NEWS: Wednesday, August 5, 2009Posted by Janine Mayfield on August 5th, 2009
The Ouray Board of County Commissioners will reiterate its support in the form of a letter for Congressman John Salazar’s proposed San Juan Mountains Wilderness legislation. The Telluride Watch reports that legislation is in the works to include over 13,000 acres of land to the existing Mt. Sneffels Wilderness Area. They’re also looking at adding about 9,000 acres to the existing Mt. Sneffels Wilderness area by the Liberty Bell and Last Dollar Additions….
Source: Telluride Watch (Posted 5:12p by Jim Kapp)
Smoke and flames were reported last night in a Clifton home right next to an apartment complex. NBC 11 news reports that Grilled chicken may be the culprit that started that Clifton house fire. It happened just after 7 p.m. Tues. night. Clifton firefighters were called to the scene and when they arrived smoke and flames were shooting out of the home’s attic. Two people were inside but escaped injury. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The homeowner says it might have been because of a malfunction in the propane tank…..
Source: NBC 11 News (Posted 4:45p by Jim Kapp)
The parking lot, picnic shelter and restrooms at Devil’s Kitchen in Colorado National Monument are closed today as authorities investigate a vandalism spree. The Daily Sentinel says that Monument officials put out a news release claiming that some 21 window panes, some of them original to the shelter structure that was built in 1941, were found shattered early Tuesday. A service closet was also broken into and handles and latches on the door were broken. The stone picnic shelter had been placed on the National Register of Historic Structures in 1994. Groups which had special events planned for the facility have been told the area is temporary closed. Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call Mesa County Crime Stoppers at 241-7867 or (800) 221-7867.
Source: Daily Sentinel (Posted 4:44p by Jim Kapp)
Federal authorities in charge of the nation’s biggest bust of artifact looting and grave-robbing are targeting more suspects in the lucrative black market of ancient Southwest relics. The Daily Sentinel reorts that although 25 people have been charged after the long running sting operations, more names are likely to be added to the list. Federal agents say they are aggressively pursuing new leads. An assistant U.S. attorney for Utah, Carlie Christensen, says investigators continue to look at everyone from diggers to dealers to high-end collectors.
Source: Daily Sentinel (Posted 3:54p by Jim Kapp)
A Colorado consulting firm that tracks natural gas activity says it’s seeing several positive indicators right now that the energy industry may be on the road to recovery. According to NBC 11 News Arista Midstream Services says although this year has been a rough year for the natural gas industry there are signs that there is some good news on the horizon. One of which is for the last six weeks rig counts in Colorado have remained steady and there’s been no decrease like in the past…..
Source: NBC 11 News (Posted 3:52p by Jim Kapp)
The Mesa County Coroner has identified the victim in yesterday’s drowning at the Redlands Roller Dam along the Gunnison River. NBC 11 News says 36-year-old Bradley Dial of Grand Junction wasn’t wearing a life vest while swimming in the river.
Source: NBC 11 News (Posted 12:22p)
Joined by the Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and Action, Gov. Bill Ritter proclaimed today as “Genocide Awareness Day” during a news conference on the West Steps of Capitol.
“Genocide is not some abstract concept,” Gov. Ritter said. “Genocide is a very real thing. Genocide has faces. They are the faces of people who are murdered, who are assaulted, who are raped. The tragedy is not just the murder, the assault and the rape. The tragedy is the trauma that ripples out from each of these events, that impacts communities, families and entire peoples.”
Today’s event was focused on the deteriorating situation in the Darfur region of Sudan.
“Since March, a growing humanitarian crisis has occurred in Darfur,” Gov. Ritter said. “The Sudanese government has expelled several non-governmental agencies that were doing relief work in Darfur, and that has led to the suffering of millions of people who have been forced to go without adequate food, clean water and basic health care. The recent actions of the Sudanese government to limit humanitarian aid have made a bad situation worse.”
In 2007, Gov. Ritter signed legislation sponsored by former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, who also spoke at today’s news conference, that called for state and local governments to completely divest themselves from companies that were financially involved with the Sudanese government.
“Today, two years later,” Gov. Ritter said, “I’m happy to report that no public dollars from Colorado state government are invested in companies doing business with the Sudanese government.”
Gov. Ritter concluded his remarks by saying “We as Coloradans can make a difference, and we begin today by raising awareness, but action is also important.”
For more information on what you can do to raise awareness about genocide, contact Roz Duman, Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and Action, 303.856.7334, or rozduman@comcast.net, or visit www.ccgaa.org.
Source: Press Release (Posted 12:20p)
Yesterday Montrose County Commissioners and County leadership met with eleven members of the Fair Board and close to twenty members of the public to debrief about the recent Montrose County Fair. The two and a half hour meeting was cordial and there were many positive comments about the improvements to Friendship Hall and the Fairgrounds. Both the Fair Board and County staff were commended for their efforts and hard work.
At the meeting several Fair board members expressed their intentions of resigning to their current appointments. Therefore, Montrose County Commissioners are seeking applicants for six board positions – four of the current board members terms expire in September 1, 2009. The application form is available on the Montrose County website http://www.montrosecounty.net/images/boards_application.pdf or at the County Administration office at 161 S. Townsend or at the Fairgrounds Office at 1001 N. 2nd St. The deadline for applying is August 17, 2009 at the close of business. The completed applications can be submitted in person to Sandy Nelson, County Administration office at 161 S. Townsend, by email snelson@montrosecounty.net or by fax 249-7761.
