Noticias

• West End Roundup with the San Miguel Basin Forum
• Cat Movie Fisher with Risho Unda
• Listening Club is the Cure for Disintegration

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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: Norwood Hill Gets Safety Improvements, the Branding Iron Opens Soon, and Mustangs Baseball Wins Regional Tournament.

The town of Norwood recently received funding from the Colorado Department of Transportation to make safety improves on Norwood Hill. Tuttle has more.

Tuttle: The town of Norwood received $1.25 million from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), specifically through the Highway Safety Improvement Program. The funding will go toward Norwood Hill.

CDOT evaluates projects rigorously, looking at safety needs, crash history, and cost effectiveness, as well as project readiness. Norwood was selected for the funding.

Town staff in Norwood are thrilled about the award. Fire Chief John Bockrath in Norwood said 40% of Norwood’s accidents occur either on Norwood Hill or in the San Miguel Canyon below it.

He has expressed concerns about the future of the area as construction and traffic increase dramatically, with the Norwood school going under construction this month and the Four Seasons Hotel development bringing workforce traffic back and forth from Telluride.

Town staff, local fire and EMS officials are all very excited about the program.

The funding is intended not only to support Norwood, but also locals, visitors, tourists, and the workforce, with the goal of improving safety for everyone.

The brand-new Branding Iron restaurant in Nucla is slated to open in June. Tuttle has the latest.

Tuttle: The project is actually a rebranding of an existing restaurant into a new concept called the Branding Iron.

Jill Storey is leading the remodel and upgrade. She previously worked at the old Fifth Avenue Grill when Bobby Wright owned it. Wright owned the restaurant for 22 years, and during that time, Storey worked there for 11 years.

She has described the location as a grounding and meaningful place in her life, calling it a constant presence over the years.

There was an interim owner after Wright sold the business about a year ago, but that effort did not work out. When Storey had the opportunity to take over, she stepped in. She is transforming the former Fifth Avenue Grill into the Branding Iron.

The Forum visited the site during renovations. Work includes new flooring, repainting, and a redesigned floor plan.

She is also planning for the menu. Some longtime favorites from the Fifth Avenue Grill will return. In addition, she plans to add green chili dishes and weekend buffet service featuring slow breakfasts.

Storey said she is grateful for strong community support. She already has staff in place, and progress is moving forward.

She initially hoped for a May opening, but the timeline has shifted to June due to construction delays. She plans to hold an open house before opening. She has also ordered merchandise, including hats and hoodies.

The longtime restaurant space in Nucla will reopen under the Branding Iron name.

After a shaky start to the season, the Nucla Mustangs Baseball team came out on top, winning the regional tournament and are now heading to state. Tuttle shares the excitement.

Tuttle: After winning districts, the team advanced to the regional tournament.

They beat Prairie 10–9 in a close game in which Jackson McCabe homered.

They then defeated Peetz, a team from north by Nebraska, 13–10. Brycen Rummel of Norwood hit a three-run home run, and Cole Bray of Redvale hit a grand slam.

The team is now riding momentum after a difficult start to the season, which included personal tragedy for head coach Randy Gabriel. Gabriel lost his son-in-law this season.

The team has been honoring him by hanging a No. 18 jersey on the fence, which players say has become a source of inspiration.

The Mustangs went on to win the regional tournament, and families celebrated on the field with the team. Gabriel told The Forum the moments with the team are what matter most.

The team traveled Wednesday and played Thursday. A win would extend their season; a loss would end it.

Gabriel said he is proud of the team regardless of the outcome.

Since 2022, the Mustangs have reached the Final Four about seven times. Gabriel said he would like to make it eight.

He said this season stands out because the team stayed united despite challenges. The Mustangs’ success has been meaningful for the community.

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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Cat Movie Fisher with Risho Unda

It’s time for another installment of Cat Movie Fisher, a segment in which Telluride High School student Risho Unda chats with members of the community about their favorite movies. This week, he talks with special education teacher Maria Casanova.

Story begins at 7:50.

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Listening Club is the Cure for Disintegration

The Wilkinson Public Library will hold its monthly Listening Club on Monday. It’s like a book club, but for albums. Sam Burgess will lead the May discussion with his selection, Disintegration, the 1989 album by The Cure, on Monday, May 18, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Telluride Music Company.

