Hey Western Slope! Bust out the hot cocoa and Christmas movies. It’s the merriest time of the year.

In this edition:

• Christmas Lights Route

• Montrose Approves New Building

• Third Arrest in Palisade Shooting

• High School Basketball and Many Christmas Activities

Christmas Light Route (I added a few stops!)

These are circular loops. Start at any point and work around the list from one point to the next and you should circle back to a place close to your starting point.

*Don't forget the Blue Lights display at the Botanical Gardens every weekend. $10.00 each/$25.00 family*

Palisade:

• 820 Cabernet Ct, Palisade

• 3588 G Rd, Palisade

• 3420 F Rd, Clifton

• 3427 F Rd, Clifton,

Clifton:

• 3133 Perkins Dr, Clifton

• 3127 Bevill Ave, Clifton

• 451 1/2 Bulla Dr, Grand Junction

• 3091 Silver Crest Trail, Grand Junction

• 2862 Fennel ave, Grand Junction

• 2978 C 1/2 Rd, Grand Junction

• 427 Donogal Dr, Grand Junction

• 440 Donogal Dr, Grand Junction

Orchard Mesa:

• 248 Frontier St, Grand Junction

• 2936 Kathy Jo Ln, Grand Junction

• 220 Vista Hills Dr,

• 2876 B Rd, Grand Junction

• 2842 1/2 Kelso Mesa Dr,

• 2680 B 1/2 Rd, Grand Junction

• 1188 Olson Ave, Grand Junction

• 1195 Santa Clara Ave, Grand Junction

• 322 Apache Dr, Grand Junction

• 2877 Fall Creek Dr, Grand Junction

Grand Junction East:

• 670 N Saddle Rock Dr, Grand Junction

• 3147 Devin Dr, Grand Junction,

• 620 31 Rd, Grand Junction,

• 3039 Milburn Ct, Grand Junction,

• 635 Round Table Rd, Grand Junction

• 3001 Country Rd, Grand Junction,

• 3001 Kia Dr, Grand Junction

• 676 29 1/2 Rd, Grand Junction

• 2924 1/2 Wagon Way, Grand Junction

• 580 1/2 28 1/2 Rd, Grand Junction

• 584 Norma Jean St, Grand Junction

• 2871 Elm Ave, Grand Junction

• 2946 Orchard Ave, Grand Junction

• 594 29 1/2 Rd, Grand Junction

• 2983 Walnut Ave, Grand Junction

• 3045 Hall Dr, Grand Junction,

• 563 E Valley Dr, Grand Junction

Grand Junction West:

• 3620 Beechwood St, Grand Junction

• 1610 Crestview Way

• 736 26 1/2 Rd, Grand Junction,

• 752 Tulip Dr, Grand Junction,

• Greystone Drive, Grand Junction,

• 3038 Cloverdale Ct, Grand Junction,

• 141 Bookcliff Ave, Grand Junction,

• 581 Walnut Ave, Grand Junction,

• 1718 Maple St, Grand Junction,

• 2041 N 22nd St, Grand Junction

Fruita:

• 924 Cresthaven Drive, Fruita,

• 713 Gold Rush Dr, Fruita,

• 578 Comstock Dr, Fruita,

• 550 Poplar Dr, Fruita,

• 515 Hazel Cir, Fruita,

• 1241 Dakota Dr, Fruita,

• 228 S Park Ct, Fruita

• 1284 Windsor Park Dr, Fruita,

• 1238 Windsor Park Dr, Fruita,

• 1105 E Carolina Ave, Fruita,

• 933 Kiefer Ave, Fruita,

• 617 E Aspen Ave, Fruita

• 137 N Peach St, Fruita,

• 225 E Aspen Ave, Fruita,

• 219 E Aspen Ave, Fruita,

Housing

Market Stats:

Average Sales Price: $454,969 (+.25% from last week)

Inventory Levels:

Number of New Listings: 48 (-3 from last week)

Average Days on Market: 86 (same as last week)

Total Number of Active Listings: 602 (-8 from last week)

_{Source: Skyler Kraai with Coldwell Banker Distinctive Properties}

News

Montrose Approves New Town Buidling

Montrose County Commissioners approved a $24 million contract to build a new county building at their Wednesday board meeting.

The new county campus will be the home of human services, public health, human resources and finance.

“This investment is essential to ensure the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of county government,” Commissioner Roger Rash said in a press release. “The new campus will provide a facility that meets the needs of our community for years to come.”

Plans for the building began in 2021. The project is now estimated to be completed in 2026.

Third Man Arrested in Palisade Shooting Case

In a story followed by many from October, another suspect has been arrested.

A third person has been arrested in connection with an October shooting in Palisade, the Palisade Police Department said Thursday.

Darren Kropf, 32, was taken into custody by the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office at the request of Palisade Police, the department said.

Business Highlight

Diorios Pizza

• Location: 1125 North Ave, Grand Junction, CO 81501

• Hours: Monday-Saturday 11am - 9pm

In the movie home alone, Kevin McCallister orders pizzas for Christmas. For many, this is a holiday tradition. While family is in town and everyone is too busy visiting to cook, swing by Diorios and get yourself a New York style pie.

Local Community

Grand Junction Pursues Grant to Fund Path to Palisade

Mesa County reaches the end of its Riverfront Trail study.

According to Eric Borschel, Senior Engineer of Mesa County Public Works, the point of the project is to analyze and find ways to combine the Riverfront Trail, which starts in Clifton, with the Riverbend Park in Palisade.

