The Business Times Volume 32 Issue 44

County faces reduction in deputies M

Brandon Leuallen

The Business Times

esa County Sheriff Todd Rowell told county commissioners on Nov. 6 that proposed budget cuts would reduce deputy staffing and critical operations at a time when call volumes and unfunded, state-mandated costs continue to rise.

This also comes as the Sheriff’s Department is going through its collective-bargaining agreement.

The presentation, delivered in the Mesa County Commission board room, outlined potentially more than $3 million in cuts to the Sheriff’s Office, including 18 deputy positions and nearly $1 million in operational reductions. It also brought up concerns that the county’s generalfund allocation for law enforcement has steadily declined compared with other departments.

Mesa County Administrator Todd Hollenbeck said staff will review the sheriff’s data and bring a recommendation back to commissioners at a later date.

$3.1 Million in Cuts and 18 Fewer Deputies

Rowell said his office voluntarily held 20 positions open this year, returning roughly $2 million to the county’s general fund, but the 2026 proposal goes much deeper.

New Career in Cookies

See story Page 4

Couple’s trip to Fort Collins led to Mary’s Mountain Cookies coming to Fruita. — See Page 2

Justin, left, and Tara Adis stand behind the 12-foot display case at Mary’s Mountain Cookies, 138 S. Park Square, Unit 103, in Fruita. They said the variety of cookies they offer each day pose a challenge for customers. “You really have to stand back and take a minute to take it all in,” Justin said, “because it’s just so amazing-looking.” He added, “We have a ‘buy six cookies, get two cookies free,’ and that can take people five or 10 minutes to figure out what they want to put in that box.” Also, if that’s more than the customer can eat in a day, the cookies can be stored in a freezer for up to two months. Photo by Tim Harty.

The answer was a cookie store

Couple’s chance encounter with Mary’s Mountain Cookies led them to open their own such store in Fruita

Tim Harty The Business Times

Justin Adis doesn’t eat sugar. He’s middle-aged, physically fit and wants to stay that way.

But Adis can make an exception every once in a great while, like he did in June when he and his wife, Tara Adis, went to Fort Collins for the wedding shower for their son, Jake Adis, and now daughter-in-law Kate.

The group went to a sushi restaurant, and upon leaving they noticed the Mary’s Mountain Cookies store next door. Tara said they thought: It’s there, and we’re here, so “let’s just all have fun. We’ve never been in one before, so we bought all sorts of cookies and ice cream.

“And Justin’s a diehard nutritionist, and he doesn’t ever let himself, you know, be able to partake in the sugar. He was like, ‘Well, it’s our son’s wedding,’ so he had it and was like, ‘What is this?’ He didn’t get a stomach ache. He felt light. And the ingredients were so different, because they’re not your traditional cookies, your traditional ingredients. “

Tara said they went back to Mary’s Mountain Cookies the next day, spoke to the manager and asked her, “What is this?”

And she told them the story of Mary Johns, who opened the first Mary’s Mountain Cookies store in Fort Collins in 1986.

The answer to their simple question – What is this? – ultimately was Mary’s Mountain’s Cookies is Justin and Tara’s new business venture.

“We had been wanting to open a business in town,” Tara said. “We didn’t know what it was going to be. It turns out, it’s cookies.”

Justin and Tara contacted Mary Johns, went to Jake and Kate’s wedding in July, contacted Mary again, and …

“Here we are,” Tara said during an Oct. 31 interview, Day 5 of being open at 138 S. Park Square, Unit 103, in Fruita.

That’s just Store No. 1. They took over a lease as of Nov. 1 for a commercial unit in the Village Fair Plaza shopping center, 2691 Patterson Road, and plan to open a Mary’s Mountain Cookies store there within a couple months.

See COOKIES on page 12

Mary’s Mountain Cookies is located in Unit 103 at 138 S. Park Square in Fruita.

Justin and Tara Adis, owners of the Fruita location, said Mary’s Mountain Cookies is in a dozen states, and there are about 30 of them now, with some more to come, including one at Village Fair Plaza, 2691 Patterson Road, in Grand Junction, possibly before Christmas.

They added the stores are not franchises.

“Each one is independently owned,” Tara said. “Mary does not own the individual stores, and so each one has their own personality on it. Like, I think our Grand Junction store will have a different personality than this store. And so that’s what’s fun about it. The whole idea is to have the store match the vibe of the town it’s in.”

New careers in cookies

Justin and Tara Adis moved to Fruita from Carbondale, and they wanted to start a business together, which led to them opening Mary’s Mountain Cookies.

