2025-04

Prescribed Fires Planned in eagle, Mesa, Pitkin counties

Fire managers from the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit are planning several prescribed fires in the coming weeks on federal lands in Eagle, Mesa, and Pitkin counties.

Prescribed fires are carefully planned burns that reduce dense vegetation and other fuels. This helps lower the risk of large wildfires and stimulates new vegetation growth that benefits wildlife.

“We closely monitor weather and fuels before burning, and we will only ignite these prescribed fires if conditions are good for a safe, effective burn,” said Lathan Johnson, Assistant UCR Fire Management Officer. “We are also watching weather conditions for optimal smoke dispersal to minimize impacts to nearby communities.”

People in nearby communities and traveling along roads may see smoke. Smoke should dissipate during the day but may remain on the valley floors as temperatures drop.

Fire managers are planning the following burns this spring on the White River National Forest and Bureau of Land Management-managed lands, if conditions allow:

• Muddy Sheep Prescribed Fire, Eagle Holy Cross Ranger District (Eagle County): Five miles north of Edwards, up to 600 acres;

• Cottonwood Creek Prescribed Fire, BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office (Eagle County): Four miles north of Eagle, up to 141 acres;

• Battlements Prescribed Fire, Rifle Ranger District (Mesa County): Twelve miles south of Rifle, up to 1,200 acres;

• Farmers Canyon Prescribed Fire, BLM Grand Junction Field Office (Mesa County): Eighteen miles south of Grand Junction, up to 80 acres

• Braderich Creek Prescribed Fire, Aspen-Sopris Ranger District (Pitkin County): One mile west of Redstone, up to 1,700 acres;

• Sunnyside Prescribed Fire, Aspen-Sopris Ranger District (Pitkin County): One mile north of Aspen, up to 800 acres.

Specific notifications will be made ahead of individual prescribed fires. Timing for individual prescribed fires will depend on a variety of factors including elevation, snowmelt, moisture in the vegetation and soil, and local weather forecasts.

The Crystal Valley Echo asked for any specifics the U.S. Forest Service could provide regarding the timing of the Braderich Creek Prescribed Fire, and David Boyd, the White River National Forest Public Affairs Officer, replied via email, “Our best estimate for the optimal window for Braderich Creek would be early May. As always, it de-

pends on conditions. We have not had the right conditions to ignite the fire past several springs.”

“Fire is as much a natural part of the western Colorado ecosystem as the wildlife and vegetation,” Johnson said. “Prescribed fires and other fuel reduction treatments lessen the intensity of unwanted, large wildfires and give firefighters a place to more effectively engage wildfires when necessary.”

Fire managers have developed a detailed prescribed fire plan and obtained smoke permits from the State of Colorado for each planned burn. Please contact Lathan Johnson at (970) 2574819 for additional information. Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information, visit: www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/ wood-smoke-and-health

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It’s Never Too Early to Start Bear Awareness Practices

By Gentrye Houghton

Last year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife received 5,022 reports of sightings and conflicts with bears in 2024 which is 14.8% higher than the previous 5-years. Trash continues to be the number one source of conflicts between humans and bears.

Of the 5,022 reports CPW received in 2024, 2,225 resulted in property damage to a shed, garage, home, vehicle, fence, etc. Over 50% were linked to trash, 21% to livestock, chickens, and beehives, and 18% to bird seed, pet food, barbeque grills, coolers, and refrigerators.

Many residents in the Crystal River Valley certainly felt the increase in not only sightings but bear conflicts as well. During a community meeting last summer, CPW District Wildlife Manager John Groves said that CPW has seen the bear population continually increase since the 80s, and just last year, tracked around 60 problem bears in the Crystal River Valley alone.

During the meeting, Emily Casebeer, Pitkin County Community Response Officer, said, “Deep down at its root, this is a community problem and we need the community to step up; hold your neighbors accountable, and if you see a trash that’s not locked, hold that business accountable.”

In 2019, CPW launched a bear reporting system to help wildlife managers track and quantify bear activity and conflicts across the state. The data collected is used to see overall trends and identify sources of conflict on a localized, regional, and statewide level. Within the first year and a half of implementation,

CPW recorded 18,351 reports of sightings and conflicts with bears, of which nearly one-third are traced back to bears getting into the trash.

The data from the annual bear cycle informs CPW’s wildlife managers where bears are at and what they are up to, helping CPW identify sources of conflict and make educated management decisions. If you see a bear causing trouble in an urban area, call CPW to report it.

becoMe beAr AwAre

After last year’s proliferation of conflicts and lack of food resources, residents may begin to see bears waking up, so to speak, rather soon. Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers a reminder that by taking some simple precautions, you can avoid human/wildlife conflicts and help to keep bears wild.

beAr-proofing Your propertY:

• Keep garbage in a well-secured location. Only put out garbage on the morning of pickup.

• Clean garbage cans regularly to keep them free of food odors: ammonia is effective.

• Keep garage doors closed, and do

not leave pet food or stock feed outside.

• Use a bear-resistant trash can or dumpster.

• Bird feeders are a major source of human-bear conflicts. Attract birds naturally with flowers and water baths. Do not hang bird feeders from April 15 to November 15.

• Secure compost piles. Bears are attracted to the scent of rotting food.

• Clean grills after each use, and clean up thoroughly after cookouts.

• If you have fruit trees, don't allow the fruit to rot on the ground.

• Talk to your neighbors and kids about being bear-aware.

• Lock your doors when you’re away from home and at night.

• Keep the bottom floor windows of your house closed when you're not at home.

• Don’t allow bears to become comfortable around your house. If you see one, haze it by yelling at it, throwing things at it, and making loud noises to scare it off.

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Liquor License Battle: PitCo BOCC Moves

Forward with Resolution for Denial

By Gentrye Houghton

The picturesque mountain town of Redstone, Colo., known for its historic charm and tight-knit community, is not typically a place one would expect to find a high-stakes business drama regarding the application of a new liquor license, and a small business has found itself at the center of a heated local controversy. Owner Justin Abad opened the Boulevard Barrel, across from Propaganda Pie, last summer and is now fighting to upgrade its liquor license, but local officials and neighbors are pushing back. Yet the ongoing dispute surrounding the business has become a focal point of local governance, highlighting the delicate balance between entrepreneurial spirit and community standards.

