Friday October 19, 2012

3rd District Congressman Scott Tipton is in Durango Sunday for a high-dollar fundraiser.  Spreaker John Boehner is the special guests.  Tickets go for as high as $2,500 to $250.  That'll get you anything from a VIP Roundtable and reception, to the reception alone.

It pays to play again.  Just ask Michael Cudahy from Lakewood.  He entered a non-winning scratch lottery ticket and won $250,000 in the second chance drawing. The Colorado lottery holds second-chance drawings for 8 different scratch games.

The Grand Junction Housing Authority is re-opening its Housing Choice Voucher Program waiting list Monday. The waiting list was closed in March due to the length of the list and need to purge the list.  Voucher applications are available on-line at gjcity.org, or at the Housing Authority office on 10th Street.

The Montrose Memorial Hospital  will remain under a lease to a private corporation, MMH Inc. A state appeals court made the ruling yesterday, saying the hospital board did nothing wrong when it made the lease. County Commissioners said the lease process led to a dramatic change in governance of the hospital to a private non-profit.. transferring all cash assets and leaving no authority to the county-appointed trustee.

Palisade is the place to go for tourists.  Competing with cities in states like California and New York, Palisade was just ranked #9 Nationally.  The new will be featured in an upcoming issue of Men's Journal.

A Mesa County jury has found a Montrose man guilty of selling fake meteorites.  59 year old Steven Curry said he was the victim of a bizarre conspiracy of scientists, meteorite experts. According to the Daily Sentinel, the jury found Curry guilty of misdemeanor counts of theft, fraud and criminal simulation.

More restrictions on Colorado National Monument races.  The US Bank rim Rock Marathon this year will include only the full 26.2 mile run...the half marathon cancelled after monument staff said it could make it harder for other monument guests to view the site.  In past years, relay teams were allowed to have one person run half way, and another to finish the race.  Organizers tell The Daily Sentinel they've cancelled that portion to avoide a conflict with the park.

The City of Fruita is looking at alot of capital construction next year, with $3.5 million in capital projects in the 2013 budget.  The Daily Sentinel says projects in that total include the Pine Stree corridor, with a complex widening project including pedestrian improvements.  Some Riverfront Trail projects are included, along with $100,000 in downtown upgrade.

Grand Junction parks and rec is starting installation of the outdoor arboretum at Lincoln Park tomorrow.  Eagle scout candidate Ryan Gibb and a goup of volunteers will be putting in over 40 posts for signs in front of trees selected to be a part of the new arboretum.  The work is part of the Lincoln park redevelopment including new sidewalks, and an accessible play area.

The US Department of Interior has awarded the state of Colorado and others in the Cooperating Partners in conservation for their study on preserving the Colorado River basin.  The study addresses future supply and demand issues in the river basin.  The final report on the basin study is to be published at the end of November.

C-DOT's reminding drivers to use caution in October and November in areas where wildlife may be migrating to winter habitats.  Data shows wildlife vehicle crashes have gone down since 2006, with experts citing the creation of wildlife zones where speed limits are lowered at night, for the decline in accidents.

Mesa County Crime Stoppers is looking for suspects who vandalized the restrooms at Columbine park.  They damaged multiple fixtures resulting in $2,000 in damages.  It happened sometime between 3 and 10 last Thrusday october 11th.  You could be eligible for a reward up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.

C-DOT's reminding drivers to use caution in October and November in areas where wildlife may be migrating to winter habitats.  Data shows wildlife vehicle crashes have gone down since 2006, with experts citing the creation of wildlife zones where speed limits are lowered at night, for the decline in accidents.

Mesa County Crime Stoppers is looking for suspects who vandalized the restrooms at Columbine park.  They damaged multiple fixtures resulting in $2,000 in damages.  It happened sometime between 3 and 10 last Thrusday october 11th.  You could be eligible for a reward up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.

The Colorado State Patrol has released the data from their most recent commercial vehicle chain possession check.  State law requires commercial vehicles to carry chains from September 1st thru May 31st on I-70 between Dotsero and Morrison.  checks east of vail on I-70 showed 72% of commercial traffic had chains on board in August, nearly 98% compliant in September and October.

College undergrads, grad students, and recent graduates interested in a career in politics should get their resume ready.  Senator Michael Bennett is accepting internship applications for his Washington DC and Colorado offices for spring 2013 internships.  Interships are available in Grand Junction, and several other cities in the state.