SandBox Comments: Aspen Times/Melanie Sturm "Freedom to choose applies to Komen"

A local favorite, Melanie Sturm.  Up on the Aspen Times.

"...Stumbling and stammering through a 72-hour public-relations debacle, Komen finally waved the white flag by apologizing “for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women's lives.” Later, Nancy Pelosi triumphantly declared, “Women's health has a big victory this morning.”

Pelosi should heed Shakespeare's admonition: “Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot that it do singe yourself.” In truth, this unfortunate dust-up between two significant women's health organizations was less one giant leap for womankind and more one small step for abortion. Now in the line of fire from both sides of the abortion debate, Komen is beaten and bloodied, as is its potential “to end breast cancer forever.” Furthermore, women's health advocates undermined their credibility by accusing Komen of hurting women, even though they knew the redirected funds were meager and would be redeployed well.

Not as obvious is the longer-term damage to Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider and arguably the most politically polarizing social service organization despite delivering vital (non-abortion) health services to millions of lower-income women. Though Planned Parenthood banked $3 million from the crisis, in making them the Roach Motel of charities — you may enter, but never leave — zealous pro-choice supporters of Planned Parenthood frighten would-be funders and affiliates.

Herein lie the rub, hypocrisy and stunning irony: When those who purport to be “pro-choice” tell a private charity like Komen they must pass a litmus test outside its mission's boundaries “or else,” they're not only depriving Komen of choice, they're denying Komen the freedom to act in accordance with its primary interest — to prevent death due to breast cancer. Why can't pro-choice advocates call Komen a blessing and say, Amen?

To those who frame the abortion argument around a woman's right to choose, Think Again. Otherwise, the Komen Foundation and breast cancer victims won't be the last hostages holed up at Hotel California, where “You can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave...!” (Read the article?  Click title)

Melanie Sturm lives in Aspen. Her column runs every other Thursday. She reminds readers to Think Again. You might change your mind.

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Hot Air Blog "The strange budget priorities of Obama: Subsidizing car purchases for the 1% over poor children and airline safety"

Ed Morrissey:
"In my column for The Fiscal Times today, I remind readers that budgets are statements of priorities. 

Barack Obama’s budget shows his priorities on many levels, both at the macro and micro level.  Given the large amount of new spending and higher taxes, it’s very easy to conclude at the macro level that Obama doesn’t think that spending reductions are a priority at all.  How about on the micro level?  Changes to three different programs give an even clearer indication of Obama’s priorities...."
(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Red State "The Competitive Disadvantage of Principle "

Erick Erickson:
"If you have not read it, this is a fascinating article in the New York Times. The crux of the article is the title — even critics of the safety net increasingly depend on it.

The article profiles a number of people who take advantage of the federal social safety net and are increasingly resentful of it. The solutions on fixing it vary. The angry, for some, may or may not be misplaced. The article reads as a Rorschach test on your ideology — liberals will read it and find the people hypocritical. Conservatives will read it and find it all maddening.

The key paragraphs of the whole article comes toward the beginning:

"The government safety net was created to keep Americans from abject poverty, but the poorest households no longer receive a majority of government benefits. A secondary mission has gradually become primary: maintaining the middle class from childhood through retirement. The share of benefits flowing to the least affluent households, the bottom fifth, has declined from 54 percent in 1979 to 36 percent in 2007, according to a Congressional Budget Office analysis published last year.

And as more middle-class families … land in the safety net …, anger at the government has increased alongside. Many people say they are angry because the government is wasting money and giving money to people who do not deserve it. But more than that, they say they want to reduce the role of government in their own lives. They are frustrated that they need help, feel guilty for taking it and resent the government for providing it. They say they want less help for themselves; less help in caring for relatives; less assistance when they reach old age. [Emphasis added]"

In other words, the United States is increasingly taxing the middle class to subsidize the middle class. All the talk about the poor and what the safety net is designed to do for the poor overlooks that the government has taken it upon itself to keep the middle class from falling into the poorer classes of society....."
(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News/Jeremy Madden "Droppin’ dimes on the dopeman"

ZG and Buffalo Springfield:  "....somethin happening here...what it is ain't exactly clear....there's a man with a gun over there...telling me I got to be aware...stop, children....watch that sound...everybody look what's goin down..."

