In March, the Colorado legislature considered House Bill 26-1323, “Wildfire Resiliency Prohibiting Taking of Beavers,” sponsored by HD57 Rep Elizabeth Velasco. The proposed legislation would limit hunting or killing of beavers on public lands to protect the animals and stabilize their role in ecosystems, which also serves as a mode of wildfire management. The Colorado […]
Annalise Grueter
Posted inEnvironment
Continued drought and high temperatures set regional records, prompting early ski closures and water restrictions
Colorado and Roaring Fork Valley snowpack plummeted in March, due to a combination of above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation. Early in the month, watershed nonprofit Roaring Fork Conservancy (RFC) raised alarms in a community newsletter, highlighting that snowpack in the Valley was at 65% of normal on March 4, with average site depths of 8.7 […]
Posted inEnvironment
Fire & Water takes cinematic journey along Colorado River and through wildfire
The Middle Colorado Watershed Council (MCWC) will host the second event of its 2026 Fire & Water Speaker Series next week. The Rifle-based nonprofit organizes events each spring to engage community on topics around water, wildlife and humans within the Colorado River Basin. The first event, hosted last month, introduced hydrologist and writer Robert R. […]
Posted inLocal Government
RFSD Report: Language program reviews, superintendent evaluation, public outreach
In October, the Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) held two regular Board of Education meetings and a special session, Oct. 15, for a superintendent review. The board conducted its annual review of Dr. Anna Cole’s performance in the role. Next week, district voters will elect two new board members for four-year terms. Oct. 8 meeting […]
Posted inColumns
First-ever Aspen Literary Festival offered inspiration for bookish community
Note: Annalise Grueter is a member of the Aspen Writers Network and participated in an Aspen Summer Words juried workshop this past June. Literature came alive in Aspen the last weekend of September. Tents full of books, artwork, readers and writers decorated the lawn of the Red Brick Center for the Arts. The main tent […]
Posted inLocal Government
RFTA Report: Zero Fare fall pilot poised to launch Oct. 1
During the August meeting, Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) Director of Finance Paul Hamilton and Budget Manager David Carle presented preliminary considerations for 2026 budget planning. Efforts in progress include drafting operating budgets for each RFTA department, considering future transit service costs and accounting for potential state and federal revenue impacts on RFTA finances. Hamilton […]
Posted inNoticias
La amenaza a tierras públicas provocó resistencia bipartidista
Habitantes y líderes de Colorado unieron fuerzas para oponerse a una disposición federal que buscaba vender tierras públicas. La propuesta fue eliminada del proyecto de ley One Big Beautiful Bill tras fuerte resistencia comunitaria.
Posted inColumns
A writing initiation: Awestruck steps into the world of [Aspen] Words
Editor’s Note: Annalise Grueter is a member of the Aspen Writers Network. This column details her recent experience at the Aspen Summer Words juried workshops. If you’ve been reading The Sopris Sun for at least a couple of weeks, you already know that this valley harbors an impressive roster of passionate writers. From local journalists […]
Posted inLocal Government
RFTA Report: Board focuses on Maroon Bells service heading into summer
The June 12 Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) board meeting opened with public comments. Several community members proposed solutions for improving community services. Teresa Salvatore lives in Satank and asked RFTA to improve river access there. She said it is a public amenity that deserves more attention. Next, Aspen High School Principal Sarah Strassburger joined […]
Posted inNews
September symposium to confront existential questions of life, the universe and humanity
Nonprofits from Texas and California are partnering with local media to present Frontiers of Knowledge on Saturday, Sept. 13. The symposium will bring together 10 experts from the fields of physics, cosmology, natural and social sciences, and psychedelics research for four educational lectures. This ambitious event aims to explore topics from physics and astronomical understandings […]