Posted by Erin Eddy
provided by
Montrose Association of REALTORS
Statistics for Ouray County Jan 1 - Sept. 30, 2008
TOTAL HOMES (includes new home sales)
Homes Sold 54
Total Price $19,456,400
Average Price $360,303
Median Price $300,000
Range in Price $25,000 - 1,200,000
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
Units Sold 7
Total Price $1,512,800
Average Price $216,114
Median Price $185,300
Range in Price $52,500 - 623,000
VACANT LAND
Units Sold 19
Total Price $5,182,125
Average Price $272,743
Median Price $175,000
Range in Price $110,000 - 1,600,000
FARM & RANCH
Units Sold 1
Total Price $ 525,000
Average Price $ 525,000
Median Price $ 525,000
Range in Price $ 525,000
ALL PROPERTIES
Units Sold 81
Total Price $26,676,325
Average Price $329,337
Median Price $280,000
Range in Price $25,000 - 1,600,000
*This information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Ouray Ice Park Expansion
Ice Park gets 'Stump Wall'
Posted by Erin Eddy
www.ourayland.com
www.ridgwayland.com
October 24, 2008
Written By Samantha Tisdel Wright
The newest expansion of the Ouray Ice Park, to be called the"Got Stump Wall," is currently under development and should be operational in time for the winter climbing season, said OIPI Executive Director Erin Eddy.
A brainchild of ice climber and Rigging for Rescue owner Mike Gibbs, the new wall is unique in that it is located on the opposite side of the Uncompahgre River gorge from all of the other climbs in the park. "Mike has had this in his head for years," Eddy said. The area is adjacent to the penstock trestle that crosses the gorge near Box Canyon Park, and is easily accessible from Highway 550 in snow-free months.
The wall will feature six new routes, each with 90 feet of "dead vertical," Eddy said. He estimated that on the WI (Water Ice) system of rating difficulty, the climbs will rank in the range of four to five, with six being most difficult. Most climbs in the park are in the range of three.
Two ice park employees have been at work in the vicinity of the new wall, clearing trees and scrub, and installing anchor bolts, Eddy said, adding that local metalsmith Jeff Skoloda will be building a grate with vertical risers and screening to make the area, which has significant exposure, somewhat more secure.
The next step will be to install plumbing to create the new ice falls, which will come across the penstock trestle, Eddy said.
"Rob (Holmes, OIPI's chief 'Ice Farmer') gets sick of us," he grinned. "We keep expanding."
"Got Stump" takes its name from ice climber Malcolm Daly, who lost his foot to frostbite after falling from Alaska's Thunder Mountain, but continued to climb, and climb hard. While playing auctioneer at a fund-raiser at the Ouray Ice Fest several years ago, he was wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the irreverent logo "Got Stump?" which had been given to him by Chris Folsom, a Ouray local who had managed to chop off one of his fingers some years ago and also continued to climb.
Once everything else had been successfully auctioned off, Folsom yelled for Daly to sell the shirt off his back. He did, and got a couple hundred dollars for it.
The "Got Stump" shirt turned up again at successive Ice Fest auctions, raising first $2,000, then $3000, then $3500. The winner of the shirt was entrusted with it for the coming year, instructed to keep it safe and warm, and take it out on some adventures.
Recent custodians have included Warren Macdonald, a double amputee climber, and Kim Csizmazia, who had her hip replaced last year.
At Ice Fest 2007, the humble t-shirt raised a remarkable $7,500, this time through donations rather than at auction, and was entrusted for the year to Durango climber Joseph Miller. The money has been used to create a permanent kids climbing area at the Park, which includes a memorial to fallen climbers designed and built by Jeff Skoloda.
Posted by Erin Eddy
www.ourayland.com
www.ridgwayland.com
October 24, 2008
Written By Samantha Tisdel Wright
The newest expansion of the Ouray Ice Park, to be called the"Got Stump Wall," is currently under development and should be operational in time for the winter climbing season, said OIPI Executive Director Erin Eddy.
A brainchild of ice climber and Rigging for Rescue owner Mike Gibbs, the new wall is unique in that it is located on the opposite side of the Uncompahgre River gorge from all of the other climbs in the park. "Mike has had this in his head for years," Eddy said. The area is adjacent to the penstock trestle that crosses the gorge near Box Canyon Park, and is easily accessible from Highway 550 in snow-free months.
The wall will feature six new routes, each with 90 feet of "dead vertical," Eddy said. He estimated that on the WI (Water Ice) system of rating difficulty, the climbs will rank in the range of four to five, with six being most difficult. Most climbs in the park are in the range of three.
