GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) – A wildfire burning in the remote
Little Bookcliffs Wilderness Study Area north of Grand Junction has
grown to about 1,000 acres. Fire managers are trying to steer the Cosgrove fire away from forage land for wild horses but otherwise they’re allowing it to
burn up pinon juniper that has spread to former forage areas.
To keep it moving in the right direction, crews plan to burn out
an area along an oil exploration road on Friday. Fire spokesman
Norm Rooker says the buffer zone will be about the width of a
football field and the operations could cause some noticeable smoke
in afternoon and evening. The hope is that horses as well as elk will return to the area next year and feed on grass and sage brush follow re-seeding.
ASPEN, Colo. (AP) – The prices for Aspen-area ski passes are
going up $40 to $50 over last year. Skico spokesman Jeff Hanle says the company is trying to hold the line the line on prices. He says the passes are still a good value. Hanle says the price increase is partially a reflection of the company’s higher cost of doing business, including higher fuel and power costs. The Premier Pass for buyers who qualify for a chamber of
commerce discount increased from $1,099 last season to $1,139 this
season.
ASPEN, Colo. (AP) – Colorado ski industry officials say they are
complying with a student visa program used widely by ski resorts.
Aspen Skiing Company spokesman Jeff Hanle says the company primarily uses the visas to get workers from the foreign countries from which the resort also draws tourists. U.S. Sen. Mark Udall is asking Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to end misuse of a visa program that has placed more than 350,000 foreign workers in U.S. jobs, which critics say comes at
the expense of American workers.
GOLDEN, Colo. (AP) – Colorado authorities are reminding drivers
to watch out for emergency vehicles and highway workers on the
road. Tow truck drivers, firefighters and the daughter of a worker hit
along Interstate 70 last week plan to join officials in Golden on
Friday to help promote safe driving. They plan to discuss the
“move over” law during the event at the Colorado State Patrol
Academy. Sixty-four-year-old David Wright was critically injured in the
accident along I-70 near Evergreen. He was picking up debris when
he was hit.
DENVER (AP) – Officials in Denver and Aurora are discussing a
possible deal to keep the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo in
Denver.
Aurora Mayor Ed Tauer says the idea of a land swap or annexation
between Denver and his city has been raised, but he says it might
not be practical. Th e plan to move it to Aurora is drawing strong opposition because the stock show has been in Denver for 105 years.
Stock show representatives said they want to partner with a
proposed $824 million Gaylord Entertainment hotel and conference
center in Aurora.
