news
Dec 30, 2012 | 0 
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Formal protests poured in to the BLM over oil and gas leases slated for the auction block in February.
Dec 29, 2012 | 0 | 2 |
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Mayors Against Illegal Guns will provide written support to Senator Dianne Feinstein’s efforts to renew an expired ban on assault weapons. Telluride Mayor Stu Fraser is one of them.
RETIRED GENERAL H. NORMAN SCHWARZKOPF at Telluride's Fourth of July Parade in 2005. (File photo by Brett Schreckengost)
Dec 28, 2012 | 0 | 5 |
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Retired Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, who died on Dec. 27, is remembered in Telluride as an activist/philanthropist.
VENTURE ACCELERATORS - Jesse Johnson, right, and Paul Major, in front of the offices of the Telluride Foundation, where they're embarking on a new form of entrepreneurial philanthropy with the Telluride Venture Accelerator. (Photo by Brett Schreckengost)
Dec 28, 2012 | 0 | 6 |
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Many Telluride residents have long dreamed of a more diverse economy, one not entirely dependent on tourism and construction, so that families might live here more comfortably and sustainably.
DR. TED DICKENSON died at his home, in Montrose, on Jan. 20. (Courtesy photo)
Dec 28, 2012 | 0 | 4 |
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From San Miguel County Judge Sharon Shuteran to Montrose’s Dr. Ted Dickinson to Montrose and Ouray County stalwart Dave Wood, the tri-county region lost some of its most beloved citizens this year.
CLOSING TIME - After 40 years, Montrose institution Jeans Westerner closed its doors. Here, employee Amanda Thurston readied inventory in preparation for the store's liquidation. (File photo)
Dec 28, 2012 | 0 | 2 |
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Last year was another round of musical chairs for more than a few local businesses.
Dec 28, 2012 | 0 | 1 |
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Here's a look back at some of the most memorable quotes found in The Watch Newspaper in 2012.
NOW ARRIVING - Along with completing a merger with the Telluride Tourism Board, the Telluride Montrose Regional Air Organization was able to secure new flights in and out of Montrose Regional Airport including flights from Oakland, Calif. and Phoenix, Ariz. serviced by low-cost carrier Allegiant Air. Local government representatives from around the region attended a ceremony when it was announced that Allegiant Air would be coming to MJT. (File photo)
Dec 27, 2012 | 0 | 1 |
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The region’s air program secured new service in summer and winter, including a new low-cost carrier, as it underwent organizational changes.
Dec 27, 2012 | 0 | 1 |
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A settlement with objectors drastically reduced the scale of a proposed water storage system in the West End.
HISTORIC RENOVATION – Kunz Construction of Ouray has been hired to renovate the elegant and picturesque historic buildings at the 14 level of the Camp Bird Mine. A deal finalized in September, the newly formed Caldera Mineral Resources LLC, announced that it is poised to acquire Ouray’s most famous historic mine, and will attempt to bring it back into operation. (File photo)
Dec 27, 2012 | 0 | 1 |
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The historic Revenue-Virginius and Camp Bird mines are on their way to becoming active again in Ouray County.
AMENDMENT 64 - Colorado is now one of only two states to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. The State Legislature, along with local governments, is working to implement the new amendment in regards to retail sales. (File photo)
Dec 27, 2012 | 0 | 1 |
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Local governments reacted differently to the passage of the controversial amendment to the Colorado Constitution.
Dec 27, 2012 | 0 | 1 |
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The sexual assault on a 13-year-old Norwood boy by three other Norwood boys at the State Wrestling Tournament last February and the divide it created in the local community is The Watch’s No. 10 st...
POST ELECTION PAY-UP - Days before the Nov. 6 presidential election, Montrose County Republican Vice-Chairman Bob Brown (right) shook hands with Montrose County Democratic Chairwoman Jayne Bilberry (left) betting who would win the election. Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney lost to President Obama and, as a result, Brown had to don a pro-Obama, pro-Democratic display at the corner of Main Street and Townsend Avenue on Nov. 9. (File photo)
Dec 27, 2012 | 0 | 1 |
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From the Presidential race to Senate and House races to local county commissioner races, the 2012 election brought little change.
RESURRECTED - Despite a Denver District Judge's ruling that a new public hearing must be held in order for Energy Fuels Inc. to acquire a radioactive materials license for a new uranium mill in the Paradox Valley, proponents of the mill still hold hope a new uranium industry will be resurrected in the West End of Montrose County. Undergoing a resurrection of its own, the historic Uranium Drive-In sign in Naturita was fully restored last year. (File photo)
Dec 27, 2012 | 0 | 2 |
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If the issuance of a radioactive materials license for the proposed Piñon Ridge Uranium Mill seemed to signal the end of its approval process, 2012 signaled it’s restart.
