Pitkin County

According to the Pitkin County Incident Management Team, as of 4:00 this afternoon, there are 17 negative and 14 positive COVID-19 test results in the county, with four new negative and one new positive result added today. 

Local public health officials say the response to COVID-19 is now shifting gears. One of the key strategies is called social distancing. KDNK’s Lucas Turner explains why this strategy is important to understand, and how it reduces the spread of the virus.

UPDATED MARCH 14 - 1pm MST:

Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) has advised the Pitkin County Public Health Department that one test for COVID-19 is presumptively positive for the virus. Pitkin County now has 11 presumptive positive cases with results from 23 tests still pending. Officials say a contact tracing investigation is underway to determine whether community transmission is taking place in Pitkin County.

Eagle, Garfield, and Pitkin County issued a public health order Thursday to minimize the impacts and spread of COVID-19 in the region. The order is effective immediately and will be revisited on April 8th, 2020.

  Governor Jared Polis is ramping up the state’s response to the coronavirus as the number of cases continues to grow, especially in mountain communities. Officials have now reported over 40 cases of COVID-19 in Colorado after testing more than 300 people. Our state Capitol Reporter Scott Franz has been following the developments, and he joined us from Denver to provide the latest information.

A woman in Pitkin County tested positive for COVID-19 this weekend but not until she returned home to Australia. Pitkin County officials held a press call Monday to talk about precautions. KDNK’s Amy Hadden Marsh has this report. Click on the headline to find numbers and links for Coronavirus and COVID-19 information and local updates.

After extensive collaboration between community groups, and two public comment periods, Pitkin County officials Tuesday voted to adopt the new Penny Hot Springs Management Plan. KDNK’s Lucas Turner has more.

The public drop-off recycling center in Willits will close for good at the end of January. Now Basalt staff and Trustees are considering alternative options. KDNK's Lucas Turner has the story.

The public comment period for the Penny Hot Springs management plan closes this Friday. KDNK’s Lucas Turner spoke to Planning and Outreach Manager for Pitkin County Open Space and Trails Lindsey Utter about some of the items currently listed in the plan, and how you can submit comments before the deadline.

Cathy Hall is the manager of the Pitkin County Landfill. Last Friday she was appointed to the State Solid and Hazardous Waste Commission by Governor Jared Polis. KDNK’s Lucas Turner has more.

On Thursday October 10th Pitkin County officially elevated the status of 911 Dispatchers to the title of First Reponder.  KDNK’s Lucas Turner has more on what that means.

Internet service in Redstone and Old Snowmass went live on July 1st. It’s Phase 1 of Pitkin County’s effort to provide broadband to underserved areas throughout the Roaring Fork Valley.  KDNK’s Amy Hadden Marsh spoke with Kara Silbernagel, County Policy and Projects Manager, to find out more.

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. 

Long-time resident Dorothea Farris was a Pitkin County Commissioner for 12 years and brings much needed wisdom to current land use issues.

On the November ballot, Pitkin County will decide whether or not to renew the Healthy Community Fund at an increased rate for nine years. KDNK's Raleigh Burleigh reports. Full audio of the public hearing on Wednesday, August 22, is available here.

A new report ranks economic inequality higher in the Roaring Fork Valley than anywhere else in the state. For this week’s News Brief, KDNK’s Raleigh Burleigh speaks with Madeleine Osberger about her recent article for the Aspen Daily News.

Pitkin County recently released a draft plan for the Carbondale to Crested Butte  - or Crystal Valley - Trail. KDNK’s Amy Hadden Marsh spoke with Will Roush, conservation director for Wilderness Workshop, about the pros and cons of the plan and if a changing climate could change the plan. The draft plan is available here for comment.

KDNK’s Raleigh Burleigh spoke with representatives for Response, an organization that addresses domestic violence and sexual assault locally.

Communications Project Engineer Drew Petersen speaks with station manager Gavin Dahl about improvements Pitkin County has made to equipment on their broadcast towers. KDNK is sounding clear as a bell at 88.3 FM and 94.7 FM in Old Snowmass. Thanks to all of our listeners and members who reached out regarding our FM signals over these past several months. We have appreciated your patience.