FACEBOOK CHARGES
A Grand Junction man is under arrest, facing federal charges for alleged threatening facebook posts. Kenneth Wheeler was arrested at the Grand Jucntion Regional Airport Tuesday. Wheeler reportedly made the threats in posts from Rome, Italy. The Daily Sentinel says Wheeler is accused of threatening three Grand Junction Police Officers and their families, and of urging a massacre at a local preschool.
BODY FOUND
Authorities in Montana believe a body found yesterday in North Dakota is that of a Montana High School teacher reported missing January 7th. Two Parachute men have been charged with aggravated kidnapping, and now could face federal charges because the body was found across the Montana state line.
VEHICULAR HOMICIDE CHARGES
A 21 year old Rifle man is facing vehicular homicide charges in a firey crash on I-70 early Sunday morning. Anthony Bracamontes was released from the hospital and arrested Tuesday. 19 year old Christina Flager of Rifle died in the crash. 26 year old Erick Fernandez of Grand Junction was injured.
ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGES
A Delta County Couple has pleaded guilty to cruelty to animals after the death of one of their horses. Charles and Patricia Keune also face additional charges after 5 horses and 6 cattle were taken from their residence on 2900 Road. According to the Daily Sentinel, Delta County Sheriff Fred McKee said the couple did not follow instructions on care for the animals.
TRAIN DEATH INVESTIGATION
Garfield County Coroner's investigators are continuing to look into the death of a Silt woman hit by an Amtrak train last Saturday. 27 year old Ashley Vale apparently was wearing ear buds and walking down the middle of the tracks just before she was hit. Deputy Coroner Lanny Grant says Vale gave no indication she may have wanted to end her life before telling her family she was going for a walk that day.
HANTAVIRUS
The Garfield County Health Department says a resident in the western part of the county has contracted hantavirus and is urging precautions to avoid the disease which can be fatal. Hantavirus is carried in urine and feces of deer mice. The Health Department says areas inhabited by the mice should only be swept or vacuumed after the area has been wetted down with a bleach and water or lysol solution. Sumptoms of hantavirus can occur in a few days to 6-weeks after exposure.
BATTLEMENT MESA FIRE
At least one family is homeless after a fire in an apartment complex in Battlement Mesa. It happened just before 2:00 this morning. The fire was contained in only one unit, but smoke forced the evacuation of several units. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
BEBB-JONES BOUND OVER
15 years after the death of his wife in Grand Junction, Marcus Bebb-Jones will stand trial for her murder. Bebb-Jones was ordered bound over for trial after a 3-day preliminary hearing. Bebb-Jones was arrested in England after Sabrina Bebb-Jones' skull was found in Garfield County in 2004.
