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Paid at Silverton,
CO 81433
USPS # 496-880
Silverton Standard & the Miner
P.O. Box 8
Silverton, CO 81433
Volume 130, issue 29, January 14, 2005
Run
like bastards!!!!
-Jerry Roberts, Silverton Avalanche Forecaster, as he and his
companions stared down the throat of the beast known as the
Battleship Slide.
For full story and a sequence of the slide, see pages 6 and 7.
Photo: The Battleship runs, Jan. 9, 05. Photo by Jonathan Thompson
SILVERTON STANDARD
O P I N I O N
Publisher
Mountain Journal Publishing,
Inc.
Jonathan Thompson, Pres.
Editor
Jonathan Thompson
Assista nt
Josh Galloway
All articles are written by
Jonathan Thompson unless
otherwise noted in a byline.
The Silverton Standard & the
Miner is a weekly newspaper
written for people interested in
the issues and news of
Silverton, Colorado and the
surrounding San J uan
Mountains region. The
Standard voices a strong sense
of community for Silverton and
the San J uans as it brings you
the issues, characters,
landscapes, and the talent of
the region.
Stressing in-depth, balanced,
and thoughtful writing, news,
photography, and topical
articles on key issues affecting
the region, the Standard
keeps the greater San J uan
community informed,
entertained, provoked, and
engaged in dialogue about
the community and its future.
The Silverton Standard & the
Miner (USPS 496-880) is pub-
lished weekly by Mountain
Journal Publishing at 1315
Snowden, Suite #7, Silverton,
CO 81433. Periodicals
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Mail: P.O. Box 8,
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2004 Silverton Standard &
the Miner
C o m m u n ity ~ La n d ~ C u ltu re
www.mountainjournal.org
by Courtney White
Writers on the Range
L
ooking back over the past century, the greatest shortcoming of
the conservation movement in the American West has been its
near-total failure to devise a strategy for privately owned land in
the region.
By any yardstick watershed acres, animal species, ecological
processes conservation success on private land has been small.
While many environmentalists correctly note that half of the West is
publicly owned and thus held in trust for the public good, they rarely
mention the other part of that equation: Half of the West is in private
hands.
This is significant because, as many researchers have written, pri-
vate lands contain the most productive soils, are located at lower ele-
vations and often include key riparian areas. Wildlife biologist Rick
Knight, who teaches at Colorado State University, put it this way: We
will not be able to sustain native biodiversity in the Mountain West
by relying merely on protected areas. Future conservation efforts to
protect this regions natural heritage will require closer attention
being paid to the role of private lands.
But how? The tactics of demonization, litigation, regulation and
pressure politics may be effective on public lands though to a
diminishing degree these days but theyre essentially useless on pri-
vate land.
They wont work because theyre tools of coercion. Theyre useful
to right a wrong or quick-fix a crisis, but ineffective for chronic afflic-
tions, such as the slow decline of biological diversity. Our ecological
crisis is really a social crisis, and you dont change human behavior
with a hammer.
Until conservationists can conceive of the region as one West
indivisible in the things that matter, such as water, wildlife, soil, com-
munity and the common good, and develop strategies that work even-
ly and fairly, the ecological trend will continue downward.
A few years ago, I was part of a panel discussion in Silver City,
N.M., that focused on livestock and native plants. On the panel with
me was a vigorous local environmentalist who drew a sharp line in the
sand when it came to cows. Id cited a statistic that over 100 million
acres of private land in the West are owned by ranchers, and most
need the grazing provided by public lands to stay profitable.
I turned to the activist and asked: If youre successful in booting
ranchers off public lands, what happens to all that private land?
Whos going to keep it from being sold to subdividers?
The environmentalist responded by saying his concern was for
public land, and he was only interested in creating refugia for native
plants and animals.
His comment upset the Forest Service biologist at the other end of
the panel. What good is a refuge if its also a biological desert? he
asked, hotly. Because thats whats happening in the Gila
Wilderness.
He went on to say that the suppression of fire and other natural
agents of ecological disturbance, including, under the right condi-
tions, animal impact, had contributed to ecological stagnation in the
wilderness.
Right there, I realized, was the heart of the matter. Do we contin-
ue to divide the West into two parts based on philosophical ideals
such as whether we have a public or a private right to something on
the land or do we talk about crossing boundaries and working col-
laboratively?
Efforts to sequester land by buying it are laudable, but there isnt
enough money to do the job; not even enough for the purchase of
conservation easements. Prices also keep rising, almost literally by the
minute. One response to the dilemma of limited funds has been to tar-
get the last best places. Its been a useful strategy. The Conservation
Fund, for example, has passed the 4-million acre mark nationwide, in
terms of protected land.
It only took them 19 years.
Many land-buying organizations have recently turned to collabo-
rative, community-based projects to widen the conservation impact
across threatened landscapes. At the same time, other conservation
organizations, such as Defenders of Wildlife and Environmental
Defense, offer incentive programs and other tools to encourage better
land use among private landowners.
But more than anything, environmentalists need to make peace
with ranchers and other landowners. And everyone needs to begin a
dialogue about the health of the land and economic opportunity,
regardless of where the fences may go.
As John Maynard Keynes said, The difficulty lies not in new
ideas, but in escaping from the old ones.
Courtney Whiteis a contributor to Writers on theRange, a serviceof High
Country News (hcn.org). In Santa Fe, New Mexico, heis executivedirector
of theQuivira Coalition, whosefourth annual conference, Half public, half
private, oneWest, takes placeJan. 13-15 in Albuquerque.
Page 2-Friday, January 14, 2005
One West
From the Standard Mail Car
Dear Editor:
I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you, to the City,
County, and State road crews. I was amazed when I called the road
conditions number this morning and found that the State crew had
actually managed to keep the highway south open all night. It just
shows their commitment to our safety and indefatigable dedication to
their jobs. All of these people have worked around the clock, putting
in major overtime hours without days off.
This winter is starting to look serious. Maybe we have been in a
drought cycle for so long that we have forgotten what winter is real-
ly like in the San Juans. The county has worked very hard keeping
County Roads 2 and 110 open so that people could ski and get to
their homes outside the city limits. The town crew is working partic-
ularly hard these days, even amid complaints from citizens that their
cars are plowed in and their parking area is not cleared.
I remember the first time I set foot in Silverton, 30 years ago. In
those days, the town could not afford much equipment and what
they had was ancient. The snow was simply plowed to both sides of
the street, period. No parking areas, no hauling it away. It was each
man for himself. The snow bank just got deeper and higher and cars
were literally buried until spring if you didnt dig them out. By March,
the streets were often one lane wide. To get into my aunts house that
winter, we dug a tunnel 15 feet across. Some folks just created stair
steps up and over from the street. I lived on Bluff street and had to
park at the school, because the town didnt own the equipment capa-
ble of plowing the narrow alley.
Now the town road crew plows wide parking areas, hauls snow
away as time allows, and scrapes away the slush in the spring. We are
all going to be inconvenienced when it snows this much. It is a has-
sle to dig out our cars and follow the snow removal rules. Its just part
of living here. Lets all try to be patient, and how about a thank you
and a batch of cookies to the road crews. They are working awfully
hard to make our lives easier. Believe me, it could be a lot worse.
Cindy MacDougall
Silverton
Thanks, road crews!
Send us your letters
We welcome letters to the editor and will run them even if you re raking
us over the coals. They must be signed including where you live, please ,
not libelous, and preferably less than 500 words. They will run when we
have the space, and we reserve the right to edit for length, grammar, and
to keep us from getting dragged into court.
Send them to:
editor@mountainjournal.org; or P.O. Box 8, Silverton,
CO 81433. Or drop it by our office at 1330 Greene St.
Dear Editor,
I just wanted to express my gratitude and appreciation to the
Town of Silverton for its support of the Kendall Mountain Recreation
Area and ski area.
The folks who work over there do an amazing job, and I think the
whole organization is top-notch.
Thanks again for keeping it open and running.
Ann Friedman
Kendall Mountain rules!
Praise the EMS!
Editor,
I would like to praise our Emergency Medical Service. Ive been in
the medical profession since 1972, and a Registered Nurse since 1977.
Ive also been a frequent flyer on our ambulance. Ive been down the
mountain approximately eight times over a 31-year period of time.
Three times in the early seventies, when there were only a handful of
generous volunteers: Wiley Carmack, Scotty Jackson, Virgil Mason,
Ann Jacobs, and others. Silvertons population then was much higher
than it is now. We received good care then, just as we do now.
I am fortunate to have had safe professional care and Mike Bertch
has been with me twice, if Im recalling correctly. I received GOOD,
PROFESSIONAL CARE. Mike really cares, and Fred is my favorite driv-
er. Hes fast and safe. Kristina and Maxine are good at what they do,
knowledgeable, and compassionate.
Seven years ago I thought seriously about moving back to
Silverton, in spite of my health problems, which include serious car-
diac arythmias and post closed head injury, which has caused much
deterioration in the last few years. I feel safe with our TEAM. Thank
you for taking such good care of me. Even though I havent been able
to pay for your services, I have been treated with the utmost care and
professionalism. Mike Bertch is a wonderful asset to our community.
Thanks to all of you,
Phyllis Kennedy, R.N.

n ne ew ws s
@a
glance
San J uan County Commissioners
this week gave the go-ahead to
Dean Cox to build a house and
garage on the New York Lode
mining claim in the vicinity of
the Aspen Mine. The approval
was fairly straightforward, with
six stipulations attached. The
county has approved a handful of
similar projects in the
Lackawanna/Aspen Mine area
east of Silverton.
###
Mike Fisher also received
approval of his sketch plan to
construct a lodge on his Forest
Queen #7 mining claim between
Maggie and Minnie Gulches. The
five-room, 5,300 square foot lodge
will be attached to Fishers resi-
dence, which is currently under
construction.
