Montrose Fresh

Today... Montrose’s school district is buying the rec district’s field house to turn it into a permanent preschool, while the rec district is using the sale proceeds to buy and renovate a larger former factory building for its future programs. And later... Montrose Regional Health says a proposed partnership with Community Hospital in Grand Junction could save millions each year withou...

Today... Pruf Pizza is a new Montrose slice shop blending punk-rock style, high-quality handmade pizza, and big ambitions into a fast-growing local favorite. And later... Montrose County has delayed naming its county manager finalists, citing unspecified circumstances, as the leadership search continues after months of turnover and instability. Support the show: https://www.montrosepress.com/site/...

Today... The Montrose school board is delaying its choice of a new law firm, while board member Tiffany Vincent says concerns about Brad Miller’s controversial firm are overblown because, in her view, Montrose would not pursue the kinds of actions that caused legal fights in other districts. And later... A local trail worker and mountain bike volunteer was seriously injured after an escaped...

Today... Montrose Regional Health is asking a federal court to permanently dismiss an EEOC lawsuit alleging it discriminated against older nurses, while the EEOC says the hospital fostered age-based harassment, retaliation, and wrongful terminations. And later... Hotchkiss Mayor Jim Wingfield resigned during a Thursday meeting over personal attacks, and Trustee Randy Thalmann also resigned later t...

Today... Montrose leaders recently touted 2025 gains on Main Street and downtown, and outlined 2026 plans for childcare, public safety, and major capital projects. And later... Montrose Regional Health is urging a federal judge to permanently dismiss the EEOC’s age-discrimination lawsuit alleging older nurses were retaliated against and forced out, while the hospital denies wrongdo...

Today... "Peak Virtual Academy" students turned trimester-long "Spark Lab" entrepreneurship projects into real pitches, earning seed funding for diverse ideas. And later... Western Slope author C William Langsfeld’s debut “Western noir” novel, "Salvation", is earning national praise, and he’ll give a reading and discussion at The Sherbino in Ridgway on March 4th....

Today... A Delta County woman was sentenced to 15 years of probation, home confinement, and over $83,000 in fines and restitution after authorities rescued more than 260 neglected cats and dogs from her property. And later... Bryan Cornwell was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for sending threatening emails to a "Colorado Bureau of Investigation" agent in 2023 while he was alread...

Today... "Community Options" is set to buy land and plan a 50-unit affordable, universally designed apartment complex within Montrose’s proposed Hilltop Neighborhood mixed-income development. And later... "Colorado Parks and Wildlife" will consider a March petition to ban commercial sales of wildlife fur—while still allowing personal use—after advocates argued current t...

Today... "Eatery 66 North" has opened in downtown Montrose, bringing the Graves family’s locally sourced, seasonally changing comfort-focused menu and community gathering vibe—similar to their original Ridgway restaurant, but with new dishes and drinks. And later... Delta County deputies say they seized over 150 neglected animals—some dead—after serving a February...

Today... Black Canyon Surgical Center is entering its 20th year after a major expansion that boosts capacity and supports rapid growth in staff, surgical volume, and advanced outpatient procedures like robotic-assisted knee replacement. And later... Local artists are hosting the "Art of the Canyon" show and online auction culminating February 28th to raise funds for Black Canyon wildfire...

Today... A federal magistrate recommended dismissing the wage-and-overtime suit over housekeeping at Telluride’s Madeline Hotel, saying its operator wasn’t the women’s employer because they were H-2B workers hired and paid by contractor "Mountain Premier" and the hotel couldn’t fire them. And later... Emily Scott Robinson, a North Carolina–born, Telluride-ba...

Today... Montrose County School District staff, led by UVEA, are urging the school board to avoid hiring Brad Miller’s law firm, citing concerns about controversy, transparency, rising legal costs, and potential threats to employee contracts. And later... Delta-Montrose Electric Association canceled its planned 20-megawatt solar array and withdrew from a $72 million loan after a ne...

