EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS

COWBOY RANGE HEARING

Planning for the new cowboy and short-range sports facility is on track. A sign was recently posted near our gate announcing a public hearing to be held December 13 at 1:30 P.M. at the Adams County Administration Building; 450 South 4^th Avenue, Brighton. This hearing will settle the Planning Commissions recommendation to the County Commissioners. There will be another hearing before the County Commissioners on January 7. We will need a big turn out to show members support and respond to any public objections at both hearings. Put those dates on your calendar and plan to be there at both hearings!

CRC Silhouette Range News

By Bob McAlice

As a few members already know, the silhouette range finally has the firing line covered. A little history for you: The silhouette range was developed in the mid 90’s. The firing line was originally to be covered. The earthmoving costs to create the large berms needed to safely contain highpower rifle bullets ate up most of the range development funds. The line cover had to be put off to a future date. Well, the future arrived this past October. Special thanks to all the Board of Directors for approving this project

The range was shut down for five weeks while a local contractor erected the long awaited line cover. It was reopened the weekend of 11/10/07. The effort to make this line cover a reality was in the hands of members Bill Stark, Tom Funk and Bob McAlice. Bill and Tom did most of the work involved in procuring bids on labor and materials, as well as the cover’s design. Bob attended the Board of Directors meeting to drive home the need to get this range firing line covered. Furthermore, Bill Stark and Tom Funk commuted to the range every single day during the entire construction period to oversee its construction. They were basically members of the construction crew. They moved materials, cleaned up the messes, and assisted the crew during the construction process. A big thank you to Bill Stark and Tom Funk!

There are some rule changes at the silhouette range that CRC members need to be aware of:

First, there will be NO SHOTGUN SHOOTING allowed on the silhouette range period! We cannot risk someone accidentally damaging the structure with a shotgun blast. We have never allowed this in the past and have overlooked it happening from time to time. It will not be overlooked from this moment forward! We do not want the range littered with broken clays and spent shotgun shells. Several times this year, someone has left 100-150 red-hulled empty shotgun shells scattered all over the firing line.

Second, the east side of the range is for .22 rimfire shooting only. The short height berms were constructed to stop only small rimfire projectiles. Highpower rifle and handgun rounds will destroy the berms in short order. A shot over the top of the berm could ricochet and leave our property. Absolutely no highpower-center fire shooting on the east side of the silhouette range.

Third and last, the four trashcans have been permanently removed from this range. These cans became a major problem for us. People filled them with trash faster than we could keep up with emptying them. They did not empty themselves and became more of a burden than they were worth. Help keep your range clean. PACK OUT YOUR TRASH. Please remember that there is no shooting at trash at any range on CRC property.

Signs posted at the silhouette range will make everyone aware of these new use policies. Now that the range is covered we expect this range to see increased usage by all. Please enjoy this newly covered range. Do your part to keep it looking like the world-class facility that it is.

Splinters from the Board

Directors Meeting August 30

President Dennis Reul managed to catch a quorum of the Board of Directors (BoD) in town on August 30 to review the season to date and take several important actions for the benefit of CRC members. Present were Dennis Reul, Ron Best, Stan Dial, Martin Everitt, Steve Kingcade and David Lee. Absent were Al Ashton, Cal Cooper and Jim Brummerstedt (hunting in Alaska, the lucky ---),.

· Reul reported that almost all activities are down from last year. Smallbore is especially hard hit, as is high power, where a Regional Match had to be cancelled because of a lack of entries. The most likely reason for this is the high price of gasoline and there is not much we can do about that. Consequently our income is down as well and we will have to delay some projects and reduce expenses or raise dues, though as will be noted below, the BoD has voted to proceed with some high priority works.

· The Special Use Permit application which will allow us to build the proposed Cowboy and short-range sport facility east of the Silhouette Range went to the Adams County Planning Commission on August 17. Their normal calendar calls for completion of review in about 90 days, which will be middle to late November, but we are asking for a number of variations from their written criteria. There will be a public meeting in Brighton sometime this fall, and we will need a big turnout of members to show support for our application. This range will cost about $100,000 to $120,000 if we have to contract the work. If anyone has access to military reserve construction units or other sources of discounted earthwork construction please contact President Reul (denreul@comcase.net 303-238-5696) or director Al Ashton (kuylaars@msn.com 303-467-9757). We need all the help we can get on this one and we are a tax-deductible organization! The range will benefit not only the Cowboy Action shooters, but other short-range sports such as practical pistol.

