Montrose Fresh

Today - Earlier this week there was a candlelit vigil where dozens gathered to honor the 13 American service members killed in an explosion last week outside of the Kabul airport.

Also, starting Tuesday, September 7th, Montrose County School District will be kicking off the Extended Learning Network for elementary school students. It’s a new after-school program that will offer after-school childcare and educational enrichment.

Visit montrosepress.com for more on these stories.

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Today - A Montrose woman’s son was among 13 U.S. service members killed outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan.

Also, Montrose Memorial Hospital’s board was not taking up a possible shot mandate at last week’s meeting. But many say they feared being forced to choose between their livelihoods and their right to make their own medical decisions.

Read more at montrosepress.com

 

Support the show: https://www.montrosepress.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

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Welcome to Montrose Fresh, from The Montrose Daily Press. It’s FridayAugust 20th and we’re here with local news, events, announcements, jobs, and more that matter to us here in Western Colorado. 

 

Today - Colorado 135 was closed overnight between Wednesday and early Thursday while law enforcement agencies negotiated the surrender of a man suspected of pointing a gun at a Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office deputy.

 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Elevate Internet. Whether it’s for your home or your business they offer the best speeds at the best price. Right now, if you refer a friend you can get $25 off! Give them a call for more information at 844-386-8744 or visit them at www.elevateinternet.com.

 

Now, our feature story…

 

Colorado 135 was closed overnight between Wednesday and early Thursday while law enforcement agencies negotiated the surrender of a man suspected of pointing a gun at a Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office deputy.

 

Brad Fortener was eventually detained on suspicion of first-degree assault, menacing and prohibited use of a weapon. Formal charges are pending and case documents and attorney information were not immediately available.

 

Sheriff John Gallowich said that shortly after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, deputies were informed that a man had threatened to kill “potheads”. When a deputy arrived, the man could be seen in his home, holding what appeared to be a handgun.

 

Gallowich alleged the suspect pointed the weapon at the deputy, who took cover and summoned help.

 

Other GCSO deputies arrived, securing the area with assistance from Mt. Crested Butte Police Department, Colorado State Patrol and the Gunnison Police Department K-9 unit.

 

For safety reasons, the highway was closed at about 6 p.m. Fortener surrendered shortly after 12 a.m. on Thursday and the highway reopened about 30 minutes after that.

 

To find out more about this story visit us at montrosepress.com.

 

 

Now, some local history. This week's local history is brought to you by England Fence. England Fence is family owned and operated, and they're ready to help you build your dream fence, archway, gate, or deck. Give them a call at 970-249-4430, or head over to their website englandfence.com.

 

Did you know that Loghill Village borders Ridgway State Park and Eldredge, though there is no direct road access between the two? The nearest town is actually Ridgway which can be seen from its position on the mesa.

 

The town is covered in large Ponderosa Pine trees, piñons and junipers. Wildlife is abundant with a fairly large population of Mule Deer, Elk, Bobcats, Lynxes, Black Bears, wild turkeys and an occasional sighting of mountain lions. Almost 1,000 feet higher than Ridgway, the types and sizes of flora vary greatly. For example, Aspen trees are seen here and there on the mesa, as opposed to the lower Ridgway valley where they are scarce.

 

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Before we go, a quick announcement on an upcoming vaccine clinic...

 

Montrose County School District and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment are collaborating to host a COVID vaccination clinic at Montrose High School on Wednesday, September 1 from 3 to 6 p.m.

 

The school district is focused on pre-registering students and parents with a goal of 100. Parents will need to provide consent for children under the age of 18.

 

The CDPHE is funding and operating the clinic, which will be distributing the two-dose Pfizer vaccine. Another event is scheduled four weeks later for the second dose.

 

And while many employers — including Walmart, the Pentagon and Aurora Public Schools — have already mandated vaccines for some workers, the Montrose district is not planning to require the vaccine for students and employees.

 

Right now, the vaccination rate in Montrose County is lagging behind the statewide average, with only 46% of residents 12 and older fully vaccinated. Just over half have received at least one dose.

To learn more visit us at montrosepress.com

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That’s all for today, thank you for listening! For more information on any of these stories visit us at montrosepress.com.

