It was their first time at the Colorado Basketball Tournament, but the Gilpin women’s basketball team overcame the tournament jitters and pulled together to win their final two games. The wins brought them the Consolation Championship and the first State trophy in the history of Gilpin County basketball.

Gilpin County 39 – Kit Carson 34

  An unusually large and noisy crowd cheered the Eagles to a tension-filled 39-34 victory over the Kit Carson Wildcats in the championship game. Both teams had trouble finding the opening of the nets as Samantha Peterson’s four points were all that Gilpin could get against Kit Carson’s aggressive man-to-man defense in the first quarter. Fortunately, the Wildcats had the same problem and could score only two points in the same period. Similar problems continued in the second quarter and Gilpin could muster only a 11-7 lead as the half came to a close. In the third period however, the Eagles’ fast break came alive and the lead widened to 23-14. Turnovers by both teams loosened up the scoring in the fourth period, as the fans began to squirm in their seats. But Kit Carson could not cut into the lead because their turnovers resulted in fast breaks led by Peterson and Katura Sales, and their tough defense wilted under the pressure. The Wildcats sank a three-pointer just as the final buzzer sounded, but it came too late to make any difference. The Eagles had climbed the mountain and brought home the gold. 

  As she did in the Merino game, Samantha Peterson led the Eagles’ scoring attack. Peterson’s 15 points were right on her tournament average that should gain her a position on the all-tournament team. Sales backed her up this time with 11 points. Andie Ramsey had a great rebounding game with 10 rebounds, an unusual amount for a point guard.

Gilpin County 39 – Kim 28

  Although the score doesn’t indicate it, this was a tough game for the Eagles, who didn’t grab the lead until the end of the third quarter. From that point the Eagles’ pressure defense took over, and, as they did in many games this season, the Eagles blanked their opponents 10-0 in the final period for the win.

  Samantha Peterson again figured in the scoring with 11 points, but Katura Sales led the scoring with 17 tallies. Peterson and Sales also tied for the rebounding lead with 12 apiece. This win put the Eagles into the Consolation Championship game with Kit Carson.

Merino 54-Gilpin County 30

  In their first appearance in a state tournament contest, the Eagles appeared to be overwhelmed by the size of the crowd and the glare of many lights on the floor. Facing a strong and athletic Merino Rams team didn’t help either. For the only time this season, the Eagles were held to single-digit scoring in all four quarters. With a tough pressure defense, the Rams run up a quick 19-9 lead in the first quarter, while the Eagles struggled to find the basket. The slaughter continued in the second quarter, and the Eagles fell further behind by 36-14 at half time. In the second half, the jitters disappeared and the Eagles lost the second half by only one basket. Merino went on to win third place in the tournament by edging out pre-tournament favorite Simla, 71-70. Meanwhile Gilpin went on to win the Consolation Championship.

  Samantha Peterson dominated the scoring for the Eagles with 19 points. Nobody else scored in double figures. In the tournament, Peterson averaged 15 points per game, and Katura Sales averaged 11. Except for the Merino game, the women had the crowd sitting on the edge of their seats during the games. It was wonderful to see the large crowd that supported the Eagles, and it is hoped that all of the fans will come again next season, as the Eagles attempt to return to the state tournament. Coach Jeff Schuessler praised the girls for a great tournament and reminded everyone that they were anxious to play the tournament again.

  The women’s team loses only three players next year if everyone else returns. Seniors Shelby Foelsch, a strong rebounder, and Molly Quaranto, a defensive specialist, will both graduate, and Junior Teresa Seitz, is an exchange student from Germany. A large group from this year’s freshman class will provide plenty of help to returning starters, Samantha Peterson, Andie Ramsey, and Katura Sales. The outlook is good for the team and we wish them success as they attempt to improve upon a 23-3 season that ended with a trophy. Come and watch us!

  Gilpin County Commissioners Connie McLain, Buddy Schmalz and Forrest Whitman took steps to maintain children’s services in cases of child support and foster care, amended the ambulance service contract, and approved new signage at the Bullwhackers gas station/convenience store. They then met in a work session to discuss the impact of recent water rights applications on the North Clear Creek water treatment project.

Treasurer’s Report

  Gilpin County Treasurer Alynn Huffman reported 28.49% of the county’s annual taxes had been collected as the end of February. At that time the County coffers held a grand total of $10,881,243 (compared to $9,506,297 at the same time last year). The grand total includes balances in “Non-County” accounts: the Sheriff’s Public Nuisance Fund contained at $35,854 and the 911 Authority account, $53,959.

Child Support Services

  Betty Donovan, Human Services Director, presented the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Gilpin County and the Jefferson county Department of Human Services which provides services related to establishing paternity and child support obligations, including foster care fee enforcement. Gilpin’s Human Services Department provides office space, distribution of materials and some bookkeeping services. JeffCo provides the materials to be distributed and implementation of the regulations in compliance with all federal and state laws. JeffCo retains the state funding allotted to Gilpin on behalf of the child support services and there is no direct cost to the County. The MOU is renewed annually and the current agreement is effective until December 31, 2012.

