Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Mill Levy Measure Fails, Supporters React
By Matt Kroschel
Mesa County- Supporters of Measure 3B, the mill levy override in Mesa County School District 51 raised over $50,000 and launched an aggressive campaign trying to drum up more tax dollars to help budget-strapped local schools, but it looks like their efforts were not enough.
Primary numbers show voters saying "no" to the increase in property taxes for schools. As of 10:00 PM Tuesday night, about 38% of voters voted in favor of measure 3B, and 62 voted no on the measure.
In related school district news, unofficial winners for the Mesa County School District 51 elections. For District A Director, it's Arvan Jeffry Leany, with around 60% of the votes. For District B Director, it is Ann Tisue, with just over 45% of the votes.
Shakeup at County Human Services Leaves Bad Taste in Employee's Mouth
4 Case Manager Resign In Last Month
By Matt Kroschel
Mesa County - Administrators with the Mesa County Department of Human Services want a brand new philosophy and an entirely new way of doing business, but not everyone agrees with the plan. Administrators with the Human Services Department say they will be more proactive in the way they deal with families in the county, but the changes are not without critics. In the last month, four of ten case managers have resigned.
NewsChannel 5 sat down with one former case manager who said she is leaving her job and feels things are not running the way they should be.
Monday was the last day Kelly Saint clocked in at her county case manager job, but she is not leaving on good terms. Her resignation comes on the heels of what she calls “ethical problems” within the department.
Saint has worked in her position for 15 years, and in that time she said there have been changes, but since April, the new plan has increased her workload to a level that she can’t continue to handle.
She claims, “Workers are being asked to put in 80 hours a week, or have to rush through the cases which could be horrible for the families we serve.”
But Jill Calvert, Mesa County Division Director of Child Services said despite some growing pains, the safety of the people they serve has not been jeopardized.
“We have had case workers training at new tasks. We are changing the way we do things from the inside out to better serve the public,” Calvert said.
“We are changing to be better and get in line with new state standards, and yes our case numbers have gone up and we are monitoring and dealing with that but have not seen any change in service or safety,” Calvert added.
Right now, there are three case manager positions they are trying to fill. It takes about three months of training once a new employee is hired before they can start taking cases.
Administrators said current staff members are helping out where they can but expect things to be back to normal and running smoothly within the year.
It is important to note administrators could not comment on the circumstances surrounding all of the resignations, since it is a personnel matter, so we do not know why all of the employees chose to leave.
By Matt Kroschel
Mesa County - Administrators with the Mesa County Department of Human Services want a brand new philosophy and an entirely new way of doing business, but not everyone agrees with the plan. Administrators with the Human Services Department say they will be more proactive in the way they deal with families in the county, but the changes are not without critics. In the last month, four of ten case managers have resigned.
NewsChannel 5 sat down with one former case manager who said she is leaving her job and feels things are not running the way they should be.
Monday was the last day Kelly Saint clocked in at her county case manager job, but she is not leaving on good terms. Her resignation comes on the heels of what she calls “ethical problems” within the department.
Saint has worked in her position for 15 years, and in that time she said there have been changes, but since April, the new plan has increased her workload to a level that she can’t continue to handle.
She claims, “Workers are being asked to put in 80 hours a week, or have to rush through the cases which could be horrible for the families we serve.”
But Jill Calvert, Mesa County Division Director of Child Services said despite some growing pains, the safety of the people they serve has not been jeopardized.
“We have had case workers training at new tasks. We are changing the way we do things from the inside out to better serve the public,” Calvert said.
“We are changing to be better and get in line with new state standards, and yes our case numbers have gone up and we are monitoring and dealing with that but have not seen any change in service or safety,” Calvert added.
Right now, there are three case manager positions they are trying to fill. It takes about three months of training once a new employee is hired before they can start taking cases.
Administrators said current staff members are helping out where they can but expect things to be back to normal and running smoothly within the year.
It is important to note administrators could not comment on the circumstances surrounding all of the resignations, since it is a personnel matter, so we do not know why all of the employees chose to leave.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
SWAT Standoff Over, Suspect Not Inside Home
By Matt Kroschel
Whitewater - After a five-hour standoff with a suspect whom sheriff's deputies believed was barricaded inside a Whitewater home, SWAT teams entered the home to find no one inside.
Mesa County authorities responded shortly after 4:30 PM on Tuesday afternoon. Officials received a domestic violence call for a home at 120 Whiting. The first deputies on the scene set up a perimeter around the home and the five-hour standoff began.
NewsChannel 5 spoke to family members of the suspect, who tell us his name is Robert Lambert. They say he has a long history of run-ins with the law.
At one point, a telephone was thrown into the home where they believed Lambert was hiding. Neighbors were allowed back into their homes around 9:15 PM. Lambert is on the run facing domestic violence charges.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
October 'People You Can Count On' Awarded To Starlene Collins
Going Above And Beyond To Get Food On The Tables Of Those In Need
By Matt Kroschel
Grand Junction- Every month thanks to your nominations we go out and find people on the Western Slope that are making a difference, helping this community to be a better place. October NewsChannel Five awarded Starlene Collins.
Over the past 12 years with the Western Slope Food Bank of the Rockies, Collins has gone above and beyond to make sure food gets to the people who need it the most in the Grand Valley.