Jeremy Madden:
"....My interest was particularly piqued because of the commonalties occurring in both cases. Not only were the busts both in February, they were both initiated by an anonymous source who dropped a dime on the suspected local dopeman. These connections could be pure coincidence, and if they were the only details linking the cases it might not seem so special. However, there is also another common thread connecting the cases that has made me even more curious.

That common thread is the level of investigation that each unnamed source undertook to tackle these dopemen. The information provided in each case went way beyond the average accusation. In fact, you might even call the work that these do gooders have done as undercover....." 

(whisper...whisper...lordy, lordy...madden's getting suspicious...whisper..stop now...keep the shadow community alive and well...whisper...whisper...maybe jeremy should run against di salvo next...whisper...whisper...)

Jeremy Madden:
"..In the curious case of the Bentley’s bust, Basalt police reportedly received still images and video from an unnamed source showing cocaine being packaged for sale in the kitchen area of Bentley’s. The Basalt authorities then passed this info onto Aspen’s finest who executed an excellent bust on the restaurant and some suspects’ homes. 

To obtain the still and moving images the dime dropper must have been very close and trusted by the drug dealers to be able to capture the images so surreptitiously. However, what initially attracted my attention to the case was why the information was passed first to Basalt officials and not directly to those in Aspen...."

(whisper...whisper....they'll never be able to figure it out...it's all good...here's to 'anonymous' and the little guy....let freedom ring....whisper...whisper...)

Jeremy Madden:
"...In the second and most recent case we have an anonymous letter delivered to the Aspen Police Department allegedly written by the father of a teenage girl who was understandably unhappy that his daughter got some drugs from the alleged drug dealer. This dime dropper delivered information about where the drugs were hidden, scales for weighing, pot plants in the apartment, all the way down to details about the ingredients the drugs were cut with.

It is an amazing amount of detail. Even the letter admits it is. In a story by Rick Carroll in the Aspen Times about the bust, the letter writer is quoted as, “After a thorough investigation I have found out the following about the drug dealer.” Darn right it was thorough. Once again, we have an anonymous source getting extremely close to a suspected drug dealer and passing that info onto police...."

(whisper...whisper...here's to the quiet anonymous tipster(s) who don't want to lose life as they know it by being socially brutalized and ganged up on by certain social sectors of the valley....whisper...whisper...moms, dads, common folks....whisper...whisper...who're fed up with elected officials not doing their jobs...whisper...whisper...the commons are looking for a hero and until one gets here they'll step up as much as they can....whisper...whisper...the crazy part isn't how close the anonymous source(s)  can get...whisper...the craziness is how easy it is to do...whisper...makes you wonder why it's not getting done by those who should be doing the job...whisper...whisper....wonder if madden, abraham or the boyd will  pick up on that tidbit tip and run with finding out why....whisper...whisper...sure would be safer for the common folks...whisper...whisper...)


Jeremy Madden:
"...The amount of undercover work done in each case was no easy task and those who did it put themselves in considerable danger in obtaining the information. Perhaps it is the result of my over active imagination, along with reading one too many comic books, but I cannot help but wonder if there is more than meets the eye when considering these cases.

It is no secret that there is a vocal group of valley residents who do not agree with the upper valley’s stance when it comes to undercover operations in downing drug dealers. They are not happy that Aspen and Pitkin County employ only certain tools when it comes to combating the scourge of illegal drugs. I cannot wonder if there is a person or group of people out there who, at considerable risk to themselves, are aiding local law enforcement officials in an effort to clean up Aspen? Just like Superman and Batman hid their identities with masks, the dime droppers hide their identities with an abundance of information that cannot be ignored...."

(whisper...whisper...he's sort of,  kind of like becoming a 'hero writer' isn't he....jeremy madden....whisper... whisper...tellin ya...nothing gets past him...everybody waits for his columns...whisper...whisper...)


