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Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis returned to his old stomping grounds yesterday after a week of tough headlines in an effort to get his campaign back on track. McInnis told the midsummer meeting of the Colorado Farm Bureau in Alamosa that he is the only person in the race who knows the state’s rural areas. McInnis noted the ranching history of his wife’s family and his own, however McInnis himself entered public service after stints as a police officer in Glenwood Springs and law school in Texas. McInnis noted that he had served on the Natural Resources Committee during his 10 years in the statehouse and 12 years representing the 3rd congressional district. McInnis was asked for his support in battling the army’s plans to expand the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site northeast of Trinidad yesterday. McInnis said he would oppose any attempt by the army to use eminent domain for expansion, however he reiterated that property owners who are willing to sell should not be told what to do by the government. McInnis said the government should not be allowed to tell landowners whom they can or can’t sell to.

Pueblo District Judge Victor Reyes yesterday declared a mistrial in the first-degree murder case against Paul Wayne Stark, 66, after a family emergency took Pueblo chief Public Defender Kim Karn away from the office for a week. Karn reportedly suffered a death in her family. The judge is expected to explain the situation to the jury this morning. The situation came up over the weekend and attorneys in the case met with Reyes yesterday morning. Stark is charged with first-degree murder, sexual assault on a child and child abuse resulting in death for the rape and murder of Ashley Patterson, 14. Patterson’s body was found on March 29th of 2009. On Friday, jurors were shown numerous graphic photos of the crime scene before the trail recessed at noon for the weekend. Testimony didn’t begin until Thursday after the court took extraordinary measures to find an impartial jury. The trial has now been reset for January.

The southbound lanes of Interstate 25 in Pueblo were closed for several hours yesterday after a piece of machinery hit an expansion joint on one of the bridges, damaging it. The Colorado Department of Transportation has been working in the area on a paving project. The interstate was closed at about 12:50pm between First Street and the Ilex exit while crews made repairs to the expansion joint. One lane of traffic was reopened at about 3:45pm. Both lanes were reopened by 6pm. Traffic was again expected to be reduced to one lane during the night as crews continue to work on the paving project that runs from the U.S. 50 bypass to Pueblo Boulevard.

The Medano Fire continues to smolder in areas along its perimeter after earlier rain showers slowed fire activity. Fire behavior and visible smoke may continue for several more weeks as the fire encounters heavy pockets of fuel. Only small sections of the fire perimeter remain active, mainly in the Castle Creek, Horse Creek Canyon and in the eastern drainages of Mount Zwischen. The majority of the fire has naturally burned itself out at points where it has intersected with natural barriers or has been impacted by the weather. 49 fire personnel remain on the fire to monitor fire activity. 351 personnel were staffing the fire at the peak of operations. Most of the roads, trails and areas that were closed due to the fire have been reopened, with the exception of the Medano Pass road from the Castle Creek picnic area to Medano Pass and the Sand Ramp Trail at the point of no return in the Great Sand Dunes National Park. Both roads remain closed.

The community is invited and encouraged to attend and participate in a town hall meeting to discuss the new Mt. Carmel Health Wellness and Community Center in Trinidad. The Trinidad Community Foundation will host the meeting on Thursday, July 29th, at 2pm in the Leone Room of the Sullivan Center on the Trinidad State Junior College Campus. Konnie Martin from Valley-Wide Health Systems will be on hand to inform the community of the proposed plans for the new health center being built at the historic Mt. Carmel Church. The mission is to bring convenient healthcare and a wellness program to the area. In addition, a community center, chapel, amphitheater and reflection garden will be completed in next summer. Ample opportunity will exist to answer any and all questions. Everyone is welcome.