NEWS: Ballot initiative calls for big cat hunting ban, A12
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VOL. 143 NO. 34 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2024 | $1.00
Gap weather radar arrives in Gunnison Installation set for September Bella Biondini Times Editor
MEDIEVAL MISCHIEF: The Missoula Children’s Theatre camp brought the misadventures of Robin Hood and his Merry Men to life on stage during a performance at the Gunnison High School auditorium on Aug. 17. For more, see B12. (Photo by Mariel Wiley)
Once installed, a new gap weather radar is expected to produce a stream of data that will vastly improve water supply and weather predictions in the Gunnison Basin — an area that has historically had limited access to accurate forecasts due to its remote location. The project, led by the Western Water and Weather Intelligence Center, is years in the making. The nonprofit selected Gunnison County roughly three years ago for its first permanent “gap filling” radar, primarily because of its location at the headwaters of the Colorado River, Radar A6
Chamber lets go CB agrees to TODAY of Night of Lights, 10-year Whetstone tap fee plan Trick or Treat Housing project events INSIDE
PHOTOS: Car show takes over Jorgensen, B6
COMMUNITY: Gunnison Trails beautifies the backcountry, B1
SPORTS: GHS softball splits doubleheader in opener, B8 OPINION A4 CLASSIFIEDS A14-A17 SPORTS B8 ONLINE GUNNISONTIMES.COM
will not harm decades-long traditions, short utility users, City asked to notice and capacity limitations step in this year may change the way the events Town says Bella Biondini Times Editor
This month, the Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce formally announced it would no longer organize the Night of Lights Christmas celebration and the Halloween Trick or Treat Business District — two wellloved and attended community events. The City of Gunnison has agreed to take over. While the intent is to preserve the two
look this year. The city is juggling a number of its own upcoming events, as well as budget season, which kicks off during the fall. According to City Manager Amanda Wilson, the city hopes to present a possible solution to the city council in September. But one thing is sure, the events will go on as scheduled, she said. “We want the community to feel like there was no change,” Wilson told the Times. “[But] I don't know what that looks like yet.” Chamber A6
Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer
On the long road to make its proposed Whetstone housing development a reality, Gunnison County has cleared a major affordability hurdle which had threatened to shut the project down. Crested Butte Town Council made the decision to allow the county to stretch payment for Whetstone's $7.5 million tap fee over 10 years at a council meeting on Aug. 19.
Whetstone is the county’s planned 252-unit, incomerestricted housing project, meant to offer much-needed housing stock for Gunnison Valley workers by 2027. This summer, the $100-130 million project faced considerable financial tangles as county staff negotiated the timeline of tap fee payment and renovations for the Brush Creek Road intersection, at the entrance of the development, with the town. Last month, council approved connecting Whetstone to the town’s water and sewer utilities, but the financial commitments baked into it — paying the tap fee up front and committing to Brush Creek Road renovations while Whetstone A3