Press Release,
The American Legion
Post 170
Good News!!! At the March 5th meeting of Boy Scouts Troop 114, ceremonies included presentation of the Scout sponsorship charter to The American Legion Westcliffe Post 170. This charter confirms the strong bond between Troop 114 and Post 170. As the sponsoring agency for Troop 114, Post 170 provides support, encouragement, recognition, participation, recruiting and patriotic education as needed and requested as well as some financial assistance.
Recently, Troop 114 had three scouts elevated to Eagle Scout; a huge achievement. The Troop is active and engaged in our community and sets the example for excellence.
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February 28th BOCC: Broadband, Personnel Policy, 4-H
Board of County
Commissioners (BOCC)
—February 28, 2018
WESTCLIFFE, CO
by Jackie Bubis
The meeting started at 9 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and Roll Call. Introductions of the public in attendance followed.
The room was again packed with folks there to encourage the Board to vote yes on moving forward with the grant for the “broadband” towers.
Approval of the minutes of February 6th and 7th was unanimous.
Commissioner Items:
Commissioner Canda reported on attending the County Needs Assessment meeting as well as the CCEDC Workshop. Commissioner Printz attended both meetings as well.Chairman Flower went to the Fair Board meeting as well as these other two. Continue reading February 28th BOCC: Broadband, Personnel Policy, 4-H
OBITUARY “Bob” Robert Girard Luman
“Bob” Robert Girard Luman left this earth on February 20th, 2018. He was born on May 2, 1954, in St. Louis, MO. He was a Navy veteran and served in the Viet Nam war. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Nancy Ann Luman, and children Amber, Alicia and husband Alan Reeder, Levi, Misty Gunn, Summer Jameson, five grandchildren and many more family members. He was preceded in death by daughter Amanda Kathleen Luman. Bob was a man you would never forget meeting. His big heart and gift of gab will be greatly missed by many.
A graveside service with military honors will be held at Assumption Cemetery on March 16th at 11 a.m. Rev. Stephen Olamolu officiating. A luncheon will follow at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish Hall at 109 S. 5th Street, Westcliffe, CO.
Wetmore Resident, Ruth Roper Named Regional DHSEM Volunteer of the Year
—February 28, 2018,
Colorado Emergency Management Association (CEMA) Conference
The Eastern portion of Custer County, in Colorado’s South Region is home to the small communities of Wetmore and Greenwood. The Wetmore Volunteer Fire Department serves this portion of Custer County, lying outside the Wet Mountain Fire Protection District. Since 2005, the area has been affected by five wildfires, most recently the 18,403 acre Junkins fire in October of 2016. Continue reading Wetmore Resident, Ruth Roper Named Regional DHSEM Volunteer of the Year
Local National Honor Society: Three New Members Welcomed
National Honor Society members pictured are;
Back Row – left to right – Jess Franta, Michael Batson, Tyler Ferron.
Middle Row – left to right – McKensie Penkoff, Nicole Henrich, Riley Smith, Jessie Henrich, and Holly Wenger.
Front Row – the new inductees – Jakob Morris, Grace Flynn and Lauren Kitchen.
Photo by Carol Franta
BOCC Approves Broadband Tower Project with Contingencies to Protect the County
by Sentinel Staff
After much discussion, including a Custer County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) workshop on Monday, the Custer County Commissioners voted unanimously last Wednesday to move forward with the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) potential grant for the CCEDC’s proposed broadband tower project, with the proviso that all bases are covered before the project actually commences.
Commissioners Bill Canda and Tom Flower expressed much concern over the many loose ends that will have to be tied up before the project can actually commence. With a time deadline of approximately one year for all the project’s unknowns to be resolved, there is a real possibility that the project still will not be able to be accomplished. Continue reading BOCC Approves Broadband Tower Project with Contingencies to Protect the County
All About Caucus
“Caucus creates repeated opportunities for average ordinary people to take the first steps toward becoming political leaders.”
Information provided
by Dan Bubis
In the Colorado caucus system the process lasts for weeks. You have to make the commitment to be engaged for weeks, not minutes. In a primary you show up, you cast a ballot, you go home. The reason it lasts for weeks is that, unlike in a primary, the focus in the Colorado caucus is on discussion and thoughtfulness. After the caucus, delegates will move onto the County, State and National Assemblies. The only way you are ‘disenfranchised’ in this system is if you fail to participate.
Colorado instituted the caucus system in 1910. The caucus system was abolished in favor of presidential primaries in 1992, but restored in 2002 with the defeat of Amendment 29 and due to cost considerations. The fully restored Colorado Caucus was in 2004.
Caucus creates repeated opportunities for average ordinary people to take the first steps toward becoming political leaders.Colorado’s Democratic and Republican parties will hold precinct caucus meetings March 6th in advance of the June 26 Primary Election. Voters interested in caucusing must be affiliated with one of the major political parties by January 8th. Continue reading All About Caucus
Business Directory
The CCEDC’s Broadband Towers Proposal The $2 Million “Road to Nowhere”
by George Gramlich,
Managing Editor
Analysis and Commentary
Introduction
Custer County should not commit to supporting this venture that the Custer County Economic Development Committee (CCEDC) is proposing. Government should be limited, especially when it comes to entering a private sector marketplace (Just look at what happened to healthcare.)
Just from a business perspective, the proposal lacks a detailed business plan, market analysis, income/revenue projections, firm cost and liability projections competitive analysis (satellites, etc.), technology evolution projections, and county infrastructure requirements to support the towers. The proposal is fatally incomplete and would be laughed out of any CEO’s office.
For Custer County to make a 20-year financial and
liability commitment to this incomplete, flawed and certainly doomed project would be fiscally irresponsible and a complete disservice to its tax paying citizens. Continue reading The CCEDC’s Broadband Towers Proposal The $2 Million “Road to Nowhere”
CCEDC’s Broadband Tower Proposal Instant Obsolescence?
by Dan Bubis
Colorado law requires that municipalities hold a referendum before providing cable, telecommunications, or broadband service, unless the community is unserved. Our community is not unserved, we have several providers and yet we have not seen a ballot issue addressing whether taxpayer funding should go to providing either broadband or telecommunications. For the County to engage in the provisioning of these services they stand a reasonably good chance of being sued.
One of the major problems with the CCEDC’s proposal is that they don’t really have a plan beyond building towers. They have no commitments from any providers of Internet or Cellular service. While “if you build it, they will come” may work in a movie, businesses need more concrete commitments to ensure success. AT&T has demonstrated an unwillingness to increase their current equipment and they already have a tower. If the existing Internet providers could make the use case for additional towers, they would erect those towers. Perhaps the CCEDC is planning on providing access to the towers at no charge. Then how will maintenance and support be funded. See the map of DD Wireless (now Secom) towers for an idea of existing coverage. Continue reading CCEDC’s Broadband Tower Proposal Instant Obsolescence?