LISTENING IN – U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton listened to Ridgway resident  Rein Vanwest express frustration at the congressman’s lack of support for the San Juan Mountains Wilderness Bill, at a town hall meeting in Ouray on Tuesday night. A portrait of town father Frank Massard, hanging on the wall behind Tipton, seemed to be patiently listening in, as well. (Photo by Samantha Wright)

IT’S THE LAW – Nucla Town Boardmember Richard Craig cleaned a shotgun in the living room of his home in Nucla last week, not long after the Town Board’s May 8 passage of a municipal ordinance requiring heads of households to have guns and ammunition “in order to provide for and protect the safety, security and general welfare of the town and its inhabitants.” (Photo by William Woody; Special to The Denver Post for Watchnewspapers.com)

REMEMBERING PAUL HAINING – Governor John Hickenlooper and Leonard Haining at the May 23 dedication ceremonies for the Paul Haining Memorial Bridge, in Placerville. The dedication comes after a passionate effort led by a group of San Miguel County veterans to honor and remember Army Private First Class Haining, believed to be San Miguel County’s one fatality in the Vietnam War. A member of the Telluride High School graduating class of 1967, Paul Haining was killed in Vietnam on July 23, 1970, at the age of 20. He received two Bronze Star Medals and an Air Medal for his service, and is buried in the Placerville Cemetery. Hickenlooper presented flags flown over the Pentagon to Haining’s three surviving brothers, who attended the dedication ceremonies, along with members of the extended family. A group of veterans, including San Miguel County Sheriff Bill Masters, Ron Kanter and Richard Arnold, created a brass portrait of Haining, and arranged for the new Leopard Creek bridge in Placerville to be named in his honor. (Photo by Brett Schreckengost)