February 20, 2012

SandBox Comments: Newsmax "David Koch Faced 100 Death Threats Last Year"

"David Koch, the billionaire businessman and philanthropist, says he was the target of 100 credible death threats last year alone because of his opposition to unions in the United States.

The influential conservative, who founded and funds the tea party-friendly group Americans for Prosperity, told The Palm Beach Post that he's no "bully."

"They make me sound like a bully," Koch told the Post, complaining of press coverage. "Do I look like a bully?"

The Post detailed a charity dinner that Koch and his wife, Julia, hosted recently at their Palm Beach home for the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

In 1990s, Koch discovered that he had prostate cancer. The Anderson Center successfully treated and cured him.

Koch said he is remaining active in political battles despite the criticism and threats he has received.

He told the Post that Americans for Prosperity is helping Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who faces a recall election after taking on public employee unions.

"We're helping him, as we should. We've gotten pretty good at this over the years," he said. "We've spent a lot of money in Wisconsin. We're going to spend more."

Americans for Prosperity reportedly is spending about $700,000 on television ads supporting Walker and his reformist union policies.

But the Post notes that Koch and his brother Charles, who share the No. 4 rank in the Forbes billionaire list, have broader charitable interests than just politics. David "holds board seats with 23 nonprofit groups and has pledged gifts totaling more than $750 million for cancer research, the arts and cultural institutions, according to his foundation," the Post reported..."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Durango Herald "Mountain man invades remote Utah cabins"

This is a bizarre and chilling story.  via the Durango Herald.

AP Paul Foy And Brian Skoloff:
SALT LAKE CITY – He’s eluded authorities for more than five years, a mountain man who roams the wilderness of southern Utah, breaking into remote cabins in winter, living in luxury off hot food, alcohol and coffee before stealing provisions and vanishing into the woods....."  (Read the article?  Click title)


"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "4 jailed in heroin stakeout"

A very special thank you goes out to all officers, agents and agencies who participated in this investigation and bust. 

The Western Colorado Drug Task Force, Grand Junction Police Department SWAT Team and Mesa County Sheriff. 

It seems as though all of our Western Slope law enforcement have really stepped up their efforts to crack down on all drug related crime.

You are so appreciated.
  
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Times "Oh, well"

One needs to be very familiar with local issues to fully understand why 'SandBox Nanny' has placed Harry Temple III's Letter to the Editor in today's agg roundup of crime and justice news.

Harry Temple III, Basalt:
"Dear Editor:

Becoming involved in a recent event in Aspen as a volunteer has turned out to be a bittersweet experience. I was proud to be asked to be part of the event. That is the sweet part.

A big thanks to all of the businesses that showed support by hanging posters. Your support made the event a success.

For the many, many of you who have asked why I was not there: It seems there was a communication breakdown. I was never invited to attend the event.

These things happen..."  (Read the original letter?  Click title)
 
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Times: "Assistant U.S. attorney dies while snowshoeing"

via Aspen Times:
"DENVER — A spokesman for the Colorado U.S. Attorney's Office says an assistant U.S. Attorney died while snowshoeing in Rocky Mountain National Park.

U.S. Attorney John Walsh says 64-year-old Bob Mydans collapsed just after 3 p.m. Saturday and couldn't be revived. Walsh tells The Denver Post Mydans "was a rock, a true mainstay of this office, and never hesitated to take on difficult work, and to do it extraordinarily well."

Mydans joined the Department of Justice in 1980 and handled criminal cases at the Washington D.C. headquarters. He later moved to the Western District of Oklahoma City and served as an assistant U.S. Attorney before transferring to the Colorado office in 1991.

Colorado U.S. Attorney's spokesman Jeff Dorschner says Mydans' talent for handling complex cases led to an assignment in the economic crimes section...."  (Read article?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: KREX 5 News "Safe2tell Program Takes Off"

Colorado kids rock.  These are awesome, amazing stats and we are very, very proud of you.

Let's hope the adults are learning from you that it is far better to have anonymity protections in place than it is to let harm to others or yourself go undetected.

On another note, 'SandBox Nanny' finds the KREX Hub comment from 'Yeah'   inappropriate and out of line.  The kind of person who falsely reports and lies to law enforcement certainly does exist on the western slope.  But they are the very small minority.  'SandBox Nanny' has faith in our kids that minority may be their parents but it is rare that the kids would follow that example.  Most of us have an instinctual reaction to trust our law enforcement. 

Congratulations to the Safe2Tell program on these great accomplishments.

Courtney Griffin:
"...Officials say since the first of this year, safe2tell received nearly 10,000 calls, texts and web reports. Preventing 28 school attacks, over 300 sexually-related crimes, around 500 threats of violence and nearly 650 cases of suicidal behavior and threats.

To reach safe2tell, you can call the hot line number at 877-542-SAFE or go to their website to report a problem at www.safe2tell.org. Pyne says they're working on launching a mobile app for phones too...."
(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Stars and Stripes "Seoul holds military drills despite NKorea threat "

Hyung-Jin Kim:
"SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- South Korea conducted live-fire military drills near its disputed sea boundary with North Korea on Monday despite Pyongyang's threat to respond with a "merciless" attack.