Justin said he retired from a 30-year automotive career in Carbondale, and Tara said she was a certified public accountant and financial advisor for 23 years until she retired “a while ago.” However, Tara said, “I got bored and became a Realtor,” so she’s still a Realtor for Coldwell Banker out of Carbondale.

The Mary’s Mountain Cookies stores are a new challenge, but also a venture they believe will allow them to enjoy life outside of work.

“Tara and I have a lot of energy, and we’ve got a lot of drive, and we wanted to do something else in this

next chapter of our lives,” Justin said. “We were just looking for something fun to do, you know?”

He added, “It’s important for people to know that we live here in town. We’re locals. It’s a locally owned store, and we’ve always done our best to support local businesses, because we know how important that is.”

Plans for a couple more stores

Justin and Tara don’t plan to stop with the Fruita and Grand Junction locations of Mary’s Mountain Cookies.

“We’re talking about a third and fourth as well,” Justin said. “Those aren’t going to come about until next year, more than likely. It takes a lot to get one of these off the ground, so right now we’re just focused on launching Fruita successfully and then starting to dive in on the Grand Junction location. And then after that’s dialed in, then we’ll move toward locations three and four.”

More ways to get your cookies

Tara rattled off several different ways people will be able to get Mary’s Mountain Cookies aside from going to the store.

Online ordering is coming soon, she said, along with a social media presence to promote the business.

They will set up at farmers markets and festivals.

They eventually will have a three-wheel cookie bike “with a big, big cooler on the front,” going to populated places to draw attention and sell cookies, she said.

And there will be a cookie truck.

“So that’s coming, and then we’ll be at every event,” Tara said. “We’re really big into mountain biking. We’d like to be at all of the races at the trailheads, part

of the hiking, trail-running venues. That’s our heart is those type of sports, skiing as well. “

Mary’s Mountain Cookies also wants to accumulate corporate accounts, such as banks, insurance companies, real-estate agencies. Tara said Mary’s Mountain Cookies can provide what those businesses need for customer gifts or staff meetings.

The latter is already happening and led Tara to say, “We’re staff cookies.”

People know the brand

Since opening the Fruita store on Oct. 27, the Adises have encountered a few people who are familiar with Mary’s Mountain Cookies.

For starters, Grand Junction has its share of people who went to Colorado State University in Fort Collins, where Mary’s Mountain Cookies originated.

“People that go to school in Fort Collins know Mary’s Mountain Cookies,” Tara said, “because they had them even 20, 30 years ago.”

Tara said people have asked her, “Are you guys the same as Mary’s Mountain Cookies in Fort Collins?” And she replies emphatically, “Yes, we are!”

She said a man who cleans rugs and linens for the Fruita store told her Mary’s Mountain Cookies catered their wedding in Sioux Falls, S.D. Then, a couple from Asheville, N.C., where there is a Mary’s Mountain Cookies, was driving through Fruita, saw the store sign, and they stopped to inquire, “Are you the same Mary’s Mountain Cookies as Asheville?”

“So there’s some national recognition with the logo and the concept and brand,” Tara said.

County faces reduction in deputies

Continued from Page 1

Slides displayed during the meeting showed a $980,818 reduction in operational line items such as training, emergency management, victim assistance and statutory obligations, potentially impacting up to 10 additional deputies.

Rowell said the county should eliminate unfilled positions outside of the Sheriff’s Office rather than just not filling the positions as employees accept early-retirement severance packages.

He said the total reduction at the Sheriff’s Office reaches about $3.1 million. Public Safety Tax Funding Eclipsed by General Fund Reduction

Rowell explained that although the 2017 Public Safety Sales Tax has fully funded 56 deputy positions as promised to voters, those gains have been offset by reductions in the county’s general-fund support, dropping 9 percent. He argued that was not the intention of the tax and was a major concern of the voters when it was being proposed.

A slide titled General Fund Comparison showed the Sheriff’s Office’s share of Mesa County’s general fund falling from 49 percent in 2016 to just over 40 percent in 2024, while other departments collectively grew their share and staffing.

Mesa County Commissioner Cody Davis asked if there were any grant-funded positions (non general fund) in the job numbers cited by the sheriff, and Rowell said there were some, but it was not known how many.

Rowell then went back to show that the percentage of the general fund was the main point of contention.

