Wednesday September 26, 2012

The Colorado State Patrol has fired two troopers involved in the fatal shooting of a Redlands man.  31 year old Jason Kemp was shot to death in 2010 as the troopers tried to get into his apartment after a hit and run accident about a block away. State Patrol Cpt. Jeff Goodwin tells The Daily Sentinel "other members" of the Fruita-based Troop 4A are the focus of a separate, ongoing internal investigation, but didn't talk about that ongoing probe.

United Way of Mesa County is kicking off their 2012-13 fundraising campaign with a donation over $457,000 from pacesetter organizations--35 local companies who raise money in-house before the community-wide campaign.  United way is celbrating its 125th anniversary and has set a goal of $1.25 million for this year's drive.

Mesa County has had several Drug Take-Back Days, where residents can clean out their medicine cabinets and dispose of prescription drugs in a safe way.  The same Take-Back event sponsored by the Federal DEA is coming to Delta and Montrose Saturday. Check with your local departments for drop off locations and items that won't be accepted.

A Rifle man has een sentenced to 29 years in prison after being convicted of shooting a Rifle police officer two years ago.  Phil Amonette was acquitted of Attempted 1st Degree Murder, but later convicted of 1st Degree Assault.  Amonette fired on the officer in a domestic violence call.  He was saved by a bullet proof vest.  Amonette was seriously injured with a second officer returned fire.

A Rapper from Brighton is singing the blues after convictions of racketeering and bank fraud.  The Daily Sentinel says 38 eyar old Stacy Damon Harris, aka Dame Fame was found to be the organizer of a complex, multi-state credit card and bank fraud operation that stole tens of thousand of dollars from several banks across the state including Montrose.  He's to be sentenced October 4th.

Will Frozen Dead Guy Days continue in Nederland even if the Dead Guy is no longer there?  According to the Denver Post, there's still a few years to worry about it.  The grandson of Bredo Morstoel who's been on ice in a Nederland shed since 1993 is in talks with Cryonic Institute in Michigan to take over the storage as soon as 2015.  The problem now is the fellow who's been keeping the body at 24 degrees below zero with dry-ice deliveries monthly has quit, saying the grandson hasn't been paying him for the work.

Vail Resorts is tallying income from the worst snow and visitation season in two decades.  The Denver Post says the company's net income slid by more than half to $16.5 million for fiscal 2012. Revenue from operations faring better. The company says earnings from mountan and lodging segments fell just 3.8%, with some growth from higher lift ticket prices and increased visitor spending on retail, rentals and dining.

An Arkansas Valley Correctional Sgt. killed by an inmate Monday has been identified as 55 year old Mary Ricard.  She was attacked in the prison kitchen by a former Ft. Carson soldier convicted of raping a 14 year old girl in Colroado Springs in 2002.  Ricard's death is the second death of an officer in the state prison system in ten years.

Colorado state foresters will continue controlled burns, but with tightened rules in light of the deadly Lower NOrth Fork fire in March.  A review panel has approved bills to create minimum standards for burns and to offer tax credits to landowners who perform fire mitigation.
 

If your home was forcelosed upon between 2008 and 2011 you may be eligib le for a payment under a national mortgage-foreclosure settlement.  State attorney general John Suthers office is sending claim forms to borrows who lost their homes during that time.  If you were foreclosed on and had your mortgage serviced by GMAC/ALLy Financial, Bank of America/Country Wide, citibank, jpmorgan chase or wells fargo you may be eligible for a portion of the 25 billion dollar settlement.  Colorado expects 51 million to be distributed in the state.

Grand Junction Police are still searching for the suspect who escaped from Monday afternoons armed robbery of a check cashing store.  the police department is encouraging anyone who may have information on the suspect to contact the police department at 242-6707 or if they wish to remain anonymous, crime stoppers at 241-STOP.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is urging Coloradans to get their flu vaccination.  Flu season is right around the corner and vaccines are available at the mesa county health department in addition to several grocery stores and pharmacies in the area.

Over the first 8 months of 2012, Grand Junction has received just over 2 1/3 inches of rain.  That qualifies for the third driest period on record for the region in the last 120 years.  The National Weather service reports almost half of that total moisture came this summer in june, july and august.

The BLM set to host a series of public meetings this week to provide information, answer questions and take public written comments on the White River Oil and Gas Amendment.  the amendment is supposed to guide future management of oil and natural gas development in the Piceance Basin, an area of 1.7 million acres rich in oil and gas in rio blanco, moffat and garfield counties.  4 meetings are scheduled this week, including in Grand Junction Thursday night at the clarion inn from 4-7.

For the 4th straight year, The upper grand valley pest control district reporting that the invasive japanese beetle has not been found in the area.  100 traps were placed in Palisade with no beetles being detected. the invasive species that can cause significant damage to over 300 plants, grasses and fruit trees were first discovered in palisade in 2002 but the aggresive eradication effort started in 2003 has produced results.