 

And don’t forget to check out our sponsor, Elevate Internet. Visit them at elevateinternet.com to learn more.

 

For more than 137 years, The Montrose Daily Press has been dedicated to shining a light on all the issues that matter to our community. Go to montrosepress.com to subscribe for just $1.99 per week for our digital edition. You’ll get unlimited access to every story, feature, and special section. Thank you and remember to tune in again next time on montrosepress.com or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Support the show: https://www.montrosepress.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good morning and welcome to Montrose Fresh, from The Montrose Daily Press. It’s Wednesday Aug 25th and we’re here to bring you a closer look at our top stories, events and more that matter to us here in Western Colorado. 

 

Today - With a hefty chunk of funding heading its way, the West Region Wildfire Council is better able to tackle fuels reduction projects.

 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Elevate Internet. Whether it’s for your home or your business they offer the best speeds at the best price. Right now, if you refer a friend you can get $25 off! Give them a call for more information at 844-386-8744 or visit them at elevateinternet.com.

 

Now, our feature story.

 

With a hefty chunk of funding heading its way, the West Region Wildfire Council is better able to tackle fuels reduction projects.

 

The state recently awarded the WRWC $730,950 to increase resiliency within the watershed and wildland-urban interface. It’s the area where wildland intersects with human development.

 

The WRWC also received $178,200 for the Trout Lake wildfire and watershed resiliency project in San Miguel County.

 

The money comes from the Forest Restoration gation grant program. The goal of the funding is to increase the community’s ability to address wildfire; reduce its risks; promote forest health and to encourage the use of wood from forest health and fuels reduction projects.

 

We spoke to Jamie Gomez, the executive director of the West Region Wildfire Council. He said that even though it sounds like a single, cohesive project by its title, it’s not. There are a number of individual projects they’ll be taking on.

 

The council is looking at a combination of defensible space projects; thinning critical routes; fuel breaks and possibly bigger projects.

 

We all know that the deadly wildfires last year emphasized how many forested areas in the state are fire-prone.

 

And wildfire is often inevitable. That’s why the state offers funding help through the FRWRM grant program to help offset the costs of reducing that risk and promoting forest health.

 

And Gomez says that the science is fairly clear - the more we can invest now, the lower intensity wildfire we will have and the lower risks the communities will face.

 

The West Region Wildfire Council is based in Montrose. It works to reduce wildfire risk in Montrose, Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Ouray and San Miguel counties.

 

The council offers practical tips for hardening your home against wildfire and creating defensible space around your home.

 

It also provides wildfire risk assessments, site visits and, for certain qualified neighborhoods.

 

To learn more about this story visit our full story at montrosepress.com

 

Next,  

 

We’d like to take a moment to remember the life of Heather Christine Washington of Montrose.

 

She was born in Denver on June 18, 1967. Her childhood was spent with her family and she graduated from Middle Park High School with Panther pride. Then, in 1995, Heather married Paul Washington and in 1997 had a son. They lived in Tacoma, Washington, for many years amongst family and friends and then moved to Montrose in 1998.

 

Heather enjoyed crocheting and learning new patterns. She was always creating beautiful blankets, rugs, pillows, decorations and kitchen scrubbers for anyone and everyone. One year she crocheted little teacups as Christmas presents. Hallmark movies and cooking shows held a special place for Heather especially if family and friends would watch with her. She was a very generous and forgiving soul. Heather never held a grudge.

 

Heather will be missed by so many that loved her. Thank you for taking the time with us today to remember and celebrate her life.

 

That’s all for today, thank you for listening! For more information on any of these stories visit us at montrosepress.com.

 

And don’t forget to check out our sponsor, Elevate Internet. Visit them at elevateinternet.com to learn more.

 

For more than 137 years, The Montrose Daily Press has been dedicated to shining a light on all the issues that matter to our community. Go to montrosepress.com to subscribe for just $1.99 per week for our digital edition. You’ll get unlimited access to every story, feature, and special section. Thank you and remember to tune in again next time on montrosepress.com or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Support the show: https://www.montrosepress.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good morning and welcome to Montrose Fresh, from The Montrose Daily Press. It’s MondayAugust 23rd and we’re here to bring you a closer look at our top stories, events and more that matter to us here in Western Colorado. 

