RIFLE POLICE CHIEF SWORN IN
RIFLE—Thomas Klein has been on the job for a couple of weeks but last night he was sworn in as Rifle’s new police chief by Mayor Pro-Tem Barbara Clifton. With 24 years of law enforcement experience under his belt, Chief Klein comes from Raleigh, North Carolina where he most recently served as the District Captain of the city’s police department. Klein was chosen over a field of nearly three dozen candidates to replace Chief John Dyer who resigned to take a job in his home state of Washington. Klein says he is looking forward to working with his staff of officers, the council and the community for years to come.
PARACHUTE LOOKING TO TOURISM FOR ECONOMIC BOOST
PARACHUTE—Officials in Parachute are doing their best to diversify the local economy beyond convenience stores and retail marijuana. While there is a chance the oil and gas industry could rebound, town leaders are looking at ways to invest in other ventures like tourism. Mayor Roy McClung would like to take advantage of being close to the Colorado River by building a boat ramp. McClung is trying to get enough money together to launch the project. Garfield County is helping out with a 125 thousand dollar grant from the Conservation Trust Fund. McClung says the town is applying for other grants and funding mechanisms to cover the cost of the ramp and other recreational projects totaling about 1.3 million dollars.
