Best Local Personality
Gold – Edie Smith
Silver – Cripple Creek Donkeys
Bronze – Dennis Zerull
Honorable mention – County/City Elected Leaders and Area Politicians (You know who you are.)
In another landslide victory, Edie Smith, the personable owner, operator, story-teller and community morale-booster, of Creations Everlasting, located in the Double Eagle complex, snagged the gold again. Edie beat out the donkeys, colorful area politicians, fellow business operators, wild podcast personalities, and an entire slew of competitors. Edie has won this title repeatedly. Spend a little time in Creations Everlasting, and you can see why. Let’s face it. Cripple Creek and the entire Teller region is not lacking in personalities. This competition probably garnered more entries than any contest in this year’s Best Of. Dennis Zerull made another strong showing as did our lineup of area leaders, who aren’t shy about making colorful public displays or telling a few great anecdotes from the past.
Best Bartender on the Mountain
Gold – Loriann Bentzler, Peak View BBQ
Silver – Jewels Jewett, Russ’ Place
Bronze – James Reynolds, Blue Moose Tavern
Honorable Mention – Jason Nichols, Jess’ Place Pool Hall
Last year’s champ: Brittney Giltner
In a repeat from 2022, famous local bartender Loriann Bentzler snagged the gold again for 2025. Many say she makes the best margaritas in town among her expertise with just about any cocktail one would want. And, she has a special ability to tolerate difficult customers such as TMJ’s Trevor Phipps and Rick Langenberg. Loriann is always willing to listen behind the bar even when her customers ramble on and on. Plus, it is always fun to watch her get into her dancing groove when she is slanging drinks. Jewels Jewett always seems to make it high on the Best Of list every single year. Her charming personality combines with her skills to handle the bar when it gets busy. James Reynolds is another local drink slinger that has basically become a staple in the community. He is always friendly, and he too has patience when listening to his patrons run on and on about nothing. James is also a great source for picking winning sports teams and the projected scores. James knows his sports.
Best Troublemaker
Gold – Bobby Kerr
Silver – Russ McKnight
Bronze – Jessica Nichols
Honorable mention: Former Woodland Park RE-2 Superintendent Ken Witt
When it comes to making trouble co-owner of Russ’ Place Bobby Kerr seems to always make it high on the list. Kerr only landed in second two years ago, but in the last 24 months he has managed to cause even more ruckus and move himself to the number one spot for two years in a row. Falling in a close second, Russ McKnight can almost always be heard speaking his unpopular opinions loudly on just about any topic at many of our beloved water holes. Jessica Nichols often entertains her customers at her bar with her crazy shenanigans and her infatuation with the Kansas City Chiefs (We all have our faults.) Then, there were a number of votes cast for former RE-2 boss Ken Witt, who just couldn’t stay out of political hot water. Enough said on this subject.
Best Local Sports Star
Gold – Cheyenne Becker, High School Girls Wrestling
Silver – Marqus Schoenberger, High School Football
Bronze – Bryson Leonhardt, High School Football/Boys Wrestling
In her junior year, Cheyenne Becker qualified for the state championship tourney for the third year in a row. This year, she dominated in the big tournament and brought home a third-place trophy.
Last year’s champ: Arial Johns
Senior quarterback Marqus Schoenberger snagged the silver this year for his impressive performance in leading his football team to their first undefeated regular season in school history. Senior Bryson Leonhardt not only helped contribute to the most successful high school football team seen by Woodland Park in recent history, he also placed sixth statewide in wrestling.
Best Local Sports Team
Gold – Woodland Park High School Football
Silver – Woodland Park High School Boys’ Soccer
Bronze – Woodland Park High School Girls Wrestling
Honorable Mention – Colorado University Buffalos and Coach Prime
Last year’s champ: Woodland Park High School Boys’ Soccer
This year, the Woodland Park High School football team definitely had the town talking the most. Even though they dropped their first postseason match and got eliminated right away, they went undefeated during the regular season, and they earned the right to host a home playoff game for the first time in over 20 years. The boys’ soccer team also had a stellar season, and they hosted a playoff game for the second year in a row. This year they even hosted two home games before losing in their third playoff match! The girls’ wrestling team has made waves in its short time in existence, and this year three female wrestlers qualified to battle in the state championship tournament.