 

Today - With the rise of the delta variant, the Colorado Department of Corrections is now requiring staffers to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Elevate Internet. Whether it’s for your home or your business they offer the best speeds at the best price. Right now, if you refer a friend you can get $25 off! Give them a call for more information at 844-386-8744 or visit them at elevateinternet.com.

 

Now, our feature story.

 

With the rise of the delta variant, the Colorado Department of Corrections is now requiring staffers to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

 

The requirement applies to prison employees. It also applies to Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Colorado Department of Human Services staffers.

 

The Delta Correctional Center is a state prison - so this requirement will affect that center. However, it does not apply to county jails, which are not part of the CDOC. 

 

In fact, none of the four jails in the local 7th Judicial District mandates vaccines for corrections staff members. And Montrose County Sheriff Gene Lillard said it’s their constitutional right to decide it one way or the other.

 

The local jail employs about 38 people.

 

Lillard said that as of August 16th, the Montrose County Jail had never been tagged as an outbreak site. They’re actually one of very few corrections facilities in Colorado that did not have an outbreak of COVID during 2020.

 

Delta, Gunnison and San Miguel counties operate the remaining jails in the district. 

 

The Delta County Jail does not have a vaccine requirement for staff. Nor does Gunnison’s jail.

 

But San Miguel County Sheriff Bill Masters’ views differ from his counterparts. Well, when it comes to vaccination. Masters says they’re strongly encouraging vaccination for all employees. He said of the 44 people employed he is only aware of four who have not opted for a vaccine.

 

And those non-vaccinated staff are required to wear masks and be tested.

 

Meanwhile, Delta, Montrose and Gunnison jails do not have staff testing requirements.

 

And here in Montrose, although Lillard won’t tell his staff to get vaccinated, the staff are masking and wearing gloves. The MCSO also uses commercial-grade equipment to sanitize the facility.

 

In short, they take precautions. 

 

Lillard summed up his perspective by saying they’re guarded. They don’t take this lightly. But he still believes it is the right of the individual. If someone wants to put something in their body, that’s up to them.

 

To read more on this story and the precautions that Correctional Centers in our community are taking visit us at montrosepress.com

 

Before we go… 

 

Pandemic-induced supply chain shortages are affecting the global coffee bean market, but local roasters don't expect prices to rise — yet. 

 

In fact, many different industries are dealing with supply shortages. And a July frost and drought in Brazil is adding to that tension for coffee roasters.

 

Brazil - one of the largest exporters of coffee beans, lost some coffee bean crops due to the weather-related events. Now, coffee prices have hit a six-year high in the country.

 

Though a full effect on the crop won’t be realized until next year, the events are expected to have little impact on corporations like Starbucks or Nestlé.

 

But for small, locally owned roasters, there’s no answer on how the rise in coffee prices could impact business.

 

Still...for now, Montrose coffee lovers can exhale. 

 

Eric Palumbo, the owner, roaster and barista at Cimarron Coffee Roasters in Montrose said he hasn’t been impacted by the market’s rise in coffee prices. He purchases his product long before it’s placed on a container ship. In fact, he’s locked in product from this year’s harvest that should get him through the majority of next year.

 

The big thing impacting him short-term is shipping costs.

 

Palumbo’s less-than-truckload shipping costs have spiked significantly. 

 

He’s been absorbing other additional costs, too, for materials like cups and lids, due to shipping pricing and shortages.

 

To learn more about this story and other local businesses that are grappling with the affects of shortages visit montrosepress.com

 

That’s all for today, thank you for listening! For more information on any of these stories visit us at montrosepress.com.

 

And don’t forget to check out our sponsor, Elevate Internet. Visit them at elevateinternet.com to learn more.

 

For more than 137 years, The Montrose Daily Press has been dedicated to shining a light on all the issues that matter to our community. Go to montrosepress.com to subscribe for just $1.99 per week for our digital edition. You’ll get unlimited access to every story, feature, and special section. Thank you and remember to tune in again next time on montrosepress.com or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Support the show: https://www.montrosepress.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Montrose Fresh, from The Montrose Daily Press. It’s FridayAugust 20th and we’re here with local news, events, announcements, jobs, and more that matter to us here in Western Colorado. 

