SKIER VISITS SET RECORD
DENVER (AP) – More people are visiting Colorado ski areas and bringing a winter boost to area spending. A record 13 million visitors this past winter meant the highest sales tax revenue ever for almost every Colorado ski town.
CAMPERS ARRESTED FOR STARTING NEDERLAND FIRE
BOULDER (AP) – Two campers from Alabama have been arrested in connection with a wildfire that has destroyed three homes and three buildings north of Nederland in Boulder County. Boulder sheriff’s deputies says 28 year old Jimmy Andrew Suggs and 26 year old Zackary Ryan Kuykendall both of whom are from Vinemont, Alabama, face felony arson charges because of the dangers the fire poses. The men were booked into the Boulder County Jail.
DRONES CONTINUE TO INTERFERE WITH UTAH FIRE
Pine Valley, Utha—Officials have spotted an unauthorized drone over a southern Utah wildfire for the fifth time since it ignited nearly a month ago. Fire spokeswoman Megan Saylors says the unmanned aircraft was seen Sunday night above the blaze about 300 miles south of Salt Lake City. She says no firefighting aircraft were in the air at the time. Firefighters previously had to ground their aircraft to avoid collisions when drones were spotted over the fire Friday night and other times in recent weeks. It’s unclear if it was the same drone in all five instances. The 3.6-square-mile fire has been burning on a ridge above the town of Pine Valley. Saylors says a voluntary evacuation is in place for a small part of the town, but officials are reopening campgrounds in the nearby Pine Valley Recreation Area on Monday.
RESERVOIR-CLOGGING MUSSELS CREATING PROBLEMS IN COLORADO
FRISCO(AP) – Two varieties of mussels that have become a nuisance are putting a financial strain on resources used to keep them out of Colorado lakes and reservoirs. Colorado Parks and Wildlife senior aquatic biologist Doug Krieger says it’s expensive to clean water delivery systems once they get clogged by zebra and quagga mussels. State funding has started drying up and more money is needed to inspect boats and guard lakes after the state eliminated $4 million in funding. As of July 1, officials say they are dipping into a reserve fund, and they are hoping to find new funding in the future.
