Over 100 flu cases confirmed; schools hit hard

By Richard Walter

Staff Writer

It's here.

Influenza - flu, if you prefer - has been confirmed, with more than 100 cases in the county.

Confusing the issue is a continuing profusion of other ailments with similar symptoms commonly lumped under the heading "upper respiratory distress," and the ever-present common cold.

No one was willing to term the outbreak epidemic in proportion, but all agreed it needs to be quelled quickly.

Absentee statistics for the Pagosa Springs School system reflect the spread of the ailment, particularly in the elementary school.

In that building, a normal daily absentee total might be 40-45. But in the past week the total has been running 80-90 per day with a single day high of 93.

At the intermediate school, there was a "very high" percentage of absentees Monday and on Tuesday many students were sent home.

A school representative said "many probably came back too soon, and even a lot of the parents coming after them showed signs of having the disease themselves."

Junior high school secretary Kim Forrest said the number was down Tuesday but had been very high before the Thanksgiving break.

"It seems to be ebbing a little now," she said, admitting "I have my fingers crossed."

The high percentage rate was holding Tuesday at the high school.

On a normal day the number of absent students would be around 50 but on Tuesday it was 93.

Before the holiday break, the percentage was higher than normal but officials could not determine how much was attributable to the flu and how much to early vacations and families making out-of-town trips.

Fever, headache, fatigue, dry cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches are the common symptoms of flu, which usually comes on suddenly.

Dr. John Piccaro at Pagosa Family Medicine said the doctors there stopped counting the number of cases last week but "we know it's well over 100".

Dr. Mary Fisher Clinic reported Monday it had seven confirmed cases of influenza in the last two weeks.

Susan Kuhns at Pagosa Womens Wellness and Dr. Bob Brown's family practice, said they have no positive results but "what we're seeing in the community and the state as a whole makes it evident it is out there."

She said she's sure many people have not been tested and are "trying to live with it without seeing a doctor."

On that basis, she said, "we're not testing regularly, but if a patient requests it we will have the test done."

Still others do not have a local doctor and are seeing someone out of town ... several reportedly have gone to Farmington.

"Once you know it's there in the community and you're treating entire families for the ailment, you don't have time nor the inclination to conduct counts," Piccaro said.

"In fact," he said, "with the knowledge it is rampant in parts of the area, we've stopped doing the detection swabs as routine. It would just run up the patient's bill.

"We're still doing them for the very young children and the very old whose health status might be complicated by the flu," he said.

Patients, he said, need to know the difference between the common cold and the flu (see accompanying story), because "the sooner we know it's flu, the better chance there is of treating it."

It is not too late to get a flu shot, though you may find some offices temporarily out of the vaccine.

San Juan Basin Health Department's Pagosa Springs office has vaccine on hand and is giving shots 8-9 a.m. Tuesdays through Fridays at 502 S. 8th St.

Susie Kleckner, health department director, said there is a new antiviral treatment for flu sufferers which is effective if you begin taking it within 48 hours of becoming ill.

She said a number of doctors are prescribing it locally.

Health district budget approved 3-2 ; private audit now scheduled

By Tess Noel Baker

Staff Writer

The Upper San Juan Health Service District approved its 2004 budget Nov. 25 - barely.

The vote was 3-2, with Ken Morrison and Dick Blide arguing against passage following several questions from the audience and the announcement that a private subcontractor had been hired to audit September financials and bring bank statements back into balance.

"I have some discomfort regarding the bookkeeping to date," Morrison said. "I have some discomfort regarding the budget. I would like to have more time to study the numbers." He suggested postponing a vote on the budget until a special strategic planning meeting set for Dec. 2.

Earlier in the meeting, board member Debra Brown announced that a revision of 2003 budget numbers would be presented, perhaps, at the next meeting.

"We're trying to balance our bank statements," Brown, a member of the budget committee, said. "Right now, our bank statements are not balanced."

"Why?" Several members of the audience asked.

"We can't discuss that," was the reply. The district's accountant has been placed on administrative leave.

Board Chairman Charles Hawkins said the amount the district was off financially appeared to be fairly minimal. Brown added that problems with current bank statements would not affect the 2004 numbers.

Blide said his concerns centered on the revenues and staffing at the Dr. Mary Fisher Medical Center, outlined in the 2004 budget as compared with the plan for restructuring submitted in July by consultant Bob Bohlmann, a part-time resident of Pagosa Springs with 30 years of experience as an administrator and consultant in the health care industry. The board approved the restructuring plan over a plan to privatize the clinic. However, Blide said, budget numbers presented in the 2004 budget do not match up with projections Bohlmann made a few months ago.

"Why do you do this?" district executive director Dee Jackson asked Blide. If he had questions, she said, he should have come to members of the budget committee or the staff in the last month to get the answers rather than waiting.

"We're going to have to watch our financials every month," Brown said. "We're going to have to watch them every quarter and take it a day at a time."

J.R. Ford, an audience member, asked how it would be possible to watch the budget that closely when the financials were already behind.

"You don't have September financials yet and we're into November," he said. "No legitimate business would go this long without those figures."

Dick Babillis, a former board member speaking from the audience, echoed Blide's concerns. According to the budget, the district is predicting clinic income from patient fees at $880,000, about $50,000 below actual 2002 numbers, but about $155,000 up from projected 2003 numbers.

According to the budget message written as a preamble to the actual figures, "The restructuring of the district and more specifically rebuilding of the community clinic has created a transition period wherein revenues are substantially below expenditures. This rebuilding process is anticipated to require the use of previously cash reserves during this transition period." The message also states, "The clinic budget indicates the folding in of the Medical Group Management Association consultant's recommendations for rebuilding the community health clinic and utilizing the facility more effectively to house specialists and integrative medicine Š We have used the MGMA salary and revenue generation estimates."

The MGMA consultant, Bohlmann, put together a proposal last summer for rebuilding the clinic used, in part, to give board members a second option to a privatization plan presented by Ford.

Under Bohlmann's plan, which included medium numbers of patients seen by each provider to be profitable, both Babillis and Blide said, the recommendation was to start with one physician and one physician assistant - adding another physician assistant as warranted. That, Bohlmann said, would be enough to also provide on call coverage.

The recommendation was based on number of patients seen annually at the clinic. According to Bohlmann's report, prior to restructuring the clinic, the two physicians employed by the district were racking up about 4,700 patients per year. That is actually the medium number of patients one physician should see for a clinic to be economical viable according to the medical management group.

The 2004 budget calls for staffing the clinic with two physicians and no physician assistant at a cost of $272,000, plus an additional $12,000 apiece for the medical director and EMS physician advisor slots. The MGMA medium for one physician and one nurse practitioner was listed at $217,000.

"It's difficult to have a physician's assistant and cover calls, and everyone says we have to cover calls, so the only way we're going to do that is two physicians," Jackson said.

The addition of the physician - unless there is a corresponding increase in the numbers of patients seen will mean the district will see more of a shortfall from rebuilding the clinic, Blide said.

Later, Babillis pointed out district doctors will have to compete with approximately three additional full-time providers in the private sector in 2004. Two physicians and one physician assistant employed by the district last year are now operating in private practices - still within the district boundaries.

Those physicians were established in the community, Babillis said, and are likely to maintain relationships with a significant number of existing patients. It's also, unlikely, he added, that there is enough remaining population in Archuleta County to warrant an additional two providers.

"Unless you are currently seeing more than 200 patients a week, you have no justification for the staffing levels you are currently maintaining," Babillis said. "And this is not about the physicians - I have heard many good things about the care they are providing - it's about the company they work for."

Hawkins said at the lowest point, about 20 patients a day were being seen. Now, those numbers are hovering around 30 patients a day.

Babillis suggested the board consider the fact that the health care needs of the community have changed dramatically in the last year as the numbers of primary physicians in the private sector increased. Instead of competing with the private sector, he said the board should reduce staff and refocus its efforts on filling the remaining health care voids with a little less of an eye on profits. That, he said, could include stepping up efforts to tend to the medically underserved and unserved portions of the population.

Board member Patty Tillerson was the one to propose the motion to go ahead and pass the budget: "After all the hours people put in on this budget," she said. "I'd like to see us adopt this budget tonight based on the fact that it can be revised."

She got her wish.

According to the district's budget message, highlights of the 2004 budget for the ambulance service include: the addition of three paid staff members, the conversion from a paid billing staff person to a billing service, an increase in worker's compensation, and purchases of six radio pack sets, three computer terminals, four pulse ox meters and some equipment for accident rescues.

Jackson said under Urgent Care the district has added a RN triage phone service to minimize intrusion into the physicians' lives. The new service will allow patients of the district to call and reach a nurse on the phone. The nurse will be able to answer questions and page the physician when necessary after hours. In administration, a full-time training and public relations coordinator was added to the budget.

Total revenues from property tax income are projected to be up slightly.

Ample snowfall proves boon to merchants, economy

By Tom Carosello

Staff Writer

Have snow, will travel.

It's a common standard among visitors to southwest Colorado weighing the benefits of a winter trip into the San Juan Mountains.

And with an early abundance of snowfall across much of the region's high country, area businesses catering to winter sports aficionados seem poised to profit from a potential increase in the number of tourists targeting Pagosa Country this winter.

In fact, information provided this week by local merchants suggests this year's ample snow totals and a slight surge in economic activity during the month of November are anything but coincidental.

"We've been doing really well so far this year," said Roseanne Haidorfer-Pitcher, sales and marketing manager for Wolf Creek Ski Area.

"Compared to last year, we've had nearly a 10-percent increase in the number of skiers this season," added Haidorfer-Pitcher, acknowledging the area opened a few weeks earlier this season due to plentiful snowfall.

According to Haidorfer-Pitcher, as of Sunday Wolf Creek's year-to-date skier total stood at 30,509, exceeding last year's mark of 27,800.

"We didn't break any records over Thanksgiving, but we had a strong week with 3,400 showing up Friday and another 3,100 the following day," she concluded. "And I would say most were from out of town."

Overviews from employees and owners at local ski shops echoed her observations, with "above-average" being the mainstay description of nearly all who commented.

"It's been an above-average start to the season, definitely," said Francisco Braun at Pagosa Ski Rentals.

"And from what I've heard, everybody seems to be really happy with the amount of snow we've had," Braun added. "We've got mid-season conditions."

On a similar note, "Everybody's been really stoked about the conditions this year," said John Steinert, an owner/partner at Juan's Mountain Sports. "We're slightly above average at this point."

Dan Park, owner of Alpen Haus Ski Center, said his numbers appear to be on the upswing as well.

"For the month, I'd say we're actually above average," said Park. "I haven't run all the numbers yet, but I know we're over."

Likewise, "I would say numbers are up a little over last year," said Jeff Greer, owner of Summit Ski and Sports.

"Some of that may be due to the fact most of the ski areas in New Mexico aren't open yet," Greer added. "But this year our area is living up to its reputation as one of the best in the country; if conditions are good, people are going to come."

Others have seen average foot traffic, but are making gains in other areas, such as sales.

"Retail is up this year," said Thaddeus Cano, manager of Ski and Bow Rack. "Although so far our skier numbers have been about the same as in past years."

Additional economic indicators tell a similar story; timeshare ownership appears to be on the rise this winter also, according to Lauren McDonald at Fairfield Pagosa Inc.

From mid-November through the first week of December, "It's definitely up from last year," said McDonald.

