On Feb. 9, pumps began to fail at the water treatment plant in Mancos, leaving residents dry for three days until a temporary pump could be installed, but residents were told not to drink the water once it began to flow again on Tuesday.
Town officials brought in a new water pump from California because the town's backup system failed. Residents were ordered to boil water for an additional four days until it was deemed safe to drink.
Town officials provided bottled water and a water tanker with potable water for residents, and about 30 portable potties were set up in town.
The water outage significantly disrupted activity, shutting down schools, restaurants and businesses. The Millwood Junction Restaurant shut its doors on Valentine's day, one of the restaurant's busiest days of the year. Other businesses also said it was a rough week.
Town officials said they learned a lot from the failure, and later in the year, the Mancos Town Board accepted a $1.165 million bid on the Water System Improvements Project, which includes a new water storage tank, two new water pumps and new water lines to increase flow.
The project is expected to be paid by a USDA Rural Development Loan, Colorado Department of Local Affairs and local contributions.
The project was awarded to Redpoint Contracting. The project will be paid in part with a $491,000 loan from the U. S. Department of Agricultural Rural Development and a $455,000 grant from the Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Fund. The remaining $219,407 will be paid by the town of Mancos, $157,000 of which will be paid by a private developer, according to town documents.
School board member Humiston-Scott arrested
The Mancos School Board drew a lot of attention this year, and crowds started attending meetings after board member Beverly Humiston-Scott was censured for inappropriate conduct for what was described as "bullying, intimidating, and/or all harassing treatment of administrative and support staff of the district."
During a heated discussion of the censure during a July meeting, Humiston-Scott was arrested after refusing to leave the meeting.
In September, charges against Humiston-Scott were dropped after District Attorney William Furse filed a motion stating: "Ms. Humiston and the board were engaged in heated discussions related to her censure. Ms. Humiston had been given the floor to speak on her own behalf and in response to the board's allegations, but was prevented from fully doing so. ... Ms. Humiston was acting in her official capacity as a school board member when attempting to respond to these complaints."
Later in the year, a petition to recall Humiston-Scott was authenticated by County Clerk Carol Tullis but an appointed election official threw the recall effort out when it was deemed that the recall committee, in fact, needed to gather about 140 additional signatures for the effort to go to the voters of Mancos.
Humiston-Scott still sits on the board and most recently, the recall committee said it was going to let the effort drop, for now.
Town loses a bright light in motorcycle crash
The community grieved when a 22-year-old Brianna Lynn Schmittel was killed in a motorcycle crash on U.S. 160 west of Hesperus in June.
Many were shocked that such a young, bright life was cut short.
"Brianna was a very bright, intelligent, beautiful young lady," her older sister, Kendra Gapp, said. "She was a free spirit. She loved being on her motorcycle. I don't think she would have wanted to go any other way."
A teacher and friend, Cathy Cullicott, taught her as a science student at Mancos Middle School and in her Aikido martial arts classes. Cullicott had anticipated her succeeding in law.
"She was going to set the world on fire, and I was really excited to watch," said Cullicott.
Schmittel planned to become a lawyer and had a semester left in her prelaw program.
Memorial services for Schmittel were be held on June 27, at Boyle Park in Mancos.
Big box store moving into historic Mancos
In February, the Mancos Town Board passed an emergency ordinance to extend a ban on large retail stores after the Family Dollar corporation started to show interest in setting up shop in Mancos. But by September, the board's tune changed after it approved the design of a 8,320-square-foot store, which will go on the north side of U.S. 160. The Mancos Thrift Shop shut its doors on Sept. 15 to make room for the Family Dollar, which will be built on that location. As of yet, construction hasn't started.
Resident watch Red Arrow cleanup
Mancos residents closely watched the cleanup efforts of an illegal gold mine operating nine miles northeast of Mancos. Mercury and arsenic were reported in high levels at the site. The EPA stepped in and cleaned the site up at the Red Arrow Mill on Grand Avenue using federal Superfund dollars.
Workers used unsafe levels of mercury at the illegal mill site to process gold. The mill was closed after it was discovered mercury was being used to process gold and the Red Arrow Gold company fell into bankruptcy.
