A rockslide closed I-70 westbound near the No Name rest area for over three hours Saturday afternoon. 

CDOT Regional Communications Manager Lisa Schwantes said she was notified of the incident, just east of Glenwood Springs at mile marker 119, around 2:15 p.m.

Westbound traffic was being stopped at Dotsero as maintenance crews cleared rocks and debris from the roadway.       

No serious injuries were reported as a result of Saturday’s rockslide according to Schwantes. However, a semi-truck required towing and rocks scattered along the interstate were large enough to require a front-end loader, Schwantes said.

I-70 westbound reopened at around 5:20 p.m.

In the immediate area of the rockslide, I-70 westbound was limited to one lane and CDOT urged motorists to use caution.

Saturday’s rockslide was the first of the season to cause an interstate closure, Schwantes said.

Editor’s note: The weather isn’t making it easy for many folks to get a print copy of Friday’s paper, so we’ve made the e-edition free to access today. Go here to read Friday’s paper.

Roaring Fork School District has canceled school Friday in anticipation of continued adverse weather.

All after-school and extracurricular activities are also canceled, although Glenwood Springs High School’s girls swim team had already left for an event in Grand Junction and would still compete.

In a statement Thursday night, district public information officer Kelsy Been said early reports point to unsafe road conditions continuing Friday.

“Although we do not usually make snow day decisions this early, we’ve received earlier than usual reports from road and highway plowing operations departments of expected unsafe and hazardous road conditions,” Been writes. “Any decision to cancel school is based on student and staff safety.”

Go here to read Roaring Fork School District’s policy on cancellations.

In addition:

• Colorado Mountain College’s Glenwood Center, Spring Valley, Carbondale, Rifle and Leadville campuses will be closed Friday for the entire day. The Aspen campus remains open. Central Services in Glenwood is closed. For more information, call the CMC Rifle snow line at 625-6990 or the CMC Spring Valley/Glenwood Center snow line at 947-8153.
• Glenwood Springs City Hall will open at 10 a.m. Friday, instead of 8. The Community Center will open at 6 a.m. for normal business hours.

• Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is closed Friday. Friday Afternoon Club is canceled.
• Interstate 70 westbound from Golden to the Eisenhower Tunnel is closed. No alternate routes are available, and CDOT strongly recommends people don’t travel during today’s storm.

A winter weather advisory from the National Weather Service remains in effect until 5 p.m. Friday, with up to 8 inches of snow expected Thursday night and up to 4 more inches expected Friday morning.

Garfield School District 16 schools in Parachute are not canceled for Friday, and Friday is a normal off day for Garfield Re-2 schools.

Call 511 for the most up-to-date road conditions.

The City of Glenwood Springs will be turning management of its municipal airport over to a newly-formed nonprofit on May 1, after approving a near-final version of the Airport Lease and Concession Agreement during their April 4 regular session. 

The lessee, who will soon be managing part of the nearly 64-acre Glenwood Springs Municipal Airport, is KGWS Sumers Airpark, a group of pilots and airport supporters represented by former Airport Commission Chair Gregg Rippy. The city did not provide the number of acres the nonprofit will be managing before press time)

“We’re very excited about it,” Rippy said. “It’s been a long time coming, and the pilots and a lot of the neighbors are excited the airport is going to get the attention it deserves.” 

In December, the group announced that it was undergoing a registration process with the secretary of state to be recognized as a 501(c)4 nonprofit, which Rippy said is in the final stages of approval and should be finalized before they sign the lease as a legal entity. 

Rippy said the group opted to become a 501(c)4 as opposed to a 501(c)3 nonprofit because the designation would allow them to receive grants from CDOT for future projects and airport maintenance. 

Aside from grant funding, a major difference between the two types of nonprofit designations is that a 501(c)4 nonprofit allows for unlimited political lobbying and contributions to political campaigns. However, Rippy did not indicate politics as a motivation for this designation.

The name “Sumers” in KGWS Sumers Airpark is taken from the name of the family that originally donated the majority of the land for the airport in 1936, according to Rippy. 

“I contacted them to see if it would be okay to incorporate their name into the name of our entity just as a way to recognize what the Sumers family did back in 1936,” he said. 

The lease states an initial term of 20 years, with the opportunity to renew the agreement twice, each for a period of 10 years. This means that, with the lessee’s first right of refusal as granted in the lease, they could manage the airport for up to 40 years before any renegotiations.

The lease would also permit KGWS Sumers Airpark to sublease airport land and hangars for commercial and noncommercial aviation-related activities. 

The city approached Rippy about creating a nonprofit to look after the airport approximately one and a half years ago. 

“I think that in government, things do move slowly, and I think we always have to remember that when concern is presented, solutions need to take time in order to come up with the best-case scenario for how we move forward,” Glenwood Springs Mayor Ingrid Wussow said. “This is an idea and a concept that’s a long time in the making … I sat back and thought, ‘How best can we nurture and maintain that space when running municipal airports is not usually in the purview of small towns?'” 

