SandBoxBlogs: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "Bill would alter landscape of Colorado’s drug policy"

Charles Ashby:
"Despite objections from district attorneys and law enforcement officials, a Senate committee approved a bill Wednesday to lower sentences for drug-possession crimes and give drug abusers treatment instead.

The idea behind SB163 is to prevent future crimes by people who become addicted to drugs and to save the state money in having to incarcerate them, its supporters say.

The measure would do that by lowering possession-only drug charges from felonies to misdemeanors, but requiring those convicted of such charges to get treatment for their addiction.

The bill is unusual in that it has supporters from both parties, and it is sponsored by two Republicans and two Democrats. A coalition of other supporters range from the American Civil Liberties Union, the Colorado Libertarian Party and the Independence Institute, a Golden-based free-market think tank...."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Steamboat Today "Haymaker employees rescue elk from icy pond'

"Rick Marchewka, an irrigation technician, was inspecting the course when he noticed the elk struggling in the pond.

Within minutes, the golf course’s maintenance crew, which has been busy working to get the course ready for summer, responded to the pond along with wildlife managers from the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife.

The group of five to eight people used a rope and a four-inch wide strap to pull the struggling animal from the icy pond. The process had to be repeated a second and third time after the frightened animal ran back onto the ice and fell through the ice a second and third time.

The rescuers were not deterred by the failed rescue efforts. The third time, they pulled the elk farther onto the shore, and the elk retreated into a nearby sand trap where it stood shivering.

The rescuers decided to leave the animal alone and hoped it would retreat to a safer location once they left the area.

Justin Pollock, district wildlife manager for the Division of Parks and Wildlife, said it’s not common for elk to fall through ice. He had high hopes for the animal’s recovery but admitted that a stressful incident can have a devastating impact on elk.

“It happens,” Pollock said. “It’s hard on the animal. She looked pretty good, especially standing, which is a good sign.”

Pollock said the Division of Parks and Wildlife planned to keep an eye out for her during the next few days.

“She was treading water about 8 feet off the side of the bank. … She couldn’t have got out herself, no way,” Haymaker employee and rescuer Dave Morter said. “It’s a good feeling. I hope she makes it, but that can be a pretty traumatic experience for an animal.”...(Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Vail Daily News "Moreau gets life plus 80 years"

Lauren Glendenning:
"EAGLE — Richard “Rossi” Moreau showed no remorse in the courtroom Wednesday as his victims spoke of the damage he caused. He sat expressionless as District Judge R. Thomas Moorhead chastised him for his lies and then sentenced him to life without parole plus 80 years.

For the first time throughout more than two years of hearings and a two-week trial earlier this month in which he was convicted of first-degree murder plus seven other felonies, Moreau spoke to the court, but his words did nothing to help clear his name or apologize to his victims.

Rather than take the opportunity to show remorse, Moreau, who was dressed in an orange Eagle County jail jumpsuit and was shackled at the ankles, chose to say that it wouldn't do any good...."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain "New claims cast Trayvon Martin as the aggressor"

Before reading this update on the Trayvon Martin story, stop in up on the Aspen Times and take a dip into the poisoned hate rhetoric of Andy Stone.

Unfortunately, it looks like we are not going to be as fortunate as we are with John Colson and his very similar vitriol up on the Times today.  Colson's now linked to a 'read full e-content link'. (whisper...whisper...they must be trying to match the bang-up success of their new commenting system of forced linking to FB...whisper...whisper...you know...the new system that nobody will touch....whisper...whisper...)   Oh, for the sake of being as fortunate with Andy Stone and his average output of spewed venom. Alas, no such luck.

Curt Anderson and Mike Schneider:
"SANFORD, Fla. (AP) — A slain Florida teenager and the neighborhood watch captain who shot and killed him exchanged words before the teen punched him in the nose and began banging the man's head on the ground, according to the watch captain's account of the confrontation that led to the shooting....."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Construction numbers down from last year"

Curtis Wackerle:
"Building permit activity in Aspen is down from last year at this time, but up from the recession’s low point in 2010.

