KBUT’s West Elk Word covers current and public affairs throughout the Gunnison Valley.
Learn more about the people, places, music and arts, recreation, mountain culture, and everything else Gunnison Valley.
West Elk Word airs Saturdays at noon. Archived episodes are available below:

West Elk Word, June 8, 2019: CB Mountain Heritage Museum
Shelley Popke and Nel Burkett from the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum return, along with Jessica Reske and Beth Heller from Collections Assessment for Preservation. We’ll learn more about the museum’s efforts to care for its artifacts.
West Elk Word, May 25, 2019: CPW Wildlife Manager Brandon Diamond
Brandon Diamond discusses Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s efforts with wildlife management and conservation. Learn how the agency works to manage wildlife of all sorts, most notably big game. They also work to preserve threatened and endangered species and keeps waterways stocked with fish.
West Elk Word, May 3 2019: Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association
Dave Ochs and Laura Pickett Daniels share the latest from the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association, the oldest such organization in the country.
West Elk Word April 27: Historian Dr. Duane Vandenbusche
Dr. Duane Vandenbusche’s latest book, co-authored with Grant Houston, is a collection of photos from Lake City’s early days as a mining mecca. Dr. Vandenbusche, noted local historian and storyteller, shares colorful tales from that time in his own unique, indominable way.
West Elk Word April 20: Colorado Parks and Wildlife- Seth Firestone and Daniel Brauch
Daniel Brauch and Seth Firestone are here from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Join the conversation about fishing, our local fishery and fish hatchery management, species conservation, habitat restoration, and more.
West Elk Word April 13: Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District
George Sibley and Frank Kugel from the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District share insight into the true meaning of drought. Learn what the River District is doing to plan for the future of our local watershed in light of the projected increase in our population by 2050 and the inevitable impact of climate change on both water quantity and quality in the Upper Gunnison River basin.
West Elk Word April 6: Gunnison Underdog Rescue
Gunnison Underdog Rescue is the only foster-based animal rescue oranization in the Gunnison Valley. GUR’s founder, Debra Callihan, tells us how the foster system works and how GUR collaborates with other local rescue organizations with the goal to save as many pets as possible and find them forever homes. Learn about animal welfare laws and policy in Colorado, how the internet contributes to rescue efforts and more.
West Elk Word March 9: Drew Brookhart, Gunnison County Libraries
Drew Brookhart is the Executive Director for Gunnison County Libraries. Learn why libraries still matter, how they serve our community and about plans for Gunnison County Libraries to grow.
West Elk Word March 2: Brian Calvert, High Country News, Part 2
Learn more about High Country News, how they manage to cover the entirety of the American West with in-depth, long-form storytelling, and why it matters. This is part 2 of a 2-part conversation with Brian Calvert, Editor-in-Chief for High Country News.
West Elk Word Feb 23: Brian Calvert of High Country News, Part 1
This is part 1 of a 2 part conversation with Brian Calvert, Editor-in-Chief for High Country News. Brian shares why, in a time when newsrooms are shrinking, High Country News remains strong and growing.
West Elk Word Feb 9: Brooke McMillan, CB Center for the Arts
Brooke McMillan recently recently took on the Literary Arts program at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts. She’s already grown it impressively, and is here to share upcoming workshops related to all things literary – storytelling, fiction, non-fiction, nature writing, poetry, and the upcoming Murder in the Mountains Mystery/Noir festival.
West Elk Word Feb 2: Documentary Filmmaker Jack Lucido
Professor and award-winning documentary filmmaker Jack Lucido is here to share his creative process, the stories behind his recent work, and the positive impact that can come from socially-conscious filmmaking.
West Elk Word Jan 19: Sustainable Tourism & Outdoor Recreation Committee
Scott Borden, John Messner, John Norton and Frank Kugel are all members of a larger committee known as STOR – Gunnison County’s Sustainable Tourism and Recreation Committee. They share the committee’s mission, discoveries, and discuss local efforts to protect Gunnison County’s natural resources and ensuring a quality experience for visitors while recognizing the impacts of the tremendous growth in visitors we’re experiencing in our community.
West Elk Word Jan 12: RE1J School District Superintendent Leslie Nichols
Gunnison County’s RE1J School District has a new superintendent. Leslie Nichols had been on the job for roughly six month, and not only does she like what she sees, but seems excited to take on the challenges faced by a small, diverse district. We discuss vocational training, diversity, the marked differences between the Gunnison and Crested Butte schools, plans for future growth, and more.
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