Monday, October 31, 2011

Mesa County Elections Drop Off Locations

BALLOT DROP OFFS ARE OPEN UNTIL 7PM NOVEMBER FIRST

*THE OLD MESA COUNTY COURTHOUSE

*THE DMV IN MESA MALL

*CLIFTON DMV

*GOODWILL ON 24 1/2 ROAD

ALL LOCATIONS OPEN UNTIL 7PM NOVEMBER 1ST

Garfield County Fatal Crash

The Colorado State Patrol is investigating a fatal crash on private property in Garfield County.  Trooper Nate Reid says two men were in a pickup on a gravel road near County Roads 204 and 492.  The truck went off the side of the road and rolled a thousand feet, landing on another private gravel road.  Both men died at the scene.  Their names have not been released.

More Winter Weather

Mild weather is stepping aside for another strong cold front. The National Weather Service says rain is expected tomorrow night and it could turn to snow in the valleys late tomorrow into Wednesday morning.
weather.gov/gjt

Whitewater Drilling

The price of gas is down a couple cents in Colorado.  Still higher than the national average, by not by much.  Colorado Gas Prices.com says our price is 83 cents a gallon higher than a year ago.  The national average is 65 cents a gallon higher.

The BLM is looking for comments on proposed oil and gas development near Whitewater.  Fram Operating wants to develop as many as 108 wells from 12 pads on 26,000 acres over four years beginning next year.  The proposal is a new one, replacing a much larger development proposal submitted by Fram in spring 2010.

The company is holding a public meeting at the Double Tree Hotel in Grand Jucntion November 7th.   Written comments should be sent to the BLM on H Road in Grand Junction by December 1st.


Fram and BLM will hold a public open house meeting Nov. 8 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Grand Junction Doubletree Inn, 743 Horizon Drive. The public can stop by anytime during this open house to learn more about the new proposal and provide written comments.

Written comments will be most helpful if received by Dec. 1, 2011 and should be sent to the Grand Junction Field Office at 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, CO  81506. Comments may also be submitted via email at gjfo_webmail@blm.gov<mailto:gjfo_webmail@blm.gov>.

Copies of Fram's Master Development Plan are available for review at the BLM Grand Junction Field Office. Digital copies of Fram's proposal and a project map are available at http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/gjfo.html. For more information, contact Julia Christiansen at 970-244-3093.

Moose Illegally Killed

The Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife is looking for a hunter who may have illegally killed a bull moose near Silverthorne on Oct. 22.  It happened along the Gore Range and Rock Creek/Pebble Creek Trail.  A couple of hikers say a hunter told them he had shot the moose by mistake, but so far, that person hasn't talked with wildlife officers.  Operation Game Thief offers a reward if a tip leads to a citation.

[call Shannon Schwab, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Officer in Summit County at 970-485-3081. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can contact Operation Game Thief toll-free at 1-877-265-6648. Operation Game Thief offers a reward if a tip leads to a citation.]

Montrose Runway Open

The Montrose Regional Airport says a runway closed for sewer line repairs is back open.  The problem started back in May when the city was boring underneath runway 17-35.  There were settling problems with the soil, making the runway unsafe.  Airport Director Lloyd Arnold says 42 holes were drilled into the surface of the runway and grout pumped in.  Arnold says the runway was reopened October 22nd.

Garfield County Double Fatal

Two men are dead in rollover crash on a private, gravel mountain road in Garfield County.  The Colorado State Patrol says the pickup the two were in went off the side of the road and rolled down a thousand foot mountainside and came to rest on another gravel road.  The two men died at the scene of the crash.  Troopers got the call at about 11:20 this morning.

New Grocery Store in Grand Junction

Grocery shoppers in Grand Junction will have another choice in organic, and natural groceries soon.  The Sunflower Farmers Market, a Boulder based store will open in the Rimrock Shopping Center.  The store specializes in organic produce, and all natural meats.  The store is set to open for business sometime next year.

Fake Finger Fools Investigators

A very Halloween like prank was pulled yesterday when State Troopers and Mesa County Sheriff's Investigators found a severed finger on Interstate 70.  KKCO reported that a hitch hiker spotted the finger and reported it.  Investigators scoured the scene for evidence, and called the local hospitals to try and find the victim.  Unfortunately for them, the finger was made of rubber and they were the butt of a Halloween joke.

