Vail Daily Vail, Beaver Creek and Eagle Valley, Colorado News Sun, 10 Nov 2024 09:58:24 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/7/2023/07/11120911/apple-touch-icon-1.png Vail Daily 32 32 Dowd Junction eastbound closes for more than 5 hours Saturday /news/i-70-closed-eastbound-in-dowd-junction-westbound-in-dotsero/ Sun, 10 Nov 2024 05:17:34 +0000 /?p=571234 Interstate 70 reopened in Dowd Junction at around 11 p.m. Saturday after a more than 5-hour closure that left vehicles stranded in EagleVail and Avon throughout the evening.

The closure occurred at mile marker 171 as the result of a traffic accident, and vehicles were directed off the interstate while crews worked to clean up the narrow Dowd Canyon, which has no other means of passage aside from the interstate.

Trooper Gabriel Moltrer with the Colorado State Patrol said the crash was a multi-vehicle accident that occurred just after 5:30 p.m., and no one was transported to the hospital.

Slick road conditions necessitated the help of the Colorado Department of Transportation in reopening the highway, Moltrer said, with a layer of sand applied to the roadway before traffic was allowed back through.

A hazardous weather outlook was issued by the National Weather Service for the Eagle County area early Saturday morning, and that outlook will remain in effect until Friday.

The worst of the conditions is likely to come on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service’s Grand Junction office.

“Light snowfall is expected over the northern mountains Tuesday and Tuesday night with the passage of fast moving upper level disturbance,” according to the outlook issued Saturday.

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Obituary: Michael Collett /news/obituaries/obituary-michael-collett/ Sun, 10 Nov 2024 04:04:18 +0000 /news/obituary-michael-collett/ March 8, 1953 – November 2, 2024

Michael Paul Collett, 71, of Grand Junction, Colorado passed away November 2, 2024 after a very brief, but valiant battle with an aggressive form of cancer. Mike was born March 8, 1953 in Alamosa, to J. Fred and Margaret Collett. Soon after Mike was born, the family moved back to Eagle County. Mike was raised in Gypsum, alongside his siblings Janet and Miles, graduating from Eagle Valley High School in 1971.

A few years after High School, Mike enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and completed basic training at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. A short time after completing basic training, Mike was injured in an accident that put his military career on hold. A few years later, Mike joined the United States Army, ultimately advancing to the esteemed19th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He excelled in his service and was awarded the Army Achievement Medal in 1985, for special service during a tour in Europe.

Mike worked for several years for Vail Associates at both Vail Mountain and later at Beaver Creek. He eventually found his niche as a skilled and talented cobbler, working at shops in Denver, Glenwood Springs, Aspen and eventually Grand Junction.

Mike had a multitude of diverse hobbies and interests that he pursued over the years including: bronc riding, skiing, hunting, firearms and shooting sports, parachuting/skydiving, boxing, karate, and mountain and ice climbing to name a few. He loved being in the outdoors and always had a special connection with nature. Mike was dedicated and passionate about anything and everything he pursued. Among his many interests, he was an extremely skilled mountain climber and was well known in climbing circles throughout Colorado at one time. He especially loved doing climbs in the Glenwood Canyon. Later in life, he pursued several other “lower risk” hobbies, including writing, and even had a book published in 2007.

Mike had a unique and infectious personality with an adventurous spirit; he was authentic and real, not seeking the approval of others, but forging his own path throughout his life in the way that he wanted. Being real in this world takes guts, vision, and a healthy lack of interest in doing the same old, same old, and that was Mike to a tee.

Mike was preceded in death by his father, J. Fred Collett and his brother, Dr. Miles Collett. He is survived by his mother, Margaret Collett of Eagle; sister Janet (Bryon) McGinnis of Eagle; a son Brian Collett; nephews Jay (Jana) Oyler and Beau (Emily) Oyler; nieces Jocelyn (Chase) Aalborg and Alexis (Grant) Ordelheide; great-nieces and nephews Charlee and Jack Aalborg and Madison and Max Oyler; as well as many close friends.

At Mike’s request, there will be no formal services. In his words, “people should go out and meet in a place they can relax, have a drink, and share some stories”. His family plans to hold an “informal” celebration of life in the Spring or early Summer of 2025, where family and friends can get together and do just that. A date and location are yet to be determined.

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Colorado outlasts Texas Tech, controls Big 12 destiny /news/colorado-outlasts-texas-tech-controls-big-12-destiny/ Sun, 10 Nov 2024 01:16:38 +0000 /?p=571228 LUBBOCK, Texas — Shedeur Sanders threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score, two-way star Travis Hunter had nine catches for 99 yards and a TD and No. 21 Colorado overcame an early deficit to beat Texas Tech 41-27 on Saturday.

Sanders was 30 of 43 for 291 yards. Shilo Sanders, the other son of Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders on the team, recovered a fumble in the end zone with 51 seconds left.

Colorado (7-2, 5-1 Big 12, No. 20 CFP) won its third consecutive game and is on pace to play in the Big 12 Championship Game with a chance to qualify for the 12-team College Football Playoff.

The Buffs led the Red Raiders (6-4, 4-3) by two touchdowns before Tech’s Behren Morton threw his second touchdown pass of the game to Jalin Conyers — for 21 yards — with 2:12 left.

Shedeur Sanders threw a 23-yard yard TD pass to LaJohntay Wester midway through the second period, a 5-yarder to Will Sheppard in the third quarter and a 24-yarder to Hunter minutes later in the third.

Alejandro Mata kicked field goals of 25 and 33 yards for the Buffaloes.

Morton’s other touchdown pass to Conyers was for 17 yards on the game’s opening drive. Morton was 24 of 40 for 275 yards.

Gino Garcia kicked field goals of 53 and 39 yards for the Red Raiders, who lead 13-0.

Colorado should rise in the new AP poll Sunday. The Buffs peaked at No. 18 last season after winning their first three games under Sanders. That’s their highest ranking since reaching No. 9 in 2016.

No. 16 Ole Miss 28, No. 2 Georgia 10

OXFORD, Miss. — Jaxson Dart threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Antwane Wells Jr. in the third quarter, and No. 16 Mississippi shut down No. 2 Georgia for a 28-10 victory on Saturday.

Caden Davis kicked five field goals as Mississippi (8-2, 4-2 SEC, No. 16 CFP) earned its third consecutive win. Ulysses Bentley had a 9-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

A rain-soaked Ole Miss student section stormed the field with 16 seconds left, leading to a delay. The scene was repeated after Dart’s kneeldown closed it out.

Georgia (7-2, 5-2, No. 3 CFP) scored on a 2-yard run by Nate Frazier early in the first quarter. But Mississippi quickly grabbed control from there.

After the opening series, Ole Miss recorded five sacks and nine tackles for loss, forced four fumbles and intercepted a Carson Beck pass. Jared Ivey and Princely Umanimielen had two sacks apiece and linebackers TJ Dottery and Chris Paul combined for 19 tackles.

Georgia Tech 28, No. 4 Miami 23

ATLANTA — Georgia Tech coaches believed the best way to beat Cam Ward and No. 4 Miami was to keep the ball away from the quarterback.

Despite losing their top two running backs and having their starting quarterback operate primarily as a runner, the Yellow Jackets’ game plan was successful.

Ward and Miami finally ran out of second-half comebacks as Haynes King led Georgia Tech to a 28-23 win over the previously unbeaten Hurricanes on Saturday for the Yellow Jackets’ first victory over a top-five team in 15 years.

Fans , toppling both goalposts, after the game.

