The Daily Sentinel from Grand Junction, Colorado • 3

The Da.ty Sentinel Saturday April 19, 2008 3A Around the Region Trie Daily Sentinel (ISSN 1545-6962) Published eve at T34 Seventh Sheet Grand Juncton CO 81501 Pexxnca Rose aoe pao ai Grand Junction CO ho'ne 3 35 0 52 wees 1 1 7 0G yeyve--K2 oe- potrs si 20 F'oay ru 55 80 Sa sraay ad 5Jnciv 8 S-Vday or $:: jO oe-tve rouoes dales (n 2OG0 Jan 1 Jan 21 Feo 4 Pec 18 Mar 17 Mar 24 May 26 Jury 4 Sept 1 Oct 13 Nov 11 Nov 27 Nc 28 Os: 25 Sddte Cccy I 50 aady ana $1 .00 Sunday Uat 5 00 per wee $2tO 00 per yw POSTMASTER Send adcfrass changes to The ferry Senbnei PO Sere 68 G'anO Juncon CO 81 502" Teen takes on invasive mussels 14-year-olds goopy concoction has attention of fisheries biologists By THE SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE QUAGGA MUSSELS COVER a boats hull at Lake Mead, in this photo taken in November 2007. A California teen, has developed a concoction she calls goo" that she hopes will solve the problem of invasive mussels. At this point, we are taking her very seriously," said Mike Giusti, a fisheries biologist who is tackling the problem for the California Department of Fish and Game. rv I Cakkon an of Auto Sales' hot new and used vehides for sale at caisonGJSentinel.com. VENTURA, Calif The researcher lowered her scientific experiment into Westlake Lake, north of Los Angeles, hoping this would be the cure to the problem that has the potential to cripple Californias water supply She spent hours formulating and mixing the concoction that she hopes will stop quagga mussels from clinging to pipes by the thousands and damaging water delivery systems.

Millions of dollars have been spent fighting quagga mussels in the Midwest and millions more have been allocated to fight the invasive mussel since it was first detected last year in the West. But this researcher is hoping her $5-a-gallon mix she calls it goo could largely solve the problem. The inventor is not a doctorate-level scientist or an employee of a state environmental agency Shes 14-year-old, french-fry-loving, giggly and precocious Brenna Callero, and she just may have the cure for the common quagga mussel. Or, at the very least, shes got a good project for this years science fair, called Dont Move a Mussel I love science, said Brenna, a ninth-grader at La Reina High School in Thousand Oaks, about 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles. She also likes golf, ACDC, history, sailing and a slew of other things, but for now, she is focused on the tiny quagga mussels and her gloppy creation to" keep them at bay The professionals paid to study the issue are impressed At this point we are taking her very seriously said Mike Giusti, a fisheries biologist who is tackling the problem for the California Department of Fish and Game.

Quagga mussels can produce 1 million offspring a year They spread rapidly altering ecosystems by eating away the bottoih of the food chain. For water, agencies, the larger concern id the mussels ability to cause millions of dollars in damage by virtually enveloping pipes. For Brenna, it all started with a few mosquito bites on the fairway Brenna, who is determined to try out for the Ladies Professional Golf Association, was tired of being bitten by mosquitoes when she was golfing. For her science project last year, she developed a solution that kills mosquito larvae. She consulted a flower book to see which plants may be mosquito detractors, crushed a bunch of marigolds and lemon rinds, and before long her mixture was killing mosquito larvae.

The Ventura County Environmental Health Division gave her a commendation for her work and asked her if shed be interested in working at the department during the summer, she said. She started learning about the quagga mussel, but the deciding factor came with the closure of two lakes to boats. Over bowls of Brenna and her mother, a former mm determine whether the mussels have moved into the lake, and if they have, whether the goo works. Of all the people working on the quagga mussel issue, Brenna is likely the youngest researcher. It is really very unique to have someone of that age to take interest in this so quickly when the public isnt even aware of what is happening, said Rick DeLeon, a microbiologist with Metropolitan Water District who is dealing with the mussel.

I think shes come up with a great hypothesis. What exactly is in Brennas goo is a trade secret shes keeping to herself If it does work out, Brenna would like to get a patent and make money off her high school science experiment But she wouldnt use the money to pay for college. Shes banking on a golf, scholarship for that. environmental attorney brainstormed about what they could do to stop the mussels. Brenna figured what worked for mosquitoes might work for quagga mussels, so she adapted' her concoction and included a paintlike substance that would help the mix stick to plastic or concrete.

She wanted to use all natural ingredients because she has allergies and didnt want to sneeze while applying the mixture. She painted three variations of her goo onto pipes to see if the goo would deter the mussels from sticking to the pipes. She called Giusti, who helped her test her goo at Lake Skinner, another nearby lake with a quagga mussel infestation. Shes waiting six weeks to go back and retrieve her tubes to see if they worked. Last week she put two more pipes into Westlake Lake, one with goo and jone without, to they were accused of serious crimes and can no longer teach in Colorado public schools.

Gardner introduced an amendment that would require the department to release the names of teachers and school employees convicted of child abuse or unlawful sexual behavior if it denies, annuls, suspends or revokes a teaching license. The amendment also stipulates that if a teacher signs a settlement agreement with the Department of Education, the teacher must agree to never teach at a public or private school in this country Befofe the bill passed, Gardner read newspaper headlines Bill aimed at stopping teacher assaults Colorado Logging Days Saturday, April 26, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. Confluence Parkin Delta, Colorado Events Scheduled: Mens Underhand Chop Womens Underhand Chop Standing Block Chop Axe Throwing Open Hot Saw Log Rolling Childrens Sawdust Pile Dig Arts, Crafts, Food Information Booths Much More1 For more information, contact: Linda Sorenson, 970-874-5418 to molest other children at other schools. She said school districts do background checks when teachers are hired, but the state has no. way to determine if teachers are accused of misconduct after they were hired.

