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Cheers and jeers

Cheers: To Summit County voters for investing themselves in Tuesday’s election issues and creating a large voter turnout.

Twenty-seven percent of the county’s active voters hit the polls, which may not sound like much, but it is about 10 percent more than in the past three odd-year elections. Local election officials were thrilled.

Perhaps it was the contentiousness of some of the issues, specifically the smoking ban. If one issue captures the attention of the voting public, that can carry participation for the entire ballot. But there was also the school board positions and the statewide water referendum that drove interest in this ballot.



We can surely do better than 27 percent. Still, congratulations for caring about the issues and making your opinions heard.

Cheers: To the Summit County Drug Task Force for cracking down on cocaine use in Breckenridge with four arrests last week, including arrests of the owners of a local restaurant.



We were beginning to wonder where law enforcement was on the reality of drugs in Summit County. Knowing that police are working with long-range goals (this bust took two months to investigate and pursue) and with undercover agents – the use of which precipitated the arrests in this case – shows that Summit County law enforcement is not looking the other way. Far from it.

Jeers: To Mike Smith, general manager of Fort Collins Utilities for his comment about water shortages during the past year’s drought (SDN, Nov. 3).

The city is considering a major expansion of its Halligan Reservoir. Smith said, “If we had had the Halligan expansion online … we probably could have gotten through this drought without water restrictions at all.”

It is this attitude that is causing shortages in the first place. Keeping our lawns green is costing us dearly. Our attitude should be to conserve as much as we can.

Cheers: To Park County residents and government officials for finalizing plans for a $2 million recreation center in Fairplay. We all know what an enrichment recreation centers can be – we have two beautiful facilities here in Summit County. In Park County, where rural life is a constant and pride comes from the fact that not much ever changes, residents stand to get a strong shot in the arm from this facility. Ground is set to break this month, and the building could be up and running by next winter.

Park Countians are staunch in their love for their way of life. A state-of-the-art rec center, complete with a pool, exercise and weight rooms, locker rooms and a community meeting area will only improve it.

Cheers: To the Countywide Planning Commission and the Summit County Commissioners for officially changing the name of the bike path to the “recreation path.” Hey, it’s not just for bikers anymore. Never was, really. Now the name reflects that, and walkers, in-line skaters, skate-skiers … everyone will feel welcome.


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