Miami (9-1, 5-1 Atlantic Coast Conference, No. 4 College Football Playoff) was denied its first 10-0 start since 2017. Georgia Tech (6-4, 4-3) became bowl-eligible and ended a two-game losing streak.

No. 8 Indiana 20, Michigan 15

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Kurtis Rourke threw two first-half touchdown passes and No. 8 Indiana’s defense held up long enough to give the Hoosiers a record-breaking 20-15 victory  on Saturday.

Rourke was 17 of 28 with 206 yards as the Hoosiers (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten), college football’s losingest program, beat college football’s winningest program, Michigan, for just the second time since 1988 and earned the first 10-win season in Indiana history.

The Wolverines (5-5, 3-4) produced their lowest point total in this series since a 14-10 loss to Indiana in 1987. Davis Warren was 16 of 32 with 137 yards through the air, but Michigan rushed for just 69 yards.

Indiana took control when Rourke hooked up with Omar Cooper Jr. on a 7-yard TD pass late in the first quarter then followed that score with  early in the second quarter to make it 14-3.

The Hoosiers added a 40-yard field goal late in the first half and Michigan added two second-half field goals — a 22-yarder after picking off Rourke at the Indiana 7-yard line and a 56-yarder that cut the deficit to 17-9 late in the third quarter. It was Dominic Zvada’s fifth field goal of 50 or more yards this season.

Kansas 45, No. 17 Iowa State 36

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Devin Neal ran for 116 yards and two scores and became Kansas’ all-time leader in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in a 45-36 win over No. 17 Iowa State at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday.

Neal broke June Henley’s rushing record with a 14-yard run on his first carry and now has 3,951. Neal’s touchdown runs of 13 and 10 yards gave him 43, breaking Henlsey’s mark of 41.

Jalon Daniels finished 12 of 24 for 295 yards and two touchdowns for Kansas (3-6, 2-4 Big 12).

Rocco Becht was 24 of 37 for 383 yards and three touchdowns for Iowa State (7-2, 4-2, No. 17 CFP), which has lost two straight after a 7-0 start.

Neal’s second touchdown of the game put Kansas up 38-13 in the third quarter.

Carson Hansen scored a 13-yard touchdown for Iowa State to cut it to 38-20. Becht then found Jaylon Jackson for a 27-yard touchdown and Becht ran in the 2-point conversion to cut it to 38-28. Mello Dotson’s 25-yard interception return for a touchdown for Kansas made it a 17-point game with 5:58 left.

The Jayhawks ran out the clock after Becht found Jaylin Noel for an 18-yard touchdown.

Becht engineered a seven-play, 99-yard drive to open the scoring. Becht hit Noel on a 27-yard strike to finish it.

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Thompson: We are the veterans /opinion/thompson-we-are-the-veterans-5/ Valley Voices]]> Sat, 09 Nov 2024 23:18:23 +0000 /?p=571227 Of today’s 340 million Americans, 18.6 million of us are veterans. We are the men and women, who in the prime of our young lives, became part of something much bigger than ourselves. We put on a uniform and served in the armed forces of the United States — the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and the Coast Guard.

I’m a veteran.

I joined the military when I was a 19-year-old school kid. I remember getting on a Greyhound bus with 50 other young men and traveling 400 miles through the night to Fort Ord, California. Mostly, I sat in the back of the bus eating candy bars and smoking cigarettes. The next morning, I was awakened by a big guy in a uniform, wearing a Smokey-the-Bear hat. He loudly ordered me to get off the bus and “line up.” That’s when it began.

That’s when the military began changing me.

Within three days, my blue jeans, my candy bars, and my hair were all gone. They gave me three ugly fatigue uniforms, two sheets, a smelly blanket, and a pair of boots. It was hectic and confusing, but I could feel a focus on their part. They were trying to push us young fools up to some “higher ground,” to some higher purpose.

First, we went to Basic Training, where we learned to operate and react as a team, and as a member of a platoon. We learned close-order drill, left-face, right-face, forward march. We learned first aid, navigation, physical fitness, rifle safety, and core values. We learned how to organize a barracks building, a mess hall, a kitchen and a shooting range. It was 10 weeks.

When we graduated, we earned a title: soldier, sailor, Marine or airman.

Next, we went to Advanced Training. Some of us trained as mechanics, some as cooks, police, medics, firefighters, heavy equipment operators, dog handlers, and much more. The military has 190 different occupations, with 800 different job titles. I got to train in three. And we got paid for all of this.

That’s right, we got paid to learn functional skills. Rather than paying to go to college, I was being paid by the military to become a professional active-duty soldier, with a guaranteed job. Within that first year, I’d been trained, qualified, and paid as a first responder, a firefighter, a heavy equipment operator, and a surveyor.

Within a year, I was a corporal. I had been from Fort Ord for Basic, to Fort Lewis for Advanced Training, to Fort Sill for Professional Training. I had learned a new language: “line-up, double-time, mess hall, grunt.” I had learned the acronyms: NCO, XO, SOP, FDC. I had fired a bazooka, smelled tear gas, spit-shined boots, and peeled potatoes. I’d learned the chain of command and, by the way, I’d learned to stand up straight.

And the journey was just beginning. I served six years in the U. S. Army, including one year as a “live-fire” artillery NCO, one year as an advisor to the Republic of South Vietnam, two years as a platoon and company commander, and six months at Aberdeen Proving Ground testing new and exotic weapons. I’d travelled the world, I’d faced conflict, I’d experienced critical decision-making.

I wasn’t a kid eating candy bars in the back of a bus anymore. Thank you. The Army had promoted me to real-life experiences, with training, exercises, responsibilities, and teamwork. I passed the tests and became a member of one of the greatest teams in the world. “Be All You Can Be” was no longer a slogan. It was a way of life.

I’m now 79 years old and I’m still a member of that team. But now it’s “the Veteran team,” not “the active-duty team.” We’re the old guard. We came back and went to college on the GI Bill and started businesses. Of today’s 18 million veterans, 2.5 million of us became business owners. Two hundred and nineteen became astronauts. Twenty-six became presidents. And we still make our bed every morning, and we still stand straight.

How straight? According to the Census Bureau, during our post-military careers, we veterans earn 16% more income than the average civilian. 75% of us voted in the last election, while only 66% of nonveterans voted. And, despite occupational hazards, veterans live longer than their civilian counterparts.

Wait a minute. We earn more. We vote more. We live longer. And we got paid, paid to go on the most educational, life-changing ride of our lives, all over the world, while serving a mission greater than ourselves. Why doesn’t everyone serve? It must be one of the best-kept secrets in the world.

“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers … we veterans.”

Pete Thompson is a local Army veteran who teaches for Vail Resorts and Colorado Mountain College.

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Letter: Why do kids need outside time? /opinion/letter-why-do-kids-need-outside-time/ Sat, 09 Nov 2024 21:28:44 +0000 /?p=571224 Do you like playing outdoors? Well, lots of people do! There are many great reasons and benefits to playing outside.

For example, in schools, studies show that kids who are given recess have better grades and have a better memory going from remembering a friend’s favorite color to multiplication facts. You may be wondering how much time kids should have outside a day. Kids should have an average of 30-60 minutes.

Last, being outside has many benefits to your health. For example, it can reduce anxiety, improve concentration, and reduce the risk of depression. So get outside and stay healthy.  

Nora Harmon, 9
Eagle

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Letter: A message of gratitude from the Family Learning Center /opinion/letter-a-message-of-gratitude-from-the-family-learning-center/ Sat, 09 Nov 2024 21:21:59 +0000 /?p=571223 As the executive director of The Family Learning Center, I am writing to express our gratitude to the Vail Daily, and specifically to Zoe Goldstein, for your unwavering support and continued advocacy in reporting on the dynamic educational landscape in our valley. Your recent article, “Eagle County preschool seeks new home,” highlighted not only the challenges we face in finding a new location but also underscored the significant impact our program has on the community. We are immensely thankful for your commitment to sharing our story.

