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130 Reasons to Love Montrsoe

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A celebration of 130 years of Montrose and the Montrose Daily Press
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MONTROSE MONTROSE This publicaTion broughT To you by The ciTy of MonTrose and The MonTrose daily press • deceMber 30, 2012 IMAGE PROVIDED BY WORDLE
Transcript
Page 1: 130 Reasons to Love Montrsoe

MONTROSE

MONTROSE

This publicaTion broughT To you by The ciTy of MonTrose and The MonTrose daily press • deceMber 30, 2012

image provided by wordle

Page 2: 130 Reasons to Love Montrsoe

2 December 30, 2012 130 reasons to love Montrose

Spirit of 1882 evident in ‘130 Reasons’ seriesOn May 2, 1882, the town of Montrose

was officially born. Much work had already been done by rugged, hard-work-ing people to carve out a community in the wide open spaces of the Uncompah-gre Valley. But more work was yet to be done to build a community they were proud to call home because, after all, Montrose was where they would raise their children, make their living, chase their dreams and live out their days.

In 2012, we have enjoyed the unique opportunity to look back at the past 130 years and reflect on how their dreams have been realized. Montrose has grown

from a small town to an emerging city of almost 20,000 residents, from a place with little more than bright

hopes and plans to a place with a rich heritage and even greater aspirations for the future — built on the solid foundation laid by those who preceded us.

During the past several months, we have enjoyed reading about 130 different Montrose residents and why they choose to live here. One of the impressions that emerged from this Daily Press series is that Montrose is a beautiful tapestry of individuals, each of whom brings something special to their community. Regard-less of age, occupation, education or other status, each of them views our community as something they can be proud of, and they are each excited to be part of a common effort to help build and advance the Montrose community. This is the same spirit that prevailed in 1882, and it is still alive and well today in the hearts of our residents.

History is a great educator. It teaches us that the

great accomplishments of the past were the product of group effort – an optimistic, unified pursuit of a vision held in common. What does the future hold for Mon-trose? Much of it depends on how we learn from our past experiences, both successes and failures.

The city of Montrose and the Montrose Daily Press have truly enjoyed this opportunity to highlight 130 people who recognize Montrose as a wonderful place in which to live, work and raise a family! After 130 years of serving the Montrose community, both of our organiza-tions have learned that developing a strategy based upon respect, humility and positive change takes patience and perseverance. We thank all of our participants for reminding us of what we can do together as we eagerly move forward for the benefit of our community.

Bill Bell is the city manager of Montrose.

BillBell

Special to the Daily Press

No.1Marilyn Cox

Retired school district employee/Daily Press

columnist

Born in Olathe, Marilyn Cox was the youngest of seven girls. After graduat-ing from Olathe High School, Cox went on to start a career that lasted a little more than 21 years in the Montrose County School District, including 20 years as a secretary at Montrose Ju-nior High. She has also worked at the Montrose County Historical Museum and the Montrose Visitors Center. She has been writing the weekly column, “A Step Back in Time” since in 1996

for the Daily Press.

Q: What do you enjoy most about history?

A: Working at the (Montrose County Historical Museum), so many people would come in looking for family his-tory. We would look for sources. I just find history totally fascinating.

Q: What was it like working for the Montrose County School Dis-trict?

A: I loved it. I really wanted to be a teacher, but the job I had was just as much fun, and I think that age group is so much fun. No two days were ever the same. It was a wonderful job.

Q: As a native, how do you think Montrose has changed over the years?

A: It has really grown a lot. I remem-ber when there was just one stoplight in town at Main Street and Townsend Avenue.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: There are a thousand different rea-

sons I think, but my primary reason is because of the history. In the places I’ve traveled in my life, I’ve never seen a place I’d like to go back to like Montrose. It’s my life ... the people are so caring.

No. 2Jim Austin

Retired city administrator, now trying to promote tourism in

the Northern Colorado Plateau

Austin was born in Wichita, Kan., and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in business and journalism from the University of Kansas in 1960. After earning his master’s degree in public administration from KU in 1962, he accepted a position as assistant city manager in Emporia, Kan. Austin later worked all over the country, including in Montrose as its city manager from approximately 1969 to 1979.

Q: You have said you helped the University of Kansas recruit Wilt Chamberlain to its basketball squad. How did that happen?A: I was the president of the student

body at the time. I told him, “We in-vented basketball. If you want to come to a school that can teach you how to play good basketball, there is no better school to do that than KU.”

Q: Why did you accept an assis-tant manager position in Emporia, Kan., after graduating?A: I read an editorial by William Allen

White (called) “Mary,” about his daugh-ter being killed. It was powerful. I had an offer to go to Dallas and another to Emporia ... I wanted to feel what kind of

place could produce that kind of man. (Editor’s note: White was born in Empo-ria, Kan., in 1944.)

Q: Why did you decide to move to Montrose?A: I was tired of living in Atlanta,

and Montrose needed a city manager. So I applied. I am the longest-term city manager (in Montrose’s history.) I hope (current city manager) Bill Bell beats that record.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: The people. There must be some-

thing in the water. People here can tell the difference between policy and administration.

No. 3Nigel Askew

Co-owner and brewmaster, Horsefly Brewing Company

A British citizen born in Zambia, Africa, Askew has been running the Horsefly since it opened in September 2009. He relocated to Montrose from Southern California and initially ran a motel, the Blue Fox, before opening the Horsefly, which underwent an expansion this summer.

Q: Why are local microbreweries and brewpubs so popular in Colorado?A: People in this part of the world are more inclined to be

organic or natural, and craft beer is an organic version of sanitized beer. This is natural beer, not pumped full of chemi-

cals.Q: How did you wind up becoming a brewer?

A: I’m descended from a famous brewing family I don’t know much about. They were Norman knights who came to England in 1066 (the year of the Norman conquest). The family later opened a huge brewery that since has closed its doors. Maybe it’s in my blood.

Q: What would you say to someone who has never tried a craft beer and is afraid they won’t like it?A: Try it! You’ll be amazed how many people think beer is

what the mass producers make ... once they do, most people are like, “Hey, that’s good. I didn’t realize beer tasted like that.” I don’t think most people realize that what mass pro-ducers churn out is absolute rubbish.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: Small-town friendliness, big-town convenience.

Page 3: 130 Reasons to Love Montrsoe

130 reasons to love Montrose December 30, 2012 3

No. 4Dave Bowman

Music promoter and retired school teacher

Dave Bowman moved to Montrose 30 years ago after driving through town on a vacation and deciding it would be a nice place to live. He and his wife got teaching jobs, and have been here ever since, raising a family. He retired from teaching after 28 years in Montrose to run his now-defunct CD shop full time and to promote shows. Over the past several years, he has brought in such

artists as Corb Lund, Jackie Greene, Band of Heathens and others.

Q: How did you wind up promot-ing live music?A: My CD store was going to be my

retirement plan. Nobody told me about the iPod.

Q: What’s something about you that not many people know?A: That I’m absolutely not a musician.

A lot of people assume I was a music teacher, and I was not. I spent 28 years

teaching special ed, and it was an abso-lute ball.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: Montrose is just a cool, friendly

little town. Visually, it’s very attractive. The people who live here have a lot of pride, pride in their homes, pride in their neighborhoods. There’s a lot of op-portunity in Montrose. It’s a great place to raise kids. It’s just a friendly little town where people take the time to say hi and get to know you.

No. 5Tom Bell

Owner and manager of the Black Canyon KOA

Bell moved from Denver to Telluride in 1974, but has been calling Montrose home since 1984. In 1998, Bell retired, but he had too much energy to just sit back and look at the San Juans. In 2005, he purchased the Black Canyon RV Park, which not only keeps him busy, but allows him to meet and visit with people from all over the world.

Q: Since buying the campground, what improvements have you made?A: In 2006, I gutted the entire park. I

put in all new facilities, electric, water and sewer, and I doubled the amount of

sites. Now, the RV park has 75 sites, four small cabins and two larger ones. I also went back to the KOA franchise because they are the best in the business. The KOA association was dropped by the former owners in the ‘90s. Now we have KOA’s highest rating, and we earned the Woodall’s campground guide’s five-dia-mond award.

Q: What do you like about run-ning a campground?A: The people you meet are unbeliev-

able. Even in the past few weeks, we have had about 70 people from Europe, many from the Netherlands. They come to the states, rent RVs and do large Western tours. It is really great to see that Mon-trose and the Black Canyon are on their agendas.

Q: Do you find time to enjoy your summer, as well?A: Running the RV park is a busy job,

but I try to take off a day each week for some golf. I usually play at Cobble Creek or Black Canyon Golf Club, sometimes The Bridges. It is great because here you can almost play year round, and no mat-ter what course you are on, you always have beautiful views of the mountains.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: It is just a great community to be

in and raise a family because of the cohesiveness. People watch out for you and your family. I can’t think of a better American experience than to grow up here in Montrose.

No. 6Bishnu ChaudharyOwner of Guru’s

Restaurant Chaudhary was born in Nepal. He graduated from high school in his village in 1994 and later went to college in Dharan City, where he majored in economics and business. Chaudhary grad-uated in 1999 and went back to his home in Nepal to support his family. In 2004, he moved to the United States and took a cooking position in Denver. In 2009, he moved to Montrose

and took over the business now known as Guru’s Restaurant.

Q: When did this restaurant begin?A: A friend sold it, and then I

took over. I’m used to working in restaurants, and I’m a good cook. I wanted to do something for myself.

Q: What brought you here to Montrose?A: I was driving from Durango

to Salt Lake City, and I drove through Montrose. It reminded

me of my home, and I really liked it.

Q: What is Montrose like compared to Nepal?A: Nowadays, Montrose is good,

where Nepal is weary. There’s a huge difference.

Q: What do you love about Montrose?A: Montrose is a quiet city. I feel

like I’m living in my hometown. People here are loving, and they are the same. Everyone is like a family that knows each other.

No. 7CJ Brafford

Ute Indian Museum director

Brafford moved to Montrose in 1997 to take the job at the Ute Indian Mu-seum. She was previously the curator for more than 8,000 items at the David T. Vernon Indian Art Collection at the Grand Teton National Park in Wyo-ming.

Q: Were you born here?A: No, I was born on the Pine Ridge

Indian Reservation in southwest South Dakota. I’m an Oglala Lakota Indian; we are known as the Sioux, but that’s a name given to us. We call ourselves Ogla-la Lakota. My Indian name is KimimiLa,

which means “butterfly,” it’s the name that was given to me by my uncle.

Q: You worked in museums previ-ously. What about that interests you?A: I studied anthropology in the 1970s,

which is taboo in my culture because you’re not supposed to disturb remains and artifacts. But coming from a differ-ent generation, I wanted to become a care keeper of belongings — I don’t call them artifacts because they are belong-ings; they belonged to someone at some time. The Lakota have dreams, visions and symbols; when I was 9 years old, I dreamed this would be my work.

Q: And why is this work so impor-tant to you?A: All of these items are going to be

in a museum somewhere. It’s important for us to take care of what belongs to us. I can bring balance and make sure the Indian items are displayed the right way, that is sensitive to the culture. I also want to promote cultural awareness because it’s important to know who we are and where we come from, as well try-ing to understand other people’s point of view and experience.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: I love that it’s surrounded by nature

and the change of seasons. So much beauty of nature surrounds us, there’s so much to do all around here and I’ve always loved the mountains. I also like the smallness of Montrose, despite the growth we’ve experienced since I moved here.

Page 4: 130 Reasons to Love Montrsoe

4 December 30, 2012 130 reasons to love Montrose

No. 9Richard Fike

Director of the Museum of the Mountain West Inc.

While growing up in Valparaiso, Grand Island and Wood River, Neb., Fike’s ambition was to be an archae-ologist. After working with the Smith-sonian Institution and several other museums, he worked for 29 years with the U.S. Department of Interior and Bureau of Land Management, leading the program in Utah and Colorado. He was appointed by the governors of Colorado and Utah to represent historic archaeology on the state and federal registers of historic places. His lifelong dream of having a museum was realized beginning in 1998, when he built the Museum of the Mountain West, which was designated as a non-profit museum in 2005. He is also the author of numerous technical histori-cal books and a western novel.

Q: What spurred your interest in archaeology?A: As a young boy, I was reading my

dad’s college geology books and thought

I wanted to be a paleontologist. Then in 1952, we took a family trip to Mesa Verde, and I totally changed my mind. Soon, the family began visiting the old ghost towns across the West and dig-ging for artifacts left by the miners. I pursued my anthropology degrees at the University of Northern Arizona and the University of Arizona.

Q: How did the establishment of the Museum of the Mountain West come about?A: I had searched for an ideal location

for my museum for years. I purchased most of downtown Ridgway in 1979 and planned to restore the old run-down buildings for the museum. I restored the Sherbino Theater, among other buildings there. Ridgway soon began blossoming into the town it has become, and it seemed appropriate to sell the buildings and use the money to purchase and build the museum where it is today on U.S. 50 and Miami Road. In 1997, the metal Morgan building was erected to house my huge collection of artifacts, and the museum opened to my friends with a Centennial

Party in the saloon. In 2005, we became a nonprofit, and donations of historic buildings and artifacts came pouring in. So far, we have saved 22 historic build-ings from mainly Montrose County; most were to be burned or destroyed within two weeks of our moving them to the museum grounds. The museum is proud that we share accurate western history, includ-ing Old West stories about the characters who lived here, and that we encourage visitors to preserve the past. All tours are guided and now last over two hours. We have a very active and supportive board of directors, and the museum is entirely run by volunteers. Over 70 people have taken the docent training, which is offered every couple of months.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: First off, the people of Montrose

are genuine, honest and friendly folk. Montrose is laid back, rural, still small and yet comfortable. I hate the rush and bustle of large cities. Where would any-one else want to be? Montrose is nestled right in the center of the most beautiful country in America.

No. 8Carol Patterson

Archaeologist and petroglyph expert

Patterson, a Denver native, moved to the Western Slope in 2004 to work as an archaeologist. She is also a writer and has designed trail guides for area petroglyph sites, including Montrose’s Shavano Valley site and the trail sys-tem at Gunnison Gorge. She works with the Ute Indian Museum to offer tours (call 249-3098) and owns Urraca Archaeological Services.

Q. What brought you to Montrose?

A: I came to work as an archaeolo-gist on the Western Slope. I ended up in Montrose. I really am interested in the petroglyphs out here, and Shavano is a big draw. I’m writing a book about it and have been giving tours about it. The Chipeta Chapter of the Colorado Archae-ology Society was also a big draw.

Q. What is your background?A: I got a PhD. in Australia at James

Cook University. It was the only place I could specialize in rock art.

Q. What is the importance of petroglyphs?A. It’s like writing. It’s a picture to com-

municate. At Shavano, they have to do

with the Bear Dance and the Tree of Life. I have worked with the Utes to interpret the site, specifically with Clifford Duncan. The last eight years, we developed a close relationship. He believes Shavano was the spiritual home of the Utes before they were extradited in 1881 to Utah’s Uintah Ouray Reservation. That’s where they left all of their religious info, is in the petroglyphs.

Q. Why do you love Montrose?A. My reasons are the beauty and

simplicity of life here; the fascinating archaeology all around. You can go from desert to mountains in just a matter of hours and miles. It’s central, I think, to cultural places. It’s perfect for me.

No. 11Liam Beshoar

Student at Cottonwood Elementary School

Liam Beshoar, a 7-year-old Montrose resident, is enjoying a sunny Western Slope summer before he heads back to Cottonwood to attend second grade in Mrs. Cox’s class. He is the son of Carin and Barrett Beshoar. He enjoys soccer and skiing, and one day hopes to earn a black belt in karate.

Q: Do you have any plans for this summer?A: I have been going swimming a lot.

I am taking swimming lessons at the aquatic center. I also am in tennis les-sons and take karate class. I’m going to spend a lot of time with my friends, too. I am excited to see my cousins during a trip to Washington, D.C. They live over there, and I have only ever talked to them on the phone. I would like to see the White House and some parks while I am there.

Q: What kind of things do you like

to do at home with your parents?A: We like to talk and watch movies

and play Monopoly, but my dad usually wins. I have won a couple times.

Q: What is the most interesting thing about you?A: The most interesting thing about

me might be that there is only one of me in the entire world.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: I love Montrose because I have

family here, a dog and a nice house. We go to the drive-in theater quite a bit, and I really love Main in Motion.

No. 10Garret Franz

Student and grocery store worker

Franz was born in Grand Junction in 1993. His family moved to Hayden, then Craig in 2002. In 2003, the family came to Montrose because of Franz’s father’s business. He has been here ever since and graduated in May from Montrose High School. Franz was a member of the Indian football and track teams. He has worked at the

southern City Market location since 2011.

Q: What brought you to Montrose?A: My dad has a business called Franz

Construction. We moved here from Craig because there was better business.

Q: How was your experience play-ing MHS sports?A: I’m glad I did it. I only did track for

one year but, after doing football for four years, it not only gave me something to do with my friends, but we became a

family. It taught me a lot of life lessons. Q: What career are you planning?

A: I hope to attend Colorado Mesa University, where I can major in engi-neering. As a career, I want to design mechanical machines.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: Montrose is close to other places

that are convenient to do activities like snowboarding, dirt bike riding, etc. Compared to places like Craig, Montrose has more of a variety of people and things to do.

Page 5: 130 Reasons to Love Montrsoe

130 reasons to love Montrose December 30, 2012 5

No. 12Brenda White

Legal secretary and student

Born in Cedaredge, White makes her home in Montrose with her husband, Jim, and children, Robert and Jasmine. White works full time at Brooks and Brooks LLC, and attends Kaplan Uni-versity online in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. She hopes to eventually earn a master’s degree in legal studies.

Q: What is the most important thing you’ve ever done?A: The most important thing I have

ever done is to research, learn and expe-rience if possible something/anything — especially if someone tells me there is no other way or it is the only option. Also, going back to school to lead by

example for my children the importance of education.

Q: What made you decide to go back to school?A: Personal issues were part of it. I

want to raise my children by example, and I believe if they watch me do what I tell them is important, they are more likely to do those things and hopefully sooner than I did them or in place of other not-so-wise things. I also think the best way to be prepared for the future is through knowledge (book smarts) and wisdom (common sense); both are needed for success.

Q: What’s the most difficult thing about being a nontraditional stu-dent?A: I enjoy being a nontraditional

student. The challenges I face are a dependence on technology, which can

sometimes be infuriating, time manage-ment, and keeping my determination and motivation. The benefits are great, and the online platform allows me to im-mediately practice or discuss informa-tion with those around me to gain more insight and experience. I also enjoy the online professors, many of whom have practicable knowledge and experience in the courses they teach.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: Montrose is a comparatively safe

place to live and raise children. I love the abundance of well-kept parks and trails, the opportunities to get outside and enjoy the natural beauty of the Western Slope, and the library is fantastic! I love the spirit of Montrosians, and that kind-ness, hard work, humor, patriotism and art thrive in our community.

No. 13Beth David

Montrose High School activities secretary

David is a Montrose native and MHS alum who has been working at the school for more than a decade. She helps coordinate school

and sports events, among other tasks. She enjoys walking, riding her bike and cooking for local hunters in her spare time.

Q: What do you love about your job?A: I like the kids and all the people I work

with ... I think we have some really good coaches. I get to work with them. It’s a happy part of education ... It’s just a good job.

Q: What’s your favorite meal to cook and why?A: Leg of lamb. There are a lot of people

who don’t like it, but if you cook it right, it’s good food.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?I love the weather, the scenery, the people.

(Montrose) is just home.

No. 14Jim Scarry

Montrose High School social studies teacher, assistant football

coach and girls golf coach

Scarry was born in Pullman, Wash., though he grew up living all over the U.S., including in Virginia, Alabama and Florida. He graduated from Florida State Univer-sity in 1978.

Q: Why are you such a big Miami Dolphins fan?A: My dad coached the Dolphins for 17

years. He started before the 1970 season and retired after the (1986) season. He was a part of the undefeated year (Editor’s note: The Dolphins went 14-0 in the regular season in 1972 and won the Super Bowl. They are the only team to go undefeated in an entire season). He won two Super Bowls.

Q: Why did you decide to pursue teaching and coaching?

A: It was pure good fortune and the guid-ance of God. It was destiny to teach and coach. I’m lucky because it’s something I truly enjoy doing.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: The community and the way the com-

munity supports young people. As a coach of two high school sports, we don’t survive without community support. The commu-nity truly cares about young people.

No. 15Elmer Grose

Artist and Western history aficionado

Even if you don’t know Grose, chanc-es are you’ve seen his work. Grose has painted several murals in the Montrose area, including those at True Value, Colorado Pawn and Sage Brush Books. He also has created the major-ity of the sets for the Magic Circle Play-ers Community Theatre performances. Grose moved to Montrose in 2000 after visiting the area several times.

Q: When did you take to art?A: I started oil painting when I was 10.

I was pretty much self-taught and have been painting my entire life. In 2000, I

started painting sets for Magic Circle Theater. Between that and seeing the murals in Delta, I became interested in doing murals. Since then, I have done murals in Arizona, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia. I also painted the mock Western town at the San Juan Shooting Range out on Dave Wood Road.

Q: What work have you done lately?A: Mostly oil paintings on canvas. I

have been diagnosed with muscular dystrophy and have a history of heart problems. I can’t move around as well as I used to. I can only do mural work for a couple hours each day. The doc-tors say I should be in a wheelchair, but I’m fighting it. I have been trying to sell some of these oil paintings so I can raise

money so I can see my son graduate as a military police officer.

