Montrose Fresh

Good morning and welcome to Montrose Fresh, from The Montrose Daily Press. It’s MondayMay 31st 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 preliminary plat for the Woods Crossing Subdivision is moving forward … but with some conditions. 

 

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.

 

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Now, our feature story.

 

The preliminary plat for the Woods Crossing Subdivision is moving forward … with the following conditions. 

 

First - all policies, regulations, ordinance and municipal code provisions need to be met. 

And second the applicant needs to address all city concerns.

 

The planning commission also recommended that the city and developer work together to find a temporary emergency entrance exit. 

 

Woods Crossing Subdivision is a proposed residential development. It would be on a 74-acre parcel south of Sunnyside Road. 

 

The plan is to create 108 single-family residential lots and 28 townhome units.

 

The City of Montrose’s Comprehensive Plan goals do align with what’s proposed in the Woods Crossing project.

 

And City staff said it’s in compliance with subdivision regulations.

 

But traffic was a concern among residents and planning commission members. Residents in the area concerned there could be traffic congestion on Sunnyside.

 

A traffic study conducted by Skip Hudson, the project’s traffic engineer, showed that the delay for people waiting to get onto Sunnywide from Hill Street is less than 10 seconds. This means there won’t be a bottleneck.

 

Hudson estimates 45% of project traffic would go north and use Sunnyside, travel east and west, and 55% would travel south.

 

There was also concern, during the meeting, that there could be a bottleneck at Hill Street, if people choose to take a different route.

 

The study takes into account projections for 20 years of traffic growth.

 

So what else does the plan include?

 

A Hill Street connection to Sunnyside. 

Eight new residential streets.

And two new cul-de-sacs and one private drive. 

 

Construction on Phase 1 is proposed to start late-June. This assumes it’s approved before then.

 

The conditioned approval is expected to go before the city council soon. To stay up to date visit us at montrosepress.com

 

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And before we go we’d like to highlight  

 

International Rescue and Relief students from the Union College of Lincoln who visited Montrose this week for their swift water rescue training.

 

The 50 freshman students kicked off the Division of Emergency Management and Exercise Science’s annual summer program at the Montrose water sports park in Riverbottom Park. They got their feet wet for their first swift water rescue skills experience. 

 

Beyond this program, the division includes programs for health and human performance and occupational therapy.

 

The Montrose Water Sports Park has been host to 10 years of Union College students, all part of a five week program that trains students in technical rope rescue, swift water rescue, search and rescue, as well as survival certifications.

 

The swift water rescue portion of the program is two weeks long. Once the students leave Montrose, they continue their training for two days on the Colorado river for a raft trip.

 

Union College Academic Dean Rick Young says that the water is a little faster and bigger, so it makes it a little more exciting for the students.

 

And after swift water rescue, students will move onto technical rope rescue in Norwood before finishing their last week with their search and rescue certifications.

 

About a third of the students end up moving toward medical or dental school, where they have an eye for working in emergency medicine or volunteering on search and rescue teams as the team doctors.

 

Another portion of students look towards the public safety field, working towards careers as paramedics, firefighters, law enforcement and park rangers. 

 

Some students even enter the military as officers, such as two students who have graduated from the program and now teach search and rescue for the military.

 

The remainder of the students pursue a variety of work focused on fields like community development, mission field work, logistics and emergency management.

 

But at the end of the program all students work toward service-oriented careers.

 

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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.

Welcome to Montrose Fresh, from The Montrose Daily Press. It’s FridayMay 28th, and we’re here with local news, events, announcements, jobs, and more that matter to us here in Western Colorado. 

 

Today - What began as a dispute over a building purchase ended with a Delta man’s conviction for attempted murder.

 

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…

 

William Harmon faces up to 24 years in prison after a jury found him guilty on May 12th. He was found guilty of showing up at the home of Paul and Anna Hershberger armed with loaded guns. 

 

Harmon also was convicted of stalking the couple, driving while impaired and illegally having alcohol in his vehicle. The stalking conviction can carry as many as four years in prison.

 

Harmon is free on bond pending sentencing in August. And although prison could be ordered, probation or community corrections options are also on the table.

 

Paul Hershberger died in an unrelated matter before the case went to trial. He was the founder of Sharing God’s Abundance ministry and a local construction company owner.

 

Harmon was arrested back in January of 2019, after Delta County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Anna Hershberger’s 911 call. She said Harmon showed up at their home to harass them.

