Wednesday August 8, 2012

OBAMA VISIT
President Obama can look forward to a couple of messages in Grand Junction today.  When he flies into town, he'll see a huge message carved into an alfalfa field near the airport. A group called Protect the Flows mowed the message " Mr. Prez, We Rely on the Colorado River." Then when he gets to Grand Junction High School for his town hall meeting, the Western Slope Conservative Alliance will be out in force, rallying outside with signs and t-shirts.

Before the doors open at Grand Junction High School for President Obama's visit, a couple of Republicans will be at the school rallying support for challenger Mitt Romney.  Grand Junction State Senator Steve King and Utah's 3rd District Congressman Jason Chaffetz will be touting Romney's middle class strengthening plan. They say 224,000 Coloradans out of work prove the President's plan for economic recovery hasn't worked.

A new CBS poll gives Republican Mitt Romney a 5 point lead over President Obama in Colorado.  Pundits are keeping a close eye on Colorado along with Virginia and Wisconsin, considered swing states in the upcoming election.   The same poll finds the President with a 4-point lead in Virginia and a 6-point lead in Wisconsin.

Incumbent 3rd District Congressman Scott Tipton and Democrat Sal Pace are facing off in their first debate tonight in Alamosa.  The district covers the 29 counties along the western slope and and much of southern Colorado. The race is being watched closely by national Democrats who see it as one of the party's best opportunities to pick up a seet in the Repbulican controlled House.

President Obama has signed a measure to help farmers and ranchers affected by the ongoing drought.  Senator Mark Udall backed the drought-relief policies which include lower interest rates on USDA Emergency Loans, $16 million in technical assistance from the USDA, and 14 million USDA-dollars being transferred into an emergency fund to assist in providing water and forage for livestock.

CSP MOTOR TROOPER INJURED
A Montrose man is facing charges after a crash injuring a CSP Motorcycle Trooper.  14 year veteran Todd Martin was patrolling Highway 50 near the Delta-Montrose Technical School when he collided with a pickup that turned in front of him. The Montrose Daily Press says Martin was treated for serious injuries and released.

SUSPICIOUS DEATH RULED SUICIDE
The investigation into what Mesa County authorities had described as a suspicious death in Clifton Monday is over.  The Mesa County Coroner's Office says the cause of death has been ruled a suicide.

0&G RIG NUMBERS DOWN
The number of oil and gas rigs operating in Garfield and Mesa County is way down from 2008 when natural gas prices were at their high.  The Daily Sentinel says ten rigs are operating in Garfield County down from 64 in November of 2008.  At least one company, Encana USA, is expecting natural gas and so-called wet-gas prices to go up as winter nears.

FRUITA TRU-VALUE RULING
The Fruita City Council has approved a plan for a new Tru-Value Hardware store, but with one condition.  The store would sit at the end of a residential cul-de-sac at Pabor Way north of Highway 6&50, but the council wants to make sure commercial traffic doesn't upset the neighborhood and is requiring the builder to "discourage" traffic there.  The civil engineering firm working on the plan tells the Daily Sentinel it's not sure exactly what the new plan will entail.

Tuesday August 7, 2012

BLM VANDALISM SUSPECT
The BLM is trying to identify a vandal who damaging a petroglyph in the Bangs Canyon Speical Recreation Management Area.  It happened in February this year and the act was caught on video.  A picture of the suspect is posted at mbcgrandnews.com.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
The 29th annual National Night Out is tonight and being recognized in communities around western Colorado.  In Grand Junction, 30 neighborhoods have signed up to host events, spending time with neighbords to promote safety and crime prevention in their neighborhoods.  In Clifton, Crimestoppers and the Mesa County Sheriff's Department are hosting an event at Kimwood Park with activities for kids and adults.  You can contact your local law enforcement agency for information about events near you.

POWERBALL JACKPOT CLIMBS
If you're feeling lucky, you might want to buy a Powerball lottery ticket. Tomorrow night's jackpot is up to $212 million.  One person in Edwards matched all 5 numbers drawn last Wednesday for a cool $1 million.  If the ticket had included the optional $1 power-play, it would have been worth $2 million... A powerball match would have scored the jackpot. Money from Colorado's lottery games stays in Colorado funding the state's Great Outdoors Colorado programs.

