Thursday September 6, 2012

Grand Junction Democrats are getting together tonight to watch President Obama accept the Democratic Party's nomination for President.  You can get more information on tonight's Watch party from the local Obama For America office in the Valley Plaza.

The Montrose County Commissioners are opposed to Amendment 64, the so-called "regulate marijuana like alcohol" measure," passing a resolution this week backing the opposition group--"Smart Colorado/No on 64."  According to the Montrose Daily Press, Commissioner Gary Ellis spoke for the board citing years of law enforcement.  He says voter approval of the measure would harm Colorado's reputation.

Montrose County is moving ahead with upgrades to the Justice Center, using some creative methods to save money.  Facilities director Ken Norris tells The Montrose Daily Press the state has ordered the county to add two courtrooms and that's being done by moving some offices to an annex building, and remodeling existing space.  Norris says the project should be finished by next spring. He says the county will save money by re-using material taken from the current space, like ceilings, doors and floor coverings.

More students than ever are attending Colorado Mesa University.  The enrollment count as of Tuesday shows more than 9,000 students.  CMU President Tim Foster tells The Daily Sentine growth has slowed this semester, but number of students is still up 2.3%.  He says that's a good showing considering enrollment declines are expected at other Colorado institutions.

Grand Junction city voters will have the final say in the use of property owned by Brady Trucking near the Colorado River at 27 1/2 Road.  Brady has been trying get zoning changed since the property was annexed into the city after the family-owned trucking company bought it.  The Daily Sentinel says Brady is willing to work with river interests to ensure the smallest impacts as possible on the river.  Voters will decide in April whether a zoning plan adopted in 2008 should stand.

A 22 year old Grand Junction man faces six years in prison in a drunk driving crash on the Colorado National Monuement earlier this year.  Timothy Tyler pled guilty yesterday to vehicular assault while DUI and other charges.  The Daily Sentinel says Tyler was speeding at the east entrance to the Monument last May when the car went over an embankment seriously injuring three people. His speed was estimated at 80 miles an hour in a 25 mile an hour zone.

The City of Fruita wants to improve its downtown area and is looking for residents to sit on a Downtown Advisory Board. The Daily Sentinel says Fruita is a candidate city in the Colorado Main Street Program.  Community Development Director Dahna Raugh says the new board will work with business and property owners to come up with plans relating to downtown issues.

A 7-year old Pagosa Springs girl is recovering from bubonic plague at a hospital in Denver.  Sierra Jane Downing is believed to have contracted the disease from flea bites on a picnic last month. Hers is the first case of plague in Colorado since 2006.  The family found out she had plague when what was first thought to be the flu turned into a 107 degree fever and seizures.

A cabin that gained notoriety last spring when cows became trapped and died inside, is being allowed to fall apart.  The Aspen Times says the U-S Forest Service has removed a tin roof from the cabin near the Conundrum Hot Springs, leaving it to deteriorate in the 11,000 foot weather. 6 cows wandered into the cabin and froze to death.