JANUARY 14 - 21, 2026
THE DEFINITIVE SOURCE FOR GRAND JUNCTION BUSINESS & COMMUNITY NEWS SINCE 1994
City of GJ appoints Boies interim city attorney Brandon Leuallen
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VOLUME 33, ISSUE 3
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Harrahs heads to Horizon
The Business Times
he City of Grand Junction has appointed a new interim city attorney following the retirement of longtime City Attorney John Shaver, which became effective Jan. 1, marking a major transition in one of the city’s most influential appointed roles. City Council formally appointed Assistant City Attorney Jeremiah Boies to the interim role during its Jan. 7 meeting. The appointment follows Shaver’s retirement after 35 years of service to the City of Grand Junction, according to the resolution included in the council packet. Position can span decades Mayor Cody Kennedy said the city attorney role carries long-term significance, because it often extends well beyond individual council terms and election cycles. He said the city attorney provides consistency as the makeup of City Council changes over time. “Over a period of let’s say, six years, we have a whole new set of faces on council,” Kennedy said. “It’s really helpful to have that consistency with the city attorney.” See story on Page 5
Downsizing leads salon to leave its home of 34 years for newly renovated space on Horizon Drive and a lot more parking. – See story, Page 2 Harrahs Salon co-owner LuAnn Harrah stands next to a sink for washing hair, and behind her are a nail station and pedicure chair at the salon’s new location: 759 Horizon Drive, Unit G. The space is approximately 1,000 square feet, about half the size of the salon’s previous home of 34 years at 1005 N. 12th St., No. 102, but the salon offers all of the same services and retained all of its employees. Photo by Tim Harty.
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Salon finds upside to downsizing
Harrahs Salon has less space now, but loves its new location on Horizon Drive “We walked in, and there were wires for the internet, there were pipes out of the floor for the sinks, and that was it,” LuAnn said. “We did everything from new flooring, paint, all new light bulbs, new mirrors, new shampoo bowls, new washer and dryer. It was completely empty when we took over the lease.” It took some time, but the end result is to the Harrahs’ liking aside from the smaller footprint than it was used to inhabiting. “We had to readjust it, because our salon is different than the previous salon,” LuAnn said. “In a 2,000-square-foot salon, everything was bigger. This is smaller. So we had to readjust our stations, had to readjust our mirrors, had to readjust the washer and dryer, had to make a lash room, and had to make a pedicure area that was not here before.” The Harrahs Salon staff remained the same, numbering five employees. Among the four who cut and style hair, one also does nails, and another one does lashes. One employee is a full-time nails tech. Harrahs Salon also has a local college student shadowing the staff, and LuAnn said she will join the staff in the spring when she graduates. LuAnn said the transition for customers has been smooth, as Harrahs Salon used social media and email to send reminders and alert them to the move to Horizon Drive. LuAnn, who turns 69 years old this week, said she and Brad chose a five-year lease, which means they’ve committed to continue working. “We still want to be here,” she said. “We love what we do, and we find joy in making people feel good and looking great. “I have a five-year lease, so yeah, we’re not retiring. We may go part-time a little bit here and there or take more vacations, but our staff is amazing. They’re great.”
MORE ABOUT HARRAHS SALON
Harrahs Salon’s wife-and-husband co-owners LuAnn and Brad Harrah, stand behind the front counter at their salon’s new location: 759 Horizon Drive, Unit G. Photo by Tim Harty. Tim Harty
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The Business Times
arrahs Salon spent 34 years at the same location, but downsizing and saving money led its owners to say, “Goodbye, 12th Street. Hello, Horizon.” LuAnn Harrah, who owns the salon with her husband, Brad, said their longtime home at 1005 N. 12th St., No. 102, behind the Arby’s restaurant on North Avenue, was good to them, but there’s a lot to like about 759 Horizon Drive, Unit G, where Harrahs Salon set up shop in mid-November. At about 1,000 square feet, the Horizon Drive unit is a little less than half the size of the previous location, but Harrahs Salon now has parking galore because of the large parking lot serving the L-shaped strip mall where it resides. The Harrahs also had a blank canvas to design what amounts to a new salon. “We love it here, because parking is easier,” LuAnn said. “We’re not dealing with the stadium (Stocker Stadium and Suplizio Field) with their events. There are no semis in the alley. Brand new place. The building is great. We have good landlords, great neighbors. And everything’s new, because we started from an empty building.” The Harrahs actually were familiar with the unit they moved into, because previous tenant The Stylist Hair Designs helped them in a time of need. “We actually were here for four months, four years ago, when we had a flood in our salon, and they found asbestos,” LuAnn said. “She was kind enough to offer spaces here, and it ended up being four months instead of six weeks. And she was so kind, and the building owner is a friend of ours, and he was kind, and this is a wonderful location.” What they saw four years ago wasn’t what greeted them when they returned in 2025. The unit was available, LuAnn said, because the owner of The Stylist Hair Designs retired. And when that salon cleared out, it literally cleared out.
