Monday February 25, 2013

The price of gas in Colorado is another 6 cents higher this week, bringing the price in the state to an average $3.56/gal.  GasBuddy.com says the tide has turned. The national price has gone up every day since January 20th, but has dropped the last two days.  Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan says motorists shouldn't be overly thrilled as prices are expected to linger near these levels for sometime.

For the first time since 2008, sales tax collections in Montrose were up last year compared with the year before.  The Montrose Daily Press says the increase was just 1.6%, but significant considering the declines of the three years before, including a 9% drop in 2009 compared with 2008.

The Mesa Land Trust is working on an idea to connect the Three Sisters bike area on Monument Road to downtown Grand Junction and to the entrance to the Colorado National Monument.  The public process is underway with a website to add input.  It's monumentroadvision.com. The site says comments are being taken there for 34 more days.


The BLM is getting ready to move 700 wild horse from short-term facilities in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Nevada to a ranch in southwestern Montana. Accordng to The Denver Post, some neighboring ranches are worried the horses could escape, and that the land can't sustain them.  The BLM says the Spanish Q ranch will house the horses for $1.36 per horse per day, compared with the $5.50 cost of the short term facilities.

Colorado stands to lose $85 million in federal funding if lawmakers can't agree on a budget by the end of the month.  The Denver Post says if automatic cuts happen, the sequester is designed to cut $1.2 trillion from the federal government over over 10 years. Governor John Hickenlooper tells The Denver Post he's most concerned about job losses.  And  Colorado Senator Mark Udall says the automatic budget cuts are coming because some in Congress are not interested in the balanced, deficit-reduction approach that Coloradans want. In the meantime, the White House has released a 7 page document outlining specifics of federal cuts in Colorado.

 White House Releases New State-by-State Reports on the Impacts of the Sequester 

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the White House is releasing new state-by-state reports on the devastating impact the sequester will have on jobs and middle class families across the country if Congressional Republicans fail to compromise to avert the sequester by March 1^st.

These reports are EMBARGOED until tonight at 8:00PM ET. The link to each state report can be found below:

1.      Alabama        

2.      Alaska        

3.      Arizona        

4.      Arkansas        

5.      California        

6.      Colorado        

7.      Connecticut        

8.      Delaware        

9.      District of Columbia

10.  Florida        

11.  Georgia        

12.  Hawaii        

13.  Idaho        

14.  Illinois        

15.  Indiana        

16.  Iowa        

17.  Kansas        

18.  Kentucky        

19.  Louisiana        

20.  Maine        

21.  Maryland        

22.  Massachusetts        

23.  Michigan        

24.  Minnesota        

25.  Mississippi        

26.  Missouri        

27.  Montana        

28.  Nebraska        

29.  Nevada        

30.  New Hampshire        

31.  New Jersey        

32.  New Mexico        

33.  New York        

34.  North Carolina        

35.  North Dakota        

36.  Ohio        

37.  Oklahoma        

38.  Oregon        

39.  Pennsylvania

40.  Rhode Island

41.  South Carolina

42.  South Dakota

43.  Tennessee

44.  Texas

45.  Utah

46.  Vermont

47.  Virginia

48.  Washington

49.  West Virginia

50.  Wisconsin

51.  Wyoming

Friday February 22nd 2013 Washington's Birthday

Officials in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests say they DO plan to continue prescribed burns this spring following slash pile burns in December and January.  The burns are used to help manage vegetation buildup and improve wildlife habitat.  Forrest officials are continuing to monitor moisture levels and conditions and hope to conduct burns this spring on 2,500 to 5,000 acres.

Colorado Senator Mark Udall says is urging private contractors to respect upcoming  U-S Forest Service contracts for next-generation air tankers.  Udall says some private contractors have already delayed the Forest Service's acquisition of seven of the tankers, and challenging new contract could leave Colorado without the firefighting equipment they need.

The Grand Junction chapter of the Salvation Army is celebrating 105 years in the community by thanking all the volunteers and businesses who've helped the organization.  The Army says it's helped thousands of families over the years, providing food and shelter, clothing, and rehabilitation services for the community and a VA component added in 2008.

The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce is taking its annual trip to the state capitol next week to meet with legislators about business concerns.  There is still time to register for the trip Thursday and Friday.  You can call the Chamber for information.

If you want to know more about Referendum A on the Grand Junction City ballot in April, the Chamber of Commerce is holding an informational Open House March 2nd. It's at Brady Trucking on 27 1/2 Road at the Colorado River from 10 until noon. Brady is requesting a zoning change in order to use their property. Opponents of the change say it will hurt the River and compromise the Riverfront Trail.