Mill Levy Overrides get Support

A pair of groups supporting mill levy override measures to help fund education raised the money they were hoping for before the election.  The friends of School District 51 in Mesa County raised $50,000 to support Referred Measure 3B in this week's election.  In Garfield County, a committee supporting the Roaring Fork School District Re 1 raised nearly $30,000 dollars, according to the Glenwood Post, to support the passing of Ballot Measure 3E.  Both mill levy overrides would help fund the districts during the down economy.  Election day is tomorrow.

Protests Peaceful on Sunday

The "occupy" protests were much calmer in Denver yesterday, after a Saturday of violent outbursts.  Officers donned riot gear, and pepper spray Saturday afternoon.  Officers say things got violent when about 2,000 protestors tried to make their way up the capitol building steps.  Police say protestors began fighting with officers, and things escalated from there.  Protestors say it was the police that started the outburst.

ATM Robbery

Grand Junction Police are still looking for the person who broke into the McDonalds on Highway 6&50 last week.  They say the person drilled through the locks and broke into the store, then robbed the ATM machine inside, making off with up to $5,000.  Police say there is no suspect information at this time, and the robbery is under investigation

I-70 Hazardous Waste Crash

A wreck, and hazardous waste spill shut down westbound I-70 yesterday evening.  Colorado State Patrol says a semi truck carrying thousands of gallons of methanol used a run-away truck ramp near Copper Mountain.  The truck rolled, and spilled some of it's 4,900 gallon load. The road was re-opened at about 8:30 last night.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Fruita Would-Be robbery

Fruita Police are on the lookout or a would-be robber stopped by a smart Grand Valley National Bank employee.  Police Chief Mark Angelo says the woman was approaching the bank to open this morning when a man with a gun told her to open up. She walked to a nearby restaurant instead, and called police.  A K-9 lost the robber's track about a 1/2 mile from the bank.

Health Ins. Premiums

Health insurance premiums in Colorado are expected to go up 9.4% next year, fairly good news considering they went up 14.4% this year.  The Denver Post says the news is really good considering it's the lowest increase since 2000.

Halloween Pedestrians

Triple A Colorado is reminding drivers to be careful of pedestrians, especially during the Halloween.  The group says statistics show 607 pedestrians were killed in Colorado between 2000 to 2009, and October 31 is the deadliest night of the year for pedestrians.

November Election

The election is Tuesday and of the more than 64,000 ballots mailed to voters in Mesa County, nearly 26,000 have been returned.  That's 34%.  If you didn't get your ballot in the mail today, you can drop it off at the clerk's office in the old Mesa county Courthouse until 7pm Tuesday.  You can also drop off your ballots at the dmv in Mesa mall, Clifton motor vehicles or Goodwill on 24 1/2 Road.

New Cars in Colorado

New car and light-truck registrations in Colorado are on the rise, up 13.7 percent this year.  According to the Denver Post, the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association says those new registrations indicate a strong interest in newer, higher-quality and more fuel-efficient cars.

Drug Take Back

Tomorrow is national prescription drug take back day, an opportunity for people to safely get rid of unused drugs and over the counter medication.  Drop off sites are open from 10 until 2 tomorrow at the Mesa County Sheriff's office and Police Departments in Grand Junction and Palisade.  You can also drop off old medication in Fruita at the Civic Center.

Halloween Heat is On

The Heat is On Campaign is in full effect for Halloween with increased patrols this weekend into next Tuesday.  DUI checkpoints are also scheduled in many jurisdictions.  Last year's Halloween enforcement netted 439 DUI arrests statewide.

Craig Shell

Shell oil is in business in Craig.  The company tells the Craig Daily Press a rig sitting next to Highway 317 was stalled by C-Dot, concerned about the weight of the thing damaging the road.  Those concerns worked out, Rig 94 is on site and drilling.  More activity's expected in the area focused on exploratory operations.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Glenwood Lockdown

Glenwood Springs Middle School went on lockdown Tuesday, and police say it was because of a child playing with a toy gun.  The Glenwood Post Independent says the boy was playing with an air soft toy gun.  Police say students were never in any danger, and that a passerby reported the weapon.  The lockdown lasted just over an hour.

Good Election Results Already

It looks like this year's election will be another record breaking one for voter turnout in Mesa County.  The Daily Sentinel is reporting that 34 percent of registered voters' mail in ballots have already been returned.  That puts the county on track to break the record for turnout in an odd election year, set in 2005 when 58% of registered voters participated.

Missing Hunter in Delta County

Officials in Delta County are also looking for a missing hunter.  The Delta County Sheriff's office says 75 year old Terry Baughn of Howard Ohio was with a hunting party in the Leroux creek area northwest of Hotchkiss.  Searchers worked into the night, and will continue today.