Still leaving a light on for Kloey One thing that remains the same at Harrahs Salon’s new location is the pink light in the front window, which is there in remembrance of former receptionist Kloey Lynn, who died at age 18 in a Palisade apartment explosion in April 2024. “We always have a pink light on for Kloey Lynn,” Harrahs Salon co-owner LuAnn Harrah said. “We’ve done that since the day after she died. … She will always be part of our life.” Harrah also shared, “The last time I spoke with her, I was on vacation, two days before she died, and she had told me she just got qualified to go to a beauty college, and then she was gonna come work for us.” Kloey started working part-time for Harrahs Salon at age 16, but her relationship with the Harrahs started many years earlier. “She got her first haircut here when she was three,” LuAnn Harrah said. “Did her hair her whole life, my husband did. … She used to call my husband Mr. Brad. When she was 3, she’d come in, ‘Mr. Brad, I need a haircut.’” Harrah said she thinks it was during the first week at the Horizon Drive location that a customer arrived at 7 in the morning, and it was still dark outside, and she was unsure where the salon was in the strip mall. But when the customer saw the pink light, LuAnn said, “She was like, ‘Oh, that’s where I need to go.’” Nearly half a century later Because Harrahs Salon has been around for nearly four decades, LuAnn Harrah said, “We have had lifetimes with our clientele.” That sparked another memory, as she said she started as a hair stylist 11 years before Harrahs Salon came to be. “You know, I still have the very first client I ever did in 1978. I still do her hair,” Harrah said. And that client is Janice Crunk, she said, adding, “Or you could probably just say the Crunk family. They were the first clients I ever did, out of beauty college, and I still do their hair.” Ended up where she belonged Saying she graduated from beauty college in 1978 led Harrah to remark, “It makes me feel really old. But I love what I do.” Her career choice was not the path she first intended, though. Harrah said she originally planned to go to college to become a teacher. Instead, she went to beauty college, which she called “the best thing that ever happened” and added, “It worked out. It was supposed to be.”
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Evolving Citrolas opens coffee shop
Tim Harty
The Business Times
A change in the placement of Citrolas’ sandwich shop led to the opening of another shop, this one featuring coffee. John and Kristy Citrola opened Citrolas Coffee Co. in mid-December at 759 Horizon Drive, Unit A, where they formerly operated Cutting Board Deli. The unit anchors the end of the L-shaped strip mall that is closest to Horizon Drive. Meanwhile, the sandwich shop moved in with Citrolas Italian restaurant on the other end of the strip mall. Kristy Citrola said the maneuvering started with the realization the sandwich shop will be better served in the space next to the Italian restaurant. “We just didn’t have enough seating here (in Unit A) for people, so we moved it to the restaurant,” she said. “And then (Unit A) was sitting here empty for the past five months.” That begot the idea for the coffee shop, which made sense, because Octopus Coffee operated in Unit F of the strip mall until closing in mid-April last year. “We decided to put in a coffee shop, since we had a lot of people asking us what happened to (Octopus Coffee),” Kristy Citrola said. Citrolas Coffee Co. is like many coffee shops with its offerings of coffee drinks (using beans from True Brew in Rifle) and pastries, but Kristy Citrola thinks it will evolve and could be a much different iteration in time. “I mean, this area needs more breakfast than coffee,” she said, “so we’re gonna be bringing in more food.”
For starters, Citrola said the coffee shop will bring in more Italian-based pastries, offering things such as tiramisu and cannoli and whatever else her husband comes up with, as Kristy said John is “the Italian guy.” She also expects Citrolas Coffee Co. will offer items down the road like “build your own” breakfast burritos, burrito bowls, protein coffee and protein shakes, maybe even biscuits and gravy. “So we’ll have all the proteins, which will be something kind of different,” she said. Kristy added, “We kind of want to turn this more into a bakery,” but with John already time-strapped by baking sourdough bread all day for the sandwich shop, she’s not sure how they’ll make that happen. Much remains to be seen as the coffee shop evolves, but evolution is nothing new for Citrolas. ABOVE: Citrolas Coffee Co. Kristy points to the co-owner Kristy Citrola stands in sandwich shop as a perfect the middle of the coffee shop that example. She said Cutting Board she and her husband, John CitroDeli attempted to be a traditional la, opened in mid-December in the deli when it opened in Unit A same Horizon Drive strip mall that in 2020, and the idea was to is home to Citrolas Italian restauprovide lunch in an area where rant and sandwich shop. she said “everybody closed dow for lunch out here. There were LEFT: A customer places an order no lunch spots after COVID, so at the sandwich shop’s service that’s when we opened up and counter. Photos by Tim Harty. started the lunch, and that was a big hit.” Ultimately, Cutting Board Deli changed as the Citrolas saw what was working. “People, all they wanted was a sandwich, chips and a drink,” she said. “No one bought, touched anything else, so you kind of just see what goes, you know? So, that’s what it turns into? That’s easy, we’ll do it.” That transformation then led to moving the sandwich shop next to the Italian restaurant, where it has its own entrance and focuses on counter service. Kristy Citrola said they will take the same approach with Citrolas Coffee Co. and adapt as they learn what’s working. And if it changes too much, she said with a smile, “We might have to change the name.”
January 14 - 21, 2026
The Business Times
City of GJ appoints Boies interim city attorney
Continued from Page 1 Shaver served in the City of Grand Junction attorney’s office for 35 years, including roughly two decades as the city’s chief legal officer after being appointed city attorney in 2004. His tenure spanned multiple city managers and dozens of city council members. Kennedy said his hope is that the next permanent city attorney has similar staying power to Shaver. “Hopefully, whoever our next attorney is will be there for decades,” he said. “That’s my hope.”
