“However,” continued McCormick, “I did
what I set out to do, which is serving two terms.
The ability to run elections has been such an
honor. I think I’ve made some good changes
in this department. It’s been great to meet so
many people in the county over the past eight
years. I’m not sure what I’m going to do in the
future. Hopefully, it will be something that’s
Another year has passed, and we should
America.
The amount of money flowing to sports and
entertainment is massive. We seem to have
yet we complain about the cost of groceries.
While the world and nation seem violent
and disruptive, this has always been a troubled
planet, given the diversity of cultures, genders,
religions, governments, and the widening gap
between wealth and poverty. What makes
this so visible is that all this news is broadcast
modern technology.
Ironically, professional athletes and coaches
are paid millions of dollars, while the public
complains about the high cost of food. The
production, processing, and distribution of
food. We should be thankful that we have
grocery stores with wholesome, fresh, and vast
EDITORIAL ………………………………………………… 303-906-9902
ADVERTISING …………………… 303-906-9902 or 303-773-8313
Think about the Civil War being broadcast
on TV every night. Think about coverage of
the Crusades to free Jerusalem. What about
Rome?
LEGALS/PUBLIC NOTICES ………………………… 303-906-9902
SUBSCRIPTIONS ………………. 303-906-9902 or 303-773-8313
The food industry in America is amazing,
and the quality of farm- and ranch-raised veg-
The point is that we may have our priorities
mixed up.
World War II and MovieTone News first
brought war coverage to local theaters as pho-
tographers captured the many battles.
about the lack of snowfall and the drought. We
are oblivious to the impending disaster of closing
and solar to meet soaring electricity demand.
violent since the beginning, with Adam and
Eve.
Current and future energy demands are in
jeopardy because we’re helpless without our
phones, lights, electric gas pumps, stoplights,
and the list goes on. We can’t hold our high-
power outages in Gilpin and Clear Creek coun-
ties are a prelude to the future.
The new phenomenon, Artificial Intelli-
world. Are humans going to be smarter than
computers? Science fiction novels and movies
are coming true as the Flash Gordon cartoon
drones are now the latest weapons of modern
warfare.
Think back to the Colonists who had almost
nothing, yet they survived and prospered.
Americans have great resilience when chal-
lenged. As we end this year and look ahead
to the future, there are serious challenges to
meet. It will be for all of us, not they or them,
but all of us working together for the common
good of our great nation.
What a world we live in, and each of us plays
a part in this great saga of civilization.
***
I’m almost bleary-eyed from watching so
much football. Millions of sports fans fill col-
lege and NFL stadiums to watch amazing ath-
letes run, throw and catch a pigskin. If football
isn’t enough, we have basketball, hockey, soc
cer, boxing, wrestling, track, skiing, and horse
and car racing. America is gorging on amateur
and professional sports.
Let’s all try to do our part to make a better
who wanted to charge their
phones and other
electronic devices
because power
the developing problems.
make phone calls – while a
–
eral other local businesses
were closed due to the power
able to cook the sandwiches
on a gas stove. Kara Tinucci,
who owns JKQ BBQ with
her husband, Joe, estimated
they supplied food for 25 first
responders. Bradley, his fam-
ily, and Spencer were among
those who delivered the food
to Timberline Fire Station 5 on
Highway 119 in mid-county.
lot of our vol-
unteers had no
service, includ-
ing cellphones or
electricity.”
Most Decembers, Gilpin
County’s first responders are
–
as winter arrives in the region.
Timberline
Fire Protection
District Chief
Paul Onder told
the Weekly Reg-
ister-Call that
the wind prob-
lems led to an
increase in calls
for assistance.
“We are still writ-
ing reports and
up, but prelimi
nary numbers
from Dec. 17 to
Dec. 22, [2025],
including 19 fires
(on utility poles,
trees, wildland
fires, camping
sites, etc.) and 30
line issues (no
fire). The rest
were medical calls, motor
vehicle accidents, carbon-
lines, etc.”