  Donovan also presented the documentation for state approval of the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program Plan (CFCIP). JeffCo is also acting as the lead county for Jefferson, Gilpin and Clear Creek Counties regarding this program. CFCIP serves youth who are in need of out-of-home care and stipulates the process for transitioning the youth into adult self-sufficiency, including secondary education, post-secondary training and education, connecting with family and community, financial stability and education of financial responsibilities such as personal household financial management, health and healthy life choices, and safe, stable housing. The youth are also assisted in determining their skills, job development and referrals, career assessment and counseling, job search workshops, etc. Youth participating in the program can earn cash incentives related to attendance in trainings, accomplishing educational and work goals, and volunteer hours. Funding is federal, disbursed through grants to the state and then to the county administering the program. The tri-county program in which Gilpin participates is projected to assist a total of 55 individuals, the majority between the ages of 16 and 21. Total funding for the CFCIP is $124,802 and that includes caseworker salaries, direct services to youth and room and board for qualifying youth. The term of the plan began October 1, 2011 and runs through June 30, 2012 and calls for approval annually. Again, there is no direct cost to the County.

  Commissioners, acting as the Board of Human Services, approved both agreements; the MOU for child support enforcement and the CFCIP request for state approval.

Ambulance Service Contract

  Commissioners reviewed an amendment to the contract with Gilpin Ambulance Authority which provides ambulance services to County residents and visitors. In 2009, the County, Black Hawk and Central City agreed to share the costs of funding the services for their jurisdiction. This amendment, retroactive to January 1, 2012, establishes the following formula for the funding responsibility: Gilpin County, 33% as the base percentage based on 33% of Net Funds required for the Authority (budgeted expenditures less previous year collections); Black Hawk, 5% of net funds required for the Authority; and Central City 5% of Net Funds required for the Authority. The remaining 57% is allocated between the three parties, based on the previous fiscal year’s call volume for each jurisdiction.  The Authority established a total budget for this year of $1,786,560. Last year the County’s calls amounted to 314; Black Hawk, 847; and Central City, 187. The County’s base plus call volume allocation amounted to $543,786; Black Hawk’s, $479,602; and Central City’s, $151,668. The Authority bills the individuals using the ambulance services and attempts collection from them, generally via their insurance companies. That collection rate averages 41%.  Commissioner Schmalz commented that services, though costly, are “top of the line” and that under the new formula, each jurisdiction is credited for its collections efforts. Commissioners approved the amended contract.

Bullwhackers Sign Variance

  Bullwhackers Casino applied for a sign variance to update their current signage with LED lighting, add signage to the canopy and install red tube lighting to their canopy. County code allows a total maximum of 78 square feet for this site. No flashing/blinking lights were requested or any kind of moving signage. Commissioner Schmalz asked about the brightness of the canopy lighting and was reassured that the illumination would not be bright. Commissioner McLain asked about the reason for needing the additional lighting. The applicant said they are updating their gas station to be branded as a Shell station and that the sign they propose is like that currently existing at Taggert’s in mid-County.  Commissioners conducted a public hearing in which one County resident spoke against the canopy lighting. Then, acting as the Board of Adjustments, Commissioners approved the variance, conditioned on compliance with regulations for brightness and restricting the new canopy signs so that no portion extends above the roofline.

Monthly Departmental Reports

  The Human Resources February Report showed five new full-time employees had been hired as well as two new employees in the Property Tax Work-Off Program.  During the same time period, three full-timers and two part-timers had left the County’s employ.  The county is currently employing 196 people (compared to 197 in February of 2011). 41 employees had participated in a survey regarding insurance benefits.

  The Public Health Department-Environmental Services January report showed one Individual Sewage Disposal System (ISDS) permit issued. Eight ISDS maintenance contracts had been received. There were three violations/expired ISDS maintenance contracts during January. Six retail food establishment licenses were issued. 13 food establishments were inspected with a result of 9 critical violations.

  The Public Health-Population Based Services January report showed nine participants in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program; one participant in the program for Children with Special Needs; four flu shots and 2 Hepatitis B shots administered; 2 health education programs conducted; 12 cardiac risk assessments; 31 attendees at the TRIAD Young Children’s Program; 2 reports of infectious diseases;2 radon testing kits distributed; and 3 residential water tests completed.

  At the Parks and Recreation Department, 1,146 County residents visited the Community Center in February for a total of 4,798 visits. Adding in non-residents, observers and others there to attend fitness classes or other activities, the total number of visits rises to $6,182. Drop-In admission fees raised revenues of $2,653 for the month. Revenues from membership fees raised $3,256. Two individuals signed up for the free memberships offered to County employees. The Youth Basketball season closed on March 6^th. 98 players, ages 4-14, participated, forming fourteen teams. Spring Adult COED Volleyball season has begun. Swimming lessons are ongoing and Scuba lessons are coming soon. The department staff is looking at grant opportunities, several from local private organizations, to enable youth transportation and activities.

Attorney’s Update

  County Attorney Jim Petrock informed Commissioners that the briefs regarding the Gaming Commission litigation have been filed. Gilpin County joins Black Hawk in appealing a decision from the Gaming Commission denying disbursement of gaming revenues based on gross, rather than net, figures. Central City, Cripple Creek and Teller County are on the other side of the issue; they want the disbursement process to remain the same. It is now their turn to file a response with the Court of Appeals. Petrock said he anticipated a decision sometime this summer.

  In the Brannan Sand & Gravel litigation, ongoing since 2008, the matter is currently in the court of Judge Berryhill (First Judicial District) and, following a hearing in his court, an answer that could end the litigation, is anticipated in late April or May.

