Lake City - The Silver World Newspaper

Dear Grant and Silver World crew—

I continue to enjoy reading of Lake City from (very) far afield, here in Virginia. I noticed a reference to OHV decibel levels in the February 28 Silver World. While I have no dog in the OHV issue, my wife Liz and I were surprised at how many of them passed us as we trudged on foot up to Carson and back the last time we were in the area, in 2023. The article this week stated that OHVs made after 1 January 1998 must “register at 96dB(A).” Just for some context, using an app on my iPhone, down at my nearest NASCAR track in Richmond, when the green flag drops and forty race cars roar by at full throttle, it comes in at 109 decibels (see below). Very Respectfully,Steve StigallMcLean, Virginia

March 7, 2025 No Comments

Deputy Sarah Poet Resigns Sheriff’s Post Effective March 5

Sheriff’s Deputy Sarah Poet, one of the prime investigators on the January 24 vehicular hit and run case, resigned her post effective March 5, 2025. Poet began the academy application process in the fall of 2022, beginning classes in January, 2023. Once her training was completed, she was sworn in to the Hinsdale County Sheriff’s Office June 11, 2023, hired on by former Sheriff Chris Kambish. WORLD spoke with Poet this week, inquiring into her future plans, and she said she plans to remain in Lake City and return to work at The Country Store.“I really miss the people I got to see everyday at the store,” she said. When asked what she liked most about working in law enforcement, she said, “it was an amazing opportunity and I learned a lot. The law enforcement community is the most supportive community of people I’ve ever experienced. No matter what position or rank someone is – Sargeant, Captain, Lieutenant, Sheriff – it doesn’t matter, everyone is so supportive and always has each other’s best interest and success in mind. That was amazing.” With the vacancy Poet’s departure will create, Sheriff Denim Starnes is on the lookout for suitable sheriff’s deputies and has recently been interviewing new recruits.

March 7, 2025 No Comments

New Trustee Wuest Sworn in, OHV Noise Considered at BOT February 19 Meeting

During the February 19 Town of Lake City Board of Trustees meeting, newly appointed Trustee Nathan Wuest was officially sworn in by Mayor Dave Roberts. After taking his oath, Roberts congratulated Wuest, who thanked him in return. .Trustee Jodi Linsey spoke first in the workshop portion of the evening, saying that she had received an email from David Cherry dated January 31, addressed to the Mayor and Trustees. While Linsey did not read the letter, she deemed it “thoughtful and well-written,” and asked that it be included in the next meeting’s correspondence received.Town Manager Lex Mulhall stated that many emails had been received since the joint Town and County meeting and asked if all of those emails should be included, noting that nearly everyone has an opinion on OHVs and the volume of correspondence can become overwhelming.It was agreed upon, across the Board of Trustees, that in the interest of transparency any letter or email addressed to the Mayor and Board of Trustees should indeed be included in correspondence received to be available for public review.Turning the conversation to the matter of OHVs, Mayor Roberts said that he “wanted to keep the conversation going” ahead of the summer season, “because summer will be here before you know it, so the sooner we can have things in place and have information out there for people, the better.”Mayor Roberts directed Trustees to look over the Stay the Trail Off Highway Guidelines pamphlet, saying, “I think [the pamphlet] covers the question of excessive noise, and while it all comes down to enforcement, that’s a reason to have the Sheriff involved in that conversation. What irritates me is when they’re coming down Crooke’s Hill – I remember being a teenager and whoever had the loudest stereo ‘won’ – some [of the OHVs] are so loud you can hear them from town. They don’t need to be that loud.”The pamphlet states that vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1998 register at 96dB(A) [A-weighted decibel] and vehicles manufactured before that date register at 99dB(A).Trustee Diane Bruce pointed out that there is no way to measure this when an OHV is travelling on the road, especially when there are other vehicles around, and that the verbiage in the potential ordinance the Trustees are considering is “unreasonable or excessive engine noise or blower noise. The only way [to determine] it would be to have them rev their engine, stationary. Also – we don’t want vehicles up on the Loop – or driving around town for that matter – without their spark arrestors.” Bruce also cited the hours of operation proposed in the ordinance as 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m., with restricted operation of OHVs outside of those hours.”Mayor Roberts said, “I think we’re doing what we can, and I’d just like to get it done, so we can get the word out before the masses arrive.”Bruce added “it’s important to stay proactive and doing things in the direction of improving the situation, so let’s continue to do that.”