“The airport is not going anywhere,” Attorney Richard J. Peterson-Cremer said. “How do we make sure that it is a well-functioning and valuable amenity to the community and isn’t neglected? An idea (was), how about the airport users put some skin in the game and not just be there on the board telling city staff how it should be done, but actually implementing their vision for it?” 

Revenue share and net profit

Between the initial drafts of the lease and now, a few substantial changes have been made: 

One of the bigger changes in the lease includes revenue shared with the city of Glenwood Springs. The lease states that the nonprofit must award the city 1% of its gross income from the activation of the lease until 2030. From 2031-2035, the percentage of gross income paid to the city will grow to 5%, 7.5% from 2036-2040, with the payment capping off at 10% from 2040-2044. This money would go into the city’s general fund. 

“Historically, this was an enterprise fund,” Wussow said. “Enterprise funds are not perks in the city. They are self-sustaining businesses … There were quite a few updates and amenities over the years that they had to come to the city and say, ‘We don’t have the money to be able to do this.’ This structure will hopefully allow them to invest in improvements.” 

KGWS Sumers Airpark will also be required to repay a $200,000 general fund loan awarded by Glenwood Springs City Council to “improve the Premise for Airport operations.” The general fund loan will be repaid with an interest of 3.5% each year until the outstanding balance is zero, which the city anticipates will be around 2030. The money for the loan repayment will come from 50% of the airport’s net fuel sales (minus credit card fees). On the other end, the lease also outlines expectations for a depreciated repayment in the case of an election to close the airport. 

The airport’s anticipated revenue will largely come from existing fuel sales and rent income from the hangars, according to Peterson-Cremer. 

According to KGWS Sumers Airpark’s pro forma, the group’s net income is estimated to be around $2,755 in 2024, with the city receiving $2,845 of its $284,500 total revenue. Once the general fund loan from the city is paid by approximately 2030, the airport’s net profit is predicted to jump from $2,490 in 2030 to $32,184 in 2031. By 2033, their fund balance will be at $157,095, and they will be paying the city approximately $21,863 per year. 

“I hope we do better; and it’s more than hope — I anticipate that we’ll do better,” Rippy said. “If we do better than that, that’ll just accelerate that general fund repayment.” 

Rippy said the exponential increase in their net income following the general fund repayment increase will go into general reserves for future improvements and maintenance, as the nonprofit’s bylaws and articles of incorporation state they can’t use revenue funds outside of the airport. 

“As we start, we will have no reserves for things such as taking care of the infrastructure,” Rippy said. “We’re fortunate in that it’s in a good place and that we don’t see anything in the next five years that is going to require capital outlay. As you go out in five years, it’s going to take capital outlay.” 

South Bridge provisions

New provisions have been added to the lease for the consideration of the construction of South Bridge. More specifically, the lease states that “in the event of an airport closure for the construction of a tunnel under the runway, the term of this agreement shall toll for the period of such closure.” The provisions are meant to account for current uncertainty about the alignment of South Bridge, which could “interfere with the operations of or shorten the runway…” 

An additional provision has been added to ensure that the lessee does not “engage in opposition to any governmental regulatory process relating (so) South Bridge, including but not limited to that occurring under the National Environmental Policy Act…” 

The lease also states that the lessee shall “reserve one seat on its board of directors for a City representative to be appointed by the City Council.” Wussow said Councilor Erin Zalinski will serve as the city’s representative on the board. 

“We want to make sure that there is representation from the city in discussions,” Wussow said. “We did ask Councilor Zalinski if she was willing to serve in that position. The airport board also asked for her, so it was a really easy alignment to have her and we’re grateful for her service on this board.” 

The city’s current Airport Board, which has handled the management of the airport, will dissolve once KGWS Sumers Airpark takes over management. Zalinski currently serves as the council liaison for the city’s Airport Board. 

The nonprofit will sign the lease with a list of incorporators, or the original board of directors. After May 1, Rippy said the board will have a meeting to elect the new board of directors, which will be made up of seven people, including Zalinski. 

Rippy said that once the transition occurs, he does not intend to run for a position on the board. 

“I will probably consult to them, knowing what I know about how we got to where we are today, but it’s not my intention to be a part of the board of directors,” he said. “I’ve got a full-enough plate. This has taken a long piece of my life here in the last couple of years, and I think we have some very motivated people.” 

Residents interested in becoming members of KGWS Sumers Airpark will be required to pay a yearly fee of $100 according to Rippy. The board of directors election will be a private election within the nonprofit and its members. 

“We have over 60 planes based there. I’m hopeful that the majority of those become members of this new organization,” Rippy said. “We have a lot of support from non-pilots (too) … What I wanted is to be able to have a mechanism in which non-pilots, but supporters of the airport, can participate in this organization. And so that’s why it’s a 501(c)4 membership organization.” 

Rippy said the board hopes to hire an airport manager by late June, and that they already have a person in mind. Past work session discussions have brought up $40,000 as a potential salary, though an exact number hasn’t been solidified. In the meantime, Rippy said he’s confident the group will continue to run the airport smoothly, as it has run in the past year and a half without an airport manager. 

