KBUT: Recent Episodes
KBUT
KBUT is a community radio station serving Gunnison County, Colorado. Broadcasting since 1986, KBUT serves the Gunnison Valley through diverse on-air programs, volunteer opportunities open to all community members, and ongoing support for the area’s nonprofit organizations and educational institutions. Community radio is a significant facilitator of democratic ideals and civic participation and is an invaluable community resource, particularly for a rural and remote area such as Gunnison County.
This show was originally broadcast live on KBUT, Monday Nov. 19. It was co-hosted by Christopher Biddle and Chris Rourke. The guests were Scott Morrill, Gunnison County Emergency Manager; and Kevin Blecha, a biologist and mountain lion expert with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
With snow on the ground and more in the forecast, we're headed into the backcountry for this episode. Our guest is Ian Havlick, a forecaster and outreach coordinator for the Crested Butte Avalanche Center. We also get an update on COVID19 in Gunnison County and talk to County Commissioner Roland Mason about the new winter trailhead at Kebler Pass.
Community Matters for Monday, Oct. 19: 2020 Elections - Issues, Candidates, and Money by KBUT
A discussion with local leaders and health officials. This live discussion was originally broadcast on KBUT Monday, July 28th. It was hosted by KBUT's Christopher Biddle and Chris Rourke, Editor for the Gunnison Country Times. Our guests included...
This panel discussion was originally broadcast on Monday, June 8th. It was hosted by Christopher Biddle and co-hosted by Chris Rourke of the Gunnison Country Times. Our guests were Joni Reynolds, Gunnison County Public Health Director; and Keith Robinson, Gunnison City Police Chief.
This show was originally broadcast on KBUT on Monday, May 25, 2020. KBUT's Christopher Biddle was joined by co-host Chris Rourke of the Gunnison Country Times.
This program was originally broadcast on Monday, May 11 on KBUT. It was hosted by KBUT’s Christopher Biddle. He was joined by Gunnison Country Times Editor Chris Rourke.
The panel included:
Joni Reynolds, Gunnison County Public Health Director Roland Mason, Gunnison Board of County Commissioners John Norton, Director of the Tourism and Prosperity Project Andrew Reynolds, Public Information Officer for Gunnison County.
This program was pre-recorded on Monday, May 4th and broadcast that evening on KBUT. It features an interview with Gunnison County Public Information Officer Andrew Sandstrom. He and I went back through questions submitted for previous live Q&As which we weren't able to answer yet.
KBUT hosted crucial members of the local COVID19 Response Team on Monday, April 13 for a Virtual Town Hall on video conference and broadcast on KBUT.
This Q & A session was originally broadcast on Monday, April 3rd. It was hosted by Christopher Biddle and panelists joined via video conference. The panel included John Messner, Board of County Commissioners; Ashley Upchurch, director of the CB/Mt. CB Chamber of Commerce; and Darcie Perkins, Assistant Director to the ICElab at Western.
Listen to a recording of KBUT’s Live Q & A with Local Officials from Monday, March 23. The show was hosted by Christopher Biddle and all guests joined the conversation via teleconference. The panel for this session included:
KBUT Broadcast a live Question and Answer Session with local health officials on Monday, March 16. The event was broadcast from the ICE Lab in Gunnison.
The 2019 Crested Butte Candidates Forum, presented by the Crested Butte News was broadcast live at the Center for the Arts Crested butte on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. Six candidates vied for five open seats on the Crested Butte Town Council.
The Colorado Senate has approved a budget and a controversial "red flag" bill that would allow police in Colorado to temporarily seize weapons from people deemed a risk.
Jared Polis on Saturday made his first visit to the Gunnison Valley since assuming governorship earlier this year. He appeared alongside democratic Reps. Barbara McLachlan and Julie McCluskie at Western Colorado University. They answered questions from the audience and rallied for support of upcoming legislation.
Among the most talked about bills was one aimed at providing free full-day kindergarten to Coloradans, something Polis has called his primary goal for this legislative session.
The Governor’s own economic forecast, released on Friday, show’s enough money for the plan, but another, more cautious report from the legislature casts doubt. McLachlan, a democrat from Durango, is expected to introduce the bill with co-sponsor Jim Wilson, a republican of Salida in the coming weeks.
Photo: Governor Jared Polis speaks to an audience in Gunnison on Saturday, joined by Rep. Barab McLachlan and Julie McCluskie. Credit: Christopher Biddle
Lake City officials declared a 'local emergency' after two avalanches damaged homes in two days.
Colorado attorney general Phil Weiser and Governor Jared Polis are suing the Trump administration.
Despite a strong snowpack, water managers say Blue Mesa likely won't refill any time soon.
The Silver Queen Chairlift at Crested Butte Mountain Resort remains closed.
Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper kicked off his campaign for the presidency at a lively rally in downtown Denver Wednesday.
A growing number of Colorado counties have declared themselves as 2nd Amendment Sanctuaries in response to a red-flag bill in front of the state legislature.
Photo courtesy of Peter Landsman / Liftblog.com
There are few plays in American literature that had quite the impact that Angels in America had in both the world of theatre and the mainstream. For as much as its remembered for its brilliance, the two-part, seven-hour surrealist epic is also known for the controversy that surrounds it. With its honest depiction of the lives of gay men in during the 1980s, to this day the play is regarded as one of the most significant culture war battlefields of its era.
In 1996, the same year a dispute over the play's production drew national attention in Charlotte, NC, Western Colorado University, then just a small state college in Gunnison, CO, became the first school to stage both parts.
Heather Nicholson Hughes was in that production, that drew both protests and praise from the community. Now she’s back at Western as a co-producer of a staged reading of the play.
Candace Bradley was sworn in as the newest member the Crested Butte Town Council on Monday.
Water leaks and drought dog the Town of Paonia.
Colorado Democrats are proposing new regulations on the oil and gas industry, including giving local governments more control over the location of wells.
Suicide prevention advocates converged on the Colorado State Capital this week. State and national organizations, as well as volunteers, met with lawmakers to ask for three actions from the General Assembly, including a funding request designed to alleviate Colorado’s high rates of suicide, especially among youth.
KBUT spoke with former Colorado Senator Moe Keller, who now works as Mental Health Colorado’s Advocacy Director.
Photo courtesy of Mental Health Colorado
It’s already illegal to smoke traditional cigarettes in restaurants and most public spaces in Colorado. Now a group of state lawmakers wants to add electronic cigarettes to that ban. KUNC’s Scott Franz has more.
The City of Gunnison has kicked off its public input phase for an update to the city’s comprehensive plan, a document that will guide development and growth for through 2030.
Colorado lawmakers will consider whether to let cannabis businesses be publicly traded. CPR’S business reporter Ben Markus REPORTS.
The mayor of Monument is teaming up with a county commissioner on the Western Slope to try and stop the popular vote bill going through the legislature. Scott Franz has the story.
Democrats at the state legislature are advancing a bill to allow courts to take firearms from people deemed to be a risk to themselves or others. CPR's Bente Birkeland reports.
The Group ‘Protect our Winters’ is calling for the resignation of the Director of International Ski Federation Gian Franco Kasper following remarks he made in a Swiss Newspaper where he seemed to deny the science of climate change. KBUT News’ Christopher Biddle reports.
State lawmakers are working on potential changes to a bill aimed at reducing youth suicides. Bente Birkeland reports. The Colorado House of Representatives is debating a bill that could change how the state votes for future presidents. Scott Franz has more. Congressman Jason Crow is raising concerns about the health needs of detainees at the immigration detention facility in Aurora. Michael de Yoanna reports that hundreds of beds have been added to the site in recent months.
As part of the Crested Butte Avalanche Center’s Fireside Chat series, local historian and Western Colorado Professor Dr. Duane Vandenbusche presented on historical avalanches in and around the Gunnison Country at the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum on Wednesday, February 13.
No stranger to KBUT listeners, Vandenbusche is the host of KBUT’s feature series “Tales of the Gunnison Country.” He’s also the author of 11 books, including "The Gunnison Country."
Local bluegrass quintuplet Floodgate Operators from Crested Butte performed this week on The Orange Blossom Special Show to help us get pledges for 2019 Winter Pledge Drive!
They played five songs, including a few originals.
KBUT supports local music, but we can't do it with your support.Call now! 970-349-7444 or click here.
Photo: Floodgate Operators warming up in the KBUT studios. Credit: Christopher Biddle
A bill to require more disclosure around campaign advertisements is moving ahead at the state Capitol. CPR's Sam Brasch has more.
Lawmakers are once again considering a bill to ban so-called conversion therapy for youth in Colorado. The practice seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation.
States that rely on the Colorado River for their water supplies are currently unable to finish a series of agreements that would keep its biggest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, from dropping to levels not seen since they were filled decades ago.
Five states — Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming and Nevada — are done. The country of Mexico has also completed its portion. But California and Arizona failed to meet a Jan. 31 federal government deadline to wrap up negotiations and sign a final agreement. (Read the full story)
Photo: The fate of Lake Powell on the Utah-Arizona stateline is one consideration in crafting Drought Contingency Plans for the Colorado River. (Luke Runyon/KUNC/LightHawk)
Listen to the story:
The Lazy K developer selection committee has narrowed the field to three companies, Fading West Development, High Mountain Concepts, and Gatesco Inc.
Former Colorado state representative Andrew Romanoff is entering the race to unseat Republican Senator Cory Gardner. 91.5 KRCC’s Andrea Chalfin has more.
Scott Franz reports Colorado lawmakers are one step closer to adding autism to the list of conditions that can be treated with medical marijuana.
Scott Franz reports Colorado Democrats are advancing a bill they think will improve the sexual education curriculum at public schools.
An avalanche on Mount Baldy partially buried one skier on Thursday. No injuries occurred.
Another Colorado Democrat is launching a bid to unseat U.S. Senator Cory Gardner. The latest candidate has more name recognition than the other Democrats in the race. From Scott Franz.
Chalkbeat Colorado reports that Denver Teachers and their bosses will return to the negotiating table on Thursday while Gov. Jared Polis considers whether to intervene in the pay dispute.
Colorado Democrats are a step closer to changing the way the state’s nine electoral votes are awarded in presidential elections. Scott Franz has the story.
Avalanche danger is “moderate” according to the Crested Butte Avalanche Center who says there’s still potential for danger on slopes that have collected wind-drifted snow.
There’s a new facilities plan making its way through the Gunnison RE1J School District’s Review Process. It includes a $34 million renovation of the Crested Butte Community School.
The Fat Bike Worlds Competition was held this past weekend in Crested Butte. The Event drew around three hundred competitors.
Will Shoemaker of the Gunnison Country Times warns that some of the most dire consequences of the government shutdown have yet to be realized.
Will Shoemaker of the Gunnison Country Times spoke with KBUT’s Christopher Biddle about covering the local impacts and reactions to the partial government shutdown. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet uncharacteristically raised his voice in criticism of Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas on Thursday. As Danielle Rayzell reports, Sen. Corey Gardener also surprised many this week as he vowed to break ranks with the Republican leadership. Aaron Blunck took home 6th place at the Winter X Games in Aspen on Thursday. Alex Ferriera, Blunck’s Olympic teammate and a native to Aspen, won the gold.
An in-bounds avalanche at Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico has now claimed the lives of two skiers.
Sheriff John Gallowich says he’s trying to find a way to solidify an agreement with the Mt. Crested Butte Police Department while his office determines whether to assume patrol duties in the North Valley.
Comments on the State House Floor are causing a backlash for one state lawmaker who said that black and white Americans were lynched in “near equal numbers.”
In his first State of the State address last week Governor Jared Polis focused on the need to make healthcare more accessible to Coloradans. He also tackled climate change in his speech.
Some Americans appear to be heeding President Trump’s request to call their members of Congress about the partial government shutdown over border funding. Scott Franz reports.
The North Face Lift is spinning at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, giving the resort a full roster of lifts for the season.
Photo: Colorado Gov. Jared Polis leaves the podium after delivering his first State of the State address to lawmakers last week. Credit: Scott Franz / Capitol Coverage.
Gunnison Valley Health (GVH) held a ribbon cutting ceremony recently to celebrate the opening of their new residential Senior Care Center located in Gunnison’s West End next door to the hospital’s Assisted Living Center. Shortly after the ribbon was cut, 43 residents moved into their new homes.
The 52,00 square foot facility cost $23 million to build, none of which came from tax-payers. It’s broken into three neighborhoods, one of which is designated for memory care patients.
Wade Baker VP of Administrative affairs at GVH told KBUT that it’s been a long time waiting on the new facility, which is designed to feel more like a home than a hospital. The old building, built in 1976, is from a different era of senior care.
According to the 2018 State of the Valley Report, put out in October, Gunnison Valley is gradually aging. With 10.7 percent of the population being 65 or older. That figure’s more than doubled since 1980. AARP says that by 2030, 1 in every 5 Americans will be 65 or older.
According to the Colorado Tourism Office, since 2009, Colorado has seen a 41 percent increase in tourism, double the national average, totaling 86 million visitors in 2017. Many of those travelers are ending up in Gunnison County. However, an increase in visitors means impacts to this fragile high-alpine resource are inevitable, exacerbated by the fact that many of the tourists who come to use the high country lack knowledge of how to protect it. Local organizations in Gunnison County are working to ensure that visitors are educated about how to use and preserve these delicate ecosystems, as Ashley UpChurch, executive director of the Crested Butte/Mount Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce explained. “We want to make sure that we’re educating those tourists that we’re bringing in and making sure they’re treating our backcountry appropriately as we’re bringing them in to help our economy,” said Upchurch. To kickstart the process, the Chamber and the U.S. Forest Service placed eight porta-potties at high-traffic trailheads surrounding Crested Butte. The hope was that they would cut down on the amount of human waste in the woods. Human waste that organizations, like the Crested Butte Conservation Corps (CBCC), must haul back to town sanitation facilities. The CBCC was founded two years ago by the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association (CBMBA). “There was a huge void or lapse, if you will, in terms of [being] underresourced, understaffed there in the backcountry, and we as mountain bikers feel a very strong sense of obligation to conservation and we took it upon ourselves to start the CBCC,” said David Ochs, director of CBMBA.
Photo: Descending Purple Mountain on the Ruby Range Traverse, one of many recreational destinations in Gunnison County. Credit Mark Robbins
Roland Mason will take office on January 8 as the new District 3 Commissioner in Gunnison County. A lifelong resident of Crested Butte, he recently sat down with KBUT to discuss the future of the region both economically and culturally. For Mason, it all comes back to housing.
