TRUCK TEARS THROUGH GARAGE, SNAPS GAS METER IN JEFFERSON COUNTY

South Metro Fire said a pickup truck "crashed through the back wall of a garage, striking a gas meter" in Jefferson County on Tuesday. No injuries were reported in the mishap at 6654 South Webster Street. The utility company capped the meter and firefighters shored up the shattered wall. On Monday, South Metro crews dealt with a similar incident when an auto smashed into the front of an office building on East Mineral Avenue in Centennial, injuring one person. [Photo: South Metro Fire]

GUN-TOTING MAN ACCUSED OF ATTEMPED MURDER IN VIOLENT FAMILY FREE-FOR-ALL IN WELD COUNTY

Gun-wielding Joseph Van Hoesen, 35, was arrested on charges of attempted murder and assault in a free-for-all involving two relatives at a home near LaSalle, the Weld County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday. The suspect is - among other things - accused of pointing the gun and pulling the trigger "numerous times" on Sunday morning - though the weapon failed to fire, the sheriff's office said. A statement identified the relatives as "victim one" and "victim two" and said victim one was injured and admitted to hospital. The statement also said: "Deputies learned Van Hoesen got into a verbal argument inside the residence with victim one" and "wrapped his hands around victim one’s neck. "Victim one and Van Hoesan continued arguing and he pulled out a gun and pointed it at victim one and reportedly pulled the trigger numerous times, but the gun did not fire. Victim two was attempting to call law enforcement until Van Hoesen reportedly pointed the gun at victim two and took the phone out of victim two’s hands. "Van Hoesen then reportedly pushed victim one to the ground and allegedly pointed the gun at victim one, again, and pulled the trigger numerous times, but the gun did not fire. Van Hoesen allegedly took victim one’s purse and cell phone and walked out of the house and got into victim one’s car. "Victim one also got into her car with Van Hoesen, and they began fighting over control of the car. Van Hoesen allegedly tried to take the car but was unsuccessful. Van Hoesen got out of the car and walked south of the residence, where he was ultimately taken into custody by patrol deputies." In addition to attempted murder and assault, the suspect faces a variety of other charges including attempting to steal an auto. [Photo: Weld County Sheriff]

MAN ARRESTED ON TRIBAL LAND AS SUSPECT IN WIFE'S MURDER

Blas Salazar, 59, of Ignacio, was arrested on tribal land in southwest Colorado as a suspect in the murder of his wife, Herberta, 31, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation announced Tuesday.

The woman's body was discovered at the couple's home Saturday evening in 600-block of Shoshone Drive during a welfare check by Ignacio police.

Salazar was arrested early Sunday off La Plata County Road 521 on Southern Ute Tribal Trust land. He suffered what appeared to be self-inflicted wounds.

Southern Ute Reservation headquarters is located in Ignacio, which is 24 miles southeast of Durango. The suspect isn't indigenous, according to investigators.

DENVER JAIL INMATES VOTE IN GENERAL ELECTION

Inmates at Denver's jails are voting in a general election for the 11th year. Those at the Downtown Detention Center are permitted to vote through Wednesday. Voting at the Smith Road facility is set for Thursday and Friday, the Denver Gazette reports.

[Photo: Denver Sheriff]

NO PUMPKINS FOR BAMBI OR YOGI, PLEASE

Colorado Parks and Wildlife advises: "Deer, bears and other wildlife do not need your leftover pumpkins. Intentionally feeding deer and bears is illegal, and it can be harmful to their health." [Photo: CPW]

COLORADO'S 'VAGRANT AIRSHIP' SIGHTINGS

A vigilant woman named Mrs. Mead, residing at 1365 South 8th Street in Denver, and a neighbor, Mrs. Herner, were scanning the midday sky amid widely circulated reports of an "aerial apparition" or "vagrant airship" in April 1897.

"Mrs. Mead uttered an exclamation and cried out to her companion that there was something in the air that might be the celestial wanderer," the Rocky Mountain News said. "The object was tumbling over and over, to all appearances, like an aerial body without a rudder or a balloon that had lost its basket."

"It occurred to Mrs. Mead that she had a pair of opera glasses in the house, and she rushed in after them, leaving Mrs. Herner to watch the vanquishing sailor of the skies," the News reported on April 21, 1897. "The latter lost the object in the clouds before Mrs. Mead returned with the glasses."

