Archived Jun 29, 2004
SOVEREIGNTY TRANSFERRED TO IRAQ EARLY : Film and stories are not yet available, but reports coming from Iraq say that the transfer of Sovereignty occurred at 10:26 am Iraq time (12:26 am local time). Only a dozen officials were present at the ceremony, which was kept secret until it was accomplished. (June 28, 2004, 1:15 am)
Followup: Iraq Becomes Sovereign Country Two Days Ahead of Schedule
(Fox News Channel, June 28, 2004)

Archived Jun 26, 2004
FOREST SERVICE EYES RETURN OF AIR TANKERS (Link expired) The U.S. Forest Service's national fire plan coordinator told Western governors Sunday that the agency is prepared to consider returning a limited number of heavy air tankers to fire lines following a move to ground the aircraft over safety concerns. (Leslie Hoffman, Associated Press, June 21, 2004)

RECENT MOISTURE ONLY A DELAY TO FRONT RANGE FIRE DANGER (Link expired) Recent rains may have delayed the Front Range fire season by a week or so, but fire danger in Colorado remains high. (Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News, June 19, 2004)

WELCOME WEATHER ARRIVES (Link expired) Despite cooler weather over the next few days, Colorado Forester Allen Gallamore predicted that most of the Front Range would be under fire restrictions by the end of the week. (Jonathan Ellis, Canyon Courier, June 17, 2004)

CONGRESS DITHERING ON ENERGY POLICY Today on Capitol Hill is "energy day," during which the House plans to debate and re-pass a comprehensive energy bill that was filibustered in the Senate last fall. Unfortunately, this doesn't mean Americans are any closer to getting the energy policy they deserve. (Rocky Mountain News, June 15, 2004)

Archived Jun 19, 2004
CREWS KNOCK OUT 3 COLORADO WILDFIRES (Link expired) Firefighters got the upper hand on three Colorado wildfires Sunday, two started by lightning and one sparked by illegal fireworks. (Julie Poppen, Rocky Mountain News, June 14, 2004)

WOLVES COMING TO COLORADO ROCKIES? If you listen carefully enough and are in the right place you could hear the howl of a wolf in Eagle County in a few short years, says a pre-eminent wolf expert. In fact there may be individual wolves here already in some wilderness areas. (Cliff Thompson, Vail Daily, June 13, 2004)

SOUTH PLATTE COMING BACK TO LIFE River nearly ready to be stocked with trout in aftermath of Hayman fire. (Charlie Meyers, Denver Post, June 13, 2004)

Archived Jun 13, 2004
STAPLES IN; WILLIAMS, HARTSHORN OUT Incumbent District 1 Commissioner, Don Staples, has submitted a petition with sufficient signatures to place him on the August primary ballot. (June 6, 2004)

LEADERS CONVERGE FOR D-DAY CEREMONIES The ceremony at Omaha Beach, the bloodiest fight of all five landing zones, started with a 21-gun salute directed by one of the veterans of the Normandy fighting. (Associated Press, June 6, 2004)

WEST NILE VICTIMS ISSUE WARNING (Link expired) Last year, 63 Coloradans lost their lives to West Nile virus, and many hundreds more had their lives permanently changed. (Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News, May 28, 2004)

PIKE NATIONAL FOREST PARCHED Current conditions in the Pike National Forest are as dry or drier than in 2002, when the Hayman fire blackened 138,000 acres and destroyed 133 homes. (Ann Schrader, Denver Post Staff Writer, May 27, 2004)

Archived Jun 1, 2004
MEET SMOKEY BEAR AT LAKE PUEBLO STATE PARK - Memorial Day Weekend at (Link expired) Lake Pueblo State Park (USFS/COSP Release, May 27, 2004)

CHILSON GARNERS TOP VOTE AT ASSEMBLY (Link expired) - Choices for District Attorney of the 11th Judicial District in the fall election will not include current Deputy District Attorney Martin Barta after Barta failed to gain a minimum of 30 percent from total votes cast at a Republican assembly Saturday. Challenger Molly Chilson, 32, a practicing lawyer from Salida, will be the sole Republican candidate, according to a press release from Chilson's campaign committee. (James Bouknight, Canon City Daily Record, May 24, 2004)


COLORADO NUMBER 2 IN JOB GROWTH - Colorado added 14,500 new jobs last month - the second-fastest growth rate in the nation - evidence that state employment is finally starting to rebound. (James Paton, Rocky Mountain New, May 22, 2004)