Additionally,  I am writing to express our profound appreciation to Father Jose Maria Quera and St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Parish for their extraordinary generosity and support over the years. The Family Learning Center has been in its current location for the previous  25 years. The decision to allow the Family Learning Center to reside in their building has been nothing short of a blessing. 

The impact of their kindness cannot be overstated. It has enabled us to provide crucial educational services and support to families across the community, fostering growth, learning, and development. Without their compassion, the Family Learning Center simply would not exist today.

The church has been a great community partner. Father Jose has been instrumental in allowing the Family Learning Center to remain in this location and has been a cornerstone in creating a lasting impact in the lives of many community members over the years. I continue to appreciate their connection and efforts to support the Family Learning Center as we journey through finding our next location. 

Thank you Father Jose Maria Quera and the entire St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Parish for your generosity.

Whitney Young-Keltner
Executive Director, The Family Learning Center

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Copper Mountain and Breckenridge kick season off with plenty of powder on opening days /sports/copper-mountain-and-breckenridge-kick-season-off-with-plenty-of-powder-on-opening-days/ Summit Daily News]]> Sat, 09 Nov 2024 21:21:44 +0000 /?p=571218 Everyone loves a powder day, especially when that day happens to fall on the first day of the season for a ski resort.

ߣÏÈÉúers and riders at Breckenridge ߣÏÈÉú Resort and Copper Mountain Resort were gifted with plenty of fresh snowfall on their first days of the 2024-25 season on Friday, Nov. 8. Over the last five days, the two Summit County resorts received over 2 feet of snow, giving way to prime skiing and riding conditions to kick off the season.

Copper Mountain Resort

When the American Eagle Chairlift at Copper Mountain started running at 9 a.m., the first tracks were deep — and there were free refills throughout the day.

“Vibes are high. We’re really stoked to be open,” Copper Mountain communications manager Olivia Butrymovich said. “We’ve had 31 inches of snow since Sunday night’s huge storm dropped 20 inches on the resort. So, it’s great to be open. Our teams are happy to be open.”

ߣÏÈÉúers and riders at Copper had access to three trails on opening day: Rhapsody, Fairplay and Main Vein, all intermediate difficulty. The Easy Rider learning area and a Woodward American Eagle Terrain Park with a dozen features were also open.

Parker resident Caitlynn Feist said she woke up early Friday to drive up to Copper with her boyfriend, her boyfriend’s brother, her dad and “the whole crew.” Snow continued to fall as Feist waited in line for the first run of the day.

“Moods are hype. It’s a vibe,” Feist said. “I’m just looking forward to having a good season with all my friends and my family, having fun.”

As they descended from the top of the American Eagle Chairlift, skiers and riders sprayed clouds of powder into the air. At the bottom of the hill, laughter rang out as friends ended their run with high-fives and fistbumps.

As the season continues, Copper will be looking to open Green Acres, a beginner trail, next, followed by whichever trails have the most snow cover, Butrymovich said. Throughout the season, the ski area will be hosting events most weekends, she said. It will also be hosting the in December.

“Twenty inches of snow really just set us up nicely for opening day,” Butrymovich said. “It just provides a great base for the rest of the season.”

Breckenridge ߣÏÈÉú Resort

With people munching on complimentary donuts and vibing to loud music, Breckenridge ߣÏÈÉú Resort began spinning chairs on the Colorado SuperChair promptly at 9 a.m on Friday morning.

After a short lift ride to the middle part of Peak 8, Breckenridge’s 2024-25 ski-and-ride season quickly got underway. Soon people were seen streaming down the mountain and plunging deep into the powder fields sprinkled to the side of the resort’s two runs: 4 O’Clock and Springmeier. 

In addition to the opening day intermediate trails, skiers and riders got the opportunity to perform tricks in a hike-to terrain park towards the bottom of the Springmeier trail. Five SuperChair was also running throughout the day, helping to cut down on the wait times at the base of Peak 8.

“The snow keeps surprising us this week,” senior communications manager Sara Lococo said. “It is dumping right now, and I don’t feel like that was really in the forecast. We got more than 2 feet this week to set things up. I think that is awesome, it gets people hyped for the winter season.”

The fresh snowfall was what Justin Jones was most looking forward to while making the drive from Colorado Springs yesterday.

“It makes me happy,” Jones said. “It also makes me want to buy another hotel room. I am excited. It has been a long summer. It has been hot. I don’t like the heat, so the more snow the happier I am.”

The snow and the cold temperatures will aid Breckenridge in opening up new terrain as quickly as possible. Like previous years, Breckenridge will now focus on opening up the Peak 9 base area, which features a lot of the resort’s learning areas and green-level trails. 

Copper Mountain kicked off its season Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. ߣÏÈÉúers and riders were hyped up by the constant snowfall throughout the day.
Ryan Spencer/The Summit Daily

“We always start here at Peak 8, and we are looking in good shape to get Peak 9 for next weekend,” Lococo said. “What that will probably look like is our Quicksilver chair and our SuperConnect as well as Snowflake. More will then come online as we progress, but that is what is looking like what will happen for next weekend and we will keep going from there to get all five peaks open.”

For Breckenridge vice president and chief operating officer  he could not think of a better way to kick off a new season than with fresh snow.

“I am a skier, so I just love getting out,” Copeland said. “I love getting out and I love seeing our community. I have seen so many people I have met in town, that I know in town. That just is super special to see. … To not only have all the snowfall in the last week, but to have it snowing this morning, is just poetic on the first day of the season.”

Breckenridge and Copper will now be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Letter: Connecting communities /opinion/letter-connecting-communities/ Sat, 09 Nov 2024 21:16:00 +0000 /?p=571219 I recently had the pleasure of attending the Eagle County Outdoor Recreation Economy Summit. Chris Romer and the Vail Valley Partnership did an excellent job of hosting the event. The meeting was well-organized and very informative. The friendly staff at the Vail Golf Course Clubhouse provided an exceptional lunch in a beautiful setting.  

Our valley was well represented by Ernest Saeger with the Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance, and Steven Barber from Eagle Valley Metro District, discussing connecting communities through trail systems. They did an excellent job discussing the Eagle Vail and Everkrisp trails. Both of these trails are fantastic additions to our existing trail network.  The trails are well-designed and properly built for longevity. The trails cleaned up the many braided social trails reducing environmental erosion and impacts to wildlife.  

I have been fortunate to be a member of the ECO Trails committee for over twenty-five years. Under the exceptional guidance of dedicated founding members Dick Cleveland, Paul Gotthelf and Bill Fisher,  the ECO Trails committee has been in the pursuit of completing the paved Eagle Valley trail from the top of Vail Pass to the entrance of Glenwood Canyon. With the addition of Robin Thompson’s fundraising efforts as well as trail planning from Kevin Sharkey of Eagle County, we are very close to completion.  

I cannot think of a better way to connect communities than by completing the Eagle Valley Trail. Completion of the Eagle Valley Trail will provide a tremendous boost to the Eagle County outdoor recreation economy. It has been proven that the paved recreation trail provides great economic benefits to the outdoor recreation economy in Summit and Pitkin counties.  Hopefully, soon you will be able to ride from Breckenridge to Aspen on a paved recreation trail with Eagle being the midpoint. We are very close to completion with only 7.5 miles left to build.  Let’s make it a community effort to complete the Eagle Valley Trail. The longer we wait the more the construction costs increase. For more information or to donate please visit .

