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.

September 2, 1947 – April 21, 2024

Jack Joseph Jabbour, 76, passed away on April 21, 2024, in Lawrence, Kansas. He was born on September 2, 1947, to Col. Nicholas and Ruth Jabbour at Bolling Air Field, DC. He graduated with a bachelor’s from Colorado State University, and a masters in Journalism from UCLA. He taught English Language Arts for 45 years in Garfield County, Colorado, and coached football, basketball, baseball, and track.
He touched the lives of many. He was known for his love of creating music, keeping stats while color-commentating games, making better writers and scholars of his students, and inspiring young people to be the best version of themselves. He was purpose driven and mentored every person he met throughout his life. He taught us to live life to the fullest with Christ’s love, compassion and kindness; we will keep his fire alive. His light will always shine bright.
He will be remembered for the many hats he wore: teacher, coach, worship leader, friend, prayer warrior, role model, brother, dad, Jiddoo, and husband. You may have known him as Jumpin’ Jack and rocking out to music while playing his guitar and singing to the rafters. This love of music began with a borrowed guitar as he sang for his supper, traveling across the country, which brought him to the greatest love of his life, his wife of 50 years, Linda.
He began his teaching career as a substitute so he could support his dream to become a Rock n Roll star, but the Lord had other plans and he became Mr. J. He taught many things, but most students remember him singing and playing his guitar and having them write their life stories. Being a teacher led to becoming Coach J – focusing intensely on the basics, running the coal hill, and when that didn’t work, breaking clipboards (if you played for him, you know).
Jack was the biggest fan of all time; Dodgers, Lakers, Elvis, Jesus, and us. If you knew him like we did, “us” means everyone he met. He will be loved and missed but will forever live on in our hearts and in yours.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Jabbour, brother, Mark Jabbour, daughter, Amber Williams (Ryan Williams), daughter, Jennifer Jabbour-Porter (David Porter), granddaughter, Joslin Daley, nephew, Jake Jabbour, cousins, June Kubli, John Seipel, and Ted Seipel, and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, who are now harmonizing together in heaven.
Favorite scriptures: Isaiah 41:10, Colossians 3:16-17, Philippians 4:6-8, Romans 15:13
To read stories written by Jack, visit Covidtrain.wordpress.com
Please feel free to share stories and memories on his Facebook page.
Jack’s Celebration of Life will be on May 31, 2024 at 1 PM at New Hope Church, 880 Castle Valley Blvd, New Castle, CO 81647

September 1, 1933 – May 1, 2024

SHE was born; SHE blinked; and it was over!

Helen was born at home in Loma, Colorado to Charlie Margaret Thurmond Boor and Herbert Thomas Boor. She passed away at the Grand River Health Care Center in Rifle, Colorado, early in the morning on May Day at the age of 90. She was the oldest of three girls. Before she was school age, her family moved to a ranch outside Rifle. She and her sisters had a wonderful childhood growing up ranching, farming and riding. Like her dad, Helen always loved a team of mules. The year she graduated from Rifle Union High School, she met the love of her life at a neighbor’s ranch looking at new twin calves. Leslie Dotson, Jr., made her his wife November 2, 1952.

Helen was a life-long ranch wife. She could milk cows, ride horses, cook the noon meal for hired hands, raise a garden, and still get the kids bathed in time for Sunday School and church. She always loved raising puppies, bottle lambs, chicks and other babies. She was known for laughing, living within her means, and outsmarting squirrels in the garden.

Les and Helen worked side by side for 61 years when Les passed away January 13, 2013. They lived in the 3-story stone house on Porcupine Creek for about 60 years where they raised their children, Kenneth, Katherine & Kirk.

When Helen thought she was too old to fall in love again, she became a grandmother to Megan Elizabeth and Kari Autumn Leech. Her grand angels stole her heart and she taught them to look for her in the evening sunset or with the earliest spring tulips or amongst the colors of a rainbow.

Helen’s great challenges were losing her parents, her son Kenny, and her husband Leslie; she got through those from her faith in God. She leaves behind a legacy of love and treasuring the country life. She was kind-hearted; a loving mother and wife who spoiled her grandchildren without complaint. She was sweet with a side of zest! The family would like to thank the Care Center staff who took great care of her and can attest to her spit-fire side.

