Good morning, Grand Junction.

A new locally owned tequila brand called El Jet’s Tequila was released this year and is being mixed into margaritas around Grand Junction this weekend — it was created by entrepreneurs Jen Taylor and Paul Aieta after more than three years of refining its flavor with Casa Maestri.

Hotel Maverick, a 60-room boutique hotel owned by Colorado Mesa University, was ranked No. 10 on Travel + Leisure’s list of the 15 best city hotels in the U.S.—the only Colorado hotel to make the cut from over 8,700 properties rated by more than 180,000 readers.

General manager Brian Smith said the high score of 96 highlights the team’s hard work and brings positive attention to Grand Junction as a travel spot.

Area students earned academic honors this spring as local university students were recognized for their achievements, with Grand Junction's True Tobiasson making the Honor's List at Minnesota State Mankato and Bau Sauvage graduating with honors from Montana State University.

Others including Quincy Lowe, Christina Young, Kurtis Nethington, Crosby McMahon, Cauy Dinkel, Blake Schneiter, and Kali Milsap received academic distinctions (details confirmed by their universities).

The Sowbelly Fire, caused by lightning on Thursday night, continues burning in the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness across Mesa and Delta County lines and has grown to cover more than 2,100 acres—fire crews report zero percent containment due to rough terrain.

Smoke from several regional fires — including the large Deer Creek Fire south of the La Sal Mountains and the lightning-started South Rim Fire at Black Canyon — has blanketed the Grand Valley in recent days.

Mesa County Public Health warned on Friday to limit outdoor time as hot, dry and windy conditions raised fire risks and officials say temperatures will climb 5 to 10 degrees above normal by the end of the weekend.

Wildfires have burned across the Western Slope as crews battled several blazes including two near Gateway on Highway 141, which measured 33.5 and 83 acres as of Friday, with lightning igniting many of the fires.

Another fire exceeded 1,600 acres at Black Canyon while a 4,000-acre blaze spread 11 miles west of Paradox—officials have sent engines and aircraft to help control the flames as air quality alerts remain in effect.

Bieser Ranch, a 614-acre family-owned property in the Plateau Valley, is now permanently conserved after an agreement with Colorado West Land Trust—protecting its wildlife and historic family ties—with help from Great Outdoors Colorado and Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Habitat Partnership Program. The land will remain open as development grows and serves as a lasting legacy for the community.

The City of Grand Junction will implement multiple road projects that will affect traffic next week as construction on the Horizon Dr. and G Rd. roundabout continues through October.

Chip Seal work on roads from North Ave. to Grand Ave. and 1st Street to I-70B will finish on July 18—other projects include lane shifts on First Street and Ute and Pitkin, repairs at the 23 and G Rd. roundabout starting July 9, and a road in the Chipeta Heights Subdivision closing from Frontier St. to 30 Rd.

Colorado Riverfront Concert Series

7 PM - 1 AM — James M. Robb - Colorado River State Park — Donations appreciated — Experience a night of live music with Julian Marley and the Uprising supporting trail maintenance efforts.

Rosé Wine Tasting

1-2:30 p.m. — 626 on Rood — $95 per person inclusive — Explore delightful Rosé wines paired with a special 4-course tasting menu.

Keep Flying Live at Mesa Theater

7-9:30 p.m. — Mesa Theater — All ages — Experience high-energy punk rock with horns from Keep Flying and support from Backhand.

Public Fittings for Custom Hearing Protection

July 26-27 — 5013 Tactical — Cost varies — Explore personalized hearing protection solutions in Grand Junction.

Thursday Night Concert Series

7:30 p.m. — Civic Center Park and Pavilion — Free entry — Enjoy a mix of live performances featuring local and international acts across various genres.

Jo Dee Messina Concert

7-8:30 p.m. — Amphitheater at Las Colonias Park — $40.00 - $75.00 + fees — Experience powerful vocals and chart-topping hits from country music's trailblazer Jo Dee Messina.

Grand Junction - Whiskey Blending Workshop with Westland Distillery

6:30-8:30 p.m. — SoCo Social House — Tickets start at $1.00 — Craft your own American Single Malt Whiskey with expert guidance from Westland Distillery.

Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country

7-9:30 p.m. — Mesa Theater — Tickets starting at $80 — Experience a night of Cosmic Country music with Daniel Donato in Grand Junction.

Leftover Salmon and The Infamous Stringdusters Concert

6-7:30 p.m. — Amphitheater at Las Colonias Park — $35.50 - $91 — Experience progressive bluegrass from two iconic bands on a summer evening.

The String Cheese Incident Live Performance

6:15-7:45 p.m. — Amphitheater at Las Colonias Park — $55.00 - $85.00 — Experience the innovative and philanthropic spirit of The String Cheese Incident in an unforgettable live show.