Best Public Servant
Gold – Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell
Silver – Cripple Creek Police
Bronze – Woodland Park Mayor Kellie Case
Honorable mention – Teller County Commission Chairman Dan Williams/Cripple Creek City Administrator Frank Salvato
Last year’s champ: Cripple Creek Police
Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell makes this list every year due to his strong stance as a protector of the community. He spends time fighting bills at the state level that go against the rural way of life. Recently, he even put in a bid to gun for Governor of Colorado in 2026. TMJ wishes him the best of luck in his latest political journey. The people who live in Cripple Creek seem to enjoy their police force due to their helping hand with visitors, locals, tourists, gamblers and journalists, and ability to keep the peace in a tolerable manner. Under the leadership of Chief Bud Bright, the agency has really taken a major step forward. Mayor Kellie Case this year proved to be loved while selling houses or sitting on the dais as the head elected leader of Woodland Park and dealing with tough issues
Best Political Troublemaker
Gold – Jerry Penland
Silver – Jason Ledlie
Bronze – Mary Sekowski
After losing his bid for mayor in April 2024, former mayoral candidate Jerry Penland hasn’t stopped making his opinions on local political matters known. He stays heavily engulfed in local political issues like Woodland Park’s ban on short -erm rentals and the school district sales tax. At the same time, he readily beats fellow linksters at the Shining Mountain golf course. Jason Ledlie’s reputation as a troublemaker came about after he was berated by Woodland Park City Council members for getting emotional during a previous meeting when he was trying to get on the DDA board. Mary Sekowski has also been very vocal at council meetings as she has spoken her opinions on the short-term rental ban and the recent axing of the school sales tax a number of times.
Best Area Politician
Gold – Cripple Creek Mayor Annie Durham
Silver – Woodland Park Mayor Kellie Case
Bronze – Teller County Commission Chairman Dan Williams
Honorable mention – Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell
Last year’s champ: Jason Mikesell
In a slight changing of the guard in the always-competitive Best Politician showdown, the top three are truly the elected leaders you probably see the most at public meetings and functions. Mayor Annie has taken a lead in helping Cripple Creek usher in a new era with its bid to become a home-rule city, gain designation as a Main Street Community and adopt its first real Master Plan and Economic Development Road Map. She has a passion for public engagement. Funny, in years back, Cripple Creek was often dubbed as a town trying to mimic a modern, political version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Oh, the Good Old Days, when council session would nearly erupt into fist fights and business owners would paint mega flag poles pink in the middle of the night. Now, it’s become a model town in addressing key issues. Mayor Kellie in Woodland Park has also done quite well in manning the town through some tough issues, and Dan Williams is more accessible at public events than probably any political leader in recent years.
Best Political Controversy
Gold – The Woodland Park Council/RE-2 School District Board Showdown
Silver – State Gun Battles
Bronze – STR Fights and Housing Woes
No question about this one, as TMJ received a number of requests for setting up a beer and margarita tent in front of the WP City Hall during their infamous meetings on the school sales tax. This one became fodder for regular entertainment. Sheriff Jason Mikesell, though, made quite a pitch at the need for more common senses with a slew of gun control laws, as the sheriff’s town hall sessions were quite popular. And the STR fight just won’t go away, along with a predominant issue confronting the region: Housing
Best Rumor Mongers
Gold – Rick Langenberg/Trevor Phipps (TMJ News)
Silver- Jessica Nichols
Bronze – Jerry Penland
Honorable mention – Charlie Chambers, Ute Pass Historical Society
Last year’s champ
Sometimes being in the news business means that people in the community tell the TMJ staff EVERYTHING that’s happening in town whether we want to hear it or not. Trevor and Rick are known for letting local secrets spill sometimes especially when they get loose lips after a few cold beverages. Being the bartender at the gold award winner for Woodland Park’s Best Bar, Jessica Nichols too hears way too much information from everyone, making her a valid source for rumors of all kinds. Jerry Penland on the other hand, always seems to know the latest rumors about what is happening with the area’s hottest political issues