People across the U.S. reported similar aerial phenomena, starting in California in 1896. Historians note popular science fiction novels of the era of rapid technological change spoke of aerial flying phenomena, suggesting a sort of hysteria. Some people speculated about Martians. 

Beyond Denver, the Florence Daily Herald reported on April 20, 1897: "Charles Bates, the well-known businessman, adds his testimony to the Cripple Creek airship story. He saw some strange object high in the sky when returning home on Sunday night. The airship must have passed lowly south and hovered directly over Florence."

Then on April 24, 1897, the Aspen Times reported: "The mysterious airship passed over Aspen yesterday morning at a few minutes after 1 o'clock. This fact is attested by over twenty miners on the Aspen and Durant mines.

"It was seen in the direction of Smuggler Mountain nearly a mile high and was moving in a westerly direction," the Times said. "The only thing visible was a bright light resembling the headlight of a locomotive only larger."

There were no known experimental dirigible flights over Colorado at that time, though The Victor (Colorado) Record carried a report in Aril 23, 1897, suggesting gas-powered miniatures, sort of an early version of today's model aircraft.

The San Francisco Call published illustrations of a mystery craft over California on Nov. 22, 1896 (middle and lower image). The Saint Paul Globe of Minnesota another on April 13, 1897 (top image).  

FIRE CREWS PROP UP WALL AFTER AUTO CRASH IN CENTENNIAL

One person was injured when an auto crashed into an office building Monday in Centennial, crushing a wall. "When crews arrived, they determined the structure had sustained damage to a load-bearing wall," South Metro Fire said. "Personnel built temporary wooden structural support." The building is located at 9094 East Mineral Avenue, officials said. [Photos: South Metro Fire]

AURORA COPS SHEPHERD STRAY GOATS

Aided by an eye in the sky, police played shepherd after a flock of goats broke loose near 11th Avenue and Ouray Street in Aurora. "Luckily, we already had a drone in the air and an officer nearby," police said. "With help from our Animal Control friends, we safely got the goats into the Animal Control van and back to their owner." The unusual incident occurred last Thursday.

[Photo: Aurora Police]

PHOTO FLOP: WHITE HOUSE FOOLED DENVER ARCHBISHOP, OTHER CATHOLIC LEADERS

Denver Archbishop James Golka and other Roman Catholic leaders said images showing them praying with President Trump during a private meeting were distributed by the White House without permission.

“I understand that many people saw the video, posted by the administration twelve days before an election, as an endorsement. That was never my intention,” Gorka told Denver Catholic Magazine. "The bishops of the United States teach that the Church cannot champion any candidate or party. I hold to that," the archbishop said. "However you vote, you ultimately belong to Jesus who loves you infinitely more than you can imagine." “I’ve had a lot of people, really good friends, ask me, ‘What were you doing?’ ‘Why did you do that?’ I just answer, ‘I was being a Catholic priest,’” Golka said. “We pray for people. We bless people who need blessing. And we all need blessing, every single one of us. That’s what we do.” [Photo: White House]

COLORADO NEEDS WAY MORE 'WAYMO' TRAFFIC RULES

By Colorado Newsline

Last month, as vendors were setting up booths at a farmers market on South Pearl Street in Denver, a car drove down the closed road. It evaded barricades, ignored signs and came precariously close to market participants, who eventually were able to guide it out of the danger zone.

The behavior would likely be considered a traffic violation had the car been driven by a human. But this was a Waymo, an autonomous passenger service vehicle. No people were inside it. There was no one to ticket.

The incident was not the only time since the beginning of September when Waymo started operating in Denver that its cars have performed in a way that might have earned a fine for a human driver. But Colorado law does not account for misbehaved autonomous vehicles, and local police have no way to issue tickets when the cars violate traffic laws.

That’s got to change.

At least one Colorado lawmaker is thinking about how to address this regulatory gap. Rep. Jenny Willford, a Democrat who represents Northglenn and north Thornton, plans to introduce a bill in the next legislative session, which starts in January, that would regulate autonomous vehicles and establish a way for police to enforce laws when Waymos run afoul of them.

