TLN - August 7, 2019 - Annika Kristiansen

Congratulations to Spencer Mortell, the 17-year-old Telluride native who just won the U.S.A. Junior Freestyle Kayaking National competition in Wisconsin. Mortell's win qualified him for the world championships in Germany, but by the time the event is held he will have aged out of the junior competition.

Local jeep outfitters ask county officials to prioritize opening and maintenance of mountain passes, Imogene Pass Run to be rerouted due to road damage, Initiative 89 asks Colorado voters to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, and Selena Gomez attends Telluride High School volleyball game.

Heavy rains result in the temporary closure of Imogene Pass and the closure of Black Bear Pass for the rest of the season, Telluride Ski Resort shares its conceptual plan for the Lift 7 and Carhenge area, San Miguel County Commissioners approve ballot measure that would reallocate part of the Parks and Open Space tax revenue into affordable housing fund, and a woman whose vehicle went off the road on Norwood Hill into the San Miguel Canyon spends the night trapped in before being discovered and rescued the next morning.

People in Telluride love to dress up in costume, play music, and strut their stuff down Colorado Avenue, the town's main drag. We don't really need an excuse, but in August we have two: Telluride Jazz Festival and Telluride Mushroom Festival both host fun parades in August. Check out some of the footage from the events.

Mountain Village's Stegosaurus Trail is open, lost woman survives four nights alone in the wilderness near Lone Cone Peak, Zoe Dohnal is appointed as Telluride's Town Manager, and Telluride Film Festival requests a permit to host tethered hot air balloon rides.

Mudslides close Imogene and Black Bear passes, Colorado public health officials are concerned about the decreasing rates of vaccinated students, Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters found guilty of election breach, and boreal toad conservation efforts wield wild tadpoles after seven years of reintroduction.

Firefighters battle several small fires on the West End and Nucla's Bucktail Fire grows to nearly 4,000 acres, initiative to ban trophy hunting of mountain lions will be on the November ballot, Telluride Town Council selects two local businesses to rent Voodoo commercial space, and Suzy, the pup who ran away July 4th, returns home after thirty days.

Firefighters quickly contain blaze outside of Norwood, Mesa County officials propose a smaller Dolores River conservation area, Telluride Marshals ask the public for information about an alleged sexual assault, and the community housing survey is available online.

Norwood trustees hope to mediate personnel issues, public health officials are monitoring a bird flu outbreak in the state, Voodoo Affordable Housing lottery is open, and 50% of Coloradans admit they fight with their virtual assistants.

Ah Haa School for the Arts holds the HAHA event this weekend, San Miguel County planning commission finalizes solar regulations, primary race for House District 58 is headed for a recount, and Kyle Lutz is through-hiking the region's Fourteeners.