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President Barack Obama arrived at the Pueblo Memorial Airport last night at about 6pm after stumping on the western slope and in Denver yesterday. From there, a military helicopter followed the president’s motorcade into downtown Pueblo where the president checked into the Pueblo Marriott last night. The Marriott was surrounded with security last night with fenced barricades and numerous vehicles, including buses, city service vehicles, and police cruisers, stationed around the perimeter. Streets downtown around the Marriott were blocked off throughout the night as were the off-ramps for 1st Street on Interstate 25. Today, the president will speak at the Ag Palace on the Colorado State Fairgrounds this morning. He will then move on to Colorado Springs where he will speak at the Colorado College at about 2pm.

Firefighters battled a small wildfire yesterday southwest of Beulah that charred about 15 acres of rugged terrain. The fire, named the Ditch Creek Fire, was located west of North Creek Road near the Custer/Pueblo County line on U.S. Forest Service land. Smoke from the fire was first reported around 10am. Firefighters had two helicopters fighting the blaze from a base at the Beulah School. Two airplanes were also used for fire retardant drops and air surveillance. Fire trucks also flooded the area and emergency personnel guided helicopters to portable water tanks on the football field in Beulah. No structures were threatened in the fire which is believed to have been caused by the significant lightning that occurred in the area on Tuesday. The fire was not very active as of last night.

Much of the debate between Representative Scott Tipton and State Representative Sal Pace in Alamosa last night was spent searching for where the two 3rd congressional district candidates disagreed. The debate was held at Adams State University’s Theater and centered on the nation’s budget, energy and tax policies. During the two-hour debate, Tipton and Pace differed over the republican budget authored by Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan. Pace said the proposal would saddle seniors with having to shell out an additional $6,400 to receive the same level of benefits. Tipton continued his insistence that the country’s health care reform law be repealed, noting that costs are going up and causing uncertainty to business. Tipton also called for tort reform, portability for policies across state lines and private medical savings accounts. Pace said he was against the mandate that required coverage but didn’t offer other steps toward reform of the law. Both candidates agreed on an all-of-the-above energy policy that utilizes traditional and renewable forms of energy and both backed Vestas’ quest for a federal tax credit.

A judicial performance commission on Monday released evaluations for 12th Judicial District Chief Judge Pattie Swift and Saguache County Judge Amanda Pearson, recommending retention for both San Luis Valley judges whose names will appear on the ballot this November. The commission recommended retention after taking input from the public and after making personal observations in the judges’ courtrooms. The Nonpartisan Commission for the 12th Judicial District consists of 10 volunteer citizen commissioners, specifically four attorneys and six non-attorneys. No county court judges were up for retention this year in any of the valley counties.

Children and families are invited to the Spanish Peaks Public Library in Walsenburg on Fridays beginning at 10:30am. “Stories with Activities” will be happening each week. Tomorrow, August 10th, “Raccoon on His Own” by Jim Arnosky will be read. Come and help interview the raccoon puppets to find out what real raccoons do while we’re all in the library together. Then on August 17th, help weave a story together. And, save August 24th for toy making of a rolling mouse or a boat or your own imaginary animal. On August 31st, the new “Otis and the Tornado” book by Loren Long will be shared. For more information, call the library at 719-738-2774 or go to www.spld.org