Legal work touches nearly every city function Kennedy described the city attorney’s office as being involved in nearly every aspect of city operations. “They touch almost everything,” he said. “There’s always something happening.” That work includes real estate transactions, litigation risk, police-related matters and vehicle incidents involving city employees. Essentially, Kennedy said, the city attorney handles anything in which somebody wants to sue the city. The city attorney also plays a central role during council meetings and quasi-judicial proceedings such as rezoning applications, where council members must follow strict legal standards. Kennedy said he regularly relies on the city attorney for guidance on procedural issues and legal boundaries during council deliberations, including parliamentary matters and quasi-judicial decisions. When council members receive outside communications related to quasi-judicial matters, Kennedy said the attorney’s office helps track and manage potential conflicts. Details of Boies’ interim appointment At the Jan. 7 council meeting, Jeremi-
ah Boies was appointed interim city attorney by resolution. The appointment was made pursuant to Section 56 of the Grand Junction City Charter, which assigns the council the authority to appoint the city attorney on either a permanent or temporary basis, rather than being hired directly by the city manager like most other city positions. The resolution appointing Boies states he will serve as interim city attorney “until replaced or a permanent appointment is made,” with the appointment effective Jan. 7, 2026. The packet notes the council determined Boies met the qualifications prescribed by the charter and would perform the duties of the office during the interim period. In addition to the appointment resolution, council introduced an ordinance on first reading to set the interim city attorney’s salary, as required by the Grand Junction Municipal Code. Under the ordinance, Boies’ compensation is set at $115.38 per hour, based on an assumed 2,080 hours annually, for a total annual amount of $240,000. The packet states the compensation is included in the city’s adopted 2026 budget and does not require additional appropriations. Council scheduled a public hearing on the salary ordinance for Jan. 21. The employment agreement does not establish a fixed term and allows City Council to end the appointment at any time or transition to a permanent city attorney when a long-term appointment is made. The agreement further states that, under the charter, the city attorney’s appointment may be permanent or temporary, and the interim city attorney carries the full duties and responsibilities of the office. Kennedy said the city council has not yet set a timeline for hiring a permanent city attorney.
Winter funding met for North Avenue shelter
HomewardBound of the Grand Valley announced last week it reached its fundraising goal to keep its North Avenue emergency shelter open through the end of February, covering the coldest winter months. In a statement shared on social media, the organization said community donations, along with support from the City of Grand Junction and the Mesa County Commission, allowed it to raise the funds needed to operate the North Avenue shelter through the end of February. Campaign materials shared by the organization show $60,000 raised for January and another $60,000 raised for February, following earlier fundraising that supported operations in October, November and December.
In a Dec. 10, 2025, article, “City sending $185K in leftover funds to HomewardBound,” The Business Times reported the organization planned to shut down the North Avenue shelter and consolidate emergency shelter operations at its Pathways Family Shelter on 29 Road after it got through the winter and into March. HomewardBound’s longer-term operations will shift toward the Pathways facility, which was designed as a service-rich shelter with expanded case management. The consolidation plan includes changes to shelter operations, including updated barriers to entry, clearer participation requirements and defined time limits for stays, with a greater emphasis on moving individuals toward stable housing outcomes. F
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Fletcher elected chair of county commission Mesa County Commissioner JJ Fletcher was elected chair of the Mesa County Board of Commissioners during the board’s administrative hearing Jan. 6, according to a Mesa County news release. Fletcher succeeds Commissioner Cody Davis, who served as chair in 2025. Fletcher began his first term on the commission in 2025. JJ Fletcher “It is a privilege to serve as chair of the Board of County Commissioners,” Fletcher said in the news release. “Alongside my fellow commissioners, I remain focused on advancing solutions that strengthen our community, encourage innovation and support long-term success for Mesa County.” The chair of the Mesa County Commission is selected
annually by the commissioners themselves at the board’s administrative hearing, with the position customarily rotating among members and decided by a majority vote of the board. The position carries several formal responsibilities: presiding over all Board of County Commissioners meetings; signing official county orders; and representing the county in various capacities. Fletcher currently represents Mesa County on several boards and committees, including the: • Behavioral Health Steering Committee. • Community Corrections Board. • Community Services Block Grant Tri-Partite Board (Health Department). • Criminal Justice Advisory Committee. • Grand Junction Economic Partnership (GJEP). • Colorado Basin Water Round Table. F
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Home expo taking vendor applications until Jan. 30
The Home Improvement & Remodeling Expo, Western Colorado’s premier home and garden-focused event, is accepting vendor registrations through Jan. 30. Vendors can reserve booth space at: mailchi.mp/746de358814d/2026homeexpo. For more information about vendor booth space or sponsorship opportunities, contact the HBA of Western Colorado at 970-2450253. The expo will take place March 6-8 at the Grand Junction Convention Center and is marking its 50th anniversary. It is presented by the HBA of Western Colorado and The Glass Guru of Grand Junction. The expo is open to the public, and in a typical year the Home Improvement & Remodeling Expo welcomes more than 3,000 attendees, the expo said in a news release. General admission costs $5, or $3 for seniors and military. F
Bilingual leadership, career program targets local youth EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum announced it is launching fuTÚros, an innovative bilingual leadership and career exploration program specifically designed for high school students ages 14 to 18. Funded by a grant from the Colorado Health Foundation, fuTÚros (a play on “future” and “you” in Spanish) aims to empower youth from underrepresented communities and bridge the gap between potential and opportunity, the science museum said in a news release. Through a combination of hands-on activities, college visits, creative workshops and mentorship, the program helps students develop a clear vision for their lives. By meeting students where they are – visiting schools, community centers, and partner organizations – the program ensures that transformative educational resources are accessible in comfortable, familiar environments, the news release said. “We want to foster a sense of identity, belonging and purpose for our students,” EUREKA! Spanish Programs Coordinator Gilberto G. Ramírez Macías said. “By supporting a successful transition into high school and exploring diverse career options, we are helping young people develop the social-emotional and academic skills necessary to become engaged leaders in our community.” Enrollment is currently open. EUREKA! encourages interested high school students and families to apply. For more information or to join the program, please contact Ramírez Macías at gmacias@eurekasciencemuseum.org.