Doing More with Less

Staffing charts presented Tuesday show the Sheriff’s Office dropping to 207.5 general-funded positions in 2026, down from 225 in 2016, a net loss of 17.5. The department now operates at 1.35 officers per 1,000 residents, below its 1.5 goal, and at the jail there is one deputy for every 5.6 inmates instead of the national standard of 1 to 4.

“We’re still safe, and we have incredible employees that are doing amazing work,” Rowell said. “But if we’re going to cut more positions, it starts making things unsafe.”

The sheriff noted his office continues to maintain a clearance rate of solving crime at above 50 percent, roughly 20 percentage points higher than the state average.

Unfunded Mandates Strain Local Budgets

When asked how unfunded mandates are affecting his budget, Rowell said they have become a big pressure on his department.

He pointed to one example being a medically assisted treatment program in the county jail, which was initially funded by the state at about $750,000 but is now entirely covered by the county.

See DEPUTIES on Page 5

Deputies

Continued from Page 4

“It’s required by law, so things like that significantly impact us, and it impacts the whole county,” he said.

Commissioner Bobbie Daniel said about 65 percent of all unfunded mandates countywide fall under the Sheriff’s Office.

Commissioner JJ Fletcher also asked about Senate Bill 25-003, a firearmstraining and registry law. Rowell said it could potentially cost the county more than $380,000 to implement, with no new state funding to offset it.

Daniel noted that over the past two years Mesa County has granted 28 percent in wage increases and added 18 full-time positions.

Another member of the Sheriff’s Office at the meeting expressed gratitude for those recent pay increases, but added Mesa County deputies still remain among the lowest paid compared with deputies in similar counties.

Rowell reminded commissioners the Sheriff’s Office is currently engaged in

collective bargaining.

“What I am asking for is to fund what I submitted, which is a flat budget,” he said. “I am cutting five positions out of my office to get there.

“As you know, we are going through collective bargaining right now, and there is going to be a cost associated with that as well. For me to cut maybe up to 28 deputies and pretend like I can do anything additional for anybody is impossible.”

What Happens Next

Commissioners acknowledged the difficulty of balancing the county budget amid state and federal pressures.

“This isn’t fun for anyone. We’re fighting hard on the unfunded-mandate front,” Daniel said. “Public safety really does matter to our community, and we’re going to take the time to make sure we get it right.”

Hollenbeck said staff will analyze the sheriff’s materials and bring forward a recommendation at a future meeting.

Business Incubator’s holiday expo takes place Nov.

Grand Junction’s Business Incubator Center, 2591 Legacy Way, will host the 2025 Small Business Holiday Expo on Nov. 21 from 4 to 7 p.m.

The Small Business Holiday Expo serves as the center’s only annual fundraiser by transforming the campus into a festive European marketplace, which is curated to feature entrepreneurs, who make the Western Slope thrive. Thirty-three percent of Mesa County businesses have been launched or supported by The Business Incubator Center, according to a news release from the business incubator.

The incubator center anticipates approximately 800 community members will attend the holiday expo, and they can expect: unique holiday shopping with 20-plus local vendors; fare from local food trucks; live music and caroling to set the festive mood; dozens of silent-auction items supporting local businesses out of BIC; and a special visit from Santa Claus.

The 2025 Small Business Expo will

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introduce several additions to this year’s celebration:

• Carriage Rides: Horse-drawn carriage rides provided by JR’s Carriage Service.

• Custom Holiday Beverages: Enjoy both spirited and non-alcoholic creations from our beverage tent.

• Max the Bull: Stop by and take a selfie with Max the Bull, a 2,000-pound Charolais bull owned by Pitchfork Charolais of VanWinkle Ranch.

• The silent auction will launch online on Nov. 14 at tinyurl.com/expo-auction, giving the community a head start on holiday shopping and the chance to bid early on locally donated treasures.

RSVP at www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2025-small-business-holiday-expo.

Community members can support BIC’s Holiday Expo by attending, becoming a sponsor or donating through Colorado Gives. Sponsorships and donations directly power mentorship, resources and programs that help local businesses thrive.

Maurer Miller Law expands to Grand Junction

Tim Harty The Business Times

After 17 years as a municipal court judge part-time in Glenwood Springs and New Castle, Amanda N. Maurer Miller said goodbye to the bench in December 2024 and returned to full-time duty as an attorney.

Awaiting her was stewardship of the life-and-legacy-planning law firm, Maurer Miller Law, PC, which she had opened a year earlier in Glenwood Springs.

Now, she’s taking another step in her law firm’s evolution with the recent opening of a second office, this one in Grand Junction at 3154 Lakeside Drive, Unit 101.