Q: What are you most proud of?A: My family. My son, who has a four-

year degree from [Colorado State Univer-sity], and my stepchildren, as well. I met my wife, Peggy, here in Montrose in 2000, and we married in 2008. And I am proud of my sister and brother-in-law, who also live in the area. They have really helped me though the difficult times of my life.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: The people are great. The second

week I was in town, I started participat-ing in the Magic Circle performances. We have great hospitals here, too, both the Montrose hospital and the VA hospi-tal in Grand Junction. Although I moved here in 2000, I’ve always loved the area.

No. 16Ken Sherbenou

Executive director of the Montrose Recreation District

Sherbenou is a native of Littleton who has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a master’s degree from CU-Denver. He has lived in Montrose for two years and said this is the first time he has worked outside the Front Range. Sherbenou came here for the job, but his deci-sion was clinched by the opportunity to take advantage of all the outdoors offerings on the Western Slope. “It fits

my lifestyle,” Sherbenou said.

Q: You work in a business that deals with providing recreational opportunities to others, but what is your favorite leisure-time activity?A: I would have to say rock climbing

with friends and family.Q: What’s the most interesting

place you’ve visited?A: A place called Cappadocia, Turkey

... It’s a small, tight-knit community like Montrose, and it has some of the most amazing rock formations I’ve ever experienced. If you go there, not only

would there be a temptation to climb on those rocks, but they have a long his-tory of people living inside them. Over several different centuries, everyone from Turks to people from the Ottoman Empire to first-century Christians lived in those caves and underground cities. It’s another world.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: The endless outdoor opportuni-

ties and the strong sense of community. Montrose has the best of both that I’ve experienced.

Page 6: 130 Reasons to Love Montrsoe

6 December 30, 2012 130 reasons to love Montrose

No. 18Erica Lewis Kennedy

Business owner, former mayor

When she was in high school, Lewis Kennedy moved to Montrose from northern California because her par-ents had been hired at Montrose Me-morial Hospital. At the time, she was “not happy” about the move, and when she graduated, she told a friend she would never return. “But after being in other places, I chose to come back to Montrose,” she said. She then worked at several media outlets, including the Montrose Daily Press and twice was elected mayor. She now runs her own firm, ELK Media LLC. Lewis Kennedy is chairwoman of the nonprofit board for the Maslow Academy of Applied Learning school under construction at Bright Beginnings and volunteers with

Welcome Home Montrose.

Q. What brought you back to Montrose? A: I was in graduate school, working

on a dual master’s in journalism and biology, when I was offered an editor’s position in Montrose. (She also met her husband, Chris, here, who had recently moved from Boston.)

Q. What is your background?A. I’ve been involved in various media

outlets on the Western Slope, and then decided ... to start my own company. It was public service that gave me the courage to do that. My service as mayor made me realize I could contribute to the community by opening my own busi-ness.

Q. What are the challenges of op-erating your own media company?A. The challenges would be that I only

take on local projects that truly help to build the infrastructure of Montrose.

Q. The rewards?A: There is so much incredible human

capital where we live. Helping build that to make this a great place to live for everyone is really what it’s all about. So many people give so much.

Q. What do you love about Mon-trose?A. Montrose is a wonderful place, not

only to raise a family, but we’re also get-ting to be a diverse enough community that you can really test yourself and grow yourself. Every day, I meet some-one new, and I love that.

No. 17Randy Swepston

Environmental health director for Montrose County

Swepston is a graduate of Colorado Mesa University with a bachelor of science degree in biology. He started his environmental health career with the Mesa County Health Department approximately 35 years ago and worked there for eight years. Since that time, he has been employed in the environmental health field throughout

Colorado. Most recently, he was the environmental health division director for Johnson County, Kan., outside of Kansas City.

Q: What do you feel is your most important role as a public health official?My most important role as a public

health official is to provide environmen-tal health leadership in service to the Montrose community and our visitors. That involves identifying and communi-cating the risk of environmental disease

transmission and encouraging the individual or business to take the neces-sary action to protect their health or the health of their customers.

Q: What are your hobbies?I love the outdoors. I enjoy hiking, bi-

cycling, sightseeing, travel and camping.Q: Why do you love Montrose?

I love our natural resources, the area wildlife, the history, the agriculture and that independent, relaxed, easygoing West Slope culture.

No. 20Kendra Morrow

Owner and manager of Canyon Creek Bed & Breakfast

Morrow has been in the innkeeper business for approximately 15 years and serves as chairwoman of the Main in Motion board of directors. She is the mother of two children, Julian and Re-ese, and is married to Daniel Morrow.

Q: How long have you called Mon-trose home?A: I am excited to say I am a fifth-

generation San Juan Mountain girl.

My foundation is here. Both of my grandfathers and my father worked at the Idarado mine between Telluride and Ouray. Growing up here was amazing. You always felt safe. There were things to do, and parents didn’t have to worry.

Q: How did you get into the hospi-tality business?A: After college, four years at Mesa

State, I decided I wanted to get as far away from Montrose as possible. I went to Martha’s Vineyard (Mass.) for three months and stayed for eight years. I worked my way up at a bed and breakfast there and eventually became manager.

Q: When did you open Canyon Creek in Montrose?

A: It opened in July 2005. I bought a house built in 1909 and completely restored it to be a bed and breakfast. I wanted the entire community to enjoy it, and that is why we do the live music on Thursdays and Comedy Night the first Sunday of every month. We also host baby showers, weddings and other events.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: I moved back to Montrose because

I wanted to give back to the community that gave so much to me. I love Montrose because of the sense of community, and it is a place I want to raise my family the way I was raised. After 30 years, even though Montrose has grown, it hasn’t changed.

No. 19Linda Lake

Financial consultant at Montrose Pediatric Associates

Born outside Orange Country, Calif., Lake attended college at the University of California, Irvine. Though she never got her degree, it was there that Lake discovered an interest in medicine while she worked with physicians. After creating her own consulting busi-ness, Lake moved to Montrose in 1978 with her husband. In 1991, Lake got her pilot’s license and bought her own airplane. She flew to places like Grand Junction and Gunnison, working with

physicians and hospitals. Lake also contributes to a business in Montrose that she and a few friends created named Business Options, hauling fuel to airports and gas stations. Lake cur-rently works for Montrose Pediatric As-sociates, managing the firm’s finances.

Q: What brought you to Montrose?A: Each month in the summer, my

husband and I traveled to the mountain areas. That’s when we came across Mon-trose, and we bought 40 acres of land on Log Hill.

Q: To you, how has Montrose changed?A: I was fortunate living in California

when I did. It was small, and we knew everyone. It was safe, but now there are masses and masses of humanity.

Q: How was your experience as a pilot? A: When I was small, I wanted to fly.

Then, when I moved here, I realized how small and close the airport was. So once I paid my sons’ last college tuition check, I went out and got my license and a plane. After that, I flew almost everyday.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: I enjoy the diverse group of people. I

like that people here get involved, and they generate the spirit to put things together to bring people out in the community.

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130 reasons to love Montrose December 30, 2012 7

No. 21Donna Brummitt

Northside Elementary first-grade teacher

Brummitt was born in Iowa. She graduated from Black Hills State in 1982 with a degree in elementary edu-cation and a minor in early childhood education. She later earned a master’s degree in education from Western State College in Gunnison. She and her husband, Joe, are the parents of three children, Christopher, 22; Emily, 20; and Erica, 18.

Q: How did you end up in Mon-trose?A: I graduated in May 1982 and came

to Ouray to spend the summer working at my sister’s business. I missed the heat growing up in the Midwest, so I moved to Montrose and got a teaching job.

Q: What do you enjoy most about teaching?A: Six-year-olds make you laugh every

day, and I enjoy watching them learn.Q: You are a big fan of Disney.

Why?

A: Walt’s (Disney) dream was for (Disneyland) to be a place for fami-lies to go together and have fun. After multiple trips with my family (24 trips in 13 years), we still have fun together as a family ... My favorite character is Donald Duck.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: The weather, the activities and the

location.

No. 22 Tanner Volk

Line chef at the Camp Robber restaurant

Volk was born in Telluride in 1991. He and his family moved to Montrose in 1994 when his parents, Bill and Kim Volk, opened their own business known as the Camp Robber. He gradu-ated from Montrose High School in 2010, then attended the University of

Colorado in Boulder. He left CU in 2011 and moved back to Montrose to work with his parents at the restaurant and become part of the family business.

Q: What was different about Boul-der from Montrose?A: Living in Boulder was a change

from Montrose. Everything there is a faster pace. It seems like someone always had something to do or somewhere to be.

Q: What do you envision for your future?

A: My roommate and I want to move to Washington. Before I settle down with that, I want to travel outside the country and experience different lifestyles.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: I like the surrounding area and

what it has to offer. People might say there isn’t enough stuff to do, but there is. You have to be creative to find your own fun here.

No. 23Deedee Gibbs

Registered nurse Gibbs was born and raised in Min-nesota, and met her husband Spencer Gibbs in Arizona. After living on the Front Range, Deedee, Spencer and their three children — Isaac, Hannah and Emma — moved to Montrose in 2007. Gibbs works as a nurse at Dialy-sis Clinic Inc. She enjoys riding her dirt bike and loves animals.

Q: Why did you come to Montrose?A: My husband was raised here, and he

wanted to get away from the city to raise

our kids. I really didn’t want to come to Montrose at all; neither did my kids. I really liked the fast-paced city life, and I was kicking and screaming the whole way here.

Q: Have you adjusted to small-town living?A: Once I realized there was so much

outdoor stuff to do here, I quickly decided I liked it. When I first got here, I started volunteering at the Humane So-ciety as a photographer for pets looking for new homes. Now, here in Montrose, I am able to have a bunch of critters, like dogs, cats, chickens and two sheep.

Q: Have you always loved ani-mals?A: I have been known to stop traffic to

save animals off the road. I even had a pet magpie named Scooter that I res-cued.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: I actually love Montrose because of

the slower pace. I like the friendly people and the fact that there is hiking, climb-ing, dirt biking — all kinds of fun things to do outdoors all around us. I’m noisy, but Montrose is still nice and quiet. It works out great.

No. 24Hayley Schneider

Montrose High School graduate and Special Olympics volunteer Schneider was born in Fort Collins in 1994. She and her family moved to Loveland in 1995, then settled down in Montrose in 1997. Schneider graduated from MHS in May. She spent her time there being active with the cheer team and volunteering with the school’s Special Olympics athletes.

Q: How did you contribute to the

Special Olympic athletes at MHS?

A: When I was involved, I helped the kids participate in sports such as bowling, track and basketball. I also helped orga-nize events and fundraisers for the class. Later in my high school career, I became a part of a student organization out of Den-ver called Youth Activation Committee.

Q: What was your biggest accom-plishment in high school with the athletes?A: In high school I was a cheerleader,

and this year I started the very first Spe-cial Olympics cheerleading opportunity, in which the athletes had the chance to cheer with the varsity squad during games and perform in halftime shows.

Q: How do you feel about your con-tributions to other students while in high school?A: It feels absolutely wonderful to help

the athletes succeed. Even if it’s just making one basket during a practice, to see them grow and be able to have the op-portunity to participate in a team makes them feel accepted in society. It makes them feel that much more unified to the rest of the world, and I would do any-thing to have them understand and real-ize just exactly how important they are.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: I love the environment where it’s

not too big. It’s just a cozy place to be.

No. 25Peter Shearer

Montrose High School student Born in 1995, Shearer is a lifelong Montrose resident. He has played var-sity football and baseball for the past three years. Although he plays many school sports, Shearer’s big passion is baseball.

Q: Since you have lived in Mon-trose your whole life, how do you think it has changed over time?A: The diversity of people has

changed, and I believe Montrose has grown a more artistic feel to it.

Q: How has your experience play-ing Montrose High sports helped you?A: Playing multiple sports in high

school is very stressful at times. It is hard to make time for anything else, but they also help keep me focused on what I enjoy.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: I like how Montrose is central to

everything, but it still has a small-town vibe. For people who like to partake in outdoor activities, it’s only a short drive away.

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8 December 30, 2012 130 reasons to love Montrose

No. 27Tony Licwinko

Executive director at Sunrise Creek

Licwinko grew up and went to high school in Pennsylvania, then went to college at Yale, where he was captain of the basketball team. After living in South Florida for 26 years and raising a family, Licwinko fell into a new career that brought him to Montrose.

Q: What did you do before you came to Montrose?A: I was in commercial real estate

finance while living in Florida. After talking to some gentlemen in a buffet

line at a conference in Vegas, I thought I could finance some of their senior living properties and came to Montrose to meet the [former] owners of Sunrise Creek. They had their financing lined up, so I went home. Two weeks later, they called and offered me a job in Denver as execu-tive director for a property there. I had no background in health care, but they just needed someone that was good with people and finances. Five months later, they moved me to this property. I fell in love with Montrose pretty quickly. That was six years ago, and I’m still here, so that must be a good sign.

Q: How do you feel about the tran-sition into the health care industry?A: I was ready to make a difference.

I was really close to my grandmothers and enjoyed working on financing senior

living properties in my previous career. When I walk into these places, at 6-foot-7, I stand out, and I remind everyone of someone — their son, their grandson, their nephew. And this is such a differ-ent atmosphere than you find in a lot of nursing homes.

Q: How do you keep busy outside of work?A: I’m a big hiker, and I love to play

golf. I take my two dogs hiking every weekend, and I’m a big workout nut, so I go to the gym five nights a week. There’s a lot to do here.

Q. Why do you love Montrose?A. I love walking up and looking at the

mountains. It’s like being surrounded by an oil painting. And the community is very supportive and accepting.

No. 26Beth Jones

Animal advocate and volunteer

Air Force Ret. Col. Beth Jones is a former nurse anesthetist with the mili-tary. She retired here with her husband in 2006 and has since become heavily involved with the Montrose Animal Shelter — where she is a past Volun-teer of the Year — and feral cat trap, neuter, release efforts in the county.

Q: How did you come to Montrose?A: We were driving to Durango, and we

happened to go by Montrose. I thought ‘This is really kind of a neato place.’ We kept our eye on Montrose for about six years (before moving here).

Q: How did you come to be in-volved in helping animals here?A: I guess I got heavily into it when I

was still in Oklahoma. I was stationed in Oklahoma and was doing (work with) a Humane Society there. Then I just kind of continued it on here. It was an exten-sion. It’s just a calling. To devote this much energy, time and all that, it’s just come to come from within. It’s a mis-sion, I would say. I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.

Q: What do you do for the animals?A: I contact rescue societies to take

the animals (that are not adopted here). Then I arrange transport. So far, we’ve done pretty well. The adoption rate here last year was 100 more animals than the amount I transported out. I started TNR

(trap, neuter, release) in the county.Q: Do you have a soft spot for cats?

A: I have a soft spot for all animals. It seems like there’s a lot of rescues and more people that do things for dogs. I like the cats. There’s more of them than there are dogs, and I always like to make the playing field pretty even on it.

Q: What do you love about Montrose?A: I like the people a whole lot. People

tend to be laid back, nice and consider-ate. I kind of like the slower pace, and, of course, I just love the people in Colo-rado tending to be more animal oriented than in other parts of the country. The other thing is, it’s just beautiful here. You can’t beat the weather. You can’t beat the scenery. And it’s just the right size.

No. 29Maryellen Pierce

Retiree

Born in Ohio, Pierce went to hair dresser school in Co-lumbus following high school, but only briefly worked in her chosen career. After a whirlwind five-month romance, Pierce got married and traveled the world as a military wife, settling in Colorado Springs for 45 years.

Q: What was the best thing you saw while travel-ing in Europe with your family?A: We saw the Swiss Alps and the tulips in bloom in Hol-

land. That was beautiful.Q: How did you feel about those years of moving

around?A: It was a good life. We always had a nice place to live,

and I think the children gained a lot from the travel. Some people said it would be detrimental, but I think they got a lot of knowledge — it was very educational.

Q. Do you have any advice you’d like to share?A. Life is what you make of it. My vision is getting pretty

bad, I have macular degeneration, but I’ve accepted it and do the best I can because nobody wants to be around you if you’re grumpy all of the time, so I try to be pleasant.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: It’s a very nice area, and I enjoy getting to spend time

with my daughter and her family. They come pick me up to go out to dinner and sometimes we play nickel poker. It’s nice to be near them.

No. 28Brandon England

PGA head golf professional at The Bridges Golf and Country Club

Born and raised in Delta, England got started in the golf industry in 1999, working as an assistant at Deer Creek Village in Cedaredge, now known as the Cedaredge Golf Club. He became the head pro there a year later and

held that position until 2003. He went on to work in Fort Collins, Loveland and Colorado Springs before moving to Montrose.

Q: How did you get started in golf?A: My stepdad got me started when I

was 5. I played in high school.Q: What do you enjoy most about

the game?A: The thing I enjoy most is that it’s

hard. I enjoy the challenge of it. Golf is also a great way to interact with a lot of

different people.Q: What are your hobbies outside

of golf?A: Hunting, fishing, hanging out with

my dogs and wife. We are expecting our first child.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: The small town aspect of it. The

area — the scenery. The pace of it.

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130 reasons to love Montrose December 30, 2012 9

No. 30Paul Zaenger

Supervisory park ranger at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison

National Park

Zaenger moved to Montrose in 1993 after having also worked in the Nation-al Parks system at Death Valley, Lake Powell, Mt. Rushmore and other loca-tions. He is one of the people respon-sible for managing ongoing operations at the Black Canyon year round.

Q: What brought you to Montrose?A: Even in high school, I wanted to live

in rural America. I was less concerned about where that was, as opposed to the fact that I didn’t want to be in a big city.

A career in the National Parks system afforded me that. Montrose has been exceptionally delightful to live in.

Q: Is the Black Canyon as well known as it could be?A: There are only a handful of parks

that probably conjure up a national or international view. Of the 58 national parks and the nearly 400 units (cultural and historical sites), there are only a handful that are nationally or interna-tionally recognized. The park could be better known, but we’re in great com-pany with all of those sites, because they all have a lot to offer. In Colorado, the Black Canyon is becoming more known.

Q: What’s it like to be able to work in such a place?A: What is among the nicest of the

things is, along with working with great people, is to feel the rhythm of the sea-sons and that seasonal change. Having the opportunity to work hard physically is really good. To meet the American people every day is really cool.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: I’ve found that we come together to

try to resolve the needs of the commu-nity. Sometimes, that can be bumpy. It isn’t always without disagreement, but I’ve found that we’re willing to listen. We’re willing to try to overcome the hurdles and even sometimes to collabo-rate. It doesn’t always happen, but we work really hard. That is a hallmark of communities that thrive. That is one of the neatest things about Montrose.

No. 31 Doug Phillips

Real estate broker

Phillips has lived in Montrose his entire life. He is an associate with Re/Max Alpine View in Montrose. He also serves as chairman of the Montrose County Suicide Prevention Coalition.

Q: What does it mean to you to be able to give back to the community as a suicide prevention coordinator?A: The beauty of Montrose, and being

involved with the Suicide Prevention Coalition, is that we all work together for the benefit of the entire community. I work with several Montrose entities, including the Center for Mental Health, and (Montrose County) Health & Human Services. All of us are working together to raise awareness for suicide prevention.

Q: What are your views on the current state of the local real estate market?A: The local Montrose market seems to

be on the upswing over the past couple of months. Interest rates are still low, and we are seeing more buyers in all

price ranges.Q: What do you do for fun around

here?A: I enjoy spending time with my fam-

ily and hunting with my son, Tanner, and dad, Don. I love that we have a full change of seasons in which to enjoy the outdoors in and around Montrose. I also like to get out and ride my Harley.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: I love Montrose because the major-

ity of the community wants to work tougher to make a better Montrose.

No. 32Casey Harrison

Inventory forester for the Colorado State Forest Service

Harrison was born in Pratt, Kan., and is a fourth-gener-ation Iowa State University alum. He resides in Montrose with his wife, two children and dog.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?

A: I’d say 80 percent of my job is in the field in the sur-rounding 11 counties. I get to find everything this area has to offer.

Q: What are some of your hobbies?A: I enjoy spending time with my family. Montrose offers

a lot of family things to do, like the Star Drive-in and the horse races. I like outdoor recreation, like hunting, fishing and taxonomy.

Q: What do you love about Montrose?A: It’s a small, friendly community. It’s family oriented.

It’s the heartland with mountains.

No. 33Jack LudwigRestaurateur

Ludwig moved to Montrose 15 years ago to escape the hustle and bustle of Grand Junction, where he had oper-ated night clubs. He remodeled and opened the Silverjack Mining Com-pany night spot, which he has since sold. In recent years, he purchased a diner in southern Montrose, which he refurbished and opened as the Stone House restaurant. The restaurant now hosts wine-pairing dinners about once a month as a fundraiser for local nonprofits and donates most of the proceeds to help the groups augment their budgets.

Q: What brought you to Montrose?A: The slower pace. I was kind of sick

of what I called the city — Grand Junc-

tion was pretty big compared to Mon-trose. I like smaller communities, always have. I came down here to get back into a small-town environment. As soon as I got here, it (the population) exploded.

Q: What are the rewards and chal-lenges of the restaurant business? A: I most enjoy dealing with people

and hopefully having them leave feel-ing that they got value, good service and excellent food. The challenges these days, of course, are numerous because of the economy. Inflation is huge on a day-to-day basis. All food and beverage products are increasing with leaps and bounds. I’m lucky in that I have always had very good employees. The restau-rant industry is known as one of the most difficult to run successfully. You’ve got to be on top of your game all the time.

Q: Why are you willing to host so many fundraisers?A: I think we all need to do our part,

especially in the economic times we are faced with today. Grants are drying up for nonprofits, so they have to go to the community for help.

Q: What are your interests apart from the restaurant biz? A: I enjoy golf and visiting with

friends.Q: What do you love about Mon-

trose?A: Montrose has, in my opinion, a

very unique personality. The people are what make it what it is. I don’t even like going on vacations — truthfully, I have never been anywhere in the country that is more beautiful than what we have to look at on a daily basis.

