Monday October 8, 2012

Grand Junction Police are still looking for a suspect in a hit and run early yesterday.  A woman was hit and seriously injured in the 900 block of Main Street about 2:30 Sunday morning, but police aren't saying anything about the vehicle or circumstances of the incident. The Daily Sentinel says the victim is an employee who's worked at the paper for several years, although they have received no information either.

Downtown Montrose could start getting a new look thanks to a new loan option for business owners.  The DDA and city are teaming up to offer low-interest loans for some projects. The idea is to improve code deficiencies and even replace signage. The Montrose Daily Press says it's easy to qualify for a loan, the business has to be of commercial use and within the DDA boundaries.

Curbside recycling could be returning to Montrose.  The Montrose Daily Press says the city's found a way to make it work and make it easier for customers.  The plan is expected to be up and running sometime next year.

Grand Junction's so-called Beltway Project is at the top of the list of Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce members completing a survey on future transportation planning. 53% said completing a loop around the valley with I-70 on the north, 24 Road on the west, Riverside Parkway on the south, and 29 Road on the east with a new interchange at I-70.  The North Avenue corridor also scored high on the list of projects to be looked at.  74% of those surveyed indicated interest in continuing TABOR funding to support paying for the projects.

Mesa County Sheriff's investigators are looking for a fugitive believed to have been in the area 29 and B Roads Saturday night.  36 year old Abel Nunez has warrants out for vehicular eluding and drugs.

Crews are getting the upper hand on  the Highway 13 fire burning nearly 1,000 acres north of Rifle.  Officials say they don't expect any additional growth, but smoke may be seen from inside the fire lines.  The fire started last Wednesday and so far not cause has been listed.  the Highway 13 fire is considered 80% contained.

Gas prices in California are are record highs, but in Colorado, they're actually down 1.5 cents/gal in the past week.  ColoradoGasPrices.com says the average price yesterday was $3.69/gal, nearly 28 cents higher than the same day a year ago and 10 cents higher than a month ago.

A half mile section of 24 Road is being closed for bridge replacement starting October 22nd.  Mesa County says it's replacing three bridges crossing the Grand Valley Canal, all have been classified as "functionally obsolete." When construction starts, 24 Road will be closed between I and I 1/2, with traffic detoured to 23 1/2 Road.

The CMU campus radio station has come up with a clever way to earn some money.  They're raffling off 12 credit hours of instate tuition valued at more than $4,000.  The Daily Sentinel says President Tim Foster signed off on the deal, but was unavailable for comment.  The station's manager says the University is picking up the bill for the raffle this year, but they hope the raffle becomes a tradition.

A backpack found in the town of Superior is believed to belong to a ten year old girl missing from Westminster since Friday.  Jessica Ridgeway has been missing since not meeting her friends to walk to school. Police say they have expanded their search to the Rock Creek subdivision in Superior.

A new DU poll shows President Barak Obama leading in Colorado, but the gap closing.  According to the Denver Post, Mitt Romney's strong showing in the first presidential debate led to a 47% to 43% showing for Obama, what they say is the outer edge of the poll's 4% margin of error.

One person is dead, another in critical condition after a carbon monoxide leak at a Colorado Springs apartment complex. The Springs Gazette says firefighters were called after residents reported feeling sick.  The apartments were evacuated and the two victims found.