Survivors include both sisters, Barbara Smith of Rifle and Margaret Yale of Montrose. Children Kathy Ryan of Grand Junction and Kirk (Pat) Dotson of Rifle. Two granddaughters, Megan (Jeff) Anastacio, Kari (Joel) Sholtes; three step grandchildren, Cassandra Quintana, Mike (KayCee) Manupella, Alex (Zoe) Dotson; along with 11 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. Also, special ex-son-in-law Rusty Leech.

A celebration of life will be held at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Rifle on May 18th at 1:00 p.m. No formal funeral service due to many not being able to attend because they decided to beat her to the Pearly Gates. There will be a gathering for family and friends at the Dotson Ranch at 5473 County Road 320 following the ceremony. In lieu of flowers and in memory of Helen, please give generously to Grand River Health Care Center, 701 E 5th St, Rifle, CO 81650.

December 12, 1948 – April 30, 2024

Guadalupe Mendez, was born on December 12, 1948 to Carmen Hernandez de Melendez and Atanacio Melendez Uribe in Parral Chih.Mexico.
She became a Pastor, ordained chaplain and served the lord and blessed so many along the way. Lupe was called home to be with the Lord, surrounded by loved ones early morning on April 30, 2024.
On July 19,1969 she married her love Felipe Mendez and together they were blessed with three beautiful children. One son Lorenzo Mendez, their two daughters Nancy Hinojos and Mirlo Rodriguez.
She is survived by her Husband, her three children, her seven siblings, Jose Melendez, Guadalupe Hall, Lucia Melendez, Doroteo Melendez, Mario Melendez, Jesus Melendez, Carmen Nieto, Fourteen grandkids and Twelve great grandkids.
Viewing services will be held on May 9, starting at 3 pm going to 7pm at Farnum Holt Funeral Home.
Funeral Services will be held on May10 at New Creation Church where Pastor Mark Bintliff will be officiating services and will start with a viewing at 1 pm going to 1:50 pm. Then the remembrance will start at 2 pm going till 4 pm.
Burial service will be held at New Castle Cemetery starting at 4:30 going till 5:30pm.
Dinner Celebration will be held at New castle Recreation Center starting at 6 pm-10 pm.

The No. 10 Roaring Fork Rams girls soccer team secured a decisive 6-0 win against the No. 23 Longmont Trojans in their first-round playoff game on Thursday. The Rams have outscored their opponents 14-2 in the past three games and now move on to the second round of the Class 3A state playoffs.

Roaring Fork took the lead with 19 minutes left in the first half when sophomore Maya Lindbloom connected with a beautifully crossed corner kick from junior Annika Anslyn. The Rams continued to press but couldn’t find the back of the net until the second half. A shot from junior Carley Crownhart rang off the crossbar late in the first half, leaving the score at 1-0 heading into the second half.

Early in the second half, Erica Crownhart sent a through ball to Emma Charters, who blew past the Longmont defense and fired it home. Roaring Fork extended their lead to 3-0 when Carley Crownhart’s long-range effort eluded Longmont sophomore goalkeeper Leilani Mitchem.

Another save by Longmont off a Carley Crownhart shot left a rebound that Erica Crownhart was quick to capitalize on, increasing the score to 4-0 with 22 minutes left to play in the game. Anslyn made it 5-0 with a free kick that sailed into the top right corner of the net. The Rams’ final goal came when Longmont deflected a corner kick from Charters into their own net.

After the game, Roaring Fork Head Coach Nicole Cruz praised her team’s performance and preparation.

These girls have committed to this team,” Cruz said. “Staying after practice to work on things, spending their free time to get better, they want to win and we will see how these playoffs play out.”

Anslyn noted the team’s determination after the game.

“I think we all kind of just support each other to keep pushing for those goals,” Anslyn said, emphasizing the importance of maintaining momentum. “We play great soccer when we stick to what we know.”

The Rams will now focus on their next challenge against No. 10 Manitou Springs on Saturday. The two teams drew a 0-0 draw earlier in the season.

The No. 7 Coal Ridge Titans capitalized on solid hitting and steady defense to earn a 6-1 win over the Roaring Fork Rams on Wednesday.

Following two scoreless innings to start the game, offenses from both teams started to find their way on base. Roaring Fork senior Max Seitel-Hayes opened the second inning with a single, but three quick outs from Coal Ridge junior pitcher Ben Simons saw the Rams take the pitching mound. 

