SNOW DAY FOR SCHOOLS UP AND DOWN THE VALLEY
Glenwood Springs—Students from Parachute to Aspen are enjoying a day off from school due to the heavy snow and frigid temperatures. Classes ranging from pre-school to college have been canceled along with several other activities including today’s health insurance meeting at the Hotel Colorado.
MAMM CREEK WATER STUDY TO BE DISCUSSED BY GARCO ENERGY BOARD
Silt—A critical study of the impacts of oil and gas drilling on groundwater in the Mamm Creek area is being considered by the Garfield County Energy Advisory Board. The board will hold a public meeting tomorrow in Rifle which will include a presentation by the man who supervised the study, consultant David Bohmann of Tetra Tech. Dinner will be served at 5:30 and the presentation will begin at 6.
ANOTHER COLORADO CITY BANS FRACKING
Broomfield—A recount shows voters in Broomfield narrowly approved a five-year moratorium on fracking, but opponents are challenging the vote-counting process and some voters’ eligibility has been questioned. Tuesday’s recount showed the measure passed by 20 votes out of nearly 21,000 ballots counted. The tally after the Nov. 5 election showed the measure passed by 17 votes, close enough to trigger a mandatory recount. Opponents filed suit Tuesday alleging elections officials didn’t give their representatives access to monitor the recount. Broomfield officials deny the claim. Officials say the eligibility of up to 18 ballots has been questioned. They say a full review will be completed this week.
REC WEED LICENSE BACKLOG
Denver—Regulators are still battling an enormous backlog issuing licenses for medical marijuana as Colorado prepares for recreational pot sales in less than a month, Nearly 100 Colorado medical-marijuana businesses are operating without a final state license. The application backlog now stretches back more than three years. Colorado allows marijuana dispensaries with pending applications to remain in business. The newspaper reports that 96 businesses are in that category, growing and selling pot without final licenses. All the businesses applied for licenses in 2010.