The Pitkin Miner - Pitkin Colorado

The Pitkin Miner
Spring 2014 Edition
Published April 11, 2014. Updated April 29, May 5, May 30 and June 19, 2014.
*REVERSE 911 LINK for Cell Phone Users who have homes here: pg. 6*
*CALENDAR is at the very end of this document.*
June 19, 2014
Pitkin is getting busier and the weather has been wonderful! Some nights we
still have lows in the high 20’s and low 30’s, and highs are usually in the mid60s. There has not been much rain lately but there’s a little chance over the
next few days.
SILVER PLUME GRILL
Customer Bob Nuttelman of Colorado Springs and Pitkin receives his (and my)
delicious brisket sandwiches this evening at the Silver Plume Grill, served by
the smiling Stephanie Weir and Cory Nasso who now live in Pitkin and help out
Cory’s parents, Chris and Kandy Nasso at the store and grill!
From inside of the recently-completed dining area, with Tayler McCrery’s
hanging flower baskets displayed, for sale through the Silver Plume General
Store.
Chris Nasso chats with Bob Nuttelman, my brother-in-law, June 19, 2014.
Silver Plume Grill with seating both inside the tent and outside in the fresh air
and sun.
The Silver Plume General Store has been open since early May and has become
the Place to Be in Pitkin once again! Mornings, the chairs on the deck are
usually full of coffee-drinkers enjoying the beautiful mornings.
Side-by-side ATVs are available for rent at the Silver Plume. The Silver Plume
also has lodging in their two apartments. They can be reached at 970-6413866 for more information. Check http://www.silverplumegeneralstore.com for
more details, the menu of the grill, prices of rentals of these ATVs and in the
winter, snowmobiles, and general information.
The Silver Plume celebrates the 50th anniversary this summer with a Street
Dance to be held on July 19, 2014 at the Silver Plume! Any people who
formerly owned the Silver Plume are being contacted – or at least an attempt is
being made to contact them, so that hopefully lots of former Silver Plume
owners will be here, too!
PITKIN CAFÉ NOW OPEN
The Pitkin Café at Main Street and 5th Streets opened up for the season today!
The Pitkin Café offers burgers, pizza, and Mexican food along with handscooped ice cream, shakes, cones, snow cones, homemade brownies, and fruit
pies! Proprietor Larry Miller has been here in Pitkin since sometime in early
May and is doing well. Diane
Pitkin Café, closed this evening, but it was open today for business! June 19,
2014
May 30, 2014
Spring has sprung here in Pitkin! The moose are being seen regularly in the
Middle Quartz area, bear tracks have been found in town, and the creek is up!
Earlier this week there was a very small storm burst that damaged some
property near the Quartz Creek between State Street and River Street around
the 700 block. This is quite rare for Pitkin. A piece of metal was seen flying up
in the air and it reportedly landed in the Quartz Creek.
Summer residents are trickling in and the Silver Plume General Store is
bustling. The Pitkin Café is also getting ready to open up for the season. The
Silver Plume is now selling food throughout the day and the Nassos’ son Corey
and his fiancé Stephanie have moved up to Pitkin to help Chris and Kandy out!
Please remember that there is a public meeting on Tuesday, June 10, at 5:00
p.m. at the Newcomb Community Center, put on by the US Postal Service,
regarding the Pitkin Post Office. As many people as possible should attend!
SAD NEWS
Earlier this week I heard that Gerald Peterie passed away. He was a regular
summer resident of Pitkin for many years, with a home on Main Street. I know
that many have missed seeing him since he quit coming up in the summer just
a few years ago, and it’s sad to see him go.