City council votes to approve the airport lease

Glenwood Springs City Council passed the Airport Lease and Concession Agreement with a 5-1 vote. 

The airport agreement acknowledges the city charter as it currently exists, which states that the airport can only be closed with a public vote. A public vote to close the airport would terminate the lease agreement and absolve the city of any liability for the closure, according to City Attorney Karl Hanlon. 

Councilor Jonathan Godes, who voted “no,” said he voted against the resolution for three main reasons: He felt the initial term of 20 years (with the opportunity to expand to 40) didn’t grant the city enough flexibility were they to want to re-negotiate lease terms, he felt there could have been a better outcome for the city through an open-market competitive bid for management of the airport, and because he felt the city only receiving a 1% share of the revenue was not a fair number.  

“The $3,000 a year is not a good return to the resident of Glenwood Springs,” Godes said. 

“To not have the ability to periodically review and make sure that the operators and the community are aligned on how the airport is being operated is concerning,” he added. “But the will of council was to move forward with this, and I respect council’s decision.” 

The city is currently working with Rippy for a smooth transition of management. 

“There’s a lot of excitement around it,” Rippy said. “I’ve been having people reach out to me and say, ‘Where can I send you money? I’m so happy that it’s going to be pilot-controlled.'” 

“I hope that the community that is particularly paying attention to this issue can see that good faith operation and collaboration between two parties to come (up) with a solution that is really fair and equitable and acceptable to both, and I think that that sets a really nice standard,” Zalinski said. 

A local scholarship designed to boost college attendance among Rifle High School students is growing, thanks to new partnerships and increased funding. The Levi Scott Dunlap Foundation Memorial Scholarship, established by Daniel Dunlap, aims to assist students with limited financial resources pursue higher education.

Colorado Mesa University (CMU) has recently pledged to match the scholarship amounts awarded by the Dunlap Foundation to any of this year’s recipients who choose to attend CMU. 

“I can’t tell you how much it means to me that Colorado Mesa University immediately agreed to help us out,” Dunlap said. “It’s like an extra scholarship for any senior who chooses to go to Colorado Mesa.”

This matching effort is part of a broader initiative to honor Levi Scott Dunlap, a Rifle High and Colorado Mesa alumni who passed away in 2013. Since the scholarship’s beginnings in 2021, the foundation has increased in the monetary number of scholarship funds for students. Last year, two Rifle High students were awarded $2,500 each for their higher-education endeavors while another student was awarded $1,000.

“CMU is really dedicated to western Colorado and getting our students some sort of degree or training or certificate is really vital to go to CMU,” said Robin Brown, vice president of development at CMU. “Raising the educational attainment of western Colorado is really important to us.”

The foundation not only targets students planning to attend four-year universities but also those interested in career training programs, community colleges, or other educational paths. Daniel Dunlap said he is also in talks with Colorado Mountain College and Colorado State University to extend similar matching scholarship opportunities.

“Providing a scholarship in honor of someone that previously attended Rifle High School and CMU is the best way to honor someone,” CMU Scholarship Director Carley Maher said. “We’re excited to double that reach and extend that scholarship to Rifle High School students to support them in honor of Levi.”

Recipients of this year’s scholarship will be announced at the Rifle High School senior banquet on May 21.

For more information on the Levi Scott Dunlap Memorial Scholarship, or for those looking to donate to the cause, visit thedunlapfoundation.org.

Glenwood Springs Elementary School Principal Jessica Schwarz announced that she will step down from her position, according to an RFSD news release. Schwarz took the helm of GSES in the 2022-23 school year.

“After an exciting three years at Glenwood Springs Elementary and the district instructional team, I have decided to pass the torch to a new leader for GSES to continue the forward momentum of our school,” Schwarz said in a letter to the RFSD community. “In order to support our leadership team with a successful transition as well as focus on my health, I will not be returning to GSES.”

During her tenure, Schwarz led significant improvements at the school. In just one year, GSES advanced from a turnaround status to an improvement plan, an assessment imposed by the Colorado Department of Education that measures academic performance.

 “It is such a testament to our team’s drive and dedication, commitment to focus on doing what’s best for kids, and fierce, deep belief that our students are capable of anything and that it’s our job as the adults around them to make it happen,” Schwarz said in the letter.

Under Schwarz’ leadership, the school also saw enhancements in teacher-student relationships, academic rigor and family engagement. This year’s spring fundraiser under Schwarz’ leadership raised nearly $20,000, marking it as the most successful to date.

Superintendent Anna Cole commended Schwarz for her contributions and assured the community of their commitment to find a capable successor. 

“We look forward to finding the next leader to continue the work Jess and the GSES team have started,” Cole said in the release. The search for a new principal is expected to begin soon as the school aims to maintain its trajectory of improvement.

The position will be posted on the Roaring Fork School District website.

Greater burdock (Arctium lappa) is an herb with a long history of use. Primarily the root is used, but other plant parts have reported traditional uses. It is native to Europe and parts of Asia with introduction to North America in the 1600’s. Burdock can be found along roadsides, old fields, stream banks, and the edges of lawns and woodlands. Frequently cultivated areas discourage its growth. It produces a large seed with tiny hooks and has leaves similar to those found on the rhubarb plant.