Mason supported Ballot Initiative 6A, which would have levied taxes earmarked for affordable housing projects by the Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority. He says it’s failure has to do with a housing plan that wasn’t finished before the election.
Project Hope of the Gunnison Valley is a non-profit organization that supports and advocates for individuals affected by relationship violence and sexual assault. The organization offers services such as crisis intervention, a safe shelter, food and clothing, and access to legal aid. Outreach and Prevention Coordinator Jessica Wurtz talked to KBUIT's Toni Todd about the organization's mission and initiatives.
The One Valley Prosperity Project, or OVPP, was formed in 2014 as a collaborative effort to achieve, in the words of their website, "a more prosperous and successful future" for all communities valley-wide. Some of its focus areas include affordable housing, economic resiliency, and social services. The OVPP recently released its 2018 State of the Valley Report. Gunnison Mayor Jim Gelwicks and Gunnison City Manager Russ Forrest dropped by the KBUT studios to talk what's been accomplished so far and the work ahead. They spoke with Toni Todd for West Elk Word, KBUT's premiere local public affairs interview show. Hear archived episodes of West Elk Word.
Four Gunnison County candidates for public office faced an auditorium of citizens in Crested Butte on October 21. John Gallowich and Mark Mykol, both running for Sheriff, and Roland Mason and Bob Schutt, county commissioner candidates, answered questions and explained both their platforms and their backgrounds. Both seemed of equal interest to the crowd. Questions ranged from staffing problems at the sheriff's office to affordable housing and private property rights.
The forum was co-presented by KBUT and the Crested Butte News.
Four Gunnison County candidates for public office faced an auditorium of citizens in Crested Butte on October 21. John Gallowich and Mark Mykol, both running for Sheriff, and Roland Mason and Bob Schutt, county commissioner candidates, answered questions and explained both their platforms and their backgrounds. Both seemed of equal interest to the crowd. Questions ranged from staffing problems at the sheriff's office to affordable housing and private property rights.
The forum was co-presented by KBUT and the Crested Butte News.
Titans Soccer, Volleyball, and Cross Country are hitting their stride. Also, an Elk Run 5k preview and (gasp)some sound effects.
Last week, Western State Colorado University unveiled plans for a new undergraduate program to be housed in a 75,000 square-foot building under construction now. It’s made possible with a donation of $80 million by Paul M. Rady, a 1978 Graduate of Western. It's the largest donation in the history of the school and one of the largest in the history of Colorado public universities, and it comes at a time when similar institutions are struggling.
The new Paul M. Rady School of Computer Science and Engineering will offer degrees through the University of Boulder Colorado while students remain on the Western campus for the length of their tenure.
Western President Greg Salsbury told KBUT, “This is quite literally Western’s greatest opportunity in its history to evolve into a serious force in education and technology.”
Patrick Robinson, the former school psychologist whose vague threats of violence sparked a district-wide school lockout last December, pleaded guilty earlier this month to a class 3 misdemeanor, just before he was set to go to trial. We sat down with reporter Cayla Vidmar, who’s been following the story for the Crested Butte News, who says that Robinson had been caught drinking on the job several times including on the day of the lockout. Robinson’s sentencing date is September 13th at the Gunnison County Courthouse, and we’ll be following up with Vidmar and the Crested Butte News.
Wading In The Water August 29, 2018 - Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District by KBUT
On the final episode of "Bloom Blast" for the 2018 season, host Tom Roll looks at what's still blooming as summer wanes.
On the final new episode of Outside In for the 2018 season, we talk with a distinguished professor at the University of Texas and author of nine books on contemporary politics and foreign policy, most recently The Impossible Presidency, discussed the challenges of the presidency in modern America.
Weight loss efforts often focus on what and how much food we eat. But we should also think about when we consume our calories.
Low levels along the Colorado River could force water shortages next year according to a new forecast out this week [Aug. 16]. Luke Runyon reports.
When it comes to spending ahead of the November election -- Colorado’s race for governor is like no other. The candidates - Republican Walker Stapleton and Democrat Jared Polis - are wealthy, and they’ve shattered all previous records for giving to their own campaigns. That led us to this question -- “Can someone become governor if they’re NOT a millionaire?” KUNC’s Michael de Yoanna reports.
On this week's "Outside/In," we hear from David Hawkins, Director of the Climate Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council, on climate change and the political challenges of addressing it.
It's the first episode of the 2018 season of the KBUT locally-produced feature "Wading in the Water." Each year, host Julie Nania conducts short interviews with people in the Gunnison County about issues surrounding rivers, watersheds, and drought. In this episode, we hear from Ashley Bembenek from Alpine Environmental Consultants about their work for watershed management processes in the county.
Pedal steel guitarist Roosevelt Collier and his band dropped by the KBUT studios during our summer membership drive. We cleared out the phone room, pushed away the tables, and made room for some amplifiers and a drum kit. The south Florida-based trio then proceeded to rock the house. The session was engineered by Mark Duggan.
On August 5, 2015, the toxic secrets of the Gold King Mine spilled forth. Crews accidentally breached a plug holding back mine wastes. Within hours, three million gallons of heavy metals-laden wastewater spilled into area watersheds and through downstream towns and farms. Author Jonathan Thompson has written a book, "River of Lost Souls," that documents what became one of Colorado's worst environmental disasters.
On this episode of West Elk Word, KBUT's weekly public affairs interview program, we spoke with Thompson about the toxic history of mining in Colorado and whether a similar spill could happen in Gunnison County.
On this week's episode of "Outside/In," it's an encore presentation of an earlier interview with Charlie Sykes. Sykes is a contributor to the Weekly Standard magazine and MSNBC. He's been critical of President Trump and elements of the GOP. He'll talk with host Roger Kahn about the state of both the country and the party.
KBUT introduces a new short feature, "Live Well, Be Well," hosted by Kelley Dole. Each week, Kelley provides practical tips for health, fitness, and wellness. Hear "Live Well, Be Well" Thursdays at 8:00 am, 2:00 pm, and 5:48 pm.
In this episode, host Kelley Dole talks about the connection between a child's diet and their overall health.
This week we'll hear from Bryan Cunningham, a former NSA and CIA official during the Clinton and George W Bush administrations and a leading international expert on cybersecurity law and policy. Cunningham will talk about the threats to cybersecurity and what can be done to respond to them.
Earlier this month, KBUT spoke with Jason Blevins of the Colorado Sun about his new venture with other former employees of the Denver Post. You can find that story in the KBUT News archives at kbut.org. Today we bring you part two of that interview by KBUT’s Christopher Biddle, who also wanted to get Blevins perspective on Vail Resorts purchase of Crested Butte Mountain Resort and it’s partners.
Stand near a river and you’ll hear a symphony of sounds: birds chirping, frogs croaking and water flowing. But what would it sound like if the stream itself could be transformed into classical music?
David Merritt, a Colorado-based researcher and musician, is helping answer that question by turning river data into music to hear how we’ve changed rivers throughout the West.
KBUT introduces a new short feature, "Live Well, Be Well," hosted by Kelley Dole. Each week, Kelley provides practical tips for health, fitness, and wellness. Hear "Live Well, Be Well" Thursdays at 8:00 am, 2:00 pm, and 5:48 pm.
The wildflowers continue to pop around Crested Butte. On this weeks episode of Bloom Blast, we look at the monument plant.
This week, we talk about options and limitations in cancer care in Gunnison County. We'll hear from one local woman who is battling cancer and must travel for treatment. We'll also talk to Chuck Turner at the Gunnison Hospital's Oncology Department about growing cancer treatment options.
On this week's edition of "Outside/In,“ host Roger Kahn talks with Ellen Sweets, a journalist formerly with the Denver Post and other newspapers and a former Director of the City of St. Louis Civil Rights Enforcement Agency, about voting in America. Sweets speaks about the current threats to voting rights and their impact on minority communities.
The tamarisk, or salt-cedar, is an invasive plant species that's taking over waterways and crowding out natives like cottonwoods. Americans are fighting back. From the Mountain West News Bureau, Rae Ellen Bichell picks up the story from the trenches.
On this week's West Elk Word, we'll talk to Emily and Eric Peterson, co-Artistic Directors of the Crested Butte Music Festival. We'll hear about the performance and educational offerings at this year's festival.
On this week's Outside In, host Roger Kahn talks with Charlie Sykes, an MSNBC contributor and a contributing editor at the Weekly Standard. Sykes has been critical of President Trump and elements of the Republican party. He'll talk about the state of the country and the future of the Republican party.
As the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival gets underway for another year, we look at chiming bells and other flora popping out around the high country.
Since the 1990s, there’s been a strange phenomenon happening in cities throughout the West. Their populations are booming, but their overall water use is staying the same, or in some cases, it’s going down. As part of our series on urban water conservation, KUNC’s Luke Runyon reports that a lot of credit for the savings should go to... the toilet.
Photo by Luke Runyan
Bluegrass guitar wizard Billy Strings has his band dropped by the KBUT studios one Wednesday morning for a live performance and conversation with Trish the Dish, host of "Orange Blossom Special."
A conservation ethic is growing in the nation’s second-driest state. The state requires all water districts to set conservation goals and incentives.
But Utah’s also pushing forward with a plan to tap more water from the Colorado River to serve two counties in the southwestern corner of the state. That raises a question: Does Utah really need so much water?
Wildfires have always been a part of life in the American West, but with climate change, it’s expected they will become more frequent and more intense. While some effects of wildfires are understood, their impact on water is just starting to come into focus.
Alan Wartes, host of KBUT's interview program "Think Radio," visits the annual summer youth football camp at Western State Colorado University. He brought back the voices of the players and the sounds of the camp.
Prescribed burns are a useful, albeit risky tool against the increasing danger of wildfires in the Western United States. But in the Country that gave us Smokey the Bear, how do you convince the public that more frequent fires are the way to go?
KBUT's Chad Reich talks to Tim Kugler of Gunnison Trails and Jim Loveless with the Bureau of Land Management about the Signal Peak trail project near Gunnison.
This week we look at geraniums as more wildflowers pop up around Crested Butte and the CB Wildflower Fest gets closer.
On Thursday, July 5th a Tornado touched down on the edge of the Weston Pass Fire near Fairplay Colorado. Christopher Biddle filed this report.
KBUT's popular summer public affairs program Outside/In returns for another season. Outside/In, a KBUT production hosted by Roger Kahn, is a half-hour conversation with guest speakers from the Crested Butte Public Policy Forum.
The first 2018 episode of Outside/In features Robert Ford, who served as U.S. Ambassador to Syria from 2010 to 2014. He'll speak with Kahn about Syria and whether the conflict there is winding down or getting worse.
The West Elk Word speaks with Wisconsin-based journalist James Mills, who covers diversity in public lands and outdoor recreation. This week, you'll learn about initiatives to help make the outdoors more inclusive to all and about barriers-to-entry for public lands access and use.
When natural food sources such as acorns and berries fail to feed black bears, the animals often find new sources of food among humans. And that's leading to bears being euthanized. Some Colorado communities are trying to get residents to use bear-resistant trash cans. And one group from Boulder is experimenting with planting "buffer zones" of natural food in the bear's habitat to keep them fed without encroaching on populated areas. Raleigh Burleigh of community radio station KDNK in Carbondale reports for the Western Slope Natural Resources project.
Bloom Blast continues for 2018 with the third episode - featuring a look at the columbine, the Colorado state flower.
Here's part two of our annual summer series Bloom Blast, produced by the folks at the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival. This week, we take a look at fairy slippers, one of the early summer flowers that pops out each year around CB.
KBUT's annual feature on wildflowers around Crested Butte gets underway for a new season with a look at some of the early bloomers you'll find around the area.
Colorado Parks & Wildlife has been re-introducing moose to Colorado since the 1970's. Their efforts appear to be working in Gunnison County, where more people have reported seeing moose in recent years. Now, hunting tags are available in the Taylor Park area, along with hunting units associated with the Grand Mesa and the San Juans.
The goal of GunnisonValleyCalendar.com is to make it easier for event organizers, promoters, and web hosts to share information about upcoming events in the Gunnison Valley. It is the one-stop place to post to multiple community calendars without having to visit each one individually.
This coming Monday is Memorial Day, a day to remember those lost in the armed forces. It is also a day of long-running traditions in Crested Butte, including a parade, a potluck, and a polka.
(This story contains time-sensitive material and is intended to be heard the morning of Memorial Day).
In response to recent completed suicides in the Gunnison Valley, KBUT & the Crested Butte News held a community forum on the issue that touches many people here. The panelists were: Sarah Kramer - Center for Mental Health Dr. John Tarr - Gunnison County Medical Health Officer Scott Cantril - WSCU Student Health & Wellness Chris Peterson - American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Nancy Osmundson - CB Hope Stacy Petersen - CB Community School Counselor
The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe operates a large farm in southwest Colorado. They grow crops such as alfalfa and corn and have more than 600 head of cattle.
The tribe went through a long process to obtain water rights to operate the farm. But just because the they have the farm and water rights doesn't mean they can use all they want. Austin Cope of community radio station KSJD in Cortez reports for the Western Slope Resources Reporting project.
The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe operates a large farm and ranch on the parched landscape their reservation in Southwestern Colorado. Austin Cope, of KSJD (Cortez) and Western Slope Resources Reporting, has the story of how this farm--and the water it requires--sprang to life.
Nearly 2/3 of those eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Gunnison County aren't using the program that connects people in need with food resources.
KBUT's Chad Reich spoke with Ellie Agar of Hunger Free Colorado about the implications of not using SNAP and why some people don't use the program.
The third public hearing on the 'Corner at Brush Creek' continued last Friday. The possible developer came with a strong defense against criticism, while the audience continued to push back. Christopher Biddle reports.
Today on KBUT, we're joined by David Inouye, researcher at the Rocky Mountain Biological Labortory and Professor Emeritus of Ecology from the University of Maryland. David explains what's happening earlier than normal in our mountains and in the Paonia area and what an early spring could mean for birds, flowers, and water supplies.
State lawmakers will wrap up the legislative session on May 9th, and the valley will be graced by District 61 State Representative Millie Hamner who will deliver the Commencement Speech at Western State's graduation this Saturday.
The program is peer-based and is designed to get representatives from all walks of life and social groups involved in mental health.
Naiya Budler is a senior from Manitou Springs, and she will help implement the "Sources of Strength" program at Western State Colorado University this coming fall.
Learn about the program itself and Budler's experience in peer-to-peer suicide prevention and mental health work on today's local news story.