One of the main provisions in the bill would create and define a new oversight category for autonomous vehicles within the state’s Public Utilities Commission. They’re licensed under the luxury limousine carrier type, Willford said.

“Obviously they’re not luxury limousines,” she said. Her bill would create a category that reflects Waymo’s business model, includes appropriate safety provisions and clarifies the commission’s oversight authority, such as its ability to investigate complaints. 

The bill would also establish how law enforcement could issue tickets when autonomous vehicles break the law.

LINK

[Photo: Waymo]

TAMANDUA PUP DOING WELL AT DENVER ZOO

Tamandua Winnie and her pup are "thriving" at the Denver Zoo. "Winnie is proving to be an exceptional mother, and the pup is hitting every behavioral and physical milestone right on track," the zoo reports. "We still don’t know the sex yet; we’ll share that update as soon as we do!" The pup was born Sept. 7. Winnie lost he first pup last year. [Photos: Denver Zoo]

SUSPECT WOUNDED AFTER STANDOFF IN WELLINGTON

A suspect wanted on felony warrants was shot and wounded Sunday after a standoff with deputies in Larimer County, the sheriff 's office said.

The man was believed be armed inside a home in the 8200-block of 4th Street in Wellington.

"Deputies instructed the man to exit, but he refused to follow commands," officials said. "They continued giving commands for the suspect to surrender, but he remained uncooperative. "Around 7 p.m., the man emerged from the home and ran from law enforcement," officials said. "Deputies followed on foot and encountered the suspect in a nearby yard. Shots were fired and the suspect was struck."

No other injuries were reported.

SUSPECT ARRESTED IN 'PUPPY LOVE' ARSON IN GRAND JUNCTION

An arson suspect was arrested after a domestic dispute led to a fire at the Puppy Love grooming salon in Grand Junction.

Puppy Love is located at 337 North Avenue. No injuries were reported in Saturday's incident. The suspect, identified as Joseph Kimball-One, 27, "had been involved in a domestic dispute with the female business owner," police said. "Kimball-Oney is suspected of intentionally starting the fire before driving to the female’s residence where he threw rocks at her house, shattering a window," police said. The suspect was taken in rural Whitewater, which is about nine miles southwest of Grand Junction. [Photo: Grand Junction Police]

MOTORIST EJECTED IN WELD COUNTY ROAD 100 CRASH

A motorist died after his auto flipped over and landed in a field in Weld County, the Colorado State Patrol said.

The accident involving an Acura MEX occurred at about 11 p.m. Saturday on Weld County Road 100 near Weld County Road 19.

A youth traveling in the vehicle suffered minor injuries.

"The Acura traveled off the north side of the roadway and overturned while ejecting the driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt," the patrol said. "The Acura came to final rest in a field north of the roadway.

"The ejected driver landed on top of the barbed wire fence to the north of the roadway," the patrol said.

3 DIE IN AIR CRASH NEAR SWAMPY PASS IN WESTERN COLORADO

Three family members were killed in the crash of a small aircraft near Swampy Pass in Gunnison County, the county coroner said Sunday.

The accident occurred Saturday in "a remote wilderness area" and "circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation," the coroner's office said. The victims were identified as Mark Hendrickson, 46, Alan Hendrickson, 15, and Case Hendrickson, 13, all of New Castle in Garfield County. "The Hendrickson family wishes to express their sincere gratitude for the respect, compassion, and support they have received following this devastating tragedy," the coroner's office said.

The Gunnison County Sheriff's Office said the crash site was off Ohio Creek Road. 911 operators received a call reporting the crash at 9:20 a.m. Saturday. The National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the accident, identified the aircraft as a Piper PA-28-235, a single-engine type.

KNOW HIM? COMMERCE CITY THIEF TOWS TRAILER WITH MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

A brazen thief towed a trailer containing thousands of dollars of musical instruments and equipment from an event center in broad daylight in Commerce City.

"We hate when our hard-working community members are robbed of their livelihoods," police said. Though photos are pristine, police have been unable to determine if there was a license plate on the thief's vehicle.

If you recognize the suspect or the vehicle, contact Investigator Barnes tbarnes@c3gov.com at the Commerce City Police Department.

[Photos: Commerce City Police]

A TURKEY WALKS UP TO A COP ...