Carbondale Bans Plastic Shopping Bags

In a growing trend for the Roaring Fork Valley, and Colorado for that matter, Carbondale town trustees have banned the use of plastic shopping bags at local grocery stores.  The Glenwood Post Independent reports that the ban will take effect in May.  Aspen already has a similar ban, and Carbondale officials told the paper, that they hope this clears the way for towns like Basalt and Glenwood Springs too.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

VA Rabies

The Grand Junction VA is taking part in a nationwide preventative health program and contacting veterans who've returned from Iraq, Afghanistan or other areas in Southeast Asia in the last 18 months.  Those people may have been exposed to rabies.  The incubation period is usually a few days to six months, but in extremely rare cases, the incubation period has lasted several years. You can get more information at our website, mbcgrandnews.com.

[www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/rabies/]

Fake Microsoft Scam

Aspen Street Computers in Fruita is warning Microsoft users to be aware of a scam going on in the area.  They say they've had 5 customers this week taken for $150 from scammers calling and identifying themselves as being from Microsoft.  They ask for control of your desktop, then infect it with viruses.   Aspen Street says Microsoft does not make these calls, and you should not turn over control of your computer.

Aspen Gondolas--Not!

Don't look for a gondola system to link all four ski mountains in Aspen's upper valley.  A committee of elected officials has rejected the idea.  The Aspen Daily News says several on the committee cited a variety of issues against the proposal, including the potential for high winds shutting down the system and stranding skiers.

Missing Hunter Update

Mesa County, Colorado— Deputies and volunteers will demobilize at 6:30 p.m., the search effort for missing hunter, Jim Mcarthy, who is now believed to be between 35 and 40 years old. This is updated and corrected information from what was previously released (below).
Overnight, one rescuer will remain in the area to monitor the roads. This rescuer will use noise, lights, sirens and listening to further try and contact the missing hunter. The search incident is scheduled to resume at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow if Mcarthy is not located overnight.
http://sheriff.mesacounty.us/pressreleases.aspx

Rock Fall I-70 Update

The first storm of the winter closed parts of I-70 this morning.  A rockslide around 5:00 shut down both directions at Palisade.  At least  two vehicles hit rocks the size of basketballs.  No one was injured.  CDOT crews used snow plows to clear the road.  It was back open just after 6:30.
cotrip.org

Missing Hunter

Mesa County Search and rescue crews are looking for a missing hunter in the area of Mosquito Lake and 79 Road/West Divide Creek in the far eastern reaches of Mesa County.  They were first called out about 8:30 last night and found one hunter. A second hunter is still missing.  Mesa County Search and Rescue Control is working with crews from Garfield County.

Most up to date:   http://sheriff.mesacounty.us/pressreleases.aspx

VA Scam

Officials at the Grand Junction VA say some veterans have reported getting calls from someone claiming to be with the VA asking for personal information like social security and bank account numbers.  They say they never ask for information when contacting a veteran, only when they are contacted.

[Veterans who believe they have been targeted for identify theft or a scam should report the attempt to the Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General using the OIG hotline at 1 (800) 488-8244 or by sending a fax to (202) 565-7936 or by e-mailing vaoighotline@va.gov .

Whitewater Standoff

Mesa County Sheriff's Deputies say they're looking for a 46 year old man on domestic violence related charges after a five and a half hour stand off in Whitewater.  The SWAT team and deputies set up a perimeter around a home on Whiting Road last night believing Robert Lambert was inside.  When the finally entered they found the house empty.  Sheriff's spokeswoman Heather Benjamin says Lambert has a long history of run-ins with the law.

Denver Gang Crackdown

Federal officials in Denver say a summer crack down on gun violence in the Denver area led to the arrests of 80 armed gang members or their associates, and the seizure of 121 firearms including machine guns, sawed-off shotguns, handguns, and over 10,000 rounds of ammunition.  Local police departments teamed up with feds.

Tipton-Pace Fundraising

3rd District Congressman Scott Tipton is leading the fundraising part of his next campaign, collecting more than twice as much as his Democrat challenger, Sal Pace, currently the minority leader in the Colorado House.  The Daily Sentinel says the information is from records compiled by OpenSecrets.org, the Center for Responsive Politics.

Oil Spill Clean Up

Crews are still working along Highway 141 near Gateway to clean up an oil spill that made it's way into West Creek.  Officials believe that about 3,500 gallons of oil leaked from the tanker truck on Monday.  KJCT reports that the clean up effort will cost the trucking company around $300,000.  The oil only traveled about 1000 feet downstream.

