Schools immunized
Word was received from the Dolores Schools that 219 persons had received diphtheria immunizations at the clinic held there. Laboratory tests confirmed that 3-year old Brian Sproul of Cortez died of diphtheria last Saturday and his two brothers ages 2 and 7 were placed in the hospital for treatment of the disease. Over 100 students belonging to the religious sect Church of the First Born, a sect who does not believe in medical treatment of any kind, were asked on Monday to remain at home until throat cultures were taken. This is the second time in 16 months that diphtheria has broken out in the religious sect. In October 1974 Christy Sitton, age 4, also died of the disease. During the outbreak in 1974, nearly 3,000 Montezuma County residents were immunized against the highly contagious disease.
Avalanche season
Last week’s fall of heavy wet snow has caused numerous avalanches and mud and rock slides in the area.
A report from a Rico resident said that every avalanche that has ever ran has ran on Lizard Head and near Rico this last week. The Burns slide just above Rico has ran twice and rock slides have cascaded down onto the highway partially blocking traffic. Wolf Creek Pass was closed for two days due to avalanches. And 29 people were stranded by a series of avalanches about 4 miles north of Silverton. A Trailways bus was pushed to the edge of a cliff and another bus plus three vehicles were pushed 80 feet off an embankment. There were no injuries reported. The Trailways bus driver and his 12 passengers dug through a snowbank to rescue the other motorists who were trapped in their vehicles partially buried in the slide.
Motorist rescue
The Snobos Snowmobile Club rescued stranded motorists on the Dolores-Norwood road just past the Cottonwood turnoff.
The stranded men were on their way to Norwood and didn’t realize the road was closed during winter. They drove until the snow became too deep and they became stuck. When found, they had been there for two nights and were out of gas from running the vehicle to stay warm. The men had been discussing their plight and had decided to walk out to Norwood. The said they didn’t think it could be too far.