February 28, 2025 No Comments

Snowshoe racers at Saturday morning’s starting gate and the line of both 5K and 1K racers and walkers disappearing across Lake San Cristobal…

Top right and left: snowshoe racers at Saturday morning’s starting gate and the line of both 5K and 1K racers and walkers disappearing across Lake San Cristobal; center right, first place 5K snowshoer Doug Eby on the final leg of the race and, left to right, first and second place 1K winners Tracey Henson, from Colorado Springs, and Tickfaw, Louisiana, snowshoer Trey Tycer and, in second place, Jim and Staci Brown from South Fork; Lake Citians Rick and Allison Wetzel raised arms in victory after completing the 1K. Above, left to right, Monte Vista racer Landon Crowder — with multi-generation Howard family Powderhorn ancestry — was directed across the finish line by Greg Olson; victorious Lake Citians in Saturday’s snowshoe race were Becky Daniels and Melanie Merrell, and Campo Caceres, all barely out of breath as they completed the snowy trek. Below, clockwise from right: top place 5K women, Amy Crowder (38 minutes, 23 seconds), Faith Crowder (40.20), and Geri Howard (42.47) and top flight men, Darren Hardy (40.51), first place Dan Eby (31.03), and Landon Crowder (38.07); notable outfits were snugly attired Tony Rackham from Pagosa Springs, Jess Howard with first place 5K canine, the 2-year-old Argentinian dog Otto, and first place cannibal-inspired costume to Linda Drain, from South Fork, who works in Doc Howard’s vet clinic at Creede; door prize winners Monica Irons, Marcia Carl, and Jackilyn Gleason; Hannibal Lecter-inspired Blue Mesa cannibals Monica Irons, Reiley Jones, and Kim Jones; 4th and 5th generation Powderhorn ancestors, snowshoe athletes Amy Crowder, Landon Crowder, and Faith Crowder.