The move made sense on a couple fronts.

One, Miller has been living in Grand Junction and Glenwood Springs since 2014. Her husband, Randy Miller, whom she married in 2018, has been in Grand Junction most of his life, and they have family in Grand Junction.

Two, she wanted to grow her firm and “work in the community I live in and support local families.” Grand Junction gives her access to a larger potential client base to help, and it will become her primary office location and residence.

At her previous law firm with two other attorneys, Miller primarily practiced estate law since 2004, but she also did some work in real estate, homeowners associations,

MORE ABOUT MAURER MILLER LAW

Maurer Miller Law’s offices are at:

• 3154 Lakeside Drive, Unit 101, in Grand Junction

• 214 Eighth St., Suite 303, in Glenwood Springs Phone: 970-945-4994

Email: office@maurermillerlaw.com Website: maurermillerlaw.com

Book a consult online at maurermillerlaw.cliogrow.com/ book

construction law and business law.

Her focus with Maurer Miller Law will be life and legacy, helping people with estate planning and asset protection, business planning, real estate, wills and trusts, powers of attorney and advance directives, and probate and estate administration.

When it comes to practicing law, that’s where she’s most passionate, in part because she knows the benefits first-hand.

“Personally, I have lost friends and family members close to me, and I know how difficult it is for families to lose a loved one,” she said. “My children’s father, Christiaan Maurer, died at age 46 in 2019 from cancer one year after diagnosis. See LAW on Page 9

Girl Scouts honor Business Incubator’s Roe

Girl Scouts of Colorado each year recognizes three extraordinary women as the Western Slope Women of the Year, and the Grand Junction Business Incubator Center’s Helen Roe is one of this year’s honorees.

Roe, the director of business funding and loans at the incubator center, was selected along with Laurel Walters and Lisa Martin.

“I am so honored to be considered and included among the ranks of the incredible women who have been recognized before me and whom I have the privilege of standing next to today. I am blessed to do work I love, and it’s just above and beyond that I get to be honored for it,” Roe said.

Leanna Clark, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Colorado, said this year’s awardees are “powerful examples of leadership and excellence, and their strength, boldness and empowerment make them outstanding role models who inspire our girls and power today’s world.”

Dalida Sassoon Bollig, CEO of the Business Incubator Center, said Roe “is a woman of distinction in all she does. As a serial entrepreneur herself, she is passionate about supporting small business owners, guiding them through their journey and cultivating opportunities to see them grow and scale. She is deserving of this recognition, and the BIC team and board of directors are proud to celebrate her today.”

Roe moved to Grand Junction after spending more than two decades as a successful, serial entrepreneur on the Front Range. She went on to earn degrees in marketing and accounting from Colorado Mesa University before being offered an internship at the Business Incubator Center.

From the start, Roe knew the Business Incubator Center was where she wanted to be and jumped at the chance when a job opportunity was available. Nineteen years later, Roe is director of business funding and loans as part of the Business Incubator Center leadership team and is a small-business coach specializing in accounting, finance and strategic business planning.

In 2011, she was named the State of Colorado Small Business Development Center Counselor of the Year.

To round out her skills, Roe is a certified forklift operator. She is a former member of the Mesa County Executive Fair Board and currently serves on the advisory board of the Grand Junction Housing Authority Family Self-Sufficiency program.

Law

Continued from Page 6

He had time to get a plan in place that helped make a very difficult situation as easy as possible from a legal perspective for our children and his family, so that we could focus on grieving and not have to go through a court process.”

Her experience tells her most people don’t understand the importance of estate planning. Of course, everyone eventually dies, but many elderly people also get to a stage where they are incapacitated, and not planning for that happening to themselves or loved ones can be complex, confusing and costly.

“Most people think it’s not going to happen to them,” Miller said. “Most people think that just happens to somebody else.”

Changing that thinking and seeking help from a professional can prevent a lot of heartache.

“It is human nature to think that we have many more years to live and that big accidents or illnesses only happen to other people,” she said. “Unfortunately, we are all going to die, and almost everyone that becomes incapacitated did not expect it to happen. It is very important to take time when we are living and have capacity to put a plan in place that will support our loved ones when we are not able to.

“Life and legacy planning is an act of love and a gift to your loved ones.”

Miller said estate-plan documents like durable powers of attorney allow family members “to avoid guardianship and conservatorship court if you become incapacitated, and wills and trusts can make the court process much easier or avoid it altogether after your death.”