"If the normal pattern holds, it will probably fall off a bit in the next two weeks, then pick up again heading toward Christmas," added McDonald.

"And we anticipate good numbers into next year ... we've built more units and will be able to accommodate more people," concluded McDonald.

In addition, lodging totals, down by about 7 percent from last year through late summer, now appear to be stabilizing.

In the latter half of November, "Our occupancy was average," said Shelley Roman, guest services manager at The Springs Resort.

"But we did sell out for the Thanksgiving holiday and we're booked plumb full from Dec. 25 through Jan. 1, with not one room to sell," she concluded.

"We're holding steady, perhaps evening out a bit after the holiday," added Judy Jacobson at The Spa. "But the numbers certainly aren't down."

Despite the recent bout of welcome news, exactly how this year's local economy stacks up to those of past years remains to be seen.

While a comparison of yearly sales tax totals provides answers, nothing will be definite until at least February since, due to processing delays, the duration between when sales taxes are levied and officially recorded equates to a couple of months.

But if apparent late-year trends continue, there is a chance that lackluster economic figures from the summer tourist season may rebound enough to prevent a second straight year of declines.

Town sets hearing on 'grandfathering' signs

By Tess Noel Baker

Staff Writer

Grandfather existing signs.

That was the suggestion made by members of the Pagosa Springs Planning Commission following a 90-minute workshop with about 12 members of the public Tuesday.

The workshop was in response to recent complaints about triggers embedded in the town's new sign code that require business owners to bring nonconforming signs into conformance regarding area, height, landscaping and coloration.

The triggers included a change in ownership and any time a building permit was required for a remodel. The ordinance also included an amortization period of five years for all signs to be brought into conformance. That part, however, was made unenforceable by state legislation passed last summer. After tripping one of these triggers, the business owner was required to bring signs into conformance, sometimes meaning a reduction in size.

This, some business owners said, was the equivalent of preventing them from selling their businesses, expanding or remodeling because of the added costs of replacing a sign. Besides that, members of the audience said, new maximums could require them to reduce the size of their sign and its visibility from the highway, possible affecting the number of people enticed to stop and shop.

Radine Downey, of Best Western, said the motel chain constantly tracks the reasons people stop. According to her documentation, a total of $250,000 in business this year alone came from people who saw the sign from the highway. Another $250,000 came from people who were "looking for a flag," or the name of a hotel chain on a sign.

"You can imagine if you take away that much money from one business what it means to the community," Downey said, adding that sign codes are putting town boards across the country in danger of greater liability than they may realize because of loss of revenue to businesses. Pagosa's current sign code, she said, would make her avoid requesting a building permit of any kind just in case her sign might be in jeopardy.

That sentiment was echoed by other business owners who said that, because pulling people off U.S. 160 was the only way to bring more business to town, signage was essential and should not be restricted.

"If someone wanted to put a huge orange and red flashing sign on Hot Springs Boulevard it might not be my choice, but if it would make the community more profitable I'd vote for it," Downey said.

Several people in the audience also wanted to know what was wrong with the old sign code and what triggered the new ordinance.

Tracy Bunning, a member of the Pagosa Springs Planning Commission, said two or three years ago a proliferation of banners and other temporary signs caused the town to begin looking at the old sign code. It was discovered that the former code, over 20 years old, was outdated, unwieldy and ambiguous in some areas. To make the code more equitable and prevent a proliferation of one sign bigger than the next, Bunning said, a group of citizens, mostly business owners, town staff, members of the planning commission and a consultant spent nine months creating the updated code.

Both Bunning and Mayor Ross Aragon said public input was requested throughout the process. Almost none was provided despite a number of public meetings. Only when the triggers for bringing signs into conformance kicked in did people begin to offer their opinions - three or four months after the ordinance passed. They added that the town's goal all along was to make things more equitable for business owners and make the town aesthetically pleasing for visitors.

Rice Reavis, chairman of the Pagosa Springs planning commission, suggested dropping parts of the section on nonconformance and, instead, implementing a program for grandfathering in existing signs. Grandfathered signs would be exempt from the maximum limits in the new sign code for the life of the sign.

After getting the nod to move in that direction from other members of the planning commission, Town Administrator Mark Garcia said staff would being to look at making changes to the code to make grandfathering work. It would, he said, probably have to include a period of registration for business owners to identify grandfathered signs and get them in the town's database.

The proposed changes to the ordinance will be presented to the planning commission for a public hearing Dec. 16 at 5 p.m. in Town Hall. From there, the commissioners will have a chance to recommend changes to the town board.

The Pagosa Springs Board of Trustees has final approval or denial authority over changes to the ordinance.

Dry conditions expected through late Saturday

By Tom Carosello

Staff Writer

Snowfall was absent during the past week as sunshine and above-average temperatures erased much of the snow cover across lower elevations in Pagosa Country.

According to the latest regional forecasts, it's a trend that seems likely to continue across the Four Corners region, at least for the next few days.

"We're looking at mainly dry conditions accompanied by some high-altitude clouds through Saturday afternoon," said Ellen Heffernan, a forecaster with the National Weather Service office in Grand Junction.

The chance for weekend precipitation is not great, said Heffernan, although a low-pressure system descending from the Pacific Northwest may stretch far enough south to affect the San Juan Mountains by late Saturday.

"By Saturday night there is a slight chance, perhaps 20 percent, that the mountains could pick up some snow, but nothing heavy," added Heffernan.

"Then it looks like Sunday and into Monday there could be additional mountain snow and some flurries in town, but by Tuesday morning things should start to clear out again," she concluded.

According to Heffernan, clear skies this morning should be replaced by increasing clouds by late afternoon and into tonight.

Daytime high temperatures should hover around 50, and lows should bottom out in the teens.

Clouds should remain throughout the day Friday, with highs expected in the 40s and lows in the 5-15 range.

Mostly-cloudy skies and a 20-percent chance for evening snow showers are in the forecasts for Saturday and Sunday; highs each day should hit the mid-40s, while lows are predicted in teens.

Monday calls for continued cloudy conditions, a minimal chance for snow, highs in the upper 30s to mid-40s and lows in the 10-20 range.

Clouds are expected to thin by Tuesday morning and give way to mostly-sunny skies by afternoon. Highs should peak in the 30s; lows will drop into the single digits.

Wednesday's forecast predicts mostly-sunny skies, highs in the upper 30s and lows in the teens.

The average high temperature recorded last week at Stevens Field was 43 degrees. The average low for the week was 17. Precipitation totals for the week amounted to zero.

Wolf Creek Ski Area reports a summit depth of 59 inches, a midway depth of 52 inches and a year-to-date snowfall total of 110 inches.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center reports the currently avalanche danger in the southern San Juan Mountains is low to moderate below timberline and moderate near and above timberline.

The latest reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture describe regional drought conditions as "severe."

According to the latest SNOTEL data, the snow-water equivalent level for the Upper San Juan Basin is currently at 172 percent of average.

San Juan River flow ranged from approximately 35 cubic feet per second to 85 cubic feet per second last week. The river's historic median flow for the week of Dec. 4 is roughly 65 cubic feet per second.

Basketball galore on tap for young Pagosa athletes

By Joe Lister Jr.

SUN Columnist

The following schedule of events is worth cutting out and putting on your refrigerator or calendar.

11-12 youth basketball:

Dec. 8 - 5:30- 6:45 p.m. at the community center. Student athletes with last names that start with letters A-L, have a workout to establish the division of teams.

Dec 8 - 7-8: 30 p.m. at the community center. Student athletes with last names beginning with M-Z, will workout for the coaches.

Dec. 10 - Draft day for coaches only, 6 p.m. at Town Hall.

9-10 youth basketball

Dec. 9 - 5:30-6:45 p.m. at the community center, last names starting with letters A-L; 7-8:30 p.m. last names M-Z ,will workout for the coaches.

Dec. 11 - Draft day with coaches-only meeting at 6 p.m. at Town Hall.

We have 126 athletes signed up for this year's program in the 9-10 division, a 30-percent growth in number of teams. Scheduling has been a nightmare, however we expect all kids and parents to have a great time.

Games will be played at both the junior high gymnasium and the community center gymnasium. With the number of teams, we need to play Monday-Friday and most Saturdays. Tentative tournament dates are Feb, 5-7.

Adult basketball

Start getting your teams together for adult basketball sign-up sometime in January. We will have rosters for both men's and women's leagues. Please note we will have open gym times available some time in January for preseason conditioning .

Last year the league began in February. We plan on using the same type of format to accommodate all the adult basketball needs.

Job applicants

We ended up interviewing four very qualified people to fill our recreation supervisor position and expect to make an offer today for this job.

After the job offer is made we do a background check, reference check, and finalize the offer by getting acceptance from the prospective applicant. It has been a very tough decision, however we think whoever is picked will do an outstanding job for the community.

Ice skating ponds

The ice skating ponds will be a day-to-day decision. We are measuring ice thickness and ice quality daily. Unlike the ski area, we need cold temperatures, not snow, to open.

Ideal daily temperatures to insure a good surface to skate are 40 degree daytime highs, to 5 degrees and lower for nighttime lows.

For daily updates please call the sports line at 264-6658 for recorded updates.

Disc golf

The Parks Advisory Board met with John Britton (local disc golf enthusiast ).

John is interested in using part of Reservoir Hill Park to build an 18-hole disc golf course.

In his presentation he felt that Reservoir Hill would be a great location for the course. The Parks and Recreation Board would like to hear the public's opinion on the idea of using this site for a course. Please call me with your input.

Call 264-4151, Ext. 231.

Season opener pits top-ranked Pirates against Salida

By Tom Carosello

Staff Writer

If preliminary state rankings hold water, the Pagosa Springs Pirates and Coach Jim Shaffer should make a lot of waves in Class 3A boys basketball competition this year.

The Pirates are a preseason No. 1 in the Denver Post's 3A poll released this week, while the Rocky Mountain News ranks Pagosa at No. 3 behind No. 1 Platte Valley and second-ranked Denver Christian.

While most pundits agree state rankings don't mean a whole lot in early December, one thing is certain - the highly-regarded Pirates aren't going to sneak up on anybody this season.

Instead, opponents will undoubtedly pay special attention to calendar dates signifying a contest against Shaffer's squad, with Salida being the first team to have Pagosa circled on its schedule.

The Spartans have known for some time they will be facing the Pirates tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. when they take the floor for the first round of the Buena Vista Invitational Tournament.

However, Salida's incentive for an upset in the season opener for both squads will now be twofold; revenge for last year's 54-44 loss to Pagosa in the same tourney, and the chance to knock off a potential state power.

But contending with a Pirate front court that boasts 6-7 senior Clayton Spencer and 6-8 junior Caleb Forrest will be difficult, especially when both are on the floor simultaneously.

Each is a returning starter from last season's Pirate team that went 20-5, and both put up good numbers against Salida last year, combining for 17 points, 13 rebounds and two blocked shots.

Also a returning starter for Pagosa this season is standout senior Ryan Goodenberger, a multi-talented 6-2 guard who added nine points, five rebounds, two steals and two assists en route to last year's win over the Spartans.

For the opening tip against Salida, Goodenberger will be accompanied in the back court by 5-10 senior point guard Ty Faber and either David Kern or Jeremy Caler, both senior, 5-9 guards.