The total value of all building, mechanical, plumbing and electrical permits submitted to the city through March 19 is $26.5 million, according to a city report. That’s 76 percent lower than last year’s total through March 19 of $86.2 million.

Last year’s numbers, however, were bolstered by two major projects that had submitted building permits by this time: the Aspen Valley Hospital expansion and the St. Regis remodel.

This year’s numbers are still 330 percent higher than 2010’s figure through mid-March of $7.8 million. In 2009, construction permitting to date was at $30 million.

“We’re hanging in there with the numbers,” said Stephen Kanipe, Aspen’s chief building official. “We are not withering.”

Kanipe added that the workload in the building department has justified making a part-time plans examiner full time.

The numbers are still below pre-recession levels, when the department was backed up and admittedly was taking too long to process many large permits. In 2008 through mid-March, $89.1 million in construction permits had been submitted, while 2007’s total was $118.3 million...."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Carbondale deed-restriction changes on hold"

Why do the folks fuss so much over so-called 'affordable housing', 'employee housing' and other deed restricted development?

You would think they would be happy, grateful for the ability to rent or purchase a home.

Think again.

In a certain number, deed restricted homes make sense.  But, in order to make such a system work there has to be jobs that go along with them.  When big chunks of these so-called employee housing units are bought up by an employer like the Aspen Ski Corp and then the creative uses of J-1 and H2B Visas are used by that same employer to pump in temporary immigrant workers; there is nothing of worth for the local and legal citizen. 

On another note, think of how much power there is for a developer in being able to literally hold hostage the real estate market by working in sync with politicians to control moratoriums on building and deed restricted developments.  If it was the Federal Reserve or Wall Street (or even the hallowed halls of Congress) we would be shouting out those dark words:  "Insider Trading!!!!"

Think about that much power and control over the lives of the folks. 

Will BoneDale Trustees continue the sham, the farce of 'deed restricted' building?

Hmmmm....maybe that depends on who they elect to office shortly.  If you are for common sense, then for sure forget about voting for Bill Lamont (you remember him...the old Judy Haptonstall crony and recent loud voice for pro-VCR).

John Colson:
"CARBONDALE, Colorado — The town's trustees are worried that changes proposed for the rules at one affordable housing complex, Keator Grove, might spell disaster for other such projects or for the town's overall affordable housing guidelines.

So the board of trustees will sit down at a work session in May to review the relevant town codes and other documents, before turning back to the Keator Grove situation.

“I need more time to make sure there's no unintended consequences,” said Trustee Frosty Merriott at the board meeting on Tuesday.

At that meeting, the trustees reviewed the latest request from the Aspen Skiing Co. and individual owners of homes in Keator Grove, seeking changes to the deed restrictions governing resale of certain homes and townhomes in the project.

The Skiing Co. owns 16 of the 52 units in the complex, and has formed a sort of partnership with individual homeowners. Together, they are hoping to eliminate price caps for resale of some units.

The price caps limit the yearly appreciation in the prices of homes, as a way of keeping the units affordable. But when prices plummet due to the economy, the caps are seen as a threat to the owners' equity.

Homes that three years ago sold for $450,000, for example, might today sell for half that amount, according to Skiing Co. attorney Dave Myler and Keator Grove homeowners...."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Times "Midvalley real estate sales surge"

The big question is who is doing the buying.  It sure isn't the folks because they're still feeling deep financial pain in this valley.  See related story and public commentary here.


Scott Condon:
"BASALT — The good news in the midvalley real estate market is the incredible amount of sales that already have occurred in 2012. The bad news is that the furious pace has been spurred by foreclosures and short sales, according to real estate agents.

“The midvalley is just on fire right now. It's almost a feeding frenzy,” said Ted Borchelt, a real estate agent in Basalt with Aspen Snowmass Sotheby's International Realty.

