Rocky Mountain Voice

Menu

Author: Lindy Browning

Rio Blanco County hires deputy trained to investigate livestock depredation
No Comments
Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice, Top Stories

Rio Blanco County hires deputy trained to investigate livestock depredation

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Responding to concerns of livestock growers and community members, and to assist in investigating livestock depredations that occur in Rio Blanco County, commissioners have authorized the sheriff’s office to hire their first Animal and Livestock Conflict Investigator. Some have voiced concerns that, to receive compensation for livestock killed by wolves, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) must confirm the kill was caused by a wolf. When a rancher finds a dead animal, they are instructed to call CPW to investigate. Sometimes CPW could not come out to the ranch or grazing allotment for a day or two. In the meantime, other wild animals and birds were coming to the carcass and changing the “scene of the crime,” making it mor...
Read More
Mesa County Commissioner advocates for fair share of transportation dollars
No Comments
Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice, Top Stories

Mesa County Commissioner advocates for fair share of transportation dollars

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice With an ever shrinking budget, and an ever increasing demand for state money for road repairs and construction due to increasing population and use on the Western Slope, Mesa County Commissioner, Bobbie Daniels went to the state legislature to put a spotlight on the needs of western Colorado. Her testimony highlighted the growing disparity between urban and rural infrastructure funding and the critical need for investment in the roads that keep Colorado moving. Rural communities, which already face resource limitations, are disproportionately affected. Large-scale infrastructure projects in these areas rely heavily on state and federal funding. Yet, much of the transportation budget is allocated to specialized urban pro...
Read More
Delta, Mesa Co. deputies disrupt drug distribution activities in Western Colorado
No Comments
Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Delta, Mesa Co. deputies disrupt drug distribution activities in Western Colorado

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Drug dealers in Western Colorado had some serious disruption in their “business model” last week, when Western Slope law enforcement agencies from both Delta and Mesa counties intercepted and seized large amounts of illegal drugs being transported through their counties. As a result of interaction with police, four suspects were arrested on charges related to possession and distribution of illegal narcotics. According to Delta County Sheriff Mark Taylor, deputies in his department seized 1,500 fentanyl pills, 12 grams of ecstasy pills, 454 grams of methamphetamine, 50 grams of powdered fentanyl, and 21 grams of carfentanyl (an extremely potent opioid that is more powerful than fentanyl, and used as an elephant sedative....
Read More
‘Everyone feels anxiety’ over CPW depredation payments, but commissioners note it’s the law
No Comments
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

‘Everyone feels anxiety’ over CPW depredation payments, but commissioners note it’s the law

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice “Everyone feels anxiety and fear about all this," Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis told commissioners as they approved a large payment to two Colorado ranchers in Grand County that lost livestock as a direct result of the wolf reintroduction program. The agenda item was on the commission's consent agenda — generally reserved for items so routine as to not require discussion. A motion was made to approve the depredation claims in the amount of $343,000 and some change. "I feel like we’re working with ranchers and livestock operations," Davis said. "It may not feel or look like it to them sometimes, but we are.” Davis continued, “These are large claims. We are the only western state that pays for itemize...
Read More
JBC weighing the closure of correctional facilities in Western Colorado
No Comments
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

JBC weighing the closure of correctional facilities in Western Colorado

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Local and state officials, both Republican and Democrat, on the Western Slope are rallying against proposed budget cuts that would close the Delta Correctional Facility and Rifle Correctional Facility, both minimum security prisons. The group of lawmakers includes Republicans Rep. Matt Soper and Sen. Marc Catlin and Democrats Rep. Elizabeth Velasco and Sen. Dylan Roberts. “The Joint Budget Committee (JBC) is considering closing the Delta Correctional Facility due to a $1.2 billion shortfall in the state budget. This decision is moving quickly and we need to take action now to protect local jobs and our community,” Soper posted to his constituents on social media. Providing his constituents with further information ab...
Read More
Colorado’s wolves make their way across the western part of the state
No Comments
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Colorado’s wolves make their way across the western part of the state

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice As seen in the newest map released by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), "newcomers" from the north are making their way across the entire Western Slope. This might excite CPW officials and wolf advocate groups, but not everyone.      Josh Wambolt wrote the members of the Colorado Wildlife Commission in an open letter that reads, “If you have not noticed, the ranchers and outfitters are pretty upset with the CPW commission, Director Davis, and the senior staff calling the shots.," wrote Josh Wamboltin a letter to the members of the Colorado Wildlife Commission. "If you haven’t noticed the exasperation from the general public, and those being affected by these wolves, and the unkept promises you made to people, I hig...
Read More
Western Slope officials supporting the nuclear option for energy
No Comments
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Western Slope officials supporting the nuclear option for energy

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Jump started in the past year by Gov. Jared Polis’ clean energy mandate and the imminent closing of the Craig Station Power Station, local governments have been studying new technologies — such as small modular nuclear generation and technologies that allow spent nuclear fuel to be recycled and repurposed. In consideration of lost jobs and lost revenue to counties that will devastate historical fossil fuel energy counties, and seeing the increase in energy demands in the future related to AI technologies, data centers, semiconductor industries and quantum technology, local governments are working to keep those communities in their jurisdictions employed and electrified. Elected officials that make up the members of the ...
Read More
Garfield joins eight counties to have opted out of state’s sensitive spaces concealed carry ban
No Comments
Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Garfield joins eight counties to have opted out of state’s sensitive spaces concealed carry ban

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice During a Monday meeting of Garfield County's commissioners, the board of Tom Jankovsky, Mike Sampson and Perry Will exercised an option to exempt Garfield County from the law, created by Senate Bill 24-131, which prohibits lawful concealed carry by permit holders from government buildings. The bill, by Democrat Sens. Sonya Jaquez Lewis — who recently resigned in disgrace — and Chris Kolker, took effect in July 2024. In Garfield County, those who possess a valid concealed carry permit can now take handguns into specific government buildings, in this case the county's administration buildings, in both Glenwood and Rifle, where the county commissioners have offices. The opt out provision does not include courthouses. It...
Read More
Laramie Energy gives Mesa County a bleak outlook on future under present regulation
No Comments
Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Laramie Energy gives Mesa County a bleak outlook on future under present regulation

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice In an informational work session, Chris Clark of Laramie Energy gave Mesa County Commissioners Cody Davis and JJ Fletcher an update concerning how ever-increasing regulatory policy in Colorado is not only impacting smaller oil and gas companies, but also cutting into the county budget. Energy producing counties have relied on their share of the severance tax, a tax that is extracted from fossil fuel energy developing companies that is designed to cover infrastructure impacts like water development, roads and local entities. In the past, severance tax dollars paid for local libraries, hospital wings, firefighting facilities and equipment, municipal water line replacements, and funded upgrades to local schools, among many...
Read More
Local ranchers get wolf training from Delta County Livestock Association
No Comments
Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Local ranchers get wolf training from Delta County Livestock Association

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice There have been no reported wolf depredation of cattle or sheep in Delta County, so far, but Robbie LeValley, on behalf of the Delta Livestock Association, gave a Feb. 13 presentation to more than 130 ranchers in Hotchkiss, Colo., emphasizing how critical precise record keeping will be — should and must likely when the quiet ranching community is impacted by wolf depredation. Hotchkiss is a small town with a population of 929 people, all of whom are impacted by the local ranching economy. Hotchkiss is located in the North Fork of the Gunnison River, between Paonia and Delta, in Delta County. “We are not here to argue about the wolves, they’re here. Wolves are close, they are on top of us,” LeValley said. The informat...
Read More