Two ice park employees have been at work in the vicinity of the new wall, clearing trees and scrub, and installing anchor bolts, Eddy said, adding that local metalsmith Jeff Skoloda will be building a grate with vertical risers and screening to make the area, which has significant exposure, somewhat more secure.
The next step will be to install plumbing to create the new ice falls, which will come across the penstock trestle, Eddy said.
"Rob (Holmes, OIPI's chief 'Ice Farmer') gets sick of us," he grinned. "We keep expanding."
"Got Stump" takes its name from ice climber Malcolm Daly, who lost his foot to frostbite after falling from Alaska's Thunder Mountain, but continued to climb, and climb hard. While playing auctioneer at a fund-raiser at the Ouray Ice Fest several years ago, he was wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the irreverent logo "Got Stump?" which had been given to him by Chris Folsom, a Ouray local who had managed to chop off one of his fingers some years ago and also continued to climb.
Once everything else had been successfully auctioned off, Folsom yelled for Daly to sell the shirt off his back. He did, and got a couple hundred dollars for it.
The "Got Stump" shirt turned up again at successive Ice Fest auctions, raising first $2,000, then $3000, then $3500. The winner of the shirt was entrusted with it for the coming year, instructed to keep it safe and warm, and take it out on some adventures.
Recent custodians have included Warren Macdonald, a double amputee climber, and Kim Csizmazia, who had her hip replaced last year.
At Ice Fest 2007, the humble t-shirt raised a remarkable $7,500, this time through donations rather than at auction, and was entrusted for the year to Durango climber Joseph Miller. The money has been used to create a permanent kids climbing area at the Park, which includes a memorial to fallen climbers designed and built by Jeff Skoloda.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Posted by Erin Eddy
Source: Ouray Plaindealer
October 10, 2008
This year's Jeep raffle winner at the annual Oktoberfest celebration is James Puckett, maybe.
Ouray Chamber Resort Association Executive Director Jennifer Loshaw said Wednesday that Puckett has 30 days to respond to OCRA's notification, but his winning ticket only has a phone number, no address. Loshaw said if Puckett fails to collect his prize, OCRA will contact the holder of an alternate ticket drawn, a resident from Kansas.
The Ouray County Historical Society also had two winners during the Oktoberfest celebration last Saturday at the Ouray Community Center. Martha Metzger, a part-time Ouray resident and one of the ladies who made the raffle quilt, had her name drawn to receive the beautiful handmade quilt is patterned after a historic quilt hanging in the OCHS museum. Nancy Johnston, a resident of Montrose, had her name drawn for a line drawing of the Mountain Top Mine by artist John Hayes.
And the winner of the ATV raffle, sponsored by the Ouray Volunteer Fire Department, is Larry Haller of Ridgway.
Source: Ouray Plaindealer
October 10, 2008
This year's Jeep raffle winner at the annual Oktoberfest celebration is James Puckett, maybe.
Ouray Chamber Resort Association Executive Director Jennifer Loshaw said Wednesday that Puckett has 30 days to respond to OCRA's notification, but his winning ticket only has a phone number, no address. Loshaw said if Puckett fails to collect his prize, OCRA will contact the holder of an alternate ticket drawn, a resident from Kansas.
The Ouray County Historical Society also had two winners during the Oktoberfest celebration last Saturday at the Ouray Community Center. Martha Metzger, a part-time Ouray resident and one of the ladies who made the raffle quilt, had her name drawn to receive the beautiful handmade quilt is patterned after a historic quilt hanging in the OCHS museum. Nancy Johnston, a resident of Montrose, had her name drawn for a line drawing of the Mountain Top Mine by artist John Hayes.
And the winner of the ATV raffle, sponsored by the Ouray Volunteer Fire Department, is Larry Haller of Ridgway.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Be bear aware: activity increases in the fall
Posted by Erin Eddy
Denver
October 10, 2008
DENVER — Autumn is when black bears become more active, setting the stage for an increase in bear sightings and possibly encounters.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) reminds residents and visitors that bears are searching for food to prepare for the denning season, which begins in early to mid-November. From now until then, bears will look for food wherever they can find it and the result may lead them closer to people or homes.
While Colorado's bears usually run, rather than confront humans, encounters do occur and people should know a few things about how to react, or better yet, how to avoid an encounter altogether by reducing the likelihood of attracting bears in the first place.
Human injuries caused by bears are rare in Colorado. In the few cases when people are injured, it usually involves food left where bears can find it, or is the result of a surprise encounter.