I-70 Closed in DeBeque Canyon

Eastbound and now Westbound Interstate 70 in closed this morning in DeBeque Canyon.  C-Dot says snow is a problem, but a rock slide near mile marker 49 has caused the closure. State Patrol says there are numerous cars off the road in the area and westbound lanes are now closed as well.  C-Dot says eastbound cars are being diverted at the Palisade exit, and westbound traffic is being turned around at Cameo.  Again, eastbound and westbound  I-70 is closed this morning due to a large rock slide in DeBeque canyon.

Chain restrictions are also in place on Vail Pass, and at Eisenhower Tunnel.  The same is true for Red Mountain, Molas, and Coal Bank Passes on Highway 550, and McClure Pass on Highway 133.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

$1.5 million Bond in Taco Bell Murder

Bond has been set at $1.5 million for a California man accused in the July murder of a Grand Junction man at the North Avenue Taco Bell.  The Daily Sentinel says 20 year old Christian Fuentes from East Palo Alto has been held since July 19th in connection with a crimes spree in Grand Junction and the murder of 31 year old Jorge Carrasco July 16th. 18 year old Lester Miranda-Davis of Clifton is already charged.  Police are still looking for two other suspects.

Xcel Prepares for Snow

Xcel Energy is getting ready for expected snow in the Denver area by increasing staff to handle customer service calls.  While a snow storm isn't unusual, what is-- is the number of trees with leaves still on them.  Xcel's expecting alot of those branches to break and lead to power outages.

http://www.xcelenergy.com/Outages
 •To report power outages call                      1-800-895-1999    
 •To report natural gas emergencies call         1-800-895-2999    
  To report any downed power lines call         911 or 1-800-895-1999      

Arson Charges

A 22 yea rold man is is facing charges of arson in a forest fire near Colorado Springs in August.  Michael Anthony Penn was arrested in Las Vegas is set to arraigned in U-S District Court in Denver tomorrow. If convicted, Penn faces up to five years in prison and fines as high as $500,000.

Man Rescued from River near Lake City

A man was rescued this morning from his car which plunged into the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River near Lake City on Highway 149.  KJCT reported that a wildlife officer rescued the driver.  Colorado State Patrol says the man was possibly forced off the road by another vehicle.  The accident is under investigation.

Election Lawsuits to Remain Seperate

An Aspen woman's request to consolidate two lawsuits against election officials in Mesa and Jefferson Counties was denied.  The Daily Sentinel reports that Marylin Marks will proceed with the suits.  She is questioning the reliability of voting machines used in the counties, and told the newspaper she doesn't want to cast doubt on any election results.

Oil Spill on Highway 141 Cleaned Up

An oil spill snarled traffic on Highway 141 near Gateway yesterday.  An oil tanker carrying 10,000 gallons of crude oil rolled off the highway and spilled the oil into West Creek.  Grand Junction Fire Department Haz Mat crews worked to clean up the spill, and the road was reopened yesterday evening.  There is no word on the cause of the accident.

Pile-up on I-70 Started by Barell

A bizarre chain reaction crash on I-70 in the Beaver tunnel in DeBeque Canyon slowed traffic yesterday afternoon.  A flatbed truck transporting 55 gallon drums lost one barrel that was hit by one car.  That caused a chain reaction of more accidents involving 5 vehicles in all.  There were no serious injuries and the crash is under investigation.

Montrose Man's Family Looking for Answers

A 23 year old Montrose man's ex-girlfriend will not be facing murder charges after Fort Collins officials ruled that she was acting in self defense when she stabbed Shaun Cassidy in the neck with a broken beer bottle.  Cassidy's family now says they want an appeal.  KJCT says Cassidy's family is confused about the ruling, but Colorado's "make my day" laws will keep 21 year old Azura Lakin from facing charges.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Health Insurance Town Hall Canceled

The Colorado Division of Insurance has canceled a town hall meeting scheduled for tonight at Two Rivers Convention Center.  They say expected winter weather in the high country is the reason.  The town hall was to make sure people are informed about changes in health insurance, and since they haven't been able to reschedule, DORA says people should visit askdora.colorado.gov to get the latest information.

