“Right to Float” Bill Hits Snags
DENVER – Colorado House Bill 1188, the “River Outfitters Viability Act,” was abandoned by the state senate and will be sent to the Colorado Water Congress for evaluation.
The legislation, proposed by Rep. Kathleen Curry, was designed to protect the boating industry from restrictions sought by a private landowner from Texas along the Taylor River.
Dog Breeders Charged with Cruelty
FAIRPLAY – A Park County couple who were arrested in Dec. 2009, after authorities discovered over 100 dead and dying dogs at their sled-dog breeding kennel, have been formally charged with 28 felony animal cruelty charges each in Park County Combined Courts.
The couple were arrested on Dec. 25 and will appear again in court on May 17.
Two Water Leaders Die in Freak Accident
CREEDE – Two Monte Vista men were killed March 19 when over two feet of snow fell from the roof of a cabin near Creede and buried them.
The men, 56 -year-old Ray Wright and 53-year-old Doug Shriver, were digging out the cabin after several large snowstorms hit the area. Both men were farmers in the San Luis Valley and were considered water leaders after having successfully prevented SLV water from being sold to the Front Range in the 1990s.
Wright was the board president for the Rio Grande Water Conservation District and Shriver was chairman of the Rio Grande Water Users Association. They were discovered and pronounced dead after a search-and- rescue team discovered the men.
Mountain Lion Enters Home, Kills Dog
SALIDA – A malnourished young mountain lion entered the residence of a Chaffee County family through a dog door, trapping a mother and two children and killing a dog.
The incident occurred March 4 at a rural residence about nine miles northwest of Salida. After the break-in the mother managed to lock herself and her two children in a bedroom and called 911. Colorado Division of Wildlife officers tranquilized the 18-month-old lion after freeing the animal from the house. After examining the physical condition of the 40-pound lion they decided to euthanize it.
Lab tests determined the lion was not diseased.
Renewable Energy Bill Approved
DENVER – A House bill was approved in committee which would allow Colorado homeowners to finance renewable home energy products.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Joe Miklosi, D-Denver, would set up special districts for homeowners who want to install renewable energy systems such as wind and solar on their homes.
The bill is on its way to the full House for a vote.
Leadville Woman Held, Questioned in Ireland
EDWARDS – First came the news that a petite, 46-year-old blond-haired woman in Pennsylvania who called herself Jihad Jane had been accused by U.S. authorities with conspiring to murder a cartoonist in Sweden who had drawn cartoons that offended Muslims.
Then came the report that a woman from Colorado, also blonde-haired, had been questioned in Ireland in connection with the same investigation. She was then released.
The Denver Post found that the woman, Jamie Paulin-Ramirez, had been living in Leadville for the last couple of years and working about 40 miles away in Edwards, located down-valley from Vail and Beaver Creek. She worked as a medical assistant at the Eagle Care Clinic, an office that primarily serves the poor and uninsured.
Dr. Kent Petrie, the clinic’s medical director, described her as an “excellent and dedicated” employee.
Family members said that she had been a hellion when young, but last year had begun corresponding on the Internet with Muslims. About a year ago she told family members she had become a Muslim, and in time began wearing a scarf called a hijab, and then a burqa. Among those she communicated with on the Internet were Jihad Jane and the Denver airport shuttle driver who has been accused of planning to bomb New York City.
Then, on Sept. 11 last year, Paulin-Ramirez went to Denver, parked her car, and flew to New York City with her 6-year-old son. Family members and her employer said they had no warning she planned to leave – or any word whatsoever. – by Alan Best
Document Reveals Possible National Monument Designation
GUNNISON- A large chunk of mostly Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land known as the Alpine Triangle has been identified for possible national monument designation in a leaked document, according to the Gunnison Country Times.
The area is comprised of land southwest of Gunnison County and includes land between Lake City, Ouray and Silverton. The land was included in a U.S. Department of Interior internal document which was leaked by the BLM. National monument designation limits commercial and other types of development for the purpose of conservation. Conservative legislators in the region have already voiced their concerns with the leaked information.
Booze Bill Fails
DENVER – A bill was killed in the Colorado legislature in early March which would have allowed gas stations and convenience stores to sell full strength beer.
The bill, House Bill 1186 was voted down 8-3 and brought a sigh of relief from liquor store owners who were concerned about losing large amounts of business if the bill passed.
But looming on the horizon is House Bill 10-1279, which would allow supermarkets to sell full-strength beer, wine and liquor which could be a potentially worse blow to liquor stores. The bill, which is under discussion as we go to print, would allow grocery stores that earn at least 51 percent of its annual revenues from food sales to purchase liquor stores within 1,000 feet of the grocer, and sell full-strength beer, wine and spirits in its stores.
Pronghorn Moved to Gunnison Basin
GUNNISON – 62 pronghorn antelope were rounded up near Pueblo and relocated to public land about 20 miles southeast of Gunnison in late February.
State wildlife officials say the area near Pueblo was already overpopulated with pronghorn and that the area near Gunnison lost about half of its population during the harsh winter of 2007-08.
Focus on the Vegetables
COLORADO SPRINGS – Cash-strapped Colorado Springs has been given an unusual offer by the animal rights group PETA. The city recently discontinued trash pickup in many city parks due to budget constraints and the group has offered to pay to replace the trash cans – on one condition: the cans carry an anti-meat slogan and a picture of a woman in a lettuce bikini.
The offer is being considered by the city council.
Grad Studies Return to WSC
GUNNISON – For the first time since the late 1980s, Western State College will offer graduate classes.Starting in July, studies will begin for the master of fine arts (MFA) in creative writing, and in August for the master of arts in education. Applications are now being accepted through the WSC Office of Graduate Programs.
Notable Quotes:
““I heard the commotion, went to the utility room and saw my terrier in the animal’s mouth. In the span of about 30 seconds, I thought it was a stray dog, then a coyote – then I was like, no, that’s a big cat with big claws.” – Chaffee County resident Michelle Bese recounting her encounter with a mountain lion. The Mountain Mail, March 8, 2010.
“These tax increases move money from private jobs to protect state jobs … this isn’t job creation, it’s job cremation” – former congressman Scott McInnis who is running for governor against Denver Mayor John Hichkenlooper, accusing the current state legislature of stacking fees on businesses. The Leadville Herald, March 18, 2010.
“A pipe was lit, and it was passed around.” – Gunnison Community School Principal Doug Treadway after a group of eight graders were caught smoking pot. Gunnison Country Times, March 4, 2010.
“I walked out and there she was, the blessed Mother, in ice. I couldn’t believe it.” – Salida resident Melinda Baker describing a natural ice sculpture that occurred from a leaky gutter. The Mountain Mail, March 23, 2010.
