Wednesday, October 19, 2005

DIAZ NEW AGNC DIRECTOR
After 24 years at the helm, Jim Evans is retiring as executive director of the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado. Aron Diaz will become the new AGNC executive director. AGNC represents cities and counties on regional issues in the five-county area of Garfield, Mesa, Moffat, Rio Blanco and Routt counties and the AGNC office is located in Rifle.

-GS Post-Independent, 10.19.05

JUNE JAZZ ASPEN: AT RISK?
The Aspen City Council unanimously rejected new dates proposed for the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Festival that would have moved the event to the July 4th weekend in 2006. the council’s decision could put the future of the festival in jeopardy. The JAS board will decide whether to go forward with the 2006 June Festival in a few weeks.

-Aspen Times, 10.19.05

COLD COMING, COSTS RISE
Xcel Energy Tuesday filed for a 11% rate increase for natural gas in November. That increase, combined with the need for more heat in November as temperatures fall, will cause the typical residential heating bill to be $131, compared with October’s $64.

-Denver Post, 10.19.05

PAYING MORE AT COLO. COLLEGES
Colorado’s four-year colleges increased tuition this year an average of 17%, the highest rate increase in the U.S. The national average was 7%, the lowest increase in the past four years.

-Rocky Mountain News, 10.19.05

IT COMPANY NO. 2 ON INC. LIST
Merlin Technical Solutions, an information technology company headquartered in Greenwood Village, is No. 2 on the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. released today by Inc. magazine.

-Rocky Mountain News, 10.19.05

NPS BACKS OFF
The National Park Service has backed off a proposed new policy that would have allowed expanded use of snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles on federal land. Park Service officials released a draft proposal that leaves the current snowmobile and off-road regulations in place.

-Associated Press, 10.19.05

S. UTES MAKE DEAL
The Southern Ute Indian Tribe has sold its assets in a Canadian natural-gas operation for $175 million, tripling its original investment of three years ago. The sale revenues will be used to mount a $500 million exploration of oil and gas operations of Red Willow Production Co., the tribe’s energy firm, in Texas, Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico.

-Durango Herald, 10.19.05

VR SHARES: OPEN MARKET SALES
St. Louis-based Ralcorp Holdings Inc., Vail Resorts’ largest shareholder, with 7.55 million shares of common stock, or 20.6% of outstanding shares, can sell VR stock on the open market, and is no longer required to give Vail Resorts the right of first refusal, according to an amended shareholder agreement filed by Ralcorp. Ralcorp’s shares are worth roughly $240 million.

-Denver Post, 10.19.05

HWY. 131 CONTRACT AWARDED
Connell Resources has been awarded a $5.6 million contract for road improvements on Colorado Highway 131 south of Steamboat Springs, with work to take place next summer. Motorists and commuters could experience delays of 20 to 30 minutes next summer in construction zones.

-Steamboat Pilot, 10.19.05

NEW WATER STUDY COMING
The Colorado River Water Conservation District will manage a $200,000, 10-month study set to begin soon that will address water quality, cost and hydrology as part of the 2005 Colorado River Basins Proposal. Half the cost will come from the Western Slope and half from the Front Range and the study will evaluate a plan to create a new reservoir near Wolcott and a new way of operating Green Mountain Reservoir.

-GJ Daily Sentinel, 10.18.05

SEEDING CLOUDS
Durango Mountain Resort and Vail Resorts will continue to contract for cloud seeding this winter to increase the quantity and quality of snow on their slopes. The Telluride Ski and Golf Company will not use cloud seeding, citing cost issues. For Vail, a single day of snowmaking costs more than a whole season of cloud seeding.

-Telluride Daily Planet, 10.18.05

GOOD SNOW SEASON? MAYBE
The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration has released their outlook for the upcoming winter, predicting above-average temperatures and near-normal precipitation for much of the U.S. The outlook for Colorado? …chances are equal for above-average, near-average or below-average snow in the state.

-Vail Daily, 10.18.05

SAFEGUARD YOUR INFORMATION
•Don’t give your Social Security number or other personal credit information over the phone unless you initiate the call.
• Tear up receipts, bank statements and unused credit card offers before throwing them away.
• Keep an eye out for any missing mail.
• Don’t mail bills from your own mailbox.
• Review your monthly accounts regularly for any unauthorized charges.
• Order copies of your credit report once a year to ensure accuracy.
• Choose to do business with companies you know are reputable, particularly online.
• When conducting business online, make sure your browser’s padlock or key icon is active.
• Don’t open e-mail from unknown sources, and use virus detection software.
• Protect your PINs (don’t carry them in your wallet!) and passwords, use a combination of letters and numbers for your passwords and change them periodically.
•Report any suspected fraud to your bank and the fraud units of the three credit reporting agencies immediately. The fraud unit numbers are:
- Trans Union 800-916-8800
- Experian 800-301-7195
- Equifax 800-525-6285

RIDING TO WORK, AND SAVING
Number of people in car pool and its savings per person:
2: $870
3: $1,160
4: $1,305

-USA Today, 10.19.05

BIGGEST TUITION INCREASES
States with highest rates of tuition increase this year for public four-year colleges:
Colorado 17%
Kentucky 14%
Michigan 12%
States with the lowest rates of tuition increase this year:
New York 1%
North Carolina 2%
Hawaii 3%
National average 7%

-Rocky Mountain News, 10.19.05

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