TLN June 16, 2021

Galena Gleason and Anne Brown win San Miguel County Commissioners seats, county voters approve gondola funding, tax reallocation to affordable housing, and a mill levy for the Norwood Fire Protection District, Colorado approve amendments to the state constitution adding abortion protections and remove the same-sex marriage ban, and the Free Box opens at its new spot in the Voodoo building.

San Miguel Power Association is seeking another fee increase and a tiered rate structure for electricity used during peak hours, Kathleen Merritt and Paul Major receive lifetime achievement awards from El Pomar Foundation, Bruin to offer compost pickup service to HOAs and businesses in Telluride, and speaking of compost...you can recycle those pumpkins for free in Mountain Village.

Early voting is underway in San Miguel County, arrest is made in 25-year-old cold case involving Nucla man, KOTO turns on new transmitter and KOOK signal in Ouray and Ridgway, and season's first significant snowstorm also results in its first avalanche incident.

This week we are taking a look at the local and regional ballot questions: tax increases to support the gondola and transportation, lengthening term limits for San Miguel County Commissioners, and using part of the existing parks and open space revenue to fund affordable housing in the county.

San Miguel County Sheriffs asking for pay increase, sections of the Valley Floor will be closed for a helicopter operation to remove dead trees, Telluride Horror Show happening this weekend, aurora borealis seen in town, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife releases two great horned owls into the wild.

District Attorney Seth Ryan resigns, San Miguel County updates ordinances to align with new Colorado statutes, Colorado voters to decide this November whether or not to adopt ranked-choice voting in elections, and the new Free Box is taking shape.

Climber suffers fatal fall on Wilson Peak, marshals respond to report of a weapon at Telluride High School, San Miguel Resource Center and Ah Haa School for the Arts team up on Community Garden project for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and ski resort offers free ski passes to residents 80 years and older who can't afford them.

Telluride Town Council continues to fine-tune policies for rental housing, San Miguel County adopts solar regulations, Bureau of Land Management proposes fees for day use and camping at sites along San Miguel River and for the Ridgway Area Trails (RAT), and there are no dogs allowed on Mt. Sneffels, per a new Forest Service plan.

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.