Burdock has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for a large range of medicinal benefits including elimination of accumulated toxins, use as a tissue “cleanser,” providing liver and gastrointestinal support, treating skin disorders, and for management of chronic inflammatory conditions. Many cultures have used burdock as a food. Native Americans also used burdock for food, as a blood purifier, and for treating sores. Burdock was listed until 1916 as a diuretic in the US Pharmacopeia.

Modern studies have shown a wide range of biological effects. As with other herbs, the specific effects are dose dependent and are affected by the length of time the herb components are in contact with the target tissue. Identified biological effects include anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and antidiabetic properties, benefits for the digestive tract, support for the liver, improvements in skin conditions, and assistance with management of osteoarthritis. Burdock root also contains inulin and fructooligosaccharides, important prebiotics, that have effects for the gut microbiome. In addition to its medicinal properties, burdock also has a range of vitamins (i.e. C, folate), minerals (i.e. potassium, calcium, magnesium), and antioxidants like quercetin and luteolin. With this range of effects it is easy to see why burdock is such an important medicinal herb.

The blood cleansing (detoxifying) properties and diuretic effects are important for general body support and also for addressing some impacts of our current environment. These detoxifying effects are promoted by certain polyphenol and lignan compounds found in burdock root. In addition to the enhanced liver detoxification processes, burdock increases bile flow. This can be a valuable part of detoxification. Benefits for the liver are further increased by burdock components that act as prebiotics that benefit a balanced intestinal microbiome. The anti-inflammatory effects of burdock can play an important role in supporting liver health by assisting management of the inflammation that is a consistent and ongoing component of liver processes. This inflammation needs to be managed as a valuable part of liver support. The diuretic effects of burdock can assist with the blood cleansing effect by promoting increased elimination of toxins through the urine.

Burdock has shown benefits for a range of skin disorders including allergies. Effects are thought to be a combination of the blood cleansing properties, antioxidant effects, improved intestinal microbiome, and better blood flow to the skin tissues. These effects also contribute to improved immune functions and may account for why it is used for such a wide range of skin problems.

Some research reports improvements in management of joint degeneration with reductions in inflammation and better comfort. Other research shows some benefit for cats as a mild antitussive.

As with many herbs, combining burdock with other herbs can increase the desired medicinal effects. Burdock is commonly combined with cleavers, yellow dock, sheep sorrel, and others. It is considered a safe herb. However, it is possible to have allergic reactions to burdock.

If you have questions about your pet, contact your veterinarian. If you have questions about herbs for your pet contact a veterinary herbalist.

Ron Carsten, DVM, PhD, CVA, CCRT was one of the first veterinarians in Colorado to use the integrative approach, has lectured widely to veterinarians, and has been a pioneer in the therapeutic use of food concentrates to manage clinical problems. He is also the founder of Colorado Animal Rescue (CARE). In addition to his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, he holds a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology and is a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist and Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist. He practices integrative veterinary medicine in Glenwood Springs. Dr. Carsten is the 2022 Colorado Veterinary Medical Association Distinguished Service Award recipient.

Oxidation is caused by free radicals. Rusting of metal when left out in the rain is an example of oxidation. In our bodies, oxidation contributes to cardiovascular disease, cancer, dementia, and other chronic diseases—and to aging.

For optimal health it is therefore important to eat food with lots of antioxidants. Animal products have few whereas plant-based foods such as herbs and spices are particularly loaded with antioxidants, as are intensely-colored vegetables and fruit.

Examples of intensely-colored vegetables are greens, red cabbage, red onions, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, and sweet potatoes. Examples of intensely-colored fruit are berries, oranges, limes, lemons, apples (the peel), mangoes, kiwi fruit, and watermelon (not bananas because the fruit is white).

You can tell if a food has lots of antioxidants by how long it lasts in your refrigerator before turning brown (a sign of oxidation). For example, kale, red cabbage, and berries keep for a long time. If you cut an apple in half the white part turns brown, but not the peel, which is where all the color/antioxidants are. If you cut a mango in half and leave it out, it takes days to turn brown because it’s an intensely-colored fruit, loaded with antioxidants.

In general, if you eat a variety of vegetables, fruit, legumes, whole grains, and nuts and seeds, you’ll get plenty of antioxidants, as well as other health-promoting micronutrients. Varity is important, because for example one plant might help prevent diabetes, another cardiovascular disease, another colon cancer, another breast cancer, etc.

Are there any super foods out there? The answer is that there is no one food or supplement that gives you all the nutrients for optimal health that a variety of the aforementioned foods do—which provide “a symphony” of thousands of micronutrients—many of which haven’t even been identified yet–working synergistically to provide optimal health.

