Aspen–Fabric tents and trailers are off limits in the Difficult Campground six miles east of Aspen. Forest Service officials have temporarily banned them because of a troublesome black bear that’s been scrounging for food.
Carbondale–The Thompson Divide Coalition is asking the Pitkin County Board of Commissioners and the Bureau of Land Management to allow oil and gas leases to expire. The group says drilling will harm wildlife and the environment.
Battlement Mesa–A new project to improve habitat for mule deer and elk near Parachute and Debeque is being launched by the B-L-M and the Colorado Mule Deer Association. A special presentation about the project is being held next Monday, the 22nd at 11:30 at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center.
Glenwood Springs–A Glenwood Springs woman was killed instantly when her Jeep was broadsided by a semi hauling a full load of logs. The crash occurred on Highway 82 near Buffalo Valley.
Vail–The search for a Broomfield man on Vail Mountain has been called off. Eagle County authorities learned that 37 year old Justyn Lamarine staged his disappearance after failing to register as a sex offender. Officials say he abandoned his car behind Vail Mountain on August 8th, took a bike back down and caught a bus to Pennsylvania.
In other news…
VAIL, Colo. (AP) – Colorado’s most prominent politicians for and
against legalizing marijuana are talking about the question
Wednesday in Vail. Democratic Rep. Jared Polis and Republican Attorney General John Suthers are among the participants in a discussion at the Vail
Symposium. Polis says the federal government should end marijuana
prohibition and let states decide whether to allow the drug.
Suthers argues that pot legalization is a bad idea because it could
increase drug use among young people.
Also at the symposium are a retired Drug Enforcement
Administration agent and the head of the New York-based Drug Policy
Alliance, which advocates for decriminalizing drugs.
The discussion is open to the public. Tickets are $15 to $47.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) – Colorado Mesa University is
eliminating its Red Cross programs and volunteers are upset after
the Red Cross raised prices for life-saving training courses.
The increases come after the national organization reported
losing $1 million a year. The Red Cross says
it is doing what it can to ease the burden on volunteers. The
teaching manuals for classes are now available online, and some of
the certifications will last longer.
DENVER (AP) – Forestry officials say losses from the bark beetle
epidemic that has devastated areas of the Colorado mountains have
been smaller on the Front Range. Forester Greg Zausen says trees on the Front Range get more water than trees in the mountains, limiting the spread of the insect. Experts say well-irrigated trees in parks and lawns are better able to defend themselves with a healthy supply of sap, keeping the beetles at bay.