 

According to the original case affidavit, Anna told DCSO Deputy Wade Carney about a business dispute that by then was three years old.

 

What was the dispute? Harmon had ordered a building from her husband, who owned a construction company that makes pole buildings and similar structures, but did not say where he wanted it delivered and erected. 

 

Paul Hershberger therefore stored the structure at their home. When Harmon called to say he no longer wanted the building, he was declined a refund.

 

The resulting dispute wound up in civil court, with Hershberger being ordered to pay a partial refund. Harmon was told to get the building off Hershberger’s property.

According to Anna’s statements, Harmon had made threats during the case to shoot Paul and said that because of his age, he didn’t mind sitting in jail for the rest of his life. 

 

Harmon turns 81 in August.

 

Anna Hershberger also said that Harmon had followed them around on several occasions, even to church.

 

Harmon admitted to having a sawed-off shotgun and a .40 caliber handgun when he showed up. The handgun was found inside of a beer bottle box and loaded with 10 rounds. The deputies also found several rounds of ammo in the vehicle.

 

That’s when Harmon was arrested for attempted murder. It was because Harmon came to Hershberger’s home, admitted he was looking for the chance to shoot Hershberger, and had weapons with him.

 

Stay up to date on this story by visiting us at montrosepress.com

 

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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 nearby Mount Sneffels is the highest summit in the

Sneffels Range and Ouray County? Standing at 14,158 feet, the mountain

is notable for its great vertical relief that rises 7,200 feet above

Ridgway.

 

You might be wondering who the great exploring Sneffels was… but it

turns out that the mountain was named after a volcano in Iceland due

to its resemblance to the description of it in Jules Verne’s book, A

Journey to the Center of the Earth.

 

And finally, before we go we’d like to remember the life of William “Bill” Caddy. Bill passed away in Show Low, Arizona, at 96 years old. Bill was preceded in death by his wife Ruth Caddy. Bill was born and raised near Colona, Colorado, on land his family had homesteaded in the 1800’s. Bill was a World War II Army Veteran. After his time in the Army, he met and married Ruth. In the early 1950s Bill, Ruth and their daughter moved to Long Beach, California, where he worked for 35 years and retired from what is now Boeing Aircraft. Upon his retirement in 1989, Bill and Ruth moved back to Montrose.

 

He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law; his children, as well as 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

 

Thank you for taking a moment with us today to remember and celebrate Bill’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.

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 May 26th 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 - After years of planning the dream of a new quality warm-water fishery on Colorado’s western slope is starting to come to fruition.

 

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.

 

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Now, our feature story.

 

After years of planning the dream of a new quality warm-water fishery on Colorado’s western slope is starting to come to fruition.

 

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Aquatic Biologists Eric Gardunio and Ben Felt have been busy over the past week. They’ve been transferring fish to Sweitzer Lake State Park from other bodies of water. 

 

Some of the transfers included largemouth bass from Confluence Lake in Delta and James M. Robb Colorado River State Park in Grand Junction. They’ve also transferred bluegill from Hallenbeck Reservoir in Grand Junction. 

 

So far, more than 330 largemouth bass between 6 and 18 inches long as well as 1,300 sunfish have been moved into Sweitzer Lake. 

 

These fish will be supplemented later this summer by fish from CPW hatcheries.

 

Gardunio says that the goal in transferring the fish was to get fish in different size ranges. That way there will be multiple age classes building up the population. They also tried to focus on moving fish in situations where it would benefit the ecology of the waters.

 

The work took years of planning that included getting multiple organizations to sign off on a new lake management plan. 

 

CPW, along with other state and federal agencies, belongs to the Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program. The program aims to recover endangered fish in the Colorado River basin. 

 

Historically, Sweitzer Lake contained green sunfish, black bullhead and common carp. And adding largemouth bass and bluegill is a way to create a more desirable warm-water fishery.

 

Sweitzer Lake is a productive lake that has the potential to grow large fish. And to further enhance the fishery, CPW has placed dozens of artificial habitat structures to help give the new fish a place to shelter as well as for anglers to focus their efforts.

 

It’s important to know that fishing at Sweitzer is catch-and-release only. These regulations should encourage the development of a quality sport fishery for healthy largemouth bass.

 

For more information about Sweitzer Lake State Park visit us at montrosepress.com.

 

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And before we go we’re excited to let you know that  it’s once again time for coffee at the Warrior Resource Center.

 

Welcome Home Alliance for Veterans is resuming their popular veterans coffees. It’ll start back up on June 3rd. The coffees were put on hold for more than a year because of COVID.

