Good morning, Grand Junction.

The City of Grand Junction and Brikwell will host a community meeting on Thursday, August 28 from 5—7 p.m. at the Suplizio Field Hospitality Suite on North Ave to share details on the Salt Flats project, with a presentation at 5:30 p.m. followed by an open house.

A teenager and five adults died in a dairy accident on a farm along the 32000 block of Weld County Road 18 — rescue crews could not reach the six people trapped in a confined space as OSHA investigates, with one victim a high school student from Highland School.

A Colorado park ranger at Staunton State Park faked a hoax stabbing on August 19, sparking widespread lockdowns, a search that led to an arrest warrant on August 21 for charges like attempted influence, tampering with evidence, and false reporting+ officials noted his inconsistent statements raised doubts about his account.

Colorado Mesa University welcomed record freshmen in 2024 and will maintain these gains this year as CMU Tech grew 15% last year.

To support the rising enrollment, the university hired 15 new faculty and is building a new food hall, residence halls, and expanding parking—steps to meet growing student demand.

Grand Junction High School teacher Lisa Moot was named the Colorado History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History—she will use the $1,000 award to support field trips, while Central teacher Victoria Chavez will be honored Saturday at the Colorado AFA State Awards Banquet for her work in STEM education.

Crews continue to suppress several Colorado fires, including the Derby Fire which burned 2,624 acres and remains uncontained, the Stoner Mesa Fire which burned 9,872 acres and is 27% contained, the Lee Fire which burned 137,755 acres and is 73% contained, the Crosho Fire which burned 2,072 acres and is 24% contained, and the Turner Gulch Fire which burned 31,699 acres and is 80% contained. The Bureau of Land Management has reopened land north of Hwy 141 near Gateway — areas south of the highway will remain closed until the Turner Gulch Fire is contained.

On August 20, Grand Junction voted to return 4th and 5th Street south of Grand Avenue to its original layout because the previous design led to crashes and injuries.

City crews will begin work on the 4th Street section from Ute Avenue to Grand Avenue on September 2 at a cost of $70k.

The Grand Valley Equine Assisted Learning Center is running its Horse and Moon: Bridge the Gap campaign to raise $65,000 so it can serve 300 more families with horse therapy.

Founded by the Muller family and now at Historic Moon Farms in Fruita, the center helps people of all ages move better and share feelings using horses—offering therapy for everyone.

The Grand Valley Equine Assisted Learning Center is raising funds through its Horse and Moon: Bridge the Gap campaign to cover operating costs and serve 300 more families each year at its Historic Moon Farm facility in Fruita—founded by the Muller family in 2015, the center offers horse-based physical, occupational, and counseling therapies for people of all abilities. The campaign seeks to raise $65,000 to enable year-round operations.

Postmodern Jukebox Concert

8-9:30 p.m. — The Avalon Theatre — Ticket prices vary — Experience modern pop hits reimagined in classic styles like jazz and Motown with a talented ensemble.

Attack Attack! One Hit Wonder Tour

7:00 – 8:30 PM — Mesa Theater — Check venue for ticket info — Catch the electrifying performance by Attack Attack! along with Savage Hands and Versus Me.

Weird Al Yankovic Concert

7-8:30 p.m. — Amphitheater at Las Colonias Park — $55.50 - $155.50 — Experience the comedic genius live with iconic hits and fan favorites during the Bigger & Weirder 2025 Tour.

Read Southall Live

7-9:30 p.m. — Mesa Theater — Admission cost TBD — Enjoy an evening of soulful melodies and bluesy guitar riffs from Austin's own Read Southall.

Live in the Grapevines Concert: Quemando

7-9 p.m. — Grande River Vineyards — Benefit concert — Experience the vibrant sounds of the Quemando Salsa Band in a beautiful vineyard setting.

Dinner Under the Moon

5-8:30 p.m. — Western Colorado Research Center - Orchard Mesa — Ticketed — Enjoy a delightful evening of food and performances supporting bilingual education under the stars.

Understanding ADCs in the Real World

6-8 p.m. — Colorado Mesa University Confluence Hall — Free entry — Explore the role of analog-to-digital converters in making sense of the analog world with live demonstrations.

Rebecca Folsom Duo Performance

7-9 p.m. — The Radio Room — Doors at 6:30 p.m. — Enjoy an evening of melodic tunes by the talented Rebecca Folsom Duo.

Grand Mesa Open Pickleball Tournament

Sep 12-14 — Lincoln Park — Registration required — Compete and play pickleball with local enthusiasts in a fun tournament setting.

Cavalcade's Monthly Variety Show

7:30-9:30 p.m. — Cavalcade — Check local listings — Experience phenomenal music and local poetry in a quirky, genuine variety show.