The mention of wills leads to another misunderstanding many people have about end of life. They think that’s all they need to have when they die for their family to avoid probate, and that’s not the case.

“If you want your family to be able to avoid the court process, you can plan with a trust or a beneficiary (transfer on death) deed,” she said. “It is best to have a legal professional advise you about this process rather than DIYing it and hoping that it works the way you intended it to after your death.”

Miller said an area where her law firm stands apart from other firms is in the way

Attorney Amanda N. Maurer Miller at a City of Glenwood Springs City Council meeting, during which she was honored with a proclamation after retiring as a municipal court judge in December 2024. Photo courtesy of Maurer Miller Law.

it bills clients.

“We have flat fees rather than hourly billing,” she said. “I initially meet with new clients for two hours. During the first hour, we discuss your goals and family dynamics. You then choose the plan and flat fee that would work best for you and your family. If clients do some pre-meeting homework to prepare for the meeting, get organized, and make the most efficient use of our time together, I waive the initial meeting fee.”

Miller currently has four employees between her two offices, and she’s the only attorney. She anticipates adding an attorney to each office in the next two to three years, but she said she wants to keep the law firm small and client-focused.

She said she wants people to feel empowered, not intimidated, by the process of planning for the future.

“Life and legacy planning isn’t just about legal documents,” Miller said. “It’s about creating peace of mind for the people and the causes you love.”

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Cookies

Continued from Page 2

“Hopefully we’ll be open before Christmas on that one,” Tara said.

First, there’s buildout to do in the Village Fair unit, as Justin said they need to knock down a few walls, so they can implement the layout that all Mary’s Mountain Cookies stores use.

Referring to the open concept of the Fruita store, Justin said, “As you can see, it’s a big open kitchen. There’s tall refrigerators, tall freezers. There’s butcher-blocked tabletops. There’s a gigantic 12-foot-long cookie case. The ovens. There’s a big mixer that weighs 800 pounds.

‘So it’s basically just building out a kitchen, you know, electrical, some plumbing.”

The reason for the open setup is it allows customers to see the staff making the baked goods.

“Everything is made on site,” Tara added.

Lots and lots of different cookies.

Mary Johns, who was at the store on Halloween, because she was in town to help Tara and Justin get the store ready, like she does for each new Mary’s Mountain Cookies store, said she has 600 or 700 different cookie recipes.

Tara and Justin won’t work their way through that many recipes, but they’ll have 24 different kinds of cookies – or a few other items such brownies and cinnamon rolls mixed in – each day in the case and a regular rotation of cookie recipes.

On Halloween, Justin said early in the afternoon they had made 300 cookies already that day, “and the day’s only half over. It’s just a constant production cycle of cookies fresh out of the oven.”

Justin said all of the cookies are made fresh every day, and “it’s real ingredients.” That means the blueberry oatmeal cookie has real blueberries in it. Orange lemon doodles have real orange and lemon.

Describing the style of cookies, Justin said the thing that makes Mary’s Mountain Cookies unique from others is the size of them.

“They’re very large, they’re thick, a lot of them have toppings on them,” he said. “These are thick and incredible.”

Some cookie creativity is allowed for customers who want an ice cream sandwich or an avalanche (two cookies and a layer of frosting between them) or a tornado (edible cookie dough mixed in with ice cream like a shake).

Mary’s Mountain Cookies can do custom orders such as a large cookie shaped like a football for a Super Bowl party.

They also make some gluten-free cookies.

Large groups or gatherings can get what they need, too. Tara said a bank picked up a box of 45 cookies earlier in the day on Halloween for a staff meeting.

“This week alone, we’ve put out maybe 25 dozen cookies for different organizations and parties in town,” Tara said.

They also can do special orders for people who want party trays, and they anticipate doing some catering.

“We have the ability to really do anything,” she said.

Building a brand without breaking the bank

When most people hear the word “branding,” they picture big budgets, flashy ads and national companies with an entire marketing team.

But for smaller businesses like here in the Grand Valley, branding doesn’t have to be expensive or even complicated. Some of the most trusted and recognizable local brands are built not on big spending, but on clarity, consistency and connection.

Your brand is more than your logo or tagline. It’s the feeling people get when they interact with your business. When someone walks into your storefront, visits your website or sees your post on social media, your brand tells your story before you ever say a word. With the right focus, you can create a professional and trustworthy image that grows your business, without breaking the bank.

Consistency Over Perfection

One of the most common mistakes small businesses make is thinking they need to have the “perfect” logo, website or social media feed before putting themselves out there. The truth: consistency matters far more than perfection.

