In this issue
n Burkey Park is back on the market
The 18.36-acre property located near 30 Road and Patterson Road, is back on the market at a reduced price.
4
Country & ’Cue
5
Local golf courses are on par with the recent USGA water conservation efforts. n Grand Valley golf and water usage
n Mail from one GJ address to another will remain local
USPS announced it will retain certain local mailprocessing operations at the Grand Junction postal facility.
8
n Health Solutions buys Mind Springs
Pueblo-based provider of behavioral health, substanceuse treatment and integrated care acquired Grand Junction’s Mind Springs Health.
9 Mama Ree’s evolves into country nightclub, partners with Snooks Bottom Barbecue to operate the kitchen — See Page 2
n Canyon View Surgery Center recognized Community Hospital’s Canyon View Surgery Center earned a spot on U.S. News & World Report’s list of 2025 Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers.
10
Grand Junction, CO 81501
From left to right, Aidan Dyet, Ethan Pearson, Scott Krug and Sandra Weckerly stand next to one of Snooks Bottom Barbecue’s Moberg smokers in front of Mama Ree’s Cowboy Bar. Krug is a co-owner of Snooks Bottom, and Dyet and Pearson are Snooks Bottom employees. Weckerly co-owns Mama Ree’s, which turned over kitchen operations to Snooks Bottom and its Texas-style-barbecue menu. Pizza, which had been the staple of the previous menu and used to be part of the business name, no longer will be served. Photo by Tim Harty.
Mama Ree’s Cowboy Bar, 664 North Ave. Pictured are baby back pork ribs, beef brisket and cheddar jalapeno sausage. Snooks Bottom Barbecue has been brought in as a partner to operate the kitchen inside Mama Ree’s. Photo courtesy of Snooks Bottom Barbecue.
MORE ABOUT SNOOKS BOTTOM BARBECUE
A
COUPLE GUYS WHO LOVE TEXAS-STYLE BBQ
To learn more about Snooks Bottom Barbecue, go to snooksbottombarbecue. com.
In the website’s “About Us” section is this summary of how Snooks Bottom Barbecue came to be:
“Back in 1985, owner Scott Krug and owner Steve Martin met while working construction in the New Braunfels/Canyon Lake, TX, area. Both eventually moved to Grand Junction, CO, without the other knowing, then reconnected in 2002 when their kids became high school friends.
“Fast forward to 2018. After many years of discussing the lack of authentic Texas BBQ on the Western Slope, and Steve winning a number of local awards for his ribs, Snooks Bottom Barbecue was born.
“We love having folks who hail from the South (especially Texas!) giving our barbecue a taste. We are so happy to introduce true Texas-style BBQ to the residents and tourists of Western Colorado.”
A Mama Ree’s, we barely recognize you
Mama Ree’s runs its nightclub, and Snooks Bottom Barbecue now runs the kitchen
Tim Harty The Business Times
fter the original concept of a pizza restaurant and brewery turned into more of a bar/ nightclub, and the dancing turned toward country line dancing on weekends, then pretty much country every night, Mama Ree’s is taking the next step in its evolution: No more pizza.
Gone is a linchpin-turned-vestige of the original business ideation. As of April 9, the menu is Texas-style barbecue.
Mama Ree’s, 664 North Ave., is trading in its large pizza oven for the Moberg wood smokers that Snooks Bottom Barbecue will use to make barbecue meats like it has been providing from its converted shipping container at 555 1/2 U.S. 50.
Mama Ree’s co-owner Maxwell Weckerly summarized the reason for the change with: “A really quick gist of it is that we switched to a country bar, country night club – that’s what we really are now – and so we just think barbecue is just a better fit for that brand.
“And it’s nice to have a separate business just lease the space, and then we don’t have to manage the restaurant part, so that’s really where it came to be.”
It’s a different place than the one that opened in November 2022 –Mama Ree’s Pizza & Brewing – and it got an appropriate name change to boot: Mama Ree’s Cowboy Bar.
Weckerly said Mama Ree’s is happy to turn over its kitchen to Snooks Bottom, and it didn’t require much of a transition. Mama Ree’s shut down the restaurant during the day for a couple weeks, but kept operating the nightclub at night. Meanwhile, Snooks Bottom didn’t need to change much in the kitchen, because most of the meat smoking takes place outdoors in the parking lot or at the Orchard Mesa location.
Weckerly said the kitchen still has a large pizza oven that Snooks Bottom won’t use, so Mama Ree’s will sell it. The pizza oven’s status change from essential to unnecessary is a little sad, but that’s business, Weckerly said. They tried one thing, and it gradually changed, then changed some more.
“We’ve definitely been happy to adapt basically as we’ve seen different needs for different things,” he said. “We’ve changed a lot from the opening to what it is now. One of the big things we did a couple years ago is open the nightclub section. When we first opened, there was no nightclub, there was no bar, we were just closed at like 8 p.m. every day just like normal.
“And then we all kind of worked together, and it was really one of the projects I particularly worked on. I just moved back from California, and I really wanted to kind of get that part going. And so we switched it to focusing more on a nightclub and being open till 2 a.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday. And then that was really successful, and that kind of took over as the main revenue generator for the business, this nightclub piece.”
As dramatic as that change was, there was more to come.
The closing of a country-music nightclub called Central Station happened around the same time as Mama Ree’s nightclub emerged.
“A lot of country people and linedancing people were looking for a new spot to come and line dance and experience kind of that country-bar atmosphere, so they all came to Mama Ree’s,” Weckerly said. “And so even on nights that weren’t country nights, they would all come and request country music, and every night just turned into a country-bar night. I was deejaying then, so I really have a firsthand experience of that, and so then we really switched over to this kind of country-bar vibe.”
See MAMA REE’S on page 10
This tray is filled with three of the meats Snooks Bottom Barbecue smokes and now serves at
Burkey Park back on market with reduced price
Brandon Leuallen The Business Times
Burkey Park, the 18.36-acre property located near 30 Road and Patterson Road, is back on the market after developers decided to refocus on other projects.
The developers also reduced the price and are offering future buyers a chance to continue with the available plans or rethink its development potential.
The property, originally donated to the City of Grand Junction by the Burkey family in 1966, was intended to serve as a park for the community. Louis and Mildred Burkey, who made the donation, envisioned the land as a space for recreation. However, after many years without development, the Burkey family grew concerned about the property’s future.