Jeremy Madden:
"...An active imagination is tough to rein in and it can move from the heroic to the horrible in the blink of an eye. Perhaps the dime dropper does not have the best intentions at heart and there is a sinister scandal afoot. Despite the sunny, clear blue skies and clouds that are whiter than rice, Aspen can be a pretty dark place. Although improbable, it is not impossible that another dopeman has purloined a page from the playbook of Boston crime boss Whitey Bulger and is taking out the competition with a little help from the law....."  (whisper...whisper.......lol.....oh, how we love Madden...and they all wonder where we get our schtick...whisper...whisper...)


("....someone is droppin dimes on the dopeman....")

Here's to the hearts, the courage and the creativity of the little guy.

Let freedom ring.

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: KKCO 11 News "Extras being recruited for 'The Lone Ranger' "

....news flash....news flash....breaking news...hot tip...news flash..news flash...

SandBox has nominated that daring duo over on the Eagle County Times:  'kemosabe' and 'tonto' as extras to star next to Johnny Depp.

Inquiring minds want to know.

Will our avatar heroes take a chance?  Will they be moving to Hollywood?  How would we know?  We don't even know who they really are!

Stay tuned.

SandBox Comments: Town Hall/Victor Davis Hanson "Please, A Little Honesty About Illegal Immigration"

Victor Davis Hanson:
"President Barack Obama recently assured El Salvador that the United States would not deport more 200,000 Salvadorans residing illegally in the United States. As the election nears, and the president looks to court Hispanic voters, he also created a new position of "public advocate" for illegal immigrants. His duties would appear to be to advocate that millions circumvent, rather than follow, current federal law.

The administration has also said it will focus enforcement only on those who have committed crimes -- with the implicit understanding that it is no longer a crime to illegally enter and reside in the United States. In contrast, Obama has caricatured those supporting completion of a fence on the border as wanting to place alligators in the Rio Grande.

It is time that Americans revisit the issue and ponder very carefully the morality of entering the United States illegally.

True, American employers have welcomed in illegal aliens as a source of cheap labor. Employers were happy to pass the ensuing social costs on to taxpayers. To summarily deport those who have resided here for 20 years, obeyed the law, worked hard, stayed off public assistance and are now willing to pay a fine, demonstrate English proficiency and pass a citizenship test would be impracticable, callous and counterproductive.

Most, however, probably do not fit those reasonable criteria.

More importantly, we forget that the influx of millions of illegal aliens unfairly undercuts the wages of the working American poor, especially in times of high unemployment.

Crossing the border was also hardly a one-time "infraction." It was the beginning of serial unethical behavior, as illegal aliens on everyday forms and affidavits were not truthful about their immigration status...."
(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: KJCT News 8 "Parachute Pair Faces Charges in Montana"

Though nothing can be greater than the tragedy for the Arnold family, these cases have more victims on the sidelines.

Our local judge who obeyed law and also trusted what was told in court and let him cross state lines.  Our law enforcement spanning multiple states who cannot find the assumed deceased.  When discretion is found to be human in nature and not infallible, there are times when the tragedy that results touches many lives.

These are the types of cases that haunt until they are resolved. 'SandBox Nanny' hopes that the hearts and minds of all the victims can start moving toward resolution.

We'll watch for the information Don Coleman implies in his report today.  Over on KJCT.

"...The judge in this case set bail at $2.5 million for each of the suspects. Both will appear again in court later this month and if convicted of the charges could face the death penalty.


While the justice system runs its course, the Montana community continues to mourn the loss of Arnold. The popular high school math teacher's birthday was Monday and she would have been 44, according to KTVQ.


Despite the charges, there is still a large mystery surrounding why Waters Jr. and Spell are accused in this case. Prosecutors, however, plan to announce why in the coming weeks...."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Basalt High teacher faces felony charge for alleged relationship with student"

(Comment ability on this post is blocked)

Having watched Lauren grow up, this is a painful to watch story for 'SandBox Nanny'.  Her heart and her thoughts go out to her and her family.  Who at one time, also reached out to ours.

