🌱 Clifton Fire + SWAT At The Le Master Motel + Burkey Park Kerfuffle

Hello all! Today’s National Onion Rings Day; did you know that while a recipe mentioned them in 1802, it was the A&W restaurant that made them popular fast food in the 1960s? I'm here with your Thursday edition of the Grand Junction Patch newsletter, filled with what's happening in town. Including news on:

• 🤝 The Board of Education having a change of mind.
• 🔧 Repairs to the Police Department headquarters.
• 🤔 Selling a donated piece of property.

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☀️ Now, today's weather: Breezy in the afternoon. High: 92 Low: 61.

⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations Around Grand Junction

• Happy Stop Super Store at 2714 US-50, $3.45
• Safeway at 681 Horizon Drive, $3.47
• Conoco at 2998 North Ave., $3.47

🏖️ Vacation Poll!
Are you traveling this summer? What is your favorite type of vacation? So far:

• 29.6 percent plan a staycation
• 14.8 percent each want to go on a road trip or cruise
• 11.1 percent choose a camping trip
• 7.4 percent intend to head out for an island vacation
• 3.7 percent each opt for a local outing, a national park trip, a Jeep trip, a solo trip to Europe, or a group tour abroad

📰 Here are the top stories in Grand Junction today:

1. Firefighters responded to 107 Laura Ave. in Clifton on Wednesday after receiving reports of a structure fire. They heard someone calling for help; firefighters rescued one person from the building. (Western Slope Now)
2. Meanwhile, SWAT rolled Wednesday and headed to the Le Master Motel at 2858 North Ave. A 23-year-old suspect refused to cooperate with police officers, who also noticed stolen vehicles on the property, but surrendered to the SWAT team. (KJCT)
3. L.W. and Mildred Burkey donated an 18.36-acre tract of land to the city. Their wish was that it would become a park. Now, the city is selling the parcel near 30 and Patterson roads for $4.25 million. Previously, the city considered rezoning the donated land to build 144 housing units, which got community pushback. (The Daily Sentinel/paywall, SAVE Burkey PARK)
4. In a somewhat surprising reversal, the Board of Education decided to put a clinic at Grand Junction High School after all. The facility will offer “primary care, mental health services, and dental services.” Superintendent Dr. Brian Hill is now trying to find the best location for the health care center. (NBC)
5. Do you remember when a truck — quite literally — drove into the Grand Junction Police Department headquarters in January? After approving “more than $373,000 for the repairs” last month, the city council anticipates everything to be fixed by Sept. 1. (KKCO)

📆 Today in Grand Junction:

Thursday, June 22

• Grand Junction Rapids Swim Club for teens and preteens meets at Lincoln Park (7 AM)
• Full Day Paleo Lab Adventure meets at the Dinosaur Journey Museum (8 AM)
• Country Jam Colorado 2023 at Jam Ranch (3 PM)
• Coloramo Future of Banking Focus Group Session meets at 516 28 Road (4 PM)
• The Troy Douglas Trio performs at the Grand Vista Hotel (5 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "Elementary Declining Enrollment Committee Open House on June 29, and July 12 at 5:30 p.m. (Location TBD). Community discussion through Facebook Live on July 5 at 5:30 p.m. Visit http://bit.ly/creatingasustainabled51 for more information." (Mesa County Valley School District 51)
• "GJPD Officer Allen played football for Pace University in New York. Ossining Police Chief Sylvester in NY played an important part in his future, and we are happy Brenton chose the GJPD. So glad to have him on our team, serving GJ." (Grand Junction PD)
• "The Colorado Department of Transportation announced Monday a temporary bridge across a sinkhole that destroyed part of Colo. Highway 133 near Paonia opened around mid-morning." (The Daily Sentinel)
• "I-70 is currently closed in both directions at Mile Marker 2 for a brush fire that began in the median and has now jumped the eastbound lanes. Please avoid the area until further notice." (Mesa County Sheriff)
• "National Night Out registration is now open! The GJPD wants YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD to join us for National Night Out! Nosey neighbors make for safe neighborhoods." (Grand Junction PC)

Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all Saturday morning for another update!

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Christ follower. Wife. Book dragon. Proud supporter of the Oxford comma.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Grand Junction Patch newsletter? Contact me at grandjunction-co@patch.com