Reporter for Cortez Journal
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Jim Mimiaga
Our View: No to industrial rezoning next to Cortez open space
All it takes is one look at Independent Log Co.’s northeast property line where it meets the trailhead for the 72-acre Carpenter Natural Area to understand that the city of Cortez should flatly deny the company’s request to rezone from commercial to industrial. The contrast is stark. The gem that is Carpenter, with trails winding through the subtle beauty of high desert, is too delicate and well-loved to risk harm.
Mary Dodd is named chairperson of the year by Colorado Democrats
Increased participation got attention of party officials Montezuma County Democratic Party Chair Mary Dodd received the Obama Gala Award for Chair of the Year by the Colorado Democratic Party this month at a ceremony in Denver. “I’m honored to receive the award, and it represents the hard work of not only me but of all of our volunteers,” she said. Dodd credited an active base and increased participation in the county by Democrats, which got the attention of state party officials.
Grace’s soup kitchen to host fundraiser April 28
Soups of Cortez will serve up specialty soups from chefs Grace’s Community Kitchen serves nearly over 800 free meals every month for people in need in the Cortez area. The soup kitchen at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church will host a “Soups of Cortez” fundraiser April 28 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 110 W. North St. to help cover costs and increasing demand. The new event features to-go specialty soups made by chefs from Grace’s Kitchen and The Farm Bistro.
Three Montezuma County offices will go to four-day week schedule
County clerk, assessor and treasurer departments will close Friday The Montezuma County Clerk and Recorder, Assessor and Treasurer departments will go to a four-day week schedule beginning May 1 as part of a pilot program. The offices at 140 W. Main St. in Cortez will be open 7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and be closed on Fridays. Hours Monday through Friday start 45 minutes earlier in the morning and remain open one hour later into the evening.
Farmers will get full water supply, grapple with late spring
Snow on fields delays farming season; grant program offers deal for more efficient sprinkler nozzles Farmers will get a full supply of water from McPhee Reservoir this season and could get even more. An above-average winter snowpack will fill the 380,000 acre-foot reservoir, the first time since 2019. And there is enough runoff for a 30- to 60-day whitewater recreation release below the dam.
Boaters and ecologists plan for whitewater season on Lower Dolores River
Runoff will fill McPhee Reservoir, and a release below the dam is planned for boaters and river health Snowpack estimated to be 190% of the average in the Dolores River Basin will create a significant whitewater boating season below McPhee Dam, and help to improve the ecology of the often dry Lower Dolores River. Details were hashed out by the Native Fish Monitoring and Recommendation Team meeting Monday at the Dolores Water Conservancy District Office.
Cortez Workforce Center will host job fair April 19 at county annex
Dozens of employers and workforce training programs offer job and career opportunities The Cortez Colorado Workforce Center and Cortez Retail Enhancement Association will host a job fair April 19 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Montezuma County Annex, 107 N. Chestnut St. So far 35 employers have signed up to provide information and applications on job openings, said Tia Lee, employment specialist for the Workforce Center.
Farmers to get full water supply, grapple with late spring
Snow on fields delays farming season; grant program offers deal for more efficient sprinkler nozzles Farmers will get a full supply of water from McPhee Reservoir this season and could get even more. An above-average winter snowpack will fill the 380,000 acre-foot reservoir, the first time since 2019. And there is enough runoff for a 30- to 60-day whitewater recreation release below the dam.
Mesa snowmelt overwhelms Dolores in valley below
Community rallies to fill sandbags, redirect floodwaters; no injuries reported Rapid snowmelt coming off Granath Mesa overwhelmed drainage infrastructure and flooded parts of Dolores Saturday and Sunday. The heavy runoff flowed down a steep canyon and into culverts under Road U. 5 on the north side of town. From there it breached drainage ditches near the Teddy Bear Preschool and flowed down Hillside Avenue and 15th Street.
ZU Gallery to host young artist exhibit
Student Lily Sandner will showcase artwork April 21-30; realism and character design are her muse ZU Gallery in Cortez will showcase the artwork of Lily Sandner April 21-30, with a reception at 7 p.m. on the first night. The “Incredible Stories” exhibit is part of the Young Emerging Artists program, which features a series of pop-up shows to give youths experience in the professional art world.