Prior to the ballot measure approved by voters in 2019 that allowed the city to sell the land, the Burkey family engaged with city officials to explore options for the undeveloped property. Robert Burkey, a member of the family, was involved in the discussions.
“The city had promised to develop the park, but those promises were never fulfilled,” he said. “It was disappointing to see a donation meant for community benefit sit empty for so long.”
The family sought a resolution, hoping to see the land transformed as originally intended.
“We wanted to see something come from this land during our lifetime,” Burkey said. “It was never about our legacy, but about fulfilling the original intent of the donation.”
Burkey said after years of poor communication from the City of Grand Junction, City
Council member Rick Taggart told him that if the city were to develop the land, it would be more than 20 years out.
That honesty about the city’s plans played a role in the Burkey family’s decision to support the sale of the park. Faced with the prospect of the land remaining unused for many more years, the Burkey family ultimately supported the city ballot measure in 2019 to sell the property, with the proceeds from the sale being designated for partially funding the nearby Matchett Park. The city has plans to honor the Burkey family’s contribution by naming a pavilion at Matchett Park after them.
“We didn’t want this land to just sit there, so we worked with the city to allow for a sale, ensuring it would benefit the community,” Burkey said. “When the developers came forward, they promised to keep part of the land as a park and even agreed to name it Burkey Park. That was meaningful to us.”
In 2021, Burkey Park LLC purchased the property with the intention of developing 68 single-family homes, commercial frontage, and park space. However, the project faced multiple setbacks and remains undeveloped.
Real estate agent Cindy Ficklin, representing the developers, explained the situation at a Grand Junction City Council meeting about Impact fees in March.
“We had a plan for 68 lots, priced at $80,000 each, with homes ranging from $350,000 to $375,000. This would have provided attainable housing,” Ficklin said. “But after six readings, the city still hadn’t approved the plan.”
Despite the stalled development, Ficklin emphasized the developers had remained committed to honoring the Burkey family’s legacy.
“We worked hard to keep the integrity of the park. The developers were dedicated to preserving green space and including a park with the Burkey name on it,” she said, adding the developers have since decided to focus on other projects and sell the property with its design plans included.
For his part, Robert Burkey remains hopeful the land will ultimately be developed in a way that benefits the community and reflects his family’s vision.
“We wanted to ensure that our kids and grandkids could see something valuable come from this land,” Burkey said. “The park was always meant to benefit the community, and we’re thankful that the developers recognized that by including a park in their plans. I hope that any future developer continues to honor that.”
Burkey Park was listed in 2024 for $2.5 million. The listing was removed Sept 30, 2024 and was relisted on March 5 of 2025 at $2.2 million.
Potential buyers will have the opportunity to rethink the development, because the land has been rezoned by the City of Grand Junction to Residential Low-Density (RL-5). The rezoning opens the possibility for attached homes, detached homes and multifamily units, such as duplexes, townhomes and four-unit apartments.
The front portion of the land is also zoned Mixed-Use (MU-1), offering additional flexibility for future developers to add commercial space along Patterson Road.
When speaking to The Business Times on April 9, Ficklin expressed hope that with the election of new City Council members on April 8, developers will have a fresh opportunity to work with the city through the process.
“I got a call about the property this morning,” Ficklin said.
A recent photo of Burkey Park taken with the use of a drone. Photo courtesy of Cindy Ficklin.
Yeah, Water
A golfer prepares
Yeah, we already do that
Water conservation is nothing new for the Grand Valley’s golf courses
Tim Harty The Business Times
The United States Golf Association in late March sent out its Water Conservation Playbook, touting it as providing “the latest tools and techniques to more effectively manage water utilization.”
It has 211 pages that might come in handy in places that never experienced drought until recent years.
In the semi-arid, high-desert climate of the Grand Valley, however, the golf maintenance crews could teach classes at Ivy League universities about conserving water, using it responsibly and growing grass where the ground kicks and screams at the idea of something green sprouting from it.
Thanks for the playbook, USGA, but we got this.
Tim Tafoya, the director of golf for the City of Grand Junction, which owns Tiara Rado and Lincoln Park golf courses, said he perused the nine main practices and concluded, “We pretty much do all of them.”
Maxwell Weckerly, the director of golf at Golf Club at Redlands Mesa said he hasn’t seen the USGA Water Conservation Playbook, but he’s positive Redlands Mesa’s superintendent, Kass Severson, knows what he needs to know.
“It’s obviously a thing that here in Grand Junction and Western Colorado that everyone’s known about and worried about for years and years,” Weckerly said. “Ever since the (Redlands Mesa) course was built in 2001, I’m sure they were thinking about it then.
See related story on Page 6
“We definitely have always done everything we can to conserve as much water as possible, like watering at night and being really strategic about how much water goes on different parts of the course and stuff like that. I don’t really know if we would change much, but we definitely will keep up with the good conservation that we already do.”
The USGA addresses irrigationsystem maintenance, and that’s another thing Tafoya believes Tiara Rado and Lincoln Park have under control, calling it a constant part of the job.
“You’re always checking sprinkler heads. You’re always seeing rotation schedules. You’re always looking at exactly what’s going on,” he said. “When we start to grow grass, obviously, you’ll see the result if we missed a spot, or if the systems don’t work, especially in our climate, because it gets so hot, and then you’ll see some browned-out grass right away, a couple days to turn around if we missed a spot.
So, it’s a constant part of the job.”
City of Grand Junction General Services Director Jay Valentine added the city made a conscientious effort in 2009 to address water infrastructure at its golf courses, replacing the irrigation systems at both, making the irrigation systems and pumps more efficient, plus building water storage at Tiara Rado.
That work makes implementing waterconservation measures possible.
F
A golfer prepares to hit at Adobe Creek Golf Course. Photo courtesy of Jackie Young.
Winter golf-cart restrictions preserve course turf
Tim Harty The Business Times
As of the final weekend of March, the whine of golf-cart motors returned to Tiara Rado and Lincoln Park golf courses.
The sound replaced the whine of those golfers who vocalize their displeasure when the two City of Grand Junctionowned golf courses bar the use of carts from Dec. 1 until late March.