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No. 35Heidi Gebhard-Seelhoff

Owner of Spring Creek Chalet

Heidi Gebhard-Seelhoff, 80, immi-grated to the United States from Ger-many after the devastation of World War II. Originally from Weiherhammer, Bavaria, Seelhoff not only survived the horrors of war, but used her experi-ences as motivation to better herself within the medical community, arriving in Chicago on the SS United States at 22.

Q: You’ve been living in the United States for nearly 58 years now. Why here?A: Growing up in Nazi Germany,

bombarded by an array of Nazi pro-paganda and total lack of freedom of speech allowed me to appreciate what other countries had to offer. During the war, we only could listen to select radio

stations and had to rely on each other for information. That is what I appreciate here — if there is something you do not agree with in your government, you can speak up.

Q: Was there a specific instance where you did not agree with the Ger-man government during the war?

A: Yes. I can remember in our town there were many Jewish families, and as each day went by, there were less and less. I was quite young, so I did not understand why this was happening, but when one particular family moved away, it was explained to me that they were going to “go away for awhile” until the situation improved. I later learned that this was because they were Jewish.

Q: Your husband also was in Ger-many at the time. How did you meet?A: When I arrived in Chicago, I knew

very few people. My husband, however,

was a jazz musician and had also just moved to the United States, also in Chi-cago. He was drafted for the Nazi Army at 16 and was held as a prisoner of war for almost two years, unknowingly very near to his hometown. When we met, it was love at first sight.

Q: Do you have a favorite German saying?A: Yes. “Sei froh!” It means, “Be

happy.”Q: Why do you love Montrose?

A: After moving to the U.S., I was con-stantly homesick. My husband and I took a vacations to Telluride and Montrose in 1972, and I found home. The mountains and feel of Montrose fit us perfectly. Since moving here, our family has raised many generations in Montrose. My chil-dren live here, as well as their children. People feel safe and open here. They’re very simple. I love that about Montrose. Not leaving any time soon.

No. 34Hailey Wells

Waitress and student

Wells is a recent Montrose High School graduate who is attending classes at Colorado Mesa University’s Montrose campus in preparation for entering nursing school. This summer, she also is working full time at the Shanty II as a waitress and cashier. She has already received a certified nursing assistant designation through a high school tech-nical program. Wells is nearly 18 years old and has lived in Montrose for most of her life.

Q: Why do you want to become a nurse?A: Honestly, I like the aspect of helping people the most. I

think that a career in health care is a great fit because it is

beneficial to both myself and others.Q: After a successful high school volleyball career, do

you plan on continuing in athletics?A: I really enjoyed volleyball, and I had opportunities to

play at the college level. But I decided that furthering my education should be my sole focus, as that may provide bet-ter benefits down the road.

Q: How do you like to spend your free time?A: Well, working for 40 hours a week and going to school

for 12 doesn’t leave me much free time. But I do enjoy the outdoors, especially hiking and snowshoeing with my family.

Q: What’s your favorite local hike?A: The hike to Hanging Lakes.Q: Why do you love Montrose?

A: I love Montrose because I love my family and they are all close by.

No. 37Carla Gressman

Banking center manager at the Montrose branch of Community Banks of Colorado

Gressman opened Community Banks of Colorado in Montrose almost six years ago and has been in banking for 35 years. She is a mother, grandmother and wife. She and her family moved to Montrose in 1986 after visiting two years earlier.

Q: What motivates you in your career?A: My customers and being able to help people.Q: Has banking changed since you began your ca-

reer?A: Yes, very much so. It used to be that banking was sim-

ply taking a deposit or cashing a check. Now we can do a lot more for our customers.

Q: How do you spend your time outside of work?A: I love spending time with my family. I have two sons

and four grandchildren. We like to spend time outdoors, and I really enjoy gardening. My husband and I are also mem-bers of the Black Canyon Classics Car Club.

Q: Do you have a favorite car?A: I have a 1964 Chevelle — it’s still a bit of a project. We

also have a ‘52 Studebaker that we like to cruise in with other members of the car club.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: It’s the people. And it’s a great place to raise kids —

that’s why we came here. That’s why I love Montrose, that and the blue sky.

No. 36Kevin Davis

Firefighter and paramedic

Davis began his career as a fire-fighter more than 33 years ago and currently works for the Montrose Fire Protection District. A father of three, Davis and his wife moved to Montrose from California 11 years ago while seeking a change of scenery.

Q: Did you go to school for your current career?A: Yes, I have an A.S. in fire science

and my EMT training. I realized early on the importance of training and educa-tion — it’s important in any career. We can’t rest on our laurels, we have to keep up with improving methods, changes

in building materials. When I’m in a dangerous situation, I fall back on that training to keep me safe.

Q: Did you always want to be a firefighter?A: Actually, it started as a summer job,

seasonal, and turned into a career that I love. It’s the challenge of it. Not just the physical challenges. No one day is the same as the next; you never know what the next call is going to bring.

Q: What’s the most rewarding part of your job?A: Really, it’s helping people.

They’re in a bad situation, or having a bad day — whether it’s something as simple as helping them off the floor or administering pain medication to someone who has fallen and broken a hip, I can help people when they’re in

a bad spot.Q: If you could go back and make

a different career choice, would you?A: I love this job even though I just

fell into it. I was an art major, and I still enjoy art, but no. My schedule leaves me with a lot of time off, which is especially nice during the summer. There’s plenty of time to pursue other occupations and hobbies around Montrose.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: It’s like mom’s home cooking — it’s

comfortable. People know you here, and they make eye contact. They say hello. It’s all about the quality of life and creat-ing an attachment to the community.

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130 reasons to love Montrose December 30, 2012 11

No. 38Keegan Harmon

Montrose High School senior

Harmon was born in Durango in 1994. He and his family moved to Montrose when he was in the eighth grade, and Harmon has become a member of the Indian football and wrestling programs. Since he was a sophomore in high school, Harmon has been a member of the club lacrosse teams in Montrose and Telluride. He also has created his own clothing line called KNH. To learn more about it, visit [email protected].

Q: Why did you create your own clothing line in high school?

A: Well, it’s a small organization I created because I love graphic design, and I wanted something new and original. I made clothes, stickers and hats for locals who are Colo-rado proud. Eventually, I hope to take it statewide.

Q: What inspires you to participate in so many activities?A: As far as sports, my coaches and family. With every-

thing else, I just wanted to get myself out there. I look to have fun and make the most of my life before I go off into the real world. It is also really inspiring to see my designs around town.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: Montrose is a friendly place. It’s a small community,

and everyone knows everyone here.

No. 39Abbie Brewer

Executive director of the FORE Alliance and manager of the Montrose Farmers Market

Brewer has lived in Montrose for most of the past 18 years and is a Montrose High School graduate. For a while, she owned a retail paint store called the Paint Bucket on North First Street. She is the mother of four boys between the ages of 5 and 14, and she has a passion for environmental awareness, renewable energy and sustainable living.

Q: How did you become so passion-ate about environmental concerns?A: When the war broke out in Iraq, I

was managing a business here in Mon-

trose. I often worked with the families of the troops of the 109th Medical Division. I came to understand that the war was largely about oil. I really wanted to help these families and decided the best thing I could do was take all of the community support and work to reduce our depen-dence on fossil fuels. We have so many renewable energy options here — sun, hydroelectric and other sources we can use — and we shouldn’t have to send these people off to war.

Q: What environmental/sustain-ability issues do you believe are most pressing here in Montrose?A: I don’t know if we are missing

anything, I think we just need continued collaboration, more give and take. Some-times, people have to take a step back while others take a step forward in order

to keep stepping forward, and thinking forward, as a community.

Q: How has the Montrose Farmers Market evolved and grown? A: I have been managing it since

March. Thanks to the city, we now have a better space, which creates a better look and feel for the market. We have increased support from the community and local businesses. That combined ef-fort has really helped increase our sales. This June, we were up 37 percent from June 2011. I really see the market as a incubator for small businesses.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: There is so much you can create

here. There are a lot of passionate people to collaborate with in Montrose. I love Montrose because there are just so many organizations and activities to be a part of.

No. 40Joyce Corley

Retired educator

Corley, a Los Angeles native, moved to Montrose in 2001 from West Covina, Calif., with her husband. After a career as a classroom teacher, Corley had be-come an administrator, staff developer and trainer in California for state and federal programs and newly imple-mented curriculum. As “the compli-ance person,” Corley said, “not many people liked me.” She retired after 20 years and built a home in Montrose.

Q: Why did you come to Montrose?A: My husband has always been an

avid hunter. He had been hunting here, mainly up by Gunnison. We came to

Montrose in 1999, and it was breathtak-ing. I had seen Colorado many times from I-70, but this was different.

Q: What did you enjoy about your career in education?A: I think you shouldn’t be breathing

if you’re not making a difference. It was a calling. You never become rich as a teacher.

Q: What are your interests and hobbies now?A: I was worried with what I was go-

ing to do with all of my “free time.” ... Almost immediately after unpacking, I became a board member of Historic Montrose Downtown. Then I joined the San Juan Photo Club. I am now a mem-ber of the Alpine Photo Club. For two years, I was on the board of the Shar-

ing Ministries food bank. I’m a senior partner with the Partners program of Montrose and Delta.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: It’s been like a new experience for

me. Especially since I met ... people from literally every walk of life. It’s given me a sense of adventure and zest for my own life. There hasn’t been a dull mo-ment since I moved here. Nor, unfortu-nately, has there been much free time. I love being in Montrose because I can truly celebrate four different seasons. I feel like I’ve been able to make a differ-ence here in ways I never could have in California outside of my job. That’s been enriching.

No. 41Tracy Harrison

Owner of Hairlines & Nail Designs Salon

Harrison was born in Montrose in 1957. She was raised here, along with many generations of her family. Har-rison received her first job on her family’s sheep farm in the 1960s. After graduating from Montrose High School in 1976, she attended beauty school in Grand Junction. It wasn’t long before she came back to Montrose. She opened her own salon in 1994 and has been running it ever since.

Q: What made you want to pursue a career in cos-metology? A: It was something I always wanted to do. When I was

younger, I would always do my little sister’s hair and make-up.

Q: How has Montrose evolved since you were born?A: There’s always a good and a bad side to everything,

but as for Montrose, I think over time it has been a good change. This town has had a nice, steady growth.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: When you see all of these people and look at the

beautiful mountains, it’s home to me. I’m thankful to have a good community that can pull it together.

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No. 43Nancy Ball

Retired/volunteer Ball was born and raised in Los Angeles, and relocated to Montrose from Orange County 22 years ago. She longed for a major change of scenery and life experiences. She made the “great escape” to Western Colorado and has subsequently been delighted with her decision. She also met her husband here in Montrose while work-ing as a Realtor.

Q: Describe your role as a member of the Awareness/Prevention Com-mittee Coalition for a Drug Free

Montrose County.A: I feel passionately about drug and

alcohol abuse because it ruins so many lives. The Awareness/Prevention Com-mittee has been the perfect vehicle for getting the word out about our local problem through the Our Biz Supports a Drug Free Montrose County program, athletic sponsorships, participating in local events such as Men in the Mix and Youth Appreciation Day, and providing resource materials to local schools.

Q: What other volunteer activities do you participate in?A: My other passion is the League of

Women Voters, particularly in today’s

political scene, because the league is nonpartisan and serves to educate the public on issues that affect them on the local, state and national levels.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: The fact that it has given me sur-

prising opportunities that have been as diverse as climbing a fourteener (Mt. Sneffels) and serving as an election judge. Also, I love the idea that I can con-tribute to the community and hopefully make a positive difference, which is a feeling I did not experience while living in the “big city.”

No. 42Stephens DooleyDefense attorney

Anyone who has spent any length of time in local courtrooms probably knows Dooley, a defense attorney who sports Crocs and unique ties. Dooley, who grew up in Greeley, worked as a banker before getting his law degree, then practiced in his father’s firm before becoming a public defender in Trinidad, Fort Collins and Greeley. He worked here as a public defender for about 20 years and is now in private practice.

Q: When and why did you come to Montrose?A: January of 1986. My family moved

over in June. We had vacationed with my brother in Montrose, and we just enjoyed the entire Western area. We just wanted a change, so we moved over here.

Q: How did you get into law?A: I was in my master’s program, and

my high school principal became my adviser. She basically said that I prob-ably wouldn’t be as good a lawyer as my dad. I may have been competitive. So I went to law school. And a master’s de-gree in historical economics really isn’t very useful. I love it (law). I have had a great time being a public defender and I enjoy trial work — but, I am ill-suited for anything else.

Q: What is the importance of the public defender’s office?A: It gives life and breath to Gideon

v. Wainwright, which said even poor people get lawyers. It’s more expensive without them.

Q: What other interests and hob-bies do you have?A: I have golf clubs, and I go to the club

and get a ball, but I don’t think many people would call what I do golf. I enjoy fishing, although I’ve become much more of a sedentary fisherman. And I have a granddaughter. I love my chil-dren. And I do whatever my wife tells me

to do, at all times and in all instances.Q: What’s the deal with all your

funky ties, and where do you get them?A: I have not purchased a tie in 30

years, except one time when I was in Ireland. All of the ties have been given to me. When I worked at the bank, I had a black tie. They told me I didn’t need to just wear a black tie. That evening, there was one for a quarter at (a store), pre-stained. I still have that tie. It may be the ugliest tie I own. Since then, people just give me ties. I also have an orange Naugahyde tie. Several naugas gave up their lives so I could have this tie.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: Montrose provided a great education

for my children. It taught them all of the -isms and the -ists, and exposed them to all of that. The school system gave them a great education, and they were well set up for the future. And, what’s not to like about summer? I don’t mind the heat. I don’t like cold. That’s the only thing I don’t like about Montrose.

No. 45Tara Branham

Employee at Pollux Clothing

Branham recently married Chase Branham and has been working at Pollux for about a year. Prior to that, she was a nanny in the Montrose area and has more recently worked for the Western Area Power Association. She is a graduate of Olathe High School.

Q: What do you enjoy about work-ing in fashion?

A: I find it fun helping people find things that are flattering for them. It is just nice to help people express themselves through their clothes. Also, I like fashion — all girls do, right? I was a shopper here at Pollux, I had a friend who worked here and I was lucky enough to get a job here, too.

Q: Any interesting trends in fash-ion you see coming?A: I kind of see the ‘80s coming back

into play. I believe big and gaudy is going to be the up-and-coming trend, at least

with jewelry and some accessories. Q: What keeps you going outside

of work?A: I am pretty low key. I enjoy spend-

ing time with my husband and family. I would say I am a very family-oriented person. I am also involved with my youth group and the Church of the First Born.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: I love Montrose because it’s home. I

grew up here, and I like the feel of a close-knit community.

No. 44Wyatt Howerton

Elementary school student Howerton was born in Phoenix in 2001. He and his family moved to Montrose in 2007. Howerton is involved in numer-ous sports such as baseball, football and soccer. However, Howerton excels in swimming at the breaststroke and back-stroke. This summer in Colorado Springs, he placed fifth at the state meet in the 100-meter backstroke.

Q: What inspires you to participate in multiple sports?A: My family really pushes me to do the best I can. I try re-

ally hard, but I can only play sports if I keep good grades.Q: Where do you see yourself in the future?

A: I’ve been swimming for as long as I can remember, and I don’t want to stop. My coach is amazing, and I want to continue to swim in high school and even be an Olympian someday so I won’t let her down.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: I love the environment, and all my friends and family

that are here that inspire me.

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130 reasons to love Montrose December 30, 2012 13

No. 46Tom O’Brien

Communications engineer for Optimum

O’Brien has been living in Montrose for almost two decades with his family. He enjoys hiking, riding his motor-cycle, traveling and spending time with his family, among other things. He also is known for his massive music collection.

Q: When and why did you move to Montrose?A: It will be 19 years in two weeks. I

transferred for work.Q: How big is your music collec-

tion?A: I have 500 CDs, 1,200 (vinyl) albums

and 500 45s (records).Q: Do you prefer vinyl over CDs?

A: Yes. It’s the cover art. I also think there’s a difference between analog

vs. digital as far as representation and warmth.

Q: What are your favorite albums?A: It depends on the day of the week.Q: What do you love about Mon-

trose?A: It’s centrally located to so many

amazing places. For being in the middle of no place, we’re so close to so many amazing wonders.

No. 47Kelsey Williams

Server at the Camp Robber

Williams was born in 1990 in Corvallis, Mont. Williams attended the University of Montana for one year before she moved to Montrose in 2011 to get a fresh start. She has been working at the Camp Robber as a server since April.

Q: How is Montana different than Colorado?A: The town I’m from is small like Montrose. It is a beauti-

ful area in a valley much like here, but there is more of an opportunity to grow here for me.

Q: What do you do for fun here?A: I love to be outside and adventure in Telluride and

Ouray. When I’m not outside, I paint and draw portraits or take photos.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: I think it’s a safe place to explore one’s interests, but

usually it’s a hard place for people my age because my age group is small. As for me, I love the variety of ages and the environment here in Montrose.

No. 48Casey Best

Bright Beginnings School associate director

Best was born in Grand Junction, but moved to Montrose in 2000 with her parents, who were opening a business at the time. Best is a Mesa State Col-lege (now Colorado Mesa University) graduate and recently received her director’s license in early childhood education. She also was recently mar-ried and has a 3-month-old son.

Q: What made you want to work with children for living?A: I’ve always loved education, and I

always have wanted to help kids learn to love education and give them the best start as early as possible.

Q: You welcomed your first child this year. How has having your own child changed how you approach your work?A: It hasn’t. I’ve always had 204 chil-

dren, I just have one I take home with me every night now.

Q: What are some of your hobbies?A: Dirt bike riding and cooking.Q: If you could have any other

profession, what would it be?A: I probably would do something in

social work.Q: What do you love about Mon-

trose?A: The way the community pitches in.

It’s big enough to have everything you need, but small enough that everyone knows everyone and is willing to help one another.

No. 49Angelica Coughlin

Estee Lauder sales associate at Bealls

Originally from the Ukraine, Coughlin is a recent addition to Montrose. After living in Kiev, Russia, for many years, she was offered a job in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where she climbed the corporate ladder, soon becoming the manager of numerous Paris Galley boutiques in some of Dubai’s most luxurious hotels.

Q: What was it like when you first arrived in Dubai?A: I lived there for 14 years, and every-

thing was very new. There were many

immigrants and tourists, especially from Russia, who did not speak English. I did not, either. I wanted to learn the language very badly, like something I felt like I wanted to do more than anything. There were few nice department stores there, but the longer I stayed, the bigger the city became. At first, I felt like I did not fit in because everything seems so luxurious, but when I started working in more extravagant hotels, seeing luxury felt very normal.

Q: What brought you to the United States and Montrose? A: My husband is from America.

We met in a peculiar way. When I had just moved to Dubai, I had converted to Christianity, and I wanted to meet

someone with the same beliefs as I. My mother suggested I meet this person on a dating site, and my wish came true. There, I met my husband who is from Colorado Springs, but his business brings him all around the world. That is how we got to meet in Dubai. It was very, very special. I have been living and working in Montrose now for about a year, and I love it!

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: People are so very friendly. The first

few months I worked at Bealls, everyone would say “Hello” and “Good morning” to me all the time. But in Kiev, no one would greet you like this. People in Montrose are also very generous. It’s in their blood.

No. 50Wayne Quade

Retired Wayne Quade is a former U.S. Forest Service employee who dedicated 32 years of his life to work in land manage-ment, including some years as a roads manager for several districts. He en-tered forestry school after completing four years in the Air Force. Quade is an ardent advocate for Scouting programs.

Q: What brought you to Montrose?A: I transferred from Norwood

through the Forest Service. Most of my professional career has been in Colo-rado. When I worked with the Forest Service seasonally, I’d been all around.

Q. What prompted your interest in the Forest Service?A: It may be because of all my outdoor

experience with the Scouting program

when I was in Boy Scouts. I always have had an interest in the outdoor careers.

Q: How did you become interested in the Boy Scouts?A: I guess my parents must have gotten

me into it, because I was a Cub Scout. I got my Eagle (rank) in 1958 in Wiscon-sin. I just kept at it. You can spend your whole life with the Scouts.

Q: What do you do in Scouts now?A: I wear different hats. I focus on my

Venturing (a Scout program for young peo-ple between 14 and 20) crew. I’m trying to get it going again. I’m a unit commissioner for the (Scouting) district, and have been the chairman in conservation and outdoor ethics. Primarily, I’m an adviser and trying to get my Venturing crew started again ... At that age level, we can do virtually anything they want. We can climb moun-tains, sail around the word, whatever they

really want, but kids are supposed to run it. In today’s world, they’re not really used to running their own programs so you’ve got some heavy monitoring to do.

Q: What is the importance of the Scouting organization?A: I call it a values-based organiza-

tion. I especially recognized it when I was working with 40,000 kids at world Scouting jamborees. Scouting is not only the world’s biggest youth movement, it’s the world’s biggest peace movement. It transcends language, culture, religion.

Q: What do you love about Montrose?A: You can get involved in the commu-

nity in a good way here. I think the Public Lands Partnership here is a really neat collaborative effort, and I’m really proud of what they’ve done. I like that fact that not only are we ringed with with public lands, but we’ve got the intellectual resources.

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No. 55Hunter McKie

Montrose High junior Mckie was born in 1995 in Littleton. Although he has moved back and forth from Littleton to Denver, he has lived in Montrose for the last seven years. McKie maintains an active lifestyle by playing sports such as golf, football and baseball. McKie also dirt bikes and skis during his free time.