Work Session

  Following the regular business meeting, Commissioners met with representatives from federal and state agencies, as well as Black Hawk and Central City, regarding the water treatment facility planned for construction south of Black Hawk to improve the quality of water in North Clear Creek.

Heads Up

  Gilpin County Commissioners meet next on March 27, 2012.

  Peak to Peak Rotary Club, “Serving the Mountain Communities along the Peak to Peak Highway,” celebrated another year of that service at their 12^th Anniversary Dinner and Awards ceremony at the Black Forest Inn in Nederland on March 10, 2012. Pronounced “Phenomenal,” by Rotary District Governor Jim Halderman, the local club is a particularly active and successful one in the Rotarian world. They’ve accomplished numerous local goals and contributed significantly to achievements far beyond the Peak to Peak area.  With approximately 70 people in attendance, Rotary officials took a few minutes to recap current activities.

  Locally, the Peak to Peak club is particularly focused on developing opportunities for youth. About 30 students participate in the Rotary-sponsored Interact Club at Gilpin County High School. They learn about community service at various levels through action projects that reflect Rotary International’s practice of extending a helping hand wherever needed. The Peak to Peak club awards annual scholarships to graduates of the schools in Gilpin and Nederland. They contribute to Over the Rainbow pre-school in Nederland, the Outdoor Education program at Gilpin’s middle school and are working with the Gilpin County Parks and Recreation Department to provide transportation for students to the Community Center for a Friday youth program. (Gilpin’s school week is Monday – Thursday.) The club is currently developing a summer Ice Cream Shop venture in Central City for business class students.  At Christmas time, Rotarians sponsor a “Christmas Wish” program to provide gifts for children of families who are experiencing hard financial times.

  The Peak to Peak club is also involved in several international projects that provide clean water, sanitation, medical supplies and other essentials for communities in Africa, Asia and South America. When disaster strikes, Rotary clubs worldwide respond with financial assistance, medicines, food, emergency shelters – whatever the people on the ground say will best suit. They worked with the local Japanese Rotary clubs following last year’s tsunami, to send disaster relief items there. Co-President of the Peak to Peak club, Joe Agne, said that’s one of the reasons Rotary succeeds. Rather than proclaiming “My way is the better way,” he said the Rotarian way is to listen and watch and work with the local communities to better understand what will work best for them. District Governor Halderman echoed Agne’s statement, adding “Rotarians ask what they can do to help-they don’t fear poverty, they fix it.” Thanks to the efforts of Rotary clubs throughout the world, including the local Peak to Peak club, polio has been wiped out (meaning no new cases in more than a year) in all but three countries. (Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan-who are suspicious of outsiders’ help and won’t allow it.)

  Following their meals, the Peak to Peak Rotarians inducted new members into the club and announced award winners. Linda Jones received the Service Excellence Award; Roy and Barb Stewart received the Community Service Award. After recognizing the club’s top financial contributors, guest speaker Heather Amen told the group about the New Generations program. She’s the District Chairman for that program, which strives to engage youth and keep them interested in Rotary so that club memberships and achievements remain strong. The evening finished with a global touch that fit hand-in-glove with talk of the Rotary’s third world projects. A local band, Nokuthula (pronounced “No-Koo-Too-La”) entertained, featuring marimba music that had been introduced and developed in the 1960’s as a way to build unity among the different tribal communities of Zimbabwe.  Rotary is for serving people, Agne had said, but it’s also about having fun. So it was nothing unusual that throughout an evening of fellowship, Rotarians were also signing up to help pack medical supplies next week. The Peak to Peak club is participating in Project Cure which collects donated surplus medical supplies and gets them into areas where there is a need for health care.

  The Peak to Peak Rotary Club is reaching out to anyone interested in their activities. They now have one group meeting for weekly luncheons at the Isle of Capris in Black Hawk on Thursdays and another group meeting at Roy’s Last Shot every other Friday morning. Guests are welcome. Call 720-891-5233 for more information.

  High Country Auxiliary members are masters at dishing it up and dealing it out. On Saturday, March 3, 2012, a group of about twenty Auxiliary members dished up four kinds of chili and auctioned off great deals on merchandise and services. The Auxiliary’s annual Chili Dinner and Silent Auction fundraiser drew more than 200 people, a terrific turn-out to shore up this support group’s efforts in providing meals and gear to the emergency responders of Gilpin County. Those who braved the bitter cold wind that night found a friendly soul-warming welcome waiting, along with a customized spicy choice of chili ranging from not-hot through sort-of-hot, hot enough and way hot, to warm the body as well.

  The Auxiliary’s colorful variety of chili (red, green, white and vegetarian) is the result of an all-day cooking event which began Saturday morning when the Auxiliary’s kitchen crew reported to Timberline Fire Protection District’s Station 2 and began chopping onions by the ten-pound bag, and an assortment of fresh chili peppers. These were stirred into roasters containing gallons of stewed, diced tomatoes, beans and special seasonings along with cooked beef or chicken. Due to limited kitchen space and to speed the process, some Auxiliary members had done a lot of slicing and dicing at home, arriving at Station 2 with their completed assignments in zip-lock bags. Organizing the duty roster, grocery list and shopping had taken place days before. The efficiency with which it all came together was a testament to the experience of Auxiliary members who have spent years perfecting the process and the industriousness of all. To the best recollection of one long-time Auxiliary member, the first Chili Dinner was held, “Oh, somewhere around 1969.” Regular stirring, and hours of simmering is key to the Auxiliary’s renowned chili. As the varieties gently bubbled, the kitchen crew continued their efforts so that diners could enhance their bowlfuls with toppings of sour cream, grated cheese, diced onions, diced jalapenos, diced black olives and crunchy corn chips. The crew also warmed tortillas, prepared coleslaw and baked a choice of several corn breads. Beverages, hot and/or cold, and ice cream desserts rounded out the meal.

