NEWS: Tuesday December 15, 2009Posted by Janine Mayfield on December 15th, 2009
A Grand Junction man is under arrest for presenting a fake prescription at two local pharmacies. NBC 11 News reports that 19 yr old Joshua Stewart was caught by a City Market employee of trying to get a prescription for oxycodone pills at both City Market and Rite Aid Pharmacy. He was arrested and taken to the Mesa County jail where he was booked on two counts of fraud and two counts of second degree forgery.
Source: NBC 11 News (Posted 5:30p by Jim Kapp)
A homeless Grand Junction man was arrested Sunday on suspicion of breaking glass doors on a Grand Junction health clinic. The Daily Sentinel reports that Brian Wilson was brought into court on Monday and told of the charges against him which include felony criminal attempt and misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief as well as resisting arrest. Two workers inside the business had told Wilson that the clinic is closed on Sundays but he became agitated and started beating on the glass door with his fists. The door was valued at $800. Interestingly enough the clinic, Grand Junction Urgent Care is owned and operated by Dr. Sam Jahani, whose offices were raided and patients’ medical files taken Oct. 14 by officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Source: Daily Sentinel (Posted 5:32p by Jim Kapp)
A property owner outside Aspen may be ordered to cut down a few trees because they were planted without the proper county permits and could eventually block the view of nearby mountains from a road. KJCT says that the Pitkin County Commissioners will make their decision tomorrow whether the blue spruce on the Watson Divide Ranch have to be removed. The 830-acre ranch is covered by a conservation easement managed by the Aspen Valley Land Trust, which has final say over new landscaping. The trust has told the county it doesn’t object to the trees. Ranch owners offered to cut three trees Monday but commissioners told them to wait until the final decision.
Source: KJCT (Posted 5:21p by Jim Kapp)
Colorado union workers were split today on contract offers with two grocery chains. The Daily Sentinel reports this afternoon that one group rejecting Safeway’s last and best, final offer, while King Soopers employees accepted an offer from their employer. After Safeway’s union workers turned down the latest offer one union spokesperson said that they’re hoping Safeway will continue to negotiate even though some workers have voted to reauthorize a strike.
Source: Daily Sentinel (Posted 3:55p by Jim Kapp)
The husband of a missing Utah woman is hindering the investigation because he failed to show up for an interview on the advice of his lawyer. KJCT reports that so far police have not considered Josh Powell, the husband, a suspect in the disappearance of his wife Susan. However, his decision not to be interviewed is delaying the investigation and search for his wife. Susan Powell was reported missing Dec. 7th when she didn’t show up to work and her children weren’t dropped off at day care. Josh told police that he took his two boys camping at around 2am that day and returned in the eve. Investigators have not been able to verify the camping trip because snow has covered that site by Simpson Springs on the historic Pony Express Trail in Utah’s west desert.
Source: KJCT (Posted 3:58p by Jim Kapp)
While it doesn’t happen daily, the Montrose Police Department warns businesses and consumers of counterfeit money. Commander Gene Lillard says it’s extremely wise to check all your bills for the proper markings of a real bill and if you suspect a counterfeit one, to call the police department immediately. Serious consequences could occur if you knowingly spend counterfeit money.
(Posted 11:27a)
Open House tonight! Until 7:00pm tonight is an open house of the new Olathe School-Based Community Health Clinic. The clinic is located near Olathe Elementary School at 211 N. Roberts Avenue.
Source: PSA (Posted 11:27a)
Colorado joins Buy American movement. Colorado Governor Bill Ritter Jr. will sign an executive order on December 16 instituting a Buy American policy for state government purchases using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The executive order comes after strong urging from business and labor groups, including the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) and the United Steelworkers (USW).
“Buy American policy is a good deal for Colorado’s taxpayers and workers,” said Scott Paul, executive director of AAM, a non-partisan partnership of several leading U.S. manufacturers and the United Steelworkers. “Colorado’s taxpayers understand the issue at hand. This is part of a longstanding U.S. policy and is consistent with our international trade obligations. It’s terrific to see Colorado joining many other states to adopt Buy American requirements that reflect the will of the overwhelming majority of Americans.”
A Harris Interactive poll conducted earlier this year found that 84% of Americans support requirements for American-made materials in tax-payer funded infrastructure investment.
“We’re pleased to see Governor Ritter instituting a Buy American policy,” said USW District Director Bob LaVenture. “This is an important step in supporting manufacturing jobs throughout Colorado. Other nations are utilizing their own stimulus plans for their economies and Governor Ritter obviously understands the importance of this for Colorado and for the U.S. economy.”
The Governor will formally sign the executive order at 4 pm on Dec. 16 at USW Local 2102, 1414 East Evans, Pueblo, Colorado, 81004.
