Tag: Clear Creek

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
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
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
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
Clear Crek County Comunity

Clear Crek County Comunity

Event Calendar

Friday Adventures with CCMRD — No
school on Fridays? Put your child in our Friday
Adventures Program. We will be exploring all
around Clear Creek County and going on several
field trips! Drop off at the Clear Creek Rec Center
between 7:30 and 9 a.m., pick up between 4 and
5:30 p.m. For ages 5-15. $45 per child. Friday,
Feb. 9 – Ice Skating at Evergreen Lake; Friday, Feb.
16 – Denver Zoo; Friday, Feb. 23 – Hammonds
Candy Tour; Friday, March 1 – Colorado History
Museum; Friday, March 8 – Denver Museum of
Nature & Science Planetarium – Black Holes. Con-
tact caitlin@ccmrd.com or call 303-567-4822 for
more information.

26. Format Changes Monthly. Bring your own bags
or bags provided at the Lodge! Entry fee is $10 per
person. Minimum 8 – maximum 20 players with
20 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the
Elks Club Building Preservation Fund. 10 or less
– Payout for 1st place is 50 percent and 2nd place
is 30 percent; 12 or more – Payout for 1st place is
40 percent, 2nd 25 percent, 3rd 15 percent. Mini
Pizzas available for purchase – Free Popcorn. Text
303-349-2052 for sign-up and more info.

CCMRD Adult Pickleball — Clear Creek
Recreation Center. Skills and Drills for Intermedi-
ates on Tuesdays, 8 – 10 a.m. $10 per class covering
a variety of topics to improve your game. Pickleball
Basics for Beginners on Fridays, 10 a.m. to 12 noon,
$10 per class is for anyone who wants to learn the
basics of the game – forehand, backhand, serve,
volley and scoring. Saturday Open Play, 10 a.m. to
noon, for Intermediate players. All equipment is
provided or bring your own. Advance registration
is required for classes and open play. Check out
the Open Play schedule and register for classes at
clearcreekrecreation.com.

Clear Creek Library District — The libraries
will be closed on Monday, Feb. 19. Monster Mash
Party for kids and teens, Idaho Springs Library,
Thursday, Feb. 22, 5-7 p.m. Get ready to rock your
best monster mash costume and show off your
dance moves. Don’t miss the fun! Food, face paint-
ing, dancing, and games. Call 303-567-2020 for
more info.

Devil’s Gate History Club — Georgetown
Community Center, 613 6th St., Friday, Feb. 16, 7
p.m. “Louis Dupuy – Farm to Table” presented by
Kevin Kuharik.

XCEL Energy Dam Warning Siren Test-
ing Program — Wednesday, March 6, 10 a.m.,
then on the first Wednesday of every month. Xcel
Energy has installed four early warning sirens to
notify people in the town of Georgetown of po-
tential flooding due to the unlikely event of a dam
failure at Xcel Energy’s Cabin Creek or Georgetown
hydroelectric plants. The warning system installa-
tion is a federal requirement. In collaboration with
the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office, the Town of
Georgetown, and Xcel Energy, Clear Creek County
will provide notice to the residents of Georgetown
ahead of the tests, so they know what to expect
and when. Learn more at www.clearcreekcounty.
us/1486/Georgetown-Monthly-Siren-Testing.

Quill & Spill with Local Author Lisa
Manifold — Wednesday, Feb. 21, 6 – 7:30 p.m.,
Idaho Springs Public Library; Saturday, Feb. 24,
9:30 – 11 a.m. Need some help plotting? Stuck in
the middle? Join us for any or all six Quill & Spill
sessions at the Idaho Springs Public Library to
discuss your project, share ideas, and connect with
other local authors! Hosted by local author Lisa
Manifold. Light refreshments will be provided. To
register, email chris@cccld.org by the day before
the event.

Corn Hole at the Idaho Springs Elks Club
— 1600 Colorado Blvd., 6 p.m. monthly on the last
Friday of each month – Feb. 23, March 29, April

If you have regularly scheduled meetings or upcoming special events that are open to the pub-
lic, we want to add them to the CCC Community Calendar. Please email the who, what, when,
where, why and how in 75 words or less, exactly as you would want it printed, to amy@week-
lyregistercall.com . Please send information at least two weeks in advance of your event.

