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Tag: Mesa County

Cody Davis, the new Mesa Co. Commission chair, prioritizes listening, engaging with community
Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Cody Davis, the new Mesa Co. Commission chair, prioritizes listening, engaging with community

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice As Cody Davis received the gavel as the new chair of the Mesa County board of commissioners, he reflected on its playful history. Like when Bobbie Daniel became chair, Davis helped bedazzle it to add a glittery flair in honor of her leadership.  Now that the gavel has been passed to him, Davis joked about expecting “something like Thor’s Hammer” but admitted the simple wooden gavel feels fitting for his no-nonsense approach. “I’m not a very glittery, in-your-face personality," he said. "If I were to upgrade it, maybe I’d add a little plane or something aviation-related." In December, Davis accomplished a little-known feat — he earned his pilot's license. Flying has been a lifelong aspiration inspired by his father, who...
Tina Peters is now a Larimer Co. inmate. Here’s detail on why Mesa Co. chose to transfer Peters
Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Tina Peters is now a Larimer Co. inmate. Here’s detail on why Mesa Co. chose to transfer Peters

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Fears expressed by Tina Peters to Mesa County Sheriff's Office deputies during her stay in the county's jail led to the decision this week to relocate the former Mesa County clerk, the Rocky Mountain Voice has learned. In an overabundance of caution and to help ensure her feeling of safety, Peters has been transferred to the Larimer County jail. Sgt. Justin Montover, of the Mesa County Sheriff’s Professional Standards and Internal Affairs Unit, clarified key details regarding Peters’ incarceration and the measures taken to address her concerns.  “On several occasions, Tina was asked if she felt safe and to provide specifics about any issues," he said. "She expressed fears, but did not provide clear details about d...
Tina Peters has been transferred from Mesa County to Larimer County jail
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Tina Peters has been transferred from Mesa County to Larimer County jail

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Former Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Tina Peters has been transferred from the Mesa County jail to the Larimer County jail.  According to Larimer County booking information, Peters was processed as an inmate into the Larimer County jail at 11:53 a.m.  Wednesday. No other booking information was provided. On Oct. 3, 2024, Judge Matthew Barrett sentenced Peters to a 9-year prison sentence after she was previously found guilty of three counts of attempting to influence a public servant, conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, official misconduct, violation of duty and failure to comply with an order by the secretary of state.  She was immediately taken into custody following sentencing. The sentence i...
Daniel: A brighter future for Colorado will be lead through innovation, not big government
Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Daniel: A brighter future for Colorado will be lead through innovation, not big government

By Bobbie Daniel | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Colorado faces a declining economic reality: high inflation, soaring gas prices, stagnant wages, rising unemployment and an increasingly unaffordable housing market. Yet, this does not have to define our future. Colorado stands at the brink of a transformative innovation revival, fueled by our abundant natural resources, innovative spirit and entrepreneurial drive. By embracing these strengths, we can lead the nation into a future that balances conservation stewardship with economic prosperity. To achieve this, we must move away from heavy-handed government control and toward systems that reward innovation, empower communities and unlock the full potential of our state’s resources. Progress has always been driven by innovation...
Mesa County voters approve measures 4A and 4B for schools, promising upgrades, transparency
Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Mesa County voters approve measures 4A and 4B for schools, promising upgrades, transparency

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice In a decisive voice, the Mesa County community voted for ballot measures 4A and 4B. This passage is a clear mandate: Buildings with accessibility and security issues get an overhaul. Five learning days remain on the school calendar. And teachers will receive more approved curriculum sources, so they won’t have to resort to websites like Teachers Pay Teachers.  Mesa County voters passed Ballot Issue 4A with 71% approval to fund school renovations. Ballot Issue 4B, with 65% approval, allows retaining funds for extra educational resources and maintenance. Dr. Brian Hill, the district's superintendent, praised the community's commitment: "This support," he said, "means we can create safer, more modern learning environments. [We can] ...
Long after ‘the call’ there’s work being done in election offices across Colorado
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Long after ‘the call’ there’s work being done in election offices across Colorado

