JUCO CHURCH
If you want to go to church JUCO Sunday without all the frills, some local churches are making that easier with a Worship Service at the Lincoln Park bandstand. State Fellowship of Christian Athletes Director Lee James will talk about athletes as Christians and Christian Athletes. Family, coaches, teams and fans are invited.
SENIOR TAX BREAK
If you're a seniors living Colorado, you may qualify for the senior property tax exemption signed into law earlier this month. You could be eligible for a 50% exemption on the first $200,000 in actual value of your primary residence. To qualify, you must be 65 or older and have owned and lived in the home for the last ten years as of January 1st 2012. Contact your county assessor office for more info.
BEETLE KILL TAX EXEMPTION
A long term tax exemption on the sale of beetle kill wood products is in effect with the stroke of the pen of Governor John Hickenlooper. He was in Grand Junction yesterday to sign into law three different measures, including the beetle-kill exemption. The bill by Collbran Representative Laura Bradford extends a tax emption already in place for an additional 7 years.
PUBLIC TRUSTEE BILL
Counties in Colorado now have more control of the spending in the office of the Public Trustee with the governor's signing of a bill by Grand Junction State Rep Ray Scott. He says the law allows counties to set an annual budget for the trustee's office, improving transparency and accountability. Public Trustees oversee foreclosures within their counties.
SEATBELT DEATHS
The number of driving deaths as a result of not wearing a seatbelt has gone up in Colorado for the first time in 9 years. The latest numbers released by CDOT show 187 people died last year as a result of not buckling up. That was up from 164 in 2010.
POLLEN COUNT
Mesa County's pollen count is dropping after a pretty high weekend. Tree pollen is still moderate, especially oak trees. Weeds have dropped, too, but are still moderate, with grass pollen still at low levels.
RECALL FOR POTENTIAL LISTERIA
The state health department is trying to avert a potential listeria outbreak with a recall of salads bagged in Salinas, California. Several types of salads bagged by River Ranch Fresh Foods are on the list. So far NO illnesses have been reported. More information is available through the FDA's Recall web page.
CHAMBER ENERGY BRIEFING
The newest technology in energy recovery is the topic of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce's Energy Briefing tomorrow morning. Representatives from EnCana and WPX will talk about an advancement in reg technology called Split Rigs. The briefing is at 7:30 tomorrow in the Chamber lower level conference room.
D-51 BOARD MEETING
The District 51 School Board has a long agenda for tonight's meeting, including the 2012-13 budget... Possible staffing cuts, student fee schedules and more. The meeting's at the BTK Center off Patterson Road at 6:00.
JANUSZ ARREST DETAILS
Details are being released in the arrest of a former Grand Junction Police Officer accused of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust. A report in today's Daily Sentinel says a woman who was 16 at the time said she began a sexual relationship with Eric Janusz in 2000, with encounters continuing through August 2011 when she reported the affair. Janusz worked for the Police Department for ten years before being hired by the Grand Junction Fire Department. He's scheduled to return to court next month.
139 OPEN
Highway 139 has reopened after a tanker crash and fracking fluid spill. It happened early yesterday afternoon, when the tanker rolled onto its side at mile marker 36. Hazmat crews were called out and the road finally reopened just after 9:00 last night.
