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Reclaiming George Washington’s legacy: The truth behind President’s Day
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Approved, Commentary, National, Rocky Mountain Voice

Reclaiming George Washington’s legacy: The truth behind President’s Day

By Tori Ganahl | Rocky Mountain Voice In the heart of winter, Americans pause to remember one of the nation's greatest leaders, George Washington. Yet, as the holiday season unfolds, the true essence of Washington's Birthday often gets lost in the shuffle of modern interpretations. Since 1879, February 22nd has stood as a testament to the exemplary leadership of George Washington, with the federal government recognizing it as an official holiday. However, over time, the solemnity of this occasion has been diluted by efforts to broaden its scope. George Washington, a paragon of humility, would have likely eschewed the grandeur associated with modern celebrations. Instead, he remained focused on serving his country, even on his own birthday. Despite his modesty, the reverence for Wa...
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Ballots have been mailed for Presidential primary, Election Day is March 5
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Approved, National, Rocky Mountain Voice

Ballots have been mailed for Presidential primary, Election Day is March 5

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Registered electors in Colorado will be asked to decide a one-issue choice for U.S. President next month by voting either a Republican or Democratic primary ballot. County clerks began mailing ballots Monday, Feb. 12, and all ballots were required to hit the mailstream by Friday, Feb. 16. Election Day is Tuesday, March 5. The Republican ballot will include former President Donald Trump and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, along with several candidates whom have withdrawn from the race. The Republican ballot also allows for a write-in of a candidate not appearing on the ballot. The Democratic ballot includes President Joe Biden, Jr., and several other options, along with an option to vote a “noncommitted delegate”. In Colorado...
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HD 63 candidates Johnson, Urdiales speak at Logan County dinner 
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Approved, Eastern Plains, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

HD 63 candidates Johnson, Urdiales speak at Logan County dinner 

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice STERLING – Two candidates are vying to become the next Colorado House District 63 representative, following Minority Whip Rep. Richard Holtorf, R-Akron, in the position. “I’m running to protect our way of life,” said Dusty Johnson, formerly the chairwoman of the Morgan County Republican Party and an aide in the past decade to several state and federal officials. “Colorado legislation should not be one size, fits all,” said Brian Urdiales, formerly elected as a Fort Morgan City Councilman and operator of Urdiales Group real estate. They both addressed those attending the Logan County Republican’s Lincoln Dinner audience Saturday, Feb. 17. There have been two representatives to hold the seat in the Colorado House since a Morgan County res...
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Meet ‘The Good Ol’ Boys’ Club of Douglas County, where you can ‘throw your two cents in’
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Meet ‘The Good Ol’ Boys’ Club of Douglas County, where you can ‘throw your two cents in’

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice CASTLE ROCK – There’s no mollycoddles or wallflowers allowed. But just about anything else goes. In a back room of the Castle Cafe here once a week meets a group of like-minded men from a variety of professional backgrounds known as ‘The Good Ol’ Boys’. Now, this isn’t Bo and Luke Duke, and Boss Hogg is no where to be found, mind you. Cigar smoke doesn’t fill the air and no one is running illegal moonshine. No, in fact, most of the members of this club might have trouble sliding across the hood of a 1969 Dodge Charger. These Good Ol’ Boys meet weekly to hear from candidates for office, other subjects, and in general to reach conservative solutions on the big issues of the day. “We may all be retired – or most of us – but that doesn’...
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Urdiales to seek HD63 seat in Northeastern Colorado
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Approved, Eastern Plains, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Urdiales to seek HD63 seat in Northeastern Colorado

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice Brian Urdiales, a Realtor and former member of City Council in Fort Morgan, has announced he will seek the Republican nomination for Colorado House District 63, setting up an opposed primary. The seat is presently held by Rep. Richard Holtorf, R-Akron, the minority whip in the Colorado House of Representatives. Holtorf, who is not seeking re-election, was among the first to enter the race for the U.S. House of Representatives District 4 seat when U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, R-Windsor, announced he would not seek re-election. “We see the policy in Denver and at the state capitol, and we know in Morgan County and other areas of Eastern Colorado that one size government does not fit all,” Urdiales said. He opposed top-down government policies whi...
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Camping ban in Pueblo aims to clean community, put homeless in shelters
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice, Southern Colorado

