RIVER AGREEMENT ENACTED SOON
Glenwood Springs–The historic Colorado River Water Cooperative Agreement between Denver Water and nearly three dozen western slope providers will go into effect soon. The plan that was unveiled about a year and a half ago is expected to be implemented next month.
SNOWMASS SKI EXPANSION ON HOLD
Snowmass–The 230 acre Burnt Mountain ski area expansion at Snowmass is on hold for now. An environmental group known as “The Ark Initiative” has filed a lawsuit claiming the U.S. Forest Service unlawfully granted the Aspen Skiing Company permission to chop down trees in a protected roadless area.
U.S. FOREST SERVICE SELLING ASPEN REAL ESTATE
Aspen–The U.S. Forest Service is selling five choice lots in Aspen to help pay for improvement projects at various facilities in the area. The federal agency is looking to raise about 10 million dollars.
BODY FOUND IN MESA COUNTY
GRAND JUNCTION – Authorities are trying to identify the body of a man found in an irrigation ditch by a Fruita woman getting her mail. Lt. Jim Fogg of the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday the man is believed to have fallen into the ditch upstream from where his body was found. The cause of death has not been determined.
MEATBALL THE WANDERING BEAR
ALPINE, Calif. (AP) – A Colorado wildlife refuge that hopes to house a California black bear known as Meatball has filed a lawsuit to try and overturn a regulation that prohibits wild animals from being kept at sanctuaries. The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado recently challenged a state law that says no animal taken from the wild can be kept at a refuge. Meatball was captured twice earlier this year after foraging for food in suburban trash cans and taking a dip in a pool in the foothills above Los Angeles. The 400-poundbear is now living in a San Diego County rescue facility. The 5-year-old bear, given his name because he stole packaged meatballs from a refrigerator, was headed for Colorado until wildlife authorities there invoked the state regulation.