Today... A recent Telluride event highlighted how chronic stress impacts mental health in mountain towns and emphasized grounding, awareness, and community support as key tools for healing. And later... Ed Lafferty, a retired construction executive, is running for Montrose County commissioner with a focus on smart growth, fiscal transparency, and applying real-world leadership to local g...

Today... In their Delta studio, a mother-daughter duo is turning forgotten quilts and tablecloths into one-of-a-kind fashion—reviving the past one stitch at a time. And later... A Western Colorado University alum turned a hated cardboard-cutting chore into "Box Blade"—and took it to "Shark Tank" hoping the exposure would boost an already-profitable business. Support the show: http...

Today... Montrose County Sheriff Gene Lillard is highlighting low or no-bail releases to show how recent bail reforms, in his view, let repeat offenders walk free with little oversight—creating a cycle that puts public safety at risk. And later... This week in Montrose offers musical theatre, food-packing for a cause, casino night, karaoke, a local talent show, and more ways to connect...

Today... West Slope Outdoors Alliance has launched its first youth video contest for kids eighteen and under to film ninety-second "Leave No Trace" videos by May 15th, with prizes and plans to share winning entries widely. And later... Crisosto Apache has been named Colorado’s new Poet Laureate for a two-year term, succeeding Andrea Gibson and focusing on youth engagement and state...

Today... The Spiritual Awareness Center in Montrose has closed after twenty-one years, as its founder retires, leaving behind a legacy of inclusive spiritual service and community connection. And later... Tim Stroh is running for Montrose County Commissioner in District Three, emphasizing his government and revitalization experience to bring stability and preserve the community’s charac...

Today... Andrew Beard, a former Marine and nurse practitioner, left corporate healthcare to open Montrose Direct Primary Care, offering personalized, accessible, and spiritually mindful care through a direct membership model. And later... The Montrose Home, Garden, and Business Expo is back this weekend for the first time since the pandemic—and it’s all about local pride. Mor...

Today... Colorado Congressman, Jeff Hurd, is facing a tough January -- with a healthcare bill stalled in the Senate, a surprising veto from President Trump blocking a vital water project, and federal disaster aid denied. And later... Montrose High School’s Advanced Jazz Ensemble has been selected to perform at the prestigious 2026 Colorado Music Educators Association State Conferen...

Today... Shepherd’s Hand is closing its food pantry for housed clients and redirecting them to Sharing Ministries and the Grace Center while continuing its meals, outreach, and other core services. And later... Jevon Vigil was sentenced to probation, treatment, and restitution for fatally shooting two pregnant cows in a drunken act the judge called a critical turning point in his l...

Today... Love Dance Collaborative at Elevation Academy of Dance is giving adult dancers in Montrose—ranging from recent graduates to seniors—a collaborative, performance-focused space to keep dancing, creating, and taking the stage long after high school.   And later... Welcome Home Alliance for Veterans will host a January 29th "Stand Down" in Montrose to provide unhous...

Today... Montrose honored Martin Luther King Junior Day with a powerful call to service, urging the community to confront injustice through action, compassion, and courage—asking, “If not you, then who?” And later... Flu cases in Montrose spiked during the holidays but are now declining, with officials noting more severe cases this season and urging vaccination, especia...

Today... Montrose County is seeking to dismiss a lawsuit by former inmate Justin McNeil, calling his excessive force and civil rights claims unfounded, and asserting the deputies acted lawfully and are protected by qualified immunity. And later... Delta High School was evacuated early Wednesday after an anonymous bomb threat that was later found to be bogus, with police working alongside...

Today... Vista Charter School has been approved to leave the Montrose County School District and join the Colorado Charter School Institute, following ongoing disputes over oversight, funding, and organizational fit. And later... A Montrose man, Antonio Aviles, has been arrested on suspicion of sexually and physically abusing children in his care, allegations he denies as the investigati...

Today... Generation Wild of the Uncompahgre has launched its first community-driven outdoor programs for local youth and families, backed by a five-year grant to expand access to nature through after-school activities, camping trips, and collaborative outreach. And later... Megan Hess is appealing her twenty-year sentence, arguing the court wrongly labeled victims as “vulnerable&rd...