Larson musters troops for march on Village

By James Robinson

Staff Writer

In an unprecedented move by a local legislator, state Rep. Mark Larson, 59th District, is calling for an investigation into possible lobbying abuses by Village at Wolf Creek developers and acts of collusion between the developers, the United States Forest Service and Mineral County.

Larson made his intentions to open the controversial project to full public and legislative scrutiny clear Monday, and said his tasks were twofold. The first, he said, was to complete the drafting of legislation that would open a probe into billionaire village developer, Billie Joe "Red" McCombs' relationship and dealings with the Forest Service.

Secondly, Larson said, he will call on the state attorney general to examine the relationship between the developers and Mineral County, and to determine if the county illegally withheld documents from court proceedings, and to ask why certain communications between the developers and the county were not made public.

Larson said he intends to have the legislation drafted by Friday, and once it passes review from legal services, the bill would be open for debate and a vote at the state level.

"The intent is to get all legislators to take a hard look at this," Larson said.

Larson added that depending on the outcome of his request to the state attorney general, "serious, criminal charges" could be brought against Mineral County.

If approved, Larson said the investigation would halt the completion of the Forest Service's environmental impact statement (EIS) until "we or congress determines the Forest Service is not in collusion with the developer."

In addition, Larson said, legislators would ask the Colorado Department of Transportation to withold a U.S. 160 access permit "until we ascertain the process has been followed appropriately with full transparency."

Both the CDOT permit and the EIS are necessary and critical steps required to implement the development plan.

Larson's move comes amidst a flurry of recent accusations by village opponents and media reports that argue McCombs and his lobbyists have had undue influence at both the local and federal level, and that the timing of federal appointments, pivotal decisions and key project turning points seem uncannily linked to McCombs' campaign contributions or the developers' meetings with officials in Washington D.C.

As one example, Larson said records indicate McCombs lobbied hard for the appointment of former timber industry lobbyist, Mark Rey, to the post of undersecretary of agriculture—a position which oversees the Forest Service, the agency which has significant oversight powers over the project.

The developers, local and Forest Service officials vehemently deny any such preferential relationship exists, but not all are convinced, particularly Larson.

Larson said hard lobbying in Washington D.C. was "not unusual," but that it appears the developers and Forest Service officials have overstepped their bounds.

He said the level of influence and the speed at which key, project-related decisions were made or policies were instituted illustrates a level of influence beyond the norm. And he pointed to the original 1984 land trade which allowed McComb's acquisition of the property at the base of the ski area as the first act, in more than two decades of suspect dealings.

Larson said the trade between McCombs and the Forest Service was originally denied. Yet, two weeks later, after the issue disappeared into the labyrinthine inner workings of Washington politics, the trade was resurrected and ultimately approved.

Most recently, Larson said, documentation has emerged, via in part, by a Freedom of Information Act request by the Durango-based environmental group, Colorado Wild, that appears to indicate the developers' attorneys, on various occasions, ghost wrote both Mineral County and Forest Service policy.

"It's starting to appear ever more clear that McCombs and his lobbyists were authoring policy for the Forest Service," Larson said.

And Larson added, that it appears "significant campaign contributions were made to put the Village at Wolf Creek on the fast track."

Larson said his reasons for calling for the investigation stemmed from a long list of concerns spanning the gamut from the original land trade, to the amended scenic easement which governs what can and cannot be done on the property.

He said a lack of documentation and a lack of full public disclosure regarding the dealings between the developers, Mineral County and the Forest Service, the potential for traffic impacts and environmental impacts, particularly in regards to water, were other areas of serious concern.

"In dry years, the people of South Fork will be drinking effluent," Larson said.

Larson said that from top to bottom, the project is riddled with red flags.

"Every time we turn around, there is some nuance that surfaces," Larson said.

Larson acknowledged that although the project is not in his district, because the project's impacts could prove most significant to his constituents, he felt compelled to act.

Five candidates for next elementary school principal

By Chuck McGuire

Staff Writer

The start of last Tuesday's regular monthly meeting of the Archuleta School District 50 Joint Board of Education was delayed nearly two hours, as an executive session kept the board behind closed doors longer than anticipated.

Meetings typically begin by 7 p.m. in the junior high school library, but with the board hearing a staff grievance under the privilege of executive session from 6 to 8:50, Tuesday's public parley was finally called to order by board president Mike Haynes at 8:55.

As board members emerged from the closed session, the nature of the grievance and the identity of the grievant(s) were held in strict confidence. But, as the regular meeting got underway, the board quickly voted to "deny" the grievance, while also voting to "refund" an undisclosed amount of money to the grievant(s).

In light of the late hour, Haynes quickly turned meeting attention to civil engineer John Britton of Reynolds and Associates in Pagosa Springs, who shared plans of a proposed subdivision with the board, including the need to obtain easements across the Pagosa Springs High School property.

To accommodate secondary emergency access and sanitary sewer services for the proposed Dakota Springs Residential Development (formerly known as Trujillo Heights) on Trujillo Road, Britton hopes to acquire two separate easements south and east of the high school's Vocational Building. If granted, the sewer easement will allow the construction and connection of a new 8-inch sewer line from the development to an existing main on school property just outside the athletic field.

Board members asked Britton if his sewer line proposal was the only option available to developers, to which Britton suggested it was the only feasible one. "Once the sewer line is built, it'll be dedicated to the town of Pagosa Springs, and the town will maintain it," he said. "The town won't accept a system that includes lift stations, and any other alternative would require construction of a more expensive line much longer in length."

Board members agreed to consider the plan and discuss it further with Britton when he comes back with a formal proposal at the March meeting.

In other board business, school superintendent Duane Noggle announced five finalists chosen from a field of 18, to be considered for the principal's position at the Pagosa Springs Elementary School. Grant writer and Title I administrator Terry Alley is acting principal for the current school year, but will vacate the post once a new principal is hired and begins work next August.

The finalists are:

- Justin Cowan, a special education teacher at the Pagosa Springs Junior High School;

- David Hamburg, an elementary school assistant principal in Oxford, Pa.;

- Mary (Kate) Lister, a second-grade teacher at Pagosa Springs Elementary School;

- Cynthia Secrist, principal of Edwards Elementary School in Eagle, Colo.;

- Michael Young, principal of Perry Elementary School in Perry, Okla.

According to Noggle, each candidate will interview before two committees, including a school advisory committee and an administrative recommendation committee. The advisory committee will include a teacher from each elementary school grade level, a parent member of the School Accountability Committee and the current Pagosa Springs Elementary school principal. The superintendent, assistant superintendent, business manager, one principal and two school board members will make up the administrative recommendation committee.

Once interviews have concluded and candidates have fulfilled all the necessary requirements, the two committees will rate each candidate, based on application, qualifications, interview, references and "fit" for the position. Finally, school board members will review the ratings and application packets, and by March 14, based upon endorsement by the administrative recommendation committee, will vote to approve or disapprove the selected candidate.

Other matters were discussed briefly during the public portion of Tuesday's meeting, with some acted upon and some tabled until March. Those tabled include the continued refinement of board goals for the 2006-2007 school year, and work to approve the San Juan Board of Cooperative Services Special Education Operating Agreement.

The issues voted on and approved by the board include the 2006 Resolution to be presented to the state legislature next week, and the adoption of a supplemental budget for the creation of the Pirate Achievement Center. The resolution is designed to encourage legislation supporting education in Colorado schools, and the Pirate Achievement Center will provide onsite aid and counseling for challenged high school students.

PAWSD board approves water resource fee

By John Middendorf

Staff Writer

The Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD) board of directors approved an "Interim Water Resource Fee" at their regular meeting Tuesday night.

The resource fee is earmarked for the development of raw water, and applies to any new developments or expansion of water use. Based on studies on the cost of water development to the year 2040, the fee's amount has been set at $7,265 per equivalent unit (E.U.) of water. Carrie Campbell, PAWSD district manager, said though developers have been notified of the planned fee, "the amount (of the fee) may come as a surprise."

The resource fee comes at a time when new Pagosa Springs housing developments are being planned at an increasingly frequent rate. During a meeting with Blair Leist, director of Archuleta County development, Bob Huff, PAWSD board member, reported that Leist said, "Big things are coming along beyond our capabilities." Huff referred to the 1,125 new homes that are being planned at Blue Sky Ranch (which is not in the PAWS district), the Blue Sky Village development (which will be in the PAWS district), and other "big-time developments." Huff asked Leist, "How much can we put on these people in getting them to address growth issues?" to which Leist reportedly answered, "A lot, a lot."

In order to address growth issues, PAWSD is "calibrating and updating" a new water model, which should be completed by the next PAWSD board meeting March 14. Gene Tautges, PAWSD assistant manager, said that the water model will be "another tool in the toolbox" to help manage growth, and that implementations of fees such as the resource fee will be a "whole different way to really make growth pay its way."

In compiling the water model, PAWSD is meeting with the Pagosa Fire District to address low fire-flow issues and pressure problems already existing within the district, and to superimpose complete build-out of proposed developments when planning new water delivery systems. PAWSD is also compiling a newly calibrated sewer model, which should be completed by the end of March or early April.

The board then approved three new main water line extension permits for new developments. Pagosa Partners, LLC water line extension permit for Aspen Village (phase II) was approved, as was Nighbeck, LLC's main water line which will eventually service 33 new units in the area behind Pagosa Lodge. The board also approved Trujillo Partners, LLC, permit to install 9,000 linear feet of water mains in the 52-acre parcel on the south edge of town (off Trujillo Road). The board commented on the site, mostly covered by a layer of sandstone on the surface which will require extensive blasting to install the water mains, but noted that "the impression we're getting (from Trujillo Partners) is that dollar signs are the least of their concern." After approving the three main line extension permits, Windsor Chacey, board member, sighed as she commented, "We do need (new) reservoirs."

Separate from the resource fee, the board also discussed a planned impact fee of $1,129 per E.U. that will be implemented by the town and the county for residential and commercial construction. The San Juan Water Conservancy District will use the fee's proceeds for future land acquisition for new reservoir sites. A long-term plan to build a new reservoir site is planned in the Dry Gulch area. PAWSD and the San Juan Conservancy District jointly funded a study by Economic and Planning Systems (EPS), located in Denver, to recommend the amount of the impact fee.

Today, PAWS receives $5,480,616 in project money from the recent Enterprise Revenue Bond issue. Of that, $480,616 will be added to the existing reserves, and $5 million is earmarked for new projects for this year and next. The projects include the Steven's Reservoir expansion, improvements to the Hatcher treatment plant, and a 1 million gallon storage tank. The board authorized district staff to invest the money "for the greatest yield consistent with the law" in the interim period prior to its project disbursement.

The district expects construction on Steven's Reservoir to begin this summer as originally planned ("hopefully", notes Campbell), and does not plan to refill the reservoir prior to construction as considered earlier. Issues with landowners surrounding the site continue to progress, and the Humane Society is expected to establish a new animal shelter on Cloman Boulevard, said Campbell.

Gregg Mayo, project manager, reports that the district is procuring new granulated activated carbon filters (GAC-beds) from Calgon and U.S. Filters, Inc. for the Hatcher treatment plant, and expects the Archuleta County commissioners to approve the water treatment improvement permits during the May 2 BOCC meeting. Water quality problems associated with the Hatcher Treatment Plant will be resolved by this summer, according to Campbell.

The meeting ended with a discussion of a recent water rights case currently before Colorado's water court, involving South Platte River water and the Denver Water Board as one of the participants in the case. The issue revolves around whether water that is bypassed by agreement can be considered beneficial use. Campbell gave an example using the San Juan River, with hypothetical numbers for clarity: if, say, PAWSD has 100 cfs of water diversion rights, but has an agreement to bypass (e.g. allow to run downstream) 50 cfs of water (using 50 cfs for storage), can the bypassed water be considered beneficial use? If the bypassed water is not considered beneficial use, then the district's water diversion rights could be reduced, even though it would still have the obligation to bypass water, according to Campbell. In the case, the Denver Water Board is filing for absolute (rather than conditional) water rights for bypassed water.

"This case is important for the future, because at some point the San Juan River may be over adjudicated," said Campbell. The decision will also affect Fourmile Creek's water appropriation because the district has an agreement with the Forest Service to bypass three cfs of water. Fourmile creek feeds the Dutton Ditch, which transports water to Hatcher Lake. The board is considering a $5000 expenditure to "monitor the case," which gives PAWSD the opportunity to file objections and be on record as an "interested party."

In other matters before the PAWSD board:

€The Special Districts Association of Colorado is encouraging districts to look at a proposed Colorado Senate Bill 06-156, authored by Doug Bruce (of TABOR amendment fame). The "reader's digest version," according to Karen Wessels, PAWSD chair, is that the bill "turns fees into taxes," suggesting that new district fees would require voter approval as do taxes. "Doug Bruce is the author. Need I say more?" said Wessels.

€The Forest Service cited a rancher who provided straw bales to the district that were not "certified weed-free," with a $75 citation. Out of approximately 400 bales of hay spread on the area disturbed by the digging of the Dutton Ditch pipeline, 30 or 40 had brown twine rather than the orange and blue twine that apparently certifies weed-free hay, according to Mayo. The district is responsible for the removal of the remnants of the non-weed free bales of hay, though they will hold the rancher accountable.

€The district approved a 12 percent increase in the self-serve water filling stations, to 53 cents per 100 gallons, effective in May. The system, which accepts only quarters, was noted by the board to be "Mickey Mouse." The board agreed to review upgraded systems, which would possibly accept credit cards in the future for bulk purchases of water at the pumping stations.

Pagosa FBLA succeeds at districts, state competition next

By Jamilyn Harms

FBLA Chapter Reporter

Pagosa Springs members of Future Business Leaders of America attending the District Eight Conference held at Adams State College in Alamosa Feb. 7 returned home after a long, and successful day of learning and competition.

Pagosa entrants captured seven first-place awards, 11 second places, three third places, eight fourths and nine fifths awards in their top-ten results.

Fifty-one Pagosa high school students competed and half will advance to state competition.

First-place awards went to Heather Andersen in business calculations; Trey Quiller in business math; Rosie Lee in business procedures; Ben De Voti in impromptu speaking; Tad Beavers in international business; Julia Nell in public speaking I; and Jessica Lynch in public speaking II.

Second-place awards went to Jennifer Haynes in accounting II; Kelly Crow in economics; Adrienne Young in impromptu speaking; Katie Vowles in marketing; Anna Hershey in public speaking II; Elise McDonald, Chelsea Taylor and Katie Vowles in entrepreneurship; Hayley Goodman and Julianna Whipple in poster; and Kim Judd in scrapbook.

Third-place finishers were Shanti Johnson in public speaking II and Kyle Peterzen and Jenni Webb-Shearston in multi-media.

Fourth-place finishers were Veronica Zeiler in accounting II; Elise McDonald in business calculations; Michael Spitler in international business; Daniel Aupperle, Matt Nobles and Michael Spitler in emerging business issues; and Jennifer Hilsabeck and Emilie Schur in poster.

Fifth-place finishers were Aaron Miller in accounting II; Jenni Webb-Shearston in business communications; Jamilyn Harms in business law; Tesh Parker in international business; and Patrick Ford, Casey Hart, Tesh Parker, Claire Versaw, and John Hoffman in parliamentary procedure.

The group captured eight other awards, including top-10 placings by Trevor Trujillo, sixth in business communications; Darran Garcia, sixth in impromptu speaking; Patrick Ford, seventh in business law; Naquita Rivas, seventh in impromptu speaking; Veronical Zeiler and Tad Beavers, eighth in desktop publishing; Casey Hart, 10th in business calculations; and Julianna Whipple, 10th in word processing II.

In addition, the Pagosa Springs chapter was awarded first place for donating the most items for the Children's Hospital Wish List collection. The chapter will be recognized at the state conference for this accomplishment.

In all, there were over 500 students in the district competition.

Dorothy Christine and Nancy Esterbrook, advisors for the program, said they are proud of the chapter's accomplishments at the district level and are excited about taking a strong group of students to the state competition in Vail April 23-25.

Put 9Health Fair on your calendar

By Pauline Benetti

Special to The SUN

The 27th annual 9Health Fair will take place throughout the month of April statewide. Here in Pagosa, it will happen the first Saturday of April - April 1 - at the high school.

9Health Fair provides health education and basic health screenings to individuals 18 years of age and older throughout the Rocky Mountain region. Over the past 26 years, as a result of Fair participation, thousands of lives have been saved through early detection, prevention, and dynamic educational programming statewide.

Basic screenings at all locations include height, weight, body mass index, vision, blood pressure, and colorectal screening kits. Optional screenings at our site include hearing, oral screening, body fat measurement, body in balance and breast exams.

Optional blood screening includes a 32-component blood analysis including coronary risk ratio, thyroid, diabetes, full lipid panel, liver and kidney function. During the same blood analysis, men over the age of 40 can receive a prostate cancer screening.

The 9Health Fair is the largest and most successful health fair in the country and is endorsed by both the Colorado Medical Society and the Colorado Health & Hospital Association. Support from Colorado physicians is crucial to this success.

Fair organizers in Pagosa have already begun to make phone calls to last year's volunteers. Over 200 individuals are needed to handle the more than 700 participants who are expected to make the 9Health Fair part of their health practice. If you would like to take part in this most rewarding event, in either a medical or nonmedical capacity, call Sharee Grazda, site coordinator, at 731-0666.

PLPOA installs new postal boxes

By Kate Collins

Staff Writer

The Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association (PLPOA) board of directors held its monthly meeting Thursday, Feb. 9, at the Pagosa Lakes Clubhouse. Business discussed included the use and distribution of cluster box units provided by the United States Postal Service (USPS) and an exchange of vacant lots between the association and a private landowner.

The PLPOA received 25 cluster box units from the USPS last year and has installed 17 of the units at various locations within association boundaries. In January, the first of the cluster boxes were assigned to residents and keys to the boxes were distributed.

The PLPOA is in possession of eight more cluster box units, and is awaiting USPS approval of locations prior to installation.

PLPOA President David Bohl signed closing documents Jan. 22, as directed by board members, that concluded a land trade between the PLPOA and a landholder. The lot the PLPOA acquired is located just west of the Cloman Boulevard and Piedra Road intersection.

According to Walter Lukasik, PLPOA General Manager, the Cloman drainage carries excessive amounts of runoff directly across the newly-acquired lot and into Lake Pagosa.

"In a twenty-four hour average rainfall, five tons of silt washed into Lake Pagosa," stated Lukasik of a study observing the effects of the drainage and lake environments. A silt mitigation project has been proposed for the lot which would trap the overflow of silt without hindering the flow of water entering the lake. The lot exchange enables the silt mitigation proposal to move forward unhindered.

Lukasik offered a report to the directors concerning the proposed development of 112 affordable housing units, known as Pagosa Pointe, near the intersection of Cloman Boulevard and Piedra Road. The development is not within association boarders, but is separated from PLPOA areas only by Piedra Road. The development is still on the drawing board, to be discussed further by the county planning department and planning commission.

The PLPOA concluded an audit conducted by the association auditor, Michael Branch, CPA, during the month of January. Results of the audit were offered to the board for review Feb. 1

The board approved Resolution 2006-03, replacing a prior resolution and setting investment policies for the association. The revision stated that the Investment Advisory Committee will be made up of four members, with three members making a quorum. A job description discussing duties of the Investment Officer, was included in the new resolution.

The board was also notified that the PLPOA administrative office will be closed Feb. 20 in observance of Presidents Day.

Parks and recreation survey underway

By James Robinson

Staff Writer

Area residents will have a chance to weigh in on issues related to parks and recreation and the construction of a new recreation center following the recent distribution of a random survey by the Town of Pagosa Springs.

The survey was mailed to 2,200 residents and second home owners in the Town of Pagosa Springs and Archuleta County. Recipients were randomly selected from either within the water district service area or from the tax assessor's data base.

"The topics covered by the survey," states a press release, "include measuring the support for existing and new parks/recreation programs; usage of open space and parks such as Reservoir Hill; support for investment in recreation-related capital improvements; and testing the support and viability of a new recreation center in Pagosa Springs."

RRC Associates, a Boulder-based survey research firm is conducting the survey. The firm anticipates results will be available by March 15, 2006.

"The town hopes for a strong response from the community and encourages recipients to return their surveys no later than Feb. 20," the release states.

No planning commission meeting

The Archuleta County Planning Commission will not hold its regular meeting Wednesday, Feb. 22.

The planning commission will meet March 8, 2006.

Town comprehensive plan meeting next week

By James Robinson

Staff Writer

The town's comprehensive plan moves steadily toward completion, with one of the last in a series of key public planning meetings slated for next week.

The meeting, which is scheduled for Feb. 22 from 6-9 p.m. in the Town of Pagosa Springs Community Center gym, will be hosted by staff from Clarion Associates, the land use consulting firm charged with developing the plan, and by Brian Welch of the transportation consulting firm, Fehr & Peers.

Town Planner Tamra Allen said the meeting will begin with a presentation of the two firms' findings to date and a review of the future land use plan. Allen said small group work sessions, a public comment period, and a discussion on strategies for implementing the land use plan will follow.

In addition, Allen said a significant amount of time will be devoted to discussing the transportation component of the plan to determine if the plan's goals are in synch with the area's transportation and traffic related realities.

Understanding that traffic flow patterns, downtown parking, traffic congestion and the possibility of creating a U.S. 160 bypass have been key issues in past comprehensive planning sessions, the town commissioned Welch's firm to undertake a traffic study, the findings of which would ultimately be incorporated into the comprehensive plan.

Following next week's public meeting and subsequent meetings with town staff, Allen said she anticipates a draft of the comprehensive plan to be available in early spring.

"Pending any large or significant changes, hopefully we will see a final draft in the beginning of March," Allen said.

Education center offers computer classes

By Renee Haywood

Special to The SUN

In this dazzling age of cyberspace, bytes, blogs, downloads and cookies, it seems as though everyone has his or her own computer.