Lingering winter delays opening of McPhee Reservoir boat ramp
Bay is iced over, and roads drifted with snow; invasive mussels found on Western Slope Opening day for the McPhee Reservoir boat ramp has been delayed because of lake ice, reports the San Juan National Forest. The McPhee ramp typically opens in mid-April. That is not possible this year because large parts of the reservoir remain under ice, and snow drifts are blocking the main access road, said forest recreation planner Tom Rice. “The bay is iced over,” he said.
Flooded roads get repairs; $2.3 million bridge project to begin
Montezuma County and CDOT are busy repairing roads and bridges Colorado Department of Transportation and Montezuma County have been busy repairing roads impacted by flooding, and a $2.3 million bridge replacement is set to begin next month. Montezuma County Road and Bridge crews are repairing the section of County Road P damaged by flooding March 16. The sinkhole was discovered when a man driving a Jeep in fog at 4 a.m. crashed into it.
Colorado Highway 184 reopened after repair
New culvert installed; flooding caused three-week closure Colorado Highway 184 reopened Thursday after being closed by flooding since March 14. A culvert became overwhelmed by snowmelt and days of rain, which backed up water for several acres. Colorado Department of Transportation drained the area, installed a new culvert and repaired the road. The flooding and closure occurred just east of the junction with U.S. Highway 491.
Southwest Memorial Hospital relocates Park Street clinic to main campus
Patients will see providers at Medical Office Building starting May 8; hospital’s Interventional Spine services will discontinue this summer Southwest Health System announced it will relocate its North Park Street Clinic to the main hospital campus office and discontinue Interventional Spine services.
Cortez Recreation Center to host job fair April 21-22
Fifty positions available; lifeguards needed to open outdoor pool, will train The City of Cortez is hosting a two-day job fair for the Cortez Recreation Center on April 21 from noon to 2 p.m. and on April 22 from 10 a.m. to noon. The Parks and Recreation department is looking to fill about 50 seasonal, part-time and full-time positions, said Director Creighton Wright.
Local authors debut Mesa Verde Writers Conference
Four successful authors will host immersive workshops in fiction and poetry at the scenic Harmony Barn in Mancos The annual Mesa Verde Writers Conference will take place July 13-16 in Mancos. Award-winning authors, including two from Southwest Colorado, will host a variety of fiction and poetry workshops and provide instruction. Manuscript critique sessions are also offered. Instructors are authors Lisa C.
Earth Day cleanup will be April 22 at Carpenter Natural Area
Volunteers needed to pull invasive weeds, work on trails To celebrate Earth Day, Friends of the Carpenter Natural Area and Cortez Parks and Recreation will hold their annual cleanup day on April 22. Meet at the Carpenter area west trailhead off County Road 25 at 10 a.m. Parks and Recreation Director Creighton Wright will speak about the area and plans for the day. Bring gloves, hat, water, shovels and rakes. The work will involve removing invasive weeds, maintaining trails and general cleanup.
Water reuse gains attention in drought era
Colorado has regulations for gray water systems; La Plata County considering a new ordinance Instead of letting all that water in your laundry washing machine drain to the sewer, why not redirect it to irrigate your lawn and flower beds? Reuse of household gray water to stretch limited water supplies is seen as one tool to handle drought and a drier climate. But you need a permit, so to speak.
Two-vehicle crash on U.S. 160 kills Ignacio teenager
Driver of Chevy Suburban suspected of vehicular homicide and DUI A two-vehicle crash Sunday on U.S. Highway 160 east of Mancos killed one person, according to the Colorado State Patrol. The crash, reported at 12:40 p.m. at mile marker 58, closed the highway for more than three hours. According to Trooper Gabriel Moltrer, a westbound black 2018 Chevy Suburban allegedly swerved into the eastbound lane, then back to the westbound lane.
Collective forms to address economic and social recovery in Southwest Colorado
Montezuma Community Collective one of 16 formed in the state under the Colorado Resilience Office The Montezuma Community Collective is hosting a series of meetings to discuss local issues and challenges. Four meetings will be held throughout the county, including on the Ute Mountain Ute reservation. The topics to be addressed are housing and transportation, business and entrepreneurs, agriculture and drought, community health, and workforce and education.
