Friday December 21, 2012

The FBI is looking for a former palisade man on charges of sexual assault on a child.  A Federal warrant was issued in June for 59 year old James Tiner, accusing him of sexually assaulting an 8 year old girl who went to his home for music lessons in Palisade in 2009 and 10. The Daily Sentinel says Tiner was last seen in Palisade in April and in Arkansas in June.

Schools between Rifle and New Castle placed on a "soft lockdown" yesterday after a suspicious incident on I-70. A motorist reported a man walking away from a disabled car and when dispatchers ran the plate, it came back stolen out of Missouri. The soft lockdown was ordered as law enforcement looked for the man.  He was never located and the lockdown lifted by 12:30 yesterday.

Colorado Senator Mark Udall is backing a comprehensive plan to curb gun violence and mass shootings. The plan includes a possible ban on assault weapons ... Udall says the plan would ban military-style weapons and be crafted to ensure better background checks for gun purchases and bolster mental health services while respecting the Second Amendment.

The Colorado Lottery is using its 2,200 lottery promotion signs to broadcast Amber Alerts, with plans to install another 600 of the 19 inch monitors around the state.  The program was used for the first time this week to broadcast the abduction of a Colorado Springs toddler, ultimately found safe. Only the Amber Alerts will appear on the monitors as long as they are active. Lottery officials say they hope the move leads to helping more victims.

A Commerce City police officer could lose his job after shooting a dog to death last month.  The dog was reported vicious, then shot five times.  A neighbor videoed the killing and released it on social media.  According to the Denver Post, the Adams County DA is still investigating, and yesterday said one officer will be charged with Felony Aggravated Cruelty to Animals.

State economists say "fiscal cliff" negotiations are preventing stronger growth in Colorado, even as tax receipts are higher than expected and improvements in the housing market and personal income.  According to the Denver Post, the legislature's chief economist says as long as the fiscal cliff looms, Colorado's and the nation's economies will grow significantly below potential.

Officials at the Breckenridge Ski Resort say it took nearly 3 hours to evacuate 40 skiers and snow boarders from a ski lift yesterday.  A resort spokeswoman says a mechanical error stopped the lift around 1:30 yesterday afternoon, the last occupant evacuated by rope at about 4:15.

Ski resorts fighting for water rights on land leased from the US Forest Service have gotten some good news.  The Daily Sentinel says a federal judge ruled yesterday that the Forest Service cannot require ski resorts to surrender new water rights as part of their leases. Besides ski areas, Club 20 is weighing in on the ruling calling it a victory for western Colorado and Colorado water law.

A Grand Junction man who pled guilty to killing a woman walking on a sidewalk in October of 2011 will serve 7 years in Community Corrections.  22 year old Joseph Weixel was sentenced under a plea agreement yesterday.  According to the Daily Sentinel, Weixel was accused of driving under the influence, but evidence of that was sketchy.