Serving Nucla, Naturita, Norwood & Surrounding Areas
Top Stories

Larry Don Suckla already at work 

Nearly one month after Larry Don Suckla won the November election when he ran against Kathleen Curry for House Seat 58, the Forum asked how the outcome felt.   “It feels a lot better …

Local holidays, cows missing, election is Dec. 10

With Thanksgiving over, the Nucla-Naturita Area Chamber of Commerce is ready for the West End’s local holiday event. Elfin Eve happens Dec. 5 this year.   Traditionally, Elfin Eve is …

CSU-Extension Office announces programs

Representatives of the Colorado State University-Extension Office have announced a range of programming over the next few weeks, much of it dealing with agriculture and food.   The …

Tax credits available for state farmers, ranchers

Susan Kelley, of the West End and who works for FRESH Food Hub in Norwood, is a liaison for the state’s Department of Agriculture (CDA). She told the Forum she wants all to know about a tax …
Ava Mock and Jude Richardson, of Nucla, are part of the robotics team advancing to the state tournament in Denver.

Robotics teams for Nucla, Norwood head to state 

At the regional robotics state qualifying competition in Durango over the weekend, both the Nucla and one of the two Norwood teams earned a spot in Denver. They’ll both be traveling to compete …
Health

Basin Clinic seeks full-time provider, gets grants

The Basin Clinic is still looking for full-time medical provider, though executive director Christina Pierce told the Forum, the clinic has coverage. Dr. Tiffany Ordonez is the Basin Clinic’s …

Hoof & Paw

Hoof & Paw celebrates success for animals, people

Over the last few months, Hoof & Paw has been working to support services the nonprofit offers by pursuing grants and funding opportunities beyond revenue brought in from the thrift store and …

History

Heritage Fest is Oct. 5

This 2021 photo shows James Thorneycroft running the apple press at the Heritage Festival.

What has come to be one of the West End’s most cherished celebrations, the Heritage Festival, in its eighth year, is coming right up on Oct. 5. Melanie Eggers, co-founder of the Apple Core …

Community

Community feeds personnel at Bucktail Fire

Tonya Stephens, left, fixes burritos with Shayla Carver, Kylie Smith, Emily Mock and Heather Smith.

Editor’s note: This story was written for a Montrose County annual magazine, but that publication will not go to press this year for various reasons. Because of that, it’s running in the …

Entertainment

Family movie night happens weekly in Naturita this summer

Children gather for the movie night in Naturita Aug. 17.

About one month ago, family movie night in Naturita began, and since then people have been coming together in the town park there to watch films like “ET,” “The Goonies,” …

High School Sports
More local news

Berlynn Tomlinson wins state art award

Nucla High School’s Berlynn Tomlinson, a 10th grader, has won a state art award, and school officials as well as family members are expressing their congratulations. Nucla art teacher Lisa …

Cell tower hearing for West End is Nov. 21

Tina Reed, who lives in Montrose County, is making sure people in Redvale are aware of the possibility that a cell tower could be established on the corner of II Road and Highway 145, what is …

Tooker family buys Redd’s 

After almost a year of Redd’s Mercantile closing and sitting empty, leaving locals without a real grocery store, and especially since Wild Gal’s Market moved to Naturita — although …

Pumpkin smashing causes conflict

Rudi Barbee called 911 Friday evening after noticing that pumpkins had been stolen and smashed all over Nucla and Naturita. Barbee, known as Al Booker on social media, lives in Nucla and is very …

Prop. 127 spurs local controversy, Part 2

Last week, the San Miguel Basin Forum ran a story on Prop. 127, on the ballot for Nov. 5. A “yes” on Prop. 127 supports making mountain lion hunting illegal, and a “no” …

Bishop charged in murder case

Dan Bishop appeared remotely in court on Wednesday, Oct. 23, from the confines of the Montrose County Jail, represented by Daniel Lavrisha, Deputy State Public Defender, for the filling of charges. …
NUCLA

Herland guides ag education in middle school

Nucla High School students in grades nine to 12 have the option of an FFA agriculture class, but that doesn’t exist at the middle school level at this time. Still, Katey Herland, who’s …

Students savor apple farming in West End

 Both Bri Bonacquista’s agriculture classes, Ag 1 and Ag 2,   at Nucla High School …

Nucla welcomes new hires 

West End Public Schools has hired several new staff members for the 2024-25 school year and would like to welcome those joining the district. They are as follows:   Keoni Souza   …

Heritage Festival holds biggest event yet

There are two big holidays in Nucla, the first being Water Days, celebrated for the last century near the July 4 holiday, which honors the hard work of the pioneers who brought water to the park …

Norwood gears up for recall; Nucla paves

The Town of Norwood held its monthly meeting Sept. 11 with a lengthy agenda. Then, two new members of Norwood Water commission were voted in. Now, Finn Kjome, who’s served the board for some …
Opinion

The San Miguel Current now accepting student submissions

True North Youth Program is a local organization designed to help high school students make a pathway as they ascend to adulthood. This program is valuable for students living in San Miguel and West …

Obituaries
Thomas Andre Jensen, 60, of Norwood, Colorado, passed away on Aug. 15 surrounded by family and loved ones after his extraordinary battle with cancer. Tom was born Sept. 25, 1962, in Montrose, …
West End communities are mourning the passing of local musician C.R. Dobbs, who passed April 5 in an accident on Norwood Hill. The singer-songwriter was a beloved entertainer in the local area. A …
Find us on Facebook
Web extras
LA Auto Show Returns with Exciting Innovations
(BPT) - The Los Angeles International Auto Show is back, bringing together the latest in automotive advancements, from electrification to safety and emerging tech trends. With over 1,000 cars, …
New money scams are popping up: Here are the ones to look out for
Money.ca explores the different kinds of evolving money scams and how to avoid them.
Ultimate gift guide to spark endless creativity in kids
(BPT) - The best holiday gifts keep kids engaged and creatively entertained for hours. So, if you're looking for exciting new gifts to spark the imagination of the kids in your life, check out the …
Stay Protected During the Holidays: What to Know About COVID-19
(BPT) - As the holiday season approaches, it's important to remember that it often comes with a heightened risk for respiratory viruses like COVID-19.1 Data from the past four years suggest COVID-19 …
42% of Americans are willing to pay more to support small businesses
(BPT) - Americans are evenly split on their shopping habits, shopping both big and small — 29% favor local or small businesses, while 29% prefer national retailers. Though price remains …