Amla should be part of your diet, because it contains more antioxidants than any other known food. It has been used for centuries in Indian Ayurvedic, Chinese, and Thai folk medicine, which doesn’t necessarily mean it works. But when put to the test in studies, it has been shown to do the following:

• A half teaspoon of Amla powder a day lowers total cholesterol by 35-40 percent—as much as statins.
• lowers LDL (bad cholesterol) as well
• lowers triglycerides
• lowers Lp(a), a particularly harmful kind of bad cholesterol often elevated in families with early heart disease (nothing else lowers it except a total plant-based, whole food diet and medically-supervised niacin).
• lowers blood sugar in diabetics
• decreases harmful blood clotting
• decreases inflammation
• prevents growth of cancer cells in the lab
• reduces markers of oxidative DNA damage
• treats dyspepsia as effectively as antacids
• reduces GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)

How about anti-oxidant vitamins—A,C, and E–in pill for?. Theoretically they should help prevent many diseases, including cancer and heart disease. However, studies show that people who take vitamin E pills have more heart disease, and smokers who take vitamin A pills have more lung cancer. Humans evolved to get our micronutrients through the food we eat—not through pills, which for one thing cause abnormally high blood levels of micronutrients such as A, C, and E.

Amla can be purchased on the internet. It doesn’t taste great but can be eaten on oatmeal or stirred into a small amount of water or juice.  

Dr. Feinsinger is a retired family physician with special interest in disease prevention and reversal through nutrition. Free services through Center For Prevention and The People’s Clinic include: one-hour consultations, shop-with-a-doc at Carbondale City Market, and cooking classes. Call 970-379-5718 for an appointment, or email gfeinsinger@comcast.net.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Roaring Fork PreCollegiate Program, a college access and preparation program for motivated Roaring Fork School District students who would be the first generation of their family to go to college. The program provides mentoring, summer college exploration programs, and support with college readiness and application processes. The program also provides education and resources for families. The goal of PreCollegiate is to ensure that regardless of socio economics, race, or home language, students are well prepared for a wide-range of post-secondary options, including college.

68 seniors will graduate from the PreCollegiate program this spring. They will join over 1,000 first-generation students who have graduated from the program since its inception in 2003. The program is run by a small and mighty staff, a generous and dedicated board, and community volunteer mentors. Outcomes from the program are tremendous: 100% college acceptance rates, numerous scholarships and awards, and high levels of student and family confidence and satisfaction. 

Almost 500 seniors across all Roaring Fork High Schools are preparing for graduation this May. School counselors, school leaders, college and career coaches, and many teachers have provided guidance, career planning, and college application support to students. The Class of 2024 has excelled in academics, in sports and activities and in workforce development and experiences. We look forward to celebrating with them. 

College and career readiness emerged from this year’s strategic planning process as a priority. District students, staff, families, and community partners want us to continue to invest in and expand college and career preparation experiences like workforce training, career and technical education, and access to college preparatory coursework.

I recently met with three seniors on track to graduate with honors, scholarships, and plans to attend highly competitive universities. All three students are Latino males; they represent a group of students who are traditionally underserved by the Roaring Fork Schools. The achievement and opportunity gap between Latino and White students in the district is wide. The seniors reached out to share their stories – hoping we could learn from their experiences in order to better support students of color.

The students attributed their success to their families, first and foremost. Students want to make their families proud and demonstrate success as gratitude for the love and support they’ve received from home. They cited the power of their friendships and peer groups with whom they share a vision of academic excellence and commitment to success. They were grateful for the support of the PreCollegiate Program in helping them navigate the college application process and for the support of teachers who helped them access advanced coursework and other resources.

The students also shared concerns. They were frustrated that sometimes it has felt as if their success has come about despite the educational opportunities they experienced – not because of them. They shared experiences of bias, low expectations, and lack of access to challenging coursework at early grades. They challenged the district to develop and rigorously implement stronger systems to support a vision of excellence for all students – especially students of color. 

In the 24/25 school year, the Roaring Fork Schools will develop a graduate profile with stakeholders. A graduate profile is a vision of excellence that details the characteristics and skills the Roaring Fork Schools will cultivate with students. The community can expect invitations to develop a profile that defines the skills, traits, and characteristics that students in our multilingual, multicultural community will develop through 13+ years of education in the Roaring Fork Schools.

As seniors prepare for graduation this spring, their accomplishments will inspire us. The transition they are about to embark upon will move us with pride, anticipation, and hope. The Class of 2024 is a testament to the strength and support of their families. They demonstrate what is possible when students have access to life altering programs like PreCollegiate, great teaching, and student-centered career and academic counseling. 

The Class of 2024 leaves us with lessons learned about how to improve as a district. They challenge us to strengthen systems and better serve the students we’ll be privileged to meet and welcome back next August. They are a testament to many strengths in our schools and community – and they challenge us to do better.

Dr. Anna Cole is Interim Superintendent of the Roaring Fork District Schools in Glenwood Springs, Carbondale and Basalt.

Happy trails to retired Glenwood fire chief

I learned that the Chief of Glenwood Springs fire department retired after a career of more than thirty years. I was very fortunate to have had opportunity to work with Chief Tillotson for more than a decade. He is a humble man that never sought credit for all the things he has done for the community. He dedicated his life to do what ever it takes to help his fellow man on and off the job. On emergency call he would move mountains to help a person that required emergency services to the community. He was a class act and a dedicated fire officer. I have no doubt he will be missed, but he richly deserves his retirement. Thank you Chief for everything you have done.