Morosko sentenced to jail for fatal shooting of bowhunter
Montezuma County Detention Center Convicted felon many not own firearms; defense plans appeal Ronald Morosko, a black powder hunter convicted of criminally negligent homicide and careless hunting in the 2021 shooting death of bowhunter Gregory Gabrisch, was sentenced Friday in Montezuma County Combined Courts in Cortez. Chief Judge Todd Plewe handed down a 90-day jail sentence, plus 12 months’ state-supervised probation for the criminally negligent homicide conviction.
Electric bike program serves older adults in Cortez
4CORE awarded grants to provide 25 electric bikes for nominal fee; CDOT funds electric vehicle education for Ute Mountain Ute Tribe This summer, 25 electric bikes will be distributed for a nominal fee to low-income individuals 55 and older in Cortez. The Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency was awarded a grant for about $75,000 from the Colorado Energy Office for the program.
Dolores proposes to close portion of escarpment for safety reasons
Hillside along Road 31 was recently annexed by town; new town treasurer appointed The town of Dolores proposes an ordinance to close off a portion of the south-facing escarpment area of the valley for safety concerns. The section of town land to be closed to the public would include the area of the water tower and hillside above the Dolores school district campus to the east.
Learn about Mancos conservation projects
Annual meeting will be held at Fenceline Cider The Mancos Conservation District will hold its annual meeting April 2 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Fenceline Cider, 141 S. Main St. in Mancos. The public is welcome to attend. The meeting agenda includes: introduction of board and staff, discussion of ongoing natural resource projects and annual photo contest winners.
Learn to compost and avoid frost at garden workshop
Cortez has community garden opportunities Cortez Community Gardens will host a workshop on composting and how to extend the garden season April 1 at 10 a.m. at the Cortez Recreation Center. There will be instruction on composting and tips on how to extend a growing season, survive light frost and light winds. Instruction will be given on how to put together a low tunnel greenhouse with rebar, PVC and fabric. The structure helps to provide protection from temperatures, wind and insects.
Four Corners Lecture Series features archaeology and Southwest history
2023 series kicks off in April in Cortez; view presentations in person or via Zoom The 2023 Four Corners Lecture Series schedule has been announced. The series features presentations on archaeology, Native American culture, Southwest history, and natural resources of Mesa Verde and the Four Corners. Guest lecturers share their knowledge, interpretations, research and experiences on various topics. The talks take place April to October at different locations in southwest Colorado and are free.
Wildfire mitigation workshop offers resources for landowners
Cost shares available for defensible space, forest thinning; $1 million available for projects A wildfire mitigation workshop will be held April 22 at the Summit Lake Community Church, 36501 Colorado Highway 184 north of Mancos from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. A social hour will follow at the Dolores River Brewery.
Wetherill Mesa to close for infrastructure projects
Remote area at Mesa Verde National Park needs new visitor center and water line The Wetherill Mesa area of Mesa Verde National Park will close for 2023, and possibly 2024, for two major construction projects. This year, the open-air visitor contact station and concessionaire will be replaced. In 2024, the park has preliminary plans to replace an outdated water line. Wetherill Mesa is closed for the winter from October through April.
Dolores Chamber seeking nominees for 2022 Citizen and Business of the Year
Annual banquet moved to October; Food Truck Fridays has new location but without drive-in movies Nominations for the 2022 Dolores Citizen and Business of the Year are still being taken, and the deadline has been extended to April 10. Winners will be honored at the Dolores Chamber of Commerce’s banquet Oct. 21. It was moved to fall this year because of scheduling challenges, said Chamber Director Susan Lisak. The catered party at the Dolores Community Center will have a Halloween theme.
Storefront windows shot in downtown Cortez, causing $44,000 in damage
Nearly 20 properties hit with BB gun or slingshot, police say Someone on Tuesday night shot storefront windows on Cortez’s Main Street, causing an estimated $44,000 in damage to at least 17 buildings including restaurants, stores, shops and the Montezuma County government annex. Glass windows and doors were left with pockmarks and holes, and in some cases, windows were cracked or shattered. No injuries were reported. The damage was caused by either a BB gun or a slingshot, according to police.
