Tom Danielson dominant at Vuelta

Durango?s Tom Danielson closed an important chapter in his cycling career last Sunday. The Fort Lewis College graduate arrived in Madrid, Spain, in high fashion, posting the third-best performance by an American in the Vuelta a España and finishing in eighth place overall.

?I felt incredible emotions when I got across the finish line,? Danielson wrote in his online journal. ?It?s for sure my biggest achievement in cycling.?

After he dropped out of the Giro d?Italia in mid-May with a knee injury, Danielson and Team Discovery turned their attention to the Vuelta a España, the third grand tour of cycling. Danielson?s first goal was to simply finish the demanding, 21-stage race. His second was to turn in a strong finish, a challenge he rose to meet. Danielson?s eighth-place finish was an American best, topped only by Levi Leipheimer?s third in 2001 and Lance Armstrong?s fourth place in 1998.

In an interview this week withVeloNews, Danielson said that his finish exceeded his own expectations. ?It?s more than mission accomplished,? he said. ?The only goal was to finish the race. From what I heard about the Vuelta, it was crazy hard, super hard, one of the craziest there is in terms of speed and attrition.?

Danielson did overcome challenges to finish in the Vuelta?s top 10. He battled a bad stomach in stage 13 and struggled to hang on to his top 10 spot during two difficult climbing stages. But overall he turned in solid performances. Danielson finished all three time trials in the top 10 and rode within himself in all the demanding summit finishes.

?Everyone has a bad day in a three-week race, a few ups and downs,? Danielson toldVeloNews. ?I had a stomach virus. My immune system was run down because I was fighting for position. That was big for me to get through those stages.?

Danielson has been riding under the pressure of being cycling?s ?next big thing? since his victory in this spring?s Tour de Georgia. However, he commented that the only pressure he?s been dealing with has been coming from within. ?It?s not so important to confirm anything to the media,? Danielson said. ?It?s more to myself and to my team ? . For me, finally being able to do a grand tour, it?s a confirmation to myself.?

Former Lance Armstrong lieutenant Roberto Heras took home a record fourth Vuelta victory on Sunday. Denis Menchov, of Rabobank, took second and Carlos Sastre, of Team CSC, claimed the final spot on the podium. Danielson plans to return to Durango in coming weeks and spend the off-season training on his mountain bike.

Durango police investigate homicide

Big city crime struck in Durango last week. Early in the morning of Thurs., Sept. 15, the Durango Police Department responded to reports of a shooting and is now investigating a murder.

At approximately 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 15, officers were sent to the Exxon Four Star Store, which was closed, on a report of a shooting. The gas station is located on Carbon Junction Road, near New Country Auto Center. After arriving, officers discovered that 23-year-old Bobby White, of Bayfield, had been shot once in the chest by a handgun. He died at the scene.

The preliminary investigation revealed that White and his brother, 20-year-old Timothy, had met up with a Bruce LaBarthe, a 39-year-old La Plata County resident, and Ashley Hardwick, a 23-year-old La Plata County resident, in the gas station?s parking lot for a suspected drug deal. An argument erupted, and LaBarthe was apparently hit in the head by the older White. LaBarthe then shot Bobby White.

LaBarthe, Hardwick and Timothy White were booked into the La Plata County Jail on charges related to the incident. LaBarthe and Hardwick are both charged with Tampering with Evidence, and Possession and Use of Methamphetamine. Timothy White was charged with Complicitor to Second Degree Assault.

Helicopter begins hazmat clean-up

The San Juan National Forest is undertaking a daunting clean-up this week in the Weminuche Wilderness. An operation is under way to remove hazardous waste via helicopter in the Needle Creek drainage.

A helicopter will fly back and forth from the Chicago Basin area to a clearing on Coal Bank Pass. On each trip, the chopper will lift out galvanized metal building parts, mining supplies and drums filled with transmission fluids, hydraulic oil and diesel. The waste remains from mining exploration activities that occurred in the mid 1970s.

The waste became problematic last winter when an avalanche carried many of the old barrels from a remote location into an area where recreationists could be exposed to hazards and leaks could contaminate the creek.

The operation was approved as an Emergency Removal Action by the forest supervisor, and the use of helicopters and motorized equipment within designated wilderness was approved by the regional forester.

?Every effort will be made to not impact visitors? wilderness experiences during this time,? said Pauline Ellis, Columbine District Ranger. ?But we believe it is urgent that we remove these hazardous materials as soon as possible to ensure public safety and eliminate threats to the pristine natural resources of this area.?

Trout Unlimited tackles the Animas

On the subject of clean-ups, the local chapter of Colorado Trout Unlimited is taking on a big one this Saturday. In conjunction with the second annual Statewide River Cleanup on Sept. 24, the Five Rivers Chapter of TU and community volunteers will be removing trash from banks of the Animas River.

Trout Unlimited is hoping to attract dozens of volunteers to the Animas this weekend for a large-scale, coordinated effort. Colorado Trout Unlimited schedules the Statewide River Cleanup for the fall season because river flow is generally lower, making access to the rivers and cleanup efforts easier. ?Through the Statewide River Cleanup, anyone can get involved and make a great impact,? said Sharon Lance, president of Colorado Trout Unlimited. ?By committing just a few hours, Colorado residents can help restore and protect the water sources we?ll rely on for years to come.?

The Animas River clean-up will take place this Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon, and volunteers should meet at Santa Rita Park. For more information stop by Duranglers or Durango Orvis, or call 382-9978.  

Women?s center asks for feedback

The Durango?s Women?s Resource Center is taking a hard look in the mirror. The nonprofit serving more than 3,000 community members turns 18 years old next month and wants to be sure it is meeting community needs. Anyone interested in the future of the organization is encouraged to attend an informal ?town hall? style meeting this Thurs., Sept. 22, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Durango Recreation Center.

The meeting was sparked by the center?s Board of Directors and staff wanting the public?s input on what a women?s center in Durango should address and the services it should provide. ?The center has always strived to respond to the needs of our community and grow in the directions dictated by those needs,? said Mandy Mikulencak, Women?s Resource Center executive director. ?At 18 years, the agency is facing a crucial turning point where the input of those we serve and those who support us is most important.?

For more information, contact the center at 247-1242. 

? compiled by Will Sands