Rod Bullock, EMS officer (retired); Phoenix, Arizona

Commission’s concerning actions on library board

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the proposal to allow the BOCC to be involved in appointing members to our library board. 

Our libraries are an essential part of the community. There is a long established tradition of libraries as public, non-partisan institutions. Absolutely nothing good would come from putting board selection into the potentially biased hands of county commissioners. Libraries open doors—to spaceships, ancient castles, submarines, secret tunnels, the future, the past, other places/ages/planets/worlds, to science, math, history, humanities. Libraries contain a universe of thought and ideas. Imposing political constraints on any facet of a library undermines the integrity and impartiality of the institution. 

Don’t want to read a particular book? Don’t check it out. Concerned about a book being inappropriate for your child’s age, maturity level or for your family’s values? Take advantage of the opportunity to discuss with your child your reasons and personal beliefs. 

Reading about planting gardens won’t turn anyone into a cucumber. Nor will reading about geology make one into a canyon. Similarly, reading about black history, gender equality, or nudity in other cultures won’t change a person’s race, identity or wardrobe. It could very possibly make us think. And that might be the best miracle of all. 

Jan Krische, Glenwood Springs

Vote for your own self-interest

I am a 71 year-old rural Coloradan politically registered as unaffiliated. I’d like to ask my fellow seniors a simple question: Why vote against your own self-interest? 

Republicans have vowed to cut Social Security and Medicare. 

Democrats have vowed to protect both.

The GOP 2025 Budget proposal raises the age for collecting Social Security and ends Medicare as we know it by replacing it with a “premium support model”, changing it from its current efficient, successful form to something resembling the rest of our failed healthcare system. 
The GOP budget would cut $1.5 trillion from Social Security, repeal Medicare’s ability to negotiate drug prices, and end the $35 out-of-pocket cap on insulin.

On March 11, Trump, responding to a question from Joe Kernen said, “There’s a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting (Medicare and Social Security).”

By contrast, in Biden’s proposed 2025 Budget are the words, “The Budget upholds the President’s commitment to protecting Medicare and Social Security for this and future generations.”
He plans to pay for Social Security by raising the payroll taxes on the ultra-rich — those making over $400,000 per year.

Right now — Write out a note to yourself and put it on your refrigerator to remind you:
In November 2024 I will vote for my own self-interest. I will vote Democratic.

Philip Riffe, Hesperus

Israel’s military actions directly conflict with values of Judaism

I said a few words about ceasefire at the Carbondale Board of Trustees this past Tuesday to ask for a cease-fire to the war in the Middle East. I said I had spoken out for other issues over the years. Vietnam War in 1965, Iraq War 2003, Climate Change 2014, and now Ceasefire in Gaza. Many millions of people were also protesting in the US and worldwide. Even with this opposition, our governments went ahead with their plans. Millions died and trillions were spent. Now it is the same. 

But there is another significant influence on public policy and opinion called the Israel lobby. A suggestion was made to check on the donations the lobby gave to U.S. politicians. Of U.S. senators from 1990-2024, Biden received $6,135,456. Robert Menendez was next with $2,500,005. The last of the 20 senators on the list was $840,482. Biden received $180,454 per year. Is it any wonder that Biden is now a strong supporter of Israel?

I closed my short remarks with this terrible fact. A Palestinian child dies or is wounded on average every 10 minutes in Gaza. Some 12,000 children have been wounded and 13,000 killed. Children die from explosions, bullets, malnutrition, dehydration, disease, and infections. 

Supporters of Israel recite a list of reasons why ceasefire should not happen. What does it say if these supporters are not persuaded by the death toll of children? By contrast, the great writer Naomi Klein spoke at a pro-Palestine rally to say that this destruction and slaughter is in direct opposition to the most fundamental values of Judaism.

Patrick Hunter, Carbondale

What is going on with Colorado’s snowpack right now? 

The expert consensus is in: It’s all up in the air (or, more specifically, on the ground). 

In late March, the Roaring Fork Basin showed signs of ample snowpack, measuring 115% of the median annual snowpack water equivalent. As of April 23, snowpack is at 95% of normal.

Snowpack is the accumulated snow covering an area, which melts in the spring. Snow water equivalent determines the amount of water available in the snow. 

The Roaring Fork Watershed is located in central Colorado on the west side of the Continental Divide. Snowpack from this region, once melted, can enter the Roaring Fork, Fryingpan, and Crystal rivers — all of which drain to the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs. 

On April 6, the date considered the “median peak” for the Roaring Fork Watershed based on the last 30 years of data, the figure for snow water equivalent sat at 17.6 inches, half an inch over the median, according to National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) data. 

While this might seem to indicate that the watershed would see an above-average snowpack heading into late spring, Colorado weather can be fickle. 

A collection of factors have caused the snowpack water equivalent to dip down to 12.2 inches as of April 24, which is only 71% of its median peak. With the month of April being so close to the median peak, anything could happen in the next few weeks.

