Nobody was hurt, but two men who were doing brick work on Rankin Presbyterian Church got stuck up in the air when the lift they were using failed in the up position. Brush volunteer firefighters were called, but deferred to Fort Morgan Volunteer firefighters since they have a tower truck that was up to the challenge and the men were brought safely to the ground.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
RE-1 Valley BOE For Prop 103
Proposition 103 would raise money for education in Colorado from preschool through college by temporarily raising sales tax, income tax and use tax. The RE-1 Valley Board of Education supports Proposition 103 and said so through a unanimous vote at its meeting on Monday. Superintendent Betty Summers said within the five years of the tax increases, its hoped the economy would turn positive. She also said the only downside is that its not known how the revenue from the tax increases will be divided.
Hundreds Of Colorado Medical Marijuana Workers Join Union
(Wheat Ridge, CO) -- Officials are saying hundreds of Colorado medical marijuana workers have joined the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. About 25-thousand people are members of the union's Colorado chapter. The medical cannabis retail industry reportedly employs more than eight-thousand workers.
Colo. house cat gets close look at mountain lion
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Gail Loveman's 11-year-old cat named Zeus usually stands tall and hisses when he sees a squirrel outside his owner's home. He wasn't as much of a tough guy when the animal on the other side of the glass was a mountain lion.
Loveman tells The Denver Post the encounter lasted about five minutes before the mountain lion wandered off from her house near the foothills west of Boulder.
Loveman says she was in her home office last Thursday when she heard a noise and turned to see the mountain lion on the porch.
Zeus entered the room and walked to the sliding glass door for a closer look while Loveman snapped photos.
Loveman went upstairs and spotted a second mountain lion. She says both jumped a fence and left.
Loveman tells The Denver Post the encounter lasted about five minutes before the mountain lion wandered off from her house near the foothills west of Boulder.
Loveman says she was in her home office last Thursday when she heard a noise and turned to see the mountain lion on the porch.
Zeus entered the room and walked to the sliding glass door for a closer look while Loveman snapped photos.
Loveman went upstairs and spotted a second mountain lion. She says both jumped a fence and left.
School discipline changes move forward in Colorado
DENVER (AP) — Colorado lawmakers are moving forward with proposed changes to post-Columbine school disciplinary policies to try to give education officials more discretion over expulsions and police referrals.
A committee gave preliminary approval to a proposal that would be introduced when the Legislature meets in the spring. The proposal would eliminate zero-tolerance policies that lawmakers say have led to students being needlessly criminalized for actions that previously landed them in the principal's office.
Lawmakers say students are now being referred to police for bringing a wooden replica of a rifle to school or for inadvertently having a butter knife in their backpack.
The strict policies arose after the 1999 Columbine High School shootings where two students killed 13 people and then themselves.
A different committee of lawmakers needs to approve the bill before it is introduced.
A committee gave preliminary approval to a proposal that would be introduced when the Legislature meets in the spring. The proposal would eliminate zero-tolerance policies that lawmakers say have led to students being needlessly criminalized for actions that previously landed them in the principal's office.
Lawmakers say students are now being referred to police for bringing a wooden replica of a rifle to school or for inadvertently having a butter knife in their backpack.
The strict policies arose after the 1999 Columbine High School shootings where two students killed 13 people and then themselves.
A different committee of lawmakers needs to approve the bill before it is introduced.
25 now dead in listeria outbreak in cantaloupe
WASHINGTON (AP) — Twenty-five deaths in 12 states are now linked to listeria in cantaloupe, the deadliest known outbreak of foodborne illness in the U.S. in more than 25 years.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that 123 people have been sickened, including those who died.
The tainted Colorado cantaloupes should be off store shelves by now. But the number of illnesses may continue to grow, as the symptoms of listeria can take up to two months to appear.
The CDC on Tuesday confirmed a sixth death in Colorado and a second in New York. Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming have also reported deaths.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that 123 people have been sickened, including those who died.
The tainted Colorado cantaloupes should be off store shelves by now. But the number of illnesses may continue to grow, as the symptoms of listeria can take up to two months to appear.
The CDC on Tuesday confirmed a sixth death in Colorado and a second in New York. Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming have also reported deaths.
Meningitis patient helped out at child-care center
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Health officials say a Colorado woman with meningococcal meningitis was a volunteer at a child-care center, but none of the children show any symptoms of the illness.
The Boulder County Health Department said Tuesday that 13 families were advised to have their children get antibiotics. The families were given prescriptions but officials couldn't say how many followed through.
The 21-year-old woman diagnosed with the disease is a junior at the University of Colorado who lives off campus. She is hospitalized but officials expect her to be released this week.
She was diagnosed Friday. Authorities say no other current cases have been diagnosed in Colorado.
The bacteria causes an infection of the tissue surround the brain and spinal cord.
The Boulder County Health Department said Tuesday that 13 families were advised to have their children get antibiotics. The families were given prescriptions but officials couldn't say how many followed through.
The 21-year-old woman diagnosed with the disease is a junior at the University of Colorado who lives off campus. She is hospitalized but officials expect her to be released this week.
