Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Monday & Tuesday’s Alpine Fax Combined
COMCAST SERVICE DERAILED
Comcast’s cable Internet service has been out since Sunday from Aspen to Parachute and in the Winter Park area, affecting some 7,500 high-speed Internet users. The outage was caused by the accidental cutting of a fiber optic circuit by railroad crews making repairs from a train derailment near Winter Park. It is the second outage for the company since October due to train derailments.
-Aspen Daily News, 01.24.06

ACCESS BILL MOVES ON
A bill to protect landowners, with mining claims on four of the state’s 14,000-foot peaks, from lawsuits from the public who are injured while crossing their land has cleared its first hurdle. House Bill 1049 passed the House Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources Committee and now heads to the House floor.
-GJ Daily Sentinel, 01.24.06

SPORTS AUTHORITY: PRIVATE
Sports Authority, the Englewood-based sporting goods retailer formed from Gart Sports, has been purchased by an investor group and will become a private company again. The cash-and-debt deal is valued at $1.3 billion.
-Denver Post, 01.24.06

FORD: MASSIVE RESTRUCTURING
Ford Motor Co. announced a massive restructuring plan Monday that eliminates 30,000 jobs, closes 14 factories, and the automaker will overhaul its product line, adding gas-electric hybrid versions of existing models and developing new small cars.
-USA Today, 01.24.06

ALBERTSONS: MORE DEALS?
Albertson’s, the nation’s No. 2 grocery chain, has been bought by a investor group led by Supervalu for $9.7 billion, and as part of the deal, the 58 stores in Colorado, along with others in the southwestern U.S., will go to a group led by Cerberus Capital Management LP of New York. Cerberus may resell some of the Colorado locations.
-Denver Post, 01.24.06

MONUMENT: NEW BIKE LANES
The Mesa County commissioners approved the first phase of a $1 million project Monday to widen Monument Road for bicyclists accessing Colorado National Monument. Monument Road will be widened from Broadway to the Monument and may be completed by end of the year, or definitely by 2007.
-GJ Daily Sentinel, 01.24.06

INTERNET.BIZ
How about having The Donald negotiating travel deals for you? Today, Donald Trump launches a travel Web site, with high-end options like private-jet bookings and access to private clubs as well as air and hotel bookings. It’s at www.gotrump.com.

USFS STUDY: PEOPLE & LYNX
The U.S. Forest Service has undertaken a study measuring the “recreation capacity” of the Vail Pass recreation area, used by some 25,000 people a year as part of an overall study to determine how best to manage the area with the return of Canadian lynx. This winter, the Forest Service is evaluating how much use the Vail Pass area gets at night.
-Vail Daily, 01.23.06

CROSSROADS: BACK AGAIN
The Vail planning commission Monday, for the second time, recommended approval for a special development district for the Crossroads complex and plan to build 65 to 75 condominiums, a bowling alley, movie theaters, retail and restaurants. The special district allows for increased building height and size. The Vail Town Council will consider the proposal Feb. 7.
-Vail Daily, 01.23.06

1ST NAVAJO CASINO
Navajo Nation President, Joe Shirley Jr., in his State of the Nation Monday announced the Navajo Nation’s first casino will be in Nahata Dzill, a community near Sanders. Ariz., off Interstate 40. Shirley had earlier said that Shiprock was the leading location to be the first casino site.
-Farmington Daily Times, 01.24.06

BASE PLAN PRESENTED
A major condominium project, One Steamboat Place, has formally entered the city planning process. The proposed project would dramatically change the base of the Steamboat Springs Ski Area, adding 56 condominium units, 14 affordable housing units and a new ticket office at the ski area base.
-Steamboat Pilot, 01.24.06

TRTC CLASSES IN CARBONDALE
Thunder River Theatre Company will offer a full schedule of drama/theatre classes for K-5 students. All classes will be held in their newly opened theatre at 67 Promenade in downtown Carbondale. Classes will begin the second week of February and run for six weeks through March 23. Instructors for the classes are TRTC’s Educational Coordinator Nancy Ball and Basalt storyteller Brenda Stern. Classes consist of games and activities designed to develop group cohesiveness and enhance creativity and imagination, as well as the enactment of age appropriate stories. Focus will be on improvisational rather than scripted plays. To enroll, contact TRTC Artistic Director Lon Winston at 970-309-5398. For further information regarding the classes, contact Nancy Ball at nnbee@earthlink.net or call 970-618-9932.