By BRIAN PORTER and JEN SCHUMANN | Rocky Mountain Voice When the polls close and enough ballots are counted on Election Night, voters are familiar with news agencies "calling" a winner in a race. "The call" is generally an estimation based on many factors, such as the percentage of votes counted against the anticipated total ballots cast, whether the margin is moving with each data release, if outstanding votes in a certain area might be a significant anomaly from the returned votes, and possibly a mathematical formula of what it may take to flip the race with the remaining outstanding votes. In other words, would a candidate with 35% of ballots remaining and only 20% of the vote need 90% of remaining ballots to favor him, a statistical improbability? Once all of those considerati...
Two arrested Mesa County women, including a postal worker, allegedly conspired in ballot theft case to test election
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Two arrested Mesa County women, including a postal worker, allegedly conspired in ballot theft case to test election

By Lindy Browning | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice Two women have been arrested in connection with the theft of multiple ballots in Mesa County, District Attorney Dan Rubinstein announced Wednesday. Sally Jane Smith, known by aliases Sally Maxedon and Sally Cline, age 60, from Grand Junction, and Vicki Lyn Stuart, age 64, also from Grand Junction, were arrested on Nov. 6, 2024. Election crimes fall under the authority and jurisdiction of the local district attorney, although the investigation also included state and local law enforcement. On Oct. 21, election officials at the Mesa County clerk and recorder's office reported to the district attorney’s office that they had received what appeared to be fraudulent ballots in the mail. When the elections officials were running...
Business owners ask City Council for help with homeless activity, get no action in Grand Junction
Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Business owners ask City Council for help with homeless activity, get no action in Grand Junction

By Lindy Browning | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice Grand Junction businesses and residents in the downtown area have become fed up with the nefarious and criminal activity stemming from the Homeward Bound Day Center for the homeless, and they are directing their ire at elected officials on City Council. Ben Van Dyke, who owns the car wash next door to the center, says that although he understands, and has compassion for, the people who are homeless, the criminal and nuisance activities that are not being managed are unsafe and are driving away his business. “My revenue is down 30 percent because my customers tell me they feel unsafe," he said. "I used to go down and do maintenance on my building at night so I didn’t have to shut down operations during the day. I can’t do that a...
How three fraudulent ballots got through the mail-in voting process in Mesa County
Local, The Business Times

How three fraudulent ballots got through the mail-in voting process in Mesa County

By Craig Hall and Brandon Leuallen, The Business Times Even with several tiers of signature auditing in place, the sheer volume of votes in process leaves Colorado’s system open to fraud and mistakes while putting the onus on individuals. According to Mesa County Clerk Bobbie Gross, the 12 fraudulent ballots under current investigation were all set aside for the envelope signatures not matching by the automated equipment used by the county. “And while that’s all part of the process, the factis our equipment sets aside about 50% of early ballot envelopes due to signatures not matching. Unless it’s an exact, or almost exact, match, the equipment kicks the envelope out,” said Gross, “And not all counties in Colorado even have the automated equipmentneeded for the first step in the autho...
Mesa County to Secretary Griswold: ‘This is our community and our investigation’
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Mesa County to Secretary Griswold: ‘This is our community and our investigation’

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice The Mesa County elections office is investigating a potential case of election fraud, Mesa County Clerk Bobbie Gross announced Thursday, just moments after a press release vividly detailing the case was sent to the media from Secretary of State Jena Griswold's office. "While we understand the secretary of state’s desire to make public statements, this is our community and our investigation," Gross said. Thirteen minutes earlier, Griswold had released specific information pertaining to the investigation and a statement to the media. "It is critical that we follow proper procedures to ensure a thorough and effective investigation without tipping off those involved," Gross said. "The people of Mesa County deserve transparency and accountabili...