Battlement Mesa–Two Colorado State Patrol vehicles and one Garfield
County Sheriff’s office vehicle were vandalized earlier this week in the
Battlement Mesa area. Authorities say the tires were slashed. Four
other private vehicles were also damaged.
Glenwood Springs / Rifle–The Garfield County Sheriff’s office reports
that a sexually violent predator who registered as homeless has been
arrested in Durango. Ronald Noel is also wanted in Steamboat Springs.
State Capitol–The gavel came down on the 2011 legislative session
yesterday with a number of issues unresolved. Most importantly,
the politically divided House and Senate failed to redraw
congressional boundaries. The issue will once again be settled
in court.
Silt–Two and a half square miles of BLM land in Rio Blanco
County are up for bid today in an oil and gas lease auction.
Two parcels covering about 16-hundred acres are being
offered.
DENVER (AP) – A federal appeals court in Denver hears arguments
today on whether Congress can make it illegal to falsely claim to
be a military hero. At issue is the Stolen Valor Act, which makes
it a crime to falsely claim to have been awarded a military medal.
The case centers on Rick Strandlof, a Colorado man who was arrested
after claiming he was wounded in Iraq as a Marine and had received
military medals. His lawyers have acknowledged the claims were
false.
DENVER (AP) – A spring storm has brought rain, snow and hail to
Colorado. National Weather Service officials say a storm yesterday
dumped about a foot of snow at Berthoud (BERTH’-id) Pass. State
transportation officials said U.S. 40 over the pass would close
from 9 p.m. Wednesday until this morning due to avalanche danger.
Lower elevations saw about 2 to 8 inches of snow, while the Denver
area got 1 to 3 inches. In eastern Colorado, there were hail
reports, and tornado warnings were issued.
DENVER (AP) – An area burned by the Fourmile Canyon wildfire
west of Boulder appears to have escaped major flooding problems
following a storm that brought rain, snow and hail to Colorado. The
National Weather Service expected the storm yesterday to bring the
first significant rainfall over the area, where 169 homes were
destroyed in September. Rushing water can lead to erosion and
flooding.
