SandBox Comments: Accuracy in Media "The Case of CH2M HILL: $2 Billion in Crony Stimulation "

Ever wonder what it adds up to on local levels?

Cronyism.  Worse yet, cronyism combined with unjust enrichment.

Few thousand here and there.  Few tens of thousands over there.  Start heading up valley into high-end construction and business and a few hundred thousand to millions. 

There are many good things that eventually will come out of the exposure from Solyndra and the rampant abuses in Fanny, Freddie and the housing bubble.

The question is.

Will the folks survive that long?  Especially when every time they turn around on federal levels, state levels and local levels more evidence of more abuses keeps rising like cream to the surface.

“Not very much.”

This was the answer that the Department of Energy Secretary, Steven Chu, recently provided when asked of the amount the federal government will be able to recover from the Solyndra bankruptcy.

“Not very much.”

The same could be said for the amount of research that the federal government has put into other companies involved in the Solyndra scandal. One such company, CH2M HILL, should be next on the House GOP radar, having used nearly $10 million in stimulus funding to design the elaborate Solyndra facility in Fremont, California. While CH2M HILL is in no danger of suffering the same bankruptcy plight, they also languish in a pool of mismanaged taxpayer funds. The firm has a history of fraud, kickbacks, violations, and cover-ups, not to mention one particular parallel with the Solyndra scandal—layoffs. This, despite receiving almost $2 billion in stimulus funding.

Why, having been awarded more than three times as much funding as Solyndra, has CH2M escaped serious scrutiny?

(Read more?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Craig Daily Press "Prosecutor back for second stint with 14th Judicial DA"

SandBox did a lengthy post on Brett Barkey when he returned from his third tour in Iraq.  Now archived to hard copy.

Congratulations to retired Marine Corp JAG Colonel Brett Barkey on his appointment to the second-highest seat in the 14th Judicial District.

"There’s one thing Brett Barkey knows well, and there’s another deep in his blood.

The first is the legal system. Barkey has more than 20 years in the legal field, following his graduation from Georgetown University Law Center and his subsequent admittance to the bar in 1986.

The second is his connection to Colorado.

“I’m a fourth-generation Coloradan,” he said. “My ancestors came out here from Iowa on a covered wagon in the 1860s and settled in the South Park area.

“One of their homestead cabins is still standing.”

Barkey has returned to the state where his family made their home.

More specifically, he’s been welcomed back to the 14th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, where he’s filled the assistant district attorney’s seat since Aug. 22.

Barkey is familiar with the 14th, having served as Moffat County chief deputy district attorney before resigning in March 2008...."
(Bridget Manley)

(Read more?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: KREX News 5 "Law Enforcement Training Center Plans Move Forward"

Congratulations to the entire region of law enforcement should this finally go through!

"Grand Junction - Mesa County law enforcement is a step closer to getting a regional public safety training facility. On Monday, Mesa County Commissioners voted to approve an agreement between the county and engineers for the project.

The first step is to design an emergency vehicle operation training track. Sheriff Stan Hilkey says the project has been in the works for more than 10 years...."
(KREX)

(Learn more?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Mueller allowed to return to California"

(Note from Nanny:  There is a very short leash on comment activity for Charlie Sheen's ex-wife and that family's ongoing press-op relationship with deputy D.A. Mordkin.  Few postings are going to be done on SandBox regarding her cases and the viral internet debacle that is all turning into again.  Chad Abraham has done his usual pretty thorough job of lining out details in this article and until there is a verdict and sentence; SandBox thinks his work today is plenty to go on.  Need a reminder on how to best get along with 'SandBox Nanny'?  Click here.)

"A Pitkin County judge Monday approved a motion allowing Brooke Mueller to return to California until her next court date on Dec. 19, when she is expected to be charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute...."
(Chad Abraham)

(Read the rest?  Are you sure?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Aspen Times "Teens advised on auto theft charges"

Rick Carroll:

"...The 14-year-old, who was arrested Oct. 30 by Garfield County sheriff's deputies, did not have legal representation at Monday's advisement, but Nichols noted that the Public Defender's Office is handling his cases on both ends of the valley.

Both defendants asked if they could speak, but the judge implored them not to since their lawyers were not present.

“What if it wasn't my decision to steal them cars?” the 14-year-old asked Nichols. The judge, in return, advised him not to speak any further.

If convicted, each suspect faces potential punishments of up to years in the custody of the Division of Youth Corrections. Or, they could be sentenced to the custody of the Department of Social Services until they are 21 years old.

In a press release issued after the teens' arrests, the Garfield County Sheriff's Office said both defendants are believed to be members of the criminal Sureno gang. The investigation into the vehicle thefts involved law-enforcement agents in Garfield and Pitkin Counties, Aspen and New Castle police, and ICE Homeland Security Investigations."  (Read more?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Commissioners verify medical marijuana grow operations"

SandBox keeps asking the questions: 

"How long can this placing by elected officials of small businesses into high risk go on?"

"How much longer can these small high-risk businesses be allowed to violate federal laws (and) why are taxpayers forced to cover all the costs of handling all the fall-out?"

John Stroud:
"Chris Busley, co-owner of CMD Care House, informed the commissioners Monday that the lease for his original growing facility along County Road 100 east of Carbondale ran out, and he has since relocated.

“My business has always been forced to move ahead of the rules,” he said, asking for clarification that he would be allowed to continue to operate the grow facility in the new location.

County officials confirmed that the operation could continue, but there are no guarantees once the new zoning regulations are approved.

“If the time comes that we have the zoning in place, and your location isn't within that zone, we will have to look at it,” Commissioner Mike Samson said.

To which Busley responded, “There are a lot of risks associated with what we're doing. We're all aware of that....”

(Learn more?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Two sociologists study inequality in Aspen ‘Slums’"

"A pair of sociologists, in their new book, paint a damning picture of the stark inequalities between local immigrant laborers and Aspen vacationers and the wealthy homeowners they serve.

Titled “The Slums of Aspen: Immigrants vs. the Environment in America’s Eden,” the book by University of Minnesota professors David Naguib Pellow and Lisa Sun-Hee Park was published in September by NYU Press.

The authors spent 10 years studying the haves and have-nots of Aspen. They concluded that the rich and mostly white ruling class here has used its economic and political power to gain exclusive access to the environmental amenities the area offers, at the expense of immigrants who work as landscapers, housekeepers and line cooks.

They define the phenomenon as “environmental privilege.” They argue it is similar to the better-known practice of “environmental racism,” where minority neighborhoods are burdened — by governments and other powers that be — with toxic waste dumps, power plants and other potentially dangerous pollution centers.

“The case of Aspen,” the authors write in their introduction, “illustrates the importance of understanding poverty and environmental inequality by getting out of the ghetto and into places where racial and economic privilege are enjoyed. That certain communities face greater environmental harm is indeed a social problem, but the accompanying social problem is that others benefit from this harm through environmental privilege.”
(Andrew Travers)

(Read the rest?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Intellectual Conservative "Interference of the Tortious Kind This Way Comes"

"Politicians who interfere with the building of the oil pipeline are really committing tortious acts, even though they suffer immunity as members of Congress.

Politicians are wicked beasts. Some people believe this is due to their lack of a moral compass. The truth however is that these heinous creatures do indeed have a moral compass. However it operates on a reverse polarity from reality and points as far away from true north as possible. This causes them to predictably do what is exactly the wrong thing in any given situation except by some sheer preponderance of luck brought on by the proper alignment of the planets in the solar system...."

(J.J. Jackson)

 

(Read more?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: State of Elections "CO (secret ballots): Colorado’s super-secret ballots"

"Colorado is currently in the midst of a heated legal dispute over whether images of local ballots should be made available for public scrutiny in an election dispute. The controversy started in 2009, when Marilyn Marks lost the Aspen city mayoral election to Mick Ireland. Marks petitioned to view images of the anonymous ballots (sometimes referred to as TIFF files), but the city denied her request.

She then filed suit in state court under the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), but the district court ruled against her. She appealed to the Colorado Court of Appeals, which reversed the lower court in September of this year, holding that the contents of the ballots should be released.