Thank you for your support.

John Bailey
Eagle

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Matney: The second coming of Christ? /opinion/matney-the-second-coming-of-christ/ Sat, 09 Nov 2024 21:06:04 +0000 /?p=571217 God can transform negative situations into positive outcomes. God isn’t the author of death, destruction, and evil, but he has the power to turn it all around for good.

This truth is powerfully portrayed in the story of Joseph who was sold into slavery by his brothers. Eventually, however, Joseph became second-in-command in Egypt. Through this position, he saved countless lives during a severe famine. He said to his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good,” in Genesis 50:20. God loves us and intends to bless us even when we are in unjust circumstances.

In the Bible book of Judges, we see that ancient Israel would backslide into complacency, immorality, and idolatry, and when that happened, God allowed Israel’s enemies to defeat and dominate them. When, the Israelites groaned under high taxes, the cost of living, and oppressive government policies, God would raise up a judge to get them back on track and when they repented God would drive out their enemies.

The judges God sent were very human, very flawed, and often not the leaders they should be. For example, Samson, the strong man that many of us remember from our childhood Bible stories, was not a godly man. He allowed sexual immorality to lead him away from God. But God used Samson to deliver Israel.

So, God can bring about good for individuals and nations whether they have good leaders or bad leaders. For example, he allowed Nebuchadnezzar to defeat ancient Israel and take them captive to Babylon. When they repented, Cyrus the Persian conquered Babylon and let the Jews return to Jerusalem. And Cyrus even returned the gold and silver vessels Nebuchadnezzar had stolen from God’s temple. God used pagan leaders to chastise and to bless his people.

Interestingly, while Israel was in Babylonian captivity, God said to them through the prophet Jeremiah, “Work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare,” in Jeremiah 29:7

Jesus said similar things: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those that curse you, do good to those who abuse you, and pray for those who mistreat you,” in Luke 6:27-28. He said, “I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous,” in Matthew 5:44-45.

Friends, we are to do good and show love and respect to everyone just as God does. As followers of Jesus, we are not to bash, mock, denigrate or verbally abuse anyone. So, whether we’re happy or not with the results of our national and local elections, we must guard our hearts against hatred, vengeance and even discouragement.

One dear individual texted me and said, “Dan, I’m trying hard to keep from screaming at the TV this morning as they are trying to figure out what the Dems did wrong, instead of realizing how sick America is, to have elected such a man.” My friend continued, “Perhaps our Lord has allowed this to happen, to wake up the country to just how far “down” we have sunk!”

Other people look to our new leaders or political parties as the Second Coming of Christ. Perhaps they unconsciously believe we can achieve justice simply by changing the Supreme Court, banning abortion, or sending illegal immigrants back across the border, etc.

As important as it is to have good leaders and good policies, the truth is there is no peace and prosperity, no justice and righteousness without it starting in our hearts. All the rules and regulations in the books will not achieve the justice, compassion and righteousness we want. Only a change of heart and mind can do that. We must let God’s love rule and reign in our hearts.

People are feeling truly angry and disappointed or very jubilant. All these emotions are understandable, but neither violence and vitriol, nor boasting and gloating is proper for followers of Christ Jesus.

So, how should we respond to election results? We are to pray for our leaders whether we agree with their policies or their character. Paul wrote, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness,” in 1 Timothy 2:1-2. Also, let us be determined to talk respectfully and compassionately to one another.

Dan Matney is the pastor at New Life Assembly of God in Avon. Email him at pastordanmatney@hotmail.com.

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Trump’s gains with Latinos could reshape American politics /news/trumps-gains-with-latinos-could-reshape-american-politics/ Associated Press]]> Sat, 09 Nov 2024 20:43:52 +0000 /?p=571215 MIAMI — From Pennsylvania to Florida to Texas, areas with high numbers of Hispanics often had little in common on Election Day other than backing Republican  over Democrat  for president.

Trump, the president-elect, made inroads in heavily Puerto Rican areas of eastern Pennsylvania where the vice president spent the last full day of her campaign. Trump turned South Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, a decadeslong Democratic stronghold populated both by newer immigrants and Tejanos who trace their roots in the state for several generations.

He also improved his standing with Hispanic voters along Florida’s Interstate 4 corridor linking the Tampa Bay area — home to people of Cuban, Venezuelan, Nicaraguan, Colombian and Puerto Rican origin — with Orlando, where Puerto Ricans make up about 43% of the local Hispanic population. Trump was the first Republican since 1988 to win Miami-Dade County, home to a sizable Cuban population and the country’s metropolitan area with the highest share of immigrants.

It was a realignment that, if it sticks, could change American politics.

Texas and Florida are already reliably Republican, but more Hispanics turning away from Democrats in future presidential races could further dent the party’s “blue wall” of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, that had helped catapult it to the White House before Trump romped through all three this time. The shift might even make it harder for Democrats to win in the West, in states such as Arizona and Nevada.

Harris tried to highlight the ways Trump may have insulted or threatened Latinos.

Trump, in his first term,  of , which Democratic President Joe Biden extended to , and tried to terminate the Obama-era  program. He also  of relief aid to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria in 2017 until nearly the end of his term, having long blasted the island’s officials as corrupt and inept.

Once he returns to the White House, Trump has pledge to stage the  That could affect millions of families in mixed-status homes, where people who are in the United States illegally live with American citizens or those with legal residency.

But the Democratic warnings did not appear to break through with enough voters for Harris. Now the party must figure out how to win back votes from a critical, fast-growing group.

“Trump, he’s a very confounding figure,” said Abel Prado, a Democratic operative and pollster who serves as executive director of the advocacy group Cambio Texas. “We have no idea how to organize against him. We have no idea how to respond. We have no idea how to not take the bait.”

Ultimately, concerns about immigration did not resonate as much as pocketbook issues with many Hispanics.

About 7 in 10 Hispanic voters were “very concerned” about the cost of food and groceries, slightly more than about two-thirds of voters overall, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters nationwide. Nearly two-thirds of Hispanic voters said that they were “very concerned” about their housing costs, compared with about half of voters overall.

Trump had a clear edge among Hispanic voters who were “very concerned” about the cost of food. Half said he would better handle the economy, compared with about 4 in 10 for Harris. Among Hispanic voters who were very worried about crime in their community, Trump had a similar advantage.

“When they looked at both candidates, they saw who could improve our economy and the quality of life,” said Marcela Diaz-Myers, a Colombian immigrant who headed a Hispanic outreach task force for the Pennsylvania Republican Party. “Did he sometimes offend? Yes. But that happens in political campaigns. Many of the people who voted for President Trump were able to get past this and trust that he will move the country in the right direction.”

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Construction on the Vail Pass rest area began in 2022. It should be done in ‘early 2025’ /news/construction-on-the-vail-pass-rest-area-began-in-2022-it-should-be-done-in-early-2025/ Sat, 09 Nov 2024 19:52:40 +0000 /?p=571206 It can be hard to work at 10,600 feet. That’s resulted in delays to the Colorado Department of Transportation’s $22.5 million project to rebuild the Vail Pass rest area.

The project began in May of 2022, and was supposed to be complete in October of 2023. Weather and other complications have delayed completion of the work, which transportation department officials now expect to finish in “early 2025.”

According to an email from Stacia Sellers of the transportation department’s communications team, “The area received more snow than anticipated, which slowed operations.” But, she added, “Crews are pushing forward as much as they can despite the elements.”

