Local news

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. …

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 …
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 …
Shonna Gray (Left) and Amelia Meyer (Right)

Health and Human Services nurses win Public Health Award

Two Gunnison County Health and Human Services public health nurses, Shonna Gray and Amelia Meyer, were awarded the Exemplary Public Health Nurse Award at the recent Public Health in the Rockies …

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 …
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 …

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, …

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

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 …
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 …
In case you missed it
GHS cross country team races in Monte Vista
In their final meet before regionals, the Gunnison High School cross country team competed in Monte Vista on Friday, Oct. 16, at the Eric Wolff Invitational. “It was a nice meet before …
Cowboys close out regular season this week at home
The Gunnison High School volleyball team split their two games last week and will close out their regular season this week at home.  The Cowboys opened last week at home on Thursday, Oct. …
Gunnison quarterback Asher Woytek prepares to make a throw against Pagosa Springs. Also pictured for the Cowboys are Marcos Diaz (No. 54) and Jack Stone (No. 56).
Regular season concludes for football team with loss to Pagosa Springs
The Gunnison High School football team ended this year with a loss to Pagosa Springs and finished with a 2-7 record, but head coach Chase Starman is confident that the program made significant …
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 …
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