Source: Press Release (Posted 11:29a)
Improvements to the I-70 interchange at Parachute (exit 75) are nearing completion this week as the new signals were set into flash (and test) mode yesterday, and become fully operational by the end of the week. This project is the result of a successful collaboration among four entities: the Colorado Department of Transportation, the Town of Parachute, Battlement Mesa Company and Garfield County.
The project, which began in early April, has widened both eastbound and westbound off-ramps to two lanes (facilitating separate right- and left-turn movements), and has added safety improvements including new guardrail and new striping on the off-ramps. The work was contracted to United Companies for $660,315, funded by the Town of Parachute and Garfield County (which included a grant from the Department of Local Affairs.) Outside the contract work, Battlement Mesa Company funded designs for the improvements and partnered with CDOT to purchase and install the signals.
The improvements will facilitate current and future traffic movements and improve safety at this interchange.
“With this project, we’re expecting that operations of the ramp intersections will improve, with less delay being incurred by vehicles on the off-ramps,” CDOT Region 3 Traffic & Safety Engineer Pete Mertes said. “Safety is also expected to improve, as turning radii were increased, guardrail was set back and wider ramps were constructed.” For information on this and other CDOT projects, the public may log on to www.cotrip.org or call 511 from anywhere in the state.
Source: Press Release (Posted 9:49a)
If you pass a bicyclist on the road today, you might want to make sure you leave 3 feet between your car and the bike. A new Colorado law that takes effect today requires drivers to allow at least that much space when passing or risk a $110 ticket.
Source: Bicycle Colorado
Source: Colorado House Democrats (Posted 8:21a)
Two teens that went on a multi-day vandalism spree in Orchard Mesa were sentenced yesterday. According to the Daily Sentinel, Michael Moore and Caleb Hovland, both 17, will serve two years in juvenile detention and have to pay more than $72,000 in restitution to their victims and insurance companies. The Mesa County DA’s office charged the boys with 50 felonies in May after they arsoned a church and crashed a stolen vehicle. The church who recently underwent a name change specifically didn’t ask for adult prosecution.
Source: Daily Sentinel (Posted 7:50a)
Last night, Kent Wollert and Wes Goza put in their resignation to the Montrose County Fair Board. According to the Daily Press, Goza is leaving after 12 years saying the board needs new blood. Wollert is stepping down but intends on still working with the rodeo. All in all, four positions will need to be filled on the 14-member board. The Montrose County Fair board meets at Friendship Hall the 3rd Tuesday of the month. Yesterday’s meeting was a debriefing with county officials regarding this year’s fair.
Source: Daily Press (Posted 6:13a)
An interim Police Chief for Grand Junction was named yesterday. NBC 11 News reports that John Camper, Chief of the Lakewood Police Division will report for duty August 31st for a few months until a permanent chief is found. Camper specifically said yesterday that he’s only in Grand Junction temporarily, and will return to Lakewood once a permanent replacement is found. Police Chief Bill Gardner stepped down last month saying he took his department as far as he can and is ready for his next step in hopefully heading another police department.
Source: NBC 11 News (Posted 6:12a)
Are you in a pinch or know someone who is? You can get free used back-to-school clothes today at the Montrose Aquatic Center starting at 1 o’clock. The event is sponsored by Life Choices Family Resource Center and includes children’s size 6 boys and girls clothing through adult sizes. If you have questions, call 249-4302.
Source: PSA (Posted 6:12a)
A Grand Junction man is dead after drowning in the Gunnison River yesterday. Mesa County Search and Rescue found the 38-year-old man after he fell into the river hours earlier. He was found just below the roller dam of the river, which is located about a half mile south of where the Gunnison River meets the Colorado River. It’s believed the victim was swimming in the river without a life vest with a small group of people.
Source: Press Release (Posted 5:55a)
The Valley Floor is officially forever wild. The Daily Planet says Telluride Town Council voted yesterday on the third reading of the conservation easement, seven years after it was originally voted on. The 570-acres will now be eternally preserved. The conservation easement lays out permanent rules on what can and cannot be done on the property. Telluride bought the land two years ago for $50 million from the San Miguel Valley Corporation.
Source: Daily Planet (Posted 5:54a)
Montrose County Sheriff’s Deputies are still searching for a missing 52-year-old Olathe man who’s not been seen since Sunday. Abade, “Abe” Martinez is described as Hispanic, 5’5” tall, 130 lbs, with brown eyes, brown hair, and a mustache and goatee. He was last seen wearing a gray T-shirt and blue jeans. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Abe Martinez is asked to call the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office at 970-249-6606.
(Posted 5:54a)
The 3,000-acre wildfire burning in Maybell in northwest Colorado is 50% contained. KJCT says the blaze, burning on federal land, started Monday by a lightning strike. No structures are threatened and no injuries have been reported. Maybell is 100 miles north of Grand Junction.
Source: KJCT/AP (Posted 5:53a)