SPD Investigating Suspicious Person

A student near Campbell elementary school was, as RE-1 Valley School officials said "questionably approached" last Thursday. That prompted an investigation by Sterling Police and a recorded phone call from Superintendent Betty Summers to parents. She said someone that no one knew, who was riding a bike, approached the student. Summers said neither of them said anything to the other and the student wasn't touched. Summers said if anything comes of the investigation, parents will be notified.

Weldon Valley Board Reorganizes

Tomorrow could be called "Reorganization Day" for the Weldon Valley Board of Education. Its the day that president Kathy Wood leaves due to term limits, the day that Karl Cline is sworn in as a new board member, and the day that the board elects its new president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. The board will also set the times and places for its meetings. Tomorrow's meeting is at 7 p.m.

New Age Winning County Bids

We told you about this last month, but the Denver Post reports that Logan County Commissioner Jim Edwards' business, New Age Electronics was the only company to provide a bid for a total of 22 surveillance cameras that are perched on a pole outside county government properties. The Post reports that a New Age competitor said the reason for Edwards' business being the only one bidding on, and therefore winning the project was because Edwards specified an unavailable component in the bid request. The owner of the competing business also questioned why a town of 12 thousand needed the 16 surveillance cameras. The Post found that business at New Age Electronics went up 30 percent in the two years that Edwards has been on the county commission. It should be noted that Logan County does not require competitive bidding for items that cost less than one thousand dollars.

HOSA, Bonfils Hold Blood Drive at MCC

The Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) organization at Morgan Community College is hosting a blood drive on Wednesday, November 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Founders Room at the Fort Morgan campus.

Appointment can be scheduled online at https://donors.bonfils.org, please reference site code A280 when searching for a donation location. To schedule by phone or for more information please contact Beth Carpenter at (970) 542-3119 or KC Sailsbery at (970) 542-3156.

HOSA is a national student organization endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Education Division of ACTE. HOSA's two-fold mission is to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. HOSA's goal is to encourage all health occupations instructors and students to join and be actively involved in the HSE-HOSA Partnership.

Tax Amnesty Ends Tomorrow

(Denver, CO) -- The state's tax amnesty program ends tomorrow. The Colorado Department of Revenue says most taxpayers who are delinquent can avoid penalties and pay half the interest on past-due taxes. If you need information, call (3030 205-8288.

Police Force Out 'Occupy Denver' Protesters

(Denver, CO) -- Police are saying 17 "Occupy Denver" protesters were arrested Saturday night after officers in riot gear tore down illegally pitched tents. A spokesman said the confrontation began in Civic Center park, just hours after demonstrators marched through downtown. Five of the arrests were made later on the 16th Street Mall when some of the evicted protesters headed there.

Two Killed In Weld County Crash

(Weld County, CO) -- Two men are dead after a head-on crash in Weld County. Authorities say German Hernandez-Costillo of Aurora was trying to pass a vehicle on County Road 49 Saturday night when he ran into a car driven by 45-year-old Phillip Olive of Kersey. Both men died at the scene, and three others were hospitalized.

Robot Competition Increases Learning

(Denver, CO) -- Kids from two schools have created robots using Lego blocks and this coming weekend they will put them to the test.

"Open World Learning is an after school program that uses computer labs that are otherwise empty in low income areas of Denver."

Open World Learning's Dean Abrams says they want to instill a love of learning. Kepner Middle School and University Park Elementary will compete against teams from around Colorado in the FIRST Lego League. The state finals are next month at the University of Colorado Denver.

New Pueblo power station sparks industry debate

PUEBLO, Colo. (AP) — A company's request to build an additional $100 million turbine at its new Pueblo power station has other power companies asking Colorado officials to block the extra power.

The Pueblo Chieftain reports that the Colorado Independent Energy Association objects to the proposal by Black Hills Energy to add a third 88 megawatt turbine. The group argues the third turbine isn't necessary because there is ample electric power available for long-term purchase along the Front Range.

The utility has state permission to build another 42 megawatts of power at its new Pueblo station to replace the generating capacity it will lose by shutting down a coal-fired plant in Canon City. The proposal before the Public Utilities Commission, however, calls for installing an 88 megawatt turbine.

3 Boulder wildfires prompt evacuations

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - Three wildfires in Boulder County prompted dozens of home evacuations and damaged a garage.

The small fires Saturday were whipped by high winds. One fire grew to about 2 acres and prompted authorities to make 163 evacuation calls. The second was a smaller grass fire, and a third started when a spark from a power transformer hit a hay bale. The second two caused no damage.

According to the Daily Camera, officials evacuated homes within a one-mile radius. The evacuations were lifted early Saturday afternoon.

Cmdr. Rick Brough of the Boulder County Sheriff's Office issued an emergency outdoor burning ban until Sunday afternoon because of high winds. Gusts as high as 82 mph were recorded Saturday morning.

The largest fire damaged a garage and a car.