This week's edition of KBUT's public affairs program features Naiya Budler, an incoming freshman to Western State Colorado University in the fall of 2018. Naiya is a "Sources of Strength" peer leader at her high school in Manitou Springs. She will help Western implement the program, and that will make the school the first university in Colorado to utilize the suicide prevention program.
Western State Colorado University will be the first institution of higher education in Colorado - and the 8th in the nation - to implement "Sources of Strength," a peer-based approach to suicide prevention. This program joins the QPR - or question / prevent / refer - method of suicide prevention already in place at the school that has seen two suicides in the last half-decade.
Motorboat and sailboat owners will be asked to bare some of the cost of protecting Colorado water from two invase species of mussel. It will provide $2.4 million for Colorado Parks and Wildlife Aquatic Nuissance Species program, and will require boaters to buy an 'ANS' stamp along with their registration. It also increases fees for bringing mussels into the state and unlawful boat launches. The stamp will $25 for in-state residents and $50 for out of state.
This is a direct response to the threat posed by the discovery mussel larvae last August in Summit County's Green Mountain Resevoir. Christopher Biddle reports.
The bridge that connects the Slate River Road to Gunsight Road and the Lower Loop will be replaced this September. The Crested Butte Land Trust will perform restoration work to reduce some of the backwater habitat that has been caused by the placement of trusses in the river. The bridge will be a full-span bridge. The total project cost is an estimated $400,000.
Farmers across a broad spectrum of the agriculture industry are embracing the ‘healthy soil’ movement. A key component of healthy soil is the amount of carbon it holds. But how can you tell? And how can you find out without disturbing the operations of a working farm or ranch? KBUT’s Christopher Biddle has more.
The Gunsight Bridge over the Slate River is slated for replacement in September. Safety issues as well as ecological impacts turned attention to the aging bridge this past year. The goal is to improve habitat and ensure bridge-goers won't be swept away during times of high water.
A major piece of legislation to reform public pensions in Colorado is making its way through the state capitol. Marianne Goodland with Colorado Politics and Ed Sealover with the Denver Business Journal discuss how it’s shaping up with statehouse reporter Bente Birkeland.
Multiple partners have helped protect the Trampe Ranch from development, and the land is now under a conservation easement. Learn about the project and how it benefits open space efforts as well as sensitive climate research here on KBUT.
KBUT's Chad Reich spoke with Crested Butte Avalanche Center Director Ben Pritchett about the 2017-2018 winter in avalanche activity in our region.
Two projects to expand the amount of storage units are coming to the area, and will be developed just north of Gunnison. Owners of storage units mostly say the demand is high for personal and business storage. Units are now being used for commercial purposes, such as storage for retail stock or for the growing number of contractors and subcontractors in the area, as well as personal storage.
More people are using the amnesty box to dispose of their unused marijuana in the Crested Butte Marshals Office. An officer with the Gunnison Police Department says the box in the airport is being used. People we spoke with at Mt. Crested Butte Town Hall, where there is also an amnesty box, said they aren't sure if anyone has actually used it.
Snowpack that feeds the Colorado River is at record lows as we begin moving into the longer and drier days of summer. Water managers throughout the West are already sounding the alarm about less water flowing in streams and reservoirs.
Public health systems across the world are adopting a model known as "Zero Suicide," including organizations in Gunnison County and Colorado's Western Slope.
KBUT's Christopher Biddle attended a meeting in Gunnison to find out more.
The forest plan for the Grand Mesa, Uncompaghre, and Gunnison National Forest (GMUG) is a document that guides what happens - and where - in a national forest. Items of consideration include recreation, management for clean water supplies, energy development, mining, wildlife, and backcountry / wilderness experiences.
The bus has been full on several occasions this winter season, and that has caused some riders to wait for the next one or find alternate transportation up and down valley.
The Rural Transportation Authority bus transported 175,000 riders last year and left about 400 people at the stop, about .5% of the total riders.
Moisture that fell over the weekend helped improve fire conditions, but the Gunnison Basin sits at about 60-65% of average snowfall for the year. Fire managers met in late March - their earliest meeting ever - to discuss preparation and management. KBUT's Chad Reich speaks with Gunnison County Emergency Manager Scott Morrill about the upcoming fire season.
Just two days before a scheduled public hearing, The Eleven Experience, who own Scarp Ridge Lodge and Irwin Guides, withdrew their application for a helipad in Irwin. KBUT's Christopher Biddle has more.
According to Crested Butte-based environmental watchdog High Country Conservation Advocates, the West Elk Mine has completed "Phase One" of its mine expansion, which involves blazing new roads and 3 exploration pads
The West Region Wildfire Council is a nonprofit operating in Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose, Delta, Ouray, and San Miguel Counties with the goal of helping homes in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) become stand-alone defensible. The West Resource Wildfire Council offers free assessments to homes in and out of the WUI and can help facilitate grants for mitigation efforts on private property.
The grants are open to anyone, and they can be used to help market events anytime except between July 1st - August 15th. The TA's mission is to get "heads into beds," and by promoting the area outside of the already congested summer, the initiative is designed to help grow year-round visitation in the Gunnison Valley.
Paul Redden may have left his mark on the landscape more than any other citizen. Redden cut in the roads for the lift towers and cat tracks at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, he helped put powerlines on Monarch Pass, and he is the oldest resident in the town.
Celebrate Paul Redden this Saturday, March 24th, at Kochevar's at 6 PM.
Town of Crested Butte Parks & Recreation Director Janna Hansen suggested moving the sledding hill to the annexation on the northeast side of town while expanding the skatepark at its current location at Big Mine Park.
About 25 citizens were on hand to hear the presentation about these, and other amenities, in the town.
The total number of reporters for the state's largest newspaper will drop to 60. Lawmakers at the state capitol react to a possible future with less news.
The Board of Health recently updated the Gunnison County Commissioners about suicide data from 2017.
Crested Butte has finally found its place in the new landscape of the ski industry. They'll join the industry leading Epic Pass from Vail Resorts. Epic Pass holders will have 7 days at each of the three resorts owned by Triple Peaks LLC, including Okemo in Vermont and Mount Sunapee in New Hampshire. Pass holders at those resorts will receive a 50 percent discount at all Vail owned resorts.
...but that's because they're essentially eating themselves out of house and home. KBUT's Chad Reich was on hand at a recent Gunnison County Commissioner meeting presentation by the Colorado State Forest Service, and he filed this report about the impact of spruce beetles in Gunnison County.
Photo: Colorado State Forest Service
KBUT's Chad Reich speaks with Paonia District Ranger with the US Forest Service Levi Broyles about the agency's commitment to the Crested Butte to Carbondale trail.
The takeaway? Some alignment still needs to be figured out, and public input is appreciated.
The leader of Colorado’s Senate says last week’s historic decision in the House to expel a legislator over sexual harassment allegations would have no bearing on how cases in the Senate are handled.
Stephanie Jackson, 33, and Deborah Rudibaugh, 68, were arrested late last week in the disappearance of Jacon Millison, then 29.
In 2015, a family member reported Millison had gone missing. Last summer, human remains were discovered.
Charges ranging from 1st degree murder to tampering with a deceased body, accessory to murder, tampering with a witness or victim, tampering with evidence, concealing a death, and abuse of a corpse.
Gunnison County Undersheriff Mark Mykol reminds the public that these are charges, and that suspects are innocent until proven guilty.
Antler shed collection regulations have been in effect in Gunnison County and near Eagle for about 10 years. Starting on March 2nd, Colorado Parks & Wildlife is expanding the rules to all public lands west of I-25.
The goal is to allow deer and elk to conserve the remaining food stores during the harsh late winter months and, hopefully, increase their chances of survival.
Photo: Colorado Parks & Wildlife
Lawmakers inside the state capitol are grappling with how to put more money into transportation, a priority for both parties. Now a group of ballot proposals could change the discussion. Bente Birkeland talked to statehouse reporters about the pros and cons, the chances of passage and what it means for the current legislative session.
The national debate over gun regulation is once again front and center at the Colorado statehouse. And as Bente Birkeland reports, it has further highlighted concerns some have have about security inside the building, including how people enter the capitol – and how many guns are inside.
KBUT's Chad Reich sat down with Center for the Arts Executive Director Jenny Birnie to discuss the progress on new construction as well as progress on fundraising for the 3-phase project that will see expanded studio space and a new versatile theater.
Kroger hopes to radically change the grocery shopping experience with it's new automated technology, and the City Market in Gunnison is among the first wave of stores to receive it.
Photo courtesy of KingS Soopers/City Market
Gatesco has changed the proposal for the Corner at Brush Creek, and the new proposal includes lower numbers of bedrooms, people, buildings, and overall square footage along with more parking.
The Gunnison County Planning Commission will hold a work session and public hearing this Friday at the Lodge at Mountaineer Square in Mt. Crested Butte to discuss the changes and take input from the public. Listen to this story to learn about how you can be involved and what those changes are.
Erica Mueller and Matt Feier with Crested Butte Mountain Resort join us today to discuss the ski area expansion. Plans include over 500 acres of new, mostly gladed terrain, new snowmaking (even in The Extremes), and many miles of summer trails.
Learn about the ski area's plans and how the process works today on the West Elk Word, KBUT's public affairs show that airs Saturdays at noon.
The Gunnison County Planning Commission took public input in Crested Butte earlier this month on a proposal by luxury travel company Eleven to have a helicopter landing pad in Irwin.
Eleven says the pad will be used to fly in clients while bypassing the airport and ground transportation. They say the pad is not for heli-ski operations.
Listen to the story by clicking play below, and hear the public chime in with response from Eleven.
Campers and overnight users at Conundrum Hot Springs will be required to carry permits in order to stay between Silver Dollar Lake and Triangle Pass. Day users may still access the hot springs without a permit.
Hikers who plan to camp starting on the Crested Butte side must have their permits printed and on them, or they'll need to keep hiking beyond the permit-only zone.
(Photo: USFS)
The goal of the event is to get more girls and women involved in sports. At the event, the Western State Mountain Sports program will demonstrate and run skills clinics in mountain biking and downhill skiing, while traditional sports like volleyball and basketball will also be highlighted by collegiate athletes.
Registration is at the Western State Fieldhouse starting at 9:15 AM on Sunday, February 11th.
Leaders in the Colorado Senate are in a position to decide whether to impose some form of punishment against Republican Senator Randy Baumgardner. A formal sexual harassment complaint filed against him – has been validated by an outside group investigating the matter, according to the accuser. But as Bente Birkeland reports, the public may never know what consequences he faces.
KBUT's Chad Reich spoke with High Country News Editor-In-Chief Brian Calvert about the print and online periodical's plans to open a satellite office at Western State.
The idea is for both the digital aspect of the periodical to work with the School of Environment and Sustainability at the college on issues important to The West.
W Mitchell was in town for the reunion this past summer, and he stopped in to KBUT to talk to us about his days before being mayor, as a mayor, and about the fight with AMAX to keep the water and air clean in Crested Butte.
Crested Butte Mountain Rescue is asking backcountry users to use frequency 7-0 on their radios as a common frequency.
The 7-0 frequency should be used to let other groups know where your group is and vice versa as well as communicate about possible avalanche activity observed.
The goal is not to have a place for chit-chat or to replace rescue techniques and emergency services.
Sexual harassment complaints still loom at Colorado’s Capitol. Most were filed last November when it was quiet at the statehouse. The building is now full of lawmakers, lobbyists, aides and staffers for the annual legislative session. But as Bente Birkeland reports, the issue is still there.
Many rural parts of Colorado don’t have access to high speed internet. Governor John Hickenlooper says correcting that must be a priority for lawmakers if the state wants to recruit and grow economies outside of the Denver metro area. A bipartisan group of lawmakers is hoping to tackle that challenge.
AJ Fullerton plays LIVE at the Gunnison Arts Center Friday, January 26th. AJ is originally from Montrose, lived in Gunnison for a stint, and has been travelling the globe as a professional musician for years. Listen to an interview with KBUT's Tyler Lucas right here.
In a time when the shrinking of public lands feels like a constant threat from the White House, some good news is coming out of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Montrose County.
Learn about the addition of 2500 acres that will secure access to Red Rock Canyon in this interview with BCGNP Superintendent Bruce Noble.
The Crested Butte Town Council discussed the idea of a roundabout and a turning lane for the school at the south entrance to town at Monday night's meeting.
Congestion as well as vehicular and pedestrian safety have been identified as problems at this entrance. The staff hopes the council will provide direction soon so the staff can meet the deadline for approval and funding if the roundabout is pursued.
Public comment largely opposed the idea of a roundabout.
The Gunnison Basin is at 46% of average annual snowpack-by-water-volume for the season. The percent is a little higher in the mountains and in northern Colorado. As you move to the San Juans and the Southwest, it's much worse and quantities are extremely low.
We need snow.
Snowmobiles are a leading cause of human-triggered avalanches in Colorado, the United States, and in Canada.
January 20th - 28th is International Snowmobile Safety Week, and backcountry users are encouraged to be prepared and practice safe sledding each time they go out. (Photo: Nate Page)
New West Genetics of Fort Collins, CO, has produced the first hemp seeds certified by the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies in the United States.
This helps eliminate the red tape around acquiring hemp seeds as they previously had to be imported into the country through the Drug Enforcement Agency, since hemp is still classified as a schedule 1 drug.
When compared to last year (and the epic "Snowpocalypse" storm), numbers may look down. But the snowfall brought droves of people and created an unusual year for visitation to the resort.
CBMR is still up in lodging revenue over last year, but down in overall skier days, implying that season passholders are using the resort less than last year.
(Photo: CBMR / Taylor Ahearn)
Dr. Robin Bingham, an evolutionary ecologist at Western State Colorado University, was awarded a $75,000 grant from the US Fish & Wildlife Service to study the rare plant known as the skiff milkvetch.
The plant is thought to grow on just 85 acres in Gunnison and Saguache County. The plant faces peril from predators and climate change.
You've seen the signs at Hartman Rocks. Learn about the skiff milkvetch - and Dr. Bingham's goals with the 5-year study - in today's story.
(Photo: Colorado State University Rare Plant Guide / Bernadette Kuhn)
Earlier this month, US Attorney General Jeff Sessions announce the White House would no longer follow the Obama-era policy of allowing states to set and enforce their own marijuana rules and regulations.
Senator Cory Gardner reacted by threatening to block Department of Justice nominees until this decision is reversed.
