Civic Western Slope civic week ahead: Budgets, a data center pause and a Montrose council appointment Grand Junction considers a data center pause and about $10 million in budget adjustments, Montrose is expected to fill a council vacancy, and Mesa County weighs new paratransit buses. Your October 5–11 guide to public meetings across the Western Slope, with hearing dates and ways to weigh in. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 6 min read
Civic ID numbers on mail ballots and two other voting amendments Amendments 84, 85 and 86 would change how mail ballots are checked, how ballot questions are written, and when congressional maps can be redrawn. Mesa County has history with the first and a stake in the third. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 4 min read
Grand Junction Grand Junction traffic: 25 Road closures and downtown lane restrictions for Oct. 5 week Road closures continue along 25 Road, Crosby Avenue and D ½ Road during the week of Oct. 5. Downtown drivers face lane restrictions on Fourth, Fifth, Ute and Pitkin, while Westlake Park’s parking lot closes for maintenance. Here’s where to detour and which access remains open. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 2 min read
Photo by John Bell / Unsplash Events Western Slope Weekend Oct 2-4: Blue Angels Above, Art and Harvests Below Blue Angels over Grand Junction, artists on Main Street, fresh-hop beer in Montrose and Potato Days in Carbondale: your October 2–4 weekend guide covers the big gatherings and quieter outings, with parking reservations, ticket details and a car-free harvest party in Basalt. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 5 min read
Grand Junction Grand Junction Traffic: 25 Road and Crossroads Closures for the Week of September 28 Closures on 25 Road, Crosby Avenue, D ½ Road and Crossroads Boulevard will affect Grand Junction travel the week of September 28. Downtown lane restrictions and roundabout construction at 23 Road and Broadway also continue. Here are the affected stretches and detours. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 2 min read
Events Western Slope Weekend: Paonia’s Harvest Festival, Ghost Walks and Pumpkin Picking Paonia’s Mountain Harvest Festival fills the weekend with music, farm tours and local food. Across the Western Slope, September 25–27 also brings ghost walks in Glenwood Springs, pumpkin picking near Montrose, and a sidewalk sale and concerts in Grand Junction. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 4 min read
Civic Western Slope Voters Face Choices on Hunting Rights and Wildfire Funding Western Slope voters face two outdoor-related ballot measures this fall. Amendment 83 would establish constitutional hunting and fishing rights. Proposition 137 would direct existing tax revenue to conservation and wildfire prevention. Here’s what would change and how the measures differ. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 4 min read
Civic Western Slope Schools Put Teacher Pay on the Ballot Alongside Proposition NN Three Western Slope school districts are asking voters to fund staff raises this November. Proposition NN would also add school funding by reducing TABOR refunds. Here’s what District 51, Roaring Fork and Garfield Re-2 are requesting, what it could cost and how the separate ballot decisions compare. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 4 min read
Grand Junction Grand Junction Traffic: Lincoln Park Entrance Closure and Detours for Sept. 21–27 Grand Junction drivers face detours on Crosby Avenue, 25 Road, D ½ Road and Crossroads Boulevard the week of Sept. 21. Lincoln Park's 12th Street entrance is expected to close Monday through Wednesday, while downtown lane restrictions continue. Here's where to go and what access remains open. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 2 min read
Grand Junction Shakespeare Meets Dr. Seuss at Grand Junction’s Free Theatre in the Park Shakespeare meets Dr. Seuss at Grand Junction’s free Theatre in the Park on September 19. Bring a blanket or low-back chair to Watson Island Amphitheater for family activities at noon and The Theatre Project’s performance of Seusspeare: Much Ado About Everything at 1 p.m. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 1 min read
Events Winefest in Palisade, Ranch Rodeo in Montrose: Your Western Slope Weekend, Sept. 18–20 Winefest returns to Palisade, Montrose hosts ranch rodeo finals and a free punk festival, and Glenwood Springs welcomes Octoberfest. Find concerts, community gatherings and outdoor events across the Western Slope for September 18–20. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 4 min read
