Local news

Winter gear swap set for early November

The Crested Butte Snowsports Foundation (CBSF) is proud to announce that its annual Winter Gear Swap will be held on Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Lodge at Mountaineer Square in Mt. …

Cottonwood Pass Closing for the Winter Season Nov. 2

An annual sign of the changing seasons is upon us! Gunnison and Chaffee county governments will close Cottonwood Pass (County Road 209) for the winter on Monday, Nov. 2, at 9 a.m. Both gates on the …

Water conservancy talks 2027 budget

At its Oct. 26 meeting, the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District (UGRWCD) Board of Directors discussed changes in the district’s 2027 budget. The budget was previously discussed at …

2026 Gunnison County Flu Vaccine Clinics: Wrap Up

 During the first three weeks of October, Gunnison County Health & Human Services (HHS) along with partnering agencies hosted three flu vaccine clinics in Crested Butte, Gunnison, and at …
The Gunnison Visitor Center on Highway 50 in Gunnison.

Council hears plans for reimagined visitor center

Leora Wallace, Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, updated the Gunnison City Council on the Gunnison Visitor Center’s 2026 activities and the Chamber’s plans for a …
Event spotlight

People & Happenings

Movie night is Nov. 6 The Gunnison County Substance Abuse Prevention Program movie nights are back. "How to Train Your Dragon" will be shown on Friday, Nov. 6, at 6:30 p.m. at the Majestic …

Things to do
Gunnison Rotary Club announces annual banquet and service awards
The Rotary Club of Gunnison announces its 2026 honorees – people who have donated time, money and other resources to make our community healthier, more hopeful, less hungry and more meaningful to …
The Cursed Carnival is coming for Western’s second annual haunted house
  After bringing a Haunted House tradition back from the dead last year and seeing people line up around the block to get in, Western Colorado University students are opening the doors of the …
People and Happenings
Protect Winter Join Protect Our Winters for an evening built around the places, people, and seasons we all care about. Free entry, bring your friends. Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Majestic …
The Cursed Carnival is coming for Western’s second annual haunted house
  After bringing a Haunted House tradition back from the dead last year and seeing people line up around the block to get in, Western Colorado University students are opening the doors of the …
Pitkin Hotel welcomes guests to enjoy seasonal events, holiday dining and special gatherings.
Business Spotlight: Pitkin Hotel welcomes the holidays with festive events and special meals
Discover Pitkin Hotel's festive holiday events, including a Halloween celebration, Thanksgiving Feast, Breakfast with Santa, and New Year’s dinners.
Sports

Gunnison falls to highly ranked team from Delta

Gunnison's Ayden Sims (24) goes for a tackle against Montezuma-Cortez's  Zell Utecht during a recent game. (Photo by Don Emmert)
The Gunnison High School football team fell to Delta Friday, Oct. 2, making it its fifth loss in a row after starting the season out with two straight wins. The two teams met for a league match …

Season ends for soccer team with loss to Eagle Ridge Academy

The Gunnison High School boys soccer team’s 2026 season came to an end last week after they fell to Eagle Ridge Academy in the first round of the 3A State Playoffs. The Cowboys made the trip …

Girls place 14th at state cross country meet; boys take 16th

The Gunnison High School cross country team competed at the CHSAA State Championships in Colorado Springs with the girls placing 14th and the boys placing 16th. For the first time since 2021, …

Obituaries
Grace Archuletta
Grace Archuletta was born on Aug. 13, 1923 and passed away in Gunnison on Oct. 1, 2026 at the age of 103.  Grace was the daughter of Andrew and Tillie Archuletta. Both parents were born in …
Terrie Garrett
Terrie Garrett (born Terrie Wilson), born Oct. 16, 1962, in Gunnison, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Oct. 19, 2026, at her home in New Mexico, where she lived with her husband of more than 20 …
Michael J. Schaefer
Michael J. Schaefer, 67, of French Village passed away peacefully on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at his residence. He was born Feb. 4, 1959, in Phoenix to Orville and Laverne (Steffens) Schaefer. He …
James Michael “Ralph” Marra
James Michael Marra, known to everyone as “Ralph,” was born on Nov. 22, 1948, in Morristown. He was raised in Ramsey with his older sister, Patricia (Tricia) Marra Hartigan, his younger brother, …
Laurie Ann McCall
Laurie Ann McCall, 79, of Palisade, died Oct. 9, 2026. Born April 14, 1947, Laurie grew up in St. Louis and later spent many cherished years in Gunnison, Grand Junction, and lastly Palisade. …
Opinion
Columns