Here is Gerald Peterie’s obituary:
Peterie, William “Gerald”, 95, was born April 11, 1919 and passed away on
Wednesday, May 21, 2014. He was a WWII U.S. Army veteran having served in
the Pacific Theatre and Japanese occupation. Gerald was preceded in death by
his parents, Jesse T. and Blanche (Bailey) Peterie; his first wife of 61 years,
Mary Louise (Brant) Peterie; his sisters, Fanelle Lampkins, Edith Hoyt and
Claudine Raleigh. Survivors include his wife, Jody Sondergard Peterie; his
children, Bill (Anita), Cindy (Thad), Tom (Nancy), and Jon (Janet); Jody’s
children, Mark (Ann), Sanna (Jon), and Steve (Ryta); 7 grandchildren; 18 great
grandchildren whom he loved to watch play at gatherings. Visitation with the
family present, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Tuesday; service, 11:30 a.m. Tuesday both
at First United Methodist Church, 330 N. Broadway. Burial will follow at 4:30
p.m. Tuesday in the Ellenwood Cemetery, Sawyer, KS. Memorial contributions
may be made to the Pitkin Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 235, Pitkin,
CO 81241.
Gerald Peterie, who passed away on May 21, 2014
May 5, 2014
Post Office Town Meeting, June 10, 5:00 p.m.
Please mark on your calendars that the U.S. Postal Service Post Office Town
Meeting to discuss the new operating hours for the Pitkin Post Office will be
held on Tuesday, June 10, at 5:00 p.m., at the Newcomb Community Center
here in Pitkin. It is important that as many people as possible attend this
meeting! Thank you!
April 29, 2014
Sad News Wendell Doonan, a long-time part-time resident of Pitkin passed away on
Sunday, April 27. Wendell was often seen riding his 4-wheeler in Pitkin with
two medium-sized poodles in a basket on the front. He was well-known and
loved here among all residents. Wendell’s step-daughter Jody Wise and her
husband John Wise live here in Pitkin full-time and their address is Mr. & Mrs.
John Wise, PO Box 165, Pitkin, CO 81241. Wendell Doonan is survived by his
wife Mary Jane Doonan, whose address is P.O. Box 1246. Great Bend, KS
67530. Here is Wendell’s obituary posted this afternoon on the internet.
Wendell M. Doonan, 91, died April 27, at Eckstein Center - Hospice of the Valley
in Scottsdale, Ariz. He was born Feb. 27, 1923, in Great Bend, the son of
Clarence Cecil and Florence Roberta (Bowyer) Doonan. On Jan. 31, 1944, he
married Wanda Lee Wolf in Hoisington. She died Oct. 19, 1980. He then married
Mary Jane (Stricker) Reich on March 12, 1983, in Great Bend.
A lifetime Great Bend resident, Mr. Doonan founded Doonan Truck and
Equipment in 1947, an Oliver farm equipment dealership which was housed in a
small building north of Great Bend on Highway 281. In 1950, the dealership was
moved to north Main Street and a service station was added. Four years later,
the GMC Truck franchise was secured and another move was made to a new
building on Main Street. In 1961, the dealership moved to 10th Street and the
281 By-pass as a result of the new building burning.
The Peterbilt truck line was added in 1964. A new facility at the Highway 56
and 156 junction was opened in 1970 due to increased business where the
present-day dealership is located. The Doonan Trailer facility was added in 1974
where Doonan’s own design of grain trailers, oilfield beds, pressure tanks, and
flatbed and drop-deck trailers were manufactured. Mr. Doonan eventually had
satellite dealerships in Wichita, Liberal, Garden City, and Grand Island, Neb.
Those, with the exception of Great Bend and Wichita, have all been sold and the
two remaining dealerships are owned and operated by his son, Kenny Doonan.
Mr. Doonan was a member of First United Methodist Church, Lions Club, A. F. &
A. M. Masonic Lodge #15, and Isis Shrine, all of Great Bend; and Ascension
Lutheran Church and ROMEOs at Ascension Lutheran Church in Paradise
Valley, Ariz.
