Mountain Fair Volunteers!
Looking to enjoy the festivities this weekend, while giving back to the fair? Sign up to volunteer for the 55th annual Carbondale Mountain Fair, running Friday, July 24 through Sunday, July 26, and join an impassioned group that makes the fair run! Volunteers who contribute four or more hours of time over the three-day period will earn a “Friend of Fair” T-shirt. Volunteer at signup.com/group/40739812051 or email emily@carbondalearts.com with questions.
I-70 mudslide
A mudslide cascaded onto I-70 around 7pm Monday, July 20, closing an eight-mile section of highway between mile marker 97 in Silt and mile marker 105 in New Castle, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). CDOT said the debris, consisting of mud, logs and rocks, spanned an estimated 300-yard section of highway, was over three-feet deep in areas and was set loose by heavy rain and hail. “There is a lot of material for the crews to clear and water to drain,” CDOT Regional Transportation Director Jason Smith said in a press release issued Tuesday. “We are working hard to get this cleared up to get this vital road back open as soon as possible.”
Pole vault aid
Glenwood Springs High School is hoping to replace its deteriorating pole vault equipment and is asking the community to support the cause. The pole vault foam and landing mats are breaking down and the “mechanism to raise the bar is rusted,” wrote the school’s communications manager, who attributed the diagnosis to Track and Field Head Coach Parker Kennedy. Kennedy is hoping to raise more than $13,600 to replace the equipment through a GoFundMe page. Donate at tinyurl.com/gshspolevault
Airport modernization
The Airport Modernization Project construction kicked off July 15 at the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport, beginning an expected four-year construction process with an anticipated airport closure from April to November next year. The modernization will “improve airfield safety, modernize aging infrastructure and prepare the airport to serve the Roaring Fork Valley community and its visitors for generations to come,” a press release stated. Construction begins with utility relocation, site preparation and roadway improvements. Components of the project include the reconstruction and relocation of the runway to align with Federal Aviation Administration standards and the construction of a new airport terminal. The project was passed by voters in November 2024.
Voluntary fishing closure
Colorado Parks and Wildlife implemented voluntary fishing closures on July 17 to account for “extremely low flows and high water temperatures” in four regional rivers, according to a press release. CPW said that fish struggle to recover when caught and released if water temperatures are 71 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. The part-day or all-day voluntary restrictions apply to sections of the Crystal, Roaring Fork, Colorado and Eagle rivers, including a full-day voluntary closure on the Crystal between Highway 133 mile marker 64 and the Roaring Fork confluence as well as a voluntary closure from noon to midnight on the Roaring Fork between the Highway 133 bridge and the Colorado River confluence.
Community vandalism
An intake pipe for an irrigation water pump was allegedly vandalized after 11am on July 15, depriving 42 gardeners at the Good Seed Community Garden of water access for over a day, according to a post on the Carbondale Facebook page by Jae Gregory, owner of Artful Gardens Landscapes and Holiday Magic. Gregory claimed the act was deliberate. “Let’s call this what it is: sabotage,” Gregory wrote, adding, “Destroying property doesn’t save water — it just hurts the people around you.” Gregory asks anyone who saw something unusual near the pump area between 11am and 2pm on July 15 to contact the Carbondale Police Department at 970-963-2662.
Chief academic officer
The Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) hired longtime educator Jessica Piwko as its new chief academic officer, the district announced last week. With 14 years of experience in K-12 Colorado public education, Piwko most recently served as Denver Public Schools’ interim chief of academics. “Jessica brings deep instructional expertise across grade levels and content areas, along with a strong track record of supporting diverse learners and improving outcomes for all students, including emerging bilingual students, students with disabilities and historically underserved student groups,” RFSD Superintendent Dr. Anna Cole said in a press release.
Gun burglary
Four handguns were allegedly stolen from a sporting goods store in the early morning of Monday, July 20, the Rifle Police Department announced this week. The department said a citizen reported hearing breaking glass at roughly 5:12am near East 26th Street and Highway 13. Officers found a broken front window at the scene. They searched the building and surrounding area, determining the guns were stolen. The department asks folks who live or work in the area of the incident to review security camera footage between 4:45 and 6am, Monday, and contact Rifle Police Department Detective Sergeant Dewey Ryan at 970-625-8095 with any information about suspicious activity.
Cottonwood Pass Fire
A wildland fire ignited shortly after 3pm Tuesday, burning about 0.5 acres roughly 15 miles east of Glenwood Springs, according to the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office. Located off of Cottonwood Pass Road near Blue Hill, the fire was about 80% contained as of 2:20pm Wednesday. The cause is currently unknown, according to the sheriff’s office. Fewer than 15 homes in the immediate area off of Cottonwood Pass Road were placed on preevacuation as an overnight precaution between Tuesday and Wednesday, the sheriff’s office believes. The restriction was lifted at 1:30pm Wednesday.
They say it’s your birthday!
Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Mary Boucher, Rick Burrows, Shelle DeBeque, Ruth Frey, Allan Ingram, Maria Sabljak and Jeff Wadley (July 23); Michael Banks, Adele Hause, Greg Jeung, John Masters and John Steuben (July 24); Adrienne Ackerman, Robert Moore and Frank Norwood (July 25); Meredith Ogilby, Alison Osius, Fran Page and Jesse Steindler (July 26); Franz Alderfer and Vince Savage (July 27); Tom Baker, Lisa Lindon and Brent Moss (July 28); Owen O’Farrell, A.O. Forbes, Randi Garcia, Sarah Kemme, Liz Phillips, Jake Spaulding, Greg Tonozzi and Jess Worley (July 29).