High wind alert - High fire danger
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
1050 AM MST SAT NOV 29 2003

...WINDS INCREASING IN THE LOWER FOOTHILLS...

.STRONG WEST WINDS THAT BLEW IN THE HIGHER MOUNTAINS OVERNIGHT WERE SPREADING INTO THE LOWER FOOTHILLS THIS MORNING. THE STRONGEST WINDS ARE STILL IN BOULDER AND NORTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTIES...THOUGH THE WINDS WERE INCREASING NEAR THE WYOMING BORDER. SOME WIND REPORTS FROM THE MID MORNING HOURS INCLUDE 69 MPH AT ROCKY FLATS... 59 MPH AT FLOYD HILL ON INTERSTATE 70...51 MPH ON TABLE MESA SOUTHWEST OF BOULDER AND 46 MPH ON INTERSTATE 25 AT THE WYOMING BORDER.

posted on Sat, 11.29.03 @ 11:02 AM MST [more..]

High winds to hike area's fire danger
Weather officials Thursday warned that winds will pick up this afternoon, prompting a fire weather watch for the area just southwest of Denver.

The National Weather Service forecasts winds to reach 20 to 30 miles an hour this afternoon, with gusts up to 40 in the mountains below 8,000 feet.

Thursday night, the winds will increase, with gusts forecast up to 80 mph.

posted on Fri, 11.28.03 @ 08:33 AM MST [more..]

Evergreen Man Accused Of Kidnapping Woman, Raping Her
GOLDEN, Colo. -- An Evergreen man was expected to be charged with kidnapping and other charges Wednesday for allegedly holding a woman at gunpoint for nearly two days and raping her five times.

Keith George Gosselin, 38, was being held in the Jefferson County Jail on $100,000 bail.

Read the full story on TheDenverChannel.com

11.26.03 @ 11:06 AM MST [link]

Christmas Tree Permits Still Available But Going Fast
MORRISON, COLORADO... While Denver-area residents have been flocking in to purchase Christmas tree cutting permits for the Pike National Forest Buffalo Creek cutting area, nearly 1,000 permits are still available … but they’re going fast.

More and more residents have discovered this annual holiday tradition that brings families in to their national forest to cut their own tree. The Christmas tree permits allow cutting in a 10,000-acre designated area near Buffalo Creek in Jefferson County and are valid for a specified date. While the forest trees are not as full or uniform in shape as those sold in commercial lots, at $10 apiece, the price is right.

posted on Wed, 11.26.03 @ 09:22 AM MST [more..]

Videotapes shed light on Terry Barton, Hayman Fire
DENVER - A pair of videotapes offer a never-before publicly seen look into the mind of one of the state's most infamous criminals. Terry Barton is currently serving time in a federal prison for starting the largest forest fire ever in Colorado. The former Forest Service worker is not expected out for at least another six years.

Read the full story on 9NEWS.com
11.25.03 @ 05:28 PM MST [link]

Almanac Predicts Dry Winter In Rockies
DENVER -- The Old Farmer's Almanac predicts the Rockies will see a winter that is slightly warmer and much drier than normal.

The 211-year-old publication predicts temperatures will be 3 to 5 degrees above normal, while December and January will be particularly warm. It also foresees less than average snowfall for the mountains and no big spring storms.

Read the full story on TheDenverChannel.com
11.25.03 @ 03:04 PM MST [link]

Park County now part of Denver metro area
Park County has a population density of only 7.1 people per square mile. The nearest hospitals, big supermarkets or theaters are 60 to 85 miles away from Jefferson.

However, this county is now classified as part of a "metropolitan statistical area," according to the federal government, as are Gilpin, Clear Creek, Elbert and Teller counties, said Jerry O'Donnell of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Read the full story in the Denver Post.
11.24.03 @ 08:30 AM MST [link]