The substance of the issue is that the city contends that the images constitute ballots, and thus are barred from public release by the provision of Colorado’s constitution which protects the secrecy of ballots as well as local regulations as to the disposal of ballots. The Court of Appeals’ holding rejected both of these arguments, holding that the images are not ballots, and that the state constitutional protection only extends to the identity of the voter, not to the substance of the ballot. The court summarized its holding as follows..."
(Wesley Moore)


(Read more?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

SandBox Comments: Eagle County Times "Cordillera Golf Club litigation heats up"

Avatars in commentary have been pretty hard on the Wilhelm Family up in Cordillera.

No doubt, this is a just lawsuit in many ways.  As managers, especially of construction development in Cordillera, these guys really do belong in the same leagues as the construction set and architect that ran right over the top of Scott DeGraff over in Snowmass and Aspen.  They make the concept of 'unjust enrichment' have a whole new depth of meaning.

But so far, commentators in the construction industry have not said too much about the owners raising the most 'smell' up in Cordillera.

Maybe the time has come for avatars who cross over from Aspen to Vail to start speaking up a bit and level out the playing field for the Wilhelm Family.  In light of the recent press coverage on Base Village, that seems appropriate to do.

There are some crossovers of a few names from Cordillera Homeowners to really, really big projects such as Dancing Bear and Base Village. 

Unjust enrichment is usually a major factor in hurting scapegoats.  And there is no doubt that in a few ways, the Wilhelm Family are scapegoats.

Unjust enrichment is one thing.  But tortious interference is much, much worse.  Criminal in nature if the interference runs deep enough, carries out over extended periods of time or is a pattern that can be proven.

The sad part of the Cordillera mess are all those homeowners, outside of the at least three 'crossovers', that are also the victims.  Same as the scapegoats are.

Exactly how deep did District Attorney Mark Hurlbert really look?  Or was he erring only on the side of the elite, wealthy homeowners?

"For those who are not legally minded, the act of tortious interference is when a party, the tortfeasor, moves to convince another party to breach a contract. It also occurs when the tortfeasor intentionally disrupts the wherewithal of a party to meet its obligations under a contract...."
(J.J. Jackson)

(Read all about how things are heating up, for everybody, over in Cordillera?  Click title.)

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

SandBox Comments: Eagle County Times "Vail Mountain’s – Avalanche Rescue Dog "Henry""

Good boy, Henry!

"Henry” is a seasoned Avalanche Rescue professional.

So is his owner and partner in training – Chris ‘Mongo’ Reeder who works as a Ski Patrol Supervisor on Vail Mountain...."
(ECT)

(Read more?  Meet Henry? Click title. )

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News/Johnny Boyd "The more things change, the more they stay the same"

Don't worry, all you followers of SandBox who're not familiar with the Boyd aka Johnny aka the Snomasokist.

He'll grow on you.

Sometimes like the spread of a case of gout.  Or a case of hives.

Sometimes like a warm, fuzzy blankie on a cold winter day.  Or like a straight shot of excellent tequila after the initial shock dissipates.

So true.

"The more things change, the more they stay the same."

(Ready to meet Johnny on an uncensored print news media?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Former columnist not a river resident"

First, a thank you to Dave Danforth and the editorial staff for listening to the folks, after taking their pulse on a regular basis.

It's terrific to have new op-ed offerings and fresh views.

Oh, how the folks wish that (insert word here) retentive 'other' newspaper in Aspen would do same.   But alas, never to be.  (...do they even know  that the people who read them are alive and do have a pulse??)

Second, here we are again on the topic of disinformation in the hands of tools that are powerful.  Doesn't matter if those 'tools' are a person or a method of communication.  In the case of Jack Johnson, heaven only knows what 'power' he holds. 

Since readership really does have a pulse, does that readership think they could stand alone on some semblance of ethics and principle by not  buying into any information unless it's final  verified?  For goodness sake, go get your daily fix of smut and gossip by picking up the National Enquirer.  Leave your neighbors alone.

Lastly, let's weigh in on Connie Harvey's columns and give a balance to Jay Cowan's letter to the editor today.

This is a case of the Daily moving on.  And another case of an intervention by the folks. 

Slowly but surely the people keep stripping away the layers of disinformation that keep trying to cling to the old school of thought that 'anything goes'. 

We have far too many eco-pen 'hitman' columnists in this valley, Connie.  It would have been so very nice to get at least a little bit of balance out of your work.  Best to you as you move on too.

(Read the letters?  Click title and link.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Glenwood Springs may consider hiring economic development director"

SandBox commentary on the news itself is found at the end of this post.

To listen to the work sessions and the council meeting for yourself, click here.  Timing for the City of Glenwood Springs to get the feed posted up runs anywhere from a day or two after the meeting to roughly 10 days to 2 weeks.

Let's comment first, for a moment, on a 'hypothetical' situation.

Let us fantasize that just maybe there really, really is a very large group of citizens and business folks in the 81601 zip code that are fed-up with the handling of public funds, the ways, means and methods of promoting our largest industry of tourism (and) thoroughly disappointed in the stewardship by our elected and hired leaders of our local economic strengths and growth.

Remember now, this is a 'hypothetical' 'fantasy' that such 'people' really do exist.  We 'know' for 'absolute certainty' because "facts" and "credible news" and "credible" people in "positions of trust" 'tell' 'us' that there really is "no such group" and that "only one level of discourse" exists in 81601.  Backing 'them' up are the 'few elite' and the 'propoganda' that "confirms" that for 'us'. 

In our 'fantasy' this morning, this group of citizens that may or may not really exist,  pick up their free copy of the morning paper.

What is the likely question that first pops into their mind?

Could it possibly be a WTH?  Or maybe:  "Are we ever, ever going to have any credible press releases or news reporting that doesn't completely destroy all the hard work of the folks?"

Remember now, this 'hypothetical fantasy' is coming from the viewpoint of people who have to live day in and day out in the true economic reality of 81601. Not that partially disclosed, rose-colored cheerleader version that's usually in the morning paper.  These people are the ones that carry all the weight of every disappointing performance and failed stewardship of duty from our leaders.

SandBox comments this morning:  "Chances are, after so many years of little but propaganda, hard knock of criticism after hard knock and the last 10 months or so of obvious struggle to break entrenched habits not getting the job done of eliminating that vexation of the folks; 'probably not'.

Mr. Stroud, if you would even just entertain the remote notion that your written word that used to hold the tremendous power to sway the public, has weakened to simply thoroughly upseting a good portion of the population on most days you write; you just might not cost 81601 so much monetary loss every time you pour the ink.

Let's now look at the reported news itself and see what we can do to help the common's voices out here: 

'SandBox Nanny' has still not listened to the session or the meeting nor is she likely to.  Such a complete waste of time at this point, plus the content is likely to be disheartening.  She really does not get too many perks to her 'job' of moderating and posting.  But, one of the ones she does get is all the input and feedback from you that saves her from the often coma-inducing sitting through long, long meeting feeds.

Why don't y'all temper the reality you're forced to live,  by the major disappointment that is our economic condition in 81601 right now, with a little 'fantasy' of your own?

Think....."DDA.  Leslie Bethel.  Councilman Gamba."    

There ya go.  Because there is one absolute fact that you can count on.

Your empowerment and subsequent growth powered results is permanent.  Nowhere, ever again unless you let it, will your voices die off and 'old realities' get out of the dust cloud you've left them behind in.

Help this movement from the city to take hold.  In fact, things are so bad out here you might want to think about helping it all burst out of the gate.

(Read Stroud's piece?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Glass Ballot Box "Blowing up Democracy with Unverifiable Elections"

A must read.

As usual, the depth of insight and the power of the information just reaches out and grabs your attention.

What started out for Marilyn Marks as a simple hometown request to view public information ballots has turned into an epic proportions battle to secure all Coloradans rights to election transparency.

Yes, a must read.

"Journalists may initially disbelieve that this story could be taking place in 21^st century Colorado, while Colorado is in the national spotlight as a 2012 swing state. However, the attached memo should provide adequate documentation of the developing situation here.  

