CHARGES DROPPED IN GLENWOOD SHOOTING DEATH
Glenwood Springs—Murder charges have been dropped against a Glenwood Springs man in last week’s shooting death of his girlfriend. Ninth Judicial District Attorney Sherry Caloia says she doesn’t have enough evidence to hold 28 year old James McCabe Mallin on attempted first degree murder. Mallin was arrested April 15th after 40 year old Audrey Lowndes was shot in the back of the head with a .22 caliber rifle. According to statements made to police, Mallin said he and Lowndes returned to their trailer home on South Grand Avenue from church, had a few drinks and began arguing before a shot was fired. Mallin says the gun fired when he tried to take it from her. Mallin’s father and a roommate were in the next room at the time and heard the shot. Lowndes died later at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction. Nallin is out of jail but the shooting is still under investigation.
STATE’S FIRST HANTAVIRUS CASE CONFIRMED IN GARFIELD COUNTY
Glenwood Springs—The Garfield County resident who contracted the potentially deadly hantavirus is said t be on the mend. The Garfield County case is the first one reported this year in Colorado. The patient, who’s name, gender and hometown are kept under wraps for privacy reasons, was reportedly cleaning and moving out of a home and stirred up dust contaminated by rodent droppings and urine. Health officials say symptoms include high fever, dizziness, headaches, chills, fatigue, muscle aches, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Severe coughing and respiratory problems can occur if the symptoms are gone untreated. The state health department says there were two cases in Colorado last year and just one in Garfield County in 2012. The worst year for hantavirus was 2005 when eight cases were reported; two each in Garfield, Rio Blanco, Eagle and Delta Counties.
SNOWMASS VILLAGE MAYOR HAS HEARD ENOUGH ABOUT DOG SLEDDING OPERATION
Snowmass Village—The controversial Krabloonik dog-sledding operation is a taboo subject for the Snowmass Town Council, at least for the next six months. Under the advice of Town Attorney John Dresser, Mayor Bill Boineau is refusing to allow the public to speak about the operation or the owner facing animal cruelty charges, Dan MacEachen. Boineau says any discussion about the highly publicized case would be inappropriate until after the trial in October. MacEachen is accused of underfeeding and abusing eight of the sled dogs at the kennel. One of the dogs had to be put down while the others were adopted. MacEachen has maintained his innocence from the beginning but agreed to hand the dogs over after court-appointed veterinarians examined them. The three-day trial begins October 8th.
VAIL WOMAN KILLED IN EARLY MORNING ROLLOVER
Eagle—A Vail woman was killed just after midnight in a rollover accident on I-70 just outside Eagle. State Troopers believe she had been drinking. According to reports from the Colorado State Patrol, 25 year old Samantha Roberts was headed west on I-70 in a Subaru Outback when she drove through a right curve, sending the car into a clockwise spin. The car then went through the shoulder, spinning the other direction and into a roll. The car rolled three times, ejecting Roberts who was not wearing a seatbelt. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