Wednesdays county approval
means that Fisher can now move
to submit a preliminary plan to
the planning commission.
Various concerns have been
raised regarding the structure,
including the impact to views and
historic featuresthe lodge will sit
right next to an historic tramline,
and whether the entire structure
will be in compliance with com-
mercial building codes. Fisher
said he will hire an architect to
ensure that his lodge will meet
codes. Other concerns should be
addressed during the considera-
tion of the preliminary plan.
###
What had been a record-break-
ing year for sales tax receipts
for Silverton, took a dive during
the final month. Sales tax rev-
enues collected in December (gen-
erated in October) were a whop-
ping $10,000, or 25 percent, less
than they were for the same
month a year earlier. That pulled
total tax receipts down below last
years figure and put a dent in
previous projections.
Town Administrator Dave
Erickson is hoping that strong
winter receipts will offset the
shortfall.
The number of visitors stop-
ping it at the Silverton Visitors
Center also dipped in October, but
shot back up to stronger than
usual figures for November and
December.
###
A skier who had been missing
for two days from Purgatory Ski
Area was found Tuesday. He was
cold and hungry, but otherwise
unscathed.
An aircraft spotted Gavin
J ames, a 31-year-old skier from
Farmington on Tuesday morning.
He had taken shelter at a back-
country cabin in the Elbert Creek
drainage about two miles outside
of the resort boundaries. La Plata
County Search and Rescue Team
members and Purgatory Ski
Patrollers brought J ames to safe-
ty later that day.
According to Butch Knowlton,
Director of the La Plata County
Office of Emergency Management,
the conditions were challenging
for searchers. We found
extremely poor snow conditions
and observed several natural ava-
lanches in the area where Gavin
J ames was found, explained
Knowlton.
###
U.S. Rep. J ohn Salazar this
week met with Colorado
Department of Transportation
Director Tom Norton to discuss
(Continued on next page)
N N E E W W S S
SILVERTON STANDARD
Snow just kept falling and
falling on Silverton this week,
with about 50 inches accumulat-
ing in a four-day period.
Avalanches slid recklessly down
the mountainsides, keeping state
and county road crews busy in
what was often a losing battle to
keep the roads open.
After snow fell in blustery
conditions all day Jan. 8,
Highway 550 out of Silverton was
closed at 11 p.m. in both direc-
tions because of avalanche dan-
ger. By Sunday morning, County
Road 2 to Eureka was also closed
because a slide had come down
and blocked the road and hazard
was high.
Snowfall totals from this ini-
tial burst were not substantial,
but a steady wind, punctuated by
high gusts, was enough to make
conditions dangerous.
Molas and Coal Bank Passes
were opened Sunday afternoon
following a control mission that
brought down some slides while
others stubbornly refused to
budge. Meanwhile, control mis-
sions made progress on Red
Mountain, but not enough. It
remained closed for the night.
In defiance of forecasts, the
sky dropped another 17 inches in
Silverton Sunday night, prompt-
ing several slides to run naturally.
Molas and Coal Bank shut down
again Monday morning and the
town began to resign itself to a
world without passage to the
north. Meanwhile, CR 2
remained closed, with some large
slides down, keeping employees
from Liberty Hardware/Betsy
Fields Design away from work
and at least one resident of a
house near Maggie Gulch strand-
ed from her home.
Here in town, the Idaho Slide
off of Kendall Mountain ran, pro-
viding a show for local observers
and depositing debris on the
banks of the Animas River.
Another control mission was
completed, and the gates to the
south were opened once again
Monday night. But on Tuesday,
more spot closures to control
individual slides soon became a
full gate closure as winds picked
up, snowfall exceeded two inches
per hour, and visibility dropped
considerably. One CDOT employ-
ee found himself in a precarious
position as natural slides narrow-
ly missed him as he drove up
Molas Pass. And San Miguel
Power Association employees
were prevented from going to
Burro Bridge to work on trans-
former problems there.
The mail made it into town
TuesdayMarvin Voehringer
drove around the horn through
Durango to bring letters and
parcels to town. However, he was
then stranded in town by the
subsequent closure of Molas Pass.
Tuesday night brought more
high winds, more snow, and
more avalanches. Amongst the
big slides brought down as of
Wednesday morning was the
Irene, up CR 110. County Road
Supervisor Louis Girodo said it
piled 12 to 15 feet of debris on
the roadway.
Power was knocked out in
town twice on Tuesday, but was
restored within half an hour.
Things werent so good up
towards Gladstone, where several
slides battled with the the power
line serving Silverton Mountain
Ski Area and the Gold King Mine.
The slides won. Then, on
Wednesday, as the storm gave
way to blue skies, cold tempera-
tures, and howling winds, phone
communication was knocked out
to the outside world
Silvertonians could not commu-
nicate with the outside world via
Internet, phone, or even cell
phones. Only satellite phones
could reach outside the walls of
Kong until phone service was
restored late Wednesday after-
noon.
As CDOT crews struggled to
break through debris-filled slides
and substantial snowdrifts on
Highway 550 south Wednesday,
it became clear that Silverton
would remain isolated for at least
another night. That prompted
the local emergency medical serv-
ice to call in a helicopter to trans-
port a patient to Mercy Medical
Center in Durango. Further
details were not available when
we went to press on Thursday.
Temperatures plummeted
Thursday night, reaching 16
below zero. As of Thursday morn-
ing, Lizard Head, Red Mountain,
and Molas/Coal Bank Passes
remained closed.
Well have more details,
including an analysis of how this
storm compared to other big ones
throughout history, in the next
issue.
Page 3-Friday, January 14, 2005
Pineapple Express buries Silverton with white
Silverton received about 50 inches of snow during a four day peri-
od this week, along with high winds that formed huge drifts and
elevated avalanche danger. A natural snow sculpture hung off the
back of the Lemon Tree building (top); when skies cleared Wednesday,
shifting winds blew snow around (middle); Jon Allen took advantage of
the fresh powder in his backyard (bottom). Jonathan Thompson photos.
The Pickle Barrel
Sunday Special
From4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Early Bird Special:
$2 off anyentreeon themenu between 4 and 6 p.m.
Sundaysonly.
Please present this coupon to your
waitress.
Also, $2 pints every Sunday, all night long.
1304 GreeneSt. in Silverton ~387-5713 ~thepicklebarrel.com
Slides that Ran
The following is a list of just some of
the slides that ran during the storm
followed by any information we can
provide, including the depth of
snow deposited on the centerline of
the respective road. Believe us, this
is just a partial listwill add more
next week after we receive data
from the Silverton Avalanche
Forecast Office.
IN SILVERTON:
Idaho Gulch Slide off of Kendall
Mountain: it appears only the bot-
tom half of the slide ran. Provided a
good show for some lucky locals.
Not clear if debris blocked the river
or not.
Arcade (a.k.a. Kendall Mountain,
Green Ribbon, Green Wave,
Rabbit Ears). Seems to have been
close to a full-track event.
Gladstone North (Dora Slide,
Twin Slide): This one isnt quite in
town, but is visible from town. It is
one of the narrow slides that run
across Highway 550 South just out-
side of town. The slide ran big
enough to rip out a number of trees
which were deposited on the high-
way. The slidepath is now consider-
ably wider than it was. It may not
have run substantially since 1941.
COUNTY ROAD 110 (INFORMA-
TION FOR THIS AND CR 2 PRO-
VIDED BY LOUIS GIRODO,
COUNTY ROAD SUPERVISOR)
Irene Slide: 12 to 15 feet on road.
Minnesota: Six feet deep on road
and 350 feet wide on road. Brought
a lot of timber down. Probably has-
nt run since 1983.
Billboard: This slide, within
Silverton Mountain Ski Areas
boundaries, ran naturally and piled
debris five feet deep and 300 feet
wide on the road.
Grassy Gulch: Piled snow five feet
by 80 feet on the road.
Fairview: Ran big, no details.
COUNTY ROAD 2
Valley Forge: Near the Mayflower
Mill. Didnt hit the road.
Pride of the West (Brendel
Gulch): Ran twice between
Saturday and Wednesday.
Deposited eight feet of snow for
200 feet on roadway.
Tailings Pond: 16 feet of debris
next to road.
Porcupine: Ran twice, but only
dusted the road.
Columbine Hill: Ran three times,
and deposited five feet on the road.
Hamlet: Ran real big on Tuesday.
Girodo had just plowed under it and
then it slid, putting a 350 foot long,
12 foot deep, pile of snow where he
had been plowing.

SILVERTON STANDARD
n ne ew ws s
@a
glance
N N E E W W S S
the pressing transportation
and infrastructure needs of the
third Congressional District,
according to a press release
from Salazar s office. He request-
ed the meeting to receive an
update on state priority projects
and to discuss his own priorities,
which include improving major
roadways and making travel
between rural airports more
affordable. On his list of priorities
is Highway 550.
Over the next month, I plan
to travel throughout the district
to hear from officials and con-
stituents about the transportation
needs in their communities, said
Salazar. I look forward to work-
ing with my colleagues on the
committee to improve the I-70
corridor, US 50, and US 550, and
increase the overall economic
growth of the third district.
No word on whether hell be
able to get 550 open this week.
###
The percentage of Earths land
area stricken by serious drought
more than doubled from the
1970s to the early 2000s,
according to a new analysis by
scientists at the National Center
for Atmospheric Research
( NCAR). Widespread drying
occurred over much of Europe
and Asia, Canada, western
and southern Africa, and eastern
Australia. Rising global tempera-
tures appear to be a major factor,
says NCARs Aiguo Dai, lead
author of the study.