February 28, 2025 No Comments

Squires Leaving as Lake City Postmaster, Corie Godwin Named Officer in Charge

Changes are afoot at Lake City Post Office as the revered local institution prepares to celebrate 150 years since it was established in June, 1875.Shannon Squires, who took the place of retiring Lake City Postmaster Darlene Fry-Holst, is preparing to move to Bend, Oregon, and her final official day on the job in Lake City is Friday, February 21.Squires has been employed by the U.S. Postal Service for five years during time which she has worked at 14 different postal facilities, including three different postal facilities — Friday Harbor, Eastsound and Orcas Landing — on San Juan and Orcas Islands off the coast of Washington State.Most recently prior to Lake City and being named Supervisor here effective June 3, 2023, Squires, worked as a post office clerk in Franktown, Colorado, between Denver and Colorado Springs.“Leaving Lake City is not an easy thing to do,” she says, noting that in her new home of Bend she has a new romantic interest and will continue U.S. Post Office work at a sort station and distribution center.Squires has acquired property in Lake City — the historic Evangeline Lode overlooking Henson Creek which she bought from Gene Brown — and says, it is a given that she and family members including her mother and children will return on a frequent basis and plan, eventually, to build a cabin on the lode claim.As for Lake City Post Office, Squires says she has “absolutely no concerns” and feels she is leaving it in excellent hands with its two tenured clerks, Emily Dozier, who is a nine-year Lake City Post Office clerk, and former Kansas resident Corie Godwin who was hired as clerk two years ago. With Squires’ departure effective Friday this week, Corie Godwin is now Officer in Charge until a replacement supervisor is named.The process for searching for a qualified new Lake City Postmaster starts as the supervisor vacancy is internally listed for existing U.S. Post Office Supervisors who may wish to change location. A criteria for being hired as new Lake City Postmaster is that the individual live in or around Lake City and has local housing.After two cycles being internally advertised to post office supervisors, and if there are no applications, the local office vacancy is then opened for application from all post office employees.Realistically, Squires feels it will be at least three months before a permanent replacement is named for the Lake City Post Office, and for the interim Corie Godwin will continue as Officer in Charge.In terms of how appealing the Lake City Post Office may be for future applicants, Squires foresees it as attractive for both new post office employees or long-time supervisors who may be on the verge of retirement.“The metrics of the Lake City Post Office have changed,” says Squires, noting that it has now expanded to offer passport services. During her two-year tenure, she says, she has concentrated on increasing revenue and favorable survey results.As a result of those shifting metrics, “I think Lake City will be extremely attractive and I anticipate lively interest in the supervisor position.”In addition to her supervisory work at Lake City, during her residence in Lake City, Squires assisted at neighboring post offices, including Crested Butte and Gunnison, at the latter working management detail during the Christmas, 2023, season.She assisted part-time at several local restaurants while living here and will be recalled by WORLD readers for several articles which she researched and wrote for this newspaper, including a geologic-themed features on rare agates to be found north of Lake City.As historical footnote on the 150-year-old Lake City Post Office, it opened June 18, 1875, and its first Postmaster was Stephen A. Dole whose family is best known for its connection to Hawaiian pineapples.The now departing Shannon Squires was the local post office’s 23rd postmaster; in its lengthy history the longest tenured Lake City Postmaster in the local office’s 150-year history is present-day Lake City resident Beth Hurd whose tenure as Postmaster spanned 36 years, two months, and 25 days starting 1979 and continuing through retirement in August, 2010.