But, if you don't happen to have a 10-year-old, or a best friend who is a computer geek, how do you go about learning all the ins and outs of the computer?

At the Archuleta County Education Center all levels of classes are offered, from beginner to advanced, as well as popular software applications.

If you are interested in learning how to design professional-looking publications, the Microsoft Publisher class begins 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23. Cost is $48.

If your interest is learning one of the other Microsoft software applications, the center has several classes beginning in the next couple of weeks.

- Microsoft Excel, Feb. 27-March 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

- Quickbooks, Feb. 28-April 4, 5-7 p.m.

- Microsoft Word, Feb. 28-April 4, 7-9 p.m.

- Microsoft PowerPoint, March 27-April 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

If you would like to register for classes or need more information, contact the Archuleta Education Center at 264-2835 or stop by the office located at 4th and Lewis streets.

Commissioners, planners to discuss zoning transition program

The Archuleta County Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners will hold a joint work session 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, in the county commissioners' meeting room, in the Archuleta County Courthouse.

The purpose of this meeting is to introduce, recommend and request funding for a zoning transition program to be implemented following adoption of the Archuleta County Land Use Code.

Options for making this transition will be presented by Martin Landers of HNTB.

Laverty family fund established

Danna Laverty is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments for several months. Restoration Fellowship Church has opened an account for monetary contributions to assist the Laverty family at this time.

The church requests any check to be made out to Restoration Fellowship. Please do not write the Laverty's name on the check. Simply attach a note designating your contribution is for the Lavertys.

Checks can be mailed to the church at 264 Village Drive, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

Benefit account created for Terri Sellers

Citizens Bank has set up an account for the benefit of Terri Sellers.

Terri was diagnosed with a recurrence of colon cancer Jan. 13, 2006. She is doing well at this time, as she is going through chemotherapy treatments until her scheduled surgery. Anyone who wishes to donate may stop by either Citizens Bank location.

Local ACT Council meets monthly

The ACT Council promotes the safety, health and well being of children and families in Archuleta County.

The council meets every third Thursday of the month at rotating child care facilities to discuss various child-related issues.

This month's meeting is tonight, Feb. 16, and will be held at Our Savior Lutheran Pre School.

Quality expansion grants will be distributed to eligible child care facilities. Other business concerning the council will also be considered.

Anyone with a concern for children and families in Archuleta County is encouraged to attend.

Call Amber at Anderson Early Learning Center for the meeting time and more information, 731-2363.

Conservation district to discuss 'Village' water issues

By Heidi Keshet

Special to The SUN

The San Juan Conservation District was chartered June 9, 1940. This brought the total land in districts in the USA to a billion acres in over 300 conservation districts. There would be over 2,000 conservation districts by 1950.

Our local district has always held the interests of the agricultural land owner and the general public as paramount. Our letter in opposition to the proposed Village at Wolf Creek has brought about some positive reactions. District supervisors will be meeting with the Colorado Division of Water Resources, Division 3, in Alamosa to discuss water rights and the ramifications of the proposed Village on those water rights and agricultural usage of the water involved. The San Juan Conservation District was also contacted by Rep. John Salazar's office regarding being kept abridged of any new developments that may materialize.

The district is conducting the annual tree sale. It's a great way to revitalize your property. We have everything you will need to get your reforestation off to a good start, except the shovel. Get together with your neighbors, buy several species and split up the lots so you can encourage a diverse ecosystem and avoid a monoculture.

Stollsteimer Creek Watershed Steering Committee member and Natural Resources Conservation Service District Conservationist Jerry Archuleta, San Juan Conservation District Manager Cynthia Purcell, and PLPOA Environmental Director Larry Lynch will make a presentation to the Southern Ute Tribe in March to keep the Tribe informed of the progress with the watershed project. The Tribe is also engaging in conservation of the creek and district officials want to coordinate efforts. There will be a brochure available to the public soon, regarding the restoration and conservation project and ways members of the public can get involved.

Are you a land owner of more than five acres in the San Juan Conservation District? You can become a district supervisor. You must be interested in conservation of agricultural and multi-use private lands and want to devote a few hours a month to meet with the board. Contact Cynthia Purcell at 731-3615 for details. It's a fun and informative way to make a positive difference in our community.

USFS proposes 10-year, 15,000-acre burn project

By Chuck McGuire

Staff Writer

The Pagosa Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest (USFS) is requesting public comment on a proposed Piedra Prescribed Burn project located in Townships 35 and 36 North, Ranges 4 and 5 West of the New Mexico Principal Meridian.

The project, if approved, would involve the prescribed burning of approximately 15,000 acres of ponderosa pine and warm-dry mixed conifer and aspen within the Piedra Area over a 10-year period.

Located approximately 20 miles west of Pagosa Springs, the Piedra Area was established in 1993 by the Colorado Wilderness Act, Public Law 103-77. The act added the area to the Weminuche Wilderness, but did not specifically designate it as wilderness. The act states that, "activities within such areas shall be managed so as to maintain the area's presently existing wilderness character and potential for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System." The Piedra Area encompasses 62,550 acres.

As proposed, fire crews would burn 2,000 to 4,000 acres a year, with most fires taking place in the spring. Depending on need, fall burns would be optional, once the final big game hunting season ends, and most fires would be ignited by air, utilizing plastic sphere dispensers dropped from helicopters. Fires are typically started along ridgelines, and allowed to burn slowly downhill.

A pre-decision Environmental Assessment (EA) is available for public review by calling the Pagosa Ranger District at (970) 264-1509, or visiting the USFS Web site at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/sanjuan/projects/projects.shtml.

To comment on this issue, members of the public must do so orally, electronically, or in writing (via mail, facsimile or hand-delivered) within the next 30 days (by March 18). The purpose of this comment period is to allow the public an opportunity to provide early and meaningful participation on a proposed action prior to a decision by the "Responsible Official," and regulations prohibit any extension of the comment period.

Individuals or organizations providing substantive comments will be eligible to appeal the decision under 36 C.F.R. Part 215 regulations. However, the following must be included: name and address; title of proposed action; specific substantive comments on the proposed action, including supporting reasons that the Responsible Official should consider in reaching a decision; and signature or other verification of identity upon request (identity of the individual or organization who authored the comments).

Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those commenting, will become part of the public record on this proposed action, and will be available for public review. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered, but those submitting them will not have standing to appeal the decision under 36 C.F.R. Part 215.

Written comments may be mailed to District Ranger, P.O. Box 310, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147; hand-delivered (between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays) to the District office at 180 Pagosa St., Pagosa Springs; or faxed to Rick Jewell, (970) 264-1538. Oral comments must be made in person at the District office during normal business hours, at any official agency function designed to elicit public comments, or by calling (970) 264-1509.

Electronic comments must be submitted as an e-mail message in plain text (.txt), rich text (.rft), or Word (.doc). To have appeal eligibility, a verification of identity is required, and a scanned signature is suitable. E-mail comments to: comments-rocky-mountain-san-juan-pagosa@fs.fed.us. An automated acknowledgment should confirm receipt.

Conservation district names new program manager

The Southwestern Conservation District (SWCD) recently named Martha Gowin as its Water Information Program Manager.

Gowin holds a master's degree in fishery and wildlife biology from CSU, specializing in education and public relations for natural resource managers. She has held a variety of teaching, public relations and research positions and enthusiastically looks forward to providing information and eduction opportunities for the people of southwestern Colorado so they can make informed choices concerning water usage.

The Water Information Program (WIP) is a public information resource sponsored by the water districts, organizations and agencies in the San Juan and Dolores watersheds of southwestern Colorado. The purpose of WIP is to provide information and education outreach to all water users, young and old, urban and rural, municipal and agricultural.

If you'd like to learn more about the Water Information Program, call Gowin at (970) 247-1302 or go to http://www.waterinfo.org.

Wandering into the labyrinth

By James Robinson

Staff Writer

I left the hotel at eight this morning and I have pounded the paved and cobbled streets of Buenos Aires into my boots. I have been walking for hours. The morning's espressos and pastries taken at the run down café next door to Gran Hotel Espana are but a memory and the kilometers and heat are relentless, yet still I move in the vague direction of the Biblioteca Nacional - the national library.

I don't know what propels me there and worse, I have no idea what I'll do once I arrive, yet I continue. Perhaps I am driven in that direction because I am a man of letters. Perhaps I am driven to go there because I am a lover of books. Perhaps it is the fact that it was once the workplace of Borges that steers me there, or maybe I am propelled there simply because I am weary, and have no place else to go.

I know there are easier, more direct ways to move across the city. I could take a taxi. I could ride a bus or use the subway. Simple geometry tells me that a straight line is the most direct and efficient method of connecting two points, and my city map shows many straightforward, point-to-point routes. But instead, I choose to walk. I choose to walk the most circuitous, most indirect route possible, and not necessarily by choice, but because I refuse to consult the map. I know the vague direction of the library and I know that the journey is half the adventure - getting thoroughly lost is the best way to become intimate with a city. Besides, walking is the ultimate form of locomotion. Every step allows me to take the pulse of the metropolis. The rumbling of a truck, the groan of an overburdened bus, acrid fumes of diesel and dust, the howl of a police siren, the brush of a business man hustling to an appointment, the focused, self assured gait of the beautiful Portenas on their way to work, aromas of roasting coffee, fresh baked bread and the stench of stale urine in a decrepit city park - all this movement, all this sound, all this stimuli bombards me. My nostrils burn and my head spins. I am a boxer that has taken too many punches, and in my delirium and in the heat, magic unfolds and after kilometers, I begin to learn the syncopated rhythm that makes up the distinct pulse of the city.

My path eventually takes me north, out of the Micro Centro, and up Florida, past the strip club touts and the blind accordion player who squeezes out some forlorn Tango from a forgotten era - his is a tune to which no one is dancing.

From Florida, the flow of pedestrian traffic burps me out like a bit of bothersome bile into the upscale neighborhoods of Retiro and Recoleta. I am an interloper. I am some kind of foreign species who is distinctly out of place amongst the fine leather shops, the Omega and Rolex dealers and the designer boutiques offering the latest European fashions. Perhaps with different attire or under different circumstances I might fit in. But the fact is, on this trip, I am dirty; I undoubtedly stink. It is clear I don't belong.

Ten days of Patagonian dust intermixed with sweat, bug dope and sunscreen have done nothing for my constitution. I have washed my clothes twice, if you can count diving in a river, fully clothed, and scrubbing the dust from your garments with river rocks, as clothes washing, but it hasn't seemed to help. My shirt is stained with a brown diagonal streak where sweat and dust have marked a path where the strap of my satchel travels over my shoulder and across my chest. Even after two decent showers, if my mind wanders, I might unconsciously dig inside my ear and extract some gob of sunblock coagulated with river sand; or I might scratch my head and tear open a scab left by the bite of some voracious Andean fly. In either case, I'm sure the Porteno public finds my behavior utterly disgusting.

I walk on, and the heat, humidity and the South American sun are killing me. I stop at a kiosk near the Plaza San Martin for something cool to drink. I make my purchase and shuffle over to the plaza proper, where I flop on the grass in the cool shade beneath a tree.

I am soaked with sweat and my forehead drips like I am stricken with Typhoid. I sit in dehydrated, sweat-soaked shambles, while the Portenos stroll by seemingly comfortable and unaffected even in suits and slacks. They appear fresh and unscathed by the heat, and I conclude that for them, this must be mild summer weather.

In an attempt to blend in, I wipe the sweat from my brow then light a cigarette and take tentative puffs. Many Argentines smoke, and in between drags the Marlboro hangs loosely from my lips. I sip my drink, smoke and read the paper. I try to act casual, like this is my neighborhood, mi barrio, and that I belong. But in the end, I cannot convince the passersby or myself, and I move on.

I shuffle farther north, deeper into Recoleta, past the sheik restaurants, the cemetery and the tourists gawking at the mausoleums. I head farther north beyond the cemetery and then west, deep into Palermo. The sun is blazing and the heat tells me I am well into the afternoon. A glance at my broken watch, with its screwed up marking of the time, tells me it is well past three o'clock. I am hungry, hot and thirsty and I concede defeat. I am lost.

My footsteps gobble up a few more city blocks and I finally give in. I walk to the next shady spot, a small, tree-studded plaza, and I consult my map. Two tourists, maybe Brits or Germans, scowl at me as though looking at a map were the most heinous of crimes. I scowl back, and consider tossing an insult, yet I decide a look that could peel wallpaper will suffice and I walk past.

According to the map, the biblioteca is near. In fact, I learn it is only a few blocks away, and with head down, I cross a busy, multi-lane street and soon stand on the sidewalk opposite the park and stop to get my bearings.

I look around. In front of me stands a magazine kiosk, a trash bin, and a nondescript grey, stone building. I peer from the map to the street and then to the block beyond, and during my rough survey, I discover a plaque affixed to the building just a few feet in front of my face. I read the message inscribed on the plate.

"Between 1929 and 1939, here lived Jorge Luis Borges," followed by a message to his beloved Buenos Aires, the city that inhabited his soul, his dreams, his poetry and his prose.

"I have wandered your streets without reason, and without a care," the plaque read.

I am dumfounded. I think of the labyrinthine streets of the city, and I think of the personal labyrinths inhabited by the Borges characters Albert and Yu Tsun. I consider their labyrinths and my own - those in the physical and metaphysical realms, labyrinths real an imagined, tangible and intangible and of those as of yet undiscovered and of those of our own design.

What does this all mean?

The unexpected discovery of the plaque and its message lay like a heavy burden on my psyche, and I stand in my sweat-drenched clothes unsure of where to go or what to do next.

And In the end, I do nothing. I take a photograph of the plaque and of Borges' home and move on without a destination. Ultimately, I forget about the library, and continue winding my way through the streets of the city without reason and without a care. I walk through the sunset and into the Argentine night.

Went walkabout

Dear Editor:

It seems to me that the usual wisdom displayed in your editorials went walkabout last week (Editorial, Feb. 9). At a time when the vices of one party rule are prominently on display nationally, your suggestion that county independents transfer their registrations en masse to the Republican Party would create an even greater imbalance politically than presently exists here. And I'm not sure how your correct assertion that county issues don't have a partisan cast to them squares with the inference that political parties should be invested in every race.

It is true that the caucus process in this state enables the most dedicated (oftentimes those with the narrowest agenda) to have a disproportionate say in the determination of a party's nominees. In that connection, it's too late in this cycle for anyone to change party affiliation so as to affect the outcome of either party's caucuses, which in turn will determine whom the parties nominate for county office at the county assemblies. A change of registration could affect the outcome of a primary contest, should one result from voting at the county assemblies, or from a candidate getting on a primary ballot through petition. While voters have an absolute right to change affiliations, even for tactical reasons, is it really the best system for registrants of either party to do the heavy lifting, and then have their candidate selection determined by "for the moment" Democrats of Republicans?

Over the last year, the local Democratic Party has participated in hosting visits from Senator Ken Salazar, State Party Chair Pat Waak, gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter, State Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon, and representatives of organizations promoting grass roots political organizing. In the fall, voters in this county endorsed Referendums C and D, and county Democrats were actively involved in the campaign for approval of these initiatives. We are in the process of evaluating whether to field a candidate for the Commissioner District 3 place being vacated by Mamie Lynch, taking into account the two announced Republican aspirants for that position, and it is entirely premature and unwarranted for your editorial page in effect to downplay the chances that we will do so. I think it can be taken as a given in any event that there will be plenty of interest among potential Democratic candidates when the two incumbent Republican county commissioners are up for reelection.

Ben Douglas

Chairman, Archuleta County Democratic Party

Editor's note: We took another walk. We still think, since we are stuck with a partisan political setup at the county level (thus, perhaps, clearing up any mistaken inference), in the case of an election that will be decided in a party primary, the independent voter should exercise the option of a temporary change of affiliation.

What is it?

Dear Editor:

Mamie's letter concerning a cancer at work within the Archuleta County government is thought-provoking, but seems to be missing one vital point. Nowhere in her letter does she define what the cancer is or how it could be dealt with.

From the litany reciting the loss of the many staff and managerial personnel in the recent year, one can only surmise that it is this exodus that she is referring to. If that is the case, then I would respectfully suggest that the prime reason staff and other personnel leave the workplace can usually be attributed to poor leadership and a workplace atmosphere which lacks motivation. Perhaps it would be beneficial to look within the work environment, rather than pointing a finger at some outside influence. When you point a finger at others, think where the other three fingers are pointing.

Sam Goulds

Snowball

Dear Editor:

The county commissioners have divided the roads into primary and secondary designations.

In summary, if Plan A (no snow plowing) is adopted, these roads could be impassible, especially if the snowplows bury the ends of the secondary roads as they are plowing the primary roads. This could mean emergency, medical, police and fire services would be blocked. Without fire services, your homeowner's insurance premiums could skyrocket or, worse yet, you could lose homeowner's insurance altogether. Mortgage lenders require homeowner's insurance, thus lenders could require payment in full and/or no new mortgages at all. Property and lot values could plummet! This would reduce the county tax base and I don't know what other ramifications could result from this action, but I do believe the snowball could go on and on.

Carl P. Kummer

County cancer

Dear Editor:

Amazing, isn't it? There's a two against one situation in the commissioners office, yet Commissioner Lynch, who is part of the majority, places the blame for countywide employee resignations on the one commissioner that is virtually shut out of county decisions. She uses the "cancer" word.

Am I to believe the long list of county administrators, assistants, supervisors, managers, and staff, that have bailed out of Archuleta County employment are caused by the lone (implied), "cancer carrying," Commissioner Schiro?

Perhaps Commissioner Lynch, who holds one of the strong majority positions in governing Archuleta County, should refocus on just where and who is spreading this "cancer."

Luckily it hasn't yet affected the eyesight of many observers watching our county government at work.

My hope is that the citizens and voters do become informed. "Cancer" is elusive, it's tricky, and often is found where one could not imagine.

Fred Olson

Editor's note: The only way to determine the cause or causes of the departures would be to ask those who left their reasons for doing so. Have you done this?

Low morale

Dear Editor:

It's ironic that Sgt. Bybee called the people with low morale at the sheriff's department "A cry baby, a complainer, a know-it-all, an I don't care about anyone else but myself" type of person in a public newspaper. Wouldn't that statement only create low morale?

Sgt. Bybee admitted in his letter that the sheriff's department has one or two people who are unhappy. His advice to them is to "move on or find another line of work." Sgt. Bybee should know that these employees are not unhappy with their line of work; they are unhappy with the current administration, including Sgt. Bybee. These employees should not have to look for a new line of work just because the current administration at the sheriff's department is too arrogant to acknowledge it needs to work on staff relations.

Morale should have been addressed six months ago when the sheriff's department still employed Lt. Fitzwater, Sgt. Brammer and evidence technician Norm Frazier. These men are now happily employed at other surrounding law enforcement agencies - a true loss for Archuleta County.

Rather than trying to fix the problem and boost morale, Undersheriff Grandchamp and his supporters are trying to deceive everyone that morale is fine. I believe the letters from Bybee, Waters, Saltzman and Ervin were written because it is election time and there is no good way to explain the low morale and high turnover that has occurred under Grandchamp's direction. Those who are writing in The SUN are new to the department. We, as informed voters, must be able to see through the smoke being blown at us through these articles.

Finally, Sgt. Bybee should know it is only because these employees have a good attitude and a sense of humor that they have been able to endure their employment at the sheriff's department, under the current administration. If Sgt. Bybee is a man of his word, then he will take his own advice and receive the constructive criticism stated within this letter with a good attitude and a sense of humor.

Richard Valdez, Sr.

'Living Between Two Worlds' topic at UU service

On Sunday, Feb. 19, John Hornecker, a leader in the areas of creative problem solving and spiritual transformation, will present a program for the Pagosah Unitarian Universalist Fellowship entitled "Living Between Two Worlds."

He states: "The old world - the one depicted in the evening news telecasts - is crumbling before our eyes, because it is based on a false reality. The cornerstones of the new world are love, wisdom, joy, compassion, and an awareness of the oneness we share with each other and with all of creation." Hornecker will touch on several aspects of the new world, with a particular focus on health and well-being.

While pursuing a 30-year career in the telecommunications industry, he developed a deep interest in spiritual transformation, on both a personal and planetary level. He has authored various books and articles on this subject, and has lectured and led workshops throughout the world.

Hornecker is a colleague of the Creative Education Foundation, and for the past 25 years has facilitated workshops at their annual Creative Problem Solving Institute. From 2000 to 2002, he served as director of WE International, a non-profit organization which provides information and networking support for people who are going through major shifts in consciousness. This also includes a focus on the so-called "Indigo Children."

The service and children's program begin at 10:30 a.m., and a potluck luncheon will follow the service. The Pagosah Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall is Unit 15-B, Greenbriar Plaza. Turn east on Greenbrier Drive off of North Pagosa Boulevard by the fire station, then left into the parking lot and look for the big sign. All are welcome.

Curves begins annual food drive

Curves of Pagosa Springs will be participating in the Curves Food Drive to benefit local food banks.

Last year, the Curves Food Drive collected 10.6 million pounds of food for local communities all over the world. That's almost 3 million more pounds than the year before!

"The Curves Food Drive promotion is always exciting," said April Bergman, the owner of the Pagosa Springs club. "We have a chance to help so many people at a time when the food banks are lowest. We are very proud to participate in supporting our community."

Call 731-0333 or stop by Curves, located behind the Hogs Breath Restaurant, to make your contribution to our local food banks.

Music Boosters melodrama taking shape for March debut

By Dale Morris

Special to The PREVIEW

The "melodramatic" cast of Tom Taggart's Gay Nineties Melodrama, "Lily, The Fellon's Daughter" are becoming more and more comfortable with the acting styles associated with this type of classic theater.

They are perfecting the walks and other characteristic physical movement involved in the portrayal of their colorful characters as well as experimenting with exaggerated facial features, attitudes and annoyances.

