Thursday August 16, 2012

CLUB 20 FALL DEBATES
Club 20 is moving with its agenda for their fall meeting and candidate debates.  3rd District Congressman Scott Tipton and challenger Sal Pace have committed, and invitations have gone out to cadidates in other races representing the western slope.  The meetings are September 7th and 8th with details being updated on Club 20's website.

WESTERN SMOKE
All that smoke in the air is coming from fires throughout the west, not closer to home.  The Montrose Interagency Fire Management Unit says they have several fires going, but creating little smoke, and affecting nearby areas only. More than 50 fires are reported in northern California, Oregon, Nevada, and Idaho.  the National Weather Service says a high pressure ridge is causing a northwesterly flow  over the state and will keep smoke in the area through the weekend and most likely through the middle of next week.

MORE ANTHRAX
Two more cows have tested positive for anthrax in northeast Colorado.  The State Department of Agriculture says the cases are located on properties near a ranch in Logan County where one case was confirmed after 50 head of cattle were found dead.  The state veterinarian says they're keeping a close eye on neighboring properties to limit the spread of the disease, and herds in those areas have received anthrax vaccinations.

CLIFTON WATER REPAIRS
The Clifton Water District is repairing a water main line in the area of 32 and E Roads today, affecting traffic in the area through 5:00 this afternoon.  No customers are expected to be without water during the work.

CRIME STOPPERS
Mesa County Crime Stoppers are looking for vandals who hit three houses under construction in the 2200 block of Rock Valley Road.  It happened the night of July 17th, with $6,000 in damage to windows a gas fireplace, door knobs and construction equipment. Anyone with information should contact crimestoppers.

XCEL SOLAR
Colorado Xcel Energy customers like solar energy, and they're buying up opportunities right and left.  A new program called Solar Rewards Community was offered yesterday, and customers snapped up available capacity in just 30 minutes.  The program involves making power from community-based solar installations available to customers who are renting, living in multi-family housing, or in houses or buisinesses not suitable for solar installations.

WHITE HALL
The burned out shell of White Hall is coming down.  Grand Junction City Council has approved a $313,000 contract for demolition beginning the first week of September.  The old church was destroyed in a fire in September of last year, the ruins at 6th and White fenced off since.  The Daily Sentinel says plans for the city owned property may include some type of housing.

ENERGY FUELS CONTRACT
A company that wants to build a uranium mine in Montrose County has closed a deal on 200,000 pounds of uranium oxide, making it an operating company.  The sale is from an Enerygy Fuels mine in White Mesa, Utah. The Daily Sentinel says completion of the shipments makes Energy Fuels the largest active conventional uranium producer in the country.  The company is seeking permits to open a $150 million uranium mill near Naturita.

PALISADE SOLAR
The town of Palisade is getting ready to accept bids from solar companies to install a solar array to power the town's water treatment plant.  The Daily Sentinel says a solar company from Carbondale brought the idea to the town in May.  Town trustees on Tuesday decided to allocate $234,000 for the project and will advertise for bids.

ASPEN TOURISM BOOM
Tourism in Aspen is booming.  Aspen lodges recorded a 78% occupancy rate in July, compared with 71% the same month last year.  The Aspen times says it was the highest paid occupancy since accurate tracking started in 2006.

NATURAL GAS WELL FATAL
One man is dead in a natural gas well explosion near Fort Lupton.  It happened yesterday afternoon at a well operated by Encana.  Officials say it appears to have been a pressure issue at a new well being drilled.  Three other workers were injured in the accident.