Fort Morgan Public Library Reading Buddies, A Collaboration To Mentor Kids

January is National Mentoring Month. Fort Morgan Public Library has a very unique reading mentoring program where some Green Acres students are paired up with high school students. With the help of Festus, the New Foundland reading therapy dog owned by Peter Adams of Fort Morgan, the children work on their reading skills.






Cindy Frye, Children's Librarian for Fort Morgan Public Library describes Festus, the reading therapy dog, as a humungus, big baby and says the children learn that much more with his help. The Fort Morgan Public Library is located at 414 Main Street. Call 970-542-4000 for more information.

Sterling Police Department Welcomes Two New Officers

We spoke to Lieutenant Tyson Kerr with the Sterling Police Department who tells us they now have two new officers with their patrol force.






The department still has three more positions open for officers. Those interested can go to www.sterlingcolo.com or call 970-522-3252 and talk to Lieutenant Kelsh or Lieutenant Kerr.

Roads Icy and Snowpacked

Colorado Department of Transportation says Highways in northern Colorado are icy and snowpacked in spots as snow is falling in the region. CDOT says U.S. 85 from Brighton to Greeley, Interstate 25 from Denver to Fort Collins. U.S. 34 from Loveland to Fort Morgan and Interstate 76 from Denver to Julesburg are all reported to be icy and snowpacked in spots. Other highways in northern Colorado are wet and slushy.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for northern Colorado. About 2-4 inches of snow are possible today, with an additional 1-3 inches tonight. The high today is expected to be only in the mid 20s, with a low tonight near zero.

Yuma Co Officials Sworn in Tomorrow

Yuma County officials will be sworn in tomorrow. The ceremony is at 9 a.m. at the Yuma County Courthouse in Wray. So who's being sworn in? Sheriff-elect Chad Day. Commissioner Trent Bushner, Clerk Bev Wenger, Treasurer Dee Ann Stults, Assessor Cindy Taylor, and Coroner Jim Schmidt. There's a short reception afterward. The swearing in will be in the middle of the county commissioner's meeting that starts at 8 a.m. The meeting resumes after the ceremony and reception.

Chamber Spotlights Business

The Logan County Chamber of Commerce Marketing Committee is announcing their new Spotlight on a Business promotional campaign for 2011. Each month a random Chamber member business will be drawn to be featured in a promotional spotlight.

Eight Hurt in Bus Rollover at DIA

Eight employees at Denver International Airport were hurt when a shuttle bus rolled over near DIA Sunday morning.
None of the injuries appear to be major. The bus slid into a ravine and rolled onto its roof. 12 employees were on board the bus at the time.
DIA spokesman Jeff Green said the road the bus was traveling on is not open to the public.
Heavy show was falling at the time of the accident.
What caused the bus to roll over is being investigated.

More Bipartisan Work Expected In General Assembly This Session

Legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle predict the Colorado General Assembly's 2011 session might lead to bipartisan cooperation. Incoming House Speaker Frank McNulty, a Highlands Ranch Republican, told the "Denver Post" with so many people out of work government must focus on sparking job creation and recovering the economy. State Representative Sal Pace, a Pueblo Democrat, told the paper Democrats don't want to seem like an adverse minority and there's a chance quote, "for us to put partisan bickering aside." The session starts Wednesday.

Mexican National Sentenced For Christmas Paper-Wrapped Pot

It'll be a long prison sentence for the Mexican national who tried to disguise packages of marijuana by wrapping them in Christmas paper in Weld County. Authorities sentenced 37-year-old Ever Eleazar Murrieta-Nieblas to 12-years in prison following his conviction last month on charges of marijuana possession and intent to distribute. During a stop by police, Murrieta-Nieblas told authorities the packages in his pickup truck bed were Christmas gifts. But when cops looked closely, they discovered the four duffel bags were filled with marijuana, some covered by Christmas paper.

Cop Impersonator Running Around Fort Collins

Fort Collins authorities are searching for a man they say has impersonated a police officer. Police officials say the suspect has represented himself as one of their own by making traffic stops and using a fake police car. They say the suspect has also dressed in a police uniform, but he did not appear to be wearing a weapon. Cops say if you think you are being stopped by an impersonator, drive carefully to a place of safety and dial 9-1-1. Anyone with information on the alleged impersonator should call Fort Collins police at 970-221-6540.

Pueblo-Bound Plane Makes Steep Decent And Drops From Radar

Search crews will continue to scour a snow-covered area of Custer County today for the light plane that disappeared from radar yesterday during a flight from Phoenix to Pueblo. Civil Air Patrol officials said a single-engine Piper Malibu carrying two people lost contact with flight control towers around 2 p.m. as it flew over Blueberry Park in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The official said the plane was at 20-thousand-feet when it made a quote "steep decent" and fell from radar contact. Authorities have not identified the pilot and passenger.

Shooting Victim -- local

One of the victims of Saturday's massacre that left Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords clinging to life with a gunshot to the head, apparently has Colorado ties. According to KMGH-TV, B.J. Offutt from Colorado Springs lost her 79-year-old mother when she was one of the six people killed by gunfire outside a Safeway in Tucson, Arizona where a political gathering was being held. Phyllis Schneck spent winters in Arizona and summers in New Jersey. She raised two daughters, had grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Twenty-two-year-old Jared Loughner has already been charged with five federal felonies in the mass murder.

Victim In Tucson Massacre Is Mother Of Colorado Springs Woman

One of the victims of Saturday's massacre that left Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords clinging to life with a gunshot to the head, apparently has Colorado ties. According to KMGH-TV, B.J. Offutt from Colorado Springs lost her 79-year-old mother when she was one of the six people killed by gunfire outside a Safeway in Tucson, Arizona where a political gathering was being held. Phyllis Schneck spent winters in Arizona and summers in New Jersey. She raised two daughters, had grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Twenty-two-year-old Jared Loughner has already been charged with five federal felonies in the mass murder.

Security Crackdown At Inauguration In Wake Of AZ Mass Killing

In the wake of Saturday's massacre in Tucson, Arizona that left a Congresswoman in critical condition after a gunman opened fire at a political gathering, Colorado authorities say they will tighten security for this week's inauguration of Governor-elect John Hickenlooper. According to KMGH-TV, guests at Tuesday's event might have to pass through metal detectors. They should also expect additional security on hand. Inauguration organizer Ben Davis said officials don't want a copycat of last weekend's tragedy when 22-year-old Jared Loughner fatally shot six people and wounded 14, including Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who remains in critical condition. Colorado's inauguration is open to the public.