After presenting them with their plaques, Lois Bogart, right, hugs Red Cross volunteer Rheta Strong as fellow volunteer Sharen Kurtz, left, smiles as the two women are awarded the Randy Bogart Spirit of the Red Cross Heroes award.

Reyes Pitman, left, of Eagle and Eva Balerio, of Grand Junction stop to take in the view along the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park. See a photo gallery at GJSentinel.com.

Adriana Plummer, 14-months, liked the warm temperatures and loved the water at the fountain at Fifth and Main Streets Tuesday. Adriana and her family from Pittsburgh, Pa. were visiting family in Grand Junction. The fountain opened today after three consecutive days of record temperatures.

Michael Fittje, center, is installed as Grand Junction’s new postmaster by Daryl Trujillo, area 2’s post office operations manager, while his mother Mary Fittje holds the Bible for him this morning at the Grand Junction Mail Processing Facility.

A very close-up look at the Rocky Mountain Columbine.The Rocky Mountain Columbine was designated the official Colorado State flower in 1899 after winning the vote of Colorado’s school children.

Searchers including Connie Flukey, second from left, get directions from Renee Perry, left, as they take a brief break by the side of Highway 50 near Kannah Creek as they search for evidence in this July, 2007 file shot.

Alpine Bank President Norm Franke, right, talks with deputies from the Mesa County Sheriff’s Department in front of the Clifton Alpine Bank after the bank was robbed at about 4 p.m. Thursday.

Bailey Home Movers move this house along Highway 6&50 this morning. The home was a parish house for the Bethel Assembly of God Church, 2945 Orchard Ave in Grand Junction.

Nick Teal, operating the Networked Robotic Arm, picks up a CMU rubber cow (Mavrick) as part of the third annual Student Showcase of CMU and WCCC students on the main campus at CMU Wednesday afternoon.

New Colorado National Monument Superintendent Lisa Eckert speaks to the crowd at Devils Kitchen Wednesday at her installation ceremony. The monument is not new to her since she served as a seasonal ranger years ago. Many of her former colleagues and friends attended to welcome her back to the Grand Valley.

A tour group stops at the Independence Monument overlook on Colorado National Monument earlier this week. In honor of National Park Week, entrance fees have been waived at America’s national parks this week, including the monument

A lazy lizard suns it’s self on a rock near the Redlands Mesa Golf Course.The lizard was about 6 inches long.

Seven-year-old Henry Shrader tries successfully to get some big sound out of Sarah Wagner’s trumpet at the instrument petting zoo at Robinson Theater.

Western Colorado Community College culinary students Meghann Lee, center and John Helseth, right, try the interactive screens during a stop of the C-SPAN campaign 2012 bus on the campus.

New young Palisade Trustees Amanda Rich, left, and Cody Butters will join veteran trustees on the new town board.

The courtyard area of the new renovations at Gateway Resorts that will upgrade the 20 rooms into luxury units.

Jim Moe of Grand Junction shows off his blue and gold macaw, named Max, and Nicky, an African gray macaw, during a stroll in downtown Grand Junction on Monday. Both parrots are relatively young but could live into their 80s.

Katie Carozza lines up a shot at the marbles circles in Lincoln Park. Carozza was one of four Mesa Mibsters who competed last week in the National Marbles Tournament in Wildwood, N.J.. Carozza finished second in the girls division

Matthew and Rock Cesario put free CDs inside goody bags that will be given away on Record Store Day at Triple Play Records on Saturday.

Camille Plumlee, one of the top-selling associates for Tomboy Tools, arranges a display at Sticks and Stones, 2920 D 1/2 Road.

Sage Jones, 6, of Grand Junction sails high on the swing set at Eagle Rim Park Sunday framed by the Bookcliffs.

A tearful Louise Davidson, second from left, watches the pile of her property grow as items are set in front of the home that was hers in Loma, while her neighbor Rose Young, left, hugs her and another friend stands nearby.

An eviction notice signed by Deputy Paul Hicks is taped to the front door of the house at 3165 Cross Canyon Lane, the last step in the process.

A bee is busy working on a Japanese wisteria tree in one of the outdoor gardens.

Bubbles in the water at river’s edge

Tulip inside petal closeup. Earth Day was celebrated April 22.

A close up of a lilac flower bud

Travis Thoele of S.M. Stoller, a contractor of the Department of Energy, demonstrates a radiation detection instrument which was used when tailings were removed in the Grand Junction Area.