A public-private partnership between energy utility Tri State Generation, the Bureau of Land Management, and Colorado Parks & Wildlife will protect about 500 acres of prime Gunnison Sage Grouse habitat in Southwest Colorado.
The newly-purchased tract of land is near Dan Noble State Wildlife Area in San Miguel County near Norwood. (Photo: US Fish / Wildlife)
KBUT spoke with Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association Director John Norton about strategies the organization will use to attract clientele to the area in 2018. The idea is to focus on areas where the Gunnison Valley has a competitive advantage over other resort towns in Colorado.
Norton says the main areas the TA will zone in on are steep skiing and mountain biking. He also says that recent years have been spent solidifying Crested Butte's place as a mountain bike mecca, and now efforts can be put towards flyfishing.
E-bikes are a growing category of recreation in Colorado and in the Gunnison Valley. Federal agencies like the BLM or Forest Service classify them as motors. But local control is given to towns and cities over e-bike use on their paths, trails, and facilities.
Learn about e-bikes on today's local news segment.
Short-term renters in the Town of Crested Butte will pay an extra 5% sales tax beginning January 1st. The tax should create a revenue stream of over $250,000 for affordable housing in the town.
KBUT's Chad Reich and Crested Butte Town Manager Dara MacDonald sat down to discuss the town's work towards the tax and regulations in 2017.
Venture West: Colorado Investor Summit will be held on January 5th from 3-6 at the IceLab on the Western State campus. The event is designed to allow entrepreneurs and inventors to pitch ideas to potential investors on the Western Slope.
The renovations at the courthouse in Lake City cost about $750,000. It is now 140 years old, and is the state's oldest working courthouse. (Photo: Laura Palmisano)
Crested Butte-based environmental watchdog High Country Conservation Advocates is suing over the approval of a lease modification that could lead to an expansion at the West Elk Mine located in western Gunnison County.
(Photo - US Forest Service)
The Crested Butte Creative District encourages shoppers to work with local artists and crafters to create one-of-a-kind products. In addition, their "Give Creatively" campaign introduces new ways of gift-giving: tickets to concerts, art and music classes, or supporting organizations in someone's name.
Learn about the "Give Creatively" campaign on today's local news.
The bill would give clear and legal access to handcycles and wheelchairs in the wilderness. It would also end a blanket ban on bicycles and other forms of mechanized travel in lands managed as wilderness.
Critics argue that HR 1349 could be the first step into unraveling the Wilderness Act of 1964. Proponents say it is about access for both handcycles and mountain bikes in the wilderness.
A bill in Congress, if passed, will result in the naming of two peaks in Southwest Colorado after Norwood-based climbers Christine Boskoff and Charlie Fowler.
The two perished in 2006 while on a climbing trip in Southwest China, while attempting to climb Genyen Peak.
The climbers were very accomplished, had climbed multiple peaks over 8000 meters, and they were well-respected both in and outside of the climbing community. (Mountain Madness File Photo)
Since we first reported on allegations of sexual harassment by state lawmakers, we’ve heard from the accusers and from those being accused. Today, we hear from citizens in the districts they represent and other lawmakers. As Bente Birkeland reports, the overwhelming message is sexual harassment shouldn’t be tolerated at the state capitol.
KBUT's Ian Johnson reports on an agreement between Western State Colorado Univesity's Masters of Environmental Management Program, the Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management that should help streamline processes to complete research tasks and steward the land at the same time.
Human waste in the backcountry is a growing problem, especially at the East Fork Trailhead outside of Crested Butte. It accesses West Maroon Pass, a popular hike to Aspen.
Sally Johnson of Crested Butte was fed up, did some research, and proposed a solution to the Forest Service. She discovered Toilet Tech, who specializes in backcountry waste solutions.
Charlie Fowler and Christine Boskoff - two accomplished American climbers and mountaineers - perished under the face of Tibet's Genyen Peak in 2006.
A bill in Congress aims to commemorate the climbing couple by naming two 13,000 peaks in the San Juan range of Southwest Colorado after them.
The bill has passed the House and awaits its turn in the Senate.
This past weekend, the Mt. Crested Butte Police Department sent out a press release meant to impart some sense of calmness to the community. A series of reports about suspicious behavior ultimately led to no illegal activity discovered. A series of stories circulated throughout the community this past weekend, prompting the press release.
The Mayor's chair in Crested Butte is still vacant due to a unique clause requiring a 50% vote.
KBUT and the Crested Butte News held the Mayor's Runoff Forum on Thursday, December 7th at the Mallardi Theatre.
Take a listen, and vote!
Go with a "green build" in the Gunnison Valley, and you'd think that add to the appraised value of your home, but it's only recently that the housing market has woken up to the value efficient designs. Reporter Chris Biddle filed this feature report.
On Monday, December 4th, Center for the Arts Board President Ed Schmidt and Executive Director Jenny Birnie gave the Crested Butte Town Council an update on fundraising and construction.
The report was that the project remains the same in terms of timeline, scope, and final product.
Water issues in the West are notoriously complicated. But they don't have to be. Luke Runyon, who covers water issues for KUNC in Northern Colorado, is tracking down answers to tough water questions, and today, he starts with some chemistry basics.
In a 6-0 vote, the Crested Butte Town Council enacted the tax on short-term rentals that will go to fund an affordable housing program in the town. The fund can be used on various affordable housing projects in and outside of town limits.
With this tax, Crested Butte becomes the first jurisdiction or municipality to tax the industry at a higher rate than traditional lodging such as hotels.
Several officers from the Crested Butte Marshal's Department attended a Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) in Grand Junction earlier this year. The training is designed to give law enforcement experience with various simulated crisis situations, including potential homicides and suicides.
The CIT improves mental health offerings in Gunnison County, where there is a lack of mental health offerings due to various factors: distance from treatment, the price of private psychiatric care, substance abuse, seasonality, depression, and a shortage of resources for mental health providers statewide.
The Crested Butte Town Council held a work session on the housing development proposal known as "The Corner at Brush Creek" on Thursday, November 30th.
You can download and listen later or stream the entire meeting right here.
The town is prepping to tax short-term and vacation rentals 5% on top of the 13.4% all lodging in the town pays. That would bring the total tax paid by users of short-term and vacation rentals to 18.4%.
Officials with the town say the disparity in the tax rate is meant to level the playing field with the higher commercial property taxes paid by traditional lodging (hotels / bnb's) vs. the lower residential property taxes paid by short-term rentals operating in houses.
To gather some industry response, we spoke with Cliff Johnson, co-founder of Vacasa, a full-scale property management and rental firm who operates units in Crested Butte.
Gunnison Valley Habitat for Humanity is accepting applications for a recycled unit until the end-of-business on Friday, December 1st.
To learn more about the process of getting into a Habitat home, and how to qualify, we spoke with Julie Robinson, Director of Gunnison Valley Habitat for Humanity.
KBUT's Chad Reich sat down with Crested Butte Town Manager Dara MacDonald to discuss the town's views on the proposed Corner at Brush Creek housing development.
The Crested Butte Town Council will hold a work session this Thursday at 6 PM at Crested Butte Town Hall to learn more about the proposal from the developers, Gatesco.
The Jokerville Mine exploded in 1884, killing 60 men inside the shaft, which was located about 1/4 mile from the center of Crested Butte.
This past summer the Crested Butte Cemetery Committee put a lot of hard work in finally recognizing and laying these men to rest.
Learn about the memorial by listening to this special Thanksgiving Day local news cut right here or at 7:59 AM, 12:06, and 6:30 PM.
The Colorado Department of Transportation announced a new high-speed mass transit system will be tested along E-470.
Arrivo was developed by Brogan BamBrogan, a co-founder at the Hyperloop project.
The system is billed as one that could end traffic and congestion issues and add to the economy as less time will be spent in a vehicle.
The council passed the 1st reading of an ordinance to both tax short-term rentals and allocate that money to an affordable housing fund. The council could lower the 5% tax approved by a ratio of 4-1 by voters on November 7th, but there is no indication they are planning to do so. The next reading will be held on December 4th, and the ordinance could be passed at that meeting. Public comment will be taken.
Many believe that there are ghosts in the Gunnison Valley. Now there’s a group researching and documenting the unknown.
KBUT’s Ian Johnson reports on Paranormal Pursuits, the new club at Western state Colorado University dedicated to exploring and understanding a whole new world.
Crested Butte Film Festival co-director Michael Brody joins us in the KBUT studios to discuss a film featuring one of America's most popular bands, the Avett Brothers.
Learn about the film and how it is about more than just the music in this interview with KBUT's Chad Reich.
The film shows Thursday, November 16th at 7 PM at the Center for the Arts in Crested Butte.
The plan calls for the removal of snowbanks all winter, with the exception of around the Christmas and New Year's holidays and the Alley Loop.
The town council discussion was one of aesthetics versus safety.
The Chamber grew events such as the Chainless, Fat Tire 40, and Beer & Chili while seeing 4th of July numbers drop.
Democratic state representative Steve Lebsock is being pressured to resign and abandon his campaign for Colorado treasurer amid allegations that he harassed, intimidated and or made unwanted sexual advances towards female lawmakers, staffers and lobbyists.
Peak Productions' performance of "Bat Boy: The Musical" is based on a 1992 Weekly World News headline. KBUT's Ian Johnson sat down with the cast and director for their thoughts on what makes the show special.
Gunnison County has an estimated 800-850 veterans living in the area. To learn more about how veterans in Gunnison County gain access to their benefits or receive other forms of assistance, I spoke with Steve Otero, Veterans Services Officer for the county.
The American Legion is looking to add members who have served in the military to their local post, which was started in 1919.
Commander Ryan Jordi says a majority of their membership is from Vietnam-era veterans, and that he would like to see veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq (and all other conflicts) in the local post.
US House Committee on Ways and Means unveiled the delayed GOP tax overhaul proposal Thursday, November 2nd . KDNK’s (Carbondale) Raleigh Burleigh asked Congressman Scott Tipton what changes Coloradans could anticipate.
If one mayoral candidate does not receive over 50% of the vote, a runoff will be triggered.
Listen to this story, and learn about how a runoff works in Crested Butte.
Ballot initiative 5(A) asks voters for 3.5 mill levy tax increase in order to more fully fund the Crested Butte Fire Protection District. Why do they need more funding, what will they use it for, and what would this look like come tax season? Reporter Christopher Biddle interviewed Fire District Manager Mike Miller to find out.
Today, the US Forest Service released their plan to manage overuse and resource damage at Conundrum Hot Springs.
In 2018, backpackers will be required to have a permit and pay a fee to stay overnight at the popular backcountry destination.
The Four-Pass Loop and Capitol Lake will receive similar management treatments in the following years.
(Photo: US Forest Service)
The event is billed like "Shark Tank" where product designers will be able to pitch to funders in front of a live audience.
The event is part of Western State Colorado University's ICE (innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship) Lab, and is open to the public.
District Court Judge Stephen Patrick ruled against 2 plaintiffs who don't believe they should have to follow town rules and rent their accessory dwelling units - or ADU's.
Had the ruling gone in favor of the plaintiffs, the town's affordable housing program could have been seriously compromised as the deeds on 80 ADU's would have been in question.
Those 80 ADU's represent about 1 in every 6 or 7 residents of the town.
Two young sisters have been identified as the victims of a double homicide that took place near Norwood, a small ranching community about 30 miles west of Telluride. The cause of their deaths remains under investigation. San Miguel County District Court Judge Keri Yoder recently ordered the unsealing of the affidavit in the murder case.
The Mountain Roots Food Project has been busy in these Autumn days closing down their various gardening sites for the winter, including at one of their newest locations, located six miles east of Gunnison on property owned by the Coldharbor Institute. Last Saturday, Mountain Roots held a volunteer work day at their new community farm, and reporter Chris Biddle stopped by to see how the growing season went and how the partnership is growing.
Colorado lawmakers are already trying to find ways to lower health insurance premiums for residents on the individual market. Rates are going up – on average – by 34 percent next year. A big concern is that healthy people will opt out of health coverage altogether and make the insurance problem even worse.
A new put-in upstream of the current put-in and from Garlic Mike's will create more space to access the Gunnison River. A public planning process will get underway in the near future.
Western State Colorado University President Greg Salsbury and Gunnison Mayor Jim Gelwicks are calling on Colorado Senators Bennett and Gardner and Representative Tipton to pass a clean version of the DREAM Act.
They say DACA recipients live in Gunnison County, have earned their way, attend college, work in various industries, and contribute to a healthy community.
KBUT was on hand to broadcast and record the Crested Butte News Candidates Forum held on Sunday, October 22, 2017.
Listen and learn about local tax measures and hear from the candidates themselves.
The Corner at Brush Creek is in the sketch plan phase of a major impact project here in Gunnison County. A major impact project is one that has more than 5 units of development; this proposal has 240 units of development.
Learn about the process of a major impact project and where the public can give comment by listening to today's local news story.
Last year's study on the amount and type of backcountry use at the Slate River trailhead was designed to gather baseline data in order for land managers to see trends.
Baseline data is basically first-year data that provides a starting point for future studies.
No management changes are planned anytime soon. (Photo: Brian Liebermann, Crested Butte Land Trust)
"Short-term rental" is now the main use (29%) for free-market homes in the town of Crested Butte. "Owner-occupied" homes are #2 at 27%, long-term rentals at 24%, and second-homes comprise 20%. Short-term rentals are not allowed in deed-restricted homes.
This shift in home use in Crested Butte illustrates the housing crunch. In 1997, 43% of homes were long-term rentals. Over time, the use of the homes has changed, and that has cut the supply of rentals from the market.
The Hot T Camp and one of its guides are charged with illegally taking two bull elk and a black bear without a license, illegally transferring licenses to the animals, and hunting on private property without permission. The incident happened in 2016.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife encourages reports of suspected wildlife crimes. They can be contacted through Operation Game Thief at 877-265-6648. Tips can be anonymous, and rewards are offered for tips that lead to convictions of wildlife poachers.
Recapping October 13th and 14th in Western State Colorado University athletics. Covers volleyball, soccer, football, and swimming and diving.
The Choice Pass is a program of the Gunnison County Substance Abuse Prevention Project (GCSAPP). The Choice Pass gives students access to area discounts when the follow the guidelines of the program.
GCSAPP is working to highlight benefits of the program not associated with skiing in order to reach more students and families in Gunnison and Hinsdale Counties.
Eric Goold of Rocky Mountain Community Radio member station KVNF (Paonia) spoke with proponents and opponents about the recent approval of the Bull Mountain oil and gas project in the North Fork Valley.