 

Today - Next week’s scrimmage and plenty of practice should give head coach Brett Mertens and his staff an idea of who will replace 2020 graduate Keagan Goodwin. Goodwin was a dual-threat quarterback.

 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Elevate Internet. Whether it’s for your home or your business they offer the best speeds at the best price. Right now, if you refer a friend you can get $25 off! Give them a call for more information at 844-386-8744 or visit them at www.elevateinternet.com.

 

Now, our feature story…

 

Next week’s scrimmage and plenty of practice should give head coach Brett Mertens and his staff an idea of who will replace 2020 graduate Keagan Goodwin. Goodwin was a dual-threat quarterback. He threw for 310 yards and six touchdowns and added 147 yards and two scores on the ground in five games last season.

 

But now, senior Bridger Kurtz and sophomore Gage Wareham both have the opportunity to start on August 26 against Grand Junction Central. It’s the season opener.

 

Mastering the playbook is key for Kurtz. And experience-wise, Kurtz has an edge. He even made a few spot starts last fall filling in for Goodwin. And he played well.

 

Excitement is ramping up for Kurtz. He said Montrose could do some special things this year.

 

This summer, he’s focused on his mechanics, timing and fundamentals, making sure he’s delivering the ball swiftly to each of the team’s running backs.

 

And he’s enjoyed competing alongside Wareham, too.

 

Thanks to a somewhat “back-to-normal summer,” absent of certain restrictions or uncertainty of a potential season, players are back to the routine of years past. Montrose’s three-day full-contact summer camp in July at Western State University gave the players adequate opportunity to ramp up conditioning. It's the reason why Mertens isn’t worried about going from six to 10 games — it’s been a routine offseason.

 

He told us it’s going to be fun. They missed last year.

 

To find out more about this story visit us at montrosepress.com.

 

Now, some local history. This week's local history is brought to you by England Fence. England Fence is family owned and operated, and they're ready to help you build your dream fence, archway, gate, or deck. Give them a call at 970-249-4430, or head over to their website englandfence.com.

 

Before we go a few things going on in our community that you should know about...

 

Tomorrow starting at 8 a.m. There’s free fun for kids at Youth Appreciation Day. Expect multiple events at multiple locations throughout town. Highlights include Kiddie Carnival; Rec Fest; mini golf; jump houses; dance instruction; police K-9s; stand up paddle board instruction; arts and crafts events; super splash-n-slide; and even a CareFlight helicopter. You can check out the full schedule at montroserec.com.

 

Then on Wednesday next week head over to the Wright Opera House for their 7pm night movie!

They’ll be showing “Swallow.” It’s about a young housewife who develops a disorder that gives her an irresistible urge to eat inedible objects. Keep in mind it’s rated R. 

 

Finally, next Saturday - the 28th, make sure to head over to the Ridgway RiverFest at Rollans Park. It’s a family-friendly celebration with live music, local food and drinks, and watershed educational and cultural programs. 

 

Make sure to check out all of our favorite upcoming events at montrosepress.com

 

 

That’s all for today, thank you for listening! For more information on any of these stories visit us at montrosepress.com.

 

And don’t forget to check out our sponsor, Elevate Internet. Visit them at elevateinternet.com to learn more.

 

For more than 137 years, The Montrose Daily Press has been dedicated to shining a light on all the issues that matter to our community. Go to montrosepress.com to subscribe for just $1.99 per week for our digital edition. You’ll get unlimited access to every story, feature, and special section. Thank you and remember to tune in again next time on montrosepress.com or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Support the show: https://www.montrosepress.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good morning and welcome to Montrose Fresh, from The Montrose Daily Press. It’s Wednesday Aug 18th and we’re here to bring you a closer look at our top stories, events and more that matter to us here in Western Colorado. 

 

Today - Colorado has committed $173 million in federal money to COVID testing in public schools throughout the state. But the program will not be in place when many Montrose students return to classrooms on Thursday.

 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Elevate Internet. Whether it’s for your home or your business they offer the best speeds at the best price. Right now, if you refer a friend you can get $25 off! Give them a call for more information at 844-386-8744 or visit them at elevateinternet.com.

