Lake City | The Silver World Newspaper

Durango Tops Racers in Saturday’s 7th Alpine 50 50-Mile Bike Race

Cool morning temperatures and gently moist track conditions proved ideal for a total of 113 mountain bike athletes competing in last Saturday’s 7th Annual Alpine 50 bike race.Top finishers in this year’s race were two Durango racers in their 40s in first and third place, repeat Alpine 50 winner Todd Wells, 49, crossing the finish line first in just three hours, 29.20 minutes, and, in third position, Nick Gould, 46, 3 hours, 37.58 minutes.Gould finished the race near-tandem with second place finisher, 20-year-old Kip Sevenoff, also from Durango, time 3 hours, 37.56 minutes.Top place women’s racer with finish time 4 hours, 16.51 minutes was Lauren Aggeler from Durango, with Glenwood Springs racer Manessah Franklin, 4 hours, 35.04, and Jenya Berinot, 4 hours, 38.21, respectively in second and third place among women.Aggeler, age 21 and part of the Durango powerhouse team of bicyclists, was an hour faster than last year’s first place finisher, Liv Geer, attributable to sheer athleticism and ideal race conditions neither too wet nor too dry. The all-time fastest time for a women’s finisher in the Alpine 5 was speedy Alexis Skarda, three hours, 55 minutes, in COVID race year 2020.Top place male finisher Wells represented the U.S. in Olympic mountain bike competition in 2004, 2008, and 2012, and is familiar with the Alpine 50 afterVol. 48, No. 22 Friday, August 29, 2025 Lake City, Hinsdale County, Colorado 81235 U.S.P.S. No. 436-63075¢successive first and second place finishes in multiple years. For this year’s race, he sauntered by bike over Cinnamon Pass from Silverton on August 22 in advance of the race and, immediately following the race, again rode his mountain bike back over the mountain with time out to savor a Dale’s Pale Ale on the pass summit before descending to Silverton.Five Lake City locals competed in Saturday’s 50-miler, first across the finish line and youngest of all racers, Lake City high school freshman Joseph Tubbs, 14, time 5 hours, 48.22 minutes, followed in close pursuit by Todd Schweitzer, 5:58.43, and Bennett Levine, 6:10.16.Rounding out the list of Lake City racers in this year’s Alpine 50 were Dan File, 6:35.22, and County Commissioner Greg Levine who pedaled furiously after starting off from Lake City Park starting gate with his son, Greg Levine, and finished the race after 7 hours, 38.26 minutes.Common and commendable themes in the August 23 50-mile Alpine Loop race were its smooth as clockwork organization, enthusiastic volunteers, and bicyclists who — without exception — cited the Alpine 50 as exceptional in terms of outstanding mountain vistas from the summits of Cinnamon and Engineer Passes.Organized by Michael Fleishman and John Coy of Human Powered Endeavors on behalf of Lake Fork Valley Conservancy, remunerative tops from the weekend bike competition were $1,000 donation to Wee Care and $1,100 to Lake Fork Conservancy as proceeds from a mountain bike raffle.An overriding theme for the 108 mountain bikers — 87 men and 21 women — who completed the mountain circuit beginning and ending in Lake City Park was compassion and an overriding kindness exceeding athletic passion.Silas Bartels from Brooklyn, New York, was among a trio of Bartels brothers in this year’s race. He remained upbeat despite two above-timberline flat tires and a detached gear shifter which he held in place amid cheers as he crossed the finish line.What most impressed the first-time Alpine 50 contestant, however, was the pervasive kindness. He remarked that numerous fellow bicyclists and OHV recreationists stopped to offer assistance as he struggled to repair the flat tires.“Everyone was so helpful,” he said, “there was so much kindness out there.”In spite of mechanical difficulties, the New York resident finished the race in 52nd place among men with an overall time 6 hours, 6.31 minutes covering the 50-mile track. With their father, Lloyd Bartels on the sidelines, Silas Bartels’ two brothers, Liam, from Heidelberg, Germany, and Salida, Colorado bike enthusiast Josef Bartels, also finished the race, Josef in men’s fourth position, time 3 hours, 46.24 minutes.Remarkable race statistics as recited by race co-organizer Mike Fleishman, included both Liam Bartels (finish time 6 hours, 19.29 minutes) and Andres Gamboa (3:57.01), from San Jose, Costa Rica, as traveling the greatest distances to attend this year’s Alpine 50, as well as youngest racer in this year’s event, 14-year-old Lake City racer Joseph Tubbs.Another local racer, 69-year-old Dan File — who has competed and finished every Alpine 50 race since its inception seven years ago — joined Fruita, Colorado, racer Beth Collins, 68, as eldest in this year’s race.Mountain bicyclists from Durango, Colorado, were once again predominate in terms of cumulative speed, first place cyclists Wells, Sevenoff, and Gould ascending the platform to accept the coveted Sheldon Little Fastest Team Award, while two women counterparts — Manesseh Franklin (4:35.04) and Tara Foster (7:05.16) — garnered the Fastest Team Award on behalf of Glenwood Springs, Colorado.Not surprisingly, Michael Underwood Photography’s True Grit Award went to Silas Bartels, while Random Acts of Kindness Accolades went to Colorado Springs mountain bicyclist Brad Priebe (5:50.12) who stopped to assist two different race competitors; Most Enthusiastic Award to seven-time Alpine 50 biker Bryan Balliet (3:56.31); Best Beard, Derek Horejs (6:41.49); and All Smiles Award, Leadville racer Marley Seifert (6:22.25).Following are insights following brief interviews with top finishers, locals, and a smattering of other Alpine 50 race finishers:Leader of the pack was Todd Wells of Durango with a time of 3 hours, 29 minutes, 20 seconds. Although Wells was concerned about the chance of rain, it turned out to be a beautiful, dry day with perfect temperatures. With weather not providing an obstacle, Wells found other challenges to face, not surprisingly at the highest points of the route, where the air is thin and the climbs are steep on Cinnamon and Engineer Passes. Wells said that he wanted to race in the Alpine 50 because “Lake City is a cool town” and the course is, he said, “spectacular.”Reflecting on his second place finish — 3 hours, 29.20 minutes — and inaugural Alpine 50, 20-year-old Kip Sevenoff

