Serving Telluride, Mountain Village, Ridgway, Ouray, the Montrose, Norwood and the Western San Juans PAGE 15 VOL. 15, N O. 43 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27 - WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2011 | WATCHNEwsPAPErs.COM Judge’s Ruling to Have Little Effect On Piñon Ridge Uranium Mill Energy Fuels Continues to Expand Its Uranium Resources Across U.S. BY GUS JARVIS SOUTHWESTERN COLORADO – Following a federal judge’s decision last week to halt the Department of Energy’s Ura- nium Leasing Program on 31 existing leases in the Uravan Mineral Belt in San Miguel, Montrose and Mesa counties, an Energy Fuels Inc. official said this week that the ruling will have little effect on the Piñon Ridge Uranium Mill, as the company works to expand into be- coming perhaps the largest holder of uranium resources in the U.S. In what was hailed as a victory for environmentalists, U.S. Dis- trict Court Judge William Martinez halted the DOE’s 42-square- mile Uranium Leasing Program on Oct. 18, for declining to con- PUNKIN’ PICKIN’ – William Berrier (2) spent some time selecting the perfect Halloween Jack-o-lantern at duct a full Environmental Impact Statement analysis in 2008. The DeVries Pumpkin Patch north of Montrose Saturday. The pumpkin patch plans to remain open daily from 9 53-page ruling suspends each of the program’s 31 existing leases, a.m. to 7 p.m. until Thanksgiving, weather permitting. For special Halloween events at Devries and through- out the region, turn to page 15. (Photo by Anne Reeser) see URANIUM on page 22 ‘Population’ Is Mountainfilm Symposium Theme for 2012 School TELLURIDE – The total num- in 2012. staggering – especially when you real- Consolidation: ber of people on the planet is ex- “We think this is the right theme ize we were at 4 billion in 1974, and pected to cross the 7 billion mark for our next symposium, because it the U.N. believes that by 2050, the A New Group on Monday, October 31 according synthesizes so much of what the fes- population will most likely double to to the United Nations, and with that tival has covered the last several years 9 billion with some estimates as high Wants to Restart milestone, Telluride Mountainfilm’s with energy, water, food and extinc- as 11 billion. That’s a huge jump in 75 Moving Mountains Symposium will tion,” said Festival Director David The Conversation focus on the key issue of population Holbrooke. “The simple numbers are see MOUNTAINFILM on page 10 Ridgway and Ouray Square Off Man Arrested for Smuggling Humans BY PETER SHELTON SAN MIGUEL COUNTY – Af- Office press release. Grand Junction resident Sineade Pa- RIDGWAY – Some observers had predicted ter fleeing on foot from a rollover ac- Juan Denys Hernandez Varenez, tricia Rodriguez, 20, was also arrested fireworks at a meeting to discuss consolidation of the cident in western San Miguel County 31, of Cuba, is charged with four on several outstanding warrants in Ridgway and Ouray school districts Monday night at on Monday, six people were appre- counts of smuggling humans, which Mesa County. the Ridgway Secondary School music room. It’s a hended by police some 24 hours later, is a Class 3 felony. The four men be- San Miguel County Sheriff’s subject with a long, contentious history, and much after a lengthy search. Four suspected lieved to be illegal aliens are identified deputies responded to the report of a community strong feeling. But this most recent at- illegal aliens were taken into custody as Eric Fernando Cruz Barahona and rollover accident at milepost 33 along tempt to broach the topic, by a self-styled “Con- and one man was arrested on suspect- Gavelo Francisco Miralda Hernandez Hwy. 141 on Monday at 10:20 a.m. solidation Research Group,” remained civil and true ed human smuggling charges, accord- of Honduras, and Juan Lopez Delgato ing to a San Miguel County Sheriff’s and Fernando V. Torres of Mexico. see SMUGGLING on page 7 see CONSOLIDATION on page 27 WATCH index...3 | Sports & Entertainment...15 | Sports Watch...16one | Calendar...20 region | The Marketplace...29 | Real Estate Directory...31 | Pro Directory...33 | NY Times Crossword...32 | Horoscope/Sudoku...34 one region 166 Acres Last Dollar Road This outstanding ranch property is located on the western side of the Dallas Divide, situated between the Last Dollar Ranch and the Double RL Ranch, Ranch Property just northwest of the 14,150’ Mount Sneffles Peak. one region one paper Real Estate . Done Right TM Karen Broo� 970 729 3200 www.SanJuanRealtyInc.com one paper Acreage - Ranches - Golf Properties - Condominiums - Rentals one paper 2 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27 - WEDNEsday, NOVEMBER 2, 2011 thE WatCH COMMUNIty Source Gas Files Annual Gas Cost Adjustment LAKEWOOD – SourceGas average of about $103.73 per but could not revive him. Distribution has filed its annual month, instead of about $92.35 Patterson, from