Each time you change your brand, you make it harder for customers to remember who you are. Instead, commit to using the same colors, fonts and tone of voice across everything you create, from your website to your email signature. When the visuals and words align, people not only recognize, but they trust your brand.

If you don’t have a design background, affordable tools like Canva make this easier than ever. Start with their free Brand Kit feature; it lets you upload your logo, choose your color palette and save fonts, so every design stays on brand. This simple step can make your materials look polished and professional, no matter the budget.

Make the Most of What You Already Have

You don’t need expensive advertising to get noticed. The most powerful marketing tools are right in front of you: social media and community relationships.

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn are free tools that can help your business reach your audience directly. The key is to post consistently, not constantly. Share what’s happening behind the scenes, introduce your team, highlight customer stories and talk about what makes your business unique. People connect with people, not faceless logos.

Don’t forget the power of local partnerships. The Grand Valley is built on strong community ties, and collaboration goes a long way. Team up with nearby businesses for giveaways, host joint pop-up events or share each other’s posts. A coffee shop could partner with a boutique for a weekend promotion. A real estate agent could feature a local landscaper or contractor on social media. When you combine efforts, you reach more people and strengthen your local business community at the same time.

Tell Your Story (It’s Your Superpower)

Every business has a story worth telling: why you started what you believe in; and who you serve. These are the details that help customers connect with you on a personal level. Storytelling builds emotion, and emotion drives loyalty far more than any paid ad ever could.

Don’t be afraid to share your “why.” If you’re a family-run restaurant, talk about the recipes that have been passed down through generations. If you’re a solo entrepreneur, share what inspired you to take the leap. These are the stories people remember and repeat.

Storytelling isn’t about oversharing; it’s about authenticity. When your audience sees the real people behind the brand, they’re more likely to trust, support and recommend you.

Keep It Simple, Stay Consistent and Shine

The most effective brands aren’t necessarily the most elaborate; they’re the most authentic. Start with the basics: a clear message; a consistent look; and a genuine connection to your community. Focus on doing a few things well, and your brand will naturally grow stronger.

Once again, branding isn’t about how much you spend, it’s about how well you communicate who you are and what you stand for. The good news? You already have the tools you need.

As I often remind clients at Salt N Light Design, marketing doesn’t have to be complicated, it just needs to be rooted in purpose. When you focus on purpose, consistency and heart, your brand will shine – no matter your budget.

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Lauren Jobe is the owner and creative director of Salt N Light Design, a Grand Junction-based marketing and branding studio that helps small businesses simplify their marketing and amplify their impact. Learn more at saltnlightdesign.com.

Working together for a healthier respiratory virus season

Respiratory virus season is here in Mesa County, bringing increased risks for employees and employers alike. Three viruses to pay attention to are influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV.

All three are transmitted in a similar way: through droplets from a sneeze or cough.

“All three viruses still have the potential to cause serious illness, and prevention is our best defense during the respiratory illness season, especially to keep those who are most vulnerable like the really young and elderly safe,” said Kathleen Satterfield, epidemiologist supervisor at Mesa County Public Health.

Protecting individuals and families from the worst outcomes of these preventable viruses also helps keep the

Family Health West adds life-saving naloxone kiosk

Family Health West recently partnered with Mesa County Public Health to place a new naloxone kiosk on its campus. The kiosk is at 401 Kokopelli Blvd., Unit 2, which is conveniently located for those visiting Family Health West Urgent Care, Family Health West Primary Care and the Fruita Welcome Center.

Naloxone, also called Narcan, quickly reverses an opioid overdose by stopping opioids from affecting the body. Anyone could encounter an opioid overdose, so access to naloxone and knowledge of how to use it saves lives.

In recent years, Mesa County’s opioid death rate has stabilized. In 2024, there were 34 overdose deaths reported in Mesa County, down from 41 in 2023. Tools such as naloxone kiosks help keep those numbers moving in the right direction.

“Our ultimate goal is to save lives and support harm reduction in our community. The kiosks are meeting a critical need, offering timely, anonymous access to a medicine that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose,” said Chhavi Attri, Mesa County Public Health community health planner.

The kiosk offers free, alwaysavailable naloxone, as well as essential information for anyone to respond to an emergency situation. Informational stickers are placed on the outside of the kiosk, with clear instructions about how to use Narcan during an overdose. The kiosk also includes a QR code that links to the Mesa County Public Health website, where people can find additional kiosk locations, information about naloxone and fentanyl test strips, and other support services.