 

These coffees aim to give veterans a place where they can meet exclusively with each other and connect. They’re in Montrose each Thursday and also monthly in Ridgway, Nucla and Cedaredge.

 

And Welcome Home Alliance for Veterans isn’t just bringing back coffees. The advocacy group also has several upcoming events.

 

From 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 29th, is their Memorial Day fundraiser. There’ll be a chili cook-off, classic cars, pin-up models, and other vendors and at the Looney Bean parking lot.

 

The event is presented by Darling Dames of Colorado and the Black Canyon Classics Car Club. Proceeds will benefit the alliance.

 

Upcoming events in June include the Freedom Festival on June 18th at The Bridges Golf and Country Club, as well as the seventh-annual golf tournament on June 19th. 

 

And don’t forget about Freedom Sings USA Colorado presenting their second-annual community concert at The Bridges. The free concert showcases the work of award-winning songwriters who are coming to Montrose as part of Welcome Home’s veteran retreat. It’s from June 28th through June 30th. 

 

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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 MondayMay 24th 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 - An RV and camping resort planned for the Riverside Gardens property has cleared a hurdle. Last week, the Montrose County commissioners approved a special use permit.

 

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.

 

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Now, our feature story.

 

An RV and camping resort planned for the Riverside Gardens property has cleared a hurdle. Last week, the Montrose County commissioners approved a special use permit.

 

The permit allows owners David Coker and John Reams of Hempton Land Holdings LLC to develop and operate the RV campground. The area is zoned for general agriculture, but the master plan itself allows for special use permits to be issued for campgrounds.

 

The planned camping and RV resort would be built on 8 acres in two phases. Plase 1 would entail 21 full-service RV sites.. The second phase is for 21 tent sites with primitive electrical and water service. 

 

And future plans are for a bath house with showers, toilets, sinks and even a laundry facility.

 

The owners plan to offer fishing, riverfront access, a “lazy river”, picnic tables, grills, a kiddie playground and a small retail shop for basics. 

 

They estimate hosting up to 100 people at a time. 

 

Riverside doesn’t anticipate anyone to have a permanent-stay, but they’re not ruling it out.

 

Commissioner Sue Hansen did express safety concerns about the River and its lure to children who will be staying at Riverside RV Resort. 

 

But Richmond noted that the nearest RV site to the River is 250 feet away, and they could add a fence.

Hansen also wanted to know whether there would be a place near the river where people could safely stand. The slope into the river is abrupt: there is a bank, and then, a drop to the water.

 

Caddy said he wouldn’t have an issue if that situation was addressed by laying the bank back to a safer grade that enabled people to walk safely to the water. 

 

Ultimately Hansen said that the project looks like a good project and something we need in the community.

 

And to read more about this story and to stay up to date visit us at montrosepress.com

 

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And before we go we’d like to highlight  

 

Junior Josie Coulter. During the May 14th game in Grand Junction, Coulter scored four goals in Montrose’s 7-1 victory.

 

Her encore to that performance? Playing against Central again this past Tuesday. The game tied at 3-3 in overtime, and Coulter punched in the game-winning goal.

 

Coulter scored 20 goals her freshman season, and she’s’ up to six goals and one assist through four games this season.

 

The Montrose girls soccer coach, Cassie Snyder said that the biggest difference this year to her freshman year is her leadership on the field. She’s the most experienced varsity player and she’s doing a lot of directing. Snyder noted that she’s also a more well rounded player than she was in her freshman year.

 

Snyder added that Coulter always seems to play to her capabilities, displaying a level of consistency that gives Montrose an edge on the offensive side of the field.

 

Despite the loss to Durango, and much of the game being played on Montrose’s side of the field, Coulter still worked her way to some scoring opportunities.

 

In 20 career games at the high school level, Coulter has scored or assisted in 14 of them and has seven multi-goal games.

 

Congratulations Josie!

 

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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.

Welcome to Montrose Fresh, from The Montrose Daily Press. It’s FridayMay 14th, and we’re here with local news, events, announcements, jobs, and more that matter to us here in Western Colorado. 

 

Today - Camping World, America’s largest retailer of RVs and related products and services, announced its acquisition last month of Montrose’s Nomad Reservations.

 

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…

 

Camping World, America’s largest retailer of RVs and related products and services, announced its acquisition last month of Nomad Reservations.

 

Nomad helps travelers find and book campsites. They also offer campsite owners a property management system.