Whiny golfer who hates walking: “Really, Lincoln Park? Are you kidding me, Tiara Rado?”
Lincoln Park: “Yes, really.”
Tiara Rado: “No, we’re not kidding.”
And now that the City of Grand Junction has done it a few times, and golfers saw the results in the spring, the disgruntled questions have diminished.
Tim Tafoya, the director of golf at both courses, said the measure of “walking only” is needed, especially during the Grand Valley’s commonly dry winters, to avoid breaking and killing dormant grass. Avoiding that damage makes a dramatic difference in how quickly the turf returns to optimal condition come spring.
Jay Valentine, the city’s general services director, said he heard a lot of complaints “and not understanding” from golfers during the first year that the city implemented “walking only” for winter golf. After last year, however, people saw how
quickly the course came back and realized why “walking only” was implemented.
“This year, literally, hardly any complaints from the golfers,” Valentine said. “They understand now what the difference is if you keep carts off there for that period of time. Short-term pain, longterm gain kind of thing.”
Other golf courses noticed, too.
“That’s kind of taken off in the valley,” Tafoya said. “I know Bookcliff and Adobe, they followed our lead as far as closing, and Chipeta as well, closing down their golf carts just for the lack of water.
“So, it’s kind of cool. It only helps the golf course. It kind of falls in line with the conservation and the (USGA Water Conservation) playbook. … It’s only good for the golf course to keep that traffic off there in the dry months.”
See related story on Page 5
IF YOU REALLY NEED A CART…
The Golf Club at Redlands Mesa takes a different approach to carts in the winter months because it prohibits walking the course year-round. You have to use a cart, and it’s built into the price to play.
So, Redlands Mesa Director of Golf Maxwell Weckerly said, “The entire winter we ran carts perfectly normal. We never work ‘cart path only,’ we never don’t allow carts. We work around it really well.”
NOT JUST DRY, EXCEPTIONALLY DRY
Adobe Creek National Golf Course
General Manager Joe Toke has worked at Adobe Creek since 1999, and this winter was as dry as any he can remember at the golf course.
“Twenty-six years at Adobe – many winters I’ve been through, and the summers – this is the worst I can remember coming out of the winter,” Toke said. “This year is bad, and it’s showing at all the courses, whether it be Tiara Rado, Bookcliff Country Club, Adobe Creek, Lincoln Park.”
As he thought about it a little more, Toke backed off that claim a smidge and offered, “There could’ve been a worse one – I’ve been here so many years – but that’s the one that I remember, this one being worse than most.”
Adobe Creek does have an advantage, though, when it comes to readying the course for spring play. It doesn’t have to wait for irrigation water to arrive.
“We have water shares out of the Colorado River, so we’re able to start watering the minute it gets above freezing at night,” Toke said. “If we started pumping water in our lines, and it’s still freezing at night, there’s a chance that the lines burst, and we’ve got more problems. So, really we don’t start watering until the beginning of March usually, and the other courses have to wait till April.”
Redlands Mesa doesn’t have the Colorado River in its back yard, but it isn’t at the mercy of waiting until irrigation water is available. That’s because when the winter is particularly dry, it will pay for water to use sooner.
“We do have private water that we have access to, and we have different water sources,” Weckerly said. “We haven’t really been too negatively affected by the dry winter, because we do have lots of other options for it.”
Tim Tafoya
Mail delivery from one GJ address to another will stay local
The United States Postal Service announced in an April 7 news release it plans to retain certain local mail-processing operations at the Grand Junction postal facility.
About those plans, it said, “This means mail being delivered from one address in Grand Junction to another will not leave the region for processing. This update follows a previous USPS decision to shift all originating mail processing operations to Denver in 2024.”
And ultimately, that means: “In simpler terms, single piece mail that is sent from Grand Junction to be delivered in Grand Junction will continue to be processed at its current location.”
According to the news release, the decision to leave those operations in Grand Junction is made possible due to an operational strategy aimed at increasing efficiency, improving service quality, and saving USPS an additional $3 billion per-year nationwide. This strategy was outlined in its request for an advisory opinion filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission.
The news release added, “The significant savings generated by this operational strategy would enable the Postal Service to absorb the cost of continuing to provide local cancellation service in Grand Junction. As a result, the Postal Service will not need to relocate certain local originating mail-processing operations outside of the Grand Junction facility.”
Acting Postmaster General Doug Tulino commented as well, saying, “Our operational strategy will generate substantial savings for the
Postal Service. This strategy provides a solution that will ensure our organization can cover the cost of local originating mail processing operations in the Grand Junction facility.
“Moreover, our Delivering for America plan is channeling up to $6.3 million into upgrading the Grand Junction facility. This investment goes beyond just enhancing the work environment for our employees. It’s about equipping the facility with the necessary technology and resources to deliver top-notch service to the local community for the foreseeable future.”
According to the news release, once the Grand Junction facility becomes a Local Processing Center (LPC), it is expected to handle package mailing and shipping, letters and flats. The LPC is also expected to offer express services and accept bulk and permit mail, further improving its delivery services.
The Postal Service initially anticipated staffing impacts due to the proposed move of certain local originating mail processing operations to Denver. However, with the decision to keep these operations at the Grand Junction facility, there would be no anticipated employee impacts.
This remains consistent with the stance taken in April 2024, where no career layoffs were part of the initiative. In fact, as part of its investment strategy in the Grand Junction facility, the Postal Service is focusing on enhancing package processing and shipping capacity. This could potentially lead to increased plant activity and a future need for additional staffing support.
Health Solutions acquires Mind Springs Health
a solution cover the cost operations in
America plan upgrading investment goes environment for the facility resources to community
release, once a Local expected to letters and offer express mail, further anticipated staffing certain local to Denver. operations would be no
stance taken were part investment the Postal package
This could activity and a support.
Health Solutions, a Pueblo-based provider of behavioral health, substance-use treatment and integrated care, announced on April 7 it acquired Grand Junction's Mind Springs Health and immediately assumed operational responsibility for the programs and services currently delivered.
Services in western Colorado will operate under the new name Health Solutions West, according to a news release from Health Solutions.
Jason Chippeaux, the current CEO and president of Health Solutions, will also serve as the CEO of Health Solutions West, according to the news release.
