By Christopher Kolomitz
Snow – and Headaches – Pile Up
Snowfall in early February has helped the region’s snowpack considerably and has caused a few headaches at the same time. At Monarch Mountain, the magical 100-inch base was reached after it snowed more than 11 feet in two weeks, creating some epic powder days. The big dumps made for dangerous avalanche conditions, with slides hitting and closing U.S. 50 on multiple occasions, blocking the Taylor River Road for 24 hours and taking out a vault restroom near Gothic. Big rigs, including a tanker, rolled off the road in Gunnison County during one of the storms; and near Kebler Pass a snowmobiler was killed when buried by an avalanche. Heavy snow collapsed the roof of the 74-year-old Sayer-McKee building in downtown Leadville after 20 inches of snow fell in one day. And the multiweek burst of moisture caused Leadville leaders to begin work on a snow removal plan. Apparently the “Cloud City” has never had a formal plan.
Skiers Caught in Slide Above Twin Lakes
Two men from Wisconsin were killed Feb. 15 in an avalanche above Twin Lakes. A party of seven skiers, including three who live in the tiny Lake County town, was on a slope near Starr Mountain when the tragedy occurred. According to rescue officials, in a report from the Leadville Herald the avalanche was large and included an air blast that snapped trees eight inches in diameter. A few days after the first avalanche, two others occurred on Parry Peak. That path is where the 1962 slide that killed seven within the town of Twin Lakes originated.
Wet Mountain Valley EMS in Critical Condition
The prognosis of emergency medical services in the Wet Mountain Valley isn’t looking good. Voters in November turned down a mill levy that would have funded ambulance services, and now officials are saying without the money or some kind of intervention from the state or county, the EMS service may shut down, according to the Wet Mountain Tribune. It’s a big worry for residents who would have to rely on ambulance service from outside the county.
Additionally, an audit of the local health clinic shows three major violations for not paying minimum wage, not paying overtime and keeping incomplete records. The clinic may have to pay $100,000 to $200,000 in back pay, something that could put the operation in danger of bankruptcy.
River Receives Gold Medal Notoriety
The 102 miles of Arkansas River from Leadville to Parkdale have earned Gold Medal fishing status. It’s a big step from 20 years ago, when mining pollution in the upper stretches of the river created unhealthy conditions, and trout rarely lived more than three years, officials said. The current lifespan is close to 10 years. The river was determined to reach quality and quantity requirements in terms of trout size and population.
Cogswell Buys Back Portion of Orpheum
John Cogswell bought back the stage of the Orpheum Theatre in Buena Vista late last year for $70,000, The Chaffee County Times reports. The BV attorney had donated the second-floor performance space in 2001 to the nonprofit community theatre group. However, last summer the group said without a major influx of cash to help fund the construction of bathrooms and an elevator, they would have to cease operations. The money never materialized, and Cogswell now owns the entire historic building again, for which he tells the newspaper he has no plans.
Resort-Style Development Coming to Leadville
Land behind the Safeway and Columbine Inn in Leadville is slated for development of a hotel and resort, the Herald Democrat reports. The plan by Evergreen Land Company includes a 170-room hotel, ski school, golf course, zip line, skating pond and trail system. Construction on the hotel on the 400-acre site is expected to begin this summer, with an opening date of 2016.
Shorts
• May 12 is now the deadline for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to make a determination on the listing of the Gunnison Sage-grouse as endangered. This is the second extension the agency has made for the listing, which has strong opposition from local stakeholders in and around Gunnison.
• Chaffee County Commissioners approved a license for the first off-premises recreational marijuana grow facility in mid-January. The product grown will be sold at a retail store in Frisco. There isn’t a recreational retail shop in Chaffee County yet, but you can legally buy weed over-the-counter in Almont, in Park County.
• A 48-year-old Walsenburg woman was found dead in her home on Jan. 16, and authorities continue to investigate who killed her, the Huerfano World Journal reports. Pam Candelario’s husband has been questioned, but no arrests have been made.
• A man accused of shooting three people in Rye on Nov. 27 and then setting the home on fire was arrested. The arrest of Harry Mapps, 59, happened in Oklahoma at the beginning of the year, and authorities said money may have been the motivating factor.
• The potential sale of Crested Butte Mountain Resort has fallen though. Announced publicly in November, resort officials said a January deadline for the transaction with an unnamed buyer came and went.
• Farrell’s Restaurant in Gunnison has closed. The popular spot for breakfast, lunch and other goodies opened in 1990.
• The Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas has placed the 660-acre Campbell Family Ranch into a conservation easement. The ranch is split between Chaffee and Saguache counties on the east side of U.S. 285. It’s the largest easement ever for the LTUA.
• Chaffee County will appeal to the Colorado Supreme Court a ruling from a lower appeals court that it should pay more than $90,000 in legal fees racked up by Aspen election activist Marilyn Marks.
• Advocates of a river trail system in Florence are rewriting master plans and updating mapping. The effort is to create connecting trails and improve existing trails, says The Florence Citizen.
• Salida author Kent Haruf made the short list for the Folio Prize for his book “Benediction.” He is one of eight selected for the honor, which comes from a U.K.-based publisher.
• Dixon Villers is the new chief of the Buena Vista Fire Department. He replaces Darrell Pratt, who had served as chief of the volunteer department for 16 years.
• Dr. Gregory Salsbury is the new president of Western State Colorado University. He is the school’s 14th president.
• State House District 60 Rep. Jim Wilson, a Salida Republican, says he’ll run again for a second term. It’s unclear if any Democrat will challenge.
• The survivor of an October vehicle wreck that went unnoticed for six days is home in Westcliffe. Richard Koester is out of the hospital after numerous surgeries, amputations and complications as a result of the wreck near Cañon City that left another man dead.
• After 52 years, the translators for the Chaffee County TV Translator Association will be shut off on April 1. The move is in response to FCC digital requirements and a dwindling revenue stream, since so many people now have forms of service other than old-fashioned rabbit ears.
“Notable Quotes”
“There is simply not room for you and your car.” – Leadville resident Stephanie Fouts, talking about the amount of snow and dangerous conditions within the town. – Leadville Herald Democrat, Feb. 13, 2014.
“We are not a large corporation. If people are looking to get away from that corporate mentality, it gives them an opportunity to do business with a company that’s locally owned and operated. That’s one thing that’s been a cornerstone of our business.” – JC Propane Manager Sherry Cobb, speaking about the business climate in Gunnison. – Gunnison Country Times, Jan. 2, 2014.
“You try to be a whistle-blower, you get in trouble.” – Jim Yopp, a former St. Vincent Hospital employee, speaking about the work environment at the Leadville hospital. – Leadville Herald Democrat, Jan. 30, 2014.
