Thursday May 10, 2012

GJ EMERGENCY ALERT
A Grand Junction woman reported missing is safe, thanks in large part to an Emergency Alert call from the 9-1-1 center.  73 year old Emileena Chacone was found after a citizen received an alert to be on the lookout for the woman.  The Police Department says it's a good reminder to sign up for Emergency and Community  alerts on the city's website.

LEANE FILES
Independent John Leane is turning in signatures today to get a spot on the November ballot for Mesa County Commissioner. Leane served on the commission from 1989 to 1993 as a democrat this time around he's running for the district 1 seat as an independent.  He's slated to turn in his petitions at 10:00 this morning.

FRAUD INDICTMENT
A Parker man has been arrested in an alleged oil and gas investment scam.  The Colorado Attorney General's Office says Jeffory Shields solicited more than $5 million from over 60 investors and used the proceeds for personal benefit.  He's being held on $750,000 bond.

SOS ECONOMIC FORECAST
The Colorado Secretary of State's Office is launching a quarterly economic forecast based on business data.  The CU Business Research Division is putting together economic trends based on new business start-ups, trademarks, and dissolved businesses. Researches compared business filings with other types of economic data and found a correlation with employment.  The findings will be published quarterly as a tool business leaders can use when making decisions like hiring new employees.

SPECIAL XGR SESSION
Governor John Hickenlooper is expected to clarify plans today for a special legislative session to address the issue of civil unions.  The issue died Tuesday night after heavy debate. Democrats say Republicans blocked the bill with last-minute stall tactics.  Republicans say the bill came up too late in the session for proper consideration.  Hickenlooper says there is an overwhelming need to discuss civil unions and has called a special session.

MURDER PLEA
One of 3 suspects in a crime spree in Grand Junction last summer including the murder of 31 year old Jorge Carrasco at Taco Bell, has pleaded not guilty to 16 charges.  19 year old Lester Miranda-Davis is accused of killing Carrasco, and of two armed robberies and a burglary last July.  He's being held under $750,000 bond.  The Daily Sentinel says two suspects in the spree are still on the run.  A second suspect is being held in Mesa County.  Two others from California are still on the run.

DRUG BUST
A traffic stop on I-70 has led to the arrest of a California woman on suspicion of transporting nearly 9 pounds of suspected packaged Meth. The Daily Sentinel says Mesa County Sheriff's Deputies stopped the woman's Jeep near the Utah border Tuesday afternoon.  The suspected drugs were found hidden under the Jeep's oil pan.

TCAP SCORES
3rd Grade TCAP reading test scores are out and show 72% of District 51 3rd graders scoring proficient or better.  That's just below the state average of 74%.  The Daily Sentinel says scores at 67% of the district's  traditional elementary schools went up from last year.  The district's implemented a secondary testing program to help track students reading and math scores to provide help earlier.  

MONTROSE SHERIFF'S POSSE GROUND BREAKING
The Montrose County Sheriff's Posse is getting a new storage facility thanks to the estate of a man who was the subject of a rescue at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison in 2003.  James Douglas McQueen of Australia suffered a heart attack and died while climbing a the park.  The posse assisted in removal of the man's body and since, his family has donated money for a building and storage facility as a tribute to McQueen.  Ground Breaking is this morning on the new $200,000 facility.