Tomorrow will mark Faber's debut as the starting point man for Pagosa. Faber is a scoring threat with a nose for the ball who will direct an offense he is very familiar with after serving as the No. 2 floor general for Shaffer last season.

Kern and Caler saw extensive action last year and will be concerns for opponents at both ends of the court this season as well.

Kern started several games for the Pirates as a defensive specialist, while Caler showed the potential to be a prolific scorer due to his consistent shooting touch.

Additional returnees from year's varsity roster who will once again be expected to add depth to the lineup are 5-7 senior point guard Casey Belarde, 6-0 senior guard/forward Coy Ross and 6-1 junior guard Otis Rand.

Pagosa varsity newcomers Luke Britton, a 6-3 senior guard/forward, and 6-3 sophomore forward Craig Schutz will also lend their talents to this year's campaign on a regular basis.

If the Pirates down Salida tomorrow and host Buena Vista defeats Battle Mountain, Pagosa will meet the also-ranked Demons Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in a rematch of last year's tournament championship game.

Buena Vista topped Pagosa 65-55 during last year's tournament and is currently ranked No. 5 in the Denver Post poll while occupying the No. 7 slot in the Rocky Mountain News rankings.

Free throws were the main difference in last year's contest as an injury-riddled Pirate squad shot a cool 50 percent from the charity stripe, making just 15 of 30 attempts.

Pagosa played the Demons evenly in all other aspects, getting a combined total of 31 points and 17 rebounds from Spencer and Forrest, and a 12-point, seven-board effort from Goodenberger.

The prospect of two top-10 teams meeting so early in the season is enough to whet the appetite of even casual basketball fans, as a Pagosa-Buena Vista clash would likely exude an energy normally reserved for state playoff competition.

If the Pirates should stumble against Salida, however, they will play at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the consolation championship game against the loser of tomorrow's 8:30 p.m. battle between Buena Vista and Battle Mountain.

But attitudes during the first three weeks of practice reveal Shaffer's Pirates recognize accolades are earned on the court, not on paper, and all indications are they will not be looking past Salida until the final buzzer sounds tomorrow night.

Pirate grapplers head for Rocky Ford with virus as a prime foe

By Karl Isberg

Staff Writer

The Pagosa Pirate 2003-2004 prep wrestling season begins Saturday at Rocky Ford.

The team's toughest opponent might be a virus.

According to Coach Dan Janowsky, the Pirate ranks have been decimated by illness the past week. Whether the missing in action recover could be the deciding factor as the team heads into a series of dual meets out on the eastern plains.

"We've got a lot of guys sick," said Janowsky. "This hit us really hard and disrupted our training schedule. We could have a lot of our guys over it by Saturday, but it will definitely have an effect on our conditioning."

So, in terms of strength and stamina, the virus might win.

But, a virus has little effect on technique, so the team could be on the verge of some strong performances, both at Rocky Ford and in the early part of the schedule.

"Technically," said the coach, "we're good, considering it's the start of the year. But, it's been hard to push the guys."

Janowsky noted the viral onslaught has kept some of his wrestlers from attaining their goal weights. The lineup at Rocky Ford might not be indicative of what the team will look like come midseason. "Some of our guys are having to pull some weight," he said, "and this is hurting them. We're still shifting weights."

Where and whether some of the Pirates will compete Saturday was set in wrestle-offs Tuesday afternoon.

Regardless of the Pirate lineup, the competition at Rocky Ford will, as usual, be tough. There will be 12 teams at the event, competing initially in three-team pools.

Following the first round, where each team gets two dual matches, the tourney is seeded and restructured, with each team competing in two more duals.

This year the host team and the Pirates will be joined by five other Colorado 3A teams: Roosevelt, Platte Valley, Trinidad, La Junta and University. Three Colorado 4A teams will enter the fray as will Taos, N.M. Crowley County, a perennially tough 2A team, rounds out the field.

"There will be a good representation of eastern slope teams," said Janowsky, whose Pirates are the sole representative from this side of the Divide. "We'll see two of the dominant teams in 3A in La Junta and Roosevelt and all the schools have solid programs. We'll end up with four solid duals by the end of the day. At this tournament, you find your level of competition. We went two for two last year and we weren't a great dual meet team.

"We'll get tested at least once in the first round by a strong team. If we're average, we'll get one tough match and three duals with teams of comparable ability.

"Nobody's weak at this tournament, but I think we'll have a solid lineup and I'm hoping we'll be at least 3-1."

It's the coach's first opportunity to see his athletes in action against unfamiliar wrestlers - a chance to make the first, key evaluations of talent this year.

"I'm looking forward to seeing them wrestle live," he said. "Despite our illnesses, we're technically ahead of where we usually are at this time of the year. It will be interesting to see how we do when it's a matter of competing against someone you don't see every day in the practice room.

"It'll take time to develop some of our kids into varsity wrestlers, since this is their first crack at it. But, they have a lot of experience in the wrestling room; they're not rank beginners. This tournament will give us a look at what we've got and we'll need to make adjustments for a while at the start of the season."

Action at Rocky Ford starts Saturday at 9 a.m.

Ladies take scrimmage lessons into practice for Buena Vista tourney

By Richard Walter

Staff Writer

Defense was excellent but the offense lacked cohesiveness.

That was the assessment Monday of Bob Lynch after his Lady Pirate basketball squad had spent most of Saturday scrimmaging against Cortez and Durango on the latter's home court.

"We're ahead of where we were last year at this time," he said, "but we are not where I thought we might be because of our experience."

For that reason, much of this week's training action will focus on ball movement, working off the screens and looking for open breakers.

"We need to control our turnovers and get better shots on all possessions," he said, as the team prepares to open the 2003-04 season at 4 p.m Friday against the Salida Spartans in the Buena Vista Invitational.

The winner will play the winner of a contest between Buena Vista and Battle Mountain for the tourney title at 6 p.m. Saturday. Losers will play for third place at 3 p.m.

Starters for Pagosa will all be returning letter winners, with 5-7 sophomore Liza Kelley at the all-important point guard position, 5-9 juniors Lori Walkup and Bri Scott on the wings and twin posts 6-1 junior Caitlyn Jewell and 5-11 sophomore Emily Buikema.

Coming off the bench will be 5-10 sophomore Caitlin Forrest, 5-9 junior Melissa Maberry and 5-8 sophomore Kari Beth Faber, along with 5-6 sophomore China Rose Rivas and a bevy of impressive freshmen including Jessica Lynch, Laurel Reinhardt, Kim Canty, Kristen DuCharme, Iris Frye, Lindsey Mackey, and Jennifer Haynes. All the latter group were members of an undefeated junior high school championship team last year.

But, back to the scrimmage and Lynch's evaluations.

1. "Our outlet positioning did not take advantage of left-right options but kept trying to work the passes into the defense."

2. "We need to create space and be more aggressive with our physical presence inside."

3. "We need to spread the floor on offense and use our conditioning to sprint, sprint, sprint and wear the opponent down."

4. "We need better communication on the floor with teammates constantly keying each other to situations and positioning, both ours and the opponents."

5. "We need to concentrate on what we need to do and not be drawn into what the foe wants us to do."

That said, he later told the squad he expects them to dictate the tempo in this weekend's tournament.

"If you get winded," he told his team, "signal for a substitute. We have a lot of capable help on the bench. We can, and will, keep fresh players on the floor."

With the squad's overall speed and an expected height advantage over most opponents, Lynch said, "I expect you to run the fast break regularly. We should beat them down the floor. But if we don't, we need to get into our offense faster, not giving the defense an opportunity to set up."

The Buena Vista action will give Lynch a good idea of where the team is compared to where he wants it to be.

They'll follow up that tournament with games against Clear Creek, Cortez and Gunnison in their own Wolf Creek Classic the following week then close out the 2003 portion of their season the following week in the Rye Classic with games against Florence, La Junta and Trinidad.

They will not return to the hardcourt wars until Jan. 8 and 9 when they go on the road to Dolores and Aztec, respectively, before getting into Intermountain League action.

Most observers rate Centauri the team to beat in the league, with Pagosa a close second and then Ignacio, Bayfield and Monte Vista scrambling for position.

Warren W. Batie

Warren W. Batie, a former Bayfield resident and Pagosa Springs grocery owner, died Monday, Nov. 24, 2003, in Grants, N.M. at age 100.

Mr. Batie was born in Eastland County, Texas, July 18, 1903, to Claborne and Lou Batie.

He was a graduate of Drahagn's Business College in Abilene, Texas, and one of the founders of Artesia Peoples State Bank. He owned and operated markets in Pagosa Springs and Rocky Ford, and in Artesia, Roswell, Carlsbad, Albuquerque, Alamogordo, and Grants, N.M., as well as convenience stores in Alamogordo and Albuquerque.

After a career in the grocery business, the Baties moved to Colorado. They later retired in Tucumcari, N.M., on a little livestock farm that he loved. Mr. Batie was a member of the Church of Christ. He moved to Grants in 1997.

Mr. Batie was preceded in death by his wife of 75 years, Ruby; three brothers, Luther, Dee and Toy; and three sisters, Madge, M.L. and Agnes.

He is survived by three sons, Eugene Batie of Odessa, Texas, Elvis Batie of Grants, N.M., and Don Batie of Chico, Calif.; one daughter, Laverne Jones of Grants, N.M; 12 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson; two sisters, Eva Billingsley of Paradise, Calif., and Wilma Reid of Roswell, N.M.

Funeral services were held Nov. 28, 2003, at Terpening and Son Mortuary Chapel in Artesia, N.M., with Roby Zumwalt and J.T. Ross officiating. Burial followed at Woodbine Cemetery.

Wilma Morrison

Wilma Erlene Morrison was born Oct. 4, 1927, in Anadarko (Caddo County) Okla., to Kenneth and Doris McWethy Hunt. She went to her heavenly reward Dec. 1, 2003, from her home in Pagosa Springs.

Survivors include her husband, Harold E. Morrison of Pagosa Springs; her sons and their spouses, Keith and Katy Morrison, of Homestead, Fla., and Ken and Linda Morrison of Pagosa Springs; and her granddaughter, Christine Morrison, of Pagosa Springs.

Growing up as a farm girl, Wilma attended a one-room country school in Anadarko where she was allowed to skip two grades. She graduated at the top of her class from Anadarko High School and attended Phillips University, Enid Okla., where she received a B.A. degree in mathematics with a minor in physics in 1948. She accepted a high school teaching position at Perry, Okla., where she taught mathematics for three years.

She later joined Phillips Petroleum Company Research Department using an electron microscope for three years in Bartlesville, Okla. There she met Harold E. Morrison. The couple married in Enid, Okla. in 1952 and lived in Bartlesville for 35 years.

Wilma loved teaching and young people all her life. She attended summer school at University of Colorado, Boulder to meet requirements for an Oklahoma Life Teaching Certificate. She secured a Colorado certificate in 1985.

In Bartlesville, Wilma chose to be a homemaker and math tutor for many years during which she raised sons, Keith and Ken. When they were grown she returned to teach mathematics at Sooner High School for nine years, retiring in 1985.

She moved to Pagosa Springs in 1986, substituting in the school system periodically.

Wilma was baptized at age 12 in First Methodist Church, Anadarko, and had membership in the Methodist churches in Enid, Perry and Bartlesville, Okla., and at Community United Methodist Church in Pagosa Springs. She started a nursery and a Methodist Youth Fellowship in the Bartlesville East Cross Methodist Church and was a youth director for a year or so in that church together with Harold.

