Pirate Treasure Discovered
A Western State graduate has gained worldwide notoriety after discovering what he believes is pirate treasure in Madagascar. Undersea explorer Barry Clifford (class of 1969) was part of a group of divers who claim to have discovered treasure belonging to the Scottish pirate William (Captain) Kidd.
The group discovered a 50 kilogram silver bar from what is thought to be the wreckage of Kidd’s vessel, the Adventure, off the island of Sainte Marie in early May.
High Waters Claim Lives
Colorado’s near record runoff this spring has led to two river-related deaths in the region. On June 14, a 54-year-old Longmont woman died after falling out of an inflatable kayak near the confluence of Ohio Creek on the fast-flowing Gunnison River.
An 11-year-old Golden boy died after falling out of a commercial raft when it high-sided at the Big Drop Rapids on the Arkansas River, about 11 miles north of Salida on June 10. Searchers found the body after two days, not far from where the accident occurred. The river was running at 3,020 CFS at the time.
Activist Loses with Supremes
Two lawsuits filed against Chaffee County by Aspen activist Marilyn Marks have been dismissed by the Colorado Supreme Court (CSC). Marks had filed a Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) request in 2011 to view voters ballots from the previous year’s general election.
The CSC also dismissed a request by Marks for attorney fees and clarified a contested point of CORA law.
Muddy Roads Ahead
The Pike and San Isabel National Forests, and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands, remind travelers to use extra caution when driving on national forest roads this season.
Numerous roads are damaged as a result of heavy rainfall and rapid melt-off of high country snowpack. Travelers are advised to drive slowly and to watch out for damage such as ruts, eroded roadway shoulders, plugged drainage culverts, rock fall, downed trees and muddy areas. Such damage may be encountered at an above-average frequency during this period. Repairs will be made on a priority basis as conditions stabilize.
Please report any potentially hazardous conditions encountered to your local U.S. Forest Service office.
Where’s the Exit?
An Evergreen man who was awakened by the horn of his wife’s truck at 1:15 a.m., discovered a bear had locked itself in the vehicle.
The animal had destroyed the Ford Ranger’s interior in an effort to get out. The man, Dave Masters, contacted the Jefferson County sheriff’s office, which sent deputies to free the bear. The truck was totaled by the unwanted visitor.
“I just kind of laughed about it.” he said. “We needed a new truck anyway.” said Masters, according to The Denver Post.
Attack Wasps
Biologists with the state Department of Agriculture are releasing about 200 Oobius agrili wasps perweek through mid-July in the Boulder area in an effort to eradicate the emerald ash borer beetle.
The wasps, which are imported from China, target the eggs of the beetles, which have killed more than 50 million trees in 25 states across the U.S.
The beetles are said to be a threat to one in six metro Denver trees, according to The Denver Post.
Shorts …
• Kent Haruf’s final novel, “Our Souls at Night,” was posthumously released in early June to much critical praise. The book is set in the fictional small town of Holt, Colorado, as were most of his novels.
• Jim Pitts is the new Salida district ranger as of June 28. He previously served as the District Ranger in Saguache on the Rio Grande National Forest, and most recently was acting forest supervisor for the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands.
• Patrick Murphy will succeed outgoing 11th Judicial District Chief Judge Charles Barton when he leaves the bench in July.
• A standing stone circle observatory will be built by the Southern Colorado Astronomical Society just west of La Veta.
• The Salida City Council approved the purchase of X26-P Taser guns on June 2 for use by the Salida Police Department. The gun delivers a 50,000 volt shock to its target. On June 16, the council voted 4-2 to create a “streetlight fee” of $2.50 per month to city households to help offset a budget shortfall. Some see this as an opportunity to investigate a “Dark Skies Initiative.” More on that in a later issue.
• Gunnison city leaders have adopted new marijuana regulations after nine months of deliberation and development.
• The town of Westcliffe celebrated the arrival of 2,000-plus bicyclists who finished the Ride the Rockies tour there on June 19.
• Dale Thomas, a well known Gunnison cyclist, was killed after being run over by a trailer driven by a 16-year-old on June 19. Thomas was 64 years old.
• Raggs the dog, who fell down a mine shaft near Buena Vista on May 22, was rescued by rock climbers after more than 24 hours underground. The dog survived the ordeal.
“Notable Quotes”
“Captain Kidd’s treasure is the stuff of legends. People have been looking for it for 300 years. To literally have it hit me on the head – I thought, what the heck just happened to me? I really didn’t expect this.” – Western graduate and explorer Barry Clifford, after the discovery of a silver bar believed to have belonged to Captain Kidd. – The BBC, May 7, 2015
“He got lucky. It took our firefighters three hours to get him out, and by the end everyone was covered in oil.” – Custer County Undersheriff Chris Barr, regarding a trucker whose tanker plunged off Hwy. 96 in Hardscrabble Canyon. – The Mountain Mail, June 10, 2015
“It was an ordeal making sure everyone was safe at 3 a.m., but everyone was so helpful.” – Estelle Querry, manager of a Salida campground that experienced flooding along the Little Arkansas River on June 11. – The Mountain Mail, June 12, 2015
“It would stimulate people to eat.” – Attorney Marty Mercer, commenting to the BOCC about a proposal by a local business to combine a marijuana dispensary and restaurant in a former bowling alley. – The Leadville Herald-Democrat, June 18, 2015
“Every day was psychologically challenging … It was hard to be in that much pain, knowing that even though your feet are bleeding there were miles to cover, but unless you wanted to go home, you had to keep going.” – Salida roller skater Brenna Eaker, one of three who completed a 2,800-mile coast-to-coast skate to raise money for victims of domestic abuse. – The Mountain Mail, May 26, 2015
