4TH OF JULY HEAT IS ON
Undated—To avoid losing your independence on Independence Day, don’t drink and drive. 98 law enforcement agencies across Colorado will have extra officers and deputies working overtime to keep drunk and stoned drivers off the road. The 4th of July falls on a Tuesday and many agencies will begin the “Heat is On” enforcement campaign tonight while others will start tomorrow. Locally, saturation patrols will be conducted by the Colorado State Patrol as well as the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office and the Basalt Police Department. Increased patrols are planned by the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office as well as the police departments of Glenwood Springs, Silt and Rifle. According to C-DOT and the state patrol, the highest monthly totals for drunk driving deaths occurred last summer with 21 in June and 22 during both July and August.
EL JEBEL ROUNDABOUT OPENING A MONTH EARLY
El Jebel—One month ahead of schedule the new, 2.1 million dollar El Jebel roundabout will be open to traffic tomorrow morning at 6 o’clock sharp. The segment of road from Favre Lane to Gillespie Drive closed in April and wasn’t supposed to reopen until the end of July. Crews with Johnson Construction have working on improving traffic flow and enhancing driver safety for the past two months. The work isn’t quite finished however. The next phase of the project involves installing storm drainage pipe across El Jebel Road from Highway 82 to Favre Lane that could add 10 minutes to the commute until the work is completed in November.
PITCO CORONER’S REPORT ON MAROON BELLS HIKER
ASPEN— The Pitkin County Coroner’s office announced Jeffrey Bushroe, a hiker found dead in May near the Maroon Bells died of hypothermia hours after taking a tumble. The coroner says Bushroe, of Tucson, Arizona, suffered “several visible injuries to his head and leg.”
GLENWOOD SPRINGS CALLS FOR FIRE RESTRICTIONS
Glenwood Springs—Fire restrictions go into effect in Glenwood Springs tomorrow. City officials ordered the restrictions due to the dry conditions presenting a fire hazard throughout the city. This will not affect the city’s 4th of July celebration and professional pyrotechnics show at Two Rivers Park. The restrictions outlaw campfires, open combustion engines like chainsaws and simple fireworks such as toy caps and sparklers. Violators will be given a court summons and face a fine up to $1,000.00.