Music Boosters' Scott Farnham is making his directorial debut with this production as part of an apprenticeship program designed to support those with interest and abilities in the performance arena. Working alongside other directors, Farnham receives the benefits of experience while being encouraged to develop his own style, which, for him, includes seeking suggestions and feedback from his cast. The result is a give and take of different perspectives and viewpoints in addition to the development of a sense of ownership within the ensemble.

Performance dates at Pagosa Springs High School auditorium are March 9, 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m., with an additional matinee on March 11 at 2 p.m.

Advance purchase tickets are now available at the Plaid Pony, 731-5262.

Indiefest early bird tickets now on sale

By Crista Munro

Special to The PREVIEW

The air is abuzz with speculation about Pagosa Springs' newest musical event - the FolkWest Independent Music Festival, or "Indiefest," for short.

The inaugural festival will take place June 10 and 11 on Reservoir Hill. The layout of the festival will be much the same as FolkWest's senior event, the Four Corners Folk Festival, with on-site camping, free kids activities, food and merchandise vendors and a large tent covering the stage and some of the seating area.

Indiefest will showcase five musical acts per day. The lineup so far includes blues/gospel singer extraordinaire Ruthie Foster, Austin-based Terri Hendrix, folk-rocker Eliza Gilkyson, and the eclectic sounds of Brave Combo, the Clumsy Lovers and Blame Sally.

This year's show is a terrific bargain, with early bird tickets priced at $40 for a two-day pass or $25 per day. On-site camping costs just $25 per vehicle for the entire weekend. Children 12 and under are admitted free with an accompanying adult.

Early bird tickets are on sale through Feb. 17 at Moonlight Books, downtown. For additional information, or to purchase tickets with a credit card, call (970) 731-5582 or visit www.folkwest.com.

FolkWest is a Colorado 501(c)(3) non-profit incorporated in 1998 to promote accessibility to live musical performances in Southwest Colorado.

Exhibition opens

Saturday at SHY RABBIT

By Denise Coffee

Special to The PREVIEW

SHY RABBIT proudly announces the opening of its highly anticipated exhibition, "Primarily Found Objects," an open group show, with an artists' reception 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18.

This exhibition runs through March 25, with weekend hours of 1-4 p.m. beginning Saturday, March 4. You are invited to meet the artists and view their work in Pagosa's newest contemporary venue, SHY RABBIT.

The innovative exhibition features the work of 40 uniquely talented local and regional artists. Participants were encouraged to explore their creativity by assembling found objects into unique and interesting artworks. The only criteria in this open, non-juried show was that participants use a minimum of 60-percent found objects in their creations, and that they incorporate at least one of the three primary colors as well. They were also free to stretch the boundaries of the commonly-used definition of "found objects."

Awards will be given to two participants creating the most compelling and unusual works.

The SHY RABBIT Artists' Round Table will follow on Sunday, Feb. 19, from 1-4 p.m. A panel of respected Four Corners artists will be in attendance to speak about their own work and philosophies concerning "found art," and to share their thoughts about the show. All are welcome.

SHY RABBIT is located at 333 Bastille Drive, B-1 and B-4.

For additional information, call 731-2766, or e-mail shyrabbit01@aol.com.

Next dance at center on St. Patrick's Day

By Siri Schuchardt

Special to The PREVIEW

The Pagosa Springs Community Center's Valentine's Dance was a huge success, and as many as to 300 people danced the night away to a variety of music provided by Tim Sullivan and Narrow Gauge.

Since the dance was a fund-raiser for the community center, I would like to let you know that approximately $4,600 was raised through ticket sales and the cash bar.

With proceeds from the New Year's Dance, the community center purchased two new rows of dance floor (which arrived the day of the Valentine's Dance, but too late to put up), five new round tables, and the new mirror ball and lights. All proceeds from the dances are used to benefit the community center and the dance program.

The next dance will be held on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. and the music will be provided by DJ, Bobby Hart.

Please watch for details in future issues of The PREVIEW and mark your calendars now for a fun evening - Shamrock style!

First house concert of year on Presidents' Day

By Chrissy Karas

Special to The PREVIEW

Jeffrey Foucault appears in a house concert, 7 p.m. on Presidents day, Monday, Feb. 20, at Nick and Chrissy Karas' house, 160 Peregrine Place in Holiday Acres,

Tickets are $12, with all proceeds going to the performer. There is limited seating available.

Jeffrey Foucault was born and raised in southeastern Wisconsin. His musical career began at 17, when evenings were spent playing John Prine tunes on his father's beat-up mail order guitar, and spinning old records on a hand-me-down turntable in his bedroom.

When he was 18, he stole a copy of "Townes Van Zandt: Live and Obscure" from a friend, and immersed himself in the Texas folk of writers like Van Zandt and Guy Clark. With the Dylan-inspired singer songwriter movement as a foundation, he waded through old country, alt country, bluegrass and blues, and began to identify closely with the midwestern regionalism of Greg Brown. He discovered the poetry of Kenneth Rexroth, and by 19 had begun to try his hand at writing songs.

By the time he graduated with a history degree from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Foucault was performing regularly at the Cafe Carpe in Fort Atkinson Wisc.

In 2001, Foucault self-released his debut album, "Miles from the Lightning," a collection of dark narrative ballads, starkly-rendered love songs, allegories and elegies told in plain verse. Equal parts folk, old country and roots Americana, the album garnered Foucault both attention and acclaim and kick-started a career of extensive touring in the United States, Canada and the U.K. Along the way, Foucault has played with artists and icons such as Guy Clark, Greg Brown, Chris Smither, Kelly Joe Phelps, Gillian Welch, Richard Buckner, Rosanne Cash, John Hammond and others.

Check him out at: www.jeffreyfoucault.com.

Directions: South on U.S. 84, three miles; right on Holiday Drive, right on Stage Coach, left on Shenandoah, left on Peregrine Place, second drive on the left.

Call for reservations at 264-6026 or 799-3308.

The early days of aviation in Pagosa Springs

By Franklin W. Anderson

Special to The PREVIEW

Looking back over the years, it hardly seems possible that aviation history in Archuleta County started to evolve in the late l930s.

When an airplane could be heard coming over the town everybody, and I mean everybody, would go out and scan the skies to try and locate the airplane. Normally it could be spotted coming through the low spot on either side of Square Top Mountain. People would gaze at the airplane until it had passed from sight.

In the late l930s, around the Fourth of July, a barnstormer would come into town and use the old racetrack parallel to the Light Plant Road for a landing field. A high percentage of the Apaches from Dulce would be in town for the celebration and camped around the base of Reservoir Hill. The barnstormer had an old WACO aircraft and would give rides to the local citizens for a nominal fee. Every red-blooded American boy in Pagosa would be standing around the airplane and trying to jockey for position for the rides.

The WACO was a very popular plane during that period and was suited for short takeoffs and landings. He could take two people at a time in the front cockpit. Many of the young boys who flew with this pilot would go into the service during WW ll, and joined the Army Air Corps; all the young boys were standing around wanting a ride. They were David Hersch, John Joe Hersch, Milton Leo Wiley, Lloyd Anderson, George (Sonny) Alley Jr., John Dillinger, Billy Lowell, Gilbert Mullins, Jerry Martinez, Gibby Martinez, Oscar McCoy, Billy and Joseph Lynn , David and Jimmy Willis, Riley Hill Jr., Fred Harman III, Ted Lattin, Doug Lynch and a host of others. You had to be a certain age or height to get a ride, but that old pilot was kept busy.

One day, a friend of the John Lynn family flew in with a Ryan PT-19 (pursuit trainer) The low-winged open cockpit monoplane was really something, the like of which none of us had seen before. It was all polished aluminum and really sparkled in the sun.

The pilot asked Billy if he wanted to go for a spin. Well, Billy climbs in the cockpit and looks around at the rest of the kids; he was really gloating at his good fortune. Everybody on the ground was green with envy and just wished they could be so lucky. The pilot cranks up the plane and taxies up towards the springs end of the racetrack. He does his checks and pours on the throttle.

It was a warm day and the track was a little soft from the spring thaw. They went down the racetrack and finally lifted off, barely missing the houses in South Pagosa and banked to the west, only to catch the power lines with the plane's main landing gear. They struggled to gain altitude while dragging a lot of wire. The airplane lost flight capacity and headed down towards the light plant canal. It went down behind the houses and you could hear the crash. Everybody rushed toward the crash site as fast as they could, on foot and bicycles.

The main gear was imbedded in the riverside bank of the canal and the airplane was out in the middle of the river floating down stream. Billy and the pilot were standing in their cockpits. It had sunk about halfway up to the fuselage and was moving down stream. They finally hit a big rock and the plane stopped in midstream as the water rushed by on both sides. They swam ashore and started back towards the hot springs. Billy was quite subdued and very lucky.

There was an airline (Monarch Airlines that flew early Gulf Winged Stinsons, from Alamosa to Durango and other places in Colorado). Their route normally (depending on the weather) was through one of the passes, Wolf Creek or Elwood, or if the weather was bad by Square Top. Normally, it was weekly.

In the spring of l939, one of the pilots ran out of gas and the pilot put it down on the highway west of Dyke. The plane suffered some damage after going through the fence, but no one was hurt. A mechanic from Durango came out, fixed a few things, put in some gas and flew it to Durango.

This prompted Ralph Burris to approach Joe Hersch about putting in a fuel tank at Sunetha (by the Red Barn that used to be directly across from Fairfield offices). The tank had a manual pump; the idea was to have fuel available for the airline, and it was used on several occasions. The State Highway 160 used to go up South Seventh Street to Piedra Street by the old Putnam place (Put Hill) and out through Sunetha. When the state changed the highway and it went directly up the hill (where it is now), they abandoned the old right of way. This left a relatively good strip running down the valley at Sunetha for landing aircraft.

The Herschs worked on the strip, removing the culverts and other obstacles and improved the surface; it did have cross winds, and it was said to be good training for bush pilots.

Also, on several occasions, the highway was used for emergency landings. Joe Hersch and his sons became interesting in flying and trained with an old pilot in Monte Vista. He had an old Piper Cub (J-2) and was teaching all comers. Joe Hersch and his sons were introduced to Roy Knolls and they formed a new business. Roy purchased some additional planes and Joe, David and John Joe got their pilot's licenses and they done a lot of flying.

Johnny Baird was another pilot around Pagosa; he was a forest ranger who had come into the area. He enlisted into the Navy Air Force during World War II and when he returned he continued to fly and instruct numerous others. Most notable were Vic Poma, Dr. John Button, Art O'Neil (owner of Jan's Café) and several others.

Doctor Button had come into Pagosa and had a practice, married a local girl and expanded his practice to Durango, flying back and forth in a matter of minutes. He kept his plane in one of John Stevens' shearing sheds, and was always willing to give young kids a ride. One day James Corrigan (John Stevens' nephew) was standing around and the Doctor gave him a ride. To this day, James remembers the thrill of his first ride.

Doctor Button and Bob Eakes left Greg's Flying Service in Durango in a snowstorm bound for Denver. The Luscombe-Silvairde Model 8 had a limited performance at 10,000 feet. They disappeared and a massive search was launched; eventually the aircraft was spotted in the meadow back of Emma McCrones ranch near Creede. They had made a soft landing as only the propeller was damaged. However, the snow was extremely deep and soft and hard to traverse in. Both perished in the storm (more can be read in issues of The Pagosa Springs SUN). In the summer, when the snow had melted and the ground had firmed up, a mechanic working for Kramer's flying Service from Alamosa went in and replaced the propeller and flew the plane to Alamosa (quite a feat to get out of that meadow).

Vic Poma was another student and developed into an exceptional pilot. He used his skills to conduct business around the country, to assist others in quick trips on their business and made many humanitarian Good Samaritan flights.

These groups of young flyers were very civic minded and wanted to improve the landing strip, get hangers and maintenance for their aircraft. The large sawmill that was located on John Stevens' property was moving and they had buildings that could be converted into hangers. The sawmill had done a lot of leveling and with the aid of John Stevens (who was a county commissioner) they began the formation of an airport committee. I believe that Vic Poma was the prime mover and that Ray Gibson, Art O'Neil and Doctor Button and a few that escape my memory formed the committee and elected Ray Gibson chairman or president.

Eventually, Vic Poma became a county commissioner and continued to support the airport and the formation of a committee. Ray Gibson had a car dealership in Pagosa and Leadville and he and John Joe Hersch would fly back and forth. Leadville was not an easy strip to get in and out of, but John Joe was an exceptional pilot and had no problems. About this time, Fairfield came into the picture and they also threw their support behind improving the airstrip. Later, Jim Cloman would also provided additional land to extend the runway.

Years later Vic Poma, Ethel and her brother, Dave, and his wife, Helen, were flying and developed engine problems and Vic landed on the ice on the lake by Fairfield. In all the years that the airport has been operating there have been few accidents. However, there have been some with fatalities.

At the current time there is turmoil over what is transpiring at the Airport and it's functioning. Hopefully, this will be resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned. Many of the individuals being affected have been prime movers in developing and keeping the airport functional. I strongly believe that the voice of the people at the airport should be listened to in order to develop something that all concerned can benefit by.

This article is the collaborative efforts of myself and the Hersch Boys - David and Fedder. If we have left somebody out, it is not intentional. More definitive answers can be found by researching The Pagosa Springs SUN.

Teen Center to hold first dance

The Teen Center is celebrating its grand opening with a formal dance, A Garden of Lights.

The free event will be held 5:30-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at the center located in the Pagosa springs Community Center on Hot springs Boulevard.

A professional DJ will spin. Pizza, sloppy joes, sweet treats and beverages will be provided. There will also be drawings for door prizes. Teens should dress to impress.

For more information on the dance, or to volunteer as a chaperone, call Jen Stockbridge, Teen Center coordinator, at 264-4152, Ext. 31, or e-mail pagosateencenter@centurytel.net.

New classes set to begin at education center

By Livia Cloman Lynch

PREVIEW Columnist

The Archuleta County Education Center coordinates a wide range of community education offerings including computer classes, first aid and CPR training, and general interest classes.

Computer instruction ranges from the beginning level with "Getting Acquainted with your Personal Computer" to advanced level spreadsheet and database programs. Spring classes are now beginning. Next week, Janet Reilly will begin teaching a Microsoft Publisher class that will run Thursdays through March 16.

On Feb. 27 a new Microsoft Excel class will begin. Kathleen Zilhaver is the instructor for this six-session, Monday-Wednesday class.

A Microsoft Word class starts Tuesday, Feb. 28. This class will run on six consecutive Tuesday evenings, ending April 4.

Quickbooks is being offered Tuesdays starting Feb. 28. Quickbooks is a fast and easy financial management software for small businesses. This popular class fills up quickly, so call 264-2835 to register today.

The next Standard First Aid and CPR class is scheduled for March 8-9. Classes will be held from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Education Center.

Call the Archuleta County Education Center for more information about any of our classes 264-2835.

Farewell luncheon

Archuleta County Education Center board members gathered last week for a farewell luncheon for Cynthia Sharp, who has moved to Grand Junction.

Cynthia had been an education center volunteer since 1995 and a valued board member since 1999.

Thank you Cynthia for all of your hard work on behalf of our organization.

Loaves and Fishes: One of the 'best'

By Kate Terry

PREVIEW Columnist

Loaves and Fishes has started home delivery on Thursdays for those who are unable to make it to the Parish Hall.

If you are interested in having a meal delivered to you at no charge, call 731-1034.

This announcement adds more importance to the Loaves and Fishes program that is already reaching out to the people in Pagosa Springs. One hundred eighty-three people were fed last week; this included 20 takeouts, and now comes this offer by a volunteer to reach out some more.

Loaves and Fishes is not a traditional food kitchen, if lining up at a counter to receive one's food can be called typical. Rather, the guests are greeted at the door, directed toward a table (of their choice), and waited on. One of the volunteers then serves them a plate of food and a drink.

And then there are desserts - cut up cakes displayed on a tea cart that a volunteer rolls around. And one can take two pieces if one wants them.

This way of handling Loaves and Fishes has been a basic thought from the beginning - to serve people as one would do in one's home, with courtesy and hospitality.

The people who come find it a place to visit with old friends and to meet new ones. As has been said before, and still is, it is the best thing that has happened in Pagosa. There are other things that have been good for Pagosa Springs, and so it is really hard to point to one "best thing for Pagosa," but it has to be admitted that this is one of the "best things."

Loaves and Fishes was started a year ago this January. It ran for three months (cold, winter months) to see if such a program wass needed, and it was so well received that now it will be open the year round, Thursdays at the Parish Hall.

When Loaves and Fishes was organized, all churches were approached to take part. Some churches have their own "outreach programs" (that's the term churches use for volunteer work outside the regular church), but there is room for all, and if this program is to open year round, more volunteers will be needed.

A few closing facts:

The City Market up on the hill graciously provides all the meat, the breads and the cakes.

The program is not affiliated with any church or organization. It is operated by the grace of a committee of women.

Fun on the Run

Is spelling really important?

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid. Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the srod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? Yaeh, and I awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorantt.

Grand dance for a grand opening

By Becky Herman

PREVIEW Columnist

The Teen Center will celebrate its grand opening with "A Garden of Lights" formal dance Friday, Feb. 17. The event will be held 5:30-9 p.m.

Teens will enjoy free food and dancing. A professional DJ will spin. There will also be drawings for door prizes. Teens, please dress to impress and enjoy the evening!

Call Jen Stockbridge, the Teen Center coordinator, at 264-4152, Ext. 31, for more information.

Blood drive

United Blood Services of Durango will be in Pagosa Feb. 21 for a blood drive.

They encourage everyone who is able to donate to come to the center and give blood. Donations have been down in February, possibly due to the fact that it is cold and flu season. The usual demand for blood requires 35 donations a day; the number of donations has been averaging 25 per day.

UBS hopes to collect 25 percent of its monthly blood requirements in the one day here in Pagosa Springs. Please consider making a donation. An ID is required.

Aus-Ger Club

A reminder: The next get-together will be a potluck brunch, held at the center at 10 a.m. Feb. 23. Call Roger Behr (731-0409) or Bodil Holstein (247-3401) to let them know what dish you plan to bring.

Scrapbooking

Melissa Bailey writes, "This past Saturday the Pagosa Springs Community Scrapbook Club held its monthly meeting from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Several members were very busy working on Valentine's Day Cards while others worked on their scrapbook pages. The general opinion was that a lot was accomplished while still having fun!"

The Club will meet again, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 11, in the South Conference room. Please join us. If you have any questions, call the community center at 264-4152 or Melissa Bailey at 731-1574.

Cooking classes

At the start of the Thai cooking classes, Pao Tallman demonstrated how to make Pad Thai, a wonderful rice noodle dish with peanuts, bean sprouts and green onions - your choice of chicken, tofu, or seafood - seasoned with garlic, tamarind, and lime. All this and peanuts too.

Those of us who enjoy ethnic cooking should form a cooperative so we can pick up unusual ingredients for each other when we venture out of town.

The next class, which is filled, will be held Feb. 20. The cost for any cooking class is $10 per person per class session. This fee must be paid before the day of the class. The prepayment has become necessary because there are so many people wanting to attend, we need to be able to fill any vacancies which occur. Please let us know of your interest in these classes and we will add your name to the waiting list.

Computer lab news

Several of our computer lab users are conducting an informal search engine comparison. You may remember that a search engine is a program which indexes key words in Web pages; the engine returns a list of pages in which it has found the key word(s) for which you are searching. For example a keyword search on "pagosa" in Google yields 823,000 hits; there are 868,000 in Yahoo and Altavista, 444,369 in MSN and 211,800 in Ask Jeeves. Doing this type of comparison may help you to decide which search engines to use. For the most part, the same sites showed up at the beginning of each search engine's list.

As you may know, new beginning classes will be starting in another month. No dates for the first week of classes have, at this time, been determined. However, it has become clear that people in the beginning classes fall, very generally, into two groups. Some have used computers before but feel that they have some serious gaps in what they know and what they can do. Others come in at a more basic level; these are the folks who may not know where to put their fingers on the keyboard. Or they have never held a mouse before and need to practice clicking and double-clicking. Some left-handed people need to learn how to cope with the largely right-handed world of computers.

In an effort to address these difficulties, we want to postpone the actual Beginning Computing classes for two weeks. In those two weeks, we plan to offer some practice sessions. We'll set up typing tutorials for keyboard practice; and we'll have games like solitaire, checkers, chess and mahjongg to help with double-clicking and clicking and dragging. These opportunities to practice using a keyboard and mouse should make it possible for all those attending the beginning classes to start at approximately the same place. If your name is on the list for the beginning classes, you will be receiving a phone call; we need to determine whether or not you want to attend these practice sessions. The computer lab is available for individual practice whenever the center is open. Or if you want to accomplish the same thing on your home computer, stop in at the center to pick up a list of suggested resources and Web sites to try. Arrangements can be made for extra help if it is needed.

A change has been made to the weekly Computer Q&A session. This is a four-hour time period when I am available to answer questions and help with whatever computer problems you may be having. It has been moved to Thursday afternoons from 1-4 p.m. Calling ahead for an appointment is probably the best way to avoid waiting while someone else is being helped. There is no charge for this service.

By the way, there are a few spaces still open for the beginning classes. Call soon. Questions about computer use? Call me at 264-4152.

Center's hours

During the winter months, the center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday hours are 10-4.

Do you have a special talent, hobby, or interest that you would like to share? We're looking for volunteers interested in forming interest groups. Call Mercy with your ideas, 264-4152, Ext. 22.

Valentine Dance thanks

The community center thanks everyone who attended the Valentine's Dance last Friday evening. The event was a major fund-raiser for the center, and the community's response was overwhelming with a net profit of $4,600. As many as 300 people danced the night away, while they enjoyed the camaraderie, the fun, the food, the beautiful decorations, and especially the music provided by Tim Sullivan and Narrow Gauge.

