Grand Junction Opinion News

Has anyone else noticed that feeling of uneasiness?I guess it's recession, unemployment, federal deficit, increased welfare and taxes and cost creep. I know, I know, it's all happened before, but I can't remember when all of that has happened in so short a time, and I've been following this stuff for a lot of years.And, to make our uneasiness even worse we've seen "stimulus one," bank and insurance company bail outs, the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac debacles, car company and student loan takeovers, and now the health care boondoggle.Not to mention a leaky Southern border, rampant drug violations,...

Once American revolutionaries fought to rid themselves of European politics. Now, given the direction the Obama administration is moving our nation, we might as well start applying for membership in the European Union. Or, maybe we could become a colony again.First, the Democratic health bill moved us closer to British-style rationing and waiting lines. Now an advisor to Obama wants to adopt a value-added tax, or VAT, which spread from France throughout Europe and beyond. While White House spokespersons denied that Obama wants a VAT, reports the Associated Press, Obama himself said he wants...

Why on earth the Free Press continues to give blind ideologue Kelly Sloan a podium is beyond me. His contention that Michael Bennet is not representing his constituents because he was supporting the public option in health care seems wholly inaccurate in that every reputable poll I ever saw showed both Coloradans and the rest of the country supporting the public option by over 70 percent margins.Sloan's statement that the housing bubble was caused by micromanagement and regulations by the government is his serious opinion? Every accredited financial publication, economist, academia professor,...

As the debate goes on regarding a Grand Junction "Safety Center," it's time to consider an alternative to our fragmented local governments and service providers.Why not combine the Grand Junction Police Department and the Mesa County Sheriff's department into a metropolitan police department? Combining the two police departments would immediately reap efficiencies. A single patrol unit, detective group, combined administration, and labs and forensic operations would save the taxpayers dollars. Such a metropolitan police department would follow similar patterns to the cooperative efforts that...

With apologies to Bob Dylan, there are tentative signs that attitudes in the extractive industries in general and natural gas drilling in particular may be taking a positive turn. Over the past few weeks, there've been encouraging reports from both industry giant ExxonMobil and the relatively small group of specialized mining industry folks attending the Solution Mining Research Institute conference right here in Grand Junction.A couple of weeks ago, an Associated Press story trumpeted the news that ExxonMobil now favors disclosure of the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, the gas...

With apologies to Bob Dylan, there are tentative signs that attitudes in the extractive industries in general and natural gas drilling in particular may be taking a positive turn. Over the past few weeks, there've been encouraging reports from both industry giant ExxonMobil and the relatively small group of specialized mining industry folks attending the Solution Mining Research Institute conference right here in Grand Junction.A couple of weeks ago, an Associated Press story trumpeted the news that ExxonMobil now favors disclosure of the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, the gas...

Once American revolutionaries fought to rid themselves of European politics. Now, given the direction the Obama administration is moving our nation, we might as well start applying for membership in the European Union. Or, maybe we could become a colony again.First, the Democratic health bill moved us closer to British-style rationing and waiting lines. Now an advisor to Obama wants to adopt a value-added tax, or VAT, which spread from France throughout Europe and beyond. While White House spokespersons denied that Obama wants a VAT, reports the Associated Press, Obama himself said he wants...

Analyzing the record and performance of Colorado's appointed junior Sen. Michael Bennet is a remarkably easy task; for any given issue simply disregard basic economic principles, along with any consequences that extend beyond the immediate future, then apply an ideological mold to it, rearranging whatever inconvenient empirical data necessary to make it fit, and you are left with Bennet's position.If it is wildly unpopular with the voters in the state he means to represent, so much the better. A more concise variant of this formula is to see what position Sens. Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer...

He said: Last week I was listening to a 20-something ask what day it was. He was about three days behind and exclaimed that he didn't know where the time goes. Notwithstanding the song by that name, I know. As we age, time is sucked into a black hole at an increasing rate. You cannot grab hold of it. It seems to be noon before I really get started, and then I am ready for my nap.She said: That's only because you care about time. I think you don't know how to relax or lose yourself in a feeling of the past. You are addicted to activity. You are always doing something, like packing for a trip...

After a long, cold, snowy winter, we are anxious to change gears and head outside to enjoy many of the great warm weather activities available in Grand Junction. The Grand Valley has developed a wonderful reputation for its high quality golf courses which offer excitement, challenge and breath-taking views. Lincoln Park and Tiara Rado golf courses are owned and operated by the City of Grand Junction, and will offer a new look this season.Several holes are being modified at Lincoln Park in an effort to mitigate the number of balls that stray beyond the course boundaries. These changes will...