Coal Ridge quickly answered when junior Logan Harlow got on base for the Titans in the bottom of the second inning. A walk to sophomore John Luke Houston put runners on second and third. Dylan Miller then smashed a deep hit to left field, sending both Harlow and sophomore John Luke Houston home to give Coal Ridge a 2-0 lead.

The Rams struggled to find their footing as Coal Ridge continued their offense in the third inning. Senior Alexis Serna stole second base with one out before Luke Houston’s line drive sent both Serna and Simons home. An error by Roaring Fork put Luke Houston on first base. Miller’s subsequent line drive was caught, but the Titans extended their lead to 4-0 by the end of the third inning.

Roaring Fork found some life early in the fourth, putting runners on second and third base. However, a double play initiated by Coal Ridge junior Jackson Slade quashed their scoring opportunity. 

A diving catch by Roaring Fork’s Ben Oldham later ended Coal Ridge’s offensive inning, but the Titans maintained a 5-0 lead heading into the fifth.

The Titans’ offense continued as Simons smashed a triple, sending sophomore George Roberts home. Simons later scored on a pop fly out by Harlow, pushing the lead to 6-0. Despite errors putting Coal Ridge runners on base, Roaring Fork prevented further scoring by catching a Simons line drive in the sixth inning.

The Rams attempted to rally in the top of the seventh inning when Seitel-Hayes reached second base on a Coal Ridge error and later scored on a groundout by freshman Charlie Sanders. Despite closing the gap to 6-1, Roaring Fork could not overcome Coal Ridge’s early lead.

Coal Ridge Head Coach Dan Larsen acknowledged that the Titans were a bit rusty due to the weather, but he praised his team’s focus and resilience. 

“The boys played their game,” Larsen said. “We lost two big games last week that we dropped at the bottom of the seventh inning. Those are character builders if you use them properly and the boys are responding well. Now we are in playoff mode and have to win every game.”

Larsen also addressed the Titans mentality with the regular season nearing its end.

“Last week we lost two big games against Delta and Palisade which we dropped at the bottom of the seventh inning in both games,” Larsen said. “Those are character builders if you use them properly and the boys are responding well. Now we are in playoff mode and we have to win every game. Every opponent is coming out with fire and intensity and the guys know that.”

The Titans secured another victory Thursday, beating the Olathe Pirates 10-0 in five innings.

Carrying a 18-2 record, the Titans next host Cedaredge on Saturday before wrapping up their regular season when they travel to face off against Rangely on Tuesday.

The Rams secured a 9-6 victory over the Cedaredge Bruins Thursday, increasing their record to 10-12 on the season. Roaring Fork next faces North Fork at home on Saturday. Holding the No. 30 spot in state rankings, the Rams will be fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Hotel Maxwell Anderson, formerly named Hotel Denver, hosted its grand-opening reception on April 30. The celebration welcomed members of the community, local leaders and hotel friends to tour the hotel’s new rooms, as well as to enjoy catered food and specialty drinks.

The construction for Garfield County’s Broadband Initiative has officially been completed, as the project — aiming to provide more reliable internet access to all parts of the county — reaches phase three. 

Last month, Garfield County announced that it had completed the first two parts of a three-phase initiative to bring “more reliable, robust, and affordable internet service” to households and businesses in Garfield County, a goal which aligns with the Board of County Commissioners’ project goals for 2024, according to a county news release. 

Phase one of the project saw carrier neutral location facilities (secure data centers) built in Glenwood Springs and Rifle. Phase two expanded that infrastructure to include construction of carrier neutral locations (CNL) in New Castle, Silt and Parachute, and establishing access to large internet hubs in Denver and Salt Lake City, according to the release. 

The county’s contributions toward improving its middle-mile internet infrastructure, called its broadband initiative, are on track to providing service for roughly 4,000 homes in Garfield County that currently have no internet access, according to NEO Connect Chief Executive Officer Diane Kruse. The initiative will also facilitate investment to increase competition in the area “at extremely robust service levels with broadband fiber to the home.” 

Middle-mile infrastructure refers to the fiber transport connection between the backbone (fiber in the ground) and the last mile to homes. For Garfield County, this middle fiber is located along Interstate 70. The county’s goal to improve middle-mile infrastructure will bolster internet supply between communities. 