Q: What keeps you so involved in activities?

A: I really enjoy putting myself out there. The more sports and activities I participate in, the better I get and the more fun I have. So just challenging myself to be better helps keep me going.

Q: What do you think Montrose has to offer for kids your age? A: Lots of kids my age like being outside. Montrose is the per-

fect place to go outside and hike, bike or anything really.Q: Why do you love Montrose?

A: People are really nice here, and the town is a calm place. Also, it keeps kids active if they do the things I do.

No. 52Jennifer Williams

Employee at Sally Beauty Supply and Sandtrap

Restaurant Williams was born Paramount, Calif., in 1991. Later in 1993, her family opted to move to Colorado and settled down in Grand Junction. When Williams was about to enter high school, her family

moved to Montrose. Ever since, Williams has made a life for herself and her family.

Q: Why did your family move to Colorado?A: There were more opportunities

here. Paramount was a dangerous place, and there is less violence here.

Q: Why do you enjoy cosmetology?A: Well, I’m most interested in nails.

I love doing nails because it’s creative,

and you can do anything with them.Q: What do you do for fun here?

A: When I’m not beautifying people, I like to draw. I also enjoy engaging in other arts and crafts, and just being with my new family.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: It’s just beautiful here. I love the

mountains and the size of the town. Above all, it’s just a good place to start raising my daughter around good people.

No. 51Donnie Watson

Cascade Bicycles owner

Watson’s passion for bicycles and cycling stems back to when he was kid, when he took interest in BMX. He later got interested in mountain biking and advanced mountain biking. He moved to Montrose from Albuquerque, N.M., two and a half years ago.

Q: Why did you purchase Cascade Bicycles?A: My love of bikes. You don’t consider it work when it’s a

passion — something you love.Q: What are some of your hobbies outside of bicycles

and the business?A: Spending time with my family, motocross, white-water

rafting, fly fishing.Q: What do you think the USA Pro Cycling Challenge

means for Montrose?A: It’s really good for the cycling community. It will get

people motivated to cycle.Q: What do you love about Montrose?

A: I love that there’s a lot of outdoor activities to do. I love the small town.

No. 54Debbie Tucker

Funeral director and manager of Valley Lawn Funeral Home

Tucker and her late husband took over his family’s funeral home in 1980, mov-ing to Montrose in 1987. She has run the funeral home since his passing in 1996, while raising their three daughters.

Q: You became a funeral director by proxy through your husband’s family. What do you think you might have done otherwise?A: Before I was widowed, I was raising

my children — I consider that a full-time job. But I might’ve gone into advertising, graphic design. I come from a family of writers and artists.

Q: Do you think there are any mis-conceptions about funeral directors?A: I don’t feel there are misconcep-

tions — this is a family business, it’s not a corporation, and we do have a family identity. Certain aspects are specific only to this business — my kids joke that the nice thing about growing up in the funeral business is that nobody trick or treats at your house on Halloween.

Q: What kind of hobbies do you enjoy outside of work? Is there something people would be sur-prised to learn about you?A: I like quilting and bike riding

around here ... the Black Canyon, High-way 90. I love the golf courses in Mon-trose. People have told me I don’t look like a quilter — I always wonder what a quilter looks like. I enjoy cooking and

gardening when I do have time. This is not a 9-to-5 job … but I do enjoy working, I enjoy working with people.

Q: What have you learned about people through your career?A: We’re very similar. On the inside,

we’re all very similar.Q: What do you love about Montrose?

A: I enjoy serving the community, I like the people here. I like the values sys-tem and knowing all of my kids’ teach-ers. I enjoy being part of a community whose values are traditional. Having experienced loss, it’s nice to be able to help somebody else. I’ve enjoyed getting to know the community over the last 25 years. It’s healthy for my kids to have a community identity — has provided them with a secure foundation that al-lows them to succeed as adults.

No. 53Jason Arebalos

Montrose County School District property services

supervisor

Arebalos moved his family to Mon-trose in 2001 from Southern California, where he worked as a construction supervisor. In his past career, he often worked on major high-rise projects in some of the most densely populated areas in the nation, including west Los Angeles and downtown L.A. His wife is a teacher, and he has a son who attends Montrose High School and two girls at Centennial Middle School. Arebalos is also an avid fan of the Los Angeles Kings.

Q: What impact do you believe you have had on the school district?A: When I came to town, it wasn’t that

the schools hadn’t been kept up, but there wasn’t much time and money put into them. Since I have been here, I am proud to say that with the work of my staff and the district in general, we have really been able to make some great improvements.

Q: Given the current financial condi-tions surrounding the district, what challenges are you now faced with?A: Well, we kind of set the bar pretty

high on how the buildings look and func-tion in recent years. With funding cuts and staff cuts, it’s difficult to keep that bar as high as we have raised it. That is our challenge, but we still intend to keep that bar at a high level.

Q: What do you miss about about

big city life, and what are you happy to leave behind?A: I miss the variety of things, simple

things like being able to catch a movie at midnight. And the ocean, I really do miss the beach. But I don’t miss the crime, traffic and pollution.

Q: Your hockey team, the Kings, won the Stanley Cup last year. Can they repeat?A: The first time I went to a Kings

game was 1979 with my dad, and I have been a fan ever since. It doesn’t matter if they repeat; I can die happy now.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: Any given day, you can go four-

wheeling, motorcycling riding, camping, fishing ... the outdoor activities really make it a special place. Also, its a great place to raise kids.

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No. 56Anne Hepp

Court interpreter

Hepp parlayed her degree in romance languages and years of studying court interpretation into a successful career. Hepp is the main interpreter for the 7th Judicial District in Montrose, and also acts as a regional coordinator for the 6th and 22nd judicial districts (La Plata Coun-ty and Montezuma and Dolores counties, respectively). She grew up in Boulder and moved here with her husband, Mike, from Portland, Ore.

Q: How long have you lived in Mon-trose, and what brought you here?A: We came to the area in 1978, because

my husband was offered a job at Arrow-head Ranch.

Q: How did you get into the field of interpreting?A: We made friends with a juvenile

diversion specialist. She knew about my language background. She had a juvenile whose mom needed an interpreter, and asked me to come in. So I did. I thought ‘This is kind of interesting.’ So then I made an appointment to talk to (District Court Administrator) Jim Clayton. ... It’s just been something that’s grown and grown since Day 1. ... There’s been such a huge increase in demand for languages other than Spanish (Czech, Russian, Ko-rean, Mandarin, Cantonese and languages of the indigenous tribes of Mexico). That’s been a real surprise to me.

Q: What do you like about interpret-ing?A: No two days are alike. You never

know what people are going to say, what sort of background is going to come into play. People don’t see me as ‘The Man.’ I’m a facilitator, and I’m here to help people be able to communicate ... to give them a voice. That’s a big responsibility and some-thing I take very seriously.

Q: What other interests do you have?A: I’m a beginning spinner, and toying

with the idea of getting a couple of lambs to be raised for wool. I love spinning, dye-ing, and playing with fiber and fabrics.

Q: What do you love about Montrose?A: I love the elbow room, how quick it is

to get to rivers and mountains. I like the agricultural feel of the community. I like to garden and grow fruit trees. To have the space to be able to do that is a great luxury. I like that, to an extent, we can grow some of our own food.

No. 57Leon LeibaLandscaper

Jamaica native Leon Leiba operates Green-Way Pro Landscaping. He moved to Montrose for family reasons in 2006, by way of Pueblo, where he also had a landscaping business and attended college, studying sociology, criminology and psychology.

Q: How did you become interested in landscaping?A: I’m from Jamaica. I grew up on a

farm. The outdoors is my thing. While I was in college, I got a ticket for having weeds. I got a big, hefty fine. I called a guy

to clean up my property, and he charged me a whole bunch of money. I bought a lit-tle push mower, and that’s how I started.

Q: What does it take to maintain your business?A: A lot of hard work, long hours, lots

of PR work. You’ve got to be a people person. And good-quality work. That’s the heart of the business.

Q: What interested you in sociology, criminology and psychology?A. It was kind of like a political thing.

(I saw) so many people in the welfare system, so many people from low-income families. When I go out and do lawn maintenance, I would see all these people. I was curious to see why people are in the situation that they are in.

Q: What other interests do you have?A: I’m very involved in the community.

I’m part of the Montrose Association of Commerce & Tourism, the Delta Chamber of Commerce, the Redcoats (a community ambassador organization), and every now and again, we donate time to people who can’t afford to clean up their yard. I’m an assistant basketball coach at Colorado West Christian School.

Q: What do you love about Montrose?A: I love the mountains, the seasons. You

can have snow in the summer, or summer in the winter. I just like the landscape of the whole area. You can do a lot of things here, and I love that. The people here are very sup-portive. ... They encourage me to be success-ful. It’s a good place for kids. It’s awesome.

No. 58Luis Perez

Montrose police officer Luis Perez came to the United States from El Salvador at the age of 19. He lived in the San Francisco Bay area, where he worked at an auto parts store, serving as a driver, then assuming the role of office inventory control and computer system maintenance. He moved to Montrose with his family in 2006 and works as a patrol officer for the Montrose Police Depart-ment.

Q: Why did you come to Montrose?A: I wanted to move away from the big city.

We had enough of California. A friend of ours moved here first and told us it was nice — small enough, but not too small. We were looking for a better place to raise our kids.

Q: How did you get into law enforce-ment?A: It was in my mind for a long time.

When I was in California, I applied at dif-ferent departments, and in Washington state, Oregon and here. Montrose was the first one to offer me a job, so I came over here.

Q: What do you like about law en-forcement?A: I like the fact that you can be of

service to the community. I like helping people, as well. It is a way of giving back to this great country.

Q: What are some of your other interests?A: I like mountain biking. They have

very good trails here. I like to walk my dog, too. I like to watch my kids’ games.

Q: What do you love about Montrose?A: I like the fact that it’s not too big. I

like the weather, although I don’t like the snow too much. I grew used to it. I like the outdoors stuff, and the parks — that’s one of the great things about Montrose. I like the people, too. They’re very friendly.

No. 59Bailey Case

Montrose High School junior Case was born in San Diego but moved to Colorado in 2007. She has been a mo-tocross racer since she was only 5 years old. Her racing has led her to many events across the country. In 2008, Case won na-tionals and competed again this summer in Las Vegas, advancing to the semifinals. She is part of a team called Willow Creek Racing, which is based out of Fort Collins. Even though Case maintains the busy life of a racer, she still manages to be a part of the MHS soccer team.

Q: Why did your family move to Montrose?A: I come from a race family, so it is

a big deal to us. When we lived in San Diego, it was hard to race all the time. There was certain times and all the guidelines when we could race. Living in Montrose gives us more access to race tracks.

Q: What motivates you to keep racing?A: Well, through school, soccer and

friends, it is hard to always keep up.

Since my family is really into racing, they help me do my best all the time. But when I win those awards, it helps push me more, knowing that my hard work pays off eventually. Hopefully, my deter-mination will bring me to the Olympics someday.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: Montrose is my home. I have fam-

ily here, and it has always been a great place for me to grow so I can reach my dreams. I know that wherever I am in my future, Montrose is somewhere I can always fall back on.

No. 60David Thorpe

Montrose High senior and tennis player

Thorpe was born and grew up in the Denver area before moving to Montrose six years ago. He plans to attend Colorado State Uni-versity after he graduates high school, and will pursue degrees in computer science and “something business oriented.”

Q: What are some of your hobbies outside of playing ten-

nis?A: I like hanging out with friends and playing lacrosse.Q: What’s the biggest difference between tennis and la-

crosse?A: There’s contact in lacrosse. Tennis is a lot more mental.Q: What do you like most about playing tennis?

A: The tennis team is a great place to be. Everyone is a positive influence.

Q: What do you love about Montrose?A: Growing up in Denver, I like how it’s smaller and more laid

back here.

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16 December 30, 2012 130 reasons to love Montrose

No. 63 Tom Chinn

Montrose police chief

Chinn grew up in Cedaredge, where his parents were farmers known for growing apples, apricots and peaches. After graduating from Cedaredge High School, Chinn went on to get his as-sociate’s degree from Mesa College. Working as a laborer for the town of Cedaredge inspired him to get into law enforcement. He joined the Montrose Police Department in 1973 when he was 22, climbing his way up the ladder over the years. In 2005, he was named chief. Chinn raised his two sons in Montrose and has been married for 38 years.

Q: What’s the best part about your job?

A: Talking to people. There are good people in this community. I enjoy meet-ing new people, and Montrose truly has the best.

Q: Why do you call Montrose and Western Colorado “God’s Country”?A: It’s the closet to Heaven itself on

this side of life.Q: Favorite movie?

A: There’s a couple. “Rudy.” I’ve seen it several times. It’s about a kid who is told he can’t do something his entire life, and he showed he could, and did. I enjoy it a lot. The second is “Tombstone.” I thought Val Kilmer was great in that movie. There’s a lot of good characters in it.

Q: Manning or Tebow?A: Two totally different people. Tebow

gave Denver something. When Tebow was playing, Denver always had a chance to win. As far as people, I think Tim Tebow is one of the finest people around. But as far as quarterbacks, Den-ver certainly has one in Peyton Manning no doubt. Peyton Manning is one of the very best in the business.

Q: How do you think Denver will do this year?A: Very well. I think they have a

chance to go all the way this year.Q: Why do you love Montrose?

A: The people. The location. It’s just a good place. It’s a good place to raise kids, it’s a good place to retire and it’s a good place to work. It’s a good place in general.

No. 64Stephan Wargo

Server and bartender at the Horsefly Brewing Company

Wargo has lived in Montrose the majority of his life and is a graduate of Montrose High School. He is a very proficient musician — willing and able to play just about any instrument people can hand him. He has also spent several years as a server at the Stone House.

Q: How did you develop such a strong passion for music?A: My love of music came actually

when I moved here to Montrose and met my future stepdad. He owned a music

store here in town. I love all types of styles, but lately I have been interested in folk and country music. But I still love blues and classic rock.

Q: When you aren’t making music what else do you enjoy doing?A: I really love backpacking, climb-

ing an motorcycles. Last year, my big brother came into town from his home in Vietnam, and we loaded up the motor-cycles and just headed to Utah. We were riding down this old dirt road and saw this incredible mesa in the distance. We ditched the bikes and just started hiking to the mesa. We ended up spending a couple days out there. It was a very cool adventure — epic, really.

Q: I hear you are in the process of starting up a band. How did that

come about?A: It’s interesting, we actually got our

first gig before we had a band. Some friends of mine and I found ourselves in a bar in Dove Creek. We told them that we like to play music and they asked us if we could come back and play. So we have been working on some material, and we are just about ready to head back to Dove Creek. Eventually, we are going to work on some originals. It has always been my dream to record an album.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: I love Montrose because of the area

and just how close we are to the outdoors. And because it is a small town, which is crazy, because I both love and hate the smallness of it. But I really think some-day I would like to raise a family here.

No. 62 Jim Heneghan

DMEA renewable energy engineer

Even if don’t know Heneghan, you likely have been positively impacted by his work. Heneghan has been the renewable energy engineer at DMEA for four years, and he is playing a pivotal role as project manager for the South Canal Hydro-Electric Project. Heneghan learned about Montrose after meet-ing longtime resident Adell Brown in Durango. He realized it was a great location where he could stay involved with two of his passions, cycling and renewable energy.

Q: How is the South Canal Project coming along?A: Well, we are about 40 percent

completed at this point, and it looks like we are on track to meet our completion goal in July 2013. What makes that site so good is the senior water rights. Once these structures are built, the water feed is free. To me, that’s what makes the project even more sustainable. There is about zero environmental impact be-cause the infrastructure, the Gunnison Tunnel, is already there.

Q: How do you incorporate sus-tainable energy into your own life?A: Right now, I am building a straw

bale shop. It will be the third straw bale building I have built. I am still consid-ering SIPs, or structurally insulated panels, because they go up fast, and they make for a very efficient structure. But straw is also a fantastic and renewable material.

Q: I understand you have a great

interest in cycling, and you even followed the USA Pro Cycling Chal-lenge around for a while.A: When I was in high school in Al-

buquerque, bicycling in the U.S. wasn’t even a sport. It was something people did when they didn’t have a car. But we thought it was fun. We learned to work on bikes and started riding races. One of my friends even rode professionally. It is just a passion I have, and, yes, I did follow the USA Pro Cycling Challenge for four stages. The stages in Boulder and Golden were really huge, and I think it will soon be big here, too.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: First and foremost, I love Montrose

for the lovely landscapes and beautiful weather. I also have an organic farm, and there is great irrigation and a great growing season.

No. 61Lyle Wright

Montrose High School athletic director

Wright was born in Denver, though he graduated from Montrose High School in 1988. While at MHS, he was a star wrestler. He finished second in the 145-pound weight class at the Class 4A state tournament as a junior, before earning a state title in the same weight class his senior season. He went on to wrestle at the University of Northern Colorado for a year, before transfer-ring to Colorado State University. He graduated from CSU with a degree in zoology, and a minor in wildlife biology and chemistry.

Q: How would you describe your time

as a Montrose High School student?A: I think what I remember most about

high school is competing in wrestling. My coach pushed be to be very competitive. I also had a couple of teachers who had that mindset on the academic side. They pushed us to be the best we could be ...

Q: What does winning a wrestling state championship in 1988 mean to you?A: At the time, it was something I

worked hours and hours for. I think it also taught me life skills that help me through life — hard work and dedica-tion.

Q: How’d you get into education?A: I was working for a private com-

pany, and I wasn’t enjoying it. I thought back on my life and how Montrose High

School played a huge role in it. I decided I wanted to go back and get a teaching certificate. So I sold everything... Went to Western State University and got my teaching degree.

Q: If you weren’t in education right now, what would you be do-ing?A: I don’t think that’s an option. I don’t

think I could be doing anything else.Q: Knowing you’re a big Denver

Broncos fan and that you likely watched them beat Pittsburgh on Sunday, how do you think the Bron-cos will do this season?A: I think they will be in the Super

Bowl. If (Peyton Manning) stays healthy, we can beat anybody.

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130 reasons to love Montrose December 30, 2012 17

No. 65Steve Gaber

Columbine Middle School assistant principal

Gaber was born in Illinois, though he moved around quite a bit because his father was in the U.S. Air Force. Among the places he lived were Maryland, Texas and Italy. He moved to Colorado Springs in 1977 and graduated from Mitchell High School. He went on to attend Western State College on a football scholar-ship, where he met his wife Kathy. They graduated in 1989, and soon after, made Montrose their home. Besides teaching at Columbine Middle School, Gaber has 21 years of experience coaching, as he served on the Montrose High football and baseball team staffs, as well as the wrestling coach at Columbine. He and his wife have three children — son Bryce, 20; and daughters, Brooke, 18, and 16-year-old Brenna.

Q: What was it like growing up with your father in the U.S. Air Force?A: I got to see a lot of different parts of

the world, so it was a phenomenal experi-ence. It’s one that shaped who I am today.

Q: Can you discuss what the three years you spent in Italy as a child were like?A: I learned to speak the language

in town. There were a lot of Catholic churches and soccer stadiums. It was a great experience. I got to learn about my mother’s heritage and the Italian culture.

Q: You’ve played and coached football. It has been a big part of your life. What does the game mean to you?A: The reason I love football is because

it gives you an opportunity to learn lessons in life. You’re working toward a common goal and also continually learn-

ing... We all want to be the best we can be.Q: Tebow or Peyton?

A: Tebow, because I think he sets the example. He’s a great role model not only for kids, but adults that watch that sport as well. He’s a team player, has God in his life. He puts himself out there every day. I appreciate those values. But I don’t dis-like Peyton Manning.

Q: If you weren’t in education, what would you be doing?A: I can’t think of anything. I love what I do.Q: Why do you love Montrose?

A: I have lived in a lot of places in my life and this community is by far the best, strongest and safest I’ve been in. People, support of the town, students, climate and location... My kids are product of this community and I am very thankful for ev-eryone who has been a part of their lives.

No. 66Bobbi Brown

Branch sales managerWells Fargo Home Mortgage

in Montrose

Brown was born in Wisconsin and grew up in Erie, Pa. Her family moved to Montrose her senior year of high school. She thought she would leave Montrose as soon as she graduated, but, as it turned out, this is where she was supposed to plant her roots. She raised her three daughters here and began working at Wells Fargo in 1979. Jack Pixler was the president of the lo-cal bank then. Over the years, she has worked with some great leaders in the community, crediting them with instill-ing in her how important it is to give back to the community we live in.

Q: What motivates you to volun-teer your time for community-ser-vice projects?A: I believe service is the divine multi-

plier. When we perform an act of service with no intention of being repaid, we are rewarded in ways far greater than we might ever imagine. In some way, we are all connected, so when we help some-one else, we are really helping ourselves. We are entrusted with the responsibil-ity to “pay forward.” It’s important we share our talents, time and money.

Q: If you weren’t in banking what would you do?A: I love what I do. I provide a service

in helping families with their financing needs. I plan to retire “someday” from

Wells Fargo, and when I do, I would imagine I will be volunteering and help-ing serve people in some way.

Q: What are your hobbies or inter-ests?A: I love to read a good book. I like to

golf and realize I need to practice more to get better. My family means the world to me so any chance I get, I spend time doing fun things with them.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: I love Montrose for many reasons,

including the beautiful scenery, all the activities within our reach, but most of all because of the quality of people who live here. Every time I travel somewhere else, I gain an even greater appreciation for how special of a place I live in.

No. 68Jim Haugsness

Retired

Haugsness grew up in Chicago and graduated from Northwestern Univer-sity, where he also played football. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos, and his résumé also includes teaching in Virginia, working for Chrysler Co. and Amoco, and owning a business in Denver. He became interested in emer-gency services after getting a job with the Englewood Fire Department and went on to become a certified fire para-medic. He was then hired as a fire chief in Steamboat Springs and in Oregon. He moved here in 2000 and has twice run for county commissioner.

