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2 counties, diferent economies, yet share comon links in terms of history, demographics

2 counties, diferent economies, yet share comon links in terms of history, demographics

the Gilpin Historical Society
and the Gilpin Arts Society
also bring new visitors.

several years on an “ongoing
renaissance” plan to diver-
sify Black Hawk into a resort
destination for visitors, even
if they don’t like gambling.

Continued from previous page

Central City and Black
Hawk faced complex financial
problems after most local
mines closed nearly a century
ago. It wasn’t until 1991 that
Colorado voters threw the
two a lifeline by permitting
limited-stakes gaming in the
struggling old mining com-
munities. In 1992, Central
City, called “The Richest
Square Mile on Earth,” and
Black Hawk, “The City of
Mills,” were given a chance to
bounce back from decades of
misfortune.

Presently, at least five new
potential casinos are being
eyed for some of the shut-
tered storefronts in the Main
Street business district in
Central City. Local leaders are
also discussing a new parking
garage to accommodate the
potential upswing in business.

Black Hawk is continuing
to develop its Gregory Street
area, which includes retail
shops and restaurants. Its
Gregory Plaza is home to a
volunteer firemen’s museum,
and the well-decorated main
plaza is used for the city’s
annual Founders’ Day each
June and a growing number
of local outdoor activities. At
least one new restaurant, the
Copper Kitchen Pizzeria, is
expected to open in the plaza
in 2025. Across the street, the
city plans to spend more than
a million dollars to open a
gold-mining tour for visitors.

Further north in Gilpin
County, small business own-
ers in Rollinsville (along
Highway 119) have opened
a distillery, pizza parlor and
coffee shop to attract younger
visitors who come to the area
to visit the national forests
nearby.

Today, the flashing lights
and noises of slot machines
in Black Hawk and Central
City attract more year-round
tourists to the two small cities
within Gilpin County. Both
cities are part of the national
historic district because of
their roots in the local gold
rush era when prospector
John Gregory discovered gold
in the ravine between the two
communities in 1859.

It is Black Hawk, however,
that primarily accounts for
the largest influx of visitors
to the county. The city boasts
15 casinos, several offering
high-rise towers filled with
guest rooms, restaurants,
swimming pools and spas.
Black Hawk generates more
than 75 percent of all gaming
revenues the state collects
annually and can attract as
many as 20,000 or more visi-
tors weekly, especially during
the warm-weather months.
Property taxes and other
revenues from Black Hawk
also is the primary source of
income for Gilpin County. The
city also donates some of its
sales taxes to help finance the
local school district.

Black Hawk also has devel-
oped a recreational area for
hikers and mountain bikers
just north of the downtown
gaming district. The Mary-
land Mountain/Quartz Valley
trail system typically results
in filled-to-capacity parking
lots during warm-weather
months. Within the next two
years, the city plans to extend
the trails to reach Gregory
Street – close to Gregory
Plaza – and extend them to
another developing area on
Gregory Hill (formerly Miners
Mesa). That section of the city
will feature several distilleries
and offer overnight lodging
in geodesic domes or luxury
Airstream trailers for those
who prefer to sleep in a scenic
hilltop area primarily sur-

Lyndsey Valdez president CCEDC, Central City Heritage West
Realty owner Roy Varela joins Central City Mayor Jeremy Fey
at the Idaho Springs Economic Mixer event.

Photo by Bob Sweeney

rounded by mountains and
forests.

did, the formerly sheltered-
in-place patrons helped Black
Hawk shatter any previous
economic performances.

Over the years, external
factors have impacted the
economies of Clear Creek
and Gilpin. Four years ago,
health-related COVID-19
pandemic restrictions forced
many business owners to
close their shops temporar-
ily. While some were able to
reopen later, others weren’t as
fortunate. In Gilpin County,
the state ordered casinos
closed for three months – es-
sentially crippling the gov-
ernment economies. It took
nearly a year before casino
patrons returned. When they

Central City’s historic
opera, the fifth oldest in the
country, and its variety of
Victorian-style homes and
historic storefronts in the
business district help attract
out-of-towners to the city.
Central and several of its
organizations also sponsor
various summer activities –
including the Madam Lou
Bunch bed races along Main
Street, the Great Central City
Beer Festival and Stills in the
Hills, to name a few. Attrac-
tions and events sponsored by

Local elected leaders and
business owners are trying
to figure out the best ways to
improve their economies and
attract new potential jobs to
their areas. As CCEDC Board
Chair Kelly Flenniken com-
mented, “A good quality life
depends on a good quality
job.”

With some creative local
planning and a little luck, the
futures for Gilpin and Clear
Creek counties could be head-
ing for better futures.

However, Black Hawk isn’t
solely interested in being
known as a casino town.
City leaders have worked for

February 15, 2024
Owner praises CEDC helps establish new Club Hotel

Owner praises CEDC helps establish new Club Hotel

By Don Ireland

Lyndsey Valdez
president CCEDC

Lindsey Valdez, president and
CEO of the Clear Creek Develop-
ment Corporation, welcomed the
packed house in the new meet-
ing room to hear demographic
and state-of-the-economy reports for both Clear Creek
and Gilpin Counties. Kelly Flenniken, board chair of the
Clear Creek EDC, also presided. The room was filled with
county commissioners, city managers, council members,
city officials, organization members and guests.

The challenge with that
type of economy is a bedroom
community with many indus-
trial resident payrolls lost to
other areas.

Photo by Don Ireland

know the local business owners during the past couple of
years. They have been fantastic. This has been quite a chal-
lenging project. We had to strip this building down to studs
before adding new plumbing and those kinds of things. We
had to clean up a lot so it didn’t have any lingering odors
from its previous use. We had our soft opening in January.”

Senior Reporter

Jonah and Lana Hearne had praised for the Clear Creek
Economic Development Council, which helped the couple
purchase and remodel a problem-filled old building into
what recently opened as the Club Hotel in Idaho Springs.

It was interesting in Craig that when our economic de-
velopment efforts were successful, some older residents
told us we were destroying the town with newcomers
and rising home prices. A few crusty residents sold their
homes for five-fold profits and left town. Locally, gaming
created a housing shortage in the area, and much higher
prices exist today. Great if you already own a home.

“All of the chairs, the big TV and all of the furniture and
fixtures were taken care of by the loan we obtained from the
CCEDC. They helped us take this from what it was into a
nice, 10-room boutique hotel,” said Hearne, who noted that
the soaps, coffee and tea for the hotel come from local shops
in Idaho Springs.

Jonah Hearne said the creation of the Victorian-feel Club
Hotel at 1601 Colorado Blvd., formerly the Hanson Lodge,
was possible because of loan funding through the CCEDC.
The hotel was the site of the CCEDC’s first “Rural Resil-
ience” economic development mixer last week, which at-
tracted business owners and elected leaders from Gilpin and
Clear Creek counties.

Living in the foothill mountains of Eastern Colorado,
there will be continued growth for fresh mountain air,
solace, and privacy, and a growing demand for people to
escape the ever-increasing city populations and poverty
challenges.

Henry and Sophia Wilson built The Club Hotel as a pri-
vate, two-story residence in 1862. A decade later, they
rented the establishment to the Idaho Springs Club, a
gentlemen’s club run by Denver businessmen. The building
served as a hospital during the Spanish Flu epidemic in 1918
before it was struck by two fires in 1921. In 1943, the Hanson
family purchased the building the Hansons owned the hotel
and restaurant. In the 40 years since then, the property has
served many purposes: a restaurant, cocktail lounge, bed-
and-breakfast, and a halfway home.

