News

• Norwood Enters Stage 1 Fire Restrictions
• West End Roundup with the San Miguel Basin Forum
• Taxpayer Dollars Support Mental Health Services

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Norwood Enters Stage 1 Fire Restrictions

The Norwood and Egnar Fire Protection Districts will enter Stage 1 fire restrictions on Friday, June 5, at 11:59 p.m.

“We only go into fire restrictions when the conditions are such that if a fire were to start, it would be incredibly difficult for us to contain and control,” said San Miguel County Emergency Manager Shannon Armstrong. “The majority of wildfires across the country are started by human actions. So, this is a way for us to mitigate that when the conditions are bad.”

Armstrong said the county does not take fire restrictions lightly and considers a number of factors when determining the need for restrictions.

“The dryness of the fuels, and that’s everything from the grass, the little small flashy fuels, up to the bigger trees. Then we also look at things like our upcoming weather — so if it’s going to be super windy or super hot, that plays into it,” Armstrong said. “We look at our fire resources across the region. If there’s a big fire in California, and our crews get deployed to that, and we’re a little light in our area, that’s a factor. Also, things like population surges, and whether or not we’ve been seeing human-started fires. There’s a lot that goes into that decision.”

The restrictions will run north-south to the county line along mile marker 91 on Highway 145 and extend west to the Utah border.

San Miguel County Sheriff Dan Covault noted Bureau of Land Management land managed by the Tres Rios Office is already under Stage 1 restrictions.

“Tres Rios, and the BLM lands that went into Stage 1 took up most of the public lands from mile marker 91 to the Utah line,” Covault said. “We’re pretty much just following suit with them, just at a little later time.”

Covault added the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest may go under similar restrictions in the next week or so. At that point, he said, the Sheriff’s Office will likely bring the rest of the county into fire restrictions as well.

Under Stage 1 restrictions, fires of any kind are prohibited outside developed areas.

“The biggest thing is open fires,” Armstrong said. “If folks are cleaning up their yard and trimming limbs, those types of controlled burns are not allowed under Stage 1 fire restrictions.”

Campfires are allowed, but only in designated metal fire grates within developed campgrounds.

Smoking is prohibited except in certain spaces.

“People, obviously, are still allowed to smoke, but it needs to be within either an enclosed vehicle or building, or a developed site that is totally barren and free of vegetation — that would be like a parking lot, but not standing out in the middle of a field and ashing your cigarette,” Armstrong said.

Explosive materials, including exploding targets, are prohibited, as is welding or the use of torches with an open flame, unless conducted in an area cleared of vegetation.

It is also prohibited to operate internal combustion engines without a properly installed and functioning spark arrestor.

Leaving fires unattended or not fully extinguished, and lighting fireworks, are always prohibited on federally managed lands.

Covault and Armstrong emphasized the importance of staying vigilant and helping protect local communities and the environment.

“We would just really appreciate that everybody help us out. Pass the word. Understand that just because there’s moisture in the area, doesn’t mean that our fire danger is being alleviated to any noticeable degree,” Covault said. “It’s often a misconception that ‘it rained today. We’re okay.’ No, we’re not.”

Armstrong echoed that message.

“I would just hope that with these fire restrictions, and with some of the public information that we’re putting out there, that folks take a minute and reflect on their own action and realize that even a little thing could start a big fire,” she said.

Stage 1 fire restrictions for the West End of San Miguel County will take effect Friday, June 5, at 11:59 p.m. and will remain in place until rescinded by the county.

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West End Roundup with the San Miguel Basin Forum

oday on the West End Roundup, produced in partnership with the San Miguel Basin Forum, KOTO’s news team chats with editor Regan Tuttle.

In today’s headlines: West End Prepares for Emergency, New Town Business in Nucla, and Community Concern Continues Over Nucla Cell Tower.

Communities across the region are preparing for emergency this summer, especially in the wake of a warm, dry winter. Nucla and the West End are no different. Tuttle shares the latest.

Tuttle: Paul Eller has been handling the organizing of most of these meetings.

There have already been two in the West End, and the third is June 11 at the Nuclear Community Center at 6:30 p.m.

He is the emergency manager for the City of Montrose, and he has been organizing a lot of this for the county because the county lost its emergency manager. Now that the county has hired Kristy Matthews, she will be handling all of this going forward. However, Eller has been instrumental in coordinating these efforts.

The last few meetings have focused on shelter sites and receiving people, and organizing these places. Already, landowners and property owners have come forward and said these are spaces that can be used in the event of a disaster.