February 22, 2025 No Comments

Intent Anglers at San Cristobal Sat. Fishing Derby

On the heels of Lake City’s Ice Climb Festival earlier this month and last weekend’s spring-like BrewSki Stroll at Lake San Cristobal, winter recreation events continue this Saturday, February 15, with the annual Ice Fishing Derby benefiting Hinsdale County Search & Rescue, and next Saturday, February 22, with Darren Hardy carefully plotting out a 3.2-mile course for snowshoe racers on behalf of Lake City Area Medical Center.Both the ice fishing derby and Cannibal Snowshoe Race will be held at Lake San Cristobal, while a third and final outdoor event, the annual Matt Milksi downhill ski race, March 1, will be held at Lake City Ski Hill.Warmer than usual temperatures combined with scant snow conditions have proven a challenge thus far this winter for snow and ice-related events. Alpine Outfitters’ Seth and Aimee Withrow, who are again coordinating this weekend’s fishing derby at Lake San Cristobal, report favorable ice conditions at Lake San Cristobal with minimal snow and ice averaging 18 to 21” thick.Conditions may change, however, with hoped-for snow accumulations from a storm scheduled to strike the San Juans later this week.Charge for ice fishermen entering this year’s derby is once again $20 cash, proceeds benefiting Hinsdale S & R. Registration at the county boat dock begins 6:30 a.m. Saturday, with fishing starting 7:30 a.m. and continuing until cutoff and awards at 1 p.m.Winter anglers hauling in the top three longest Lake Trout will choose from prizes including a fish finder, auger with drill, and a variety of fish huts.The top prizes and a variety of other door prizes are the result of the generosity of a lengthy list of sponsors from individuals and businesses from throughout Lake City and the surrounding area.Prizes which will be handed and tossed out to the exuberant fishermen include a vast array of fishing gear, rods, and tackle, coolers and, for the fashion conscious, hats and other warm fishing attire.Food options at Saturday’s fish derby will include $15 for Tyler Crump’s delicious pulled pork sandwiches, complete with chips and drinks, with snowmobile delivery out onto the ice for the eager fishermen, or individually priced food items — hot burritos, and baked goods with complimentary hot cocoa and coffee, served up throughout the day as a fundraiser by members of the Lake City 4-H Troop.Following is the list of Fish Derby sponsors as of Tuesday this week: Alpine Outfitters, Sport Fish Colorado, Wagner Family, Schultheis Excavation, Troy Golle with Alpine Lumber, San Juan Soda, Timberline, Piezans, Great Plains Land Company, Rooby Richardson, Lakeview Property Management, G&M cabins, Lake City Auto, Crystal Creek Properties: Kelsey Loftis, Sportsmans BBQ, Fullmers Ace Hardware, 38 North, Lark Fork Hunting and Fishing Club, Hall Realty, Gene Taylors, Kesler Custom Knives, Lake City Country Store, Cabin Fever Mercantile, Blue Spruce Lumber, Matterhorn Motel, Refuge Roasters Coffee, Rene’s Garage, Cowboy Steel, Packers Saloon, Deloach Vacation Homes, North Face Lodge, Sportsman’s Fly Shop, Melty’s Catering, Carson Custom Carpentry, Windy Point Trading, Jim and Joni Richeson, Tractor Supply Gunnison, Hinsdale Title Company, Rocky Top Vacation Home Rentals, Climb Elevated Eatery. Coming up a week from Saturday, on February 22 — and again at Lake San Cristobal — is Cannibal Snowshoe Race sponsored by and in benefit of Lake City Area Medical Center.Named in recognition of Lake City’s infamous cannibal, Al Packer, the event starts at the county boat dock and consists of two tracks for snowshoe or ski enthusiasts, one a 1K trek for families or young children and the other a 3.2-mile 5K track.Race contestants are encouraged to dress up in favorite cannibal attire. Kate Hopson has kindly provided a logo for this year’s Cannibal Snowshoe frolic which is emblazoned on a commemorative t-shirt. Early bird, pre-race cost for 5K snowshoers with commemorative t-shirt is $33.85 prior to February 16; $12.51 for 5K snowshoers for race only and not including t-shirt.Registration for the 1K race route is $7.18 and does not include the t-shirt. T-shirt only, $28.52.Sustenance at the snowshoe race is homemade chili and hot chocolate at the boat dock from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at a donation booth manned by Lake City Community School students raising funds for the school’s next Washington, DC, excursion.Both circuitous routes offer uphill challenges with the reward of outstanding views out and over the frozen lake surface. Also a challenge, according to Darren Hardy who has spent the past month preparing the race routes, is the day-to-day weather changes and melting snow.For 1K snowshoe competitors, the route starts at the county boat dock and crosses the frozen lake surface to the east, then an uphill climb to the county road via Wupperman Campground campsites before returning back to the lake and boat dock.More strenuous for snowshoers in the 3.2-mile, 5K snowshoe trek is a similar but longer route from the county boat dock, east and up hill through Wupperman Campground to the county road and then following the road to near the lake inlet bridge before abruptly circling back through Wupperman Campground, then back down hill and across the lake to finish line at the county boat dock. As an example of changing weather conditions, Hardy says he has temporarily abandoned the old snowshoe race course, which departed from the county boat dock straight north through willows at the lake inlet. This old, northward course called for a streamlet crossing which — at least this winter — is now dried up and the resulting terrain impassable.Even for the new eastward route through Wupperman Campground, snow — or lack of snow — challenges remain. Earlier this month, Hardy says he thought he had the new track finalized up and through Wupperman Campground to the county road covered by a comfortable 6”-deep layer of snow.Finalizing the course on a Friday and returning the following day, February 2, Hardy says he was stunned to discover the layer of snow on the road completely disappeared and replaced by 50 yards of mud with patchy snow.Despite the sudden and unusual appearance of February mud, Hardy has persevered and —

