DISQUS

YIPES! Blink and prices go up. By Wed afternoon, Bradley in Glenwood raised Regular to $3.71 and in Rifle, prices jumped 10 cents to $3.89 a gallon.

Additional info in DemNotes DemNotes went into detail about the seating of alternates that I did not include in my story: 

The biggest snag of the day was the seating of alternates. Due to some issues with numbers and lists, alternates were not seated until about Noon (the assembly was supposed to start at 10 am). While delegates went into the gymnasium, where the Convention and Assembly was to be held, alternates were sent to wait in the auditorium. There, we did our best to keep alternates energized and engaged.

...It was a longer process than most had anticipated, and I know that the Party staff and representatives from the Congressional districts will be working over this next week to streamline the alternate seating process for the three Congressional districts holding conventions and assemblies next weekend.

Bill's a Salesman I wonder how many world leaders were able to say "no" to Bill Clinton when he was president?

When I Can Find It.... I would like to buy some more time.

Me? Snarky? My friends Will Defend Your Opinion to the End If we don't make a mountain out of the Mountains, politicians will forget how important we are up here on the Western Slope.

Thank you for your comments Yes, results about the transportation study have been out for a while. Yet, several months and tax proposals later, as discussed at Club 20, the issue has gone nowhere. The state's wheels are still stuck in a rut - I'm not sure what progressive spin to put on that. However, Russell George's comment about turning CDOT into a public utility is an idea that came from thinking outside the box.

An Sidebar from the EAB Meeting At March's meeting, a complaint was filed through a citizen representative on the EAB: an old rancher's windshield had been busted by a truck coming off a working drill rig pad. The retired rancher couldn't see a name on the truck or a license plate number but "it was a white truck so it had to be from oil and gas."

The citizen rep asked the industry guys around the table, "so, is this rancher out of luck? It'll cost $500 out of his pocket to replace the windshield because of his insurance deduction."

After the meeting, a hat was passed among the oil and gas managers and PR people -- out came the wallets and purses; they raised $500 to fix the old rancher's windshield.

At the April meeting - after the big lecture - an announcement was made: the old rancher appreciated the donation and thanked everyone for his new windshield.

There was a collective sigh in the room. Whew! At least the oil and gas guys did something right that night.

Sure They Do The Salazar family has been ranching and farming in the San Luis Valley for over five generations.

In Hindsight.... Thank you for being insistent, Richard. I have a call into the editorial department of the RMN which I should have done before writing my commentary to ask them what criteria they used for the list. For instance, June 29th seems very late to have a flood partly caused by snowmelt but who knows what kind of records were kept back in 1927.

Your criticism is right on: I was wrong to suggest that Colorado's most devastating flood was omitted from the list possibly because of editorial oversight without substantiating that opinion. A lesson learned the hard way.

Yet, I think I still have one valid observation: if one is going to quantify the 331 estimated deaths in Colorado from flooding, one needs to mention the Big Thompson.

The mountains continue to pile up with snow and you sound just as concerned about spring flooding in Boulder as I am up here in Rifle. Looks like we both are going to be busy covering the subject for months to come. I look forward to your continued comments on the subject.

And please don't hesitate to keep this journalist on her toes.

Regards, Leslie

When Experience Counts Thanks for your comment Richard. What caught my attention was the article noted 331 people have been killed by flood disasters in Colorado yet on its flood list, only 134 deaths were posted. Since casualties from the Big Thompson tragedy account for almost half the total number of flood victims in Colorado, it was probably a point worth mentioning regardless of what time of the year it happened.

Nitpicking, yes. Is seasoned editorial oversight missing at the RMN? Your call.

That's MY Money in Iraq!!!!! Oh, no! One day's read just cost us about a half-billion dollars!

The Investment Will Pay Off The City of Rifle may have one of the smallest taxing downtown districts (about six small blocks) but it made an amazing difference in revitalizing the area after the oil shale bust when most of the retailers closed up.

The Downtown Development Authority hung up curtains in abandoned store windows, had western murals painted on empty buildings and planted mini-flower gardens on curb extensions. The dividends from taxes collected for the district have been many and rescued downtown Rifle from decay.

I'm not a scientist, but..... ...Who said that global warming always constitutes a drought? Some areas will get drowned.

Plus, one year does not make a trend. Let's talk about the weather 20 years from now.

Brief CO Gun Law Summary From the Colorado State Patrol:

Colorado allows a person to carry a firearm in a vehicle, loaded or unloaded, if its use is for lawful protection of such person or another's person or property. [C.R.S. 18-12-105(2)]

Colorado law also allows a person to possess a handgun in a dwelling, place of business, or automobile. However, you cannot carry the weapon concealed on or about your person while transporting it into your home, business, hotel room, etc.

