Two companies owned by two Fort Morgan city council members have been contracted, after contracts were put out for bid, to do work for the city next year. One of those is Scot Bryan's Service Master, to do janitorial work in city buildings. The other is Brent Nation's Nation Engineering Services, which will provide waster augmentation accounting. Neither will be allowed to vote on any issues concerning his own company.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
No Logan County Sales Tax on Approved Pesticides
Sales taxes on agriculture pesticides are so confusing, that Logan County Commissioners eliminated them, starting January first. Commissioners said Logan County farmers have paid sales tax on the pesticides the whole time the state did not have sales tax on them, then it did, then it didn't. So now, the state, and Logan County are in sync, and there's no sales tax on pesticides. Since the state passed a bill that lets commissioners do it, commissioners could simply vote to repeal the tax without having to go to the expense of putting on the ballot. Logan County will lose about 40 thousand dollars in revenue with the lack of the sales tax.
Grandin To Be Inducted To Colorado Women's Hall Of Fame
(Denver, CO) -- Temple Grandin will be one of the 2012 inductees to the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame. Grandin, who is autistic, will be honored in March for her groundbreaking work in livestock welfare and autism advocacy. She has been a faculty member at CSU for 22 years.
Four Governors, Including Hickenlooper, Sign Pledge To Buy CNG Vehicles
(Englewood, CO) -- Four governors, including Governor John Hickenlooper, are promising to convert some of their states' transportation fleets to compressed natural gas. Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, Wyoming Governor Matthew H. Mead and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett also signed the joint memorandum of understanding. Hickenlooper said yesterday the move could make the clean fuel more viable on a consumer level.
Glitches found in nationwide emergency alert test
DENVER (AP) - Broadcasters discovered several glitches during the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, including Denver's KMGH-TV whose audio was knocked out for about two hours.
KMGH-TV reports that station engineers had to rebuild computer programs following the test at noon Wednesday. Other stations across the country, as well as some networks didn't run the test because of glitches.
KMGH-TV cable subscribers heard the test, while those receiving the signal via antennas did not.
KMGH-TV Vice-President and General Manager Byron Grandy says the test help identify issues that need correcting. The station recently passed state initiated tests.
FEMA, the FCC and NOAA tested the system to ensure that it can be activated by the president to provide information during emergencies.
KMGH-TV reports that station engineers had to rebuild computer programs following the test at noon Wednesday. Other stations across the country, as well as some networks didn't run the test because of glitches.
KMGH-TV cable subscribers heard the test, while those receiving the signal via antennas did not.
KMGH-TV Vice-President and General Manager Byron Grandy says the test help identify issues that need correcting. The station recently passed state initiated tests.
FEMA, the FCC and NOAA tested the system to ensure that it can be activated by the president to provide information during emergencies.
Glitches found in nationwide emergency alert test
DENVER (AP) — Broadcasters discovered several glitches during the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, including Denver's KMGH-TV whose audio was knocked out for about two hours.
KMGH-TV reports that station engineers had to rebuild computer programs following the test at noon Wednesday. Other stations across the country, as well as some networks didn't run the test because of glitches.
KMGH-TV cable subscribers heard the test, while those receiving the signal via antennas did not.
KMGH-TV Vice-President and General Manager Byron Grandy says the test help identify issues that need correcting. The station recently passed state initiated tests.
FEMA, the FCC and NOAA tested the system to ensure that it can be activated by the president to provide information during emergencies.
KMGH-TV reports that station engineers had to rebuild computer programs following the test at noon Wednesday. Other stations across the country, as well as some networks didn't run the test because of glitches.
KMGH-TV cable subscribers heard the test, while those receiving the signal via antennas did not.
KMGH-TV Vice-President and General Manager Byron Grandy says the test help identify issues that need correcting. The station recently passed state initiated tests.
FEMA, the FCC and NOAA tested the system to ensure that it can be activated by the president to provide information during emergencies.
Colorado Supreme Court discusses legislative districts
DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Supreme Court heard arguments in support and against newly proposed legislative districts aimed at making a third of state races competitive next year.
The attorney for the 11-member commission that approved maps in September told justices on Wednesday that the panel followed constitutional criteria while trying to make districts competitive. But groups opposing the maps say cities and counties were unnecessarily split in favor of making races competitiveness.
Consideration of the maps by the state's highest court is part of the once-a-decade redistricting process to account for population changes. The results of the process affect the balance of power in the Legislature for years. Republicans currently control the House and Democrats control the Senate.
The court will issue a ruling in the coming weeks.
The attorney for the 11-member commission that approved maps in September told justices on Wednesday that the panel followed constitutional criteria while trying to make districts competitive. But groups opposing the maps say cities and counties were unnecessarily split in favor of making races competitiveness.
Consideration of the maps by the state's highest court is part of the once-a-decade redistricting process to account for population changes. The results of the process affect the balance of power in the Legislature for years. Republicans currently control the House and Democrats control the Senate.
The court will issue a ruling in the coming weeks.
Colorado moving ahead with 4-tier teacher ratings
DENVER (AP) — Colorado education officials have finished work on teacher rating system that could make it easier to fire teachers who don't meet testing standards.
The Board of Education unanimously approved the system Wednesday. The standards in the works for months create a four-tier grading system for teachers and principals. The grades are "highly effective," ''effective," ''partially effective" and "ineffective."
