Noticias

• Telluride Fire Plans for Station 3 Expansion
• West End Roundup with the San Miguel Basin Forum
• Wear a Lifejacket and Don’t Touch the Wildlife

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Telluride Fire Plans for Station 3 Expansion

When fire strikes, firefighters need to be prepared to respond. To improve readiness, the Telluride Fire Protection District hopes to expand Station 3 in Placerville and build a training facility on the property.

The proposed expansion includes a new apparatus bay to house nine emergency vehicles and a remodel of the current station to add dorm rooms, a fitness area, a day room and gear storage.

The proposed training facility would be a three-story building where firefighters could conduct live-fire training exercises.

“It is super important to condition your firefighters to live fire operations,” said Chelsea Gardner, training officer for the Telluride Fire Protection District. “I tell people, ‘Imagine getting your hair cut by someone who never gets to cut hair.’ You probably don’t want to get your hair cut from them. You want your firefighters going in to live fires and being well practiced.”

Gardner, along with representatives from the Telluride and Norwood fire protection districts, presented plans for the expansion Wednesday during a San Miguel Board of County Commissioners meeting.

“A training facility will allow us to train whenever we want, but it also has live fire capabilities,” Gardner said. “We wouldn’t be doing live fire operations all the time. When we do our skills, we’re pulling hose, we’re throwing ladders, we’re using hose streams. Most of the time that’s not under live fire conditions.”

The expansion and training facility would not require additional taxpayer funding. Through the state, the Telluride Fire Protection District received a $575,000 federal grant for the project.

Some community members raised concerns about air quality, traffic and water use. Others questioned why the training facility needs to be located in Placerville.

Telluride Fire Protection District Chief John Bennett said space is limited at the district’s other stations in Telluride and Mountain Village. Norwood Fire Protection District Chief John Bockrath said Placerville would serve as a central location for the region.

“It’s only six miles out of my district,” Bockrath said. “It brings Mountain Village, Telluride stations down here. Even Ridgway, it’s not that far for Ridgway. This really is the prime location.”

Bennett said the close proximity would help regional departments train together more effectively.

“We utilize our neighbors on a mutual aid station,” Bennett said. “It behooves us to train them the way we train, so when they come help us, we’re on the same grade — whether it’s Rico, whether it’s Norwood, whether it’s Ridgway, Nucla, Naturita.”

Gardner said the facility would allow firefighters in the region to gain more experience and improve as first responders. Bockrath agreed, calling the project a return on investment for taxpayers.

“Think about buying a new car,” Bockrath said. “When it sits in your garage for five years and you decide, ‘I’m going to take it out for a spin,’ it’s probably not going to work very well; it’s the same thing with firefighters. I used to be a training officer in Chicago; I was a training officer for years. We trained every shift. These guys, give them an opportunity to train more, so when an emergency happens it’s muscle memory. They know exactly what to do, there’s no hesitation.”

The Telluride Fire Protection District is in the early stages of the process to expand Station 3. The project will require approval from the County Planning Commission and the San Miguel Board of County Commissioners before moving forward.

The county plans to provide a survey to Placerville residents to gather feedback on the project. The district hopes to complete the expansion in 2027.

The Telluride Fire Protection District will host a Station 3 tour and Q&A at 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, and a live-fire demonstration and barbecue at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, at Station 3.

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West End Roundup with the San Miguel Basin Forum

Today on the West End Roundup with the San Miguel Basin forum KOTO’s news team chats with editor Regan Tuttle. In today’s headlines: Nucla Appoints a New Trustee, Montrose County Talks Housing Zoning, and Mustangs Head Off to College.

Story begins at 4:15.

The town of Nucla recently appointed a new member to its board of trustees. Tuttle has the update.

Tuttle: The town of Nucla held a municipal election in April. Elected to the board were Aimee Tooker, Darla Joseph and Joseph Hittinger.

However, Hittinger resigned from his post shortly after the election results were announced, leaving a vacancy.

The new board was tasked with creating a public notice informing residents that it would need to make an appointment to fill the vacant seat.

At its May 13 meeting, the board announced that it had received three applications from individuals interested in serving. From those applicants, the board selected Jason Richardson.

Richardson is employed by Williams Construction. He has a young family and is eager to serve on the board.

While the Forum has not interviewed Richardson directly, board members expressed confidence in his ability to help lead the town.

Going forward, Richardson and the rest of the board will work on land use code updates for Nucla. They also will continue efforts on the town’s drought water resolution, which is nearing completion.

The board also plans to address ongoing tension between the school district and the town regarding a cell tower, including any potential testing and due diligence efforts related to the issue and efforts to retain students in the district.

Montrose County is discussing its land use codes when it comes to zoning for housing. Tuttle shares more.