August 29, 2025 No Comments

Town Board and County Commissioners Consider Options for Sheriff’s Office IGA

During the joint Town and County Meeting August 13, Town of Lake City staff and Hinsdale County Commissioners’ final item on the meeting’s agenda was to begin negotiations for an Inter-departmental Government Agreement (IGA).Mayor Roberts began the conversation explaining that the former IGA between these entities remained unclear in terms of language used because it had been amended and patched together out of old IGAs, and that it was possibly necessary to ‘wipe the slate clean’ and ‘start from scratch.’Town Manager Lex Mulhall said, “that’s really the first question. Why spend the money on the IGA? Is he [Sheriff Denim Starnes] going to sign an IGA?”Mulhall was referencing an article written by correspondent Gianna Morena in the July 25 issue of Silver World that stated:‘Starnes is frank about the lack of manpower putting long-term planning on the back burner behind more immediate concerns. Nevertheless, he points to modernizing operations and reestablishing a presence in the more remote parts of Hinsdale County, which he feels have been neglected, as areas he hopes to address.One way to narrow his office’s focus may be to allow HCSO’s contract for law enforcement services with the Town of Lake City to expire in December. “I’m going to be either lauded or hated for what I decide to do with this contract. But the longer I think about this, the more and more I’m becoming convinced that the Town of Lake City needs to have its own marshal’s office so that the sheriff’s office can actually do its job out in the county.” [said Starnes.]Incorporated towns in Colorado have a statutory duty to provide police service. While many sheriffs provide municipal services under contract, they are not obligated to do so. The administrative and financial costs to the town for standing up its own police force would be substantial.’Starnes was not present at the August 13 meeting,(nor was Commissioner Greg Levine, who had attended the meeting earlier but needed to leave mid-meeting), and Mulhall said, “without the Sheriff being here…we can have our attorneys work on details such as liability language in there, what the costs potentially would be in 2026 and beyond, but what we really need to do is circle back, get the Sheriff in a room in a mutual understanding between all boards, that is really key at first, so maybe we need to wait until that happens before we dig into this.”County Administrator Sandy Hines said, “I think we all know for many years, that idea of the Town potentially looking at another way has come up over and over. I think it’s possible that Sheriff Starnes may have heard those conversations or may have heard over time alternate ideas. But nothing official has happened.”Mayor Roberts said, “why I want to talk about this while we’re all together, there has been some muddy water over this but I want to make it clear, the trustees did not wake up one day and say ‘we’re cancelling the IGA’ or anything like that.”Commissioner Kristie Borchers said, “I think one of the first things we need to hammer out is that there is a difference in legal opinion between the Town and County attorneys regarding what a County is required to provide a town with law enforcement. I think that would be first on our list, because that then drives the money. Also, I wanted to bring up this idea of one person assigned to the Town. The reason that came up was a way to evaluate costs, only. That was Sheriff Kambish, he thought that was the way to figure out costs, but maybe its not. The idea is, how is it equitable to split what the Sheriff is doing within the Town as opposed to what he does in the County. Even though that is how it is written, I think we just tend to think that we have to sign it for three years, and it happens again and again. Now we have a couple months. I think now you have this opportunity where our attorneys can collaborate and we can come up with a better agreement. The IGA has been cobbled together for so long, now it’s time to think about best practice models and come up with something better. ”Town Attorney Dan Krob spoke up, saying, “I just wanted to say a couple of things. You guys are all there doing public service, you’re all there for the community, whether that’s people in unincorporated Hinsdale County, or in the Town of Lake City, you’re all there on the same team. Like Commissioner Borchers said, that IGA has probably been hacked together over longer than I’ve been practicing law. I do think you would all benefit to sit down and figure out what exactly you want and what your priorities are. It might be time to wipe the slate clean and start with a new IGA if you guys want to do that. I’ve seen a lot of collaboration between you [two boards]. which is one of the reasons I enjoy being down there, and we can make this work easy and simple. There’s been enough rumors flying around that I think it would be beneficial to sit down with the Sheriff and find out what is his position, what does he want to do, and go from there.”