Q: What brought you to Montrose?A: We decided we would get out of the

wet environment (of Oregon) and get

back to Colorado. We looked around the state, and Montrose was a really good fit for us because of the small-town atmo-sphere and the various amenities.

Q: How did you become involved with football and the Broncos?A: I was a player in high school and

was recruited (for college). I basically could have gone to any school in the country, but I decided to go to school five miles from home. I was drafted by the Broncos in ‘66. I was a linebacker. I made it through the preseason, was released, and went to Norfolk, Va., for the Con-tinental Football League. It was fun. I enjoyed the strategy of the game, the awareness and the teamwork involved.

Q: What are your other hobbies and interests?A: I like outdoor activities, cross-coun-

try skiing, riding my bicycle, working out and being involved in a lot of com-munity activities. I was on the fire board (Montrose Fire Protection District). I ran for county commissioner. I am on the board of directors for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates — Voices for Children), and I just got appointed to the citizens advisory board for Health and Human Services.

Q: What do you like about Mon-trose?A: Pretty much what everyone does.

You’re out of the rat race of the big city, you can collect a nice group of friends, you can do things with and have similar interests, whether it’s outdoor activities or political interests. You have a smaller group of folks to deal with.

No. 67Lisa DelPiccolo

Montrose city clerk

DelPiccolo grew up in Wisconsin. For two years, she attended the Univer-sity of Wisconsin, where she met her husband, Renzo. She transferred to and got her degree from Metropolitan State College of Denver. She lived in multiple areas around Colorado before moving to Montrose. She began working for the city in 2007 as a Police Department technician before being named deputy city clerk in 2008. In 2011, she took over as the city clerk. She and her husband have two chil-dren, Nina and Nico.

Q: Your job requires a lot of orga-nization and dedication. What’s the best part about what you do?A: What I enjoy most is the variety.

As city clerk, I work in a lot of different areas and with different people — the public, the City Council and volunteers.

Q: What would you be doing if you didn’t have your current career?A: I always thought it be would be kind

of fun to open a gelato shop, but I would research how they do it so well in Italy and do that here.

Q: What’s your favorite kind of gelato?A: A shop in Grand Junction has a

Palisade peaches kind. It’s delicious, and

I like that it uses local produce.Q: What are some of your hobbies?

A: I like to garden and read a good book. My husband is an outdoors man, so we do quite a bit of fishing, hiking and camping.

Q: Favorite TV show?A: “Mad Men” and “Downton Abbey.”

They are both well written and compel-ling.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: Almost 20 years ago, my husband

and I drove through here and thought it would be a great place to live. We haven’t been disappointed.

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18 December 30, 2012 130 reasons to love Montrose

No. 70Melanie Hall

Montrose Community Foundation executive director

Hall was born and raised in Ridgway, where her father’s family maintains a cattle ranch business that they’ve been a part of for four generations. She’s a Ridgway High graduate and had 14 others in her graduating class. She graduated from Mesa State College with a degree in business management and business administration. She has three sons, Garrett (eighth grade), Griffin (sixth grade) and Gavin (fourth grade).

Q: Your job requires you to work directly with the community. What’s the best part about your job?A: It’s been an exciting five years

watching the (Montrose) Community

Foundation grow and lead the commu-nity in a positive direction. This position gives me the opportunity to work with so many good and thoughtful people.

Q: What do you listen to the most on your iPod?A: “Start Me Up” by the Rolling Stones

is what I listen to when I exercise in the morning. It’s just a positive way to start the day. You can’t help but sing along to the Stones.

Q: If you could meet someone, liv-ing or not living, who would it be?A: I’ve always been fascinated with

Mother Teresa. She had such a calm and quiet way of getting things done, which was good for other people. She had such a heart for people disadvantaged and underserved.

Q: What’s your favorite vacation place?

A: This summer my boys and I went to Yellowstone (National Park). We had a great time. We also like to go to Steam-boat (Springs).

Q: What’s the best advice you ever got?A: My dad is a man of great integrity

and hard work. I always saw him shake hands — not sign contracts. You’re only as good as your word. You have to follow through with your commitments. That’s how you earn respect.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: It’s definitely the people. Montrose

is a community where people help you. During an illness in our family, people brought us meals, called to check in and picked up my kids from school. It’s a community where people care about each other. You don’t get that every-where.

No. 69Lara Ammermann

Montrose High School senior

Ammermann was born in Wilmar, Minn. Her family moved to Montrose in 2010 because of the job opportunities here. She has played varsity softball for four years as a pitcher and basketball for three years.

Q: How is Montrose compared to Minnesota?A: Minnesota isn’t as hot in the sum-

mer, but it is a lot colder, and we would

get a lot more snow than here. There were also many natural lakes every-where to enjoy. However, there are more mountains that are beautiful.

Q: How do you motivate your team during the softball season?A: As a captain and senior, you have to

lead by example. So I try to help my team be the best that it can be.

Q: What is your favorite subject in school?A: My favorite subject is physics

because a lot of the stuff we talk about is things that we do in our lives but don’t really think happens that way. Also, we

talk about when I pitch the ball why it does what it does.

Q: What do you do with your spare time?A: Outside of school and sports, I

spend most of my time with family and friends. You make so many important memories as a senior, and you have lim-ited time at home with all these people.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: Montrose is surrounded by beauti-

ful mountains, and the climate is great. Mostly, I love being able to go Jeeping in the mountains.

No. 71Tyrus Lopez

Montrose High junior

Lopez was born in Moab, Utah. He and his family moved to Denver in 2008, but then settled down in Montrose one year later. He currently lives here with his family and plays varsity baseball and golf.

Q: As a pitcher in baseball, what do you love about the game?A: I’ve been playing since I can remember. It’s something

that I’m good at, and it takes stress out of my life for some reason. It’s just where I always want to be.

Q: What is your favorite subject in school?A: I enjoy science because it’s a lot of hands-on activity

instead of just sitting in a desk and listening.Q: Where do you see yourself in the future?

A: I want to go to college, but I’m not sure where or what I want to do yet. I just want to live my life and be as happy as I can be.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: I love how close we are to the outdoors, and I hate the big-

city traffic and crowds. So in a small town like Montrose we kind of get the best of both worlds.

No. 72Patricia Helm

Retired educator, author

Helm grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and received a bachelor of arts degree from Colorado State College, now known as the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, and a master’s degree from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. During her 35 years as an educator, she was a reading specialist, a reading coach, a Title 1 coordinator and a Title 1 consultant to the Arizona Department of Education. After retiring, she finally had time to write and be a volunteer storyteller in schools. Helm is an avid golfer and recently authored her first book, “A Dog, a Cat, and a Rooster, Tails of Friendship.”

Q: What drew you into the field of education?A: While in high school, I was a junior

playground director on one of the many summer playgrounds run by the city of

Cedar Rapids, Iowa. My job was to read or tell stories, play games and do crafts with younger children. In the afternoon, I worked with my co-director with older children. I loved this job, so my decision was easy. I wanted to be a teacher.

Q: What makes a good storyteller?A: A good storyteller needs to know

and respect the age of her audience. She should take time to ask them a few ques-tions before she begins; it’s a good way to hook them into making a connection to the story she will be telling. Making eye contact is very important, as well as using an expressive voice and body move-ments. Humor is important, as well.

Q: What motivated you to write a book, and what challenges did you face targeting intermediate-age children?A: While in Arizona, a teacher friend

of mine told me how her lonely, sick puppy “picked out” a kitty at the Hu-mane Society. It was a remarkable story and really happened. At the time, I was a

reading and writing coach, hired to help teachers employ new strategies in their classrooms. I told the story to a group of third-graders and then led the students in a cooperative learning writing les-son, to retell the story in writing. I put their original work into a book, which they presented to the teacher who told me the story. After I retired, I found the original book. With more time on my hands, I began writing the story. I piloted the book at Northside Elementary with fourth-graders and used it to teach them critical thinking skills.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: When my daughter called to tell me

my second granddaughter was born, I looked around my Arizona home and said, “What am I doing here?” I finished the school year, sold my home, was hired at Northside Elementary as a literacy coach and moved to Montrose. I was instantly in love with the area, the nice people, the slower pace of a small town and my beautiful granddaughters.

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130 reasons to love Montrose December 30, 2012 19

No. 73Jim Barnhill

Montrose High School principal

Barnhill grew up in Steamboat Springs and went on to graduate from Western State College. He served nine years in the U.S. Marine Corps, then started his career in education in 1995. Over the years he served in many roles, including history teacher, assistant principal, and wrestling, golf and base-ball coach. He and his family moved to Montrose in 2009.

Q: What is the most challenging part of your position?A: I suppose it would be just providing

great educational opportunities in and

outside the classrooms with a continued shrinking budget.

Q: What are some of your favorite things to do for fun?A: Play golf, camp, fish and spend time

with the family.Q: If you were trapped on a de-

serted island and could only have three things with you, what would you choose?A: I wouldn’t bring my family because

I wouldn’t want them trapped on an island. I’d say an unlimited supply of water, my sand wedge and a fishing pole.

Q: What’s your favorite sports team?A: The (MHS) Indians. I love all Indian

teams.Q: What’s your favorite band?

A: I like any band that is country or

Western. I don’t mind jazz, either.Q: If you could have any other

career, what would it be?A: If I was talented enough, it would be

a professional golfer.Q: What’s the best golf course you

ever played?A: The most memorable is Corner-

stone. I think it was because it was mid October and a beautiful day. The course was challenging and beautiful.

Q: What do you love about Montrose?A: Montrose is an area that, No. 1, the

people are incredibly friendly, and very supportive of Montrose High School. It’s close to all kinds of wonderful things to do. Montrose is the best of both worlds: indoors and outdoors.

No. 74Laurie Hadley

Colorado State Patrol captain

Hadley is the captain of Colorado State Patrol Troop 5-C headquartered in Montrose. The Indiana native has lived in Colorado for 14 years; previ-ously, she was in Pueblo as a sergeant in charge of the CSP’s K-9 team. Prior to that, she was a police officer in Texas for nearly 10 years.

Q: When did you come to Montrose and why?A: I came in March of 2010. I was pro-

moted, and this was the duty station that the promotion sent me to.

Q: How did you get into law en-forcement as a career?A: Ever since I was 11 years old, I

wanted to be a police officer — like a lot of people, I wanted the opportunity to help people and, hopefully, make a differ-ence.

Q: Is there a unique challenge to being a woman in charge of a law enforcement agency?A: I started law enforcement in 1981.

Things have come a long way since ‘81. We’ve got maybe about 6 percent female troopers (in the CSP). I’ve always gone into it with the idea of working hard and being who I am. I’m equal. I can hold my own, too.

Q: What are the challenges to sim-ply being in charge?A: When I was promoted to captain, I

came to a brand-new area. I didn’t know anybody out here. The biggest challenge was learning the intricacies of the troop, how the troop worked and getting to know each of the people who are part of the troop.

Q: What are your other interests?A: I run, ride horses. I bike, hike; just a

lot of outdoor activities.Q: What do you love about Mon-

trose?A: Definitely the area, the small town.

The people have been very friendly.

No. 75Paul Nogueira

Co-owner of Potomoi Anglers Fly Shop

Nogueira hails from Southern California, but his passion for the outdoors has lead him to the more-remote and less-populated mountains of Colorado. He stumbled upon Montrose about five years ago while fishing the Gunnison River. He and Devan Ence opened Potomoi Angers Fly Shop this spring.

Q: Paul, what is a Potomoi anyway?

A: It’s ancient Greek for River Gods. It refers to all the Greek River gods and goddesses.

Q: What makes makes Montrose a great place to open a speciality shop for fly fishing?A: We have year-round fishing in every

direction. And I thought it would be a nice place to settle down and raise a family.

Q: Do you plan on raising a family?A: Well, actually I am expecting a baby

boy in January. I am very excited to raise a boy in this area. I look forward to taking him fishing and hunting in the moun-tains. Around here, it is a more down-to-

earth environment than the rat race of Southern California. I grew up taking trips to the mountains, and I am excited for my son to grow up in them.

Q: Can you give me a good fishing story from this summer?A: I suppose, but it isn’t really about me

directly. This summer, I took a kid fishing on the Uncompahgre River near Ridgway, and he caught his first trout on a dry fly. It was really gratifying to see his excitement.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: Friendly people and a welcoming

environment.

No. 76Francie Smiles

Breast cancer survivor

Smiles moved to Montrose when she was just 5 days old and graduated Montrose High School in 1964. She and her second husband moved back to Montrose 17 years ago, and she began working as a resource coordinator at San Juan Cancer Center three years ago. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996, though she has since recovered. She is a proud 16-year

member of the Bosom Buddies Breast Cancer Support Group of Southwestern Colorado in Montrose.

Q: What does the word “survivor” mean to you?A: Survivor means that you’ve learned.

It’s how you handle it. It’s all about overcoming.

Q: What are your hobbies?A: I like to perform, I like to fly fish, I

like to cook. I love to sing.Q: What’s your favorite song to

sing?

A: “Shall We Gather At The River” or anything by the Beach Boys are what I sing around the house.

Q: What’s your favorite meal to cook?A: My sister’s lasagna. It’s from

scratch, it’s delicious and it reminds me of home. Also, rocky road cake.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: It’s such a complete package of di-

versity, joy and beauty all mixed in one.

No. 77Phyllis Wiesner

Breast cancer survivor

Wiesner met her husband, Paul, in Denver, and they moved to Montrose 25 years ago for him to open his practice, and because they thought it was a great place to raise a family. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994 and went into remission in 1995 after completing chemo-therapy. She is a proud 18-year member of the Bosom Buddies Breast Cancer

Support Group of Southwest Colorado in Montrose. She currently works at San Juan Cancer Center as a physician clinic coordinator.

Q: What does the word “survivor” mean to you?A: It means you handle a challenge and

you’re still around to share with others.Q: What’s your favorite meal to

cook?A: My favorite meal to cook is taco salad.

I love it, and it’s so easy.

Q: What are your hobbies?A: We golf, we hike, we do winter sports

like cross country skiing. I enjoy outdoor activities, and spending time with my fam-ily and friends. I also like to read.

Q: What’s your favorite book?A: I don’t think I have a favorite.Q: What do you love about Montrose?

A: This community is so generous and supportive. I love the people, the lifestyle and the nature. It has such a heart.

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20 December 30, 2012 130 reasons to love Montrose

No. 79Lori Webb

Business owner

Lori Webb moved to Montrose at the age of 7 and for 21 years has operated her own business, Lasting Impressions Hair Designs/Merle Norman Cosmet-ics. In 2001, at the age of 37, Webb was stunned to learn she had breast cancer. Come November, she will mark 11 years as a survivor.

Q.:What does the word “survivor” mean to you?A: That you have beaten a very nasty,

life-changing disease that affects so

many people’s lives.Q: How did you make it through

the treatments?A: Through the support of Bosom Bud-

dies, and the support of my family — my husband, sisters, and children — and the will to survive. I need to say thank you to Richard (husband), Ryan and Shayla (children) for all of their support.

Q: What are your interests and hobbies?A: I like to cook. I like canning, freez-

ing, gardening and camping.Q.:How did the cancer affect your

ability to enjoy those hobbies?A: You just don’t have any energy.

The energy, when you’re going through treatment, it saps you. It takes a while to recover.

Q: What do you want women (and men) to understand about breast cancer and the importance of screenings?A: Definitely get your screenings. Do

your self-exams. If you’re diagnosed, find a support group or support from somebody.

Q. What do you love about Mon-trose?A. It’s a gorgeous place to raise a fam-

ily, have a business and enjoy life.

No. 78Chris Bonatti

Founder of the Bosom Buddies Breast Cancer Support Group A Colorado native, Bonatti grew up in Ouray and graduated from high school there. She was a flight atten-dant for Frontier Airlines and then was the owner of the Outlaw Restaurant in Ouray. She is now enjoying her daugh-ter and new grandson. Bonatti is a 24-year survivor of breast cancer and the founder of Bosom Buddies 22 years ago. She recalled that no one spoke of breast cancer then, and there was no

where to go for support, so she and a friend started Bosom Buddies to help others journey through this disease, putting a face on breast cancer.

Q: What does the word “survivor” mean to you?A: Strength — to be able to have

the strength to face the day and move through it, learning that cancer is do-able if one just hangs on and faces each day with the strength of your convic-tions. I’ve learned a lot of lessons in 24 years.

Q: What hobbies or activities do

you enjoy?A: I am a watercolorist and pastel art-

ist. I love to draw and paint. I enjoy yoga, bike riding and dancing.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?A: The Seychelle Islands off the coast

of East Africa.Q: What do you love about Mon-

trose?A: That the community spirit is one of

giving. This community rallies around people and causes, and has been good to me and extremely giving to Bosom Bud-dies events.

No. 81Caleb Endreson

Montrose High School senior Endreson was born in Brainerd, Minn. He moved to Montrose in 2000 with his family in order to help rebuild Cedar Creek Church with some friends. En-dreson enjoys hiking, climbing, skiing, snowboarding and playing multiple mu-sical instruments. He also is a lifeguard at the Montrose Aquatic Center and a

server at Backstreet Bagel. Once he finishes high school, Endreson plans to attend college in Seattle.

Q: What is your favorite subject in school?A: I enjoy most of my classes. My

favorite class is engineering because the teacher makes it interesting. I hope to go into that field when I get older.

Q: What are you looking forward to this fall/winter?

A: Everything. The changing leaves and snow are so beautiful in Colorado. Since I spend most of my time outdoors, I am looking forward to all it has to offer.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: Montrose is a really great place. A

lot of young kids might disagree because they think there is nothing to do for them, but Montrose is what you make it. It has something to offer for everyone.

No. 80Kim Silva-Jones

Montrose High School Spanish teacher

Silva-Jones was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001. Because the cancer was so extensive, the treatment was, too. Over a nine-month period, she had chemotherapy, a stem cell trans-plant and radiation treatment. She has been cancer free ever since.

Q: What is your favorite thing about teaching?A: I have been teaching Spanish at MHS

for 12 years. The most amazing thing that has happened just occurred this week. Unfortunately, another MHS teacher is just beginning her fight with breast cancer, and many of my former students mistook her for me and thought that I

had had a reoccurrence. Several have come to my room to ask how I am doing. I am truly moved by their compassion, and I feel so lucky to have the privilege to teach such amazing young people.

Q: Many people envy your summer break as a teacher. How do you enjoy it?A: I am addicted to golf, and I work

at Black Canyon Golf Club during the summers to support my habit. I love to spend time with my two daughters, and this summer I was able to visit my older daughter in Switzerland. Now I have the travel bug, so I’ll need to find a way to support that habit, too.

Q: What person, living or deceased, would you most want to meet?A: I would like to meet Joan Baez. We

make an amazing duet in the car! Her voice is phenomenal, and she has spent her career promoting peace and expos-ing injustice in the world through her music. My favorite song is Joan singing

John Lennon’s “Imagine.”Q: What does the word survivor

mean to you?A: Fighting the battle and beating

cancer. I’m not the only one who sur-vived. My daughters, husband, family and friends who fought with me are survivors, too. Humor is the essential weapon in fighting cancer. A favorite quote: “Don’t mess with me, I’m having a no-hair day.” I wrote a somewhat humor-ous song about “the fight” which we sing at the Bosom Buddies walks.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: I love Montrose because of its

beauty and its people. My husband and I wanted to find the perfect place to raise our daughters, Carly and Darby, and that proved to be Montrose. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was overwhelmed by the compassion of the people of Montrose. Even people I didn’t know reached out to offer assistance.

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130 reasons to love Montrose December 30, 2012 21

No. 82Erin Berge

Community relations directorSunrise Creek Assisted Living

Community

Berge grew up in Charlotte, N.C., and went to college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There, she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism/advertising. She moved to Montrose in May 1992 after visiting friends in Colorado Springs who took her skiing at Telluride.

Q: What’s the best part of your job?A: The best part of my job is being able

to meet families in need and hopefully provide a solution, plus learning about our residents and the things they have accomplished in their lives; many have wonderful stories to share.

Q: What is your favorite season and why?A: My favorite season is summer. I love

the extended hours of sunshine, the en-ergy it gives me to do more things, such as taking long walks, patio dining and sleeping with the windows open.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be and why?A: I would travel back to England

because, since my first visit there, I have done a lot of research on my family genealogy, and I now know where my

ancestors lived and what their profes-sions were. One of my great-great-grand-fathers built a castle, which still stands in Kent, and I would spend time walking the grounds imagining what life must have been like for the family members who lived there. I’d especially like to share this experience with my daughter, who I hope will continue to be interested in history and the family tree.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: I love that the friends I have made

here all came to Montrose from vari-ous places and for different reasons and circumstances, and that we have created a support system that I hope to keep for a lifetime; the diversity makes life much more interesting!

No. 83Dan Hernandez

Lineman for Tri-State Generation and Transmission

Hernandez was born in Montrose and is a member of the Montrose High School Class of 1975. He has been a lineman with Tri-State for 37 years. He is also a musician, playing local venues on the side. He just celebrated 30 years of marriage and is the proud father of five children and grandfather to 17.

Q: When did you start your music career?A: In 1974, I was in the very first Bel

Canto Singers at Montrose High School with my sister. Since then, three of my kids have been Bel Canto Singers. It

has been kind of a family tradition. It was my mother that got me singing. My grandmother actually got me playing music. I first learned the harmonica. Now, I enjoy playing country, rock, blue-grass and gospel.

Q: If you had only one more song to play, what would it be?A: “How Great Thou Art” because I

really started in gospel music, and it is still really important to me.