Between Garfield County and the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), an estimated $5 million has been contributed to construct both phase one and phase two of the middle-mile infrastructure, according to information provided by Garfield County. 

“By design, this $5 million investment effort directly underpins Garfield County’s economic development portfolio by providing highly attractive broadband (fiber) infrastructure for existing businesses, new businesses, residences and a long list of key community institutions, such as Grand River Health, Colorado Mountain College, RE-2 School District (and more) throughout the county at pricing structures that will compete with existing providers at unsurpassed service levels, allowing our region to compete in the overall marketplace at a much higher level,” County Commissioner Mike Samson wrote. “To put that service level in context, this broadband infrastructure will provide a level of service at 100 to 1,000 times faster than our current leading internet service providers in our towns and rural areas. This is gigabit service in actual fiber to the home and business which is a very exciting step forward for our County. Imagine the possibilities enabled by this infrastructure!”  

In 2022 and 2023, Garfield County, utilizing DOLA grants, partnered with Region 10 to establish CNLs along Interstate 70 to help expand the middle-mile infrastructure, according to the release. Region 10 leverages resources to help provide affordable, high-speed internet service to Western Slope communities. 

The board’s continued partnership with Region 10 — and other local communities — are part of the board’s policy directives to implement service throughout the Colorado River Valley and to encourage internet service providers (ISP) to provide service to non-served customers throughout the region in phase three of the project, according to the news release. 

“All of that work has laid an excellent foundation for what is happening this year,” Kruse said in the release. “The county can be a facilitator to pursue grant funding (not as an applicant) for really robust gigabit-enabled broadband services for those 4,000 homes that have no service today, and also for a potential partnership for cities and towns to improve their broadband services within their communities.” 

All carrier neutral locations built in phase two of the project are being connected to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) fiber lines under Interstate 70. 

“This allows very robust, abundant broadband,” Kruse said in the release. “We’re talking about terabit capacity for these facilities, and it is something that the ISPs can use to offer services to end users within the county. … It is also affordable; having access to internet is often the largest expense an ISP has on their profit and loss (P&L) statement. With our partnership to Region 10, we’re lowering that barrier to entry and lowering that very expensive cost, making it affordable for them to serve the communities.” 

Next steps and cost

The third and final phase of the project will construct the “last mile” service that would reach customers who live outside of current service areas, “also known as fiber to the home,” according to the release. 

Phase three is currently underway, and the county is working with interested service providers on project areas. 

The initial cost estimate to establish middle-mile connectivity to the CNLs along I-70 was around $15 million. The final cost, however, turned out to be $1 million, thanks to the county’s partnership with Region 10. 

“Garfield County, through the grant and through being able to access existing fiber, was able to establish this very robust infrastructure at very little cost,” Kruse said in the release. “You didn’t have to spend $15 million to secure this access. It was a little over a $1 million investment, with the grant, to establish these locations and to access this infrastructure.” 

The “last mile” portion of the project will be funded by internet service providers, largely through Broadband Equity Access Deployment (BEAD) funding and private capital, according to Garfield County Chief Communications Officer Renelle Lott. 

Broadband equipment is currently being staged and coordinated with Region 10. The carrier neutral locations will be operational early this summer. 

The federal BEAD program is providing $42.5 billion to improve internet service across the country, and $826 million is allocated to the state of Colorado, according to the release. ISPs are required to provide matching funds for grant funding used in the network build. 

“With all of the programs, there’s a 25 percent match,” Kruse said in the release. “This is very capital intensive, and it’s anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 per home to build fiber to that location. This would never work in a rural area like Garfield County where there’s low-population density and it’s very expensive to build. It wouldn’t happen without a subsidy. There is a return in that they get broadband, and they didn’t have to pay $10,000 (to connect to their home).”  

The Roaring Fork Schools Board of Education unanimously approved a Safe Haven Policy that safeguards the rights and well-being of immigrant students. This policy, which was heavily prompted by Voces Unidas, a local advocacy group, aims to establish a secure environment on school grounds.

The policy codifies principles from the 2016 Safe Haven Resolution, ensuring schools are “sensitive locations” where federal immigration agents can’t make arrests without a valid judicial warrant. It was created following an incident where border patrol agents were invited to present at Glenwood Springs High School during a career expo in March of 2023, violating a community trust that had been in place since 2011.

