by George Gramlich,
Commentary
Clint Smith, Vice President of the local Dark Skies organization, was gracious in visiting with the Sentinel last week with regards to a new, revised Dark Skies amendment that his organization is now proposing. You will recall that their original one, now before Custer County’s Planning and Zoning Commission (on their February 5th meeting agenda), was quite oppressive and it also had criminal and monetary penalties for violations. (Although Commissioner Printz denied, in public, multiple times, that the proposal contained those penalties. He has never retracted those comments.) This proposal was widely panned in multiple BOCC and general public meetings as being a massive infringement on our property rights without any compelling state interest. Continue reading Dark Skies Redux: A Lighter Side of Darkness Proposed ?
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Dark Skies VP Clint Smith Softens Approach
Letter to the Editor;
On Monday, February 5, at 1:30 p.m. the Custer County Planning Commission will be conducting another public meeting to solicit further comment on the issue of amending the Custer County Zoning Resolution with respect to light pollution. This issue has been characterized over the past several months as an attempt by our non-profit group—Dark Skies of the Wet Mountain Valley—to impose a “Dark Skies ordinance” and to force onerous and restrictive outdoor lighting regulations on the residents of the county. Continue reading Dark Skies VP Clint Smith Softens Approach
A Call from Bradburn on Dark Skies: Lumens and Ranchers
Dear Editor,
I received a very cordial phone call from Jim Bradburn, the president of the Astronomy Club, in which he explained some Dark-Sky guidelines concerning a dark sky reserve which shed more light on the subject than my poor old brain previously picked up.
My main concern was the effect the proposed addition to the zoning resolutions would have on our ranchers. The effect would be nothing because of Resolution 98-14 Establishing a right to ranch and farm policy of Custer County which protects our ranchers and farmers from all complaints having to do with their ranching and farming. Continue reading A Call from Bradburn on Dark Skies: Lumens and Ranchers
Colorado and Marijuana; Open Letter to FoxNews Five
FoxNews “The Five” panel;
You guys disseminated so much inaccurate information January 4, 2018, that someone should apologize to your viewing audience. So, Dana hasn’t lived in Colorado for 23 years and still offers statistical information that is 100% wrong. The vote to legalize marijuana wasn’t a landslide, it was very close…53.3% “yes” and 46.7% “no.” If she and Geraldo think that everything is going fine, maybe you should ask someone who lives in Colorado and who has some policing experience…me for example. Continue reading Colorado and Marijuana; Open Letter to FoxNews Five
Response to Brown-out
December 29, 2017
Editor;
I’d like to respond to Mr. Brown’s Letter to the Editor published in the December 22nd edition of the Sentinel. Mr. Brown actually gets it right, it is about property rights. Unfortunately, Mr. Brown demonstrates that he not only doesn’t understand property rights, he obviously doesn’t understand tyranny either.
First of all, you absolutely have the right to light or not light your property. What you don’t have is a right to tell me how to light my property. You also don’t have the right to force me to live in darkness. You clearly believe that equal rights, property or otherwise entitles you to infringe as you please on my rights. Property rights dictate that the owner can do what he wants with his property. Your interpretation would be that since you have an equal right to my property, you can not only force some action on my part, but you can also use my property as you see fit. If dark skies were a right, like life, liberty and property, every person living in a city is deprived of that right. What are you doing about restoring those rights? Every decent size town or city proves that there isn’t some right to darkness that the residents enjoy except in such advanced areas as North Korea. Continue reading Response to Brown-out
BOCC: December 29, 2017
Board of County
Commissioners (BOCC)
—December 29, 2017
WESTCLIFFE, CO
by Jackie Bubis
The meeting started at 9 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and Roll Call. Commissioners Printz and Canda were present via phone. Introductions of the public in attendance followed.
Minutes for November 30th, December 5, 6, 7, and 14th were approved unanimously.