Dai and colleagues found that
the fraction of global land experi-
encing very dry conditions
(defined as -3 or less on the
Palmer Drought Severity Index)
rose from about 10-15% in the
early 1970s to about 30% by
2002. Almost half of that change
is due to rising temperatures
rather than decreases in rainfall
or snowfall, according to Dai.
Though most of the Northern
Hemisphere has shown a drying
in recent decades, the United
States has bucked that trend,
becoming wetter overall during
the last 50 years, says Dai. The
moistening is especially notable
between the Rocky Mountains
and Mississippi River. Other
parts of the world showing a mois-
tening trend include Argentina
and parts of western Australia.
These trends are related more to
increased precipitation than to
temperature, says Dai.
###
After more than three years of
discussion, scientific analysis,
and planning, the Colorado
Division of Wildlife (DOW) is in
the final stage of bringing moose
to western Colorados Grand
Mesa.
The first moose will be trans-
ported more than 200 miles to the
Grand Mesa on J an. 18. DOW biol-
ogists hope to release between
five and 10 moose that morning,
but weather and capture condi-
tions can easily affect the plan for
the release.
The moose being released will
be captured a day earlier in the
Rio Grande National Forest near
Creede.
Colorado is currently home to
two healthy moose populations.
The DOW introduced the first sig-
nificant breeding population in
North Park in the late 1970s. A
second successful introduction
near Creede was conducted in the
early 1990s.
###
Page 4-Friday, January 14, 2005
TRIAN GLE SERVICE
864 Greene Street~Silverton, CO
387-9990
W
W I IN NT TE ER R

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Dont forget to check your antifreeze.
Winter tires?
Shop Hours: Mon-Fri, 8-5
VERY CO M PETITIVE
S.U.V. and all-season tire prices.
Owned and operated by
Bill and Geordy MacDougall, ASE Masters.
Its almost like clockwork:
the big snow falls, and
Silvertons political attention
turns to the streets and plowing
them and people parking on
them.
Thats what happened at
Monday nights town board
meeting, which mostly dealt
with routine business but was
dominated by street talk.
I just want to be able to
park in front of my house,
Aaron Brill pleaded. Like all
Greene Street residents, Brill may
not leave his car in his regular
on-street parking area between 2
and 7 a.m. Brill was recently
rudely awakened to this fact
when he awoke one morning to
find that his car had been towed,
and asked the town board
Monday to reconsider the rule,
at least as it applies to the blocks
outside of the central business
district.
In a letter to the board, Brill
noted, I feel very strongly that
it is unfair to change the rules of
the game once it has started. I
bought my house being allowed
to park in front of it. Now that it
is a town street, one would think
the town would make it easier
on its taxpayers and local resi-
dents than the tyrannical CDOT
did when it was a state high-
way.
However, Brill received little
sympathy amongst the board or
the public works depart-
ment, who emphasized
that a car-free road dur-
ing the early morning is
necessary for proper
plowing.
Mayor Jim Huffman
said he doesnt like to
give our streets away,
and pointed out that,
during the winter, living
in Silverton can also
mean living with incon-
veniences.
I have six vehicles
and it took an hour and a
half for me to dig one out
this morning so I could
get to work, he said.
Thats living in
Silverton.
For now, at least, the
rules will stay the same:
during the winter on
Greene Street, only paral-
lel parking is allowed, and
parking is banned from 2
to 7 a.m.
Meanwhile, the word from
the Sheriffs department is that
these and other snow-time park-
ing rules will be enforced, strict-
ly and consistently. In other
words, cars that block the plows
for too long on side streets, as
well as those that violate Greene
Street rules, will be towed.
Thats what Public Works
Director Gilbert Archuleta want-
ed to hear. He noted, In order to
make this work, we need the
Sheriffs office involved. They
need to get the towing company
out early in the morning to get
cars out of the way.
For those who arent famil-
iar with the way the system
works, it goes like this: the plows
make a first run through the
streets, plowing around the cars.
The cars owner should then, as
quickly as possible, dig out his
car and move it to an already
plowed area until the rest of the
street is plowed.
ALSO ON MONDAY
The town board voted six to
one in favor of changing the
zoning on Lots 17-18 of Block 31
from residential to limited busi-
ness pedestrian. The change will
allow the owners of the new
house there, on the 1100 block
of Cement Street, to use the
HELP OUR SENIORS
DIG OUT!
The Silverton Senior Citizens group
has run out of money to pay for snow
shoveling for seniors. That means they
need YOUR HELP.
Please Adopt a Senior to help them dig out
their walks, clear off their roofs, and extract
their cars from the white stuff.
C a ll D e b b ie Fo ste r a t 3 8 7 -5 0 4 9 , o r J o e
Z im m e rm a n a t 3 8 7 -5 3 6 4
to le n d a h a n d in th e e ffo rt.
Does your car look like this? Then it just might get towed. Yes, there is a
car under all of that white stuff, and that hinders the plows from adequately
clearing the street. So, once the plows make the first run through, move your
car so they can finish the job. Jonathan Thompson photo.
Brill asks county to condemn Jacksons land
Silverton Mountain Ski
Areas Aaron Brill, with the
strong support of a large group of
local citizens and business own-
ers--on Wednesday asked the San
Juan County Board of
Commissioners to consider con-
demning land owned by Jim
Jackson in order to end the dis-
pute between Jackson and Brill.
Jackson owns several mining
claim within Silverton
Mountains boundaries, and he
recently sued Brill, alleging that
ski area clients, along with debris
from avalanche control work, are
trespassing on his land. The law-
suit continues to delay the
Bureau of Land Managements
final decision to allow Silverton
Mountain to operate a commer-
cial ski area on public land.
Condemnation, noted Brill,
was within the countys rights
and would allow the ski area to
finally move forward to the next
level.
I believe in property rights
as much as anyone, noted Brill,
who added that such a move was
a last resort. He has attempted to
negotiate with Jackson and to
purchase his property, but to no
avail.
Although Brill and his attor-
ney, Andy Spielman, indicated
that they felt that Jacksons
claims are false and frivolous,
they worried that the suit could
drag on for months or even
years, delaying the issuance of a
BLM permit indefinitely. On top
of that, there is the chance that
Jackson could win the suit.
What if Jim Jackson were
able to convince a judge that his
points are feasible? asked Brill.
No lease. Permit pulled. No ski
area.
Thats not a pleasant
prospect to the 20 citizens on
hand Wednesday to support
Brills request. They all indicated
that Jacksons efforts could
destroy not only the ski area, but
the towns economic prospects
as well.
This is our livelihood,
George Foster, owner of the
Grand Imperial Hotel, said.
Without the ski area, we cant
survive. His were often echoed
sentiments.
Its just sad that one man
(Jackson) is doing this to our
town, noted Jackie Leithauser,
who emphasized that the bene-
fits of the ski area extend far
beyond the business community.
Its time for us to get
together and get behind Aaron,
Bill Alsup said. I dont like con-
demnation, but Jackson set a
precedent. In the 1980s, a prop-
erty owner in Velocity Basin
refused to allow his land to be
used for speed skiing. Jackson,
one of the organizers of the
speed skiing event, asked the
county to temporarily condemn
the land to allow the event to go
forward. The county went ahead
with the procedure.
In order to condemn proper-
ty, the county will have to prove
that there is a public purpose.
According to Spielman, the pur-
pose served in this case would be
avalanche control work and
maintenance for County Road
110. Additionally, condemna-
tion would provide open space
and facilitate economic develop-
ment.
The county commissioners
generally supported Brills
request, but remained non-com-
mittal until they can consult
with their attorney.
I dont like the process,
noted Commissioner Ernie
Kuhlman. I dont like to take
peoples land. But he also feels
that Jacksons claimsespecially
concerning avalanche debris
trespassing on his landare
ridiculous.
Streets are the topic after snow falls

Yellow lights flashing
Cannon firing
Another control day
-haiku by Jerry Roberts
Sleepwas rippedfrommeinthesemi-darkness of
dawnby theringingof thephone.
Hello, I said, too loud and too chipper, my voice
tinged with the dregs of that shot of tequila I downed
the night before.
Hey. We forecasters wake up early, exclaimed the
slightly manic voice on the other end of the line.
Actually, Ive been up all night. But whos counting. It
was Jerry Roberts, lead avalanche forecaster for the
Colorado Avalanche Information Centers Silverton
office. I had called him two days earlier asking if I could
ride with him while he was forecasting the road if the big
storm materialized. It did. I was on.
Well be shooting the big gun around ten, said
Roberts. You can watch that, then well go up on Red.
It could be pretty boring.
As I listened to the wind blowing snow against my
windows, and cleared out the fuzzy feeling I had behind
my eyes, I considered possible excuses for not going, and
came up with nothing.
Ill be there, I replied meekly, thereby abandoning
my visions of a quiet, cozy Sunday morning followed by
some skiing. After I hung up and looked out at the three
foot snow drift in our front walkway, I wondered what I
had just committed myself toa boring day in an
orange CDOT truck?
Jerry says it might be boring, I told my wife, Wendy. But its my job. Itll
do me some good to actually do some reporting instead of just sitting in front of
a computer all day.
Little did I know that eight hours later those same words would play over and
over again in my head as I stared down the churning throat of a great, white, pow-
dery beasta 100,000 cubic yard Leviathan racing towards me at a speed of 150
miles per hour as it flattened dozens of mature trees and threatened to devour my
companions and me.
Id hardly call that boring.
C
over your ears! bellowed Paul Wilson, CDOTs Silverton Patrol Leader, who
stood next to a big, dark green military gun, his hands up in the air in a ges-
ture of warning. Seconds later, a ribcage-shaking boom roared through the air, fol-
lowed shortly thereafter by the overpowering stench of sulfur. All eyes immedi-
ately turned to the hillside above town and the series of avalanche paths that cut
through the treesthe Jenny Parkers, the Peacock, Harley Short, and Champion
slides. A puff of black smoke appeared near the upper reaches of one of the slides,
then a loud bang. Then, nothing.