Election officials are not only trying to roll the FOIA clock back 40 years, but far worse, many are claiming that their election processes  can trace voted ballots back to the individual voters, violating Colorado’s  constitutional guarantee of anonymous, untraceable ballots, which assure voter privacy. It is alarming that election officials in numerous counties unhesitatingly acknowledge their ability to know how individual voters voted.  Their claims are being made in an effort to promote state legislation to close down public and press access to voted ballots, on the theory that if ballots are open public documents, the press and public, (not just government insiders), will know how voters voted.

The co-authors and I hope that you will be as concerned as we are about the threats to voters’ civil rights and the  threatened dilution of the media’s first amendment rights and the public’s ability to verify its elections.   Please contact any of us for more information.

Thank you in advance for your attention to this issue."
(Marilyn Marks)

 

(Read this terrific memo?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "How much is your vote worth?"

"Let’s cut to the chase.

Imagine asking a politician how much he/she would pay for your vote. No worry about your party affiliation, or how you’ve voted in the past. No messy TV ads to mislead you, nor scripted robo-calls. In short, no B.S.

How much, please?

It’s not as far-fetched as you’d think. Estimates put the total amount to be spent on all 2012 U.S. elections at between $6 and $8 billion. In the 2010 off-year cycle, political spending reached $4.2 billion. Certainly you’re worth a tiny sliver of that, aren’t you? That’s a bunch of stimulus spending to spread around...."
(Dave Danforth)

(Read more?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: The Mountain Mail "New date set for ballot disclosure "

Cailey McDermott:

"To provide more time for a counter expert witness, the Dec. 1 court hearing about disclosure of 2010 voter ballots was vacated and a new date was set for 8:15 a.m. March 23.

Marilyn Marks of Aspen recently demanded ballot disclosures in Chaffee County to "make it clear that voted ballots are public records."

Chaffee County Clerk and Recorder Joyce Reno appealed the request.

Reno said voted ballots are required to be kept confidential under the Colorado Constitution and Colorado law.

Jenny Davis, county attorney, said the hearing was delayed because the county has an expert witness and Marks' attorney wanted time to obtain a counter expert witness.

Davis said the county fought the court delay and lost.

March was selected because Marks will be traveling in January and there were conflicts with the caucus in February, Davis said."

(Learn more?  Comment to discuss)

SandBox Comments: CBS Denver 4 "Steamboat Shop’s Ski Boots A Hit On The Slopes"

What an absolutely brilliant business model!

Congratulations to both Steamboat Springs for being so fortunate to have this small business join the ranks of all their other thriving folks (and) to Harry Martin and his crew at Ski & Bike Kare.

Good luck on this one!

(Read what all the excitement over in Steamboat Springs is?  Click title.)

SandBox Comments: Citizen Telegram "Working the family farm"

"NEW CASTLE — Theresa Rumery and Jared McDermott recommend rosemary, sage and thyme for a delectable holiday dinner.

And they would know. After all, Rumery and McDermott spend their days cultivating, growing and managing the fine, organic culinary herbs of Osage Gardens — one of Colorado's oldest farms west of New Castle...."
(Jenny Lavey)

(Read more?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

SandBox Comments: Commentary Magazine/Contentions "Obama’s Claim About His Presidency and Israel: Delusional or Cynically Misleading?"

Peter Wehner:

"President Obama’s claim that “this administration has done more in terms of the security of the state of Israel than any previous administration” is not simply wrong; it is fantastically wrong. It isn’t simply that many presidents – including Truman, Reagan, and George W. Bush – were rightly considered to be far greater friends of Israel than the current occupant of the White House. It is that few presidents, and perhaps no president, has been as instinctively and operationally hostile to Israel as Obama (for more, see Jonathan’s comprehensive post here:)..."

Every American that stands with Israel should be outraged at Barack Obama's claims about his presidency and relationship with Israel. 

Lots of good op-eds on the subject but Wehner rises above today.

(Read more?  Click title. Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Aspen Times/Paul Nitze "Where the living is easy and conversation is hard"

"So far, so typical. If “The Descendants” goes somewhere deeper, and I think it does, it's because Payne is able to link personal character to national culture. In the film's early minutes, he has Clooney tell the audience that just because Hawaii looks like paradise, it doesn't mean Hawaiians get a pass on human nature. As exotic as it looks, Hawaii is transformed into the American main street circa 2011...."
(Paul Nitze)

Well done by Paul Nitze.  Up on the Aspen Times.

(Read more?  You should.  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "City Council tables MEAN contract for further discussion"

'SandBox Nanny' rarely watches council meetings anymore.  She gets so much feedback from y'all that there really isn't much of a need to.  What she does do, when you are heated up about a topic is wait for the convenience of the video posting and the (fantastic, thank you so much camera guy!!) now broken out into segments live feed.  That way, she can just go see for herself what the fuss is all about.

The inserted feedback below is a mix of your feedback.  She's sat through way too many deep coma inducing sessions from old council on the battle over 'clean and green' energy in Glenwood Springs.

Email in if she's misread your emailed remarks.  Comment ability is blocked on this post.                         

John Stroud (and local comments (summarized in bold):

"...Glenwood Springs has the opportunity to develop unique energy resources such as geothermal, hydroelectric, coal-seam combustion and biomass, said former city councilman Russ Arensman....."

'Yes, it certainly does.  How long have we been at that research into all that now?  A decade or more? Where are we at, Russ?  Good thing the folks didn't rush out turn off all public utilities thinking they were going to go green for good.  Another good thing is all the folks out here who got tired of waiting and are working on biomass, geothermal and compressed natural gas because they got free of you guys and the endless talk with little to no action.'

“For you to take action that commits this city to a largely coal generation infrastructure system for the next 30 years, it's just not smart,” he said....."

'Well, that's pretty much the pot calling the kettle black.   Wonder if you guys are ever even going to read the MEAN terms and contract??  If you did, you would see that it's locked in to what can be negotiated and what cannot.  Also locked in to the fact that the folks are free to do whatever they want with clean and green alternatives.  The thing you guys can't seem to grasp is that nobody is going to pay the way for you to do that, especially MEAN.  You have to be self-sufficient.  But then most of you are lib's so we just can't wait around for you to become informed on how to not rely on government.' 

"....However, terms of the proposed “Schedule M” contract are not negotiable, Glenwood Springs Public Works Director Robin Millyard said.

The contract limits local power generation to 768 kilowatts for MEAN participants within the Xcel Energy/Public Service Company of Colorado control area, which includes Glenwood Springs and Aspen. That represents roughly 2 percent of MEAN's peak load for the area, Millyard said.

“That amount is limited under the terms of the contract,” he said. “But, there is a mechanism to advance any request we want beyond that, whether it's renewable or traditional generation.....”

'Helloooo....you group of former council people we voted out....see?  We already have the freedom to do what you want.  But MEAN is never going to pay for it like you want.'

“I agree with most of the sentiments expressed tonight,” Councilman Stephen Bershenyi said of the concerns about the ability for local generation.

“But the one thing that's missing in that is how we manage the delivery of that power,” he said. “We don't have the expertise to do that, but our MEAN partnership gives us that....”

'There's that pesky self-sufficiency and can't have it all ways on a free taxpayer ride thing again.'

".....That partnership also gives the city greater influence in promoting renewable energy resource development on a broader scale, he said, noting that MEAN's current energy portfolio includes 30 percent renewables.

“We also have a responsibility to provide energy at a reasonable, fair price,” Bershenyi said...."

'yep.  We stroke you for the millionth time on getting us the percentage we are at now and it looks like MEAN is already giving us room to grow.  Almost double where we are now and that's pretty good in our view.  Thank you very much, now will you please come back one more time and then let it all rest?' 

"....Councilman Mike Gamba said it's a question of flexibility versus cost. “Do we maintain absolute flexibility to be able to provide locally generated power, as opposed to cheaper power?..."

'boy...we sure like that new Councilman Gamba.  He even does the political two-step stroking real good.  All politics are local politics.'

