Tuesday August 21, 2012

Kids are back in school, and Grand Junction Police are issuing a continued warning about paying attention to kids.  Only four tickets were issued in school zones yesterday, all in the Nisley Elemtary school zone.  More kids are expected on roads because of new bus routes, so drivers need to be on the lookout.

Beware of a company selling education products door-to-door.  School District 51 says neither the salespeople nor the products are associated with the district.  Residents are encouraged to ask for identification and check with the district or neighborhood school before writing a check or giving money.

Mesa County's Drought Response Information Project, or DRIP, is recognizing the Grand Junction Parks and Rec Department for Outstanding Leadership during this year's drought.  DRIP officials say the city's work with over 300 acres of landscape in the grand valley has been impressive.

CDOT is keeping track of expected traffic situations with the USA Pro Challenge bicycle race and is out with predictions for today.  Stage Two travels from Montrose to Crested Butte, starting at 11:00 this morning.  US 50 and State Highway 135 will be closed to all haz-mat, oversize and overweight vehicles, and commercial vehicles should expect long delays between Gunnison and Montrose. Traveler information is being updated at cotrip.org.

A man is dead, a woman injured in a rollover accident on Thompson Creek Road in Garfield County.  The State Patrol says the man was thrown from the SUV he was driving, when it went out of control and rolled.  The woman suffered serious injuries, but was able to pull herself out of the wreck.  Pitkin County road and bridge workers witnessed the crash and performed CPR on the man who died at a hospital in Glenwood Springs.

State House District 55 candidate Dan Robinson is planning an announcement aimed at senior citizens later this morning.  Mesa County Democrats says prominent Republican will join him.  Robinson says he'll discuss ideas designed to may Grand Junction the most senior-friendly retirement destination in Colorado.

6,000 registered Mesa County Repulican voters have received phone calls asking them to tell House District 54 candidate Jared Wright to get out of the race.  Articles in the Daily Sentinel have called into question Wright's finances and character after being forced to quit his job with the Fruita Police Department.  A Grand Junction businessman paid for and sent out the calls yesterday asking voters to urge Wright to step aside so Republicans can find a new candidate before ballots go to the printers September 14th.

A Denver District Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Battlement Mesa residents agains oil and gas development by Antero Resources.  The Daily Sentinel says the judge ruled he has no jurisdiction, and that claims had been made improperly since drilling hasn't yet occurred.  Antero's plans for up to 200 wells within Battlement Mesa are on hold because of low natural gas prices.

Garfield County has signed off on an academic study of air emission from natural gas operations.  The Glenwood Post Independent says the county will provide up to $1 million in oil and gas mitigation funds to help pay for the study.  CSU, a private research firm, and several oil and gas companies will complete the study collecting data around well sites through various stages of development.

The Snowmass Village Town Council has decided to put a question on the November ballot to enact an ordinance regarding distribution and use of single-use, disposable plastic and paper bags.  The Aspen Times says the Council made the move yesterday.