Q: What do you think about the steps DMEA is taking on renewable energy?A: I think that capturing water and

getting multiple use, irrigation and elec-tricity, is smart. I think they should look at doing the same thing at the Ridgway Reservoir.

Q: What other hobbies do you

enjoy?A: I like to hunt, fish and ride my Har-

ley. I play a little golf, too. I also collect coins. I like that because it is having a piece of history in your hand. I like to wonder where that coin has been, who else has held it. My favorite piece is a fractional dollar from 1793. During the Civil War, they actually printed paper money valued at less than a dollar be-cause they didn’t want to use the metal for coins.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: I was born and raised here. It is a

nice town to raise kids, and it is a nice size. We didn’t always have everything we need here, but we do now. It’s a nice place to raise a family. And the weather is great.

No. 84Donna Rousse

Rouse is an engineer with TEI Rock Drills in Montrose. She moved here from Kentucky eight years ago, where she had worked in the engineering department of Crushed Products for 18 years. She coordinates TEI’s engineer-ing projects.

Q: What brought you to Montrose?A: My mom, dad and sister lived here.

I just always came out to visit, since the late 1980s. My mom had Alzheimer’s, and my dad was trying to take care of her,

and it was just a good time to move. Plus, I loved it out here.

Q: How did you come to be an engineer?A: At school (Eastern Kentucky

University), I was studying manufactur-ing. I like just going from the concept of something, the manufacturing of it and seeing the final product.

Q: Do you feel that the field is dominated by one sex or the other?A: Not really. It’s definitely more male

occupied, but I’ve run across a lot of females in engineering.

Q: What are some of your other

interests and hobbies?A: I do a lot of hiking, kayaking. I play

a lot of tennis and golf. I probably play more golf now. I play in the Black Can-yon ladies’ league. It’s a lot of fun.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A. It’s just a phenomenal base camp

for the outdoors. I can pull left out of my driveway and go to the desert or turn right and go to the mountains. I don’t know of any other place where you can do that. It’s just a great base camp — no tornadoes, no hurricanes, no ice storms.

No. 85Martin Maloney

MHS social studies, geography and government teacher, and varsity boys basketball coach

Maloney was born in Boulder, and has three brothers and five sisters. He and all his siblings’ names start with M. He graduated college from the Univer-sity of Northern Colorado. His family includes his wife Teresa, their son Sean and daughter Shae. Sean is an engineer in Denver, while Shae is a sophomore at CSU.

Q: Being a social studies teacher, what’s your favorite part of history to teach?

A: I teach a World War II class every other year, and that’s a lot of fun. I’ve always enjoyed World War II quite a bit. It’s such a landmark event.

Q: You also coach basketball and are a big basketball fan. Sports ra-dio has been constantly discussing this: Who do you think will be the best basketball player all said and done — Michael Jordan or LeBron James?A: I can’t help but side with Michael

Jordan. I think Michael was just an un-believable all-around player. I believe he was the epitome of what being a basket-ball player is all about ... I am not taking anything away from LeBron, because he is pretty incredible himself.

Q: What’s the best movie you have ever seen?A: “Forrest Gump,” because it has

so much history in it. It’s funny, heart warming and dramatic. It touches on a lot of things I grew up with — Vietnam, civil rights, women’s rights, Martin Lu-ther King, Jr., Nixon and the Watergate scandal ...

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: I think the people are pretty special.

We came here thinking we’d stay for five years, and we’re looking at 20 now. I think the weather is awesome. The location, the life here is very, very hard to beat.

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No. 87Shane Forrest

Columbine Middle School councilor and Montrose High

varsity volleyball coach

Forrest was born and raised in Mon-trose. She attended Oak Grove Elemen-tary and Centennial Junior High School before graduating from Montrose High in 1985. She went on to attend Mesa College (now Colorado Mesa Univer-sity), where she played volleyball and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Q: As a native of the area, how do you think Montrose has grown over the years?A: There’s been so much growth. It’s

amazing to see ... It’s interesting to re-flect on how much it has grown.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to do in Montrose that you can’t neces-sarily do anywhere else?A: We lived in Denver for a while. We

like to get outdoors, and we always had to drive (up to an hour) to do anything. Here, it’s pretty much right outside your

back door. You have access to everything.Q: How did you get started playing

volleyball?A: Seventh grade. They offered the

chance to play different sports. Volley-ball was just the one that clicked for me.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: The small-town feel of it. I like

that you can go out anywhere and know anyone. It’s a comfort knowing this is my hometown ... and the sense of com-munity.

No. 86Libby Capshaw

Montrose High School senior and cashier at Arby’s

Capshaw was born in Arvada, though she and her family moved to Montrose in 2000. She attended a private school during middle school called the Rocky Mountain International Academy and is now finishing her last year in high school at Montrose High School. She has been working at Arby’s since April

and competes on the MHS cheer team. When Capshaw isn’t playing a sport or working, she volunteers her time at Grace Community Church.

Q: How do you feel about contrib-uting to the community? A: It is something that everyone should

do. It benefits everyone. We all have different strengths and weaknesses, so together we can all give something.

Q: Since you’ve lived in Mon-trose most of your life, how has it

changed?A: It has definitely expanded. There is

also a bigger variety of people.Q: What is your favorite subject in

school and why?A: Special education. I love working

with the kids, and it is something that I want to get into in my future.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: Montrose is a great place. I have

built a life here for myself because it is not too small and not too big.

No. 89 Mike Keenan

Longtime Montrose resident Mike Keenan may be recognized by many, as he is often seen carrying a large wood-en cross along Townsend Avenue in Montrose. While he is currently focused on his religious studies, Keenan has worked several jobs in the area, includ-ing time in the local lumber industry. Keenan is a Marine Corps veteran. His mother and sister also live in Montrose.

Q: Why do you devote so much time carrying the cross along such a busy road?A: Jesus asked me to do it. I used to

work at the lumber yard, and one day

when I was on break, he just appeared to me and asked me to do it. Because he asked me to do it, I just couldn’t say no. I just do it for Jesus. I used to drink and smoke, and I gave all of that up for him.

Q: How many times do you make these treks?A: Two or three times a week. I have

been doing it for nine years, and I have had the same cross since I started.

Q: What kid of reactions do you received from drivers and fellow pedestrians?A: Some people flip me off, some give

the thumbs up. I have had a lot of people from out of town come up and talk to me and take my photo.

Q: When you are not expressing your Christian passion, what else do you enjoy?A: I’m a fisherman. I like to go down

to Morrow Point and fish. I did well all summer down there. Nothing huge to note, but they were all about 17 or 18 inches.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: I came here from Wisconsin a long

time ago, and it’s so flat there. I love the mountains. I like to see all the wildlife around here. The geese flying over, the elk — and I have seen bears. I am still a Green Bay Packers fan, but I like living here in Montrose.

No. 88Samantha Holzmeister

Owner of All About You Salon

Holzmeister was born in Montrose in 1989 and graduated from Vista Charter School in 2006. Before she attended college, she traveled around the country with a band for four years. During her third year on the road, she discovered and liked the idea of being a cosmetolo-gist. In 2010, Holzmeister earned her de-gree in cosmetology at Abilene College in Texas. Since 2011, Holzmeister has owned All About You Salon.

Q: How did you get into cosmetol-ogy?A: Well, when I was 16, I worked in

a tanning salon and one day a client came in to get her nails fixed. No one was there to help her, so I jumped in. Ever since then I loved doing nails, and when I wanted to get a degree, I figured I should do it all.

Q: What inspired you to open up your own salon?A: Since I was a little girl, my dad

always worked. I never wanted to work under someone. I wanted to be my own boss. Now I just enjoy talking to clients

and making new friends.Q: Growing up in Montrose, how

has it changed?A: When I was younger, my family and

I would walk down the streets, and we would know everyone. Now when I go out to eat or something, I’m lucky to see one person I know. It has definitely changed a lot, but it has changed for the better.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: When I traveled around, it was hard

to find somewhere else like Montrose. I love the people and the air here. We are lucky to have the changing weather. It is also a great place to raise a family.

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130 reasons to love Montrose December 30, 2012 23

No. 90ZillaMay Brown

Retired teacher and librarianPresident of the Montrose

County Historical Society and Museum

Brown came to Montrose when she married a native in 1954, and they raised both their children here. Brown retired as a Montrose County School District teacher and librarian in 1993. She serves on the Montrose Regional Library District Board of Trustees and the Montrose Records Preservation and Access Committee, and as president of the Montrose County Historical Society and Museum.

Q: In your opinion, what is the most interesting artifact on display at the Montrose County Historical Museum?A: My special interest at the museum

is the historic photograph collection. It’s fascinating to see Montrose’s past cap-tured and preserved for information and pleasure now and into the future.

Q: What are your hobbies?A: I’m an avid reader, and I enjoy re-

searching and preserving our local heri-tage. I tend to be very facts orientated, and I can be obsessive about authenticity and accuracy. I spend lots of time at the Montrose County Historical Museum in the old railroad depot building.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?A: I would want to spend lots of time

exploring in depth as many different regions of our nation as I could, learn-ing what makes each area special and unique. I’m not strongly attracted to other countries because there’s too much I still want to learn about the U.S.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: Montrose is a rich diverse commu-

nity, large enough to accept and accom-modate differing view points, but we are still small enough to work together and support each other to accomplish our common goals.

No. 91Kala Keltz

Montrose High School senior Keltz was born in Montrose, but moved to Delta in 1998. A year later, her family moved back to Montrose and have lived here ever since. Keltz attends MHS, and has made a name for herself with her success in sports. Keltz has played basketball and golf her whole life. In 2009, Keltz placed 10th overall in the Class 4A state golf tour-nament, and fifth overall in 2011. In ad-

dition to her golf season, Keltz earned All Conference honors in basketball in 2010-2011.

Q: What keeps you motivated to play sports?A: Sports are my life. I love all sports,

from football to golf. I feel God has blessed me with athleticism.

Q: What do you do with your spare time?A: Anything outdoors or sports re-

lated. I like to hunt and camp with my

family.Q: What is your favorite sport to

watch?A: I like watching college basketball

because it’s fast-paced and exciting.Q: Why do you love Montrose?

A: I love Montrose because it is in a perfect location. There are so many different things to do during all of the seasons and it’s all so close to beautiful mountains.

No. 92Justin Kiehl

Executive directorBlack Canyon Boys & Girls Club

Kiehl was born in Kansas City, Kan., in 1979. He moved to Montrose in Janu-ary 2011 with his wife of four years, Brittany, and his 2-year-old daughter, Jordyn. He has worked in the non-profit world for more than a decade, and almost five years of that time has been spent working for Boys & Girls Clubs. Kiehl attends Grace Community Church, where he is very involved.

Q: How has working with young

people enriched your own life?A: I think that the main way that work-

ing with youth has enriched my life is through giving my work purpose. I know with assurance that my work is far more than a paycheck. I can’t think of any better feeling than to know that you have helped to positively change a life. I get to experience that feeling every single day. I am a blessed man.

Q: What is your favorite book and why?A: The Bible. It’s the most accurate his-

torical text ever written, and it holds the answers to all of life’s tough questions. What’s not to love?

Q: What are your hobbies?A: Spending time with my family. I also

love baseball — go Cardinals! — fishing, water skiing, martial arts and any sport with a ball in it.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: Montrose is amazing! Two years

ago, when my wife and I discussed where we wanted to raise our family, we couldn’t have dreamed up such a perfect fit as Montrose. The people are so nice and accommodating that we felt at home right away. I love the mountain views and the peace that seems to reside here in this wonderful valley.

No. 93Jenny Shine

Stay-at-home mom and work-trade farmer

Shine was born in Logan, Utah. She earned her undergraduate degree from Utah State University and her master’s degree in environmental sociology from the University of Montana in Missoula. She moved to Montrose in August 2007 with her husband Scott, where she is now a full-time mom, board member of the Montrose Farmers Market and steering committee member of Mothers of Preschoolers. Q: What’s your favorite local park

for your children?

A: Buckley Park because it has the most shade trees, and it’s close to our house.

Q: What church do you attend, and what do you love about it?A: We attend Trinity Presbyterian

Church, and I appreciate the solid Bibli-cal teachings of the sermons and the community support we receive from the people.

Q: What is your favorite hike to take with your kids? A: The trails just outside Ouray like

the Amphitheater and the Ouray Perim-eter trail.

Q: What do you do for fun when you get time for yourself?A: Running by myself is such as treat.

Forty-five minutes is the maximum I can run with kids. Any longer, and someone starts crying. I also like to get a massage and read.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: The first thing I fell in love with

is the southern vista of the San Juan Mountains, and the beauty and rec-reation that they afford. I grew up in the mountains, and they make me feel safe and humbled. Montrose is a good community. There is a lot of support, and people are friendly. Montrose has enough amenities without all of the negative aspects of living in a big city. There is a bigger local food scene here than I expected, and I love the weather.

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No. 95Dave Segal

Radio man/journalist Segal is a “semi-retired journalist” who, with his wife, Mavis Bennett, pub-lishes the Monitor Magazine. From 1992 to 2004, he worked as news director for KUBC/KKXK radio in Montrose, then served as news director for KRYD for a time. He also has done work for KVNF. Segal also has experience in public relations.

Q: When did you come to Montrose and why? A: I came to Montrose in 1992 for a job

at the radio station. I fell in love with the place. I had originally intended to stay six months to a year, but, well, obvi-ously I’m still here. Montrose just really charmed me.

Q: How did you become interested in radio?A: I became interested in radio back in

Detroit where I grew up. I went to school at the Specs Howard School of Broadcast-ing. I started my career in Detroit at a station there and worked at several radio stations. I moved from Detroit to Denver.

Q: What did you like about radio?A: I really liked doing radio news. I

liked the immediacy of it, that we were putting out information that was useful and helpful to people, that could be done very, very quickly. I got to meet a lot of very interesting people from all walks of life. It was also creative. I got to write. I got to do public speaking, which I enjoy.

Q: How did you get into publish-ing?A: My wife started the Monitor. I just

started out helping her.Q: What are your hobbies and

interests?A: Computers. I like to read a lot, es-

pecially about religion, and also fiction. I’m very involved with my church, All Saints Anglican.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: Where to start? The people, first of all.

I think we’ve got some of the best people I’ve ever met. Of course, I love the beauty of the area. It still knocks me out; I’ve never gotten tired of looking at it or being out in it. There are interesting things to do here. It’s the type of place where you feel like you can make a difference. I like the fact that it’s not a big city. Prior to Mon-trose, I lived in nothing but big cities, and Montrose has cured me of that.

No. 94Mike Monell

Retired from sheep industry

Although Monell was born in Denver, he came to Montrose when he was 6 weeks old, where his family has lived for four generations. Monell received his bachelor’s degree from Fort Lewis College, and worked toward a master’s degree in sheep reproduction and ram evaluation at Colorado State University until the Colorado Wool Growers Asso-ciation recruited him. He worked at the CWGA for many years. Q: What is your favorite place to

vacation locally and why?

A: My favorite place to get away is the former Hoffman Ranch on Horse-fly Mountain. It’s essentially where I learned the sheep business from Bill Hoffman; it’s a special place.

Q: What was the best part about your job?A: Working with animals and the

people that produce them, whether large or small operations, and judging wool and sheep competitions.

Q: What was the worst part about your job?A: Dealing with predators in sheep

feed lots and on the range.Q: What is the best part about be-

ing retired?A: Now being able to do all the things

I couldn’t do when I was working, like gardening and yard work. I still enjoy judging wool competitions and sheep competitions. I love the living daylights out of judging.

Q: What do you want for Christ-mas?A: The best thing for Christmas would

be for my family (brothers, sisters and wife) to live happy, healthy lives.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: I like being back where I am a

fourth-generation Montrosian. I’m proud that the house my mom and dad built is still standing. It’s a pretty spe-cial place, and it has the best mountains of anywhere in the country.

No. 97Raeanna Truncoso

Student, but queen for Halloween

Truncoso is 8 years old and attends school at Oak Grove Elementary. She enjoys studying science and is an ex-cellent math student.

Q: What do you like best about Halloween?

A: I would have to say having my Grandpa here. He comes to visit every Halloween.

Q: Why is science your favorite subject in school?A: I like science because I love ani-

mals. I have dogs and two miniature horses. They are named Salsa and Cor-rina. Even though they are miniature horses, I can still ride one of them.

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?A: I want to be a business lady — an

accountant, actually. I want to do this because I would like to work in a bank, and I am good at math.

Q: What is interesting about you that few people know?

A: I actually know a lot of Russian history. For example, when the Bolshe-viks took over Russia, Anastasia was the only princess to escape.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: I love Montrose because it is a small

town, and it makes me feel safe.

No. 96Drew Casebier

Montrose High School senior/starting quarterback

Casebier was born in Durango in 1994. In 1998, Casebier and his family moved to Palisade, but moved to Mon-trose in 2005 when his father wasoffered to take over as head coach of the Montrose High varsity football team. Casebier serves as the team’s starting

quarterback and is a member of the school’s track team.

Q: Where do you hope to see your-self in the future?A: I’m not sure where I want to go but I

want to be an engineer.Q: What is it like to have your dad

as a coach?A: It’s pretty nice. It’s easier because

we can have talks about things on and off the field. We have a special connec-tion.

Q: Who is your favorite athlete?A: Tim Tebow, because I love football

and he knows how to carry himself well.Q: What are you going to be for

Halloween?A: Captain America, because I am a

superhero and a geek.Q: Why do you love Montrose?

A: It’s a great place to be. There is a lot of outdoor activities, and it’s just a great part of the country.

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130 reasons to love Montrose December 30, 2012 25

Clare DensowMassage therapist, esthetician

and novelist

Densow was born in Santa Fe, N.M., and grew up in the mountain town of Red River. She moved to Montrose eight years ago and has lived here ever since. She is an esthetician and mas-sage therapist, focusing on relaxation treatments. She is currently trying to add “writer” to her job description.

Q: At 23, what motivated you to write a novel and how did you

choose the subject matter of pirates and sirens?A: I have always loved reading, writing

and creating a world of my own. I start-ed “The Siren’s Sea: Revenge” roughly two years ago and finally achieved my goal of getting published. The book is available as an eBook on Amazon — my pseudonym is Clare Angelica. I have an affinity for pirates and mythical crea-tures, so I thought, “Why not create a story around my fascination?”

Q: What are your goals as a writer?A: “The Siren’s Sea: Revenge” is the

first installment of the “Siren’s Sea” tril-ogy. My goal is to have books No. 2 and 3 published next year.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?A: I would go back to Europe and

explore more of its countries. I love the Old World feel of life there.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: I love the community and people of

Montrose in all their welcoming diver-sity.

No. 99

Rylee FisterMontrose High School sophomore

Fister was born in Montrose, but didn’t stay long. She and her family moved to John Day, Ore., in 2008 and six months later moved to Roseburg, Ore. About a year later, Fister and her family missed their family and the Montrose lifestyle, so they came back and have lived here ever since. She now at-tends MHS, and is a varsity cheerleader and a member of 4H and the photography club.

Q: Of all sports, why did you chose cheerleading?A: It takes a lot of commitment, but I love all the activities I

do. When I joined cheer, it was like joining a new family. There is never a dull moment when we are together, and even when times get rough, we manage to pull through it together.

Q: What is your favorite subject in school?A: Probably biology. It’s really interesting, and I enjoy all the

hands-on experiments. Q: Why do you love Montrose?

A: There are so many activities to do here, and sometimes people can be so welcoming, even if they don’t know you. I feel like Montrose is somewhere where no matter who you are, if you need something, someone is there to help you out.

No. 100

Desiree Trujillo Wells Fargo Bank teller and Colorado Mesa University-Montrose nursing student

Trujillo was born in Montrose and is a graduate of Passage Charter School. She is currently balancing work, school and family. She has been a Wells Fargo Bank teller for four years, and she is studying to become a nurse. She is engaged and has two sons and a daughter.

Q: As a bank teller, what financial

advice can you offer?A: It’s important to meet with your

banker often to make sure you are being properly taken care of. There are a lot of offers and advantages out there we can tell you about. Life changes, and we are here to help. That is what I like about my job. I get to work with a very diverse group of people, and I enjoy seeing them succeed financially.

Q: Nursing school is difficult. What drives you with such a busy schedule?A: I get a kick out of helping people. It

makes me feel good.Q: When you have free time, how

do you relax? A: I really like to watch the Food Net-

work. And I really like to bake. My best is an apple-butter pumpkin pie. I even make them entirely from scratch, none of that canned pumpkin in my recipe. This holiday season, I will probably make about six of those pies.

Q: Why do you love Montrose? A: I love Montrose because when I

am driving the back roads and a see a farmer along the road or a lady walking a dog, they always wave. Everyone is re-ally nice in this community.

No. 101Sharon Rasmussen

SecretaryMontrose Community

Dinners Inc.

Rasmussen and her husband Keith moved here nearly 19 years ago from Wisconsin, leaving behind the snow shovel and lawn mower. She and her husband were both born in Oshkosh and lived much of their married life in Waukesha, where they raised their three daughters. Rasmussen was a teacher and office manager before retirement.

Q: How long have you been in-volved with the community Thanks-giving dinner? What does it mean to you, personally, to be part of this

annual event?A: My husband and I have been in-

volved with the Thanksgiving “Friends” Dinner for 10 years, beginning as greet-ers prior to our election to the board of directors. I would invite every Montrose citizen to give time to this activity at least once; you’ll return. Pride is what it means to me to be part of the dinner. Pride can be good or bad, and ours is a good pride, pride in a community that makes the most amazing effort to create a day of community fellowship on a very family day.

