Stories in this list received the most page views on postindependent from August 26-September 2.

 1. Glenwood Springs mobile home park sold to residents in $4.5 million deal 

Residents of the Glen Valley Cooperative, formerly known as Mountain Mobile Home Park, now own the land beneath their homes after completing a $4.5 million deal that turned them into Colorado’s 13th Resident-Owned Community (ROC).

The acquisition, finalized Aug. 20, gives residents control over the community’s financial future and the right to vote on decisions such as lot fees and park bylaws.

The community began the purchase process in February after learning that the 40-unit park, located along U.S. Highway 6 near Bighorn Toyota, would soon be put up for sale, according to an Aug. 20 news release from Thistle-ROC. Residents were guided through the process by Thistle, a Boulder-based nonprofit that specializes in affordable housing and serves as a certified technical assistance provider for ROC USA.

-Julianna O’Clair 

2. Teacher dismissed by Garfield Re-2 school board due to licensing issue 

The Garfield Re-2 school board voted unanimously Aug. 13 to dismiss Rifle High School teacher Kimberly Van Der Veer, concluding a months-long dispute that had drawn testimony from students, parents and teachers.

Personnel decisions such as hires and resignations are typically handled in bulk through the board’s consent agenda. For example, at Wednesday’s meeting the board approved “a letter of recommendation from Emily Kielmeyer to hire Lizette Sanchez for the position of early childhood assistant teacher at Elk Creek Elementary effective Aug. 11, 2025.”

Van Der Veer’s case, however, appeared separately as a public governance item — a rarity for teacher dismissals.

-Katherine Tomanek 

3. Ushering in a new era: Sunlight Mountain Resort new lift construction project is “on track” 

As Labor Day nears and cooler mornings settle in, anticipation is building for powder days at Sunlight Mountain Resort.

For the first time in more than 50 years, the familiar two-seat Segundo chairlift will not greet skiers on opening day of the 2025-26 season.

Backed by years of planning and petitioning, the construction project is “right on schedule,” according to officials — and Sunlight Mountain Resort is ready to usher in a new era.

-Jaymin Kanzer

4. A river of worry through Garfield County as drought worsens 

The Colorado River is the lifeblood of over 30 million people. 

Whether its potable water, agricultural needs, or recreation, seven different states between Colorado and the Pacific Ocean actively rely on the water that flows through Garfield County. 

Yet with consistently increasing yearly temperatures, decreasing yearly snowpacks, and constant threat of wildfires — the health of the legendary watershed has never been more important. The Colorado, Roaring Fork, Crystal, and Frying Pan Rivers all have individual and unique impacts that stretch from the local economy to produce and amenities. 

-Jaymin Kanzer 

5. Wolf movement continues across Western Colorado and some Front Range watersheds in new map 

Colorado’s collared gray wolves are primarily sticking to Western Slope watersheds, with some exploration toward the east.   

In the latest map from Colorado Parks and Wildlife — which shows the watersheds where the state’s collared gray wolves were located between July 22 and Aug. 26 — wolves checked out northwest areas in Routt, Jackson, Rio Blanco, Grand, Summit, Eagle, Lake and Pitkin counties. 

Similar to activity in the past few months, the collared animals also pressed into more southern watersheds within Chaffee, Gunnison, Delta, Mineral, Hinsdale, Rio Grande, San Juan, La Plata and Archuleta counties. 

-Ali Longwell