August 23, 2025 No Comments

Town of Lake City Celebrates 150th Anniversary

Town of Lake City Board of Trustees and Mayor Dave Roberts have been working for months toward a celebration of the sesquicentennial anniversary of the founding of Lake City in 1875. On Saturday, August 16, 150 years to the day of the formal founding of Lake City’s Township, a party was held in Town Park under sunny August skies and near-perfect temperatures. The party kicked off with some of Lake City’s favorite visitors, the colorful Ute Mountain Ute dancers, a full account of which can be read in the adjacent story. At noon, three speakers took the stage to give the audience some background on the lifespan of the Town of Lake City. First up was former Town Manager Michelle Pierce, who spoke of the founding of the Lake City Township. Next was Chair of the Historic Preservation Commission, Joe Fox, who talked about the importance of the Historic District. Lastly, Town Trustee Henry Woods spoke about the future of Lake City. In Pierce’s speech, she told the crowd: “many towns and cities in Colorado were first established by Town Companies. Gunnison, Montrose, Grand Junction, Ouray, Buena Vista and Colorado Springs, to name a few. There was even a North Denver Town Company. Lake City was one of them. Throughout my career, I was always a bit confused about the relationship between the Lake City Town Company and the Town of Lake City. I assumed that, at some point, there was a clean break between the dissolution of the Town Company and the establishment of the Town Government.In fact, they were formed at the same time and were two separate entities with completely separate purposes. Articles of Incorporation for the Lake City Town Company were signed on July 21, 1875 by 22 incorporators and filed for record with the Secretary of the Colorado Territory on September 28, 1875. The corporation was established for a period of 20 years.The Articles provided for a 7-member Board of Trustees. The first Board of Trustees was made up of President Henry Finley, Secretary Newton F. Bogue, Treasurer W. F. Ring and Trustees Otto Mears, Isaac Gothelf, H. M. Woods and Enos T. Hotchkiss.The purpose of the Town Company was to take and hold tracts of land for the purpose of establishing and erecting a town and to improve, sell, or otherwise dispose of this land. On August 16, 1875, one hundred and fifty years ago today, and in response to a petition signed by two-thirds of the resident voters and householders of Lake City, the Hinsdale County Board of Commissioners ordered that corporate powers as a town be delegated to Lake City as provided for in Chapter 84 of the Revised Statutes of the Colorado Territory, titled ‘Towns and Cities.’ The commissioners ordered that Lake City be thereafter known as the “Town of Lake City” with full corporate powers and appointed a 5-member Board of Trustees consisting of Henry Finley, F. Newton Bogue, Warren T. Ring, John D. Bartholf, and William C. Lewman.” Joe Fox spoke about the importance of the history of Lake City, saying, “After the nearly ghost town era for Lake City in the 30s and 40s, more and more tourists began to come in the 50s and 60s. By the 1970s locals and habitual summer visitors began to think more about the history of the town. Some Lake City residents got together in 1973 and created the Hinsdale County Historical Society, and established the Museum. We have our well-respected newspaper editor and longtime historical society president, Grant Houston, to thank for maintaining an active interest in these preservation activities from that beginning in the early 1970s. Lake City’s National Historic District was established in 1978, with the strong support of Mayor Bob Hall and developer John Parker, whose effort to rehabilitate several of the town’s old historic buildings was well served by the financial incentives that the district’s creation brought.” Henry Woods said, regarding the future of Lake City, “I don’t have a time machine or a crystal ball, but there are things that I feel certain are going to happen here. One thing I am sure of is that Lake City will continue to be the best place to visit and live in Colorado. I’m sure you have noticed all the dead trees that have been killed by insects. There are only two ways to kill those bugs: extreme cold or fire. We don’t have extreme cold temperatures anymore. The biggest event I can see in our future is the big forest fire. It’s not an issue of ‘if’ our forests will burn, but just ‘when.’ It will be a traumatic event for us, but in the long run it can be a very good thing. I feel certain that our Towns people will succeed in protecting our little village. Many thanks to our residents who volunteer for everything. After the fire, there will be an awesome new beginning that will feature more Ponderosa Pines and Junipers, and other lower elevation dryer climate species.” Birthday Audience in Awe Watching Ute Ceremonial Dances Indigenous people’s reverence for the land was repeatedly referenced by Southern Ute “Red Sky” dancers and applauded by an appreciative audience during Town of Lake City’s 150th anniversary celebrations on Saturday, August 16.Led by Mark and Rita Wing of the southwest-Colorado-based Southern Ute Tribe, traditional Ute dances performed by the “Red Sky Dancers” were rhythmically led by the drumbeat of singer Austin Jacket and included newly-crowned Miss Indian Colorado, Aliyah Jacket, performing the traditional Ute War Dance.Again to wide audience applause, she was followed later in the program by authentically-costumed, eagle-bedecked Pharo Laner and Steven Pensoneau, respectively precisely performing the Northern Man’s Chicken Dance and Southern Man’s Fancy Dance.Also dressed in authentic costume with an array of eagle feathers was leader Mark Wing with the Traditional Northen Men’s Dance, and his wife, co-leader Rita Wing with another traditional Ute dance entitled Women’s Northern Cloth.Comfortably seated in shade and bright sun surrounding the dance performance, Lake City

