Local Motion

In the middle of the pandemic small businesses are having to pivot quickly and discover new ways to offer services and products to their customers. KVNF talks with Chelsea Rosty, Director of Business Innovation & Tourism for the city of Montrose, CO and DART about how local businesses are creatively navigating through COVID.

In this edition, we discuss medical approaches to COVID-19, both traditional and alternative. To provide information about prevention and treatment from an alternative point of view, we talk with Rebecca Hitt of  Blue Dragon Acupuncture and Apothecary, and Gwendolynn Diaz of Origins Health. For the more traditional Western medicine perspective, we talk with Dr. Drew Bolton at Montrose Memorial Hospital. 

KVNF's Kori Stanton talks with Paonia, CO native, Naomi Sikora from her hotel in New York City. Naomi left Colorado in mid March to work at a hospital in Manhattan.

  The pandemic has taken a huge toll on area businesses, as retailers have shut down, hair salons and gyms have closed, and bars and restaurants have drastically curtailed operations or closed entirely. As Colorado begins to ease up on restrictions, all these businesses are trying to rebound, but face huge challenges in recovering. On this Local Motion we discuss economic recovery with representatives from Mesa County, Delta County and Montrose.

As we near the end of a typical school year, KVNF talks with an 8th grader, a local mom and two teachers from Delta County School District about their experience with distance learning in the midst of a global pandemic.

It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic, and the anxiety and economic difficulties it’s causing are affecting our state of mind. Kaiser Family Foundation reports that nearly half of adults across the country say that worry, stress and depression related to the coronavirus are hurting their mental health.

This live edition of Local Motion featured two COVID-19 survivors discussing their experience with the disease, and a physician working on a COVID-19 unit at Montrose Memorial Hospital.

This live edition of Local Motion featured Ouray County, Town of Ouray, and Town of Ridgway officials answering questions from listeners about the COVID-19 response. 

This edition of Local Motion features Delta County and Montrose County officials, answering questions from listeners about the COVID-19 response.

Included are Robbie LeValley, Delta Count administrator, Karen O'Brien, Delta County Public Health Director, Dr. Susan Bright, and Montrose County media relations manager Katie Yergensen.

The gold rush is over and there are many questions about the state of the hemp industry in Colorado. 

It’s Census time again – that nationwide government survey that aims to count the members of every household in the country every ten years. This edition of Local Motion delves into the U.S. Census to explain how this nationwide headcount is at the core of power and money distribution in our country, and why it matters if you fill it out. KVNF's Jodi Peterson interviews officials with the federal  Census Bureau and the Census Project, a coalition of national, state, and local organizations supporting an inclusive and accurate 2020 Census.

On this edition of Local Motion, KVNF News interviews veterans and their family members about PTSD, healing, and adventure therapy.  A hand-picked team of 9 gathered together for a 4-day hut ski outside of Ridgway last month as part of the LEADS program. We'll hear stories about the many problems faced by veterans when they come home, as well as stories about healing and redemption.

This week's program is about outdoor recreation, and how Western Slope cities like Grand Junction and Montrose are working to expand that segment of their economies. First, KVNF's Jodi Peterson hears from the president of Colorado Outdoors, a development along the Uncompahgre River in Montrose aiming to bring in outdoor recreation businesses.  Then she talks to a director at the Grand Junction Economic Partnership about how his city is pursuing outdoors-oriented companies. Then she interviews the owner of one of those companies, RockyMounts.

In this edition, we talk about public transit. Here on the Western Slope, distances between towns are long, and we end up mostly driving our own cars to get where we need to go. But the state of Colorado is working to make it easier to leave the car at home for trips between towns, and even to the Front Range, with its Bustang bus service. KVNF's Jodi Peterson interviews a public transit expert, the head of CDOT's Bustang service, and several passengers and drivers.

Soil health is the hot topic in agriculture as consumers become more aware and concerned with the quality of food that they're eating. 

On this edition of Local Motion, we'll have a conversation about death, dying and hospice services available on the Western Slope. KVNF News interviews Dorothy Pew of Hope West and Carrie Lerner, a death doula from Crawford, and the North Fork Valley chapter of the Threshold Choir sings for us.

