In a scene reminiscent of an old-fashioned barn raising, about 20 of the 51 church members with the regional building committee work on adding shingles over two layers of new roofing material on the south side of the Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Hall, 608 29 Road, on Saturday.

Theresa Drewer from Palisade getting a run in at Powerhorn Mountain Resort opening day of the 2012/13 season.The resort kicked-off the ski and snowboard season with a Superhero Celebration weekend with live music on the sun deck

Colorado Mesa University student Erin Kucera getting her Masters degree for CMU Presdent Tim Foster Friday morning at Brownson Arena during the CMU Winter Grad ceremonies There are 476 students who have qualified to receive their degrees. About 275 students attended the ceremony.

BLM Grand Junction Regional Office Manager Katherine Robertson with her dog Gus hiking in Devil’s Canyon in the McInnis Canyon National Conservation Area. Robertson is retiring as manager of the Grand Junction Regional Office of the Bureau of Land Management.

Mike Perry get a hug from a well wisher during his retirement celebration at the Museum of Western Colorado in the Whitman Educational Center, 248 S. 4th Street. Mike is retiring from the museum after 16 years of service.

Grand Junction artist Kevin Smith works on a mural above Main Street Bagels, 559 Main Street in downtown Grand Junction.Smith painted the mural in 2008 and was adding to it on Thursday afternoon. Smith has worked on paintings and murals at Main Street Bagels for over 12 years.

Val Mazrin the president of C.L.A.W.S., Cats League and Assistance of the Western Slope Rescue and Adoption Center holds Rockstar, one of nine cats at the cat shelter from New York and New Jersey rescued after Hurricane Sandy.

Palisade’s Skylar Miller, #3, tries to duck underneath the block by Battle Mountain’s Alex Banegas for a shot during the first half of Thursday’s game at Palisade High School.

Palisade mayor Roger Granat works on his iPad at the Palisade City Hall.

Marc Mancuso with the City of Grand Junction’s Park and Rec. Department sets one of the 90 of so emergency markers on Riverfront Trail near the Botanic Gardens.
The city is installing emergency markers along the Riverfront Trail that will allow people to contact 911.

Drake Adams a 3rd grade student at Wingate Elementary School reads next to Wilbur, a therapy dog. Wilbur sits with kids while they read to help them feel comfortable and calm while they practice reading.

Clouds are lit by the setting sun and reflected in the waters of an almost ice covered Shadow Lake in the Ridges.

11-year-old David Reyes and Grand Junction Police Officer Myles Shiflet get a fishing rod at Cabela’s in the Mesa Mall as part of the Shop With a Cop event Wednesday morning.The 21st annual “Shop With a Cop” held on Wednesday, December 12 at the Mesa Mall AND Wednesday, December 19 at the Rimrock Walmart. A total of 22 deserving elementary school kids, 11 at each location, were paired with more than a dozen officers for a full day of food, fun, and of course shopping.

Construction workers pull up concrete and asphalt from the circle drive at Lincoln Park.This work is part of the changing the entrance to the big sports park and doing some other stuff. The big thing is they’re ripping up the goofy entrance at 12th and Gunnison, putting in a turn lane at the entrance by the barn.

Community Hospital CEO Chris Thomas and Grand Junction speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Canyon View Medical Plaza at 2373 G Road Wednesday afternoon.The plaza will be the new home for Community Hospital Imaging Center, Community Hospital ‘s second Urgent Care Facility, Western Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Urological Associates of Western Colorado, The Pelvic Health and Wellness Center, Surgical Associates of Western Colorado, Mesa Women’s Health Care and Canyon View Surgery Center.

At a time when most people are making wish lists, others are helping turn those wishes into reality. The Mesa County Libraries are helping local underprivileged families this holiday season with Giving Trees. The Christmas trees, decorated with gift requests from needy Mesa Country residents. Photo Special to the Sentinel.

The Grinch will not ruin Christamas this year as it is in the mouth of Grrrreta the Dinosaur in Fruita’s Circle Park in downtown Fruita.

Gabby Levy turns 12 years old today - on 12/12/12. She still has balloons left from an earlier birthday party.

Lieutenant Karl Raup with the Salvation Army loading one of 2,200 food boxes at the Grand Junction National Guard Field Maintenance Shop Tuesday afternoon.Members of the National Guard, the Salvation Army and volunteers packed food boxes to be picked up by people who have signed up with the Salvation Army on December 19th and 20th.

A group of hikers stop at an area locals call Leaning Tree in the Bangs Canyon Special Management Area.Its called Leaning Tree because of an old Ponderosa pine that is still alive but has fallen onto a cliff wall.

The Grand Junction Fire Department had to cut the driver out of a vehicle Monday morning after an accident just after 10 a.m. at 12th Street and North Avenue

Dr. Rich Wobbekind of CU’s business school will give his annual report on Colorado’s economy present and future with a local bent for Mesa County-ians at the GJ Chamber’s quarterly meeting. Wobberkind with his Power Point presention at the Grand vista Inn on Horizon Dr.

Central Orchard Mesa firefighters carry a woman involved in a single vehicle rollover accident to a waiting gurney on 32 Road south of C Road Sunday.

Eight-year-old Trinity Smith, right, of Grand Junction dodges a tag by family friend Marsha Overdorf, also of Grand Junction, during a game of fox and geese in the snow on the north side of Grand Junction High School Sunday.

Jackson “Jax” Pierce, a student at Redlands Middle School in Grand Junction, undergoes aggressive chemotherapy treatments in Denver.

Helen Cameron, left, carries the saw as her husband Reid, center, and their friend Terry Fernald pack out a pair of Christmas tree pinions along an old road on private property on Glade Park recently.

Grand Junction firefighters carry out their hose after extinguishing a fire caused by an exploding propane tank hooked up to a portable heater in a back bedroom at a house.

Enveloped in smoke, Grand Junction firefighters battle a blaze in the attic and chimney area of a house at 618 1/2 W. Indian Creek Dr. from the garage roof Sunday.

Skiers hike up a run at Powderhorn Mountain Resort to get a run in before the lifts are set to open Thursday.

A snowcat packs snow recently at Powerhorn Mountain Resort, which is scheduled to open Thursday for its second season under new owners.

This area has been designated for homes to be built in Gateway. Developers planning to build high-end homes and residential neighborhoods on more than 400 acres east of Gateway Canyons Resort recently received roughly seven years’ worth of breathing room, gaining a lengthy extension from Mesa County commissioners to submit a final plan for the project.

Everyone from Zoie the poodle mix to Gigi the Great Dane had a great time Saturday at the first annual Canine Christmas, a fundraiser by the Center for Independent Living. Photo Special to the Sentinel/Amanda Wight

Everyone from Zoie the poodle mix to Gigi the Great Dane had a great time Saturday at the first annual Canine Christmas, a fundraiser by the Center for Independent Living. Photo Special to the Sentinel/Amanda Wight