The story begins with Abad's desire to transform his current Fermented Malt Beverage and Wine Retail License into a Beer and Wine Liquor License with a Take Out and Delivery Permit. Under its current license, obtained last

June, Boulevard Barrel is permitted to sell packaged beer and wine for off-premise consumption only. This means customers can purchase bottled or canned beer and wine to take home, but cannot consume alcohol on the business premises.

The proposed upgrade would allow for on-premise consumption, a seemingly modest request that has unexpectedly turned into a complex legal and community challenge. The location, situated in Redstone’s Village Commercial zone, which allows for mixed residential and commercial use, initially appeared to be a straightforward candidate for such a license.

However, the path to this license has been anything but smooth. The Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) convened on March 12th for the third hearing reviewing the application; with nearly 80 public comments received since February,

each meeting uncovering new concerns about the business's operations and compliance with local regulations.

From the start, Boulevard Barrel faced significant hurdles. During a previous hearing, Abad was found to be in violation of several land use regulations, which became a central issue in the deliberations. The violations were multifaceted, as noted by Community Development staff in an email addressed to the BOCC, "The approved site plan shows two parking spaces in half the front yard and the other half of the yard as grass. Currently, the entire front yard is gravel, and parking is prohibited by temporary fencing, furniture, and other yard accessories.”

The specific violations included improper use of the front yard for parking and outdoor seating, non-compliant lighting fixtures, and failure to

maintain required landscaping buffers. Upon an inspection conducted on March 5th, significant progress had been made. In an email, Joanna Schaffner, Senior County Planner, documented the improvements to the BOCC, "He is working hard and has cleared the front yard of all snow, revealing two legal-sized parking spaces which lie perpendicular to the boulevard.”

One of the primary issues remained the site's compliance with local regulations. Sam Engen, Clerk to the BOCC, stated definitively, "There are still existing violations that have not been signed off on and approved."

Among the ongoing concerns were adjustments to parking configurations, including a request for perpendicular parking spaces that would extend into Redstone Boulevard, pending approval from the County Engineer. New lighting fixtures were also selected to replace two exterior fixtures at the

front of the house, but these remained pending approval from the Historic Preservation Officer.

Throughout the entire process, there seems to be massive confusion regarding the limits for tastings and alcohol consumption allowable under Abad’s current license. Under Colorado state law, tastings are permitted under strict regulations, limiting the number of samples and the volume of each pour; however, Boulevard Barrel does not currently have a tastings permit.

During his public comment, neighbor Jason Jaynes said, “The due diligence is Justin's responsibility and understanding what the rules are, what the

Texpectations are, what the permitting processes are, and what the timelines may be for these requirements and the limitations of the specific site code, local codes, state codes, and licensing requirements.”

According to a Liquor Enforcement Division investigation report, an inspector visited Boulevard Barrel last year in August and found that tastings had been conducted for a short period before the local licensing authority intervened. The inspector recorded that upon inspection they had “learned Boulevard Barrel was conducting tastings for a short time at the location until the local licensing authority asked the owner… to cease until specific

he C rys Tal V alley e C ho & Marble Times

Mission Statement: To provide a voice for the residents of the Crystal River Valley; to bring attention to the individuals and local businesses that are the fabric of the Crystal Valley region; to contribute to the vitality of our small town life.

EDITOR AND ADVERTISING SALES

Gentrye Houghton gentryeh@hotmail.com

CONTRIBUTORS

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criteria were met.”

In a previous hearing, Abad stated that he believed he had everything in order for compliance but stopped the tastings immediately when told otherwise. During last month’s meeting, Commissioner Francie Jacober expressed concern about Abad’s previous statements regarding tastings. “Unfortunately, Justin himself told us [previously] that the restrictions on the amount of liquor consumed under a tasting license don’t work for him, and so that gave me pause that even if he had a tasting license, you might very well see further violations.”

expreSSed concernS

Public opposition played a significant role in the discussion. Several residents expressed concerns about noise, operating hours, and the potential transformation of the space into an active bar rather than a quiet retail establishment.

Regarding neighbor relations, Abad acknowledged tensions but maintained that he has remained open to discussions. However, Commissioner Greg Poschman pressed him on the issue, asking if he had reached out to his neighbors to address their concerns. “I asked if you were doing any outreach to your neighbors and talking with

the people who have issues with your operation. Has there been any progress made?” Poschman inquired.

Abad responded candidly, "I haven't made any direct contact with my neighbors,” and added that he was "under the impression that they did not want to engage with me any further. So I'm here to state on record that I continue to commit to working with them and being less impactful if they'd like.”

Matt Schumacher, a neighboring resident, voiced concerns about communication, "We have had correspondences in the past with him, but we've gotten resistance when it comes to certain issues. We are always open to communication, but we don't feel like we're getting the same return."

Neighbor Courtney Jaynes was equally critical, "Justin has not reached out to us since maybe September or October regarding our concerns or grievances. I value integrity, respect, and honesty, and based on my personal observations, I have serious concerns about whether these principles are guiding the operation of Boulevard Barrel and its owner."

bocc deliberAtion And next StepS

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Citizen Board Vacancies - Terms Expire on Multiple Boards

Several Pitkin County Citizen Boards have terms expiring on Apr 1, 2025 Current members may reapply and citizens are encouraged to also apply You can find more details and submit your application at www pitkincounty com/citizenboards

New Pitkin County Lighting Code in Effect Now!

Pitkin County’s new Lighting Code is officially in place, with light trespass and curfew regulations Additionally, all nonconforming light fixtures must be replaced or retrofitted within five years to align with the new regulations, helping preserve our community’s natural beauty, safety, and night skies

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During deliberations, County Attorney Richard Neiley clarified legal requirements regarding liquor consumption. "It is unlawful to consume alcohol in public spaces, and any alcohol consumed must be within the defined licensed premises," he stated.

Neiley emphasized that if the new license were granted, "consumption would be strictly limited to the designated area outlined in the application, both indoors and outdoors, but not beyond those boundaries."

