by Christopher Kolomitz
Monarch Finish in the Works for Pro Bike Race
A stage finish on Monarch Pass, with a start in Gunnison, is part of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge course next August. Mt. Crested Butte will be the location for a stage finish as well. The host communities were announced in early November, and the race will be returning to Gunnison for the third time in four years. The setup for a finish on Monarch Pass will be the tour’s first mountaintop finish. Exact routes are expected to be released in the spring.
BV Finds $50,000 in Dormant Account
An archival project by new Buena Vista town administrator Brandy Reitter, 32, has found $50,000 in a dormant back account. The money was intended for construction of sidewalks and planting trees in the defunct Sunset Vista IV subdivision. The account hasn’t been touched since 2007, and the developer of the subdivision filed for bankruptcy in 2009, reports The Chaffee County Times. Finding the money highlights the amount of turnover within the town government, which in the last six years has had five planners, three town administrators and three finance directors.
Hacker Steals from Huerfano County
More than $146,000 has been electronically stolen from Huerfano County, reports the Huerfano World Journal. Apparently, the theft occurred over a period of eight transactions and the FBI is investigating. More than $225,000 was attempted stolen before officials at Bank of the West and the county caught on. It’s unclear how much will be recovered or refunded through insurance.
Long Payback for Residential Wind Systems
Lots of people on Central Colorado think it’s way too windy around here and dream of ways to capitalize through electrical generation. However, according to the Gunnison County Electric Association, if a homeowner installs a turbine at a cost of $20,000, it will take 50 years to recoup the cost. A test turbine near Doyleville has been in operation for three years now to gather data, which shows about one-third of average annual residential consumption would be offset with a 2.4-kilowatt turbine, the Gunnison Country Times reports.
Salida Schools Earn Top Award
The Salida School District is in the top 10 percent of statewide districts and has much to celebrate, say district officials. Only 19 out of 182 schools made the “district of distinction.” State leaders gave the award based on academic achievement, student readiness and overall growth, reports The Mountain Mail.
No More Yard Signs – For a While
Election season wrapped up with Leadville voters defeating measures to fund more street repairs, spend excess revenue and form a special improvement district. However, a Lake County school mill levy override passed. Over in Westcliffe, a ballot question to increase property tax for more ambulance funding died. Fremont County voters OK’d a one percent sales tax hike to fund public safety, while voters in the Cotopaxi school district denied a measure that would have raised taxes. And in Salida, Jim Dickson won the mayor’s seat, defeating opponent Billy Carlisle.
Shorts
• Starpoint founder and CEO Roger Jensen retired after 36 years working with people with developmental disabilities.
• The Fox Theater in Walsenburg is now digital thanks to volunteer efforts and substantial grant awards. Volunteers are also tackling a new list of repairs along with other facility upgrades. In Cañon City, the Skyline Theater raised $40,000 using Kickstarter to convert their projection equipment to digital and will remain in business.
• Howard resident Agnes Thornton, who was featured in the December 2011 issue of Colorado Central, passed away in November 2013 at the age of 107.
• The effort to build a sweet new public playground in Leadville got a $100,000 boost from the Colorado Health Foundation. So far about $258,000 has been raised, and another $100,000 is needed, but regardless, a portion of construction is expected to start this summer.
• Western State Colorado University is offering a new Masters in Environmental Management program. It’s the third masters program offered there; the other two are in writing and education.
• The U.S. Forest Service held an open house at their new Salida district headquarters. The local office employs 20 full-time staffers.
• Dangerous river conditions at the Silver Bullet rapid near the Buena Vista prison are being mitigated by recreation managers. The $400,000 project includes removal of a boat chute and improvements to a ditch headgate.
• The Salida High School girls’ cross-country team won the 3A state title in late October. Both the Buena Vista football and Salida soccer teams lost in the state semis, while the Gunnison volleyball team was ousted early in the state tournament.
• Cotopaxi author Nancy Oswald has a new children’s book out named “Insects in the Infield,” and the release party is set for Dec. 7 at the Coaldale Community Center.
“Notable Quotes”
“We are intelligent, and we just proved that.” – Avery Martinez, a Salida High School senior, speaking about the Salida “school district of distinction” award. – The Mountain Mail, Nov. 8, 2013
“Ideally, we’d like to get that Alpe d’Huez-type experience going where there are people parked on the side of the road, hanging out and partying – getting that big scene going.” – Greg Ralph, Monarch Mountain spokesman, talking about the Pro Challenge finish next summer. – Gunnison Country Times, Nov. 7, 2013
“I would like to say that this is not a serious thing, but I can’t honestly say that.” – Gunnison County Wildlife Conservation Coordinator Jim Cochran, commenting on the potential listing of the Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo to the Endangered Species list. – Gunnison Country Times, Nov. 21, 2013