COLO RIVER LEVELS
If you thought Colorado's rivers were dry, think again.  The Colorado River Outfitters Association says most rivers in the state are running and have good water available for rafting and other sports. The Association says only a handful of rivers are closed.  A report on 16 rivers is available on the Colorado River Outfitters Association website.

CLIFTON SUSPICIOUS DEATH
The Mesa County Sheriff's Office isn't releasing information about the "suspicious" death of a woman in Clifton.  According to the Daily Sentinel, records in the case have been sealed, so the nature of a 9-1-1 call to a home on 2nd Street in Clifton can't be released.  A woman found inside the home around 2:00 yesterday morning, died later at a hospital. Sheriff's investigators were at the address most of the day.

JANUSZ BOUND OVER
A former Grand Junction Police Officer and Firefighter has been bound over for trial on charges of sexual assault on a child following an affair with an underage girl in 2000.  42 year old Eric Janusz was arrested in April following an investigation after the victim, who is now 28, came forward and reported the crime. Janusz is free on bond and is to be arraigned later this month.

AURORA APT FIRE DEATHS
Two people are dead, 15 taken to the hospital in a fire at an Aurora apartment complex.  The Denver Post says both people who died were on the 4th floor of the 4-story building across the street from the CU Health and Science Center.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

ANTI-ABORTION AMENDMENT
A pro-life group has turned in signatures to get an anti-abortion measure on the November ballot.  The Colorado Personhood Coalition needs about 86,000 valid signatures and turned in more than 121,000.  Personhood USA founder Keith Mason tells the Denver Post ballot language this year is different from the group's previous two tries to amend the state constitution.  He says wording extends constitutional rights to all humans at any stage of development, and expressly would not prohibit all forms of contraception. Opponents say they'll work to defeat the amendment.


WOLF FIRE UPDATE
A 6,100 acre fire burning in Moffat County is now 75% contained.  The Wolf Fire broke out in lightning last Friday in very rough terrain. No homes or building have been threatened, but the area is considered critical wildlife habitat.  Officials say fire danger remains high in Moffat and Rio Blanco counties.



MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS
The Department of Health and Human Services say average basic Medicare prescription drug plans are expected to remain the same next year thanks to the Affordable Care Act.  The department says since the law was enacted, seniors and people with disabilities have save nearly $4 billion on prescription drugs.

BLM Vandalism Suspect

NEWS RELEASE
July 17, 2012
Contact: Christopher B Joyner, BLM Public Affairs Specialist, (970) 210-2126
BLM Needs Help In Identifying Vandalism Suspect
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management is seeking
immediate help in identifying an individual believed responsible for damaging an
archeological artifact on public lands.  
The suspect was caught on video allegedly vandalizing a petroglyph in the Bangs
Canyon Special Recreation Management Area.  The alleged crime took place
during late February 2012.  If anyone recognizes or has information leading to
the prosecution of the suspect, please call BLM law enforcement Rangers at
(303) 239-3803.  A reward may be offered for information leading to the
successful prosecution of the suspect(s).
The Antiquities Act of 1906 and the Archeological Resources Protection Act of
1979, among other public laws and regulations, protects archeological resources
upon the lands owned or controlled by the Government of the United States.  It is
a crime to remove, damage or deface items of historic or scientific interest on
federal lands.  The BLM maintains routine on-going patrol presence on multiple
sites of historic or scientific interest.  However, your assistance is also requested
in aiding these federal law enforcement rangers by reporting suspicious activities
or crimes to BLM law enforcement officers at (303) 239-3803.
Note to media: Attached is still photos of the suspect.  We are requesting your
assistance in releasing this information to the public in hopes that we can identify
the person responsible for the damage.
For more information, contact BLM Law Enforcement Ranger Bryce Stewart at
(970) 244-3111.
###

Monday August 6, 2012

OBAMA IN GJ
Before President Obama stops in Grand Junction Wednesday, he'll be making what his campaign calls "events" in Denver. The president is scheduled to speak in Grand Junction at 5:30 at Grand Junction High School.

HUNTERS REMAINS FOUND
Remains of a hunter missing since last October have been found in Delta County.  75 year old Terry Baughn of Ohio had been hunting in the Leroux Creek area northwest of Hotchkiss when he became separated from his party.  The Delta County Sheriff's office says the remains were found yesterday by a rancher near Doughty Mountain, a heavily wooded area about a mile and a half from where Baughn was reported missing.