 

Now, our feature story.

 

Colorado has committed $173 million in federal money to COVID testing in public schools throughout the state. But the program will not be in place when many Montrose students return to classrooms on Thursday.

 

The Colorado Sun reported that the program is behind schedule. This comes as dozens of school districts have already begun to welcome students back to in-person classrooms.

 

Testing students, especially those still under the age of 12 and ineligible for COVID vaccines, is a large part of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s guidance.

 

Once it is set up, participation in the program is voluntary. Students under the age of 18 will be required to obtain parental consent.

 

Montrose’s strategy is less aggressive than other school districts around the state. Teachers and staff in Denver Public Schools are required to receive a vaccine or participate in regular COVID testing. And student athletes above age 12 in Aurora Public Schools must receive a vaccine or be regularly tested.

 

And outside of testing, our district is also waiting to hear back from the state about the exact details for vaccination clinics. 

 

But supporting vaccine clinics came under attack at the August 10 school board meeting. Disgruntled parents and community members waved signs and passionately spoke to the board about their objections.

 

The vaccination rate in Montrose County still trails behind the state average. Less than half of adults are fully vaccinated.

 

But if at least 70% of people eligible for the vaccine within a school have been fully vaccinated, quarantines are not required for anybody at the school.

 

To learn more about this story visit our full story at montrosepress.com

 

You can also stay up to date on NABUR! 

 

Next,  For the third consecutive year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is encouraging hunters to take a friend hunting. As a reward, CPW has created a contest for mentors who take the time to pass on their knowledge.

 

Here’s how it works… Mentors can take a beginner hunter out or mentees can encourage an experienced hunter to teach them how to hunt. From there, the pair can enter to win some great prizes by submitting a photograph and brief story of their time out in the field. Submissions will be judged by their ability to inspire and are due by February 8th. Everyone must be at least 18 years old. Also, the mentors must have held a Colorado hunting license in at least three of the last five years.

 

Check out the full story to learn more and submit your story at montrosepress.com

 

That’s all for today, thank you for listening! For more information on any of these stories visit us at montrosepress.com.

 

And don’t forget to check out our sponsor, Elevate Internet. Visit them at elevateinternet.com to learn more.

 

For more than 137 years, The Montrose Daily Press has been dedicated to shining a light on all the issues that matter to our community. Go to montrosepress.com to subscribe for just $1.99 per week for our digital edition. You’ll get unlimited access to every story, feature, and special section. Thank you and remember to tune in again next time on montrosepress.com or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Support the show: https://www.montrosepress.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good morning and welcome to Montrose Fresh, from The Montrose Daily Press. It’s MondayAugust 16th and we’re here to bring you a closer look at our top stories, events and more that matter to us here in Western Colorado. 

 

Today -  Like the rest of the state, test scores in Montrose County School District have dropped. But this was expected because of the pandemic.

 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Elevate Internet. Whether it’s for your home or your business they offer the best speeds at the best price. Right now, if you refer a friend you can get $25 off! Give them a call for more information at 844-386-8744 or visit them at elevateinternet.com.

 

Now, our feature story.

 

Like the rest of the state, test scores in Montrose County School District have dropped. But this was expected because of the pandemic.

 

Test scores in Montrose parallel the overall decrease in CMAS test scores observed throughout the state of Colorado.

 

Also, longstanding gaps among racial and ethnic subgroups widened.

 

The percentage of Hispanic students who scored into the lowest category on math exams grew from 24% in 2019 to 33% this spring, while the amount of white students scoring into the lowest category only grew by five percentage points, from 8% to 13%.

 

The state of Colorado has required some form of standardized testing since 1993. Students in fourth- through eighth-grade took the first round of tests under the Colorado Student Assessment Program in 1997.

 

Then, President George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act into law in 2001, which mandated annual math and English testing for third- through eighth-grade students.

 

But Spring 2020 testing in Colorado and most other states was canceled because of the pandemic.

 

So although district-level data on participation rates were not immediately available, CDE data suggests that rates fell across the state. In rural and remote schools, only 60-73% of students participated in required statewide assessments, while 77-88% of students in outlying cities and towns took the exams.