Don and I wisely sat on the front row where we could
read the fine print on the many demographic charts
shown by Greg Totten from the State of Colorado demog-
raphy office. The charts showed that mining, tourism,
and restaurants, but not gaming, were the two major
employers in both counties. Ireland took furious notes on
the chart statistics found elsewhere in this week’s edition.

“I was looking for a good investment property,” Hearne
told the audience at the meeting. “I wanted to put some
money into something, fix it up and start a business. My
wife and I were looking at a place in Boulder County. We
couldn’t find the right price, so we kept on looking around.
We stumbled upon this “gem” – it was a little rough at the
time.”

Seeing the energetic audience welcoming growth and
development and creating a sound economy for jobs
and business was heart-warming. The welcome mat is
definitely out for Martin Marietta and the stellar Climax
Molybdenum, who provide most jobs in Clear Creek
County and huge amounts of taxes. Gaming may last
longer than mining somewhere in the distant future, but
we will always have the majestic mountains and tourists
seeking beauty.

A gripping portion of the program came from Ryan
Englund, president of Better Cities, who has been con-
sulting with business leaders in Rollinsville. He said the
historic railroad community wants to become a more
viable destination and significant community. There is a
strong movement, led by Gov. Jared Polis, to commence
railroad passenger service from Denver through Rol-

Continued Hearne, “My wife is a little brave because she
signed off on purchasing the property before she even vis-
ited it. Fortunately, we were able to get to the right price [on
it]. We got kick-started on the project in 2022. We came to a
good resolution with the historical preservation committee
on what this building should look like. We’ve also gotten to

After the Hearne’s acquired the property, they removed
most of the interior walls to create 11 guest rooms and in-
stalled new plumbing, electrical and heating systems. The
dining room, added in 1927, is the meeting hall used for re-
ceptions and groups, including last week’s CCEDC meeting.

However, we may need oil lanterns when the sun
doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow.

Jonah Hearne, owner of the Club Hotel in Idaho Springs.

We no longer write this, “But all had a good time.”

Photos by Don Ireland

February 15, 2024
There wil always be changes in the mountain economy

There wil always be changes in the mountain economy

By Bob Sweeney

Totten reported that not all older
people retire after age 55 or 60, saying
significant numbers of senior citizens
continue to work full or part-time well
into their early 70s.

During warm-weather months,
rafting along Clear Creek (the
stream), touring the historic
Argo mines, lounging at the In-
dian Hot Springs indoor pool, or
sampling the restaurants, bars,
and locally-owned gift shops
attract thousands of visitors to
Idaho Springs. Finding an avail-
able parking space in downtown
Idaho Springs during the sum-
mer tourist season is nearly as
tricky as finding the proverbial
needle in the haystack.

Both counties rely heavily on
tourism to bolster their econo-
mies, support businesses and
generate sales-tax revenues for
local government entities.

Economic impact
Totten said 26 percent of Clear Creek
County’s GDP comes from the mining
industry, followed by revenues generated
in the accommodation/hospitality and tourism industries. “That’s
not surprising,” said Totten of the tourism impact on the county. “It’s
beautiful up here, and a lot of people from Denver come up to get
away.”

Greg Totten CO demographer

linsville through the Moffat Tunnel to Steamboat Springs
and Craig. This could mean passenger service stopping in
Rollinsville, including winter ski business, gaming inter-
ests, lodging, food, and great hiking trails.

Interstate I-70 is critical for
the economies of both counties,
particularly in Clear Creek, be-
cause the highway travels along-
side the county’s largest town,
Idaho Springs, and passes next
to Georgetown and other nearby
communities. There are three
exits for Idaho Springs along
I-70, giving drivers a few chanc-
es to pull over to see what the

WR-C Publisher

As WR-C readers have noticed, we consider Clear
Creek County is a crucial adjacent neighbor of friends,
entrepreneurs, mining and gaming employees, and folks
who like to dine at Marian’s, making Idaho Springs and
Georgetown home. Throughout the lengthy history of
mining, the communities have formed a strong bond,
including the Argo mine tunnel that runs from Central
City to the mine. We can’t forget the “Oh My God” wind-
ing road to the Clear Creek mills.

“2007 was the peak year for births in Colo-
rado, which is getting older. Now you have
people coming here who aren’t in prime fertil-
ity age. There are a lot of people who are 65,
who won’t be having any children, but they
are getting closer to passing away,” according
to Totten.

I remember my Chamber of Commerce days in Craig
as mayor 50 years ago as we sought new industry for that
remote corner of Colorado, and we landed four coal-fired
power plants that ballooned Craig from 4,000 residents
to 15,000 in several years. Colorado Local Affairs, direct-
ed by Gov. Dick Lamm, awarded the community $1 mil-
lion for a new high school. The tax base boomed, creating
many career jobs for residents and high school graduates.

Tourism in Idaho Springs has also increased sales taxes collected for
the county in recent years, he added.

In nearby Georgetown, the
lake, local businesses and the
Georgetown Loop Railroad
excursions also attempt to lure
tourists who may be travel-
ing toward the state’s world-
renown ski resort towns that
host warm-weather events in
addition to skiing during the
winter.

In Gilpin, about 75 percent of the economy is derived from the gam-
ing and associated hospitality businesses. The county’s economy fell
sharply during the pandemic in 2020 but rebounded quickly when
health-related restrictions were lifted the following year.

He added that neither county saw a sharp
increase in births during the past few decades.
Overall, Colorado saw its larg-
est growth arrive from younger
people in their 20s and 30s,
who moved to the Centennial
State after graduating from
college. “Colorado is [consid-
ered] a young state because of
all the 25-to-35-year-olds who
live here,” according to Totten.
He contrasted the rate with
Arizona, which experienced
a sizeable senior growth rate
during the past few decades
as people 60 and over headed
to the warmer-weather state

Last Thursday evening, I was a guest at the Rural Re-
silience Economic Development
mixer at the newly refurbished
Club Hotel in Idaho Springs by
owners Jonah and Lana Hearne.

community offers.

Today, while China builds a
power plant every week, the
Craig coal plants are shutting
down as environmentalists
promote wind and solar. My
hometown is struggling to
gain a new identity that will
be based on tourism, outdoor
recreation, hunting, fishing,
golf and 40 miles downstream
from Steamboat Springs, one
of the best ski resorts in the
world. Real estate in Craig is
selling fast, far less than in
the Steamboat Springs area,
with the concept of driving a
little and saving a lot on real
estate.

The number of
I-70 exits for Gilpin
County is fewer,
although the inter-
state also plays a
crucial role for the
county’s two gam-
ing towns, Black
Hawk and Central
City. Exit 243 of
I-70 leads to the
Central City Park-
way, a windy and
sometimes steep
four-lane highway

Arriving early as an Elks Club
member of 1566 Craig Lodge, I
spent a few minutes in the Lodge.
It was a beehive of activity as the
Square Peg Catering staff were
preparing the appetizers for the
mixer at the Club Hotel across
Colorado Street, using the Elks
Club kitchen. And what a great
job they did. The abundant trays
of tasty appetizers were a big hit,
with dozens who attended during
the dinner hour.

Gilpin County draws thou-
sands of hikers and campers
to its two national forests, the
Arapaho and Roosevelt forests,
which stretch through several
Colorado counties but are closer
to Denver and the Front Range
than other places.

Continued on next page

February 15, 2024
Diferent economies, share comon links

Diferent economies, share comon links

By Don Ireland

(Editor’s note:
The name of
the Clear Creek
Economic
Development
Corp. might
sound a little
confusing or
misleading.
It should be
noted the orga-
nization serves
businesses in
the Clear Creek
watershed in
both Gilpin
and Clear
Creek counties,
not solely Clear
Creek County.)

