount evenly with Hinsdale School District, but the 1908 Act allows distribution at the county’s discretion with a minimum 25 percent to the school.A lively discussion ensued with Commissioner Hurd strenuously advocating that 75 percent FS funds should be retained by the county and apportioned entirely to Hinsdale County Road & Bridge, Hurd describing funding for the county’s Road & Bridge Dept. as “dire” and “extremely hard for them to function without this money.”A formal vote on the 1908 F.S. funds will come in the form of a resolution at the county board’s next meeting, Commissioners Levine and Borchers expressing their preference to continue the 50-50 split with the school despite the lesser amount.

May 15, 2025 No Comments

Tag: Hinsdale County