 

All testing across the state was in-person. The state department of education did not allow students to test remotely because of inequities in access to technology, reliable internet and quiet spaces.

 

The vast majority of students in Montrose attended in-person last year, so testing conditions did not change dramatically from previous years.  But students attending 100% online school came into the district office to be tested.

 

To read more on this story visit us at montrosepress.com

 

Before we go… 

 

We’d like to take a moment to remember Vincent Lovato of Montrose. Vincent was born in 1989.

 

Vincent attended elementary, junior high, and high school in Montrose. He was a self-taught musician who won the Colorado’s Got Talent competition. He enjoyed cooking and worked as a sous chef at numerous restaurants in Montrose. Vincent also set up mobile homes in the surrounding area. His smile was very contagious and it brightened any room he was in; he loved making people laugh from the time he was a very young boy.

 

He leaves behind his 2-year-old son Parker. He is also survived by his love, Rachel, his parents, sister, and grandmother.

 

In lieu of flowers the family requests that you donate to The Children’s Music Fund in Vincent’s name. Thank you for taking a moment with us to remember and celebrate his life.

 

That’s all for today, thank you for listening! For more information on any of these stories visit us at montrosepress.com.

 

And don’t forget to check out our sponsor, Elevate Internet. Visit them at elevateinternet.com to learn more.

 

For more than 137 years, The Montrose Daily Press has been dedicated to shining a light on all the issues that matter to our community. Go to montrosepress.com to subscribe for just $1.99 per week for our digital edition. You’ll get unlimited access to every story, feature, and special section. Thank you and remember to tune in again next time on montrosepress.com or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Support the show: https://www.montrosepress.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Montrose Fresh, from The Montrose Daily Press. It’s FridayAugust 13th and we’re here with local news, events, announcements, jobs, and more that matter to us here in Western Colorado. 

 

Today - Dozens of residents gathered outside of school board meeting this week to object to vaccine clinics and critical race theory.

 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Elevate Internet. Whether it’s for your home or your business they offer the best speeds at the best price. Right now, if you refer a friend you can get $25 off! Give them a call for more information at 844-386-8744 or visit them at www.elevateinternet.com.

 

Now, our feature story…

 

The room was not big enough to fit the crowd of people who gathered to attend the Montrose County School District’s board meeting this week.

 

And most of the crowd, board members and district staff present were not wearing masks.

 

Public commenters came to advocate for parental rights to opt-in sexual education and to object to vaccine clinics.

 

While addressing the board, resident Richard Couturier even asked them to raise their hands and indicate who had been vaccinated. Nobody raised their hand and multiple board members said that they would not disclose that information.

 

While the district has strongly encouraged that eligible students and staff get vaccinated, they are not required. Also, wearing masks is not required for the start of the school year.

 

Other districts across the state are requiring masks indoors and vaccinations for teachers. In Denver Public Schools for example, masks are required for everyone indoors. And all public and high-risk private employees in Denver are required to be fully vaccinated by the end of September.

 

Another member of the public came to voice objections about critical race theory.

 

But as Superintendent Carrie Stephenson emphasized in a letter, critical race theory is an advanced academic concept that is not taught in K-12 schools in Montrose. 

 

To find out more about this story visit us at montrosepress.com.

 

 

Now, some local history. This week's local history is brought to you by England Fence. England Fence is family owned and operated, and they're ready to help you build your dream fence, archway, gate, or deck. Give them a call at 970-249-4430, or head over to their website englandfence.com.

 

Did you know that Sweitzer Lake was built as a retreat for water sports, relaxation, fishing, and boating? The lake is named for Morgan Sweitzer, an American farmer and fruit grower who donated the land to the state of Colorado to establish the recreational lake. He passed away in 1953, 12 years before the state park was completed.

 

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Before we go --- Montrose County grew by 3.4% from 2010 to 2020, according to a new batch of Census data released yesterday.

 

And the state of Colorado grew by a whopping 14.8% and picked up a new seat in Congress. 

 

Population growth was not even across the state: in general, urban and suburban counties along the Front Range grew at a faster rate than rural counties in agricultural areas. 