 

Nomad Reservations was co-founded by CEO Heath Padgett and CTO Paul Ryan, who has been instrumental in creating the product. 

 

They both spent years as full-time RVers, meeting at campsites a few times a year before eventually developing the idea for Campground Booking. They understand the struggles that can come with booking campsite reservations.

 

The company relocated to Montrose last year and got funds from the Greater Colorado Venture Fund. They pitched during the Greater Colorado Pitch Series, an investment initiative for rural Colorado companies.

 

Camping World approached Padgett, Nomad’s CEO, this past January, looking to partner or invest. At the time talks revolved around potentially investing, but the two sides realized their roadmaps were similar.

 

Hiring locally and not having to relocate, staying in Montrose were “meaningful” parts of the conversations.

 

And when he announced the acquisition, Marcus Lemonis, CEO and chairman of Camping World Holdings said that his technology acquisition complements their other launches. Those launches include a Peer-to-Peer RV Rental Platform.

 

The more the two parties talked, the more it was an interesting proposition. Since then, Nomad has already brought on two more developers. And they’re hiring two more support roles,  as well as another account executive.

 

With the acquisition, Campground Booking will now work closely with Good Sam, an organization of RV owners focused on making RVing safer. Good Sam has more than 2 million members.

 

And since the relocation to Montrose, Campground Booking has added eight jobs, including some team members that already lived in Montrose, like Dennis Lankes, co-founder of Montrose’s Proximity Space. 

 

Padgett told the Montrose Daily Press the company is looking to add three to four positions in Montrose.

 

The most significant challenge now, according to Padgett, is learning how to balance demand, with supply issues. The latest reports show a 48% increase in total RV shipments from 2020 to 2021.

 

This year, Campground Booking is somewhat avoiding a revenue-based goal, instead focusing on getting to 500 parks on the platform. They’re looking at how they can create a meaningful booking network. That includes helping businesses in the United States that don’t have a booking platform yet.

 

And Nomad Reservations is just the latest outdoor-based company in Montrose to see successful trends in the past year. Geyser Systems, Colorado Yurt, Colorado Outdoors, Ed’s Fly Shop and others all reported seeing increased interest in their products and the outdoor industry as a whole.

 

Stay up to date on this story by visiting us at montrosepress.com

 

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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 the Shavano Valley Rock Art Site dates back to 1000 BC? One of the 26 panels of petroglyphs created by early Ute inhabitants depict the life of people in the Uncompahgre Plateau. There are carvings of animals, trees, human figures, ceremonial dances, and abstract art. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001, you can visit it today by scheduling a tour at History Colorado’s Ute Indian Museum here in Montrose.

 

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And finally, before we go we’d like to remember the life of Ralph William Darling of Montrose.

 

Ralph and his twin brother, Bob, were born in 1930, in Chicago, Illinois. They were the fifth and sixth of eight children. In 1953 he married Dorothea Somers, his wife of 51 years.

 

Ralph joined the Marines during the Korean Conflict, serving as a master drill sergeant and was wounded twice in battle. He rarely spoke of his battle experiences, but he held great pride in being a Marine to his last day. Right before he passed, he asked for his Marine ball cap to be placed on his head.

 

He lived in and served the city of Mt. Prospect, Illinois, both as a police officer and as a public works supervisor. He retired in 1987, and they moved to Montrose. There they enjoyed making new friends, dining at the Red Barn and taking scenic car rides through the mountains. 

 

They ran a holiday caramel corn business called Mrs. D and Me for many years. Ralph enjoyed hunting and fishing and watching his beloved Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears win or lose — if they played, he was a happy, loyal fan. 

 

He loved to drink a cold beer, tell a few jokes and just be with friends. Ralph had a big personality and never met a stranger. He was loyal, hard-working, and loved to laugh as much as he yelled. He will be dearly missed.

 

Thank you for taking the time today to remember and celebrate Ralph’s life.

 

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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 I’m subbing in today! Welcome to Montrose Fresh, from The Montrose Daily Press. It’s Wednesday May 19th and we’re here with local news, events, announcements, and more that matter to us here in Western Colorado. 

 

 Today -- COVID concerns may have reduced the number of people looking for a bed at the Lighthouse emergency shelter this past season. But that doesn’t mean there is less need.

 

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

 

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Now, our feature story. 

 

COVID concerns may have reduced the number of people looking for a bed at the Lighthouse emergency shelter this past season. But that doesn’t mean there is less need.