He also discussed tasting regulations, stating that a business must have a proper permit to conduct tastings, which the Boulevard Barrel does not currently hold, and there are strict limits on the number of samples and their volume. "These regulations are in place to ensure compliance with state liquor laws and prevent unauthorized on-premise consumption under a retail license," he said.

Commissioners debated whether to approve the license application despite outstanding site violations. Kelly McNicholas Kury, Chair of the BOCC, noted that progress had been made toward compliance. “I think that they have made progress on the land use violations, sufficient for me to consider the liquor license now rather than delay it further,” she said.

Other commissioners, however, suggested possible modifications. Vice Chair Jeffrey Woodruff and Patti Clapper proposed reconsidering the business’s hours of operation. “We might want to look at some modification of hours to see if we can’t give people some respite from activity,” Clapper said.

The two echoed each other with an interest in making corrections to the site plan that would align with community character and remain cognizant of Boulevard Barrel’s immediate neighbors. Clapper and Woodruff were in favor of approving the

application with strict parameters and for Abad to return to the Board for the renewal in a year with a showing of compliance.

However, “I just wanted to respond to Patti saying that we'll give him a year to prove that he can do the right thing if we approve this,” Francie Jacober pushed back. “I just want to remind you that the State liquor license board and our local staff visited Justin on site and told him that they didn't find violations, but the record also states that they told him he could not serve alcohol on site and he continued to do so.”

Commissioners Jacober and Poschman were among those who supported denying the application, citing compliance concerns and neighborhood impact. Jacober noted that while the idea of a beer and wine establishment was appealing, Boulevard Barrel had not adhered to the restrictions of its existing license. “Unfortunately, that operation has been illegal, and even letters in support of Justin’s enterprise have referred to the fact that they’ve gone there and had glasses of wine," she stated.

She expressed disappointment that the business had not followed proper procedures, adding, “Had he taken the correct steps, I would have been happy to go by there and get other people to go by there and enjoy it. It’s really sad that we're put in a position to not support a business in Redstone.”

Poschman echoed Jacober’s concerns and emphasized the trust issues surrounding the application. He pointed to neighbors' complaints

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APRIL 8 & 29

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Send us your email address: (970) 920-5432 • seniors@pitkincounty.com

regarding noise and disruptions, stating, “It’d be hard to be a neighbor and have a noisy bar next door when you thought it was going to be a quiet [wine shop].”

He also highlighted the lack of communication between Abad and the community, stressing the importance of finding a resolution that respects both the business and the neighborhood; yet, such a resolution has yet to be reached.

Ultimately, the BOCC voted 4-1 to prepare a resolution for denial. The final decision will be made during the regular meeting on Wednesday, April 9th, where the resolution will be reviewed and public comments accepted.

Those interested in the outcome can review the resolution online as early as Friday, April 4th Written comments may be submitted online by visiting records.pitkincounty.com/Forms/ Public-Comment, or verbal feedback can be delivered during the meeting.

This liquor licensing battle highlights the delicate balance between small business aspirations and community expectations. It demonstrates how local regulations, neighbor relations, and compliance can significantly impact the delicate balance between Redstone’s residents and its commercial activity. As Justin Abad and the Redstone community await the final decision, the story serves as a reminder of the complex negotiations that often occur in small-town life.

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From Emma Bielski

Practicing Radical Acceptance

As a trained therapist in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), there are many skills taught that I have taken on as part of my personal tools for self-care and mental health. Radical acceptance has helped me move through tough times, hard thoughts, and feelings, around situations that can’t change and for which I have no control. This month, I am going to teach these skills to all of you.

Radical Acceptance – Basic Principles of Accepting Reality:

• Life can be tough: The sooner you understand that life is not always fair or easy, the better you will be able to accept things that are out of your control.

• Some Things cannot be changed: Try to agree, or at least admit that there are some things we cannot change. This can help you focus on the things that can change.

• It is what it is: The idea that you can accept certain unchangeable things and balance those things with what you can change will help you get through the moment.

• You may not always agree or like it: Of course, we like to have things work out the way we want, that is human nature. However, that is not always possible. Agree to Disagree.

Practicing radical acceptance has given me freedom and peace of mind about circumstances and experiences that were once a source of stress, distress, sadness, and sometimes anguish. Not to mention, the amount of mental real estate that's taken up by things we dislike and disagree with. An example from my personal life right now, I am choosing to practice radical acceptance towards my own disdain and thoughts about… get ready… poopy diapers!

For 825 days I have changed diapers, I have diaper-changing fatigue, and I am desperate for my 28-month-old daughter to poop in the potty. However, the fact that I am exhausted and completely over the changing of diapers doesn’t change the fact that I have to change diapers and that I need to meet my daughter where she is and not where I want her to be.

Yes, poopy diapers are hard for me. Poop is my life right now, and I can accept this by having a sense of humor, and by meeting the daily challenge of the diaper changing wrestle with self-regulation, love and patience, and gratitude. This is time-limited, but I am grateful I get to experience this parental hardship, and for a husband who also takes on the poopy diapers whenever he is home and able.

In this example the majority of what I needed to do was shift and change my perspective, and again all things considered out of all things hard, devastating, life-changing, and tragic, poopy diapers are not a big deal.

Radical acceptance can apply to a wide variety of hard life circumstances: Death/dying, divorce, job loss, aging, illness, and injury to name a few. It also applies to ongoing disagreements with people in your world, from spouses/ partners to parents and in-laws, and, of course,

siblings and children. Let’s admit it, there is a lot to fight about if we choose. Could Radical Acceptance help you as much as it has me and my clients? Is there a place in your life where applying the practice of radical acceptance could help you move through the pain, the conflict, the fear, the sadness, the anger, or the worry?

I want to hear from you, emmabielski@gmail. com, try it out and let me know what you think. Not all skills work for all people, and when you find skills and strategies for dealing with and moving through the tough stuff, use them; they can be life savers and game changers.

Stay tuned for May when we will learn about opposite action, my second favorite and most used DBT skill.