Another scam

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
AFS quary sold — exclusive interview

AFS quary sold — exclusive interview

By Don Ireland

Senior Reporter
Some residents still don’t believe the iconic Albert Frei & Sons Wal-
strum quarry has been sold. To many of those residents and business
people around Clear Creek and Gilpin counties, they are still shaking
their heads in disbelief.

For them and others, the news surrounding the unexpected sale was
the equivalent of an unexpected heavy snowstorm or rainstorm arriving.

However, as the adage about clouds goes, there is something of a silver
lining to the story: Neither Albert Frei Jr. nor the people at the Wal-
strum Quarry along Highway 6 are going anywhere – at least, not for a
while.

Frei Jr., whose grandfather, Albert, started the aggregate and rock-
mining business more than 60 years ago in Commerce City. He said he
would continue to serve as a consultant to Martin Marietta Materials
for at least one year to ensure the local business has a smooth transition
as it becomes part of the vast MMM Inc. empire stretching across the
U.S., Canada, and the Bahamas. Martin Marietta, listed on the New York
Stock Exchange, is a U.S.-based supplier of building materials, includ-
ing aggregates, cement, mixed concrete, and asphalt, that operates in 28
states.

Al Frei Jr. said he plans to continue to be involved with burro races and the
Clear Creek Rotary Club in the future.

Continued on page 12

February 8, 2024
AFS — Gone But Not Forgoten

AFS — Gone But Not Forgoten

I was at Dostal Alley last week when
a well-informed source told me that Al
Frei had sold AFS to Martin Marietta.
We rushed to get a short story in last
week’s WR-C . This week, we have the
interview; it is somewhat bittersweet for
residents of both Clear Creek and Gilpin
counties. We named AFS “Business of the
Year” in 2022 because of their community
generosity for church and school dona-
tions of aggregate.

While he is thanking all of us, we need to
be thanking him.

EDITORIAL ………………………………………………… 303-906-9902

For the past 30 years I’ve been driving
up and down Clear Creek Canyon and
watching the gravel trucks thunder by
down the canyon. I always looked at those
trucks with pride in American industry.

ADVERTISING …………………… 303-906-9902 or 303-773-8313

LEGALS/PUBLIC NOTICES ………………………… 303-906-9902

SUBSCRIPTIONS ………………. 303-906-9902 or 303-773-8313

They were hauling badly needed ag-
gregate for new home and office buildings
along the front range.

Colorado has been booming for the past
50 years but has always been known as a
“boom and bust” state. The Rocky Moun-
tains were cold with granite mountains
that gave up their minerals grudgingly
with hard rock miners tearing at their
hillside souls. A few made fortunes, and
sweat was lost by many. The mountain
towns came alive with tourism when the
ski boom began.

Along with their strong environmen-
tal efforts of running a clean operation,
they buy millions of gallons of water
from Central City. When you drive in
front of the quarry, they constantly spray
U.S. Highway 6 for dust and dirt. They
have reclaimed acres of quarry digs with
new topsoil, planted grass, and returned
hillsides to a natural state. The mountain
sheep love the place.

Horace Tabor made his money by selling
shovels and mining supplies in Leadville.
AFS has turned gravel into gold, but it
took 60 years of hard labor to produce a
fortune for the well-deserving family.

Along with the quarry, the Frei family
owns additional trails in both counties,
allowing open trails and public use on pri-
vate lands. They have been good citizens
for 60 years. It is a happy ending for them
from a “rocky start,” so to speak.

Al Frei is a very humble man; I’ve never
seen him, but on one occasion, wear-
ing anything but blue jeans, a vest, and a
flannel shirt, with soiled work boots, and
he always drove his white pickup. I saw
him at the Idaho Springs Elks Lodge in
December, volunteering with his daughter
and dog at the non-profit holiday market.
He always seems to be in a cordial mood
and very down to earth. I hope he can stay
friendly, always looking out for others.
With new wealth, he will have many new
friends.

I have become a friend of Al, who has
sponsored our “Looking Back” history
column, undoubtedly the most popular
feature in the 162-year-old newspaper, the
oldest newspaper left standing in Colo-
rado. When it became time to renew his
ad for 2024 last month, Al hung his head
in his office and said, “I have some disap-
pointing news for you, Bob; I won’t be
renewing my ad because I’m selling the
company,” at the end of the month after I
quickly asked, When?