August 23, 2025 No Comments

Out of 24 Starters, Swiss Racer is 1st in 100-Mile High 5 After 37.51 Hours

Exhausted runners in last weekend’s 7th annual High 5 100-mile mountain ultra run were contemplative after a continual multiple day and night slog through the mountains surrounding Lake City.For first place Swiss runner Benjamin “Benji” Wiederkehr, who crossed the town park finish line near dusk on Saturday 37 hours and 51 minutes after start of the run, most memorable and “magical” were shadows cast by a near full moon on the summits of 14,001’ Sunshine and 14,034’ Redcloud Peaks.Utah ultra runner Jared Campbell — second to cross the finish line at 11:07 p.m. Saturday and third overall with a start to finish running time of 41 hours, 7 minutes — stated he enjoyed “experimenting” with his race trajectory. He acknowledged some of the experimental routes, such as ascending 14,015’ Wetterhorn Peak and Matterhorn Peak, at a mere 13,590’, were successful in terms of time efficiency, while other self-determined routes such as bypassing vertically challenging Sunshine Falls near the base of Sunshine Peak in the dark were perhaps less successful and in fact “downright questionable.”A repeat favorite in this year’s High 5 was Gunnison middle school educator Dustin Simoens whose blunt post-race assessment after crossing the town park finish line at 12:06 a.m. Sunday was “I’ll absolutely never do that again’ due in part to the fact the 2025 High 5 was “by far the hardest” because of added checkpoints.Later on Sunday morning, at a celebratory post-race runners’ breakfast, he reconsidered, saying “yeah, I’ll probably do it again.”Due to the fact the Gunnison ultra runner had competed in three prior High 5 runs, he began the race at 9 a.m. Friday, August 8, three hours after the 6 a.m. start for first-time runners. Simoens completed the mountain race route second overall after running 39 hours, 6 minutes.The three top 2025 High 5 runners — Wiederkehr, Simoens, and Campbell — were among 24 ultra runners, including two women and three locals, who took part in this year’s race, six of whom — 25 percent — actually finished the run. All 24 starters were termed winners by race organizer Caitlin Rhodes at Sunday morning’s breakfast, Rhodes determining “it was a success for everyone.”Caitlin’s husband, race co-organizer Logan Rhodes Durango, Colorado, ultra runner Josh Golden, middle photo with pacer Mark Smith, breezed into Camp Trail Trailhead on the final leg of Saturday’s High 5 Run (photo Duane Keprta); left, at an early point in the race, local runner Logan Rhodes with Alexander Beckman and Dustin Simoens on proverbial heels, arrives at Capitol City (photo Jodi Linsey); right, after nearly 40 hours non-stop jogging, Benji Wiederkehr and Jared Campbell are contemplative at the town park finish line. has previously completed the run on two occasions, hence was assigned an 8 a.m. start from the park two hours after a majority of the racers. Rhodes was characteristically upbeat in his remarks at the 6 a.m. start, telling first-timers in the grueling mountain run “you are about to attempt one of the hardest things physically you’ve ever done.”He urged racers to savor the moment, telling them “one day in the distant future we’ll be old, broken down, and unable to do this… we don’t know how much time we have in this life.”In addition to the three top finishers, also successfully completing the run were Ted Schultz, Colorado Springs oil and gas pipeline manager, fourth with total running time 43 hours, 48 minutes; 52-year-old Durango, Colorado ultra runner Josh Golden, 45 hours, 8 minutes; and Brandon Worthington, from Longmont, Colorado, giving his registration address as “Longmonster,” who finished the High 5 at 4:10 a.m. Sunday after continuous 45-hour, 10-minute slog.Worthington drew smiles at his race start, 8 a.m. August 8, in recounting a “nightmarish” dream from which “I woke up screaming” prior to the race start.In the dream, Worthington said he encountered challenging changes to the race route which, on the Continental Divide, included an array of computers which he was mandated to hack before continuing the race.In the dream, Worthington said he thought to himself, “well, I’m not going to finish the race.” He drew laughter on Friday at the race start, telling cheering bystanders, “hopefully I’ve repressed that dream.”Apart from the top six out of the initial 24 who started the race, an additional three runners persevered and finished the 100-miler in Lake City between 8 and 9 a.m. on Sunday and well past the mandatory 6 a.m. cutoff: Lukas Zavorka, from Los Alamos, New Mexico, and fellow runner Joel Kuenning, Silverton, had a slow start, leaving the Camp Trail Trailhead in darkness at 9:55 p.m. Saturday and navigating both Williams Creek ascent and Alpine Gulch descent while omitting mandatory summit of Peak 13811; a third High 5 runner who completed the race in Lake City post cutoff was 35-year-old Alex Beckman, an architect from Salt Lake City.