THE LOVE TRAIN
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is offering a romantic evening onboard the train in celebration of Valentine’s Day. The Presidential train will depart Durango at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 14, and return at 10:15 p.m. Passengers will enjoy live musical entertainment, hors d’oeuvres, dessert, a glass of champagne, a box of chocolates and a rose for the ladies. Tickets are $119 per person and can be reserved by calling 970-247-2733 or by visiting the Web site at www.durangotrain.com.

SUPER AD PRICES
The Super Bowl, on ABC Feb. 5, is expected to draw some 90 million viewers:
-A 30-second ad is estimated to cost $2.5 million;
-Top price for a spot on the Olympics, which start five days later, $750,000

Monday, January 23, 2006
LURING SPORTSMEN
Denver’s biggest outdoor show, the 29th Denver International Sportsmen’s Exposition at the Colorado Convention Center runs Jan. 26-29. This year, the Expo expands to 300,000 square feet with the addition of the 6,000-square-foot Colorado Outdoors and Youth Fair Pavilion. Hosted by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Colorado Bowhunters Association and Trout Unlimited, the new theater area offers an archery range, shooting trailer and lectures covering subjects from close-to-home fishing hot spots to traditional bow-hunting and out-door survival.
-Rocky Mountain News, 01.20.06

GLENWOOD APPROVES HELIPORT
Following a recommendation from the Glenwood Springs Planning and Zoning Commission, the Glenwood Springs City Council approved a variance and special use permit for a landing pad for emergency helicopters at Valley View Hospital. When complete, the new helipad will rise above the existing Glenwood Medical Associates and Valley View Hospital parking lot, and would include parking beneath it.
-Post Independent, 01.21.06

ICE FISHING TOURNEY RECORD
The eighth annual Rifle Area Chamber of Commerce ice fishing tournament drew a record turnout. There were 400 adults registered, and at least 100 youths. The longest fish caught was a 20.75-inch rainbow trout. The event is one of the Rifle Chamber’s largest fund raisers.
-Post Independent, 01.23.06

GAS INDUSTRY’S BIG IMPACT
According to the 21-page report, “The Economic Impact of the Natural Gas Industry in La Plata County: 2003-2004,” gas industry employees pump $310 million annually into the county. For every dollar spent by the natural gas industry, an additional $1.43 is generated in sales at local supermarkets, restaurants and retail outlets.
-Durango Herald, 01.22.06

SUPREME COURT HEARS CASES AT DHS
The Colorado Supreme Court will hear oral arguments at Durango High School on May 1. The seven justices of the state’s highest court will hear two appeal cases in the auditorium, as part of its “Courts in the Community” educational outreach program.
-Durango Herald, 01.22.06

NONSTOP FLIGHTS RETURN
Direct flights from Dallas, Chicago and Denver to Eagle County Regional Airport will return June 8 through Sept. 5 as part of the Fly Vail Summer Program. For 2006, the program raised over $500,000 in pledges from Eagle County as well as from a wide variety of local hotels, banks, real estate firms, merchant organizations and individual towns.
-Vail Daily, 01.22.06

MORE OIL RIGS
More than 100 new gas wells, a pipeline and compressor station are planned for 2006 in the Plateau Valley/Powderhorn area. Almost 4,000 acres near the Powderhorn Ski Resort are on the block for oil and gas development in a February federal lease sale, and the activity resulting from those leases could add another few hundred wells to the area. An additional 12,000 acres in the town of Palisade’s and the city of Grand Junction’s watersheds on Grand Mesa are available in the upcoming sale.
-Daily Sentinel, 01.22.06

GRANTS TO NONPROFITS
The town of Silverthorne’s grant sponsorship committee awarded a total of $63,707.50 in cash grants, Silverthorne Recreation Center scholarships and free or in-kind use of the Silverthorne Pavilion and Silverthorne Parks and Recreation facilities to 38 local nonprofits.
-Summit Daily News, 01.22.06

PARKING STRUCTURE OKAY
After years of studies and discussions, Breckenridge officials gave the go-ahead to build the town’s first parking structure at the Exchange Lot at the corner of Ridge Street and Lincoln Street. The construction project, estimated to cost $1.675 million, will begin in the spring and continue through the end of summer.
-Summit Daily News, 01.21.06

VC INVESTMENT IN COLORADO
Colorado companies raised $647.1 million in venture capital in 2005, the state’s best showing since 2002, a huge jump from the $386.2 million raised in 2004. Colorado firms in 2005 secured 59 deals from venture-capital companies, with the bulk of money given to technology and biotechnology firms.