EPA finished mercury-decontamination efforts on July 29, removing 240 pounds of liquid mercury waste.
Western Excelsior under fire for dust
The Concerned Residents of Riverside Avenue formed and demanded the town of Mancos do something about the accumulating dust and debris in the air around their homes. Some reported health concerns, others said that in just one day, so much would accumulate on their cars, they would have to wash the windows to see outside.
The town cited the company that manufactures rolled erosion products for several town ordinances including air and water pollution in September. In November, the company appeared in Mancos Municipal Court and pleaded not guilty to the charges and stated that the operations are mostly outside the town limits.
A jury trial was set for Jan. 12.
School enrollment grows, bringing a budget windfall
After years of being told to cut spending, the Mancos School Board of Education was informed this year that they actually had more money this year, thanks to an increase in enrollment of 31 students.
Board members were excited about deciding how to spend an additional $261,049.
While some of the money went to a new boiler and other projects, the majority of the money went to give teachers and staff a Christmas bonus and a one-time, 2.5 percent stipend.
Pot stores set up shop in Mancos
The first retail marijuana store on Montezuma County opened in Mancos at 7 p.m. on Dec. 22. Mancos already had a medical marijuana store. At The Shop, which opened at 449 Railroad Ave., users over the age of 21 may purchase the drug for recreational use.
The Mancos Town Board spent a lot of time debating the issue of marijuana sales in town and passed an ordinance that would give the town $2 per transaction, in addition to sales tax.
Mancos Times Press headed for new life
The Ballantine family transferred ownership of the press and the Mancos Times building in downtown Mancos to the nonprofit Mancos Common Press.
Betsy Harrison, secretary/treasurer of The Mancos Common Press, said she hopes the building will become a center to learn printmaking. The building is appraised at $40,000 and houses a treasure of printing relics, including a flatbed press made in the early 1900s.
Also...
Also in Mancos this year, the town became a finalist for a Colorado Creative District designation, meaning the Mancos Valley Cultural District will receive funding, new signage, professional assistance and training to develop crative industries and tourism. Also, the town approved a RV park that may be developed east of Boyle Park and north of Grand Avenue.
Mancos cross-country team second at state
For the Mancos High School boys cross-country team, the 2014 season was one of the most successful in school history.
After beginning the season unranked, the Bluejays won five regular season meets, finished first at the Class 2A Region 3 Championship and placed second at the Colorado State Cross Country Championships in Colorado Springs on Oct. 17.
Several team members, including Ro Paschal, Simon Kearns and Nic Archuleta, enjoyed individual success under the direction of head coach Brady Archer, who entered his 13th year as coach of the program.
"(The 2014 cross-country season) was definitely my favorite experience that I've had in high school thus far," said Paschal. "It was just great to be part of it this year."
"All year long, our boys have raced so well, and they did not disappoint at (state)," said Archer. "We were right in contention for the state title."
High school wrestling returns to Mancos
Before the start of the 2014-wrestling season, Mancos High School reinstituted its wrestling program and hired former two-time high school state champion Grant Hobbs as coach.
"My coaching style is very involved," said Hobbs. "I guarantee that we're all going to be in shape and ready to compete."
Implementing his tough, hard-nosed style, Hobbs led Mancos wrestlers to varying degrees of success: 113-pound junior Rudy Archuleta finished fourth at the Class 2A Region 1 Tournament on Feb. 15 and qualified for state.
Although Archuleta finished 1-2 at the state tournament and didn't place, his appearance energized the long-dormant Mancos program, which entered its second season with 13 wrestlers.
"Rudy wrestled with so much heart," said Hobbs. "We doubled in numbers. I'm hoping we can get four kids to the state tournament (in 2015)."
Teslin Stecher successful in modern pentathlon
Competing in the Modern Pentathlon Youth National Championships in Colorado Springs, July 5-6, Mancos resident Teslin Stecher placed fourth in the division for ages 13 and 14.
An all-around athlete with experience in swimming, running and fencing, Stecher began competing in modern pentathlons after watching a national competition on television.
Now, the 14-year-old trains nearly every day and hopes to compete in several more national competitions in the near future.
"I want to test my skills," said Stecher. "Competing against the best modern pentathletes in the world would be a special experience."