Mr. Doonan is survived by his wife, Mary Jane Doonan, of the home; three sons,
Maurice Doonan of Kingman, Kenny Doonan and his wife Sue of Wichita, and
Warren Doonan and his wife Jeanne of Hoisington; one sister, Evelyn Graham of
Washington; one sister-in-law, Lila Doonan; nine grandchildren, Kelly Husher
and her husband Steve, Dan Doonan and wife Debbie, Brian Doonan and his
wife Shannon, Brent Doonan, Jennifer Pece and her husband Steve, Aaron
Doonan and his wife Gina, Jarrod Doonan and his wife Lyndsay, Chelsea Coon
and her husband Chris, and Darren Doonan and his wife Sabrina; 12 greatgrandchildren, Madison Husher, Jacob Husher, Cassidy Husher, Quin Doonan,
Brock Doonan, Preston Doonan, Ava Doonan, Jaxson Doonan, Liam Doonan,
Jacey Doonan, Taetym Doonan, and Jovie Coon; one step-son, Tim Reich; one
step-daughter, Jody Wise and her husband John; and three step-grandchildren,
Lindsay Reich, Chandler Reich, and Alex Wise. He was preceded in death by one
daughter, Dorothy Roberta Doonan; one step-son, Brian Reich; two brothers,
Robert Doonan and Willard Doonan; and one sister, Margarite McAnulla.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday at the First United Methodist
Church in Great Bend with the Reverend Judy Stricker officiating. Burial will be
at Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with family
receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m., on Thursday, at Bryant Funeral Home.
Memorials are requested to First United Methodist Church or Shrine Travel Fund
or Ascencion Lutheran Church, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be
sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, Ks. 67530
Great Bend (Kansas) Tribune, April 30, 2014
LAST CHANCE on PHCA FLAG CONTEST
Judging for the PHCA Pitkin Flag Contest will be held on very soon, so please
get your entries to Nancy Mitchell as soon as possible!
Here are the details of the Flag Design Contest. I apologize for the lateness of
this article. Due to my husband’s illness and then his death, all in a 5-1/2week period, my life in general became pretty disorganized and difficult. I
haven’t been functioning quite normally but things are getting a bit better, so
here you go:
A Flag Design Contest!
In 2014 we will be celebrating Pitkin’s 135th anniversary! As part of the
celebration, we would like to have a town flag. PHCA is holding a contest for
flag design and we encourage you to submit an entry.
The design should be 11” x 14” in size. Your proposal should include colors.
Submit those entries by May 8 to Nancy Mitchell, PO Box 121, Pitkin, CO
81241. Make sure your phone number and return address are included.
Questions can be sent to Nancy Mitchell at [email protected], or acll 970275-5849.
A joint committee of Town Council Trustees and PHCA Board Members will
judge the entries. The contest winner will be announced on Memorial Day.
Judges’ choices will be final.
POST OFFICE NEWS
Last Monday, April 19, Pitkin’s Postmaster Darwin Geesey started his new
Postmaster position in South Fork, Colorado. Now our Post Office is expected to
be closing down to just 2 hours a day by early August, from what I have been
told.
On June 10, a Tuesday, there will be a Postal Service “Town Hall Meeting” held
most likely before our scheduled Pitkin Town Meeting. The location has not yet
been decided. If at all possible, please try to attend this special meeting put on
by the U.S. Postal Service. The more people attending this meeting, the better
for the future of our local Post Office.
April 11, 2014
SUMMER PLANS IN THE QUARTZ CREEK VALLEY
QCIA 5K and 10K RACE
The Quartz Creek Property Improvement Association (QCPIA), an organization
of residents of the entire Quartz Creek Valley, is planning a 5K and 10K Walk
up Gold Creek from Ohio City on August 16, 2014! They now have both a
Facebook Page found at Ohio City Gold Rush 5K 10K on Facebook, and their
own website at http://www.goldrush5k10k.com/, where people can donate,
register and learn more about the route, view sponsors, and get area
information! If you have further questions, the organizers can be emailed at
[email protected].
PHCA FLAG CONTEST and BEARD-GROWING CONTEST
The Pitkin Historical and Community Association is planning a celebration of
Pitkin’s 135th Anniversary this summer. They are asking for people to submit
designs for a Pitkin 135th Anniversary Flag and they are also planning to hold a
beard-growing contest among the men.
