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
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
“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
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”
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?
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 Comments on the CCEDC Broadband Tower Proposal
by CCSD-1 Staff
–February 21, 2018
The Custer County High School Boys Basketball Team ended the regular season with a victory over Cripple Creek-Victor on Saturday, February 17th. The Bobcats fought their way to a crowd-pleasing comeback score of 55-53. After a sluggish first half which saw the Bobcats down by as much as 17 points, the boys came out in the second half ready to play some basketball. Custer County scored 35 points and sharpened their defense to hold the Pioneers to 22. Patrick Post led the team in scoring with 20 points. Kobe Lewsader added 14 points and had 13 rebounds. Billy Berry led the Bobcats in rebounds with 17, and he scored nine points. Chad Lewenkamp led in assists with eight. Continue reading Bobcats Boys Finish Well With Final Game Victory!
by Sentinel Staff
With two wins the weekend of February 16th and 17th, the Lady Bobcats have advanced to the 2-A District 1 Quarter-finals. On Friday, the girls played an away game against the Center Vikings and came out on top 62-38. Elizabeth Mullett paced her team with 27 points and Katie Florom scored 15, for second high in scoring.
The girls team came out strong on the home court on Saturday, the 17th against Cripple Creek-Victor, defeating the Pioneers 51-34. Senior Elizabeth Mullett and sophomore Lindsey Gilmore each scored 15 points, followed by freshman Catherine Mullett’s nine points to lead the Lady Bobcats scoring effort. Continue reading Lady Bobcats Qualify for Basketball Playoffs!
Press Release
The American Legion
Post 170
Good News!!!! Cub Scouts Pack 114 is once again active. Pack 114 went dormant several years ago but recent interest has made it possible to bring it back in a big way. Continue reading Cub Scouts Pack 114 Receives Charter