Camping ban in Pueblo aims to clean community, put homeless in shelters

'I see it as compassionate that I care enough about my human neighbors that I’m not going to allow them to lay out in the wilderness like a bunch of wild animals' – President Mark Aliff A parade of three doctors, activists, non-profit personnel, pastors and previously homeless residents approached Pueblo’s City Council for the better part of two hours Monday seeking their opposition to a ban on unauthorized camping on public property. “It’s rare we get an ordinance with residents lining out the door to speak,” said City Councilwoman Sarah Martinez, who opposed the ban. At issue is a homeless population creating concerns which some say has grown out of control – from drug refuse and human waste, to fires and fear of drownings, to one member hearing gunshots during the night. Cit...
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Editorial: Asking EV owners to pay for electricity at taxpayer-funded stations is right call
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Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Editorial: Asking EV owners to pay for electricity at taxpayer-funded stations is right call

By Rocky Mountain Voice Editorial Board The issue: Some local governments are moving to user fees for electric vehicle charging stations. We say: This is the correct call. Taxpayers may appropriately invest in the infrastructure, but should not bear the burden of supplying free electricity to the minority of motorists. The free ride on the backs of the taxpayer is over in one Western Slope community. Grand Junction city officials correctly decided last week to end free access to electric vehicle charging at city-owned stations, and rather to implement a fee structure. It is worth commending City Manager Greg Caton for bringing this matter to a head. “There shouldn’t be an expectation of free charging provided by your local government,” he told the City Council. The cit...
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In barber shop chat, Rep. Holtorf finds more reason to call for Republican unity
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

In barber shop chat, Rep. Holtorf finds more reason to call for Republican unity

When he removed his cowboy hat and sat down in the barber’s chair in a shop in Denver, Eastern Colorado rancher Richard Holtorf could not have known he was about to have a meaningful discussion on the present state of Colorado. The House District 63 representative had visited the barber shop before – preferring it as a traditional barber shop, replete with a barber pole – but this time was different. “The barber, she asked me where I was from, originally,” Holtorf recalls. “I told her Akron, on the Eastern Plains.” He works a 4,000-head family cattle ranch there, residing in a house overlooking his mother’s home on the property. Holtorf was likely poised for a quiz on how he got from Akron to Denver, and just what he was doing in that moment sitting in a Denver barber shop. Ins...
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In Rifle, police officer initiates city discussion of obscured license plates, ‘huge problem’ of inoperable vehicles
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice, Western Slope

In Rifle, police officer initiates city discussion of obscured license plates, ‘huge problem’ of inoperable vehicles

An inquiry by Rifle police officer Kallie McCain to the municipal court led Wednesday to a full discussion on the appearance of license plates and vehicles by the City Council. At issue is obscured plates and the process by which police officers face additional workload writing citations to both municipal and county courts for the violation. The state’s statute on the display of license plates was not included in Rifle’s Model Traffic Code – a statute at least one member of City Council finds to be vague. By adding the language of the state statute to the local code, officers could write the ticket and potentially others into one court, said Municipal Court Clerk Kathy Pototsky, avoiding the need to appear in separate courts. It would be a $25 citation. “Most officers would write ...
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‘It shouldn’t be free’: In Grand Junction, EV owners will pay at city-owned charging stations
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice, Western Slope

‘It shouldn’t be free’: In Grand Junction, EV owners will pay at city-owned charging stations

‘The majority of the power is coming from coal,’ City Councilman Cody Kennedy says Electric vehicle operators will no longer have a free ride from the City of Grand Junction. City Council unanimously supported the implementation of a fee structure Wednesday, similar to fees implemented by some other local governments to cover public expenses related to charging stations. “I used one of the EV charging apps and there are 40 some odd places in town where you can charge for free,” said City Councilman Scott Beilfuss, also indicating he didn’t support a free-use structure. The proposed rates are comparable to what a gas or diesel-powered vehicle owner might expect to pay for metered parking, City Manager Greg Caton said. “There is a significant amount of public investment in thi...
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