August 14, 2025 No Comments

Town’s Origins Date Back 150 Years to Formation of Lake City Town Company

Town of Lake City’s Mayor Dave Roberts, along with Town Manager Lex Mulhall, Town staff and Town Board of Trustees have been hard at work planning the sesquicentennial anniversary of the founding of the Town of Lake City in 1875.To commemorate the occasion, there will be a celebration in Town Park on August 16 beginning at 10 a.m.The party kicks off with the always highly anticipated and appreciated Ute Mountain Ute Dancers, who have visited and performed in Lake City on several occasions over the years. The performance will begin at 10 a.m. in Town Park, and is classified, according to Town Trustee Henry Woods, as a “land acknowledgment and culturally artistic performance.”At noon, three speakers will be giving lectures about Lake City’s history, present and future. Mayor Roberts will begin with a welcome speech, followed by former Town Manager Michelle Pierce, speaking about the beginnings of Lake City and the origins of the “Lake City Town Company.”Next, historian and owner of the Slumgullion Gift Gallery in the historic Green Garage will be Joe Fox, speaking on the role and importance of the historic district in Lake City. Following him will be Trustee Woods to discuss the future of Lake City.The lectures are slated to take 45 minutes in total, followed by cupcakes from the Lake City Bakery and ice cream. Live music by Evelyn Roper and Opal Moon begins at 12:30 until 5 p.m. Beginning at 1 p.m., beer and margaritas will be served by Downtown Improvement and Renovation Team (DIRT) at the moderate hundred and fifty anniversary cost of just $1.50, along with food from local food trucks – Summit Wing House and Wagon Wheel. There will also be a cornhole tournament overseen by Town Trustee Nathan Wuest and a water slide courtesy of Town of Lake City’s Recreation Department. Next Saturday’s town park gala celebrates 150 years since formation of Town of Lake City as a municipal governmental organization starting with the quasi-public Lake City Town Company which was formally incorporated and recognized by Hinsdale County Commissioners on August 16, 1875. Although the town company was a privately-owned company with 220 $50 shares of stock owned by 22 leading light incorporators, Territorial Law also required a democratic component in which seven of the incorporators — a president, secretary, treasurer, and four trustees — were elected by the town’s registered male voters on an annual basis.Lake City Town Company incorporation documents were signed and filed in successive months July, August, and September, first with the county clerk in Saguache County in July, 1875, followed by incorporation filings with county clerks in Rio Grande and Hinsdale Counties and, finally Territorial Secretary of State in Denver on September 28, 1875. Focus of the town company as specifically cited in the incorporation documents was to take, enter, and hold tracts of land for the purpose of “establishing and erecting a town thereon and to lay off the said tract of land in Blocks, Lots, Streets, and Alleys… the said tract so laid off to be known as Lake City.”Further intent in the incorporation filing was to “improve, sell, or otherwise dispose of said Lots or Blocks and to do and perform all other business pertaining to the said Corporation.”Incorporators of the Lake City Town Company were, nearly without exception, well-connected businessmen, a majority of whom — including well- known toll road financier Otto Mears — were associated with the two principal toll roads servicing Lake City from Saguache and Del Norte in 1875 and 1876, the Saguache & San Juan Wagon Toll Road, and the Del Norte & Antelope Park Toll Road and its extension, the Antelope Park & Lake City Toll Road.Henry Finley and his father-in-law, John Bartholf, were among the Saguache & San Juan toll road building party which in August, 1874, found and interred the bodies of the five men murdered and partially cannibalized by Alferd Packer.The intrepid Finley successfully parlayed a herd of beef cattle brought from Saguache to Lake City which he traded for a stake in the Hotchkiss Lode, and in 1877 built the stone Finley Block, today’s home of Hinsdale County Museum.Also taking part in the grave digging for the Packer victims was another original member of the Lake City Town Company, toll road construction supervisor Enos T. Hotchkiss who, with Finley and others, took time to prospect and lay claim to a fabulously promising tellurium gold and silver claim overlooking the outlet of Lake San Cristobal. The claim was initially known as the Hotchkiss Lode before years later being rechristened by its better known title, the Golden Fleece Mine.Hotchkiss and Finley, with D.P. Church patented the Granite Falls mill site above Lake City, water power from which powered Lake City’s first saw mill.Finley served as President of the Lake City Town Company and, with fellow officers F. Newton Bogue, town company secretary, and Warren T. Ring, treasurer. Finley, Bogue, and Ring, together with trustees Otto Mears, Isaac Gotthelf, H.M. Woods, and Enos Hotchkiss immediately set to work identifying the future townsite on a 260-acre mosquito-infested tract of beaver dams and willows extending north from the juncture of Henson Creek with the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River.Town company officers reported expending $3,548.50 in October, 1875, perfecting title and securing patent to the 260-acre townsite, requisite details including a rudimentary survey by U.S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor W.C. Lewman.Starting at the extreme northeast corner of the 260 townsite plat and working its way southward to the mouth of Henson Creek, Lake City Town Company’s plat consisted of a total of 72 blocks, the majority with 32 25’ x 125’ lots each, divided by alleys, major envisioned thoroughfares — optimistically looking beyond the prevalent mosquitos, beaver ponds, and proliferation of willows — being north-south running Lake Street, Henson Street, Gunnison Avenue, Silver Street, and Bluff Street, with corresponding east-west running cross streets First through Ninth Streets to the west of the Lake Fork River, and Water Hotchkiss and Pine Streets, with cross streets on what