On the outside, the new rest area will significantly increase parking. Tractor-trailer parking spaces will increase from six to 20, with passenger vehicle parking going from 32 to 65. Recreation parking for non-snowmobile users will increase from 32 to 67 spaces.

The transportation department will also work with the U.S. Forest Service to keep the area open for winter recreation while the facility is being finished.

The building itself will be much larger, and LEED certified. It will also have a new fresh water system, since the facility is the busiest rest area in the state.

Restroom facilities will be expanded from 10 to 22 spots, with two rooms each for men, women and families.

The rest area is part of the Interstate 70 historic district. There will be a viewing deck and various displays to educate travelers about the lynx and other wildlife in the area, the Ute people who used to call the area home and the history of building the highway over the pass.

The project will also reroute traffic to provide better access to and from the rest area and relocate a Forest Service building that was often mistaken for the rest area building.

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Wrapping up the hiking season in Eagle County /news/wrapping-up-the-hiking-season-in-eagle-county/ Sat, 09 Nov 2024 17:52:24 +0000 /?p=571184 As Colorado’s first major snows settle over the peaks, we are nearing the end of the hiking season. While there are still places to hike in Eagle County, the recent snowfall and upcoming seasonal wildlife closures are reminders that winter is just around the corner.

Working as the community science and hiking coordinator at Walking Mountains Science Center, I’ve had the chance to spend much of this past summer guiding people on hikes, sharing the beauty of Eagle County, and connecting people with the landscapes that make this region so special.

This year, I encountered hikers of all kinds — full-time residents, seasonal visitors, and people experiencing these mountains for the first time. Each person’s perspective on the landscape is unique and it’s fascinating to see how people of all backgrounds form connections with the land. As residents of a community surrounded by public lands, we’re fortunate to have access to these spaces, which offer more than just scenery; they are places for recreation, inspiration, and learning.

One defining feature of summer 2024 was the consistent rainfall. Almost daily, afternoon monsoon showers cultivated lush, green landscapes, and the result was vibrant plant life, diverse mushrooms, and fewer smokey days than in recent years. The consistent rains created great fruiting conditions for many mushroom species. Wildflowers bloomed longer and the rain kept generally good air quality, making it a memorable season for outdoor exploration.

However, the consistent presence of rain also reminded us of the importance of preparation. Checking weather forecasts and planning routes carefully helps hikers avoid risky afternoon thunderstorms and downpours.

While the hikers and I occasionally encountered short bursts of rain or hail, a few precautions helped us avoid the dangers of afternoon lightning. It’s usually a good rule of thumb to be below the treeline by early afternoon — ideally by 12:30 p.m. or no later than 1 p.m. The key to meeting this goal is to start hikes early and have alternative plans if weather conditions aren’t in your favor.

As the days get shorter and the temperature drops, the summer rains are solidifying into a winter mix and snow at higher elevations. While afternoon thunderstorms are less of a concern, short days, snow, and cold weather bring their own set of considerations.

If you are still hiking, bringing extra warm layers of clothing leaves an extra margin of safety if something goes wrong. Spikes and trekking poles can aid traction on slippery surfaces. Also, any snow-covered slope greater than 30 degrees of steepness can pose an avalanche hazard. While it takes more preparations to hike on snowy trails, the colder months provide an opportunity to see the landscape in a new light, often with fewer crowds and an entirely different atmosphere.

As we wrap up the 2024 hiking season, it’s a good moment to reflect on what these experiences bring to our lives. The mountains teach us to slow down, observe carefully, and appreciate the natural world — lessons that resonate well beyond the trail. Thank you to everyone who shared the trail this season. Here’s to a safe and inspiring winter and to many more outdoor adventures in the seasons to come.

In his role at Walking Mountains, Riley Gaines engages the community in hikes, snowshoes, and collecting data for scientific projects.

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Colorado Parks and Wildlife meets with four counties to share its plan on next wave of wolf releases /news/colorado-wolf-reintroduction-next-release-site/ Sat, 09 Nov 2024 00:10:32 +0000 /?p=571204 As Colorado Parks and Wildlife is forging ahead with plans to reintroduce more wolves this winter, it met with commissioners and staff from four northwestern counties to discuss plans. 

On Friday, the wildlife agency held a half-day meeting in Rifle with representatives from Rio Blanco, Garfield, Eagle and Pitkin counties. 

According to a news release, all four of these counties are possible release areas for the next 15 wolves from British Columbia.

“We feel it is important to provide insight into our planning process, highlighting how we select potential release sites that align with these established boundaries,” Travis Black, Parks and Wildlife’s Northwest Regional Manager, stated in the release. 

The state’s establishes geographic boundaries and restrictions on where gray wolves can and cannot be released. More specifically, there are two zones, one in the northwest — which falls along the Interstate 70 mountain corridor between Glenwood Springs and Vail and through the Roaring Fork Valley  — and one just south of that in Gunnison and Montrose counties. Wolves may only be released on state-owned lands. 

Colorado’s Wolf Restoration and Management Plan identified two potential winter release zones for wolves. This aligns with the plan’s restrictions that wolves not be released within 60-miles of neighboring states and tribal lands, nor east of the Continental Divide.
Courtesy photo

Since the wolves can travel significant distances in relatively short periods, the agency’s biologists are also attempting to predict where potential movement could occur from release spots to mitigate impacts to humans and livestock. 

Additional factors being considered include the availability of natural prey sources when the wolves will be released, habitat availability, access and safety for staff and animals, potential weather impacts and more. 

The first 10 wolves were released into the northern zone in Grand and Summit counties. And in August, the agency said the next wolves would be released in similar areas to help supplement those initial wolves.

While Parks and Wildlife met with these four counties to help them better prepare to have additional wolves on the landscape, no final decisions on exact release spots have been made. The agency said the final release sites will not be determined until capture and release operations are underway. These efforts are expected to begin in January. 

“Variables, including weather, animal welfare, staff safety, and many other day-of-operation logistics and possible scenarios, are taken into consideration when making the final decisions for release,” the agency stated in the release.. 

In addition to meeting with these four counties, Parks and Wildlife teamed up with the Colorado Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture to host conflict mitigation meetings across the Western Slope with producers and stakeholders. The meetings provide a high-level overview of available resources and best practices for ranchers and communities to prevent conflict with wolves. 

Adam Baca, Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s wolf conflict specialist, speaks to a room of producers and stakeholders in Glenwood Springs on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The session was part of a series of trainings hosted by the agency and its partners to share resources and tools around conflict mitigation.
Ali Longwell/Vail Daily

So far, there have been sessions in Moffat, Routt, Rio Blanco, Garfield and Jackson counties with additional meetings planned in Eagle and Gunnison counties in December. 

While Parks and Wildlife hosts these meetings and plans for the next release, it is getting pressure to halt efforts. In October, a group of 26 livestock and stockgrower organizations the agency’s commission, requesting a pause until more proactive steps are taken to support producers. 

The for the Commission’s next meeting on Thursday, Nov. 14 in Lamar.

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Justice Department brings criminal charges in Iranian murder-for-hire plan targeting Donald Trump /news/nation-world/justice-department-brings-criminal-charges-in-iranian-murder-for-hire-plan-targeting-donald-trump/ Fri, 08 Nov 2024 23:38:44 +0000 /?p=571201 WASHINGTON — The Justice Department on Friday disclosed an Iranian murder-for-hire plot to kill , charging a man who said he had been tasked by a government official before this week’s election with planning the assassination of the Republican president-elect.

Investigators were told of the plan to kill Trump by Farhad Shakeri, an accused Iranian government asset who spent time in American prisons for robbery and who authorities say maintains a network of criminal associates enlisted by Tehran for surveillance and murder-for-hire plots.