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Keeping the ‘toys’ out of the driveway Stanley Storage looks to meet a need in Grand Valley for storing boats, RVs Tim Harty
The Business Times
If holiday gifting made you the new owner of a boat, motorhome or recreational vehicle, but it needs to be parked somewhere other than your driveway until the time comes for you to use it, Stanley Storage can help. The business opened this past fall at 2119 H Road, a 2.3-acre lot that has 158 spaces, each 11 feet wide and ranging in length from 25 to 35 feet, for people to securely park and store boats and RVs away from home. Reece Stanley, who co-owns Stanley storage with his wife, Nicole, and Reece’s parents, Gary and Georgia Stanley, said they see a need for what they’re providing. “We’ve seen a lot of growth in the valley, and a lot of these new-construction neighborhoods have smaller lots, and the need for boat and RV storage seems to be increasing,” Reece Stanley said. “And so we wanted to offer a solution for that, and I’m in real estate as well, so it was kind of a part of making a real-estate investment and using that space.” Stanley Storage is a side business for Reece Stanley, who is a Realtor for The Christi Reece Group. His full-time job gives him an awareness of what homeowners face in the tightly packed
developments that were constructed in recent years or are popping up now. Stanley said a good friend owns a storage lot similar to Stanley Storage, “and they pretty consistently have a waitlist, so we know there’s a strong demand there. And before we decided to move forward with (Stanley Storage), we contacted several facilities, and many of them were full already.” Stanley said Stanley Storage’s lot is fully fenced with electronic gate access, and it has 24/7 securitycamera monitoring in place. “I think the most important thing is that it’s completely secure,” he said. Stanley Storage also makes renting a space and accessing the yard easy, starting with going online to www. stanleystoragegj.com. “We try to make it as easy as possible for the customer,” Stanley said. “You can set up your account, select your space, make your payment and set up your own profile, so that it creates a unique user code to gain access into the yard.” Upon arriving at the yard, he said, “There’s an electronic gate access to put your code in, and then you can access and park your toy and take it out and whatever else.” Stanley added Stanley Storage’s rates are “definitely competitive,” and the location is close to Interstate 70. F
GJ Lions award $120K in grants to 10 local nonprofits
During a Jan. 12 event at Dinosaur Journey Museum in Fruita, the Grand Junction Lions Club announced who the 10 recipients of its annual grants will be this year. Funding for the grants will come from the GJ Lions’ annual carnival, parade and raffle. This year’s raffle tickets are now on sale and will be sold by Grand Junction Lions until the live raffle on Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. This year’s raffle has more than $35,000 in prizes, including a custom ring from Thomas Hunn Jewelers, a ride on the Leadville Railroad and golf at Mesquite. The local nonprofits receiving grants are as follows: • Monument Little League, $25,000 for new digital scoreboards. • Roice-Hurst Humane Society,
$21,520 for shelter renovation. • Kidsight Redlands Lions Club, $15,200 for two Plusoptix S20 vision screeners. • Mesa County Partners, $14,000 for two trailers. • Museums of Western Colorado, $11,000 for the interactive Dinosaur Experience. • Messiah Lutheran School, $10,280 for light replacement. • Fruitvale Elementary School, $7,500 for a Universal Carousel. • D51 Foundation, $7,000 for 21st Century Digital Classroom. • Grand Junction High School marching band, $6,500 for a band trailer. • Mesa County Search and Rescue, $2,000 for five Garmin inReach devices.
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The Business Times is always looking for the arrival of new businesses or changes to existing businesses. If you notice new commercial construction or a business doing a major renovation, send an email to stories@thebusinesstimes.com and tell us about it. If you took a photo of it, send that to us, too. It might become our next item in This Is Happening.
Atlasta Solar consolidating operations on 25 Road
Atlasta Solar Company is consolidating its operations to its building at 584 25 Road and will move out of its longtime building at 1111 S. Seventh St. in Grand Junction. According to Atlasta Solar co-owner Matt Fowler, the company is scheduled to relocate remaining equipment and materials from the South Seventh Street office on Jan. 26.
