LIQUOR ENFORCEMENT
9 grand valley businesses are looking at sanctions after failing liquor compliance checks. Local law enforcement agencies and state liquor enforcement sent underage persons into 111 businesses Wednesday, 3 liquor stores and 6 restaurants sold to the minors. Compliance checks are funded by a grant awarded to the Grand Junction Police Department last October.
4TH OF JULY DUIS
The long 4th of July holiday was a deadly one on the roads in Colorado. The State Patrol says five people were killed in alcohol related crashes between June 29th and July 5th. During the same period, 632 DUI arrests were made. C-DOT and the state patrol are continuing the 100 Days of Heat anti-drunk driving campaign through September 4th.
XCEL SCAM
Xcel Energy is warning customers about a national scam targeting some Colorado utility customers. The scam via telephone, Twitter and texting claims President Obama is applying payments to utility bills in an attempt to get people to hand over social security and bank routing numbers. Xcel says it is a scam and customers should only use authorized methods to pay their bills.
FIRE RESTRICTIONS
Even though statewide fire restrictions have been lifted, Stage 2 restrictions are still in place on lands managed by the White River National Forest, and the Colorado River Valley and Grand Junction BLM Field Offices. The Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Office says conditions are still extremely dry and could lead to large fires. Recreationists are urged to call their county sheriff's office and local fire protection districts for the latest fire restrictions on non-federal lands.
MORE ALLEGATIONS
More allegations against a Grand Junction man being investigated on charges of sexual assault on a child while serving as a mentor in the Mesa County Partners program. The Daily Sentinel says 50-year Mark Bustamante was arrested after two boys said they had been molested. A third victim came forward yesterday and Bustamante's bond was raised from $100,000 to $150,000.
RINGOLD SENTENCED
A 22 year old Grand Junction man has been sentenced to 42 years in prison after shooting a 16 year old friend during a botched burglary. Joshua Ringold plead guilty in April to shooting Cody English as the pair ran away from a home where they tried to steal some pot last November. The Daily Sentinel says two admitted acomplices face 24 year prison sentences.
WEBSITES SEIZED
A Homeland Security team based in Denver has shut down 22 websites selling counterfeit merchandise. The sites are among 70 seized across the country. The US Attorneys Office in Denver says many of the sites were so close to the real ones, even the most discerning customers couldn't tell the difference. A list of the seized sites is online at ICE.gov.