An inquisitive turkey greeted a police patrol in Greeley on Thursday. "It looks like our officers found a brand-new volunteer for neighborhood watch," police quipped. "It's always great to have an extra set of eyes helping keep our community safe."

[Photo: Greeley Police]

NO CAT 'LEFT BEHIND' AT BRIGHTON FIRE

 

Smoke poured from a second-floor window as screaming fire engines pulled up to a home in Brighton. 

Thankfully, it wasn't too serious. The home's dryer was malfunctioning

Firefighters extinguished the flames, removed the appliance - "and made sure the family's four-legged member wasn't left behind, locating the homeowner's cat and bringing it safely back to its grateful owner," Brighton Fire said. No injuries were reported in Wednesday morning's incident in the 1900-block of Griffin Drive and the residents were permitted to return to the dwelling.
[Photo: Brighton Fire]

DENVER RESCUE MISSION KILLER SENTENCED

Julian Huggins was sentenced to 35 years in prison for a murder outside the Denver Rescue Misson on East 48th Avenue, the DA's Office said. Huggins shot Killian Flynn, 31, on July 1, 2024. He pleaded to second-degree murder.

ICE RELEASES ELDERLY PRIEST, 79, FROM AURORA DETENTION CENTER

By Colorado Newsline

After 13 months in an Aurora immigrant detention center, where he became reliant on a wheelchair as his health deteriorated, a Ugandan priest who has lived in Colorado for more than 25 years was released by federal immigration officials.

A judge ordered Rev. Edward Nalwamba’s release earlier this week.

Two fellow detainees on Tuesday carried Nalwamba, who will be 79 in November, out of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility because it did not provide him with a wheelchair when he left. Private prison company The GEO Group operates the detention center.

“Everyone was so happy that he was being released, but … watching these other detainees, who are also being released, volunteer to carry him all that way and carry all of his possessions — it was heartbreaking, and it was infuriating,” Joy Athanasiou, one of his immigration attorneys, said.

LINK

[Photo: Colorado Newsline]

1-IN-5 COLORADO RESIDENTS WERE ITALIAN IN EARLY 20th CENTURY

Italian workers first settled in Colorado in the late 1850s and by 1922 their families accounted for roughly one-in-five state residents, according to History Colorado.

They toiled in mines, on railroads, in agriculture and in steel mills. Trinidad, Denver, Pueblo and farming community Weldona in Morgan County boasted settlements - as did other towns and cities. "Upon arrival, they faced many challenges," History Colorado reports. "Despite their struggles, Italian immigrants persevered and prospered, making an impact on the communities they were becoming a part of."

In the 21st Century, it is estimate that the state's Italian-American population numbers about 200,000 - or about 5% percent of Coloradans.

[Photo: History Colorado, DMV]

GUNMAN SURRENDERS AFTER 7-HOUR STANDOFF IN CUSTER COUNTY

A gunman fired on deputies in south central Colorado during a seven-hour standoff Wednesday and agreed to surrender after smoking "two or three" cigarettes, the sheriff of Custer County said.

There were no injuries during the harrowing incident at a two-story home, according to Sheriff Llloyd "Rich" Smith, who described the gunman as "agitated."

The erratic shooting spree began at 11:23 a.m. as a deputy and tow truck driver were attempting to move a van abandoned on Rock Ridge Road in the northern part of the rural county, Smith said.

At one point the gunman - who taped the weapon to his hand with duct tape - fired at a drone through the roof of the dwelling. He also fired at the van. 

The incident drew to a close at about 6 p.m. after a SWAT team fired a gas-filled projectile into the home.

The gunman was taken to the jail in Fremont County. A deputy and a clinician spoke with the gunman during the incident to negotiate peaceful surrender.

Neighboring law enforcement and the state patrol sent armed personnel.

[Photo: Custer County Sheriff]

BARRICADED GUNMAN OPENED FIRE ON DEPUTIES IN CUSTER COUNTY

Authorities attempted to negotiate "a peaceful surrender" Wednesday with a gunman who opened fire on deputies from a home in Custer County, the sheriff's office said.

No injuries were reported at the two-story dwelling on Rock Ridge Road.

Deputies arrived on the scene at 11:23 a.m. and reported episodes of "small arms gunfire" that continued into the afternoon, officials said. 