Her favorite projects at Pagosa Springs Community United Methodist Church were improving the nursery and the church library.

Wilma was involved in many community activities. She loved the Mountain View Homemakers Club and began its baby-sitting course. She was Archuleta County Fair secretary and was cofounder of the Pagosa Piecemakers Quilt Guild.

Her greatest hobby was needlework - especially needlepoint, cross-stitch, Crewel embroidery, and quilting. She was a wonderful gardener, canner and cook. She spent many hours documenting trips, events and people in creative scrapbooks, and spent many years researching her family history.

Wilma tried her best and successfully befriended and helped everyone she met.

Memorial gifts may be made to Arthritis Foundation or Community United Methodist Church. Memorial service plans are pending and will be announced at a later date.

Clues will help determine if you have the flu or a cold

Is it the flu?

With all the ailments affecting the county populace these days it sometimes is hard to tell.

If someone in your family has been diagnosed with the flu, which is highly contagious, there is a chance you may also come down with it.

There are some indicators to watch for:

- the onset of flu is sudden whereas that of a common cold is gradual

- with flu there is fever, characteristically high, over 101 for 3-4 days, while fever is rare with the cold

- the cough accompanying flu is dry and can become severe while a cough with the cold is hacking style

- headache is common with flu but rare with the cold

- muscle aches and pains are common and often severe with flu but only slight with a common cold

- tiredness and weakness lasting two to three weeks is associated with flu but the same indicators are normally very mild with a cold

- flu often results in early and prominent exhaustion but it does not occur with the cold

- chest discomfort is common with flu but only mild to moderate with a cold

- stuffy nose is sometimes present with flu but common with a cold

- sneezing, too, sometimes accompanies flu but is typical with a cold

- sore throat is occasional with flu but common with a cold.

Antiviral medication can help you feel better faster. If you think you have the flu, contact your doctor immediately.

Elementary school gets district's first 'high' rating from state

By Richard Walter

Staff Writer

The results are in and the winner is - Pagosa Springs Elementary School.

That's not to say the other schools in Archuleta School district 50 Joint were losers in the state's annual accountability report released Wednesday.

But the elementary school achieved new status, moving from average to high academic performance in the current year, the first school in the district to reach that level.

The intermediate, junior high and high schools all remained at "average" level and were graded by the state as stable.

Asked to explain why the elementary school proficiency surged, principal Kahle Charles paid tribute to his teachers.

"They all got on the program and worked diligently to make every child in school successful," he said. "I want to congratulate this staff for deciding it would close the gap and then working to do so."

The teachers spent most of the last three years, he said, formulating the program curriculum.

"Reaching the high level is a plus for the entire staff," he said. "Now we'll work to keep that level of performance."

Scores for the school showed 75 students tested proficient or advanced in reading and 64 at the same level in mathematics. Average daily attendance in the school is 547.

At the intermediate school, the figures were 68 and 45 in those two categories respectively, plus 48 proficient or advanced in writing. Average daily attendance is 243.

Junior high data indicates scores of 64, 28 and 46 in the three categories. Average daily attendance is 249.

High school figures showed 73 proficient or advanced in reading, 52 in writing and 22 in mathematics. Average daily attendance is 476.

For the high school only, reading ACT level was 19.26; writing ACT at 17.56; and math ACT at 17.48.

School district administrative staff is in a statewide conference in Colorado Springs this week and unavailable for comment.

Health district continues work on developing goals

By Tess Noel Baker

Staff Writer

The Upper San Juan Health Service District Board focused on the future during a strategic planning meeting Tuesday.

The workshop was a continuation of a nine-hour retreat in Durango Nov. 1 where board members had an opportunity to digest results of focus groups attended by about 60 people in the community and create some short and long-term goals.

Tuesday's session was called to streamline those goals and begin the "how to" portion of the planning process.

Board members started with eight short-term goals - things to accomplish in the next six months to a year, and seven long-term goals - items to work on the next year to three years.

Over the next two hours, they paired the short-term goals down to six, ranking each by priority. Some of the short-term goals considered included:

- identifying problems and solving them

- building working relationships with community doctors

- improving public relations, external communication and presenting educational programs

- improving board leadership, direction and credibility

- streamlining the organization to achieve maximum financial and service success

- improving internal organizational communication.

At least part of one of those goals is already in the works in the community, Karma Raley, the independent consultant leading the strategic planning process, said. A new group, the Pagosa Community Health Alliance, has been formed to, "broaden the scope of health care choices in Pagosa Country," according to a flier. "We are dedicated to empowering people to maintain optimum health and committed to supporting the integration of community-wide wellness." The group is planning to present a free Heart Health forum Dec. 9 from 7-9 p.m. in the Pagosa Springs Community Center.

The board also cut the long-term goals down to six. These included:

- expanding urgent care, emergency services and 24/7 coverage

- establishing sufficient reserves for emergency capital purchases

- expanding diagnostic services

- adding a 23-hour staging center

- exploring the feasibility of a birthing center

- pursuing a bond issue for the Nov. 4, 2004, election to fund a facility to house all district operations on one campus, for instance moving the EMS offices over to the medical campus on South Pagosa Boulevard.

Board Chairman Charles Hawkins, and other members of the board advocated putting the bond issue at the bottom of the list to give the district time to study things like the 23-hour beds and the birthing center before going to the public for a vote.

"If we think we're going to get a bond issue passed we're fooling ourselves," Hawkins said.

Executive Director Dee Jackson said the idea for the birthing center and moving EMS over to the medical center came directly out of the focus groups.

Board member Patty Tillerson said the expansion of health care services in the community - including a 23-hour bed and 24-hour emergency services is something the community has been asking for years - and something they would support.

"I'm hearing more and more and more positive comments," Tillerson said. "People are starting to see what we're doing. People need to continue to see that it's not just talk, we're doers."

Once the goals were prioritized, the board began focusing on the how tos. They started with short-term goals and identifying problems. From there, they tried to come up with ways to address the problems.

Problems, various board members said, included: the communication with local physicians, resistance to change in the community, misconceptions in the public about past board action, a small vocal group of people who want to see Jackson and Hawkins removed, and another small group of vocal people who would like to see Dick Blide removed as a director.

Tillerson said all of that was dwelling on the negatives when, instead, the district should be looking to the positives.

"I think we have every right in the world to hold our heads high and be proud," she said.

Raley, the consultant, said the situation at the hospital district has been hot politically for so long it wears on everyone involved. She suggested that all the board members take time before the next meeting to write down all the positive things they'd accomplished and balance those against the negative.

"It's time to stop being defensive," she said. "It's time to start being proactive." Really, she added, according to those in the focus groups, people in town want one thing - to know that the doctor is in.

Jackson said she keeps returning to one comment from the focus group participants, "Continue to do what you do, and do it well."

Jackson said the strategic planning process is ongoing. All documents remain preliminary at this time. Final plans will eventually come before the board for a vote.

Benefit Sunday for 'Bear' Bolhouse

Family and friends will host a benefit dinner and silent auction 5-8 p.m. Dec. 7 for Rick "Bear" Bolhouse.

What started as another ordinary day for Rick Nov. 7, with the exception of a headache that would not go away, ended with a big scare.

It came after a helicopter ride to Farmington where he underwent a series of tests, CAT scans and MRIs. After 11 days in the hospital, being diagnosed and undergoing six hours of surgery to remove a brain tumor that was bleeding, he got the "bad" news.

The tumor was a result of an extremely rare disease of the central nervous system, a disease so rare that it had never before been seen in the Four Corners area, and until the early 1990s the prognosis was poor.

An aggressive new treatment, however, is making great headway with an 80-90 percent survival rate.

Bear's only chance of survival and beating the disease is to start treatment immediately. It is a lengthy and costly process and the benefit is planned to help defray some of that cost.

There will be a BBQ buffet, live music and silent auction. Donations can be made at Wells Fargo Bank, c/o Rick "Bear" Bolhouse.

If you have questions, call 264-6605.

Marital sanctity

Dear Editor:

In the Oct. 16 edition, Rev. Bolland wrote an article about the definition of marriage based on God's word. My husband and I are not yet residents of Pagosa Springs, but hope to be within the next year.

We would like to salute Rev. Bolland for his stand on the sanctity of marriage and the courage to speak out about homosexuality as a sin.

Unfortunately, many in our country are willing to allow this promotion of an unacceptable lifestyle to invade all aspects of our lives. If we all stand by passively, what other behaviors will be promoted as acceptable?

A study of history shows that the perversion of a society correlates to the downfall of that society. If we don't take a stand together, we will all fall together.

Bill and Terri Clayton

Bixby, Okla.

From the front

Dear Editor:

I read the letter authored by Wendy Wallace referring to Mr. Sawicki's question, "Lord, where do we get such men and women." She says it is easily answered. I printed out her "answer" off the Internet and was very upset along with the rest of my squad.

In that letter, all the people of our great nation were insulted - including the wonderful people of Pagosa Springs. Soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen come from all over the United States. We all have various backgrounds but all come together for the common good of our nation.

The assumption that we were forced to "learn to kill, on the streets or in the military" because of our economic background is ridiculous. To imply that military members come from schools that are sub par is a slap in the face. In fact, most have at least some college credits and college graduates are common in the military.

I take it as a personal insult to my family when the remarks about families are made. On top of all of that, the writer claims that since she sympathizes with veterans and donates money to their organizations we should not misconstrue her letter. I think I speak for a lot of current and former military when I say that we do not want sympathy; appreciation would be a lot more appropriate.

Monetary donations do not give anyone the moral right to belittle us.

I know it may not have been the writer's intent to insult the military or the communities, families, and schools that they come from. But it was the result. I know that the letter was most likely intended as a political statement, not as an insult.

However, using service members to make a statement is an insult to all those who have died to ensure the very right that protects this newspaper and the people who decide to write letters. It is a moral outrage.

No thank you was mentioned, no appreciation, and not a word about how nice it is to be free. And on top of all that, our military and its members were associated with the term "unwitting cannon fodders."

These are the brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers and mothers of people from our very own town.

Yes, everyone has a right to express their opinion, and I encourage all people to do so. But do not do it at the expense of service members, their families, their communities, and the fallen heroes who have kept this country free for over two and a quarter centuries.

Have enough decency to leave us out of the political arena and its smearing game.

I would like to thank all those who have served our country and the families of those who have fallen while doing so.

Robert S. Gomez

Perplexed

Dear Editor:

This "dimwit" who has been "dumbed-down and indoctrinated with fraudulent patriotism" as implied by Wendy Wallace in her Nov. 13 letter, is somewhat perplexed wondering why she cannot deal with the public's "predictable and abysmal discourse" to which she alludes in her Nov. 27 letter.

I assume it must be that entire "utter disregard for truth" that is bothering this woman who, once again, does not choose to elucidate. Whine she can do, elaborate she cannot.

Maybe I'll toss a little truth in her path and see what direction she will take - if any.

It is always easier to perceive error than to find truth. The former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter lies in the depths, where very few are willing to search for it.

Maybe ya just need to probe a little deeper for your freedom before you will begin to appreciate its copious blessings.

You might want to ask one of those "fraudulently indoctrinated" patriots who have recently returned home from Iraq about freedom. I am certain they will retain your ultimate attention and give you a graphic and detailed outline.