“We’re really proud of this collaboration and the community impact it’s already had,” Attri said. “Access to naloxone empowers our community to act.

This kiosk makes it possible for anyone to step in, save a life, and help us move forward together in the fight against the opioid crisis.”

workforce healthy.

Prevention is key

Respiratory illnesses can disrupt operations and impact productivity. Prevention measures can protect staff and keep business operations running smoothly.

These simple steps can make a big difference in protecting staff and our community:

• Encouraging employees to stay home when sick.

• Promoting frequent hand washing.

• Disinfecting high-touch surfaces at work.

• Staying up to date with vaccinations.

Resources at Mesa County Public Health

Mesa County Public Health updates hospitalization data for respiratory illness on our website and on social media every other week between October and March.

“Our team tracks hospitalizations to better assess the severity and community impact, information that can guide employers in workforce planning and safety protocols,” Satterfield said.

There are safe and effective vaccines for flu, COVID-19 and RSV that offer protection during respiratory virus season. Mesa County Public Health offers the following in our public health clinic:

• High-dose flu vaccine for adults 65-plus.

• Standard flu vaccine for anyone six months and older.

• COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 12-plus.

We encourage people to consult with healthcare providers to determine the best protection for themselves and their families. We also have vaccine experts on staff to answer questions.

Call 970-248-6906 to speak with one of our experts or to schedule an appointment.

Promoting preventive measures means fewer sick days, steady productivity and a stronger community during the respiratory illness season.

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Sarah Gray is a communication specialist with Mesa County Public Health. For additional information, call (970) 248-6900 or visit mesacounty.us/public-health.

It’s already

too big, too powerful and has too much money

And I’m afraid, based on this last election and many preceding ones, along with life experience of government being involved in every aspect of our lives, we’re past the tipping point. Because when it comes to government, power and money are all about control. That’s why it steals more and more of the one and writes law after law to give itself more of the other.

And the only thing it accomplishes is growth and control for the monster it’s become through its lust in the ultimate control: The very power of life and death of what government calls “constituents,” but throughout history we understand are better identified as the serfs.

For those progressives reading this, that means you as well. After all, no one in control throws off the minions and useful idiots who got them there better than a progressive tyrant. Especially ones who claim they are doing it for the people and their own good. And it’s usually in a violent way as they cast them off.

Read some history, and not from a progressive textbook brought to you by a progressive school district. Or from the New York Times or local newspaper that gets its news from it. The fact is: This unconstitutional takeover and confiscation has been going on since before the ink dried on the parchment in 1787, and it’s been pedal to the metal on steroids for over a century.

Consider a couple of quotes from what one might consider the opposite ends of the political spectrum – odd how those opposite ends are in the same cesspool – one made in the past week and one over a half century ago. Then, try to tell me we aren’t here today.

“A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.” – President Gerald R. Ford in an address to a Joint Session of Congress on August 12, 1974.

“We will prove that there is no problem too large for government to solve, and no concern too small for it to care about ... and on January 1st, we will usher in a government who helps everyone.” – Zohran Momdami in an address to supporters upon winning the New York City mayoral election.

From these I see two big problems. First, we are way past a government big enough to give you everything you want. Hell, that’s why most folks go into government to begin with, and it starts with, “There oughta be a law …” Insert your own desire, lust or illegal activity you’d like made “legal” in the dots. Have a look and tell me that most lawmakers aren’t in power to pass laws they lust for humans to bow down and act accordingly to their whims and desires. That’s all government seems to be anymore.

Maybe if we stopped calling them lawmakers, they’d stop making so many laws? But I digress.

Tell me you didn’t see this whole SNAP shutdown fiasco coupled with our Propositions ll and mm for what they really are. The government has taken over much of the feeding of the people and our kids through payola and the schools. So now those folks have what they want via another money laundering (because that’s all government is), vote-buying scheme, at least until the government comes back for more (hence Propositions ll and mm), as now government controls it and takes it away to garner more money and power.

Now you know the reason SNAP isn’t mandatory spending outside of a government shutdown.

Our government is as good at using human shields as any terrorist organization.

It’s all being done in the name of getting your vote. Therefore, the natural position of any vote-grubbing politico in office would be to what? Take away what it gives and then play politics with it at the voters’ expense. Be honest, the government does this in all areas it controls, which anymore seems every area.

And the wheels on the bus go round and round. What do you think the federal shutdown is about? What do you think everything voted on in Denver is about as the budget explodes? Closer to home our examples continue with city council and the school board elections. It’s always about more money and more power. And through them, more control over the lives (and deaths) of the people.