Q: What are your hobbies?A: I enjoy knitting and crocheting,

music and reading. However, I think my most enjoyable “hobby” is watching those sweet first-graders we read with at Pomona School become excited about

their reading skills.Q: What is your favorite season

and why?A: Living in the best place in the

world! But, I think spring is my favorite season with the melting snow rushing in the streams and rivers, the mountains and trees greening up, the feeling of newness that spring brings ... even the mud is tolerable.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?The amazing friendliness, the walk

down Main Street and seeing someone you know who asks, “How are you?” and really means it. I hope we never get too busy or too big not to show concern for our neighbor.

No. 102Francisco Gallegos

Montrose High School senior

Gallegos was born in Austin, Colo., and moved to Montrose just a few months later. He attends Montrose High School, where he plays basketball and runs track.

Q: What was it like for you grow-

ing up in Montrose?A: It’s a different kind of town. When

I grew up, I was always so close with my friends and being in a small town, I still know everyone today. I hope that even when I’m in college and I come back to visit, Montrose will still be the same.

Q: What are your Thanksgiving plans?

A: Usually I hang out with my family, and we go to Las Vegas. We have done that every year since I can remember.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: There is a lot of family activities

here, and one thing I enjoy most is my family. It’s also a small town with a big-city feel, but, above all, Montrose is my home, and I’m glad I can call it that.

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26 December 30, 2012 130 reasons to love Montrose

No. 104 Allison Nadel

Branch manager/assistant vice president

Alpine Bank, East Main Street branch

Nadel was born and raised in Ridg-way, but calls the Montrose area her home. Her first job was with Willow-creek Floral in Ridgway. She was a florist for nine years. Nadel went to college at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley for a couple of years right after high school, but trans-ferred and graduated from Fort Lewis College in Durango. She began working at Alpine Bank more than 10 years ago. She was originally hired as a part-time teller and, since then, she has become a branch manager and assistant vice president at the Montrose East location. When she is not working, she enjoys being with her family, especially spoil-ing her six nieces and two nephews who live in Grand Junction.

Q: What motivates you to volun-

teer in the community?A: I volunteer because it is something

that makes me truly happy. I find great joy in being able to give my time to help others. I am so proud to be a part of the Montrose community. I enjoy volunteer-ing my time with Altrusa International of Montrose and Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado. Both of these organizations provide for many individ-uals and groups. It is important to find a group that you are passionate about their mission and goals.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?A: Two of my favorite places to travel

are Yosemite National Park and Dis-neyland; they could both easily be the “happiest places on earth.” My family and I have visited these places both quite a bit. If I were to pick any other places to travel it would be Ireland and Scotland. I have not yet been there, but I can imag-ine that I would love it; the green, the people and Guinness. Although I do love to travel, I also truly love to come home.

Q: What are your hobbies?A: I love to be creative and enjoy mak-

ing jewelry, knitting occasionally and doing any other crafty project. I also love to read and have found great joy in my Kindle App on my iPad. Movies are also extremely enjoyable; either at home or on the big screen; but most impor-tantly is spending time with my family. We have always been very and close and continue to take time to enjoy each other’s company.

Q: What do you love about Montrose?A: I love this area and can’t really see

myself anywhere else. Although this area has grown and changed over the years, it is still a small town community located near some of the most fantastic areas in Colorado (I am slightly biased). The San Juan Mountains were the backdrop to my childhood, and they still take my breath away. Both Ridgway and Ouray hold very fond memories and with most of my family in Grand Junction we are able to stay close. Montrose is the best area for me because here I am able to be part of a community that cares.

No.103Phoung Nguyen

Co-owner of The Coffee Trader

Nguyen was born in the United King-dom and moved to the United States with his family as a child. He attended University of Nevada, Las Vegas. After graduation, Nguyen continued living in Las Vegas and worked at the MGM Grand until moving to Montrose 14 years ago to open The Coffee Trader with his business partner, Dee Coram.

Q: What is your favorite coffee drink?A: My favorite coffee drink is a very

short Americano.Q: What do you like to do in your

free time?A: I enjoy running, taking hot yoga

classes and cooking.Q: Is there anything you have

cooked lately that you really liked? A: I cooked some braised short ribs

that were good.Q: What did you do in you last

career, and what do you miss about

that line of work?A: I was the director of entertainment

at the MGM Grand, and I wouldn’t miss it now. I was 26 when I started working there, and the bright lights and big city was fun in my twenties.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: I like the people. I get to see so many

people on a daily basis, I feel the soul of a town is in the representation of its people. The people in Montrose are very kind, and its a pleasure to see them on a daily basis.

No. 106Gavin Bistodeau

Bartender at R&R Sports Bar

Bistodeau found Western Colorado during his high school years when he would spend his summers in Ouray cooking pizzas at his uncle’s restaurant. After attending college he returned to Ouray. He has also spent time in Grand Junction but now is happy to call Montrose home. He is also a guitarist in a band that plays all over the Western Slope.

Q: What do you like about your job?A: I like that I can interact with people.

And I feel like I can and actually do help

people as a bartender. They know were I am if they need me. And I really enjoy seeing people come in and enjoy themselves. Help them take a break from the daily grind.

Q: What is a signature drink of yours?A: I like to pour a Speedy Gonzales. It

has pineapple, jalapeños and vodka. It’s sweet and spicy.

Q: Do you miss the beach?A: Yes. I still get back a couple times

each year and do some surfing. But there is plenty to do around here. I like to get out skateboard. I try to support the local bands, and I enjoy playing sports. This winter I am making it a goal to get out and do some snowboarding.

Q: How is adapting from life in

Southern California to a small town in Western Colorado?A: Honestly, I feel different then every-

one who is from here. But I’m not afraid to be who I am. I can be tough in a small town. At first, I really tried to dress like everyone and act like everyone so I would fit in and be accepted. But eventually, I just decided to be who I am, pleased that most people accept that. And if they don’t, well, that’s their problem.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: I love Montrose because it is small

and you can actually get to know people. It’s nice to be able to say hi to people you know when you are at the supermarket or at the bar. You can never have too

No. 105Paul Tickner

International fly fishing guide at Painter Creek Lodge in

Alaska

Tickner was born in Melbourne, Fla. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y., and later went on to get a master’s degree from Binghamton University in Vestal, N.Y. In 1992, Tickner moved to Montrose after accepting a job with Alpine Archaeological Consultants.

Q: How did you become a fly fish-ing guide?

A: After I left Alpine Archeology, I started working for the BLM as an ar-chaeologist and later took a position as a river ranger. After about six or seven years on the river with the BLM, I went to a fly fishing show in Denver with a friend, where I was hooked, and it was all over after that.

Q: Have you ever been lost while guiding?A: We often take helicopters hundreds

of miles into the wilderness, but I have never really been lost on a trip.

Q: What is your favorite fish to catch, cook and eat?A: Ironically, most of the fish we catch

while guiding are catch and release.

King Salmon are fun to catch, and a salt water fish called a permit.

Q: Where is your favorite place to fish locally?A: I can’t give away my secret fishing

spots. On paper, the Gunnison Gorge is the best place to catch fish but I really like fishing small mountain creeks and ponds.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: Work brought me here, but the loca-

tion kept me here. Within a few hours, you can go from the desert in Moab to Sneffels in the San Juans. My wife is also a fourth-generation Montrosian, and she has lots of family in the area.

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130 reasons to love Montrose December 30, 2012 27

many friends, and that’s great.

No. 107Nik Pridy

Montrose High School senior

Pridy was born in Grand Junction in 1994 but soon after moved to Mon-trose with his adopted family. Since then, Pridy has participated in mul-tiple sports. He was a member of the varsity football team at Montrose High School for the past three years, but was sidelined during his sophomore year because of a wrist injury. He currently

works at In Motion Therapy as a physi-cal therapist technician.

Q: What kept you going on the football team in spite of your inju-ries?A: I like being a part of my team and

playing with my boys. I’m sad it has to come to an end, but it is something that I will always remember, and I never wanted a little injury stop me from doing something what I love with my friends.

Q: How did you know you want to become a physical therapist?

A: After all my injuries through sports, it began to interest me just learn-ing about the human body. Now I know I want to enter into sports medicine.

Q: What is your favorite sport to watch?A: Definitely UFC because it’s a very

intense and active sport.Q: Why do you love Montrose?

A: It’s a good combination of a small and big town. It definitely has a lot to offer to anyone, and it knows how to feel like a home.

No. 108Tad Rowan

Montrose Fire Protection District chief

Tad Rowan joined the Montrose Fire Protection District in 1990 as a volun-teer before coming aboard full time in 1999. Rowan has his firefighter II certifi-cation and received paramedic training in Pueblo. He became fire chief in July 2011 and now oversees all operations of the fire district. He and his wife, Amy, have two children. Daniel is in the Navy, and Stephanie is in high school.

Q: When did you come to Mon-trose? A: I was born and raised here. I’m the

fourth generation.Q: How is it that you became a

firefighter? A: I just kind of grew up around it.

When I was old enough to apply as volunteer, I was brought on and received my training. I kind of grew up through the ranks.

Q: What are the perils and re-wards of the job? A: The rewards of the job are just

helping the people. It’s a service-oriented job, and helping people in times of their need are the obvious rewards. There are obvious dangers, but that’s not really a peril of the job. It’s something I enjoy do-ing. I just don’t have any negatives to it.

Q: What other interests and activi-

ties do you have? A: I enjoy golfing. It’s just relaxing

to get outdoors and spend time hitting that little white ball around. It’s also challenging to try to improve yourself. I attend local sporting events. I enjoy sup-porting high school athletics.

Q: Why do you love Montrose? A: It’s just a great community. You

start off with something as simple as the weather. You can’t beat the climate. The people in the community are great. The town is the appropriate size: it’s not too big, not too small. It’s got all the services that you need. It’s accessible to outdoor activities. The biggest thing is just that the community itself is friendly and safe. It’s a great place to raise a family.

No. 109Jameson Holt

Montrose High School senior

Holt was born in Phoenix in 1995. In 1997, he and his fam-ily moved to Ontario, Canada, then relocated to Montrose in 2006. Holt has been a member of the MHS marching band for four years.

Q: How was Canada compared to America? A: The people were nice there, but the atmosphere here is

better.Q: What do you do for fun here?

A: I like to draw and show my artistic side. Usually in the winter, I just hunt and snowboard.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: Montrose is a beautiful place to be. The people are

unique, and so is the environment.

No. 110Donny Morales

Musician

Born in Phoenix, Morales moved to Montrose in 1984 and has been part of the Montrose music scene for the last 20 years. He can be seen playing at lo-cal menus three to four nights a week, occasionally playing two venues in one evening. While he is known to entertain crowds with his take on upbeat covers, he recently made a live recording of all-original tunes. He describes his style as Rocky Mountain soul music.

Q: How did you get to where you are in your music career?A: I have been playing music since

1999. Music was a family thing, my dad was a jazz musician. The house was full of music, everything from country

to Latin cumbia. Now, for the last year and a half music is all I do. I used to be a painting contractor. I have painted a lot of houses in Montrose. People would always know it was me painting because I would be singing on the job.

Q: What was it like recording your first live album in front of an impressive hometown crowd?A: It was a great crowd, one of the best

ever at the Turn of the Century Saloon. I was just sitting in my chair the next day thinking that it’s just overwhelming to know I have that kind of support. It really threw gas on the fire for me and my desire to keep playing. That was a hometown crowd, and they showed their love.

Q: You do a great cover of “I Want to Be Like You,” which was part of the Disney film “The Jungle Book.”

How did you figure out you could pull that off? A: The monkey song! That’s actually a

shout-out do my dad. He was a trumpet player and a huge fan of the guy who wrote all those songs for that film. I just got that mouth trumpet part down and had fun with it. That’s a way to really light up the room. That song turns some heads. The crowd really loves it.

Q: So what do you do when you don’t have a guitar in your lap?A: Sit around and watch “Sponge

Bob Square Pants” — with my kids, of course. Actually, I have recently taken up writing. I am writing some children’s books, and I think I have some really great ideas that kids will love.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: It’s real here in Montrose, and it has

always been real.

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No. 112Leann Tobin

Marketing and public relations director for Montrose

Memorial Hospital

Tobin was raised in Lakewood, at-tended Green Mountain High School and received her degree from Colorado State University. In 1982 and 1983, she trav-eled in the international group Up With People, where she met her best friend, Pat Tobin. They have been married for 24 years and have two sons, 21-year-old Bryce, who just graduated from the University of Denver and is working for Janus Capital Group, and 17-year-old Dylan, a senior at Montrose High School

who plans to attend the Colorado School of Mines. Tobin has worked at MMH for more than 23 years. She has served on the Montrose County school board for three years and is currently the vice president.

Q: What are your hobbies?A: Spending time with family, boat-

ing, water skiing, ATVing, reading and singing.

Q: What is your favorite sport to watch and or participate in?A: Both my boys played soccer since

they were 4 1/2 years old — so my hus-band and I love being on the sidelines and watching them play.

Q: What is your favorite book and why?A: The “Twilight” series, “Harry

Potter” and “The DaVinci Code.” I like variety, happy endings and enjoy losing myself in a good book.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: Montrose is a friendly, beautiful

place! The Tobin family homesteaded here, so there is lots of history, and I’ve also seen many, many changes. I love the people and wonderful friendships I have developed. It’s a great place to raise a family.

No. 111Grayson Burris

Montrose High School sophomore Shortly after Burris was born in Alaska, he and his family moved to Whitehouse, Texas, in 1998 to be closer to family. In 2005, Burris and his family settled down in Montrose when his dad was offered a job. Burris has been a part of the MHS football and baseball teams. He even played catcher for the Montrose Babe Ruth League “dream team” that won a cham-pionship last year.

Q: Do you prefer baseball or football?A: Football because it is more of a physical sport. Q: What is your favorite team?

A: Definitely the Dallas Cowboys. They are a good team, and I love Texas.

Q: Where do you hope to see yourself in the future?A: Hopefully still playing football in college or somewhere

studying criminal justice. Q: Why do you love Montrose?

A: It’s a small town, and I enjoy how friendly everyone is here. It’s a good place to grow up and start my life.

No. 114Heidi Voehringer

Montrose High School assistant principal

Voehringer, a Montrose native, gradu-ated from MHS in 1997. She would go on to attend the University of Northern Colo-rado to pursue a teaching career. In 2001, a student-teaching position opened up at Montrose High. She would hold that position before taking on new roles, including a full-time English and social studies teacher, and assistant coach of the school’s varsity volleyball squad, over the years. Earlier this year, she was promoted to assistant principal.

Q: You graduated from Montrose High and are now an assistant prin-cipal here. Can you talk about the experience?A: It was odd at first when I was stu-

dent teaching here alongside teachers I had, but it got easier.

Q: You’re also an assistant volley-ball coach. What do you love about the sport that has kept you active with it?A: I love being a part of the volleyball

program because I love working with (head coach) Shane (Forrest) and (assis-tant coaches) Joel Forrest and Amanda Samples. Shane has taught me volleyball is the ultimate team sport. I really like

that.Q: What do you hope your athletes

take away from your coaching?A: To never give up, to have fun while

competing and to to be a part of some-thing bigger than yourself.

Q: Who’s your favorite athlete — in any sport — to watch?A: Michael Jordan. I think he’s just the

best ever. Q: What do you love about Mon-

trose?A: I love that it’s a small community,

but that there’s still a lot of opportunity. It’s a great place to grow up and live. There are a ton of great people here.

No. 113Karen Winkel

Minister

Karen Winkel grew up in California as the daughter of a forest ranger in a town “not unlike Nucla,” she said, where she wound up serving as a seminarian. She has a bachelor’s degree from California State-Fresno and a master’s degree in di-vinity from the Pacific School of Religion at Berkeley, Calif. The local minister who serves Hillcrest Congregational Church of Christ celebrated the 13th anniversary of her ordination on Dec. 4.

Q: When did you come to Montrose and why? A: I came to serve Hillcrest in July of

2009. I had been in Western Kentucky prior to that, and in Utah prior to that. But I had lived in the West End, serving our sister church over there. So I knew

the congregation a little already. I always thought whoever got to serve Hillcrest would be the luckiest person on earth. I never in a million years thought that person would be me.

Q: How did you become involved in ministry? A: It’s a lifelong process. I was a child

with strong theological leanings who grew up in a church that had tremen-dous effect on me. For the longest time, I said ministry is the last thing I would ever do. I think in the end, God got the last word.

Q: Are there challenges to being a female minister?A: Sure, though interestingly for me, I

grew up in a denomination that was the first to ordain a woman, in 1853. (The modern denomination was formed in 1957, a year before Winkel’s birth, which she says she does not consider a coinci-

dence.) By no means am I a trailblazer. I’m insecure about a number of things, but never about my sense of call. I was always certain God would find a way for me to be helpful.

Q: How do you spend your free time — assuming a minister has any?A: The great gift of Montrose is the

house I bought came with kids (next door). I never imagined I would be cultivating a meaningful relationship with these neighbor kids, and we’ve had fabulous experiences.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: I love its size, its people. I love its

setting, and I love that there’s a Target and a Main Street that is reflecting the particularity of our community. I love what I see happening on Main Street and the spirit that goes with that.

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130 reasons to love Montrose December 30, 2012 29

No. 115Jeri Mattics Omernik

Edward Jones financial adviser

Omernik was born and raised in Olathe on Mattics Orchards, a farm still oper-ated by her family. She attended Olathe High School and went on to Colorado State University, where she earned a double major in agriculture education and agriculture journalism. After college, she went to Washington, D.C., for 10 years and worked for the national Future Farmers of America organization. When she returned to Montrose in 1996, she started Rocky Mountain Marketing and Communications, which she operated until 2011. In early 2012, she joined Ed-ward Jones as a financial adviser.

Q: How did you get from agricul-ture marketing to financial advising?A: I have been blessed to have been

well served by financial advisers. I see financial planning and financial services as a large, unmet need within the agri-culture sector … as well as for women.

Q: Why do you think people need financial services more at this par-ticular time in history?A: No. 1, we are living longer. No. 2,

pensions are going away and being re-placed by IRAs and 401ks, which people are responsible to manage as individu-als. In D.C., on this very day, there will be changes made to Medicare and Social

Security. There is a long-term trend for people to be more responsible for their retirement. This is not bad, necessarily, but it is a shift. People need to under-stand that this is their responsibility.

Q: Can you tell me more about your family?A: Both my biological family and my

married family have very deep roots in this community and a long-term interest in serving the community.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: We have a lot of people here who are

willing volunteers and work collabora-tively for the community. There are lots and lots of ways to get involved and do good things for the community.

No. 116Anna Sales

Elementary school substitute teacher and world traveler

Sales was born in Florida but moved to Montrose when she was 7. During school, she competed in cross country, basketball and tennis before graduat-ing from Montrose High School in 2003. After completing her elementary education degree, Sales worked in the area as a nanny before heading off for a two-year teaching position teaching English in Korea. She and her husband Justin returned to Montrose with a thirst for adventure. This summer, they spent several weeks hiking the entire 500-mile Colorado Trail.

Q: What will you always keep with you after two years teaching in Korea?A: My students. They were so respect-

ful and eager to learn. They were just all really good people. I will never forget the

culture, either. In Korea, they really hold on to their traditions.

Q: What was the scariest part of hiking the entire Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango?A: A lot of the trail is above tree line, so

when storms come up, there is often no-where to go. At one point, we were at about 12,000 feet in elevation and we could see one huge black cloud coming right at us. We just hunkered down in our tent. You know how you can count between lightning and thun-der to see how far it is away? Well, we were counting to about half of a second. I have never heard thunder that loud before.

Q: What might a really good day be like like for you?A: Well, maybe waking up beside Blue

Lakes, under the peaks of the San Juans with my husband. From there, if I had a map, I would say I would be in for a really great day.

Q: If you could spin a globe, put your finger down on it and go any-

where, where would that be? A: South America. We spent some time

down there, as well, but I would like to go back and live there. I would really like to take the time and become fluent in Spanish. South America just has such a diverse variety of landscapes and cul-tures, I would really like to spend more time there and see them all.

Q: What is your next adventure?A: Actually, I just accepted a teach-

ing position in Abu Dhabi. I am really excited, nervous, but excited. It will be a very different culture from anything I have seen yet.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: Because Montrose always feels like

home. Since returning I have been enjoy-ing the programs offered by the rec dis-trict and all of my family and friends. It is also great to be able to substitute teach in the same schools I attended. And Mon-trose has Subwiches, which I think is the best sub shop in the world.

No. 117Travis Hauger

Montrose High senior Born in Encinitas, Calif., Hauger and his family relocated to Montrose in 2007 when he was in eighth grade for his fa-ther’s job. Hauger has been a member of the Montrose High varsity football squad since he was a sophomore. This season, he played offensive tackle and defensive end for the Indians. Hauger suffered a season-ending knee injury in the middle of the season, though he and the Indians went 7-4 overall, won the team’s fifth Southwestern League championship in seven years and made it to the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs.

Q: You suffered a severe knee injury during a regular season game. How’s your recovery going?A: Actually, really good. It’s been

almost three months. I started walking

last week. It’s been rough, but I think I am doing pretty good at it.

Q: You’re known around town for how you dress. Your coaches often poke fun at your sense of style. Where does your sense of style come from?A: As I was growing up and watching

football, wide receivers and running backs were always in the spotlight. They were always wearing cool stuff. I’ve always worn flashy things. I am trying to start a trend for linemen in Montrose.

Q: What do you love about football?A: Everything … I feel it’s the best

sport in the world. It tests everything about who you are.

Q: What does it mean to you to have helped the Montrose squad bring back the SWL title to town?A: So much. Since my sophomore year, I’ve

always wanted to bring it back. We finally brought it back, and it has been so awesome.