What do you think about our president's surprise Thanksgiving trip to Baghdad to visit our patriots at war? Think it boosted their morale? I know, it was just a photo-op and we shouldn't be there in the first place. Americans are killers.

Remember when Bill "Slick Willie" Clinton went out on that solitary rockless Normandy beach and somehow found enough rocks to form a cross? How dare a president bring Christianity to a photo-op - that was dangerous.

No need to send me another one of your sympathetic "thank yous." But should you insist, because of the astute accuracy of you observations - you're welcome.

Jim Sawicki

Ethics concerns

Dear Editor:

I feel compelled to respond to Fred Ebeling's letter dismissing a proposed ethics code for the commissioners as "ridiculous," since I spent the better part of a year, off and on, working on drafting, and getting the commissioners to accept such a proposal (though, certainly not the one the county attorney drafted).

Fred and I agree on many issues, and I agree with him that the financial disclosures required by the drafts rejected by two of our three commissioners would constitute an unreasonable invasion of one's privacy, if the covered party were a private citizen.

What I disagree with, though, is Fred's assertion that such disclosures would be unreasonable to impose on a publicly elected official. In my view, because such individuals have so much opportunity to misuse their public position(s) to further their own private interests at the expense of those who elected them, public disclosure of "private" business relationships should come with the territory of being elected to public office.

Such relationships become relevant to the voters when one of those "private" business colleagues comes before the elected official to request something that, if approved, would be granted at the expense of the taxpaying public.

Those who have lived in this community for any length of time should be aware that this is not merely an academic argument.

At the risk of overanalyzing the "legal gibberish" to which Fred refers, I agree with him that the sanction of "private or public censure" by a commissioner's colleagues would have been, in all respects, meaningless window dressing in any "ethics" code, and was one of the reasons I objected to the county attorney's draft. And, no, Fred, no covered official would have to reveal specific bank accounts under either draft that was brought before the commissioners.

To respond to Fred's question as to why should such financial requirements apply only to the commissioners, not to the other elected officials, my only answer is (and was, as far back as almost two years ago), let's first see if the commissioners will impose financial disclosure requirements upon themselves and their administrator before we urge them to impose such requirements on others. Well, we've got our answer now, don't we?

Certainly, voters always have the option, should they think a commissioner is using his/her elected position to further his/her personal gain, of voting the scoundrel out (or, as the two commissioners opposed to the code pointed out in our last work session, there's also the option of sending 'em to jail). The only problem is, how do the voters find out about such abuses of the public trust?

A clear set of financial disclosure rules, imposed on our elected officials, would give the voters one more tool by which to determine for themselves the true motives underlying county level decisions.

But, oh, well, I guess it evidently still is just academic for Archuleta County.

Nan Rowe

Health care

Dear Editor:

This year will soon end and thanks to the hard work of our many committed employees, our Health Services District is in good shape.

I look forward to the new year with enthusiasm as we work together to bring new and expanded health care services to Archuleta County.

Special thanks to those who have encouraged us throughout these past months - you made our efforts worthwhile.

I strongly urge any of you who are interested in supporting our goals as a member of the board of directors to take your resume to the district office, 189 N. Pagosa Blvd., and leave it with Susan Spencer, administrative assistant to the board. Best wishes to all for a safe and healthy holiday season.

Patty Tillerson

Power politics

Dear Editor:

A couple of weeks ago in this column, Upper San Juan Health Service board director Patty Tillerson accused those of us in opposition to the district's policies of playing "power politics."

There is truth to be found in this situation and this time it didn't take long to come out.

In last week's paper, the board's chairman, Charles Hawkins, admitted the board's last appointment of a director was faulty. That is an understatement.

The appointment of Debra Brown to replace Sue Walan was done the way it was because just moments after the appointment the board voted to turn down the Physician Advisory Committee's plan for cooperation and healing of the system. They wanted her known negative vote to defeat the plan.

The chairman rushed into replacing the position that he and the majority of the directors had obviously discussed and preordained. This was without the benefit of an open meeting or any legal meeting. Only when the demands came from the audience and some board directors, did the chair allow nominations of other interested candidates. The appointment was railroaded.

This was the most bodacious, underhanded and destructive political power play in recent county history. It was without ethical merit and undemocratic.

Mr. Hawkins knows this appointment was wrong now - and knew it was wrong then. If he didn't he has no right to hold the chair position.

This board has allowed itself to be led down a very long, mean spirited and incompetent path. They have turned down the advice and cooperation of local people who can and are willing to help. Two paid professional advisors have condemned their operation of the district. They refused to recognize the outcry and substantial petitions from the citizens. They have admitted to and continue breaking the Sunshine Laws. They now make monthly excuses so they don't have to reveal the district's financial status.

When will the remaining board members, who have perpetrated this disaster, realize the charade is over? An ego-driven and vain attempt to prove faulty policy is correct and continued irrational support for failed management is not worth the pain in this community or the chance of producing a "catastrophic patient event."

There are people here who have "the right stuff" to reverse the decline in our health care system and begin healing and progress. Every day the current regime continues its policies and actions makes the reversal, the healing, the future progress more costly, time consuming and difficult.

As long as this board continues patterns of pretend health care and deceit of the public, we of the opposition will be here to represent the citizens, the same citizens who Mr. Hawkins claims "do not matter." We do, Charles, we do!

Norm Vance

Misleading

Dear Editor:

"In the spirit of accuracy" you noted in your response to a recent letter by Tom Cruse that you had not spoken to him in regard to the local League of Women Voters' Budget Study Report. That is accurate - but also misleading. You did speak to me, a member of both the budget study committee and the League board.

At that time you stated that you gave no weight or authority to the report because members of the study committee were not professionals. When I inquired as to whether you had read the report, you stated that you had not. My response to that was that you should at least read the report before making such a judgment.

The newspaper has had a copy of the report from the time it was presented to the county commissioners several months ago. Because of the lack of reporting on it, the full-page ad was purchased to inform the public of the study.

In closing, I would like to quote from two readers of High Country News, who state my sentiments better than I. One says "Šthe media in general, and newspapers in particular, are so obsessed with the bottom line that they've lost sight of the unique role they were assigned within our democracy: To provide all of us with the information, ideas and context we need to competently govern ourselves." Another agrees by writing, "There is a shameful and unethical lack of vigilance by the majority of today's newspapers Š Readers are also to blame, because few demand that newspapers provide them with what they actually need-complete and unvarnished information to help them make crucial decisions about their lives."

Newspapers do play an important role in our lives. Your responsibilities are even greater when you are the only source of local news in a community.

Sincerely,

Lynda Van Patter

Issues

Dear Editor:

It has been drawn to my attention that a letter in your Oct. 23 edition from T.A. Cruse, entitled "Civility replaced" is worthy of response.

I take issue with Mr. Cruse's letter on the following points:

a) I believe the letters to the editor are a healthy venue for expression of issues that may otherwise be overlooked or simply relegated to "gossip."

b) In all the years I have read The SUN, the letters page does not contain the level of "anger" implied in Mr. Cruse's letter - certainly heated debate and sometimes welcome satire. (God bless Lee Sterling - you are sorely missed!)

c) I would thank most sincerely The SUN for publishing the Shepherd's Staff. I enjoy reading the various contributions from outside my own particular experience. In the case of Pastor Bolland's dissertations, they have provided much needed spiritual comfort during the difficult times this "orthodox" Episcopalian has endured since the election of Bishop Robinson.

d) Mr. Cruse, who is due to be confirmed as an Episcopalian Dec. 7 will find that whilst all are welcome at worship as he has been, most members are unlikely to embrace his revisionist views of scripture or moral conduct.

The Rector of our church, St. Patrick's, is scheduled to leave at the end of this month. I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank her for the many years of selfless service. We all wish her well in a new appointment close to her daughter in Massachusetts.

Finally, Mr. Cruse, I appreciate your awareness of the "critical theological and moral issues" surrounding the present controversy. I am sure this will enlighten future discussions when the vast majority of our local church who oppose the election of an openly homosexual bishop, make their opinions known in elections of a new leadership and selection of a new Rector.

Ian Vowles

Qi Gong instructor to take over yoga class, too

By Laura Bedard

SUN Columnist

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner at the center Nov. 26 and it was well attended, despite the fact our seniors had the opportunity to eat two other Thanksgiving meals on the Sunday and Tuesday before ours.

It helped that we had fair royalty serving the meal, as well as the teen group from Immaculate Heart of Mary, and we are grateful for their assistance.

Our Qi Gong instructor, Vasuki, has graciously volunteered to take over Rich Harris' yoga class. She will start the Yoga in Motion class in January. It will still be on Tuesdays, but she will start at 10 a.m. instead of 9:30. I think you will find the class similar to Rich's, so please come in January and check out the new class.

Memories

George is reminiscing back at the SC_None ranch ...

"When was the last time you rode on a street car? Do you remember them? I do and I have some fond memories of riding on them. There were two different lines that came into our hometown - one on the hour and one on the half hour.

"They ran until about midnight between Golden and Denver. You entered the street car through the front door next to the motorman - usually. When you got down into Denver they opened the middle door so you could get in and out at the middle, but on the long runs to the suburban towns they only needed one door.

"The trolley, of course, was a wire charged with electricity which was hung above the track. The streetcar trolley had a little wheel on it that rode along pushing up against that cable and that's where the electricity came from. If someone pulled the cable down, away from the wire, the car would stop. This was often done around Halloween - big fun for ornery kids. Do you remember?"

Things to do

The holiday video for this Friday is "Silent Night with Jose Carreras." We will be showing it in the lounge at 12:45 p.m. Next week we will be showing "Joy to the World," a holiday celebration from Nashville, Tenn. If you need some holiday spirit, these videos will provide it.

Our Medicare counselor, "Slim" Jim Hanson, will not be here Dec. 12. He should be back the week after.

We are also looking for a massage therapist in the community who might want to volunteer time once or twice a month to give our seniors chair massages. You need your own chair. Contact Laura at 264-2167 if you'd like to help our seniors.

The national Institute on Aging has recently published a publication entitled "2001-2002 Alzheimer's Disease Progress Report." This 48-page update offers a comprehensive overview of the remarkable recent advances in Alzheimer's disease. The progress report is a companion to the 2002 publication, "Alzheimer's Disease: Unraveling the Mystery," which provides basic science background on Alzheimer's Disease in easy-to-understand language.

Both publications are available free from NIA's Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center. To order copies of either, call the ADEAR center at (800)438-4380 (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday) or send an e-mail to adear@alzheimers.org. You can also view and order the publications online at www.alzheimers.org.

Events

Friday - Qi Gong, 10 a.m.; Medicare counseling, 11; veterans benefits, 11; blood pressure check, 11; holiday video in lounge, 12:45 p.m.

Dec. 8 - bridge for fun, 10 a.m.; Help a Friend Beat the Holiday Blues with Susan S, 12:45 p.m.

Dec. 9 - advanced computer class, 10:30 a.m.; diabetic concerns with Dr. Guy Paquet, 12:45 p.m.

Dec. 10 - beginning computer class, 10:30 a.m.; cowboy poetry with Bill D., 12:45 p.m.

Dec. 11 - Farmington "Shop Till You Drop" trip, 8 a.m.

Dec. 12 - Qi Gong, 10 a.m.; Medicare counseling, 11 a.m.; holiday video, 12:45 p.m.; senior board meeting, 12:45 p.m.

