I am in Silt, Colorado where the bureau of land management is holding a public open house to discuss the possibilities of future development of oil shale in the west. www.krextv.com
Monday, March 12, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Frank Birgfeld Speaks After Human Remains Tentatively Identified as Paige Birgfeld
By Matt Kroschel
Grand Junction-- In his own words, the father of missing woman Paige Birgfeld, Frank Birgfeld, speaks with NewsChannel 5 in a live interview just a few hours after human remains found in the Wells Gulch area were tentatively identified as Paige by the Mesa County Sheriff's Office.
Delta County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance in recovering the skeletal remains from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Delta County Coroner’s Office, the Mesa County Coroner’s Office, and the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office.
Forensic odontology has been used to tentatively identify the remains as belonging to Paige Birgfeld of Grand Junction. A DNA comparison will be requested through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to confirm these results. The remains may be forwarded to a forensic anthropologist in an attempt to identify any evidence of trauma.
Other personal items were found along with the remains and will be considered for DNA testing based on past successes with trace evidence.
Paige Birgfeld was reported missing in a 2007 Mesa County Sheriff’s Office Investigation that has since been classified as a homicide.
The Mesa County District Attorney’s Office continues to be informed of developments in this case as they occur.
Investigators are continuing to search the Wells Gulch area for any clues that would show how the body arrived in the area or any clues as to how Paige was killed.
Grand Junction-- In his own words, the father of missing woman Paige Birgfeld, Frank Birgfeld, speaks with NewsChannel 5 in a live interview just a few hours after human remains found in the Wells Gulch area were tentatively identified as Paige by the Mesa County Sheriff's Office.
Delta County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance in recovering the skeletal remains from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Delta County Coroner’s Office, the Mesa County Coroner’s Office, and the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office.
Forensic odontology has been used to tentatively identify the remains as belonging to Paige Birgfeld of Grand Junction. A DNA comparison will be requested through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to confirm these results. The remains may be forwarded to a forensic anthropologist in an attempt to identify any evidence of trauma.
Other personal items were found along with the remains and will be considered for DNA testing based on past successes with trace evidence.
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| LIVE TEAM COVERAGE, WE BROKE THIS STORY! |
Paige Birgfeld was reported missing in a 2007 Mesa County Sheriff’s Office Investigation that has since been classified as a homicide.
The Mesa County District Attorney’s Office continues to be informed of developments in this case as they occur.
Investigators are continuing to search the Wells Gulch area for any clues that would show how the body arrived in the area or any clues as to how Paige was killed.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Fire Department Will Not Rely On "Luck" Any Longer
White Hall Task Force Releases Action Report
by
Matt Kroschel
Grand Junction, CO-- Months after the White Hall fire, a
task force assembled to access how the fire was handled releases their
report and their findings highlight some serious concerns within the
Grand Junction Fire Department.
In the 35 page report concerns over communication breakdowns, training inadequacies and a lack of resources available to cover other emergencies during the fire were addressed. During that raging inferno inside the landmark building in downtown Grand Junction, a firefighter fell through the floor of the building while fighting it. Fire Chief Ken Watkins said his department, "got lucky" and vows to make sure their responses to large commercial structure fires are handled differently in the future by changing their policy.
"We wanted to put this out in the lights and let the public know what we need to work on and what we are doing well," Watkins said.
The report highlights the dispatch communication center's lack of knowledge on fire fighting operations, as well as protocols for "Mayday" situations (when a firefighter is down). Also, the report indicates dispatchers do not typically monitor tactical channels during emergency operations.
"A lot of these are cheap fixes and are already in the process of being made," Watkins added.
There were also several positive findings in the report that Chief Watkins said shows just how dedicated and professional his department is at the job they do everyday.
"I am very proud of my team, we just have a couple of things we need to focus on fixing so we can provide the best service to the community and keep our firefighters safer."
The report indicates a lack of resources and difficulties responding to incidents in the Grand valley due to geographical issues.
Chief Watkins told NewsChannel Five every finding and recommendation is being looked at and being seriously addressed.
In the 35 page report concerns over communication breakdowns, training inadequacies and a lack of resources available to cover other emergencies during the fire were addressed. During that raging inferno inside the landmark building in downtown Grand Junction, a firefighter fell through the floor of the building while fighting it. Fire Chief Ken Watkins said his department, "got lucky" and vows to make sure their responses to large commercial structure fires are handled differently in the future by changing their policy.
"We wanted to put this out in the lights and let the public know what we need to work on and what we are doing well," Watkins said.
The report highlights the dispatch communication center's lack of knowledge on fire fighting operations, as well as protocols for "Mayday" situations (when a firefighter is down). Also, the report indicates dispatchers do not typically monitor tactical channels during emergency operations.
"A lot of these are cheap fixes and are already in the process of being made," Watkins added.
There were also several positive findings in the report that Chief Watkins said shows just how dedicated and professional his department is at the job they do everyday.
