OURAY COUNTY
December 27, 1973 – I’ve kind of lost track of all time,” was Ray Ledford’s comment when the Plaindealer wanted specifics on the State Highway Department’s activities during these last heavy snowstorms. It was enough to disorient anyone. While Christmas came and went, so did the State Highway crews. Slides and slips on the Million Dollar Highway (U.S. 550) south of town kept the crews busy almost around the clock. “We got by until Sunday,” Ledford said, “but had to send an extra truck out that night.” High winds blew the snow, making it even more difficult to work. “Everything was running,” Ledford said, with reference to the slides. “They began Sunday night and ran all night long.” Highway 550 was closed on Sunday night, due to the many slips, and opened again Monday morning by about 9 a.m.
40 YEARS AGO
December 29, 1983 – A $77.50 Twelfth Night Banquet for $10. The Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite makes a $77.50 charge for their baronial Twelfth Night affair and has 10,000 persons vying for 1,050 seats.
Ouray will offer a similar banquet at the price of $10. As of Tuesday morning, 100 of the 200 tickets available for Ouray’s affair had been sold. Tickets are available at the Ouray Variety Store, the Village Pharmacy and at radio station KUBC in Montrose.
The committee in charge knows of a party of five coming from Durango. Much of the entertainment listed for the Yosemite party will be duplicated in Ouray as well as the menu. Most of all, the Ouray affair will be a night of fun with neighbors enjoying neighbors and Ouray’s version of a medieval feast and entertainment.
30 YEARS AGO
December 30, 1993 – It would offer ice climbing extraordinaire, backcountry skiing and, in the summer, hiking. But so far the Uncompahgre Gorge has been off-limits to the public. However, Eric Jacobson and Gary Wild presented a proposal to the Ouray County Commission, Dec. 20, to open the Uncompahgre Gorge south of Ouray to the public. “No doubt it may be one of the best ice climbing places in the whole United States,” Wild, of Ouray Victorian Inn, told the commissioners: “…there is nothing like it any place in the world as far as ice climbing goes.” If the county agrees with the plan, the trail would cross the property and easements of Ouray Hydroelectric Plant, owned by Jacobson, a Telluride resident.
The public trail would start in the vicinity of Box Canyon Park and go south up to the old Ouray Water Reservoir, move to the vicinity of the electric plant dam and with installation of a suspension bridge would access the road to the old dump, Wild said. Jacobson told the board, “I don’t have a desire to fence it off. …unfortunately, the way society has become, sometimes the best natured person gets penalized.” He said his insurance company told him, “The best defense is putting a lot of signs and barbed wire up. (But) quite frankly, it is no skin off my nose if people want to climb it as long as they don’t get hurt and sue me.”
20 YEARS AGO
December 26, 2003 – The U.S. Forest Service purchased more than 800 acres from the Ironton Park Company last week for $2.52 million. The property includes the Crystal Lake area along Highway 550. “This land is one of the crown jewels of the Red Mountain area,” said USFS District Ranger Jim Free. “It has worldclass mountain views and outstanding ecological, recreational and historical values. Now, we have a great opportunity to manage it in the public interest.”
10 YEARS AGO
December 26, 2013 – FROM THE PUBLISHER: When the Mine Safety and Health Administration presented nearly 100 citations and orders to Revenue-Virginius mine operator Star Mine Operations, none of these citations related to the tragic incident in November that left two employees dead and sent nearly two dozen to area hospitals. News reports pounced on the recent citations made during investigation of the incident.
One news report suggested a link to one citation for poor ventilation in the mine as being the cause of the deaths. The citation, however, didn’t specify where within the mine the poor ventilation was cited, nor when it occurred or the degree to which it occurred. Making that leap, or suggesting it, was extraordinary, to say the least. Did something go terribly wrong the morning of Nov. 17? Absolutely. We have two dead. But until a final report of culpability is issued from MSHA, we shouldn’t be so quick to connect any dots and suggest blame. – Alan Todd