WOLF FIRE UPDATE
A 6,100 acre wildfire burning south of Elk Springs in Moffat County is now considered 40% contained. The Wolf Fire was started on BLM land by lightning Friday. Officials are keeping a close eye on some oil and gas facilities about 3 miles south of the fire. Nearly 200 personnel are working the fire in steep canyon areas.

OBAMA IN GJ
President Obama is coming to Grand Junction Wednesday and tickets for the event are available starting this morning at 9:00 at Obama for America offices in Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs and Montrose. The President will speak at 5:30 at Grand Junction High School with the doors opening at 2:30. Tickets will be required to get in.

NEW BOOK ON JONBENT RAMSEY
Telluride's Town Marshall has some pretty interesting insight into the murder of JonBenet Ramsey in 1996. James Kohler was hired as a lead investigator in the case in 2004, but says many of the leads he developed were never looked into by the DA.  In an interview in yesterday's Montrose Daily Press,  Kohler says he found things not released to the public before, and allows readers to form their own opinions of what happened. The book is called "Foreign Faction: Who Really Kidnapped JonBenet?" and is available at bookstores in Telluride and on Amazon.

COLORADO GAS PRICES
It wasn't too long ago the price of gas in Colorado was climbing every week, but for the past several weeks, it's been dropping...down another 3-cents a gallon in the past week.  ColoradoGasPrices.com says the average now is $3.45 compared with the national average of $3.60, up nearly 10 cents/gal in the past week.

LOUISVILLE COMPANY GETS NASA GRANT
Sierra Nevada Space Systems of Louisville has gotten a $212 million grant from NASA, part of the agency's "Commercial Crew Program" to develop commercial spaceflight services.  Senator Mark Udall says the competitive grant award showcases the high caliber of the state's human resources.  He says Sierra Nevada's "Dream Chaser Program" is working toward a manned orbital demonstration flight, revitalizing the country's exploration of space.

D-51 BUS ROUTES
When school starts in District 51 two weeks from today, there will be some changes, like the number of bus routes. Families are being notified by mail this week so they can make plans for the changes.  The district says it'll save about $16,000 by cutting the number of routes, buses, drivers and fuel.

FBI INCIDENT IN FRUITA
Mesa County authorities shut down a two mile stretch of Highway 6&50 last night at the request of the FBI.  Reverse 9-1-1 calls were sent to residents in the area between 14 and 15 Roads around 8:30.  The FBI tells The Daily Sentinel an individual was detained on suspicion of making threats against the oil and gas industry in western Colorado.

CU LOBBYISTS
CU lobbyists are making hundreds of thousands of dollars seeking out grant money for the school, AND hundreds of thousands more working for other sometimes competing organizations.  The Denver Post says 9 people work on a government relations team for the University securing grant money for operations and research.  Apparently those salaries pay off, with C-U receiving 683 million budget dollars from the feds, compared to a proposed $55 million from the state.

WALDO CYN FIRE INVESTIGATION
Experts are continuing their search for the cause of the Waldo Canyon Fire, the most financially devastating in Colorado history.  The ATF and FBI are working with officials from El Paso county with the cause of the fire still listed as "under investigation."

Friday August 3, 2012

25 ROAD CLOSURE
Now's a good time to start planning for the closure of 25 Road at Highway 6&50.  Construction there will shut down north/south traffic will allowing east/west traffic to continue on the I-70 Business loop.  The closure will be put in place overnight Sunday and there will be no access to 25 Road from 6 & 50.  Detour routes will be in place for the 18 day scheduled closure.

CRIME STATS
The CBI is out with its latest crime statistics through the Uniform Crime Reporting Program.  Overall, there was a .3% decrease in the number of reported crimes in the state, including a nearly 2 1/2 % decrease in violent crimes and a .6% decrease in property crimes.  Negatives in the report include a 20% jump in homicides last year compared with 2010, and a more than 3% rise in reported forcible rapes.  The full report is available on the Colorado Bureau of Investigation website.

R-5 GRANT
School District 51's R-5 High School has received a Transformation Improvement Grant from the state Department of Education aimed at improving student success at the school.  The initial money pays for staff to work with students on individualized learning style, and for more classroom time on Saturdays and in summer school.  Parents can find out more at a Back to School night August 30, or by calling the R-5 office.

