Top Nine Local Stories of 2009
12/30/09 - 01:50 PM
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#9: The global recession finally hits Grand Junction. City and county sales tax revenue dropped significantly, forcing both to cut jobs and potentially services. Layoffs also hit major Grand Valley businesses. Halliburton laid off more than 100 employees while GJ Steel closed completely.

#8: Scandal rocks the Grand Junction Police Department as two officers find themselves on the other side of the law and the department loses its chief. First in July, the city’s top cop calls it quits. Former Chief Bill Gardner resigned after four years on the job citing personal reasons. Then in August, Officer Courtney Crooks was arrested for physically harassing his wife. Two months later, Officer Glenn Coyne was cuffed for burglary and sexual assault charges. He was fired by the PD and later killed himself in a Front Range motel.

#7: Whitewater widow Miriam Helmick is convicted of murdering her husband, Allan. The jury returned with a guilty verdict in December after a five week trial. Helmick shot and killed her husband in June 2008. The prosecution said money was her motive. Helmick was sentenced to life in prison. Her defense is planning to appeal.

#6: A major winter storm hits Grand Junction. In mid December, the Valley got more than eight inches of snow. Schools and some businesses were closed. Overnight temperatures also dropped below zero for several straight days, making this December one of the coldest and snowiest months on record.

#5: Hometown boy and State Senator Josh Penry enters the Colorado governor’s race and then surprisingly bows out. In July, the 33-year-old announced his candidacy. Then in November, Penry dropped out of the race, citing money and statewide recognition issues.

#4: Hundreds of investors are swindled out of more than $30 million in the Valley Investments scam. In December, both Phillip Lochmiller Junior and Senior as well as another employee, Shawnee Carver, were arrested on money laundering, conspiracy, and mail fraud for their Ponzi-like scheme. All three face fines and prison time.

#3: Police say a 34-year-old double homicide is solved in April. A cold case investigation between local authorities and the CBI led to the arrest of Jerry Nemnich for the 1975 murder of Linda and Kelly Benson. Nemnich has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first degree murder. His trial is set for April 2010.

#2: President Obama holds a town hall meeting at Central High School in August to discuss healthcare. This after a June New Yorker article first highlighted the Grand Valley’s healthcare model.

#1: The murder of Montrose Police officer David Kinterknecht. A domestic violence call in July turned deadly when Sgt. Kinterknecht was fatally shot and two other officers were wounded. The suspect, 52-year-old Dennis Gurney, later committed suicide. Over 2,000 people attended the funeral for Sgt. Kinterknecht, including Governor Bill Ritter.

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