We thank those of you who donated door prizes: the Flower Cottage for the beautiful floral arrangement, WolfTracks Bookstore and Coffee for the gift certificate, Rebecca Cortez of Ancient Wisdom Therapy for the free massage, Wendy Saunders for the framed photograph, and Be Our Guest Bed and Breakfast for the coupon for an overnight stay. WolfTracks also helped with selling tickets; and Wendy also gave the center 15 percent of the proceeds from the sale of her framed western photographs. Walter Green picked up supplies and trucked them back to the center as well as lending a hand to Chris Patane who unpacked the new dance floor panels. KWUF and the Pagosa SUN helped with publicity. Pagosa Glass donated a dozen mirror tiles which were used as part of the table decorations. Jim Stone of the Buffalo Inn donated two sheet cakes. The presence of the Archuleta County Sheriff's Department and the Pagosa Springs Town police were greatly appreciated. Judy Cramer and Marilyn Falvey took tickets at the door. Mary Jo Coulehan, Bill Korsgren, Stacia Kemp and her friend from out of town took care of tending the bar. The spectacular centerpiece for the food table came from the Flower Cottage.

And the following folks were here the day of the dance, helping to put the balloon chandeliers together, setting up and decorating tables, getting the chairs out, and just as important, cleaning up at the end of the evening: Gerry Potticary, Elaine Lundergan, Peggy and Dick Carrai, Winnie Pavlovich, Trish Sierpiejko, Judy Cramer, Suzy Bruce, Janet Nordmann, Betty Schwicker, Jerry Granok, Gayle Hawkins, Jim Hawkins and Pam Stokes. A special nod to any and all who helped and have been omitted from this list. We appreciate every effort, large and small, to provide this extraordinary experience for our community. And of course thanks to our wonderful volunteer dance coordinator, Siri Schuchardt, who has put in more hours than we can count, making plans and putting everything together.

Activities this week

Today - AARP free tax help, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; legal depositions, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; beginning yoga with Richard Harris, 11 a.m.-noon; Teen Center open (poker), 4-8 p.m.; youth basketball, 5-8 p.m.; Small Business Development class, 6-9 p.m.; Democratic Central Committee meeting, 7-9 p.m.

Feb. 17 - Senior bridge, 12:30-4 p.m.; Computer Q & A with Becky, 1-4 p.m.; Teen Center open (grand opening dance), 5:30-9 p.m.; Mage Knight, 3-6 p.m.

Feb. 18 - Youth basketball, 9 a.m.-noon; Randall Davis drawing class, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Teen Center open (dodge ball), 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; basketball, 8 p.m.-midnight.

Feb. 19 - Church of Christ Sunday service, 9 a.m.-noon; Grace Evangelical Free Church service, 10 a.m.-noon; United Pentecostal Church service, 2-4 p.m.; volleyball, 4-7 p.m.

Feb. 20 - Closed for the Presidents' Day holiday.

Feb. 21 - Beginning Computing, 10 a.m.-noon; blood drive, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; seniors' walking program, 11:15-11:35 a.m.; Teen Center open (movie), 4-8 p.m.; youth basketball, 5-8 p.m.; Bible study, 5:45-7:45 p.m.

Feb. 22 - Seniors' Beginning Computing, 10 a.m.-noon; preschool play group, 10 a.m.-noon; Wednesday bridge club, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Teen Center open (Uno Attack!), 4-8 p.m.; youth basketball, 5-8 p.m.; Weight Watchers, weigh-in at 5 p.m., meeting at 5:30; Town recreation planning public meeting, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Church of Christ Bible study, 7-8 p.m.

Feb. 23 - AARP free tax help, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Aus-Ger Club, 10 a.m.-noon; beginning yoga, 11 a.m.-noon; Teen Center open (poker), 4-8 p.m.; youth basketball, 5-8 p.m.; TOPS Comprehensive Advisory Committee meeting, 5-9 p.m.; American Cancer Society, 5-7 p.m.; Leading Edge/Small Business Development, 6-9 p.m.

Need a place to have a party or meeting? We have very affordable rooms for small, mid-size and large groups. A catering kitchen is also available. Tables, chairs, a portable stage, a dance floor and audiovisual equipment are available, too. The center is located at 451 Hot Springs Blvd. Call 264-4152.

Free tax counseling and preparation returns

By Jeni Wiskofske

SUN Columnist

The AARP sponsored Tax-Aide program is returning this year.

This program provides free tax counseling and preparation by IRS/AARP trained volunteers who reside in the Pagosa Springs area. The counseling is confidential and the emphasis is on serving the low and middle income taxpayer, with special attention to those 60 years of age and older.

Appointments for tax assistance may be scheduled via a sign-up sheet in the senior center dining room. Appointments will not be accepted by phone.

This program will be offered every Thursday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., through April 13 in the arts council room at the community center.

Restaurant trip

Our restaurant of the month is Farrago's. The Den will go to this local restaurant for lunch 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 16. Cost is $10 per person. Please sign up at The Den office by Tuesday, Feb. 14, to enjoy this outing.

4-H presentation

Kenny Kroschel was privileged to live in Northern Ireland and England through the International 4-H Youth Exchange (IFYE) program. An educational program for developing peace and understanding throughout the world, it increases international awareness and assists in improving leadership and communication skills.

Kenny will be at The Den 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, sharing his experiences abroad. He is 26 years old and has a B.A. from Montana State University in diesel technology. He enjoys dogs, drag racing, traveling and hunting.

Closed for holiday

The Silver Foxes Den will be closed Monday, Feb. 20, for Presidents Day. We hope you enjoy your holiday weekend and we will look forward to seeing you for lunch Tuesday the 21st.

Save a life, give blood

The Silver Foxes Den Senior Center will host a blood drive Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call The Den at 264-2167 to make an appointment to donate blood. Remember, only a little pin prick to you could save someone's life. Be brave, make time, and give something precious. Help save a life!

Sky Ute Casino

Step into the action and play to have fun during our monthly trip to Sky Ute Casino Tuesday, Feb. 21. Free transportation (with limited seating) provided by Sky Ute leaves The Den at 1 p.m. returning approximately 5:45 p.m. A $5 coupon for a meal and a $2 coupon to play the slots, also provided by the casino, makes it a hard bargain to pass up.

Herbs in the house

Herbalist Jenny Blechman will be at The Den 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, to discuss the preventative and alternative methods of health with herbs. Jenny has been an herbalist for 15 years and opened the successful local herb shop, Artemesia, 5 1/2 years ago in Pagosa Springs. She began as an apprentice in Durango and attended the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine. She has had a lifelong love of plants and has always been interested in the health and beauty that the gifts of plants provide. Join Jenny at The Den to learn the possibilities that natural herbs have to offer.

Snowmobile tour

Experience Colorado's backcountry on a snowmobile adventure tour.

There are plenty of winter sports and activities to grab your attention during the winter season, from downhill to cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing to ice fishing, but some of the best times can be found straddling a powerful snowmobile and adventuring across the backcountry of the San Juan Mountains.

On Thursday, Feb. 23, The Den is going snowmobiling. Join us to discover some rewarding scenery with a qualified guide who can take you to places where you'll see few other faces and much of the unspoiled winter landscape. Poma Outfitting will provide a one-hour snowmobile tour with a hot lunch included for only $40 per person. Meet at The Den at 10 a.m. and we will leave promptly at 10:15 with transportation provided on our bus. Sign up at The Den office by Friday, Feb. 10, to participate in this outdoor adventure tour.

Free monthly movie

Our free monthly movie at The Den, 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, is "Chocolat," rated PG-13.

An iconoclastic single mother (Oscar-nominee Juliette Binoche) and her young daughter move to a village in France and open a chocolate shop - that's open Sundays - across the street from a church. At first, Binoche's rich, sensuous desserts scandalize the town, but soon the villagers welcome the newcomers with open arms. Join us for free popcorn in the lounge for this 2000 Best Picture Nominee film.

Birthday celebration

If you are age 60 or over and your birthday is in February, come down to The Den Friday, Feb. 24, for a delicious lunch and celebrate your birthday. Seniors, Inc. has graciously agreed to pay for a portion of your birthday meal, so it will only cost $1 for a great lunch and birthday cake.

Purpose Prize

As the first of 77 million baby boomers turn 60 in 2006, Civic Ventures, a nonprofit organization working to help America achieve the greatest return on experience, announces The Purpose Prize - five $100,000 investments in Americans over 60 whose creativity, talent and experience is transforming the way our nation addresses critical social problems.

Sixty semifinalists will also receive national recognition for their work.

To nominate someone or apply yourself, visit www.leadwithexperience.org. Application deadline is Feb. 28. The first awards will be made in June 2006.

Seniors Inc.

Seniors Inc. memberships for folks age 55 and over can be purchased for $5 at The Den on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. No memberships will be sold Thursdays. Join now and acquire the benefits for 2006.

Medicare Drug appointments

Have questions regarding the new Medicare Drug Insurance plans?

The Den can help. Medicare Drug Insurance appointments can be scheduled at The Den with the director, Musetta Wollenweber. Walk-ins without appointments will not be accepted.

Call The Den at 264-2167 for an appointment to answer your questions and help you choose a plan that best fits your needs.

Home delivered meals

The Den provides home delivered meals to qualifying homebound individuals who want the benefits of a nutritional lunch.

The Den's caring volunteers deliver the meals to homes Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays while taking the time to check in with the individuals. The appetizing lunches are served hot and ready to eat.

Whether you want a meal delivered one or four times a week, we can accommodate your needs. For more information, call Musetta at 264-2167.

Looking for yarn

The lovely house slippers The Den had available during the holidays were made by the talented Liz Schnell.

She is happy to make more of these comfortable feet coverings, however she needs more yarn. Any scraps of yarn, balls of yarn, or strings of yarn you have would be greatly appreciated. All yarn donations can be made at The Den.

Fraud complaints

The Federal Trade Commission released its annual report detailing consumer complaints about fraud and identity theft in 2005.

Identity theft again leads the list representing 37 percent of the complaints filed. Other top categories of fraud complaints included Internet auctions, foreign money offers, shop-at-home/catalog sales, prizes/sweepstakes and lotteries, Internet services and computer complaints, business opportunities and work-at-home plans, advance-fee loans and credit protection, and telephone services.

Consumers can test their knowledge about identity theft at www.onguardonline.gov/quiz. For more information, the FTC has an updated Web site where consumers can learn about the crime of identity theft at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

Computer lab news

As you may know, new beginning classes will be starting in another month.

The basic computer classes for seniors will continue on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. However, it has become clear that people in the beginning classes fall, very generally, into two groups. Some have used computers before but feel that they have some serious gaps in what they know and what they can do. Others come in at a more basic level; these are the folks who may not know where to put their fingers on the keyboard. Or they have never held a mouse before and need to practice clicking and double-clicking.

Some left-handed people need to learn how to cope with the largely right-handed world of computers. In an effort to address these difficulties, we want to postpone the actual Beginning Computing classes for two weeks. In those two weeks, we plan to offer some practice sessions. We'll set up typing tutorials for keyboard practice; and we'll have games like solitaire, checkers, chess and mahjongg to help with double-clicking and clicking and dragging. These opportunities to practice using a keyboard and mouse should make it possible for all those attending the beginning classes to start at approximately the same place.

If your name is on the list for the beginning classes, you will be receiving a phone call; we need to determine whether or not you want to attend these practice sessions. The computer lab is available for individual practice whenever the center is open. Or if you want to accomplish the same thing on your home computer, stop in at the center to pick up a list of suggested resources and Web sites to try. Arrangements can be made for extra help if it is needed. By the way, there are a few spaces still open for the beginning classes but call soon. Questions about computer use? Call Becky at 264-4152.

Activities at a glance

Thursday, Feb. 16 - AARP tax assistance by appointment only, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; lunch at Farrago's, 11 a.m.; lunch served in Arboles with Valentine's party and $1 birthday celebrations (reservations required), noon.

Friday, Feb. 17 - Spirit Day, wear your Silver Foxes Den shirts. Qi gong, 10 a.m.; Bridge 4 fun, 1 p.m.; 4-H International presentation on England and Ireland with Kenny Kroschel.

Monday, Feb. 20 - Closed for Presidents Day.

Tuesday, Feb. 21 - Yoga in motion, 10 a.m.; gym walk, 11:15 a.m.; blood pressure checks, 11:30; blood drive (please donate!), 11:30-3 p.m.; canasta, 1 p.m.; Sky Ute Casino, 1 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 22 - Basic computer class, 10 a.m.; "Herbs in Our House" presentation with Jenny Blechman.

Thursday, Feb. 23 - AARP tax assistance by appointment only, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; snowmobile tour with Poma Outfitting, 10 a.m.

Friday, Feb. 24 - Spirit Day, wear your Silver Foxes Den shirts. Qi gong, 10 a.m.; gym walk, 11:15 a.m.; Bridge 4 fun, 1 p.m.; free movie of the month, "Chocolat," rated PG-13, with popcorn, 1 p.m.

Menu

Suggested donation $3 for ages 60-plus, all others $5.

Salad bar every day - 11:30 a.m.

Thursday, Feb. 16 - lunch served in Arboles (reservations required). Spanish meatballs, mexicorn, tossed salad, whole wheat roll and birthday cake.

Friday, Feb. 17 - American lasagna, herbed green beans, seasoned cabbage, bread stick and ice cream.

Monday, Feb. 20 - Closed for Presidents Day.

Tuesday, Feb. 21 - Hamburger with lettuce, tomato and pickle, potato salad, baked beans, peaches and cornbread.

Wednesday, Feb. 22 - Tuna salad with lettuce, pasta salad, orange juice, apricots and wheat bread.

Friday, Feb. 24 - Roast pork with gravy, oven browned potatoes, parslied carrots, strawberry Jell-O salad and dinner roll.

Take full advantage of VA death benefits

By Andy Fautheree

PREVIEW Columnist

The Archuleta County Veterans Service Office will be closed for a vacation and President's Day holiday today, Friday and Monday. All county offices will be closed Monday. I will return Tuesday.

Month of death

The past two weeks, I have been giving you basic outlines of VA death benefits. There is one other death benefit for deceased veterans who were receiving a VA pension or Service Connected Disability payments. This is a "month of death" benefit payment to the surviving spouse or children.

Full eligibility month

Normally a veteran's pension or disability payment is based on the last full month of eligibility, paid the following month. Some of you may be familiar that Social Security pays the same way.

VA payment is not normally paid for the month of death. If the veteran died in January and payment was received in February, that payment normally would be returned since the death occurred during January and that would not meet the full month of eligibility requirement.

However, the surviving spouse or children of the veteran can apply to the VA to keep that month of death payment, which could help significantly with burial expenses. A simple letter to the VA requesting to keep the month of death payment is all that is required and the VA may grant that request.

Proposed VA budget

Recently I received a press release of the Administration's proposed 2007 VA budget. The glaring headlines read "Veterans Get Nearly $81 Billion in Historic FY 07 Plan." The second headline read, "Landmark Budget includes largest increase in Health Care spending in history".

The article then goes on in detail of proposed budget details. This came to me in the form of official e-mail from the VA. In small type, the information was four pages of details to print out.

Annual enrollment fee?

Down near the bottom of the fourth page of the news release it mentioned the "President's FY'' 07 budget includes two provisions that will further ensure VA is able to care for those veterans who count on it the most by asking other non-disabled, higher income veterans (Priority 7 & 8 veterans) to pay a $250 annual enrollment fee and higher pharmacy co-payments (from $8 to $15).

If I'm not mistaken the president's proposed FY 06 budget included about the same proposal but was overwhelming defeated by Congress in its final form.

Budget pressure

I believe the administration is under a lot of pressure to reduce the federal budget, and part of those budget cuts could be from the veteran's pockets. I have felt for some time there is an effort by some to "flush" as many veterans as possible from the VA health care system. As I have often written in this column, the VA suddenly changed enrollment priorities effective Jan. 17, 2003, that all but eliminated VAHC enrollment for those veterans with income above a certain threshold.

Since that time all veterans with less than 50 percent VA-rated, service-connected disabilities are required to provide an annual financial Means Test to determine VAHC eligibility priority. Those veterans enrolled in VAHC prior to that date were grandfathered in the system. Prior to that date and since 1999 any honorably discharged veteran could enroll in VAHC regardless of income.

Means Test

The VA has been determined since 2003 to require the financial Means Test that sets up the veteran's enrollment for further scrutiny, for changes. Many veterans could choose not to pay the $250 "enrollment" fee to remain in VAHC, and drop out. Thus, they would be "flushed" from the system and no longer budgeted for. Failure to provide the Means Test could result in denial of VAHC services.

Income threshold

The income thresholds for enrollment under the Priority 7 & 8 are only about $28,900 for a single veteran and $33,100 for a married veteran (2005 figures). This is not a great deal of income in this day and age, and a $250 enrollment annual fee and $15 per prescription drug fee (per 30-day supply) could force many veterans to make tough choices, of whether to stay in VAHC. I think many would choose not to stay in. In turn, they may have to choose between health care maintenance and going without any health care. This could ultimately result in higher costs for greater medical needs down the road due to health care neglect.

Defeat enroll fee

I urge all of you to write your elected representatives and urge them to defeat any budget proposals that place the burden of federal budget deficits and budget cuts on the backs of our veterans.

Durango VA Clinic

The Durango VA Outpatient Clinic is located at 400 South Camino Del Rio, (next to Big 5 Sports). Phone number is 247-2214. Albuquerque VAMC phone number is (800) 465-8262.

More information

For information on these and other veteran's benefits, call or stop by the Archuleta County Veterans Service Office located at 46 Eaton Drive, Suite 7 (behind City Market). The office number is 731-3837, the fax number is 731-3879, cell number is 946-6648, and e-mail is afautheree@archuletacounty.org. The office is open from 8 to 4, Monday through Friday. Bring your DD Form 214 (Discharge) for application for VA programs, and for filing in the VSO office.

Our library, and lifelong learning

By Christine Eleanor Anderson

PREVIEW Columnist

"To support the common good is divine."

That's the rough translation from Latin of the motto of the mother of all American libraries, The Library Company of Philadelphia, founded by Ben Franklin in 1731.

The oldest surviving catalogue of the holdings, which Franklin printed, dates to 1741. The library had books on history, geography, poetry, exploration, science, and, in contrast to the university libraries, only 10 percent of the collection was theology. The books were in English and could be borrowed freely, even by the public, if they would put up a surety that could be sold if the book wasn't returned. The books were arranged by size.

Beginning in the 1740s, other American cities began to follow suit with their own libraries. Franklin said, "these libraries have improved the general Conversation of Americans, made the common Tradesman and Farmers as intelligent as most Gentlemen from other Countries, and perhaps have contributed in some Degree to the Stand so generally made throughout the Colonies in Defence of their Privileges."

In short, Franklin was of the opinion that lifelong self-education, available from books in free libraries, was one of the cornerstones of the foundation of the Republic.

One hundred and thirty-five years later, Melvil Dewey, a product of the moral fervor among Baptist reformists in the second half of the 1800s, turned away from religion to social reform through free education. "The free school and the free library I conceive to be the great engines Š Free Schools and Free Libraries for every soul." He is considered to be the father of American library schools. And, he spent much of his time setting the standard for educational public libraries by publishing lists of recommended books for the same.

As every public library user knows, books are no longer arranged by size, thanks to the Dewey Decimal system. Dewey integrated Aristotle's concept of hierarchical classes and subclasses in order to make books available for human education in a findable way. He said he chose the subject areas for his classification system by imagining himself a prehistoric man. And this is how he came up with 100s: who am I (philosophy and psychology, or otherwise explained as, man thinks about himself)? The 200s answer the question: who made me (religion and mythology, or man thinks about God)? The 300s are about other people: who is that man in the next cave (social science)? And, on down the line, through the 000s it goes.

This week, the Pagosa Springs Comprehensive Plan landed on my desk. At least, Chapter 6 and Appendix G, did. Policy C-3(b), Lifelong Learning Promoted, proclaims that the town will promote lifelong learning in the community. And, of course, your library is cited as a participant in this plan.

Since Pagosa Springs is not a college town, I believe the library has an especially weighty obligation in the role of promoting intellectual stimulation for its citizens. The library needs to add to the activities of the schools, in these times of school funding cutbacks. And, the library needs to enrich the community by complementing the offerings of other local agencies.

The Children's room activities, offering reading groups from the earliest ages, with parents and children enjoying the reading sessions together, are more and more heavily frequented. By the end of the year, we are hoping to have some reading activities for pregnant mothers, and some kid's reading sessions in bilingual form. The ever popular summer reading program will begin at the end of June.

Pre-teen reading activities are offered through Meagan's Place. The Pagosa Pretender's performance, the second Saturday of every month at 11 a.m., offers great literary fun across several age groups. The Shel Silverstein reading and participatory acting session that followed last week were great! We thank you Susan Garman!

There is some potential Volunteer interest in working on chess sessions, essay contests and spelling bees to bring teens into the library. Some libraries devote one night a week to teen game night.

Pagosa Reads!, which will certainly offer an education about water in the southwest, is being managed by Volunteer Gail Shepherd with the help of her Alpine Lakes Ranch Book Club. The tentative calendar for April and May promises a fascinating and stimulating debut for this program in Pagosa.

We are also looking at dovetailing a Pagosa program with the Fort Lewis Lifelong Learning Series for next year. Spanish and Hispanic programs are on the drawing board.

Our foreign language collection is used heavily and we might complement the Ed Center's classes with French and Spanish book reading activities. Astronomy classes have been suggested and we are looking into the possibility of applying for a grant for a telescope. Sessions on local geology would be a fine addition. Local history presentations have been requested. As a former teacher of legal research, I am personally interested in developing classes on "how to find the law" since Colorado doesn't have public law libraries. And, I believe every citizen, especially in a rural area, should know how to use Medline Plus, the National Library of Medicine database. A class in evaluating web sources is also a possibility of interest. The sustainable, organic gardens will be a learning experience for all of us, and the Garden Club is rearing to go.

Finally, we are looking at some special learning programs for seniors. New research suggests that Alzheimer's is less likely to occur when the brain is kept in a state of active learning.

There is no end to the possibilities for educational programs and classes that will bring the community into the library to discover books that will open new worlds and make us better citizens. Let's make Ben Franklin proud.

Your suggestions, help and participation are welcome.

PSAC offers workshops, classes, opportunities

By Wen Saunders

PREVIEW Columnist

The Pagosa Springs Arts Council Watercolor Club, (formed in the winter of 2003) meets at 10 a.m. the third Wednesday of each month in the arts and craft space at the community center. The next meeting will be held March 15.

Watercolorists at all ability levels are provided the opportunity to use the room for the day. Each attending member contributes $5 for use of the space.

Goals for the day vary, with watercolorists getting together to draw, paint and experience technique demonstrations from professional watercolorists or framers. Participants are encouraged to bring still lives or photos to paint and draw, or a project to complete. Attendees should bring a bag lunch, their supplies and s willingness to have a fun, creative day.

For more information, contact PSAC at 264.5020.

Volunteer at Harman Museum

The Fred Harman Museum is looking for volunteer docents to work in the museum. Museum hours are 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Summer hours (starting Memorial Day) include Saturday and Sunday. Both half-day and full-day hours are available.

Working in the museum provides the opportunity to preserve a part of our Western authenticity and to meet visitors from throughout the world. For further information, contact Fred Harman III, curator, at 731-5785.

Drawing with Davis

Drawing classes with Randall Davis meets the third Saturday of every month in the arts and craft apace at the community center. The next meeting will be held 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 18. Subjects vary month to month and all levels of aspiring artists are welcome. Attending each month is not necessary, as each session develops its own subject matter.

This is a wonderful opportunity to experience your creative talent together with the guidance of a talented professional. Attendees should bring a large sketchpad, a few drawing pencils (preferably a mid-range No. 2 or 3 and a No. 6 (bold and hard lead), ruler and eraser. Participants should bring a bag lunch (soda machines available). Reservations can be made at PSAC, 264-5020.

Gallery seeks artists

The Pine River Library (Bayfield) welcomes artists of all ages and groups to display their artwork. Many Pagosa artists have displayed their art at the library in past years. Painting, drawing, photography, fabric art, wall quilt, weaving, tapestry, jewelry, beadwork, sculpture, pottery, ceramics, woodwork, glass art, stained glass, metal art, and silversmith are welcome.

Artwork is displayed for two months. Artwork to be displayed the months of March and April must be received no later than Feb. 22. Artwork displayed may be available for sale, and while the library staff members are not involved in the sale of artwork, they will refer queries about the purchase of artwork to the artist. There is no fee charged to artists.

This project encourages the artistic and cultural interest of the community by providing a showcase for local artists. The library is especially interested in three-dimensional work. Months open for 2006 are March/April, September/October, November/December.

Art display request forms are available by calling Chrissy Moiseve at (970) 884-2222.

Photo exhibit

There's something for everyone in the annual PSAC photo contest with over 200 images displayed on the walls at Moonlight Books.

A generous list of categories are represented in the photo show: domestic animals, architecture, autumn scenic, general landscape, patterns/textures, sports, flora, people, up close, winter scenic, black and white, wild animals, sunrise/sunset, special techniques (any type of manipulation), and open (any picture that doesn't fit other categories). Dozens of local shutterbugs (amateur to professional) entered the show and received numerous ribbons.

You still have the opportunity to vote on The People's Choice Award, which should be announced mid February.

The show continues through Feb. 25 and is worth a visit, even if you attended the opening. PSAC thanks all who entered the show and congratulates all ribbon winners.

Call for entries

PSAC announces the call for entries for the PSAC annual Pagosa Springs 2007 Calendar.

Entries may be submitted to the PSAC Town Park Gallery through Thursday, March 9. Subject matter should be limited to Archuleta County and should represent a particular month. Twelve images (one for each month) and a cover image will be selected for the calendar. Local artists representing all media are encouraged to participate.

For judging purposes, low resolution files can be submitted. If chosen for publication, artists will provide image 8.5x11 at 300 dpi for the calendar printing. Actual images (framed or otherwise) submitted for the PSAC annual Photo Contest at Moonlight Books can be dropped off at the PSAC gallery in Town Park after the photo exhibit, on Tuesday, Feb. 28, for calendar consideration. Please call the gallery at 264-5020 for further information.

Pretenders program

Pagosa Pretenders Family Theatre, a division of PSAC, will present another "Pretending Books and Stories" program at the Sisson library, 11 a.m. Saturday, March 11. This presentation program will focus on works by Dr. Seuss.

The mission of the monthly program is to promote reading and creativity, and is offered the second Saturday of each month at 11 a.m. at the library. If you would like to be a part of this program, call Susan Garman, 731-2485.

Betty Slade workshop

Seeds of potential have been hidden in your heart as you continue to strive through practice and knowledge to become an artist.

The "Everything That Grows" intermediate watercolor workshop, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 1, 2 and 3, will help you take your creative desires to a new level of growth. This workshop will water and nurture those tender young plants that are blooming in you. New seeds will also be planted with the promise of a great harvest.

Betty Slade will show you techniques and skills to draw out the garden of your soul. You will learn how to reflect your thoughts and moods when you touch your paintbrush to paper. The most important discovery will be your own growth, as you learn how to push colors, direct the viewer's eye by creating a path of light to the focal point. You will begin to paint art, not subjects.

Everything that grows —from flowers and trees to people - will be part of this workshop experience. You will learn how to keep a sketchbook, describe details, express emotions, thereby turning your thoughts into great paintings. Winter brings the promise of spring, as snow melts and waters the ground, bearing new growth in the earth. Come away and grow.

PSAC exhibits program

Applications are available to artists wanting to participate in the Pagosa Springs Arts Council's 2006 Exhibits Program.

From April through October, we present different exhibits for public viewing at the PSAC gallery in Town Park. Past exhibits have varied - from the high school art students, to jewelry, bronze, woodworking, photography, watercolor, oil painting, fabric art and a juried art exhibit.

Our exhibits committee will review portfolios by artists working in any medium. Selected artists will be scheduled for exhibits in the Town Park gallery in 2006. If you are interested or have further questions, contact PSAC at 264-5020 or download the exhibit forms from our Web site at Pagosa-arts.com. Hurry ... the calendar is rapidly filling up for the 2006 season.

Get to know the artist

We want Pagosa to "Get to know the artist." If you are a PSAC member and would like to be featured in our upcoming, weekly "Get to know the artist," send your bio, photo, and up to six samples of your work for review. Format requirements: (Bio: Microsoft word file. Images: jpeg format, 300 dpi / up to 4x5 inches, or pdf file). For consideration, your information should be presented in CD format and mailed to Wen Saunders, PSAC, P.O. Box 4486, Pagosa Springs, CO 81157.

For more information, call Wen Saunders, 264-4486. Of course, if you are not a PSAC member, perhaps you should be. Visit our Web site, pagosa-arts.com, or call 264-5020 for membership information.

Time to join

PSAC is a membership organization that helps ensure a flourishing and diverse community by enriching lives through the arts.

The privileges of membership include involvement in membership activities, involvement in the community, socializing and participating in the camaraderie of the arts, discounts on PSAC events and workshops, recognition in Artsline and listing in PSAC Artist Guide and PSAC Business Guide. Workshops and exhibits are sponsored by PSAC to benefit the art community. In addition, your membership helps to keep art thriving in Pagosa Springs .

Membership rates are rates are: Youth, $10; Individual-Senior, $20; Regular Individual, $25; Family-Senior, $25; Regular Family, $35; Business, $75; Patron, $250; Benefactor, 500, Director, $1,000; Guarantor, $2,500 and up.

Gallery hours

The PSAC Gallery in Town Park is on winter hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Voice mail and e-mail are checked regularly, so please leave a message if no one is available in the office.

Upcoming events

All PSAC classes and workshops are held in the arts and craft space at the community center, unless otherwise noted.

All Exhibits are shown at the PSAC Gallery in Town Park, unless otherwise noted.

Through Feb. 25 - PSAC Photography Contest exhibit, Moonlight Books.

February 15, 21, 22, 23, 24 - Winter Watercolor Workshop with Pierre Mion, 9 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 15 - Watercolor club, 10 a.m., community center.

Feb. 18 - Drawing with Randall Davis, community center.

March 1-3 - Intermediate Watercolor with Betty Slade, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., community center.

March 8 - Pagosa Photo Club, 5:30 p.m.

March 9 - Deadline for call for entries, PSAC calendar, Town Park Gallery.

March 11 - Pagosa Pretenders Family Theatre, interactive reading featuring works of Dr. Seuss, 11 a.m., Sisson library.

March 15 - Pagosa Springs Watercolor Club, 10 a.m.

March 18 - Drawing with Randall Davis, 9 a.m.

April 12 - Pagosa Photo Club, 5:30 p.m. Program topic featuring Web site design and maintenance for small businesses.

April 15 - Drawing with Randall Davis, 9 a.m.

April 19 - Pagosa Springs Watercolor Club, 10 a.m.

Artsline is a communication vehicle of the Pagosa Springs Arts Council. For inclusion in Artsline, send information to PSAC by e-mail (psac@centurytel.net). We would love to hear from you regarding suggestions for Artsline. Events in surrounding areas will be included when deemed of interest to our readers.

Mr. Romance knows what women want

By Karl Isberg

PREVIEW Columnist

Author's note: O.K, you caught me. I was in Denver last week watching sweating high school boys toss each other around a wrestling ring and I was too tuckered out to whip up a new column. I could lie and tell you I wanted to run this column again because its a Valentine's Day classic, but I won't do that - once you read it, you'll realize "classic" is not the correct label . I am running a slightly revised version of this 2003 column because I am a slacker.

Call me Mr. Romance.

Like any guy who's been with his wife 34 years, I know a thing or two about romance. I'm like fine wine— mellow, aged to perfection.

I used to labor under some misconceptions; as a young man, I confused love with lust, romance was synonymous with the crafty pursuit of the satisfaction of primitive, transient goals.

How limbic, how naive.

Several decades later, I have a different perspective. I understand expressions of love and adoration.

I am skilled.

I know what a woman wants.

And what better occasion to let loose those expressions than the just-completed Valentine's Day.

I don't note Valentine's Day in my day planner. As a matter of fact, I don't have a day planner and, I admit, there were times in the past when I was less attentive to the emotional needs of my spouse and daughters, and I forgot the blissful day was on the horizon.

There were many years when I made hasty trips to the grocery store on Valentine's Day, actually Valentine's Evening, purportedly to fetch some milk or Brussels sprouts, having remembered the holiday at the very last moment. The pickings, gift-wise, were pretty slim at the eleventh hour, but one of those cheesy little red hearts crammed with cheap chocolates worked wonders.

I bought quite a few of those cheesy little red hearts.

Now that I am mature, there are no last-minute, desperate trips in search of heartfelt gifts. I am more mindful of my love bunny and her needs.

I know what a woman wants.

This year, I was aware of the approach of Valentine's Day sufficiently ahead of time to make plans. I figured, with a sly and superbly crafted approach, I might get lucky.

It happens.

Doesn't it?

My first alert to the pending Day of Love was the fact the Food Network started showing programs about chocolate. Everything was chocolate. Even the Iron Chef was cooking with chocolate. A dead giveaway.

The second hint came from Kathy. She gave me a valentine on Feb. 7.

I sat down to dinner and there was an envelope on the table in front of me; my name was printed in large block letters, impossible to miss.

"Open it," she said.

Best husband, great dad, love and kisses, blah-dee-blah-blah ... happy Valentine's Day.

"It's early," said Kathy, fixing me with a steely gaze. "There's still a week left before the real Valentine's day. The important day."

Message received.

I'm a pretty perceptive fellow.

What will I get?, I asked myself.

Kathy can't eat chocolate or anything with sugar in it. These are among the twelve-thousand foods not permitted on her I-intend-to-live-forever diet.

Flowers?

Call me callous, but I've never understood the fascination with flowers.

They're dead.

Granted, the colors are pretty and whatnot, but the blossoms have been severed from their roots, their stalks no longer bear precious nutrients. To me, a fistful of lovely dead things does not shout love.

So, I'm in the grocery store the day before Valentine's Day and I spot a huge multitiered display of flowers. The sickening aroma of flower death is everywhere. Around the base, however, is a row of potted plants. Aha, I think: living things. Things that grow and flourish. . . like our love.

I have been drinking a bit of Syrah.

But, which one to buy?

I ask the advice of a woman I see now and then when I am at the gym lifting heavy objects and putting them back down. She points out that some of the potted plants are, in fact, bulbs.

Aha: bulbs, buried beneath the surface during the cold winter months, waiting for the warmth of spring to push out a shoot and flower. Just like my relationship with my wife. I do something incredibly stupid, there is a winter-like response but, at long last, the spring thaw arrives, and I get lucky.

Sometimes.

Furthermore, one of the pots containing three bulbs is within my price range. I realize you can't put a price tag on love, but I am down to my last seven dollars. The bulbs it is.

When Kathy arrives home from her high school musical practice, I have her dinner ready - broiled salmon fillet, angel hair pasta with garlic butter and parsley, green peas (with plenty of butter and a third of the peas mashed into the butter to make a sauce) - and her Valentine's gift, three soon-to-bloom hibiscus bulbs sitting in a pot directly in front of her dinner plate.

In accord with what I read in an old Martha Stewart Living as I rode the recumbent bike at the gym, I've placed the gift at the ten o'clock position relative to the protein on Kathy's dinner plate.

Part of being in love with someone is caring enough to learn to decipher her subtle signals. You must be alert to your mate's gestures, her facial expressions, the angle of inclination of her head, the movement of her eyes, the tone of her voice, her posture.

The bulbs were not enough.

The metaphor was lost.

The dirigible of love had lost its gas and flopped to earth a misshapen thing.

I knew what to do. The next day, I borrowed five bucks from my friend, Ronnie, and set off to the store in search of a card. Suffice it to say, come February 14, the card rack looked like a display in Berlin, 1945, just after a battalion of Russian soldiers pillaged the shopping district. There was debris everywhere.

I rifled the pathetic remains and came up with a card. I thought it was nice: there was a red heart on the front. Inside it said "Thank you for being you. Happy Valentine's Day." There was a drawing of a small bird with a ribbon in its beak placed right above the inscription. It was exactly what I would have written; the image was right on the mark.

My female pals at the newspaper office demanded to see the card.

They forced me to take the card back and get a refund.

I searched three other stores before I found a card that met the exacting standards imposed by my coworkers: sweet, sentimental, sugary, sappy.

"You are the love of my life. My life would be empty without you. You are more than my wife and the mother of my children: you are my best friend, you are a goddess" etc.

The card and a great dinner would do the trick.

After all, I know what women want.

My friend Michael C. had been married to his wife, Berkey, for over 30 years and had never given her a Valentine. One year, suffering the mental ravages of advancing age, he cracked. Mike bought Berkey a new garbage disposal, with the understanding she would install it herself. He couldn't get the three-quarter horsepower model so he settled for a half horsepower machine.

He drew a heart on the box.

He bought Berkey off with dinner: jambalaya, and shrimp on the grill.

The lesson was not lost on me: A gift and dinner, the magic combination for romance.

I signed my card and tucked it in a snazzy pastel-colored envelope and put the envelope next to Kathy's place setting.

I planned the menu in accord with what Kathy can eat.

Beef tenderloin with a jacket of Maytag and a cabernet sauce?

No, the wine is fermented and contains yeasts and the beef is riddled with hormones. Bleu cheese? Mold? Not in a million years.

Chicken Kiev?

No, the hormone problem again, and breadcrumbs and cheese are verboten. Ham has nitrites, you know. We can't have nitrites; they'll shrivel our internal organs.

Fettucine Alfredo?

Cream. Can't have cream. And the flour in the pasta is too highly refined. Butter? You gotta be kidding.

Caviar.

Ick.

Seared foie gras?

The poor goose suffered liver disease. French fiends forced food down the poor bird's throat. It's worse than a fur coat.

Veal Oscar?

Imagine the suffering endured by that defenseless little calf.

Lobster?

Kathy was once trapped on an atoll off the coast of British Honduras and had to subsist on a lobster diet. Never again.

Brie en croute?

Cheese equals mold equals death.

For the love switch to be flipped, the meal had to be "organic." Now, I identify everything this side of rocks and sterile dirt as organic, so I am at a loss when it comes to this class of eats. Further, it seems clear that when the "organic" label is affixed to a food product, the color fades and the price trebles. I usually avoid organic, but Mr. Romance knows no bounds when it comes to an expression of love, so this night would be different.

How about a vegetable stew, rich with root vegetables, tomato, Garbanzo beans, onion, garlic, oregano, parsley, red chile powder, "organic" chicken stock, yam? Slathered over a mound of couscous?

Dear heavens, to what depths had I sunk?

Kathy got the dinner. She got the card.

I even threw in some blueberries for dessert.

That night, after Arnie was on his dog bed and the lights were turned down low, Mr. Romance got his reward.

"Thanks for the card Chubby," she said. "I love you."

I got a hug.

That's lucky, isn't it?

After 34 years?

No question about it: I know what women want.

Full slate of education events on Extension schedule

By Bill Nobles

PREVIEW Columnist

Feb. 16 - 4-H IFYE Program at Extension Office, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 17 - 4-H Friday Session 2 at Methodist Church, 1:45 p.m.

Feb. 17 - Rabbit Project meeting, 2 p.m.

Feb. 17 - Poultry Project meeting, 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 20 - Office closed.

Feb. 20 - Entomology Project meeting, Group 2, 4 p.m.

Feb. 21 - Master Gardener meeting at Vista Clubhouse, 9 a.m.

Feb. 22 - Entomology Project meeting, Group 1, 4 p.m.

Feb. 22 - Sportsfishing Project meeting, 4 p.m.

Feb. 23 - Vet Science Project at SJVH, 5:30 p.m.

The public is invited to the Archuleta County Extension Building 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, to meet Kenny Kroschel, International 4-H Youth Exchange program participant.

Kenny, a 10-year member of 4-H, had the opportunity to live in Northern Ireland and England. The IFYE program is an educational program for developing peace and understanding throughout the world. It increases international awareness, assists in improving leadership and communication skills and help young people learn about youth programs abroad.

4-H Cookie Dough

Cookie Dough is back for 2006 and Archuleta County 4-H will be taking orders until March 3. The flavors being sold this year include: Chunky Chocolate Chip, Made with M&Ms, Peanut Butter, Oatmeal Raisin and Sugar for $10. and White Chocolate Macadamia, Fun-tastic, Peanut Butter with Chocolate Chunks, Triple Chocolate, Snickerdoodle, Heath English Toffee and Monster Cookie Dough for $12. The dough comes in three-pound tubs that can be refrigerated or stored in the freezer and can be eaten raw. The cookie dough will be delivered March 15.

For more information contact the Archuleta County Extension Office at 264-5931.

Bio-diesel Conference

There will be a Bio-diesel Conference in Lewis, Colo., Feb. 23. Bio-diesel production from locally grown oil crops holds great promise for rural communities and America as a whole. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Cost is $20 if registered before Feb. 16 and $25 after.

Contact the Extension Office at 264-5931 to register or for program topics. With a Bio-diesel production plant planned in Dove Creek, this is a huge opportunity for farmers in our area.

CEUs available

The Four Corners Weed Management Symposium will be held Thursday, March 2, at the Farmington Civic Center. CEUs will be available for commercial pesticide training credits.

Cost for the symposium is $20 if you register before Feb. 23 or $25 after. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Contact the Extension Office at 264-5931 to register or for program topics.

Applicator training

There will be a Private Pesticide Applicator training at 6:30 p.m. March 6 at the Extension Building. This training is for those who want to purchase a restricted use Applicator's License or for re-licensing. A $10 registration fee will be charged for the class. Please R.S.V.P. to the Extension Office at 264-2388 or you can e-mail us at archulet@ext.colostate.edu.

The Private Pesticide Applicator License is required of individuals who use or supervise the use of restricted-use pesticides on land in agriculture production that is owned, leased, or rented by them or their employer. This includes farm and ranch land, forestlands, nurseries, Christmas trees, orchards and other properties on which agricultural crops or commodities are produced. No license is needed if only general-use pesticides are used.

Private Pesticide Applicators are required to maintain records of their applications of restricted-use pesticides. To become certified as a Private Pesticide Applicator, an individual must obtain a score of 70 percent or higher on the Private Pesticide Applicator examination. Once an individual qualifies by becoming certified, he/she is entitled to become a licensed as a Private Pesticide Applicator.

Beef Symposium

The 14th annual Beef Symposium will be held March 7 at the La Plata County Fairgrounds in Durango. Cost for the symposium is $15 if you register before Feb. 24 or $20 after. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Contact the Extension Office at 264-5931 to register or for program topics.

Check out our Web page at www.archuleta.colostate.edu for calendar events and information.

Perch fishing tourney fun, and serves a purpose

By Larry Lynch

SUN Columnist

The second and final Winter Perch Tournament held Feb. 4 at Hatcher Lake turned out to be another successful event as nearly 200 contestants showed up ready to compete for cash prizes.

We were lucky once again with the weather, when it warmed up to what felt like at least 50 degrees, with no wind and sunny skies - a little unusual for early February. The starting horn was blasted at 9:30 a.m. and it was on.

The perch fishing was a little erratic this time around; some anglers found consistent hits and others found it to be a little slow. But, all in all, more perch were taken at this tournament than at any of the other tournaments we have put on.

We also saw some very nice brown trout, rainbow trout and bass caught as well. Of course, the rules on this day required that they be returned to the water after a picture was taken.

Most of the perch caught were of the smaller variety, with a few exceptions. Anglers were finding that jigs with small bits of bait attached seemed to work best.

Ponderosa Do-It-Best sponsored the event this time around and took it up a notch during the awards ceremony by conducting a drawing for over $500 in ice fishing tackle and gear, as well as donating all the prizes for the kids competition.

The winner in the adult, Most Perch Caught category was Bruce Oswald, 373 perch and a $300 cash prize . Second place winner was William Morris, 273 perch and $200. Third place winner was Richard Samura, 272 perch and $100. Fourth place, Chris Schaefer, 258 perch and $60. Fifth place went to William Semler, 255 perch and $40.

The winner in the adult, Largest Perch Caught category was Danielle Mcgraw, with a 10.5-ounce perch and a $300 cash prize. Second place, Joey Rivas, a 10-ounce perch and a $200 prize. Third place, Justin Kraw, a 9.8-ounce perch and $100. Fourth place, Mark Anderson, a 9.5-ounce perch and $60. Fifth place, Bobby Rivas, a 9-ounce perch and a $40 prize. Around 30 contestants in the 16 and under category turned out as well on that day and all went home with some great fishing gear prizes.

The goal of the tournaments is twofold: first, is to help reduce the number of perch in the lakes; second, is to provide an excuse to hold a fun event for the community.

We are not perch haters, we would just like to see the numbers reduced from a lake management standpoint - they are very prolific and compete for a limited food supply with other sport fish in the lake.

We have seen big improvements in the lower three lakes (Lake Pagosa, Village lake and Lake Forest) over the past five or six years; numbers of perch are down and the size of perch has increased substantially. This is what we are striving for.

Hatcher Lake was surveyed last summer by a professional fishery consulting firm out of Longmont. The results showed that the perch population had dropped only slightly from seven years ago and that the average size of the perch was only slightly larger. The survey did, however, show big improvements in bass and trout populations and size class, which is good. The bass and brown trout in the lake are key predators and help keep other species, such as the yellow perch, in check.

One problem with Hatcher Lake that is not helping the situation is the aquatic weed growth in the lake. We have managed to keep the vegetation in the lower three lakes under control, but it is much more difficult at Hatcher Lake because of its size and the fact that it is the primary storage reservoir for drinking water in the Pagosa Lakes area.

The weeds and vegetation provide perfect cover and protection for the small perch that are there. The primary weed is a species called Eurasian Watermillfoil, an introduced species that was brought into the country many years ago and now infests millions of acres of lakes nationwide. It is a very fast growing plant and difficult to control. It also may be a factor in some of the taste and odor problems that Pagosa Lakes residents experienced in their drinking water late last summer.

We plan to work with the Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District this spring and take some steps to improve both the water quality and the fishery.

In addition to the Solarbee circulators that were installed last summer on the lake (those two floating units on the surface of the lake) we will stock some additional White Amur, grass eating carp, in the lake this spring. The lake has not been stocked with any grass carp since 2000.

We also plan to stock more of our predators in the lake, including large mouth bass and brown trout along with the rainbow trout. We are looking at a mid-April time frame for stocking.

Fishing permits for the 2006 season are available now at the Pagosa Lakes Recreation Center and the administration office in Vista.

Margaret Havens

Margaret Y. Havens was born April 11, 1913, in Edith, Colo. She died Feb. 14, 2006, at her home in Chromo, Colo.

A memorial service is scheduled at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, 2006, at Community Untied Methodist Church, Pagosa Springs. Rev. Don Strait will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her name to Hospice of Pagosa Springs.

A full obituary will appear in next week's SUN.

Local events draw big crowds,

get yours on the calendar now

By Mary Jo Coulehan

SUN Columnist

Did people have some fun this past weekend with all the Valentine's Day activities, or what?

The LASSO event Saturday was well attended and featured a great menu selection. Thanks for helping our four-legged, hoofed friends.

Tim Sullivan rocked the community center Friday, as every square inch of the dance floor, plus some, was filled with dancers.

Thanks to all the volunteers from both organizations for making these events happen and providing some entertainment. It looks like a good time was had by all.

We're going to tone the pace down a little bit here in our community, so this week I'm going to write about some services that are being provided by several organizations and businesses.

These services are provided every year, but many locals have a tendency to forget. So, it's my job to remind them.

Many of us are in the throes of tax preparation. A great group of volunteers are again offering the AARP Tax-Aide program which provides assistance and preparation of income tax returns for middle- and low-income taxpayers with special attention to those age 60 and older and those with disabilities.

For those interested in this free service, there are sign-up sheets on the bulletin board in the senior citizens' dining room at the community center. Appointments are available every Thursday until April 13.

You should be prepared to bring a valid picture identification; Social Security cards for you, your spouse and any others shown on the tax return; last year's return; and copies of all W-2, 1099 forms, or other proof of income received.

The dedicated group of volunteers is always looking for more help, and training is available. Call Bob Henley for more information at 731-9411 or stop by the art room at the community center on Thursdays.

On to a more pleasant subject, as far as I'm concerned - art.

Starting Saturday, and running to March 25, SHY RABBIT will present the "Primarily Found Objects" exhibit. Forty talented artists will display their creations, each comprising 60-percent "found objects" and incorporating at least one of the three primary colors. There will be an artists' reception 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, and the gallery will be open 1-4 p.m. Saturdays, beginning March 4. For more information, call 731-2766 and make time to see this unique, contemporary show.

Soup for the Soul

When other nonprofits wait until the busy times of the year in summer or fall for their fund-raising events, Soup for the Soul takes advantage of the slow time of year and those comforting things a warm bowl of soup does for your health and your soul.

Hospice of Mercy hosts its annual Soup for the Soul fund-raiser as it strives to help those who are in their end-of-life journey. Hospice of Mercy provides assistance to hundreds of people and their families by offering care with comfort, dignity and peace at a very difficult time. On Thursday, March 2, 5-8 p.m. at the community center, bowls of soup and beverages will be provided by some of our well-known, local chefs.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for this worthy cause. You can contact Don Strait at 769-4924. Tickets are also now available at the Chamber for this dinner for $10 each. Those of us who have had to utilize the service know how difficult this time of life can be for the patient and the families. Hospice of Mercy is a bright star for those who must suffer. I hope we'll see many supporters enjoying bowls of soup on March 2.

Trees and shrubs

When we're thinking snow, the folks at the San Juan Conservation District have been thinking of spring and planting.

They are once again offering their tree and shrub seedlings. These trees and shrubs are available for conservation planting, shelter belts, reforestation and wildlife habitat enhancement. To participate, you must own at least two acres of land, use the seedlings for conservation purposes and not landscaping, and agree not to resell the seedlings purchased through this program.

Bare root trees are available in multiples of 50 per species and potted trees are available in multiples of 30 per species. You can call the San Juan Conservation District at 731-3615, stop by the office at 505A Piedra Road, or visit the Cooperative Extension Office at the Archuleta County Fair Building. This is a great service offered to area residents and developers to help restore and protect our beautiful lands.

Get info out

There is a lot of information that needs to get to members of our community. Remember, if you have an event or function that needs exposure, go online at www.pagosaspringschamber.com or get an event form so you can add your function to our calendar of events. Do this even if you have the event every year.

We print these calendars regularly and make them available in the Visitor Center. We send them out to parties interested in visiting Pagosa, and I will take them with me to the trade show in Phoenix next week. So, if you have an event coming up, get a form soon, so we have the most current information. Don't wait until the last minute to advertise your event. People want to know what is going on when they plan their vacations for the year.

Members

We have lots of new and renewing members.

I start out the new members this week with an admission of a faux pas!

A couple of weeks ago we awarded one of the Pagosa Pride awards to The Wild Rose T-shirt Outlet. While The Wild Rose is the renter of the property, we totally neglected the actual owners of the property. These talented gentlemen renovated not only the old Car Quest building on San Juan Street but also that beautiful blue building on Pagosa Street where The Real Choice now makes its home. I want to welcome Rick Mueller and Bruce Hoch, owners of Main Street Rentals to the Chamber. These gentleman offer residential and commercial rentals and property management. You only need to look at these two buildings to see the quality of their work. Their residential offerings include one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments offered daily, weekly or monthly. For more information call 274-1208. Thank you gentlemen for your understanding and your support. Great job on the buildings!

Do you think we will actually have a mud season this year? No matter what the season is, there is always the need to clean our windows. Eric and Crissy Hanley with Mountain Top Window Cleaning can help you with that dreaded task, especially if you have some hard-to-access windows. Mountain Top Window Cleaning offers professional window cleaning for both commercial and residential properties. We'll need to be getting ours done here at the Chamber soon as well. Give them a call to set up an appointment at 264-6997. Spring is around the corner and so are all those cleaning tasks.

Joining the cadre of worship facilities in our community is the Pagosa Baptist Church, with Adam Albach as pastor. Pagosa Baptist Church is located at 18160 Majestic Drive, right off Piedra Road in Piedra Estates. They have Sunday prayer service at 10 a.m. and morning worship at 10:30. They have an evening service Sundays at 6 p.m. and a Wednesday night prayer and bible study service at 7 p.m. For more information you can contact the church by calling 731-9223. They welcome you to come and participate in one of their services.

We now have a few independent associate members joining the ranks of several of our local real estate companies. Joining Chamber member, United Country Premiere Brokers, is Bill and Marti Gallo, "Team Gallo." Community involved and very knowledgeable, Bill and Marti will help you with your real estate property whether buying or selling. Give them a call at 264-1177 or stop by the United Country offices at 280 Pagosa St.

Joining the Jim Smith team are two lovely and knowledgeable ladies. The first one is Mary Jo Hannay. Currently Mary Jo has her office at the west side facility at 56 Talisman Drive. She knows both commercial and residential property and is available to show you around or consult with you. Give her a call at 731-6670.

Also on the Jim Smith team on the west side of town is Barbara Walton. Barbara enjoys working with first-time buyers and those interested in vacant land to build that dream home on. She may also be contacted by calling 731-6670. We welcome these delightful ladies and all the new members this week. We hope that we will be able to help support you in this business community for many years to come.

It's the beginning of the year and with the new year comes lots of Chamber renewals as well. Growing and growing are our grocery store providers - Kroger City Market, both downtown and west side.

Established and continuing to gain popularity as a tourist attraction, we welcome back The Spa at Pagosa Springs.

Also in the lodging business, we welcome back Sunetha Property Management.

I think almost the whole strip center renewed or joined this week as we also welcome back Ramon's Mexican Restaurant.

Moving south of town, we welcome back long time supporters and members, Dick Ray with Lobo Outfitters at the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Park.

We have lots of part time residents here in Pagosa, and Eagle Eye Inspection Service is ready and willing to take care of your property for you while you're away.

We haven't had a two-fer for a while, and this week we welcome back Bryan Crutchley with Alpine Audio and Security and Alpine Closets and More.

Being in the background lately, we welcome back Rick Unger and his art.

Most of us like to go out and shop. But more and more people are shopping via the Internet. Southwest Silver Gallery offers that convenience for you right here in Pagosa.

Gaining in popularity along with the hot tubs is in-home saunas. San Juan Saunas can help get you set up.

Moving to the non-profit category, we welcome back the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Not only does this organization raise funds to help preserve our wildlife habitat, they also perform conservation education programs and work with the forest service in funding controlled burns to improve wildlife homes and growth. For more information on this helpful integral organization to our community, give Maurice Woodruff a call at 264-3165.

Joining us from out of the area, we welcome back Mike and Gina McCormick with Wolf Creek Anglers and Wolf Creek Snowmobile Tours out of South Fork.

Ex board member and longtime supporter, Andy Donlon, renews this week as an associate member. Andy and his wife Sue have graced numerous Chamber events as well as a number of other community functions during their Pagosa days.

The Chamber would like to offer some business related mini-seminars to our local businesses in this next year. Pay attention next week as we ask for your opinions.

Mingus-Kirkley

Mary Mingus of Pagosa Springs and Jim Kirkley of Durham, N.C., are pleased and excited to announce their engagement.

The wedding will take place in June in Pagosa Springs.

Mary is employed by Galles Properties and Jim is a professor of religion and ethics at Shaw University in Raleigh, NC. He has also been very involved with lacrosse, both as a player and a high school coach, for more than 15 years.

Their place of residence is yet to be determined.

Pirates second in region, take eight wrestlers to state

By Karl Isberg

Staff Writer

When the dust settled after nearly two days of intense competition at last weekend's Class 3A regional wrestling tournament, the Pirates had finished in second place among teams and had qualified eight wrestlers for this week's state championships at Denver.

The team standing was bolstered by points earned by each competitor, including a bevy of medalists (with medals awarded to sixth place in each weight class) - among them one regional champ, three second-place finishers, two wrestlers in third, two in fourth, two in fifth and two in sixth place. Thirteen of 14 Pirates earned medals at the tournament.

Senior Bubba Martinez brought home the regional title at 215 pounds. His performance was notable, considering the Pirate had not wrestled in nearly two weeks due to a concussion.

Martinez drew a bye in the first round then faced Eric Mascoe, of Rock Canyon - a two-year-old school located in Lone Tree, a southeast suburb of Denver in the Douglas County school system. The school will eventually bump up to Class 5A, and the fact it now has over 900 students didn't produce wrestlers of the quality necessary to compete with the Pirates and the other Intermountain league teams. The IML placed four teams in the top five (tourney winner Monte Vista, Pagosa, Centauri and Bayfield).

Martinez toyed with Mascoe in the first round, taking the Jaguar down at the outset then letting him up to set up another move. The Jaguar was soon on the mat again and Martinez got three back points at period's end to take a 7-1 lead. The fighters began the second round in the neutral position. Martinez, in no mood to continue the game, took Mascoe down and pinned him a mere 16 seconds into the period. That put the Pagosan into Saturday morning's championship semifinal round.

Nick Karpilo, of Florence, was next on the chopping block. Martinez took Karpilo down immediately, surrendered a penalty point and let Karpilo escape.

The 2-2 tie was an illusion. Karpilo was no match for Martinez, who used his explosive power to take the 215-pound Husky into the air, then let him down relatively gently, put him on his back and, at the buzzer scored three back points for a 7-2 advantage. Martinez was down to begin the second period. He quickly reversed Karpilo then pinned him with a little more than a minute off the clock in the round.

Against Sam Udell, of St. Mary's, the Pirate's explosive power was negated somewhat by Udell's height and long limbs. In the championship match, Udell was able to tie Martinez up and keep him from getting inside. The Pirate got the first takedown of the match, Udell escaped and Martinez led 2-1 after one.

In the second period, Martinez escaped as action began, then surrendered a questionable penalty point on a head slap. The period ended with the Pagosan up 3-2.

Martinez allowed Udell to get to his feet at the start of the final period to tie the score. The strategy paid off as Martinez nailed two points with the takedown. Udell escaped and Martinez held him off for the 5-4 decision.

Second-place finishers for Pagosa were Ky Smith, at 140 and Dale August at 171 - both seniors.

Smith faced Seiji Higa of Colorado Springs Christian in the first round of action and dispatched the Lion easily, taking Higa down, letting him up, taking him down again and pinning him one minute, 11 seconds into the match.

Seth Garcia, of Trinidad, was laid to rest just as easily. Smith took Garcia down, let him up, took him down again, then pinned him at 1:33.

Smith had a tough match in the semifinal, against a familiar opponent - Nate Venable, of Monte Vista. Smith built a 5-4 lead in the first period then came very close to falling from the championship bracket. Venable started down in the second period and Smith allowed the escape, on the hunt for the next takedown. Venable got the takedown instead and put Smith on his back. Smith fought off the pin for over a minute but Venable had the lead at the end of two. The third period was all Smith. The Pirate recovered and used a reversal and back points to win the 13-10 decision.

In the championship bout, another familiar opponent entered the ring - Jacob Appenzeller, of Ignacio. The Bobcat was up 2-1 at the end of the first period. Smith, however, reversed at the start of the second period to take a brief lead - one ended with an escape and takedown by Appenzeller. Smith managed an escape of his own, then took the Bobcat down at the end of second-period action to go ahead 6-5. Appenzeller got a reverse at the start of the third, put Smith on his back and won with a fall.

August drew a bye in the first round of the tournament, then battled Jake Eggett, of Rock Canyon, for one minute, 24 seconds. August took Eggett down, let him up, took him down and pinned him to advance to Saturday's semifinal at 171.

Markus Eckstein, of Bayfield was August's opponent the next morning, and the Pirate kept the Wolverine off the scoreboard. August went out to an 8-0 lead with a first-period pin and two three-point near falls. The fighters started the second round on their feet; August took Eckstein down then pinned him at 2:45.

August was able to go ahead 4-3 in the first round of the championship match against Clayton Weaver of Monte Vista, getting a takedown and a reverse during the action. However, Weaver caught August on his back and won with a second-period fall.

Third-place medals went to Justin Moore (152) and Matt Nobles (160).

Moore, a senior, drew a first-round bye then defeated Eric Bojan, of Manitou Springs, pinning the Mustang at 3:45.

Moore's only loss of the day came in the semifinals, a 12-10 decision to Brian Atencio, of Ignacio. Down 5-0 at the end of one, Moore closed the gap to trail 9-8 after two. Moore had his chance, but the clock didn't cooperate. Down 12-10, Moore was on the verge of a reversal when the buzzer ended the match.

In the consolation semi, Moore took a 9-2 first-period lead over Trinidad's Rico Garcia then pinned Garcia at 2:25, setting up a fight for third place.

Completing in what was arguably his best-ever tournament, Moore met Bojan again and produced the same result. The Pirate used two takedowns and two back points to go ahead 6-1, then pinned Bojan at 2:55.

Nobles also drew a first-round bye. The Pirate senior then faced Jake Webb, of Florence, and manhandled the Husky, taking him down and pinning him at 1:46.

In the championship semifinal, Nobles faced his nemesis, Jared Jones, of Ignacio. The wrestlers were neck-and-neck through two periods, with Jones holding a slim 7-5 margin. Nobles reversed out of the down position. Jones escaped and got a takedown. Nobles escaped and got a takedown, and was behind 11-10. Jones, however, got a takedown as time ran out. Nobles escaped but the buzzer sounded and the Pirate dropped the 12-11 decision.

An 8-3 decision over Alan Cash, of Centauri, put Nobles in the fight for third against Andre Vayre, of Bayfield. Nobles was up 4-1 in the first with a takedown and two back points. Vayre started down and got the escape, but Nobles took him down again, scored two back points, then a three-point near fall to lead 11-2 at the end of the second period. At that point, Vayre could not continue due to injury and Nobles received the win by default.

Two Pirate freshmen will be in the Pepsi Center this weekend at the state tourney. Joe DuCharme (130) and Mike Smith (135) each took fourth place to qualify, as did senior Joe Romine, at 275.

After losing to Bayfield's Jordan Larson, DuCharme began his battle back by pinning an opponent from Rock Canyon at 4:52. DuCharme met Jon Muncher, of Manitou, in the consolation semifinal and defeated Muncher 10-2. The Pirate lost to Miky Kooce, of Florence in the third-place match.

Smith got his first tourney win over Adam Bennett, of Rock Canyon, pinning the Jaguar at 2:55. A loss to eventual tournament champ Omar Gonzales, of Monte Vista, put Smith into consolation. Eric Hesch, of St. Mary's, was next on the card and the match was perhaps the most dramatic of the tournament.

Neither wrestler scored in the first period. Hesch started down in the second, got an escape then took Smith down and had a 3-1 lead after two periods. In the final period, Smith started in the down position and reversed Hesch to tie the score. The match went into overtime and Smith scored the takedown to secure the win. A loss to Ignacio's Travis Darling put Smith in fourth place.

Following a bye, Romine fought Bayfield's Justin Harrison. Romine scored with a takedown and pinned Harrison at 1:46. Romine lost a heartbreaker in the championship semi to Tanner Wilcox, of Florence. No one scored in the first period; Wilcox led 3-2 after two. Romine tied the score with an escape at the start of the third period but gave up a point on a stall. Wilcox was called for a stall and regulation time ended with the wrestlers tied, 4-4. Neither fighter scored in the first overtime period. Wilcox started down in the second overtime, escaped and won the 5-4 decision, A 9-6 victory over Centauri's Daniel Martinez earned Romine the trip to the third-place battle. Romine got the first takedown of the match against an athlete from Trinidad but the Pirate was reversed and pinned.

Freshman Steven Smith took fifth at 103 starting with a bye then losing to Trevor Huntsman, of Bayfield. In the consolation semifinal, Smith dropped a 6-3 decision to Pablo Mascarenas, of Monte Vista. In the match for fifth place, Smith met Alex Abreu, of Rock Canyon. No one scored in the first period. Smith put together a three-point second to lead 3-1. The Pirate scored with a takedown to open the third period, then pinned Abreu at 4:06.

Senior Reynaldo Palmer took fifth at 189, starting his trek with a bye. Palmer had a dramatic match against Jon Medley, of Florence. The Pirate led 3-2 after the second period but Medley used a third-period escape to tie the score. The fighters were on their feet to begin the overtime period. Palmer got the takedown at 50 seconds to win the match, 5-3. A loss to Seth Minton, of Bayfield, put the Pirate in the consolation semi where he met Martin Hughes, of Rock Canyon. A loss to Hughes put Palmer in the fight for fifth, which he won 6-2.

Orion Sandoval took fifth at 125. The Pirate senior lost to Roy Westbrook of Bayfield following a first-round bye and went to the consolation bracket to advance with a fall over C.J. Mitchell, of Colorado Springs Christian at 1:49. A narrow 6-5 loss to Justin Prieto of Monte Vista (in which Sandoval was near a takedown at the end of regulation time) put the Pirate in the fifth-place match against Sam Gardiner, of St. Mary's. Sandoval took fifth, and ended his Pirate wrestling career with a decisive 15-0 technical fall.

Sixth went to Josh Nelson at 119. Nelson got a first-round bye, then lost to tourney champ Mitchell Polkowske, of Centauri. A win over James Cummins, of Bayfield, with a fall at 1:48, and a loss to Adam Garcia of Monte Vista, landed Nelson in the fifth-place battle against a fighter from Florence - a match lost by decision.

