Friday August 3, 2012

25 ROAD CLOSURE
Now's a good time to start planning for the closure of 25 Road at Highway 6&50.  Construction there will shut down north/south traffic will allowing east/west traffic to continue on the I-70 Business loop.  The closure will be put in place overnight Sunday and there will be no access to 25 Road from 6 & 50.  Detour routes will be in place for the 18 day scheduled closure.

CRIME STATS
The CBI is out with its latest crime statistics through the Uniform Crime Reporting Program.  Overall, there was a .3% decrease in the number of reported crimes in the state, including a nearly 2 1/2 % decrease in violent crimes and a .6% decrease in property crimes.  Negatives in the report include a 20% jump in homicides last year compared with 2010, and a more than 3% rise in reported forcible rapes.  The full report is available on the Colorado Bureau of Investigation website.

R-5 GRANT
School District 51's R-5 High School has received a Transformation Improvement Grant from the state Department of Education aimed at improving student success at the school.  The initial money pays for staff to work with students on individualized learning style, and for more classroom time on Saturdays and in summer school.  Parents can find out more at a Back to School night August 30, or by calling the R-5 office.

FRUITA CAMPGROUND FEES
Free camping at the North Fruita Desert Campground is on its way out.  The BLM says starting Labor Day Weekend, it'll cost $10 to spend the night there...the money going to improving facilities at the 40 acre site.  A self-pay station will be in place, along with camp hosts on peak weekends and holidays.  Intersted volunteer hosts can contact the BLM.

MONTROSE PRO CYCLING ANTHEM
When the second stage of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge gets started in Montrose August 21st, it will be to the sounds of the Montrose High School Bel Canto Choir singing the National Anthem.  The Montrose Daily Press says the group was chosen from 8 individuals and on the choir who tried out yesterday.

SEX ASSAULT VICTIMS
A 4th alleged victim has come forward in a case against a former senior mentor in the Mesa County Partners Program.  50 year old Mark Bustamante was arrested last month, accused of assaulting two boys in the program.  A third victim, a client at Mesa Developmental Services came forward later that month, and now, a fourth boy who was coached by Bustamante in Grand Junction city organized flag football and basketball.  The Daily Sentinel says Bustamante remains jailed on $150,000 bond.

ROMNEY IN BASALT
Mitt Romney wasn't alone at his stop at Basalt High School yesterday.  10 Republican governors were along for the action.  The Daily Sentinel says the candidate focused on the economy, energy and education.  State democrats in the meantime are getting ready for a rally of their own when President Obama comes to Grand Juntion next week.  They say Romney wants to raise taxes on the middle class.

FRUITA METH BUST
A Fruita couple is in jail, no word on where their kids are, after a Mesa County Sheriff's Office SWAT bust found them inside their dirty home along with suspected methamphetamine.  According to the Daily Sentinel, 49 year old Martin Stafford and his 44 year old wife Tammra were arrested early yesterday after two small children were found in the living room and the woman in a bedroom.  Investigators also found meth paraphernalia and loaded guns.

BUFFALO KILLED
The state patrol is looking into the deaths of ten buffalo after collisions with vehicles on I-70. According to the AP, Trooper Josh Lewis says two people were injured in the crashes early yesterday near Byers.  A brand expert determined the buffalo had roamed about 15 miles south of their ranch.

I-70 MOUNTAIN TRAFFIC
It doesn't take ski season to slow down traffic on I-70 between the mountains and Denver.  C-DOT is warning drivers of the likelihood of heavy traffic between Silverthorne and Denver on Sunday.  They say the best way to avoid stop and go traffic is to travel before 1:00 Sunday afternoon and 7:00 that night.

COLORADO PROUD DAY
The State Agriculture Department is encouraging residents to be Colorado Proud...buying fruits and vegetables grown in Colorado especially during the month of August, declared Colorado Proud Month.  Colorado Proud was created in 1999 to promote locally grown raised or processed food and agricultural products statewide. There's a whole website dedicated at ColoradoProud.org.