When bears become habituated to food left out by people, it can lead to conflicts, property damage, the possibility of injury and eventual destruction of the bear. The DOW has the following recommendations to reduce the chances of having a close encounter with a black bear on a homeowner's property:
n Do not feed wild animals (against the law to feed foxes, coyotes or bears) and play it safe if you have bird feeders in bear country. Feeding wildlife, including birds, can draw bears into an area. Once bears become comfortable in an area where they find food, they will continue to return. Bears have an amazing ability to recall areas where food was easily available from year to year. A "neighborhood bear" can become a real problem for homeowners and neighbors.
n Tips for safely feeding birds include: restrict feeding to when bears hibernate, which is generally November through April; avoid bird foods that are particularly attractive for bears, such as sunflower seeds, hummingbird nectar, or suet; bring feeders inside at night or suspend them from high crosswires; and temporarily remove feeders for two weeks if visited by a bear. Encourage your neighbors to do the same.
n Don't place garbage outside until pick-up day. A 1994 Arizona study discovered that putting trash cans out the morning of the pickup reduced bear visits from 70% to less than5%. Garbage or food items, including pet food, should be stored inside the garage or secure storage shed. Garage doors should not be left open except for very brief periods during the day.
n Keep your distance. If a bear shows up in your backyard, stay calm. From a safe distance, shout at it like you would to chase an unwanted dog. Children should understand not to run, approach or hide from a bear that wanders into the yard, but, instead, to back away and walk slowly to the house.
n Eliminate temptation. Bears that visit areas of human habitation are drawn there by food. Neighbors need to work together to reduce an area's appeal to bears.
For more information and tips on preventing conflicts with bears, go to DOW's webpage (http://wildlife.state.co.us) and the link Wildlife Species.
Denver
October 10, 2008
DENVER — Autumn is when black bears become more active, setting the stage for an increase in bear sightings and possibly encounters.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) reminds residents and visitors that bears are searching for food to prepare for the denning season, which begins in early to mid-November. From now until then, bears will look for food wherever they can find it and the result may lead them closer to people or homes.
While Colorado's bears usually run, rather than confront humans, encounters do occur and people should know a few things about how to react, or better yet, how to avoid an encounter altogether by reducing the likelihood of attracting bears in the first place.
Human injuries caused by bears are rare in Colorado. In the few cases when people are injured, it usually involves food left where bears can find it, or is the result of a surprise encounter.
When bears become habituated to food left out by people, it can lead to conflicts, property damage, the possibility of injury and eventual destruction of the bear. The DOW has the following recommendations to reduce the chances of having a close encounter with a black bear on a homeowner's property:
n Do not feed wild animals (against the law to feed foxes, coyotes or bears) and play it safe if you have bird feeders in bear country. Feeding wildlife, including birds, can draw bears into an area. Once bears become comfortable in an area where they find food, they will continue to return. Bears have an amazing ability to recall areas where food was easily available from year to year. A "neighborhood bear" can become a real problem for homeowners and neighbors.
n Tips for safely feeding birds include: restrict feeding to when bears hibernate, which is generally November through April; avoid bird foods that are particularly attractive for bears, such as sunflower seeds, hummingbird nectar, or suet; bring feeders inside at night or suspend them from high crosswires; and temporarily remove feeders for two weeks if visited by a bear. Encourage your neighbors to do the same.
n Don't place garbage outside until pick-up day. A 1994 Arizona study discovered that putting trash cans out the morning of the pickup reduced bear visits from 70% to less than5%. Garbage or food items, including pet food, should be stored inside the garage or secure storage shed. Garage doors should not be left open except for very brief periods during the day.
n Keep your distance. If a bear shows up in your backyard, stay calm. From a safe distance, shout at it like you would to chase an unwanted dog. Children should understand not to run, approach or hide from a bear that wanders into the yard, but, instead, to back away and walk slowly to the house.
n Eliminate temptation. Bears that visit areas of human habitation are drawn there by food. Neighbors need to work together to reduce an area's appeal to bears.
For more information and tips on preventing conflicts with bears, go to DOW's webpage (http://wildlife.state.co.us) and the link Wildlife Species.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Voyager Up and Running, at Lease in Ridgway
by Christina CallicottSep 30, 2008
posted by: Erin Eddy - www.ridgwayland.com
RIDGWAY – The Voyager after-school program in Ridgway is up and running, though its status in Ouray is still up in the air, pending results of a survey on parent interest that was sent home with students last Friday Sept. 26.
“Our participation level, especially in Ouray, has gotten very low,” said Voyager Executive Director Karla Cline. She did an internal survey over the course of the summer regarding cost, programming, staffing, and need, and found that it came down to two students taking advantage of the Ouray after-school program on a regular basis. “Based on participation numbers from last year as well as our own financial situation, we had made the decision not to offer our after-school program,” she said.