February 13, 2025 No Comments

Effort by CPW, Climbers at Lake City Ice Park Rescue Entangled Elk

Connecticut native Chris Yeager and his wife, Becky Young, live at Leadville, Colorado, and are avid ice climbers who make frequent weekend overnight expeditions to their favorite ice climbing park, Lake City.Chris and Becky — who say they much prefer Lake City to other climbing venues in Colorado due to the expanse of ice and lack of crowds — were camped overnight on Henson Creek at the upper Beer Garden ice climb area in their snug camper when they heard a suspicious rustling noise in the trees just above their camp.In the predawn light, Yeager recounts he had been up to let out the dog and was briefly readying the morning’s ropes and other climbing gear when he heard the noise.Located straight above their camp, across Henson Creek, the rustling noise was in a small grove of cottonwoods on a precipitous slope perhaps 20’ above the frozen creek bed.In the dim light, he says he could make out the shape of a rather large, light brownish animal with long blackish-brown muzzle and antlers which was thrashing about on the slope in the undergrowth.Already fitted for the upcoming day’s ice climb at the Beer Garden Ice Climb Park, Yeager and Young walked to the edge of the slope and quickly discerned that the animal in question was a young elk with pronged antlers thoroughly entwined in the mountainside climbing rope. The swagged climbing rope is adjacent to the heated black plastic pipe which furnishes a gushing supply of water from creek to the top of adjacent cliffs to continually replenish the vertical ice. Adjacent to the water pipe and rope is a zigzag bushwacking trail used by climbers on their trudge up to the top of the cliffs.It was just below this trail and with the climbing rope firmly entwined, that the large elk was unintentionally yet firmly tethered, dark brown muzzle, roped horns pointed uphill and the rump of the standing animal on a steep angle downhill.From tramped snow and vegetation immediately below the water pipe and trail, it was uncertain how many hours the elk had been ensnared and whether the mishap had occurred earlier in the night or just hours before the animal’s discovery by the ice climbers.After quickly ascertaining that the elk was trapped, Yeager and Young alerted another nearby climber, Chris Carr, and by early morning the word was out to both Sheriff-Elect Denim Starnes and Lucas Martin, Colorado Parks & Wildlife Officer in Lake City.Word quickly spread, and by 10:30 Friday morning a small but intent crowd had formed, conversing in discrete tones from near the ice climbers’ campsite and eagerly scanning the uphill tree thicket to discern occasional movement by the trapped elk.On hand in the viewing crowd, in addition to Martin and Starnes were Recreation Director Ben Hake and Christian Hartman, both of whom are intimately acquainted with the rope, water pipe, and access trail after installing and maintaining the water supply system since late last fall.Arriving at the scene near simultaneously Friday morning as part of the impromptu elk rescue team from the Gunnison Parks & Wildlife Office were Anna Markey, Paul Rivera and markswoman Alyssa Meier, the latter summoned with a specially equipped dart gun and rounds of fast-acting tranquilizer.While the anxious and hushed crowd waited across Henson Creek, markswoman Meier cautiously approached to just below the ensnared animal and, with a clear vantage point, shot a single tranquilizer dart into the hind quarters of the animal.Tethered by the rope, the elk remained on its feet for approximately ten minutes before slowly sinking to the ground, rope entwined antlers and black muzzle gradually sinking into the snow.At this point Parks & Wildlife officers Meier, Markey, Rivera, and Martin climbed up the hillside to cautiously approach the elk, closely followed by the three helmeted ice climbers, Yeager, Young, and Carr, equipped with ice axes and climbing ropes.As explained by Becky Young — who first began ice climbing in Lake City while a student at Western Colorado University — both she and her husband, along with fellow ice climber Chris Carr, know as second nature the importance of ropes to safely belay a descending climber’s weight.Only in this instance, the calmly proficient ice climbers and CPW reps worked in unison to safely belay the resting elk, using climbing rope tied to uphill trees to support the sedated elk and then gently lower the several-hundred-pound animal down the hillside to the valley floor.Chris Yeager calmly directed by alternately barking out “slow” and “down slow” as slack was alternately released on the taut supporting rope and the weighty elk descended hind quarters first. Yeager called for a brief stop in the rescue effort as Meier and Markey were called in to readjust the elk’s hind legs after they were briefly caught in an awkward angle on a small rock precipice.On the ground adding belaying support were a bevy of Lake City volunteers comprised of Undersheriff Starnes, Recreation Director Hake, Christian Hartman, and public works employees Willie Merfeld and Ethan Wuest.After positioning the slumbering and apparently uninjured elk prone on flat ground beside the creek, Martin briefly checked the animal’s eyes for signs of life, ropes were unfastened, and onlookers moved to a safe distance as the elk slowly regained consciousness, regaining its feet somewhat unsteadily. The elk briefly looked around and then — to the relief of onlookers — trotted upstream apparently none the worse for its hillside mishap.Sheriff-Elect Starnes thanked participants, “nice work, everyone.” Starned referred to the rescued elk, noting, “he had a rough night, but I think he’ll be alright.”During the rescue and due to the elk’s close proximity to the plastic supply line with electric heat tape, electricity was disconnected and the water flow briefly halted.With water once again flowing and ice continuing to form, the ice climber rescuers reassembled their gear as they prepared to resume their morning climb. The elk successfully out of danger, Recreation Director Hake says minor alterations will be made, principally tightening the trail support