(Link expired) MILES FROM NOWHERE - PUEBLO - Political newcomer Mike Miles defied expectations Saturday, rising from near obscurity to earn top billing in the Democratic primary for Colorado’s open U.S. Senate seat. (Kyle Henley, The Gazette, May 23, 2004)

NEBRASKA TRUCKING FIRM HAD I-70 SPILLS IN '01, '02 - The Nebraska company that owns the tanker truck that crashed and exploded near Bailey on Thursday has been plagued with several serious accidents in Colorado. (Kirk Mitchell, Denver Post Staff Writer, May 22, 2004)
Related: (Link expired) Semi Truck Explodes Near Bailey
Related: Tanker Explosion - Forum Coverage

Archived May 24, 2004
(Link expired) FIREFIGHTERS WELCOME SUPERTANKER - A Colorado aviation company is pushing for federal government approval of a Boeing 747 Supertanker... (Mike Cruz, Daily Press, May 18, 2004)

SKELETAL REMAINS IDENTIFIED, LIKELY CAUSE OF DEATH DETERMINED (UPDATED: May 12, 2004) Skeletal remains recovered from a hillside above Harris Park on May 6 have been identified, according to Park County Coroner Sharon Morris. (May 6, May 7, May 12, 2004)

'04 SEASON LOOKS TO MIRROR ONE FROM 2002 Current preseason conditions could kindle another historical fire season, according to the 2004 fire and weather forecast recently released by Rocky Mountain Area Predictive Services. (Pam Gibbens, Douglas County News-Press, May 13, 2004)

FISHING DEAL LETS RANCHERS SAY NO TO DEVELOPERS Fairplay - Seven miles of prime trout fishing streams that carve through Park County ranchland have been opened to the public this week in an unprecedented deal that open-space advocates say will ultimately save 13,000 acres in danger of being developed. (Trent Seibert, Denver Post Staff Writer, May 12, 2004)

Archived May 17, 2004
(Link expired) I-70 RE-OPENS AT C-470 INVESTIGATION INTO FATAL CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT CONTINUES - JEFFERSON COUNTY - Traffic is flowing again under a highway overpass where three people were killed Saturday when a 100-foot long steel girder fell on their SUV. (Paola Farer, 9News.com, May 16, 2004)

ABDUCTED WOMAN REPORTS BODY IN PARK (Link expired) PARK COUNTY - A Denver woman who was allegedly abducted in the city and sexually assaulted at a campsite near Grant last week has police on the lookout for a large Hispanic male, the Park County Sheriff said Tuesday. (Pamela Lawson, Canyon Courier, May 13, 2004)

SISTER: TEEN'S FEAR LED TO DEATH Anthony Pino Jr., 18, of Bailey, who died in a hail of bullets in the backyard of a Thornton residence Monday, had just picked up his sister... (Mike McPhee, Denver Post Staff Writer, May 12, 2004)

Archived May 15, 2004
FIRE FLEET GROUNDED The federal government Monday grounded the country's entire fleet of 33 former military air tankers, which were a formidable weapon in battling forest fires. (Brian D. Crecente, Rocky Mountain News, May 11, 2004)

BAD NEWS FOR STATE'S SNOWPACK The warm weather the past week took a big bite out of the state's snowpack. (News4Colorado.com, May 10, 2004)

PARK COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT WARNS OF TOUGH TIMES AHEAD FAIRPLAY - The South Park High School auditorium was nearly filled on a Wednesday in March as school superintendent Charles Soper took up his post to discuss a budget facing a $220,000 deficit - unless cuts are made. (Linda Balough, Summit Daily News, May 5, 2004)

COUNTY ASSEMBLIES CHOOSE CANDIDATES The candidates enjoyed some enthusiastic support from speakers who stood to nominate them or second their nominations. Walker and Tighe had to cut their speeches short because of the lineup of people wanting to speak in support of their candidacies. (May 4, 2004)

COURT ORDERS $14.7 MILLION HAYMAN RESTITUTION A federal appeals court today ordered the former Forest Service employee responsible for the largest wildfire in Colorado history to pay $14.7 million in restitution. (Erin Gartner, Associated Press, May 4, 2004)

BODY OF LOCAL WOMAN FOUND IN RIVER (Updated: April 26, 2004) The body of 41-year-old Micaela Michelle Yanko of Pine, Colorado, was discovered in the South Platte River at 1:35 am Wednesday morning. (First published April 21, 2004)

MORE RESOURCES NEEDED IN EARLY STAGES OF WILDFIRES In order to better prepare the state for what some are predicting will be a difficult fire season, State Rep. Tom Wiens, R-Castle Rock, has introduced House Bill 1459, which would increase the ability of the state to deliver air support to battle blazes in their initial stages. (April 28, 2004)

