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Gunnison County road crews work on Crystal River Road.

Crystal River Road reopens after safety improvements

The Crystal River Road is open to the public following recent safety improvements, though motorists should expect delays as Gunnison County road crews continue work on the rugged mountain route. The …

GCEA to purchase energy from proposed Valley Range Energy Park

Empire Electric Association (EEA), Gunnison County Electric Association (GCEA), San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative (SLVREC) and San Miguel Power Association (SMPA), through a cooperative …
Blue Mesa Reservoir near the Iola Boat Ramp, Oct. 13

Water Conservation District gives update at Oct. 13 meeting

The Upper Gunnison River Water Conservation District (UGRWC) gave Colorado River Updates at the Oct. 13 Board of County Commissioners work session. The board reviewed severe drought conditions, …

Council appoints two new Planning and Zoning Commission members

At its Oct. 13 meeting, the Gunnison City Council appointed Chris Cassling and Lisa Lucas to five-year terms on the Gunnison Planning and Zoning Commission. Three of the seven commission members …
This graphic shows the typical impacts of an El Niño event on winter weather across the U.S., including wetter conditions in the southwest and southern U.S. and drier conditions in the north. Colorado lies in the more unpredictable middle ground between these patterns, making it more difficult to forecast what El Niño may mean.

Will the super El Niño bring super snow?

 This fall and winter, southwestern Colorado will experience the impacts of super El Niño conditions in the Pacific Ocean, which will help shape precipitation, temperatures and storm …

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E-edition

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Gunnison Country Times - October 15, 2026

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Gunnison Country Shopper

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Gunnison Country Shopper - October 15, 2026

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Event spotlight

Western Theatre Co. to put on The Thanksgiving Play

River Cosgrove (Caden), Skylah Inman (Alicia), Brian Kerrigan (Jaxton), and Lindsey Trenkle (Logan) rehearsing for The Thanksgiving Play.

Western Theatre Company (WTC) is looking forward to having an uncomfortable conversation with their audience. Starting Oct. 22, WTC will be putting on their semester show: The Thanksgiving Play …

Things to do
Banned Book Fair Thursday, October 22 in Crested Butte
Join Townie Books for a night of rebellious reading at Montanya Distillers for the annual banned books social. Browse and shop a curated selection of banned titles, chat with fellow readers about why …
Back Left to Right: Office Manager Ashley Harding, CEO/Owner Jim O’Rourke, Advertising Manager Bobbie Duft, Editor John Waters, VP of Sales Jade Lewandowski Front Left to Right: Advertising Representative Katie Lewinger, Account Executive Leigh Alan, Reporter Maggie Reid
Gunnison Times celebrates 1 year under O’Rourke Media Group
On Oct. 7, The Gunnison Country Times held a party at their office to celebrate their one year anniversary as part of O’Rourke Media Group.  The party included snacks and drinks, …
In service to community, the Gunnison High School Legion Club is cleaning and repairing headstones at the cemetery and honoring those who came before them.
American Legion to meet Saturday, October 17
The American Legion District 11 is holding its meeting in Gunnison this year. District 11 is hosting its meeting at the Elks Lodge. According to the Legion, rumor has it that they chose Gunnison …
Mollie and Anthony Contreras outside of Vegan AF Box.
Ballots and Bowls
Vegan AF Box is hosting Ballots and Bowls, a progressive ballot party, in partnership with Indivisible Gunnison, League of Women Voters, Gunnison Democrats, and more on Sunday, Oct. 18 from noon to 4 …
Book signing at Townie Books in Crested Butte
On Saturday, October 17, join a book signing from11:00 am— 1:00 pm at Rumors/Townie Books,414 Elk Avenue. Featured is Gavin Von Horn's book Sensoria:  From the mating calls of …

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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 …

Gunnison MTB finishes strong season with regional podium finish

Team members and coaches of the Gunnison MTB team pose for a group photo. (Submitted photo)

Gunnison MTB capped off its Colorado High School Cycling League regular season in Cañon City over the weekend with another third-place team finish, securing third overall in the Crystal Region …

Western football team prepares for Fort Lewis College

The undefeated Western Colorado University football team plays host to Fort Lewis College on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m. The game is a white out. Western is 6-0 on the season and 4-0 in Rocky …