FRUITA CAMPGROUND FEES
Free camping at the North Fruita Desert Campground is on its way out.  The BLM says starting Labor Day Weekend, it'll cost $10 to spend the night there...the money going to improving facilities at the 40 acre site.  A self-pay station will be in place, along with camp hosts on peak weekends and holidays.  Intersted volunteer hosts can contact the BLM.

MONTROSE PRO CYCLING ANTHEM
When the second stage of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge gets started in Montrose August 21st, it will be to the sounds of the Montrose High School Bel Canto Choir singing the National Anthem.  The Montrose Daily Press says the group was chosen from 8 individuals and on the choir who tried out yesterday.

SEX ASSAULT VICTIMS
A 4th alleged victim has come forward in a case against a former senior mentor in the Mesa County Partners Program.  50 year old Mark Bustamante was arrested last month, accused of assaulting two boys in the program.  A third victim, a client at Mesa Developmental Services came forward later that month, and now, a fourth boy who was coached by Bustamante in Grand Junction city organized flag football and basketball.  The Daily Sentinel says Bustamante remains jailed on $150,000 bond.

ROMNEY IN BASALT
Mitt Romney wasn't alone at his stop at Basalt High School yesterday.  10 Republican governors were along for the action.  The Daily Sentinel says the candidate focused on the economy, energy and education.  State democrats in the meantime are getting ready for a rally of their own when President Obama comes to Grand Juntion next week.  They say Romney wants to raise taxes on the middle class.

FRUITA METH BUST
A Fruita couple is in jail, no word on where their kids are, after a Mesa County Sheriff's Office SWAT bust found them inside their dirty home along with suspected methamphetamine.  According to the Daily Sentinel, 49 year old Martin Stafford and his 44 year old wife Tammra were arrested early yesterday after two small children were found in the living room and the woman in a bedroom.  Investigators also found meth paraphernalia and loaded guns.

BUFFALO KILLED
The state patrol is looking into the deaths of ten buffalo after collisions with vehicles on I-70. According to the AP, Trooper Josh Lewis says two people were injured in the crashes early yesterday near Byers.  A brand expert determined the buffalo had roamed about 15 miles south of their ranch.

I-70 MOUNTAIN TRAFFIC
It doesn't take ski season to slow down traffic on I-70 between the mountains and Denver.  C-DOT is warning drivers of the likelihood of heavy traffic between Silverthorne and Denver on Sunday.  They say the best way to avoid stop and go traffic is to travel before 1:00 Sunday afternoon and 7:00 that night.

COLORADO PROUD DAY
The State Agriculture Department is encouraging residents to be Colorado Proud...buying fruits and vegetables grown in Colorado especially during the month of August, declared Colorado Proud Month.  Colorado Proud was created in 1999 to promote locally grown raised or processed food and agricultural products statewide. There's a whole website dedicated at ColoradoProud.org.

Thursday August 2, 2012

GJ ATTORNEY SANCTIONED
A prominent local attorney has had his license suspended for 45 days.  According to the Daily Sentinel, a summary of findings with the Colorado Supreme Court's Office of Attorney Regulation, Joseph Coleman admitted misconduct which may or may not have impacted clients.  Coleman most recently gained attention arguing against a proposal to build a bus station near Mesa Mall, and represented Bobby Willis who proposed a free concert to compete with Country Jam in 2011.

CHICK-FIL-A EVENTS
A national issue of whether a fast food restaurant ownership should speak out on opposition to gay marriage came home to Grand Junction when hundreds turned out to support Chick-fil-A. Most say it's a matter of free expression.  In the meantime, a local man has organized a media event of his own, National Same Sex Kis Protest Day, tomorrow.  James Friar is encouraging same-sex and other couples to kiss inside the Chick-fil-A building.  Friar says 100 or more have signed up for the hate-free protest aimed at fighting for same sex couples' rights.

GRAND VALLEY 9-1-1 MOVES
The move to the new Grand Junction Public Safety building is underway with the Grand Junction Regional Communication Center successfully in place.  The move was made without a glitch in the early morning hours yesterday.  Now that that move has been made, officials say the rest of the police department will be making their move through the next several weeks.

