Ambulance Assistance Subscription Program

The Morgan County Ambulance Service is conducting a drive this month to sign up local residents for its Emergency Treatment and Transport Subscription Program.
Administrative Assistant Jane Jensen talked to KSIR News about the program






The program offers protection from large out-of-pocket expenses associated with medical

Costs are extremely affordable when weighed against out of pocket expenses






Anyone interested in the service is encouraged to call 542-3570

Governor Ritter Will Bring Ag Commissioner, Too

More details are being released concerning the Governor's visit to Northeast Colorado on Tuesday. Gov. Ritter will be accompanied by state Agriculture Commissioner John Stulp when he visits. The Tuesday town halls will be in Sterling, Burlington and Lamar. They will be discussing the governor’s strategies for creating jobs, helping family-owned businesses and keeping the state budget balanced in this tough economic climate. The governor will hold a town hall meeting in Sterling on Tuesday from 11 a.m. to noon at Sterling High School.

Sterlling School Board Talks Money

Sterling school officials are among those statewide trying to grapple with reduced funding -- and trying to prevent more take-backs form the state. The school board this week discussed, but did not decide on. a resolution in support of preventing the rescission of $110-million in statewide K-12 funding. ON the flip side, the district is getting a bit more state money,as its head count is up. Officials at the board meeting said the increase appears to be in the secondary grades district-wide. Notes released by the district following the meeting indicate Sterling schools will have over $77-thousand in new funding. The priority for the money, they say, is teacher and staff pay and benefits.

Leaf Pickup is Done

Fort Morgan officials say, if you still have leaves out front of your house to be picked up, you're too late. They have completed the annual leaf pickup program and ask anyone who still has leaves in the City streets and gutters to get rid of them some other way.

Two H1N1 Immunization Clinics Set Saturday

The Northeast Colorado Health Department has scheduled two large walk-in H1N1 vaccination clinics on Saturday. One is in Fort Morgan, at the high school The other is in Akron, at the Washington county events center. It is expected that several hundred doses will be available in each location, but officials say high-priority groups will get first dibs. Those groups are:

* Pregnant women
* Those who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
* All healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
* Children and Young Adults from 6 months through 24 years of age
* Those aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza

In Fort Morgan, the clinic runs from 10 to 3 at Fort Morgan High School. In Akron, the clinic is at the Washington county Events Center, also from 10 to 3. If vaccine runs out sooner in either location, that location will be shut down. Pre-registration is not needed; the shots are also free. The lines will move faster if you visit the health department web site, www.nchd.org, fill out the H1N1 consent forms to bring with you.

Ft. Morgan Council to Meet Tonight

Fort Morgan city council will meet this evening. According to an agenda released late Friday, the council will start its meeting with an executive session to discuss property purchases being considered by the City. The first reading of next year's budget is also set. Council members will also choose the winning bidder for upcoming work on the Rainbow Bridge Historic Byway Interpretative Pullout, and authorize signing of the needed documents to contract for the work. Council members are also expected to approve creation of a Historic Preservation Board, and to eliminate the current downtown sanitation consumer charge, which is being replaced by a more general commercial consumer charge on December 1st.

Fort Morgan Police Ask for Tips in Theft Case

Fort Morgan Police are asking for public help regarding the theft of a leaf blower recently from a yard in the 500 block of Ensign St. According to a news release, the victim told police he had used his leaf blower November 8th and left it in his back yard at approximately five in the evening. Later that same night at about ten P.M., the victim went to get his leaf blower and discovered it had been taken from his yard. The leaf blower is a Homelite brand and valued at $150. Anyone with information on this or other crimes is asked to call the Fort Morgan Police Department at 867-5678, call CRIMESTOPPERS at (970) 542-3411, or submit your tip online and remain anonymous.

Brush BOE Meets Tonight

Brush school board members will meet tonight. Following the reorganization of the board and swearing in of board members, the board will hear a number of reports from Superintendent Donna Howell. Those items include a report on the process of the district's ongoing strategic planning work, a discussion of what Colorado and the Brush District might be receiving from President Obama's Race to the Top initiative, and an update on the Technology Audit that's currently in progress in the district. The meeting starts at 6:30pm.