GVT CNG Buses


Grand Valley Tranisit is showing off its newest buses.  Two Compressed Natural Gas fueled buses have been added to the fleet.  20% of the $914,000 cost is covered by Mesa County and its local GVT partners, the remaining 80% covered by a grant from the Federal Transit Administration.  GVT expects to save big bucks in fuel over the lifetime of the buses.
gvt.mesacounty.us

Traffic


A couple of oils spills keeping the state patrol busy today.  The first in a rollover on 141 near Gateway late this morning.  Crude oil was believed spilled into West Creek. The second crash blocked traffic for awhile inside the westbound Beaver Tail Tunnel on I-70 when a truck reportedly dropped a barrel of oil leading to a four car crash.

Weather Changing

Weather is about to change in Colorado.  Winter storm watches are up for much of the higher mountains for snow, 8 to 16 inches in some mountain areas.  Today, the northeastern plains are under a red flag warning for dry/windy conditions before that storm.  Western Colorado is getting ready for cooler temperatures and a chance for rain or snow depending on location.  Sunnier weather expected to return by Thursday into Friday.

Winter Coming to Western Slope

If you've been enjoying the beautiful fall weather, you've got one more day of it before things turn wintry.  Tuesday should see some big drops in temperature, with winter storm warnings already issued for the high country lasting into Wednesday with snow levels dropping down to around 7,000 feet.

Tip a Cop Program Helps Special Olympians

Local law enforcement officers took new jobs for a few hours on Saturday for a good cause.  State Troopers were working as servers at the Old Chigago restaurant to raise money for Special Olympics.  KJCT reported that the officers raised over $2,700 in one short shift.  Another Tip a Cop event will be held this spring.

Wildfire in DeBeque

Fire officials in DeBeque are still investigating the cause of a grass fire that got out of control yesterday.  The fire came dangerously close to a home on 45 1/2 road.  KREX says the homeowner reported the fire, but did not know how it started.  It burned about 5 acres before crews got control of the blaze.

Grand Junction Man Dies in Rollover on I-70

A Grand Junction man died in a roll over accident on I-70 Saturday morgning.  29 year old Vincente Lima Leon lost control of his SUV just east of DeBeque.  The vehicle left the roadway and rolled ejecting Leon, who was not wearing a seatbelt.  Alcohlol is being investigated as a factor in the crash.

Mountian Biker Dies in DeBeque

A Rifle man died Saturday when he crashed his mountain bike near DeBeque.  62 year old Steven Chesley died of blunt force trauma to the head during the crash.  He was riding with a friend when the accident occurred.  Chesley was wearing a helmet.

Occupy GJ on the Move

Occupy Grand Junction protestors were busy this weekend.  The group staged a makeshift funeral procession through the streets of downtown Grand Junction saying they were mourning the death of the middle class.  Protestors say they'll begin moving protests from the Old County Courthouse lawn to other businesses now.  There were only a handful of protestors left at the courthouse yesterday.

School Bus Drivers could Strike

School bus drivers in District 51 are hoping for a new contract with their employer, otherwise they say a strike could be coming.  KKCO reported today that the drivers will be meeting this week with their union reps to work up a new contract with Ohio-based First Student, Incoporated.  If a contract can't be agreed upon, the district may be without transportation soon.

Palisade Parents Deal Drugs with Children in Room

Two people from Palisade are in jail today after undercover officers caught them dealing methamphetamine, with their children in the room.  24 year old Kerry Hawkins and 29 year old Nathan Saffer were arrested last week.  During the arrest, Hawkins 2 year old and 3 month old daughters were in the room according to arrest afadavits, with syringes, and drugs in accessible areas.  Officers also noted that the apartment was extremely filthy with trash and an overwhelming odor.  The children were placed in foster care after the arrests.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

No Charges in Montrose Man's Death

A Fort Collins man is facing charges after he sold a bighorn ram's skull on the Internet. According to the Fort Collins Coloradoan,  39-year-old William Sutton sold the skull to an undercover officer for $350 last year. He faces charges of illegal sale of wildlife and bonded out Saturday on $350 bond.

Missing Hunters Found

Garfield County Searchers have found two hunters missing in the Coffee Pot Springs area.  The father-son team did not have cold weather gear or food and were located this morning and are safe.

Kit Carson Van Crash Latest


The driver of a van carrying 12 foster and adopted children may have had a heart attack leading to the crash a week ago. An autopsy showed Howard Mitchell had 80%  blockage in his heart.  Mtchell's wife says she can take comfront knowing that's what might have led to the crash that killed Mitchell, two of the couple's adopted children and 3 foster children.