Thats disappointing, remarked Mark Rikkers, Silvertons second avalanche
forecaster. When the road crew pulls out the big gun, they hope to see results. But
the snow couched in these particular slide paths stubbornly stayed put. For
Rikkers, whos in his first year as an official forecaster (he paid his dues as an
intern for two previous years), it was especially hard to watch the Howitzers bul-
lets awaken nothing, since he had made the call on the road closure. A big slide
would dramatically confirm his forecast. The weather and snowpack conditions
certainly validated the decision to close the road.
The gates were closed on Highway 550 in both directions late the night
before, following a day and evening of snowfall and high winds. The wind blew
with such ferocity that it was impossible to determine how much snow had actually
fallen. Here in Silverton, about five inches was stacked up on my back yard storm
board. But only two feet away, in the path from our house to shed, I trudged through
at least two feet of new snow. The phenomenon intensified as I approached the south-
ern, more exposed side of town to join the road crew. A precariously hanging cornice
jutted out from one side of the Depot roof, and the old boxcars were drifted under on
one side, totally exposed on the other.
Up high, the wind loading would be significantly more dramatic, filling the start-
ing zones of avalanche paths with deadly ammunition to be hurled hundreds of feet
down to the puny-looking highway below. It was a recipe for disaster, and therefore the
gates were locked.
Nearly twelve hours after the gates were closed, as the wind continued to howl and
a combination of graupel, snow, and rain fell from the sky in unusually warm temper-
atures, the men and women in orange set up the big gun. The gun, a World War II
era, 105 mm Howitzer, shoots eight pound charges and has a range of up to seven
miles. Its a full-blown piece of military artillery (as opposed to the avalauncher, a sort
of hi-tec, oversized potato gun that launches two pound shells and has a range of about
one mile). While the avalauncher is effective on many slides with easy-to-reach load-
ing zones, the Howitzer is called upon for longer-range shots.
Prior to the mornings shooting session, Wilson, who has been working on the
Silverton highways for 22 years, bore-sighted the gun (calibrated the aiming device of
the weapon).
I never thought Id keep the same job for 20 years, said Wilson, an affable man
who frequently exchanges humorous jabs with his fellow workers. He grew up in
Durango, so Silverton feels like home. I like running the equipment and I like the
snow.
Wilson must really like his job during a winter like this one.
I
imagine this must be what Chairman Mao did, now were doing the same thing
40 years later, Roberts quipped as Wilson set up the Howitzer, this time for
shooting the Battleship. Thats the sort of thing Roberts says. I just looked at him, baf-
SILVERTON STANDARD Page 5-Friday, January 14, 2005
J ust another control day
Photos & Text by Jonathan Thompson
Science is nice, bombs are better, reads the back of Silverton Avalanche Forecaster
Jerry Roberts hat (top) as he bore sights the Howitzer for firing at the Jenny Parker and
Champion slides. Silverton Patrol Leader Paul Wilson and Avalanche Forecaster Mark
Rikkers (middle) calibrate the aiming device of the Howitzer. CDOT Highway Maintenance
Supervisor Greg Roth points to the target of the next avalauncher round during control work
at the Brooklyns, Red Mountain Pass.

fl
ed. He looked back and smiled.
If I were asked to describe Roberts with just two words, Id call him a Zen Redneck. Im not
sure I know what that means any more than I know what Chairman Mao and avalanche con-
trol have to do with one another, but it sounds pretty good. Hes a soft-spoken guy with a steely
edge; a dirt bag clean freak who advocates extreme measures to keep the beautiful people
away from Silverton.
Avalanche forecaster is often thought to be synonymous with snow scientist. While
Roberts certainly relies on science in his job, its difficult to call him a scientist. He hates com-
puters (calls them confusers), and is just as likely to describe the snowpack with a haiku as with
a technical treatise. Legend has it that Roberts once convinced an attractive female journalist
that he was a mystical forecaster, able to analyze the snow pack simply by sticking his fingers
in the snow and meditating for a minute or two. Its an absurd concept, but perhaps contains
a grain of truth. For at least 20 years, Roberts has worked on translating the cold, white lan-
guage in which the notoriously unstable San Juan snowpack is written. Over that time, he
seems to have developed an intuitive understanding of the snow that transcends science.
These are the thoughts that ran through my mind as I waited, yet again, for the big gun to be
set up and sighted and for the shooting crew to arrive at the South Mineral turnoff firing pad.
Even though the temperature nearly reached 40 degrees, I shivered with cold resulting
from hours of standing around. The day, as Roberts predicted, was beginning to be bor-
ing.
So, I said to Roberts, I guess if we shoot the Battleship from way down here,
we wont get any of those spectacular Tim Lane-like photos, will we?
Oh no, he replied. Were the advance observation team. Well be standing
right under it when they shoot.
I shivered again, this time with fear.
O
ne of the funny things a person will notice after spending some time in Silverton, is
that folks around here tend to talk about avalanche paths almost as if they are peo-
ple. Each has its own name (the origins of which have mostly faded into oblivion), rep-
utation, and personality. The Blue Point slide on the other side of Red Mountain, for
example, has a short fuse, letting loose its cold temper at the slightest provocation, but
packing little punch. West Lime Creek is similarly expressive of its emotions, while
other slides may sit dormant for decades before hurling their baggage in a sudden
moment of rage.
And then theres the
Battleship, a strong, stoic
giant that is often silent, let-
ting its frustrations, anger,
and rage build up inside.
And then, one
day, something
sets it off, and it
explodes in a
white cloud of
fatal fury. It was
a safe bet to say
that the
Battleship was
ready to snap
on Jan. 9. Snow
accumulations in
October and
November had
been heavier than
average in the San
Juans. But in December, sunny days and bitterly cold nights went to work on
the snow, rotting it from the inside. By the end of the year, the snow had the
consistency of sugar. It was rotten, weak, and unstable. Then, in a period of just
over a week, two storms pounded the region and piled up over two feet of
snow on top of the existing, weak layer. As of Jan. 8, when yet another storm
began dumping its load, the Battleship had not run at all this season.
The Battleship has three loading zones covering 76 acres which are situ-
ated at 12,400 feet on a 34-degree angle. Each zone leads into its own track
before the three converge into a deep gully that, 2,700 feet below the starting
zone, drops into the narrow gorge of Mineral Creek. Highway 550 actually lies
another 300 vertical feet above the creek, on the opposite side of the slide path.
But the force of the slide is so immense that it can roar down into the creek
bed, shoot up the other side, and deposit up to five feet of snow and debris and
even trees on the highway. Therefore, its on the list of
slides that occasionally require mitigation by Howitzer.
Thanks to its unique configuration, the Battleship is
one of the few slides around that allows a person to
stand in its run out zone when it starts sliding and still
survive. A few, lucky photographers have been able to
take advantage of this, and have captured spectacular
images of the Battleship as it runs. Tim Lanes photo of
the Battleship has probably been used dozens, maybe
even hundreds of times in publications, on posters, web-
sites, and on at least one t-shirt.
As Roberts, a small group of Prescott College students,
and I head up to observe the slide, I have visions of a
photograph like that of my own. Until Roberts replaces
them with images of doom, that is.
The wind blast that builds up in front of a big slide can
reach hurricane forces, Roberts tells us. It can uproot
trees and snap pencil-necked journalists in half and can
suck the oxygen right out of a persons lungs. In March
of 1948, the wind blast from the Battleship snapped tele-
phone lines strung along the highway, and in 1932, it
hurled two large trees onto the pavement.
The air blast can reach speeds of 200 miles per hour
and its filled with dense snow, noted Roberts. Its kind
of like our brains. But not really. I dont know what that
means, but it scared the hell out of me.
T
wo runout zones emerge from the Battleships bot-
toming out point in Mineral Creek. We stood on a
Page 6-Friday, January 14, 2005 SILVERTON STANDARD
I waitedfor himtosay something,
for himtoutter sometranscendent haiku
about thebeauty andthepower of snow,
about staring death in the face and
laughing, about Pisco, Chilean cantinas,
orangewelfarerigs, or that final, poignant
look onanangry, disappointedlovers faceas
shewalks out thedoor for thelast time.
But thehaikunever came. TheZenin
J erry Roberts had vanished. All that
remainedwas theRedneck.

SILVERTON STANDARD Page 7-Friday, January 14, 2005
s
maller zone that allowed us an unobstructed view of the entire slide path.
The radio chattered with the heads up signal, and a few seconds later we heard
the boom of the gun, and then the eerie sounding whistle of the bullet piercing the
air. Then the second report of the charge exploding somewhere up in the cloud-
obscured ridge. We chatted nonchalantlyall of us had watched expectantly as round
after round was lobbed into the paths near town with no result. Surely the first shot
wouldnt do anything here.
And then we saw it: the pristine, white snow all the way across the starting zone
appeared to be cracking like ice. I lifted my camera to my eye and started pushing the
button over and over again as the huge slabs of snow succumbed to gravity and began
moving down the mountain, then turning into a great, white cloud, and then into a
100-foot high locomotive. It kept gathering speed, kept growing. When it was about
halfway to the creek, I looked up from the cameras viewfinder. The Prescott students
were already in retreat, on the highway and moving tentatively toward the elusive
safe zone. Only Roberts and I were still perched on the snow bank, and he had a
strange, elated, frightened look on his face.
I waited for him to say something, for him to utter some transcendent haiku
about the beauty and the power of snow, about staring death in the face and laugh-
ing, about Pisco, Chilean cantinas, orange welfare rigs, or that final, poignant look on
an angry, disappointed lovers face as she walks out the door for the last time.