Most of the company’s operations are already based at the 25 Road location, including operations management, scheduling and the service department. Only sales staff and records remain at the South Seventh Street building as the transition continues. Fowler said customers already are visiting the 25 Road site, and Atlasta Solar expects to be fully settled shortly after the move, once interior setup is complete.
More to the Story
EDITOR’S NOTE: Sometimes, for various reasons, The Business Times isn’t able to print everything it wanted to present in a story. When that happens and we feel the need to provide what the original story was missing, we’ll bring you “More to the Story.” In the Jan. 7-14, 2026, edition’s story about Active Insurance Solutions’ former owner Randy Pifer retiring after 40 years at the agency, we had lots of extra items to go in an Info Box, but we couldn’t shoehorn them in. So, here they are now:
If it ain’t broke … you know what to do
CJ Rhyne bought Active Insurance Solutions from Randy Pifer in December 2024 and took the reins of the business Jan. 1, 2025 with Pifer still on hand to help him with the transition. Rhyne expressed gratitude to Pifer for grooming him to take over a successful business, and he addressed his approach to owning Active Insurance Solutions by invoking an old adage: If something’s not broke, don’t fix it. “I know this business is good,” he said. “Randy’s done an awesome job of communicating with clients, and they trust him immensely, and that’s what I’m trying to continue.”
Golf and insurance go hand in hand? Rhyne, a former general manager at The Golf Club at Redlands Mesa, knew he always wanted to own a business. “I just didn’t know what it was going to be or what would present itself,” he said. Where selling health insurance ultimately made sense is it’s about helping people, and that led Rhyne to a golf analogy.
“I like helping people,” he said. “That’s why I got in the golf industry, because golf’s hard, and people really, really loved it when you could make them hit the ball somewhat like they see on TV and just help them in general with stuff. “So, I knew I liked that, and (health insurance) is the same exact line. It’s just bigger stakes. I mean, we’re talking about people’s lives now. ”
Just a phone call away Pifer said he’ll lend a helping hand with Medicare policies this year, and if Rhyne needs him for anything in the coming years, Pifer will answer the call. “I’m always going to be there to support him,” Pifer said. “I don’t care what year it is, if he needs help with something, I’m glad to commit. “I do intend to stay licensed, just in case, you know, who knows what will happen? I’m always going to be attached to this office. I mean, this thing is my right arm, my left arm, my right leg, my left leg. Golly.”
The gift of gab Pifer worked a few other jobs before getting into insurance sales, including a year as an electrician apprentice. That ended with the oil-shale bust in Grand Junction – long story for another time – and Pifer’s first job in insurance, which was not quite a year with AFLAC. Then came his job with Employee Benefits Consulting, which eventually became Active Insurance Solutions. Pifer acknowledges he loves to talk, and that was a good thing for a guy in sales. “You know, I was the class clown back in high school, so I had relationships,” said Pifer, a Pennsylvania native who grew up in Big Run, a small town four miles from Punxsutawney (yes, the place famous for its Groundhog Day celebration). “We graduated with probably 320 people, and I probably knew 280 of them personally. Because I’m just that guy, you know? “I was just outgoing and wanted to be friends with people, and having the gift of gab is a critical component, particularly in sales. You know, you either can communicate or you can’t.”
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Civic engagement is a strength at local levels
Over the past several weeks, many Mesa County residents have engaged deeply with questions surrounding the Mesa County Public Library Board appointments. That level of interest reflects something important: People care about their community institutions, and they care about how local government works. That engagement deserves acknowledgement, respect, and clarity. After all, engagement strengthens democracy when paired with facts, process and respect for institutional roles. Local government processes are often more complex than they appear from the outside, and when those processes intersect with deeply valued institutions such as our libraries, confusion can arise. The best response is not dismissal or defensiveness, but transparency, education and continued invitation into the civic process. Mesa County has dozens of boards and commissions that rely Bobbie Daniel on citizen volunteers. These boards help guide everything from land use and public health to agriculture, fairgrounds, CSU Extension, pest-control districts and library governance. These volunteers are not faceless bureaucrats; they are neighbors, parents, business owners, retirees and professionals who give their time to help their community function better. The Mesa County Public Library Board is one such board. For the most recent library board vacancies, 22 applications were received. From those applications, six candidates were interviewed over the course of the year in publicly noticed meetings, which any member of the public could attend. Ultimately, two board appointments were made following a public hearing and vote in an open meeting. That context matters. Submitting an application does not guarantee an interview, and an interview does not guarantee an appointment. Board appointments are made based on qualifications, timing, board-composition needs, and the responsibilities of the role. In this case, financial acumen and governance experience were among the considerations discussed with the library’s executive director to ensure the board has the tools it needs to fulfill its oversight responsibilities. Library Board service is not a lifetime appointment. Trustees serve five-year terms, and while incumbents may apply for reappointment, reappointment is not automatic. This is standard practice across boards and commissions and should not be interpreted as a judgment on the service of those who previously served. Mesa County is grateful for the time, professionalism and dedication of all who have volunteered in these roles. It is also important to clearly define roles. The Mesa County Public Library District is financially and operationally independent from Mesa County government. It has its own mill levy, budget and financial oversight. The Library Board’s role is governance and fiscal oversight, including the hiring and evaluation of the executive director. The executive director, not the Board of County Commissioners and not individual trustees, manages day-to-day operations, services, staffing and programming. Board appointments do not determine which books are on the shelves, which programs are