The Grand Junction Kiwanis Club has put together a Children's Resource Directory, compiling information and resources available to parents of young children in the grand valley.  The club has produced the handbook for the past ten years and says this year's new design makes it easier than ever to use.

Businesses would be able to choose a higher deductible on workers comp insurance and lower premiums under a bill passed by the state house this week.  The bill's sponsor says the change would incentivize safe work environments and reward good business practices. The bill has wide support including the National Federation of Independent Business and organized labor.  It now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

A bill to make DUI a Class 5 Felony for some repeat offenders is moving forward in the State House.  Colorado is one of five state without a felony conviction for DUIs.  The bill would make three consecutive DUI or DWAI convictions in a seven-year-period a felony. And four convictions in a lifetime a felony. The bill moves to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration.

The Garfield Re-2 School District is working on its 13-14 draft calendars and wants feedback. Last year the district adopted a 4-day week school calendar, and is now looking at a two year plan.  Both are available on the Garfield Re-2 website under the News Tab.

It's been over a week since Dutch the dog was ordered surrendered to the Montrose animal shelter to be euthanized and his owner Jeremiah Aguillar ordered to spend two days in jail for having a vicious dog. Since then the judge offered to send the dog to a sanctuary in California to live.  The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel says Aguillar has not responded to that option. He's to return to court in May to hear when he'll serve his jail sentence.

Expect Highway 65 to be closed over the top of the Grand Mesa this morning as CDOT avalanche crews work to remove the danger of snow slides onto the roadway.  16 inches of fresh snow was reported in the area south of Mesa Lakes. Powderhorn ski area is still accessible from the 1-70 Highway 65 exit.

A Clifton man has been arrested, accused of trying to make meth in his apartment.  Deputies got a warrant after responding to the apartment on a disturbance call last week. The found suspected meth ingredients in the home.  The Daily Sentinel says 26 year old Brian Doyle allegedly admitted trying to make meth to alleviate some of his medical issues.

Magpul Industries says it will still leave the state if a bill limiting the capacity of ammunition magazines that can be sold in the state, even with an amendment that would allow the company to sell those magazines in other states.  A state representative and state senator toured the company's plant yesterday.  Several hundred workers are employed by Magpul.

 The Regional Sportsmen's Caucus has chosen two delegates to represent their concerns at the statewide Sportsmen's Roundtable in Denver next month. Kenny Marcella and Jim Spehar were chosen.  Colorado Parks and Wildlife is encouraging sportsmen to contact their delegates with issues they would like to have addressed at the meeting in Denver.

Thursday February 21, 2013

A Grand Junction man has been arrested in the armed robbery of the Bradley Sinclair gas station at 2nd and North last weekend.  30 year old James Rucker was arrested yesterday on suspicion of Aggravated Robbery and other charges including possession of a weapon by a previous offender.  At the time of his arrest, officers say Rucker was carrying a fully loaded handgun matching the description of the gun used in the robbery.

The Mesa County Coroner's office releasing a special report on suicide in mesa county in 2012.  Overall suicides in the county jumped 6.8 percent over 2011  increasing from 44 to 47 last year. The suicide rate in Mesa County is nearly 3 times the national average.

The National Weather Service has issued several winter weather advisories through tomorrow evening for 5 to 10 inches of new snow in the higher mountains of western Colorado and 3 to 6 inches in areas along the I-70 corridor.  Snow is expected to continue through tomorrow evening with another system moving through the area Saturday night through Sunday and another one through Tuesday.

The State Department of Agriculture is out with a warning for consumers to watch out for nursery stock included for "free" with the cost of exorbitant planting and landscaping costs.  The department says free plants likely don't meet minimum state standards and consumers could end up with poor quality or soon to be dead trees and shrubs.  Check with the Department of Agriculture to make sure the person or company you're buying from is registered to sell nursery stock.

The National Weather Service has issued several winter weather advisories through tomorrow evening for 5 to 10 inches of new snow in the higher mountains of western Colorado and 3 to 6 inches in areas along the I-70 corridor.  Snow is expected to continue through tomorrow evening with another system moving through the area Saturday night through Sunday and another one through Tuesday.

A special showing of FrackNation is sold out tonight at the Avalon Theater, but the woman who made the documentary is in town to talk about her film.  Ann McElhinney says FrackNation was paid for with individual contributions, not industry money.