Menu

Friday - Hot turkey sandwich, mashed potato and gravy, green beans, fruit cup and cranberry sauce

Dec. 8 - Spaghetti with meat sauce, tossed salad, garlic roll and peaches

Dec. 9 - Country fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, broccoli, whole wheat roll and apricots

Dec. 10 - Baked fish fillet with lemon, boiled potatoes, carrot-raisin salad, bran muffin and fruit cup

Dec. 12 - Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and onion gravy, zucchini, bread stick and strawberry fruit

Six candidates vying for three board seats

By Sally Hameister

It is with great pride that I announce our six candidates for the 2004 Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

The toughest part of this annual process is selecting only three from the outstanding six to serve as directors. It's always a difficult and heart-wrenching decision, but select we must, every year.

Please give careful consideration to each one of the following well-qualified and rarin' to go candidates: Robin Auld, attorney at law; Jessie Formwalt with Appraisal Services, Inc.; Tony Gilbert with Elk Meadows River Resort; Linda Gundelach with Coolheads Boutique; Sherry Neill with Bank of Colorado and Patti Renner with Nature's Creations, Renner's Mini Storage and The Office Lounge.

You can read complete profiles on each of these fine folks in your current Chamber Communiqué, and I encourage you to chat with them when you have the opportunity about their vision for our Chamber in coming years.

Parade of Lights

Please stop by with your entry form for this year's Parade of Lights which will take place Dec. 12 beginning at 6 p.m.

The great thing about this year is that there is no entry fee, so all you have to do is fill out the form and create the "Best and Brightest" float in one of three categories to win $100. Yep, we're awarding the same prize money as we always have in the business, family and organization categories. Also keep in mind that we are going to require at least 10 entries to hold the parade. It requires a lot of hard work for our local law enforcement agencies, and I just wouldn't feel right about asking them to risk life and limb for under 10 floats.

Give us a call with questions at 264-2360 or just stop by to pick up your form. The deadline for entry is end of day Dec. 9, and we hope to have the biggest and best parade yet.

Recovering economy

I was delighted to read upon my return from the Thanksgiving holiday the news from both Club 20 and the Colorado Tourism Office that several of Colorado's ski resorts are anticipating one of the best ski seasons in several years thanks to early snow and an economy that appears to be reviving.

Locally, we are looking very good for the holidays, and I talked to several lodging facilities' employees who were ecstatic to be fully booked for the Thanksgiving weekend. The particularly early opening of our Wolf Creek Ski Area hasn't hurt one little bit, so I think that we can afford to be quite optimistic about our statewide and local tourism this winter. Hope springs eternal, kids.

I also received an in-depth recap of the recent Colorado Tourism Conference held in Pueblo in October, some of which I have already shared with you in previous columns. I did pass along the increasing importance of the drive market in Colorado and some of the steps this Chamber is taking to capitalize of that market through AAA magazines and other avenues. I will continue to pass along tidbits from this comprehensive report as time goes by.

Christmas in Pagosa

We hope you've noticed the big banner on Hot Springs Boulevard announcing our big day on Saturday, Christmas in Pagosa.

Even if you don't have little ones, we hope you will stop by for all the festivities beginning at 3 p.m. when Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive to spend time with all the little ones listening to Christmas wishes and handing out candy canes.

Also available, of course, are all the delicious cookies baked by our very own "Cookie Lady" and board director, Sally Hovatter, who begins this formidable task a couple of months ahead of time. If you've tasted them, you know that it is well worth the wait and effort. Hot spiced cider will be on tap as well along with Jeff Laydon of Pagosa Photography who will capture those priceless moments with Santa for you to share with all family members who can't be here.

We are always delighted to welcome the Mountain Harmony Ladies Chorus who arrive in our parking lot around 5 p.m. to lead us in all the traditional carols. This year we are thrilled to have cast members from "A Wonderful Life" joining us with tunes from the show and Christmas music as well.

Terry Smith and the wonderful gang at Circle T/Ace Hardware are again providing transportation for our precious cargo Dec. 6 and also for our float in the Parade of Lights the following Friday. We are also grateful to the Sharps at Firefly Ranch who generously allow us to use their bales of hay every year for our Mountain Harmony Ladies to perch upon.

One of my favorite moments of the year occurs around 5:30 p.m. when Santa comes out to the deck of the Chamber and performs his magical countdown to the official beginning of the holiday season in Pagosa when the 80 squillion lights go on at the Visitor Center. If you have never seen this little miracle, it's about time you did. I never tire of the spectacle or of the looks on the faces of all the little ones when they come on. Join us please for a bit of holiday magic.

Santa visits Pagosa Kid

We remind you once again that the Jolly Old Elf will visit Angela Atkinson and her gang at The Pagosa Kid Saturday, Dec. 13, from 2-4 p.m. Refreshments will be available as well as complimentary digital photos of your little ones with Santa. Photos will subsequently be posted on the Pagosa Kid Web site for easy download to send to friends and relatives.

Please plan to join Santa, Angela and the gang at Pagosa Kid, or call with questions at 264-9330.

"A Wonderful Life"

Tonight is opening night for this year's Music Boosters holiday production of "A Wonderful Life" and I will be there in my traditional role of "ticket seller."

A cast and chorus of 47 of our friends and neighbors will combine to bring us this musical production, singing, dancing and acting their little hearts out. I am just ever so grateful and somewhat amazed with these folks who spend so many of their precious hours working on sets, rehearsing and just generally devoting their lives to this endeavor for many weeks. It is especially daunting to me that they do this during the absolute busiest time of the year. Our sincere gratitude goes out to each and every Music Booster for their efforts.

Dale Morris is undertaking the ever-so challenging tasks of both director and choreographer, and seasoned pro, Melinda Baum, is musical director and orchestra conductor. John and Oteka Bernard, a professional acting duo, will star in the roles of George Bailey and his wife-to-be, Mary Hatch, with a stellar supporting cast.

Performances will take place at the Pagosa Springs High School auditorium Dec. 4, 5 and 6 at 7:30 p.m. with a Sunday matinee Dec. 7. Tickets are priced at $12 for adults, $10 for seniors (60 and over) and $6 for students and children. Reserved seat tickets are available at The Plaid Pony at the corner of Piñon Causeway and U.S. 160, or you may call 731-5262 for information.

Pagosa Perks

Keep us in mind as you begin to look at bonus options for your employees and when you are stumped as to what to give anyone and everyone on your Christmas list this year.

Pagosa Perks are the absolute simplest and easiest answers to your holiday quandary, and we hope you will take advantage of this time and stress saver.

It's as simple as coming to the Visitor Center and buying whatever amount you would like to give as gifts for all occasions. Remember that these are not only holiday gifts but equally as welcome for birthdays, anniversaries, graduation and basically any and every special occasion. Another great thing about these beauties is that they come in increments of $10 so that you can spend as little as 10 or as much as you like - the sky's the limit.

We will also provide special envelopes for presentation with a list of all Chamber members enclosed so that your recipient will know that they have many, many options as to where they elect to spend the Perks. As I have mentioned before, Pagosa Perks will buy groceries, pay utilities or go just about any blasted place you want them to go.

Pagosa Perks also allow you to give the absolute perfect gift to everyone because the lucky recipients have the luxury of selecting exactly what they would like. What could be better? Just think of the stress you will eliminate by not worrying about sizes, colors and tastes. Pagosa Perks could make you the most popular gift-giver in town. Give us a call with questions at 264-2360.

Holiday Gallery Tour

I know you think your December calendar is about as full as it can be, but I'm thinking that you need to make room for another fun event. The Pagosa Springs Arts Council is sponsoring a gala Holiday Gallery Tour 5-7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19.

A variety of folks will be hosting that evening and invite you to stop by and enjoy refreshments, entertainment, door prizes and no small amount of warm Pagosa camaraderie. Plan to visit Pagosa Photography, Moonlight Books, Taminah Gallery, Handcrafted Interiors, Lantern Dancer, Rocky Mountain Wildlife Park and the PSAC Gallery in Town Park.

Tickets are available for $10 and $8 for PSAC members at the above businesses, Chamber of Commerce and WolfTracks Bookstore and Coffee Company. PSAC members will need to pick up their tickets at the Gallery in Town Park.

Community Choir

The annual Community Choir Christmas Concerts are just around the corner and attendance at least one of them should be mandatory for everyone who savors every delectable drop from the holiday season.

The first concert is 7 p.m. Dec. 12, so you can attend the Parade of Lights downtown at 6, and still have time to make it over to First Baptist Church on U.S. 160.

Another performance will be held at the same time Dec. 13, or you can attend the 4 p.m. concert Dec. 14.

You will be treated to some of the finest voices in Pagosa in traditional music like "Silent Night" or more current tunes like "White Christmas." If you don't leave with boatloads of holiday spirit, have someone check your temperature.

Please call Sue Kehret at 731-3858 with question.

Open house

Do plan to stop by Moonlight Books and Gallery Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. and continuing throughout the day until 5 p.m. You should be able to work it in nicely with Santa's appearance at the Visitor Center beginning at 3 p.m.

Local artists, Denny Rose, Virginia Bartlett and Bruce Andersen will be there with demonstrations and discounts, Glen Raby and Shari Pierce will share a brief history of Pagosa Springs, and snacks and drinks will be served throughout the day.

Community caroling

The community center will be hosting its first Community Christmas Caroling and Cake Walk Dec. 10 at 5:30 p.m.

They'll get things underway with the lighting of a 12-foot Christmas tree and follow that with some fun community caroling. To help keep you warm, they'll be serving up hot chocolate and hot cider along with some scrumptious Christmas cookies. After the singing, everyone will head inside for a visit with Santa and a chance to win some more holiday calories at the cakewalk.

The folks at the community center would like to remind anyone looking for a place to hold their holiday party, that the center has rooms to meet all needs. From small and intimate to big and boisterous, the community center has the space you need to hold your festivities. Give them a call at 264-4152 to book a room or drop by to see what they have to offer.

Membership

It always adds to the festive nature of our holidays to announce two new members and five renewals. Regardless of the season, we are grateful to members old and new for their continued support and loyalty.

Our good friends, Lois and Jere Hill, who were formerly members with two companies and now supposedly retired, join us with a brand-new business, United Mini Storage located 1/2 mile south on U.S. 84 at 399A. Obviously these two energetic folks can't quite retire yet, huh? Give Lois and Jere a call at 731-4911 for more information.

Renewals this week include Aspen Springs Community Pride, Inc.; Dave Jackman with Chimney Rock Interpretive Association at the Chimney Rock Archaeological Area; Rusty Hinger with the Bruce Spruce Ranch; and Paula Miser with The Springs Resort Hotel and The Springs Resort.

Our new Associate Member this week is Elmer Schettler who was recruited by our prima recruiter, Kathryn Heilhecker. Kathryn can put yet another notch in her recruitment belt with our warm thanks for all her efforts.

Holiday, vacation activities

guide available on Internet

Thanks to the Colorado State Library for sending us a great handout of holiday and vacation activities for parents and kids.

They have listed Internet sites with a wealth of free coloring sheets, games, crafts, and recipes that can be printed and used. We will make copies of the list for you. Ask at the desk.

The Reading is Fundamental Parents section gives activities according to age. You can search for rainy-day activities for kids 5 to 8, as an example.

The PBS site links special pages to each of its kids' shows. The Arthur site has activities such as guides to making hats, a play, etc.

Activities that include a broad menu of ways adults can have fun and help children learn come from the U.S. Department of Education.

The Kansas Department of Education site has a page full of kid's activities. For example, in one December activity, the parent helps the child decorate 25 envelopes, put a piece of candy in each, then hang them on a string as a way to count the days.

Kidsource Online has year-round ideas. Read*Write*Now is another federal program with activities catalogued by age.

Crayola brings a wonderful collection of coloring sheets, puzzles, and Christmas activities.

Two of the most fun things to do at holiday time are also the easiest: making a book with your child using pictures cut from magazines or drawing pictures, and adding a few lines of a simple story.

Do something to share with others - make something for a neighbor, take food to a senior, collect food for the local food bank.

There's much more. Please come in and get a copy of the sites, courtesy of the Colorado State Library.

Gift gadgets

The December issue of PC Magazine has a treasure trove of new electronic products.

The editors tell us that nearly three-quarters of all U.S. households are likely to purchase at least one product this holiday season. This issue also covers new Kids software.

New look

The library provides more than 70 current magazines that may be checked out.

Thanks to Becky and the staff, and to Donna and her volunteers, all of our magazines now have bar codes and will be checked out just like books and other materials.

Please notice a big colorful dot, a bar code and the library name on magazines in the future. Be sure and get them back on time.

Having magazines bar-coded and in the system allows us to keep better track of our materials and where they are.

Our new computer system keeps all kinds of records of library usage. It is truly quite miraculous what the system does. I am still absorbing the possibilities.

Fortunately, Becky Porco worked with a similar system back in Maryland and has made this transition easy for us. We thank Becky for her excellent work. Becky has become such an expert, she is now serving on a state committee and represents us very well. She is helping other small libraries adapting to the complex system.

Silent auction

Come on you history buffs, put in a bid on the 12 boxes of history books, all of which are in good to excellent condition. These are not library books - they belonged to a private collector. We currently have one bid of $255. The books are worth much more than that.

Building fund names

More names to add to the list as of this week.

Millennium category: Alan and Barbara Sackman.

Director: Lois and Ralph Gibson.

Benefactor: Pagosa Women's Club.

Sponsor: Odd Jobs Unlimited, John and Joyce Webb.

Associate: Paul and Barb Draper.

Donor: Bonnie Brooks, Kenneth Coughron, Pine Tree Home Care.

Other donations

Thanks for materials from Gary Hopkins, Dick Hillyer, Wanda Garner and Diane Bower.

Analyzing the final twoVAHC eligibility categories

Last week we reviewed VA health care Priority 1 through 6 categories. This week we will review the remaining two priority levels that determine VA health care eligibility.

Before I discuss the remaining VAHC eligibility categories I want to emphasize some very important considerations that I mentioned last week. They're worth repeating. Once enrolled in VA health care remember it is important to do two things:

1. Get a minimum yearly physical. This ensures you remain in active patient status.

2. File a Means Test financial report each year on your enrollment anniversary date based on the previous calendar year's income. Your previous year's income tax report is the proper source for this information.

Failure to do either of these for a prolonged period could get you un-enrolled from VA health care and it may be very difficult to get back in.

Priority 7 stays in VAHC

Enrollment Priority 7 gets a little more complicated, and a MT usually determines VA health care. This is for veterans who agree to pay specified co-payments with income and/or net worth above the VA MT threshold and income below the HUD geographic index (GMT). There are several subcategories in this priority level.

7A: Non-compensable 0 percent service-connected veterans who were enrolled in the VA health care system on a specified date and who have remained enrolled since that date. I assume the "specified date" refers to Jan. 17, 2003, when a cut-off was made on higher income veterans not enrolled by that date.

7C: Non-SC veterans who were enrolled in the VA health care system on a specified date and who have remained enrolled since that date. Same assumption as 7B.

7E: Non-compensable 0 percent SC veterans not included in the A and C sub-priority groups.

7G: Non-SC disabled veterans not included in the A and C sub-priority groups.

Priority 8

Enrollment Priority 8 is for veterans who enrolled after Jan. 17, 2003 and agree to pay specified co-payments with income and/or net worth above the VA MT threshold and the HUD GMT. Veterans in this category are not eligible for VA health care at this time, unless enrolled before Jan. 17, 2003.

8A: Zero percent Non-compensable service-connected veterans

8C: Non-SC veterans

8E: Zero percent non-compensable SC veterans who applied for enrollment after January 16, 2003

8G: Non-SC veterans who applied for enrollment after Jan. 16, 2003.

Predicted new rules

I felt this cut-off of VA health care enrollment for higher income veterans was going to happen and have enrolled hundreds of veterans from Archuleta County prior to Jan. 17, 2003. All these veterans so far are "grand-fathered" into the system and can continue receiving VA health care, regardless of their income. Hopefully, this enrollment policy will not change. The legislature is under a lot of pressure from veterans groups to restore VA health care to those veterans who fall into Priority 8 category.

However, in a meeting Thursday with Albuquerque VAHC officials it was reaffirmed that veterans should enroll in VA health care, even if they think they are not eligible because their incomes may be above the MT threshold or HUD GMT. Submitting the application ensures the veteran is in the VA computer systems. That way they will be at the head of the line and may be eligible at a later date if and when the current policies discontinue the financial barrier.

For information on these and other veterans benefits please call or stop by the Veterans Service Office located on the lower floor of the county courthouse. The office number is 264-8375, the fax number is 264-8376, and e-mail is afautheree@archuletacounty.org. The office is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Thursday, Friday by appointment. Bring your DD Form 214 (Discharge) for registration with the county, application for VA programs, and for filing in the VSO office.

Shawn Steen and Jenny Sochar were married in Colorado Springs on Sept. 13, 2003. Jenny is the daughter of Corry and Mark Sochar. Shawn, son of Tom and Ming Steen, graduated from Pagosa Springs High School in 1995. He and his wife currently reside in Denver.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Nicholas J. Cangialosi, son of Stephen L. Cangialosi of Pagosa Springs, is currently on deployment while assigned to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit home based in Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Members of Cangialosi's unit recently completed operations in Iraq, conducting more than 300 patrols in Southern Iraq including 50 by the expeditionary unit's boat company.

The unit also trained local police in the setup of security checkpoints, confiscated weapons and destroyed more than 2,000 rounds of ordnance, much of which was found near villages and playgrounds.

Cangialosi joined the Marine Corps in August 2001.

Firefighters in residence

Live in program means nighttime coverage

for fire district

By Tess Noel Baker

Staff Writer

A speedy response to the scene of a fire or accident can mean the difference between walls and ash or life and death.

Because of that, response time for emergency personnel is a concern everywhere - including Pagosa Springs where part of a $2.8 million bond issue for the Pagosa Fire Protection District was used to construct living quarters at Station 1 last spring.

The goal - put volunteer firefighters closer to the trucks.

In May, the first group of three moved into the living quarters, a three-bedroom 1,100 square foot apartment.

David Hartman, Larry Escude and Mike Valdez, all bachelors, bunk just a few feet from the trucks. Two of the three take turns covering on-call shifts from 11 p.m.-7 a.m. seven days a week.

"We're here lots longer than that, but that's when we need to be here," Hartman said. Each man is on five days, off two and everyone pitches in to help keep the station and the trucks clean and ready to roll at all times. The setup allows the volunteers to work paid full-time jobs and serve the department in their off hours. In return, they receive free rent and utilities.

Fire Chief Warren Grams said, so far, the residence program has worked wonderfully. "For the price of utilities I have three people in quarters I'm not paying salary or health care," he said.

The tradeoff is really a win-win situation.

"It's helped us out financially and in turn helped out the community immensely," Hartman said. One day they were paged to the nearby Shell station and trucks were on scene in two minutes. Another time, they were on the scene of a chimney fire on Davis Cup Drive in five minutes.

"Before, it would take five minutes just to get to the fire station," Hartman said. In the case of the incident on Davis Cup, the fire had burned itself out, but some day it could mean the difference between saving a home and losing it. Besides that, the department took over extrication duties in May. Anytime the ambulance rolls to an automobile accident, the fire department rolls as well.

"If somebody is trapped in a car then every minute counts," Valdez said. "If we're cutting four minutes off the response time we're making a big difference."

According to district records, 19 motor vehicle accidents and 19 fire calls have been dispatched between the hours of 11 p.m.-7 a.m. since the beginning of the year.

Since January, Hartman has responded to 90 calls. Valdez has responded to 50 calls and Escude has responded to 11.

Grams said because the program has only been in operation for six months the district has not started tracking the reduction in call times. Still, he said, it's helped. "It especially shows up on our rescue truck response time," he said.

Since inception of the program, he said, there's been only one instance where no one was in quarters to respond to a call - that was a recent condo fire at Mountain Landing. At the time, the firefighters were returning from training.

Grams said the idea for an in- quarters volunteer crew is not a new one. Other fire departments in the region started resident programs in the early 1980s.

"The premise behind it is now we have three people in station in the evenings," Grams said. He and the other paid staff are around during the day to cover calls but, in the past, volunteers had to first respond to the station in the evenings, pick up a truck and head to the scene.

When renovations to Station 1 were complete, Grams said, he opened the residence opportunity to all firefighters. It just so happened that three bachelors applied.

"We could put a family in there with one guy on the fire department," Grams said.

So far, so good, as far as the roommates go.

"I thought there would be quite a bit of adjustment with other people's habits, but we seem to get along great," Hartman said. Their only complaint has been the front door - which has to be slammed in order to shut.

"It's a new venture for the fire department so there's always challenges," Valdez said, "but I don't have one regret about coming in here. For me, it's actually a good feeling that I was part of the first three to live here."

Not only that, he said, but it gives him the opportunity to increase his experience as a firefighter.

"It's the next best thing to being on a paid department -sleeping 30 feet from a fire truck," Valdez said. Valdez is a lieutenant with the fire department. He's been a firefighter for three years and works for Archuleta County Road and Bridge.

Hartman has been a firefighter in Pagosa Springs for six years. He is a plumber by trade, and a captain on the fire department.

Escude is an EMT-Intermediate. He's been a firefighter for eight years.

All three residents have reached certified Firefighter-One status.

As the senior firefighter of the three, Hartman earned the biggest bedroom and private bath. The other two bed down in small, galley-like spaces, sharing a bathroom. The kitchen and living room are common areas. Each man is assigned shelves in the refrigerator - and certain items are sacred - but most are around for the common good.

Of the three, Hartman is the only cook. "I enjoy the kitchen a lot," he said. Valdez said his dinners generally come in the form of pizza or Chinese food provided by local eating establishments - despite having graduated from culinary school. Escude's freezer shelf was well-stocked with Hungry-man dinners.

All three have firefighting in their blood. Valdez said he's been interested in the profession since he "was 4 or 5 years old and lit the backyard on fire," he said.

"It's not for everybody," he added. "It takes a special person to run into a building when everyone else is running out."

Hartman said he joined the Pagosa Fire Protection District, "to help the community, and I enjoy it immensely. The best thing about it is when you get a good save and the people who live in the building come around and thank everybody. You can't explain how good you feel."

Escude said they all have the voters in the county to thank for the opportunity to participate in the residence program.

Grams said the program is a benefit to the department and to the community. In the last few years, Pagosa's firefighters have responded to about 300 calls annually. The majority of those are motor vehicle accidents. After that, the highest numbers are wildland fires in the summertime. On average, Grams said, the smallest number of calls are for structure fires, aircraft incidents and hazardous material spills.

Still, he said, the department must be prepared at all times.

"You never know what you're going to show up and get."

 Pagosa's Past

Saved by thirsty cow ponies

John M. Motter

PREVIEW Columnist

Gold triggered the first Anglo settlement in the San Juan Mountains.

Gold on the hoof, the four-legged kind, wasn't far behind.

Cattleman moved into the San Juan Basin before it was legal to be here, before the parameters of the Southern Ute Reservation were worked out.

Last week we looked at pioneer cattle raising in this area from the perspective of C. E. Hampton. According to Hampton, he drove cattle into the area in November of 1875.

Hampton didn't tell us where he came from, but he did say that cattlemen got along with the Indians until the Texans arrived and muddied the waters. From that statement, we can be pretty sure Hampton didn't come from Texas.

My best guess is Hampton came from the Denver area and he was not driving Texas longhorns.

The first cattle in the San Juans may have been descendants of cattle first driven to Oregon on the Oregon Trail, then driven back to the Rocky Mountains as a result of the 1859 Pike's Peak Gold Rush. Notice, I said this is my guess, not a known fact.

The first Texas cattlemen in the Basin came in 1876, a year later, as far as I know. They would have been the Cox's and maybe the O'Neals, both of whom settled in the general area of Aztec or perhaps a short distance up the Animas River from Aztec.

Again, I don't know if these were the first Texans; they are the first I know about.

Hampton bounced around between the Florida and Dolores rivers before settling down for a spell near today's Dove Creek.

During one roundup season, Hampton had a foreman named Luther M. "Tex" Lyons. Lyons tried to establish camp near a spring where Richard W. May and his partner Murray Thurman had their cabin as a temporary headquarters about one-half mile from the Utah line.

A problem developed because the Hampton horses refused to water there and tried to get back to the Dolores River.

Lyons had no night horse herder during this roundup. At night, each man either hobbled or turned his horse loose. In the morning, one man herded the horses while the others got breakfast. The Hampton horses were thirsty, so each night they would go as far away as hobbled horses could, maybe 10 or 15 miles toward the Dolores River.

As a consequence, Lyons told the men they would have to camp on other water. Thus, the Hampton horses caused the roundup base to be moved.

They had about 800 cows and calves. The morning they were to start they discovered the cabin of Dick May and Thurman burned and still smoking. The charred remains of the two men were found in the ashes.

This was in 1879. The cowboys assumed this meant a Ute uprising was imminent. They lunched, then branded all afternoon as usual, giving no sign of being suspicious. At the end of day they put out their saddle horses and ate supper. But, as soon as dark came, they gathered their horses, put on their packs, and beat it for Rio Dolores, a night's ride away.

Lyons, following the custom, put his horse bell next to the pack saddle, stuffed a rag around the clapper, packed his food supplies and bedding, and started on the trail for Dolores.

As can be imagined, they rode fast. Lyon's pack came loose, scared his horse, the horse ran, the saddle turned, the muffler shook loose, the bell clattered, the supplies fell off, and the bedding scattered along the trail. Everything fell off except the bell which continued to ring furiously through the night.

Any Indian within 10 miles would have heard it. The boys, reached the Dolores settlement, and, there being no Indian sign during the week to follow, went back and picked up their goods from the trail.

There was no question that May and his partner were murdered and burned by the Indians.

May had several hundred dollars in his pocketbook. The Indians got all of it. They went to Moab (Utah) and had an abundance of $20 bills to spend. Lyons always said that he and the boys owed their lives to the ponies' refusal to drink the spring water. After the murder of Dick May, Billy May, his brother, pot hunted for indians for years.

More on the early San Juan cattle industry next week.

Unity and diversity

Diversity. The word strikes a pleasant chord, implying respect for differences, a fair-minded approach to ethnicity, gender, age, social and economic class, positive regard for other cultures - up to and including a belief that all cultures are of equal value. The concept is key to cultural relativism, vital in a multicultural society where numerous languages and traditions exist within the boundaries of one nation.

When the seeds of the current trend toward diversity and cultural relativism were planted, the ideas seemed enlightened, soothing.

But the differences between a "multicultural" society and a pluralistic society with few if any boundaries have become clear. We need to ask whether cultural relativism and its offspring could lead to our ruin. It is unfashionable, but consider it and discuss it we must.

Diversity, multiculturalism, political correctness, a bilingual society, global thinking, open borders, might be undermining the stability of a nation that once characterized itself as a "melting pot," operating on the principle (often in dramatically imperfect fashion) that entry into mainstream culture is a desirable goal.

The melting pot is in danger of becoming separate vessels, functionally isolated from each other. We are more divided as time goes on. Elements that should be united are being weakened by attitudes that, left unexamined at their source, have evolved into negative influences on our collective life.

Has cultural relativism become salve for the guilt felt by those who enjoy privilege, and diversity a foundation for blame and anger for those who do not? Is it possible that what cultural relativism fertilizes is moral paralysis and fear of critical analysis?

It is not difficult to see the effects of these ideas. Corporations outsource jobs to other nations to reduce cost and boost profits, unconcerned about the health of the home society. There is increasing pressure to create a bilingual society, despite history's proof that such societies regularly collapse in crisis. There is careless tending of borders, and encouragement for ethnic communities to retain their identities and resist absorption into the mainstream. There is blame levied for failure in education and the workplace among members of those groups, with racism and oppression targeted as sources of the problem and used as excuses for the failure.

Witness the increasing inability of Americans to openly discuss differences and to make critical and qualitative cultural judgments. Witness academic oppression and strident calls for censorship of open dialogue.

Observe the proliferation of the opinion that "equality" in our national creed does not refer to equality under the law, but verifies a blanket, inherent equality- regardless of ability or skill, energy or determination - that should extend to all aspects of life. Witness the decline of discipline and moral education of youngsters in schools and in the family, the retreat to virtual worlds, the popularity of forms of entertainment that, free of criticism tendered without fear, now include the basest forms of expression - forms of expression, and behavior, that become standard for many of those who partake of the entertainment. Witness the growth of a class of frightfully undereducated citizens who are, by virtue of their chaotic and isolated environment, increasingly angry and unendowed with the skills to replace what they might someday destroy.

We have accepted the concepts of cultural relativism and diversity for too long without examination, at the expense of unity. Unity and common values are key to our continued growth and strength as a nation and a community, with the benefits of diversity functioning as icing on the cake. It is time to revisit what we share and need in common, and look with suspicion on ideas that do not serve those needs.

Karl Isberg

Fact interpretation differs

By Richard Walter

"He climbed higher and higher until he felt his lungs would burst."

That simple sentence was a high school eye-opener for me and one people might want to think about when viewing the news today.

The sentence was an assignment. Gladys Styduhar wrote it on the board for a journalism class when I was a junior.

Each student in the class of 22 was to write a story based on that quote. A story of 500 words or less.

It was just one of many such writing assignments in her class, but one which produced 22 different final articles.

Not one of us developed the same evolution of thought based on the "facts" in the sentence.

Stories ranged from the tale of an air force pilot striving for higher altitude to escape an enemy gunner, to that of a house painter working on the tallest structure he'd ever seen.

The point is that given the same basic "facts" at least 22 people had totally different interpretations of what did, or could have, happened. That's the point - 22 or even 220 persons attending the same meeting or hearing the same "facts" can come up with totally different interpretations.

That makes the newsman or newswoman's attempt to accurately describe what happened even tougher. They need to analyze, interpret, question and then write coherently what they understand to have happened.

Those on either side of a contentious issue which is the subject of public scrutiny will have their own interpretations of what happened and often they will disagree with the news coverage. It reminds one of the old Sgt. Friday line, "Give us the facts ma'am, just the facts."

Even a fact can have different interpretations, depending on your understanding of the word. The Merriam Webster desktop dictionary, for example, gives the word three definitions: 1) the quality of being actual; 2) something that exists or occurs; or 3) a piece of information.

In the classroom exercise, Pagosa Springs High School circa 1951, the latter definition applied. We got a piece of information and were told to run with it.

But what if it hadn't been all of the base quote? What if, perhaps, the quote had continued " ... and then he awoke from the dream and realized the threat had been unreal."

What would have happened? Twenty-two stories would have had a different twist to deal with. Many would have had a different ending.

But the basic "facts" would not change.

The meat of the story will stay the same no matter who is interpreting the "facts" presented. It is only in the telling that the trail of fact to conclusion is amended depending on the one telling the story.

Do not, therefore, kill the goose which delivers the egg. The story is written with skill, based on the "facts" available at the time - one person's understanding of those facts.

What was my ending for the original quote? It told of an elk running from a trio of hunters, climbing as high as it could in the deep snow, still hearing the crush of the hunters behind - and then, cresting the hill and finding a familiar trail to escape, wary but wiser.

90 years ago

Taken from Pagosa Springs New Era files of Dec. 5, 1913

E.M. Taylor is now contemplating starting what he calls for lack of a better name a "wholesale store." That is, he proposes to sell goods direct in case lots as Denver and eastern outfits now do. Should Mr. Taylor carry out his plans he will make the Strawn house on Pagosa Street, owned by him, his place of business.

Attorney John Galbreath this week purchased the McConnell property, recently almost destroyed by fire, and is planning to remodel it into a one-story apartment house for rental purposes. It is a desirable property. It is only fair to state that he denied - most emphatically, as Dave Lowenstein would say - that he had any intention of himself occupying the house with a decidedly better half.

75 years ago

Taken from SUN files of Dec. 7, 1928

The annual fire hazard is upon us with the advent of zero weather and it behooves all to use more than ordinary care in avoiding the menace!

The Manhattan Cafe and Pagosa Bakery, recently damaged by fire and water, will soon be reopened to the public. Both have undergone new and extensive repairs.

At the town board meeting Monday night, in addition to routine business, Max R. Mickey was elected to the office of mayor, made vacant by the removal from the city of S.H. Dickerson. Mr. Mickey, who has been ill at his home this week with an attack of influenza, has not yet signified whether he will accept the honor thrust upon him.

50 years ago

Taken from SUN files of Dec. 4, 1953

The special post season in the Lower Piedra and Chimney Rock areas closed on Monday of this week after being open for ten days. From all present indications hunters had a great deal of success there and a large number of deer were killed. This is the first post season to be held in the area and the results will be studied closely to determine its advisability. It is certain that the herds were thinned out a great deal and this should help the winter pasture problem quite a bit.

Pagosa's Buccaneers have finished up their practice for the first game of the basketball season here and are now waiting for the starting whistle. Coach Tom Gribbon says he has a fine bunch of lads on the team this year and that he expects them to do well.

25 years ago

Taken from SUN files of Dec. 7, 1978

A storm that started early Tuesday and increased in severity by nightfall brought very heavy snows, blocked highways, and deep snow problems to the area. It is still in progress as the SUN goes to press late Wednesday. At that time about 18 inches of new snow had fallen in a 24 hour period.

Wolf Creek Ski Area has a base depth of about seven feet and skiing is tops there.

Christmas decorations in town are scheduled to go up as soon as some mechanical problems with the truck used to raise workers to the right level are completed. There are some Christmas decorations around the town, the sorority sponsored star on Reservoir Hill is lit, as is the cross just east of town.