The residential market for property priced under $350,000 is incredibly active. There were 25 sales completed in 2012 through mid-March in that price range in the Basalt and Carbondale area, according to research by Borchelt and Garret Brandt, another real estate agent in Borchelt's office. That compares with 11 closings during the same period in 2011 and just three in 2010.

In addition, there are 46 residences prices under $350,000 under contract, according to Brandt's research. That compares with eight in 2011 and four in 2010.

Activity is also ahead of pace in the $350,001-to-$550,000 price range. Fourteen properties have sold this year through mid-March compared with 11 in the same period in both 2011 and 2010.

The midvalley has been a buyer's market since the recession struck in late 2008. Given how severely the recession hit and how far prices fell, it will take time for a recovery to occur, Borchelt said. He is cautiously optimistic that could change this summer if current trends continue..."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandboxBlogs: Steamboat Today "Shell shares oil exploration plans at meeting in Hayden"

Is there some kind of pattern to the news that SandBox aggregates daily?

Yes, there is.

Is there some kind of method of posting..some kind of organization to how that news is posted each day?

Yes, there is.

Every region, every community has its own pulse, its own rhythm and vibe.  Human beings gravitate to where they feel the most comfortable and set up their homes, lives and general sense of personal wellness.

Yet, they all must interact with each other on local, state, regional, national and world levels.

Is there a community over in Saudi Arabia that is worried about the effects of fracking where the health of their family is concerned?  Is there a city or town in the USA that has similar concerns that their sworn duty officials are not there when the folks need them?

Yes, there is.

Is it all some giant conspiracy to quash the little guy and glorify the " 1% " ?

Not a chance.

One of the concepts of SandBoxBlogs is to show the patterns that exist in our part of the world.  When 'SandBox Nanny' (and sometimes guest moderators...you didn't know that, did you now...see...you should never assume anything...) posts each day, she usually starts off with human interest then goes to a round robin of environment, municipal and county governments, development/tourism/revenue, crime/justice/courts and then wraps it up with state, national and world politics and news.

Yes, there is a pattern that is very, very interesting to follow when you stop in on SandBox Commentators.

In this story, imagine a world over in Hayden where big oil and gas (and) a class act type of casino thrived.  Now, if just pushing up the Yampa airport to be able to accommodate jumbo planes was enough to get the Crown Family and Aspen Ski Corp to reach out to Steamboat Springs for a partnership package earlier this past season; imagine how anxious the Skico is going to get over that news of major prosperity just a few miles down the road from Steamboat Springs.

And when Aspen is anxious...we're all anxious.

Scott Franz:
"Steamboat Springs — On Tuesday night, Shell Oil’s Matt Holman shared in Hayden his company’s exploration plans for Northwest Colorado.

With the help of hors d’oeuvres, 11 employees and a large map of Routt and Moffat counties, Holman, Shell’s exploration project manager for the area, spent much of the evening telling more than 150 people at the Haven Community Center exactly how, when and where his company plans to drill this year for the sweet crude oil nestled in the Niobrara Shale formation.

“It’s really all about being transparent,” Holman said about his company’s open house while throngs of people spoke with his exploration team that included transportation, logistics, environmental and regulatory managers and landmen. “If I have business in front of the community, like at a county commissioners’ meeting, that’s a bad time to do community engagement like this because at that point, everything is formal.

There’s a process, and we’re all bound to do what we’ve come there to do. But if I can talk to the landowners beforehand, and I can tell the commissioners that they support me, I become a good neighbor. That’s really what I want to be.” ...."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Morning photo: Dawn"

All credit Bob Berwyn:

SandBoxBlogs: Hot Air Blog "Obama polls: Vulnerable, strong, or battered?"

Ed Morrissey:
"A slew of polls hit the wires today, most of which make no sense when compared with each other, and most of which don’t have the necessary sample data to analyze properly.  That doesn’t mean we should ignore them, but let’s consider them as a group rather than individually.