Voces Unidas responded shortly after by pressuring district officials to turn the 2016 resolution into policy. The group wanted guarantees that no federal agency involved in immigration enforcement would be invited to campus unless required by a court order. The policy passed on Wednesday night fulfills this requirement and prohibits discrimination based on immigration status.

“Over 390 days have passed since students, parents, and community members demanded the district protect all students,” said Alan Muñoz, regional manager of Voces Unidas. “This policy ensures safety for all students and families.”

Board Vice President Jasmin Ramirez acknowledged the role of Voces Unidas in pushing for the policy.

“I appreciate the accountability. It matters,” Ramirez said. “We’re working toward safety, inclusivity and a welcoming environment for our students and families.”

The Safe Haven Policy also clarifies that the district will not partner with law enforcement for immigration enforcement or disclose student records to non-school officials for immigration purposes. School Resource Officers (SROs) may continue to help with school safety but are prohibited from any involvement with immigration enforcement.

The district is committed to promoting a welcoming environment and has laid out specific guidelines to ensure this. Annual training will be provided to school staff, resource center personnel and partner organizations to maintain compliance. Any arrest made on campus will be handled discreetly to limit its impact.

Voces Unidas said it will continue advocating for improvements in education equity within the district. The group emphasized the need to address the achievement gap between Latino and white students and increase Latino representation in leadership and decision-making roles.

“The work is not over,” said Muñoz. “Thank you for doing what’s right.”

During Wednesday’s meeting, the board also entered an executive session to discuss a Collective Bargaining Contract in partnership with the Roaring Fork Community Education Association. The contract would provide compensation for extra duties, substitute teaching and athletic coaching.

The board is expected to take action on the Collective Bargaining Contract during the May 22 board meeting.

I cook in my house, which is not to impugn anyone else’s cooking, or to suggest others can’t or won’t. Rather, I cook mainly because I like to, and I’m good enough at it that no one’s ever declared mutiny.

It hasn’t always been this way. It all started when I began watching Emeril Live on the Food Network when my kids were little. It wasn’t long before I figured I could cook some of the recipes Emeril bammed. And so, it began.

A few years later, in 2007, Pixar released “Ratatouille.” With the message that anyone can cook, Ratatouille is hands-down the best animated movie ever made.

Ratatouille’s got a bit of everything: a health inspector, gun play, theft, sloppy alcohol consumption, deception, romance, embarrassing truths, class five felonies, unlikely friendships, hubris, nausea, and delicious cuisine.

The movie is an oldie now, but I’ll stop and watch whenever I come across it, and although it’s been years since I’ve seen it from beginning to end, it has nevertheless left me with an unusual internal dialog.

You see, when I cook, I sometimes have a conversation with the chef inside my head, a small rat, just like Remy in “Ratatouille.”

These conversations became so amusing to me that in November of 2021, I started jotting some of them down.

When the rat first showed up, I wrote about trapping the rodent in a shoebox and holding him captive in hopes of harnessing his superior cooking skills. I offered him free reign over our kitchen—so long as he pooped outside—and even sweetened the deal by offering to do all his grocery shopping. All he had to do was keep the good chow coming.

But the rat had his own agenda, and my imaginary shoebox was hardly a match for him. It wasn’t long before he had vamoosed. However, he would still show up from time to time.

“So tonight,” I wrote in early November 2021, “I walked in the kitchen and found the rat standing on an overturned saucepan stirring a pot, paws red with Hungarian paprika.”

“I thought you weren’t down with our cats,” I said.

“You didn’t tell me you were running a disability ward.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Your cats. One has no teeth. One has only one eye. One couldn’t catch a cold. And the old one’s only interested in eating plants.”

“It’s Colorado.”

“Huh?”

“Never mind. So, you’re cooking tonight I see.”

“It’s what I do. I found your wife’s goulash recipe. Family Circle. February 2012. It’ll get you by, but I spiffed it up. I think you’ll like it.”

“Great. So, you’re going to hang around then?”

“We’ll see. Thanksgiving is coming. It’s difficult to watch people like you try to cook a turkey.”

“I hold my own, I’ll have you know.”

“You’ve never made anyone sick. Be happy with that.”

Yes, the rat can be critical of my culinary skills, not in a Gordon Ramsey way, but in a way that constantly reminds me just how much of a probationer I am among the world’s good cooks.