Denver area to Gilpin to be in a less-populated area while remaining
not too far from the metro area.

to retire. In California, the state has maintained much of its younger
population, although many older residents have left for other states in
recent years.

Senior Reporter

By Don Ireland

“A lot of the people who lived in Clear Creek in 1990 still live here
today,” according to Totten. He said statistics show that
more people who live in the county commute to work in
other places, a significant number than those who live
in other areas and commute into Clear Creek. In Gilpin
County, the trend is the opposite: many workers travel
into Gilpin from other counties for employment in the
casino and hospitality industries.

After Colorado experienced a population boom for several years af-
ter 2010, the state’s number of new residents has slowed, according to
Greg Totten, an economist from the Colorado Demography Office who
spoke during last week’s Clear Creek Economic Development Corp.’s
Rural Resilience meeting.

February 15, 2024
Economic development discusions atract large audience at Clear Crek-Gilpin counties event

Economic development discusions atract large audience at Clear Crek-Gilpin counties event

County, in-
cluding Rol-
linsville. The
Better City
consultant
reported that
more than a
third of resi-
dents work
from home
sometimes,
so better in-
ternet service
is vital to
them.

Continued from page 1

Longtime Clear Creek resident Kelly Flen-
niken, chair of the CCECC, said she was pleased
about the turnout from those who work in the
two counties and wanted to hear the various
reports presented during the session. “A lot of
us believe that a good quality of life depends on
a good, quality job,” she told the audience.

“Why does economic development mean in
a small rural community and why should you
care?” asked Flenniken. “I can tell you that it
matters in all communities because it’s a series
of different programs, policies or initiatives
that seek to improve that economic well-being
in that community. We want to build a diverse
tax base and don’t want to be overly reliant on
one industry. We need to think about how to
build our community and have more quality
employment. We need to think about how we
can have quality housing and employment, plus
a robust education system. All of these pieces
are connected.”

According
to Englund,
another
item that
could attract
more people
to visit is
the national
forests in the
county. “Trail access is a big thing. It’s amaz-
ing how many little trails come out from Rol-
linsville. One of the problems is that there isn’t
enough parking, and many of the trails aren’t
marked. If you can get people to come and stay
an extra day, that would be good if they came
up to spend more time on the trails.”

Capacity crowd at CCEDC Rural Resilience event.

Photos by Don Ireland

Central City Mayor Jeremy Fey said he didn’t
know much about the CCEDC before he at-
tended the Rural Resilience event. “It was a
great networking opportunity, and I was actu-
ally impressed by the turnout,” he said. “I was
a little bit embarrassed that – until recently –
that I didn’t know much about them. Lyndsey
Valdez, their president, gave a short presenta-
tion at our council meeting recently. However, I
didn’t realize that they were available in Gilpin
County. I’ve actually gone to their website to
learn about the process
of what it takes to apply
for a loan.”

Counties. Since 1985, the CCEDC has provided
over $8 million in business loans, which has
leveraged approximately $17.5 million in area
investments. The goal of the loan program is to
support business retention and expansion, and
new job growth within Region 3.

Wilkins said a large part of Clear Creek’s
economy comes from mining and tourism.
One idea being considered for the county is an

increase in sales taxes,
which could help fund ad-
ditional tourism-related
projects. However, “some
people don’t want to see
more growth in the com-
munity,” he commented.
“Summers are crazy in
Clear Creek County, and
there are people who
don’t want more traffic.”

Rears joked, “Prior to
2019, Gilpin County’s
economic strategy was
to build another casino.
During the pandemic,
the county laid off
about one-third of its
staff. We realized we
really needed to diver-
sify our economy.” Fol-
lowing the pandemic,
Gilpin received a grant,
which it used to hire
Better City, a consulting
organization that helps
communities develop
plans for their futures
in the U.S. and other
countries.

Among the ideas dis-
cussed are special events
or festivals during the
off-season months, which
could bring in more tour-
ism revenue. Wilkins said
fishing or hockey tour-
naments at Georgetown
Lake are possibilities. It
is also possible a “round-
up program” could be
considered, where shop-
pers would be asked to round up their purchase
price receipt to the next dollar – with the dif-
ference used to pave roads or pay for additional
events.

Ray Rears Gilpin County manager.

Englund of Better
City commented that Black Hawk has begun
adding additional attractions to bring in tour-
ists not interested in gaming for an extra day.
He said Gilpin would like those visitors to ex-
pand their stay by offering other items. Increas-
ing the number of businesses in Rollinsville and
developing more information about available
trails and historical places in the county could
help leaders and businesses accomplish that
goal.

Wilkins said the creation of a proposed
parking garage and the Argo Gondola ride in
Idaho Springs are ideas that – if developed –
could help increase tourism. He noted the hot
springs and a gondola in Glenwood Springs
have helped bring visitors to that section of the
mountains.

Central City Heritage West Realty owner Roy
Varela joins Central City Mayor Jeremy Fey at
the Idaho Springs Economic Mixer event.

“Central City is in a different situation,” noted
Englund. “They have a larger population and
room to expand [along the Central City Park-
way]. Then there is Rollinsville, where busi-
nesses there would like it to be a true destina-
tion. We had 24 people show up for a meeting
there by people who want to change the com-
munity themselves. They’re working together
and using their own money. They’re trying to
figure out a way to make Rollinsville a true des-
tination. Parking is a big issue. This is a work in
process but there’s a lot of good things going on
there.”

While most people at the CCEDC event were
from the Clear Creek area, it attracted several
people from Gilpin County and Rears and Fey.
Gilpin County Commissioner Marie
Mornis, Boyle, Black Hawk busi-
nessman Eddie Miller and a few
Rollinsville business owners also
turned out. Another Gilpin com-
missioner, Susan Berumen, sits on
the loan committee for the CCEDC.

Photo by Bob Sweeney

PRECISE REPAIR, GENUINE CARE

Keep your home safe
with concrete repair

On Friday, elected officials and
leaders from both counties met to
discuss what they heard on Thurs-
day night and shared ideas on
what future opportunities could be
considered.

Englund said installing broadband would
help those who work and live in Gilpin County,
a project currently being developed by the
county government and its partners. Gilpin
Grant Manager Jamie Boyle said Maverix
Broadband received a $6.78 million grant to
expand broadband service in northern Gilpin

Worrying about your uneven or cracked

concrete can make owning a home very

stressful. By investing in concrete repair,

you can fix your driveway, walkways, patio,

and more in one easy lift.

The CCEDC administers the
Region 3 Business Loan Program
(BLF) for Clear Creek and Gilpin

GET A FREE ESTIMATE
877-422-1375

February 15, 2024
Unusual combination: Taylor Swift, Super Bowl andrones!

Unusual combination: Taylor Swift, Super Bowl andrones!

By Don Ireland
By Don Ireland

We’re now officially in
the post-Super Bowl hang-
over period. The big game
is over, all the new TV com-
mercials were aired, and
many of us got to see one-
too-many close-up shots
of Taylor Swift cheering on
boyfriend Travis Kelce and
the Kansas City Chiefs on
Sunday.

of the game couldn’t do
so anyway. However, that
doesn’t mean a Swiftie
might not have tried to
take a drone video of the
music superstar outside the
stadium.

always taboo to those as-
sociated with pro leagues.

Drones
Drones

After the TFR expired
an hour after the Super
Bowl on Sunday night, the
City of Newport Beach,
California, sponsored a
1,000-drone light show for
people leaving the game. It
had a theme, “Touch Down
in Newport Beach,” and
the drones created a QR
code in the sky, prompting
viewers to scan it and win a
chance for a luxury vaca-
tion package to Newport
Beach.