Want to learn about or have a question regarding a specific topic? Send me an email; chances are that other readers have similar challenges or struggles in their lives. I often ask this question to clients and friends and now I will ask you, the reader; what is one thing you are going to do to take care of yourself today?

A note from Emma: I am happy to report that 24 hours after submitting this article, our daughter peed successfully… in the potty!

Town of Marble Board of Trustees' March Meeting Recap

An Account from DJ Sugar Monkey

One could be forgiven for thinking that Spring had sprung early in Marble as one strode into the Marble Community Church's Fellowship Hall, checking over one’s shoulder for signs of bunnies hopping, foxes frolicking, and chicks chirping. It was almost as warm inside as it was out. A state changer was required in the form of a quick slurp of Squirt, jolting me from my vernal fantasy. Suddenly I was back in the room, pen poised and ready to scribble.

Mayor Ryan Vinciguerra, Treasurer Amy Rusby, and Amber McMahill were all seated, ready to do the biz. Larry Good connected by phone and Dustin Wilkey joined the happy throng a couple of minutes later. The always cheerful Terry “El Tel” Langley and Ron Leach comprised the Administrative Team for the meeting.

Treasurer Amy Rusby kicked off business with a brief financial report. The main takeaway from Rusby was that the Town of Marble has $422,000 in cash, held in an interest-bearing account yielding around four percent. She agreed to provide further detail during April’s meeting on how the Town’s revenues, expenses, and end cash balance for the full year (2024) would compare to those from 2023. At first glance, Marble appears to be in about the same or perhaps even marginally stronger financial position than at the end of December 2023. I will confirm the exact position next month.

The consent agenda was agreed upon without delay, following which Jewel Campbell, a popular face in Marble, announced to the Board her plan to renovate her property at 19 West State Street. Campbell had some time ago purchased the parcel, zoned residential, from Dwayne Piffer, and has been working hard to clear out the vast amount of detritus left behind by the previous owner. The property comprises four lots totaling 10,000 square feet, and Campbell wishes to proceed with an assessment of the existing (dilapidated) structure to see if it can be renovated. Town Administrator Ron Leach explained that whatever Campbell decided to construct, the finished home could be no larger than the existing shell.

A brief recap then followed of the plans to increase the cost of business and short-term rental licenses. Readers may recall that I had a bit of a rant about this last month, feeling that the $5 per annum increase in business licenses was derisory and, in all

The Marble Town Council meets on the rst Thursday of each month starting at 6 p.m. in the Marble Community Church’s Fellowship Hall.

Town of Marble meetings are open to the public.

probability, would bring in less revenue than the scheme would cost to implement. I went on to speculate that given the business connections of various board members, there may be conflict of interest issues. Since then, however, it has been brought to my attention that a small number (two to be precise) of residents had at January’s meeting argued that charging $100 a year for a business license (up from $50) would discourage budding entrepreneurs from going into business in the first place.

Dustin Wilkey conceded that the increase was indeed very modest, but, given the feedback from residents when the idea was first floated, the board had decided to pursue a more modest route. After recusing themselves on account of their business interests, a motion was passed to increase business licenses to $55 annually and short-term rental licenses to $150 annually (from $100).

Next up was the Parks Committee report presented by Amy Rusby. No sooner had she

announced that the Committee was looking for a new member did Mariah Villalobos — daughter of Mario and Christy, who runs the Marble Gallery — throw her hat into the ring. Villalobos, a now regular attendee at the Town meetings, seems keen to follow her parents’ example in taking an active and energetic role in shaping the future of the Town.

Rusby let everyone know that a wedding was planned in the Millsite Park for later in the summer and that a team of arborists had been hired to cut down some dangerously situated trees already marked for removal. Let’s hope the wedding does not fall on the same day! The annual volunteer weekend to beautify the park has been set for June 20th - 22nd

Councilman Wilkey then led a discussion on the subject of paid parking in the town. Given the remaining number of residents at the meeting had now dwindled to two, a convivial and productive debate was allowed to ensue. During February’s meeting, the board pro-

town of MArble continued. . . posed a “soft” approach to the introduction of paid parking. This encompasses the introduction in 2025 of a leafleting scheme to alert drivers about an impending paid system ($35-$40 per day) commencing in 2026.

The board welcomed this as the best way forward and was interested in further fleshing out the idea. Rusby told of a recent visit to Fruita where parking spaces had been delineated economically using spray paint on dirt ground, her point being that the cost for such a project could be minimal. Villalobos proposed that the content of the leaflets might be expanded to offer visitors information on how to respect the environment and “leave no trace.”

When Ron Leach mentioned that the Town would be looking to hire a part-time parking attendant (a position that has now been filled), Villalobos immediately expressed an interest. What I hope to soon become the welcoming face of Marble opined that further down the line Marble could introduce an online parking reservation system offering discounts to those prepared to book ahead. The idea (mine that is) of introducing a pressure hose (operated by the young folk of Marble) to allow ATV users to clean their machines (at a price) before reloading them onto their trailers was met with a (disappointingly) lukewarm response.

Finally, Wilkey proposed the establishment of a “commercial corridor” running the entire length of the paved road from the Raspberry Cafe and Inn on the west end of town to Beaver Lake on the east. He suggested that properties

situated alongside this thoroughfare be designated mixed-use. It was agreed that this idea would require further discussion.

The meeting adjourned and, once the Church’s furniture had been restored to its rightful place, everyone went on their merry way.

The next meeting of the Town of Marble Board of Trustees will be held on Thursday, April 3rd at 6 p.m. at the Marble Community Church Fellowship Hall.

Redstone Historical Society's Vintage Valley Meeker Massacre: A Bloody Page in Colorado’s History

From Laurel Dewey

the beginning of the end

On a trip to Denver in 1877, Nathan Meeker looked into the possibility of becoming an Indian Agent. While many he contracted felt Meeker was not suited to the position, on March 18, 1878, he received word that his appointment at the White River Ute Agency in northwestern Colorado was approved. The position paid about $1,500 a year and, with expenses being small, Meeker felt he could pay off his debt to Greeley's estate [in Colorado] within two years and then leave the agency. At the age of 61, Meeker looked at his new appointment as an opportunity to continue his mission for God. As far as he was concerned, the Utes were a savage breed and it was up to him to convert them from sin to salvation.