But the haiku never came. The Zen in Jerry Roberts had vanished. All that
remained was the redneck.
RUN LIKE BASTARDS! he yelled, then jumped off the snow bank and sprinted
up the road. I followed, pausing once at an opening in the trees to capture one final
shot. But by the time I was running again, I realized I would not make it to safety, for
a four-story tall, white, billowing cloud rapidly consumed the trees only a few yards
away, and I was next. Somehow, I kept pushing the button on my cam-
eraif I was going to die, at least my last moments would survive in dig-
ital form on the little, plastic memory card.
And then all went white and absolutely silent. I seemed to be float-
ing, and, for a split second, it was a pleasant experience. Then I couldnt
breatheoxygen had been replaced by snow crystals. Would I fall over
and be buried? Would a tree fall on me and crush me? Would I simply suf-
focate? Frantically, I asked these questions until the snow began dissipat-
ing and hazy images of my companions materialized, and their voices
could again be heard.
The monster had devoured us and, against all logic, we had emerged
not only intact, but more alive than when it had gobbled us up. We
laughed hysterically, our faces, hair, and clothes plastered with a thick
layer of dense snow.
Didnt you say this would be boring, I remarked to Roberts as I tried
to clear the snow out of my nostrils.
What, this? Its just another control day, he said, and he walked
back to his orange truck, the yellow light on top flashing a soft, steady
rhythm as snowflakes fell all around.
Photos on this and facing page: the Battleship sequence. The once pristine field
of snow breaks apart and succumbs to its own weight, beginning the process of a
raging slide. Top of this page, the dust cloud rips through the tree branches and
inundates the highway and those on it. Inside the dust cloud is absolute white and
silence, then it begins to clear, and those inside emerge, laughing and covered
with snow.

ters of old? While rain happened
occasionally in past decades, it
has rained twice now in Vail dur-
ing January. The warm tempera-
tures also made slush of previous
snow, creating the sort of mud-
luscious puddles not usually
found until the normal late-
February thaw.
While the Vail Daily had
gleefully announced more pow-
der days were ahead, the powder
that materialized was decidedly
on the droopy, wet side.
Champagne powder is turning
into Pepsi Powder in the
Colorado Rockies.
Snowmobiles figuring
into skier slide deaths
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo.
Routt County, which is where
Steamboat is located, had no ava-
lanche fatalities for 30 years until
2001. Now it has had two, and
both avalanches involved skiers
who used snowmobiles to gain
backcountry terrain.
They are going to more and
more places into the backcountry,
slopes we never touched 30 years
ago, said Jeff Hirschboeck, who
is the avalanche team leader at
the Steamboat Ski Area.
In the most recent case, on
Jan. 3, Michael Gebhart, died of
suffocation after lying for eight
minutes under three feet of snow.
The avalanche was relatively
small, only 30 feet wide and with
200 vertical feet, but the more
pertinent figure is 38 degrees.
Thats the slope on which the
avalanche occurred. Anything
over 25 degrees is suspect, and 30
decidedly so.
While Gebhart, 26, was
described as both knowledgeable
about avalanches and well
equipped, no press reports have
indicated he or his skiing partners
dug pits into the snowpack to
study its stability.
If you dont do these tests,
to say, I think the slope is stable,
it is no different than taking a
coin and flipping it, Hirschboek
told The Steamboat Pilot.
Deconstructing the dozer
that rampaged in Granby
GRANBY, Colo. Even in
death, Marvin Heemeyer contin-
ues to afflict Granby. Heemeyer
spent months fortifying a
Komatsu bulldozer with a fortress
of steel and concrete that he then
used for a 90-minute rampage of
revenge in Granby last June
before killing himself.
Local authorities since then
have kept the bulldozer under
wraps. The question, reports the
Sky-Hi News, which was among
the businesses who incurred
Heemeyers wrath, is how to get
rid of it?
It can be taken apart piece by
piece, but that could be an expen-
sive proposition. Moreover, there
are fears that Heemeyer impreg-
nated the concrete with explo-
sives.
Authorities in Grand County,
where Granby is located, also
reject giving away the bulldozer
to somebody who would take it
apart for the value of the scrap
metal. In the wrong hands, they
say, the pieces could become
objects that glorify Heemeyer and
his armed assault. While
Heemeyer seems to have been
detested by most locals, others
with fans across the nation have
portrayed him as a martyr who
was oppressed in a zoning dispute
by a heavy-handed town govern-
ment.
Town officials in Granby also
want no part of the beast.
Do you think maybe this is
what landfills were built for?
Who gets the shaft in new
mystery novel set in Aspen?
ASPEN, Colo. Ski towns of
the West, from Telluride to Vail,
have been the setting for several
novels. Now comes a new mys-
tery by part-time Aspen resident
Patrick Hasburgh.
Called Aspen Pulp, it fea-
tures Jack Wheeler, a former TV
writer turned private eye, who is
hired to find a local high school
cheerleader, a bimbette-in-train-
ing, who has disappeared. The
search uncovers a complex crime
ring that lies deep within the old
mine shafts of Aspen Mountain.
Theres enough raunchiness
to put off readers who prefer their
mysteries on the mild side, but
through it all, Jake spouts a cyni-
cal line of humor that will have
the rest laughing out loud, says
reviewer Jane Dickinson, writing
in the Rocky Mountain News. She
says Hasbaugh provides lots of
funny insights on the town and
its denizens, from the trustafari-
ans to the ski bums.
Page 8-Friday, January 14, 2005 SILVERTON STANDARD
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Town
of Cement Street, to use the house as a weekly rental.
This type of zone change has become common in Silverton dur-
ing recent years, as people turn to weekly rentals as a way to help pay
the mortgage on second, and sometimes even primary, residences. As
is usually the case, the change was made without much debate.
Only Huffman voted against the change, because I always vote no
on zoning changes unless it needs to be changed.
When it comes to zoning and uses, the block is already a checker-
board of sorts, with some lots designated as economic development,
others with horses, and others that are residential.
Ann Friedman, who lives next to the lots in question, wanted to
do away with the eclectic zoning and just change the entire block to
business-pedestrian for consistencys sake. Huffman supported the
concepthe thinks limited zone changes defeat the purpose of zon-
ing in the first placebut such a change would require a much more
exhaustive procedure.
Avalanche school starts forty-third year of instruction
Silvertons Avalanche School is the
longest continuously running education-
al experience of its kind, and one of the
most respected in the country. This year,
it also proves to be the snowiest.
With several feet of snow on the
ground in town, and substantially more
in the high country, the field is primed
for avalanche students to experience a
true San Juan Mountain snow pack.
Already, several small slides have run nat-
urally near town, and the monstrous
Idaho slide ran into town during this
weeks relentless storm.
Next weekends Level I session is
already booked up, but spaces remain in
the Jan. 28-30 Level I class and in the
Level II session scheduled for Feb. 4-6.
The school is open to everyone, espe-
cially those who travel, work, and play in
the backcountry. Snowboarders, snow-
mobilers, backcountry skiers, snow-
shoers, and ice climbers are all encour-
aged to attend.
Students in the Level I course receive
an extensive introduction to snow sci-
ence, avalanche theory and practice,
along with winter survival and rescue
skills. Level II offers a very low student to
teacher ratio, and delves more deeply
into the behavior of snowpack and ava-
lanches.
More than half of each session is
spent in the field, which this year is an
active one.
Silvertons avalanche school began in
1962 as the Avalanche and Winter
Survival Trainee Workshop, which
brought together workers from federal
land agencies and the highway depart-
ment to conduct control work and mock
snow slide rescues. Initially aimed toward
the idea that most avalanche accidents
occur within or near ski area boundaries,
towns, or highways, the school evolved
to what is now primarily for backcountry
recreationalists who are more likely to
encounter avalanche conditions far from
any search and rescue team.
During its more than four decades of
existence, the school has taught over
4,000 students about the mechanics of
snow, safe route-finding, and hazard eval-
uation. Instructors have, and still do,
include the luminaries of the snow sci-
ence world.
For more information or to register,
call Shawna Bethell at 387-5018, Bruce
Conrad at 387-5184, or go to www.silver-
tonavalancheschool.com.
Mountain Town News
Continued from back page
Continued from pagefour

SILVERTON STANDARD
A brief look back in San Juan Historyvia the
newspapersof thetime.
S T U F F
Only two things come here by helicop-
ter, quipped Ernie Kuhlman at
Wednesdays county commissioner
meeting, Santa Claus and attorneys.
Kuhlman was referring to the unusual
form of transport used by Silverton
Mountain Ski Areas attorney Andrew
Spielman to get to the meeting. He was
flown in by helicopter.
It was very, very important for us to
visit here, said Spielman, who wanted to
be on hand for Aaron Brills request that
the county consider condemning Jim
Jacksons land within the proposed ski
area boundaries.
With roads closed in both directions,
the chopper was really the only way to get
into town.
***
The rosy red finches showed up this
week for the first time all winter.
Barbara Hodge, who avidly watches this
particular variety of birds, noticed earlier
in the winter that the finches were absent.
But the snow
appears to have
brought them down
from the high coun-
try in flocks.
Theyre hungry.
So fill your birdfeed-
er and maybe theyll
stick around.
***
Silverton will be
on television next
month, as footage
from the Red Bull
Divide and
Conquer adventure race is aired on
NBC. The special on the race is scheduled
to run on Saturday, Feb. 5, at 5:30 p.m.
***
Local school kids are lending a helping
hand for the victims of the catastrophic
tsunami that wreaked havoc and took
hundreds of thousands of lives in south
Asia. The preschoolers have put out a
donation jar to collect money, and the
kindergartners have sent out letters asking
locals to donate to the cause. They will
send any money collected to UNICEF,
which has made an appeal to support
urgent humanitarian aid for an estimated
1.5 million children affected in South
Asia, many of whom have been orphaned
or separated from their families.
