Pages of the Past: ‘I’m not interested in little potatoes’

July 14, 1977

It took three hours for rescuers to reach a fatally injured climber near Bulldog Creek after dispatchers failed to agree on which of three emergency groups could get there the fastest. Aspen Search and Rescue, Carbondale Volunteer Fire and Garfield Search and Rescue were all called in and called off in turn before the Aspen crew finally set off. The climber, meanwhile, succumbed to her injuries.

In other news… The Carbondalian habit of leaving the keys in unlocked cars lead to a rash of short distance joy rides, according to Police Chief Verne Soucie.

July 16, 1987

Basalt Police seized a pair of marijuana plants they reportedly noticed in plain sight while they were attempting to execute an arrest warrant. They opted not to charge the owner of the property.  “I’m not interested in little potatoes,” Basalt Police Chief Larry Johnson said. “I’m interested in the farmer who plants the potatoes.”

In other news… Following numerous ribbons and local and state contests, 11-year-old Casey Dallman placed fifth at the National Appaloosa Youth Horse Show in Albuquerque.

July 17, 1997

Locals were contemplating a boycott of the Rebekah Lodge’s Near New Store after Mary Ferguson was relieved of her Saturday duties. Ferguson, 91, claimed she was let go due to age, while manager Sandy Allmon asserted that she had quit after being asked to work Fridays, instead. Some volunteers expressed fears that the Near New might be losing its heart and becoming commercial (which, in The Sun’s estimation, did not turn out to be the case).

In other news… A surprise sting by U.S. immigration officials resulted in the apprehension of 49 suspected undocumented workers in Carbondale.

July 19, 2007

With a tax increase allowing improvements through Garfield County Libraries, about 30 people showed up at Town Hall to talk about the possibilities for Carbondale. (At the time, the branch was still named after astronaut Gordon Cooper, whose mother lived in Redstone, and was located in what is now the Launchpad. It was just the first planning stage in a long process toward a new building, however.)

In other news… The Carbondale Community Food Co-Op hoped to have a storefront by December (though it was expected to be at the Third Street Center rather than the location they just vacated).