 

Most counties in southwest Colorado experienced mild- to moderate growth, with the exception of Hinsdale County which saw a drop. And some counties in the San Luis Valley also dropped slightly. But it was Kit Carson County that saw the highest decrease in the state, dropping by 14.3%. 

 

Meanwhile Denver County grew by nearly 20%. 

 

That’s all for today, thank you for listening! For more information on any of these stories visit us at montrosepress.com.

 

And don’t forget to check out our sponsor, Elevate Internet. Visit them at elevateinternet.com to learn more.

 

For more than 137 years, The Montrose Daily Press has been dedicated to shining a light on all the issues that matter to our community. Go to montrosepress.com to subscribe for just $1.99 per week for our digital edition. You’ll get unlimited access to every story, feature, and special section. Thank you and remember to tune in again next time on montrosepress.com or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Support the show: https://www.montrosepress.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good morning and welcome to Montrose Fresh, from The Montrose Daily Press. It’s Wednesday Aug 11th and we’re here to bring you a closer look at our top stories, events and more that matter to us here in Western Colorado. 

 

Today - The Colorado River is being squeezed by overuse and plunging supply. In fact, if the Colorado River were a bank account, it would be running toward the red.

 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Elevate Internet. Whether it’s for your home or your business they offer the best speeds at the best price. Right now, if you refer a friend you can get $25 off! Give them a call for more information at 844-386-8744 or visit them at elevateinternet.com.

 

Now, our feature story.

 

If the Colorado River were a bank account, it would be running toward the red.

 

The river, the lifeblood for several Western states, is being squeezed by overuse and plunging supply. And, as temperatures stay on the upswing year after year, thirsty soils absorb the bulk of moisture from a dwindling annual snowpack.

 

The conclusion is “inescapable,” according to Colorado River District Manager Andy Mueller.

 

The Colorado River feeds Lake Powell. And Lake Powell is the main water storage for the Upper Basin states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

 

The river also feeds Lake Mead. That’s the main water storage for the three Lower Basin states of Arizona, California and Nevada.

 

But year after year of dry conditions hammered the river. This year, it’s dropped so low that Blue Mesa Reservoir had to release water just to keep Powell’s power turbines turning.

 

Given climate science predictions, the poor water years have not been a surprise. 

 

Anne Castle, former assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science during the Obama Administration, said that we’re facing a very difficult problem right now. She explained that we don’t have much control over the supply. The thing we have our fingers on the lever of is demand.

 

So water users in both the Upper Basin and Lower Basin states are attempting to adjust demand. But they disagree over critical elements of the agreement.

 

And although the Lower Basin states have cut use, there is much more that needs to be done.

 

But changing the rules will have ripple effects on both users and the economy.

 

To learn more about this story visit our full story at montrosepress.com

 

Next,  We’d like to take a moment to remember the life of Gloriann Johnson. Gloriann was born in Minnesota. She grew up on a farm in Twin Valley and graduated from Twin Valley High School, Class of 1958.

 

She later moved to North Dakota, where she worked as an accountant. There, she met Allen Johnson. They were married in 1962.

 

Gloriann and Allen moved to Illinois, had two daughters Lori and Julie, then moved to Aurora, Colorado, and had two more daughters, Stacy and Jayne. And adding to the family over the years 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

 

Allen passed away in 1994, after 32 years of marriage. So a few years later Gloriann moved to Montrose, enjoying friends and a new chapter.

 

She met Al Hanson at a class reunion; they were high school sweethearts, and were married in 2011. They have enjoyed 10 years of marriage, fishing for walleye in Minnesota, snow-birding in Arizona, and of course, enjoying Colorado in the spring and fall seasons.

 

Thank you for taking a moment with us to remember and celebrate Gloriann’s life.

 

That’s all for today, thank you for listening! For more information on any of these stories visit us at montrosepress.com.

 

And don’t forget to check out our sponsor, Elevate Internet. Visit them at elevateinternet.com to learn more.

 

For more than 137 years, The Montrose Daily Press has been dedicated to shining a light on all the issues that matter to our community. Go to montrosepress.com to subscribe for just $1.99 per week for our digital edition. You’ll get unlimited access to every story, feature, and special section. Thank you and remember to tune in again next time on montrosepress.com or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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