Wherever life leads him, he can be proud
of his years of toil in the gravel pits of the
Rocky Mountains for himself and his great
family. Founder father Albert Frei can be
very proud of his sons.

He did buy a “Thank You” ad in the
newspaper with the exclusive interview
that begins on the front page and jumps to
the center pages of this week’s WR-C .

NEWSROOM
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news@ weeklyregistercall.com. Please send information and listings for
potential publishing to this email address.

LETTERS & COLUMNS
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cluded to news@weeklyregistercall.com. The Weekly Register-Call
does not guarantee publication or pay for submissions and reserves
the right to edit for length and content. Letters should be short (less
than 350 words) and of local content. Anonymous letters will not be
published. Deadline is noon Friday prior to the week of publication.

February 8, 2024
CCAE shows of the Tower of Learning

CCAE shows of the Tower of Learning

will be home to a regional
summer professional
repertory theatre com-
pany and allow local,
regional, and national
artists to share their
craft.

Clear Creek County and

By Danny Tomlinson
Reporter and Photographer

The Weekly Register-
Call was recently invited
to join a “behind the
scenes” tour of the “old
high school” on Highway
103 just outside downtown
Idaho Springs, which is
being re-purposed as the
new Carlson Elementary
School. The building has
been nationally recognized
as the “Tower of Learning.”
It was built in 1968 and
served as the Clear Creek
County High School until
2010 when it was moved to
Floyd Hill.

CCCAE was recently
awarded a $1.538 million
grant from Colorado Cre-
ative Industries to sup-
port Phase 1 of the reno-
vation. Additional support
will come from the Clear
Creek School District for
mitigation and renovation
required under the 2021
bond program approved
by the County voters.
Phase 1 will include
designing and renovating
three performance spaces,
three event/performance
centers, educational
space, dressing rooms,
practice studios, costume
and set design and stor-
age space. Phase 1 will be
finished later this year.

The new Tower Arts
Complex (as part of the
Clear Creek Center for Arts
& Education: CCCAE) will
reside on the fourth floor of
the historic building.

It will feature a 300-seat
main stage theatre and
community meeting space,
a 175-seat cabaret-style
theatre, and an 80-seat
children’s black box the-
atre. Additional areas will
have multifunctional use.

Phase 2 will expand
the industrial or scenic
and textile (costume)
learning spaces. Phase 3
will include the finish of
a professional recording
studio space and additional
storage space.

The fourth floor of the Tower of Learning. It’s in a beautiful setting, just up Chicago Creek on
Highway 103.

CCCAE aims to focus
on educational programs
for all Clear Creek’s grade
school, middle school, and
high school students in the-
atre, dance, art, textile and
construction and design.

February 8, 2024
Clear Crek County Comunity

Clear Crek County Comunity

Event Calendar

Friday Adventures with CCMRD — No school
on Fridays? Put your child in our Friday Adventures
Program. We will be exploring all around Clear Creek
County and going on several field trips! Drop off at the
Clear Creek Rec Center between 7:30 and 9 a.m., pick
up between 4 and 5:30 p.m. For ages 5-15. $45 per
child. Friday, Feb. 9 – Ice Skating at Evergreen Lake;
Friday, Feb. 16 – Denver Zoo; Friday, Feb. 23 – Ham-
monds Candy Tour; Friday, March 1 – Colorado History
Museum; Friday, March 8 – Denver Museum of Nature
& Science Planetarium – Black Holes. Contact caitlin@
ccmrd.com or call 303-567-4822 for more information.

share ideas, and connect with other local authors!
Hosted by local author Lisa Manifold. Light refresh-
ments will be provided. To register, email chris@cccld.
org by the day before the event.

Corn Hole at the Idaho Springs Elks Club —
1600 Colorado Blvd., 6 p.m. monthly on the last Friday
of each month – Feb. 23, March 29, April 26. For-
mat Changes Monthly. Bring your own bags or bags
provided at the Lodge! Entry fee is $10 per person.
Minimum 8 – maximum 20 players with 20 percent of
the proceeds will be donated to the Elks Club Building
Preservation Fund. 10 or less – Payout for 1st place is
50 percent and 2nd place is 30 percent; 12 or more –
Payout for 1st place is 40 percent, 2nd 25 percent, 3rd
15 percent. Mini Pizzas available for purchase – Free
Popcorn. Text 303-349-2052 for sign-up and more
info.