We got a little chuckle out of the irony of this story.Mesa County District Attorney Pete Hautzinger, the people's chief prosecutor, soaking up rays in Mexico receives the call that his 16- and 17-year-old sons played host to a party during the weekend at the family home, and alcohol was involved. Approximately 35 people, ages 14 to 18, were in attendance, and many were intoxicated, the Denver Post reported. Twenty-six of those teens were cited for underage drinking.It is a scenario that could happen to any responsible parent. Kids do dumb things sometimes, period - even the district...

When newly named Grand Junction Police Chief John Camper agreed to take the position on an interim basis in August, he said at the time that he did not "anticipate being a candidate for chief."But, as it turns out, he emerged as the right fit for the police department at the right time. While we are most certain the other five finalists were well qualified for the role, it would seem Camper stood out best.Camper, a 1977 graduate of Central High School, had an advantage of being in the police chief role for five months, while the search for a predecessor to Bill Gardner continued to move...

Locally, not much time passed between the devastating earthquake in Haiti Jan. 12 and organized fundraising efforts in Western Colorado.No real surprise, but still admirable to see how quickly folks responded and in so many creative ways.One of the first campaigns out of the gate came from school children. The kids at Clifton Elementary school moved into high gear with their "Rally for Haiti Penny Drive." In no time flat, they had a good-size bucket placed in a strategic location at the school and were tossing in loose change (with approval from parents, of course) all in an effort to collect...

As the city of Grand Junction closes in on its choice to head the police department, the odds-on-favorite would appear to be interim chief John S. Camper. Camper, a 28-year law enforcement veteran, has been at the helm of the Grand Junction Police Department for about five months. He came to Grand Junction from the Lakewood Police Department where he is a division chief. Camper has essentially been on loan. He replaced former Chief Bill Gardner, who vacated his position Sept. 4. Camper, who said he did not "anticipate being a candidate for chief" when he was hired on an interim basis,...

When St. Mary's Hospital celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1996, a promise was made to the community - to recommit to the guiding principles of Sister Xavier Ross, founder of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. With that pledge, the hospital would "look forward to the good that is yet to be."St. Mary's Hospital & Regional Medical Center has kept its promise with the completion of the Century Project.The public is invited to St. Mary's Hospital Expo 2010 to celebrate the opening of the expansion and renovation project. The event, which will be held Saturday, Jan. 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30...

As the debate goes on regarding a Grand Junction "Safety Center," it's time to consider an alternative to our fragmented local governments and service providers.Why not combine the Grand Junction Police Department and the Mesa County Sheriff's department into a metropolitan police department? Combining the two police departments would immediately reap efficiencies. A single patrol unit, detective group, combined administration, and labs and forensic operations would save the taxpayers dollars. Such a metropolitan police department would follow similar patterns to the cooperative efforts that...

Has anyone else noticed that feeling of uneasiness?I guess it's recession, unemployment, federal deficit, increased welfare and taxes and cost creep. I know, I know, it's all happened before, but I can't remember when all of that has happened in so short a time, and I've been following this stuff for a lot of years.And, to make our uneasiness even worse we've seen "stimulus one," bank and insurance company bail outs, the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac debacles, car company and student loan takeovers, and now the health care boondoggle.Not to mention a leaky Southern border, rampant drug violations,...

Why on earth the Free Press continues to give blind ideologue Kelly Sloan a podium is beyond me. His contention that Michael Bennet is not representing his constituents because he was supporting the public option in health care seems wholly inaccurate in that every reputable poll I ever saw showed both Coloradans and the rest of the country supporting the public option by over 70 percent margins.Sloan's statement that the housing bubble was caused by micromanagement and regulations by the government is his serious opinion? Every accredited financial publication, economist, academia professor,...

I am a veteran patrol sergeant of Montezuma County Sheriff's Department, and through the years hundreds of times I advised people "I am sorry there is not much we can do."On April 18, my daughter and her boyfriend (whose father is also a veteran patrolman from New Mexico) were out driving near Loma when the back windshield of their car was shot out by a stray bullet. The Mesa County deputy arrived to only advise: "There is not much we can do." I completely understand the position of the deputy, however, as a parent I feel there is something I must do!My daughter and her boyfriend are both...

I open my newspaper here in Albuquerque every day and read about bad news, bad people and bad times. Makes you wonder about humanity at times.Having just had about the finest situation a person could hope for in a long distance bicycle purchase, I would like the people in the Grand Junction area to know that good people are still around and bend over backwards for others they don't even know.Ty Wertz of nearby Fruita had a bicycle for sale that my wife and I really wanted.After agreeing on a price, I told Ty I would be up sometime this week to pick up the bike.My wife asked if I really wanted...