Dolores Valley residents offered free sandbags as flooding begins
County Public Works Department donates sand as rain and snowmelt pick up Free sandbags and sand are available for Dolores and upriver residents who are experiencing flooding from recent rain and snowmelt. Empty sandbags are available at Dolores Town Hall Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Outfitter offers bags on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sand is available at Joe Rowell Park under a tarp.
Sheriff, coroner investigate two deaths Saturday in Montezuma County
Woman found dead off Road 29; man found off Road L Two unrelated deaths reported on Saturday are being investigated by the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office and county coroner. There is no evidence of foul play, but the investigations remain open and final autopsy reports are pending, said Sheriff Steve Nowlin. On Saturday a little after 10 a.m., a woman was found deceased in the 13000 block of Road 29. She was found lying on the east side of the road north of Road N, northeast of Cortez.
Suicide prevention and awareness bill signed into law in Colorado
Bill requires crisis suicide crisis contact information to be put on the back of student ID cards Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed the Higher Education Crisis and Suicide Prevention bill into law March 17. HB 23-1007 requires schools of higher education to print the Colorado and National Crisis and Suicide Prevention contact information on the back of student identification cards. The national number is 988, and the state number is (844) 493-8255. Also people can text the word “talk” to 38255.
Next generation of farmers needed behind the plow
Regional meetings to address access to land and water for new farmers Access to farmland and water can be major barriers to new farmers entering the business as the older generation retires. Beginning this month a series of meetings in Montezuma and La Plata counties will address equitable land access as part of a yearlong study. Organizers of the Equitable Land Access Study include La Plata Open Space Conservancy, Montezuma Land Conservancy and the Old Fort of Hesperus.
Koehn Kuenzler prepares for Augusta Nationals youth championship
Notah Dineh donates custom golf bag; event will be televised live on the Golf Channel April 2 Cortez golf phenom Koehn Kuenzler, age 8, will play with a locally customized golf bag when he competes in the PGA-sponsored Drive, Chip and Putt Championship at the Augusta, Georgia, National Golf Club April 2. Notah Dineh donated the specialized golf bag for Kuenzler to compete in the junior finals tournament, which includes 80 golfers from across the country.
Koehn Kuenzler prepares for Augusta Nationals youth championship
Notah Dineh donates custom golf bag; event will be televised live on the Golf Channel April 2 Cortez golf phenom Koehn Kuenzler, age 8, will play with a locally customized golf bag when he competes in the PGA-sponsored Drive, Chip and Putt Championship at the Augusta, Georgia, National Golf Club April 2. Notah Dineh donated the specialized golf bag for Kuenzler to compete in the junior finals tournament, which includes 80 golfers from across the country.
Sheriff, coroner investigate two deaths Saturday in Montezuma County
Woman found dead off Road 29; man found off Road L Two unrelated deaths reported on Saturday are being investigated by the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office and county coroner. There is no evidence of foul play, but the investigations remain open and final autopsy reports are pending, said Sheriff Steve Nowlin. On Saturday a little after 10 a.m., a woman was found deceased in the 13000 block of Road 29. She was found lying on the east side of the road north of Road N, northeast of Cortez.
Montezuma County steps up eradication of water-guzzling tamarisk and Russian olive
Invasive plants waste water and cause other problems; Bonnie Anderson named Weed Manager of the Year A program by Montezuma County Noxious Weed Department to reduce invasive tamarisk and Russian olive trees continues to expand, and has helped to prompt a national pilot program.
Boy reported missing in Cortez found asleep at home
Police and citizens launched neighborhood search Friday afternoon A 7-year-old boy reported missing prompted an alert and neighborhood search Friday afternoon in Cortez. But the boy was actually never missing, and had been sleeping in a room in the house, said Lt. Andy Brock. “He is a small boy and was taking a nap under a bunch of covers that hid him,” Brock said. The mother did not see him, and the boy’s location was also missed by an officer who searched the room, including under the bed.
Boy reported missing in Cortez returns home
Police and citizens launched neighborhood search Friday afternoon A missing 7-year-old boy prompted an alert and neighborhood search Friday afternoon in Cortez. The boy returned home about about an hour-and-a-half later and was reportedly OK, said Cortez Police Department Lt. Andy Brock.