January 10, 2025 No Comments

23 Years After Public Health Start, Hardy Seeks New Health Horizons

It is with pride and a clear sense of satisfaction that Silver Thread Public Health Director Tara Branch Hardy reflects on her remarkable multi-decade career with public health in Hinsdale County.Then Tara Branch and predating her marriage to Darren Hardy, she was first employed as Build a Generation Coordinator in 2002 by county health department founder Helen Brown.With several brief intermissions when she worked elsewhere, Tara Hardy has overseen the amalgamation of both the Hinsdale and Mineral County public health departments and the creation in 2016 of the two-county Silver Thread Public Health District with offices and staffing in both Lake City and Creede.As the first and only Director of Silver Thread Public Health District since the district’s creation, her announced resignation effective next Friday, January 31, creates a void which will be challenging to fill.In her resignation letter dated January 2 and addressed to the Silver Thread Public Health District oversight board — full text page 2 this week’s issue — Hardy expresses gratitude to the eight-member board for its “support and dedication,” thanking board members for their “commitment to our communities and for allowing me to grow personally and professionally.” Hardy is also effusive in her praise for staff in both the Lake City and Creede public health offices who she describes as “amazing.” Common traits of each member of the public health team, she says, are “dedication, passion, and professionalism… they go above and beyond to serve our communities.”Hardy’s plans for the future are to remain in Lake City, working remotely from home as she accepts the position of Senior Director of Programs for Denver-based Trailhead Institute. As explained by Hardy, Trailhead works to support local public health departments and assists with public health initiatives statewide.Examples of the Trailhead programs which Hardy will oversee include Administrative Partnerships, Regional Health Connectors, Workforce Programs and Initiatives, Youth Sexual Health, Firearm-Related Harm Prevention, and Colorado Cancer Coalition.Hardy’s husband is Darren Hardy who has worked as Facilities Manager for Hinsdale County School District since 2019; they are the parents of two children, Lake City Community School Freshman Morgan Hardy, 15, and 12-year-old Caleb Hardy who is a 7th Grade student in the local school. In addition to her work with Silver Thread Public Health District, Hardy is presently vice-chair and has at different times held the position of chairman and secretary/treasurer during her 18-year tenure as a member of Hinsdale County School Board.Silver Thread Public Health’s 2025 budget stands at $918,574, the majority of which — 76.3 percent or $701,264 — is derived from grants and contracts, with 4.3 percent ($39,400) from donations and fees, and taxpayers contributing just 19.4 percent ($177,910) which in new year 2025 is based on $107,025 from Mineral County and $70,885 from Hinsdale County.Public health staff in Lake City consists of Public Health Nurse Shawna Shidler who doubles as Administrative Assistant to Hardy, Tara Anderson as Youth & Community Engagement Specialist, Kristen Hartje Carson heads Emergency Preparedness, and Brooke Jones, newest member of the Lake City team, is Senior Coordinator/Health Educator. The story continues on page 2 of the Lake City Silver World……… Missing the whole story? Click below to subscribe to our weekly publication!