Third, the NFL (and
many professional sports
leagues) asked the FAA to
post a Temporary Flight
Restriction (TFR) over
stadiums. The TFR for
the NFL begins one hour
before and ends one hour
after a game. Anyone
caught violating a TFR
faces multiple potential
local and federal charges.
For the Super Bowl, the
NFL received a TFR for the
entire week, not just a few
hours before kickoff.

You probably didn’t see
how the NFL and Las Ve-
gas authorities dealt with
drones before, during and
after Super Bowl LVIII.

This regular “Age
of Drones” column
received a Colorado

FAA-Certified

Press Association
“Better Newspaper
Award” in September.

Part 107
Drone Pilot

Here are a few things
the average person might
not know: Las Vegas, like
Washington, D.C., has
some of the most restric-
tive drone-flying regula-
tions in the country. With
all the lights, high-rise casi-
nos and an airport near the
south end of the Las Vegas
Strip, it’s tough to obtain
advance FAA permission
to fly in the area, mainly
because of the abundance
of available helicopter
tours there. In fact, Las
Vegas uses sophisticated
drone-detection equipment
near the Strip to alert law
enforcement of potential
violations by those who fly
drones.

One of the unusual
aspects of Sunday’s Super
Bowl was the sports bet-
tors, who were throwing
down money to guess what
shade of red lipstick Taylor
Swift would wear to the
big game. Maybe those
sport-apps operators also
should’ve offered a wager
on how many drones would
be caught by law enforce-
ment around the stadium
before the game on Sun-
day.

game, just as my song says,
“Shake it Off!”

imposed new drone regula-
tions without considering
the people who actually fly
them professionally. The
ban prohibits using federal
funds to pay for drones
made in certain foreign
countries, especially China.

* * *
According to the FAA
and NFL, more than 4,000
illegal drone flights around
stadiums occurred in 2023,
a 20 percent increase over
the previous year.

Drone experts say safety
is crucial in places where
tens of thousands of people
gather together for an
event. Should a drone en-
counter a problem with its
battery, propellors or other
systems, it could plummet
from the sky and poten-
tially harm or kill people.
Last fall, Fox Sports used
small drones (with permis-
sion) as part of its coverage
of the World Series. The
NFL hires drone operators
to film practices or parts of
documentaries. So do some
other pro sports organiza-
tions around the globe. In
other words, drones aren’t

Here’s where the story hit
home for me since then. In
nearby Boulder, the police
department has a 10-per-
son drone response team.
The officers have a fleet of
eight drones, ranging in
price from about $1,500
to more than $10,000. All
happen to be DJI-brand
drones from China, now
on the blackballed foreign
manufacturers’ list.

Just over two weeks ago,
the NFL AFC champion-
ship game in Baltimore
was halted because a mini
drone was spotted fly-
ing over the stadium. The
owner was a Pennsylvania
guy who bought the drone
the day before the game
and told authorities he
didn’t know he couldn’t
operate it over the packed
stadium. The 44-year-old
man wasn’t a Part 107-cer-
tified pilot, nor was his
drone registered with the
FAA.

My suggestion: The NFL
and FAA should ask Tay-
lor Swift to hold a small
drone for a TV commercial
so she can say, “A friendly
reminder… you can’t
fly a drone near an NFL
game! It’s against the law
and disrupts the players,
coaches, and fans like me.
So, if your head is thinking
about flying a drone near a

Second, Allegiant Sta-
dium, host of the Super
Bowl and home of the Las
Vegas Raiders, is a domed
stadium, so any drone flyer
hoping to shoot footage

Should any of these
drones need to be replaced
– due to age or an acci-
dent – the new laws would
prohibit the city from
purchasing new DJI mod-
els using federal funds. As I
said last week, without any
major U.S. manufactur-
ers creating drones, places
like Boulder will be left
empty-handed if they want
new DJI drones, which are
world-class, easy to operate
and priced reasonably.

If convicted, the man
faces a maximum of three
years in federal prison
and up to another year for
willfully violating United
States National Defense
Airspace in the area.

February 15, 2024
County, residents working toward new childcare facility

County, residents working toward new childcare facility

By Don Ireland

They said they plan to
have additional information
on the effort before the com-
missioners’ workshop meet-
ing, scheduled for Tuesday
afternoon, Feb. 20.

aware of our deadlines,” he
noted.

• Acting as the county’s
Board of Adjustments,
the commissioners
unanimously approved
an extension of a tempo-
rary housing permit for
Amber Cusano of Con-
estoga Road. The exten-
sion will expire on Nov.
14, the same time as her
permit to build a new
home on the property.
The nearly hour-long
hearing was like one
conducted in October
– filled with conten-
tious debate between
neighbors and Cusano
over allegations involv-
ing disputes over vari-
ous issues, ranging from
unleashed dogs to trash,
sanitation and com-
plaint calls to the Gilpin
County Sheriff’s Office.

housing and potential
changes to funding the
county’s emergency
dispatch center. Central
currently pays Gilpin
about $30,000 a year for
dispatch services.

Senior Reporter

Added County Manager
Ray Rears, “We consider it
abandoned property.”

Nearly three months after
the Eagles’ Nest Early Child-
hood Center closed, Gilpin
County leaders and residents
continue searching for a
new agency to launch a new
childcare center.

Previously, Gilpin officials
said the county provided
$410,000 to the Eagles’
Nest since 2019, includ-
ing $160,000 in 2023. The
county leased the building
for $1 annually to the non-
profit organization.

Denton, who once had a
child attend the previous
daycare facility, said there
are about six residents
conducting work on the
new operation. They are
trying to determine staffing
needs, pricing, by-laws and
other aspects of the opera-
tion. They will seek seven to
nine residents who want to
volunteer on the new orga-
nization’s board of directors.
She expressed optimism that
the new group could have
programs available early in
the summer.

• Resident Kathleen Bal-
four complained about
potential rec-center fee
increases, noting the
county plans to spend
$1.3 million for a new
food pantry and another
$100,000 to rehabilitate
the East Portal Cabins.

Lyndsey Denton, the coun-
ty’s commissioners’ clerk,
has spearheaded a resident
task force to help secure a
new operator for the Eagles’
Nest building, which Gilpin
County owns. She and resi-
dents Kathleen Balfour and
Amy Carr reported on their
progress during the Gilpin
Board of County Commis-
sioner meeting on Tuesday,
Feb. 13.

In other business during
the commissioners’ meeting:

• The BoCC approved ap-
plying for a $200,000
grant from the Colorado
Department of Commu-
nity Affairs. The Strong
Communities grant will
help the county pay to
revise its land-use code,
conduct a housing needs
and assessment study
and create an infrastruc-
ture needs implementa-
tion program.

• Resident Roxy Goss
reported more than 20
volunteers to help at the
food pantry, including
herself, who spends six
or seven hours a week
there. She noted others
help raise produce at
the nearby community
garden and donate those
items to help support
needy families and
individuals served by the
pantry.

The three volunteers said
they are working to create
a new non-profit organiza-
tion that would lease the
Eagles’ Nest facility from
the county. However, many
details on the project remain
unresolved since the group
began meeting regularly in
January. A survey conducted
among residents in Decem-
ber showed that most par-
ents are looking for childcare
Mondays through Thurs-
days, the same days the
neighboring Gilpin County
School District building is
operational.

Carr said she has oper-
ated a childcare center in
the Boulder County area but
would like to work in Gilpin
County, where she resides.

• The commissioners
voted to advertise for a
temporary maintenance
worker but delayed a
vote to hire temporary
help for the public works
department.