Along with his 63-year-old wife Arvella and his daughter Josephine (or "Josie" as she was called), Meeker arrived at the White River Indian Agency in May of 1878. Instead of being welcomed with open arms, Meeker and his family were greeted by the Utes with both disdain and anger. The previous agent, Reverend E.H. Danforth, had left in disgust, unable to convince the Utes to live in houses and farm their land. The Utes were primarily a peaceful group, happiest when they were attending to their horses. It is known that throughout history, the Utes considered their horses their most prized possessions, devoting all their energy to breeding, riding, and maintaining their herds. Farming was never of any interest to them since many Utes felt it would take too much time away from their horses.

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NOTICE OF CANCELLATION AND CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF RESULTS

§1-13.5-513(6), 32-1-104, 1-11-103(3) C.R.S.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Redstone Water & Sanitation District, Pitkin County, Colorado, that at the close of business on the sixty-third day before the election, there were not more candidates for director than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates; therefore, the election to be held on May 6TH, 2022 is hereby canceled pursuant to section 1-13.5-513(6) C.R.S.

The following candidates are hereby declared elected: Maggie McHugh, until May, 2029 for a 4-year-term Scott Peters, until May, 2029 for a 4-year-term

All content sponsored and provided by the Redstone Historical Society.

One hundred forty-five years after the tragic murders and kidnappings took place in the northwestern Colorado ranching town of Meeker, the founder, Nathan Meeker is still considered an enigma.

The Utes were also upset because their year's supply of annuity goods had been held up 185 miles away in Rawlins, Wyo. In addition, two of the White River Ute bands under Chiefs Jack and Douglas had nearly starved during the winter of 1878 and were forced to hunt in Wyoming in order to survive. Furthermore, Chiefs Jack and Douglas were known to be difficult to work with and would not take kindly to a new agent telling them how to run their lives. With all the turmoil and frayed nerves, there were rumors that a Ute uprising was a good possibility and Meeker was warned to take it seriously. But Meeker remained undaunted, feeling that while other agents had failed, he would go down in history as the one who succeeded.

At first, it seemed as though Meeker would do just that. He immediately pressed all his efforts into seeing that the Ute supplies would be released from Rawlins, Wyo., and distributed to them on a weekly basis. Before long, shipments of flour, oaks, plug tobacco, and food were issued to the Utes. Meeker's daughter Josie, a strong-spirited girl who ran the boardinghouse for the Agency's employees as well as a school for the [Natives], made a concerted effort to better understand the Utes and their grievances. She took time to learn their customs, language, and cultural history, much to the disapproval of her father. In response, many of the Utes regarded her as a friend and someone they could trust.

And so it seemed that all would be well at the White River Indian Agency. But once again, Nathan Meeker's personal opinions, outbursts, and actions would bring about disharmony among the Indians just as surely as it did with the "colonists" in Greeley, Colo. Instead of proceeding gradually with his plans of converting the [Natives] to farmers, he made bold statements to Chiefs Jack and Douglas that their bands would

be taught to milk cows and turn their horse land into rich fields of harvest. Chief Jack made it quite clear that neither he nor any other Ute would be interested in Meeker's grand plan and that forcing the issue would only serve to create tension between them. Still, Meeker pursued his personal program, albeit quietly at first.

On a daily jaunt around the Agency, Meeker discovered a 10,000-acre spread called Powell Park which was located 500 feet lower than the Agency. More than 2,000 of the Utes' prized ponies grazed on this verdant land and enjoyed the snow-free winters and warmer temperatures. On the same land, Chief Johnson, brother-in-law of Chief Ouray, had built a racetrack for the enjoyment and entertainment of the Utes. Meeker regarded Johnson as a [Native] who was more willing to adopt "the white man's ways."

In a letter, Meeker wrote that Johnson "was not given to politics and (agreeable) to improve his domestic affairs."  As Meeker surveyed the rich soil, he reasoned that it was being put to waste by Chief Johnson and that this would be the perfect place for their farm. But, in order for his massive plan to work, the pones would have to go. Incredibly, Meeker actually believed that he could convince the Utes to give up their horses for "a greater good."

Less than two months after he arrived at the Agency, Meeker was setting his scheme into action, requesting and receiving $20,000 from the government for the initial start-up. When word got out in Greeley, Colo., of Meeker's program, over 100 men easily signed up to work at the Agency and be a part of history. Meeker, very quickly, had the money, the talent, and the support to turn his vision into a reality. The only roadblock was the Utes. But to Meeker, that was the least of his problems. Once again,

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this would be another judgment call he gravely underestimated.

the nAil in the coffin

Over the next few months, the White River Indian Agency took shape and quickly became a busy, bustling business. The young men from Greeley, Colo., went about clearing sagebrush to make way for streets and buildings. A bunkhouse and boardinghouse were built as well as a blacksmith shop and general store. Things were coming together in the Agency and some of the Utes even agreed to work alongside the men from Greeley, Colo., to build the various structures. Chief Johnson farmed a portion of his land and even moved into a house that Meeker built for him. However, Johnson wouldn’t touch his cherished racetrack.

But even with all the building improvements of the Agency, Meeker was still not satisfied and his determination to plow under more of the Utes’ land became an obsession. In his heart, he still longed to create that ideal, utopian, self-sustaining community that he had dreamed about in Greeley, Colo. His actions became more bold as he plowed and fenced an 80-acre field as well as ordered a threshing machine, gristmill, and two wrought-iron plows. He became cocky, so to speak, and

believed that he was walking on the path of righteousness and that anyone who disagreed with him was simply not smart enough to know any better. Meeker let his true colors show during the fall of 1878 when he was overheard saying that the Utes did not own the White River Valley and were only allowed to stay as long as they obeyed his wishes and orders. This one statement served to turn favor away from Meeker and create a pervasive mistrust amongst the Utes. The Utes were certain that it was only a matter of time before Meeker would banish them to the “Indian Territory.”  Anger and paranoia gripped the bands of Utes and an uneasy tension grew.