August 8, 2025 No Comments

Past Superlatives Among 25 Runners in Aug. 8 100-Mile Run

Preparations are in full out running mode — and 25 hardy men and women mountain endurance runners already enrolled — for the 7th Annual “High Five” 100-mile mountain run starting 6 a.m. Friday, August 8, and continuing until mandatory cut-off at 6 a.m. Sunday, August 10.According to organizer Logan Rhodes — who this year happens to again be one of the race entrants — the informal race route starting and ending at Lake City Town Park remains essentially the same, with each of the qualifying runners required to reach checkpoints on the summits of each of the county’s five 14,000’ elevation peaks, 14,309’ Uncompahgre Peak; Wetterhorn, 14,015’; Redcloud, 14,034’; Sunshine, 14,001’; and Handies, 14,048’.Rhodes, who initiated the hardcore endurance run with his wife, Lake City preschool instructor Caitlin Rhodes, in 2019, emphasizes that there is no pre-set route for the 100-mile run and is instead up to the individual runners to set their course which, in addition to the five 14,000’ peaks, also includes mandatory proof of summiting a variety of other lesser elevation 12,000’ and 13,000’ peaks, including 12,933’ elevation Crystal Peak near the race’s start.Among the 25 ultra runners already registered for the High 5 as of Tuesday this week, local runners include both Logan Rhodes and two other well- known mountain runners, Wade Wandrey, who came out of running retirement for this past June’s 50-mile San Juan Solstice, and School Teacher Doug Eby.Both Rhodes and Wandrey finished this year’s Solstice, Rhodes’ first among local runners in 44th place overall with a time of 11 hours, 34.16 minutes for the strenuous 50-miler, and Wandrey 61st overall, time 12 hours, 14 minutes in the Solstice.Also running in June’s San Juan Solstice — and also registered for this month’s 100-mile High Five is Gunnison middle school teacher Dustin Simoens. Simoens is a past High Five winner, taking first place in the inaugural 2019 High Five with time 32 hours, 51 minutes and in this year’s June San Juan Solstice loped a somewhat slower pace for the 50-miler, finishing 74th overall, 12 hours, 35.09 seconds.First time runners for this year’s August 8 High Five will line up on a Silver Street starting line adjacent to Lake City Park at 6 a.m. Friday; experienced runners who have previously competed in the race one time prior begin the race an hour later, at 7 a.m., and for High Five runners with two prior races under proverbial belt, the start time is 8 a.m.As earlier stated, the mandatory cutoff is 6 a.m. Sunday, August 10, with Caitlin Rhodes and other race organizers predictably camped out in the park throughout the night to greet runners crossing the finish line.A preliminary High Five race meeting for runners and volunteers is planned at the Rhodes’ Gunnison Avenue residence starting 6 p.m. Thursday, August 7.

