Good morning, Grand Junction.

The Express All Stars' Trail of Terror raised tens of thousands for the club this month by staging a 12,000 sqft haunted attraction in shipping containers at Mesa Mall, featuring 25 themed rooms built by families and a corn maze run by a local softball team.

The city named a just over a mile route Hershey's Loop in September at Matchett Park to honor Dave Lord's service dog after Lord and Hershey spent years cleaning about 50 acres of the park's 205 acres, and a sign at Darla Gene Park marks the loop.

Early donations for Colorado Gives Day begin Nov.

1, the official day is Dec. 8, and Grand Valley Gives (more than 60 local nonprofits) will appear in the Sentinel's Nov. 14 edition with its 2026 Gives Guide.

Mesa County is seeking residents to serve on boards and commissions to help shape local decisions, with openings throughout the year for roles in planning, public health, public safety, and community development (apply on the county's Volunteer Opportunities page).

Colorado Mesa University will have a ballot drop box and an in-person polling center on Nov.

2 and Nov. 3 (on campus) to make voting easier for students, and university leaders say the resources reinforce free speech and civic participation.

Federal investigators are still probing the June 27 Knowles Fire burnover that killed four wildland firefighters in Mesa County, with no updates since a July 30 report; on Oct.

2 four senators asked the Department of the Interior for a full policy review after the deaths + one serious injury.

Veterinarians warn that chocolate and sugar-free candy with xylitol can poison pets and that swallowed wrappers can cause dangerous intestinal blockages; call a vet right away if your animal eats any candy (dogs, cats, birds, and other small pets can be affected).

Veterinarians warn that chocolate, xylitol gum, and swallowed wrappers can poison pets as families go trick or treating today, and they urge owners to call a vet immediately if ingestion is suspected (birds, ferrets, hamsters, and rabbits can be affected).

St. Mary’s NICU transformed into a zoo for its annual Halloween celebration, with nurses dressed as zookeepers and each baby in a handmade crocheted costume to give families a special holiday moment (costume donations welcome for future years).