(Read the article?  Click title.  Comment ability is blocked on this post)

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

SandBox Comments: Pueblo Chieftain "Pacheco moves into city "

Pueblo City Councilman Chris Nicoll has launched a website for folks in the shadows down in the Pueblo area.

Smart politicians know that there are a couple of demographics in Colorado that one never, ever blows off.

One of them is Pueblo and the Pueblo Chieftain.

Another is Craig and the Craig Daily Press.

Still yet another is Grand Junction and the Daily Sentinel.

Up north is the Greeley Tribune and Weld County.

The folks in Pueblo are sharp avatars in commentary and they post all over the place while using the Chieftain's hub as home base. 

Smart politicians listen to them.

Chris Nicoll is such a guy and his opening himself to all access including unorthodox is a very, very smart political move.  It is also a compassionate one because things are pretty rough for the folks in Pueblo.

Hit hard with the economic ills Colorado has, they've also street-scrap fought their way back from a fairly corrupt police department that is now rapidly rising back to shining star status.  They've been hit hard in that process by hard crime victimizing them.  Having the "mother of all wars" between prosecutors and defenders in their judicial district has not helped anything.

The folks in Pueblo are trying to rise up out of  some hard hitting years and they're coming back strong.

One of the individuals still square in their sights is Pueblo City Manager Jerry Pacheco.

(Read the article?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Pueblo Chieftain "DA, court deal with lawyer's outburst "

How far does the reach of one community's politics go?

In the case of the 10th Judicial District, statewide.

DA Bill Thiebaut and Pueblo Commissioner Jeff Chostner are in a heated and rapidly turning into a bloodbath race for District Attorney in the 10th.

Thiebaut is also the Democrat that's been taking no prisoners in the statewide congressional redistricting battle.  He's  brutally outspoken, cutthroat in his politics, far, far left in the political world and obvious to us as holding high political ambitions.

Pueblo is located in the third congressional district which is 'our' district over here in Pitkin and Garfield counties.  We all share Congressman Scott Tipton (R-Cortez).

Thiebaut, as District Attorney, started off as a very bright star for the democrats.  His tenure as D.A. in the 10th has grown to be one of the most criticized and scrutinized in the state.  Any news print, blog post statewide or radio interview holds a great deal of uncertainty that he will win against Chostner.  The race at this point, has already reached deep personal attacking and brutal exchanges.

With still a year to go before the 10th Judicial District will have peace again.

Thiebaut, in our view, is an interesting guy to try and figure out.  On one hand, he seems to have no care or concern for the integrity of how he and his staff appear to the public.  On the other hand, he seems to err on the side of caution such as in his latest decision to appoint a special prosecutor to stave off any concerns of potential mistrial.  The battle between Thiebaut, his staff and defense attorneys is epic with few to no cases running smoothly.

A fact that Republicans are all over him on as he helps lead the way in the congressional redistricting battles.

"The mother of all wars" is a saying launched by the Koch brothers a few months back.

The reference was to the Presidential election in November 2012.

We disagree.

"The mother of all wars" started some time ago and its battlefield of choice is every local political arena in the nation.

(Read the article?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent " County cautious but interested in Silt economic development plans"

They are not "cautious".

They're stunned.

What does our beloved Silt Mayor say?

“I plead guilty to shortsightedness,” said Silt Mayor Dave Moore." 

lol.

Lordy, lordy...here we go!  Now they've done it. 

If there's anything that gets Silt revved up it's waving a red flag challenge in front of them.

Go, Dave!

(whisper...whisper...Silt's the 'folks in the shadows' capital of the world....whisper...whisper...takes a lot of guts to ignore that fact...whisper...whisper...doesn't John Martin have an election year coming?....whisper...whisper...best he be thinking about that now....we really want a grocery store....whisper...whisper....hooah.)

(Read all about this stunning development in the never ending quest to make Silt Happen? Click title.  Comment to discuss)

SandBox Comments: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "Public offered some ice time at new Grand Junction rink"

Richie Ann Ashcraft:

"The Grand Valley Skating Center will begin limited public skate times this weekend for people interested in learning more about what the new rink has to offer.

The outdoor rink at 1130 N. Third St. has been open to league hockey and learn-to-skate members since Nov. 19.

“It’s been a huge success so far, especially for our learn-to-skate classes,” said Curt Maki, executive director for Ice Skating Inc., the nonprofit organization that runs the rink.

Interest in public skate times has been high, said Ken Walter, president of Ice Skating Inc...."

When Grand Junction was putting together the concept of an outdoor ice rink, locals in the 81601 tourism and attractions marketing district sent out the cry for what a terrific idea that is.

The case they presented in commentary through numerous regional hubs and forums was that in Glenwood Springs we would not be as constrained as Junction because we already have an indoor ice rink over at the Community Center that serves sporting venues.

The ideas were terrific. 

Two Rivers Park could handle an outdoor venue for the general public.  Think Rockefeller Center in NY.

Tastefully done, well lit with seasonal ability.  Up on the I-70 side so that it would be visible to passing traffic year-round.  Lots of parking and space for events, even if the city and county ever get off the dime and implement even a few of the suggestions for improving Two Rivers Park into revenue generating venues.

And here's the funny thing.

The whole thing could be paid for with lottery proceeds that fund Parks and Rec.

How did the sitting council at the time meet the concept?  With a yawn.  How did our local newspaper  keep the voices raised and heard?  They didn't.  Instead, they blocked voices and prevented the sharing of dialog.

What a shame that locals now have another reason to head west.

Besides minor league baseball they can now afford to take the family ice-skating in a beautiful outdoor venue.

(Learn more?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Summit Daily News "Summit Up 12-3-11: Where it's colder'n a Norse god in brass undies"

Sigh....so it begins.

There is nothing worse than a bunch of Coloradans facing a cold temperature winter with not as much snow as they like.

Summit Up:
"Good morning and welcome to Summit Up, the world's only daily column that's a little annoyed about Ullr right now. Did you hear he visited Denver (cough! gasp! ugh!) the other day and didn't bother to pop by Summit County? Instead, we just got a visit from Vespawicz, the Norse god of freezing-ass cold. Riding on a pair of gi-normous polar bears, Vespawicz wears an iron jock and has 3-foot icicles hanging off his ears. With his breath, he can turn hot magma into rocks, and from his second home in Blue River, he has a radio show named Brass Bra devoted exclusively to talking about ways to describe cold. Let's have a listen:

"Vespawicz here from the frozen land of Blue River, with another frigid installment of Brass Bra. Well, it's colder'n a well-digger's ass out there today, very parky indeed. Reminds me of that time I visited my relative Ugg up in Saskatchewan. Man, if there's one thing that's cold it's the toilet seat in an igloo!"

(lol.  Read more?  Are you really sure?  Well then, click title.  Comment to discuss)

SandBox Comments: Durango Herald "More arrests made in Cortez meth ring"

Thank you to all the agencies, agents and officers who participated in this major bust.

"Five people were arrested Wednesday in connection with the trafficking of highly pure methamphetamine in the Cortez area, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Denver announced Thursday.

Three other defendants in the case already were in custody. The arrests were the result of a federal grand jury indictment.

During a two-year investigation, agents and task force officers seized more than 6.5 pounds of methamphetamine, seven firearms including assault rifles and $25,670.

Those named in the indictment were: Hilario Quintero-Rodriguez, 40; Abel Sanchez-Leon, 37; Octavio Quezada-Perez, 46; Flodina Beletso Gallegos, 28; Guadalupe Ruiz-Guardado, 50; Julio Mares-Ruiz, 25; Luis Jorge Martinez-Valdiva, 35; and Robert Mason Byas, 60...."

(Durango Herald)

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

SandBox Comments: KREX News 5 "Drug Task Force Makes Another Bust Near Elementary School"

Thank you to all the agencies, officers and agents who participated in this drug bust.

"The Western Slope Drug Task Force takes down more alleged drug dealers near an elementary school. The raid happened Wednesday at a mobile home on 25½ Road, and within nine hundred feet of Pomona Elementary school...."
(KREX)

(Read more?  Click title. Comment to discuss)
"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Pueblo Chieftain "Officers recognized for courage, service"

"Police officers face death and danger more than most.


