Western Slope Trellis Staff

Events

The Crane Wives Bring Indie Folk-Rock to Mesa Theater on June 27

The Crane Wives bring their harmony-rich indie folk-rock sound to Mesa Theater in downtown Grand Junction on June 27. The Grand Rapids band is touring behind its growing national following and 2024 album, Beyond Beyond Beyond.

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 1 min read

News

Backed by Threat of Clawbacks, Feds Wield Tight Grip on $50B Rural Health Fund

States are reworking plans for a new federal rural health fund after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rejected or revised some proposals, raising concerns about clawbacks, tight deadlines, and rural care access.

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 5 min read

News

Why Coal Will Lead to More Deaths in Colorado

Colorado coal plant closures are being delayed in Craig, Pueblo, and Colorado Springs, raising concerns from residents, doctors, and advocates about air pollution, public health, climate goals, and utility costs.

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 7 min read

Garfield County

Garfield County Escalates South Bridge Dispute With Glenwood Springs

Garfield County is suing Glenwood Springs over the South Bridge review process, asking a court to decide whether the project needs county 1041 approval before construction moves forward

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 4 min read

Montrose

Montrose Approves $4.3M Sewer Expansion as City Moves to Restore Business Grant Funding

Montrose approved a $4.3 million sewer expansion to unlock growth in the city’s northeast corridor, while council moved to restore business grant funding affected by a budget error.

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 4 min read

Grand Junction

Grand Junction and Mesa County Advance $8M Housing Package as Growth Pressures Build Near 29 Road

Grand Junction and Mesa County committed $8 million in bond capacity for the Salt Flats housing project, while neighbors raised concerns about rezoning, traffic, and growth near 29 Road.

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 3 min read

Montrose

Montrose Road Sealing Project Starts June 23, With Closures and Parking Restrictions Expected

Montrose road crews will begin chip sealing and slurry sealing streets on June 23, with closures, one-lane traffic, parking restrictions, and early trash pickup expected during the three-week project.

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 2 min read

Events

Glenwood Springs Ready to Celebrate 129th Annual Strawberry Days Festival This Weekend

Strawberry Days returns to Glenwood Springs June 19–21! The 129th annual festival brings free strawberries and ice cream, a massive food court featuring Slow Groovin BBQ and Hillbilly Grill, the Strawberry Shortcut races, and a massive Saturday night anniversary drone show to Two Rivers Park.

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 3 min read

News

Juneteenth on the Western Slope: Deepening Roots and Celebrating Freedom

Explore the history of Juneteenth and its deep ties to Colorado's Western Slope, concluding with details on a local celebration happening June 20, 2026, in Grand Junction's Lincoln Park.

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 2 min read

News

Favored in Colorado Senate primary, Hickenlooper declines to debate challenger Gonzales

As the June 30 primary approaches, incumbent U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper is facing sharp criticism for skipping at least seven scheduled debates and forums with progressive challenger Julie Gonzales, mirroring the "Cardboard Cory" evasion tactics of the 2020 election.

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 5 min read

News

CPW Opens $11M Fund: How Western Slope Landowners Can Get Paid to Protect Habitat

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has opened the 2026 Wildlife Habitat Program, offering $11M for landowners to protect habitats, secure migration corridors, or open public hunting and fishing access. Apply by Oct 15.

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 1 min read

Montrose

Montrose Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion Reaches Major Construction Milestone

Montrose’s $33.6 million wastewater treatment plant expansion is moving forward, with major concrete work completed on a new anaerobic basin and installation underway on an upgraded UV disinfection system.

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 2 min read

Events

June Western Slope Community Guide: Local Wine Workshops, Historic Festivals, and Civic Forums

Discover your path on the Western Slope this June with our hyper-local community guide. Features hands-on agricultural propagation in Palisade, civic policy roundtables in Loma, regional warehouse mutual aid networks, and volunteer-backed historic walking tours across Mesa County.

