Local news

School board in work session to review district priorities and upcoming initiatives

On Nov. 2, the Gunnison Watershed School District held a work session at Crested Butte Community Schools to discuss staff housing options, superintendent evaluation practices, school calendar and …

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 …
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 High Drama Club presents Story Theater
The Gunnison High School Drama Club will present Story Theater by Paul Sills, a lively and imaginative theatrical production based on stories from the Brothers Grimm collection and Aesop’s Fables. …
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 …
Business Spotlight: Gunnison Arts Center invites the community down the rabbit hole for annual Gala
Join the Gunnison Arts Center for its annual Mad Hatter Tea Party Gala on Saturday, Nov. 14, featuring dinner, entertainment and auctions.
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 …
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 inducts 2026 Mountaineer Hall of Fame

The 1995 cross country team at the induction ceremony.

On Oct. 30, Western Colorado University held its annual Mountaineer Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony to highlight exceptional Mountaineer athletes. The Hall of Fame Class of 2026 included …

Wrestling: Mountaineers roll over Northeastern Junior College

The Western Colorado men's wrestling team welcomed Northeastern Junior College to Paul Wright Gym on Sunday afternoon for a dual matchup. The Mountaineers dominated from start to finish, winning all …

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
The nonprofit Gunnison Arts Center currently has a donor who will match donations made to the center as part of Colorado Gives Day.

Colorado comes together for giving

Colorado Gives Day is Dec. 8, and the giving period has begun. Through Dec. 8, Coloradans can support the nonprofits they love as part of Colorado’s largest and most impactful giving event. Created …
Kent Viles with a Dobrato guitar.

Dobrato Resophonic closes doors

After 50 years of serving the community, Kent and Chris Viles of Dobrato Resophonics are retiring. Kent and Chris met in 1971 when attending Western Colorado University. Kent was studying art …
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 …
In case you missed it
Western soccer season ends with loss to Fort Lewis College
Western Colorado pressured heavily in its attacking third over a 20-minute span early in the second half of a scoreless game at Fort Lewis College on Wednesday afternoon, but it was the host Skyhawks …
Western Colorado's Lamonte James races toward the end zone on a 40-yard touchdown run Saturday in Gunnison. Western won, 37-6, to remain undefeated.  (Photo courtesy of Western Colorado Athletic Communications)
Western wins again over South Dakota Mines
Sixth-ranked Western Colorado added to its win streak over South Dakota Mines by taking a 37-6 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference win over the Hardrockers on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Gunnison. …
Six Points Thrift Store hands out children’s books.
Main Street turns into Halloweentown for annual block party
On Oct. 31, Main Street was buzzing with Halloween energy as hundreds of eager trick-or-treaters gathered for the annual downtown Halloween block party, "The Ghostly Goodie Grab." Costumed children, …
Barrel racers (some in Halloween costumes) and their support team line up for a photo... (L-R) Marvella Phelps, Kimberly Parker on Coco Chanel, Katy Walck on BB, Margo Anderson on Lola, Annie Mears on Saeris Fane, TeaLa Castle on WTF Mo Mos Spitfire, Kevin Castle, Deb Lynn, announcer Vicci Carricato holds J.C., Keri George on Shazam, Kirstin Gallien on Mystic, time keeper Jodie Leonard, Carly Herrick on Mr. Snickers, Trudy Vader on Catana, Cameron Leonard on Who-D-Who.
The barrel racers of Gunnison
There is a group of about 20 girls and women, ages 15-68, who gather every Wednesday evening at the Gunnison County Fairgrounds with their horses to run around three 55-gallon barrels in a race …
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 …
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