He can also be a bit of a smartass.

Yet, his is a healthy perspective, I think, perhaps the result of having to paw his way out of the gutter when so many of his brethren have lives cut short by lab experiments, mouse traps, and run-ins with household pets.

Mostly, though, the rat’s a practiced chef willing to let me discover what turns a meal from a well-followed recipe into a memorable repast.

That’s a subtle line that can be elusive, yet often so simple as mixing just the right blend of salt and pepper, fresh basil chiffonade, minced garlic, finely chopped parsley, thyme, and olive oil you drizzle over sliced garden vegetables immediately before baking the rat’s namesake, Ratatouille Niçoise.

Moreover, I like the rat for more than the obvious reasons. As voices in my head go, I’ve heard much worse. You can’t get into too much trouble trying to serve the people you love a decent meal.

Mitch Mulhall is a husband, father, and longtime Roaring Fork Valley resident. His column appears monthly in the Post Independent and at PostIndependent.com.

Electric vehicles cheaper to run

I’ve put a lot of thought into this and I’ve been a scientist and science teacher for 30+ years.

Electric vehicles are much better for the environment and are much cheaper to operate than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The main reason is their energy efficiency. There is a motor on each wheel that regenerates the battery when you slow down or go downhill. This allows the electric car to efficiently use the charge to get you from point A to point B. 

With an ICE car, the gasoline is very energy intensive. In order to get gasoline first you have to drill, then frack, pump, transport, and refine the petroleum into gasoline. The gasoline must then be transported again and finally pumped into your vehicle to move you from Point A to point B. This is a huge carbon footprint and is expensive. 

The US electric grid that charges an EV is now powered by about 50% renewable sources and that % is increasing. In addition, and perhaps most importantly, we estimate the operating cost of our electric vehicle is literally 1/3 of the cost of an ICE vehicle that runs on gasoline.

Joe Mollica, Glenwood Springs

Congratulations to library board appointee

Congratulations to Myrna Fletchall as the newest member of the Garfield County Library District Board. Sincere congratulations also to Library District Chairwoman Adrian Rippy-Sheehy for setting the public record straight about the library board member selection process and its politicization by the county commissioners. Very best of luck to all.

Joyce Jenkins, Glenwood Springs

Rotary thanks community for support

Carbondale Rotary’s fourth annual Fireball Drop on May 3rd was our best one yet. A record number of spectators joined us at the Village Smithy on First Friday to witness almost 1,000 ping pong balls tumble from a fire ladder truck onto targets on the ground to select our winners, all of whom were from Carbondale and Glenwood Springs. It was a beautiful, breezy day and great fun.

Huge thanks to our title sponsor Ace Hardware of Carbondale and lead sponsor Alpine Bank for their commitment year after year. 

The Cowen Center, Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Obermeyer Wood Asset Management, Rivers Dentistry, Thunder River Theatre Company, and Umbrella Roofing also stepped in with key year-round support. 

Other sponsors included Bookbinders, Carbondale Car Care/Philips 66, Brian Keleher at Coldwell Banker Mason Morse, Herschel Ross Family Dentistry, Lulubelle and Bristlecone Mountain Sports, Martin Insurance, Mike Waski, Modern Day Media, John Moore, Nordic Gardens, the Pain Center of the Roaring Fork Valley, Robin Tolan, Sopris Liquor and Wine, Karen Pierson at Sotheby’s Real Estate at RVR, RK Wolff Safety Consulting, and Whitsitt Law Office.

We would like to especially thank the Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District. They brought the equipment, manpower, expertise, and good energy that made it all possible.

Thanks also to our event partners: the Town of Carbondale Parks and Recreation Department, the Carbondale Chamber, the Sopris Sun, and City Market Carbondale. 

We’d also like to congratulate the Family Block Party and Pride Parade for another wonderful event that brings out the best of Carbondale.

Lastly, thanks to everyone who bought balls from us, our scholarship recipients, our exchange students, Ascendigo, and everyone at the Fire Station. You’ve helped us raise much needed funds for our community service projects, scholarships and exchange programs. We are indeed grateful to be a part of this amazing and generous community.

Alan Cole – Fundraising Chair & Ann Harris, Leslie Shor – Rotary Co-Presidents; Carbondale