DEBEQUE CANYON ROCK SLIDE CLOSES I-70
Grand Junction—A large rock slide in Debeque Canyon has closed I-70 in both directions. C-DOT officials aren’t sure how long it will be closed. The alternate route is over Highway 65 over Grand Mesa.
AURORA WOMAN IDENTIFIED IN LAST WEEK’S EXPLOSIVE GLENWOOD CANYON CRASH
Glenwood Springs—The woman who died in last week’s horrific head-on crash in Glenwood Canyon was identified as 53 year old Sherrie Hart of Aurora. Her husband, daughter and grandson were hospitalized in the early-morning crash with the semi tractor-trailer. Investigators with the Colorado State Patrol say prescription drugs may have played a part in the accident.
BODY OF CARBONDALE MAN ID’D
Basalt—The body of the man found in an irrigation ditch in Basalt two days ago was identified as 35 year old Daniel Perez Mejia of Carbondale. The cause of death has not been determined. A couple of landscape workers discovered Mejia’s body in the ditch near Big-O Tires this past Monday morning. Authorities say early indications show no signs of foul play. Officials with Basalt Police Department and the Colorado Bureau of Invesstigation say Mejia was reportedly last seen Sunday morning aboard a RAFTA bus.
EX-RAFTA LAWYER SENTENCED FOR USING COMPANY CREDIT CARD
Aspen—The former RAFTA lawyer who admitted charging golf outings and other personal items to a company credit card can avoid going to jail. Walter Matthews IV pled guilty in Pitkin County District Court to felony and misdemeanor theft counts. Matthews used the RAFTA credit card while attending professional conferences. The District Attorney’s office says Matthews has already repaid about 30 thousand dollars in restitution abd they’re suggesting a deferred judgement with no jail time. Matthews will be sentenced June 25th and could have the felony conviction dropped from his record if he complies with probation conditions.
BLM ENERGY PLANS PROMPTS LAWSUIT
Grand Junction—The Bureau of Land Management is being sued by seven environmental organizations. The reason? They say the BLM’s plans to make more than 12-hundred square miles available for oil shale leasing in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming without consulting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is in violation of the Endangered Species Act. The conservation groups say oil shale development would impact threatened or endangered species like the Colorado Pikeminnow and the Mexican Spotted Owl. Among the environmental organizations included in the suit are the Sierra Club, the Grand Canyon Trust and Rocky Mountain Wild. The BLM has not responded to the lawsuit.
