Rob Hughes:
"The Monument Inn is one of the places Troy stayed. He didn't know where he would sleep next, or where his next meal would come from; but with positive mentors and a belief in himself, he's graduating high school and joining the Marine Corps."
"Our kids have seen some tremendously difficult times, and are really persevering regardless," says Cathy Haller, Prevention Services Coordinator with School District 51. Haller works with students like Troy.
"They're in school every day; they have wonderful attendance; they really know that education is their way out," says Haller. Haller says homeless teens aren't bad people. "Our teens are out of the home because it's not safe to be there, or they're throwaways, they've been kicked out by families," she says. Yet sometimes they have no choice. "It's not about easy money, it's about survival," says Haller.
People in the community will take advantage of them. "I sleep in a park and risk some kind of violence or at I at least have a roof over my head and food to eat, in exchange for drugs or sex," explains Haller.
But Troy chose to be an amazing success story, not a statistic. His advice for others in his shoes. "Look for help; because it's really hard to try and do it by yourself. The only reason I made it this far was because there was help," says Troy...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Showing posts with label Mesa County. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mesa County. Show all posts
May 1, 2012
April 30, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: KJCT News 8 "Homeless Shelter Ready For Teens To Move In"
Janelle Ericsson:
"GRAND JUNCTION, Colo., -- Every year 5,000 homeless teens die on the streets of America, and nearly 200 of them live right here in Mesa County.
"Anybody can end up homeless," volunteer Mary Russell said.
Officially opening on May 2nd, The House will be the only homeless shelter in the state just for teens and it’s located in Grand Junction.
"A lot of the times people hear teen shelter and think of a flop house,” executive director John Mok-Lamme said. “A place where teens can come and just move on, but the whole goal of this shelter is help kids transition to stability."
The House can accommodate 10 teens at a time for a three week period, meeting the annual need for Mesa County's homeless...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"GRAND JUNCTION, Colo., -- Every year 5,000 homeless teens die on the streets of America, and nearly 200 of them live right here in Mesa County.
"Anybody can end up homeless," volunteer Mary Russell said.
Officially opening on May 2nd, The House will be the only homeless shelter in the state just for teens and it’s located in Grand Junction.
"A lot of the times people hear teen shelter and think of a flop house,” executive director John Mok-Lamme said. “A place where teens can come and just move on, but the whole goal of this shelter is help kids transition to stability."
The House can accommodate 10 teens at a time for a three week period, meeting the annual need for Mesa County's homeless...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
April 18, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: KREX News 5 "Mesa County Working to Improve Law Enforcement"
A special thank you goes out to the Mesa County Sheriff's Dept., for having the courage to and taking the much needed step to, bring accountability to prosecutors and agencies.
Amanda Brandeis:
"MESA COUNTY, Colo.- Mesa County is one of seven counties in the nation involved in a research project that aims to help law enforcement make better decisions on the job.
Mesa County Sheriff Stan Hilkey said, "There is now a large body of research out there that is very informative about things. For example, if you do certain things you can increase the chances of an offender not getting back into the system. Or if you do certain things wrong, you can increase the chances of that offender staying in the system."
The project is called the Evidence Based Decision Making Project (EBDM Project). Mesa County applied to be a part of the project and was selected.
Hilkey also said, "The entire goal of this project is to, number one, not cause any more harm, and not keep people in the system who shouldn't be in the system, but also, for those people who need to be in the system, do the right thing with them and make decisions that are informed by research."...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Amanda Brandeis:
"MESA COUNTY, Colo.- Mesa County is one of seven counties in the nation involved in a research project that aims to help law enforcement make better decisions on the job.
Mesa County Sheriff Stan Hilkey said, "There is now a large body of research out there that is very informative about things. For example, if you do certain things you can increase the chances of an offender not getting back into the system. Or if you do certain things wrong, you can increase the chances of that offender staying in the system."
The project is called the Evidence Based Decision Making Project (EBDM Project). Mesa County applied to be a part of the project and was selected.
Hilkey also said, "The entire goal of this project is to, number one, not cause any more harm, and not keep people in the system who shouldn't be in the system, but also, for those people who need to be in the system, do the right thing with them and make decisions that are informed by research."...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
April 17, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "Mesa County blasts BLM oil shale plan"
Looks like all that heat that GarCo commissioners are taking from their detractors doesn't carry a lot of persuasion with neighboring counties.
They agree with our BOCC when it comes to the issue of oil shale leasing controls.
