LARIMER COUNTY
Fire-threatened homes evacuated
Some homes were evacuated Tuesday afternoon and other residents were warned of a 4- to 5-acre fire in the Storm Mountain area, about 15 miles west of Loveland, said Eloise Campanella, spokeswoman for the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office.
She said residents within a 5-mile radius of Elk Way and Storm Mountain Drive were warned by an emergency telephone notification.
The land is mostly in the Roosevelt National Forest, but there is private property in the area, she said. Some homes were threatened by the fire.
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.
The probe is led by the Colorado Department of Revenue and the Arapahoe County district attorney’s office.
RAMAH
Mayor apologizes
to pagan group
Ramah Mayor Tamra Herrara has apologized to a pagan group whose plan for a Halloween gathering cast the Eastern Plains town as a modern-day Salem.
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.
