ONE WOMAN KILLED, ANOTHER CRITICAL AFTER BEING HIT BY SEMI ON I-70
Silt—An argument between two women in a car ended tragically this past Monday night near Silt when the two were hit by a semi tractor-trailer. One woman died at the scene while the other is reportedly fighting for her life at Valley View Hospital. According to reports from the Colorado State Patrol and the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, the women were passengers in a car when the argument escalated and became violent and the driver asked them to get out. Their fight ended up in the right lane of westbound I-70 when the semi hit them. The names, ages and hometowns of the women have not been officially released by authorities.
WOMAN’S BODY FOUND NEAR RIFLE SUBDIVISION
Rifle—The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a woman who’s body was found yesterday at the bottom of a steep ravine near the Grass Mesa subdivision south of Rifle. Authorities suspect it may be the woman who was reported missing the day before. Garfield County Sheriff’s Spokesman Walt Stowe says it appears she accidentally slid down the ravine some 75 feet. No one is sure yet if her injuries were fatal or if she froze to death.
DEADLY WESTERN COLORADO PLANE CRASH
Grand Junction—Three people were killed yesterday in a plane crash on the Grand Mesa. The bodies and the wreckage were found this morning by a National Guard helicopter from Gypsum. According to reports from the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, the plane took off from the Mesa-Mack airport to check on livestock. The names of the victims have not been released pending notification of family members. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash.
C-130 MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING IN MONTROSE
Montrose—It was a close call for the pilots of a military C-130 airplane who made an emergency landing last night at the Montrose Regional Airport. Officials say the plane was flying across country from New Jersey to California when the engine caught fire. The pilots shut down one engine and landed safely in Montrose where emergency crews were waiting to respond. Three pilots and three passengers were unhurt.
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY CITED FOR HARMING ASPEN WATER
Aspen—-Aspen’s water supply was tampered with when a Carbondale construction company installed a new fire hydrant. Savage Construction was cited this week by a municipal court judge for cutting into the city’s water supply without permission. The company apologized but will pay fees and court costs. The court suspended a year and half probation sentence. Savage Construction was hired by a property manager to install the new hydrants to protect three homes.
RIFLE AWARDED GRANT FOR WATER TREATMENT PLANT EQUIPMENT
Rifle—-The city of Rifle can now buy an important piece of equipment for the new water treatment plant. Rifle was awarded a grant from the Department of Local Affairs for over 735 thousand dollars to buy and install a natural gas generator. Officials with the water department say the generator will serve as a back-up for power for the new plant. City Manager Matt Sturgeon says a natural gas generator makes sense as a secondary source of power because it will be fueled by locally-produced gas and lower the demands for electricity. The city is looking to break ground on the new water treatment plant next year.
GARCO ENERGY MASTER PLAN TO BE UNVEILED
Glenwood Springs—-Garfield County’s long-awaited Energy Master Plan will be publicly unveiled next week. TRC, a nationally known consulting firm recently completed Phase I of the plan that will include updated maps of the county’s vast energy inventory in natural gas, oil, oil shale, uranium, coal, biomass, coalbed methane, hydro, geothermal, solar, wind and aggregate. The Energy Master Plan presentation will be made Monday morning.