One of the
calls Miller made
was to Nicholas
Spencer, who
owns the Peak
to Peak Market
in Black Hawk.
When Miller
asked if Spencer
had any pre-
made sandwiches
available, Spencer
said his inventory
had been quickly
depleted by Gil
pinites who came
to the store after
losing their refrig-
erator food. How-
to donate some of
the bottled water,
he had remaining
to the HCA.
“We had sold out our sand-
wiches probably within the
first five or six hours after the
wind situation started,” re-
called Spencer. “We told Terri
got in contact with Larry
Bradley, their chef. He made a
bunch of pulled-pork sand-
wiches and other food. So, we
got those, plus the cases of
water and chips, up to the fire
department.”
However, unusually pow-
erful winds caused the most
problems this year in the
county. Between Wednesday,
Dec. 17, and Monday, Dec.
22, parts of the region were
hit by near-hurricane-force
winds of 100 miles per hour
that toppled trees, knocked
down power lines, and caused
other problems. For example,
lost power to their homes
on Wednesday, Dec. 17, and
didn’t get service back un-
til Sunday, Dec. 21. Several
Central City and Black Hawk
residents and small businesses
power outages.
Recalled Ondr, “We contact
ed HCA because the crews had
been running call to call for 15
hours with no opportunity to
cook or eat. HCA, in collabora-
tion with JKQ Barbecue, pro-
vided food to all the crews as
they continued responding, but
they were able to throw down
a few bites between calls. The
next day, Larry Koppelman
[HCA’s vice president] brought
burritos to the station. This
was awesome, as the crews
were still extremely busy.”
Without power, food spoiled
in non-running refrigerators
and freezers. Others com-
plained that their cellphone
service didn’t work for days.
Yet others couldn’t leave
their homes because the wind
blocked their driveways.
Chief Paul Ondr of Timberline Fire Protection District.
Added Miller, “We rallied
and got them fed. Those guys
at JKQ are just the best. Clare
Stone [HCA’s vice president]
was able to deliver some of the
food to Station No. 5, and the
guys were very, very happy.”
As a result, Miller began
calling HCA members and
others – whose phone service
or power wasn’t out – to or-
ganize what could be done to
help the first responders. “As
president of HCA, I’m the first
they need our assistance,” said
Miller. “Fortunately, we didn’t
have any problems with our
cellphone service down here.
I was able to scramble and
News of Gilpin’s wind-
related issues also quickly
of the High Country Auxiliary,
the nonprofit that supports
TPFD and Gilpin’s other first
responders. Miller and her
husband, Eddie, were in Mis
sissippi when they learned of
Added Chief Ondr, “As of
Dec. 26, we have responded
to 148 calls in December. We
typically average 50-60 per
month. Currently, we are at
803 calls in 2025. Before that,
our busiest year was 2017,
with 756 calls.”
The wind-related issues led
the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Of
fice to open a warming shelter
in the Gilpin County School
complex. The Black Hawk
its building to several people
The Denver Water team working on Gross Dam is celebrating a successful year after
the dam raise was listed as “95 percent complete” at the end of last year.
said Jeff Martin, Denver Water’s program manager for the Gross Reservoir Expansion
Project. “We still have 22 feet left to go to reach the new height, and we’re on track to
reach that in 2026.”
The dam-raising portion of the $531 million Gross Reservoir Expansion Project
wrapped up for the season on Nov. 14, due to the drop in temperatures. The project,
which began in the spring of 2022, is designed to nearly triple Gross Reservoir’s water
storage capacity. While the dam is in Boulder County, some of the surrounding reser
voir property extends into Gilpin and Jefferson Counties, near the Coal Creek Canyon
neighborhood.
“We have to stop placing roller-compacted concrete when temperatures drop below
freezing,” said Casey Dick, deputy program manager for the Gross Reservoir Expansion
getting too cold. That’s because if the concrete freezes while it is still curing, it can lead
to a weakened final product.”