By the summer of 1879, Meeker had almost paid off his $1,000 debt to the Greeley estate. He had had no significant luck during the first six months of that year to convince the Utes to adopt his farming lifestyle. He was weary of continuously fighting with them over every acre of land and by late summer he was ready to leave the Agency in disgust. Even Meeker sensed the tension and boiling anger coming from the Utes’ camps.

Realizing that the Utes were not pleased with his efforts, he wrote a letter to General Pope in Denver, Colo., telling of his unhappiness and the fact that he felt the Utes “were on a warpath” and an uprising could soon follow. Pope

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responded by ordering 44 soldiers to camp within 176 miles of the Agency to “keep the Utes in check” and would be brought in to quell any disturbance if needed. While Meeker wrote back that he would need more than 100 soldiers to back him up, he felt assured that Pope had made a positive step toward protecting him.

He was wrong. Tempers flared amongst the [Natives] once word got out that the soldiers had been called in. Even the mild-mannered Chief Johnson felt betrayed by Meeker and confronted him late in September of 1879. Meeker, in no mood to debate with Johnson, lost control and demanded that Johnson plow under his prized racetrack and even kill some of his ponies because “he had too many."

Johnson became so enraged that he lifted Meeker up, slammed him across the room, and forced him outside, pinning him against the hitching rail. Johnson was restrained before he could do serious damage to Meeker, but he was so shaken by Johnson’s actions that he sent urgent messages to the Governor and Senator demanding protection against the [Natives] and insisted that he and his family’s life were in danger.

Author Laurel Dewey relocated to rural Colorado from California in the early 1990’s. She first worked as an investigative journalist and newspaper columnist. Since then she has authored several novels and investigative books on plant and alternative medicine. This article was first published in the November 1993 issue of the Old Roaring Fork periodical. It is being re-published with her permission.

Major Thornburgh was contacted and ordered to immediately send troops to the White River Agency. Unfortunately, they would never arrive. MONDAY, APRIL 7 6:00PM-7:00PM

THE MARBLE TIMES

A LOOK AT LIFE AT THE MARBLE CHARTER SCHOOL

Finding Willow Falls

By Luna Schachter, 5th Grade

The letters on her keyboard clicked furiously.“Maggie, come downstairs, it's time for dinner!” Her mother said.

“Ok, coming,”  Maggie yelled back.

She hit enter and clicked on the “Willow Falls,”  website.

Maggie read, “Willow Falls is located in the outback. Some say this lost waterfall is a myth, but others believe that there was actually a small population of people that, long long ago, lived there. Although no one is able to locate the exact location of Willow Falls, there is a very good chance of it being real.”

Maggie scrolled down to read more of the passage only to find a few sentences written in some sort of code.

“What?” Maggie murmured to herself.

“Maggie, your dinner is getting cold!”  her mom yelled.

“Hold on, I'm coming.”  Maggie closed her computer and went downstairs.

“So, what were you doing up there for so long?” Maggie's mom asked as

they sat down for dinner.

“Well I was reading an article about Willow Falls but the last sentence was in some sort of code.”

“That's interesting. After dinner, let's go upstairs and you can show me.”

“Ok,” Maggie replied.

Maggie and her mom lived alone. Maggie was an only child and her father had left her and her mother right after she was born. She was 10. After dinner Maggie and her mom went upstairs to look at the hidden message.

“Well, this is interesting,” Maggie's mom said as they tried to figure out how to decode the message. “I've never seen anything like it. How about we go to the library tomorrow and try to decode it.”

“Sounds good,” Maggie said.

Maggie fell asleep that night with a storm of questions thundering in her head. What does the code come from? Can we figure out how to decode it? Is Willow Falls even real?

Dawn cracked and daylight streamed into Maggie's window. She woke up

to birds chirping and kids playing in the streets. Maggie stumbled out of bed and got dressed. She put on her favorite baggy jeans and a pink tank top. After brushing her teeth and hair Maggie walked downstairs and sat at the kitchen table for breakfast.

“Good morning honey,” Maggie's mom said. She was wearing a yellow apron.

“What's for breakfast?”

“Pancakes!”

After eating breakfast, Maggie and her mom got into the car and drove to the Coral Bay Library. Maggie and her mom walked into the library and headed straight to the front desk.

“Hello, how can I help you?” A middle aged woman who was sitting at the front desk asked.

“Were looking for a- here, let me show you,” Maggie pulled out her computer from her canvas bag and pulled up the page of the article. “We're trying to figure out how to decode this,”Maggie said, while pointing to the article written in code.

”Rose,” Maggie read to herself as she glanced at the librarian's name tag.

“This is the code of the Aboriginal people,” Rose said.

The aboriginal people are the Indigenous people of Australia. Just like the native Americans to America.

“Follow me,” Rose said. She then led Maggie and her mom past shelves and shelves of books until they reached an old wooden door at the back of the library. “In here,” Rose said as she led them into a small room. The room was filled with boxes full of books. Rose rummaged through some books lying to their left, and, finally, stopped and pulled out an old, dusty book.

“Try this!” she said, holding the book out in front of her. Maggie took the book and opened it, but this was no regular book. It was a small little box that looked like pages from the outside hiding the fact that this was no book; it was simply disguised as one. Maggie opened the box and pulled out the little note inside. It had all of the letters in the alphabet and all of the little lines and dots under the letters they stand for.

willow fAllS continued. . .

Maggie and her mom walked out of the library feeling excited, when they got home they could start decoding.

The two sat in silence decoding the words. Once they were finally done, the finished product read, “If one succeeds in finding Willow Falls but steals what's not theirs, they will pay the cost with blood and tears. You steal our treasure, we steal your soul. “Sounds like there's some sort of hidden treasure in that waterfall,” Maggie's mom said, her voice sounding the slightest bit scared.

“Ya.”

eight YeArS lAter

“What?!”

“OMG, I'm coming now, hold on,” Maggie said as she rolled out of the driveway and sped down the street.

The hospital was gloomy and quiet. You would hear a cough or sneeze from time to time but other than that, silence.