Mike Wiggins:
"Mesa County commissioners on Monday blistered the Bureau of Land Management’s proposal to slash the amount of land potentially available for oil shale and tar sands development in the Rocky Mountain West, alleging the federal agency is irrationally capitulating to environmental groups and ignoring the input of local governments and other stakeholders....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
They agree with our BOCC when it comes to the issue of oil shale leasing controls.
Mike Wiggins:
"Mesa County commissioners on Monday blistered the Bureau of Land Management’s proposal to slash the amount of land potentially available for oil shale and tar sands development in the Rocky Mountain West, alleging the federal agency is irrationally capitulating to environmental groups and ignoring the input of local governments and other stakeholders....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
April 12, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: KREX News 5 "Top Dispatchers Honored in Grand Junction"
Danielle Kreutter:"GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- Public safety agencies around Mesa County are honoring the men and women who help the community 24 hours a day.
The Telecommunicator Awards recognized members of the Grand Junction Regional Communication Center for their hard work and dedication to helping save lives and keeping our community safe.
Mary Edris was honored as the Telecommunicator of the Year for 2011. Laura Etcheverry won Supervisor of the Year and Kelly Wilkinson was awarded Communication Training Officer of the Year...."
The Telecommunicator Awards recognized members of the Grand Junction Regional Communication Center for their hard work and dedication to helping save lives and keeping our community safe.
Mary Edris was honored as the Telecommunicator of the Year for 2011. Laura Etcheverry won Supervisor of the Year and Kelly Wilkinson was awarded Communication Training Officer of the Year...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
April 3, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "1 in 6 county workers quitting"
Mike Wiggins:
"More than one in six Mesa County employees ended their employment with the county last year, the most in at least 11 years and a figure that concerns some county officials.
A total of 160 of the county’s 916 workers were laid off or fired or voluntarily resigned in 2011, according to a report recently presented to county commissioners by Human Resources Director Sandy Perry. The turnover rate of 17.5 percent was more than double the 8.4 percent turnover rate in 2009.
Perry said the average annual turnover in the public sector ranges from 12 to 14 percent.
“My concern is if they (high turnover rates) continue through this year,” she said. “Then we need to be cognizant of: Is there a deeper issue going on?”..." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"More than one in six Mesa County employees ended their employment with the county last year, the most in at least 11 years and a figure that concerns some county officials.
A total of 160 of the county’s 916 workers were laid off or fired or voluntarily resigned in 2011, according to a report recently presented to county commissioners by Human Resources Director Sandy Perry. The turnover rate of 17.5 percent was more than double the 8.4 percent turnover rate in 2009.
Perry said the average annual turnover in the public sector ranges from 12 to 14 percent.
“My concern is if they (high turnover rates) continue through this year,” she said. “Then we need to be cognizant of: Is there a deeper issue going on?”..." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
February 25, 2012
SandBox Comments: KREX News 5 "Heroin Use Alarmingly High in Mesa County"
Cori Coffin:
"Mesa County - Heroin use is at an all-time high in the Grand Valley. That's according to the Mesa County Sheriff's Office. In fact, drug officials are so concerned that they're teaming up with a special task force to combat this rising trend in our community.
Officials have seen several arrests recently in connection with the drug, and police officers say they've been encountering heroin more and more on their stops as well.
The problem has gotten so bad, Sheriff's officials say from 2000 to 2010, they made six arrests in relation to heroin. In the last three months, they've made 19 arrests...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"Mesa County - Heroin use is at an all-time high in the Grand Valley. That's according to the Mesa County Sheriff's Office. In fact, drug officials are so concerned that they're teaming up with a special task force to combat this rising trend in our community.
Officials have seen several arrests recently in connection with the drug, and police officers say they've been encountering heroin more and more on their stops as well.
The problem has gotten so bad, Sheriff's officials say from 2000 to 2010, they made six arrests in relation to heroin. In the last three months, they've made 19 arrests...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
February 2, 2012
SandBox Comments: KKCO 11 News "Drug ring dismantled, 14 people are in custody"
Brian Schlonsky:
"A major bust puts an end to an operation that was delivering several pounds of illegal drugs to Grand Junction.
Wednesday, 11 News learned new details on how that drug operation worked, and how it was stopped.
There's 14 people in custody right now, 13 of them from right here in Mesa County.
The last arrest was made Wednesday in Denver, a final piece to an investigation that's been in the works for over six months.