Medical Marijuana Could Lead to Zoning Changes in Sterling

The medical marijuana measure is leading to the discussion of zoning changes in Sterling. At this week's meeting, the council directed the planning commission to look into what changes might need to be made in zoning regulations to accommodate the possibility that someone would want to set up a medical marijuana dispensary. Outgoing Mayor Dan Jones says it's just the first step of the process:






Any needed changes would go through the regular process of consideration by the planning commission, recommendation to the city council, and discussion by the council prior to being implemented.

Fort Morgan City Council Work Session Tonight

Fort Morgan City Council members will hold a work session this evening. The agenda includes discussions of next year's budget. Council members will also hear a presentation from the Executive Director of the Fort Morgan Humane Society, Crystal Tweeten, according to an agenda released by the city. The agenda also lists a discussion of downtown sanitation rates. No binding action is taken in work sessions.

NEC Patient Okay After Medical Helicopter Makes Emegency Landing

A patient from an unidentified Northeast Colorado hospital was aboard a medical helicopter when it made an emergency landing last night in Adams county. The helicopter was from North Colorado Medical Center. The three-person crew and the patient were not injured. According to a hospital spokesman, the landing was forced because of an emergency light on the instrument panel. The pilot began to land the aircraft about 10 miles northeast of Strasburg, but about 10 feet from the ground, the engine stalled. The pilot was able to land the chopper safely, and the aircraft did not appear to sustain damage from the landing. The patient made the rest of the journey to the Denver hospital in an AirLife of Denver helicopter.

Stabbing Victim Officially Identified

Submitted by the Morgan County Coroner's Office

On Saturday, November 7, 2009i the Morgan County Coroner's Office posititively identified the victim of a fatal stabbing incident that occurred November 3, 2009, in Fort Morgan, Colorado.  The name of the victim is Warsan Aden Abdi.  Her birthdate, provided by family members, is January 1, 1982.

Identification of Warsan Abdi was complicated by the lack of ante-mortem records.  The Morgan County Coroner's Office and the Fort Morgan Police Department worked together to obtain postmortem fingerprints, dental exam, and medical exams but were unable to locate any antemortem records.  Contact the Immigration Services and Lutheran Services, the sponsoring agency of refugees from eastern Africa, were unable to provide any antemortem records.  Identification efforts were finalized by visual examination by family members of the decedent.

Several media agencies had previously announced the identification of the victim, however, the Morgan County Coroner's Office did not positively identify the decedent until November 7, 2009.

Fort Morgan Elks to Commemorate Veterans Day

The Veterans Committee of the Fort Morgan Elks will hold a Veterans Day service at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Elks Lodge in Fort Morgan. According to a news release, an American flag will be presented to every veteran in attendance. The program will highlight Morgan County residents currently serving in the military and recognizes area veterans. Ther eis still time to get photos into the presentation. Contact Jan Garcia through the Elks for inclusion in the video. According to the release, a spaghetti dinner will be held starting at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday evening. Proceeds will go to the veterans’ home in Florence, local veterans’ project and food packages for a local man and his platoon in Iraq.

Emergency Drill Set for Saturday at Water Plant in Wiggins

Here's a heads-up to what will look like an emergency situation on Saturday: The city of Fort Morgan will be conducting a chlorine emergency drill at the City's Water Treatment Plant in Wiggins. The exact time of the drill is not being announced, but sometime during the day emergency responders will rush tot he plant and run through the scenario as if one of the chlorine tanks had a leak. In order that the drill can be accomplished smoothly, city officials ask those who are not directly part of the drill to stay away from the water treatment plant in Wiggins on Saturday.

Closing Reception for Yust Show is Friday at NJC

Submitted by Northeastern Junior College

For more than 40 years, Dave Yust has been a distinguished artist and professor of art at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. He is best known for large circular format canvasses featuring both geometric and biomorphic abstract images. Over his long and distinguished career, he has participated in more than 50 prestigious group and invitational exhibitions and has had over 20 one-person shows at recognized galleries and museums. His work is in numerous permanent collections at museums, including the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Wichita Art Museum, Portland (Oregon) Museum of Art and the Denver Art Museum.