Commissioner Items
Commissioner Canda had a great meeting with the Road & Bridge crew in Wetmore. He reported an enjoyable tour of the “world’s greatest grader.” He missed meeting with the folks from Wetmore at the Community Center but did get a tour. Regarding speeding issues on Kettle Lane, there will be one additional sign posted to let folks know that they’re approaching a speed limit change. He also attended the Airport Board meeting. Continue reading BOCC: December 29, 2017
Dark Skies Brown-out
Dear Editor,
After attending a planning meeting on Dark Skies, on December 11 th, I have decided the whole issue is not about dark skies. The issue is about personal rights. Those who believe that they have unlimited rights to shine unlimited amounts of light in unlimited directions feel they are just exercising their property rights. This light may destroy the dark skies above or it may be directly sent in the way and direction of others. Those who believe in their unlimited rights do not recognize the rights of many others as being equal to theirs. They must believe that their rights somehow exceed those of many. They must believe that those who might exercise their property rights to enjoy the wonders of the sky above with their naked eyes or telescopes have rights that can be run over roughshod and disrespected. Continue reading Dark Skies Brown-out
William Brown’s Rights vs A Free Society’s Rights
Editor;
I t is always interesting to read the words of those who think that America is about absolute equality. Nothing on this earth is equal, not a plant, or a tree or an animal.
I wonder where Mr. Brown deduced the idea the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the Rule of Law guarantee this “principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities?” (quote from Oxford Dictionary). The Constitution guarantees equal opportunity. It does not offer everyone the same social status, economic position or fairness. It offers justice which is not the same as total equality.
Egalitarian rights are impossible and he knows it. We live in a world filled with corruption, scandal, deceit, greed and avarice and that’s just in Washington, D.C. and Denver. There is no ability to achieve the equality Mr. Brown thinks is so possible. Continue reading William Brown’s Rights vs A Free Society’s Rights
BOCC: Printz on 4H Devastation
Board of County
Commissioners (BOCC)
—December 14, 2017
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.
This was a short meeting – with only a few things on the agenda.
The Board amended a previous motion to change the Safety Awards for Road & Bridge from $50 to $100 each. There are two people who had safety incidents that will not receive this award. Continue reading BOCC: Printz on 4H Devastation
Bobcat Basketball Update
by CCSD Coaching Staff
The Custer County High School Boys Basketball Team played two games this past weekend. On Friday the Bobcats lost to ECA 58 to 43. Billy Berry led the Bobcats in scoring with 15 points and in rebounding with 9 rebounds. Kobe Lewsader added 12 points. Patrick Post had five assists and Chad Lewenkamp added four assists. On Saturday night, the Bobcats went to Mosco and lost to Sangre de Cristo 64-50. Patrick Post lead the team in scoring with 21 points, Kobe Lewsader added 18 points. Billy Berry lead team in rebounds with 18. Chad Lewenkamp lead the team in steals with three points and assists with four. David Kinsey added three assists.
The JV team went one and one over the weekend. The young Bobcats lost on Friday night to ECA 46 – 15. Wesley Curtis lead the team in scoring with 10 points. Eero Prusti lead the team rebounds with six and Logan Kinsey lead team in steals with two and had two blocked shots.
On Saturday, the JV Bobcats won a close game against Sangre de Cristo 15-14, with Wyatt Aldrich making a free throw in the last few seconds of the game. Matthew Kienbusch lead the team in scoring with six points. James Koester lead team in assists two and Logan Kinsey lead the team in rebounds with six.
The Custer County High School Boy’s JV Basketball team took on the Cotopaxi Pirates Monday night. The young Bobcats lost 41-27. Eero Prusti lead the team in scoring with 10 points, Wesley Curtis and Logan Kinsey each added six. Eero also lead the team in rebounding with seven, Matt Kienbusch added four. Wyatt Aldrich and Hunter Speer each had two assists to lead the team and Logan Kinsey had three steals.