LATEST NEWS

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KJCT) - The annual Montrose County Fair & Rodeo returns for its 9-day run, kicking off on Friday, July 19th, and running through Sunday, July 27th. This year’s fair & rodeo schedule is filled with family-fun activities which include some of the following:. Livestock Shows. 4-H...

MONTROSE, Colo. (KREX) — Montrose County said it’s promising a plethora of family events at the upcoming fair and rodeo. The festivities start Friday, July 19, and end Sunday, July 27, at the Montrose County Fairgrounds, 1001 N. Second St. in Montrose. The activities include rodeo competitions, community...

If a proposed timeline to replace the recently resigned Montrose County manager goes as expected, there could be a formal offer to a candidate by late August. But making the hire now could create a burden to taxpayers, if the new board of county commissioners coming into office next January finds the person unsuitable, said Scott Mijares during public comment at Wednesday’s commissioner meeting.

Get ready for thrilling rodeo action, dazzling displays of agricultural excellence, and down-home fun for the whole family! The much-anticipated Montrose County Fair & Rodeo returns for its nine-day run, kicking off on Friday, July 19, and running through Sunday, July 27. This year's fair promises to be bigger and...

Montrose County commissioners on Wednesday approved a strongly opposed special use permit for a new Verizon Wireless cell phone tower on Sunnyside Road — but not without conditions for a bigger setback distance, and with one of the three lamenting federal regulations that limit the scope of county regulations when it comes to telecommunications facilities.

Following several forums with communities in Southwest Colorado, U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper have released a joint statement on the proposed Dolores Canyons National Monument outlining what they want to see in a plan to conserve the area. The statement alludes to the divisive opinions held by residents...

MONTROSE, Colo. (KREX) — On July 1, Senate Bill 24-131 went into effect at a state level. The bill prohibits carrying firearms, both concealed and open, in sensitive spaces, including certain government buildings and adjacent parking lots. It also made it a first-class misdemeanor if you are caught with a gun in those spaces.

--- Montrose County intends to develop a new Safety Action Plan using a data-driven methodology to improve safety and enhance mobility for all roadway users. Between 2016 and 2020, the county experiences 29 fatal crashes, of which fiver were vulnerable road user crashes. Most recent data from American Community Survey (ACS) indicates that the county has a population of approximately 41,686, of which 2% are from minority races, and 22% are aged 65 and over. The county includes five census tracts considered SS4A underserved communities, representing 62% of the county population. The fatal crash rate, per 100,000 population, in the county is 69.56, which is almost seven times the State of Colorado average and has remained consistent for several years. Tourism and outdoor recreation activities contribute significantly to the county’s economy. Both these activities also attract a population unfamiliar with local roadways and trail connections, increasing the potential for crashes. The Montrose Regional Airport is located within the county and is the central hub for travelers visiting popular Rocky Mountain-based tourism sports in Colorado. The airport access roads tie into US Route 50, which provides connections to the city of Montrose and other regional points of interest. The recent uptick in travel resulted in higher-than-normal vehicle miles traveled along US 50, also increasing the potential for crashes. In addition, several public schools are near the airport and generally need safer routes and crosswalks. All five vulnerable road user crashes occurred within 2 miles of the airport and in the City of Montrose. The Montrose County Safety Action Plan will be a Vision Zero plan and aims to eliminate fatal crashes by 2027; it will be led by the county and based on extensive and inclusive community outreach. A safer Montrose County will promote multi-modal mobility and improve its economic prospects.

MONTROSE COUNTY, Colo. (KREX) — The race between Larry Don Suckla and J. Mark Roeber for the GOP State House District 58 will be recounted, the Colorado Secretary of State office announced Monday. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold ordered the recount as the vote differential is within 0.5%...

A statutorily mandated recount is underway in House District 58, with Montrose and Ouray counties’ results remaining “exactly the same,” according to Montrose County Clerk and Recorder Tressa Guynes. The recount results in the district’s other 58 counties were pending Tuesday. The results to date mean that...

When Aaron Weiss requested internal emails from Mesa County related to a public opinion poll on a proposed national monument for the Dolores River region, he wasn’t expecting them to reveal that monument opponents were involved in suggesting poll questions. But that and other revelations produced by the emails...

Scott Riba has stepped down as the chairman of the Montrose County Republican Party. As he reminded the attendees of a party meeting last week, it wasn't the first time he had tendered his resignation, referring to a discussion about him stepping down while he ran for a Montrose County Commissioner seat.

Montrose County officially opted out of new state restrictions on where firearms can be carried, formally returning to status quo on where guns were allowed prior to a new state law going into effect. “This, in my opinion, is restoring our Second Amendment rights, which were stripped away by our...

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KJCT) - A red flag warning has been issued for Sunday July 14th. The red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are at a high risk to occur. Strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior occuring. MCSO asks that residents do not participate in burning of any kind.

I’ve lived in Montrose County for over two decades and what I love most about this community is the overwhelming generosity that we experience daily. People wave at one another, people say hello even if you are not acquainted, people give money for those in need.

The Montrose County Board of County Commissioners is considering appointing Emily Sanchez as interim county manager, to replace Jon Waschbusch, who resigned last month. Sanchez is currently the project manager for the county. Commissioners will be voting on her appointment during their meeting Wednesday morning, July 17.