Library purchase

The Pikes Peak Library District decided to purchase the Ute Pass Library property for $400,000, $90,000 less than the appraisal. It will be paid for fully by the PPLD reserve. The library could expand its hours of operation from 28 per week to “up to 140” through a hybrid access pilot program, according to PPLD CEO Teona Shainidze-Krebs.

Bridge closure

Loy Creek Road will be closed on Aug, 27 for the removal of the temporary bridge associated with the Woodland Park Dam project. The closure is expected to last just that day, weather dependent. A detour route via Rampart Range Road will be available.

History lecture

Local historian La Jean Greeson and the Victor Heritage Society will present “Gillett and Cameron, The Entertainment Towns of the Cripple Creek Mining District” on Sept. 7 at 1 p.m. at the Cripple Creek Heritage Center.

Admission is free. Donations to benefit the Victor Heritage Society will be accepted.

Midland Days Symposium

Midland Days at Divide, Inc., Teller Historic and Environmental Coalition and the Divide Chamber of Commerce present the 15th annual 2025 Midland Days Symposium.

The event features historian Art Hundhausen who will reveal mysteries about the depot in Leadville. Other presenters: Dave Martinek, Art Crawford and Zack Waller. The symposium, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 13, is at John Wesley Ranch in Divide.

Tickets, $50 per person, are available at MidlandDays@yahoo.com, by check mailed to Midland Days, P.O. Box 1088, Divide, CO 80814 or by calling Martinek at (719) 213-9335. The deadline for RSVPs is Sept. 10.

Handbell quartet

Forté Handbell Quartet presents the 4th annual handbell workshop and concert Oct. 11-12 at Church in the Wildwood in Green Mountain Falls.

The one-day workshop, Oct. 11, offers personalized instruction for ringers of all levels. Funded in part by the Kirkpatrick Family Fund, to defray costs not covered by the grant, the registration fee is $80; scholarships are available. The concert, at 3 p.m. Oct. 12 at the church is free and open to all. For information, call the church at (719)684-9427.

House party

Local band The Riders will bring their signature “house party groove” to the Crystola Roadhouse on Aug. 31.

“At 72, I’m still throwing house parties—only now I’m just a little slower,” said bassist Jack Daniels. “This show at the Crystola Roadhouse is just another way to celebrate with the people who’ve been with us all along.”

The show starts at 3:00 p.m. and is free for Friends of the Riders – just show your ticket (digital or printed) at the door.

Merger

Black Hills and NorthWestern Energy announced that they would merge, creating a $15.4 billion regulated electric and natural gas utility.

U.S. utilities are racing to bulk up as electricity consumption surges to record levels, driven by energy-hungry data centers supporting artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies, and higher residential and commercial use.

“The combined company will have greater scale and financial strength to consistently deliver for customers across our service territories and invest at the pace and scale that today’s energy transformation demands,” said Black Hills CEO Linn Evans, who will retire once the deal closes, projected for the fourth quarter of 2026.

Phone scam

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is reminding Coloradans that the agency will never ask for payments over the phone after receiving reports of “scammers” impersonating an agent, according to an agency release.

The release detailed an example of a call. The scammer impersonated a CBI cybercrimes special agent and told potential victims about detecting a cybercrime. The scammer would then ask for personal information, including financial accounts, and remote access to their computer.

The caller provided a callback number that is not associated with CBI, and the scammers have a “surprising amount” of information on potential victims, according to the release.

Anyone who receives a suspicious call can contact relevant law enforcement directly to verify the information. For suspicious CBI calls, contact the victim assistance hotline at 855-443-3489. The call can also be reported to Stop Fraud Colorado’s website.