Green Laser Alert - Visible From Our Area
A green laser light will pierce Boulder's night sky starting Saturday night.

As your uninformed friends and neighbors see it and panic, you can sit comfortably, armed with the knowledge that the spectral spectacular isn't an overzealous homeowners holiday-light display run amuck, the byproduct of top-secret tests at Rocky Flats or some other worst-case scenario.

The light will be visible from as far away as Colorado Springs and Fort Collins. Full story
12.05.03 @ 10:45 AM MST [link]

Snowmobiles targeted for avalanche awareness
A dramatic increase in the number of snowmobilers killed by avalanches during recent winters has officials looking for better ways to spread their safety message.

The national statistics are grim. Between 1985 and 1993, there were never more than two snowmobilers killed by avalanches in a single season. During several of those winters there were no fatalities. Full story
12.05.03 @ 06:10 AM MST [link]

Jeffco official emerging from coma
LAKEWOOD - It was Karen Litz's 66th birthday when her husband walked into her hospital room Wednesday and leaned over to kiss her, as he has most every day since she fell into a coma following brain surgery in October.

He was in for a surprise.

"She puckered," said John Litz. "That was the first time she had done anything like that."

It was the beginning of the end of the coma that the Jefferson County school board member had been in since emergency surgery to repair two aneurysms. Full story
12.05.03 @ 06:09 AM MST [link]

Former Park County deputy injured in car chase
Former Park County deputy Michael Ryel was injured in a high-speed chase in Weld County that resulted in the death of the man he was pursuing.

Read the full story.
12.04.03 @ 09:21 AM MST [link]

Jeffco school board to hold public meeting in Springs
GOLDEN - Jefferson County School Board members plan to hold public meetings to discuss the politically volatile issue of asking voters to raise taxes - but they'll do it at a fancy hotel 80 miles from their usual meeting place.

School board members will attend a Colorado Association of School Boards conference at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs this weekend. During that time, the board will meet to talk about how and whether to ask voters to approve a tax increase or a bond election.

Full story

12.04.03 @ 06:12 AM MST [link]

Flu hitting state early, often
Colorado has now confirmed more flu cases in just over a month than it counted in the past two years combined. The latest total from the Department of Public Health and Environment: 6,306 confirmed cases, with one-fourth of that number reported since Monday. FULL STORY
12.04.03 @ 06:09 AM MST [link]

School Vouchers Overturned By Court
DENVER -- A Denver district court judge has overturned Colorado's school voucher program, and said it illegally takes away local control of education. He issued an injunction Wednesday against anyone taking part in the program.

Read the full story on TheDenverChannel.com.
12.03.03 @ 12:28 PM MST [link]

President signs McInnis' Forest Restoration Act
The Healthy Forest Restoration Act was a legislative victory with little cost, bill sponsor Rep. Scott McInnis, R-Colo., said Tuesday, hours before President Bush was to sign the measure into law.

The measure, which passed the House in May, was bottled up in the Senate when, "lo and behold, the California fires broke out," McInnis said in a press conference before he left for Washington, D.C., and a signing ceremony this morning at the Agriculture Department.

Read the full story on GJSentinel.com.
12.03.03 @ 08:56 AM MST [link]

Global temps go up, up with people
climate, two prominent researchers have concluded after an exhaustive review of weather records and computer climate models.

Humans are contributing to the planet's warming, and the likely result will be more frequent heat waves, droughts, wildfires and floods, according to Kevin Trenberth, of Boulder, and Thomas Karl, of North Carolina.

Read the full story on the RockyMtnNews.com.
12.03.03 @ 05:25 AM MST [link]

DOW discusses Evergreen mountain lion kits
Three mountain lion kits have been spotted near Evergreen. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) is asking for residents' cooperation in protecting both the kits and the people in the community while the kits inhabit the area.

The three kits, which currently weigh approximately 25 pounds each, have taken up residence in close proximity to homes in the Evergreen area. Although an adult lion has yet to be seen accompanying the three young cats, it is believed that the mother is still in the area. In fact, approximately two weeks ago an adult lion was seen within a quarter of a mile of the kits current location. The kits seem to be healthy and have most likely inhabited the area along with their mother for the last few weeks.

posted on Tue, 12.02.03 @ 02:14 PM MST [more..]

Jeffco DA Thomas unveils bid in 7th
Dave Thomas was quick to pick up the phone Monday.