Her bill (House Bill 1344) would require the school district to notify the Department of Education if the teacher resigns or is dismissed because of unlawful conduct Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, said too many teachers are allowed to sign settlement agreements allowing them to avoid a disciplinary hearing and continue to teach in private schools or universities, even though By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS DENVER With no debate and no dissent, the Colorado House gave initial approval Friday to a bill that would require teachers convicted of child abuse or unlawful sexual behavior to agree never to teach again anywhere in this country Its in law right now that information about crimes of violence against a child shall be shared among the school districts and the Department of Education. Its not taking place. Kids are getting hurt, said Rep. Gwyn Green, D-Golden.

Green said teachers have resigned after sexual misconduct with students and then gone on Anti-discrimination bill for gays clears hurdle Hie Blotter COMPILED BY SENTINEL slfAFF Now Enrolling! Independence Academy Charter School Kindergarten 12th Grade New Location! 600 N. 14th St. Lincoln Park Elementary Free Full Day Kindergarten Spanish Offered Grades K-12 Before After School Care 4-Day School Week RegistrationEnrollment Fair April 19 10 am 3 pm at 600 N. 14th St. Contact the school office at 255-8565 3 orvisitourwebsiteatwww.independenceacademycs.org By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from 11 cases in February where teachers had been accused in serious crimes.

The cases included an elementary school teacher in Douglas County accused of taking showers with underage children, an elementary school teacher in Montrose placed on administrative leave after being accused of abusing an autistic student, a substitute teacher in Colorado Springs accused of offering a high school student money for sex and a middle school teacher in Loveland accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl. This in one month from the state of Colorado, Gardner told his colleagues. he didnt mean to be offensive. Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield, said civil rights legislation was passed to protect black Americans because they historically had fewer educational and economic opportunities.

He said gays and lesbians generally enjoy a higher level of income and education. Veiga said someone can still be discriminated against even if they are well-off Mitchell said he thought the real aim of the measure was to have the government weigh in on the side of gays and lesbians. This is symbolic politics elevated above real need, he said. The bill originally would have also prohibited discrimination on the basis of religion but that was removed. Veiga said existing law already outlaws discrimination based on creed, which she said is synonymous with religion.

Last year, the Legislature passed a bill protecting gays and lesbians from being fired from their jobs because of their sexual orientation. (Profeanontl competitors, as seen on ESPN, wifi be competing 4-vfr isi I Hin. 1 aid Two accused of drug possession Tammy Kautzsch, 35, 3208 Emerald Court, No. and Jason Lunk, 28, 3048 12 Wedgewood were arrested Friday morning on suspicion of drug possession after deputies with the Mesa County Sheriffs Department contacted them in the 3200 block of Emerald Court According to Sheriffs Department reports, deputies were in the area to arrest Kautzsch on an active warrant. Both were booked into the Mesa County Jail later that morning.

GJ resident alleges tax fraud A Grand Junction resident reported someone had filed a fraudulent tax return and received about $5,000 from the federal government According to Sheriffs Department reports, the victim reported the fraud was committed in Colorado Springs. HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC SCHOOL PRESENTS DENVER The Senate gave initial backing to expanding anti-discrimination protections for gays and lesbians on Friday The measure (Senate Bill 200) takes the states current anti-discrimination laws and adds sexual orientation to the list of things, such as race or national origin, that cant be considered. It would be illegal to deny gays and lesbians everything from apartment rentals and a seat in a restaurant to bqrial plots. The debate in the Senate was tense at times. To make his argument that there isnt a record of discrimination against gay people, Sen.

Greg Brophy, R-Wray, jokingly offered an amendment to change the bill into one protecting short people. Brophy, who stands 5-foot-6, then withdrew it. Bill sponsor Sen. Jennifer Veiga, who is a lesbian, took offense. It must be nice to sit back as a white male and mock the discrimination many Americans feel based on sexual orientation, Veiga said.

Brophy then went to the microphone to apologize, saying According to the Grand Junction Police Department: Someone broke into a car parked in the 500 block of South Avenue sometime Wednesday night or Thursday morning and caused more than $1,000 in damages. Someone caused more than $2,000 in damages to four trucks parked in the 600 block of West Gujtmison Avenue sometime Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Someone stole more than $1,000 worth of equipment from a business in the 2300 block of Interstate Avenue sometime Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Someone stole more than $1,000 worth off construction equipment from the area of 27 14 and roads sometime Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Someone stole property valued at more than $1,000 from cars parked in the 2400 block of Commerce Boulevard sometime Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

I According to the Mesa County Sheriffs Department: Daniel Howlett, 18, was given a Friday morn ing on suspicion of illegal weapon possession after deputies contacted him in the 3200 block of the Interstate 70 Business Loop. Robert Lee Adams, 18, was given a summons Thursday night on suspicion of illegal weapon possession after deputies contacted him near the intersection of Mesa Avenue and 32 Road. I LIVE 10,000 CASH RAFFLE Drawing a Tickets. 4211 rfJXftit ir -4 4. L-a Bar closes at 10 pm.