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Town looking to adopt commercial green building code

Last night, Carbondale trustees again voiced their opposition to gas drilling in the Thompson Divide. They voted unanimously to send a letter to the Bureau of Land Management and the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation commission emphasizing the inappropriateness of the area for gas development.

They also talked about adopting the international green construction code--a code aimed at making commercial construction more energy efficient. In that discussion, it was clear the board saw a link between the issues in the Thompson Divide and the energy requirements the town imposes on new buildings. They peppered Carbondale town building official John Plano with questions about renewable energy requirements for new and remodeled structures.

KDNK's Eric Skalac spoke with Plano to find out more.

Educational Meeting on Thompson Divide Meeting Brings Out Public Concern

After years of public speculation, oil and gas operator SG Interests recently applied for six permits to drill in the Thompson Divide, and many in the community are concerned about potential impacts.

The Garfield County Commissioners held an educational and informational session Tuesday, bringing together representatives from SG and state and federal agencies to answer questions about the coming approval process. More than two dozen members of the public took them up on the offer. KDNK's Eric Skalac has more.

Voices from Carbondale's Fat Friday

Carbondale held its first Fat Friday parade last week, and after walking in the parade himself, KDNK's Eric Skalac spoke to some of the people celebrating on the street to find out what they liked about Carbondale.

Fat Biking on the Rise

Riding bikes in the snow is nothing new, but in the last few years a new sport–fat biking–has exploded in popularity. Several bike companies have introduced models outfitted with extra wide tires, and frames specially designed to tackle much of the same terrain that mountain bikers do in the summer. And as the low snowfall of the last two years has kept powder days to a minimum in western Colorado, the sport has spread like wildfire in the lower Roaring Fork Valley. KDNK's Nelson Harvey took a ride with some local fat bikers last week, and filed this report on the growing fat biking scene.

Community's Medical Marijuana Needs Have Changed

Last night, Carbondale gained one more fully licensed medical marijuana dispensary, bringing the total number within town limits to three. KDNK's Eric Skalac spoke to Mayor Stacey Bernot following the approval to find out how the the environment for medical marijuana businesses has changed.

CMC President Resigns

Dr. Stan Jensen, who some say ushered in a new era at Colorado Mountain College, resigned from his position as school president last week. His departure came on the heels of a months-long annual review. CMC Trustee Glen Davis said that this year's SourceGas controversy did not play a role in Jensen's resignation, but as KDNK's Amy Hadden Marsh reports, others disagree.

Update on Carbondale Drug Bust

New information continues to surface on the multi-agency drug bust that took place in Carbondale last Wednesday. KDNK's Ed Williams has this update.

Cleanup of Panhandler Camp Not the End of the Story

Police and politicians in Carbondale have been talking a lot lately about how to deal with the panhandlers at the intersection of Highway 82 and 133. And about two weeks ago, the Highway Patrol and the Department of Transportation took matters into their own hands clearing out a camp underneath the bridge near the intersection where some of the panhandlers were living.

That cleanup may have pushed the panhandlers elsewhere, but as KDNK's Nelson Harvey reports, it did little to address the larger issue of homelessness in the Roaring Fork Valley.

Bridges Principal on Drug Busts

Last week, Two Rivers Drug Enforcement Team, known as TRIDENT, carried out a series of drug-related raids and arrests throughout the Roaring Fork Valley. So far, 16 people have been arrested, and 5 suspects remain at-large. Almost everyone arrested is under the age of 22, including three minors. Details about goods confiscated have not been released, but Glenwood Police Chief Terry Wilson said he would not describe the drugs found as being significant amounts.

In the same operation, Carbondale police confirmed that two students of Bridges High School were arrested on campus during the school day. Carbondale police chief Gene Schilling could not say which law enforcement agencies participated, but members of the Bridges administration reported both Carbondale police and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration being present. KDNK's Sophia Clark sat down with Bridges High School principal Lynn Bair to talk about the events that took place at the school.

Local Panhandler Ron Gross on Recent Cleanup Near Carbondale

Earlier this month, State Highway Patrol officers and officials from the Colorado Department of Transportation conducted a "clean up" of a homeless encampment beneath the bridge near the intersection of highway 82 and 133. The camp was a hangout for several individuals who panhandle regularly at the intersection, and the cleanup came just days after Carbondale trustees discussed the panhandling issue at a public meeting.

Ron Gross was living under the bridge when the cleanup occurred, and KDNK's Nelson Harvey caught up with him recently to ask what happened.

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