"I am very proud of my team, we just have a couple of things we need to focus on fixing so we can provide the best service to the community and keep our firefighters safer."
The report indicates a lack of resources and difficulties responding to incidents in the Grand valley due to geographical issues.
Chief Watkins told NewsChannel Five every finding and recommendation is being looked at and being seriously addressed.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Police Volunteer Racks Up 1,000's of Hours Keeping Community Safe
NewsChannel Five February "People You Can Count On" Recipient
by
Matt Kroschel
Grand Junction, CO-- Grand Junction Police Department has a secret weapon in their mission to keep the community safe, it is Bill Price.After over 20 years volunteering his time in the evidence room and in the volunteer police patrols around town, the man who has retired twice, served in the US Navy, and worked as a court reporter has no plans on slowing down.
NewsChannel Five is proud to honor Price for his years of service and dedication with the police department as February's People You Can Count On recipient.
You can nominate someone you know who is making a difference in the community by filling out the online nomination form at www.krextv.com
Monday, February 27, 2012
Local Dealerships Install GPS Tracking Inside Your Newly Purchased Car
Privacy Concerns Force One Woman To Speak Out
by
Matt Kroschel
Grand Junction - We have all heard about GPS tracking in our phones, but now, hidden tracking units in some vehicles we purchase give dealers the ability to track your every move in real time from their computers. Over the last few years, "buy here, pay here" lots worried about high risk loans they make on vehicles they sell at across the county have began the installing tracking units. The growing industry-wide trend leaves some customers with privacy concerns.
“I think it is creepy. They already know where I live. Now, they know where I am all the time. It is weird,” Clifton resident Dominicque Barker told NewsChannel 5 Tuesday afternoon. Barker purchased a used Cadillac Escalade, a vehicle that fits into a high-risk category according to industry insiders.
We can confirm that most companies that sell new and used cars and also offer financing here in the Grand Valley use some form of GPS tracking on at least some of the cars they sell. Because of privacy concerns, the companies we asked to go on camera for this story refused to be interviewed, but they did provide us with information about the type of tracking systems they use and what capabilities they have.
NewsChannel 5 has learned companies like Rocky Mountain Tracking, a Fort Collins based GPS provider, offer the units for under a $200 investment to start. Customers can also purchase upgrades that give the ability to shut down a vehicle remotely and have car alarms engaged.
The tracking units are legal in the state of Colorado and before they are installed in vehicles the owners have to sign a waiver acknowledging the devices are installed.
“I was basically told I either had to sign and have the GPS installed or else I could not get the loan for my car,” Barker said.
One dealership manager told NewsChannel 5 that as long as people pay their loans on time, they should not even know the device is on their car and their staff only uses the system when someone becomes delinquent in their payments.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Local Choir Controversy Gains National Attention
by
KREX News Room
by
Jordan Sherman
Denver - A story that has sparked heated debate locally over the past few days receives national attention on FOX and Friends,
the early show for the FOX network. NewsChannel 5 reporter Matt
Kroschel broke the story Tuesday about a Grand Junction High School
student who quit choir after his teacher included a song that praised
the Islamic god Allah.
On Thursday morning, FOX and Friends producers contacted Matt with an interview request for Friday morning. Matt agreed and set off for Denver shortly after 6:00 PM Thursday night.
Little did we know that on the way to Denver, the story would continue to unfold. Matt received a phone call from James Harper, the student at the center of the controversy, stating that he had received written threats. "Some kids at school sent messages. None of them were direct like, 'I will kick your ass', but one of them said you better not come back. The other said shut your mouth or I'll do something about it."
The threats against Harper only strengthened Matt's resolve to maintain balance in his coverage at the national level.
After a night of nerves and little sleep in Denver, we set out for KDVR FOX at 4:00 AM, and Matt began his live interview at 4:55 AM. The interview lasted around two minutes, but as Matt said, "I think the interview went well. I think we got across the facts of the story we had."
On Thursday morning, FOX and Friends producers contacted Matt with an interview request for Friday morning. Matt agreed and set off for Denver shortly after 6:00 PM Thursday night.
Little did we know that on the way to Denver, the story would continue to unfold. Matt received a phone call from James Harper, the student at the center of the controversy, stating that he had received written threats. "Some kids at school sent messages. None of them were direct like, 'I will kick your ass', but one of them said you better not come back. The other said shut your mouth or I'll do something about it."
The threats against Harper only strengthened Matt's resolve to maintain balance in his coverage at the national level.
After a night of nerves and little sleep in Denver, we set out for KDVR FOX at 4:00 AM, and Matt began his live interview at 4:55 AM. The interview lasted around two minutes, but as Matt said, "I think the interview went well. I think we got across the facts of the story we had."
Friday, February 17, 2012
National attention for my exclusive story
I was on Fox and Friends this morning talking about a story I broke earlier this week about a student who quit a Grand Junction High School choir over an Islamic prayer song. More info at www.krextv.com
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