By Christopher Kolomitz
Molly on the Move
LEADVILLE – Climax Mine shipped its first bag of molybdenum concentrate on May 10 following a restart of the legendary mine atop Fremont Pass in Lake County. It was the first “moly” to be shipped from the mine in 17 years, the Leadville Herald Democrat reported. The mine first opened in 1916 and was a major economic stimulus to the region for decades before finally shutting completely down in 1995. Restart of the mine began in 2010 and has totaled about $700 million with projections that 20 million pounds of moly will be produced by 2013. About 300 people work at the mine which is owned by Freeport-McMoRan. In early May the company foundation awarded more than $550,000 to non profit organizations in Lake, Chaffee and Summit counties.
Postal Service Cuts Outlined, Rural Offices to Remain Open
The Salida processing center of the U.S. Postal Service is likely to close by summer 2014, postal officials told The Mountain Mail on May 18. More than 400 processing centers across the country are set to close by 2014 in cost-cutting measures. In related postal news, officials in Washington D.C. say they are working on a plan to keep rural post offices open, likely with reduced services and hours. This announcement impacts post offices like Parlin, Coaldale, and other tiny but relevant communities in Central Colorado.
Tough Travel in the Woods
Although saw crews are working on trailheads, campgrounds, roads and trails, it’s going to be a long summer for people out in the woods following a massive blow down in portions of the San Isabel National Forest. The November windstorm caused big damage in both the Salida and San Carlos districts of the forest, with thousands of trees now blocking roads, trails and generally creating a tangled mess. The wind snapped trees more than 24 inches in diameter, uprooted many old, tall conifers and has left trees or parts of trees hanging precariously above forest users. Special permits for the public to collect the wood have been issued, as have safety warnings. Forest service officials recommend civilians not attempt to clear roads or trails because of the dangers.
Roadless Plan Released
Roadless areas in the state will now be managed under one plan following seven years of work on the Colorado Roadless Rule. State and forest service officials announced the final environmental impact statement for the rule on May 2. Officials say the new rule allows for more flexibility in managing the lands and in some cases strengthens protections while removing some areas that no longer qualify as roadless.
Cut Fiber Causes Outage
Poncha Springs employees maintaining an irrigation ditch inadvertently cut a fiber-optic cable May 8 causing disruption of Internet and cell phone service in both Salida and Buena Vista, The Mountain Mail reported. The outage lasted most of the day and was spotty for another day until the line was spliced. Creating a redundant internet system in the Gunnison Valley is being spearheaded by an Internet task force and Chaffee County officials are working to expand access to broadband there too.
Shorts
• Dara MacDonald accepted the position of Salida City Administrator. MacDonald was formerly city planner and has been interim head-honcho at city hall for months. With her appointment the planner job was offered to Michael Yerman, who served in that capacity in Buena Vista. Before working in BV, Yerman worked for Salida as an assistant planner. Yerman begins again in Salida mid-June.
• A May 11 crash killed 17 head of cattle immediately and another 10 had to be euthanized because of their injuries, reported the Gunnison Country Times. The semi pulling the cattle trailer rolled off the road near Blue Mesa Reservoir and was headed to Texas with cattle from Olathe.
• In a change that will allow more time for campaigning, the Colorado primary election is set for June 26. In years past the primary was in August. The last day to register for the primary was May 29 with ballots being mailed by June 4.
• All of Central Colorado’s major high mountain passes were opened in time for Memorial Day, including Independence, Cottonwood, Kebler and Ohio passes. Secondary mountain passes like Weston, Medano and Old Monarch are open. Closed at press time were Tin Cup, Hancock and Hayden. The east side of Marshall Pass is open; however, the west side remains closed until mid-June for road work.
• A Leadville man drowned May 3 in Clear Creek Reservoir, which is in the northern part of Chaffee County. The man was piloting a small aluminum boat with two girls ages six and eight as passengers when the boat began to take on water. The two girls wearing flotation devices made it to shore safely with the assistance of witnesses and family members.
• O’Haver Lake Campground is closed for the summer season while forest service crews make much needed improvements to the popular recreation site west of Poncha Pass. It’s set to open brand spanking new in spring of 2013.
• Westcliffe is celebrating its 125th anniversary this summer with special events running through July.
• Theft from the Lake County Department of Human Services has been alleged against three former female employees. In one case the theft dates back to 2008. The three are accused of forging documents to obtain food stamps.
• Salida may walk away from an attempt to purchase property from the Union Pacific Railroad after a railroad appraisal valued the land west of the F Street bridge at $1.6 million. City council members pitched a $750,000 counteroffer in mid-May. An earlier appraisal done for the city valued the land at $485,000. Supporters seek to build trails on the property which has been abandoned for years.
• About 20 percent of the fish at the Leadville National Fish Hatchery died May 1 when a power outage left stagnant water in raceways. Total fish killed were about 41,000 with two species impacted: the 10-inch rainbow trout and 6-7 inch Snake River cutthroat trout.
• Participants in the Get the Lead Out Challenge in Leadville lost 2,357 pounds during a community weight-loss program that lasted 16 weeks. More than 190 people participated in the event.
• Gov. John Hickenlooper was in the region May 19. He started the day by rafting a section of the Arkansas River which would be impacted by the Christo project. Later he signed Rep. Tom Massey’s school finance bill in Poncha Springs then toured the new Elevation Beer Company in that town where 900 people gathered during the day to celebrate its grand opening. “Hick” then went south to Alamosa where he signed a bill transforming Adams State College to Adams State University.
• About 350 students graduated May 5 from Western State College. The ceremony was the 100th anniversary of the school’s first graduation when five students made up the class of 1912. At Colorado Mountain College Timberline Campus in Leadville, 85 students received associate degrees May 4.
• Longtime Salidan Dick Tuttle passed away on May 18 at the age of 98. He opened and ran Tuttles Trading Post, served three terms as a Chaffee County Commissioner and was instrumental in the creation of the Salida Senior Center.
Notable Quotes:
“To me, this sign brands the town as ghetto. I don’t know how else to say that.” – Jed Selby, Buena Vista Planning and Zoning Trustee, after voting to deny a sign plan for Pawn All Guns Gifts & Guns on Hwy 24. S. – Chaffee County Times, May 24, 2012.
“It’s hard to say that a 22,000 square foot house doesn’t draw attention to itself … but it does blend in with the surrounding ranch.” – Gunnison Planning Commissioner, Ramon Reed, speaking of a proposal to build a massive house northwest of Kebler Pass by mining magnate Bill Koch. – The Gunnison Country Times, May 24, 2012.
“I stand by my statement that I misspoke and I apologize,” – Colorado 6th Dist. Rep. Mike Coffman, repeating the same phrase five times when asked to elaborate on comments he made about President Obama not being an American. – 9News, May 22, 2012.
