Montrose - Daily Press

1 — School incidents put everyone on edge:

There were tension and tears Tuesday, Nov. 11 at Montrose High School, where a troubled teenage boy attacked a female student in what was the year’s top story. It was also the most viewed story on the Daily Press’ Web site this last year.

Mallory Haulman, 17, sustained injuries to her neck when the suspect reportedly walked up behind her and her sister, and attacked with a straight-edged weapon. Mallory is the daughter of Daily Press Production Manager Denny Haulman and Alicia Haulman, an ICU nurse.

In this file photo, members of the Montrose Police Department investigate the scene at Montrose High School following an attack on a female student early Tuesday morning Nov. 11, 2008, in Montrose. (William Woody / Daily Press File Photo) Advertisement

Students of Montrose High School were evacuated after a school lockdown following the attack.

School officials and law enforcement said Mallory was assaulted at around 8 a.m. with a straight-edged weapon in the main hallway before the morning class bell rang.

Police suspect Michael Yates, 14, followed Mallory and her sister in from the parking lot and cut her throat. Yates, who allegedly said he was following the orders of voices in his head, has been charged as an adult with attempted first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault.

A second alleged conspirator was also arrested, but has not been charged. The boy, also 14, was granted bond this last month when the district attorney’s office also received its second extension to file formal charges.

No one has said why the boy is suspected as a conspirator. His arrest affidavit has been sealed because of an ongoing investigation and, the DA’s motion said, to protect the Haulmans from “unwarranted embarrassment and publicity.”

Both teens were being held at Grand Mesa Youth Services in Grand Junction.

If the slashing wasn’t bad enough, a week later Ridgway High School had its own incident. The Ridgway Marshal’s Office was seeking a suspect in a sexual assault said to have occurred at the school. Marshal Scott Holybee said his department was investigating an unrelated matter when the information about the alleged sexual assault came to light. Preliminary information indicated a female student at the school was assaulted by a 6-foot-tall white male,who was clean-shaven and between the ages of 18 and 20. As of press time, no new information had come to light.

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2. An historic election year:

Barack Obama swept to victory as the nation’s first black president Tuesday, Nov. 4 in an electoral college

landslide that overcame racial barriers as old as America itself. On the local level, several races that will have an impact on the region were also decided as Montrose elected two new county commissioners and a new House District 58 representative.

Montrose County Republicans had plenty to celebrate in local races,where GOP candidates secured both open seats on the board of commissioners, as well as the District 58 seat. In the District 1 race, voters handed Ron Henderson a surprise upset on incumbent Democrat Bill Patterson.  Meanwhile, in District 3, David White handily defeated Tim Walsh.

Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, beat his democratic opponent Noelle Hagan (Montrose) and filled the District

58 seat, a seat determined by the votes of six counties.

The majority of voters also opposed paying a half-cent sales tax to go toward the Telluride Montrose Regional Air Organization. Question 2A, also known the “Airport Ballot,” was voted down by 74 percent of total voters.

Voters also gave the nod to District Attorney Myrl Serra, who will serve four years as an elected official. Serra,who was appointed to the vacancy created by the resignation of former Seventh Judicial District Attorney Tom Raynes, glided to his first official election,where he was unopposed.

Voters also decided on a record number of ballot issues, including the definition of a person, which was voted down.

In an election held earlier in the year, Kathy Ellis, Erica Lewis Kennedy and Gail Marvel were elected to Montrose City Council on Tuesday, April 1.

“I do think it’ll be interesting to see three women and two men, as opposed to what it has been,” Marvel said following the election.

Lewis Kennedy said it was the first time she’d seen a city council with a majority of women; the three will share the table with councilors Jose Abeyta and Ed Ulibarri. Lewis Kennedy was later named the mayor.

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No. 3 Olathe football wins state title:

There was no better way for the Olathe High Pirates to claim their first state football title in school history (since CHSAA began the classification system in the 1930s).

Senior tailback David Rhodes scored from 1 yard out in overtime and freshman kicker Sergio Salazar nailed a clutch extra point to help the Pirates rally to a 22-21 victory over Erie in the Class 2A state championship game at Legacy Stadium in Aurora.

As Salazar’s kick sailed through the uprights, Olathe head coach Ryan Corn and his usually disciplined squad didn’t hold back on their emotions. Senior Chris Brummitt fell to the ground and threw his arms in the air in celebration. Salazar was swarmed by his teammates and the Pirates’ faithful fans.

“We told (Salazar) before the kick that there was no pressure on him. It is just another extra point in another game,” said junior quarterback Garhett Jurgens. “He did a great job in that situation. I can’t even explain what I’m feeling. It has been my lifelong dream. Now that it has come true, it feels like I am dreaming.”

Coach Corn and his 14-0 squad was more than deserving to win the state title.

For a team that didn’t play very many close games, Olathe sure proved it was a second half team and one that could come through in the crunch. Not only did the Pirates overcome an 8-3 halftime deficit, they took the game over in the fourth quarter, behind the powerful running by Rhodes.

