Judgment day for Garfield County regarding state variance, but COVID-19 case trend headed in right direction
It’s been two weeks since Garfield County was notified by state public health officials that an alarming rate of new coronavirus cases locally would need to be reversed, or the county could lose its state...
City again hires private security to patrol downtown
The city of Glenwood Springs has once again hired Citadel Security to be a presence downtown. The decision was made at City Council’s July 22 special session when the downtown mask zone was instituted. For...
UPDATED: New COVID-19 outbreaks tied to two Garfield County churches
Editor’s note: This story has been updated from the original version published Friday, July 31 to include the names of the church organizations where the outbreaks were reported, which were provided on Monday. Two faith-based...
Locals could be in for a ski season-pass curveball this winter in Aspen
Aspen Skiing Co. plans to open its four mountains on schedule this winter under a controlled environment with outdoor bathrooms and no sit-down dining, and it also is considering blackout-dates for local skiers so it...
Valley View: hospital in good shape on COVID-19 front, but urges vigilance in face of recent uptick
Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs is “very safe and very ready” to deal with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the hospital’s chief medical officer said in a report to the Garfield County commissioners on Monday....
Monday Profile: Eagle-eyed, free-spirited young girl finds stride on the shooting range
Kalyn Hurst-Farnham stood firm, her feet shoulder-width apart and planted on the Basalt Public Shooting Range shotgun pad. The 17-year-old’s thin, flaxen hair whipped across her face in the stiff Wednesday breeze. Tracking an imaginary...
UPDATED: Garfield County COVID-19 live stats tracker
Editor’s note: Garfield County’s cases get back-dated to when the patient said they first experienced symptoms, not when the test positive was actually reported. That can be as much as three weeks to a month...
Guest Opinion: Prioritize basic services, ‘stop the beautification’
“Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgement; and he betrays you instead of serving you if he sacrifices it to your opinion.” — Edmund Burke Councilor Paula Stepp wrote a column...
Increase in human-caused bear deaths raises concern for Colo. forest health
Each summer, news reports in Aspen and across Colorado’s high country detail conflicts between black bears and people: bears in trash cans, homes, campsites and more. As these conflicts continue to increase, more bears are...
In Aspen, a camp helps locals without a home through the pandemic. What might a similar program look like in Glenwood Springs?
At a July 22 work session, Glenwood Springs City Council heard presentations about efforts to combat homelessness in both Durango and Pitkin County. Pitkin County has established a temporary safe outdoor space during the COVID-19...
Firefighters suppress small wildfire north of Ruedi Reservoir over the weekend
Firefighters are continuing to suppress a small wildfire that was detected late Saturday afternoon north of Ruedi Reservoir, White River National Forest officials said Sunday. The Smith Fire, which was reported at 4:30 p.m. Saturday...
Record-setting swim raises $2,600 for nurses
Joe Wainwright is the kind of guy who’s willing to go the extra mile. He had a loose goal of 10 miles in his attempt to complete the longest continuous swim in the Glenwood Hot...
CHSAA announces 2020-21 school sports dates, pushing football, soccer and volleyball to after first of year
The Colorado High School Activities Association announced Tuesday the 2020-21 sports schedule, which will have limited fall sports. Cross country was added to the list of approved fall sports, joining boys golf, girls softball and...
Downtown Glenwood recycling center is back again
Glenwood Springs’ new downtown recycling center will be much like the existing facility at the landfill, just more conveniently located. It will feature recycling of glass, aluminum, plastic, paper, clothes, batteries and electronics; composting; and...
Pandemic could have little effect on Colorado’s hunting season
COVID-19 might be affecting nearly every corner of the Coloradan way of life, but hunting could remain insulated from the virus, a Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) spokesperson said. “Part of our challenge with predicting...
Pine Ridge fire forces evacuations near De Beque
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado – A fast-moving, wind-driven wildfire burned eastward toward I-70 in De Beque Canyon Thursday evening. Authorities closed the highway for 13 miles through De Beque Canyon and ordered residents living just east...
Mystery seed packages show up in Garfield County
At least two residences in Garfield County have received “strange seed packages” that appear to originate from China. Reports of similar seed packets have popped up in all 50 states over the past week. In...
Judge upholds Colorado air quality rules for oil, gas sites
DENVER (AP) — A Denver district judge has dismissed a lawsuit by Weld County challenging new state regulations designed to cut oil and gas industry emissions. District Judge Michael Martinez granted a motion by the...
Trump signs $3B-a-year Great American Outdoors Act into law
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed into law legislation that will devote nearly $3 billion annually to conservation projects, outdoor recreation and maintenance of national parks and other public lands. The measure was...