Archived May 8, 2004
LOW COST PET VACCINATIONS - LAKE GEORGE - Saturday, May 8 (Link expired)

Archived May 5, 2004
HISTORY PRESERVATION TOPIC OF FORUM PARK COUNTY - Those interested in any facet of historic preservation should mark May 8 on their calendars. (Summit Daily News, April 27, 2004)

PRISON GANG BOSSES SENT TO TEXAS VIA PARK COUNTY JAIL (Link expired) ...the gang violence subsided about four weeks ago when the department of corrections pulled 36 people, including some of the prison gangs' top leaders, from the general population and transferred them to Park County Jail. (Brian D. Crecente, Rocky Mountain News, April 27, 2004)

OFFICIALS SAY FIRE CONDITIONS RIVAL 2002 (Link expired) Emergency management officials are hoping for the best and preparing for the worst this summer, which, without more moisture, could rival 2002's smoking wildfire season - the worst season in Colorado history. (Jonathan Ellis, Canyon Courier, April 22, 2004)

NRA SUPPORTS LOCAL SHOOTING SPORTS PROGRAMS "This is such a win-win for the community," said Capt. Monte Gore of the Park County Sheriff's Office. "It gives citizens a location in which they can shoot where they're not in conflict with hikers and backpackers." (Julie Sutor, Summit Daily News, April 19, 2004)

(Link expired) ACTION 22 SCHEDULES MEETINGS - All perspectives are needed to make well-rounded, well-informed decisions and shape policies for the future of Southern Colorado.
April 28 - Wednesday - Park County -- Presentation to County Commissioners, Public Welcome. 10:30 a.m. County Commissioners Meeting Room, Fairplay (Lamar Daily News, April 17, 2004)

VOTERS COULD FACE LONG LIST OF ISSUES Most of the attention has been on fiscal restrictions that voters themselves clamped on the state. Lawmakers are wrestling with ways to untie those restraints - created by the 1992 Taxpayer's Bill of Rights and Amendment 23. (John J. Sanko, Rocky Mountain News, April 12, 2004)

Archived Apr 24, 2004
LOW COST PET VACCINATION CLINIC - SATURDAY, APRIL 24 (Link expired)

Archived Apr 20, 2004
RAIN, SNOWSTORMS, FALL SHORT Early April snowstorms and rain provided a welcome worry break from the drought, but Coloradans should continue to prepare for a hot, dry summer, state water officials said Tuesday. (Jerd Smith, Rocky Mountain News, April 14, 2004)

FAIRPLAY MAN DIES IN BRECKENRIDGE SKI ACCIDENT Terry Bladecki was skiing on an intermediate section of the trail shortly after noon Monday. Witnesses said the man caught a ski, struck the hydrant and then nearby trees, according to the Sheriff's Office. (Summit Daily News, April 12, 2004)

PICNIC ROCK RESIDENT CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH FIRE (Link expired) The man who said he was responsible for starting the 8,900-acre Picnic Rock Fire was charged Thursday with fourth-degree arson, a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail or $1,000 fine. Anthony James "Tony" Sanchez said he was burning a pile of yard waste last week when the fire got out of control. (The Coloradoan, April 9, 2004)

BLAZE DEPLETES FUND FOR COUNTIES (Link expired) The fund many Colorado counties use for fighting emergent wildfires is broke because of costs incurred at the Picnic Rock Fire, which are approaching $2 million. (Michael de Yoannam, The Coloradoan, April 6, 2004)

DECREPIT TANKERS: Inspections more strict, but bombers just getting older More than a year after a scathing report called for major changes in the nation's fleet of air tankers, the federal government heads into the already looming fire season with a more rigorous inspection program but an even older fleet. And there still is no firm plan on how to replace decrepit fire bombers with newer aircraft. (Kevin Vaughan, Rocky Mountain News, April 3, 2004)

Archived Apr 13, 2004
COLORADO GROWING THROUGH THE PAINS One key factor of the continued growth is retirees moving into second homes in Douglas, Park and Elbert counties. (Trent Seibert and J. Sebastian Sinisi, Denver Post Staff Writers, April 9, 2004)

PETE COORS TO ANNOUNCE SENATE RUN Brewery giant Pete Coors will enter Colorado's U.S. Senate race today, potentially giving Republicans a well-known and well-financed candidate to challenge Ken Salazar, the Democratic attorney general. (Jim Tankersley, Rocky Mountain News, April 7, 2004)