 

The Lighthouse operates between November and April to provide overnight shelter for homeless people. Recently they wrapped up their winter 2020 season. 

 

Chris Hauck, a board member of Montrose Lighthouse, recently said that they had some challenges with COVID compliance. But he emphasized that they did not become a hotspot.

 

They served 56 individuals, which was down substantially from last year. Why? Hauck thinks it was fears of COVID exposure. There was also fairly mild weather this winter. 

 

But still, they served 3,297 bed nights and provided 6,518 meals.

 

Hauck said that the Lighthouse did have to turn away some people who were exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. And within the facility, they worked hard to maintain proper social distancing and sanitation.

 

Overall housing is a critical need and homelessness has not diminished. Hauck noted that now, the need may be even greater.

 

Lighthouse and their partners, Shepherd’s Hand, also helped people who could not find rentals they could afford. Many people can afford rent, but not the first and last month and deposit. That’s where they come in.

 

The charity also worked with Housing Resources of Western Colorado and Haven House Transitional Living Center to help people transition from homelessness into housing.

 

For example, one person they helped was a man who’d lost his housing because he lost his job. He was living with his children in his vehicle. Lighthouse was able to help that family transition to Haven House, a longer-term program.

 

But Hauck thinks more is needed. In fact he thinks that a full-time shelter is necessary in Montrose.

 

And for now, the Lighthouse seasonal shelter needs funding. It costs about $32,000 to operate this past season.

 

If you’d like to donate you can reach out to [email protected].

 

Though the season is over, The Shepherd’s Center remains open for food distribution, laundry, shower, and other services. 

 

Shepherd’s Center will also host a grand opening for invited guests on June 4 and a community open house on June 5th.

 

You can learn more about them at shepherdshandmontrose.org.

 

Visit our full story for more details - at www.montrosepress.com

 

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Finally,  before we go we’d like to highlight the four new police officers that the Montrose Police Department has welcomed to its ranks.

 

Officers Andrew Bradnock, Jason Bresett, Curtis Dunlap and Wes Imhof were officially sworn in during a ceremony held in the city council chambers.

 

Police Chief Blaine Hall and others welcomed the officers before an audience of friends, family, city councilors and staff, and fellow officers. It was also broadcast live online.

 

The four new officers are recent graduates of the Western Colorado Law Enforcement Academy.

 

Hall told the officers to hold themselves to the highest personal standards, both on and off duty. According to Hall, their job is to earn and uphold the trust of the citizens of Montrose while protecting their lives and property and the community itself.

 

Hall also said that Montrose has always been a community that supports local law enforcement.

 

Following the ceremony, the officers were dismissed to begin additional training within Montrose Police Department headquarters.

 

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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 MondayMay 17th 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 - At the end of April a 39 year old was fatally mauled by a bear while walking with her dogs. Afterwards, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials were forced to kill a mother and two yearlings. So what should you know about living in bear country? 

 

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.

 

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Now, our feature story.

 

At the end of April, the worst outcome imaginable in human-wildlife encounters happened.

 

39 year old Laney Malavolta was fatally mauled by a bear while walking with her dogs. Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials found a sow with two yearlings near Malavolta’s body. They were killed in accordance with CPW policy. Afterwards, human remains were found in the stomachs of the mother bear and one of the yearlings.

 

Wildlife officials have long educated the public about avoiding wildlife like bears. 

 

A problem bear — one that keeps returning to the same trash receptacle or backyard fruit tree — might be relocated. 

 

An injured bear that can be healed and live safely again in the wild might go to one of the state’s wildlife rehab facilities. 

 

But a bear that injures or kills a human is out of chances. It’s put down.

 

Rachel Sralla, CPW area wildlife manager in Montrose says that human safety comes first when it comes to bear management.

 

She said that as soon as a bear starts doing things that could cause a danger to people, they have to take it very, very seriously.

 

CPW officials said the bear that killed Malavolta was more likely than other bears to attack humans again. Why? Once they’ve identified food sources, bears will return to them.

 

Cory Chick, the Southwest Region manager said that a bear that loses its fear of humans is a dangerous animal.

 

And wildlife rehab facilities are few and far between. They can take an injured or starving animal that can be returned to health and then to the wild.

 

In 2018, CPW rescued a young bear that was badly burned in a fire. It was successfully restored to health and released.

 

More recently, a yearling that burned in the Cameron Peak Fire was released back into the wild.

 

But rehab centers cannot take aggressive bears - it’s too risky.

