The Gunnison County Finance Department welcomed a new deputy chief financial officer, Ana Canada, at the start of February. Canada will assist the office as it handles tens of millions of dollars in grants, a $120 million housing project and its largest budget in history. Gunnison County’s budget has grown both in size and complexity over the last several years, […]
News
Upper Gunnison forms collective to cover expensive snow survey flights
Statewide support for snowpack data is risingThe technology used to get an accurate idea of how much snow sits in the Gunnison Valley’s major drainages is expensive. But it’s data that has become increasingly valuable as drought becomes more widespread, and small water districts are asking for help to cover the cost. Water managers in the Upper Gunnison Basin need to know how much snow is […]
Storage center sues county to expand long-term parking
Setback requirements could kill project, owners sayStorage unit space in the Gunnison Valley is tighter than ever, as locals and seasonal visitors seek a space to stow their couches, outdoor gear, boats and RVs. To accommodate the growing need, local business Discount Self Storage is trying to expand the gravel parking lot at its Hwy. 135 location to add more spaces for vehicle storage. When the […]
Gunnison River Partnership seeks new members
Venture capital group has invested in local businesses for over a decadeWhen the Gunnison River Partnership (GRP) decided to invest in ID Sculpture, the small business only had five employees. Today, its team has grown to 35, and the Gunnison-based playground manufacturer’s pieces — which come in the form of boulders, castles and trees that stretch the imagination — can be found throughout the United States. The partnership, a private venture […]
Gunnison Police Department investigates shooting
On Wednesday, March 13 at approximately 2:25 a.m., Gunnison Police Officers responded to the 300 block of North 9th Street for a report of a disturbance and a male yelling that he needed some kind of help. Upon arrival, officers contacted a 58-year-old Gunnison resident who was in possession of a firearm. Officers secured the firearm and were told by […]
City to begin two road projects
Work will last between 2024 and 2026During a regular meeting on Feb. 27, Gunnison City Council greenlighted the early stages of two projects on College and West Virginia avenues, both set to undergo construction by the end of 2026. This year, the city plans to extend College Avenue, which runs in front of the Rady School of Engineering to the eastern edge of Western Colorado University, […]
Sheriff’s office staffing levels improve
Office subsidizes cost of police academy for applicantsAfter a year of staff shortages at the Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office, numbers are improving as two incoming cadets from police academy prepare to finish school. And for the first time since 2022, three full-time deputies are now patrolling the north end of the county, near Somerset and Marble. In 2023, the office lost six employees in just eight months. […]
Community to gather for suicide prevention
Ten suicides in last 13 monthsWhen Chris Peterson received news that the Gunnison Valley had lost another of its young men to suicide, she knew it was time for the community to respond. At the start of February, Jacob Martin lost his life to suicide. He was 25 years old. Within a week, Peterson, who lost her son Christian to suicide last summer, met with […]
Crested Butte resident found dead near Hwy. 135
Case under investigationOn March 3 at approximately 11 a.m., officers were called to Hwy. 135 near Riverland for a report of a woman found deceased in the snow, according to a press release on Monday from the Mt. Crested Butte Police Department. Gunnison County Coroner Michael Barnes confirmed the woman to be Crested Butte resident Kelsey Boleski, 34. The cause and manner […]
Steve Schechter: The local Lorax
A life led by example in sustainability, selflessnessSteve Schechter, like many climate activists, lived his life in a way that would leave as small of an impact on the natural world as possible. But in doing so, he left an outsized positive impact on the lives of those around him. The example of sustainable living that Schechter set continues to inspire his community even after his passing. […]