I-70 Fatal


The Colorado State Patrol says a 19 year old Westminster man is dead after a rollover crash on I-70 near Walcott.  The man was wearing a seatbelt, but still thrown from the car which landed on top of him during the rollover.  The patrol says Levi Morgan Pierce Armstrong may have been distracted before the crash.

Ram Skull


A Fort Collins man is facing charges after he sold a bighorn ram's skull on the Internet. According to the Fort Collins Coloradoan,  39-year-old William Sutton sold the skull to an undercover officer for $350 last year. He faces charges of illegal sale of wildlife and bonded out Saturday on $350 bond.

Missing Hunters


Garfield County Search and Rescue workers are on they're second search for missing hunters.  The two were hunting in the Coffee Pot area near Dead Horse Creek. The search got underway early this morning.

Craft Brew Cans


The world’s largest can maker is in Broomfield and makes some 62 billion aluminum cans a year. Its fastest-growing segment is the craft beer market. The Denver Post says canned craft beer in 6 and 12-packs have more the doubled so far in 2011 compared with 2010.

X-Games in Aspen

Officials with the Aspen Skiing Company are trying to come to an agreement with ESPN to continue to host the wildly popular X-games in January.  The games will be there this coming year, but there is no contract beyond that.  KKCO reported that ESPN is making a move to expand the games to overseas resorts as well.  Aspen Ski Company officials say their confident they can get a deal done soon.

Montrose Recall Fails

An effort to recall Montrose County Commissioner Gary Ellis has come up short.  The Montrose County Clerk and Recorder's office says 2,689 signatures were collected.  That is 323 short of the needed 3,012.  The recall committee now has the option to protest.  That must be filed in 15 days.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Fireworks Rules


The BLM is issuing new rules to prohibit the use of fireworks and other explosive devices on all public lands in Colorado. The new rules bring BLM regulations in line with other land management agencies and official say the rules go a long way in efforts to reduce the threat of wildland fires on public lands.

Listeria Outbreak


The FDA says dirty farm equipment is to blame for a listeria outbreak in cantaloupe grown in southeast Colorado.  The agency says outbreak has been linked to 25 deaths in 12 states and illness in 123 people.  Investigators found positive listeria samples on equipment and fruit at Jensen Farms.

Serra Plea Agreement


Former Montrose District Attorney Myrl Serra has entered into a plea agreement and faces up to 12 years in prison on charges of  Felony Criminal Extortion, and unlawful sexual contact involving former staff members at his office.  Serra's already jailed after being convicted in August of a bail bond violation.  Sentencing is January 19th.

Colo Riverfront Trail


The completion of the Riverfront Trail between Grand Junction and Fruita is getting closer.  The plan is for phase 1 construction to begin next month.  The Daily Sentinel says Mesa County will apply for a $200,000 grant from the state to help pay for phase 2 of the project.  That portion of the trail will run from Heritage Park to 18.5 Road.  A third and final phase would begin in January of 2013.

Hunter Rescued


Garfield County authorities finally releasing some details about the rescue of a missing hunter earlier this week.  A press release this morning says the man, reported missing Saturday night was found by searchers in a helicopter Monday afternoon.  He was reported very cold, treated and released from a local hospital.

MesaCo Ballots


18.44% of Mesa County voters have returned their ballots for the November 1st election.  The official election date is November 1st, so ballots must be returned by 7pm that day.

Wildlife Caution



The Colorado Department of Transportation and Colorado Parks and Wildlife are urging motorists to be alert and aware of migrating wildlife.  CDOT officials say elk and deer are on highways and roads. A moose was involved in a fatal accident near Frisco two weeks ago.  The number of vehicle-wildlife accidents statewide last year was about 2,700.

Pro Challenge



The USA Pro Cycling Challenge says an economic impact study it commissioned reported the inaugural race attracted more than 1 million spectators and had a total economic impact of $83.5 million to the state.Grand Junction City officials are considering monetary support for a group hoping to land a leg of the race here next year.

Udall Ski Areas Bill

Senator Mark Udall is celebrating the passage of his Ski Areas Bill.  When it's signed by the president, Udall says the bill will help create year-round jobs in Colorado's ski simply by clarifying a regulation governing what activities are allowed on National Forest land. Udall first introduced the bi-partisan bill 5 years ago.

Abduction Reports Cleared

Police say three recent reports of attempted abductions in Montrose have all been dismissed.  In a press release, Commander Gene Lillard said the driver in one case told police he was trying to talk to a bicycle rider about bad behavior and that led to a misunderstanding he was cleared in that case.  In two others, the kids making the report admitted making up their stories. A similar case in Delta was also cleared.

