NEWS: EPA rejects West Elk air pollution permit, A9
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VOL. 143 NO. 33 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024 | $1.00
Demand at food pantry higher than ever 30% increase in visits over last year Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer
Several times a week, the aisles of the Gunnison Country Food Pantry swell with patrons: a mother and her young son pick through a basket of Roma tomatoes, an elderly woman hoists two half-gallons of milk from the fridge. Around them, volunteers restock shelves with green peppers, corn flakes and bread. This busy scene is now a regular occurrence each week, as both overall visitation and the Pantry A6
HOT WHEELS: Hazel Kugler glides on light-up rollerblades during a community skate night at the Jorgensen rink on Aug. 8. For more, see A14. (Photo by Mariel Wiley)
Gunnison students Bridge repairs to TODAY will return to new stretch until end playgrounds of 2024 INSIDE
NEWS: Jerky Co. arrives on Main Street, A11
COMMUNITY: Tales from high school band camp, B1
SPORTS: Cowboy football trains for opener, B6
OBITUARIES A2 OPINION A4 CLASSIFIEDS A15-A18 SPORTS B6 ONLINE GUNNISONTIMES.COM
District loses more bus routes as driver shortage persists
The district’s board received an update on the renovation projects from Artaic project lead Chris Guarnio at the board’s first regular meeting after the summer break on Aug. 12. As the district’s owner’s representative, Artaic is responsible for managing the $120 million project. The board also received an update on the district’s school bus service from Transportation Director Paul Morgan. And, employees and contractors shared more information on cell phone policies, early release Wednesdays and its first-ever strategic plan. While no big decisions were made, the board could weigh in on these topics this school year.
Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer
The first day of school is rapidly approaching, and soon hundreds of Gunnison Valley students will return to the classroom amid ongoing construction. But many Gunnison Watershed School District students will return to new playgrounds, improved parking lots and outdoor space.
Schools A3
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No overnight closures on Lake Fork Bridge Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer
Repairs on Blue Mesa Reser voir ’s Lake Fork and middle bridges are expected to stretch through the end of 2024, over a month past the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CD OT) original deadline. Gunnison County and CDOT’s desire to move the most vehicles through the Hwy. 50 corridor as soon as possible led to the change, officials shared at a
briefing on Aug. 12. Middle bridge repairs will extend to the end of November, and those on the Lake Fork Bridge — a few miles west — to the end of the year, said Kiewit project manager Jason Proskovec. The extended schedule accounts for time to procure 150 more tons of steel than Kiewit originally expected, and work time lost when CDOT decided to cancel full night time closures on the Lake Fork Bridge. However, the new multiple traffic windows and weight restrictions across both bridges will create scheduling tangles for many moving in and out of Gunnison. “It's like one of those math puzzles in middle school where Bridge A7
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