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."

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

Religious Music In High School Choir Forces Student To Quit Singin

Islamic Prayer Song Being Sung By Grand Junction High School Choir

 

by Matt Kroschel

Grand Junction-- A Grand Junction High School student wants a song picked for the after-school men's choir group pulled, because he says the Islamic piece is not appropriate for a public school choir.

The song is called 'Zikr' and its composer says is not intended for a worship ceremony.

or senior James Harper, a Christian who is active in his local church, the wording and meaning of the song is such that he feels it should not be performed by students in a public school setting.

“I don’t want to come across as a bigot or a racist, but I really don’t feel it is appropriate for students in a public high school to be singing an Islamic worship song,” Harper told NewsChannel Five.

Harper sent an email to District 51 officials expressing his concerns with the song. He also contacted the KREX newsroom.



District officials said while they understand not everyone will agree with or appreciate songs due to the religious nature of the pieces, they completely stand behind both the music teacher and the song.

“This is about bringing diversity to the students and showing them other things that are out there,” spokesman Jeff Kirtland said. “The teacher was open with the parents and students do not have to participate in this voluntary club choir.”


The upbeat, rhythmic song combines dancing with drums. School officials said the teacher, knowing that there may be some questions about the song, asked her students to watch a Youtube video of the song and passed out the English translation to students.


GJHS choir instructor Marcia Wieland’s professional work as a conductor and teacher spans a wide variety of ages including experiences with high school, collegiate, and adult choirs. Ms. Wieland holds a Bachelor of Music in Choral Music Education from Oakland University.

To watch the entire song CLICK HERE

HAZMAT Teams Prepare for Possible Grand Valley Disaster

By Matt Kroschel
 

Grand Junction - With thousands of tons of dangerous chemicals passing through the Grand Valley every year over the open road and on the rails, a specialized unit of firefighters is preparing for the worst case scenario.

At the Grand Junction Fire Department's station three, firefighters with specialized gear and training to deal with an assortment of hazardous materials are stationed and ready at a moment's notice to respond to a hazmat incident.

Regular training exercises keep the first responders up to speed with the latest hazardous materials and tactics they can use if they do have to respond to a hazmat incident.

The Mesa County emergency manager's office oversees the entire response operations for any emergency incident in the county, and that includes hazmat situations.

Grand Junction Man Survives fall From Cliff Thanks to Teen Rescuer

"Next thing I knew there was nothing below me. I was falling off the cliff."

By Matt Kroschel

Mesa County - December 26, 2011, started like any other day on the trail.

John Mallow will admit that by no means does he consider himself an expert mountain bike rider, but like many outdoor lovers in Colorado, he welcomes the challenge of a single track.

As he pedaled along Mary’s Loop that afternoon, one split-second choice changed his life forever.

“I thought I could go on the other path--it would shoot me across to the other ledge--but the next thing I knew, there was nothing below me, and I knew I was falling off the cliff,” Mallow recounted.

Alone, badly hurt, and shivering, he called out for help.

“The pain was immense. My entire body was aching, and I was getting cold,” Mallow said.

As the sunlight began to fade over the Western Slope, so did hope. The situation was looking grim, when all at once, out of silence, Mallow heard voices from the cliffs towering over his crumpled and broken body.

“We heard some moans coming from down below us and we looked down and saw a man in a weird position,” 17-year-old Central High School senior Shawn Votruba told NewsChannel 5. “I could tell he was in pretty bad shape, and my instincts just kind of took over,” Votruba said.

Call it luck or fate or maybe even a higher power stepping in, but Votruba happened to have taken emergency medical training courses through Western Colorado Community College weeks before.

For several hours, as Lower Valley Fire and rescue teams and Mesa County Search and Rescue crews hiked into the accident scene, Votruba stayed by Mallow’s side, giving him lifesaving medical care.

Mallow was flown to Saint Mary’s hours later, but doctors were still not sure he would make it through the night. He had broken several ribs, a collapsed lung, a broken shoulder bone, broken back, and a head wound.

The damage from that cold December day is far from being erased, but Mallow has made a remarkable recovery in a relatively short time.

As for this near-death experience, Mallow said his gratitude for Shawn and the other rescuers cannot be put in words.

Mallow broke down in tears during the course of recounting he accident and incredible luck that Shawn happened to be on the trail that day.

In the last month the word "hero" has been tossed several times in Shawn's direction. “I think I’m just a normal guy who had to do what needed to be done,” said Votruba.

Mallow will present Shawn an award during a presentation at Central High School. Shawn plans on graduating high school and joining the army as a medic.

January People You Can Count On Recipient Has One Big Heart

 by Matt Kroschel

Grand Junction - They say home is where the heart is. If that is true, then Sue Edson is home everywhere in the Grand Valley. Edson founded ARVD Heart for Hope nonprofit to help raise awareness about heart disease in young people.

She has embarked in a project to get Automated External Defibrillators installed in all Mesa County schools. For her work to raise awareness and get the AEDs in local schools, she has been selected for our NewsChannel 5 People You Can Count On January winner.

Edson was nominated by people in the community by using the nomination form on homepage of www.krextv.com. She will receive a wonderful prize package from our friends at Sky Ute Casino Resort.

For more information about ARVD Heart for Hope, click here.

Helicopter Flight School Is Counting on University Partnership

by Matt Kroschel

Grand Junction - The owners of a local flight school are hoping a partnership they say is in the works with Colorado Mesa University will be a win-win for students in the Grand Valley.

Suncrest Aviation has been operating the only helicopter flight school on the Western Slope from the Grand Junction Regional Airport since 2009. Now, owners are confirming they are close to reaching a deal with CMU to give helicopter certificates as part of a new aviation program that is allegedly going to be offered through the Western Colorado Community College branch of CMU.

“This will be huge for us, and will give our students a big advantage over other students in flight programs because they will also have a degree when the graduate,” flight school instructor Julia Thaxton told NewsChannel 5 Sunday from the cockpit of a training helicopter hovering over Grand Junction.

The flight school has another location in Utah, and right now at the Grand Junction school, has a class size of about six students.

“We are hoping this partnership will be good for us and bring in a lot more students, and good for the students who will be able to get a college degree along with the needed Federal Aviation Administration certification,” Thaxton added.

The flight school training includes five different certifications, including private pilot, instrument rating, commercial pilot, certified flight instructor (CFI ), and certified flight instructor instrument (CFII).

CMU media spokeswoman Dana Nunn said the school is working on an aviation program, but would not elaborate on if a deal is in the works with any specific company.

“Before any new degree can begin it first has to get approval from the board of trustees,” Nunn said.

For more information about the flight school, click here.