KOTO News spoke with Burgess about his selection.

Story beings at 11:20.

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Norwood Park and Rec Hosts Karaoke and Yoga

Dust off the microphone and warm up your vocal cords. Sober Karaoke is back in Norwood by popular demand.

Sponsored by Norwood Park and Recreation District, the event offers a space to sing and have fun in a safe community setting.

Sober Karaoke Night at the The Livery is scheduled for Friday, May 15, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The event is free and open to all ages. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own nonalcoholic beverages.

The following week, Norwood Park and Recreation will host Self-Release Yoga with Julie Maynard.

The class will focus on myofascial release techniques combined with gentle yoga practice, incorporating self-massage and an emphasis on anatomy, alignment and poses designed to improve circulation.

The class will take place at The Yard at The Livery from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 21. All skill levels are welcome. Participants should bring a mat and water bottle. The class is donation-based.

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CPW Conducts Zebra Mussel Sampling on Colorado River

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is conducting aquatic nuisance species sampling on the Colorado River this summer in an effort to slow the spread of zebra mussels.

The invasive species was first found in larval form in 2024, and adult mussels were detected last year.

Sampling will take place along sections of the Colorado River between Granby and the Colorado-Utah border.

According to CPW, officials will use different water-sampling techniques to target various life stages of the mussels.

CPW has identified water “infested” with zebra mussels at six public locations, including Highline State Park and James M. Robb-Colorado River State Park. Officials also confirmed zebra mussels in the Colorado River from the confluence with the Eagle River downstream to the Colorado-Utah border.

CPW said there have been no zebra mussel detections at the headwaters of the Colorado River or in the Eagle or Roaring Fork River watersheds.

In addition to sampling efforts, CPW is encouraging the public to help prevent the spread of invasive species by cleaning, draining and drying angling gear, paddleboards, kayaks and other watercraft after leaving the water.

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Forest Service Seeks County Help Managing Maroon Bells

The U.S. Forest Service is asking Pitkin County to take over management of the popular Maroon Bells Scenic Area near Aspen.

The area draws more than 100,000 visitors each year, and the Forest Service says there is a significant gap between the revenue generated and the cost of managing the iconic destination.

Here’s Kendra Head, the developed and dispersed recreation manager for the White River National Forest.

“The White River National Forest has been subsidizing the Bells for years from other programs across the Forest, and budgets are tight across the Forest and we need to change management strategies. Deferred maintenance needs have accumulated and it’s difficult to hire staff with the cost of living and various hiring freezes,” Head said.

Under the proposed plan, the county would take over management of the Maroon Bells for five years under a special-use permit, with the opportunity to renew.

County officials emphasized that the land would remain under Forest Service ownership, and the agency would continue approving management plans, fee structures and capital improvements.

Officials also acknowledged that federal public land management policy has been scaled back under the administration of Donald Trump, while the Forest Service faces a major restructuring.

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Colorado Lawmakers Wrap Up 2026 General Assembly

Colorado lawmakers wrapped up their legislative work for the year Wednesday at the Colorado State Capitol.

For the Colorado Capitol News Alliance, reporter Lucas Brady Woods reports that Colorado’s 2026 legislative session ended on a positive note, despite partisan clashes in its final days. The session also included emotional moments as key members of the General Assembly said their goodbyes.

That includes House Speaker Julie McCluskie, the first female speaker from the Western Slope, whose term is limited.

She offered a message to lawmakers in her farewell remarks.

“I have to leave you with some final words. Please please lead the western slope way. Put partisanship aside. Focus on problem solving,” she said.

Lawmakers passed hundreds of bills this year on issues ranging from housing and health care to immigration and artificial intelligence. Some have already been signed into law.

Gov. Jared Polis will be signing or vetoing the remaining bills over the next 30 days.

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Record Low Snowpack and Ongoing Drought Mean Big Concerns for Colorado Agriculture

After one of the warmest and driest winters on record, ranchers, farmers and growers across the region are bracing for what forecasters say could be another parched summer.

For Rocky Mountain Community Radio, Stefanie Sere of KLZR reports.

Story beings at 21:40.