Shakeri told the FBI that a contact in Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard instructed him this past September to set aside other work he was doing and assemble a plan within seven days to surveil and ultimately kill Trump, according to a criminal complaint unsealed in federal court in Manhattan.

The official was quoted by Shakeri as saying that “We have already spent a lot of money” and that “money’s not an issue.” Shakeri told investigators the official told him that if he could not put together a plan within the seven-day timeframe, then the plot would be paused until after the election because the official assumed Trump would lose and that it would be easier to kill him then, the complaint said.

Shakeri is at large and remains in Iran. Two other men were arrested on charges that Shakeri recruited them to follow and kill , who has endured multiple Iranian murder-for-hire plots foiled by law enforcement.

“I’m very shocked,” said Alinejad, speaking by telephone to The Associated Press from Berlin, where she was about to attend a ceremony to mark the anniversary of the tearing down of the wall. “This is the third attempt against me and that’s shocking.”

In a post on the social media platform X, she said: “I came to America to practice my First Amendment right to freedom of speech — I don’t want to die. I want to fight against tyranny, and I deserve to be safe. Thank you to law enforcement for protecting me, but I urge the U.S. government to protect the national security of America.”

Lawyers for the two other defendants, identified as Jonathan Loadholt and Carlisle Rivera, did not immediately return messages seeking comment. Iran’s U.N. Mission declined to comment.

Shakeri, an Afghan national who immigrated to the U.S. as a child but was later deported after spending 14 years in prison for robbery, also told investigators that he was tasked by his Revolutionary Guard contact with plotting the killings of two Jewish-Americans living in New York and Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka. Officials say he overlapped with Rivera while in prison as well as an unidentified co-conspirator.

The criminal complaint says Shakeri disclosed some of the details of the alleged plots in a series of recorded telephone interviews with FBI agents while in Iran. The stated reason for his cooperation, he told investigators, was to try to get a reduced prison sentence for an associate behind bars in the U.S.

According to the complaint, though officials determined that some of the information he provided was false, his statements regarding a plot to kill Trump and Iran’s willingness to pay large sums of money were determined to be accurate.

The plot, announced by the Justice Department just days after Trump’s defeat of Democrat Kamala Harris, is part of what federal officials have described as ongoing efforts by Iran to target U.S. government officials, including Trump, on U.S. soil. Last summer, for instance,  in a murder-for-hire plot targeting American officials.

“There are few actors in the world that pose as grave a threat to the national security of the United States as does Iran,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement Friday. FBI Director Christopher Wray said the case shows Iran’s “continued brazen attempts to target U.S. citizens,” including Trump, “other government leaders and dissidents who criticize the regime in Tehran.”

 of emails belonging to Trump campaign associates in what officials have assessed was an effort to interfere in the presidential election and harm Trump’s campaign.

Intelligence officials have said Iran opposed Trump’s reelection, seeing him as more likely to increase tension between Washington and Tehran. Trump’s administration , reimposed sanctions and ordered the , an act that prompted Iran’s leaders to .

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said the president-elect was aware of the assassination plot and nothing will deter him “from returning to the White House and restoring peace around the world.”

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Colorado Senate chooses Denver Democrat to serve as president /news/colorado-senate-chooses-denver-democrat-president/ Fri, 08 Nov 2024 22:16:03 +0000 /?p=571199 Sen. James Coleman, a Denver Democrat, will be the next president of the Colorado Senate after his caucus selected him in a virtual meeting Friday.

Coleman, elected to the Senate in 2020, is one of the more moderate Democrats in the chamber. 

“No one will out serve me serving you,” he said in the Friday meeting. “We’re a family. We will show the country why Colorado is special and continue to be a model.”

Coleman was unopposed in the election after Julie Gonzales, another Denver Democrat who was vying for the position, didn’t enter the official process during the meeting. Gonzales generally supports more progressive policies. 

Sen. Robert Rodriguez of Denver was reelected as the Senate Majority Leader, a role that requires making critical decisions regarding who sits on various committees. Bills must be approved by committees before being considered by the rest of the chamber. 

The Senate president has many official duties, including assigning bills to committees and overseeing debate during bills’ final votes. He will also have the power to set the tone for the chamber and influence which policy ideas are successful. 

Democrats fell one seat short of gaining a supermajority in the chamber after Republican Marc Catlin defeated Democrat Cole Buerger in Senate District 5, located on the Western Slope. Democrats in the House, who have their leadership elections Monday, appear likely to once again have a supermajority in their chamber.

The Senate will be made up of 23 Democrats and 12 Republicans. Coleman replaces Sen. Steve Fenberg, a Boulder Democrat who led the chamber for the past two years. 

Senate Democrats elected several other leadership positions: 

  • Senate majority leader: Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver
  • President pro tempore: Dafna Michaelson-Jenet, D-Commerce City
  • Assistant majority leader: Sen. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County
  • Majority whip: Sen. Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo
  • Caucus chair: Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco
  • Joint Budget Committee members: Sen. Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village and Sen.-elect Judy Amabile, D-Boulder

Senate Republicans reelected Sen. Paul Lundeen, R-Monument, to lead their caucus on Thursday. Sen. Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, will serve as assistant minority leader and Sen. Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction, will be the minority whip. Sen. Byron Pelton of Sterling will be caucus chair, and Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer of Weld County will be on the Joint Budget Committee. 

House Republicans reelected Rose Pugliese of Colorado Springs as their minority leader. They also reelected Assistant Minority Leader Ty Winter of Trinidad. Rep. Anthony Hartsook of Parker was elected caucus chair.

Rep. Julie McCluskie, is running to once again be the Speaker of the House.

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CDOT restricts trailers and towed vehicles on I-70 west of Golden as winter storm intensifies /news/colorado-i-70-trailer-restrictions/ Fri, 08 Nov 2024 21:52:08 +0000 /?p=571198 Vehicles with any type of trailer will not be permitted on Interstate 70 near and west of Golden starting at 4 p.m. Friday through 8 a.m. Saturday, the Colorado Department of Transportation announced. 

The hold comes amid that is currently in place in the Eastern Plains and Front Range metro areas, with some eastern counties projected to net as much as 3 feet of snow by Saturday. 

Weather in mountain areas is expected to be less severe, though the transportation agency is warning of travel impacts along the I-70 corridor due to winter conditions and . 

Trailers will be restricted on I-70 in both directions from mile point 259 in Golden to 205 in Silverthorne. The same restrictions will also be in place on: 

  • US 285 in both directions from mile point 250 in Morrison to mile point 184 in Fairplay
  • US 40 in both directions from mile point 234 Winter Park to mile point 256 in Empire
  • US 6 in both directions from mile point 217 Keystone to mile point 229 in Georgetown
  • I-25 in both directions from mile point 180 south of Plum Creek Parkway to mile point 150 at North Academy Boulevard

The trailer restriction is intended to reduce the chances of semitrailer and other spinouts that often cause prolonged closures.

“Motorists should make every effort to travel between the Front Range and the mountains either before these conditions arrive in the late afternoon or after the storm passes on Saturday,” the agency stated. 

For weather alerts, visit . For traffic alerts and road conditions, visit .

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ShredShox to host public demos at Birds of Prey World Cup /sports/shredshox-to-host-public-demos-at-birds-of-prey-world-cup/ Fri, 08 Nov 2024 21:20:17 +0000 /?p=571189 Ken Nichols epiphany is coming full circle.

The third-generation race car driver — who was inspired to create a shock and dampening system for Alpine skis while watching a World Cup race several years ago — is bringing his concept to the Birds of Prey event in December.