Source: Press Release (Posted 10:53a)
There was standing room only during last night’s Olathe Board of Trustees meeting. The crowded room was interested in one item on the agenda, discussion on an amendment of the medical marijuana ordinance. Currently the state has no regulations on medicinal marijuana businesses, but Olathe is looking to add some regulations. The majority of the people were in support of William Hewitt, owner of THC with TLC. Discussions remained civil and lasted just under and hour last night. No action was taken. The item, Ordinance 2009-22, will be on the December 28, 2009 work session agenda.
(Posted 10:33a)
In other marijuana news, two people severely burned in a house fire near Breckenridge appear to have been injured when at least one of them was trying to make hashish. Summit Daily News says the house caught fire Sunday when the victims were using butane fuel canisters, which are dangerous indoors. They were approved to grow medical marijuana.
Source: Summit Daily News (Posted 10:31a)
As if the shooting story out of Clifton couldn’t get any more complicated, the man whose apartment was shot into was that of a former Grand Junction police officer. According to the affidavit, Derek Sheley allegedly fired shots into Courtney Crooks’ apartment Sunday night, causing a 3-hour standoff and the SWAT team to break into the apartment. It was then they learned the 46-year-old is a paraplegic. Crooks was fired from the Grand Junction Police Department this summer for a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence. He pleaded not guilty and is headed to trial in February. Sheley faces charges of illegal discharge of a firearm, prohibited use of a weapon, possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless endangerment, and barricading himself.
Source: Mesa County Sheriff’s Office
Source: Daily Sentinel contributed to this story
(Posted 7:46a)
Winter pile burns planned in Mesa County. Federal fire officials from the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit say they could begin to burn slash piles in Mesa County as early as this week.
Crews will aim to burn up to 300 piles on Black Ridge west of the Colorado National Monument, 100 piles on the Uncompahgre Plateau south of highway 141 and 60 piles five miles east of the town of Mesa.
The piles were generated from fuels reduction projects. Crews will be conducting the burns when weather, moisture, and fuel conditions allow January through March.
During burn periods, smoke is likely to be visible from the town of Mesa, and the Black Ridge burns will be visible from Grand Junction, Fruita and Loma.
Weather conditions will be monitored and burns will be implemented when conditions are suitable for safe and effective prescribed burns and good smoke dispersal. All prescribed fires in the Upper Colorado River are conducted under an approved burn plan with smoke permits from the State of Colorado.
Source: Press Release (Posted 7:45a)
There haven’t been any unexpected problems or delays in the construction of the “Place to Play” addition at Ridgway Schools. According to Ouraynews.com the building that will house a music room, gym, locker rooms, and climbing wall broke ground August 20th and is set to be complete in March. In 2008, voters approved a $2.1 million dollar bond referendum to construct the building.
Source: Ouraynews.com (Posted 7:45a)
The Colorado Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with US Livestock Genetics Export Inc. (USLGE), recently hosted a delegation of Russian livestock producers. The group visited Colorado to learn about livestock practices and herd health management through sessions at Colorado State University and ranch visits.
“Over the past two years, Colorado has hosted several Russian cattlemen with the goal of educating them about the benefits of buying Colorado cattle and genetics,” said Dawn Velásquez de Pérez, CDA international marketing specialist. “We hope through education and cooperation, Russian cattlemen will return to Colorado in the spring when they are making purchasing decisions.”
While in Colorado, the delegation visited Aristocrat Angus Ranch in Platteville, Colo.; Altenburg Super Baldy Ranch and Horton Feedlot in Wellington, Colo.; Figure Four Cattle Company in Somerset, Colo.; and Rocky Mountain Sire Services in Bennett, Colo. They also attended seminars at Colorado State University to learn about nutritional requirements, trade and disease issues, beef cattle genetics and performance evaluations.
“The state’s recent cold weather presented a great opportunity to demonstrate how similar Colorado’s climate is to Russia,” said Velásquez de Pérez. “Our visitors felt that Colorado cattle would perform well in Russia and acclimation time would be minimal.”
For more information, contact Dawn Velásquez de Pérez at (303) 239-4123, e-mail dawn.velasquez@ag.state.co.us or visit www.coloradoagriculture.com.
Source: Press Release (Posted 7:44a)
Vernon L. Estes, age 54, of Montrose, Colorado, was sentenced last Friday by U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Blackburn to serve 120 months (10 years) in federal prison for coercion and enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney David Gaouette and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Copp. Following his incarceration, Estes is to serve 5 years on Supervised Release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender. Estes, who appeared in court in custody, was remanded.
Vernon L. Estes was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on April 23, 2009. He pled guilty before Judge Blackburn on September 25, 2009. He was sentenced on December 11, 2009.
According to the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, starting in March of 2008, Estes accessed the internet from his home computer in Montrose, Colorado, to “chat” in a Yahoo! Chat room. Estes, using a made up persona, purported to be a modeling agent who was soliciting young teenage girls to manufacture child pornography. As part of the solicitation, Estes distributed videos and photos of child pornography. Instead of communication with young teenage girls, Estes was in fact “chatting” with undercover agents from three separate and independent law enforcement agencies: The Oregon Intercept Task Force, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bay County, Florida Sheriff’s Office.
