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June 2008
One eastbound I-70 lane closed after multiple vehicle crash
Several injuries were reported and a single eastbound lane is closed on Interstate 70 tonight near Dotsero after a semi crash sparked a chain reaction of accidents and a fire.
A semi headed westbound at about 3 p.m. rolled onto the median spilling a load of 36-inch metal pipes onto both lanes of traffic. Drivers of a semi cab and a mini van headed eastbound collided with the pipes. A fire started in the median, which was extinguished by Colorado Department of Transportation crews, according to spokeswoman Nancy Shanks.
A single lane of traffic in each direction opened at about 7 p.m.
Also tonight, Douglas Pass on Highway 139 is closed after a truck rollover. A hazardous materials team is responding to the crash, which occurred at about 8:30 p.m., but no other details were immediately available, Shanks said
— Amy Hamilton
Permalink | | Categories: Breaking_News
Gateway Canyons opens Kiva Lodge, equestrian center
Discovery Channel founder and Gateway Canyons developer John Hendricks on Monday evening described an educational mission for his Gateway getaway.
He said he wants visitors to leave their vacation having learned “something new about the world.”
Hendricks’ wife, Maureen Hendricks, cut a ceremonial ribbon shortly after 5 p.m. for the new 38-room Kiva Lodge and an equestrian center that will be the trailhead for many wanna-be cowboys.
Some 70 people attended the celebration of the latest amenities at the resort, which opened in 2005. Planned for 2010 are a world-class spa, an 18-hole golf course, an events center and The Palisade Academy, which will host visiting faculty and offer a wide range of classes on everything from paleontology to poetry.
Attendees included Don Elliman, executive director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, and Kim McNulty, director of the Colorado Tourism Office.
— Laurena Mayne Davis
Permalink | | Categories: Breaking_News
Council annexes land over objections
The Grand Junction City Council agreed tonight to annex a tract of land in Orchard Mesa, even as the owner of the property remains on the run from authorities and neighbors voiced concerns that development could threaten an adjacent historic trail.
Council members voted 6-0 to bring into the city nearly 18 acres at 166 Edlun Road and zone it to allow two homes per acre. Councilman Bruce Hill was absent from the meeting.
The property is adjacent to the Old Spanish Trail and is owned by The Shores LLC, a corporation created by Weld County developer Mark Strodtman. A Weld County grand jury indicted Strodtman in March on charges including theft, forgery and racketeering.
Strodtman is accused of deceiving buyers into purchasing homes owned by his real estate company, JS Real Estate LLC, and deceiving lenders into loaning money for the project. He is wanted on a $100,000 warrant.
The eastern boundary of the 18-acre property runs parallel to a portion of the Old Spanish Trail. Neighbors asked the council to withhold annexing and zoning the land, saying they are concerned any development could threaten the trail. Another corporation owned by Strodtman, Orchard Mesa Estates II LLP, owns another 350 acres in the area, and the property is bisected by the trail.
Permalink | | Categories: Breaking_News
Rep. Salazar making West Slope appearances this week
U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo., will be visiting northwest Colorado tomorrow and Wednesday in a trip that includes two appearances in the Grand Valley.
Salazar will attend the dedication of a new fish ladder at the Price-Stubb Dam at the west entrance to De Beque Canyon from 8:15 to 10 a.m. Tuesday. The ladder will reopen the Colorado River to the endangered Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker.
Then, between noon and 1 p.m., Salazar will award retired Capt. Richard C. Miley the Bronze Star and former Army Staff Sgt. Arthur Cordova three new commendations at the Grand Junction Vet Center, 2472 Patterson Road.
Salazar will then travel to Craig, where he will tour the Craig Veterans Telehealth Center from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, Salazar will be in Steamboat Springs and Walden attending a Routt County Commission meeting and a Jackson County Commission luncheon and touring the Rocky Mountain Pellet Company plant.
— Sentinel staff
Permalink | | Categories: Breaking_News
Aspen man drowns in Roaring Fork’s “Punchbowl”
An Aspen man drowned Sunday afternoon while swimming in a section of the Roaring Fork River known as the “Punchbowl,” according to the Pitkin County Coroner’s Office.