Concerned neighbors to host meeting about solar projects in Montezuma County
Two large projects planned; county approval needed Opponents of two proposed solar projects that include agricultural land in Montezuma County will have a community meeting April 12 from 6-8 p.m. at the Lewis Grange Community Hall at 20659 Road W in Lewis. “We are concerned citizens providing information providing information on these larger solar projects,” said organizer Landon Wilson.
Driver crashes into sinkhole north of Cortez
A culvert draining a draw became overwhelmed from snowmelt and two days of rain A man driving in fog early Thursday on Montezuma County Road P north of Cortez said he sensed danger ahead and slowed down but still crashed into a large and deep sinkhole. No one was injured, said Montezuma County Sheriff Steve Nowlin, adding that it was fortunate he was driving slowly. The red Jeep Wrangler fell into the sinkhole a little after 4 a.m., said Master Trooper Gary Cutler of the Colorado State Patrol.
Driver crashes into sinkhole on road north of Cortez
No injuries reported; section of Road P closed for repairs A man driving in fog early this morning on County Road P north of Cortez said he sensed danger ahead and slowed down but still crashed into a large and deep sinkhole. No one was injured, said Montezuma County Sheriff Steve Nowlin, adding that it was fortunate he was driving slowly. The red Jeep Wrangler fell into the sinkhole a little after 4 a.m., said Master Trooper Gary Cutler of the Colorado State Patrol.
Galloping Goose No. 5 to ride the rails in Animas Valley
Goose will run spring excursions to Cascade, opening day of Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad trips The Galloping Goose No. 5 rail car of Dolores will offer trips on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad this spring, summer and fall. The Cascade Canyon excursion, 52 miles round trip, departs from Durango and offers magnificent views of the Animas River and the rugged San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado. The schedule is March 18 and 19, April 8, 22, 29, and Aug. 26.
Woman pleads guilty in murder of man south of Cortez
Stipulated plea agreement proposes 24-year sentence; defendant’s sister also charged During a court appearance Tuesday, Tanya Lori Ahasteen pleaded guilty to second-degree murder of Alvin “AJ” Cayatineto on March 9 at his residence south of Cortez. The preliminary plea agreement stipulates a 24-year sentence to the Department of Corrections plus five years of parole, according to Deputy District Attorney Mark Franklin.
Colorado Highway 184 closed because of flooding
Local traffic allowed through; no access to U.S. 491, no estimated time to reopen Colorado Highway 184 is temporarily closed because of flooding, according to Colorado Department of Transportation. The highway is closed form the U.S. Highway 491 junction south of Lewis to the Colorado Highway 145 junction near Dolores. Local traffic is being allowed through, but there is no access to U.S. Highway 491 from Colorado Highway 184 because of the flooding.
Galloping Goose No. 5 to ride the rails in Animas Valley
Goose will run spring excursions to Cascade, opening day of Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad trips The Galloping Goose No. 5 rail car of Dolores will offer trips on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad this spring, summer and fall. The Cascade Canyon excursion, 52 miles round trip, departs from Durango and offers magnificent views of the Animas River and the rugged San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado. The schedule is March 18 and 19, April 8, 22, 29, and Aug. 26.
Jury finds defendant in fatal crash not guilty of homicide charges
Gabrielle Doctor involved in crash on Main Street that fatally injured Cortez man in May In a trial last week at the Montezuma County Combined Courthouse, a jury found Gabrielle D. Doctor not guilty of vehicular homicide and negligent homicide charges in a crash that fatally injured Travis Beeson in May in Cortez.
Woman pleads guilty in murder of man south of Cortez
Stipulated plea agreement proposes 24-year sentence; defendant’s sister also charged During a court appearance Tuesday, Tanya Lori Ahasteen pleaded guilty to second-degree murder of Alvin “AJ” Cayatineto on March 9 at his residence south of Cortez. The preliminary plea agreement stipulates a 24-year sentence to the Department of Corrections plus five years of parole, according to Deputy District Attorney Mark Franklin.
Jury finds defendant in fatal crash not guilty of homicide charges
Gabrielle Doctor involved in crash on Main Street that fatally injured Cortez man in May In a trial last week at the Montezuma County Combined Courthouse, a jury found Gabrielle D. Doctor not guilty of vehicular homicide and negligent homicide charges in a crash that fatally injured Travis Beeson in May in Cortez.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Jim
Contact Jim, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack