The Leadville Herald Democrat • August 7 2025

The pack burrow: a man's best friend

After Kevin McNamee and Poppie crossed the finish line of the Leadville Boom Days Pack Burro Race, they were soon swarmed with friends, family and spectators. The duo took third place overall in the short course race. McNamee gave his burro a kiss on the nose and told anyone who congratulated them that the victory was Poppie’s, not his.

The Leadville Herald Democrat • July 10 2025

Feds withholding education funding

The U.S. Department of Education announced on June 30 that it is withholding $6.8 billion in  federal funding for K-12 schools in America. The $450,000 that Lake County School District was meant to receive from that funding would go towards Project Dream and English-language development.The withheld funding was approved in 2025 and is not part of this year’s budget talks. The Department of Education stated that it wants to ensure that all funds are being used in accordance with President Donald...

The Leadville Herald Democrat • March 20 2025

The Irish of Leadville: Looking back at the mining strikes in the 1880s

In the mid-nineteenth century, Ireland suffered from an event known as the Great Hunger or the Potato Famine. Ireland at the time was an imperial property of the British Empire and the majority of the crops grown in Ireland were exported to England. The potato was the primary crop that the Irish could grow for themselves. When the potato crop suffered a blight, many Irish starved or were unable to pay rent to their British landlords. This led to mass evictions from the land as well as mass emigr...

The Leadville Herald Democrat • March 6 2025

Meet The Queen of Harrison Avenue

A hot pink jacket stands out on Harrison Avenue as its wearer flies down the snow-covered street on her way to winning Best Rider at the 77th Annual Leadville Ski Joring. The victory marks the 11th time that Savannah McCarthy has won the award in her 13 years of competing, a career that has earned her the nickname, “The Queen of Harrison Avenue.”Growing up in Durango, Colorado, McCarthy began riding horses as soon as she was old enough to sit up on her own. Her parents took her to Silverton Skij...

The Leadville Herald Democrat • July 18 2024

DWR working on plan to temporarily restore flow to Barn Pond

Colorado Division of Water Resources (DWR) engineer Rachel Zancarella said that she is working on a proposal to temporarily and expeditiously restore flow to Barn Pond in Twin Lakes. Zancarella said that she and DWR have not made an official determination as to whether Berrier Creek is a natural stream or a man-made ditch. The distinction is crucial as a natural stream cannot be altered without decree regardless of water rights.

The Leadville Herald Democrat • March 7 2024

The veteran, the professional, the legend

Hours before Leadville Ski Joring 2024 began, Jerry Kissell was walking up and down the course. As he paced, he checked which parts of the course were slick, how high the jumps were and where the rings were placed.Kissell was the skier for the first run of the weekend. He made sure he knew the course well. He thought over how his first run would go and every move he would make.“My goal for this first run is to be smart, clean and set a standard,” Kissell said. He pointed to a ring placed directl...

The Leadville Herald Democrat • February 14 2024

Men’s basketball defeats KIPP Denver Collegiate

The Lake County High School men’s basketball team beat KIPP Denver Collegiate High School 52-41 on Friday, Feb. 9.Lake County is now 11-7 this season and their win streak has been extended to five. They are 5-1 in league play and rank second in the 3A Frontier League. It was the Panthers’ final home game of the regular season and their senior night. Head coach Isaac Martinez started the game with all four of his seniors on the court, David Soto, Ivan Liewer, James Medina and Damon Cox.The game q...

The Leadville Herald Democrat • December 8 2023

The Lake County Wars: A tale of turmoil and vigilantism in the Wild West

Back in 1874, before Colorado was a state, Lake County extended much further south and encompassed towns like Granite, Nathrop and Salida. The south end of Lake County attracted ranchers and farmers and the population grew rapidly during the late 1800s. The growth caused tension and disputes over land and water rights that boiled over into the period of fear and violence known as the Lake County Wars. On June 16, 1874, rancher Elijah Gibbs and his hired hand Stewart McClish got into an argument...