“For years, Health Solutions has built a trusted model of care in rural Colorado, meeting people where they are and supporting the whole person,” Chippeaux said in the news release. “We are ready to bring that same commitment to Western Colorado — to earn trust, improve outcomes and create a safety-net system that communities can count on.”
Current clients of Mind Springs Health will continue to receive services without interruption and should attend their appointments as planned. Existing locations will remain open, and Health Solutions is actively engaging staff across the region to ensure local experience and relationships are preserved, the news release said.
With a focus on integrated, personcentered care, the organization plans to enhance service quality, strengthen community partnerships and ensure the stability of the safety-net system in the communities previously served by Mind Springs.
The transition comes at a critical time, following growing concerns from residents and local leaders about the availability, consistency and quality of mental health services in the region. Health Solutions is working closely with state and local partners to ensure a smooth and transparent transition. Community engagement, staff retention and continuity of care are key priorities.
“Community members deserve stability, compassion and access to care when they need it,” Chippeaux said. “We
are here to listen, to collaborate and to build something stronger together.”
Health Solutions did not mention West Springs Hospital and what the acquisition may mean for it. Mind Springs Health closed West Springs, the Grand Valley's only in-patient psychiatric hospital, on March 10.
ABOUT HEALTH SOLUTIONS
Founded in Pueblo in 1962, Health Solutions has established itself over the decades as a cornerstone of healthcare in southern and rural Colorado, earning a reputation as an innovative, caring service provider and trusted community partner.
In more than 60 years since it began providing care, Health Solutions has grown its line of services to meet the community’s ever-evolving needs.
Health Solutions currently has locations across Pueblo, Huerfano and Las Animas counties that offer services including:
• Family Medicine, which offers primary care services, care coordination services, an on-site pharmacy and a lab, and a Medication Assisted Recovery Center.
• Behavioral health services that include adult, youth and family, and early childhood services.
• The Learning Tree, a childcare facility that focuses on social-emotional learning.
• Solutions Outreach Services, which provides Health Solutions support to the Pueblo Police Department during emergencies such as welfare checks, mental health interventions and trespassing situations.
• The Acute Treatment Unit, a 15bed inpatient facility for men and women 18 years of age or older who are in an emotional crisis or have a psychiatric need.
The organization serves individuals and families across the lifespan through outpatient care, crisis response, addiction recovery, primary care integration and community-based programs. Health Solutions is known for its compassionate, client-focused approach and its strong partnerships with healthcare providers, law enforcement, schools and local governments.
Learn more about Health Solutions at www.health.solutions.
Canyon View Surgery Center earns spot on prestigious list
Community Hospital’s Canyon View Surgery Center earned a spot on U.S. News & World Report’s list of 2025 Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers in the category for Orthopedics and Spine.
U.S. News & World Report came out with its list last month, and 16 ambulatory surgery centers in Colorado made the list in one of four categories: Colonoscopy and Endoscopy; Ophthalmology; Orthopedics and Spine; and Urology.
According to U.S. News & World Report, ambulatory surgery centers, also known as outpatient surgery centers and same-day surgery centers, are freestanding outpatient health care facilities that specialize in providing same-day surgical and diagnostic procedures. These facilities offer a range of outpatient services, such as colonoscopies, hip and knee replacements and cataract surgery, that do not require an overnight stay.
There are 102 ambulatory surgery centers in Colorado, and Canyon View Surgery Center was one of six orthopedicsand-spine centers listed for Colorado, as was Black Canyon Surgical Center in Montrose, which also was listed for ophthalmology.
“We are incredibly honored to be recognized among the nation’s top ambulatory surgery centers,” said Chris Thomas, president and CEO for Community Hospital. “This recognition encompasses the culmination of years of hard work and commitment to providing the highest quality care possible.
“Being one of only six surgery centers in the state to earn special recognition for our expertise in orthopedics and spine is a testament to our staff and physicians for their hard work and dedication to help ensure the long-term success of Community Hospital’s Canyon View Surgery Center. Our orthopedics and spine team is top-notch and their commitment to advance the quality of care that is delivered to our community is commendable.”
U.S. News & World Report evaluated 4,537 ambulatory surgery centers and more than 6 million patients across the nation.
The publication said it used criteria that includes how successfully the surgery centers “avoided complications, ER visits, unplanned hospitalizations and other undesirable outcomes. While location and cost are always important considerations for patients, quality of care – how well patients who have received treatment have fared – should be an important factor when choosing where to have your outpatient procedure.”
Mama Ree’s
Continued from page 2
The new patrons also brought a different appetite, so a menu change of some sort was coming eventually.
“We’ve been realizing that the pizza part doesn’t really fit in with the more country bar that we have become,” Weckerly said.
That led to discussions with different people, looking for someone who wanted to take over the restaurant side of the business.
“It all stems back to the fact that the nightclub is really the main business, and that’s what we spend most of our time and efforts working on,” Weckerly said. “And we felt like we were neglecting the restaurant a little bit, so we were like, ‘Hey what if we just cease our food operations and have someone else come in, take over the kitchen and restaurant during the day, and then we would keep our same country bar and nightclub stuff going separately.”
There was no rush to remove pizza, and Mama Ree’s was open to ideas such as barbecue, burgers, a pubfood vibe. And then Scott Krug from Snooks Bottom Barbecue came knocking.
“We just kind of connected, especially Cameron, my brother, really connected with Scott, and they just got to talking, and then it just pretty quickly snowballed from there into what it is now,” Weckerly said.
Snooks Bottom brought some free samples to Mama Ree’s a couple times to see what customers thought of the food, and that went over well.
“That just happened to be a good fit, kind of the right place, right time,” Weckerly said.
Maxwell’s mom and co-owner, Sandra Weckerly, said Mama Ree’s and Snooks Bottom Barbecue is a perfect partnership. And she summed it up perfectly: “We’re letting them do what they do, and we do what we do.”
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month
Shining a Light on Those Who Lift Us Up
At the Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce (FACC), we know one simple truth: we couldn’t do what we do without our volunteers. And during Volunteer Appreciation Month, we’re thrilled to take a moment to celebrate the incredible people who give their time, energy, and passion to make our mission possible.
Our Ambassadors and Board Members are true community champions. Whether they’re welcoming a new member with a handshake and a smile or helping set the stage for one of our signature events, they’re constantly working behind the scenes, and out in front, to support local businesses and keep our community thriving.
