Football, volleyball off to promising start
by Patty Unruh
Football vs. Merino
The Gilpin High School Eagles football squad played its first regular season game at home against the Merino Rams on Saturday, September 2, experiencing a narrow 35-28 loss. (more…)
City Council Meets Amid Public Scrutiny
By David Josselyn
The Central City Council met for a work session on Tuesday, September 5, 2017, to discuss five separate issues. The work session was unusually well attended by City residents concerned with these issues. Topics discussed were traffic infractions and excessively large vehicles traveling along Spruce Street, speed bump polices, the paint of the Belvidere Theatre, the costs to add turning options to Exit 7 on the Parkway, and the Water General damage. (more…)
2017 CDE accreditation ratings
PRESS RELEASE – The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) has released the 2017 school and district accreditation ratings. Gilpin County Elementary School received a Performance accreditation rating. Gilpin County Secondary School earned a Performance rating. The Gilpin County School District was awarded Accreditation with Distinction. (more…)
On Old Golden Road from Sonic to Subway
By Randy Beaudette
Anyone who has ever driven through old town Golden the first Saturday of the month has gotten caught up in the chaos known throughout the region as the “Golden Super Cruise.” It is a collection of hot rods, classic cars, rat rods, unique cars, hopped-up modern rides, and super cars. They are all on display for car buffs to admire and drool over. (more…)
CU vs. CSU
by Dave Gibson
The Colorado University Buffaloes had played the Colorado State University Rams eighty-eight times since 1883 entering last Friday’s football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Billed as the Rocky Mountain Showdown, the Buffaloes hold an all-time 3-to-1 advantage in those meetings and were hoping to win their third in a row against the Rams. (more…)
Facing Saturation, Local Breweries Compete to Continue
By David Josselyn
As of May 2017, Colorado is home to 348 breweries and this year has more than 37 beer festivals scheduled around the state. The Great Central City Beer Fest, held last Saturday, August 26, 2017, is in its 6th year and remains a strong, well-attended event for Gilpin County bringing a score of brewers to its street to show off their product. (more…)
At the historic Catholic Cemetery
By Randy Beaudette
History buffs got an opportunity to step into the past and hear tales of hardship, celebration and life in early Gilpin County at the 29th annual Cemetery Crawl. The much anticipated event was hosted by the Gilpin County Historical Society and for the first time, took place at the historic Catholic Cemetery above Central City. (more…)
The best little music fest in the West
by Dave Gibson
Kyle Hollingsworth of popular String Cheese Incident opened this year’s version of NedFest on Friday with his inspired electric keyboard-driven numbers and improvisational jams. To close the evening, Grammy Award-winning bassist Oteil Burbridge celebrated his birthday alongside a formidable cast that included: guitarist John Kadlecik of Dark Star, Rat Dog’s Jay Lane on percussion, and Alfreda Gerald belting out vocals on a par with Aretha Franklin. (more…)
Horses and riders learning to work together
By Pam Deck
For centuries, horses and their riders have learned to work together. It’s both an art and a science. And yes, people who love their horses, not only learn how to care for them physically, but how to “play” with them as well. (more…)
Gilpin County Education Foundation annual golf classic
by Patty Unruh
Golfers hit the links last Friday, August 25, in the Gilpin County Education Foundation’s (GCEF) 12th annual Gilpin Golf Classic. 51 golfers competed in teams at the Evergreen Golf Course, with the goal of raising funds to benefit Gilpin County students. A little over $15,000 was raised, before expenses. (more…)
High Country Auxiliary
By Pam Deck
Life is better with this giving organization. Sometimes we assume things just happen and everything just seems to get done. But this “behind the scenes” group knows that is not true. The High Country Auxiliary of Gilpin County is the heart behind things that need doing. (more…)
Third and Final competition
By Jaclyn Morrow
Peak to Peak Buckle Series completed their third horsemanship competitions to open the 25th Gilpin County Fair. The first two exhibition of horse and rider cooperation were in June and July. Saturday morning, August 19, 2017 was the third and final event. Riders entered into classes of competition as over 40, 18-39, 12-17 and under 11 years of age. Riders earn points for the place they take in five different events, with the grand winner earning the most points in all three events in their age range, to take home the coveted belt buckle. (more…)
Mardi Gras Bulls and Beads Rodeo
By Jaclyn Morrow
The bulls won. None of the more than 30 cowboys and cowgirls stayed on for the full 8 seconds to get points for their efforts at the 2017 Mardi Gras Bulls and Beads Rodeo. Points from these Ford Rodeo Series are accumulated for the grand total winner later this year. The event filled the grand stands, and the extra bleachers near the cowboy entrance where their support crews watched with their dogs and little ones all had high hopes for a safe, great ride. These same cowboys travel and compete in the series of rodeos and encouraging each other to ride their best, and keep the crowd on the edge of their seat. (more…)
Viewing the Great American Solar Eclipse
by Patty Unruh
As everyone knows, unless they were camping under a rock for the past several weeks, this past Monday, August 21, our nation experienced its first coast-to-coast total solar eclipse since 1918. Dedicated eclipse chasers had efficiently reserved motels and viewing spots months if not years in advance along the path of totality. My family and I found ourselves in North Platte, Nebraska on Monday at 12:54 pm Central Standard Time, gazing with awe at the nearly once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon. (more…)
Volunteers make it happen
By Jaclyn Morrow
Gilpin County Fair 2017 found the community enjoying so many ways to have fun together. In true anniversary fashion, for 25 years Gilpin County has had these festivities. The fair gathers folks from all over to share in what we like to do best, have fun. The 25th Anniversary booth folks, overseen by Vickie Nemec, was eager to hear your stories of previous Gilpin County Fairs, including making a video of the memories told. On display was an amazing quilt made from the official t-shirts from each of the 25 years of our fair. This was made by local Gilpin quilters and is truly unique. If you stopped by the booth, you may have picked up souvenirs like the anniversary pin or fidget spinner. (more…)
Cottonwood Lake provides plenty of action
By Randy Beaudette
Just 35 miles south of off I-70 in Mesa County there’s a place that has stood against the test of time. A place so magical, it has been the destination of choice for millennia. The Ute Indians called this place Thigunawat the “Home of Departed Spirits” or Heaven. Today we know it as Grand Mesa on the map, author Muriel Marshall called it “The Island in the Sky” in her book by the same title. At over 10,000 feet in elevation, 800 square miles sits on top of the world’s largest plateau that is an outdoor enthusiast paradise. Within that vast area, there are over 300 lakes, eight reservoirs, and numerous streams. It is a place where the angler can experience some of most breathtaking scenery while practicing the ancient art of fishing. (more…)