Jeep dethrones King of the Mountain

by Andrew Travers, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer

Ski racing fans are the latest victims of the worldwide economic meltdown.

The King of the Mountain racing series has been nixed for the 2008-09 season, less than a month before its first scheduled event in Telluride. The cancellation came after Jeep, the sponsor of the 16-year-old multi-city ski and snowboard event, pulled its funding.

Lawsuit targets air impacts from gas wells

by David Frey, Aspen Daily News Correspondent

Two environmental groups are challenging a plan to allow gas drilling in a remote region of the White River National Forest, but unlike previous challenges, which have mostly focused on the impacts on the ground, this one is focusing on impacts to the air.

Carbondale-based Wilderness Workshop and the Natural Resources Defense Council have filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Denver, arguing that the two federal agencies charged with approving gas drilling in far-flung Hell’s Gulch failed to take into account the threat of worsening air quality as a result of more gas wells.

Aspen Art Museum pulls out of ZG master plan

by Curtis Wackerle, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer

Aspen Art Museum is pulling out of the ZG Master Plan partnership it had with the city and county governments to redevelop a major swath of downtown Aspen, choosing instead to let its proposal to build a new art museum be “evaluated on its own merits.”

Art museum representatives broke the news Tuesday to Aspen’s Planning and Zoning Commission, which has been reviewing the overall ZG Master Plan.

USFS firms up status quo on Richmond Ridge

by Brent Gardner-Smith, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer

The U.S. Forest Service reaffirmed Tuesday it is illegal to drive a snowmobile up and down winter-only roads set by Aspen Mountain Powder Tours or to drive through fresh fields of snow off of Richmond Ridge Road near the top of Aspen Mountain.

Aspen-Sopris District Ranger Irene Davidson said Forest Service enforcement officials will be patrolling the lower Richmond Ridge area on snowmobiles this winter and they expect to issue $275 tickets to snowmobile drivers who stray from county roads.

City eyes B’Game bond vote in 2009

by Curtis Wackerle, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer

Aspen City Council agreed with a recommendation from city staff this week to put off asking voters to authorize bonds to build out Burlingame from May until November 2009.

The action was recommended over concerns about the economy and bond markets, as well as a desire to have more time to seek approval from the Burlingame homeowners association for an increased density plan.

Obituary — Abraham Flores Ramirez

Aspen Daily News Staff Report
July 29, 1988-Nov. 15, 2008

Abraham Flores Ramirez, 20, of Carbondale, died Nov. 15, 2008. Abraham was born on July 29, 1988, in Mexico City to Arturo Sanchez and Juana Ramirez Gomez. Abraham is survived by his parents; brothers, Luis Alberto Flores and Alfonso Flores; grandparents, Antonio A. and Catalina G.; uncle, Victor R.; aunt, Judith L.; as well as cousins, friends and loved ones.

Last call

by Kai Beech, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer
Editor's note: Staff writer Kai Beech was a barkeep at Cooper Street Pier and has seen some super shady business go down there. His obituary on this once-profitable establishment is served on the rocks with a triple shot of objectivity and a twist of "Do you really know what happened between those dirty brick walls?"

Cooper Street Pier, Aspen's last dive bar, passed away in the early hours of Thursday, Nov. 13, surrounded by a crowd of devoted and drunk patrons who were there to mourn, celebrate and take advantage of the closing night's half-off deal on all purchases. The saloon was 35 years old.

News in brief

Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer
Sponsor the Basalt tree lighting

The Basalt Chamber is reminding businesses there's still time to sponsor the Basalt Peace Tree Lighting held on Friday, Dec. 5, from 4 to 6 p.m. The event includes the arrival of Santa, horse-drawn wagon rides and hot bowls of chili and hot chocolate. Businesses donating $100 or more will be listed in a thank-you ad after the event, and businesses donating $500 or more will have their banner hung at the event, and can have a booth. Call 927-4031 or visit info@basaltchamber.com.

Face time: Our weekly profile of a local business community member

Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer
Jeff Hanle
Director of Public Relations, Aspen Skiing Company

Movers & Shakers

Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer
SOCIAL BRINGS IN NEW MANAGEMENT

A year after Social opened, a set of new management is moving into the Restaurant Row locale. Rob Wilson has been named executive chef and Christian Henrichon will be the new general manager when the restaurant reopens for business on Nov. 25.