Gilpin County Attorney
Brad Benning said some
equipment was left behind
in the Eagles’ Nest building.
When the former operation
closed, it owed money for a
loan it had received from the
Small Business Administra-
tion. He said the SBA didn’t
meet a Feb. 9 deadline to
remove the property, so it
remains within the county-
owned building. “They were

• The BoCC accepted a
$9,164 federal Food and
Drug Administration
grant. The Gilpin County
Public Health Agency
will use the money
received annually to pro-
vide inspections, annual
licensing, education, and
support for nearly 100
retail food outlets.

• Rears said the county
can accommodate
residents with mobility
issues at BoCC meetings.
He said the county will
provide a ramp and an
accessible parking space
to residents who make
such a request at least 24
hours before a meeting.

• Rears announced the
county commission-
ers would meet with
Central City’s alder-
men during a workshop
session on March 19 at
Central’s city hall. The
two groups will discuss

February 15, 2024
Gilpin GOP honors 16 th president

Gilpin GOP honors 16 th president

Gilpin County Fairgrounds for the annual Gil-
pin County GOP Lincoln Day Luncheon.

and incumbent Marie Mornis (both District 1);
Corey Marshall, Candidate for District 3; and
Marshall Dawson, Candidate for Congressional
District 2. Poor driving conditions prevented
Colorado House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese
from attending, but Matt Solomon delivered a
message from her and on her behalf.

Danny Tomlinson
Reporter and Photographer

The annual luncheon, held in honor of the
16th President of the United States, is always
fun with an excellent opportunity to meet can-
didates for the various state and local offices.

A small but hearty group of nearly 50 great
American patriots braved the cold, snow, and
bad road and driving conditions to attend the

The event was moved to the indoor arena at
the fairgrounds this year. The arena proved to
be an outstanding venue.

It was wonderful to hear from each of the
candidates about their plans and optimism for
the region’s future.

Matt Solomon served as emcee for the day.
The Event Committee included Marilyn Ash-
more, Kathleen Balfour and
Jessica Kays. The lunch was
catered by Joe and Kara Tinuc-
ci and featured BBQ brisket
and pulled pork from their JKQ
Barbecue at Crook’s Palace.

The candidates in attendance
included County Commis-
sioner Candidates Jessica Kays

County Com-
missioner
District 3 Can-
didate Corey
Marshall shared
his background
and experience
with the crowd
also.

Dignitaries in attendance included Matt Solomon, County
Commissioner and County GOP Chair Marie Mornis, and
GOP stalwart John Bryan.

County Commissioner District 1 Candidate
Jessica Kays spoke to the crowd about her
involvement in the community and her desire
to serve as Commissioner.

County GOP Vice-Chair Rick Wenzel was working the
registration table.

Congressional District 2 candidate
Marshall Dawson gave an inspira-
tional and moving speech.

February 15, 2024
County wil increase recenter fes begining on March 1

County wil increase recenter fes begining on March 1

By Don Ireland

$9 and $10, depending on
the user’s age and whether
they live in the county.
The cost for one-month,
three-month and annual
passes also will increase for
the remainder of the year,
depending on the user’s age
and residency status.

the rec center’s website and
newsletter.

director said she sought rate
increases to help offset the
reduced income and make
the facility more “self-sus-
tainable.”

For 2024, Chisholm said
the center had eliminated
$100,00 in line-item pur-
chases, reduced its part-
time staff, and made other
cuts. She noted that utilities
for the building are estimat-
ed at $230,000 this year.
“It’s been really hard on us,”
she commented. “We’ve
been through a lot of ups
and downs. I don’t know
about the future.”

Senior Reporter

Originally, Chisholm
planned to discontinue sell-
ing annual passes. However,
she said she would follow
the commissioners’ recom-
mendations to continue the
program after they sug-
gested the passes should
contain a line, “hours and
days subject to change.”

The fees for some Gilpin
Community Center pro-
grams will rise by $1 or
more starting on March 1.

She noted that many
insurance providers sup-
port Silver Sneakers and
other programs that pay for
seniors to use the rec center.
In addition, the non-profit
Friends of Gilpin Com-
munity Center offers Heart
Fund “scholarships” to help
residents who can’t afford
to pay for rec center passes
and sports equipment.

By a 2-1 vote, the Gilpin
Board of County Commis-
sioners approved several
increases for the community
center at their meeting on
Tuesday, Feb. 13. The dis-
cussion brought on a larger
topic – the future of the rec
center in 2025 and beyond
– into the spotlight during
the meeting, too.

Prices for childcare for
kids graded K-5 also will
rise, depending on whether
the children are attending
full-day or after-school pro-
grams. The registration fee
for the program will be $30,
a $5 increase. Those partici-
pating in field trips will be
charged $66, compared to
the current $55. Parks and
Recreation Director Gabri-
elle Chisholm said the new
rates will be available on

Commissioner Marie
Mornis voted against the
increases after her motion
– to freeze the fees this year
– failed to get a second.

Hollingsworth said the old
mill levy means that casinos
will pay about $700,000
less this year than if the
property tax had remained
in effect. Currently, the cen-
ter will continue operating
for the remainder of 2024.
“I don’t have a crystal ball
[to predict the future],” said
the commissioner, who gave
Chisholm kudos for seeking
sponsorships and additional
funding for the facility.

Chisholm said Gilpin’s
rates continue to be lower
than those in other counties.
After county voters rejected
a special millage levy in
November to finance some
of the rec center’s costs, the

Mornis said county lead-
ers should discuss the rec
center beyond the current
year, noting the county’s
budget paid for the facil-
ity from when it opened in
2002 until the pandemic
struck in 2020. At that time,
the voters passed a three-
year 2.56\ mill levy to fund
the rec center. The money
comes from the county gen-
eral fund and user fees.

Commissioners Susan
Berumen and Sandy Hol-
lingsworth voted to increase
daily drop-in fees by $1 for
residents and non-residents.
Punch cards for 10 admis-
sions will increase between

Replied Mornis, “I’m a lot
more optimistic about the
future.” She recommended
that county leaders meet
to discuss the rec center
operations for its long-term
future.

Jefferson Academy
enrollment
With Jefferson County
Schools closing the Coal
Creek Canyon building
this year, parents have
organized a group that
will run the school as part
of the Jefferson Academy
system, a private academy
for preschool children and
those in grades kindergar-
ten through eighth.

This year, Gilpin County’s
budget has allocated ap-
proximately $2.7 million for
the rec center, including $1
million for capital repairs.
The recently ended mill levy
resulted in the center receiv-
ing $1.1 million less in 2024
compared to 2023. County
leaders said approximately
$600,000 remaining from
the rec center’s budget last
year will help defray the
costs this year. When ap-
proving the 2024 budget,
the county commissioners
reduced the operating days
for the rec center from five
to four days.

BRIEFS
BRIEFS

Berumen said the rec
center fees hadn’t increased
for more than three years,
adding many senior citizens
don’t have to pay for meals
and programs there. “I don’t
think there’s anything that’s
free,” she remarked.

The school is accept-
ing information from
parents who are interested
in enrolling children for
the upcoming year. It will
serve families in the Coal
Creek Canyon area and
beyond in Gilpin, Jefferson
and Boulder counties.

U.S. Forest Service continues pile burns
Seeing smoke in Gilpin County? The USFS is asking residents not to report it to
authorities because most of the smoke is coming from piles being burned north of
Central City and in the vicinity of the Gross Reservoir near Pinecliffe.

For information on the
rec center and Heart Fund
grants available through
the Friends of Gilpin Com-
munity Center, visit www.
gilpincommunitycenter.
org.

