A Family having Fun
By Jaclyn Morrow
Salida Circus from the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado brought happiness and joy to the Gilpin County Fair. Jacob, Addison and Vea – three volunteer local children, enjoyed watching the performers getting decked out in clown collars, noses, spinning plates, hoops and juggling pins on foot stands to the music of the William Tell Overture. (more…)
Pro Cycling returns to Colorado
by Dave Gibson
From the years 2011 through 2015 the USA Pro Cycling Challenge Bicycle Race rolled through the mountains and brought Coloradoans a professional sport that has long been enjoyed in Europe with race extravaganzas such as the Tour de France. When five years of monetary losses mounted, it was cancelled. There were no races in 2016. Fortunately for bicycle racing fans, in 2017 bike racing has returned to the state with the four-stage Colorado Classic. (more…)
The Power of One
By David MacKenzie, Superintendent
Congressman Jared Polis spoke to all Gilpin County School District employees at Convocation on August 7, 2017 in the auditorium. Polis represents Colorado’s Second Congressional District, which includes Gilpin County. (more…)
Colorado Pioneers
By Maggie Magoffin
While financial depression still ruled the land and men were without money, credit, or opportunity for business of any kind, fanciful fabrications of the discovery of gold at Pike’s Peak caused a wild rush to the new Eldorado. Good, bad and indifferent; the educated and illiterate; the merchant, the speculator, the mechanic, the farmer, the gambler, some of every kind, a sort of human mosaic, marshaled under a banner which bore the forceful, if inelegant legend, “Pikes Peak or Bust.” (more…)
Locals reminisce about the early days of the fair
by Patty Unruh
Gilpin County residents are looking forward to the Gilpin County Fair, which will take place at the County Fairgrounds on Saturday, August 19 and Sunday, August 20. This year’s event is extra-special: it’s the 25th anniversary of the free community celebration. (more…)
Enjoy the journey
By Randy Beaudette
Not all fishing adventures end with success. Preparing a boat for a day on the water requires some sort of a checklist. There is the State-required equipment like boat registration, fire extinguisher, life jackets (PFDs), horn, lights etc. Then there is the gear for fishing – like poles, tackle, bait and any other gadgets that the experts claim that will give you, the angler, an advantage over your aquatic opponent. (more…)
Colorado Pioneers
By Maggie Magoffin
This week’s “tailing tale” comes from Colorado Pioneers in Picture and Story written and published by Alice Polk Hill in 1915, Part III, Chapter VII, The Unwritten Law.
Mr. Hugh Steele is a son of R. W. Steele, who was at the head of the Provisional government. He is now Secretary of the Colorado Pioneer Society and likes to talk about old times. (more…)
August 21, CDOT encouraging eclipse watchers to be careful, plan ahead
By Jared Fiel
On Aug. 21, you will have a chance to see a total eclipse of the sun for the first time in our lifetime. And so will several hundred thousand of your closest friends and neighbors. That is why the Colorado Department of Transportation is asking anyone who is planning to drive to Wyoming or Nebraska (both in the “totality” path of the eclipse) to be prepared for a lot of traffic, delays and headaches for this unique event. (more…)
Team triumphs 10-8 over the Champs
by Patty Unruh
The month of July concluded with a favorite pastime – the annual adult co-ed slow pitch softball league’s Tonya Putnam Memorial Tournament. As typical, the final showdown was between the Acers and the Champs. The Acers came out on top 10-8 in the championship game. They were also the 2016 league victors, winning over the Champs. (more…)
Commissioners deal with $254 Million Dollar Lien Filed Against County
By Jaclyn Morrow
The previous regular meeting of the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners was on July 11, 2017 when the upstairs room in the old Courthouse on Eureka St in Central City had many more residents in attendance to give their comments to that agenda. The three districts commissioners also met in work sessions that same Tuesday, and again July 13th and 19th to tidy up other business. (more…)
Black Hawk Council Keeps Busy
By Jaclyn Morrow
Mayor David Spellman and the City Council met Wednesday, July 26, 2017 in the old Presbyterian Church, in their upstairs chambers at 211 Church Street in Black Hawk, Colorado. The original agenda had planned to tour Chase Gulch at 1:00 pm and call the meeting to order immediately following the tour. Due to the monsoon weather predicting 100% chance of rain, the tour was cancelled and rescheduled before the August 9th meeting. This regular bi-monthly meeting was held at the normal time of 3 pm. (more…)
Bus parking at the Grand Z Casino
By David Josselyn
Work Session
The Central City Council met with Staff on August 1, 2017 for a work session prior to the regular council meeting. The topics of conversation were the Wayfinding Signage, Exit 7 on the Parkway, the Business Assistance Program, and the fire department’s truck number 32. Speakers addressing the Council were Director Ray Rears, Alderwoman Bell, and Manager Miera. The work session ran long and so part of Bell’s and Miera’s agendas were added to the regular meeting. (more…)
Short on wings, long on entertainment
By David Josselyn
The second annual Central City Wing Fest, Saturday, July 22, was met with eager anticipation by those who attended the inaugural or heard about it second hand. The Wing Fest event allows business and residents to show off their chicken wing finesse in a contest for best wing, and then holds a chicken wing eating contest. Trophies are handed out for best wings, but over-eaters, er, over-achievers in eating are awarded cold hard cash for their gnashing ability. (more…)
Western horsemanship at the Gilpin County Arena
By Jaclyn Morrow
Saturday, July 22nd at the Gilpin County Arena, 16 riders and horses participated in the second of three summer horse shows sponsored the by Peak to Peak Healthy Communities Project. It also has generous support by United Power and a sponsorship by The Mountain-Ear, Nederland Equestrian School, and Ridgeline Consulting. Promptly at 9:00 am the judged riding events began. Previously, most riders had unloaded, prepared and warmed up their horses in the clean arena with only a couple puddles from our recent rains near the announcer’s tower. Some riders shared horses in different age groups, though sharing a horse in the same age group did not give an official score points for the second rider. One rider had two horses, the first to earn points for the cherished buckle, and the other was to practice and train the horse for future competitions. (more…)
A Colorado Pioneer 1817-1902
By Maggie Magoffin
A letter from Mountain City, Colorado, August 14, 1859.
Dear Sister:
I left Saint Joseph Missouri on the twenty third Day of May with a team and load of goods and made the journey to Danver via the Platte route in thirty five Days. Your letter of the 28th May was received by me on my arrival at Danver. My Papers have not been received, in future Direct them, to Danver Kansas Territory by Express from Leavenworth and letters also. I am at present located in the Rocky Mountains forty miles west of Danver in what was formerly known as Gregory Diggins, it was here where Mr. Greeley made his Debut in the early part of June last. (more…)
Giggey and Walsh honored
By Randy Beaudette
On Saturday, July 22, 2017 the Timberline fire community gathered to honor, and remember two guardians of Gilpin and Boulder Counties. George Giggey and Robert (Bob) Walsh now have stations dedicated in their honor. Station No. 1 was dedicated to Mr. Giggey and Station No. 6 was dedicated to Mr. Walsh. Families of both of these men attended the dedication and received a proclamation from Timberline Fire Board of Directors for the event. (more…)