January 10, 2025 No Comments

Upcoming Events Include Ski Hill Opening, Armory Skating, Oaths of Office

Town of Lake City Recreation Department staff alerts WORLD that adequate snow has fallen at Lake City Ski Hill, allowing the popular recreation destination to open each day Thursday, January 2, through Monday, January 6, 2025; according to Recreation Director Ben Hake, normal open times for the remainder of the month will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Mondays, Sundays 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.Staff has also informed that the ice-skating rink behind the Armory is fully frozen and operational and has seen an exceptional amount of use during the Christmas-New Years holiday season.Oaths of office will be delivered to new and returning county officers at 10 a.m. Tuesday, January 14, in the Coursey Annex meeting room.Commissioners Greg Levine and Robert Hurd will solemnly raise their hands as they are sworn into office for an additional four years. First appointed in 2019 and now elected to a two-year term, Coroner Lori Lawrence will also receive her oath.Receiving his four-year oath of office on Jan. 14 for the first time is Denim Starnes, present Hinsdale County Undersheriff who will succeed Ron Bruce as Hinsdale County Sheriff.

January 3, 2025 No Comments

2024, A Year in Review

At his death in January, 1874, pioneer Pueblo, Colorado, attorney, journalist, and past territorial lieutenant governor George Aaron Hinsdale, 1), had no intimation his memory would be revived in 2024 as Hinsdale County celebrated its sesquicentennial marking 150 years since its creation with neighboring LaPlata and Rio Grande Counties. As part of the ongoing celebration, Assessor Sherri Boyce and her deputy, Sarah Tubbs, 2), presided over refreshments in their courthouse office on August 1.In addition to the county’s formation, 2024 was also notable as 150th anniversary of Town Founder Enos Hotchkiss building Lake City’s first cabin, August 16, 1874, and — less savory — Alferd Packer consuming fellow prospectors in late winter/early spring 1874.On an upcoming note, notable anniversaries continue in 1875 with 150 since creation of Town of Lake City’s predecessor, the Lake City Town Company, and — on a journalistic note — 150 years since first issue of the original SILVER WORLD Newspaper, June 19, 1875.Also notable in 2025 is 50th anniversary of Phillip Virden’s Mountaineer Movie Theatre.Superlatives in Lake City Recreation Department’s February 3 Ice Climb were repeat wife-and-husband winning team from Golden, Colorado, Kristin Felix, 3), with rapid vertical ice ascent two minutes, 16.39 seconds in the Top Rope competition, and her husband, Todd Felix, 4), who was once again first among men in Lead Rope, inspiring 54.82-second ascent. Denver ice climber Jaren Summer, 5), was among the women contenders in this year’s event (photo by J.T. Stratton). Local climbers in the annual ice event were Sam Fyler and J.T. Stratton.Supervised by Rec. Dept, Leader Ben Hake, climbable ice on Henson Creek continues to expand, Hake with assistants including Danny File and Christian Hartman dousing an added section of challenging vertical cliff across from the Devil’s Kitchen cave with 1,350 additional feet of water pipe this fall for added ice climb challenge.Local girl Buffy Hurd Witt, 6), achieved notable success and was responsible for significant advances during her four-years as Hinsdale Emergency Medical Service Director starting December, 2019, and continuing through December, 2023, when she announced her intent to resign. Witt received a state-wide honor in December 2023, with Best EMS Director Award.Witt’s replacement as EMS Director effective March 25 was eight-year Lake City resident Katherine Heidt, 7) a familiar face among local emergency medical responders who was accredited as EMT in 2020 and worked closely with Witt as EMS Coordinator, Heidt was also certified as Wilderness EMT in 2023.Simultaneous with Heidt’s appointment