Ore Cart - Rico Colorado news

RGS Trail reroute near cemetery and west side of Hwy 145 - photo gallery

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 20:01:11 -0700

Rico Trails Alliance added switchbacks to the RGS Trail improvement project less than one mile south of Rico, Colorado in 2026.

Ore Cart photos
May 31, 2026

by Allyn Svoboda
Publisher

Rico Trails Alliance (RTA) rerouted a portion of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad (RGS) Trail south of Rico in the northern portion of Lazy Rooster Ranch campground recently. RTA is a Rico non-profit organization that stewards the upper Dolores River watershed regional trail system. "focusing on the sustainable and inclusive recreational use, development and access of and to non-motorized trails."

Town of Rico and owners of the land which became Lazy Rooster Ranch executed a Recreational Trail Easement in September 2020, granting:

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 12:06:03 -0700

Farmers Telephone/FTI WIFI of Cortez and Pleasantview is pursuing a Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) grant opportunity for "supporting future connectivity efforts in the Rico and Dolores River corridor region," according to a June 3, 2026 email reply to a request for information from Ore Cart.

Region 9 Economic Development District representatives mentioned activity to provide backup fiberoptic cable to Rico at the Rico Board of Trustees meeting May 20, 2026. Ore Cart contacted Region 9 EDD, and was referred to FTI WIFI.

The FTI correspondence is from Megan Canada - Executive Sales Manager:

. . . Attached is a statement from Farmers Telephone Company, doing business as FTI WIFI, regarding the preliminary BEAD grant opportunity and our interest in supporting future connectivity efforts in the Rico and Dolores River corridor region.

As noted in the statement, the agreement process is still underway and details remain subject to final approval and execution, so we're somewhat limited in what we can discuss at this stage. However, we wanted to provide some background on our history in the area and our perspective on the opportunity. . . .

STATEMENT

Farmers Telephone Company, doing business as FTI WIFI, is pleased to acknowledge the recent public discussions regarding a preliminary BEAD grant award opportunity involving broadband expansion in the Rico and Dolores River corridor area. While the formal agreement...Read More

Rico candidate elected to SMPA board of directors

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 10:02:37 -0700

Candidates elected to San Miguel Power Association board of directors June 4, 2026:
Val Szwarc - Ridgway and
Joanna Yonder - Rico
. . .
San Miguel Power Association
photo image

San Miguel Power Association
news release

JUNE 9, 2026

SMPA Election: Yonder, Szwarc Elected

Last week, San Miguel Power Association held its 87th Annual Meeting at its office in Nucla, CO. The meeting concluded with the reading of results for its board director elections in District #3, which covers parts of Montrose, San Miguel, Ouray, Dolores and San Juan Counties including Dunton, Norwood, Placerville, Trout Lake, Rico and Sawpit, and District #6, which covers part of Ouray County, including Ridgway and much of Log Hill Mesa.

In District #3, 406 validated ballots were received. 228 votes were for challenger, Joanna Yonder. Incumbent Director, David Alexander received 178. Joanna Yonder was declared the winner of the District #3 board election.

In District #6, 350 validated ballots were received. 171 votes were for challenger, Tricia Savage. Incumbent Director, Valentine...Read More

weekend update May 9-10, 2026

Sat, 16 May 2026 07:05:54 -0700

Sunday, May 10. . . . Visitors enjoy Rico Skatepark at the recreation and public works facilities area adjacent to the Dolores River. One skater mentioned travelling from Durango, another from Crested Butte. [Ore Cart photo]

by Allyn Svoboda
Publisher

Town Clean-Up

Saturday, May 9 . . . Rico Land Collaborative and Town of Rico sponsored a "Town Clean-Up! at Town Shop, 101 S. Picker St. Items eligible for free collection: general trash and recyclable/salvage metal. Fee items: appliances, computers, large furniture, mattresses & box springs, vacuums, microwave ovens, and tires/rims. [Ore Cart photos]

Garden Dome planting party

Sunday, May 10 . . . "Mother's Days Planting Potluck" at the Piedmont Community Garden Dome. Above: Tommy Smith and Mary Hagan inspect mature plants. Below: workspace and message board, raised planting bed with new transplants. [Ore Cart photos]

. . .

Described location selection, safety features, firefighter training and community benefits.

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above photo
San Miguel Power Association (SMPA) linetruck parked on Hwy 145 at Rico - early evening April 1, 2026. SMPA hosted a public presentation at Fireweed Cafe to explain its battery energy storage microgrid project.
> Ore Cart photo

Electric service reliability and battery energy storage safety were the key topics of the San Miguel Power Association "Community Power Hour: Let's Talk Resilience in Rico," April 1, 6:00 - 7:30 PM at Fireweed Cafe. A few inches of wet snow had accumulated during the day.

