Spring snow brings flurry of traffic woes to Rockies
As Denver bundled up Saturday against a mix of rain and light snow, the brunt of another spring snowstorm hit northwestern Colorado, dumping 6 inches of snow on Rabbit Ears Pass and causing several highway accidents, some of which led to a 3-mile traffic jam on Vail Pass.
Heavy, wet slush accumulated on the west side of the Eisenhower Tunnel on Interstate 70, slowing westbound traffic to about 30 mph. There also were several jackknifed semi-trailers on Vail Pass and U.S. 40, said Ruth Wade, communications supervisor with the Colorado State Patrol.
“There is a lot of snow and ice and slush up there,” she said. “Hopefully, it will improve as the weather clears out.”
Light snow also fell along the Front Range, where temperatures today are expected to be in the 40s. The National Weather Service predicts additional snow in parts of the metro area beginning tonight and continuing through Monday, with totals of between 1 and 4 inches.
The spring storms have brought needed moisture to the state, as water levels are still below average.
Denver’s precipitation total for April reached 2.43 inches Saturday. Precipitation so far is at 3.41 inches, but is still below the expected yearly total of 4.21 inches, said Jim Kalina, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boulder.
“We’re above for the month, but below for the year,” Kalina said.
Peak 8 ski lift granted approval for 2nd time
The Breckenridge Ski Area has won approval of its new Peak 8 lift for a second time.
The Forest Service’s district ranger had approved the lift in January, but officials then said it had to be approved by the forest supervisor.
But Friday, Maribeth Gustafson, the White River National Forest supervisor, announced that she had approved the Breckenridge lift.
“I understand and personally share many of the values that the public has raised regarding the installation of the Peak 8 Summit Lift,” Gustafson said. “In reaching my decision, I must consider that the overarching intent of providing a ski area on public land is to provide opportunities for the public to use and enjoy our national forests,” she said.
Her decision remains subject to an appeal.
Roger McCarthy, Breckenridge’s chief operating officer, said the resort hopes to complete the $4 million Summit Lift this summer.
Snowmass is facing a similar problem.
Its expansion onto Burnt Mount and replacement of the Sheer Bliss chairlift also had been approved by the local forest supervisor, but that approval was rescinded.
The ski industry has filed a complaint over the delays. The National Ski Areas Association, an industry lobbying organization, sent a letter to Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth asking that the Forest Service continue to delegate authority for decisions to district rangers rather than making everything go through the forest supervisor.
State justices to hear case on jury queries
The Colorado Supreme Court will hear arguments Monday in a case that could end up banning the relatively new practice of allowing jurors to ask witnesses questions during criminal and civil trials.
Yvonne Medina was convicted in a domestic violence case in 2001.
Her attorneys contend the judge allowed a witness to answer a juror’s question that led to speculative testimony – violating her right to a fair trial.
The Colorado Court of Appeals upheld the conviction, and Medina appealed.
The Colorado rule was put in place after a two-year pilot program. It allows judges to have the final say on whether to refer jurors’ questions to witnesses.
Woman held in fatal hit-and-run accident
An 18-year-old woman was struck and killed Friday night by a hit-and-run driver in Aurora and then run over a second time by a pickup truck, authorities say.
Shannon Jeanne Obel, 25, was being held in the Aurora jail for investigation of hit and run, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.
The victim, whose identity has not been released, was walking across the 3200 block of South Parker Road when she was struck by a Chevrolet Monte Carlo driven by Obel, Aurora police Lt. John Sopranuk said.
A white pickup also drove over the woman and did not stop, Sopranuk said.
Obel allegedly drove away but returned to the accident scene and turned herself in, Sopranuk said.
2 killed when pickup slams snowplow blade
A pickup truck crossed double-yellow lines on Gun Club Road early Friday and smashed into the blade of an oncoming snowplow, killing a man and a woman in the pickup.
Talon Romero-Eide, 20, and Laura Godfrey, 18, were pronounced dead at the scene, just south of Quincy Avenue, said Don Moseman, spokesman for the Colorado State Patrol.
The driver of the Arapahoe County snowplow, Kelly Cres pin, 38, of Arvada, was treated for minor injuries at Aurora South Medical Center.
Catholic teacher fired after pellet hits teen
A teacher at a Catholic school has been fired after accidentally shooting one of his own students with a pellet gun during horseplay.
Arthur Pierce, a teacher at Holy Family High School, was playing around with students Tuesday during a break in a rehearsal for “Romeo and Juliet” when he shot a girl in her right hip, said Sgt. Rick Kempsell, a Police Department spokesman.
Pierce, who was escorted off the school property by police, received a municipal summons for the incident, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine, Kempsell said.
Ute official under restraining order
A judge has placed Ute Mountain Ute Tribal chairman Sel wyn Whiteskunk under a restraining order following allegations he hurled a coffee table at his wife and pushed aside his son as the boy tried to defend his mother.
No one was hurt, Bureau of Indian Affairs police said.
Police arrested Whiteskunk, 41, on suspicion of a domestic-violence violation and endangering the welfare of a minor after a report of a disturbance at his home Thursday. Whiteskunk was released Friday and faces a future court hearing.
Whiteskunk, who was elected in 2004, did not return telephone calls seeking comment.