Work associated with the dam raise will resume in spring 2026, when the weather
warms enough to complete the final 22 feet. Once that work is complete, the dam will
be 471 feet tall, 131 feet higher than the original. The completed dam will also be longer
crest that stretches 2,040 feet across the canyon.
Last year marked the second year of construction on the dam raising at Gross. As of December
2025, workers had placed more than 730,000 cubic yards of concrete. To put that in perspective,
Empower Stadium at Mile High, where the Denver Broncos play their home football games,
Gross Dam so far.
Roller-compacted concrete is a special mix of concrete that allows crews to place it on the dam
and then spread it out. The concrete is firm enough to support machinery on top of it. The process
is a fast and efficient way to raise the dam. During construction, crews raised the height of the
dam by about 1 foot per day.
Commander Jacob Upchurch presented Halle Peiffer with her
first place award for her essay How are you showing patriotism
and support for our country at the Gilpin Recreation Center.
Photo by Gary King
Construction crews use GPS technology and survey equipment to monitor how high
they’ve raised the dam.
“The way we keep track of the elevation gain is that the bulldozers are equipped with
GPS-grade control technology, which ensures each layer of concrete is spread to the
correct thickness,” Dick said. “Once the concrete is rolled and vibrated into place, each
layer ends up 1 foot thick. It’s then checked by surveyors with their equipment to verify
the exact elevation.”
7563 awarded Halle Peiffer, a senior at Nederland High School,
first place at the local-post level in the Veterans of Foreign Wars
Voice of Democracy essay contest. Peiffer received a certificate and
Work isn’t completely stopping this winter.
Mechanical and piping work will be performed inside the dam, and crews will build a stilling
basin at the base of the dam. The basin’s function is to slow the flow of water from the dam’s
spillway and safely redirect it into South Boulder Creek.
Post 7563 Commander Jacob Upchurch praised Peiffer’s essay
on this year’s topic, How are you showing patriotism and support
calling it “outstanding and a breath of fresh air to
read.”
“This season was a huge success, and our team met a ton of challenges in raising Gross
faced wildfire safety operation challenges that shut down our power supply up here.
Despite those setbacks, the dedicated team of 500 men and women rose to the challenge.
I’d just like to thank everybody who committed themselves to this project and helped us
make 2025 a success.”
–
tional scholarship programs sponsored annually by the VFW. Essay
shared locally by Post 7563 through its Facebook page and flyers
distributed to area schools in Gilpin County and Nederland.
The Voice of Democracy contest is open to students in grades
9 through 12. Local post winners advance to district competition,
then state, and finally the national level. The national winner re
ceives a $35,000 scholarship, which may be applied toward tuition
at any accredited college, university or trade school.
The Patriot’s Pen contest is open to students in grades 6 through
8. At the local level, VFW Post 7563 awards a $250 prize, while the
national Patriot’s Pen winner receives a $5,000 scholarship.
Gross Dam expansion in 2025 from Denver Water.
Photo courtesy Denver Water.
attention outside of Gilpin
County.
ing forward to the results of
our campaigns, once again
promoting Central City as
the Richest Square Mile on
Earth.”
worked in the social
media industry for
several years. Her
resume includes work
with Live Nation,
Shabang Music Pro
ductions, and Avant
Gardner. She also cur-
director for Mr. Kills,
a New York-based fine
arts school.
For example, anyone seek-
BID’s 2025 “Great Central
City Beerfest” or “Stills in
the Hills” events could find
event. However, the pages
contained some recycled
and out-of-date informa-
tion. One online page listed
event sponsor, even though
the casino closed in 2022.
Searching online for infor-
mation about Central City’s
upcoming festivals and
–
ing and sometimes confus-
ing” in recent years. This
year, Central City’s Business
Improvement District and
city hall plan to collaborate
on a new, targeted social-
marketing strategy to draw
more attention – and, hope-
fully, additional visitors – to
the “Richest Square Mile on
Earth.”
