Price gouging not evident, gas industry tells legislators
Representatives of the gasoline industry told legislative leaders there is no evidence of price gouging in Colorado in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, despite sharp jumps that pushed gas prices to record levels above $3 a gallon.
House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, and Rep. Gwyn Green, D-Golden, met with industry officials after Green threatened to introduce legislation establishing penalties for price gouging.
Steve Douglas, general manager for product supply for Suncor Energy, said it took four days for prices to rise following the hurricane, forcing retailers to absorb price increases. He said it could take some time for prices to go down to pre-hurricane levels as retailers try to recoup those increased costs.
He said the average price has dropped to $2.81 for unleaded regular, 22 cents above the average price before the storm.
“I don’t think price gouging is going on here,” said Roy Turner of the Colorado-Wyoming Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association.
Unlike more than 20 other states, Colorado has no law prohibiting price gouging, defined as jacking up prices for a commodity during emergencies.
LARIMER COUNTY
Fire contained; evacuees return
Residents who had to evacuate their homes threatened by a worrisome 5-acre fire west of Drake in the Storm Mountain area were allowed back into their houses when the blaze was declared contained about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, said Eloise Campanella of the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office.
Some firefighters remained on the scene Tuesday night to monitor the situation, and fire mop-up is scheduled for this morning, Campanella said.
She said residents within a 5-mile radius of Elk Way and Storm Mountain Drive were warned of the fire by an emergency telephone notification.
FRISCO
Firefighters gaining on blaze near school
Firefighters made good progress in extinguishing a wildfire near Summit High School on Tuesday after nearly losing five homes Monday.
“One was possibly minutes away from being a loss,” said Mike Roll, spokesman for the Red, White and Blue Fire Department.
The blaze, which forced the cancellation of classes Tuesday and briefly closed Colorado 9 between Frisco and Breckenridge, has burned between 12 and 15 acres.
Firefighters anticipate getting the fire under control today, Roll said. A cause has not been determined.
ARAPAHOE COUNTY
Auction house probed for charity car sales
An Arapahoe County grand jury is investigating an auto auction house for allegedly misrepresenting the amounts it sold cars for on behalf of clients that included the city of Sheridan and Catholic Charities and illegally pocketing the difference.
Search warrants were executed early Tuesday on Public Auto Auction on South Santa Fe Drive in Sheridan and an affiliate Denver company, Family Trucks & Vans, for business records, officials said.
The Colorado Motor Vehicle Dealer Board, which regulates the auto industry, suspended the licenses of the two businesses simultaneous to the searches.
RAMAH
Mayor apologizes to pagan group
Ramah Mayor Tamra Herrara has apologized to a pagan group that is planning a Halloween gathering in the Eastern Plains town.
The coven of about a dozen members rented the American Legion Hall in Ramah for an Oct. 29 fundraiser for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
The Rev. Tim Tucker of Ramah Baptist Fellowship tried to get the Town Board to block the gathering at a work session Aug. 25 called to discuss the pagan celebration.
Herrara’s apology followed a scolding from Trustee Nicole Allen, who said she was embarrassed by the board’s behavior at the work session.
LARIMER COUNTY
Victim of riding accident identified
The 35-year-old Loveland woman who died when she was thrown from a horse Monday in the Carter Lake area has been identified by the Larimer County coroner as Melissa Butler.
Dr. Stephen J. Cina, deputy coroner, found that Butler died from an accidental blunt-force injury to her head as a result of the horse-riding mishap.
LITTLETON
Hunt for bank robber locks down school
East Elementary School in Littleton was locked down over the noon hour while police searched the area for an armed bank robber, spokesman Sgt. Sean Dugan said.
About 11:45 a.m., the bandit entered the Public Service Credit Union at 5800 S. Broadway, jumped the counter and demanded money, saying something like, “You know what this is,” Dugan said.
The robber – described as Hispanic, in his middle 20s, 5-feet-9 to 5-feet-10, 180 pounds, with short dark hair, clean shaven and wearing a dark blue bandanna to conceal his face, dark sunglasses, a dark-blue hooded rain jacket and bluejeans – was given an undisclosed amount of money.
A search of the area failed to turn up a suspect, Dugan said.
BRECKENRIDGE
Rodman has deadline to set new court date
Former basketball star Dennis Rodman has until Friday to set a new court appearance after missing one last week that resulted in an arrest warrant being issued.
Rodman, 44, failed to appear in traffic court Sept. 14 after being accused of speeding and driving recklessly along Interstate 70 near Frisco during a charity cross-country rally in July.
FRUITA
Officers find $717,950 in cocaine in van
Authorities pulled over a van seen driving erratically near Fruita and seized 6 kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $717,950, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Officers found Delfino Rodriguez-Torres pumping gas into a 1995 Ford Windstar at a truck stop after he veered off I-70.
He said he was paid $1,000 to drive from Tucson to Chicago, according to a DEA news release.
Rodriquez-Torres gave officers permission to search the van, and they found the cocaine stashed in stereo speakers.
Rodriquez was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
