Milliken School's TCAP Test Results Tossed

The superintendent of the Johnstown/Milliken Re-5J School District has declared standardized test scores for Milliken Elementary School invalid, due to procedure violations. The Greeley Tribune reports Superintendent Martin Foster made the decision after noticing more erasures on students' 2013 Transitional Colorado Assessment Program, or TCAP, tests than normal, and most of the answers changed from wrong to right. Foster says former Principal Paul Dillehay allegedly said he had directed his secretary to review test booklets after teachers turned them in and to note any marks that could cost the school points, even though Dillehay knew it was against the rules to do so. Dillehay's resigned.

More Info Out on Health Insurance Premiums

Coloradans with no health insurance are finally finding out what it will cost them to comply with the insurance mandate taking effect next year. The Division of Insurance today released rates of plans that comply with the health care overhaul. Eighteen insurance companies will offer 541 separate plans for individuals and small groups. For a 40-year-old, monthly premiums will range from $177 a month to more than $1,000 a month. The wide range of rates is because premiums depend on the level of coverage and where in the state a person lives. Colorado's marketplace opens Oct. 1 to help customers shop for insurance. Most people will qualify for government subsidies to help pay premiums.

Eighty-three former students, teachers and guests were welcomed to the 54th annual Crook High School Reunion

Eighty-three former students, teachers and guests were welcomed to the 54th annual Crook High School Reunion held recently at the Plainsman Grill in Sterling. Honored classes were 1948, 1953, 1958, 1963, and 1968, and a letter was also read from the one surviving graduate of 1933, who was unable to attend. Members of those classes attending were recognized, with some traveling as far away as Florida, New Jersey, and Montana, and some former faculty members showed up as well. The group known as The Roommates and Friends provided entertainment, joined by twelve other singers who joined in a medley of doo wop music. Plans for the 2014 reunion are underway, and will mark the 100th anniversary of the Crook School.
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Logan County's free 'Vaccine for Children' program is in jeopardy

Logan County's free 'Vaccine for Children' program is in jeopardy. Federal budget cuts are affecting area kids, residents were told at Monday night’s Logan County Citizens’ Oversight Committee (LCCOC) meeting. Public health departments are no longer able to provide immunizations to everyone was the message from the Northeast Colorado Health Department, because changes at the federal level restrict who is eligible to receive these immunizations locally, they explained. The Vaccine for Children program provided vaccinations at no charge for anyone 18 years old or younger, but the government sequester has forced the program to only allow children who are Medicaid eligible, uninsured, underinsured or American Indian and Alaska Native. That means the NCHD cannot service a child who is not VFC eligible under the new criteria. A Ft. Morgan school nurse coordinated an event providing immunizations to incoming sixth graders. Sterling officials are looking into whether they can offer a similar service. The new criteria would mean that almost half of clients who were immunized last year, would not be eligible this year.
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New City Barber has a new owner

New City Barber has a new owner. Georgia Tournai says even though she'll continue to provide the same cut and shave services to longtime shop customers, she wants to make City Barber “a modern day barber shop”, which caters to both men and women. The new shop owner took over in June from Teresa Latimer, who had owned and operated it for more than 22 years.
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"Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over."

"Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over." The Heat Is On campaign started today, with The Colorado State Police and law enforcement agencies across the state beefing up patrol, as part of the Labor Day Holiday DUI enforcement efforts. Officials say it's a very simple message, 'Don't Drink and Drive.' Last year, more than 1,400 Colorado residents were arrested for impaired driving during the Labor Day crackdown, and 13 people died in DUI related crashes. Law enforcement officers will be out in full force across the state this holiday weekend to encourage drivers to make smart driving choices and plan ahead for a sober ride.
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Gov. John Hickenlooper helped launch a public campaign, Thursday, to raise income taxes to pay for public school upgrades

Gov. John Hickenlooper helped launch a public campaign, Thursday, to raise income taxes to pay for public school upgrades, at Green Mountain High School in Lakewood. It would increase income taxes nearly $1 billion a year to pay for school improvements including statewide full-day kindergarten. Hickenlooper said Initiative 22 would be an investment in the economic development of Colorado, but would still remain a low tax state. Supporters have already turned in signatures to get a measure onto November ballots. If voters approve the schools tax, they'll also enact an education funding overhaul that includes new accountability monitoring. The schools measure would join a marijuana tax proposal about excise and sales taxes on the newly legalized drug.
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The fate of a Fort Morgan woman accused of embezzling local Girl Scout funds will have to wait

The fate of a Fort Morgan woman accused of embezzling local Girl Scout funds will have to wait. 33 year old Jennifer Streit-Jensen, is charged with stealing between $1,000 to $20,000, in connection with money that went missing from local Girl Scout troops, 3334, 357, and 108, between April 2 and Aug. 4, 2012, but a switch in public defenders delayed the hearing, Wednesday. A Morgan County District Court Judge continued the case to Sept. 19 to allow the new lawyer to get caught up. At her next court appearance in September, Streit-Jensen may accept a plea deal from prosecutors to settle the case or enter a plea and have a trial date set.
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