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offered or how library staff carry out their work. Mesa County strongly supports the library and partners with it in meaningful, tangible ways. One example is the county’s invitation for the library to be located on the Clifton community campus, alongside county facilities and an early-childhood education center and directly across from an elementary school. The county also supports infrastructure projects — sidewalks, roads and connectivity — that improve safe access to library facilities. These partnerships reflect a shared commitment to literacy, learning and community connection. Appointments to any public board must also comply with constitutional and statutory principles. Individuals cannot be disqualified from civic service based on religion, political affiliation, associations or assumptions about beliefs. Decisions must be grounded in qualifications and facts, not labels, rumors or guilt by association. That standard protects everyone, regardless of viewpoint, and is foundational to a free and pluralistic society. Public participation remains essential. All Mesa County Board of County Commissioners meetings are publicly noticed, agendas are posted in advance, and written and verbal public comments become part of the official record. Interviews for volunteer boards are publicly noticed, and commissioner schedules are published weekly. Residents may email commissioners at any time, attend meetings, submit written comments or engage through other available channels. Following the public hearing with the library appointments, the county also shared a survey to understand better how residents would like to learn about board openings, application timelines, interviews and appointment decisions. That feedback is helping improve communication and reduce confusion going forward. The government works best when it listens, especially when people take the time to speak up. For those who want to stay engaged, there are many ways to do so. Information about current volunteer opportunities and how to apply is available at www.mesacounty. us. Click on Resident Resources, then scroll down to Volunteer Opportunities with County Commissioners. Residents may also sign up for the Mesa County newsletter, the Sunshine List for meeting notices and agendas, or participate in the Inside Mesa County Class. This sixweek educational program offers an in-depth look at how county government works, including department overviews, facility tours and direct interaction with elected officials and staff. Civic engagement does not require unanimity. It involves participation, curiosity and a willingness to stay involved, even when issues are complicated. When residents apply to serve, attend meetings, ask questions and share feedback, local government becomes stronger and more responsive. That engagement is not a problem to be managed; it is a strength to be welcomed. Mesa County remains committed to that principle and grateful to everyone who chooses to take part. F Bobbie Daniel is a Mesa County Commissioner, representing District 2.
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I don’t want to write this. But by God, I have to write this. That is, if I truly believe why I’m here is why I’m here. But if I write why I think I’m here, many of you won’t want to hear it. Then again, many will, but then eventually they won’t. That’s something I found out – albeit several weeks after I wrote what I wrote – with one of my recent columns about one of the biggest wedges ever introduced to our political spectrum, known as Tina Peters and the idiocy that always seems to surround her antics and lawbreaking. To quote another famous person who seems surrounded by insane actions: “Oops, I did it again.” But back to what’s perplexing me in my personal and professional life. And what should scare all of you to varying degrees depending how Craig Hall you interpret 900 words or so every week. Trust me, I ponder this all the time, and so should you. It’s mankind’s most-often-asked question: Why am I here? Permit me to answer for me. I’m here, in Grand Junction, Colorado, owning a newspaper that has somehow survived with me at the helm for 25 years – in spite of my leadership, recessions, 9/11, fiscal crisis on national, epic levels and God knows what else – to do one thing: Present my best take on what I think is God’s perspective on life, faith and hope as I see it and spread it to the masses, no matter how small my mass is on this blue dot God chose out of all the dots He created on that first day. That’s it. Even for those of you who can’t see the hand of God in what I do, think or say must admit I’m only here by the grace of God. Oh, the blessed irony in that line. But with such amazing grace comes responsibility. I was talking to my Heavenly-sent Sensei the other night – well, talking in the current vernacular known as texting – discussing my last column about the death threats and threats toward my daughters that came from folks most people would describe as “right-wingers,” and even he was adamant I get up each morning and “put on the armor of God” in my role as publisher of this “tiny” publication in western Colorado, to paraphrase some jackwagon back east who started all the threats. And why do I have to put on said armor? Sadly, only because I speak my mind. And then I am silly enough to put my name on it – unlike those “numb-nutzes” who anonymously threatened me while I could see their names on caller ID or had their emails from their posts to my website. Did I say I love irony? Then again, these folks think I shouldn’t be allowed to write my opinion because dumb people may follow my writing and do dumb, and harmful, stuff all while following the writings of someone asking or telling them to do dumb and harmful stuff. But they think words can’t spark violence – while both sides declare the other
side’s words indeed do just that. Yes, I see the (frightening) irony there as well. Back to my chat with Sensei. I came to this conclusion: If I need to put a statement of why I’m here, it comes down to this from the Book of Ephesians, chapter 6, verse 12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Now, name the one entity that fits this description. Allow me to assist if you’re struggling. Yes, I know many of you know before you read the next line. It’s government. Particularly governments that believe nothing is above them, which best describes what almost all levels of government in the United States have become. The be all, end all of every aspect of life. Ironically along with them, the life government “allows” you to live. And I say allows for a simple reason, the reason they call them lawmakers. The only reason they make laws is for control. It sure isn’t to expand and protect freedom. They make laws because they need lawbreakers. They also make laws, so they can allow special lawbreaking, so they can create more laws, because they create more lawbreakers. I know that sounds convoluted, but we have the perfect example happening on the streets of Minneapolis right now. And it’s spreading. We have immigration laws. Laws about our borders. Laws protecting the “inalienable” rights of