A lot of news I come across and share is from Grand Junction and Montrose. That is because they have the most news happening. However, I want as much representation for the small towns as I can get. If you have a news tip, a new business opening, or exciting events going on in a smaller town, send it in so I can include it!

Photo of The Week

If you have a photo of the Western Slope, submit it by responding to this via email and I will include it!

In this edition:

• Hanging Lake Reservations

• Illegal Drugs Seized on I70

• Morgan Mining Hiring

• More and more outdoor events (submit yours)!

Housing

Market Stats:

Average Sales Price: $460,847 (+$3,630 from last week)

Median Sales Price: $400,000 (no change from last week)

Inventory Levels:

Number of New Listings: 58 (-20 from last week) 

Average Days on Market: 88 (-2 from last week)

Total Active Listings: 546 (-19 from last week)_{Source: Skyler Kraai with Coldwell Banker Distinctive Properties}

News

Hanging Lake Trail summer reservations will soon be available

Officials with the City of Glenwood Springs announced summer reservations for the Hanging Lake Trail will be available soon.

Reservations will be available March 17th starting at 8:00am on the Visit Glenwood Springs website.

According to officials, Hanging Lake Trail is anticipated to reopen July 1st after the reconstruction of the main trail and its seven bridges are complete.

The reconstruction comes after the trail and bridges had significant damage back in 2021 from debris flow.

Work to make the trail more sustainable and better able to handle high water began in May 2024, with the trail being intermittently open throughout summer 2024 and a full closure during the fall.

Construction will continue into this upcoming fall at the main trailhead and Spouting Rock area.

Illegal Narcotics Seized in I70

On Wednesday, the Garfield County SPEAR Task Force recovered illegal narcotics during a traffic stop on Interstate 70.

A member of the SPEAR Task Force conducted a traffic stop on eastbound I-70 near mile marker 72. The deputy who conducted the stop was with a K-9, who conducted a free-air sniff of the vehicle and gave a positive alert to the presence of illegal narcotics in the vehicle.

A search of the vehicle uncovered 49 vacuum-sealed bags containing 88.376 pounds of suspected marijuana and one vacuum-sealed bag containing 1.56 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms; $14,000 was also recovered.

The driver, 50-year-old Kelly Elaine Hunsbeth of Iowa was arrested, transported to the Garfield County Jail and charged with possession of more than 50 pounds of marijuana and improper signal.

Business Highlight

Morgan Mining in First Wave of Hiring

Morgan Mining has seen the talk of the town recently. Any employer creating 900 jobs in a short span of time will certainly drum up some attention.

The first of many hiring waves has begun for the company to possibly become one of the region’s top employers.

Morgan Mining announced in February its expansion in Grand Junction, bringing with it 893 new jobs in the Grand Valley over the course of eight years. The average salary of these jobs will be $92,447, well above the median income in Mesa County.

Morgan Mining President Justin Morgan told The Daily Sentinel that the company brought in roughly 50 people in December and has already begun sending them to work. Some of those hires went to work in Colorado and others went to work in Utah.

As far as he’s concerned, Morgan Mining is open for business in Grand Junction.

Local Community

Roice-Hurst Humane Society in Grand Junction

Meet Spink and Forcible! These adorable puppies are available for adoption right now at Roice-Hurst Humane Society.

If you’d like to meet Spink, Forcible or any other furry friends at Roice-Hurst Humane Society, click here.

Western Slope Sports!

CMU Swim sets records & reclaims national title in 400 Medley Relay

The Colorado Mesa Women’s Swim Team not only defended their national title in the 400-yard medley relay, they set the bar even higher, besting their own time, and one of the swimmers besting her own national record.

Agata Naskret toppled her own record for the 100-yard backstroke, and did it in the leadoff leg of CMU’s title defense in the 400-yard medley.

Nasket posted a time of 51.53 seconds helping create a lead for the rest of the Mavs relay team of Antonia Leese, Kiara Borchardt, and Ada Qunell.

The Maverick relay team posted a time of 3:37.54 half a second faster than the runner up team from Drury. The time was also almost a full second faster than the record time from last year’s school record time in the relay.

The CMU women now have 174 points as a team, as they try to track down Drury with 262 points.

Exciting Events: March and April

This section only includes local upcoming events. Feel free to submit yours!

Sports

• Saint Patty's Day 5k run/walk

  March 15th at Handlebar Taphouse

  Wear your greenest green and get ready for a Saint Patrick’s Day themed social event benefiting the Roice-Hurst humane society. 
  Bring the family and your 4 legged best buddies, Kids 12 and under run free. Enjoy the post run festivities including craft brews, hot chocolate and fun fitness games. 

  ---> Striders members save $5 on registration with the code GREEN25, learn more and sign up here: https://grandvalleybrewruns.com/saint-pattys-run-w-handlebar-tap-house/

• Join Life's 2 Short Fitness and Girls on the Run to train for a spring trail race!

  Life's 2 Short Fitness has teamed up with Girls on the Run to organize a trail running program just for women in the Grand Valley!

  This 8 week program kicking off in March includes 2-3 coached runs, clinics and conditioning sessions a week with the option to participate in a spring trail race with the group. 

  Enjoy expert coaching, meet new running buddies and explore new trails. Participants will receive a custom 8 week training plan (including strength workouts) and a discount code to participate in the Fruit Trail half marathon. 

  Learn more/register now soon, spaces are limited!  

  https://www.lifes2shortfitness.com/wstraining-group

• Spring Break youth sports conditioning camp:
  - Out West Training, 145 N Mesa street in Fruita

  Thursday March 20th + Friday, March 21st 1:30-3:30pm

  Fun-filled camp focused on improving athletic skills and overall fitness for sports including basketball, baseball, softball, hockey, wrestling, football and soccer!

  Just $30 for members to participate, $75 non-members.

  Requires pre-registration by March 17th here.

Family Fun

Seussical

The Theatre Project - Grand Junction

Dates: Friday April 25th 7pm and Saturday April 26th at 2pm and 7pm

Tickets: Adults - $25, Seniors and Students - $20, Children 10 and under - $15

Venue: The avalon Theatre, 645 Main St, Grand Junction, CO 81501

Date Night 🎆

• Montrose Farmers' Market - Winter Market

  • 99 S Uncompahgre Ave, Montrose, CO 81401

  • Dates: 3/15/2025, 3/29/2025, 4/12/2025, 4/26/2025

  • Location: Centennial Plaza

  • Time: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

  • Price: Free

• Stavros Halkias: The Dreamboat Tour (Comedy)

  • 159 Main Street Grand Junction, CO 81501

  • Price: P1 $55 - P2 $45 - P3 $35

  • Time: 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM

  • Date: March 21, 2025

Thank you so much for your support!

• Please send in news tips

• New business openings

• Events

• Anything else you want the Western Slope to see.

  I will include as many relevant submissions as I can FOR FREE!

If you enjoyed this edition, share this link with others!

P.S. If you want to get your business in front of thousands of local folks, reply to this email and we can talk about our advertising options.

See you next week!