"This is a ring we've been aware of for quite some time, they've been dealing fairly large amounts," Dan Rubinstein, the chief deputy district attorney for the drug division, said.
And by fairly large, we're talking around 1 kilo, or 2.2 pounds of cocaine into Mesa County every ten days. That's what Federico Lerma and his family are accused of bringing into Grand Junction.
On Sunday, Lerma was arrested after police say they found a kilo of cocaine in the air filter of his car, and another fourth of a pound back at his house.
"He was using his family members to distribute with him, doing things like bringing his 7 month old granddaughter along so as to appear like a family so they wouldn't get stopped," Rubinstein said...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"A major bust puts an end to an operation that was delivering several pounds of illegal drugs to Grand Junction.
Wednesday, 11 News learned new details on how that drug operation worked, and how it was stopped.
There's 14 people in custody right now, 13 of them from right here in Mesa County.
The last arrest was made Wednesday in Denver, a final piece to an investigation that's been in the works for over six months.
"This is a ring we've been aware of for quite some time, they've been dealing fairly large amounts," Dan Rubinstein, the chief deputy district attorney for the drug division, said.
And by fairly large, we're talking around 1 kilo, or 2.2 pounds of cocaine into Mesa County every ten days. That's what Federico Lerma and his family are accused of bringing into Grand Junction.
On Sunday, Lerma was arrested after police say they found a kilo of cocaine in the air filter of his car, and another fourth of a pound back at his house.
"He was using his family members to distribute with him, doing things like bringing his 7 month old granddaughter along so as to appear like a family so they wouldn't get stopped," Rubinstein said...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
January 6, 2012
SandBox Comments: KJCT News 8 "Local Company Strikes Big Deal With Vail Mountain"
Congratulations!!
What a major coup this is for the Western Slope of Colorado!! Thank you, Vail Resorts! Happy 50th Anniversary!
"...Vail Mountain is one of the premier resorts in the country and Leitner-Poma is thrilled its keeping its business in state.
The company’s president, Rick Spear says “They're a Colorado company and its great to work with them. This lift will involve over 20,000 man and woman hours of work right here in Colorado....”
(KJCT)
(Read more? Click title. Comment to discuss)
What a major coup this is for the Western Slope of Colorado!! Thank you, Vail Resorts! Happy 50th Anniversary!
"...Vail Mountain is one of the premier resorts in the country and Leitner-Poma is thrilled its keeping its business in state.
The company’s president, Rick Spear says “They're a Colorado company and its great to work with them. This lift will involve over 20,000 man and woman hours of work right here in Colorado....”
(KJCT)
(Read more? Click title. Comment to discuss)
December 14, 2011
SandBox Comments: KJCT News 8 "GJ Rockies Schedule Released"
Go Rocks!
2012 INAUGURAL SEASON SCHEDULE
Monday, June 18 @ Ogden Tuesday, June 19 @ Ogden Wednesday, June 20 @ Ogden Thursday, June 21 @ Idaho Falls Friday, June 22 @ Idaho Falls Saturday, June 23 vs. Idaho Falls (Opening Day) Sunday, June 24 vs. Idaho Falls Monday, June 25 vs. Orem Tuesday, June 26 vs. Orem Wednesday, June 27 vs. Orem Thursday, June 28 @ Ogden Friday, June 29 @ Ogden Saturday, June 30 @Orem
Sunday, July 1 @ Orem Monday, July 2 @ Orem Tuesday, July 3 vs. Orem Wednesday, July 4 vs. Orem Thursday, July 5 vs. Idaho Falls Friday, July 27 @ Idaho Falls Saturday, July 7 vs. Ogden Sunday, July 8 vs. Ogden Monday, July 9 vs. Ogden Tuesday, July 10 – (Off) Wednesday, July 11 @ Missoula Thursday, July 12 @ Missoula Friday, July 13 @ Missoula Saturday, July 14 @ Billings Sunday, July 15 @ Billings Monday, July 16 @ Billings Tursday, July 17 @ Billings Wednesday, July 18 – (Off) Thursday, July 19 vs. Missoula Friday, July 20 vs. Missoula Saturday, July 21 vs. Missoula Sunday, July 22 vs. Missoula Monday, July 23 vs. Billings Tuesday, July 24 vs. Billings Wednesday, July 25 vs. Billings Thursday, July 26 – (Off) Friday, July 6 vs. Idaho Falls