You’ll see our volunteers at many of our monthly networking events, like Business After Hours, Women in Business, and WTF (Welcome Thursday Friends) Luncheons. They’re often the first friendly face you’ll meet, the connector introducing you to someone new, and the cheerleader encouraging you to get more involved. It’s their positive energy and genuine care that help make the FACC such a welcoming and valuable space to connect.
And when it comes to major events like the Annual
MORE ABOUT MAMA REE’S AND SNOOKS BOTTOM BBQ PARTNERSHIP
JUST NEEDED A PARTNER BUSINESS
Co-owner Scott Krug said he’d been looking for a second location, a brick-and-mortar option, for Snooks Bottom Barbecue, which operates out of a converted Conex shipping container at 555 1/2 U.S. 50 on Orchard Mesa, next to the car-wash building. However, the big outlay of cash required to house a restaurant in a building has been a deterrent.
Then, along came David Weckerly, patriarch of the Weckerly family that owns more than a few things around town, such as Mama Ree’s Cowboy Bar and The Golf Club at Redlands Mesa. Krug said Weckerly first approached him about a Mama Ree’s and Snooks Bottom partnership about four months ago, but he wasn’t sure it would go anywhere.
“As time went on, I had more conversations with David, and things started to make more sense,” Krug said.
Now that Snooks Bottom is operating in Mama Ree’s kitchen, there’s once again a second location to get its barbecue in the Grand Valley. Krug and Martin had set up shop in Palisade in 2022, but they didn’t stay long. Krug said he’d like to try again in Palisade if the right opportunity materializes.
The Texas-style barbecue that’s available now inside Mama Ree’s is meat specialties such as brisket, pulled pork, baby back ribs and cheddar jalapeno sausage.
Snooks Bottom’s catering business offers beef ribs and prime rib, and Krug thinks there can be occasional nights where those will be featured at Mama Ree’s.
YOUR SMOKER MATTERS
Krug takes pride in the smokers he uses at Snooks Bottom. He has six Moberg Smokers fireboxes, and he believes “they’re the only Mobergs in Colorado.”
He also said Snooks Bottom Barbecue has been in business long enough for those smokers to blossom, adding, “They get better and better after they get more seasoned.”
And the wood that’s been burning in the fireboxes is post oak, which Snooks Bottom gets from Palestine, TX.
“Everything we do is 100 percent wood-fired,” Krug said.
LEARN TO DANCE OR RIDE THE BULL
Becoming Mama Ree’s Cowboy Bar brought a few other changes that make sense in the restaurant/ brewery/bar/nightclub’s evolution.
Co-owner Sandra Weckerly said Mama Ree’s now has classes for line dancing and salsa dancing. And in a throwback to the 1980s, there is a mechanical bull, to which Weckerly said, “I think we’re the only one in town who has one.”
One thing hasn’t changed at Mama Ree’s: It still brews its own craft beers, featuring 10 of them on the beer menu at the moment.
Banquet, Women in Business Conference, and the Fruita Fall Festival, our volunteers go above and beyond. From organizing logistics to greeting guests and keeping everything running smoothly, they’re the heartbeat of every successful event.
Our Ambassadors especially play a vital role in representing the Chamber with pride. They are champions of connection, growth, and hospitality. Their commitment doesn’t just support the Chamber - it uplifts the entire Fruita business community.
Are You a Member & Thinking about getting involved? We’re always looking for passionate, community-minded individuals to join our Ambassador team! It’s a fantastic opportunity to build connections, grow professionally, and give back in a way that’s meaningful and impactful. Not a member yet? We’d love to welcome you to our Chamber family! You can view membership options and business building opportunities online at fruitachamber.org.
To learn more, contact us at membership@ fruitachamber.org or by calling 970-858-3894
This month, and every month, we celebrate the volunteers who help us advocate, engage, collaborate, lead, and innovate. Your work truly makes Fruita stronger, and we are so thankful for each and every one of you.
Cheers to our volunteers—thank you for being the heart of the FACC!
Mesa County adds 7 new CASA volunteers
Seven new volunteers were sworn in as Court Appointed Special Advocates by 21st Judicial District Chief Judge Brian Flynn on April 8 at the Mesa County Justice Center in Grand Junction.
CASA of Mesa County trains and supports community volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children who have been abused or neglected. Volunteers monitor their case and report back to the judge about the status of the case and the wellbeing of the child. CASA volunteers are the eyes and ears of the court, and the voice of the child in court.
The new volunteer advocates participated in an extensive 30-hour training program before being sworn in to be assigned to a child in the foster care system. They will receive more on-the-job training and coaching as they begin their first case.”
“Volunteers come from all walks of life, and they don’t need a background in social work or child welfare,” said Joy Thompson, executive director for CASA. “This group of volunteers will join 40 other CASA volunteers who range from air traffic controllers to pediatricians. Anyone with a heart for kids can be a CASA volunteer.
“We currently have 60 kids in foster care waiting for a CASA advocate, and more children are added to our waiting list on a regular basis. These new volunteers are a much-welcomed addition, but we have a goal of 25 new CASAs in 2025. We must recruit 25 more volunteers if we want to ensure that every child-abuse victim has a voice.”
Interested citizens who are considering becoming a CASA Advocate can learn more by attending a volunteer information session April 17 at 6 p.m. on Facebook Live or April 19 at 10 a.m. at CASA’s office, 2139 N. 12th St., Suite 5, Grand Junction. To register go to www.CASAMC.org or call 970-242-4191.
sworn in Advocates by Judge Brian County trains and advocate who have Volunteers back to the case and the volunteers court, and the advocates 30-hour sworn in foster care on-the-job begin their walks of background said Joy for CASA. 40 other air traffic Anyone with a volunteer. in foster advocate, and waiting list volunteers but we 2025. We we want victim has considering can learn information Facebook Live CASA’s office, Junction. www.CASAMC.org or
The Wild, Wild World of Employment/HR Law
With only six weeks left in Colorado’s legislative session, one would think things would be starting to crystallize. But not in the wild, wild world of employment/human resources law. Because in this wild, wild world, things happen in the blink of an eye.
