City of Montrose, DMEA Close on Riverfront Property Blazing a Road
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PAGE 11 Serving Telluride, Mountain Village, Ridgway, Ouray, the Montrose, Norwood and the Western San Juans VOL. 16, N O. 17 | THURSDAY, APriL 26 - WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012 | WATCHnewsPAPers.Com City of Montrose, DMEA Close on Riverfront Property As Promised, a River Landing shopping center to the north and includes a mile of riv- One-mile Stretch of erfront property. Riverfront Property Is It was collaboration at its best, with a wide variety of community Now Open to the Public partners coming together to move the river project forward, accord- BY KATI O’HaRE ing to the Montrose Community Foundation. MONTROSE – A one-mile The City of Montrose and stretch of property along the Un- DMEA officially own the property, compahgre River officially became but local residents Jim and Sharen public on April 20, when Delta- Branscome donated $100,000 to- Montrose Electric Association and wards its purchase; the Montrose the City of Montrose closed on a Community Foundation is the proj- ON THE RIVERFRONT – Montrose resident Kenny Robinson fishes along a section of the Uncompahgre 35-acre parcel that runs behind the ect’s tax-deductible entity. River that recently became public. The one-acre parcel is part of a 35-acre piece that was acquired by the City of Montrose and Delta Montrose Electric Association on Friday, April 20. (Photo by Joel Blocker) see riverfront on page 20 A Sign of the Times Blazing a Road From Silverton to the South Pole COMING BACK? – Naturita residents are campaigning to restore the historic Uranium Drive-In sign. (Photo by John Keller) Fundraising Campaign Underway to MADE IT! – The South Pole Proof of Concept Traverse returned to McMurdo Station on January 14, 2006 Refurbish Historic Uranium Drive-In Sign after its 2,056-mile round trip. (Photo courtesy John Wright) BY GUS JARVIS Miner John Wright’s Book Tells a in the early-20th century sense. They did it in the course of building, over four Antarctic summers, a NATURITA – It once stood as the gem of the community, a place 21st-Century Adventure Tale haul road, “1,028 miles, no dirt,” Wright said at his where families and friends could gather for an evening of entertainment kitchen table in Silverton. and fun. Now, the Town of Naturita hopes to restore the original Uranium BY PETER SHELton A reproduction of a photograph from the Scott Drive-In sign and mount it at its original location as a monument to the expedition hangs on the wall next to a family photo region’s past boom-days of uranium mining and milling. SILVERTON – The first man to try going over- of Wright and his wife, Samantha Tisdel Wright, and Backed by the Naturita Board of Trustees, a fundraising campaign land from McMurdo Sound to the South Pole was their two children. is underway to raise the $10,000 needed to restore and remount the Englishman Robert Falcon Scott in 1912. He was in The ice and snow road Wright pioneered con- sign. The board’s decision to revive the historic sign is based on its a desperate race with Roald Amundsen to be the first nects the U.S. scientific research center at McMurdo belief that the sign is a large part of Naturita’s history, and would bring to reach the Pole. Not only did Amundsen, who took Station, on the edge of the Ross Ice Shelf, with the back memories of a simpler time – when John Wayne ruled the screen, a different route, beat him to 90 degrees South, but South Pole, which is also occupied exclusively by pre-movie cartoons were always a hit and sneaking into the Drive-In Scott and his companions famously froze to death in the United States Antarctic Program. in the trunk of a car wasn’t uncommon. their tents on the way back. Now Wright has written a book about the experi- “I think it brings back the days of our mining and milling boom,” In 2006, Silverton mining consultant John ence, Blazing Ice: Pioneering the Twenty-first Cen- Naturita Mayor Tami Lowrance says. “We have been in a long 40- Wright led a crew of eight Americans to complete tury’s Road to the South Pole. It will be published year bust, and it has been something of a dream to bring the sign the first successful out-and-back traverse between this September by Potomac Books. back. Back in the 50s it was a great place to go and get in touch with McMurdo and the Pole. They weren’t explorers The purpose of the road, Wright said, was to “re- see SIGN on page 24 see ICE on page 20 WATCH index...3 | Sports & Entertainment...11 | Sports Watch...12 | Calendar...16 | The Marketplace...21 | Sudoku...26 | Horoscope...26 | Real Estate Directory...23 | NY Times Crossword...24 2 | THURSDAY, APRIL 26 - WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012 THE WATCH COMMUNITY Get Down and Dirty at the Ouray County Mud Festival 4x4 Obstacle Courses, a.m. to 5 p.m. Mud Fest offers the horse races, a tug of war, mud vol- opportunity for participants and leyball and an inflatable bounce Motocross Expo, Mud spectators, young and old, to play house for little ones. Meet the rac- Ball and More in the mud all day long. ers from Thunder Mountain Race- Like to drive in the mud? way and check out their cool cars. BY WATCH STAFF Bring your 4x4 stock or modi- Vendors will be on hand fied 4x4 vehicle to compete in a throughout the day offering food, OURAY COUNTY – Sticky, timed obstacle course featuring hot and cold beverages, souvenirs, gooey, squishy mud. It’s synony- mud pits, sand hills and tire, log and more. Raffle tickets will be mous with spring in the San Juans. and rock challenges. Or drive the available for the 48th Annual Ouray The Ouray Chamber Resort Associ- mud run, a 130-foot trench just Jeep Raffle and the Ouray County ation and the Ridgway Area Cham- deep enough to require a little 4-H Truck Raffle fundraisers. ber of Commerce have teamed up horsepower, skill and daredevil Saturday evening, mudders to celebrate mud season, with the attitude. can head to Ouray for the Mud first annual Ouray County Mud Go blade to blade with south- Ball hosted by the Ouray Volun- Festival on Saturday, April 28, at western Colorado’s fastest John teer Fire Department. Bring the the Ouray County Fairgrounds, 9 Deere’s and Toro’s in lawnmow- whole family and enjoy lively er races sponsored by Thunder music, games and kids activities. Mountain Raceway from 10 a.m. The Mud Ball is held at the Ouray DINE OUT FOR KIDS APRIL 26– Chef Donn Wagner, at Simmer Food and Wine, one of tonight’s par- to noon. If you have a riding Community Center, 320 Sixth Av- ticipating restaurants in the First Annual Dine Out for Kids event, a prelude to the May 9-12 Montrose mower and want to test its mettle, enue, from 7 to 10 p.m. Wine and Food Festival. A percentage of tonight’s sales proceeds will go to local child-oriented non- bring it and a helmet along the day Register early for the best profits. Other supporting restaurants include Amelia’s, ASII, Remington’s at the Bridges, Backstreet Bagel, Blue Table, Chili’s of the Black Canyon, Coffee Trader, Cowboy Ciao, Domino’s Pizza, Guru’s, of the event and sign up at 9 a.m. line-up placement or sign up the Harvest Bread, Horsefly Brewery, McDonald’s (both loca tions), Pahgre’s, Rib City Grill, RNR Sports- Mobile FMX riders take the day of the event. Visit ouraycolo- bar, Sushitini, Little Ceasar’s and Pancake House, Fiesta Guadalajara, El Jimador and Ted Nelson’s stage twice throughout the day in rado.com for full details. Steak House. Beneficiaries include Black Canyon Boys and Girls Club, Voices for Children (CASA), a high-flying freestyle motocross Get a head start on Mud Fest Kids’ Aid and Shoes for Kids. The Wine Festival kicks off Wednesday, May 9, with a Wine Dinner at exhibition. Freestyle Motocross Friday evening in Ouray with a the Stone House; Thursday, May 10 brings a Private Reserve Sponsor Dinner featuring Dueling Master leaves spectators gasping in awe Mud Pub Crawl from 4 p.m. to 1 Sommeliers Jay Fletcher and Sean Razee at The Bridges; Friday, May 11 is Night on the Town; Sat- as riders and machines perform a.m. The Pub Crawl kicks off at the urday, May 12 brings Tasting on the Lawn at the Montrose Pavilion, in partnership with the Montrose jumps and gravity defying tricks. Ourayle House Brewery from 4 to Botanical Gardens. The festival occurs in conjunction with the Black Canyon Ascent/Mission to Ride Family-friendly events in the (Montrose Medical Mission). For more information, visit montrosewineandfood.com. (File photo) fairgrounds arena include stick see MUD on page 14 VISIT US DAILY AT WATCHNEWSPAPERS.COM SM Sally Puff Courtney WASATCH II, UNIT L, TELLURIDE RICO RIVER RANCH Outstanding 3 bdrm, 2.5 bath condo in the heart of downtown Telluride. Spectacular 27 acre parcel with over half mile of prime river frontage. Paved One of the best decks in Telluride with private hot tub and views in all year round access and only 25 miles to the Telluride Ski Resort. Numerous sunny Corie Susan directions. Beautiful wood floors, custom kitchen, and gas fireplaces in building envelopes on both sides of the river offering outstanding development Chandler Griffin living room and master bedroom. opportunities with no deed restrictions.