citizenship. Bad laws on top of bad laws. Yet only select ones are allowed to be broken, or protected, or violated or enforced – always when it’s too late – and people are dying as a result. Is our government allowing this because it’s better to play politics with people’s lives whether immigrant – legal or not – or citizen? On a somewhat lighter note, how else do you explain Lauren Boebert harping about the President not wanting “clean water” for rural Colorado? Is she saying she really doesn’t care if folks drank dirty water the past 60 years unless it benefits her political “career?” Closer to home, how else can you explain Jason Nguyen saying the people should boycott businesses that don’t agree with his “vision” for Grand Junction? Is he saying only certain businesses should be allowed to thrive as only he sees fit? I see the answer to the above as yes. How can I not write against such things? So, yes, I’ll keep writing. Because the One should be above them, is above me. It’s why I’m here. In Truth and freedom. F Craig Hall is owner and publisher of The Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: TRACER provides fuller picture of campaign contributions Dear Editor, A recent Daily Sentinel article described a “shake-up” in the District 51 School Board election and noted that the Mesa Valley Education Association (MVEA) made what it called a “substantial” contribution of $5,000 each to the winning candidates: Kaci Cole; Vicki Woods; and Mike Rathbone. That statement is accurate – but incomplete. Colorado’s campaign-finance system is built on disclosure, not simplicity. To understand the scale of organized support in this election, voters must look beyond a single headline number and examine the public filings in the Secretary of State’s TRACER database. TRACER exists so that citizens can see not just whether money was spent, but how, by whom and in what form. When those filings are reviewed together – cash contributions, inkind support and independent expenditures – a much fuller picture emerges. Start with the local union. According to TRACER filings, the MVEA provided $15,543.40 in combined cash and in-kind contributions across the three campaigns (TRACER; Mesa Valley Education Association SDC). These figures include direct contributions as well as nonmonetary support such as campaign flyers, production and postage. Next, look to the state level. The Colorado Education Association (CEA) and related committees reported $50,834.99 in combined cash and in-kind support connected to the same candidates (TRACER; Public Education Committee). Multiple committees list the same physical address – 1500 Grant Street, Denver – a fact plainly visible in public filings and relevant for understanding how closely aligned various organizations are. Then, there is the independent expenditure activity. “Students Deserve Better,” registered as an Independent
Expenditure Committee (IEC), reported more than $121,000 in expenditures during the reporting period for mailers, digital advertising and voter outreach (TRACER; 48-hour IEC reports). Payments were made to professional political firms, including Mission Control Inc. and Battleaxe Digital, companies routinely used in large-scale, professionally managed campaigns (TRACER; Transparency USA). IEC spending is legally separate from candidate committees, but it is not invisible. The filings show that the same IEC both promoted Cole, Woods and Rathbone and opposed their opponents, sometimes within the same reporting window (TRACER expenditure descriptions). When aggregated – local union support, state-level union support and IEC expenditures aligned with the same candidates – the total exceeds $164,800 in cash and in-kind political spending connected to this election (TRACER summaries; Transparency USA data through 6/30/2025). This matters because Colorado law limits how much a candidate committee may receive, currently $25,000 per candidate, but it does not limit how much influence can be generated when spending flows through multiple legally distinct entities. The law regulates form, not effect. During the campaign, questions about union support also arose outside the formal question-and-answer portion of public forums. Following one such event, a teacher asked candidate Vicki Woods directly how much money the teachers union had contributed to her campaign. Woods responded, “I don’t have to tell you that.” While candidates are not required to provide dollar amounts in informal exchanges, they do have a responsibility to understand the financial support being spent on their behalf. Campaign contributions and in-kind expenditures do not
appear in TRACER automatically; they are entered, itemized and certified by campaign representatives. Whether spending is welcomed, underestimated or later described as excessive, candidates who benefit from it are expected to know what is being reported in their name. All of this activity appears to comply with campaign-finance law. But compliance is not the same as ethical clarity. Laws determine what is permitted, not what is appropriate. Systems can be designed so that influence is diffused, responsibility is blurred, and accountability is technically satisfied while public understanding is not. Voters are not unreasonable to ask whether a system that allows six-figure spending in local school board races — while public discussion centers on a single $5,000 check — truly serves transparency. Every figure cited here is publicly available. Anyone can follow the same trail by searching TRACER, committee by committee, line by line. A trip down TRACER lane does not require suspicion – only attention, arithmetic and the willingness to distinguish between what is legal and what is right. How to Look This Up Yourself (TRACER in 5 Minutes): 1. Go to the Colorado Secretary of State’s TRACER website. 2. Search by candidate name to view direct cash and inkind contributions. 3. Click on linked committees to see who funded them. 4. Search for Independent Expenditure Committees active in the same race. 5. Review 48-hour notices and itemized expenditures to see timing, vendors and purpose. 6. Add cash, in-kind and IEC spending together to understand total influence – not just one headline number. –CynDee Skalla, Fruita – Kirby Richardson, Grand Junction
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n DWC’s Haas earns CPA designation DWC CPAs and Advisors announced Zane L. Haas recently earned his Certified Public Accountant designation and obtained Colorado licensure after successfully passing the Uniform CPA Examination. Originally from Palisade, Haas earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration with an accounting concentration and his master’s in accountancy from Colorado State University. He joined Zane Haas DWC’s audit and assurance team in September 2024. Haas has experience in providing assurance and accounting services such as financial-statement audits, reviews, compilations and client accounting services to clients in various industries, including financial institutions, companies in the oil and gas industry and nonprofit organizations.
