ABUSED CATTLE
61 head of cattle have been siezed from property on 12 1/4 Road in Loma after Mesa County Sheriff's Deputies found them in various states of neglect, along with several dead animals. 3 animals were euthanized. More than a half dozen state and county agencies are investigating. Authorities were alerted by a citizen complaint.
MONTROSE REC CENTER VOTE
No new Rec Center in Montrose. City voters have turned down a proposed sales tax hike to fund construction. Just 600 votes separated those for and against. 65% of the city's 8,200 registered voters weighed in. Bob Nicholson, Kathy Ellis and Judy Ann Files were elected to the city council.
FRUITA VOTE
It's official, no medical marijuana stores in Fruita. 73% of voters yesterday gave a thumbs down to allowing the shops in their town. The only legal shop operating in Mesa County now is in Palisade. Fruita voters also agreed to lift TABOR restrictions allowing the city to spend money over limits imposed by the Tax Payer's Bill of Rights. Lori Buck is the new mayor, defeating fellow city councilman Terry Moss.
PALISADE VOTE
In Palisade, voters said OK to the sale of the town hall, paving the way for town offices to move into the old Palisade High School which is being renovated into a Civic Center.
TMRAO DEAL
The Telluride Montrose Regional Air Organization has nailed down summer service between Montrose and Houston and Dallas/Ft. Worth. The TMRAO gets funding from local governemnts and businesses to guarantee United and American Airlines flights. The group says the total economic impact to the region from air service to the Montrose and Telluride airports is more than $470 million annually.
SULLIVAN SENTENCED
Former Arapahoe County Sheriff Pat Sullivan has pleaded guilty in a drugs-for-sex case and has been sentenced to 30-days in jail and two years probation. The 69 year old was busted last November in a sting set up by his gay lover. Sullivan's attorney and prosecutors both said the sentence is typical for first-time offenders.
D-51 SPRING BREAK
Students in District 51 will have Spring Break later next year in order to complete state mandated T-CAP tests. The Daily Sentinel says spring break has traditionally been the second full week of March. Next year, it's set March 23rd through 31st.
ASPEN BILLIONAIRES
At least 50 billionaires on Forbes' most recent wealth lists own property or have strong ties to property in the Aspen area. The Aspen Business Journal says their combined net worths total more than $242 billion, their Aspen property more than $741 million. The #1 and #2 billionaires with ties to Aspen are Charles and David Koch with a combined worth of $25 billion.