“ShredShox all started as an idea born from a passion for downhill ski racing,” Nichols stated in a press release. “Bringing the ShredShox technology to Birds of Prey, with its advanced suspension and damping abilities inspired by motorsports and mountain biking, marks a huge milestone for us. We’re excited to share this evolution in ski performance with event attendees.”

The ShredShox, developed by Next Level Platforms, is an innovative suspension system for Alpine skis created by former race car drivers. The invention was inspired by technologies used in motor sports racing.
Next Level Platforms/Courtesy photo

ShredShox is a patented, fully-adjustable suspension system tailored for snow skis. Its lightweight, air-spring style uses a dual-adjustable mountain bike shock and features both compression and rebound adjustments wherein skiers can apply boot pressure to the ski from the front and back. Developed and manufactured in Indianapolis, Indiana, the ShredShox’s plate is made from 100% high-strength carbon fiber; the entire apparatus, which is compatible with nearly all skis and bindings, adds 2.4 pounds to the overall weight of the ski.

Benefits include improved cornering and stability, as added static pressure keeps the ski in constant contact with the snow. The suspension also makes for a smoother ride and softer landings.

“The engineering and design is built on both form and function, delivering high-performance suspension and damping technology for the hardest of chargers, as well as those looking to enhance their stability and reduce fatigue throughout their body,” said Nick Foster, co-founder and head of design. “Being able to bring this technology to a world-class event is a great next step for ShredShox.”

Interested ski enthusiasts will have the chance to test the world’s only full-suspension ski platform during public demos in Beaver Creek Village Dec. 6-8. To reserve an appointment slot,

“This summer, we were excited to launch the ShredShox brand. Since then, we’ve been met with an incredible amount of interest,” stated Jarrod Krisiloff, head of brand and a part-time Vail resident.

“Given our racing lineage, there is no better place for consumers to get to know ShredShox and the exciting technology we bring to skiing,” Krisiloff continued. “I grew up skiing at Beaver Creek, and I can’t wait to see the ShredShox bombing down Gold Dust.”

Jarrod Krisiloff is a partner and head of brand for Next Level Platforms. A former sports and entertainment executive, Krisiloff lives in Indianapolis but has a second home in Vail.
Next Level Platforms/Courtesy photo

Currently available for pre-order, the first 500 customers can lock in their own ShredShox with a $100 deposit today. Krisiloff said delivery is expected in time for the 2025/26 ski season. The product comes in five designs — shadow, alpenglow, bluebird, sundown and the Tahoe 60 Edition, which pays tribute to ShredShox’s origins and the home of the 1960 Winter Olympics.

ߣÏÈÉú enthusiasts can test out ShredShox — the world’s only full-suspension ski platform, in Beaver Creek Village during the Birds of Prey World Cup from Dec. 6-8.
Next Level Platforms/Courtesy photo
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Colorado wolf likely died after fight with another wolf /news/colorado-wolf-killed-another-wolf/ Fri, 08 Nov 2024 19:31:44 +0000 /?p=571188 The death of an adult male wolf in September was likely the result of a fight with another wolf, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Colorado Parks and Wildlife received a mortality signal from the wolf’s collar Sept. 9 in Grand County. The death of the adult male wolf — one of those that was brought in from Oregon in December — was confirmed the next day. Following the incident, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began conducting an investigation to determine the cause of death. 

This was not the male wolf associated with the Copper Creek pack that died after being captured in early September.

On Friday, Nov. 8, a spokesperson from the federal agency said the wolf died from “injuries consistent with a fight, likely involving another wolf.”

While the full necropsy report will not be available until next week, the necropsy showed the wolf had suffered trauma “typical of wounds caused by wolves and other canids and preliminary analysis of hair samples collected from the scene further supports the involvement of another wolf.” 

The agency also noted that the wolf had suffered a gunshot wound on its rear leg, but that it was an old and healed wound. 

Further, the wolf was found to be in “good nutritional condition at the time of death,” the spokesperson stated. 

This wolf was found dead four days after Colorado Parks and Wildlife completed the capture of six wolves in the Copper Creek pack in the same county. A fifth wolf pup was discovered to be in the area three weeks later, evading secondary capture attempts by Parks and Wildlife in late September and early October. 

The adult male tied to the Copper Creek pack died on Sept. 3 in captivity four days after his capture on Aug. 30. When captured, the male was severely malnourished and had suffered an injury — and had deep puncture wounds — on his hind leg. At the time, Eric Odell, Parks and Wildlife’s wolf conservation program manager, told the media that it was “probably another carnivore-type animal attack” and likely not a human-related injury. 

While the Fish and Wildlife Service is also conducting the necropsy on this wolf, the agency has no further information on the death or a timeline for when the investigation will be complete. 

The first of the three deaths among Colorado’s reintroduced wolves occurred in mid-April following a mountain lion attack.

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Before & After: Hotel Maxwell Anderson /news/before-after-hotel-maxwell-anderson/ Fri, 08 Nov 2024 19:00:37 +0000 /?p=571178 In 1915, The Hotel Denver opened its doors, right across the street from the railroad station in Glenwood Springs. Throughout the early 1900s, the railroad transported tourists, settlers and miners, connecting Denver and beyond to the mountains of Colorado. Last July, it debuted its multi-phase renovation, which began in early 2023, along with its new name: Hotel Maxwell Anderson.

The charming, modernized hotel has benefitted from enhancements in the lobby and public spaces, as well as a complete renovation of the 73 guest rooms and the addition of 17 new rooms.

Throughout, they have maintained its original charm with thoughtful nods to its history, including displays of antiques in the lobby and even old-school, black phones in the rooms.

“The delightful old-world hospitality of this downtown Glenwood Springs boutique hotel has endeared locals and visitors alike since 1915, and we did not change that,” said Tony Sherman, owner of Terrapin Investments. “But Glenwood Springs continues to attract a new and broader demographic, and our lodging options need to reflect their preferences.”

The guest suites are fresh and contemporary.
Jess Blackwell Photography/Courtesy image

The town holds a rich past. It became a popular destination when the world’s largest hot springs pool opened in 1888, drawing wealthy travelers, and even presidents, which resulted in the need for a new train station. In 1904, Denver and Rio Grande Railroad built the depot across from The Hotel Denver, and bars, restaurants and shops began to spring up around it.

Art and Mary Kendrick, a bellhop and maid, respectively, saved up enough to open 17 rooms for rent in what became The Hotel Denver in 1905. They eventually transformed the entire block into a hotel and completed a three-story remodel utilizing brick in 1913. By 1922, the hotel boasted telephones, toilets in each room, an elevator, an impressive lobby and exterior lighting that rivaled the Denver Electric building.

During Prohibition, speakeasies popped up throughout town, and Chicago gangster Diamond Jack Alterie began staying at The Denver Hotel. One day, he emerged from the hotel with guns blazing, and another time, in 1932, he shot two salesmen through a closed hotel room door. As a result, a local judge ordered him to leave the state. Other notable, and more respectable, guests included the likes of Clark Gable.

The bedrooms have views overlooking the mountains and railroad depot.
Jess Blackwell Photography/Courtesy image

“This hotel has so many stories to share, which have been cobbled together over the last century, so the design intent was clear to us from the beginning: To create a space in which storied history and modern luxury artfully combine,” said Christina Skopliak, lead designer of the current renovation and owner of Denver-based Wild Muse Interiors. “We wanted to preserve its much-loved charm and appeal by carefully stitching together an aesthetic in which the old and new occupy the same space.”