And for the past month, students and visitors to Northeastern Junior College have enjoyed his work on display in the Peter L. Youngers Fine Art Gallery located in E. S. French Hall on campus. This Friday, at 4 p.m., a closing reception will be held for his show at the gallery. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Gallery Reception at Fort Morgan Museum

Submitted by the Fort Morgan Museum

 

The Fort Morgan Museum is hosting a Gallery Reception!

What: Gallery Reception for Modern Morgan: Three Modern Artists from Morgan County. 

When: Thursday Nov. 5th, from 6:00 to 7:30

Where: At the Fort Morgan Museum, in the Lower Level Gallery

Who: Meet the artists and learn more about what influences their individual voices. 

     The Fort Morgan Museum is hosting a gallery reception for Modern Morgan: Three Modern Artists from Morgan County.  Join us this Thursday, Nov. 5th, from 6:00 to 7:30 in the Lower Level Gallery at the Fort Morgan Museum.  Meet with two of the artists whose works are on exhibit now in the museum, and learn more about what influences their work and how they came to be artists.  The show will be on exhibit at the museum, now through the end of the year.  Don't miss your chance to discover how these unique works were created.  For more details or to schedule a group tour of the gallery, contact Andrew Dunehoo, Museum Educator at 970-542-4014.   

Police Round Up 11 Alleged Drug Dealers

Submitted by the Fort Morgan Police Department

Eleven drug dealers who were suspected of Distribution of Methamphetamine and Marijuana in Morgan County were targeted to be arrested Wednesday morning in coordinated drug raids.

The suspects were arrested on Morgan County District Court warrants from cases put together by the Fort Morgan Police Department, Morgan County Sheriff’s Department, Brush Police Department, and the Eastern Colorado Drug Task Force from investigations during the last six months. They were taken to the Morgan County Detention Center to await arraignment. More arrests are pending.

About 15 law enforcement officers from Morgan County and the Eastern Colorado Drug Task Force participated in the early morning roundup.

Arrested were:

• Luis Morales-Alvarez, 52, of 601 S. Sherman Street #27, Fort Morgan, for Distribution and Possession of Schedule II Drug (Methamphetamine).
• Daniel Wells, 31, 710 Cameron Street, Brush, for Distribution and Possession of Schedule II Drug (Methamphetamine).
• Rey Gonzales, 21, of 14530 Hwy 34 #25, Fort Morgan, for Distribution and Possession of Schedule II Drug (Methamphetamine).
• Randy Meza, 49, of 2911 Mill Street, Brush, for 2 (two) counts of Distribution and Possession of Marijuana.
• Dorothy Aileen Munoz, 40, of 720 Edison Street, Brush, for 2 (two) counts of Distribution and Possession of Marijuana and Schedule II Drug (Methamphetamine).
• Miguel Angel Munoz, 40, of 720 Edison Street, Brush, for Distribution and Possession of Marijuana.
• Rex Allen Rucker, 44, of 19606 Virginia Avenue, of Fort Morgan, for 4 (four) counts of Distribution and Possession of Schedule II Drug (Methamphetamine).

We executed two search warrants which netted small quantities of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and cash. Illegal drug distribution is an ongoing rural problem that has resulted in citizens having their quality of life affected. These kind of multiple law enforcement arrests are a continual process in the effort to clean up Morgan County. We want to go after the people who are responsible and we were successful today in rounding up a number of them. The message we want to send out is to identify these individuals so that they are known in Morgan County by each citizen.

Ft. Morgan Police Chief Talks About Murder Case

Updated information concerning the murder of a woman last night in Fort Morgan,a nd the man who is now jailed in conneciton with her death. The audio clip is an unedited interview with Ft. Morgan Police Chief Keith Kuretich:

Woman Stabbed to Death in Ft. Morgan

Fort Morgan Police have already made an arrest in connection with the community's first murder in three years.
A disturbance was reported shortly after 11:30pm at a home in the 400 block of Kiowa, according to police officials. They have not released the name of the woman. According to a department news release, she was stabbed to death. While investigators are not releasing the name of the victim, they say she was of eastern African descent. Officers arrested the suspect int he killing, 25-year old Ahmed Abdi of Greeley, and charged him with second-degree murder along with two assault charges. He is being held in the Morgan County Detention Center.