For more information, please email Nancy Mitchell at [email protected]
(for now…I emailed her for more information that I will include here in the
Miner when I get the info).
Note: I have more info now (April 11) but I have to figure out where I put it. The
past month is kind of a big blur for me.
SEPTIC INSPECTIONS DUE THIS YEAR
I was in a big hurry when I printed out and copied form letters to send out to
Pitkin property owners who are due for a septic inspection. I apologize that I
made some type of clerical error and I sent letters to people who had already
had their systems inspected in the last year. When I get time (it could be
another month or so), I will be in contact with those who were notified in error
to let them know when their system is REALLY due for a septic inspection. I
have not yet had a chance to figure out exactly what I did, or whether there
may still be some reports from inspectors or from septic pumpers which I never
received. I do know that septic pumpers very, very rarely ever send me a report,
so I will add a note to the Septic Inspection Information sheet that I send out
each year with the letters that property owners need to themselves send me a
copy of their dated receipt for having their septic tank pumped. There really is,
however, no good reason to just arbitrarily decide to have your septic system
pumped: that costs hundreds of dollars and having an inspection by one of our
local septic inspectors only costs $30. Then they will advise you if in fact your
system does need to be pumped (and they will not charge you the $30)…and
sometimes they will suggest alternatives, such as adding a product to your
tank that will help the necessary bacteria to flourish.
IMPORTANT: REGISTER YOUR CELL PHONE FOR REVERSE 911 CALLS UPDATED
Update as of March 27, 2014, Gunnison Country Times story: “A new
emergency notification system intended to save lives and money – and that
takes advantage of new technology – is now online throughout Gunnison,
Hinsdale and parts of Saguache counties. The Gunnison/Hinsdale Emergency
Telephone Service Authority (GHETSA) has switched from Twenty First Century
Communications to CodeRED. CodeRED is a high-speed telephone emergency
notification that allows public safety personnel to send messages directly to
residents during an emergency. The system was used recently to notify Taylor
Canyon residents of avalanches in the area.”
For those who are in the Pitkin area at summer homes and who have
disconnected your local Gunnison area phone numbers, please note the
following:
REGIONAL EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS: To register your Voice over IP (VoIP)
or Wireless Telephones, please use the link provided just below to go to the
Intrado Target Notification System (TNS) and fill out the registration form. Each
number provided will be added to the regional emergency database to receive
voice notifications when your address is impacted by a disaster or emergency.
Each number can only be associated with one address in the system. Copy
and paste this link into your interner browser.
https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/BF7ED953CC69
If you are registered, you will receive a Reverse 911 call in case of emergency.
Pitkin Calendar of Events 2013
Saturday, April 12 – QCIA Meeting & Pot Luck Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Ohio City
Town Hall
Saturday, May 10 – QCIA Valley Clean-up followed by a Pot Luck Lunch at
noon at the Ohio City Town Hall.
Tuesday, May 13 – Pitkin Town Meeting, Pitkin Town Hall, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 4 – PHCA’s Bunco begins at 10:00 a.m. at the Newcomb
Community Center. Come at 9:30 for food and fellowship before the game.
Monday, June 9 – PHCA Board Meeting, 2:00 p.m. at Newcomb Community
Center
Tuesday, June 10 – Pitkin Town Meeting, Pitkin Town Hall, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 11 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, June 14 – QCIA Meeting & Pot Luck Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Ohio City
Town Hall.
Wednesday, June 18 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, June 19 – PHCA Movies in the Mountains, 7:00 p.m., Newcomb
Community Center
Monday, June 23 – PHCA Board Meeting, 2:00 p.m. at Newcomb Community
Center.
Wednesday, June 25 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m, Newcomb Community Center
Friday, June 27 – PHCA Pot Luck Dinner and PHCA General Meeting, 6:30
p.m., Newcomb Community Center
Sunday, June 29 – PHCA’s Pancake Breakfast, 8:00 a.m. til noon, Newcomb
Community Center
Wednesday, July 2 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m., Newcomb Community Center
Saturday, July 5 – Pitkin Fireman’s Day! PHCA’s 4th of July Parade at 3:00
p.m. Times for Fire Department’s Dinner and Dance to be announced.