Senior Paul Hostetter ended his Pagosa wrestling career with sixth place at 145. Hostetter lost his first match to Trinidad's Eric Blocker, then won a major decision against Platte Canyon's Patrick Murphy. Hostetter met Blocker again in the consolation semifinals and dropped a tough 5-3 decision, with Blocker scoring two points on a late takedown. A loss to St. Mary's Jacob Larson put Hostetter in sixth place.

"This tournament was an improvement," said Pirate coach Dan Janowsky. "There were many, many matches earlier in the season where our guys lost major decisions to guys who beat us by only a point or two at this tournament. Generally, the tournament was positive. I'm proud of every guy scoring points for us and because thirteen of fourteen of our guys placed at regionals."

According to Janowsky, Monte Vista looks to be a state title contender going to Denver Thursday, with Pagosa not far behind. "Monte is a hot team right now," said the coach of the Pirates' IML rival. "But, we finished behind them, a comfortable distance from the rest of the pack."

If anything pleased the coach, it was the attitude exhibited by his athletes. "I'm really happy with the determination some of our kids showed," he said. "Mike Smith, for example - he showed it from his first match, where he got into trouble but survived and went on to win, to a series of tough matches where he prevailed."

Janowsky noted the determination followed a difficult period for the Pirates. "It was hard to have the kind of practices you'd ordinarily script for the regionals, due to injury and illness. But, the guys wrestled hard and wrestled better. The reality is, though, that sometimes that is not enough. Orion Sandoval and Steven Smith, for example, are very good wrestlers, but they were in weights where there were at least four other good wrestlers. And the four guys in each class who qualified, I think, will place at state. But, that's wrestling.

"You know, what I admire about these guys - take Orion and Reynaldo Palmer - is, while they are disappointed with their finishes, they look you in the eye and say 'This is why I lost.' And it's not because of a referee or anyone else. These guys accept their role and their responsibility and they have a lot of dignity and, that's wrestling, too."

As for the state tournament that begins at the Pepsi Center today, Janowsky said, "We're going to have to wrestle like crazy. Some of our stronger wrestlers, our senior leaders, are paired in difficult ways. But, in some respects, it's easier than wrestling guys you see on a regular basis. Still, we'll have to wrestle like crazy."

Pirates grab share of IML title with win at Ignacio

By Randy Johnson

Staff Writer

Pagosa Springs High School varsity basketball coach Jim Shaffer and his staff certainly must be pondering a question: Where would we be if our team played four good quarters of basketball?

They would probably be undefeated.

It happened again last Friday night in Ignacio. The Pirates played maybe three good quarters of basketball but still beat the scrappy Bobcats 55-44 in front of a sparse, but loud crowd in the Ignacio gym. The win improves the Pirates to 11-6 overall and 6-0 in Intermountain League (IML) play giving them at least a share of the regular season league title with two games remaining this weekend.

The Bobcats, playing without starter Derek Rodriquez, dropped to 7-8 overall and 1-4 in league play. Rodriquez was placed on suspension until the league tournament at the end of February.

The "other" Pirates let Ignacio open on a 6-0 run off two turnovers and some good inside play by the Bobcats. The "real" Pirates showed up following a timeout at the five minute mark. They would use it to spark a come back and take the lead by five at the end of one. The second quarter saw more of the same as Pagosa built a 13-point lead going into the locker room. The Pirates were up by 21 after three.

Then the "other" Pirates came out for the fourth period. Pagosa went on another scoring drought for half the quarter. Good defense held the Bobcats to an 8-0 run before the "real" Pirates came back to score seven on an 18-7 quarter for Ignacio. The Pirates had such a big lead going into the fourth that the Bobcats' comeback would fall short.

Coach Shaffer said, "It seemed like we were not ready to play this one. They (Ignacio) were playing without one of their best athletes and we seemed flat. But our kids bounced back to take a big lead at half time. We also had a twenty-one point quarter in the third and I was feeling pretty good. Then in the fourth we went over four minutes without scoring again. It will be great when we play four good quarters of basketball."

Shaffer added, "Our defense saved us again. We need to continue to get better on the offensive side. Overall our kids played pretty well though in a tough gym against an athletic team." The Pirates were just 39 percent from the field and 60 percent from the free throw line.

The coach ended by saying, "We are undefeated in league play and in good position if we just take care of business." One more win will give the regular season title to the Buccaneers and an automatic berth in the district championship game Feb. 25.

Junior Jordan Shaffer tied for high honors and led the Pirates with 14 points on five of 11 from the field. Craig and Casey Schutz, both seniors, added 11 each. Two Pirates ended with six apiece. They were juniors Caleb Ormonde and Kerry Joe Hilsabeck on one of three and two of five from two-point range. Senior Paul Przybylski and junior Derek Harper ended with four and three respectively.

Craig Schutz and Hilsabeck led the Pirates in rebounding with seven each. Hilsabeck also had 6 assists.

The Bobcats were led by junior Kyle Lucero's 14 points. Senior Anthony Ortiz and junior Scott Hill followed with eight each and senior Kasey Lucero with seven. Senior Shane Silva, junior Ryan Neil and freshman Taylor Dean rounded out the scoring with three, two and two respectively.

The first quarter opened 6-0 for Ignacio on four straight inside points by Hill and two by Kasey Lucero. Coach Shaffer called a timeout with just over five minutes showing. Craig Schutz sparked a Pirates 13-2 run with his trey from the top of the key. Ormonde blocked a shot and put up two off a fast break then Harper hit three from the right baseline and Casey Schutz another from the left wing to put the score at 11-8. Shaffer netted a 15-foot jumper from the right side at the buzzer to put the Pirates up by five.

The Bobcats had first possession to open the second period but quickly turned the ball over. The Pirates went into full court pressure to slow Ignacio down. Przybylski hit one after being fouled on a fast break attempt then Shaffer and Ormonde hit buckets to build a seven point lead for Pagosa with less than three minutes on the clock. A key play came when Casey Schutz netted two from the line off an Ignacio technical foul and then Craig Schutz hit two on a 14-6 quarter for the visitors. Shaffer duplicated his first quarter ending by hitting yet another 15-footer while the horn was sounding.

The third period opened on a Przybylski three from the right wing and two by Craig Schutz to double-up the Bobcats. Shaffer hit five on an outside three and an inside two then Silva found the range for Ignacio on a three from the left baseline. Hilsabeck scored the next four straight then Casey Schutz two when he was fouled on a putback. Ormonde netted two and Craig Schutz put up two on the third straight buzzer beater.

The Pirates went scoreless until the 3:55 mark when Hilsabeck hit the first of two from the line to break the jinx. The Bobcats would counter with four treys, two from Kyle Lucero and one each from Kasey Lucero and Ortiz on an 18-7 quarter for the home team Casey Schutz found the range for four more and Shaffer ended the scoring with an inside deuce.

The Pirates end regular season IML play with two at home this weekend. Friday night will see the Centauri Falcons pay a visit to the PSHS gym. The Pirates won ugly in the first encounter three weeks ago in La Jara against a very aggressive Falcons team. A win will give the regular season IML title to the Pirates, who are looking to keep a goose egg in the league loss column. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. after the Lady Pirates take on the Lady Falcons. This one is a must-win for Pagosa.

The final regular season home game will see the green and yellow Pirates from Monte Vista pay a visit Saturday night. The other Pirates are struggling but gave Bayfield all they could handle on the Wolverines' home court before bowing 58-50 last Friday. This is one the Pirates need to keep the momentum heading into the IML tournament next week in Bayfield. Start time is also scheduled at 7 p.m.

Be sure to check next week's edition of The SUN for the Pirates' schedule at the Feb. 25 district tournament.

In other IML action last week:

- Bayfield (16-2, 4-2) defeated Monte Vista (1-14, 0-6) 58-50 Friday.

- Bayfield (17-2, 5-2) defeated Centauri (10-8, 3-3) 62-53 Saturday.

- Ignacio (8-8, 2-4) defeated Monte Vista (1-15, 0-7) 44-37 Saturday.

Summary

Pagosa Springs - 13, 14, 21, 7-55

Ignacio - 8, 6, 12, 18-44

Scoring:

Shaffer, 5-11,1-2,1-2,14; Hilsabeck, 1-3,1-2,1-2,6; Przybylski, 0-2,1-1,1-2,4; Adam Trujillo, 0-0,0-0,0-0,0; Harper, 0-2,1-3,0-0,3; Casey Schutz, 2-5,1-1,4-5,11; Ormonde, 3-5,0-0,0-1,6; Hart, 0-1,0-0,0-0,0; Craig Schutz, 3-7,1-2,2-3,11. Rebounds: Shaffer 4, Hilsabeck 7, Przybylski 4, Trujillo 1, Harper 1, Casey Schutz 3, Ormonde 4, Hart 1, Craig Schutz 7.

Lady Pirates shoot down Bobcats for sixth straight win

By Randy Johnson

Staff Writer

There seems to be a pattern emerging for Coach Bob Lynch and the Pagosa Springs High School basketball Lady Pirates: Come out slow to give the opponent some confidence, regain the momentum to break open a close game, then close with a big win.

For the nth straight time and sixth straight win, the Lady Pirates followed that pattern in Ignacio Friday night and shot down the Lady Bobcats 57-26. The win improved the Pirates to 13-4 overall and puts them alone in second place in the Intermountain League (IML) at 5-1 with two league games remaining this weekend. The Bobcats fell to 1-4 in IML action.

Another of the Lady Pirates stepped up at Ignacio. This time it was junior Jessica Lynch, who scored a team high 18 points on four of eight from the field and two of four from three-point range to lead a pressure defense and fast-break charge on a 15-4 second quarter for Pagosa to put the Bobcats away at intermission. The barrage continued in the second half on a 17-6 third quarter for the Pirates. Ignacio's Katy Procell, only a freshman, found her scoring range in the fourth and netted two long treys for the Bobcats, but it was too late to help.

Procell led all scoring with a game-high 19 points. Ignacio's other fine freshman forward, Rocio Garcia, did not play due to injury.

Coach Lynch said after the game, "We need to find an answer for the way we start a basketball game. It is important to get going early and establish some momentum and we struggled again tonight in the first quarter. We will have to find a solution for this, especially against a team like Centauri." The Lady Pirates face the Lady Falcons tomorrow night in the PSHS gym.

Lynch went on to say, "Jess (Lynch) had a breakout game for us tonight with her season best so far. Our kids did play well for three quarters and I'm proud of the way they handled themselves on the road in a tough place to play."

The Pirates shot only 41 percent from the field but were 86 percent from the free throw line on 12 of 14.

A total of nine Pirates found their way into the scoring book. After Lynch, who scored in double figures for the third straight game, came junior Samantha Harris with another fine outing and nine points on four of six from inside the paint. Three Pirates carded six points each: seniors Liza Kelley, Emily Buikema and Caitlin Forrest. Junior Kristen DuCharme had one of her best nights with five points on three of four from the charity stripe. Rounding out the scoring for the Pirates were juniors Lyndsey Mackey, Kim Canty and senior Kari Beth Faber with three, two and two respectively.

Kelley led the Pirates with five assists. Pagosa pulled down a season high 40 rebounds and were led by Forrest with 10. Buikema and Harris followed with seven each.

Procell netted over 70 percent of the Bobcats' total. The only other scoring for Ignacio came from freshman Tasha Herrera and junior Monica Mestas with five and two.

The Lady Pirates won the opening tip and the cool first quarter began. Pagosa had the turnover bug early but fortunately so did the Bobcats. Forrest finally netted two buckets and the score was 4-2 at the 5:38 mark. Coach Lynch let the starters sit for awhile to think about the miscues. Harris came in and scored four and Mackey sank a trey to put the score at 11-4 after one.

Pondering their issues must have helped as the Pirates came back in the second to blow open the game on a 13-1 run. Pagosa went into their full court pressure which frustrated the Bobcats. Ignacio turnovers led to easy buckets by Buikema, Kelley and Harris. Lynch would net six in the quarter to start her scoring spree. Buikema sank two from the charity stripe when she was fouled on a putback attempt with two seconds remaining to put the score 26-8 at intermission. Procell would score the only points in the quarter for the Bobcats.

Ignacio had first possession to start the third quarter but could not take advantage. Faber started the scoring for Pagosa on a short jump shot just outside the paint. Lynch would pump in seven straight, including a long trey, and Buikema a deuce to spark another 11-1 run and put the Pirates at 37-9 with less than four minutes remaining in the period. Procell found the bottom of the net on another long three but DuCharme would answer for four more on two from the line and a putback to end the quarter at 43-14 for the visitors.

The treys seemed to come easier in the final period. Lynch netted a three at the 6:25 mark. Procell answered with two of her own and Herrera for one on the best quarter of the evening for the Bobcats, who carded 12. Forrest hit a deuce and both Canty and Harris knotted two each with less than 30 seconds remaining to end the scoring.

Probably the biggest game for the Lady Pirates so far this season will take place tomorrow night in the PSHS gym when the Centauri Lady Falcons come to Pagosa for the second matchup this season.

The Falcons are coming in undefeated and ranked No. 2 in the state polls. The first meeting in La Jara went to the Falcons and the Pirates have something to prove. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and the game will probably be one of the best seen so far this year.

On Saturday night, the Lady Pirates will host the Monte Vista Lady Pirates for the final league game of the regular season. This could be an interesting contest, with Pagosa coming off a big game Friday night against Centauri. The green and yellow Pirates gave the Buccaneers a challenge in their first meeting two weeks ago in Monte Vista when they led Pagosa after one quarter. Start time is again scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in another doubleheader with the boys.

If the Lady Pirates win two this weekend they will be tied with Centauri for first place in IML standings. In this scenario their first district playoff game will be Friday, Feb. 24, in Bayfield. Be sure to check next week's edition of The SUN for opponent and start time.

If the Lady Pirates were to end the regular season in second place they will host a first round playoff game Wednesday, Feb. 22, in the PSHS gym. The opponent would be the fifth seed, currently Monte Vista, who would have to come back over the pass to Pagosa for a second time. The scheduled start time is uncertain but will most likely be 7 p.m., with the winner advancing to the second round in Bayfield Friday, Feb. 24.

In other IML action last week;

- Bayfield (11-4, 3-3) defeated Monte Vista (1-15, 0-6) 68-47 Friday.

- Centauri (17-0, 6-0) defeated Bayfield (11-5, 3-4) 66-38 Saturday.

Summary

Pagosa Springs - 11, 15, 17, 13-57

Ignacio - 4, 4, 6, 12-26

Scoring: Lynch, 4-8,2-4,4-4,18; Mackey, 0-1,1-3,0-0,3; Kelley, 3-6,0-2,0-0,6; Harris, 4-6,0-0,1-2,9; Canty, 0-0,0-0,2-2,2; Faber, 1-4,0-0,0-0,2; Buikema, 2-4,0-0,2-2,6; Tamara Gayhart, 0-3,0-0,0-0,0; Camille Rand, 0-0,0-0,0-0,0; Emily Martinez, 0-0,0-0,0-0,0; DuCharme, 1-3,0-0,3-4,5; Forrest, 3-6,0-0,0-0,6. Rebounds: Lynch 2, Mackey 3, Kelley 3, Harris 7, Faber 2, Buikema 7, Gayhart 4, Forrest 10.

Annual Lincoln Day races at Wolf Creek

The annual Lincoln Day ski races were held Feb. 12 at Wolf Creek Ski Area.

Winner of Boys 3-5 was Isaac Bonin of Pagosa Springs, with a time of 2 minutes, 15 seconds.

Winner of Boys 6-8 was Sam Chronowski of Pagosa Springs, with a time of 1.46.

Winner of the gold in Boys 9-11 was Boon Schoer of Pagosa Springs, with a time of 36.31; silver was Henry Larson of Trinidad, with a time of 41.02; bronze was Mason Chronowski of Pagosa Springs, with a time of 44.04.

Winner of Boys 12-14 was Tyler Moore of Pagosa Springs, with a time of 38.06.

Winners of Boys 15-17 were: gold, Aaron Farley of Little Rock; Ark., with a time of 33.04; and silver, Bronson Mansaneras of Del Norte, with a time of 33.5.

Winner of Boys 18-20 was Brian Mansaneras of Del Norte, with a time of 32.48.

Winner of Men 21-25 was Thomas Hampton of Pagosa Springs, with a time of 30.46.

Winners of Men 31-35 were: gold, Brandon Lloyd of Del Norte, with a time of 31.02; silver, Mark Vean of Del Norte, with a time of 45.55.

Winner of the Men 36-40 was Chris Richardson of Farmington, with a time of 29.2.

Winners of Men 41-50 were: gold, Carl Koomoa of Kona, Hawaii, with a time of 30.72; silver, Rob Scheer of Pagosa Springs, with a time of 34.47; and bronze, Greg Coln of Creede, with a time of 38.22.

Winners of Men 51-60 were: gold, Mike Evans of Del Norte, with a time of 28.47; silver, Dean Sell of Pagosa Springs, with a time of 31.04; and bronze, Bob Filice of Pagosa Springs, with a time of 34.52.

Winners of the Men 60-plus were: gold, Dave Bryan of Pagosa Springs, with a time of 31.08; silver, Dick Bond of Pagosa Springs, with a time of 32.05; and bronze, Klaus Neubert of Pagosa Springs, with a time of 36.43.

Winners of the employee's race were: gold, Davey Pitcher of Pagosa Springs, with a time of 28.05, and silver, Wes Laverty of Pagosa Springs, with a time of 32.95.

Winner of Girls 9-11 was Molly McPartland of Del Norte, with a time of 34.87.

Winner of Girls 12-14 was Megan Young of Del Norte, with a time of 35.02.

Winner of Girls 15-17 was Mar Young of Del Norte, with a time of 32.96.

Winner of Women 26-30 was Heather Bateman of Albuquerque, with a time of 47.72.

Winner of Women 31-35 was Natalie Tilton of Del Norte, with a time of 39.05.

Winners of Women 41-50 were: gold, Debbie Romero of Boulder, with a time of 39.55; silver, Zella Scheer of Pagosa Springs, with a time of 44.50; and bronze, Sheila Farley of Little Rock, Ark., with a time of 50.17.

Winner of Women 60-plus was Marcia Carlson of St. Paul, Minn., with a time of 31.10.

Plans for park structure on the way

By Jim Miller

SUN Columnist

Last week we got a visit from a group of architecture students from the University of Colorado at Denver.

They were in town to familiarize themselves with a site by the river in our new park off South 5th Street, where they have volunteered to build a multipurpose structure of their design.

They will return at the end of this month with a variety of concepts to present to a design-review committee, which will be charged with selecting the final plan for the construction set to take place at the end of May.

Brad Ash, a graduate of Pagosa Springs High School and one of the future architects, was instrumental in the selection of Pagosa Springs as the site of this year's project.

With obvious satisfaction, he showed his enthusiastic classmates around town, highlighting local features whose character might help the teams of students get a feel for themes and materials to incorporate into their designs.

I eagerly await their return and will keep the readers of this column up to date on their progress.

Adult basketball deadline

Tomorrow is the last day the Pagosa Springs Recreation Department will accept team registrations for the 2006 adult men's and women's basketball leagues.

Registration forms are available at the department office in Town Hall. Team registration fees are $250, plus a $25 fee per player.

There will be a team managers' meeting Monday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m. in Town Hall, and the leagues are tentatively scheduled to begin in early March.

Youth basketball playoffs

The first round of the single-elimination tournament for the 11- and 12-year-old division begins Saturday, Feb. 18, at Pagosa Springs Junior High School and includes the following pairings: Spurs vs. Bulls at 9 a.m., Cavs vs. Timberwolves at 10 a.m., Nuggets vs. Lakers at 11 a.m. and Pacers vs. Jazz at noon.

The 9-10 playoff schedule, which began Tuesday, continues tonight at the community center and includes: Pacers vs. the winner of Tuesday night's Jazz vs. Kings contest at 5:30 p.m., and Nuggets vs. Knicks at 6:30 p.m.

There are no playoff games scheduled in the 9-10 division for Saturday, Feb. 18. Playoffs in this division will resume Tuesday, Feb. 21.

The championship game for the 9-10 division will take place at 6 p.m. Feb. 23 in the community center; the 11-12 championship game will follow at 7:15 p.m.

Basketball photos

Parents and coaches who ordered youth basketball photos can pick them up at Pagosa Photography, 480 San Juan St. We will also try to have pictures available at playoff sites throughout the remainder of the season. If you have questions concerning your photo order, call Jeff Laydon at 264-3686.

Sports hotline

General information concerning the Pagosa Springs Recreation Department can be obtained by calling the Pagosa Springs Sports Hotline at 264-6658 or logging on to townofpagosasprings.com and going to the parks and recreation link. All schedules and upcoming events are updated on a weekly basis.

If you have questions or concerns, or need additional information about any of the Pagosa Springs Recreation Department adult or youth sports programs, call 264-4151 Ext. 232.

Ban the hoohah

To put it simply: there's just too much bureaucratic hoohah out there. Too many administrators, too many bureaucrats, too many folks "in charge" emitting white noise, causing needless problems and damage. Nearly all of them are obfuscating their oft inessential presences with blather. There are too many statistics, too many abstractions, too many packets of paper (involving the death of far too many trees) passed around in a blatant effort to confuse and to conceal.

Too much adminaspeak and bureaucrababble, causing too much damage.

It's heard everywhere there are established institutions: in business, in government and education at all levels, anywhere folks "in charge," labor to confound, perplex, irritate, divert and otherwise waste the time of those who work under them, those who fund them, those who hire them. It is used to evade close scrutiny by often marginally competent officials who, in the case of public institutions, are elected supposedly to direct the organization.

Hoohah is a key factor in stagnation; when the drones hear it, they begin to think of anything but work - upcoming vacations, their paramour in accounting, getting studs put in the tires, the kids' dental appointments. When elected overseers hear it, or are asked to read it - especially those who are unpaid and, often, less than competent - they end up retreating from the onslaught to a role wherein there is little to do but engage in self-aggrandizing pontification.