First up, and probably the best of the bunch, are a series of Quinnipiac polls in three swing states that show Barack Obama leading — but still vulnerable...."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Newsmax "Scalia Upbraids Obamacare Defender: 'We're Not Stupid'"

"Solicitor General Donald Verrilli Jr., who made the Obama administration’s case for the constitutionality of the individual mandate in the healthcare law Tuesday, was upbraided by Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia after he flubbed an exchange with Justice Elena Kagan.

Scalin interrupted Verrilli, tersely telling him, “We’re not stupid.”

At the time, Kagan, a former solicitor general whom President Barack Obama appointed to the high court, was agreeing that young people should be required by the federal government to buy health insurance because eventually, others will subsidize their healthcare in the future.

But Scalia shot back, arguing that young people will make the decision to buy health insurance eventually and do not need the federal government forcing them to engage in commerce...."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Town Hall "The War on Wisconsin"

Michelle Malkin:
"Now is the time for all good tea partiers to come to the aid of Wisconsin. Fiscally conservative leaders in the Badger State are under coordinated siege from Big Labor, the White House, the liberal media and the judiciary. The yearlong campaign of union thuggery, family harassment and intimidation of Republican donors and businesses is about to escalate even further. This is the price the Right pays for doing the right thing.


The most visible target is Gov. Scott Walker, who faces recall on June 5 over his tough package of state budget and public employee union reforms. Three state GOP legislators -- Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, Sen. Van Wanggaard and Sen. Terry Moulton -- also face recall. A fourth target, staunch union reformer and Second Amendment advocate Sen. Pam Galloway, announced she was stepping down last week -- leaving the legislature deadlocked and Democratic strategists salivating...."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: The Hill/Blog Briefing Room "McCain: Citizens United will bring 'major scandals'"

This....coming from the senator who is supporting Mitt Romney, one of the worst (and largest) Super-PACS in history.....

Daniel Strauss:
"Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) predicted there would be "major scandals" as a result of the rise of super-PACs thanks to the Citizens United ruling by the Supreme Court.

"What the Supreme Court did is a combination of arrogance, naivete and stupidity the likes of which I have never seen," McCain said Tuesday at an event hosted by Reuters.

"I promise you, there will be huge scandals because there's too much money washing around, too much of it we don't know who's behind it and too much corruption associated with that kind of money," McCain continued. "There will be major scandals."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Roll Call "Independent Could Make History in California"

Kyle Trygstad:
"There is a chance no Democrat will appear on the November ballot in an otherwise top pickup opportunity in California, a state crucial to the party’s hopes of winning the House majority.

Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks’ unconventional third-party bid for Congress would be groundbreaking under California’s new election laws, and she has a realistic shot at becoming the first Independent elected to the House since 2004.

Under the state’s new top-two primary format, her decision to run without a major-party label threw yet another curveball into the race for the new Ventura-based 26th district, a high priority for both national parties...."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Town Hall "Where's Obama's Outrage Over Murder of "My" Son? "

John Ransom:
"...Where has the president’s selective outrage been for the last eight years? Where is the Justice Department on this murder? How did the most powerful man in Illinois react? He appointed the uncle of the suspect as his chief of staff.

I used to live in a country where no one's son was supposed to get killed. But I suppose some groups get more equality than others, especially if you are connected.          

In wake of the president’s inflammatory remarks, the New Black Panther Party offered some more healing words backed by m-o-n-e-y.

“Members of the New Black Panther Party are offering a $10,000 reward for the ‘capture’ of George Zimmerman, the Neighborhood Watch volunteer who shot Trayvon Martin,” writes the Boston Herald

“The militant group offered the bounty on Saturday,” adds the Houston Chronicle, “and called on black men to mobilize and capture George Zimmerman, a Neighborhood Watch member who killed Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla., in February.”

“New Black Panther leader Mikhail Muhammad announced the reward during a protest in Sanford Saturday,” says the Herald. “And when asked whether he was inciting violence, Muhammad replied defiantly: ‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.’”

Wow, you can feel the Us-Against-Them surge really working, huh?

What healing!

Or better yet: What healing?