Michael Santo
Here are just a few things making news at the Capitol in Denver: Workers’ Compensation Benefits Proof of Entitlement (HB25-1300):
In 2014, the Colorado General Assembly passed a bill that increased the number of provider options that employers are required to offer injured workers from two to four. Now, the Colorado House of Representatives has proposed a bill that would give workers much more discretion in selecting their physician.
For example, HB25-1300 permits workers to choose from a full list (i.e., not just four) of providers located within 70 miles of the worker. The bill also expands the 90-day window to change doctors to an unlimited amount of time before the patient achieves maximum medical improvement that typically requires a return to work if there is not a permanent disability. And it would allow the worker to choose a provider within a 100-mile radius if there are three or fewer accredited workers-compensation doctors within a 70-mile radius.
Enforcement Wage Hour Laws (HB25-1001):
The Colorado House of Representatives also propounded a bill that would modify the Colorado Wage Act, which covers most state wage issues. This bill would greatly amend Colorado’s Wage Act by providing increased penalties against employers who incorrectly classify a worker as independent contractors when the worker should be classified as an employee.
For example, the bill, if passed, implements fines from $5,000 to $50,000, depending on the violation for such misclassification.
The bill would also provide employees more opportunities to file claims against their employers with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, instead of having to file those claims in court, by raising the maximum threshold from $7,500, which is the current threshold, to $13,000 in 2026.
The bill would also require the Colorado Division of Labor to determine if a claimed violation of the state’s wage law is a “willful” violation. Then, for each willful violation, the division director shall publish on the division’s website the names of all employers determined
to be in violation and whether the violation was willful.
If violation is not remedied within 60 days after the division’s finding that there was a violation, the division must notify all government bodies with the authority to deny, withdraw or otherwise limit or impose remedial conditions on the employer’s license, permit, registration or other credential.
Protecting Workers from Extreme Temperatures (HB25-1286):
This 26-page bill would have required employers to implement protections for workers who are exposed to extreme hot and cold temperatures at the worksite (both inside and outside), including temperature-mitigation measures, rest breaks and temperature-related injury and illness prevention plans. The Bill defined “extreme temperatures” as anything below 30 degrees and anything above 90 degrees.
This Bill was proposed in the House in late February 2025, but never made it out of Committee. So, it will not become law.
Colorado Worker Protection Collective Bargaining (SB25-005):
As discussed in this publication previously, this bill would remove a second vote required in Colorado when a union seeks to represent the workers at an organization that has been in place since the 1940s. Recently, the Senate passed the bill, and sent it to the House, where it is also expected to pass, which would send it to the governor.
As the Collective Bargaining bill moves through the legislature, one of Colorado’s largest unions recently filed a ballot initiative that would ask Colorado voters if they would like to make Colorado a “just-cause” state. If passed by the voters, the just-cause initiative would mean that companies would be required to justify any termination of a private-sector worker, and, if the worker disagreed, the worker could file a lawsuit seeking reinstatement.
While the Collective Bargaining bill and the initiative aren’t tied together, the timing does seem a little more than coincidental and may be designed to “encourage” the governor to sign the Collective Bargaining bill when/if it reaches his desk, which it is expected to do. F
Michael Santo is co-founder and managing attorney of the Bechtel & Santo law firm in Grand Junction. He also represents employers in claims of trade-secret misappropriation, unfair competition and employee raiding. Santo is a member of the Western Colorado Human Resource Association. Visit www.wchra.org.
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Change up your fitness routine
Variety is the spice of life. There is some truth to that statement. You get into your daily routines of schedules and can do many tasks without thinking too much about them. You may eat at the same time, go to work at the same time and take out the garbage on pick-up day.
Routines can be a good thing in many situations.
Think about your fitness routine. Are you doing the same exercise, going to the same class, walking on the same treadmill or lifting the same weight for every workout?
Maybe it’s time to change up that routine.
In the area of fitness, adding a little spice just may help the boring become more exciting and motivating. Sometimes you may hear the words “change” or “different” and associate them with “new” and “uncomfortable.” Being creatures of habit, it’s OK to like your comfort zone of being familiar with surroundings, people and activities.
Although doing exactly the same thing over and over may be comforting, it does have drawbacks. Without variety, things can get pretty boring. When talking about
fitness routines, it’s important to spice it up a bit. Let me introduce you to cross-training.
Cross-training is simply combining two or more types of physical activities and is one way to create that change that you may be lacking. There are numerous benefits to adding cross-training to your fitness routine.
First and foremost is the motivation piece. Keeping interested and motivated to exercise is an important piece. If you don’t enjoy it, you won’t do it. Crosstraining can help you burn more calories by exercising regularly and using different muscle groups. You reduce your chance of injury by doing a variety of exercises.
For example, performing a highimpact sport like running one day, followed by a yoga or Pilates class the next day.
It’s simple to create a variety-filled exercise program. For you to be successful, plan a complete workout that includes the three areas of physical activity: cardiovascular; strength; and flexibility. Under each area, write down what activities you like to do or would like to try. Some activities fit under more than one area.
For example, cardio can include running, jumping rope, walking the dog or riding a bike. Strength can include pushups, lifting weights or yard work. Flexibility can include stretching or attending a yoga class.
Changing a fitness routine can be beneficial in more than just eliminating boredom. It actually can help your fitness
level. Our bodies are adaptive and get used to an exercise. It becomes difficult to make changes in our bodies once it has adapted to a specific fitness routine. Because of this adaptive nature, it’s important to keep our bodies guessing and mixing up the exercises we perform. How do we go about changing up our workouts? Try something new. Often times we get our minds set into what we think we can do and what we really could do if we try.
If there is a favorite exercise machine you use often and don’t want to give up, try changing the intensity, speed and/or grade. By gradually changing how hard you work, you will keep your workout challenging and not routine.
Remember, when changing up your workout routine, don’t hesitate to ask for help.
Once you choose your activities, plan them into your week. Allow for variety and flexibility. Experiment with different activities to find out what really interests you.
Continue to enjoy your favorite activities, but challenge yourself to try something new. Spice it up!
F Paula and Dale Reece own Crossroads Fitness Centers in Grand Junction with a downtown location at 225 N. Fifth St. and north location at 2768 Compass Drive. For more information, call (970) 242-8746 or visit the website crossroadsfitness.com.