SMPA sent seven personnel to the public meeting, including experts in member and energy services, key accounts, engineering, renewable energy/microgrid design, two Telluride-area linemen, and a member of the SMPA board of directors from Ridgway.

About 20 - 25 Rico SMPA members attended.

EcoAction Partners of Telluride organized the event and sent three representatives to provide refreshments, speaker introductions, timekeeping, and question/answer...Read More

Colorado Lottery selects Rico for 2026 Starburst Award

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:38:41 -0700

Rico Town Park and Recreation Hub among 18 winners

by Allyn Svoboda
Publisher

Town Manager Chauncey McCarthy received an April 2, 2026 email from the Colorado Lottery announcing 2026 Starburst Award selections:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Apr. 2, 2026

Colorado Lottery announces 2026 Starburst Award winners

Projects across Colorado showcase how Lottery dollars support conservation, recreation, and community spaces.

PUEBLO, Colo.— The Colorado Lottery today announced the 2026 Starburst Award winners, recognizing 18 projects across the state that demonstrate outstanding use of Lottery proceeds in Colorado communities, marking a record-breaking year for both applications and awards.

Together, these projects represent more than $65.5 million in total investments, supporting outdoor recreation, conservation, education, and community spaces used by Coloradans every day. From new and improved parks and trails to open space preservation and rebuilding communities after devastating fires, this year's winners show how Lottery proceeds are put to work in communities of...Read More

Rico microgrid batteries - more info from SMPA

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:07:53 -0700

". . . carefully designed using modern battery technology, national safety standards, and coordination with local emergency responders to ensure the system can safely deliver reliable backup power for the community."

San Miguel Power Association (SMPA) provided Rico Ore Cart the executive summary section of detailed information to submitted to the Rico Fire Protection District (RFPD). SMPA will review the full report at a future meeting with RFPD.

SMPA consultant Power Systems Engineering prepared the executive summary and full report.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

San Miguel Power Association is proposing the Rico Community microgrid to improve electric service reliability and community resilience for the town of Rico. The town is currently served by a single distribution feeder vulnerable to prolonged outages which can temporarily isolate the community. To address this risk, SMPA plans to install a 1 megaWatt/4 megaWatt-hour battery energy storage system, allowing Rico to operate as a temporary microgrid during outages and maintain power for the community while utility crews respond and restore the primary feeder.

For firefighters and...Read More

Colorado Parks and Wildlife selects Rico Trails Alliance for $250K RGS trail bridge grant

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 22:02:14 -0700

Rico Trails Alliance volunteers cut a trail across a grassy hillside on the west side of the Dolores River south of Rico - September 3, 2023. Trail crews worked several weekday evenings in summer 2023 to create a connector between West Rico and the Rio Grande Southern (RGS) railroad trail on the west river bank. The RGS trail continues south to the Montelores Bridge at the Dolores-Montezuma county line.
> Ore Cart photo

by Allyn Svoboda
Publisher

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission approved a RicoTrails Alliance request for Rico Grande Southern RGS trails bridge construction project funding at its monthly meeting, March 4-5, 2026 at Westminster, Colorado - a Denver suburb.

Responding to a mid'-March Ore Cart request for information, CPW Southwest Region Public Information Officer John Livingston, replied March 18:

....Read More

Advisory committee reviews church building use preferences survey

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 14:28:18 -0800

Future equipment and storage needs considered
. .
First community event of 2026 held
- and -
a gallery of manse remodeling and church interior photos

above image:
Rico Community Church
January 23, 2026
Ore Cart photo
by Allyn Svoboda
Publisher
Church advisory committee January 2026 meeting
Rico church advisory committee meeting at Town Hall - January 12, 2026. Left-to right: Joanna Yonder, Joy Littleton, Emily Nolan, Patrick Bailey, Jim Baron.
Ore Cart photo
A committee appointed by the Rico Board of...Read More

Rico celebrates winter solstice with candle lighting, poetry, song, bonfire and bell-ringing

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 14:43:38 -0800

Re-purposed church building uses, fee schedule, improvements and 2026 budget proposed
above photo
Patrick Bailey begins "Welcoming and Sharing the Light" ceremony at Winter Solstice Celebration
December 21, 2025
> photo by Joanna Yonder
by Allyn Svoboda
Publisher
More than 35 Rico community members gathered at the Rico Community Church building to celebrate the winter solstice Sunday afternoon, December 21.
Town of Rico purchased the church building and next-door manse house earlier in 2025. Rico Board of Trustees first discussed the purchase at a special meeting January 30, 2025, and approved an...Read More