The project could bring 146 new wells over 20,000 acres to the area. The approval ends 10 years of debate.
The Cerro Summit Wildlife Area is 15 miles east of Montrose on Highway 50.
The area is managed by Colorado Parks & Wildlife, who was able to secure access by swapping the Chipeta Lake area on the south side of Montrose for use of this area. Chipeta Lake was becoming more of a city park than a wildlife area.
Hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing are all available at the new wildlife area, which does close from December 1 - March 31.
(Photo: CPW)
A recap of the October 6th- October 8th weekend in Western State Colorado University athletics. Includes women's volleyball, football, and men's and women's cross country.
Colorado’s first special session in five years ended after two days with no legislation passing. Governor Hickenlooper had called lawmakers back to the state capitol to fix a mistake in an expansive bipartisan bill that left certain special districts and Denver’s RTD without access to tax revenue from the sale of recreational marijuana.
The Crested Butte Town Council passed a resolution which recognizes the 2nd Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day.
Nationally, the commemoration started as a counter-celebration to Columbus Day and was meant to promote Native culture and commemorate the history of Indigenous People.
The Town of Crested Butte held a town hall-style work session at the Center for the Arts to discuss the proposed Corner at Brush Creek development at the intersection of Highway 135 and Brush Creek Road.
Those who spoke were largely opposed to a project citing increased traffic and density, water and wastewater concerns, parking, dogs, the overall size, and the absence of home ownership possibilities as critiques of the proposal.
A re-dedication ceremony was held at the Crested Butte Cemetary for the 61 miners who died in a violent explosion in the Jokerville mine on January 24, 1884. They were buried in a mass grave within days.
Not much was known about these people and few had families. The families of the deceased left town.
Listen to the ceremony and learn about the disaster and the early days of coal mining in Crested Butte from the event's presenters Jim "Deli" Schmidt, Kay Flint, Bill Crank, and Dr. Duane Vandenbusche.
Around October 10th, test flying will begin for an airborne electromagnetic study that aims to learn about how the geology, surface, and ground water interact and lead to different chemical makeups.
A large helicopter with a 60-foot hula hoop will be hovering over area the Upper East River and its tributaries in the coming weeks.
In the coming months, Congress will decide whether to allow a pathway to U.S. citizenship for foreign-born children who arrived in the country without documentation. With the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA (Daw-kuh), program on the line, Bente [BEN tuh] Birkeland looks at the implications for Colorado’s college-bound.
On Thursday, September 28th, the towns of Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte - along with Crested Butte Mountain Resort - met to discuss parking, impacts from parking, and possible solutions to a growing parking problem.
Interstate Parking Solutions presented their 'holistic' approach to parking in municipalities and districts.
What is clear is that a large parking lot or garage in the Town of Crested Butte is not part of the solution, and that public input will be taken as a solution is sought.
Flights departing from GUC starting December 15th and returning by February 8th could be eligible for at least a $200 discount.
The program - funded by the Gunnison Valley Rural Transportation Authority and administered by the Tourism Association - is designed to help fill outbound flights on a new, second daily flight from Denver this winter. The goal with filling seats is to continue the service on that second flight.
(Photo: Gunnison Airport)
The Iron Pour returns to Crested Butte on October 5th, at the top of Elk Avenue in Crested Butte.
The use of iron proliferated during the early to mid 1900's - especially during WWI and WWII. Attendees to the Iron Pour can expect to experience an artistic presentation of the flowing molten metal.
Water is a vital resource, especially on the farm fields that grow our food. Much of Colorado's food is grown in the San Luis Valley, a high desert that receives less than 7" of water annually, but sits on top of a gigantic aquifer.
Across the Great Plains of the Midwest, many farm communities face dwindling water supplies. In the San Luis Valley, that spurred farmers to take up a bold experiment. Harvest Public Media’s Luke Runyon traveled to the area to see if the experiment is working. (Photo: Luke Ruynon / Harvest Public Media)
A student spray painted walls in Taylor Hall, and he tore out equipment and spray-painted the KWSB studios at Western State Colorado University.
A representative at the university said the damage is mostly superficial, and that normal broadcasting on KWSB will resume early next week. The radio station is expected operate automated programming through Homecoming Weekend.
An arrest has been made. Listen to the story for more.
Gunnison County is isolated. And that's likely more obvious for someone who needs transportation to breast cancer clinics or hospitals.
The local chapter of Tough Enough To Wear Pink recently purchased "Tuffy" a Dodge Ram that can be checked out and driven to care facilities.
The Crested Butte Conservation Corps pulled a lot of human waste (think poop) out of the backcountry this summer, especially around trailheads. One solution to the poop problem could be installing toilets at trailheads.
Putting a toilet in the backcountry isn't as easy as it sounds. It has to go through an environmental review, be purchased, installed, maintained, and emptied.
Learn about how the Conservation Corps battled the poop problem and potential solutions in-the-works on today's local news.
Merchandising giant Amazon wants to open a second headquarters – called Amazon HQ2 -- outside of Seattle. Colorado is pulling together what it hopes is a winning bid, but it’s a competitive venture.
The decision consents to the BLM - if they choose to allow the expansion to happen at Arch Coal's West Elk Mine in Western Gunnison County. The draft decision states that temporary roads will be allowed in the North Fork Coal Mining Area, a subset of the Sunset Roadless Area. There are no provisions requiring methane capture or flaring in this draft decision.
If the expansion is allowed, it's estimated that over 10 million tons of coal will be extracted and that the life of the mine will be extended 1.6 years.
The Crested Butte skate park has seen its fair share of airs, grabs, flips, and grinds over the years; But the once pre-eminent park has also seen better days. Some local skaters have taken it upon themselves to do something about it. Their solution: the resurrection of the Crested Butte Bowl Bash, a fundraiser and friendly competition to raise money and awareness for the plight of their beloved park. KBUT's Christopher Biddle has more.
The decision consents to the BLM - if they choose to allow the expansion to happen at Arch Coal's West Elk Mine. The draft decision states that temporary roads will be allowed in the North Fork Coal Mining Area, a subset of the Sunset Roadless Area. There are no provisions requiring methane capture or flaring in this draft decision.
If the expansion is allowed, it's estimated that over 10 million tons of coal will be extracted and that the life of the mine will be extended 1.6 years.
Public concern has been raised over a proposed 240 unit rental complex - 65% of which will be affordable housing - which could be located at the intersection of Brush Creek Road and Highway 135.
In this conversation, Gunnison County Director of Community Development Cathie Pagano discusses the proposal and the process a proposal like this goes through. She also responds to public scrutiny that the proposal has been fast-tracked, and she lays out what the next steps in this process are, including how the public can be involved.
The recent closure of a mine – and a soon to be closed power plant in Montrose County – could cut tax revenue as much as 70 percent. Both local and state groups are laboring to find a replacement economy in a region that’s not used to rapid change.
Rural communities on Colorado’s western slope are struggling to thrive. Yesterday we told you how the loss of coal jobs in the towns of Nucla and Naturita in Montrose County are forcing many there to make tough choices. Should they stay and pursue new careers – or pack up and move away?
Colorado is a resilient state. We weathered the 2008 recession better than most, and now things are booming. The unemployment rate is among the lowest in the nation and people are flocking here for jobs. But it’s a different story in many parts of western Colorado.
Wool from cashmere goats is finer, softer, stronger, lighter, and 3 times as insulating than that from sheep. For Gunnison resident Ann Bertschy, cashmere goats are not only a means to make a living, but also a source of life lessons for her and for countless young volunteers in the Gunnison Valley. Reporter Christopher Biddle has more.
When unsolicited goods - like clothing and food - are sent, personpower must be re-directed to sorting, packaging, transporting, storing, and re-distributing these goods.
While it may feel good giving up a Patagonia shirt or some organic macaroni and cheese, the effort will be helped more if the shirt is sold or the money is saved at the store and sent to one of the following agencies.
An increase in the number of river users on the Upper Slate River from the Gunsight Bridge to the town of Crested Butte is creating a conflict between recreation and wildlife.
The Crested Butte Land Trust, who manages lands in this corridor, says they need to work towards a solution that takes into account a new and rapidly growing use - paddleboarding - while stewarding for wildlife and ranching along the waterway.
Courtney Burton of CB SUP - a paddleboard rental company - believes there a solution to reducing the conflict between recreation and wildlife can be found through education, awareness, discouraging use of the river when necessary, and by spreading use away from the waterway.
The election is November 7th. Voter registration can be updated at sos.state.co.us - this will need to be done if you have moved into or within Gunnison County since your last update.
Mayoral Candidates - Jim "Deli" Schmidt, Tracy A. Smith, Paul Merck, Chris Ladoulis
Council Candidates - Kyle "Squirl" Ryan, Chris Haver, Candice Bradley, Lisa Merck, Kent Cowherd, William Dujardin, Jackson Petito, Richard Machemehl
The Town Council voted unanimously in what they called a "No-brainer" to switch to Gunnison County Electric Association's Green Power Program.
The town will spend an estimate $1500 more this year because of the switch. Mayor Glenn Michel encouraged everyone in town to make the switch that will cost the average household $.84 each month.
The Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority will not pursue a ballot measure that would ask voters in the county if they wish to tax property to create a stream of funds for affordable housing.
The Town of Crested Butte will continue to work on their ballot measure for voters in the town that will ask for a tax on vacation and short-term rentals within town limits to fund affordable housing projects.
The trail is close to town, it gains a lot of elevation, and it will not be an easy 'walk in the park' for bikers, hikers, and horseback riders.
This weekend is CBMBA's annual overnight trail work session, and they will be trying to put in some of the remaining 2.5 miles of trail that still needs to be built in order to connect with the Carbon Creek Trail.
With the recent announcement from the Department of Interior that Greater Sage Grouse habitat protection could be rolled back, some wonder what that means for the endangered Gunnison Sage Grouse. (PHOTOS Courtesy of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. ABOVE: The Greater Sage Grouse. BELOW: The Gunnison Sage Grouse.)
In the past few episodes of Wading in the Water, we’ve heard the perspective of different water uses including agricultural, recreational, and municipal. In this episode, Julie Nania, water program director for HCCA, discusses the importance of final stakeholder perspective, the environment, and what factors we’re looking at when it comes to watershed management planning.
We all drink water, take showers, enjoy our town’s parks...municipal water use has a big presence in our daily lives. In Episode #57, Shea Earley, wastewater system manager for town of Crested Butte tells us more about municipal water uses in the valley.
KBUT talks with Margaret Bowes, President of the Colorado Association of Ski Towns (CAST). The group recognizes that resort communities face unique challenges in delivering municipal services to its residents and visitors.
Today, we learn about how Telluride and Summit County are using a sales tax to fund affordable housing in their communities.
Plans to pave the alley by Soupcon were met with resistance at the Crested Butte Town Council meeting on August 7th.
Residents and businessowners expressed concerns about impacts to the alley including safety, aesthetics, and the manner in which the project was put forth - namely using private funds for a public project and a lack of notice to those directly impacted.
The Gunnison Crested Butte Tourism Association is working on marketing outbound flights from GUC this winter. It's part of an effort to secure this winter's increased inbound service.
The market for outbound flights is a mix of Western State students on holiday break, business travelers, and pleasure travelers who might be looking to warm up in mid-winter.
KBUT's Chad Reich speaks with Michael Brody of the Crested Butte Film Festival about the film "I Am Not Your Negro" - which explores racism in our country's past and present.
The film shows Thursday, August 17th at 7 PM - doors at 6:30. Tickets at CBFilmFest.org or at the Center for the Arts in Crested Butte.
The new building would be 8848 square feet - 6000 square feet larger than the current building - and would come at price tag of $3.5 million.
Parks & Rec Director Janna Hansen says the current building is at capacity, and the new building would fill the current needs for CB Nordic, the junior nordic program, hockey, and could be used as a rented venue for events and other non-sports programming.
The Town of Crested Butte is considering pursuing ballot language to help fund affordable housing by taxing short-term and vacation rentals in the town.
Right now, discussions led to the possibility of voters deciding whether or not the industry would be taxed at a rate of 5%. The tax would help offset increased demand for jobs created by bringing more people to town by building year-round deed-restricted housing opportunities for workers.
The council will discuss this further at the next meeting on August 21st.
KBUT spoke with Aspen-based professional skier and Protect Our Winters (POW) representative Chris Davenport about the organization's views on methane venting and coal mine expansion at the West Elk Mine in Somerset.
Davenport says that if the mine is going to expand, the responsible thing to do is capture and use the methane for energy, rather than release it (and its greenhouse effects) into the atmosphere.
Reporter Chris Biddle swung by the so-called "40th Reunion" in Crested Butte on the last weekend of July. More than 600 people who lived in Crested Butte between 1977 and 2017 gathered for a pot luck dinner on Tommy V. field to eat, drink, dance and share old stories.
While we typically associate rafting and fishing as river recreation, like we discussed in episode #55, did you know that rivers play a large role in skiing as well? This week, Matt Feier, director of planning at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, tells us about the connection between rivers and snow...the man-made variety of snow that is.
In episode #54, we learned about different agricultural water uses in the Upper Gunnison Basin. This week, we discuss a different stakeholder perspective: recreation. Recreation revolving around our rivers takes many forms, from rafting to stand up paddleboarding. To learn more, here’s Billy Rankin, local guide and risk manager for Irwin Guides.
Ranching and recreation both need to exist for the community and economy in the Gunnison Valley to work, local leaders say. One example of how ranching and recreation have come together is with rafter-friendly fences, that keep cattle on one side, while allowing for passage of river users. These can be seen on the Upper Slate River (which is likely too low to float at this point), and they replace traditional wire fences that can tangle up boaters.
Crested Butte Town Planner Michael Yerman presented the short-term rental ordinance and regulations at a public meeting this past Tuesday night. Licensing, how to lose a license, inspections, and a cap on how many licenses are allowed were all part of the presentation.
Citizens expressed concerns over the non-transferability of a license, and how the non-transferability will impact bookings for homes under contract that may be unable to honor those bookings without a license.
Gunnison County Health and Human Services asks breastfeeding mothers to participate in the Global Latch-On Event this Saturday to show support for one another, celebrate victories, and help break down cultural norms regarding breastfeeding in public.
The event will take place Saturday, August 8th at the Gunnison Farmer's Market. Last year, 28 countries and nearly 50,000 people participated in the Global Latch-On Event.