Delta Brick & Climate Company was founded by Christopher Caskey, a scientist and entrepreneur who is passionate about energy, sustainable business development, and innovation. Caskey's business aims to make a difference in several big picture environmental challenges at once. This piece was produced by Alan Wartes as part of The Flyovers podcast. Through his discussions with various entrepreneurs, Wartes reveals the challenges, opportunities, and the importance of founding a business in a rural community.

Tri State Generation and Transmission Association made several announcements over the new year that will facilitate the energy co-op's efforts to create renewable power sources. Some 600 jobs will be lost, two coal mines will be closed, and the Craig power station will be shuttered within the next decade as Tri State moves to be competitive in the new energy market. KVNF News spoke with Tri State and Grand Junction Daily Sentinel writer Dennis Webb to get the story.

This week’s edition focuses on services available on the Western Slope to help people who have some type of disability. We hear from state agencies and local organizations that offer everything from translation services for deaf people to assistance with finding a job, including the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Center for Independence, and Mosaic. The program starts with an interview with Cindy La Joy of Montrose.

The 2020 Legislative Session is set to open January 8th, and on this edition of Local Motion, we'll hear just the beginning of many election stories. KVNF News goes to Delta to speak with Republican State Representative Matt Soper, and we spoke with Democrat State Senator Kerry Donovan on the eve of the lawmaking session. Also, local candidates for Delta County Commissioner spoke with KVNF News.

The International Dark Sky Association was founded in 1988 with the intention to protect the night skies for present and future generations.

Perhaps you’re celebrating Christmas, or perhaps you observe Hanukkah instead, or Kwanzaa, or have some other way to mark the season.  We all observe holidays in our own ways and with our own customs, and on Local Motion this week we have Christmas memories to share from some of our local seniors, at Colorow Care Center in Olathe and Crossroads Senior Living in Delta. This edition also includes a segment on Christmas music and memories from "With Good Reason."

On this edition of Local Motion, KVNF News takes a look at the state of recycling in Delta County. We have interviews that offer municipal, local, private sector and government perspectives. Delta County Commissioners are talking about ending a long-standing pilot program that subsidizes residents for recycling collection at the transfer station.

Colorado is home to thousands of artists, artisans and creators of all kinds – musicians, potters, painters, to name just a few. Twenty-six Colorado cities have state-certified Creative Districts, and today we’ll talk about what those creative districts are, and how they benefit the communities they’re located in. We’ll hear from a state official and the North Fork Valley Creative Coalition, and we’ll pay a visit to Ridgway’s Creative District.  On the Western Slope, creative districts are also found in Grand Junction, Telluride, Carbondale, Salida and Steamboat Springs.

In this Local Motion, KVNF News goes to Montrose to visit with Governor Jared Polis. The Governor came through Montrose on November 23, promoting his Rural Economic Blueprint. He also attended a football game at Montrose High School and appeared at a job fair at the Montrose County Event Center. KVNF News caught up with him there to talk about his trip to Montrose.

As the holiday season approaches, many people think about charitable donations. Philanthropy can take many forms, and one common outlet is foundations.  These organizations are typically nonprofits, and manage donated money and assets to provide grants for community projects.

In this edition of Local Motion, we'll feature the last interview Felix Belmont did with KVNF News. Felix and fellow longtime DJ Dennis Grunkemeyer played their last radio shows on November 17th, and Felix talked to KVNF's Eric Goold about the early days and his legacy as the world's oldest working DJ. Also in this Local Motion, two stories from the Rocky Mountain Community Radio exchange talk about water usage in hemp agriculture and in Utah homes.

This week's edition is about programs that get Western Slope youth outdoors to enjoy the beautiful open lands that surround us. Such opportunities benefit kids, and their families, in many ways. KVNF's Jodi Peterson interviews various people who run these programs, and parents and kids who participate.

KVNF explores Equine-Assisted Therapy aka "Horse Therapy" at Dream Catcher Therapy Center in Olathe, CO. The therapy center houses over 50 rescued horses and works hand-in-hand with End of the Trail Rescue which rescues horses and cares for them until "the end of their lives." Equine therapy offers a different approach to trauma related therapy as well as physical and mental health treatment. Therapy programs are offered to ages two and up.

Thirty-three Western Slope immigrants became official citizens of the United States in September, during a ceremony at Colorado National Monument. KVNF's Jodi Peterson interviews several of them about their stories, and what becoming a naturalized resident means to them.  She also talks to federal and academic experts about the process of becoming a citizen, and why citizenship is important for our communities and the nation.