Maggie sat in the waiting room until

a nurse came and escorted her to the room her mother was lying in. When Maggie first saw her mother, a tear ran down her cheek and onto her shoulder.

Her mother was lying on the scrawny, old, hospital bed.  She had cuts and bruises all over her face. The rest of her body was covered in a blanket. Maggie could thankfully see that the heart meter was moving.

“What happened?” Maggie asked the nurse in disbelief.

“Your mother was driving to work and a semi truck crashed into her car. The car went off a cliff and hit some rocks. The driver was drunk. Your mother flew out of the front window and hit her head on some rocks. We found her lying unconscious.”

A stream of tears ran down Maggie's face.

Maggie's mother had two broken ribs, a broken arm and worst of all, a broken spine. When her car hit the rocks, she flew out the window and cut open her neck.

That night Maggie cried herself to sleep.

She was almost 19 and lived in a small apartment a few blocks from her

September 14, 2024

old house where her and her mother had lived.

The next night Maggie went back to the hospital to visit her mother.

Maggie, standing next to her mothers hospital bed, asked the nurse what was going to happen to her mom.

“Well Maggie,” the nurse said in a pitiful voice. “Your mom is strong but she is really hurt-”

“I'm eighteen!” interrupted Maggie in a loud voice. “I'm not a baby. Tell me exactly what is going to happen to my mom!” Anger turned into sadness. Tears ran down Maggie's cheek. She could tell by looking into the nurse’s eyes that her mother was dying.

Maggie drove out of the hospital in tears. She needed to find a way to revive her mom. But how?

Back at home Maggie opened her computer to do some research on injuries, but then the power went out.

“Darn it” Maggie said. She was sitting in complete darkness. Suddenly, something showed up on Maggie's computer. Surprised, she looked up at her screen to see an article. The title read, “Finding Willow Falls.” Then, out of nowhere, Maggie had a flash-

back.  She remembered going into the little office at the back of the library. She remembered the librarian giving her and her mother the little book with the hidden note eight years ago.  Maggie realized that this was the article about Willow Falls and its treasure. Maggie scrolled down to the text written in code.

“Well this is no help,” Maggie said to herself. Then Maggie saw something out of the corner of her eye. It looked like little dots at the bottom of the page. Maggie had an idea. She zoomed in really close to the little dots on her screen, but as she zoomed in she realized they weren't dots at all. They were letters!  Maggie zoomed in even more just enough so she could read them. The letters were not written in any type of code.

“Follow the Zindowa River,” Maggie read. The name. The name of that river was familiar. Maggie had heard that name, she just couldn't recall where it was from or what it meant. Tired, she walked upstairs, flopped onto her bed, and fell asleep.

She woke up the next morning and suddenly remembered what Zindowa was. She jumped out of bed and leaped in the air with joy.

Zindowa was a river a couple miles

Get ready for a great day of running through the spectacular fall colors in the heart of Colorado’s Elk Mountain range. Run, walk, or hike the 25k loop around Lead King Basin, zipping past the Crystal Mill, and ghost town of Crystal.

from her apartment. Maybe Zindowa was the river that led to Willow Falls. Why else would it be in an article about Willow Falls. Maggie was desperate, and when people are desperate, they usually go looking for a miracle. Maggie needed a miracle and if stealing something was how she was going to get one that was exactly what she was going to do. Maggie started to pack a bag for the quick drive to the Zindowa River. Maggie packed a tent, water filter, food, warm layers, knife, sleeping bag, fire starter, and some other handy Items. Just in case something came up and she had to stay the night. Next, Maggie pulled up a map on her phone to the Zindowa river. She got into her car and backed out of the driveway. It was a 15 minute drive to Zindowa and as Maggie drove she listened to her favorite song. “Shake it off Shake it off!” Maggie sang.

The car stopped and Maggie got out. She went over to the back and unloaded her big bag of stuff. She slung the backpack over her shoulder and locked her car. At first, Maggie hobbled and almost fell from the amount of weight on her shoulders.

She followed a trail about 90 yards from the river. She saw herons catching fish and snakes basking in the sun. Maggie also stumbled upon a koala. He was sitting on a branch eating eucalyptus leaves.

“OMG,” Maggie squealed. She pulled out her phone and sent a picture to her best friend, Gwen.

Immediately, Gwen texted back,  “So cute!” she said.

“Where are you?”

“I'm taking a hike,” Maggie lied.

She knew it was wrong to lie to her best friend, but Maggie could not tell anyone what she was doing. Not even her best Gwen.

Sun shone through the clouds and a brisk breeze passed by as Maggie walked. She walked through a thick forest, the river, now a stream, still about 50 meters away. Moss covered the forest's ground like a big green blanket. Maggie walked silently through the forest, careful not to disturb any wildlife.

Maggie, out of breath, stopped for a snack. She found a nice tall eucalyptus tree and, throwing her back pack down, sat under its large branches. She pulled out her water bottle and a z-bar. This would keep her content for at least another hour. Finally feeling rested, Maggie leaned her head against the eucalyptus tree.

“Aaaah,” Maggie's scream echoed through the forest. Staring down at her was a huge snake! Maggie leaped up in shock. The snake was coiled around the tree, but when Maggie screamed the snake got scared and slithered up the tree.

“That was close,” Maggie sighed.

After the snake incident, Maggie was skittish. She jumped at every little animal that popped out of a bush. Shivers went down her spine as the breeze grew colder. The river that Maggie was following was now rushing with water. Australian bass swam in the river with their scally backs wriggling around in the water.

Maggie stopped and sat down on the little sandy beach that followed the edge of the river.  She let the hot sun sink into her body. She heard cockatoos squawking in the trees. Maggie sat up and, looking in the water, saw a mother fish and her baby. The baby was swimming around its mother frantically. Maggie leaned forward to get a better look. As she did she realized that the mother fish had a huge cut down her back. Maggie felt sorry for the fish and its mother, but there was nothing she could do about it. Then a disturbing thought stormed through Maggie's head.

