Lindsey Ann Duncan, “Scooter”, passed on to her eternal reward on 29 July 2023 at age 38 from complications due to Covid. She was a resident of rural Custer County, Colorado south of Westcliffe. Continue reading Lindsey Duncan Passes
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Recall Election Close
The People Have Spoken
Flower Be Gone, Epp Be In
Close, But a Win Is a Win
by George Gramlich,
News and Commentary
August 8, 2023 Election
Twenty votes. Out of around 2,300 votes cast. Wow! Those twenty votes were the margin that booted sitting Custer County Commissioner Tom Flower from his job and replaced him with a local businessman, Lucas Epp. 1,181 votes to recall Flower with 1,161 votes to not recall him. Power to the people.
Real close, but a win. Apparently there are a handful of ballots with signature issues that must be “cured” by August 17th. But as the vote was basically 50/50 these ballots should follow that split. Then an audit must be performed by August 21st and the election certified by August 22nd. Thus, the election results should be good to go. Continue reading Recall Election Close
Town of Westcliffe Mtg – July
by Becky Olson
The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees for the Town of Westcliffe was held on July 18th, 2023 and convened as scheduled at 5:30 p.m. in Patterson Hall. All Trustees were present and proceedings commenced after recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and unanimous adoption of the consent agenda. Continue reading Town of Westcliffe Mtg – July
Gaithers- 17 years of Service
Seventeen years ago, John and Mary Gaither began their ministry at Eagles Summit Ranch as volunteers. They came, intending to stay for only three months but God had other plans for them!
They were an integral part of the building of the ranch here in Westcliffe on County Road 271. John spent days helping to dig footers, while Mary helped with notching the logs that would become Eagles Summit Ranch. After many months, the Colorado Ranch was complete, and they moved again, “temporarily” to Texas to help with construction of that ranch as well.
With the completion of both ranches, in-depth ministry to veterans, active military, first responders and spouses was ready to begin. Thank you to John and Mary and the many volunteers who have made this amazing ministry possible.
Now, after the death of their son-in-law, John and Mary have decided to retire and return to Alabama to help their daughter and grandson during their transition. Mary will continue to work for Roever Evangelistic Association as a Program Coordinator out of her home in Alabama; and John will be able to spend time in his workshop, working with his hands, as he loves to do.
Roever Evangelistic Association and Eagles Summit Ranch would like to extend a huge “THANK YOU” to John and Mary for 17 years of hard work and commitment to the ministry of Eagles Summit Ranch and to our heroes. Best wishes, John and Mary! Thank you for your service!
BOCC: Day and Flower Continue to Rush Through the County Manager Job Details
by George Gramlich,
News and Commentary
The Custer County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) had two meetings on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. A workshop in the morning on reviewing the proposed Custer County Board of County Commissioners and County Manager Policy Manual and a second one at 2:39 p.m. to approve it. All three commissioners were at each meeting: Chair Kevin Day, and members Bill Canda and “Traitor” Tom Flower. Continue reading BOCC: Day and Flower Continue to Rush Through the County Manager Job Details
Services Planned for Andrea (Andy) Nichols
,Andrea (Andy) Theresa (Anderson) Nichols was born on February 21, 1958, on a ranch near Gregory, South Dakota, to John Cato Anderson and Alice Lucille (Bailey) Anderson. She was the sixth of seven children. Her parents raised Hereford cattle on a
dry-land cow-calf operation. She was one of the last of her generation to attend a one room schoolhouse through the
eighth grade.
In 1970, her parents sold the ranch and purchased an irrigated farm near Merino, CO, raising corn and hay, continuing the cow-calf operation. She attended the Merino school system, graduating a year early in 1975. She went on to the University of Northern Colorado-Greeley, graduating in 1979.
She worked at various occupations to include a sugar beet factory, building a power plant, and cooking for a hundred-man labor gang on the railroad. While working on the railroad she married and was blessed with a daughter, Charmayne. She divorced soon after and raised her daughter as a single parent.