  Next door, in the station bays, a group of Timberline firefighters had moved the big fire trucks and ambulance out into the parking lot (still within easy access, just in case). They carried in and set up long rows of tables and folding chairs for the buffet line and dining in the main bay, and additional tables in the smaller bay for the auction merchandise. A combined effort of Auxiliary members and firefighters soon had the place looking festive with bright yellow tablecloths, ceramic chili-pepper themed napkin holders and decorations, and strings of red chili-pepper lights. Approximately 285 generous merchants and individuals had donated practical and decorative goods or services. “This is probably the only silent auction around where people get excited to bid on septic pumping,” one Auxiliary member remarked with a laugh. Certificates for that service and many others were taped to the inside of the bay doors. In addition to household services there were also numerous restaurant and lodging certificates, massage services, salon services, subscriptions to this newspaper, gardening classes, mechanical services, veterinary services, pet-grooming, – a multitude and variety of services that mountain folk can use and appreciate. The tables were lined with an equally tempting variety of goods, many one-of-a-kind items and a few unexpected treasures (one firefighter set out to take home the trophy elk head mount almost as soon as it was put up for display – and when all the bidding was said and done, he did). Decorative glass, pottery, silver and agate bowls drew many admiring comments, as did multi-media artwork, jewelry and quilts. There were gift baskets and items designed just for children and pets. There were tools, car accessories and sports equipment. This year a propane cylinder heater was a “hot” sale item. A clothing rack displayed sweatshirts, fleece shirts, vests, polo and tee-shirts, including a couple impressive “gorilla” print shirts. As with the cooking crew, the auction crew had been working long before the event, soliciting and collecting donations and then, with a couple of members acting as “clearing-house,” sorting, preparing bid sheets for each item, packing, storing and transporting them for the event. As the Auxiliary is a non-profit organization, the donations are tax-deductible.

  The station training room was headquarters for the cashiers and bid number assigners – all Auxiliary members, and also an information table staffed by Timberline Cadets (high school students training to become firefighters). They offered numerous safety-themed brochures and children’s materials, application forms to join the department, and helped with sales of the Auxiliary’s reflective address signs which help emergency responders get to the right location more quickly. When the auction ends, this room becomes a flurry of activity as Auxiliary members converge to sort and tally the bid sheets Bidders wait, eager to see if they’ve won the items they wanted. Those who do, are always pleased at the great deals they’ve gotten, and even those who were outbid go away winners in that they’ve had a great meal while enjoying the company of friends and the community at-large, plus the entertainment of this annually anticipated auction.

  The Auxiliary, and ultimately the local emergency responders, also come away winners. High Country Auxiliary is an independent all-volunteer organization that uses the money raised to feed emergency responders on scene and during trainings. The Auxiliary currently supports the personnel of Timberline and Gilpin County Animal Response Team (GCART). The group also uses funds to provide some of the specialized equipment and gear the emergency responders need. At the Chili Dinner-Silent Auction, several of Timberline’s firefighters were sporting the CBC’s (“cool blue coats”) the Auxiliary had purchased for them-yellow and blue protective coats that are lighter weight and cooler to wear than bunker gear. The group has purchased other expensive equipment such as ATV’s, a heavy-duty washing machine to clean firefighting gear, a trailer and other items as requested by the emergency responders. They raise the funds to provide these support services through three main annual fund-raising events: the Chili Dinner and Silent Auction, the Flea Market (coming up in June) and the Pancake Breakfast at the Gilpin County Fair. Of course private donations are also gratefully accepted. There were plenty of those at the Chili Dinner-Silent Auction, too, as the Auxiliary cashiers discovered at the end of the night when they emptied the tall rubber boots placed out for that purpose. Every fundraising event requires extensive planning by the Auxiliary’s board of directors and key members, plus hands-on effort of the entire 30+ members. More hands lighten the workload and the members involved say they enjoy the purposeful activities. High Country Auxiliary meets the third Tuesday evening of each month at the Justice Center on Dory Hill Road, and they always welcome new members.

  For years now Ed and Shirley Smith have been known in these parts as the last family who own and operate three casinos in Black Hawk. Seems all the rest went corporate, but not Ed & Shirley. The Smiths have been a big part of Black Hawks gaming history right from the start.

  It all started back in 1985 when Ed and Shirley rented 125 Gregory Street and shall I say from there the Smiths have provided us with an array of businesses that were among the first up here, beside gaming. There was a laundromat, grocery store, and even a thrift shop. I wish that laundromat was still here! Well even though the laundromat and thrift shop are long gone, there is still a place to buy your favorite snacks, cigarettes, and hard to find candy in the store still maintained inside the Wild Card Saloon & Casino. That would be Black Hawk’s last real “wild west” casino. This is the place to have a cocktail of choice and play slots to your heart’s desire, and if you need a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk, they’ve got that too!

