Region Spared Flooding
Despite the ravaging floods in Colorado’s Front Range foothills, the central Colorado region was spared the devastation but did receive large amounts of precipitation.
As of Sept. 26, Salida received three inches of rain for the month, compared to an average of 0.89 inches. In Gunnison, 2.41 inches had fallen as of Sept. 26, compared to a two-decade average of 1.3 inches.
Two Solo Hikers Missing
As of press time, rescuers are searching for missing hikers in two area mountain ranges.
Chaffee County Search and Rescue was in its third day of their search for Gene George, 64, of Bay Village, Ohio, who reportedly had told friends he was planning to hike up Mount Harvard on either Sept. 19 or 20. His car was found at the North Cottonwood Creek trailhead and search teams from around the region, as well as two helicopters, have been brought in to assist with the search.
Another solo hiker, an unidentified 36-year-old Denver man, is missing in the Sangre de Cristos after leaving his home on Sept. 17 and not returning. Search and rescue teams, volunteers and the Army National Guard have all been employed in the search for the man, believed to be somewhere in the vicinity of the Crestone Needle.
Both men chose to break one of the first rules of mountain climbing and backcountry hiking by going it alone. Now, huge amounts of resources are being used in the rescue attempts.
Monarch Pass Backdrop for Film
Film crews from Universal Studios have been operating out of the Monarch Mountain parking lot for the upcoming action film “Fast & Furious 7” (FF7). A car chase sequence will be filmed on Monarch Pass, and drivers have been experiencing delays as a result of the filming. The Pikes Peak Highway will also be used in the film.
FF7 is expected to be released in July 2014 and is estimated to bring in nearly $7 million to Colorado.
No Paving for Now on Cottonwood Pass
A $27.1 million project to pave Cottonwood Pass is on hold after Gunnison County Commissioners decided to ask for a funding extension. The project would be funded primarily by the Federal Highway Administration MAP 21 program but would still require the county to cover up to 17 percent of the project, or $5.1 million, by spring of 2018.
Commissioners are balking at the price tag and the deadline and have asked for a payoff extension.
Judge Rules in Favor of Christo
A Denver District Court judge ruled in favor of artist Christo and the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, allowing him to move forward in his efforts for his “Over the River” project.
He and the Colorado state parks agency were sued by an opposition group, ROAR, in an attempt to block an agreement between the two.
Leadville Man Sues Over Arrest
Two Lake County deputies, as well as the sheriff and Board of County Commissioners, are being sued by a Leadville man who claims he was injured by sheriff’s deputies using excessive force as well as a stun gun and fist to arrest him.
Travis Simmons claimed he was on his way home at 2:00 am on Aug. 23 and was pulled over at his driveway for failing to have a properly illuminated rear license plate. He says Deputies Bryce Hinton and Scott Bird exited their vehicle shouting at him and tazed him in the back multiple times and then punched him, according to the Leadville Herald Democrat. Simmons is seeking unspecified monetary damages.
Clinic to Close
The Chaffee People’s Clinic, with offices in Salida and Buena Vista, is set to close its doors on Dec. 31 due to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
The Clinic, which serves low-income and uninsured residents, explained in a statement that options brought about by the ACA will provide health care services to those same residents.
Shorts
• All Aboard Westcliffe was awarded a $100,000 grant from the State Historical Fund to help in the purchase and restoration of the historic depot on Main Street.
• Pack-burro racing legend Joe Glavinick passed away in late September at age 85. We hope to feature an article about Joe in our next issue.
• The High Mountain Hay Fever Festival Association presented a check for $40,000 to the West Custer County Hospital District raised from its July concert.
• Logan Taggart was sworn in as La Veta’s newest board member. At eighteen years old, he is also its youngest.
• Former Colorado governor John Vanderhoof passed away in September at the age of 91.
“Notable Quotes”
“It’s a mind-control experiment by the majority party, the Democrats here in Colorado, to force everybody – including children in schools, everything else – under penalty of law to believe in homosexual marriage.” – Colorado State Sen. Kent Lambert (R), in an interview on the Pray in Jesus Name internet show.
“I hate to see it go down, but I couldn’t put up with what was going on.” – Larry Dolezal, former Gunnison VFW Post 4267 commander, after the revocation of the group’s charter and shutting down of its post. – Gunnison Country Times, Sept. 5, 2013.
“It’s easier to get forgiveness than permission. … Just do it and take the consequences.” – Chaffee County rancher Franklin Springer, who cut a road through a roadless area of U.S. Forest Service land to install an irrigation pipe without prior approval. – The Chaffee County Times, Sept. 19, 2013.