The Forest Service said there has been an uptick in 911 calls to the Gilpin County
Sheriff’s Department. During burning, USFS partners from The Nature Conser-
vancy, Timberline Fire Protection District and Lefthand Fire Protection District
have been observing the burns. The service reports that the area has adequate snow
cover, and there are no holding concerns. Resources remain on scene until the piles
have burned down.

February 15, 2024
CDOT wants input on trail adjoining I-70 Floyd Hill project

CDOT wants input on trail adjoining I-70 Floyd Hill project

While construction continues along the $700
million CDOT I-70 Floyd Hill project, the
nearby Clear Creek Greenway Trail has been
closed for several months.

during weekday hours between 7 a.m. and
5:30 p.m. Drivers accessing westbound I-70
can avoid the closure by traveling east on U.S.
40 or I-70 to Lookout Mountain and taking the
on-ramp to the interstate.

escape
ramp en-
trance.

CDOT said
some lane
restrictions
will occur at
various times
at both project loca-
tions. The new escape ramp project is expected
to be completed in late May or early June.

With spring approaching, CDOT is seeking
input on alternative trail access from those
who use the trail. The state asks trail users to
participate in an online survey at www.budd.
ly.481yqZb. The survey will close on Friday,
Feb. 23.

Projects between Floyd Hill and Den-
ver

Meanwhile, two other CDOT projects be-
tween C-470 and Floyd Hill continue to im-
pact traffic between Floyd Hill and C-470 in
Golden.

Photo courtesy CDOT.

A section of the trail remains closed between
U.S. 6 (Exit 244) and the Hidden Valley-
Central City Parkway (Exit 243) during road
construction and utility work. CDOT said the
work is expected to last until later this spring.
However, users should expect ongoing trail
impacts and closures through spring 2027.
The one-mile part of the trail will remain an
active construction zone and is considered un-
safe for multi-use travel, although other parts
of the trail will remain open.

This week and next, parts of I-70 and
U.S. 40 near Genesee will be subject to
closing so CDOT can continue construc-
tion of a $10 million wildlife underpass
along the interstate.

Project overview
The $700 million I-70 Floyd Hill project will build a
third westbound I-70 travel lane, which will function
as an Express Lane, to improve the current two-lane
bottleneck heading down Floyd Hill westbound. The
new toll lane will begin near the top of Floyd Hill west-
bound and will be a fly-over lane that will end near the
Veterans Memorial Tunnels.

The closures are scheduled between
7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Mondays through
Fridays through Feb. 17. Drivers ac-
cessing U.S. 40 eastbound can detour
around the closure by using eastbound
I-70 to the Lookout Mountain exit.
Westbound drivers cannot take the exits
at Genesee and Mount Vernon Road.

• Constructing a missing two-mile section of the
frontage road between Evergreen and Idaho
Springs.

Utility work in the vicinity
This week, construction crews continue to
conduct utility work between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
on U.S. 6 at the U.S. 40 junction and the U.S. 6
on-ramp to westbound I-70. The area is below
Floyd Hill and near the Two Bears taproom.

• Building an eastbound I-70 extended on-ramp for
slow-moving vehicles. Improving traffic flow and
access at interchanges and intersections within
the project limits.

The wildlife underpass area has
been ongoing for months near the top
of Genesse Hill and is expected to be
completed this spring. On unannounced
days, the left lane, heading westbound,
is closed to accommodate the work. Mo-
torists should read the orange construc-
tion signs heading up I-70 from Morri-
son to learn if the work may impact the
traffic flow.

• Improving sight distance on roadway curves.
Improving the Clear Creek Greenway trail. Imple-
menting environmental mitigation to create safer
wildlife movements and improve air and water
quality and stream conditions an d recreation.

I-70 ramp closure
The Homestead Road on-ramp to westbound
I-70 – at the top of Floyd Hill – will remain
closed through Friday, Feb. 16, although
weather may play a factor in the reopening
plans.

Driver cautions
CDOT said motorists should expect narrower lanes
and shoulders, reduced speed limits as low as 45 mph
and increased truck traffic entering and exiting the work
zones. All construction activities are weather-dependent
and subject to change. During construction, the exist-
ing I-70 travel lanes will remain open in each direction
during peak daytime travel hours. Lane closure hours
for the duration of construction will vary based on the
season, day of the week, number of lanes being closed
and travel direction.

Motorists near the top of Floyd Hill on U.S.
40 should continue west on U.S. 40, travel
down the hill and use the U.S. 6 interchange to
access westbound I-70.

The larger project includes rebuilding
the eastbound emergency truck escape
ramp between Mt. Vernon Road (Exit
256) and the Morrison exit (Exit 259).
There will be overnight double-lane clo-
sures on eastbound I-70 in the vicinity.
The emergency ramp has been closed
for weeks.

Highway 6 restrictions
Along Clear Creek Canyon (Highway 6),
ongoing, single-land closures are planned
from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. between mile points 267
and 271.5. The restrictions will continue today
through Friday, Feb. 23, according to CDOT.

• The escape ramp work will include:

Project sections
The Floyd Hill project is divided into three sections.
The East Section is from the west of Evergreen to mid-
way down Floyd Hill near the Black Hawk interchange
(Exit 244). The West Section is from near Exit 243
(Central City Parkway) to the Veterans Memorial Tun-
nels near Idaho Springs. The Central Section is from
the middle of Floyd Hill through Exit 243 (Central
City/Hidden Valley exit). The east section began this
spring and continues through June 2026. The West
section is expected to start this fall and will conclude
in the fall of 2027. The Central section has begun and
will continue into 2028. The East part of the project
includes installing two new traffic roundabouts along
Highway 40, at County Road 65 and Homestead Road.
Flagmen control traffic during some of the daytime
work.

• New signage.

The planned restrictions are part of the
ongoing Peak to Plains Huntsman Gulch trail
project that began last year in Jefferson Coun-
ty, between Highway 119 and Golden.

• Larger barriers between the ramp
and the steep embankment.

• Additional cameras.

New I-70 Golden closure
Westbound I-70 near Golden will experience
random lane closures until later this month

• New ramp lighting.

• A new design intended to allow late
entry for truckers who miss the

Construct crews
installing rebar on
wall along Floyd Hill.

For information on the Highway 6/Clear Creek
Canyon project being conducted by Jeffco, visit www.
jeffco.us/P2P . Phone information is available at 720-
893-0403. The email address is peak2plains@gmail.
com. For real-time travel information, visit www.
COtrip.org.

February 15, 2024
Shirley Jean Smith (Porter)

Shirley Jean Smith (Porter)

Shirley Jean Smith (Porter), cherished wife, mother, grandmother,
great-grandmother and successful entrepreneur, peacefully passed away
on Feb. 4, 2024, in Evergreen, at the age of 82. Shirley was born on July
15, 1941, to Dorothy Ruth Goldie and Frank Andrew Porter.

most recent successful
bear hunt. Shirley also
enjoyed pastimes such as
recounting her early life
stories to her many de-
scendants.

Shirley’s journey began in New Castle, where she spent her first 18
years laying the foundation for a life filled with love and accomplish-
ment. It was during her time at Colorado State University in Fort Collins
that she met the love of her life, Edward E Smith, on a blind date. They
were married on July 23, 1961, and enjoyed 62 years of marriage togeth-
er, residing in Evergreen. It was there that they built a home together,
figuratively and quite literally — with logs they processed and trucked
over from their ranch in New Castle, Bearpen Ranch.

