Colorado Mesa University students and administration release balloon in remembrance of CMU students who have died. This was done on the upstairs patio of the Student Center Saturday afternoon.

An ice climber makes her way up one of the ice walls at the Ouray Ice Park in Ouray.This Sunday, March 17th is the last day the Ice Park will be open for the 2013 season as the warm weather is melting the ice.

Cindy Salazar-Linden, who is a substitute teacher for Rocky Mountain Ser Head Start, waves to passing motorists on Seventh Street today. Head Start supporters staged a “stroll in” in support of the preschool program. They marched in the downtown area and in front of the Alpine Bank building. Staff from U.S. Rep. Tipton’s office in Grand Junction met with the group during the rally.

Nicky McKay and all five of her Jack Russell terriers take a walk above Orchard Mesa near the drag strip and Grand Mesa Junction Trap Club. The dog second from the left was recently rescued and is beginning to trust people more.

A Coke vending machine is nearly covered in snow in front of a shop along U.S. Highway 550 in Silverton.

The band America plays to a sold-out packed house at the Avalon Theater. The band played hits from there their 43-years in the music biz, Tin Man, Lonely People, Horse with no Name as well as covers of Woodstock and the Gin Blossoms.

No. 21, Kelsey Sigl from CMU saves the ball from going out of bounds by hitting the ball off No.14, Kaile Magazzeni from Fort Lewis.

The property to the right of the pedestrian bridge is the Brady Trucking track. North of the bridge and West to the Fifth Street bridge is land slated for Las Colonias Park.

A Waxing Crescent moon at 10% full looks like a smile as it sets over the Grand Valley.

Grand Junction Rockies General Manager Tim Ray greets an umpire before a Rockies’ game last season at Suplizio Field. Ray’s diverse background made him the perfect fit for the GM of a relocating franchise.

Molly Pierce with the Grand Junction Parks department trims a shrub in the median on Main Street today. With high temperatures and spring approaching, spring perennials in the planters downtown will bloom soon. Friday’s high may break into the 70s according to the National Weather Service.

Kaci Karp, 55, of Clifton takes his dog Leon, a 9-year-old Pembroke corgi, for a run around West Lake Park while skating on his longboard. Karp said that he teaches Learn to Longboard – Park Riding 101, an independent free class in skateboarding, at Eagle Rim Park on Sunday afternoons. Karp said he started skating at the age of 48, and has introduced the sport to more than 400 people in the five years he’s taught it.

The PAN-STARRS comet is visible Wednesday evening March 13, 2013, as it sets over the west end of Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico.

Guitarist Javier de los Santos performs during the A Little Noon Music concert at the First United Methodist Church Wednesday in Grand Junction. Flutist Jane Kuenzel, not pictured,  played music for flute and guitar.

Music lovers seat themselves in the balcony of the First United Methodist Church for A Little Noon Music Wednesday. Jane Kuenzel on the flute and guitarist Javier de los Santos performed this month. Next month features the CMU Chamber Choir.

Central’s Krista Ferguson is a moment too late to head the ball into the goal as the Coal Ridge keeper snatches it out of the air for the save during the second half of Wednesday’s game at Walker Field.

Grand Junction Fire Department medics and firefighters transfer a handcuffed Thomas Krasowsky from a Sheriff’s Department patrol car to a waiting ambulance after he was arrested at Caprock Academy following a pursuit by officers. According Dep. Ben Carnes, Krasowsky had “several warrants” out for his arrest in New Mexico. Krasowsky allegedly fled a traffic stop in Grand Junction on Wednesday, then stole a vehicle, which he crashed at the end of a long driveway in the 700 block of 24 3/4 Road after leading officers north on a chase from the 25 Road and Weslo Avenue.

Dustin Forsoing with Action Electric wires a new house in the White Willow subdivision off of the Riverside Parkway

Jadin Topai, 11, of Grand Junction reads “How I, Nicky Flynn, Finally Get a Life (and a Dog)” by Art Corriveau from her perch at West Middle School after class. Jadin is a sixth-grader at the school.

Joe Lacy, Leland Schmidt and Dale Holingsworth are honored in the 200 block of Main Street in a Legends Historic Sculptures of the Grand Valley for their leadership in converting the downtown into a serpentine design in the early sixties. Even then, cities were scrambling to compete with malls in the suburbs. Their efforts earned Grand Junction the honor of being distinguished as an All-American City in 1962.  The downtown shopping park infrastructure was updated recently, but the changes stayed true to the innovative mid-20th century leader’s design for the downtown

Workers remove the asbestos paint from one of the stacks in the Xcel decommissioning program.

Workers continue to tear down the Xcel Energy Cameo power plant.

A flock of Canada geese comes in for a landing on the Colorado River at the Walker Wildlife Area.

The eight openly gay state legislators, all Democrats, address the Capitol press following the passage of a civil unions bill on Tuesday. They are, from left Rep. Joann Ginal, Rep. Dominick Moreno, Rep. Sue Schafer, Sen. Jessie Ulibarri, Sen. Pat Steadman, House Speaker Mark Ferrandino, Rep. Paul Rosenthal and Sen. Lucia Guzman.

Twelve-year-old D’Angelise Gomez, right, and Rioko Beagle, 11, second from right, take part in the NO MORE SECRETS! Campaign on Monday to build awareness of suicide and how to prevent it. Colorado West Regional Mental Health, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and other groups are working together with the campaign to inform the public about options, many of them free, that are available for those suffering from depression and anxiety.

Derek McLaughlin of Grand Junction catches some air as he rides over a jump at the Lunch Loop Bike Park Monday. Originally from Maine, McLaughlin has been living in Grand Junction while on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was practicing his bicycling skills at the park with his LDS mission companion, Kris Reber.

Bryan Copas, a physician’s assistant at the Grand River Hospital District’s current facilities in Battlement Mesa, demonstrates the operation of a device used to treat tendonitis being experienced by Toby Miller, left, of Parachute. The Rifle-based district has broken ground on an expanded health clinic to replace its existing Battlement Mesa facilities. Miller said he appreciates the convenience of those facilities. “I don’t have to go to Grand Junction to get this done,” he said.

Sparks fly as a worker welds a metal support at the new DECA Health, Inc., medical building on West Park Drive today. The company, which was funded in 2003, operates pain management and musculoskeletal centers. According its website, the project underway in Grand Junction will be a spine and sports center. Western Constructors, Inc., is the general contractor for the construction.

Against the backdrop of Mt. Garfield coated with snow, Maesyn Peetoom, 2, of Grand Junction still wears her bicycle helmet and sunglasses as she plays on the jungle gym at Long Family Memorial Park Sunday.

Four of the 37 college exchange students from Asian countries work together on a Dream Vacation project at Grand Mesa Residence Hall on the Colorado Mesa University campus.

The GVT bus station at 5th Street.

A Garyhound bus pulls onto 5th Street from the station.

Amber Reak ponders the circumstances under which her son Owen Reak was beaten to death by her boyfriend of the time, Justin Keel.

Amber Reak reaches up to brush aside her tears as she recalls the circumstances leading up to the death of her son Owen at the hands of her boyfriend, Justin Keel.

Erin Price, center, and her mom Linda listen to a presentation by Danielle Versluis of Sweat Treats by Danielle about wedding cake.