They're trained how to respond and act in threatening situations. But after the gunshots and the smoke settles, they're left with an experience for which no amount of training can prepare them....


.....More than 200 fellow officers and city and civic leaders at Pueblo Community College attended the event at which 18 officers and two civilians were honored.....


Romero was awarded for saving a grandmother and trying to save a 3-year-old child from a burning apartment Dec. 13, 2010.


Trujillo was awarded for fatally shooting a man who brandished a gun at him in February......


.....In September, Romero also was named the Colorado Police Protective Association's Officer of the Year....


...Recipients of the Department Commendation, given to officers and civilians for "outstanding" acts and achievements, were:

• Detective Chris D'Amour, for an eight-month investigation that dismantled a methamphetamine drug trafficking ring that netted more than 12 pounds of meth. The operation netted 12 arrests and involved 18 undercover purchases and wire taps. D'Amour worked with the Drug Enforcement Administration's Southern Colorado Drug Task Force.

• Detective Marc DeFusco, DEA task force member, for Operation Blanca Peak, a six-month investigation that dismantled a drug ring responsible for bringing into Pueblo 25 kilograms of cocaine and 15 pounds of meth every month from California. The operation netted four arrests, 11 pounds of meth, 3 kilos of coke, the seizure of a Bessemer nightclub and other property totaling more than $550,000.

• Detectives Brian Roman and Jeff Maize were honored for going undercover in 2010 to purchase 26 stolen guns and artifacts from Bent's Old Fort in La Junta and the Kit Carson Museum in Kit Carson. One of the guns they recovered was an 1874 Colt revolver valued at $70,000. The two are members of the federal Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives gun task force.

• Cpls. Manuel Eurioste and Carl Groller for disarming a robbery suspect armed with a butcher knife in February 2010.

Recipients of the Life Saving Award were:

• Officers Deb Romano and Gabe Maldonado, honored for rescuing an elderly couple from the porch of a burning house this past January. The elderly couple managed to get out of the house but were unable to leave the porch. Romano and Maldonado removed them before the house was engulfed in flames.

Recipients of the Distinguished Service Award, given to officers who carry out their duties in the face of serious bodily injury, were:

• Sgt. Rick Lancendorfer and officer Nick Martinez, who apprehended a carjacking suspect who was reportedly armed with a grenade in April 2010. The man challenged Martinez to shoot him and Lancendorfer, noticing the suspect didn't have a grenade, shot him with a Taser.

• Cpl. David Beshany and officer Jason Smith were honored for arresting two armed men who robbed a North Side fast-food restaurant this past August.

Recipients of the Chief's Award, honored for performances outside of other awards criteria, were:

• Kim Jeffries, dispatch supervisor, honored for bringing a new fire station's response system online and solving last-minute glitches in the system.

• Detective Mark Bravo, honored for counseling and supporting officers and their families involved in fatal shootings.

• Capt. Rich Goddard and dispatch supervisor Laura Wittrup, for improving working conditions and operations in the department's dispatch center."

(Nick Bonham)

(Read more?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Summit County Citizens Voice "Colorado aims at bid for 2022 Winter Olympics"

"SUMMIT COUNTY — A train headed for a 2022 rendezvous with the Winter Olympics is picking up some steam in Colorado, but so far, Summit County hasn’t hopped aboard.

Local sources familiar with the long-running effort to bring the games to the Mile High State say there hasn’t been much interest among local government and business leaders, even as Vail Resorts and the Vail Valley Foundation are working behind the scenes with the Metro Denver Sports Commission to shape a possible bid.

“It’s been pretty quiet lately,” said Breckenridge Realtor Daniel Webster Johnson, who has been an informal contact in Summit County for a possible state bid for the games. Johnson said he last met with local officials about a half year ago, when the prevailing attitude was that “it will never happen....”
(Bob Berwyn)

(Read more?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

SandBox Comments: Aspen Times/Charlie Leonard "President should lead more and whine less"

Thank you, Charlie Leonard!

"But despite all that, here are three very important things to remember:

1. Being president is a hard job. It might be the hardest job in the world. The president acts as if he's surprised and more than a little frustrated by this reality.

2. The president also acts as if partisanship came about on his watch. The fact is that our politics have been extremely partisan for a very long time, but it hasn't stopped others from making progress. Look no further than some of our state capitals, where governors of both parties have been extremely effective at working with legislative opponents.

3. Our politics — and the makeup of the Congress following the 2012 election — are not likely to change in a way that favors the president. In fact, if he is re-elected, it will likely be harder given the president's decision to base his campaign on attacking Republicans.
(Charlie Leonard)

(Read more?  Click title. Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: SkyHi Daily/William Hamilton "Peace: What was it like?"

"...In 2011, it seems difficult to believe that the bombs and rockets of Adolf Hitler almost succeeded in destroying Great Britain. Ironically, The British Isles and all the European democracies now face a more insidious peril from the high birth rates of their burgeoning immigrant populations. If present demographic trends continue, by 2050, Christianity will be Englands minority religion and English Common Law will be just a memory.

During this process, it might be well for us to remember the words of George Orwell: “We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would harm us.” Pray for our men and women in uniform."

(Nationally syndicated columnist, William Hamilton, was educated at the University of Oklahoma, the George Washington University, the U.S Naval War College, the University of Nebraska, and Harvard University.)

(Read the rest?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Pueblo Chieftain "Motorists accused of meth possession "

A very, very special thank you to the K9 Officer that assisted in this bust.  Good dog!

Here's a reminder of the fantastic K9 teams Colorado has that we know of.   If commentators know of more, drop an anonymous link into comments on this post so we can give them credit.

http://uspca14.homestead.com/uspca14.html

http://www.uspcak9.com/

http://www.garcosheriff.com/k9.html

http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/StatePatrol-Main/CBON/1251593176135

http://sheriff.mesacounty.us/K9_unit.aspx

http://www.gjcity.org/K-9_Patrol.aspx

http://www.ci.glenwood-springs.co.us/pd/1b-3.htm 


Nick Bonham:
"Two Californians were arrested Tuesday after more than 7 pounds of suspected methamphetamine were found hidden in their car.

Silvestre D. Manjarrez, 20, of Baldwin Park, and Carlos G. Meza, 38, of Los Angeles, were arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

Pueblo police narcotics officer Dusty Dodge was driving north through town on Interstate 25 when he stopped an Acura following a truck too closely.

An affidavit by Detective Chris D'Amour said the car was driven by Meza and also occupied by Manjarrez.

(Read more?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: KJCT News 8 "Traffic Stop Nets Over $40K, Leads To Child Abuse"

'Fretterd':

"you know what's really stupid...knowing your transporting a federally illegal substance with a minor in the vehicle and SPEEDING!"

"EAGLE, Colo. -- Around 8:00 a.m. Sunday, a deputy with the Eagle County Sheriff's Office pulled over a rental car which was traveling close to 100 m.p.h. on I-70 outside of Eagle.

After searching the car, police say they seized over a pound of marijuana and more than $40,000 in cash.


According to police, the driver was identified as Erin Colove, 25, of Olathe. The passenger was Chase Esrich, 22, of Alton, MO. Police say the suspects admitted that the money had derived from previous drug transactions...."
(KJCT)

(Read more?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent/Local News Briefs "Bucks put back into public art"

(See related story here)


Carbondale has an extraordinary display of public art.  Professional, aesthetically pleasing, tourist attracting and a pleasure to stroll down Main Street enjoying.


It is also enough for at least this one year.  There is no need for more when we have valley-wide  homeless, hungry and jobless citizens. 

The originally pledged $6,000 for maintenance was more than enough for the Carbondale Trustees to pitch in this year.  Cajoling them to go the full $12,000 is unconscionable in this economy.

ART (Art aRound Town) should be ashamed of themselves knowing that they have done this at potentially the expense of a human service need that would be better suited.