If youd like to help, put your dona-
tion in an envelope (checks should be
made out to UNICEF) and take it to the
Silverton School office or mail to:
Kindergarten Class, Silverton Public
School, P.O. Box 128, Silverton, CO
81433.
***
Silverton High School students will
hold their gallery, where they present
work done so far this school year to the
public, on Wednesday, Jan. 19, at 7
p.m.. The schools newly formed color
guard will open the event with a perform-
ance in the gym. The public is welcome
and encouraged to attend.
***
Aside from the UPS and US Mail men,
not many folks from the outside were
stranded in Silverton by the storm and
its resulting road closures. However,
quite a few Silvertonians were blocked
from getting back in. A handful of skiers
and snowboarders couldnt resist the
temptation of fresh powder skiing at
Purgatory and headed down on Tuesday.
When the storm gathered intensity and
the road to the south closed, many of
them didnt make it back in.
Amongst those caught in the outside
world was the Standards employee Josh
Gallowayhe got trapped in Telluride by
the Lizard Head closure after trying to
drive around from Ridgway. Hes our copy-
editor, so youll have to excuse any extra
typos in this issue.
Page 9-Friday, January 14, 2005
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a
a
A candid look at life above 9,000
feet.
COLORADO GOLD
Gold and Silver Bullion Coins and Bars.
No Numismatics
1-888-786-8822. Buy-Sell.
Website --coloradogold.com
Since 1977. Clients in all states.
Don Stott, Prop.
January 13, 1906
The Silverton Standard
PROGRESS AT THE SUNNYSIDE
The new zinc separator at the
Sunnyside mine has just been completed
and is now in full operation. The mill is
fully equipped with the latest Blake mag-
netic separators, which are working per-
fectly and producing a very high grade of
zinc concentrates.
This is practically the introduction of a
new enterprise in the Silverton district, and
will add materially to its production of
wealth for 1906. The Leadville district, now
the leading zinc producer, must look out
for its laurels, or the Silverton belt, with its
vast, undeveloped store of zinc, will soon
lead in this important branch of the min-
ing industry.
Town and County
The residence of Mrs. Charles E. Jones,
situated on the corner of Eleventh and
Reese streets, including the furniture, has
been sold by August Fast to Louis
Quanstrom, superintendent of the Silver
Lake Mill.
I can now offer a 5-room house, on
sewer, with water and light, for $700. Two
blocks from post office, on Snowden
Avenue. $300 cash, and balance at $15 per
month. ~R.H. Cooper
Police Court
Florence Baker and Katherine Speath
were both fined $5 and costs, a total of $14,
at Saturdays session for indulging in a
mutual disfiguration scance at one of the
dance halls.
John Dalla was fined $10 and $16 cost
for creating a rough house at the
Welcome.
It cost Valentine Celente $42.70 and
costs for indulging too freely in the use of
his maulers. Failing to pay, he was commit-
ted to jail.
For using unparliamentary language
on the street cars, John Valden was fined
$10 and costs, which he paid.
Bloody Affray at Durango
Durango was the scene at fifteen min-
utes before noon last Tuesday of a fatal duel
between Sheriff Thompson and City
Marshal Stansel, the men emptying their
six-shooters on the main street in the heart
of the business center.
The altercation grew out of the contro-
versy over the closing of gambling and reg-
ulation of saloons that has been going on
for several months.
The affair started Monday night when
Sheriff Thompson raided the El Moro
saloon and confiscated the roulette wheel
that had not been used for months. He also
accused parties sitting about a table of play-
ing poker. This was denied.
Sheriff Thompson was a heavy drinker,
and had been partially intoxicated for
some time. Tuesday morning he and
Stansel met and became engaged in a quar-
rel, the sheriff accusing the marshal of
standing in with the gamblers. Stansel told
him that he did not have to take orders
from him, that his instructions came from
the marshal and city authorities.
Thompson suddenly said, G-d
you. Ill fix you. Stansel stepped back, say-
ing he did not allow any man to d
him. Thompson pulled his gun and began
shooting. Stansel was a little slow in get-
ting his gun out. Both men emptied their
six-shooters and then Stansel gave
Thompson a severe beating with his gun.
As he let go Thompson said, My God, hes
killed me, and fell to the walk.
Silverton Liquors
Hours:
11a.m. to 9 p.m.
BRUCE HARING, M.A., L.P.C.
CounselingServices
Individuals/Couples/Families
(970)387-0149
MinersUnion
Hospital Office
Hours: Vary
1315 Snowden St.
Silverton, CO 81433
Dgo. ph: (970)259-6698
TheSan Juan County Nursing
ServiceCordially invitesyou
for a PinningCeremony to cel-
ebratetheGraduation of
MaxineR. Horton
Mesa StateCollege
Bachelorsof ScienceNursing
Program
Sat., Jan. 15, 2005
6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Kendall Mountain Recreation
Center
Potluck Dinner
Music & Dance with Too
Little O2
For info., contact
387-5251 or 903-0353
Fill your birdfeeder.
A GREATBIG THANK YOU!
TO THE STATE, COUNTY, AND TOWN
ROAD CREWS FOR WORKING SO
HARD DURING AND AFTER THE
STORM.
WHATWOULDWEDO WITHOUTYOU?
387-5774
Winter Hours: M-Sat 10-4
zesupply@ ekiva.net
It s Easy wit h ZE
Silvertons color guard practices for their
debut performance.

SILVERTON STANDARD
M i s c e l l a n y
Dec Hi Lo 8 a.m. pcp sno
7 22 -14 -14 0 0
8 30 -15 29 .21 3
9 30 29 30 .44 5.5
10 35 29 31 1.53 17
11 36 28 31 .56 7
12 32 13 13 1.12 14
The above readings give the high
and low temps. precipitation and
snow during the 24 hours preceding
8 a.m. of the indicated day.
Snowfall, Oct. 1 to Jan. 12: 112.8
Avg. ttl. annual snowfall: 155
Snowfall, Dec. 2004: 13.6
Avg. snowfall, past Dec.: 24.1
Record hi snow, past Dec.: 91-1983
Precipitation Dec. 2004: 1.45
Avg. pcp, past Dec.: 1.73
Record precip. past Dec.: 6.4-1981
Highest temp, Dec 2004: 51
Record hi temp, Dec: 65-1931
Lowest temp Dec 2004: -15
Record lo temp., Dec: -35-1990
Page 10-Friday, January 14, 2005
COP SHOP
The happenings of your
local law enforcement.
Provided by the San Juan
County Sheriffs Department
1/3 - Received a complaint of a dog at
large; the dog was gone when the
Officer arrived.
Issued three verbal warnings for
improper parking.
1/4 Red-tagged a vehicle in the way
of snow removal.
1/5 Assisted a citizen.
Assisted a motorist.
A found key was turned in.
Red-tagged 3 vehicles in the way of
snow removal.
1/6 - Responded to a disturbance,
both subjects were warned.
A red-tagged vehicle was towed for
being in the way of snow removal.
Assisted the Town with moving anoth-
er vehicle for snow removal.
1/7- Issued a warning for no head-
lights.
Issued a warning for a defective tail-
light.
A person requested that we check on
the welfare of another person.
Assisted the Town with moving more
vehicles in the way of snow removal.
1/8 - Assisted two motorists.
Checked on the welfare of a hitchhik-
er.
1/9 Checked on the welfare of an
intoxicated subject.
Issued a summons to Nathan E.
Morse, of Silverton, CO for Failed to
Present Proof of Insurance.
Issued a warning for speeding.
Issued three parking warnings.
Responded to a disturbance.
Checked on a complaint of an ATV
plowing snow.
Drivers please give our Road
Departments a break during the winter
season and be very conscious of your
parking habits. Also, please be aware
of children playing in the snow as you
drive.
S Si i l l v ve er rt t o on n
W We ea at t h he er r
M OUNTAIN
HAPPENINGS
Silverton/San Juan
County
Jan. 18 Silverton Film Society pres-
ents Garden State. 7 p.m. At the
Avon Hotel. Free. To learn more
about this movie, visit www.rotten-
tomatoes.com.
Jan. 21-23 Silverton Avalanche
School Level I. Ideal for those
seeking a thorough introduction to
the world of snow science, ava-
lanche theory and practice, and
winter survival and rescue. For
more information, www.silverton-
avalancheschool.com or call
970.387.5018.
Jan 28-30 Silverton Avalanche
School Level I.
Feb. 4-6 Silverton Avalanche
School Level II. The level II is a
three-day workshop for those who
have completed a 2-3 day Level I
Avalanche course and want to gain
more knowledge about mountain
snowpack and avalanches.
Two Saturdays each month Dr.
Brokering holds office hours at
the Silverton Clinic. 9 a.m. to 1
p.m. January dates: 8th and 22nd.
Call 387-5354 for an appt.
First Sunday of every month KSJC
D.J. Training at the KSJC studios
in the Visitors Center. 5 p.m. Call
387-KSJC to make a reservation.
Mondays and Wednesdays
Aerobics. School Gym. 6 to 7 p.m.
387-5522.
First Tuesday of the Month Hand n
Hand, Silvertons women cancer
support group. 1445 Snowden St.
at 7 p.m. Together we will conquer!
Call Cindy @ 387-5502 or 387-
5359.
Tuesdays Silverton Threads
meets from 7-9 p.m. at the Kendall
Mtn. Comm. Center. Quilting,
needlework, sewing, mending, cro-
cheting, etc. All welcome.
Tuesdays & Saturdays Adult
Volleyball 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Ages 16
and up. School Gym. 387-5522.