I guess with all this healing going on, no one wants to talk about jobs anymore.

(Wink)....."

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

SandBoxBlogs: Denver Post "Colorado wildfire: Elite search and rescue team looking for woman missing in fire "

Kieran Nicholson:
"A team of 32 search and rescue experts, with six scent dogs, will be looking today for the woman who is reported missing in the Lower North Fork Fire.

The Urban Search and Rescue Crew, made up of members from Colorado, are at the fire area and ready to search for the woman, said Jacki Kelley, a Jefferson County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman...."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: US Dept of Defense "Link Grows Between Terrorism, Organized Crime, Officials Say"

Karen Parrish:
"WASHINGTON, March 28, 2012 – The two missions of fighting terrorism and combating global organized crime are increasingly linked, senior Defense Department officials told Congress yesterday.

Michael A. Sheehan, assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict; Garry Reid, deputy assistant secretary of defense for special operations and combating terrorism; and William F. Wechsler, deputy assistant secretary of defense for counternarcotics and global threats, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee’s emerging threats and capabilities subcommittee.

The hearing focused on the Pentagon’s role in implementing the national strategies for counterterrorism and combating transnational organized crime under the 2013 defense budget request.

“Terrorism, drug trafficking and other forms of transnational organized crime are increasingly intertwined,” Sheehan noted, adding that his office -- which is responsible for overall supervision of special operations forces -- is uniquely positioned to provide policy guidance and program oversight to the department’s efforts in both missions..." (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Times "Pitkin County: Is there an FBI probe?"

(See related story in today's Aspen Daily News here and previous story and public commentary here)

(whisper...whisper....whisper...doth one protest too much?....whisper...whisper...are there different laws, rules and regs from the feds and local cops for pitkin and aspen?.....whisper...whisper...gosh, wonder if the feds have to report to the big money back strokers just to do their jobs...whisper...whisper...huh?...did the folks vote for special laws that now say that our law enforcement no longer stands as the last line between the folks and power?....whisper...whisper...hmmm.....wonder what the polls say about Owsley's chances at re-elect this year and the folks chance at getting some power to the people on that commissioner board....whisper...whisper....)

Aspen Times:

"ASPEN — Jon Peacock, Pitkin County manager, was directed Tuesday to ask if the county Sheriff's Office is the target of an FBI investigation.

County Commissioner Michael Owsley suggested the county make the inquiry of the federal agency after the Aspen Daily News reported that individuals have been questioned about drug activity or an abuse of power within the department.

“I think Pitkin County should know whether Pitkin County is being investigated by the FBI,” Owsley said. “The Sheriff's Office is part of Pitkin County, so therefore Pitkin County is being investigated.”

Other commissioners concurred.

“That is certainly a request we can make,” Peacock said....."

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

SandBoxBlogs: KJCT News 8 "Search and Rescue Donation"

Please remember to buy your CORSAR card for every member of your family on an annual basis.

Thank you to all of the incredible men and women of all Colorado Search and Rescue teams.  You are appreciated.

Shannon Ballard:
"GRAND JUNCTION, Colo -- A local family is giving back to Mesa County’s Search and Rescue teams in honor of a lost loved one.


Randy Johnson drowned in the Grand Canyon in an area where search and rescue wasn't available.


Tuesday, his family and friends donated $1,000 with the hope of providing a safer outdoor experience for others.


Hundreds of volunteers make up Mesa County’s Search and Rescue.


The organization says its missions are only possible through donations like this one..."
(Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Compressor station plan causes uproar"

(See related stories and public commentary here)

John Colson:
"....Marianne Quigley Ackerman, whose father was another of of the ranchers who donated land for the college campus, said as much in a letter to neighbors that she provided to the Post Independent.

“The project is being ‘fast tracked' through our county process because, according to SourceGas, it has been budgeted this year and has to be built this year or [it] will lose funding,” Ackerman wrote.

Ackerman called that a “very weak excuse for a zoning change of this caliber with long reaching negative affects.”...."  (Read more?  Click title)

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