WATER WORRIES - Rich Weber, under the watchful eye of his dog, Ace, working on his irrigation ditch in May. After a dry and warm spring, the Uncompahgre River Valley Water Users Assn. requested a call on its water rights. (File photo)
Dec 27, 2012 | 0 | 2 |
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From fickle weather patterns in the winter to extremely hot and dry weather conditions in the summer, 2012 was a year of weather extremes that left their mark.
END OF THE BUILD-UP - Tyler Farrar of Team Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda crossed through the Stage 1 finish on main street in Telluride last August. Both Telluride and Montrose were host cities to the 2012 Pro Cycle Challenge after more than a year of preparations and build-up. (File photo)
Dec 27, 2012 | 0 | 2 |
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First there was great anticipation in Telluride and Montrose. Then there was a debate over whether the Pro Cycle Tour was worth the effort.
SECURED WATER - A comprehensive agreement signed by the Town of Telluride and the Idarado Mining Co. in December shores up Telluride's ability to develop a new municipal water supply high above the Bridal Veil Falls power station, and streamlines its path toward constructing the new Pandora Water Treatment Plant at the foot of Black Bear Pass. (File photo)
Dec 27, 2012 | 0 | 1 |
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Telluride finally secures its right to develop a new municipal water supply in Bridal Veil Basin, complete with a water treatment plant at the foot of Black Bear Pass.
Dec 24, 2012 | 0 | 1 |
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Next month, Mountain Village Mayor Bob Delves will step down from as mayor; he will stay on as a councilor until his four-year term wraps up in June.
MADE THE GRADE – Ouray School Superintendent/Principal Scott Pankow and Athletic Director Bernie Pearce, along with Ouray School Board members seated in the background, proudly displayed a banner the school district received this week from ColoradoSchoolGrades.com, a coalition of community organizations that has launched an Internet-based project that translates state rankings of public schools into simple letter grades. (Photo by Samantha Wright)
Dec 24, 2012 | 0 | 1 |
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The Ouray School Board stalled on talks this week regarding the terms of a pending new contract for Superintendent/Principal Scott Pankow, and agreed to hold a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thurs...
Dec 23, 2012 | 0 | 1 |
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2013 Budget approved…Wright out as Veterans Services Officer.
photos
DISCUS THROWER Lance Brooks competed in the 2012 London Olympics. (Photo by Steve DeAutremont)
RESEARCH ASSISTANTS – Ridgway High School students (left to right) Jack Middleton, Abel Lannan and Tashi Hackett presented the results of their research on possible sister cities to Ridgway Town Council last week. Mountain towns in Costa Rica, El Salvador and Dominican Republic made the cut. Next step: contact. (Photo by Peter Shelton)
MAIN STREET GELATO – A+Y Design Gallery owners Adam and Yesenia Duncan offered up gelato samples from behind their Italian-imported gelato case Monday morning. Along with unique furniture and fine art, the two offer 22 flavors of locally-made gelato. (Photo by Gus Jarvis)
BUILDING OPTIMISM – Tom How (left) and Daniel Key of Sjoden Wood Designs worked on a new home in the Cobble Creek Golf Community Tuesday morning. The spec home is being built under the direction of contractor Bert Welz, who said he’s optimistic for the region’s construction trade. (Photo by William Woody)
GROWTH INVESTMENT – Students took advantage of a "living classroom" at the Telluride School's new Grow Dome this spring. The Dome, which will be open to the public for tours Wednesday, May 22, was funded in part by a Telluride Medical Center's Physical Education Program (PEP) grant. (Courtesy photos)
HEADED TO PLAYOFFS - Montrose High Shoo0l's Jake Kastendieck fielded a ground ball last Saturday during the team’s 10-0 victory over Woodland Park. The Indians advance to the state 4A quarterfinals this Friday at Cherokee Trail High School against Valor Christian. (Photo by William Woody)
PINHEADS, PIXELLATED – The Pinhead Institute holds its annual fundraiser, entitled Minecraft Mania,at the Sheridan Opera House this Sunday, May 19. (Courtesy photo)
TELLURIDE IN 1910 – A hypothetical model of the main street facades, made up of buildings throughout the region, the television producers are proposing to build for the production of "When Calls the Heart." (Courtesy image)