GOVERNOR HICKENLOOPER TACKLES WESTERN SLOPE ISSUES
Rifle—-Governor John Hickenlooper assures western Colorado elected officials he intends to fairly represent and equally weigh all viewpoints regarding issues that impact the entire state. The governor held a roundtable discussion yesterday in Rifle dealing with a variety of topics including the protection of the Greater Sage Grouse, federal mineral lease funds and air quality control.
SKI COUNTRY SAYS JOINTS AND SKIS DON’T MIX
Undated—-Colorado ski resorts are concerned about pot smokers on the slopes. Colorado Ski County USA is taking an aggressive approach by warning skiers and snowboarders, regardless of the legalization of recreational marijuana, smoking a joint in public and on federal land is illegal…period. 90 percent of Colorado ski resorts are on federal land and despite the relative indifference of the government toward pot, federal law still considers it a controlled substance. Officials with Ski Country, which represents 21 resorts in the state, say allowing pot smoking on the slopes is not worth the risk. Recreational weed stores are set to open in Colorado January 1st.
UPHILL SKIING CHARGES CONSIDERED
Aspen—If you enjoy uphill skiing, the days of doing it for free may be numbered. Strapping on climbing skins, snowshoes or stabilizers to climb the slopes before skiing down has become increasingly popular among fitness fanatics. Now, the U.S. Forest Service is considering new rules allowing ski areas to charge a fee. The Forest Service is taking public comment on the proposed uphill skiing fee until next Monday, December 2nd.
TRUCKER FOUND DEAD ON VAIL PASS
Vail—A Utah man was found dead in the sleeping bed of an idling semi near Vail Pass. The body of 62 year old Jeff Robison was discovered by the Colorado State Patrol yesterday afternoon. Troopers were following up on a call from a motorist who noticed the tractor-trailer parked on the shoulder of I-70 near the pass. The State Patrol says Robison had been dead for several hours.
BLM PLANS SLASH PILE BURNING THIS WINTER
El Jebel—Smoke will be in the air this winter in the Roaring Fork Valley from burning slash piles. The Bureau of Land Management and firefighters from the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit will begin a four month long burn of some 700 slash piles north of El Jebel starting next week. The slash piles are what’s left from a fuel reduction, tree thinning project that took place last year near Panorama Drive and Catherine Store Road. The piles were left to cure so they could be burned safely this winter. The BLM says smoke from the Panorama area may be noticeable in Carbondale, El Jebel and Basalt.