Could she help her Mother? Perhaps Maggie was as hopeless as the little baby fish. Even if  she was, Maggie was determined to try. With that, she set off into the forest.

three hourS lAter

Maggie tramped through puddles of mud. She felt the heat pushing her to the ground. When Maggie thought she couldn't walk any further she heard the rushing sound of a waterfall. Maggie's pace sped up as she raced toward the sound of the waterfall. Thankfully, as Maggie walked closer to the edge of the waterfall, Maggie saw a set of brick steps that led to the pool below.

“Interesting,” Maggie thought to herself.

“I guess there really were people who lived here.”  She walked down the big stone steps.

MCS 7th &

8th

Grade DC Trip Fundraisers

Bingo Night at Propaganda Pie 6-8pm April 2nd & 16th

is

Carbondale branch and has been with the bank for a year and a half.

She cares deeply about the environment and the impact we have on it. This is why you can see her volunteering for Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers.

Pancake Breakfast at Marble Charter School 9-11:30am April 5th

willow fAllS continued. . .

A breathtaking view caused Maggie to stop and stand in shock. The waterfall was huge. Mist sprinkled Maggie's face.

The waterfall was pouring into a lake that turned back into a river. Trees and flowers surrounded the lake. Maggie started walking through the trees and toward the water. As she reached the water Maggie stopped and sat down. She took her shoes and socks off and dipped her feet in the water. Maggie grabbed her water bottle, pencil, and sketchbook. She took a big sip of water and then started to sketch the waterfall. She sketched the lake and the trees around it. As Maggie studied the bottom of the waterfall she noticed a cave!

Maggie dropped her note book and pencil, got up and ran towards the cave.

Maggie was still barefoot so she waded through the foot deep water until reaching the cave. Behind the waterfall was a stone platform that led to a door.

Maggie walked over to the door and gave it a big push. The door opened and Maggie walked inside. She gasped. The cave was filled with gold, hundreds and thousands of coins

scattered on the ground. Diamond necklaces draped over treasure chests caught Maggie's eye. She walked over to the treasure chest but stopped.

Maggie was not here to take treasure, she was here to find help for her momMaggie's thought was interrupted by a loud noise.

“How dare you try and steal our treasure! My name is Takalo! I show NO mercy to thieves!” The voice was so loud it shook the cave.

Maggie turned around, terrified. Standing three yards away from her was a huge, blue, spirit. Its figure was of an 8 foot tall man with a long beard. The man carried a wooden staff and wore a cloak.

Before Maggie could scream he yelled some sort of language that Maggie could not understand.

“Melndian Anaroshina,” he yelled. Suddenly, about 20 more spirits emerged from the treasure chest. The man with the long beard summoned someone from the back. Emerging from the crowd was the librarian that gave Maggie the book with the message. Maggie guessed she was in a spirit form because she was 5 feet taller and translucent.

“ILIDA!” The man said as he raised

Tune in every second Friday at 6 pm on KDNK for the monthly VOICES Radio Hour, where we share stories and conversations from community members of our collective history, tradition, and heritage.

January 10: Revisiting Newcomers (Spanish)

February 14: Love Overcomes

March 14: Common Ground: Politics

April 11: Sober Living

May 9: Sage Stories

June 13: Common Ground: Faith

July 11: The Way Here (English/Spanish)

August 8: Our Land, Our Voices

September 12: Common Ground: Learning vs. Teaching

October 10: Nuestras VOCES (Spanish)

November 14: Coming Out for the Holidays

December 10: Common Ground: These are the People in Your Neighborhood

willow fAllS continued. . . his voice.

“You showed this girl how to decode our language! You know we are not supposed to let anyone find out about this waterfall and our treasure. We are the guardians of Willow Falls and our ancestors treasure. You let us down, Ilida.

Maggie was shocked! Rose, well, Ilida was a guardian of Willow Falls.

“Please forgive me sir. Maggie is trustworthy to know about this waterfall,”Ilida said.

All the while Maggie was building up courage to speak to the spirits.

“I'm not here to steal your treasure,” Maggie said. “I need to help my mother-she's dying.”

“And you came all the way here expecting us to help you?” a lady standing towards the front asked.

“Yes,” Maggie said. “I came here because I needed a miracle. Not treasure. A miracle. Please help me, I'm desperate.” Before Maggie could continue pleading, Ilida spoke.

“Sir,” she said to Takalo. “Maybe Coloenie could help her.”

Takalo took his time to over think the suggestion.

“Yes, I suppose he could. Maggie, what conditions is your mother suffering from?”

“Well she has a medical condition from a car accident,”

“Then I think Coloenie would be just the guy.”

Takalo and Ilida floated over to another treasure chest. Maggie followed. Then, without notice Takalo gave it a big wake with his staff.  Another spirit, who looked exactly like him, came shooting out of the treasure chest.

“My twin,”  Takalo greeted the other spirit in a welcoming voice.

“Ohhh, Takalo, what do you want?” Takalo’s twin said with a big sigh.

“This young lady needs you to heal her mother.” Takalo said, stepping to the side revealing Maggie.

“You brought a human girl into our waterfall? What were you thinking?”

“First of all I am not the one who brought her in, it was Ilida. Second of all Maggie needs help and if we help her she will go back to her normal, immortal, life and not tell anyone about Willow Falls. Right Maggie?” Takalo asked, teeth clenched.

“Yes,” Maggie replied.

“Ok,” Agreed Takalo’s twin. “Maggie, if you leave right now and never tell a soul about Willow Falls or us when you get back to your hometown your mother will be ready to leave the hospital in three

months.”

“Deal,” Maggie said. She thanked the spirits and pulled open the big door.

three MonthS lAter

Maggie drove up to the hospital and hopped out of her car. She raced down the hallway and into her mothers hospital room.

“Mom! You can come home now.” Maggie said to her mother who was already up and gathering her stuff.

“I know honey, I know!”

Maggie asked her friend Gwen to house sit while Maggie stayed at her moms house for the next month or so. Maggie had a great 19th birthday party. After her mother recovered they went to Paris! Before Maggie could get on her plane and fly to Paris she had to go see someone. Maggie entered the library and, sure enough, there was Ilida, well, Rose.

“Thanks,” Maggie mouthed.

“Your welcome,” she mouthed back.