To begin with, the hotel underwent a name change because visitors regularly mistook it for the nearby Hotel Colorado and even wondered if the property was located in Denver, rather than Glenwood Springs. Its new name, Hotel Maxwell Anderson, honors Maxwell Anderson, a conductor who represents the legendary railroad route. According to the hotel’s website, Glenwood Springs always beckoned him, no matter how many towns he passed through.

MKD Associates oversaw the renovation. The architectural design, by Rally Dupps, added new rooms from previously underutilized retail and meeting space. Within the large, updated lobby, the team created direct access to the adjacent Glenwood Canyon Brew Pub, a staple in town since 1996.

The lobby includes several seating areas.
Jess Blackwell Photography/Courtesy image

The property has maintained elements that harken back to the town’s history, while blending modern finishes and amenities, like in-room dining, that guests expect these days.

For example, the reception area is sleek and modern with domed pendant lighting, yet behind the counter guests find a stained glass desk lamp and the red-tassled door keys guests used to unlock rooms. The tin ceiling tile remains, albeit updated with white paint.

The lobby is a treasure-trove of memorabilia, including a wooden telephone booth and a rosewood grand piano built in 1885 in New York. Historic photos fill the three-story lobby, which some of the rooms overlook. The original brick walls have been painted in an ivory tone, and other walls have been updated in blue and gray hues. The space is well appointed with cocktail tables, long, sleek leather sofas adorned with rich velvet pillows and opulent chandeliers. The rectangular gas fireplace is one of the focal points, surrounded in stone to complement the natural environment.

The old guest rooms were dark and heavy.
Courtesy image

Wild Muse Interiors employed a sophisticated color palate and luxurious bedding, furnishings and textiles throughout the hotel. Sheer and blackout drapery replaces old curtains over the beautifully arched windows overlooking the mountains and railroad depot. Leather sofas adorned with faux fur pillows complement the mountain environment, and gorgeous area rugs over wood flooring welcome guests. An accent wall, painted in dark blue among the rest of the white walls, grounds the cozy bed in each guest room, while the high ceilings make the entire suite feel spacious.

The completely updated bathrooms blend contemporary design with historical elegance. Small, octagonal black and white tile flooring and a bathtub reflects the charm of Glenwood’s earlier days, while the showers’ modern, rectangular tiles and rain-head faucets add to the bathrooms’ contemporary style. Rounded edges on the new mirrors and an open vanity with a stainless steel rack below also contribute to the clean and airy aesthetic.

“The completion of this multi-phased renovation is a major milestone for the town, and we are excited to show off the history of the building alongside an updated new design that will delight any guest,” said Roger Smith, general manager of Hotel Maxwell Anderson. “As one of the original hotels in Glenwood Springs, this historic gem is an oasis for travelers looking for a boutique experience in the heart of town, and they will be delighted by these changes.”

Formerly the Hotel Denver, the lobby was worn and dated.
Courtesy image
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LaConte: A trail of breadcrumbs /opinion/laconte-a-trail-of-breadcrumbs/ Fri, 08 Nov 2024 18:05:56 +0000 /?p=571170 Next year I will celebrate 20 years of working as a newspaper reporter. I can’t think of a more rewarding career, but within the profession, some assignments have been more exciting than others.

In recent years, I’ve had the pleasure of taking over the Vail Daily’s Time Machine articles — our version of “this week in local history” pieces — which I’ve found to be among the most enjoyable jobs I’ve ever had.

I love Time Machine because through it, we can see the trail of breadcrumbs leading us to the house of cake that we now live in. Better yet, we can zoom in on those individual crumbs — the stories themselves — and find details within them that are reminiscent of today.

The column you’re now reading allows me to expand on Time Machine and last week, I wrote about how 2024 presidential election anxiety has nothing on Colorado’s gubernatorial campaigns from 120 years ago.

But I left out a story from that 1904 race that compares well to this week’s presidential election and the and others who helped him in his alleged crimes.

During the 1904 gubernatorial campaign in Colorado, the Republican party nominated Clarence C. Hamlin for district attorney in a district where he was accused of participating in mob rule.

“Mr. Hamlin, if elected district attorney, will have absolute authority to dismiss any and all cases now pending or hereafter brought against any member of the mobs which operated in the Cripple Creek district,” the Denver Times reported. “Mobs he, himself, assisted in directing.”

Hamlin became district attorney and did, indeed, throw out the cases accusing mine owners of mob rule. His story is worth mentioning alongside a few others from Colorado that can be connected to this year’s presidential campaign.

Domestic energy production

Trump, during the campaign, talked about increasing domestic energy production, including .

Eagle County has a long history of uranium mining; Time Machine from Aug. 12 describes how a uranium discovery in Eagle County in 1954 resulted in 68 mining claims being filed with the county clerk over a two-day period.

“Don’t tell me there isn’t a fever epidemic hereabout,” the paper’s editor wrote.

Vice President Kamala Harris, in her campaign for president, also being at an all-time high under the Biden administration and that will allow more fracking in the U.S.

In Colorado, fracking jobs are plentiful and energy producers want to send an oil train through Eagle County, transporting waxy crude from Utah. The oil train was rejected by the U.S. Court of Appeals, but the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the case starting Dec. 10.

High cost of housing

Both Trump and Harris and presented plans to combat the affordable housing crisis by increasing supply.

Affordable housing is a problem that was documented in Vail as long as 50 years ago. The Dec. 31, 2023 edition of Time Machine quotes architect Fitzhugh Scott, in 1974, saying if Vail Associates did not take the initiative on employee housing, no one would.

But fast forward to 2017 and we see the town of Vail forming a housing department in an effort to increase supply, something that was also covered in Time Machine.

LGBTQ chemicals conspiracy theory

Before he dropped out of the race and became one of Trump’s surrogates, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that chemicals in local water supplies are making children transgender.

While experts have refuted it, a little-known fact is the conspiracy theory actually traces part of its origin to a real discovery made here in Colorado 20 years ago. In next week’s Time Machine, (publishing on Monday) you can read about the Vail Daily’s 2004 coverage of biologist John Woodling, who found fish in Colorado that “had hermaphrodite tendencies,” according to the story, and how the discovery “shook him and attracted national media attention.”

Woodling attributed it to fish inhabiting waters below sewage plant outlets, and Dr. Tom Steinberg, Vail’s first psysician, was quoted in the story saying it was something that had been concerning him for decades. Steinberg recalled that when he first came to Eagle County, “the outhouses were built out over the river in Minturn.”

Issues with sewage in Vail-area waterways have popped up in other Time Machine entries in recent years, as well. In the Dec. 31, 2023 edition of Time Machine, a story from 50 years ago details how untreated wastewater flowed into Gore Creek when the town was busy, a problem that had been occurring “for the past few years during Christmas, Easter, and other periods of high occupancy.”

Crime, Hansel and Gretel

The final issue that really got me thinking about this week’s column was both Harris and Trump’s . Trump called himself the “law-and-order” candidate while Harris highlighted her experience as a former prosecutor.

This week’s Time Machine mentions a Vail jewelry store burglary from 1994. A few days before that Time Machine entry was published, I reported on another suspected jewelry store burglar being apprehended on Oct. 27. While the incidents occurred 30 years apart, I noticed a few similarities in the smash-and-grab techniques employed.

All of this was running through my head during this campaign season as I thought about stories of years past and stories of today, but it was a detail from that jewelry store burglary from 30 years ago that made me come up with the trail of breadcrumbs analogy from the Brothers Grimm’s “Hansel and Gretel.”

After catching up with the criminals in Lionshead, “police traced a track of jewelry and change back to the store,” the Vail Trail reported.

John LaConte is a reporter at the Vail Daily who authors the weekly Time Machine feature that runs on Mondays. Email him at jlaconte@vaildaily.com

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