The initial call came in at 9:49 a.m. but was deemed a low priority.

A deputy and a clinician attempted to negotiate with the gunman as an armored SWAT vehicle stood by on the scene. The state patrol and Chaffee County Sheriff's Office sent emergency assistance.
Custer County is located in south central Colorado. The county seat is Westcliffe.

"An emergency alert was sent via Everbridge with a shelter in place order for residents within a five-mile radius," the sheriff's office said.

1 DEAD, 2 HURT ON HIGHWAY 85 NEAR LA SALLE

A box truck careened across Highway 85 early Wednesday and plowed into a Toyota Matrix and Honda Accord in a deadly wreck near La Salle in Weld County.

The driver of the Toyota was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the state patrol. The truck driver and Honda driver were injured north of Crystal River Road.

"Preliminary details indicate that the driver of the box truck and the driver of the Toyota were not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash," the patrol said. "The driver of the Honda was wearing a seatbelt."

[Photo: Colorado State Patrol]

TEEN ARRESTED IN TOWER ROAD MURDER IN DENVER

A teenager was arrested as a suspect in the fatal shooting of a man on North Tower Road in Denver, police announced Wednesday.

The murder stemmed from an argument in the 5800-block of Tower on Tuesday evening.
 
The youth, a male age 17, was tracked down and arrested in the 5800-block of North Ceylon Street, according to police. 

The victim was pronounced dead at hospital.

GOING TO POT? WEED SAFETY WARNING IN STATE AUDIT

By Colorado Newsline

Colorado’s regulatory framework to test marijuana for contamination and warn consumers about risks has significant gaps, a state audit found.

The audit focused on problems with product testing and inconsistent monitoring from the Marijuana Enforcement Division. Auditors did not find evidence of widespread health and safety risks, but the framework is not airtight.

Colorado voters approved recreational marijuana in 2012. MED, within the state’s Department of Revenue, licenses businesses and oversees compliance with marijuana rules and laws.

“It’s really a combination of factors that impacts MED’s ability to identify public safety risks and to ensure that businesses comply with safety requirements,” audit supervisor Catherine Friday told members of the Legislative Audit Committee on Monday. 

“As a result, there’s an increased risk that marijuana products sold in Colorado may have contaminants or may inaccurately list potency," she said.

Businesses select their own samples, for example, and send them to private labs for potency and contaminant testing. Twenty-four other states with legalized marijuana do not allow self-selected samples and instead rely on a third party.

LINK

1965 INFERNO KILLED FORT COLLINS FIRE CHIEF CLIFFORD CARPENTER

On June 29, 1965, Fort Collins Fire Chief Clifford Carpenter was killed battling an inferno at the State Dry Goods store - one of the largest blazes in the city's history.

Carpenter, 49, "noticed that the south wall had a slight bulge in the middle and decided to go around to the south side to order the men handling the lines to back off," according to Poudre Fire Authority.

"As he and Firefighter Jim Witchel took a 1 1/2 inch charged line in close to the building to check the area where the gas meters were located, the wall collapsed covering Witchel and Carpenter with bricks and stone," the fire authority said.

Witchel survived the disaster at corner of College and Oak streets that was caused by an electrical timer controlling lights in a display window.

The flames were not immediately noticed.

"The fire burned for about an hour, slowly increasing the interior pressure to the point where one of the large windows exploded, showering shards of glass across the sidewalk and into the middle of the street," the fire authority said.

In an oral history, Bob Johnson, store owner, said: "Not only was most of our merchandise and building destroyed that night in the fire, all of our accounts and debts owed to us were burned as well." Even so, "people of our town would stop by to give us money they owed," Johnson said.

[Photo: Fort Collins Public Library, Poudre Fire Authority]

CLOSE CALL: FIREFIGHTERS SAVE HOME IN WESTMINSTER

With just seconds to spare, firefighters halted a garage fire from engulfing a home in Westminster.

No injuries were reported in Tuesday's blaze near 90th Avenue and Tennyson Street, according to Westminster Fire. "While the garage was in very close proximity to the home, crews were able to stop the fire from spreading to the main structure," officials said. "A window was broken and some siding was damaged, but the fire did not extend into the home," officials said. [Photo: Westminster Fire]

FBI PROBES 'SUSPICOUS MAILINGS' TO COLORADO LAWMAKERS

By Colorado Newsline

All four of Colorado’s Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives and one U.S. senator received letters with a suspicious substance Monday, the lawmakers said. 