In 2024, the BID spent
nearly $100,000 on ra-
dio advertising during the
Denver Nuggets’ basketball
season. The spending raised
questions from several lo-
cals, who noted that most of
Central City’s largest festi-
vals and events occur during
the Nuggets’ regular season
from October through April.
As the new year
begins, the CCBID
will have three first-
time members. Chuck
Spencer and Austin
Boulter were elected
to the board last spring.
After longtime president
Tom Robb retired over the
Shane Reilly of G3 Gaming
to fill his position in Decem-
ber. The other board mem-
bers are Hentschel, of GF
Gaming’s Easy Street and
Famous Bonanza casinos,
and Travis Reese of RCI
Hospitality Holdings.
Amaya Bankowski
BID President Jeff
Hentschel said, “ Bankowski
is an experienced marketer
who has worked with many
clients to promote their
brands. Central City will
benefit from her expertise
the Central City brand into
the digital space. She has a
deep understanding of how
to reach minds and hearts
through engaging content,
which will work well for
our community. We haven’t
done much digital market-
ing before, so we are look-
LinkedIn profile photo
Hentschel, who was elect-
ed BID president in August,
said the board’s decision
–
line presence is important.
The BID intends to spend
$35,000 on this project, and
the city is going to add an
additional $25,000 for her
[Bankowski’s] services.”
The BID recently contract-
ed with Amaya Bankowski to
serve as its social media con
sultant in 2026. Bankowski,
her office in Brooklyn, New
York, will coordinate Central
City’s events website and
posts. In the past, a variety
of local residents and volun-
teers handled social media
posts, which local officials
as its consultant based on a
recommendation from Spen-
cer, who had researched
potential social-media
marketing consultants for
several months prior to the
board’s Dec. 16 meeting.
Following the decision to
retain Bankowski, Spencer
remarked, “I came into this
group as the thorn [in May].
I don’t want to be a thorn. I
want this group to be suc-
cessful.”
Bankowski, who holds a
Bachelor of Arts in advertis-
ing from Temple Univer
sity’s Klein College of Media
and Communication, has
BID board members ap-
proved hiring Bankowski
EDITORIAL
A unanimous vote by the county’s three sitting commissioners turns away an $8 million opportunity—and raises hard questions about leadership, legacy, and the town’s future.
The desk on which Colorado’s Constitution was drafted still sits in Central City.
That matters, because this town has never been a footnote. It has always been a starting point.
Central City exists because John H. Gregory struck gold in Gregory Gulch in 1859 and ignited a chain reaction of risk, investment, and ambition that built the Rocky Mountains’ first great boomtown. This place was not preserved into existence. It was built—forcefully, deliberately, and at great personal cost.
Last week, that legacy was set aside.
In a unanimous vote by the three current sitting county commissioners, a development proposal was rejected that would have increased local economic activity from roughly $1 million annually to an estimated $8 million, while restoring Central City’s standing as the only authentic mountain gaming town in the region.
That decision will linger.
This was not speculative growth. It was a targeted reinvestment aligned with the town’s identity, its economic reality, and its history. Gaming is not incidental here; it is the modern continuation of the same risk-based enterprise that built Central City in the first place.
Instead, the vote ensured that the mountain gaming spotlight remains fixed on outside corporate ownership groups operating elsewhere—Monarch, Ameristar—entities with capital and scale, but no roots in the canyon and no connection to the town’s founding values.
They did not build Central City.
They did not carve Gregory Gulch.
They did not rebuild after fire reduced the town to ash—twice.
Yet through caution and inaction, they have been left as the stewards of Colorado’s mountain gaming identity, while the town that created that identity is asked to accept permanent second-tier status.
That is not preservation. It is abdication.
The economic math alone should have settled the matter. An $8 million impact in a town this size is not upside—it is oxygen. Jobs, infrastructure, secondary business activity, tax base, visibility. These are not luxuries for Central City. They are the difference between circulation and stagnation.
