NEWS: Fri. March 12, 2010Posted by Janine Mayfield on March 12th, 2010

On Monday March 15, Charlie Sheen is scheduled to appear in Pitkin County District Court at 2:15 pm. On Christmas Day, Sheen was arrested for Menacing, a class five felony, Criminal Mischief, a class one misdemeanor and Second Degree Assault, a class four felony. The charges were coupled with a domestic violence component.  An arraignment hearing on February 8, 2010 reduced the charge of Second Degree Assault to Third Degree Assault, which is a class one misdemeanor.
Source: Press Release  (Posted 2:02p by Jim Kapp)

The Colorado Department of Transportation and contractor Heyl Construction have begun work  on the State Highway  340 Intersection Improvement Project in Fruita. The project, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was contracted to Heyl—a Western Slope contractor from Newcastle—for $1.36 million.  The project area includes SH 340 north of I-70 at Aspen and Cherry streets, as well as south of I-70 to Redcliff Drive. The project has a completion date set for May 21, 2010.
Source: News Release  (Posted 2:04p by Jim Kapp)

Growing marijuana can be legal in the state of Colorado, but still illegal under federal law. There in lies the conflict and confusion.  KJCT reports that Colorado lawmakers are asking the federal government to halt medical marijuana raids.  They say these raids are making it harder to create rules regulating the industry.  Dispensaries are trying to help their patients while trying to keep the business legal.  Medical marijuana dispensaries continue to face challenges as they try to stay in business while lawmakers continue to figure out what rules should be in place.  Meanwhile the Department of Justice and local law enforcement face a balancing act of their own– enforcing the laws already in place.
Source: KJCT (Posted 2:05p by Jim Kapp)

NEWS: Fri. March 12, 2010Posted by Janine Mayfield on March 12th, 2010

The U.S. Department of Labor filed suit in federal court Thursday against the former owner of a Fruita company that went out of business without paying some of its bills. The Daily Sentinel has learned that Carl N. France, president and owner of IXP Inc., a pipeline construction company not only closed up shop but apparently skipped paying some bills and abandoned the company’s pension plan.  Subcontractors in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming filed lawsuits against IXP, claiming more than $2.6 million in unpaid bills.
Source: Daily Sentinel (Posted 8:52a by Jim Kapp)

From among 280 competitors from 31 high schools at the National Forensic Qualifying Tournament last weekend, three Montrose High School students won awards. The Daily Press reports that Laura Twitchell, a senior, and Jake Knowles, a junior, took a third-place award in the “duo” speech category. And Spencer Jordan, a senior, was awarded fifth place in drama.
Source: Montrose Press (Posted 8:53a by Jim Kapp)

Roice-Hurst Humane Society in Clifton is still in the running to win $1,000 or more. NBC 11 News says the shelter has 5 more weeks to push to the top in the national Animal Rescue Site’s $100,000 challenge.  Right now Roice-Hurst is just slightly behind a shelter in Denver for First place in the state.  State winners could receive $1,000.  You can also vote for our two area shelters here, 2^nd Chance Humane Society in Ridgway and the Animal Shelter here in Montrose.   To put your vote in, go to the website the animalrescuesite.com…..
Source: NBC 11 News  (Posted 8:56a by Jim Kapp)

NEWS: Fri. March 12, 2010Posted by Janine Mayfield on March 12th, 2010

Although I-70 at Glenwood Canyon has reopened its still very slow going across the interstate all the way to Denver. Only one lane is open in each direction by Glenwood Canyon and there are 14 ft wide restrictions.  They’re also doing avalanche control work on U.S. 6 off I-70 by Loveland Pass and avalanche control on Eisenhower Tunnel.  So expect delays there as well….
Source: Press Release  (Posted 8:44a by Jim Kapp)