Civic Amendment 87 vs. Proposition 136: What Colorado’s Tax Measures Mean for Western Slope Residents Colorado voters face competing income tax measures this November. Amendment 87 would introduce graduated rates; Proposition 136 would cap rates at 4.4%. Here’s how they compare, what taxpayers could pay and why the outcome matters on the Western Slope. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 3 min read
Montrose Montrose Opens Applications for Vacant Council Seat, With Sept. 23 Deadline Montrose is accepting applications for the District IV City Council seat following Dave Frank’s resignation. Eligible residents must apply by 6 p.m. Sept. 23. Council will interview candidates Oct. 5 and appoint a replacement Oct. 6. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 1 min read
Rendering of Salt Flats Development Grand Junction Grand Junction’s Homes Starting at $279,000 Come With 40-Year Affordability Rules Juniper Grove advertises Grand Junction homes starting at $279,000, with income qualifications and resale limits lasting 40 years. Council will consider a no-cost land transfer and nearly $750,000 in support. Here’s what the proposal means for buyers and the city. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 4 min read
Montrose Montrose Council to Consider Nine-Month Separation Package for Bell and Interim Pay for Morgenthaler Montrose council will consider nine months of salary and specified benefits for former City Manager Bill Bell, plus interim pay for Ann Morgenthaler. Councilors also face a deadline to fill Dave Frank’s vacant seat. Here’s what the agreements and appointment process involve. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 4 min read
Civic Western Slope Week Ahead: Housing Votes in Grand Junction, Leadership Changes in Montrose Grand Junction weighs agreements for 48 homes at the Salt Flats, Montrose formalizes its city manager transition, and Mesa County considers a $4.6 million road contract. Your guide to Western Slope government meetings September 14–17, with key decisions and ways to participate. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 7 min read
Civic Montrose Details Manager’s Exit, Grand Junction Faces Budget Gap and Votes to Repeal Tree Rules: Civic Wrap-up, Sept. 4–11 Montrose details its city manager’s exit as a council seat opens. Grand Junction faces a $6 million budget gap and votes to repeal tree-preservation rules. Mesa County advances drainage plans, while Palisade weighs a tax increase and Glenwood Springs revisits bear-related trash enforcement. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 6 min read
Grand Junction Grand Junction Traffic: Closures and Downtown Lane Restrictions for Sept. 14–20 Grand Junction drivers face closures on 25 Road, Crosby Avenue and D ½ Road, plus downtown lane reductions and a detour at Alcove Drive. Here’s where to expect delays and how to reach affected streets during the week of Sept. 14. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 2 min read
Events Bikes, Barks, and the Calm Before Winefest: Your Western Slope Weekend Sep 11-13 Ride the Monument, catch Montrose’s free concert finale or let your dog take the last swim of summer. Your Sept. 11–13 Western Slope guide covers live music, wine country, a Cedaredge writers’ gathering and more across Mesa, Montrose, Garfield and Delta counties. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 6 min read
Visit The North Fork Valley Closes November 1. Here's the Window. Paonia and Hotchkiss hold Colorado's organic farming heart and the West Elks AVA. Almost every tasting room shuts for the season on the same date. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 3 min read
Visit The Grand Mesa: 300 Lakes, an Hour From the Desert A basalt plateau the size of a small county sits 6,000 feet above Grand Junction. Here is what to do up there, and when the road is worth it. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 5 min read
Photo: Colorado Mountain Winefest Visit Palisade Wine Country for People Who Don't Know Colorado Wine More than thirty tasting rooms sit within a few miles of each other. Three in an afternoon is the honest number, and here is how to pick them. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 4 min read
Lifestyle After Labor Day, the Western Slope’s Labor Story Is Still Being Written From Telluride’s ski patrol strike to Roaring Fork Valley bus contracts, unions remain consequential on Colorado’s Western Slope. After Labor Day, a look at local bargaining, statewide membership trends and new workplace protections reveals both gains and limits. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 4 min read
Civic A $130 Million Sweep Threatens Western Colorado’s Housing Boom and Sends the Fight to the Ballot Box Grand Junction has exceeded its Proposition 123 housing commitment, with projects advancing across the Grand Valley. But Colorado’s $130 million housing-fund transfer raises questions about financing the next round of affordable homes. By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 5 min read
