NEWS: Upper Gunnison funds snow survey flights, A10
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VOL. 143 NO. 11 | THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2023 | $1.00
County commissioner race takes shape Republicans Henry, Bathje to challenge incumbents Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer Mariel Wiley Times Photo Editor
SOUP SEASON: Firebrand’s Heidi Magnus shares her favorite soup memories while chopping onions at the Gunnison Arts Center on March 9. Magnus led a small group through the basics of making a Savannah Bisque soup, which includes carrots, celery, onions and other veggies. (Photo by Mariel Wiley)
Two Republican candidates have announced a run for county commissioner seats against Democratic incumElection A8
Lowline Fire burn Taco Bell to close TODAY area expected to permanently recover naturally Community INSIDE
NEWS: County sued to increase storage space, A5
COMMUNITY: The afterlife of trash, B1
SPORTS: Titans lacrosse falls to Skiers, B4
OBITUARIES A3 OPINION A4 CLASSIFIEDS A15-A1 SPORTS B6 ONLINE GUNNISONTIMES.COM
Only small portion of forest burned at high severity Bella Biondini Times Editor
A post-fire report issued by the U.S. Forest Service this month shows that the landscape burned by the Lowline Fire is expected to rebound quickly. The Lowline Fire occurred last summer on the ridgeline between Squirrel and Mill creeks, approximately 10 miles north of Gunnison. While firefighters were able to control the
spread of the fire, it burned for months and was not fully extinguished until snow fell. The Lowline Fire burned roughly 1,900 acres, the majority on Forest Service-owned land. In August, the Forest Ser vice began working on a burned area emergenc y response (BAER) report — a document that evaluates the severity of a fire and any restoration work needed once it is put out. The report was shared with local agencies such as Gunnison County Emergency Management, the Upper Gunnison River Water Cons er vanc y Distr ict and impacted private landowners on March 7. The final report serves as a
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to lose quick, affordable bite Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer
Taco Bell is one of the last places in the Gunnison Valley where diners can fill their bellies for less than $5. But on March 19, the restaurant will shut down. The franchise owners, ColCal Colorado Inc., confirmed the closure to the Times. ColCal is a family-run franchise company that has owned Taco Bell restaurants around the Western Slope since the late 70s. A company representative declined to provide details about the reasons for the closure. The Times reached out to
several Taco Bell employees. All declined to comment. For many, Taco Bell’s closure is another fallen domino in the loss of affordable food in Gunnison. Two fast food restaurants have closed in the last five years. The local Sonic closed permanently in the fall of 2019, and Subway at the end of 2023. (Subway owners have stated they will reopen the store this summer.) “I worry about elderly in this town that go over there,” said Gunnison resident Midge Barton. “I worry about the poor kids. I worry about the working class and single parents. Where are they going to go?” Taco Bell is also one of just a few places in town that’s open past 10 p.m., offering a consistent meal for people getting off a late shift, hikers descending Taco Bell A6