At the very least, the Carbondale Trustees should make this organization finally get to work and produce within one year's time the detailed performance reports that shows the Town of Carbondale is actually drawing in revenue from the pieces of art bought in the 2012 cycle with this money.

Again, our thanks to the ART group for such a beautiful display of public art.  You definitely have beat Glenwood Springs in that department and have truly set a wonderful example.

Now, all you need to do is figure out how to earn $6K in some kind of event that can be given to Carbondale's hungry and homeless.

(Read more?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Shafted by the Beav"

(Note from Nanny 12/2:  Time out on the last two days of Skico press is lifted.  Behave, please.)


When it gets this bad.

Anyone with the ability to speak up, even if it's with a box of crayons and a piece of poster board that you then 'fly a sign' with on Hwy. 82 has a community obligation to help get the 'news' out.

(Insert public notice here:  Refer to all SandBox and public commentary from archive of 11/30)

Curtis Wackerle:
"With a lack of snow in Val d’Isere, France, where women’s and men’s alpine World Cup races were to be held on Dec. 10-11, Beaver Creek and Aspen both submitted bids to the International Ski Federation (FIS) to take on the events.

FIS essentially delayed its ultimate decision by telling Aspen it would go forward with the French races, SkiCo spokesman Jeff Hanle said..." 

..They took us out of the running knowing full well they would have Beaver Creek as a fall back” if cold temperatures in Europe didn’t hold up as officials were hoping, Hanle said. “It was a time game they were playing....”

(whisper...whisper...actually....we heard it was 'George Bush's' fault...whisper...whisper...no, wait!!....Lee Mulcahy and Marilyn Marks fault!!....whisper...whisper....no, wait!!!...the "bitching locals" fault.....whisper.. whisper...no--no--no!! that's right, it's God's fault for not sending enough snow to cover up 26" rocks!!....whisper...whisper...)

"..SkiCo also gave FIS a hard deadline of Sunday to come to a decision on whether or not the races would be held here, Hanle said. Aspen hosted its annual women’s World Cup stop last weekend, where the ladies raced a giant slalom (GS) and a slalom. SkiCo needed an answer by Sunday so it could know whether or not to start breaking down some of the World Cup infrastructure, Hanle said..."

(Insert sounds of a nursery full of crying infants here.  whisper....whisper...has anybody ever noticed how whether its 'free snow' gifts from the gods coming weeks early before opening day....whisper... whisper...or there was only 5 to 10 million profit on the bottom line instead of just like Vail who had a 35 million profit on their bottom line.....whisper...whisper...or 'we just don't have the ability to prep and groom for changes in the way we schedule...whisper...whisper...that the Aspen Ski Corp just doesn't 'get it' that they are in a competitive industry and they have thousands of local workers and businesses that depend on them to thrive??!!....whisper...whisper...insert here the sound of the nannies soothing the nursery of sobbing adults who are at near poverty levels...)

You weren't 'shafted' by FIS or The Beav, Mr. Hanle.

Unfortunately, the Aspen Ski Corp. and all of its representatives do a fine job of doing that to themselves.

Please don't forget that you have actually been at odds for years with FIS over whether or not Aspen should even be allowed to retain the women's race we do have (sounds like X-Games, doesn't it?).

Do you really think that insulting them, dissing them is the best way to go here?

We think not and instead spin your efforts around and off the locals, our American athletes and their sponsors and right back on to where the fault truly lies.

Be Bolder, Mr. Hanle.  It pays.

(Read the article?  Click title. Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Crested Butte News "Free skiing draws large crowds to opening day "

"Crested Buttians who hit the slopes on opening day at Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) may have experienced something they’re unaccustomed to: lift lines. The resort’s birthday bash kicked off the season with free skiing on November 23, drawing 3,106 skiers and snowboarders to the mountain...."
(Alissa Johnson)

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SandBox Comments: Hot Air Blog "Holder a little testy over that whole, “why don’t you resign” thing'

'Jazz Shaw':

Eric Holder has had enough of you peasants asking pesky questions about whether or not he should remain in his job as Attorney General and he’s not going to take it any more. Further, his unique investigative skills as a law enforcement expert have been put to good use and helped him identify where all of these nasty rumors are coming from… the reporters at The Daily Caller.


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SandBox Comments: Denver Post/Breaking News "Bail increased for former Arapahoe sheriff Pat Sullivan in sex-for-meth case"

SandBoxBlogs will post this one up because it is such a huge, huge story.

There will be no more postings done on this case unless there is significant and truly updated news reported.

Our reasoning is simple.

Our beloved everyday heroes in law enforcement have to be reeling from this news.  There are just some circumstances in alleged crime reporting that serve no purpose to post except to bring further heartache or harm.

Try to remember that his name is just Patrick Sullivan.  He no longer has anything to do with Arapahoe County or the S.O. there.  A building's name can simply be changed.

Try to remember that we are a nation of law and the presumption of innocence is what those everyday heroes are supposed to be out there fighting for. 

They are and until shown otherwise, we must believe and trust in that no matter how it looks on the surface.

Comment ability on this post is blocked.

(Read the article?  Click title.)

SandBox Comments: Colorado Independent "Lack of financial services putting MMJ businesses in a bind"

Jared Polis (D-Colorado) should be impeached over this.

For any elected official to both thumb their nose repeatedly at federal law and waste taxpayer resources in the type of economic crisis we are in simply to present useless legislation that would never pass until that federal law changes; is bad enough.

But what is unconscionable is Polis continuing to beat the drum of encouragement to these barely making it small businesses in the MMJ industry. "If" Jared Polis was truly a lawmaker, a leader of Coloradans, he would do his job.

Which is to follow the rules of law.  We have processes to go through and he has just wasted years worth of time that these now headed for failure MMJ businesses did not have.

Shame on you Congressman Polis.

Shame, shame on you.

(Read the article?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Silt approves budget, ‘B/I zone,' subdivision rewrite"

What....in the world is Silt Mayor Dave Moore up to??

Every time we turn around, the guy gets closer and closer to shooting himself out of a cannon and rocketing to stardom.

(Let's poke some fun at Dave---he's a great sport)....'He's definitely not the best-looking Mayor on the Western Slope.  And his people skills really are non-existent.  The man has zero tact and could really care less what people think of him.'

And oh, good lord.  When it comes to politics he can be near rabid in sharing his views.  Does conservatives in the trenches proud every time he opens his mouth.  Plus, he really annoys local liberal media spin doctors and is a great read wherever he shows up.

But this.

Throwing out and starting over on all of Silt's codes?

This man should be in the White House.  Or at least in Perry's cabinet.  "We don't need no stinking badges". 

Go, Dave!

(Read Colson's bullet points on Silt's most recent successes?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Post Independent opinion: Shop locally with your holiday dollars"

It may not be two in a row....but it is two in the same month.

We now have the second 'Post Independent Opinion' that we feel the folks can live with reading all the way through.

Times are a-changing.  Thank you to the editorial staff on the PI.

This one is a great read.  It's sincere, for one thing.  No dominating press-op campaign for one or two local organizations.  In fact, the well-said (and well spotted) mild criticism of 'buy local but comes from China?' is duly noted.  Maybe our downtown merchants will pay attention to that and start spending the few dollars they have for inventory on unique, local or regional inventory.  They need to restore the high caliber of quality shopping downtown instead of just filling shelves with what they can afford. 

Is there any way you could use the power of your ink to help them with that?  Like really do some investigative reporting on how effective (or not) our local ordinances and leaders really are?  Get away from some of, if not all of, the canned PR and really get to know the readers and their lives?

Who knows.

Maybe it really is a whole new world out here.

just sayin.

(Read the PI's holiday shopping suggestions? Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Aspen Times "New patrol shack at Buttermilk a model of efficient energy use"

Of course it is.

It was built by Beezer and Bud.

(See an example of some of the best building in the Valley?  Click title.) 

SandBox Comments: Steamboat Today "Steamboat to host Nordic combined event Saturday"

Still haven't introduced yourself to Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp.?

Even more so than Vail and Breck, Steamboat Springs has pushed through the ski scene in recent years and become one of the best venues in Colorado.