The meeting on June 11 will discuss some of those places and also talk about pet shelters and large-animal livestock-type places where cows, horses and mules could be housed in the event of a disaster.

We asked Eller: Are we focusing on fire? We are really focusing on fire because the outlook for June for wildfire has been daunting.

He agreed, but he also said this is also about anything that could happen. It is about flooding, it is about a tremendous snowstorm or winter storm. How can a plan be made and put in place so that people are taken care of and communities are taken care of?

The discussion continues June 11.

The last meeting had about 15 participants. Most of those were either county or municipal employees and leaders. He said everybody is welcome. Members of the community can attend, hear about these plans and learn about the shelter sites and who is volunteering.

They are also going to talk about some of the people who will be feeding and organizing meals should a disaster occur.

Nucla Town Trustees held a meeting recently with questions on the proposed hospital district, and the need for a new trustee. Tuttle provides an update.

Tuttle: We all know the Basin Clinic Board is working on a campaign to establish a health service district in the West End.

This would create a plan for a taxing district that could then establish a critical access mini-hospital. However, establishing the district is the first step, and the Town of Nucla is supportive of it. Officials overwhelmingly want to see the health service district approved.

At the same time, Trustee Aimee Tooker expressed concerns at the meeting about the number of mills the district would request. She questioned what Montrose County is willing to contribute through this public health and safety tax, an issue that has been debated in the West End for some time.

Mayor Pro Tem Tim Pierce said he is not sure what that public safety tax will look like for West End communities going forward.

Tooker said she is worried the initiative will not pass on the ballot this fall if the mill levy is set too high.

Trustees want to discuss the details of the district and what it will look like. While they are supportive, Mayor Paula Brown said she would like the Town of Nucla to draft a letter of support stating, “We stand behind this campaign initiative. We stand behind this at the ballot.”

The Nucla Town Board also addressed other business.

The board recently swore in Jason Richardson as a new trustee. He replaces Joseph Hittinger, who resigned. Ailene Smith has also resigned, and the board is now advertising for another trustee. The town will accept letters of intent and then the board will make a collective decision on who to appoint to the seat.

Some families in Nucla remain concerned with a new cell tower in town. Tuttle explains the contention.

Tuttle: It’s been a heavily debated topic for the past year.

The cell tower that has been erected at the top of Nucla near Town Hall has been the subject of ongoing discussion. Trustees and community members have considered moving it to the airport, Mustang Water or another location, but that has not happened.

The tower is not yet live. It has been constructed but is not functioning. Still, there is ongoing contention.

A group of people has been vocally opposed to it. One member of that group, Mimi Johnson, has raised concerns over the past year about radiation and potential harmful effects.

At the last town board meeting, Trustee Aimee Tooker also said she has heard there are families who will pull their students from the school district, which could have a negative financial impact on funding.

A meeting about the cell tower and ways the West End Public Schools District and the Town of Nucla can move forward, or at least have a discussion, will take place June 9 at the Nucla Community Center.

Mimi Johnson said she will attend and wants to bring attention to what she says are expert opinions that, even if cell towers cause no harm, they should be located at least 1,500 feet from a school. She continues to advocate for moving the tower. She also said she has heard at least 30 students are leaving the district. The Forum cannot confirm that, but she is a parent of school-age children who are part of the school community.

The Forum plans to cover what happens after the June 9 meeting and whether students actually withdraw this fall as a result of the tower.

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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Taxpayer Dollars Support Mental Health Services

Access to mental health resources can be a challenge in the region for a number of reasons, including funding, program availability and stigma.

In 2018, voters in San Miguel County decided to take steps to address some of those challenges and passed a mill levy to collect property taxes for behavioral and mental health services.

Funds from that mill levy are allocated throughout the community by the Behavioral Health Solutions Panel. This week, representatives from the panel presented to the San Miguel Board of County Commissioners on how funds were spent in 2025 and where they are being allocated in 2026.

Kerry Brock, behavioral health administrator at Tri-County Health Network and administrator of the panel, said funds are allocated into four main categories.

“Mental health counselors and programs to schools, crisis response services, suicide prevention, and substance use treatment and prevention,” she said.

According to Brock, in 2025 the majority of funding from the panel — more than $500,000 — went toward grants for local organizations and professional development for local therapists.

The Telluride Mountain School and the Telluride School District both received grants in 2025 to support counselors and social workers in schools.

The San Miguel Resource Center also received funding, as did Raices Sin Fronteras.

The Telluride Regional Medical Center and the Uncompahgre Medical Center also received funds.