Tuesdays Kids Go Wild. 3:30.
School Gym. $2 per family per
class.
Thursdays Jan. 6-Feb. 10 Yoga.
Mixed level asana class taught by
Amy Grogan. 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
$6/class or $30/session. Call 387-
0243.
Thursdays Indoor Soccer, 5:30 to
7:30 p.m. School Gym. Ages 16
and up. 387-5522.
Wednesdays Indoor Wall
Climbing. 7-8:30 p.m. School
Gym. Ages 16 and up. 387-5522.
Tuesdays Food Bank open from 1
p.m. to 3 p.m.. Miners Union
Hospital.
Tues & Thurs GED and ESL class-
es. 5 p.m. in the school basement.
First Thurs of the month School
Accountability Committee meets
@ school library. 6 p.m.
Third Thursday of the month
Animas River Stakeholders meet
@ Miners Union Hospital, 6:30 p.m.
2nd & 4th Mon of month Town Board
meets in Town Hall @ 7:30 p.m.
2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the
month (variable) County
Commissioners meet in
Courthouse @ 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
2nd Tuesday of the month School
Board meets at school library @ 6
p.m.
4th Tuesday of the month Planning
Commission meets at Courthouse
@ 7:30 p.m.
Third Thursday of the month
Library Board meets at Library. 7
p.m.
Around the Region
Jan. 17 Four Corners Parkinson
Support Group meets at Trinity
Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall,
208 N. Dolores Rd. in Cortez. 10:30
a.m. Call 970.564.9125 for info.
Jan. 29 Durango Langlauf Skate
cross-country ski race. Durango
Mountain Nordic Center. 10 a.m.
385-2114.
In the More Distant
Future
Feb. 10 Our Town (the 1940 film)
plays at the Miners Union Theatre
7pm
Feb. 17-20 Snowscape Winter
Carnival. In and around Silverton.
Tiki Torch Parade & Bonfire,
School/Community Games/ Hi-
Altitude Snowshoe Race,
Yukigassen Snowball Battle,
Fireworks, Luau Boogie, X-C Ski
Race, Cardboard Derby,
Snowboard Competition, and Snow
Shovel Races. Call 387-5654.
To include your event in the
Standard calendar, call 387-5779
or email
happenings@mountainjournal.org
This weeks HAPPENINGS have been proudly sponsored as a public
service courtesy of D&SNGRR
Phone (970) 247-2733 for information or reservations or
write to 479 Main Ave., Durango, Colo. 81301 - Silverton Depot: (970) 387-5416
ACROSS
1 One of the daugh-
ters of Laban, and
Jacob s wife
5 Egg-shaped
9 Showing unusual
talent
13 Cook
17 Root of the taro
18 He went from
Chattanooga to Chile,
now he s back in
Silverton.
19 Skein of thread
20 Recline in a relaxed
manner
21 Vice president
22 Not discoverable
25 Animate
27 Curve
28 Got up
29 Enemy
30 Goatskin bag for
holding wine
32 Stupefy
34 Riverin Zambia
37 Remain
38 Turn into a robot
42 Small mountain
43 Clotted blood
44 Enemy aviator
45 Debutante
46 Fuss
47 Jar
48 The towerbuilt by
the descendants of
Noah
49 Inhabitant of Serbia
50 State in SE Australia
53 Legendary rulerof
Crete
54 Authentic
55 More wan
56 Football kick
57 Which city was the
home of Abram
59 One who studies the
climate
63 Sour
64 Sauce
65 The first home of
Adam and Eve
66 Automobile
67 Tavern
68 Clamp
69 Bloodsucking insect
70 Island in central
Hawaii
71 Legal jargon
73 Stratum
74 Second largest vio-
lin
75 Information
76 Movable barrier
77 Step in ballet
78 Monetary unit of
India
81 Entirely
82 Negative electrode
86 Inadequate
91 Old
92 Young male horse
93 Solicitude
94 Musical instrument
95 Steep, rugged rock
96 Leg joint
97 Payment fortravel
98 Hollow cylinder
99 In this place
DOWN
1 The third son of
Jacob and Leah
2 Paradise
3 Capital of Yemen
4 Full of hope
5 What type of twig
did the dove return to
Noah in the Ark
6 Turbine blade
7 Besides
8 Wreath of flowers
9 Capital of Ghana
10 Cartel
11 Monetary unit of
Bulgaria
12 Female sheep
13 Dry red table wine
14 Tramp
15 Old cloth measures
16 Run away
23 Surfeit
24 Sharp-edged instru-
ment
26 Fish eggs
30 Place of origin
31 Lyricpoem
32 Cupolas
33 Who was murdered
by his brotherCain
34 Asian prince
35 Helper
36 Blooming
37 Artificial anchor
placed in a hole drilled
in the rock.
38 Who was the com-
manderof the Army of
Northern Virginia dur-
ing the American Civil
War 6,1,3)
39 Alike in every way
40 Nothing
41 Recedes
43 Spurt
44 Hood-shaped
anatomical part
47 The fourth gospel of
the New Testament
48 Soothing
49 Vocalize melodically
51 Great quantity
52 Forgo
53 Unstable lepton
56 Entreaty
57 Precipitation in
form of balls of ice.
58 Skin eruption
59 Gross
60 Riverin central
Europe
61 The first King of
ancient Israel
62 Group of three per-
sons
64 Increased in size
68 Sheep cry
69 Appropriate
70 One of the young
men cast into the fur-
nace at the orderof
Nebuchadnezzar
72 Having a handle
73 Baby powder
74 Small domesticated
carnivore
76 Stare angrily
77 One who is paid
78 Playful sprite
79 Soon
80 Small island
81 From a distance
82 Harvest
83 Barbarous person
84 Expensive
85 Verge
87 If and only if
88 Ocean
89 Summit
90 Japanese sash
La st issues solution
Sta nda rd Crossw ord Silver ton Sta nda rd
Important Phone
Numbers
EMERGENCY
911
San Juan County Sheriff
387-5531
Road Conditions
(877)315-7623
orwww.cotrip.org
Silverton Town Hall
387-5522
Silverton Standard
387-5477
Avalanche Hotline
247-8187
Silverton Chamber of
Commerce
387-5654
Snow Stats
Data provided by
SNOTEL sites
Total Snow Water Equivalent
as % of avg.,
Oct. 1-J an. 12
Lizard Head Pass 160%
Columbus Basin 231%
Molas n/ a%
Red Mountain Pass159%
Upper San J uan 138%
Vallecito 196%
Wolf Creek 187%
Basin Wide 177%

CLASSIFI EDS/Real Estate
SILVERTON STANDARD
Restaurant business and/or property
for sale on Blair St. 387-5017. btfn.
REAL ESTATE
FOR SALE
10 ACRES w/ superior mountain
views & solitude. Ponderosa Pines,
Aspen.
Hastings Mesa Estates. $160,000
20 ACRES MOL Fee Simple Mining
Claims. Partly Wilderness. Above
Timberline. Good for cabin site or
trade to Forest Service/BLM.
Silverton, CO. $60,000.
THE HARRY A. LOWE AGENCY,
INC.
Ouray, CO
Call Dennis Reece @ (970)325-4478
OR 325-4066
Two bdrm. duplex, gas heat. $500/mo.
387-5883. btfn.
Rooms to rent in Silvertons newest
custom home. Sunny, warm, great
views. Avail. 2/1. No smokers. 387-
5391. btfn.
ROOM AVAILABLE. NS female sought
to share sunny house with woman and
dog. $350/month, util. incl. Call
Melissa, 387-5246. btfn
1999 F-350 V-10 Crew Cab 4x4. Long
Bed. 63k miles. $15,000 o.b.o. 387-
5768 or 769-2399. ptfn.
GTI propane stove/fireplace. 30,000
btu (20,000 derated). Nice stove to
heat small space. $500 o.b.o. Inquire
at the Silverton Standard. 387-5477,
1330 Greene.
Brown Waterford Pellet Stove with flue.
Like New. Can be seen by appoint-
ment. Call 387-5263. $850 OBO. ptfn.
2001 DODGE RAM 1500 Quad Cab
(NADA trade-in $14,700) Retail
$17,500. $14,000 OBO. 769-2399.
ptfn.
Stews, Hearty Soups, Gumboes, and
Chilis. Homemade bread, too. Now at
the Alma House. For info. call 387-
5336. b15x1.
The OURAY CINEMA shows
Motorcycle Diaries (PG) Playing Jan.
8-10 Sat @ 7:30 p.m. Sun @ 6:30 &
Mon. @ 7 p.m. For updates call 325-
0101
Mountain Studies Institute is looking to
acquire file cabinets, a slide projector,
a printer, and an overhead projector,
Call 387-5161.
CHATTANOOGA CAFE NOW OPEN.
Mon.-Sat. 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sun. 7 a.m.
to 11 a.m. Same menu. Same prices.
Next to CSB ATM. Come see us. Larry
and Linda, 387-5892. b29x2.
CONAF Report (Community
Natatorium* Fund) Week of 14 to 20
Jan. NO ONe has made a $50 contri-
bution to our tax deductible savings
account 100255572 at Citizens State
Bank, Box 6, Silverton, CO 81433.
Sorry folks. Please call 1-800-582-
7992 or e-mail our new address
CONAFSWIMS@yahoo.com if you
would like to make a contribution.
* Indoor heated swimming pool.
ALTERNATIVE HORIZONS 24-hour
domestic violence hotline. Confidential
help available. 970-247-9619 btfn.
HOLIDAY CHOCOLATES
Locally handmade gourmet choco-
late shells and truffles available.
Boxed and gift-wrapped. Shipped any-
where. Silvertonchocolates.com.
(970)799-4481.