Year round, world class sport competitions, wide range of live music and entertainment offerings, incredible food and drink offerings, friendly folks who are genuinely glad to see you and want you to feel at home.

International flights right next door.  Easy and affordable access.

Introduce yourself, your friends, guests and family to Steamboat Springs.

(Learn more?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: SkyHi Daily "USA Pro Cycling organizers need more time"

Go, Colorado!

SandBox Comments: Roll Call/Race Details "Race Rating Map"

'SandBox Nanny' found these amazing race statistics over on Roll Call.

She especially likes the details of their 'Race Rating Map'.

Here, is their 'Mountain Region Roundup' page.

Very, very interesting...

(Learn more? Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News/Steve Skinner "American consumers occupy Black Friday"

"Dear Lord it can be embarrassing to be an American these days. Even now, when Americans are supposedly tightening belts and bemoaning the state of the economy, some are charging over unconscious people in a rush to get to the Christmas holiday deals.

According to the Huffington Post, some shoppers allegedly stepped over a collapsed man in a Target store in West Virginia as they hurried in for the best Black Friday savings. The man later died.

They say that American consumers don’t have confidence. They say that we need to purchase more stuff to grow the economy. They say we are in dire shape. But American consumer spending is up significantly over last year and some American consumers have not received the message that we are supposed to be hurting..."
(Steve Skinner)

(Learn more?  Click title. Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Weasel Zippers "Iran: Satellite Images Show Revolutionary Guard Missile Base Completely Destroyed After Mysterious Explosion…"

Our thanks goes out to that "mysterious explosion".

(Incredible photos.  Click title. Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Eagle County Times "Out of Touch and in need of a Reality Check"

'Dick Tracy' reports.  Over on the Eagle County Times.  In 'his' never-ending quest to make sure no spin is ever allowed to snowball the folks...we once again watch the Eagle County School Board admin's 'Tall Tales' debunked....

(by Dick Tracy)
Awareness for our Eagle County School District Board and School District employees.

Background:

Consider this former (letter to the Fishwrap’s Editor), written by the former President of your Eagle County School District Board - Connie Kincaid-Strahan, President of the Board of Education and Sandra B. Smyser Superintendent of Eagle County Schools,November 3, 2011 (Click Here).

”We asked you (our community) to tell us if you supported a mill-levy increase to adequately reinstate funds eliminated by the state, and you said ‘no.’ As always, we will keep our budget solvent, and unfortunately it will now come at a more profound and painful cost.”

Responsibly,  the ‘painful cost’ will be on these non-classroom non-student expenditures, for these are what we all said no to.

Or is it going to be  a case of “You get behind me, we all profit; you challenge me, we all go down‘ – by  Big Boy Caprice?

August 2011:  the same month our school board decided to ask for another permanent property tax increase-here is what they continued to spend our tax money on - (Note-no teacher pizza’s here!):...."

(See the real expenditures?  Read more?  Learn more?  Click title. Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Pueblo Chieftain "Gov. launches innovation office "

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper is doing a great job.

Even conservatives think so.

"DENVER — Gov. John Hickenlooper announced an initiative Monday that aims to connect innovators with entrepreneurs in order to convert ideas into products more quickly. The governor said he hopes the construct will result in more manufacturing jobs in Colorado.

“We had this idea that we wanted to have a center of innovation, an innovation office, and what should it look like?” Hickenlooper said.

The Colorado Innovation Network will be folded into the Office of Economic Development and International Trade. It aims to link public and private researchers with development groups with an eye on quickly getting new ideas to market, creating jobs along the way...."
(Patrick Malone)

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SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent/The Bottom Lines "Roaring Fork Business Resource Center grant"

Congratulations to Randy Lowenthal and the RFBRC!  A terrific organization that stepped up to the plate when founded by meeting what was, at the time, a gaping hole in small business advocacy in the Roaring Fork Valley.

They've done an amazing job and it's great to see such significant support from the community continue on year after year.

"The Roaring Fork Business Resource Center has received an anonymous challenge again this year from a funder who will match sponsorship pledges received by Dec. 31 dollar-for-dollar, up to a total of $20,000.

This is a great opportunity to maximize sponsorship dollars before the end of the year, while supporting the center's mission “to help businesses start, develop, and grow, resulting in job creation and retention, economic growth, and positive impacts on the communities we serve.”

Funds will be used to increase the capacity to provide technical and educational assistance; to focus on business development; and to develop research capabilities for start-ups and business owners from Parachute to Aspen.

The center is tax-exempt under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, so sponsorships may be treated as a tax-deductible contribution.

Call (970)945- 5158 for information. "
(via Glenwood Springs Post Independent)

SandBox Comments: Summit County Citizens Voice "European tourism outperforms expectations'

"SUMMIT COUNTY — Continued economic uncertainty in parts of Europe didn’t hamper the tourism industry, which continues to outperform many other economic sectors. International tourist arrivals to the continent grew by a healthy 6 percent during the first eight months of 2011, according to the latest data from the World Tourism Organization.

Some of the strongest growth came in countries facing major economic challenges, including Greece (up 14 percent), Ireland ( up 13 percent), Portugal ( up 11 percent) and Spain (up 8 percent)...."
(Summit Voice)

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SandBox Comments: Aspen Times "Ballot transparency a statewide debate"

SandBox advises Marilyn Marks to enjoy and savor the moment.

Tomorrow, she reviews ballots that she has fought for (and won) the right to see after waging an epic battle with the City of Aspen and County of Pitkin.

Her victory is on behalf of all Colorado voters.

And possibly all American voters.

They say that when a woman of courage walks into a room, one just knows how special she is.

In the case of Marilyn Marks, SandBox would have to agree.

Celebrate and savor, Marilyn.  Thank you again for your advocacy.

(Read the article?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: KREX News 5 "More Information Released in Home Invasion/Murder Case"

(See updated story here.  Over on the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. )

Can this story and case actually get any worse?

A young man is murdered.

Everyone is in shock thinking it was a home invasion and the man of the house is a hero protecting his family.  Tremendous concern outpours from the community as he fights for his life.

We then find out the young man who was killed is a member of a gang that is at least four years old and known by locals as  a gang that's been around that long.  Commentators start to fire up asking questions.  After all, they've been listening to Chief Camper and Sheriff Hilkey pump out the news that there are no real gangs in Grand Junction and they don't have a real problem.  What's up with that and now what's up with this news?

We then find out that the alleged killer is known all over town and hiding out in various homes eluding capture.

And now we find out that the brave hero protecting his family is actually a major enough hard drugs dealer that he had the nerve to keep what sounds like meticulous books and records like any good small business does? 

We now learn that his wife, with a young child in tow, came out to watch and help a drug transaction with known gang members.  Is she the bookkeeper?  Is it standard practice to let their child attend drug buys with known gang members?  Does the baby go along when they go out to buy from their source?  Does the shocked and frightened grandmother who was commenting in local forums and speaking of how wholesome her family is have any idea what her daughter believes is great childcare?

We now learn that the deceased young man's uncle drove them to this drug buy?  After sitting around the family table for Thanksgiving dinner?  Did he stay in the car just waiting for his drugs?  Or was he just the wheelman long enough for these kids to score and then was headed back to the family home for some Thanksgiving football?

Can this story and case actually get any worse?

(Read the article by clicking the title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Donklephant "The First Super Committee"

Donklephant:  'Big Teeth.  Huge Ass.  Surprisingly reasonable."

"mw Says:
November 27th, 2011 at 5:57 pm

This is actually a historically accurate portrayal of the Pilgrims."

"Randy Says:
November 27th, 2011 at 10:27 pm

Great cartoon! Pretty much sums it up. Still, I get so frustrated with the total irrelevancy of our federal government. I mean, these people have no clue about life for the average person."

Click title.

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Mother in Cargill heir lawsuit wants allegations stricken'

Very good to see some balance start to come out in the open and public eye for Patricia MacMillan.

"A part-time valley resident who is being sued by her son, an apparent heir to the Cargill fortune, wants a judge to strike allegations in a court motion she says are “impertinent, immaterial or scandalous.”.....