Kids Night Out with CCMRD — Clear Creek
Recreation Center, 98 12th Avenue, Idaho Springs,
Fridays – Feb. 9, March 8, April 12 and May 10, 5:30
– 8:30 p.m. Kids will enjoy a pool party, dinner and a
movie in their jammies. Bring kids dressed in bathing
suits, a towel, a wet swimsuit bag, a water bottle, pa-
jamas, and a blanket/pillow if desired. $27 per child,
ages 5 to 15 years old. For more info, call 303-567-
4822 or email caitlin@ccmrd.org.

CCMRD Adult Pickleball — Clear Creek Rec-
reation Center. Skills and Drills for Intermediates on
Tuesdays, 8 – 10 a.m. $10 per class covering a variety
of topics to improve your game. Pickleball Basics for
Beginners on Fridays, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, $10 per
class is for anyone who wants to learn the basics of the
game – forehand, backhand, serve, volley and scoring.
Saturday Open Play, 10 a.m. to noon, for Intermediate
players. All equipment is provided or bring your own.
Advance registration is required for classes and open
play. Check out the Open Play schedule and register
for classes at clearcreekrecreation.com.

Mill Creek Valley Historical Society Mardi
Gras Party — Saturday Feb. 10, 5 – 9:30 p.m. 150
Dumont Lane, Dumont. The Mill Creek Valley Histori-
cal Society is celebrating Mardi Gras at the old school.
Entry fee is $20 per person, cash only at the door. Deli-
cious, homemade southern food and a cash bar serving
wine, Louisiana Beer and Hurricanes. Drawings and
best costume prizes. Benefit for MCVHS, visit www.
mcvhs.org for more information.

Clear Creek Library District Book Groups
— Idaho Springs Library: Monday, Feb. 12, 4 p.m.
– Where the Coyotes Howl by Sandra Dallas; John
Tomay Memorial Library – Georgetown: Thursday,
Feb. 15, 3 p.m. – River of the Gods by Candace Millard.
Contact libby@cccld.org for questions or go to cccld.
org to reserve books.

STEAM LuvBug Coding — Idaho Springs Public
Library, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Explore
beginning coding and a fun coding craft for Valentine’s
fun! Please bring your Chromebook so you can work
on your projects at home! Snack included. 12 kids max;
4th-5th-6th graders. Email chris@cccld.org to register
and for more information.

Friends of Georgetown Library Annual Soup
Lunch — John Tomay Memorial Library, Georgetown.
Thursday, Feb. 15, 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. oin the Friends
for a free soup lunch.

XCEL Energy Dam Warning Siren Testing
Program — Wednesday, March 6, 10 a.m., then on
the first Wednesday of every month. Xcel Energy has
installed four early warning sirens to notify people in
the town of Georgetown of potential flooding due to the
unlikely event of a dam failure at Xcel Energy’s Cabin
Creek or Georgetown hydroelectric plants. The warning
system installation is a federal requirement. In col-
laboration with the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office,
the Town of Georgetown, and Xcel Energy, Clear Creek
County will provide notice to the residents of George-
town ahead of the tests, so they know what to expect
and when. Learn more at clearcreekcounty.us/1486/
Georgetown-Monthly-Siren-Testing.

Devil’s Gate History Club — Friday, Jan. 19,
7 p.m., Georgetown Community Center, 613 6th St.,
Mudlarking the Thames River, presented by Anne
Marie Cannon.

Quill & Spill with Local Author Lisa Mani-
fold — Wednesday, Feb. 21, 6 – 7:30 p.m., Idaho
Springs Public Library; Saturday, Feb. 24, 9:30 – 11
a.m. Need some help plotting? Stuck in the middle?
Join us for any or all six Quill & Spill sessions at the
Idaho Springs Public Library to discuss your project,

If you have regularly scheduled meetings or upcoming special events that are open to the pub-
lic, we want to add them to the CCC Community Calendar. Please email the who, what, when,
where, why and how in 75 words or less, exactly as you would want it printed, to amy@week-
lyregistercall.com . Please send information at least two weeks in advance of your event.

February 8, 2024