Hundreds of records for medical marijuana patients are under scrutiny. Daily Sentinel says  authorities are trying to decide whether a local dispensary’s volume of valid patients justifies a grow operation with more than 1,000 marijuana plants, an enterprise still illegal under federal law. Yesterday a search warrant was executed authorizing the seizure of photocopies of patients marijuana registry cards as well as personal contact information for patients.  So far no arrests have been made…..
Source: Daily Sentinel (Posted 8:35a by Jim Kapp)

Coughing, runny nose, sinus pressure. A nasty virus is going around. NBC 11 News reports that while that virus is just a nuisance for adults it could be very dangerous for children.  Dr. Whistler explains that there so many viruses out there it’s hard to say what exactly is going around.  But she does say that this specific virus may act like a cold for an adult could turn into croup for kids or worse.  This particular virus that primary health care providers are concerned with is called Respiratory Syncytial Virus or RSV.
Source: NBC 11 News (Posted 8:41a by Jim Kapp)

NEWS: Fri. March 12, 2010Posted by Janine Mayfield on March 12th, 2010

Just as CDOT reopended I-70 in Glenwood Canyon, they had to close U.S. 6 off Interstate 70  for avalanche control. According to NBC 11 News that was prompted by a 20 yr old backcountry snowboarder who died Wednesday in an avalanche near Loveland Pass.  CDOT did not specifically saythe Highway closure was connected to Wednesday’s incident, since snow throughout the backcountry has been unsettled.  Authorities have finally identified the snowboarder who was killed.  He’s Daniel Michel Otti of Spring Grove, Ill….
Source: NBC 11 News (Posted 6:03a by Jim Kapp)

Mesa State College has decided to scrap its plans for a body farm, The Daily Sentinel reports since the college has been inundated with questions and concerns from residents, they are discontinuing their plans to place  human corpses several hundred feet from homes in Pear Park. Now it is considering an alternate site to build a forensic anthropology center.  The announcement pleased the  neighbors who were considering to put up  a legal fight against what they viewed as a potential pestilence that could drag down their property values.
Source: Daily Sentinel (Posted 6:05a by Jim Kapp)

A television station investigation found authorities responsible for ensuring the safety of animals in pet care facilities ignored problems at a kennel where authorities found about 100 starving sled dogs. The Daily Press reports that the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Pet Animal Care Facilities Act program ignored several signs and warnings to an inspector from neighbors about problems at Pawsatrak Racing Sled Dog Kennel near Hartsel, about 70 miles southwest of Denver. Samuel and Diane Walker, operators of the facility  face animal cruelty charges in Park County following their arrest…
Source: Montrose Press (Posted 6:07a by Jim Kapp)

NEWS: Thur. Mar 11, 2010Posted by Janine Mayfield on March 11th, 2010

Both Gunnison and Crested Butte schools were trying to unify their schedules  but came up against complaints within the community, primarily over when spring break should be. According to the Gunnison Country Times, RE1J officials decided to opt for the more traditional calendars for the next couple of years.  They came upon that decision during the Board of Education’s last meeting on Monday March 8^th.  Gunnison schools are going back to a March spring break in order to realign with Western State College (WSC).
Source: Gunnison Country Times (Posted 5:28p by Jim Kapp)

A drop in snowfall during January and early February resulted in fewer skier visits statewide, according to a ski industry trade group. The Daily Sentinel reports that Colorado Ski country USA announced that skier visits at its 22 member ski resorts declined four percent from Jan. 1 to the end of February this year as compared to the same period last winter. Skier visits overall are down 2 percent for the season….
Source: Daily Sentinel (Posted 5:31p by Jim Kapp)

CDOT crews have opened I-70 through Glenwood Canyon in both directions. Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction and will remain like this until long-term repairs can be completed in the coming weeks/months.  The speed limit has been reduced to 40 MPH and load over 14-feet wide are restricted from traveling through the work area.
Source: Press Release  (Posted 4:25p by Jim Kapp)