On April 29, 2009, a detective with the Bay County, Florida Sheriff’s Office was posing as a 13-year old girl. The defendant through his made up persona introduced himself as a modeling agent living in Hawaii. He told the girl that he represents girls from eight years old through high school age. Estes initially sent non-sexual pictures of young girls. The undercover officer, posing as the 13-year old girl, then asked questions about the type of modeling and whether it was nude modeling. Estes then sent samples of child pornography. From April 29, 2008, until May 12, 2008, the defendant continued to entice who he believed was the 13-year old to engage in sexual activity. Based on investigative information gathered from Oregon, Washington, and Florida detectives, ICE agents in Grand Junction applied for and received a search warrant for Estes’ home.
On June 10, 2008, agents went to Estes’ home. When confronted, according to the plea agreement, Estes admitted that he had been posing as a modeling agent and visiting chat rooms on Yahoo! trying to get girls under age 18 to send him live images of themselves modeling in the nude. Four computers were seized from the defendant’s home. Digital forensic analysis conducted by ICE resulted in the discovery of 660 chat log files, including chat logs from Estes’ made up persona. Images and streaming videos of child pornography were also found on Mr. Estes’ computers.
“The criminal conduct of this defendant shows how someone using only their home computer can set in motion a string of events aimed to entice innocent young girls to enter the world of child pornography by submitting photographs that will be traded among other criminals and even worse, remain on the internet for years to come,” said U.S. Attorney David Gaouette. “Today’s sentence is not only appropriate for this defendant but will hopefully serve as a deterrent to others who see nothing wrong with engaging in similar criminal acts.”
“Anyone who produces, buys, shares or possesses child pornography should take special note that five law enforcement agencies cooperated with this investigation and prosecution,” said Jeffrey Copp, Special Agent in Charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Denver. “ICE routinely works with our law enforcement partners to bring justice to the victimized children, and, we hope, to deter anyone who might be tempted to engage in this perverted hobby.” Copp oversees a four-state area which includes: Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with substantial help from the Oregon Intercept Task Force, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bay County, Florida Sheriff’s Office.
Estes was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Heldmyer. The sentencing hearing was handle by Assistant U.S. Attorney Judith Smith.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit: http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Source: Press Release (Posted 6:14a)
Mesa County approved a disheartening budget last night. NBC 11 News says with the elimination of 33 jobs, this is the county’s biggest budget cut in decades. The original cut was for 26 million, but after number crunching, next year’s budget is trimmed only by a little less than 13 million dollars. Out of the 33 jobs, most were already vacant, but 11 workers are being laid off effective January 1st.
Source: NBC 11 News (Posted 6:13a)
Senator Bennet secures additional COPS funding to help police departments facing budget cuts put more cops on the beat. Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator for Colorado, announced yesterday Senate approval of $298 million in funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program, which administration officials estimate will lead to the hiring or rehiring of 50,000 additional cops.
The funding was included in an omnibus appropriations bill that passed the Senate late yesterday. The bill is now headed to the president’s desk for his signature.
“More COPS funding means more officers on the beat,” Bennet said. “This funding is vital for our small towns and cities struggling with budget shortfalls to hire and retain police officers. I will continue to fight to make sure this funding is delivered to Colorado’s towns and cities.”
The Senate initially passed $100 million in COPS Funding in the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Act of 2010, while the House’s version allocated $298 million. Bennet and Senator Amy Klobuchar, joined by 31 of their Senate colleagues, pushed for the final bill to include an additional $198 million in funds requested by the Administration and funded by the House to help local police departments maintain their current ranks even as they face budget cuts.
Despite increased funding for COPS over the past year through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, just 14 percent of COPS Recovery Hiring Program requests were funded because of high demand and strained resources. The COPS program is essential to sustaining and enhancing local efforts to prevent domestic violence and drug trafficking during this recession.
Additional resources for local law enforcement agencies means more cops on the beat, or in some cases, that a community can maintain the law enforcement jobs that it has. The COPS Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP) provides support to achieve these goals. 9 Colorado departments took advantage of funding available through the CHRP this year.
Already this year, the program has helped boost funding for Police Departments across Colorado:
- The Haxtun Police Department received $416,985 to assist the department’s efforts to secure area schools.
- The Colorado Springs Police Department received $436,119 to assist the department’s efforts against child endangerment and protect communities from sexual predators.
- The Denver and Aurora Police Departments received more than $350,000 to assist efforts to secure city schools.
Source: Press Release (Posted 6:16a)
Man settles some claims in ‘popcorn lung’ lawsuit. A Colorado man who developed “popcorn lung” from regularly eating microwave popcorn and its artificial butter flavoring has settled his claims against a flavor developer. According to KJCT, Wayne Watson says he regularly ate two bags of microwave popcorn a day for years. In 2007, he was diagnosed with a lung condition linked to the flavor chemical diacetyl, found in popcorn flavoring.
Source: KJCT/AP (Posted 6:07a)