Jamie Werner got the call from White River National Forest (WRNF) Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams on Sunday of President’s Day Weekend in February that she was among the recent new Forest Service employees being fired “for performance-based reasons” under the Trump Administration’s federal government downsizing. It wasn’t a huge surprise. Of the 15 WRNF workers who […]
Forest Service
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Scuttlebutt & Calendar
Forest Service attritionWhite River Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams is resigning from his position after 15 years. Fitzwilliams is among other federal employees, including Deputy Supervisor Heather Noel, to reportedly have opted into a deferred resignation early buyout program — retaining all pay and benefits until Sept. 30. According to Vail Daily, as many as 20 […]
Posted inLetters
Letters – March 6, 2025
Library boardJocelyn Durrance was the Carbondale Branch Library’s trustee to the Garfield County Public Library District (GCPLD) board for five years and involved in library sciences for 30 years. Yet, she was recently replaced on the board for what appear to be strictly political reasons by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). Commissioner Tom Jankovsky […]
Posted inEnvironment
Forest Service approves Daniel’s Hill parking area
“The Lead King Loop has been a very popular recreation area for a long time,” said Jennifer Schuller, deputy district ranger for the National Forest Service Aspen-Sopris Ranger District. And mitigating that impact has been a challenge.In 2021, the Forest Service, Town of Marble and Gunnison County approached Western Colorado University Center for Public Lands […]
Posted inBusiness
Sopris alabaster mine to resume operations
“This mountain has a lot of secrets to give up still,” Robert Congdon remarked, approaching the entrance to Mystic Eagle Quarry with his canine companion, ZuZu. After ceasing operations in 2003 to resolve legal disputes, the mine is slowly returning to action behind large tan metal doors, tucked uphill of a cabin visible from Avalanche […]
Posted inEnvironment
Forest service considers parking lot at Daniel’s Hill
A public meeting on a proposed parking lot at the base of Daniel’s Hill will be held at the Marble Fire Station from 5 to 7pm on Tuesday, Aug. 13, according to a U.S. Forest Service press release. A public comment period is open through Wednesday, Aug. 21. The Forest Service is considering the construction […]
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Scuttlebutt & Calendar
Dinkle delaysSwimmers and hikers have likely already experienced up to two hour delays on Dinkle Road, which will continue through Thursday and pick up again next week as Pitkin County performs road detail from the intersection of Prince Creek Road up to Dinkle Lake. For updates, visit www.fs.usda.gov/whiteriver Chacos ParkShade studies and stage location considerations […]
Posted inEnvironment
Teamwork makes the dream work
As of April 3, after two decades of sweat and tears, the Thompson Divide was guaranteed protection from future mineral leasing — well, at least for the next 20 years.“The Biden-Harris administration today [April 3] took action to finalize protections for the Thompson Divide area in central Colorado, one of the state’s most cherished landscapes, […]
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Scuttlebutt & Calendar
Main Street detourBeginning April 1, crews will begin replacing water lines for the new Forest Service building in Carbondale. For about three weeks, westbound traffic will be rerouted to Colorado Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. Eastbound traffic will remain on Main Street but will use the north lane, closer to the Post Office. […]
Posted inNews
Carbondale resident files complaint alleging USFS fence blocks public right-of-way
Longtime Carbondale resident and former trustee Pam Zentmyer filed a complaint with the Town of Carbondale Wednesday, listing Town Clerk Jessica Markham and Carbondale Police Chief Kirk Wilson as recipients, regarding the fence surrounding the Aspen-Sopris Ranger District construction zone near the corner of Main Street and Weant Boulevard. Dare-Case Contracting Services LLC erected the […]