"Yes!" the Jefferson County prosecutor said with a laugh, anticipating a reporter's question on whether he was running in the 7th Congressional District as a Democrat.

Read the full story on the RockyMountainNews.com.
12.02.03 @ 06:05 AM MST [link]

Jeffco Sheriff Has New Snowcat For Rescue
BERGEN PARK - March's monster snowstorm made toast of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office's overworked, four-seater Sno- Cat.

After it was used to help stranded people for more than four days, the 1963 Thiokol threw a rod in its engine as Deputy Mike Sensano roared over 8-foot-high drifts to pick up a sick child.

On Monday, Sensano put the department's recently acquired 1977 Tucker Sno-Cat through its paces on Squaw Pass.

Read the full story on the DenverPost.com
12.01.03 @ 05:12 PM MST [link]

Can drinking water ward off the flu?
DRINKING water can help to ward off flu, a study claims.

Eight small glasses a day are recommended, and those who drink less increase their chances of getting flu, a stuffy nose or a sore throat.

British researcher David Lewis, who carried out the research, said water was crucial because it was required for every function of the body.

In particular, he said, it was important to keep hydrated so the lining of the nose is moist.

Read the full story on News.com.au
12.01.03 @ 10:28 AM MST [link]

Codes put homebuilders in middle of dispute
When a homebuilder plans a single-family home on his property, he must meet certain standards in order to obtain the slew of necessary permits.

In Jefferson County, fire departments adhere to a stricter version of the code than the county building department. Fire departments and the county do not agree on whether Colorado statutes permit the fire departments to enforce their stricter codes. The departments say yes; the county says no. Some fire departments try to enforce the code to their standards; some do not.

"We've been told we can't," said Elk Creek Fire Marshal Beth Rich. Elk Creek is not alone.

Read the full story on CanyonCourier.com.
12.01.03 @ 10:00 AM MST [link]

Third Man Sentenced In Guffey Triple Murder
FAIRPLAY, Colo. -- The last of three former Palmer High School students who pleaded guilty to killing a classmate and his grandparents was sentenced Monday.

Jonathan Edward Matheny, 20, was given a 68-year prison sentence after pleading guilty in October to three counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and one count of violating organized crime laws.

Matheny admitted to conspiring to kill Tony Dutcher, 15, of Colorado Springs, and his grandparents Carl and Joanna Dutcher. The three were found dead Jan. 3, 2001, at the Dutchers' home near Guffey in Park County.

Read the full story on TheDenverChannel.com
12.01.03 @ 09:58 AM MST [link]

Flu bug biting Coloradans hard
So far, four Colorado children have died of complications from the flu. According to state health officials, nearly 4,000 confirmed cases were reported before Thanksgiving. Most agree the number is probably much higher.

Read the full story on the DenverPost.com.
12.01.03 @ 09:47 AM MST [link]

Car Vs. Deer Crashes On Rise
Officials Say Drought Forcing Wildlife To Hang Closer To Highways

DENVER -- Bill deVergie knows firsthand what it's like to hit a deer.

"I've hit them in my division truck, but I hit one in the family Aerostar," said deVergie, a regional biologist in Montrose. "We were driving along at about 45 mph when this deer suddenly bounded out from the side in front of the vehicle. I hit it head-on and did $3,000 damage to my minivan."

DeVergie is not alone.

Read the full story on TheDenverChannel.com.
11.30.03 @ 01:17 PM MST [link]

Fighting fire with better hires
The two words don't belong together: "firefighter arson."

Its most infamous face in Colorado is Terri Barton, the U.S. Forest Service worker who admitted to starting the Hayman Fire in 2002. The same year, a firefighter from Golden was charged with first-degree arson after admitting that he set fire to a greenhouse and nearby building, causing $120,000 in damage.

On Wednesday, police in Larimer County arrested 19-year- old volunteer firefighter Austin Gene Mayo, who authorities say burned down the 123-year-old Virginia Dale church Nov. 16, leaving only a charred Bible.

Read the full story on the RockyMountainNews.com
11.30.03 @ 07:49 AM MST [link]

Lion cubs captivate Evergreen neighbors
EVERGREEN - Three mountain lion cubs apparently have made a den in the foundation of a home here, but their mother's whereabouts is a mystery.

"They were just running around the neighborhood," Kelly Short, 44, said Friday.

Read the full story on the RockyMountainNews.com
11.30.03 @ 07:47 AM MST [link]