Rochelle Quackenbush sent in this photo of Gadget the miniature Dachshund investigating a squirrel. “The squirrel stayed on the window ledge for about five minutes just looking in at Gadget,” wrote Quackenbush.

The Western Colorado Congress hosted a Sept. 22 hike along the Dallas Trail up to Moonshine Park in area of the proposed San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act sponsored by Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet. Pictured here are hike leader Jim Stephenson, Bill Hamann and Brenda Bafus-Williams.

This is Doug Gill standing at a sign for the hike’s destination, Moonshine Parks.

Hikers Brian Olson and Joan and Tom Woodward take a break.

Ron Wilson sent in this Oct. 10 photo of Redlands Middle School eighth-grader Jed Wilson on the High Noon Trail in the Lunch Loop trail system.

This is Palisade’s Summer American Legion State Champions. Pictured from left in the top row are coach Doug Peden, Ryan Watkins, Andrew Bowles, Caden Woods, TJ Tway, Kyle Commette, Quynn Clark, Garret Traggorth and coach Dennis Compton. In the bottom row from left are Josh Hovis, Troy Levinson, Cody Higman, Cameron Campbell, Jace Bleyle and Jackson Shaw. Sitting are Easton Woods and Tass Crow.

A group of volunteers from Wells Fargo helped Habitat for Humanity of Montrose to remodel a home on Oct. 20. Along with the volunteer work, Wells Fargo Housing Foundation donated $15,000 toward the project.

All Points Transit, which provides transportation for seniors, people with disabilities and the general public in Montrose County and the surrounding area, received the Federal Transit Administration’s 2012 Administrator’s Award for Outstanding Public Service. Executive Director Terri Wilcox, shown holding a photo of All Points’ board and employees, received the award at the National Conference on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation on Oct. 16 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Grandpa Brian took this photo of Gavin Metli and his missing bottom front teeth.

Mary Ella Greene holds her great-grandson, Lincoln, who visited from Florida.

Drake Giese and Jacob Bollinger look over the edge of Mount Garfield on Oct. 28, 2011.

Wendy Spirek and her 10-year-old daughter Alaina spent part of an October day at Studt’s Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze.

This is Hayden Meek, 5, during a visit to Studt’s Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze in October.

Tori Molzahn rides the Zipline high above Fremont Street in Las Vegas.

The Challenge Course was dedicated on Oct. 13 at Colorado Northwestern Community College in Rangely. This group was gathered for the dedication, a course demonstration and the placement of the Spartan flag on the course’s tallest pole.

Cultivate Wines representative Chad Lemieux gives at check for $10,000 to Light Gives Heat founders Dave and Morgan Hansow.

The Inhelder family set a family peach record at Bracken Orchard on Aug. 25. Bill and Judy Beaudoin submitted this photo.

This photo of James Henrie was taken when he was 3 months old by his parents Cory and Amber Henrie. Grandpa Mike Henrie submitted this photo.

Volunteers from Alpine Bank worked on a Habitat for Humanity of Montrose home on Oct. 3.

Charley Sunshine took this photo on Sept. 25.

These students were recognized for their academic achievement and school and community involvement by the Kiwanis Club of Grand Junction in September. Pictured from left are Ryan Schoeber from Palisade High School, Krista Ferguson from Central High School, Cody Burvant from Grand Junction High School and Tyler Fair from Fruita Monument High School.

Jacob Harmon went on his first flight with the Young Eagles on Sept. 29. His mother, Lia Ruggiero, took this photo.

The Struttin Sisters of the Red Hat Society gathered for a lunch at The Rose in Palisade an a stroll through the Lavender Lady’s Shop on Aug. 25. In attendance were the local Red Hat Queen Toni Rubalcaba, Karen Armstrong, Melissa Armstrong, Vickie Serrano, Gloria Rees, JoAnn Click, Ginger Rubalcaba, Elaine Mackley and Sara Hunt.

This photo shows Curtis Gray, center, being installed as the Adjutant of the Post for the Fruita American Legion Post 2006. Lou Brackett, Post Commander, is pictured at left and Ken Willard, Colorado Department Vice-Commander is at right.

Ryan Schoeber, Santi Rung-Aroon and Cohen Turner from Palisade High School represented Colorado at the Future Business Leaders of America national competition in San Antonio in July. The students qualified for the competition by placing first in the Global Business category at the Colorado meet in Vail.

Frank Daniels holds up the 51-inch sturgeon he caught in the Columbia River off Astoria, Ore., during the summer.

Team Home Depot worked at the Montrose County Historical Museum on Sept. 15. “The team sprayed wood preservative on all the artifacts in the museum yard that need protection from further damage,” according to the email submission from the museum.

Students from the Collbran Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center were ambassadors at the 2012 Forest Service Reunion for 600 retirees in Vail in September.

Attorney Michael Moran, left, was sworn in as the Mesa County public trustee by District Judge Brian Flynn on Nov. 1. Moran was appointed to the post by Gov. John Hickenlooper.

The Mesa County United States Bowling Congress has made $1,500 in donations to area group. The funds were raised during the bowling group’s season during tournaments and league bowling.

The Mesa County United States Bowling Congress donated $500 for recreation therapy at Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Luke Murphy was almost 2 years old when this photo was taken Sept. 16 at Capitol Reef National Park. Luke’s parents, Chris and Annie Murphy took this photo, which was submitted by his grandma, Betty Murphy.

Seaman Apprentice Ryan Hughes gets a hug from his mom Cynthia Howell at his graduation from book camp RTC at Great Lakes, Il., on Aug. 17. This photo was taken by Robert Howell and submitted by his grandparents, Mario and Vicki Ramos.

Jerry and Joanna Daub went to Yuma, Ariz., to welcome their son, Capt. Graham Daub back to the United States on Aug. 4 after his deployment to Afghanistan. Jerry took this photo of Joanna and Graham.

The Mount Garfield Daughters of the American Revolution on Sept. 17 honored the anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. This photo was sent in by Teri Dunn.

The Kiwanis Club of Grand Junction on Sept. 6 awarded $30,000 to area charitable organizations that serve children. The organizations that received funds are CASA of Mesa County, Girls on the Run, Grand Valley Peace and Justice, Mesa Developmental Services’ Infant and Toddler Intervention Program and the Western Slope Suicide Prevention Foundation. Funds were raised at the Kiwanis Pancake Day in June. Club member Rick Nisley took this photo.

U.S. Navy Lt. Will (Frodo) Read, a Grand Junction native and a strike fighter pilot with the Blue Diamond Squadron VFA-146 NAS Lemoore, CA, flew his FA-18/C Hornet to Grand Junction on a training flight in the spring. Pictured from left: Amberlee Sikes; JR Read, dad; Jake Read, brother; and Erik Borrell, brother.

The 2012 champion of the Meeker Classic Sheepdog Trials is Faansie Bason from South Africa and his dog, Don. The trials were Sept. 8–9. Serena DeCastro sent in this photo.

To celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2012, Saw Construction is “aims to give back to the industry and community in 50 ways,” according to this photo submission. One of those ways is to support Habitat for Humanity and Tim Pool, Shaw’s warranty manager, and the staff from the company’s Western Slope office volunteered for a build day at a Habitat for Humanity Mesa County home in Grand Junction doing flooring, siding, trim work, painting, caulking and other work. The group also volunteered time at the Habitat ReStore.