Educators rated "ineffective" for two consecutive years would lose tenure. New teachers would need three consecutive years of "effective" ratings to make tenure.
The standards won't be in place for many just yet.
They will be tested at pilot schools, and state lawmakers have to sign off next year.
The Board of Education unanimously approved the system Wednesday. The standards in the works for months create a four-tier grading system for teachers and principals. The grades are "highly effective," ''effective," ''partially effective" and "ineffective."
Educators rated "ineffective" for two consecutive years would lose tenure. New teachers would need three consecutive years of "effective" ratings to make tenure.
The standards won't be in place for many just yet.
They will be tested at pilot schools, and state lawmakers have to sign off next year.
More than 100 soldiers returning to Fort Carson
FORT CARSON, Colo. (AP) — More than 100 soldiers from a quartermaster company are returning to Fort Carson after a seven-month deployment to Iraq.
A homecoming ceremony is scheduled for Thursday morning, although arrival times often change for troops returning to the infantry post outside Colorado Springs.
The soldiers are members of the 549th Quartermaster Company, part of the 43rd Sustainment Brigade.
Among other things, the unit helped remove equipment as U.S. troops prepare to leave Iraq.
A homecoming ceremony is scheduled for Thursday morning, although arrival times often change for troops returning to the infantry post outside Colorado Springs.
The soldiers are members of the 549th Quartermaster Company, part of the 43rd Sustainment Brigade.
Among other things, the unit helped remove equipment as U.S. troops prepare to leave Iraq.
Logan County man gets life in death of 3-year-old
FORT MORGAN, Colo. (AP) — A Logan County man has been sentenced to life in prison for the death of his 3-year-old daughter.
A Morgan County jury late Tuesday found Mark Weeks guilty of first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in the July 9, 2010, death of his daughter, Alexis.
Alexis had a skull fracture, a healing broken rib and multiple bruises on her body.
It took the jury four hours to reach a verdict following a two week trial. Prosecutors also charged Alexis' stepmother Ginger Weeks, who is expected to receive a 12 year prison sentence as part of a plea deal.
The couple told doctors that Alexis hit her head on a stove in their mobile home.
Medical experts say Alexis' head injury didn't match their story.
A Morgan County jury late Tuesday found Mark Weeks guilty of first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in the July 9, 2010, death of his daughter, Alexis.
Alexis had a skull fracture, a healing broken rib and multiple bruises on her body.
It took the jury four hours to reach a verdict following a two week trial. Prosecutors also charged Alexis' stepmother Ginger Weeks, who is expected to receive a 12 year prison sentence as part of a plea deal.
The couple told doctors that Alexis hit her head on a stove in their mobile home.
Medical experts say Alexis' head injury didn't match their story.
Morgan Co Sheriff's Dept Investigating Suspicious Fires
The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in solving several set fires in the Morgan County area over the past year. These have not been accidental fires, or “controlled burns” which got out of control. These have been intentionally set for as yet unknown motives.
Fires have included stacks of hay and corn stalk bales and grass fires. Most of the fires have been south of I-76 and have spanned from west of Wiggins to the Brush area. Some of the fires have been in more isolated areas where it would be difficult for people to observe the fires being set and some have occurred late night into the early morning hours.
The sheriff’s office has not yet identified any suspects and we have no additional information we can share with the public at this point. We are asking anyone with knowledge of any person intentionally setting fires, or otherwise have information that could be useful in identifying those responsible, to please call the sheriff’s office at 970-867-2461 and request to speak to any investigator. As always, if anyone has information on any arson fire, you can call the Arson Hotline at 1-877-89-ARSON.
We are also asking people to be vigilant of suspicious activity, especially in late night/early morning hours, and report such to your law enforcement agency. If anyone has discovered a fire (that had not been previously reported to 911 or fire/law enforcement) that was either put out by yourself, or had possibly burned itself out, and there was no obvious accidental means, we would ask that you report this to the sheriff’s office.
Fortunately damage has not been extensive however local farmers have lost thousands of dollars of hay and corn stalks. However there is a potential for the behavior of those involved to escalate and cause injury or death to innocent persons. Each of these fires brings response from our volunteer firefighters who risk their lives to respond to these ridiculous acts.
Fires have included stacks of hay and corn stalk bales and grass fires. Most of the fires have been south of I-76 and have spanned from west of Wiggins to the Brush area. Some of the fires have been in more isolated areas where it would be difficult for people to observe the fires being set and some have occurred late night into the early morning hours.
The sheriff’s office has not yet identified any suspects and we have no additional information we can share with the public at this point. We are asking anyone with knowledge of any person intentionally setting fires, or otherwise have information that could be useful in identifying those responsible, to please call the sheriff’s office at 970-867-2461 and request to speak to any investigator. As always, if anyone has information on any arson fire, you can call the Arson Hotline at 1-877-89-ARSON.
We are also asking people to be vigilant of suspicious activity, especially in late night/early morning hours, and report such to your law enforcement agency. If anyone has discovered a fire (that had not been previously reported to 911 or fire/law enforcement) that was either put out by yourself, or had possibly burned itself out, and there was no obvious accidental means, we would ask that you report this to the sheriff’s office.
Fortunately damage has not been extensive however local farmers have lost thousands of dollars of hay and corn stalks. However there is a potential for the behavior of those involved to escalate and cause injury or death to innocent persons. Each of these fires brings response from our volunteer firefighters who risk their lives to respond to these ridiculous acts.
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