Central City is not a museum accidentally left outdoors. It is a living town that has reinvented itself repeatedly—from mining camp, to cultural center, to gaming town—each time through investment, not retreat.
Every historic building standing today was once a controversial new development. The opera house was audacious. The grand hotels were excessive. Ambition offended those who preferred smaller horizons. And yet those choices are exactly why Central City mattered then—and why it still should.
Businesses close. Workers leave. Identity erodes.
This vote stands as one of the most consequential political miscalculations in recent memory—not because it was bold, but because it was unnecessary. It turned away growth that honored the town’s past by extending it forward.
Leadership is stewardship, not paralysis. When elected officials fail to act in defense of a town’s survival, accountability follows.
This paper stands opposed to the commissioners’ decision and calls for new leadership—leaders who understand that Central City’s future is not something to defer, and that history is respected by building, not by standing still.
The creek keeps flowing.
History keeps moving.
Central City should too.
1859 — Gregory Gulch
John H. Gregory’s discovery ignites the Colorado Gold Rush.
1860s–1870s — Boomtown
Opera houses, mills, hotels, and civic buildings rise in extreme terrain.
1874 & 1877 — The Great Fires
The town burns—twice—and rebuilds each time with greater ambition.
Early 1900s — Decline and Endurance
Mining slows, but Central City survives through adaptation.
1990s — Limited-Stakes Gaming
Gaming restores economic life and preserves historic structures through use.
Today — A Crossroads
A decisive investment is rejected, placing the town’s future in question.
Mountain runners traverse beautiful Golden Gate Canyon State Park
By Randy Beaudette
Trail runners in the Eighth Annual Dirty 30 enjoyed clear weather and breathtaking scenery on Saturday, June 4 to challenge themselves, compete for prizes, and to benefit (more…)
Gilpin’s Lady Eagles basketball team a class act on and off the court
by Patty Unruh
Members of Gilpin’s emergency services do so much for this community, much of it behind the scenes. Every day, they put others first. As a way to say “thank you,” the Gilpin High School girls’ basketball team ladled up a warm holiday meal to local law enforcement, firefighters, and ambulance personnel in the school cafeteria on Friday, December 16.
The young ladies had invited members of the Black Hawk Fire Department, Black Hawk Police Department, Central City Fire Department, Colorado Sierra Fire Department, Timberline Fire Department, Gilpin Ambulance Authority, and Gilpin County Sheriff.
Bright holiday music and large messages of appreciation provided just the right atmosphere.
“Thank you for your service!” “Thank you for all you do!” read the signs, bearing the name of each agency and the autographs of the athletes.
Every first responder who was available showed up for tasty chili with all the fixings. Crockpots brimmed with gluten-free turkey, beef, chicken, and veggie chili. Members of the varsity and junior varsity basketball squads also served an impressive choice of cookies, pumpkin pie, cheesecake, and cupcakes frosted in red and green or topped with cheery plastic penguins. There were even candy canes with sweet notes attached.
Jenny Lepro, mother of junior varsity player Cicely Lepro, came up with the idea for the lunch. Lepro works for the City of Golden Police Department in animal and code enforcement, and also works part time for dispatch. She said that Golden puts on a thank-you meal for the responders there, and she wanted to pay it forward by doing the same for Gilpin’s responders. Many of them are parents of athletes and perform ambulance, police, or paramedic duty at the games.
“They do so much behind the scenes to keep us safe,” Lepro said. “We wanted to thank them and also teach the girls to show appreciation.”
Before the meal, the girls had basketball practice from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. After their practice, the girls decorated the cafeteria and made the thank-you signs.
They had played Rocky Mountain Lutheran in the Gilpin gym the previous evening and were going to Lake County the next day for another game. Since the girls were so busy with sports and school, parents prepared the chili and desserts.
Lepro advised that any leftovers would be sent back to those in the various departments who were not able to come.
The gesture warmed up Gilpin’s responders on a cold day and meant a lot to those who do so much.