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 7 min read

Montrose

Montrose Street Maintenance Continues With New Closures Beginning June 15

Montrose drivers should expect closures and detours beginning June 15 as street maintenance work starts on 6450 Road, Hillcrest Plaza, Bear Creek subdivision streets, Valley Way and South Cascade Avenue.

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 2 min read

Grand Junction

Grand Junction Traffic Alert: Road Closures and Lane Shifts Planned for Week of June 15

Grand Junction drivers should plan for road closures, lane shifts and construction delays during the week of June 15. Major impacts are expected on Patterson Road, D ½ Road, Riverside Parkway, Highway 340, 25 Road, Ute Avenue and Pitkin Avenue.

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 3 min read

Glenwood Springs

Glenwood Springs to Host State of Public Safety Event June 10

Glenwood Springs residents can ask questions and share feedback with city police and fire leaders during a free State of Public Safety event on Wednesday, June 10. Topics include emergency preparedness, fire mitigation, evacuation planning, speed cameras, homelessness and public safety funding.

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 1 min read

Grand Junction

Grand Junction Recreation Center Memberships Go on Sale June 8

Grand Junction will begin selling memberships for the new Community Recreation Center on Monday, June 8. Memberships can be purchased at a sales trailer near the construction site, and facility rental reservations will also open ahead of the center’s expected late 2026 grand opening.

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 2 min read

Government

The Civic Week Ahead June 8-14: Kinikin Road, Mesa County Budget Prep and Garfield County Services

Western Slope boards enter crisis-response mode this week. Track Montrose County's emergency Kinikin Road repair options, Mesa County's early 2027 budget kickoff constraints, and Garfield County's critical senior and childhood service funding.

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 4 min read

Government

Civic Wrap-Up: Camping Enforcement Changes, Emergency Infrastructure Rescues, and Extreme Basin Runoff Drops

Grand Junction overhauls its public property camping rules following the Supreme Court's Grants Pass shift, while Montrose executes an emergency roundabout rescue, and extreme water drops trigger municipal drought warnings across Mesa County.

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 3 min read

Glenwood Springs

Glenwood Springs Traffic Alert: Major Road Closures, Summer Construction Continue Through June

Road closures, construction projects, and summer events will impact travel across Glenwood Springs this month. Major work continues on Coach Miller Drive, 19th Street, and the Highway 6 & 24 corridor, while Strawberry Days and the Mountain Games bring additional traffic.

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 4 min read

Outdoors & Recreation

Free Fishing Weekend Returns to Colorado June 6-7

Colorado residents and visitors can fish for free June 6-7 as Colorado Parks and Wildlife waives fishing license and Habitat Stamp requirements statewide. The annual Free Fishing Weekend offers a chance to explore Colorado's lakes, rivers, and streams at no cost.

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 2 min read

Grand Junction

Grand Junction Traffic Alert: Multiple Road Closures and Detours Planned for Week of June 8

Grand Junction drivers should prepare for road closures, lane shifts, bridge inspections, and construction delays during the week of June 8. Major impacts are expected on Patterson Road, Redlands Parkway, D ½ Road, Highway 340, downtown Grand Junction, and the Four Canyons Parkway project.

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 3 min read

Glenwood Springs

Glenwood Springs Invites Residents to Public Safety Town Hall June 10

Glenwood Springs residents are invited to a State of Public Safety forum on June 10. The free event will feature interactive Q&A sessions with police and fire leaders on topics including wildfire preparedness, homelessness, speed cameras, and public safety funding.

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 2 min read

Government

From Affordable Housing to Public Camping Rules: Key Decisions Coming This Week Across the Western Slope

A packed week of public meetings across the Western Slope will address affordable housing, public camping rules, water security, infrastructure spending, and development proposals. Here's what residents in Mesa, Montrose, and Garfield counties should know before attending.

By Western Slope Trellis Staff • 2 min read