Paula Reece
Elections have consequences, and we’re about to find out from Grand Junction City Council
Let me begin by saying I believe the voters of Grand Junction did the right thing in re-electing Cody Kennedy to the city council. I also believe they did the right thing in electing Laurel Cole, Robert Ballard and Ben VanDyke.
Of the four, I only know Cody a little bit through email and phone conversations, and yes, from those communications I believe he’s a good man with a public servant’s heart. But honestly, I don’t know the others one iota, but I’ve had conversations with others who do know them, and I’ve been told they have many of the same qualities I see in Cody.
Full disclosure, Cody has been a frequent story source, Ben was a subject in a cover story in one of our recent editions and Laurel is a subscriber, so it leads me to one question about Robert….where’s the love? Just kidding. I’m simply trying to be transparent related to my “relationships” with our recently elected city councilpersons. So, there’s your full disclosure. Take it for what it’s worth.
And before you start, I know all too many who put very little worth into any of my efforts over the past 25 years. To those fans all I can say is, “Right back atcha.” Well, to a point, because when it comes to civic efforts and duties, I have a whole different way of looking at effort, and it usually involves no effort whatsoever. Because those efforts are usually the result of bad premises, which usually ends up in bad results for the citizens.
And speaking of efforts to help our citizens (remember, with politicians, usually efforts are solving problems the people didn’t know they have), none is more visible to the good people of Grand Junction than the debacle (boondoggle, crisis, joke of a solution) created on Fourth and Fifth streets, all under the false premise of “public safety.”
First and foremost, “public safety” (otherwise known as saving the planet) is where the green agenda is now hiding, and within it are all the agendas of just about every leftist proposal for running the world. If you see things from this perspective, you’d see why our previous council did what it did.
At its core, the truth is: There was no public-safety crisis on our two main arteries heading into downtown. But one was created because, after all, who is on the side of cars being allowed to run over folks in wheelchairs, on bikes or folks using differing modes of transportation whose means of propulsion are not destroying the planet?
But the fact is: Those people have always been darned safe using our roads along with all the cars and trucks and stuff.
Then, all of a sudden it became about lowering the speed limit on Fourth and Fifth Streets, which was accomplished by putting PVC pipe in inconvenient places every 50 feet or so (which could have been accomplished using old refrigerators or dead possums in the same manner) and was bragged about as a success by folks who didn’t run again or get re-elected to council.
After all, speeds were reduced by 10 to 15 percent from what I’ve heard. So now folks drive those dangerously narrow and visually impaired streets at 30 mph instead of 35 mph.
On the flip side, business at downtown retailers and restaurants is down even more than that. The good news: Homeless foot traffic is up 3 percent.
One must ask, what was the end game for the bollard bunch? Especially since the city could have solved its speeding, safety and vision-for-the-future issues by doing what Palisade does in keeping speeds down on its streets. No, I don’t mean leaving them in disrepair – which kind of works in Palisade’s beatnik, artsy way of doing things. I mean, just put up a couple of those flashing speed signs that smile at you in your vehicle once you slow down to the desired speed limit.
Tell me that doesn’t work for you when you’re driving on the East end of the Grand Valley. The flashing gets your attention, and the smile just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy as you realize you won’t get a ticket. And it works much better than the creepy, abandoned cop cars parked all over Palisade in odd places that jumpstart driver’s hearts.
So, there you have it, new Grand Junction City Council members. Another Craig Hall, “I told you so” column, only this time with a solution. Not that it matters, because the Bollard Bunch’s (sure to be soon very, very vocal) supporters will still be against whatever I write or you do, because of their main premise in life that parallels our previous city council’s position on everything it did.
That’s what happens when you feel it’s your earthly duty to rule, tax and fee, and control the masses while doing the bidding of your benefactors. Does it feel to you, as it does me, most everything our town has done recently has been about the desires of a few and not the freedoms of the whole?
Then again, if our elected betters took that into consideration, whatever would they do?
Here’s hoping the new Grand Junction City Council takes it to heart. Sometimes doing nothing is better while letting free citizens solve problems. Even the ones you make up.
In Christ and Freedom.
F
Craig Hall is owner and publisher of the Business Times. Reach him at (970) 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com.
Colorado education funding needs to help ALL students
Let’s look at the facts. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2024, only 36 percent of Colorado’s fourthgraders read at a proficient level, and just 42 percent are proficient in math.
These numbers should alarm every parent, educator, policymaker and taxpayer. Beneath the surface of annual graduation celebrations lies a troubling reality: Many students are not prepared for life after high school. Colleges are restructuring their curricula to accommodate lower proficiency levels, and remedial classes are becoming the norm, not the exception.
As an educator with 25 years of experience in Mesa County Valley School District 51 and a Realtor who works closely with families across our community, I’ve seen firsthand the growing frustration and concern from parents, teachers and community members alike. And I share in it.
For the first time, I’ve seriously considered moving my family out of Colorado, something I never thought I’d contemplate in the state I’ve called home my whole life.
While many, including our superintendent and board of education, are grappling with the impending doom of closing schools and cutting more from the already meager budget, our Colorado House Representatives and governor are busy funding pet projects. Gov. Jared Polis said there was not enough money for schools. I have news for him: Public schools in Colorado have NEVER been adequately funded in my 25 years.
However, now Colorado is not only NOT funding schools, state lawmakers are ready and poised to fund new atrocious initiatives or bills.
When school districts and governments prioritize policies around gender-affirming care, inclusive curriculum or access to reproductive services, they often frame it as caring for student wellbeing, especially for marginalized or vulnerable groups. The idea being that if all students feel safe and supported, the more likely it is that they will succeed.
Here is where it gets messy: If those policies feel like they are being pushed at the expense of academic excellence, parental rights or shared community values, it starts to feel like ideology and less like academics.
It is fair to ask: Are these policies going to help ALL students, or is it just checking boxes? Are they going to improve education or distract from it?
This is a powerful and deeply personal question and one that speaks to the heart of the ongoing debate. What role should government play in raising or educating a student? Who is looking at the mass population of students and their needs?
One side of the argument is that a few should not dictate abortion and gender-affirming care, especially the egregious Colorado House Bill 25-1312. They feel this is an unjust way to spend hard-working dollars, and it places human beings in a totally unfair position between their faith and belief systems.