The BLM's official comment period on the draft management plan for the Grand Junction region ends April 25th, and now Mesa County is weighing in.  The Daily Sentinel says County Commissioners are looking closely at the plan opposed by many off-roaders.  Commissioner Steve Acquafresca says the county is looking closely at what roads would be closed under the plan.  In the meantime, the Colorado Mule Deer Association says ATV trails and access roads for public sportsmen are threatened.  They're holding a public information presentation Saturday at 2:00 at the Grand Junction City Auditorium.

St. Mary's Hospital's annual donor Dinner tonight will come with word of a $670,000 donation.  According to the Daily Sentinel, it was made anonymously by couple the hospital's foundation director says had no family in town and no known significant link to the hospital or its programs.  The money will be used to purchase equipment and fund building projects.  A large chunk of the money is also earmarked for the hospital's Senior Companion and foster Grandparent programs and the Gray Gourmet.

A Grand Junction man has a plan to upgrade North Avenue. Levi Lucero says because the road is no longer the North boundary of town, it makes sense to re-name it University Boulevard. The Daily Sentinel says some businesses between 1st Street and 29 1/2 Road think the idea is a good one.

Vacancies of Grand Junction apartments stood at nearly 10% as the fourth quarter of 2012 ended.  The Colorado Division of House says that was up from 7% the last quarter of 2011.  According to the Daily Sentinel, the Division says high unemployment was a major reason. They also say fluctuations in survey responses may have factored into the hike.

Wednesday February 20, 2013

School in District 51 will start August 12 for the fall semester next year, and even earlier the following year.  The School Board last night adopted the calendar which calls for school to end May 21st of 2014.  The calendar includes a full week of vacation in the fall and two weeks in the spring.  The following year, school will start August 4th and include two week breaks in the fall and in the spring.

Xcel Energy is asking the PUC for a waiver allowing the company to speed up procedures for new wind generating resources. Xcel says it will allow wind developers to take advantage of the Production Tax Credit.  In order to qualify for the PTC, companies have to have their projects started before the end of the year.  In order for that to happen, Xcel says it needs to move up the dated for bid solicitations from April to March 1st.

A state House committee has passed a bill by Fruita Representative Jared Wright calling preventing the state from taking part in a federal investigation, prosecution, or detention of any U-S citizen pursued under specific federal laws permitting that.  Wright says civil rights have been slowly eroded over the last 70 years and this is a first step toward protecting those rights. The bill has support from diverse groups including the ACLU.

The mother and son of Marcus Bebb-Jones say they don't believe he killed his wife Sabrina in Grand Junction in 1997. Sabrina's skull was found in Garfield County in 2004 and Bebb-Jones later jailed in her death.  He pleaded guilty last week. The Daily Sentinel says Bebb-Jones son, who was 3 when his mother was killed, said he still thinks his father is innocent...calling him "one of the kindest men I've ever known." Bebb-Jones' mother says she believes he admitted the killing in order to avoid a life sentence.  He'll get 10 to 20 years when he's sentenced.

A Whitewater man is in jail, accused of molesting a 10-year old girl.  Tillman Clifton was arrested Tuesday after calling 9-1-1 and saying he was locked out of his house and his wife accused him of molesting the girl. According to the Daily Sentinel, Clifton was arrested after the girl confirmed the accusations.

Vice President Joe Biden's trip to Aspen over the weekend cost the city of Grand Junction $5,000.  The Daily Sentinel says the police department racked up the bill providing providing security after Biden's arrival at Grand Junction Regional Airport last Thursday night, and when he returned to the airport Monday night.

A 27 year old man who pleaded guilty to First Degree Assault in a shooting at a Horizon Drive motel last June has been sentenced to 22 years in prison.  The Daily Sentinel says Joseph Lara, who was arrested in Denver after the shooting, admitted selling meth in Grand Junction since 2009. Lara reportedly has a criminal record with 21 prior misdemeanors and a prior felony conviction.

A task force looking at the intricacies of the new Colorado Marijuana law has voted to allow people from outside Colorado to shop in retail marijuana stores-- so called pot tourism.  The amount of pot they could buy though, would be limited.  The Denver Post says the task force also approved recommendations that recreational pot shops be owned only by Colorado residents who have lived in the state for two years.

Tuesday February 19, 2013

A 21 year old Grand Junction man is being held on $100,000 bond accused of shooting a man Saturday during a custody dispute.  Michael Renteria, Jr. was arrested Saturday night on suspicion of Attemped First Degree Murder, First Degree Assault and other charges.  Grand Junction Police say Renteria and two men armed with bats went to a home on Glen Drive. 37 year old Frank Rodriguez was shot in the leg. 3 other people were injured by the bats.

