A campaign to stop kids from buying cigarettes until they are 21 is gaining momentum in the state, especially since a national study that showed Colorado topped the 37 other states surveyed in numbers of high school students who smoke e-cigarettes.

Tobacco 21, a national effort to stop teen smoking, already has spurred two mountain towns to pass ordinances upping the age. Aspen led the way, followed by Basalt.

The study, conducted among high school students by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed more than a quarter of the Colorado students currently use e-cigarettes and almost six percent use them frequently. Often they buy them at a convenience store. The most popular e-cigarette brand among the teens is Juuls.

Dr. Kim Levin, an emergency room doctor who is leading the push to raise the age, is convinced it will cut down on sales between social sources — older teens buying the e-cigarettes for younger teens. And that, she claims, will lead to fewer teens becoming adult smokers.

Proponents hope that if enough towns sign onto the idea it will result in statewide legislation.

But groups representing tobacco, vaping and convenience store interests have banded together to oppose Tobacco 21.

Tom Briant with the National Association of Tobacco Outlets says it is like turning the state into a "nanny."

And Grier Bailey, executive director of the Colorado Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association, which represents 2200 retailers, says local laws raising the age won't stop teens from buying online or in another town. A few years ago an effort to take it statewide failed.

He said it is like drinking. "People who want it are going to be able to get it. They just won't get it from responsible retailers."

PUEBLO — The president of Pueblo-based Loaf 'N Jug has resigned in the wake of the parent company's sale of the chain.

Art Stawski spent eighteen years at the helm of the popular outlet. He is moving to New Orleans, his native hometown. He and his wife are looking forward to being with close relatives and friends there. But he is not retiring. He is looking into possible new ventures.

Kroger, the parent company of Loaf 'N Jug, sold its U. S. convenience store division to EG Group recently. The sale includes 762 stores operating under the Loaf 'N Jug, Turkey Hill, Kwik Shop, Tom Thumb and Quik Stop brands.

Loaf 'N Jug was founded by Puebloans Paul Jones and Sam Sharp in 1973. In 1986 Kroger took over but kept the headquarters here. With the latest sale the headquarters will be moved to Cincinnati. Stawski was offered an executive position there but he declined.

During his tenure the store was a leader for change in the industry. And it contributed greatly to the city and state through its sponsorship of the state fair, the chili and frijoles festivals, sports and other events. He pioneered a shopper loyalty program; fuel discount cards were first offered here.

"It's been a great ride," Stawski told the Pueblo Chieftain. "I'm very proud of the things we were able to do in the community."

AURORA — Dutch Car Wash broke ground here recently on a state-of-the-art facility.

The $5 million wash is expected to open in early 2019.

Situated on one acre, it will feature an eleven-foot long tunnel with full length bay windows, a curved transparent roof for natural lighting, round stainless steel equipment arches and seventeen free, self-service dual hose vacuums.

Among the other features will be RFID readers for unlimited car wash members and a dual belt conveyor system for easy loading. The customer will stay in the car as it is automatically guided through the tunnel where it is soaked, soaped and washed with multiple soft cloth brushes, and then high-pressure-rinsed with a spot-free solution for a high shine. It will be completely dried with high power dryers. It will only take two to three minutes, allowing low wait time.

The management expects to do well as the location is in a high-traffic area — an average of 85,000 vehicles pass by each day.

DENVER — He didn't want to violate his home confinement status so he wore his GPS ankle monitor to the convenience store to commit a robbery, police said.

Unfortunately a pre-trial services officer happened to see a crime bulletin with photos of the suspect committing several robberies and recognized him as one of the people under her supervision. She informed police about the ankle monitor. They, in turn, pulled the GPS data for it and said it showed Lawrence Lowe inside the first store when it was robbed.

On top of that, when he was arrested he was in a Jeep that matched the suspect vehicle in surveillance video from the store. He wore the same black jacket with a gray hood sported by the robber in other crimes.

Lowe was on pretrial release waiting the outcome of a second-degree attempted murder charge. U.S. marshals also have a hold on him for a federal possession of a dangerous weapon case.

DENVER — Who says full-service is dead?

Not as long as Regis 66 continues to serve this community.

Owner Alan Thielen inherited the business from his dad and kept the full-service for customers. Not much else has changed either.

DENVER — A man was sentenced here to 12 years in prison immediately after pleading guilty to first-degree assault in an attack last Fall on a man at a gasoline station.

Records show Ryan Johnson got out of his car, walked to the victim's truck and shot him with a flare gun, inflicting serious burns on the man's head and body.

COLORADO SPRINGS — A downtown convenience store that closed in April of 2017 has re-opened under a different name but with the same owners.

The 7-Eleven is now called Carlie's, named after the daughter of owners Russ and Bri Mallery. No explanation was given for dropping the chain name.

As a 7-Eleven the store was plagued by homeless people blocking the sidewalk, theft, and vandalism which included broken windows, a damaged door and holes punched in restroom walls. These events occurred despite the presence of a police substation right across the street.

However management said the store did not close because of the slew of problems.

When it opened as 7-Eleven eight years ago it was hailed as a lifesaver for people who work downtown. After a Walgreens closed they had no place to buy a bandage, a pair of pantyhose or a bottle of aspirin.

The store served an estimated 10,000 workers, tourists and loft residents in its 2,000-square-foot space.

Originally published in the September 2018 issue of the O&A Marketing News.
Copyright 2018 by KAL Publications Inc.