Resort report: What's happening in other resort communities

Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer
VAIL: RESORTS HAVE MORE COMPETITION THAN EACH OTHER

Vail Resorts CEO Robert Katz recently told a standing-room-only crowd at Beaver Run Resort on Monday that "we're rapidly going from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows in a very short time period," according to the Summit Daily News. Following an "incredible growth streak" since 2003 that put Vail Resorts — which includes Breckenridge and Keystone — in good financial shape, the recent economic downturn has left destination spots scrambling for tourists. While it's typically been ski resorts which compete with one another, this year the competition is stiffened by scraping for dollars from visitors who are also considering places like Hawaii or cruises.

All business: Investors holding up mortgage modifications

by Rachel Beck, Mountain Business Journal Columnist
NEW YORK — The federal government keeps bailing out the financial industry, but some working in that world seem reluctant to do their part, even if that could help stem the financial system's meltdown.

At the center of today's economic and credit crisis is the rising tide of home foreclosures, which government agencies and some large banks are trying to address by allowing borrowers to modify their mortgages.

Why do Americans hate Haiti?

by Susie Scott Krabacher
It’s entirely possible that Haiti, known as the “Jewel of the Caribbean” during the ’70s and early ’80s, could have been a flourishing independent economic success today. Haiti’s acumen in the trade of
sugarcane and textiles and its bewitching allure for adventure-seeking tourists could easily have translated into prosperity. Haiti was a destination to some of America’s most affluent jet-setters, including Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Mick Jagger and the Kennedy’s. Bill and Hillary Clinton even spent their honeymoon there!

More non-wilderness areas needed

by Adam L. Reiner
Editor:

Regarding the article “Environmentalists hope for ‘sea change’ under Obama administration” (ADN, Nov. 17): As a hunter, climber, snowboarder, and backpacker that uses Colorado’s wilderness areas more than the average person, I don’t believe we need more wilderness designations. The thousands of acres of current wilderness allow recreational users to get miles and miles away from civilization, but most users do not go any farther than two or three miles. To the rest of us that go “way out there,” we understand that there is plenty of space available to both human and animal. There is no “overcrowding” of wilderness by backcountry users. Environmentalists may argue that we need more space to protect wildlife, but the statistics show that a big-game hunter has no more than a 20 percent chance of success, which implies that most humans do not travel far enough into the backcountry to truly “pressure” the animals.

To a great prep sports season

by Ashley Allison
Editor:

GrassRoots TV12 would like to give a big thanks and congratulations to the 2008 Aspen High School football and volleyball teams and of course their fabulous coaches and parents. Congratulations to you all on an amazing season!

Cub Scouts provide for the needy

by Mark Murphy
Editor:

On behalf of the boys, parents, and leaders of Basalt Cub Scout Pack 242, I would like to thank the Basalt and El Jebel communities, City Market, El Jebowl, and J’s Place in El Jebowl for their generous support of Pack 242’s annual food drive and bowl-a-thon last weekend.

Middle-class mediocrity

by Ronald Paulson
Editor:

Obama continues to give us hope about the changes he will bring with his brand-new idea of a stimulus plan for the middle class. By doing this, we can build the economy from the bottom up and those middle-class people will get their fair share. OK, stop right there and let me ask you a question. When did it become so holy and pure to be mediocre in America? We hear political rhetoric that would have you believe that it is noble to be in the middle class. You are average … let me worship the ground you walk on. Tell me your secret, oh wise middle-class man. What’s your secret to showing up late, leaving early, surfing the Web at work and spending all your free time watching TV? No don’t pick up a book and learn about economics. You worked a whole seven hours today, so inhale that fried food and chug down that sugary drink and deepen the imprint of your pear-shaped body into that Lazy Boy. Then demand that I provide universal health care when you need your hips and knees replaced. After all, you have a right to “free” (translated: I get to pay for your) health care, it’s in the Constitution. (Actually, it isn’t but since you don’t read anyway, you probably don’t know that.)

This isn’t a boring column

by Lynn Burton
This column is not meant to be boring, although the complete headline should read: “This isn’t a boring column; new and descriptive accounting terms in the local government budget process.”

Say what?