Katrina evacuee at Lowry succumbs to pneumonia
A 48-year-old man evacuated from an oil rig off the Louisiana coast near New Orleans as Hurricane Katrina approached – and who ended up with other hurricane survivors at Lowry – has died here, said Salvation Army Lt. Gerald Koch.
The man, who was at Lowry with his wife, was diagnosed with pneumonia after he went to a local hospital because he was worried about his wife’s health. He died during his second visit to the hospital on Monday, Koch said.
His family has requested his identity not be released, Koch said.
The wife came to the Salvation Army for help because she didn’t know what else to do, he said.
“You have so much stress in the first place, virtually losing everything you have, then losing your partner compounds the tragedy,” Koch said.
“To start over without your spouse is particularly hard.”
The man is a veteran and he had his honorable discharge papers from the armed services with him. He will be buried at Fort Logan, Koch said.
METRO AREA
RTD gets $1.2 million from feds for security
Gov. Bill Owens said Wednesday the Regional Transportation District will get $1.2 million in federal emergency preparedness money to enhance security on its bus and light-rail system.
The money will be applied in roughly equal amounts to train and bus security, officials said. The funds will be used for video surveillance, bomb-resistant trash containers and other security improvements, RTD said.
BOULDER
Foreign enrollment at CU down 6 percent
The University of Colorado at Boulder is continuing to see a decline in international students as federal officials make it tougher to get student visas and other documents after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, school officials said Wednesday.
There are 912 international students enrolled this fall, a 6 percent drop from last year, according to a news release.
“Student access to our universities has become more and more difficult, including the problems of getting visas, getting Social Security cards, driver’s licenses and other documents,” said Larry Bell, director of the campus Office of International Education.
DENVER
Funeral Monday for boy, 4, in hit-and-run
Funeral services for Angel Terrero-Gonzalez, the 4-year-old killed by a hit-and-run driver Sunday, will be held at the Horan & McConaty funeral home, 3201 S. Parker Road, at 1 p.m. Monday.
A memorial fund has been established in Angel’s name at Wells Fargo Bank. Anyone wishing to donate can make a deposit at any Wells Fargo branch to account No. 3495137089.
Denver police, as of Wednesday evening, say they have no suspects and have not found the vehicle, believed to be a Ford Explorer.
THORNTON
Swerving motorist injures cycle officer
A Thornton motorcycle officer was injured in an accident Wednesday afternoon after a woman swerved into him on Interstate 25.
The woman was driving northbound on the interstate at 88th Avenue when traffic began to slow in front of her, said police spokesman Matt Barnes.
She attempted to avoid a rear- end collision by swerving into another lane, Barnes said. The woman swerved back and overcorrected in an effort to avoid a tractor-trailer next to her, and her car spun out of control and struck the officer, Barnes said.
The impact of the collision sent the officer over the center barrier and into the southbound lanes of the interstate.
The officer, an eight-year veteran and three-year motorcycle officer, was taken to a hospital for treatment. He had internal injuries but was expected to survive.
FORT COLLINS
CSU Dems: O’Donnell should back C and D
Colorado State University Democrats on Wednesday called on Rick O’Donnell, executive director of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, to publicly support Referendums C and D.
“As the governor’s point person on higher education, it is Rick O’Donnell’s responsibility to stand up for Colorado students,” said Amy Krok, president of the CSU Democrats, in a statement.
Referendums C and D ask voters to allow the state to keep an estimated $3.7 billion for state services and allow the issuance of $2.1 billion in bonds.
O’Donnell, who was on vacation Wednesday, said in an e-mail that he supports his boss, Republican Gov. Bill Owens.
