February 2017

Wilderness Workshop, the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies and Roaring Fork Audubon are about halfway through their Naturalist Nights winter speaker series. With topics ranging from wildlife biology to geology, and climate science to environmental policy, they run Wednesdays at the Third Street Center (520 S. 3rd St., Carbondale) and Thursdays at ACES (100 Puppy Smith Street, Aspen). Early bird Sopris Sun readers still have a chance to catch Sarah Reed’s presentation on Feb. 9, “Energy Development Impacts on Wildlife: Lessons Learned for the Next Energy Boom” with George Wittemyer is the next event to come downvalley.

Feb. 10, 1977
State officials revoked certification for a former Mid-Continent mine foreman after he reportedly neglected to file a form indicating his intent to become a citizen. Tom Johansen, whose nationality was not specified, had been working as an engineer for several months after an accident that left one miner hospitalized and was also the subject of several complaints regarding worker safety.

The best kept secret label is not so widespread anymore, but one local nonprofit certainly qualifies – the Mt. Sopris Rec. Riders snowmobile club. Consider, for just a moment, what this club of 40-100 members takes on each year. • Grooming and maintaining (with the Snow Skippers and Delta SnoKrusers) the 100-mile Sunlight-Powderhorn trail;

Waldorf School 8th graders are preparing to present the results of year-long projects on topics of their choice, ranging from glassblowing to sportscasting. Each has been working with a mentor, including The Sopris Sun’s John Colson, who coached the author of the story below. Folks are also invited to hear the students share their experiences at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 10, 13 and 14 at the school.

A mixture of sorrow, confusion and commitment to further resistance were expressed by activists, in reaction to news that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had gone back on a pledge made last December to conduct further environmental reviews of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. On Feb. 7, the Corp announced it would comply with directives from President Donald Trump, canceling any further review and issuing the final permit needed to get the pipeline underway.

The controversial land-swap deal known as Sutey-Two Shoes is to be completed on Thursday, Feb. 9, with the signing of final documents by the Wexner family, owners of the Two Shoes Ranch at the base of Mount Sopris, and officials with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
The swap, which has been a source of debates and disputes among local governments and land-conservation advocates since it was first proposed in 2009 by Leslie and Abigail Wexner. Leslie Wexner is an Ohio billionaire, chairman and CEO of the Limited Brands apparel company.

Davis Farrar knows more about local history, and government history, than just about anyone around. That knowledge could come in handy, after Farrar accepted the job of interim Basalt town manager on Tuesday. Basalt’s town manager shuffle started last year when Mike Scanlon left his post.
Farrar told the Basalt trustees he has lived in the Roaring Fork Valley since 1979 and served as Carbondale’s town manager for 13 years.

Carbondale folks learned something important during the first Fat Friday Mardi Gras parade in 2013. The late afternoon sun in early February funnels itself right down Main Street, shining a spotlight on everything it illuminates and casting long shadows in an almost magical way.

Feb. 3, 1977
Old Joe, who apparently amused more folks with his antics than he offended, died of pneumonia the previous Friday at an undetermined age. “He’d been sick for a several days and people urged him to go to the doctor,” but he wouldn’t go,” said the lead story in that week’s newspaper. “He confided to one friend that he was afraid they’d put him away and wouldn’t let him come back to Carbondale.”

Dust off your historically inaccurate horned helmets and grab your cross-country skis; “Ski for Sisu” returns to Spring Gulch on Feb. 5.
The 25th annual noncompetitive family event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. with refreshments, Norse costumes, a silent auction and short course for youngsters.