 

CPW’s policies allow it to, in certain circumstances, relocate bears. But to do that the bear can’t be in a position to harm people. So that wouldn’t work for a bear that’s already a risk.

 

So how common are bear attacks anyways? In Colorado, bear attacks aren’t that common. Prior to April’s fatality, the most recent fatal mauling in the Southwest region of the state was in 2009... under drastically different circumstances.

 

That year, a 74-year-old woman who had been feeding bears off her back porch was killed.

 

But non-fatal encounters are growing. CPW estimates there are between 17,000 and 20,000 black bears in the state. Over the last two years, the agency recorded more than 10,000 reported bear sightings and conflicts.

 

More than one-third of these involved trash. Trash is a big draw for bears and something humans can address by using bear-resistant trash containers and not putting out the trash until the morning it is to be collected.

 

As spring ramps up, more bear sightings are coming in. People can do their part to reduce conflict with wildlife and potentially deadly outcomes for humans AND bears.

 

Information about living in bear country can be found at cpw.state.co.us/bears.

 

And to read more about this story visit us at montrosepress.com

 

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And before we go we’d like to highlight  the Power of Hope parade that took place last week. 

 

It was Montrose County School District’s first district-wide parade.

 

The “Power of Hope” parade began on Main St. and followed the traditional route.

 

Main Street was filled with students, families and community members who were all eager to see one of the first parades in Montrose since the beginning of the pandemic. The parade celebrated the student’s school year and the challenges they have faced.

 

The Student Advisory Group had begun organizing the “Power of Hope” parade once Montrose County reached level “green” on the state’s COVID-19 risk dial.

 

“Hope and reconnection” was the overall theme.

 

The student-driven activity was led by SAG Vice President Jaden Valdez. Valdez worked with the city and local police department to organize the parade for the community in a COVID-safe manner. 

 

The city closed off parking on Main St. and closed off streets for the duration of the parade. And the police department opened the parade on motorcycle, introducing the Montrose County students as they drove and walked on over 20 floats.

 

MCSD Public Information Officer Matt Jenkins said that Montrose County School District is so grateful to community partners that helped make this event possible.

 

One float was decorated in the “power of hope,” with students dressed as superheroes.

 

And families held up signs congratulating their newly minted graduates and students waved at the crowds as they marched or rode through the parade.

 

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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.

Welcome to Montrose Fresh, from The Montrose Daily Press. It’s FridayMay 14th, and we’re here with local news, events, announcements, jobs, and more that matter to us here in Western Colorado. 

 

Today - Montrose County’s 2021 reappraisal saw valuation increases for most types of properties across the county. So what does this mean for property taxes?

 

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…

 

Montrose County’s 2021 reappraisal saw valuation increases for most properties. 

 

The revaluations are based on a level of value from mid-2020, with the new values found using market sales data starting from 2019. 

 

Assessor Brad Hughes told us that it encompassed nearly 23,000 properties in Montrose County.

 

The residential subclass of properties experienced some of the highest increases. Vacant land experienced an average valuation increase of around 20%, with residential improved properties increasing around 15% to 20%.

 

And the market for vacant land has been hot for quite some time now. Lots are being scooped up by both locals and out-of-staters. 

 

Hughes told us that one of the numbers that stood out the most was the 30% to 35% valuation increase in the residential market for the West End of Montrose County.

 

This was interesting considering it was unclear how the market would respond after the closure of the Nucla coal-fired plant back in 2019.

 

But that area’s economy has been helped by a grant from the Economic Development Administration. The grant led to the birth of the West End Economic Development Corporation which has helped open several new businesses.

 

Commercial properties experienced increases too. On average, commercial properties rose by 5% to 10%.

 

Additionally, there was about a 30% increase for irrigated farmland.

 

So what does all of this mean? Well, the reappraisal is the first domino in what could determine what people’s taxes will be for next year. Last November, after Coloradans voted to repeal the 38-year-old Gallagher Amendment, which ties residential property tax rates to commercial rates, there was no certainty as to what the future of property taxation in Colorado would be.

 

But with the reappraisal showing an increase in valuation for residential properties, and the Gallagher Amendment no longer protecting homeowners from a rise in property taxes -- all eyes are now set on the mill levies. 

 

If the mill levies go down, there won’t be much of a change in taxes. But if the mill levy stays the same, an increase in home value could raise a homeowner’s annual taxes.

 

Stay up to date on this story by visiting us at montrosepress.com

 

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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.