Nicholas McChesney, 22, died on the way to Aspen Valley Hospital after friends and emergency workers failed to resuscitate him, according to the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Department.
The drowning occurred around 4 p.m. Witnesses told deputies McChesney jumped in and was caught by a whirlpool.
An onlooker jumped in and attempted a rescue, but was deterred by the swift water, deputies said.
Immediately after plunging into the Punchbowl, located at mile marker 50 on Colorado Highway 82, McChesney was “sucked down by the water and (was) surfacing occasionally gasping for air,” deputies said.
It took eight minutes to pull McChesney out of the water. But by then breathing had stopped, deputies said.
Deputies and other rescue personnel arrived at 4:39 p.m.
The Aspen Volunteer Fire Department, Mountain Rescue Aspen, Aspen Ambulance and the U.S. Forest Service all assisted in the operation.
Permalink | | Categories: Breaking_News
Controversial project up for annexation vote tonight
The Grand Junction City Council is expected to decide tonight whether to annex a tract of land in Orchard Mesa that is owned by a developer wanted for mortgage fraud.
Council members will vote whether to annex and give residential zoning to nearly 18 acres at 166 Edlun Road.
The property is adjacent to the Old Spanish Trail and is owned by The Shores LLC, a corporation created by Weld County developer Mark Strodtman. A Weld County grand jury indicted Strodtman in March on charges including theft, forgery and racketeering.
Strodtman, who is wanted on a $100,000 warrant, is accused of deceiving buyers into purchasing homes owned by his real estate company, JS Real Estate LLC, and deceiving lenders into loaning money for the project.
Orchard Mesa residents say they are concerned the development could threaten the Old Spanish Trail. The Shores LLC owns a total of 400 acres in the area, and the property is bisected by the trail.
The Grand Junction Planning Commission last month recommended approving zoning that would allow the construction of two homes an acre. Representatives for the proposed development have asked zoning for four homes an acre.
Tonight’s meeting begins at 7 at City Hall.
Permalink | | Categories: Breaking_News
Rifle wildfire burning out
RIFLE — Authorities this morning said a 12-acre fire that threatened two homes and forced the closure of Highway 13 north of Rifle Sunday has been contained.
“It’s winding down pretty quick,” said Todd Johnson, a temporary duty officer with the Upper Colorado Interagency Fire Management Unit in Rifle.
Just what started the fire remains under investigation, but authorities believe it was human-caused.
It began about 3:30 p.m. Sunday and forced the highway to be closed for about two hours. Johnson said crews were able to save the threatened homes. Authorities also responded to two other fires of less than a quarter acre in size near the main blaze.
A helicopter joined in fighting the fire, and federal crews were assisted by several local fire departments.
Permalink | | Categories: Breaking_News
Overnight truck crash kills one, spills gas
A Wyoming man died Sunday after the truck he was driving went off state Highway 64 and over a cliff.
Travis Lynne Wilson, 38, of Rawlins was driving a truck that was pulling a tank carrying pressurized liquid gas when the accident occurred. The tank ruptured, causing the gas to be released into the atmosphere, but authorities said it did not pose any immediate threats and was allowed to dissipate on its own.
The Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office said the accident occurred shortly before 1:30 a.m. at milepost 45.5 when the westbound truck went off the right side of the highway after going through a left-hand curve. The truck separated from the trailer and both went over the cliff.
The trailer traveled about 60 feet through the air before coming to rest on its left side in a water-filled ditch. The truck came to rest at the bottom of the cliff.
Wilson, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
Rangely fire and ambulance personnel and a Colorado State Patrol hazardous materials crew also responded to the incident.
Permalink | | Categories: Breaking_News
Rum Bay license renewed
The alcohol will continue to flow at the Rum Bay nightclub.
The Mesa County Commission renewed the club’s license today, with several “stipulated conditions.” The conditions were drafted after threats of yanking the club’s liquor license were challenged by a Rum Bay attorney, said Bill Logsdon, who co-owns the club with Greg Rohlman.