· The BoD approved by a 6 – 0 vote for the construction of a firing line shelter on the silhouette range which we hope will bring out more shooters to those events. The cost will be about $50,000, which will be financed by a loan. There was discussion about buying the materials and building it with club workbond labor, but the Directors decided that contract work would get the job done sooner. We have not had much luck lately with member participation in larger projects, probably because of the gas price situation.

· Don Fabrizio (fabriziodj@aol.com, 303-424-4558) will begin to install interior electrical lights and outlets in the equipment building. Members in the electrical business are urged to donate wire, fixtures and labor. We know there are a number of electricians in the club and this is a good way to help CRC as well as do your work bond. Don’t forget – materials as well as cash donations to the CRC Foundation are tax deductible. In the case of materials, donors must provide their own appraisal documentation when they claim a tax write off.

· Several sections of steel scaffolding belonging to Don Fabrizio have wandered away from the shipping container area where it was stored. Anyone having borrowed the scaffolding should please BRING IT BACK. That is Don’s property and he needs it!

· Secretary Ron Best has had some discussion with the Department of Wildlife (DOW) as well as some other conservation organizations about the pond west of the archery range. It first appeared after a flood in 1935 and the former owners of the land tell of fishing in it as well as skating parties. The DOW sees it as wildlife habitat and there is one report of a wood duck sighted there, a long way from its normal range. DOW wants to dredge out the accumulated sediment and restore the pond to its original size and depth so that it will attract waterfowl and so they can introduce fish. The BoD feels that we do not have money available at this time, but if the DOW or others can arrange to pay for it, we will probably give them permission to do the work, as it will ultimately benefit the Club.

· A lady who was the daughter of the original homesteaders (ca. 1915) of what is now our property passed away recently. She wanted her ashes scattered on the old homestead and we were pleased to accommodate her. A private ceremony was held at the site of the old homestead house (sporting Clays range). We wish her a peaceful rest.

THE COLORADO RIFLE CLUB AND THE

REMEMBERING THE BRAVE FOUNDATION PROUDLY ANNOUNCE:

THE 1^st Annual Colorado Navy & Marine Corps Memorial Rifle Match

MAY 2, 3 &4^th 2008

HONORING

LCpl Andrew Riedel

SSgt Sam Holder

GM2 Danny Dietz

LCpl Kyle Burns

LCPL Tommy Slocum

HM3 Christopher “Doc” Anderson

The Remembering the Brave Foundation is a non-profit foundation established as a support group for families of servicemen who have fallen in action in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Colorado Rifle Club is honored to hold this long range rifle match to honor the memory of these brave individuals. Proceeds from the match will go to the Remembering the Brave Foundation, and your entry fee is 100% Tax Deductible.

The event opens with Open practice on Friday May 8, 2008. The competition is open to Service Rifle, Target Rifle, Iron Sight, Scope Rifle shooters.

On Saturday May 3, the matches are:

SSgt Sam Holder Memorial Trophy Match: 600 Yard any rifle/ay sight

LCpl Kyle Burns Memorial Trophy Match: 600 Yard any rifle/iron sights *

LCpl Tommy Slocum Memorial Trophy Match 600 yard Service Rifle *

On Sunday, May 4 the matches are:

LCpl Andrew Riedel Memorial Team Trophy Match: 600 yard Police, Military Veteran only Match,

any rifle/any sight.