 

The Town of Olathe was established in 1882 and incorporated in 1907.  Although "Olathe '' is the Shawnee name for "beautiful", the Uncompahgre Valley Territory of Western Colorado was actually inhabited by the Ute’s for hundreds of years.  

 

Present day Olathe was at one time a Ute village, with plenty of hunting and fishing to keep them satisfied. It was in the late 1870’s when Western expansion brought settlers because of the gold and silver boom. Those settlers began to build small homesteads in the area to raise their families.

 

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And finally, before we go we’d like to remember the life of George Charles Kubin, a longtime resident of the Olathe and Montrose area.

 

George was born in Crosby, Texas. His earliest memories of farming were trying to keep up with his older siblings while picking cotton. When he was 7 years old, his family moved to Washington. He attended Catholic schools and remembered working as a kid in the orchards. The family later purchased a small farm in Ontario, Oregon. George graduated from Ontario High School in 1950. He joined the United States Air Force in January of 1951, and he served until he was honorably discharged in January of 1955. He rose to the rank of staff sergeant and was stationed in Germany.

 

Following his discharge from the Air Force, he joined his parents on the family farm in Olathe. They later purchased a farm on North Mesa in Montrose, where they raised sugar beets, malt barley for Coors, alfalfa hay and corn. George also fed cattle. He was awarded a Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Accomplishment in Soil Conservation from the Shavano Soil Conservation District in 1966. He served on the Holly Sugar Beet Board as well as many years on the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Board. After Holly Sugar and Coors pulled out of the Valley, he started a commercial cow operation. He owned a Forest Service permit in Hanks Valley and ran cattle on the same permit as the Appelhanz Brothers. He also started a registered Hereford cattle herd in the 1970s and grazed them in the summers on Horsefly. Then, in the 1990s, he began raising registered Angus, as well. He won many awards for the quality of his registered cattle herds.

 

He married Mary Josephine Appelhanz in 1962 at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Montrose. They had three children and enjoyed 46 years of marriage, until Mary Jo’s death. George was a very devoted family man and faithful Catholic. He has been a long-time member of Saint Joseph Traditional Roman Catholic Church in Olathe. He was an extremely hard worker and skilled farmer and rancher. He loved spending time with his family, fishing, agriculture, keeping up with current events, watching sports – especially the Denver Broncos. He very much enjoyed participating in the local tractor pulls that were held at the fairgrounds in the 1970s and won trophies every year. 

 

George was a patient, kind and quiet man that was always willing to listen and help. He was very mindful of the importance of good character and being a good example.

 

He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. Thank you for taking a moment with us today to remember and celebrate George’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.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good morning I’m subbing in today! Welcome to Montrose Fresh, from The Montrose Daily Press. It’s May 12th and we’re here with local news, events, announcements, and more that matter to us here in Western Colorado. 

 

 Today -- Colorado gubernatorial candidate Greg Lopez stopped in Montrose last week during his rural Colorado tour. So what are his goals if elected?

 

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

 

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Now, our feature story. 

 

Colorado gubernatorial candidate Greg Lopez stopped in Montrose last week during his rural Colorado tour.

 

The conservative candidate had a meet and greet at Demoret Park on Cinco de Mayo. There he had a chance to speak with voters.

 

The November 8th, 2022 election will mark Lopez's second run for governor. He also ran in 2018.

 

So what are his plans if elected? Lopez says he’d like to make sure everyone has a voice… that includes the Hispanic community. To Lopez the values of the Hispanic community are conservative. 

 

His goal is to attract 18 percent more Hispanic and unaffiliated voters to win this 2022 general election.

 

Lopez also believes voters are ready for a governor who truly believes that there are 64 counties. 

 

And one of his goals is to bridge the gap between rural and urban Colorado. Lopez thinks that this in particular is something Governor Jared Polis is failing to do.

 

Lopez says Polis is not really understanding rural Colorado. He even went on to say he’s turned his back on it.

 

Lopez says that a thriving community comes from a sense of uniqueness and togetherness.And that  it’s more important for us to come together than to continue to come up with issues that will divide us.

 

Agriculture is also a priority of his. Lopez is against the PAUSE Initiative and wants to keep the agriculture and ranching community as the second largest industry in the state.

 

In regards to the recent Proposition 114, Gray Wolf reintroduction initiative that passed at the ballot box in 2020, he said that Polis failed to properly educate voters on the negative impacts.

 

That being said, Lopez doesn’t want to tell people how to vote. Instead he wants them to understand the issues.