A Utah man walked into a Walmart, stole a crowbar then proceeded to break a display case and took off with ipods and various Nintendo game systems. According to KJCT, following the theft the man took off in stolen vehicle.  The police say he’s still on the loose and is described as a white male in his 20’s with spikey brown hair….
Source: KJCT (Posted 4:26p by Jim Kapp)

Congratulations to our 4 area schools who have advanced in the state basketball tournament. Paonia, Ouray, Ridway, and Olathe all won their games and will advance to the winners brackets and play tomorrow.  Ouray will play at 5:30 on 103.7 The Blast.  Ridgway will also be on the Blast at 8:30pm.  Paonia can be heard on 94kix at 7pm tomorrow and catch the Olathe girls game at 7pm on kubc….(Posted 4:27p by Jim Kapp)

A search warrant executed on Tuesday authorized the seizure of records for more than 300 medical marijuana card holders after police went to investigate a peculiar odor coming from a building near the offices of the U.S. Census Bureau. The Daily Sentinel states that the warrant allowed Western Colorado Drug Task Force officers to seize records in order to verify who the current primary caregiver is for the approximately 308 patient files found inside a large marijuana grow at 573 W. Crete Circle……
Source: Daily Sentinel (Posted 4:02p by Jim Kapp)

NEWS: Thursday March 11, 2010Posted by Janine Mayfield on March 11th, 2010

Paonia wins! 49-30

Ouray wins! 40-25

Ridgway wins! 44-25!!

Olathe wins! 40-25!!

For local high school “Great 8″ basketball scores check out coloradopreps.com.

The man who is accused of killing his wife in Grand Junction in 1997 continues to fight extradition from England to Colorado. The Daily Sentinel says Marcus Bebb-Jones’ attorney says the expected sentence of life behind bars is “inhumane.” Sabrina Jones went missing in 1997 and her skull was found by a rancher on Douglas Pass in 2004.  The Bebb-Jones’ owned Hotel Montrose  in 1997.   Authorites allege the former professional poker player killed his wife, dumbed her body in Dinosaur National Monument, and charged several thousand dollars to her credit cards in Las Vegas. The decision of extradition is expected to be made next month.
Source: Daily Sentinel (Posted 11 :35a)

The AAU basketball tournament is going on this weekend in Montrose. Games are being played at the high school and at Columbine Middle School starting Friday. There is a small admission fee to watch the games.
Source: PSA   (Posted 11:34a)

NEWS: Thursday March 11, 2010Posted by Janine Mayfield on March 11th, 2010

While the board has until June to approve it, the Gunnison Watershed RE1J School District is looking at ways to cut over $900,000 from next year’s budget. According to Gunnison Country Times, it’s possible there will be cutbacks, but definitely not in any teaching staff.  The district is urging all departments to cut back on simple things such as paper and pencils.  School Finance Director Stephanie Juneau will present the school board with a draft 2010-2011 budget later this month. Most of the cuts are attributed to State cutbacks.
Source: Gunnison Country Times (Posted 10:45a)

The University of Colorado regents are considering whether to raise tuition by 9 percent for in-state students and 5 percent for new out-of-state students. KJCT says the regents discussed the increase yesterday and scheduled a vote for March 29. They say they’re reluctant to raise students’ costs but say they face a crisis because of declining state funding.
Source: KJCT/AP   (Posted 10:44a)

A woman was killed yesterday by a rock that fell onto the car she was riding in on U.S. Highway 40 near Steamboat Springs. U.S. 40 is one of two main detour routes around a large rockslide on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon. Colorado State Patrol tells NBC 11 News that woman was the only person injured in the incident that happened just after 7:00am. CDOT says this is a very rare area for a rock slide, and that only one rock fell.
Source: NBC 11 News (Posted 9:42a)

US Department of Labor sues trustee of abandoned IXP Inc. 401(k) plan in Fruita, Colo. The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Denver against the former president and owner of IXP Inc., Fruita, Colo., for abandoning the company’s 401(k) plan as its trustee after the company ceased operations in January 2009.  IXP Inc. installed gasoline distribution pipelines.

