October 26, 2011

SandBox Comments: Aspen Times/Letter to the Editor "Meet the art police"

Making it's way into today's 'Crime and Courts' section of SandBox Commentators is the stunningly bold criminal act that occurred this past week at The Aspen Art Museum.

Shocking that this kind of major  crime has hit Aspen, Colorado.

Is this the beginning of our seeing another side to paradise?

What could possibly be next?  Obviously, this crime wave is tied to the 99%. We can only assume the worst given the strength in numbers.

If this wasn't so sad, it  would be amusing.

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"Truth goes through three stages.  First, it is ridiculed.  Then it is violently opposed.  Finally, it is seen as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "PitCo says no to DA salary increase, favors smaller bonus"

(Note from Nanny:  Because of the imbalance in competitive reporting between the Times and the Daily on this piece (and) because of the inflammatory to the public comments reported as made by both the PitCo Commissioners (and) DA Beeson; comment ability on this post is blocked.)


Aspen Daily News:

"Newman raises concern about ‘overzealous’ prosecutions""The Pitkin County commissioners rejected a planned salary increase for the tri-county prosecutor’s office on Tuesday, asking District Attorney Martin Beeson to swap his planned 2 percent pay bump in 2012 for a 1.5 percent end-of-year bonus.

The county has planned such a bonus for its own employees.

Commissioner George Newman also told Beeson, who heads up prosecution in the 9th Judicial District, that area residents are displeased with what they see as “overzealous” tactics in his Aspen office, and questioned him about recent sanctions levied by a district court judge against prosecutors.

In his annual budget meeting with the commissioners, Beeson proposed a $3.2 million budget for 2012 that included a slight decrease in spending from this year. Even with the proposed raises, the budget is shrinking, mostly due to the elimination of a prosecutor in Rifle an health insurance cost savings. Budget revenues include more than $600,000 from Pitkin County. Garfield and Rio Blanco counties also contribute.

Other than the raises, the commissioners supported the DA’s proposed budget...)
(Andrew Travers)

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SandBox Comments: Denver Post/Breaking News "Feds: Arrests take 80 armed gang members off the streets"

Thank you to all participating agencies, officers, agents and federal prosecutors participating in this major gang bust.

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SandBox Comments: KREX News 5 "Murder Suspect's Bond Set at $1.5 Million"

"Grand Junction - Bond is now set at $1.5 million for one of the men accused in the murder of a man outside of a local Taco Bell. Jorge Alberto Carrasco was shot and killed outside of the restaurant on North Avenue in Grand Junction in mid-July. Christian Fuentes was extradited to Mesa County from Palo Alto, California, where he was arrested on a probation violation shortly after the shooting..."
(Hilary Martin)


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SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "BOCC endorses Thompson unitization request"

Aagghhh.....(SandBox Nanny)....sigh....rolls eyes.....

John Colson:  "Federal land managers should move ahead with a “unitization” request for natural gas leases in the Thompson Divide area, no matter what Colorado's two U.S. senators have to say on the subject, say the Garfield Board of County Commissioners (BOCC)...."

Maybe because it's not political and the majority of Garfield County do not appreciate the bullying tactics of the groups trying to block? 

Or, maybe because people in the region have become more confident in speaking out?

GarCo BOCC is finally hearing their voices and responding to more balanced community needs?


John Colson:  "Udall and Bennet have asked that the unitization request be opened up to public involvement, while the industry believes it should remain an administrative decision made by officials in the BLM."

Thanks to Scott Tipton (R-Colorado) the public does have a major voice with open talks on Thompson Divide.

You remember him, Mr. Colson? 

Our Third District Congressman?

The folks are sure glad he's around.

After all, The Thompson Divide Coalition, Senator Mark Udall (D-Colorado) and Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) have never held any kind of public meeting that was not heavily seeded to anti-industry.

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"Truth goes through three stages.  First, it is ridiculed.  Then it is violently opposed.  Finally, it is seen as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent/John Stroud "Tipton bill would fund education through expanded drilling"

A special thank you goes out to reporter John Stroud for running this piece on The Glenwood Springs Post Independent.

It is not very often that positive reporting, unless it is a press release or column done by  the conservative politician themselves; that conservative news makes it into any publication of the PI.

That's a shame.  There are so many wonderful works throughout the area that are fueled by conservative values.

Congressman Scott Tipton (R-Colorado) and his Education and Energy Act of 2011 would  place 33 percent of the federal portion of oil and gas revenues in Colorado toward both K-12 public education funding and post-secondary education funding.

This revenue is based on only new lease revenues that  are unappropriated as of yet.

Tipton's Education and Energy Act  would eventually bring our public schools to the level of self-sustained.  Easing the pressure off taxpayers and giving more stability to our school districts and for our kids.

Especially if Coloradans can ease confining regulations, increase sensible environmental responsiblity in a pro-energy development environment and drill, baby drill.

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"Truth goes through three stages.  First, it is ridiculed.  Then it is violently opposed.  Finally, it is seen as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Council still unmoved on Aspen Walk redevelopment"

The highly coveted lol from Nanny this morning goes to Curtis Wackerle.  Up on The Aspen Daily News....

"Aspen’s form of Chinese water torture also known as land-use approvals continued at Monday’s City Council meeting..."

To truly relate, one needs to have experience in the regional construction industry.

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"Truth goes through three stages.  First, it is ridiculed.  Then it is violently opposed.  Finally, it is seen as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Steamboat Today/Jimmy Westlake "Fall offers glimpses of galaxies"

Professor Jimmy Westlake:

"One of my favorite times of year for sky-watching is early fall, when the nights are clear and cool but not yet frigid. On moonless autumn evenings, one almost can see to infinity. In fact, the fall sky offers the opportunity to see the two most distant objects visible to the unaided human eye...."

"Well...", SandBox Nanny says that her fav time of year is....

When Jimmy Westlake announces it's time for his Cosmic Calendar sale.....

(Want to see terrific photos of the stars?  Click the link above.  Read more?  Click title)