Mutilated Animals Found in Gunnison County
A string of mutilated livestock has been reported in Gunnison County and parts of Saguache County too. A horse and several cows were found dead in the last week of July with parts of their mouths, lips and tongues removed. One cow even had its hindquarters and backstraps removed. The Gunnison Country Times reports a $500 reward has been offered for information in the case.
Rain helps ease Fire Danger
Rain returned to the region during July, prompting fire restrictions to be lifted or scaled back. In Salida, a downpour didn’t dampen the Fourth of July parade where a loud cheer went up from the F Street crowd as the clouds opened up. Salida didn’t shoot fireworks, but Gunnison did. Although rain has helped, ranchers are worried about the impact upon the hay crop, which has been poor and hay prices are rising. In the Arkansas River basin the water-rights call at one point in July was to the May 15, 1874 right of the Rocky Ford Ditch. It was later moved to the Dec. 3, 1884 right of the Catlin Canal.
Cops shoot Man following Chase
An 18-year-old man from Leadville was shot and killed by law enforcement officers near Villa Grove July 14 following an 80-mile pursuit from Leadville. Jacob VanderBeek was initially contacted in Leadville around 5 a.m. for a traffic violation and a short chase ensued. The chase was called off but VanderBeek drew the attention of officers again by honking his car horn outside of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. VanderBeek fled through town and at one point got out of his car and dropped a hand grenade and flashed what looked like a handgun. The pursuit moved south into Buena Vista and over Poncha Pass where Colorado State Troopers eventually stopped the car. VanderBeek exited, showed what appeared to be a weapon and was shot. Later, it was determined the grenade found in Leadville was inert.
Ballot Secrecy Saga Continues
The battle over whether bar codes on Chaffee County ballots violate the state constitution by identifying voters continues, with a citizen activist suing the county on two different issues. Marilyn Marks, an Aspen activist, says the bar codes on ballots could be traced back to individual voters and has sued to stop Chaffee County and other counties from using them. She first asked to see ballots under the Colorado Opens Records Act and in one suit she claims the county was in error, asking a judge not to allow the request. The second suit asks that bar codes not be used.
Leadville and BV Schools win Grants, Consider Bonds
The Buena Vista School District is considering a November bond issue to help finance the replacement of the primary wing at Avery-Parsons Elementary School. The part of the building that houses the youngest students was constructed in 1954 and has issues with the roof, heating and sewer systems, the Chaffee County Times reports. The rest of the school is only about 15 years old and the bond would be for about $4.55 million. The state has issued a BEST grant for about $2.3 million. In Leadville, another BEST grant for about $11.3 million was issued to help with a $26 million modernization project at the high school with new classrooms and infrastructure. The town’s elementary school would get some upgrades too. As in Buena Vista, leaders are expected to ask voters to match the grants via bond issue on the November ballot.
One lane of U.S. 24 Back Open
One lane of U.S. 24 north of Leadville should be open by the time you read this, says the Colorado Department of Transportation. The road has been closed since July 9 when a giant hole opened above an 1890s era railroad tunnel originally constructed by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. Before work started to fill the hole, it measured 35×35 feet and 100 feet deep. Work crews are working 18-hour days to complete the repair and have several financial incentives to complete it sooner rather than later. See story on the next page.
Shorts
• Emma Coburn, who grew up in Crested Butte, will represent the U.S. in London at the summer Olympics when she competes in the 3,000 meter steeplechase race.
• An 8-year old girl riding her bicycle in Gunnison died June 27 in a traffic collision with a full-sized truck. The collision occurred at the intersection of 11th street and New York Avenue. The driver of the truck was later cleared of wrongdoing. In Buena Vista, a 19-year old man died of accidental drowning in the town lake June 29.
• Lockheed Martin is using the Central Colorado Regional Airport in Buena Vista for high altitude flight testing of the Black Hawk helicopter. The whirly-bird is used by various branches of the U.S. military and testing should wrap up by Sept. 15. The FAA conducted testing of automated landing lights at Harriet Alexander Filed near Salida on July 24. Everything checked out OK.
• Dave Wiens, a longtime Gunnison resident and world-class mountain bike racer, will lead the new Western State Mountain Sports Team. Club cycling and skiing anchor the program now, but additional disciplines may be added.
• Evacuees from the Waldo Canyon fire near Colorado Springs were in Salida and Buena Vista staying at hotels and using the area’s services to shelter animals.
• A Crested Butte South man shot and killed a 350-pound black bear in self-defense the night of July 5. The bear was after trash. In Coaldale, wildlife officials euthanized a mountain lion on July 8 after it had killed four goats several nights before.
Notable Quotes:
“I have no intent, want or desire to do the same thing in this instance but will be forced to vigorously defend myself either pro se or of council if pressed with a court appearance.” – Mesa County Commissioner Craig Meis in an email to the Chaffee County Sheriff over a court summons for the use of a charcoal grill at a camp during Stage II fire restrictions.
“Regarding your not-so-subtle threat to expose this incident in the press, I’m eager to assist you in the endeavor.” – Chaffee County Sheriff Pete Palmer, responding by email to Meis as well as to the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, The Mountain Mail and the Associated Press.
“I hope this crap isn’t going to start up again, but evidently is has in Gunnison.” – Saguache County Sheriff Mike Norris, discussing recent reports of cow mutilations. He investigated similar incidents in the San Luis Valley over a decade ago. – The Gunnison County Times, July 26, 2012.