 

To him, transparency and open communication are an important part of the job. Bridging the “divide” between rural and urban Colorado is a key issue he hopes to address.

 

And whether they’re Democrats or Republicans Lopez believes everyone has the same goals: A good job, a safe community, equal opportunities for children and to live the American dream.

 

More information on his campaign you can visit www.lopez2022.com

 

You can also visit our full story for more details - at www.montrosepress.com

 

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Finally,  

 

Tammy Hale was an artist, entrepreneur and life-long student who dedicated her life to giving back.

 

She passed away on March 22 due to a sudden illness. And instead of flowers, her family set up an account at Home Loan State Bank in her memory. $1500 of proceeds were collected and went directly to the Montrose High School art department.

 

It’s there that Tammy’s husband, Steve Hale, honored her by donating her light table and the proceeds outside of the MHS art department last week.

 

Tammy had been a shy student when she arrived at MHS in 1984, but quickly found her niche under the guidance of the art teacher.

 

It was during this time that Tammy discovered her home in the MHS art department, a place where she found her love for the arts and jump started her life’s work.

 

Tammy loved fashion and textiles, as well as fibers and fiber art. She went on to study fashion in Texas and completed a degree in fashion design in pattern making at the Art Institute of San Francisco as a first generation college graduate.

 

And while the artist found her start in 2-D creations such as drawing and painting, she enjoyed all kinds of art mediums, from jewelry making, fabrics and graphic design.

 

During Friday’s ceremony, Steve displayed one of his wife’s pieces.

 

And it doesn’t stop here. The Hale family intends to keep the process of giving forward going, offering ongoing support for the MHS arts.

 

Steve challenged the art department to look for hidden gems of talent that come through their doors like they did for his late wife.

 

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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 Monday May10th 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 - City council has voted to approve a resolution authorizing city staff to file for a grant with the Colorado Department of Transportation for their Revitalizing Main Streets Program.

 

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.

 

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Now, our feature story.

 

City council voted unanimously to approve a resolution authorizing city staff to file for a grant with the Colorado Department of Transportation. It’ll be for their Revitalizing Main Streets Program.

 

City Grant Coordinator Kendall Cramer said CDOT’s Revitalizing Main Streets Program was made possible through a $30 million allocation from the state legislature. It was part of Colorado’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan.

 

The program is meant to help communities across the state put transportation-related projects into place. These projects should improve safety and give long-term benefits to Main Streets.

 

It’ll also aim to support downtowns where people work, dine and shop.

 

As Colorado recovers from COVID-19 and returns to a new normal, this program will help Montrose find innovative ways to reuse public spaces and help businesses reopen safely.

 

How? Complete Street. Complete Street is an approach to planning roadways that are safe, convenient, and comfortable for people of all ages and abilities.

 

Things like sidewalks, street crossings, bike lanes, raised medians, and signals are all eligible for funding.

 

Cramer said city staff recently met with CDOT and they were encouraged to think creatively. 

 

And CDOT is especially interested in assisting rural communities. 

 

So Montrose is currently working to develop a conceptual design for the West Main Street corridor.

 

The City will apply for the “Larger Safety Infrastructure Grant” with CDOT. The amount is up to $2 million for improvements. 

 

So what can you expect from this plan? 

 

A road template that maximizes sidewalk width.

 

Sidewalk modifications that will create seating areas.

 

More focus on American Disability Act-compliant sidewalks.

 

And a bike path.

 

The total project won’t exceed $2.4 million. And the grant application is due later this week on May 14th.

 

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

 

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And before we go we’d like to highlight  

 

Riverside Gardens is back for its first full season since 2017. It was originally established in 2004 by Cliff Holveck. But the property has since been sold to David Coker and John Reams.

 

After trying their hand in the hemp business and finding little success, they would return to the former layout of Riverside Gardens.

 

Debra Beck, who worked at Riverside Gardens for 15 years, has been instrumental and in June 2020 she took the lead.

 

Coker plans on having 10 employees during the season. 

 

And with the purchase of an additional two acres they’ll have a total of ten acres. They’ll also have an RV park.

 

With the demand for RV resorts being high, the owners thought they had the perfect location.

It’ll include 42 total sites: 21 full service-with water and power, and 21 limited service sites.

 

Along with a general store to sell basic necessities, the intent is to have limited services ready by July of 2021. 

 

But it’s taking a little longer than planned. Still, the goal is to have limited services ready by July.

 

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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.