  If you head across the street from the Wild Card Casino, you will find Ed & Shirley’s newest casino that was opened in July 2011 on Gregory Street, the Sasquatch Casino.” At the Sasquatch, you will find “Harry,” the guest of honor right when you walk in the front door – all of 7 feet, 4 inches tall, and weighing in at 450 pounds. Harry has his own area that is dedicated to his creation with pictorials of how he became “Harry the Sasquatch” and to now reside in Black Hawk.

  Also included in the Sasquatch Casino is an arcade for those under 21, and just recently a second floor opened with a new bar, slot machines, and a grill where you can even cook your own steak.

  The last of their three casinos, is the Black Hawk Station. This casino has some of the best bar food in town, and you can’t beat the prices. You will love the small-town atmosphere here – it’s an “everybody knows your name” kind of place, and the only thing Ed & Shirley require of you is to have lots of fun! I don’t know about you, but Black Hawk Station is this writer’s kind of place. 

  Although Ed & Shirley are the last of the family owned casinos in Black Hawk, everyone is always treated as a “high roller” at all three locations.

  Look for upcoming events – March will certainly kick things off for more promos, specials, and events per Ed. Here’s to you Ed & Shirley for being a big and wonderful part of Black Hawk’s history and making us wonder what’s coming next!

  When the icy finger of death reached down and snatched Bredo Morstoel from this world, he succumbed to a power and plan greater than himself. He had lived a long and productive life receiving more years than many. Having shared his thoughts and beliefs and contributing to the gene pool, his part in the cycle of life abruptly came to an end. Although a handful of cryogenic devotees think that Bredo may someday again walk among us, even if he doesn’t, Bredo is one of the special few that has the ability to be a part of many peoples’ lives from the grave or, as the case may be, a frosty Tuff Shed!

  When biting cold 50 mph winds buffeted area homes and locals last Friday night and Saturday morning, it was nothing particularly unusual that the hardy residents have grudgingly become accustomed. Two tents set up for Frozen Dead Guy Days were unable to withstand nature’s onslaught and collapsed or were ripped to shreds. Portable restrooms were toppled and the doors of those that stood slapped in the breeze. At the staging grounds near Barker Reservoir Saturday, a handful of hearses, with passengers tucked warmly inside, sat enveloped by swirling snow. A usual beehive of activity with participants preparing for the parade, on that day the lot was almost, well…, dead. A posting on the internet announced Dead Guy Days delayed until Sunday. The festival seemed doomed, but thanks to the hearse drivers who didn’t get the message, the smallest parade in Frozen Dead Guy Days history was held. With the weather miserable and no outdoor activities available, visitors packedNederlandshops, restaurants, and saloons. I wondered what would happen if the winds were stronger on Sunday. Bredo tolerates gelid 60 below zero temperatures – certainly we could persevere through a little wind.

  If Bredo had grown disenchanted with his celebrity status Saturday, he changed his mind and put in a good word with the weather gods on Sunday. With improving conditions the always entertaining Salmon Toss at Sundance Lodge kicked off at eleven a.m. For $5.00, contestants attempted to grip a slimy frozen salmon before heaving it as far as they could. Rules were nebulous and all techniques legal. The fish didn’t necessarily have to fly forward to count as they often did not! The Bloody Mary’s offered didn’t do much for warming “tosser’s” hands, but made them feel better if their fling was less than stellar!

  Any event that starts with the word “Frozen” is bound to be a nippy affair as the Polar Plungers can attest! With only God knowing what possessed them, one after another or in tandem, swimmers took a giant leap of faith into Chipeta Pond’s numbing waters. The performance before the plunge was as important as the dip itself with one girl singing “Oh Canada,” a John Lennon lookalike flashing the peace sign, a Darth Vader/Luke Skywalker “light saber” battle, and a man dancing in an impossibly small Speedo. One team was simply named “Two Idiot Guys.” A penguin pajama clad woman’s eyes bulged out of her ghostly white face as she struggled to get out onto the ice with no air in her lungs.

  Of course the event that everyone had been waiting for was the signature Coffin Races. In a matter of minutes the hillside filled with fans in numbers as strong as in years past. AC/DC blasted from the speakers hyping the enthusiastic crowd. A team of masked Mexican wrestlers grappled about the playground displaying their moves while soliciting cheers. King Arthur and his court rode imaginary horses in a scene out of “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” The Pink Sock team and Donner Party were back and joined by the usual hodgepodge of zombies, aliens, superheroes, and miners. The first obstacle on the longish course was a steep, snowy, ramp ominously spray painted “El Diablo.” From there it was all downhill through hairpin turns and over snow-packed humps until, with tongues hanging out using every ounce of remaining strength, they staggered to the finish line hopefully ahead of the other team. Eventually a victor was determined, but all in attendance, the town of Nederland, and Bredo were the real winners.

  “Morgan, I have some bad news.” It was former District Judge Susie Barnes on the phone. I knew immediately what she was going to say. Her husband, Medill Barnes, my friend of some 60 years had died.

  We met in the early ‘50s when his family moved to the Aspen area. His father, Courtland Barnes, was the driving force behind the music festival; in fact he saved if from extinction in those early days before all the mega-money came to Aspen.

  At age 14, Medill learned how to drive on our ranch, bashing around in our pick-up truck. He also bought Shorty, my sorrel horse. I’d paid $50 for Shorty, and Medill gave me $75 for him – that was the only time I ever made money on a horse.