Gilpin Ambulance paramedic Dan Wall said, “I have been in this business for 27 years, and no one has ever invited me to anything like this until now. It’s very special.”
“This is awesome. It brings everyone together,” agreed Shelby Nation of Central City Fire Rescue.
“It’s greatly appreciated,” said Deputy Kevin Armstrong of the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office.
The Lady Eagles continued to serve others during winter vacation. On Monday and Tuesday this week, they taught basketball skills at a hoops camp for both girls and boys from early elementary through middle school.
Girls’ Head Coach and Gilpin’s Athletic Director Jeff Schuessler said this camp has been a fixture at Gilpin for many years, and some of the high school players participated in the camp themselves as young children.
Schuessler was proud of his team for the way they have served others. “It’s indicative of the type of group they are. Their priorities are in the right place.”
Council Amends Manufactured Homes Municipal Code
By Randy Beaudette
The bell was rung by Brett Hahnenkamp from Peak Value LLC to announce the regular meeting of the Black Hawk City Council. The meeting was called to order on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at 3 pm by Mayor David Spellman. (more…)
Running for Additional Four-Year Term
PRESS RELEASE – I am Central City Mayor Kathy Heider and I am running for an additional four-year term as mayor in the November election.
A long-time resident, I served on the City Council for four years before being chosen by the City Council to fill the two years left in Mayor Engels term when he was elected county commissioner.
I am a candidate for mayor because I want to continue the improvements we have been implementing during my tenure.
I have 30 years of experience in local government, retiring from Jefferson County after 15 years as the Public Information Director and previously working as public information officer for the City of Arvada and assistant county administrator for Eagle County.
In addition, I worked six years for the Weekly Register-Call as managing editor and reporter. My combined work history makes me the most experienced mayoral candidate.
When I was first elected to City Council, the city was in desperate condition. It needed a short-term loan just to make payroll in January until revenues could catch up to expenditures later in the year. The city budget had to include late fees for credit cards, and the water fund wasn’t covering its costs.
I can proudly report that over the past six years I’ve served on council and as mayor, we’ve improved our General Fund’s bottom-line by more than 226%.
And, based on current projections, our financial performance is stronger than previously projected and reported in the adopted 2018 Budget. We are on track to end 2018 with a General Fund cash position that is approximately 280% greater than that same position back in 2013. The city’s adopted budgets can be found on the city website.
These changes were due to hard work, controlled spending, creative solutions to ensure improved city services, and good leadership.
I was instrumental in recruiting and hiring a qualified City Manager with a strong financial background, who works with council to identify problems and come up with new, creative solutions.
The last six years have also seen the only substantial improvements to city streets, sidewalks, and our water system since the 1990s.
I am proud that we were able to add a new exit onto the parkway to make it easier for residents of the apartments and campground guests; and the fencing added around the cemeteries has reduced vandalism, trash, and noise. We’ve added new shelters for school bus stops and we are resurfacing our roads mile by mile as funds allow.
I wish to continue to maintain Central City’s status as a National Historic Landmark District. I bought my home on the Casey in 1975 and I am very proud to live in a city surrounded by history and natural beauty.
We very much need economic development to fill empty storefronts and keep them from deteriorating further. But our economic development must be thoughtful and respectful, so we can maintain our historic designation, Victorian charm, and residential quality of life. I would love to see a large grocery store built along the parkway.
While the increases in our budget over the last six years have been very significant, we still need to pinch every penny. It takes a lot to run a city like Central. If elected mayor, I will work with the City Council, City Manager, Staff and Citizens to:
Together we can do many things that will improve the quality of life for our residents, improve our aging infrastructure, attract new businesses, and maintain our designation as a National Historic Landmark District.
Continue the momentum. Vote for Kathy Heider as Mayor of Central City.