Sunday, July 29 @ Idaho Falls Monday, July 30 @ Idaho Falls Tuesday, July 31 vs. Orem
Wednesday, August 1 vs. Orem Thursday, August 2 vs. Orem Friday, August 3 vs. Ogden Saturday, August 4 vs. Ogden Sunday, August 5 vs. Ogden Monday, August 6 @ Orem Tuesday, August 7 @ Orem Wednesday, August 8 @ Orem Thursday, August 9 @ Ogden Friday, August 10 @ Ogden Saturday, August 11 @ Ogden Sunday, August 12 – (Off) Monday, August 13 vs. Helena Tuesday, August 14 vs. Helena Wednesday, August 15 vs. Helena Thursday, August 16 vs. Great Falls Friday, August 17 vs. Great Falls Saturday, August 18 vs. Great Falls Sunday, August 19 vs. Great Falls Thursday, September 6 vs. Ogden Tuesday, August 21 @ Helena Wednesday, August 22 @ Helena Thursday, August 23 @ Helena Friday, August 24 @ Helena Saturday, August 25 @ Great Falls Sunday, August 26 @ Great Falls Monday, August 27 @ Great Falls Tuesday, August 28 @ Idaho Falls Weds. August 29 @ Idaho Falls Thursday, August 30 @ Orem Friday, August 31 @ Orem Sat. September 1 vs. Idaho Falls Sun. September 2 vs. Idaho Falls Mon. September 3 vs. Idaho Falls Tues. September 4 vs. Idaho Falls Weds. September 5 vs. Ogden Monday, August 20 – (Off)
(Read more? Click title. Comment to discuss)
2012 INAUGURAL SEASON SCHEDULE
Monday, June 18 @ Ogden Tuesday, June 19 @ Ogden Wednesday, June 20 @ Ogden Thursday, June 21 @ Idaho Falls Friday, June 22 @ Idaho Falls Saturday, June 23 vs. Idaho Falls (Opening Day) Sunday, June 24 vs. Idaho Falls Monday, June 25 vs. Orem Tuesday, June 26 vs. Orem Wednesday, June 27 vs. Orem Thursday, June 28 @ Ogden Friday, June 29 @ Ogden Saturday, June 30 @Orem
Sunday, July 1 @ Orem Monday, July 2 @ Orem Tuesday, July 3 vs. Orem Wednesday, July 4 vs. Orem Thursday, July 5 vs. Idaho Falls Friday, July 27 @ Idaho Falls Saturday, July 7 vs. Ogden Sunday, July 8 vs. Ogden Monday, July 9 vs. Ogden Tuesday, July 10 – (Off) Wednesday, July 11 @ Missoula Thursday, July 12 @ Missoula Friday, July 13 @ Missoula Saturday, July 14 @ Billings Sunday, July 15 @ Billings Monday, July 16 @ Billings Tursday, July 17 @ Billings Wednesday, July 18 – (Off) Thursday, July 19 vs. Missoula Friday, July 20 vs. Missoula Saturday, July 21 vs. Missoula Sunday, July 22 vs. Missoula Monday, July 23 vs. Billings Tuesday, July 24 vs. Billings Wednesday, July 25 vs. Billings Thursday, July 26 – (Off) Friday, July 6 vs. Idaho Falls
Sunday, July 29 @ Idaho Falls Monday, July 30 @ Idaho Falls Tuesday, July 31 vs. Orem
Wednesday, August 1 vs. Orem Thursday, August 2 vs. Orem Friday, August 3 vs. Ogden Saturday, August 4 vs. Ogden Sunday, August 5 vs. Ogden Monday, August 6 @ Orem Tuesday, August 7 @ Orem Wednesday, August 8 @ Orem Thursday, August 9 @ Ogden Friday, August 10 @ Ogden Saturday, August 11 @ Ogden Sunday, August 12 – (Off) Monday, August 13 vs. Helena Tuesday, August 14 vs. Helena Wednesday, August 15 vs. Helena Thursday, August 16 vs. Great Falls Friday, August 17 vs. Great Falls Saturday, August 18 vs. Great Falls Sunday, August 19 vs. Great Falls Thursday, September 6 vs. Ogden Tuesday, August 21 @ Helena Wednesday, August 22 @ Helena Thursday, August 23 @ Helena Friday, August 24 @ Helena Saturday, August 25 @ Great Falls Sunday, August 26 @ Great Falls Monday, August 27 @ Great Falls Tuesday, August 28 @ Idaho Falls Weds. August 29 @ Idaho Falls Thursday, August 30 @ Orem Friday, August 31 @ Orem Sat. September 1 vs. Idaho Falls Sun. September 2 vs. Idaho Falls Mon. September 3 vs. Idaho Falls Tues. September 4 vs. Idaho Falls Weds. September 5 vs. Ogden Monday, August 20 – (Off)
(Read more? Click title. Comment to discuss)
December 8, 2011
SandBox Comments: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "Trooper’s ‘bias’ complicates DUI cases"
An internal Colorado State Patrol investigation found a now-former trooper submitted improper case reports and displayed “bias” during investigations, calling into question years of criminal cases in Mesa County involving the trooper, according to records obtained by The Daily Sentinel.