  Late one summer, Bill Whatley, a rancher in DeBeque, hired us to help round up his cattle. However, when we got there, he assigned us several huge hayfields to mow. We spent most of a week racing around his fields with those little Ford tractors and got the hay cut, but pretty well demolished the tractors in the process. Bill didn’t invite us back for the next haying season.

  Much later, Medill and I were partners in the Straight Creek Journal. He had a love for politics, but for politics the right way – straight talk, sticking to your principles, and keeping your word. Wally Stealey remembers him as, “The last of the great contrarians,” and remembers Medill in his plane flying Ken Monfort around the state on one of his campaigns. Later, he did the same for Mark Hogan during Mark’s 1970 run for governor. Medill was also the campaign manager for Craig Barnes in his congressional bid.

  He and Susie had frequently come to Santa Fe to check on his mother, who was almost 100 years old when she passed away several months ago.

  Recently he seemed very subdued, even turning down that traditional glass of bourbon. I thought he was in mourning, but in fact, it was physical pain. I wish he had told me that something was wrong, but he had always been a stoic guy who never complained.

  Over the years, he collected a number of my photographs – like Semana Santa in Spain. We talked about all of us making a trip there some day. Perhaps if I had pushed him for an answer, we could have caught this illness earlier and may have been able to make the trip.

  My family misses him – Julie and I, but also my our tiny dogs who loved to jump up in his lap and look him in the eye. Medill always had great big dogs himself, but he loved our little ones as well, and they loved him too.

About the author

  Morgan Smith is a former state representative and past executive director of the Colorado International Trade Office, and is a photojournalist and world traveler. He can be reached at morgan-smith@comcast.net.

  This article was first published in The Colorado Statesman, and was reprinted here with the author’s permission.

A colorful life and burial controversy

  Passing through newly formed Denver, Colorado, in the spring of 1859 as part of the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush, barely a teenager, William Frederick Cody decided to try his luck in the gold fields near Black Hawk. Wise beyond his years, it took only two weeks for him to deduce that the hard toil resulted in little reward. Discouraged and jobless, on his way back home to Kansas, he was recruited in Julesburg, CO, as a rider for the Pony Express for whom he worked for until called home to tend his sick mother. He would take various jobs including hotel manager, wagon master, soldier, and scout, but earned his nickname “Buffalo Bill” while working as a hunter supplying meat to Kansas Pacific Railroad workers. He is said to have killed over 4,200 bison in an 18 month period. While still in his twenties, he realized his true talent as master showman and began staging an act in theaters and opera houses. Loosely based on his experiences named “Scouts of the Prairie,” his Buffalo Bill Combination troupe included gunfighter “Wild Bill” Hickok, and they performed locally in both Georgetown and Central City. Touring for ten years, one of Cody’s parts reenacted a scene where he allegedly scalped aCheyennewarrior at Warbonnet Creek in retaliation for George Armstrong Custer’s demise. In 1883 from his new home in North Platte, Nebraska, Cody launched production of his Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show which became an international success, making him possibly the most famous person in the world at the time. He and stars like sharpshooter Annie Oakley dazzled spectators inColoradothirty five times between 1886 and 1913.

  In 1908 “Buffalo Bill” teamed with “Pawnee Bill” in the “Two Bills” show that eventually went into foreclosure in Denver. The Wild West shows were expensive to produce. Cody’s generosity and bad business decisions forced him to borrow money from businessman and Denver Post editor Harry Tammen just to stay afloat. Behind in his payments, in July of 1913 the Wild West Show, while preparing to perform in Denver, was seized from Bill and sold at auction. “Buffalo Bill” was forced to entertain with the Sells Floto Circus for a while by Tammen to recoup some of his investment. Bill would spend his latter years on his 8,000 acre ranch hosting dignitaries in the western town that he founded – Cody, Wyoming.

  On January 10^th, 1917, at the age of seventy, William Frederick Cody died of kidney failure while visiting his sister in Denver. Twenty thousand grieving, adoring, fans attended his funeral at the Elks Lodge Hall. When his widow Louisa returned by train to Cody, WY, friends and townspeople were shocked and dismayed that “Buffalo Bill’s” body was not with her. In a will written in 1906, Bill stated his desire to be buried on Cedar Mountain overlooking Cody. In a later will penned in 1913, there was no mention of burial wishes. North Platte, NE, felt that they had a legitimate claim to the expired hero as well. Luisa contended that Bill stated he wanted his resting place to be atop Lookout Mountain outside Golden, CO. Rumored to be penniless, although estimates put the estate at $100,000, Luisa was thought to have accepted a $20,000 fee from the City of Denver and the Denver Post for the rights to Bill Cody’s burial site and the expected tourism dollars that would result. “Buffalo Bill’s” corpse stayed in the Denver morgue until the ground thawed and roads were passable. On June 3rd, 1917, friends and family paid their last respects to “Buffalo Bill” Cody on Lookout Mountain towering above the plains that he loved.