School safety is at the forefront at School District 51. A 25 person School Security and Safety Work Group is meeting weekly and listening to several proposals and expects to present findings to the school board next month.  District 51 Academic Achievement Executive Director Mary Jones tells the Daily Sentinel no ideas are being turned away. The group is looking at everything from allowing teachers to carry concealed weapons, to have armed and unarmed volunteers patrol schools.

State lawmakers are looking at updating the formula for financing public schools.  Making necessary changes would require a ballot question to raise new revenue, between $750 million and $1.1 billion.  The Daily Sentinel says some districts rely more on property taxes that have been reduced in many counties.

The Icon Lasik Tour of the Moon bicycle ride over the Colorado National Monument has been approved for October 5th.  Last year's first Tour drew 1,700 riders. Monument Superintendent Lisa Eckert tells the Daily Sentinel officials are working on a visitor-activity and commercial-services plan for evaluating future applications for activities in the monument.

The Matriarch of Fruita's Moon family has passed away at 94.  Ella Moon died at home Sunday.  The popular Moon Farm has hosted thousands of Grand Valley kids over the years, including the popular Moon Farm Day Camp which ran from 1976 through 2007.  The Day Camp is still open April through October.  Funeral Services are Friday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Mesa County Sheriff's deputies have found the body believed to be 62 year old Roxanne Kostka.  Kostka was reported missing Saturday afternoon. An all-day search Sunday turned up nothing.  The body was found yesterday morning not too far from Kostka's home.

All four gun measures up for votes in the state House have passed and are on to the Senate.  Two firearms accessory manufacturers have said they will move out of the state if a law banning the sale of high capacity magazines is passed.  That bill was one of those passed out of the House yesterday.

The price of gas in Colorado continues to climb.  It's up 15.4 cents a gallon in the last week.  The average price Sunday is $3.49/gal.  The national price is also up-- nearly 12 cents a gallon to $3.68.
 Mary Jones, tells the Daily Sentinel no ideas are being turned away. The group is looking at everything from allowing teachers to carry concealed weapons, to have armed and unarmed volunteers patrol schools.

State lawmakers are looking at updating the formula for financing public schools.  Making necessary changes would require a ballot question to raise new revenue, between $750 million and $1.1 billion.  The Daily Sentinel says some districts rely more on property taxes that have been reduced in many counties.

The Icon Lasik Tour of the Moon bicycle ride over the Colorado National Monument has been approved for October 5th.  Last year's first Tour drew 1,700 riders. Monument Superintendent Lisa Eckert tells the Daily Sentinel officials there are working on a visitor-activity and commercial-services plan for evaluating future applications for activities in the monument.

The Matriarch of Fruita's Moon family has passed away at 94.  Ella Moon died at home Sunday.  The popular Moon Farm has hosted thousands of Grand Valley kids over the years, including the popular Moon Farm Day Camp which ran from 1976 through 2007.  The Day Camp is still open April through October.  Funeral Services are Friday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Mesa County Sheriff's deputies have found the body believed to be 62 year old Roxanne Kostka.  Kostka was reported missing Saturday afternoon. An all-day search Sunday turned up nothing.  The body was found yesterday morning not too far from Kostka's home in Loma..

All four gun measures up for votes in the state House have passed and are on to the Senate.  Two firearms accessory manufacturers have said they will move out of the state if a law banning the sale of high capacity magazines is passed.  That bill was one of those passed out of the House yesterday.

The price of gas in Colorado continues to climb.  It's up 15.4 cents a gallon in the last week.  The average price Sunday is $3.49/gal.  The national price is also up-- nearly 12 cents a gallon to $3.68.

Friday February 15, 2013

A vicious dog in Montrose has been ordered euthanized by a Municipal judge.  Jeremiah Aguilar, "Dutch's" owner, ordered to pay fines and spend two days in jail. His attorney plans an appeal. Aguilar was found guilty of violating the city's vicious animal ordinance after Dutch attacked a woman who was caring for him in November. Her medical bills are over $28,000.

Mesa County Democrats are changing their meeting schedule.  The Executive Committee meetings are being held on the 4th Monday of the month, beginning on the 25th. The meetings are open to all democrats at the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 9 Headquarters.

The Mesa County Health Department has called a No Burn advisory because of moderate particulate levels. Another advisory will be issued at 3:00 this afternoon.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation says it expects to clear a backlog of gun-purchase background checks fairly quickly under new operating hours.  Director Ron Sloan says the number of checks being done hasn't been as high as expected, so redirecting some CBI resources should get the backlog cleared within the current budget. He says it's a quick fix and CBI will continue to work with the legislature to address future resource needs.