OUTDOOR RETAILER SHOW MAY MOVE FROM SLC
One of the world's largest outdoor gear trade shows may be in its last days in Salt Lake City.  Organizers say they don't like the way Governor Gary Herbert is handling environmental issues.  Herbert says the state wants more control over public lands, including some national parks and monuments.  And he tells the AP he's working with the Outdoor Retailer show, saying everything is on the table. Other show locations being talked about include Denver and Las Vegas.

GJ CITY EMPLOYEES RETURN TO 2009 SALARY LEVELS
Grand Jucntion City employees are getting back money from salary cuts taken over the past several years.  It's not really a raise, just a return to pay levels of 2009. The 1.5% cuts were reinstated at the first of the year, the other 1 1/2 % are being reinstated now.

ROMNEY IN COLORADO TODAY
National politics is front and center in Colorado today.  Republican Mitt Romney speaks at the Jefferson County Firgrounds this morning before heading to Basalt and Aspen later today.  In Basalt, Romney's to hear from republican U-S Representatives who want the candidate to change his stance on extending the wind-energy production tax credit. They say it's necessary to save thousands of jobs in the west.

PARENTS OF 13 YEAR OLD SUE VAIL
The parents of a 13 year old boy killed in an avalanche at Vail Resorts in January is suing, alleging negligence and wronful death.  Taft Conlin was buried on an open lower run, the top part closed in heavy snow. The Conlins say the resort should have known of the danger.  And they want the resort to make sure actions are taken to prevent future accidents.

Wednesday August 1, 2012

DOUBLE FATAL
The Colorado State patrol is investigating a 6-vehicle crash on Highway 69 near Westcliff that left two people dead, one a construction worker.  The patrol says a line of five cars were stopped when a tractor trailer slammed into the rear causing a chain reaction. The truck went off the side of the road and hit a 20 year old construction worker, killing him.  The 57 year old truck driver from Texas was also killed.

THEATER VICTIM SCAMS
Whenever there's a tragedy, someone tries to cash in and that's happening again with the Aurora movie theater shootings.  Mesa County DA Pete Hautzinger is encouraging people who want to help to make sure they're donating to legitimate charity.  Information is available online through the Federal Trade Commission.
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2012/07/coloradocharity.shtm

ANOTHER XCEL SCAM
Some Colorado Xcel Energy customers are being targeted by a new scam.  In this one, the customer is told their service is soon to be disconnected and they must pay their bill with a GreenDot pre-pay VISA card at a local drug or convenience store.  The scam typically targets Hispanic customers by callers who make speak Spanish. Xcel says whenever they have questions, customers should call the company. And report possible scams to local police.

MONTROSE WHITEWATER PARK 
The City and County of Montrose haven't given up on the possiblity of building a whitewater park in town and are working closely on a plan to ask for Great Outdoors Colorado Grant money to help.  The two are teaming with the Montrose Recreation District with the possibility of applying for the funding at the end of the month.  According to The Montrose Daily Press, a similar project in Golden resulted in $1.23 million economic impact for the city.

HICKENLOOPERS SEPARATE
Governor John Hickenlooper and his wife Helen Thorpe are separating after ten years of marriage.  The governor called the decision mutual and amicable, and says the couple's main concern now is their son Teddy whom they'll continue to raise together.

UNITED BIRD COLLISION
A United Airlines flight had a collision with a bird and managed a safe landing at DIA.  Officials tell the Denver Post there was a large hole below the 737's cockpit after the strike about 25 miles from the airport yesterday morning.

An indecent exposure charge against the former head of Two Rivers Convention Center and the Avalon Theater has been dismissed.  The Daily Sentinel says 33 year old Theron LaFountain was cited after being found naked at the Greyhound bus station in June.  He now says he was drugged.  The Grand Jucntion City Attorney tells the Sentinel the charges could be refiled later, but right now it would be difficult to prove his actions were knowing and willful.

DOLLAR GENERAL
The Town of Palisade is still talking about allowing a Dollar General Discount store to move inside its boundaries and a public hearing is scheduled tomorrow on whether to subdivide property for construction.  The Daily Sentinel says planning staff want to know whether the proposal meets land use codes. Tomorrow's meeting is at 3:00 at the Veterans Memorial Commuity Center.

OBAMA TO GJ
2 local TV stations say President Obama is coming to Grand Junction.  The President reportedly will make a stop here a week from today before heading to Pueblo and Colorado Springs on the 9th.  No word on when or where the rally will be.