Tuesday September 25, 2012

Police are looking for a man who held up a check cashing business in the Rimrock shopping center in broad daylight.  Witnesses say the man had a gun, got the money and ran away.  He's described as white, in his 20s and about 140-150 pounds.  He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, jeans and blue and white tennis shoes.

United Way of Mesa County is kicking off their annual fundraising event today calling attention to the 125th Anniversary of the United Way.  This year's campaign will carry that theme with a goal of $1.25 million.

Local volunteers and ranchers are helping some wounded service men and women, taking them on a three day elk hunting and fishing trip in the Glade Park area. Six veterans are making the trip, with activities including sighting rifles with Tasha Ericson, an award winning sharp shooter, and with Navy Seal reality show actor Chris Kyle. The group wraps up their trip Saturday at the Fruita Fall Festival.

Another campaign bus is stopping in Grand Junction today, but it doesn't have anything to do with politics.  Allegiant Airlilines is promoting their "Vote for Vacation" platform.  The bus is at Mesa Mall from 7 to 10 this morning with give aways including two roundtrip tickets to one of Allegiants's vacation destinations, and tax vouchers for future Allegiant trips.

The Colroado Department of Education says scors on SAT tests are up double digits between 2011 and 2012, but the number of students taking the tests has fallen. The number of public school seniors taking the tests has dropped 17.3% in the last five years, compared with a nationwide increase of 8.6%.

A third person has died in Colorado from West Nile virus, an 82 year old man from Delta County. The two other deaths were in Montrose County.  Health officials show the number of cases in Delta County at 29, and 18 in Montrose.  They say the numbers show the importance of continuing to take precautions against mosquitos as the season draws down.

A man who apparently fell from the top of a sculpture in downtown Montrose more than two weeks ago is improving.  43 year old George Christmas was found unconscious under the 18 foot tall "When Eagles Dare" air piece at Main and Uncompaghre. Police in Montrose say they're still investigating and don't believe foul play was involved.

Grand Jucntion weather authorities are still tallying the totals from storms in the Grand Valley and western Colorado, and say about 1/10 of an inch has been recorded in the Grand Junction area.  Other areas including Aspen receoved as much as a half inch.  More showers are in the forecast today and tomorrow with a strong low pressure system keeping temperatures below normal.  The rain is expected to begin gradually moving moving out of the area lat tomorrow.  Temperatures remaining below normal for the next few days.

The Colorado State Patrol is investigating a weird crash during a natural gas rig-moving operation.  It happened Friday and one driver says she was injured and her car damaged.  The driver, Patty Cline said a track carrying a tank blew a tire, causing the damage.  The State Patrol tells the Glenwood Post the incident happened on private land and without serious injuries, not tickets were issued.

Mesa County voters aren't waiting til the last minute, they're getting registered now.  Elections Director Catherine Lenhart tells the Daily Sentinel her office has processed nearly 2,000 transactions so far in September, compared with a usual rate of 200 to 400 a month.  Tuesday October 9th is the last day to register for the November election.

A woman pulled from the Eagle River last week died from a gunshot wound.  The Eagle County Coroner says 40 year old Stephanie Brantly was shot in the chest before her body was reported on a sand bar in the river behind the Gypsoum Wastewater Treatment Faciilty Friday.  Eagle County crime Stoppers is handling the case.