Andy went on to continue her education, obtaining paralegal credentials, and was employed by the Colorado Department of Corrections. While there she met Gary Nichols. They married in 2006. She worked as a Law Librarian and retired after twenty-five years in 2017. In retirement the couple traveled the U.S. in an RV seeing 27 States in four years.
She enjoyed gardening, cooking, canning, sewing, painting, crafting, hunting, fishing, watching birds, and especially walking her little dog, Jack. She was good at all of these things and enjoyed the company of everyone. Someone once said, “She never knew a stranger”.
She loved her family, and they loved her. She was a wonderful grandma and will be sorely missed.
She is survived by her husband, Gary Nichols of Wetmore, CO;
one daughter, Charmayne(Bryan) Sandoval of Cañon City, CO; one son, Jack(Susan) Nichols of Charleston, SC; two grandsons, Cole and Bryce Sandoval of Cañon City, CO; one sister, Gwyn Laproth of Sioux City, IA; three brothers, John Anderson of Brush, CO; Daniel(Cheryl) Anderson of Fort Collins, CO; Ike Anderson of Thornton, CO, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by both parents and two siblings.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., at the Cañon City Church of Christ, 1718 Franklin Avenue, Cañon City, CO.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to any organization of your choice that fights breast cancer in the name of Andrea Nichols.
77th Westcliffe Stampede Rodeo and Parade
Photo by Mary Mowery
77th Westcliffe Stampede is here! WMV Saddle Club has added 1,200 seats for this year’s events, and new lighting. That’s seating for 5,000! It’s still first come, first serve on seating so you’ll want to get there early. The gates open at 4 p.m. The PRCA/WPRA Rodeo begins at 6 p.m. both Friday and Saturday nights, July 14 & 15. Friday’s concert band is “Two Tons of Steel” and Saturday’s concert band is “John King”.
Tickets can be purchased on line at WMVSC.com and at the following local businesses; Antlers Liquor. Candy’s Coffee.
Liquor Cabinet, The Country Store and Willie’s (Silver Cliff Mountain Inn & Restaurant.) Tickets are $35 per day and include the Concert. W/V discount is $5.
THE STAMPEDE PARADE
The Wet Mountain Valley Saddle Club is again sponsoring a Rodeo parade Saturday, July 15th. They are looking for more entries – walkers, riders, controlled parade-safe animals, and vehicles are invited to participate. The parade starts at 10 a.m. Participants should meet at the Conoco station between 9 and 9:30 a.m. (Let Treasure Merchant know in advance if possible; text or call 720-261-9111, or email at TMerchant1958@gmail.com. All participants must sign a liability waiver.) Continue reading 77th Westcliffe Stampede Rodeo and Parade
BOCC Shocker! Secret Meeting to Force County Manager on Custerites
BOCC Shocker! Secret Meeting
Initiated by HR Wilson Gets The Despised
County Manager Position Approved and Wilson Hired as CM!
No Others Considered! Illegal?
Day, Flower, Wilson Guilty of Dirty Politics
by George Gramlich,
News and Commentary
We’ve seen some pretty shaky things at the Custer County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meetings over the last ten years but the meeting on June 29, 2023, takes the cake. In describing what happened that Thursday the words duplicity, arrogance of power, sneakiness, secret discussions, disdain for the citizens and flat out dishonesty come to mind. And it is all about the proposed County Manager (CM) position. Oh my! Continue reading BOCC Shocker! Secret Meeting to Force County Manager on Custerites
Walter “Buddy” Draper
Walter “Buddy” Draper, 75, of Wetmore, Colorado, passed away on Sunday, June 25, 2023. Buddy was born in Cañon City on December 30, 1947, to George and Leona Draper. He was raised in Wetmore and lived on the Draper Land & Cattle Company Ranch his entire life. As a third-generation rancher, Buddy was integral in keeping the family ranching legacy going. He was a rancher full time and a rodeo cowboy on the weekends. Buddy graduated from Florence High School in 1965 and earned a BA in Education from Southern Colorado State College. He met the love of his life, Jerry, in college and they married October 9, 1971. He and Jerry continued to rodeo, rope and ranch their 51 years of marriage. They had two children, Wade and Chad, that continue to carry on the rodeo and ranching tradition.