“I think it provides a lot of great access for folks to get to the Clifton area or to get from Clifton to Palisade or Palisade to Clifton,” said Borschel. “Whether that’s for recreation, for work, for school, I think it would provide a lot of multimodal opportunities for folks.”

A completed study will allow the county to receive grant funding for individual segments of the trail.

The final report of the study will be released in January 2025, with construction starting shortly after.

Western Slope Sports!

Palisade Winter Classic Basketball Tournament

On the second day of the Palisade Winter Classic Basketball Tournament, the Palisade Bulldogs Boys Basketball team, flashed their talent they boast up and down the lineup to cruise to a 65-50 win over Moffat County in the Battle of the Bulldogs.

Palisade opened up screeching hot, on a 17-5 run to open the first, and ended the quarter up 21-8, getting contribution from several players on the lineup, with Senior LJ Ballenger and Junior Hunter Howard leading the charge.

The 39-14 lead at the half was enough for Palisade to withstand a late charge by Moffat County, who cut the lead to eleven points at one point, but Palisade hung on to win 69-50.

Palisade Boys have now won four of their last five games played headed into a matchup with Palmer Ridge.

Palisade Girls meanwhile played a gritty game, but could not put away Palmer Ridge losing 37-29

Other scores from Day Two of the Tournament and from Western Slope Basketball can be found below.

Central Girls get their first win of the young season taking down the Aspen Skiers 50-26.

Montrose Girls take down Pagosa Springs 45-37 to improve to 6-1.

Olathe Girls falls to Sierra Grande 47-30

Delta Boys lose a Winter Classic matchup to Montezuma-Cortez 61-47.

Grand Valley Boys came up short against South from Cheyenne Wyoming 55-53.

Montrose Boys pick up a double digit win for the fourth time tis season against Pagosa Springs 53-35.

Central Boys narrowly lost to a Front Range foe in the Ponderosa Mustangs 49-48.

Grand Junction Boys hav now won four games in a row, after besting Palmer Ridge 62-54.

Exciting Events: December

This section only includes local upcoming events. Feel free to submit yours!

Sports

• Kid's Winter Games

  • Location: 48338 Powderhorn Rd Mesa, CO 81643

  • Price:Free

  • Time: January 11th, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

  • Bring the kids to the mountain for some fun! We're setting up junior-sized features on the bunny hill for kids to slalom, curl, and shoot their way through the course.

• Grand Valley Racing League #1

  • Location:48338 Powderhorn Rd Mesa, CO 81643

  • Dates: January 17, 2025

  • Time: 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM

  • Grand Valley Racing League is hosting the first weekend of races! The Grand Valley Race League is a business-oriented event that is all about having fun in a low pressure environment. We will set up a dual slalom type course and will set up race gates. Racing runs from 1-3pm. Awards around 3:30-4:30 pm upstairs over in the Slopeside.

• Western Region Basketball Tournament

  • Saturday, February 15
    8:30 am – 6:00 pm

  • Location: Colorado Mesa University
    1100 North Avenue
    Grand Junction, CO 81501

  • Special Olympics Colorado is hosting the Western Region Basketball Tournament at Colorado Mesa University! Traditional Play, Unified Play and All Star Skills Challenge will be played.

• CMU Mavericks Basketball

  • Brownson Arena 1040 Mesa Ave, Grand Junction

  • Tickets

Family Fun

• Annie the Musical

  • Dates: 12/20/2024, 12/21/2024, 12/22/2024

  • Location: 2111 Sequoia RoadGrand Junction, CO 81507

  • Price: $25 for Adults, $20 for Students

  • Time: 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM

  • Annie" tells the heartwarming story of a young orphan girl named Annie who dreams of finding her parents. She is taken in by the wealthy but grumpy Oliver Warbucks during the Great Depression. With the help of her fellow orphans and Warbucks, Annie learns about love, hope, and the true meaning of family while facing off against the villainous Miss Hannigan.

• Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

  • Dates: December 24, 2024

  • Location: 1307 Garfield StLoma, CO 81524

  • Price: Free

  • Time: 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM

• Model Train Christmas Show

  • Location: 3073 F Road Grand Junction, CO 81504

  • Price: $2 kids, $5 adults, $10 families - cash or check only

  • Time: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Garden of Lights Montrose

• 1800 Pavilion Dr, Montrose, CO 81401

• Dates: 12/21/2024, 12/22/2024, 12/26/2024

• Location: Montrose Botanic Gardens

• Time: 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM

• Price: Adults: $8, Children 4-17: $4, 3 years and under: Free

Montrose Farmer’s Market - Holiday Edition

• 99 S Uncompahgre Ave, Montrose, CO 81401

• Dates: 12/21/2024

• Location: Centennial Plaza

• Time: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

• Price: Free

Date Night 🎆

• The Nutcracker

  • Dates: 12/19/2024, 12/20/2024, 12/21/2024, 12/22/2024, 12/23/2024

  • Location: 864 Bunting AveGrand Junction, CO 81501

  • Price: $25-65

• Garden of Lights Montrose

  • 1800 Pavilion Dr, Montrose, CO 81401

  • Dates: 12/21/2024, 12/22/2024, 12/26/2024

  • Location: Montrose Botanic Gardens

  • Time: 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM

  • Price: Adults: $8, Children 4-17: $4, 3 years and under: Free

Comedy❗

I could not find any comedy events this week. Please submit your favorites!

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