Hoohah, while alleged to stimulate productivity, innovation, success, usually has the opposite result. It is, in fact, the engine of entropy, the hallmark of failed and failing systems and civilizations. When plain talk dies and people are beaten with the bureaucratic language hammer, culture withers, becomes decadent, erodes into historical dust.

We aren't going to get anywhere, folks, until we put a lid on this. And on its purveyors.

We employ too many bureaucrats and administrators whose primary task is to remain employed and they do so by piling hoohah on those who hire them. Or, if they are in industry, they pelt stockholders with hoohah, until the ship sinks.

Here is a simpleminded start on a plan: Institutions and organizations, especially those funded with taxpayer dollars, should require administrators and bureaucrats to work in the trenches, at least part of the time, and to do so successfully.

Label it a quasi-Maoist Red Book commandment if you will, but how about a government administrator being required to spend a third of his or her time laboring on the front lines in their department?

In business, why shouldn't managers do the work of their charges a third of the time? Why not a bank president working the counter a third of the time? Why not a store manager working the floor a third of the time? Most small business owners do at least this, and it works.

In education, where the offenses are grievous, why not require superintendents and administrators to spend one year out of three - successfully - in the classroom. Why should they be allowed to establish distance from the essence of the institution's task, or be paid more than the master teacher?

Why should we ask anyone to do something we ourselves won't or can't do?

Apply the one-in-three idea to any bureaucratic or managerial position. Would we see a high level of nonsense or experience the gulf that too often separates administrators and their charges? Would we experience stagnation, alienation of workers, manipulation of officials, the failure of systems to the extent we do now?

Would we have to endure so much meaningless hoohah , the practitioners who trade in it, and the damage it does?

Karl Isberg

90 years ago

Taken from SUN files of February 18, 1916

Pagosa precinct was enlivened Sunday by a disturbance of its heretofore calm and peaceful prohibition waters through the arrest of Glady Walker for alleged selling of intoxicating liquor contrary to law. It is reported that several gallons of liquor were seized from his place of abode across the river.

When the raising of good milk cows occupies the attention of our ranchmen in Archuleta County, we will see more prosperity among them.

One extreme follows another and after the past storm and cold, we are having spring-like weather.

With bated breath we tore off the covering of our advance spring style Sawbuck catalogue and to our intense relief we found that ladies will still wear clothes.

75 years ago

Taken from SUN files of February 20, 1931

Augustin Villarreal will soon have a new radio installed at the section house and then, look out! Will the building hold the crowd?

Juan Quintana, aged 94, called at the schoolhouse one day last week on his white horse to have his picture taken. Mr. Quintana is a very interesting character whose life history is being noted by newspaper writers.

Our own senator, Hon. Chas. F. Rumbaugh, is steadily on the job and is quite a popular member of the upper house. He has been a very valuable aid in the fight against unjust and unreasonable reapportionment and has perhaps given better service in this respect than any other member of either house.

50 years ago

Taken from SUN files of February 16, 1956

A special committee of the Town Board met with Roger Sanchez on Thursday and after some discussion hired him as town dog catcher. Mr. Sanchez will be authorized to pick up any dogs running loose and take them to the city dog pound which is to be constructed. The Town Board instigated this measure because of the large number of dogs running loose.

Avalanche-shooting experiments on Wolf Creek Pass Friday failed to dislodge any snow that might develop into high-blocking slides. The experiments were made at several points on this side of the summit and also on the west side. The snow won. Several rounds of ammo were fired from a special .77-mm. Howitzer-type cannon into some of the overhangs of snow.

25 years ago

Taken from SUN files of February 19, 1981

Next Tuesday is the date of an election to determine whether or not a hospital district will be formed in this area. The proposal calls for a hospital district to be formed that generally conforms to the boundaries of School District 50. It would take in most of Archuleta County and portions of Hinsdale and Mineral counties that are on this side of the Continental Divide. A hospital district was proposed for the purpose of upgrading the present medical facilities. This, sponsors say, could be accomplished by enlarging the present medical center, which is owned by a nonprofit corporation, or by building an enlarged facility. There are not plans at the present to construct a hospital, the sponsors said.

A man who matched our mountains

By Kate Collins

Staff Writer

"I wrote the whole book with two-finger typing," said a smiling Rod Preston.

Preston, a Pagosa Springs resident since 1996, saw the release of his biography of former Colorado governor, Dan Thornton, in January 2006. The book, titled "Stetson, Pipe and Boots: Colorado's Cattleman Governor," describes in detail the life of a "highly successful and well known purebred beef cattle producer and an effective, flamboyant but controversial Colorado governor," according to the book's brief jacket description.

"This is the first time I've written anything like this," stated Preston. "It might be the last Š I'm not sure. I think I'll do more reading instead." Preston has authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles on beef cattle nutrition and production.

Preston has had an interest in the spirited governor since his undergraduate days at Colorado A & M University, which coincided with Thornton's term in office. Preston also knew of Thornton's ranching activities and successes in Gunnison, but Preston's passion for collecting information began during the 14 years in which he held the Thornton Endowed Chair at Texas Tech University, where he was a professor of animal science. Preston has been researching and growing in his expertise regarding Governor Thornton since 1992.

"I began really working on the book in 1998," said Preston. After settling into their home in Pagosa Springs, Preston and Barbara, his wife of 56 years, embarked on a cross-country adventure to collect information about Thornton, and meet those who worked and enjoyed friendships with him.

"Almost everyone who knew Thornton has passed away," explained Preston. But one of the highlights of his writing experience is "the people we've met and the stories we've gathered."

According to Preston, Gov. Thornton succeeded in securing two very major accomplishments over the course of his lifetime: the record-breaking sale of two Hereford bulls at the National Western Stock Show in 1945 and his election as Colorado governor.

"His election was amazing. Ralph Carr was running for governor and died 35 days before the election. The GOP replacement committee named Thornton to run in his place," explained Preston. "Nobody gave him a snowball's chance."

Undaunted, Thornton "blitzkrieged the state," according to Preston. Thornton canvassed Colorado, crisscrossing the state in the plane he piloted himself. Thornton won the election by 23,000 votes. "He even carried Denver," said Preston.

Thornton grew in national and regional fame, and became instrumental in luring the United States Air Force to locate its educational base in Colorado Springs. Preston regards this fact as Thornton's most outstanding political accomplishment.

"He was Colorado's super-salesman," explained Preston. Thornton championed Colorado's every possible economic asset "from cherries, beef, uranium and coal to interstate highways and tourism."

Although Thornton broke the traditional GOP mold to the consternation of some, he was a loud and convincing voice that the general population liked to listen to. "He had his own Republican philosophy," said Preston. "He was self-made."

Thornton canvassed the state of Colorado a second time, stumping for Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidential election. "That friendship started through a golfing relationship," added Preston. "[Thornton] could've been a pro golfer."

"At age thirty-four, [Thornton] already ranked as one of America's leading purebred cattlemen. A first-rate breeder, he developed one of the nation's best-regarded herds, and his innovative techniques inspired much imitation," writes Preston of Thornton's rising fame in "The Bull by the Horns," an article published in Colorado History, Number 11, 2005.

"His big claim to fame as a cattleman was selling his Hereford bulls for $50,000 each," in the 1945 National Western Stock Show. "That's the equivalent to $800,000 today," stated Preston.

Thornton brought his prize-winning bulls to the elegant Brown Palace Hotel in downtown Denver and paraded them through the lobby, then bedded them down for the night. Thus began the tradition that continues to this day. Preston met Bill Sanderson, a longtime friend of Thornton and once an employee at the Thornton Hereford Ranch in Gunnison, where he is still a resident. Sanderson served as a bodyguard to the two expensive and legendary animals through the night.

"He told me that the biggest problem they had was people trying to pull hairs off the bulls' backs and tails to keep as souvenirs," said Preston.

Thornton's accomplishments began piling up at a very young age. "Everything Thornton did, he was very young," said Preston.

At age 16 he became the president of Texas 4-H, and by age 26, he and his wife, Jessie, owned their first ranch in Arizona. "Jessie was from a well-to-do family" in California, explained Preston. "He knew what he was doing when he picked his wife, [although] she had never before been on a farm or ranch. She had the money, he knew how to spend it. On the other hand, she picked the right man, too."

The Thorntons employed 12 men to help with ranch upkeep and maintaining the cattle, according to an article authored by Preston appearing in Territorial Magazine, Volume XXV, Number Four. Thornton was a professional cattleman in every sense of the word and demanded excellence from his employees, and earned their loyalty in return.

Preston was able to interview two men who worked very closely with Thornton: Leo Rogers and Clair Hale. Rogers currently lives in Nutrioso, Ariz., and Hale passed away in July of 2005. "They pulled pranks on him like you can't believe!" said Preston.

"It is obvious there were good feelings between Dan and his men, by some of the pranks they played on him; probably because Dan was not much older than his cowboys. One time Dan called and said he wanted a horse ready for him, so he could ride out to where the cowboys were and look over the cattle. Leo and Afton Nelson put Dan's saddle on a big packhorse that had never been ridden, and tied the horse to the corral fence; all it had been used for was to pack salt and cottonseed cake out to the cattle. Then the two hid in a shed and waited. When Dan arrived, dressed in a white shirt, he untied the horse and climbed on. Immediately the horse began to buck. Leo said, 'You talk about a rodeo, he put one on!'" writes Preston in Territorial. Thornton held his seat throughout the ordeal, and "couldn't get off of the horse even if he had wanted to."

"Leo said Thornton was 'Mad as hell,'" said Preston with a grin. "They never told Thornton the truth - they told him that the horse must have been 'a little salty that morning.'"

Preston also met Sam Davis, who worked for Thornton during a break from classes at the University of Georgia, where he earned a degree in animal husbandry. "The summer he spent at Thornton's ranch is the highlight of his life," said Preston.

The Thornton Arizona ranch house has been converted into a visitor's center, and the barn that Thornton built is essentially "untouched." The ranch lands have been preserved as a wildlife refuge.

Thornton bought a ranch in Gunnison in 1941 that he continued to run for the remainder of his life, and died there in 1976. His award-winning tombstone is accented by replicas of his cowboy boots and Stetson hat carved out of rose granite. The inscription reads, "A Man Who Matched Our Mountains." The Thornton ranch house in Gunnison is currently being run as a bed and breakfast.

To read more about Thornton and his mountain-sized personality, contact Preston to acquire a copy of his biography of the energetic and dedicated governor.

Wild, violent times in old Amargo

By John M. Motter

PREVIEW Columnist

We've been reporting on the frontier town of Amargo, circa 1881.

Amargo was located a few miles east of Dulce, about one mile east of Lumberton. Of course, in Amargo's heyday, there was no Dulce, no Lumberton.

A man by the name of Jackson stayed a few months in Amargo during 1881. Jackson left some descriptive prose about Amargo. He's just finished telling us how an outlaw leader named Jim Catron helped him get his six-shooter back from the sheriff. Today we learn about Charlie Allison, another outlaw who wet his throat in Amargo during those days.

"In Amargo at this time, another gang of desperadoes was headed by Charlie Allison; they had their camp in a little grove right below town. They all lived in a big tent, and I used to go down there evenings and visit with them and have a good time. They were all young fellows, had a fine bunch of horses, and each carried two guns. I sometimes thought to myself I would like to be one of them, but I was not invited to join them.

"One day at noon the stage from Chama, carrying passengers to Durango, rolled in and stopped at the general store; at once this Allison gang held up the stage, then held up the store and so made a general cleanup. I was working in the shop and heard the shooting - they fired a lot of shots to intimidate the passengers. Among them was Mr. Peter Keegan, a D. & R. G. contractor, who later lived in Durango; he lost his watch and money. This hold-up occurred in broad daylight, and as soon as it was over the young desperadoes went back to their camp and took a nap; nobody bothered them in the least. This gang lasted for quite awhile, but most of them were finally captured and the leader sent to the pen for a long term.

"I well remember our last night in Amargo; the town was moving on to the next station at the end of the track, a place called Arboles. Foot-pads and gamblers held up every business place they could get into that night, Fred Jones and I did not go to bed; we sat there in our shack and waited, but nothing happened to us. In the meantime, we had hid all our money in the bellows, where the foot-pads would not find it.

"Upon our arrival at Arboles we went to T.D. Burns' store and bought quite a large tent, in which we established our blacksmith shop and living quarters; we had a pretty good location in a grove of cottonwood trees right along side of the San Juan River.

"All the saloons and dance halls were established in tents of various sizes, as there were no buildings available; business was carried on in these places just about as it was in Amargo. One day about noon we were surprised to see a company of cavalry under command of Colonel "Somebody" riding in from Fort Lewis.; the Colonel sent a courier around and notified everyone to be in the center of the camp at one o'clock. We all went, and on the platform was the Colonel, Mr. Stollsteimer, who was the Indian Agent for the Southern Utes, and Mr. Burns.

"The Colonel addressed the meeting as follows: He says - 'Now boys, the reason I have got you all together here at this time is that you must be aware that you are on an Indian Reservation and this Reservation is under my control; and as the government allows nothing but legitimate business to be carried on, on an Indian Reservation, the dance halls and saloons are hereby ordered to move on, and I will give you three days in which to move your belongings from the Reservation. If this order is not obeyed in that time, I will order the cavalry under my command to remove you forcibly.'"

Watch for the planets this week

By James Robinson

Staff Writer

The following sun and moon data for Feb. 16, 2006, is provided by the United States Naval Observatory.

Sunrise: 6:56 a.m.

Sunset: 5:49 p.m.

Moonrise: 9:17 p.m.

Moonset: 8:56 a.m. on Feb. 17.

Moon phase: The moon is waning gibbous with 89 percent of the moon's visible disk illuminated.

Through the week of Feb. 16, the moon will continue to dominate the night sky, with only the brightest celestial bodies remaining visible.

Fortunately, our planetary neighbors are some of the brightest objects visible to earth-bound sky watchers, and even during periods when the moon's glow is most intense, these fascinating objects remain unobscured and relatively easy to locate.

This fact should bode well for star gazers during the latter part of this week and through the weekend when prime viewing opportunities of four of the five closest planets will abound.

The action begins tonight around 7 p.m. when Saturn makes a strong showing almost due east in the constellation Cancer. The magnitude -0.2 planet can be found just above delta Cancri, or Asellus Australis, one of the key stars marking the heart of the constellation.

To locate the planet, look for a bright, yellow-gold object at a position that is about midway between the horizon and directly overhead. Pollux, of the constellation Gemini, also provides a useful landmark and the planet can be found a few degrees below and slightly to the right of the star.

Star gazers using binoculars to view Saturn will be well equipped for viewing both the ringed planet and M44, a nearby star cluster also known as the Beehive Cluster. The cluster spans nearly one and half degrees of the sky (nearly three times the diameter of the full moon) and contains about 50 stars.

While binoculars may be the tool of choice for viewing M44, a telescope is necessary for star gazers who want more than just a glimpse of the planet's beautiful ring system or of its largest and most fascinating moon Titan.

Even an amateur scope, used under dark sky conditions can reveal the planet's fascinating luminous rings, and higher quality optics should provide finer ring details and views of Titan and perhaps another of its many lunar satellites.

Also tonight, after completing their visual tour of Saturn, Cancer and M44, star gazers can shift their gaze to the south to catch views of one of our most studied neighbors - the red planet, Mars.

To locate Mars, first find Orion in the southern sky. The constellation is easily identified by the three, telltale stars marking the hunter's belt. From the farthest left belt star, Alnitak, travel straight up to the hunter's left shoulder, marked by the massive, red supergiant Betelgeuse. From Betelgeuse, jump again to the next bright orange object a few degrees to the right. This is the star Aldebaran, which marks the glimmering, red-orange eye of the bull, represented by the constellation Taurus. One last, slightly shorter jump from Aldebaran and again to the right, will land star gazers at another burnt-orange object and their destination - Mars.

Although the planet appears as a simple orange blob, and prime viewing of the planet has long since passed, it is perhaps what surrounds Mars that makes the celestial leapfrogging required to locate the planet worth the effort.

During recent weeks, Mars has been inching ever closer to M45 - the Pleiades, or, the Seven Sisters - and that journey will peak between tonight and Feb. 18 when Mars will come to within two degrees of one of the night sky's most famous star clusters.

Again, star gazers with binoculars will be perfectly equipped to explore the dipper-shaped Pleiades, and although its seven key stars are clearly visible with the naked eye, dozens more will be revealed with even the most basic magnification. All told, astronomers estimate the cluster is home to more than 100 stars and the cluster spans about three full moons widths of the sky.

Having formed about 50 million years ago, astronomers consider the Pleiades a relatively young star cluster, and many of the stars in the grouping are, in fact, young blue giants, burning a bold, brilliant blue-white.

For prime views of Venus, the third planet of the quad-planet tour, it will require either a marathon night of sky watching on the 16th or decent night's rest and a trip outdoors before sunrise on the 17th. In either case, views of "the morning star" should prove worth the effort, for the magnitude -4.5 planet achieves greatest brilliancy during dawn of Feb. 17.

Star gazers should find the planet, due to its brightness, easy to locate and low on the southeastern horizon. For those with telescopes, Venus will appear as a thick crescent.

And lastly, this weekend is also prime time for telescopic observations of Jupiter - the largest of all the planets.

Jupiter rises in the east-southeast around midnight, and moves gradually toward the south-southwest by dawn.

Sky watchers who venture outside between 4 and 5 a.m. Saturday will be rewarded with views of the gas giant clustered with the moon, Spica and Arcturus.

Jupiter, glowing a bright creamy, yellow will lie a few degrees to the left of the moon, while Spica, the alpha star of the constellation Virgo, can be found just a degree or two to the moon's right. Above the moon, in almost a straight line, lies Arcturus, the burnt orange alpha star of the constellation Bootes, the herdsman.

Snow today, shift of jet stream promises more

By John Middendorf

Staff Writer

Chances are, you are seeing some new snow today. And a recent southern shift of the jetstream from its northern meander is offering additional promise for Pacific moisture in southern Colorado's mountains in the coming week.

In addition to shifting southward, the jetstream split into two jets off the coast of California this week. The southern, tropical jet may persist too far south to affect this weekend's weather, with conditions expected to be cloudy, relatively warm in the 40's, and some snow possible. Sunday will certainly be a glorious day in any case. On Monday, expect snow, sleet and/or freezing conditions, followed by partial clearing with cloudy conditions for the remainder of the week.

La Nina's cold tongue continues to extend westward into the Pacific, creating stronger than average easterly winds in the equatorial Pacific. La Nina favors a northward shift in the jetstream off the northwest coast, and generally results in dryer than normal southern Colorado winters due to cold dry air arriving predominately from the north. The bad news is that La Nina is expected to grow stronger in the coming three to six months.

Last week we had zero snow, even in the mountains, and a high of 54 degrees last Thursday. The low of negative one-degree Fahrenheit was reported on Saturday morning at 7 am.

Did you know that the earth is closer to the sun in the winter than in the summer? Yes, it's true. The earth's orbit around the sun is elliptical—and the earth is closest to the sun on January 3, and farthest from the sun on the Fourth of July. In fact, the sun is about five million kilometers closer in winter than in the summer.

Winters are colder in the Northern Hemisphere because of the earth's 23.5 degree tilt, pointing the north pole away from the sun in winter. If the earth wasn't tilted in respect to it's orbit around the sun, winter months around the globe would indeed be warmer than the summer months, but not by much—the nearer sun increases the solar radiation received on any particular area only by about six percent.

The much larger seasonal effect caused by the earth's tilt is a result of the oblique angle of solar radiation hitting the earth's surface. Winter sunrays result in less energy to be collected over any given area, since the same amount of sunrays are spread out over a larger area than if the sunrays came from directly overhead.

The sun reaches a maximum height above the horizon of only 39 degrees in Pagosa Springs on Dec. 21, when the North Pole is pointing away from the sun. On June 21, on the other hand, when the North Pole is pointing toward the sun, the sun will reach a height of 76 degrees above the horizon, only 14 degrees off from directly overhead.

By the way, did things seem "slow" to you last weekend? Last weekend the sun lagged behind standard time the greatest amount of the whole year. Sometimes the sun runs faster than standard time, sometimes slower. On Saturday, the sun lagged its maximum of 14 minutes, 11 seconds behind standard time.

If we measure "high noon," the time the sun reaches its highest point in the sky (coinciding with it's due south direction), we find that the length of each day throughout the year is not constant, but can be up to 28 seconds slower than a 24 hour day, or 20 seconds faster. The accumulated changes result in the sun being "slow" (reaching a peak last weekend), or "fast" (reaching a peak in early November), depending on the time of year.

The reason for the inconsistent length of days arises from two factors: First, the daily relative change in the angle of earth's tilt causes shorter days when the tilt is getting smaller (from the summer solstice to the vernal equinox, and from the winter equinox to the spring solstice), and longer days when the tilt is getting larger. The second variable is the earth's elliptical orbit around the sun: since we're closer to the sun in winter, that means we're also going faster (by conservation of angular momentum—Kepler's discovery). This causes a further "slowing" of time in respect to the period between solar noons (to visualize this, imagine viewing the earth and the sun from a point high above the North Pole - from which vantage point both the rotation of the earth and the path of the earth are counterclockwise).

In the days of the early settlers, before clocks were common, many homes incorporated a "noon mark" into their design near a southern window or porch. With the aid of a noon mark, hungry settlers could watch the approach of noontime and know when to come in from the fields for lunch. In their simplest form, a noon mark is merely a straight line running north to south on a level surface. A shadow from a vertical object will line up with a noon mark at solar noon. (FYI: In Pagosa Springs, true north is currently 10 degrees, 17 minutes west of magnetic north.)

Depending on a noon mark, today will cause you to be either early or late for all your meetings. This is not only because of the "slowing" and "speeding" of time described above, but because we're also behind the standard 105th meridian noontime that our standard time zone is based on (by about six minutes). On Christmas day, April 15, June 14, or September 2, your noon mark will coincide with standard noon exactly.