JIMMIE HUEGA AND JOE BIDEN

POST DATE:  Wednesday, February 10, 2010

1.  Jimmie Huega, former Olympian ski racer, long-time local, and founder of The Huega Center for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, has died.  A bronze-medal winner in the 1964 Olympics at a time when the sport was dominated by European racers and Americans were thought to have no chance, Jimmie Huega shared the podium with Billy Kidd from Steamboat who won the silver medal that year.  Jimmie's career was cut short in his 20's by multiple sclerosis but he used his battle with the disease to fashion new and revolutionary treatment therapies.  He helped A LOT of people to live productive, happy lives and is much-loved in this community.

A memorial service will be held next Monday at 1:00 p.m. at the Beaver Creek Chapel.

2.  Vice President Joe Biden was in town for some skiing over the weekend.  He and his family stayed at a penthouse in the heart of Beaver Creek Village.  Armoured cars were flown in to the Jet Center in Eagle and advance teams of Secret Service began showing up two weeks in advance of his arrival.

Because Beaver Creek is a pedestrian village, all underground portals were monitored. 
Every time I drove into the garage under The Park Hyatt where my office is -- some days that was as many as 3-4 times -- three Secret Service men would open all four of my car doors plus the trunk and check out the interior while a fourth marched a German shepherd bomb-sniffer around the car.  They were all courteous, gracious and business-like ... and the dog was great.

The Vice President's entourage left yesterday and now we are getting ready for lots of activity during Presidents' Week which will start here on Saturday.