NEWS, AUGUST 13TH

GARFIELD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVE TAX BALLOT MEASURE

GLENWOOD SPRINGS–GARFIELD COUNTY VOTERS ARE GOING TO BE ASKED TO PAY A QUARTER CENT SALES TAXES TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT
RANCH LAND AND OTHER OPEN SPACE. AFTER DEBATING
THE WORDING OF THE MEASURE THAT WILL BE SEEN ON THE
BALLOT, THE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE AND TAX-LEERY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RELUCTANTLY APPROVED IT.
MARY NOONE WITH THE GARFIELD LEGACY PROJECT SAYS
SHE WANTED TO AVOID PUTTING THE WORD TAX IN THE
TITLE FOR FEAR IT WOULD SCARE PEOPLE OFF WITHOUT
READING THE FULL TEXT OF THE MEASURE. COMMISSIONER MIKE
SAMSON SAYS WHILE THE WORD TAX IS SPELLED OUT IN
THE FIRST SENTENCE OF THE EXPLANATION, IT’S MORE
IMPORTANT TO BE COMPLETELY UPFRONT WITH THE TAXPAYERS
AND PUT IT IN THE TITLE. THE TITLE THAT WAS FINALLY
AGREED UPON AND UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED FOR THE BALLOT WAS,
“RANCH LANDS, RIVERS AND RECREATION ECONOMY SALES TAX MEASURE.”

DENVER – GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s vice presidential choice is coming to Colorado for a fundraiser and a rally. Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan is scheduled to hold a fundraiser in a Denver suburb tonight and he has a public rally scheduled tomorrow at Lakewood High School. Colorado Democrats plan a news conference to attack Ryan’s economic policies.

DENVER – The Army says there will be no significant environmental impact from a plan to use explosives to destroy leaking chemical weapons at the Pueblo Chemical Depot. The army wants to destroy an estimated 780,000 shells containing 2,600 tons of mustard agent stored. Shells that are not leaking would be dismantled by robots and neutralized with chemicals.

CRIPPLE CREEK – Officials say State Highway 67 near Cripple Creek southwest of Colorado Springs is still closed after a sinkhole opened over a mine shaft under the roadway. The Colorado Department of Transportation says the highway has been closed in both directions after the hole was reported Saturday morning. CDOT representatives say they do not know how long the repairs will take.

ATLANTA – Colorado has the nation’s lowest obesity rate. A new government survey shows that just under 21 percent of Coloradans are obese. Twelve other states tip the scales with high obesity rates. The highest is Mississippi at nearly 36 percent. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the figures today.

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