Friends and family
are invited to pay their
respects at the funeral
services on February 16,
2024, at Three Trees
Chapel, 13416 W Arbor
Place, Littleton, CO 80127.
The viewing will begin at
9 a.m., followed by the
service at 10 a.m.

Survived by her devoted husband, Edward E Smith, Shirley leaves be-
hind a legacy of love and kindness. She is also survived by her four chil-
dren Raymond E Smith, Sherell J Smith, Timothy G Smith, and Ulbert
Shane Smith. Shirley was a dedicated wife and mother who poured her
heart into her family, and her memory will live on in the hearts of her 11
grandchildren and 11 (soon to be 12)
great-grandchildren.

TOP:
Shirley
harvested
this deer
herself.

Shirley will be remembered for her generous spirit, un-

wavering love for her family,
and the positive impact she
had on the lives of everyone
around her. May she rest in
peace, forever surrounded
by the love she so freely gave
throughout her remarkable
life.

As an accomplished entrepre-
neur, Shirley successfully managed
a laundromat, several retail busi-
nesses, the Wild Card and Sasquatch
casinos, and the Squatch Gas Sta-
tion, leaving an indelible mark on the
local business landscapes in Gilpin
and Clear Creek counties. A lifelong
hunter, Shirley was 80 during her

Several members
of the Smith
family would drive
to Canada for
hunting trips
including this
trip in 1980 when
Shirley bagged
this bear.

LEFT: Shirley doing one of the
things she loved — riding a four-
wheeler on the ranch in New
Castle. After a fun-filled day of
four-wheeling she would end the
day with a big family meal with
Pepsi for everyone!

The old Jenkins, McKay Hardware building became the current Sasquatch Casino on
Gregory Street in Black Hawk.

TOP: Ed
and Shirley
Smith in the
casino with
Sasquatch.

RIGHT: The
Smith fam-
ily together.
Shirley
is seated
second from
the right.

Photos
courtesy
the Smith

February 15, 2024
Black Hawk ofers $$ to Central City for parking lot

Black Hawk ofers $$ to Central City for parking lot

Continued from previous page

all the council members, a
symbolic expression we do
not often do. After the Black
Hawk Council meeting on
February 14, City Manager
Cole and I will hand-deliver
the letter to Mayor Fey and
City Manager Miera.”

from the City Council of
Central.”

(Editor’s note: The Weekly
Register-Call was unable to
reach Sen. Nicholson for ad-
ditional information regarding
the future of Gilpin Senior Liv-
ing at our deadline on Tues-
day. There was no information
regarding the decision on the
organization’s website.)

Black Hawk also said it
will give a Quit Claim deed
for a 5.75-acre mining claim
near the KOA Campground
and Gold Mountain Vil-
lage Apartments in Central
City. According to the Black
Hawk letter, the lot could
be a potential site for a one
million-gallon water stor-
age tank for Central City’s
municipal water system.
“Based on Black Hawk’s
acquisition of these and
other mining claims, we
believe this land convey-
ance to Central is valued at
approximately $115,000,”
the offer said.

According to the offer,
Black Hawk would relieve
Central from cleaning and
maintaining the grizzly
screen and flume running
for the stream beneath the
Briggs lot. The city also
would agree to Central’s
architectural and light-
ing guidelines should city
leaders allow Black Hawk to
annex the property.

In addition, the lease re-
quired Senior Living to provide
proof that the buildings and the
property were insured and that
no explosive items would be
kept there.

When contacted, Fey said
he was aware of the forth-
coming offer but declined
to comment. “I can’t talk
about it. They haven’t
presented anything to [the]
council yet. Until [the]
council sees it and con-
solidates an opinion, I can’t
talk about it,” according to
Fey. “If I were going to give
an opinion on this [today],
it would disqualify me from
giving one later.”

Nicholson, who has been
pursuing senior citizen hous-

Black Hawk also said it
wouldn’t excavate any of the
land adjoining the Briggs
lot beyond the 8,200-foot
elevation contour line on
the property. The city said
the conversion of the lot to
a trailhead for its Maryland
Mountain/Quartz Valley
would require Black Hawk
to install a 28-foot-long
footbridge and set of stairs
over part of the property to
connect with the forthcom-
ing trail system.

Spellman and City Man-
ager Stephen Cole were
scheduled to present the
letter to Central City Man-
ager Daniel Miera and May-
or Jeremy Fey at a meeting
this morning (Feb. 15).

The Central mayor said he
will know more after receiv-
ing the offer letter from
Black Hawk. “It’s better
than getting a lawsuit,” he
said, with a chuckle in his
voice.

Noted Spellman, “We
have had on-again-off-again
conversations with the City
of Central over the last
several years regarding this
request by the City of Black
Hawk. The Black Hawk
City Council now wants to
advance the proposal in a
meaningful and impactful
fashion, benefiting both
cities and their respective
projects. We firmly believe
we are offering the right
ingredients to make this
a win-win for both cities,
and we look forward to the
City of Central’s thoughtful
response. As a demonstra-
tion of the sincerity of the
Black Hawk Council, we will
include the signatures of

Central City’s aldermen
could consider the Black
Hawk letter, the potential
$250,000 donation, and
the offer to give Central the
5.75 parcel near Lake Gulch
Road as early as their meet-
ing on Tuesday, Feb. 20.

“In the longer term, Black
Hawk may consider con-
structing a parking garage
and, if feasible, a boutique
hotel on the property,”
according to the letter. “In
doing so, as part of any for-
malized agreement between
Central and Black Hawk,
Black Hawk is willing to
enter into a binding agree-
ment and recorded height
limitation of 75 feet on any
building constructed on the
property.”

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LETTERS & COLUMNS
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In Black Hawk’s council
packet for its Feb. 14 meet-
ing, the proposed letter
said, “The Black Hawk City
Council believes this is
truly a ‘win-win’ for both
Central and Black Hawk,
both in the short-term and
the long-term, and hopes to
receive a positive response
and acceptance of this offer

(Editor’s note: A story re-
garding Central’s response
to the Black Hawk offer
is planned for next week’s
edition.)

By Peter Droge
President, Belvidere

The active restora-
tion of the Belvidere
Theater has taken a
mid-winter break to
avoid construction
in snowy weather.
However, planning
is underway for con-
struction to begin in
the early spring, focus-
ing on completing
exterior brickwork and
beginning structural
improvements on the
interior.

The big accomplish-
ment over the last few
months has been the
removal of all asbestos
from the interior. It
was a bigger job than
anticipated but has
been completed ac-
cording to the rigorous
standards required for
this type of project by
the state.

Recent progress at the Belvidere Theater includes removing asbestos in the Nevada Street building.

Drone photo by Don Ireland

The restoration of the exterior has so far
required replacing thousands of bricks. When
complete, the exterior brickwork will be sealed
but not painted to maintain the historic charac-
ter of the building.

The Foundation is grateful to the City of
Central and the many community members
who have supported the restoration efforts.
The primary responsibility of the Foundation is
to restore the Belvidere for future generations
of Gilpin County residents. Once the renova-
tion nears completion, the Foundation looks
forward to exploring possible ways to use the
building.

February 15, 2024
Senior housing won’t be built near the recenter

Senior housing won’t be built near the recenter

county commissioners offered
them in January. He made the
statement during the Gilpin
commissioners’ meeting on
Tuesday, Feb. 13.

build multiple duplex housing
units within walking distance
of the rec center for several
years.

rights within the next four
years and verifying the com-
plex wouldn’t have an outdoor
irrigation system. The proposal
required a professional to cre-
ate the water plan and for the
water rights to be conveyed
over to the county.

ing for over a decade, told the
commissioners last month that
Gilpin needs affordable hous-
ing for its elderly residents. She
said she anticipated a “wait-
ing list” for seniors wanting to
move into the new complex.
According to Nicholson, Gilpin
County has “a disproportional
number of senior citizens”
compared to other Colorado
counties and has many resi-
dents who have lived into their
90s and beyond. “The folks
around here are pretty hardy
and stick around for a long
time. I think there will be a
number of residents who will
benefit from senior housing.”