The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating letters sent to officials in several states. In a statement, the FBI said it is not confirming specific cases, but it confirmed it is investigating a “series of suspicious mailings” sent to offices nationwide and seeking to identify individuals responsible for the letters.

Several letters in other states were sent to election officials. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold’s office has not received any similar mailings, her office said Tuesday. 

LINK

FOG FORCED MEDICAL CHOPPER TO DIVERT TO GEORGETOWN

 

Thick fog forced a Fight of Life medical helicopter enroute to a Denver area hospital to divert to Georgetown, the Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office said.

The flight originated in Summit County and the patient was transferred to a Clear Creek County ambulance for the rest of the trip by ground. Two members of the Flight for Life crew also transferred to the ambulance.

The incident occurred at about 3:30 a.m. Oct. 16. 

[Photo: Clear Creek County Sheriff]

NO INJURIES IN ROAD RAGE SHOOTING IN HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT IN AURORA

Police arrested a suspect after an argument between two men led to gunfire in the parking lot of Rangeview High School in Aurora. No one was injured.

Tuesday's incident occurred at about 3:45 p.m.

"The investigation so far has determined two men got into an argument over an apparent road rage incident," police said. "Both men were there to pickup students, who are family members." The suspect sped off from the school at 17599 East Iliff Avenue.

"Utilizing Flock automated license plate readers, city-owned cameras and drones as first responders, keen-eyed Aurora police employees assigned to the Real Time Information Center were able to locate the fleeing vehicle and relay its location to responding officers," police said. The suspect was taken into custody and officers recovered a firearm.
"Rangeview High School was placed on a secure perimeter for about 10 minutes," police said. "School dismissal was delayed."

FIRE HITS RANCH VIEW SCHOOL IN DOUGLAS COUNTY

An electrical fire Tuesday forced the evacuation of Ranch View Middle School in Douglas County, officials said. No one was hurt. Fire investigators determined the cause was "an electrical malfunction involving a light fixture in an unoccupied classroom," South Metro Fire said. Douglas County sheriff's deputies also responded to the fire at 1731 West Wildcat Reserve Parkway. [Photo: Douglas County Sheriff]

COPS FIND BOMB AFTER ARRESTING MAN IN LAKEWOOD

Police discovered a homemade bomb after arresting Hawk Douglas, 35, on outstanding criminal warrants in Lakewood, authorities announced Tuesday.

Residents in the vicinity of Kipling Street and West 6th Avenue were ordered to shelter in place during Monday's incident.

The Jefferson County Bomb Squad removed what police described as an "improvised explosive device" and "rendered it safe."

Douglas, 35, who was pushing a truck in the roadway, faces a variety of charges. Officers also seized five weapons and drug paraphernalia. No injuries were reported.

[Photo: Lakewood Police]

'SMOKING AND SPARKING' PARCEL PROMPTS 911 RESPONSE IN DOUGLAS COUNTY

Firefighters responded Monday night to 911 calls reporting a "smoking and sparking" parcel at a shipping facility in Douglas County. The large building was "filled with smoke" and the source was a box of lithium-ion batteries "off-gassing," South Metro Fire said. Firefighters removed the parcel and transferred the batteries for disposal, the building was ventilated and firefighting gear was subject to decontamination. One person was transported to hospital from the incident at UPS, 13101 James E. Casey Avenue, Englewood.

[Photos: South Metro Fire]

COLORADO'S FIRST GOVERNOR CHAMPIONED WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE

John Routt - elected Colorado's first state governor in 1876 - was a champion of women's suffrage.

He served as governor in the early 1890s, too.

His wife, Eliza, was a pioneer in the women's suffrage movement. She was the first woman to register to vote in Colorado in 1893.

The governor escorted suffragist leader Susan B. Anthony on a speaking tour around the state.

Colorado was third in the U.S. to grant women the right to vote following Wyoming and Utah. 

Routt served as territorial governor of Colorado during the Civil War and organized volunteers who defeated Confederate forces at Glorieta Pass.