  The people of Cody, Wyoming, tell a different story… According to legend, the town undertaker and locals Fred Richard and Ned Frost drove for 2 ½ days to Denver intent on switching Bill’s body for that of a recently deceased and unclaimed ranch hand. Bearing a passable resemblance to “Buffalo Bill” they shaved the unfortunate worker’s beard to resemble that of Bill’s. After getting permission to view Cody and casing the funeral home, they returned that night for the exchange. William Cody was then secretly laid to rest onCedarMountain. Months later with the citizenry of Cody up in arms over their missing beloved founder, 100 cars containing three to four hundred angry men headed forDenverintent on reclaiming “Buffalo Bill.” When officials in Denver caught wind of the plot they hurriedly held a service and Cody was entombed – mistakenly burying the wrong man, according to that version of the events.

  Apparently not everyone in Wyoming bought into that secret exchange story, and in 1948 the Cody Chapter of the American Legion offered a $100,000 reward for the return of the body. Mostly an interstate rivalry between newspaper writers, the American Legion in Denver countered with round-the-clock guards until the controversy settled.

  Louisa joined her husband four years after his passing with her casket stacked on top of his. As if to put doubts to rest, Bill’s grave marker at the bottom of his tombstone reads in bold capital letters “AT REST HERE AT HIS REQUEST.” Twenty tons of concrete and steel rails were added around Bill and Luisa to discourage any grave robbers.

  You can visit the Buffalo Bill Museum and gravesite at 987 ½ Lookout Mountain Road, Golden, CO, 80401. For more information call 303-526-0744 or go to www.buffalobill.org.

  Black Hawk Mayor David Spellman and Aldermen Linda Armbright, Paul Bennett, Diane Cales, Jim Johnson, Tom Kerr, and Greg Moates met for their regularly scheduled City Council meeting on February 22, 2012 with the lightest of agendas they’ve seen in months. With only one, very routine, public hearing to conduct, they spent the remainder of their public session, about eight minutes worth, in discussion with the City Manager.

Signs of Sasquatch

  After conducting a public hearing, in which there was no public comment, the Council adopted Resolution 9-2012, conditionally approving a Certificate of Appropriateness for new signs at the Sasquatch Casino. The casino’s owners, Ed & Shirley Smith, requested the certificate to install two new exterior blade signs. One will be on the front of the building, the Gregory Street side, and the second sign will be on the rear of the building, the Selak Street side. The Smiths must comply with conditions regarding permits, licensing, and the height and illumination of the signs.

  The placement of the signs is designed to stand out and identify the casino to passing pedestrians and motorists on both streets. Ed Smith told the Council that visitors from France, Italy, Canada, and numerous states have expressed difficulty in locating the casino. “They can’t find where the Colorado Sasquatch is,” he explained.  Smith’s new signs will depict the shape and image of the large ape-like creature – a walking Sasquatch. As the Aldermen discussed the distinctive signs, the high winds blowing through Black Hawk (and the entire state), shook the building. Alderman Bennett asked for assurance that the protruding signs wouldn’t blow off the building. “The Flying Sasquatch of Black Hawk,” Mayor Spellman quipped. City staff assured that construction and installation of the signs will meet code requirements to bear the local winds.

Regional Tourism Support

  Black Hawk is sending a letter to the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade in support of the City of Aurora. Aurora has applied for Regional Tourism Act funding to build the Gaylord Hotel & Conference Center, an $824 million project that will employ 1,500 construction workers and 1,164 permanent employees. The letter states Black Hawk’s commitment to regionalism and the opportunity of “attracting tens of thousands of new visitors to not only the metro area, but to the entire state of Colorado.” City Manager Jack Lewis described the action as a way to support regional partnerships.

Video Lottery Terminals

  Black Hawk and local casinos were represented by several people at the legislative hearing in Denver regarding House Bill 12-280. The representatives, fresh from the morning’s hearing held before the House Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources Committee, received kudos and thanks from Mayor Spellman and several Aldermen. HB 12-280 is an attempt, mainly by horse racing interests, to allow three Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) gambling halls in Colorado, each hall with 2,500 VLT machines. They propose one hall on the eastern side of the Continental Divide, one on the Western Slope, and one in Pueblo, with a cut of their revenues going to Colorado community colleges, Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST), and a new legislature-controlled Colorado College Scholarship Fund. Casino owners and gaming areas of the state, including Black Hawk, oppose the bill. They say that bringing thousands of more gaming devices to the state will significantly reduce the revenues their casinos produce at a time when the industry is already battling recession-based woes. (By comparison, Black Hawk’s Ameristar, the state’s largest casino, has approximately 1,500 devices.) Colorado community colleges already receive a cut of casino revenue, as does the state’s historical society, History Colorado. History Colorado also opposes HB 12-280. Following testimony from both sides, the chair of the House committee announced he was pulling the bill from the table and adjourned the meeting. HB 12-280 is just the latest effort in an ongoing battle to bring VLT’s to Colorado.

Black Hawk Tramway

  City Manager Lewis and the Council also offered congratulations and kudos to the City’s Public Works department staff and Director Tom Isbester for successfully obtaining grant funding for a new shuttle bus.

New Weather Station

  To insure accurate reporting of weather conditions in Black Hawk, the City is installing a weather station of its own at the Fire Department. Cost of the weather station is estimated at $3,000. The action is in response to numerous complaints of the Denver metro area newscasts incorrectly depicting weather conditions in the city. The real-time weather reports should be available on the city’s website at www.cityofblackhawk.org.

Lean Checks

  City Manager Lewis warned the Aldermen that their checks for payment of their Council services will be “a little lighter” this time, due to Social Security deductions.

