Election Results
Salida voters chose a new mayor and three new councilmen in the November election. P.T. Wood beat the incumbent Jim LiVecchi with 68.91 percent of the votes to become the new mayor.
Dan Shore will represent Ward 1 after winning 74.14 percent of the vote, Justin Critelli won 70.96 percent of the vote to represent Ward 2 and Harald Kaspar garnered 66.44 percent to win Ward 3.
Salidans also voted in favor of Ballot Issue 2A, which amends the city municipal code to shift the disposition of city sales tax revenue into dedicated funds within the municipal budget.
Buena Vista voters approved Ballot Issue 3A, a $29.5 million school bond to rebuild parts of the high school and middle school. A mayoral runoff will be held in Crested Butte between Jim ‘’Deli’’ Schmidt and Chris Ladoulis. Leadville voters passed a measure to “de-Bruce” city property taxes, but Lake County voters gave a thumbs down to a funding measure for Colorado Mountain College, 698 to 507.
In Custer County, two of three county commissioners were recalled and replaced. Bob Kattnig and Donna Hood were both recalled. Kattnig was replaced by Bill Canda and Hood was replaced by Tommy Flower. Jay Pritz managed to avoid a recall vote and will remain on the board. Custer voters also approved Ballot Issue 3A which will allow for matching funds for a BEST grant to make repairs on aging school facilities.
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Possible Homicide Victim
A man whose body was found near the Arkansas River near Texas Creek Nov. 17 has been identified as Thomas Hoglan, 53, of Cotopaxi. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office and 11th Judicial District Attorney’s Office are investigating the death as a possible homicide.
Complaint Filed Against Undersheriff
An internal complaint of sexual harassment has been filed against Lake County Undersheriff Fernando Medoza by an employee of the Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Rod Fenske then hired a law firm from Denver to investigate the complaint. Mendoza has been placed on temporary leave while the investigation is underway.
Navajo Nation Purchases Portion of Area Ranch
The Navajo Nation has acquired 16,350 acres of Wolf Springs ranch in Custer and Huerfano Counties for the sum of $23 million.
The land sits near a mountain sacred to the Najavo, Tsisnaasjini’ which is known as Blanca Peak. The ranch name will be changed to Ma ‘iitsoh Bito’ which translates to Wolf Springs in Navajo.
“We know that our ancestors lived in this area and we look upon Tsisnaasjini’ with great reverence. This purchase is in essence a great victory for the Navajo Nation,” said Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye, according to the Wet Mountain Tribune.
The Navajo consider the property to be part of its original aboriginal land.
Suit Filed Against BV Brewery
A brewing company in Utah is suing Buena Vista brewery, Eddyline, for $1 million claiming unfair competition. Epic Brewing Company alleges Eddyline is infringing on a registered trademark, “EPiC,” by branding one of its products EPIC DAY.
The suit contends the Buena Vista-based brewer is using the name deceptively and is “designed to wrongfully profit” from Epic’s “well-known” medal- winning beers, according to the Chaffee County Times.
Eddyline Brewery owner and founder Mic Heynekamp says he believes there is no confusion between his product and Epic’s.
Shorts …
• Longtime Gunnison Valley resident and recreationist Matt Brown died at the age of 58 on Oct. 21 from injuries sustained in a fall while camping in Moab, Utah.
• Amber van Leuken has been named the new executive director at Ark-Valley Humane Society.
• Ben Kahn, attorney for the city of Salida, terminated his agreement with the city in a letter dated Nov. 21, 14 days after the election of a new mayor and council.
• Gunnison City Clerk Gail Davidson retired in November after working at every level of city government over the past 35 years.
• The Colorado Pike Trail has been proposed by the Pike National Historic Trail Association and would follow the path of the 1806 Zebulon Pike expedition. The route would traverse public roads to the west of U.S. Highway 24.
