Two months ago, May and the Colorado Press Association (CPA) Convention seemed far away and out of COVID-19’s reach. Today, the fact that we pulled off our annual Mother’s Day edition seems like a small miracle — although, in fact, it’s due to tremendous effort by Mark Burrows and the support of the Town and […]
Will Grandbois
The fox squirrel says, ‘I’m not going anywhere…’
There is a species of tree squirrel within Colorado’s borders that has not always been here. The migrant critter’s latin name is Sciurus Niger but is commonly referred to as the Fox Squirrel. Forest Service Biologist Phil Nyland describes a familiar scene for Carbondalians of seeing “the fox squirrel at Sopris Park as it scampers […]
A virtual prom and a drive-through graduation
While the class of 2020 will miss many of the hallmarks of senior year, there will be a graduation — albeit in the parking lot. At a special meeting on May 6, the Roaring Fork School District Board of Education expressed support for the “pomp and circumstance” committee’s recommendation. The group, composed of representatives from […]
Gunnison County stretches to enforce rules on its fringes
In collaboration with Chris Rourke of The Gunnison Country Times While lines on a map often don’t reflect real social or geographic boundaries, even the smallest administrative divisions can create real impacts on the people within them. Case in point, the town of Marble and its surroundings, which lie a three-hour drive from the county […]
Wilson selected as finalist for Police Chief
Rifle Police Sgt. Kirk Wilson is Town Manager Jay Harrington’s pick to lead the Carbondale Police Department into the future. The final decision as to whether he’s a suitable successor to longtime Chief Gene Schilling will come before the board of trustees on April 28. While he isn’t going to celebrate until then, Wilson seemed […]
Town puts its money where its task force is
While trustees accomplished some regular business on April 14 — inking a franchise agreement with Xcel Energy and approving a transfer of retail and medical marijuana licenses for Sopris Labs — the bulk of the board’s first virtual meeting was dedicated to COVID-19 discussion. The fledgling Carbondale Emergency Task Force received kudos for its efforts […]
Three candidates vie for two fire board seats
Ballots will begin arriving this week across the Carbondale and Rural Fire Protection District — which covers most of the 81623 zip code, including the Crystal River Valley and Missouri Heights in addition to the town itself. Joe Enzer is challenging incumbents and co-campaigners Sydney Schalit and Gene Schilling, with the top two vote-getters filling […]
We are still here!
Amid the uncertainty of closures and cancellations on March 19, I fear I cast doubt on the future of The Sopris Sun by suggesting that we might temporarily suspend our print edition. It was, and still is, on the table. If we had any reason to believe our papers or boxes were a serious vector […]
Tobacco tax approved, Kane takes Basalt Mayor
A sizable majority of voters in Carbondale’s municipal election supported taxing tobacco products — with 924 in favor of the measure and 381 opposed, according to unofficial results. Beginning July 1, it represents a sales tax increase of four dollars per pack of cigarettes or 40 percent on other tobacco products, with proceeds earmarked for […]