Tuttle: It mostly has to do with workforce housing. That’s all related to the Four Seasons project taking place in Mountain Village, but which affects West End communities because that’s where the workers will dwell.

We know that Merrimac Ventures, the developer, bought the Rimrock Hotel in Naturita a year ago and that they also leased Camp V, and they’ve also leased the Ridgeway Mountain Lodge.

Local communities are worried about their lodging tax, about their own infrastructure, and basically the West End is teaming up – Naturita, Nucla, Mustang Water Authority. They’re really working on how do we come together and create these protections.

Montrose County has been leading land use code updates. So related to county updates, they’ve been working on zoning. Montrose County is working on an amendment to allow workforce housing in places that are zoned general ag or industrial or commercial.

We know that there was a county meeting May 4 and that commissioners were further discussing. Nothing has been adopted yet.

There was another meeting May 20, and still no code was adopted for land use amendments, but it’s coming.

The public comment has been continuing.

The Forum talked to Tim Pierce, who is a part of Mustang Water Authority and also town of Nucla mayor pro tem.

He thinks the amendment is going to be adopted the way that it’s written. His stance is that it’s going to be a blanket code.

It’s going to go for the whole county, not just the West End.

He said as far as the West End really speaking up and being protective goes, they need to do that during the special use permit. When and if Merrimac or another company applies for workforce housing to literally construct a facility that will impact infrastructure, water, roads, sewer, he said, that’s when the public needs to show up these special use permit hearings and really voice their concerns.

Nucla’s Class of 2026 graduated over the weekend with graduates heading off to the next adventure and scholarships to help them get there. Tuttle shares the excitement.

Tuttle: The class collectively raked in more than $500,000, which is great for a class of 10.

Drake Richardson, he’s headed for the Navy and he raked in a small scholarship.

Brody Richardson, he’s going to Tulsa Welding School and he raked in more than $7,000.

Drake Long, he’s going to Western Washington University. He was awarded more than $27,000 local organizations and some from the university itself.

Kyra Redd is going to Colorado Mountain College in Rifle and she took in more than $22,000.

Debbie Wytulka at Nucla High School is so proud of her. Wytulka said that Redd applied for nearly everything she gave her and she worked so hard to support herself.

Truman Tooker of Nucla High School is fully funded. He’s a Chang-Chavkin Scholar and to Whitman College in Washington and he also took in more than $100,000.

These kids are getting awards from the Lone Cone Republican Women, Norwood Roping Club, True North Youth Program, San Miguel Power Association.

Kyra Redd told the Forum she’s just so grateful to live where she does in West End community. She feels so supported by all the people that gave to all students and so she really expressed her gratitude.

She said it helps with stress; it helps with the long-term planning. It’s helping her to achieve her dreams.

Principal of Nucla High School Josh Ledford said he’s just really pleased that more than half the class they’ve made choices to go on to higher ed or military and they’ve made a great path for themselves.

The San Miguel Basin Forum is a locally owned and operated newspaper out of Nucla, Colorado. Visit SanMiguelBasinForum.com for weekly news, events, and local happenings in the West End.

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Wear a Lifejacket and Don’t Touch the Wildlife

As spring turns to summer, temperatures are rising and wildlife across Colorado is becoming more active. But Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials say that also means people need to remain mindful about safety outdoors.

“Summer recreation season has arrived,” said John Livingston with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “People are getting out on boats, paddle boards, kayak, and having a great time. We love to see that at Colorado Parks and Wildlife, but we love it even more when we see people wearing their life jacket.”

Livingston reminded residents that adults using boats or paddle boards are required to have a life jacket with them, while children must wear one.

“We see it all too often in the state of Colorado where people set out to swim across a lake or they’re out paddle boarding or kayaking and the wind picks up and they get sent into the water and separated from their vessel,” Livingston said. “When they don’t have that life jacket with them, all too often these become tragic incidents. We’ve already seen a couple drownings in Colorado this spring.”

Livingston said Colorado waterways can remain dangerously cold even during the hottest months of the year.

“Even when you get into August and September, and we’ve had those warm temperatures, our water stays pretty cold because it’s all sourced straight from the mountains, snow runoff, and our nights stay pretty cold too,” Livingston said. “So, our water temperatures never get that warm.”

He said cold-water exposure can quickly affect even strong swimmers.

“Your body is conditioned to send all its blood flow to protect your vital organs when you’re in that cold water environment,” Livingston said. “You quickly lose the use of your limbs. With all your blood flow going to your organs, it’s not pumping through your arms, it’s not pumping through your legs, and swim failure can set in pretty quickly. Between hypothermia and swim failure, if you lose the ability to swim and you’re not wearing a PFD and staying afloat, it’s going to be a lot harder for people to rescue you. It’s also a lot harder for people to grab onto you and swim with you if you don’t have that lifejacket on.”