Q: What do you like to do outside of

football?A: I like doing school work and watch-

ing cartoons. I like to snowboard when I can. Anything outdoors is awesome. I love to watch “Duck Dynasty.”

Q: What’s something people do not know about linemen?A: It’s definitely the hardest position

on the field. It’s all work, no fame.Q: Do you have a sports idol?

A: Tom West (Montrose High assistant football coach). I like how he shares his sto-ries about the game. You can tell it’s his life outside of his family. He just cares so much about it, and it shows how hard he works.

Q: What do you hope to do after high school?A: Definitely play college football.Q: What do you love about Mon-

trose?A: I love the vibe. It’s a good vibe.

There are not really mean people, just a lot of nice people ... It’s a pretty place.

No. 118Rosemary Murphy

Montrose County treasurer

Murphy hails from Southwestern Virginia. She worked in management at a mail order business for 14 years before relocating to Colorado, where she first worked at a savings and loan business before moving on to work in the treasur-er’s office and taking the reins after her election in 2006.

Q: When did you come to Montrose and why?A: I came to Montrose in 1988. This is

where my husband wanted to live. He

had family here.Q: Were you always interested in

holding public office?A: Actually, I became interested when

I came to work for the county in 1999. Carla Logan, the former treasurer, and the chief deputy treasurer, Laurie Smith, encouraged me to run.

Q: What is the importance of the office of treasurer?A: To maintain the tax records and

follow the statutes that are directed, in order to collect the tax money and distribute it to all the taxing jurisdic-tions. I’m responsible for all the county’s money. I have an excellent team that works with me in order to accomplish

those directives.Q: What are your other interests?

A: I’m on the board for Habitat for Humanity. I’m involved with the selec-tion committee to choose prospective homeowners. It’s definitely rewarding to be able to help someone to retain owner-ship in a home. I also like to read and watch movies.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: I love the atmosphere, being able to

walk down the street and see people you know — the more small-town atmo-sphere.

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30 December 30, 2012 130 reasons to love Montrose

No. 120Linda Corwine-McIntoshCSU Advanced Master

Gardener Corwine-McIntosh was born and raised in Colorado Springs, where her life revolved around horses. She has always enjoyed being outdoors. After graduating from college, she realized that she was in the wrong career and began working in the green industry. Corwine-McIntosh moved to Montrose in 1975, began work-ing in a greenhouse and became a CSU Master Gardener in 1993. She continues to be actively involved with the Tri River CSU Master Gardener program, which, she says, is one of the best in the coun-try. Corwine-McIntosh owns a landscape consulting business, is a commercial pesticide applicator and an ISA-certified arborist. She has been superintendent of the floral division at the Montrose County Fair & Rodeo for many years, serves on the Ouray County Weed Board and has been writing local gardening columns for almost 20 years.

Q: What are the most common prob-lems you encounter when helping area residents with their landscap-ing needs?A: That’s an easy question. Whether

the trees were planted by a homeowner, or a “professional,” the most com-mon problems are caused by trees that weren’t planted properly. Either they were planted too deep or the root system wasn’t spread out before planting. If the tree is relatively young, I can often save it, but when it is an established, mature tree, there’s little that can be done for it, and the girdling roots will eventually cause the tree’s demise.

Q: What are your hobbies?A: Of course, I love gardening and

preserving produce, but last spring, I bought six chickens, and now I’m a hobby chicken farmer. I never knew chickens could be so much fun. And chickens and gardening just seem to go hand in hand.

Q: What is your favorite season

and why?A: I love Christmas! But I’d have to

say, my favorite season is spring, espe-cially in Montrose. I love to see all of the crabapple, hawthorn, catalpa and fruit trees blooming. And the fragrance of all these trees in bloom is something you have to experience to believe. At times, the whole town smells sweet.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: What’s not to love! Just moments

away, you can enjoy the deep rugged vertical walls and trails of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison or the steep ma-jestic mountains and forests of the San Juans. I love the small-town community of Montrose where you can see familiar friendly faces every time you go to town. Yet, it’s large enough that you can still have your privacy. There are so many talented people in the area, ranging from the Magic Circle Theatre actors, writers, painters, craftspeople and musicians. They never cease to amaze me.

No. 119Tana Milner

Montrose High School senior Although Milner was born in Montrose, she and her family moved to Concord, N.C., for work in 2002. About eight months later, Milner and her family moved back to Montrose, where they’ve remained. Milner has been finishing high school at Montrose High and has been participating on the MHS cheer squad for one year.

Q: How was North Carolina compared to Montrose?A: Montrose is a lot more lush, and we

didn’t have as cold of weather.Q: What is your favorite subject in school?

A: Pottery because I enjoy hands-on ac-tivities, and I can also express my creativity. Not to mention it is a great stress reliever.

Q: Where do you plan to go after you graduate?A: I plan to attend school in Fort Collins

and after a couple of years move to Califor-nia. While I’m in college, I want to study something in the medical field because I like when I can help people.

Q: After you leave, what will you miss the most about Montrose?A: Definitely the memories I have made

while I grew up here. It’s a special place to me.Q: Why do you love Montrose?

A: I lived here most of my life. I was born a Montrosian.

No. 122Jody Holland

Hotelier

Jody Holland and her husband, John, joined the hotel business in 1999, and were able to buy their first motel a few years later. They now own the Affordable Inns in Montrose, which they bought in 2004; the Briarwood Inn, purchased in 2006, and a Grand Junction motel. The couple has battled through hardships, including an act of arson that damaged the Affordable Inns in 2011 and led to the cessation of a homeless benefit program the Hollands had started.

Q: Why did you come to Montrose?A: We had sold a motel in Craig. John

and I were looking for another start in the motel business. We had visited Montrose,

and really fell in love with the town, the people and the property. We chose to make Montrose our home.

Q: How did you become involved in the motel business?A: My dad owned the Alexander Lake

Lodge. My dad is a real estate broker, who specializes in commercial properties. When John and I lived in Arizona, I was a man-ager for a restaurant chain and he drove a dairy truck. They were like ships passing in the night, she said, and realized their lifestyle wasn’t working, so they sold their Arizona property and used that money as a down payment on the Craig motel. We lived the dream there for a couple of years, then sold the motel and invested in Montrose.

Q: How are you dealing with the challenges in the motel industry?A: It’s never a given. If you want it,

you’ve got to fight for it. We’ve definitely fought for it. You just have to stay the course, and don’t give up. That’s what we’ve done. I’m not saying the last two years haven’t been extraordinarily difficult, be-cause they have. But we just don’t give up.

Q: What are your other interests?A: As far as I’m concerned, family time

is the No. 1 priority in both our lives. We’re grateful to be parents, and for the opportunity to be parents in this town. I like to play my piano, sing and write music. Cooking is my favorite thing.

Q: What do you love about Montrose?A: I love the small but convenient at-

mosphere. There’s a lot of great people in Montrose. We just have formed a good team in Montrose. John and I learned that first hand, with the fire. People have a heart in Montrose, and that’s just hard to find.

No. 121Terry Burnell

Concrete contractor and Himalayan trek leader

Burnell was born in England, but moved to Western Colorado 46 years ago to lead Outward Bound adventure trips out of Lake City. He and his wife Val became the only full-time employees for the Outward Bound organization. When the school moved to Leadville in 1977, the two were unwilling to leave the San Juan Mountains and moved to Mon-trose, where Burnell founded Mountain Highwall Inc., a specialized concrete construction company. Burnell estimates he has been to Nepal nearly 30 times participating in and leading cultural treks and technical climbing expeditions. He is also a proud grandfather of four.

Q: How did you develop such a net-work of friends in Nepal?A: It started when I was a member of

a 1964 British expedition to climb Gauri Sankar. That was when I met Phurwa Sherpa, and we became friends, climb-ing parters and now business partners, leading cultural treks and small climb-ing expeditions in Nepal. In that ‘64

expedition, we actually drove all the way from England to Katmandu. We learned a lot about doing things on our own and how much you can accomplish if you really put your mind to it. We didn’t ac-tually summit. We were about 1,000 feet from the top, and it was too dangerous to continue. That peak wasn’t summited until the late ‘70s and has only been climbed twice ever.

Q: What is something you will always remember as an Outward Bound school director?A: I was asked to be the program direc-

tor for a National Geographic documen-tary they did about the Outward Bound school in Lake City. The film was called “Journey to the Outer Limits.” It took place in the early 1970s, and the follow-ing year, the film took second for the best documentary of the year, according to the Academy Awards. It lost to a docu-mentary called “The Great American Cowboy.”

Q: How do you keep your outdoor skills honed these days?A: I still do some ice climbing and

some rock climbing here and there. Not too long ago, a famous British climber,

Chris Bonington, came to Montrose. He joined me and a few others who were all over 60 years old. We did a great climb in the Black Canyon called the Way of the Ancients. I thought that was a fitting name for us.

Q: When is your next trip to Nepal?A: Last year at about this time, we ran

an Everest expedition, and we summited two climbers from Colorado Springs, which was great. This year, I am leading a trek in April, which will be a cultural trip. On many of these trips, we like to try to do some small engineering projects to help the the people who live in some of these remote villages. So this trek will be a combination trek and cultural experience. I still have three open spots!

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: We have always lived within sight

of the mountains. In Montrose, we are not far from mountains or desert. When we moved to Montrose in the ‘70s, it was a very welcoming community. With traveling the world, I could see potential for Montrose to develop into a very good community like it has.

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130 reasons to love Montrose December 30, 2012 31

No. 123John Renfrow

Real estate agent

Renfrow is in business with his father, Jim. He previously worked as a mechani-cal engineer, on projects involving trans-Atlantic cable systems and lighting. He lives here with his wife, Sarah, and their children, and devotes significant time to nonprofit organizations.

Q: When did you come to Montrose and why?A: I came in 2002 or 2003 for quality of

life and my family. I grew up here, and I didn’t want to live in Newark, N.J.

Q: What are your passions in life?A: Christ. My wife and kids. I love to

hike and fly fish. I’ve been involved with ShareFest, and I just got back from a Na-vajo mission trip. The prison ministry here (Montrose Jail Ministries) has been really good, and Shepherd’s Hand. I get involved in different organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity.

Q: What do you find rewarding about such works?A: I feel that I can bless other people

with the knowledge and experience that I have.

Q: How are you handling the real estate industry challenges?A: Property values are down signifi-

cantly. We just had to change things in order to remain current with the times, so we’re doing a lot more receivership work and property management. We branched out into other fields.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: I love Montrose because of the

quality of life and the people who are here. Out of all the places I’ve been in my background, there’s no place I’d rather be than Montrose, but I had to go through Newark, N.J., before I realized it. Money’s not everything.

No. 124Megan Miller

Employee at Great Harvest Bread Company

Miller was born in Colorado Springs but moved to Montrose in 2001. She graduated from Montrose High in 2012 and is taking classes at Colorado Mesa University’s Montrose campus while working at Great Harvest Bread Com-pany.

Q: What do you hope to do after college?A: Well, I am currently studying dental

hygiene. After a couple of years, I’m go-ing to go to Denver, where I can continue to study dental hygiene and hopefully settle down back here in Montrose.

Q: What was it like growing up in Montrose compared to anywhere else?A: It’s a great place. Montrose is small,

so I could actually feel comfortable going to places alone or with friends. It is also a nice place to grow up and learn life

lessons. Q: What do you do outside of

school and work?A: I like to spend time with my friends

and family. I feel that Montrose is a very family-involved place, so it is easy to stay close to everyone.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: It’s not too big, and it’s not too

small. Montrose has everything people need, for the most part. It’s easy to meet people here. Montrose is home to me.

No. 125Meg Nagel

Volunteer coordinator and adult programs director

Montrose Regional Library Nagel grew up in Denver and Littleton, and went to school in Boulder. Her dad was a hiker and climber, so her earliest memories are of spending time in the mountains. “We would spend summers at my aunt’s apple orchard in Paonia,” she said. As a result, her first passion was protecting the environment, and her first professional job was as an envi-ronmental organizer for the Colorado Environmental Coalition, then called the Colorado Open Space Council. While she was working that job, she became, along with others, one of the founders of Western Colorado Congress. After that, she was the executive director of Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods, the neighbor-hood group in Denver that sponsors the People’s Fair and tries to keep the middle of Denver a great place to live. Activism and community have been themes in her life. She moved to Montrose 11 years ago to be with her family. “I was so lucky to end up at the library, both because I can still strive to be useful and positive in the community, and because reading and literature have always been big loves of mine.”

Q: How do you see the library’s role in the community?A: I’m very proud to work at this

library, where everybody on staff is working hard to serve our community. I see it as a community center, and a sort of intellectual playground, where people not only can get information and help and entertainment, but can share their interests and their skills. The idea of lifelong learning is an important one to me. I especially love organizing and participating in programs where people discuss ideas and share their opinions and dreams. I would like it to be a place where people are open to, learn from, maybe even revel in, world views that are different from their own.

Q: What are your hobbies?A: My big project and passion right

now is gardening. That creates lots of vegetables, so I’m trying to learn to cook — something I’ve never done with much style. I, of course, read all the time. I have ambitions to indulge more often in my old passions of hiking and cross-country skiing. I’ve taken classes from Nita Lightsey in pottery and would like to get good at that.

Q: What is your favorite book and why?A: That’s such a hard question. It

shifts all the time. I tend to go on read-ing jags, where I try to read everything by a particular author, or many books on a specific subject. And, although my favorite genre is literary fiction (authors like Herman Hesse, Barbara Kingsolver, Michael Ondaatje, Linda Hogan), I just finished the first two books of the fantasy “All Souls Trilogy,” about witches and vampires, by Deborah Harkness, and I loved them. What I want most out of books are ideas I can mull over, intrigu-ing and poetic use of words and also to be transported to other times and places.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: Living here is great. The surround-

ings are breathtakingly beautiful. The pace is not rushed, but there are many interesting people and events. Many people here are working to create a vi-brant community that is unified and still embraces our variety. All of those are conditions that encourage living deeply, well rooted with lots of possibilities for blooming, to use a gardening metaphor.

No. 126George Chaney

Applebee’s product manager

Chaney grew up in Oregon but has traveled around the country working in the restaurant management business for 39 years. He said the last six of those years have been some of the best since he decided to move to Montrose. He and his family made the move after his youngest son was having trouble get-ting a quality education in larger school districts. While his three daughters live elsewhere, Chaney, his wife and his son are happy to call Montrose home.

Q: What is the key to running a restaurant in a small town?A: In a small town, you must have per-

sonalized service and a good value for

the money. I always try to connect with my customers.

Q: What is your Applebee’s menu item of choice?A: About a month ago, we added the

Napa Valley chicken entree. It has a good flavor profile, and it is under 550 calo-ries. It’s hard to find that kind of flavor without the added calories. We have been getting a lot of compliments on it.

Q: What do you enjoy doing outside of the restaurant?A: Well, I would say I have really taken

to Jeeping and fishing, but hiking is still my favorite activity. I have done a few fourteeners around here, and I have done Mount Rainier and some others in California. But my favorite location is hiking in the Grand Canyon. It is really a religious experience for me. I also

made my biggest hiking accomplish-ment in the Grand Canyon. I hiked from rim to rim to rim — 45 miles in one day. It took me 23 hours, so I can still say one day, barely.

Q: Do you have a favorite Jeeping trail?A: Imogene Pass is my favorite. There

are lots of great ones, but the views com-ing into Telluride are incredible.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: I love seeing the mountains. I love

that we have four seasons. I even love shoveling snow every once and a while. The people in Montrose are great. And I think we have a really good school sys-tem. It turned out that the Vista program in the district was a great fit for my son, and I was pleased to see him graduate from Vista.

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32 December 30, 2012 130 reasons to love Montrose

No. 128Merri Brennecke

Registered nurse and house supervisor for Montrose

Memorial Hospital

Brennecke was born in Dixon, Ill., and moved to Montrose as a child in 1965 with her family. She graduated from Mesa State University — now Colorado Mesa University — “a long time ago” with a degree in nursing and is now the house supervisor at Montrose Memorial

Hospital. She lives in Montrose with her husband and three sons.

Q: How do you like working on Christmas?A: It’s nice. It’s like spending Christ-

mas with a second family. We work 12-hour shifts, so we end up spending a lot of time together.

Q: How do you spend Christmas with your family?A: We celebrate Christmas Eve togeth-

er. Being a heath-care worker, you learn

to work around the holidays.Q: What do you like to do with your

free time?A: When there is no snow, I like to play

a whole lot of golf. And we fish, we boat, we camp.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: You can ski within 60 miles of here.

The hunting in this area is great, and the views are better than anywhere in the world — the San Juan Mountains, especially.

No. 127Val Knapp

Medical assistant at the Pediatric Associates

Knapp grew up in Santa Barbara, Calif. In 1994, she finished college at Santa Barbara City College. A little later, Knapp received her medical assistant degree. In 1999, she and her husband moved to Montrose to be closer to their children

and grandchildren. For the last 10 years, Knapp has been a medical assistant at the Pediatric Associates, working with children.

Q: What was Santa Barbara like compared to Montrose?A: California has so many more

people. You can become a person here and get to know everyone.

Q: Why did you enter the medical field?

A: I really wanted to help people, which is what I do now, and I love the children I get to work with every day.

Q: What do you do for the holidays?A: Usually, we just take this time to

have our family travel to Montrose or spend it with close friends.

Q: Why do you love Montrose?A: The people here are so friendly. Also

my husband and I are closer to the recre-ational activities that we love.

No. 130Jenni Sopsic

Executive director of the Montrose Association of

Commerce & Tourism

Sopsic was born in Denver but relocated to Grand Junc-tion in 1979 when she was 5 because of her father’s job. She graduated from Fort Lewis College in Durango in 1996. She studied business management, marketing, tourism and resort management while there. She worked for Hyatt Hotels and Resorts for many years. She and her husband were living in Telluride and on their way to shop in Montrose in 2004 when her husband suggested they move to Montrose instead of Northern California, as they had been considering. She has been executive director of Montrose ACT for the last year.

Q: What was the hotel busi-ness like?A: Like any job, it had it’s great

moments and its bad days, but it was a lot of fun. I learned a lot. It’s all hospitality. I worked at resorts where people were well traveled ... If we hadn’t left the Denver area, I would probably still be working for Hyatt. I loved working for Hyatt Hotels. It was

a great company.Q: What do you like to do

for fun?A: I love to travel. As much as

I love Montrose, I always like to get out for a little bit. My entire family are scuba divers, and so that takes us to some amazing destinations.

Q: What’s the best place you ever visited and why?A: That’s a tough question be-

cause they are all so different. We went to Fiji in September — about a year and a half ago. The culture there was just so fascinating ... It was fascinat-ing to spend time with the lo-cals. They are very musical. We were on an island where power was run off of a generator so there weren’t TVs or people walking around on cell phones. Everyone sings, everyone plays the guitar. They pass on their history through their music, so they are always singing. It was really neat.

Q: You mentioned scuba diving. What do you like about scuba diving?A: I think being a visitor in

someone else’s terrain. You have to be very respectful when you’re down there. We’ve seen some amazing things, but it’s

very peaceful, beautiful, some-times it’s a little scary. But we all enjoy it.

Q: What is your favorite movie and why?

A: I have three favorite mov-ies. “Flash Gordon,” “The Beastmaster” and “Clash of the Titans.” “Eddie and the Cruis-ers” is like the runner-up. I have

no idea (why). I just love them so much.

Q: Being a Colorado native, are you a Denver Broncos fan?A: Absolutely. I’m going to a

game. I cannot wait for Peyton Manning to look at me.

Q: Are the Broncos going to the Super Bowl?A: Well, that’s an awfully

exciting thought, and it would be absolutely amazing to see them play in the Super Bowl this year.

Q: If you could pick one song that characterizes you, what would it be and why?A: “Brick House.” That’s a

powerful song.Q: What do you love about

Montrose?A: I think that’s a pretty easy

question, and I have really come to understand this in my job here. It all comes back to the people. The people of Montrose love Montrose, and that is really inspiring for what I do. One of the really consistent, constant things you’ll see in Montrose is the passion residents have for their town.

The Montrose Daily Press’ “130 Reasons to Love Montrose” feature is intended as a tribute to the

city’s 130th anniversary.

No. 129Don Davidson

Consultant for the School Improvement Network

Davidson was born in Fort Carson. He is the son of a military veteran who fought in the Korean War. He was recruit-ed by many colleges to play basketball, but ultimately opted for Mesa College in Grand Junction. After attending Mesa College for three years, he transferred to Colorado State University, where he earned his degree in education in 1977. Davidson worked for the Montrose County School District for many years before retiring in 2011. He now works for the School Improvement Network, an ed-ucation company based out of Midvale, Utah, that develops and distributes vari-ous professional development products,

and offers online educational administra-tor and teacher training content.

Q: Why did you decide to pursue education as a profession?A: I wanted to make a difference in the

lives of children and help provide life-long learning opportunities for kids.

Q: San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich recruited you to play college basketball at the U.S. Air Force Academy Prep School when he was the coach. What kind of person is he?A: He’s just a real decent guy. He was a

real wonderful basketball player. He was just trying to get me to come play ...

Q: Having met and gotten to know Popovich, do you cheer for the Spurs?A: Absolutely, I do. He’s a really great

coach.Q: What do you love about the game

of basketball?A: It’s a metaphor for life. What it al-

lows is for people to come together as a team. It’s the ultimate team collabora-tion.

Q: What do you like to do for fun?A: I like shooting sports, hunting,

going out on my ATV. I enjoy spending time on my property in Meeker. I love education consulting.

Q: What do you love about Mon-trose?A: I like the environment, the small-

town feel and mentality coupled with the opportunities that larger towns have to offer. It’s a great place to live. It’s a got a laid-back feel.


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