KBUT speaks with Jon Mugglestone, co-coordinator of the Gunnison Basin Noxious Weed Program, about efforts to protect native species on public and private lands in the Gunnison Basin.
In all of the episodes of Wading in the Water thus far, we’ve discussed different water uses in the Gunnison Basin, and now we’ll take a deeper look. Up first, I spoke with Bruce Allen, a 5th generation rancher in the Gunnison Valley, to learn more about agricultural water uses. There are many different values and water uses in the upper gunnison basin, and watershed management planning aims to bring all stakeholders together to ensure the best case scenario for the future.
The Crested Butte Conservation Corps was founded by the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association this past spring to help deal with resource damage, trail repair, etiquette, education, and other backcountry issues that may arise.
KBUT spoke with CBMBA director Dave Ochs to learn about what impact the CB Conservation Corps is having in the backcountry and about what they've been doing to improve the backcountry experience and protect resources.
The Crested Butte Town Council and Marshals Department held a work session on Monday, July 10th, to discuss increasing traffic in the town.
As town gets busier and busier, something will need to be done to deal with the overabundance of vehicles and the shortage of parking available during the busy months.
Speeding, blowing stop signs, and claiming public property for private parking were all brought up and will be taken up by a to-be-created taskforce.
The Gunsight Milling Area, off of the GB Loop (an extension of the Lower Loop) is set for reclamation later this year to clean up the area and dispose of heavy metals that are leeching into the groundwater near the site.
KBUT's Chad Reich talks with Tara Tafi of the Colorado Division of Mining, Reclamation, and Safety about the project.
Adaptive management gives the Forest Service tools to use to protect natural resources when certain population thresholds are met in specific backcountry zones.
The Conundrum Hot Springs area and the 4-Pass Loop will all see limited overnight use as well as other tools (such as the use of 'wag bags' to carry out human waste) as part of the Aspen-Sopris Ranger District's plan to keep the high country from degrading more than it has due to overuse and human impact.
The town's water plant is operating at capacity, and public works is asking residents and visitors to help make enough drinking water available to everyone.
Public Works Director Rodney Due says residents should follow watering regulations (5-10 AM and 5-10 PM - odd-numbered addresses on odd-numbered days, and vice versa) and consider their usage.
KBUT spoke with Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley Director Pam Montgomery about the current state of nonprofits in Gunnison County.
She says many nonprofits are doing well partly because of the economy, partly because people are very giving here, and because of the important roles they play in the Gunnison Valley.
"Mule Deer and Energy Development - Long Term Trends of Habituation and Abundance" was published in Global Change Biology - a research journal focused on changing trends in the environment.
The study says that predators are not solely to blame for the decline in mule deer populations in the Piecance Basin, where a predator control program is set to take place.
Sara Brito is a 20 year food, advertising/digital media, and Fortune 100 Industry veteran. Sara's work has been featured on the cover of The New York Times Magazine. In 2015 she was invited by the U.S. Department of State and the James Beard Foundation to Speak at the American Chef Rally in Milan, Italy and in 2007 she participated in the inaugural "Why Food Matters" program at the Conference on World Affairs at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Outdoor Retailer leaders say their move was motivated in part because of the convenience of the city as a travel destination, in part because of Colorado's burgeoning outdoors scene, and in part because of a distaste from Utah legislators' views on public lands management.
Recreational marijuana is now more expensive in Colorado. That’s because lawmakers increased a special tax on pot from 10 to 15 percent. It was a part of a larger compromise to prevent funding cuts to rural hospitals.
Andy Stewart is on the road 42 weeks a year announcing rodeos. He's the legendary voice in the booth of Cattlemen's Days, which kicks off July 7th, and he also announces the largest rodeo each year in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Take a listen and learn about how Andy got into rodeo announcing, how he prepares for events, and learn if he has any rodeo announcer superstitions on today's local news.
Researchers at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Gothic could use dead hummingbirds for two experiments - one in mating and one in genetics.
Hummingbirds are important creatures to study because they pollinate the flowers here in the Elk Mountains. But also they migrate very far south and act as indicators of a changing climate for researchers' work in Gothic.
The Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority is determining whether or not to go to the ballot with a property tax question to help fund affordable housing.
You may be called today, Wednesday, July 5th.
Last year, 158 unique cutthroat trout were rescued from Hayden Creek after the Hayden Pass Wildfire. Today, biologists at the Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery are trying to spawn them so as to preserve a unique genetic line, and a link to Colorado's fishing history.
SPC Alun Howells is fallen hero from Gunnison. Before that, he was a son, a friend, a mentor, and a soldier. Alun died in combat in Baghdad in 2007.
The public is invited to join in a ceremony to honor Alun's service at I-O-O-F Park in downtown Gunnison on July 4th at 8:45 AM.
Learn about Alun's life, how he touched others, and how he will be remembered in this story.
(Photo: Fallen Heroes Project)
Most of the state is very brittle. In Gunnison County, no fire bans are in place (right now), but according to Gunnison County Emergency Management, folks using fire should be on guard.
Chad Reich speaks with Gunnison County Emergency Manager Scott Morrill about the current danger and what to do if it feels like someone isn't playing with fire safely.
So far on Wading in the Water, we’ve learned what watershed management planning is, and why it’s important…so now that we’re doing it here in our basin, how does it work? In episode #49, Julie Nania, water program director for High Country Conservation Advocates and one of the coordinators for the watershed management planning committee, talks about assessments and inventory work, the first phase to watershed management planning.
The Lake Fork watershed is an important, but sometimes forgotten area of the Gunnison Basin, and is another focus area for the watershed management planning process. In episode #53, Camille Richard, executive director of the Lake Fork Conservancy, gives us a run-down of the Lake Fork sub-basin. Field work and stakeholder outreach for the Lake Fork sub-basin will be completed this summer.
The watershed management planning process is starting to focus specifically on assessments for the East River, Ohio Creek, and Lake Fork watersheds. In the next few episodes, we’ll give you an overview on each of these sub-basins. In episode #51, Ashley Bembenek, local water quality specialist, gives us an overview of the East River watershed. Stakeholder outreach for the East River watershed will be completed this summer and field work will commence in 2018.
In the next few episodes of Wading in the Water, we’ll start taking a look at the different sub-basins within the Gunnison Basin that are being assessed for watershed management planning. But first, let’s take a step back to look at our basin as a whole. To understand this best, in episode #50, George Sibley, long-time Gunnison Valley local and board member of the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District, explains why our headwaters are special.
The Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority is considering a property tax to help fund affordable housing in the county.
The tax would be $20 per $100,000 of assessed value for residential properties and $70 per $100,000 for commercial properties.
At the meeting, wildlife managers will learn what the public wants to see in terms of elk population, and they will combine public perception with responsible elk herd management to create population objectives.
Anyone with an interest in wildlife management - sportspeople, ranchers, recreationists, and wildlife watchers - are invited to attend the. It will be held Tuesday, June 27th at 6:30 PM at the Gunnison Fairgrounds.
The organization has decided to stop pursuing the project due to financial constraints caused by changes to an anticipated loan.
The organization appreciates the support they received.
High water makes navigating a few of the features dangerous, and therefore, the Gunnison River Festival had to a few events.
Several initiatives are in place to help protect the Upper East River Valley from citizen-created, to a bus, to a camping closure.
The goal is to protect natural resources and sensitive research sites around Gothic during the busiest months (June 15 - August 15).
With ties to a crucial part of Gunnison history, not to mention connections with significant historical figures, the Gunnison Gas and Waterworks Building, nicknamed the Old City Shop, has a good case for preservation, but being behind a fence with little value to the public means that it must come down, but that might not be the end of one of the City's oldest structures.
The Forest Service seeks comments on a 1700-acre mine expansion over 2 parcels of land at the West Elk Mine near Somerset.
The proposal will utilize the North Fork Coal Mining Area, which is part of the Sunset Roadless Area.
Learn about the proposal and how the public can comment on the proposal by listening to the story.
The Forest Service is seeking public comment regarding a proposal to expand coal mining operations at the West Elk Mine by 1700 acres.
KBUT spoke with High County Citizen's Alliance Public Lands Director Matt Reed about the proposal and the organization's opposition.
From Fayetteville, Arkansas, and performing at The Eldo in Crested Butte on June 14th, the band Arkansauce stopped in by "The Orange Blossom Special" to play a handful of tunes and discuss their strategy for the Telluride Bluegrass Band Competition.
"Rolling coal" is when modified diesel engines spew clouds of smoke into the air on demand.
A new law recognizes that "rolling coal" can obstruct the road and create a safety hazard.
Coal rollers may be fined up to $100 for each offense as of last week.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is recommending the newly-created Bears Ears National Monument be downsized by an unspecified amount, possibly through unilateral action by the President.
This report comes from Gail Binkly of KSJD, Dryland Community Radio based in Cortez.
The resort had a good year businesswise. The resort is thanking the snow gods and recognizing the marketing efforts they've made to skiers on the Front Range.
At a meeting on June 6th, the Gunnison County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) deferred to the US Forest Service over issues involving access to Green Lake above Irwin.
Nearby landowner J.W. Smith put up a barricade last year, citing resource damage and trespassing issues at his property and in the public lands higher up near the lake.
Employers say trying to fill all of the needed jobs in Crested Butte is frustrating and stressful. Two employers KBUT spoke with believe the job surplus is related to a shortage of housing that tourism-sector service and retail employees can afford.
It's not the first time in history a ski town was short on employees, but it's happening in Crested Butte (again) right now ahead of what is projected to be the busiest summer to this point.
Two panels made up of representatives of the mental health community, conservation advocates, tourism drivers, and Housing Authority Officials addressed the crowd at last Thursday's One Valley Prosperity Project's Meeting. While there was room for cautious optimism, housing remains the Valley's most dire situation.
There’s a new and exciting water project starting in the Gunnison Basin. Watershed Management Planning is a collaborative effort amongst many different water stakeholders in the valley that assesses how to protect our water uses and environment, when facing increased pressure from climate change and increased local water demands from a growing populations. This past winter, the Upper Gunnison River Watershed Management Planning Committee received a grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board to support watershed management planning in our basin. This summer’s Wading in the Water will take a look at this entire process: what is it, why is it important, how are we doing it, and who’s at the table? In this introductory episode, Chris Sturm from the Colorado Water Conservation Board gives us an overview of this process and how it’s happening across the state as part of the Colorado Water Plan.
Gunnison County Commissioners met to discuss ongoing issues with access to the Green Lake Road above Irwin.
Commissioners ultimately believe this is an issue between the landowner and the US Forest Service.
The county will stay out of the issue from now on.
After a year of discussions, the town passed Ordinance 6 (and combined with Ordinance 12) to regulate short-term rentals.
Here are some details:
30% of homes in the Green Zone will be allowed to have unlimited licenses. Zones R1D and R1E (The Verzuh Annexation) will be allowed into the green zone. All primary residences may obtain a 60-day maximum license, and primary residents may also obtain the unlimited license. Once the cap has been met, a "waiting line" will form. Fees for unlimited licenses will be higher than those for primary residents.
Listen to the full story for more.
In this two part collaboration with the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum, we hear stories from Leonard Kapushion, who was born in a house on Elk Avenue in Crested Butte in 1934.
Part 1: Ranching and fishing in the Gunnison Valley before World War II. Part 2: From Barn Dances to South Korea, Len's musical career took him places.
In this two part collaboration with the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum, we hear stories from Leonard Kapushion, who was born in a house on Elk Avenue in Crested Butte in 1934.
Part 1: Ranching and fishing in the Gunnison Valley before Wolrd War II. Part 2: From Barn Dances to South Korea, Len's musical career took him places.
The employment ads in the newspapers take up much more space than the rental ads. That indicates a shortage of workers for jobs in the Town of Crested Butte, namely in the service and tourism industries.
To learn more, KBUT's Chad Reich spoke with two locals familiar with the workforce on Elk Avenue.
A new memorial will honor miners that passed on January 24, 1884, in what was the most-tragic mining accident in Colorado (today, it is still the 3rd most-tragic). An estimated 58-60 miners perished in the mine located on "The Bench" above Crested Butte.
The miners likely didn't have much of a connection to the town nor -with the exception of 4 of the miners - did they have families, and the families of those who died did not stick around.
Independent journalist Rico Moore has been following the predator control program in the Piecance Basin and in the Arkansas River Valley. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is the agency performing the predator control operations designed to boost mule deer populations by killing black bears and mountain lions in the two zones. Moore's research has discovered a link between the oil and gas industry and the program.
Last Monday, the new Gunnison City Council heard from two organizations seeking permits for summer events: The Gunnison Farmer's Market and the First Friday Artwalks, both of which have seen growth recently.
American Legion Post #54 was formed in Gunnison in 1919 and has been active since. Post Commander Ryan Jordi says veterans are there for each other, and that he would like to connect with the area's younger veterans.
Dr. Duane Vandenbusche spoke to members of the community about the history of coal mining the morning of Friday, May 26th. The Crested Butte Cemetery Committee is working on memorial for victims of the Jokerville Mine Disaster. Learn about what happened at the Jokerville Mine, the Big Mine, and about why our coal was so heavily sought after (and likely would be today as there is still plenty of coal in those hills).
When cost-cutting in Flint, Michigan raised lead contamination in public drinking water, the nation became aware that water can sometimes harbor dangerous amounts of lead. The failures in Flint may result in stronger rules nationwide for monitoring home drinking water. But schools are not part of these public tests. That’s why Colorado legislators have proposed and passed a bill to help more Colorado schools pay for testing lead in their drinking water
The in-app add-on encourages mountain bike riders to explore all 750 miles of Gunnison County singletrack. TrailQuest is part of the Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association's "CBGTrails" app.
The idea is to introduce riders to new areas and trails, spread the use away from the few very popular trails, and to encourage return visits by offering prizes at certain milestones.
Changes in where and how people can camp are coming to the Gunnison National Forest this summer. The Gothic Corridor will again be closed from June 15 - August 15, and a dispersed camping ban is in currently in place around Tin Cup.
The Forest Service says the goal is to reduce the human-caused impacts from a growth in dispersed camping so that people can enjoy their forests into the future.
The Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal River dams are discharging their highest flows of the year.
The high flow is expected to be at 12,000 cubic feet per second on May 23rd.
Large releases in wetter years are an attempt to mimic the natural hydrolograph of the riverway before the dams were built. It also aids in the recovery of endagnered fish downstream.
The Bureau of Land Management seeks substantive comments on the proposal to develop 20 miles of non-motorized singletrack trails at the Signal Peak area near the Western State campus.