Donald Moseman was no longer employed by the State Patrol as of Dec. 1, according to a letter dated Dec. 5 from State Patrol Maj. Barry Bratt, District Four commander.
“As the letter makes clear, there are now significant credibility concerns relating to Trooper Moseman ...” Mesa County District Attorney Pete Hautzinger wrote in his own letter, distributed Wednesday to Grand Valley defense attorneys.
“Hundreds” of cases in Mesa County in which Moseman was the arresting or investigating officer were expected to be re-examined, some of them possibly dismissed altogether, Hautzinger said in an interview Wednesday.
“It’s a significant issue we need to deal with as proactively as possible,” Hautzinger said. “The State Patrol did a great job conducting the internal investigation and getting back to us rapidly.”
“Inconsistencies” involving Moseman’s case reports were brought to light by county court prosecutors in October, Hautzinger said. He declined to elaborate...."
(Paul Shockley)\
(Read more? Click title. Comment to discuss)
Donald Moseman was no longer employed by the State Patrol as of Dec. 1, according to a letter dated Dec. 5 from State Patrol Maj. Barry Bratt, District Four commander.
“As the letter makes clear, there are now significant credibility concerns relating to Trooper Moseman ...” Mesa County District Attorney Pete Hautzinger wrote in his own letter, distributed Wednesday to Grand Valley defense attorneys.
“Hundreds” of cases in Mesa County in which Moseman was the arresting or investigating officer were expected to be re-examined, some of them possibly dismissed altogether, Hautzinger said in an interview Wednesday.
“It’s a significant issue we need to deal with as proactively as possible,” Hautzinger said. “The State Patrol did a great job conducting the internal investigation and getting back to us rapidly.”
“Inconsistencies” involving Moseman’s case reports were brought to light by county court prosecutors in October, Hautzinger said. He declined to elaborate...."
(Paul Shockley)\
(Read more? Click title. Comment to discuss)
November 2, 2011
SandBox Comments: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "Palisade voters reject ban on medical marijuana dispensary sales"
The upside to Palisade losing the ballot issue banning all medical marijuana dispensaries and grow operations is that voters did pass mandatory flat fee on every transaction and an increase of MMJ tax.
Which should bring in another estimated $80,000 per year in revenue to the small town of Palisade as this is the only MMJ dispensary and grow operation fortunate enough to grandfather in prior to the closures in Mesa County.
Which should bring in another estimated $80,000 per year in revenue to the small town of Palisade as this is the only MMJ dispensary and grow operation fortunate enough to grandfather in prior to the closures in Mesa County.
"Voters OK marijuana fee
Patients who will be able to continue to receive medical marijuana from Colorado Alternative Health Care in Palisade will have to dig deeper to pay for their medicine.
Town residents Tuesday night approved a $5 transaction fee that will be added to each sale made at a medical marijuana center in town. Referred Measure 2A passed 480 to 398, or 54 percent to 44 percent.
Town officials have estimated the fee will generate $80,000 a year in revenue, a significant amount of money considering Palisade pulls in roughly $225,000 in revenue from its 2 percent sales tax annually."
(Grand Junction Daily Sentinel)
(Learn more? Click title and comment to start discussion)
Patients who will be able to continue to receive medical marijuana from Colorado Alternative Health Care in Palisade will have to dig deeper to pay for their medicine.
Town residents Tuesday night approved a $5 transaction fee that will be added to each sale made at a medical marijuana center in town. Referred Measure 2A passed 480 to 398, or 54 percent to 44 percent.
Town officials have estimated the fee will generate $80,000 a year in revenue, a significant amount of money considering Palisade pulls in roughly $225,000 in revenue from its 2 percent sales tax annually."
(Grand Junction Daily Sentinel)
(Learn more? Click title and comment to start discussion)
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