The best advice she can give to Lauren is to tell the truth and no matter how hard or unfair and out of balance the rest of the world gets as you go through this; do not back down from that. 

It may take a long, long time to get the truth told but especially do not allow anyone in power to distort that truth while you work your way to the end.

There will be minimal to no further coverage on SandBoxBlogs of Lauren's story.  Comment ability will also remain blocked.

(Read the coverage in the Aspen Daily?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent/Your Letters "Rehab was hard, but it worked"

You know who else rocks?

Our drug courts.  And Jared Hogue.  We're pretty sure the PI won't mind us taking the snip of this in it's entirety.

A special thank you goes to all of our first responders, our local, regional and federal  law enforcement, our 'dime-dropping' anonymous tipsters, our lawyers on both sides of drug issues and especially to our Judges who preside over drug court.  You are appreciated.

Jared Hogue:
"My name is Jared Hogue, the same name that appeared in the paper many times for meth arrests to high speed chases. I just wanted to say thank you to Judge Daniel Petre for allowing me the treatment that I needed to turn my life around.

This is the reason I'm writing this letter. People believe that if a person is addicted to drugs, we should lock them up and throw away the key. I don't believe in this.

I was in prison twice before in my life for things I had done while under the influence of meth. The only thing it did for me was teach me how to be a criminal.

Then in 2006, after a slew of felony charges, I was given the chance to go to a serious rehabilitation program. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life. I planted my feet and said, “I can beat this disease.”

Now, almost seven years later, I'm still drug free. This program gave me the opportunity to build a life for myself after the wreckage I had created.

I now have a good career doing something I love. I won custody of my daughter after a year-long process through the courts. I have a wonderful woman in my life now. I love life.

Addiction is a disease, and it's treatable. Addicts do things they would never do sober when they are under the influence of drugs. But rehab doesn't come easily. It's a hard, long process, and the addict has to be willing to make a change.

Thanks to an awesome attorney and Judge Petre, and even the district attorney, I was given an opportunity that changed my life forever. Change is possible with the right intervention.

So as I sit here after a night shift at work, thanking God for the life I am able to live, I was reflecting on addicts and treatment. We need more long-term treatment for addicts.

Thank you, Judge Petre, I am forever indebted to you for your wisdom...."

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Fire districts host naming contest for regional authority"

This is such great news!

And it only took....two years.  Isn't the protracted processes of our city admin and council grand?   Remember all the flap in the PI in 2010 over this idea?  Good grief, talk about hot embers.

Congratulations to all our area fire guys!  You rock.

via the Post Independent:
"The merged fire authority gives the four communities involved shared control of one fire and emergency services agency that will serve the entire area. It would be governed by board members from the four communities. Tax rates are expected to remain at current levels.

In January, a memorandum of understanding was signed by officials with the four fire agencies, and an official steering committee was formed to carry out the recommendations of a consultant's study.

The steering committee includes two representatives from each of the four fire agencies, with a ninth slot filled by Garfield County Commissioner Mike Samson.

On Feb. 4, the steering committee and staff from the fire districts held a workshop to establish the mission, values, purpose, vision and strategic goals of the regional fire authority.

After a full day of discussion, the group agreed on the following mission statement:

“We are dedicated to protect life, home, and property with professional service through leadership, education, and partnerships, with safety as our highest priority.”

Information on the merger is posted on each of the department's websites: www.burningmountainsfire.org, www.glenwoodfire.com, www.riflefiredept.org...."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: KKCO 11 News "Colo. company proposes oil pipeline in North Dakota "

KKCO:
"Saddle Butte Pipeline LLC says the 450-mile pipeline would run from near Alexander to Clearbrook, Minn., with the capacity to move 150,000 barrels of crude daily. It's to be built by subsidiary High Prairie Pipeline. Saddle Butte is seeking investors and shippers, and will need state approval.

Saddle Butte President and CEO John Earley says North Dakota's pipeline capacity isn't keeping up with the growth in oil production. The company hopes to have the pipeline operating by late 2013...."

(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "Oil, gas companies settle lease collusion case"

Dennis Webb:
"Two oil and gas companies have agreed to a settlement in which they will pay $275,000 each for collusion in bidding on federal oil and gas leases in western Colorado, the federal government says.

