Monday August 13, 2012

EAST COAL FIRE
A 100 acre fire is burning in the West Elk Wilderness about 17 miles west of Gunnison.  The East Coal Creek Fire broke out Saturday after a lightning storm and then grew to 100 acres in changing weather conditions.  It's burning in Douglas Fir and beetle-killed trees.

MONT AIRPORT RIBBON
Officials at the Montrose Regional Airport say they're cutting the ribbon today on the new "Taxiway B" projcect.  The $3.8 million project is designed to increase aircraft throughput and safety.  A $9 million Runway 17-35 Rehab project is set to begin in the next few days.

CRIPPLE CREEK SINKHOLE
Another sinkhole has opened on a Colorado highway, this one shutting down Highway 67 north of Cripple Creek.  The road has been closed since about 10:15 Saturday morning with traffic to the town being detoured.  C-DOT says the sinkhole is about 5 feet wide and 20 feet deep over a mine shaft. No word on how long that closure will remain in place.

LIBRARY REOPENS
Mesa County's Central Library reopens in its temporary location this morning.  The Main branch is housed inside the former Ashley Furniture building at 1st and Gunnison, and expects to remain there until next spring.  Library officials describe the space as comfortable, and say customers will find a children's area, Wi-Fi, and public-use computures. The lot on the south side of the building is being used for parking.

6&50 25 RD CLOSURE CONTINUES
The 25 Road/Highway 6&50 closure is expected to continue through at least the middle of next week as crews work on installation of traffic signal posts, storm sewer, and frontage road construction. The $4.3 million quarter-mile project widens the the road from 4 to 6 lanes, updates the signal system, relocates utilities and improves curb, gutter, and sidwalk.

CANDIDATE FORUM
Voters who want to get to know candidates for Mesa County Commissioner and State House District 55 have a chance to do that in Fruita tomorrow night. The Fruita Chamber of Commerce is hosting a candidate forum with Dan Robinson, Ray Scott, John Justman, Jana Gerow, John Leane, and Rose Pugliese taking part.  The forum is from 7 to 9 at the Cavalcade at 201 East Aspen.

COLO GAS PRICES
An end to falling gasoline prices in Colorado.  After several weeks of drops, the average price in the state has climbed more than 3-cents a gallon to an average $3.48, still 6-cents a gallon lower than a month ago.  ColroadoGasPrices.com says the national average is now $3.67/gal. Up 25-cents in the past month.

GUNNISON FATAL
Alcohol may have been a factor in a crash Saturday that shut down Highway 50 near Gunnison for several hours.  The State Patrol says a 30 year old woman driving a van was killed in the crash at about 3:30 Saturday afternoon.  A passenger suffered unknown injuries.  The highway was closed nearly four hours during the investigation.

RYAN IN COLORADO
Colorado remains in the national political spotlight as Mitt Romney's choice as running mate, Paul Ryan makes his way to the state for his first private fundraiser tonight in Denver.  The Denver Post says an invitation to an event event at Lakewood High School tomorrow, calls that "a Victory Rally."

LOWER NORTH FORK COMISSION
A new state commission set up to review the Lower North Fork fire meets today in Denver and Jefferson County.  The Denver Post says the 5-member commission set up by the legislature after the fire last March, will be hearing from experts and residents in the aftermath of the fire that killed three people, destroyed 23 homes and burned 4,100 acres.  The fire was started when high winds rekindled a Colorado State Forest Service prescribed burn.