JOHN MARTIN TAKES GOP PRIMARY
Glenwood Springs—John Martin’s quest to win an unprecedented sixth term on the Garfield County Board of Commissioners continues after last night’s primary victory. Martin captured just over 73 percent of the vote to handily defeat Republican challenger Aron Diaz. Martin thanked Diaz for running a positive, issue-focused campaign and now looks forward to the same thing against New Castle Democrat challenger John Acha.
ROAN PLATEAU PLAN REVEALED BY BLM
Rifle—The Bureau of Land Management has taken another step toward protecting most of the Roan Plateau from natural gas drilling, releasing a revised plan that puts many areas off-limits. The BLM says the plan puts in place the provisions of a 2014 compromise among conservation groups and natural gas producer Bill Barrett Corp. The public has until Aug. 1 to comment.
NORTHERN COLORADO FIRE
WALDEN (AP) – Thick forest and beetle-killed trees are helping fuel a wildfire burning near the Colorado-Wyoming border. The Beaver Creek Fire, which started June 19 northwest of Walden, Colorado, has spread to about 14 square miles as of Wednesday and has crossed into the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area.
WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS PLAN ON THE TABLE
DENVER (AP) – The federal government and a nonprofit group say they’ll work with private property owners to reduce the risk of major wildfires and protect rivers in the West. The U.S. Forest Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the the American Forest Foundation said Tuesday the $5 million program will include California, Colorado, Montana and Oregon. Another project will be selected in the Four Corners region, which includes Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah.