August 1, 2025 No Comments

Early Childcare, EMS, Search & Rescue Considered for Lodging Tax Increase

Hinsdale County Commissioners are narrowing their focus on specific ballot language for multiple questions to be put before county voters this November. At their morning workshop Wednesday this week, Commissioners Borchers, Levine, and Hurd discussed at length specifics of a proposed lodging tax increase of up to four percent.During informal discussion, it was repeatedly stated that a three percent lodging tax increase may be more amenable to county voters and thus have a better chance for passage. Hinsdale County currently has a two percent lodging tax for marketing but new state legislation expands the parameters on how the tax may be used — adding medical services, early childcare, and affordable housing to the mix — for a maximum of up to six percent.Although the discussion is ongoing and will be continued at the county board’s Wednesday, August 6, workshop, the three commissioners have apparently reached concensus on seeking voter approval for a one percent lodging tax increase for both Hinsdale County Search & Rescue and Early Childcare.Still up for discussion at the urging of Commissioner Levine is whether ballot language will include either a one or two percent lodging tax increase for Hinsdale County Emergency Medical Services.Based on 2024 lodging tax revenues, one percent equates to $66,343. Earlier in workshop, both Commissioners Hurd and Borchers had indicated support for a one percent lodging tax increase for EMS, although Commissioner Levine was adamant that Hinsdale EMS — which annually receives a substantial financial subsidy from the county — is “financially strained” and, depending on further discussion, may warrant two percent of lodging tax revenues equating to roughly $130,000 on an annual basis.“I worry about EMS a lot,” said Levine, noting on that on consecutive days last month the county’s EMS team received five calls, all before 6 a.m.He emphasized, “a lot is being put on them.”Commissioners Borchers and Hurd reiterated their unequivocal support for “sustainable funding” for all emergency providers, Commissioner Hurd adding his view that in future revenues from the revamped All Hazards Team Program may be able to provide greater financial support to emergency services.A slight modification in Wednesday’s discussion on ballot wording for proposed lodging tax increases — and different from what has previously been reported — is that Lake City Area Medical Center is, at the medical board’s request, now out of the mix in terms of seeking a portion of lodging tax revenues.Medical Center funding through lodging tax was complicated by the fact the health service district is already a taxing district and any portion of lodging tax revenues would necessarily go to the county and be apportioned at the county board’s discretion.In a letter to commissioners from health services board of directors, it is stated that they now wish to be removed from further consideration for lodging tax revenues, commissioners surmising that “most likely,” said Levine, the health services district “will go for a sales tax increase in the near future.”Medical center’s withdrawal from consideration for revenues from an added county lodging tax mirrors Lake City Area Fire Protection District which had initially expressed an interest in lodging tax revenues but later concluded to formulate its own fall, 2025, ballot question seeking a county sales tax increase specifically benefiting the fire district.At the fire district’s meeting Tuesday evening this week, directors finalized plans to seek a 1.25 percent sales tax increase which, with voter approval this fall, would be collected by businesses within the fire district’s boundaries roughly estimated at about $425,000, according to fire district secretary Michelle Pierce. The revenue, in part, Pierce adds, is necessary due to recent determination that the district must hire a fire marshal in order to enforce fire code.Also at Wednesday’s county board workshop and meeting, Lake City resident Ingrid Burnett was formally appointed as the county’s representative on the joint Hinsdale/Mineral County Silver Thread Public Health District. Each county board is allowed two positions on the health board, two Mineral County Commissioners serving on the board and Levine the sole county commissioner from Hinsdale County. Burnett will now represent the county as the second Hinsdale County representative.At start of open discussion prior to start of workshop and regular meeting on Wednesday, Commissioner Borchers uncharacteristically volunteered first in line with a detailed, point by point response to an anonymous letter which has been received critical of the county.Depending on space restrictions, WORLD plans to preprint Borcher’s rebuttal verbatim, although in this abbreviated mention she methodically addressed points in the unsigned letter which included a perceived need for greater financial oversight of the county board, additional details on the now revamped All Hazards Team Program which included Borchers’ acknowledgment that $1.25-million paid by the county as part of the program was ultimately not reimbursed by State of Colorado as the result of unintentional incorrect billing; and the demand in the anonymous letter for greater transparency, including financial and lease/purchase details, on the ongoing construction of the county’s new administration building adjoining Hinsdale County Courthouse on Henson Street.Fellow Commissioners Levine and Hurd concurred with Borchers’ detailed rebuttal of the anonymous letter, Hurd thanking Borchers for compiling the information and emphatically stating “nothing is hidden,” while Commissioner Levine described Borchers’ summation as “very succinct and complete.” Levine continued, noting “the truth is the truth” and inviting and welcoming members of the public to personally attend meetings of the county board — or listen to audio recordings of the board’s meeting — in preference to drafting unsigned letters.Again during open discussion portion of the commissioners’ July 30 meeting, Commissioner Hurd expressed his frustration with ongoing mandatory $8 day use fees required in order to visit Deer Creek Lakes on the Upper Cebolla. Hurd indicated particular outrage at what he termed “aggressive behavior” on the part of the Forest Service facility’s on-site managers which now extends, he said, to placing paper tickets on the windshields of parked vehicles.Commissioners met earlier last month with Forest Service Supervisor Dale Funka who indicated that the decision to impose a charge at the popular fishing and moose-watching