Fisherman Search

Authorities in Rifle are continuing their search for a missing fisherman today.  The man fell into the water on Friday when his boat hit an overpass pillar.  Dive teams have used ultra sound equipment, underwater cameras, ground searchers and dogs have had no luck either.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Pot Arrest

A 28 year old Denver Woman has been arrested after a traffic stop in Mesa County.  The sheriff's department says the woman was arrested yesterday after drug officers found 79 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of the rental car she was driving.

DMEA Rates

The Delta Montrose Electric Association says it will have to raise rates next year because of a wholesale power cost increase by Tri State Generation and Transmission Association.  DMEA's president says wholesale power makes up 70% of the company's operating budget.

Drive-Thru Flu Shots

If you need a flu shot, you can get one tomorrow without even getting out of your car. The Mesa County Health Department is holding a Drive Thru clinic from 9 until 1 at Fire Station Three on 25 1/2 Road.  Shots cost $15.00.  Nasal mist is $20.00.

CWD Research

New research at Colorado State University could end up with better testing for chronic wasting disease.  The Denver Post says the CSU study is developing and evaluating a more sensitive test for the disease, including the potential to test for infection in live animals, animal products and the environment.

NFIB Against Prop 103

The NFIB has come out in opposition to Proposition 103.  The group representing small-business owners in Colorado says a claim by the measure's author stating  the business community is neutral on the tax hike proposal to fund education is wrong.  An NFIB spokesman says now is not the time to raise takes on hard working people.

Get Rich Quick

The FTC is finished with its investigation and along with Colorado attorney General John Suthers has received an injunction against the Westminister-based Dalbey Education Institute, formerly known as American’s Note Network, barring it from pushing misleading get-rich-quick infomercials. If infomercials run in the future, they'll have to highlight the low success rate of consumers purchasing its products.

Occupy Denver

The Colorado State Patrol says it gave plenty of warning to protesters camping in a downtown Denver park for several days.  They say by 630 most of the prostesters had left, but still 21 arrests were made for unlawful Conduct on Public Property. The CSP say it brought in a second team to clean up trash and remaining debris. Xcel Energy was called in to repair power sources damaged at the park by the Occupy Denver Group.  A group in Grand Junction says it'll protest at the Old Mesa County Courthouse tomorrow.

Flight Diverted

A man on an American Airlines flight from New York to Los Angeles is under arrest after becoming unruly, hit a flight attendant and then yelled various threats.  The plane landed in Denver.  If convicted of interference with flight crew members and attendants, the defendant faces not more than 20 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Personal Safety Training

The Western Slope Center for Children is hosting a 2-hour personal safety and training Saturday at CMU.  American Nation Protective Services's Steve and Daun King will provide hands on training.  For $25 teams of two people, mother-daughter, daughter-friend, etc., will leave with a personal safety book, pepper spray and pepper spray training,  Tto sign up, call 245-3788  or email tami@wscchildren.org

9-Year Old Driver

A 36 year old Grand Junction woman is facing child abuse charges after police say Lori Rogers let her 9 year old daughter drive her car with Rogers' 10 month old baby in the vehicle.  According to the Daily Sentinel, the little girl was behind the wheel in a McDonald's drive through last Saturday, and police say a similar incident at the Gofer Store on the Redlands is believed to be connected.

White Hall Investigation

The Grand Junction Fire Department has completed its investigation into last month's fire at White Hall.  Spokesman Mike Page says the building has been released to the owners and insurance company which says the ruins are safe from crumbling.  Page says one investigator is assigned full time and following multiple leads.  Anyone with any information should call Mesa County Crime Stoppers at 241-Stop or click 241stop.com.

Mother Daughter Robbers

A Westminster woman and her daughter are under arrest, accused holding up a bank, claiming there was a bomb inside.  The Denver Post says the mother left in an SUV and the daughter was found hiding a short time later.   Both reportedly have long rap sheets.

Mack Horse Racing

Horse Racing in Mack?  Why not.  The Mesa County commissioners have approved a conditional use permit for a horse training and racing facility there. The Daily Sentinel says the permit allows horse racing events at the 1,300-foot track owned by Jose Alvarez, with the racing events taking place two Sundays a month in spring, summer and fall.

Ski Resort Openings

Colorado ski resorts are opening earlier and earlier.  Arapahoe Basin announced today it will open tomorrow, just 100 days after it closed.  The Denver Post says Loveland ski area plans to open Friday with an 18-inch base courtesy of some natural snow drops and snow guns.