MAN MIGHT FACE CHARGES FOR STARTING COSTLY BLAZE (Link expired) Larimer County Sheriff's Office investigators met Thursday with the District Attorney's Office to discuss possible criminal charges against Tony Sanchez, who on March 30 lost control of a burning grass pile that raced up Poudre Canyon. (Courtney Lingle, The Coloradoan, April 9, 2004)

MOSQUITO RANGE GROUP MAKES PROGRESS (Link expired) PARK COUNTY - Can 30 widely diverse groups reach agreement on how everyone can benefit from the natural resources of a high mountain area? (Linda Balough, Summit Daily News, April 3, 2004)

LOOPHOLES GIVE BIG LAND TAX BREAKS Millions of dollars in property tax breaks intended to preserve farmland are going instead to companies that bulldoze farms to build housing subdivisions, malls and industrial parks, an Associated Press investigation has found. Sandra Hagan, head of the agricultural division of the Park County, Colo., assessor's office: ``What bothers me are people who own vacation homes and recreational property, hillside mountain terrain. They claim to have livestock. We can't find it, but in the end, we lose. It's very frustrating.'' (Allen G. Breed and Martha Mendoza, Associated Press, April 3, 2004)

Archived Apr 6, 2004
MOTORCYCLE-SUV COLLISION KILLS TWO SIBLINGS (Link expired) A brother and sister died Monday when their motorcycle hit a sport-utility vehicle head-on. Joshua Zorno, 20, and Elizabeth Zorno, 17, both of Bailey, were pronounced dead on the scene. (Rocky Mountain News, March 30, 2004)
Services for Josh and Beth Zorno Friday - Details Here

LAKE GEORGE PRESCRIBED BURN LAKE GEORGE…Area residents may see smoke from a prescribed burn in the skies south of Lake George beginning as early as Monday, March 29. (March 26, 2004)

DRIEST MARCH SINCE 1911 PREDICTED With .14 inch of moisture, it is almost certain to be the driest March in Denver since .11 of an inch of precipitation was posted in 1911. That was the driest March ever recorded in Denver. (Jim Kirksey, Denver Post Staff Writer, March 29, 2004)

BAILEY LOCAL SHAWN WIRTH DIES IN SHOOTOUT Early last spring, after a stint in jail, he moved to Bailey to be with his father. Shawn was the happiest Alma Wirth had ever seen him, she said. "He was loved up here." He put his chef skills to work in a newly opened Irish pub. Karen Smart, his boss at Sweet Fanny Adams Tavern, said Wirth "just rolled up his sleeves and plunged in." (Christine Reid, The Daily Camera, March 28, 2004)

WILDFIRE HAUNTS THE HILLS The March 22, 2004, Shawnee Fire - which began as a controlled burn on ranchland in a mountain valley about 45 miles southwest of Denver - eerily paralleled the nearby start of the Snaking Fire on April 23, 2002.... As firefighters stomped out a few remaining hot spots Monday, Beverly Fanestil sat by the side of the highway in a red SUV, sorting her mail as crews packed up their gear. "I've been driving up once an hour and sitting for 20 minutes, just to watch them fight it," she said. "They've done a good job." (Joe Garner, Rocky Mountain News, March 27, 2004)

PARK COUNTY JAIL HITS RECORD INCOME Park County Commissioners sported wide smiles when Park County Jail Captain Monte Gore completed his report on the financial status of the Park County Jail last week. The jail exceeded projected 2003 revenues by over $350,000, for an income of over $1.9 million. (Linda Balough, Summit Daily News, March 26, 2004)

WEATHER CURTAILS BURN PLANS Front Range forest managers stepped up their plans this year to burn fuels that otherwise could feed wildfires, but the early onset of unseasonably warm, dry and windy weather is shriveling that effort. (Charley Able, Rocky Mountain News, March 27, 2004)

SHAWNEE FIRE APPARENTLY STARTED FROM CONTROLLED BURN The Shawnee Fire started about 12:30 p.m., apparently as a controlled burn, Park County Sheriff Fred Wegener said. At one point the fire jumped the South Platte River and burned about a half-acre, raising fears that the blaze might take off like the Snaking Fire... (Joe Garner And Brian D. Crecente, Rocky Mountain News, March 23, 2004)
Related: (Link expired) SHAWNEE FIRE - FIRE FORUM UPDATES

LET IT SNOW; THERE'S A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO (Link Expired) - There is still hope for moisture but not anytime soon, said Klaus Wolter, weather research scientist at the University of Colorado at Boulder and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Christine McManus, Summit Daily News, March 19, 2004)

---