August 1, 2025 No Comments

Gunnison Co. Electric Announces New Rate Structure Effective Jan. ‘26

Gunnison County Electric Association (GCEA) announces it will introduce a new rate design for residential and small commercial customers beginning January 1, 2026. This rate design change is part of a five-year transition, which will modernize GCEA’s rate structure to equitably recover operational costs across all rate classes and provide members with another way to control their electric bills.For years, GCEA has educated its members to use less energy through energy efficiency and conservation to save money on their bills. Energy usage patterns have evolved over time and demand for the electric grid is greater than ever, especially during peak hours when people head home from their daily activities to cook and take care of household chores. With GCEA’s rate design change, members can choose not only to save and conserve energy but also to shift their electric usage away from peak hours to lower their peak demand and reduce their monthly bill.GCEA is providing members with greater control by separating its current energy (kWh) charge, which currently combines the cost of total energy use with the cost of peak demand on the electric grid. GCEA’s new three-part rate structure will include the following components: service availability, energy usage (kWh), and peak demand (kW) charges.The peak demand charge will be based on the members’ highest hour of electric usage each month during peak hours from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, when demand for electricity is at its highest. Sundays are considered “off-peak” all day.This change will not only give members two ways to lower their bills, but will also promote rate equity among GCEA members. Under this new rate structure, each member will pay for their contribution to GCEA’s peak demand, independent of the amount of electricity they consume.This new rate component will not create additional revenue for GCEA. As a not-for-profit rural electric cooperative, GCEA operates at cost. The peak demand charge will be phased in over five years to facilitate a gradual transition. Since a portion of GCEA’s revenue will be recovered through the peak demand charge, the energy charge will be lower than it would be otherwise.“This change will promote fair cost recovery among members, give members a new way to control their monthly bill, and send a clear signal to members about actions they can take to help GCEA keep its rates as low as possible,” said GCEA CEO Mike McBride.GCEA encourages members to become familiar with their electric bill and identify their current peak demand reading. Members may also utilize the SmartHub app to track current energy usage and strategize how to reduce peak demand. Future member education and communication will assist members with how to prepare for this change.For more information on the new peak demand charge, please visit gcea.coop.

July 25, 2025 No Comments

Trustees Ponder Letter from Local Business Unhappy with Utility Rates

Turner states in her preface: “As seasonal lodging and tourism-based businesses are being hit with property tax increases, unfair utility rates, and increased lodging tax, the burden is immense. We feel some discriminatory action against our seasonal lodging businesses, and we hope to see some consideration.”

July 25, 2025 No Comments

Rehabilitation Complete at Lake City’s Historic Brick Green Garage

The historic Green Garage on 4th Street in Lake City’s downtown historic district — which houses Joe Fox’s Slumgullion Gift Gallery — has just recently completed a rehabilitation of its exterior brick walls and historic windows and door.The building’s owner received grant money from Colorado’s State Historical Fund (SHF) for almost half the slightly over $120,000 cost of the entire project. Hinsdale County Historical Society sponsored an initial SHF Planning Grant to create construction documents for the project, and for the actual repair work the Denver-based non-profit Colorado Preservation Inc. (CPI) sponsored and administered the successful grant from SHF.Lake City Town Trustees, Lake Fork Valley Conservancy, Hinsdale County Chamber of Commerce and several nearby property owners all provided critical letters of support for the project application and SHF awarded and initiated the rehabilitation project in 2023.The building’s brick walls on the south, east and west elevations of the original 1917 building, and its ca. 1930 expansion, were refurbished by Salida-based Agave Landscapes and Masonry headed by Thaddeus Hust, window work was completed by Henry Woods’ Native Sun Construction of Lake City, and door replacement was accomplished by new Lake City resident Jared Boyd of NOMI craftsman firm.Colorado State Historical Fund deemed the project to be successfully complete effective the end of June this year, and Fox tells WORLD that Jacob McDonald is to be thanked for his work on this project.From Colorado Preservation Inc.’s perspective, this successful rehabilitation completes the restoration of Lake City’s largest and only commercially utilized outbuilding, thus furthering CPI’s goal of saving Lake City’s historic outbuildings, which in 2010 were declared by CPI as one of Colorado’s Most Endangered Places.The current Green Garage work follows an initial 2010 SHF-funded project, accompanying the 2010 CPI Endangered Places designation, during which Town of Lake City and local volunteers, with assistance from Virginia-based HistoriCorps, rehabilitated several historic outhouses and carriage house/barns in the town’s historic district. Colorado Preservation Inc.’s help has been much appreciated in all these endeavors.Fox especially mentions the invaluable endeavors of CPI’s Jennifer Orrigo Charles and Kate McCoy for taking on this project. Further, Fox gives a shout-out to Architect Tim Stroh of Springboard Preservation Studio in Montrose, who capably dealt with the architectural responsibilities of this project.State Historical Fund monetary support and History Colorado’s participation is also greatly appreciated, according to Fox.To mark the completion of the Green Garage’s rehabilitation, Monday, July 21, the building’s owner, Fox, and Gift Gallery Staff will host an Open House starting at noon, and they and CPI staff will be on hand for a commemoration ceremony at 5 p.m. and an open-to-the-public potluck get-together from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Slumgullion Gift Gallery to celebrate the completion of this notable project.

July 18, 2025 No Comments

Tag: Lake City