There must be a lesson in the sudden, unexpected and accidental death of Chips Barry, manager for nearly two decades of Denver Water, but what is it?

There are always those questions, and few answers when things like this happen. Shame.

At 66, and slated for retirement in a few weeks, Chips died last Sunday when the tractor he was operating flipped over while working on his retirement macadamia nut farm in Hawaii.

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As head of the Front Range metropolitan water supplier, which owns Dillon Reservoir, Chips had a hand in the early days of Frisco Bay Marina and its continuing and successful growth at the end of Main Street.

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Boatyard Pizzeria and Grill owner and distance runner Cindy Spaulding encountered a mountain lion/cougar/puma on a recent early morning run in The Reserve. Luckily she had Rocky, that big Golden Lab, with her.

Over the years, she’s seen a lot of animals, but this is the first big cat.

And writing of the B-yard, Colorado US Senate GOP candidate Jane Norton will be there today, from 5-6:30 p.m., reports Summit County GOP Vice-Chair Lisa Knobel. You’re invited.

Jane was the lieutenant guv with Bill Owens.

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Woodman Tim Sabo will be turning and showing his art objects made from pine beetle kill wood on Sunday, May 9, 3-4 p.m., at the Summit County Commons in Frisco.

“For the demonstration, I plan to bring a lathe or two for people to see and touch, my turning tools and a few chunks of wood to show what turning wood is all about and hopefully make some sawdust,” Tim offers.

Tim studied art and furniture design at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and graduated with a BFA in 1995, and summered at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tenn. 

This free presentation is brought to you by the Summit County Arts Exhibit Committee, says activist Sandy Greenhut, who’s just back from an exciting New York City visit.

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Frisco’s former assistant town manager, Teresa Casey, is now Salida’s city recreation director, according to the Mountain Mail.

Her duties include running that Heart of the Rockies hot springs pool, which just got an insulation upgrade to its piping system. Now, it’s even hotter.

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So who’s been spotted out and about:

Slifer Broker Eddie Bowers, barber Mike Danis, Realtor Maura McCarthy and Mike Riskin, Jane Stebbins (now living in Frisco), Backcountry Brewery’s Woody Van Gundy, Sign Shoppe’s Mark Summers, architect Randy Hodges, Tanya “Ms. Baja” Benyo, Kay and Dr. Jeff McDonald of Boulder, lawyers Monica McElyea and Dave Helmer, Lauren Kull Fisher, Frisco Police Chief Tom Wickman, Pat Phillips, and artist Mary Morley.

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Miles F. Porter IV, nicknamed “Spike,” a Coloradan since 1949, is an Army veteran, former Climax miner, graduate of Adams State College, and a resident of Summit County since 1982. An award-winning investigative reporter, he and wife Mary E. Staby owned newspapers in Summit County for 20 years.

Email your social info to

milesfporteriv@aol.com