The Department of Justice today announced a proposed settlement with Gunnison Energy Corp., SG Interests I Ld. and SG Interests VII Ltd. This is the department’s first-ever challenge of an anticompetitive bidding agreement for mineral rights leases, it said in a news release.

It filed a civil antitrust complaint and the proposed settlement in court today...."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Feds approve expedited licensing process for hydroelectric plant"

And then there is also that pesky little problem of local opposition that now has their petition in place contesting the City of Aspen push for the hydroelectric plant.

Hmmmm.....

Curtis Wackerle:
"FERC’s five-page letter notes the opposition of some commenters to the expedited licensing request.

“Though the issues associated with this proposal seem relatively straightforward, the commenters make it clear that the city’s proposal is controversial and note a lack of serious public engagement,” the letter says.

The project’s potential environmental effects remain an area of concern for the commenters.

“Several commenters point out that, while the Castle Creek project is relatively small in terms of generation capacity, it is likely to have substantial effects on Castle and Maroon creeks,” the letter says. “Also, commenters note that, despite the city’s environmental studies that show the project would not have significant environmental effects, there is potential for significant disputes over the studies.”

Commenters also took issue with the city’s previous request for a “conduit exemption,” which is a licensing exemption given to projects using infrastructure that has a primary purpose not directly related to hydropower. City officials claimed that a pipeline built from the municipal government’s reservoir near the water plant to the proposed site of the hydro generation equipment is first and foremost an “emergency drain line” to ensure the safe evacuation of water from the reservoir if there was ever an emergency. The city withdrew that application in favor of the small project license in the fall.

“Staff’s review of the commenters’ filings suggests that the level of controversy in this proceeding does not stem solely from resource issues, but rather, the city’s conduct with regard to previous public engagement,” the letter says.

The letter reminds interested parties about the opportunities for public engagement during the upcoming licensing process. Within the next 30 to 60 days, there will be an initial public meeting on the application process and a site visit with FERC staff, and there will be additional opportunities to comment as the city submits its draft application for the license. During the NEPA review, there also are allowances for public comment...."  (Read more?  Click title)


"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Great Outdoors Colorado grant would fund community garden irrigation"

Hey! How about that Carbondale?!

Locals for Smarter Growth in a major victory.  Snagging front and center with Ride the Rockies this summer.  Going all out with trying to get Creative District funding. Incredible building up of main street with unparalleled art and street events.

Basically, it could be said that BoneDale is kicking bu** and taking names in the tourism marketing and economic development arena.

Which brings us back to the question that has been on the inquiring minds of locals for the past decade.

Where in the world is Glenwood Springs?  None of these extra effort movements have ever been made by our marketing and economic development efforts.  The sole focus is over-burden and gimmicks to our accommodations tax and concentrated crony capitalizing special interests.

Congratulations to Tami Stroud and her group on pulling together their vision of expanding community agriculture into a work of downtown and community 'art'. 

You are appreciated and we can't wait to see the fruits of your efforts.  No doubt they will taste that much sweeter having all the local and regional effort that is now behind them. 

John Colson:
"CARBONDALE, Colorado — The local food movement got a boost from the town government this week, in the form of approval for a Great Outdoors Colorado grant application to build a second community garden.

The Carbondale Board of Trustees on Tuesday approved a $45,000 GOCO grant, primarily to pay for an irrigation pump and piping system that will bring water from a town ditch to the garden site.

The trustees directed recreation director Jeff Jackel to take charge of the grant application and submit it by the March 2 deadline, Jackel said on Wednesday.

The garden is to be laid out at the southern edge of the Third Street Center property (formerly Carbondale Elementary School), and is to contain roughly 60 garden plots to be rented out to local gardeners.

The existing community garden, located adjacent to Crystal Meadows Senior Housing, contains 22 plots. Of these, 15 of are reserved for residents of the senior housing complex, according to community garden organizer Tami Stroud.

(Disclosure: Tami Stroud is the wife of Post Independent reporter John Stroud.)

