Western Colorado

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County cutting budget by $4 million

Sinking revenue and a sluggish economy will trigger approximately $4 million in spending cuts for Mesa County, including nearly $1.4 million set aside for travel, consulting and related expenses. The cuts, announced Thursday in a news release ...

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Three accused in Collbran meth bust

Three people face drug-related charges after a search warrant was executed at a Collbran trailer park. Scott Peterson, 45, of Lamar, Sandra Pankratz, 46, of Seminole, Okla., and Lisa Eisenbarth, 48, of Collbran, could be charged with ...

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Sheriff, commissioner split on traffic enforcement

Mesa County Sheriff Stan Hilkey and County Commissioner Craig Meis disagree about how big the county’s new traffic enforcement team should be. In its 2009 budget, the Mesa County Commission approved funds to hire, train and equip two ...

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Search continues for man missing in canoe accident

Colorado State Parks employees on boats equipped with sonar searched Thursday for a man presumed dead from a boating accident Wednesday at Crawford State Park Reservoir. Tyler Korthuis, 22, of Delta has been missing since around 3 p.m. ...

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Misdemeanor charge filed in accidental death of girl

A man who backed a vehicle over his granddaughter in March will face misdemeanor charges. Anthony L. Woods, 50, of Orchard Mesa, was formally charged during a court hearing Thursday morning with two counts of misdemeanor drunken ...

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Group admits violation of campaign law

An outside campaign group has admitted to a violation in a Garfield County Commission race, but an advocacy organization says weak state laws and enforcement make it unlikely that some political-spending mysteries surrounding last fall’s ...

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More efficient rigs drilling wells faster

RULISON — On a well pad near Rulison stands yet another reason for the reduction in drilling rigs in the region. But energy companies aren’t complaining about this one. A high-efficiency drilling rig is operating on a Williams ...

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Assistant superintendent lone applicant for top District 51 post

School District 51 Assistant Superintendent Steve Schultz appears to be in line for a promotion. District officials announced Thursday that Schultz is the lone applicant and finalist to replace outgoing Superintendent Tim Mills. Mills is ...

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Prosecutor calls corrections bill an ‘abomination,’ will oppose it

A bill that would shift the burden for imprisoning criminals from the state to municipalities is being called an “abomination of a bill” by Mesa County District Attorney Pete Hautzinger. Senate Bill 286, sponsored by Sen. John ...

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Budget focus shifts to state workers, cigarette taxes

State employees might have to take unpaid days off, and smokers might face more taxes for cigarettes as the Legislature grapples with new ways to balance the state budget. The budget is set to go before the Senate this morning, and the House ...

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