Local jurisdictions may not enact laws that restrict a person's ability to travel with a weapon. [C.R.S. 18-12-105.6]

Transporting or Carrying a Weapon in National Forests

While visiting National Forests in Colorado, you may carry a weapon. However, in addition to state laws, you must comply with Federal Regulations pertaining to the use of a firearm on National Forest System lands.

A firearm may not be discharged in the following National Forest areas:

1.Within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site, or occupied area; or

2. Across or on a Forest Development road or an adjacent body of water, or in any manner or place whereby any person or property is exposed to injury or damage as a result of such discharge; or

3. Into or within any cave. [36 CFR 261.10 (d)]

Some forest or distrcits have additional restrictions on discharging a firearm. You are advised to check with the authorities in the areas you will be visiting.

Transporting or Carrying a Weapon in National Parks

With rare exception (such as during times when controlled hunting is allowed), weapons are to be dismantled completely while traveling in National Parks in the United States. In order to transport firearms through National Parks, they must be dismantled and carried in the trunk of the vehicle.

Mr Oldbogus Possibly the delegates realized that they had a conflict for the county convention/assembly, so they might have wanted to give your wife, as alternate, a heads up. However, your wife won't officially be seated until the county convention/assembly delegate check-in is completed.

I'm sure you weren't the only spouse dragged into a precinct caucus. If your wife ends up becoming a delegate to the state convention/assembly, you can look forward to a nice drive to Colorado Springs in May.

Yep, Allen There really is a place on the Western Slope called Silt, about 25 miles west of No Name. If you pass Antlers, you've gone too far.

Thanks for your insight! Question to the Clinton campaign:

The Obama campaign had a much better organized and funded campaign on the Western Slope; Obama's appeal to crossover voters wasn't lost on the caucusing Democrats either, who are a minority party up here. Did the Clinton campaign determine this trend early on and therefore, decide to concentrate efforts on the Front Range from the start?

Question to the Obama campaign:

It was nice that Obama won many delegates from western states like Colorado, but the big prize was California, where Clinton was more successful. Wasn't it overkill when possible CO Democratic delegates got at least a half dozen mailings and calls before caucus? In hindsight, maybe these campaign resources should have been directed to CA instead?

Also, what happens now with both campaigns in CO? Do you pack up your offices and go to the states where caucuses and primaries will be held?

Add-on Another question for both campaigns: now that the CO caucuses are over, are your campaigns packing up and moving on to the other states that have upcoming primaries or caucuses? Or will both candidates keep CO campaign offices open while the delegate competition stays even? 

Thanks!

Thanks for joining us today! Question to the Clinton campaign:

The Obama campaign had a much better organized and funded campaign on the Western Slope; Obama's appeal to crossover voters wasn't lost on the caucusing Democrats either, who are a minority party up here. Did the Clinton campaign determine this trend early on and therefore decide to concentrate efforts on the Front Range from the start?

Question to the Obama campaign:

It was nice that Obama won many delegates from western states like Colorado, but the big prize was California, where Clinton was more successful. Wasn't it overkill when possible CO Democratic delegates got at least a half dozen mailings and calls before caucus? In hindsight, maybe these campaign resources should have been directed to CA instead?

Thank you for the insight.... Who is on your editorial board? Were the endorsements a unanimous decision?

B'Bye Since there is ink in your veins, you'll be back! (I know, I've tried to leave the media many times.) Best of luck! Leslie

Thanks I'll make that addition.

Our Soldiers Deserve Better Protection The total number of U.S. soldiers killed in the Iraq War is nudging the 4,000 mark and most have been killed by an improvised explosive devises. We just had another Colorado soldier die in Iraq this week by an IED's. Many more soldiers are languishing in our hospitals because of injuries caused by IED's. Why can't the U.S. government provide better protective gear (like what the private security companies give to their employees in Iraq) to prevent death and injury to our soldiers?

The Train Bell Clangs "Ding-Dong" Huckabee-Bruce has a nice ring...for a railroad line out of town.

Thanks for the info, PDT To be absolutely sure of your voter registration status, call your county clerk. Either refer to your local phone book for your county clerk info or link herefrom the Secretary of State website. The more commmon problems arise when people don't update their addresses after they have moved, or go to the wrong caucus location, or forget what their current party affiliation is.

Colorado has a "closed" caucus, meaning that only Republicans can participate in the Republican caucus, Democrats only in the Democratic caucus. Unaffiliated registered voters cannot show up at a caucus and declare a party affiliation; the deadline to registered with a party was Dec. 5, 2007.