Visitors in Times Square are getting a view of the Grand Valley in a 15 second electronic billboard.  It's a joint effort of the Grand Junction visitor and Convention Bureau and the Grand Junction Economic Partnership.  The groups estimate 300,000 people will see the ad every day through April 14th.  Both groups say it's a perfect way to elevate the community profile and market the area.

The 2013 1st Annual Winter Wondergrass Festival is this weekend in Edwards. The Eagle County Sheriff's Office is working with the Eagle River Youth Coalition and the Gore Range DUI Task Force to make sure people don't drink and drive.  The youth group's Drug Free Communities grant is paying for the effort. Look for increased patrols and compliance check enforcement.

Two people in Clifton were injured Wednesday when a man tried to kill himself.  The Mesa County Sheriff's Office says the man shot himself in the chest and the bullet went through his body striking a woman.  Several guns were found in the home.  Deputies are continuing their investigation about ownership of the guns.

The Grand Junction Police Department is out with statistics for 2012 and says it's a mixed bag.  According to the Daily Sentinel, violent crime was down last year compared with 2011, while property theft, theft from vehicles and shoplifting was at a five year high.  Drug arrests were also up.  Police Chief John Camper says when drug arrests are up, property crimes usually are too.

Valentine's Day

Third District Congressman Scott Tipton has reintroduced legislation to streamline the process and reduce administrative costs for small hydropower development at the Bureau of Reclamation’s facilities.  Tipton's bill has bipartisan support and backing from three senators who will introduce the measure in the Senate.  Tipton says the measure supports renewable hydropower and jobs that would create.

The Governor's Forum on Colorado Agriculture gets underway in Denver today from outgoing Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. The forum is a daylong conference focusing on the critical role of innovation to the future of U.S. Salazar is stepping down as Interior Secretary to return to Colorado where he was formerly State Attorney General before being elected to the US Senate and ultimately named Secretary of the Interior in President Obama's first term.

The state Senate has passed a bill to expand the state's use of alternative fuel fleet vehicles. Senate Bill-70 directs departments throughout the state to work toward converting vehicle fleets to utilize alternative fuels and requires the state to work toward developing the infrastructure necessary to support the use of alternative fuel vehicles in the state's fleet.

A bill that would've combined county offices of Treasurer and Public Trustee has died in a House Committee.  Grand Junction Representative Ray Scott says his bill was an attempt to reform the office of the public trustee and restore it's accountability. He says counties would have saved money by consolidating common functions including mailings, notices and real estate database management.

Mesa County Sheriff's investigators are looking into a shooting in Clifton.  It happened at a home on Delicious Drive around 5:30 yesterday.  Deputies were dispatched on a report of a suicidal man, heard a gunshot, and two people stumbled outside with apparent gunshot wounds. The injuries were apparently non-life threatening.

A Clifton man and woman taken to the hospital after 9-1-1 reports of a suicidal man.  Mesa County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a home on Delicious Drive around 5:30 yesterday and found the two with apparently non- life-threatening injuries.  Sheriff's spokeswoman Heather Benjamin says two children and another adult in the home were not injured.

Police in Montrose are planning beefed up security as a man and his dog appear in court for sentencing.  Jeremiah Aguilar was cited for owning a vicious/dangerous dog after the dog reportedly attacked and bit a woman trying to break up a fight with another dog.  The woman has racked up $24,000 in medical bills, and the dog, Dutch, has since gained a following on Facebook.  Police Chief Tom Chinn tells the Montrose Daily Press extra police officers will be on hand, and the city's borrowed a metal detector from the county for court. Dutch could be ordered euthanized and Aguilar could be fined or jailed.

The woman who's been heading up the BLM's Grand Junction Field Office is taking the position full-time. The Daily Sentinel says 32 year old Katie Stevens arrived in Grand Junction from Montana four years ago and too charge of the McInnis Canyons Conservation area, then the Dominguez-Escalante area when it was established.

You might not know it, but you're in C-DOT's Region Three. And is just so happens Region 3 is number one in the state.  C-DOT executive Director Don Hunt singles out one region every year for the Director's Cup and this year it goes to Region 3.  Bridge repair, fixing that huge sink hole on US Highway 24 near Leadville last summer, and working with the City of Grand Junction on the new Diverging Diamond interchange at I-70 and Highway 6&50 all played into the award.