North Korea did not carry out the threat as it focuses on internal stability two months after the death of longtime leader Kim Jong Il and prepares for nuclear disarmament talks with the United States later this week. But with American forces scheduled to conduct additional military exercises with ally South Korea over the next few months, tensions are expected to remain high in the region.

Washington and North Korea's neighbors are closely watching how new leader Kim Jong Un, Kim Jong Il's son, navigates strained ties with rival South Korea, the planned U.S.-South Korean military drills and a long-running standoff over the country's nuclear weapons programs.

South Korea's drills took place Monday in an area of the Yellow Sea that was the target of a North Korean artillery attack in 2010 that killed four South Koreans and raised fears of a wider conflict. North Korea didn't threaten similar South Korean firing drills in the area in January, but called the latest exercise a "premeditated military provocation" and warned it would retaliate for what it considered an attack on its territory...."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Whole Foods gets permit for $4.74 million project at Willits"

Congratulations, Basalt!  So good to hear that things are looking up!

Scott Condon:
"The town's fiscal year started with a bang. Sales tax revenues from December were up 4.5 percent over the same month in 2010. The town collected $385,442 in December compared with $368,582 for the month in 2010.

Restaurants with bars had a particularly strong month, with sales nearly 79 percent over December 2010, the town's sales tax report showed. The general retail category, which includes the mom-and-pop shops, was up 17 percent, the report showed. Sporting retail shops managed to post a 2 percent gain.

The retail food category, which includes the existing two grocery stores in Basalt, saw sales increase by less than 1 percent in December. That category generates the most sales tax for the town...."
(Read more?  Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

Sandbox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Building steady but slow in Silt and New Castle"

(See related "Deed-restrictions don't work today" local news here)

John Colson:
"In Silt, town planner Janet Aluise said the town already has issued five building permits this year for:

• Construction of a new 7,600-square-foot library next to Town Hall

• Remodeling the basement of an existing home

• Building a new Dollar General store on Main Street

• Construction of a duplex being built by Habitat for Humanity. The project warrants two permits, Aluise said, so the property owners can pull a certificate of occupancy if one side of the duplex is finished earlier than the other.

In 2011, Aluise said, the town also issued five residential building permits, although they were for homes that are just now being built. She said the town also issued a double permit for a Habitat for Humanity duplex in 2011.

Five building permits also were issued by Silt for 2010, all for single family homes, and two single-family home permits were issued in 2009, Aluise reported.

“We were used to at least 40 units a year,” Aluise said of the era prior to the recession, “and in a good year we might have 100. This year, five is good...”  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Times "Colorado coal production increased 10.4 percent in 2011"

Here's another oxymoron in today's regional news:

""Does it make sense to use our public lands so China and Europe can burn coal?" asked Ted Zukoski, an attorney with the environmental law group Earthjustice...."  (Read more?  Click title)

As a matter of fact, Mr. Zukoski.  It really doesn't.

But as long as 'environmental' groups continue to suck up energy like every other American while at the same time shouting with forked tongue in protest of all fossil fuel energy; the USA really doesn't have a choice, do we? 

Somebody has to pay your light bill.  And provide the energy for that news press you love so much to churn out the 'Earthjustice' rhetoric.

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent/Your Letters "Political spending still favors the left"

It's sure a good thing that we have the Chad Klingers of the world to keep the balance.

If we didn't have such champion spit-wad hurlers, who can get their point across loud and clear in a social forum, we would be stuck forever with the opposite end of the spectrum of respected opinion columnists.

Like Mary Boland.

Chad Klinger, Carbondale:
"Come on, Ms. Boland, if there's a rigged game in this country, it currently favors the left. So, until America turns into Greece, why doesn't Ms. Boland relax and enjoy the fruits of her labors?"
(Read the rest?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Chef cooking up opposition to Paonia-area gas drilling"

How silly this is. 

There are so many studies and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle (Democrats Hickenlooper and Udall for example) that speak up on the proven safe method of 'fracking' in the natural gas and oil shale industry.

Isn't it jaw-dropping amazing how gossip, rumor, speculation and many barrels of ink  can so easily turn into an outright witch-burning?

Thank goodness these speculation mongers have been at this tactic of 'who shouts the loudest' politics.

BLM, USFS just roll along with the flow, let them have their protests and torch-lit parades.  Then in the end, simply grant the leases because the industry is safe and it's best for all involved.

win-win.

(Read the articles?  Click title and links within post)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Summit County Citizens Voice "Morning photo: Colorado"

All credit Bob Berwyn:
"SUMMIT COUNTY — Starting the week with some of my favorite Colorado scenes, some close to home and some from a little farther away. Remember, all the images on Summit Voice are available as prints and greeting cards, and there’s more at our online galleries at RedBubble and Imagekind. Support local independent online journalism!