HM3 Christopher “Doc” Anderson Memorial Team Trophy Match: 600-Yard Service Rifle *

GM2 Danny Dietz Memorial Team Trophy Match: 1000 Yard any rifle/any sight

* All may shoot buy only Iron Sight competitors can win

The parents of these American heroes will be there to present the Memorial Trophies and plaques to the competitors and to enjoy the day with everyone there. Please come out to meet them, thank them, and honor their son’s memories. For more information about the foundation and the families they support, visit their website at www.rememberingthebrave.org

Entries are $60.00 or all individual matches, or team match fee is $80 per team ($20 per shooter). Proceeds go to the Remembering the Brave Foundation and are 100% Tax deductible. For entry forms visit www.crci.org or contact David Jennings 303-393-1001 for more information, including reserving camping spots. Show your support for those brave enough to sacrifice without question and serve with distinction, and their families who bear the burden with, and without them.

COLORADO Mid-Range State Championship

September 2, 2007

Fifteen competitors shot the first ever Colorado Mid-Range State Championship under sunny skies with a high temperature of about 95F, but a low humidity of about 20% and very nice winds for the plains of Byers. It was uncommon to have to make more than a minute and a half windage change between shots.

The course of fire was two sighters and fifteen shots for record at each of 300, 500 and 600 yards. The targets were the new MR 63 and MR 65 plus the MR-1 at 600 yards.

The match was won by Jim Adell of Loveland, CO with a score of 440-16X. The first Master/Expert was Stuart Lind of Greenwood Village, CO with a score o 437-14X. The first Sharpshooter/Marksman was Jim Monserud of Lafayette, CO with a sore of 409-4X.

The Colorado Rifle Club particularly wants to thank club member Scott McKay of Lakewood, CO; Steve Rossi of Minooka, IL and Tom Cunningham of Mokena, IL for rebuilding the 500 yard firing points after the squadded practice the day before the match. The club had a two-foot snow fall last December, which lasted on the ground over two months and settled the soil of the brand new 500-yard line. The bottom of the scoring rings and the scoring discs were not visible before the volunteers rebuilt the firing line. The 500-yard firing line will still have to be raised a little and a surface put down.

There was a major complaint made by all competitors. The weeds that produced those darn stickers were all over the firing points. These were painful if touched and stuck to everything. The firing points will have to have weed killer applied next year. Weed killer also must be applied to the impact area. Without Dave Paananen weed whacking the impact area, the match could not have been held. Dave also fixed the new tractor just in time for Scott MacKay to drive it to move earth to and smooth the 500-yard firing line. Thanks Dave!

UPDATE NOTE: In regards to the weed killing, Dave is working on a plan with Michael Kaessner to control the weeds better on the areas of the range that the match directors think need it. This will mean short (1 hours or so) range shutdowns on a couple of days during the summer. Some weed killer application is not sufficient to last all year. Members if you know a range that needs this let the match director or Dave know so we can prepare a schedule.

Match Results

John C Garand Match , Saturday September 29.

We had great attendance with 33 shooters turning out for this fourth and final Garand match of the year. The shooters fire slow and rapid fire prone and a standing match to obtain their aggregate score. Full results are posted on the CMP website at www.odcmp.com under the competitions tracker, Garand and Springfield results.

The Match Winner was Peter Benoit, whose strong Standing score brought his aggregate score to 284 – 3.

Tony Christensen too second with a terrific X count, score of 283 – 7X.

A close third was Jason Hicks 282 – 3X aggregate. Thanks to everybody who shot at this and the other matches we had this year. Thanks also to Match Director James Adell and anyone who volunteered to help out with these matches.

WORK BOND TASKS AVAILABLE

Attention all members! Workbond Coordinator Dave Paananen has determined that the club needs the following done and that you can fulfill your workbond requirement by doing any/all of the following:

· Fill outhouse vaults with water

· Assemble new picnic tables

· Create spare tire rack for water wagon.

Contact Dave at dpaananen@netzero.net to schedule or for more information.

Members are reminded that it is their responsibility to make sure they meet their workbond requirement, or pay the $100 fee in lieu of working. Deadline for meeting this requirement was November 1. If you have any questions, contact Dave Paananen.

ONE LAST TIME THIS YEAR

The last event of the CRC Match Calendar year is a Silhouette Smallbore Rifle shoot, Sunday December 9. Contact Steve Hawks at 970-532-3432 for times and information if you’d like to shoot. Don’t miss this one last chance to get to a match this year. Show Santa you really DO want more rifle gear for Christmas – and that you will so use it all the time!