Some members of the commission had berated the owners for the number of alcohol related incidents stemming from the club. Last month the commission had a closed-door meeting with legal counsel to discuss the potential for litigation. What emerged from that meeting is the list of stipulated conditions.
If any one of the conditions are violated Rum Bay’s liquor license could be revoked by the county.
The stipulated conditions are:
• The bar must call the Mesa County Sheriff’s Department each time a person violates the law in the club or the parking lot.
• The club will take steps to prevent occurrences such as fights, assaults and excessive drinking.
• Ensure no minors are served.
• Appropriately train employees.
• The club will have working security cameras and provide video tapes to deputies when requested.
• Criminal background checks will be done on employees.
• Security personnel will be trained to deal with intoxicated people.
Permalink | | Categories: Breaking_News
Paonia man dies after crash on Dallas Divide
A 60-year-old Paonia man, Leonard Sholing, died this morning in a two-car collision just west of Dallas Divide on state Highway 62, according to Colorado State Patrol.
Trooper Mike Baker said the collision occurred around 8 a.m. after Kassandra Kinney, 18, of Ridgway, was driving eastbound, swerved and hit Sholing in the westbound lane.
Kinney got distracted while talking on her cell phone, Baker said. She swerved into the eastbound lane, went around one car, over-corrected back to the westbound lane and then hit Sholing’s car, a Nissan Sentra.
Kinney was driving an Isuzu Trooper, Baker said. She was treated and released at Montrose Memorial Hospital and was cited for careless driving causing death, he said. San Miguel Coroner Bob Dempsey declared Sholing dead at the scene.
San Miguel County Undersheriff Sky Walters came upon the collision about 8:25 a.m. near mile marker 11, about halfway between Ridgway and Placerville, according to the San Miguel Sheriff’s Office.
Permalink | | Categories: Breaking_News
Water truck in river
The driver of a water truck that landed in the Colorado River early this morning told authorities he lost his brakes and then lost control of the truck.
The truck tumbled off Garfield County Road 300, near the Unabridge, which is about half way between De Beque and Parachute, around 1:30 a.m., said Deputy Chief Rob Ferguson, of the Grand Valley Fire Protection District.
The driver of the truck was not injured.
“The driver actually was able to get out on his own,” Ferguson said.
Ferguson did not know if the truck was transporting any liquids before going into the river.
Permalink | | Categories: Breaking_News
Medicare doctor fees reduced
WASHINGTON (AP) — One unpleasant task lawmakers will have over the July 4 recess is explaining to seniors why they didn’t stop a 10 percent fee cut, going into effect Tuesday, for doctors who treat Medicare patients.
Physicians have been running ads hinting that patients may find doctors less willing to treat them.
In a particularly vitriolic exchange, Democrats and Republicans blamed each other for what Dr. Nancy H. Nielsen, president of the American Medical Association, said has put the country “at the brink of a Medicare meltdown.”
“Seniors need continued access to the doctors they trust. It’s urgent that Congress make that happen,” the AMA said in ads taken out in Capitol Hill newspapers read by members of Congress and their aides.
One near-certainty was that lawmakers, not willing to face millions of angry seniors at the polls in November, will act quickly when they return to Washington the week of July 7 to reverse the fee cut and provide retroactive payments to doctors for losses they incur after July 1.
Just two years ago, after a cut had taken effect, Congress froze payments retroactively at the previous year’s levels. In 2002 doctors had to live with a 5.4 percent cut. The likelihood of retroactive relief didn’t deter dire predictions last Thursday after the Senate fell just one vote short of the 60 needed to proceed to legislation that would have stopped the fee cut.
Doctors have complained for years that Medicare payments have failed to cover rising costs. “Many more physicians will reluctantly retire early or reduce clinical practice time. This hurts access to fragile senior populations,” said Dr. Jack Lewin, chief executive officer of the American College of Cardiology.
Beginning Tuesday, payments will be cut for some 600,000 doctors who treat Medicare patients because of a formula that requires fee cuts when spending exceeds established goals. Almost every year, Congress finds a way to block the cuts.
Permalink | | Categories: Morning_Show