JOURNEY THROUGH TIME Volume I
was a critical success, enjoyed by all
those who have an interest in San
Juan culture and history. JOURNEY,
TWO, promises to be even better, with
all new essays, improved design, and
interactive features to keep readers
engaged. For advertising rates call
387-5477 or e-mail editor@mountain-
journal.org.
Page 11-Friday, January 14, 2005
REAL ESTATE
N O TICES
FO R SALE
FIN E DIN IN G
HO LIDAY CHO CO LATES
FO R REN T
M O VIES
STANDARD
CLASSIFIEDS
It could be the best
advertising deal in the
universe
Sell stuff, rent apart-
ments, peddle real
estate, alert the public
to sales or events.
25 cents/word, $5 min.
Put a box around it for an
extra $5.
Or ask about our $20 until
it sells (restrictions apply).
Add dinglebobs like these:
~#++-w|
@.7
w
wJA>
11*r
1\:na++
For an additional $1 each.
If its free. Its free.
Payment dueupon submittal.
Deadline isTuesday at noon.
Drop your ad off at our
office at
1330 Greene St.,
-or-
send us an e-mail, give us
a call, or get it to us
through the U.S. Mail.
387-5477 - P.O. Box 8
silvertonstd@frontier.net
Jim Lindaman
Broker Associate
387-5883
P Pr r i i c ce e R RE ED DU UC CE ED D! !
Two lots zoned multi-family on Mineral
St. Sewer tap believed to be in. Awesome
views of Kendall Mtn. Currently only
residential lots listed and ready to build
on. $ 150,000 $ 125,000
Church
Calendar
St. Patricks Catholic Church
10th & Reese
Father Nat Foshage
Mass at 5 p.m. on Sat. and Wed.
325-4373
Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints
President Duane Eggett
727 Greene
Sunday Services:
8 a.m. Priesthood; 9 a.m.
Sacrament;
10 a.m. Sunday School.
387-5338
1st Cong. Church of Silverton
Minister Scott Bobo
(meets at Catholic Church)
Sun. Services: 9 a.m.
387-5521
Silverton Baptist Church
1105 Snowden
Pastor Mark Lawson
Youth Service 9 a.m.; Regular
Service 10 a.m.; Wed. Night Prayer
and Fellowship 6:30 p.m.; 387-5215.
Word of Life Fellowship
Pastor Jim Greenfield
1706 Empire
Sunday 10 a.m.
387-5893
WAN TED
Journey Through Time, TW O
SANJ UANMOUNTAINREAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS
specializing in quality mountain living!
STEVE LEI SLE &
ANNE-BRI TT OSTLUND
Broker Associates
970.387.5100//800.914.3088
info@silvertonrealestate.net//www.SilvertonRealEstate.net 1038EMPIRE ST. SILVERTON, CO 81433
Think you should only list property in the
Summer . . .? Think Again!
Selling season is a year-round affair these
days and we've got more customers than ever
looking for homes, land, and
businesses.
As a team living living and working in
Silverton we take great pride in offering our
clients nothing less than the best! Give us a
call now to list your property.
Kimberly Werner
Broker/Owner
1340 Greene St.
970.387.0111
silvertonproperties.com
SILVERTON
REALT Y
10 building sites available
from $69,500
Great views! Beautiful property!
Dont be left out in the cold.
SUBSCRIBE
to theSilverton Standard
Get 52 issues of Silverton and San Juan Countys official
newspaper. Read all of the news of the area as well as fea-
tures about the history, the characters, and the landscape
of the San Juan Mountains. All for just one low price.
send check or money order, along with this ad, to:
p.o. box 8, silverton, co 81433
or pay with credit card at: www.mountainjournal.org
(click on subscribe )
or call: (970)387-5477
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Th is s pa ce
FOR RENT
Wa n n a s e ll s ome la n d, a n old min in g cla im ,
or t h a t h ous e?
Adver t is e it h er e . A gr e a t va lue .
Ca ll t h e St a n da r d
3 8 7-5 4 7 7 ~ 1 3 3 0 Gr ee n e St .
Freedom. Protect it.
Your neighbors are too loud, but you say nothing.
You didnt sign that petition.
Your street needs a stop sign, but you say nothing.
You dont make time for community watch.
You only open the door for trick-or-treaters.
Someone keeps parking in your spot, but you say nothing.
WHEN YOU DONT USE YOUR RIGHTS, YOU FORFEIT THEM.
Keep freedom strong. Exercise it. Learn how at explorefreedomUSA.org.
95510391_13x10.5Forfeit6 BW 6/30/04 12:27 PM Page 1

BACK PAGE
SILVERTON STANDARD
Ski valleys of West
respond to tsunami
SUN VALLEY, Idaho Resort communities
across the West responded to the Indian
Ocean tsunami in a variety of ways, with
some shelling out money privately, other
communities digging into city and county
coffers, while Whistler and adjacent com-
munities explored adopting a Third
World community just as many ski towns
already have embraced other, more afflu-
ent ski towns in developed countries.
In Sun Valley, city leaders donated
$10,000 altogether to four different relief
organizations, although understanding
that some of the money could go to relief
in the war-torn and famine-plagued
African nation of Sudan. Blaine County,
where Sun Valley and Ketchum are locat-
ed, also pledged $10,000.
In Crested Butte, the town council
rejected a municipal donation, concluding
that donations should be private. As terri-
ble as it is, I dont think its our role to give
local funds for international issues like
this, said Councilman Bill Coburn in
arguing against the proposal by Mayor Jim
Schmidt.
In well-heeled Jackson Hole, there was
no report of governmental aid to tsunami
victims, but one anonymous donor gave
$100,000 to the local Community
Foundation, while local Rotarians chipped
in $2,000, in addition to sundry other
donations.
Canadian newspapers reported broad
tsunami relief efforts. In Lake Louise, ski
technicians donated their tips, while a
community lunch in Canmore that last
year raised $5,000 for children in
Afghanistan this year is being geared
toward South Asian.
As well, a Canmore store owner is
seeking to raise $336,000 Cdn. ($274,000
US) for restoration of boats in Railay,
Thailand. Theres no point in setting a
low goal, explained Cameron Baty, owner
of a local store. Theres a lot of rich people
in this town. He told the Rocky Mountain
Outlook that he was skeptical of larger
relief organizations, because of the amount
of money that goes to administration.
Whistler and adjacent communities
had an even greater array of fund-raising
efforts underway. There was a bottle drive
in Pemberton, while a Whistler restaurant
owner pledged $1,000 and his staff com-
mitted their tips from one day to tsunami
relief. As well, as large fundraiser at the
local conference center was planned.
Whistler was re-examining an earlier
proposal to adopt an Indonesian island
called Nias that is 40 kilomters from the
earthquakes epicenter. The businessman
who had proposed the adoption, Jay
Wahono, has family members in
Indonesia. The island has one of the best
surfing beaches in the world, a well as
scuba diving and deep-sea fishing. It has
not been developed with hotels, but the
thatched beach homes were swept away.
Council had already given considera-
tion that if we do another sister-city rela-
tionship that we should do one with a
Third World country, Whistler Mayor
Hugh OReilley told Pique. He envisions
not a financial contribution, but rather a
sharing of expertise.
Something similar is being pushed by
a municipal councilor in Whistlers down-
valley neighbor of Squamish.
In Colorados Roaring Fork Valley, the
Ute Mountaineer donated water purifica-
tion kits while Aspen Valley Hospital gave
sterile gloves and other medical supplies.
Down-valley from Aspen, children in the
Basalt United Methodist Church were
assembled to stuff hygienic items into plas-
tic bags to be shipped to refugee camps.
The cost of the items wasnt much, $250,
but the message is much bigger, said the
Rev. Marie Gasau.
Every faith teaches concern and com-
passion, so theres our opportunity to
express (those feelings) as Christians, obvi-
ously, but also as just members of the
human race, she told The Aspen Times.
Its more than just responding to the dis-
aster: I think that were doing is creating
bridge between people no matter what our
culture or religion is.
Mid-winter champagne
or some Pepsi powder?
ASPEN, Colo. Snowfall during December
was stingy in large parts of the West. In
Avon, a the foot of Beaver Creek, devoted
weather watcher Frank Doll reported the
month was as dry as any since 1976, a
notorious drought winter.
But the new year began extravagantly.
In Aspen, the first big snowfall was suffi-
ciently heavy that classes at public schools
were called off, something that happens
about once a year. Our buses can handle
most anything, said Fred Brooks, the
school districts transportation director.
This was a rare exception.
The Aspen Times reported that by
midmorning all four Aspen Skiing Co.
mountains were littered with snow-silly
children, eager to cram in some unexpect-
ed fun.
In The Sun Valley-Ketchum area, the
airport crew worked round-the-clock for
five days to keep the airport runway
cleared. It was nip and tuck at times,
reported the Idaho Mountain Express. The
work was so incessant that it provoked a
complaint form a neighbor of the airport,
who wondered whether the big airport
plow needed to beep-beep-beep through
the night as they backed up.
In Silverton, the Standard observed
that winter was beginning to be just like
the winters of old. Roofs were sagging
under the weight of 16 inches of heavy,
wet snow, the newspaper reported, even as
the highway north to Ouray was closed
because of avalanche danger. It is not,
reported the newspaper expected to open
anytime soon.
But is this really a winter like the win-
Page 12-Friday, January 14, 2005
Mountain Town News
Compiled by Allen Best
eller
C
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~New Construction
~Remodels
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Local references
available.
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tel 970.387.0111
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4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Blair St., Silverton
387-5006
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1625 N. Bolton
Jacksonville, TX 75766
(903) 586-0637
(903) 586-4283 FAX
E-Mail: oldjville@tyler.net
HTTP://www.oldjacksonville.com
John Daughtrey
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(Contined on pageeight)