For those staying on land, Livingston said it is equally important to follow wildlife guidelines while hiking and walking outdoors — especially when encountering baby animals.

“This is the time of year where we’re starting to see wildlife babies popping up all over the place,” Livingston said. “It’s still a little early for deer to be dropping fawns and elk to be having their calves, but we’ve got goslings and ducklings all over the place, racoons have had their babies, fox kits are hanging out at dens and starting to poke their heads out, checking out the world around them. A lot of times, people’s first instinct when they see baby wildlife and they don’t immediately see a mom right there with them is, ‘Oh no, this poor baby animal has been left behind or abandoned. How can I help?’”

His advice: Leave the animals alone.

“Too often people pick these animals up and look to take them to a rehabber, or they call CPW, or they try to feed these animals,” Livingston said. “We want to remind people that wildlife moms are the best moms. When people pick up baby animals, they risk the chance of imprinting on them to the point where they will want to follow you and think you may be their mother, and they’re unable to be returned to the wild. Too often those animals don’t get another chance to get out there.”

Livingston said Colorado Parks and Wildlife has already received several calls from Ouray, Montrose and San Miguel counties regarding baby animals believed to have been abandoned.

“If you do see some babies that you think have been left behind, there’s a good chance mom has just left them there for a little bit and she’s going to come back,” Livingston said.

He added that wildlife is generally capable of adapting without human intervention.

“Wildlife have been adapting to our presence and the changing environment for thousands of years,” Livingston said. “They’re really conditioned to get through these periods without human intervention and human help. Our instincts are to want to try and help and save everything. Oftentimes these animals don’t need our intervention or our saving.”

Residents who encounter a baby animal that appears to have been abandoned for several days can contact the Montrose Colorado Parks and Wildlife office at 970-252-6000.

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John Macker Featured at Bardic Trails Poetry Night

Last night, a skunk swaggered
through the yard. Not too long ago
the skies were turbid like a teabag,
empirical proof that once language
abandons the heavens, it becomes
landscape.

At first I thought the day
was about tender aging, backyards &
companionship. The wind not so fierce
to need fire, found my woodpile to ply
its trade against. North is a word that needs
no evidence. Winds and birds come from
it sure in their skins.

For some reason
today it’s Earthboy James Welch and nostalgia
is not fit for a decent burial. A river, an elder
I still love, arrives again gratis and sings through
its teeth. Last night I longed for someplace
until it disappeared.

• John Macker “Nostalgia Poem”

Poet, playwright and essayist John Macker will be the featured poet at the upcoming Talking Gourds Bardic Trails Poetry Night.

Raised in Colorado, Macker has lived in northern New Mexico for the past three decades. He has published 14 books, two audio recordings and an anthology of fiction and essays.

During the event, Macker will share selections of his work and answer audience questions. Attendees are also encouraged to bring and share a poem, either their own or a favorite written by someone else.

For participants seeking inspiration, this month’s poetry theme is “headwinds.”

The June Bardic Trails Poetry Night will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, via Zoom. The Zoom link is available at tellurideinstitute.org.

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Utah Residents Rally Against Proposed Data Center

Hundreds of people gathered at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City on Saturday to protest a proposed data center in Box Elder County that would be among the largest facilities of its kind in the world.

Shannon Barton, a community organizer with the group Box Elder Accountability Referendum, or BEAR, spoke during the “Dump Data Centers” rally.

BEAR is leading an effort to stop the project and overturn its approval.

“It was a beautiful moment of people coming together — Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Forward Party, everybody,” Barton said. “Something really special is happening in Box Elder and around Utah. The members of BEAR are thrilled and touched that people from Utah want to be part of our movement.”

Organizers with BEAR are gathering signatures to place a referendum before voters that would overturn the unanimous approval of the data center project by Box Elder County commissioners.

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Polis Signs Bills to Protect Pollinators, Ecosystems

Gov. Jared Polis signed a pair of bills into law earlier this week aimed at supporting Colorado’s ecosystems and pollinators.

As Rae Solomon reports for the Colorado Capitol News Alliance, a state-commissioned study from 2024 found Colorado’s pollinators are under serious threat from habitat loss, poor land management, pesticides and climate change. The two new laws aim to mitigate some of those threats.

One law requires state agencies to prioritize planting native, pollinator-friendly plants on public lands and manage state properties with pollinator health in mind.

Polis also signed a second bill creating a program to help control pesticide waste. The program will give manufacturers and applicators a safe way to dispose of leftover products and containers, preventing chemicals from leaching into the environment.

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Advocates Say ICE Circumvents Colorado Courthouse Arrest Limits

A Colorado law limits where U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents can make arrests connected to courthouses.

Immigration advocates say ICE is exploiting loopholes in the law across the state.

Jamie Wanzek of KDUR reported this story for Rocky Mountain Community Radio.

Story begins at 19:40.