Electric mountain bikingThe Bureau of Land Management is seeking public input on a proposal to allow Class 1 e-bikes on all currently designated mechanized mountain bike trails within the Colorado River Valley Field Office boundary. Approval would affect more than 220 miles of trail in Eagle, Garfield and Pitkin counties. “Class 1 e-bikes have a […]
Jeff Hurd
Posted inLetters
Letters – Feb. 26, 2026
Correction: Regarding last week’s “Swords to plowshares, turning weapons into tools” article, Western Slope Mennonite Fellowship hosted the event, and the Sandy Hook tragedy occurred in 2012. Also, Roaring Fork High School junior Chase Fenton was mistakenly referred to by his older brother’s name. Re: The SmithyIt was no longer a blacksmith shop the first […]
Posted inNews
Updates on public lands, new land purchases, federal legislation
National perspectives and decision-making on public land continue to create pressure for state and local governments and organizations. Attempts this year to include provisions in federal legislation for selling public lands to private developers, ostensibly for housing and energy development, received bipartisan opposition from the public and from Colorado elected politicians, including District 3 representative […]
Posted inLocal Government
Garco report: Library, SNAP and South Bridge
Garfield County commissioners (BOCC) got an earful of fiery public comments at the beginning of Monday’s meeting. Citizens concerned about the appointment process for county library trustees responded to a call to action on Facebook over the weekend, urging the community to speak at the meeting. Sixteen commenters talked about issues ranging from the current […]
Posted inLetters
Letters – Sept. 11, 2025
Thank you, CEF! The staff and students of Crystal River Elementary School had the opportunity to partner with artist Daniel Dancer last week and create an all-school piece of art that was featured by The Sun on the cover! We are incredibly grateful to the Carbondale Education Foundation (CEF) for making this opportunity possible. Our […]
Posted inNonprofits
Local public radio says, ‘We’re not going anywhere’
After months of concern that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) would be defunded, thus revoking federal dollars which local public radio stations rely on, the Rescissions Act was signed by President Donald Trump on July 24. According to www.congress.gov, the act revoked $9.4 billion — at the recommendation of the Trump administration — in […]
Posted inLetters
Letters – June 19, 2025
Re: Library ReportThe June 5 Garfield County libraries board meeting at the Carbondale Library was my first opportunity to see the makeup of the new board, as directed by the county commissioners, in action. I wasn’t impressed. As it has been for about three years now, how and when to restrict children from reading material […]
Posted inLetters
Letters – June 12, 2025
Re: Nuclear powerAt the end of last week’s article “Nuclear power in Western Colorado revisited,” geothermal power is mentioned as another option for the Craig or Hayden powerplants. In my humble opinion, this has about zero likelihood of success in my lifetime. A little geo-hotspot exists in the Yampa Valley, but the local geology and […]
Posted inEnvironment
Regional environmental organizations divided over pending Fix Our Forests Act
Last month, the United States Senate introduced H.R. 471, the Fix Our Forests Act, for legislative consideration. The bill, cosponsored by Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper (D), passed the House in late January with support from representatives Jeff Crank (R-CD5), Jeff Hurd (R-CD3), Brittany Peterson (D-CD7), and Lauren Boebert (R-CD4) and 275 other congressional members. The […]
Posted inNews
Congressman Hurd votes to cut government spending, tells constituents he supports Medicaid
In mid-February, House Republicans narrowly passed a budget framework that is expected to slash the Medicaid budget in order to provide tax cuts. Republic Congressman Jeff Hurd, representing Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, was among those who voted in favor of the measure. While President Donald Trump previously said he wouldn’t touch mandatory social programs, he […]