Read the complete release from Fort Morgan Police here

Fort Morgan, Greeley SBDCs Merge

Small business owners in the 12 counties of northeast Colorado will soon be served by a unified Small Business Development Center. The SBDC in Fort Morgan is merging with the Greeley/Weld County SBDC. The merged organization will now be known as the Northeast-East Central Colorado Small Business Development Center. Greeley/Weld SBDC director Richard Pickett says the new organization will be more active in outlying cities and towns throughout the region.

Colorado Springs Soldier Dies in Iraq

A Colorado soldier has died while serving in Iraq. The Defense Department said early this morning that Spc. Jonathon Sylvestre of Colorado Springs died Nov. 2nd in Kut, Iraq. He was injured in a non-combat incident, which the military says is still under investigations. He was assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team at Fort Benning, Ga. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Railroad Crossing Closed in Brush Next Week

Submitted by the City of Brush

The Clayton St. railroad crossing in Brush will be closed for one week due to repairs starting on Monday, Nov. 9th.  We apolgize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Father and Son Murder Charges

A 16-year-old boy accused in a fatal shooting in the Fort Lupton area in Weld County has been charged as an adult.








A feud between neighbors has a father and son facing charges of murder. 16 year old Alonzo Rodriguez-Lopez appeared in court Monday. He and his father both faced charges after their neighbor Hugo Botello-Gonzalez was killed and the victim's wife Olga Torrez, was wounded last month.
Authorities say the double shooting appeared to have been sparked by the families' ongoing argument over the victims' dogs chasing chickens and horses owned by the suspect's family.
Authorities are still looking for the father of the teen, Jose Rodriguez.

Brush BOE Meets Tonight

The Brush School board has scheduled an executive session tonight before their regular school board meeting. The session, which is set to start at 6pm, is related to a personnel matter, which is one of the exemptions to the state open meetings act. Because of the exemption, the employee involved and the matter being discussed are not disclosed. An agenda for the regular meeting also indicates the possibility of an executive session. During the regular meeting, which starts at 7pm, board members have a light agenda, highlighted by reports from the Superintendent concerning the Strategic Planning forums and the Technoogy Audit.

Absences Due to Illness Are Declining, School Officials Say

Area school districts report absences due to the flu are tapering off -- a trend being seen across the nation where the H1N1-related absences tend to be a problem for about six weeks. In Fleming, for instance, school officials say absences due to the flu, strep throat and stomach virus have tapered off form a mid-October peak of about 25 percent of enrollment for preK-12th grade. late in the month, officials say, the absences went from being mostly in the secondary grades to more in the elementary.

Man Jailed in Auto Theft Case

A Sterling man is behind bars today, charged with taking another person's automobile at gunpoint. According to a Colorado State Patrol news release, David Scott Hoppal of Sterling was arrested without incident after a trooper spotted him on I-76 westbound shortly after the theft was reported yesterday afternoon. The stop occurred at Milepost 49 on the Interstate. Police agencies continue to investigate the theft, but believe all the items recovered at the time of the stop, including a 2004 Chevy Tahoe, two flatbed trailers, two ATVs and a generator, were all stolen. Trooper report no injuries to the victim of the theft. Hoppal is in the Logan County jail awaiting formal charges.

Norton to be in Ft. Morgan Today

Jane Norton, who is running for U.S. Senate, will kick off a three-day tour of Eastern Colorado today. According to her office, Norton will meet with the public in Larimer, Weld, Morgan, Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Yuma, Kit Carson, Cheyenne, Prowers, Bent, Otero, and Crowley counties. A meet and greet is scheduled in Morgan County between 3 and 4 this afternoon. at the Fort Morgan Public Library. You may remember Norton from her stint as lieutenant governor. She was elected in 2002 on a ticket with former Governor Bill Owens.

Woman Drives In to Greeley Village Inn

Patrons and employees at a Greeley Village Inn got an early Halloween trick Saturday afternoon when a woman trying to park her car ran into the building. The woman, who was not cited by police in the incident, was trying to park her car in the handicapped parking space. Sgt. Susie West of he Greeley police said, the woman just hit the wrong pedal as she was trying to park. A building inspector confirmed the building was structurally fine, but the restaurant did close off the damaged portion. No one was sitting in the two booths that were impacted.