After all, it seems with every decision made in government, one side or the other screams, “People will die!” if we don’t pass this law or that tax or if you don’t give us more control.

Which brings me to the second point in the quotes. Government can’t solve your problems or any problem. And that’s because for every problem (real, made up or otherwise) government attempts to solve for one, it creates problems for another. And that’s before the problem government claims it’s solving is only made worse through the solution.

My reference on that? Literally every law passed since we formed a government.

But Craig, you write all this while offering no solutions, you might say. Isn’t the solution obvious? Stop voting for the government Ford warned you about and Mamdani promises. The end is the same. Government can’t do it, provide or become it.

It’s my, your and everyone’s individual responsibility to do this. And it’s only found 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

n Local artist closing her downtown studio

Artist Judy Rogan will hold an “art sale and studio clear-out” Nov. 14 from 4 to 8 p.m. and Nov. 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Art & Soul Studio, inside the Margery Building at 523 1/2 Main St. in downtown Grand Junction.

The event will feature original artwork, art supplies and more for purchase.

Rogan is closing the studio, but she plans to teach classes and offer other creative teaching opportunities down the road.

“This sale isn’t about saying goodbye; it’s about sharing the joy that art has brought me over the years,” Rogan said in a news release. “I’m excited to see these pieces find new homes and to make room for whatever comes next.”

Admission is free and open to the public. Learn more at www.artandsoulstudiosgj.com.

n Law firm creates Killian Cares to support nonprofits

Personal-injury law firm Killian, Davis & Richter announced it launched Killian Cares, a new community outreach initiative created to support and spotlight local nonprofit organizations that make a lasting difference in the lives of others.

Through Killian Cares, the firm will select and partner with local nonprofits each month, offering financial support and volunteer participation from staff. This ongoing effort reflects the firm’s commitment to community engagement and its belief in the power of collective action to strengthen the Western Slope, the law firm said in a news release.

“With Killian Cares, we are formalizing our commitment to the community that has supported our law firm and employees for the last 34 years,” said Keith Killian, managing shareholder.

Following a round of nominations from staff, School District 51 Foundation has been selected as the first community partner for the

program. The Foundation works to raise funds to support academic growth and achievement, enhance learning environments, and expand opportunities for students and educators across Mesa County Valley School District 51.

“Their work truly embodies the spirit of compassion and community that this initiative was built to celebrate,” Killian said.

Each month, the firm will continue to highlight and support nonprofits. For more information about Killian Cares or to learn how to get involved, contact Alisha Roles at alishar@killianlaw.com.

n Martinez, Nelson join Realty ONE Group

Realty ONE Group Western Slope, 441 Colorado Ave., announced it hired Venus Martinez and Jami Nelson.

Martinez specializes in residential properties. She has a bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing. Realty One Group said in a news release, “Her integrity, work ethic and personalized approach have earned the trust of numerous families throughout Colorado.”

Nelson is the brokerage’s new brand ambassador, a position designed to connect community, creativity and collaboration. Nelson has “a vision to help elevate the brokerage’s brand presence while building meaningful local partnerships,” according to the news release.

n Outdoor rec summit to launch countywide master plan

The 2025 West Slope Outdoor Recreation Industry Summit and Grand Valley Outdoor Recreation Coalition Industry Celebration & Awards will take place Nov. 13-14 in Grand Junction and Palisade.

It will mark the start of a countywide Outdoor Recreation Master Plan and Feasibility Study to shape the future of outdoor access, infrastructure and economic opportunity across the Western Slope.

The West Slope Outdoor Recreation Industry Summit will take place from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on Nov. 13 in the Colorado Mesa University Ballroom.

The summit will include keynote addresses from Ling Thompson of The Foundation for America’s Public Lands and Conor Hall of the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office. Breakout sessions will spotlight the launch of Mesa County’s Outdoor Recreation Master Plan and Feasibility Study.

The GVORC Industry Celebration & Awards will be at Orchard River View in Palisade from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 14. In addition to industry awards spotlighting standout achievements in outdoor recreation, the event will include: Live music by the Schaffer Brothers Band; a “Canadian tuxedo” theme; and a silent auction.

Go online to gvorc.org for registration, sponsorship opportunities and event details.

achievement, educators across initiative

For more Roles at Slope, 441 Martinez properties. business One Group work ethic the trust of Colorado.” new brand collaboration. Nelson meaningful local Grand Valley Nov. 13-14

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