Proponents are excited at the thought of new trails and economic benefits that could come along with the development.
Others take a conservation-based approach to the management of the land here. They say Signal Peak is winter habitat and that adding trails - and people - would put pressure on the animals.
More info on how to comment can be found by clicking here.
Drones are used for recreation and to make a living. But they're also aircraft and are required to be registered and follow rules.
The Crested Butte Marshals have yet to experience any major problems with drones locally, and they want to stay ahead of safety and privacy issues associated with the aircraft.
The Crested Butte Town Council continues to look at short-term rentals.
They're considering allowing all primary residents to rent for up to 60 days per year. They are also considering capping the number of unlimited short-term rental licenses to 30% of units in neighborhoods that allow for short-term rentals.
The council needs to decide how to define primary residence. They'll discuss short-term rentals and licensing at the next council meeting the first Monday in June.
The week in sports featuring Titans track heading to state, bike racing, and a lot more. Lots of sound effects this week, lots!
The West Elk Mine in Gunnison County seeks a reduction in the royalty rate it pays on coal it mines on public lands.
Local environmental watchdog High Country Conservation Advocates opposes a reduction in their rate and is drumming up public support for its opposition.
Three organizations in the Gunnison Valley will celebrate the inaugural Colorado Public Lands Day by highlighting the connection between public land and agriculture. Reporter Chris Biddle spoke with some of the parties involved.
Morning Edition Host Christopher Biddle asked for help reminding listeners to call their mothers today...It didn't go as planned.
The week in sports with Crested Butte News sports maestro Than Acuff.
Listen each Wednesday at 2:00 and 8:30 PM for The Sports Barrel.
Tom Gorman directs the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, an agency that works on cases in the innermountain West.
Mr. Gorman joined us on the phone to talk about trends in heroin use, personal and societal consequences, and about what the agency is doing to battle the phenomenon.
Amateur drone pilots may put the public at risk or be actively breaking laws. At last Monday's Town Council meeting, Crested Butte Chief Marshal Mike Reily spoke about the need to protect public safety and privacy from invasive and irresponsible drone use.
The Colorado State Forest Service's seedling program helps landowner reduce erosion, reforest property, save energy, protect livestock, and much more.
Listen and learn about how the program can benefit local landowners on today's local news segment on KBUT.
New projects in the town, coupled with a projected busy tourism season, will make town feel especially busy this summer.
The Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority has hired Jennifer Kermode as its new Executive Director, and one of the first things she'll be working on is establishing a dedicated source of funding for the construction of new housing units in the Gunnison Valley.
Two signs will be erected year-round to remind visitors and residents of the unique speed limit in the town. One will be at the north entrance of Crested Butte and the other will be on Elk Avenue.
The goal is to get people to slow down for public safety reasons.
The week in sports featuring Titans soccer, track & field, and a look back at the 5th annual CB3P.
The Sports Barrel is heard Wednesdays at 2:00 PM and 8:30 PM.
The Center for the Arts is approximately $2 million short of their $13 million goal for Phase One of their expansion. They plan to break ground in early June with an overall goal of completing all three phases of their project by July 2019.
John Murphy will still be spending time mountain biking, camping, and fishing in the Gunnison National Forest.
He says one of the biggest challenges the Gunnison National Forest faces is the increased amount of recreation that leads to resource damage, especially around Crested Butte.
Listen and learn about John's experiences in our public lands.
The explosion took place last wee about 30 miles north of Denver in the town of Firestone.
Wells in the area and some other wells across Colorado are shut down temporarily.
Gunnison County Adult Protective Services works with cases of elder abuse. Examples of elder abuse include physical abuse, financial mismanagement, negligence, or self-neglect.
The agency will hold a public meeting on Thursday, May 4th at the Crested Butte Library to educate citizens on how to spot elder abuse and learn about the agency's work in Gunnison County.
The proposal from Gunnison Trails - a nonprofit mountain bike advocacy group - involves 20 miles of new, non-motorized trails behind the Western State campus at the area known as Signal Peak.
A public meeting will be held Thursday, April 27th at 7 PM at the University Center Ballroom on the Western State campus.
The public can learn more about the proposal and submit a comment by clicking here.
Frank Kugle of the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District, who is a KBUT underwriter, sits down with reporter Chris Biddle to talk about the KBUT River Report: how it works; why we do it; and how it can help you.
Colorado’s legislative session is winding down, and in these final weeks, two of the major policy goals are unraveling. Bente Birkeland talks to statehouse reporters about the dynamics at play and the ramifications.
Today's story is part of our Capitol Conversation series, where Rocky Mountain Community Radio statehouse reporter Bente Birkelend talks with other reporters that report from the statehouse.
Here's a story for the Spring Season. It's lambing season at Parker Pastures. KBUT reporter Christopher Biddle paid their ranch in Gunnison a visit to see how things are going.
Areas in the Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness have exceeded their threshold.
This is causing resource damage and diminishing the wilderness experience.
Several areas in the MBSW may switch to a permit system.
Before heading to the desert, to Grandma's, or wherever you decide to head out (if you are), shopping locally can help keep money in the local economy.
This keeps people employed and keeps retail doors open.
The 2017 budget approved by the Colorado State Senate on Thursday made significant cuts to hospital funding in the state. But Colorado State Senator Don Coram, who represents southwestern Colorado, says he hopes to maintain funding for rural hospitals by supporting a separate bill introduced in the Senate last Monday
At a recent joint meeting between the Crested Butte Town Council and the Gunnison County Commissioners, the topic of recreation management, and a "holistic" approach towards it, was a topic of converstaion.
"Holistic" recreation management involves looking at the whole picture, from inter-connectivity, infrastructure, communication, and amenities.
It's part about creating an experience for visitors and local.
It's part about preserving natural resources and working to minimize or eliminate natural resource damage.
It's part about making sure there are enough people to drive the tourism industry in Gunnison County.
Community members who attended last year's walk said it was a great chance to get together, talk, and heal around the topic of suicide and suicide awareness and prevention.
This year's walk will be held April 30th. Listen to the full story by clicking the play button below for more.
The ordinance passed unanimously at Monday night's Crested Butte Town Council meeting.
The council says this a proactive step to deal with a potential future developer who wants to combine two condos or townhouses into a larger unit.
The house will be in the affordable housing lots of Paradise Park, will house a town employee or employees, and was designed by the applied architecture class.
The students didn't have it easy. The project was treated like any other proposed house in town. They had to work with a client (the town), gain BOZAR approval, and agree on a design concept at the end of the day.
This fall, voters could potentially decide whether or not a tax on lodging in Gunnison County could be used to help fund the county's affordable housing program.
The recent housing needs assessment says that over 400 units are needed by the year 2020, and given current funding levels provided by the Town of Crested Butte and from Gunnison County, that will be impossible.
The state budget is making its way through the Colorado legislature. Bente Birkeland talks to statehouse reporters about some of the key provisions, and why many lawmakers want major changes.
The 2017 budget approved by the Colorado State Senate on Thursday made significant cuts to hospital funding in the state. But Colorado State Senator Don Coram, who represents southwestern Colorado, says he hopes to maintain funding for rural hospitals by supporting a separate bill.
One Gunnison County Commissioner, John Messner, approaches recreation management from a holistic perspective.
Learn more about this on today's local news broadcast.
Gunnison County Emergency Management says the likelihood of flooding this year is minimal.
In January and February, when it was dumping big time, people started talking about floods.
A dry March will probably keep water below the banks of local rivers.
A recent water sampling up the Slate River Valley is part of a larger project that helps agricultural producers throughout the west plan for irrigation and other farming and ranching activities in the coming non-snow months.
KBUT's Chad Reich joined representatives from the BLM, the Forest Service, and the Gunnison Conservation District to learn more about how the sampling takes place and what the data is used for.
A dramatic increase in backcountry use in recent years has alarmed many in the Gunnison Valley. Reporter Chris Biddle learned more about one organization's attempt to manage the influx.
County Manager Matthew Birnie provided an update on the Brush Creek Parcel at Tuesday's joint meeting between the Gunnison County Commissioners and the Crested Butte Town Council.
This 17-acre piece of land holds the possibility of 'putting a dent' into the county's affordable housing shortfall.
A request-for-proposals is due by end-of-biz on Friday, March 31st. Birnie says the idea is to see what the market sees as viable for this project.
Building trust and exercising patience will be needed as agencies work with the mining company Freeport McMoran to work towards disposing of mining claims and rights on Mt. Emmons.
Freeport McMoran seems willing to work towards an eventual withdrawal, but it won't happen quickly.
The attorneys say there are "hurdels" and "knots" and we "have to go slow to go fast."
An effort is underway in the Republican-controlled state senate to do away with the state’s health care exchange – Connect for Health Colorado – and switch over to the federal exchange. Supporters say it would save money. But with plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act over in Washington, things here are in limbo.
KBUT's Christopher Biddle files this report about how a graduate student is helping a 5th-generation ranching family work to preserve the land (by putting carbon back into the ground) they operate on.
Jake Courkamp is an ecologist and grad student at Western State Colorado University. Bruce Allen is a fifth generation cattle rancher. They’re a match made in Colorado.
(Photo: Jake Courcamp)
The Town of Crested Butte has received inquiries about the possibility of a single buyer purchasing large apartment or condo buildings and consolidating the units into fewer and 'more luxury' units.
An ordinance in-the-works would keep that from happening. The town says the goal is to keep as many free-market units in town as possible.
Visitor numbers were up at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and the Curecanti Recreation Areas this past year.
Sandy Snell-Dobert with the Parks Service says that last year was the National Park Service's 100th anniversary, and that extra marketing muscle was put into getting people into parks.
She also says that people seem to want to get out and explore their public lands more and more.
A proposal from the White House to defund the National Endowment For The Arts would have local impacts to the arts community in Gunnison County.
The Crested Butte Music Festival uses an NEA grant for some of its free programming and to reduce tuition for the Opera Children's Chorus, of which about half helps local students.
The Crested Butte Creative District is funded through Colorado Creative Industries, who receives 1/3 of its funding from the NEA. The Creative District helps fund public arts projects made by local artists in the town.
The future of the funding for the NEA is uncertain.
The Town of Crested Butte was outbid last week and has lost control over one of its units in Poverty Gulch, a deed-restricted affordable housing complex on the northeast side of town.
A baseline study is being undertaken to learn about use in the Slate River and Washington Gulch corridors just outside of Crested Butte.
The goal of the study is to give land managers and future researchers baseline data that will allow them to see trends in the amount and type of use in these areas.
The information will be held at Western State, and the study is made possible through a grant from the Community Foundation For The Gunnison Valley.
State lawmakers are halfway through their annual legislative session. While some bills have already been passed and been signed by the governor – the task of funding transportation is still on the table.
A 17-acre parcel of land located at the intersection of Brush Creek Road and Highway 135 will be the site of future development that could help fill the gap of needed affordable housing units.
The land will also likely hold a parking intercept and other mixed-income housing. It is owned jointly by the towns of Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte, the ski area, and Gunnison County.
Catch up with the week in sports featuring Town League Hockey champs THE LAST STEEP, extreme telemark skiing hits the road and brings home the gold, and a look at some other stuff that people did with their minds and bodies.
And sound effects! Don't forget the sound effects!
The Thompson Divide Protection Bill, introduced by Senator Michael Bennet, aims to expand the recognized Thompson Divide area deep into Gunnison County and would protect the land from oil and gas development indefinitely.
The bill has bi-partisan support, including from neighboring counties, Gunnison Energy (and oil and gas developer who works in the area), and environmental groups. The bill has an uphill battle given the current political attitude towards environmental protection in Washington, D.C.
(Map: Sen. Bennet's Office)
Love's Trillium has reached a deal with Gunnison County and the Gunnison RTA to bring a compressed natural gas station to Gunnison by summer 2017.
CNG is not only a growing trend in the public realm, but also the preferred alternative fuel for Colorado State fleets.
(Photo: US Dept. of Energy)
Various beetles are moving up in elevation from Hinsdale and Saguache Counties and into the forests of Gunnison County.
Beetles eat trees. The trees die. Listen to this story and learn about impacts dead trees and (termporarily) disappearing forests can have.
Local news airs at 7:59 AM, 12:06 & 6:30 PM and at KBUT.org.
(Beetle infestation map courtesy of Colorado State Forest Service)
The Wellness Fair is held this Saturday from 7 - 11 AM at the Lodge In Mountaineer Square.
KBUT sits down with Gunnison Valley Health's Tyler Hansen to talk about services available and the goals of the health fair.
Local news can be heard at 7:59 AM, 12:06 & 6:30 PM.
The legendary, iconic, all-time ski and lifestyle film "Ski Bummin'" turns 20 years old this year. It was filmed in Crested Butte and features many residents who are still around today.
KBUT spoke with Ethan Harris, who was behind the camera for most of the film, about his experience making the movie and living here.
The film shows Saturday at the Center For The Arts in Crested Butte, and an afterparty will be held at the Brick Oven to benefit the Villanueva family's fight against cancer.
The comment period has been extended for a proposal that would begin the development 35 new oil and gas wells on 4 pads in the next 3 years.
Share the Slate held an awareness meeting last week in Crested Butte.
KBUT's Christopher Biddle was on hand to learn more about how the organization advocates for mixed-use travel in the Slate River Valley.
On hand were members human-powered advocates Silent Tracks, who say they would like to see travel management for the Slate River Valley revisited by the Forest Service.
The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel is accusing Republican State Senator Ray Scott of defamation, and is threatening to sue him for a tweet he sent calling his hometown newspaper ‘fake news’. If filed, legal experts say it would be the first lawsuit of its kind, potentially setting a legal definition for what is considered fake news and what is not. Bente [BEN tuh] Birkeland spoke with Scott about the case.
A measure that would increase the penalty for tampering with oil and equipment is making its way through the Republican-controlled state senate.
The bill is generating passionate debate.
At Tuesday night's Crested Butte Town Council meeting, Town Planner Michael Yerman updated the council on what's happening in the world of affordable housing and about challenges in affordable housing in the town.
From student-designed projects, to essential service provider rental projects, Space-To-Create, the lack of a countywide housing director, goals of the program, and plans for a 17-acre parcel of land just south of town, there is no shortage of activity in the world of affordable housing in the north end of the Gunnison Valley.
A forum was held to explain rights to immigrants in the event of an encounter with a police or immigration officer and to help immigrants plan in case of deportation or detention.
KBUT's Toni Todd was at the event and spoke with attendees and the presenting attorney.