Orma, W.V., Gas Cost Adjustment with the per month for their natural gas is survived by his mother, his Colorado Public Utilities Com- service. wife, Sherry, and his son Mitch- For information, rebate ell and daughter Miranda. guidelines and details on pro- COMMUNITY BRIEFS By Watch Staff grams, visit www.excessisout. com or call 877/974-7688. WILLIAM HadLEY Eligible SourceGas custom- THOMPSON, mission for the Western Slope, ers may apply for assistance JUNE 12, 1925- for an increase of approxi- through various state and fed- OCT. 15, 2011 mately $11.38 per month, or erally funded initiatives like 12.32 percent, on a residential the Low-Income Energy As- TELLURIDE – Tellu- customer’s total annual bill, for sistance Program, administered ride resident William Hadley Nov. 1, 2011-Oct. 31, 2012. by the Colorado Department of Thompson, 86, died on Satur- “Despite the increase, resi- Human Services. day, Oct. 15 after a brief ill- dential customers will see av- ness. Born in McCrory, AR, erage annual bills that are 8 Thompson owned and operated percent lower than in 2008,” HUNTER DIES FROM antique stores in Little Rock, said Bill Cantrell, president HEart AttaCK IN AR, and in Telluride. and CEO of SourceGas. “We SAN MIGUEL COUNTY “Uncle Hadley,” as he was strongly believe that natural known, first came to the Tellu- gas is the fuel of choice for our SAN MIGUEL COUNTY – ride Jazz Festival in 1977; he Colorado customers. It is clean, Derald Glen Patterson, 42, died soon made Telluride his per- abundant, domestically pro- Saturday, Oct. 22 at approxi- manent home. He was active in duced and it offers good value mately 9:30 a.m. while hunting community affairs, serving on to our customers.” near Lone Cone Mountain, of the Historic and Architectural For customers in the West- an apparent Acute Myocardial Review Commission, and was ern Slope service area, the to- Infarction. He had shot an elk, an avid skier, gardener and col- WILLIAM HADLEY THOMPSON (CIRCA 1985) – ‘Uncle tal of the new volumetric rates and began having chest pains, lector of mineral specimens. Hadley’ was an avid skier, gardener and collector of mineral will be $0.9415 per therm. and collapsed, while talking on In lieu of flowers, the fam- Based on an average monthly the phone to his wife. A life- ily requests donations be sent specimens, as well as an active community citizen. (Photo by usage of 97 therms, the typi- long friend and hunting partner to justforkidsfoundation.org, or Ingrid Lundahl) cal household will now pay an attempted to administer CPR, to [email protected]. VISIT US DAILY AT WWW.WATCHNEWSPAPERS.COM SM Sally Puff Courtney 129 VICTORIA DR, MOUNTAIN VILLAGE 210 BASQUE BLVD, ALDASORO RANCH Located on over two acres, this fabulous home is bordered on three sides This beautifully designed 6 bdrm, 4.5 bath home sits on a 3.11 acre lot with by open space, overlooks the Telluride golf course, and offers more than an adjacent 13 acres of open space just below, ensuring that the home’s Corie Susan 400 ft of ski trail frontage. Designed for entertaining or an active family, 360-degree views and all-day sun will remain unspoiled forever. Two-story Chandler Griffin the 4 bdrm, 4.5 bath home also offers a library, four fireplaces, and views vaulted windows line the entire southern edge capturing the breathtaking of the San Sophia ridge. Offered at $3,995,000 mountain views and visiting wildlife. Offered at $2,495,000 35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TELLURIDE REGION Text SIR to 87778 for a FREE mobile app to view all Telluride MLS properties! 970.728.3086 211 BENCHMARK, MOUNTAIN VILLAGE WHISKEY CHARLIE RANCH, BROWN RANCH Just a short walk to the Bridges ski run, this 4 bdrm, 4.5 bath home has Amazing ranch offering on Iron Springs/Horsefly Mesa. Offering 151.28 expan- WWW.TELLURIDEBROKER.COM enormous potential. A basic interior facelift could transform this residence sive acres with panoramic views of the Sneffels range and tremendous privacy. into the perfect Telluride ski retreat. Spacious and open floor plan, well May be subdivided into two home sites. Very motivated seller. [email protected] appointed kitchen and expansive decks and patios. Offered at $1,895,000 Offered at $1,550,000 225 SOUTH OAK STREET © MMVI Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Les Bords de l’Epte a Giverny, used with permission. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a licensed trademark to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc. An Equal Opportunity Company . Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated, Except Offices Owned And Operated By NRT Incorporated. THE WATCH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27 - WEDNEsdAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2011 | 3 WATCH index MONTROSE Sunday at the Palm COUNTY Presents Right to Play Producer/Director Frank Marshall comes to Telluride’s Palm Theater Sunday, Oct.