She was diagnosed Friday. Authorities say no other current cases have been diagnosed in Colorado.
The bacteria causes an infection of the tissue surround the brain and spinal cord.
National Drug Take Back Day
The Fort Morgan Police Department is participating in the National Drug Take Back being held on October 29, 2011. This event will be held at Colorado Plains Medical Center (1000 Lincoln St.) in the North parking lot from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. Residents can take this opportunity to properly dispose of unused or unwanted medications they may have around their home, at no cost!
2011 Leaf Pick Up Program Sunday, October 30
The City's Leaf Pick Up Program will run from October 30th through November 27th this year. Please place leaves two feet away from the curb in established piles. Please do not park cars near piles of place tree limbs or other items in the streets.
CDOT Unveils New Snow Removal Equipment for a Portion of the I-76 Corridor
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) recently unveiled its newest piece of snow removal equipment that will be used to help maintenance crews clear snow and ice from I-76 between Wiggins and Atwood.
The new tow plow is a trailer pulled by the plow truck that swings out to the side and can plow snow and apply de-icer (see video at http://tinyurl.com/445tpcw).
“We will be able to plow and/or de-ice 24 feet or two lanes of the Interstate with one snow plow truck and one employee with a second truck clearing the shoulders,” said CDOT Maintenance Supervisor Wes Templeton. “With only two trucks working the Interstate rather than three, we will have an extra truck for other highways in the area, ultimately increasing our coverage and improving safety.”
When the tow plow is in use, both lanes of I-76 will be blocked and the snow plow will be traveling at 35 MPH. Both the snow plow and tow plow will be equipped with flashing lights and motorists should be prepared for slower travel speeds. Motorists should also stay far back from the plow as it is the safest spot with a clear roadway and increased traction.
This is the first tow plow to be used in the state by CDOT and there are hopes to expand its fleet of tow plows along I-76 if it performs well this winter. The optimal use for a tow plow is on a multi-lane divided highway where traffic is free-flowing.
In addition to the tow plow, CDOT has 41 pieces of snow removal equipment to combat snow and ice along 1,985 lane miles of highway in Morgan, Washington and Yuma counties. Of the 41 pieces, 29 are snow plows used to apply solid and liquid de-icers. There are also nine loaders and three motor graders for the removal of heavy or large amounts of snow.
“While the tow plow will help our crews immensely, we still need to use a variety of other equipment and products to clear the highways,” added Templeton. “In addition, our crews will work 12-hour shifts day and night and on holidays and weekends until our highways are clear of snow and ice.”
CDOT always treats and plows primary roads first such as I-76 and US 34. Secondary routes include State Highway (SH ) 52, SH 59, SH 61, SH 63, SH 71, SH 144 and US 385. Highway segments with an annual average daily traffic (AADT) count less than 1,000 will experience limited snow removal operations. For the most part, CDOT crews will maintain these highway 14-hours a day, from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. (exceptions may be granted for school bus routes, highway segments with high accident rates or hospital/emergency routes). To see a complete list of highways with limited plow coverage, visit www.coloradodot.info/travel/winter-driving.
To help maintenance crews combat the snow and ice, CDOT will continue to use liquid de-icers, solid de-icers, and a sand/salt mixture. The two main types of liquid de-icers that will be used this winter are magnesium chloride and cold temperature magnesium chloride. Magnesium chloride* is effective at pavement temperatures above 16 degrees Fahrenheit while cold temperature modified magnesium chloride* is effective for pavement temperatures below 16 degrees Fahrenheit. Trucks are equipped with infrared sensors to monitor ambient and pavement temperatures throughout a storm.
The two types of solid de-icers that will be used are Ice Slicer and North American Salt. Both are granular salts mixed with magnesium chloride. Ice Slicer is primarily used for pavement temperatures 20 degrees Fahrenheit and below and may be mixed with sand to provide more traction. North American Salt is primarily used for pavement temperatures above 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
While CDOT is prepared for the winter ahead, it is also important for motorists to be prepared. CDOT strongly encourages motorists to plan ahead by visiting www.cotrip.org or by calling 511 anywhere in Colorado. Current road and weather conditions are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week via the Web and phone.
You can also sign up for e-mail and text message alerts by visiting www.coloradodot.info and clicking on the cell phone icon in the upper right corner under the search function. You can then subscribe to any of the lists free of charge (standard text message rates do apply).
Here are a few winter driving tips to remember:
Be sure to carry plenty of windshield wiper fluid as liquid de-icers may stick to your windshield.
Let the snowplow drivers do their jobs by giving them extra room and don’t pass on the right.
Slow down! Even roads that have been treated with liquid de-icers may be slippery.
Be prepared. Have a scraper, snow brush, coat, hat, gloves, blanket, first aid kit, flashlight, tire chains, matches and nonperishable food in your car.
Make sure your tires have good tread.
**Snow Removal Products:
Magnesium Chloride in solutions up to 30% - Effective for use down to 16 degrees Fahrenheit pavement surface temperature.
