Friday December 7, 2012

Grand Jucntion Police are investigating an explosion at a house on N. 23rd Street.  Apparently something inside a safe blew up injuring a man and woman in the house. Both were taken to the hospital.  Police are still lookng for the cause of the blast.

A Mesa County District Judge has granted an emergency injunction to block plans to cremate the bodies of Tyler and William Jensen. The boys' mother has requested the cremation, their fraternal grandparents instead want the children buried next to their father who was killed in a car crash in October.  Judge Thomas Deister has ordered the grandparents to post a $5,000 bond since the bodies are in the custody of Callahan-Edfast Mortuary.

A tentative plea agreement means 26 year old Justin Keel could face 24 to 36 years in prison in the death of his girl friend's 19-month old son Owen Reak.  The little boy died in April.  The Daily Sentinel says Keel is expected to plead guilty to  one count of child abuse resulting in death.  In exchange the DA's office is to dismiss other charges including first degree murder in exchange.


One of Grand Junction's Deputy Police Chiefs is on his way to Commerce City, having been named their new Chief of Police.  Troy Smith was with Grand Junction for 9 years.  While here, Smith received the Grand Junction Police Department’s Award of Excellence and the Colorado State Police Chief’s Executive Innovation Award.  He starts in Commerce City Next month.


Grand Junction Rotary and Kiwanis are holding their annual Salvation Army Bell ring-off tomorrow.  Rotary mans the kettles from 10 to noon, Kiwanis from noon to 2:00. The Salvation Army says the competition annually raises for projects for kids throughout the year.

Wal-Marts in Delta and Grand Junction are holding a first-ever "Fill the Truck" event tomorrow from 9 to 5.  The stores will have barrels at each door and will accept new unwrapped toys and coats for children in need.  The Colorado Army National Guard will be there to help load  the toys and will also have some equipment for kids to play on.

Police in Delta have released the name of a man killed when his bicycle was hit by a pickup Wednesday night.  63 year old Craig Warren Hampton of Delta suffered serious injuries and was flown to Grand Junction where he later died.  The accident is still under investigation.

Some Central High School students are doing their part to help make Christmas merrier for folks who need a little help. The collected donations and are handing them out tomorrow.  Food, clothing, toiletries, toys and more are available at the school cafeteria all day tomorrow.

The Fruita Chamber of Commerce has a new director, Shauna Davies.  She's been with the Chamber for a long time and acted as interim director since May.  Chamber Board President John Burwell tells the Daily Sentinel Davies length of service and knowledge of the group led to her becoming the head.

19 horses have been found dead at the Wild Horse Inmate Program outside Canyon City.  BLM officials are trying to figure out what happened.  They say some of the horses were dead in a pen and others nearby were so sick they were put down.  Tests are underway on water and hay samples.  Since 1986, 5,000 horses have been trained by inmates in the program.