Her dedication to her job and the entire community caught not only our attention, but our partners with the Sky Ute Casino. We are honored to award Collins 'People You Can Count On' For the month of October.
If you would like to nominate someone you know for this award, fill out the nomination form on the main page of krextv.com.
By Matt Kroschel
Grand Junction- Every month thanks to your nominations we go out and find people on the Western Slope that are making a difference, helping this community to be a better place. October NewsChannel Five awarded Starlene Collins.
Over the past 12 years with the Western Slope Food Bank of the Rockies, Collins has gone above and beyond to make sure food gets to the people who need it the most in the Grand Valley.
Her dedication to her job and the entire community caught not only our attention, but our partners with the Sky Ute Casino. We are honored to award Collins 'People You Can Count On' For the month of October.
If you would like to nominate someone you know for this award, fill out the nomination form on the main page of krextv.com.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Horizon Drive Thrives in Recession
By Matt Kroschel
Grand Junction - When you think about Horizon Drive in Grand Junction, hotels and gas stations may be what comes to mind, but a new study may shed some light on just how important the area is to Mesa County's overall economy.
Colorado Mesa University researchers released a new study that shows despite the economic recession, businesses along horizon drive have been able to weather the storm.
In fact, businesses report 30% growth over the last few years. $60 million in taxable retail sales come directly from the district, which has 277 individual businesses.
Plans for the future include working to improve safety and deal with a huge increase in traffic along horizon drive.
“We want to improve safety and make it better for foot traffic,” said Lynne Sorlye, a Horizon Drive District board member.
The district was created back in 2004.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Occupy Grand Junction Protest Sets Up Camp, Prepare For Expected Arrests
By Matt Kroschel
Grand Junction-
UPDATE: I am told at least 3 protesters are ready to be arrested for camping on the lawn at the Old Mesa County Courthouse. they expect police to move in and kick everyone out around 10:00 PM Saturday. If and when that happens protesters tell me they will continue to rotate out members to keep their protest site until Sunday. They are planning more marches around downtown Sunday afternoon.
PREVIOUS STORY:
About 100 protesters with a variety of messages 'moved in' to the lawn at the Old Mesa County Courthouse despite a county officials banning camping on the property.
Following in the footsteps of protesters across the country, Occupy Grand Junction began the protest with several speeches and chanting. With a strong uniformed police presence, hundreds of people from across the Western Slope began what they call as an occupation of support and a message to Wall Street.
The diverse group of protesters said no matter what individual problems people have with the current government and big businesses system, they are all finding mutual ground as being one of the 99 percent.
Protester Kristine Hicken traveled from Meeker for this protest and said she is here because she wants to show support to the protesters at Wall Street.
"Things are not right, they are worse then ever before and the rich keep getting richer while the majority of us are being passed over," Hicken said.
Protest organizers say they are pursuing legal action against the county for the ban on camping and said they anticipate several arrests Saturday night because some protesters will not leave t he lawn area.
Grand Junction Police officials said they will not tolerate illegal activities, but they don't expect a problem with the crowd.
Watch NewsChannel Five for continuing coverage of the protest.
For a link to the Occupy Grand Junction Facebook Page Click here:
Following in the footsteps of protesters across the country, Occupy Grand Junction began the protest with several speeches and chanting. With a strong uniformed police presence, hundreds of people from across the Western Slope began what they call as an occupation of support and a message to Wall Street.
The diverse group of protesters said no matter what individual problems people have with the current government and big businesses system, they are all finding mutual ground as being one of the 99 percent.
Protester Kristine Hicken traveled from Meeker for this protest and said she is here because she wants to show support to the protesters at Wall Street.
"Things are not right, they are worse then ever before and the rich keep getting richer while the majority of us are being passed over," Hicken said.
Protest organizers say they are pursuing legal action against the county for the ban on camping and said they anticipate several arrests Saturday night because some protesters will not leave t he lawn area.
Grand Junction Police officials said they will not tolerate illegal activities, but they don't expect a problem with the crowd.
Watch NewsChannel Five for continuing coverage of the protest.
For a link to the Occupy Grand Junction Facebook Page Click here:
http://www.facebook.com/KREXTV#!/groups/289861931025748/
Monday, October 10, 2011
Palisade Peach Harvest "Best in Years"
By Matt Kroschel
Palisade - Peach farmers in Palisade are wrapping up another year, so how did they do this season? Mesa County farmers tell NewsChannel 5 that problems in other counties helped make their crops more successful.
Overall, the harvest was good for peach farmers in Palisade. In the fields, just about everyone is done picking peaches, but workers at Kokopelli Farm still has work to do. The owners tell us they drew a good straw this year. That is because Mother Nature gave them a break with good weather and no late freezes. The news was not as good down south in Delta and Montrose Counties though. Peach farmers there were plagued with late spring freezes.
"Last year, we had a winter freeze that took quite a bit of our crop. This year, we actually had a very good crop. The price was good because some of the other growers, unfortunately, were short, especially in the Paonia, Cedaredge, Hotchkiss area," said Brant Harrison, the owner of Kokopelli Farm in Palisade.
At Kokopelli Farm, they say next year, they are planning on expanding their operation, in part thanks to the good harvest this season.
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