Executive Session

  Following the public session, the Council met with Black Hawk City Attorney Corey Hoffmann to discuss matters related to property, personnel, negotiation, potential legislation and pending litigation. They took no further action.

Heads Up

  Black Hawk City Council meets next on March 14, 2012.

  At the meeting of the Central City Council on February 21, 2012, the council approved liquor license renewals for two casinos, denied a request for a pay increase for the Wash Hall tour guides, approved the purchase three new police vehicles, heard about proposed changes to the grant application process, and approved an agreement for a new engineering consulting firm for the public works department. They also discussed with the city staff the events calendar for 2012, drainage issues on Main Street, and repair priorities regarding the Parkway. A Navy veteran who served aboard the USS Enterprise provided the public comment with a preview of a veteran’s convention in Denver in 2014 commemorating the Enterprise and a request for recognition of the vets with some donated banners.

  Council’s first order of business was to convene as the Liquor License Authority and approve the liquor license renewal for CC Gaming LLC dba Johnny Z’s Casino and Doc Holiday Casino. Police Chief Krelle recommended approval of the license renewals.

  Mayor Engels read aloud a proclamation declaring 2012 as the Year of the Girl and Celebrating 100 years of Girl Scouting. The Girl Scouts were first organized inSavannahGeorgiain 1912 by Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low and have since that time helped develop leadership and life skills in over 50 million girls and women. The proclamation honored the Girl Scouts for their 100 years of leadership and expertise as the voice for and of girls, and proudly proclaimed 2012 as “Year of the Girl in the State ofColorado.”

  In 2011, the city and theGilpin CountyHistorical Society joined together to promote historical activities for city visitors. The Historical Society at their January meeting voted to give the Washington Hall tour guides (docents) a fifty cents an hour pay increase so they were equal to the City’sVisitorsCenteremployees at $10/hour. Council was asked to approve the pay increase and contribute $1,200 for cover the pay increase through the end of the year. Council voted unanimously to deny the request citing frozen salaries for the rest of the city employees and a lack of communication by the Historical Society regarding this action.

  Community Development Director Greg Thompson requested from the council direction on a series of proposed changes to the grant application guide that had been reviewed by the Historical Preservation Commission (HPC). The program budget for 2012 is $100,000 and the grant process has been moved up so that notices will be sent out with the water bills on March 1^st. with the application deadline being March 30^th. Applications will be reviewed by the Historical Preservation Commission and City Council with an anticipated date of April 18^th for sending notification letters. Recommended changes to the grant application included a name change from “Guide to Programs” to “Grant Guide.” A claw-back provision, which places a lien on the property, was discussed for significant grants over ten thousand dollars. Only three significant grants were awarded in 2011 and a lien would require an appraisal of the property. The purpose of the lien is to recover partial costs of the grant if the property is sold with in five years of receiving the grant. City staff members are still studying the lien aspect of the claw-back provision. Grant eligibility has been expanded to include Victorian Landmark restoration projects. Addition criteria for ranking the grants have been proposed to recognize full-time occupancy of a dwelling versus a rental. The grant application also has a section for detailing exceptions that prevent compliance with grant requirements. The application form will be available at City Hall and can be downloaded from the city website (http://www.centralcitycolorado.us/). Council questioned the claw-back provision and how it would work. They also asked questions about how the additional criteria like full-time occupancy would be scored. Grant applicants can contact Director Thompson at City Hall for more details.

  Council reviewed and unanimously approved Resolution 12-03 which retained JVA, Inc. as the engineer to assist in on-call basic and project-specific engineering services. SEH had been the on-call engineering consulting firm for the last three years. JVA, Inc. is located inBoulderand provides professional services for a number of municipalities and has recently completed work for the city.

  Police Chief Krelle submitted a purchase order for the lease purchase of three replacement police vehicles. The new vehicles will be four-wheel-drive Chevy Tahoe Special Service vehicles and will cost $95,499 spread out over three years. The new vehicles will replace the two marked Impalas and one of the Hummers, and will return the department to an all 4WD fleet. Council unanimously approved the purchase order. The new vehicles will be obtained via a lease/ purchase agreement through Ally Financing. It will take approximately sixty days for delivery of the new vehicles.

  Staff updates included progress on the new signs and the hiring and training of a new employee for the Public Works Department.

  Councilwoman Voorhies had several items to discuss during council comments. She received one inquiry regarding the cost to deliver water to residents per thousand gallons. Operations Director Kent Kisselman reported that it was approximately fifteen dollars per thousand gallons. Alderman Voorhies also received inquiries about drainage onMain Streetfollowing a broken waterline. Director Kisselman responded that the drain was blocked by ice and there were parked vehicles which prevented the Public Works Department from getting in and chipping away the ice. Staff is reviewing parking regulations during snow day alerts. The final question to Councilwoman Voorhies was regarding repairs on the Parkway. City Manager Alan Lanning responded that the City had a list of priority repair projects and the City would self-perform the repairs in the foreseeable future.

  Jim Voorhies spoke to the council during public comments. Jim said he was a Navy veteran who had served on the USS Enterprise and wanted to let them know about a veteran’s reunion convention that was coming to Denver in 2014 for those who had served on the Enterprise from the Vietnam War to the Iraq War. He said he was working to promote tours to Central City for the veterans and asked Council to consider recognizing them while they are in town.

  The next Central City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday March 6^th.