Guest Viewpoint: Contain a wildfire? Call in the cows

When fire commanders try to figure out how to contain a major wildfire, the last thing you might expect them to deploy is a herd of beef cattle. But during the recent Gold Mountain Fire in western …

Real liberty

Like it or not, artificial intelligence is being foisted upon us. I think we can all see the writing on the wall – the day is coming when every car, computer, phone and other electronic device will …

Gunnison's strength Is who we already are

Through June, City of Gunnison sales tax collections were up 5.35% year to date. But that number needs context. City Finance Director Ben Cowan noted that collections from the City's top 20 …

Hope for the gray days

Do you struggle sometimes, often, or always with darkness and discouragement?  Me too. There is no shame in feeling darkness and discouragement. It is so common, even among people of deep faith. …

Trump administration legalizes extinction of the Gunnison sage-grouse

Had Donald Trump been president in 1973, when Richard Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act into federal law, the Gunnison sage-grouse would be extinct. Close to 90 percent of all Gunnison …
Letters to the Editor
Joe Dix

‘Biden didn’t do our nation a service by reneging’

Editor: President Biden didn’t do our nation a service by reneging on his promise to be a transitional president. He didn’t do our nation a service by staying in office when, I suppose, he …

The Bridge is out!

Editor: The Bridge is out! Do you remember waking up… excited about the trip to the Montrose Targét… only to find it would take you 8 hours to get there? Or, were you stuck on The Far Side that …

Yes on 83

Yes on 83 I am writing to establish the facts surrounding Amendment 83 and explain why I believe a yes vote is so important for Colorado. If passed, Amendment 83 would permanently protect our already …

Support for 1A

Editor: I’m writing this letter in support of Ballot Measure 1A because county roads are more than pavement and gravel—they are the links that hold our community together. They connect families …

In support of ballot question 1A

Editor: As someone who cares deeply about protecting the lands, water, and wildlife of Gunnison County, I believe conservation and stewardship requires us to think carefully about how we manage …
Features
Gary Scott Stephens with his book, “Valley of Castles, Cattle, & Coal.”

A history of castles, cattle and coal in the Gunnison Valley

Years of research into the people, places, industries, and stories of Colorado’s Ohio Creek Valley have earned author and geologist Gary Scott Steffens top honors at the 2026 Collective of …
From left to right are Blane Chapman, Bode McKee, Kevin Hall, Dr. Darby Sullivan, Linda Browneller and TeLa Castle.

No hoof, no horse

Farrier practices remain active today. The Rocky Mountain Farriers Association (RMFA) held its fall clinic at the Fred Field Center earlier this month. This was only the second farrier clinic held in …
Julien and Elizabeth Klingsmith taking photos for their CD cover.

Klingsmith siblings release Classical CD

It’s never too early to become a musical star. Sibling music duo Elizabeth and Julien Klingsmith have taken advantage of that and have released their very first CD. The Klingsmiths, Gunnison …
Cinthia Sáenz ganadora del Premio Dr. Virgilio Licona
Cinthia Sáenz winner of the Dr. Virgilio Licona Award

From patient to bilingual navigator

Access to healthcare for immigrant families in the Gunnison Valley underwent a  profound transformation, growing from 392 patients served in 2023 to approximately  1,100 in 2025. Beyond …
In case you missed it
Cowboys end regular season on six-game win streak
The Gunnison High School volleyball team swept the Buena Vista tournament and finished the season on a six-game winning streak, earning them the No. 23 seed in 3A and a spot in the Resurrection …
Thoughts on meditation
Decades ago I read an article in Tricycle, a magazine for Buddhists, about meditation. The writer said something along the lines of, “If I have an hour, and I can spend it in meditation or in …
Art gallery opens in Western’s Office of the Provost
A new exhibit has opened up in Western Colorado University’s Office of the Provost in Taylor Hall.  Pavel Cenkl, Western’s new Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, has more …
A review of “The Thanksgiving Play”
Western Theatre Company (WTC) has done it again.  On Oct. 22, WTC kicked off its two-week run of “The Thanksgiving Play” by Larissa FastHorse. Though not a full house, the show was well …
A look at the water year of 2026
The Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University has issued its annual report of the water year. The water year takes the 12 months starting in October of one year and ending in October of …
Special Sections
Hunting in Gunnison Valley 2026

Cattlemen's Days 2026

Gunnison Country Magazine

Gunnison Homes and Gardens 2026

People's Choice Awards 2025

Cattlemen's Days 2025