Roberta McGowan

For the Roaring Fork Valley, unwrapping the layers of government is sort of like peeling an artichoke to get to its heart. The question then becomes what are the layers, and how important are they? The outermost layer is the federal system. The national government oversees the military, foreign affairs and federal taxes, federal courts, […]

So far in 2020, California has lost over four million acres to ravenous wildfires. According to NBC News, this “more than doubles the previous record.” The grim data so far shows 31 people, including a Texas firefighter, were killed and more than 8,687 structures were lost. But the Golden State has only so many firefighters […]

A discussion of what potatoes and their cellars have meant to the Roaring Fork Valley normally doesn’t begin with the story of a train robbery. The 1904 robbery, sometimes called “The Great Potato Train Heist,” is a fascinating tale, but let’s first see how the Carbondale spud story began, and how potatoes became the crop […]

What if all of a sudden you couldn’t get away from your abuser? That is the awful nightmare victims of domestic violence, men as well as women, are facing in this pandemic environment. Initially, the number of reported abuse dropped significantly, according to Julie Olson, executive director, Advocate Safehouse Project in Glenwood Springs. She explained […]

The historic Osgood Mansion is up for sale for the second time in four years — this time for $19.75 million  After multi-million-dollar total renovations, owners April and Steve Carver determined that operating the castle in the current pandemic and economic environments was not sustainable.The Carvers are the 11th owners of the 118-year-old estate. (fluticasone) […]

When summer winds howl brisk and dry, area fire departments go to alert mode. Fortunately, regional fire departments had already finalized mutual aid agreements in the spring, as is done annually. Rob Goodwin, chief at the Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District, explained, “We work with the federal, state, county and local agencies. Each reacts […]

It’s early March 2020. Skiing is great, and people — locals and visitors — are enjoying the slopes, restaurants, live entertainment and music radiating from the many nightclubs and bars throughout the valley. A visit to a popular Aspen venue would spice up the evening, thought three friends. But, deep inside life in paradise lurked […]

The following Q&A comes from a recent interview with the Crawford/Hubbell family, who own the El Jebel area under Crawford Properties, LLC.  Participating in the discussion were Adele Hubbell (the daughter of Floyd Crawford and widow of Carl Hubbell) and her two sons, Robert Hubbell and Prentice Hubbell. Sopris Sun: The first question many people […]

For more than 30 years, St. Vincent’s Catholic Church has stood as a major downtown Basalt gathering space. But, three decades of wear and tear and the need for more space brought the church to Town Council with plans for a 2,400 square foot addition for a Parish Multipurpose Hall. The  proposal will move education […]