As so many people have done, Bill Otto served in the military at Fort Carson and decided he’d like to stick around afterward. As so many of us do, he was counting the days until retirement. At age 53, he retired after about 23 years with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Department. And, like many […]
As noted by historian Bettie Marie Davis in her book “The Springs of Manitou,” 1872 is considered to be the year Manitou Springs – or simply “Manitou,” as it was first called – was founded. This year marks the 150th anniversary of that date. Accordingly, the city has planned several events for this year. As […]
Ask theater students for their thoughts about performing and you’ll likely be impressed and overwhelmed by their answers. That’s especially true for the young actors at Manitou Springs High School. First, District 14 theater teacher Wendy Harms wants to lead a round of applause for the program’s recent accomplishments. She steered a production of “Suzette […]
The 10th Manni Awards will take place Thursday, March 31. At this time, organizers are planning a small potluck in City Hall’s Memorial Hall with limited attendance. Zoom and live streaming will be available for anyone who can’t attend the in-person ceremony. Festivities will start at 6 p.m. Manitou artist K8e Orr is designing the […]
If you haven’t heard of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, you might be surprised to learn about the important charitable work its members do. “The foundation has raised nearly $400 million for children’s cancer research grants,” said Stephen Gaylord, who is organizing a fundraising event for the foundation on Saturday, March 19, at the Townhouse Sports […]
The results of the 2021 Give! campaign are in and, as usual, they’re gratifying. In its 12th year, the campaign raised $1,113,949 in public donations and $535,733 in matching grants, amounting to $1,675,366. With 82 nonprofits participating last November and December, we can’t recognize all of them in this space. But here are updates on […]
Ukraine’s people and their future as a free nation are under attack, fueled by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s lust for power and treasure. Ukrainians young and old — even those in wheelchairs can still make Molotov cocktails — are fighting and dying for their dreams of democracy. Democracies around the world, including America’s, are under […]
The city of Colorado Springs has committed to a public workshop sometime this month to discuss the future of the Westside Community Center, 1628 W. Bijou St. Contract negotiations fell through between the city and the Woodmen Valley Chapel’s Center for Strategic Ministry, which had been managing the center. The city has attempted to find […]
COVID-19 case numbers continue to drop steadily in El Paso County, according to the Public Health Department’s website. For the two weeks leading up to Tuesday, March 8, the county experienced 729 cases, 20 hospitalizations and one death. Compare that to the same timeframe in 2021: 2,085 cases, 73 hospitalizations and six deaths. So far […]
Near the end of the City Council regular meeting of Tuesday, March 8, Mayor Pro Tem John Shada told his colleagues that he felt the downtown overtime parking fine of $70 was “a little wild.” He noted that Denver recently raised its fine to $25 and that the fine in Colorado Springs is $20. Deputy […]
Ukraine’s people and their future as a free nation are under attack, fueled by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s lust for power and treasure. Ukrainians young and old — even those in wheelchairs can still make Molotov cocktails — are fighting and dying for their dreams of democracy. Democracies around the world, including America’s, are under […]
Photos by Bryan Oller For the first time since February 2020, Manitou Springs was able to celebrate Carnivale. Starting off the morning of Saturday, Feb. 26, amateur and professional gumbo chefs descended on Soda Springs Park for the 29th annual Mumbo Jumbo Gumbo Cook-off. The panel of judges sampled each team’s gumbo, with the following […]
St. Baldrick’s Foundation is hosting an event in Manitou Springs to raise funds for childhood cancer research. Participants — known as “shavees” — ask for pledges and offer their heads to be shorn during the event. It will take place 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at the Townhouse Sports Grill, 907 Manitou Ave. Anyone […]
The Manitou Springs District 14 Board of Education met Monday, Feb. 28, to hear updates about district schools and discuss continuing updates to policy. The meeting took place in the SILC building and streamed live via Zoom. The meeting began with a presentation from Manitou Springs Middle School Principal Dustin Cady, Assistant Principal Area Bartlett […]
Pieces of fabric, lengths of thread and piles of cotton batting come together to make something magical in the hands of quilters. When the quilts are destined to comfort sick children, the magic is multiplied by a thousand. That’s what happened when 17 women were asked if they could make quilts for young patients at […]
As of Tuesday, March 8, the city website will include a virtual information center about plans for the Hiawatha Gardens site and building. It can be accessed at bit.ly/3AOC88G. The center will provide detailed information about the draft alternatives for the historic Hiawatha Gardens dance hall building, as well as for the surrounding parking area. […]
Manitou Springs City Council approved Resolution 1521 on Nov. 2, 2021, directing RATIO Architects to submit final design documents and cost estimates for expanding the Carnegie Library building at 701 Manitou Ave. According to an intergovernmental agreement between the city and the Pikes Peak Library District, PPLD will move back into the Carnegie building once […]
The Pikes Peak Library District’s Chief Librarian and CEO John Spears announced his upcoming departure for a new opportunity after more than six years of service to El Paso County residents. He will become head of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library with 36 locations in western New York, beginning in mid-April. Spears has […]
Retail sales in Manitou Springs totaled $159,512,039 in 2021, much better than the $120,698,778 in 2020. That was the year, of course, when the pandemic struck and lockdowns were imposed. The year-to-year increase was 32.2 percent. All sales categories reported increased sales in 2021 over 2020.The Colorado Department of Revenue provides the statistics, which are […]
King Douglass Edmundson and Queen Annie Schmitt greeted their loyal subjects in 2020. Does it seem like a really long time since we’ve put on our green, gold and purple finery to parade through downtown? Has it been an eternity since we’ve savored gumbo that a chef has served from a huge stockpot? Well, Manitou […]
