Student Bottle Bill Defeated
DENVER – Students at the Crest Academy in Salida wanted to do something about the amount of beverage containers that end up on roadsides and in landfills. They decided to approach State Rep. Dan Pabon (D-Denver) and Sen. Gail Schwartz (D-Snowmass Village) about introducing a state bill requiring a $.05 deposit on all glass and plastic bottles in the state.
The bill, HB-11-1247 would have designated the revenue generated from containers where the deposit is paid, but not returned for a refund, to be split between recycling incentives and the State Education Fund. The students testified in Denver on Feb. 24 in front of a state committee for about 90 minutes. The bill was defeated in a 5-4 committee vote after counter-testimony from the Colorado Beverage Association. All five Republicans on the committee voted against the bill, arguing the deposits might cost jobs.
Ranchers say gas bucks needed to keep Ranches
GUNNISON – There has been much discussion about the potential damages of drilling for natural gas. But a recent hearing in Gunnison County featured ranchers, who warned against adopting regulations that were too stringent.
The ranchers said that the income of natural gas drilling on their property provided them a badly needed financial cushion, reports The Crested Butte News. The ranchers were from the same county, but over Kebler Pass in the Paonia area.
“We want to have a future as a family and keep these ranches in open space where wildlife is plentiful,” said Gary Volk, the patriarch of a ranch that has been in his family for 100 years.
“Now we have an income source that can help us maintain that into the next generation, and I encourage you to be careful about over-regulating this industry.” – by Allen Best
Dog Breeder Sentenced to 90 Days
FAIRPLAY – A Park County man who pleaded guilty to one count of felony aggravated cruelty to animals was sentenced to 90 days in jail with two years probation and ordered to pay restitution of $6,224.
Samuel Walker of Florissant was arrested in December 2009 after the Park County Sheriff’s Office was tipped off about appalling conditions at a dog kennel operated by Walker and his wife, Diane, according to The Fairplay Flume.
Nearly 100 dead and starving sled dogs were found on the property. Those still alive were rescued and sent to animal shelters statewide.
Diane Walker was sentenced to two years probation Sept. 27, 2010, after pleading guilty to one count of cruelty to animals.
Power Line Approved
DENVER – The Colorado Public Utilities Commission approved construction of a controversial power line over La Veta Pass on Feb. 11.
The 150-mile line proposed by Excel Energy and Tri-State Generation is designed to carry solar generated energy produced in the San Luis Valley to the Front Range.
Opponents, including Louis Bacon, owner of the Trinchera Ranch which would be crossed by the proposed power line, vowed to continue fighting the proposal and will likely file an appeal of the ruling.
Leadville Sheriff’s Deputy found Guilty
LEADVILLE – A former Leadville sheriff’s deputy was found guilty of obstruction of medical personnel and trespassing on public property in a March 27, 2010 incident, according to the Herald Democrat.
Steve James was found guilty on Feb. 16 in connection with his arrest of Fire Captain Dan Dailey after the captain had responded to a medical call at the Lake County jail. Dailey was the first responder at a medical emergency at the jail, and refused orders from James to leave. The arrest stemmed from an ongoing dispute between the sheriff’s office and fire department.
Carbon Monoxide Leak Poisons Nearly 130
GUNNISON – A malfunctioning ventilation system combined with an ice resurfacing machine sickened nearly 130 hockey fans, coaches and players at the Jorgensen Event Center on Feb. 6, according to the Gunnison Country Times.
Emergency crews responded and discovered extremely high levels of carbon monoxide (CO) within the center. 88 people were treated in hospitals in Gunnison, Craig and Grand Junction, and two youth girl hockey players were airlifted to Denver for hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatment.
Multiple youth hockey games were taking place over the weekend at the center. Gunnison City Manager Ken Coleman reported the CO leak was caused by the failure of a motor in the building’s exhaust system which prevented the recirculation of fresh air, combined with abnormal levels of CO being emitted by the gas-powered Zamboni ice-resurfacing machine.
Symptoms of CO poisoning include headaches, exhaustion, blurred vision, shortness of breath, flu-like symptoms and nausea, as well as high levels of CO in the blood. The Gunnison Fire Department reported a CO level of 150 parts per million (ppm) in the event center shortly after it was evacuated. Normal CO levels are around 0.2 ppm. The city is now implementing a new detection system, air-quality monitoring and other precautions to prevent similar future occurances.
News of the incident spread quickly as major news organizations picked up the story.
Theater Placed on Endangered List
SALIDA – The old Salida Opera House, currently threatened with partial demolition, has been placed on the 2011 Colorado Most Endangered Places list by Colorado Preservation, Inc. The group advises owners of endangered places and helps identify grants and other resources to aid in historic restoration.
College Name change Causes Concern
GUNNISON – A movement to change the name of Mesa State College in Grand Junction is causing concern with associates of Western State College (WSC) in Gunnison. The proposed new name, the University of Western Colorado is causing apprehension from WSC about confusion that might arise from the name change. The change would require an act of the State Legislature, according to the Gunnison Country Times.
Notable Quotes:
“We are using the same (number of) people … we just have to work a little bit harder and a little bit faster.” – Ken Dalton, Salida Post Office Supervisor concerning delays caused by a rockslide on U.S. Hwy 50 closing it for several days. The Mountain Mail, Feb. 18, 2011.
“Our coach had been yelling at us all game, telling us that we weren’t playing hard, but we were all exhausted … Nobody understood why or what was going on.” – Emera Danos, hockey player for the U-19 Blades girls team talking about the CO poisoning that occurred at the Jorgensen Event Center. Gunnison Country Times, Feb. 10, 2011.
“This is the lowest daily average on record going back to 1948.” – Weather recorder Mal Sillars on record cold temperatures recorded in early February. The Chaffee County Times, Feb. 10, 2011.