n Four winners named for “I Voted” sticker designs Mesa County Elections announced the winners of the third annual “I Voted” sticker contest, an initiative designed to showcase the artistic talents of local youth in grades 1 through 12 while promoting civic pride and community engagement. The 2026 “I Voted” sticker contest winners are: Alyna Labrum, fourth grade, New Emerson Elementary; Rhett Behrman, fourth grade, Independence Academy; Jacob Walden, eighth grade, Independence Academy; and Amora Wilson, ninth grade, Grand Junction High School. “It’s inspiring to see the creativity of our community’s youth highlight the importance of civic engagement for the third year in a row,” Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Bobbie Gross said. “We look forward to seeing voters proudly wear these beautiful ‘I Voted’ stickers during the 2026 election season. Congratulations to the winners!” Gross added many people chose to vote in person in recent elections just to pick up a sticker designed by the students. This year’s contest drew more than 175 submissions, and the following local businesses donated prizes for the student winners: Hart Music; Bananas Fun Park; Barnes & Noble; Enstrom Candies; Pablo’s Pizza; Zephyr; and Starbucks (12th Street location).
Left: A bird pictorial design rug by Fannie Nockideneh, Diné (Navajo), c. 1990. Right: A Diné (Navajo) Yei Be Chei rug, c. 1940-1962. Photos courtesy of The Museums of Western Colorado.
n Spider Woman & Trading Posts opens Jan. 17 at Museum of the West The Museums of Western Colorado and The Art Center of Western Colorado are presenting Spider Woman & Trading Posts, a special collaborative exhibition on view from Jan. 17 through March 21 at the Museum of the West, 462 Ute Ave. in downtown Grand Junction. This exhibition explores the evolution of Diné (Navajo) weaving traditions, tracing their origins through cultural teachings of Spider Woman to the development of regional styles shaped by historic trading posts across the Navajo Reservation. Featuring works from the permanent collections of both organizations, Spider Woman
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& Trading Posts highlights the artistry, innovation and enduring cultural significance of Diné weavers, from early trade textiles to contemporary expressions that blend and expand traditional styles. For exhibition details, hours and admission information, visit mowc.co.
n Highway 6 open house previews safety improvements The Colorado Department of Transportation is inviting the public to a Jan. 14 open house to review planned safety and traffic improvements along U.S. Highway 6 in Palisade. The open house will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Palisade Recreation Center gymnasium and is intended to give residents, business owners and commuters an opportunity to review designs, ask questions and provide input ahead of construction. The project focuses on approximately one mile of Highway 6 between Rupp Avenue and Iowa Avenue. Planned upgrades include reconstructing the Elberta Avenue intersection into a roundabout. Elberta Avenue functions as the primary connection between the Town of Palisade and Interstate 70’s Exit 42 and reconfigures the Iowa Avenue intersection. According to CDOT’s project overview, the work also includes new sidewalks to improve pedestrian connectivity, modifications to frontage roads to enhance safety for drivers and cyclists, and upgrades to drainage, water-quality features, pavement markings and signage. Construction is scheduled to begin Jan. 19 and is expected to continue through October 2026, according to a CDOT news release. CDOT said feedback gathered during the open house will help inform final design details and construction planning as the project moves forward.
n Cookies Outlaw Cafe
listed for sale
Cookie’s Outlaw Cafe, 2493 U.S. Highway 6&50, Unit 4, is listed for sale. Online listings show different asking prices based on whether the sale includes the restaurant business, the real estate or both. According to a BizBuySell listing, Outlaw Cafe has been operating since 1998 and is being marketed as a turnkey business located along U.S. 6&50. The listing places the asking price at approximately $345,000 and says the sale includes the restaurant’s furniture, fixtures and equipment, trade name, goodwill, phone number, social media accounts and transition support from the current owners. A separate MLS-based commercial real estate listing published by Christi Reece Group, a Grand Junction commercial brokerage, lists 2493 Highway 6&50, Unit 4 at $235,000. That listing covers the commercial condo unit only and does not include the restaurant business or its operating assets.
Business Bites: A Couple Items of Note F Three stores in Mesa Mall closed in late December: Pro Image Sports; PizzAmore; and Sock Em’ Sock Emporium. Pro Image posted signs on the door and windows of its former unit, saying: “Thank you for an AMAZING 10 YEARS friends and family!!! We will miss you!!!” F Local Focus Digital Media, a Grand Junction-based indoor digital sign and proximity marketing company, marked its 15-year anniversary on Dec. 31, 2025. Jim Montoya, CEO of Local Focus Digital Media, said his business started as a small community TV network and has grown into “a vital digital platform connecting residents, businesses and organizations. Fifteen years later, our commitment to local messaging is stronger than ever. We’re proud to have built something that truly belongs to the community.”
January 14 - 21, 2026
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