Noticias

• Commissioners Double Down on Hurd for Public Lands
• And The Winner Is…
• Celebrating the Class of 2025

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Commissioners Double Down on Hurd for Public Lands

San Miguel County commissioners are making it loud and clear: Public lands are a top priority in Rep. Jeff Hurd’s Third District.

In recent weeks, Hurd voted against Nevada Rep. Mark Amodei’s amendment to sell off public lands across the West. The amendment, part of the GOP budget bill, failed amid strong opposition from conservation groups and elected officials across the country — including those in San Miguel County.

Commissioners passed a resolution of support for public lands in early May.

“Public lands are integral to the county’s economy, environment and quality of life,” Commissioner Galena Gleason said during an April 30 meeting. “These public lands provide essential resources to our residents, workers and visitors — including clean air, grazing lands for agricultural operations, habitats for wildlife, rivers, lakes and watersheds which provide for our drinking water and healthy fish populations, wildfire suppression and agricultural irrigation, cultural resources, scenic beauty, fossil fuels and minerals, timber, a ski area, and opportunities for other outdoor recreation.”

Over 60 percent of San Miguel County is federally managed public land. In a May 28 letter to Hurd, commissioners expressed appreciation for his vote against the land sell-off amendment but said they want to see more proactive action.

The letter urges Hurd to advocate for appropriate funding for land management agencies, oppose future efforts to sell off public lands and support legislation that ensures the preservation and sustainability of those lands.

“Attempts to transfer, lease or sell public lands without a public process are inconsistent with the values and interests of the residents of San Miguel County, the broader Colorado community and the nation as a whole,” Gleason said.

Sarah Lavender Smith, a local resident who advocates for public lands with the Conservation Lands Foundation based in Durango, emphasized the need for bipartisan support.

“In my view, conservation should be a nonpartisan issue,” Smith said. “Hopefully, Coloradans of all political stripes will recognize the value of conserving the great outdoors for wildlife and for the economic benefits that come from outdoor recreation. I really hope our moderate purple state unites behind supporting public lands rather than selling them off or opening them up for extractive purposes.”

In their letter, commissioners asked Hurd to support the Public Lands in Public Hands Act — a bill that would prohibit the secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture from transferring federal land into private hands.

“Congress should be involved when public access is on the line,” the letter reads. “This added oversight helps ensure key conservation and recreation areas aren’t lost without careful consideration.”

Public lands also made headlines on May 15, when Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper reintroduced the Dolores River National Conservation Area legislation. The bill would protect 68,000 acres of public land, much of it in San Miguel County. It has widespread support in Western Colorado from businesses, counties and landowners.

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And The Winner Is…

The 47th annual Mountainfilm Festival wrapped up on Monday after a weekend full of films, conversation and discussion, and indomitable spirit.

A total of 118 films took to the screen this year. During the festival’s closing picnic, twelve films were recognized as some of the best.

“Lost Wolves of Yellowstone” took home Mountainfilm’s top award of Audience Choice Feature. The film tells the story of Alpha Female Wolf No. 5 as she leads her pack to survive reintroduction in Yellowstone National Park, 50 years after wolves were wiped out of the United States.

The Audience Choice Short Award went to “The Life We Have” — which follows Rob Shaver as he battles stage-four cancer for over two decades.

“Mr. Nobody Against Putin” won Best Documentary Feature. The film highlights Pasha, a beloved teacher in a small Russian school, as he documents and chronicles institutional change, regressive laws, militarization, violence and oppression following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Best Short Film Award went to “Tessitura.” The film shares the experience of three trans opera singers as they navigate the traditional rules of their art form while pushing to be recognized for their talent.

“The Changebaker” won the Moving Mountains Award. The film profiles Manolo Betancur, a Colombian immigrant to the U.S., who creates jobs for his community through a bakery in North Carolina. Following a string of ICE raids, the store becomes more than a bakery — a hub for local activism, and a space for hope and resilience.

“SALLY” won the Women in Film Award. The film tells the story of Sally Ride, the first American woman to blast into space, while also celebrating her — at the time — secret love with life partner Tam O’Shaughnessy.

The Student Choice Award went to “Desert Angel,” which highlights Rafael Larraenza and his work running a harrowing, high-stakes DIY search and rescue operation for those who have gone missing crossing the U.S.-Mexican border.

“Tiger” won the First People’s Award. The film follows the Tiger family — Dana and her late father, Jerome — as Dana looks to her father’s art as a way of getting to know him after his passing.

The Charlie Fowler Best Adventure Film went to “Pastrana.” Filmmaker Melissa Brogni gives tribute to her friend, Pastrana, filling the silence left behind and gaining deeper understanding of time.

“Cecil” explores the complexity of colonization, ethics of conservation, and impacts of cancel culture, against the backdrop of Cecil, a prominent lion killed by an American hunter. The film won the James Balog Creative Vision Award.

Finally, special Jury Mentions went to “Houston’s Whitebeam” and “Placekeepers.”

The 2025 Mountainfilm Festival packed the box canyon over the weekend, screening 118 films from nearly two dozen countries.

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Celebrating the Class of 2025

The Class of 2025 will gather their diplomas on Thursday, heading off into the next chapter of their lives.

On Wednesday, graduating seniors took to Main Street for the annual Graduation Parade.

KOTO News was there with a question for those watching the parade: What advice do you wish you got when you graduated from high school?

Story begins at 7:12.

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Sen. Bennet Staff to Hold Office Hours in Telluride

The politics of Washington, D.C., may sometimes seem far away, but in addition to making speeches on the House and Senate floors and voting on “big, beautiful bills,” lawmakers are also charged with helping their constituents navigate the federal government.

This week, U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet is doing just that with office hours in Telluride.

A staff member from Sen. Bennet’s office will be in town on Thursday to hear from the community about their wants and needs. They will also be available to help individuals and families dealing with issues related to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the IRS, Social Security, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Staffer Wyatt Bair will be at the Miramonte Building on Thursday, May 29, from 9 a.m. to noon. To make an appointment, email [email protected].

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CDOT Operations Close Part of Highway 550

Motorists driving between Ouray and Silverton on Thursday may want to shift their plans.

The Colorado Department of Transportation will be conducting safety-critical helicopter operations on U.S. Highway 550 between Red Mountain Pass Summit and the Bear Creek Overlook (mile markers 81 to 91).

Northbound travelers will encounter a closure about 10 miles north of Silverton. Southbound travelers will find a closure about three miles south of Ouray.

Drivers should expect full lane closures. Flaggers may periodically guide motorists through, if operations allow.

Work is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 29. CDOT does not have an exact time for the road reopening.

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Reports of Increased ICE Activity in Western Colorado

Community reports were circulating last week of increased U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys.

For Rocky Mountain Community Radio, Aspen Public Radio’s Eleanor Bennett has more.

Story beings at 12:56.