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Who’s your mother on the river?

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS – Can you imagine what people put in the Yampa River? Entire boxes of fishing hooks, writes Samantha Hope in a letter published in the Steamboat Today, plus underwear (“gross,” she says), shoes, empty beer cans and plenty of other trash.

“Mother Nature is not your mother, folks,” she writes. “It’s our responsibility to take care of her, not only for ourselves but also for future generations.”

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Utah Dogs saved from sweltering car

PARK CITY, Utah – So what sort of guy would leave his two golden retrievers parked in a car as the temperature rises above 90? That’s what happened, and the dogs were panting but did not succumb to the heat. The owner, however, was charged with cruelty to animals, and the dogs were confiscated and given to the man’s ex-wife, reports The Park Record.

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Epic Pass now includes Australian resort

BROOMFIELD – Vail Resorts last week completed the deal to buy the largest ski area in Australia. The 3,100-acre Perisher Ski Resort is located relatively close to Sydney and Melbourne, Australia’s two largest cities, and cost the company $134.8 million. Rob Katz, the chief executive, said the purchase will “deepen ties with one of our most important international markets” and is intended to drive sales of the company’s Epic Pass. Obviously, it also gives the company a stronger year-round revenue stream as well as a year-round skiing product.

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Aspen’s carbon cuts come shy of goal

ASPEN – In 2005, Aspen’s city government set out to dramatically shrink its carbon footprint. As of last year, it had reduced emissions by 7.4 percent.

That’s pretty good, considering that Aspen’s economy has grown 22 percent during that time, as measured by retail sales, even after adjustment for inflation. The town’s population increased by 5.5 percent.

But the gains fall short of what the Canary Initiative, Aspen’s climate action plan, called for. That 2005 document called for a 30 percent reduction of community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and an even larger reduction at mid-century.

Ashley Perl, the director of the Canary Initiative, said that meeting the targets will require “bold policy decisions and constant commitment from all members of the community.” She identified the need for reduced use of natural gas in heating, reduced use of private automobiles, and increased renewable energy.

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Telluride has new water treatment plant

TELLURIDE – It took 20 years, but Telluride now has a new water treatment plant. The plant doubles the water supply for the town, and Mayor Stu Fraser explains that the water could come in handy in case of a major fire.

“The amount of water needed to put out a large structure fire, roughly 1 million gallons, would have exhausted our supply had the town relied upon the previous water treatment plant,” he said.

In addition, Telluride also placed a microhydro system into the Pandora Water Treatment Plant, converting running water into electricity. The plant can provide enough energy to power roughly 200 houses.

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Gunnison takes its time but allows pot

GUNNISON – Gunnison has taken its time, but now it has opened the door to the sale of cannabis for recreational purposes.

The Crested Butte News reports that the town, 27 miles down-valley from Crested Butte, decided to take its time to see how other communities handled sales.

“One of my original concerns was that allowing legal marijuana establishments would change the reputation or tenor of our community,” said Mayor Richard Hagan. “But asking around in other places that have done it, they didn’t feel that was the case.”

One issue was where the stores should be allowed and how many. Unlike Crested Butte, which capped the number of stores at four, Gunnison decided to let the free market sort it out.

Another issue was where to locate the stores. Early on, city officials thought the stores should be tucked into an industrial area. But Hagan says that he remembers somebody saying that any 14-year-old with a cell phone could find a store, no matter where it is.

“That plus the fact that keeping young people away would more likely be accomplished if the (stores) were in a higher-profile setting as opposed to tucked away in an industrial zone,” he added.

But Gunnison does have rules: no pot leaves are allowed on business signs. And stores near churches cannot be open on Sunday mornings.

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How long is too long in courthouse?

TELLURIDE – A Democratic Party activist in San Miguel County is passing around a petition that he hopes will cap the terms of county commissioners at eight years.

Brian Ahern tells the Telluride Daily Planet that the power of incumbency discourages others from running for office. One of the current commissioners, Joan May, says that she thinks three terms would be better, because “it takes one term to get up to speed.”

Art Goodtimes, who has been a county commissioner since the 1990s, says term limits thwart democracy.

“I think the ballot box ought to be the term limit,” he said. “Why would you artificially stop someone who’s doing a good job from continuing doing that job?” he asked. “It sounds like change for change’s sake. Yes, a powerful incumbent who’s doing a good job is tough to beat, and that’s the way it ought to be.”

Incidentally, all the county commissioners are Democrats except Goodtimes, a member of the Green Party.

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What people said about marriage ruling

DURANGO, Colo. – Upon hearing news of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that gay marriages are legal in all 50 states, many people in mountain towns were ecstatic.

In Park City, Liana Teteberg, who is rearing a child with her wife, said it’s a great step forward on a longer journey. “Having a law is only one step. The next step is becoming part of our fabric.”

The Aspen Skiing Co. in March had signed an amicus curiae brief along with 378 other companies in the United States, urging justices to consider affirming a uniform principle that all couples have the right to marry. A local Democratic Party official, Blanca O’Leary, said she was “just numb with happiness.”
In Durango, the Herald sampled opinions on the street. Most, but not all, people were supportive.

“If it’s ruining anybody else’s day, then they’ve got a problem,” said Tyler Kasper, 22, from nearby Farmington, N.M.

“I think we need to have respect for all people,” said 62-year-old Ed Kerr, who was visiting from Illinois.

Darren Ferris, 45, who is from Texas, had a somewhat different take. “I’m happy for them. Whoever wants to get married and divorced has my blessing. I’ve been married twice. They have my condolences.”

But the most interesting stories came out of Wyoming. In advance of the Supreme Court ruling, the Jackson Hole News & Guide had talked with a number of people, younger and older, male and female, to find out what it’s like to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender in what is called the Cowboy State.

Ben Clark, who is now 51, grew up on a ranch in Jackson Hole where quarter-horses were raised. He was a wrangler, an outfitter, and did a little rodeo. In a sense, he grew up as a cowboy. He also realized when he was 12 that he was attracted physically to boys, not girls. But he kept that fact to himself for 20 years before he felt comfortable enough to come out fully to his hometown. Clark is now married, to a man.

The newspaper also talked with some who are 18 years old and found some hesitancy to be outside the norm. But it’s easier than it used to be.

“Although it is still a very big deal to come out to family, friends and even to oneself, today’s youth are afforded a bit more tolerance from straight people than their predecessors were,” explained the newspaper.

 

– Allen Best

For more, go to www.mountaintownnews.net