A journey and new beginning
by Julie Ikler
It all started with a broken serving bowl. Not just any serving bowl. A pink and black ceramic serving bowl with black outlines of fish. A family heirloom and the only one of its kind. (more…)
Public Works Reorganization
By Randy Beaudette
Two amendments to Black Hawk’s Pay Plan and the license agreement with the Monarch Growth Inc., and an annexation protest from Central City were the highlights from the Black Hawk City Council regular meeting held on February 26, 2020. (more…)
Mill levy, revised adopted budget, capital improvements
by Patty Unruh
The Gilpin County Board of Education held its final regular meeting before the winter break, on Tuesday, December 12, at 7:00 p.m. Members Craig Holmes and Brook Ramsey were absent, but there were enough members for a quorum. Members Steve Boulter, Kersten Armstrong, and new member Sarah Swanson were present. Also present were Superintendent David MacKenzie and Secretary to the Board Joni Schmidt. (more…)
The Weekly Register-Call’s latest issue reports that several executives from the company RCI have been indicted by a New York grand jury on charges linked to financial misconduct and fraud. The indictments came after a multi-year investigation into the company’s operations in New York. According to court documents, the executives allegedly misappropriated funds and engaged in fraudulent schemes tied to their casino holdings. What has locals talking is that many of the same executives have been active in Central City’s gaming and real estate scene, raising concern over potential impacts on local development projects. City leaders say they are monitoring the situation closely and will cooperate with any authorities as needed.
A companion analysis column questions how the indictment might affect the company’s ongoing projects and whether it will prompt calls for greater oversight of outside investors. Community members are urged to stay informed as the legal case unfolds.
Another story in the issue examines Gilpin County’s preliminary 2026 budget. Officials report that the proposed budget preserves essential staff positions despite a decline in gaming tax revenue. The slump in gaming collections follows a year of slower tourism and increased competition from neighboring jurisdictions. To offset this decline, the county is exploring cost-saving measures and seeking alternative revenue streams while striving to maintain services.
In the editorial section, columnist Barb-Wire-Bob reflects on the concept of divine providence and resilience in uncertain times, drawing parallels between community perseverance and larger economic forces.
Stay tuned to the Weekly Register-Call for continuing coverage of these stories and other news from Central City, Black Hawk, and Gilpin County.
RCI executives face indictment in New York, raising questions about their Central City connections and potential impacts on local gaming and real‑estate projects. Our issue brief examines how these charges emerged, what local officials are saying, and what it could mean for the community going forward.
We also look at Gilpin County’s preliminary 2026 budget, which preserves essential staffing levels despite a notable decline in gaming‑tax revenue. The slump follows a year of slower tourism and increased competition, prompting county leaders to explore cost‑saving measures and alternative revenue streams to maintain services.
In our analysis and editorial section, we highlight a thought‑provoking column on the theme of divine providence and resilience in uncertain times. The piece invites readers to consider how communities can draw on shared values and history to navigate economic challenges and social change.
Beyond the major stories, this week’s issue features community announcements, events calendars, public notices and advertising. From upcoming festivals in Central City and Black Hawk to local government notices, there’s plenty to keep readers informed.
For the full scoop on these stories and more, read the complete Weekly Register‑Call issue and stay tuned for future updates.
G3 Gaming plan going before council
Tuesday By Don Ireland Senior Reporter A long and potentially spirited session could be ahead for Central City residents and their elected leaders when the alder- men and Mayor Jeremy Fey hold their
meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7, in
City Hall. The topic of G3 Gamings proposed Gregory Gulch Gaming Resort (GGGR)
is expected to draw a packed crowd,
many of whom will likely have opinions
on the proposed $600-900 million
luxury casino planned between lower
Lawrence and Gregory Streets, near the
Grand Z Casino and Hotel. The proposed GGGR Planned Unit De- velopment includes a 100,000-square-
foot casino, a 600-room hotel, outdoor
pool and hot tubs, restaurants, retail
shops, a multi-purpose event center, and
a parking garage with space for 2,000
vehicles. will hear the presentation for the GGGR.
However, it was discussed at two public
meetings in July and before the Central
City Planning Commission on Sept. 3