Colorado State Patrol Youth Academy Taking Applications

The Colorado State Patrol Youth Academy offers about forty young men and women the opportunity to learn leadership and what it's like to be a trooper at no cost to them or their families.






Captain Gaylon Grippin with the Colorado State Patrol says the application deadline for the program is March 1. Call (970) 522-4696 or go online at http://csp.state.co.us/youth _academy.html.

Fort Morgan Rec Center Sweetheart Dances February 18th

The Fort Morgan Rec Center will be decked out for Valentines on February 18th for the Senior Sweetheart Dance from 2 to 5 PM that is followed by another Sweetheart Dance for ages 10 through 12 at 7:30 PM.






Brad Weese with the City of Fort Morgan Rec Department says admission is $5 at the door. Call 542-3921 for more information.

Job Fair Next Month

The Sterling Workforce Center is holding a job fair next month and encouraging employers to register to meet potential employees. The job fair is on Thursday, March 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Bank of Colorado Event Center. Some high schoolers could be in attendance to learn about different careers. For more, contact the Sterling Workforce Center at (970) 522-9340.

Local Test Scores Beat National Average

Fort Morgan Middle School test results are better than the national average. The board of education also learned on Monday that Fort Morgan High was below the national average on PLAN tests. Lincoln High School will test later this school year. Eighth Graders take the Explore tests and 10th graders take the PLAN tests. Assistant Superintendent Joy Perry said the scores are great news for assessment and curriculum. Average composite score at Fort Morgan Middle School was 15.7, the national average was 14.9. Fort Morgan High School students had a PLAN composite of 16.5, the national average was 15.9.

Cooke to Implement Recommendations -- AP

Weld County Sheriff John Cooke says he plans to implement most recommendations from a review team's report on what led to a deputy's death in November. Sam Brownlee was shot with his own weapon as he, an Evans police officer and two other deputies wrestled with a suspect after a high-speed chase that started in Morgan County. Cooke says one recommendation to hire a full-time training officer will require budgetary approval from county commissioners, but another recommendation to review the county's multijurisdiction pursuit policy is under way.

Bill Would Give Offenders Chance To Take Responsibility

A bill introduced yesterday by a Denver lawmaker would create a process for victims of crimes to face their offenders under an idea experts call "restorative justice." Representative Pete Lee of El Paso County introduced House Bill 1032 as a way to offer restitution instead of imprisonment, and he says it offers a chance for offenders to accept responsibility for their actions. But the bill has its detractors who contend it doesn't focus enough on what victims want.

State House Democrats Back Pay-Go Regulation Proposed

Colorado House Democrats yesterday backed legislation that would mandate legislators who want to restore tax exemptions or create new ones to first say what will be cut to fund the tax break. Republicans said the bill was a, quote, "gimmick," saying the state already has to pass a balanced budget. They also asked why Democrats were interested now in a pay-go rule when they lost the majority. The bill will be discussed in a committee hearing tomorrow.

Colorado Does Not Require Pharmacists To Counsel Patients

Pharmacists in Colorado are not mandated to counsel patients about new medicine. A Safeway pharmacy accidentally gave pregnant Fort Lupton resident Mareena Silva medicine that ends pregnancies rather than the antibiotic she sought. Safeway in a statement tells KMGH-TV pharmacy workers are told to quote, "ask and listen to the patient's full name and date of birth" before dispensing medicine. Pharmacist and associate professor at the University of Colorado Gina Moore says she tells students to also verify patients' addresses before giving medicine.

Missing Brighton Boy With Autism Found In Greeley

A missing 14-year-old Brighton boy who has autism was discovered safe outside a Greeley library yesterday afternoon, around 35 miles from his home. Police say a Greeley resident recognized Brennen Mungia as media had covered his disappearance and called police around 2 p.m. Police and FBI agents are trying to determine how he got to Greeley after he vanished from Brighton High School Monday at 12:30 p.m. Authorities were concerned about the boy being outside in chilly, snowy weather overnight.

Pueblo Teen Wins State Honor For Volunteer Work

A Centennial High School junior will be going to Washington, DC, where she might be announced as one of the nation's top youth volunteers. That's after 16-year-old Lindsey Buxman was honored as Colorado's top youth volunteer for this year in her age group. Buxman started a campaign to get a ballot measure passed to pay for a ten-million-dollar renovation of Memorial Hall in Pueblo. The measure, 2B, was passed in November, and renovation will likely take two years.

Arapahoe Basin Snow Safety Director Dies While Skiing

The snow safety director at Arapahoe Basin collapsed and died yesterday while skiing at Aspen Highlands Bowl. The Pitkin County Sheriff's Office said 50-year-old Leif Borgeson fell ill while hiking to the top of the run he was set to ski down. An official cause of death hasn't been ruled.