This June marks the 10th annual Redneck Olympics in my neighborhood. Satank is in unincorporated Garfield County, about a 20-minute walk from downtown Carbondale. Satank, née the Townsite of Cooperton, predates Carbondale and was named for Isaac Cooper who ventured down the valley from Aspen in the late 1800s. Still lawless as far as HOA […]
June 2026
Posted inOpinion
Seeking Haystacks: One must imagine Sisyphus happy
The other night, I asked my students: If you are dedicated to righting a “wrong” in our world — say addressing your most urgent environmental issue, with inspired and assiduous effort — yet your efforts bring no change to the world, would you continue to engage, or give up? There was a long pause, and […]
Posted inNews
Unsolved hit-and-run leaves family speculating
Editor’s Note: KDNK Community Access Radio and Sol del Valle are collaborating on an investigative reporting series regarding the death of Ramon Chacon. This is the second installment of that series, made possible through a grant from the Colorado Media Project. Ramon Chacon, a 42-year-old Rifle resident, died on April 29, 2024, after being struck […]
Posted inNews
Scuttlebutt
CR 108 bridgeRepairs continue on the County Road 108 bridge over the Crystal River near the Colorado Rocky Mountain School (CRMS). The bridge will remain closed while decking is replaced and new girders are potentially installed. A pedestrian walkway remains open, though temporary closures may occur. On May 18, the Garfield County Commissioners approved $650,000 […]
Posted inLetters
Letters – June 4, 2026
Support Cavern SpringsAs faith leaders, we ask your support for Cavern Springs mobile home park’s effort to become resident-owned and save their homes from a corporate buyout.For decades, hundreds of residents have called Cavern Springs home. These workers make the Roaring Fork Valley tick. Their park, 98 units adjacent to Glenwood Springs, is for sale […]
Posted inFiction
Works in Progress
Remembering Mike Bouchet August 23, 1964 – June 1, 2025 Jen BouchetCarbondale Mike believed in connection and had a rare gift for it. “Mike’s magic, pass it on” began as a simple phrase during his celebration of life, inspired by his extraordinary ability to connect with people across differences and make others feel seen, welcomedand […]
Posted inColumns
A free-flowing river, and the need for continuing vigilance
According to Ute elder Roland McCook, the Ute name for the Crystal River Valley was “Nuche-Mu-Gu-Avatum-Ada’he,” or “The People’s Place of the Heart.” The first white settlers who arrived in the Valley somewhat unimaginatively named the river “Rock Creek.” The contrast in cultural sensitivity was palpable. It was soon realized by early settlement boosters that […]