Wells Fargo Evacuations

Wells Fargo Bank at Mesa Mall was evacuated this afternoon, the third time in the last month.  Grand Junction Fire Department spokesman Mike Page says the bank was evacuated September 10th and 29th, and again today, with people complaining of headaches and an unknown odor.  Page says each time, the fire department found no indication of a natural gas leak, or anything hazardous in the building.

Montrose Top 100

Montrose County is one of only three Colorado locations to be formally named one of America's Top 100 Communities by America's Promise Alliance.  The Montrose Daily Press says Montrose County was chosen for its after-school programs and community learning opportunities throughout the county.  The other two locations chosen were Aurora and Brighton.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Fruita Supports 3B

The Fruita City Council passed a resolution on Tuesday night that urges strong support of Referred Measure 3B for the upcoming election.  3B is the mill levy override that would help fund District 51 Schools.  The town council is urging Fruita residents to vote yes and show support for the measure.

Attempted Kidnappings in Delta and Montrose

After reports of an attempted abduction in Delta, a nearly identical report comes from Montrose a day later.  The Montrose Police Department says this incident happened on Wednesday morning.  A reports says a man told a 13 year old girl to get in his white dodge pick-up, and if she didn't, he would grab her and make her get in.  A similar incident with matching description of the man and truck in Montrose occurred in Delta just a day earlier.

Wolf Creek Opens

If you're getting the itch to ski or snowboard already after this week's chilly weather, you're in luck.  Wolf Creek Ski Area says it's planning to be open this weekend, after 3 feet of snow fell.  It's the earliest the ski area has ever opened, and officials will decide later, whether to stay open for daily operations.

Mystery Gunshot Wound Sends Woman to St. Mary's

A woman taken to St. Mary's with multiple injuries including a gunshot wound to the head is expected to survive, but Grand Junction Police are looking for information about how it all happened.  The woman was taken to the hospital by a private vehicle and spokeswoman Kate Poras says officers believe she was injured sometime Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning in the area of the Orchard Mesa Cemetery.  Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers.

Woman Hit by SUV Dies

The woman who was hit by an SUV earlier this week has died from her injuries.  50 year old Darinda Brown was struck while walking her dog on Monday night.  The SUV was driven by 21 year old Joseph Weixel, who may be facing more serious charges now.  Weixel is suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol when the crash occurred.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Powderhorn Upgrades

One of the new things coming to the Powderhorn Ski Resort this year is a half pipe.  The new owners hope it'll attract more ski and snowboard enthusiasts.  It's pretty big and is visible from Powderhorn's sun deck. Co Owner Andy Daley says they're holding true to a promise of improving the guest experience.

I-70 Crash

A pretty spectacular crash on I-70 this morning.  A Semi hit a construction abutment west of Fruita and crashed into a creek.  The cab dangled over the edge and the rest of the rig blocked the eastbound lanes.  The driver was walking around, but did go to a hospital.  The Daily Sentinel online says at least one fuel tank ruptured and the Grand Junction Fire Department haz-mat team used a boom to try prevent diesel from reaching the Colorado River.

Grand Junction Ghosts?

The city of Grand Junction says it IS in negotiations with Monfort Investment Group regarding a minor league baseball franchise. City Council will discuss it in an executive session before tomorrow night's regular meeting.

Car/Pedestrian Charges

A 21 year old Pear Park man is under arrest in an accident that critically injured 50 year old Darinda Brown, and killed her dog.  Joseph Weixel  was arrested early yesterday and is facing vehicular assault charges.  Brown remains in critical condition after she was hit while walking on a sidewalk in the 400 Block of Canyon Trail Dr. Sunday evening.

Colo Job Growth

New economic data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Colorado now projected to see job growth of as many as 25,000 jobs this year.  The Denver Post says that's more than double the forecast just three months ago.

Missing Boys

San Miguel county authorities are searching for two missing boys - a 14-year-old and a 12-year-old.  They've been missing since Sunday, when they were on an outing with their father and step-father.  The Denver Post says the men returned from a rock climbing outing and found their pickup and the boys gone.  Anyone with information should call the San Miguel County Sheriff's Office.

Listeria Death Toll Rises

The death toll from Listeria contaminated cantaloupe from a Colorado farm is now at 18 and at least 100 people across the country have been sickened.  Five of the deaths have been reported in Colorado, including one death in Fruita.  The CDC says more cases are likely, since the incubation period for listeria can be up to two months.