“We weren’t going to lose this game,” said Rhodes, who had 233 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the contest. “We tend to do better in the second half, because we wear teams out and we did that again today. Our offensive line opened up holes, and they were having a hard time tackling.”

Rhodes finished the season with 2,448 yards and 32 touchdowns.

No. 4 Truck crashes into Wal-Mart; injuring several people:

A white Ford F-150 pickup smashed through the north entrance of Montrose’s Wal-Mart shortly after 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, hospitalizing at least four people and injuring several others.

The truck’s driver was a 58- year-old Montrose resident Joe Szymanoski, who his daughter said, suffered from a medical condition prior to driving into the building. Garrison said three months prior to the accident, Szymanoski suffered a massive heart attack and had open heart surgery and a quadruple bypass. He had moved to Montrose six weeks prior to be closer to his family and Sheila.

The car crashed through the entrance, into the jewelry department and stopped at the photo department.Wal-Mart closed after the crash and reopened the next day. The store was evacuated for safety reasons immediately after the crash.

Two victims of the crash were identified as female Wal- Mart employees in their 60s. Both were believed to have worked in the jewelry department; one suffered from a head injury and the other from a back injury. A fourth victim was identified as a 50-year-old female customer. All injuries as a result of the accident were not life threatening.

No. 5. Montrose celebrates 125 years:

Montrose County kicked off its three-day 125th anniversary  celebration Tuesday, July 15 with an 1881 stagecoach pulling up to the old historic courthouse downtown.That day’s program also featured music by the Cliffdwellers and light snacks, as well as a commemorative photo event by the Daily Press.

The stagecoach made different stops at county facilities and venues during the celebration.

The celebration culminated with the Montrose County Fair and a concert by the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.

The Daily Press also published a series and a commemorative edition highlighting some of the key early moments of Montrose County’s long history. Marilyn Cox wrote the articles which also featured historic photos from the Montrose Historical Society and museum.

— HONORABLE MENTION —

JetAway, count continue dispute:

It was another busy year in JetAway Aviation’s ongoing dispute with Montrose County. The aviation company and Montrose County continue to battle over its business. JetAway claims in federal litigation and complaints that the county conspired with the on-airport fixed base operator to restrain competition at Montrose Regional Airport. The county denies the claims.

From JetAway’s claims of conspiracy and ‘fabricated’ evidence to its settlement offer, there has been no shortage of stories surrounding this dispute. Following the settlement offer, the public was offered to give its input and that came with mixed results as well as some said JetAway was a bully and others saying the county was not acting fairly. All sides claimed victory in July as Judge James Schum ruled JetAway cannot sell aircraft fuel and is required to meet minimum standards at the Montrose Regional Airport, which Schum found apply to off-airport businesses like JetAway’s. But that JetAway could call itself an FBO.

Most recently, the county revoked JetAway’s airport access and the Colorado Supreme Court turned down JetAway Aviation’s bid to stay a temporary restraining order that effectively cut its airport access.

It’s over — Patterson recall effort ends:

After months of accusations, counter-accusations and legal action from both sides, the bid to recall Commissioner Bill Patterson ended with a whimper, not a bang on March 12. Al Head and the Patterson Recall Committee Inc. did not specifically withdraw the recall effort, but their agreement to dismiss a related suit against Montrose County Clerk and Recorder Fran Tipton Long effectively ended the attempt.

If that weren’t enough for the committee, in February, it was ordered to pay nearly $10,000 in fines and comply with statutory requirements to file contribution and expenditure reports. Denver Administrative Law Judge Michelle Norcross issued that ruling on Patterson’s complaint that recall petitioner Al Head was in violation of the Fair Campaign Practices Act by not disclosing contributions and expenditures.

Arson suspected in MAC fire:

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation was probing the cause of an early-morning fire that gutted the Montrose Athletic Club Wednesday, Sept. 24. Flames erupted at the Apollo Road business at 12:43 a.m. Arson is suspected, but as of press time, there were no suspects in the case.

Arrest made in Kublin case:

Jeremy Hodges, 27, of Ridgway, was arrested Monday morning, May 19, on suspicion of murder of Steven Kublin after investigators were able to follow up on a tip from a “citizen informant,” Sheriff Rick Dunlap and District Attorney Myrl Serra said at a press conference.

 A bicyclist found Steven Kublin, 50, dead Nov. 9, 2006 in the adobe hill area near the landfill. Kublin’s body was burned after he died.

Crystal dam spills over:

The last time water spilled over the top of Crystal Dam was in 2001. Even then, that incident didn’t reach the extent it did the third week in May, as warm temperatures melt away above-average snowpack. The ground and walls around the dam shook from the force of the massive movement of water. Water splashing and spraying toward the bottom of the dam created storm-like conditions. The spillover was a spectacle for those visiting and working in the area.

Cerise Park opens:

 On June 14, residents celebrated  a new addition to the area as Cerise Park, Stover Field and a 10-acre multipurpose field opened, with entertainment and food.

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