Rifle–Tonight is the first big pre-election forum for local voters. The Rifle Chamber of Commerce is hosting a candidates and issues forum at city hall beginning at 6 o’clock. The forum will give voters a chance to learn more about candidates running for various offices including Garfield County Commissioner Districts 2 and 3 and the race for 9th Judicial District Attorney’s office. Amendment 64, the statewide ballot measure looking to legalize marijuana will also be debated.
Grand Junction–Wildfire danger on the western slope is high once again with warm winds blowing through the region. The National Weather Service has issued a high fire danger warning for six counties; Garfield, Rio Blanco, Eagle, Pitkin, Moffat and Mesa.
Rifle–The place known to locals as “The Little Ford Dealer” has been purchased by the most popular baseball player in Colorado Rockies’ franchise history. 39 year old Rockies’ All-Star first baseman Todd Helton has agreed to purchase Columbine Ford in Rifle. Helton, who sat out the last two months of the 2012 season with a hip injury, has teamed up with front range auto dealer Mike Peebles. Peebles runs Longmont Ford and Barbee’s Freeway Ford in Denver. Helton says he plans to return next season to play the final year of his contract and will likely retire to go in the car business.
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) – The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is considering statewide rules on groundwater sampling and monitoring at new well pads. The commission on Monday also began discussing changing the state’s so-called “setback” rules on how far wells must be from buildings.
During the meeting in Steamboat Springs, commission director Matt Lepore said the proposed rules would have to be published by Oct. 15 in order to be taken up during the commission’s Nov. 15 meeting. Steamboat Today (bit.ly/QIx3W2) that would put the commission on track to vote on whether to approve any new rules on Jan. 3 and then submit them to the Legislature for approval. One proposal would require a public hearing and commission approval before wellheads can be placed within 750 feet of schools or hospitals.