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Obituaries
Phyllis Marie Plotts
Phyllis Marie Plotts, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend, died Sept. 27, 2026, at Gunnison Valley Health Senior Care Center after a lengthy battle with cancer. She was 91. She was born …
Scott Dubberly Sherwood
Scott Dubberly Sherwood was born Nov. 18, 1946, to Bettye Ann Keammerling and Ralph Dubberly. Ralph sadly perished in a tragic plane crash. Bettye then married Irvin William Sherwood and he …
Rodney Lull
Rodney Allen Lull passed away peacefully, leaving behind a loving family, many friends, and many cherished memories. He proudly served his country and community. He will be remembered for his …
Rodney Allen Lull
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Rodney Allen Lull. He will be deeply missed by his family and all who knew and loved him. May his memory live on in the hearts of those he leaves behind …
Polly Oberosler
Mary Pauline (Polly) Cranor Oberosler was born Feb. 19, 1957, in Almont, to Thora Belle and Forest Cranor. Polly was the third of four Cranor children. The family was in the resort business in Almont …

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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 …

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Letters to the Editor

Lindeman ends campaign for House seat

Editor: It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing an early end to my campaign for HD58. Due to circumstances outside of my control, I am unable to continue my bid for this Colorado House …

Vote ‘No’ on 83

Editor: I've hunted and fished in Colorado for over 50 years, and I do have an elk tag this year. I've been a member of a number of sportsmen organizations and worked closely with Colorado Parks …

Book Bus offers its appreciation

Editor: After wrapping up a fabulous 15th summer season and our Quinceañera year, Señorita Rita’s Rockin’ Reading Route Book Bus would like to thank this valleywide community for the many …

Hats off to Scott Truex

Editor: As with your article about the RTA, I've had numerous residents and visitors comment on how amazing the RTA service is. I can't imagine that the RTA would have reached this point without …

A consolidated water treatment plant is needed

Editor: I’ve been thinking about the issues and information surrounding the quality of our drinking water. Currently, our city water is supplied selectively by about a dozen wells that are …

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Features
Gary Scott Stephens with his book, “Valley of Castles, Cattle, & Coal.”

A history of castles, cattle & 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 …
Pictured from left to right are Mayte Burton, Yazmin Molina, Cinthia Saenz, Marketa Zubkova, and Alfonso Morales in the Juntos por Gunnison office.

Small team, huge impact

Tucked in the back of the Gunnison Congregational Church is a tiny organization with a huge impact. Juntos por Gunnison (Together for Gunnison) is a community resource center that connects …
Students from Western Colorado University visited Peru on an expedition led by Karuna Expeditions.

Karuna Expeditions partners with Western Colorado University for transformational cultural immersion

Crested Butte-based Karuna Expeditions partnered with Western Colorado University in August to deliver a powerful cultural engagement experience and an 11-day expedition into the heart of the …
The cast of Calvin Curry's murder mystery, Stiff in a Barrel, at the Gunnison Arts Center after their performance in the Black Box Theater on October 2. From left to right are, cast picture: Mike Callihan - Director; Nieset LeFevre as "Dolly P from Tennessee," Jennifer Zeikus as "Lisa Stone," Steve Barnett as "Stone, P.I."; Dusto McGuinness as "Dandy Lyons," Calvin Curry as "Fred Friendly," and Karen Bathje as "Polly Pleasant." Cast members not pictured are John Waters, who played "Marley Weedlove,” and Duane Vandenbusche, who played "Mobster Muggs."

Stiff in a Barrel serves up laughs, mystery at Gunnison Arts Center

For more than 40 years, Six Points Evaluation and Training has been doing something that comes naturally in a small community: helping neighbors help neighbors. On Oct. 12, the Gunnison Arts …

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In case you missed it
Photos taken during the improv class on Oct. 10
Boomtown!
Creede Repertory Theatre brought light and laughter to Gunnison last Saturday with Boomtown!, Creede's beloved improv comedy group. Boomtown! closed their 20th “explosive” season in September, …
Middle School Cowboys scrimmage at Oct. 9 game
The Gunnison middle school Cowboys brought the energy during a 10-minute halftime scrimmage at the final high school home game of the season. Splitting into offense and defense, with the defense …
Superintendent: ‘It’s time I hear from you’
As your new Gunnison Watershed School District superintendent, it’s time I hear from you. Have you ever started a job and found yourself overwhelmed? It’s not the poor orientation, it’s …
Montrose hospital restructuring cuts 77 positions
Montrose Regional Health (MRH) reduced its workforce by 77 positions effective Oct. 12 as part of an organizational restructuring plan. This included 34 current employees and 43 positions left vacant …
Soccer team scores comeback win over Coal Ridge
The Gunnison High School soccer team moved to 7-4-2 this season with a big come-from-behind win over Coal Ridge last week. The two teams faced off on Saturday Oct. 10, in New Castle and the …
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