The suit alleges that Carl N. France violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act when he failed to administer the 401(k) plan after the company ceased to operate, thereby depriving participants of their retirement benefits.

“When an employee benefit plan is abandoned, so are the workers who invested in it,” said Steve Eischen, regional director of the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration’s regional office in Kansas City, Mo. “We took this legal action so the plan will be properly managed and its participants can access the funds that rightly belong to them.”

The suit asks the court to appoint GTrust of Topeka, Kan., to serve as the independent fiduciary in order to terminate the plan and distribute its remaining assets to participants.  As of Sept. 29, 2009, the 401(k) plan had 21 participants and assets totaling $104,216.02.

The suit resulted from an investigation by EBSA’s Kansas City Regional Office.  Employers and workers can contact that office at 816-285-1800 or toll-free at 866-444-3272 for help with problems relating to private sector pension and health plans.

In fiscal year 2009, EBSA achieved monetary results of $1.3 billion related to pension, 401(k), health and other benefits for millions of American workers and their families. Additional information can be found at  http://www.dol.gov/ebsa.
Source: Press Release   (Posted 9:33a)

NEWS: Thursday March 11, 2010Posted by Janine Mayfield on March 11th, 2010

Officials closed the ice skating rink at Keystone Lake after a Zamboni broke through the ice. The driver of the ice-grooming machine was not injured Tuesday and the Zamboni appeared to be working after crews fished it out of the hole in the ice. Keystone spokesman Ryan Whaley tells the Denver Post that they decided to close the rink because temperatures will likely be too warm by the time the hole is repaired.

(Photo courtesy of Denver Post)
Source: Denver Post (Posted 8:15a)

Tuesday is the precinct caucuses for Democrats and Republicans in Gunnison County. It’s still unknown whether Sheriff Rick Murdie will run for re-election.  The Gunnison Country Times says some believe Murdie will retire and Undersheriff Rick Besecker will seek the position, but neither has made any announcement.  Gunnison County incumbents: county clerk (Stella Dominguez), assessor (Kristy McFarland), coroner (Frank Vader), and treasurer (Melody Marks) are all seeking re-election, with no challengers as of yet. Gunnison County Caucuses begin at 7 o’clock Tuesday. Call the County Elections Office with questions at 641-7927.
Source: Gunnison Country Times (Posted 6:58a)

Yesterday the public was invited to a meeting regarding the new Montrose Association of Commerce and Tourism or Montrose ACT. People are concerned about events such as Main in Motion and parades, as well as funding for this new group. According to the Daily Press, Ken Brengle, the Chief Restructuring Officer on this project says things are still being put into place and each committee and the new board are working together to make things happen. With this new restructuring, MAMA still exists but will no longer obtain funding after March 19th. The Chamber and VCB no longer exist, but their employees are working under Montrose ACT. The public is invited to Monday’s Montrose ACT board meeting at noon at the former Chamber building on Main Street.
Source: Daily Press (Posted 6:57a)

This Saturday (March 13) is Montrose Memorial Hospital’s Annual Health Fair. Blood draws are from 6:30a-11:00a. Prostate exams are from 7:00a-9:00a, and all kinds of free health screenings run until the event is over at noon. Cash and checks are the only forms of payment accepted. Remember if you’re getting your blood drawn to not eat 12 hours prior.  Get all the details at montrosehospital.com.
Source: PSA   (Posted 6:56a)

NEWS: Thursday March 11, 2010Posted by Janine Mayfield on March 11th, 2010

A Delta County School board member has given up his seat due to health reasons. The Delta County Independent says Chad Campbell of Paonia was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2001. Since taking a seat on the board in November, Campbell says his health has been deteriorating.  The board will appoint a replacement within the next 60 days.
Source: Delta County Independent (Posted 5:35a)

Some lanes should be reopened by the end of today along I-70 after workers blasted a huge boulder threatening to tumble down a cliff. The boulder was blasted just before nightfall, but darkness prevented crews from clearing debris. A 17-mile stretch of I-70 has been closed since Monday because of a rock slide.

