VALUE LODGE FIRE
No word on the cause of a motel fire that sent 19 people from 12 rooms to other motels for the night. The fire at the Value Lodge was reported about 10:45 last night, and when fire crews got there, they found one room filled with smoke and smoke throughout the entire lodge. One person was treated on the scene for smoke inhalation. More information is expected later today.
I-70 FATALITY
The state patrol says it looks like speed and alcohol were factors in a fatal crash early yesterday morning on I-70 near DeBeque. 3 people were in a car headed east when it went off the road and hit a rock structure in the median and burst into flames. Passersby pulled all three from the crash, 19 year old Christina Flager from Rifle died at the scene.
COLORADO GAS PRICES
It's no secret gas prices are going up almost daily. The latest report from Colorado GasPrices.com shows drivers paying $3.57 a gallon yesterday, up nearly 15 cents in the past week. The website says that's close to 53 cents a gallon higher than a month ago. Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan says a surge in wholesale prices late last week will likely mean another hike for consumers this week. [The average price nationally is $3.80/gal, up 4.3 cents in the past week]
GARCO CRIMESTOPERS
Crimestoppers in Garfield County are looking for theives who broke into the Carbondale Public works Facility on Hwy 133 and stole thousands of dollars worth of hand and power tools. It happened late Tuesday February 28th, or early the 29th. Anyone with information should visit GarCoCrimestoppers.com.
MESA COUNTY EMERGENCY DRILL
Mesa County Emergency Responders are working a full-scale training excerise today to make sure local, state, and federal response agencies work together to manage a major incident. The training is designed to be as realistic as possible, so people may see a lot of activity happeneing around the valley, as the different agencies frespond to the situation.
POWDERHORN/STEAMBOAT DEAL
For the next two weeks, you can buy next year's pass at Powderhorn, and get in on a first: a $150 5-pack lift ticket for Steamboat Springs. Powderhorn's new owners tell the Daily Sentinel the pass promotion is an effort to attact western Colorado skiers and give them a chance to get a "big-mountain" experience at a little-mountain price.
DELTA SUPER APPLICANTS
The Colorado Association of School Boards is helping Delta County School District 50J in its search for a new superintendent and has 20 people to choose from. The Daily Sentinel says interviews are scheduled next month for the job which officially begins July 1st. The District's community relations director says none of the 20 applicants live in Delta.
CHURCH FORECLOSURES
A growing trend of foreclosures on churches is hitting home in Colorado. The Denver Post says a record 138 churches were sold nationwide last year. In Colorado, 25 churches are on the market right now, 15 in the Denver area, several others near Colorado Springs.
FRONT RANGE WIND
About 84 square miles and at least two homes have burned in a wildfire in eastern Colorado. The Denver Post says 45 mile an hour winds and blowing dust were making it hard to see where the fire was burning. 3 firefighters went to hospitals with minor injuries and hundreds were evacuated in Washington and Yuma Counties.
