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231 N. Silver St. Ste 2,
Lake City, CO 81235

970-944-2515

Tag: Veterans

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.

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May 15, 2025 No Comments

Valor, Sacrifices of Veterans Cited at Armory Ceremony…  

Patriotic emotions ran high during the 90-minute-long Veterans’ Day service hosted by Hinsdale County which was held in the Armory on Monday morning, November 11.    Unlike previous Veterans’ Day ceremonies which are held before a standing crowd in Veterans’ Park adjacent to Hinsdale County Courthouse, last week’s 8” heavy snow accumulation prompted a welcome move to the seated and warm comfort of the Armory with Presentation of the Colors led by Russ Brown and sharply suited Flag Bearers Ben Redler, Dennis Cavit, and Doug Franz, and both opening and closing remarks by the county’s new Veterans’ Service Officer, Mike Harrington.    Before an attentive and applauding seated audience, Harrington recited the fact that approximately two percent of the U.S. population served in the U.S. Armed Services. Harrington asking those attending “to look to your left and right” and express thanks to fellow residents in the audience who are Veterans. Harrington repeated the request at the ceremony’s conclusion, asking everyone to express thanks to Veterans “for the freedoms they provided us.”    Harrington, himself retired Army/SFC, drew applause in presenting a commemorative plaque, congratulatory card from Hinsdale County, and bouquet of fresh roses from the county’s Veterans to retired Hinsdale County Veterans Service Office Erin Cavit who served as the county’s Veterans’ Service Officer from 2015 to 2024.     Emotional high points during Monday morning’s ceremony were a keynote address by retired Hinsdale County Judge Al Lutz, a U.S. Army Veteran of the Vietnam War, U.S. Air Force Veteran Don Farmer leading the audience in singing the National Anthem, and Russ Brown reciting his poem, “Veterans’ Day Remembrance”.    Brown, Vietnam Combat Veteran, recalled multi-generational patriotism by his family starting with his father, Lt. Col. Russ Brown, Sr., who was a P-51 Mustang fighter pilot who survived after being shot down in Germany during World War II; Brown family patriotism is also evident with eldest son, Lake City resident Russ Brown who completed two tours in Vietnam with the U.S. Army as helicopter pilot, and Russ’ two brothers, Charles Brown, C-5 Galaxy Pilot, and Jeff Brown, an Air Force F-15 pilot.    In his address — and with Lake City Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts standing at attention before the audience — Army Veteran Al Lutz began his remarks by quoting From George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and the author Claudia Pemberton.    Lutz also quoted from the songwriters Lee Greenwood and Bob Dylan in expressing his sincere appreciation and requesting ongoing compassion and recognition for fellow Veterans and their families. The importance of support, he said, “is immeasurable, including “families, medical folks, caregivers, and organizations that support Vets.”    Audience members in the Armory sat straight in their chair, some obviously misty-eyed, as Lutz recounted challenges faced by the nation’s Veterans including unemployment. PTSD, homelessness, drug addiction and other debilitating mental and physical health issues.    Lutz ended his remarks to applause, quoting from an unknown author, “Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it… it flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.”    Equally moving was a concluding prayer by Rev. Jason Santos of Community Presbyterian Church for Veterans “still living with lingering memories of their service” and their families, ending with a plea to “uplift their spirits.”    Also concluding at Monday’s ceremony was a salute to the late songwriter Toby Keith for patriotism which included 18 USO tours and songs including the memorable “Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue, “ together with syncopated audience foot tapping to a taped recording of Keith singing “Angry American”.    As a final recognition to Veterans attending the ceremony, Lake City Girl Scouts under the direction of Eliza Loper and Holly Shepherd mingled among the departing audience distributing personalized thank-you letters.

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November 14, 2024 No Comments
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