By the WR-C staff
The Gilpin Senior Liv ing
organization has abandoned
plans to build duplexes on
county-owned land adjoining
the Gilpin Recreation Center.

In approving the 16-page
lease last month, the commis-
sioners required Gilpin Senior
Living to attain several “bench-
marks” within the next several
years for the lease to continue.
They included securing water

Gilpin Senior Living, a non-
profit group, is led by Jeanne
Nicholson, a former county
commissioner and Colorado
state senator. She and others
have tried to secure a lease to

Gilpin County Attorney
Brad Benning announced the
non-profit senior living group
isn’t interested in a $1 lease the

The proposed lease also
required Senior Living to pres-
ent a plan to finance the new
duplexes within the next year.
Details on the facility’s profes-
sional management, including
how it would handle billings,
collections, evictions, and other
situations, were also included
in the lease. The project owner
also was given a 10-year dead-
line to provide details on how
roads, utilities and related work
would occur on the property.

February 15, 2024
Economic development discusions atract capacity audience from Clear Crek-Gilpin counties

Economic development discusions atract capacity audience from Clear Crek-Gilpin counties

By Don Ireland

the Clear Creek Economic Development Corp.’s
first “Rural Resilience” economic development
mixer at the new Club Hotel in Idaho Springs
last Thursday and Friday.

The nearly three-hour meeting discussed the
demographic trends and the state of the econo-
mies in both Gilpin and Clear Creek, presented
by Greg Totten, an economist from the State of
Colorado Demography Office.

Senior Reporter

Despite cold weather and an anticipated
snowstorm, about 100 local business owners
and elected officials turned out to hear about
the present and future forecasts for business at

From Rollinsville in northern Gilpin to Du-
mont in Clear Creek, the assembled community

Gilpin County Manager Ray Rears and
Ryan Englund, president of the Better City
consulting organization, discussed resilience
and diversification in Gilpin County. Rears
was appointed to the CCEDC board last year
to inform Gilpin business owners and lead-
ers of how the non-profit organization serves
them.

members were given
an optimistic forecast
about how more busi-
ness could be attract-
ed to the neighboring
counties, with CCEDC
leaders offering as-
sistance to help turn
business dreams into
reality. (See related
story on how the
CCEDC helped the
Club Hotel launch its
new operation.)

Speaking on resilience and diversification
were Brian Bosshart, manager for Clear Creek
County, and Willie Wilkins, Colorado State
University’s Mountain regional specialist for
expanded rural engagement.

Continued on page 11

in this century. The history of Gilpin and nearby Clear Creek counties
add immense history to the launching of Colorado statehood in 1876.
Portions of the early day constitution and statehood documents are said
to have been partially written in today’s Weekly Register building that
escaped the Central City fires.

Being in the newspaper business, we must go with the news flow of the news.
Each week, we monitor events and follow governmental, social, and club
events and political happenings, including candidate announcements and obitu-
aries of local folks who have read this newspaper for the last time.

Portions of the building were purchased from the newspaper owner in
1865 to become Central Masonic Lodge No. 6 A.F.& A.M., sharing the building
with the newspaper to this day.

So, with a small staff of dedicated professionals, we do our best to lasso and
corral the week’s news. If we don’t know about it, likely it won’t make this
week’s newspaper.

Add to the mixture unplanned events, fires, auto accidents, avalanches, floods,
and crimes. And remember sports … where are the girl’s and boy’s teams play-
ing this week? What about the school board meetings and events like the new
million-dollar sewer line? (It seems like state and federal agencies should be
chipping in on that project.)

The old joke told before, “Everyone in town knows what happened. They just
read the newspaper to see if we found out about it.”

We’re here to stay, enjoying the communities and learning something new
every week. Your suggestions, praise, and criticism only make us work harder
to keep this grand old historic newspaper growing older and living longer. It is a
challenging task.

If you don’t know, you will find out eventually that we’re a great cheerleader
for Gilpin County. We can and will make a difference to improve life for every-
one, visitors and residents.

Thank you for the subscriptions that fill Post Office Box 93 every week. We
take this as a ticket to the performance as the curtain goes up and the melodra-
ma continues. Take advantage of the performances and help keep the marque
lights shining brightly.

We continue to bind each issue into yearly books stored with the other historic
bound volumes for future generations to see how we live, play, work, and govern

February 15, 2024
Holingsworth faces 2 chalengers for BoC

Holingsworth faces 2 chalengers for BoC

In addition, Black Hawk is offering Central
$250,000 to grant its request to annex the lot.
The money would be “a one-time donation”
from Black Hawk’s historic preservation fund
to a similar historic fund operated in Central
City. “Suggested Central projects the fund could
be used for include – but not limited to – the
Belvidere project, sidewalks along Gregory and
Lawrence Streets in Central, or advancing Cen-
tral’s trail system with the ability to connect to
Black Hawk’s trail system,” according to a copy
of the letter that was in the Black Hawk council
agenda scheduled for a vote yesterday.

write-in candidate for the General Election in
November.

By the WR-C Staff

Two businessmen have announced they will
be challengers for the Gilpin County District 3
commissioner’s race this year, each seeking to
oust incumbent Sandy Hollingsworth.

Hollingsworth (D), who won by 85 votes in a
three-way race four years ago, so far is unop-
posed for the Democratic nomination in the
June 25 primary. The deadline for candidates
to petition to run is Tuesday, March 19.

Corey Marshall is running for the GOP nomi-
nation this spring, while Darin Jones will be a

Continued on page 9
Continued on next page

February 15, 2024
$250K, not love, in cozy Black Hawk leter to Central

$250K, not love, in cozy Black Hawk leter to Central

By Don Ireland

Senior Reporter

While Valentine’s Day cards and roses have been
abundant lately, City of Black Hawk leaders are hand-
delivering a “warm and friendly letter” to neighboring
Central City officials this week.

It is expected to convey some goodwill toward
Central and include what some call a generous “sweet-
heart offer” of $250,000 and some free land from the
neighboring city.

For years, Black Hawk has owned and maintained
the Briggs Lot across Gregory Street from Gregory
Point (formerly Mountain City) and very close to
Gregory Plaza. The 3.49-acre lot and surrounding
cliff-rock wall, however, lie within the official bound-
ary line of Central City.

Black Hawk leaders are hoping to spruce up the
mostly unused parking lot this year and use it to ex-
tend its recreational trail system from the Maryland
Mountain/Quartz Valley area into the Briggs Lot. To
avoid having the plans going back and forth between
the two neighboring cities, Black Hawk has an idea:
Ask Central City to formally allow Black Hawk to an-
nex the little parking lot.

Black Hawk wants to give Central City $250,000 to annex the Briggs Lot (at left) into Black
Hawk’s city limits. The lot, which Black Hawk owns, adjoins High Street. It is across from the
Gregory Point Victorian historic homes and a dozen yards uphill from the west end of Gregory
Plaza.

Black Hawk Council and Mayor David Spellman
were scheduled to vote at yesterday’s (Feb. 14) meet-
ing to formally request Central’s okay to annex the lot

Drone photo by Don Ireland

into its jurisdiction. All six aldermen and the
mayor were scheduled to sign the request letter,
hoping Central City leaders would accept it as a
friendship request.

February 15, 2024