News in Brief

Garco crews contain Rulison fireRULISON The 301 Fire on Holmes Mesa in Rulison was 100 percent contained Sunday, officials said, but total control of the entire fire is not expected until late Wednesday. Crews were again pulled from the fire lines for about an hour Sunday as dry thunderstorms moved into the area producing erratic winds up to 42 mph with some lightning, according to a press release from the Rifle Fire Protection District. No rainfall was recorded in the area. Fire crews completed their objective of a 100-foot cold trail around this 180-acre fire. Nevertheless, hot spots and smoking debris may occasionally be seen within the burned area’s interior. The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office and the Rifle Fire Protection District will continue to patrol the area. There were no injuries. (Glenwood Springs Post Independent)Talk set on Rifle youth facility propertyRIFLE Bill Evans wants a residential youth treatment facility in Rifle.The Griffith Center for Children in Rifle closed June 30, but Evans, the property’s owner, is thinking about how to continue residential youth treatment there. He’s also considering possible sale or lease of the building for other purposes. He is hosting an open house to discuss the future of the property at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 12, at the property, located at 1252 County Road 294.”I would have much preferred that Griffith leave the personnel at the building employed instead of laying them off, and I would have preferred having Griffith leave the children in placement with the same caregivers, as opposed to Griffith laying off all the staff and moving the children,” he said.Griffith CEO Howard Shiffman said previously that all 35 employees were offered jobs at other locations and that the Rifle center was closing for two main reasons. There is a national trend of less referrals to residential treatment centers that caused Griffith to operate in the red, he said, and the center also had trouble retaining quality staff because of its rural location and competition from the oil and gas industry. (Glenwood Springs Post Independent)Burning Mountain ‘A Family Affair’NEW CASTLE In keeping with the 34th annual Burning Mountain Festival’s theme for 2007, “A Family Affair,” the grand marshals of this year’s parade are the longtime Rippy family of New Castle.Harley and Janet Rippy will be accompanied in the event by their large family of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The couple raised seven children – Shari, Dow, Lee, Steve, Miles, Marie and Shane.The family traveled around the state for about 13 years before settling in New Castle in 1964, while Harley owned and operated Harley Rippy Excavating. He retired from the business in 1995. Harley and Janet have lived at their home on County Road 240 for 43 years.Today, the couple has, along with their children and their spouses, 15 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.”And two more coming!” Janet said. “There are a lot of us.”The parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 21, and will run its usual course down Main Street in New Castle.