The Stoke: What the forest knows
“Situational awareness” is something we teach all firefighters. In my family of firefighters, we were taught early that the land speaks.
More stories from our newsroom
Recent reporting and curated coverage across every beat we cover.
Hiker rescued by helicopter from Maroon Peak
Mountain Rescue Aspen successfully rescued an overdue hiker from Maroon Peak on Thursday night into Friday morning. According to a press release, the Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch Center received a satellite text message at approximately 7:39 p.m., reporting an overdue hiker in the Ma...
Ritz-Carlton Sketch Plan presented to Snowmass
Elevated Snowmass, led by Hotelier Stephane De Baets, presented a Sketch Plan to the Snowmass Village Town Council and Planning Commission during a joint work session on Monday, outlining the updated vision for the redevelopment of the Viewline, Snowmass Conference Center and Wildwood Lodge into ...
Lift-Up receives 38,000-pound potato donation
A donation of 38,000 pounds of fresh potatoes is helping Lift-Up feed families and strengthen partnerships with organizations across the Western Slope. Sharing Excess, a national nonprofit that rescues surplus food and redirects it to communities in need, delivered 21 pallets of potatoes to Lift-...
Colorado mountains could see flash floods amid thunderstorms, showers this week
The Western Slope is barreling toward another week of showers and thunderstorms — this time, with warnings of flash floods and mudslides. After witnessing an early onset of monsoon season , forecasters are expecting monsoonal moisture to continue developing across the West this week as daytime he...
Firefighters contain 4 wildfires sparked by lightning over weekend in White River National Forest north of I-70
Firefighters over the weekend were able to contain four wildfires ignited by lightning in the White River National Forest, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The four fires — the Boiler Creek Fire in the Rifle Ranger District, the Bear Wallow Fire also in the Rifle Ranger District, the Hahn Cr...
CPR Bystander app reimplemented in Eagle County to shorten the time for emergency response
On average, it takes five to seven minutes for Eagle County Paramedics to arrive on the scene of an emergency, according to Starting Hearts Director of Business Development, Jackie Christiansen. For cardiac arrest victims, brain damage starts on minute four, she said. That’s why Eagle County Para...
BODYTRAFFIC presents its farewell performance in Aspen on Wednesday
For 20 years, Los Angeles–based BODYTRAFFIC has brought bold artistry, technical mastery and innovative contemporary dance to stages nationwide. Now, after 20 years, BODYTRAFFIC is closing as a company. Its performance on July 22 at Aspen District Theater will be its second-to-last show, followed...
What a Colorado search and rescue coordinator and wildland firefighter thinks you should know as about outdoor recreation this summer
As wildfires burn across the state, Colorado Search and Rescue state coordinator Trevin Montano thinks there are a few things that anyone recreating in the mountains this summer should know. Montano, a volunteer search-and-rescue member who also works as a wildland firefighter, knows what it’s li...
Middle Colorado Watershed Council launches free home ignition zone assessments for Garfield County residents
Years of drought, rising temperatures and increasing fuel loads have left Garfield County and the Middle Colorado River watershed among the most vulnerable areas in Colorado to wildfire risk. The Middle Colorado Watershed Council (MCWC), through its Colorado River Wildfire Collaborative (CRWC), i...
Review: Super violinist Hadelich tops a week featuring a meaty world premiere
It’s not news that Augustin Hadelich played an immaculate, astonishing Barber Violin Concerto on Sunday’s Aspen Festival Orchestra program, then topped it off with an encore of his own sweet yet complex arrangement of Schumann’s “Traumerei.” Hadelich channels the essence of music through his Guar...
Aspen’s youngest opera fellow takes the stage
The 2026 Aspen Opera Theater and VocalARTS program has added its youngest member this summer — Tiara Abraham, a 20-year-old soprano prodigy. Abraham’s path to Aspen has been a swift ascent. A California native, she began college-level coursework at age 7 and finished high school at 13. She earned...
Rifle celebrates opening of Birch Park
Children raced across the playground, residents tested the pickleball courts and families gathered beneath shaded shelters Friday as Rifle celebrated the grand opening of Birch Park, a project roughly two decades in the making. City officials, funding partners and community members gathered for a...
A-Basin hires first female patrol director, marking first-ever all female patrol leadership team
When Lizzy Schofield first became a ski patroller at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area in 2013, she was one of just two women on a staff of 30. On July 16, Schofield became A-Basin’s new patrol director and the first woman to ever hold the position. She still works with only one other direct female counter...
Britten’s ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ comes to the Wheeler
A much-loved fantastical tale is taking center stage in Aspen this week: Aspen Opera Theater and VocalARTS will present Benjamin Britten’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” for a second night at 7 p.m. July 22 at the Wheeler Opera House, 320 E. Hyman Ave., following its premiere at 7 p.m. July 20. “A M...
Eagle County resources respond to Hartman Hill fire just north of county line near Trough Road
Eagle County fire resources responded to a small wildfire Sunday night in Grand County near the Trough Road on the Eagle County-Grand County border. The fire prompted evacuation orders for homes in that area in Grand County, with Kremmling Fire Protection District, Grand County Sheriff’s Office, ...
Fire Marshall Brooke Stott plans for more wildfire management, public outreach
Brooke Stott has been the fire marshall for Roaring Fork Fire Rescue Authority since April, and she has plans for expanding the fire department’s capabilities in her new role — particularly with wildfire management and public education. Stott was formerly the deputy fire marshall, a role that she...
