Leadville Women Murdered by Stalker
LEADVILLE -A Leadville woman was shot to death in front of her home by a man against whom she had a restraining order.
Yvonne Flores, 58, who worked as a teaching assistant in Leadville, was shot twice on July 7 by Anthony Medina, 58, who then took his own life, according to the Herald-Democrat.
Medina, who was arrested on June 22 for stalking Flores, was out on bail and was set to appear in court on July 12. According to district attorney records Medina, who lived next door to Flores and her husband, had been stalking her for nearly two years. He had been ordered to stay at least 10 yards away from her home and her workplace.
In the aftermath of the incident, the 5th Judicial District D.A., Mark Hurlbert has decided to change the procedures for dealing with stalkers. Accused stalkers will now be required to go before a judge before being allowed to post bond. All weapons would also have to be surrendered to the sheriff’s office until the case is resolved.
Christo EIS Statement Released
SALIDA- A draft environmental impact statement was released July 15 by the Bureau of Land Management.
The 1,400 page draft details six possible alternatives to the project including the acceptance of the original proposal to the “no-action alternative” which would deny Christo’s application.
Among the findings are concerns that the project to drape fabric panels over 5.9 miles along a 42-mile stretch of the Arkansas River could have a moderate to significant impact on bighorn sheep in the canyon.
A public comment period is now underway until August 30.
Snodgrass Expansion Nixed Again
GUNNISON – A decision to block expansion onto nearby Snodgrass Mountain by Crested Butte Mountain Resort has been upheld, according to the Gunnison Country Times.
U.S. Forest Service officials announced the decision on July 14 after a review of the application and found their decision to be consistent with policy, law and regulation. The issue has created division within residents of Crested Butte.
Raft Guide Still Missing after River Incident
BUENA VISTA – A 23-year-old raft guide from Breckenridge was still missing as of press time after being thrown from a raft on a private river trip north of Buena Vista, according to the Mountain Mail.
Kimberly Appelson, a guide for Arkansas Valley Adventures (AVA) and another passenger fell into the river near Frog Rock rapid on July 11. The other passenger made his way back onto the boat but searches for Appelson continued for at least a week after the incident with no luck. Colorado State Parks, Chaffee County Search and Rescue, a special operations team from Summit County and employees of AVA all participated in the search.
Man Burned Spraying Bees with Propane
COLORADO CITY – A propane delivery man caught fire while attempting to kill bees in Colorado City, according to the Associated Press.
59-year-old John McMillan was making a regular delivery but encountered a bee’s nest and attempted to use a propane hose to spray the nest. The hose nozzle reportedly sparked a fire when it hit the ground according to the sheriff’s office.
McMillan was treated at Denver’s University of Colorado Hospital with burns to 50% of his body.
Marmots not all same in geekiness
BRECKENRIDGE – Those shrill whistles by marmots –it sort of sounds like “geek!” – may all sound the same, but they’re not. So says Dan Blumstein, a biologist from the University of California at Los Angeles. He tells the Summit Daily News that marmots have different personalities, and they respond to threats in different ways. Those different perceptions are revealed in the alarm calls of the animals.
Some marmots worry a lot, and they respond to perceived threats accordingly. Others tend to be more laid back. Blumstein tells the Daily News that having a diversity of behavior in a species helps it adapt to changes in the environment, such as when a predator population grows. He also notes that this is not unlike how people tend to behave differently in cities vs. rural areas. – by Allen Best
Notable Quotes:
“Treat the Hell’s Angels like you’d treat any other visitor: smile when you pass them on the sidewalk and nod a polite hello.” – Editor Chris Dickey offering advice in his weekly column in anticipation of the arrival of 350 members of the renegade motorcycle club this summer. Gunnison Country Times, July 22, 2010.
“Voters don’t really care about this issue. They care about jobs, getting back to work.” – Gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis responding to accusations of plagiarism that surfaced in July. 9News, July 13, 2010.
“I feel like a pioneer.” – Leadville resident John Herron who was granted the first-ever conditional-use permit allowing the raising of chickens within Leadville city limits. – The Herald-Democrat, July 22, 2010.
“I just thought it would be great motivation to lose the weight, because you do have to be in a swimsuit … and who doesn’t want to be a princess for a day?” – Newly-crowned Mrs. Colorado United States 2010, Kathy Pallaoro, former FIBArk Festival Queen in 2001. Gunnison Country Times, July 1, 2010.