“UMC’s funding was used to hire a licensed therapist and a Spanish interpreter so they can provide integrated health services for West End communities,” Brock said. “When I say ‘integrated behavioral health services’ — when you go to the doctor sometimes they have you fill out the little survey about how your mental health is doing, and you indicate how you’re doing. They now have the ability, when they receive one of those surveys and they say, ‘Woah, some of these answers are a little concerning. This person seems like they might be struggling with their mental health.’ They now have therapists on site who can go into the room that day, at your appointment, and ask if you want to get set up with help in therapy.”

For 2026, many of the grantees are similar, funding comparable projects, but the Norwood School District is also receiving a grant this year.

“Norwood Schools is receiving $180,000 to sustain and expand its behavioral health programming,” Brock said. “This will support a school counselor, a behavioral specialist, and an ELL teacher who will provide programming for social emotional learning, substance use prevention, and crisis response.”

In both 2025 and 2026, roughly 20% of the funding went to the Behavioral Health Fund.

“Through this program, anyone who lives or works in San Miguel is eligible to receive what we call a ‘scholarship’ to help pay for their therapy sessions,” said Brock. “Everyone qualifies for six sessions. We pay the therapist $125 per session.”

Individuals can receive an additional six sessions based on income, but the first six sessions do not have an income cap. Brock said that is significant.

“It makes it for a lower barrier of entry,” she said. “It makes it so someone can just fill out that application, get in the door, get some help.”

Individuals who live or work in San Miguel County can apply to the Behavioral Health Fund to help pay for therapy. The fund provides $125 per session for six therapy sessions, with up to 12 sessions available based on income.

Applications for the fund are available at tchnetwork.org.

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Colorado 150 Concert Set for Ridgway

Colorado, the Centennial State, will mark 150 years of statehood this August, and organizations across the state are holding celebrations throughout the year to honor the milestone.

This weekend, the Ouray Regional Chorus will present a commemorative concert featuring a number of American standards, including “America the Beautiful,” “Shenandoah” and “Rocky Mountain High.”

The concert will also debut a special musical piece commissioned in recognition of Colorado’s 150th anniversary. The work was created by Western Slope composer Dylan Fixmer.

Organizers said the performance will “delight audiences with their choral styling and community spirit.”

The Colorado 150 Commemorative Concert will take place Sunday, June 7, from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Ridgway United Church of the San Juans in Ridgway.

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Colorado Law Requires New Domestic Violence Response Protocols

Colorado law enforcement will soon be required to take new steps when responding to domestic violence calls.

Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill into law Wednesday requiring police to ask a standardized set of questions designed to identify when a situation could turn deadly. If someone is identified as high risk, officers will be required to immediately connect them with a victim advocate.

Police will be required to begin following the new protocol next year.

The Colorado Attorney General’s Office will also be responsible for creating mandatory training for law enforcement on how to conduct the assessment.

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Garfield County Sheriff Candidates Clash Over English-Only Email

The two candidates for Garfield County sheriff are weighing in on a controversial email sent to department staff in January.

For Rocky Mountain Community Radio, Aspen Public Radio’s Eleanor Bennett reports in the email, a senior member of the sheriff’s office asked employees to only speak English in shared workspaces. The message said the policy was intended to “make sure that the rest of our staff is included and comfortable.”

Sheriff candidate Brent Baker, currently a patrol lieutenant with the department, defended the email.

Baker said the sheriff’s office values its bilingual staff, but there needs to be a common language used in the office so employees who only speak English know what is being said.

“I would probably handle that the same way, right? Like, you have somebody complaining, saying, ‘Hey, I don’t know if they’re talking about me, I don’t know what’s going on, and I feel out of place.’ You know, we want to fix that work environment… and be able to communicate, and that’s what makes teams work,” Baker said.

Baker’s opponent, Dan Loya, disagreed. Spanish is his first language, and he said he sees the email as discriminatory toward bilingual employees.

“They pay their staff extra money to speak dual languages. Their staff is there to also speak to people that need that service, so now you’re being told you’re only allowed to do it when somebody needs it,” Loya said. “I think that’s the wrong message.”

Loya is currently the undersheriff for Eagle County. He said he speaks Spanish with employees who feel more comfortable communicating in their first language and plans to do the same in the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office if elected later this month.

The Republican primary on June 30 will decide who will be Garfield County’s next sheriff, as there are no Democratic candidates running for the position.

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Westcliffe Jazz Brings Community Together

The Wet Mountain Valley in south-central Colorado has become a gathering place for jazz musicians from across the region.

As KLZR’s Stefanie Sere reports for Rocky Mountain Community Radio, a new ensemble is hoping to bring even more community members into the local jazz scene.

Story beings at 19:45.