Local news

Cottonwood Pass Closing for the Winter Season November 2

An annual sign of the changing seasons is upon us! Gunnison County and Chaffee County governments will be closing Cottonwood Pass (CR209) for the winter on Monday, November 2nd, at 9:00am. Both gates …

BOCC hears first draft of 2027 county budget

On Oct. 13, the Gunnison Board of County Commissioners held a special session with the Gunnison County Finance Department to review the first draft of Gunnison County’s 2027 budget. Assistant …

Gilbert Nelson Kysar

Gilbert Nelson Kysar told his last story on Oct. 14, 2026. If you are wondering if you ever met him, you didn’t – because you would remember it. He was world-renowned for telling it like it was. …
Whetstone Mountain as seen from Crested Butte South. The Crested Butte South Property Owner’s Association was included in the planning process for the Gunnison Corridor Plan.

Gunnison city and county talk corridor plan

The Gunnison City Council and Gunnison County Commissioners Elizabeth Smith and Laura Puckett Daniels discussed the Gunnison Valley Corridor Plan at an update from the county delivered at the Oct. 13 …

Bridging the gap: Western student earns Fulbright to study wildfire science in Australia

“The goal is to identify the drivers behind intense wildfire activity and the ecosystems and communities they could impact”   When Dalton Robberson finally got to the point of choosing …
Event spotlight

People & Happenings

Lupine Gallery hosts fall painting workshop Lupine Gallery will host "Pumpkins 'n Paint," a guided autumn painting workshop led by artist Bailey Rae, on Thursday, Oct. 29, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. …

Things to do
Restaurant Week poster at Mario’s Pizza and Pasta.
Chamber launches Restaurant Week Sweepstakes to boost local businesses
Over the past week, QR codes have been popping up at various restaurants in town.  Restaurant Week, organized by the Gunnison Chamber of Commerce, is a low-lift sweepstakes designed to …
River Cosgrove (Caden), Skylah Inman (Alicia), Brian Kerrigan (Jaxton), and Lindsey Trenkle (Logan) rehearsing for The Thanksgiving Play.
Western Theatre Co. to put on 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 …
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 …
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 …

Western defense blanks Fort Lewis College, offense rolls

The Western Colorado defense shut down visiting Fort Lewis College's offense, recording a shutout while the sixth-ranked Mountaineers' offense racked up yardage and points in a 55-0 Rocky Mountain …

Cowboys soccer team ties Delta, 1-1

The Gunnison High School boys soccer team closed out their regular season with home games against future playoff teams Delta and Roaring Fork. The Cowboys hosted the Delta Panthers on Saturday, …

Obituaries
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. …
Jerry Lynn Shaw
Jerry Lynn Shaw is survived by an older sister, Eugenia (Shaw) Ditmore, and a younger brother, Dale E. Shaw, after departing this world on July 28, 2026, in Gunnison. Jerry passed at home from …
Mike Henkel
On Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, Mike Henkel lost his battle with cancer, leaving behind a family who loved him beyond words and a lifetime of memories that will be treasured forever. Mike lived an …
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 …
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

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 …
Features
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 …
2026 cast rehearsing for their big show.

“Rocky Horror” comes to the Gunnison Valley

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” a musical comedy horror, is hitting Gunnison and Crested Butte for the Halloween season.  “Rocky Horror” is a cult classic film from 1975 based on …

Agave Family Mexican Restaurant reopens doors after extended closure

After a long closure, Agave Family Mexican Restaurant has officially reopened at its new location on 618 W. Tomichi Ave. The popular local eatery is eager to welcome back longtime patrons and new …

WCU Authors win at 2026 Colorado Book Awards

Authors Lindsay King-Miller and Teow Lim Goh, from Western Colorado University’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing (GPCW), were winners in their respective categories at the 2026 Colorado Book …
In case you missed it
Measure 1A
Editor: I have been a resident of Montrose County for nearly 40 years.  My family has vacationed frequently in Gunnison County since the 1970’s.  We appreciate and value the unique …
Prop. NN
Dear Editor: Colorado students deserve public schools with enough qualified educators, manageable class sizes, and opportunities that prepare them for college, careers, and life without raising …
Vote Yes on 1A: Our Valleys Depend on County Roads
Vote Yes on 1A: Our Valleys Depend on County Roads Editor, The curiosity of how the Elk and West Elk mountains formed lured me into a geology degree at Western in the 1970’s. I have …
Listening to What My Dad Taught Me: Yes on 1A
Editor: Listening to What My Dad Taught Me: Yes on 1A My dad taught me more than a few things in his short life, two lessons that stick with me are; 1) take care of your stuff, and 2) …
Prop 137 is for conservation
Editor: Prop 137 is for conservation If you haven’t yet voted for Colorado Prop 137, let me encourage you to put your mark on its “Yes” box. Prop 137 will fund open space …
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