Routt County is named in his honor. He also served as Denver's mayor.

[Photo: Wikipedia] 

AFRAID OF SPIDERS?

Colorado Parks and Wildlife reports tarantulas "are in the middle of their seasonal mating treks, where males will travel great distances to seek out females in early to mid-fall with the intention of making more spiders." Let them be.

COLD CASE: THORNTON HOTEL ARSON FIRE CLAIMED 5 LIVES IN 1997

On January 27, 1997, Susan and Vivian Garrett, Anthony Bunn, Erik Waite and Tad Wescott perished in an arson fire that ripped through the Hacienda Plaza Inn at 11 East 84th Avenue in Thornton.

The tragedy has never been solved.

"All victims were unconscious, not breathing, and did not have a pulse," according to a report by U.S. Fire Administration investigator Thomas H. Miller. "The fifth victim, who was badly burned, was not located until later" 

The fire moved fast.

"The flames were just incredible” and a "stairwell was shooting flames just as wide and as long as the stairwell itself," hotel maintenance man Tim Janovich said. He resided at the hotel.

From Room 222, victim Susan Garret, her life drawing to a close, telephoned the front desk at 2:30 a.m. to report smoke puffing through a bathroom vent - and called again moments later to report she and her bedridden mother, Vivian, were trapped.

The fire exit was just 20 feet away.

"I could have had a whole truckload of fire extinguishers - and I couldn’t have gotten near the door of 222,” Janovich said.

The Rocky Mountain News reported: "About a third of the U-shaped, 107-unit hotel was destroyed by the fire, which snaked through a utility crawl space and spread throughout the corridors."

A North Metro firefighter, Ann Rouse, has a close call when her leg went through the roof, the News said.

Sixty-eight hotel rooms were occupied that night.

In the aftermath, North Metro Fire Division Chief Steve Pischke said investigators interviewed between 400 and 450 people, including guests, hotel employees and former employees - some more than once.

Pishke said: "Somebody out there knows something." 

The killer or killers may still be alive.

If you have information, call the Thornton Police Department or North Metro Fire.

[Photo: U.S. Fire Administration]

HUNGRY BEARS DESPERATE AS WINTER APPROACHES

By Colorado Newsline

Bears are having a very bad year. Across much of the United States, a warm winter and persistent drought have decimated the natural foods that black and brown bears rely on. With nearly every station at the buffet in short supply, the adaptable eaters are turning to human food. 

From California to Connecticut, desperate bears have raided garbage cans, broken into homes and cars, torn through chicken coops and pulled down bird feeders. Wildlife officers in many states have received a record number of calls, working overtime through the summer to deter bears, put out traps and euthanize animals who pose persistent problems. 

“I’ve had officers who have had to work three weeks in a row, working 18-hour days, day after day,” said John Livingston, public information officer with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “We have been worried about the mental health of some of our officers who are dealing with these issues. Some of them are having to euthanize a lot of bears this year. Nobody gets into this line of work because they want to put down animals.”

In a typical year, Livingston said, Colorado will euthanize 60 to 90 bears that run afoul of the agency’s two-strike policy for bears that have caused property incidents and are deemed to pose a threat to communities. By the end of August this year, wildlife officers had already euthanized 294 bears. Many states are seeing similar increases.

State wildlife agencies say their officers are spread thin and have had to prioritize which human-bear conflicts to respond to. They have mostly focused on educating residents and removing attractants such as bird feeders and unsecured garbage cans from populated areas. In some states, lawmakers and wildlife officials have stiffened penalties for humans who feed bears, intentionally or otherwise. 

LINK

[Photo: Douglas County Sheriff]

AUTO BURNS ON LONESOME STRETCH OF I-70

Lower Valley Fire District firefighters extinguished an auto fire early Monday on I-70 near the Utah border. No injuries were reported.

[Photo: Lower Valley Fire]

ASPEN COPS WARN CAMPERS OF MOMMA MOOSE

Aspen police and park rangers are advising hikers to avoid Difficult Campground due to a visiting moose cow and her calf. The pair are accompanied by a young bull moose that is possibly injured. The animals have exhibited aggressive behavior - particularly around loose dogs, according to the National Park Service. [Photo: National Park Service]