On the flip side, our government believes they should be making decisions for all, even at the expense of shattering families, regardless of implications and faith or belief systems.
Some would say the answer is the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. How many of you would willingly keep giving money to people who have proven time and time again that they are not effective and good stewards of such funds?
Education at its heart is where all other careers come from. Are we, as a society OK with failing the masses with such devastating impacts in the long run?
At a certain point, it is natural to ask: Why am I funding this? What am I getting for my money? Where is the accountability? Here it is:
1. Teach students to read critically, write clearly and think logically.
2. Ensure students understand math, science, history and civics at a high level.
3. Promote discipline, accountability and personal responsibility.
4. Raise the bar, not lower it in the name of “equity” or social pressure.
5. Let families raise their children. It is time to hold state leaders accountable for how education is funded to ensure a stronger future for the next generation.
F
Christy Anderson is a K–3 elementary educator with 25 years of experience in Mesa County Valley School District 51. She was formerly an active member of the local teachers’ union, and she now serves as an ambassador for the Professional Association of Colorado Educators (PACE). In addition to being an advocate for students and teachers, she is a parent and a local Realtor for Bray and Co. Real Estate.
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Christy Anderson
Craig Hall
n HAITZ MOVES TO BRAY COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
Bray & Company announced Andrea Haitz is shifting her focus from residential real estate to commercial real estate as she joins Bray Commercial. With years of experience in residential transactions and firsthand knowledge of commercial property ownership, Haitz is well-positioned to serve clients navigating the commercial real estate market.
Haitz and her husband, along with business partners, previously owned the Mercantile Building in downtown Grand Junction, giving her direct experience in purchasing, owning, selling and leasing commercial properties.
“Andrea’s transition to commercial real estate is a natural fit given her extensive experience and personal background in property investment,” said Brian Bray, managing broker at Bray Commercial.
“Her knowledge, passion and dedication to client success will be a tremendous asset to our team and to the businesses she serves.”
n BREEZE RESUMES ORANGE COUNTY-SANTA ANA FLIGHTS
Breeze Airways brought back its popular seasonal nonstop service between Grand Junction Regional Airport and Orange County-Santa Ana, CA, on April 10.
The direct flights will operate twice weekly: Thursdays and Sundays. Arrival into Grand Junction is scheduled for 12:08 p.m., with departure to Orange County-Santa Ana at 12:48 p.m. For booking and more information, visit www.flybreeze.com.
n GJ PARKS & REC TAKING TREE-PLANTING REQUESTS
Grand Junction Parks and Recreation’s Forestry Division is accepting requests from city residents to plant new trees in public right-of-way adjacent to private properties. The Forestry Division prunes, removes, and treats street trees as a standard service for residents, and the planting of new street trees is an option when a property owner commits to providing trees with the water they need.
The city’s urban tree canopy is comprised of more than 57,000 trees, and ash trees make up 18 percent of the urban tree canopy. More than a thousand of the city’s largest and most valuable ash trees are being protected through the forestry division’s ash healthcare-preservation program, including trunk injections every three years.
With the knowledge that a varied and diverse mix of trees is the best way to prevent large-scale tree loss due to insects and disease, the city has 70 different tree species on order for the 2025 planting season.
Other actions that are critical to the health of the canopy include planting and trimming healthy trees as well as removing unhealthy trees. In 2024, city arborists removed 390 trees that were deemed unsafe or in poor condition and planted 439 new trees.
n FAIRGROUNDS HOSTS CYCLE SAFETY FEST APRIL 26
Cycle Safety Fest returns this year to Mesa County Fairgrounds with free riding activities, safety workshops, food and entertainment on April 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Whether you’ve never ridden a bicycle or motorcycle before or you ride one every day, there will be something for everyone, including first-ride experiences, “rodeo” drills and new product demos.
“We created this event, because we wanted to help increase everyone’s awareness of vulnerable road users,” Captain Matt Ozanic with Colorado State Patrol Troop 4A said.” At the same time, we can help prospective riders set up for success by demonstrating the importance of proper training and properly fitted safety gear.”
On the motorcycling side, Teddy Morse’s Grand Junction Harley-Davidson and
the Motorcycle Safety Foundation will be hosting a RIDE Day, with experiences for nonriders and licensed riders alike.
“If you’ve never ridden before, we’ll have coaches there to help you try motorcycling for the first time, working with you step by step,” said Traci Stapleton, general manager at Teddy Morse’s Grand Junction Harley-Davidson. “And if you’re a licensed rider with your own motorcycle, we’ll have SKILLS Check challenges, so you can test your skills and see how good you really are. But most importantly, hosting RIDE Days helps everyone better understand the risks on the roads and how they can lower those risks, whether you’re a rider or driver.”
After last year’s event was solely for motorcycle riders, this year’s event was expanded to include bicycle riders.
Cycle Safety Fest is free and open to all.
n CITY CONDUCTS ANNUAL HYDRANT FLUSHING PROGRAM
City of Grand Junction water distribution crews on March 14 began the spring hydrant-testing program. Flushing starts each weekday at 7:30 a.m. and goes until 3:30 p.m. The program started in the Orchard Mesa area and will end at 29 Road and Orchard Avenue. Testing will take approximately two weeks to complete.
During the testing program, homeowners may notice discolored or aerated water coming from taps. This is a normal part of the process. Water customers are encouraged to run water in a bathtub for five to 10 minutes to flush any discolored water from service lines.
This is part of a program that began in 1992 to assure the highest quality drinking water for City of Grand Junction water customers. The city has approximately 995 fire hydrants and 150 miles of pipe in its service area. Each year this program tests 50 percent of the total number of fire hydrants. The total volume of water used during the entire program is approximately 2 million gallons. Between 1,000 and 6,000 gallons of water is flushed from each hydrant.
“The total amount of water used in the testing program equates to about one-half of the city’s average daily consumption during the month of May,” Utilities Director Randi Kim said. “This is an important program that not only helps us maintain water quality, but it also ensures the Grand Junction Fire Department has adequate pressure in the hydrants when they arrive on scene to put out a fire.”
Besides maintaining water quality, other reasons for testing the water system include: maintaining chlorine residuals throughout the water system; elimination of taste and odors; removal of discolored water; maintaining the life of water mains and hydrants; and checking fire flow rates and exercising hydrants.
Andrea Haitz