“It’s important to know when we hit median, but it’s also important to know when we typically start to see the snowpack decrease,” said Matthew Anderson, Water Quality Technician with the Roaring Fork Conservancy. “As of right now, we’re kind of decreasing at a faster rate than is average.”

Snowpack and weather trends

For one, Colorado is expected to experience warmer-than-average seasonal temperatures throughout the summer (and even heading into fall) according to April 18 temperature maps from the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center. 

“Things are trending toward warm and dry,” said Dave “DK” Kanzer, Director of Science & Interstate Matters for the Colorado River District. “Again, it’s too early to say, but that’s the concern.” 

The same maps depict a 40-50% chance that the state will receive below-normal precipitation from the months of June to August. In addition, Kanzer said ocean temperatures possibly shifting from warmer (El Niño) to cooler (La Niña) could dampen the probability of monsoon rains that Colorado typically sees in July through August (sometimes into September). In 2023, the monsoon season didn’t materialize at all according to Roaring Fork Conservancy Director of Community Outreach Christina Medved. 

“We’ve had times when our snowpack has looked better and above average, and times when it’s looked not quite as good,” Anderson said. “And it just so happens that these past couple of weeks have been kind of unseasonably warm and sunny … and it’s been very windy too, which is also something that’s going to decrease the snowpack.” 

What Anderson is referring to is the dust that has blown in from all over the country, especially states like Arizona and New Mexico, which has settled on top of the snowpack. This has caused it to melt faster, as instead of reflecting sunlight, the darkening of the snow by the dust causes it to absorb more sunlight. According to Medved, the Roaring Fork has seen at least four dust-on-snow events since March. 

In addition, an Airborne Snow Observatories survey found that the snow is warmer than in previous years. 

“The snowpack is what they call isothermal, meaning it’s the same temperature throughout the snow profile from bottom to top, meaning it’s ready to melt pretty quickly and doesn’t take a lot of solar energy,” Kanzer said. 

The recent warmer Colorado weather, paired with warmer snow and dust-on-snow events, suggests that the snowpack could melt quicker, therefore triggering an earlier and stronger runoff season. 

This wouldn’t be much different than previous drought years in Colorado, with the exception of 2023, which was an anomaly for the state because of its above-average snowpack. This week in 2021, the Roaring Fork basin was at 78% of its normal snowpack. In 2022, it was at 99% of normal, while in 2023 it was at 134%, according to Medved. 

“What happened is that we kept getting consistent snowfall (in 2023),” Medved said. “That’s the type of snowfall we need here. We love the snowfall that comes 2 feet, 3 feet at a time … but that’s not the snow that’s building our snowpack.” 

The year 2023 saw a cool spring with lots of moisture, meaning the heat didn’t heavily impact the snowpack until June. This year, the Roaring Fork is seeing a decreasing snowpack in April. 

“We’re not even close to what (the snowpack) looked like last year,” Medved said.  

She explained there’s been conversations about dropping the drought classification, as nearly 24 years of drought seasons could suggest that this is Colorado’s new normal. 

“To say you’re in a drought implies you’re going to eventually get out of the drought,” Medved said. “Scientists are saying … we (could be) going from a semi-arid climate to an arid climate, (and) we’re alive and watching it happen.” 

The impacts of a below-average snowpack are often earlier growing seasons, dried out soil, lower and earlier runoff, among other things, according to Medved and Anderson. 

“I was just out sampling today and was certainly a little surprised at least by some of the (runoff) conditions I saw on the river,” Anderson said. “Come late summer, early fall, if by that point in the year our flows are below average, we’re going to be concerned about water temperatures … (high) temperatures can be harmful to fish.”

Impacts on recreation in Glenwood Springs

It’s near impossible to say whether snowpack conditions will stay as they are right now. The direction they’re pointing to, however, rings good news to Glenwood Adventure Company.

“Low water years are busier years for us,” Glenwood Adventure Company Owner Ken Murphy said.

Murphy explained that having high water or high flows in June and July aren’t good for recreation, since it can hinder accessibility and safety.

“The client that comes to visit Colorado, predominantly a lot of families, a lot of first time whitewater rafters, they don’t want the the high-adrenaline death-defying rafting trip. They’re looking for that incredible experience, enough whitewater to get everybody wet, but not scare anybody,” Murphy said. “I love when we can get rid of a lot of the snowpack early but come down to more average flows. That’s wonderful for business.”

Murphy said there’s a clear difference between “a drought” and “average-to-low water,” and that it’s all about the balance.

“I think this year we’re heading to a good balance,” he said.

Things still look okay… at least for now

Both Anderson and Kanzer said they didn’t feel comfortable diagnosing the future of the snowpack based on these traits, as Colorado’s ever-changing temperature and weather conditions means the snowpack’s forecast could flip over one single weekend. 

“Sometimes we don’t even fully trust the forecast one week out,” Anderson said. “If we were to get a dust-on-snow event tomorrow, that changes everything.” 

USDA Roaring Fork River Basin Graphs show snow water equivalent projections for the Roaring Fork Basin. The max projection marks 15.4 inches by May 7, while the minimum projection for the same date shows 3.8 inches. 