However, if the results of Friday’s survey indicate a need, Cline said that they would reconsider.
Part of the problem is that a non-renewable grant that Voyager has enjoyed for the last 10 years has run out, leaving Voyager scrambling for funding. But didn’t they see it coming?
“That’s an interesting question. We have found replacement funds in the form of grants from foundations. There’s also been local support in terms of [the Ouray County Department of] Social Services, which has pledged support,” Cline said. “But this was a significant amount of money, and it’s very difficult to replace that amount.” She said the grant was for almost $90,000. She also said that funding or no, it doesn’t make good management sense to run a program with such low participation numbers as they were seeing in Ouray. “Funders want to see that they are getting the most bang for their buck, so to speak.”
Cline said that while the drop-in structure of the Voyager after-school program is convenient for families, it makes it extremely hard to plan for the right number of staff, snacks, even art supplies.
“In terms of staffing and management, it’s very difficult day to day when you never know how many students you’re going to have,” Cline said.
In response to the suggestion that perhaps student numbers were low because the program cost too much, Cline said that it’s one of the least expensive child care options in the county, at $7 per day for the after-school program and $25 for a full day when school is out. “You couldn’t get a middle schooler to sit with your kid for three hours for $7, and we have professionals who are trained, they have a background in this work, they have experience, and we’re doing fun things with the kids.”
A staffing snafu, which began with the resignation of Voyager’s program director at the beginning of the summer, has been corrected with the recent hiring of Debbie Hill as site manager for the Ridgway program. Hill is also a paraprofessional at Ridgway Elementary.
Cline is also looking for someone to implement Voyager’s drug and alcohol prevention programs, perhaps in combination with a Ouray after-school program if the numbers indicate a need for one.
“We don’t necessarily need huge numbers,” Cline said. “What I really need is for five or six parents to say, ‘I need the program and I will participate Tuesday through Thursday each week,’ or something like that. But I need that consistency, that’s the key to being able to have a program.”
posted by: Erin Eddy - www.ridgwayland.com
RIDGWAY – The Voyager after-school program in Ridgway is up and running, though its status in Ouray is still up in the air, pending results of a survey on parent interest that was sent home with students last Friday Sept. 26.
“Our participation level, especially in Ouray, has gotten very low,” said Voyager Executive Director Karla Cline. She did an internal survey over the course of the summer regarding cost, programming, staffing, and need, and found that it came down to two students taking advantage of the Ouray after-school program on a regular basis. “Based on participation numbers from last year as well as our own financial situation, we had made the decision not to offer our after-school program,” she said.
However, if the results of Friday’s survey indicate a need, Cline said that they would reconsider.
Part of the problem is that a non-renewable grant that Voyager has enjoyed for the last 10 years has run out, leaving Voyager scrambling for funding. But didn’t they see it coming?
“That’s an interesting question. We have found replacement funds in the form of grants from foundations. There’s also been local support in terms of [the Ouray County Department of] Social Services, which has pledged support,” Cline said. “But this was a significant amount of money, and it’s very difficult to replace that amount.” She said the grant was for almost $90,000. She also said that funding or no, it doesn’t make good management sense to run a program with such low participation numbers as they were seeing in Ouray. “Funders want to see that they are getting the most bang for their buck, so to speak.”
Cline said that while the drop-in structure of the Voyager after-school program is convenient for families, it makes it extremely hard to plan for the right number of staff, snacks, even art supplies.
“In terms of staffing and management, it’s very difficult day to day when you never know how many students you’re going to have,” Cline said.
In response to the suggestion that perhaps student numbers were low because the program cost too much, Cline said that it’s one of the least expensive child care options in the county, at $7 per day for the after-school program and $25 for a full day when school is out. “You couldn’t get a middle schooler to sit with your kid for three hours for $7, and we have professionals who are trained, they have a background in this work, they have experience, and we’re doing fun things with the kids.”
A staffing snafu, which began with the resignation of Voyager’s program director at the beginning of the summer, has been corrected with the recent hiring of Debbie Hill as site manager for the Ridgway program. Hill is also a paraprofessional at Ridgway Elementary.
Cline is also looking for someone to implement Voyager’s drug and alcohol prevention programs, perhaps in combination with a Ouray after-school program if the numbers indicate a need for one.
“We don’t necessarily need huge numbers,” Cline said. “What I really need is for five or six parents to say, ‘I need the program and I will participate Tuesday through Thursday each week,’ or something like that. But I need that consistency, that’s the key to being able to have a program.”
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