Senator Ray Scott accused the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel newspaper of peddling fake news.
Daily Sentinel Publisher Jay Seaton says he plans to sue Senator Scott over the accusations.
KVNF's Eric Goold covers this story for Rocky Mountain Community Radio, of which KBUT is a member. Small stations combine resources to provide regional coverage of interest to listeners across the state.
It's been a long discussion for the council and the town in general. The community appears split over the issue.
The council says this is one of the most difficult issues it has ever faced.
The council will continue to talk about STR's in March.
Gunnison County has seen 20 people die from suicide since 2014. A prevention training course will be held this coming Wednesday, February 22nd at the Colorado Workforce Center.
"QPF: question, persuade, refer" is the theme of the training, and organizers say the training will help attendees recognize the signs of someone who may need help.
The CB / Mt. CB Chamber of Commerce has stepped up to sponsor this year's event, which will be held on February 28th.
CBMR hosted the Junior Extreme Freeskiing Competiton last weekend.
These kids go huge.
KBUT's Christopher Biddle was on hand for the action and has this report.
(Photo: Jay McCarthy)
Last December, hate speech and racist graffiti was discovered in Colorado Hall - a student residence hall - last December.
The University found the perpetrator, expelled the student, and has made it clear there is zero tolerance on campus for this type of behavior and language.
The "Moving Mountains" initiative was kickstarted by this event, and it works towards creating a more open, inclusive, and equitable community on campus.
Law enforcement officers in Colorado would be required to be U.S. citizens under a new measure that cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday. But as Bente Birkeland reports, law enforcement agencies object to the bill and no-one testified in support of it.
Absent from the ordinance are limits on the number of nights a property can be rented per year (in non-unlimited zones) and the number of licenses or properties available for short-term rental in certain zones. Also absent is the fee for the short-term license and the idea that short-term rentals must be the owner's primary residence.
Mayor Glenn Michel and Councilor Laura Mitchell recused themselves from the discussion, saying they may be affected by decisions made Monday night.
The current ordinance addresses licensing and safety issues.
Pitkin County Open Space Director Gary Tannenbaum presented the progress on the Pitkin County side to the Crested Butte Town Council this past Monday night.
Tannenbaum says multi-modal transportation is part of Governor John Hickenlooper's plan to diversify economies in Colorado. This is a 20-year project, and parts of the trail are already 'in' on both sides.
The idea is that trails are a big draw in Gunnison County, and they contribute to both the economy and lifestyle of residents. A baseline trails report has been assembled as part of the One Valley Prosperity Project. The report will be used as a starting point for future planning and management of trail-based recreation.
Image: BLM
Students gathered in the University Center on the Western State Colorado University campus last Thursday, February 2nd, to raise awareness of a perceived lack of diversity in the student body and the faculty.
They also expressed concerns over allegations and a court case involving racial discrimination at Western State's former firm Jackson National Life. Salsbury denies all allegations, saying they are "false, heresay."
KBUT spoke with Dave Ochs, technical director at Fat Bike World Championships, about the week's festivities.
Fat Bike Worlds is the biggest fat bike race in the US. It came and went last weekend in Crested Butte. Organizers say it was a big success that will provide a foundation for future years.
Homegrown Crested Butte Olympian halfpipe skier Aaron Blunck took the gold in Skier Halfpipe at this past weekend's X Games in Aspen, Colorado.
Aaron takes time out of his busy training schedule to speak with us at KBUT and give us an idea of what it was like to fulfill a childhood dream of winning X Games Gold.
Congrats, Aaron!
New infestations from the spruce beetle topped 136,000 acres this past year. The Gunnison Basin's landscape is splattered with the main source of food for the spruce beetle - Englemann Spruce.
The douglas-fir beetle continues to expand and damage new areas, while other invasive species have actually declined in the past few years.
Photo: (Dan West - Colorado State Forest Service)
A measure that would encourage schools to offer more gun training for security guards, and could pave the way for more teachers to have guns in schools cleared its first committee earlier this week. Bente Birkeland has more on the controversial measure at the state capitol.
The Crested Butte Fire Protection District is asking residents and property managers to dig out gas meters from residences and businesses. The CBFPD has responded to over a dozen calls about the smell of gas in the past few days, and there has even been an evacuation. Leaving a gas meter buried is a major public safety hazard.
They're also asking residents who park their vehicles to leave enough room for emergency vehicles to access side streets and neighborhoods during the daytime.
For info on how to find a buried gas meter, call Atmos Energy at 641-2729 or call the CBFPD at 349-5333 with any other questions about public safety.
An aphid called phylloxera has been detected in several Western Slope vineyards. The aphid kills European grape plants from the root.
The vineyards will need to adapt their crop selection to other forms that can tolerate the phylloxera infestation, and that growers may have a rough go at it while they adapt.
Lawmakers began the 2017 legislative session this past week.
Statehouse reporter Bente Birkelend asked various Coloradoans what their priorities are as private citizens.
Gunnison County Substance Abuse Prevention Project's "Communities That Care" program aims to curb risk factors in Gunnison.
Part of the program is working to provideyouth a place to go afterhours, and Gunnison-based businesses have offered up their space.
Nice to hear some good news every now and then, eh?
Short-term rentals continued to dominate the latest Crested Butte Town Council meeting.
Citizens spoke on behalf of tighter restrictions in light of the "green zone" revelation. Others spoke on behalf of looser or no restrictions in order to not punish locals using short-term rentals as a way to help stay afloat in Crested Butte.
No action was taken. The council will discuss short-term rentals again in early February.
The Crested Butte Women's March is meant to stand behind the progress that's been made so far in history, and that women's issues are all human's issues. "We've worked too hard to go back," says organizer Kate Vogel.
Marchers are asked to meet on Saturday, January 21st at 3 PM at the 4-way stop in Crested Butte.
After a century storm that dropped 100" in the Crested Butte area, crews continue to widen streets and prepare the town for the next round of powder. They've been working nonstop since around Christmas, and CB Public Works Director Rodney Due is thrilled with the efforts.
At the same time, Highway 135 has been very icy, and multiple reports of accidents have come in to KBUT this past week.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife will begin baiting operations to steer deer and elk away from roadways, where they are finding most of their food this winter.
This is not a feeding operation to save the animals from starving. That can come with unintended consequences - namely the spread of disease.
CPW asks that citizens not feed the animals on their own because their digestive systems cannot handle the food and hay, and that is illegal.
A new incoming administration in Washington, D.C., will likely lead to a change in environmental policy.
This discussion is designed to review what the past 8 years have brought to the environmental world and what may be in store in the next 4 years.
The community is invited to join in a panel discussion on Wednesday, January 18th at 6:30 PM.
The Environmental Protection Agency has ruled that it will continue to operate the plant that treats contaminated water from the Gold King Mine, which spilled in August of 2015.
It turns out there is much more to the story than what was printed in the Denver Post last week, as local ski enthusiast Scott Gates (aka "Scooter") does not want it to stop snowing.
The author of the article has known Scooter for 25 years, was taught to ski powder by him, and is attempting to clear both his and Scooter's name in this fiasco.
(Photo: Scooter and Jason Blevins)
High school hockey, hoops, and town league hockey highlight this hot edition of the hellatiously hilarious Sports Barrel - only here on KBUT.
The Pow Cam overfloweth. The tremendous amount of new snow is causing havoc for public transportation, schools were closed, Western State cancels classes for Tuesday, CBMR shut down around 2 PM, arts and kid's programming is cancelled, and there is an avalanche warning in effect in the backcountry. This is nuts.
The Forest Service has released a plan that would limit access to overnight users in various corridors of the Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness. If the number of users exceeds a threshold, a permit system would be put into place.
The plan will be put to public comment in coming months. It has not been finalized or implemented at this time.
(Photo: USFS / Conundrum Hot Springs)
The study in communities near the Rocky Flats Nuclear traces the incidence of cancer versus the rest of Metro Denver.
The full study can be viewed here.
The Vinotok bonfire was the topic of a work session before Tuesday night's Crested Butte Town Council meeting. Police addressed neighborhood concerns and voiced their concerns about the fire.
Vinotok organizers apologized for miscommunications and vowed to work towards a solution to neighborhood and police concerns.
Another work session about the bonfire will need to be held at a later date.
At Monday night's Crested Butte Town Council meeting, caps on nights a property can be short-term rented were discussed as was whether or not to allow short-term rentals in M and T zones in the town.
No formal action was taken, and there will be public comment taken at the January 17th Town Council meeting.
Governor John Hickenlooper is entering his second to last legislative session as governor. He said he’s very aware of his time in office being limited, and that colored his discussion on his goals for the upcoming legislative session.
If forecasted winds and snowfall come true, the avalanche danger in the Crested Butte backcountry could raise from "considerable" to "high" by tomorrow. An avalanche watch is currently in effect.
Within the newly-designated Bears Ears National Monument lies Indian Creek, a legendary climbing location where pebble wrestlers from around the globe come to test their skills on the walls.
To learn how the Gunnison Valley climbing community, I asked around.
(Photo: Tom Peterson / Lighthawk)
Chris Dickey and Will Shoemaker from the Gunnison Country Times discuss the challenges and rewards of local reporting. We also discuss the state of journalism today, it's importance in a free society, fake news, the unique character of local reporting, and more. This is part 2 of a 2 part conversation.
Around 300 people gathered outside of the San Juan County Courthouse in Monticello, Utah, to protest the designation of the Bears Ears National Monument in Southeast Utah.
About 1/4 of those living in poverty - and eligible for food stamps - actually receive them.
Joel McClurg with Hunger Free Colorado says there is often a stigma applied to food stamps in communities with great income and wealth disparities.
Eight years after transgender Coloradans were added to the state's anti-discrimination laws, advocates say housing and other forms of discrimination persist. Comments from Sable Schultz, program manager, GLBT Community Center of Colorado; and Karen Scarpella, executive director, Gender Identity Center of Colorado. Thanks to the Colorado Trust for their contributions to the story.
President Obama proclaimed the 1.35-million-acre Bears Ears area in Southeast Utah to be a National Monument Wednesday.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife plans to start euthanizing mountain lions in the Upper Arkansas River Valley as early as this winter to see how mule deer populations respond. Deer populations in that area are below the management objective. Two tests zones will be monitored with differing levels of animals being 'controlled.'
The Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact was signed into law on December 8th. The bill will give the outdoor industry recognition in the Gross Domestic Product. The data can be used to see trends in recreation as part of the economy. The Outdoor Industry Association, a trade group, hopes the data can be used to help communities buffer in times of bust and plan for times of boom for more traditional industries.
Residents voiced concerns over impacts of short-term rentals on neighborhoods and how the makeup of their neighborhoods has changed at Monday night's Crested Butte Town Council meeting.
Hear concerns from members of the business community about regulations that they believe could be too tight and affect revenue in town.
Some business owners are concerned over a projected loss-of-sales if tight short-term rental regulations are put into place. They believe that people staying in short-term rental units are keeping many businesses in Crested Butte afloat. Here are some excerpts from Monday's Crested Butte Town Council meeting.
Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association (CBMBA) will begin grooming 37 miles of mixed-use winter singletrack in the Brush and Cement Creek valleys as well as on Gothic Road.
The Forest Service hopes for better winter trailhead management by partnering with CBMBA than is currently being done.
The US Forest Service and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources announced today that an exception is being granted to allow the construction of temporary roads within a roadless area in the North Fork Valley in Western Gunnison County.
The mines near the east edge of modern-day Gunnison County ended up shipping lead and zinc during WWI for the war effort or to the Sherwin-Williams paint factory in Kansas.
Jesse James and brother Frank were one step ahead of the law and wanted to lay low until things cooled down.
Assuming the elevation and cold made farming impossible, not many tried. But George Cornwall didn't know it was supposed to be impossible, and he made it work.
Silver is discovered along South Arkansas River in the 1880's, and mining camps are popping up along the river.
A midwesterner tried to hit it rich for 25 years in the silver territory of the Gunnison Country, until he struck it rich.
Postmen braved extreme temperatures, avalanches, and hostiles to take the mail from camp to camp.
At the Los Pinos Indian Agency, a plot was hatched to assassinate Chief Ouray, Chief of the Utes.
"Captain" Ellen Jack came west hoping to make a fortune in the mines with diamonds and a 44-caliber pistol.
Silver and gold brought prospectors near Henson Creek, the onetime site of Capital City.
Sam Fisher's toll road ceased when the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad became the main route between Gunnison and Crested Butte.
He worked as a superintendent and mining engineer for mining companies across Colorado. Wanderlust had struck, so he headed for the Gunnison Country.
Near Whitepine, two veteran prospectors found gold deposits, but failed to note the oncoming signs of winter.
Gunnison was first laid out in 1879 to accommodate the miners flocking to the area. Learn about the founders, and how they did not see eye-to-eye, on today's episode.
Skiing was a way of life, used for transportation (and fun) for those living in the Gunnison Country in the 1800's.
In July 1879, A.T. Gilkerson tried for one last time to find ore in the Gunnison Country, and he found it!
Early silver finds were sensational, and many came to Irwin to strike it rich. Robert Breckenridge was one of those, and he may have ended up putting bullets in his partners' heads.
A man and wife bought land in the Gunnison Country and ended up near the Lake Fork of the Gunnison, before heading into Lake City.
A major snowstorm hit the Gunnison Country when the railroad pulled out of Gunnison in early March into avalanche terrain.
Aspen was isolated, but had trouble getting silver out and supplies in, so they brought in the burros.
Miners in the Upper Animas River Valley found mining camps, and before Silverton grew, Howardsville was king.
Between Ouray and Telluride, a militia stood guard at Imogene Pass to keep the silver mines operating despite striking workers.
Nicholas P. Creede moved from Iowa to Omaha to Colorado. He was a wandering prospector who discovered mines, made it rich, and went broke before striking it big near the town of his namesake.
The year was 1946 and competitive skiing was in its infancy at Western State and in the Gunnison Country.
Ouray was booming in the 1880's as a silver camp and wanted a grand hotel. The Beaumont was born and would rival the La Veta Hotel in Gunnison as the finest in Western Colorado.
Steve Monfredo - "Fredo" - was one of the biggest characters to have ever graced the Gunnison Country.
"Cochetope Shorty" - an Englishman - fought for the Union in the Civil War before coming to the Gunnison Country to mine at Irwin.
With songs in their hearts and silver on their minds, miners flocked to Irwin in the shadows of the Ruby and Elk Mountains.