Cold Temperature Modified Magnesium Chloride in solutions up to 27% magnesium chloride - Used when surface temperatures fall below approximately 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Products meeting this description have a corn byproduct additive that greatly lowers the freezing point of magnesium chloride.
Ice Slicer and North American Salt - A solid product that is mainly sodium chloride with small amounts of other materials that help this product to work at lower temperatures than pure sodium chloride. It is used to melt ice pack at curves and intersections and other spot locations that make it difficult to de-ice with liquids.
The new tow plow is a trailer pulled by the plow truck that swings out to the side and can plow snow and apply de-icer (see video at http://tinyurl.com/445tpcw).
“We will be able to plow and/or de-ice 24 feet or two lanes of the Interstate with one snow plow truck and one employee with a second truck clearing the shoulders,” said CDOT Maintenance Supervisor Wes Templeton. “With only two trucks working the Interstate rather than three, we will have an extra truck for other highways in the area, ultimately increasing our coverage and improving safety.”
When the tow plow is in use, both lanes of I-76 will be blocked and the snow plow will be traveling at 35 MPH. Both the snow plow and tow plow will be equipped with flashing lights and motorists should be prepared for slower travel speeds. Motorists should also stay far back from the plow as it is the safest spot with a clear roadway and increased traction.
This is the first tow plow to be used in the state by CDOT and there are hopes to expand its fleet of tow plows along I-76 if it performs well this winter. The optimal use for a tow plow is on a multi-lane divided highway where traffic is free-flowing.
In addition to the tow plow, CDOT has 41 pieces of snow removal equipment to combat snow and ice along 1,985 lane miles of highway in Morgan, Washington and Yuma counties. Of the 41 pieces, 29 are snow plows used to apply solid and liquid de-icers. There are also nine loaders and three motor graders for the removal of heavy or large amounts of snow.
“While the tow plow will help our crews immensely, we still need to use a variety of other equipment and products to clear the highways,” added Templeton. “In addition, our crews will work 12-hour shifts day and night and on holidays and weekends until our highways are clear of snow and ice.”
CDOT always treats and plows primary roads first such as I-76 and US 34. Secondary routes include State Highway (SH ) 52, SH 59, SH 61, SH 63, SH 71, SH 144 and US 385. Highway segments with an annual average daily traffic (AADT) count less than 1,000 will experience limited snow removal operations. For the most part, CDOT crews will maintain these highway 14-hours a day, from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. (exceptions may be granted for school bus routes, highway segments with high accident rates or hospital/emergency routes). To see a complete list of highways with limited plow coverage, visit www.coloradodot.info/travel/winter-driving.
To help maintenance crews combat the snow and ice, CDOT will continue to use liquid de-icers, solid de-icers, and a sand/salt mixture. The two main types of liquid de-icers that will be used this winter are magnesium chloride and cold temperature magnesium chloride. Magnesium chloride* is effective at pavement temperatures above 16 degrees Fahrenheit while cold temperature modified magnesium chloride* is effective for pavement temperatures below 16 degrees Fahrenheit. Trucks are equipped with infrared sensors to monitor ambient and pavement temperatures throughout a storm.
The two types of solid de-icers that will be used are Ice Slicer and North American Salt. Both are granular salts mixed with magnesium chloride. Ice Slicer is primarily used for pavement temperatures 20 degrees Fahrenheit and below and may be mixed with sand to provide more traction. North American Salt is primarily used for pavement temperatures above 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
While CDOT is prepared for the winter ahead, it is also important for motorists to be prepared. CDOT strongly encourages motorists to plan ahead by visiting www.cotrip.org or by calling 511 anywhere in Colorado. Current road and weather conditions are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week via the Web and phone.
You can also sign up for e-mail and text message alerts by visiting www.coloradodot.info and clicking on the cell phone icon in the upper right corner under the search function. You can then subscribe to any of the lists free of charge (standard text message rates do apply).
Here are a few winter driving tips to remember:
Be sure to carry plenty of windshield wiper fluid as liquid de-icers may stick to your windshield.
Let the snowplow drivers do their jobs by giving them extra room and don’t pass on the right.
Slow down! Even roads that have been treated with liquid de-icers may be slippery.
Be prepared. Have a scraper, snow brush, coat, hat, gloves, blanket, first aid kit, flashlight, tire chains, matches and nonperishable food in your car.
Make sure your tires have good tread.
**Snow Removal Products:
Magnesium Chloride in solutions up to 30% - Effective for use down to 16 degrees Fahrenheit pavement surface temperature.
Cold Temperature Modified Magnesium Chloride in solutions up to 27% magnesium chloride - Used when surface temperatures fall below approximately 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Products meeting this description have a corn byproduct additive that greatly lowers the freezing point of magnesium chloride.
Ice Slicer and North American Salt - A solid product that is mainly sodium chloride with small amounts of other materials that help this product to work at lower temperatures than pure sodium chloride. It is used to melt ice pack at curves and intersections and other spot locations that make it difficult to de-ice with liquids.
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