PHOTOS: Power of Four Trail Run kicks off valley’s busy race season
The Roaring Fork Valley’s summer race season hit another level on Saturday with one of the area’s most prominent foot races, the Audi Power of Four Trail Run . Produced by Aspen Skiing Company, there were 50k, 25k and 10k race options. In the featured 50-kilometer run — that’s just over 31 miles,...
Rifle backs three-year Hogback funding framework
Rifle City Council on Wednesday approved joining a temporary funding framework intended to keep the Hogback bus route operating while western Garfield County communities pursue a long-term transportation solution. Over the past year, citizens of the county have brought up the issue of transportat...
Western-inspired experiences at Westin Riverfront
Embrace Western culture with the Spirit of the West events happening July 19–26 at The Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa in Avon in celebration of the Eagle County Fair & Rodeo Week. Royal Breakfast & Signing at Colletta – July 19 from 9–11 a.m. Meet members of the Eagle County Fair & Rodeo Royalt...
Keleher: Out of place for Aspen
The raceway that was built by Bugsy Barnyard, Doctor Baxter and others 50+ years ago is just fine. It has given local enthusiasts and others an opportunity to test their driving and biking skills through the years. However, the proposal before you at this time is completely out of place for Aspen...
McDonough: Out of scale with our community
The proposed Woody Creek Racetrack expansion is out of scale with our community: The proposed development is larger than the Hotel Jerome and St. Regis combined. It is 2.5 times larger than the proposed Aspen Airport terminal. It is significantly larger than the 175,000 square-feet of the Aspen H...
Four handguns stolen in Rifle sporting goods store burglary
Rifle police are investigating an early-morning burglary at Timberline Sporting Goods in which four handguns were stolen Monday. A resident reported hearing breaking glass near East 26th Street and Colorado Highway 13 at about 5:12 a.m., according to a Rifle Police Department news release. Office...
Voss: Smoke, wildfires and what to do for your pet
With several recent fires burning across Colorado, it has been a sobering summer for all of us. Combined with this year’s drought, the heightened wildfire risk has many residents thinking about emergency preparedness. While most families have thought about what they would do if an evacuation beca...
More wildfire evacuees return home as firefighters brace for another day of high fire danger
A home along South Pine Drive burned to its foundation in the Aspen Acres fire is shown in this July 10, 2026 photo. A private aerial imagery company has estimated 780 structures have been lost across Pueblo and Custer counties in the fire, including a number of homes in Beulah and its surroundin...
Obituary: Nancy Ureche
Nancy Ureche April 18, 1954 – December 31, 2025 Today we remember and celebrate the life of Nancy K. Ureche, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and neighbor whose love shaped the lives of all who knew her. Nancy was born on April 18, 1954, in Saginaw, Michigan, and passed away on Decemb...
Summit County firefighters work to defend southern Colorado communities from Aspen Acres fire
Although the Aspen Acres fire is burning around 150 miles away from Summit County, firefighters from Summit Fire & EMS and the Red, White & Blue Fire Protection District have been on the scene, working to contain what is now the seventh largest fire in Colorado’s history . The crews are deployed ...
Monday update: Fishhook Fire adjusted to 340 acres; 8% contained
The Fishhook Fire’s footprint has been adjusted to 340 acres and is 8% contained as of Monday morning, according to an update from the Southwest Area Management Team 1, which took over command of the fire response early Friday. The modified size, down slightly from the 347 acres previously report...
SoL Theatre brings ‘The Prom’ to Carbondale stage
Prom dresses, tiaras and plenty of opening-night energy filled Thunder River Theatre Company on Thursday as SoL Theatre Company kicked off its run of “The Prom.” Some audience members dressed for the occasion, arriving in prom gowns and tiaras before posing for photos on the set after the perform...
Top 5 most-read stories last week
Stories in this list received the most page views on postindependent.com from July 13-July 20. 1. Anticipated rain for Colorado’s mountains has forecasters starting to say ‘the monsoon is here’ Lightning crackles over Buffalo Mountain as a thunderstorm passes through Summit County on Wednesday, J...
Remembering Julian Nihill
April 17, 1950 — June 20, 2026
Telling stories through dance
Bodytraffic to put on a show Wednesday in Aspen
AHS student speaks for the fish
Hurd creates field reports to raise river health awareness
Local news in brief, July 20
Main Street curb work starts July 27
GWS explores tax increase to fund fire and EMS
If placed on ballot, measure would nearly double city property taxes
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At a Thursday worksession, Glenwood Springs City Manager Steve Boyd talks to city council members about a potential new property tax to fund fire and emergency medical services.
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The Glenwood Springs Fire Department and its EMS services cover about 16,000 residents over 72 square miles.
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Founded in 2007, Bodytraffic is known for its stunning performers, diverse technical mastery and dynamic repertoire. The Los Angeles-based dance company will perform on Wednesday at the Aspen District Theatre as part of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s summer season.
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Katie Garcia and Joan Rodriguez, of the Los Angeles-based dance company Bodytraffic, will perform on Wednesday at the Aspen District Theater as part of the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s summer season.
Racetrack development wouldn’t enhance community
John Keleher — The Woody Creek raceway that was built by Bugsy Barnard, Dr. J. Sterling Baxter and others 50-plus years ago...