Maes Supporter Asks for Money Back AP

Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes is embroiled in another campaign finance controversy, this time with a former supporter.

The latest issue is a $300 cash contribution from Freda Poundstone, a former backer who became disillusioned and abandoned her support for Maes.

She said the money was a personal gift to help Maes pay his $3,000-a-month mortgage, and she asked for it back after Maes claimed it was a campaign contribution that he mistakenly forgot to list on a campaign finance report.

He gave it back, in a check he wrote but did not sign.

Discussion on Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101 at Fort Morgan Community College is Wednesday

We've told you about the opposition by numerous school boards and municipal governments opposing Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101, and now, The Morgan County Economic Development Corporation will hold a discussion on the issue this week. The "Know Your Vote" forum is Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Morgan Community College. Instead of bringing just one view of the amendments and the proposition, the evening's event will look at them from both sides: the pros and cons of being either for or against Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101.

Frenchman RE-3 Latest to Join Opposition

Another school district is showing its opposition to those funding issues that are on the ballot in November. Frenchman RE-3 Board of Education, like the others opposed, said that Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101 will drastically cut funding to their schools. In cutting taxes, those measures would cut the district's total per pupil funding by nearly 50 percent.

Sterling Library Now Open

The Sterling Library is open. It reopened last week as scheduled on Thursday at 9:00 a.m. in the newly renovated part of the library. The new temporary entrance is on the south side of the building and will stay there until the whole project is finished. Patrons may park in the parking lot across from the library and on the side of the fire department. The after hours book drop is on the south side of the building at the end of the construction trailer. There's still lots more work to do, so library officials are still asking for your patience during the second phase of the renovations. During this phase, the library will continue to offer all library services. Library hours are Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Investigators Think Fires Are Related

Detectives are still looking for whoever started fires in rural Weld County over the weekend. They do say they have good leads though. Three separate fires were started west of Greeley on Saturday which almost destroyed a house. Another fire burned about a thousand acres and destroyed a house about 15 miles away on Thursday. Investigators are trying to figure out if the Kersey fire is at all related to the fires near Greeley.