Stroud noted that the state requires a 25 percent local match, or $15,000 of the overall project cost of up to $60,000, for the project to be eligible for the GOCO grant.

“We've already got that,” Stroud said. The project has received grants from the town, the Aspen Skiing Co. Environment Foundation and Fiskars Tools, plus in-kind donations.

According to a memo to the trustees from Jackel, the idea for a second community garden has been around since 2009...."Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Summit County Citizens Voice "Food: Europe and U.S. reach organic trade deal"

There is only one investigative reporter in Colorado who leads the pack in environment oriented journalists.

Rarely, if ever, letting his followers down, Bob Berwyn and his independent news publication the Summit County Citizens Voice has a stellar reputation.

Truthful, fair, detailed and in the lead with timely reporting; Berwyn is the best.

This is phenomenal news for US organic producers and consumers.  Thanks so much is the shout out today.  To Summit Voice and Berwyn for bringing it to us.

Bob Berwyn:
"SUMMIT COUNTY — In a huge move for organic producers and consumers, the U.S. and the European Union said this week that organic products certified in Europe or in the United States may be sold as organic in either region.

The formal agreement was signed Feb. 15 in Nuremberg, Germany. The partnership was touted as establishing a strong foundation from which to promote organic agriculture and benefiting the growing organic industry to support jobs and businesses on a global scale.

Leading up to today’s historic announcement, both parties conducted thorough on-site audits to ensure that their programs’ regulations, quality control measures, certification requirements, and labeling practices are compatible.

“This partnership connects organic farmers and companies on both sides of the Atlantic with a wide range of new market opportunities,” said U.S Deputy Agriculture Secretary Merrigan. “It is a win for the American economy and President Obama’s jobs strategy. This partnership will open new markets for American farmers and ranchers, create more opportunities for small businesses, and result in good jobs for Americans who package, ship, and market organic products.”

The organics sector in the United States and European Union is valued at more than $50 billion combined, and rising every year...."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Steamboat Today "Oak Creek resident Tom Thurston’s Iditarod send-off is Thursday"

Joel Reichenberger:
"Steamboat Springs — There’s no rest for the weary, at least not for Oak Creek musher Tom Thurston.

Routt County’s most prolific marathon musher is set to depart for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska with a send-off party from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Rex’s American Grill & Bar in Steamboat Springs.

The party comes less than 48 hours after Thurston wrapped up his run in the Race to the Sky dog sled race in Montana. He’s won the event before but finished fifth this year, using the race more as a finale for what’s been a winter of training in Montana than as a true test of his team’s speed...." (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Times "Basalt lands big catch in world of fly-fishing"

Scott Condon has great news this morning!  Up on the Aspen Times.

If you have ever fished our rivers here in the Roaring Fork Valley, you know he's talking true.  This is a huge boon to Basalt's economy.  The news that there is a world class level of fly-fishing in Basalt will now go global.

Here's another great piece on local fly fishing today.  Brought to us by Collin Szewczyk, down on the Glenwood Springs Post Independent.

Scott Condon:
"The town will host the Rocky Mountain regional qualifier for the U.S. National Fly Fishing Championships, according to both Basalt organizers and the U.S. Fly Fishing Team's website. The qualifier will be in Basalt on May 5 and 6. At least 32 top anglers in the Rocky Mountain states will appear and possibly more.

“These are top-flight fishermen,” said Warrick Mobry, owner of Frying Pan Anglers in Basalt.

The anglers will be involved in competition on a Saturday and Sunday, most likely with two sessions of two hours each on Saturday on the Fryingpan and Roaring Fork rivers, then another session on the streams and a session on Ruedi Reservoir on Sunday. Details will be arranged by the U.S. Fly Fishing Team after it examines the rivers and gauges conditions as the competition nears, Mobry said.

Mobry worked with contacts on the national fly-fishing team to build interest in Basalt. Once the team indicated that it was interested in holding a qualifier in Basalt, Mobry started working with Bennett Bramson, a past president of the Basalt Chamber of Commerce and a driving force on the Basalt Arts and Social Happenings committee...."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."