-Denver Post, 01.22.06

EIGHT HOTELS FOR DOWNTOWN
The number of hotel rooms in downtown Denver could balloon to 8,215 in the next three years, a 29% increase from a month ago. More than 1,800 rooms in eight hotels are in some stage of planning for downtown Denver. Combined, they have a completed value of almost $700 million.

-Rocky Mountain News, 01.21.06

STOCK SHOW BREAKS RECORD
The National Western Stock Show set an attendance record in its 100th year, drawing more than 700,000 people for the first time. There were 726,972 visitors to the stock show, which ran from Jan. 7 through Sunday, up 13% from the previous record in 2003.
-Rocky Mountain News, 01.23.06

OIL PRICES UP
Oil prices rose to open the week above $69 a barrel on supply fears linked to Iran’s tense diplomatic standoff with the West over its nuclear ambitions and continuing labor unrest in oil-rich Nigeria.
-Rocky Mountain News, 01.23.06

SISTER CITY PROGRAM
A sister city program between Mesa State College, Grand Junction and an El Salvador village is ready to undertake its first major project. Almost $4,000 has been raised for a potable water project to supply running water to the L Zacamil sector of El Espino and its more than 900 families.
-Daily Sentinel, 01.22.06

NURSING PROGRAM IN MONTROSE
For the first time, Mesa State College’s Montrose campus will offer a nursing program. The class in Montrose, running from January through December, is offered in conjunction with a sister class on the Grand Junction campus.
-Daily Sentinel, 01.22.06

BID FOR TREASURER’S SEAT
Montrose County’s Chief Deputy Treasurer, Rosemary Murphy, announced Friday she is seeking the Republican nomination for county treasurer. Earlier in the week, longtime county treasurer Carla Logan announced she would not seek reelection, after nearly three terms.
-Montrose Daily Press, 01.22.06

WIRELESS IN VAIL
The town of Vail is moving forward with a plan to provide wireless Internet access for laptop computers in Vail Village and Lionshead. Free access would be available on benches in parks and near windows in buildings. The town is looking for a company to install, operate and maintain the system. Installation of the network could cost between $150,000 and $250,000.
-Vail Daily, 01.22.06

YEAR OF THE DUPLEX
A report just released by the Routt County Regional Building Department shows that building permits for 107 duplex units with a combined valuation of $35.6 million were issued in 2005. The total valuation of permits issued in the city in 2005 was $119.1 million, up from $94.2 million 2004.
-Steamboat Pilot, 01.21.06

SCHOOL BOARD IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The new Steamboat Springs School Board meets Monday night under its brightest public spotlight yet to decide not only about the high school’s controversial mandatory Senior Odyssey program but also about a proposed high school elective course that would teach the Bible as a historical and cultural document. Sixty students signed a petition expressing an interest in the class last spring.
-Steamboat Pilot, 01.22.06

FINDING A ROOM IN DENVER
Denver currently has 6,614 hotel rooms, with the recent addition of the 1,100-room Hyatt Convention Center Hotel. Denver’s largest hotels:
Adam’s Mark/Radisson, 1,225 rooms
Hyatt Convention Center, 1,100
Marriott City Center, 613
Hyatt Grand, 511
In the planning, 1,826 rooms in 8 new hotels

-Rocky Mountain News, 01.21.06

MARKET UPDATE Courtesy of Alpine Trust & Asset Management
01/20/2006 close

Dow Jones Industrials 10667.39 -213.32
S&P 500 1261.49 -23.55
NASDAQ 2247.70 -54.11
10-yr. Treasury Yield 4.35 -0.03
Gold (NY COMEX) 553.50 -4.90
Oil (NY Merc.) 68.35 +1.52
Cattle (CME) 95.75 -0.35
Prime rate 7.25 NC
Canadian Dollar (per U.S. dollar) 1.15 -0.01
Mexican Peso (per U.S. dollar) 10.52 NC
Euro (per U.S. dollar) 0.82 NC
30-yr. mortgage-nat’l ave. 6.10 -0.05

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