as EMS Director, Amanda Hartman and Dan Humphreys were named EMS Captains charged with ambulance staffing, ensuring ambulance response is sufficiently staffed with responders on a 24/7, year-round basis, and overseeing ambulance supply restocking and vehicle maintenance. Also continuing as an immense asset to Hinsdale EMS was the return of Brad Jones on a part-time basis as Chief Paramedic.Seth Withrow once again headed up Hinsdale Search & Rescue’s February 19 Ice Fishing Derby at Lake San Cristobal, 8), this year’s lunkers plucked from beneath the ice 22-1/8” lake trout by John Warren, first place, second and third place honors respectively Nicole Schulties, 19-7/8”, and Sam Pankratz, 19-1/2”.Seven Lake City area students commenced an intense five-month Emergency Medical Technician class, 9), on January 9, four of the students — Kelly Elkins, Sarah DeCristino, Grant Loper, and Danny Oge’ — completed certification for an awards ceremony which was held on June 13.Lifesaver Awards signifying teamwork, professionalism, and excellence of care were bestowed by Hinsdale Commissioners to local emergency responders in March, recipients posed with Ann McCord, 10), including Amanda Hartman, Buffy Witt, Richard Williams, Jordan Kaminski, Kelly Elkins, Katherine Heidt, Melody Crump, and Rachel Moore.11), Greg Olson received his oath of office as newest board member of Lake Fork Health Services District from board chairman Lynn McNitt on February 16, joins fellow board members McNitt and Katie Elkins, together with Jordan Kaminski and Hector Gomez, the latter two resigning near year’s end creating two vacancies on the health board.Dr. Ann Treisman, 12), was named Medical Director at Lake City Area Medical Center on January 1, Treisman taking the place of Gunnison physician Dr. Bill Gattis who had served in that capacity — and who was credited as a “stabilizing force” during a significant period of change — since 2020.Dr. Treisman’s tenure at Lake City Area Medical Center dates back to summer, 2014, when she worked at the center when she was a medical student. She interned at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Denver, and was awarded her Doctorate of Medicine Degree from University of Colorado School of Medicine in 2017.Lake City’s Fourteeners middle school girls’ basketball team enjoyed a tremendous season, ending play after advancing to Consolation League Tournament in Alamosa, Colorado, in February where teammates, 13), Carson Shepherd, Aven Humphreys, Morgan Hardy, Brylee Elkins, Cora Kaminski, Nadya Kaminski, and Blake Tubbs walloped their Ortega Middle School counterparts in a down-to-the-wire nailbiter.In addition to a fine season by Lake City middle school girls, also ending successful seasons in February, 2024, were Fourteeners’ middle school boys’ team coached by Doug Eby and Kelly Elkins, 14), Brantley Votruba, Rhys Phillimore, Quan Lemon, Henry Shepherd, Dax Elkins, Daniel Hays, Elliott Hartman, and Joseph Tubbs; older high school basketball team, Mace Elkins, Dean Brown, Silas Hartman, Levi Hartman, Micah Humphreys, and Peter Loper, 15), and Fourteeners’ high school girls, Rowan McNeese, Lucy Hays, Kadance Simmons, Mackenzie Phillimore, Priya Hartman, Eva Wingard, Ingrid Piltinsgrud, and coach Sarah Eby, 16).HUB networking office sponsored by DIRT and Visionary Broadband upstairs in the bank building was enlivened in January with artwork by Lake City school alum Sophie Borchers and Nick Arbogast, 17).Hinsdale Ski Team coached by Henry Woods had a successful showing against counterpart downhill skiers from Pagosa Springs and Silverton, Colorado, during the annual Matt Milski Memorial Ski Race at Lake City Ski Hill on March 2, superlatives with hands raised in victory, 18), first and second place finishers Henry Shepherd, completing the slalom 35.21 seconds, and Elijah Wuest, 37.21 seconds; competing for Lake City on the hometown team and dressed for the

January 3, 2025 No Comments

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