Aspen–The woman who was hit and killed by a RAFTA bus during the wee hours of New Year’s morning has been identified as 29 year old Joanie Kocab of Basalt. According to reports from the Colorado State Patrol, Kocab was walking up valley when she was hit from behind. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities say Kocab moved to the valley about two weeks ago to be near her fiance. Troopers say an autopsy will reveal if drugs or alcohol played a part in the tragedy.
ALAMOSA, Colo. (AP) – Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says he
wants to help communities in the San Luis Valley conserve the
area’s natural and cultural resources.
Salazar is holding a meeting on Wednesday with landowners and
state officials to discuss ways to conserve healthy lands and
waters and promote tourism in the San Luis Valley and the Rio
Grande River corridor. A recent report identifies American Latino heritage sites that reflect the history, culture, and traditions of the American
southwest frontier. The report covers more than 3 million acres located within the San Luis Valley and central Sangre de Cristo Mountains of
south-central Colorado and northern New Mexico.
DENVER (AP) – Many state offices are closed Monday for the New
Year’s holiday. State driver’s license offices, the Department of Public Health
and Environment’s vital records office, Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Service Centers and administrative offices for executive branch
departments are among offices that will not be open.
All Colorado State Parks will be open and staffed, but
administrative offices and visitor centers will be closed.
Department of Transportation maintenance crews will be working as
necessary.
DENVER (AP) – The general manager of a Denver hotel says the
hotel is working with manufacturers to determine why New Year’s
guests were locked out of their rooms when the clock struck
midnight and their room keys stopped working.
The 628-room Denver Tech Center Marriott says a room key
malfunction kept guests out of their rooms from midnight until
about 3 a.m. Hotel general manager Jennifer Atkins says it wasn’t
immediately known whether the malfunction was related to the year
change. Denver police called to the scene to deal with angry guests said
no one was seriously hurt. Atkins says there were no confirmed reports of key card problems at other Marriotts and guests affected by the lockout were given
free lodging.
DENVER (AP) – Former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter has donated more
than $300,000 of his remaining campaign funds to charities and
nonprofit groups. The money is going to help Ethiopians, homeless and hungry
Coloradans and Americans needing organ transplants.
Ritter surprised people when he announced he would only serve
one term because his priorities were out of balance and leaving the
governor’s job was the only solution. Ritter also refunded some contributions and gave the state Democratic Party $2,500.