.....He alleges that she and unnamed accomplices set up a nearly identical email as Andrew MacMillan’s attorney, David Bovino of Aspen, in an attempt to divert millions to herself from his $250 million trust fund. Bovino is also a plaintiff in the case, and a judge on Nov. 10 approved his motion allowing him to withdraw as Andrew MacMillan’s legal representative in the lawsuit against his mother. Bovino had argued that Andrew MacMillan needed an independent attorney in the case; it is not clear if he continues to represent MacMillan in other matters.....

...Recent court filings by the new attorney for Bovino and Andrew MacMillan, Lori Hulbert of Denver, say that on the same day as the lawsuit was filed in Pitkin County District Court, Patricia MacMillan filed a court petition in Florida seeking an emergency guardian for her son. A judge found Andrew MacMillan not competent to stand trial on various criminal charges. He was charged with domestic violence and resisting an officer in February, and has also been charged with trafficking oxycodone, according to Florida court records...."  (Learn more?  Click title. Comment ability blocked on this post.)

 

(Chad Abraham)

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

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Secrets in the city"

".....Most of my friends are pretty opinionated, and not one of them gives a damn whether anyone sees those ballots. The only people who do are those who work for the city, and I’m beginning to wonder what they trying to hide. Seems the city has better things to do with my money.

And as long as we are talking about money, I’m wondering how much it’s going to cost to prosecute our local (alleged) drug dealers. When you take into account how old these guys are it’s going to cost plenty. First we have the cost of incarceration, and then we have to add the cost of medical care for older folks, not to mention the cost of adult diapers.

Look, if these guys were hanging out at the elementary school force feeding drugs to our kids I’d be the first to say string them up, but all they were doing was filling a demand that this city has had for years and years. Assuming they did it, they are kinda like pharmacists.

Many years ago I came up with an idea that I thought would clear the courts of victimless crimes. The idea is that each member of the jury must write a check when they find someone guilty — put your money where your verdict is, so to speak. As a juror you are going to be asking yourself, “How much is this going to cost me?”

Now if you think about it, some people would go free and some laws would be found to be really stupid. On the other hand, some jurors would go to the bank and get a loan to put someone away. Rape, robbery, Bernie Madoff? Where’s my checkbook? Selling something to someone who asked for it? Mmm, not so fast.

Well, I think it’s a good idea. What do you think?..."
(Sheldon Fingerman)

(Great column from Fingerman.  Be sure to click the title and read the rest.  Comment to discuss)

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Silt trustees to consider boosting business with changes to regulations"

Hey, how about that Silt Mayor Dave Moore?

And those Trustees?

"Objects in your rearview mirror may be closer than you think."

Congrats and kudos to the Town of Silt.  Again.

(See what's happening in Silt?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Fractional occupancy difficult to pin down"

"Tracking actual occupancy levels of Aspen’s fractional ownership and timeshare properties is difficult, but they appear produce slightly more “hot beds” than traditional lodges, according to a study recently commissioned by the city of Aspen.

The study, produced by former Aspen planning director Julie Ann Woods, is based on interviews with knowledgeable people in the industry, surveys filled out by the general managers of two Aspen fractional properties, and confidential occupancy data shared by another Aspen property. Woods concludes that occupancy at Aspen’s fractional properties averages out around 60 to 65 percent on a year-round basis, and can be in the 80-95 percent range during “high season” periods.

“It is perceived that occupancy in fractional units is slightly higher on average over traditional lodging,” Woods writes in the study...."
(Curtis Wackerle)

(Learn more?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

SandBox Comments: Summit County Citizens Voice "London, Vancouver taxpayers facing big Olympics bills"

Very interesting expose' piece by Summit Voice.

Over and up on the Summit County Citizens Voice.


"SUMMIT COUNTY— As Colorado boosters once again talk up the idea of a potential bid for the Olympics, it’s worth paying attention to what has happened in other recent Olympic venues with regard to the financing of the multi-billion dollar venues needed for the games. This issue is especially poignant in Colorado, given that voters in the state chose to reject the 1976 Olympics based partly on concerns about putting taxpayers on the hook for the bill.

As often as not, organizers of Olympic bids swear up and down that will never happen, yet two years after the 2010 winter games, Vancouver residents are still paying, and the citizens of London are also facing a £326-million bill after the city decided to bail out the developers of the Olympic village in a closed-door meeting with no public input.

In a recent paper, University of Alberta sociology professor Jay Scherer examined how the 2008 economic crisis and undisclosed local political commitments led to the Vancouver fiasco. He attributed the Vancouver and London woes primarily to the economic crash and to a lack of transparency and communication with citizens...."
(Summit Voice)

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SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News/ Dave Danforth "Turning on a dime"

"What does it take to be different these days? To a big business like a bank, airline, or phone company, why does it matter? Why might they worry about patrons who’d rather “switch than fight”?

“Competitive advantage” means a lot in industries where reputation and service are key.  People don’t often compare restaurants on price alone. But they’ll switch banks in a heartbeat.

The ski industry has enjoyed the ability to compete on distinctness. Over the years Aspen has defined itself as a premier ski resort, a year-round resort, a lifestyle spot, a nightlife spot, a second-home mecca and semi-retirement spot. Who can forget the campaign defining the place as “uncrowded by design?” That worked particularly well when it was uncrowded for every other reason but design..."
(Dave Danforth)

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SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Carbondale public art funding in question"

For as many years as it has been displayed, the public art displayed in Glenwood Springs has been an eyesore complained about by many and twisted into a 'debate' by few.  Now, keep in mind, we are not talking about the murals and painted displays under the bridge and on pathways.

We are talking about 'art' in the form of metal work and statues.

Another heated debate has been the high dollar cost to not only bring in and display the 'art' but to also maintain the 'art'.

In Carbondale, their public art is gorgeous.  Same thing in downtown Grand Junction, Edwards, Avon and Vail.  True tourism draws that the folks are proud of.

With that said, there also comes a time when the wish list has to be cut back in favor of true needs and priorities.

For the folks in Carbondale, the time has come to be content with what they currently have and patiently wait until economic times are better.

For the folks in Glenwood Springs......maybe we could sell the stuff and put the few bucks generated into our human service needs.  Such as Feed My Sheep and Salvation Army.

(Learn more?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Summit County Citizens Voice "Climate: Large scale carbon-capture tried in Illinois"

This is fascinating, a must read.  Off the Summit County Citizens Voice.

SUMMIT COUNTY — Carbon dioxide byproducts from an Archer Daniels Midland Company ethanol plant will be injected 7,000 feet deep into an Illinois sandstone formation in the first million-ton carbon sequestration demonstration in the U.S.

Although geo-engineering is not without controversy, top administration officials say geologic storage of CO2 could be an important part of climate mitigation strategies...."
(Bob Berwyn)

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

SandBox Comments: Aspen Times "Aspen Times series: Challenges grow, funds shrink in Aspen's public forest lands"

"Editor's note: The Aspen Times, starting today, is launching a five-part weekly series taking a close look at the major issues facing the White River National Forest. Today's first installment offers a broad overview of those issues, which range from the impacts of tourism on ranchers, to the oil and gas industry's interest in drilling prospects in Pitkin County, to the U.S. Forest Service's handling of the federal budget crisis....."

(Start reading the series? Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Eagle County Times/Peter Parker "Peter Parker’s Porcupine discovered yesterday on Vail Mountain!"

OMG!!  Look at what 'Peter Parker' spotted from the chair lift over in Vail yesterday.

Click title.

SandBox Comments: Summit County Citizens Voice "Sunday funnies"

Life...according to Scotty Bondo.

"SUMMIT COUNTY — Local artist and all-around entertainer Scotty Bondo shares his take on the world in our online Sunday funnies section. Visit Bondo’s website for more information.

Check out a selection of Thanksgiving cartoons here: http://www.cagle.com/news/turkeys/. Other popular cartoons, including Calvin and Hobbles, are online at Comics.com...."

(Bob Berwyn)

(See what's so funny?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)