Garfield County

Garfield County Commissioners voted Monday to raise the tobacco purchasing age to 21, joining other counties and municipalities in the state.

Senate Bill 181 Rulemaking hearings are taking place across the state over the next year, and garfield county wants the public to be informed on how to participate in the process. In the most recent Energy Advisory Board meeting, county oil & gas Liaison Kirby Wynn shared details on the rulemaking process.

Garfield County Commissioners are joining and creating local government coalitions in response to SB-181. KDNK’s Amy Hadden Marsh has more on why the county is involved in more than one group and how some activists say the county does not represent all of the Western Slope.

The Western Local Governments Coalition or WLGC was designed to gather support for streamlining SB 181 rulemaking participation from western Colorado county and municipal leaders. KDNK's Lucas Turner reports.

Alpine Legal Services is a non-profit civil legal assistance agency dedicated to providing legal services and upholding fundamental legal rights in Garfield, Pitkin and western Eagle Counties. Here, Executive Director Jennifer Wherry talks about the organization and their participation in the AmeriCorps VISTA program. 

The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is expected to decide this week on a new rule that would allow 1,000-foot setbacks from school and childcare center property lines. Garfield County is weighing in on Tuesday's rulemaking hearings in Denver. KDNK’s Amy Hadden Marsh has more.

As of 11 PM Tuesday, an estimated 63% of Garfield County registered voters had cast ballots. KDNK’s Amy Hadden Marsh visited the Democrats and the Republicans at their respective election parties that night at opposite ends of Glenwood Springs to find out why this election is significant.

¿Cómo quedaron las elecciones en el condado y en el estado? Aquí le contamos.

Crystal Mariscal, KDNK’s Spanish News Host, spoke with Colorado House District 57 candidates Bob Rankin and Colin Wilhelm while attending a forum presented by The Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association in October.

Tom Jankovsky, quien está corriendo para mantener su puesto como comisionado en el Condado de Garfield, nos comparte su respuesta sobre si estaría a favor de que el Condado de Garfield fuera un condado sanctuario.

For the past few months, The Post Independent has explored the trend towards an older population in Garfield County. The Longevity Project concludes on Monday with a panel discussion at Morgridge Commons. For this week’s news brief, KDNK’s Raleigh Burleigh is joined by Post Independent editor John Stroud.

Miguel Gonzalez, por su labor altruista en la ciudad de Rifle, gano el premio "2018 Governor's Service Award" por parte del gobernador de Colorado y el premio al servicio humanitario del Condado de Garfield.

KDNK’s new Spanish-language news host Crystal Mariscal recently interviewed Garfield County Commissioner candidates Paula Stepp and Tom Jankovsky. Here, Paula Stepp, the Democratic challenger, responds to a question about diverse representation in government. The full interview is available here.

Paula Stepp, quien está corriendo para el puesto de comisionada en el Condado de Garfield con el partido demócrata, nos comparte su respuesta sobre si estaría a favor de que el Condado de Garfield fuera un condado sanctuario.

KDNK’s new Spanish-language news host Crystal Mariscal recently interviewed Garfield County Commissioner candidates Paula Stepp and Tom Jankovsky. Here, Jankovsky, the Republican incumbent, responds to a question about diverse representation in government. The full interview is available here.

Six suicide deaths occurred in Garfield County last month, half of all suicides reported last year, bringing the 2018 total to 11. KDNK's Amy Hadden Marsh spoke with Mason Hohstadt with the Garfield County Suicide Prevention Coalition to find out more.

***If you or someone you know needs help, you can call the Aspen Hope Center at 970-925-5858 or text TALK to 38255. You can also go to Mental Health Colorado for more resources***

Garfield County needs to find a new voting system by 2020. And, Clear Ballot seems to be the county clerk’s top choice. The public was invited to a demonstration of the voting system earlier this month. KDNK’s Amy Hadden Marsh has this report.

47% of voters in the United States are registered independent. New Castle resident Randy Fricke is interested in leveraging that influence in upcoming elections. KDNK’s Raleigh Burleigh reports.

Garfield County Sheriff Lou Valario’s live Facebook video, Just the Facts, posted on Monday, got over 6,000 views, more than any of his previous videos. It was a response to Friday’s school shooting in Parkland, Florida and was more opinion than fact. KDNK’s Amy Hadden Marsh has more.

For this week’s News Brief, KDNK’s Amy Hadden Marsh talks to Aspen Daily News reporter Chad Abraham about a sovereign citizen case in front of the Garfield County Court.

Many Battlement Mesa residents were disappointed in a decision made by Garfield County Commissioners Thursday. KDNK’s Amy Hadden Marsh has more.

Battlement Mesa residents find out today if Garfield County Commissioners will approve or deny Ursa Resources’ proposed A Pad. The controversial project would put 24 natural gas wells and a wastewater injection well less than 500 feet from some homes within the Battlement Mesa community. Commissioners held a public hearing Tuesday in Battlement Mesa about the project. KDNK’s Amy Hadden Marsh has this report about why citizens believe the project should be denied. Commissioners meet at 9 AM in Glenwood Springs.

Sopris Sun reporter Megan Tackett and editor William Grandbois visited the KDNK Studio to discuss 2017 Garfield County Ballot Issues with KDNK’s Raleigh Burleigh.

The 2017 Garfield County Ballots have been mailed to residents. Ballot Issue 1A asks voters to support museums and cultural heritage with a new property tax. Raleigh Burleigh spoke with proponent Beth White, executive director of the Mt. Sopris Historical Society, to learn more.

UpRoot Colorado reduces food loss and insecurity in the Roaring Fork Valley by organizing the distribution of food that would otherwise be left to rot. KDNK’s Raleigh Burleigh spoke with Ciara Low, founder and director, to learn more. For information about volunteering and donating, Ciara can be contacted at ciara@uprootcolorado.org.

Close to 3,400 voters withdrew registrations in Colorado following the Trump Administration’s call for nationwide voter records late last month. KDNK’s Amy Hadden Marsh talked to Garfield County Clerk Jean Alberico to find out how voters in the county responded.

Ursa Resources wants the state and county natural gas well permitting processes to happen at the same time so it won’t have to wait very long to begin Phase 2 drilling operations inside Battlement Mesa. Last month, Garfield County Commissioners approved the request. But, Leslie Robinson, director of the Grand Valley Citizens Alliance, an industry watchdog group, told KDNK that Ursa’s request was misleading and a concurrent permit process is too rushed.

Federal agencies and county officials are concerned about fire danger. As the firecracker-packed July 4th holiday approaches, Stage One fire restrictions are in place. KDNK’s Amy Hadden Marsh has this report. Click here for fire restriction details.