In the middle of college, Buddy served in the National Guard for four years. When he returned, he graduated in 1972. Buddy was on the college rodeo team, a gold card member with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, and president for the Colorado Professional Rodeo Association for five years. He earned many accolades during his rodeo career and continued team roping competitively until recently. He was a board member for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, served on the Wetmore Volunteer Fire Department, and was a past board member of the Fremont County 4-H. He also worked on western movies filmed in the area for many years.
Buddy was preceded in death by his parents, George and Leona. He is survived by his wife, Jerry, sister Peggy(Fred) Davis of Tombstone, AZ, his son Wade(Jan) Draper of Stanfield, AZ, his other son Chad(Christy) Draper of Wetmore, CO, five grandchildren who were the light of his life – Lexi, Mason, Trey, Chisum and Avery Draper, nieces and nephews and numerous friends.
Buddy loved his family, good horses, ranching, roping, rodeos and dear friends he met along the rodeo trail. He always wore a huge smile and loved to share a story or two.
Services will be held at Pathfinder Events Center in Florence, Colorado, on July 12, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. The family has requested that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to a scholarship fund for the Colorado Junior Rodeo Association. Those contributions can be made to the Buddy Draper Memorial account at First National Bank – 300 N. Main St., Rocky Ford, CO 81067.
July 1-16 Events in Custer County
Friday, June 30 & Saturday, July 1 p.m.
Sunday July 2, 2 p.m.
WCPA Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure
Historic Jones Theater
119 Main St, Westcliffe, Tickets online
June 29 thru July 31, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sangres Art Guild’s
“Explosion of Art” Show
3rd Street Gallery 59000 N.
Hwy. 69, Westcliffe
Saturday, July 1,
Band of Brothers Event
1430 Williams Creek Road Contact Brett at westcliffebandofbrothers@gmail.com
or Mike at 303-999-5115
July 4, 7 a.m. – 10 a.m.
All Aboard Westcliffe Pancake Breakfast
(Depot) 102 Main St., Westcliffe
July 4th, Independence Day Parade
10 a.m. ( 9 a.m. line-up) Route: Westcliffe/Silver Cliff Main Sts.
July 4th, 9 a.m. -5 p.m.
Lighthouse Pregnancy Resource Center Yard Sale
417 Cliff St., Silver Cliff
July 3 & 4, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
All Aboard Westcliffe Flea Market
& Yard Sale 110 Rosita Avenue, Westcliffe
July 4th, check in starts 10:30 a.m., Games 11:30 a.m.
Bobcats Booster Club- Cornhole Tournament Fundraiser School Parking lot
Friday July 6, 6 pm through July 9 @ 4 p.m. High Mountain Hay Fever Bluegrass Festival
Tickets available online. The Bluffs Park. See ad on page 3
July 7-16, Custer County Fair
July 8, 6 – 8 p.m .
Rocky Mountain Music Company Concert Series –Alex Johnstone
All Aboard Westcliffe 110 Rosita Avenue, Westcliffe
July 8 @ 9:30 – 11:30 p.m
SJO Public Star Party
Smokey Jack Observatory 100 S. Adams Blvd., Westcliffe, OPEN TO PUBLIC, Weather permitting
July 13 -15
Friends of the Library Arts & Craft Fair Hope Lutheran Lange Hall, 312 South 3rd Street, Westcliffe
Thursday July 13, 2 – 6 p.m.,
Friday July 14, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday July 15, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Thursday, July 13, Westcliffe Ranch Rodeo $10. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Mutton Busting at 7 p.m.
July 14 & 15 Westcliffe Stampede PRCA & WPRA Rodeo
Gates open at 4 p.m. Rodeos start at 6 p,m. Post Rodeo entertainment begins at 10 p.m. Friday “Two Tons of Steel” and Saturday ““John King”
July 15th Rob’s Ride – Bike Run
July 15, 9:30 -11:30 p.m.
SJO Electronic Assisted Astronomy (EAA) Star Party Free
10 ft Outdoor Screen will be up. Smokey Jack Observatory,
100 S. Adams Blvd., Westcliffe. OPEN TO PUBLIC