The sheer size of the snowpack’s range also makes it difficult to predict how it will factor into the valley’s fire danger heading into the summer.

However, Kanzer explained that although snowpack and snow water equivalent numbers have a high variability day to day, longer timeframe estimates are more reliable, especially when it comes to the Colorado basin’s water supply. 

“I’d say the bottom line … conditions are around average from a water supply perspective, and most of our water needs, if not all our water needs, will be met this year without too much difficulty,” Kanzer said. “We achieved near-average maximum snowpack as measured at 21 sites throughout the (Colorado) basin … The next 60 to 90 days will tell us if we’re in a 2023-type of year, which was really wet, or a 2021-type of year, which was really dry.” 

In the meantime, Roaring Fork Conservancy is spreading the message to residents to conserve their water. The warmer it gets, the more water will be lost to evaporation and plant consumption, which means less water in the rivers and drier soil. 

“The best thing that could happen right now for the immediate future is we get some cloudy days, we get rainy, snowy days and cooler temperatures, and that it lasts as long as possible,” Medved said. 

For weekly snowpack updates on the Roaring Fork Watershed, visit roaringfork.org/news.

Editor’s Note: This story was corrected to clarify that public comment will not be taken during the commissions’ deliberation process as well as the appointment being specifically for someone from the Rifle zip code.

Garfield County Commissioners have scheduled interviews for the Garfield County Public Library District Library Board Rifle position on April 30. Initially, there were 17 applicants, but the BOCC narrowed the list down to 11, ensuring that candidates met the Rifle residency requirement.

In recent years, the Library Board would nominate a candidate for a board vacancy, presenting them to the BOCC for approval. However, commissioners have opted to conduct interviews themselves, selecting a candidate from a broader pool of applicants.

“We felt it necessary to have a larger pool of applicants for consideration. The (county commission) historically been responsible for appointing members to the library board,” County Commissioner John Martin said.

All applicants are expected to attend the in-person interviews at the commissioners’ chamber room on April 30; no public comment will be taken during the meeting. Each candidate will field a series of four or five questions from commissioners.

Following the interviews, commissioners will deliberate individually for seven days before announcing their selection during the May 6 commission meeting, during which public comment will not be allowed.

“We will deliberate openly on May 6, ensuring transparency in our decision-making process. We seek a candidate who can effectively represent the people of Rifle,” added Martin.

During the interviews, the chairman and president of the library board, Adrian Rippy-Sheehy, will join the county commissioners, posing pre-determined questions to the candidates.

However, not everyone supports this procedural change. Protect Our GarCo Libraries, a local advocacy group, aims to raise awareness about the library district and the county commissioners’ actions.

“The library district was formed in 2006, and since then, the library has conducted interviews and selections, presenting candidates to the BOCC for approval,” noted Carole O’Brien, Protect Our GarCo Libraries’ media contact.

O’Brien expressed concern over the exclusion of non-Rifle candidates. Garfield County Manager Fred Jarman wrote in an email that it was agreed upon by the commissioners and the chairwoman of the Library District on April 23 to narrow the candidates down to those who live in the Rifle zip code in order to bring specificity and efficiency to the selection process.

Protect Our GarCo Libraries stresses the importance of diverse library content and services, fearing that commission-appointed board members might limit this diversity.

Tensions surrounding this process stem partly from the recent Manga book controversy.

Protect Our GarCo Libraries plans a rally outside the chamber building on April 30, encouraging attendees to wear red as a symbol of literacy. The group will provide buttons and signs but emphasizes peaceful participation, forbidding protests during the interviews.

Martin said he welcomed community involvement in the process while reiterating the importance of maintaining decorum within the chamber room.

TUESDAY:

• Conversational French Classes from 6-7 p.m., at Third Street Center, 520 South Street in Carbondale, $115 for advanced, $185 for beginners, covers four weeks.

WEDNESDAY:

• Trivia at the Brewery, 6 p.m., at Mountain Heart Brewing, 1841 Dolores Way in Carbondale, free. 

FRIDAY:

• Stop the Bleed Classes from 10-11 a.m., and 2-3 p.m., at Grand River Health, 501 Airport Rd. in Rifle, free.
• Carbondale Family Block Party and Pride Parade from 4-8 p.m., in downtown Carbondale, 4th and Main Street, free, fundraiser.

SATURDAY:

• Windwalkers Kentucky Derby Watch Party from 2-6 p.m., at Spring Creeks Ranch, 644 Cowen Drive in Carbondale, tables and tickets available, $100-$2,500.
• Kentucky Derby Race with RIDE from 2-5 p.m., at Miner’s Claim Restaurant, 740 Main Street in Silt, reservations only, tickets $700-$1,500.
• High Country Sinfonia Spring Concert Series: Carbondale from 5-6 p.m., at River Valley Ranch Barn, 33 River Valley Ranch in Carbondale, free. 

RFOV Crew Leader Training from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Glenwood Springs Wulfsohn Mountain Park, 100 Wulfsohn Rd. in Glenwood Springs, free. Also on Sunday, same time and place.