(Photo courtesy of CDOT)
Source: Press Release   (Posted 5:38a)

The identity of a 20-year-old backcountry snowboarder who died in an avalanche near Loveland Pass is expected to be released today. KJCT says the slide happened at about 3 p.m. Wednesday, about a mile west of Arapahoe Basin ski area. Two other snowboarders who were behind and above the man survived the avalanche. The unnamed man was an employee at Breckenridge Ski Resort.
Source: KJCT/AP   (Posted 5:39a)

Colorado Labor Force Development-January 2010
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rate:
Montrose Micropolitan Statistical Area: Jan 10=10.3% (Dec 09=8.8%, Jan 09=8.5%)
Delta: Jan 10=9.1% (Dec 09=7.9%, Jan 09=7.1%)
Ouray: Jan 10=8.1% (Dec 09=7.1%, Jan 09=5.6%)
Gunnison: Jan 10=5.9% (Dec 09=5.0%, Jan 09=5.3%)
Grand Junction Micropolitan Statistical Area: Jan 10=10.2% (Dec 09=9.0%, Jan 09=6.5%)
Labor Force
Colorado’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased one-tenth of a percentage point to 7.4 percent in January from the revised December 2009 rate of 7.3 percent according to Donald J. Mares, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. “While the unemployment rate may be volatile throughout 2010 as Coloradans reenter the labor force, we expect to see the job market strengthen,” noted Mares. Last January the unemployment rate was 6.7 percent.

The number of working Coloradans declined 4,700 over the month to 2,448,000 out of a civilian labor force of 2,643,700. The number of residents unsuccessfully looking for work increased 3,800 over the month to 195,700. Last January, total employment was 2,547,500, the civilian labor force was 2,731,400 and the number of unemployed was 183,900. Total employment has declined 99,500 since January 2009.

The unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 60 of Colorado’s 64 counties, declined in two and remained unchanged in two. The lowest rate was 3.3 percent in Cheyenne County and the highest was 18.1 percent in Dolores County. In January 2009, the unemployment rate increased in 63 counties and declined in one. Last year, the lowest rate was 3.1 percent in Cheyenne and Yuma Counties and the highest was 12.0 percent in Dolores County.

Wage and Salary Employment
The monthly survey of Colorado business establishments indicates the number of nonfarm wage and salary jobs increased 1,800 in January to 2,206,100.

Employment increased in four of Colorado’s eleven major industry sectors over the month. Trade, transportation, and utilities added 3,700 jobs, leisure and hospitality increased 2,200, financial activities added 1,500, and manufacturing 300. Education and health services declined 1,800, concentrated primarily in the health care and social assistance sector. Construction and professional and business services declined 1,200 each. Government decreased 900 as Census-related gains at the federal level were offset by losses at the state and local level, mining and logging declined 400, while other services and information were down 200 each.

Nonfarm payroll employment decreased over the year by 4.5 percent, or 104,300, from the January 2009 level of 2,310,400.

Employment in one of Colorado’s eleven major industry sectors increased over the year. Education and health services added 2,200 jobs. The remaining ten industry sectors all declined over the year. Employment in construction decreased 33,200, a reduction in jobs of over 22 percent from January 2009, manufacturing declined 11,200 and mining and logging lost 5,800 jobs. Professional and business services and trade, transportation and utilities declined 20,900 and 18,200, respectively. Other losses included leisure and hospitality (5,800), financial activities (5,300), information (4,100), other services (1,300), and government (700).

National
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the nation’s unemployment rate declined three-tenths of one percentage point to 9.7 percent in January. Nonfarm payroll employment was essentially unchanged, down 20,000, in January and has declined by 8.4 million since the recession began in December 2007. In January, employment declined in construction and transportation and warehousing, while temporary help services and retail trade employment increased.
Source: Press Release (Posted 5:40a)