Monday, July 7 – PHCA Board Meeting, 2:00 p.m., Newcomb Community
Center
Tuesday, July 8 – Pitkin Town Meeting, Pitkin Town Hall, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 9 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m., Newcomb Community Center
Thursday, July 10 – PHCA’s Movies in the Mountains, 7:00 p.m., Newcomb
Community Center
Saturday, July 12 – QCIA Meeting & Pot Luck Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Ohio City
Town Hall.
Tuesday, July 15 – PHCA’s Family Bunco Night, 7:00 p.m., Newcomb
Community Center
Wednesday, July 16 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m., Newcomb Community Center
Friday, July 18 – PHCA Pot Luck Dinner and Annual General Meeting, 6:30
p.m., Newcomb Community Center
Monday, July 21 – PHCA Board Meeting, 2:00 p.m., Newcomb Community
Center
Wednesday, July 23 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m., Newcomb Community Center
Thursday, Friday & Saturday, July 24, 25 and 26 – PHCA’s Pitkin Melodrama
at 7:00 p.m., featuring the Pitkin Town Players at Pitkin Town Hall
Saturday, July 26 – Pitkin Day – Activities all day – schedule to be provided
closer to the date.
Sunday, July 27 – PHCA’s Pitkin Melodrama Matinee at 4:00 p.m. at Pitkin
Town Hall
Wednesday, July 30 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m., Newcomb Community Center
Monday, August 4 - PHCA Board Meeting, 2:00 p.m, Newcomb Community
Center
Wednesday, August 6 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m., Newcomb Community
Center
Thursday, August 7 – PHCA Movies in the Mountains, 7:00 p.m., Newcomb
Community Center
Saturday, August 9 – QCIA Meeting & Pot Luck Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Ohio City
Town Hall.
Sunday, August 10 – PHCA Pancake Breakfast, 8:00 a.m. til noon, Newcomb
Community Center
Tuesday, August 12 – Pitkin Town Meeting, Pitkin Town Hall, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 13 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m., Newcomb Community
Center
Friday, August 15 – PHCA Pot Luck Dinner and General Meeting, 6:30 p.m.,
Newcomb Community Center
Monday, August 18 – PHCA Board Meeting, 2:00 p.m., Newcomb Community
Center
Wednesday, August 20 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m., Newcomb Community
Center
Thursday, August 21 – PHCA Movie in the Mountains, 7:00 p.m., Newcomb
Community Center
Wednesday, August 27 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m., Newcomb Community
Center
Sunday, August 31 – PHCA Pancake Breakfast, 8:00 a.m. til noon, Newcomb
Community Center
Tuesday, September 2 – PHCA Board Meeting, 2:00 p.m., Newcomb Community
Center
Wednesday, September 3 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m., Newcomb Community
Center
Friday, September 5 – PHCA/QCIA Joint Pot Luck Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Newcomb
Community Center
Tuesday, September 9 – Pitkin Town Meeting, Pitkin Town Hall, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 10 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m., Newcomb Community
Center
Saturday, September 13 – QCIA Meeting & Pot Luck Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Ohio
City Town Hall.
Saturday, October 11 – QCIA Meeting & Pot Luck Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Ohio City
Town Hall.
Tuesday, October 14 – Pitkin Town Meeting, Pitkin Town Hall, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 8 – QCIA Meeting & Pot Luck Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Ohio City
Town Hall
Tuesday, November 11 – Pitkin Town Meeting, Pitkin Town Hall, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, December 9 – Pitkin Town Meeting, Pitkin Town Hall, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 13 – QCIA Meeting & Pot Luck Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Ohio
City Town Hall
Wednesday, December 24 – Christmas Eve Service at Pitkin Community
Church, 6:00 p.m.